Haircuts and such

So, I have to tell you about a discovery I made yesterday. I was doing my laundry, like every other day and I took a load out of the dryer. I just happened to look inside the dryer and I noticed these blue streaks all inside the barrel. At first I thought" have those always been there and I just never noticed?" Then I thought surely I would have noticed that. With a closer inspection I realized the streaks were sticky. Then I noticed in the lint catcher a lot of little pieces of white cardboard. It was a load of darks that I took out of the dryer but there were no jeans, so I couldn't imagine what had been left in someones clothes. Finally, in the load of clothes I found part of a package of green Orbitz gum. So you say why are the streks blue if the gum was green. Dark clothes plus green gum equals blue streaks. So, after an hour or so of scrubbing with a rag and alcohol the streaks are gone. My discovery: Gum and dryers don't mix. My bigger discovery never take pride (even in your mind) in someTHING. I say this because it seems like everytime I get something new something terrible happens to it to show me it is just a thing and can be ruined or damaged very easily. I have only had my dryer since Thanksgiving, now it isn't brand new but new to me. My previous dryer was a least 15 years old, maybe more.

Karissa had her second game Sunday. She turned on the tears, said she hates basketball and sat on the bench the entire game. What happened between last week and this? She begged us to play and now we have to force her to practice and go to her games for six more weeks. Yeah! Then yesterday she comes home with this order form for Speed Stackers. She promises if we buy her some she will stick to it. I don't even know what to think. She got her report card and made all 97's or above for the first semester. She is way too smart.

Caleb has an ear infection. He isn't too fussy but has had trouble sleeping the last few nights. I think that's all I have for now. Karissa and I got our haircut about two weeks ago. I don't have a picture of her but I will get one soon.

First Basketball Game

Karissa's basketball debut, she got to throw the ball in and dribble and even pass.
The Lady Eagles

Just wanted to let you all know we are a sick house again. Karissa started it, which is really unusual. Caleb followed and now Kylie. Karissa had her first game last Saturday. It was rainy and cold. We only took Cara and Karissa's friend Raven with us. Papaw, Aunt Linda, Uncle Ralph, Aunt Sharon, Ariel and her friend, April all came to watch, too. Karissa played well, she is a little timid and kind've lost but she had fun. They turned all the light out and had a spotlight and music to announce each girl as they ran onto the court. It was fun but I can't imagine going to a game with all four kiddos. It was very loud and crowded and I am sure Caleb would be all over the place.


This video is really cute. Caleb says cheese, washes himself (like he's seen his sisters do) and wipes his face on a towel. There is a bit of him exposed but he is just a baby.




Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

Snow Day

The kids had a great time in the snow today. Cara prayed that God would make it snow everyday, all day. Caleb was a little scared but then he was really excited. I expected Lambeau not to like it but he had no problem.

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

Kevin and Katerina (the newlyweds)

I just wanted to say congratulations to my brother in law and his new wife. They were married on January 6th. Aren't they cute!

Western Day

Today was Cara's Western Day at school. You would think living in Texas we would have appropriate attire for this. We don't. We had to borrow a hat from a friend, but Cara was proud of it. She wanted to dress pretty for school and just add the hat for Western Day. The pig is a piggy bank they made while doing the story of the prodigal son.

We had a very relaxing three day weekend. We kept waiting for the winter storm to arrive. We had a fire all day Sunday and stayed in our pj's. It was wonderful family time!! Cara is learning to play the piano. Sunday, Kirk gave Cara a piano lesson and Karissa a guitar lesson. They both had fun! Cara can play Mary had a little lamb and Karissa can play the G chord.

Saturday, Karissa and I got our hair cut. We had a great time together. She is so proud of her new look. We also got to talk to Uncle Kevin and Aunt Katerina (in the Czech Republic) on skype. It was neat to hear from them. They had a beautiful wedding and now can begin working on getting Katerina to the States so we can all meet her. Lambeau is reverting in his potty training and Kirk is not happy. He does great at night but isn't showing any signs of going to the door when he needs to go out.

Lady Eagles

Karissa's first practice was last night. She said it was fun but hard. I really like the Upwards program. She is a Lady Eagle and their uniforms are blue and gray. One of the girls on her team goes to our church. I think she had fun and is excited to go back next week.

