CowenFamily

Walked Like An Egyptian.....at the Dallas MOMA

2009-01-31T23:35:00.004-05:00

A couple weeks ago the boys & I went on a field trip with our friends from NICHE to the Dallas MOMA to see King Tut. Well, really to see a few of King Tut's items. The actual mummy & coffins do not leave Cairo. The artifacts were amazing from other Tut family members & just knowing that these things are over 3500 years old is amazing! A few things to consider if you are thinking of taking your kiddos:

1. The gift shop does a very good job of marketing King Tut - sheesh!

2. The audio tour is worth EVERY penny. Ian & Trevor & I got the most use out of them, but Myles was less interested.

3. A 6 year old may get tired of walking thru the exhibit room & feel a little overwhelmed with all these taller people jostling him, but there are many benches to take a little rest while you listen to your audio tour.

4. It is pricey, but unless you plan a trip to Egypt in the near future or ever, it is a once in a lifteime viewing.

5. The 3D movie is well worth the $5/person fee, but there were only a few 3D images actually in the show. It was very informative & all 3 boys were pretty much glued to the screen - even Myles. What was super cool was that they feature the mummy of Ramses in the film - the same Pharaoh who wouldn't let the people go....amazing!

6. If you wander around the rest of the museum carrying a King Tut gift shop bag you can view the other exhibits as well.....

7. If you budget for the occasion & know what to expect the King Tut exhibit can be very interesting. If you are expecting to be entertained, you will feel let down. You should have a little interest in the time period or at least have watched the "Mummy" movies - just kidding! :)

8. Your kids will get out of it what they see you getting out of it. At lunch we all talked about our favorite part or piece & it showed me the boys were actually paying attention - even Myles.

Here are a few shots around the museum as pics are not allowed in the exhibit.

How Do They Come Up With These Things?!? Honest Scrap!

2009-01-11T22:59:00.004-05:00

Well, it's a fun way to get back on the blogging wagon :) Amanda, & I think Sandi, bestowed this great "award" to me from their blogs Be sure to check out their blogs -good stuff from them always :)

I'm supposed to list 10 honest things about myself...so here goes:

- While I enjoy blogging & facebook, deep down inside I am a little nervous my comments will come back to "bite" me someday

- I totally get the idea of a "Snuggy" but don't have the nerve to order one.

- Sometimes while I am talking with someone & smiling & nodding & conversing; I am having a separate conversation in my head about what I would really like to say. But NEVER with YOU sweet friends....

- I do not like mushrooms - it seems like they squeak b/t my teeth.

- I enjoy making people laugh, but afterwards I second guess my humor & wonder if people were just being kind

- I often quote from the "Lord of the Rings" Trilogy which only Stuart seems to appreciate & understand

- If circumstances allowed I would love to tour the country in an RV

- I often wonder "what if?" when I pass by a vasectomy reversal billboard.

- I rhyme the ends of sentences with the boys & think it's hilarious that they have picked up the habit.

- I am acutely conscious that my children are picking up my habits, for better or for worse & thankful my God in heaven is full of mercy & grace. Praying the scriptures is a huge way for me to stay grounded in parenting.

There you have it, although when making these kind of lists or playing the newlywed game I always think of 10 better answers the next day...sigh...but tonite this is all I've got :) In keeping with tradition I am passing the "Honest Scrap" award on to my friend Gayle.

Waiting in Line? On a Road Trip? Some Ideas...

2008-11-20T11:41:00.002-05:00

Okay, I know y'all are super smart & don't need these, but here are a few of the things we do with the boys when we have "ants in our pants" as the saying goes :)

- Play the ABC game. We play the ABC's of Christmas or Thanksgiving or our house or our family or history or anything really. Each letter of the alphabet has to begin a word that has to do with that particular subject. X does seem to always be eXcited or eXcellent something, but that's okay :) Try it, you'll be surprised what words your kids associate with events, holidays, etc. It also helps to remind them of the way things are properly spelled as well - but that's just a side bonus!

- Rhyming game. Just what it sounds like. Start with car & then each person has to add a word that rhymes with car. Then walk, kid, etc. Sounds simple, but I played this recently with the boys & it knocked 15 minutes off our card ride - I kid you not!

- Of course, the staple, I Spy. We put a twist on this & play "I spy something that rhymes with cheese" or "I spy something that Ian likes to read about" or whatever is particular to your location & family. Kind of gets them thinking b/c colors can get boring :)

- Spin the Utensils. At the table in a restaurant take a knife (because it's usually the heaviest & just seems to spin better) or the whole pack of utensils if still wrapped in a napkin. Choose a topic like your favorite food or place or book. Then spin the utensil. After each person has had a turn change the subject. Sometimes Mom or Dad has to inch a spin toward someone, but the boys really like this one. Of course, never mention that other popular game....unless you want to open a can of worms & confess to playing it when you were a teenager!

- License plate game - a different way. My Mom came up with this one - unusual, but great when you need a distraction & it gets them thinking. Let's say you spy a license plate with the letters G B L. You would say "the people in that car really like turkey" or somesuch & they have to figure out the word...gobble. Or S L Y. You could say "those people are really sneaky & then explain the meaning of 'sly as a fox' or that car must be filled with clowns...silly. You will be surprised how creative you can get. Ian gets the most out of this game, but Trevor is catching on.

- License plates on a map. One year I printed out a map of the US with just the state names on them & each time they saw a new state on a car's plate they shaded it in on the map. It was amazing how many different states are represented when you're on the road. Another take would be to place a tic on each state for how many times you saw that particular plate - omitting the state you're driving in, of course.

- When getting gas or taking a pit stop while on the road, ask the station on the interstate for directions to the nearest park - it's usually not too far & the dividends are amazing when you get back in the car & everyone has gotten the wiggles out in a fun way! It's also fun to explore a part of a city that you would normally have just driven through or purchased gas or SBX from :)

That's all for now, I've already taken up too much of your time. Share your thoughts - what is something unique to your family that really helps to pass the time when waiting?

A Time to Remember....Thanksgiving

2008-11-18T23:50:00.003-05:00

Here in the Cowen household we like to cherish the months of October & November as we honor Harvest Time & Remember Thanksgiving. The house is decorated with pilgrims, turkeys, scarecrows & fall foliage. We want our children to know that Thanksgiving is a BIG deal.

A resource that we particulary enjoy is Barbara Rainey's "A Time to Remember" by Crossway or their website familylife.com under "holidays/occasions." The flyleaf says it better than I can so here goes:

"A holiday for celebrating faith, family, and freedom, Thanksgiving Day is both distinctly Christian & exclusively American. Barbara Rainey has created an excellent resource for enabling you and your family to remember the past, recognize God's hand in our history, and express thankfulness to him for His goodness today."

"It was a tradition started over three centuries ago as the Pilgrims & Indians gathered together in thanksgiving & remembrance of God's many blessings. The tradition has changed as the times have. Our families still gather together, but now the focus is food, football, or simply getting a day off from work. This beautifully illustrated book refreshes our memory of the enormous sacrifices the Pilgrims made and of God's provision for them. It's a remarkable story of faith blended with spiritual reminders of God's continual care. As you share this moving account with your family, you can begin a new tradition - a tradition of remembering the past & expressing gratitude for the blessings of today."

We also purchased the audio CD which the boys really enjoy!

