Catch-up

We've been pretty busy lately. We had something just about every night last week and during the weekend. Although I enjoy keeping busy, I don't much like doing stuff on evenings during the week. Just like to come home from work, cook and spend time with the kid's...this week has been like that and that is good.


A couple weeks ago we started a reward chart for the kid's for picking up toys, dishes in sink, etc. for each sticker they receive a Chuck E. Cheese's token and at the end of the month we go spend our tokens.




Well Friday was our reward night and we had lots of fun at Chuck E. Cheese's. Jasmine took this picture of one of our friend's that met us there. I thought she did a pretty good job.



Our friend came and spent the evening at our house where the fun continued. The kid's played and played....

And occasionally stopped long enough to watch a few minutes of DADDY DAY CAMP

Saturday morning I went grocery shopping. While there one of my friend's met me there and I took her daughter home to play with Jasmine and Cash. It was a beautiful day and Joe had a great idea of digging the kites out of the closet. We had lots of fun and minimal incidients...only tangled sting for the two kites once and one run in with a tree.

At this point the string was let the whole way out and the wind was blowing well enough to keep it up without movement. So the girl's just chilled while holding the kite string.

Now Saturday evening was the highlight of the weekend for me. My mom won concert tickets off the radio waayyy back in November....a 4 pack....and she offered the extra two tickets to Joe & I. So Saturday night the kid's spent the night at Gramma's and Joe and I met Mom & John for Mexican food and then to see......

It was great. Music is such a major part of our lives. Especially worship music. Love love love it.

~~Speaking of - if you are in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and want to go to see Third Day and a Ranger Baseball Game for $7.50ea, let me know, I am buying a group of tickets for April 12~~

I also failed to mention while the kid's and I went to Chuck E. Cheese's on Friday, Joe was asked to be a fill in drummer for an Irish Band. He had a great time, drums is his passion. He also met with a group last week called Drummers for Jesus, I'm hoping he will get connected with some musicians cause he is really wanting to 'jam' with some guys on a regular basis--but it's been a challenge for him to find musicians on the same page spiritually. Anywhoo....

Sunday was AWANA and Share Shop night.....each week when the kid's say their Bible verses they receive a Share (paper money). Then they have the opportunity to take their money and buy fun stuff. The first Share Shop we did Jasmine ran in and spent all of her money right away, this time she was a little more cautious with what she purchased and spent lots of time making the her selections.

We have some new things we are working on at home that I am very excited about and can't wait to take pictures and blog on.....until then

(Good Bye)

SCATTERGORIES

Man, I used to love to play this game. Try it with the first letter of your name with the following questions.

What is your name - L***
4 Letter Word - Love
Vehicle - Lexus
City - Las Vegas
Boy Name - Lance
Girl Name - Linda
Fruit - Lemon
Alcoholic Drink - Louisville Slugger
Occupation - Lounge Singer
Something you wear - Lipstick
Celebrity - Lindsey Lohan
Food - Lasagna
Something found in a bathroom - Lotion
Reason for Being Late - Lazy
Character - Lucy (Charlie Brown)
Something You Shout - Love You!
Animal - Lion
Body part - Leg
Word to describe you - Lovable

