Princess is Eight!

Where has the time gone???

Destin, 2009

The kids got to drive the boat we rode, the Sea Blaster. It was pretty cool, we got to see a pod of dolphins with a baby! at the beach we saw a stingray, a huge school of fish that had some shark following them (we were outta the water!). Punkin was scared of the crabs and that was pretty funny. She thought they were going to bite her toes.

I know its been forever...

Since I updated. But its been nuts around here. First, I had the trip from well, you know, to Corpus Christi, TX in April. Seriously, everything that could have gone wrong did. Its funny, now that I look back on it, but it was NOT funny then.

The kids are wrapping up the school year..actually punkin's last day of preschool was Friday. She's looking forward to summer "play" days as shes calling it.

I signed up to teach VBS at church this summer, that should be fun. I'm going to teach 1st and 2nd grade, so I'll get to be with princess.

But today, was one of those days. I decided to clean the drier vent, and broke it. Went to the store to get another...broke it. Also broke the water dispenser on the fridge. I've decided that I shouldn't touch anymore household appliances. Sounds pretty good to me!

Grab this button

Please read about Grisha at, just click the button!

Afternoon Fun

Back yard camping, swinging and football. Much better than yardwork, any day!
Punkin' caught an inchworm, and Princess two lady bugs, so they are currently living in our bug house.

Soccer 2009

A few pictures from Princess's game today. She scored one goal, and saved three when she was playing goalie. Pretty good!
We have a tourny next weekend...3 games in one day. Should be interesting!!

The zoo + picnic + park + planting flowers = 1 tired family

Since the kids had spring break this week, Darlin and I took off work today to spend the day with them. We had promised we'd take them to the zoo this week to see the penguins....Happy Feet is a hit in this house. While reading the paper this morning I noticed Home Depot had annuals on sale 3 for a dollar...and since I was already off work...jumped up and ran up there, because I knew they'd get picked over FAST! Picked up $10 worth & discovered they had two plants per pot. So 60 plants for $10...what a deal! During this excursion, I found more evidence that the Honda Odysesy was designed by women. Or at least in the focus group. The cargo area in the back is exactly one flat of flowers wide (add this to the fact that there are a zillion cubby holes & pockets, and literally 15 drink holders...women were involved!).


Loaded up the fam with a picnic and went to the zoo. It was covered up! I was so glad to see it. You hear a lot of bad things about the zoo..."its in a bad area", "its crappy". Sure, its not in the best area of town, but zoos never are (hello, St Louis zoo?? - which is awesome by the way), and its come a LONG way. The penguin exhibit was small, only 3 penguins, but we go to see them feed and the girls LOVED it. Of course, having two biologist/nerd parents doesn't hurt either.


Punkin checking how which penguin she is:

Princess checking out her penguin-ness

And even daddy...



Princesses favorites were the penguins. Punkin said her favorite was the penguin, the elephant, the monkey and the chimpanzee . We also so the white peacock show off his feathers.

Then we had our picnic, and went to the park to play. After all of that...we got home and cleaned out the flower bed, added some new top soil, planted our 60 plants and mulched. So we are all TIRED! But it was a blast!!

New Wheels for the fam'

Well, it was time to trade the ole Impala, rest her soul. She's been having tranny problems...so it was either shell out the bucks to fix her, or move on to something else. Kids are getting bigger, filling up the car...so we decided to move on to something else, something else bigger.

So, purchased a Honda Odyssey...it rocks! My favorite features so far are the remote doors and the back up camera. Though I admit I haven't played with all the buttons yet. I love it! The kids love it. Now we can go on road trips again w/o having to borrow or rent a ride. Nice. Can't wait until we can take a trip in it. :-) Need to take a picture.

Super fast trip to Alabama

I had to leave home on Sunday to go to 'bama. My aunt slipped into a coma and passed away on Sunday afternoon. I brought my mom up to be with her family, and to go to the funeral. And in my haste, I didn't pack enough clothes. grrr. So I had to go shopping.

I went to Florence to try to find some clothing, and since I was out, and had time, I went by UNA to visit. So it will be 10 years this December since I graduated. Remember that.

I pulled in to visitor parking, and asked the girl who looked like she was about 12 in the booth if I was in the right place. She said "yes ma'am" MA'AM??? Ok, totally uncool. In that ma'am she said I had aged enough to not be considered a co-ed anymore. Grrr! :-0

Went and visited my old haunt, the science building, saw some professors of mine. My advisor was in class, so I went to see another one. He told me in front of a girl working in the micro lab, (who by the way, must be like doogie houser, because she was totally only 11-12 and in college...are you seeing a trend?) that there hadn't been a class like mine in years. I told him, yeah nearly 10! We caught up a bit on gossip...where some old friends were, how his family was doing etc. Walked back up to see if my advisor was back yet..and ran into him. He was headed to another class, so I hung around for 50 mins or so till he got back. Totally worth it! This man was a father figure to me, and a huge important part of my life. It was good to catch up with him. I spent way more time than I intended, but had a great time. A small bright spot in the trip. The professors looked older...er, more distinguised, and the students looked waaaay too young to be in college. :-) And of course, I look the same...right? I know better, but let me believe it.

