Sam, McKenzie and Matt
So much fun, so little time!
So of course we try to make the most of it while we can!!!
LOTS of computer viewing. It seems we all know a little so we try to share.

PARTY WEEKEND!!!

I am sitting here waiting for my sister and her family to arrive. It has been to long to remember since they have all come to visit. We are all so excited! Meme and Pop are coming in the morning so it should be a great weekend! The only thing missing is my brother and his family. Katherine has a game tomorrow or they may be coming too!!!

Family is great. We don't get to see as much of them as we would like but I am so thankful to have them. We all get along so good together and have lots of fun. My niece has been coming to our house every weekend for the last month or so. That has gotten us sooo spoilt! She doesn't spend a lot of time with us, she is here to see her boyfriend but we benefit too. She is so sweet and loving it makes us want to be around her more. (all of them)!!

So, beds are made. Toilets cleaned, we are ready! Happy weekend....pictures soon to be made.

SNOW DAY!!!

Today was a snow day from school. The weather forecast was calling for 2 to 4 inches. Everyone got worked up and they ended up cancelling yesterday afternoon at the public schools. So we watched, waited for more snow and then the temperature went up and we got sleeting rain. That's what made the decision to not have school. The storm virtually passed us by (to our disappointment) but it was enough to get the kids out of school but not out of the house. We had warmer temps today so everything was soggy!

I wanted to show of the kids new pillows. Monday was also a snow day like today. Snow, but not much of it. The two younger kids went to Mamaw and Papaw's house. They enjoy going there to visit and watch TV! On there last visit over they found the bunnies that were to be used on a new quilt. Now they both say they want a quilt, Mamaw says "no way, I already made yours and this is for another project. " So, undeterred Naomi ask for a pillow case and Levi chimes in he would be happy with that to!!! Of course Mamaw could not say no to that and here is the results. I think they turned out great. She let them pick out the fabric and choice of bunny and they are a perfect size. I still have my pillow from when I was young, I loved that thing and hope my kids will treasure there's too. Bonus shot, Levi's head 2 weeks after the accident. It looks GREAT as you can see. He will definitely have a line down his head but it has closed up really tight! He still has a scab on what I think was the point of impact.
Since we had the day off Naomi HAD to get her hair and nails done! She saw the butterfly ponytail last night when I put her to bed so that was the first thing she got this morning. I can't believe she can remember these things! So, once she had her hair done she moved on to the nail polish. She knows I am a sucker for beauty (if we have time) and will do what I can.
As usual, Elijah is sitting at the computer playing games. We all really enjoy the laptop and can't remember life without it. He took a break long enough for me to photograph him but that was about it!


I'm sure your all wondering what I did all day....It was NOT pretty. I spent too much time in the office working on my taxes! I have been putting it off as long as I can because I despise paperwork. I know it has to be done but I don't like it!!!

MORE STAR WARS

CHEWY R2-D2 and Levi
Levi and Darth Mahl
Anikan and Naomi
Storm trooper and unknown character with Naomi (I'm sure Levi could tell me but I didn't think to ask)
HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!!!!

STAR WARS REUNION

We had big plans for the day! Start off with the work out to make it through the day. This is not a everyday occurrence but every little bit helps. Next it's time to get ready. Hair, check...earpiece, check!
Naomi, always ready for anything.
Off to see Star Wars!!! They had a book signing at Joseph Beth bookseller (free) so we could not resist. They let us bring in our own book and it turned out GREAT. Every one was patient so we had plenty of time to see as many character as we wanted.
The two princesses get together.
Now we are home watching the Superbowl. Joe and I are split. He's for the Colts, I'm for the Bears! We missed the first part and the second is not looking to good for me. I don't watch football to much but I always try to watch the Superbowl. It is such a exciting game and I love all the new commercials.
I would not like to be in all the rain the fans are having to put up with. I know the players make the money so they don't mind, but everyone else has really got to love the game!
GO, BEARS!!!

EARLY MORNING VISION

This beauty was the first thing I saw when I got up this morning. I know she had not been up very long but had obviously put some thought into what she wanted to look like today. So out comes the camera to capture this moment. She loves the attention of course! Levi and Joe went to the curch this morning and when they left she began to cry...Mommy to the rescue! Looking at her I commented on how she went to a lot of trouble to look so nice why don't we finish the look, with glitter!!!

