Beaver's Bend, Oklahoma

This past weekend we traveled up to Beaver's Bend, Oklahoma with the Turner's for a fly-fishing weekend. David & Will fished about 4 times (catching no fish) but having a great time. Stephanie and I watched the kids, napped, visited, laughed, and had a fabulous time! The guys also had a great time fishing & visiting, too. We planned out meals taking almost all of it with us. I think the only things we bought were charcoal & lighter fluid. Oh, I forgot to mention coffee, too! (Read on.)

Friday's lunch took almost 2 hours due to shortage of menus at the local joint. The food was good and the kids couldn't have been any better! John David also had his first hamburger! He prefers chicken & hot dogs rather than a burger. We all shared lots of laugh and thankfulness for reaching our destination safely.

The kids had fun exploring the woods near us and were great to stay near-by. Nobody wanted to go to sleep. It didn't help there were 6 twin beds were my boys slept & a Fooze ball table (sp?). Stephanie & I slept while the dads' fished with John David.

We also enjoyed a fire outside that night with pizza & smores! Yummy! Drew just wanted to eat the whole bag of marshmallows and when he couldn't reach them out of our hands, he wanted graham crackers. The kiddos also enjoyed the fire, too. After putting the kids to bed, we stayed outside until almost 11pm visiting!

On Saturday, the guys went fishing early early! We expected a coffee pot & brought 2 different kinds of filters but it leaked from the inside! Stephanie and I decided to make coffee about 8 am Saturday morning and as I was talking to Leah about Animal Control at our house, the pot started leaking all over the cabinet! I saw that I didn't have the handle in the correct place so I thought I would make a small pot of 2 cups rather than 10 cups but it still leaked! We texted the guys several times to bring home coffee and they did! Stephanie went out Sunday so we could have coffee a second day.

After a short ride through the park, we headed back for lunch. The guys grilled burgers & dogs while the kiddos explored. Jack longed to be with the older kiddos. Drew played with Jack and the older ones. John David and Natalee couldn't have had any more fun! They played and played and never wanted to rest. It was cute to watch & John David had to learn that we don't change clothes in front of girls! :) The guys went fishing again after a short rest while the rest of us rested longer.

While playing the kiddos ending up taking down the cord/rope that holds the screens in place on the back porch. John David and Natalee had the bright idea to make their own fishing poles with the rope. It was quiet funny & adorable. Here they are "fishing" while the dads are fishing.

We picked up the guys a little later so we could prove they were actually fishing. That night due to the coldness, we enjoyed an inside fire. David and I also learned how to play the domino game of 42. We have never played it before & did pretty good although it was way after midnight before we headed to bed!

On Sunday morning the dads got up super early again to fish. Stephanie and I and all the kids slept in a little later. I still found Drew in Natalee's bed talking to her. Thank goodness she was awake! After packing up when the guys got back, we headed out of town. We decided on a different local joint for lunch which brought us more laughter. We could have been dilerious from lack of sleep, too!

Thank you, Lord, for such good friends that we can travel with and get along. Our kids get along great even though none of them are the same age. Here are some great pictures...

Type A Flu

John David has been a little under the weather for a few days. (No fever over 99, eating fine, etc.) Today was the the breaking point after his eyes didn't look good & crabbiness, I made a doctor's appointment. We had the oil changed in the truck & found out a leak was the same leak that happened in July (rebuilt part of the front differential & had my vehicle for a week) and the same leak from October. YIKES! I was furious so I headed to the dealership. I promise I was nice but wanted it fixed before our weekend out of town. After we got the truck settled, I got them to take the three of us home. My horn also had to be fixed!

David was gracious enough to come home earlier so I could take John David into the doctor. I had to wake him from an 1 1/2 hour nap and then we waited at the doctor's office for someone to get some stiches. John David's fever had spiked during his nap to 104! They quickly took tests for strep & flu. As I was discussing symptoms, the nurse returned to let us know it was the flu! We haven't had the flu in our house since January of 2002 when David and I both got it together on the same weekend! The NP started writing persciptions for everyone in the family! Drew & John David each have two persciptions since this year's strain doesn't react to Tamiflu. David & I each have 1 since we are over 7.

Although our weekend of getting out of town to fly fish and get away with kids is postponed, it will be a good weekend! I am determined that it will be a good Valentine's weekend! I am so blessed to have only one child sick and pray for a speedy recovery. Please say a prayer for us so the rest of us don't get sick and John David starts feeling better very soon.

2nd tooth...

John David has had a second loose tooth for a few weeks and he finally got motivated to work it out. Saturday evening he came running in to the house excitedly showing dad his new tooth! I had tried to pull it out a couple of times but he wasn't willing to let me. Can you believe I would even want to pull it out? I was very nervous sticking my fingers in his mouth & wiggling his tooth but it was still attached.

The tooth is so small! It is amazing to think how small it is!

Here is another picture from Saturday of my boys working. We had a minor hot water leak several months ago and there was a small section that needed to be repainted. My boys worked very hard! :)


Here is a funny about Drew-When David was emptying Drew's clothes into the washing machine on Sunday, he found a 3 inch plastic lettuce/cabbage in all the clothes. I guess when he was cleaning his room he put the food in his basket of clothes instead of the basket of food.

