Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Saying Goodbye


We are on our way out the door for my grandmother's funeral. Almost 2 years ago, she was given just 4 to 6 weeks to live. The cancer had spread to many areas and into her brain. She in no longer suffering. This is the first picture I could find this am. Landyn was about 1 yr and Kordyn was 8. They both look so little.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Friday Favorites

1. T.J. Maxx- I know, I've said it before, but I love this store. You never know what you will find when you go in there. Today, I bought a new, deep skillet that we desperately needed, a new lamp for the boys bathroom-I love having lamps in bathrooms!, a sign that I will paint with chalkboard paint and hang above my back door (it actually says, ice, cold beer served here and since we don't drink-it's not appropriate, but the $5.00 price and potential were a wonderful find), new decorated dish towels for my kitchen (I collect these!) and a birthday present. All for under $40.00! Love a great bargain

2. $5.00 movies at Wal-mart and Target. Since renting movies is sooo expensive and then we never return on time and have to pay a late fee, buying them for $5 is a real bargain. Yesterday, I picked up Milo and Otis, and Stuart Little. Landyn has loved them and watched them both. Normally, he only has the attention span for about half a movie, but I can tell he's getting older now and can make it through an entire movie.

3. Afternoon naps-don't get these very often, but love to be re-energized after a 10 minute catnap!

4. Creamy Italian Dressing-you have got to check out the recipe I just posted on my recipe blog-it's wonderful

Now, off to get Mr. Moo (Landyn-don't ask why I started calling him that) to bed so that I can finish reading my book

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Funny

For some reason, whenever Landyn tells us that he loves us and we say we love you, too, he follows it with "Thank you for shopping at Kroger!". Guess we've been doing too much shopping there lately? He is too funny.



This picture is of him dancing with his guitar, standing on the couch, the night he decided he wanted to be a member of the KISS (aka, the big bass bumper thumper (in the Cat in the Hat Dr Suess movie). Thankfully he now has gone back to being a ball team player (Cardinals!) At my dad's church a few weeks ago, one of their ministers was talking about an upcoming mission trip to St. Louis and Landyn said "Go, Ballteam!" So glad not very many people heard him.

Monday, July 20, 2009

What's for dinner?

Love showing up to pick up my kids and getting dinner also. Enchilada casserole! IT is my and Jason's favorite. The boys don't like it so they get spaghetti. I would post the recipe, but seeing as how I don't know it and have never made it-I jsut show up and like magic, it's cooked and ready for me! Gotta go eat dinner now.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

What an exciting day!



Warning: this is quite a long story!
We started out our Saturday with "yard jobs". We have had this HUGE pile of tree limbs, trunks, and junks that needed to be burned since the ice storm back in January but it was too green and wet and wouldn't burn so we waited until it was the dry summer to try again. (and we got some old tires to help) As it burned, we watched carefully and sprayed the ground all around it and the shop the was nearby. We were so careful. It died down until it was just the coals left so we thought it would be fine. But....

If you live in NE Arkansas, you know we had a storm last night. Well,about 11:30 we lost electricity, both boys got up because the wind was so loud and we got out Jason's collection of flashlights and I lit candles. Jason went to the back door to look out and saw my umbrella go flying across the yard and as we watched it, he noticed that the coals where we had burned earlier had been stirred back up due to the wind and sparks were flying out everywhere. He took off outside, hooked back up all 3 water hoses and headed out to water it down-I stood at the door and shined his high-powered flashlight for him. About that time, my cell phone started ringing. I figured it was his mom and dad letting us know that there was a tornado warning, but it was our neighbor. Her husband had seen the "headlights" flashing all around our yard and thought we might need help so he had her call to check on us. He was so nice to come down and drive up close and shine his headlights for Jason and helped him put out the fire. It even blew a shutter off of our house and knocked over several plants that were heavy!

BTW, yesterday morning,when Landyn heard what we were going to do, he ran and got on his fireman clothes! He loves all things related to fire. We have to keep a close eye on him when candles are lit; he blows them out!


Needless to say, it was after 1:30 before anyone settled back down for bed, but it was really starting to get hot in our house by then. About 2:30, the electricity came back on. Now, aren't you glad to know all about our crazy evening?

Friday, July 10, 2009

check out the new recipes

go over to my recipe blog and check out these 2 new recipes! They are wonderful.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Happy Birthday, Aunt Amy


Today is my sister-in-law's birthday. So, Happy Birthday!!! We miss her so much and can't wait to see her, sometime NEXT July. Maggie will be sooo big by then! (She and my brother are missionaries in Macedonia, btw). (Sorry, Amy, this was the best picture I could find.) If you would like to know more about their life in Prilep, Macedonia, their links are on the right: American baby in Macedonia and Jeff and Amy Williams

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Summer Fun




Nothing better than a water hose on a hot summer day! Kordyn and Landyn had a blast when they turned on the hose yesterday. I just asked them to water the plants on the side of the house and they ended up wet and "taking a shower" outside-I'm a party pooper because I wouldn't let them get the soap out!

Monday, July 6, 2009

We're Back!

We made it back to Jonesboro yesterday about 4:30. My parents were wore out and I wanted Landyn to get a good nap on the way home so I left Bryant about 1:45, but did he sleep? NO! He talked THE ENTIRE 2 1/2 HOURS!! I was about to go bonkers. Then, just as we turned down our road, he dozed. We are all really off of our schedules. Kordyn went to bed at 11 last night and slept until 11 today. He should be caught up from those 3 am sleepovers he's had with Bryant friends and cousins. Landyn went to bed at 9:45, talked and played until 11:15, got up at 7:30. So, yes, he had to take a nap today-hope this helps him get back on a decent bedtime routine. It was hard last week with them coming in from VB Camp, getting baths, snacks and then to bed.

This is my first official vacation day! It's wonderful to have to agenda for a solid week. I am going to just enjoy my time with the boys and Jason, if he gets to take a day off this week.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

On my way

Well, I'm on my way to go see my boys. We've missed them and are ready to hug and squeeze them! (Kordyn isn't as happy for that as Landyn is) Then the boys and I are heading to ElDorado to visit with my mother's family for the 4th of July! We have had a "family reunion" every 4th since my mother was a little girl. All of my life it's been BBQ pork chops and sometimes sausage with all of the fixins. My grandfather built a slow cook pit by his house and that's where we used to cook, but now with his age and the heat, my aunt and uncle will be cooking at their house instead-they have a BIG grill. Jason will be so lonely without us until we get back on Sunday!