surprise

benefits of small town life

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING IS TRUE, NO NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT
A few days ago, the children and I ventured off to Alco, a local variety store, to exchange a shotgun. The shotgun belonged to Wes and had failed to work after a short period. I was ok with the gun no longer working because the working part involved making noise, however, we decided that for the price, it should have worked longer. Anyway, we get to Alco and find another gun to replace our defective one. I realize that I had just put new batteries in our original gun, and being thrifty wanted to keep my batteries. So we make our way over to the tools to see if we can find something to open up this gun, because everyone with children knows that it is not as simple as opening a lid to replace batteries... you must first find the tiniest screw driver ever made by man. I think we used to change our own batteries, so I know there were no screws involved. We find the screw drivers, but most are in pacakges--sealed packages. Finallywe found a screw driver that we could use to retrieve our new batteries and we were off to the return isle. The nice lady was helping us with our exchange when this other customer walked up in front of me and began to explain that she had been overcharged for some downey. The sales lady started to explain that she would be right with her when an officer of the law stepped in and said to the downey lady that she needed to finish their conversation. Downey lady told the officer to wait a minute. He explained that he needed to see her ID. She refused. He insisted. I am trying to get my gun and get out of here, and my kids are GLUED to the action. I keep trying to finish my business ASAP and keep the kids facing the opposite way they want. If I only had two kids, it might be possible, but two hands and three kids is not real math. This lady contines to insult the officer and his authority, and he arrests her.... mind you this is about 2-3 feet from where we are standing. This lady has two small children with her in the bakset, and the supporting officer is calling CPS for the kids who are screaming by now.... not my kids, they are SILENT. So we start out the door leaving this scene to unfold further, and my kids ALL want to hold my hand... they never want to hold my hand even when I insist. They are very concerned about all that they have seen and ask many questions. This is something I never expected to see in my life, let alone at ALCO in Dalhart. We travel home and I do my best to explain that it is important to be respectful and follow the rules or when we grow up, we have much bigger trouble.....

TAG? I'm It?

Firts of all, this is for my good friend Sydni....

Rules:
1)Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2) People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. 3) At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4) Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.





1. I love Dancing with the Stars... I would secretly love to be on that show! I even dance with the kids, they love it too.

2. I am lazy. I like to sleep late and stay up late, but my husband almost thinks it is a sin to live this way.

3. I am a recovering clean freak. I want eveything in the house to be clean at the same time ( I love vacuum marks in the carpet) and I hate for the kids to get dirty... (this is difficult to live with b/c of #2)

4. I am a recovering perfectionist... I really like things my way, b/c I really have good ideas, just ask me.

5. I change my sheets every week without exception, and that is one reason I like to stay in a motel...clean sheets every night! :) Is this part of #3?

6. I love my name. I was named after my mother's maternal grandfather, Leslie, and my mom's really good friend had a daughter named Laree (pronounced Lu Ree-short u, long e)

7. I love the fact that Jason is a cowboy... it also drives me crazy at times. I also love to look at him. He is really cute.

8. I love showers...sometimes I take several a day! I don't think this relates back to #3.

ok, i don't know many bloggers, so I tag some who do and some who I hope will blog...

Jaymie...Jennifer.....Kathrine......Jyl..... Stormi..... Ronda.......Rhonda..... Sandy......

update

We had a great time in Minneapolis. Jason was able to go to his classes, and I was able to spend each day doing what I wanted to do. I was proud of myself for getting out and driving where I wanted to go and not getting lost. We went to eat each night somewhere we can't eat down here, and shopped at Cabellas or Gander Mnt. It was very relaxing.

The kids were happy to see us and they had a great time as well... I think Jyl took them out to eat every meal. They loved that. They also spent time "hunting" in the canyon. They were able to kill lots of wild pigs, antelope, and coyotes. I think all the time they spend with Jason and his hunting videos must be wearing off on them...

One of the best parts of the trip was coming home to a spotless house. Thanks Jyl...There is a friend that is closer than a brother, and you are it my friend. God has blessed me over and over with family and friends, and it was surely a blessing to have Jyl come and know that the kids were taken care of and everything was handled.

We met the kids at Jana and Gerald's house and had birthday cake for Kolin's birthday. He loved his birthday! He is a funny little boy, and we love him so much, but he is a real toot. Since we had been gone for Jaylee's birthday, and Jason had been sick on Wes' birthday, we all went out to eat for supper in Amarillo when we got home from Minneapolis... this also gave the airlines a chance to get the rest of our luggage back to Amarillo from Minneapolis. 2 out of 4 bags did not arrive on time....but all in all, the trip was a success.

I have read part of a new book, Getting it right with children, and it has inspired me to be better, and so far I think it is working. If any of you are struggling on issues you wonder how to best handle with kids, I recommend the book... it has lots of good ideas you can implement.

Jason was really happy to be back home and out of the fast lane, but I love Minneapolis and hope to return there for a visit someday.

