Be Back ... Later

I have debated for about two weeks now how to write this post.  You see, I am not one for cliff hangers.  In fact - I HATE cliff hangers.  I'm that person that is just angry at the end of every season when all the good shows leave you hanging so that you'll be sure to watch the season premiere.  I don't like the "not knowing".

However, that is what I'm going to be leaving with you with today.

If we're friends then there is a chance you already know what is going on in our lives and I would imagine (hope anyway) that you totally understand why I will be walking away from the blog for a while.  However, if we don't know each other (like some of the followers on here ... or some of the lurkers who don't comment or follow, but who my tracker logs for me) then you aren't going to understand.

I cannot blog right now.

I do not know when I will be back and while it pains me not to record some of the fun stuff the kids are doing and write down my feelings and post my pictures that I always love looking back on, it is what has to be done right now.

I'll be back .... ....  .... later.

Turkey Day 2011

Since it's almost Christmas, I figured it was time to get my Thanksgiving post on here.

Thanksgiving was weird this year.  Not bad - just different.  We don't necessarily have a Thanksgiving tradition.  I mean, we seem to be in a different place at a different time every year.  Last year we were at a family reunion.  The year before that we went to Dallas to Medieval Times to celebrate Craig's birthday and the end of football season.  I can't remember back any further than that, but it seems we don't really have any set schedule or tradition for Thanksgiving and as sad as that sounds (or looks) ... it sure is freeing at times. 

Some years you just really want to spend the entire holiday season with friends and family and parties and cooking and baking.  You have all the shopping done a month in advance and everything is wrapped and instead of stressing about everything, you're making hair appointments.  That was last year.

And then there are the other years.

I don't really have a point in that above paragraph other than saying that our lack of traditions at Thanksgiving is always really nice right after football season when I don't want one other stressor in my life.

So, this year - our plan was to drive over to Waco to Rick's sister's house and have Thanksgiving with them leaving in time to make it to College Station to attend the ATM vs UT game and then drive home.  Then, rest up on Friday and drive down to Gonzales to have Thanksgiving with my parents and brother and his wife on Saturday.  And while it was slightly weird (2 Thanksgivings, a football game in CS, etc...) - it worked.

It started on Wednesday when Rick and I spent 12 hours in the kitchen (count 'em folks - I'm not making that up) making our gluten-free, egg yolk free, nitrite free, sulfite free ... I don't feel like typing all the other "free"... Thanksgiving meal.  However, for a post about that you'll have to wait a few days and then visit the other blog (http://www.romans6-13.blogspot.com/) where I'm going to share that story in detail.

Thursday morning we got up and packed everything - an ENORMOUS amount of food for one day complete with ice chests and Whole Foods bags and drinks and extra clothes ... We rolled Julie's hair Wednesday night so she was all dolled up and gorgeous.  (I know this because she told me so.)

Everyone got to my sister in laws (M.A.) house about 11 am and began putting together the meal.  This is my sister in law Katy (and me).  It is the only picture I am in THE ENTIRE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND (other than the family shot).  When my children grow up and see that I am never in a photo on the holidays, I hope they understand it is because I was BEHIND the camera.

The boys were watching some pointless football game while the women did all the work.  (My brother in law Shawn is not a redneck - although this picture leads you in that direction doesn't it?)

We got an almost family picture right before everyone had to jet.  It's missing some people so you can't call it an official family picture.  However, it does serve as a reminder of who was there and where we were and what we did. 

We headed over to College Station for the game and Rick and Craig attended while Julie and I hung out at the movies.  

They had a great time, but had to stand for the entire game as the stadium was packed and their tickets were standing room only.  Obviously, Craig sat at times.  But, Rick stood the entire time and is still having back pain because of it.  (Seriously.)  (We originally were going to leave the kids at Mary Alice's and Rick and I were going to make a date out of the game.  However, it got too complicated with travel plans, so we x'd that idea.  THANK THE LORD!!!  Can you see me standing for four hours in a wet, cold stadium surrounded by obnoxious football fans with no snacks and a husband who won't visit because he's footballing?  Oh. my.)

Julie and I enjoyed our movies:  The Muppets and Jack and Jill.  However, the late night was torture.  Me and the Juju are NOT night people.  So, waiting until 11 p.m. to pick up the boys from the field was agony for us.  But, we did it ... and then we made Rick drive us home and we all promptly fell asleep before we hit the city limits sign.

We ventured down to Gonzales Saturday where these two caused constant trouble.

They were up to entirely NO GOOD in that photo.  I'm glad they get along, but one of these days I'm thinking they're probably going to need me for bail money.  I love them, though.  And this photo of both of them with their heads thrown back cackling at their own jokes makes me laugh.

