My garden is planted!

This is very exciting! I had decided maybe I wasn't going to do it ... but Jamie Lankford came over and tilled it for me ... so Lauren and I piled all 6 of the kids in the car and went plant shopping at Home Depot and Harkte Nursery (which by the way is in excellent place to spend time). Here is what we bought ...

Parsley
Chives
Cilantro
Purple Basil
Lemon Basil
Sage
Rosemary (2 kinds)
Strawberries
Tomatos
Red Onions
Jalopenos
Green Peppers
Cucumbers

Keenan picked purple petunias and a Citronella plants
Kennedy picked Pink Impatiens
Kadi picked a pink begonia.

I'm still lacking Okra .. which I will remedy shortly! AND we are going to have a tough time keeping Koel out of the garden, so today I'm going to go searching for a small 2 foot fence of some kind that we can place all the way around. That way, the garden will be safe from Koel and Nika can still come over to play.

It is very pretty and Kennedy and I worked very hard yesterday evening. I told the kids, because they have their own section, they have to work hard to keep it weeded ... we'll see how they do .... They are excited to have their own section in the middle. That is where the annuals are planted.

In the annual section for the kids, today we also will be planting Zinnias and Marigolds. I'm going to be basically farming my marigolds ... when they get big enough I will replant them around the tomatos and peppers.

I also transplanted my Lamb's ears from the front flower bed to beside the garage in the backyard. They will eventually really take over there ... and that is fine! I pulled them all out of the front yard!

AND my front flower bed is going to be soooo gorgeous! Shasta Daisy's, Easter Lilies, Gaillardia Fanfare, Mums, A Redtwig Dogwood, Japanese Blood Grass, Strawberries and Cream grass, Lavendar, Aquilegia Columbine .... just beautiful! I can't wait.

AND around my tree out front I now have variegated Hostas, and right beside the front porch step!

AND under the Azalea bushes now there are 2 Evening Primrose's and 2 Lavendar.

Not to mention, as Keenan would say, the bamboo growing heartily along the back fence!

I am sooooo excited! I'm becoming quite the little plant lover! And I have such a vast variety. Who would have thought I would enjoy this soooo much?

I will add a picture here soon .... I'll go out and take a picture of the garden in a bit .....

Here's Koel and Daddy on the Kubota Tractor .. fun stuff! 

Keenan and his Buddies at his Birthday Party 

I figured out how to add pictures!!!! What fun!!!!

Lauren took Kadi to play at her house today so I could work uninterupted ... HOWEVER ... she promptly brought her back about 45 minutes later. Apparently Kadi and Kelsey could not get along ... so Lauren left Kelsey at home, brought Kadi home to me and then she took Justin somewhere special .... I thought that appropriate. Both girls were sad. And that was the point. Good job Lauren!

Kadi soon fell asleep in my lap while I was talking to Chrissy today. I had been sitting indian style on the couch ... She crawled under and through my right leg and laid her head on my left leg. So ... I had my right leg over her. Yep, she fell asleep ... and there I was ... stuck. So, I waited until she was really passed out and then inched her off of my lap. I am a contortionist. Actually, it is those Pilates that Lauren makes me do. I'm sure it must have been a FUNNY sight! I wanted to laugh outloud at myself ... but I didn't ... I didn't want to wake her up!!!!

We watched Kee-Wee the Frog eat his mealworms today. That was fun. He's quick. One was hanging out of his mouth ... I guess he had to digest most of it before he could get the rest down ... oooooo ....I hope I don't lose my dinner .....

New subject!!!

Kennedy decorated a flower pot at school with ink and fingerprints. She brought it home today with a begonia in it. How sweet. She was so pleased. Me too.

Keenan and I played with Koelly after school. It was great. We played tickling and with the Sit-N-Spin. The three of us laughed and laughed. Kennedy and Kadi joined in the fun too eventually. I still can't get Koel to talk, but he sure is sharp as a tack! He is funny to watch while he's trying to keep up with his siblings.

Kyle was what I consider 'late' coming home again this evening ... past 6:00. So, the kids and I, after we had of course had our dinner as we do most evenings before Daddy arrives home, loaded up in the car and headed to Big Lots .... I knew Kyle would be home soon ... so I thought we'd show him what's its like to not know where your family is ... or as in my case ... my husband. He called sure enough. I laughed outloud when he said "Where's my family???" I said "Big Lots". He said "I would like to have gone to Big Lots". I told him to jump in his truck and come, but that I wasn't leaving the store to come and pick him up and take him back there. He didn't want to drive he said. Bah! He tried to convince me to come get him. I told him No. I told him that I had four children with me ... and Kadi was making it seem like I had five. So ... no way ... not at all. He,he. We did go get him after we were done and take him with us to get icecream cones. That was nice. I can't deprive my children of his company the whole evening.

OH ... another funny about the trip to Big Lots ... I let the kids each pick out one thing under $3.00. Keenan got a fuzzy black notebook. Kennedy picked a pink carrying case she can use for papers and such. Kadi picked a Barbie dry erase board ... purple of course. For Koelly we picked out a plastic lawn chair ... just his size. He is thrilled. I found a summer top for $2.00 ... %75 off!! Woo-hoo! And I got my next photo album for When Kyle Met Dacia volumne 13. Sheesh! So ....... we get home after McDonalds (Icecream) and the kids are showing Daddy what they got ... He, naturally, says "Did you get me anything?" I said ... "Sure did ... I got you a tacky shoe brush to keep on the front porch". (It looks like a porcupine). He actually liked the idea! And liked the tacky creature! It now resides on the porch. I do think it is a good idea to have ... Kyle's shoes are always dirty or muddy .... so it's a great way for him to clean them before he comes in. BUT ... I didn't want HIM to like it soo much! {Jenny ... really ... I would go hoosier before Kyle???? Come on!!} Fabulous evening ... all in all.

And now ... tis nearing 11:00 p.m. and I must sleep ..... not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse ... except me and my typing fingers .... so, off will go the TV in the living room, where Kyle is asleep. Off will go the kitchen light and the hall light. Then ... off will go my light as I snuggle deep in my bed .... mmmmmmm.

Wow .. the blog has a new look today. Kindof threw me ...

It's 9:15 and the children are in bed, not asleep, but in bed.

It has definitely been a while since I've written anything. Things have been crazy around here ...

Keenan's birthday party was a hit. He had a great time and I think everyone else did too. We BBQ'd (Actually Brent Valentine did all the work on the grill) and we ate and ate. I made Brandi's awesome dip ... huge hit!! And we had a shop-n-save cake .. because my oven wouldn't turn on at all! But it was very good ... the cake.

I sat up late ... until 1:00 with the boys who were spending the night ... so they would all fall asleep. Mason was the last to give up. Keenan fell asleep just after 11:00. He always passes out! Keenan had ... Zaine Yardley, Tyler Hebison, Tristian Dunne, Mason Lankford, Josh Varvil and Tyler Watson spending the night. What a great group of guys! I like them all very much. And they all did really well ... keeping in mind it was Mason and Tyler W.'s first sleepovers! Yeah!

Keenan was so happy with the gifts he received too ... his gameboy and three games (Pacman, Arcade Games, and Spongebob ... Attack at Bikini Bottom); Legos; Bionicles; and lots of art supplies! Also a battery operated water gun. Very fun. AND HE GOT A FIRE-BELLY FROG!!!! He's very cute ... we've been feeding him tiny crickets and worms. You go buy them at Petco ... by the way ... that place SMELLS! It's fun to watch him gobble them up!

Saturday, we lazied around. The boys were all gone by 2:00, and my kids and I just rested. I had them lay in the living room and watch TV. I took a nap. We needed that time to unwind.

Sunday was Mother's Day ... I now have a Redtwig Dogwood Shrub in my flower bed in front! Very exciting! We also went to the Valley of Flowers Parade. It is a hoot ... especially if you can go with the Varvil clan! Talk about 'People Watchers' ... AND they really get into it ... Andrew, he's 16, threw a banana at a float with a monkey on it! I about died!

My children loved the parade! For Koel we took the Baby Jail (Playpen) ... that worked for him. Kadi and Kennedy had a great time picking up candy and beads that were thrown from all the floats. They also got to watch a Maypole dance. Very fun for my girls. Keenan preferred to climb the tree behind us and watch from there. He's so funny.

I got a dryer yesterday! Now, we just need to find the time to hook it up! Yippee!

Oven still doesn't work though ... I'll keep updating that ...

Oh, and Kyle couldn't find his keys again this morning .. I've gotten lax about the what's Kyle lost today trip I had gotten on.

I ordered a Toddler CD-Rom for Koel ... it came today. HE LOVES IT! I've never seen him so happy. He grooves to the music and pounds on the keys. It's just great. It is Fisher Price ... very cute.

That little man, however, has been quite the crank-pot today. He's been 'off' shall we say ... all day. I had several calls with customers today where I had to go outside just to hear above the screaming. One lady laughed and told me she had four kids too ... she understood. That was nice.

Kadi, Justin, Koel and I went across the street today to help Tonya and Charly plant petunias .... 3 Flats! It was a nice time. I haven't really spent time with either one of them in so long ... I was happy to help.

OH >>> big news today ... Okay, so Glen (cranky guy next door) has these gorgeous orange flowers in his backyard near our fence ... I've been enjoying them for over a week now ... so this morning, on my way over to Charly's ... I said "Hey Glen ...what are those gorgeous orange flowers you have back there?" ... He hesitated, then answered "They're Poppies" ... we proceeded to chat about his Poppies for a couple of minutes. Then I thanked him and went on about my business. Yeah! Thank you Lord for the beautiful poppies to be a conversation started! I felt so happy!

This afternoon ... Kadi and Koel and I went to Hartke Nursery to find some Vinca Periwinkle for a customer .... HOW MUCH FUN!!!! It was sprinkling the whole time we were there, but that it all the more fun! AND ... Kadi was soooo good! She loves flowers. She was just in hog heaven walking around there. I let her pull the wagon and I pushed the stroller. We found the periwinkle ... and then ... I found what I've been wanting ... Japanese Blood Grass ... I bought 2! It is a lovely ornamental grass that is green with RED tips! Just lovely. AND I found another grass, I bought one of it, that is called Strawberries and Cream. It looks like a Maiden Grass, but is variegated. And at some point in the summer, the while areas will take on a pink hue! Fabulous! I'm very excited. It will get up to be about 36" tall! The Japanese Blood Grass will be about 18". I love my yard! And I love taking Kadi to the Nursery!

