How cute is this?

I know some of you will cringe in horror - absolute horror - when you see this but I think this is too cute. Can you tell what it is? It's a possum in a metal box. That's it's little hand by it's little tail (or big tail). That's it's little face to the left of the hand and tail. And look at the little ears!!!!!

This possum's picture was taken in my neighbor Ricky's shed. We were looking for their kitten (the brother of Banda) and came across the possum. What a find!

Dancin' Queens

It's an optical illusion. One I don't want to see happen in "real life" yet. Anna's propped by the couch in case you can't tell. But it looks like she's standing/dancing don'tcha think?
"High School Musical" has hit my house. Sadie and Madeline had the music playing and were using the couch as a stage to dance on. Oh my goodness, broadway babies in the house!

"High School Musical" is a Disney product. Clean, wholesome, catchy music, etc. Everything a couple of girls need to get through the summer. I anticipate knowing all the words myself, soon.

God Bless the brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. Please say a prayer for them everyday but especially today, Memorial Day.

Little Women

Toes in order from left to right: Barbara, Lisa, Rachel, and Anita (all Wanglers). Check out those new shoes on Barbara!
How Barbara got all those toes (plus Madeline and Sadie's) painted after finishing off this pitcher of Sangria I'll never know.
This is Barbara in action doing Rachel's toes. Rachel is here until sometime after the baby is born. She is 30 weeks now (just 7 more until the baby is full term) and is feeling fine. I think she said that now is the time the growth will do it's growing. Let's just keep her and the baby in our prayers.

We Wangler women went to see "Little Women" the musical today. It was very good. According to Barbara and Anita, all the players had moles on their faces. I had to tell them it was their microphones. It was very funny. But I will tell you the props (couches, chairs) would move in and out seemingly by magic. We couldn't see any cables, etc. If anyone would care to shed some light on this, we bumpkins would appreciate it. (Consensus theory is remote control.)

Then we came back to our house for enchiladas, beans, Sangria and Margaritas. While we women ate, the men and Madeline went to the Ranger game. And while they were at the game, we went to Payless shoes (BOGO going on! - see previous pic of Barbara's new shoes) and Wally world. DO NOT let Barbara in Wally world after a few glasses of sangria! She's all over that place! And then we sloughed dead skin off our feet and painted toe nails. Then, finally, the men and Madeline got back and visiting and laughter ensued. A great time was had by all. Thank you, Barbara, Anita, George, Paul, Rachel and Daniel for such a wonderful time. You're welcome here anytime. And thank you Dana for the beautiful pitcher as you can see it was perfect for the Sangria.

Clairifier: Driver to Payless and Wally world had not partaken of aforementioned Sangria or Margaritas. (at least not until she got back!!!!)

HRH Anna

This is what happens when you mess with...
Her Royal Highness Princess Anna!

Me thinks he doth protest too much

Caught in the act. Rosie allowing Banda to sleep with him. Hmmm, could there be something to this? Awwwww, he likes her, he really likes her.

By the way, the blue on Sadie's behind yesterday was blue marker that had bled onto her swimsuit, unbeknownst to me before she got into the sprinkler. I have to say that was the most asked question today.

I've got one for you...Katherine or Taylor? Those of you who know what I'm talking about let me know what you think. Those of you who don't know, I am certain, do not care. That girl is beautiful don't you think? And he certainly has a charm all his own. Tough call.

A view from where I sit

God's voice: "Anna, don't eat that apple".
Madeline: "I'm mucket ban"!
We got a new sprinkler today much to the delight of Sadie, Madeline, Brady and Kelsey.
God's voice: "Anna, I told you not to eat that apple".

I've instituted a "don't ask, don't tell" policy for non-life threatening issues.
I'm not sure if you can see the blue covering her bottom and running down her leg.

OK, I'm going to see if I can put this link on here. My Aunt Janis sent this to me and, like her, it amused me. If she gets stuck just use the mouse to move her and off she'll go again (you'll understand if you go here). http://www.planetdan.net/pics/misc/tetka.html
I'm guessing if it doesn't work as a link, you can copy and paste it into your searcher thingy up at the top of your page and get there that way. Will someone e-mail me and let me know if it worked as a link or not? Thanks!!!!!