The boys played a little football in the backyard.  What's Thanksgiving without football, right?



The kids started on their Christmas ornaments and got two painted before their attention spans ran out and and they were off to wrestle down a grandparent or an aunt or uncle.

And Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete if we didn't shoot something.

Here they were having a contest to see who could hit a can the most times with the bb gun.  You never know though when you walk out the door if it will be a can or a bucket or some innocent squirrel or frog or something.  I kid you not - I have walked out the backdoor before to find them shooting at an emu.

We enjoyed a great meal together and then hung out for a few hours before heading back into town to get ready for Sunday.  (That's how you know you either grew up in the ministry or have family in the ministry .... On Saturday night, you "get ready" for Sunday.)

We enjoyed our Thanksgiving 2011 and we were immensely grateful for the time with family ... the laughter, the jokes, the fellowship.  I hope your Thanksgiving was thanks-filled and wonderful as well.

Funny Kiddo's

My kids have made me laugh quite a bit lately.  I thought I'd share some of their "finer" moments with you ...

~  Julie came home last Friday and told me "Happy Veterinarians Day, Mommy!" and then proceeded to tell me all the ways they had celebrated and studied veterinarians that day at school.  The one part she couldn't figure was why they honored this little girl whose entire family had been in the Army.  What did that have to do with Veterinarians Day?!

~  I found these chocolate donuts at Sprouts that are gluten free so I got them for the kids for breakfast one morning.  They came frozen, so I stuck them in the oven for 2-3 minutes to thaw them out and loosen them up a bit.  Then, to make sure they tasted good and weren't cold in the middle, I bit into one.  The kids came down and gobbled them right up, but commented on how I had taken a bite out of one of them.  Julie also mentioned her stomach hurting after she finished breakfast.  (It's no wonder - you ate three donuts, child!)  I thought nothing of it, but noticed my stomach began to hurt about mid morning while I was out on a photography job.  Then, picked them up from school only to learn Craig had dealt with upset stomach all day.  So, we began to discuss in the car how we probably had caught a little bug and not to worry about it.  It would be gone soon.  Nope.  They convinced themselves that it was the donuts.  Nothing would change their minds.  Rick never got the little tummy ache and their opinion is that this is because he never ate the donuts! 

~  Julie had to change clothes at school the other day.  Rick dressed her after I left for work and put her in a pair of ratty denim, play shorts that had holes in the butt.  So, obviously - she got to school and they were appalled.  Well, a few days later, Craig put on a pair of jeans for school that had a worn out (very in style looking) hole in the knee.  I asked Rick casually if we should make him change so that he didn't get in trouble at school.  Rick said no - that the holes just couldn't be in inappropriate places.  Craig overheard the conversation and then proceeded to tell us (and show us) all his inappropriate places.

~  I picked up the kids from school the other day and they had decided with some of their friends that they are going to ride their bikes to school from now on.  If you know where we live and where their school is, you're already laughing.  If not, let me just tell you - it is over six miles from our house and takes fifteen minutes to reach by car.  Can you imagine a 6 year old and 9 year old on bikes hiking it across town crossing major highways and the busiest intersection on the tollway at 6 a.m?  I tried talking some sense into them, but nothing would do.  So, I drove the route with them and showed them that more than 3 miles of it contain no sidewalks.  "NOT AN ISSUE, MOM!  We can ride our bikes in the grass!"  (By grass, they mean pastures.)  I asked them about cold weather and rainy weather.  They informed me they like it.  So, once football season is over, we're running a little experiment with them.  We're loading them up on their bikes and then following them in the van to see how far they make it.  I'm placing bets on the two mile marker.  ;)

No Blog Award for Me :(

Surely I've blogged between now and my last post, right?  I mean - what kind of blogger would go 2 1/2 months without some sort of post?!! 

That would be me. 

I guess I'm not winning the award for consistency this year.  (And boy, has it been a year!!!)

However, I will update you on where we've been and what we've been doing.  (But only because my friend Corrie texted last night and threatened me.)  ;)

Craig got off to a really rough start in school.  By rough, I mean - they called us and threatened to revoke his transfer.  There was MUCHO drama.  Long story short, we adjusted a few of his meds and then after 3 more weeks had them change his teacher.  He has done FABULOUS with the new teacher.  I am absolutely amazed at the difference a teacher can make!

We celebrated his 9th birthday by allowing a friend to spend the night with him.  Rick took them to Jumpoline, to the movies and to buy new video games for the Wii.  I made cupcakes that were safe for all of us to eat and we all had a great time.

