Happy Birthday to MY Dad!

Why is it that I couldn't find any pictures of my Dad and I together, but I could find plenty of him with my kids. Happy Birthday Dad. Since I have babies talking on the brain, I thought I'd share this...on Hunter's first Birthday, my Dad was walking away from Hunter, he was probably helping to put stuff away and Hunter yelled out, "Grandpa!!" In a cute Hunter sort of way, but it was definitely Grandpa. I think my Dad's world paused for a moment and he came running back to see what that boy needed. It made his day! I hope you had a great day. xoxo Mmmmua

Hope was getting a bath tonight, and all of a sudden she is standing up screaming. She had pooped and was thoroughly disgusted. I was just relieved that she didn't pee on the tile when I had her sitting down while I cleaned/disinfected the tub.

She said Momma a couple of times today. Once while I was talking to Hayley. I wasn't 100% sure that was what she was saying, but by the 2nd or 3rd time I was pretty darn excited. I had been Dada. She also started saying "dawwwg" (dog) whenever Scout is around. Hunter, Hannah and Hayden are all the same-it's a Hopey version of unna (...Hunter, Hannah) not sure, but they are all the same word. I love when they start talking, so cute.

I had some weird version of something last night and today. I was achy and chilled. I ran a LOOOW grade fever of 99.5. No other symptoms though, and I'm feeling just fine now. Thank heavens I wasn't sick like Kristi! Anyway, Scott is home finally from his business trip. We are going to re-watch The Office. Good times!

The Big Fun Day

My friend Jennifer and I left her house at 9:30 and just got back. It's 3:25 and I just sat down to nurse Hope. Hunter gets home at 3:35 :). First stop was the jeweler. Yes, I am finally getting the ring I have always wanted!! I have been seriously shopping around for about a month, and my neighbor recommended this jeweler downtown. He is going to make this ring.

There is a wedding band that I want...down the road :) I am so excited I can hardly stand it. Hayley was with me when I tried this one on, she knows it was a pretty exciting moment. You know how sometimes you just know that you have found THE one. I had to go look at one more diamond before we started in-now I have to wait 2 weeks. Girls I have been married 16 years and I have born 4 children, it was time!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Scott has been surprisingly excited/supportive about this ring. Not that he isn't a supportive husband, but big jewelry purchases...you know.



We went to the Houston Galleria after that. Ohhh fun stuff. We lunched at Cheesecake Factory. I got a favorite, the Chinese chicken salad, and, of course, a piece of cheesecake. I went with the tuxedo cheesecake today. Can't go wrong with chocolate cheesecake and mascarpone cheese. Yummy!. After that we just wandered. We parked by Neiman Marcus, so we started there. Oh how I love the make-up counters there. And perfume. And purses. We hit so many fun stores. Tiffany's was fun, we had a chuckle when the lady asked if we wanted to try anything on. We asked her about the Tiffany Novo ring. It was a 4 carat going for about $250,000. Sure I'd like to try on that one hahaha. Then Jimmy Choo shoes. So lovely. But man, I'd really have to love them to spend $925!! Who has that kind of money anyway? NOT me. Or the Fredderic Fekkai brush for $95. We decided we'd just go to Sally's and be big spenders there and get a $20 brush. I did find a Halloween costume for Hope. She will look so cute I'll just have to bite her. I even got to enjoy shopping at the Baby Gap. They recently closed down the Baby Gap at our mall, there is a store close...but I haven't been there for awhile. I got a couple things for her and didn't spend more that like $10 on any one thing. Love a deal. I loved shopping the BIG Coach store too, oh this necklace, I loved it!!Hope and Jennifer's baby were surprisingly good, until the ride home that is, but hey we did pretty much cheat them both out of a nap.



Anyway, kids are home now and it's back to the real world. We are so going back for some more shopping "therapy".

Get that boy mowing the yard!!

*Update*

All books have been found now. That other book WAS returned to the library. He probably left it someplace...all is well. Hannah got her homework all situated, although she is up worrying now about something else connected to the saga, I told her to go read her book, I was done hearing about it. Geez! Sometimes, you just have to nip it, you know??!!

One of Hunter's teachers has them reading this book called The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall. Along with that, she has them doing hard work for service hours. He has like 3 weeks to complete 4 hours of hard labor, all for service. Then they are going to write a paper about how that service makes them feel. I checked the book out, but I haven't read it yet. I think for each chapter they will have certain tasks...something like that anyway.