Minni

Jason and I are in Minneapolis, MN. The kids are now all at home with Jyl, my friend. Jason spent yesterday in meetings until 5 ish and then had a company supper so I had the whole day to myself.... crazy!
I spent the day at Mall of America, and did not see it all. It is the biggest thing I have ever seen....I also went to IKEA... cheap store, but really neat. It is fun to shop, but sad to have no one to talk to. I like to talk. The people here are really friendly.. and I was surprised by this fact, I would have thought all the friendly people were in Texas!
I am going to the outlet mall today... just because I can. I don't really know what else to do b/c I don't want to get too far off the beaten path...all day yesterday I kept reminding myself about where I parked, what door I came in the mall, which way I had walked in the mall, which way I had driven to the mall.... that Sienfeld episode where they can't find their car kept running through my head... usually my thought revolve around who is touching what and what I have to get so I can get home
It is good to get away sometimes and reflect on what is really important. I can be a calm person, I just get so caught up in trying to do it all, that I forget the most important things sometimes... it is not the person who does it all, but possibly the person who treasures the moments...instead of rushing through them ...
catch you all later

kids are unique

anyone who has more than one child will tell you that parenting one child is not the same as parenting every child...
some who only have one child will agree with this, but many without children, have not seen the light.

we are parenting 3 t h r e e children. they are not the same sex, but they are not all different sexes, so that is not the main thing different in parenting... some with only one, or one of each gender may think that the differences come in the genders

we have been discussing how to best parent these children, because we lost our owners manual, and evidently the office that issues these manuals has been permanently vacated...probably too little pay and too much work if you ask me

while eating their afternoon snack today, the children were worried about who had more crackers, and who had more popcorn and who was not sharing... actually the oldest and the youngest were worried and sitting beside one another and quite concerned with their current situation. the oldest is on the verge of 10 and the youngest is fast approaching 3....

as they sat fussing back and forth, I threw a few m & m candies from a partially eaten bag onto their popcorn.... the bag of candy formerly belonged to the middle child, who was quielty eating his popcorn. I did not count the m & m's just opened the package and tossed a few on the popcorn to clean up a bag... the oldest counts hers first----4, she says" I only got 4 "and quickly counts her youngest brothers-4 "he got 4 too, how many did Wes get, I bet Wes (middle boy) only has 4 too, right?"

I explain that the candy belonged to the middle child and the oldest tells him thank you for sharing, and he, quietly eating his snack, says, 'that's what friends are for"

and you wonder why parents don't treat every kid the same......do you know have any idea where they moved the office where you get those manuals I mentioned earlier?

October

We have not fallen off the planet, but we have been running around it.
Jaylee started school and this AR reading is gonna be the end of us... really she is better and things are starting to settle down (knock on wood)
She will be getting glasses, so we will have to get some photos when they come in
The boys are doing well... Wes had a birthday, his golden one he turned 5 on the 5th. He is getting so independent and he is so congenial. He is really easy and we are thankful for that. He can buckle himself in and get himself out of the car seat which is a GREAT help.
Kolin is ending his terrible twos but don't shout a victory cry for us yet, he is entering his troublesome or is it trying threes. All I know is we are fastly approaching....
I have several stories to tell, but I just wanted to document where we have been... and in case anyone ever checks, we are still alive.

Rockwall fun

While in Dallas, we took the kids to a new development called Rockwall. It has some neat fountains and is right by the lake. They also have a water garden of sorts that people can run and play in. It was really pretty at night. The photos were hard to take b/c the kids were running, it was dark, and the lights were reflecting. I took so many photos of them in the water, I ran out of battery for the fountains and lake front. This what we ended up with.... the kids had a blast!

Kolin, happy boyThey did try to stand still for one photo Kolin blew a shoe
Wes stayed relatively close to us
This is the reflection of the lights on the water spray. Each has a spray of water coming out of the ground
The light house in the background at Rockwall... before they played in the water
Another view of Rockwall at dusk
Wes is about to leap out of the photo

Kolin kept coming to tell me "Be careful mom, you'll get wet"
I liked this photo of the water spraying on Jaylee...looks like something someone professional might take

Wes and Wes

Had to include one photo of Wes and his namesake Wes.
It has been too long since we had a photo of them together. Here is the beginnings of the sore stomach from the previous post....Uncle Wes getting ready to float the creek. He is telling me to not take a photo....It was too late! I love the shoes! They were Kory's size gigantic and Wes literally cut them down to fit him.....

Photos at the old house on Bar Diamond Ranch

While at the ranch in Montana, we went up to the old house that Uncle Wes' grandparents had built and lived in. It is a neat place to take pictures, so that is what we did. I am by no means a professional photographer, but I had a great backdrop and even better subjects....

Jaylee, Wes, and Kolin at the old houseSweet boy looks so innocent... looks can be deceiving
When I grow up I'm gonna be a rock star,I think I'll be a model...I love to have my photo taken
If we all smile pretty can we be finished?
We love going to Montana. If it weren't so cold, maybe I could talk Jason into moving there....We had not been in 6 years, but I plan on it not taking so long next time.

