Quotes of the Day

Caleb: "If I had a world (Calebville), I wouldn't have any lakes...just a hose."

Cody: "If I had a remote to the world, that'd be awesome."

The Goodiness of Summer

Summer...not my favorite season. In Texas, it's just too hot. I don't do hot well. I don't sweat...because that's just not pretty, but my perspiring can be a little annoying at times. That said, there are some things I LOVE about Summer:

* No School/Sleeping In...I love having the boys home. Of course, who are we kidding...I'm always ready for them to go back because I am addicted to having a schedule, but I do love seeing their cute little faces in and out of the house all day long. But seriously...when did they start eating so much?

*Flip flops...(we used to call them thongs, but the tramps took care of that). Turns out I wear these about 10 months out of the year, but I love getting the permanent flip-flop on my foot from the sun in the summer.

*Water...of any kind...pool, lake, ocean...I'm easy. I would almost trade my first born for a couple of weeks laying on the beach with white sand and blue water as my companions...straight up.

*And this...

and this...

and this.


Ahhhh yes, Summer is good.

Oohy-Oohy Sisterhood

You can't just say it plain...you have to kind of howl it to say it right..."Oohy Oohy". It is the cry we use when we are out together...but at different spots say like at Target. We hear the cry...and we must find each other to see the perfect sale on something...or something cute...or a must have. We are the "Oohy Oohy Sisterhood"...and if you're in it, you know who you are. Two of our Sisterhood are especially sad today...and they have reason to be. Their grandpa (I think they call him G-Paw) passed away this morning...fairly unexpectedly.

And as we gathered around them this afternoon to comfort, to hear stories, to eat...to laugh, it made me thankul for this Sisterhood (or Sistahood as we usually call it) because life is too short not to have true friends... sisters...with a common bond of the love of Christ and the love of family and each other. And days like today are much better when shared together.

So to my sistas...I love you and am praying for you and your families this week as you remember a part of your legacy. If you need us, you know the call.

Man, I Feel Like a Woman

What is it with us lately? We've actually cooked several times in the last few weeks...and as most of you know, we don't do that as often as we should...what with the whole preparation thing and all...I'm just not that into it. But a weird thing happened as I was preparing dinner last night...I actually had feelings that I was being a better mother and wife and started feeling like a REAL woman.

And then this morning after I got up, I actually thought to myself..."I should make my bed today. It always makes me happy when I walk into the room and see the bed made."

And then I'm like..."who are you and what have you done with Gina?"

It's Been a While...

Yeah, I know. I sometimes wonder if there is any point to a vacation...if you work extra hours before you go so you can be ready to go, and then you're behind when you get back because you've been gone...yuk. Anyway, my desk is starting to look like it has a top again.

I still owe a vacation post, and I am working on it. I've been working on our vacation DVD, so that has taken up more time because I am learning Adobe Premiere Elements for that. Seriously Adobe, it's not like I'm trying to put a man on the moon...I just want to make a DVD!

When we returned from vacation, the boys got interested in their bikes again. They've (the bikes) been sitting in the storage shed for quite a while now...unused. It wasn't too long that they discovered these bikes just weren't going to do for trail riding with their daddy.

So...the boys started shopping. They were looking for bikes they could purchase when they saved a little more money. They both had about $30-35 leftover from birthdays, and doing some yard work. We went to Academy one night...and this was their reaction when we told them they were getting bikes that night. Part of their joy is because they were getting new bikes RIGHT NOW, and the other part of their joy is that they can now use that $30-35 on other crap to fill up their playroom.

After trying them out in the store (I'm sure management was VERY happy with us), they had to try them out in the parking lot too.