Anyway, the reason I'm blabbing about this is, he did 2 hours of his labor service last Saturday afternoon/evening. He and 3 other friends did some yard work. Hunter has never mowed before that, but he mowed that day. That was his job. So, he came home yesterday and announced that the back yard needed mowing. I said Dad will do it when he gets home Friday. 'Nuff said (haha Holly) Next thing I know I hear the mower going. Good grief he is going to mow the yard, so I run back there. I tell him to cool his jets, it's a new mower and I'm not sure how to operate it :) Scott calls today and Hunter is on the phone, "I need to mow our yard now Dad. My friends think I'm a baby for not mowing the yard yet." Well good grief, teach that boy (over the phone no less) to mow the yard!!!

What kind of worrier are you?

**this isn't the face of a worrier!!**


I was reading an article in my new Body + Soul this morning while Hunter was practicing his piano. I almost laughed out loud. It's entitle Let It Go. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the link. So, if you are interested go check it out at Target. But here is a little sample...

You see right now, at this very moment, I'm involved with 2 worry-some events. ;) Hannah forgot her homework yesterday at school. She turned in the math worksheet, but needed to keep it as she has a problem to do every night. She had a substitute and I think her groove was off. This never happens to her and she is freaking out. Like...she was up worrying and TALKING about it at 10 pm. I'm trying to be patient with her...you see I'm the same kind of worrier...a rehasher. (Certainly not this bad, but...) She is up right now worrying that she will have to "sign the book". Oh my gosh!! Poor thing feels like she is going to barf, can't eat breakfast...I think I'm going to have issues with this girl if she can't learn to "deal" a little better.

Then there is Hunter...like his Dad. Last week (Thursday or so) he "misplaced" 2 books. Hunter is usually very good about loosing stuff...meaning he doesn't do it much, he usually knows where all his crap...I mean stuff is. This school year has been a little different. Thesecond week of school he lost his BRAND NEW Camelback water bottle, then a week later his lunch box (he did recover that one), now these two books. (He says he has too much stuff now, I also think I have put the fear of you know what in him that he better not "misplace" his clarnet-all other things just not so important!) I was annoyed with him because HE wasn't worried enough. He wouldn't ask his teachers because "he was afraid of getting in trouble", and he was looking for it on his own. Plus, he told me he would just pay for the books. That seemed too easy. I wanted him asking the bus driver, his teachers, looking in the band room, lost and found...you name it. He just wasn't motivated enough. For me. Fine, do it your way but,no computer and TV until they are found. And wouldn't you know, he asked one of his teachers about one of the books, and she had it. He is convinced the other got turned in at the library. We will see. I made him pay me for the water bottle, because I'm mean.

Let It Go Body + Soul October 2007


"Holding on is easy; we do it all the time. We cling to worries, regrets, and fears that no longer serve us. But it's amazing what happens when you start to release your grip on the thoughts that haunt you. Suddenly, there's more air. You can breathe deeper, walk taller. Life feels effortless because you've stopped trying to control every last second of it."


So... are you:

*the generalist-"I worry all the time about everything"


*the control freak-" I think by worrying about things I'll be able to control the outcome"


*the fortune teller-"I'm convinced that a worry is a divine insight, and that the worst is about to happen"


*the existentialist-:"I worry that life is essentially meaningless"


*the rehasher-"It's not voluntary; I get stuck in a mental loop"


*worldwide worrier-"I worry about the genetic engineering of crops and animals. I worry that the bees are dying"



So let's stop worrying! This really was an interesting article. I wouldn't say I'm a BIG worrier, but I've "worried" before. Go check out the article it was a good one. I even used some of the coping techniques on Hannah this morning. I had her write down on a piece of paper what happened and what she will do differently so it doesn't happen again. Seemed to help. Maybe Hunter has the right idea, but don't tell him I said that :)

Hopey, NO more biting!

Do you know how I know Hope wants to nurse? She starts to bite me...leg, shoulder, arm and yes where you might think (that's the worst, at least there is a layer of clothes for protection). This just started happening on Sunday. I was holding her...and she felt like it was time for a snack, and she bit me! She did it again at church, when yes, it was TIME to nurse, but I was trying to hold her off 10 more minutes until we could nurse at home. Just right now, she bit my leg! That girl. I don't see her being done with the whole nursing thing in about a month.



