Monday, February 26, 2007

Grandma's house

"No! Not Oscar night again!"

I think Anna doesn't care for Oscar as much as I. Oh well, there's time yet to win her over.

I was glad Jennifer Hudson won and Alan Arkin, however, "Little Miss Sunshine" was the only movie up for Oscar that I saw. Isn't that just sad. Again, I vow, that someday, I will see ALL the movies up for Oscars (Best Pictures).

I thought Penelope Cruz's dress was georgeous as was Helen Mirren's. I thought singledom becomes Reese Witherspoon, she looked FANTASTIC. I like Jack Nicholson bald and Tom Cruise and Clint Eastwood any way they look. Clint just always looks classy. I also thought John Travolta's wife Kelly Preston's dress (animal print ) was a really bold choice. I mean, really, who wears animal print to the Oscars?

We went to Conrad's Mom's house today. Here she is with all three girls. I don't think I have one picture of her with Anna. I lied. There's one of her holding her the day after she was born.



Conrad and his Mom.

Sadie and Madeline playing in the backyard - fomerly the pole vaulting practice area, the 9-hole putting green, the baseball diamond and place of famous bombardment games. Conrad was telling me all these things that that backyard had been. With 10 kids growing up there I'm sure there were alot more variations on those themes.

My sweet "honey".

This video was also taken in that creative backyard.



Saturday, February 24, 2007

Caught, again

Once again, I have caught Anna doing something she shouldn't. Actually, Madeline told on her, that's why she's sitting there. She's showing me what Anna was doing.


Yep, that's a heart full of kisses, kinda in the middle of the table, and she's gotten to them.
Just having fun unwrapping them.
If she were really my daughter, she would not be wasting them like this. She'd have eaten every last one of them.
By the way, that peanut butter you see in the first picture is one of the recalled jars. Thursday night, I was still feeling poorly and all I wanted was to have a sandwich and go to bed. You know, fast, comfort food. We were out of balogna or baloney, whichever you prefer, so I went for the peanut butter. Then it occurred to me that there was a recall, that Peter Pan was involved so I thought I should check it out. Luckily it didn't take much looking (thank heaven for Google - love to google) to find out the recalled jars all have numbers that start with 2111...yep, that's my jar! AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH! Just poke pretzels in my eye and tell me not to cry. So, I had to settle for a ham and cheese. Not as comforting as balogna or peanut butter but I didn't go to bed hungry and was able to self-medicate myself into a nice deep sleep.
Now that you've suffered through that story, here's a video of Madeline singing at her choir program Thursday night. Someday, you'll be able to see all 4 songs they did. Once I figure out how to compress them so I can get them on "youtube".


Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Mardi Gras 2007

Anna's having an "Elvis Hair" day.
Tonight, I had some choir friends over for "Mardi Gras" and we "laissez les bon temps roulez"! We had hurricanes blowing in and beads-a-flyin' and laughter rang to the rafters. A great time was had by all.

Ann and Sallie, pre-hurricane relief efforts.

Sandy and Carl, aren't they cute? Carl's the one who did Hurricane relief work. He found out what it takes to make them and then we just threw them in the drink mixer and voila' you've got hurricanes blowin' in. He even brought Hurricane glasses!

Puss-n-Boots had to check out Carl.

Snoopy is me after every one left. I fell into bed which is why you didn't get this post last night. I hope everyone had a Happy Mardi Gras.

Let the Lenten Season begin!

Monday, February 19, 2007

edible art

Because tomorrow's Mardi Gras, and because the kids were home today for President's Day, and because I'm just plain crazy I decided to get wacky with Pizza. Last year on Valentine's Day we made heart shaped pizzas. Tonight we made mask shaped pizzas and decorated them with pepperoni and black olives. This is Madeline's work of edible art.
Just the shape (I did that). Although, she probably would have done a better job.
Pizza sauce added.
A Mardi Gras mask needs feathers, of course.
And the sparkly black olives complete the pizza, er, mask, oh whatever you want to call it.
I made this one for Conrad. It's a fox, just like him. TeeHee! See the dough "stick" used to hold the mask - there on the right side? How clever am I?

