A warehouse full of different jump houses? Right up my boys’ alley!

Can’t tell, can you?

We were with some of our friends from church so the boys had friends to play with. They were so sweet and let me have fun with my camera. I’m learning how much practice I need (and at the same time how hyper-critical I can be).

Toboggan-style!

The following day we headed out the Mary Moore Searight Park again. We’ve come to really enjoy visiting that park and we hadn’t yet exhausted everything it had for us to see.

This time, we had our friends with us again so it did help that it was a stroller-friendly park. Most of the photos I took from our trip were of our friends (they’re on Flickr here) but I do have this funny one to show you of a squirrel doing a cheetah impression:

“Take my picture too! Oh wait, I want to ride my bike. Don’t take too long!” “Just stand still and it will go very fast.” (Not as fast as you outgrow your clothes)

NM’s soccer team had their second game of the season this past weekend. Now, to be honest, I have no idea what the final score was, whether 3-1 or 2-1 (I think it was the latter). They were disappointed to say the least. BUT I was beside myself. NM played goalie in the 2nd half again and he did such an awesome job. Sure, one got through but when you realize how many he stopped (he stopped!), you have to realize he can really do the goalie thing. I mean, wow. Wow!

God is great (and don’t you feel spoiled sometimes? I do)!

Apparently this camera stuff is serious to my husband. The tax return was favorable and it was used to fund a lens. Wow. Feeling a little overwhelmed.

A telephoto with a decent reach means it’s harder for this one to run from the camera:

And the one who loves the camera doesn’t have to run up to it for us to get a decent shot:

Both photos are my hubby’s by the way. I was really disappointed in my shots compared to his but I was trying to work with manual when his sports setting was clearly superior! So I will pass on sharing the ones I took. Hehe.

+ + +

From the Editor:

(now doesn’t that sound so official?)

I forgot to mention my Dilemma of the Day. It must be noted that dilemmas happen all the time but Dilemmas are the sort you hope to have to deal with only now and then.

Voting should have been short and very sweet today. Get in, show your ID, get your special number, click, click, click, cast your ballot. Voila! Perry is running for governor on the Republican ticke.

Should.

Thing is, our precinct was manned by very competent and cautious people. This is a very good thing, America, no matter how much I whine about which of my feathers they ruffled.

Apparently, their records do not match the information on my driver’s license. Whoever entered in the form I submitted when I registered to vote put down my name as my maiden name. It is fancy and most eye-catching and really doesn’t match me at all. So tiny bells go off somewhere. And I look over at my license and realize that the address on it is wrong!

I wonder if the nice folks next door have received jury summons meant for me.

As far as the great republic State of Texas Department of Public Safety is concerned, I am the girl next door.

According to the Registrar of Voters, I am single.

And am I ever so glad they’re wrong!

Fortunately, the judge at the precinct provided me with a form to mail in to correct my name. But I do have to pay to get a new, corrected driver’s license.

Today was a snow day!

All about J’s snow day:

At first, it started snowing. Next thing, after that we went out back and out front and we did a snowball fight. I would say four snow ball fights but I don’t remember if it was more. After that we went on a scooter ride. Then we went out back and did a snowball fight. After the snowball fight we made a SUPER FORT! Now ice pellets are coming down! Ice pellets!

My favorite part was the scooter ride and the snowball fight.

All About NM’s snow day:

First, we had a snowball fight out back. Then, we had a snowball fight out front. Afterwards, we had a bigger snowball fight out back. I packed my fort with snow. I also went in the snow with my scooter.

We have seen big snow-ball like chunks, little snowflakes and ice pellets.

My favorite part was the snowball fight because I haven’t made a hard-packed snowball in such a long time!

More from mom:

In case you were wondering just how much we got:

And maybe this shows it, too:

Pretty, huge snowflakes:

This is Austin, Texas, y’all! Wow, huh? Sometimes God just likes to throw wonderful surprises* our way!

*Surprise: somewhat. I got one from Amazon today. The lensbaby got some optics, hence the effects on some of these shots. I think my husband intends to spoil me.

So out we did go. After church we drove down Congress and parked in the SoCo district. I think my hubby is trying to give me more opportunities to get to take pictures. So I did:

And I’ve always wanted to wander in here. Costumes can be so much fun. Not the best picture but it’s hard to get all the detail in this facade.

