If life deals you lemons,

then make lemonade! Or at least pick them off the tree in mid-winter, and take their picture.

Will & the girls were fascinated by the huge lemons growing near the old porch at my Grannie's old farmhouse. Discussion continued about whether they were too sour or not, but the kids paid no attention. They just wanted to pick them, and throw a few around like balls.

As we celebrated Christmas in Montgomery that day, Will never took off his hood. Adrienne caught a great shot of his contrariness, but he only he wanted pics of his lemons.

Speaking of acting contrary...

Joining the crowd!

I am so glad Faith received a camera for Christmas, because I really needed something to blog about it. One of my gifts will allow me to venture on bike rides with the fam. I can't wait, but lately we are too busy. We are still meeting & greeting with the Pearsons. I hope to post Christmas pics soon.

Hearts will be glowing

I took this shot tonight with Faith's new camera. I wanted to make sure it was ready when she unwrapped it on Friday. I am so excited b/c she will be thrilled! Shhhh..it's a secret & now I must keep her off the blog.

Everyone's dancing merrily...

in a new old fashioned way!

Jolly Old St. Nick, lean your ear this way!

Luke & Lila visited this past w/end to participate in the Reaud Foundation's Annual Bikes & Bibles. They love to see Craig's puppet shows and program. Since we were at Ford park early, we visited w/St. Nick, who looked a lot like an old BISD buddy.

I love Will's hand in this picture.

We had new shirts made for the "mini special forces team!"

The kids were so excited, and it was a privilege to share such a giving day with our own family. Here are some more pics. God is always good!

A Christmas to remember....

Personally, I think Christ-mas is always worth remembering, but I really just needed a post title.

Remember my fireplace screen? It is now gone, returned, finished. I found one I like better. So, do not worry your pretty, little head about it anymore, I am now happy. Back to prioritizing.

Christmas Time is Here

In honor of Charlie Brown, this is the girl's tree in their room. I removed it from the front porch, so I would not have to make another trip to the attic and lose my glasses.


I even managed to make the lights **BLINK**! Big deal at my house, Mama is letting go....!

These are a few of my favorite things...

when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad!


Ok, just had to share that w/you. Some of my fave things are the same as last year. But, here are a few newbies.


My new front door has a wreath & 4 lit trees.

Mom brought me this sweet nativity from Germany one year.

This is our annual advent wreath. I clipped the greenery while we were at the lake. No stealing, I promise.

These 3 are some of my fave kids too.

Browse the Nester's website to see blogger's favorite things!

I could stay all day, but I must slay the laundry dragon, cook, clean & mostly...prioritize!

Do you hear what I hear?

QUIET! It has been a long day. Speaking of hearing, Faith has an earache, & everyone else is working on a cold.

I could not find the phone earlier, so I kept pressing the call button. Craig & I searched for 15 minutes, and we could hear it but it was not anywhere to be found. I looked up at the ceiling in the hall, and started to say something, instead I looked at Craig.

His face was priceless as I opened my mouth, "I left the phone in the attic!" :)

He said with all manner of kindness, "Have fun getting it!"

The lone star shinin' bright

Yes, I do own a George Strait Christmas Cd. Can you tell? I love George. I am just glad that I can now enjoy his music away from a beer shack & sober. Not that I was ever NOT sober one day in my life.

Anyway, Faith & I took Pioneer Woman's Quiz about Texas. Guess who knew more answers that me? Neither of us knew about the Compromise of 1850.

If I ever have to homeschool, I may be in trouble. Maybe Faith could teach her siblings?

The lights on my tree...

I wish you could really SEE! For several years, my handy Kodak ez share, lighting in my house, & my own ignorance have contributed to the lack of a perfect pic of my tree! This post is kinda sounding like my last one, an unnecessary muse. (Fancy word, huh? I am in the 2nd grade again, you know. Also, have you noticed Iam learning how to correctly use commas?!? Mother...do not answer that question; I still make mistakes.)

This is our tree in the dining room/man cave area. I did get a better shot than last year.

