Nature Fest

We went to the Nature Fest yesterday but I forgot my camera. Here are a bunch of pictures from today. The kids had a lot of fun. The girl in the picture is my friend and neighbor, Heather. She has the two blonde children, Brooke and Hunter. Of coarse, the other little girl is Ivy. Brooks absolutely fell in love with the miniature horse he was petting. It was so cute. It was the size of a dog. It was soooooo tiny. He watched them load it up in the trailer and he pouted for about 2 minutes. We have got to get my kids out of this neighborhood and somewhere where they can have some pets. They wanted to bring all of the animals home from the adopt a pet booth. I understand, I used to be the same way.

Brooks Annual "Daddy shirt" Picture

Here is this years picture. Make sure to see other posts below. I am posting two today.

Here is the link to all the previous pictures of him in that shirt

http://leonard-crew.blogspot.com/2007/09/brooks-is-3.html

Faux Finishing

I was at one of my neighbors house and saw her bathroom that she had glazed. I loved it. So she came over to show me how to do it and we ended up half way done before we knew it. She jumped right in and wanted to help me. It was really nice of her. I really, really love the way it turned out. She wants to come over next week and help me paint the ceiling chocolate brown. I don't know if I am up to that. That would make a huge mess, but I know it would look good. The ceilings are like 12 feet and it would make the room cozier. Anyway, we will see but I doubt I will get that done. So here are the pictures. There is one close up of the wall before.

Golf Outing

What a great evening, except for the mosquitoes and I will discuss that later. So, I packed everyone a sandwich for dinner and drinks in the cooler. We picked up Jax from school and went golfing for the evening. He changed his clothes and shoes in the car and off we went. The weather was perfect and we had a great time. The boys both played several holes beginning to end. I am going to have to start playing too. I just don't feel like I can play very well, so I don't. About the mosquitoes....they are HORRIBLE. Seriously, have you seen the movie "The Birds" that is what it is like, but with mosquitoes. There isn't any recess at Jax's school because they are so bad. Chris said they are like that in Baton Rouge too. Something about the hurricane. I don't understand why, but whatever. They are horrible and I should have stock in OFF.

Tomorrow we are all going to eat lunch with Jax. He loves it when we come and see him. We have a busy weekend too. A birthday party for one of Jax and Brooks friends and it is Chris' birthday as well. Also, this weekend our neighborhood is putting on a huge Nature Fest both days. Hopefully it will be a lot of fun for the boys.

Happy 4th Birthday to Brooks!!!

My sweet baby boy is 4 years old today. How did that happen? At least he still lets me snuggle him like a baby. Anyway, he had a great birthday. He wanted pancakes and bacon for breakfast. He also wanted to go to ITZ. ITZ is like Chuck E Cheese only way, way better. So we went to ITZ to play games and eat pizza. He and Jax had a lot of fun. He also requested a white cake with white icing and blue writing. He has had way too much cake today, but it is his birthday. He got a lot of great presents. He is flying around the room right now playing with his new airplanes. Last night I made him a horse blanket, and he loves it. Thanks to everyone who was part of making his day special. I'll try to post his shirt pictures tomorrow or Monday.

Ike's Devastation

Well............we got home last night, barely. Seriously, it got a wee bit scary. We saw the signs that said "do not go to Houston or Beaumont," but they didn't really phase us. So, we were trucking right along and came to the first town without power. The whole town was completely shut down and dark. Kind of creepy. Then to the next town, still no power. It went on like that for a while. To make a long story short, we did finally get gas. We had to go out of our way, but we got gas. My neighbor, Pat, had prepared me for the mess that Ike had left. I wasn't surprised when I saw the streets covered with leaves and all of the trees down. I wasn't surprised by all the trash blown all over our neighborhood. I was however, unprepared for what I saw this morning as I headed to the grocery store. We went to Wal-mart because it was the closest. The line for gas was unbelievable. At least a 2 hour wait. The shelves on the food side were wiped out. We were able to get what we needed, but we certainly couldn't be choosy. I was really in shock. The things I usually come by so easily, like safe drinking water, gas, and food, are things that I take for granted. Imagine pulling up to the gas station and they say "sorry, out of gas." It would pose a little problem.

As for our home, the damage is minimal. I am going to have to replace some landscaping, but that is about it. I am so thankful. A lot of people around us are still without power. Actually, our streets are FULL of cars because people are sharing their homes.

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

Alright already, the weather ruined my wedding plans and now the weather has ruined by anniversary plans. Notice that I said the weather ruined my plans. It didn't ruin my wedding or my anniversary. I am thankful that there have been storms around us but no storms in our marriage. That is all that matters. I was looking forward to my weekend at Barton Springs but we will reschedule. I cannot believe that we have been married for 10 years. Unbelievable. I am so blessed though. I am more in love with Chris that the day we were married. He is my best friend and I look forward to the next 10.

As for my house, the report is not so great. I think we still have all of our windows, but my landscaping has been demolished. My neighbor called and says she doesn't know where all the trees went but they are gone!!!!! She also said all of the siding is off the back of her house and in her pool. She said it looks like the "Wizard of Oz" where debris is just flying threw the air. As I am writing this, the storm is still hitting our town so I am anxious for another report when it is gone. I am just praying my windows stay intact. I am not that concerned about my landscaping.............well a little but it can be easily replaced. I do pray for the people in Galveston that didn't evacuate as instructed. I hope there aren't as many fatalities as expected.

Curriculum night

Well, last night we got to go to school and talk with the teacher and find out everything I was wanting to know. It was great. We got their daily schedule and info on the library. We found out what they had been learning. Jax has already learned 4 sights words that he failed to tell me about. He is also the "student of week" for this week. I am so relieved. For him to be the second student of the week he must be being good. She said it is based on their behavior. So anyway, I feel better having some info. Today we are going to get ChickFila and go eat lunch with him.

School Days

I now have a child on a schedule, so I can tell you what day it is now. I still don't like it that I have to take him and leave him at school every day, but we are getting used to it. I am having issues with my children growing up. I know every age has its cherished moments, but if I could stop time I would. Brooks just completely bathed himself. I about cried. He is too big. Well, we all know time flies, nothing new. So Jax is doing great in school. He was very bored last week, but I think they are doing more things this year. I finally am getting some feedback from his teacher. She sends a binder home everyday that we must initial and send back. He has been getting great reports so far. She said he is very good and very smart. I hope so. I do know he has my sense of direction and can barely find his classroom. Tomorrow I am dropping him off at the door, and he is going to have to find his way. There are plenty of teachers in the hall to help. It is so cute to hear his friends yell his name when he gets there in the mornings. He has a friend name Drake, imagine that. You know his daddy is most likely a duck hunter.

On a different subject...we are still hunting golf balls. We went on the golf course just before dark and found 38 golf balls. It is so much fun. I am a little skittish now since my neighbor saw a rattlesnake on the trail the other day.

One more thing....Go McCain/Palin..... As far as I am concerned - Sarah Palin for President. I am kind of kidding, kind of. Really I don't know much about her other than what I heard last night, but she impressed me. Anyway, gotta watch the rest of McCain's speech.