Searching for the Perfect Tree

Yesterday we all went tree hunting, well all except Richard, he was on call and worked. We definately missed him but had a fun time letting the kids run around and finding the perfect tree. Here are a few pics from the weekend.



The two folks responsible for starting all the "Marjason" Chaos!
Look Mom, we can pull the tree....

Me attempting to cut it down...... (ps, that's my tank top tucked in, not my panties)

Ok, I'll pull, you cut

Kirstin doing her part to help.....

Kali doing her part to help

Awhhhh.....success!!! Let's go get us some hot chocolate now.

Cousins!

I can balance on the stump!

Kirstin, Kali, Jacob, Aubrey, Alex and me posing in front of a tree that no one even got????

Andrea, Kali and I. Can you tell I needed my sunglasses?

Kristy, Mom, and Kirstin snuggling on the ride.....

This was actually on the way to the tree farm. They took pillows because they knew they wanted to sleep on the way there since afterall it was a very long ONE HOUR trip to get there.

Kirstin is also sacked out, she was ticked when she found out we took this picture, but too cute in my opinion.

Dancing in PE

The video on the last blog was of Kali. She was in the front row in the white TCU teeshirt with pigtails. This was taken about a month ago. The "program" was too show us parents just some of the things they work on in PE. The video I am posting in this blog is Kirstin doing some moves. She is really proud that she now knows the YMCA.

Way to much caffeine today!

It is 11:41 on Saturday night. I am so tired. All day I have had a pounding headache, but also have had too much caffeine so I can't sleep tonight, I have laid in bed since around 10 and decided to just get up and do something. I would love to sit and watch TV, I actually have a few shows recorded waiting for me, but it is just not comfy in those camp chairs, the arms are broken and you literally just sink so I'll work on my computer instead. The house is quiet except for the sound of the heat blowing and the dogs getting comfy in the kennel. I woke them up when I got up and I think that they think it is morning and time to go out and play. I will need to get to bed soon so the tooth fairy can visit as Kirstin lost another tooth today. I'm not sure, but I do think it is a great possibly that the tooth fairy will need bailed out by the government also soon if my girls don't stop losing teeth. Today I went to class in Kilgore. Richard and the girls worked out at the land for quiet a while. They did outside cleanup and worked in the yard. The brickers are done except for the mailbox and the flower beds and that will be done when the driveway is poured next week. The septic is going in this next week along with the permanent electricity. The painters are finished except for the front door and touch ups and will do that at the very end. The front porch still needs to be stucco-ed and Uncle Dan is doing that for us. Ben is coming over on Monday and starting to lay the tile. We are getting down to the finals and it is looking just beautiful. The redoing of the paint job is much better. MUCH MUCH BETTER. All three of the girls rooms are just cute, so cute. I can't wait to decorate.

Tomorrow we are off to get a Christmas tree. We are going to a farm in Kilgore with Mom, Dad and Emily (my parents live in teenager), Ben, Andrea, and the kids, Micheal and Kristy and also another family. The girls are SO ready to get a tree. And truthfully as much as I didnt' want to celebrate Christmas at the duplex, I also want a tree. It is time and if the house isn't finished by Christmas that is fine as long as I have Richard and my three girls!!!!!

Favorite Song

It is a joke now between my sister and I about how many "favorite songs" I have, but this is my all time favorite Christmas song. I love the feeling it gives me when it comes. I just want to dance and sing, well actually many times I do dance and sing, and YEP, it's scary. But I'm singing/dancing with all my heart. Ha ha ah .....I love the video with all the snow. I remember many Christmases like this as a child. I hope you enjoy the video and song as much as I do!



Ps. You will have to turn off my play list to listen to the video......Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas!

Where are the Doritos?