MealsOnWheels....SmilesOnBoys&Friends

2008-11-12T22:44:00.002-05:00

This is Ms. R. She loooooves seeing the boys each week when we deliver her meals on Wednesday. She also blows a kiss & will sometimes ask the boys for a hug if they don't offer it right away....your typical Great-Grandma :) She is in & out of the hospital, but is so thankful to get back to her little home she shares with her memories. Her husband has passed & her kids are spread out, but she will see them on holidays. It is our intense pleasure to show a little kindness to her for about 2minutes each week - not long enough, but a smile & hug can go a long way when you are all alone. We are so blessed to be a part of this great program! Thank you, Jesus for our blessings, for our family, for our health, for our friends. I know you, dear friends, feel the same way about the blessings in your life :)

Creativity & Science

2008-11-10T19:08:00.003-05:00

Grandma Sharon's house yielded a scientific discovery & creativity lab. Ian found this tomato worm....super gross! It is now cocooned on a stick in a glass jar waiting to become a stellar moth. Myles used EVERY ONE of these foamy blocks the other day to make a tower that could actually stand - he was so proud to have built this himself.

Whirlwind California Saturday

2008-11-03T22:50:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Mom's AA benefits I was able to join Stu in CA 2 Saturday's ago while he was there on what turned out to be a 10 day business trip. We visited my Grandparents, had lunch at Duke's in Malibu - right on the beach, strolled around Balboa Island & Pier in Newport Beach, waded a little in the cooold water & then had a romantic sunset dinner on the beach at the Beach House restaurant in Laguna. Ahhh!

Boo At The Zoo Pics

2008-10-29T23:16:00.003-05:00

We had fun! This is Ian's last year for a costume. First one to guess who he is is truly a product of the late 80's early 90's! Family doesn't count :)
Happy Halloween y'all!

Pure Logic - a child's perspective

2008-10-27T22:42:00.002-05:00

Red light. Gotta stop.

Hey, Mom, there's a homeless guy!

I know, I don't have any cash. I roll down my window & pass the man some coins from my spare change tray.

Hey, man, you doing all right tonight?

Yes, Ma'am. Thank you ma'am.

Oh, wait! Here's a thing from McDonald's - it's for a free burger. Sorry I don't have any bills.

I'm grateful for anything, ma'am. Thank you very much.

[commotion in the back seat & a "wait, Mom"]

Here's my $5, he needs it more than I do.

Green light. Gotta Go. Two hearts blessed by the generous spirit of one 10 yr. old boy.

He didn't rationalize what the man might do with the money, he didn't look the other way or pretend to fool with the radio, he just gave from the bottom of his heart.

It's Cold...for Texas!

2008-10-27T22:39:00.002-05:00

Every trip to Target the boys would ask if they could get the footie jammies - you know, like long underwear, Mom! Well, here they are on this brrrry night - surely it will get down to at least 40something?! haha :) Up north, that's Spring, right?
They are so cute & I can't wait to pull out this picture when they head out for their first date(s)!

A New Look

2008-10-15T17:33:00.002-04:00

Trevor's old glasses do not fit well after being stepped on....duh! When we took them to Target Optical to get fixed we just couldn't get them right & we discovered that the bridge of his nose really doesn't accommodate the glasses with the little plastic pad thingies so we have switched to these radical frames - kind of like Daddy's :)

Turtle Track

2008-10-15T00:29:00.002-04:00

Ian made this turtle race track on Monday & they made themselves dizzy going around & around while trying not to hit the pentagon-ish thingy in the middle. Too funny :)
Those riding toys are called turtles, hence....turtle track :)

Fossil Rim Fun!

2008-10-13T00:44:00.003-04:00

Took the boys to Fossil Rim a week or so ago. We got a membership in the Spring which makes trips out there a great get away w/o having to feel like the need to spend the whole day. We had not been in a while since our old van was not really up to day trips to the country. This time we had our new to us van that has a sun-roof which provided for a much more exciting visit this time. The boys took turns peeking out of the roof & loved this new vantage point of viewing the animals :) We pretty much had the petting zoo to ourselves & we really got a kick out of the funny goats.

Great Wolf Lodge Mini Stay-cation!

2008-10-04T00:11:00.007-04:00

Thanks to a generous benefactor we enjoyed a wonderful & much needed mini-retreat to the Great Wolf Lodge the last weekend in September. This was our 2nd visit to GWL & it was just as much fun if not more this time around. We stayed in a KidCabin suite on the 3rd floor with a patio overlooking the new outside waterpark. Ian went on all the slides this time & Trevor & Myles enjoyed the fort, wave pool & lazy river. Even though we were in Grapevine once we were inside we felt worlds away as we splashed away! Here are some fun pics we took with Uncle Dave's way cool Olympus Digital UNDERWATER camera - amazing - Ian took 2 videos while going down 2 of the slides that I will post soon. This is my first attempt at a slideshow. To see the pics better (Grandmas) hit the "view all images" button.

Mainstay Farm Pumpkin Patch Fun!

2008-10-02T23:39:00.004-04:00

This is a great farm south of Burleson off I-35 & Bethesda Rd. Check out their website at mainstayfarm.com. We go each year for Christmas tree fun as well & cut our own Xmas tree out of their field. Of course, if you just want to enjoy the festivities there is no charge at Xmas time. This was the Homeschool Day for their pumpkin patch - we had a great time on a hay ride, sliding down a 120ft slide & playing in their super-duper tree house - 3 stories! They are a Christian family & always share their testimony. Very Cool!

Cub Scouts '08

2008-10-01T01:23:00.004-04:00

Trevor has a goofy look in each picture I took so this one will have to do! He was rather giddy that night & hindered the photo op! This year Ian is a Webelos 2, Trevor is a Bear & Myles is a Tiger. We are blessed to be part of a scout troop where most, if not all are HSing families. The boys look forward to Tuesday nights each week!

Bond, James Bond?

2008-09-22T12:36:00.002-04:00

Here you go, Grandma Ann! Can you tell we just threw these on? Look at their hair & in stocking feet! They will be so handsome for the wedding in October. Our Uncle Martin is getting married on the 19th to Shannah Gunn. Myles is looking forward to carrying the ring & the boys are just waiting to hear how exactly they are to "usher" people to their seats..... With apologies to Martin & Shannah..boys being boys...when they found out the family cub scout campout was the same weekend as the wedding they wondered if maybe Uncle Martin could change the wedding to another weekend & then added maybe the cubmaster could change the campout! I guess we will need to have a family campout of our own soon :)

Out of the mouths of babes.....and Mom's?!

2008-09-18T23:19:00.003-04:00

I haven't recounted a child's conversation in a while so I figure we're due for another comical episode from the mind of Ian, my 10 year old. I feel the need to preserve this particular conversation for when he is older....

Ian: Have you ever put your tongue in Dad's mouth? (I am thinking, "where is this going" and "what have you been watching" or "who have you been talking to"?! - I did not say these out loud - just inner alarm bells!)

Mom: Why do you ask? (notice the redirect of the question :))

Ian: Well, the other day Jet (our dog) put his tongue in my mouth when I was saying "good night" to him & it was soooo gross!

Mom: (VERY relieved now) ewwwwww, that would be gross! That's why Mommy doesn't hug his face...

Ian: (laughing) Well, you should try putting your tongue in Dad's mouth & see what he does!

I just laughed with him & thought about how glad I was this conversation took an entirely different path than I was suspecting! And then I thought about finding Stuart..... :)

Henrietta Creek Apple Orchard Field Trip

2008-09-16T11:10:00.005-04:00

Had a great time Monday at the apple orchard! We went with NICHE (North Irving Christian Home Educator's) Group from Irving Bible Church. They are a great group of families with lots of fun activities planned for this year :) Our friend, Vicente joined in on the fun - it's his first year of homeschooling & I think he had a great time on his first "field trip"! The Farmer Lady was amazing & really kept everyone's interest - we all learned a lot! We really enjoyed the beautiful fall-like weather in the AM!

