I’m doing a self-imposed [Colby] theme this week, being the week before his 5th birthday. Some will be pics he has taken with my iPhone but I’ll try to get him in a pic most days.
Today I caught him being so sweet to his baby sister. And yes, he really is this nice to her and helps and hugs her a lot. But he usually doesn’t stay this still, so I was glad to nab this pic.
Add comment April 26th, 2010
I sent Kevin to Target to get these items.
After coupons and rebates, he made 13 cents. I won’t disclose how many phone calls and rolled eyes he gave me. But, he now understands my addiction. I think.
Add comment April 24th, 2010
Get excited! It doesn’t happen very often, so it’s definitely worth a picture.
1 comment April 6th, 2010
Alicia’s birthday isn’t technically til next week (the 21st!), but she will be taking Boards ON her birthday. Boo, hiss. So we celebrated early. Yay! [Above - Kevin lighting the cheesecake with strategically placed candles.]
[Alicia's nieces and nephew blowing out the candles. She looked like she needed help, apparently.]
[Kennedy eating a large strawberry. It covered her whole face, clearly.]
Add comment March 14th, 2010
Even though I’m mentioning a Valentine’s Day present, I really did take this picture today. I found this great 8×10 frame that matches our bedroom decor for 50% off at Hobby Lobby. [It's becoming my new favorite decorative store.] Then, I found a coupon for a free 8×10 photo collage at Walgreens. But more than saving money, I really like what I made for Kevin. He likes that I took the time and effort to get all the pics together. And I like Kevin a lot, in case you didn’t know. Happy End of February and look out March, here we come.
1 comment February 28th, 2010
Just sittin’ on the floor, eatin’ a nanna. Want some?
Add comment February 24th, 2010
And now, a Dr. Seuss-ish rhyme.
My bed is red.
I like my red bed.
“I like the red bed,” says Ned.
“Who the *&%$! is Ned?” says Kevin.
1 comment February 9th, 2010
Our town made the national news last month (Sorry the link button is broken, but the story is here – http://www.justicenewsflash.com/2009/08/03/el-dorado-chemical-company-smoke_200908031806.html) when a chemical plant exploded and we were forced to evacuate our homes on a Thursday afternoon. (For fear of smoke inhalation.) Despite having many dinner invitations (the people in CS didn’t have to evacuate), we left our house with the dog, filled up the car with gas, ate snacks from a convenience store, and then sat in the mall parking lot while I fed Carlee. Then the kids had to go potty, so I took them in to Sears and snapped these pics. All in all the trip took about an hour, and it actually was kind of fun to have Kevin home for a little longer in the craziness.
Colby is hugging Cooper, but Cooper isn’t smiling. I could make up a story here, but Cooper is just territorial. Grrrr.
Add comment September 5th, 2009
I just found this fascinating link from the New York Times. I don’t read the NYT but I couldn’t resist sharing this. To think, in 1980, the US had 0 medals. And do you know why? I just learned recently that we didn’t attend the 1980 Olympic Games. Do you know why? You get a prize if you can guess.
Most other years we’ve either led in the medal count or been in the top 3.
Even more astonishing is the amount of political history you can see each four years. The names of some of the countries have changed but the people have not… And of course, the gap in the Games during the World Wars.
What else am I missing? I wish there was a chart listing “amount of sleep lost by the American Public while watching the 2008 Olympic Games”. Or “Michael Phelps-mania”.
3 comments August 19th, 2008
Dear Ashley,
You are the kind of friend who calls not only on my birthday but on my kids’ birthdays as well. You were the first non-family member I called after the kids were born. And so you would think I would do better to call you on your actual birthday.
If I have excuses to give, they are these -
1. While vacationing in South Padre (I told you about this already, so I should be in the clear, right?), we stayed in a concrete and metal building which prohibited cell phone and internet usage.
2. Also while vacationing in South Padre, I realized I did not have your current phone number stored in my cell phone. I am a dummy who doesn’t update these things. I never thought I’d be “one of them”.
3. Upon our return home, I now realize I do not know where your number is at all. If you still lived in Underwood (our dorm at A&M for those still reading this far), I would know your number. If you still lived in Fort Worth, I would know your number. If you still lived in that other part of Arkansas, I would know your number (the one stored in my cell phone). However it is lost somewhere and cannot be found.
4. I had one more thought about getting your number off our caller ID since you were so faithful to call on Colby’s birthday. But of course, the whole world tried to call us while we were gone to South Padre, so in a mere 3 days we accumulated more wrong numbers than we normally would in 3 weeks.. maybe 3 months. But thankfully we weren’t home.
Anyway, I really really am sorry and rather than send you this as an email, I’d rather admit my sins to you and to my whole blogging world (you know, all 4 of you out there. not counting Ashley.) So, buzz me, beep me, page me, fax me, email me, or call me and if all else fails send a carrier pigeon. (No wait, Cooper wouldn’t like that…) Please send me your phone number and this time I promise I’ll put it in my cell phone and burn it to memory.