Kylie is a BIG GIRL

Kylie is potty trained. I can't believe it. She has gone five days with no accidents and last night went all night in real panties. I am so excited. We encouraged her by having a contest between her and Lambeau and she won. She also wants to play soccer this spring and we told her she couldn't until she was out of diapers. The first time she went potty by herself she asked "can I play soccer now?"Lambeau doesn't have too many accidents but he does poop in his crate at night. Hopefully, he'll get it soon. He and Kirk had a battle of wills at 2 am this morning. Kirk took him out and decided he was going to poop or they wouldn't come back in. An hour later no poop and Kirk was tired and cold. This morning there was no poop in the crate so hopefully we are making progress. Cara went back to school today so things are kind of quiet. Caleb was up at 5AM so I hope to get a nap before the other kids get home. Caleb has his 15 mo check up today. I bet he weighs 28 pounds!!! Karissa has her first basketball practice today and starts music in school. They have a semester of art and then switch to music or vice versa. She said today was going to be a great day!

Introducing....LAMBEAU

Caleb's new dump truck chair...he already knows how to relax
Our Christmas morning mess!!!!!!!!!!

Just imagine these nicely placed in the post below

HIking at Fort Richardson State Park at Thanksgiving

Kirk and I on our way to his Christmas dinner at Del Frisco's (it was so good but way too expensive for just FOOD) Our friends that we love and miss very, VERY much!
The kids, around the campfire at Thanksgiving, telling stories.
Kirk and I (ALONE) at Lambeau Field
Our little angels!!
Happy New Year from us to you!!(Alyssa, I'm right there with ya about them all looking at the same time)
This is Michael the basketball player, Chocolate Chip the fashion princess, and Princess the ballerina. Thanks Amanda!!!

Finally

So, I figure it is about time I update my blog. For all of you loyal readers please forgive the drougt.

Kirk and I had a wonderful time in Greenbay. It is so fun to step out of your day to day life and travel. We had great seats and although Brett Favre got hurt and they lost we had a blast. We visited a casino and we not impressed. Other than that, we spent all our time at Lambeau Field. It was so awesome.

Thanksgiving was nice, except our great neighbors left for California. Luckily, we were headed out of town ourselves or we might have cried the whole day. It was so long ago but I want to tell everyone about it. We spent Thanksgiving day with my dad and step mom in Henrietta. I think it might have been the first time we had Thanksgiving with them since we have been married. They were so excited to have all their kids and grandkids together. Everyone except one sister was able to be there. It was so much fun to see all my nieces and nephews and their kids!!!. Then, Thanksgiving night we drove to Jacksboro to camp with my parents at Fort Richardson. It was so beautiful there. All the leaves were changing colors and the weather was great for hiking. Saturday, we had our Thanksgiving meal at our camp ground. All my family was there except one brother and his family. It was fun to spend time with my family. Since we have moved we don't see everyone as often as I would like.

AfterThanksgiving, things slowed down for a bit. I am sure someone was sick but I can't remember. I started watching McKenzie everyday. She is so easy to watch but it was really stressful. My mom came up for a few days after I had the worst day ever. Karissa and I were not getting along great and then Kirk and I argued and then I got a speeding ticket(my first ever!!!). My mom showed up at my front door the next morning. What a welcome sight she was. We visited for awhile and then she headed to Krum to pack my brothers house. He was in a motorcycle accident and wasn't able to do much packing.

Wednesday night we went to Awana's and Kirk went to pick out the puppy we were going to give the kids on Christmas. That's right four kids isn't enough for me we have to have a puppy to make my insanity complete. When we got home from church Kirk's Aunt came over and brought us a wonderful surprise. Kirk's cousin Paige, had flown in from New York to surprise everyone for Christmas. We had fun visiting with her. The next day mom was back to spend a couple of days with me. I was able to volunteer at Karissa's school Thursday and Friday. I got to help out with her Christmas party. I was also able to help put boxes of food together for needy families and even shop for clothes and select toys for some of the families. It was alot of fun!

Friday night we had Christmas with my mom and step dad at my brothers house. At the last minute my brother and I decided to travel to Henrietta and help my step mom get ready for Christmas at her house on Saturday. Kirk took all four kids home ALONE and brought them to Henrietta on Saturday at three. I think it was the first time he has ever had them all alone overnight. He did great!!! He even took them all to Target and to lunch at McDonalds. After a wonderful Christmas gathering at my dad and step moms we headed home.