"Mommy, Can I Take a Picture?"

2008-09-16T10:49:00.000-04:00

Little Chef Myles-atouille

2008-08-31T17:29:00.002-04:00

Myles really enjoys pretending & so our costume drawer is very full! He donned this the other day all ready to make lunch for Daddy! Too cute :)

No, we don't wear feather boas!

2008-08-27T22:51:00.003-04:00

So last week I saw Mamma Mia! & I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the movie! We could go into a deep theological discussion about why I probably shouldn't have liked it, but you will have to indulge this little guilty pleasure.....

I love the music! It is very upbeat & just fun. Stuart informed me that I am listening to "deep disco" but I couldn't really hear him over singing "Dancing Queen" :)

My Mom-in-Love, Ann let us borrow, but has since gifted us with the soundtrack (thanks, Ann!) I am embarrassed to admit that the boys actually request the Mamma Mia! music in the van! There is just something about the tambourine & trumpets...I don't really know. They don't really understand the meaning of the songs - they just like the beat!

Is there a Christian band out there who sings like ABBA?!?

Tonight we were at Northpark Mall & people were walking around with those cheapy feather boas & I told Stuart, I bet it has something to do with Mamma Mia! & sure enough a guy (old hippie, not gay) came over to where we were eating to invite us to a free showing of the movie & sing along in the AMC theatre! If the boys had not been with us I would have totally dragged Stuart to the show! Too funny :)

While we were sitting in the food court we played a game of who might be going to the sing along....lots of colorful characters!

Peace out, Friends!

Boy was I sweaty!

2008-08-19T23:15:00.003-04:00

One word: Kickboxing....

K - kicking - hey, there are a lot of letters
I - I can't believe I actually lasted 30 minutes
C - Class was really an hour - gotta work up to it
K - Kangaroos box better than me
B - you know it, boxing
O - Oh, my goodness, I'm out of shape
X - hmmmm, xylophone? Xtra calories burned
I - I need ryhthm...kick AND box?!
N - Not what I expected, but I will go again, I'm a...
G - ...Glutton for punishment!

With a shout out to my friend, Amy, who introduced me to this new kind of pain!

Space Center with Grandma & Papa!

2008-08-17T16:51:00.002-04:00

Saturday, the 9th was my 20th high school reunion! It will happen to all you youngun's who read/lurk here too! :) Mom & Dad graciously offered to watch the boys during the reunion festivities & decided to take the boys to Houston to the Space Center for the day! They got to the airport at 6:30AM for their flight at 7:30AM - brave/fun grandparents! (Mom works for AA) The boys had a blast! Evidently this is quite the place - I haven't been yet, but the boys have now been twice thanks to G&P! Fun memory making - we are so blessed to be close to both sets of Grandparents.

Hwy. 287 - Part Two

2008-08-17T16:12:00.004-04:00

So from Ennis we traveled Hwy. 287 West to Waxahachie to see the beautiful courthouse. It was 5:15 when we arrived, but the doors were still open so we got to explore a tiny bit in the basement where they have pics from the past & a little history of the place - very interesting!

This is a famous courthouse featured in many movies about the west & Texas. It has a story that has survived the years....one of the Italian artisans fell in love with a Waxahachie beauty & he fashioned her lovely face in stone above the east entrance. When she did not return his ardor he created monstrous faces on the rest of the detail. When the boys heard this they were determined to find all the faces on the bldg. We did find her face & the gargoyles, but we also found these 2 faces & now wonder what their story could be? Overall a neat, interesting experience for the boys that we might have passed up.

Check out this neat book "Off The Beaten Path" from the Insider's Guide by June Naylor - it helps make exploring our Texas fun in out of the way places!

A trip on Hwy. 287 - Part One

2008-08-17T16:02:00.003-04:00

Thursday, we had plans to go to the Pioneer Village in Corsicana where Ft. Parker is located....you know, where Cynthia Ann Parker was captured by indians in a now infamous raid & the mother of Quanah Parker - famous Comanche chief? Anywhooooo, we got as far as Ennis off I-45 when I realized that we would not make it to Corsicana in time to really be able to explore - planning is important when going on adventures! So we went to a neat little antique shop in Ennis where I got these very cool Real West mags from the 1960's - actual people accounts of life in the old west from the 1800s to the then present. We also visited the Ennis tourist bldg & the lady there was so happy to have visitors that she went out of her way to help us. She had a cabbage shredder from the late 1800s that her great-grandaddy had built & gave the boys a demonstration(sans cabbage). She also paints eggs & the boys got an earful of how the whole process is involved - they were little gentlemen & listened politely :) Never underestimate exploring with your kiddos - you never know who you might meet - either at a visitors center or thru old mags! They also have a railroad "museum" which was closed, but they got to explore this cool caboose.

Back in time to 1879 & humorous wall sayings

2008-08-14T23:32:00.003-04:00

Through a series of events we landed in Waxahachie on the square this evening. We had dinner at the 1879 Chisholm Grill. Super tasty! The location of the building has its roots in 1879 when cowboys from the Chisholm Trail would stop in Wax for supplies & saloon trips. In 1920 the present building was erected & it has been a restaurant in some form since then. Really quaint place with tons of funny signs on the wall:

- "The more you run over a possum, the flatter it gets"
- "Life is too short to live in Dallas"

My personal favorite: Ian said, "you will like this sign, Mom:

- "If at first you don't succeed, go back & do it the way your mother told you to"!!

Temptation at the Pump

2008-08-08T22:32:00.002-04:00

Ian & I went to QT for gas & landed at pump #10. I was surprised to see "$30 Prepaid" on the computer screen. I asked the guy next to me if he had just prepaid & if it was showing on his screen. He said "yeah" & when I told him about our pump, he was all excited for me b/c I was getting "free" gas! I pumped the gas all the while thinking how nice it would be to actually get $30 of "free" gas....c'mon, tell me I'm not alone on this guilty thought!

After pumping the gas, Ian was saying what good luck it was that we got our gas for free. The innocence! It was then & there that I realized I was his sole teacher at that moment & what would I do with this lesson staring me in the face? I explained that even though we could drive away, it would be stealing from QT b/c obviously they had made a mistake & had to honor the actual client who did pay $30 at their pump & that us taking the "free" dinero would be wrong. I told him it was very tempting & he said especially with gas prices so high...all ages understand rationalizing & temptation.

We did go inside & asked if there had been a mishap & the clerk VERY gratefully charged our credit card for the $30. Ian was not quite getting it so I had the chance to tell him that God always honors people doing the right thing. That at some time or maybe just in heaven God honors a right decision.

Five hours later I am at Old Navy with Trevor & get an out of town phone call, which I usually let those calls go to VM. I actually answered it & it was a guy who wanted to buy something I had listed on craigslist. This was an item I had on craigslist for about a month, with NO bites until today..an item listed for $30.

I was so excited to share this with Ian & when I got to the part about how the item sold for the same amount as the gas, he literally gasped. He got it. Now, did we need to see a return so quickly, if at all? No. The lesson was learned by just doing the right thing, but God is good & I am grateful for this event today.