Random splash of color:

Actually, around SoCo color is everywhere. My baby was so patient and let me take his picture:

I don’t remember the rest of the sign, but this made me think of the Golden Rule (active, not passive):

After our all-too-short walk, we headed home for lunch and the kids had a blast running laps in the back yard. Then they played with their scooters. Then they ran. Then scooters. They don’t hesitate to take advantage of good weather!

Our dear neighbors had walked Sprocket for us and hung out for a bit after they dropped her off. It was nice to have them visit (we don’t get enough of those!) and I took some snaps of their boys. This one’s Max and I love his fur because of the visual texture:

This little guy is TJ and he’s a rare white schnauzer with lots of schnauzer spunk:

Our day was very blessed and we had a great time. Am rethinking how we do school since we do so much “working for the weekend” that we are failing to see the blessings of the week. Prayers, please? Thanks.

Remembering what it’s all about. And no, I don’t mean the hokey pokey.

P.S. Click on picture for bigger, better Flickr goodness.

This past week sure fits the definition of “doozy.” Just briefly:

~ Hubby was gone ALL week, Sunday (!) through Saturday afternoon. Work took two weekend days.

~ The puppy was hurt when the play with the boys was a little bit too rough. She cried. She limped. She came to mom for comfort and I gave it to her and Cesar Milan would not be proud of me.

~ Next day, after a visit to the vet, he told us that the ligament behind her patella had come out of its groove and had to be popped in. It may be congenital, it may be purely due to trauma, or it may be a little of both. But if it doesn’t heal or improve in two weeks then it will cost $1337 for surgery to fix it.

~ After the vet trip, I headed to Lowes for two toilet flappers. Just as we get there, J had an accident involving the pizza bagel from lunch refusing to stay where it belonged. Honestly? I thought to myself that Lowes’ parking lot was as good a place as any for it to happen. That way, I could get paper towels and carpet spot cleaner along with the toilet flappers. The dog, poor dog, had to be tied up inside of the car so she couldn’t move. Look up the mention of “dog” in the book of Proverbs. Yep, she wanted to live that verse.

~ Clean up on aisle 5? Nope. NM, an ANGEL of a big brother, offered to take J to the bathroom so he could properly say goodbye to the pizza bagel. Who was I to refuse? Apparently, all of the pizza bagel had departed already.

~ NM told me I should buy the package of Bounty on the impulse buy table. Because it was on the impulse buy table, I said no. Instead, I bought a pack of Charmin. Um. It pays to listen. Charmin is toilet paper. I stood in the rain (did I mention it was raining all of Friday?) to clean up what was in the car. TP doesn’t really do as good a job as paper towels. The boys played in the front seat and did NOT complain. The car next to me left and another car took its place, both drivers were very sympathetic with my plight.

~ Because of the bug that caused J’s pain, we missed our afternoon appointment: I was supposed to speak at a Christian club at a junior high. I’ve never spoken to junior high folks before. I was kinda looking forward to it. NM was, too. But he did NOT complain.

~ J was in pain. I went to bed at 1 am (not J’s fault but hubby’s for his absence…hah!). I couldn’t sleep. At 2, J started crying about his stomach. I called the night nurse just because I wanted to confirm what I knew, that cramps are because you’re putting something back into a recently stressed stomach. Confirmed, and I was told what symptoms to watch for in case it’s an appendicitis attack. It wasn’t.

~ Next day, plans for a hike were nixed of course. NM did NOT complain. J didn’t not keep anything down until after lunch. My dear neighbor gave me some tea for upset tummies. J had sips of it even though he hated it. He kept it down! He slept for 30 minutes until I got him up so we could pick up Abba at the airport. He was hurting during the drive. But I made it there before hubby got out of the gate! Woohoo, on time!

~ By the time it was close to dinner, J was much better though still just eating rice crackers and having sips of tea. It stayed in him.

Now I sure hope that didn’t sound like a litany of complaints. It was sad with two sick family members and another one missing. I was kind of tempted to whine and mind you, I did. But the Lord brought this admonition to mind: to cast all my burdens on Him. Praise be to God, He was so faithful to remind me at every hard place to ask Him for strength. And bible study that week was more than appropriate!

