Have you ever been slapped in the face (not literally) with something that you do that affects the people around you and you didn’t even realize how much it affected them?  (that was really horrible sentence structure, but you get the idea)  While I am perfect most of the time – excuse me while I get back in my chair and regain my composure – I realized this weekend how often I say, “In just a minute!”  UGH!  I won’t name any names, but the other adult who lives in this house very gently (honestly, very gently) opened my eyes to this fact over the weekend.  I’m pretty sure I sighed or made a face or something just as mature, but quickly realized that I do that A LOT. 

I was browsing around the blog world this morning while eating my Apple Jacks (my mature mom points just keep going up and up with this post), and I came across this – http://www.remodelingthislife.com/2010/01/31/it-wont-wait/.  It’s not long and it really hit home for me so read it if you get a chance.  I know that things happen and when you’re in the middle of pouring the detergent and fabric softener in the washing machine you have to finish that up, but I’m pretty sure that reorganizing the tupperware cabinet can wait until after a the lego dinosaur has consumed all of the evil witch’s lipgloss, and it can probably also wait until after the 247th wardrobe change for the resident princess, and I’m positive it can wait until after we’ve played a few rounds of Uno Moo.  Just food for thought today…

Ah, the holidays.  A time full of hustle and bustle and all things wonderfully Christmas.  I think I’ve previously mentioned my unnatural love for checking the mail – sadly enough it really is one of the highlights of my day.  And it doesn’t get any better than checking the mail during December because the mailbox always has Christmas cards!  I love opening them up and showing them to the kids and we proudly display all of them on the piano.  Well, I am sincerely apologizing to my cousin Glenn and his family, Clay’s cousin Daniel and his family, Clay’s Aunt Jeanne and Uncle David, and our friends the Louis’.  Here’s how it all went down:

4 p.m. – took the kids outside to ride bikes and play
4:05 – checked the mail and was thrilled to get 4 Christmas cards
4:07 – neighbors come outside to talk and play
4:20 - tired of helping Ethan ride his bike while trying to hold the mail, I put it on top of the car
5:30 – go inside to get dinner ready
6:45 – give the kids a shower and get them in their pjs
7:30 – Clay gets home from work
7:35 – we’re all in the car ready to drive around looking at Christmas lights
8:25 – I remember I have a prescription to pick up at CVS
8:30 – drop Clay and the kids off at home to get ready for bed while I run to CVS
8:30 1/2 – OH NO!  realize that I never took the mail inside!
8:31 – drive around the entire neighborhood at about 2 mph with my bright lights on scouring the streets for our mail
8:31-9:00 – find above mentioned Christmas cards with tire marks, dirt, leaves, etc. covering them…also find the Target ad, zoo membership renewal form, Mylanta coupon, Clay’s corporate AMEX bill and a credit card application…unfortunately, I also picked up a disgusting smushed cigarette package, an old receipt, a used napkin and a ribbon

In closing, I apologize to the unsuspecting families who lovingly mailed us Christmas cards on Friday/Saturday because they arrived at our house on Monday and went through a lot before ending up mangled on our piano.  The end.

Don’t make that, “Who, me?” face at me.  What about if I make this face…

Now will you love me forever?

Still not sure, huh?  Well, what if I make this face…

How can you resist that one?

I can see you’re still on the fence about it.  What if I told you I’d love you forever and ever and that you’re the perfect person for me…and that I promise to make sure you always have clean underwear as long as we both shall live? 

I knew the underwear thing would do it.  Happy number nine babe.

August 1999 – at Bryan’s graduation dinner and on our way to Josh & Sheridan’s wedding.  I had just flown in from spending a month in Siberia where I ate nothing but cabbage and mystery meat, and Clay had spent the entire summer in the sun working at Camp Balcones Springs. 

A year or so ago the ladies at church were really good about getting together once a month to play pokeeno.  I’m not sure why we stopped, but  I was ready to play again so I just put it in the church bulletin that it was at my house last Tuesday night…and they came!  Even though we were packed like sardines in our little living room, and even though Kelly stole the only gift I won, and even though Clay was entertaining the kids in our bedroom, we had a great time.  So, have a game night everyone (if nothing else it’s a great motivation to get your house clean)!

We wrapped up VBS a couple of weeks ago and had a great time.   Our theme this year was a Bible times marketplace and the kids loved it.  Rachel got an award for bringing the most friends in her class (Carson & Emory) and she looked like she had won an Oscar.  It’s too bad she doesn’t like any attention.  Ethan was so happy to have Jack & Jo there for a few nights, although he was pretty put out that another girl in his class got the award for bringing the most friends.  I told him we didn’t really need 2 of the same VeggieTales movies anyway. 

R, Josie, E, Jack

E’s class singing on stage

R’s class performing on stage

At the petting farm on the last night

 

Last week Ashley and I took the kids to the Fritz Park Petting Farm and then to the park for a picnic.  Rachel and Payton will be in the same class next year…I’m already praying for their teachers.

