Thursday, December 17, 2009

The Demise of Nintendogs

My sweet girl just located her Nintendogs game today after months of not knowing where it was (because her room is usually a national disaster area).  Her sweet doggie, Harley aka Trouble

did this to her game today:


This sort of thing brings weeping and gnashing of teeth at our house.  Usually, I'm the one saying, "I'm gonna kill him!" whenever something gets chewed up.  But today it was Harley's favorite human who wanted his hide. 

I hugged her and then reminded her that she couldn't leave things out where "Jaws" can get to them.  She laughed and forgot about her wrath toward the little fur ball. 

Monday, November 30, 2009

Christmastime is Here!



It was a beautiful day at church yesterday, so I took some photos with my new camera (It's 12 megapixels and I got it on Black Friday for $69.  Aren't you jealous?!).  I gave the kids our "old" camera...it's only three years old.  It was a doorbuster deal in 2006; I got it for $49 at Target and it was 3 megapixels!!  Oh, how the times have changed.  Even though they have their own real camera now, they must use mine.  The whole family got in on the picture-taking and everyone had to take some.   

Michael and I love photography, so we fight over who gets the camera.  We haven't turned it into a full-fledged hobby yet, but we're working on it.  We are determined to have our own booth at The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival one of these years. 

In the above photo, I was experimenting with foreground shots.  I've seen this technique on other blogs and just love 'em.  This one turned out great.  I love the kids in the background looking at the Christmas tree.
 
I am so excited about Christmas.  It's my favorite time of year.  I enjoy all the decorations, the lights and sparkle of it all.  I love baking sweets for others to enjoy.  I love the parties and the fellowship.  

I also love the opportunity it brings to tell others about the true meaning of Christmas and the hope of Jesus.  I pray you remember every day in December the real reason we celebrate this joyous holiday. 

One of my favorite songs for Christmas and every day is by a group called Downhere.  The song is How Many Kings.  Below are the lyrics.   

Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe after all we’ve projected
A child in a manger

Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliness hero, wrapped in his mothers shawl
Just a child
Is this who we’ve waited for?

Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have whether costly or meek
Because we believe
Gold for his honor and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he’ll suffer
Do you believe, is this who we’ve waited for?
It’s who we’ve waited for

How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only One did that for me

All for me
All for you
All for me
All for you

Watch the video here.  I pray it speaks to your heart.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!!




The turkey is smelling positively mouth-watering right now and there's not too much left for me to make.  Actually, now that I think about it, there is quite a bit but it's all easy plus I have a willing and eager helper, Meg.  She loves to cook and bake.  In fact, she made the apple pie this morning.  I helped with some instruction on the ingredients and assembly, but she did the rest.


Slicing the apples.

 
Pouring them into the crust.

 
 Topping it with an oatmeal crumb mixture.  Looking good!

Michael's parents drove up so there will be six of us.  I love having Holiday dinners at our home.  I wish more of our family could make it down from Indiana. *hint, hint*

Since you couldn't be here this year, enjoy these photos of our day.  We love you all and miss you greatly!


Me preparing the veggies (in my pjs) to go under the turkey while roasting.


Ready to go!


BL took pictures while I put the food out buffet-style.


Homemade pumpkin pie...ummmm!


BL & Meg enjoying mashed potatoes.



Chocolate mousse in a small cup of chocolate.


BL about to enjoy his daddy's dessert!



Now begins the Thanksgiving Feast coma!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

I have succumbed...

Several months ago I stated that I would not be attending opening night of New Moon with all those "crazy fans."  Famous last words.

Five of my girlfriends and I will be attending the 12:01 showing.

Not only am I going to see the movie that night, I am dressing up as Alice and decorating my car.  We will also be meeting at The Goose's Acre for drinks and appetizers, then we'll go stand in line early to get the first pick of seats, hopefully.

I am prepared to hear talking, screaming and texting.  Having imagined the worst, I hope I will be pleasantly surprised, but I will not hold my breath.  I prefer people to be silent, except where appropriate exclamations are warranted, rather than chat with their friends throughout the film.

And I hate when movie-goers pay $9 to text incessantly on their cellphone, which shines incredibly bright in the dark theater.  It hurts my eyes...*whining.  I mean, seriously people, can't you go without texting or talking for a mere two hours?

Knowing these annoyances may occur, I already have a plan:  I will be seeing the movie on the big screen three more times.