Had to do the funeral home thing tonight, and saw people and family that I hadn't seen in years. Remembered some of them, and not others. Forgot just how big my family is...

Blue Titans are undefeated!

OK, so maybe they've only played 2 games. But they are. Undefeated that is.
Princess loves it...even though she's not played soccer in 1 1/2 years. She's picking it back up though. Playing with kids that have been playing every season since they were 4, she is behind. But having fun!

AND SHE scored two goals on Saturday. One in each game! We were supposed to be in a tourney this weekend, however, early Monday morning she came to us with a fever...and a headache. Kept her home from school, took her to the after hours clinic monday night. Negative for strep and flu, but still feeling rotten.

Tues, Wed, more of the same, back to the Dr, FLU! So she's been out of school all week, and her fever finally started coming down today. The dr gave her tamiflu to help...and poor girl had the vomit side-effect....YUCK! So 103 fever, headache, feeling rotten, and 3 hours of vomit last night. Needless to say, we aren't taking THAT any more.

Hopefully she'll be better this weekend. Lysol is our friend, and punkin has not been allowed to be around big sis all week. I pray she doesnt get it, but that we dont get it either!!

Update: Ended up back at the doctor on Sunday, because she was running fever again. Bronchitis! But after a round of antibiotics, she's finally better.

We Will Go

I spent the morning at We Will Go Ministry in downtown Jackson yesterday. I was so touched and moved by the experience, that I wanted to share some of it. But, as i set down to write a blog, I can't even put it into words. David and Amy Lancaster are about a mighty work for the Lord. There is no other way to describe it. If you know ANYTHING about downtown Jackson, you know its rife with drugs, prostitution, murder, every sort of violence known to man. Everything you can think if is bought and sold down here...people included. And this family, called to missions...was called to sell their suburbanite house, and move to the heart of it all. So they did. They sold their house and move their family onto Congress Street. (if you are from around here, YES I said congress street. off fortification street). The bought a house The Love House, 4 years ago and moved in. Their kids play outside, they walk the streets. Their sole goal is to be a light in the darkness...and they ARE. Then they bought another house, two houses down, the Peace House. Another couple moved in. The house between them, a crack house. The houses behind them, crack and prostitution houses. Then, they bought the house between them (Faith House)...and the house behind it (Hope House). The three houses behind them, currently still full of all kinds of violence, and selling of everything...while they are not for sale have been shown to the Lancaster's as "next" and will house people who come to Christ and want to be discipled to go out and spread further into Jackson. Amy told us yesterday she sees one for single guys, one for single women, and maybe one for small families.

Yesterday, volunteers were working on one of the new buildings...Faith House. I was part of a group from our church to go down. The Faith House has four apartments in it. The vision for this building is to house other disciples...either singles or couples, to move in and help with the ministry. Our little group painted one of the apartments. Just a couple of months ago, this building was full of drugs, prostitutes, and all sorts of litter that goes with it. Now, its clean and being renovated. We worked along side some of the people who have been reached...ex crack addicts, who are so thankful they have finally had someone care enough to tell them about Jesus and his love. Churches from all over were represented, working in different buildings, doing different things. It was amazing. These properties are 100% safe. The peace of God is there. The people are protected...and they are making a difference. Yesterday, the Faith House was also dedicated, with prayer and praise for the Lord on and around it..a very amazing experience. The Lancaster's really do see people with God's eyes...lost sheep that need the word..not judgment for their choices.

It opened my eyes...to the horrible things people go through right here under our noses. Sure, missions to Africa, China, the Middle East...all good things, and all needed. But, if you feel like you need to be doing something, but those far off places just don't seem to be the answer...Look in your backyard. Look in inner city Jackson. For a lot of the people on my friends list, you aren't more than an hour from 3rd world conditions. And YOU can make a difference. They need help doing everything...packing goody bags, painting, cleaning, just loving. I am totally going back. I don't think it can be explained it words. But in just the few hours I was there, I was forever changed.

There are so many stories...
They have church outside, every Sunday, with a baptismal in the back yard of their house.
The police, when people get out of jail in Raymond, and have no one to go to, drop them off on this block, because they know the "crazy white people" will help
Local drug dealers, who haven't accepted Christ yet, will bring people to the Lancaster's, all hours of the night, because they know that the "Crazy white people" never turn anyone away.
AC, one of the men helped...found Jesus at their kitchen table, a 90 lb crack addict who had lived in a dog house for 2 years. Now, a healthy, vibrant servant of the Lord...painting along side us, breaking out into song.."Worthy is the Lamb" every time it came to mind.
And on and on and on.

http://www.wewillgo.org/Site/Welcome.html

Ice Cream Makes me Wiggly.