Let's Play "I Spy"

2008-08-08T00:34:00.003-04:00

I spy Southlake Town Square. I spy Talbots. I spy an extra "mannequin" in the window! Check out that pose! Ian & Trevor got quite a kick out of Myles' antics tonite :)

Lessons from a Fan

2008-08-06T00:26:00.002-04:00

Since March the boys & I have been delivering Meals on Wheels each Wednesday AM. This has been a really neat opportunity for the boys to be "Jesus with skin on" to some very deserving folks. One of our clients, Ms. Martha, who always has a smile for the boys & according to the boys, the cleanest apartment! - asked us a favor the other day. Evidently she was at a dr.'s appt. when the complex passed out free fans to the disabled & elderly & she asked if we could arrange for her to get one. We went to Home Depot & came back to her place after our meals were delivered with a new fan for her apt. The boys went in & took the fan out of the box for her & set it up. She was moved to tears & said that now she could get some relief from the heat. She asked the boys, "what can I do for YOU?" and Ian answered, "just give us 'thank you's'" & this answer seemed to tug at her heart strings even more. She had of course been grateful from the moment they stepped in the door, but Ian seemed to be assuring her that was all they needed in return. Such a simple gesture on a hot day, but a huge impact on the boys & Ms. Martha.

Boys & Beast at the Lake

2008-08-04T23:42:00.002-04:00

I packed up the boys & Jet & headed to Lake Ray Roberts north of Denton. We missed a homeschool outing to this lake in May due to illness & so we were glad to experience the beach today! It is the Isle du Bois state park off of Hwy. 455 & the grounds are excellently maintained. Big plus: the restrooms are very clean & each stall had at least 6 rolls of toilet paper - now that's saying something for a state park! :) The beach was full of nice sand & it was a huge swimming area. There are lots of covered table areas each with a grill & several fresh water spouts to clean off the sand at the end of the fun. Jet cooled off in the water & enjoyed chasing grasshoppers. The boys really enjoyed the coolness & each other as they splashed & explored. They tried in vain to catch teeny-tiny minnows with whatever tool they could find - it was amazing how long they tried to do that - I guess small nets are on the shopping list! The weekends can be very crowded so a weekday trip is recommended if you can! Remember state parks charge $5 for each person 13 and over -under 13 are free.

1st Century Baptism

2008-08-04T23:31:00.002-04:00

Sunday, our church held a baptism service at Grapevine Lake on the property of a very generous/welcoming family. Our own Aunt Jackie, Stuart's sister, was baptized in the water of the lake! Yay! :) Our church family enjoyed time with each other in a relaxed setting on the beautiful grounds & stayed cool in the shade or the pool. It was a really neat time & an awesome way to be baptized - the symbolism of the 1st century church baptisms was a great impact.

A compliment?!

2008-07-30T10:16:00.002-04:00

Took the boys to the free movie yesterday, Wallace & Gromitt. After the movie I was in the restroom washing my hands when a young early 20's girl asked me where I got my skirt. Flattered, I said Ross - it was a great deal! She then said, "My MOM would love that dress!" Sigh.... :)

An Inspirational Blog To Touch Your Heart

2008-07-26T20:16:00.002-04:00

While reading through some blogs I happened upon the following blog: audreycaroline.blogspot.com. Angie Smith is an amazing writer with some encouraging, emotional & inspirational insight to the heart of God. When you have a few extra minutes take some time to check it out. You will be blessed :)

We Escaped-O Crypt-O at Burger's Lake - Oh!

2008-07-21T15:45:00.004-04:00

Yikes-a-rama! Well, I won't have to explain what/where Burger's Lake is since the media has been covering them almost every day since last Wednesday b/c of the crypto virus that they think may have originated there.....they are still running tests. The boys & I and Uncle Dave went last Tuesday - their last full day of operation! We have come through unscathed, thankfully! Either way, it was a BLAST! The boys had a great time & even got Mom on the 15ft. diving board as well as the trapeze :) I know that I am going to regret posting some of these pics, but it's life & we're living it out loud! Once the smoke clears from this virus scare I HIGHLY recommend Burger's Lake as a fun day out with the family :) You can cook out on their many grills or their snack bar is yummy, but not too economical. Gotta get a snowcone - they were really tasty!

Amazing Jakes in Plano = FUN!

2008-07-14T13:45:00.003-04:00

Went to amazingjakes.com Sunday - it was grand opening for $8 for everything per person so a great deal, but everyone else thot it was a good idea & the place was packed! We went with our friends, the Willis' & the boys had a great time - didn't even complain about the lines! Check out the website for good, cool indoor fun to escape the Texas heat! It can get a little pricey so check the prices for the best plan of attack. All adults present agreed that their buffet was very tasty for this type of venue. They had healthy choices as well as the usual suspects....salads, soup, baked potatoes, pizza, ice cream, cookies, rice krispie treats. At 161 Toll Road aka George Bush & I75 & Plano Parkway. When we go again, it will definitely be during the week for a more relaxed visit! This is Trevor on the bumper cars, Ian on the climbing wall & Myles with his sweet friend Chloe on the spaceships!

Young Entrepreneurs

2008-07-14T13:41:00.003-04:00

Take one hot afternoon. Three motivated boys. One Lemonade Stand Kit. Stir. Enjoy! Not too many customers, but one set of very nice neighbors & very generous grandparents, who live around the corner made this first attempt successful in their little eyes. We suggested the dog park next time & after their lackluster sales stint they hastily agreed to that plan!

It can happen to you!

2008-07-14T13:23:00.002-04:00

Did you know that there is a site called photonotice.com? I'll give you a few seconds to think of what it could be................ever play "red light, green light"????? Well, I played "yellow light" & lost a few weeks ago in N. Richland Hills. So I received a nice notice with a picture of the back of my van break lights blaring red flying through a just-turned red light! AARGH! Well, if you go to the above mentioned www it actually has the video of my violation (need notice#, sorry)! Talk about being caught red-handed...so be careful out there, folks!

When the boys were smaller, I forget which one said it, I think Trevor; but they would say red is for stop, green is for go & yellow is for go faster! Guess I need to change that philosophy!

Cost for going too fast? $75 smackers!!!! Super Ouch!

By the hair of my chinny chinny chin!

2008-07-03T11:40:00.004-04:00

Okay. It's funny the things you notice with your body as the years go by. I know 38 is not ancient, but certain things are happening....like why am I carrying tweezers in my purse these days? Because the glaring sunlight shows every imperfection in the car mirror & each little hair that sprouts from my chin! Where do these come from? I don't remember the frequency in years past.....aargh! Also, after getting a pedicure at the nail salon I am now ALWAYS asked if I want a lip wax! What? They are so bold - I've got to love their honesty for pointing out to people their flaws. I don't mind when they ask about the eyebrows b/c if you know me, you know my eyebrows are not regularly maintained....sigh! Anyway, if you pull up next to me at an intersection & I am carefully plucking my chin, just smile & wave, friend, smile & wave!

Uncle Dave is Soooo Cool!

2008-07-01T19:34:00.003-04:00

Ian had a really fun experience with Uncle Dave! They flew as passengers on the private jet pictured at top to a ranch in Louisiana where they retrieved the yellow/blue plane for a 3 hour flight to Dallas. The pic of the yellow/blue plane is from last year, just to show the plane they traveled in for 3 hours....potty break, anyone?! They stopped in Nacogdoches, for a quick bite to eat for lunch. On the way, they flew close to the water to "look for alligators" & scared a few birds along the way. Ian got a huge kick out of "flying" the plane with "no help" from Uncle Dave - he thought he was really something! Ian loved being close to the clouds & I think mostly with spending time with his fun uncle. It is a memory he is not soon to forget - thanks, Dave!

Myles is Six!!

