Pic of the Week

As we get deep into baseball season each year, I love to go back and look at this:

This is only 3 short years ago. I'm feeling a little nostalgic this morning.

Education at its Finest

Today is National Take Your Child to Work Day although I’m not really sure it’s National but anyway where we live it is so we are participating because my kids are all like “the teachers really want us to learn about different careers” and I’m all like “no, the teachers just want a day where they don’t have to put up with half of you kids,” but it’s their bad because the good kids are the ones that are home because their parents don’t mind having them home and the bad kids’ parents don’t want them at home because…hello…they’re bad even at home except for my niece and nephew because they’re not bad but they still had to go to school today. So anyway I told Steve he really needed to take the boys to fight crime with him today because the last time I tried to teach my kids what I do at work they’re all like “mom, this is soooo boring” and I’m all “I know kids…it’s accounting just deal with it and keep shredding,” and “hey we get in free to every mercyme concert.” And they’re all “I know but you never take us” and I’m all “I know because me and daddy have to have a date night every once in a while.” So I’m all “Steve you really need to take them to catch some robbers” and he’s all like “I’m not even working that day so I can’t take them” and I’m all “well what are we gonna do so that I can say they worked on take your child to work day?” and he’s all “I’ll take them mountain biking because you get real tired after you do that so it’s kind of like work.” And I’m all “okay, but shoot a delinquent gangster squirrel or something while you’re out there so it will kind of look like you took them to work.” And that, people, is why we don’t homeschool.

Sweet Design Wednesday

I'm glad everyone doesn't drive white, black and silver cars.

This ain't your father's oldsmobile volkswagen. If it is, he's probably very sweet himself.

Should Have Gone With Ants

First: Cody had a project due this week at school where he had to build a model, and then write a paper on the process. He built a replica of the treehouse that he and Caleb helped their daddy build. FYI...if you are a creative person at all, these projects will cost you way more than is probably intended by the teachers.

The only thing missing is the arsenal of guns kept there.

Second: Okay, I'm not saying this guy needs to find a different line of work...but can he really still be employed after this advertising idea?

and Third: I will spare you the picture of my other eye which is now conveniently infected just as the other one was starting to feel better. I have purposefully not posted on here for a few days because I know how easy it is for viruses to spread on these here computers. You're welcome.

Warning: You Might Want to Choose Other Friends

Remember this?

Well exactly three weeks later (almost to the hour), we got to go again. But this time, it was Cody who decided that he couldn't let his brother get all the attention.

Cody was playing an 8:00 p.m. baseball game, was up to bat, squared up to bunt...and the beast that was pitching did his wind up and threw the ball (we're guessing 50-60 mph...I do not kid when I say he was a beast)...and Cody could not get out of the way fast enough. The ball hit him square on in the right chest area. It stunned him...kind of doubled over a little...took a drink of water and went to 1st base to run the bases. By the time he made it home, he was out of breath, coughing, and threw up three times.

He kept telling us that his breathing didn't feel normal...so we took him. Back to the ER...same intake nurse...same crowd.

After we had been there about an hour, Cody said his breathing felt normal again...but they wanted to go ahead and x-ray his lungs and ribs to make sure there were no contusions.

The good news is...no inside contusions...only bruising and soreness. He's got a nice bruise in the shape of a baseball.

He was happy to be leaving the hospital...as were we.

And because we are equal opportunity parents and because we had not had dinner yet, we told him he could decide where he wanted to get a midnight snack. He chose...Waffle House. If you've never been there after midnight, you must put it on your bucket list.

The rest of our week has not gone any smoother...

Steve took a spill while biking this week when his back brakes failed him...

and I got a nice case of the conjunctivitis.

You might not want to ride in the car with us...or let your children play at our house. I'm just sayin...

But isn't this beautiful?

Clear eyes finally! I am now keeping him in a glass case.

Promise

I've never seen the nailprints in His hands...but I've felt His hands around me as I read test results and struggled with a life changing diagnosis.

I've never seen His nail-scarred feet...but I've felt Him walk beside me down hospital corridors and unfamiliar paths.

I've never heard Him speak...but I've felt His breath in my ear as He spoke words of comfort...and hope.

I've never seen His blood...but I've felt it wash over me at every indiscretion and offense.

I've never seen the empty tomb...but I've felt the victory of a man who death could not hold.

My Dear Savior,

Thank you for not taking the easy way out. Thank you for your sacrifice, and your blood shed on my behalf. But most of all, thank you for being true to your Word...and leaving that cold, dark tomb to give us hope, HOPE and a future. May my life reflect your sacrifice.

...That Makes Me White as Snow

I have never been worthy...my sins are as drops in an ocean.

A careless thought, a hasty word, a life unsurrendered...

Guilt is piercing...and begs me to withdraw knowing there is nothing I can do in my own power.

But...Jesus.

"...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." -- Hebrews 9:22

Pics of the Week

This is Easter Sunday in 2004. I could still get away with dressing them alike.

