Am I crazy yet?

I knew my sister from KY was coming to visit with her 3 kids. Then a sister-in-law w/2, and another sister w/3 decided to come too! I wasn't prepared! But kids are having a great time! Bummer thing is is that our Spring Break is over, and my kids had to go to school today. They will go tomorrow too for 1/2 day, and miss on Wednesday.

I am glad they are here except that Joey is crying and crying because it's a house-full of strangers, and he is just not liking it. Today he has nursed almost the whole day! I guess the security of mom!

Dumb Suburban

I had to take the 3 younger kids to Shreveport yesterday for doctor appts: These are the results:

• Jacob is doing excellent on the insulin pump. His blood sugar average is almost in range (in the 180's!), and he has even gain weight, and overall Dr. McVie says he is doing great!
• Lindsey's tonsils are horrible. Dr. Parker tried to look in her throat as she was sitting on my lap, and she was screaming so loud, that all he did was take his light and look into it. I saw it too. Horrible!
• Joey's one side (can't remember the side) is as big as his nose. Dr. Parker said it's no wonder the poor child snores and doesn't sleep. He said it's the worst he has ever seen in a 15 month old child.
• Tonsils will be coming out on April 4th, including Joey. Nervous with it all, but it has to be done. I am a firm believer that if tonsils are in the way, get them out! The older 5 have had them out too.

So, then after seeing the doctors, eating lunch @ Chick-fil-A, and stopping at Old Navy to get some clothes for Lauren, Kayley & Kristen (massive sale... awesome stuff!), we headed home. Lauren came with me to help with kids as I drove. It's a 90 minute commute.

90 minutes! That's all it should have take to get home. We left at 3pm... easily home by 4:30-ish. Yeah, right! Suburban started acting up again like back on Feb. 4th when it took us 5 hrs to get home from Dallas. We never had another single problem since until then! We finally pull in the house, in a tow truck hauling the Suburban at 7pm. That's after the kids and I sat under a bridge for almost an hour waiting for the tow truck (locals: it's Wright's Towing!). They had an extended cab tow truck, and so we were all able to get home without having to call the in-laws. We had 6 cars to pull over to see if we were all right. I assured them we were as I had notified the husband (working in Shreveport), the in-laws, my insurance company, my oldest son (to make dinner... which he did: made some awesome chicken), and that the tow truck was coming. Kids played on the cement going up and down, rolling toy cars down, and Jacob even peed up on the hill (in plain sight... I was mortified! But, if you gotta go, you gotta go!). Joey was very good considering that he was confined to the carseat most of the day, and when we got out, I wouldn't let him really crawl because it was such an incline I was afraid he would loose balance.

So, now I sit here on the computer debating to go to Ashdown in a few. I need to go before my mom gets here today. I think I will attempt it as Ashdown is only 5 miles up the road. I need to go turn in the towing receipt so I can get a refund.

The eagle has ALMOST landed!

After years of telling Josh that he wouldn't be able to drive until he got his Eagle in Boy Scouts, he has officially started it. But not before he got his license. Oh, well. I needed him to drive! LOL!! I'll post more about it later. His project will take place on May 10th. Any locals reading this, and want to help, please mark your calendars!

Got braces?

Lauren does! She got them this morning. Granted there are only 4 brackets on top, as we are in the Phase 1 stage. Lauren still has 10 baby teeth to lose, so what the ortho is doing is getting the permanent teeth straight & lined (believe me, her top 4 are a mangled mess... poor kid!), so when the new ones come in, they will come in straight. Of course, that's the plan, and it better work because her ortho limit has been met, and that isn't even with a full mouth of braces!

Tinsel teeth, metal mouth, brace face!

Happy Easter!

Shawn had to work today. He had to work Christmas day too! Boy, that just sucks! I got up to get ready for church, and check Lindsey first. Very hot. Tell Lauren she is staying home. Give her a list of stuff that she needs to get done while I am gone to church. I check Lindsey, and she is 103.4. Remember, a few weeks ago she got to 105.5. So, I told Lauren I was staying home, and she needed to get in the shower. Josh & Jacob wear their Easter ties, and Lauren, Kayley & Krissy have on matching skirts. I will try to get a picture of them after church. I told them next week we would take pictures for sure when we can get Lindsey & Joey ready too, and Shawn being home too. Joey also has a cold, so his face is constantly covered in snot for right now. He has like 4 new teeth coming in all at once... 2 being upper molars. Back to Lindsey~ Before I stress myself out on her being a diabetic, I am taking her to the ENT on Thursday. I really feel it's her tonsils. I think I posted about it before. I'll keep you posted on that. I am hoping our doctor friend at church will call in some medication for her today.