Yesterday, was way too busy. Working out, pictures for Hope, grocery shopping at Walmart and Costco, kids hair cuts, football...what else, I'm sure I'm missing something. Today, it's workout and HOME. I need to fold and put away all those clothes I washed yesterday, there it is laundry!

just a couple of things

I got a phone call from Rosa in CA today...I've never met Rosa, but she has Scott's license. He dropped it in the airport! I'm hoping that since he is out of the country (Amsterdam and London) he has his passport and that will be good enough for an ID! Nice one Scott.

I needed a new flat iron with my new hair cut. I had one, but it was a 2 inch-too big! Maybe that's why I never liked using one. So, I started shopping. At first, I thought I needed the Chi. Hello, they are $150! My hair doesn't need a flat iron THAT bad. That goes along the lines of something I'll be cheap about. Not when Josh (my hair cutter who's step- DAD is the maker of the Chi) told me it costs Mr. Farouk like $13 to make one. I got the Revlon ceramic 1 inch and I'm quite happy with it. I'm so happy in fact I could do a little happy dance for saving myself all that money. Today was my off day for washing my hair. BUT, I worked out, and by the time I got home...it was curling and sticking out in places it had not business doing such things. I fired that little sucker up, and wham!! cute hair once again...no wash needed!

Pachelbel Bedtime

My party has ended

*Hayley took this picture, so I hope she doesn't get mad that I'M posting it, but it is of MY child, so...*

This party has ended on so many levels. First, Hayley has now gone home and she is a party in and of "her"self. We sure have fun and she keeps me smiling with all her crazy/silly ways. She kept me laughing with all the things she "may or may not" be doing. Like buying more charms for her charm bracelet. The one she hasn't even gotten for Christmas yet, but has basically filled it up already!! haha.

Second, the eating out odyssey is over. We have certainly enjoyed ourselves. "Where are we going for lunch today" was the question of the morning. Yesterday, we ate lunch with the Austin girls and then proceeded to have a "girls night out" plus Hayden :) at Panera Bread. (Hunter and Scott were at a Boy Scout camp-out). At dinner time I realized that Hunter, Hannah and Hayden were pretty much veggie and fruit free for the day. Oh well, right?

Third, we finished all the homemade oreas up today-BEFORE lunch. I think we all had 2. All of us except Scott, who was about 3/4 of the way into his first one, and "couldn't eat anymore, they were too rich"! Whatever dude!!

Fourth, my house is at an all time low. I have been way too busy...playing with my sister to worry about little things like laundry, cleaning bathrooms, dusting. I have vacuumed, just so you know. Little baby girl+big golden retriever=vacuuming VERY important on the list. I'm going to be a single parent this week, so poor Scott really needed some clothes. Otherwise, laundry might have waited haha.

Today is a busy one. Soccer games, football games, camp outs, 2 birthday parties, a couple trips to the airport-good times!! I'll go from all the help in the world (Hayley with a little Scott thrown in) to nothing, it's all me. But I will survive, maybe with a little blogging thrown in. I'm off to go clean for a few minutes before the next activity begins.

Ladies who lunch

Hayley and I drove to Brenham today to meet up with some of our blogging buddies from Austin. Scott's comment when he heard we were meeting up with the girls for lunch..."but you don't even know them". Don't know them???!!! I KNOW them and NOW I have even met them! These are some of the pictures that I CAN post ;) I asked some random man as he was walking out of Chili's if "he was busy?" Kristi thought I was trying to pick him up. haha But anyway, he was so kind to take our picture. Fun day!

Falling Through the Earth

I could really get used to have my sister close by, to go to lunch with, to watch TV with,to go to book club with and yes to keep me laughing. But, alas she will only be here a few more days. We are headed out in a few minutes to go shopping, eat lunch with Hannah, more shopping and home again for the after school rush.

Speaking of book clubs, we had ours last night. We read Falling Through the Earth: A Memoir by Danielle Trussoni. It was about this girl Danielle, her life growing up, and her father's experience in the Vietnam War. The whole Vietnam War thing was quite fascinating. I really didn't know very much about it, and enjoyed learning more. Then last night at book club, we had a quest speaker come. It was a guy in our ward who is a Vietnam Vet. Wow, the stories. The 30 day boat ride over to Vietnam sounded like pure hell, not to mention once he got there. On the boat they had to sleep in bunks 12 high. He said the waters were extremely choppy, if you got sick, you hung your head over and barfed. The vomit would slosh around on the floor. To this day when he enters a new room he is looking for an exit and he likes to be against the wall, so he can see everything that is happening. One of the problems during the war was the enemy wasn't behind any magic line, the enemy was all around them, hiding. Waiting to get them. It really messed with most of these poor men. A lot of them suffer from PTSD-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It really was a pretty powerful night. We really have no idea what the military goes through.

