Being Redneck

My sister-in-law, Val, left a comment in my Mouse a la mode post saying that I was redneck, or that was redneck, or something like that. Well, I'm proud to be a Redneck! :-D

Never thought it would happen to me. I swore when I married Shawn that we would never move here, or at least never live on this farm. I was a "proper" city girl, and my kids always matched, girls always had bows in their head, and they never got dirty. Josh asked once if he could get dirty. I may not have had brand-new furniture, but I thought my house(s) looked nice even if it wasn't the best.

Now, I'm lucky if I can even get them to put on something that even looks remotely clean or matching. LOL!! I have started back with the bows in the little girls hair (thanks Aubrey!). But that's only for church & school. If we are going to Walmart, heck I don't care if they are wearing boots (which was a no-no for me before) with shorts or a dress. I don't care if they still have Ketchup on their face, or a Kool-aid smile, from the day before (ok, maybe not the day before, but that day).

My living room furniture is ugly. When we were about to move here, Shawn told me that I could get some new couches that December. Well, almost 3 yrs later, and I am still using the Goodwill couches that Shawn's mom left for us. Yes, she had those things in this house before she moved out, and still thinks they are very nice! Yes, they are nice that I can use them instead of sitting on the floor, but nice as in nice looking? GROSS! Maybe one of these days I can get some new leather couches. Until then, I will use my ugly redneck couches in my redneck house.

My redneck house is so not done. Insulation sticking out of here and there. The redneck stairs are horrible. The trimmings and borders are redneck, and my A/C unit "door" is so redneck. Shawn puts the "door" back up, and leaves it on the silver side. WHY? At least put the white side up to kinda blend. LOL!!

I will say I am rather embarrassed to live in a Redneck house. I hate it. Josh doesn't want me to do a graduation party for him unless the foyer and dining room are done, but oh, well. We are Redneck, so it'll fit the part!

Crazy weather!

Yesterday my mom calls, who lives 1 hr. north of Austin, and says it's 90! We only got to the low 70's, but it was nice. Today it's only suppose to be in the 50's. Same with my mom's place! Crazy! I'm so looking forward to Spring/Summer again. Ok, maybe not the hottest part of the summer, but I am looking for some warmth!

Mouse a la mode

A couple of weeks ago, Josh and I would sometimes smell something, like maybe a dead mouse. We've smelled it before, so we know that a dead mouse looms somewhere in the kitchen. Just this past week, I open up the top oven to put a dish in, and there is a mouse tail. Serious! A mouse tail. Just laying there. I looked up and down, and all over the oven and I could not see a dead mouse. Kinda freaked me out a bit, but what could I do? Nothing! All I had was a mouse tail.

Tonight I turn on the top oven again to use the broiler. I am holding Joey, and waiting for the cheese toast to get done, and there it is! Stuck in the outer upper part of the oven, is a dried up dead mouse! It looked like it was trying to get INTO my stove top! Totally grossed me out. I would have seen it the other day when I was looking, so all I can think of is because now it was dried up to nothing, and maybe when I was using the oven today, it cause it to come down in the crack. Missing it's tail too. So, there you have it...

Mouse a la mode!

And it's Easters

Not Easter. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, go watch Nacho Libre. It'll never be Easter again in my house... only Easters.

Spring Break

Everytime I start thinking about it, I find more and more I should do during that week. Lauren has an ortho appt that Monday (after Easters), so I know for sure we can't leave until Tuesday. I thought I had something Tuesday now, but maybe I was dreaming it. Anyway, if all goes as planned, I should be going to Mom's & Dad's that Tuesday. I don't think Josh will be going because he is going to work and I am sure he will have a few days of Seminary since the other school districts in the area will have their Spring Break before us. Shawn will be working because he wants to get lots of hours in before May 1st. If he can get so many hours in before May 1st in overtime, then he gets another pay raise on top of the pay raise he already gets in June. By first part of October, he will be making just as much as he was making at St. Joes. Only problem is the gas. If gas prices go up more, we are going to be in trouble! At least Lauren won't have Seminary for another 2 years, and with more kids her age in Ashdown, chances are Seminary will be in Ashdown.

Then my sister calls today, the one who lives in KY, and wants to come down during their Spring Break, which she thinks is the week after ours. I don't know if I can let my kids out of school since they have already missed so much! Maybe I'll let them do 1/2 day 1 day or something. She said she spoke to my mom, and if she comes, then my mom is coming up, and if Mom is coming up, then I am sure more siblings will come since they will want to see Hilary too. Geez! I'm not up to a family reunion yet! LOL!!

And he's off!

Yep, my baby has started to walk. Just a step or two here and there, and he's getting the hang of standing by himself too. I guess yesterday when he saw his buds... Hayden, Lawsen & Kellen all walking by themselves, he better too. Joey is the youngest of that bunch, but only by a month from Hayden (who is the oldest). Hayden just started walking though too, so I don't feel bad that Joey is almost 14 months old and not walking. Kellen started at 10 months, and Lawsen right about a month or so ago. I'll see if I can get a picture posted, but don't count on it. This is my 7th baby. Seriously, Heidi A.~ does your mom have as many pictures of you as a baby, as she did her first? I know being the oldest of 8, my youngest sibling has nothing compared to me. Isn't that sad? Why do we do that? Josh & Lauren's books are filled, while Kayley's is alright, and Jacob's are in the right pages, just not fixed yet, and the rest... well, I need to go print pictures off the computer!

My absolute favorite picture of Lindsey

Some of you have seen this one before, but I just love it! Lindsey was 20 months old.

This one's for you!

Joey loves to pick his nose! And then he likes to share with you! Don't know if anything else is on his finger besides snot. Gotta love 'em!

What is it with men, or my husband?

Anyone who has been to my somewhat-of-a-livable house has seen all of Shawn's junk, I mean tools & stuff, under the stairs. Well, Joey has learned to take off some of the caps. Especially the caps to oil. Right after his bath. ARGH!! WHY CAN'T SHAWN PUT STUFF AWAY?!

On a brighter note, Joey has learned to love his baths. I think he screamed every single time he had a bath his first year. In fact, it's not think, it's HE DID SCREAM EVERYTIME! Joey hasn't been exactly a piece of cake... guess I had to had a "rebel" this time since Lindsey was just perfect! LOL!! Here are some pictures of him and the girls in a bubble bath the other night. Krissy loves to pose!



Not to sure what Lindsey was doing to him... LOL!!

Thanks Rebecca!

So my friend calls me today and begs me to come get all of the Barbie crap at her house. I guess she thinks I really need more crap at my house, so I went to get it. Not only now do have 3 Barbie cars for the girls to sit on and sail down my hallway (see why I have the title below as I do?), but now we have a carriage with a horse and this noise maker singy thingy that the Barbie stands on that lights up. Since I have been home for about an hour, all I have heard are girls fighting because of it... and it's not my little girls, it's the big girls! Jacob was mad that he didn't get anything from Rebecca and begged to play with Prince Ken, but Lauren won't let him. Geez!

The never-ending pile

Will it ever go away? I hate laundry! I have so much of it! I can't seem it get a grip of it. I wash at least 100 pairs of jeans a week... ok, maybe not that many, but close! I just have pile after pile after pile of clothes. 2-3 piles of whites, 2-3 piles of colors, a pile of reds, loads of towels & jeans, a load of bleach. Just never gets done! And then the folding! Good thing I have kids!

I got teary-eyed today

I was in the Suburban listening to the CD that was in there. It's the Michael McLean one of all the music from Heavenly Father's Plan, Together Forever, and the other one. Anyway, this morning Josh flipped it to his favorite song, #11, and I then started talking to him, etc... not really even listening to the music. So, this afternoon I am coming home from town, and I can't find anything decent on the radio (80's music... where are you?!), so I turn the CD back on. I then remembered his favorite song, and I go there. It's the "together forever someday" song. Talking about memories that will never go away, and blah, blah, blah. I then I thought about how he is going to be gone soon. Going to college, then his mission, and that's that. This is the end of his childhood with me! I almost started crying, but I didn't even though I had tears in my eyes.

