"S" is for S-M-A-R-T!

Mini Me competed in her very first East Texas Regional Spelling Bee! She placed 2nd among all of the second graders at her school, so she was able to advance to the "Big Show."

There were nearly 40 kids competing in the Bee, and she finished 12th! She practiced and studied, and we couldn't be more proud of her special accomplishment!

In typical parent-error fashion, we kind of breezed over the easy words, and spent most of our time on the more complicated words. She aced the spelling of the word "metal." Unfortunately, they wanted the spelling for "medal." (It turns out that one of the other kids from her school got the word "meddle." That's gotta be terribly confusing for 8-year-olds!)

The pronouncer for the spelling bee was Christine Nelson, the anchor for our local ABC affiliate. We love her! It was exciting to get to meet her and take a picture with her!



Next year, we will be at a different elementary school. The school is new this year, and did not compete in the bee. We intend to make sure that they compete next year, so Mini Me will have another opportunity to dazzle us with her sensational spelling!!

Moving Right Along...

I just wanted to update a few photos of the progress on the house.

The slab was poured last week, before the wretched weather set in. Fortunately, it had enough time to set/dry/whatever concrete does before the rain started.



The storms rolled through last weekend, and then on Tuesday the climax arrived -- with monster hail, wind gusts around 60 mph, and more...rain. Happy freakin' Mardi Gras!

Finally, on Thursday of this week, the framing started.



I couldn't get any good ones inside, because all of the supports are still in place. Once they remove those, I should be able to get some interior photos. Of course, you can't tell squat from a bunch of pictures of raw wood nailed together, but it's exciting to ME.

Yesterday, they built the stairs. That's a discernable feature. I'll try to take pictures tomorrow...you SHOULD be able to tell what that is in a photo. :)

We've had a LOT of traffic through our current home. In fact, a couple looked at it yesterday and are wanting to put a contingency contract on it. YaY!

Building a Dream

Our new house has a footprint!




For those who may not know, we decided to build a new home. We love our current home, and know that it will be very difficult to leave. It's our first! However, we are definitely feeling the "growing pains" that are associated with children getting older and plans changing. We've looked around a bit to see what homes are available, but we've ultimately decided to build the home that fits us perfectly, and that will meet our needs for many, many years to come!

On Monday, our new home took shape! The footprint of the foundation was laid on January 14, and today the plumbing was routed. The post-tensioning cables have been dropped off at the property, so it looks like the foundation will be poured shortly after the plumbing is complete.

We are so excited!!

I think the biggest adjustment will be that Mini Me will be attending a different elementary school. She's slowly warming up to the idea, but she LOVES her current school. We all do! She especially loves the friends that she has there...and although she knows several kids who attend the new school, she is nervous about leaving the comforts of familiarity.

On a (VERY) positive note, this is the view from our house:


That big, beautiful building is Mini Me's new school!! I have ALWAYS wanted to live in walking distance to school. You can't get much closer than across the street!!

I'll keep you posted as the build progresses. In the meantime, please keep us in your prayers as we wait for a buyer for our current home.

Christmas Goodness

I love Christmas. I always have. It's my absolute favorite time of the year. Frantic shopping leads to finding that PERFECT gift. Careful planning leads to delicious meals. Months of anticipation lead to wonderful memories of time shared with family and friends.

This year has been a bit of a funk -- a combined result of personal and work issues that all slammed down at once. I admit, I let it get the best of me. I allowed it to seep in and, on occasion, steal my joy.

But I have a beautiful 8-year-old who reminds me of the source of my joy, and the very reason why I love Christmas so much: Jesus. She wrote a letter to Santa at school that was published in the Tyler Paper, and the first thing she wrote was that she celebrates Christmas because it is Jesus' birthday. She reminds us as we are opening gifts that Jesus is the reason for our little party. She sings in her sweet voice songs about Jesus' birth. She can tell you the meaning behind every color and aspect of the Candy Cane as it relates to Jesus.

She reminds me to seek Jesus, and my joy is restored.

And so, today, as I sit in a sea of dirty dishes, torn wrapping paper, tiny bits of toy packaging, and a huge mound of new toys and clothes (as if we NEEDED any more), I feel joy.

I am joyful that I was able to spend a tiny sliver of my holidays with my family in Baton Rouge. The time always passes so fast when we are all together, but it is time I will always treasure. My family is amazing.

