Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas everyone! I have been a slacker at updating my blog--sorry! I'll try to do better in the new year.

Well, I try anyway....

Has it really been a month since my last post! Wow! Time has flown by. I've been doing a lot of "crafty" type stuff. I put that in quotes because, for most of it, Caleb has been helping. See what all we have done:

Ahhhhh.....Monsters!

These were fun, but we had to work really fast according to Caleb.

Lanterns

Casey & Caleb each did one of these, I just helped. I'm not sure which one did this one. These came in easy super cheap kits from Michael's. That is where we got the Monsters too.

Candy Corn

So this one is a little better! I did this one without Caleb's help at Teresa's paint party. If you haven't gone to one of her parties, you are definately missing out!

John Deere Green!

So at daycare, Caleb is studying farms! They asked the kids to bring a cardboard box decorated like a tractor. My plans for this were so much better than it turned out, but of course, I waited until the last minute to do it, so this is what we have. Caleb loves it, and that is all that really matters!

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Caleb will be 5 tomorrow! We had his party today--those kids had a great time on the water slide! Thank you to everyone who came to the party! We enjoyed having all of you over! Come visit again soon.

We're Having a Party!

Caleb turns 5 on August 30th! We are having a party on the 29th complete with a water slide! Aren't these invitations cute?!

Jesus Loves Me

A friend sent the following to me in an e-mail, and I really liked it, so I thought I'd share it here.

"Senior version of Jesus Loves Me"

Here is a new version just for us who have white hair or no hair at
all.. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you
others, check out this newest version of Jesus Loves Me.

JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is
white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.

(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.

(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."

(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.

(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.

(CHORUS)

Happy Birthday Casey!

Today is Casey's 11th birthday!


Happy Birthday Casey! I love you!!

A girl can wish, can't she?

Will the magical house cleaning fairies please come visit me?????

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Carrie!

Today is my friend Carrie's birthday! Join me in wishing her Happy Birthday!

Carrie is starting a new business venture. Check out her blog to see what's cooking this week!

Jelly

We have dewberries growing all along our fence, and for as long as we have lived here, Casey and I pick dewberries every spring. This year they kind of snuck up on us. Casey went out one day to check them, and found that we had already missed some of them. They were huge this year! We got rain at just the right time I guess.

Anyway, I normally make a cobbler or two and then give the rest away. But this year was different. I wanted to try making jelly! I had never made it before and decided I wanted to give it a try. So Sunday was the day! I woke up way to late to go to church, so the boys and I stayed home, and Casey and I made jelly. Casey was there every step of the way while I was trying to figure out what to do! I had instructions, but some of it just didn't make sense until we did it.

The jelly turned out wonderful, and now I think I'm hooked! I am going to try a few other recipes that I have. If you have any good recipes for jellies or other preserves, send them on!

Pearl

So Casey had a great pig to show at the fair. Pearl looked great on Sunday when she went to get a haircut!

But when she went to the fair grounds on Tuesday, she decided to go on a hunger strike. She wouldn't eat or drink anything Tuesday or Wednesday. I think she was mad because she was in a pig pen! And there were pigs all around her! She had a bit of an attitude, see. I think that's why I liked her! She was too much like me. Although I've never been on a hunger strike. Maybe I should try going on one since I can't seem to make myself get back on First Place. But I digress....the pig lost weight and didn't look as good. We weren't sure she would even make sale.

But she placed fourth in her class, and made sale!

Then Casey showed her for showmanship and placed second in sub-juniors!! I am so proud of him!

Then Caleb showed her in Pee-Wee showmanship. He didn't win anything, but he should have!

And then Mike showed her in Old Timer's showmanship. The judge disqualifed Mike since Mike hired the judge. He was robbed I tell ya!

So the next day, she started eating and drinking like there was never anything wrong with her. Talk about a brat!

The sale on Friday went great, and Casey got the maximum that he could get for Pearl. Thank you to all who bid on her, and especially to Mr. Hensarling for buying her!

Mutton Bustin' Champ!

Want to laugh until you can't see straight? Go see mutton bustin' at your local rodeo!

Caleb was up first, so here he is getting used to the helmet.

Here he is saying hello to all the fans:

Okay, so I missed getting pictures of the ride! He did get out of the gate before falling off, so he did pretty good! The announcer asked him what the dirt tasted like, and he said "It tastes like chicken!"

And here he sees the sheep with no riders. He wants to ride again!

Here he is chasing the sheep to the other end of the arena! Sorry it's blurry...I was laughing too hard to take pictures!

And here he is with his trophy!

All of the riders were champs! They were all precious and had the ride of their life!

Tag! You're it!

So way back in September My friend Teresa tagged me! I had a lot going on at the time, and didn't do anything about it, and soon forgot about it. Today when I was looking at some of the old posts on my blog, I found it and decided it was time to respond. Teresa--sorry it has taken so long!

Here are the rules:Write 7 strange characteristics about yourself. They interest us all!* Tag 6 other people at the end of your Post.* Visit everyone that you have tagged and leave a comment on their blog to let them know that they have been tagged.

