One Last Thing...

While my parents were here we had another little houseguest....a salamander! Yes, we have had salamanders in the house before, but my parents have not. They looked slightly alarmed when I told them one had escaped out of Austin's bed before I could catch it and was running free in the house. That night before getting into bed my mom shook out her blankets just to be sure she didn't have an unwanted friend. :) The next day I heard a yell "LES! SALAMANDER!" and sure enough there was a little one. I caught it and put it outside. What I didn't tell her was that it wasn't the one I saw in Austin's bed! The one we caught was spotted. The one in Austin's bed was tan. :D And I haven't found him yet!

Bouquet of Lilies

These lilies were so beautiful that they deserve a post all their own! Thank you Matthew. You are so wonderful to me. I love the flowers. I am loved. :)

I cannot seem to put up a picture of the full bouquet up without it being sideways so here are some pictures of the individual lilies.

Grandma Joan and Grandpa Doug Visit

Me and the kids have had so much fun hanging out with my parents this past week. Grandpa Doug read and played with all the kids (even fussy Anna!) while grandma Joan and I worked on landscaping. Grandma Joan did 90% of the work and I may have managed to pitch in about 10%. I don't know how she did it in the 105 degree heat! I suppose taking pool breaks helped alot. :) And then in the evenings after dinner we would all get in the pool and hang out together. Anna was also very productive this week. She popped through another tooth! THAT would explain why my littlest one was so very fussy and clingy to her mama.

Grandpa and Anna cuddling.

Grandpa reading stories to the kids.

Grandma taking a dip in the pool with Anna.
Grandpa swimming with Emma.
Anna taking her evening nap.
I LOVE the pink float AND the crocs!
What more could you want? Poolside service!

My Header

You know, when I was looking for a 'Look' for my blog header I came across the quote that is up there and thought it was perfect. I look at my kids and want them to be great friends as they grow up. And I want that to continue on when they are adults. My sisters are my best friends. They always have been. Always will be. I love them so much and miss them. I want that for my kids. I talk to my kids and tell them to take care of each other, watch out for each other, comfort one another. I am trying to cultivate that kindness and caring in them because it doesn't always come naturally! :) And I pray that they will love one another always. I am hoping they will be great friends to each other.

Updates

Do you like the new look? Thank you Amanda! She is the one who beautified my blog page. :) I love it.

In other exciting news....Anna got her first tooth in! And THAT explains why she has been up at least 4 times each night for the past week. And why she has been fussier as well. The interesting thing is that I have been keeping an eye on her top gums for the past few weeks because they were swollen. I figured her first teeth would come in on top. I had checked her bottom gums several times but they didn't look swollen to me. Then all of a sudden there is a tooth on the bottom! She's kinda sneaky that way. Stinker. Hiding her swollen gums from me. :D I am going to have to keep a close eye on this one.

In romantic news....I got flowers! Matt is so sweet. Every so often he sends flowers and it just makes my month. The doorbell rang this morning and I wasn't surprised it was the FedEx guy since we were expecting a refrigerator part. But I WAS surprised to see a big box of flowers as well! Sigh! Makes me smile thinking about it. Beautiful lilies. They are in buds right now and should be opening in a couple of days. I'll take a picture and post it soon. I love you Matthew.

Running

It's a crazy world we live in. I am glad God is in control. But sometimes you still have to wonder 'Why?' when life takes such an unexpected turn for the worse. I am of course thinking about my friend whose husband is in the hospital after he was in a motorcycle accident. They have been through so much. It has been a long road for them these past months. God has shown Himself throughout this time to my friend and to all of her friends. It has been amazing to watch. Her faithfulness and steadfastness to the Lord. God has brought good out of the tough times she has been going through. She has been a wonderful example to the rest of us. I hope she knows that. God is making her into the Godly woman He wants her to be. It is a tough process. He is using the circumstances to mold her. Not an easy task. But she is handling it well. I am impressed. I am proud of you, Kendra. You are doing what God wants you to do, you are turning to Him. Well done my friend. Keep running the race.

