A Reply From the Mayor

So I'm a bit late in posting this - but I have an update in the case of Cowboy T's letter to the mayor about Braums.

He let me know that he would be watching for a reply in the mail and I started praying he would get one and not be disappointed.  I told him to wait about a week before he started watching the mailbox.  Lo and behold about 3 days later an official looking letter arrived and I was so relieved - and he was SO EXCITED!!!!  

On official letterhead - this is what the letter from the mayor said:

Mr. T:

Thank you  for your letter about the Braums in our town.  The job of mayors and city council members is to take care of their town and see that the needs of the citizens are met.  It helps us to do our job if we know what our citizens want, and your letter is a good example of a citizen helping us do our job.

I'm sure that by the time you get this letter you will have been to the new Braums across the street from the one you wrote about.  I hope you like the new one even more than the old one and will enjoy going there even more than you did the old one.

I am enclosing a gift certificate for you to use at the new Braums to thank you for your letter and for helping me do my job of taking care of citizens like you.

Sincerely,

The Mayor

And there was - a $20 gift card for Cowboy T!  What a great mayor!  He was beyond ecstatic!  So of course - we had to go - and he's decided that maybe the new Braums is ok enough for him.  :o)

He wrote a thank you note back to her that I thought was adorable.  My favorite part of it was where he told her about his visits there.  He said something like:  Time 1 and 3 I got chocolate chip cookie dough.  Time 2 I got orange sherbet.  Just priceless!

She has no idea what an impact and what a wonderful memory she's made for our little Cowboy T!  What fun!

Cowboy T's Baptism

Cowboy T has chosen to be baptized on January 10, 2009 at 10am at the church.  Come and join us.  We are so excited for him and proud of his choice.

Have you seen Hulu?

Click Here:  Hulu

Everyone else may already to know about this site - but I didn't and its been a lot of fun while I've had some recovery and down time.  

"Hulu is a "corporate sandbox" loaded with content from NBC, News Corp., Sony, MGM, as well as their various subsidiary channels like FX, Sci-Fi Channel and so forth, offering anything from full episodes of Battlestar Galactica andBuffy to SNL Digital Shorts and an entire Russell Crowe flick, Master & Commander. It's Flash-based, it streams, just like YouTube, and it's ad-supported, with bumpers and "commercial breaks," just like the TV it's trying to ape." From: http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/huluhoop/hulu-review-what-it-is-and-what-it-should-be-good-and-better-317831.php

It's got shows like The Office, Monk, Muppets, 24, 3 Stooges, Bewitched, ER, Househunters, Silver Spoons - and 33 pages full of different shows.  There are movies too - but I haven't even been there yet!  :o)  So in case you haven't heard - and you have some time - check it out and have fun!

Update on the Famous Golfer:

Here is a link!  The catalog is online in PDF format.  It takes a minute to load - but once it does it's on the bottom of page 40.  What a handsome guy!  

Click Here:  My Buddy - The Golfer

The Nutcracker

Image Source: http://www.thedctraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/nutcracker-girl.jpg

This year a local law firm very generously donated tickets to the Nutcracker by the Metropolitan Classical Ballet so teachers and their families could attend.  It was first come first serve and luckily we ended up with tickets.  It was so fun for our family to go.  Until school was out we hadn't really had a chance to get too holiday-ish - so it was the perfect thing to get us feeling Christmasy!   My favorite part was after we got there and sat down I realized that Cowboy T had brought along a children's storybook of the Nutcracker from home so he could follow along.  To be honest - I didn't even know we had a children's storybook of the Nutcracker!  :o)  He was absolutely mesmerized by the ballet and really did follow along - even though it was dark.  It melted my heart! 

Mary's Marvelous Mush

Image Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Cornmeal_mush_liver.jpg

Okay - this picture is triggering my trigger-happy gag reflex - which is perfect for this story.  This post was a special request by my sister - specifically for my nephew Dallin.  So here it is buddy!  :o)

Growing up I was notorious for many things . . . being the last at the dinner table, being mischievously creative, and trying to get my sisters in trouble - among an assortment of other things.

After a particularly delicious meal of spaghetti (my favorite) as I lingered at the table facing the assigned task of clearing it off I began to delight in the unique culinary properties of the various foods before me.  There was a tad bit of milk left in my cup - and so - I began to deliver my best Juila Child's cooking show impersonation.  It began with several heavy shakes of Parmesan cheese in my cup of milk - followed by a dash of pepper.  I must have delved further into the kitchen at this point - because I don't know why the rest of these ingredients would have been on the table.  Next came a large satisfying squirt of mustard - topped off with a heavily aromatic spoonful of nutmeg.  

At this point I would like to add that my sisters were in the kitchen - probably being the wonderful children they were - doing the dishes like they were supposed to while I admittedly lallygagged around.  My mother was in and out of the kitchen mostly unaware of what I was doing - or so I thought.  

My downfall came when I began aggressively marketing my Marvelous Mush (as it was aptly named) to my sweet obedient sisters.  Harrumpphhh!  My sales pitch was strong - and so was the stench of this concoction.  The harder I pressed for a daring volunteer to taste my mush the louder our exchange became until I brought upon myself my utter downfall.  As I watched in horror - as if from an altered state of consciousness - my mother entered the room and with an amused smile announced that if I was so confident in my product so as to attempt to wrangle my sisters into eating it - that perhaps I should taste it myself to show them how delicious it really was.  Fear struck my heart.  I knew what was in that cup.  I could smell it.  (So could they!)  For perhaps the first time in my life I was speechless.  Words wouldn't come out.  I had been outdone - caught in my own genius plan!  