Lt. brown tooth

Lindsey fell a few weeks ago, or was it a few months ago? I can't remember. Now her top front left right tooth is turning brown. She killed it. I remember killing the same tooth when I was about 6. We had gone to California to visit my grandparents before my dad headed for Korea for a year. His parents were divorced. My grandpa lived in Costa Mesa area with is wife and their daughter, Kim, who had just turned 7. The lived in an apt. complex, and had stairs. That was so cool to me because we only lived in a single-story house, and knew no one that had stairs. Kim and I would run up and down the stairs, mostly me I am sure, and one time I beefed it! I hit those stairs really hard with my teeth. I still remember the pain! Right after that, we went out to lunch. Our choices were Burger King or Taco Bell. We always went to Burger King where we lived in Alabama, but I had never been to a Taco Bell, and that's what I wanted! They were next to each other. Dad went over to Taco Bell and got me a crunchy taco (did they serve soft tacos in 1976?). I remember biting down, and ow! That hurt my tooth! My 1st grade picture you can see the brown tooth. My nephew, Colby, has a really brown tooth. I guess it's more common then you think. My best friend in Bryan... her little boy had a dark tooth forever too before it came out.

Well, we are finally going to get this insulin pump back into Jacob. We had it in for 3 days before we headed to my parents on Feb. 1st, and I've never put it back in. It was not insulin... we were practicing on saline, but it's time to get it in. I've had to watch a video and read some books, which I am about done with. He is ready for it.

I gave Joey another haircut the other day. I gave him before heading to my parents, but I had left some longer hair here and there. He looks a lot better now, and so cute. It still amazes me that he has such light hair. Will it ever go dark? I would like it to stay light, but who knows. He just came up to me... yucko! He stinks again! Let me go change him...

Plans for Summer... already!

Ok, knowing how I have to be organized in all my planning, and just can't take off to any place like my sister-in-law can, I've already started my planning for this summer. Yeah, I know. I still have a few weeks left of winter, and it's not even Spring yet... but I have to be planned!

Miller Family Reunion is June 16 & 17 in Benson, AZ. First time I ever remember hearing about Benson, is when we went on vacation as the Pritchard family in July 1986. We were headed to California, and I just thought how weird that a town would be called Benson after our (then-current) prophet, Ezra Taft Benson! Geez, what a nerdy 16 yr old I was! LOL!! So, here I am, trying to figure out everything. I've already got the hotel reserved in Benson for 4 nights, but nothing else yet. I've got a few plans to go here and there (maybe even Mesa!), but Shawn wants to see what else he may like to do as well. I know we are going to go to Balmorhea State Park in Balmorhea, TX (off of I-10 due south of Pecos in West Texas). We wanted to go there 6 years ago, but we didn't. Shawn also wants to go to Carlsbad Caverans, but a caveran is a caveran, and I've been to the ones in Hill Country/Central Texas. And I was freaked out when they turn off the lights when you are like 100 miles down! I really want to go to Roswell and see an alien. I so want to stay in an alien-theme room! I'm still pretty much freaked out about seeing one living close to Foreman and all, but I still want to go. What's in Foreman, just 20 minutes west of Ashdown? Aliens!! I watched Unsolved Mysterties when I first got married, and it freaked me out so bad, that I am still scared to look out in the fields when I am driving around here. :-D I am hoping to get to White Sands too.

College bound!

Yikes! I can't even believe I am old enough to have one that is almost on his way to college! After many months of deciding as what to do, Josh finally decided to go to BYU-Idaho (Ricks to us!). Unfortunately because he waited so long, and me not getting on the ball to check out dates and all, we missed the deadline for the Fall 2008 Track. :-( I even emailed my sister-in-law whose dad worked in the admissions off for years and years to see if we could get some "pull" and no such luck. Josh will entered college life in the Winter 2009 Track. Wow! Going from Arkansas, where chances are the weather will be 80 on New Years Day, to possibly -20 in Rexburg! He wants Shawn & I to go out as well, and if finances are allowable, we may. If not, then my brother & sister-in-law will pick him up in Idaho Falls. Until he gets out there, he is going to work his butt off here to make some money to help pay for some of this. He will be on Winter/Summer 2009 Tracks, and when the summer is over in July, he will come home and wait for his mission. He will turn 19 at the end of July 09. Is it even possible?

Some pictures of my kids...

Josh, almost a HS grad!
Lauren & Joey, Nov. 2007. Look at his face! Classic!
Kayley & Joey @ Christmas time. So cute!
Jacob & Joey @ Christmas time. Just thought this was so cute!
Krissy, age 6 @ Christmas. I need to get a more recent pic of her!
Lindsey turns 4! Feb. 2, 2008
Joey, age 13 months (Jan. 08)

Our trip home

We leave Killeen on Monday. We first stop at my brother's restrurant to eat some good pizza, and to also watch on my dad's computer the announcement of the new First Presidency (on BYU-TV). We head out about 12:30. We get the part for the backhoe that Shawn bought back in the fall. Needless to say, we were cramed full, and I told him before we even left to go down to my parents, to get the toprack. Of course, no one ever listens to me. So, almost everything gets taken out, and this huge part placed in the back, and everything set back on top. The joy of smelling oil and grease all the way back!

As we got back onto I-35N, I felt the Suburban make a weird "jump" as one could say, and I pulled a "Barbara" and asked if the part could have caused that. About 30 minutes later (maybe less), we are sitting on the side of the highway dead. Battery and starter still making noise, but it isn't keeping it started. Shawn decides it must be some bad gas (thanks Mickey's!), and that we need to find a Walmart or an auto parts store ASAP. We are now heading on I-20E/I-635N because of 2 reasons (in order of importance): 1) we may go look at a new truck that we do not need in Quitman, TX even though the Suburban has already given us a problem (or a "sign" as I call it), 2) just in case it gives us more problems, it's easier to get pulled over on this highway instead of being like the poor lady on I-30/I-35 that we saw on the way down. Of course #2 happens again, and again before we saw a Walmart. We exit, and we then died again as we were trying to go at the stoplight. Cars were honking and all that. I was rather embarrassed. We were stuck through 2 lights before it started again. We finally parked at Walmart, got the stuff that Shawn thought we might need, and leave (20 minutes later & topped off with Extra Super Supreme gas... only $2.89/gal!). We go 50 miles. We are almost to Greenville, when it dies again. We then get almost to Sulpher Springs. Then we almost get to Mt. Pleasant. Then it dies again at New Boston. But after that, we were cool until we get to Texarkana, and it dies at a stop sign. Good thing no traffic. We finally get home (5 hrs later after leaving Dallas!)! I drove it around some on Tuesday, and it did fine. And Josh drove it today to Seminary and had no problems. Maybe it was that part? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... only makes one wonder?

And Kristen & Lauren don't have anymore fevers, but Lindsey is dragging on with hers. Already she was taking Onisef for her sore throat last week, and now a fever. Maybe her body hasn't built back all her immunities? Possible? She is eating better, but she still looks quite pale. Kristen now has the cough again, and I have had to give her some breathing treatments. I have 2 left, and can't afford anymore right now. I have to decide what is more important, and obviously Jacob's stuff is going to "win", but I hate to have to decide at the beginning of the year since we have to meet a deductible and have no money as to who gets what. Shawn needs his Lipitor as well, but can't afford that. I know it's silly, but I can't help it. I am so tired of sick kids, and I have had a lot of it this winter. I just want everyone better!!!!!!!!

I have a lot to do before Saturday, and I am really beginning to stress out. Lauren has a science project due, and I know nothing about science. Never was my best subject. Actually none of it was my best subject. Shawn is working next few days, and having to go to Shreveport with me on Saturday (he is giving a talk in front of 2 GA's!), then back down to Shreveport on Sunday for the main conference. Actually I think he is off on Friday because I think he mentioned about going to Quitman then... yeah, right!





My baby is so dang cute. I got him a cute outfit a few months ago at Sams, and it's brown/lt. blue, and with his blonde hair, he is so cute! Don't know if I'll get a picture, but I'll try.

Lindsey is 4!

For her birthday weekend, we decided to go to Killeen. We don't get done there as often as I would like, so since Shawn had 4 days off, we headed down. We left on Friday, and had a good trip down. Dallas was a bit crazy, just at the merger of I-30 & I-35 and just south of I-635 on I-35... lots of traffic and car wrecks and gawkers. Geez, I hate gawkers (blush blush!). We got here about 4pm, with Kristen sick with a fever. Why wouldn't she have a fever? Fast forward to Saturday night, with Lauren having a fever. WHY NOT? Fast forward to Sunday afternoon during church (1-4pm) with Lindsey having a fever. Shawn took her home from church.

Anyway, Lindsey turned 4 on Feb. 2nd. We were going to have her party on Saturday, but with everyone here and there and around the square, we didn't have it until Sunday. We had a Super Bowl/Birthday Party all in one. She was spoiled by her aunts, uncles & Mimi (& gramps). Lots of dresses, shoes and jewelry. That's what she asked for. Lots of pink and lots of fun! She also got a cool baby/puppy set from Mimi and Polly's from her McCourt Cousins. She had a super fun day, and loved it all. She has never had a party with her Texas cousins, so she was happy.

