Our Spring Break '08

Buckle up! It's gonna be a long blog. This is our Saturday through Wednesday of spring break at Nonnie's house.

Technically, it only goes to Tuesday afternoon since the battery on the camera ran out while we were at the park on Tuesday. But, you'll get the main highlights.

Friday night, I had all the intentions of getting up early on Saturday and hitting the road with a vengence. Well....Saturday morning comes in like a lamb and we all slept late for some much needed rest. As you all remember, Friday we had the "Jump Rope for Heart" festivities as well as getting out for Spring Break, etc. festivities to attend to so Saturday morning we were all moving very slowly. Plus, Conrad had a soccer game at 8:45 on Friday night so he wasn't for getting up early either. They won their game, by the way. Great way to start the season, Ducks!

We finally got on the road. We had sandwiches at the rest area in Van, Tx. then Anna drifted off until we got to Nonnies. When we got out of the car, this is how I found her. Her finger is caught in her hair. No telling how long she rode like that.
Since Saturday was our (Conrad and my) anniversary (11th, thank you for asking) my sister and brother-in-law treated us to dinner out, Macaroni Grill for us, thank you - very delicious. When we got back home, Nanny (my sister Pamela) and the girls were decorating eggs for the egg hunt to take place on Sunday.



Even Anna got in on the decorating. They decorated, I think, about 4 dozen eggs. Some were lost to the boiling process but we had plenty!

Sunday morning, we all got up and went to church at my Mom's church. The girls all got to wear their Easter dresses so I took pictures. Although I ususally don't show them in their Easter dresses until at least Easter day (usually it doesn't happen until Monday) I figured I'd go ahead and let you see the pictures.

Anna has her silly on.
Probably my favorite picture of all 3 of them.
Now, they all have their silly on.
Isn't Sadie growing up?
Madeline, too.

Since it was Palm Sunday, they were giving out palms to everyone to wave at "Jesus" as he entered the church. When Mom told me "Jesus" was going to be there, I said "you Methodists do have connections, don't you?".
The girls waiting to wave their palms.
Always the lady, Anna sure knows how to be patient!
Here's "Jesus".
Waving the palms.

Now, on to the Easter egg hunt. Anna got to go first. She had to have a little help, but once she got the hang of it, she was all in.

And, then it was Madeline and Sadie's turn.

Not all the eggs were hidden too hard. This one, however, was one of the last ones found.


About a week after Easter, in Cajun country, you "pock" eggs. Since we had to speed everything up, we did it after the hunt.

Pocking eggs is when you take two Easter eggs and tap them together until one of them breaks. The egg that is still intact after the pocking is the winner. You continue on in this manner until they are all broken and one egg is declared the winner. Then (if you were at my sister's house) you would take all the eggs outside and, one by one, toss them in to the cow pasture. However, since we were "in the city", they were disposed of in several manners. Some were eaten, some were dropped and some were eventually just thrown away.

On Monday morning, we went down to the Boardwalk. It was all bedecked for Easter.

While shopping for an outfit, Anna found some shades.
We rode the merry-go-round. Madeline let Anna ride with her (how sweet!).
Then off to have some lunch. I will always hold on to this pictures so that when Anna says "my sisters don't love me" I can show her that, at one time, they did.



We went to Sonic located in "Bass Pro Shop". Anna walked around like this almost the whole time.

We went to Target to get a couple of new games so that on Tuesday, when it was supposed to rain all day, we would have something besides TV to keep us amused. They couldn't wait until Tuesday to play "Go Fishin'"
I, of course, couldn't resist the "crack" picture of Anna.

Tuesday, we went to see "Horton Hears A Who". Very cute movie, although I don't understand the choice of song at the end (if you've seen it you know what I'm talking about - do you get it? If you haven't seen it and do, please let me know if you get it). I thought (other than the song) it was a great movie version of a Dr. Seuss book.

And, since it did NOT rain, we went to the park. We fed the ducks and played on all the equipment. I am using "we" in the royal sense of the word. I personally took pictures, swung Anna and sat and chatted with Mom until the wind got too bad and she went and got in the car.

This was when my camera died. I had no way of recharging the batteries at Mom's house so we just had to go with the flow. I do have a few more pictures that I took on my Iphone that I will put on her for tomorrow for your enjoyment. I think these will keep you busy enough for today.

