Happy Birthday Julia Sage

Julia is ocho today!

We have been celebrating pretty much since Friday, and after lunch and doughnuts at school tomorrow we will officially be through with the four days of celebrations! Julia had her first real slumber party last night, and I have to say that all 9 girls got some sleep, got along, and didn't get too sick from all the goodies that are consumed during one of these types of parties! The big presents this year were all the littlest pet shop toys that she got, teacher stuff to play school with, and neat stuffed animals, robe, the whole set of Narnia books from Nana and Papa, and a Hannah Montana cd from the brothers!

Julia's party was done in a simple pink and yellow theme with cupcakes made special from momma (big deal for me!) We had pizza followed by the lighting of the cupcake tree, then birthday song. The girls then decorated a picture frame with stamps (I will send later with picture taken with Julia along with thank you note). The silly string fight never last long, but does take up some time to clean up...I mean....see who can make the biggest silly string ball by picking up all the mess!!! Of course in the end they put all the balls together and made a huge silly string ball for a fun picture! They jumped on trampoline, watched movies, had lot's of snacks, and got to sleep before midnight...I'm pretty sure! The next morning when they woke up and came down for breakfast they all had their party favors waiting for them downstairs in living room...all most like Christmas morning!!! I got a great idea from Julia's teacher to go to Home Depot and cut a dry erase board into smaller sizes...well they each got a pretty good sized board...and you can tell from the pics Julia's board is huge!!! They each had a dry erase marker, eraser, and some candy in the baskets as well. Cheap, fun, and so easy!!!

This morning we woke up to the traditional number pancake to make it official, and opened a few more gifts....a real live webkin from her Grandma Jolly. She was so surprised to open that gift cause we had been telling her for the last few weeks now that they were all sold out! Grandma was her hero cause she got it well over a month ago not even knowing how hot of an item she had gotten her hands on! Way to go Grandma! I have to say it is a really neat little idea of stuffed animal and technology. Today, April 29, also happens to be their 2nd anniversary! So that was special to Julia to share her birthday with her new little terrier webkin!

I'll never forget the day you were born Julia! I wasn't sure what I was going to do with a little girl, but I have to say you have taught me great things, and it's been a blast! I'm so thankful to have someone to share all the girly things with, and pass on my love for being a mommy to. Thank you for the way you share life with all those around you. I will never be the same because of this deep sisterhood in Christ that I have with you. I love that you have a heart for our Lord. I know that as you seek his word, and continue to be real and transparent with Him..you will grow and be blessed as you bless others through your writing and fearless way of living this life with spunk!

pound pound peace!!!

If Mamma is sick...

Well I finally went to the doc yesterday after feeling just plum rotten since last Thursday evening! It was nice to not have much this weekend so that I could rest, drink major amounts of water, and live on motrin. I was so hoping to just let my body heal itself, but as much as I hate going to the doctor...I finally broke down and was sure that I had some weird, horrible disease that nobody has ever heard of...cause that's how yucky I felt! Turns out it was just a sinus infection. Got a shot in the hiney, and sent off to CVS to get my antibiotic. I'm feeling a little better, but after being shut up in the house for three solid days it was rough doing car pool and our Monday madness of piano, guitar, and dance lessons. Of course daddy who usually meets us at Sonic on Monday nights and takes the boys to music lessons in the middle of all the running was playing in a golf tournament for Rotary yesterday so that meant even more back and forth crazy driving up and down Preston for me. I made it though and am going to get back to real life today!

Boys are doing TAKS test today and tomorrow, so I got up and cooked up a huge breakfast (Leta Mae style-Marv calls it!) for the young uns that for sure will give them all the brain power they need to ace the test! The best thing about TAKS week for the kids and for me is....NO HOMEWORK!!! So that means they can climb that tree, play more songs on piano, trombone, guitar, jump higher on the trampoline, ride bikes, dig in the sand, whatever they feel like doing outdoors! I wonder if I ever did homeschool...how could I be disciplined and make them come down out of the trees to learn? I LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing my kiddos up in the tippy top branches of our trees! I'm sure that would get old some day...it's a thought...

Hey Dad, Mom, Michelle, and Amy...I loved our 5 way conversation the other night! We gotta do that more often! I think we were on the phone for like 2 hours! Too fun, and lot's of great deep thoughts!!! Let's all get together soon at the nearest camp ground...I would feel safer having us all around to endure....I mean enjoy the fun together!

Y'all have a super Tuesday, and get those taxes in!!!

WANTED: Comments

I've been blogging since this summer off and on and find it really therapeutic and fun to get to write about my family, fun, and life in general. I was introduced to the world of blogs by my friend Sonya, who had a friend Amanda, who both had their own blogs. I started keeping up with their blogs and realized quickly that I too wanted to get my own blog. I then told my friend Kim, and sisters Michelle and Amy about this new world. They too got their own blogs! How fun it has been to keep up with their everyday adventures, trips, kids, and being able to see pictures and comments on each day, week, or month... just all most making it feel like we aren't really thousands of miles from each other!

Well as I began to read all the other blogs I found links to so many other awesome moms out there. I noticed that some blogs really had lots of comments...meaning lots of readers, family, friends, and fans. While others didn't seem to have hardly any comments, or even ZERO comments. I kinda felt sad for those people cause that meant possibly several things....they don't have many friends, or families, or fans, or readers. Or that maybe what they were saying was BORING and not even worth a comment. OR even worse that no one was actually reading their blog...therefore what a waste of time unless they were just journaling for themselves! I myself never felt compelled to comment on some of these blogs cause well they don't know me....and I kinda felt like a lurking- peeping tom kind of person...peering into their lives...which I find fascinating...kinda a whole new level of people watching...ya know?

Well now that I'm back on line and really want to take my blog seriously...and by this I mean actually write and maybe even get my own mug up there along with links and just some color. I wasn't for sure that anyone was even really reading my blog unless I got an email, or phone call about it. But I then realized how boring my blog must look, or the things I shared where seen as goofy cause I started getting the 0 comments. OUCH...it hurts....can anyone out there relate with me? It becomes this sadistic kind of ritual where each morning you get on to check and see if anyone even cares that you are alive and bloggin'! I've had other friends comment to me on how they too become involved in wanting to share with the masses, and maybe even feeling like their views and life were somewhat important to those out in the world. I think being a stay at home mom is sometimes a lonely place when it comes to needing that adult conversation and approval that your brain is still working and you can think and have conversations on a higher level than the age of your oldest child!

Okay so then I got the site meter thing...way cool! It made me feel a little better...at least I know that my friends and family are at least logging onto my blog and hopefully reading it...along with others in Peru, Germany, Poland, and Canada just to name a few! That makes my brain hurt to think about how far some of my thoughts are going...all around the world! I at that point then realize I have readers who

a. don't know how to comment(a.k.a. not computer savvy)

b. just don't know what to say to my rants and stories, or

c. like to remain lurkers like I did on so many blogs.

I think I will make it a new policy to comment every time I read another blog just so they know that I actually dropped by and peered into their world if only for a moment!

Okay so now if I have no comments on this entry, or on other entries after being so transparent with you all about how important the comments are to us bloggers then I'm gonna just assume you are laughing your head off at my sad little life and want me to have a bloggers complex! : )

P.S. My mom doesn't even know how to use email much less comment so she is forgiven, but now my daddy does have a clue when he isn't too busy with the bluegrass! Love y'all!

Camping Part 3

Well the ending to this story of our 5 day camping trip goes like this...

We get back from our near tragic family bike adventure and scarf down some yummy sandwiches. Ya know anything eaten outside in the warm sun can just taste delightful! Jeffrey was in the tent recooping from a very serious bike wreck...thank you Lord for watching over his hard little head...despite the lack of brain usage on his parents part as well! Jacob and Julia were playing around and Marv was in the hammock watching this huge boat, while I was cleaning up from our lunch. I notice the clouds in the sky seem to be getting closer and the wind started to pick up...yet again!... Now all week long we had clouds roll in and roll out along with the wind that never really produced much rain, so I started to just assume that this would be the same way. Each time it seemed like it would rain for the past four days we had to fold up all the chairs, put food in the cab of the truck, close windows on tents, and take down towels off of clothes line. I asked Marv who was still coveting....I mean....watching the boaters loading up their boats onto the trailer from the water , if he could help me put stuff away cause it really seemed like it might be a for real storm moving in this time. Not 5 minutes after getting the last thing put out of the elements the winds pick up fast and furious....oh don't forget the dog!....chunked her into the tent and batten down the hatches.