Love always,
the Jenna-shmo (who is “shmo” sorry)
2 comments May 18th, 2008
Last night was the final night of children’s choir for the year. I have really had a great year with some awesome co-teachers and a great group of compassionate kiddos. I would post pictures except I forgot my camera in the diaper bag. Hopefully I’ll be receiving some from the parents of these sweet children, and I’ll post them then.
When we finished singing, one of the moms handed me something as I walked up the church aisle. I finally got to look at it, and it was a gift card to Starbucks! There was a sweet note attached with the child’s handwriting – I love you, Mis Jenna. Love, me.
I walked into the choir room last night and found a sweet story written by another child. (They write things to me and make me pictures all the time, but I really liked this one because it was so very elaborate.)
I’m keeping the spellings the same; the translation is at the bottom.
a log log log tim ugo ter livd a wish a vere men men wish. Then She strtit to seing a sog. (Insert written music notes here. Very well-written.) and trd tees into dust. then the bravis sooprhiros kam to saf the day ten evereten kam bake to norml THE END.
Which is, of course: A long, long time ago, there lived a witch, a very mean mean witch. Then she started singing a song (music notes) And turned trees into dust. Then the bravest superheroes came to save the day. Then everything came back to normal. The End.
I love it! A perfect blend of plot, character development, conflict, and resolution. Oh, and I forgot that this was written for “Mis Genu”. Hooked on Phonics! 
2 comments April 28th, 2008
Remember, this appeared in a MOPS newsletter…
Oh ladies, I am so excited to review this book for you for several reasons. One, it is hot off the press! It just hit stores earlier this year, and we are privileged to give away one copy to a lucky MOPS Mom today. Two, I read Generation NeXt Parenting and reviewed it for last year’s newsletter, and I knew what author Tricia Goyer was capable of writing.
Sure enough, Goyer did not disappoint me. The book is such an easy read because of the format and the way she breaks up all the “heavy” material with stories from Moms just like us. Isn’t that what we all need; something to refresh our minds but not burden our schedule? We’ve talked about using Love Languages in marriage this year, and I think this book is a great companion to learning how to speak your spouse’s language, even though Goyer uses different terms.
Some of you ladies might not be labeled as “Generation Xers”, or those born between 1960 and 1981. Whether your birth date falls in this gap or not, this book is for you. You just might not remember all the song lyrics she uses as chapter and theme titles! (or, you might…) Whether you’ve been married for a year or for 20 years, whether this is your first marriage or your third, this book is for you.
You will love her life story – it is so unconventional. Her life work is even more dramatic. But most of all, you will love this book. Now, I think I’ll pick up some of Goyer’s fiction work…
Add comment April 23rd, 2008
Back to my reviewing stand. I’ve saved the best 2 reviews for last…
Who’s Mary? And why do I want to be like her? Allow me to tell you a part of their lives, the part of which Joanna Weaver pens her book:
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:38-42
(I can picture Jesus saying “Martha, Martha” in Jan’s Brady Bunch tone – like, “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” Everything had to be about her work, in her mind.) This concept sounds so simple, right? We should stop and listen to what the Lord has to say, instead of worrying about how clean our kitchens are or what wonderful dish we should prepare for dinner. Easy as shepherd’s pie? Not so much, for me at least.
I love Weaver’s subtitle for the book: “Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life”. We all know that life is busy. As a Mother of preschooler(s), you KNOW life is busy. But that shouldn’t be our excuse for sitting with our Savior and drinking in every word he speaks to our lives. The dishes and laundry can wait. The Lord cannot!
One of my favorite chapters in this book is when Weaver illustrates her life as being on a teeter-totter, going up and down and back up and down again. Many of you have heard this joke:
“To be is to do.” – Socrates
“To do is to be.” – Aristotle
“Doo be doo be doo.” – Frank Sinatra
I really think Old Frank had some truth to tell, whether he realized it or not. And Weaver reinforces this by saying we must find the balance point in our lives between “doing” and “being”. I hope you’ll pick up her book and find out exactly what she’s talking about.
This book really touched my heart and I hope it will touch yours.
Add comment April 23rd, 2008
I am so glad I got to see this film with my friend Rachel, who has a fabulous post about it on her blog. Her review is so right on and exactly what I would have said. The film is on Netflix… anyone get Netflix? I want Kevin to see this too.
In addition, I will say that from personal experience, I wish I had seen this film before I had Colby. I think many in our generation are under the impression now to not trust doctors and their judgments. While I want you to form your own opinions, I also know that everyone’s body and birth experience is different. I’d recommend this film to anyone, especially first-time mothers, but also to those who think about delivering without pain meds (whether your first birth experience was bad or not!).
1 comment April 15th, 2008
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