Day #21

Have a look at my almost 10 year old. Heavens, when did I he get so old?

Day #20

PDaddy and the Gang

We took the kids hiking and picnicking on Friday. It wasn't the four foot or so drop that had Soph being super cautious in the photo below. It was the mud and running creek water below that she was afraid of. She was mortified of getting her "really fast, pink shoes dirty." Sometimes she can be such a girl. She dug deep and made it across with a little ridicule er, teasing....chiding encouragement from her big brothers.

Day #19

I think the sign speaks for itself.

Truly.

I mean, what else can you say?

Day #18

Life is a highway

I stuck the camera out of the sunroof on the drive home this evening. Don't worry, I wasn't the one driving.

Day #17

A self portrait

Day #16

Apologies for the delay in picture updating, but we were out of town visiting our super-duper Pinkie cousins in South Louisiana. The kids had a ball...and sadly, I forgot my camera at home (doofus), so I was unable to document our many moments of wild, outdoor park-induced abandon. So, you'll have to be content with the most recent Pinkie Photo coming from the previous weekend of backyard bliss. Have I mentioned how ready we are for summer? Sophy frequently sits and stares longingly at the pool. Each week, the kids inch closer and closer to full body immersion. Last weekend, it was the feet. She appears entranced, does she not?

Day #15

After the tea party, PDaddy brought the boys out and my brother brought my nephew who is 3 and not in this photo because he had had enough pictures, thank you very much. We were attempting a group shot for my mama for Mother's Day. PDaddy had his Big Boy camera, and we tried our best to get several different group poses. As you can see by this shot that I snapped, we weren't working with the most cooperative bunch of cousins.

Day #14

~Our third annual tea party~

Aren't they lovely?

Our elbows are off of the table (at least in this photo!)

Day # 13

As of Thursday at 1 0'clock, there will be NO more homework at the Pinkie house for several, several days!

Day #12

Remembering and longing for summer....

Day #11

My next project will be to turn the pool bathroom into a tropical oasis. As you can see from this photo, I have my work cut out for me. The fabric has been ordered, a lamp is patiently waiting on Ebay, certain fixtures are screaming to be replaced, and all that remains is for enough hours in my day to get it all accomplished! After pics to follow....

Day #10

The most beautiful tree in my yard!

Day #10

It was another project for the Pinkie family. This is the cottage we are putting in one of the garden beds. It came in a nasty shade of blue-grey, but it turned out cute in the end. Sam was determined to see the project through from start to finish. PDaddy started putting it together Friday eve, and Sam and I finished painting it today. The final shot here shows the house minus the shutters and window boxes that will be on it. It's just too cute for words.

Day #9

Attack of the hillbilly zombies!

Day #8

Thanks to the begging and pleading from my red head, we headed out to our local rodeo tonight. We're aren't your typical rodeo folk....but we may be from now on! Mercy, did the kids have a great time! It was quite a show, and I think because it was a PBR event it was that much better. Jack LOVED the bareback bronc riding. It was very exciting! I was amazed at all of the different types of people there. It was like a giant pep rally. The music and the magic shows and the kid events and the cowboys. WWOW! The cowboys!
Sophy turns out to be a whiz with the lariat! She got mad skillz!

This guy was WILD! This poor pony may never be the same. The minute he was in the saddle both boy and pony got a strange glint in their eyes. Sam brings out the animal in animals! Ha.

Day #7

Another photo from our planting day. I am happy to report that our little seedies have poked little green heads out of the soil today! To say that the kids were excited would be an understatement!

Day #6

I came home from school with a migraine like no other. Actually, I ran out of gas on the way home from school, and PDaddy had to rescue me. He did supper for 3 kids. He managed homework. He took Sophy to dance. He put the kids to bed. He made me supper when he got finished with all of that. Oh yeah, and did I mention that I love him? 'Cause...I do.

Day #5 of 30 Days in Photos

His future is so bright. He's gotta wear shades!

Day #4 of 30 Days in Photos

We worked outside all afternoon while PDaddy had wedding interviews. Sam and Soph started their lastest project. They planted sunflowers, zinnias, and four o'clocks. We're going to count the days to see how long it takes to see blooms! ((Ironic side note: We left school early Friday morning thanks to a snow cancellation. Jack will return to school tomorrow with a sunburn he received while shirtless outside all day today. Only in East Texas.)

Day #3 of 30 Days in Photos

Our sweet Thomas. She (yes, SHE) is such an awesome kitty. She loves to play fetch (yes, FETCH) and is the most patient, long-suffering gal around. This is her fav spot to nap. The receiver box for our kitchen TV. It's warm, so she uses it for a heating pad. Smart kitty.

Day #2 of 30 Days in Photos

A rare sight in East Texas, for sure! These shots were snapped within the first few hours of snowfall, but we had about 7 hours+ of solid snowfall before all was said and done. In the photo above, I was outside snapping a few shots when I realized that I was being stalked, hunted, attacked, etc. The little devil was forming a snowball as I took this photo! Within seconds, I was running for the house and threatening him over my shoulder. Luckily, his aim was off! Never fear. His big brother avenged his mother's brutal attack with swift and efficient retaliation. I've never heard the likes of giggling from the backyard as I heard today. We pretty much hibernated indoors with a pot of ham beans and warm crescent rolls after the initial snow fight frenzy. Weatherman is calling for temps in the 60's tomorrow. 70's on Sunday. Ha!