Sunday, February 18, 2007

If I close my eyes...

Anna is now at that age when she's going to be doing things she shouldn't. Sometimes if I raise my voice to her and tell her to stop she close her eyes as if to say "I hope she disappears while I'm not looking" or "I'm going to my 'special place' for a few minutes, don't bother me, I won't hear you anyway". I hope to capture this on video sometime, it's quite humorous.

Here, she has emptied powder all over the floor and this is her attempt at looking innocent. "No, Mom, I don't know how that powder got all over the floor, I've been sitting here innocently looking at this...well, whatever this is".

She spilled her crackers/goldfish and I was trying to get her to pick them up. She'll pick up for a bit then she's done. But the look of "I didn't do it" is still there.

Madeline is off visiting my mom this weekend. I'm sure she'll come back with all sorts of things that only a grandmother would buy. And, that's her prerogative. When I went to my grandparents, we always walked to 7-11 and got however much candy we wanted. I can remember the first time I got a whole DOLLAR worth of candy. Man, I had gotten ALOT of candy. It was an embarrassment of riches in the candy department. Grandparents are notorious for spoiling and my mother is a direct descendant from the best of them.
Sadie in her natural environment. Oh, earlier, we were at the nursing home and Sadie was climbing the tree outside Uncle Ernie and Aunt Betty's room. Anna was outside with her. Well, Sadie got stuck so she sent Anna in to get one of us. Sure enough, Anna went in but went right instead of left. It was a tense few minutes until Conrad spotted her. After I knew she was alright, I told the gathering of nursing home personnel "I don't know where her parents are, but I sure will try to find them and let them know they need to keep a better eye on her".

I think the best part of the story is that Sadie sent Anna in...as if 1) she understood what Sadie said and 2) that she would be able to get that information across to us when she got to the room.
And, finally, Anna doing something that's OK. Of course, when I brought the chalk in she wanted a piece to color on the floor of the kitchen...

Friday, February 16, 2007

Donuts with Dad

Today was "Donuts with Dad" day at ACA. Conrad went and had donuts with the girls. As you can see, they were very happy to have him at school.

Inside having donuts...lots of testosterone in this room. Just look at all those sweet daddies having breakfast with their children.
And this is the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in the process of being built. I'll try to put an update on here every now and then.

By the way, I passed my final test and completed my Medical Terminology course. Now I just have to do the transcription class and I'm done! Woohoo!

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Happy Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!


I hope your Valentine remembered you as well as my family remembered me. I got flowers, Conrad grilled some steak and "Krabby Patties" for the kids, some yummy candy (as you can see in the picture) and some new bedding, which I took a picture of but it looked like a cream color and it's actually a soft minty green color. Can't wait to crawl in there tonight.
Madeline checking out her "loot" from her class Valentine non-party. They had a field trip today to Casa manana (a theater in Ft. Worth for those non-locals) to see "Jack and the Beanstalk". It was very cute and the children were VERY well behaved. But, because they went on the field trip they didn't get to have a Valentine Party. But they did get to exchange valentines. She raked up!
This picture makes our bed look like a big pile of pillows. Well, it IS soft and comfy but I didn't know if looked so billowy.

These are my flowers. They're beautiful.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

Thank you, my family, for a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Sunday, February 11, 2007

This afternoon, we learned the joy of static electricity.Then Sadie made a video. Here it is (it's actually the funniest of the several that she made).


I think it's funny that she thinks she has "viewers". Cracked me up when I watched it.

My sweetheart and I went to the Knights of Columbus Valentine's Dance tonight. We had a blast. We sat with choir people (on the dance floor, we were "choir members gone bad") and laughed and danced and had a lovely time. Ann, our terrific piano player had 4 dates. Here they are:


Ann and Bill

Ann and Sallie

Ann and Josh



Ann and Carl, who is as fun as he looks.

