Our Tree

We are so very proud of Nolan today. The First Grade had a character education program about the Three Billy Goats Gruff and Nolan was a tree. However, not any ol' tree, but the cutest tree I have ever seen. He really lucked out on his role because he got to dress up and have a "tree hat" but not have to go up to the microphone to speak a line (like the rest of the students). He had to last year in the Kindergarten's program and did great. But this year was different, he shared a line with four other boys! Take a look! By the way, I HAVE GOT TO GET A ZOOM LENS SOOOOOON! I love this camera, but it is definitely not a zoom lens! I also took video clips of the production but missed Nolan's part! Oh, I was so upset! I had no idea it was his turn to talk, so I was not ready. Urgh. Oh, well. At least I got to see it firsthand and got pictures.

Nolan is the tree to the far left.

The Words of Pepper Blue

Ginger! Tucker! Where are you?

What? What's that you are telling me? Some man came to our house and paid money for my sister? I thought she was your favorite. You mean, she went home with someone else that is super excited to have her. She will have a doggie door and be spoiled rotten?

Well, I want her here with me so that I can bite on her ears and roll around in the dirt with her.

And Tucker? I saw you swoosh him up quickly yesterday during our nap. What was that basket for. You did what?!

Oh, Leslie is going to miss them so very much!

A blanket and a bag of food in a basket is how you gave my brother away? I can't believe Leslie and Nolan walked Tucker up to a door of a woman that is lonely and sad to give him away. You wrote a sweet note to the new family, as well? Wow, it must have felt like you were dropping off a baby.

I hope he makes her happy even though I want him here! I want to play tug of war with him because I won most of the time.

So it is just me, my mom and dad? Oh well. As long as you play with me and feed me, I will be happy.

Ok, I feel better now and I am tired.

I have a New Idea!

Ok, so I need your comments and opinions PLEASE! If you don't have a Google account, just make one really quick. All they want is your email and password that you make up. IT IS FREE and it allows you to leave comments or even make your own blog if you are so inclined. PLEASE! I do know many of you read my blog (I have a special counter that tells me who and when you read, so I know you are there!) and do not leave comments, but this time I need your opinions!

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Here is my bright idea:

I would like to incorporate my scrapbooking in my blog. No, I do not do digital scrapbooking, only the ol' paper and scissors way. So, this means I would have to take pictures of the pages I do and post them on the blog. It would give me something else to talk about and motivation to scrapbook, too. HOWEVER, I do not want to talk about it if you don't want to hear it. So this is where you come in. I need your comments please. My plan is to blog normally, maybe even more new posts than usual, but post pages I finish as well. I actually don't know if I can do this or not until I try. I love to scrap as most of you know, and I would like to share the pages I do. All of the pages I have done in the past SEVEN years are stuck in a cold, dark book up in the lonely cabinet. I will also add some scrapbook blogs I like to watch and get ideas from. I am hoping that it will spice up my blog even more and you all will like to watch to see what post is next. So what do you think? I will not even attempt this if you don't leave a comment and let me know. SO LEAVE A COMMENT PLEASE!

Newly Found Energy

I don't know what has happened to me, but I all of a sudden have so much energy. Don't get me wrong, I love every minute of it. I noticed when I turned 30 years old, my metabolism hit the floor. Now that it has been two years, I guess I am evening out. On Wednesday I started speed walking and running my scenic road again. I thought I was going to die of exhaustion, but it felt good to get my heart rate up again. I actually started a work out regimen at the end of the summer and into fall, but once it turned cold, I stopped. We have been having absolutely beautiful weather here lately, except for today! So, I started stretching, walking, running, first. Then I did lunges the length of our long drive way and ended the work out with squats. I motivate myself by chanting, "No cellulite! No saggy butt!" It works, really! I sore as heck, though. Owwweee!

Okay, back to my lots of energy story. While watching Nolan practice his baseball the other night, I noticed the way he ran around the bases. It looked like he was having a spastic attack. His arms flew everywhere and his legs were not stretching out. Therefore, he got lapped by another kid while running bases. Right then and there I decided to help Nolan learn how to run with correct form so that he may be one of the fastest on his team. The next day, after school we put on our running shoes and hit the road. I broke down the act of running as far as I could and explained the correct form. I showed him the difference between good form and bad form as he giggled. Now each time he comes home from school, he asks to go running. Whoo hoo. Hopefully my teaching will work and he will run at least a little faster. So where am I getting all of this energy? I don't know, but I like it.

Men are so from Mars!

Les is always teasing me about my blogging. As you can see by the dates of my posting, though, I do not blog everyday. Well at least I do not post everyday, but I do read my favorite blogs every morning. So Les teases me anytime he sees me on the computer. Yesterday as I came in from shopping with a friend, Les was smiling from ear to ear. He was beside himself! He could not wait to show me our freezer. Seriously, I walked into the house and two seconds later he says, "Honey, take a look at this!"