Now she was really happy. My girl loooves glitter, the more the better. I let her put it on by herself which is something I rarely do. Today was special for some reason so special attention it is.
After the picture session she looks at me and said she wants a picture with me too. Now you know she is after my heart. After having a 13 year old you learn to jump at any chance you have to document the happy times. Clearly, she was happy. I was happy too to be with my girl and thankful that I had put on my make up too!


This goes with my last blog. Libby loo, it is a store at our mall. I have heard people talk about it since the day it opened but I am not a big fan of the mall so I didn't experience it until a few weeks ago. Talk about a great idea!!! When you walk in the store there are round tables set up with glitter and make up. Some one was doing a little girls hair in twist and another child was sitting beside her with her hair already done, rhinestones on her face and lots of glitter. In front of us was a girl getting her picture made in this special booth made for that reason. There was dancing and fur boas, fuzzy phones and all things glittery. You could make your own lotions and soaps, buy in bulk but my head was beginning to spin. Naomi wanted everything!!! From the hair done to the fuzzy phone she wanted it! Now being a hair stylest myself I can't see paying $20 for something I can do. So I promised that I would make her look like the girls she was seeing but she didn't understand it that day. So, off to the Disney store we went with her head spinning too. That's a whole other story for a different day. Moral of the story. I need to think harder, wiser and come up with a idea of my own to become rich. The say headaches come from having money but I'm willing to give it a try. Of course maybe Libby loo has stock options until I make it rich on my own!

BUZZ DONUTS

The news is about "buzz donuts" and "buzz bagels" . I knew it was only a matter of time! Dr. Robert Bohannon of Raleigh, NC. Wants you to be able to get your caffeine without having to drink it. He is a molecular scientist who is in the process of getting patents for his product. He claims he can put up to 100 milligrams of powdered caffeine into his baked good without the bitter taste. (typical 12 oz. soda has 30 to 55 milligrams and a 8.5 oz can of red bull has 80 milligrams of caffeine) I guess I should have said ONLY in the parentheses. So, you can see he is able to deliver quite a jolt. His claim is to make this for the person who wants to have a glass of milk with their food and still get the caffeine they want. I can see that because I like caffeine. I can not even imagine what 100 milligrams would feel like in my body. I can not even imagine what 50 milligrams would feel like in my body. That said, I'm sure it will be approved. Maybe not at full strength (quarter of a donut please?) but I see it in our future. With all of the stimulation available to us 24/7 we need caffeine to go with that and what a better way to get the nutrition you need too!

So I'm jealous. No molecular scientist here but I know a good idea when I see one. Of course this is going to raise health insurance cost but when stock options are available I will be looking into it. (For my kids of course). Bon appetite!!! :)

ANOTHER DAY IN MY LIFE

One of the great joys of wintertime, the orchid blooms! We are not treating it as well as when it was younger. I am not sure what to do to make it bloom more. We have repotted it in the past but I am not sure that that is ok to do very often. One year it had over 25 blooms on it! It was soo beautiful I keep waiting for that to happen again but it hasn't. I can still hope and maybe remember to feed it in the summer to help it bloom. This is out our back window. The picture don't do it justice. The tree was full of FAT red breasted robins. I don't like the mess they make but it is so nice to look out and see life! We see blue jays and cardinals too. The tree had started to bud out with all the warm weather we had the last couple of weeks, only to die before spring. You never know what to expect to bloom come spring after a winter like this.
Last, THE REMOVAL OF LEVI'S STITCHES!!! I tried to get him to let me take the out but he said NOOOO. Of course when I ask him again he said ok but I was afraid if he freaked out I would have to face the doctor. His scar looks good and I bought some of the new cream to make it fade faster so this will be a good picture to go by. We can all be the judge if I wasted my 13 dollars or not.

COLDER THAN COLD

The temperatures have dropped!! The last two Saturdays have got me wanting to get out side and walk, what a mistake! We started off yesterday just going to walk around the block. It took us 15 minutes just to get ready. 3 trips back inside to get more layers and off we go. This was one time when we needed pictures but I was not going to make the 4th trip inside for pictures. IT WAS COLD.... We ended up with snow suits on and scarves around our faces. The previous days warm temperatures were gone.