Dear God, Please Slow Down

I'm feeling overwhelmed today...on the verge of tears several times. I know, I know...this is really not all that strange for me. There were several times I looked at the boys today and thought...'time is moving way too fast.' And under my breath I would plead...'please, God, please slow it down.' I want to remember every little look, every joke they laugh at, every time they snuggle up next to me on the couch. And I know that nothing I say or plead can stop it...I just need to enjoy today. I need to not worry about what we'll be doing in 5 years...whether we'll still have this house or not...or even be at the Ranch or not. I need to not worry that school is starting again in a little over a month...and there a million and one things I still want to do with the boys this summer...and the closets that still need to be cleaned out. I need to enjoy TODAY...every minute...every second...and enjoy this...

and this...

and THIS...

Happy 4th of July!

Steve had to work today. Turns out, the police department never closes...even for holidays. Go figure. Anyway, me and the boys went with some of our favorite friends (and yes, they're family too) to see the Arlington Parade. It still has the small town feel...and I love a parade. Cue the patriotic music.

Nothing says freedom like Elvis on a tiny motorcycle.

Quote of the Week

Caleb: "If they made a solar-powered station wagon, I would totally buy it."

Cody: "If you had two thumbs on each hand, you could be a mad champion on PS2."

The Guilt Train

The kids totally suckered me into taking them to play Putt-Putt one afternoon this week. Yes, I said afternoon...in Texas...in July. They look at me with those sad little puppy dog eyes and say "we'll only play one game...please???" And of course, the guilt train leaves the station in my head with 'I should take every chance I can to play with them because they're not going to want to forever...blah, blah, blah.' And seriously all I can hear in my head is Steve singing "Watercolor Ponies" to me...first, he does not sing...second, he does this to totally make me cry...usually that uncontrollable weeping that I do when I think about the boys leaving home one day. Sad, I know.

Anyway...of course, we went. I made them promise we would only play one game and not spend a fortune in the game room...which honestly is really why they want to go play putt-putt because you have to pass by the HUGE room full of all those games with bright & shiny lights begging to have tokens stuffed in them, and they know mom's weak sometimes. We actually went late enough and Steve ended up getting to go with us. So, a Putt-Putt Victory and 2 Holes-in-One later, I was kind of liking this Putt-Putt thing. Oh yeah, I totally missed my calling as the Putt-Putt Champion.

I Was Mean Today

I don't feel like I'm mean very often {even though I was voted the "meanest person" by one of my very own sisters on her myspace page...that didn't hurt}, but I feel like I was today. I felt justified in doing what I did, and don't regret it...but I still have a sick feeling in my stomach because I was...to someone I barely know. I sent an email to someone who hurt someone I love dearly...and was downright snippy and mean...all wrapped up in about 16 words. Actually, I labored over those words about 12 hours before putting them to screen, and then another 5 minutes staring at it before pressing the dreaded 'send with absolutely no chance of ever getting those words back' button. I kept going back and forth...should I just go all out and spew out the bitter yet forceful speech I actually rehearsed in my head? Or do I just concisely say enough to get my point across and {hopefully} make him feel guilty for what he did?

Are either of these the appropriate thing to do? Wow, I struggle with that. I can honestly say I'm not sure, but that it probably depends on the circumstances. I'm pretty sure my pride somehow comes into play here. I'm also pretty sure that when someone messes with one of my chicks, this momma hen's feathers are gonna be ruffled. I think I totally just mixed my metaphors there...but you get my point.

P.S. Tonight, Steve and I were watching "Baby Borrowers" we had recorded on our DVR (clearly the BEST human invention ever...well, the automobile was good too). Anywho, this show is about young teens/adults having to take care of babies 24/7 to show them what it's like in real life when they poop, throw up, cry all the time, etc. One of the couples was fighting about getting up with the baby because he was waking up all during the night crying because he was teething. It was at this moment, Steve said one of the sweetest things to me... "Thank you for getting up in the night when the boys were babies and taking care of them. And even now when they get sick. I just wake up, and they're on a blanket next to our bed." How about, "Thanks for getting the dog out of the kitchen sink last night?"