Jump Rope for Heart '08

We'll start with a picture from Wednesday. Madeline has soccer practice on Wed. evenings and Sadie and Anna have to go with us and luckily they practice at a school with a great playgroud. I was looking for Sadie and Anna and I found them at the monkey bars. Sadie was holding Anna up so she could "walk" the monkey bars. I walked up to take this picture and I could hear Anna saying "hard! hard!". As in this is hard to do! She had "walked" quite a ways when I snapped this picture.

The next 4 pictures come from Jump Rope for Heart at ACA. I did take pictures of Sadie and Anna, however, my camera wouldn't download them for some reason. Thankfully, my friend, Jessica, sent me these pictures. It tells the story much better than mine because I wasn't actually out there when this happened. Here is Madeline "jumpin' for heart". This picture was taken while she was jumping in the "last person standing" part of the competition.
I happened to be in the hallway while this part of the competition was going on and Jessica runs in and says "Madeline is one of the last two in the last person standing! I'll take pictures!". I was so excited to hear she was one of the last two. This is of the girls encircling her cheering "Madeline, Madeline" as she is waiting for the other person to give out as she stays her course.
YAY! SHE WON!!!!!!! These are the girls giving a group hug after the competition was over. It brought tears to at least one mothers' eyes to see such a show of sportsmanship by the other girls.

Here she is with her medal. She is so proud and so are we all. Even Sadie was proud of her.

She's the one on the left, in case you couldn't tell.

After school, we went to McDonalds. Anna is enjoying some ice cream

Yummy!

Sorry about the change back to the "old" looking blog. I think my blog was "hijacked" by the new background, judging from the complaints I had about not being able to leave comments and the "error on line 54" problem and man, so not worth it for all the problems I was having. So, I'll try again another time to "gussie" up my blog.

Have a great spring break, we'll try to keep you posted on all our goings on.

Changes aplenty

Hey Everyone,

How do you like the new look? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Nostalgia

DICLAIMER: THESE PHOTOS ARE TAKEN FROM MY T.V. SCREEN - NOT FROM THE INTERNET WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE A LITTLE MORE LEGAL. VIEW AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I may be blogging from "internet jail" for posting these pictures. I don't know the legalities of pictures but I did try to find this segment from Oprah on YouTube and couldn't so I just posted my pics.

Anyway, I happened to be in my room yesterday and the TV was on (suprise!) and who happened to be on Oprah? Only my favs from childhood, Donny and Marie! How many of you remember sitting around the TV on Friday nights watching them banter and sing? Oh, the glory days!

So, here is Marie, beautiful and trim as ever singing "Paper Roses" (another personal oldie favorite of mine).

Donny singing "Puppy Love". Oh, how I loved that song. I still have it on my Iphone. Well, I think I transferred it.
And the finale of "She's a little big country - He's a little bit rock and roll". Oh my.

Then they brought out over 100 Osmonds. Donny and Marie's parents had 9 children, they had 55 (those nine did) and now there are 48 grands (actually to Olive and Virgil - the parents - I guess they'd be great-grands) and still counting. I think one of the 55 said there would be 3 more by the time the show aired. Wow! And y'all think I have alot of children.

Anyway, it was a lovely reflective time. I remember sitting in my grandparents living room floor watching that show on many a Friday night. I don't know where Mom was, she must have been out partying to leave me at my Nonnie and Opper's house that often. OK, probably I begged to go over there but I like the idea of my mom out partying better - it's WAY funnier. Then the Sonny and Cher Show would come on...and immediately, the channel would change. Cher was just a bit too...too...I guess "much" would be the word for my grandparents. You know, showing all that bare midriff and all. Ah, the good ol' days.

So if you see bars on the blog for awhile, you know the I-net police came and got me. Someone sneak me in some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups during my incarceration, please!

Blog Party

OK, well, I'm not sure what I'm getting into...but I'm joining the Ultimate Blog Party of '08.

I've always wanted readers to find my blog (without me sending out an e-mail and asking you to go read my newest post (which by the way, there's another new post under this one!).

So, my friend (in real-life and bloggy-life) Elaine whose blog you can catch here alerted me to this Ultimate Blog Party. So, in an attempt to gain new readers and find new blogs that I may like to read everyday I am joining the party! I probably won't do the balloons like she did (I hate the way they sound, feel, mess up the house) but I will use it as an excuse to party hardy all week long!

Here's the invite to the party if you'd like to join us...



