Look closely...

What do you see here?

 Totally handsome, almost 11 year old? Me too. But look closer....

FRECKLES! My boy is getting freckles. There is a small spattering of them on each side of his nose. I started noticing them this summer but today noticed that there were more. He has about 3 million to go before he catches up with me, but it is something. I assumed that you were either born with freckles or you weren't. Apparently I was wrong (sit tight, Big Daddy, I've said that before...probably). How cute is that?!?

The Faith of a Child.

I woke up with a nasty crick (that doesn't look like it is spelled right...you know what I mean though) in my back. It is right between my shoulder blades and I have no idea how I did it. I did start doing push ups and crunches again yesterday...but not enough to cause pain. And I did a photo shoot for a NASCAR team last night and was up and down a ladder a lot of times...but had a guy following me around carrying the huge ladder and holding it for me (I could get used to working with a team of peeps!). Honestly, I probably just slept wrong, but whatever reason, it HURTS today.
So Princess P was sitting on my bed with me while I was grading C's math and said "I'm sorry you have a crack in your back", gave my back a kiss, and said, "Is it better now?" Remember the days when a kiss was all it took to make things all better? I miss those days. Today wasn't one of those days :( Since it wasn't quite better with just a kiss, she then prayed for me. When she finished, she opened her eyes and said, "Now is it better?" Oh how I love the faith of a child.

Wordless Wednesday: He's all mine, girls!

I love you, Big Daddy ;o)

Blue Creek Cove - Camping

We thought we were done camping for a while because all of my Saturday's were booked with work until after Thanksgiving. This week, my party for Saturday was rescheduled so we had an unexpected free Saturday afternoon. After Captain C's football game Saturday morning (which he made 2 touchdowns...so far, he has made 2 in every game this season), we headed to Blue Creek Cove near Foyil, OK. It wasn't very busy at all and such a relaxing, perfect weekend. We brought the kids' bikes this time, knowing it was pretty empty at the campground, and they loved that. We might be doing that every time now! I promise I narrowed WAY down the picture I took but here are a few highlights of the weekend. It was so pretty last night that I was wishing I had brought my good camera...but I just can't make myself take that thing camping!

P enjoyed finding shells:

 The boys (and girls) loved skipping rocks. 

C is much better at it than I am and did it so much that his arms are sore today!

 They spent lots of time riding bikes. I received a magazine in the mail the day before we left and Big Daddy had brought the paper so we got to sit and read in the beautiful weather while they rode. It was perfect.

 Did a little tree climbing. He was scared to death here though and wanted right down!

 I love this pic of them!!

 A little playtime on the playground. P played with her imaginary friend (tough to teeter-totter with her but she still tried).

 C took this one...besides looking like we are camping, it is pretty cute ;)

 P wanted help with the monkey bars but changed her mind and wouldn't let go of C's head. He is such a trooper and a great big brother!

 Swing competition between the boys. I won't comment on who won.

 Little posers ;o)

 We had a nice hike...

 But P preferred to pick flowers and wanted to go back so we left the boys and Big Daddy to hike and we headed back to the camper to relax. 

Oh and the rule is that pets have to be on leashes...doesn't say anything about anyone holding onto the other end. Wondermutt is such a good dog - she sticks really close to us.

 

 I'm not gonna lie. We camp...but we don't necessarily rough it. We picked up a couple of redbox movies to take with us. One for the kids and one for us for after the kids went to sleep. We might have gotten some laughs from the people driving by but we didn't care. It was cheaper than the drive in and if you get really, really close to the laptop, it might even look like a big screen ;)

 While the kids were watching the movie (and Big Daddy was listening to some of the OU game), I walked across the drive to the lake and snapped this. So beautiful. This was about 2 hours before the wind picked up and we thought we might be headed to Oz.

 It is getting harder and harder to find a movie that 10 and 7 year old boys AND a 5 year old girl can agree on. P lasted about 20 minutes with the movie....

