just being boys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFX9CKdjE50

THIS AND THAT

I forgot to write about Noah's sciene fair project. The awards ceremony was Monday night and we didn't go. Ok, let me expalin. Noah said it was not mandatory and he didn't want to go and I had a headache and Jimmy was still working and we just knew he wouldn't win, etc. Sooooooooo I got a text message from a friend that he won 2nd place in his category and his project will go on to the district fair. What? ok, lame parents we are. The she texted me that we MUST pick up our project right then. So off to the school we flew and when we got there, there was not a soul in sight. what! anyway, lesson learned. Always go to your child's events even if all the cards are telling you not to.

Last night, while backing out of the carport, with all of the kids in the van, including an extra who was spending the night with Andrew, I felt a bump. . . that bump was Pepper, Andrew's cat who he has had since he was three. She was flopping around everywhere so I hurriedly backed out and left Jimmy there to take care of her. Why didn't she get out of the way like she always had before? She died a few minutes later. So sad. I can't say that I am THAT sad. But sad for Andrew. He has a tender heart which I am proud he does. But this cat for me, was a thorn in my side. She came into my house all the time and I would have to catch her because she got sooooo good at running away. And when I would catch her, she would usually stick her paws out into my skin. She was even REAL good at pawing things out of your hand, thus making you bleed. Really! she was an evil soul. A few weeks ago, as I was driving to Cville she jumped on the back of my seat scaring the begeezus out of me. The entire drive, she would jump on my lap and dig her claws into me. I was so tempted to pull over and drop her off. But I do have a heart, sometimes. Then when Noah and I got out at the store, she jumped out and wouldn't come to us. So I decided I would leave her there. But Noah talked me out of it. He said that would be cruel. Ok, he was right. Then he got out and got her. And said, "now if we wanted to throw her out while going 65 down the highway, I wouldn't have a problem with that." what! anyway, we saved her life that night.

So sad for Andrew. Luke in his sweet little 6 year old self suggested that we get Andrew a kitty. Sweet kid, but I think I'll pass.

this one's good too

Our purpose should really not be in trying to avoid life's challenging moments, but rather in learning to become more Christ-like as we weather those hard times, for they will come.
(copied off of MckMama's blog)

I'll be memorizing this one.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass,
It's learning how to dance in the rain.

Boy, do I need to write these words on the inside of my eyelids!!!!!!! This quote came off of a blog of a woman who just lost her husband to cancer. Young family with two small children. If this woman, in all her sorrow, fear and pain, can post these words, then I can try to live them. It's as if she is speaking to me.

Look who can read

 Well, he's been reading for awhile now but this is a chapter book and he was quick to point out it is a 2nd grade book! My first grade "baby" is reading for real. So cool to see his excitement. He has not put the book down all day. This pic is of him in his bed at 9:15. He just kept saying, "just a few more pages." Boy, I am soooooo happy because for a while it was looking like he wasn't going to have a love of reading like the other three.

Now, wasn't it just yesterday we brought him home from the hospital? Time is flying by and I just want to stop it. But since I can't, I'll try to enjoy all the milestones.

Aunt Maxine, these are for you--ENJOY!

 

 

 

 

Here she is, as precious as it gets. I got the Bumbo from a friend who was happy to pass it on to Trish for Emma. It worked so well for me while she was here. We sat her in it on top of the table while we ate and she was sooo content. Now why couldn't I have thought of this neat little contraption?

After arriving home from Mandeville, Noah and I worked on this subject . . . . Apples to Spr-apples . . . . his science fair project that is due tomorrow. And depsite what others say, Sprite did NOT work as a non-browning agent on the apples. 














UPDATED: She slept from 10:45pm til 6am, took a bottle and went back to sleep at 7am and is still sleeping now at 9:15. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!
and this little girl does not know that it is 10:45 and past MY, oops, I mean HER bedtime!
 

A Good Time Was Had By All

 

 

 

 

Just us having a great time at the Mardi Gras parade last night.

Mardi Gras Madness

 

The boys and I went to visit the Napiers in Mandville for a parade last night. It was FABULOUS! Not too much of a crowd, lots of great throws, beautiful floats and jammin' bands. As you can see, Robyn and I were totally in fashion for the night! Robyn is such an awesome friend. Do you ever have one of those friends that you feel is a better friend to you than you are to her. This is that girl. She is always there for me to listen, laugh and love. And what a beautiful girl she is. She and hunky husband are tearing up the dance floor as I type at a Mardi Gras ball. And I know she looked super hot in her platinum dress. Thanks Robyn for a GREAT evening last night.