That year, we had lunch and an egg hunt over at some of our sistas' brother's house...and it was cold that year.


A few things never change though...


Our kids are as redneck as they come. Nothing commemorates the resurrection of our Savior like getting tattoos.

Sweet Design Wednesday

I love going to Sweet Tomatoes. Not only do they offer great variety and great taste in food, their decor is sweet. It's very clean, contemporary and minimalist...

and they use words on their walls...which would improve any restaurant in my opinion. Unless the words are "You'll pick up a good case of salmonella here."

I May be Ex-Communicated

A couple of weeks ago during Spring Break, the boys and I went with some friends to the Fort Worth Zoo.

I realize I'm creeping into dangerous territory here...and it may get me kicked out of Mommyville, but [brace yourself] I hate the zoo. I hate the zoo for what it is...and for what it could be. It could be a sweet place to take the family and leisurely stroll through the nature preserves...oohing and aahing over the animals who are entertaining you...they frolic and play with each other...they do tricks...YES, TRICKS! They might even jump, and run...and hop. But this is not what the zoo is...my friends, the zoo is BORING.

It is so packed with people you have to stand in line to see the animals. Sleeping.

I know animals have to sleep...but do we not have the technology to get them on our sleep schedule so they could be awake to entertain us? The monkeys/apes are clearly the only half-interesting exhibit there because they will actually poop into their hand and then eat it...and as disgusting as that is, at least it gives you something to watch and tell your kids NOT to do.


They're also great at picking bugs/fleas off each other...I'm okay with that because THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING.

Seriously, would it be asking too much to throw some raw meat in the lion and tiger cage every once in a while so we could see them in their natural state? How awesome would it be [and I'm going to whisper this so that not everyone can hear], if they put a zebra in the lion's habitat? That is entertainment people!

I mean there's a reason why the Discovery channel is so popular...we love to see animals do what they do best...hunt, kill and eat. And if the zebra can actually out-run or out-manuever the lion...that much more the entertainment. Patrons would actually be cheering the zebras on!

Okay, I'm sick...I know this.

Sadly, I guess the ATM's were sleeping too. We never did see those.

A Little Better

An update on Caleb for family and friends:

When I got home from my scrapbook retreat yesterday, Caleb was still running 102 fever and looking and feeling bad even though Daddy had taken VERY good care of him while I was away. When he woke up this morning around 11 a.m., he looked and felt a little better (maybe because mommy was home???...just a thought). I went ahead and called his Pediatrician just to ask her opinion about the fever since we've been on antibiotics for 6 days now, and she wanted to see him.

She changed antibiotics for the strep throat, and we have a little different plan of attack with regard to the eyes because now it appears that the infection may have moved over to the left eye also. We follow up with the Opthomologist on Wednesday.


The most obvious change from last week is that he has lost 6 pounds since last Tuesday. God love him...he just looks so pitiful.


But I knew he was feeling better when he did this:


He's BAAAACCCKK!

Thanks for loving and praying for him....

Pic of the Week

Here's what they should look like...

Precious.

Here We Go Again

Remember this? Surely so...because it was only a short 13 days ago. We abided by all the doctor's orders and instructions...and it seemed to work. Caleb had 3 full days of 'well' eyes...and seemed to be doing fine. Well other than developing strep throat sometime on Tuesday and missing school on Wednesday. Then this morning, he woke up with a swollen, red eye. I just laughed because seriously...this is our house the past 2 weeks.


I know alot of you have much more serious illnesses and stuff going on in your house...but I am feeling beat down...seriously beat down.

So is he.

I called to see if we could get him in to an opthamologist close to us but was told we needed to follow up with the same Dr that saw him after his "accident"...so off we go to get him from school and make the drive over to that Dr. He and his dad entertained themselves while waiting for the doc...

and then when he was examining all of this...

he said, "now that's technology."

Come to find out...Caleb now has a bacterial infection that is highly contagious. Does that make your eyes itchy just thinking about it? So no school the rest of the week...no touching each other...washing hands alot...stronger antibiotics.

After we picked up his school work and sat at the kitchen table working on it all afternoon, I seriously felt like I was a homeschool mom. And I am so not cut out for that. Thank you God for great teachers and great schools! After a while he said, "Mom I can't keep my eyes open"...and he was like this in about 30 seconds...

Great...now I have to sterilize my favorite blankie and my favorite Target pillow!

Sweet Design Wednesday

Back for my third installment of Sweet Design Wednesday. I love, love, LOVE this laptop case. I purchased it from here and there are lots of sweet things to peruse in her store. There are many bags in stores for 14-15" computers, but very few for 17"... and those that are there are BORING.

I carried this on my trip to Nashville, and it not only fit my laptop, but the cord, the wireless mouse, and all my important papers with room to spare.


Bye, bye black leather office products. I say "Buy American, Buy Cute!"