Life with my sister

This child has brought so much laughter to our house recently. I guess growing up in a house full of boys has adversely affected her.  During the Olympics, which we watched a lot of, anytime President Putin was mentioned she would smile and then laugh, and laugh! She would say, "they said Pootin!" Well that would make all of us laugh as well. And she did it every single time.  There is a new commercial on tv now advertising a medication called Latuda. Stephen saw it first with her, and said once he heard the name he looked at her, knowing what she would do. And she didn't disappoint! She laughed and laughed. So now every time it comes on, she laughs. And then we laugh. The picture above is from a little photo shoot Anna and I had a couple of weeks ago. She had received a free photo book from Shutterfly with one of her Christmas gifts, and the deadline was upon us, so we went to take some pictures. We got the book today and it is precious. It's like a scrapbook that di...

In the great outdoors...Today was a cool day, a nice day to wear my army green jacket that I wear ALL the time. Within our walls...We bunked David and Daniel's beds today, for the first time in 2 1/2 yrs.  A heart of Thanksgiving...While shopping at Walmart today I was feeling a bit lonely, I guess that's what I get for always taking someone with me when I go, and I noticed all the moms with their children in the aisles. I just wanted to thank each one of them and thank them for shopping with them, it brightened my day. A heart of prayer...I'm praying for Samuel more than ever these days. As he gets older he is facing experiences that are new to him and he's having to figure out the mature, Christian way to handle himself and others. It's not always easy to sit and watch it happen. Random observation...Teenage girls are still mean. My silly children...I bought a 10 lb tube of ground beef today and you would thought it was a toy. All four kids carried it around and p...

For Today...February 19 In the great outdoors...cloudy and cool today. The last few days have been so nice a great break from all the cold weather. Within our walls...I bought curtains! Well, I really bought tablecloths but I'm making them curtains. I can't wait to put them up. A heart of thanksgiving...I'm so thankful for a loving husband and a home in a safe neighborhood that my kids love and have friends in.  A heart of prayer...two sweet families have lost loved ones this week. A mother in one family and a child in the other. Praying for God to give them comfort. Random observation...if I sit on the couch I like to be covered up. I always have a blanket or throw nearby. My silly children...Anna spent last night with her BFF, and texted today to ask if she could spend another night! I miss her. Thoughts from the kitchen...well, last weeks meals weren't any better than the week before. So this week we're going back to the staples and hoping for the best! On my boo...

We had a fun time creating our Valentine's Day goodies this year.  Julie and I are polar opposites on things like this. I love our differences and are likenesses! :) Henry requested the dig me ones for the girls and the fish/wheelie ones for the boys. I took the photo of him in the wagon and made his card. It was fun to do all this together this year.  Valentine morning Henry and I had a donut date on the way to school. I just love that sweet, sugary face! His school party was wild and fun. He got lots of yummy treats and he was hyped up on sugar for the rest of the afternoon, of course. I love the fun he has at his school. Henry was so excited to take his box of love home with us. That smile...oh, that smile!  Henry bought me a new watch for love month. It may have been the cutest outing yet! He was so funny and took charge and acted like a grown man. I know he made his Meemaw proud! ;) My watch is beautiful and he checks my wrist everyday to make sure I have it on!...

We love Valentine's Day at this house. We don't go all out with decorations and gifts, but we do celebrate love on this day. David, Daniel, and Anna had a VDay party with some homeschool friends, (22 of them!) and brought home lots of valentines and candy. I thought my kids would be the only ones with store bought valentines, since this was a homeschool party and the assumption is that we do things like homemade valentines. But to my surprise, only one person brought a handmade valentine. I love these people! Ha!  As an aside, making homemade valentines is not my love language, but it is for some people. I appreciate their creativity, imagination, time, and effort. There are so many ways to speak love to people, let's not ever make snide remarks or think it silly when people make their own valentines, or buy gifts for "Hallmark" holidays. It's how love is spoken for them (us). I give the kids small gifts. This year Samuel received three cans of Pringles, his f...

Outside My window...Cold!! We had been forecasted to have 2-4 inches of snow this week, but they changed the forecast because the snow just wasn't coming. It's just cold, like 25 degrees cold. I am thankful for...older children. It sounds weird, but having children that are able to fix their meals, stay by themselves, and not cry when I leave the house is a blessing! In the kitchen... We just finished a lunch of leftovers, so it's quiet now. Soon it will be 3:10, which is Anna's snack time. She's so funny about it, she chose the time herself and waits expectantly for it everyday. Supper tonight is a new recipe, Chicken pesto penne. We'll see. I'm wearing...black yoga pants, and a long sleeve black t shirt. I took a friend and her baby to Children's hospital last night and didn't get home until 2:45 this morning, I'm proud I'm not wearing my footed pj's! I'm going...to be working hard this week. It's Valentine's week and that...