Bullets

• Have you ever been to Wal*Mart @ 7am on a Saturday morning.....It Is Heaven!! (at least in our small town). I went before Joe and the kids woke on Saturday and I think I only saw two other shoppers...had the grocery aisles all to myself.
• Jasmine is doing better behavior wise in school, but we still covet your prayers over this. I requested a Parent-Teacher conference to hash out what steps we can take to keep her moving in the right direction.
• I'm an over planner-barely leaving myself time to just chill *me time*. I received a gift certificate for my birthday (October) for a massage, pedicure etc. I FINALLY scheduled the massage for last Friday. That morning I was volunteering at Jas's school and set the appointment for the afternoon....wouldn't you know it, the massues had to cancel.
• I love to clean with the radio blaring--sometimes it's my favorite radio station and sometimes it's my favorite CD's currently (ThirdDay, Jeremy Camp), but sometimes it is my Billboard Number One's CD from 1979--Pina Colada Song, I Will Survive, YMCA--oh yeah, that's some good cleaning music there!!!
• After school yesterday Jasmine told Joe that her teacher said watching TV was a bad choice. Joe responded with sometimes he just likes to relax after work, Jasmine's response, 'Well, my teacher is smart and taller than you are. So she is right!' (her teacher is very tall and very skinny).
• Jasmine's best friend/cousin moved to California a little over a month ago and Jasmine misses her TERRIBLY. Last weekend we called and they talked on the phone for probably 45 minutes. Have you ever heard a 5 year old and not quite 5 year old phone conversation...priceless!
• I have flash cards with numbers, colors, shapes etc. for the kids. Cash will sit with the one's with colors on them and go through them 100 times. He loves those things.
• Speaking of Cash....he recently learned how to open the refridgerator. When he was young we had to get one of the childproof devices cause he was so stinkin strong, he'd fling the door open, get what he wanted and walk off. At that point the dog would make himself at home digging out of the fridge whatever he wanted. While cooking dinner the other night he opened the door and I said 'How did you learn to open that door?' Jasmine pipes up, 'Um, I guess I taught him'. So far it has not been an issue, he'll grab a snack and shut the door, but one day I came out of my bedroom and he was carrying a hunk of velveeta.....
• I'm wearing my glasses today because my eyes were very scratchy yesterday and I felt they needed to rest. I hate wearing my glasses. It takes away my peripherial vision and I feel like I have the blinders on that horses wear so they can only see what is in front of them.
• Joe was sick over the weekend and I sneezed all day yesterday....within the last hour my nose has started to stop up....yuk!
• That's all for today, I think I need to go find some medication :)

I Am Loved....(I'm guessing here)

My kids just crack me up. Here are just a couple funnies from the last few days:

Conversation with Jasmine while driving home yesterday:
Jasmine: Momma, I am going to do everything just like you when I grow up.
Me: Awww, that makes me happy Jasmine. You think I'm a good mommy.
Jasmine: Yeah, cause I like the way you cook.

Snuggling with Cash last week:
Me: (I whisper in his little ear) I love you soo much.
Cash: (whispers) You know what?
Me: What?
Cash: Chicken butt (big laugh)

Can't you just feel the love!!!!

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh."

I'm At A Loss

Jasmine is having a rough time at school again here recently. She was doing great just before the holiday break, lots of green and yellows. Since returning she has only gotten a couple greens and yellows, mostly orange and red. I received a note from the teacher today saying she is continually doing something immediately after being corrected and if she doesn't start to demonstrate more mature behavior it is a possibility she will have to repeat Kindergarten. I just don't know what is going on in that little head of hers. Also, she has always looked forward to going to school, not recently. Each night when going to bed she will say something about not wanting to go to school. And Monday night when sitting down for dinner I asked her how her day at school was and she replied, 'terrible' when I asked her what happened to make her day so terrible she replied, 'I don't want to talk about it.'

My question is this, how do you get a Kindergartener to express what is going on to cause such changes in behavior?? Do they even know what is going on and how to tell me about it?? We haven't had any changes occur in the home, which leads me to wonder if something happened at school. But then again, if it did, she is not sharing.

It just makes my heart ache watching her struggle in school - not that she feels she is struggling, she thinks she is great at everything she does. It's just when you have kids you want them to be the best most perfect children to ever walk the face of the earth, and then someone comes along and burst your delusional bubble. Not nice! I know in the grand scheme of things not doing well in Kindergarten isn't the end all be all, but I still want everything to be daisies and butterflies - everyday!

Anyways, please keep Jasmine in your prayers as she is struggling this week.

There's A Storm A Coming

Sunday night at AWANA's was Texas Snowstorm night. Each child brought a roll of toilet paper with the promise they would get to make 'snowmen'. Well guess who were the dummies for the snowmen, the TEACHERS. We bought the cheap stuff from the dollar store and it came in a 6 pack. Jasmine was so precious, before the toilet paper started flying she made sure and passed out all of our extras to the kid's who didn't bring a roll. She is so generous, warms my heart.

Here I am being wrapped up, I came out pretty good. The other teacher on our team had her whole head covered from the get go. Luckily I only had to endure that extent of coverage for a couple minutes.

After time was up and every piece of toilet paper was off it's roll, they had a 'snow' fight.

We had sooo much fun.

Friday evening Joe and I had the privilege of attending a 25th wedding anniversary party where the couple renewed their vows. It was an amazing event, very heart touching.