My mouth dropped open when I saw how cram packed our freezer was. You see, I am a bit compulsive with my pantry and refrigerator (and a few other things, but we won't go there). Everything has its own place. Everything. Les has learned not to even bother to help put groceries away after a big trip because I just go right behind him and rearrange. So when I saw how disorganized and PACKED the freezer was I .......

took a deep breath and smiled. No really, I said, "Is all of our normal stuff to where we can reach it?" But before Les could respond, I already saw how I absolutely crushed him. He is a man and he is proud to have a freezer full of wild hog meat that he killed himself. He was proud of all of the deer meat he had cleaned and cut himself. He was proud that he fit all of HIS MEAT in the freezer. I was sorry that I did not commend him, so I continued to respond, "That is great honey. Is it going to stink up the entire refrigerator, too?" I know, I know...I am so cruel at times. I meant to say, "That is great Honey, I am so very proud that you have provided for our family. That you have taken your role as a man and gave us meat on our table each and every night." Really.

So, now that I have learned a very valuable lesson on manhood, each and every time I open the refrigerator....even though it does stink and it disorganized and it does drive me NUTS.....I utter the words

"Aaaaaahhhhh"

Rugrats and Romance......

We had a fabulous Valentine's Day. The kids woke up so excited like it was Christmas....well almost. Les was just as excited and couldn't wait to give me his present. He ran out to his car as soon as I rolled out of bed (he let me sleep in, woohoo!) and gave me an adorably wrapped present. I was so surprised because usually he gives roses and candy. This year he went all out and bought me a Montana silver cross necklace. I love love love it! I am getting quite a collection now.

The kids were beside themselves to open their own surprises, so I made a scavenger hunt throughout the house for them to find their bags of candy and loot. Later that evening, Les fixed delicious steaks and potatoes and we ate by candlelight. The kids asked, "Why are we eating with lights off?" We had to explain how we wanted to be romantic and eat with just a candle light. Nolan had to show his intelligence and proceeded to explain to Leslie how people long long ago did not have lights to turn on and they had to be romantic all of the time.

Then the kids asked, "What kind of music is that Mommy?" I was playing Bocelli, Enya and various love songs while we ate. Nolan and Leslie did not like that much. But I responded, "Oh well, Mommy and Daddy do like the music and we ARE going to listen to it since we are trying to have a romantic dinner with you two rugrats!"

The rest of the dinner went well and for dessert we melted chocolate and dipped strawberries and pretzel sticks. I could seriously make myself sick eating that! It was so yummy! After dinner, we all piled on the couch and snuggled while watching Underdog. Les and I actually fell asleep during the movie! We were exhausted obviously. Oh, how I love Valentine's Day and trying to be romantic with the kids toting along!

I was tagged

Normally I hate being tagged on blogs and Facebook because I just don't want to take the time for it. But this time my curiosity got the best of me. I am supposed to post the fourth picture from the fourth folder in My Pictures file. This is what I found.

This is a photo of Nolan and Kaden in 2006 feeding the animals at the Austin Zoo. I remember this day like it was yesterday. It was in January and the weather was beautiful. However I do recall that the cedar was horrible because Cheri was sneezing like crazy. She was also very pregnant. We laughed so hard when she would have to cross her legs each time she sneezed. I laughed so hard that I thought I was going to pee my pants! We had a lot of fun that day. I am ready to visit that zoo again, but this time we will wait until the cedar fever is not as bad!

An Ode to Ruby

Yesterday was a sad day at the Davis Rodeo. We lost our dear rabbit, Ruby. This was Leslie's rabbit that she loved and kissed and squeezed. She played with this bunny like it was her best friend when we first got it back in April 2007. You know how kids are with new animals. They are the bomb until it grows and the kids get distracted with life. Well, Ruby, whom we thought was a girl until later in life, was the bomb for Leslie. She took him for rides in her jeep and bicycle. She would sit and sing to him while feeding baby carrots. At times, though, Ruby would have enough and would thump Leslie with his back legs and try to bite her. It broke her heart when he turned grouchy. So many times Leslie would ask to hold Nolan's rabbit, Thumper because he is a very calm rabbit. Anyhoo, Ruby was a cute little bunny that we all loved very much and we are so sad that he is now gone. So without further ado, here is my ode to Ruby:

Our sweet little white bunny

Ruby was a name for a girl

Leslie thought your ears were so funny

However we should have named you Earl

Leslie loved and adored you so

You were her long lost friend

Until you grew old

At times you bit her though

But the anger she would mend

You memory will always be told.

A New Season

After a much anticipated time lapse, we have finally started baseball season again. Nolan was super duper pumped up. His coach called last week and informed us of the practice schedule. The coach sounded really young, but we were okay with that. Nolan was so excited from the minute he woke up yesterday morning. I had no trouble at all getting him to do his homework after school either. He was ready! He put on his old game pants and cleats with last year's dirt still in the cracks. A ball cap was placed on his head and sunglasses on his face. He was ready! Our practice was not until 5:30 but he was in the car by 4:45 asking if we could go. I could feel his anticipation and adrenaline pumping. So we warmed up his arms a bit and played catch for a while. Baseball runs through the boy's blood. Once we got to the fields Nolan was clawing at the door to get out. We met his young but experienced coach and Nolan was in awe. He really relates well with teenagers for some reason. I guess he looks up to them and wants to be just like them. This coach is 19 years old and graduated last year. He has played baseball from the time he was was Nolan's age and all through high school. He immediately started teaching the much needed fundamentals of baseball. Oh, I forgot to mention that Nolan is playing Coach Pitch this year. For all of you people that do not know, that means a coach will be pitching to the players instead of a kid. His team looked like they were going to be great, too. We are so excited and can't wait for more! Don't worry, I will keep you all posted on the development of our little ball player in the short future.

