Happy Birthday, Mary Katherine!

I'm posting this late in the day, but I'm just now getting back to the computer to finish the posts I started this afternoon! I wanted to wish my wonderful friend, Mary Katherine, a very Happy Birthday! MK, I hope your day has been extra special! I'm so thankful for your friendship!!!

This picture of us was made at our Bible Study Christmas brunch in 2004. We first met in this Bible Study. We then started walking together that next spring, pushing Rhett & Zachary in the strollers up and down the steep hills in MK's neighborhood. We started getting the boys together to play a lot and they always had a lot of fun together, too. Although she has moved back to Texas, she is still one of my dearest friends and always will be!

Happy Birthday!

Tagged!

Heather tagged me for a photo game...the rules:
1. Open your pictures folder.
2. Go to the sixth folder.
3. Open the sixth picture.
4. Import into your blog and tell the story.

This photo was made January 2, 2008--Alexee was 11 months old. It was just one of the millions of pictures that I snapped for no specific reason/event. I loved this soft green jacket she had on--she'd just received it for Christmas and this was her first time to wear it. She was looking out the window in the guest bedroom.

I tag: Kelly*, Judy & Jacquie

*Kelly, if your 6th folder, 6th picture is one of those of us in high school with big hair, I "un-tag" you! ha ha! :)

Saturday

My stomach seems to have really grown this week, which is scary because I remember the big growth week hitting me at 23 weeks with Alexee (we were in Las Vegas, and all of a sudden I looked really pregnant. Maybe it was partly due to the huge Paris Hotel breakfast buffet!?). I will be 17 weeks tomorrow...so I'm a little worried...is this going to be a 13 pound baby!? This picture was made before we went to get donuts this morning--thank goodness I had Lane snap the picture BEFORE breakfast!While I was having my picture made, Rhett was climbing the one tree we have in our yard. Alexee was getting mad because she wasn't able to climb up behind him.

After breakfast at Krispy Kreme, we went to Petsmart to get a few Bogart supplies. It's always an entertaining place for the kids. Rhett showed Alexee all the animals in the store. She got really excited about the mouse (or whatever it's real name is--they all look like mice to me).
I'd never want to deal with a bird, but they are so pretty--they have such beautiful colored feathers! I think they're fun to look at.
We went in the cat adoption area and Alexee was so excited to see a cat close-up.
See how happy she was about the animals!?
Lane has a few friends coming over to watch the game tonight. I'm mostly just interested in the spinach dip. I'll probably make a trip to Hobby Lobby or work on paintings or A's scrapbook during the game. Hope you have a great Saturday!

Please Vote!

Regardless of the elections outcome, all our voices need to be heard. You can watch a high resolution version at http://66.0.113.106/high_res.php

Slow week

It hasn't really felt slow, but as far as blog material goes, we don't have a lot to report on this week. Tuesday night we had Bible study. Wednesday morning I had my 16 week doctor's appointment (heard baby's heartbeat--a quick visit). Then I rushed from there to the grocery store and back home to unload everything before grabbing a quick lunch with Lane before time to pick up the kids. That afternoon I cooked for my meal day (I switched from Monday for this week). I made a huge pot of chili and a strawberry salad and apple crisp with ice cream. I could tell on Tuesday that I was starting to get a cold, and I thought Alexee was as well. By yesterday, I was feeling pretty rotten and Rhett had caught the cold too. After I put the kids down for bed last night, I went straight to the couch and didn't get up until bedtime. That's really unusual because night time is the only time I can ever get anything done. I didn't even try last night. I think I feel a little better today--we made a trip out to Walgreen's and the post office and the car wash--exciting stuff. Other than that, we've been playing school and cops & robbers today.

Rhett did receive a fun package in the mail this week--the horseshoe he's been waiting on from Mo. He was interested in the shoes last time he visited there, and Mom picked up one of the horses feet to show him. He wanted to take one home with him, but I don't think Mom wanted to send a dirty one. She bought a shiny new one at the farm store and sent it in the mail. He was excited to get it. Here he is trying to open the package:

Rhett loves to play school, and lately he likes to do math problems. I'm not sure what sort of math a 4 1/2 year old should be able to do? He answered all eight of these simple addition and subtraction questions himself and wrote the answers. He likes to get stars by his work. I hope he does well in Kindergarten next year!