Kennedy has decided she wants to work in a Nursery/Greenhouse when she grows up ... THAT would be awesome! Both of my girls could ... then I could have an even more beautiful selection of plants in my yard!

Okay, so Kadi was good there ... but I have to say ... she had a couple of moments today where she pushed the line. She went out the front door after I told her not to before we went to pick up Keenan and Kennedy. Therefore, Koel got out. So I told her I was angry and swatted her and put them in the car. While we were at the school ... she said "Mommy are you still mad at me?" I said "No, I'm not mad at you anymore ... I"m disappointed in you". She said "Oh ...." I said "Kadi, do you know what disappointed means?" She indicated she did not. So I told her it is when someone does something that makes you really really sad. "You're disappointed" she then asked ... rather meekly. I said "Yes, I am honey". It was a sweet conversation. Really.

AND .. one more note ... I let Koel outside for a brief bit today while I was working in the front yard. I was bent over planting my Strawberries and Cream Grass, when I looked up and realized I didn't see Koel .... I found him .... two doors down in the front yard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I RAN after him, he saw me, and took off running in the opposite direction ... all the while laughing his head off! What a booger!!!! I caught him of course. Man he scares me. So he was swatted, told no, and put back inside. I have to watch him constantly! I continued planting while he stood at the front door and cried. "I'm a mean mommy" as Kadi would say.

Here's a funny note ... Kyle is sleeping ... he has been since about 9:00 ... however, he has sound-proof ear things on ... so he wouldn't hear the kids! So there he lays with these big things on his head. Goofy.

Is anyone else sick about the beheading in Iraq? I can't bear this anymore. Why don't we just leave there? Can we? Should we? It's getting ridiculous it seems. Just anger and hatred everywhere.

I'm going to go curl up with my LTD Commodities catalog ... and have a bit of ice cream. The whole house is quiet ... so nice. Except for Kyle's cell phone keeps beeping ... he likes to let it run down before charging it .... course he can't hear it ... got those goofy ear things on .....

G'night ....

Justin: I'm going inside. (heading for the door)

Kadi: Well, I'm making you a present. (playing with grass,etc...)

Justin: Why? (stopping and looking back)

Kadi: Because I love you. (nonchalantly)

Justin: What kindof present is it. (heading right back to Kadi).

I had to grin. Kadi knows how to get Justin to do what she wants. That's my girl.

I was just about to mow the lawn, but I stopped. It's too hot. That's an evening job today ... except I won't be here this evening ... argh ... and I don't think there's enough gas in the mower too! Big party needs lawn mowed!!! Maybe everyone can ignore the grass .... think so?

Back to the kids .....

It is almost too hot to sleep. It is 81 in here. And the air isn't moving. I'm not complaining, I'm just wondering if for the next two days ... with highs near 90, that maybe I should turn on the air conditioner.

Today was pickup Paige and Zaine day. So, Justin, Kadi and I all loaded up and headed for Timbuktu ... aka Florissant. Justin and Kadi on the way there had an interesting conversation ...

"Kadi, are you my girlfriend?"

"No, I'm Ikey's girlfriend."

"When can you be my girlfriend?"

"I will always be Ikey's girlfriend."

"Maybe Kathryn can be my girlfriend".

"She would say No."

"No she wouldn't."

"Uh-huh."

And here's where I say "Well, Justin ... you might want to ask her Daddy first." he,he.

Those two create sooooo much drama! They make me laugh so much ... some days.

So, we picked up Paige and Zaine, got a bite to eat from Jack-in-the-Box ... where I bought food for five children and myself for $8.72. Yep. And we all had plenty to eat ... Two Jumbo Jacks with Cheese; Three Cheeseburgers, and One Hamburger with only Ketchup ... Also a large fry and 4 waters to share. Wonderful!

Then, we drove by to see a job Kyle was finishing up ... that I designed! He,he ... that was fun! I think it really looks nice. It is so exciting to get to create something so beautiful for someone! And have them really appreciate it!

We finally got back to my house around 1:30. We played for a bit, then walked to the school early to pick up Keenan, Kennedy and Tyler at 2:00. They're doing the Iowa tests this week ... so in the afternoon, they're not doing much. So, we all came home and played in the sprinkler! What a fun time that was had by all ... except for Keenan ... who was busy doing other things so that by the time he went in and got his swimming suit on ... an hour later ... I had turned off the water. He was bumming. But he got over it ... and then I turned the water back on and got him good!!!!! It was fun!

The later part of the afternoon was spent in the front yard with Karen. We talked and moved around the yard as she tried to stay in the sun for a tan and I tried to stay in the shade ... my medicine again ... can't be in the sun. We had a good time. Charly came over to chat too. That's always nice. The kids played.

Then, Marty and Kyle got home with the Kubota Tractor. They fiddled in Marty and Karen's driveway smoothing out their rocks. Kyle also took each of the kids on a tractor ride. I got a picture of Koel's trip on the tractor. Cute. Freaky, but cute. Kyle also brought home a few extra plants. So, Karen and I split them up ... some for my yard. Some for hers.

We also split up her Hostas and planted some around my tree in the front yard and some right by my porch. THEN ... I pulled out all the lamb's ears ... Yeah! My flower bed looks so much better without them. And I've arranged the new plants in their place. I'm so excited.

What a day. Busy. And most of it ... outside! How fabulous!

BTW ....
Do you ever have the feeling that you may have hurt someone's feelings and you're not sure how to approach the subject?

That was a completely random question .. had nothing to do with anything I had previously written.

Another note about today ...

I can't believe it has been a year since Bev went to be with Jesus. A year. Is it possible? I had a nice talk with Jeff today. And Chrissy found out she's having a boy today. I love those Chamberlains. Jeff and I talked today about how we need to strive to be like Bev. To be encouraged to follow her example. Follow me as I follow Christ. What a legacy she left .... a legacy of loving God. I asked Jeff if that was an encouragement to him ... to see the legacy ... he said Definitely! God, bless them all.

Happy Birthday to David B. today! (My brother) I got to chat with him this morning. He has so much going on right now ... He was ordained yesterday. Today is his birthday. Saturday is his graduation from Seminary at Dallas Theological Seminary. AND, he is seeking God's direction for a ministry opportunity. He really has grown up hasn't he? Can't he just always be my little brother???? He's such a grown up man!

He needs a Marion Berry suit. Wendy and I really should make that clothing line. A ministry clothing line to sell in Christian stores ... you know ... a Marry and Bury suit ... Marion Berry!!!

Okay, so Keenan is getting picked on in school. Several kids in his class are bullying him. Today he said two of the girls spit on him. I am NOT okay with that! Tomorrow morning I am going in to talk to Mrs. Burkhardt. He's been kicked at, pinned against a tree, laughed at, made fun of ... I've had it. They pick on him cause he is skinny. Or because of his stories. Sometimes I really don't like other people's kids! I know who the kids are who are doing this and it doesn't surprise me. I keep trying to tell myself these people don't know Jesus. Have compassion. Lord, grant me the right words and actions in the morning! Keenan's spirit needs your protection Lord! May he always know how deeply loved he is by his Savior! May he know his talents and his gifts and use them fully! That is my prayer for my son. May he be used by You!

Kadi got to spend the afternoon playing with Isaac. They were both thrilled. I took her there on my way to help Kyle with a job I designed .. which by they way ... how fun is that!!! So, her Daddy picked her up later when he was completely finished. I had to leave earlier. I can't believe so much time has passed since Kadi and Ike played together.

We had Dairy Queen this evening ... in like 60 degree weather outside! He,he ... crazy, yes! But YUMMY!!!

Keenan's birthday is drawing nearer. He's so excited. He's having some of his friends over for a sleepover. That should be fun! I hope. It was suggested that we let them sleep in the tent ... that is definitely an idea! I'll see if I can motivate Kyle ... that is the key!

Okay, so I'm tired. It's late. Good night .........

Here is the most fabulous thing today ....

My husband thinks I'm attractive. Truly. He said last night that he is very comfortable in public with me because he thinks I'm so attractive. He said some men just can't say that about their wives.

Ahhhh .... It made me blush. Today I'm still happy about it.

I think he's kinda cute too. :)

For everyone who loves ice cream:

MELTED ICE CREAM CAKE

1 (18.25 ounce) package plain white cake mix
2 cups melted ice cream, your choice of flavor (see Cook's note)
3 large eggs
Cook's Note: You can melt the ice cream in the microwave on "Defrost." Check and stir it every few minutes until it becomes liquid. A pint of melted ice cream may not produce 2 cups, because some manufacturers pump air into the ice cream during the manufacturing process.

Preheat oven to 350 F and move the rack to the middle. Lightly mist a 12-cup Bundt or angel food cake pan with vegetable oil spray, and then dust it with flour. Shake out the excess flour and set the pan aside.

Place the cake mix, melted ice cream and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute to mix. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes longer, scraping the sides as necessary until the batter is thick and well blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a rubber spatula.

Bake the cake until it springs back when lightly pressed with your finger and just starts to pull away from the sides of the pan, approximately 38 to 42 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake and invert it onto a small plate or rack for cooling, about 30 minutes more.

Finish with a light dusting of powdered sugar or your favorite icing.

Note: You can use any variety of cake mix with any combination of ice creams you might have on hand. I've used cake mixes with pudding, no pudding, extra moist and ultra-moist -- all with good results. I've also mixed together several flavors and brands of ice cream just to use up those last bits that take refuge in the back of the freezer.

Can it really be the end of April?

Here are a few highlights of the recent past ....

*I arrived home from taking the kids to school this morning and the phone rang. It was Kennedy. She needed a picture today for art class and had forgotten...could I please bring her the one of her as a baby with the sticky-up hair?? So funny! I came across the one from Kris and Jamie's wedding where Kennedy is in Kris' lap and she is holding out a flower for Jamie to smell. Jamie's nephew is standing by looking on ... probably the best picture ever ... she wanted that one! So, Jamie ... you're in an art project today!

*Did I mention Kyle fell 10 ft out of a tree last week? He's okay. I'm okay. We're all okay.

