Living Room Facelift - Complete

Finally, I present the updated living room! I cannot tell you how much more relaxing it is in there. I don't know if it is truly the warmer colors (after all everything used to be a light cream color) or if it's just knowing the work that went into it and having it all back together. Of course, every single detail has been taken out and cleaned extensively, so I think that helps, too!

Facelift

This year StoneWater had it's first vacation bible school. We had to do it StoneWater style since we don't have a building. Translation, groups formed in neighborhoods and were hosted in homes. When Jeremy pitched the idea to me, he knew he had to have a plan. I'm not a small kids type of person. That's not to say I don't like them and enjoy my time with them - I do. I LOVE and adore my own two. I can host a play date for a day or a sleepover. I don't do large groups of them well. I get all anxious thinking and preparing, and it wears.me.out. So, when Jeremy pitched the idea, here was his opening line, "I want you to listen and let me finish."

"I think we should have Backyard Bible Camp for Misty Meadows here at our house." (my eyes got big) "We should move out all the furniture and take off all the decorations from the walls."

"Well, that would keep me from stressing about things getting broken. But, there is some stuff I am not taking off the walls. Like that (big window hung on wall) and that (other window) and those (decorations in top insets)."

"Would you let me finish? Then you can paint the walls like you've wanted."

BINGO in my head. But, ug, the moving, the craziness! I let it settle and then formulated a new, improved plan..."can we do wood (laminate) floors?"

After a little looking, gentle persuading, I got the deal! So, a week ago we emptied the living & dining room (except for the TV & computer). One week later - this is what we have:

We purchased the samples we were considering and let the kids go to town. I mean, the carpet's not staying, so why not! We decided on neither green. I dislike the "brown" that is a yellow brown. Today we went and got a deep, dark red for the fire place wall (instead of green) and I LIKE. But, Jer picked out the SAME EXACT yellow-brown as before. He likes, I hate. We'll see where that saga leads...

Receptionist Hudson

Hudson spent some time at the office with Jeremy today (the story why will come later). This is an email Jer got this afternoon:

I called the church office this afternoon and this is a brief outline of the conversation:
Ring, ring.
"Hellloooo?" (Hudson)
"Um, is this StoneWater?"
"no, this is Hudson."
"Oh. Well, Hudson, is your dad there?"
"No, he's in a meeting."
"Ok, is there another pastor there?"
"No, but Chris is here" (Chris IS another pastor!)
"Ok, great! May I please speak with him?"
"He's in a meeting, too."
"Oh, ok. Do you know when the meeting will be over?"
"no."
"Ok, well thanks for the information. Bye."
"Bye."

Fortunately, she found this very humorous and took the time to email Jeremy.

We needed a good laugh after the day we had. More on that later.

Vacation

The Whites have been on official vacation for six days. On Thursday we loaded up Jer's dad's Hummer (H3) with the Sprayberry's jet ski in tow. Piled in the back were two suitcases and two duffel bags of "gear" which, not surprisingly, included a host of "outfits" for Jenna and every swimsuit owned by each person in the family. We have had SO much fun, and we still have two days! Here's the run down:

• arrived at The Island on Lake Travis - pretty much deserted which means we have the 3 pools pretty much to ourselves
• we've spent countless hours in the pool - really, I tried to count and gave up
• I am amazed at how often Hudson says, "I'm hungry" and the amount of food he puts away. I'm beginning to think I'll be needing to return to work full time about the time he hits junior high so that we can afford to keep him :)
• allowed Hudson to control the gas on the jet ski as we cruised - this was HUGE for me as I like a cruising speed of about 35 on it, and he prefers about 50
• cuddled with Jenna for a nap
• heard Hudson ask, TWICE, "Can I take a nap?" S-M-I-L-E
• found Jenna, TWICE, asleep after proclaiming, "first graders don't need naps"
• worked out in the work out facility - today is the first day I'm not sore...about to head down for a quick work out now
• had a great time visiting with the Barrett family
• swam, swam, swam - the kids actually asked to come back to the room today after just an hour at the pool!

This has been great. Jer even held off on getting internet access until today, and I survived. Actually, I really liked it. I kinda like falling off the face of the earth when it involves all of this!

Sorry it's pictureless - I haven't taken the camera out of the bag...but I will!