2008-07-01T19:20:00.005-04:00

Myles turned six on May 21 - he had been looking forward to it since Christmas, at least! Here is a moment of love between brothers on his special day. Our bday breakfasts are birthday waffles at our house complete with ice cream, chocolate sauce, strawberries/bananas & whipped cream - yum!

Pregnancy is not my excuse

2008-07-01T19:11:00.002-04:00

I am inspired by my friend, Sandi, who is back to blogging after giving birth to her 5th child! I wish I had as happy an excuse for my absence, not that I would get pregnant just to rationalize....haha :) The idea of blogging is different things to different people which makes it so fun to travel the blogway of friends & acquaintances. I also like the fact that it's a great way to chronicle our lives so it is for the posterity of our family's memories that I hope to maintain a presence in the blogosphere. I will get savvy soon & put a list of my friend's sites, but for now, be sure to visit Sandi's site at sandiwalker.blogspot.com. She truly has a gift for writing & is hilarious as well! Here's to 'talking about our days' once again!

In early AD it would have been a....?

2008-01-30T16:57:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure why, but Ian is quite taken with the idea that he will drive when he is 16. It seems to be in his mind a lot these days. Anyway, we were reading about Franz Liszt who grew up in the 1800's when I mentioned that his father died when Franz was only 16. Ian said quite matter of factly, "old enough to drive a carriage." I thought it was so funny that in Ian's mind no matter the century, at 16you can drive whatever is popular! Too funny :)

Piano Practice Jedi Style

2008-01-24T01:27:00.000-05:00

Today, after Ian finished practicing his piano he was fiddling with the keys & asked Trevor if he recognized the tune......he had picked out the first few notes of the Imperial's March from Star Wars. Whatever keeps them playing, man! :)

The Birds & the Bees &....tigers?

2008-01-22T16:22:00.000-05:00

Okay, I guess it's time to have "the talk"?! While I have been pretty practical about the mating habits of animals we have yet to have the talk concerning people. This is evident in the following conversation I had with our eldest who is 10:

Me: The tigers sure are playful today! Oh, look, now the female tiger is lying down & now the male tiger is....hey, look over there, the bears!

Ian: They're mating! Isn't that how the cubs get in her stomach?

Me: Remember how we talked about Jet (our dog) when he got fixed so the sperm wouldn't help create puppies in a female? Well, the male tiger is putting his sperm into the female.

Ian: But with Mom's, like when you had us, it just happened naturally, right? We were just put in your stomach automatically.

Me: Well, Daddies have to help....now I'm getting nervous...we're at the zoo & in mixed company with his 2 younger brothers.

Ian: with a mortified expression: Is kissing involved?

Later, after relaying this to my Mom, out of Ian's earshot, her answer to the kissing question was "if you're lucky!" :) now she has a mortified expression if she is reading this! ha!

Anyway, he hasn't talked about it anymore so I think we have some time & once he found out kissing was involved he was pretty grossed out anyway.....

Fun Friday!!

2008-01-18T19:54:00.000-05:00

Soon I will post our holiday fun pics, but wanted to get this one in tonight. We went with a group of homeschoolers (& 1000 of our closest public school friends) to the Bass Hall today to see Peter & the Wolf presented by the Ft. Worth Symphony & the Ft. Worth Met Ballet. It was incredible! The gal who coordinated for us finagled front row seats! It was amazing - the musicians & dancers kept us all mesmerized :) Afterwards we went across the street to Barnes & Noble & enjoyed a pastry snack & chai & then upstairs to the kid's book section.

We then got a "wild hair" & went to the zoo! Great thing about a zoo membership is you can go to the zoo one hour before they close & still have fun :) Ian is exagerating (sp?) to let you know it was a little brisk outside :) Trevor was happy, but I caught him mid facial expression :) It was a fun visit b/c the animals were very frisky - the tigers were um, ya' know...."playing" read: making tiger cubs! The lion actually caught our scent, went to his highest perch & roared about 10times - seriously - amazing how loud a lion's roar is! There was NO one around us - we basically had the lions, tigers & bear sections to ourselves - oh, my! Too fun!

Learning & Growing at Home

2007-11-06T13:28:00.000-05:00

The halos are out today :) All three boys have worked together to set up the fort with snacks & books. They each have a little chair & are sitting like 3 old men around a table eating & reading & sharing with each other. A fun memory in the making! You can see by the picture that Jet would like to get in on the action - he's behind the slide. Thank you, Jesus, that I am able to stay home with these precious bundles & watch them grow up right in front of my very eyes.

Night-Time Snack Saga

2007-11-01T21:43:00.000-05:00

Stuart prepares a small cup of dry Cheerios for Myles:

Myles: "I wanted Honey Nut Cheerios, not regular Cheerios" (note the "nice" way he states his displeasure)

Mom: "those are yummy & Daddy fixed them just for you."

Myles: "I don't like Daddy's service!"

Daddy: "just eat them"

Myles: "No!"

Daddy: "they're tasty"

Myles: "All right, FINE, I'll eat ONE."

And he did, eat ONE. Too funny! Guess it's Honey Nuts in the AM :)

Terror at 2000 Feet???

2007-10-13T01:09:00.000-04:00

Got to fly with my "little" brother last week for the first time! He has been flying for many years, but I just never had the chance to go "up into the atmosphere" with him. It was very cool! We flew around the Fair & around downtown Dallas, then down south towards Midlothian/Waxahachie & got right up under a cloud - very awesome - the air was sooo cool the higher we got - duh, I know, but still neat. We did a touchdown in a field - which was an interesting experience - just touched down - rolled a little, picked up speed & took off again. He did a few "show-off" things which made my tummy flip, but was fun. Thanks, Dave - when do we go again? :)

Ian got the first ride & had a super time - he took pictures with his camera & even used the stick to "fly" the plane - he would have stayed up the rest of the afternoon flying if he could have.

Sailors on the Street

2007-10-13T00:58:00.000-04:00

Uncle Dave's truck turned into a ship the other day complete with oars! They took turns being captain & would stop occasionally to explore the spotted "island" - too cute! Note the fan hooked up to keep them cool - used an extension cord from the garage.....

What To Do If You're Holy & Lonely

2007-10-10T00:41:00.000-04:00

Tonight the subject of angels came up on the ride home from cub scouts. Trevor was reading out of his "Learn to Read" Bible to Myles & feeling very important & knowledgeable Trevor offered his take on angels... "God created the angels, right Mom?" "He probably wanted some company." Sounds good to me! :)

A 5 yr. old's idea of an insult

2007-08-30T20:17:00.000-04:00

While playing a friendly game of light sabre (Myles) against Nerf dart guns (Ian & Trevor) the big boys were gaining the upper hand....when Myles came over to me & said "they're just spoon-fulls of girls." In about 10 years I will remind him of this viewpoint...it was hard for me to keep a straight face :)

Adventure of a Nighttime

2007-08-28T23:58:00.000-04:00

This is not the actual picture, but it gives the right kind of feeling for this blog...

Last night (arr. 7:15) we decided to go to River Legacy Park in North Arlington, close to our house. It's a huge complex of trails, fields, playground, picnic, etc. We started out on the newest trail off of Hwy. 157 just before Green Oaks Blvd. The boys all had their roller skates on & Jet was happy to be in nature. About 1/2 mile down the paved trail, Myles said he was tired so I handed off the backpack with waters & dog dish to Stuart. We said we would go back to the van & then pick them up at the end of the trail close to the main park area...

