E.T.

We have sad news about E.T. As of Wednesday July 15, 2009, E.T. is no longer with us. We tried everything we could for the little fella, but he was just too hurt to thrive properly. The girls are taking him to the "Pet Cemetary" tomorrow morning, so he can have a proper burial.

This photo was taken on the 13th of July. E.T. was on his little cage, on our hearth. He flew from there to our couch, where I was sitting. He proceeded to walk up by me and on my computer. I snagged this photo, because I couldn't believe he did all that with what little energy he had. I didn't leave him here long, due to the fact I needed to type and I didn't want him crapping in my keys. (NASTY!) I am very proud of the girls for doing everything they could for this little bird.

Family is...

This is for my Mom and Sister. I love you both more than you can possibly imagine.

Family is...

Loving one another unconditionally.

Knowing when to listen.

Taking the time to call and say, "Hi"

Knowing you have a shoulder to cry on.

Never giving up.

Standing up for one another.

Being able to "vent" without being hung up on.

Understanding.

Sharing the small things.

Family is...Forever

Pictures taken March 19, 2008

"Bye Bye Birdies"

Well, the day has come. The tiny baby bird have grown up and are ready to go be with their little birdie families out in the big big world. Madilyn and Morgan have been these babies sole caregivers since the day they brought them in the house. There were many tears shed today, but both girls know that they will be fine. They did a wonderful job and I am very proud of them. Madilyn made at least 2-3 bird feeders and has made sure that they will have access to water.

We originally planned to let them go over a weekend; however, when we got home from one of my appointents today there were 2 doves sitting on the patio chair looking at our birds in their bird cage. We decided today would be the day...they had friends to follow!

Here are some pics of the sweet babies.

Baby is on the left and Buddy is on the right.

Morgan is not quite ready to let them go yet.

Here's Buddy! He was the bigger of the two, and seemed to be about 3-4 days older.

And here is Baby...looking right at the camera. It is funny that Madilyn can call their names and they will turn to look at her.

____________________________________________________________________

Now here's the kicker... A couple of weeks after we found Baby and Buddy, the girls' Dad found a bird out by our curb in the front yard. The bird was barely alive, bleeding and smelled NASTY! Of course, he brings this bird in the house. Madilyn immediately begins nursing the bird back. She and her Dad fixed the hole in his gullet, and Madilyn was able to give him some water. We weren't sure the bird was even going to make it over night, so we did not name him. Low and behold, the next morning...he was moving around and looking up at us. So we took him out of his little bed, and put him down to see if he could stand up...the little booger started walking around. He looked just like E.T. when he walked...so we named him E.T. As of today, E.T. is still alive. He has his ups and downs, but he is growing and has learned to glide. We are all keeping our fingers crossed that he will pull through, so we can send him out to meet up with Baby and Buddy.

So this is what I look like...

...To a 3-year old! Hailey took this picture of me the other day! She told me to say cheese, so that is what I did! Kind of interesting to see things from their perspective!

Some People

I just want to take a moment and speak my mind about a certain somebody...name unknown at the moment. Thank you JACKASS for making my travels today a living hell! I don't know what you were thinking standing on the overpass trying to take your own life. REALLY!!!! Is your life that bad? Did you even jump??? Or were you just prolonging the fact that your stupid ass was going to jail for fleeing from the police? It was 106 degrees outside today....couldn't you have put this stupid attempt on your life on hold for a cooler day??? Maybe during a workday...in between rush hours? OR better yet...why didn't you jump??? Or at least try to jump off the HIGH 5 in Dallas...you would have had a much better chance of actually getting the job done there! So...having said that...thanks again for all the crap you put every driver who had to wait for you to decide whether or not your life was that important to you today! I really appreciate the thought you put into this....next time...DON'T TAKE SO LONG!

FAVORITE SONG!!!