'hawk

We had a great Memorial Day weekend. I have to admit, since my brother went into the Army and served in Iraq, I have a new appreciation for such holidays. In some ways, it's made for a more somber holiday because I feel a little guilty having time off for the sacrifice others have made - I mean, I didn't do diddly.

But one thing we did accomplish was a hair cut for Hudson. I wish I had taken a before picture, because he was about the most ratty and shaggy he's ever gotten. I was in the shower when they started this (daddy always cuts H's hair). As I had just rinsed my hair out, I had a little visitor pop in the door of the bathroom, and the conversation went like this...

"Hey, Mommy."
"Hey, Hudson. I thought Daddy was cutting your hair? Are you finished?"
"Yep, I have a 'hawk."
(Insert mom's brain whirring...hawk, hawk... what the heck is he say - insert light bulb flash, deep breath, and bulging eyes - he DOES NOT have a mohawk! I'll kill 'em both...mom opening door and seeing child with mohawk cut into his hair). I closed the door, "Hudson, Daddy's going to cut that off, right?"
"I think I like it. It's cool."
"Tell daddy that was funny, and he can finish now."

Well, at this moment I cut my shower short to go and get a picture before this was gone. So, excuse the bad lighting - it was a point and shoot type of moment, and the camera was on full manual.

Spring Break

Okay, so we're a week after spring break. I've learned to procrastinate! Yea!

We had quite a full spring break. We went ice skating and camping. Here are some pictures of our ice skating trip. They are not masterpieces because I was more concerned with staying on my skates than operating the camera. I've dealt with it, memories are memories, no matter how fuzzy!

The kids about killed us as they learned. Really, they were relying on us to balance them, so after some very tired thighs and back, I told Jenna she was going to have to stay up by herself. She caught on really quickly after that. I don't know many years it's been since I had skated, seems likes I might have gone in early college back in '94 or '95. I prefer not to count how many years that's been because '94 or '95 sounds more recent in my mind than a number of years! I'm as good as I always was, which isn't saying much. I only fell the time Jenna fell and stuck her skates under me...sweet girl, at least I didn't fall on her!

After lunch we let the kids all take a ride on the carousel. You can tell that Makaul and Jenna were really showing out. And, from looking at Brent and Hudson, you can tell that they didn't just sit and ride - the sampled a few different locations on the carousel!

No camping pictures. I just didn't want to keep up with the camera. It was fun. For the first time in 3 camp outs, Hudson did not make me wet in the middle of the night! We DID get cold - very cold. It was the most fun we've had camping with the kids, so I think we might do it again this spring.

Can we have a re-do on spring break? I'd like another week, please!

Excuses, Excuses

I promise I'm going to get some information here soon...so far for spring break we've gone ice skating and camping. I've shot 2 maternity, 1 newborn, and 1 engagement. I have 1 bridal tomorrow. We had our hot water heater fritz on us...when we needed showers from camping. I've done lots of laundry, and we've had MORE FUN being together than I can tell you!

Stay tuned for pictures of our adventures.

Hudson - soccer man update

Although Jeremy and I missed it, Hudson's first soccer game was a success. He scored 13 of the 16 goals for his team to the 5 of the other team. Remember, we don't keep score in U6. While Melba was giving us the update on 3 she said, "Oh, wait, make it 4." Then just minutes later, "Okay, now it's 5." We're going to work on assists.

Hudson - Soccer Man

Hudson has been ready to play soccer since Jenna did, and that was 2 years ago. This year is finally THE YEAR. So, we got him signed up, and in the process we signed up Dad to coach. Our team is the Sharp Shooters, and we have 3 boys and 3 girls. The first practice was one week ago, and we had two players show up to practice!

Like any good coach, Coach Dad started with stretching...





And, just as stretching was finished, Hudson said, "I need to go and potty." Jeffrey agreed, "Me too!" And, they were off...

Here's the little soccer star in action:

And, today, if I hear, "Is it time to go, yet?" one more time...well, I'll smile and be happy that's he's so excited.

Clarification

On the CD player - in the Protege and truck, you just put the CD in. I tried that in this car, and it wouldn't go in. I'm into manuals, so I took to reading. You have to push the DISC button, then it will open its mouth wide!

Just couldn't have you thinking I was that confused.

Ava

I've named the car Ava.