I am joyful that we are all happy and healthy for another year and counting. I know that we are blessed beyond measure.

I am joyful that I am gainfully employed, despite my constant complaining -- and that I am surrounded by my own little "family" among the cubicles. Our jobs are not easy, but whose are?

I am joyful that I have a church family that surrounds me with love and support and friendship and encouragement, and that I can literally see the Lord working there. I am joyful that Mission Tyler was able to rebuild the Jeffersons' home, just in time for a Christmas homecoming! God is so good!

I am joyful that I have a Saviour who loves me more than life itself.

And, of course, I must add some silliness in here: I am joyful that Greenberg Turkeys is located in Tyler, TX. Oprah and I don't have a lot in common, but she has featured these smoked turkeys on her list of Favorite Things in the past, and she is SO right. We last had a Greenberg turkey several years ago, and this year I decided to get another one. They are SO delicious, and require NO preparation aside from carving. That is a definite win-win combo for me.



Their website is www.gobblegobble.com, they'll ship anywhere in the U.S, and they ROCK. Just another little slice of Christmas Goodness.

Tomorrow, I return to the daily grind of estimating, and arguing, and angry people. But today, I feel joy. And I pray that the joy of Jesus will stay with me tomorrow and throughout the coming year.

Merry Christmas!!

Halloween Fun!

Halloween is so much fun! I have lots of memories of Halloween as a child...carving pumpkins, toasting seeds, trick-or-treating, dressing up in fun costumes with my sister! For us, it was never a "Devil's Holiday," it was a chance for kids to be kids and for grown-ups to be kids, too! Of course, it was never as important as Christmas or Thanksgiving or Easter, but it was a different kind of special.

This year, for the first time in several years, we carved pumpkins. Oh, not just one. Mini-Me decided she wanted one for each of us. Including the cat.

Chloe's pumpkin was a pie pumpkin, because it was the perfect size for the family pet. Mini-Me decided she wanted to paint Chloe. First, we drew a kitty face. Then, Mini-Me made Pumpkin Chloe come to life with lots of color and care!



She also really wanted to dig in to the pumpkins this year...including getting all the slimy, goopy insides out! She did a great job, but I think her initial reaction to the feeling was just priceless:



She's usually such a girlie girl! I was very proud of her for putting her hands in those pumpkins. We were going to toast the seeds, but I think our pumpkins were a little dated since we waited so late in the season to buy them. So we opted to save that for next year! We scoured the internet for carving ideas, and found three perfect faces! One looks like Jack from A Nightmare Before Christmas, one is a silly ghost, and one is a creepy ghoul! We had so much fun carving them. Here is the finished product:



Mini-Me had originally wanted to be a cat for Halloween, but we never could find a costume she really liked, and I didn't have time to make one. Her second choice was the devil costume, which I was slightly opposed to at first. I decided that she could wear it for the school carnival, and for Halloween -- but NOT for the church festival! (She was a salsa dancer for that one.)

She turned out to be the cutest little devil I've ever seen!





We were really anxious for Halloween this year. As she gets older, it's so much fun to share her excitement as the various holidays approach! Now, we are seriously counting down for Thanksgiving. (Naturally, I haven't told her that I am actually counting down to Black Friday...my favorite shopping day EVER!)

It's The Great Pumpkin!

Well, maybe not exactly THE Great Pumpkin...but Charlie Brown and his crew were definitely at Pappy's Pumpkin Patch yesterday!


There's a place just outside of Tyler called the Bell Family Farm, and evidently they open their farm to the community every fall. There's a playground and hayrides and mini-train rides, and you can feed the fish in the pond...and, of course, you can search for the perfect pumpkin! At the beginning of the season, they brought in over 1,000 pumpkins. We went on the last day, so the pickins were slim!

Mini Me found a few that she thought were perfect. She's such a dainty, petite little thing, she had a little trouble lifting them from the ground. But that girl is determined...much like her Momma. SO finally, after much grunting and groaning, she was able to heave one for a photo op!


I was so proud!

The past several days have been just beautiful weather-wise, and yesterday was certainly no disappointment. We went a little late in the day, so the shadows were long...but I love this picture!


I think we've just started a new family tradition. Next year, we'll try to go earlier in the season, when the pumpkins are plentiful.

Eight years...gone in a flash!

