But we showed up for the tournament anyway... We had to be at the field at 7am!... As the day wore on, it started to rain harder and harder until it was coming down in sheets... We did go and get a canopy and a couple propane heaters... We got some cheap painters plastic and laid it out on the grass under the canopy and let the kids wrap up in the blankets on the ground... They made it until noon and finally we were done... We packed everything up and headed for home, stopping at D Dad s where we put up the canopy over the hot tub and spent some time soaking in the warm water... I have been up for just over an hour and I am still wet!... … View Post »

My life has been just insane in the last 3 weeks or so... Just as a quick update, Hurricane Ike made a direct hit on Houston Texas, taking out my major hub and operations center... Our office was put into an all night, overtime situation and I took on alot of extra hours... Jayce FINALLY started soccer and has been having trouble at school... I was diagnosed with scoliosis and a $1400 yearly bill to correct and maintain it and Lee lost his job... … View Post »

I just picked up a job at a Kitchen needs store in downtown... I work for the couple that live at the top of my street and they are just the sweetest, nicest, most wonderful people you could ever meet in your life... I love them to death... Not to mention that we are talking kitchen toys and food here!... So today I went to work for my first day... I made sure all the kids got out the door and on their way and Baby s new preschool teacher knew what was going on and I headed out... Time to go came way faster than I expected and before I knew it I was headed home to see my babies... When I got home, Big C was already home and Baby was still at the table with her teacher, working on her letter sounds... … View Post »

Have you ever done something or thought something awful, when you were not in a heated rage and as suddenly as you thought it, you could actually feel the Spirit of God leave?... The pain and agony of the sins had to be horrible, but to feel God leave him after having been so close for so long and at a time when the guilt and pain was overwhelming... Jesus paid the ultimate price for all of us, but more than that, he bore the pain of our sins, he endured having to leave the Grace of God, not only did he give his life, he never gave up... … View Post »

Just a bit of touch up on the carb and she ll be in great running condition... It s horn doesn t work and the power steering is gone... Possibly not to pass safety inspections, as my husband s beast passes safeties every year, however, for someone of my stature (5 5 and 110 lbs dripping wet) power steering is a MUST!... I can t help my neighbor out much with his horn and neither can the How To Keep Your Volkswagon Alive for Idiots book that he bought... There are illistrations with parts labeled as bolt and other bolt ... The carb is fully replaceable and my sweetie has a buddy that is way into VW s and can tune it up in a jiffy... So there, I have done my good deed for the day and helped my neighbor!... I guess that kinda makes up for all the empty bed nights... … View Post »

I saw this on the news last night and I would have never thought it possible the the government thinks they can even own and control the rain!... I guess that the car dealer Mark Miller was trying to conserve water by catching the runoff from the roof of his building and storing it in a cistern under his parking lot, then using it to wash the vehicles on his lot... Another lady has her rain gutters pour into a large barrel and then uses it to water her flowers... … View Post »

In less than 13 days my kids will be heading back to school... I have their clothes, their supplies (oh yea, we don t have to buy supplies in our district!)... No more playing in our jammies all day long... Nope, it s time for alarm clocks, showers and clothes, buses and lunches and homework... I can t keep everything pristine, so one thing will be pristine and the rest will look like hell warmed over... I love to label things, the OCD thing again... Personally, I thought it was a wonderful idea... Have them sitting right at the front door so they can grab it and any notes they need on the way out the door... … View Post »

So after the Parade, Butterfly and I came home to Daddy working on cleaning the kitchen and the kids playing... Once we had a very large bowl full of fresh, ripe apricots we came inside and the kids played while I made apricot syrup and jam... By the time I was finished I had injured my wrist by whacking the apricots with the knife over and over... Then we rested for awhile, showered and dressed for the day... About 4:30 I took My Little Man down to the carnival to spend some one-on-one time with him... So I bought him a little raccoon puppet and then some cotton candy... We sat down and listened to the band that was playing and munched cotton candy... The church had forgotten to shut off the sprinkling system and all those people on the grass, laying on their blankets or sitting in their chairs got soaked!... … View Post »

Any time I think of vacations or traveling, I keep thinking back to the most amazing trip I have ever taken with my children... We took a surprise trip to New York just before school got out for the summer... I got out of training late one night and had a full weekend... Lee and Big C and I went home and got everything packed for everyone and then met at Grandpa D s... You can read the whole story at The Statue Of Liberty and it will give you a great overview of our wonderful trip... Yeah, we ended up at a little Mom and Pop diner that was not very good the first night and then a $70/plate diner the next... They are an online travel guides that can help you plan your vacation before you go!... … View Post »