Sunday, Karissa, Cara and Kylie were in a Christmas program. Our church is so small we decided to stay and let them be in both services. It is a good thing we stayed because Cara and Kylie didn't come out in the first service. All they had to do was walk on the stage and stand in angel costumes for one song and then walk out. First service the angels walked out and no Kylie and Cara. My parents had stayed over to see them all in the play!!! Luckily, after we talked to them they agreed to come out in the second service. They did a great job. Karissa sang in the choir and then signed two verses of Silent Night. Between services there was a live nativity, family pictures and breakfast. Sunday Kirk and I went to pick up the puppy. When we got back our neighbor, who was supposed to keep the puppy until the kids went to bed wasn't home! Yikes. We ended up tracking Paige down and she puppy sat for us until we could get the kids in bed. Around 9 Kirk's parents arrived to spend the night and Christmas day with us. The puppy was perfect and slept in his crate in the garage all night without a peep. Santa came and fun was had by all. The kids were very excited by Lambeau (the puppy). He is a ten week old chocolate lab. We had all Kirk's family here for lunch and the afternoon. I was exhausted. Did I forget to mention Caleb woke up at 4 and never went back to sleep? Kirk had to return to work on Tuesday.

Thursday, we met Amanda at Build a Bear for a birthday party. It was really crowded and caotic but so much fun. The kids had fun making new bear\puppy friends and seeing their old friends, Alyssa, Brendan and Caity. Kylie was very cranky and McKenzie and Caleb got bored really quick but it was so much fun. We came home with Michael a light brown basketball bear, Chocolate Chip a medium brown puppy and Princess a chocolate brown ballarina bear. I was really surprised at how reasonable eveything cost. Kylie was able to get her bear and complete outfit for $20!!

New Year's Eve we spent at home with friends. They brought a really coll guitar game. It is hooked up to the TV and you play differnt songs on a guitar. Anyway it was so much fun. Only Karissa made it up til midnight. Kirk and I watched the ball drop and then started the pre-recorded Green Bay Packers game. It was a great game and they won!!! We just have to hope Favre comes backl next year. Guess what??? If Favre comes back they will play in DALLAS next year. We are so excited!!

I guess that is the end of my holiday saga. I am sure I left a lot out but at least everyone is caught up. The puppy is already driving me crazy. He doesn't sleep all night but Kirk mainly takes care of him (once I wake him up). Kylie and Caleb seem to have winter colds. Karissa and Cara are ready to go back to school. I am not watching McKenzie anymore and enjoying the freedom that brings. Kirk is swamped at work but enjoys being part of the worship team.

Santa picture

Tree in the middle of Main Street downtown Fort Worth.
Santa beneath the tree in downtown Fort Worth.

I'm alive

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. I have been adjusting to watching McKenzie (my neighbors 22 month old)EVERYDAY. I have also just not felt like blogging, so much sadness. It hardly feels like Christmas time(it was 78 yesterday!!!). Anyway, I thought I would just post a few pictures. I guess I won't. Bloggers picture thing is down right now. I will try again later.

Pray for health and new friends

Only time for two quick notes. One...never let your 13 month old play with the phone. Sunday, Caleb called 911 and then I hung the phone up. Less then five minutes later there were two police men at our door. What a way to start off the day. They were very nice and just said they had a 911 hang up from our address and came to check it out. It is nice to know they would be here so quick if we really needed them.
Two...it is wonderful to have four kids throwing up at the same time. Kirk is swamped at work and can't come home. Caleb and Kylie started throwing up last night and the early morning hours. Cara started around nine and Karissa came home from school about ten. I don't know what is going on. We all just had this a week or two ago. Kylie and Caleb seem fine now but Karissa and Cara can't keep anything down. Pray for us all.
I lied there are three things. For those of you who don't know, my neighbor Celeste, is moving back to California on Thanksgiving day. Please pray for me and the kids. There aren't other kids or moms home during the day and we are going to be at a loss as to what to do for awhile. Also Kirk and I are supposed to leave for Green Bay Saturday.