During the day the following week, while the teenagers are at school, you'll find me in the middle of the theater all by myself.  This way I'm nearly certain to not have to battle with chatty teenagers.  though, they may not be as bad as the Twilight moms on opening night.  I hope to have the theater all to myself at 10:20 on a weekday morning (I'm not telling you when.  I said I want to be alone!).   

Then, my sweet hubby is going to take me out for a date night so we can see it together.  He is actually looking forward to it because there is much more action in this one.  Since Mom will be in town, we'll have a sitter...for free!  Gotta love those grandmas!!

Last, if we decide there is no questionable material for the kids (11 & 13), then we'll make it a family event Thanksgiving weekend.  They both get excited about the action sequences in the previews and have already expressed they "must see it!"  

I have never seen a movie so many times at the theater.  I can't wait to spoil myself!!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Back to Home School

















We kicked off another year of homeschooling a few months ago.  We added Logic and God's Design for Heaven & Earth Science series to the basics plus Latin and Spanish.  I am excited about this year since the kids are older and able to do more in-depth learning and studying.  They're also learning more about personal responsibility, character and boundaries.
  
We attended the THSC State Convention for the second year and gained more insight into how to implement certain subjects and skills as well as what to let go for later years (like starting grammar in 7th grade rather than doing the same thing every year).  Michael has really gotten into it this year and been more eager to participate in their studies, especially teaching citizenship and planning field trips.

He is a history buff which is a blessing because I am not.  Some things about history I enjoy but all the battles and wars...boring!  I prefer art history.  We both enjoy science.  So, he plans the history field trips; I plan the trips to the art museums.  And we both plan the science trips, like to Space Center Houston or the George Observatory.  We balance each other well.

Both kids are involved in groups for kids their age.  This is great for getting them out to meet other homeschooled children with similar interests.  It's great for me as well, to fellowship with other moms.  We share ideas, encourage one another and, most importantly, eat chocolate and Rice Krispy treats. 

Michael is coaching soccer again.  He was an assistant a few times when the kids were little but this organization is much more thorough in how they run their soccer club. He and B are really enjoying it.  One of the soccer dads asked Michael to join a men's league, so he plays with them twice a week.

Our weeks are full until the weekend before Thanksgiving! We'll be ready for a break.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Our New (Sort of) Puppy

We added a new pet to our home several months ago. In February, Baby Girl saw a puppy running along the fence on the main road in our neighborhood. He had no tags and we had no idea to whom he belonged. He was so cute but we already had a dog, though he was a breed we said we'd always get some day: a Shih Tzu. We were having a hard time resisting the idea to keep him, but we wanted to be responsible about our decision.

Feeling sorry for whoever lost him, the next day we went to the house near where we found him to see if they could help. Sure enough, it was their puppy. However, she had five more; she was trying to sell them. I told her I would have to discuss it with my husband even though her offer was more than reasonable ($100!!).

As I walked back to my car to retrieve the puppy, I could see Baby Girl crying and saying "No!" while clutching the puppy. It broke my heart. I took the puppy from her and turned around, startled, because the owner had followed me out. She saw my sweet girl crying and asked if she wanted to keep the puppy. Of course, she nodded her head. This sweet woman then told my daughter she could keep him and to take good care of him, then gave her a hug and kissed her on the head. She gave him to us. For FREE!!

Piper checking out this new pup, Harley.

While he is very cute, he's still not my favorite pet. Rocket holds that position in my heart. I'm more of a cat person; I love how self-sufficient they are.

My favorite pet: Rocket.

Dogs are just so much work, especially puppies. House training nearly drove me insane. This one still goes in the house though not as often as when we first got him. We've cleaned the carpet twice.

He's not like most dogs who go to the door when they need to go out. Sometimes he does that. Other times he just goes on the floor. We have to be very diligent about taking him out regularly. We wised up to him a couple months ago when we realized he only goes upstairs to potty or find a stuffed animal to chew on. We have since blocked his access to the second floor.

Here he is full grown at 7 months, according to the vet.

Piper, the dog in the first picture, went to a new home. We were considering giving her away when we found Harley. She needed more room to run and a more active family. She was so sweet but just too high energy for us and our lifestyle. We were able to adopt her out through the local humane society. She now lives with a wonderful family that has three little girls who adore her. Oh, her new name is Lady. I hope you're happy and loved, Lady.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

A New "Addiction"

So, the Starbucks addiction has nearly disappeared. I don't need it every day or even once a week. Determined to save more money, I've been making coffee at home with my new French coffee press. It's the best way to drink coffee and enjoy the full flavor of the beans. I discovered some great local coffee shops too and, dare I say, better brands of coffee.

But enough about the java....