*I planted Aquilegia Columbine, Gaillardia Fanfare, Lilium (2 kinds), Lavender, Evening Primrose Missouriensis ... in my front flower bed .... thus adding to my Mums, Ivy, and Lamb's Ears. I'm sooo excited ... now I just need a Weeping Cherry Tree .....

*I'm taking Tetracycline for my Rosacea now. Kennedy told me she didn't know what I'd look like without a red face. I'm so ready to look normal. It's at a point now where makeup really doesn't cover it up. So, the big medicines come out.

*I took Lauren to Sugar Creek Nursery to pick out a plant for her birthday. It was sooooo much fun. And it made her so happy. It is nice to give a gift that is soooo welcome.

*Keenan has been off the last few days. By off, I mean, quick-tempered. He has balked at things I want to do. Like this morning, I fixed eggs, biscuits, pancakes and bacon. He immediately started pouting as soon as he came i the kitchen. He left the room and I heard him tell Kyle he just wanted cereal. Why didn't he say so to me? I fixed the good breakfast for myself basically ... so the tetracycline wouldn't make me sicky feeling. Yesterday it did after I only ate Froot Loops. So, he had cereal and I had my good breakfast. Good grief. He's so drama, drama, drama. But still a good kid.

*Koel still won't talk. I told him this morning that he had to start talking to me or the doctor's were going to do tests on him ... he said "uh-uh". You know like the "no" kind of uh-uh.

*Justin Steele is the hungriest kid on the planet! He eats constantly. Must be a huge metabolism!!!!

Alright ... gotta referee Kadi and Justin ... they are having a difficult time playing together today. I don't understand that either. Kadi is really off today. And Justin is in rare tattling form today. Now Kadi is telling Justin to not leave the room "No, don't go".... Justin says "Why?" She says "Cause we are bestest friends". Could've fooled me!!!!!!!! Kadi can't leave the room, she's in time out in my room with me.

Koel has about figured out how to open the gate! Ay-yi-yi!!! What a smartie-pants! Why won't he talk????????

My kids are so cute ... they took some white yarn out in the backyard and they're creating a big spider web all over the yard. Funny.

Mrs. Keethler died this morning.

Kyle always called her Granny Bert.

I pray for Mr. Keethler. Married for over 70 years. God grant him peace. She is with You, and no more suffering ...
She is whole today! In Heaven!

I always knew the day would come when Mr. or Mrs. Keethler would pass away. But I'm still 'shocked' about it. Time just never seems long enugh.

What beautiful people. What an example of Christian living for all of us! 70+ years and still in love, because of Jesus!

May Kyle and I find each other in YOU that way too LORD!

I'm so pleased right now.

Kyle took Keenan with him to work. They'll only be gone for about 3 hours I'm sure. But, I'm so pleased. We've hardly seen Kyle lately. His plate is way too full! It's a really hard time right now. He's got a lot of stress ... pray for him.

I went to see Dr. Adams again yesterday ... He asked me how I had been feeling the past week. I told him that I've feelt on top of things, content, good ... He said "let me tell you something ... this past week, you were the REAL you!" I love his way of explaining the usage of this medication. He says we are simply supplying my system with something it is not producing on its own right now.

We also had a big discussion about birth control. When he saw that I use the patch he said he wanted to throw something out for me to think about ... I said Okay. He said that I just need to be aware that conception can take place while your on the pill or patch ... and that it causes your body to miscarry ... I sheepishly said I knew that. I told him it is a struggle for us. I said we neither one want to 'get fixed'. If something should happen to Kyle or to Me, and the other was to get remarried ... what if they wanted to have another child together .... We just can't 'get fixed' in good conscience. Then, Dr. Adams told me his own story. He lost his first wife after they had children. He remarried a lady who had children. Then they had one child together. Between them they have 7 BOYS! And he said he couldn't do without any one of them. Which would he choose not to have? He went on the say how the Bible refers to God opening and closing the womb over and over. For him it is a matter of Faith. Wow. I admire people who really make life a matter of FAITH! Yes, I believe God has allowed us medical science ... but this issue of birth control ... it's a whole different plain.

Alright .... this morning is clean the house day. The time is 9:00 ... Kennedy, Kadi AND Koelly are all still asleep! I need them to wake up so I can assign chores! We're gonna have the dry erase board out and make a chart of who is doing what ... the first one to finish will get a treat! Bribery? OF COURSE!!

Last night was fun. Lauren, Chrissy and I sat around and thought up baby names. Chrissy thinks she has a girls name picked out ... and it's meaning is Wisdom and Grace. Beautiful ... Sophia Grace. It is really growing on me! Very feminine. Very strong. Very all about God!

Today it has been a year since Bev's anyerism. Kyle and I laid in bed last night and talked about it. Is it possible that it has been a year? I know it has, but .... I can still see her, I can still hear her. "Open the Eyes of Heart" came on in my car this week. That is what Bev was singing when it happened ... "Open the eyes of My Heart LORD, Open the eyes of my Heart ... I want to see You ....." As I understand it, that's about the point she fell. My heart rejoices that she indeed is with our Lord ... She is seeing Him! The eyes of her heart were truly opened!

Pray for the Chamberlains today. Please. And again on May 5.

Lauren and I played Scrabble last night. She won. HOWEVER ... I played the word FACSIMILE! Hoo-Hoo!! I was very proud of myself. All of 13 points, I landed on NO special spaces and ... The "M" was a blank. :) But what a fun word!! (We were playing you can use 9 letters Scrabble ... that's why I didn't get 50 points for using 7 letters!)

Today has been interesting .... Koelly began it by emptying a Koolaid Jammer all over the floor and sitting in it ... splashing mind you ...

Now normally, I would be a mite frazzled by this ... even more so today since it was 8:38 ... time to leave for school!!!!

So I rushed Keenan and Kennedy off across the street to go to school w/ Tyler and his Dad. Kennedy began to really cry. I guess she is afraid of Scott. He's a really big guy ... Bouncer kindof big. So I told her she could sit by Tyler and he would protect her. He,he. She went for that. So I loaded her up in the great big 1 ton dually truck (which might have been scary for her too). Keenan was thrilled to go!

I called her at school to make sure she was okay. She was. I don't think she'll go for that again really soon though. Silly girl.

And later in the morning, Justin and Kadi called me into the living room ... Koel had pooped in his pullup ... wearing a pullup, cause we're out of diapers ... and he dug right in to check it out ... apparently. Then he gave it to Kadi ... she proceeded to put it in the toilet and flush. Here's where I came in and made them wash their hands. Bizarre. Nasty. Ooooooo.

I guess really it hasn't been that crazy of a day now that I think about it ... a couple of other things happened, but right now I'm blank.

Yesterday however ... Keenan ... he did something very bizarre for him. Jami has a big white trash can. It has been on the back porch. Well, the kids have used it for playing in the water with for a few days. No big deal. Apparently it had a crack. So Keenan yesterday, took a hockey stick to it and, along with Little Tyler's help, beat the poor thing to smithereens. What was that about?

I'm still doing my laundry air-dry. Today it's raining so I've got all the hanging stuff on the door jams in the hallway, and I took a baby gate I don't use, stretched it out real far and am using all the spaces in it for hanging socks and undies! Creative, huh? I have to be. I've got another load about ready to hang dry ... not sure where I'll put it! He,he. Fortunately for Kyle, I find this humorous. Plus my house smells like Gain/Snuggle. Mmmmm .....

The new episodes of Friends start tonight. It's about time!!!

Today was my first day to take Welbutrin. I felt good. I felt 'up'. I didn't cry today. That's good.

It is 85 degrees in my house right now, but I refuse to turn on the air conditioning.

It is time to paint my kitchen again ... and I need new wallborder ... but I just can't bear the thought of doing it without Soeyun and Jenny and a tube of Elmer's glue.

I made $1.50 at a garage sale today.

I enjoyed a pleasant conversation with Kent this evening.

Kelsey's birthday party was today. Because it was so nice, the kids got to play in the pool. It was fabulous!

We had pizza for lunch!!!!!! Need I say more about that??? Oh, and Pevely Home Run Sundae icecream.... chocolate with chocolate covered nuts and pretzels!

My brother called me today. That was nice. I love the sound of his voice. It makes me feel 'homey'.

10 reasons why I love my brother ....

1) He loves Jesus.
2) He is kind and gentle.
3) He is incredibly talented musically and genius working with people.
4) He loves to be silly and play. My children adore their Uncle David.
5) He used to tell on himself when I told him to.
6) He says to spell your last name on his answering machine at work ... cracks me up!
7) He is a Star Wars 'fanatic' shall we say. When he was 2 it began. And it just keeps going ....
8) He is an excellent rhymer ... we used to lay across the beds and hang our heads off upside down and rhyme words together. Sometimes not the best words ... but ...
9) He loves the show "Wings" ... we would stay up late and watch the reruns together. I love that memory.
10) He's not just my little brother anymore ... he's my brother who I can look up to. He can truly say, but he wouldn't, 'follow me as I follow Christ'. He is beautiful in his love of Jesus.

I am truly blessed to have such a brother. He is completely cool!