While there, we floated the creek, but did not have a camera. I was floating with Wes, but hit a rough spot and we both fell out. I reached into the water and pulled him out and handed him off to Susan. I felt much better while he was with her. We laughed and laughed on that trip down the creek. Uncle Wes and I were at the very end of the travelers and he was a hoot! My stomach was hurting by the time we got finished. Jaylee and Kolin loved it and Jason went down the creek one more time with both of them... he is much braver than I.

We took our dog, Suzi, to MT with us and she too went down the creek. She did not know what to think, and kept trying to get on my inner tube with me! I am a sucker, and I don't want anyone to drown, even the dog! But she has really sharp clawn, like a cat, and I hated to share and us both be without a tube by the end of the trip. That is one thing that made me laugh about U.Wes, he kept saying he was loosing air, and he was floating really slow, and sometimes he would ask me if he was moving. I guess you had to be there, but it was funny

July in Montana: fish hatchery

We spent a week in Montana on Jason's Aunt and Uncle's ranch. One day we took the kids to the fish hatchery. They loved it. They enjoyed seeing the fish, walking the paths and feeding the big fish. Wes is a big fisherman.... so he was in heaven. Jaylee and Kolin liked it too...

Jason showing Wes and Kolin where the spring is coming out of the ground This is the natural spring that feeds the hatchery and a creek that runs through the area
Jason showing the boys where the water is "springing" from the earth Jaylee, Wes, and Kolin on a pathway bridge... hoping to get a good Christmas card photo
Photo in the tree... the mosquitos were bad, and the kids were being good sports about the picture taking process
One more, maybe this one will suit our mother
They wanted dad to be in the photo too

June 2007, Red River

Jason and the kids outside of Red River Jaylee always want to take the photos....I think she should be in the photo, but she did a really good job getting everyone in the picture

We made our 2nd annual trip to Red River Family Encampment this year. We love being in the mountains and it is a virtual feasting upon the Word while we are there. The kids love it and look fw to going again next year. Jason's mom met us this year and we stayed in a condo not far from all the activities. We highly recommend anyone who has the time to plan on being there in 08.

On the way to RR and home we took a few pics. If we are gonna be bloggin, we will have to be better about taking photos. Here are a few photos from the trip.

Jaylee and Wes on a rock by the road leading into Red River coming from Questa

Me and the kids on the rock... I usually get to take the photos... that is how you know I am there, there is a photo :) Jason showing the kids to look for fish
On the way home from Red River, we always stop at the log... it is a tree trunk that has been hollowed out and water is flowing through it.... " a river runs through it" literally...
Wes at the log

Floating the creek ain't nothin' like floatin' to Dallas!

Our trip to the Big D was a great time for all of us!
We had a bit of trouble getting off to a start. Jason had to work Thursday morning and he got home about 45 minutes later than expected....which was not too bad b/c I had the car loaded and ready....
Jason showered, took care of the dog ( and orders for her) and off we went..almost.
I forgot to get my keys so back in I went to arrive back in the car with the house phone in hand... so back in the house once more.(None of this is hard, except for keeping the cats out of the garage each time we open and close it so they won't have free reign while we are away)
As we are leaving Dalhart, I am telling Jason I wish I could have been more ready, but it is hard to pack for 5 people and not forget something important, like my medicine.... My medicine! I forgot my medicine.... so we head for the hacienda once more.
Now we are 2 hours behind schedule!Jason is beat, so I am driving....he is sleeping, and it starts to rain.... We love rain, but it is coming down in sheets, like buckets and I can't see! He is still sleeping! Then, the windshield wiper on the passenger side...QUITS! KUPUT no more.
So here we go down Hwy 87 in pouring rain with one winshield wiper.

Did I mention the fact that Jason thought we could make it to Amarillo to fill up with gasoline? Well at this point the low fuel warning sign lights up, Jason says "Have you ever seen that?" "No" I reply, " I don't let it get that low."

So now the kids are a bit concerned... which is icing on the cake about now. We call a friend who tells us to check a nut, not the one driving in the rain w/o wipers or gas, the one on the wiper. But by now, it has stripped gears, and so had a few others :)

We slide into Amarillo on a wing and a prayer to get our gas, float down the road to the parts house and get a new wiper arm, and float back over to Harbor Freight Tool to get something to install the new wiper. Jason goes into HFT and about 45 minutes later, comes back with a pair of plyers stating he won't be going back to this place again.....

So we are off once more.

We drive most of the day in pouring rain, Jason sleeping, and me a little nervous about seeing the road. We did make it to Richard and Frieda's house without any complaints and had a great time with them

I got a good report at the doctor in Dallas. The kids were able to play in the water at Roundrock and we spent a good bit of time in Bass Pro Shops...my kids love that store, and so does Jason.

I will get some photos on here later!

August 1, 2007

We decided to try and start a blog for our family. We are getting ready today to go to Dallas tomorrow to visit Richard, Frieda, and Barrett Dickson and the kidney doctor on Friday. We are excited to spend time in Dallas with the Dickson's... they are some of our favorite people! We have had a great summer and will try to post more of what we did and some photos later.
We have to warn everyone that reading our post may be dangerous... you will see how exciting your lives really are :) Hope you have a great August!