1. I HATE cows! I don't like to be anywhere near them!

2. I don't like feet. I don't want a pedicure because I don't want anyone touching my feet. I don't want to touch anyone else's feet. I don't want anyone touching me with their feet! I know--but you asked about the strange characteristics about me! Sorry!

3. Up until 5 years ago, I had never flown in an airplane! I was 33 years old before I ever got the chance! We went to Las Vegas with some friends for the National Finals Rodeo! We had a blast! I would fly again, but it definately isn't my favorite thing to do!

4. I played the tuba in our high school marching band once! That's right, once! I had volunteered to be the tuba player because we needed one (mostly for show--a big tuba on the field looks good), and turned out to be pretty good at it (it's pretty basic--no talent really needed). But I somehow hurt myself during the next week and couldn't carry it the next week. I was in the flag corps anyway.....

5. I married my high school sweetheart! Mike & I met when we were 15 and have been together ever since!

6. I am from a very tiny town in Southeast Texas--there were only 42 people in my graduating class, and most of us had started kindergarten there together! I was valedictorian of that small class.

7. I love Harry Potter! I read all of the books. I don't watch the movies, though. Nothing they do on the screen is as good as it is in my imagination!

So that's 7. If you are reading this, tag! you are it! (Maybe #8 should be that I don't like to follow directions!)

Mini & Pearl

Meet Mini


& Pearl.

These are Casey's pigs that he has raised for the fair. He will be showing Pearl. I have to say that Pearl is my favorite pig so far. She is very sweet and loves to be scratched behind the ear! Only 12 more days until the pig show!

Madison Street Collectibles

Opening this Monday, February 23, a new store different from any other in town!
Come and see our Unique, Handmade, Designs!

Most of our items are one of a kind creations from talented people around our area,
such as hand painted glass and canvas, decorative lamp shades, handmade jewelry, aprons, decorative pillows, wall hangings and much more!

You are sure to find that perfect gift for that special someone,
or something great for yourself!

Come check us out starting Monday, February 23rd
at 107 N Madison Street.

Our hours will be from 4:30 to 7:30 on Monday thru Friday

and 9:00 to 12:00 on Saturday.

Tell your friends!
Hope to see you soon!!!!

Happy Birthday Mike!

Yesterday was my sweet hubby's birthday! The kids made him a cake and we celebrated with a special dinner. Sorry--no pics! I was too busy cooking! Happy Birthday Mike! I love you!

Starting Again...

Okay, so it seems my First Place group has abandoned me, so I'll be joining a group this Sunday instead of leading one. It will be a nice change of pace, but now I have to get back to the "live-it" plan. I know most people started their diets on New Year's or on a Monday morning, or on the first day of the month, but I've always thought that you should start a diet in the middle of the week, the middle of the month, the middle of the day...you know the middle of something so that you don't get half-way through the month/day/week or whatever and think that you've blown it so you might as well give up. Does that sound logical to anyone else? Well, I never claimed to be normal! Ha!

So, here I am on a Tuesday, and about 2 hours ago (5:30 pm) I started my "Live-It" (First Place doesn't like the word "Die-t"). So with just a few hours to go, I will have a successful first day! Right? Well, I hope so! That way, tomorrow, I can coach myself through the day because I already have a day behind me! Yeah, it's just a way to psych myself into the plan, but it has worked before, so here we go. What a journey this will be! Anyone want to join me?

Prayers

So have you even gone through a period when you feel like the devil is on your shoulder whispering in your ear....playing on all your insecurities? Well, that's kind of been what the past week or so has been like for me. Don't get me wrong...I know God is in control, but I've been doing a lot of introspection and a lot of prayer. Why would I share this on here? Well, I guess I'm just asking for your prayers and your understanding if I seem a little preoccupied.

Merry Christmas!

Whew! Christmas is finally over. The shopping is done, the gifts have been opened, the food has been cooked (and eaten!), and most of the decorations are down. And, I have even managed to get a little rest this holiday!

First, we went to see Mike's side of the family down in Hardin. I didn't get many pictures because there was just too much going on! We had a great visit. We had not been down there since Christmas last year! We have never been away for that long! Hurrican Ike passed right over them. Betty & Byron lost a couple of buildings on the back of their property, but their house was okay this time! They got a new house after hurricane Rita extensively damaged their old one. His sister's house was fine. His brother's house was damaged, but he was insured. There are still a lot of blue roofs and downed trees down there.

On Christmas Eve we usually try to take a few pictures in front of the tree. This year the boys weren't too cooperative (all 3 of them!) so we aren't exactly in front of the tree!

I didn't get any good pictures of Christmas morning! Casey woke up too early--he usually sleeps late on Christmas morning, but not this year. He was up at the crack of dawn (well, at least I think the sun had come up...). Then my side of the family came over for lunch. As you can see, Caleb was just too busy to get dressed...

I cooked lunch this year...the turkey was so good...it was falling off of the bones!!!! It was so tender & moist! The dressing was just like Mom's, and Susie's desserts were wonderful!!

I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas!