WOW, What a Life!

There are a lot of pictures in this post, sorry about that. I take them and do not realize what I have until I go to blog about it!

Let's start with something silly. I was running out of Tupperware and wondering where it all had gone. Don't panic though, we found it...in Mark's car. 

If your Tupperware comes up missing, start with looking in your husband's car

 A random pic of my not-so-baby-anymore baby girl and her pup, Peaches

Down to the nitty-gritty

With the holidays coming so quickly, we have been SUPER busy! Baby Jacalynn came for another visit and stayed the whole weekend with us again. She sure does love Austin and Abi, always laughing at them when they talk to her.

Jacalynn and Aunt Jennie

This weekend was not only a big weekend because of Jacalynn's visit, but also because Abi was finally baptized. With both Austin and Abi, we let them arrive at what they want to believe on their own. We talk to them about what mommy and daddy believe about salvation, but they are also exposed to what others believe or do not believe. They know that Aunt Lisha, along with many others, do not believe in God. Our intentions are never to scare them into believing that there is a God, but rather allowing them to see with their very own eyes how He works in their lives and in the lives of people around them. In September, while having lunch, Abi said, "Mommy, I can't wait to die and go to heaven to meet Jesus." (Not exactly what I want to hear from my 6 year old, the dying part!!!) I was reluctant to address the comment, fearing that she may say whatever necessary to get my approval. So, I said, "really, and what do you think about heaven?" Before she could answer big brother chimed in, "Abi, you do know that you have to pray to ask Jesus in your heart to go to heaven, right?" Abi, with a slight look of surprise said, "I didn't know that! That's what I want to do, say a prayer so Jesus will come into my heart!" So, that afternoon at the lunch table, she prayed.

Abi's baptism, November 21, 2010 

Kenzie, Mark's little sister, was also baptized 

Most of you are familiar with Yellow Baby. She is part of our family. If she goes missing, there is panic in our house, as if we were missing a real person in our household. When Abi was 6 months old, we came home from Arkansas to visit Grammy. We went into one of the hole-in-the-wall stores in Jewett, TX, and there is where Yellow Baby was found. Mom, Abi and I were walking down one of the isles, and Abi out of no where reached for the baby. At first we thought it was just something that caught her eye, but it was love at first sight! Some of my favorite memories of Abi when she was a baby, was waking her up in the mornings. She would be sleeping with butt in the air and Yellow Baby snuggled up next to her in a headlock! So sweet! Well, when Jacalynn was here, I couldn't resist giving her an early Christmas present, Purple Baby!!!

 Jacalynn, Purple Baby, Yellow Baby, and Abi

Austin LOVES motorcycles and fast cars! Every time he goes to Grandpa's house he asks if Grandpa will take him on a motorcycle ride. For a while G-pa's motorcycle was out of commission, but this weekend he got it up and running. Boy, was Ausitn excited!

Motorcycle man Austin

Being home schooled really has it's perks! For example, instead of only having 3 days off the week of Thanksgiving, we took the entire week off (from written work, that is!) As part of the Thanksgiving celebration, we scheduled a surprise visit with Luke, Abi's best buddy, for lunch!

 Abi and Luke

 Goofy as usual

Unfortunately, the Thanksgiving celebration that I am used to, didn't exactly work out this year. I baked pies and cookies all day Wednesday in preparation for the feasts! After finishing that, I had some left over energy. So, I decided to make some tasty treats for our guests, Aaron, Georgiet, Zay, and Bastian. I started slicing potatoes, and ended up slicing part of my pinkie off!! Yikes! It hurt, but I'm pretty sure it hurt Mark more than it hurt me! Poor guy freaked out and called everyone under the sun!  Luckily, Sluz learned some cool stuff in nursing school and was able to put a pressure wrap on it. It made all the difference!!

 The day after I took the wrap off



 I sure hope it doesn't mess up my finger nail long term!

My pressure wrap. Abi said this looked like a turkey head, just in time for turkey day!

I also spent all Thanksgiving day dizzy and nauseous. I ended up vomiting, and missing out on my annual Black Friday date with Naomi!! NOT COOL! I guess you could say we had a rough start to the holiday season, but it got better! Papa, Nancy, Aaron, Georgiet, Zay and Bastian all visited from out of town. In all, the weekend turned out to be pretty good!

 Nancy and Papa

Bastian and Sluz after a long day 

 Kenzie, Shawny, and Sion playing the Xbox

Aaron and Mark in usual form, super goofy! 

Abi, Zay, and Georgiet

Lately, I've been pretty tapped out in the creativity department. I started on this outfit over the summer, and finished it at the beginning of November. Sad, isn't it? But I DID finish it! 

 Abi has worn the top, but says the skirt is "too trippy"

 Some Christmas bows I made

More Christmas bows

Rays of Sunshine

Most of you know that me and Abi knock heads pretty much all day every day. I will admit that it is because we are so much alike. I see her say some things exactly the way I say them. But there are times when she does or says something and I am not sure where it came from. Abi would tell you, "it came from my brain"! She has been extra silly recently. This was Mark and her at dinner tonight...I think I'm beginning to understand where the silliness is coming from!

Abi and Mark

Austin, pretty silly too!