We are having the Elders over for lunch after church. I am going to take a picture of them too, and if they can remember their parents email, I will email their parents with this blog so they can see their sons on Easter. Is that bad? Naaaaaa... they aren't speaking to them! :-D I am fixing a ham, potato salad (already made), toss salad (about to make it), raw veggies, and a pound cake w/ strawberries & cream. I hope the cake is good. I had to make another one. The first one was horrible! I left the cake in for almost 2 hrs, and it rose, and when I took it out, it fell!! I cut into the cake, and it was barely done. It wasn't gooey, so that's why my tester came out clean, but it was horrible! I threw that cake out in the backyard (see how hick I have become?). Dogs ate it because it was gone this morning. Made another cake last night, and I left it in for over 2 hrs! I feel it's going to be okay as it didn't fall, but it may be dry. Good thing we are having the strawberries to go with it. I think my sister-in-law is making a no-bake cheesecake too.

Lindsey is in the process of pulling out the Barbies (I have to tell Rebecca THANKS again!), and making a mess. Great! That's all I need! Joey is joining in the fun too. I need him to go down for a nap!

Bracelets

Lauren has learned to make these bracelets. She is using all the DMC thread that my mom and I have purchased over the years when I used to cross-stitch. I think Lauren is in thread heaven!

Dying Easter eggs and being sick

Oh, the joy! Oh, the fun! Next year it's being done at Mamaw's house! Now I know why I don't like doing them... fighting! Maybe when I am a Gramma and my grandchildren want to do them, I'll have more patience. LOL!!

This morning the kids had an Easter egg hunt at the church. It was the Primary activity. I didn't get pictures, nor did I stay. I had to go to Walmart and Sams. Lindsey didn't go because she isn't feeling well. I think my worse fears are coming true with her. I feel she is a diabetic, and just in the beginning stages of it. Last night she was 152 at 10pm, and 168 at 2:30am. This morning she was 128. Shawn said it's a little on the high side. Jacob was 3 1/2 when I first started noticing some problems with him, but even the 2 times I had his blood sugars checked while we lived in Bryan, he was normal. I am taking her to the Endo. on Thursday when I take Jacob in for his appt. Anyway, the kids got Lindsey some eggs at the church. Some had stickers, and some had nasty candy. I kept asking my kids for some good candy, but they kept showing me the cheap stuff. LOL!! So, I settled for a Mounds & Sonic drink.

Krissy's & Lindsey's finished eggs!

I really miss my HEB. The one picture is HEB in Bryan when it opened by my house in Dec. 2004. I really, really, really miss it! HEB COME TO TEXARKANA!! It's the best grocery store ever. Nothing, not even Walmart or Albertsons can compare to HEB! Maybe some bigwig from HEB will see this, and see that we need an awesome grocery store! I hate Walmart (ok, I like them right now because that's all I have), I hate Brookshires, Super 1, Albertsons and Shur-Way is just... well, I can't say because Josh works there, and well, you know! :-D

PLEASE HEB, I AM BEGGING! COME TO TEXARKANA!!

Friends

I have always told my kids that just suck it up whenever they find out they weren't invited to a party, or something else by a "so-called" friend. It's just so hard. Hard on us parents when we know too, and know that our kids weren't invited. I remember a few times as a kid, I had friends at school, but I was hardly ever invited to a birthday party. I remember finally being invited to a party while I was in 6th grade, and when I showed up, no one was there. I know my mom was upset too. The girl told me it was at her house, but apparently it was at the skating rink. I guess I wasn't cool enough. :-( I know my kids are cool, but I feel it's because we haven't lived here forever. Even having a party for my kids, only a few have shown up for some since moving here. My kids had fantastic parties in Bryan. I know it's because we were close in town, and not in the boondocks like here.