I honestly don't know where the time has gone! Mini Me turned EIGHT on Monday, and it seems like just yesterday she looked like this:


My beautiful baby girl is becoming my beautiful, strong, independent, intelligent young lady! Of course, she'll always be my baby girl, too. But she's just blossoming into this wonderful little person right before my eyes. It's just hard to believe eight years have passed.

The party was a blast! We had it at Build-A-Buddy, which was fabulous! Our hostesses were wonderful, and the girls had a really great time. They played tons of games...4 corners, Hokey Pokey, Freeze Dance, and of course The Limbo!



Her four very best friends were all able to make it to the party, so I think that really made it even more special! They danced and sang High School Musical songs and ate cake and laughed and played and danced some more! Ahhhhh to be a kid again!



After allowing me a one-year hiatus, Mini Me decided she wanted a homemade cake again. I intended to do a cut-out cake like I used to do, but time just snuck up on us (Rose Festival Queen's Tea on Friday afternoon, shopping with Grandma Friday evening, soccer game on Saturday morning, Party on Saturday afternoon...phew!). SO I did my best to try to draw a fluffy little girlie bear on her cake. It's no Picasso, but I was pretty proud of it!



And here is the Birthday Princess herself...Her Majesty...Mini Me!


It really was a wonderful birthday. By the time I blink again, another year will have passed. I've got to learn how to slow this time thing down....

A Great Song!

I have been a Caedmon's Call fan for years. They are an awesome Christian folk/rock band from Houston, TX. I first heard them while I was at Tech, and I've been hooked ever since!

They've recently released a new album called Overdressed. I love this album...and especially this song. It's called Sacred, and it's so perfect for Moms. The female singer in the band was pregnant with her first child when I was pregnant with Mini Me. It's so great to hear songs by Moms for Moms!

My favorite lyrics are "teach me to run to You like they run to me for every little thing." It's a great reminder that God is our "Daddy," and He wants us to come to him like a child.

I wish I knew how to imbed a music file on here...I'll have to figure it out. For now, here are the lyrics:

"sacred"

this house is a good mess
it’s the proof of life
no way would I trade jobs
but it don’t pay overtime

I’ll get to the laundry
I don’t know when
I’m saying a prayer tonight
cause tomorrow it starts again

could it be that everything is sacred?
and all this time
everything I’ve dreamed of
has been right before my eyes

the children are sleeping
but they’re running through my mind
the sun makes them happy
and the music makes them unwind

my cup runneth over
and I worry about the stain
teach me to run to You
like they run to me for every little thing

when I forget to drink from you
I can feel the banks harden
Lord, make me like a stream
to feed the garden

wake up, little sleeper
the Lord, God Almighty
made your Mama keeper
so rise and shine
rise and shine
rise and shine cause

everything is sacred
and all this time
everything I’ve dreamed of
has been right before my eyes

Creepy-Crawlies!

That's the best description of the feeling I get when I am forced to deal with the (nearly) inevitable: HEAD LICE.

Yes, it has descended on Mini Me's classroom. Yes, it found its way into her beautiful hair. Yes, I am about to yank my OWN hair out trying to rid our house of these nasty little pests.

Nearly two weeks ago, she came home from school and told me that her friend had head lice. She said that the nurse had checked all of the girls in class, and that no one else had it. She never seemed particularly itchy/scratchy, so I figured it was an isolated incident. Fast forward to this past Sunday....

We were just waking up, and I noticed that Mini Me was scratching her head constantly. I dreaded what I was about to find. I started around the top of her head and behind her ears. Nothing. *Sigh of relief* Then, the head lice brought the pain. I lifted what I thought would be the last little bit of hair, just behind the crown of her head. And there, among the beautiful golden blond curls, were the most horrifying creatures I have ever seen.

I immediately sent her to the bathtub, and woke the hubby to keep an eye on her. I jetted off to Walmart to purchase the necessary lice-ridding remedies. We went step-by-step through the process. Wash with regular shampoo. Towel dry. Saturate hair with lice zapper. Wait ten minutes. Lather and rinse. Spend the next two hours of our lives dividing hair into 4 sections, combing meticulously through from top to bottom, front to back, in no larger than 1" sections.

We stripped the beds, stripped the pillow cases, washed every washable piece of fabric that may have come into contact with her head, sprayed every non-washable surface with lice spray, sealed all of her stuffed animals and other non-washables into black trash bags...it was literally a marathon day.

