Oh yes I did!

This has been a great week. Not once but twice my friend of 39 years (this month) has been in my very dirty home to spend the night. I love spending time with her and her family!
This morning after Suzie and Nikki left, I put on my big girl panties (true size) and headed into the "tax free jungle". (Oh yest I did)Not because I was planning on saving a load of money (I had some great coupons) or because I wanted to be like all the other goobers in the world, but I went because I suddenly realized that I needed shoes for both kids and feared that IF I waited until tomorrow I would be unable to fine those shoes,and there might be no more jeans my daughter's size. (she is a teen and very picky!) So, We called Aunt Traci and faced the day. We hit the mall which wasn't too bad. We shopped several stores and then ate.(the eating is another story...had to go home later due to what I ate). At one point we decided to go into Victoria's Secret. My son was looking at the back of his new DVD and didn't realize where we were until we went into the store. At that point there was sheer panic on his face. The scene was as follows:

Kauy: Mom, No, No way am I going into this store. Please No. (he is the one who hides his eyes during the commercials and then asks if it is legal to put that on daytime TV)
Me: It will be okay just a few minutes.
Kauy: No, Mom NO
Me: Noticing two teenage boys standing just inside the door waiting for someone, I said to Kauy: You stay here with these two guys. Don't go anywhere. You two guys...you are in charge of him. Don't teach him to drool.(Oh yes I did!) Everyone laughs...I go deeper into the store.
So, Traci, Makaley and I are looking at a few things, and I hear the sensors at the front of the store go off. Then, I hear it again two more times,and one of the ladies head to the front quickly. She approaches my son whose eyes are huge. she looks at him and says: "Sir, I will need to search your bag". Makaley says: "For what, a bra?" I am laughing because I KNOW that my son has nothing lacy,frilly nor does he have Victoria's sexy secret in his bag! He won't even touch my underwear to do laundry. Makaley is beside herself because she knows how he acts at home to anything that isn't his whitey tighties. So they search his bag which contains the DVD and his new lego man. What they finally figure out is that when he came into the store, he had his DVD in his hand covering up the sensor, but when he put it back into the sack and stepped in front of the sensor,there was nothing to block the detectors hence, the alarms go off. And since he is a little on the inquisitive side, he moved in front of the sensors to see if he really was causing them to go off....hence it goes off three times.
He will probably never step back in there again. When he marries, his wife will have to do her own shopping there. I am sure he is scarred for life.
On the way home (about 2 hours later) the kids are talking about how much fun they had today trying on things, looking, and being silly. Suddenly, Kauy says, "And what lessons can we learn from today?" Makaley makes her statement; Traci hers, and I finish up and ask him what his answer is.
"Victoria's Secrets's detectors are messed up. Of course...that store is messed up!"
All in all....the jungle today was bearable because "oh yes I did....have fun!"

Hey mom...Why?

If you are ever in the car with the kids and me you know how the drive(be it short or long) can become one of three things. Either it is "mom make him/her stop",or miles of unstoppable laughter, giggles, jokes and more laughter,or the the mighty "Mom, why did/are/is...?"
This week it is the "Why" moments and then the laughter that makes it hard for me to drive because either I don't want them to know that I am laughing or I am laughing so hard I can't see, OR I am shocked at the conversation taking place. You may not laugh at the following conversations. You may sit there and wonder "wow...what a great conversation". It's your call, but I will say this, I have had the hardest time giving answers and NOT judging! AND...Don't worry, I am not going to the "Wild side".

After a week at church camp(that is in the next blog) and the Wednesday night missions report which included a slide show featuring the "Interlude dance" by all campers, the ride home went something like this.

Makaley: "Mom, why couldn't we do the interlude dance after the video presentation at church tonight. They asked and were told no."
Me: "Hmmmmm could be the instrumental music. Could be the word "dance". Hmmm hello, what do you think?"
Makaley: "But don't people understand that God wants us to enjoy worshiping and praising Him. That is what we were doing...having fun throughout the day. We just wanted to finish out the year with that fun!"
Kauy: Oh, you know. The elders are saving all the fun worship for when the Lord comes again. Then they will dance for joy at His return, then realize what we missed on Earth, and then ask God for just a few moments for the "interlude dance". And to think........they could have done it all this time.