Julie is rockin' along in first grade.  She is an amazing reader, but her math skills are like her mama's.  She adores her teacher who is raising four boys and thinks Julie is a nice change from the testosterone at her house.  She has lost both her front teeth which has made for some awesome pictures these first few months of school.  They are growing in very slowly so it seems we'll be waiting awhile for a big tooth-filled grin.

She still has trouble with her "r" consonant and we are waiting (and waiting and waiting) on this last speech impediment to make it's grand exit.  (All the others have ... )

Rick is in the 2nd week of playoffs right now and is moving ninety-to-nothing at all times.  He has lost a total of 50 pounds now and is feeling great.  He wants to start working out when the season is over and turn everything into muscle.  I think he looks amazing.

He is still teaching IPC (Integrated Physics and Chemistry) and only asks me occasionally for help.  (ha, as if)  He is the only one teaching it at his school so he has the advantage of getting to do it how he wants but the disadvantage of having to do it all himself. 

His birthday is in a few days and he's turning old.  (When did we get this old?!)

I am still working my photography job but loathing most of it.  :(    I enjoy having the camera and being able to do stuff on the side.  However, the company I work for is the pits and they drive me insane.  They're very unorganized and flighty.  They have sent me to the wrong address, sent me hours early/late, lost my paperwork, etc...  I don't hate the early mornings or the dragging around 100 lbs of equipment.  However, I cannot stand their lack of preparation and professionalism.  I attempted to talk to my boss about it and he in turn cut my hours and began sending me to the schools that were farthest from my house.  So - that went over well.  I'm praying God will provide something else so that I do not have to do this next semester.

In other news ....   We are headed to Waller Saturday for the second game of the playoffs.  (They couldn't find anything further away, I guess.)  If we lose, we're out and football is over.  (I could cheer for that.)  If we win, we go to Dallas (the only place further than Waller) next weekend for Game #3.  (They're hoping to rent out the Cowboys stadium for that one.)  (I could cheer for this one too.)  I guess you could say that I could be excited about either outcome.  One brings my husband home.  The other is tangible evidence of just how awesome he is and furthers his career.  (Not to mention it's exciting and he loves it!)

I am stressing BIG TIME about Thanksgiving this year.  It will be my first time to pull off my own Thanksgiving dinner.   I have never cooked a turkey or dressing or any of it.  NOT ONLY THAT - but I've got to figure out how to do it gluten free, egg-yolk free, dye free, salicylate low, artificial sweetener free, nitrite free, and sulfite free.  Shoot me now.  If we win Saturday, Rick will actually have football practice on Thanksgiving day, so that will throw a mild wrench in the plans.  If we lose, we are supposed to travel to Waco for the day for Thanksgiving.  I have no idea how to transport an entire Thanksgiving meal a few hours east and still have it be awesome by the time we're ready to eat it.  STRESSING!!

Our latest bit of excitement came yesterday in the mail.  I had been watching the bank account waiting on the rent check to come through.  We always pay it around the first of the month and then they usually cash it by the tenth.  Well, here it was the fifteenth and they STILL hadn't cashed that check.  (It was ticking me off.)  So, I asked Rick to call them and just see what was up.  He called, left a message and they never would call him back.  What the heck?  I came home from work to open the mail and find an EVICTION NOTICE telling us we had to vacate within 24 hours or face criminal charges. 

I know you think I'm calm, cool and collected  :) but   I      P-A-N-I-C-K-E-D.

Called Rick screaming.  Scared the kids half to death.

Long story short - the leasing company had filed our check in the wrong place / misplaced it.  After Rick called and threatened them telling them we would be willing to prove that we paid using their own video surveillance system, they decided to look for it and (WOW!!!!!) they found it.  They issued an apology and promised to shred the eviction notice.  Too little, too late geniuses!  You already caused heart failure!

I don't like that statement "alls well that ends well" because just between you and me - my stomach is still turning a bit from the drama yesterday so even though it ended well ... all is not entirely well.  Rest assured that I will be requiring a receipt each time I pay our lease now .... a receipt written in blood!!!  (Insert evil laugh here.)

Ok, just kidding.  I will be inquiring what we can do to make sure this never happens again though.

So there's your update Corrie ... and anybody else that decided to come back over for a little Ivy League.  I have done a mildly better job of keeping up with the other blog if you want to venture over there as well.  (http://www.romans6-13.blogspot.com/)  And order you a Craig's Meal or two.  They're a hot commodity right now!  (Not to mention that they might be my ticket to getting to quit the unorganized photography job.)