Update on the kitchen

Just a quick note. This past week three of Karissa's friends moved back to Ohio. They were triplets and she has had one of them in her class every year. Their move was very quick and their mom didn't have a lot of room or time. So to make a long story short...the kitchen I found on the curb was theirs. Their mom couldn't find anyone to take it and was very sad to just throw it away. She was attached to it but her girls had kind of outgrown it. How cool is that!! Now Karissa has something to remember them by and their mom knows it will get lots of use.

Limo's and Trash Treasures

So I guess everyone didn't appreciate my all picture post.(no comments, again) We have had a busy week. Karissa won(PTA fundraiser) a limo ride to lunch on Wednesday and I did my first official PTA thing. It was a very long day and very hard for someone like me to be involved with something so disorganized. The kids had fun! I got to ride with Karissa's group, that was really cool. My mom came up for the day so I could be at the school all day. I was wiped out when the day was over. Karissa was pretty wiped out, too. She also got a hour long Thunderbash party(bounce house). Friday, Kirk and I both woke up throwing up. I can't recall another time that we have both been too sick to take care of our kids. Celeste (our neighbor) took the younger three until nap time. Thankfully, we weren't throwing up anymore by then, just tired and sore. Linda (Kirk's aunt) took the middle too Friday evening until bedtime. We feel better today but still weak and a little nauseous. This afternoon, Karissa and I went to fill her Christmas shoebox and on the way home we found a treasure. Someone had left this beautiful(after I cleaned it) kids kitchen on the curb for the trash men. I decided we needed it. When we got home Caleb was more excited(much to Kirk's dismay) about the kitchen than the girls. After I cleaned it up and put it in the girls room they loved it. Yeah for trash days!!! By the way, only 14 days til we leave for Green Bay.

Halloween: A Pictures Worth a Thousand Words

Such cute sisters (they really do love each other)
Our little angel (yeah right...only asleep)
There's not much to cheer about but we are looking to the future...Romo?
Our Little Cheesehead (he has no choice)
Karissa the good witch
Uniqua on her way to her first Halloween party at school
Our friendly jack o lantern

The crew Karissa, Kirk, Caleb, Edward (our neighborhood terror), Cara, Kylie, J.T.(our across the street neighbor)

Aren't They Sweet!!

We visited the pumpkin patch today. Caleb was tired and did not like the hay or pumpkins. They have a bounce house and hay maze set up for the kiddos. I took my four kids plus two others. It was very crazy. I got a great picture of all four kids and a great one of Karissa. I am going to try again with the other three.

Homecoming

The beginning of the homecoming game.
The middle of the second quarter. We moved down to the grass, but Caleb kept running away.

We have been busy lately. Two weeks ago we decided it would be fun to go to the homecoming game for the Boswell Pioneers. We paid $21 plus snacks, found a seat and prepared to enjoy the game. There is nothing better than a high school football game in the fall!! Unfortunately, our kids did not agree with that. Halfway through the first quarter, the score was 21-0 and the kids were done. Kirk and Karissa stayed until the end 55-15 (us). Interesting side note...in the school parking lot thay had a car totalled by a drunk driver. I think that is a very effective reminder of what can happen. I took the three younger ones home and put them to bed and watched Bruce Almighty. Great movie with a good message.

Last weekend, we had a Saturday garage sale. We did pretty good. Kylie came back from an overnight visit with an asthma attack. It took us a long while to get her straightened out. She seems to be ok now with just a cough and congestion. All the kids have a cough and congestion. I hope this cold front coming in will blow all the yuck out of the air.

I have been helping out with Awanas, lately. It is so fun to see the kids excited to memorize scripture. I am a floater. Last week, I was a teacher but usually I am a listener or asst to the secratary. They only have one sec for all three levals. She is way stressed out. I think it is fun!!

Sunday, we went back to EVC and loved it again. Then we had lunch with our new friends and they came over. Kirk and Justin had a jam\recording session and Misty and I just chatted. Before we knew it, it was time for dinner. We grilled chicken and spent the evening together. Kirk and I are so excited to have christian friends to hang out with.

Monday I had MOMS group, Tuesday was the big Ortiz\Shamrock UFC fight plus Cara and I had a date and tonight was Awanas. Tomorrow is PTA and Friday is some party a girl at Kirk's work is having. What a week.