Monday, she and hubby stayed home (Columbus Day, no school) and I went to work. I checked her Monday night...nothing. Sweet! We're in the clear, right?

Wrong.

Tuesday, the school nurse called to say that she re-checked the class after hearing about Mini Me's run-in. She said that she may have found one among the curls, but wasn't sure. She told me to keep an eye out and check it periodically. Tuesday night, as Mini Me was getting ready for bed, I took a quick peek. Much to my dismay, there were MORE lice. These were much smaller...evidently the first "batch" had been there a while!

So, for the next hour and fifteen minutes (second time around...I was becoming a pro by then!), we shampooed, saturated, lathered, rinsed, separated, and combed hair, then I stripped, sealed, and sprayed everything. Again. She finally went to bed at about 10:30, and I was feeling like the Worst. Mom. Ever.

This brings me to tonight. Let's just say that the third time actually took far longer, because I did not miss a strand of hair on that head. Twice. If those little monsters made it past me this time, then they have freakin' invisibility and invincibility super powers.

I feel completely exhausted. This is NOT a fun process. I don't know what else to do! At Walgreens tonight, when I went to buy my third can of "lice-feeding spray," I noticed a product called Lice Ice. It's a NON-shampooing, NON-lathering, NON-rinsing, NON-seperating technique that consists of one easy step: gel. You saturate the hair with this gel and leave it on for 8 hours (overnight). It forms a hard casing around any live bugs and eggs, leaving them incapable of living and/or hatching. Then you shampoo as usual. It says you only have to comb if the carcasses (yum) get stuck in your hair.

IF there is a round four of this fiasco (oh Dear Lord, PLEASE don't let there be a round four), I will be calling the school, calling the pediatrician, and enlisting the help of Lice Ice.

Please pray for me!!! I'm losing my mind.

Soccer Mania!

The soccer season is in full swing again!! Mini Me is having a great time this year playing for the Copperheads. She's one of the older kids on the team (grades 1 & 2), so she's a lot more confident. It's so much fun to watch her!

Last year was her first year playing soccer. She was very timid around the ball...didn't wanna get kicked, didn't wanna get dirty, didn't wanna run much.

This year, she has blossomed into a little superstar! Her favorite position is goalie, and she doesn't let ANYTHING get past her! She digs her knees down in the dirt to stop the ball. She even asked if it was OK to dive for the ball if she needs to. Who is this child?!

When she's running the ball up and down the field, she is right there in the middle of everyone, fighting for control. She's learning to work with her team, to pass the ball to get it to the goal.

I am so proud of her!!

Here are some great action shots:







She's already telling me that she wants to play soccer forever. It really seems to give her a sense of confidence that she just hasn't found with almost 5 years of dance. Don't get me wrong...she's not giving up dance anytime soon! Soccer is only a nine or ten week program. Dance is a nine month commitment. Plus, she gets a trophy this year in dance...and that is worth more than gold to an (almost) eight year old!

Update on the J.I.T.B. Fiasco...

OK quick update: I called the local restaurant this morning and spoke with the manager on duty. I asked if he was aware of an incident on his property last night. Of course he was not. I explained that I needed the name of the employee involved, and the name of the supervisor who stood by and did nothing. He provided all of the info I asked for...I think he was completely dumbfounded that this had occurred.

Later, I spoke with the rep at the corporate office. She took a detailed statement from me and apologized profusely for what happened. She said they will order an internal investigation and review the surveillance tapes from the drive thru and parking area. She said she would get back with me once they have more information.

Then, I kid you not...she offered to compensate me with "a few coupons for free combo meals" for my troubles. Seriously.

I'm sure this is their canned response, but come on! I would expect the free combo meals routine for bad food, or a wrong order. But physical confrontation by an employee representing their company?? I think not.

SO she asked..."what do you want Jack In The Box to do to make this right for you?"

I told her I would talk to my husband and call her back.

I should mention that the first thing Mini-Me said when I picked her up from school was "Mommy, I wanted to call you today. I still feel scared." (This is after last night, when I put her to bed and she got up a few minutes later to say "I don't feel like going out to eat much anymore. It makes me scared.")

I talked to my co-workers today, and I think my biggest fear is that this baffoon's behavior is going to somehow warp the way my little girl views the world. It's one of those events that can shape your perceptions. What will this do to her?

More updates later....

Verbal Assault at Jack-In-The-Box!

