Togetherness!

Well we survived our camping trip! We had a blast being together and enjoyed the simple things in life. We played games, road bikes, fished, played in the campfire and went boating. Just enjoyed having slow paced days with no schedule.

Daniel caught a fish and the boys cleaned it and fried it. We found the part to the stove we had lost. However it was fun cooking with the campfire the first night.

We didn't watch tv for two days. We all cooked together. We all ate together. We all built a fire. We played games together. We went looking for deer together. We all talked while laying in bed. We all enjoyed the morning air and talking about what we were going to do together that day. Camping was all about being together before our crazy schedules begin on Monday.

I am going to be sad when the boys go back to school on Monday. I love the holidays and getting to slow down. As we bring in the new year tonight I am longing for more togetherness! Hopefully we can slow down in 2012 for more Uno and Phase 10 games and more activities with quality family time.  I try not to think too much about my boys growing up so fast. But reality is Andrew begins driving with a learner's permit in 3 1/2 months and goes off to college in a little over three years. In 5 months Andrew finishes his first year of high school, Christopher finishes his first year of middle school and Kevin heads to second as a reader and becomes such a big boy everyday. I just can't believe they have grown up so much. But I realized this trip just how much. On this trip I didn't have to worry about Kevin like I have in the past. Andrew can set up the camper and Christopher was such a helper. I'm so proud to be a mom of these three boys! And a wife to Daniel who is such a Godly role model for our boys.

Happy New Year! As the fireworks go crazy as it turns midnight, I cherish my 2011 with my family! It has not always been easy. In fact there have been some really difficult times but we survived those times TOGETHER!

Camping!

So we finally made it to the lake. But not without a few more delays. Daniel went to check on his dad and take him groceries before we left.  I didn't want to drive the camper through town so we made plans to catch up with each other on the interstate. Well Daniel forgot the registration sticker for the boat and headed back home. I was already on the interstate by then. I get a call saying he would catch up with me at the campground. He had a flat on the boat trailer.

I have never checked us in camping. I have always had Daniel with me. But I did it! I picked out the campsite and actually backed in the camper with the guidance of Christopher :)

Now we are finally all together!!! We got the camper set up, firewood collected and fire built. We've seen 9 deer and heard lots of ducks overhead.  When it was time to cook we noticed a part to the stove was missing. We moved on to plan B. We cooked hotdogs and smores over the fire. We also cooked some soup.

After we stuffed our self with smores we headed down to the showers. And in our pjs for some Uno!
We all piled in the camper around the table and played tons of Uno games. And one long game of Phase 10 that I won!  Great games for families! We are pretty competitive when playing games. The boys are already for a rematch tomorrow :)
But for now the camper heater is on and we are heading to bed for a day of boating and fishing tomorrow :) Good night from the woods! Here are some pictures in random order. I couldn't change them on my phone.

Happy Everything!

This is a picture frame that the boys gave me for Christmas. I have been wanting something from the "Happy Everything" collection. They have a platter with the attachments that I have been eyeing. However, Daniel went shopping and found this picture frame. He chose it instead because he thought I would have fun changing the pictures and the different attachments. They got me the baseball attachment. There are different attachments for sports, holidays/seasons and events. He knows me so well! I have this frame sitting in my kitchen. When someone walks through the kitchen you can't help but say out loud, "Happy Everything!"

Which is appropriate to remind ourselves these days! We have had one thing after another happen. No life threatening issues but annoyances! Best Buy tech support has become our new best friend. Maurice in North Carolina has spent the last two evenings in my computer from his computer fixing my 248 viruses. My computer wouldn't update and was acting up. We have another computer "date" with Maurice on Saturday to fix our wireless connection issues and printer scanning problems. But a big problem that makes me really sad when I think about it too much is that my external hard drive where I keep all my pictures won't let me open up any of my files. Best Buy Geek Squad has had it for two days trying to fix it.

Our dryer sounds like it is trying to take off with a loud screaching sound! My dogs run when I start to dry clothes :) The sink disposal got stopped up last night from my carrot peelings. That was fun taking apart the pipes and catching all the water and carrots in buckets :) Sink fixed, dryer still annoying!

