I'm a little behind...

It's been several months since my last post.  I guess you could say I'm a little busy.  I tried to think of some highlights since Oct. and more than a few came to mind!  I love my little family and can not think of anything better to do than hang with them no matter what we are doing.  Right now we are going to basketball practice four nights a week, and playing two games on Saturday's.  It keeps us busy, and it is so fun to watch them play.  Mark and I are working on remodeling a home in Barling.  He is doing the work, and I picked everything out.  Babysitting, and supper on the table counts right?  Ha.  We won't go there.  I was recently accepted to Maryville University's Doctorate of Nursing program.  Super excited about that, well that is until May 2012 when I begin.  Ask me a few weeks after that when I am neck deep in APA papers!  I feel so blessed that God has provided a wonderful job for Mark and myself.  I love my job, even though it is a tad bit stressful at times.  We are looking forward to Christmas with our family, and a little get away for Mommy and Daddy at New Year's.  Here are a few pictures of recent events.  Hope everyone has a great Christmas and New Year's.

For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  Philippians 4:10

My second baby boy turned 6 in Oct.  We had a BLAST at the Monkey House.  He is one spunky kid.  So kind.  Every Friday when he gets off the bus, he runs in to show his baby brother what he picked him out of the treasure box, not for himself, but for his little brother.  When shopping for his gift with his money, he can't decide because he does not know which one his older brother would like...  Priceless.

For Thanksgiving all my family came over.  We had about 15 adults and 6 kids.  It was fun!  Mark deep fried a turkey and I made a ham.  I also made several desserts and sides.  We stuffed our faces, rested a while then my boys dragged everyone upstairs to Wii dance.  Now that was a hoot.  Nothing like laughing hard at Joben doing better then his brothers and cousins dancing to Cotton Eyed Joe.

Proof:

Pretty hu?

Mark and I's birthdays are both in December.  We when got married we decided we would not have a baby in December.  We had one in March, one in October, and one in August.  I think we managed to avoid December.  Ha.  Mark for those of you that know him well... does not eat anything that is remotely bad for you.  Including sugar.  So... the boys wanted to make a cake for his birthday, and I'm like why?  He won't eat it, I will.  So I though... I will make him a sugar free one.  Yea, that's what we will do.  So I went to the store got everything I needed, made the cake.  Hum... Jetson was licking the icing out of the bowl, as he usually does and reported to me that "something was wrong with the icing." Really? 

Anyhoo... I put the candles on the cake and lit them.  Mark gets home, and we "surprise him."  The boys thought it was great, wrapped his present themselves and helped him unwrap it.  Mark though it was sweet that we tried, but still would not eat a piece.  Not quite sure if it was because it was so gross, or that it still had calories he didn't need.  The boys tried a piece.  No good.  I tried.  Sugar free cakes and me do not get along.  A little later Mark leaned over, and said I'm 37 ya know, not 36 as the candle says.  Needless to say we, I mean I had a little laugh over that.

Here is a picture of Mark and I before our S.S. Christmas Party.  I had not been feeling good all day, and had to leave early!  Bummer.  Oh well... Got an hour away with adults anyway.  Love my husband so much, he works so hard for our family and we appreciate everything.  It is not easy to take care of yourself, work, and make everyone in your family feel special, but he does.  We are planning a get away at New Years while the boys spend some time with the grandparents.  Can not wait. 

Hello There!

Wow, it has been awhile!  I have so many things to blog about, so I'm just going to pick a few things.  We have been super busy with school, football, church, and work.  Seems like we are always on the go, but I would not change it for the world!

First off I have to tell those of you who don't know that sometimes funny things happen to me, which I kind of like because I like to tell those stories to others and watch them laugh and snort, and I also like watching my husbands face because he has heard it all, except for that which happens to me, or that I cause.  :) 

For instance -
Last week Mark was going to drive my SUV to Norman to look at a boat we were considering, so I though to myself, this would be the perfect opportunity to drive his camaro to work.  So those of you who don't know my hubbs well, let's just say there is nothing he can't do, and I'm serious about that.  So, after he finished building our house, he needed some other project to tinker with that the boys could help him with.  He is already teaching them his skills, yea!  Anyway... he came across a old camaro that someone had recently put a new motor in and basically just wanted to get rid of.  He bought and has been working on it for about two years now, he restored the inside, ordered parts, and had it painted.  The boys and I think it's great when we cruise with the T-tops off and go get ice cream.  So I take the boys to school in Mark's truck, swing back by the house to get the cam, and I feel like a care free teenager on game day, with a slick new ride.  Ha!  Did I mention that this 81' cam has a little too much power for me, or that it is slightly hard for me to see over the dash, or that if I barely hit the gas it shoots down the road, and the steering, well...  I get in, skirt, bag and papers.  I gently pull out of our driveway as to avoid hitting the brick entrance, which I suppose required me to get in the left hand lane a bit.  Then I hit the gas a bit, and tried to control the steering wheel.  I got composure, and thought man, this is the life.  One block from my house a odd white care was sitting in some one's drive way, and I thought... weird.  As I pass yes, you guessed it, Sebastian Country Patrol!  Great, first time, I drive this sucker and bam!  I called Mark ASAP because I honestly didn't even know if we had it insured, because, well, he takes care of that stuff.  I could hear him and his friend laughing through the phone, as he was telling me where the papers were at.  I pulled over, and I was laughing so that I COULD NOT STOP!  The officer came over, and I tried to get out, and he was like - no, no, stay in the car! He told me that he was really worried because I was swerving all over the place, and I was like yea, I know!  I could not explain because I was laughing so hard, he thought I had lost my mind!  I told him I was a Nurse Practitioner, my husband was in the National Guard, we live one block down, and that I was not up to anything!  He was not amused.  He came back and was like ok, I believe you, now this is a really nice car, what year model is it?  Ok.......