As many of you know, I go back and forth on the types of music I listen to. I listen to everything, but I go through phases. I am slowly weaning off of my 60's and 70's kick right now (lets face it...they won't be coming out with anything new...RIGHT?)...and am now moving on to a country kick! And my favorite song is "I run to You", by Lady Antebellum!!! I am buying the CD tonight when company leaves, but for now I have it downloaded on my PC, so I can bust my speakers while I am playing games! If you haven't heard this song yet...just give it a try. If you like any kind of country music, I am sure you'll like it!

Let the swimming begin!!!!!

YAY!! Summer is here and I am not couch-ridden anymore! My first exposure to real Texas heat was last week. I am still peeling, but that is beside the point. We went to a pool mostly for toddlers, but the big girls had fun playing with the little girls.

Our pool here at home was still in the process of becoming unstinky! Yes, I am notorious for letting it go through the winter...which inturn leads to the nastiest, funkiest, mess you have ever seen! I "think" I may (sorta, pretty sure) not let this happen ever again. The pool is georgeous now....sparkling and all...just like a pool should be! Here is our first day in!

This was actually taken at the toddler pool. Caitlin had finally got the hang of moving around the water. She was walking to Madilyn!

An actual shot of everyone...except Nicole..she was the camera woman. Was anyone even looking at the camera??

Ok, now this is more like it!!! Our pool!! YAY up and running! This is how Hailey jumps pretty much every single time, and every single time it is a belly flop!

Caitlin getting ready to jump...not sure why I am not ready to catch her....

Ahhh...Powdered sugar donut break! These little dusty devils are better left for outdoor eating! Especially when the kids can just jump in the pool and be clean! Oh, and as for the crumbs...nothing like the Obi vacuum!

Sliding WHEEEE!!!!

Now this is what I'm talkin' about right here! Laying out (yes, those are my legs), getting pulled around by Madilyn, and watching the dog...living it up!

I think Obi has claimed this raft as his own. He loves floating around on it! You just have to be there when the little dork decides he's done, or he'll drown. Well he won't drown, but he will make a very good impression of it!

More sliding!!!

Getting my Caitlin kisses! She absolutely loves the water...but not as much as she loves her

Na-Na

Christmas in July (almost)

Well...I didn't post a Christmas Blog...YEAH I KNOW!!! Anyway...I found a CD with lots of pics on it and picked out some of the good ones. They were all taken around the holidays. I hope you all enjoy.

Madilyn, Hailey and Caitlin with me. I wish I could get one picture of everyone looking at the same time!

Blaine, Caitlin and Madilyn.
Morgan and I were home sick with the nasty stomach bug. Madilyn came down with it the very next day. Anyway, they were making the annual Gingerbread House at Nana and Papa's. I wonder if all the candy actually made it on the house...or if it landed in their tummies!

This picture is just priceless. We actually had 4 Christmases this past year. This was Christmas with Daddy and Nicole. The girls really wanted new radios (their radios had slowly gone kaput). Well here they are getting them!!!! I love it!

Madilyn singing her solo at the Christmas Program for school.

Morgan...I know it is a little blurry...but this is Morgan in true Morgan form!

My Hailey and me! There is nothing better than sitting in the big rocker at Nana and Papa's and just taking a load off.

Little Miss Caitlin and me. Her little cheeks were so rosy...must have been the cold weather beating her little face up.

I stand corrected...

In regards to one of the previous blogs, "Summer begins...meet frogs", they are indeed TOADS!! Even worse in my opinion. And let it be said, that I told the girls they were going to get warts from holding them. However, the eldest smarty pants recants with, "That isn't true! I looked it up on the internet. It is an old wives tale!" So much for that huh???

Anyway, the day is coming to and end, and the girls managed to get by with not having to clean their room. I totally forgot with all the chaos whirling around me today! You can bet I will get them to work tomorrow!

