Hello world.

I'm writing to you from our new Dell Hyperion Laptop computer. Yes, our newest toy. It is rather nice. Necessary? I'm just not sure. Wait ... who am I kidding ... I'm sure.

So, it's been a crazy week around here with this fever virus. All four of my kids and Kambria have had it. Fevers around 102 for 2 to 2 1/2 days. Not fun. Koel's eyes have been swollen too. Kadi has had a sore "froat" she says. I think she just wants the cough drops. But ... how can I tell ... I looked in her 'froat' and all I saw was pinkness ... normal pinkness. I'm still not good at this 'mom' thing sometimes. How do I know when there's a sore throat ?? My parents could always tell by looking in my throat. I don't know. Ah .....

Keenan missed two days of school this week too. AND when he went back to school ... he got in trouble! yes, my sweet little Keenan got in trouble at school! Shocking! Mrs. Cloud said he was making chirping noises in the hallway as they walked. And he was not listening to her ... straight up not even acknowledging her when she spoke to him. She chalked it up to maybe he was on medication ... but he wasn't. That boy. What to do. What to do.

So .... I think a fun thing to document would be the fun things that Koel says .... Kennedy is reading this as I type ... so I'll ask her to help me. Here's a list of fun things Koel says:

1) "Dahd-dy gid up!" (this week I heard him trying to wake up his daddy ... when that didn't work, he then started shouting for me ... Day-da gid up! Day-da gid up!) Funny stuff!

2) "Beana" ... that would be Banana.

3) "Happen?" ... this would mean What Happened?. Too cute.

4) "Sissy" is Kennedy. "Kay-ey" is Kadi. "Bubba" of course is Keenan.
Khiana is "Nana". Aunt Kimbra is simply "K". He loves "K". Kambria
"Bia" ... we've all adopted that name for her ... Bia Bia.

5) "Pee-pa" .... that's how he first said Grandpa. He's better at Papa now.

These are just a few fun things that HAVE to be written down! I know there are so many more ... but you know when you sit down to write it all ... they all fly out the window in my mind!

Koel is fun. We'll keep him.

Natalie gets home from Italy tonight. I'm excited to hear all about it!

Okay .... an American Idol note .... I still love Bo and Nadia. They're my picks! Anwar too. Constantine ... I agree with Simon ... he would win "Smouldering Idol". I'm enjoying it very much. I have never really watched it this much before ... they've got a good group me thinks. I like Nikko ... but he won't go far in this ... just a gut feeling. I have to semi-root for him because of the St. Louis connection and all. But that Bo. My my my. Nough Said.

Kadi and Kennedy are very cute. I was overwhelmed today by how adorable all four of my kids are! They were all sitting on the couch together this morning ... four little babies all in a row! Ah ..... It was a totally pinchable moment! I nearly teared up. But I didn't cry ... I did hug them all though! He,he.

Kimbra came home from work early today. She said she felt like she was going to pass out at work and she has a headache. I bet it's this fever virus. Man, it is soooo not fun!

I discovered this week that I'm allergic to Kyle. ... Just kidding ... I'm really allergic to the pollen that was in the tree he cut down on Tuesday. He didn't take a shower when he got home because he was tired, so we went to bed ... sawdust, pollen and all. I was soooo sick when I woke up on Wednesday morning. I told Kyle I was allergic to him! Funny. My allergies seem to be getting worse here in St. Louis ... maybe El Paso would be sooo much better. Hmmm.

I like the idea of a dry climate. I could even learn to love the desert I think. It has mountains down there .... not huge-mungous, but mountains. That's what I love! And it is warm! I love warm. And dry. I like dry. Hmmm.

Okay, so I'm babbling. Babbling is good for the soul. What else can I write about? I think maybe it is naptime. That sounds good to me ... Kennedy however just expressed extreme disdain at the idea! He.He.

Dinner will be pork steaks on the grill. Now that is something to look forward to! Yum! Gotta eat em before Nat gets home! No meat you know for that one! I have her some Boca Crumbles and Burgers in the freezer. Mmmm .... sarcastically.

Okay .... I'm going to go now. TTFN.