Madeline's home!

OK, so the pictures are in almost exact reverse order as they should be. So, here goes the reverse of our day. :)


This is Anna on the way back from picking up Madeline. I did not take this picture. You'll see why I say that in a minute.
I was driving and I took this picture. I don't recommend such an activity while driving but how else could I get the picture of my husband and "Love" the new addition to the family (thanks to my mom and Build-a-bear) and the girls? Priceless.
This is the first picture of Madeline once we got to McDonald's in Lindale, the halfway point between Shreveport and Arlington.
This is my brave mom. She's had Madeline since Thursday after her pre-school graduation. She lived through the experience and is willing to take on Sadie next - if she ever gets out of school!
This is a view on the drive to Lindale. We're going to pick up Madeline. We're very excited. Oddly enough, we missed that little chatterbox. Now that she's home, we're wondering what the hurry was. Just kidding!

She didn't get homesick until last night according to my mom. That's pretty good for a 5 year old, I think. Now she was the only child there and had my mom's undivided attention and had her wrapped around her finger so that may have had something to do with it. But doesn't every kid need to feel like the only one at some time? I'm so happy she had the experience and had a great time, too. Thanks mom!!!!!!

ACA Field Day 2006

Today was field day at ACA. I do believe a good time was had by all the students and for the most part the parents/adults. It was a beautiful, hot day but we all survived no worse for the wear. Although I must say, my arms are a beautiful golden brown.

At the beginning of the year each grade is given a colored shirt to wear for field trips and field day. You know how on opening day they let loose all those balloons or they drop them from a ceiling during political conventions? Well, that's exactly what Veteran's Park looked like today. Like someone put a bunch of colorful balloons on pairs of legs and they were running around having fun.

As I have stated on numerous occasions...These pictures are not in the order which I downloaded them. As a matter of fact, I had to download them twice and they are not in the order they were the first time. I will NEVER understand that.
This is Sadie's class. Sweet, huh? Looks can be deceiving. TeeHee!
This is Sadie and Mrs. Coffed her reading teacher. Sadie really likes her.
This is Sadie and Mrs. Lauver, her everything else teacher.
Taylor and Sadie, best buds.
This is Imani. She taught everyone a cheer for feild day, she's flat got some moves.

Madeline's big day

Madeline graduated from Parent's Day Out at church today. It was a lovely ceremony. I walked into the building and started tearing up. Tissue moment! Madeline has grown so much (not only physically) this year. Mrs. Cavazos and Miss Joann are special people.
Madeline asked me the other day, "Mom, do you know who I have a crush on"? I asked who and she said all happy "Miss Joann". This is Miss Joann. She loves Madeline, too.
My first thought when I saw this picture (big brother took it) was "thank Goodness she has on underwear". It's not a given with Madline.
This is Mrs. Cavazos. She will always have a special place in our hearts. Madeline's first teacher (along with Miss Joann).
This is Madeline's friend Samantha. She'll be starting kindergarten with Madeline at ACA. Watch out ACA!

beautiful spring days

This is a pepper from the garden at Sadie's school. This is the garden that the accelerated academic progam is planting. It's really coming along. That's chocolate fudgecicle all over her mouth.
Nonnie is here so while I went and got Sadie (and blizzards and other ice cream treats) Madeline and Nonnie put out a sheet to sit on outside. When I got home we all sat outside and enjoyed ice cream and good company.

Mother's Day

This is the heart that Madeline made for me at school. Those colorful things are little plastic round things that they melt together. Pretty cool.
I included this picture because Jon looks like his attitude toward "A Chorus Line". This is Uncle Ernie, Anita and Jon outside the Bass Hall. Beautiful place (I know I say that everytime I go but it is). The show was good but probably not the show a first timer to Broadway should see. (Jon fell asleep.)