It really got me thinking about all of the homeless people.

I am so thankful to have the home I do. Any home would be nice. Just to be able to get shelter from the cold is a blessing.

I enjoyed my walk, being with my family, the hot chocolate I came home to. Now, what to do to help the homeless?

A WALK IN THE PARK

The warmer weather and sunshine have brought us out the last two Saturdays. We live close to a nature sancuary, the ride there is beautiful with big open meadows and large old houses with character. So, off we go. It has been a while since we have gone because the trails are long and Naomi gets heavy. This time of year you can see really far because there are no leaves to block your view. Joe has seen deer but the only deer I have seen belong to ME! This weekend with the warmer temps we saw quite a few more people but still not many. I am looking forward to many more warmer days and lots more outing with the family. The warm sunshine felt great and the sound of running water is so peaceful. Not like the ocean but it will have to do!
I

LATEST UPDATE ON LEVI

These are the cards that were sent to him by his classmates!!
We are getting back to "normal" as you can see. This is the dinner that Joe's parents sent over last night. Levi felt better today and was very hungry. It was a good thing because these are the biggest crab legs I have ever seen!

Naomi's excited as you can see. We had more than enough food for our family and it was really good. Joe really knows how to fix seafood.
You can tell how much better Levi feels just by looking at him!
We had a snow (ice) day today so there wasn't school. I am really glad because it gave Levi another day to heal. I know he would have wanted to go to school if it was in but this made it easier. He was able to finish his work without any pressure and just relax. He now has some swelling and a little color but the stitches look good. I don't think it will be much of a scar, time will tell. Until next week when the stitches come out I hope this is the end of the story. Say a prayer for us!!

update on Levi

We relaxed the rest of the day. Elijah brought home from school a big bag of get well cards for Levi from his class. They were really well done and you can tell they care a lot about Levi. After dinner he could barely keep his eyes open so we turned in early.

I have had several calls from people at the school and the gym teacher. I think that is really saying something because all of them have family of their own and a lot going on but still took the time out to call and check on us!!

I can't say enough how much it means to me to be where we are. Of course there is nothing like family and I wish we were closer to mine but Joe's parents called and brought over food. Levi didn't feel like eating but it is the thought that counts.

The mom that went with us today is a certified school nurse. She told me she went to her car three times to leave but something kept calling her back. She later told me that she thinks God puts people where they are meant to be and I believe it. It was my day off and I was able to be there in minutes, that would never happen on a day I work.

I am thankful for the little things that make a difference.

LEVI'S BEFORE AND AFTER


What a morning we had! It started off as usual until around 10 when the school called. Levi had an accident in gym and had fallen could I please come. The abulance is on its way. I hung up the phone, put some jeans on got Naomi and left. Had to call back to see where to go. I was met at the gym by the office worker who called and she took Naomi. Sure enough I beat the ambulance. Levi was on the ground with several adults around him. They had stopped the blood but it was cut really deep. He was very, very brave! On the way I thought to call his doctors office to see what I should do and they set up for me to go straight to a plastic surgeons office. Quick thinking saved us some trauma. The paramedic said we needed stitches and bandaged him up enough for me to take him. One of the volunteers at school who is a class mates mom offered to drive us. We met Joe and Levi got 12 stitches! 5 inside and 7 outside. The doctor was very proud of him. His class sent him a e-card and he has the rest of the day off!!

I have not gone through this before and pray I won't have to again but I am thankful that we had the thoughtful and caring people with us. I feel like that the family we have made at our school really cares about us and that we will be in their thoughts and prayers.

Levi is doing good, he is a little emotional but will be ready to go to school tomorrow. We'll let you know how taking out the stitches goes....

Levi sends his love to all his friends and family. Thank you for your prayers.

FEELING MORE LIKE MYSELF


I have been sick since last Saturday. I really thought I had the flu but my test came back negative. Upper respiratory infection that felt like the flu!! It all started when I woke up early Sat. To take Elijah for his entrance exam for high school. I didn't feel great but just thought I hadn't had enough sleep. The longer I stayed and listened to what the principal had to say the worse I felt. I am glad I went, they had wonderful things to say but I felt bad !!

Enough about the sickness, I'm on the mend.