Do you know what stinks? I just wrote an entire blog entry and it didn't save! I'm so sad! And frustrated .... I'm not going to redo it right now though ... later ..................

It was Buder Family Reading Night this evening. From 6:00 to 7:30. Keenan, Kennedy, Kadi and I all attended. It was a very fun time! First off, we went into the Reading Cave ... in there ... the light was off and they were able to read using flashlights. It was sweet. They really enjoyed that. From there, we headed to the cafeteria for a snack. Then at 6:30, we headed to the gym with the stage to listen to a Storyteller. She was very good. I think she told 3 stories and read them one. WHILE we were there though .... Miss Jennifer announced from the office over the intercom ... that there was a black dodge in the back parking lot with the license plate ... 0__EEX that had the door left open! No mistake ... that was my car ... so I ran out the bottom door and told the kids to stay put ... switch the order of those two items .... Sure enough, there was the Durango wide open for the world to get inside ... I checked to make sure it would start because the light wasn't on ... it did. Then I tried to get back inside the building the way I came out ... it was locked, so I ran around to Kennedy's class's side ... that was locked, so then I ran up the hill to the front doors ... there I was able to get inside! Then I went down the upstairs hall to make it down the stairs by the gym to reuinite with my children .... The door at the bottom of the stairs was locked! So I ran back up the stairs ... now that door was locked! I was stuck in the stairwell ... hilarious! Sort of ... I had to pee! So I knocked hard and someone opened the door ... I bolted down the hallway to the stairs that lead to the kitchen! My kids were alone and I couldn't get to them! Panic. Once in the cafeteria ... I quickly made my way down that hall to the gym and there found my children completely wrapped up in the storyteller's story. Whew. From there we headed to room 112 ... were Mrs. Cloud and Mrs. Resimius, both of our teachers, were hosting a make your own reading bag activity. We had tons of fun in there! Keenan and Kennedy were able to do this activity because theya re Buder students. AND then, we went to the Book Walk. All 3 of my kiddies in attendance with me won a book! What fun! And then we came home, and here we are.

Now it is time for me to go say goodnight to them .... It is 9:00 p.m. Totally bedtime.

Randomness right now to pass the time ....

Kadi and Justin are playing very well ... however ... Kadi is just so ugly to him. Where does she see that behavior modeled? I really wish I knew where it came from. I would like to address it. I hope it's not me ... maybe I need some self-introspection in that area.

I made Neiman Marcus Cookies for Natalie this morning ... so she can give them as a gift to one of the Shaun's that she knows. If I can say so ... they're very good. Thick this time. I used too much oatmeal, but they're good!

I'm exhausted. Not getting to bed until 1:00 a.m. and then not sleeping until 2:00 a.m. ..... my oh my ..... I just was sooo into my search for kissy pictures last night that I couldn't stop ... and then when I did ... I couldn't stop thinking about them! Silliness.

I wonder if Orbitz gum really does give you that whiter smile.

I feel like a pepperoni pizza ... maybe that new trio one ... Mmmm tasty.

Koel pooped OUT of his diaper while ago.... gross.

Girl Scout Cookie Edy's Ice Cream ... Tagalongs. Try it!

Poop and Food ... they go together do they not?

I want everyone to find the ability to be a truth teller. A loving truth teller. I think this world would be a much better place if we could all do just that. Stop talking ABOUT people and talk TO the people. Funny how God's ideas are the last ones that we go "Ohhhh" about. It's like it suddenly becomes clear. I like that about God's Word. But then I feel so silly to realize how I've been trying to do things my own way ... God's way is so much better! Loving Him. Then Loving Each Other. In truly loving, there is TRUTH. Whatever is true ..... Love is Patient .....

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things. "
Philippians 4:9 "Do those things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me. And the God of peace shall be with you."

"1Co 13:4 Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head,
1Co 13:5 Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
1Co 13:6 Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
1Co 13:7 Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.
1Co 13:8 Love never dies."