My hand trembled as I slowly raised the spoon to my mouth.  The grins and smirks of my sisters fueled my pride.  I would not back down.  I would not be beat.  

You may wonder how twenty plus years later I remember the exact ingredients I mixed that day.  I'll tell you.  As that nasty - abhorrent - disgusting gritty sludge slid down my throat - every ingredient screamed out it's individual contribution across my taste buds and down my throat.  Parmesan, milk, mustard, pepper, nutmeg . . . I'm beginning to gag now.  I can still taste it.  Right this second.  

I'm sorry - I have to run to the bathroom now . . . 

And that is the infamous story of Mary's Marvelous Mush.

He's Famous! :o)

For the locals:  Check out page 40 of the Funtimes Parks and Rec Catalog!

Yep!  That's my Buddy!  He's a golfer.  :o)

Wanna Laugh?

Click Here:  http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com

Page after page of sheer hilarity!  Have fun!

Laundry Happiness!!!

Usually 'Laundry Happiness' would be considered an oxymoron . . . however my wonderful, amazing, genius husband has made such an unlikely pairing a reality.

Due to circumstances - too mundane to mention here - we ended up with two dryers.  So Bob conveniently installed whatever it was that was needed - and I now have 2 working dryers!!!  Do you have any idea how quickly I can get a mountain of laundry to disappear now?  Wooohoooo!  I had about a weeks worth - and managed to get it all done in a leisurely day's time.  It's so fun to hear all three machines humming away!  

Ok - and here's the laundry tip of the day (per my Mom's request):  

Do you ever have a load of towels or dish cloths that sit in the washer too long and get stinky?  It happens to me - especially in the summer.  Well - here's a way to get the stink out.  Go ahead and dry the load.  When they're dry - throw them back in the washer and load like normal and then pour in about 1/2 c - 1 cup of vinegar in the load.  Wash like normal and when the load finishes the stink will be gone.  For some reason the load needs to dry first - it doesn't seem to work as well if you just rewash them from being wet.  Hopefully that is a helpful tip for someone out there too!  :o)  Happy Laundering!

Bronchitis!!! Go figure!

It's been over 4 weeks of being sick - so I finally made it to the doctor this week.  I was home anyway with my Buddy who caught a rough case of the stomach flu and ended up pretty dehydrated.  The doc gave me a bunch of meds including some really cool cough medicine that numbs the cough reflex in my lungs.  It works pretty good and I'm just so glad to know there's a light somewhere at the end of this tunnel!  The students in my class have been sick with a huge slew of unusual stuff - so it's no wonder its been hard to get well.  In our family - only Cowboy T has made it through all this without getting sick!  I'm so glad we finally have time to rest and recover.

School is out!  Hooray!!!!  

Much more posting to come!  :o)

Merry Christmas!

Still . . .

Still fighting it around here!  Right after I got better - sick again!  They sent me home Friday and I stayed in bed all weekend.  Went back yesterday - and I'm home with Bobby today.  Poor little guy.  We have some serious immune boosting to do around here!  :o)

Quick update

School was really rough this week.  One of our students from last year passed away.  That's always difficult - especially at this time of year.  Certain students are facing big behavioral challenges and the usual tricks up our sleeves don't seem to be working.  Also there are some really heartbreaking situations for some of these tiny little guys.  It sure puts things in perspective.  Hopefully this week will be better - but I'm learning not to ask "I wonder what today will be like . . . "  

On the other hand I'm really excited for Christmas with the kids.  We put the tree up - but haven't decorated it yet.  The kids make everything so fun.  Just the excitement they have is contagious and I can't wait to be home with them for Christmas break!!!  It will be heaven!

Little Orphan

Kbugs is an orphan!!! :o)  Woohooo!  hahahaha  Actually - every year her Junior High puts on a musical.  On a whim she decided to try out - and she got the role of Molly the orphan!  She's so excited and we are so proud of her.  She isn't afraid to try anything!  It will be a lot of hard work - but it will also be so fun to go see it!  The performance is in March.  Break a leg Kbugs!  :o)

Injury

Poor kid.  What is it with running in herds in PE class?!?!?!  My buddy biffed it on the concrete in a mass tumble - skidded on his head and rolled.  His head, side, elbow and knee are just beat up to pieces.  The first phone call from the nurse sounded pretty tame - but the second call was a bit more revealing as to just how bad it was.  He's in a lot of pain and asked for a blessing tonight.  A prayer or two tonight for him would be appreciated greatly!  

Fluorine

9 protons, 10 neutrons, and 9 electrons.  9 is its atomic number which is why it has 9 protons.  

I love being a Mom!  I've dreamed of this day for a long time!  My daughter's first periodic table diorama!  She did an awesome job!  Woop woop!!!!

Letter to the Mayor

(name and address is blocked out)

So I have these kids . . . and they are smart.  And opinionated.  (I have no idea where that part comes from!)

The old Braums - that holds many many family memories - has closed.  They have built a big brand new one almost directly across the street.  It's big and new and shiny!  And my sweet Cowboy T just sobbed and sobbed at the prospect of his old stomping ground being gone.  As we drove past (with heavy sobs from the backseat) he asked - "Do you think I could write a letter?"  Of course I say "Sure".  We're civically minded . . . you bet!  I thought that would pacify the hurt.  Which it did - temporarily.  About 30 minutes after we arrived home Cowboy T brought me the above letter.  Which is now in an envelope ready to be mailed.  I was so impressed!  What a smart kid!  Addressed to the mayor no less!