I tell my kids "even though it doesn't seem fair, remember that only your family will be with you for eternity. Don't worry about friends. Yes, it's good to have friends, but they won't be with you forever, so they can't care for your feelings." Harsh harsh world we live in!

But at the same time, it's always good to have a friend to talk to. I really miss my friend, Laura, in Bryan. She and I always found an excuse to go somewhere, even if it was lunch/dinner all the time. And believe me, it was ALL THE TIME! I miss you, Laura! Our favorite place to eat was Cheddars. When I found this logo, the address was from someone's website, and the addy was tamu.org LOL!! Aggies know how to eat good! Wish Texarkana would get this place! It's great! I like this quote. It suits me:

Spring Break has begun!

The grass is green, the sky is blue
I wonder where the birdies is...
Ka-plop!

That was always a "rhyme" that my dad always told us. I don't know why I just thought of it as I wrote the title.

Awwwww, the joyful sound of kids fighting, I mean playing and being nice to each other. Just think I have another 10 days of this? Will I stay sane? or will I turn into the wicked witch? I just can't wait until my mom and sister get here next weekend.

Good movies

We watch a lot of movies. We do have a TV in my room, but no Dish Network. Why? Because when we got Dish connected after we moved here, we only had 1 TV. We had done the TV-in-the-bedroom-thing many years ago when I was pregnant with Jacob, and we vowed never to do it again after we moved into the Ethel Blvd. house in Bryan. After moving here, Shawn started working on the master bedroom, and decided that he wanted a TV eventually, so installed surround sound. We got a flat screen TV to hang on our wall. I was in style! Then Shawn went back to work in Bryan, and rented that small apt. He needed a TV. So, he took our old TV that was now upstairs, and replaced it with the flat screen that was in my room. Well, then he decided to make a TV cabinet for the flat screen upstairs, and so to this day, the flat screen is upstairs, connected to the Dish. Now that Shawn is not in Bryan anymore, the old TV sits on the old TV stand in my bedroom, with the flat screen TV attachements still on the wall. It does have the 2 deer antler hangings attached to it, so it's real attractive! I have called about to see how much a new receiver will cost, and blah, blah, blah... hundreds of dollars! I told them I have been a customer to Dish for 8 yrs, and I needed a good deal. No can do, according to "Bob in Pakistan, who is an American." So, until I can justify spending that much money (Shawn wants me too), we only have a TV in my room to watch DVD's. So, without furthur ado... Movie of the week: AUGUST RUSH! This has got to be one of the best movies I have seen in a long time (remember, I have chosen 2-3 bombs in the last few weeks!)! I didn't know that Robin Williams played in it also. His character I didn't like, but he played the part perfectly! Such a good movie! If you have Clear Play, and can edit swear words, then do so. There is not a lot. Only in a few scenes that Robin Williams and the orphan children are in. I don't recall hearing any from August's mouth. But, if you don't care, it's still an awesome movie! I really really liked it, and will probably allow my kids to see it even though we don't currently have Clear Play (we do, but we can't download anything right now).

Poor Jacob! Has to live with "chick-flicks"! This is my kids pick-of-the-week! I haven't seen it yet, but I will hopefully today before we have to return it. UPDATE: I watched Enchanted today, and it was really cute. The queen's servant is Wormtail on Harry Potter. This is a movie I was definately buy really soon. Maybe Kayley will get it for her birthday.

I also got the kids Nancy Drew because they really enjoyed watching it at Aunt Cindy's & Uncle Brett's house this past summer (well, it was in the theater).

My new look

Do you like it? I found it through my friend, Heather, who recently redid hers as well. It's called LeeLouBlogs. It was rather easy, even for me! I really like it. Mine is called Meema. I liked Lauren too, and a few others, but I really liked this one.

My favorite movie

I don't know why I love this movie right now. Maybe it's because my house is almost as caotic as this one? I know that most of it is staged, and all, but it comes pretty darn close to my real family life. You have the older teenager who wants his own way, and then you have the pre-teens, and then you have the younger ones. Only I have a baby, and they don't. It just makes life so fun! All and all though, I love my family and I love having a big family, and I am thankful for them.