I have an iPhone. I am cool...you are not. ;)

I am totally cool now. I have an iPhone. If you know my husband you would not be surprised that I have an iPhone. I have his old one. He got a new one this past week when they came out. From what I understand this new one is faster and has GPS. I will admit I have been having fun with it. :) I've already downloaded applications for a few games, Phonesaber (lightsaber!), Pandora...I forgot what that one is already, flashlight (your phone acts as a light, good for coming into the darkened bedroom at night so you don't have to turn on the light and waken the sleeping bear), and I can get to Facebook from it. There are even more cool things about it. Of course you have your phone, can access your email acct, access the internet, download iTunes and use it as your iPod, I have the Bible downloaded, there is a Map app that can locate where you are at using cell towers, text messaging, and you can store a TON of photos on it. I really like it. :) There are more things on it, but those are the ones that I love. Am I becoming a geek techie? I don't think I can even help it when I live with one....it's in the air.

Prayer for the Payne's

Dear Lord, I come to you and ask for a special blessing on Amy and Tommie Payne and their boys. They are off to start a new adventure in a new city and while it is exciting it is also hard to leave your friends behind. And Lord, the friends that are left behind miss them too. They are such a fun family! And I am so very thankful that you brought them into my life. They have been a special blessing to us. So, Lord, I pray right now specifically for their drive up to In tomorrow. I pray that Amy and Tomie will be clearheaded while driving and have good weather. I pray that the boys will behave and amuse themselves during the long ride. I pray that it will be a fun time for the family and that they will enjoy each other. I ask for special protection around them during this time. And then Lord, there is the moving in period, finding a house, selling a house, going to a new church, making new friends. Lord I ask that you will be intimately involved in each of those activities. I pray that you will guide and direct them exactly where you want them to be. And I pray that they will be ready and willing to listen to your voice. I am excited for them, Lord, and know that you have some fun stuff waiting for them. Lord please give them the support system they need and please bless them with the desires of their heart. And remind them that their friends in TX love them and miss them and think of them. In Jesus's name, Amen. Thank you Lord.

Cleaning (aka 'scraping' leather)?

Our youngest little man got a hold of a pen and left his mark at various points in the house. One of the places was on the leather ottoman. Anyone know how to get pen off of leather? The only way I have seen is to rub off the soft part of the leather (unfortunately) and then the pen is still there but at least lighter....sigh! The first true furniture casualty of children. Not bad considering it was #3 who did it. I just don't follow him around like I did the first two I guess. He really gets away with so much more....can you imagine what Anna will get away with! Yikes!

God is Good

I am amazed at God. He is way cool. :D His latest in my life is that He is taking wonderful care of a very good friend who is in the hospital. The Lord is showing His healing hand and for that I am thankful. It is well with my soul.

Patio Paradise!

Whoo hoo! We are on our way to a patio paradise! Matt went out today and bought an awesome new patio set! I love it. :) I checked it out online while he was at the store and gave it the thumbs up. As for the rest of paradise? Well, that will be forthcoming. Baby steps... and now I am off to rock with my husband and play Rock Band. He brought it home for himself for Father's Day (of course he had to get a Playstation 3 in order to play it!). I'll admit I was skeptical. 'Just another gadget' I thought. But it is really fun. :) Rock on baby!

Hello world!

Well, this is my first blog. As I am attempting to type something I have been asked by my daughter to get more cereal (brb)....by my son to get him a drink and I still have not even finished my morning coffee. I am seriously wondering if I will have time to blog! I will give it a shot. :) After all, it seems like the latest and greatest! I have read my friends' blogs (must stop and go get milk for the daughter and break up a fight between the sons...brb)....and have enjoyed them and thought it might be a fun way to let my family members know what is going on down here in TX. So, here I am.