Anyway, on to lighter things like getting showered. I started running this morning at 8:30-with like 98% humidity. Poor Hope wants me to hold her, doesn't she get that I am absolutely disgusting?? :) I got a new hair cut yesterday, it's short! I love it, but I need to go "do it" myself this morning. I did go back to Josh and yes he did redeem himself. I decided it wasn't him that was so stale, I was just bored with my hair. Time for a change.

a little lipstick really can go a long way

"Hand me my purse, darling. A girl can't read this sort of thing without her lipstick." Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's

I just thought that was a cute quote as I flipped through my Real Simple magazine this morning while I waited for Hunter to finish his breakfast and practice his piano. In fact, now is a good part of my day. Hunter is awake, finishing his stuff, but the rest of the house is quiet for about 5 more minutes. AHHHH.

I was grocery shopping yesterday (Hope was at home napping while Hayley read a book, I'm making her come with me to book club tonight so she had some reading to do) and I saw this women. I couldn't tell exactly how old she was because everything on her seemed to be fake. But she was buying some little kid stuff and her arms (the only spot left untouched)...weren't too wrinkly. I KEPT seeing her in Wal-mart. We were on the same shopping plan or something. But anyway, she had the fake (bad) blond hair, when I think her natural was quite a bit darker, BIG plump lips that had about a gallon of collagen (or whatever they put in there)in each lip (quite frankly I'm not sure how she was able to talk normally), then, of course, her fake boobs (which I'm not knocking the fake boobs, just the "amount" of fakeness and how much of the fakeness was oozing out of her tiny little shirt, and then of course whatever other plastic surgery she has had to give herself that "plastic" look. She had that made up look and a pair of shorts that had her little booty hanging out. Do you have the mental image yet?

I though geez! We need to find a happy medium between the frumpy "housewife" look and then...well THAT. I'm all for some cute clothes, a sassy little haircut and some lipstick, but at some point we need to be happy with what God gave us and go with THAT.

Since Fall SHOULD be in the air...

Spicy Pumpkin Cake with Chocolate Chunks

1 pkg. (2-layer size) spice cake mix
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened, divided
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
6 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, coarsely chopped (I use chocolate chips)
1/2 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
2 Tbsp. sugar
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Prepare cake mix as directed on package, reducing water to 1/2 cup and increasing oil to 1/2 cup. Add half of the cream cheese, the pumpkin, cinnamon and ginger. Beat on medium speed until well blended. Stir in chopped chocolate. Pour into greased 12-cup fluted tube pan or 10-inch tube pan.
BAKE 40 to 45 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 min. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack.
MIX remaining cream cheese, whipped topping and sugar until well blended. Spread on top of cooled cake. Cut into 16 slices to serve.

I was getting my shopping list ready today. I'm bringing this to book club next week and thought I'd share. It is mighty tasty! I'd even go so far and say it's divine!!

Crying on the bus

I felt like I was having an emotional morning. Maybe my long lost period is going to come back soon. But that darn bus has been late lately, you know the story. So, the kids went out to the bus about 10 minutes too early (in my book anyway) Hope was hungry and I was trying to do a few things. All of a sudden, I hear brakes. I run outside and Hayden and Hannah are getting on the bus. All I see is Hayden climbing the stairs, he looks back at me with a very sad/sweet look. The next thing I know, he is sitting in his seat crying. He was sad because I messed with the routine, or better...the bus came early and I wasn't there-like normal. It made me realize he really is still a little fella and needs his momma. The bus made a second "tour" of our street, and I marched myself up there to give him a kiss. I shouldn't have, it made him cry all over again. AND...

My one neighbor wasn't at the bus stop this morning. She got a call yesterday morning from her Mom and was on the airplane by 11. Her Dad was in the hospital again and his cancer had spread, all over. Brain, spinal cord, bones. He was diagnosed with lung cancer 1 1/2 years ago. He was just at MD Anderson for a full body scan 2 months ago (everything was fine), and now he has 2 weeks. My parents are on that cruise, and all I wanted was to call them and say I love you. BUT...