Conversation #2: This one was tougher.Let me set the stage here too. This week, my family will be the ones to go up on the "stage" area to collect the children's offering. No biggie. Well to some it is no biggie, remember.......I am female. Remember.. I don't have a spouse to introduce us...so
Me: Kauy, you will need to introduce our family, talk about the orphanage we are collecting for, and then offer the prayer. Can you do all of that in a nice loud voice?
Kauy: You got it mom.
Makaley: Mom, can't you just introduce us and let him lead the prayer?
Me: No
Makaley: Why?
Me: I am female.
Makaley: No, your kidding. Seriously mom, why?
Me: I am female.
Makaley: Okay, you mean you can't even say "Hi, We are the Ostliens?" What if Kauy forgets can you prompt him? Seriously mom? It's okay for the girls to lead the prayer in our Bible classes. It's okay for girls to lead songs in Bible Class. Teachers all my life have asked girls to do both in class. Seriously? What if a little girl decides to say AMEN at the end of the prayer while her family is up there?" (On a side note..she was getting a little lively and the pitch of her voice rose here. It truly bothered her that I couldn't introduce our family and she might not be able to say AMEN..which we teach our 3,4 and 5 year olds to say in Bible Class.)
Me: That is not my call. I respect the decision of the elders even if I don't always agree.
Makaley: Mom, this is crazy. It's not like you're preaching.
At this point I started the sermonette that has always been presented to me when I ask "why" concerning this church topic. And I ended with my soap box invitation(which I would never offer to give on a Sunday morning) that no one else hears. Maybe husbands and wives should work together in the Bible classes of our young instead of just the wives! They(males) need to be in there to lead, guide, and teach. Until then, the younger generation of females that are growing into adult women, are going to question because the majority of the Bible class teachers are....women.
And, as one of those female Bible Class teachers, I often forget(well, forget is a good word for now) to include the lesson about about women's roles in the church, authority over men(Eve was a help mate), and all those other lessons that are not in the book of Genesis(which is what I have always taught with two women).
I would probably stroke out if a woman led the song service,the prayer, preached, or served the Communion. However....."Hi, we are the Ostlien family". I get her point there!
And I think she got mine. Well, maybe she just agreed so I would quit preaching. Preaching....the thing a mom does best!

My Aha moment

As my son says...."no, the floor isn't cold so nothing has frozen over". I am sitting here thinking of my beginning of the year note to my children, my friends, and myself when I realize my last post was April! I had saved a certain post until the photos came in. They did...I forgot!
As the 2010-2011 school year came to an end, I found myself being the recipient of a few very special honors. All of these were surprises and made me smile. They all made me remember that God made me who I am, the way I am because HE is the I AM and knows what is needed...even when I am not sure about things, frustrated, and ready for a change of scenery.


That is me...in Grapevine at the Vineyards. You can't tell since this photo is small, but I am holding a beautiful glass award. As you know, my kids are part of Big Brothers Big Sisters...we have the best "bigs". THE BEST. Anyway unbeknown to me, our contact person, Suzanne, and the bigs decided to nominate me for a local award. Suzanne called to ask her normal novel length questionnaire and then ended with, "I just want you to know that there will be a guy from our production group calling to set up a time to interview you, your kids, and the bigs. I am excited to tell you that you won the Charles Allred Parent of the Year Award for this area." Now, at this point, I started to laugh! yep I laughed..in her ear!!! Seriously? Me? My kids will not agree with this I am sure! Then she continued to tell me that I had been nominated at the "Lone Star" level (from Houston to Wichita Falls), and had also won that award. At this point I was laughing so hard I was gasping for air. Me? Hello, I am Trina, the one who yells more than once a week. The one who had just been driving down the road the day before, pulled over, got out, opened my son's door and offered to let him get himself home if he couldn't stop what he was doing. Me? The one who mumbles under her breath? Then she explained. It isn't because I am a wonderful Mom, but because I am a parent who works with her bigs. Now that I could handle. Soon after the phone conversation we recorded the interviews. My house was lighted up like a lighthouse and had company for 4 1/2 hours. Jordan, Ashley and Kauy were interviewed in the barn with the pigs. Makaley and Karyn were interviewed at the house and then headed to dinner. I was last. I didn't listen to any of the others interviews. Glad I didn't. What a precious surprise when at the dinner in Grapevine the video was played. Tears fell onto my nice clean shiny blouse. Oh my, the things my kids bigs said about me! Sweet, loving, kind words that made me proud to be part of theird lives too. Jordan and Ashley couldn't be with us because they were increasing their family population by one...Miss Leighton Grace. Karyn was able to join us as did Tony, my sister and her husband. What an honor to be presented with one of the top honors in an organization because I am who I am....me...the mom who just survives and strives for everyone to feel like a family. As for the dinner...four hours long in a winery with lots of people and little space. A 10 year old who doesn't do veggies, or meat with sauce poured over it. Thanks to Michelle Senter, he had rolls and Dr. Pepper! Yep, parent of the year! And then when I began my little 2 minute speech, he graciously placed rabbit ears on his sister! In front of the populated room!



This is my third award of the year! The honor of attending the top 50 plus banquet for the Abilene High Schools. This young man was in my sixth grade ELA class at Clack. He was one of my favorites.(I have more than 50 or so) His creativity was astounding. His manners, study habits, and personality made him a joy in class. Just have to say he was one of the high lights of that year. Many of my students speak to me for anytime we meet in public. They grow up and become beautiful and handsome young ladies and young men. Just last night I ran into one of my students from 25 years ago. We had a great conversation as she caught me up on you 6th grade son. Love my students!!! One even stopped next to me at a stop light last week and just started honking and waving! Anyway...Marquis made my day when he called and asked me to join him at the banquet. I sat with his family (we are all friends) and I was so proud when he led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. What an Honor for me!!! What a joy to watch as his name was called out along with 2 other students who had blessed my room. Thank you for making me remember why I do what I do!

The final award of the school year came when I was honored for 30 years of service to AISD. Yep, 30 years. I only feel 30 so I must have come from the womb teaching. (Susan, don't say it!) For my 30 years of working at a job that I was made for and love, I received a beautiful chiming mantle clock. I cleared off a spot for it, got new batteries into it set the time and let her go. Hmmmm at 3:30PM the next afternoon, it still said 10:45. New batteries;reset; another 24 hours and it said 10:45. I think they are telling me that I have to teach another 30 years to get a clock that works. I took it back this week (ha, you think I would take it during vacation? I am smarter than that. I gave it over 24 days to work correctly). I will get a new one sooner than 30 years! Even though I love my job....that is good news!
So, I must say that my year ended on an uphill moment. That is good because wait till I tell you about the plateau and the roller coaster that followed!

The perfect heart

My dad, bless his pea picking heart, is Mr. Health. He has always eaten small portions of very healthy food and has gone to the Y daily. One day he lifts weights and the next day he runs. Every Saturday he works on his "acreage" and then Sunday is the "DAY OF REST". Monday...he starts all over again. I can tell you that he drinks chocolate soy milk at breakfast. He drinks a glass of cranberry juice every night at dinner. He eats an apple for his "late snack"(about 8:30PM on the nose). You will find him eating sardines, oysters, and if his mom was still here he would eat liver and kidneys too. Just to really irritate my mom, he refuses to eat the same meat twice in a row, and prefers to have different "main courses" every night. He loves spinach, Brussel sprouts, salad, nuts, dark chocolate, and green tea. Now before you gag here, let me tell you that my momma raised us about like that. When we were young, we had to eat spinach, Brussel sprouts, salad, liver, and fish (not sardines or oysters... thank the Lord for loving me!!!) It is just that I chased all that stuff down with bread, soda, bread and then something sweet for dessert number one, two and three. Then I was so full that I HAD to rest. Therefore...he weighs about 10 more pounds than he did when I was born. (Please insert smiley face with tongue sticking out here!) Why didn't I inherit that from him? Now here it is....that great word...BUT...now life at the Ponderosa has changed. About a week before the West Texas Blizzard of 2011, dad went in for a his bi-annual checkup (have no clue why he went twice a year. YUCK) During that visit our family doctor, was listening to the heart and looked puzzled. He looked at the chart, looked at dad and then announced to him: "You have a heart murmur. A real good one." So on the day that we had inches of snow on top of inches of ice, my mom and dad drove up to the Dr. Office (other side of town) for a visit. Within days we were talking open heart surgery. Hello, this is the man that eats sardines, liver and kidneys? The doctors decided that they would do some testing to decide the next step. After a month, they decided that he would be good to go and just have yearly checkups. Here it is again...BUT...he went with mom for her visit to their heart doctor and the doctor announced that he wasn't happy with that decision. So, 2 1/2 weeks ago, my dad had open heart surgery. Let me explain even better. There was no clogged arteries! There was no damage to the heart! The was no unnecessary pressure on the heart! The valve had ripped. The surgeon discussed a pig valve or a mechanical valve if they couldn't stitch his together. Dad became concerned for sure. A pig valve...Would we take him to shows...would he oink? Now the man with a perfect heart has a perfect mechanical valve AND a perfect pacemaker. he got a bonus feature while in there. What a journey. Surgery went well. He was in CCU one night and ICU (if there really is a difference) another. It was home week since my family either knew the people in ICU or a family member. Lots of visitors came and went. I must tell you that they kept us laughing. One of our visitors had open heart surgery by the same surgeon. When the surgeon walked by he spoke to DR. B. Dr. B just smiled and walked on. At that point, Bill said "Hmmm he must not recognize me." Then he grabbed his shirt and did the superman thing like he was going to rip his shirt off (he is over 75) and said "bet you would recognize me now!" Such a woman and obgyn thing. And now...the man with the perfect heart is doing great at home. However no more chocolate soy milk, spinach, brussel sprouts, and green tea. No dark green leafy salad. All those good things are on hold. Including the cranberry juice that he almost threw my son out of their house for drinking the last of it. And now by doctors orders, he is NOT to have certain things more than once a week. Interfers with regulating the medication. But wait...wait for it...he can have all the beer he might like! Ha Ha. What a turn of the menu! My dad still has a perfect heart. It just got a little "bling" added to it. He is still my daddy...perfect in my eyes even when he has his moments. As my daughter said: "Grandad, glad your here with metal and all. Better than the other options." Best of all...he doesn't oink!

Another year older...a sign of the times

Yes, I have explaining to do. Where have I been? What has been so important that I would forsake my buddies that read my blog? What else do I have to do with my spare time?' Hello, it is TAKS season....as well as baseball, Bible Bowl, as well as tax season. Let me just say that I am running around so that I have to write bathroom breaks into my daily schedule. Not because I am so important that everyone wants me to do things for them, but because I am just goofy enough to over schedule my life. I have so much to tell you...I have them all listed. However, I want to let you know that I am a year older as of Sunday. And as of Monday I have had to take an afternoon power nap just to make it to bedtime which has actually been about 45 min. earlier than 2 weeks ago. What is up with that? A sign of the time or is it that when the candle is burning at both ends, and you only have a birthday candle lit, it just gets tough when the flames get close to the middle. So, how did we celebrate? As you have read in previous years, I have gone to Dallas with the church group to the LTC meeting. This time, Easter comes MUCH later, and we did something different. My kids and I (Tony stayed to help my dad out) drove to Weatherford. Okay, stop laughing........I know you are wondering why not San Antonio, Dallas, or Somewhere full of adventure. We went there because that is where we stayed the night so that my son could attend NASCAR with my dear precious Suzie and her husband Bobby. Of course, I swap one son for one daughter (Nikki doesn't really care for NASCAR). I tell you, it was the best weekend so far this year.....okay, the best since we placed champions in the barn! It was the best because: 1. My kids and I have not been out of town ALONE in over two years. My daughter had not done her chores on Friday so she lost her phone privileges. Therefore, there were no cell phones, no videos, no ipods, no nothing but old fashioned books, magazines, discussions, and laughter!! Best of All......no arguing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2. We were with Suzie, Bobby and Nikki. I can not tell you how much we love being with them. Sometimes, I just need Suzie time. Funny thing is that Suzie was at the track with my son and I had Nikki! We just loved our Sunday drive home with them. We stopped and played all along the way. 3. No adventure? You haven't lived until you have had Nikki and Makaley AND stores! We shopped for about two hours. Then we went swimming. We dined at Logan's. We shopped some more. We ate yogurt. We shopped some more. Shopped until Nikki dropped! I think she just made up the fact that she needed the restroom so that she could sit and rest her weary head for a moment. 4. Sunday, we ate breakfast together while my two swam. Then we went to Whole Foods for shopping. Back to Weatherford to the market, then home. Miracles of miracles, my children voluntarily put up all electronic devices so we could talk and enjoy our time coming home. I am going to post my daughter's quote (said more than once) just so that when she is about to take my head off, I can pull this up and let her read it. She said several times "Mom, that was the best weekend ever." and then she would hug me! About 30 minutes later, she would say it again. Another hug. So, Thanks you Suzie and Bobby for my wonderful birthday! Our family needed that! Thank you to the rest of my family who allowed me to be selfish and leave town on my birthday...which was on a Sunday, the perfect time for family celebration time. The day ended with a wonderful dinner for two (thanks Tony) at Outback followed by a thundershower! And now....it is 9:35. I took and hour nap.......I hear my bed calling. Hope it's not a sign of the times.