 

...then started entertaining herself. C joked that not just bugs liked the lights!

 The campfires are always a highlight of our camping. But I so wish I had taken a picture of Big Daddy trying to put it out around midnight, in the hurricane-like winds, in his undies. I was cracking up (from inside the camper). We finished our movie and went to bed and the wind was so loud through the trees. I was worried that a spark would fly out and felt a responsibility because...well...only we could prevent that forest fire. He also ran around collecting the 3 Tulsa Worlds that we had left on the picnic table with a rock on them. Hey, it wasn't windy when we went inside but picked up in a hurry!

 Ready for bed.

 We didn't blow away and got to enjoy some hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls for breakfast (again, didn't ever profess to be roughing it!). The temps dropped quite a bit overnight and we were thankful to have packed sweatshirts!

 Sadly, Big Daddy had an obligation and had to be back in time to take the youth group to an event so we packed up early and headed back. This time, I wanted to take a shot at driving Winnie. It was a blast! I am very impressed with how it handles...braking leaves some to be desired but I am glad to have done it. I drove it about 20 miles until we came to a bigger town and then pulled over and let Big Daddy drive for the hard part.

I am so glad we bought this beast. I know that the kids and I are all sitting in the house together now, but they are playing games and I am typing this. Laundry is being run and lesson plans are calling my name. I love the down time. The forced time together can't be beat. I honestly don't take the time to play frisbee with C or sit and really enjoy nature with T when we are at home. Always too busy. Or so I think. I heard a song on the radio on the way to the campground that I have heard many times but never listened to. It seemed to be more about cheating and stuff but there was a line in there that hit home. "Families never crumble in a day." I don't want our family to crumble. I want to make them a priority. I hope we get to camp a few more times before winterizing Ol' Winnie...but I also hope I can take more time for the little things while we are at home and "sooo busy".
Off to play a game with the kids...whether they want to or not ;)

People are funny

Do you think God made us all so different so we would have a reason to laugh? OK, that is probably not the only reason, but I don't know how anyone can say that God doesn't have a sense of humor based on some of the people He made ;o)

Segue....

I am so excited that the fair is almost here. Not only does it signal the start of fall to me, it is the perfect place to laugh at watch people. I guess you could just go to your local WalMart to get this need filled but the 'deep fat fried everything' you can get at the fair, puts it in a category of its own. Our family loves the fair. Big Daddy and I had our first date at the fair in 1996 and haven't missed a fair since. I have been 7 and 8 months pregnant....and we were there. We had a 7 month old, 2 year old, and 5 year old....and we were there. This year will be the best yet. Why?!? (sorry...been watching Jillian again) The kids are getting older! No diaper bags. No strollers. No meltdowns...I hope. We still won't do rides because, quite frankly, I don't trust something that was put up in 3 hours to spin my kid 100 mph safely. Oh, plus they cost an arm and a leg and we are cheap. But rides or no rides, we are going to have FUN! Did I mention that Third Day will be there. Woohoo! I can't wait!

Here we were last year watching Mercy Me in the sprinkling rain at the fair. Love it!

Selective wimpyism.

Yes, spell checker, I know that isn't a word. But I do believe that is what Princess P suffers from. That girl gets hurt at least 5 times a day. I mean, all out bawling, thinking we need to rush her to the ER, hurt. Sometimes, it is a scratch. Sometimes it is a sour look from her brother that "hurt" her feelings. Sometimes it really is an injury. But the thing is, you just never know which it is by the sound of her wailing. We have stopped even rushing in to her and I know that one day she will be in there with a broken bone or something and we won't rush in. Sorta reminds me of a story....about a boy...and a wolf...hmmmm....