Now if you have ever experienced a bad thunderstorm in Oklahoma you would know that a tent is not a place that you would want to take shelter from the winds, rain, and hail. This huge, new tent has an entire ceiling made of mesh for great venilation on a warm summer night. The tarp that goes over the top does come down to keep water from coming in...unless the winds are blowing at 60+ and then it just doesn't quite cut it! It didn't take long for us to realize that we were gonna have to grab our kids and Deeds and make a run for the truck...which we did! We sat in the truck for about 1 1/2 hours waiting for the storm to slow down finally we decided on going to get some diesel to make good use of our time.

When we got back to camp Marv and I went to the tent to survey the damage and found several places where the water dripped in and got our beds, pillows, etc... wet. At one point Marv asks me if we should just pack up and head home...now have you ever had a wet soggy tent, sleeping bags, kitchen gear, etc.? The only thing worse than having to pack up all your camping stuff to go home, is having to pack it all up wet cause then stuff can get mildewed! So we just decided to tough it out. That night was one of the dampest, coldest, and longest nights! We were able to spread everything out the next day to let it dry out before sweeping off all the mud and trying to re-bungy cord everything back into the truck!

What a blast we had now that I'm sitting here in my nice, warm, dry home. I'm so thankful for the time period that we were born in. There is nothing like bonding as a family in the great outdoors though. I'd do it again in a heart beat, but could we consider a trailer hon?

Deep Thoughts...

My best friend Kim got a thinking award on her blog the other day. I must say that even back in the first days when we were getting to know each other she would ask me question after question about how I did my schedule, and why did I do it that way, and how could we do it another way....I had never met anyone who was so inquisitive and thought so much about everything and anything! Well honestly sometimes I would get annoyed and want to just make stuff up, or say...I don't know why I think that...or do that...just because! I now appreciate all the questions and the deep thinking hour to 3 hour talk sessions that we had. If there is anything I ever want to know about, or try and do research on I know for sure the top three people in my life to call has Kim at the tippy top cause that girl can find the answers! Way to go girl! I have to agree that your blog does make my head hurt from thinking so much. I often have a hard time commenting cause I still find it hard to keep up with the conversation going on in your head!

Do any of you ever remember the good ole days of Saturday Night Live (if there ever was such a thing). I wasn't allowed to watch it, but did watch it some at friends homes now and then, and reruns later on. My favorite thing on SNL was the Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy.... they usually were really simple and hilarious statements...and of course I don't remember most of them, but the one that was and is my all time favorite still can make me spurt my drink out of my nose! It goes something like this...(read this very seriously and with a straight face)

I think that in weightlifting

Sudden, uncontrollable urination

should not automatically disqualify you...

Okay well that just shows you it doesn't take much to make me laugh and have a great time, but I can just see the big guy in the stretchy pants having to run off stage. Oddly enough I can so relate...bless the Mommy's hearts who have had all the babies and can't run, do jumping jacks, laugh, or sneeze without having this issue! If you know what I mean! Okay I digress....hmmm...I'll have to go think about that one! No awards please Kim...it would embarrass me : )

Camping Part 2

As I said before we were able to even fit in the bikes for our camping trip over spring break. The kids had a huge area to ride their bikes around. Gabbie even got in on the action when Michelle and Jeffrey rigged up the hiking backpack thing on Jeffrey to let Gabbie experience the true freedom of having the wind blow through her precious red hair! We were tearing up just watching her screaming at the top of her lungs...yeehaw...woo hoo....look at me y'all...I'm flying! Michelle said she thinks that is the fastest that Gabbie has every gone other than in a car! I was scared to death that Jeffrey would crash, but Michelle knew that he would be careful. He is so good and caring when it comes to that precious cousin!