I should mention this is not the first unprompted letter writing that has occured in our family.  Kbugs wrote her favorite author Beverly Cleary one spontaneous day.  She actually got a sweet handwritten postcard back.  My Buddy emailed Troy Dungan (our former local weatherman) - and was so incredibly amazed when he got an email back!  That was an exciting day in our household.  He also wrote President Monson a letter shortly after he was called as President.  That reply came in the mail and is a treasured item to him.  

So you see - when it comes to letters - my kids need no prompting and have no fear!  I am so proud!  

Hello-Hobo!

Image Source: http://www.timboucher.com/journal/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/hobo-bindlestiff1.jpg

One of the houses I lived in when I was young backed up to a (usually) dry creek bed with train tracks on the other side.  When we first moved in those trains were LOUD!!!!  And then we got used to them and barely heard them at all.  All the neighborhood kids loved to play army in the dry creek bed and we also LOVED to watch the trains go by.  We'd count the cars and wave to the engineers - or the passengers - when the rare Amtrak train went by.

Of course, we were all under strict orders to never ever ever go near the tracks or cross the creek bed.  Not only because of the danger of the trains - but also because the heavily wooded area behind it contained . . . HOBOS!!!!!

Ok - so clearly - in my 7-10 year old experience - hobo's looked like the picture above.  Right?!?!?!  Such mystery surrounded these never-seen hobos.  Where did they live?  What did they eat?  Where did they get the red handkerchiefs to tie on the end of their sticks?  And what was in there anyway?  Why would they walk around so much if they lived back behind the train tracks? Clearly it was perplexing.  From time to time we would all wonder about the hobos - and then luckily turn back to our play without ever really devising a full plan on how to scout out a hobo.

Now being much older - I have an entirely different concept of hobos - I don't want to know what they carry around - and frankly - am incredibly grateful we never sought out hobo-ville - which we were sure was just around the bend.

The ironic thing is - I told my children the above tale regarding the hobos long ago - in a moment of car travel entertainment desperation.  Unfortunately my grandiose descriptions have only served to build up the romantic hobo depiction even further.  Now EVERY conversation we have can somehow end up relating to hobos!  Never in my life did I imagine so many questions or such fascination could surround the aforementioned demographic.  OH MY GOSH!!!!!  If I hear a hobo question one more time - I may go MAD!!!!!!!   (I should mention - it is debatable at times that I may already be there!)  heh heh heh  But seriously!!!!  Every conversation!  I kid not!  

I'm willing to guess that prior to this post - the word hobo had not crossed your mind in perhaps years.  I am here to solemnly profess to you - that I hear the word hobo several times a day.  Everywhere we go - everything we do.  Hobo hobo hobo hobo!  Filtering in and out of my sleep now!  Oh save me from the hobos!  :o)

May you have a hobo-free day!

(Disclaimer:  I love my kids - they constantly crack me up!!!! And I hope their kids like hobos too!)

A Favorite Quote

• "In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil, and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike--and they will--you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham's seed."

--Jeffery R. Holland  "For Times of Trouble," BYU Speeches, 1980

Sore Throat

Image source: http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A2186/21865/300_21865.jpg

OWWWW!  bummer

The other reason . . .

(you should really go down two posts and read up from there . . . )

This one is just plain ugly.  It's taken me a month to calm myself about it.

If we hadn't already made the decision to pull the boys out - this would have instigated swift and immediate action.  

The last day they attended the charter school my Buddy was talking with his friends.  One of them asked him what church he went to - and when he replied - a teacher overheard and felt the need to comment.  Ok - comment is not the right word.  She decided to ATTACK!!!  A teacher - in a position of authority - in a publicly funded school.  Interesting isn't it?  She didn't just say she disagreed or thought we were wrong in our beliefs - she covered point by point every doctrine - every principle - every facet of our religion in a lengthy ugly tirade.  To a ten year old - at school - in front of his friends.  A meek quiet humble ten year old.

What she didn't count on is that he's a ten year old who lives by the Spirit.  Who reads his scriptures and says his prayers.  Who believes in a living prophet and the power of the Holy Ghost.  Who was silently praying for divine assistance.  Whose testimony was only strengthened by the things he heard.  A ten year old whose prayers for help were answered.  

The first I heard of what happened was the day I was stranded in north FW with a broken down car and Bob had flown in that day and then drove with the kids to rescue me.  While he was fixing my car - my Buddy was telling me what had happened.  As I listened the Mamma Bear in me began to well up and rage inside.  Given my red hair - it was not an unfamiliar look to my sweet son - and he mentioned that it was ok - I could calm down.  :o)  (There's nothing like a raging Mom stranded in the middle of who-knows-where raging and foaming at the mouth about "how dare they" "not my baby" and other assorted phrases and also something about marching in the school at 6pm on a Friday - long after they closed.)  (Ok - most of that was just what was going on in my head - not actually what was coming out of my mouth)  Anyway - as he continued his story I realized he was right.  He was ok.  He told me the things he said and what he was thinking and I was so impressed by my son.  I don't know if I would have had the same courage and presence of mind.  At first - I worried that how could he have possible been prepared for such a vigorous attack.  But I realized that every family night - every primary lesson - every testimony, sacrament talk, and scripture study contributed to that moment.  

