Day 298

This morning Samantha had to work the science fair. I say "had to", but really she was chosen by her teacher...awesome! Here are some pics from this morning. There is one of Samantha showing stuff, Hannah trying to see a boat race through some gooey stuff with just food coloring and dish soap, and some of the boys doing stuff. In the first pic, I have no idea what is on Caleb's face. He had done a bunch of different stuff and after I snapped this pic I realized his face was covered in white. LOL

Day 297

I have a feeling that I will have to extra rinse the clothes and scrub my tubs daily! Caleb's shorts are supposed to be a nice dark brown and he started the day with white socks. LOL As for the last photo. Hannah doesn't seem to understand she is not supposed to eat the sand!

Day 296

The big surprise!!!!

This is what my backyard looked like at 8:00am.

Then these guys showed up.This is what it looked like at 11:00amCaleb got off the bus and immediately wanted to know if he could play.Here are some of Caleb and Hannah playing. Big kids weren't as observant. Another boy on the bus said something to Josh, so he darted out of the bus. Samantha was clueless, just happy to see me.

Here are some of them playing!

thanks goodness noone had the camera when I showed her how to do this. lol

I was going to save this for another post, but here is what "THE" hole looks like now. Still only about half done though. It should hopefully be a cool firepit when finished. Just wish I could have someone finish it for me.

AND for those of you who know we are paying off debt...we paid cash, no financing. We also didn't pay anywhere near full price...it was a closeout model. ;)

Day 295

Today we spent time getting ready for tomorrow. You will have to check back tomorrow for that though. Anyway, if you remember way back at the beginning of my project...day 3 or so, Josh was working in his garden. Well, yesterday he and Marc dug up a bigger area for that...apparently we like to dig things! Today we got 4 huge bags of soil, more seeds, and a fence thingy for this area. Tomorrow after school we will be doing yard work. We also got a pallat of brick/rocks for my fire pit! Let me tell you, those things are heavy! We couldn't put the whole pallat on the truck because it was so heavy, so we had to open them and put (have people put) them in the truck one by one. Then getting them out... sigh. Marc used the wheel barrow and I tied the wagon to the tractor. LOL It took a long time, then Marc had to go back for the second load. Guess I also get to work on my fire pit! This picture was taken BEFORE we decided on anything. Caleb pushed this all over...then we put 4 huge bags of soil. He said he could do it and did for a while. Then we turned to go down other isles and he kept bumping into things. That is when he announced he was just not strong enough. It was hilarious! Almost as funny as one of the workers leaving the keys in that forklift thing to look at the pallat of rocks. Caleb darted off and was about to get on. Luckily, this momma is fast AND knows that boy all to well.

Day 294

Our last day with our current pediatrician. The kids always love to hide under the table. You should see when all 4 get under there. I will miss our doctor, but NOT all the crap that goes into being with a practice.

Day 293

Can someone explain why it is so fun to roll in the dirt during baseball practice.

Day 292

Our hole is almost done! That just sounds so funny! Anyway, I couldn't decide which picture to put to describe the hole, so you get several. Here is the first. It is of the beginning of the hole. It is just Hannah's size!

Here is some serious static!The almost finished hole...spa anyone?

Here are some of the filled in tunnels I mentioned yesterday.

Bubba has now left the building!!!!!