1st lesson learned: always be sure each adult HAS A PHONE! I left my phone in the backpack

2nd lesson learned: Know which direction the park is (West) & which direction you are walking & walking & walking (East) -Stuart is loved, if directionally challenged :)

3rd lesson: always ask for help after dark - 2 kind ladies loaned me their cell phone which put

me in contact with Stuart & the boys. This same lady knew the trails backward & forward which helped us determine the boys were actually headed to Grand Prairie!!!

4th lesson: be thankful family lives close - I ran to Mom's house, got her phone, deposited Myles in her bed & raced back to the park before the gates closed at 10.

5th lesson: always take the smaller car - I got to the trail head before the gates closed & found an entrance I'm assuming are for service vehicles. The Scion rode the trail quite nicely & at 9:55 pm I didn't run into any traffic or bobcats.

6th lesson: Be thankful the father of your boys was a Boy Scout, is patient & loving. The boys sang praise songs, prayed & talked to pass the time.

All in all Stuart, Ian , Trevor & Jet were on the trail 2 hrs. 45 minutes & walked (Stu), skated (boys) 7 miles! They said when they saw the headlights of the Scion on the trail ahead of them they threw their hands up in the air & hooped & hollered! The boys were super troopers & Stuart kept the attitude positive & adventurous.

They spotted an armadillo which quickly fled from Jet & smelled a skunk very close - also saw lots of fireflies.

There are bobcats in River Legacy Parks & snakes.......thankfully none showed up on the trail. Also a beautiful full moon glowed in the night sky. There is country in the city, but when it's dark, it's really dark - even on a paved trail.

When we got home Ian declared he would not wear his skates for 3 years!

Thank you Jesus, for keeping your hand on us tonight!

Myles Singh

2007-08-28T17:16:00.000-04:00

This is an actual Indian turban that Uncle Dave's friend, Kelly, brought back from her recent trip to India. While shopping, Kelly asked a man where she could buy turbans & he said he didn't know of anywhere that sold them so she asked him if she could buy his right off his head! The man obliged & she now had a curious souvenir for my brother!

Gross factor: David had not washed this so it basically went from an Indian man's head to Kelly's suitcase to Dave's apt. to Myles head!

A Weekend in California

2007-08-28T16:47:00.000-04:00

Every year in August, my Dad's family has a reunion at my Grandpa Dick's house in Southern California. This year, on a whim, my Mom & Dad took the 2 big boys, Ian & Trevor with them! The boys were ecstatic to go on a plane ride & to see the ocean for the first time! Ian was in CA when he was 18 mos old & he was quite proud of the fact this was his 2nd time in CA....

After a crazy time at the airport Saturday AM - they sat on the plane for about 3 hours only to be told that the aircraft had been breached & was now in the hands of the police - crazy! They finally boarded another plane & landed in Burbank at Bob Hope Airport. The boys thought it was cool to disembark on the stairs outside as opposed to a jet bridge.

They were very glad to meet & hug their Great Grandpa Dick & Great Grandma Margie! They have lived in the same house since my Dad was a teenager - Dad even helped build the pool! The boys had a blast swimming, eating fresh tomatoes off the vine & watching the chicken legs twirl on the spit - a huge rock BBQ my Grandpa built!

Ian enjoyed the sites while driving along the coast - they were amazed at all the signs in Spanish! Sunday was beach day, rather morning, and they had a great time at Manhattan Beach. The pier has a small free aquarium at the end of it filled with baby sharks, electric eels & cool shells! The boys had a great time being chased by the waves & seeing the oil tankers through their binoculars. Ian was amazed to see them out the window of the plane on takeoff from LAX as well!

All in all - a whirlwind trip - they actually left DFW at 1:45 Saturday & arrived home Sunday night about 10pm. But Grandma & Papa packed a LOT of fun in those hours !

Thank you to G & P for a great time & thanks to AA for employing Grandma & for such fun benefits (not cheap, but fun!)

Hairy Thoughts

2007-08-25T23:21:00.000-04:00

I'm not quite sure how we got on the topic, but Myles & I were discussing how when he gets to be a teenager he will have hair on his legs, under his arms, etc. When I told him "you will even start to grow hair on your chin" He laughed outloud & said, while laughing, "That's impossible!" It was so funny :) He was incredulous.

Drive-Thru Pondering

2007-08-20T00:06:00.000-04:00

Think back to high school & trips to the pizza place when the nerdy guys would concoct a "suicide" drink filled with a little bit of each soda on the fountain.....
I was wondering if my local Chick-Fil-A drive-thru would accommodate a request for a #1 combo with an extra large "suicide"? At least I would be a memorable customer.....

Shush Me, Will You?!

2007-08-18T20:49:00.000-04:00

While sitting in a cozy coffee shop in Keller (Old Towne Coffee Shop) with 3 other mom's, we were actually shushed by a small group of over age 50 quilters! I can't even remember what our group was excitedly talking about now, but evidently the quilting gals were affronted or perhaps just hard of hearing...? You know, how when you reach a certain age, outside noise really interferes with your listening capabilities...eh? I'll remember this in about 20 years & look fondly on these younger years, I'm sure! Anyway, it was just kind of comical at the time & I thought I would fill up blog space!

Sometimes They ARE Listening....

2007-08-18T12:16:00.000-04:00

The thing about parenting is you never know how you're doing until you're done....just ask your own parents! Mine are probably still wondering...haha!
Anyway, something we tell the boys is that they are "best friends for life." The other day Myles did something nice for Trevor & I remarked to Trevor what a nice brother he had for helping him, when Ian leaned into me & quietly said "that's not just a brother, that's a best friend for life" So sometimes the things we as parents repeat as mantras do sink in & occasionally slip out of the mouths of our "babes" :)

Let's Pretend I Was Never NOT Blogging.......

2007-08-13T23:50:00.000-04:00

Please excuse the double negative...oh, well!
Real Title should read: Gotta Love Childhood!

Ian & Myles are robot boys with "Incredibles" emblem on front. Trevor is "computer boy" which Ian made today. Ian saw an empty toilet paper box & thought what a great thing to saw - he's into his tools lately. Anyway, he decided to become the computer boy for the afternoon & we could ask him anything. If he didn't know the answer he would simply say "delete" - too funny. Anyway, after a lot of play I was able to snap the pic of the three amigos. Then Ian got the bright idea to scooter with his Target bag robot costume with mask around our street - IN PUBLIC! No inhibitions - like I said, "gotta love childhood" - just fun pure & simple!

1970 - Not THAT Long Ago!

2007-04-15T23:05:00.000-04:00

Thanks, Mom for giving me the gift of life on Apr. 15 - 37 years ago. Thanks, also, for the baby mohawk - haha :)

Bloomin' Bluebonnets

2007-04-15T21:49:00.000-04:00

This is springtime in Texas - tons of bluebonnets. Mom & Dad took a little 1/2 day trip to Ennis, Tx where the bluebonnets are in full swing. The local folks take great pride & have created bluebonnet (drive)trails around the countryside for us city folk & others to enjoy. No speeding cars while you try to take a picture on the side of the freeway!

I want to help clean the bathroom, Mommy!

2007-04-15T21:35:00.000-04:00

During the boys showers is sometimes a great time to clean the bathroom. Tonite, Myles really, really wanted to help so after he got his jammies on I let him wipe down the vanity with wipes. I left him for a few minutes & when I went in he had found a new hiding place - too funny! :)

A 7 year old's viewpoint on twin babies

2007-03-26T23:27:00.000-04:00

Okay...so we haven't talked about the reality of where a baby actually comes from - just that they grow in Mommy's tummy & she has to go the hospital for the doctor to get them out......save the gory details for later....