Let me give you some background of cats I've named. In my life have been Tom, Christy, Dinky, Grey, Kali, Tahoe, and Maggie. Tom was a tom cat. Christy was originally snowball (she was white). Dinky was a runt of a kitten whom we found before she was weened. Grey was, well, grey. Kali is a calico. I met and married Jeremy. He looked at my track record and ended my naming of animals. Tahoe and Maggie were named by Jeremy. I haven't told him I named the Avalon "Ava." I can imagine the smirk I'm going to get, but he'll be supportive! Ha!

As Ava and I have gotten to know each other, these are the number of times each incident has happened:

• I tried to open the door to the wrong car: 3 (luckily they've all been locked and no alarms have gone off)
• I have almost backed into someone because I get reverse and drive confused: too many to count, but today was the closest I've come (remember, I drove a standard for years and now on the console gear shift R is where 1st gear used to be and D is where reverse used to be)
• I have almost driven through the garage and into my closet: 5 (see above)
• I looked like a dufus trying to figure out where to put the key to open the trunk: 1 (there is not a keyhole, by the way, but I looked for several minutes, trying to move the license plate, tail light, etc.)
• I have forgotten that I started the car & "started" a running car: 2 (I wonder if the Protege still screeches? A student in my class that lives across the street asked me if I like my new car that was actually quiet. He then proceeded to explain to the rest of the class how my car would "scream" until you couldn't see it anymore. I love humility.)
• I have sat in glorious wonder that when you get in the car after dark and close the door, the interior light stays on and there is even a little glow around the ignition so you can put the key in: 2
• I have had to see how loud I could turn up the stereo and hear all the speakers work: 1 (it hurt my ears, but I got it to 45, and it could have gone louder)
• I've thanked God for the ability for the kids to watch a DVD with earphones on: 4 (every time they've used it)
• I had to get the manual out to get the CD in the stereo: 1

Today was my favorite "first." I have a moonroof. I try to use it whenever possible. Today is gorgeous, so I opened it up. After a quick trip into the post office, I hopped in the car. As I started the car, one of my favorite songs was on the radio. (some of you see where this is going - just laugh) I started belting out a new favorite tune ("You're hot then you're cold...") and when I looked up from carefully putting the car in gear (see above) while ROCKIN' out, I saw a woman smiling at me, laughing. I thought to myself, "I think she's laughing at me." I try to stop those types of egocentric thoughts when it hit me, "She IS! Your roof is open and you're singing W-A-Y louder than the music because you thought you were in the privacy of your own car." I gave a sheepish wave & she waved back and yelled, "I like that song, too!" Lesson - keep the radio turned up really loud to avoid awkward moments like that :)

Hmpf...

Let me set the stage:
Monday night both kids were running fever. Literally, every hour and a half to two hours one of them was in our room to tell us "I don't feel good." Each time, we escorted them to bed, got water, sometimes meds, and patted & loved back to sleep. That started at 10:00pm and lasted until 4:30 am (I get up at 5:00 am). When my alarm went off, Jer said, "That was the WORST night EVER." (Clearly, it has been many years since we've had newborns or kids who don't sleep. We're blessed with good sleepers.)

Last night (Tuesday):
I went to bed at 9:15. I like sleep. I need sleep. LOTS of sleep. Really, we've established I'm just a 8-9 hours per night type of girl. I heard Howdy start barking his "I really mean it" bark. As I was getting out of bed, Jeremy did. "Good, he's got it under control." I was about to drift off when Howdy started another spasm of barking. When Jer didn't stop it, I got out of bed. "Are you going to do something about that?" I said in not-my-nicest voice. "Shhh. There's something out there," says my husband, peeking through the back blinds, blind as a bat. He gets my glasses (long story, but he doesn't have any right now). We have solar screens, so you still can't see out of them at night. Howdy spasms his barks again. I had it - I was going out, "It is 11:45. I just want to sleep the whole night." He stopped and lead the way. We followed Howdy's determined gaze...and there was a opossum on our shed.

It was "playing opossum," standing up. Jeremy went to get the BB gun while I kept the flashlight on it (I'm currently blind because Jeremy has my glasses, remember). Every now and then I can make out that it's looking at me from the reflection of what I assume are eyes. Jeremy comes back, aims, fires. You can hear the BB hit something in the yard next door (reminding me, I need to ask Teresa if her windows are okay). Fire again; (me) "did you get it?" (Jer)"I don't know, it didn't move." Fire again, (me)"That definitely hit it" (Jer)"How do you know, you can't see?" (me) "It just sounded like it." (Jer)"It's not moving." (me)"It is a opossum." I think I got one of those, "you did not just make a dumb joke" looks, but I couldn't see :) He hit it at least three times.