Valentine goodness

These cupcakes are for Andrew's class 










The coke Valentines are for Andrew to pass out as his Valentine treats for his class. I saw this idea on another blog where someone did the same thing but with powerade/gatorade bottles. such a neat idea for a 'bigger' boy to pass out. 

I'm having a sleepover

and there is only one invited guest. She brings her own food and even her own bed. And her mom tells me she sleeps all night which makes me SUPER happy! so they'll be no staying up all night for these two girls. or atleast I hope so.

 

sick

noah is on his third day of being sick and he hates it. he is never sick so when it gets sick he gets very frustrated that he must sit still and just be for a while. the fever has subsided but he feels like crap. so i have been home with him for three days. feeling a bit stir crazy b/c i was home all day saturday too. hoping all will be back to normal tomorrow and i will go to work.

busy week with baseball and PTC meetings and supper club.

Headed to Mandeville this weekend for a Mardi Gras parade. Fun times!

Newspaper article on murder suspect caught

http://www.enterprise-journal.com/articles/2009/02/08/news/01.txt

Our weekend

Not much going on here

Karate started back for Asa and Luke last Monday.
Computer issues for Amy are finally resolved.
Baseball meeting for Jimmy and Amy on Thursday - its that time again - woohoo!
House arrest (starting at 4pm Friday evening)while a murder suspect was on the loose.
House arrest was lifted when the suspect was caught RIGHT BEHIND OUR HOUSE!
Watched as 35 or so state troopers parked in our pasture to eat lunch.
No, I didn't have to cook for them.
Went bike riding today. Jimmy went horse-back riding alone which he deserves.

And that was our boring, uneventful weekend. :-)

Andrew's First Der

After two weeks of hunting almost everyday, Andrew finally killed his very first deer--a 4 pt. buck! He is thrilled!!! I was cozy and snug on the couch, watching a little tv, when I got a phone call with a man whispering on the other end asking me to bring a flashlight to the field. Geez! can't they ever just drop one in their tracks? No, a hunt must follow the shot. So I brought the flashlight, drove into the field with no headlights so I wouldn't stir the dead deer (whatever!) then sat my big butt in the warm van and watched two grown men and four boys with two flashlights looking for a dead deer in a 200 acre pasture. I was thinking they'd never find it but was happy for Andrew when they did. But the night is not over til the deer is gutted, etc. and the blood if put on the hunter's face. ugh! who ever thought of that tradition!


 
 
 



You know, as proud as I am for Andrew and happy that we have the opportunity for Jimmy to teach the boys about hunting and all those things, I couldn't help but wonder what a mother of four girls would be doing on a Friday night. Just a thought!

Emma visits again

Aunt Maxine, these pics are for you. 
 
 

She is making eye contact and has the sweetest smile! I so wanted to video her but never got the chance. How did I do it with my own? We didn't have supper until she left b/c I couldn't cook with her her! go figure. anyway, she "talks" back and even has the slightest breathy giggle. Love, Love, Love her.

"Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures"
"A Girl's Gotta Do What a Girl's Gotta Do"
"I'm Back in 'Bid'ness"

all of those apply here. The porch project is taking longer than expected so I decided to make do. I set up some of my scrap stuff at the desk in the kitchen and will work from there. Scrapbooking truly is my 'therapy' and it just plain makes me feel good/makes me happy.  

around our house

this is our mantel decorated for the month of love. The "X" and "O" decorations are some chipboard letters that I got a steal on at Crop Connection this past weekend. I covered them with Valentine paper. Of course, I put my lovebirds there too.

 

On a whim, I decided that Asa and Luke needed some hooks in their room for their numerous coats and booksacks. I painted on strip on the wall a navy blue and added hooks. i also made each of the boys a canvas with their initialon it to hang in their respective rooms. just being creative and having fun doing it.

 

 

LOVE BIRDS! aren't thses the cutest? I saw them on a blog, downloaded the pattern and made them myself. they make me happy! 





Some girls and I went to Crop Connection in Jackson this past weekend and had a blast! Such nice people, great facilities and got lots of scrapping done. I did this layout and won second place in the layout contest of the weekend. The prize was a pack of paper worth not quite the $8 I spent on buttons for the page! 













This picture is for Terry. Just look at all the free stuff they gave to us. It is about $75 worth of stuff if I had to guess. Awesome! 




















This is the door prize that I won.  

Good friends

Mattie and I. Isn't she the cutest? 















Robyn and I.  





Robyn and Gray; Gabrielle, Patrick and Mattie came to visit today. This was our "Christmas" visit. So good to see good friends. The girls rode the horses, played with the dogs and rabbits; Patrick along with my boys shot bb guns, his bow and arrow and played football in the backyard. The weather was perfect for being outside all day.

Thank you, Napiers, for coming to see us. We love you!