Now today, we are trying to go camping and fishing but can't seem to get away. Noticed last night that the boat trailer license plate needed to be renewed. No biggy, Daniel heads to DMV this morning to renew it.

Now hooking up the camper and fixing the red plastic part on our camper tail light (it was on the ground when we went to get the camper out of storage yesterday) and now we noticed there is no license plate on the camper anymore.

So apparently someone ripped the license plate off the camper and broke our tail light in the process. Filed a police report and now Daniel is heading back to the DMV. Where is the easy button????

All is good though. We can regroup and maybe head out later than planned or go tomorrow. Boys. . . not so happy about the delay. They are ready for some fishing, playing our family game of Uno, playing in the fire and s'mores! Me . . . got my comfy clothes on sporting the no makeup look. I am ready to be hanging out by the fire watching my boys play in the woods with no electronics! Tomorrow my hair will be pulled up and ugly and still no makeup on and fishing on the lake!!!!!
 
So for today, I will just keep saying "Happy Everything!" And hope for the best with all the repairs. It could be worst!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Peace, Love and Joy

Today was a different kind of Christmas morning. We did not wake up until close to 9am. We have become lazy this Christmas break! Kevin woke up first and crawled in our bed telling us all about what Santa brought. Then Christopher woke up and joined Kevin in telling us all about what was in the family room. Then here comes Andrew and now everyone is in our bed waiting to start the birthday party :) Normally I would be all ready and have to have pictures and video of everyone entering to see the surprise from Santa. This year everyone coming to our bed and just enjoying each other is a picture I will have in my memory for years! After we finally got up, I started my coffee and grabbed my camera and away we went!

We were so busy opening and playing that we missed breakfast and went straight to lunch. Which is OK since we had breakfast for dinner last night. Then Daniel went to get his dad to open presents. After round 4 of opening presents with family this year, we then all headed to the garage to put the ping pong table together. Lots of ping pong games today and Xbox Kinect Adventures! My body is going to hurt tomorrow!

Then time to finish preparations for dinner. My parents joined us for dinner and games. We had beef tips and rice for dinner with vegetables and bread. These are the kind of meals growing southern boys want on their plates :) This is also why I have to watch what I eat these days. A mom of three growing boys isn't allowed to cook fat free. Fat and high calories is what these active boys need and want. and me - self control is what I have to have!!!! I remind myself all the time with God's word that self-control is a fruit of the spirit! Galatians 5:22

Daniel then took his dad home and started preparations for a Fan Fest for the Independence Bowl tomorrow.  We have 6 inflatables at the Fan Fest. This is an exciting job for us tomorrow - a true blessing that came our way! Tomorrow will start around 4:30am for Daniel and Andrew.

The evening is settling down with a movie and a little straightening up of the house so we can move around in here again :) My dogs are even worn out and snuggled on their new pillow from Santa :) Merry Christmas!

Santa Arrived!

Christmas Eve has been a late night at our house! I am sitting in my bed blogging from my phone. My computer is acting crazy and I think my external hard drive is not working which has all my pictures on it. So I can only download pics from my phone to my blog and facebook.

We started our night by eating breakfast for dinner!  Pigs in a blanket, bacon, toast, eggs and cookies for dessert :) my parents came over to eat and open gifts. We had a laid back and relaxing Christmas Eve!

Hoeever, it is pouring down rain and no one wanted to go to sleep! Santa finally arrived! He gave Gracee and Gabby a bone so they would be quiet while he delivered the gifts. He ate our snickerdoodle cookies and drank some milk before leaving. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! Daniel and I are listening to the rain and wishing the kids were awake so we can begin the fun!!!

Thankful for Prayer!

This has been a week of worrying about friends and family with sick children. I am just overwhelmed with emotions for these parents and children. I am thankful that they came through their surgeries and they are on the road to recovery. Both children will have to go through treatment to completely heal.