Day 291

So, if you liked my last "Bubba" post you might like this one. If you were offended by my last "Bubba" post....sorry, but you might like this too. Today my inner bubba came out. We spent a little of our tax return on a surprise for the kids. It is going to go in the backyard and since the yard hasn't been mowed since way before Christmas, I figured it needed to get done. So I threw on some shorts and a t-shirt...sorry, I don't own coveralls...wait female bubbas mow in bikinis and well, that ain't gonna happen!!! lol So after spending an hour looking for the key, I got on the tractor and started mowing. Yes, I said tractor, not riding mower. lol Well, when I started it was still and hot. I could tell it was going to rain. I was about half done with the backyard now. Since it had rained a lot this week I figured now would be a good time to burn our pile. So, I got a little gas and put some on the big pile and started to burn all of our yard stuff. Well as soon as the flames shot up this huge wind came out of nowhere! You know when you first start a fire the flames go way up, well these flames were going straight sideways. Well, being un-bubbaish (my dad was a fire chief), I decided it would be best to put out the fire. Nuts, it only burned for about 5 minutes. About the time I got it out the sky just opened up and it started to downpour. No problem, we all went in and ate some lunch. After the rain, it was cold so I threw on some sweat pants and dried off the tractor. I managed to get the back done. My bubba came back and decided to finish my burn. lol This time it took forever to start...duh, it just rained. I got everything burned. In the process of watching and keeping the kids a safe distance away I decided and mentioned to Josh that we need a fire pit. LOL I told you my bubba was showing big time! Of course he liked the idea. Our plan is to dig a big hole where we did our burn and then put some rocks around. That way we can safely sit around the fire on those cold winter nights. You will soon realize the other reason for my plan. We have had mole problems in our backyard. Well, my dog will catch and kill them, but in doing so we have what seems like miles of dug up tunnels through the yard. Seriously, they are bad and deep! So, with the dirt from our fire pit I want to fill in all these tunnels. They will need to be done before the surprise. ;) Now tomorrow after church the plan it to get the wheelbarrow (I can't believe we actually have one of these, but we do) and start digging. My inner bubba should be gone by Monday morning! Here are some pictures though. The first is burn #2, it got much bigger after this pic! (The pile is also lots bigger than this pic shows) The next is of the girls playing under the trampoline, a safe distance away. The last is of Caleb ON the trampoline. Josh was standing by me watching the fire.

Day 290

Tonight is movie night! The kids were very quick at getting on their pj's, it was funny. Anyway, Josh has a shirt chewing problem. In this picture he is not chewing on his shirt. Hannah being the good and observant sister put his shirt collar in his mouth.

Day 289

Today I got in a much needed and overdue run. It was nice, but obvious to me that I hadn't run in a week. This is a view of my path near mile 2.

Day 288

Just some Wednesday night fun at church!

Day 287

The boys had a dermatologist appointment today. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a regular follow up and of course Josh has another staph infection. I took Hannah with me because the ped wanted the derm to check out a diaper rash. Yet again, one of my children has stumped a doctor! They think they know what it is, but have never seen it THERE or in that pattern. They took some pictures to have it discussed at the next meeting. Marc compared it to the tv show "House" where a bunch of doctors get together to talk about things that have them stumped. I don't remember the name they gave it, but they said it should go away in a few months. It is not bothersome to Hannah, just not a pretty little tooshy. It looks like broken capillaries around the edges of the diaper. Anyway, Josh flooded my bathroom and kitchen trying to be helpful and do his own wet wraps. LOL They also went ahead and cultured his throat because he was complaining about it. All of my troubles with doctors and their offices lately, I LOVE this doctor! She is not easy to get in to, but I LOVE her. Yesterday was a horrible hassle to get Hannah seen at our ped even though we were there with Samantha. Well, after over 103* temp and her throwing up all over me we were seen....later that day. Hannah is not even a patient of the dermatologist and she will always look at her if I ask! I just love her, such a great doctor! Anyway, these pictures are from today. The first are of Hannah and Caleb in the mirror room running around. The second is of the kids in the room waiting for the doctor. I had them counting all of the yellow cars to keep busy. LOL

Day 286

Tonight was our first meeting of the Bubba's. In case you aren't from Texas, Alabama, or Mississippi a Bubba is pretty much what you see in the movies that are set in Texas, Alabama or Mississippi. The Bubba's didn't disappoing either! I counted 7 pick up trucks, more showed up later. I saw Friday's night Wranglers starched, and the best t-shirts. I heard "I need sumpten drank" instead of I need something to drink. Gotta love the Bubba's. In case you are confused it was Caleb's first day of t-ball practice. We have two choices of where to play, with the Bubba's or with Bubba's that don't want to be bubba's, yet they are. I choose real over fake. LOL Before you go thinking I am prejudiced, I come from a long line of Bubba's! I know first hand how to make a pair of Wrangler's stand alone! I love Bubba's and know lots of them. I will say though, my little Caleb has model hair and well, bubba kids don't. I was so happy when I saw one little boy with hair!!!!! What else can I tell you? One of our coaches is named Bubba, and no I am NOT lying! When I was given directions I was told where to turn and then look for 2 big buildings. Ok, to this city girl when I think of a big building I am thinking at least a few stories tall. Now knowing I am in Porter, which is another universe from Houston, I know there are no "big" buildings. No biggie, shouldn't be too hard to find right? Well, after I pass a trailer park...not manufactured homes, a real life trailer park with trailers from the 60's and 70's, there is a storage place, then the highway. Luckily, I see the gathering of trucks! Even Josh says "those are not big buildings!" The big building I was looking for was a tin storage place and there were 2 of them. LOL So, in this picture Caleb is wearing the blue shirt. You can see his hair! In the background you can see one of the trailers. Also behind the man in coveralls (I am shocked people still wear those, especially people under 60) you can kind of see part of a flame from this HUGE bonfire the man in the trailer has going on. I guess he missed the memo about the burn ban because we are in a drought!