Hello, is that a champion in my barn?

That answer would be YES!!! Not just one, but two. The photos below are small and I can't get them to enlarge, so get your cheaters on get you a good look!!!!

The first is Reba our duroc. This was Kauy's pig. We got Reba 2nd in our pig purchasing. Reba came in late on a Sat. or Sun. night. Can't remember, but I know that Jordan was excited, and he wanted Kauy to see her NOW! She was beautiful as a baby, but even better as a teenager! (They mature faster than most of us!! )ha ha. Reba was very, very smart. We discovered that she could pull the pin out of her gate lock and take herself for a walk. We had to chain her in her room. I have threatened her owner with the same thing if he didn't get the pens and his room (both about the same amount of dirt and smell) cleaned out. Look closely and you will see a belt buckle and a plaque. That belt buckle is from the Wylie Livestock Show where he beat 6 High School Students for the title of Overall Swine! If you don't do stock shows, that means top dog...well, pig. The plaque is from Taylor county where he beat out about 14-16 for top of class and then won Grand Champion Duroc. She was quite the conversation piece at the barns! He was quite shocked, and I was overly beaming as was everybody else that ever shoveled pig poop in the barn (that covers many!) When we returned home from Taylor County, she formed a taste for orange electrical cords. Just happy that she read the warning label and pulled it out of the outlet before chomping down on it. Of course, she had to do that during the "freeze out" we were having.

The next picture is of Girly! This is Makaley's Chester pig. This pig was to be named Lou Lou after one of our friends since they walked so much alike. BUT....Makaley decided that she would have a hard time putting Lou Lou on a dinner plate if need be so she went with Girly! Girly came into the barn already honking big! She was picked over several times, but as with our pig man Jordan, he just saw something in her. Hmmmm....maybe we should all be a little more like that. Anyway, Girly was the winner right out of the gate. First show we went to, Makaley received Reserve Grand Champion with her. She got all the money and big ribbons. She was on cloud 9 and never came down when it came to this pig. Makaley was the one to find the spots on Girly that scared us to death. She was the one who rubbed her with medication for several weeks. Girly never ran anywhere. She had that teenage strut about her that just screamed..Hello, watch me priss this load of muscle and fat and make you fall in love with me. Makely and Girly like Kauy and Reba did well at every show we attended...well, except Glenn Rose, but that was okay, we didn't want to be too showy! Makaley and Girly won first in class and Grand Champion of breed at the Wylie Show, and first in class and Reserve Grand of breed at Taylor County. Even better, after showing Girly, Makaley was selected as one of the 20 out of over 100 kids who participated in showmanship. So proud of my prissy little girl.

Both kids had two other pigs and they were also winners. Widget was Makaley's hamp. We got Widget first, and my mom named her. Widget was more fidget than widget. Mercy, we poured food into her like crazy, but she just didn't gain the weight. Girly out weighed her by 75 pounds. Widget was also a scrapper. She was in the walking pen with Kauy's cross pig Socks, and they got into it over a dirt clod. (Dumb teens!!) Next think I knew there was screaming and yelling, pigs flipping over in the air (seriously) and Jordan hurdling the the gate. He broke one of our pvc leader whips into a zillion pieces beating these hard headed pigs. Anyway, I figured that Widget wouldn't do well at Taylor county (she had placed 3rd at Wylie) so I went to get lunch. When I got back, there were Makaley and Widget penned in the arena. The judge loved her. She minded Makaley and they placed 3rd out of 16 in the class. The other winner was Socks. She was our last purchase. Our friends told me just today that she was the #1 winner on the grill last week when they went skiing. That is all I can say about that pig!

So where are Reba, Girly, and Widget? NOPE, they are not on a dinner plate or in someones freezer (as far as I know). They are with a breeder, being prepared to become mom's. Told you they mature quickly! Can't wait to see little Rebas and little Girlies. Those were some pigs. They both had the most beautiful faces, great easy going personalities, and could carry their weight majestically.

Maybe I do have something in common with them after all..........

The last picture speaks for itself. Thanks Jordan! And Danny....there's you some reading!

Happy 2011...