Part in the movie the girl (Sarah?) comes in the (new) kitchen and promptly tells her dad that they are the only kids on their street who have to do chores. I thought that was funny because that's what my kids tell me. Just last night I made a new kitchen chore chart, and rearrange some of the jobs. Lindsey now unloads the silverware, and she is so excited that she gets too "officially". I printed it off, and even laminated it so that the chart wouldn't get ruined.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

For the occasion, I am fixing Corned Beef & cabbage (along w/carrots & potatoes). I know the meat isn't that healthy, but Josh really wanted it. "It's my last St. Patty's day for at least 3 years!" Fine! What can I say about that? I don't think I made it last year because I just wasn't with it since Joey was only like 2 1/2 months old. Let's just say, I am his favorite mom right now! And this is for dessert. It's a pistachio chocolate cake. I always make it when I do the corned beef. I got the recipe from my friend, Jen, many years ago. We love it!

The ONLY thing I like about living on a chicken farm...

is the price of the chicken I pay! Look at this bag. It's a 5# bag. They sell this at Sams, and most other stores. I pay $5.65 for 5#! How great is that? Boneless, skinless too!! My friend, Rebecca, sells Mary Kay stuff, and she ordered me some stuff for Josh & Lauren the other day, and the price came out to be $15. I asked her if she wanted to be paid in chicken or cash. She chose chicken. LOL!!


And look at this price! I never allow my kids to get these whenever we do go to McD's. I am cheap, I know. But when I can get a dozen of these things for $1.25! Yeah, now you know!

What I did this weekend...

First off, my kids had a 3 days weekend, so you know what we did on Friday (see below). Shawn, Josh & I rented a movie to watch on Friday night to watch after the other kids were in bed. Called Rescue Dawn. I thought it would be good. You know, action/war flick, Viet-Nam era. Based on a true story. Rather boring. I can't believe they would waste any money in making this movie. After watching this though, you really thank your Heavenly Father for the freedom you have. Unless you really love Christian Bale, don't rent it.

Saturday:
Woke up and made the sauce to my Chicken Pasta Supreme for Enrichment. I also made a mint cake for it. Got it all ready, myself ready & Joey ready. Lauren was going too (YW are invited to our Enrichments), and we were out the door @ 9:30am. Our Relief Society does Enrichment Meetings on Saturday mornings from 10-1. We do this because we have quite a few older sisters who do not drive at night, and also because we have quite a few sisters who do work, and Saturday mornings are better. I personally rather do it on a Tuesday or Thursday night, but for now, this is good. We always have a lunch to go with it. We had a great turn-out, and it was very nice & spiritual. We were starting our service projects for the year. It was also the birthday celebration.

After leaving there, Lauren, Joey & I headed to Texas-side Walmart (no tax on food) to do a big food shopping. 2 hrs & 2 full carts later, we leave. I needed to get more, but I was on a time frame, so I was in a hurry. I had to be home by 4pm (also had to stop at a few other places) to get the lasagna in the oven.

We get home, get groceries away, and dinner in the oven. We also hurried to finish cleaning up the kitchen and living room, as we were having a part-member semi-active family over for dinner, and for a 1st discussion/FHE lesson on the Plan of Salvation. Our stake has asked all hometeachers to start teaching their semi/less active families the missionary discussions from the Preach My Gospel book. The Jan. 2008 Friend had an awesome handout of the Plan of Salvation, so I printed their 2 children each one on cardstock, and we discussed it. Shawn taught it, and we all had a great time. We had root beer floats for our treat.

Went to bed, and watched War of the Worlds w/Tom Cruise. Okay, was that part of the plan? Don't think so! LOL!! I just DO NOT like that movie. The first time I ever watched it, it kinda freaked me out because of all the gore in it, and after watching it again, I just do not like it. I played Tetrus mostly on Jacob's Game Boy Advance. Hehe. Oh, BTW, Josh was on a date in Texarkana during our dinner and all, so we were waiting on him to get home.

At 11pm, even though I had already set our clocks to read 12am, I called Josh and told him even though it was technically 11pm, it was really 12am (LOL!), and that he needed to get home (his curfew is 11:59pm). He said that his date's dad just called and said the same thing, and in 30 minutes he was home. Such a good son I have!