Koel was scheduled for a doctor's appointment this morning at 10:00. No sweat. I asked Lauren to keep Kadi for me. No problem. At 9:25, Kadi tells me that Angel is out ... Marty and Karen's little terrier dog. So I go outside ... Marty and Karen not being home. I chased her up MarMary a ways, then she ran the opposite direction down MarMary. I chased her to the corner, and she disappeared. I ran back, grabbed Kadi and Koel and jumped into the car. We went looking for Angel. She was up on St. Katherine, which is the street behind us. I tried to corner her there, with the help of two kind gentlemen who were working on a house. None of us could catch her and she ran back down St. Katherine. I tried to call Kyle. No answer. Hopped in the car again, and took off down St. Joachim after the stupid dog. She ran into a big dog on a chain and he had her basically frozen. I thought I had her. I got two feet from her and she ran. This time back up St. Joachim and down the opposite direction of St. Katherine. I hopped in the car again and took off after her. Finally I got a hold of Kyle. By this time I was near tears. Marty told him to tell me just to let her go. So, reluctantly, I did.
I drove to Lauren's to drop off Kadi, who was screaming that she didn't want to go there. I said Tough Noogies. I dropped her off and headed to Koel's doctor appointment. He had to get 5 shots today. Isn't that awful. BTW ... he turned 18 months old today!
I have to take him back in a month. He has fluid in both ears. AND his vocabulary is lacking. So, Dr. Finn wants to check his ears again and do a hearing test. Kyle and I are both concerned. Hopefully in the next month his vocabulary will pick up.
After leaving there, I went through the drive thru at Taco bell and tried the new crunchy cheesy gordita. I wouldn't recommend it.
Then Koel and I came home and I worked a bit in the office. We then took off for my doctor's appointment ALL the way out in St. Peters. Yep ... I drove all that way.
On the way there, I made a phone call to Lauren to check up on Kadi. I said "How is she", expecting a "just fine" in return.
I didn't get a "Just fine". I got a "well ....."
"Uh-oh" says me.
"What did she do?" I ask.
Lauren said maybe Kadi should tell me. So I gathered from Kadi that there was paint involved. I told her to put Lauren back on the phone.
Apparently, Kadi decided to play in the paint. Lauren is painting their front door red ... very nice by the way ... Kadi asked if she could help. Lauren said No, and please don't touch the paint. Well, something happened outside and Lauren went to check it out. She came back in to find ...
Red paint on her fireplace.
Red paint on her living room carpet.
Red paint all over the bathroom door, the sink, etc ....
Red paint all over Kadi.
Needlesstosay, Kadi was in a world of trouble. I am fine with Lauren's discipline of her. She couldn't tell Lauren why she did it though.
I was furious. I called Kyle. He wasn't happy either. We both want these behavior 'things' to stop. Kadi says she can't stop. She has to be bad she says.
I went to pick her up. I made her sit by me and tell me why she did it. Apparently, she was holding a little plastic slinky. "Somehow" it slipped into the paint can. So, she went in after it. Then tried to hide her tracks .... by ...
Hiding the red painted slinky under the recliner chair ... which we only discovered AFTER I was there.
Touching the fireplace and the living room carpet .... not to mention the carpet under the recliner, which was dry by the time we found out about that!
Going to the bathroom to wash her hands, touching everything in sight.
Ruining one of Lauren's best towels.
I feel so numb about her right now. I love her sooo much, but I have no energy to discipline her anymore. Nothing works. She just makes me sad. My heart is so heavy.
OH, and Angel found her way home somehow. Sidenote. I'm half glad, half not. I won't chase her again ... let me tell you!
I start taking Welbutrin in the morning. Dr. Adams thinks that will help me. I hope so.
Felicia and I tagged all of our garage sale stuff tonight. It took 3 hours. Not bad. It was fun. I like her so much. She wants to be up by 6 and setting stuff out! Oh My!
Pray for Kadi if you read this. Pray for me. Pray for Kyle. For wisdom and obedience.
I am praying too that Lauren can continue to love my little girl. She makes it so hard sometimes, Kadi does. I know it. I am horrified by what she did today. I have apologized profusely. Lauren says she is fine. She told Kadi that she loves her and has forgiven her.
I just hate it that my child could do this.
It has been a day. A very busy day.
I'm very tired. I am going to sleep now.

I'm really random today.

I like the Roaming Gnome from Travelocity.

"Don't forget your hat". Hilarious. Especially in the English accent.

I found an hilarious website today. http://www.freethegnomes.com/index.html
I really hope it is just a joke. Who knows. People are crazy enough.

Did I every mention my dryer isn't working? I'm doing the hang out the laundry thing. It's kindof fun ... don't tell Kyle!!!!

I never make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Why?

I don't like to spread the jelly. It just sits there and then moves in a clump with my spoon or knife.

So, I just don't make them.

That is, until .... today!

I discovered I should spread my jelly with a fork!!! Lay down the peanut butter first, then slap on that jelly and spread it with a FORK!!!!

It is fabulous!

I thoroughly just enjoyed my peanut butter and jelly sandwich that I made at Kadi's request.

Just an FYI note, that is all, nothing more.

EXCEPT that .... you know I can't get away with having nothing more to say ....

Kadi, Justin, Koel and I went to Shop-N-Save today for some groceries. I had tons of coupons. I bought what I had coupons for. Filled 2 carts.

When I checked out, I had .... $ 25 ... in coupons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a fun feeling to know I just got $25 of my food/stuff FREE!!!! He,he!!

I'm having an "I'm very cool" kindof day thus far. Shouldn't toot my horn ... days not over! But right now ....... there's a big ol' smile on my face!!!!

Hey Jenn Reedy, having fun with your padres?

Classic Justin & Kadi this morning ....

Justin loves Kadi, therefore Justin like to hug Kadi.
Kadi has something 'up her bootwa' today.
Therefore Kadi doesn't want to be hugged.
Kadi screams. Justin hugs more. Kadi screams more ... like screeching now.

End result ... Kadi is in her room for her screaming.
Justin is confused. He loves his mommy and she likes hugs. Shouldn't Kadi too?

Ah ..... my girl.

AND .....

Kadi girl quote .....

Background info first ... my mom and my Aunt Lesta were here to spend the night with us on Monday night. They had been to Ohio to be with their brother Uncle Perry ... course his name is Perry ... but he's my uncle. My Aunt Bobbie passed away soon after they arrived, and they stayed on with him for over a week. On their way home, they stayed with us. (Please continue to pray for Uncle Perry and my cousins John, Sally and Judy and their families.)

So, we're sitting in the living room, and Kadi is between her Grandma and her Great-Aunt Lesta. She looks at her Grandma and says "Why is Aunt Lesta so old?"
Mom's reply was "We are Grandmas."
Kadi then quickly said "That's okay, Grandma's are old." He,he,he ....
I'm glad Aunt Lesta and Mom found the humor in it.

AND here's a frightful tale ....
Koel snuck out the front door on Monday evening. I found him in the street. When I started after him, he took off 'running' away down the street just giggling. When I caught him, he was spanked swift and true. My heart was pounding!! Now in retrospect ... the sheer glee on Koel's face was hilarious! The freedom! But then, not so much. Good thing for him he's adorable and funny! He is trying to say "PeekaBoo" now, but it comes out more like "Boo-Bah" ... uh-oh ... that's that show on PBS ... maybe that's what the title really is!!!! Peek-a-Boo!!

Kyle got to rent a 953 Tractor Loader this week for work. One of the Granddaddy of all Tractors kind of tractor! He's been like a little boy in the candy store with a bunch of money to spend ... that sort of happy! Did I mention he's also dyed his hair again ... maybe I should say 'bleached'. His face is shaven as well ... very nice. I like it.

Kennedy however, does not like her dad's new look. She straight up told him so. We figure she'll get over it.

Did I also mention that she had a lightbulb dawn the other day?
I picked her up from school and she says immediately ... MOM! Did you know that there is "Ned" in Kennedy???? I laughed, but not rudely! I'm still giggling at the thought of it! He,he.

And for a word about Keenan ... he's going to get to move downstairs ... maybe I've mentioned that ... He drew a plan for his room yesterday. He,he. He has it all mapped out where we should put everything in the room. Again, still giggling at the thought of it! He loves to draw and create. I need to check into an art class or something for him.

My family is just funny! Thank you Lord that I find the humor in this group of people you've created!

It is quiet in here.

How lovely.

I have to say that I watched the finale of Adam's Quest for Love last night. Very disappointing. Or is it just me? Sam over Rachel? I don't think so! He's a typical man ....

I'm going to be participating in my like 9th garage sale since I moved into this house in two weeks! it feels soooo good to throw "stuff" out! I'm even thinking of pricing stuff real low just to move it fast! That sounds like fun!

And it is a fabulous opportunity to get to know my neighbors Felicia and Nicole better.

I want to list something happy about each one of my kids ....

Keenan: He is totally creative. He wants to be a cartoonist now. Isn't that great? It changes alot, but I want to encourage his creative side ... God can use imagination in a large way! And my little man wants to be used by God! Yeah!!!

Kennedy: She is just so pleasant. She really can make your day brighter. She is very encouraging and sweet-tempered. She makes my heart smile. She is a great reminder for me to not raise my own voice. She really rarely raises her own ... for being a baby that screamed as much as she did ... this is God's handiwork!!!

Kadi: Boy is she funny! None of my children can make my emotions swing like she can! I love the faces she makes and she knows it too! We have a lot of fun making faces together. Her newest thing is when she gets a kiss, it has to be right on ... or you have to do it over and over and over until it is just right! Funny.

Koel: He is indescribable. He is into everything .... but at this point, it is just funny. He isn't doing it to be malicious and I know it. He is exploring ... quite a lot ... He has become quite a little dancer lately. He grooves as a matter of fact.

Paige, Zaine, Kadi and I ... well mostly me ... decided Koel is Jewish today ... when he was 'speaking' at breakfast he had that phlegm sound going on in his speech! Oh how we all giggled! he,he.

Quote of the day ...

"Great Barnacles!" ... Keenan when his sisters were retrieving a ball from the neighbor's yard.

Hilarious kid!

Kadi screamed for 1/2 mile today. Didn't know that was possible. Her cries ranged from "My legs hurt" to "I can't walk". Why. I ask you, why??????

When I say she screamed, she screamed.

I walked a good few paces in front of her the entire time. I'm not going to be accused of beating her. I don't. I want to sometimes, but what would it solve?

She makes me nuts sometimes. She has continued her behavior throughout the rest of the evening.

Parenting her is so hard. Keenan and Kennedy are so easy. What is Kadi's special need?

My dryer has gone ca-put. So, all day long I've been doing laundry like 'in the olden day's'. I even constructed myself a pretty good little clothes line! I discovered my garden arch is great for a drying rack! What a day. Paige and Zaine were here. That was nice. But poor Paige, she doesn't understand that I "work" for our company. I was so busy today with phone calls, invoices, and laundry. Finally 2:00 rolled around and she could watch the Ryan Seacrest Show ... that made her happy.

Zaine wrote "I love Dacia" in chalk on the porch today. Ahhh ..... I nearly cried. I gave him a big kiss on the cheek and told him that I love him too. He blushed. Too cute.

Man, fighting will totally take the breath out of you. We've had a very off day. I'm so tired. So tired. Going to bed now....

Okay, so they make Le Divorce ... the movie ... seem like it will be a funny movie. Nope.