I think I mentioned before that they thought that Jacob had Celiacs disease. Well, I took him and Kristen to LSU on Jan. 25th or so (it was a Friday), and they had biopsies done. Both tests came back negative, so we are feeling really blessed and very happy. I had already bought some gluton-free bread for Jacob, and he was eating it. I got the test results back before lunch on Thursday, and I called the school and when I talked to him I told him to throw that nasty sandwich away and go eat a real school lunch (he loves them!) with a chocolate milk even! He was sooooo happy!

We watched the ending of President Hinckley funeral yesterday too. I meant to watch it, but I ended up having to go to the store or somewhere, and wasn't back in time. We were then going to watch it last night at 7pm when it was rebroadcast, but we forgot that too. Maybe it will be on BYU-TV this week sometime.

We've had a great weekend in Killeen, and I am going to be sad to leave. I am going to try to come back the Monday after Easter since that is the beginning of my kids Spring Break.

Throwing up stinks!

And that's no pun intended!! We have been really lucky since Jacob has been diagnosed with diabetes that we haven't had any bad sicknesses. Jacob got the flu shot last year (2006), and again this past December. He would have a few ups & downs, but nothing ever really bad.

I posted below about who was sick last weekend. After posting that, whoever was going to throw-up did. It was either throwing-up or diarrhea or both. I don't now how Lindsey & I got so lucky, but we did. Unfortunately this weekend she and I have terrible head colds, but I rather have that then up-chucking. :-)

Everyone was done with throwing-up by Tuesday. I sent kids to school. I probably should had them stay home another day, but I was so ready for kids to be back at school. It was rather a long weekend.

Thursday I took Jacob to see the new GI doctor. His blood sugars had been really low since Tuesday, and I let them know that. Good thing his diabetic doctor was in the same building. They got him, and we all had one great big talk. We decided to let him eat whatever he wanted (since he wasn't eating well either), and to lower his Lantus insulin. Okay. No biggie. YEAH.........RIGHT!!!!

On Friday, he didn't eating much breakfast. At lunchtime the school nurse called me. They had tested his sugars, and they were trying to correct them, and they were not going up. AND to top it off, they gave him his Novolog insulin, and he didn't eat! So, as I am trying to decide what to do, I called his diabetic doctor back, who always answers his office phone (love love love that!), and he told me to go get him from school. I do, and had him eat a sugar-free pudding (since that is what he wanted). I go to the store with my mother-in-law, and I was only gone for 1 1/2 hrs if that long. The store was a 25 minute drive each way, and that's all we did. I got home, and he was complaining again that his stomach hurt. He checked his blood, and then we to lay down because he still wasn't feeling well. Promptly throws-up again. I call his doctor back, in a panic because now I don't know what to do, and I tell him "TELL ME WHAT TO DO! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE." We both agree that he needs to go to ER @ LSU Children's in Shreveport (90 miles) to meet him there.

Long story short of the rest of the night: He was admitted to LSU Children's.

Not only do I have Jacob, but I unfortunately had Joey. Not fun. My friend did offer to watch him the whole night, and I should have left him there. Why didn't Shawn take care of him? Because he had to be at work on Saturday, and he could not call in sick because he called in sick that Monday because he had to virus too, and we already can't afford to live.

His blood sugars remained low throughout the night, and on Saturday morning. By afternoon, his sugars became normal, and he was starting to eat without complaining. They took his IV out to see how he would do until dinner time. He ate dinner good, and sugars were great. We left to go home at 7pm, to meet Shawn at the other hospital so we could drive back at the same time.

The doctors determined that his Celiacs is at its worst right now, and that he needs to be on a gluton-free diet now. So needless to say, we are starting that tonight for dinner, even though I started it for him this morning. Kids aren't too happy about no more porkchops with gray gravy (don't ask!) or stand-up fried chicken, but those are foods that can make him sick, or worse.

We will be going on a vegetarian diet (see me laughing really hard?) with some meat and dairy, but no breads or bread products! Even ice cream has gluton, and Ranch dressing (oh my, whatever shall we do?)!

PUKE!

Literally! Let's see... Kristen started with it Friday night, and continued to puke until 3am, and then puked most of the day on Saturday, puking her last puke last night about 7:30pm.

Kayley then complained all afternoon today that she wasn't feeling well, and finally around 5:30 or so, I told her to go to bedroom, put on her jammies and go to sleep (she told me she didn't want to eat). Wasn't complaining about her stomach though... just saying she didn't feel well. By 6:30, she was puking. Has puked about 3 more times since.

We all sit down to eat about 6:30pm, and give the kids their food. Jacob just sitting there looking at his, and at first I thought maybe he didn't want to eat the chicken (Shawn's brother grilled it...a lit-tle on the black side). I call him over to me, and when I asked him what was wrong, he told me he didn't feel well. Sent him to bed. At 8:30 when I am trying to get little girls in bed, while holding a nursing baby (yes, I can multi-task), I ask who is in the shower JUST AS I OPEN THE BATHROOM DOOR AND SEE PUKE ALL OVER AND AROUND the "throw-up" bowl and all over the toilet. Jacob stickes his little head out and says it's him.

Take baby off the boob, and lay him in bed. Start cleaning up throw-up. Shawn is an RN, but he cannot clean up sick puke. He can do puke at the hospital because usually it's not the "sick sick" kind... KWIM? So, that is why I am doing it. I have a strong stomach! :-)

In the meantime, Kayley is running into the other bathroom puking, and Lauren is complaining she is going to get sick if she has to smell it while taking a shower. I tell her to stop, and take a shower in my bathroom since Kayley only had some dry-heeving, and not anymore sick puke (at the moment). I get the 3rd load of wash going since I don't want the smell lingering in the laundry room anymore then it has too.

At 9:47, all children are in bed asleep. Let's see how long it will last... *EDIT* Lasted all of 3 minutes... Kayley was just in the bathroom. I've told them to spray the toilet and everything around it with Lysol and wash hands good.

*Side note* Josh came home from school on Friday with a very sick stomach, but he never threw-up. His came out the other end. LOL!! Same with Joey's. I am glad I am nursing him still (only a few time a day as he is eating food) as his diapers have been YUCKO! I didn't feed him much food on Saturday because he was worse on Saturday especially that morning, so I knew he wasn't feeling to good. He is also beginning to pull at his ear again. He just got done with antibiotics for his 2nd ear infection in a month. Guess he is getting another. All of his could be related to getting his teeth (he now has 6!), but may not be.

Only Lauren & Lindsey haven't gotten sick yet, but their moment is coming I am sure...

A new baby is coming!

And it's not mine!! Can you believe it? My crazy, silly sister-in-law, Cindy, is preggers! #5 for them. Her 'baby' now is almost 7! She says she wants 2 more, and wants them to be both boys! I have a friend who had 4 in the same pattern as Cindy: B-G-B-G, waited 6 yrs to have another and then another 2 yrs later. Both boys! Maybe Cindy's pattern will be like Jen's!

Congratulations Cindy & Brett!! Glad it's you and not me!! LOL!!!

Oh, part of the story I was going to post down there... I listen to a radio show called Kidd Kradic. Crazy show in the mornings! Hilary listens to it too. Anyway, they have a segmet called 'Do you think I'm crazy?' You have to call in with your "weird" thing you do, and the show will determine if you are crazy or not. Hilary called in once, and they told her she was rude. LOL!! So I call today (2nd time I have called... did I post about the 1st time? Hilary will have to post it), and I got through!! I was soooooooooooooooo excited, but the segmet was done. I was so bummed!! I have the perfect "Do you think I'm crazy?" I was going to say, so if you ever hear it, you know it's me... I have a thing about even numbers. Every thing has to be even. If I count something, and I know it's going to end with an odd number, I'll count really fast to end it in an even number, silly I know... but the catcher is... I have 7 kids. It's really bothering me that 7 is not an even number. I want to have one more to make it 8. Does that make me crazy?

I know I would win!! I would be the ultimate winner. Who can come up with something better then that?

Ok, this is it!

10 days into the new year... I am starting the dreaded word~ diet. Oh, how I hate diets! I love to eat. This new year I decided I really needed to stop drinking Diet Dr Peppers. So far this year I've had 4. Yes, 4. Mom thinks I've only had 3, but I did have another. It was the 2nd. I was so ashamed. I acted as the 3rd was my 2nd. :-D Such a dork, I know! I even went walking today in my new Nikes that Josh got me for Christmas. I told him I wanted pink and white Nikes. They are awesome. I can't even tell you the last time I had Nikes for me. I know I had some in high school, but I have been wearing the Walmart special. They are cool, my Nikes that is... I am hoping to loose the 50 lbs I need to loose by Saturday. Think I can in these Nikes? Wish me luck! I'm hoping to get at least in the size 14 jeans that Hilary gave me that are super cute (which I almost can, it's just the dang zipper that won't cooperate!).