I was keeping this in mind when the doctor told her she needed 2 shots yesterday. [Actually, he said 3 but I feel like 2 at a time is enough so we're waiting on the 3rd.] Oh gosh...I was feeling bad for the poor kids in the waiting room, knowing they were about to get an earful and possibly scarred for life. So, the nurse comes in, rolls up P's pants and sticks her. Not a peep. Not a flinch. Not a tear. She sticks her again in the other leg. Again...total silence. If she hadn't been holding my hands and squeezed them hard when she got the shots, I would think the nurse had forgot her needles.

Amazing.

Oh, Princess, we are so on to you!

Wordless Wednesday: A visit with Mamaw

I agree P.

The kids have all been getting their check-ups lately. The boys were last week and Princess P has one tomorrow. She was showing me a bite down on her lower tummy...like, right below her panty line. It looks like a spider bite and I told her we can show the doctor tomorrow. She said she would just not show the doctor because of where it is. I figured I better warn her that he would be checking ALL of her. She was a little bothered by this and I told her that it was ok and Big T told her that I would be in there with her and then I told her that the doctor had to check the boys last week too. I just heard her in the kitchen talking to Tricky T about it. She ask him if it was true. He said yes. She said, "That is so not appropriate!"

I am cracking up in here, but I guess that shows that we are teaching her right!

What I think Rhonda is thinking....

This kids named our navigation system Rhonda....she lives in our Honda ;O) I turned her voice off long ago but for some reason today, I got thinking about what she would say, if she was allowed to share her true feelings. I think it would go something like this:

Turn left here, Sweetie.

Oops, you missed it. Let me recaculate a new route for you.

Oh good, there is a street right there that is close for you to turn around.

Oh, you didn't want to turn their either. No problem. Let me, again, recalculate a new route for you.

OR we could just go an entirely different way. Would that make you happy?

Go straight for 3 miles.

Oh NOW you want to turn. What is your problem with following directions? I am trying to help you. Let me re-re-recalculate, although I am not sure I should even bother.

Are you kidding me? Why do you even turn me on and ask my advice. You clearly know what you're doing without me.

Poor Rhonda. I feel kinda bad for her sometimes. She is just trying to do her job but I apparently have issues with following directions. Or maybe I have control issues. Hmmmm...no comment, Big Daddy!

Manic Monday Meme

In honor of my sister, who finally started a blog of her own, I am throwing a Meme out there....KJ, you just have to copy and paste this and answer it on your blog. If I knew how to do those link things, I would, but just leave your blog link in the comment here after you do it and both of my readers will hopefully come comment on your blog too :)

Come on your seasoned bloggers, play along and show her how it is done!

Fill in the blank: If I had a nickel for every time I... helped the kids hunt for their missing shoes, I would be a rich woman! We were watching Parenting the other night and she had an idea of an alarm on the shoes so you could find the missing one. I am in! OK, just searched [side note, I am up to $15 free in amazon.com gc's just for searching through swagbucks!] for it and apparently it is called Parenthood. Oops!

What do you think about while you exercise? I keep wondering what Jillian's tattoo is. Hmmm....ok, that's answered. I also think, when doing week 2, that she made a very unfortunate sports bra choice on film day.

What are 4 things you love about your children?  I love their unconditional love for me. I love that they love the Lord so blindly (faith of a child, anyone?). I love that they crack me up daily. I love that anytime I am reading anything at all out loud, they are all three snuggled up there listening. I swear I could read a cake box and they would all be there listening. 

Ok, guys, get answering :o)

7.13 to 99 in a blink of an eye

This is "well check" week at the E house where all three kiddos are getting their annual check-ups and eye exams. Today, Captain C weighed in at a whopping 99 pounds. I about fell over. When did my 7 pound 13 ounce baby boy tip the scales at 100 pounds? Seriously. The last 10 years have flown by and I don't like it.

Yes, I love that they are so independent in so many things...but I can just see the years slipping away until I don't have an excuse to have a messy house the kids are grown and out of the house.