It's a new year and I am soooo far behind that once again I look like I am in the lead. Those of you in the lead.....lead on!!! I will follow only if you don't stray!
What can I say about 2o10....
1. It flew by!
2. The new school setting has been a good thing after all. I hate it when God puts a drastic halt to my pity parties!!! My son (who always received the Spirit award which meant we are glad you are here) not only had AB report cards this semester, he also received the outstanding citizenship award for his class first six weeks, and outstanding 4th grade music student second six weeks. My daughter....overcame the issue at school. You just get up from the lunch table and move to a new one where you make new friends. She is also doing great.
3. My job has never been this busy in the fall. We have had some sad situations at school which have kept me on my toes.
4. Pigs, Pigs, Pigs. Pig poop still sticks to everything, and still stinks. Especially in the car when the heat is turned on. We have the best pigs we have ever had. We have Widget, Reba (red), Girly(white) and Socks (solid black with 4 white feet, and probably our next Christmas ham!!!) The kids have won several top awards with them at the jackpots, and this week begins the real test of what we have been doing. We ate Sallye for Christmas Lunch. OMG...you must have home grown ham to understand the difference between "from barn to butcher "and "pig to grocery store."
5. I have had to grow up and admit the following: I am a tad jealous of my friends whose children are already grown up and can take them to the air port so they can fly around the world. But not jealous enough to give up the laughter that is in my house daily!!! Okay, almost daily!
6. This year I also discovered that I am definitely not through with my grief process. Year ten has been tough as well as growing more. There have been so many mile stones this year for the kids, and family has done well, but there has been this empty spot with his name on it. A friend of mine told me there would be days like this years down the line. The week before Christmas, his horse, Blackjack, died. Even the kids were saddened by that, and once again I was able to let go of more tears.
7. We also went to the Cowboy Christmas ball this year with friends. You have to go. It is so family and so fun. I haven't been in....over 10 years. Kelly and I led it the year we got married. The boys (the three amigos from birth) decided that they would ask their moms to dance and then go for the girls. All three of us moms were on the floor at the same time laughing and smiling. The boys were very dashing. Our own dates weren't too bad either! Miss thing....even danced with her brother and a very cute cowboy friend!!! She dances like her daddy. I am still laughing. A body on fence posts! My son was all over the place! They definately didn't get my family's dancing ability.
8.. I am going to be a grandmother.........bet I got your attention. Well, it really isn't a true grandmother, but it isn't anything with 4 legs either!!! Our bigs are expecting, and I get to stand in if needed. That is a big IF because this precious baby is a huge blessing to all, and I figure that the true grandparents will take every opportunity to be here at any moment. But...my son talks about his new "niece" all the time, and I have to assure people that it is not my own flesh and blood!!!! Anyway, we are so excited. We have been so blessed by them.
9. You don't always get what you want for Christmas, but you also get some wonderful surprises. I have a clean and organized shed complete with shelves!!! Now if the mowers (yes plural and yes the ones with gas) would work.
10. Drawing names for Christmas is fun as long as Aunt Traci is in charge of the games!!! We played all sorts of fun games on Christmas Eve. Check out my cousins facebook posts for Christmas Eve. My precious 94 yr. old grandmother even played Left, Right, Center. We played with quarters instead of dollars. She loved it and would have won except she rolled a right and gave her quarter to mom. My aunt hit center, so mom won!
11. We are all double digit birthdays in my house as of 2011. So, do you start saying things like,"Grow up", "You're almost a teenager, quit that!", or do you let them grow slowly and hope that you don't have to come change their underwear in the gym locker room. And with the teenager, it is just the opposite. "Quite acting like his mother!" "Do you have enough perfume on?" Tony keeps me from really going into a spin.
12. We have decided at our house that we want Disney to be closer so that we can go more often. We have family there right now, and every time we get a text (greatest thing since mac and cheese), we feel like we did the week we were there in the spring. We also decided(and the kids have told me more than once) that moving out here is the best thing we have done (except Disney). A few weeks ago, mom and dad were on their front porch at 2AM and we were on our front porch (2AM) watching the eclipse, but mom and I were on the phone talking about the things going on around us! Too much fun! If she had stepped to her mailbox, we could have just shouted! It is also fun when you stop to visit with a neighbor and they tell you that you have really helped the neighborhood look better. Not me, but the yard. ha ha.
13..Lucky number 13! No matter how many lottery tickets you buy, you don't break even unless you win the big one. Well, since I am in Texas and the winner was up in the Northwest, you can bet that I will be teaching on Tuesdays at the university, and hoping to sell pigs for bigger bucks.
Hang on for more to come. I wish that I could tell you all the funny moments we have had this year. My son is such the comedian, and my precious blue-eyed baby girl is working on it. Love them.
Love you...thanks for reading....
Happy 2011