Bless his heart.  He begged me not to go up to the school and say anything - and I haven't.  But perhaps someday I'll run into the director or principal and maybe they'll ask why we left.  I'd love to remind them of separation of church and state which prohibits publicly funded schools from promoting one religion over another.  Not to mention a person in a position of authority that a child respects should never abuse that trust.  Hmmmmm . . . it's taken wild horses and a promise to my son to keep me from marching through their door.  

In any case - he's none the worse for the wear.  It's just that protective side a Mom discovers she has when she hold a sweet baby in her arms and realizes she has a whole new purpose in life -- to care for and protect her children.  I'm just really proud of him and the quiet choices he's made in his life.  

Changing Schools (again)

Ok - here's the scoop with the boys and school!  Sorry - I kind of just threw out there that we switched them out of the charter school!  I'm known to be pretty random . . . hahaha!

They started out the school year "reviewing" and started with pretty easy academics.  As time went on - it didn't get harder and they weren't learning anything new.  We requested parent conferences - and never heard back.  So I spoke with the principal about the fact that my guys maybe needed a little more academically then what was being offered.  I got reassurances that never materialized.  You know its bad when your kids are begging to be challenged!  We gave them a fair shot to meet the boys needs - or even respond to our requests - but it became clear nothing was going to happen.

That was our main issue with the school - although there were many other smaller things too.  Typically we're pretty understanding that each place has its strengths and weaknesses - but academics isn't an area we were ok with overlooking for a whole year.  I think because they are still relatively new the school is still trying to figure out how everything is supposed to work.  And while I admire their zeal - I'm not willing to watch my kids fall behind to give the school room and time for growth. 

Decision prayed and made.

Last month when I went back to the school district to enroll them we learned that transfers were closed and so - it was with a great leap of faith that we enrolled them in their home campus - the very school that we'd been transferring them out of (ugh!)  Imagine by now the dread, guilt, worry, stress of all these decisions.  I felt terrible - but kids are resilient right?!?!?!  We put the whole thing in the Lord's hands and I think he had this mapped out all along.  

Over the summer I had worked with the vice principal at our local home campus that the kids are supposed to go to - so I went and spoke with her and let her know the boys were coming.  She and the entire staff has welcomed them warmly - the boys are so happy to be learning and working again!  (funny how kids really crave that - even if they'd never say it!)  Within the first week of school there was an incident after school where a 6th grader hurt Cowboy T - but the kid was suspended for two days and now the boys get to wait in the office after school everyday - which they are ok with - and we are too.  The staff is quite protective of them and are willing to let the boys stay in the office until I can get there after dismissing my students.  I'm just down the street - so it's worked out great.  No more after school program!  Yea!!!  Bonus!

Come to find out - the teachers they have are great and they really like the boys.  The boys are doing well - and after that one instance - no one has bothered either of them since.  Thank goodness.  They are more focused on academics then they have been in a long time.  We'll get through this year - and take the next one as it comes.  It's been an interesting path - but one that clearly had its own purpose.  Every one of us has come away with important lessons - and I'm sure we'll continue to see reasons and learning experiences from the whole process.  

My Buddy's Turn

So now that the boys are back in their home school (no more charter - didn't work out - long story short - the academics weren't great) . . . Bobby's ready for orchestra!  Hooray!!!  He's so excited!  He wants to play the cello.  The school is fresh out of cellos :o(  so if you hear of any half size cellos out there - let me know.  

Between the violin and cello - we're expecting some Master and Commander type music!  hahaha!  I love listening to them play!

See . . . I wasn't kidding!

(see two posts below)

I will no longer obssess.  Just had to share.  I will learn to let go.  Take a deep breath.  Breathe.  And ooooooohhh!  Look at the pretty fall tree!  :o)

Maybe . . .

Maybe they'll paint the shutters brown so then I can think about mint chocolate chip ice cream!!!  Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Un-be-lievable!

Image Source: http://www.beachrentalsofsouthwalton.com/images/thm_ndsc01393.jpg

So this is the color they are currently painting the vacant house across the street from us.  

At this very moment.

If only the actual house had the same charm as the one in this picture.  Then maybe it would be ok.  Alas - it does not.

Or maybe if we lived in a tropical area.  But we don't.

I don't understand.  

I suppose I will nail the blinds shut today and never look out my window again.  It's too blinding!

"Look away!!  Look away!!!"  

How much trouble would I get in if I snuck over in the night with a bucket of paint?  hmmmm . . . 

Sigh.

Our Land of Freedom!

Image Source: http://sbfmedia.relationalhost.com/prodimg/TALE_OF_TWO_CITIES,_A.jpg

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."  -- Charles Dickens 

I love our country!  I marvel that we seem to be so fiercely and evenly divided.  The results of the election reminded me of a passage in one of my all time favorite books - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.  How we all live in the same place and see things so differently is one of our strengths as a nation.  It provides our checks and balances and keeps our passion for this country stirred.  I don't know if we are at the end of the world or the dawn of a new day (although I do have my own theories) . . . but I find that this is not a new theme - because apparently in the year of 1775 the emotions ran just as high and the zeal for country burned just as bright as it does today.  (never mind what happened after that paragraph in the book . . . hahaha)

May God bless America!

Congratulations Kbugs!

Image Source: http://keywestviolinstudio.com/ALLWEBSITEPICS/Resources/20061130_violin.jpg

First Chair - First Violin!  What an accomplishment!  I'm so proud of you!  All your hard work has really paid off!  Good job!

Ugh!

One of my students broke their leg yesterday on the playground.  