This is Joan (she's a soprano but we really like her anyway) and her husband John. For some reason, now I think it might be Jon but, however you spell it, they're a cute couple.

Carl and his actual wife, Sandy. She's in the choir and has been filling in for our fearless leader who has been down in the back. I said "fearless" not "painless".
Sallie's son Mark and his lovely wife, Renee, who is expecting. Boy, I hope I got her name right. Now, I'm filled with doubt but if I made a mistake, I apologize. It's late and I'm ready for SLEEP!
This is Ann and since she "rates" we all got to sit together. This is her sign.

And this is yours truly and my beloved. Don't you just love that beard? Well, I do.



Oh, and apparently, the thing to do at this dance is to use your beverage containers, be they cups or cans, and make a tower out of them. This was our tables' tower. Carl was in charge of ours. Nine high, that's pretty good.

Here's video of Sallie and Ann doing the "chicken dance". See the fun we Catholics have?



Ok, the last thing is that I won a 1 hour massage in the raffle. How cool is that? I can't wait to use it.

Friday, February 09, 2007

Time to Pray

Dear Blog Readers,

My sister Allison sent me this message today and I couldn't have rewritten it any better so I am sending it on as it is. If everyone will just say a prayer for this family, I know God will hear us. Pray that this family will feel God's hand and be comforted and shored up by Him.

Visit the website, the baby is precious.

I thank you and so does my sister and this family.

Dear Lisa,

We have some good friends who desparately need a miracle. Ben and Becky Powell are a young couple from our congregation. They had their first baby two months ago, and wednesday, (Feb. 7) they went to the pediatrician for a "well-baby" visit. Dr. Haynie (young Dr. Haynie) found a lump and tested Ethan's blood. When the nurses checked Ethan's white count, they thought the device had malfunctioned. Apparently the number was so high, they couldn't get an accurate reading. Dr. Haynie sent Ben, Becky, and Ethan over to Sutton Children's Hospital (at Schumpert in Shreveport) to recheck his white count. The number was off the scale, 1.5 million+, the diagnosis, leukemia. A few hours later, Becky and little Ethan were on a medical plane to St. Judes. By that evening, Ethan had taken his first chemo treatment. Yesterday, the doctors gave Ethan a 15% chance for survival.I've never ever written anyone before to pray for a miracle, but I'm doing it now. This couple is exhausted and worried but holding onto faith with every ounce of energy they have. They and their baby need to feel the hand of God and the prayers of His people.

I know that you believe in the power of prayer, and I know that you are surrounded by a group of believers who are prayer "warriors." Please share Ethan's story with them, and ask them to pray for healing for Ethan, and for a miracle for Ben and Becky Powell. If you want to read updates or see pictures of little Ethan at St. Judes, Ben has been trying to keep everybody informed on this website:

http://www.ethanpowell.com/Encrypted.cfm?id=121

(Sorry, but I don't know how to hyperlink it)

Love,Allison

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Birthday Present

We went, yesterday, to Uncle Sam's store (Sam is my brother-in-law) and got Madeline's birthday present from my Mom. She got new soccer cleats and a new soccer bag. Check 'em out.

How 'bout those cleats? Don't you think she'll be really fast in those? At the very least, she'll be the cutest one out there.

Dallas East Sports in Dallas. If you are in need of soccer equipment, I can't think of a better place to get it.

My mom is out of the hospital. I thank you for your prayers for her. I think they think she has a pinched nerve. Yikes! Scared me. When you start talking about brain stuff it's scary. I think a pinched nerve is much better (although I am pretty sure it's VERY painful).