And ... personally, I don't think Diane Keeton should have been nominated for an oscar for being totally nude in a movie! Just my own thoughts.

We watched Le Divorce and Something's Gotta Give last night. Lauren and I were up until 1:30! WOW!

I hate it when pretty girls curse. I don't like it when anyone curses ... but when a beautiful woman has a filthy mouth, my skin crawls. Where are the ladies? I almost said something to the person I'm thinking of imparticular tonight. Maybe I should ... I just want to tell her she's much to pretty to have such a dirty mouth. It makes her so ugly. Such a shame.

I want to be a lady. Sure I belch now and then, but on the whole, I think it is important to be a lady. Courtesy, kindness. fairness. The fruit of the Spirit.

We got to watch Kyle take down a big tree today. He's so manly. He's a lumberjack! Woo-wee!! Let me tell you ... now it doesn't frighten me so much to watch ... it just makes me swell with pride that that's MY man up there!!! He does such a good job. I was a bit concerned today as I watched ... but mostly just excited to watch him work.

Kennedy is reading this as I write it. We've had a nice discussion about why we should have pretty words come out of our mouths and not ugly ones. What comes out of the mouth is from the heart. Right Kennedy? "Yes", she says.

Time to get Koel and Kadi out of the tub ......

Again, the pantry door was left open today!

Again, Koel bee-lined for the pantry that was left open today!

Again, the bag of chips was taken by Koel from the pantry that was left open today!

Again, the bag of chips was poured out on the carpet by Koel ... the bag of chips that was taken from the pantry that was left open today!

Again, the mother of Koel, who poured the bag of chips from the pantry that was left open today, was very frustrated .....

Frustrated to the point of hilarity.

I almost got upset ... then decided I needed a good picture of that moment and ran for my camera! Good parenting? I hope so.

Moments like that are precious, despite the mess ....

People keep the doors shut when Koel comes over!!! Let me tell ya!!!

I can't be responsible for his actions! Well, too much ....

It is 60 degress and lovely today. So nice. So nice.

Girl's night is tonight. Lauren and I will go it alone. We are gonna rent Chic-Flics and have steak. I'm excited!

She made me do Pilates this morning. We did them alot back in the fall ... she has continued to do them ... me ... not so much. Lauren has gotten really good .... I'm just really good at the giggling part ....We did buns and thighs, then abs. Ay-yi-yi! My buttocks!!! Nika tried to help me with the Pilates this morning as did Koel.

Koel decided I needed help ... so he climbed all over me. Have you ever tried to do floor exercises whilst a toddler crawls on you? Hilarious! I told Lauren that they should have one of the 'models' of the Pilates being crawled on by a toddler.

AND ... Nika ... she decided I needed to cuddle. So she curled herself right up next to me. So funny. I just kindof kicked and stuff around them.

Funny stuff.

I'm gonna go enjoy the sun .....

On a much more serious note than earlier,

My aunt Bobbi passed away a little over an hour ago. She's had cancer for a while. Her pancreas shut down earlier this week, so it was just a matter of time. It is still sad, yet she isn't suffering now.

So ... here are the prayers of my heart at this moment:

My Uncle Perry ... Lord, give him peace, comfort and ease his loneliness.

My cousin Judy, who is 8 months pregnant in Portugal, and who could not be there. May the Lord fill her with peace and assurance that she will she her mother again in Heaven.

My cousins Sally and John who were there. May they hold fast to each other Lord and be a shoulder for their father as well.

My mother, who traveled yesterday to be there with her brother Perry, and their sister Lesta who traveled with mom. The experience of being there while someone slips from this life is new for my mom ... give her peace Lord.

Aunt Bobbi's sister and her husband ....

Mom's sisters ... Dorothy, Doris, Mary, Wilma ... I'm not sure if they are all there with Perry, Lesta and Mom. It's a big family. Lord, keep them close and help them to encourage each other.

I don't understand Cancer. It is just mean. Simply put ... it is just mean. But Lord, I trust that you can bring glory through this and any event. Thank you.

Kadi, Koel and I got into the car to pick up Keenan and Kennedy this afternoon.

Kadi asked if we could listen to the "Lotion Baby" song.

I was really confused.

At that moment, my CD player was playing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison. I thought ... this is my 80's CD ....

Then it hit me ... Lotion Baby ....

LoveShack ... She wanted to hear LoveShack ...

So I turned it on and ... Bingo! That's what she wanted! Hilarious!

I have been diligently working in the office.

Whilst I was diligently working in the office. Kadi was thirsty.

Kadi helped herself to a large glass of milk. She poured it and everything. Then, she hid it under my round cake taker lid from Tupperware. You know, that big one.

I took a moment to start some laundry, then tidy up the kitchen a bit. I picked up the cake taker to put it away ... and ...

SPLASH!

Milk all over the stove, dishwasher, floor and cabinets.

Why? I ask you ... WHY??????????

She was spanked. She had to clean it up with my help. She is now no longer watching TV today. I don't know what to let her do. I shouldn't be taking this moment away in here ... she has to be watched 24/7.

Why is she so sneaky? Is there a way to stop it?

Is her definance and unhappiness a direct result of my own frustration and unhappiness? Are we feeding each other? If so, what can I do?????

She was so good in OKlahoma last week. Was it because I was relaxed? What made it different?

Lauren said she was fighting with Justin the whole time she was at their house yesterday. Now she is fighting with him here at our house today. And Justin is tattling ... this is happening while I'm writing ... their right outside my bedroom door.

Last night Kadi fell asleep around 5:30. Slept all night. Now she is screaming and mad like she needs a nap. I need help!!

Justin is tattling again. Kadi is screaming.

Alright, I put her in her room.

My face is hot and red. The rosacea is a great marker of my state of being/mind. I guess it's good for if you ask me how my day is and I say 'fine' ... you can tell I'm lying.

Why is my little girl so unhappy? She hurts my heart.

She just hit her door. Justin is laying on the floor talking to her under the door ... taunting her. She is just crying and crying. Their fighting over Kelsey's feather boa.

Can I just throw it away?

Ah, ....

Do you ever think you're losing your mind?

I am.

Why is it harder for me to accomplish my job this year than it was last year? What is different? Why does the business overhwhelm me so much? Why do my children overwhelm me so much? Why does Kyle overwhelm me sooo much?

My face. I don't eat spicy food anymore. I don't spend time in hot rooms or in the sun. I know it is directly related to the stress in my life. My rosacea that is.

My aunts in OKC suggested to me that I have a Magnesium deficiency. So I looked it up thinking it would help the rosacea. It actually helps Depression. Stress. It is a leveler. Interesting. It is all a vicious circle ... stress and rosacea.

So, I'm taking Magnesium now, my multi-vitamin, and using Arbonne Skin products. We'll see ....

Lord, please help me reduce the stresses in my life! Help me love my children. Help me not to be so concerned about the state of my home ... cleanliness.

Ay-yi-yi ... Kadi is already whining today. Keenan and Ned are doing mad-libs and asking me to spell everything under the sun ... and I'm trying to finish up some things in the office ... plus getting Kadi's shoes on her ... which she doesn't want to to do ... surprise. AND we need to leave for school.

I need a happy check today.

I'm very random. Is there a way to publish a scream on a blog?

I'm on my own self-imposed lunch break ... I have so much work to do!!! But I must take a break ... course, it's almost over ... but that's okay!

Well .... we're home again.

Sunday night after we got home, I made a comment to the girls about Daddy having been home all that time by himself in the house, then I went on about my business. That comment had been part of a conversation. It was done. I moved on.

Kadi started bawling ... so Kyle went to her. He asked her 'what's wrong'? She said ... "I don't want Daddy to be alone." She cried and cried because Daddy had been alone. I guess it hadn't really registered to her, you know. Kyle tenderly told her "it's okay honey, I'm not alone now. You're here with me". It was so sweet, yet sad. I stood watching. She was so brokenhearted for her daddy. How wonderfully sweet. She told him the next time we leave, he has to come too. :) Big smile.

I just went to McDonalds ... I thought they were taking credit cards now ... nope, it's debit cards. So before I got to the counter and embarrased myself, I took a few steps back and counted my change.

Then, I purchased 2 regular hamburgers and a medium soda. $2.79. Not bad for only have $2.90 in change! Koel and I quite enjoyed our little lunch out. Also a part of my lunch break. We had to go buy stamps ... so why not get a soda I figure!

Because I had so much office work today, Lauren took Kadi for the day ... isn't that wonderful??? Kadi was thrilled to pieces, as was Justin. So, I am working my little buns off today. I still have about 2 hours of work to do at this desk. I must begin ....

Maybe later I'll have time to share more of the 4 K stories from our vacation.

It is the eve of my half-birthday. Yep ... March 23 ... I will be 31 1/2. Wierd. My mom and I were looking at my baby book ... there was a picture of she and I in there. I was Koel's age, and my mom was my age. Wow ... time flies.

The kids are in bed. Yeah. Mom and I are fiddling around working on Kyle's work shirts. We're trying to get the logo just right.

Speaking of Kyle. I wonder how he's doing all on his own. All by himself.

Probably having way too much fun.

Today was a fun ... lazy day. Just lazy. Ahhh .....

We are in Talequah ... the kids and I. It has been so much fun. The trip down we sang and sang ... and we stopped at the Bridge McDonalds ... course the ice cream machine was broken .. but that was okay ... we stopped in Pryor instead at BRAUMS ... which is my favorite ice cream place!! Mmmmm .....

Yesterday, Sunday, we went to the early Service at 8:30 a.m. Then we had a marvelous lunch courtesy of the Walmart deli ... have you tried their Rotisserie Chicken??? OH MY!!! Then, we went on a long scenic drive. We must have seen 15-20 deer. I tried to take pictures, but they are just sooo fast! What fun for us all!

We saw the Illinois river and we went to Lake Tenkiller. We took some really fun pictures. The kids skipped rocks, and played a long time. Koel tried to run a few times ... by run, I mean, take off .... he,he ....

It was such a nice time.

Then, we came home and played all evening in the den. All of us. Grandpa, Grandma, the kids and me. We threw balls. We told stories about 'calling in the ants'. We had a great time! We were all in bed and asleep by like 9:30. Exhausted. What a fun day!

I believe today's plan is to weed the garden ... we'll see ....

I am happy and content.