Oh, and the nurse has already called me! I'm like sooooooo dang impressed!!

Next week I am taking the 4 younger kids to their Drs. in Shreveport. Taking Jacob to the Pedi GI, and taking the other 3 to a new Pedi.

Why are people dumb?

Don't know what it is. I don't know if they are dumb really, but it's enough to make me ticked. And you don't want this person ticked! LOL!!

A few weeks ago, Jacob was finally approved for an insulin pump. I say finally because first they told me that he wasn't. I called the insurance company, dealt with a nice lady in HR named Janet, and we got everything squared away. It wasn't that we weren't approved, it was because Ed from the Insulin Pump company didn't make it clear what he was trying to get approve. So before I called Janet, I spoke with Ed, with him telling me that I needed to call the insurance company. I signed all the papers that were sent, and mailed them back. Almost 2 weeks later, and I still haven't heard back from Ed. I call him today and he tells me that the insurance company wasn't going to approve it. Hello? Are you there ED? Didn't we have this conversation a few weeks ago? He then called Janet, who confirmed everything that I just had told him, and then he calls me back. But not before I called Janet back to make sure everything was cool, which of course it is. Ed calls me back, but I didn't let him know that I had called too, and he tells me that everything is cool, and that all papers are signed (um, hello ED...you just told me told that I wasn't approved so why am I now with papers signed even?). He is mailing the pump off today, and I should receive it by Tuesday. He will have a Home Health Nurse come to the house to help us set Jacob up with it. Of course I told Ed that if I hadn't heard from the nurse by Tuesday I would be calling him back. Why do I get the feeling that I will be calling him back?

Shawn got me a Bosch Kitchen Machine for Christmas. Not cheap for a family who is not rich. He also got me the cookie paddles and the food processer to go with it. Only it's not the food processer that came with it. It was the slicer/shredder. Which would have been okay if it wasn't $100. So, I called Emergency Essentials and told them that they sent the wrong item. I called them less then a week after Christmas. They told me that the UPS or Fed Ex man would be coming to pick up the box within 72 hrs. Nothing. I call back. Okay...he will be there either the 4th or 7th. It's now the 10th. I actually called yesterday. Manager wasn't there, but I was told that they would send out a call slip for the return order since they messed up, but to call back on the 10th. I called this morning. Oh, and BTW... where is my processer? "Hmmmmmmm," she says. I don't know what happened. Seems like all of it was put on hold? WHY? You have my $100, send me the right item! It's not my fault that y'all screwed up! Send it to me now and get the d**m UPS man here because I'm tired of waiting for him. I do have a life besides sitting in my house waiting for him all day! Okay, not really did I cuss, nor do I have a life, but still! I'm tired of waiting! They told me that he should be here within 72 hrs.

Oh, brother...

Christmas Dresses and a Pair of Khakis

I always remember getting things that matched as my sisters. Being the oldest, and with the next sister 4 yrs younger than me, it wasn't all the time. My sisters Heather & Hilary always had matching things, or at least I think they did. I do know that my mom would sometimes attempt to make us Easter dresses for all of us girls. I think the first dress I ever remember her making me was when I was 10. She made this red dress, and it was like pioneer-style up on top. Had the lace and all that, but it wasn't a long dress. I really liked that dress. Mom would put my hair back into a bun, and have this lacy comb thing that she would put on, and I thought I looked cool.

The next Easter Mom made the pink gingham dresses. Mine was the same style as that red one, and the 3 other girls had pinafores to go with them, or at least that is what Mom called them. It basically was an eyelet dress sleeveless thing over the main dress. I don't know if my baby sister had one, but she did have a bonnet to go with hers. I thought they were cool. I think Mom made herself a matching skirt too. Not to sure about that.

Then we moved to Alaska, and the first Easter there was still snow on the ground. I guess Mom thought we would freeze if we didn't wear long johns to church like the boys could. So that year she made us long purple dresses. Oh, how I hated that dress! I was 11!! No 11 yr old wore a long dress, and certainly nobody on earth wore long dresses in 1982! Heck, I was almost in Young Women’s! Can you see me making Lauren & Kayley wear a long dress? Oh, it was soooooooooo not cool!!

Mom started making her a matching skirt too, but never got done. I think she realized that they were ugly. I mean the material, and I do remember that material, was like very thin, and the dresses were short-sleeve! What was the point of that? Sorry, Mom! LOL!!

That Christmas, after I was 12, Mom again made sure we were matching. I guess she decided dresses were too hard to make (thank goodness!), but we did get matching nightgowns. Long-sleeve white gowns with red trim and panda bears on them. I have to admit, they were okay, as I didn't have to wear them in public. Mom does have the picture somewhere; don't know if Hilary can get it from Dad's scanner, and put it on here. It would be hilarious!

Since Kristen & Lindsey are close in age, they do like to match. Shawn's mom and I found these dresses at Dillard’s. They had bigger sizes for the bigger girls, but I just couldn't see Lauren & Kayley wearing them. She bought them for the girls, and they thought they were so cool. They wanted me to keep taking their pictures, but they had to leave for church. Lauren was staying the night at Victoria's house (first time I ever let her do it on a Saturday night... what kind of Mother am I?), so she didn't get pics done with her new church clothes. Jacob has his new church clothes on, which are always the same... khaki pants & white shirt. But Josh did do his hair to make it look like his. Kayley is wearing her new dress and black boots. She just about died and went to heaven when she saw she got black boots for Christmas! Lauren did too, and they were cute with her new black skirt, and gold sweater with belt. I'll get a picture of it later.

My Baby Is One!

My baby turned 1! Can you believe it? Shawn had to work on his birthday, so we decided to have his party on Sunday night (sound familiar?) when Shawn could be there. Normally Shawn can careless about birthdays, but he does like to be here for the 1st one. Maybe because he realizes that he doesn't have a baby baby anymore. Oh well... this womb isn’t having anymore!

Saturday night, Joey was up all night crying, like he was in pain. At 3:30am I pulled on his ear some, and he screamed out. Gave him some Tylenol & Motrin, and he slept until 2pm when kids & Shawn came home from church. I got up with them, got them dressed, took pics, and as soon as they left, I went back to bed too.

Normally I never miss church. Can't even remember missing church for a sick child. Most of the time Shawn stays home because of my calling... leading music in church. But, Shawn was doing the 5th Sunday lesson for Priesthood/Relief Society, so he had to be there.

I decided not to make a cake, or buy one. No one really eats cake here. We rather have brownies or pie, or cookies. Don't get me wrong, we like cake, but not as much as the other stuff. So, I made brownies, and cut him a piece, stuck on the candle, and whoa-la! Birthday brownie!

Shawn fed him a piece, and he liked it. Remember he is sick in these pictures, and still has his jammies on. BTW... I took him to the doctor this morning, and he does have another ear infection!

Christmas

Christmas day this year was a bit different for our family. Josh didn't like it for the most part because it was to boring. It was rather boring, but in the end, I think it will be fine. I'm actually writing this before Christmas Day is even over. Let me go back to a few weeks ago...

Shawn came home from work and told me that he most likely will have to work on Christmas. He kind of knew he might have too, but he was really hoping he wouldn't have too. He is at a new hospital this year, and unlike St. Joe's, everyone takes turns working on Christmas Day. Shawn was always able to juggle his schedule so that he would be off on Christmas Day. Most of the time he worked Christmas Eve, but that was okay, because since we lived in Bryan (for most of the years) we just did all of our fun stuff at Mimi & Grampa's house later on Christmas Day when we went to their house. First year here, he was off because Christmas was actually on Sunday, and he didn't work weekends (which we loved), and last year we were at Killeen because of the baby being born in Bryan 2 days later. Shawn worked out his schedule so that he would be off Christmas Day, and not go back to work until that Saturday.

Christmas Eve day came, and everyone in Shawn's family was coming. All except 1 brother-in-law, 2 nephews & 1 niece. I told everyone to bring his or her favorite Christmas dessert, and I would provide the meal. I decided to still stick to the Pritchard Family tradition of having Cornish game hens, rice, broccoli casserole, cranberry salad, toss salad and rolls (which I forgot to get). At 4pm, I put the hens in the oven, and it wasn't pretty. I had to literally smash 9 hens in my bottom oven, as none would fit in my top oven. I had sprinkle them with a lemon-type spice that smelled really good, and then I basted them in butter, and oh my gosh, they were good!