This has been such a crazy busy week for me. I have been running around like crazy doing my observations for school, volunteering at both Alex's and Kirstin and Kali's school, and trying to finalize many purchases for the house. Then add in Christmas shopping, I have been busy. The girls and I just got home from picking them up from school. Kirstin got out the Doritos and made her a snack. I folded the bag up and "thought" I put them away. Kali decided that she wanted some and I have misplaced the bag of Doritos. We can not find them anywhere. We have searched every cabinet, the refrigerator, the freezer, my bedroom, laundry room, bathroom?????? Not sure what I have done with them. I am sure though that later tonight, we will find them in a crazy place. My mind has been so scattered.

So the inside of the house is being completed re-painted. Yes, I said re-painted. Richard called me yesterday and said, "You need to come out here" I could tell by the way he asked something wasn't right. The silvery blue paint that we put in the whole main area of the house was BAD, REALLY BAD. It looked different in each room depending on the way the light hit it. The kitchen looked lavender the family room looked baby blue. Only the entry looked good. So we had to change our plans yesterday and buy all new paint and have the painters redo everything. It was very frustrating. VERY FRUSTRATING. I'm sure for the painters also. Today when I went back out there, it looked much better. We left the "blue" in the entry way and decided to paint the half bath and the laundry in it also, but made the kitchen and living room a very neutral beige. We are going to bring the blue in the tile backsplash and with the decor and draperies. We are both feeling better today. They are about half way done with the second color we have choosen. My dining room is just BEAUTIFUL. I love the paint in there.

Well Richard found the Doritios. I had put them in a completely different cabinet in the kitchen. Not the chip cabinet and not sure what I was thinking.

The Simple Woman's Daybook!

FOR TODAY December 1, 2008


Outside my window... it is cold and windy, very dreary day, really makes it feel like Christmas is right around the corner.

I am thinking... this duplex is a mess. I have laundry (clean) everywhere and empty suitcases needing to go back to storage.

I am thankful for... Alex, she is home sick today, but even sick is just so funny. She can always make me smile.

From the kitchen... is a sink of dirty dishes, a table filled with folded clothes waiting to be put away, a running dishwasher, and paint samples.....

I am wearing... a sweater with my warm up pants. Looking pretty funny but this morning I observed for school and took off my work pants as soon as I got home. I just haven't managed to take off the sweater and replace it with a sweat shirt.

I am creating... a very funny Christmas present for my dad.

I am going... to be very busy this week. I am observing again tomorrow, On Wednesday I am working at Alex's school in the Christmas store, Thursday doing my regular Tuesday volunteer duties in Kirstins class and then school on Saturday.

I am reading... I have the book "The Shack" given to me by my mother in law, but I'm not sure I will be able to start that this week.

I am hoping... that Alex gets over her stomach bug.

I am hearing... the dishwasher running, and the tv that Alex is watching and also the music on my computer.

Around the house... is total CHAOS.

One of my favorite things... is the Christmas holidays. It is such a fun time of year.

A few plans for the rest of the week: The above, plus gymnastics, tumbling, working out myself, picking out the granite, fans, lights, and maybe even some new furniture.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... this is my favorite picture of all the ones we took on vacation. The background is beautiful, and Richard just gets more handsome every year, and Kirstin, is just well Kirstin, sweet beautiful and my girl....

For other Simple Woman's Daybook's feel free to visit http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Back from Florida

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and week in Florida. We left last Sunday and then arrived on Monday afternoon which was Mimi's birthday. We arrived first so we were able to decorate a little and Richard cooked a wonderful steak dinner. We had a relaxing week of shopping, visiting, eating, shopping some more, eating again, taking the girls swimming, relaxing, eating some more and then yet shopping again. I guess anyone who keeps up with my blog knows that I love to shop. Keep in mind that I don't necessarily have to buy anything either, I can wonder and shop, and dream and get ideas. Thanksgiving was nice also. Mimi cooked some excellent corn casserole, scalloped potatoes, and dressing. We also had the ham and turkey and some fine homemade apple pie made by Kirstin and myself and then a pumpkin pie made by Richard. On Friday, Mimi and Papaw kept the girls and Richard and I left at 6:55 to head to the mall and shop. We had fun spending the day with just the two of us, walking and shopping, and of course, stopping and eating some lunch. Saturday we got up and drove home. It was a long day. We sat on the interstate for over an hour while an accident was being cleared. Thank goodness, it was not us. We were all feeling sad for the cars involved. It didn't look good. It is now Sunday evening. Richard is chilling in the lawn chair watching TV, all three girls are sawing logs. The dogs are happy to be home also and sleeping soundly in their kennel. I am so thankful this holiday season for the family that I have, both immediate and extended. Please click on the picture of Kali to view my slide show from the week.