Anyway, we were talking about a bday party that Myles was going to for a set of twins that are in his Mom's Day Out class. We talked about why they had the same bday & were the same age, etc.

Trevor was deep in thought & put in his 2 cents: "I know what the Mommy did. She gave one half of the best to one baby and the other half of the best to the other baby." How cute is that? :)

Oh, I Wish I Were An......

2007-03-23T11:57:00.000-04:00

...Oscar Mayer Weiner! For that is what I truly want to be! "Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer Weinerrrrrr, then everyone would be in love with me! Hopefully some of you remember this commercial?! The dark side of 35 can be a lonely place :) We were on the road when I spied the weiner-mobile in a hotel parking lot - have camera phone, will smile! :)

where does the time go?

2007-03-20T22:11:00.000-04:00

Just like 2 of my blogger friends - I, too, am here, just fell off the blog wagon for a while. Back soon with a weenie pic....terrible tease - I know - gotta keep y'all guessing! :) L8R Tater(s)!

A penny for your socks

2007-03-06T18:37:00.000-05:00

What to do when Mom feels under the weather & the clean clothes need to be put away? Play a game, of course! Given a penny incentive the boys did their part to help with the clothes - they would get a penny for each item of clothing they got out of the pile. Well, the mound is gone...each boy really went to town to see who would get the most pennies for each item of clothing & then extra pennies were doled out for putting away & hanging up their clothes. Stats: Ian $.25, Trevor $.23, Myles $.24 - a close race! With their extra pennies for hanging up/putting away I was only out about a $1 :)

Cowboys or Thugs?

2007-03-04T16:53:00.000-05:00

You know you're not in the "good ol' days" anymore when your children are shooting cap guns out the window of the car & people run for cover in their yards! I suppose the whole "drive by" connotation didn't look good - especially while driving Stu's car with the extra dark tinted windows!

don't worry...we're keeping the cap guns in the backyard from now on :)

"Peacock Area"

2007-03-04T16:50:00.000-05:00

If you run across this unfamiliar street sign in a wooded part of a neighborhood with 3 boys in the car & time to kill expect to try to find the peacock! :)

No luck on a peacock sighting, but a storm drain was thoroughly investigated for bats & other creepy crawlies - fortunately nothing to bring home!

Fly Home, Daddy!

2007-03-04T16:37:00.000-05:00

Sometimes only a Daddy will do! I have been spoiled all these years by having Stuart home. Here are a few reasons besides the obvious (we love you) that it will be great when Daddy comes home :)

1. Trevor's new guitar strings need to be reattached & tuned

2. New Speed Racer movie is much more fun to watch with Dad

3. Ian's new computer flying game needs to be hooked up to the computer - too many wires for me!

4. The trash can is VERY heavy to lug to the curb (& smelly)

5. Jet drinks too much water - enough with the 3am potty break!

6. I watched a really bad movie (Tommy Lee Jones & the border patrol - nuf said - yuk!) & it was no fun mocking the movie without my fellow movie watcher........

Miss you Baby, but grateful you aren't over seas like some families' fathers. A huge thank you to the families who sacrifice w/o their dads &/or moms for our sake in the good ol' USA :)

Border(s) Patrol

2007-02-21T15:43:00.000-05:00

The boys took a trip to Borders book store Monday night with Daddy as a guys night out type of thing while I went to an Arbonne get together. We are doing our best to raise great readers & so far they really enjoy books. They had been given $10 each from one of their Grandma's on V-Day & when they found out they could spend it at Borders they were thrilled! Stuart said they must have spent 30 minutes in the kid's section just perusing the books. A huge milestone for Trevor (almost 7) was that he wanted to read the entire book he purchased! In the past he would flip thru a book, decide there were too many pages & give up. But Tuesday he read it out loud to me & needed help on only the "big" words. Slowly and surely he is gaining confidence in the reading realm! :)

I encourage you to fill your house with books, find joy in a trip to the library & give the sense of wonder & adventure when you explore new books together!

Stock Show & Rodeo - Giddyup!

2007-02-13T00:18:00.000-05:00

We had a great time at the rodeo with Grandma & Papa Parsons. The big boys really enjoyed the rodeo - especially the bull riding. Myles liked watching the cowgirls race the horses around the barrels. We also thought the round-up demo was interesting - I'm sure that's not the correct terminology, but it's when the cowboys separate the calves from the herd for branding - lots of fancy footwork from the horses. This is something our Great Grandpa Dick Parsons used to do on a ranch in Montana - yep, we have cowboy in us y'all!

Fun at Cub Scouts!

2007-02-13T00:09:00.000-05:00

Pinewood Derby Time! The boys had a great time racing their derby cars - a yearly tradition in the cub scouts :) They each drew the design for their cars on paper & then Daddy cut it out accordingly & then they painted their cars super-cool colors! Lots of fun :)

Birthday Smiles

2007-02-13T00:04:00.000-05:00

We love our Grandma Ann! A fun time was had by all at Grandma Ann's Bday celebration on Feb. 3 at the Grapevine Bread Company (aka the "Boulange"). The boys enjoyed giving her some fun Easter decorations for her yard. A special thanks to GrandDad for putting the party together & treating his family to a wonderful breakfast & yummy bday cake! :)

Dog For Sale - Cheap

2007-02-12T20:42:00.000-05:00

This is what I came home to today after being out of the house for about 4 hours.......he had been fed, watered, pottied, exercised before we left, but he just really misses companionship! This is just a picture of part of the floor that was littered with:

- one whole roll of paper towels that he got off the magnetic roll holder from the side of the fridge

- one full box of wipes

- one full box of kleenex

- 2 computer books

- 1 bible story book

- 1 bouncy ball

- pack of file folders

Can we say "obedience school"? Life with a 7 month old 50lb "puppy"....sigh!

A Future & A Hope

2007-01-30T14:58:00.000-05:00

We are soooo blessed with a wonderful husband & Daddy who loves us & provides for us :) This past week Stuart was extended an opportunity to work with a group of guys in a company called Application IT. This new partnership will meld Stu's passion for technology & his desire to see churches equipped effectively in the IT realm. AppIT is a new company that offers phenomenal computer/server support to all businesses, but also churches & schools. I am not technically inclined to be able to explain the nitty-gritty so you could check out their web page at applicationit.com or just ask Stuart the next time you see him - he is really pumped about this new venture!

Thank you to a special friend for praying for us last week.

God is Good. He does have a future & a hope for us (& you too!). This year will be a challenge for us financially & physically (lots of work in a new business), but we truly, truly feel God's hand is over us as we take a new path. This new direction has been confirmed many ways - even as we look back over the past months when this was not even a glimmer in the distance. Isn't that how it is though when you really start to seek God & give Him control?

Thanks to our family & friends who love & support us! Be sure to give Stu a "high five" when you see him :) He's the greatest!

Roller Skating in your 30's....

2007-01-29T09:23:00.000-05:00

Friday night Daddy & the boys had planned a skate night at SkateTown. Mom had an evening of scrapbooking planned :) Due to a crazy work thing at the last minute I ended up taking the boys to SkateTown for the first 45 minutes & then Stu met up with us after he "saved the day" at work :) Anyway, I hadn't planned on actually skating b/c the boys can manage & it was just going to be a few minutes until Daddy arrived.....well, I couldn't resist & you know, kids always love it when their parents are involved in their fun sooooooo I laced up & felt like a high schooler again until.....Saturday morning - aargh! Myles & Trevor are not quite up to par with the whole balance thing so when we skated & they started to fall Mom was there to catch them or drag them up, etc. My arms were killing me the next day b/c they were not used to pulling up a 40 lb & 70 lb kiddo while on roller skates! Saving your child while balancing on 8 tiny wheels can wreak havoc on a 30-something body! We had a great time though & it's great exercise too so I guess I'm shopping for rollerblades :) After Stu arrived I skedaddled to scrap booking & the boys skated for another hour - all in all a fun Friday night :)

Following in Dad's steps?