I have always wanted another tree in the kid's den . (Where is my area?) So, Meredith reminded me about BooMama's card tree idea from last year. However, by the time I put all the kid's precious ornaments on it, I have no room for cards. I plan to use a painted pot a friend made me one year, but it is in the attic. Maybe next year, I will remember that plan.

Upon a midnight clear

After a really busy day and a party last night, I plan to stay home today and get some chores completed. While making my list, I was distracted by a box of Christmas lights that have been out since Thanksgiving. There are years of lights in this box.

Maybe 10 years? I know, I should just throw it out. No, instead of labored over all 2o long strands to see how many worked. I know you are just dying to hear how many lights are twinkling. Ok, I will tell you. 4 - 4 out of 20 strands. I started looking at the green mess and I thought about myself.

Sometimes I am in a wad like these lights. I labor over silly things and lose valuable time in another area. I asked the Lord to help me. Please make my actions worthy of things that please YOU & deter me from things that help to lose focus.

Can you see Buster in the background? He knew it was crate time, but he also knows it does not last forever.

**Edited to add: I cut up a box (who says I am not green!) in order to wrap my light around it. The lights that worked were so tangled b/c they were icicle lights. As I looked closer, my lack-of-engineering hubby had cut them to use as fillers. Can you say trash? Yes, if was freeing to chunk them!

When it's Christmas time in Texas

If you don't like the weather in TX, stick around a few minutes, it will change! 27 to 77 to 42 degrees in 5 days is not a record, just normal.

In our cold spurt last week, my gem of a father-in-law decided to CRANK about the fact we never use the fireplace. Much to my dismay, I realized he was correct. SO, Merry Christmas to me! We bought a screen, because we care whether our children or my wood floors get hurt. :)

I left the price tag on for a few days to make sure I liked it. During the 27 degree weather shopping spurt, I only found one more that was comparable but it was kinda flimsy.

My husband announced most of our wood was wet because it rains in TX every 2.5 minutes. I reminded him that the wood was an IKE blessing. He was not charmed, so I repeated my request while I ordered pizza. Who can cook when it snows? I really wanted a cozy fire.

He found pine and I experienced intense childhood flashbacks of burning a huge stick in our fireplace. Too bad, it smoked the entire house and all the neighbors. Who knew it was kindling? My Dad was SO happy & proud, I can still see his face. You can take the girl out of Texas but you can't take Texas out of the girl!

Anyway, back to my screen. I believe it is ginormous for our fireplace, but I cut off the tag, so it is a keeper.


In the meantime, Baby Jesus went missing via some one's hot little hand. I hope he is not in that never-ending hole in my house I have yet to find. Not the kid, the infant Jesus. If he is, I am sure Amazon can sell me one for $92.75.

I'm the Happy Elf!

A few days after Thanksgiving, Nick Jr.,Elf on the Shelf showed up at our house. Thank you old "Noggin" for that creative name! According to Amazon, he is pricey. But ours was not that pricey...ridiculous. Anyway, my 3 are happy to make him a part of the family. The irony of Nick Jr. is that Craig (aka ex-Tiger) invited him over.

I decided my hubby needs a new nickname; I would not want him to have a drastic mid-life crisis thanks to my jokes.

What Child is this?

This would be the sweet boy who ate lunch at Rao's w/ Mommy & Daddy today!

He would also be the boy fascinated by Italian statues.

All I want for Christmas are my 2 front teeth!

Going through pics today, I ran across these. My how time flies....Faith was toothless; Claire was not quite 3, and Will was my fat Santa baby.

2006

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. Psalm 127:3

It is that time of year again...

Once again, join us in the December Blog Challenge! It is a hoot, so "click on over" here to read all about it!

It is a change of seasons

Saturday was the last day of fall soccer season, which was a great time to decide to bring the camera. The Cheetahs celebrated at Fuddrucker's earlier in the week, but the mascot was still a necessity to the last game. Coach Christine awarded the girls w/traditional trophies but also with hot pink scarves.

Oh.so.cute!

Claire had a blast at Novroszky's w/her team.

Will is just glad it is all over. He has to get some rest!

Don't worry, between fall & spring, we plan to stay busy. Lucy, the twins & Larson make 4 babies in a year! Sweet, sweet blessings. I am headed to Arkansas this week (all alone...SHHH!).