Thanksgiving 2008

Fantastic Friday's

I love Fridays, it is the end of a week and yet the beginning of a weekend. All is beautiful in East Texas. The weather is sunny yet very cool. I love these mornings. My dogs are asleep at my feet, the washer and dryer is working hard, and I just spent about 2 hours balancing my checkbook and paying bills. No, we don't have that many bills, I just let all my receipts pile up and then do it all at once. It is quite a chore. If I would just keep up with them on a weekly basis, I would do much better. Now I sit here feeling very accomplished and decided I would "blog" for a few minutes before I carried on my household duties. I think after I have the house finished, I am going to head to the gym. We finally joined. I am going to get back into shape. I realize I am getting older and I really want to stay "young and healthy" at heart. I did so good while living in Florida and since moving back to Texas, I have slacked. No more though....(I must convince myself so I type it also :) Ha ha ha ). Alex is bringing a friend home afterschool to hang out. Her name is Klaire. I really am working on my pride because it is kinda embarassing to bring guests into our duplex with no furniture and many boxes, but I do know that is wrong and I am working on convincing myself "IT IS OK". She is a friend from church and also from school. Tomorrow night Alex will go to Klaire's house for her 12th birthday party. Wow, is my first born really in 6th grade and almost 12 herself? Kali is signing up for basketball tomorrow. She is pumped up. She is my athletic one. Kirstin has no desire to play. She will stick to her gymnastics. I love how different they are. Oh yeah, did I tell you how much I have matured? I let them get different haircuts. So for the first time EVER, their hair is different. Kali is growing hers out and Kirstin did the bobbed cut again. I do want them having their own personality, it is just so darn cute when the look the same. Sunday afternoon we are leaving for Florida. Richard got someone to cover the evening part of his call so we are going to make the drive a little easier and make it two days. Then when we get there we won't be tired from traveling, but relaxed and ready to visit. Well I think I am going to get busy again, my dryer has gone off letting me know there is another load ready to be folded and my dogs are getting antsy wanting to go outside.

The cabinets are in!

Wow, it is hard to believe that just around the corner is Thanksgiving. This time of year we always talk about what we are thankful for and I am so thankful for all the talented and amazing contractors we have had on our jobsite. Each person has such a wonderful skill and watching them all come together and build a dream is so fun. Here is a picture of the cabinets. The painters are starting tomorrow. WOWWWEEEEEE! We are still on schedule for Christmas. Maybe we can move in on Christmas Eve. I think that would be fun!

Thursday Thirteen!

Thirteen Places I have lived:

1. Elkhart, Indiana, my birth place

2. Kingsville, Texas

3. Linesville, Pennslyvania

4. Cambridge, Ohio

5. Back to Elkhart, Indiana

6. McAlester, Oklahoma

7. Hallsville, Texas

8. Marshall, Texas

9. Longview, Texas

10. Forney, Texas

11. Pensacola, Florida

12. Back to Forney, Texas

13. Finally, Bullard, Texas!!!

I'm not superstitious, I don't believe in that kind of stuff, but the number 13 is my number! 13 years ago, Richard and I were married on May 13th. A few short years later, Alex was born on January 13th. Life moved along and then fast forward 4 years and Kali and Kirstin were born on August 13th. So as I typed this Thursday Thirteen it gave me goose bumps as I realized this is the 13th place I have lived. These past thirteen years have been working towards this being our home. I truely think God is amazing and feel so blessed that I live here now with my husband and our three girls!