On a recent trip to Indiana, my sister was telling me about the movie, Twilight. I recall the hype surrounding this movie last year but having never read the books didn't get what was the big deal. While at the pool with a neighbor, she asked me if I'd read the Twilight saga. Of course, I hadn't. She told me to watch the movie before I read the books or I'd be confused.

On a date night with my hubby a few weeks ago, I saw a table devoted to all things Twilight. So, I picked up the first book and spent the next hour reading the first two chapters. I was hooked. I insisted we rent the movie that night. Oh my word...WOW!! That's all the description I can offer at this point except to say I loved it!

The next day was Friday; I bought the first two books, Twilight and New Moon, at the local used book store and proceeded to finish them over the weekend. I purchased Eclipse on Monday and finished it Tuesday night. Then my sweet hubby called four different Half Price Books around the city and found the only copy of Breaking Dawn available. By the next day I had read to page 612. I didn't finish it until Saturday because we had company; our best friends were down from Indiana. It probably would have been totally selfish and rude to ignore them and read my book. ;)

Now I understand why so many girls and women have gone crazy over this series. Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart were made for those characters. I cannot picture anyone else in their roles. Rob also sings and two of his songs are in the movie, Never Think (playing in the background while they're at the restaurant) and Let Me Sign (while Edward sucks out the venom from Bella's wrist). He's quite soulful. The songs are perfectly arranged for those scenes.

As always, books are much better than the movie and that is certainly true here as well. Having read the books, I understand more of the unspoken moments in the movie. Particularly between Bella and Charlie. Their relationship comes across awkwardly in the film. But what you learn from the book is how alike they are and perfectly content most times to sit in companionable silence. This is hard to convey onscreen.

I also read Midnight Sun on Stephenie Meyer's website. This explains even better from Edward's perspective and when I watched the movie again, I understood even more behind his actions, facial expressions, etc. It is horrible that a friend betrayed her trust and leaked the manuscript. As of last summer, Stephenie had no plans to finish it. But I have faith she will, mostly because she is so loyal to her fans.

While I love these books and have found nothing offensive in them, I will not let my preteen daughter read them. The love story is so powerful and I am careful not to let my children view or read anything that would "awaken love before it's time" (Song of Songs 2:7). The society in which we live makes that hard enough. I am careful to guage their maturity before deciding what to allow them to listen to, read or watch. I do not always succeed but try my best.

That said, I am very pleased that Stephenie chose to keep Edward and Bella's relationship pure and have them wait until they are married. When they do consummate their love, it is not described. I have great respect for the author in choosing to avoid such "word pictures." It makes it even more appealing. I hope the subsequent movies will stay true to this important aspect of their character.

The next movie, New Moon, will be out in November. You can bet I won't miss it at the big screen this year. However, I do plan to avoid opening night (or weekend, for that matter) because of the crazy fans I'm certain will be there. I like to enjoy my movies without all the screaming and carrying on that happens. I experienced a little bit of that when New Moon was previewed while I waited for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen to start. Plus, I know my husband will be more likely to attend with me if I don't surround him with a bunch of hormonal teenagers and women.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Our Drive Up North

We borrowed Kathy's van to make the trek to Indiana for Christmas. Airfare being what it was plus having two creatures (no, I don't mean the kids) that would cost hundreds of dollars to kennel, we decided to drive. Michael was not to thrilled with idea but in the end he said the trip went better than expected. Here are some photos from the drive to Indy.

Before...


After...
Notice the five black bags from the middle to the left side? That's my craft stuff I thought I would get to work on while away. HA! Better to plan ahead and take it than have to buy all new stuff while there, right?! Wait a minute, I just got an idea....

Ready to go?

* * * * *
This was the price of gas at a station outside our subdivision the day we left, December 27th.
We actually got gas for $1.14 at the Kroger's just a bit further down the road.

* * * * *
Rocket did not enjoy the trip. It was a traumatic experience for him. He shed like crazy and everything was covered in fur. Thank goodness for lint rollers. Every time we stopped he tried to bolt out; he even did it at drive-thrus when the window was down. His favorite place was on my lap while I drove. Otherwise, he slept on the luggage in back.

Piper slept here most of the trip--at the kids' feet.


Hope you enjoyed these; I'll post more later. We miss everyone back home. Y'all need to plan a trip to the South. We'll put you up at Chez Ward, chauffeur you around and take you to some of our favorite Tex-Mex and Barbeque joints around Houston. Make your reservation soon!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Bad Friend/Daughter/Sister, Etc!!