I hear there are party gifts and everything so what the hey? I'm going to go party till my socks fall off, oh wait, they're already off. OK, until my pants come off....oh wait...just kiddin', I'm dressed.

And if any of you are new readers, please leave a comment. If you know where to go to "dress up" my blog, please let me know. I feel it's very plain vanilla and I am SO all about the chocolate or orange sherbet or fudge brownie swirl, or well, you get the idea.

So, all you faithful readers, look for some changes in the coming days or maybe weeks. Who knows how long it will take.

Anyway, hope you join me for the party!

I will attempt to introduce myself to the new readers of my blog:

I am a SAHM of 3 girls. I also have two big boys, one who lives on his own (successfully!) and one who lives in Washington State with his father. He's very into the theatre (stage productions) and is a lovely young man. The oldest son works with my husband and has a lovely girlfriend and it's wonderful having him here, close.

My girls are 9,7 and 2. The two-year-old is potty training (can I get a woohoo?) and is doing fantastic at it. The 7 year old is generating quite the buzz on the soccer field and the dance studio and the 9 year old? She's started a blog. Oh yeah. Can I be prouder? Now, if I can just get her to update it...I digress...

Some of my favorite things are: my family, the Texas Rangers - hey, it's about to be a new season and new dreams can be dreamt - Oscar Night, opening day of baseball (at the Ballpark in Arlington), watching the new stadium for the Cowboys go up, chocolate (especially Reese's Peanut Butter Cups), Sonic Dr. Pepper amid a host of other yummy things.

I started this blog because I enjoy writing about things my family does. I wanted to "put it down somewhere" where my family - near and far - could also enjoy the escapades of this wacky family. Sometimes, things happen and all I can think of is I'll be so happy to share this with the world. However, my "world" is pretty much my family and friends and my family's friends. So, with this Ultimate Blog Party I hope to gain some new readers. Please come in a stay awhile. Take a load off and read some of the antics of my little family. The stories you read here? They're all true.

So, since they're giving the stuff away...and I need to list my prize preferences...well, I just will!

I am really into bags and I enjoy cookbooks (just the books, not the cooking! - OK, I enjoy cooking sometimes, too) I would like to win prize #100 offered by Jill Norwood.

I really would like a blog make-over (see post above!) so #24 offered by Sweet n' Simple Design, or #45 offered by Summer or #67 offered by Shauna would be great. Keep in mind, I have a blogspot blog so if they can't work with that, I'll have to forgo those.

I love shopping, so #117 would be great, a gift card to Target offered by Mommy Bytes.

And I love to scrap so #122, scrapbooking stuff offered by Amy at Signs, Miracles and Wonders would be awesome.

If all those are gone, my preferences are: 20, 61, 74, 82, or 86.

Finally! The tooth comes out!

Last night, after I finished the blog, Madeline comes to me all bloody, showing me her tooth that finally came out. Her "adult" tooth was already coming in and appeared to be attached to the "baby" tooth and people would tell me "you need to go to the dentist to have that pulled". All I could see when they said that was $$$$$$$$! I knew it would come out without benefit of the dentist eventually and out it came last night.

Here Madeline is in all her bloody-mouthed glory, as excited as anyone could be about losing a tooth.
Sorry it's not more in focus but I had to snap it fast before she went to clean up her face.

Soccer game video

I tried to load some pictures but for some reason there is a server error. Three times. I'm done. However, the video loaded so you can watch that.

Madeline had two soccer games this weekend and I certainly chose the right one to bring the camera for. She had an outstanding game. She played goalie the first quarter, allowing NO goals from the other team, who at first glance seemed to be way more together than our team.

Then, in the fourth quarter, she took the ball all the way down the field, passing in front of the goal to a teammate who scored a goal. The game ended in a 1-1 tie. This video is of the second quarter, I believe, and you can see she was on top of her game. Enjoy! (By the way, she's #1, in case you couldn't tell.)

Snowing again?

Well, first things first. I have a job! It's nothing huge or earth-saving or anything else but it's work. I am working for a mother at the school who runs (with the help of her husband) a non-profit basketball club - out of her home. So far, I have shredded mounds of paper, folded laundry and helped clean up the website of the club (deleting players no longer there). So far, I've worked 2 days for about 3 hours each day. Hey, we're not going to Hawaii on the money but it sure eases things a bit and I feel like I'm helping at least one person!