Just an accident - but oh it was so so so very sad!

Love him!

For all the Texan folk . . .

Image Source: http://texas.campusrn.com/images/texas_homepage.gif

Ok . . . try not to let this blow your mind . . . If you are looking for anything to do - I mean anything . . . check out this site below.  It's stunning!

Things to do in DFW! 

Ho Ho Ho! Jingle Jangle!

101 Classic Christmas videos (posted 2006)

101 Classic Christmas videos (posted 2007)

Ok - so I know.  It's obscenely early to think about Christmas . . . but just click on the links above and look at all the videos there are to watch!  Holy Cow!  You'd better get started!!!  I'm just trying to make sure you have plenty of time to get in all the specials!  

I love these sites because inevitably our favorite specials come on the same night we have something else going on!  Now we can watch them at 4 in the morn or just after a new cousin is born.  We can watch them in a box.  We can watch them with a fox.  We can watch the Grinch - We can!  We do like them - What a plan!  (too much PreK . . . sorry!)

So have at it!  Sit those kiddos in front of the electric glow of the yuletide laptop with a splash of egg nog and cocoa (freeze-dried crunchy marshmallows included) and have a hap-hap-happy holiday!  Ho Ho Ho!

Earthquake (for real this time . . . ) :o)

BREAKING NEWS: North Texans experienced a couple of earthquakes overnight. A magnitude 3.0 quake shook much of Dallas Tarrant and Counties. The epicenter of the quake was measured four miles southwest of Irving just after midnight. Another one hit earlier last night, registering at 2.5. Reports came flooding into our newsroom of people saying they heard rumbling and felt shaking in cities like Irving, Euless, and Bedford. Seismologists are looking into whether natural gas drilling may have caused the tremors. No damage has been reported. We'll have much more coming up on News 8 Daybreak starting at 5am.

By the way . . . Happy Halloween!!!!!

Ahhhhhhh . . .

Image Source:  http://www.shinygloss.tv/pedicure.jpg

So about a month ago - ok - almost two now - one of my student's gave me a gift certificate for my birthday for a free DELUXE pedicure at his mom's spa.  Woohoo!  It's quite a ways away - but I sure wasn't going to pass it up!  

I'd never had a DELUXE pedicure before - and holy cow!!!!  I just sat there thinking - what else can they do?!?!?!  And sure enough - they clearly came up with more and more to do.  It was more of a foot/leg thing.  There were sea salts, mud smearing, hot wax dipping, warm rocks, leg slapping (I was trying not to laugh on that one.  It was kind of a cross between 'hey buddy - are you getting your frustration out on my leg?!?!' or 'Are you just making this up?!?!?'  But actually it all felt so good.  It lasted about an hour and by that point I think I could have stayed all day.  They did a great job and it was such a treat!  What a perk!!!!!  :o)

Lovin the burn!

Image Source: http://www.prevention.com/pvnstatic-assets/images/298x232_article_size/fitness/298x232_FT_exereq_treadmill_ST.jpg

I'm so excited!  Tomorrow Kbugs and my Bud are coming to the gym with me.  They had to complete a youth course in fitness and how to work the machine - which they did on Saturday - so now they can come with me!  Woohooo!  It will be a workout party!  Woop Woop!

PECS

PECS stands for Picture Exchange Communication System.

I spent two days in Fort Worth this week being trained on PECS.  I cannot even begin to explain how excited I am about this system.  Virtually all of my students at school are non verbal - or unable to communicate clearly enough to express their needs and wants.  This system was born out of a similar need - for one student in a classroom who was not responding to the typical methods of speech therapy, sign language and other systems.  It's a system that teaches children (and non-verbal adults too) how to exchange pictures to a teacher or a parent to express their wants and needs.  It starts out simply and progresses in different stages so they can include expressing their observations not just requests.  They can build complete thoughts rather then just one-word communication.  Research has shown that it often enhances development of speech as a students vocabulary base builds through pictures.  

Perhaps one of the hardest parts of my job is watching parents grapple with the needs of their sweet young children - wondering how they can help them best while coming to terms with such a recent diagnosis.  They search for whatever resources they can find - whatever they can do to help their children.  I watch them - seeing the depth of their emotions and their intense desire to find ways to communicate with their children.  

In a tiny small fraction - that I really can't compare - I recall a time when Cowboy T was very young and he was not talking at all.  He was well past the time his vocabulary should have been building.  We worked and struggled and worried and wondered.  There is one instance that stands out in my mind that I will never forget.  He was crying - clearly hungry for something specific in the fridge - but all he could do was point.  I remember frantically going through the fridge grabbing everything I could find trying desperately to meet the need of my sweet son.  He was sobbing and crying and as I emptied the fridge I felt so utterly helpless.  I began to cry in complete frustration at the situation.  I just wanted so much to help him as we both stood there crying in front of the fridge.  

Now - Cowboy T is clearly a talker and doing a-ok.  But I am so grateful for that experience and I will never forget the emotions of that moment as he tried to communicate with me and I could not understand.  I often think of it when I speak with parents - as we brainstorm how to help their child.  This system has the potential to make the bridge for those children and families.  Not just at school - but at home too.  I can not wait to get back to school and start using this one student at a time.  If I accomplish nothing else this year . . . I want to help these sweet children and parents be able to communicate!

Piano Festival

The boys participated in their first piano festival this weekend.  They had practiced hard and felt good about their songs.  They both did an outstanding job in front of the judge!  Cowboy T made a 1 (which is the highest score) and my Buddy also made a 1 with the judge adding a + to it!  They really worked hard and I'm so proud of them!  Good job guys!