Yesterday the kids and I took one of our common shopping trips to the grocery store. Apparently, Austin and Abi were both on an off day, because both were being awful to the other. The final straw for loss of TV time and alone in their room time came when Austin did something to Abi, so she whacked him in the face. Good times. That was it, I was boiling mad. I told her that when she got home it was to her room. She fought and argued for a few minutes, but finally got the point when I told her that the best things she could do was just be quiet. Then came the 'I Love You Mommy'. Still both were going to their rooms. We get home, both help me carry in the groceries. Afterwards, I told them both to have some time in their rooms. So, Abi calls Peaches behind her and goes to her room. Then, about every minute, Abi would come out and ask if they could come out yet. After about the fifth time, I told her that I would add five minutes to their time every time she asked. A few minutes later...Peaches came running downstairs with this note stuck in her collar:

It says: "Can we please come out. If you say no, then I am sorry for everything I did. Love, Austin"

My favorite thing about this letter is that for Austin to be writing it, he misspelled his own name!!!! After that, of course I HAD to let them out!

Last night I played bunco at Sarah's house. I came home to this very specially wrapped 'Christmas gift'!!

An empty tissue box that was once used for paper hockey on the kitchen floor, can you tell?

This is the gift that was inside:

It says: "I love you and my Christmas present to you is this right here. You are the best mom ever. # 1Best Mom" and then there is a picture or Abi and me and a floating head.

Each of these silly moments have reminded me that yes, we do have bad days, but even more so we have many more fleeting moments of laughter and silliness. I won't remember all the bad days if I focus on the the good ones. So, I am trying to make a point to give both Austin and Abi (AND MARK) extra hugs and kisses each day. Time passes so quickly. I don't want to forget this time. And when I think I have given them enough hugs and kisses for the day, I will give them each one more for the road...

Playing on the Team!!

This fall Austin selected to play baseball. He played soccer when he was 4 and loved it! Then he switched it up and played T-ball when he was 5 (loved it) and then switched again and played basketball when he was 6, all of these through the local YMCA. He LOVES sports! We loved the YMCA because they aren't too pricey; however, this year, we really wanted Austin to play in a more competative league because in the past we have struggled with having other kids on the team that are as dedicated as he is. For example, when he was in soccer, he was the only kid on the team that was didn't have to be bribed or forced to stay out on the field and play. (Not that he is so special and great that he's better than the other kids, but it is true!! The other parents struggled to keep their kids interested the entire game) It was the same in T-ball. In basketball, we sometimes had to borrow players from the team we were facing just to play the game because our full team wouldn't even show up. So, switching to a new and more competative league, I think, was a great idea. I am really glad we made the switch. Austin has made some great new friends that I could see him staying friends with for a long time.

 On to the point of this post...after a FUN and awesome season, the Diamondbacks won the championship! Granted their were only 8 teams and we were only allowed to play 4 of them in the playoffs. Our team played so well together. I loved hearing them cheer for each other. When Mark and I told Austin we love hearing him start chants for his team mates, his response was, "Well, we should build people up, not tear them down!" Well said.

A winning team

A proud boy!

As soon as they open up registration, I will be signing Austin up for the Spring season! Of course we won't let the gear get cold, he will still practice in the off season!

Mr. Sandman...please slow down!!!

Again, too much time has past since my last blog. We made it through Halloween and Fall festival. We signed up again this year to do Trunk or Treat. Our theme came from the brilliant mind of Lizzie Bender! Lizzie suggested that we decorate our trunk as 'A Group Divided'. For those of you not familiar with a chunk of Texas culture, Texas Longhorns and Texas Aggies are pretty big rivals. There is a popular bumper sticker for households that have students at both schools that reads 'A house Divided'. It was also fun to hang out with some of our group peeps.

Luke as Iron Man and Abi as Black Widow

 Austin as a Ninja

 A Group Divided!

Maddox, Abi, Mark (holding Pacey), me, Luke, Lizzie, Justin, and Kellie (in the front)

Abi, stuffing herself full of candy!

Last weekend, I got to get together with some old friends. We had lunch and attempted to catch up on what has been going on with each other in the last year or so. Lunch was okay, luckily the company was good.

Angie and Naomi November 2010

Naomi and Angie Spring 2000

 Jenny and Me November 2010

Me and Jenny Winter 2000

Jenny (who is due with her first child Nov 15), Angie, Naomi, and Me

A throwback pic for my girls!!!

The same night of my lady shindig, one of Austin's best friends, Cameron, had a birthday party at a laser tag  play place. Abi got to go too. It was lot of family fun!!!

Austin, gettin' ready to rock!

 Abi and Luke playing video games together! Where ever one is, there is the other....

 Me and my love!

We've been having lots of family fun this fall. I love homeschooling for the simple fact that I get to see the kids all the time. (Of course, sometimes I need a little space...I am only human) I have really enjoyed watching them grow this year!

Nothing melts my heart like a daddy and his little girl! 

A mama and her boy!

Austin and Abi with the brat, Peaches

Austin played his last official game of the season this past Monday. His team did make it to the playoffs so he will get to play a couple more games. Before we left to go to the game Monday evening, Austin and Abi were out playing in the backyard. They came running inside to get Mark and I, and insisted that we see their masterpiece! The call it 'The Elements of Jesus: Faith, Kindness, and Trust'! 

The said masterpiece!!

Austin's team also had their first shut out at 12-0.

 After playing hard!

 

Homeschooling has been going well too! Austin dissected a sheep's brain this past week, and has been learning about the different parts of the brain. He has also been learning about the nerves. I spared you, and myself, any pictures of the sheep's brain (yes, the kids brought it home!!!)

 

A while ago, we had dinner out and he had chicken wings. When I asked him if they were good, he said, "yeah, but I could see the ulna and the radius!" So, we are fairly certain that information is sinking in! Also, this Friday is the last day of our Friday school classes. We will still have activities to do together before the next semester, but we will not meet for classes anymore. I am contemplating teaching a history course on colonial times that would also include some sewing, cooking, woodworking, and all those other cool things they used to do back in the day.

 Austin's colorcoded brain mold

 The nerves