Kadi, Koel, and I dropped off Keenan and Kennedy this morning at school. As we drove away, Kadi was looking out the window of the car ....

"Mommy, I see God!" she says excitedly!

I looked, and there was the Sun sending rays through an opening in the clouds. It was beautiful. I told her in a way she did ... and wasn't it so nice of God to make such a beautiful thing for us to see.

We decided that God and Jesus were watching us.

Sweet morning thoughts.

We just got home from the most fabulous party with our church family! We had a St. Paddy's day dinner together, did a few toasts, told a few irish jokes, and shared a keg of rootbeer! Hilarious! Then, we shared a time of worship and praise that was truly so much fun! The children were given musical instruments and allowed to dance all around, there were balloons everywhere, and we all just sang, clapped, danced and had a ball worshipping God together! That was truly a PARTY!

So often as Christians we lose sight of the fact that we are to celebrate, to eat of the fat, and enjoy our Lord together! We did that tonight. What a way for 'family' to grow. God is pretty smart. Jesus set us a great example ... he could often be found at parties! JOY ... the joy of the LORD is our STRENGTH!

Where is our JOY??

"I will dance, I will sing ... to be mad for my King ... Nothing Lord is hindering this passion in my soul ... I'll become even more undignified than this ......" Dance like David danced!!

Today ... Koelly is 17 months old!!!!

I need stuff to sell on ebay!!! I've run out! It is such a bad spot for me!!! Help!!!!! I need the gas money. It's great gas money!!!!

Tomorrow being St. Paddy's Day ... my children (Keenan and Ned) are planning their 'green' clothes. They're cracking me up!

I've already picked out mine too ... truth be told!

Well, Ned, Keenan and I went to Wal-mart this evening ... we hit the shoe isle ... and WOW! We each got a pair of shoes off the clearance rack. Keenan's are new 'light' up tennis shoes. He is beyond excited! And Kennedy's are a pair of Mary Kate and Ashley navy/white slip on tennis shoes/mules. She is very excited too. AND mine ... two pair of Thomas McAnn ... slip on sandal/mules. One is black. The other is brown. I love them!!! So exciting! I'll have trendy feet! I never have trendy feet.

Kyle hasn't lost anything yet today. That's good. I'm glad.

My girls painted up a fiesta in the kitchen tonight. Mucho paint all over the place. But they had fun.. I need to do better at letting them create. Now they're doing the same ... painting, in the bathtub with bathtub paints.

I do believe Kadi will single handedly destroy our home. The water she spills out of the bathtub alone will rot the foundation of the upper floor. EVERY time she bathes! What to do. What to do.

Kyle is on his way to Dairy Queen!!! Yippee!! I told him I wanted icecream, and he said he'd go get it! I didn't even have to do a little pouty routine! ... not that I would do that mind you!

I'm looking forward to this week.. It is going to be busy.

Tuesday: Errands and clean out the car.
Wednesday: Laundry and Packing
Thursday: Pick up Paige and Zaine at 12:00 noon, then wait for Mom and Dad to arrive!
Friday: Paige and Zaine will be with us again. AND there's the big sale at Mary Grove. I'm very excited about that!
Then ... Saturday: We leave for OOOOOOOklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains ...and the waving wheat can sure smell sweet when the wind comes right behind the rain .... I know I belong to that land ... and that land I belong to is grand ..... so let me say ... YeoW! A-yip-I-O-E-A ... Yow! I'm only saying You're doing fine Oklahoma! Oklahoma ... okay! I'm a little excited.

AND my cousin Gretchen had her baby ... so we get to meet Avery Elise Davis this week! And I get to meet Gretchen's husband Greg ... finally!

I'm excited about the whole trip. I'm excited to get to relax with my mom and dad. Just to be in their house and be able to just 'be'. You know. Yeah!!!

So .... the busier the better this week!!!!

Course, I need to label a bunch of stuff and get everything in plain view for Kyle ... so he can find things! he,he.

Keenan note for today: He is just a great guy. I like him so much! How fun is it to just really like your own kid!! It's fabulous! I was hugging on him this afternoon, the way I usually do on Koel ... Koel didn't like it at all ... but then he conceeded and just joined in the hugging. I can't believe how big Keenan is ... wasn't he just a baby?

Kennedy ... Before dinner tonight, there had been much fussing and broo-ha-ha. So, I told them all we were going to have quiet for 5 minutes and I set the timer. No talking. Well, Kadi lasted only about 30 seconds. She was sent to her room. (she proceeded to throw a huge fit and ended up staying in there for quite a while). Keenan lasted about 2 minutes. Then he had to go to his room for the remaineder of the 5 minutes. Kennedy was as quiet as a mouse. And after the buzzer she was quite proud of herself. "I did good", she said. I admitted she had. Me thinks she was a bit too proud. Ah well.

Kadi ... well you heard about her fit already ... Jenny brought up an interesting thought today ... maybe I should play with her diet ... could it be she might be hypoglocemic? (sp??) I just couldn't please Kadi today. Everything I did made her mad. I was real sad. ... HOWEVER ... bright spot ... this afternoon, when she took her shoes off ... a miracle happened! She put them away in the shoe basket!!! OH did I ever sing her praises!!! She was very pleased.

Koel ....that boy is an eating machine!!! He had seconds and thirds at lunch and at dinner!!! Is he growing again! He's already a big guy!! WOW! He really had fun with the word "Uh-Oh" today. He was dropping a block and saying it. Very sweet. AND he talked on the phone to Jenny today ... he really had a big conversation. It was quite fun! For all three of us!

Nika ... (she's staying with us for 2 weeks ... Lauren and Jason's dog) had a big event today too! She got to go to DAiry Queen with Kyle. Oh, she was real excited to get out! She's such a great dog! I don't mind having her here at all! She is just awesome.

That's all. There is no more today ... my ice cream is here ...

Here's a great big ARGH ... for today!

Kyle couldn't find ... not one ... but FOUR things this morning!! What would he do without me? He'll be lost next week while we're in Oklahoma!

1st ... lost his shoes. I told him I don't know where they are. They're his shoes and their dirty. I said he should know I don't like to touch his dirty work stuff. They were found ... by me ... under the office desk, where he had taken them off.

2nd ... his cellphone ... he let Koel play with it! Why, Oh Why?? It was found ... by me ... beside the toilet on the floor. Oooo gross.

3rd ... a phone number he needed. He had left it on the desk. Keep in mind, no one but me shuts my bedroom door in an effort to keep Koel away from the desk. Koel got in here yesterday morning and knocked everything everywhere. .... The phone number was found ... by me ... in the stack of papers I picked up after Tornado Koel.

4th ... his cellphone again. After finding it, he let Koel have it again ... Koel proceeded to take off withit. It was found ... by me ... on the entertainment center by some books on a shelf.

He finally left for work ... now I can get something done! :)

So ... we did the planting thing today ... that was wonderful! I already mentioned that earlier today. I failed to mention however, that we went to the Dollar Store after Wal-mart. If the kids are good, I sometimes treat them to the Dollar Store. Keenan picked out an Ice Cream Sandwich ... personally what I would have chosen! Kadi picked Bubbles. Kennedy picked a lipstick/nail polish combo. I was pleased with their choices.

Upon arriving home, I made lunch. After lunch I offered the children ice cream. Keenan said "Mom, remember I already had some." Isn't he a great kid! I would've so gone for that second helping of ice cream! I was proud of him. I thanked him for reminding me.

Kadi's bubbles were fun for a time. Then, they cleaned the floor and the table ... with the help of my arm and a couple of wet rags. Ah .....

And Kennedy ... well she was lovley in her carnation pink lipstick and nail polish. For a while ......

Her sister ... Kadi ... she ate it ... the lipstick that is. About an hour and a half ago. Yep, she ate it. I was furious. I asked her why. She said she was hungry. I said it's not food!!! She was covered in lipstick ... her entire face. Well, nearly. So, I sent her packing to her room. Keenan and Kennedy get the priviledge of sleeping in the basement. They love to. However, Kadi missed out. I was so furious with her. I told Kyle that I quit.

I don't really. But sometimes I want to. I yelled and yelled at her. I forced her to drink water until she almost threw up. I spanked her. I don't remember what order that all happened in ... but it all happened.

I don't understand.

When she was falling asleep ... nearly out ... I sat beside her and rubbed her head. I bent low and kissed her ... then I prayed. Lord, protect my little girl's spirit. May she always love you. Replace this stubborn spirit with kindness and peace.

I'm tired now.

OH ... the bathroom toilet overflowed this evening also ... and I mean .... OVERFLOWED! The carpet in the hallway downstairs is alllllll wet. There was atleast a standing 1/2 inch of water in the bathroom when we discovered it. Kennedy heard it and came running ... Good girl! So, I learned how to use the wet-vac. Something new everyday. That's cool.

We just did all of our indoor planting ... the beginning of the 2004 garden!

I've decided this year that the top garden is going to become an herb garden. WHAT FUN!! And behind the garage down to the fence, I'll fill with tomatoes, peppers, okra, etc....

The herbs I've chosen are .... Lavendar, Oregano, Chives, Garlic Chives, Parsley, Sage, Thyme, Basil, and I want to add Rosemary. I also want to grow Strawberries there. We are going to make a spot for the green beans and peas in the top garden. I want it to be so pretty! I'm very excited! Maybe I should add Chamomile, just for pretty's sake.

The kids and I all loaded up and went to Wal-mart today. We picked out our seeds, cups and soil. Then at home we pushed holes into styrofoam cups with toothpicks, filled the cups with soil, planted the seeds according to package directions and then placed them in two large cookie sheets that have sides. Exciting stuff!

A few of them say we'll see seedlings in as early as 7 days! We are excited! Now ... I just hope Kyle won't forget to water them while the kiddies and I are gone to Oklahoma!

We've also been listening to Junie B. Jones audio books and Ramona, Age 8 ...audio book. Hilarious! Great fun for while we've been working!

I love the Junie B. Jones just calls her teacher ... Mrs. That's all. Just Mrs. She says "She has another name, but I just like Mrs." So cute.

I have to give big KUDOS to my brother. (His name is David). He taught me this fabulous way to tie shoes that has really saved me sooo much time and frustration with my children and their shoes! Even Kennedy uses it!