**and someone made the mistake of asking Joe to help video during the vow renewing ceremony. There was a brief time while waiting on the woman of honor to come down the staircase where music was playing, Joe took this opportunity to sing into the video camera's remote wand. He was quite entertaining**

Skating Anyone

Last night was Jasmine's AWANA skate party. We had such a good time. Jasmine skated the whole two hours, Cash went back and forth between skates on and off and I think Joe had the most fun of all!

*side note* - - Cash has some HUGE feet. Jasmine took a 12 in skates, Cash an 11...

Already???

Anyone want to guess what the kid's are looking at/waiting for???



While ya'll are mulling over that picture, here is a cute one of Jas last night holding the AWANA flag for the AWANA pledge. She was soo excited. They are having a skating party tomorrow night that should be a lot of fun.





OK, back to the first picture....here it is.

Our neighbors have three boys. Anytime they are outside Jasmine will run in, (usually) change clothes and put on cute shoes before she runs to the barb wire fence and yells to the boys to come talk to her. They always do and they always get in trouble for crossing the first fence (there are two fences between our properties). Every time she runs out the door, yelling the neighbors are outside Joe looks at me with that protective/petrified father look and will usually go sit on the porch the whole time they are talking (until one of the boy's parents stick their head out the door and start yelling at them for crossing the fence). I'm pretty calm about it and tell Joe not to worry, they are too young to start freaking out....now in a few years I will most likely be singing a different song.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We had a fun New Year's Eve. Pulled out the sleeping bags, put on PJ's, popped some popcorn and watched movies until about 10p. Then we grabbed our horns and yelled Happy New Year before the kid's went to bed. They really thought they were doing something special, staying up later than usual. Great Memories!!

And Dally had to get in on the action too, while we were blowing our horns he was howling.

Love it!

Praying each of you has a Blessed New Year!!

This One's for You, Sharon...

My cousin's wife, Sharon, was so generous to share one of her favorite childhood toys with Jasmine. Anyone remember this Barbie swimming pool from the good 'ol days. I know I had one.

Sharon held onto her's (along with a ginormous Barbie house we haven't made room for yet) in hopes to share with a daughter one day. The good Lord Blessed her with a house full of boys and in turn she asked if Jasmine would like to have them. I brought the pool home on Friday and let me tell ya, it was the toy of the weekend. She love love loves it. Thank you so much Sharon for offering it to her.

And I don't know about your boys, but Cash had no problem finding uses for it.

**Balls in the pool, superheros in the shower and buzz lightyear waiting in the wings**

It Was A Holly Jolly Christmas

We have been busy busy busy since my last post. Saturday Meme and Gramma came over for tacos and presents. The kid's were very excited about these cute hats from Aunt Linda. **Jasmine was so cute, everytime we started to get ready to go somewhere she'd ask if the color she was wearing was a Christmas color. If it wasn't, she had to change into something more appropriate** & **Cash's cuteness was each present he'd get he would look at it and then at who gave it to him and say 'what's it going to be?'**

Oh the anticipation. While all the adults were still eating dinner, the children were getting anxious. Look at them just sitting there looking at the presents under the tree.


After food and presents we all got on our PJ's and went to the most amazing Christmas Light display in Greenville. And look who was there.

The Christmas lights are so fun for the kid's. There is so much to see, we usually drive through twice. The display is set on an individuals property and covers several acres.

This is just out one window about midway through the route (click on photo for better view).

Christmas Eve we went to Gramma's (which is a standing tradition in my family). There was lots of yummy food and a fun Chinese Christmas Exchange **where I happily walked away with the movie HAIRSPRAY** YAY!! As far as I can remember, after Christmas Eve party at Gram's we would go home and get to open one gift (which was always new PJ's to sleep in that night). By the time we got home, Cash was so passed out he missed out on that gift. Jasmine stirred long enough to open hers and promptly told me she was too tired and wanted to go to bed.

Christmas morning was an exciting time. Got the kid's up about 7am, and they ripped through the presents in record time. Ooohing and aaahing over all of it. I love love love this age when a $1 paint set is the 'best present ever'!! We then got dressed and went back to Gram's for bacon sandwiches (another tradition from the beginning of my days). The kid's got lots of fun stuff including these cool rolling backpacks with their names embroided on them. We then had lunch and went home to veg out. We watched a lot of movies...Transformers, Die Hard, Flicka, High School Musical 2, Jungle Book, VeggieTale's Jonah Movie and of course my fave HAIRSPRAY! Love it!