Close to 4pm, Michelle (Shawn's sister-in-law, married to Jon) called to say that she and Kendall were coming up and they were bringing 2 extra people. I said OK, and really made my kids clean up better. I had no idea whom was coming. They get there, and we met 2 pilots who were "stranded" in Texarkana for the night. They were staying in a hotel, but Michelle (who works at the airport) didn't want them to be alone for most of the night, invited them to come. One was born in1984, and the reason I know that was because we were laughing at a picture that I have on the fridge of Shawn that Josh found of him at Shur-Way at a Christmas party in 1984. We were laughing at what he was wearing, and what we were doing in 1984, and the pilot said that was the year he was born. Wow!! So young!! The other one is from Phoenix originally, but lives in Houston at present time working for Continental. They both said that they had just been in College Station the day before, and I was "boohooing" as I told them I love the area and want to go back. They agreed that it was a nice place.

They also said they fly to Killeen often, and that they would be in Killeen later this week. I then told Michelle I needed 7 buddy-passes on Jan. 1st to Killeen, and she told me she would see what she could do. LOL!! It would be fun to fly, but not really. How would we travel once we are there? Michelle then said that it was easy for her to get passes to Houston from Texarkana, but that from Houston to Killeen was almost next to impossible since those flights are always full. Ramble, ramble, ramble...

We eat, and it was good. We then did the T'was the Night Before Christmas. We told them pilots that this was crazy, and they might be scarred for the rest of their lives, and never want children or a family, and they laughed. They all laughed through it, we all laughed through it, and it was so much fun. The little kids loved it. Then "Santa" (aka Uncle Jon) came in with 2 HUGE bags of gifts. I was so embarrassed because I really didn't have anything for them, but he said it was OK. I guess he did all the shopping, and loved doing it. The kids loved their gifts, and had so much fun with it. I'll have to remember this next year. Even Uncle Shane had gifts for us, and again, nothing for them. I mean, I got the 4cousins something, but that was it.

Then we do the Nativity story. Shawn's mom plays Away in the Manger in the background as Shawn reads the Christmas Story via the book that my mom got us a few years ago from Deseret Book, or something like that. Lauren took it upon herself to borrow the costumes from the church's activities closet, and had the kids practice, and also practice the song in the Children's songbook, The Nativity, or something like that. Lauren practiced and practiced playing& learning that song on the piano, and did a great job playing while all the kids sang it. I never really had heard that song before until this year, and I really like it. Side note: I also did the Ward Choir Christmas Program on the 16th, and we sang that song in the Dec. 2007Ensign called Guard Him, Joseph...and I think these 2 songs are my favorite this year, and for a long time.

Everyone was gone by 8pm, and dishes done, and kids in bed by 9pm. I told all my kids that Santa was going to be by at 10pm, and if they weren't asleep, he was passing by. Shawn was in bed too since was up early that morning deer hunting, and he may have to work the next day. Everything that I needed to do was done by 10:30, and I was asleep. I didn't sleep well because I kept thinking about how today would go if Shawn had to work. Shawn calls Sunday night to get his name as "first off". No biggie said the unit secretary. He was still to call at 4:30am on Christmas morning to see if they would still need him or not. "Sorry" he was told...2other people already called in this morning and beat you to it. WHAT? We called Sunday!! So, Shawn leaves for work.

I go back to sleep. About 7:30am, I go back to get a diaper for the baby, and tell Jacob to check his blood. By 8am all that was done, and kids came out to see what Santa left. Not much, as this was Santa's last stop, and he just didn't have a lot left (as I told the kids). It looked rather small compared to past Christmases, but I just didn't have the money. Kids were happy though, and loved the candy that was left, and the hands-on stuff that they got. It has kept them busy most of the day. At about 2pm, kids were getting kinda bored again, so I called Shawn to see if he mind if we opened some family gifts because I knew of a few games and some new DVDs & CDs. He said to go ahead, and all was happy with Harry Potter 5,Little Rascals, and new games.

Now at 6:30pm, we are getting tacos done waiting for Shawn to get home by 9pm, so that we can open the rest of the gifts. Yes, I have made my kids wait ALL DAY!! They certainly have not liked that, but they have been pretty cool with it. Shawn told me to have them open them, but I wanted him to be with us. He has to have some sort of Christmas today, even if it is 9pm!

What I am thankful for

I knew Joey was a momma's boy, but I didn't know how much until this week when everyone came. All I can say is...

I AM THANKFUL FOR ZOLOFT!

Thanksgiving 2007

I just need to learn to take the camera out and take pictures of things like this. 20 of my parents 23 grandchildren were at my house, and not a single picture of all of them together with my parents! How sad is that? I am hoping that Hil will post some pictures later when she gets home, but until then, I have none.

My Thanksgiving week began Sunday night when my brother-in-law, Shawn Mc (Heather's husband) came up with their 3 sons. Heather and Holly were to arrive on Tuesday. Shawn Mc arrived so that he could go deer hunting with my Shawn. On Tuesday, Heather & Holly got here, along with my parents, and Brett & his family. On Wednesday Chad & his family arrived. Chad's wife, Kimber, just had a new baby...Ella...on October 5th. She is a cutie. Early Thursday morning, like 5am-ish, Hilary and her family arrived from Ft. Knox, KY. They had a long 10 hr drive and couldn't leave until 5pm Wednesday. They had pulled over a few times a long the way to sleep here and there. They weren't planning that, but it happened, and I rather have them here then dead. And about 8am on Thursday morning, Scott, Val & Jared arrived from Killeen. They left like at 3:30am.

When I was growing up, Thanksgiving dinner at 6pm. Not before ever! Not even 5:59pm! Always 6pm, and always we were dressed nicely and had the house cleaned, and the table set perfectly. If we even ate an olive before dinner, we were in trouble (sorry Mom, but it's true!). Dad would make pies with nasty pie crusts (sorry Dad, but it's true!), but the turkey would be carved perfectly and everything else made just right. Dad just didn't have a good pie crust recipe, and I hated that they were never done right. They were either not cooked right, or they were burned. He would burn a few at first, and then not cook the rest long enough so that the crust would not burn. No one knew what Pampered Chef was back then, and their pie crust protecters (not that I use them because I do make perfect pie crusts!).

Thanksgiving dinner at the Miller Family aka as the Pritchard Family Reunion is now at 12 noon. Besides all my family who comes, but Shawn's family comes too. Plus extended family...like aunts/uncles/cousins from his parents side. Thanksgiving 2006, when I was 8 months pregnant, we had over 60 people eating here. This year because Shawn's mom family did not come (sickness), we had about 30-40. It wasn't as hectic, but I felt I was soooooooooo not prepared!

Dinner was prepared at 12:30 with 3 different types of turkey, ham, sweet potato casserole, smashed potatoes & gravy, green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and oh the desserts! I made 5 pies. I did...and all were eaten and eaten fast! I made 2 pumpkins, 2 pecans (from the pecans that my mom brought up from Killeen) and 1 apple. I also made a Reeses Peanut Butter bar dessert, and then what everyone else brought. I ate a lot, and gained weight.

Speaking of weight... Hilary is like skinny! I knew she had lost like 100 lbs, and 50 of it was at least since April when I saw her, so I hadn't seen her skinny skinny yet (she was like this when she married in 1996). She looks so good, and I am so jealous! And as I am typing this, I am thinking of more food and when I can get to Sonic to get me a drink. So sad, I know.

Pritchard Family Reunion

Next week of Thanksgiving. By Thursday, 35/40 people will be at my house staying. If you get on my Dad's blog, you can read some about it last year. Everyone is coming again except Toddanem. Maybe next year we can get them down. I have to go do grocery shopping Monday. This weekend will be all about cleaning and buying me a robe. OK, I hate robes. I sleep in my G's. I hate everything about PJ's. Can't stand the feel of them. And I had a horrible robe that I got a few years ago that I threw away a few months ago. So, off to robe shopping Saturday. LOL!!

Update on Lauren: Eye looks good. One stitch came out this morning. She is hoping Shawn will take the rest out tonight. Her eye is yellow & purple, with a red streak in the white of her eye. She is hoping that it will look better by tomorrow. Big youth thing tomorrow in Shreveport, and she is afraid that no one will dance with her. She is only 12, but this is the 1 dance that our stake allows the 12-13 yr olds go to because it's an all-day missionary thingy. I told Josh to dance with her, and to line some guys up to dance with her. LOL!! Her picture of her and her buck was also in the paper this week.