Summer begins..part 2...meet birds

Ok, so I finish the last blog, and the girls come running in from outside! They have a nest of birds! They used to be in the tree by our pool, but it must have fallen out with the strong winds that came in during the last 2 storms we have had. The nest was nasty...it is now gone. Where are the birds now? In a towel, on my chest! WHY ME LORD???

Here they are...tweedle dee and tweedle dum!

Did I mention that if I don't keep them alive...i will be blamed for their death for the rest of my daughters' lives?????

And summer begins...meet frogs!

Ok, so most of you know that I spent the first 3 days of our summer vacation in the hosptital. Not fun, I know! The girls had spent their days and nights here and there while I was in the hosptial, and once I was home they found it unbearable to be couped up in the house with me. Meaning my daughters bailed out on their sick mother....in exchange for playing all day with their little sisters.

Anyway...2 nights ago we drained our swimming pool (mostly). Last night...we are sitting in the living room, and hear this obnoxious noise coming from the backyard. It dawned on me that when we drain the pool, frogs tend to use it as a form of skydiving. I knew there was at least one frog out their, and possibly two. But is was too late and too dark to investigate the situation.

Well, upon the girls awakening this morning...they were out the door to see if the frogs were there. AND yes they were! There were 2 of them in the shallow end of the pool, and one near the deep end. S0 without thought both girls were in the pool picking them up. Saying things such as "aww mommy they are soo cute", and "oh mommy I love them", and "I wish we could keep them until they die" are just some of the things I heard as they were so deeply wrapped up in these nasty kritters. I have no idea where they get their bravery for picking up nasty, bumpy, cold, ugly, and smelly creatures....IT definately did NOT come from moi!!!

Below you will see some of the pictures I took of them during the whole fiasco! Soory the pics are not the best. I used my phone.

According to Madilyn...this is her frog and it is a girl!

According to Morgan...this is her frog and it is a boy...because it expands his throat.

Here the girls are holding them, right after they had found them in the shallow end of the pool.

The girls stayed outside for a while longer...and low and behold Morgan comes running the house screaming, "Mommy Mommy... we made the frogs a habitat! This is the habitat!

WHERE IS THE HABITAT???? In MY cooler!!! What in the name of all things Holy do they think they are doing???

So there they are...in my cooler! GRRR!

The poor frogs, scared to death...starving to death....probably suffocating....being held captive by my crazy children...IN MY COOLER!

This is the girl...I think!

As I was typing this blog...the children managed to get the 3rd frog out of the deep end. And not too long after that...the frog escaped from the cooler! They are convinced that there is another frog in the deep end of the pool drowning!

AAHHHHH....the joys of summer!

Madilyn's Musical

This blog is dedicated to Madilyn Grace.

From the moment Madilyn was born, I knew there was something very special about her. She came into this world calm and curious. I always knew when she was taking something in, because she had the "look".

Along with many other talents and gifts, Madilyn has the most amazing ability to know what others are feeling, which allow her the ability to calm the scared, comfort the sad, or just plain make you bust a gut when you are having a bad day. Madilyn is an old soul, she knows what this world is about, and she knows that love and understanding will get you along way with a person, no matter who they are. Her compassion for all living things never ceases to amaze me. She can calm and infant, cheer up a toddler, and even take an animal that isn't very friendly and turn it around in minutes. Animals feel her presence, and know she will not hurt them.

When Madilyn started talking (around the age of 1), she was full of information and questions. Soon after she began to talk, she also began to sing. Her singing is amazing. She can hear a song, once...maybe twice, and if she likes it, she will sing it perfectly the next time she hears it. This was happening even as a toddler. I knew then, she was born to sing.

As the years have gone by and she has grown physically, mentally and spiritually, she has become my inspiration. Her voice is like an angel, warming my soul.

My first born daughter, my life, my laughter and my love, so carefully packaged into one beautiful soul for me to cherish and love for the rest of our lives. I cannot be more thankful to God than I am this very minute for sending me such a wonderful gift.

This is for you my daughter. I love you with all my heart and soul.