You know those days?

You know those days when everything has been wonderful, and you're happy and peaceful, and then suddenly you feel a little bit melancholy? Well, that's me today. It's a mixture of things, really. I know that the main reason is that my husband is gone on his fishing trip and tomorrow is his birthday and I really miss him, but another is that I looked at my little sisters family post today, and I miss the girls and I'm sad that they're going so far away for so long. And then I started thinking about how far away the rest of my family is, and how much I miss everyone, and well, here I am....I hope that you all know how much we love you!!!!
In happier news, the Spurs won game 3 on Friday night (it was Friday, not Thursday). Sadly, though, we lost game 4 today. Even though it would have been nice to sweep Phoenix (because they are such bad sports about everything and play so dirty), I'm glad that we'll win at home. It's always more fun to finish out a series on your home court.
Everyone should also know that Webkinz have taken over our home. There are now 26 (insane isn't it?) Webkinz running around my house. The kids took them and lined them up on the stairs in the living room. It was a little bit scary. On top of it all, my children need every single one, along with their build-a-bear, to go to sleep. And of course, Carlye and Noah have several books in their beds with them as well. I really don't know how they sleep. I'm really quite impressed.
I would also like to make sure that everyone knows that as of the time of this writing there is exactly 18 days, 5 hours, 22 minutes and 37 seconds until the release of Prince Caspian. (I have the countdown widget on my computer). I know that this is very important to you all, and I will do my best to make sure that you don't miss the release of this wonderful movie.
Well, I have at least 12 loads of laundry waiting for me, but since it's Sunday I'm going to make myself rest and go watch August Rush. I haven't seen it yet, and I can't wait to watch it. I'll do the laundry tomorrow. After all, unless something really weird happens it will still be there tomorrow.

Of fishing, Spurs and clothes washers

Well, I know that I still haven't posted my camping pictures, but hopefully I'll do that soon. I finally went to the doctor and he told me that I have bronchitis and wheezing. I'm on a Z-pack (antibiotics) and an inhaler. So I should be well soon, which is good because Carl leaves very early Saturday morning on his birthday fishing trip with Dave-o. They'll be back late Wednesday night. The kids are sad, but we have the Webkinz extravaganza and that should be fun. Also, my clothes washer has expired. It lived a good life, and died in the line of duty. I now have a wonderful, beautiful front loading washer that can do 18 pair of jeans at one time. My dryer can only do four. Oh, well. Maybe it will break soon, too. I should talk with Noah....... Anyway, I wanted the red one but it was $1500. Carl says that a can of spray paint isn't.

SPURS ARE UP 2-0!!!!!! Go Spurs Go! The next game is Thursday night at 9:30 our time. Apparently it is not important to the NBA that Texans sleep. We'll win that one, too - just in case you were wondering.

Well, I'm going to try and take a little nap now. My doctor said that it's good for me. It would appear that he lives in a world where good for you and reality co-exist. I should move there.

Playoff Season has begun

Spurs just won the first game of the first round of the NBA playoffs. They beat Phoenix (who has been picked to win the first round) in DOUBLE overtime 117 to 115. Once again, Obi Wan Ginobili saved the Spurs, not to minimize the importance of our stars Timmy and Tony. Tim's 3 pointer was phenomenal! Sleepless nights and high stress games, here we come! Go Spurs Go!

Quote for the day

When we were crossing the creek today - after preparing the campsite for the girls - I was holding Noah's hand and admonished him to be careful so he wouldn't fall into the creek. This is what he said. "Mom, it's okay, I dry. It's okay. I was made to get wet and then I dry. It's okay. That's how I do it."

Camping Trip for the insane

People always joke around about how mothers lose their minds after their babies are born, but I'm beginning to think there may be some truth to this. After three children I believe that we can officially say that I've lost it. Tonight I am taking 15 little girls from church (7 to 11 yrs old - and Lili who is 4) on an overnight camping trip here at the ranch. I have always loved camping, in part to our young women's camping trips, but mostly because of my daddy, and I wanted to share that love with girls who might not otherwise be able to go camping. Of course, since we are on the ranch and not at a public camping facility there is no indoor plumbing. And girls are usually not as graceful at going to the bathroom outside as boys are. With a heart of expectancy I have an abundance of Wet Ones anitbacterial wipes and anitbacterial gel. I have to admit, though, I am REALLY excited! (I know I use caps frequently, but who cares?, it helps me to express myself). We're going to cook our hotdogs over the fire - I have 16 extra in case of fire and dirt droppage - make s'mores of course, and even go fishing. One bummer part, though, is that it has been in the upper 50's at night and last night a cold front came in, so now it's going to be in the lower forties. I think I'll be bringing some extra blankets. I just hope that the girls think to pack warm pajamas and not little nightgowns! I'll take pictures and share some with everyone tomorrow - if I can figure out how to get them up. Carlye is of course very excited. Wed nights at church the girls have Princess Academy and the boys have Survivor Camp, and Carlye doesn't think that's very fair. So she is pumped about taking the girls camping. She's already prepared a lesson in using yucca leaves to make string that can be used for making fishing poles and spears. Nathanael and Noah don't think this is fair at all, and really want to come with us. I told them that they get to have special daddy time, but apparently that is not as cool as camping. They have been so sweet, though, helping me get the campsite ready. I'm taking the girls to the back of the ranch and making them hike in, but I'm going to have the food already there because I don't want to have to carry it! A camping we will go, a camping we will go, heigh-ho the dairy oh, a camping we will go......