Last Weekend

Last weekend was a busy & very fun time! Mom & Dad came in for a late dinner. Joel & Christy came in for bedtime. It was quite crowded but nice to have them here. After a small breakfast, we went to Los Amigos in Grapevine for mom's birthday brunch. We walked into this small local restaurant & 8 ladies called my name! There was a table full of my former co-workers from Dove who had participated in a fun run. How fun to briefly visit with them!



After our meal, we had a few errands & divided up boys/girls. The girls then rushed home to prepare for Christy's baby shower for "Blueberry." My cousin, Jenny, & soon to be cousin, Caroline, also joined us. We had a great time seeing her family & visiting with her friends. Poor Roxy (Christy's mom) had a hard time getting there so we all enjoyed visiting & eating until she got there. Christy received a lot of great gifts including some BU clothes!



That night Joel & Christy stayed with her family & Leah came to spend time with us. Although David & I did go out for a dinner alone since the babysitters were free! :) Who could blame us? Of course, we went to OTB-free dinner!



We had a good time celebrating mom's ?? birthday. She isn't 60 though! She is a young "Grammy" who got a new Betta fish for work named "Smile" from John David. She also got some frozen meals & a cross for her yard.



It was a fun weekend & we enjoyed sharing it with my family! The next time we'll see them is when the "Blueberry" is born in March in San Antonio.



The only picture I got last weekend was on my phone at the Apple store on Sunday. Here are the boys playing while David was getting a new phone. How cute do they look playing on computers in matching outfits? :)

The Commander in Chief

Last Tuesday was the change of powers in Washington D.C. It was very bittersweet in my opinion. I was thrilled to be home and able to watch most of everything that went on that day! School was out (to balance Monday holidays) so the boys and I were home all day long. Drew had also been diagnosed with RSV the day before so we really couldn't go anywhere.

I grew up the daughter of an American History major who gave lectures where ever we went including the National Air & Space Museum in D.C. when I was in 7th grade. Yes, my dad excited about being in the museum 5 times in one week started lecturing about the planes in one of the rooms. A mom & child started following him while my mom, brother, sister & I hung back laughing at him. They thought he was a tour guide and were very appreciative! He looked around at the end of the so-called tour disturbed he didn't see us but glad someone enjoyed it. We still laugh at him for this experience!!!

I am not excited about this president but I appreciate the historical value of electing a new president. I never thought about electing a black president. To me, a woman president would happen next. I still keep holding onto one of my girlfriends (C.C.) from Bossier City who wanted to be the first woman president. I don't even know where she is now. The traditions were exciting to watch as well as all of the politicians in one place being very cordial to one another. Michelle could have worn a more patriotic color and Laura was almost boring in her grey. What is up with coats without buttons? I loved the new cars, helicopter, coffee together with Obama's & Bush's, Aretha Franklin's performance. It was also nice to hear all of the history associated with the BIG day.

I am very nervous with this president what changes will happen. I could have told you 4 years ago the next president would have been a democrat. I think people were tired of republicans in the office. It was evident when the senate changed from republican to democrat. The first Friday he was in office the president signed a bunch of bills with the press, after the press left he signed an abortion bill allowing abortions. It saddened me to think the changes are already happening. Since my brother is a pilot in the Air Force, I hope no big changes are headed for the military. I know Guantanamo Bay is being shut down. I do think he will do good in reforming gas emissions from cars as long as I don't have to give up my SUV soon. But I think the next time I buy a vehicle it should be more green (Hybrid, FlexFuel, etc.).

My boys played very well that day allowing me to be glued to the TV. I would call my mom every once in a while to catch her up since she was at work & interested. I knew dad would have really been interested but was teaching although I know he would have preferred to been sitting in front of the TV. :)

Distracted...

I guess you can say I have been a little distracted this past month. David and I have been looking for a new home for over a year. Our realtor & friend, Stephanie, has been taking us out to look at houses about every few months to help us narrow down which neighborhoods we like in Coppell. Our goal in moving is to shorten David's commute and also increase the size of our home. We are very fortunate that we don't have to move by a certain time. It has been fun looking at homes, some are beautiful and others are not a fit for us (junky, small yard, choppy design, etc).

The weekend before Christmas we looked at a home that has been on the market since the summer. After several contracts, it still hasn't sold. Their bank is very uncooperative. We have submitted 3 offers and none have been accepted. We have continued to look at other homes but none we have liked as much. We also looked at a house that was on the market last year. Evidently the new owners are moving and we still really like the house.

We have spent time in prayer seeking God's guidance. We have a peace from God but we hold on to the hope of moving soon.

Cloverland Bowl

For the second year in a row, our family has had a football game on December 23rd involving three different generations! Each team had a captain and members of each generation which is really quite funny! The weather was misty & cold throughout the whole game.


We drove in late last year but "Dish-Towel Dave" still played a great game even injuring himself for a play.

Our plan this year was to get there early to play but plans changed Monday afternoon. John David got a fever which caused us to change plans. The family played without us and David's team lost. Check out this year's pictures on my cousin Jenny's blog.

We hope and promise to be there next year!!! I hope nothing comes up!