A little reminder that I need to spend more time with them and more time in prayer for them and their future....their future will be here before I know it.

diabetes

My 8 year old niece was diagnosed almost 2 years ago with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. I'll admit that I didn't have a clue about diabetes before her diagnosis. We had just spent a week together at Disney World and she was miserable, but they didn't know why. They took her in when they returned and received the diagnosis that would change her life. Watch this video to learn more about my sweet niece, and about the disease she is dealing with daily.

If you are local and want to walk with us to show support, you can sign up here: http://walk.jdrf.org/walker.cfm?id=87805546
If you would just like to donate to a great cause, you can use the same link. We are believing that there WILL be a cure in the near future, please pray with us.

My getaway....

One of my sisters and I met up in Florida this past week for a little "adult" time. I love, love, love my family and wouldn't trade my life here in OK for anything, but it sure was relaxing and refreshing to have no responsibilities this past week besides making sure we were back at the airport by 2pm on Sunday. It was a blast!
We met at the Orlando airport around 2pm on Wednesday afternoon and picked up our "economy car". I had to take a picture of this for the kids:

They asked what it was when I showed them the picture - haha!!

First stop...before even checking into (aka. finding...and for the record, Conroy St. is NOT the same as Conway St.) our hotel:

Looking nice and tired after being up every 30 minutes with a sick kiddo the night before a 7am flight. *sigh*

After some shopping, we found our hotel (which was a.w.e.s.o.m.e.) and cleaned up and got dinner. The next day we did more shopping...seeing a theme here? Shopping without kids rocks, by the way! Then we headed to the Gulf side of Florida to see my grandmother.

Grammy has lived in this small town in FL for as long as I can remember. Our family visited her several times a year when I was little and still visits her as often as we can. I love it there. We wanted to spend Grandparents Day with her on Sunday and enjoyed revisiting some places we used to go when we were little. One vivid memory I have from years ago is walking from her house to a little park in town. We would play tennis, shuffleboard, and put on all kinds of performances on a stage that was there. We spent some time reliving old memories and entertaining strangers in the park with trying to beat the camera for some shots.

We clearly a) need to get out more and b) should not be let out unsupervised!

We spent a lot of quality time cruising around Gram's community in the golf cart. I am sure her trash didn't need to be taken to the dump twice a day, but she graciously allowed us to be "kids" and play.

We visited a cemetery by her house that my sister's husband has family in. The kids (and Big Daddy) always love the Spanish Moss on the trees and I thought it looked especially cool there.

And here is a little palm tree because...well...I was in FL.

During the few days there, we went to aerobics class with Grammy and got to meet some of her friends, visited a friend in the hospital, had an awesome burger, met up at a cool cafe with a photographer friend of mine (memories of the impromptu play on domestic violence that surprised us there will take a while to forget!), played games, and got to go to Gram's church and meet more of her friends. Sadly, our week went by way too quicky. We love you, Grammy! Thanks for putting up with us, filling us up with chocolate, and introducing us to a new show!

Then, back at the airport, we said our good-byes and parted ways.

I think KJ was relieved to not have to go through security with me and my packed bags. I might have purchased a cheese grater, laptop tray, some bowls and two blankets that I had to fit in my carry on along with the new clothes and shoes and all my original clothes and shoes. That thing was stuffed tight but it fit. We were a little concerned about the metal setting off the scanners. To quote KJ on facebook, "Heaven help the poor TSA that has to sift through that mess!!!" Thankfully, we both made it through without incident and made it home safely to our families that missed us as much as we missed them. You can't beat coming back from a couple of days away to your kids holding "welcome home, mom" signs in the airport and of course, Princess P and Tricky T brought homemade gifts! I love them so much. I have to pause and give a shout out (that is still cool to say, right?) to Big Daddy. He totally stepped up and took care of all the household duties, which happened to include washing bedding that was puked on the morning after I left. You rock, honey! Thanks for making this happen. I love you!!

Phew - I survived!

Not only did I survive, I didn't miss a single dose. That has to be a record for me with meds. This stuff scared me though so I took it faithfully. Glad to be done....and hope to not have to take it again!