Make Her Happy

Leslie is going through a phase of wanting cereal all of the time... breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner. She asks for it all of the day! I do try to limit her intake, but you know, it really is not a bad snack. Anyhoo, I walked by her sitting on the bar stool and this caught my eye.

What?!

Do you notice how she is sitting?

Not only does the girl walk around on her toes like this, but now she is in the habit of sitting on her toes too! Take another look...

Man, this just blows me away and it looks so painful! Oh well, whatever makes her happy.

Puppy Attachment

The older the puppies get, the more attached we get. They are so much fun to be around these days. They "play" bite on your clothes and nibble on your ears. Leslie especially loves to play with the doggies. She will go outside with them a few hundred times a day. She will be extremely sad when they go to their new homes. I try to prepare her everyday, but I have a bad feeling that it will be a sad sad day when they leave. What do you think?

This picture is of the pups first full day at five weeks old outside. They loved it! Ginger and Pepper explored every smell. Tucker could really care less and would rather sit in my lap and nap.

Ginger is just like Chili. She will be an excellent hunter and loves exploring the outdoors. She is just so fun and so darn cute to see her run around!

When Pepper was born, I was afraid he would be a whiner and a dog that is scared all the time. But the moment he walked outside, he opened up and let his guards down. He checked out every blade of grass all the way up to Buster the cat. Buster, just stared at him purring.

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Now the puppies are 6 weeks old today! Can you believe it? I sure can't. We took them into the veterinarian on Friday and I thought they were already 6 weeks, almost 7, but I counted wrong. Thankfully they went ahead and gave them their shots since they would be 6 weeks in few days. Everything went well except for protective Chili Momma. She did not like the vet hurting her babies at all. Here are few pictures we took last night.

I guess it is now time we start looking seriously for a new home. sniff sniff. Oh, wait, I am not at all attached....

We love having these little guys around....

"All the cigarettes..."

This is what I heard tonight as I wheeled Leslie around Wal-Mart picking up a few things to make our trip to the doctor worth while. "All the cigarettes, all the cigarettes, all the cigarettes..." I asked Leslie "What in the world are you saying?" She smiled and repeated herself. I tried to repeat what she said and apparently said it wrong. Then she said it again, this time with a tune. "All the cigarettes!" Well, this time I realized it was a song she was trying to sing and I recognized the tune. I said, "All you single ladies?" "Yeah!" she yelled. "All you cigarettes." I laughed and laughed until Leslie was not laughing along. Sadly Leslie knows what a cigarette is because both of her grandmas smoke. So she thought the song said "All the cigarettes" instead of "all the single ladies". Check out the song she is so into these days and getting the words all wrong.

FYI: I normally do not listen to this kind of music, but Leslie has me stop on songs like this while surfing the radio. She loves the beat. Ironically we heard the song two more times in the car on the way home!

Just click on Beyonce: Single Ladies on the music player to the left and it should play automatically.

How well do you know your children?

The question I kept asking myself all the way home from the doctor's office this evening: How well do you know your child? I do know my child, of course, but apparently I cannot read her illnesses. Leslie and I have visited the doctor, I know at least three times, but probably more like five, to be sent home with the "common cold" or just fluid on the ear. I don't want to sound bad when I say, I am sick and tired of going to the doctor 45 minutes away to have just a virus. Don't get me wrong, though. I am so thankful that my kids do not get sick easily and we are so fortunate to not have a life threatening illness, but come on! We get out in the cold, drive almost an hour away, pay our $20 copay, wait forever in the waiting room and doctor's office to hear him say, "Well it looks like a virus. I can't do anything for her." Urgh! I can't do anything for her either, you are a stinkin' doctor that we paid to see, DO SOMETHING TO MAKE HER FEEL BETTER! I have to learn how to read my children's sicknesses, whether they are viral or bacterial so that we don't waste our precious time. I hate to see my kids sick and I will do anything to keep them more comfortable. So I asked the doc on how to do that better. He pretty much said "If she complains about her ears (in which she has before) or throat and it accompanies a fever then we want to see her. Also, if Motrin does not make her feel better and her body lays around lethargically, then bring her in." OooooooooK.
So, the next time I decide to take her in to see the doctor, she must have a fever, a complaint, and/or lethargic. Gotcha ya. Does anyone else see my point here?

On a brighter note, I am glad we did not have to go through a round of antibiotics and fighting Leslie every day for the next ten long days. I saved $10 on an antibiotic, however had to purchase a butt load for over the counter, treat the symptoms meds. That stuff is expensive! You just have to wonder about our medical and pharmaceutical markets. hmmmmmm.