Sleep is for sissys

Have you ever noticed that children do not believe sleep to be nearly as important as adults? Now I really don't have room to complain, because my kiddos have never been big "night wakers," but when they decide to do something, they do it right! For the last several nights my children have not only had a difficult time falling asleep, they have been waking up at night as well. For two nights in a row the boys woke up (at different times) with night mares. Then, last night was really fun. I was still feeling crummy, and so I finally decided to take a bath at about 2:30 this morning (I know, it's weird, but it helps me feel better!). While I am in the bath I hear BOTH boys come in to talk to daddy, crying. Of course, this time it wasn't nightmares, it was MUCH more important. Noah was holding his High School Musical necklace (which his best friend Brookie sent him) when he fell asleep last night, and at some point during the night he woke up and couldn't find it. He started to cry, and then woke Nathanael up to help him look for it. Now, for those of you who know my oldest son you know that he does NOT wake up well, so instead of helping Noah find his necklace he just started to cry and ran for our bed. Thankfully Daddy handled the situation, so I was able to finish my bath and go back to bed. Needless to say they were feeling very cheerful this morning after their early morning escapades, and getting ready for Children's Day Out was a real treat. Then, this afternoon I decided to take a little nap since I was up most of the night. As I'm lying there reading I here a really scary "thwack" hit our window. Carl was busy, so I got up and ran to the window to tell the kids that we do not throw rocks. "I didn't throw it," Nathanael informed me, "I spooned it and it went crazy." Of course it did. I have since learned that spooning is when you take a plastic spoon, place a rock in the bowl, and launch it into the air. After this we sent Carlye to take a bath. When we looked in the bathroom to check on her we saw Nathanael (shirtless, with black shorts and flip flops) sitting next to the tub in his baseball beanbag chair, lounging. Next to him was Noah (in shorts, t-shirt, crocs, and a fleece hunting hat with ear flaps) lounging in his chair. Carlye was sitting in the bath reading them a book. I'm not sure what inspired this odd little gathering, but it sure made us laugh.

Music explanation: "I will be here for you" mine and Carl's song; Tru Dog, the kids favorite song (I like it, too); everything else I just really like and has absolutely no explanation.

To foster or not to foster, that is the question

Well, as I am still sick, and subsequently incredibly bored I have decided to regale you with tales about absolutely nothing. Truthfully, the thing that is foremost on my mind right now is whether or not my husby and I should become foster parents. The system here is completely saturated, and so many children are going into group homes simply because there is no other choice. Now, on top of it all, many of the children from the compound in Eldorado are being sent here. Truth be told, I really want to do this, and have for a long time. Carl, on the other hand, is still praying about it. Obviously we wouldn't foster above the age of our youngest child, so that would give us some pretty demanding charges in the form of infants. Ah, well, we shall see what happens. It just breaks my heart, though, to think of little ones being placed in a group home without a mommy or daddy to take care of them - even if they're just temporary parents. I think the hardest part about making a decision, though, is knowing whether or not we will be able to say good-bye when they are adopted or returned to their parents. Especially when you don't think that they should go back to their parents. And we would have had them for so long I know that we will all be very attached (average placement is 6 mo to a year from what I understand).
Just have to add this, though. Carl and I are huge fans of the Biggest Loser - we LOVE the show. Anyway, Noah was watching a rerun with me, and kept commenting on how big they were before they lost weight (some people started at 400+ lbs). He thinks that big is good, and he kept sticking out his little tummy and saying, "See mommy, see how big I am! Aren't I getting big, too?" I think that I may have a little bit of explaining to do. We have been working on making good food choices though, and I am proud to say that when Daddy brought them to McDonalds yesterday (I've been sick, ya'll - I'm just glad he feeds them!) Noah picked apples instead of fries. It brings a little tear to my eye. So proud.
Well, that's all for now. As I said, though, I am sick, so you may hear from me again today. It depends on how acute the boredom becomes!

And so it begins.....

I have never had a blog before. I honestly didn't see the point. However, I have enjoyed my sister and her husbands so much that I decided to create my own. I honestly don't know what I'm doing, so I apologize in advance to the poor soul who inadvertently wanders in and finds that they have wasted their time. I love being a wife and mom, and I love to write, but I have found that the two are not necessarily conducive to one another. So, here I am. Prepared to dazzle the world with my brilliant tales of life as a mother in this modern world of chaos and little time.