Michelle and the girls left on Monday evening, so we woke up Tuesday morning ready to try and head to a cool bike trail that Jeffrey found and couldn't wait for us to experience as a family! I literally thought...you know what's a little 30 minute ride gonna hurt. I can do this with a bruised tail bone and all. We started out on this nice, wide, sidewalk type trail that went through beautiful trees, etc....just enough hill to make you not have to pedal the whole time. It was really allot of fun to have all of us out together being active and being able to keep up with the kids! Well then we get to the end of the nice trail that came to a little road. As we stop and look across the road we see a dirt trail that is super small, but there is a sign that says hiking/biking trail. I'm pretty sure it was at that point that my adventurous/athletic (not) husband started hearing the theme song for Indiana Jones in his head when he chimed in with the kiddos-who were already half way up the trail-"Come on babe....let's have some adventure!" So I kicked it into the low gear as my family took off and made it up the first hill without even having to get off and push! Man what a rush, and I felt so strong and confident!

We continued on up and down the trail...hills, rocks, trees, tree roots, stairs....yes I said stairs! Jacob was leading the pack and when we heard screams of excitement we knew that meant something fun and probably super dangerous ahead. Did we stop...oh no....we kept going! We passed a family that was actually HIKING the trail...imagine that....and I overheard the little boy say to his dad...."I didn't know you could ride bikes on this trail dad?!" I tried to keep a smart look on my face as we rode past them and deeper and deeper into the woods. Every time we would go down a great hill Marv would say, you know we are gonna have to go back up that, but it will be fine! Marv's goal was to stay on his bike no matter what. He actually did pretty well...even with no ACL in his knee! It was probably at least an hour and a half into the great Jolly adventure that we found that the trail seemed to just stop.

We could see the lake, so we knew at least that we were still in the camp ground, but no signs, no people, no nothing. It is at this point that I realized several things: 1. Marv I think we are lost! 2. We have no map. 3. We have no cell phone. 4. We have no water, or food. (Remember it was just gonna be an easy 30 minute ride on the concrete sidewalk bike trail!) 5. And no matter what Marv was telling me...we had no clue! Oh yes and there seemed to be some dark clouds starting to form in the distance!

It was at this point that we literally had to carry our bikes up and down the terrain to find some kind of thing that looked like a trail and then we see it....some signs that told us that we had just come 3 1/2 miles, and that the lodge was only 1/2 mile away that way. That meant water, bathrooms, and civilization! When we made it to the lodge looking pretty scary, we sat on a soft couch in the great room and had a treat of water and ice cream! Marv went to the front desk to ask what would be the quickest way to get back to Elephant Rock(since it looked like rain may be coming)....which ended up being back the exact way we just came, or down the state park highway...which is only about 31/2 miles of asphalt. Well after what we had just accomplished...which was really fun by the way until the last 30 minutes where we were sorta lost....we thought... we all decided we could do the easy hi-way part in no time!

So off we go with Daddy in the lead, baby girl next in line, then Jacob, Jeffrey, and Momma bringing up the rear (literally) and watching for cars. There wasn't much of a shoulder really so we had to stay as close to the white line as possible...unless there was a car coming in which I would scream...."CAR" and we would all slow down and head off to the grass. We were making great time and were gonna be able to make it back to the tent in no time until...we got to a part in the road where we got...no joke going downhill at around 20-30 miles an hour. From the screams of delight up ahead we knew we were about to pick up speed, and Jeffrey and I were lagging behind somewhat and saw this as an opportunity to catch up. (Did I mention that none of us had on biking helmets?...big no no! : ( This thought went through my mind as I started picking up speed, and then it happened....

All most in slow motion...and there was nothing I could do to stop it....Jeffrey's front wheel starts wobbling and then he goes flipping in the air and crashes right in the middle of the road on the asphalt! Somehow the boy was able to hang on to his handlebars while trying to use his hand brakes. He landed on his bike...which broke his fall for the most part, and landed on his stomach all sprawled out in the middle of the road. He was yelling...my legs, my legs! At that point I don't remember much, but the adrenaline kicked in this momma and I had him pulled off to the grass and then got his bike out of the road within 30-45 seconds. That's when several cars showed up...thankfully not any earlier, or it could have been really bad! The family that stopped with a first aid kit was amazingly from our town! Jeffrey only had a cut on his thumb, scraps on his shoulder, and some bruises on his legs. I was so embarrassed, thankful, and freaked out all at the same time! Needless to say...Marv rode the rest of the way to our tent...I think about a mile...to get the truck and come get us and our bikes off the side of the road.