I know we all have horrible fast-food experiences, but I had to share this one. It's by far the scariest situation I have been in (I know, I practically live under a rock). I will never EVER eat at this restaurant again.

We went through the drive thru at Jack-In-The-Box tonight, but it took us a minute to figure out what we wanted because of new menu items. The employee was rude, was mumbling all of his replies and questions (requiring us to ask him to repeat himself at least twice after EACH response), and was basically being a jerk. We tolerated his attitude for a while (it was late and we were hungry).

We had a coupon for a free shake with the purchase of the new Sirloin Burger, so we told the guy we wanted to use it. (Initially, we asked if the free shake would apply with the purchase of a combo. I'm not sure what his reply was, because he sounded like he had marbles in his mouth when he spoke.) He said "I'll get it at the window." Now, I understand that he'll get the coupon at the window. But now that they have these handy-dandy screens that show you everything you ordered, we could see that he didn't ring it up. So again we mentioned that we wanted to add the shake to the order...an Oreo one (there are different flavors, you know). He continued to argue that he didn't need to know that. Finally, we just said "forget it, you're being a jerk" and asked him to cancel the order. As we pulled forward, he yelled "f*** you" into the intercom.

When we rounded the corner to leave, there was another vehicle in front of us at the window blocking the exit. There was also a vehicle behind us, so we were trapped. The drive thru guy saw us coming, and took off running out of the restaurant into the parking lot. He came around the corner and started screaming at us, yelling profanity and threatening us. By this time, I was calling 911 (not sure why...it was my natural reaction, given that Mini-Me was in the back seat)...so most of the "conversation" between them was a blur. I know that he called Hubby the "n-word," which was sort of amusing.

You would think that a manager-type person would have recognized what was going on and controlled the situation, right? Uhhh wrong. We saw at least two other employees in the restaurant, one of whom came over to the drive-thru window to either assist the customer in front of us, or get a better view of his homeboy in the parking lot. No one even attempted to control this guy.

After (what seemed like) several minutes of arguing, the vehicle in front of us finally pulled away, and we were able to leave. I was terrified and shaking, and Mini-Me was sobbing in the back seat. I'm not sure what I thought the guy was going to do...and Hubby keeps telling me he wouldn't have done anything...but I guess you just never know. Now my biggest concern is that he wrote my license plate number down.

I've already written a letter to their corporate office, and I will continue to call and/or write until I get a response.

What is wrong with people? What is happening in the world in which we live? How can this happen in my sleepy town, 6 blocks from my house?! How do I comfort my sobbing, terrified child when I don't feel the least bit comfortable with it myself? How do I protect her from this madness?

When The Cat's Away...

...the co-workers will fill his desk with balloons!



We have 3 Kevins in our office...and we refer to them by number. K1 is old-school, been around for a long time. K2 is our New York transplant, and has been with us for about 2 years now. K3 is our most recent acquisition, coming to us from Florida last year.

K2 hardly ever takes vacation...but when he does, he goes all out! He's been out since last Tuesday, and won't be back until the day after Labor Day! 2 WEEKS! That's a long time to deal with someone else's claims.

The last time K2 took an extended vacation, he came back to a desk covered in aluminum foil. And it was AWESOME. (I'll find some pics and post them later.) You'd think he would have learned his lesson about leaving us alone with his cubicle. But alas, he did not. And so balloons found their way IN.

We blew up 144 balloons to fill his cubicle. It still wasn't enough, but it'll have to do! Even with 3 women in the office now, there's not enough hot air for THAT many balloons!

Another view:



I'll be sure to post a "reaction shot" when K2 returns!

Mwahahaha.....

Back-To-School Spa Night!

Mini Me is SO excited about school starting tomorrow. She is (quite literally) bouncing off the walls...or at least off the couches! We've been planning to have a little spa night for a few weeks, but time has just slipped away from us. So tonight, in honor of my precious angel's big step into the world of second grade tomorrow, we did it! (I had to find something to distract her!)

We tried to find a kids' face mask. You would think SOMEone would carry something catered toward kids. Uhhh no. We were sure that we would find something at Bath & Body Works. (After all, they have the American Girl line...which I highly recommend, by the way!) But no kids' face masks were to be found. The girls at B&BW told me that the all-natural olive face mask I have would be gentle enough for Mini Me, so we decided to give it a try!