What you do is ..... When you make your two loops ... Instead of only taking the loop down and through one time ... do it twice ... and pull!

Wha-la ... a double knot that is easy to untie ... simply pull the ends of your shoestrings! No fuss!

It is fabulous!

I just had to give David a big THUMBS UP today. It really jumped out at me this morning how much time that has saved me!

So, DAvid if you read this ..... THANK YOU!!!!

I am so proud of Keenan right now.

Well, at first I was a bit torked at him ... when I dropped Keenan and Kennedy off at school, they wanted to be let off at the top of the building. That's fine, especially since they go in together. Well ... Keenan gets out of the car and races toward his friend Andy ... totally leaving his sister behind! I couldn't believe it! That's so not like Keenan! Kennedy struggled to get her stuff and get going. I watched her walk into the building as I slowly drove away .... and then I saw him ....

Keenan was standing right inside the front door waiting for her. Ahhh .... I'm so proud.

My kids love each other so much! Especially Keenan and Kennedy. What a relationship they have!

AND ... Kyle lost his keys yesterday too!!!! He finally found them in his friend Donnie's truck! Ha! I knew I hadn't had them!!!! he,he.

For anyone who reads this ... what are your thoughts on BOOBAH ... PBS's new show???/

HERE Is something FABULOUS!

I spent most of my morning at Wal-mart with Lauren, Justin, Kadi and Koel. We stayed in the book/musical toy isle for quite a long time. The kids played and Lauren and I read books. It is like being at the library/toybrary. Wonderful! Then, we strolled over to the Clearance isles. We stayed quite a bit of a long time there too!

I found ..... two gorgeous table cloths .... 100" x 60". The colors are Navy, Purple, and Sage on a white background. Flowers, Leaves, Music, and sweet garden sayings. ... Lovely! They are now the drapes in my bedroom!!! I paid $4.25 per table cloth!!!! Fabulous! AND there were matching cloth napkins ... now I have two big throw pillows on my bed. And I brought in a smaller navy one from the living room! My bedroom looks amazing! The napkins were 2 for $1 ... so for $10.50 ... I have a lovely 'new' room. I plan on now painting my bedroom sage ... with my white wood trim, big white bookcase ... and these new pillows and drapes ... Oooo-wee .... I SO EXCITED!!!

I also made an Italian Meatloaf for dinner ... AMAZING! It was like eating a giant meatball! MMMMMM....

AND here's another fun thing .... I now own "The Thrill of It All" starring James Garner and Doris Day! I love that movie!!! It is so funny ... one of those you can watch over and over! Now I 'need' "Move Over Darling" also starring James Garner and Doris Day. It is sooo funny too!

I found a new foundation makeup today! It really evens out my skin tone! Exciting stuff!

Keenan ... he's so cute ... every morning now he runs into the school building and up the stairs to the middle landing which has windows that look over the parking lot. He wants me to wave and blow him a kiss ... so I do. Sweet Boy.

He has also informed me that the Tyler in his class at school does not like him. Actually 'hates' him. That is hard to hear as a mom! I wanted to scratch the kids eyes. But I realize also, they are 7 and 8 years old. Emotions are rampant. Still a hard mommy moment for me. I asked Keenan why ... he says he doesn't know ... maybe because he sits too close to him ...

AND Kennedy told me that Jarrod in her class 'hates' her. I was shocked. I know for a fact that Jarrod likes her. But she says that she got in his way [unintentionally] in PE while playing Hockey. Apparently he is competitive.

Hard stuff for a mommy's heart. My babies are awesome! How dare anyone not think sooooo!!!!!

Kennedy dressed herself up in a black long sleeve top, black leggins and her long black boots this evening ... topping off the outfit with a black headband. My oh my ... didn't we look coffee-shoppee. She said she was a secret agent. He,he. She could wear a gunny sack and look pretty.

Kadi-here's my question .... why is it so hard for her to get along with people some days. I find myself being so embarrassed by the mean things she does and says ... yet I realize she isn't me. She may be a reflection of me to a degree ... but she is her own person. She must have some anger issues, or it is purely selfishness. Lord, I need wisdom to know how to parent this little girl!

By the way, Ike told her she was beautiful on Sunday ... so now she has decided she wants to marry Ike and not Justin. Fickle. he,he. Toddler romance. Funny stuff.

Koel ... at Wal-mart today ... he wanted Lauren and not me!!! I reached for him and he pulled away ... when he did come to me ... he wanted right back to her. My poor little heart. However, when he gets his little feelers hurt ... he comes running to me ... he knows who momma is!

It's funny. Every day, I just can't get over how cute he is. What a doll. Always smiling. And that dimple ... it goes on and on ..... AND speaking of his dimple ... which leads me to his cheeks .... his cheeks will do that flappy thing that Lauren's do! Hilarious!!!!!! For those of you who know what I'm talking about .... you know that is funny!

Kyle couldn't find a receipt tonight. I discovered quickly though that it wasn't that he couldn't find it ... he just really did not look for it first. Here's where I would place a smirking smiling face.

Thank you Lord for a relaxing day! And even for the non-relaxing days ... but I'm glad today was ....

This is the day that the Lord has made ... I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, 3:24 because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.

I've been very inward focused today.
Sitting here reading through Colossians and listening to music, I realize how I've been focusing on myself. It's been a hard afternoon. I still feel like sharing all my woes in here, but I realize ... I have not worked with enthusiasm today in anything. I have not pursued my day for the Lord ... I have pursued it for man ... for Kyle ... for me.
All things are to be for Christ ... FIRST.

"Who is He, whose the mightiest of all ...
Who is He, Creation trembles at his call ...
Who is He, the lowly sacrifice, who paid a victims' price ... His name is Jesus ...

Jesus ... from the Father's own right hand ...
Jesus ... Son of God and Son of man ...
Jesus ... who died and rose again ...
Jesus ... He's the Lion and the Lamb .....

Who is He, with a power none can tame ....
Who is He, that every foe will fear his name ....
Who is He, who was humbly led away to suffer that dark day ... His name is Jesus ....

Jesus ... from the Father's own right hand ...
Jesus ... Son of God and Son of man ...
Jesus ... who died and rose again ...
Jesus ... He's the Lion and the Lamb .....

He's the Lion and the Lamb .......

He's the lamb that was slain
He's the Lion that Reigns
My Savior and King ... both the same ...

Who is He, with the eyes that burn like fire ...
Who is He, oh the wonder He inspires ...
Who is He, who bore the guilt and shame for those who've gone astray ... His name is Jesus ...

Jesus ... from the Father's own right hand ...
Jesus ... Son of God and Son of man ...
Jesus ... who died and rose again ...
Jesus ... He's the Lion and the Lamb ....."

Jesus. I forget on a daily basis that it's not about me ... it's all about Him!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for Man! Why is it I go through day after day not living with Christ's power. He stands ready to give it.

Kris Bishop issued a challenge a couple of Sunday's ago .. I may have already mentioned it. But I think it is good. To not feed oneself physically, until it has been done Spiritually.

I don't want to walk around defeated. And I don't have to. That's the cool part. It is a choice. To live with enthusiasm for Christ ... it's a choice.

"Just as I am, without one plea.
But that thy blood was shed for me.
And that thou bidst me come to Thee ...
Oh Lamb of God, I come ... I come ...

Just as I am and waiting not,
To rid my soul of one dark blot.
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot ....
Oh Lamb of God, I come ... I come ...

All to Jesus, I surrender .... All to Him I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him ... in His presence daily live.

I surrender all. I surrender all.
All to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all."

This is the day the Lord has made ... I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Enthusiasm! Joy! It's a choice! It's all about Jesus! Thank goodness, it's not about me!

Today is the day the Lord has made! I will rejoice and be glad in it!

I'm repeating these words to myself because honestly right now I just want to cry. I'm overwhelmed by hard words said to me and hard words that came out of my own mouth.

Why do we let our tongues defeat us so much?

I had quite a near-fright this evening while on the phone ....

Pete came quickly to where I was outside and said these words ... "Your children have blown something up in the microwave!"

Oh my goodness!! thought I ... and I ran to see what the matter was ... in my mind thinking it must be a fork or a spoon .....

Did you know you shouldn't microwave a pop-tart longer than 4 seconds? It's true. That's what my children learned this evening. There sat Kadi's pop-tart billowing smoke in my kitchen after being 'nuked' literally. Poor pop-tart all tattered and blown up.

It really was quite funny. Not at first, but now it is.

Binkies are funny things. First of all how gross is it really to suck on a bulb of rubber day after day ... yuck. Then, they have this funny was of disappearing .... like today ... Koel has been through 4 of them. I don't know where they go. Somehow they always surface ... except for a yellow/red one ... it is just gone. Just one of those little things I think about.

Everyone but Koel is asleep right now. He's in his bed though. So, I'm off to slumber myself. It has been a long day ... good but long.

Here's a funny about today .... Each month I make a food menu and then plan my grocery list accordingly. Because I do this, I pay attention to grocery store ads and I remember prices. I can tell you whether something is cheaper at Shop N Save or at Aldi. I added it all up yesterday and told Kyle I was going to spend $243. That is 5 weeks of food for our family ... planned meals. Milk and etc., will continually have to be purchased. So, keeping in mind the $243 amount ... I went a little over that ... I actually spent $244! Oh my! He,he ... I love it when it is that close!!!!! What fun!!! Should I get out more?

To bed I go .......

I love Kyle. He's a good man. He's a hard-working man. He truly is my friend.

He performs this disappearing act sometimes. Last night he walked out the front door and didn't come back for like 3 hours. He does this every now and then. He just doesn't think. And then he doesn't answer his cell phone. If I only had the luxuries that he does!

He came back around 11:00 and changed what I was listening to on the computer without asking, then went out to the kitchen for a bite to eat and to watch TV. He remembered after he walked out of the room to put my music back on.

I was hurt. He had disappeared for 3 hours without even telling me he was leaving. Then he comes home and does exactly what he wants to here. In my way of thinking he owed it to me to leave the TV off and spend a little time with me!

BUT No ... then he fell asleep on the couch watching TV and stayed there all night ... with the TV on. (Same man who complains about lights being left on ... says it's different because after he's asleep ... he's not aware ....) I just don't get it. Ah well......