We were so thankful to get back to our little outdoor home and have some lunch. Of course Jeffrey took some Motrin and ate his sandwich lying down in the tent. He was pretty banged up, and we watched him closely to make sure there wasn't any internal bleeding, etc... It was super scary, but fun to know that we had just survived one of the greatest mountain biking adventures. Jeffrey's back bike tire/wheel still has a gimp thing going on, and probably will have to be replaced soon! The day was not over yet....that I will save for part 3 of our camping adventures! Until then....lesson learned...always, always, ALWAYS wear your bike helmet!!!

Camping Trip Part 1

I grew up tent camping for weeks at a time during our 3 week summer vacations all over the good 'ole USA. Our family of six would pile into our latest dodge van that pulled a converted motorcycle trailer turned camping gear trailer. My dad even had us set up with a porta-potty for #1 only thank you, and even made curtains for our van. He also rigged up a bed to go behind the back seat with a foam mattress for napping on our long journeys. I loved helping my daddy set up the tents, etc... I was sure at the time that I was a huge help and he couldn't do it without me, but now I know I was probably more in the way than not! (Thanks for letting me feel like a big helper though dad!) I loved camping...washing my face and brushing my teeth in the freezing rivers of Colorado. Getting postcards, souvenir spoons, and making great memories along the way.

Well.....my sweet hubby also grew up tent camping and so we decided to try and get more camping in for our family this spring. Why not start off big like a whole 5 days during spring break? We loaded everything and I mean everything...including the kitchen sink, bikes, and the dog. The great thing about packing in a truck is there is virtually no limit to how high you can pack and stack your stuff! Of course that does mean that you have to have some skills with the bungy cord. Or should I say CORDS (plural) cause I'm pretty sure we used so many I can't count that high! I tell you if one thing flew off on the highway it was ALL gonna go! Now that would have been a sight! Marv has the same knack that my daddy has for riggin' up stuff and even welded and made this hitch rack a year ago....which came in quite handy for all the little extras I kept throwing in last minute!

You know the thing about camping is that it really shouldn't be considered a VACATION for the mommas cause you have to pack up everything and I mean everything in the kitchen and be prepared for anything and everything that usually can and will happen, but now will be attempted outdoors! If you want to cook a meal of hot dogs, beans, chips, and maybe even a little dessert then you've gotta not just pack the weenies, and buns, but also the mustard, mayo, ketchup, relish, spoons, knives, something to cook the weenies with, paper plates, can opener for the beans, pot to cook the beans in, spoon to stir the beans with...you get the picture! I did precook the brownies the day before at home, so at least those were done, but a little flat by the time I got them off the truck from under who knows what! Then once you finally finish the wonderful meal...it's time for dishes done with cold water from a faucet that in real life you only use to water your plants and lawn outdoors. It was fun to wash each piece by hand and hose and then hand it to Julia...only to watch her set it down on the dirt to dry it off! Too funny, but at the time frustrating and back breaking! Then putting EVERYTHING away...back in the rubbermaid tubs and back in the truck for safe keeping from the little critters overnight! It was pretty exhausting, but I was glad to have Michelle there to help for the first couple of days! It was nice to have a hammock to go to when I found a moment to be still and dream while looking up into the leafless trees! It was peaceful though!

The new tent that we had never actually been camping in had more than enough room for our family of five, dog, and all our stuff. It was hilarious to watch Marv and the boys put it up with all the poles and just to see the shear size of the thing. Marv got a good deal on the tent that is literally bigger than our living room with it's three doors, two rooms, and huge windows! It was a good thing that the winds hadn't picked up yet! Yes the wind was just a beating! We found a great spot out on a penisula type place that I'm sure in the summer is nice to have the breeze. We had great weather the first day and night, but after that it was pretty much non stop wind for the duration of the trip! We now know why there weren't any other people camping around us...they all were smart and crammed in together over by the trees that shielded them from the wind. Oh well we had plenty of room to spread out, and if anyone did try and come camp near us we just told the kids to run around and be loud. That usually kept most from wanting to be anywhere near us!

We had our little tent set up for Michelle and the girls, and a huge tarp between the two that allowed Gabbie to be able to move around with out getting too dirty...although playing in the dirt was on her agenda for the week! Here are some pictures to enjoy and I will make sure and finish at a later date with the adventures of our family bike adventures!