Day 285

I discovered something wonderful today!!!! I was having a mommy doesn't want to deal with lunch moment on the way home from church. I surprised the kids with some good old Tex-Mex. Well as luck would have it we were seated at a table next to 2 of the teachers at the kids school. I swear my kids have never in my life been so well behaved at a restaurant. It was so pleasant. There was no kicking, screaming, fighting over colors, whinning, rolling on the floor under the table...it was just wonderful! The kids even raised their hands when they wanted more to drink...just too funny! Anyway, when we got in the car I thanked them for being so good. No lie....Josh and Samantha said we are always good at school and don't want our teachers to know how bad we really are. I swear I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to crash! Now mind you my kids are not really bad! We just have had our moments in the past in restaurants that makes the whole ordeal unpleasant for everyone! I need to find teachers in every restaurant we ever go!!!!

Day 284

Happy Valentine's Day!

Day 283

Despite Samantha being sick, I went to pick the piano up today. Well, I didn't really pick it up. I showed up, called to have it brought down and watched it get loaded into a truck and then a few hours later unloaded in my house. LOL Let me tell you, in my house this piano will NOT be "silent". Just in case you are wondering...because I know some of you know we are in pay off debt mode, not buy more stuff mode. This is not a new piano...well it is to us. The church is selling a bunch of them. I have wanted one forever and at this price I just could not pass it up. When I saw the notice I was so excited I ran to Marc's class and pulled him out to come look. One of the kids will soon be in lessons. Probably Samantha, after baseball season. I refuse to be run ragged by kids activities. It is not good for us as a family. We like to sit down and eat dinner together every night! This picture was taken within minutes of the delivery guys leaving! Oh and yes, I know her hair is a mess. I got the boys off to school and left the house with Hannah and a very sick Samantha at 7:20 this morning. Getting everyones hair brushed was not at the top of my list. After a few errands we walked in the door at nearly 11:00. Just in time for the piano and Caleb. Left again at 2:30 for the carrider line and doctor for Samantha. We didn't get back home until 7:00 pm. Samantha managed to change out of her pj's to put on more pj's, but I still don't think the hair got brushed. LOL

Day 282

I really don't think this photo needs explanation! Today I pulled out the Once Upon a Potty video. We have had these videos since Josh and Samantha were toddlers. I have really been in no rush to potty train. Let's face it, who is? Ok, so with kid #1 I was. Back then I had all the time in the world. Now I think potty training is a hassle. It means we are home bound more and have to stop at every public restroom at least once. YUCK! No fun when you have a basket full of groceries and 3 other kids with you. So, no rush. Today I was feeling extra energetic for some reason, so I grabbed the movie off the coffee table where it has been sitting for a while. I had to take it to my room because it has a semi-functioning VCR. Hannah sat of the potty singing and somewhat dancing. She made me rewind (do you remember what that is?) 10 times! Finally she was done...of course she never actually did anything, but she sat. She loved the "Potty Song" and I can see us singing it in the future....the things us moms will do for our babies.

Day 281

Here is Hannah and her friend on stage checking out a light after dinner at church.

Day 280

Today we had to let Sandy (our dog) hang out inside because of the rain. Hannah loves Sandy. She was just standing next to her laughing so hard. I never figured out why she was laughing like that. I did get a picture of Hannah giving Sandy hugs and kisses though.