Today, I was at work (sounds funny, doesn't it?) when I got the call that ACA was going to close at 12:30 due to the weather. Now we had been watching the weather out the multitude of windows at my place of employment (a home) and so far all we had seen was rain. Hmmmm, when Mr. Simon sent out the message, he said it was sleeting. Sure enough, when I got in the car to go get the girls, it was sleeting. Then we went home and had some lunch (their second, my first) and then went to get Anna. By the time we got home from getting Anna, it was snowing like nobody's business. Here's a picture of it.

And, here's a quiet video of it. (This was as quiet as it got in my house the rest of the day.)

Sadie has started her own blog. You can access it here. And, she also does a webshow (not anywhere on the web, but we got a load of them on my kodak program). Here's her latest one.

She'll be very excited that I included it in my blog today.

If you would like to add her blog to your favorites, the address is: http://awesomesadie.blogspot.com

Enjoy the snow.

So the big news tonight is that it's snowing like we live in freakin' Wisconsin or something! I thought it was really snowing earlier, but Conrad went out a minute ago and my "really snowing" is NOTHING compared to this!

Madeline said "It's like it's the Revolutionary War or something!". I guess they must have studied about George Washington crossing the Delaware in the snow recently.
In case the picture of my beloved husband doesn't do the snow justice...

And if you think the camera is shaky now, that's way calmed down from the first one. I was REALLY cold out there.

Thursday, we got the Easter dresses that I ordered for the girls (because I'm too lazy to actually drive to Target, get out of the car and take the children in to look for them). Anna and Sadie tried theirs on immediately. Mads was having a kinda-crappy day so she waited (mainly to frustrate her mother). As soon as Anna put her dress on, she started dancing like a ballerina. It was precious. I had to prompt her to move out so I could get her dancing but she continued for a bit for me so I could get this video.

Friday, Sadie got to spend the night at the school for a Lock-In. How many of those did we attend when we were her age? Oh my, I couldn't even begin to count. Anyway, Mads wanted to build a fire and tell scary ghost stories. But first, we had to play in the backyard. Here's Conrad playing ball with the oppossum. Madeline was afraid the 'possum was going to come down off the fence and get her. Not likely, dear. That 'possum is WAY more afraid of you than you are of him. Especially with all the shrieking going on.

Here he is up close and personal. This is not the same one that lives in our garage. How do I know? Well, duh...I asked him. Oh, I crack me up!

This is Anna being the "two-binkied monster". And in case you can't get a good look at the two binkies (hence the name...)

And here's Mads as we're telling scary ghost stories. If they got too scary, we had to stop. Mine was "The Ivy Covered House", taking a cue from all the ivy growning all over the back of the house. Not too scary, but entertaining.

Yesterday we were watching our pianist from church walk to her car and Madeline said "I like Miss Ann's dress, it's very her-ish".

Stadiums and tantrums

I know this is overdue, since I told you I'd take the picture on Monday, but I finally got the picture yesterday and am putting it on here today. This is the picture of the completed second arch on the stadium. You know, the one I didn't get to see them put in place? The one for which I didn't get to redeem myself on the TV? Sunday, Conrad told me there was a TV camera crew out at the gas station where they interviewed me last time and said they were just looking around, all lonely like, as if they were just waiting for someone to interview. Hmmmm, maybe I should just pitch a tent out there and wait for the next big milestone to take place. Well, dang it, now I just sound desperate. Note to self: GET OVER IT!
Today, my friend Jennifer called and asked if I could watch her daughter, Lora, while she went on the field trip with her third grader (whom Sadie has gone to school with since they were 4 years old!). I told her "of course"! Anna and Lora get along really well. Except for this little bit of time right here...
And frankly, this was all Anna being a two-year-old. She and Lora had been riding the two ride-on thingies (technical term, be careful using it!) and Anna had this one first then Lora wanted to ride it and so I suggested a trade and Anna was having NONE of it. What's missing out of this still picture is the screaming and crying that went on endlessly over this stinking toy. And, you can't really see Lora's face in this picture (if you either click or double click on it, it will enlarge and you can probably see) is that she looks embarrassed by Anna's lack of grace and self-control.

We had to go in after I snapped this picture. She didn't get a spanking for being such a little snit, but she did get one for bolting back out the door after we went in and getting back on the toy. Just a little smack on the leg and a firm reprimand for going outside without Mommy. Don't go and call CPS on me for that...there are way better things to call them for than that.