No more paci

If you've read Kirk's blog you know we visited a new church Sunday. I am very hopeful and excited that this might be the church for us. We like Christ Chapel but it is no Grace Church. I think this church will be much easier to get plugged into and maybe even start some new stuff in. I am taking the kids to Awanas at another church on Wednesday nights. It makes for a late night but I am hoping the kiddos will adjust because I love the scripture memory emphasis in Awanas. Please pray for us to know if this new church is the right place for us. If you want to know more you can read Kirk's blog.

In other news, Kylie no longer has a paci. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! We lost her last one the other night and she fell asleep without it. After that we just kept it lost and now she is on day four. Now if only the potty training would go so well. I think tat's about all for now.

Just a Quickie

Karissa's baby egg Katherina(she had to keep it 24 hours and journal about it)
Caleb's favorite spot in the house (garage) If he can get here ...he will.


I forgot when I wrote before to tell you about the shots. I took Cara for her five year old check up at the same time I took Caleb for his 1 year old check up. They gave Cara 5 shots and wanted to draw blood, too. Can you believe that?? Then Caleb had to get 3! I had Kylie along with me on the off chance they would check out what was going on in her mouth. By the time the doctor got to her she was terrified.

My baby is 1!

Caleb had a fun birthday. He wasn't really into unwrapping the presents or the cake. He did like all the cars he got and the tool set. He has been "fixing" everything in sight. Kirk was putting together part of Kariss'a bed and Caleb watched intently and then started banging away with his hammer.

Birthday Blues

Kirk was such a fun Dad. I went to bed and he stayed up with the girls.
Twister is such a timeless game.
This is part of Karissa's new room. I will post more pis later.
Bathing beauties
I can't believe it has been so long since I have blogged. For awhile, I had nothing to blog about and then I had too much to blog about. Quick run down... Cara ear infection, Caleb cutting teeth (he has four now), ear infection, allergies, Karissa being Karissa(can you believe she is 8?), Kylie viral infection in mouth and throat (no eating...lots of crying). Then, following that Karissa's swim\slumber party, followed by(the next day) Caleb's first birthday, followed by Karissa's friends birthday. Karissa also walked up to Kirk yesterday and said"Dad will you pull my tooth?" So he did and that was that. She is so unpredictable. Anyway, I hope we are all well now and can get back to our fall routine. I have only made it to 1 Women in the Word. I can't wait for Thursday to get here. Here are a few birthday pictures. By the way, did you know 8 yr old know whwt spin the bottle and truth or dare are? I had to tell them they couldn't play them at Kariss'a party. I don't think we wil have boy\girl parties again for a few yrs(like 20).

First Day of School

Today was Cara's first day of preschool. She was so excited. She was ready an hour early and kept asking me "is it time yet?" When I dropped her off she sat in her chair and hardly even said goodbye. She had fun, I think. She said her teacher was mostly nice but not really like a teacher because she had white hair.

I tried to start potty training Kylie, again. She went 0 for 3 today. She didn't pee until 2:30 this afternoon and then she did like three times in two hours. I think she freezes up on the potty. I even got the little potty out and let her sit on it in front of the tv. She did that several times with no sucess. She took a nap and woke up dry. Then she peed outside but said she wasn't finished so I brought her in and put her on the potty...no go. I put dry clothes on her and went back outside and she peed again. I don't think she gets it and I know she doesn't reallly care if she is wet or not.

Caleb is still clingy and fussy. I gave him real spaghetti on his tray tonight. By the time he was finnished his left ear was covered in sauce. I can't tell if he still has an ear infection or what. I think I may try to take him back to the doctor.After this weekend, I don't think we will be traveling with Caleb for quite some time. He didn't sleep and he cried the last 30-40 minutes in the car, both ways.

Karissa is going through adolescents now. She wants to "live anywhere but here" and we are"the meanest parents in the world." She is learning she can't talk her way out of things at school and there are consequences to being tardy. Pray for us. She has a mouth on her and unfortunately she got it from me.

Kirk and I are excitedly awaiting the begining of football season. He has his last draft tomorrow night and then Thursday is the first game. My life seems very chaotic and I am ready for the fall routine to settle into place. My womens bible study begins Thursday. Hopefully, that will kick start the routine.