These are my beautiful roses and gardenias my girls brought me for Mother's Day. Sadie brought the yellow (same color as her hair) and Madeline brought the pink ( same color that she had on). I made them into 3 arrangements and put one in the kitchen and one in my bedroom (along with the gardenias, sure improves the scent in there!) and one in the girls room. After all, why shouldn't they have pretty flowers in their room, too?

the things we do to amuse ourselves

This is cute little Banda who loves to watch the mouse arrow on the computer screen and try to get it. When she tires of that she just lays down between the mouse and the screen and rests.

By the way, the reason Anna and I are the only humans in the house this weekend is because it is Mother's Day weekend. Confused? Don't be. What I wanted for Mother's Day is peace and quiet after two weekends of my darling husband being gone. And being the darling he is he took the take the kids somewhere where I'm not before I go crazy look in my eye seriously. I love my husband. I will be topping off my weekend with a little culture when I go see "A Chrous Line". I'll let you know how it is.

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there. Especially Mumsey, Auntie B., Wendy and Pamela (you are the "mother" and protector of all kinds of creatures). I love you all and thank you for your love and encouragement. May you all be blessed with peace this Mother's Day.

Computer problems

This is the only other non-feline soul in this house until Sunday. It's very quiet here. Jon just left. We watched "Just Like Heaven". It was a cute movie. Yes, I will take the blanket off her face in a minute.

I must tell you of my computer woes this morning. Let me start by saying that last night we went to opening night of the Ft. Worth Cats (minor league baseball team). Sorry Michele, yes, I skipped choir for it, I'm not proud but we all make our choices and we have to live with them. OK, having said that...

On our way out there, I realized I forgot the camera. I truly wanted to turn around and get it but thought my family would disown me if I even suggested it so I pondered and came up with "well, there won't be many kodak moments out there". WELL, let me tell you...We saw - Championship rings being handed out, Fergie Jenkins (baseball fans will know, non baseball fans won't care), Dodger (the mascot) being flown in on a police helicopter (is that really the wisest use of this public resource?), Madeline posing with said mascot (that one is captured on my phone but I have no way of knowing how to download it), a victory for the Cats, a pretty decent fireworks/laser show and lots of hunky visiting team baseball players all standing around where we parked. That last one was really the icing on the kick me because I forgot the camera cake.

A good time was had by all especially Uncle Ernie. However, we didn't get in until after midnight. How my daughter functioned at school today (and with core knowledge testing, to boot) I have no idea. I need to relinquish my card in the good moms club. OK, on to the computer...

This morning I was going to look up something on the computer and it rebooted itself just out of the blue. It finished and my attention was diverted by that cute little baby I'm always posting pictures of and I turn around and the computer goes black. You can tell there's no power to it and it's just dead. Well, it was too much for me to handle after not much sleep so I went and put Anna down for a nap and snuggled with Madeline (with my eyes closed) while she watched cartoons (again, no good mom card for me today). As I'm trying to rest my weary brain/body all I can think about is this computer. It's broken, we'll never be able to get it fixed, I don't think we kept the box they tell you to keep just in case you need to send it in to be fixed. Do we have a warranty? And most importantly, what about my blog? How much will happen and how long will it be before I can get the computer fixed so I can update my blog? Weeks? Months? Oh, woe is me!!!!

After I rested awhile I got up and started trying to figure out what to do. I unplugged and plugged the power cord then I decided to turn off and on the power strip that all the plugs are in and noticed that the strip is plugged into an extention cord (is that really smart? I'm thinking "no"). I check the extention cord and lo and behold it's not plugged in. I plug that puppy in and voila! Everything starts turning on. I FIXED THE COMPUTER!!!!!!!! Now my friend Katie says that I didn't fix it. I say I found the source of the problem and got the thing working again. That's fixing it.

Dinner time!

I love when I come back from putting the baby down to sleep at night that the rest of my little family is hard at work to prepare me something to eat. Aren't they great?

By the way, I've changed whatever it was that was keeping people from being able to leave comments. So, if a picture or opinion expressed in this post moves you to express an opinion, you no longer have to keep it to yourself. Feel free to opine.

Sadie's pics

I allowed Sadie to take some pictures on Saturday and I'm just now putting them on here. I've chosen my favorites and I'm not sure why they are but it is what it is. Enjoy.