Katie participated in a district speech tournament.  Her group received third place and moved on to the next round - but due to time constraints didn't get a chance to preform again!  They also worked really hard on their events and it was a great experience for her!  Way to go Kbugs!

We went!!!

We managed to squeeze our schedule around the tickets I won from WRR!  Hooray!  It was so fun!  It was actually a Texas Ballet Theater production.  The first half was the ballerina's of the company dancing to Judy Garland songs.  It was really beautiful.  I guess it's not a pairing I would have thought of - but it was so beautifuly done.  We were very impressed.  The second half was the men of the company dancing to Mozart's requiem in a tribute to all soldiers.  It was quite moving and impressive as well.  The Schola Cantorum of Texas and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra accompanied them!  Talk about a sensory feast!  Wow!  Bass Hall was absolutely beautiful too!  We just really had a good time.  I won two tickets - so Bob and I went - which made for a really wonderful date together.  That by itself was heavenly too!  What a treat out of the blue!  

The Brazos Drive-In Theatre

Image Source: http://www.musa.org.nz/orientation/images/Drive-in%20Movie.jpg

Ok - so I just realized that I don't think I've ever posted about this.  It's one of the funnest things to do.  The Brazos Drive-In Theatre is located in Granbury.  They usually try and show family friendly movies.  Each week it is different movies - always a double feature (so prepare for a late night!).  They start after sundown and it's currently $18.00 for a car load.  We've been a few times over the years.  Once with our big old van which was fun.  One time with our truck - with lawn chairs in the back.  You can do a picnic dinner or snacks.  It's just a fun thing!  The audio plays over a radio station.  The last time we went Bobby took a small radio with headphones . . . such a smart kid!  

Check it out here:  http://www.thebrazos.com/home.htm

Shin Splints Hurt!

Okay - three things I learned this week:

1.  Always always stretch before running.  Even if you are in a hurry.

2.  You really need good shoes to run.  Not Walmart shoes.  Harumph!

3.  Always take the time to cool down after a run.  Don't just hop off the treadmill from a full run to go get your kids.

Ok - let's make it four . . . 

4.  Shin splints hurt really really really bad (or maybe I'm just a big wimp!)

ok - one more . . . 

5.  When you get them - don't keep running day after day - trying to work through it!  Stop until you mend!  It won't get better - only worse.  In fact it could create a fracture should one keep going!  (so glad I read about that!!!)

Lesson learned!  I think new shoes will be on my Christmas list!

Ok - I'm coming back to edit . . . because there's one more very imporatant thing I learned:

6.  When I don't feel good my kids are the sweetest and most helpful children in the world!  They cared for me and went the extra mile in helping around the house and with dinner and even little school projects!  I love them so much and am so grateful to them for taking care of me!!!!

My Knight in Shining Armor

Image Source: http://www.beautyfromtheheart.org/uploaded_images/knight-725847.jpg

Not only had he gotten up at 3am to catch his flight - had a layover in Philadelphia - changed planes - drove himself from the airport and picked up the kids after school - but he also answered my desperate call from Northwest Fort Worth that my car was dead and raced to save me during Friday rush hour without ever getting a chance to stop and rest.  (big run-on sentence!)  He is my hero and my true love!  He fixed my car and I got to follow him back home - which was great - because without him I would have inevitably made a wrong turn on the way home and doubled my travel time and my anxiety level!  :o)  Thanks Love!  I really appreciate all the millions of things you do to make our life a little more peaceful each day!   

My Boyfriend's Back!

Heh heh heh!  Bob's back home!  Hooray!  He was out of town this week.  It'd been a while since the last trip and this week just seemed pretty rough in general.  I'm so glad he's home.  I know it was just a short trip and it could've been more - but still - I'm so happy to have him home again!

I Won!!! I Won!!!

Woohooo!!!!  I've been on a classical kick lately and was looking up something on the local classical station the other day.  My buddy was sitting next to me and noticed a drawing for some tickets and said I should enter it - so I did . . . and I won!!!  It's for Mozart's Requiem at Bass Hall on Saturday!  The odds of us going are slim - given that a million things seem to get scheduled on the same Saturday at least once a month - and this month - this Saturday is that Saturday.  (well that was wordy!)  :o)  But either way - I won!!!  And it's so exciting!!!  Woohooo!!!

Looking towards Turkey Day!!!

Image Source: http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Wildlife_images/turkey_Joe-Blake.jpg

I'm usually not a big fan of broccoli - but I love this casserole. We have it every Thanksgiving at our house.

Broccoli Casserole

1 pkg frozen broccoli heads, cooked and mashed
1/2 c chopped onions
1-2 eggs
1 pkg Ritz crackers crushed
1 1/2 cans cream of mushroom
grated sharp cheddar cheese (apx 2 c)
1/4 c mayo

Mix together - add cracker crumbs last to judge thickness. Salt and pepper to taste. Put in dish; cover with cheese and Ritz crumbs. Bake at 350 for 45 min - 1 hour. (until light brown on top). 

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Here's another must have for us at Thanksgiving. Sooo yummy - and it doesn't even have marshmallows! (I thought that was the only way they could taste good!)