Day #1 of 30 Days in Photos

I apologize that my first photo in my stolen neato, 30-day-photo theme turns out to be of a dead bird. Still, it's a pretty, dead bird. Bless his heart.
With a horrible storm that is threatening snow and ice barreling down on East Texas, my yard this afternnon after school was filled with a rainbow mix of sweet, little birdies. They were frantically trying to eat every scrap of birdseed in our yard. It's no strange thing for our yard to be filled with birds. I love, love birds, and I try to plant berries for them and plants/flowers that they will like. Anyway, this gorgeous fellow hit our glass door and broke his leg and neck. When I found him, he was dying so slowly. I brought him out of the sleet and wind and just let him die in warmth. It was so, so sad. It took him about 3 hours to die. The saddest thing of all was when he started making strange clicking noises and making several final, desperate efforts to fly away. Oh, it was so sad. Jack snapped this photo of him before PDaddy handled the burial arrangements.

A stolen idea

I saw a really cool idea in Posy's blog that I am going to copy. Since Posy doesn't know I exist, I feel like she won't mind if I copy her! HA! Besides, she copied the idea from someone else in bloggy world. So there ya go! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? (Truly, check out Posy's blog. She's wonderful!)
Having said that, thus begins my next 30 days of blogging in photos only. Beginning tomorrow with Day #1 of 30 Days in Photos! I should be ashamed of myself for being such an idea stealer. I should, but STAY TUNED anyway!

This and That

Kids:
The kids are like animals anticipating the arrival of Spring. They are insane. What is a parent to do? ((I mean, literally, what can I do? I'm open to suggestions.))
Jackson took his first ever TAKS test. My poor, dear son. It's a rite of passage, I reckon. Swim team shall commence in a month or so. We all wait with bated breath. The eldest of the herd jumped a size in britches this month. He's now sporting a size 12 in jeans. They go so nicely with his size 6 and half men's shoe. Must be all of the waffles/syrup. As I type, he is in bed reading his latest book about the Titanic under the bed covers with a flashlight.
Sam is about to lose tooth #3 for the Pinkie Family's '08 Tooth Fairy Count. He has #4 on standby, and Sophy has #'s 5 & 6 hanging by a root as well. Last month, the Tooth Fairy billed us for her traveling expenses after having to visit our house 2 nights in a row. She wasn't thrilled about that. I think she's getting testy in her old age. Sam recently exclaimed over a story his teacher read to the class in first grade. It was called (in his words) "The Terd is in the Hair." I'm sure if you ponder long enough, you'll guess the true title of the story. Sam's teacher recently informed me that it was imperative that Sam "stop telling the other students that they were going to Hell for their classroom misbehavior." Sunday School lessons are very black and white with Sam. You're either really, really good, or you're going to Hell. There is no middle ground.
Sophy has added plant and botanical texts to her recent obessions, as well as bird information. She loves reading about different types of flowers and all of the different things that make up plants. Her class has been studying about birds this week, and her teacher has been letting them listen to various bird sounds to recognize. She has turned into quite the horticultural-ornithologist.

Summer Trips:
For now, we're on the books to stay at this place for our family vacation for my side of the family. We'll be hauling cousins and GrandPinkies with us, and the kids are getting more excited by the day. We've planned horseback riding, swimming/fishing in the river, a day of laying in the meadow picnicking and flying kites, a visit to this neato place that we have visited before and LOVED, and because one of our little Pinkie cousins is a dino-nut, I'm sure we'll stop by this place on one of our days in the area. The host of the place we are staying assures us that the fishing is amazing and the nightly firefly displays are super! Sam has already planned a s'mores night followed by flashlight tag with the cousins. Should be a bang-up week!
Also in June, we're going to Hot Springs to visit PDaddy's father and step-mother. July is our beach trip with PDaddy's side of the clan which the kids never fully stop talking about. As we're at the beach, they're planning the NEXT year's visit. Can't say that I'm far behind them. I'm pretty excited too! Of course, PDaddy and I are heading to Florida alone the first week of August, but I'm hoping that we can squeeze a road trip in to somewhere close in July while the kiddos stay with the GrandPinkies. We'll have to see what we can come up with.
TV:
Survivor is great! If I'm honest, I'm pulling for the favs. The fans are too whiney. Idol is as entertaining as ever. I love David Archuletta. I just want to pinch him until he's black and blue all over. Paula...wow! What is she smoking? Dirty Jobs has the occassional new episode which allows me to get my Mike Rowe fix for a week or two. Samantha Who. Will it ever come back on? What else? Hhhhmmm, Oh yes, Dancing With the Stars will return soon, and how could I forget Lost? Yikes! LOST! Who knew so much would happen in just 3 or 4 episodes! When they said they were going to deliver the goods, they weren't kidding.
Garden:
My bulbs are creeping up, and the Fairy Garden is taking shape. We're in dire need of a trip to Lowe's to pick out some backyard lighting for our pool area, so I guess we'll have to get on that soon. I'm kicking around making a small garden for tomatoes, peppers, etc. I dunno. That's a commitment that flowers will not require, so I'm giving it more thought. Still, is there anything better on the face of the Earth than a fresh tomato plucked straight out of the garden? Nope. Ok, maybe a small veg garden.
Little doggie needs go outside and winkie...TA!