On a happier note, I have a Mary Engelbreit desk calendar. This year's theme is Laugh With Me. I was putting something on my calendar in October when I happened upon this picture. I will be happy today as I clean my bathrooms thinking about Hayden at school...happily playing.

Carry Laughter with you wherever you go. -Hugh Sidney

The bus was 45 minutes late this afternoon...more re-routing issues. Get it worked out people! Good grief. At least they were on the right bus, and they weren't forgotten. The kids sat at the school for a long time and the good principal got out there and entertained that bus load of kids. Hannah and Hayden both said how nice she was and how much fun they had with her. That was good.

As far as the loooong meeting today, Jennifer I don't think anybody reads my blog that was there, but I didn't say anything too offensive (I had to write and re-write about 3 times!!!) You are just a lot nicer than me :) I need to come up with a good "place to go" excuse next time it's at my house. When we are at somebody's house...Hope just gets REALLY fussy and we have to leave ;) 2 hours is usually my limit. If we can't solve the world's (ok just the primary's) problems in 2 hours...we need some serious help!! Too much chatting I think, hmmmmmm.

the looooong meeting

Just so you know, all children returned home at the proper time and place yesterday. The bus was only a couple of minutes late. The bus barn lady was very apologetic (good thing too), "This will never happen again Mrs. Gray".

I had enough time to quick feed Hope and make it to the gym by 8:30. See, there was this core class I wanted to try. So I get there (at 8:35) and nobody is in either aerobics room. I think oh crap no class, and I look at the schedule. Dummy got it wrong, it was at 9:00!! I had a 1/2 to do cardio, but that made it tight to make it home for the primary presidency meeting. It was at my house this time. Let's just say my house took a heavy hit. One little kid made me especially nervous with all the freedom his mom allowed him. I'm not shy, and I'm not afraid to tell somebody there kid needs to keep the PBJ and banana in the kitchen, the 1 1/2 year old needs to color at the table (supervised please) and please don't climb up and stand on my kitchen table!! Three hours can be a looooong meeting.

It is now 3:20 and Hope has still not taken a nap. I think one little critter walked in on Hope napping and messed that all up. I've tried a couple of times, but no luck. I still don't think she feels well, nothing a little Dimmetapp won't cure.

That "would be" tropical storm that was brewing, moved on up the coast of Texas. No flooding here. In fact, no rain here AT ALL. Go figure.

troubles with the bus barn

This morning we (Hannah, Hayden, Hope and the 3 other kids at our bus stop + their 2 Moms) were out at the bus stop, doing what you do at the bus stop...waiting for the bus. The bus was crazy this year, I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say it wasn't the bus barn's greatest year (they forgot to include kindergartners on our bus route...ooops!). Anyway, they fixed all the funkiness, or so I thought. We're standing and waiting and waiting...and waiting. Finally, after about 30 minutes, I say the bus isn't coming (we just thought it was back to being late-that's about how late it was a week ago) and everybody loads up in my suburban. I take the kids to school with like 2 minutes to spare before the tardy bell, and call the bus barn. Well, they re-worked the routes all right, and forgot our whole street in the re-working process. Hello!! Problem solved, but I wonder how late they are going to be this afternoon.

here's Hoping

Thank goodness for school today. We had some major attitudes going this morning. People were in bed on time last night...don't know what the deal was. To be fair, not everybody was being foul, just a couple :) No gym for me today, last night Hopey barfed all over the place 3 times. First, I took Hayden for a walk (more on that in a minute) and all of a sudden she turned around in her stroller and started "fake" coughing. Well, she got the stroller good. I was so glad she had carrots and some of my Mom's banana no-nut bread for dinner. Lovely. Then she proceeded to get a blanket while I was upstairs getting her in the tub, and last but NOT least...all over me. I hadn't quite gotten the "barf bucket" yet so I sacrificed my own shirt...that's all I had. The last time, wasn't so bad, her tummy was empty by then. After that she was pretty much pooped out, and slept great all night, without anymore "incidents". Good thing.

So, Hayden is a little bit bicycle challenged. He doesn't want to ride with training wheels, but he doesn't really want to put forth much effort to learn either. Our neighbor's little boy has a similar problem. They had somebody offer up some advice...you take the training wheels AND the peddles off. They learn to sit on the bike and "scoot" with their feet. All the while learning balance. Scott was rather reluctant to take the pedals off, "He can just learn like everybody else". Finally, the other night after working with Hayden for about a 1/2 hour, he took the darn pedals off, and he is willing to give it a try. Hayden does look a little "special" on his newly designed bike, but I'm hoping he will be a quick learner. Our practice session last night was cut short, by the barfing episode no less.