I love fall!  Love the weather, being home with my family, making smores, soups, and hot coco!  This fall we are going to try and stay outside as much as possible.  Mark has been working on a play area for the kids for several months, and he put the final touches of solar powered lights to the play set recently. He made three swings, a rock climbing wall, a little fort up top, a slide, and a big sand box underneath, with no kit, just whipped it up.  So thankful for him!  The boys have so much fun playing on it, and we can see them from the porch.  So we talk while they play and were all happy!

Last but not least -

Talk about busy!  Tomorrow I plan to run in the Susan G. Coleman Race for The Cure 5k.  I know many friends and patients that have been touched by cancer in one way or the other.  I'm going to run in the morning and remember those we've lost, and pray a blessing over those who are fighting.  Then off to Jetson's 7th birthday party at the Monkey House, woo woo!  I like it there, wonder why.  Then Mark says we have to high tail it back to the house because the Razorbacks are playing, you would think we lived in Arkansas or something.  Then Jayger has to be at the football field at 4:30 for his last football game of the year.  Then off to some sweet sweet friends for a hay ride and chili.   I'm already tired!  :)

Today is the day!

Well... I have thought awhile about starting a blog.  I like to talk and visit with my friends, but I do not have a lot of extra time sitting around!  So here I go.....

I'll just start off with a taste of my week, which is way out of my norm!  I usually take off two weeks before school starts to spend some quality time with the boys.  Yes, its true I am a workin' momma!  Working outside of the home that is.  I just don't know the working momma's at home do it.  I mean, I feel like my job is a like a walk in the park with a cupcake compared to the days I stay home!  Anyway... It is day 6, with 6 to go before school starts and I have cleaned the house top to bottom, cleaned out every closet, cooked a little (we will discuss this later) and played football, board games, and star wars till I can't anymore.  Can I have a Woo Woo!

Sweet...

Jayger has decided that he is ready to play football.... Okie dokie.... not that we don't play anything else, basketball, baseball, etc... We have practice Mon, Tues, Thur, and Fri evenings a 6:30.  Um... did I mention it is a little toasty here in LA?  Mark and I trade off every other practice, to keep the heat fair.  Although he does offer to go on my nights, I kind of like seeing my baby boy with little tight white pants on run to me for a drink of ice cold water because I won't allow him to use the community bottles.  I know... silly.  If you only know how my brain works, or the stuff I read about, see, ect...  Last night after practice the coaches were telling the parents that the team is playing to win, and they would be going up against some real "big boys."  As Jayger and I were walking to our truck he looked up at me and said "Oh Mom, big boys?"  In which I replied yes, what did you expect?  By the look in his eyes it was not anything "big." As we had a moment of reflection in the life of David, I told Jayger that no matter what task God sets before us... he will be with us, with us to the end.  All we have to do is believe, place him first, and work hard.  He felt better after this plus the Butterfinger from the Dollar Store helped.  Hope he listened.

Funny...
As all you are well aware... I can not cook, nor do I intend to.  That being said, I secretly envy those that can, so ocassionally I will try to do my best for my family, and friends.  I really am so lucky that my hubs like to cook, and is very good at it.  When I'm working Mon-Thur.  he has dinner on the table when I slide in at 5:30.  I take over Fri-Sun, or try to.... I have a few things my mother taught me to make, by her insistance or I would be up a creek Fri-Sat. Oh wait, I forgot about Steffy's, MiCasita's, CV's, we be ok...  I was making dinner for one of my sweet friends that just had a baby.  Needless to say I turned the oven on... I was making the main dish, and thought since the oven was on, I would make some brownies and cookies out of the bag.  I know simple, but you must understand.  I looked up and down for my cookie sheet, I knew I had one, I mean come on who doesn't know where their one and only cookie sheet is, I mean who has only one cookie sheet?  Don't answer.  Called Mark because if anyone knew, it would be him.  He did not remember where he put it.  Ok, so after 30 min. I was desperate.  Under the oven I found what looked like a cookie sheet, although it was a little thicker, and it was black... Any takers in the cooking world out there?  Anyhoo... I treated it like my own little cookie sheet.  Yummy.  I got out the spray and downed it, got the cookies out, and read the instructions.  Crap.  Do not butter cookie sheet.  Ok... to the papertowels I go, there, perfect.  I put them in the oven, along with the casserole.  Mark makes it home, and he is excited about dinner (probably because he didn't have to make it) and as we are talking he was like what is that smell?  I was like... great... I knew... because unfortunately I have done this on multiple occasions.  I BURNT THE COOKIES, AGAIN!  No joke they were in there like 3 min.  I don't know if it was the pan, spray, or me.  To many variables.  So I picked the pan, and told Mark so.  He walked away (probably so I would not see his face) and that was that.  Fast forward a few days, while picking up Jetson's friend Maddox to spend the night, his momma (my dear friend, and did I mention chef) said "I made a few cookies, here is a bag."
I smiled and Jetson looked at me and smiled.  I said oh, thanks! We love cookies!  We get to the car, buckle in and I can't stand it any longer, I rip the bag open pop one in my mouth, man... distrubute to Jetson, Joben, and Maddox, and begin to pull out of her drive way.  I shove another in my mouth and said, boy Maddox your momma sure knows how to cook a good cookie, he just smiles at me, and Jetson pipes up "yea, and you don't, always burnt at the bottom." Bang!  The truth hurts... oh well... I'm good at other things.  I just haven't figured out what it is yet. :)