I usually drink my coffee out of an insulated tall coffee cup, because I don't drink it very fast and it gets cold. I bought this mug at Dillard's on bigtime sale ( it was $2!), and love it so much, I use it often. I had to have a head shot taken last week and this is what it looked like. I don't know why the left side of my hair looks like it is missing. Yes, I do, it's my hair!  I took Daniel and David to lunch Friday. They had been wanting  to go to Wings To Go for some wings and somehow they made it seem like they wanted to spend time with me and not just eat wings. I fell for it, and we had such a good time. We laughed and laughed together. I can't believe they're going to be 13 in April. Teenagers, two at a time. 

It snowed Friday night! We were up late watching the Olympic Opening Ceremony and went outside to see if we had any snow. We did! Anna had already had a shower, but that didn't stop her. Wet hair, no socks and summer pj's on. This is our yard this morning, many kids have walked in the front yard andhad lots of fun.  This is our neighbors yard, they have no children. David and a neighbor getting ready to have fun in the snow. I also decided Friday to defrost our deep freezer. It needed it badly, and with it being below freezing outside it was the perfect time. We boxed up everything in the freezer, and put it in the carport. Everything stayed frozen, and my freezer looks great! Yay for cold temperatures.

11 years ago today I married the first man I ever loved and gave my heart to. My Randall.  These past 11 years have flown by, yet been jam packed with lots of love, laughs and life. We have worked hard, loved hard and played as hard as two high strung loves can play! ;)  This cake photo was the photo on our first Christmas card in 2003. I remember asking a man in a neighboring office at my work if he knew how to scan it in the computer for me. Oh, how technology has changed in 11 yrs! I loved that cake! I also loved that arch over the cake...and my groom!  I had baby's breath in my wedding before it was cool! I get on Pinterest now and see how baby's breath and champagne colored dresses are the in thing. I literally snicker. We used baby's breath because it was cheap! I loved the color of the dresses and debated going for it because it was not seen that much in weddings 11 yrs ago. Maybe I'm a trendsetter?! Ha. That's funny!  ...

Our day to day life is my favorite. I treasure the simple, mundane things. This child is growing at warp speed it seems. This picture reminds me of a Life cereal commercial. Henry loves to come to "the hot air balloon place" and help me work. Thankfully I work in an environment where this is accepted. In fact, a client was on the other side of my desk signing papers!  These two are a pair. They crack me up how much they are alike. Henry has no idea how blessed he is with that precious daddy of his. My house is covered in toys, shoes and books because of these two. Instead of letting it get to me, I have learned to embrace it....while picking up the Leggos and Matchbox cars for the love of my feet. It means there is love and life in these walls. I love our afternoon rides together. He is usually full of all kinds of information and always excited to see me. Henry insisted he have a giraffe hat this winter. So, of course I found him one. If you don...

Outside my window...rain, Icy limbs on trees, puddles on the street, and cold. Cold.  I am thinking...that I love my jeans. I usually wear yoga pants around the house but I've worn jeans the last couple of days and I'm loving it! I'm in prayer for...a friend that just found out her cancer has returned. She is the mother of children my kids ages. I am thankful...for a warm house, electricity, tv, and can Cokes In the Kitchen...Amish Chicken will be for supper tonight. I can't remember what the recipe calls for I found it on Pinterest. Hope it's good. I am wearing...well jeans like I said earlier. A 1/4 zip black pullover, and Christmas socks. I am going...No where. No plans on the horizon for any traveling. Kinda sad. I am wondering...about plans for Anna's birthday. She wants to make plans and I have no ideas so far. I am reading...The Day Before 9/11 it's pretty good. I am hoping...the electricity stays on today. Theres some ice in the trees, so everything...

I was looking for photos for Henry's album the other night and came across a bag of some old family photos. My organization is in distress when it comes to my photos. It usually stresses me out, but on this night it was right on time! I loved the unexpected smiles and laughter it provoked.  This is our daddy with his father on the left and our UD on the right. Grandpas with our daddy. This was taken at Julie's high school graduation party in 1988. Julie is Old!  Daddy's blue pants were kicking!! I love this photo. Jules and I have had great examples of love and Jesus in these three.  This man was the salt of the earth. When I saw this photo it was angled in a way he was looking over me. It made me smile. He died a few days after my 5th birthday. I hate I didn't know him more. I know he was greatly loved and he loved fiercely in return. He was a deacon in his church and took care of everyone.  He was our pawpaw, our mamas's daddy. Joe was a hard ...

It's love month!! We are starting it out with a new mailbox in Henry's room. As long as he shows love each day, he will receive a little token of love in his box each morning. Today he woke up to a new matchbox fire truck. I love the dollar tree or "treat" as Henry calls it :) Because this month is setting up to be a bit crazy, I made all Henry's valentines last night. Randall's office and my craft room are one in the same. Our bonus room upstairs. He had some computer work to finish for the big planting season ahead, so I planted myself up there with him after Henry was in bed. It was like a date, but not really. We get what we can!  Henry picked out his valentines this year. The dig you is for the girls and the fish/cars is for the boys. It was fun to make. I told Randall I have set myself up for a future of no fun boxed valentines because of this, and I could hit myself for it now!! Maybe I can be proven wrong, but I doubt it! The past 5 years of loving cre...