OK, I took this one while I was e-mailing on Sat. morning, this is what Anna was doing. Yep, we let her play with electric cords...shocking, I know.
I wish this was in better focus, it's really my favorite. I thought I had put another one on here but these will do. Sadie and Madeline were getting along so well when these were taken (obviously).

I had the time of my life

I went to Nichols Jr. High's spring choir concert tonight. I love going to these things for several reasons. One is because I love to support those kids who I've seen grow up and I think they should feel like it's a special occasion when they do programs like this. Special enough to get even the neighbors out. Another one is that seeing kids (especially those you don't know) singing and dancing with everything they've got is great fun. Sometimes everyone is in time but, more often than not, there's usually one or two who have NO rhythm or go left when everyone else goes right. Those moments are priceless and uncatchable on film(or digital apparati in my case).

These are a few highlights of the evening. We knew going in that Kelsey's Dad would be doing something, we just didn't know what. (Kelsey is the one we went to go see.) This is her Dad (Phillip) with an obvious case of nerves before the big event.

OK, you see the front row of highlighted girls? The second one from the left with the longish blonde hair is Kelsey. They are singing "Hey, Mickey". The theme of the evening was "One Hit Wonders". Other songs sang were "Achy Breaky Heart" (which I'm sorry but Billy Ray had more hits but whatever...) and "Ghostbusters" again, I think the crooner of that had more hits.

The finale was the ending of "Dirty Dancing". If you've ever seen it you know it ends with the "Camp Song" and it gets interrupted with "I Had The Time Of My Life" and the infamous "nobody puts Baby in the corner" scene. Then "Baby" "dirty dances" with the "bad boy" and eventually jumps off the stage into his arms. Well, in this rendition, Kelsey runs up the aisle and jumps into her daddy's arms and does a beautiful pose in the air. It was tissue time for our row. This is them as her daddy catches her on their way up.

I had to put this in...I had a perfect view until neighbor Ricky showed up and sat in front of me. Sorry Ricky, just had to do it.

And here's your daily dose of Anna showing you how she knows how to play "peek-a-boo". She's so smart.

Spring cleaning

OK, I give up. I tried to get the "before" picture on here first. I put it on first then second, it didn't work either way so you get the "after" before the "before". Are you confused? Just think how we feel. For the first time in a LONG time, ALL the rooms in our house have gone through "before" and "after" (no pics were taken except these of the girls room) and every room is clean!!!!! It's very exciting. Usually there's one or two that are the "gathering" rooms (throw what you don't know what to do with in there and you'll go through it later - yeah right!). No gathering rooms this time. Woohoo!!!!!


This is obviously the "before" of the girls room. And this was actually pretty clean for them. Trust me it could be soooooo much worse.

This is one of Rosie's favorite pasttimes...gecko gazing. We have geckos that walk on our window beside our door and -in my world- eat all sorts of things that could attack and/or harm us or otherwise be bothersome. Well, tonight Miss Princess Banda decided that Rosie is going to like her and going to come around to her side, like it or not. It could have happened...had she not decided to approach during gecko gazing.
Banda: "See how cute I am? Look at me, I'm going to play with the big black cat's tail while he swooshes it back and forth". Teehee...
"I'm going to get it!!!!"
"Ooooohhhhh Nnnnooooo, he still doesn't think I'm cute. Man, didn't he see the way I crept - ouch! quite bopping me on the head! hey! quit that, that hurts!"
I had to include another picture of Sadie reading to Anna. Her school is in the midst of a fund-raiser where they have to read for so many hours and get people to sponsor them. They call it a "non-product based fund-raiser". I call it "ask people to give money to the school with nothing to show for it". I think a cuter or more fun fund-raiser would be to have people say "I'll give you a dollar (or whatever amount) for (for example sake) Sadie to read to Anna while standing on her head and take a picture of said challenge and post it on the blog. However, I don't think everyone has a blog so I guess that wouldn't work school-wide. Although, I will open it up to my readers. If you would like to challenge Sadie to read to Anna in some challenging or demented way (don't get too demented) I will be happy to take a picture for a donation to Sadie's school. And as always, I am NOT offended if no one takes part in this. It just came to me and I hope I haven't offended anyone.