I must say, she is quite the little spa diva. First, we cleansed our faces with Olay daily facials. We had a fabulous conversation about how to properly wash our faces without pulling at the skin, and she made sure to remind me to wash behind my ears. Then, it was time for the mask. I didn't want to put too much on her face, not knowing how her skin would react. She took one glance in the mirror and decided that it wasn't NEARLY dark enough for the picture, so we waited a few minutes to make sure she didn't have a nasty reaction, and then added a bit more for the sake of color!

After about five minutes (and a quick photo shoot), we washed the masks off. I taught her how to pat her face dry. She was amazed at how smooth her skin was, which she made sure to point out to her Daddy. He was thoroughly impressed!

I suppose every now and then I need a reminder of the simple joys of childhood. What seemed like a mundane task for me (washing my face? boring!) turned into a great adventure with her! She stops me in my tracks almost daily, and makes me do a quick self-check about what the next five or ten minutes of MY time can mean for US together. The moments I have with her are so precious, and so vital.

After all, this will be the only time we'll ever have a Night-Before-Second-Grade Spa Night!

High School Musical Fever!

I did it! I jumped on the bandwagon of crazy Moms who let their children have a party for the premier of the most-anticipated movie of the summer: High School Musical 2! Mini Me invited some of her closest friends over for food, film, fun, and of course, constant chatter! (What little-girl party would be complete without chatter?!)

We didn't have fancy decorations, but we had a TON of fun! After hot dogs, curly fries, and cupcakes, we settled in for the movie. It wasn't long before popcorn was in high demand. As you can see, the best way to keep a room full of 2nd graders (and 6th and 9th graders, in case you didn't notice them in the background) entertained is with popcorn, and Troy from High School Musical. Don't they look mesmerized???



Here, have a closer look...they're completely tuned in!



After the curtain closed on what turned out to be a consensus of "the best movie EVER," a few friends left and the others stayed for a sleepover. Yes, I am insane. I learned a lot of things about that little bunch of roses. For example, after serving cupcakes and hearing excessive giggling coming from those little angels at the table, I learned that one them has an extreme reaction to sugar. And when I say "extreme," I mean hyper. Extremely hyper. She was "practicing her cartwheels" all night...all across my living room. I also learned that another one is a hugger. But not just a "hug-you-once-and-leave-you-alone" hugger. I mean a full-contact, as-many-times-as-I-think-about-it-in-a-half-hour-span hugger. If nothing else, I felt loved.

But most importantly, I learned this is the most amazing, diverse, beautiful bunch of young ladies, and I couldn't wish for better friends for my precious Mini Me.



OH, I also learned that 2nd graders know "hot." As in, "Troy is hot." Oh boy...

I just can't wait....

...for school to start!! Yes, I realize I am not actually IN school. But around this time every summer, I yearn for the schedule and structure of the school year!! I mean, don't get me wrong. Summer is AWESOME! I love to travel. I love vacations. I love to spend time with my family and friends. I even love the Texas heat! But my OCD self loves the school year.

Yesterday, we received the long-awaited postcard telling Mini-Me who her 2nd grade teacher will be. She will be entering the TARGET program, which is for Gifted and Talented students. They spend four days a week at their regular campus, and then one day a week at another campus studying an advanced subject. She is SO excited!!! Tomorrow is Meet The Teacher. I will be sure to post an update!

Our extra-curricular schedule is packed full of events, too! On Tuesdays, she will be taking dance again...only this time, we're tackling Hip Hop! (Thankfully, it is a Christian dance studio, so it will be focused on sharp movements and timing, and NOT on pelvic thrusts.)

On Wednesdays, she'll have GA's at church. It used to be on Sundays, but they are shuffling things around this year. Hopefully it'll work!

On Thursdays, it's soccer time again! Practices start the week of Labor Day. And this year, I got wrangled into being an Assistant Coach! Go Copperheads!!

So you see, my weeks practically plan themselves. The only thing left to worry about is what's for dinner. I can handle that. Most of the time. :)

Good Day, Sunshine!!

I moved from the comforts of home in Louisiana to make a new home in Texas in 2000, and I have always loved it here for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons is that you can always count on warm, dry summers -- well, let's be honest: it's usually warm and dry here all the time, with the possible exception of February.

This time last year, we were in the middle of one of the worst droughts in the history of the state. It was SO hot and SO dry that our year-end rainfall in this area was about 15 INCHES shy of where it typically falls. OUCH! And aside from constantly watering my lawn, and my electric bill skyrocketing from the intense heat of the blazing sun on the roof of my house, I loved it!