The Why Behind the What

We haven't just taken away every single favorite food our children have ever loved.  We've shared with them WHY regarding each and every single food.  We turn over every single package and show them why they can't have it.  Sound mean and heart wrenching?  Probably does. 

However, in teaching them they WHY behind our eating habits and lifestyle, it has enabled them (educated them) to be able to examine foods or products offered to them when we are not around them and the ability to decipher whether or not they should consume it or use it.

Take Julie's run-in with her school nurse yesterday.  (Who would've known the school nurse would be our arch-enemy in all this?!!)  I wrote about it on our other blog.  And, the next time you think your kid isn't old enough to make wise decisions, remember this little six year old fire cracker who took on her school nurse!  ;)

Go! Fight! Win! Panthers!

Well here we are ... embarking on the first KICKOFF for the 10th consecutive year.  If you've been around for this whole journey, you know where we've been ...

First we were Tigers.  Go Maroon & Gold!

Then we were Broncos.  Go Blue & Orange!  (Who thought up that color combination?!?!)

Then we were Lobos.  Go Blue & Silver!  (which later was switched to black just to tick off the principal)

Now we stand as Panthers.  Go Blue & Gold!  (my favorite color combination thus far)

Tonight is the first kickoff of 2011. 

I am excited.  And nervous.  And looking forward to it.  These are all normal feelings for the first game.  (And nauseous, dreading, and weary are all normal feelings for the last game of the season.)

I remember when Rick switched his major in college and decided he wanted to be a coach.  (I married him cuz he was gonna be a doctor and then he pulled a fast one on me.)  I'll never forget the "normalcy" of it.  It was almost as if we all knew that was what he'd eventually do anyway.  It just seemed (and felt) right.

The thing I like best about his coaching is his strategery (if I may borrow a word from my beloved Bush).  He is "normal" until you count his strategy factor.  He is always one step ahead of the other team.  He NEVER just gets lost in the game.  He's always got a plan.  (He argues this way as well which absolutely unnerves me.  I argue by yelling as loud as I can with no plan at all in place.)

Football season always brings with it sets of challenges.  It was particularly draining when the kids were babies as I would reach the end of my rope quicker and not have anyone to fall back on.  However, the challenges are different now and I would venture to say slightly easier now that the children wipe their own behinds and bathe themselves.  (If they would just learn to clean up their own vomit ... )

Granted, not seeing my husband until 8 each night during the week and then not seeing him at all Thursday morning through Saturday dinner is rough.  However, I've said it before and I'll continue to say it (until I find a job harder than staying at home) - STAYING AT HOME WITH YOUR KIDS IS MUCH, MUCH HARDER THAN GOING TO WORK.  And - with both kids in school now and me working, things are tiring at times, but not near the challenge they were when the monkeys were 3 and 1.

So, I'm not real sure what this season holds.  And the thought of playing all the way up until the last week before Christmas is seriously scary.  However, it's hard to be a buzz-kill about your husbands passion in life (unless you're like the worst wife ever, which I'm not ... .... ..... anymore). 

So, with slight trepidation but mostly pure excitement, I say "Go Panthers! Beat the Bulldogs!"

Part Vampire?

Garlic anyone?

Sometimes you gotta learn your lessons the hard way, you know?

I'm not certain Craig has ever learned a lesson the easy way.  However, some people are just like that.  I'm one of them. 

I refuse to just take your word for it.  I need to try it.  If you tell me something won't work, I will try it out just to prove you wrong.  And - sometimes I find that people were wrong.  It actually WILL work!  And then other times I find out that people (my parents) actually knew what they were talking about.  [sigh]

Craig got a little of this tenaciousness in his sweet spirit.  So, last night when he decided to "help" me cook dinner, I knew there were would be an adventure somewhere in there.  He didn't disappoint.

I put him in charge of the stinky job - peeling garlic.  He LOVED it.  He is all boy and he loves garlic to boot!  So, I asked him to peel me 3 garlics and he peeled me 5 telling me all the while that he felt like if 3 was good, 5 would be even better.  (Thankfully we were making spaghetti so his reasoning was pretty spot on.)

When we had chopped up the garlic and added it to the meat, he noticed there was an extra clove left on the counter.

"Mommy, can I eat this?"

I informed him that he wouldn't like it.

Notice I didn't say no?

"But, can I eat it?"

I told him that it tastes terrible when it isn't cooked.

"But, I can eat it, right?  I'm going to eat it."

To which I replied, "You might better have a glass of water ready."

I'd like to tell you it ended pretty.  However, you've probably tasted raw garlic.  You know the bite it has.

Craig now knows as well.