Thats what punkin' told me tonight. We were out and about, after dinner. Went to Petsmart to get dog food, and then strolled to the ice cream parlor, since it was in the 70s today.

After eating her ice cream, punkin was dancing around the place...we were laughing at her because she was in a obvious sugar rush. I asked her what she was doing and she started giggling...and she said "ICE CREAM MAKE ME WIGGLY!"

So I snapped a few pics. Then we went to Target and walked around...with TWO wiggly kids. :-)

Pink Piano

I know I know, I'm a slacker, and haven't blogged in forever. So here's some catch up.

The girls got a late Christmas present this week. Its a pink piano. I had no idea they even made such a thing. :-)

The other day from the living room I heard the first bar of "Row Row Row Your Boat" so someone is learning! :-)

Toothless Wonder

Princess finally lost her front two teeth.

I think the gap look is too cute. :-)

Home Improvement part deux....

So Saturday "we" started working again. And by we, I mean spouse and assistant...even though assistant requested over lunch to be called "helper" so I guess I'll call him helper...got started again on the flooring while the kids and I were running errands.

I had "requested" that they fix a gap left in the hall, and apparently that was easier said than done...by the time we got back, they had just gotten that part fixed, along with the threshold to our room done.

I got home, and another "helper" came by with his two kiddos, so me and the four kiddos played in our destroyed house. One of the boys is little...in the just toddling stage, and I carried him around some and realized I have forgotten how do things one handed. Anyway, I digress.

We had some pizza for lunch, and second helper left, so I was able to join in. I got to use power tools. Well, power tool I guess. I used a saw. Cool. Anyway, took me and assist...er I mean helper four forevers to do the last part of the hall, the area where there are three doors/thresholds.

Spouse was working in the kids room.

We finally finished the hall, and moved to the kids room to work. Helper had to leave, and spouse and I got it all done in the girls room except the very last row. By this time it was close to 8pm, and we were I'll admit it, too chicken to use the table saw in the dark. :-) So we stopped.

Sunday morning, I realized just how hard it was! I hurt in places I didn't know had muscles. Seriously!

Sunday after church, the wonderful fantabulous helper, volunteered to come back to help finish up the girls room and pop the baseboards back on with his fancy smancy new nail gun. That thing was cool by the way. Finished the closet in our room too, got the baseboards back up and our big furniture back in the rooms. Still have the thresholds to put in, but hey, so far so good! I LOVE IT! And very thankful we were able to do it. Had we know the future when we decided to do it, we might have postponed. One of those times I was glad the future wasn't revealed! :-)

And the good news is, Spouse and Princess are already having less allergy problems. Spouse's asthma hasn't acted up as much either.

Home Improvement?

Hmmm...home improvement....it looks so fun on TV.

Anyway, Spouse's allergies and asthma have been really bad lately. And we found out that princess probably has bad allergies too. The cat had scratched the carpet, and we 'discovered' some wood stuff under the carpet. Decided to pull it out, starting in the hall, and our bedroom.

Pulled back the carpet and found this stuff. And discovered it was water damaged near the inside unit of the Central Heat/Air. yeah. So it had to come up. NOT EASY

We were hopeful that it wouldn't have to come up in our bedroom... WRONG OH! Water damage in there too. This stuff is nuts! We can't tell if was laid in tiles or individual pieces. All I can say if it was individual, the person who did it has got to be nuts!!

So the stuff was pulled up, and yesterday spouse and assistant laid laminate down in the hall and bedroom, except for the doorways and around some sneaky corners.

We have the finish up work and repainting the baseboards to do in our bedroom, the doorways from living room to hall and hall to bedroom, and then we are going to start pulling up the carpet in the girls room. Hopefully, THAT flooring won't have to be removed...

Happy New Year!! 2009!!

Yeah, so we had an interesting New Years Eve. More about that later...but later in the evening, this is how hard we PAR TAY! :-)

Spouse at 1030

Punkin at 1030

Princess at 1030

Toby at 1030

Princess and I made it to midnight...and went outside and shot off a few fireworks with the neighbors. Shhhhh don't tell anyone!

In other news, Princess lost a tooth yesterday, so we are calling her toothless wonder. We had much discussion on whether the toothfairy would come if we stayed up past midnight. But for the record she did. I was afraid she would have already been through Pearl before we went to bed 9 ;). Maybe since it was New Years she delayed her flight....

And the kids STILL got up before 7. And I remembered we were out of coffee, and I forgot to get any yesterday...horror of horrors!