I was at work yesterday and learned that we have confirmed gand activity in the high schools. Now, that may not be new news but I had not heard it before! I had heard we had gangs in town, but not at the schools! I'm not sure how we got started talking about it but I think God is telling me not to worry, I am doing the right thing for my children by sending them to the Catholic schools. It is very expensive and I have thought about it a lot since I have three and this is only the beginning. I have prayed for peace about this and to make it work. So, the paper work is filled out and I am not going to worry about it. This is a new year full of possibilities for all of us. I have faith, lots of it!

I know everyone has lots to think about on their own but let me give you one more thing to keep in mind. Pray for those kids without positive direction. Let them see the light that there is a different way to live. It doesn't have to be about fighting, putting people down, hurting others. Life is about seeing, believing, caring... It's about what we make of it.

Disappointment

I am sorry that you can not enlarge my last post of Levi's homework. That was one of the main reasons I put it on. He wrote a really sweet story but his spelling is what is funny. I helped him write and any spelling question I would have him spell it out loud and then I would correct if needed. Once the paper was written I was very surprised that it didn't look like what he said he was writing. Nice, with several miss spelled word but he did the work and I am proud! (Just wanted to share the rest of the story with you).

BLAST FROM THE PAST Levi has been working on the sacrament of reconciliation in class and along with that studying his ancestry. This is a picture of the homework he had to turn in. The assignment was to tell a story of something that had happened in the past. Well, you know that is a tough one! The pictures came out (which took hours), so many stories to tell and I know his head was spinning!! So we left it alone for a day and when we came back to it he picked this picture. The first story that came to mind was visiting my grandfather at his bar-b-que restaurant when we were little. I could have told him a dozen more stories about Grandad and I am sure I have in the past but this one was for Levi. I don't ever want to forget about the past, I don't want to live in it but I think it is very important to pass it on to your kids. I'm glad the school feels the same way too.
One of Levi's project he came up with on his own. It looks kinda christmasy but he said it was something from star wars. I love that he has a great imagination and likes to create!

ELIJAH'S BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES !!!

Now I know you all have seen before and after pictures so we thought we would do some of our own!

Of course I couldn't get Elijah to look old and tired and not smile. I was able to puff the hair out a bit on the before picture (the one on the left).

The after picture was made after a good nights rest, plenty of school work, a little time and my secret tool.

We try to stay busy, even if it is for our own entertainment! He was really surprised by his new look and had Levi screaming when he saw him for the first time (which Elijah absolutely loved his reaction). It is only temporary but he has made plans for me to do it again. Now Levi is ready to try a new look for a day, he can't give up the no hair carefree way!!

BRING ON THE GIRLS !!!


You know special the boys are so now you get to hear how special the girls are. I am amazed at the transformation before my eyes how they go from sweet innocent babies to grown up girls. I love the way they all like to get dirty but still like to look good when the time comes. They can all laugh at themselves and love to have a good time. They are all so helpful around the house and more than willing to lend a hand (or just do it for you). God has blessed us with so many in our family.






Hanna looking smart and cute!

Naomi getting ready to get dirty Sadie ready to give us a show!
Finally got that picture of Sam. Looking good with beautiful McKenzie.
Emily, Naomi, Katherine, and Levi ready to play. We love our cousins !!!!

THIS IS FOR THE BOYS!!!

I needed more picture room to fit in all of the little boys, so I added on to the previos blog only to find out that the only picture I have in my files of my nephew Sam were not for the internet. He is a funny boy and very speedy by nature so I have to move fast to capture him on the camera. Needless to say that doesn't happen very much! I wanted to post about them because they all are sooo sweet and cute but growing up wayyy too fast.

I feel very blessed to have each and everyone of them in my life! They are all fun to be around and enjoy each others company to the fullest. I miss them very much and can't wait to see them again!!!

WELCOME 2007!!! This is only a small portion of our family. As you can see by all the smiles they are great people to share time with. I hope in '07 we get to see each other even more.
We are at Chuck E Cheese. Elijah had to check my camera after this shot to make sure his look was just right to show how he was really feeling.
I feel so blessed to enjoy life everyday. I try to expose my kids to all the good things in life as I know they will soon see it all. This past year has brought sadness and joy. I pray in 2007 we will all be blessed with peace and happiness. We will grow and learn from our mistakes and learn the true meaning of life.