Joey cut his first tooth this week! Talk about exciting, and talk about miserable!! Poor baby has had a fever, running nose and yucko diapers all week! Poor baby!! :-(

Josh and his "new" car

Last night, Shelly & Mark got in from Alaska. Shelly is Shawn's sister. She and Mark have lived in Alaska for about 10 or so years. Mark is older, like close to 50. He and Shelly have always worked construction work (they were part of the group that redid the housing at Ft. Wainwright). But the cold is getting to them, so within 2 years they will have all their stuff moved down. So last night they get in. Mark is driving their huge motor home pulling a trailer that has a restored Corvette in it. I want to say it's a '79 or somewhere in the 80's. That is one of many hobbies of Mark's...restoring. We didn't know he was bringing it. In fact we just found out a few days ago that they had left Alaska and were heading down. Last we had heard they weren't coming down this winter. Josh goes outside to help with the directing of the motor home, and Mark drives out the Corvette. "Hey, Josh...wanna drive this to school tomorrow?" Uh, he// yes! What 17 yr old wouldn't? Now Josh is a good kid. Haven't had to wake him up to many times this year to get to seminary (he usually is heading out the door at 5:35am to make it by 6am in Texarkana), but this morning...5:22am he leaves! Yes, showered and everything! OUT THE DOOR! He tells his seminary teacher that he was up all night because he was soooooooooooo excited that he was able to take this Corvette today. LOL! I'll try to post a picture.

New Mastercard Commercial

Gun: $200
Ammo: $25
ER visit for stitches: $800+ (that's how much it cost for Kayley when she got her stitches in 2005!...don't want to know what this will be!)
Getting your first buck: Priceless!

I am filling in for Heidi on this one. She called me this morning to tell me that Lauren got her first buck, a 3 point buck! Paul is jealous! He and Nathan are off going hunting now...no not because Lauren got a buck, but because they had already planned on going hunting. Now he is REALLY hoping to shoot a buck!

But anyway, back to Lauren. She got the buck and the gun kicked back and hit her in the face. Well, the gun didn't hit her, but the scope did. She had to get 6 stitches. But it was well worth the pain and stitches to get her first ever buck! She even beat out Josh on getting a buck! Good job Lauren!

We can't forget about Shawn! He got an 8 point buck with an 18 inch spread. Paul is really salivating to get down there at Thanksgiving in hopes to get himself a buck and to redeem himself for shooting the spots off the one he got last year!! Good job Shawn!!

The day after...

The Ward Halloween Party last night was great! I had a lot of people to thank me and tell me that it was a good one. Time I got home last night though, my feet were sore! Josh was a judge in the chili cook-off & Lindsey won the cutiest costume in the Nursery & below age kids. Her "boyfriend" won the scariest costume. LOL!! I had only 9 people sign up for chili, and we probably had 20 different types of chili! We had so much, and tons of cornbread, crackers, the trimmings for frito pies, brownies and hundreds of cupcakes! It really was fun. Glad it isn't my calling though...don't think I could do a Christmas one in 6 weeks! I have a choir program to worry about anyways...

Few more pictures as well of the small kids and their haircuts. I got Joey's buzzed and Kristen's got hers cut today too, and we added a pink strip of hair. She loves it. Other girls want color in their hair too, so by Thanksgiving, we may have colored hair up here (perfect for family pictures!).

Wish me luck!

Ok, not really, but I kinda stressing out some with this Halloween Party on Wednesday night. I am pretty confident that it will be great, and lots of fun, but I am worried that there will not be enough food. I went to Sams today and bought some extra chili. I have people bringing chili, but just in case there wasn't enough. Lauren carved her pumpkin tonight. I should have gotten one for Kayley & Jacob, but honestly I didn't even think about it until I got home with the one for Lauren. She asked; no one else did. I told Kayley that she could decorate the cupcakes for the cupcake walk. She is excited for that.

Let me go make some cornbread so it can be done. I've already done 2 pans of brownies. I need to get dishes done too before heading to bed.

I hope Joey stays asleep the whole night...LOL! He is such a stinker! I bought him some cute fleece jammies tonight so maybe if he is warm all over he will stay asleep. I got 6/9 months even though he is more into 12 months because the 12 months looked huge! If by Christmas they are to small, I'll give them to Jared. They are soooooooo cute! I love Sams with all their cute Carters stuff. These have puppy paw prints all over, and just so dang adorable.

Feeding the Elders

Doing that tomorrow night. Our mission has a rule where only 1 set per house per night. We have 2 sets, and I feel bad that we don't always get to feed them as I like because we live so far out. Well, they had extra miles so both sets are coming...one set is going to "eat" with the in-laws, and one set with us, but we all going to eat at my house. LOL!! I am making pulled BBQ beef, potato salad, and a bun-Ta (My Big Fat Greek Wedding...say it like that) German Chocolate Cake (so good!) so far. I think I will do a fruit salad or something else along the lines of that. Not sure yet.

New jeans

I'm not going to take a picture of them, but I got a pair of new jeans last night. So much better then those maternity ones. When I posted about them, they were still "tight" some for not having been worn for a while. Well, after a few hours, they weren't staying up good. Little big! Which is good, but not so good since I couldn't get my pre-pregnancy ones on. :-( But this is a recent picture taken of me from the other day. Yes, I have a double chin. Yikes-o-la!

10 inches GONE!

Yep...after threatening to do it for months, I did it! I took Lindsey in on Friday and got 10 inches cut off! We were going to do 12 inches because I think that is what Locks of Love needs, but I was to scared to do that much! I didn't want it that super short. When the stylist chopped off the first pony, I about cried! I mean, she has only had 2 small trims in 3 3/4 years! That is almost 4 yrs of long hair! She loves it though, and we are thrilled with it. I still have the 2 ponies, and I am going to send them to Locks of Love if they'll take them. If not, I'll put them in her baby book. They are so cute. Little ringlets. Waaaaaaaaaaaaa! Now I can't believe I did it!!

Ashdown has moved up in the world!

I called my mom today to tell her that I was very emotional at the moment...

I just walked into our new Super Wal-Mart here in Ashdown. I was almost crying it was so exciting!! LOL!!

It's a small Super Wal-Mart, but it's nice. I am pleased with it. Many people hate Wal-Mart, but seriously...how can one live without? I am sure there are ways, but I'm not changing! I love it. Only thing I do not like is the produce section of any Wal-Mart. I will continue going to another grocery store, Brookshires, to get my green leaf lettuce there, and other stuff that isn't pre-packaged like at Wal-Mart.

I rather have fresher then Brookshires, and this summer when we had out garden, it was awesome! I love fresh veggies. Unfortunately, because we had such a wet wet summer, we didn't get a lot. Some of our tomato plants died too. There isn't a Farmers Market close by that I know of, but there may be one in Texarkana. I just need to check it out.

I am going back this afternoon when Jacob gets home from school. His birthday was on the 14th (He is 9!), and we went to the old Wal-Mart to get a bike for him, but they had already had sold out of them. I told him the day the new Wal-Mart opens I would take him to get his new bike. This morning he was excited about his bike.

How embarrassing!!!

This is Red Ribbon Week at the kids' school. You know, anti-drug week? Anyway, so each day this week they have a certain way of dressing. Monday was Red Day...wear something red. Tuesday was Camo Day...so the kids wore some of the hundreds of camo stuff we have around here. So when today Kayley said it was crazy hair day, I figured it was for all the schools like everything else was. Kristen announced she wanted like 6-7 ponytails in her hair, as well did Kayley. So, I put them in their hair. Had Kristen's all cute as it could be with 7 pony's, 2 with clippies that had "Kristen" on them, and a band that wrap around her whole head. Pictures will be posted soon.

I didn't have much today for lunch for Kristen to take, so I told her I would bring her lunch to her. I get there, and noticed that NO ONE had crazy hair. But I saw different colored socks, and crazy-looking socks. I asked her teacher, and she said it was crazy sock day. I was like OH NO!! I AM SO EMBARRASSED!! I tried to get Kristen to let me take her hair out so I could redo it, but she said no. Tomorrow is crazy hat day, so I will make sure she has a crazy hat.

Maternity Jeans

I put them on today. No, I'm not pregnant (seriously, I'm not) but because I am fat. It was chilly here today, so I needed some pants to wear. All I have are capris. I tried on my pre-pregnancy jeans...LOL!! Yeah, so I tried on the maternity ones again. :-( I bought them last November when it turned cold here and I was needing a pair to last me for the last 6 weeks. I am determined more then ever before to get out there and walk & diet some. They really don't look bad. I had to buy a large (12/14), and I have had to stretch the adjustable belt to really tight to keep them on, so that is good. But the fact that they are maternity jeans. Kinda sucks. I am wearing a regular shirt, but I am still fat. Did I tell you that?