Fast-forward 12 months...well, 10 months. In the past 60 days, we have had measurable rainfall on 45 of those days. We've had rain for 15 of the last 16 days!! Even on the days that it WASN'T raining, we didn't actually see the sun because of the cloud cover. It's absolutely mind-numbing to live in an environment so bleak, and so damp, and so dark. It's completely depressing.

The past few days have been the worst. It rained ALL DAY on July 4th. For the first time in my memory, I spent the 4th of July in my house, watching the water fill my flower beds and float ALL of my mulch all over my yard and sidewalk! We had about 45 minutes without rain in the afternoon - just enough time to start the grill and throw some meat on before the deluge returned. This morning, there were at least 100 roads in the county that were under water, and at least a dozen more roads and bridges that are completely washed out. There were actually water rescues...here...in sleepy, dry East Texas! People were pulled from their sinking vehicle after the road just washed out from under them! Another vehicle was swept about 300 yards down the "creek" and lodged nose-first against a tree.

This morning, I awoke to the same sound of pattering rain on my roof that has greeted me daily for over 2 weeks now. Another dreary day. Another 12+ hours of listening to kids moan about how boring their lives are. Another day of watching the mulch float out of my flower beds. (ARGH!) Another day of damp, dark, depressing RAIN.

And then, the most beautiful sight I have seen in almost TWO MONTHS appeared to me, and it looked like this:



I looked out the window in the living room, and I noticed that there was an odd dark spot on the ground under the swing...and another under the grill...and another casting a strange shape on the grass. And then it dawned on me...they were SHADOWS!! THE SUN WAS SHINING!! I promise you - I practically heard angels singing! I ran outside and just stood there, soaking in the warmth and joy that a ray of sunshine can bring. It was fantastic.

There is still rain in the forecast for at least the next 3-4 days...but I don't care. Today, I saw the sun. Today, I love Texas again.

Mother's Day

I had a fabulous Mother's Day! Mini Me and hubby woke up early and brought me breakfast in bed - complete with French Toast, orange juice, and a beautiful rose! It was delicious!

Then, when I walked in the living room, I had a bouquet of roses waiting for me, along with 2 of the sweetest cards I have ever read!



Mini Me had also decorate a wonderful cookie cake for me. Hubby took her to Albertson's, where they were letting kids come in and decorate hear-shaped cakes for their Moms! It was a great surprise!



We also went to lunch with hubby's Mom at Texas Roadhouse. I admit it, I picked the restaurant. And it was soooooooo good! We spent the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying each other. The only thing that could have added to the joy of the day would have been spending time with MY Mom!

I wish Mother's Day was every day... :)

Rah Rah Ree!

Mini Me has been in a cheer class this year. This was our first year to stray from the traditional dance/tap/ballet classes that she's been involved in for years. It was a definite adjustment, but she LOVED it. Her recital was in April (and Nana even got to come for the special day! We were SO glad to have her here!).

This is after we straightened her hair...doesn't she look like such a big girl??



At the beginning of the routine, when everyone is still focused and together!



Because she is so small, she gets to be one of the "flyers," which means that she is at the top of the lifts and stunts. Very exciting! As she gets older, she'll be the one they toss and catch...not sure yet how I feel about that...ask me later. :)



This is her cheer portrait. Check out that form!



Can you tell she likes to have her portrait taken?? I wonder who she gets that from...



We had a really great time in cheer this year. In fact, she auditioned for the Dance-N-Drill Flyers competition cheer squad for next year...and she made the team! We're very excited, but still talking about how much time and energy is required, and how much our teammates depend on us ALL year long. We'll keep you posted!

Easter Fun

Yes, I realize that Easter was about a month ago, but I'm a busy lady with a busy 7-year-old. Give a girl a break.

This year was a pretty low-key Easter. We woke up to check out what the good bunny brought, went to church in our Easter finest, and then hunted Easter eggs in the back yard. (After a snowy Easter eve, we weren't sure whether the egg-hunting would happen, but we managed to squeeze it in between flurries!)



I promise she wore shoes to church...we're in East Texas, but we aren't THAT country. Besides, she probably wore her pink crocs or something. :)



In honor of the good bunny, she HAD to wear the ears. Of course, I think they're adorable (even if they ARE broken). She had a great time!