I have been horrible at keeping y'all updated. Please forgive me!! It has been crazy and I have not made writing a priority. We're staying busy with homeschooling, and I recently started working out.

Michael and I are looking at university-model schools for the kids. We're planning ahead for the junior high/high school years and praying for what the Lord would have us do. Just taking the homeschooling thing one year at a time. It's enjoyable except when the kids are at each other's throats. Realizing....duh....they spend almost every waking moment together, we decided tonight to get them each into their own activity.

Bdawg played football last year but isn't involved in a sport for the Spring. We're going to get him a membership at the gym with us.

Baby Girl hasn't been involved in anything for a couple years now. She wants to learn karate; there just happens to be a mixed martial arts place down the road so we'll be checking that out this week. We also redesigned her room for her 11th birthday. It's tres chic!

Piper, the dog, is driving me crazy. She needs to learn some manners. We've had talks about appropriate affection but I don't think she gets it. She just loves to stomp on your feet or lick your toes to get attention, so we'll be taking her to obedience school soon.

Rocket, the cat, still rules the house. He lays around like he's the king, which is as it should be for cats, right?!

Last, and yes least, is Spike, the Beta. He's still alive because he doesn't get overfed...quite the opposite. Sometimes Spike goes a few days without freeze-dried worm bits. He sits on top of the fridge because Rocket tries to eat him--stuck his face right in the bowl. When we get busy, he gets neglected. Poor fish!

Oh...I almost forgot the rats. We have rats living in our backyard under the green electrical box. Our neighbor put out poison since they keep showing up in his yard to eat his dogs' food. They go through our yard to get home to die. They never make it. We've found six dead ones in the last week. How many has dear sweet hubby/dad disposed of? That' right...zero!! I've disposed of two and the kids disposed of three. (2 + 3 = 5...okay, make that five rats not six. I was just seeing if y'all were paying attention.) No, I didn't make them do it. They did this without my permission but they did use plastic bags. Good kids!

I'll have pictures to share soon.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Better Homes and Gardens Recipe Saver

In this post you will find some of my new favorite sites that are helping me keep one of my resolutions for the New Year: to reduce clutter and stay organized. The clutter has been taking over certain areas of my home for far too long. I am determined to procrastinate no longer and get in gear.

Thanks to some enterprising and ingenious folks, I am on my way to keeping this yearly resolution with the following widgets, sites, etc. (I found these in the January issues of Real Simple and Better Homes & Gardens.)

Better Homes & Gardens Recipe Widget



This widget helps you find recipes, plan meals for one day or one week, creates a shopping list based on the recipes you choose and even finds coupons for you to use at your local grocery store.

You can also visit BHG.com/cozi for an awesome calendar that helps busy families keep up with all the appointments, extracurricular activities, to-do lists, even photos and more.

Jott.com

This website is great if you seem to only remember things to do while doing something else. I suffer from this almost constantly. It's why I keep a notebook with me everywhere it seems but then I have a gazillion "lists" in several notebooks. Not conducive to reducing clutter and staying organized.

Anyway, my favorite feature about Jott.com is that it turns your voicemail into text that it then sends to you when you tell it. So if I remember a long grocery list while driving (which always seems to happen), I don't have to hope and pray for a red light to type it into my phone. I simply call the toll free number, leave my list then it transcribes my words into a text and sends it to me when I need it. How cool is that! Are you as excited as I am right now?!

Evernote.com

I have all kinds of piles...mostly stacked in my office/craft/school room. I usually know what's in them but am overwhelmed by the clutter. I have a condition that causes me to keep magazines, even from two, three, dare I say four years ago because I am sure I will forget some idea I saw or moving article I read that must be immortalized.

I have given away many to various people because I cannot just throw them away. I have to know they're going to a good home. And when I do give or throw (gasp!!!) them away, I keep a record of my favorite ideas in a separate notebook so there is still paper to stack, file, save....

With Evernote, I can stop being so OCD and let the paper go because it will store it for me online: recipes, articles, etc. No more print outs because I might not remember it later. Similar to Jott.com, it will create checklists for me. It will even store "clips" with its Webclipper.

I am sure there are many more wonderful sites like these out there. I have offered just a few of my faves. I hope they encourage, inspire and motivate you to reduce clutter and stay organized.

By the way, I will be offering a weekly post about keeping resolutions so look for it every Monday on my other blog, Crafty Texan. My goal is to keep myself accountable (no more procrastination), learn from and possibly inspire some of you. Please share your New Year's Resolutions and what you are doing to keep them.