My role models are Hilary & Kenna at this moment, especially Hilary. Are you at 100 pounds lost yet? That is sooooooo exciting for you!! I have 75 more to go...

Guess those 2 chocolate covered donuts w/coconut I ate this morning, and the 3 chocolate covered ones and 1 glazed one I ate yesterday aren't helping much. But I don't think the calories count because I had 4 diet DP too, and those take off the calories, right? LOL!!!!!

Is there anything else I can do for you?

I am a sucker for saying no. I have a really hard time telling people no when they have asked me to do something, especially at church. I can tell my kids no all the time, but when it's adults and even Josh, I have a hard time saying no. I complain to my mom about it, and even practice with her what I am going to say, but then I always give in and say yes.

I am doing the Ward Halloween Party. The activity chairperson moved in August, and a new one has yet to be called. I said yes.

I am the Ward Music Chairperson. My choir director also moved in August, and another one has yet to be called. So until I can find someone quick (I hope), I said yes to the Sacrament Meeting Choir Program (I did in in 2005 too). Funny thing is, I don't read music and I can't sing. But I said yes, and I will make sure we have a choir & program on December 16th (or 9th).

I am the Relief Society Secretary. Part of my calling for this stake is to make sure that the Elders get fed. I was asked to start doing the calendar (long story of why they weren't doing it before) again. I said yes. Then I got home and freaked out some. When do I have time to be worrying about that? I guess I could. I discussed it with the RS President, and she told me to get a sister at church to do it under my direction...I said yes I would get someone.

I should be more thankful...

Sometimes I sit here in my house, feeling sorry for myself because I live in Arkansas and that it really sucks, and all that. Last night when I was awake for the 3rd or 50th time...I loose count after so many times Joey wakes up (he is a horrible sleeper), I was thinking that I need to be more thankful for things. Maybe it was because I was thinking about the upcoming holiday and that.

Even though my house is not completed, and probably won't be completed for another 1-2+ years, I am thankful that I have a house. It's paid for, it's big, it's (going to be) nice, and it's perfect my family.

Even though Shawn has to leave at 5am on the days he works to get to work by 6:45am, he has a job. And it's a good job. It has great insurance too, and we just found out that we are actually paying a lot less for it then with the insurance we had in Bryan. Shawn is gone a lot, but that's okay. He is home more with this job. He is spending more time with the kids, and really enjoys being here. Just wish that I did (opps...complaining again!).

Even though J. hardly sleeps all night (been a few times this past week that he has), he is so sweet, and it's so worth it. Just being next to him at night time, just makes me so thankful to my Heavenly Father for these sweet children that he has allowed me to raise.

I don't have time to do the rest, but I will later. I am thankful for all my kids. Even if they do have a smart mouth, or is moody, or whatever they may be like, I am so thankful for them. I don't think my life could be complete without them.

In Relief Society this past Sunday was the lesson on Women in the Church. What a powerful lesson!! And then the VT message quoted Spencer W. Kimball about the noble woman part. I mean wow! Go read it if you haven't. It's powerful, and so inspiring to read.

The JOY of a get-a-way

I have a friend who has a husband who actually bought her a ticket to visit her sister, and told her to leave! I mean how cool is that? I have to almost beg, but at the same time I'm not begging, but am...KWIM? The last weekend of September was coming up, and I really wanted to go to my mom's for just the weekend. I was just not liking where I live at the moment, and I really missed being by my mom and family. I do miss my dad too, but he is actually in KY and was there when I went. So I looked at Shawn's schedule, and saw that he had 4 days off. I was taking a big "chance" of "asking" since October 1st was the opening of deer season. Anyway, he told me to go, and have a great time. I actually left a few instructions about Jacob, and told them to call me if they needed me ONLY with Jacob. Joey & left, and it was a good visit. I was sad to have to leave on Monday, but I plan on going back again without a baby. Since Joey has no desire for food right now, I think I am stuck with a nursing baby a bit longer then a year. Oh well...they are only babies once, right? I have to keep reminding myself of that too.

So I leave, and Shawn decides that our computer needed an upgrade. So he did it. And lost my checking. Now, I already don't do bills great (see post below), and now to have my Money File gone...vanish...not a trace of it! So, needless to say, it's been almost 4 weeks and I have yet to start another checking ledger, EVEN THOUGH I have gone to the bank to sign-up for on-line checking, I have yet to start that too. As I sit here typing this, I have made a list of bills that I need to pay by the end of this week. Such a pain. I have to have a day where I know I have nothing to do except stress for 4-5 hrs over checking! Geez!

Shawn was nice though and saved my hundreds of pictures to a CD, and I have yet to see if those saved. If they did not, I have no birth pictures of Lindsey, or actually really any pictures of the kids from 2003 to present. I have had a new 35mm camera for almost 2 yrs now, and have taken 1 roll of film with it...at Joey's birth when my dig. was broken. I took the 35mm with me this summer to my parents house, but I couldn't get the film loaded, so I didn't taken any pics, and the unloaded film still sits in my 35mm, on my nightstand. Pretty sad actually.

And he saved my email addresses. Which I think he knew he better because I still thinks he remembers the yelling I did when he lost them before back before 2002 or 2003. So, he was lucky there, but I don't know about them pictures...I am kinda scared to find out because with my luck, they will be gone!

But he couldn't get the computer to do right. So, he bought a new one while I was gone. Yes, a "new" one from eBay, and it sucks ever now then before. It's sooooo slow. AT&T has said that we should have DSL by 2010. Dial-up sucks.

Shocker!

I was so totally blown away! I can't even think of anything else that has shocked me more than this.

Ok, let me back up some. I have always paid the bills. I used to be really good before the computer came into the picture, and was really good until the debit card came into the picture. Since then...horrible! I mean, I try, really I do, but I leave it until I can't leave it any more, and then am depressed for the whole day when I finally get it all together. Sometimes I go weeks without even looking into my checkbook. And it's not like Shawn is making tons of money anymore. We were doing great in Bryan. Oh, how I miss Bryan.

But even how sometimes I am late with bills and all, I have never not paid (ok, 2 things I didn't pay on, but I have since claimed those on my taxes). And I always always make sure my cell phone is paid because (of Holly) I don't need it turned off, and they are really good at turning it off the minute it is late, and then charging you $$ to turn it back on (I learned that because of Holly).

And even when I pay my bills I don't always look at the charges, etc... I see the amount, I pay it. So last month when my AT&T(Cingular) bill came, I saw it was over by $150, but I just figured it was Josh because he does use it a lot, and use text a lot. He paid his portion of the bill, and I paid the rest, and it was fine.

I get the new bill yesterday. OH MY GOSH I ABOUT DIED! I would say once you do have teenagers, make sure you check your minutes time to time. I never have. So $643.57 later, I am in complete shock! Shawn calls me from his cell phone the minute I was opening up the bill, and right when I flipped up my phone I yell into it "THE CELL PHONE BILL IS $643.57!! HANG UP RIGHT NOW!" So, I did, and call 611. I am freaking out: "I can't pay this!, I swear I didn't know, what can I do, I didn't make all these calls, I have to have a cell phone, and because I have been such a great costomer and never have not paid, if you take off half the charges I swear I'll never do this again!" Yes, I said all that, including the last part! I was so freaking out! AT&T being nice as the are (LOL!), took off $200, and is giving me until October 3rd instead of September 23rd to pay it (aren't they nice). We have since moved up to the next plan, and I have threatened my son & husband not to make unnecessary calls or I was taking their phones away, and have threatened my other children that if they call me on my cell while I am gone, it better because of Jacob (being a diabetic) or there is blood squirting everywhere. Not because "it's my turn for the remote, and she won't give it to me," or "do I really have to go to bed?" Because if I get those calls I will be grounding some boo-tay!

So, Hil...there is no more of me calling you to sing "You're Beautiful", "Umbrella" or "My humps, my humps, my lovely lady lumps...check it out!" Ok, that is a joke between her and me... I actually don't listen to the Black-eye Peas but that song was just so "catchy!" LOL!!

Tomorrow is Kristen's 6th birthday, but we are doing her little family party tonight since Shawn is home (works tomorrow). I'll post later and do pictures of Kristen.

School has started!

Yea, because I have 5 kids gone most of the day. Nay, because now I have to be getting up by 5am (starting next Monday when Seminary starts), but for now it's 6am. I like to sleep in.

**NOTE** I will be sending pictures to my sister over the next week for her to download on here because I have dial-up, and she does not.