I was at the school today and one of the kindergarteners and I were talking and I asked her if she had a big brother. She said she didn't but that she had a big sister that was 24 and she came all the way to Texas from Brazil. She then told me that she wasn't born from her Mommy's tummy, that she was from another planet, she was an alien...all the way from Brazil. I thought I was going to fall over from laughing.

Happy Birthday, Jessica!

Monday, February 05, 2007

catchin' up again

Man, time sure flies by. I just realized I haven't blogged in a while (well, 3 days is awhile for me). My mumsey is the one who told me " I haven't seen a new blog in awhile". I told her that I haven't had time that I had been trying to get my house in order - and to aid in that, I spent my superbowl sunday (during the game - I watch the commercials) moving all the stuff around in the dining room so as to clean my kitchen floor. It looks BEEEEEUUUUUTIFUL! Well, it did last night anyway.
These pictures are from whatever day it was that it snowed. Anna is enjoying the latest puzzle books. She sometimes will bring me pony-tail holders and back up to me so I can put them in her hair (hopefully you can see at least the one in her hair, that's why it's stickin' up). Do you know how my heart soars when she does this? Finally, a girl who wants her hair up? Sadie's only just now appreciating a good hairstyle. Madeline wants to because she knows it makes me happy but can't quite muster up the gumption to let me put it up. Oh, she'll put 16 clips in it but let me put one? Forgetaboutit!
She so looks caught but I don't think she was really doing anything bad. Being cute? Guilty.
This is Anna with snow in her hair. It was really coming down.
This picture was taken today. One of the moms up at school who has a daughter named Madeline asked if Madeline would like this bag. I told her she probably would and sure enough, she was thrilled.

I have to brag on my girls. They have both stopped sucking their thumbs. They had some help, in the form of a concoction named "mavala". You put it on the thumb and it has a horrible (according to them) taste. The first night, Madeline sucked hers anyway and kept wiping her tongue with her shirt. Yuck! But I haven't seen her suck that thumb since then. I swear I can already tell a difference in Sadie's teeth. Probably just my imagination but that's OK. Don't tell them, but I keep applying the mavala on their thumbs at night and will for awhile and then just every now and again. I LOVE THIS STUFF!

Favorite blogs were: August 13 (Anna's birthday/birth story)
Don't know the date but Anna saying "Daisy" video
Some said "ones that I'm in" (as in the writer, not me - the author of the blog)
And I had one that the favorite was the one I staged in the snow and the one with my mom and Anna at church at Christmas.

So there you have it. Those are people's favorite blogs (the ones I heard from anyway).

Y'all pray for my mumsey, please. She's got something wrong with her head that's causing headaches (aside from having a daughter like me) . She's having an MRI and an MRA tomorrow. I think she had a spinal tap done today - ick! Just say a prayer that they find what's wrong and can do something about it. Thanks!

Friday, February 02, 2007

1 Year Anniversary

Today this blog is one year old. My first blog entitled "trial run" had this picture posted on it as a test.
To commemorate the day, I thought I would take a picture of the girls, today, so you could see how they've grown. If you're like me, they've grown up in front of you so you don't really see the change but if you look at the difference in the pictures you can really tell.

Thank you all for your support of this blog. I really enjoy hearing how you like to read it and that it sometimes makes you smile. If there are favorites out there, let me know and I'll share with y'all what your favorites are. Just e-mail me and in the next one, I'll let you know what the favs were. I'd be interested to know if any of them stand out.
As I have said before this blog really makes me look at life differently. Instead of saying "what a mess" I say "man, this will make a good blog". So while I still yell at the kids (and old people - see last post)) it's not as frequent and it's usually for a really good reason, like not bringing me champagne and bon-bons fast enough.
Thank you all again and please, weigh in as to your favorites (if you have one).
Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! To Aaron, my youngest son. He turned 17 yesterday. He also got a part in his first musical "The Roar of the Greasepaint the Smell of the Crowd". I'm so happy for him and proud of him! Go Aaron! Happy Birthday! I love you, Mom.