Two curly-headed girls

Sad that we were leaving

A couple of weeks ago Clay and I took the kids to the grand opening of the Lego store at Northpark.  We had a lot of fun shopping, watching a master builder build a Yoda out of Legos, eating dinner together, oh, and finding out that apparently there are cacti needles that have the specific milk protein in them that Ethan is allergic to…that was fun.  Robin - if you take Isaac to Northpark, DON’T let him touch the cacti by the Apple store…or make sure your purse is stocked with Benadryl.

On Saturday we loaded up the car and headed to Mosheim, Tx to celebrate the 60th birthdays of Doc & Mam (Cara’s parents).  It was a lot of fun seeing people I hadn’t seen since college graduation, and I was glad to be there to honor 2 awesome people. 

The honorees cutting the biggest cake I’ve ever seen

Clay and Will with their girls

Crazy kids

A couple of weeks ago Ethan and I had a Friday date and it was so much fun hanging out with him.  We went to Target and I told him he could pick one treat as part of our date.  After 45 minutes of debating through every toy aisle, we walked away with a transformer.  We went to lunch and then headed for the big surprise – a show at UTA’s planetarium.  Well, when we got to the ticket window the teenager working very politely told us that the show had been cancelled that afternoon for a private event.  Great.  It actually turned out okay because we just spent some time walking around the campus.  Ethan was fascinated with all of the college students and the big buildings.  We walked in one of the buildings and I realized how long it’s been since I’ve been on a college campus.  I guess all academic buildings have the same feel, smell, etc. because as soon as I stepped in the door I felt like I was back in 1997 going to a bio lab or something.  Anyway, after that we headed to the mall to use a Build-a-Bear gift card and successfully added BatDog to our family.  When we were driving home I asked Ethan what his favorite part of the day was.  His answer?  Driving around in circles at the top of the parking garage because I let him hang his head out the window.  I’ll remember that next time I plan an elaborate day.

Last week Nicole, Carrie and I got together at N’s house to watch Twilight.  I’m not joking when I say that between the 3 of us I think we had already watched it 9 times.  We left our children with our husbands, ordered pizza, made a Starbucks run, and got all nestled up on the couch.  I love a good girls night…even if it did mean having to deal with some technical difficulties and watching the end of the movie on the portable DVD player.  Good times!
 

I was in the kitchen making dinner when I heard Clay call me to come outside.   He had the “bring your camera” tone so I grabbed it and this is what I saw when I got to the garage…

Ethan has been very curious about his training wheels lately, and today he asked Clay to take them off.  Ethan really isn’t much of a daredevil, but he does like a good challenge.  So, Clay obliged and he was off.  A few runs up and down the driveway with Clay and he was ready to try it on his own.  He went from this:

to this…

We need some more practice in falling correctly, but we’re well on our way to bike freedom.  I’m secretly very excited about the bike rack we can get for the camper now that the training wheels are off!  Clay – you secured your hero status again today.

And just for some perspective, here are some shots of little Lisa circa March 1984 when my mom and dad took me to the church parking lot to learn how to ride without training wheels.  Dad – I still remember that day vividly.

And this one was just too good not to include – getting my bike Christmas morning.  I really wish I still had that monstrosity of a television.  I really loved that thing…channel ‘U’ and all.

For those who asked, here’s how this shopping trip worked out:

Bought 4 packages of Huggies wipes that were on sale for $6 each, and used 4 coupons that were $5 off each (go here for coupon).  You can only print 2 coupons per computer, so I went to my mom’s for the other 2.  So, I basically got the wipes for $1 a package.

Bought 2 boxes of Kotex tampons that were on sale 2/$6, and used 2 coupons that were $0.75 off from a Sunday paper.  Got the tampons for $2.25/box.

This week at Walgreens if you buy $25 or more (before coupons) of Kimberly Clark products you get $10 in register rewards when you checkout (just a $10 off coupon).  So, Walgreens basically paid me $1.50 to buy those things!

Bought the Starburst candies for Easter baskets and they were on sale 2/$1.00.

The Gillette Fusion razor was on sale for $8.99.  I had a $4 coupon from a Sunday paper, and then got another $4 register rewards certificate on this item so I got it for $0.99.  Since Clay’s razor blades are around $14 for a package of 4, I think this is an amazing deal on 2 razor blades and a new razor.

The Sambucol cold and flu medicine was $11.99.  This month’s EasySaver catalog (free at the front of the store or go here) had a $10 off coupon for this.  Then, I went to Sambucol’s web site (here) and printed a $4 coupon to stack with the other one and basically got paid $2 to buy it.  Sweet.

The shampoo was on sale for $2.99, and the EasySaver catalog has a $2 off coupon.  I stacked it with a $1 off coupon from a Sunday paper and got it for free.

And of course the frappuccino was just my reward for a job well done!

I used a $4 register reward that I had from doing the razor deal earlier in the week and it all worked out (with the $14 register rewards I earned on this trip) to be $0.63 in my favor.  Love it!