All 5 started yesterday. Josh goes only until 12:03pm. One of the advantages of having a senior. Can you believe it? A SENIOR! He starts seminary next Monday in Texarkana as he is the only LDS student in his high school. He has a reputation to hold! Everyone knows he is a Mormon, and everyone, and I mean everyone who finds out that I am "Josh's mom" tells me what a great kid he is, and how they wish every kid was like him. Lauren is at the junior high school (6th grade), and will be starting French Horn on Monday. Josh played that when he was in 6th & 7th grade, and since I had paid for (and saved) that mouth piece, I told Lauren she can play French Horn or French Horn. She is excited to be playing it. Kayley is at the 4th & 5th grade school as she is in 5th grade. Next year she will be at the Junior High with Lauren, and says she is going to play flute. That's only if she gets better with piano. This is her 3rd year, and still sucks. Okay, don't tell her that, but just because she looks like Holly, doesn't mean she has her music ability. Lauren has that. Jacob started 3rd grade, and Kristen started kindergarten again. Both love it, and love riding the bus. Jacob is doing better with his diabetes, and is looking and doing great. Kristen has matured a lot more since starting kindergarten last year. I am glad that I pulled her out after a few months and had her home with me. What a difference.

Past few weeks we have had my niece, Rebekah, here. Her parents went to Jamaica for 10 days, and actually were already leaving on Saturday, when everyone else was leaving because of Hurricane Dean. They had an adventerous time trying to get out of there, but I know Rebekah is glad they are back. She was getting worried there at the end that Dean would arrive sooner. Rebekah, Lauren & Kayley had a super fun time being together for about 15 days. The week before she came here, the middle 5 had been at her house for a week, so for almost a month Rebekah has been in their lives. They loved it. The highlight, of course, was High School Musical 2, which they almost lost a few times because of pouting or fighting, but the night came for it to come on, and a thunderstorm blew over at 7:20pm for almost an hour. Because we have Dish, the storm blocked service. Talk about disappointment!! Good thing it came on the next day. All was well after that.

My dishwasher decided to quit working just before Rebekah came, and so I called a service man to come fix it. $77 dollars later, it worked...for a week then quit again. Shawn figured it was a heating element. Great! So, the whole time Rebekah was here, she, Lauren & Kayley washed dishes. On Sunday night, I got a feeling to check the dishwasher again. To let it run. How weird is that? A prompting by the Holy Ghost to restart my dishwasher? So, I did. Knock on wood, it's running and working for the 4th time since then. I hope it was just s fluke thing.

Joey, or Jory...thinking of that name...taken from JOseph aveRY...has learned to crawl! Almost has learned to sit up from a crawling position, but hasn't mastered it yet. He is a whiner. Big time. Almost makes me think there are no more children up there. LOL!!

Several years ago Shawn discovered eBay. Sometimes he would buy things without telling me first, or consult me first. He would call me from work saying..."oh, hey...I bought a bow (he bowhunts) on eBay for $550." Uh...ok...yeah, right! Well, he has found a new website. One that I reluctantly was telling him about (I was telling him about the exercise equipment that Brett & Cindy found on it), and he wanted to know where. It's Craigslist. He bought him the new tractor. Now he has bought a backhoe for it, and found a wood playset for the kids, and a boat. Yes, a boat. We will have a bass boat, so at Thanksgiving when all the mighty hunters come to hunt, if they want to go fishing at the river, then they can become the mighty fisherman (have to buy license for that too). Josh knows an excellent place to go trout fishing.

It's official...

I'm FAT!

Very depressing, and so VERY not cool.

Maybe if I do a weekly weigh-in, it would motivate me more...

Today I am 205.5

The Farm Animals

I will post more later. These are some of the dogs. The puppy, who we had since Sunday, was given away today. We named her Sassy, and she was cute, but 2 little girls in another family needed her more then we did. Lauren took the pictures of other farm animals. If anyone ever wants to get to the "farm", just let me know. We have plently of room to put people. :-)

Gees...

Josh asked if he could go to Six Flags with a girl from Shreveport. "Of course", I say. "I'll drive you 90 miles one way to meet with her and her family on I-20 at 7am, and then I'll go back and pick you up later that night." Plans have now been changed where he is going to drive down in the small car and parked it at McDonalds, and drive the rest of the way with her and her family.

Shawn told me that he was buying a tractor from Denison, Tx for 9K. Sure, I have that in my bank account, and went to Farm Credit to get our first farm loan. He, Lauren and Kristen picked it up today, and I have yet to see Shawn since returning home with it.

We figured it was Jacob who caused our freezer to quit working. It actually didn't quit. Door was left open all night.

But, my dishwasher, my over $500, 2 yr old dishwasher(!) decided to quit working on the 19th. So my daughters have been washing dishes. Not that I have been cooking much because who wants to wash tons of dishes for a big family? We have been using lots of paper and plastic stuff too. Repair man coming tomorrow to repair it, hopefully.

Joey is now basically crawling on his hands and knees. And screams hysterically if I am not around. I keep reminding Cindy she DOES NOT want to do this again (I mean, her baby is 6 yrs old!).



2 big girls are in the process of making aprons. We are going to finish them this week.

My mother-in-law is making dinner tonight, and made me an Italian Cream Cake for my belated birthday. They weren't over when we had the German Chocolate Cake, so she made me a cake. She also is making my favorite dinner... purple hull peas (gag!), but I am making the cornbread, which I will eat. LOL!! I absolutely hate purple hull peas. I will never make them. So of course I will sometime in my life since I said never, but I don't plan on it.

Today I'm 37!

Today is my birthday. Whoop-pee!! I made me cake last night (German Chocolate Cake) because we had a new couple from church (w/4 kids) for dinner, and I figured I might as make me my birthday cake because no one here was going to do it today. Shawn is working, and Josh had to work too. I usually make me a homemade lasagna too, but yesterday I ended up buying it at Sams. I was running out of time especially since I had to be in Texarkana yesterday for 4 hrs. It was good though, and I did good last night with only eating 1 piece of cake. I didn't get a huge piece because the people were here, and I didn't want to look like a pig. But I made up for it today by eating 2 pieces, and they weren't small. And I wasn't planning on eating the 2nd piece when I did, but I had too...

Why, you ask? Well, I ate one this morning after doing good at only eating 1 small bowl of cereal. I couldn't resist. Well, then I took Josh to work, and I was kinda depressed, so I stopped at Sonic and ate a #1 with a Route 44 Diet Dr Pepper w/easy ice. It was sooooooo good! Well, I get home, and I could tell that the other kids had planned something, and I knew it was going to be lunch (I didn't tell them I was eating at Sonic). So, I get in, and sure enough...lunch made, along with a huge piece of cake. I ate that too (I had the kids help me eat most of it). See why I can't loose weight?

Why was I depressed? Because just before taking Josh to work, kids told me that my freezer was leaking water. "It better not be!" I yelled as I was trying to get ready to go to the store when I took Josh to work (I wasn't planning on stopping at Sonic to eat...only for the drink). I go look, and sure enough, it's dripping everwhere. Look in the freezer, and everything is about thawed!! I bought this freezer on Nov. 28, 2004, so of course the warrenty has expired. Kids quickly helped by getting the food over to the in-laws freezer as I tried to figured out what was going on. Read the manual, and figured it had gotten "tripped" by the 15 sec. power outage yesterday at 4:30pm. I plug it in to a new outlet, and 4 hrs later, my freezer is cold. But I was depressed some because I didn't know why it had quit working. Tomorrow morning, kids will help me bring the food back. I want to wait all night to see if it stays working.

I did put some make-up on finally, and I feel better. Wished I could go out, but Josh left for Texarkana with the 2 big girls for church, and Shawn is coming home from work.

Shellin' purple hull peas

I'm not a fan of purple hull peas. It's a southern food that you eat with cornbread. Shawn's mom likes them with ketchup, and that grosses me out. When I was pregnant with Joey, I ate them mostly because that's what she was fixing for dinner, and since that's what she cook, I ate. She fixed them again a few nights ago, and I just couldn't bring myself to eat them. I ate the cornbread because I fixed it, but I just cannot eat peas. Black-eyed peas are just as bad, but I will eat them on New Year's Day (to bring you good luck) whenever I do fix them. Here are the kids shellin' them one day in June...

Thanks Hilary!

Hilary knows a lot of things about computers especially Blogger. I so do not know how to do the "extra" things that could make your website or Blogger look cool. When I first did Blogger, I asked Hilary to make it look cool. Since getting back on Blogger, I have gotten her back on, and she has seen the cool things that one can do, and I told her I needed an update on my Blogger. So, this is what she has done. I know she redid the title a few weeks ago, but it was just today that I saw my pictures like this, and the little "farm" cartoons there on the right. LOL!!!

Thanks!