Sweet Potato Casserole

6 med size sweet potatoes (or 2 large cans drained!)
1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 c milk
1/2 c butter (melted)
1/3 c firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 c finely chopped pecans (or more) depending on size of casserole
2 TB all-purpose flour (or more)
2 TB butter

If using fresh SP - cook sweet potatoes in boiling water 45 min - 1 hour until tender. Let cool to touch' peel and mash. Combine sweet potato, sugar, egg, vanilla, milk, 1/2 c butter; beat at med speed of an electric mixer until smooth. Spoon into lightly greased 12x8x2 baking dish. Combine brown sugar, pecans, flour, 2 TB butter - and sprinkle mix over the casserole. Bake at 350 for 30 min. 

PS – I have ALWAYS just used the canned sweet potatoes and it's delicious that way! 

 

Earthquake

Image Source:  http://www.glynn.k12.ga.us/BHS/Juniorprojects/Hopkins01/miguelo23724/Epicenter.gif

There must have been a slight earthquake here today.  The epicenter was apparently located at UTA directly under my feet.  It was strong enough on the Richter scale to knock me off my feet.  I landed on my left hand and I think I've sprained my arm pretty good - wrist to shoulder.  Honestly - I don't know what happened.  There was a curb - but that's all I remember.  I just tripped for no apparant reason - of course it was right in front of a tour bus full of people too!

Actually I think it was probably karma.  Kbugs had just finished her violin lesson and we were walking through the campus.  It was such a beautiful fall day and she was chatting away.  I was sipping my water bottle when the deliciously devilish thought struck me to squirt her with my water bottle.  I think it stems from being the youngest - with no younger siblings to pick on.  At least my kids are good natured about it.  It was seconds later that I tripped.  Seriously - I couldn't get mad when Kbugs happily pointed out the irony!  She had a point.  :o)

Why our kids never come in our room . . .

Image Source: http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2007/07/30/mice_5638.jpg

The year was 2001.  My little Buddy was 3.  Poor kid . . . his life was about to be forever altered.

We were living in a rental house.  I was 22 months pregnant.  No joke.  Our neighbor had mentioned that an exterminator had been to their home for their mice problem.  Hearing that made my hair stand on end - which was actually quite a sight!  I remember mentioning the conversation to my Mom and she said - be careful - the mice will be looking for a place to go and head your way.  Tuck that thought into my never-resting brain - and it just combined into the perfect storm.

About 2 am my sweet baby boy came toddling into our room.  To this day I don't know why.  Perhaps a drink of water, maybe he couldn't sleep, or maybe a bad dream.  I hope not - because it was only about to get worse.  Much much worse!

I was asleep.  And so - to wake me up - he reached his sweet pudgy little hand up and tousled my hair.  Me in my ever foggy between-sleep-and-reality stupor combined with the recent memory of the mice conversation could only think that the worst had inevitably happened.  There was a mouse in my hair!!!!  

Now I ask you . . . if you thought there was a mouse in bed with you - in your hair no less - what would YOU do?!?!?!?!?!  I didn't know my sweet baby was standing there.  I didn't know it was him trying to wake his Mama.  So - I shot up in bed with blood curling screams that woke half of the city!!!!!!  There was some frantic flailing - you know - just to make sure I got the mouse far away in case it was still on me.  Only then did I wake up enough to notice my poor son - wide-eyed and trembling at the response he had elicited from this woman called Mom who was supposed to protect and soothe him - not recoil and scream.  

I'm sure we will pay for years of therapy down the road - which will all lead back to that one horrifying memory.  It has made a lasting impression on my children - which is why they never come into my room in the middle of the night - at least not without staying a safe far distance away from my side of the bed!  

PS - the picture is seriously creeping me out!!!!

Oil - Black Gold - Texas Tea!!!

The Pipeline.  This is right off the side of our house.  It's huge - it runs at least a 1/4 of a mile.  They are currently welding it together and it blocks every u-turn that I normally use!  ARGH!!!  At first I was feeling very Texan and patriotic that our state pipeline is running down our street.  A while back I read an article that told where it ran to.  Something like Tyler, Austin, Mexico . . . I can't remember.  (just kidding on the Mexico part).  Anyhow - I tried looking it up for this post - but when I googled it - all I came up with was our city's disaster plan.  Ummmm . . . bad sign!!!!

Here's what it said:  "The two most significant pipeline incidents were the 1984 petroleum leak in R.L. Park and the natural gas pipeline fire in 1993 that burned through TU Electric power lines causing 17 towers to collapse."

Okee dokee then!  So if you hear a big boom - and don't see anymore posts . . . just know I was a proud Texan!  heh heh heh!

YEE-HAW!!!!!

At least once in your life - you must try . . .

Pretzels crumbled over vanilla ice cream!  Mmmmmm!!!

Sounds strange I know - but be brave . . . You won't regret it!  :o)

Chicken Dressing Casserole

This is an all-time family fall-favorite! It's like having Thanksgiving dinner on a regular day! 

Chicken Dressing Casserole

box of chicken stovetop stuffing mix
4 chicken breasts (I've used canned chicken before & a rotisserie chicken from the store too in a rush!)
can of cream of mushroom soup
1 c sour cream

Cook chicken, cool and shred into pieces. Prepare stuffing according to the directions. Spoon into a 9x13 dish or pan in a layer. Spread evenly over chicken. Combine soup and sour cream. Spread over stuffing. Bake @ 350 for 20-30 min. Stir and serve.

The Regency

Ok - I can't help myself . . . one more van story.  The above picture isn't an actual picture of our old van - but it's very similar.  One difference is that across the top of the windshield the word Regency was scrawled out in a fancy script - why? - I don't know - it came that way.  Anyhow it ended up for the makings of a great story.