I've been creating a 'bedroom' here in the den this evening. I really like the way it looks. It is very cozy ... even with the dartboard and XL Television. Oh, and XXL Fireplace. And not to forget the XL Couch. .... AND I was able to hang up My CURTAIN! Yes, my fabulous black and white Twall Curtain that for several months has not had a home! It is sooo pretty! I'm very happy. AND I have hung around the room pictures and pictures of kisses! Yes, kisses! Mostly in black and white .... it is so romantic. I just love that area! It is so me. A picture of Kyle and I is right in the middle of them all! Very fun! And I found an old movie photo of my great aunt Gale Storm in a kissy position. It's on the wall too! That is something really cool to me.

I love Celine Dion.
I love Anwar Robinson.
I love Bo Bice.
I love Nadia Turner.
How do I go from Celine to American Idol? Not sure ... but the jump in my thought process was there.

I'm listening to Celine ... that could be it .... And really ... come on ... who doesn't love Anwar? Stupid people maybe.

I miss Kyle.
Not so much the arguing, but his presence. I miss hugs and kisses, even though they may be brief. I miss them. He is really excited that I've consented to having our room in the basement. He's funny. As long as there is an adult upstairs, then I'm fine. And with Aunt Nattie up there, I'm good. She leaves for Italy in a couple of days ... I may sneak up and sleep on the couch ... we'll see.

I let Keenan walk home from school today with Tyler. I was dying inside. Kennedy was sad that she didn't get to. I just hated to see Tyler walk by himself ... so I boldy went where I wasn't prepared to go and let Keenan do it. He was THRILLED! I have to be honest that I didn't go my normal way home ... I doubled around a way where I could see them. AND then I went around the block to find them again. They made it fine of course, but I just don't know how soon I'll be letting my little man do that again. I know I know ... he is fine. Mommy heart is what's talking here. God will be with my little man. He knows that and so do I.

I'm going to look up more kissy pictures. You really have to be careful doing that in a search engine. Sheesh. People are wierd.

Today was a fabulous day. Natalie, Jenny and I spent a relaxing and hilarious day with Robert, a friend of Natalie's. Of course, now he's a friend of us all. I think he found the dynamic of our friendship circle very intriguing. I do too. Jenny and Natalie are incredible friends to me. I love them dearly. Robert made rice pudding for us and he danced us each around the kitchen. Very fun. We laughed and laughed about all sorts of things.

It was a peaceful day too .... Kadi spent her afternoon with Isaac at his house. Kennedy went to South County with Aunt K. Keenan played outside. Koel slept. Inside the house ... adults. Wow. Sometimes these afternoons are just the vacation I need. Today was that for me ... a vacation. Now, I'm going to play Bespelled. Natalie is resting before writing a big paper that is due tomorrow. Keenan is upstairs watching Sanford & Son. Kadi is not happy about it because she wants to watch ELF or Popeye. I think she just doesn't want to enjoy what Keenan is already watching. Koel is watching the Simpsons with Natalie. And Ned is not home yet. Kimbra seems to think they'll be out late. S'Okay.

Here's a break-through in the land of Dacia's bizarre land of conflict fears and fear of anything. God is really working on me. He is challenging me to exercise my faith and let loose so many of my fears. It is fun to realize my heart feels freer. There's too much to explain it all right now ... my head is full ... as is my heart. All things are possible!

Kyle is in Mexico by now. It is a week build. I pray that all goes well. His heart was not in this trip. Enough said. I pray God works. I pray God moves. I pray God to heal. Thank you Lord!

We are a very full house right now. Kyle and I are both thrilled! We really believe God is gifting us with opening our home. I see so many ways He is readying us for a life in Mexico. Future. I don't know when or how ... but a peace concerning it is there.

Kimbra and the girls are still here. AND NOW Natalie is too! I just love Natalie! I'm so happy that God has her back in my life! I really missed her that year or so that she wasn't in my life. I'm just so happy to have her here in my home. Kyle and I have moved our room to the basement. He is terribly excited about that too. He's always wanted his room to be down here. Silly man. But, he has received his wish. .... {Koel has gotten himself stuck behind the couch in the corner ... I must go and help him! ... Okay all is well now ..... Child rescued.}

On to Bespelled now ..... I LOVE that game!