At the beginning of the school year, I had started going to a prayer group on Wednesday nights. We are reading the book, The Power of a Praying Parent. I have been so convicted on praying for my children in EVERY area of their life. The book explains how our children need us to be their prayer warriors. I am keeping a prayer journal. I am writing down specific prayers and praises from evident answers to my prayers. Some prayers are being answered just not in my timing. It has been great knowing and trusting that God is taking care of my children and I am not alone in protecting and caring for them. Through this study I have been reminded that God loves my children more than me. And that's a lot of love! I am praying for every area in their life!!! My prayers have turned into long conversations with God.

I would love for you to join me in reading The Power of a Praying Parent and praying for our children.

While you pray for your children, please add these two 7 year old boys to your prayers.

Marshall McCollum is a sweet friend and first grader that lives here in Shreveport. Marshall began having troubling symtoms in August. After numerous visits to doctors and many, many tests, they found a small tumor near his pituitary stalk several weeks ago. Marshall has undergone a neurosurgery to biopsy the tumor. The doctors are currently determining what other course of treatment will be necessary. In order to help with impending medical costs, tickets are being sold for a catfish dinner to go. Here are the details on Marshall's Night Out.

Save the Date

Marshall's Night Out

Please join us for a Catfish Dinner

December 7, 2011

4-7pm pick up time

Shaver's Catering (Youree & Ockley)

*all proceed will go the the McCollum Family*

$10 per plate

If you cannot join us for dinner and would still like to help, donations may be made to "Marshall McCollum Medical Fund" at The Firefighter Credit Union. You can check up on Marshall and his family at www.caringbridge.org/visit/marshallmccollum
David Robinson is our seven year old nephew that was just diagnosed this week with kidney and lung cancer. He has undergone surgery to remove his kidney and adrenal gland and receive a porta-cath for future chemotherapy treatments. Our David is like David in the bible in that he fights a giant. David Robinson fights the giant called Down Syndrome. He is a great warrior and a special gift to our family! Please help our family pray for David's healing, wisdom for the doctors and peace, strength and comfort for his family and friends. God has used David in numerous ways and continues to through this battle of cancer. You can check up on David and his family at
http://www.sweetlifewithboys.blogspot.com/


Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 John 3:22
And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.


Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

It's Hot!

So the forecast this week is simply described as HOT. All the years I have lived in Shreveport I have never seen temperatures like these. And today was suppose to be 104 but was actually 106. That's HOT! This forecast looks like we live in Arizona.




Today Christopher started football practice. The temperature on my phone said 106° but my car said 110°. Just standing outside I felt sweat rolling down my back. Here is a picture of my car thermometer.




 
Check out Gracee's new hairdo to help her survive this heat. She is so tiny that she can squeeze through our iron gate to get out of the backyard.




Christopher also got a haircut to survive the heat of football practice.



He got his haircut after getting a physical for football and his 11 year old shots. He received 4 shots that day. And a very thorough physical that a mom should not be attending. Taking Andrew and Christopher for middle school and high school sports physicals has now become a job for their daddy!!!! He has gained 12 pounds this summer and only 4 more inches and he will be as tall as me. I can not keep him fed. He is constantly eating!




Kevin also got a haircut just because he wanted one and he was with us. Every time we go to get a haircut. He says he is getting a mohawk. And every time I say no. This time was no different except he got it styled like a mohawk. Here is Kevin going to bed with his sylish hair. Just sharing this picture to show you how crazy he is not because I like his hair.





Well we survived a day of excessive heat and Christopher had a blast at football practice. Here is the group of hot football players. This picture doesn't look like it but there are 60 middle schoolers going out for the team.

Our City Garden and A Little Bit of Other Stuff

We have our own City Garden we have been trying to keep alive all summer. With the drought we are in, it has not been easy to keep alive. We have cucumbers, tomatoes and basil. We had rosemary and thyme but we lost those. The boys had fun picking rosemary and thyme and sprinkling on their steaks when we grill. I will get some more when it cools down and we get some rain.