2007-01-23T12:25:00.000-05:00

One person's trash is treasure to two boys! They are currently dismantling this computer for the "chips" - something their Papa introduced them to a few months back. Don't worry - nothing is plugged in so no fear of electrocution! Today's bonus study topic seems to be electronics :)

Fun in the Garage on a Rainy Day

2007-01-20T23:33:00.000-05:00

Such pals! The boys didn't let a little rain get them down - they had lots of fun rollerskating/blading in the garage. Ian thought of the idea to give Myles the rolling office chair to help him learn how to roller skate & to stop falling so much :)

Friday at Bass Hall

2007-01-20T23:28:00.000-05:00

Grandma Sharon had the day off & joined us at the Bass Hall for the Young Persons' Concert. This was a great concert with school children from area schools as well as homeschool groups. We were up way high, but had a great view of the stage & Ft. Worth Symphony.

Ian liked the triangle guy & Trevor said it would have been great if there was a guitar guy! :)

Check Out Our Fun in the Snow Video!

2007-01-18T00:58:00.000-05:00

How fun to post videos to a blog! Technology never ceases to amaze....

There's No Board like a Snow Board!

2007-01-17T21:09:00.000-05:00

You can just make out the track Ian made on this snowboard, but he got to be quite a pro today at the golf course! I was more than a little mocked when I picked up this snow board in JULY at a garage sale for $5, but today it was worth every penny & pseudo-insult! :)

Mom, can we find a hill?

2007-01-17T21:03:00.000-05:00

We headed south on 360 towards Joe Pool Lake Wednesday afternoon in search of a big hill. I had an idea of where to find one, but inspiration hit at the last moment & we came to a golf course with lots of great hills. It was perfect for sledding b/c the grass is so short on a golf course that the 1/2 inch of snow was just great for speed! We have a super-duper roll-up plastic sled-type thing that is so slick - you go really fast! We had the whole place to ourselves! I kept looking for "no trespassing" signs but never saw one....what luck! The boys had a blast - we were out there for 2 hours - fun! :)

My Mechanic Hero Husband!

2007-01-17T20:57:00.000-05:00

We have a paid for (thankfully) Chrysler Town & Country Minivan that has a bad tendency to lose it's serpentine belt when it rains which makes the car absolutely undriveable (word?). It happened last Friday far from home & we left it in a Joe's Crab Shack parking lot over the weekend. The belt fell off last month as well & my Dad & Stu fixed it after Stuart looked up the repair process from the internet. We had previously paid for a tow/repair 2x before to the tune of about $175 each! Soooooo, Stuart is my hero b/c he was able to fix it all by himself :)

KidzMuze.com

2007-01-15T00:10:00.000-05:00

Saturday afternoon the boys & I decided to check out a relatively new indoor playplace in Coppell - just northeast of Grapevine Mills Mall off 121 & Sandy Lake Dr. It's a bit pricey, but the boys had a blast & we stayed almost 3 hours & they still weren't ready to leave :) This is a very secure environment - everyone gets "banded" & you are checked out as a family when leaving. They have couches & tables everywhere for Mom's to camp out & TVs placed throughout so you can see the different areas although it is a very open floorplan. I enjoyed reading a book most of the time & checked the boys in 15 min. intervals - of course, they were too busy to bother with checking in with Mom! Ian & Trevor enjoyed the huge obstacle course & rock wall while Myles had fun in the "grocery store" & stuffed animal grooming/vet area. Highly recommend as a place to escape from dreary weather/hot summer sun. Also, a great place to go to with friends - while the kids play - the Mom's can chill & chat. Check out their website for more info.

In the corners of Stu's mind

2007-01-14T23:50:00.000-05:00

So there we are sitting at PF Chang's (thanks for grandkid watching, Mom & Dad) when a rabbit trail ends in a deep recess of my dear husband's mind. He is reminded of a neighborhood pal from his childhood days in England named Yvonne who had a pair of stilts - yes, that's correct - stilts. Well, this mild-mannered boy was so impressed by this that his very clever & engineer-minded Dad whipped up a pair of stilts that would have rivaled any circus performer's! If Stu's Mom finds a picture I will definitely post it, but for now our imaginations will have to run wild!
He's been reaching new heights ever since... :) Love you, babe!

Casa Manana - The Alamo!

2007-01-12T13:20:00.000-05:00

Thursday we attended a play at Casa in Ft. Worth with our homeschool group. The boys & I really enjoyed the play - the actors did a tremendous job & kept true to the recorded history. Most fascinating for the boys were the rifles & cannon when they were "fired"! This picture does not really do it justice, but the set Casa created was just great!

"Ginger Turtles"

2007-01-11T17:25:00.000-05:00

Myles' friend, Marcelo had new shoes on today & Myles told me they were the "Ginger Turtles"! Too funny :) Now, if they had Justice League or Superheroes there would have been no comprehension barrier - we just haven't gotten into the Ninja Turtles around here....However, we have been enjoying Pepperidge Farm Ginger Family Cookies lately :)

Quagmire

2007-01-11T01:03:00.000-05:00

Yes, that is Trevor stuck in a mud pit! My brother, David, helps out a family who run a paint ball (dfwpro.com) operation out in Alvarado. This is also the ranch where he rescued our dog, Jet, but that is another post, I guess... We decided to go exploring with Uncle Dave one day a few weeks back & let Jet run around in the country unfettered by a leash. Well, this is quite the place for 3 boys & a dog so you can imagine the fun we all had! The paint ball fields are quite elaborate with WWII type bunkers, trenches, etc. Well, we had been out for about an hour with just a little bit of mud on our feet when we went to the back "forest." We came out of the forest area at separate times & all of a sudden hear Ian yelling, "Trevor is stuck!" - not frantic or anything, just matter of fact. However, the fact that Ian was missing a shoe & up to his knees were covered in dripping mud should have given me a clue.... The picture above is the scene in which we found Trevor - yes, he is clinging with a death grip onto that branch & not too happy that Uncle Dave is taking this picture instead of immediately rescuing him! All this to say that Uncle Dave is the true hero for creatively lifting this 6 yr. old from a trench filled with cement-like mud! Suffice it to say that a self-serve car wash was involved to "power wash" mud away from boots & pants - but only the boots survived. Ironically, the dog ended up being the cleanest one of us all - even Mommy didn't escape w/o mudspots due to creatively removing clothes at the scene...another story for another time :) Don't ask Trevor about this escapade though, he overheard me talking to someone about it a few days later & told me "I don't want to talk about that anymore" :) Is blogging technically "talking" about it?! Oh, well :)

"Mrs. Stuco" is Branching Out!

2007-01-11T00:32:00.001-05:00

Well, that was easy! My computer inclined/techno-savvy wonderful husband has been telling me to just "follow the directions" (do you think I ask him too many times for computer-related help?) to set up my own blog & here I am! I will do my best to make him proud & keep up to date posts.....Thanks for visiting - this should be the start of something fun :)

Special acknowledgement (read: "shout-out")to www.castingmynet.com - love you!