Sunday:
Set my alarm to get up at 6:30am. I got up, and it was still dark outside. But I needed to get up to make another mint cake for lunch, and start getting stuff ready for the taco salad. We were having the 4 Elders for late lunch after church. I head back to bed for just a few minutes. 1 hr later, I get up. Rushed into the shower & got Lauren up too. Got most of the salad ready after I was ready, but no cake made. Decided that root beer floats would be good again.

Got to church on time with everyone dressed, and made it through barely. I was so tired! I was trying to stay awake in RS by eating candy that I had won at Enrichment and part of the banana that I was feeding Joey.

Made it home, and fed the Elders and my family. They left.

Layed on the couch, and didn't move until 5:40pm. Made homemade blueberry muffins for the kids for dinner. Some ate some eggs with it, Josh had some leftover lasagna. Aunt Ethel & Uncle Charles came over to visit, so we called Shawn's parents to come over too (Ethel and Talmage are siblings). Had a good visit with them, and by 8:30pm all kids were in bed. I went to bed by 10pm.

No pictures were taken, nothing else to exciting happened. Not planning on a cool day or anything. Just have to pay bills, and start working on some family history stuff.

My sister, Heather

Anyone moving to Ft. Hood/Killeen and need a house, go see her! This is her new billboard on the highway.

It really snowed!

It did snow the other day, but not like this! First time that my kids have seen it really snow like this. They were excited that there was no school. Check back later to see the pictures... my sister is going to post them. Check out Lauren's snowman!

My cute baby...

I have an aspiring pianist, and a climber!

Mozart, maybe?



After these were taken, he learned to climb over the barrier on my stairs. And for those who know what my stairs are like, it's not good! I'm going to have to think of something else! I haven't had a climber like this Lauren was little! Maybe Kayley, but she wasn't as bad as Lauren.

Please someone... knock me out!

I feel horrible! I think that the sleep deprivation is catching up with me!

This sounds inviting!

I need to have one more so I can move here! ;-) This was on Fox News.

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan — Turkmenistan's president hopes to start a baby boom in the gas-rich former Soviet nation with a plan to reward women who give birth to eight or more children -- a one-time bonus and lifetime perks, state media reported Wednesday.

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov approved the measure in a decree entitling the mothers to a single $250 payment, as well as free utilities, public transportation and dental care for life.

The award bears hallmarks of a similar initiative introduced by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II, when the government awarded medals to women with five or more children.

The offer comes before International Women's Day on March 8. Last week, the government announced every woman in the country will receive a $10 bonus to mark the holiday.

Berdymukhamedov has made tentative progress in reversing the welfare policies of autocratic former President Saparmurat Niyazov, who died in December 2006.

Niyazov caused severe hardship across the country when he dismissed thousands of health personnel and ordered the closure of hospitals outside the capital, causing a sharp rise in child mortality rates.

Three things I cannot tolerate or like

The first thing I cannot tolerate is someone bullying my children. My kids have been bullied long enough. Lauren came home today, and one of the bullies on the bus had marked on her new bag that I just bought for her. I called the bus driver, and he told me he would take care of it. He says he absolutely loves my kids, and will not tolerate the bullies either. If it came down to the nitty gritty of it all, I would have threatened with my personal lawyer (how I love having an attorney in the family!). But it didn't, and I hope things will get better for my kids. How sad is it when they come home crying? I was bullied on when I used to ride the bus, but I'm not going to put up with it. I am glad my kids tell. I never told. :-(

Cannot even out into words how much I dislike these two. Of course, it's my opinion, and I'm not saying McCain would be any better, but I rather have him, then any of these two. And for the first time in Pritchard history (est. 1968), my parents, a brother & a sister voted for a democrat (Hillary even!) just to try to keep Obama out.

I knew I was an addict, but now my son?

I know I have a drinking problem! I can't help it! It was the only perk I did without feeling bad, until now:


For some reason, I just cannot make it through the day without my Route 44 Diet Dr Pepper w/easy easy ice. Yes, 2 easies! Because if I don't say that, even the easy ice is full of ice! I need drink, not ice! Sundays are the real killer for me. I've been known to ask if we can stop on the way home from church, but of course, my children won't allow it! :-D

ETA: That is not Joey. My mom freaked out! That is just a picture I found on the internet when I did a search for Sonic! LOL!!