The verse I had to remember: Phl 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

And instead of grumbling and complaining? Respond with gentleness: Phl 4:5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord [is] at hand.

The Lord is at hand because He loves us so much that He can’t take His eyes off us. He is so good to supply us with what we need when we need it. We just have to ask!

Earlier today, we welcomed R over for a sleepover. When my friend called to ask if we were up for it, the boys were curious as to who was on the phone and why so I made them guess. When they found out R was coming, they were both jumping up and down yelling “R is coming! R is coming!” When they found out it was a sleepover? Well, you can just imagine.

Afternoon: quiet. NM was THE epitome of good big brother.

Dinner: pizza bagels on account of the fact that the chicken didn’t thaw in time. Of course, I had no plans beyond “chicken” so it was just as well. This is giving myself a pat on the back, but oh well, they were crazy excited over having pizza bagels for dinner. They were telling R over and over how great their mom’s pizza bagels were. Going to have to buy bagels sooner than I expected.

After dinner: episode of Mythbusters that I had to keep my eyes away from for a while. It was nasty. Are you eating? Avoid this paragraph. They team was testing a myth from Shrek: can you take ear wax and turn it into a candle? I know, right? Turns the stomach and it did for a team member. So, yeauck!

8:32 pm: We say prayers with the boys after setting up the mats, sleeping bags, blankets and pillows. We discuss the fact that there are, in fact, no neighbors who make a habit of wandering our back yards, taking flash photography. This was the fear that dominated the last sleepover. We nipped that one in the bud, ha! Hubby made sure to warn them about the drop-dead bedtime of 10pm. The boys are astounded. This is two hours past their normal bedtime! Woohoo!

8:49 pm: The boys are talking, J is asking for “water—I mean I have to go potty!” and one of the bigger boys wishes they had glow sticks. Well, howdy doody! I happened to be putting books away earlier today and found a pack of them. 15 in the pack so I make them divide it by 3 and R gets it right. I should have thought of a prize for the first to come up with the answer. I tell them we’re going to the craft store after breakfast tomorrow for Perler bead kits to make valentines. The older boys try not to look dubious or disappointed.

8:50somethingpm: I get the compact digicam and the tripod out for the boys. It has both night time and fireworks settings plus video. I hope to see lots of fun stuff in the morning.

9:44pm: The mild clamor quiets down. Of course, when you’re upstairs and they’re downstairs, the clamor is never very clamorous.

11:20pm: Going to bed. Apparently, they did and they’re alright. Remind me to check the camera in the morning!

And this thing was 50% off.

Simple enough for the little one and interesting enough for the big one. Cute, yes?

And, yesterday, the boys finally got to see their Abba open the presents they bought him. They saved up for this and they just couldn’t stand the wait anymore.

J got him a laser pointer. Too fun!

NM, the careful and observant one, bought him a clock with weather info. “Careful and observant” came in handy when he paid attention to the box and noted that batteries were not included. So he bought Abba some batteries, too.

We’re looking forward to seeing our family in a couple of days. Please pray for us as we travel and get packed and ready for the long drive! Lord willing, we’ll get to see fun stuff again on the way. In the mean time, we continue to try and focus on the real Reason for the season.

“Don’t be frightened, Mary,” the angel told her, “for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Luke 1:30-33 NLT

May the God of all truth and Whose birth we celebrate rule and reign in your hearts forever.

Sad? Yes. Very hurt tummy. But it was very much helped by a BIG breakfast with second seconds. I’m hoping that’s all it is because it won’t be fun to travel with a sick little boy. Been there, done that!

***

This past weekend:

~ Happy Friday because Abba came home and we immediately headed to Kerbey Lane Cafe for dinner. YUM!

~ Fun Saturday NOT taking care of tires but instead playing soccer in the back. Having Abba home means mom gets a real nap and that goes a looong way towards getting over this bug!

~ Sunshine!

~ A clean car (happened while mom napped!)

~ Brotherly love (happened while mom napped!)

~ Sunday doing the regular Costco type thing and in the afternoon we had some fun, too.

~ Amazon.com Christmas shopping means never having to complain about retail shopping madness and holiday driving

~ Making it through weeks one and two of our Advent studies and making it to the beginning of week three: the Good News.

~ Nothing burned even though I forgot to extinguish the candles before we left for church

~ That last one is a really good one