I can't believe it's already 10:50, I haven't done much. Although, Hope has been a bit on the fussy side...she's already down taking a nap. Maybe she will wake up a new woman. Here's hoping. I've decided this is a scrap booking day, Hope needs to get with the program and get happy quick ;) I need to start using up some of that cute paper I bought.

I finished Twilight

I finished Twilight today and ended up liking the book quite a bit. I have to admit..the first half wasn't doing much for me, but once it got going on all the vampire talk, I was "sucked" in.

I have to say, this day was pretty great. Working out, reading a book, doing a couple loads of the never ending bucket o' laundry, going back to James Avery to order a baby ID bracelet for Hopey's 1st birthday and a trip to Target. You see the whole family cleaned like a bunch of crazies on Saturday, so I didn't need to clean a thing. Gotta love that. Not a whole lot that is blog worthy, but my kind of day none the less.

Just so you know, when I'm not talking about moving all my stuff out of my house, we did decide to wait on the carpet. Scott kind of wants to proceed, but I don't. What's wrong with me, right? Well, my dog is 13 1/2 years old...I'm not going to want an old man dog peeing (or worse) on this new carpet!! (he is just getting older...things start falling apart) I will be an anal freak about it, and I don't want to end up being really bitter to my dog that I have loved and taken care of for so many years. So, I think I'll cut my loses for now...and wait. We are going forward with counters, he can't gross those up :)

and they're off!

You've got to love a good week end. I missed Hunter's game yesterday...which in the end turned out to be okay. It was really hot and humid (surprise) and Hunter got knocked down by some kid that was my size. I guess he went flying so far the coach pulled him out and asked if he was okay. He was...but I'm glad I didn't see it...I would have had to hurt somebody. I sound like such a bad arse don't I? Or bad a** as Holly prefers it. hehe

But I had the pleasure of picking up my family at the airport not once, but twice. Got my Mom and Dad first, brought M and D back home and left them with my kids and then took off to refill the car with sister Heidi, her whole family and Hayley. Most of you know, that they are going on a cruise. Fun times. Heidi was hot and heavy to purchase a James Avery charm bracelet (pretty popular here is Texas) so we headed on over to James Avery, and Barnes and Noble. How I love both places...and since we had dropped all children off with Scott and Grandpa, it was even more enjoyable. Uninterrupted browse time. It doesn't get any better than that. I got the cute little lady bug charm for my bracelet, and about 6 books I want to read. I didn't buy all those books, I did use a little control but I've got a nice library list going now.

Don't Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller

90 minutes in Heaven by Don Piper

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Giving by Bill Clinton

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

They Poured Fire On Us From the Sky by...shoot didn't write it down

9 Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks

Okay so it was 7 books.

But anyway, all the fam is gone now. We had great fun yesterday, and all the cousins play well together. Hayden said, as they were getting on the shuttle, "I'm going to cry I miss Porter so much!" I heard from my Dad and they made it onto the boat safe and sound. They had just finished all their emergency training , and were thinking about dinner. They had lobster and prime rib on the brain. Me too, but I settled for left over hamburgers from last night. Pretty tasty too.

I look back at Hope in the car and she is looking up at me like this a lot. It makes me smile.


This week we had two parent orientations, Hayden's and Hunter's. (next Tuesday is Hannah's) I am so excited for both of them. Hayden's teacher I loved. Hunter played baseball with Mrs. Reynold's son a couple years ago, so I know her. I think Hayden will have a great year with her. I asked her how he was...in class...she said he was an angel and was very quiet. Isn't that funny? Hayden quiet?? I can see it though, in pre-k I was surprised when I realized, he was actually calm at school. haha. Hunter has three teachers, and I liked them too. He has one teacher though that was super. She was so cute and motivating Scott said he wanted to come to school with Hunter. You know instead of "take your child to work day", "take your parent to school day". She was a fun funky dresser and was an out of the box thinker. LOVED her. I'm excited to get to know Hannah's teacher a little better. She seems like a good, solid, old fashioned teacher.





Hope and I just returned from the grocery store and I'm wiped out! Boy that Wal-mart sure takes it out of you. haha. Hannah starts tumbling tonight...not gymnastics. She just wants to do cartwheels and flips. I haven't even started dinner. I'll be looking for the easiest thing on that menu tonight!

paper, paper love the paper!