(me) "Go knock it off." (Jer) "With what? I need a shovel." (me)"Don't we have one in the shed." (Jer)"Rats in the shed." (me)"Oh, yeah. Use the gun." Jer walks over, hits it with the gun, I hear scraping, see a fuzzy white thing again. (Jer) "Huh." (me)"Hit it again." After three or four whacks with the gun (PETA is going to have a field day with this, but it wasn't hard enough to hurt it, just trying to get it to move along off our shed so our dog would stop barking so I could SLEEP!), it starts walking across the top of the fence line. Howdy is jumping, trying to get it. Maggie, who is in my arms, has seen it and now decides she's going after it. Since it's larger than she it (I think, at least the blob seemed to be, my glasses were on Jeremy, remember), I hold Maggie. It totters on, in the flashlight beam, to the neighbors fence. Now their dogs start barking.

We turn to go into the house. Turn knob, it's locked. (Jer)"Hmpf." (me)"It's not locked, is it?" (Jer)"Appears so." (me)"How did that happen?" (Jer)"I locked the knob before I knew what was out there." (me)"Isn't that what the top bolt is for?" (Jer)giving me a "not now" look - I think. (me)"You know you're my hero, right? You saved me from the barking dog. I can sleep on the trampoline." [The kids are inside, sick, asleep, and would FREAK out if we banged on the door for them to let us in. Nighmares for YEARS, so that's not an option.] (Jer)"Do we have a key hidden anywhere?" (me)"Do we have a key to the back door?" (Jer)"To the front door?" (me)"No, I put it on my key ring this morning." (Jer)"And I locked my truck or we could get the garage door opener." (whirring brains of Jeremy and Misti. Both in our night clothes, standing under our porch light with a BB gun and a flashlightat midnight - classic. Neighbor's porch light comes on.) (me)"Is the bathroom window unlocked?" Jeremy disappears around the side of the house. After I stand there trying to force open the back door (like, maybe this, time it will magically open), picturing myself kicking it in (like I could even do that), and trying to figure out how to pick the lock with a tree branch (too many movies), I think that he might appreciate a flashlight and walk around the side of the house. No Jeremy. So, I proceed to go back to the back door, which he has opened for meand is waiting to escort me in.

We laughed, and then we went to sleep.

The End.

New & Old

Oh, and I took this last weekend. We walked out of the hotel the next morning to see the Avalon and Protege parked side by side. I HAD to take a picture, and laughed about what conversation the two had during the night...Do you notice they were quick to take off the A&M sticker from the Protege?

Horseshoe Bay

I've been trying to figure out how to blog this since Thursday night. You see, I do not want this to sound arrogant, I don't want to get in to name-dropping, and I don't want to misrepresent something.

Basically, Jeremy was asked to come and share about StoneWater and what God has done. So, we were treated to a night at Horseshoe Bay Resort where Jer spoke at a banquet Thursday night. We arrived at the resort, and already we felt like little kids. We reported to the banquet, and the man in charge welcomed Jeremy by name, before Jeremy had his name tag on! We were seated, which ended up being at the head table. The man in charge and his wife sat beside us, I sat beside her, and she was very gracious and endearing. She kept calling me "sweetie" and even commented, "I know you're young, but do you have children, yet?" I LOVE when people think I'm that young. Jeremy got to meet Ed Stetzer (a church planting guru that he's got man love for). After the banquet, many people came to encourage and inquire.

For me, it was also one of those times to reflect. You know, I've always heard that God uses every experience you have to prepare you for the life plans He has for you. Can I admit that there are some life experiences that I've been trying to place for a while? Namely, the twirling and pageant training. Well, Thursday night it all came into focus. See, I had enough formal training in proper etiquette to use all the proper utensils for the proper course, to formally indicate I was finished, and to maintain conversation in what was for me, the most stressful of situations. HA! Really, on the inside I was still thinking, "oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh." "It's outside in...right?" "Ooo, the fork at the top...hmmm...I think..." We left and as soon as we were inside the car, out of ear shot, we both started giggling like little kids. Then, we shunned our "elegance" of the evening and went to see a movie! But, God really does use everything to prepare...and I'll be more careful what I try to figure out next, not all of my lessons may be that fun!

And, when we returned from our movie, this gift basket was in the room...

Loose Tooth!