This is what I am fixing for dinner!

My kids will be in heaven! I was going to make it on Saturday, but no can do. It's pesto chicken & manicotti. I got the recipe from my friend, Rebecca. I've tasted it too. She gave me some leftovers of it one day when I was at her house, and I was chowing down! It was really good! To bad y'all can't be here! :-)

It snowed!

It finally snows at our house after many years of waiting, and the kids still had to go to school! They were so mad! Now the snow is melted. Oh, darn! Having lived in Alaska for 3 yrs during my early teen years, I hated it! I vowed I would never live someplace cold again like that! Josh comes in this morning from Seminary, and quickly says, "You want me to go live in Rexburg?" Yes, sir... you are going!

P.S. Yes, that is a real picture, but not here! LOL!!

Purple hull peas and cornbread

That's what we had for dinner again. I'm just not a fan of purple hull peas. I love my cornbread, but not peas. Shawn's mom sometimes will say she will fix Sunday night dinner, and most of the time it's purple hull peas. But I do eat them.

If you go back to last summer on my blog, my kids were sitting on the porch. They were shelling purple hull peas.

Picture of the Insulin Pump

Since I have learned how to find pictures on the internet (thanks Google!), I want to post a picture of the pump that Jacob now uses. His insulin was started today, and so far it's been awesome!

Using the Bosch for the 1st time

I got a Bosch for Christmas, and it's been sitting in the box since. I've been to scared to use it because it cost so much, and plus being rather poor, I really wanted to send it back and get a refund. Problem is, I was going to have to pay for shipping, and I couldn't really afford that. So, there it sat. In my kitchen. Being knocked around by Joey since. Tonight I thought about how it's been a very long time since I made some good homemade chocolate chip cookies, and how I wanted some right then. I get the Bosch out, and get it ready. Man, that thing whipped my dough into place in about 2 seconds! I was so impressed with most of it. I had to email a friend of mine to ask her a few things about it, since she has had one for a long time (I bought her "old" frige, and she got the new Bosch!)

Had those cookies done in no time, and they are really yummy. I'm already planning on my next batch that I am going to make. I'll never loose weight now! :-(

Local newspaper

I was in it! Yeah, I was! There is a section in the editorials called "Cheers & Jeers." It's published every Saturday. People can email or write in with a "Cheer" of something good, or a "Jeer" of something bad that is happening around the area, or something they read about in the paper. I emailed in a Jeer. I was going to post it, but I have to be logged in to read it, so when I registered to be logged in, it said if I didn't hear back from them in 72 hrs, to redo it. Hello, that's like 3 days away! I want y'all to read it now! Let me tell you about it instead:

A few weeks ago, Texarkana had a voting for a name for the new pro baseball team that is going to be in Texarkana. The winner was the Texarkana Gunslingers. Picture is of a "cowboy" holding 2 shooting guns. Now, before I go on, I want to say, I have nothing against guns. Heck, my bedroom probably has 10 guns of some sort. Maybe more. But, this is my problem: The school districts have a 0 tolerance for guns, including all pictures of a gun on shirts, hats, etc... I can see why, and I support it. I make sure my kids don't wear stuff with a gun on them (not that I buy it anyway). So I wrote my Jeer: "To the naming of the new baseball team, the Gunslingers. I hope that the local school districts will not support this team in any way because our children will not be able to support the team at all, especially on game days. Why risk them to get expelled? The Texarkana Tornadoes would have been a better choice." Pretty cool, huh? The tornadoes was one of the voting choices.

And excuse me for a moment while I go scream... Ok, all better!

Kristen came in to my room this morning at 4:30, and told me she threw up! I get up, and she tells me that she just threw up at my door. Good thing she didn't get it on my carpet, or I would have pounded her boo-tay! Joking on that... but she did throw-up in the dining room. Laminate floor, so no biggy. I love Clorax wipes! But of course, the smell lingered, so I had to spray Lysol after a while, but for an hour I thought I was going to have to go throw-up myself! :-(