My new scrapbook paper arrived yesterday. Holly recommended Cosmo Cricket paper to me and it is so cute. I-love-it! I love this Wanted line. And Story Time and Dutch Girl too. I also got some Basic Grey stuff. Infuse is the line I bought. I love that too, and it's so much cuter in person. It's been a while since I bought a bunch of paper. I love paper, paper products, pencils...anything at the paper supply store. It's funny how paper can make one so happy.

just older, not old

Doesn't it stink getting old"er"? Older not old, shoot, I'm only going to be 35 this October. I first starting thinking this morning, as I happily sat checking emails...when all of a sudden..."Scout was that you?" (Scout is our 12 1/2 year old Golden Retriever) There he lay, sound asleep farting. Yuck. He got a nudge, and I sent him packing... outside, to take care of some business whether he needed to or not.

Then, I thought it again as I got on the treadmill to start running. (the getting getting old"er" part) You see, I haven't run since my hill training on Saturday. 3 days off from running, I wanted to run yesterday, but I didn't. I did a machine instead. The problem, you see, is an old injury. Last Tuesday, I got all crazy and fancy in a class and my Achilles tendon started to hurt a bit after class. No big deal, the pain went away. But then I ran the next day, I "felt it" at first, but nothing terrible...and let's face it, when do you run and you don't "feel"..."something". I did a spinning class Friday, no pain at all. But on Saturday, here is where I made my mistake...my ankle/Achilles didn't feel right from the word go. But, I thought, let's just let it warm up. It warmed up and all was good. But I did a hill workout, dumb me. It was feeling so good, I ran about 7 miles. But it didn't feel good later on in the day. CRAP, I did it again. (old Achilles injury- when I was training for the last marathon I did...I ended up having to take a month off running, just so I could run, miserable. It was in Austin too with all those hills :) So, I thought I'd be generous and not run on it for 3 WHOLE days. Wow, right? Yeah no. I tried again today, just to check, and it hurt. I'm going to try and be smart this time around. Maybe if I take it easy, I won't be hobbling along in a month or so, asking "WHY???"

Oh the joys, just when I was getting my groove back too. Oh well, I hit Costco for a little shopping therapy after, and even despite my strong stink (remember hard workout) found a new treasure. The fine people at Cinnabon have put out a cinnamon bread that is Yum-mmeee. Oh yeah, and the "estimator" just call, he is in route. What timing!

**update-the estimator guy left, and it's sinking in what a pain in the butt it's going to be to get all new carpet. It's like we're going to be moving! I will be thinking very positively though. Think of all the crap I'll be able to get rid of, no??

The carpet installers called last night to schedule them coming out to measure. They said my "window" was from 8 am- 6 pm today and wanted to know if that was okay??!! I paused and said, "That's not a window that's a barn door! ". The lady laughed and said she'd take down my cell phone number and call me when they were about an hour out. UHHH, yeah, that's much better. Hello :)

the elusive scrunchy face

The elusive scrunchy face. I can't quite capture it. I want to, and I get close, but it's not quite right. She does it all day long too...that's what kills me. My camera is just too slow, and I miss it. I have messed with the settings on my camera, tried portrait, burst, auto...you name it. Oh well, I'll keep trying and hopefully get some cute "runner ups" in the process. See, THAT'S why I need a new camera...the scrunchy face!

Happy Labor Day!

A few highlights for this Labor Day:

#1-I'll start at the end of the day... Hope was extra cute in the bath tonight.


#2-I bought Hayden the Sponge Bob Kindergarten game for his Leapster. He has been playing the Leapster a lot lately, and he has wanted that game for ages. I called it his "you had a great first week of school present". As soon as I brought it home he disappeared for about 10 minutes. I thought he was busy playing. He was busy searching. Scott went upstairs, and found Hayden on his knees saying a prayer that he could find his Leapster. I think the poor kids was afraid to come tell me he couldn't find it. I usually have zero sympathy when the kids don't take care of their stuff...you know the story. But he was all happy a few minutes later when his "prayer worked, because he found it!"

#3-I went to the mall by myself today after the gym and had a good old time. I got Hope a new outfit at Gymboree and only spent $12! Oh yeah. I also got a new watch at Fossil. I haven't bought a new watch in forever, and the band on my Swiss Army was no longer able to be repaired. I still might replace the band, but I got a fun new watch that I like.