Jenna has another loose tooth. I guess she was feeling adventurous because I've tried to get her to tie her tooth to a string and slam the door before (when a tooth was f a r more loose), but this time she took me up on it. She left after I mentioned it, and when I next stopped to observe her, this is what I saw:

No, we did not actually pull the tooth this way. It's still in her mouth because, like me, it has to pretty much fall out on it's own. We did, however, get the string stuck on the tooth and almost pulled the tooth trying to get it off.

Rodeo!

We had amazing seats to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Really - we parked about 20 feet from the entry, and about 20 feet from that were our seats. We could have pet the animal in the ring (if we wanted to lose an arm!). AMAZINGly generous gift from the Simmons' - thank you!

Hudson's checking out the situation. Yeah, he's a little blurry, but it was too cute

Miss Jenna needed her jacket, so she's not happy, yet. Daddy went to get her jacket, though, and it was all better! Then, Daddy took her on a trip to the concessions...and, you can tell it's ALL wonderful! And, she ate the WHOLE cotton candy alone (Miles & I had a little, but not enough to count)!

In awe of it all...



And this, this is after we left. As you can see, nothing earth shattering or life threatening - just a little uncomfortable. And, Jenna's not crying, just allergies. They each had a dose of Benedryl, and all was well in the world (they fell asleep on the way home).

The moral of the story: next time we go to the rodeo - ask the doctor for a couple of days of steroids so we all live it up! We still had a good time despite the poor parental planning, and Hudson wants to know when we're going back!

Ice Day

I can't tell you how excited I was last night at 8:00pm when the ice started falling so heavily. Jeremy and I were watching a movie in the living room with the space heaters blasting; the kids were in their rooms watching movies. I believe I jumped up and down with excitement, really. I was so desperately hoping for a delayed start to today. My last check of the GISD website indicated no delay, so I carefully put my cell phone by my bed for "the call." Sure enough, in the 5:00am hour, I got the text that school was delayed. Then, a little later the home phone rang with the automated call of delay. It was sooooo nice to snuggle down under the covers and go back to sleep! Then, sometime later, the home phone rang with the second automated call of cancellation. I have to admit I'm a little bummed about an all day cancellation because now we have to make it up, but I was excited to have a WHOLE day with no commitments!

So, what did the White family do?

Well, first H came and got in bed with us around 7:15. He had a coughing fit, and then settled in. Next thing I remember is he was tapping me. I was very annoyed as I was in that state where you're just about to drift off to sleep, so I said, "Will you please stop?" He said, "I'm gonna throw up." I sprinted to the kitchen to get a bowl. Sure enough, just as I returned with the bowl, he did. He's accurate in that way. If he says he's gonna, he IS gonna. Then Jenna came to bed. Jer got up with them, and I stayed. At 8:45 I woke to the smell of breakfast cooking. My man made me an egg and diced potatoes. Mmmm.

So, we had some family fun - the kids ran around outside a little, Jer and I did our quiet times and read, the kids watched cartoons, built houses on the couch with cushions, played Webkinz, and typed. Then, we reached that moment. You know the one - "Mom, how do you spell 'mommy." So you tell them, and then a second later, "Is this it?" "Yes." This is repeated for many other words. You watch your daughter come through in roller skates, go backward and fall, and then she wants to give you the verbal play by play of what happened, complete with what she was thinking at each moment and it has a lot of filler words such as "like," "and then," and "isn't that funny?" but you just witnessed the whole thing, so it's painful. I guess you say we began to get on one another's nerves. The funniest moment was when H poked Jenna, just a little poke, and she started chasing him. In our house there is a circle, and it was so comical to see Jenna chase Hudson in two perfect circles. It caught Jer and I so off guard we stood with our mouths open, not really knowing what to do or say. Then, we laughed.

Next, Mom and Dad reached the end of their wits, and this is what you saw:

Both kids were sent to their rooms for some time to play in their rooms.

Even Howdy & Maggie got a break: this is in the garage (yes, there is a book shelf in the garage). They had the hook up with a heat lamp & blankets.

We had a great soup lunch, nap, and then the child I can't convince to go play outside when it's gorgeous because she wants to watch TV, gets bundled up and heads outside. She's her father's child - loves the ice/snow. I wanted to take some pictures, but this wasn't even a pretty ice...and it was SO cold!

Overall, we had a terrific day! I think God knew how badly we all needed the time off and time to rest.