AND on Sunday mornings, I don't like him. For 9 years I've been getting the children and myself ready for church by myself while he lays around in bed. Today he's on the couch...where he slept all ngiht.

I don't know ... I just would like for him to take an interest in being a part of the Sunday morning routine. Fix breakfast for his family, change a diaper or two, fend off fights and disagreements that don't need to happen before church. There are so many things to do on Sunday mornings. I have just gotten good at doing them all myself.

Last week he just slept and slept so we left without him.
I may do that today.

Rather than start a fight/argument myself. He has to make his own choices. So often his choices hurt my heart, but I'm gonna be a big girl and realize that ...

1) He is different than me ... he is truly from Mars.
2) He straight up is a more self-focused person than I am ... I am five person focused. (self-focused is a nice way of saying 'selfish')
3) I can't change him by arguing with him.
4) We are each responsible according to the Lord for our own actions!

Therefore ...

Choose you this day who you will serve ... but as for me and my [children] we will serve the Lord!

Again, not saying that he doesn't in his own way ... just not the way I see it should be done.

Kyle just poked his head in the door ... we'll see if he stays awake. Then the question will be ... will he get ready on time. Even on Sunday mornings when he gets up on time .... he doesn't get ready for church until 10:00. I like to leave at 10:00. I'm never late for church when he isn't home. Never.

Things are so backward here. In so many ways this macho man of mine is a girl!

I feel better now. I decided rather than feel frustrated all morning, I would voice it on my blog.

I know my relationship with my husband is different from so many other relationships. Just know that it does work for us. There are things about me that drive him batty too.

On .... to get my household ready for church ................

Jenny is in Puerto Rico and I am in St. Louis. Yet we have the same moon to see in the sky. Tonight we looked at the moon together via the distance over the phone wires. It was a beautiful moon tonight. Full. Bright. Had a Halo. Lovely. I miss her.

Why is it that so many people I love are so far away from me?

I truly look forward to Heaven ...

"Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace; In the mansions bright and blessed, He'll prepare for us a place.
"While we walk the pilgrim pathway, Clouds will over-spread the sky; But when traveling days are over, Not a shadow, not a sigh.
"Let us then be true and faithful, Trusting, serving every day; Just one glimpse of Him in glory, Will the toils of life repay.
"Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we'll behold; Soon the pearly gates will open, We shall tread the streets of gold.
"When we all get to Heaven ... What a day of rejoicing that will be ... When we all see Jesus ... We'll sing and shout the Victory!
"When we all get to Heaven ... What a day of rejoicing that will be ... When we all see Jesus ... We'll sing and SHOUT the VICTORY!"

We took the kids to McDonalds for lunch today. That was nice. It sure is getting pricey for us though. Makes me think Taco Bell is a better option!

We all brought our sodas home ... that was nice. The kids set theirs on the kitchen table and I carried mine all around the house. I have no idea what became of Kyle's.

Koel got up from his nap about 30 minutes ago. Apparently he went straight to the kitchen ... where he immediately found a full McDonalds size Medium soda! Yep, he tried to reach for it and found that he could get it .... Next thing ... it's all over the floor. A FULL MEDIUM size regular Coke. Sticky mess.

This is what I walk into in the kitchen about 25 mintues ago.

Keenan is standing there right beside the mess playing with something else, oblivious to what has just occurred ... SO typical of male behavior!

So, I mopped it up ... bonus here is that my kitchen floor will be clean while I cook dinner. That's always nice.

You just never know what is going to happen in a split second. Around here it usually involves a spill or a stain of somekind.

It is a hustling, bustling, bursting, happy home of 6 ... 7 when you count Pete!

Good morning ... and I mean morning ... It's Saturday and I was up before 7:00 ... CLEANING!!! I just couldn't lay in bed thinking about the mess.

Here is something interesting. I papercut the tip of my left pinkie yesterday evening. Ouch. But right now while I'm typing ... my ring finer is making up the difference for my pinkie. Wow. Typing is an amazing feat of the brain and hand when you really know how to do it. I'm amazed at how my brain is compensating for the huge bandaids on the top of my pinkie! Cool.

Last night was girl's night. I felt it was a bit chaotic. But that's okay. My oven was at fault. It is not working at all now. Kyle tried to fix it, but no luck. So ... I'm gonna check Kenmore's website and just see if maybe there is a recall on it. It's only 4 years old! So, all our plans for cooking last night were pressed into becoming creative ... we used my neighbor Felicia's oven. That was fun though too. AND next time ... I"m turning the TV off. We watched TLC ... but it just wasn't conversational.

I've set up a calendar of events for the summer for my kids. I think that is a great idea ... it will get me out and them too! I'm so motivated early in the morning! I'm waiting now for the post office to open ... then off I go to mail some ebay items.

Kyle is already off today too.... had two job bids this morning! Fabulous!!!!!

He couldnt' find his jacket yeserday. It had gotten underneath another jacket somehow ... so of course he couldnt' find it ... Oh the hilarity of it all!!!

Well I just don't think before I act ....

I just called Jenny in PORKA-RITO ... and well ... she's asleep ... it's 11:30 there!!!!!! p.m.!!!

It is so hard to remember that part of the year they're 2 hours ahead and part of the year they're only 1 hour ahead!!! It's 9:30 here!

Jenn Reedy, I am SOOOOO sorry!!!!

Thank you in advance for fixing my BLOG problemo!

NOW ...

I feel I accomplished just a heck of a lot today. I finished up two big landscaping/planting bids today. I really think both are quite lovely. We'll see if the clients like them in a few days. I'm plopping them in the mail tomorrow. I spent the WHOLE day on them today! What fun! It felt like I was doing homework or research ... well, I was researching! I felt ALIVE! Yes, I realize I am bizarre.

Kadi tied herself to the piano today. She had a dress on with ties at the waist. A beautiful yellow dress from 30 years gone by .... ahhh, what a picture she was. So, I walk in the living room and she's crying because she has tied herself to the piano and is stuck. He,he ... my first thought was to sit right down and just giggle. But I decided to be a good mom and untie her. It would have been funny to have left her there for a while longer. She should know better than to tie herself to large pieces of immovable furniture!

Koel can say "Okay", "This", "Daddy", and "Hewwo" ... we think. They are sort of clear, but maybe we're trying to hear more than is there ... I don't remember when the other kids started talking. Is that wierd? Shouldn't I remember those things? Good grief ... I've been through this 3 times before ... You would think I would know!!

An update on bathroom-locking Keenan ... I received his progress report in the mail this week ... GLOWING! Mrs. Burkhardt just loves him. Course that is probably why he got yelled at this week ... I'm sure she was shocked to say the least by his behavior! But his progress report was fabulous! Proud, Proud, Proud.

Ned has decided that she likes to be called Ned. Whew! I can't break myself of that habit! So that's good news for me! She told me today that she and I should exercise together so I could lose weight. Out of the mouths of babes .............

Kyle lost his hat again. I say again, but I've never mentioned it before. Just know that atleast 4 times a week, he misplaces his hat and we turn the house over looking for it. And if it isn't his hat ... it is something else ... now that can be 7 days a week. I think I'll start writing about what he loses each day .... it really is funny to people who know and love him! Right .. Jenn? Just a quick comment like ... "Kyle lost his hat again ... took us an hour to find it". That'd be good.

We talked today about what if we just stay in this house forever ... and then we planned how we would change it ... once we have some good equity established in a bout 5 years, we could add on ... go up. Make three bedrooms upstairs and a bathroom. That would be groovy. I really love our neighborhood. It is sooooooo homey!!!!

K' .... welll it is nigh upon 10:00 .... actually only 9:45 ... but saying Nigh Upon works doesn't it?

G'Night.

I'm poised and ready for a new day here at the computer and it is 9:15 a.m.
Kadi, Justin and Koel are busy watching BARNEY, so I must concentrate while they are glued to the big purple dinosaur.

On the agenda this morning ... finish two big job bids ... all planting !!! What fun! I spent so much time yesterday researching plants! I love it! Maybe I should take some horticulture classes. Might be a good idea.

After I finish up the bids ... write bills. Yeeha! Now, I'm okay with it though.

Then I NEED to clean my room. It looks like Mrs. Abominable Snowman must live in here. I'm embarrased ... it is hard to work in this pit ... but because I've been working is why it has gotten so bad. What a vicious circle.

Good Morning to this Day! I'm ready!

Let me just say ...

I saw the Passion of the Christ on Friday night.

Sunday a.m. we were singing God of Wonders. During the chorus where we sing "Hallelujah to the Lord of Heaven and Earth" repeatedly, I wept.

The scene where Jesus crawls to put himself on the cross was etched in my mind.

Hallelujah for the sacrifice he CHOSE to make for us!

He did NOT have to do it.

PRAISE GOD that HE did!

Wonders never cease.

I picked up Paige and Zaine from school today because they had a half-day. Very fun. They're very fun. We love them sooo much.

Paige told me that if she didn't come to our house she was going to spend the night with a friend. I said "What are we?" She said ... "You're family". Ahhh.... Isn't that awesome????? I was so touched!

Then, we walked to Buder to pick up Keenan and Kennedy with Felicia and Skyler .... all of us ... Kadi, Koel, Me, Paige, Zaine and Felicia and Skyler. What a group!

When the children were released, Tyler and Kennedy came out first. Tyler promptly informed me that Keenan must have been in trouble that day because he saw him crying in the hallway ......

When Keenan came out, Tristian was with him and Tristian immediately informed me ... "Keenan got in trouble today!" So I asked him how ...

Apparently my son decided to lock all the doors in the boys bathroom by crawling under the stalls.

He was yelled at by his teacher and lost his recess.

He can't tell us why he did it.

I'm baffled. Wonders never cease.

I've asked him repeatedly about it and he just doesn't know why ... he says.

When we talked to his father about it .... Kyle began by being serious, but was so tickled by it, that he ended up telling Keenan a story about something he did when he was in school ...

Apparently my dear husband switched the boy and girl signs on the bathroom once upon a time ... some poor little girl ended up crying in the boys bathroom.

He told Keenan never to do either of those things ... what he did or what Keenan did, but that it was funny.

Can you believe it? Wonders never cease!

So, Keenan has been sort of chastised here at home. If you can call it that.

I'm going in tomorrow to find out from Mrs. Burkhardt her side of the story.

My boys.

My, oh, my.