Jennifer called me before she picked up Lora and asked if I had gotten anything done today. I told her "surprisingly, yes". And she said something to the effect of "We mothers get all caught up in what we didn't get done in a day. What we really need to do is praise ourselves for what we do get done. Somedays that is just 'the kids are alive and well and for the most part happy'. Sometimes that's as good as it gets, and that is still a successful day". My friend Jennifer is SO smart.

Finally, a real "post" again!

We did the Griffin Buck Truck today. One of the perks of doing the truck run, is that I get to see my children and they get to see me in the halls of the school. I never know when I will be acosted from the back with a hug (and sometimes, it's not even my child who honors me with a hug).

This morning, Sadie came out of her classroom, while I was nearby, to use the restroom. I did not pay attention to what she was wearing this morning (that's what a good mother does, you know) and when I looked at her, I noticed something odd. See if you spot it.
She has on uniform shorts on under (and hanging out from under) her uniform jumper, giving the illusion of some odd sort. And just so you see what I mean....
The white is her white uniform shirt between the jumper and the shorts. Yes, I pulled my daughter's jumper up in the halls of ACA so I could take a picture. That's what a good mother does, you know. Yet another reason I love my Iphone.
Then, I saw Madeline's class going in for their class picture in the library. That's Mads on the front right.

And, to answer that question tickling the back of your brain, yes, Sadie took her class picture today, also, and I'm sure she was on the front row, too. Converse sneakers, uniform jumper and shorts and all.

Then, I had to take a picture of Mrs. Coffed and her grandbaby. It reminded me of all the times I took my children up to my Mom's school and everyone oohed and aahed over them.

And, may I just say I love my Anna? (And you'll be very happy I didn't snap a pic of this.) I was reading up on my friend Elaine's blog see it here and Anna says, "wipe, eww". Which in Annaspeak means, "I just went poo-poo and I need to be wiped". Of course, my first thought is "oh crap - literally- where did she do it"? But, she led me down the hall to where her potty is and sure enough there it was right smack in the potty! Oh the joy and elation I felt! Hip, hip, hooray for Anna!

So, enjoy the newest update. And go see Elaine's blog, she's giving something away - you'll have to go down a few posts to find where to enter for it, but hey, you may win it!

It's Oscar, Oscar!

OK, first, I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. It's been a sicky, crazy time here.

Last weekend, the girls both came to me on Sunday and said their stomach was hurting, about an hour apart. I told both of them "I guess I'll just have to keep you home tomorrow". Sadie looked at me and said "we don't have school tomorrow". I said "I know, that's why you can stay home". Madeline just looked at me like I was crazy then said "I don't think we have school tomorrow". I said "I know, it's a joke". She said "real funny, Mom". I thought it was.

So, then the puking ensued. Then Conrad came down with something like it on Tuesday, stayed home on Wednesday and slept all day. Then Friday I ran out of gas (not literally, like in a car, but physically) and nearly fell asleep on the couch. I finally moved to the bed and didn't get out until last night.

I even missed them putting the final piece on the stadium arches. No TV vindication for me. I heard the helicopters about 5:30 or so and when Conrad came in I asked him about it but he didn't think it had happened, but I knew. Then today, I asked someone else (Sallie!) and she didn't think so either, but I knew. Sure enough we went by there today and it's there. I'll take a picture tomorrow, but I am SO disappointed that I didn't get interviewed on TV again, looking ravishing - as only I can - and redeem myself from the last time. Oh well. Some other milestone.

And, just in time for Oscar night, the writers unstrike. I don't know that that's a word but I used it, so there. I am so excited about Oscar night. And frankly, this year, it's not the movies, it's the red carpet. I didn't see many movies that weren't animated this year so the chance that I would have seen any of the winners in their role are slim.

As a side note, I thbink my "b" is sticking to my "hb" because I hbaven't corrected thbis line and as you can see, every time I type thbe letter "hb" thbe "b" shbowes up also. Crazy, frustrating.

ANYWHBO...I will be watching my red carpet while cleaning my room. Since being in bed for 2 days, lazing about doesn't thrill me so I'll clean while I take part in my fanatic night.

Anna is doing great in her potty training. She'll opt for a diaper every now and then but you can tell she doesn't like it and she goes potty anyway so really, what's the point?

OK, well, that's all the Wangler news that's fit to print so I'll go enjoy my Red Carpet shows now.

Hope all your favorites win!