#4-On my way home I stopped off "in the hood" and did a little shopping at Fiesta. My kids are so...suburban, that they think the Fiesta Grocery store is the "hood". I discovered it this summer, and I can find all kinds of fun stuff. I got these Japanese udon noodles that I used for dinner tonight, and I found bocconicin...what is that you might ask? It's fresh mozzarella cheese in little balls. It's very good, and I'm going to use them sometime later this week for dinner. But I always love a little adventure at the grocery store ;).

#5-Last, but not least, we made a trip to Lowe's. Hunter was over at a friends, but we did certainly have fun there with Hope, Hayden and Hannah, what a joy...not!! But I didn't care, I was just happy to be doing what we were doing. New carpet through out the house and counter tops in the kitchen! I'm so excited I can hardly wait. I REALLY want hardwood floors, but I think we will just re-carpet. Hardwoods will be AT least double (if not triple) the cost of carpet (of course I want the most expensive stuff)...and I'm, quite simply, sick of waiting.

Anyway, it was a good day here, and Scott and I are off to fold laundry.


Oh yeah, here is that recipe. It was very easy, different and flavorful. Scott loved it, the kids ate it and liked it...but it wasn't chicken nuggets. :) I'll certainly make it again, it will be good for lunch this week. Those noodles are the noodles that PF Chang uses for double pan fried noodles...now if I can figure out how to make that....maybe Scott is done with the laundry by now.

Deep thoughts with Hunter

Hunter
Funny, Kind, Athletic, Competitive
Sibling of: Hannah, Hayden, and, Hope
Lover of: Mom, Dad, and, sports
Who feels: thankful for the army for protecting us. Mad at the wicked for not making peace! And sad for the homeless who don’t have a home.
Who needs: parents to guide me, sports to mold me , school to learn.
Who gives: My friends fun times, respect to my parents, and is gentle to my siblings.
Who fears: the war coming to America, more people becoming homeless, and drugs consuming the world.
Who would like to see: Life in the 1800s ,my dad as a boy, and heaven.
Resident of: ......................................TX.
Gray

Hunter had to write a poem for school this weekend...a Bio-poem as he called it. He wrote it this morning and I said..."you wrote this?" I liked the "gentle with his siblings part :) haha Gentle with Hope, for sure!!

We went for a walk tonight: Mom pushing Hope, Dad walking the dog, Hayden on scooter, Hunter on scooter, Hannah on bike. We were walking to a paved path that goes under a road...so you get a hill. The very same hill I ran up and down...eight times yesterday. But the kids had fun going up and down on wheels. But on our way out there we were walking and this old couple stopped their car, the man rolled down his window and said, "You have such a beautiful family. Do you know how lucky you are???" I just smiled (big) and said thanks, we know we are lucky. And I really do. I'm loving my little family tonight. I even had a little extra patience for the ride home, when everybody was tired. I ended up hooking Hayden's scooter to the stroller, and Hunter and Hannah were fighting...Hannah was following Hunter. Well, that is kind of the point right? haha Ice cream when we got home, all is well.

foam finger+Hayden=good times

Hunter after the game, and after lunch, feeling good and ready to play.

Is this not the PERFECT accessory for Hayden??? He had more fun with that $3 purchase...and he kept me (and everybody around us) highly entertained! Hunter's game was great, the Patriots lost this time around, but to a team that seriously was made up of 12 year olds that looked like they got up and shaved and drove to the game. haha (supposed to be 10 and 11 yrs old) I don't understand why our team seems to be the only team following...the rules!! Hello. This team had at least 15 penalties for un-sportsman like behavior. You know what else...in the 3 years this team has played together, they've only lost 1 game. Does that tell you anything? I'm glad we made it out of there in one piece. How crazy is that! I'll stop ranting now. It really was a great game though, I tried out my new tent/shade thingee and it was heaven. I don't know why we didn't buy one of those a long time ago, but I'm just thankful we have one now.

Oh my!

While I was on my run this morning...Hannah and Hayden were up watching High School Musical 2. So, Hannah had Sharpay on the brain this morning...she came down from her room...and I caught a glimpse of her from the corner of my eye. She proceeds out to the garage and grabs the vacuum cleaner and plugs it in. Then she starts to vacuum, all the while channeling Sharpay from High School Musical, singing "Fabulous" and muttering about a Tiffany headband. Somehow, I don't see the "real" Sharpay vacuuming her family's downstairs on a Saturday morning, but whatever it takes to get the job done!! Hope is Mini-Sharpay, just so you know.