Peace & pumpkins!

Will's pumpkin may be 1/2 squash; we are unsure. All I know is
it costs a pretty penny to take a family of 5 to Moore Farms. Therefore, we implemented serious carving time.

Success with a little bass-ackwards!

Besides talking about it, I have done little else to potty train Will. After being obsessive, I learned a few kids ago to let them do it when they were ready. He did really well right before his b-day ,and then had several accidents so I was a little exasperated but decided he would comply when he was ready. Overnight, he complied. He demanded big boy underwear this week and has been very successful!

In fact, he is so independent that he will not let anyone help him. He even dressed himself after his nap today. We tried to correct the "backwards problem", but he said "I do it myself!"

Hmm...ok. I sure hope he lets me help him next week on picture day.

By the way, I doubt my sister will be doing any potty-training anytime soon, but I bet she will do some serious diaper changing. Hop on over to see my darling 2 peas in a pod nephews!

I could be more convincing if he was 18

But, I still find it very hard to believe my BABY, I repeat BABY is 3! 3? Three?!?!? And, do not tell me the time flies when you are having fun b/c it has been fun but that is not why the time has flown. Does it fly because you are busy? I think it flies because of busyness. Busyness has nothing to do with little man turning 3, but he is just to grown up. I am so thankful for my fun loving, sensitive, sweet-spirited, curious, leaping, flying, boisterous boy!

We had a simple party planned with a train theme but Will saw the cakes at HEB and he chose Diego. Note to self: if you have a party planned, don't let a 3 year old interfere. Not that I care, but that Diego rescue pack has yet to perform a miracle. It is simply driving me nuts.

His Imaginext rescue ship from the Arkansas kin was a hit. Much to my dismay, he knows rescue words like flag, claw, crane, ladder & life jacket. Plus, he uses his imagination so that baby Jaguar & Diego can rescue a Polly pocket from the ocean. He is probably smarter than me since I could not even read the Diego mylar balloon. I hope it said Happy Birthday since that was my explanation to the kids.

A book critic I am not

I can catch typos and read a jazillion words a minute but analyzing a novel is not my forte. However, mix up a famous Se Tx monsoon, & a lazy me and you might get a book review. I have no problem reading. My problem is I. cannot.stop!!! I honestly don't know how I do it, I just cannot put the book down.

By tonight, I figured out the cure. Finish it...quickly. So, I did. My conclusion? The Help has to be one of the best books I have ever read. I wonder if I would enjoy it more if I spread it out over a couple of weeks vs. 15 hours?

Fixin' my eyes on Jesus

this week has been quite a task. Since it is a part of life, my walk and parenting, I guess I will accept it. All 3 kids are sick, flu to ear infections and Cliff, my father-in-law has been diagnosed with eye cancer. The sickness will be gone in a few weeks but we all know that cancer is a battle while we trust God with His timing, we are still called to stand still and press forward with Him.

Kinda makes the flu seem minor. Kinda makes my messy house, disheveled clothes and anxious heart seem pretty minor too.

However, God still brings forth joy in all things! My daddy had a minor heart monitoring for several days this week and he responded well to meds. The flu struck Claire in the legs but she fought back and is running a much at Regina today (have I told you how much I love those people? Thank you for teaching my child, she thinks I am a mean teacher!). Faith rocked a few tests this week and overcame a lower Math grade due to her hard work. She is sad today to be sick because she is missing the test she was going to ace - her words exactly.

And, Tiger got new used golf clubs, because he lacks hobbies :)

Clifford and Jeannie are still going to Alaska, who knew when last week was so gloomy? God brought hope through doctors at MD Anderson to a situation that seemed hopeless but we give glory to God who can heal all things! (body scan on Wed., pray all is clear)

Mere is still preggers, made it to 32 weeks, need them to keep sitting still!

And precious Will, he is learning cute frog-jumpin' rhymes at school. There are most likely way more things but I have been dodging so many fiery darts, I forgot a few!

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Too, too big!

Will started MDO on Tuesday/Thursday. He was sooo excited which is a relief for me!

He kept asking me on Wed. why he was not at school and I tried to refrain from wondering the same thing!?!?