Here's Alexee playing with a toy during math class and saying "cheeeese".

Hot Bacon Dip Recipe

I added the recipe for one of the dips from the party on Saturday--it was so yummy. Click here to go to the post with the recipe.

Scrapbook project

My friend Sandra (see 10/17 post) came back through town Sunday and spent the night before flying out on Monday. While she was here, we took Rhett to a birthday party, and then we stayed up until midnight organizing all my scrapbook stuff. She's very organized and accustomed to a lack of closet space in China, so she's very wise and efficient when it comes to supply storage, etc.--she was a huge help!!! She "made" me throw away lots of junk (such as pages from old Mary Engelbriet calendars) that I had no use for anyway--it was the push I needed to get Rhett's books in order and develop a plan for completing Alexee's (year 1) book before Baby #3 arrives. Monday morning we went to Hobby Lobby and the local scrapbook store in search of clear page protectors and to get help in binding R's books (it seems to require an engineering degree to expand and assemble those albums!).

I had several months of pictures (Alexee's) printed out, so she had me sort them by event and had me choose paper for each event and place them in clear plastic sheets for scrapping. She labeled each one with a Post-it note for me so I'd know the date of the event.
She said I had enough paper stored up to open my own scrapbooking shop out of the garage. We laughed about my supply because I'd bought the same exact paper about 4 times--I'm sure I was in Hobby Lobby at various times when paper was 50% off and purchased the same pattern every shopping trip. At least my taste was consistent! We then met our OBU friend, Jennie, for lunch at a neat little place that I'd only been to once before. I will definitely go back soon though--it was delicious! I had a grilled veggie sandwich and their rolls were SO good! It was a quick but fun lunch visit before picking up the kids and dropping Sandra off at the airport. Thanks, Sandra, for all your help in organizing my life--I promise to try to complete the projects we started while you were here--please hold me accountable!

Parten Party

Sadly, our good friends, The Partens, are moving to Texas. Although it's a great opportunity and we're truly happy for them, we'll miss them terribly. They are a very sweet family. I worked for Trent at a local accounting firm several years ago. He was a great boss and a lot of fun to work with. Then, because it's such a small world, I moved to a new neighborhood, attended a Pokeno game at my neighbor's house and met Trent's wife, Stacy! She had a baby boy (Logan) just a few months younger than Rhett, and we started getting together for play dates on a regular basis. Then they had a baby girl just six months months before Alexee was born. We've spent a lot of time together through the kids' activities, and we also play Pokeno together once a month.

Saturday evening I helped with a going-away party for them at another friend's house. It was a fun party...I just wish we'd been celebrating their birthdays or something instead of a going-away! We wish them all the best and look forward to visiting them in their new home/new town!

Trent & StacyJamie, Ali, Stacy, Lianne, Tracie

Lianne had her house decorated so pretty for fall--everything looked great!

We had a lot of yummy appetizer-type foods. One of my favorites was the
Hot Bacon Dip:
1 (16oz)container of sour cream
3 oz bacon bits (comes in a yellow packet- more like fresh bacon)
2 C shredded cheddar cheese
1 (8oz) pkg of cream cheese
1 chopped green onions

Heat oven to 400. In bowl, combine all ingredients. Place in 1 quart baking dish. Cover. Heat 25 to 30 minutes or until hot. Serve with assorted fresh vegetables, crackers and/or chips. Makes 3 cups.

Bargain shopping

Today Rhett & Lane went to Hot Springs for the day. Alexee and I had a fun girls-only day! We ran a few errands then picked up Sandra from the airport at 11 a.m. From there we met our friend Jennie at this wonderful warehouse sale. It is a local company that makes super cute stationery (one of my favorite things!), cute paper plates and napkins, stickers, recipe cards, scrapbook paper, etc. I was sooooo glad we went.

There were boxes and boxes and boxes of cute stuff at a huge bargain!
Alexee was such a good shopper today--I was very grateful because she's usually not so great in the stroller. But she ate her lunch as I strolled through the warehouse and she was a fun little companion! Isn't she so cute!?Sandra and I couldn't wait to get back to the house and look at all our purchases again. We wondered if all the other shoppers rushed home to photograph their stuff? Probably not. I spent a total of $8.40, and I got a box of Christmas photo cards, A's 2nd birthday party invitations, Christmas recipe cards, thank you cards, a few sheets of scrapbook paper, plates, Christmas napkins, stickers, etc. Sandra bought birthday invitations for her son's 2nd AND 3rd birthdays, and she also got her '08 family Christmas cards!
These 20 birthday invites alone would have been over $20 at full price because they're usually priced around $1.20-$1.50 each!