This is just a fun picture of my 'Chick Magnet'

And the fun isn't done yet. Tomorrow we go to my dad's for Christmas with them, and a baby shower later in the day. Fun fun fun!!

Be Blessed

Picture Time

Last week Jasmine's school had Gingerbread night. Cash was sick that evening so Joe took Jasmine to school and they made a Gingerbread house, which Jasmine insisted should be her breakfast the next morning.

Last week while having our Christmas get together with our Sunday School Growth Group, one of the girl's gave Jasmine this dress that is now too small for her. Jasmine LOVES it!

(and I think it looks pretty darn cute on her)

This Wednesday was Jasmine's class party. Each child brought a book for gift exchange. They sat in a circle on the carpet and played Musical Gifts, when the music stopped you got to open your present.

And then there were cupcakes!

One of the other mom's reading a book to Jas and a classmate.


Class picture (minus Jasmine)

**she was taking her time putting her stuff in her backpack and missed out on the photo op**

Thursday night was girl's night (plus Cash)! We met at my friend's house to have our hair done.
Aunt Linda is in town and you know what that means....PRESENTS!!



Cash with his Cars backpack and lunchbox

The girl's got mini paint sets and Aunt Linda is drawing a picture for them to paint

And last, but definitely not least.....Cash got a Superman set.

Came with a cape, chest emblem and easy break chain.

As you can see, we have been quite busy and it won't slow down until after the new year. Last night I FINALLY began wrapping presents and I have two more to buy before I am dunzo!

**Funny story about that - the two I have yet to buy were the sole purpose for my trip to Wal*Mart Wednesday. Guess what I made it out of the store without.

Tomorrow we have Christmas with my mom, sister, niece & nephews. After tacos & presents we are making cookies and going to a fantastic Christmas Light display. I am soooo excited for our upcoming week.

This will be my last post before Christmas and quite possibly before New Year's too....that being said, I would like to wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!

Gotta Love Them

Over the weekend Jasmine was trying to teach Joe a song about spider's she learned in class. Apparently Joe was not saying the words 'exactly' right and Jasmine kept saying 'You're not listening' then finally she gave an exasperated sign and said, 'OK, let's try this again tomorrow'. HI-larious!! Then on the way home from church Joe started singing it and FINALLY got it right. Jasmine yelled 'That's it! Good job, Daddy!'.

Here is a picture of all Gram's Great Grandkids

A Helping Hand

Is it suppose to be common knowledge how to change a windshield wiper blade?

I take pride in being able to do things on my own. As long as I have some directions to follow and my common knowledge there is usually no problem. That being said, yesterday it rained - hard. I get in my van and turn the windshield wipers on, much to my surprise as the wiper makes its way across the windshield there is a piece of rubber trailing behind the wiper. Not knowing where the nearest auto parts store is, I stop in a Wal*Mart that just happens to be next to the parking lot I'm in. I go in, get the new wiper and head to the van. The rain had subsided for the moment, which I was very thankful for. I look on the packaging and there are no instructions. OK, I pull out my owner's manual, no directive here either. OK. Guess I'm trying this on my own.... five minutes later, two more times checking the packaging and owner's manual, and a few men passing by and not offering to help (whatever happened to chivalry??) I surrender. I drove my van around to the automotive area, got out and asked the Wal*Mart mechanics who wanted to give me a hand changing a windshield wiper. A very nice man helped me and I was finally on my way with a crystal clear windshield.....then ran into rainy weather traffic..... Oh well, I'm listening to the LEFT BEHIND series in the van so I was good.

Here are some pictures from the past weeks:

Looks like it was nap time for Joker

Jammin' with Daddy

Got Milk?

You may be aware shcool's are teaching children about living a 'healthy' lifestyle these days. On more than one occasion Jasmine made comments on what she has learned and more importantly made healthy choices due to the teaching.

Sunday before last we were responsible for snack for our Sunday School group so I stopped at the donut shop in town. I grabbed two milks for the kids along w/ the donuts. Jasmine looked at the red carton and asked if it was 2%. When I told her they did not have 2%, only whole milk she said, 'Um, do you have Mrs. **** phone number. I need to ask her if whole milk is ok to drink.' Isn't that greatness!

And here are some fun pics of my Treasure's