Bob had taken his sister to the airport to drop her off for a flight.  As he sat at the curb - waiting to make sure she got in ok - he noticed a man rushing towards the van.  Imagine Bob's surprise when the man walked briskly to the door of the van - hopped in and pulled his luggage in.  He turned quickly to Bob and said "Does this one go to the Hyatt Regency on International Parkway?"  Bob was so tempted to just take the guy to his hotel anyway - but he explained that he was NOT the hotel van - just a private citizen dropping off his sister.  The man was mortified and apologetic as he quickly got out of the van.  Little does he know - he's forever immortalized in our family dinner table repertoire of stories that leave us chuckling.  

Mask Gas

Recently we went to the store to get a respirator mask for going up in the attic . . . (it's a jungle up there).  Anyhoo . . . it reminded me of a HIL-arious experience a few years back.

We drove around town in a beast of a van at the time.  It was one of those enormous custom vans that have the huge windows down the side.  Well - I had to pick up a few things at the dollar store.  The boys were with me and as we poked our way around the aisles they asked if they could each get one toy.  I mean - come on - everything's a dollar right???  So I said yes - and let them hyperventilate over making the choice of just one thing out of the hundreds lining the walls.  

So - they're boys . . . what do they choose????  As Travis calls them . . . a toy "mask gas".  I was a little hesitant - given that I was raised in a family of girls and all that boy stuff seems to escape me - but then I defaulted to what I knew my husband would say - who grew up in a family with mostly boys.  So we got the gas masks and headed out for more errands.  

What I didn't realize for the rest of the ride around town - is that the boys had opened their gas masks and put them on.  I can only imagine what the people driving past us - and pulled up next to us at stoplights must have thought.  Me in the front driving around - while my two boys - strapped in their car seats next to those giant side windows - wore gas masks that looked all too real.  I laughed for hours the rest of the day as I thought of the curious looks we must have received and the confusion people must have had when they saw the boys.

Still makes me laugh!  :o)

My Hero

Image Source:  http://i.treehugger.com/gas_burner_on_stove.jpg

Due to my rapidly increasing forgetfulness - last night I left a burner on.  We'd had spaghetti and I served up the plates at the stove.  I scooped out nearly all the sauce and left a plastic spoon in the pan.  There was a baking pan on the burner in front of it - so I didn't notice the burner was still on.  At about 8pm while we were reading scriptures Bob commented that something smelled like it was burning.  I thought that was really odd - since Bob has essentially no sense of smell - and I couldn't smell anything.  What was even more odd - earlier in the day I was making lunch and had the random thought that we hadn't gone over our family evacuation plan in a while.  So I shouted out to everyone scattered in the house - what would you do if the fire alarms went off right now?  The answers were varied - so we reviewed what to do if there was a fire.

About 2am - my Buddy came in our room to tell me the burner was on.  He'd gotten up and as he walked down the hall - caught just the right angle of the blue glow.  The last of the sauce was a crisp wafer and the spoon was beginning to melt.  What a blessing and a miracle that we were protected and that Buddy had the presence of mind to alert us.  The Lord was truly watching out for us and keeping us safe.  I am so humbly grateful!

Ka-Powie!

Image Source: http://kellytso.hestia.googlepages.com/sp_pow.gif

At some point both of my boys have had black eyes - and now I can officially say my daughter has too!  Bless her heart!  I got a call from her school - it was her PE coach saying she'd been running and she collided with another girl and landed hard on her face.  [pausing . . .  she is an AWESOME runner!  Her times blow me away!  She must have inherited that running gene my sister had.  It totally skipped me!  Kbugs is FAST!!!!]  They put ice on her eye but could tell it was swollen and likely to bruise.  My poor baby!  It doesn't matter how old the kids are . . . when they get hurt my instinct is to go get them and love on them like a baby - which doesn't work too well for them - especially at jr. high!  :o)  

So she's been walking around w a black eye.  After about a week and a half it's almost gone now.  I tried to help her think of some awesome top secret action story for her to explain how she got it.  She humors me and just smiles and laughs . . . ("Just smile and wave boys . . . just smile and wave!"  [Madagascar movie quote])  She's such a trooper!

Decisions.

Click here: Good . . . Better . . . Best

Red Hair

Image source: http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TOH/Images/Photos/37/exps34223_SD1191049D40.jpg

It's because of spaghetti.  Seriously.  I'm not kidding.  Ok - so scientifically they haven't proved it yet - but statistically - there's no way it could be anything else.  Food scientists are actually researching it.  Genetics may come into play somewhere . . . 

When I was a kid I could not get enough spaghetti or spaghettios w meatballs . . . mmmmmmm.  Deepest apologies to my family.  Now I've managed to step it up a notch with this bad boy recipe.  Haven't made it in a while . . . but I just may now.  It's all things heavenly in one.  

Enjoy - and may your hair turn red!

PS - You know what CTR stands for right?????  (Choose the Redhead!)  :o) heh heh heh!

Spaghetti Casserole

8 oz cream cheese
1 c sour cream
1 lb hamburger
2 jars spaghetti sauce (or 1 1/2)
1 pkg spaghetti noodles - cooked
1 c mozzarella cheese (or just throw handfuls of cheese on it like I do.)

Brown burger and add spg sauce. Simmer 10 min. In bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream and mix till smooth. Layer noodles, sauce, cheese noodles, sauce, mozzarella. Bake at 350 for 1 hour covered. Serves at least 5.