And as a bonus, the little boxes that they had available for shopping are the perfect size for mailing my bow holders! I grabbed a few empty ones and they let me have them!

Happy Birthday, Dad (a day late)!

It's often said that Dads and daughters have a special bond...and it has certainly been true in my life. For almost 32 years I've thought this guy was IT. I've always thought he could do anything (and he can). From the time I was old enough to sit in his shop, I wanted to help him do things, and I still enjoy working on projects with him. I think I was just a few years old when I asked him if I could have a brush so I could help him paint one of his old cars. We've always laughed about the same things and probably have a million inside jokes that never get old (not to us anyway). When I was still at home he got a motorcycle and we rode together a lot (now that I have kids, I know my Mom must have been a nervous wreck every time we left the driveway). He even taught me to ride the motorcycle myself. Actually he told me we weren't going home until I drove it myself, so that's what I did. When I was in college I went overseas for a semester and he came to visit me on my Spring Break which was one of the most memorable weeks of my life. I don't know how he does all the things he does...and does them so well. He's always been a wonderful, Christian example in all areas of his life and the absolute best Dad anyone could ever ask for. Now it's a joy to see my kids being blessed by that same love--they love to spend time with their Granddad!

Happy Birthday, Dad! We love you!!!

Bowling

Rhett loves to go bowling. He has already requested bowling for his 5th birthday. This morning we took him to the bowling alley, and we were the only customers there. Lane and Rhett bowled one game, and I tried to keep Alexee occupied but she only wanted to be right where L & R were. She got very mad if I attempted to move her.

Rhett changing into his cool bowling shoes:Alexee and her pink blankie:
Rhett typing his name into the computer:


Had to stop by the arcade on the way out the door. Stand back when R plays this game--he's a little wild with it!
This afternoon Lane stayed home with the kids while I went to a much-needed hair appointment. Debbie added copper-colored "low-lights" to my hair for the first time--I think I like them! I guess I'm letting my hair grow a little bit longer for now--she just barely trimmed it today. I think I probably like it better short, but I miss the ease of the pony-tail option. When I got home, the kids played monster with my fuzzy socks on their hands, seen here:
Rhett making a monster face:
Then after baths, R convinced A to come hang out in "the most perfect hiding place ever"--the cabinet under her bathroom sink. She agreed that it was a fun place:

I'm back!

I'm still here! Lane is on fall break this week, which has been great! After the picnic on Saturday (previous post), the kids rode home with my parents and spent the remainder of the weekend with them. We've been on a few little trips here and there without the kids, but I think it's been about four years since we stayed at home while they (Rhett) were out of town! It was a really quiet, relaxing weekend, and I was so thankful for a short break, but I was really ready to pick them up on Monday! It was just too quiet around here, and I had no idea what to do since there were no sippy cups to put in the dishwasher, shoes and dirty clothes scattered throughout the house to wash, toys to tidy up, beds to make, meals, snacks and juice cups to prepare, etc. etc. It made me realize how much I love the every-day craziness that goes on around here!

Today the kids had school pictures. They wore their matching fall outfits because you could pay $5 and have a sibling photo made as well. Hopefully they'll be good pictures! They looked cute this morning before they left--hair combed and sprayed, bow in, etc. Then this afternoon L's parents came to visit. R wanted Bobba & Grammy to play in the back yard with him. Here they are "repairing" the deck with some tape from my tool kit (Nicole, if you're reading this, they used the pink tool set that I had in college--ha!).

While they played with the kids, Lane and I ran a few errands to Home Depot and Sam's Club. We bought some (much-needed) organizer shelves for our garage. Hopefully we'll put those to good use very soon.

Grammy and Rhett:
Lane, his Mom & Alexee (Rhett was acting silly and refused to be in the picture):
Bobba hard at work in the kitchen--cleaning up the spaghetti dishes. Thanks, Bob!

We got one group photo, even though Rhett still wasn't really cooperating! I think Alexee liked having her picture made today--she was all smiles! Thank you, Bob & Rose Mary, for coming to see us this afternoon!