I am sitting outside with the patio fans going and the breeze blowing. That kind of breeze right before it storms. I have my broken foot elevated and enjoying the company of my sweet Gabby who stays by my side.
Radar shows rain coming so we will see and say a prayer it does. But then it needs to go away for Friday and Saturday - lots of rentals going out. We just picked up two rentals today. Andrew being at camp has allowed Christopher to step up and help his daddy. I will fiinish my blog today with a picture from last week when it rained for a little bit. It didn't last long but my boys made the most of it. Andrew popped popcorn and they sat at the window and watched it rained. You know it hasn't rained in awhile when my boys get excited to see it rain :) ok so I am going to share one more picture with you. Andrew is at church camp and loving it. Today they took them to the Cowboys football stadium to play dodgeball. He said there are 67 dodgeball teams that are going to play. Well as I was at the end of this blog he sends me a picture of the stadium and says its huge! Here is Andrew's picture. He also sent me a picture the other day someone took of him jumping off the high dive. OK now I am ending this blog so I can go pick up Christopher from weight lifting. And by the way, Daniel has finished painting Kevin's room and the boys' hall. Next is Christopher's room! It looks so fresh and clean with new paint!!!!

He just sent another picture! Here he is on the Cowboys' field. I think he is having fun :)
. BYE!!!!

Slow Pace Life with a Few Projects

I have not blogged lately because baseball has been over and we have been cleaning and preparing for a busy school year. We started with Andrew's closet then Christopher's and now we are working on Kevin's room. With all the stuff we cleaned out we have decided to have a garage sale. We are also going to begin painting in our house. We are starting with Kevin's room tonight. Daniel has been a big help with the house and helping me with projects. During all stars I was struggling with a hurt foot. I finally made it to the doctor. Apparently I have a broken foot. I think I did it when I stepped in a hole in our backyard. Here is a picture of my stylish shoe I have to wear.




Andrew came home from yearbook camp. He had a blast on his first official high school trip. He was chosen to attend a photography course and carry the school camera around to take pictures for the school. Now I might be learning a few things from Andrew . . . and I might even end up in a few pictures on my blog with another photographer in the family :)

There were only 2 freshman on the trip. The upper classman initiated the freshman. In front of the whole camp a girl sang to Andrew at a lip sinc contest. He was so embarrassed. The video is so funny. I will have to try when I am not on my phone to download the video the yearbook teacher took of Andrew's yearbook initiation. Here is a picture of Andrew heading off to yearbook camp. Andrew and the girl next to him were the two freshman on the trip. They went to elementary and middle school together. And now she lives down the street from us.



Andrew is now at church camp until friday. He is staying in a college dorm in Texas. One of these days that they are there they will play dodge ball in the Cowboys stadium.

Kevin has had a busy summer too. He lost his first tooth (which I think I posted earlier this summer) and learned to tie his shoes. He also learned to ride his bike. We have tried to help him ride his bike but he did NOT like to try. He rather ride his scooter. Last week a neighbor learned to ride his bike so Kevin decided he could ride too. He got on his bike and took off. Here is Kevin and our neighbor that learned to ride bikes on the same day.



Nothing new with Christopher besides he is staying on the go with friends and lifting weights for middle school football.

I will try to blog more often but I sure have been enjoying our slow pace life at home getting projects done with Daniel. I haven't had much to blog about lately.

Update

Christopher's all star team won last night. We are on our way back to Minden to see if we can continue to stay in the tournament. Christopher's chest is fine. It actually didn't bruise at all. He is now wearing his heart guard shirt. We call it "The Cup" for the heart. Here are some pictures of the shirt and heart guard
This morning we sent Andrew off on his first high school trip. He will be back Wednesday night. Andrew and a neighbor of ours are the only freshman going. Here is a picture of Andrew and our neighbor, Madison. So please say prayers for this group of high schoolers safety while away at camp and on a college campus. And when did this child of mine grow up???? I did have Daniel take him to the bus this morning. Thought it would be less embarrassing for dad to be there than mom. Lots of the students going drove themselves to the bus. Oh my! Not ready for that yet. He has been texting pics of his fun so far. He went ice skating. And I have to share a picture of Christopher and Kevin from last night. I went to check on the boys before I went to sleep. Christopher was not in his room. I found him in bed with Kevin. I am now sitting at the ballpark watching workers try to get the field ready after a heavy rain a few minutes ago. We will be starting late. Happy blogging for now from the Minden ballpark.