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Christmas Tour of Homes 2008

Tis the season to be jolly! A blog that, dare I say, I am addicted to (Bring the Rain) invited readers to partake in BooMama's 2008 Christmas Tour of Homes. And what better way to share in the joyous birth of our Lord Jesus Christ then to post pictures of my humble abode?!

The outside of our house...

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care..."

This Nativity was given to us as a wedding present. It is from Frankenmuth.

A few of my snowmen on the cabinet in our foyer.

I stole this idea from Cottage Living Magazine...(I realize I don't live in a cottage).

O Christmas Tree...a gift from my sweet husband two years ago.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Turkey Trot 2008

I completed my first 8-mile Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. I finished in 1:28:59...very important because my goal was to finish under 1:30.

The first mile was a breeze...soaking in the sight of downtown Dallas on a crisp Thursday morning, sun shining, iPod cranked up, local bands playing on the side of the road, couple thousand rear ends jiggling in front of me.

Surprisingly by the second mile the street was littered with miscellaneous energy gel packs. Apparently there are quite a few people that can't run over two miles without sustenance. I was actually amazed at this sight and at one point considered counting them.

The run really didn't get challenging until between mile 4 and 5. I'm not sure if it was because the hills really started kicking in or if I just wasn't as prepared for the run as I should have been. Nonetheless, the beat of the pavement began to take its toll. Though I never considered quitting, at mile 5 I questioned how long it would take me to walk the remainder of the course. I prayed the Lord would sustain me...such a trivial request when there were homeless people within walking distance who didn't have a hot meal to enjoy on this day of giving thanks.

Up to this point in my run I had been listening to upbeat, Top 40 music....Pink, Justin Timberlake, Avril Lavigne. I started to think, "Sexyback can only carry me so far". I kept feeling this pull to switch the music to Praise & Worship. Urgh. For those of you who don't run, Praise & Worship is NOT good running music. But I switched anyway. The first song I heard was Phillips, Craig and Dean, Everday.

What to say, Lord?
It's You who give me life
And I can't explain just how
How much you mean to me

Now that You would save me, Lord
I give all that I am to You
That every day I can be a light that shines your name

Fortunately, this is an up-beat Christian song, but this music began speaking more to my soul than to my soles. I felt re-energized, moved by the Spirit, ready to conquer the final portion of the run.

And here comes the Ah-ha! moment. This world can only take me so far. When I decide that I can't carry the load (which I was never supposed to bear), I can no longer go on (as if I sustain myself), I can no longer keep up with the rat race (like somehow I thought I was in control in the first place), He is there...waiting for me.

Every day, It's you I'll live for
Every day, I'll follow after you
Every day, I'll walk with You, my Lord
(or in this case, run) :-)

I have been put on this earth to glorify God. My duty isn't running, or finish times, or dishes, or laundry. Everything I do is to bring honor to His name...Every Day.

I am thankful He has carried me this far. I am grateful He sent His son to earth to live a perfect life and die for the sins of all man-kind so that one day I can stand before Him and be welcomed into His kingdom. I am thankful He so graciously placed a amazing, loving man in my path who pledged to love me above all others 'til death do us part. I am so appreciative He gave me the opportunity to carry three beautiful children in my womb and graced me with the extreme joy of hearing them say, "Mama." Thank you Lord.

I am on the LONG distance run of my life...keep the pace, watch my time, never lose focus of the finish line.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

Too Cute for Words

A Window to the World

Sister A has had a loose tooth for a couple of weeks. I originally thought it possibly was loosened by a recent encounter with her brother's head. But she didn't say anything about pain and there was no blood. I did research losing teeth online to see when is typical for a child to lose their first tooth. Apparently, 5 1/2 years old is typical though it is not uncommon for children to lose a tooth before their fifth birthday. Good thing since my baby is 4 1/2.

Regardless of how it was loosened or what age is "normal", Sister A lost her first tooth on November 18, 2008 at Mimi and Granddaddy's house. Her tongue now has a window to peer out at the world. I'm still shocked that I am mother of a child that is old enough to begin shedding baby teeth. Where does the time go?

A New Kind of Pick-up Artist

Ever hear this one...

"Hey Baby, are your legs tired?"

"No, why?"

"'Cause you been runnin' through my mind all day."

Gone are the days of crowded bars, loud music and "old school" pick-up lines.

I am a new kind of pick-up artist...
Pick up the half-eaten bowl of Cheetos off the living room floor that is sitting next to Buzz Lightyear and one of the characters from the Cars movie. Grab the DVD remote that is now missing its batteries (which are cleaverly hidden underneath the couch amongst the tufts of long, blonde dog hair). But wait! Don't forget the box of baby wipes sitting on the couch along with one child's shoe and sock, Wii remote perched atop the back of the couch, a sippee cup of milk, a hairbrush from the morning primping session and a napkin from the first snack of the day (peanut butter and crackers). And that's just one room!

And exactly who are these ungrateful, selfish individuals who haphazardly leave their belongings strewn about my humble abode? They are Cheetos eating, milk drinking, Disney watching, pretend playing, sock wearing, potty training, scripture learning, music singing, rays of sunshine. They are my breath, my life, my babies. They are three little dumplings...giggly angels...Sister A, Middle A, and Baby AJ.

I will pick up after these three until my body is too arthritic to bend over. Then I guess they'll have to start to pick up after me!

Happy Halloween

We had a fun time trick-or-treating in our neighborhood with some friends. Here are a few pics from Halloween.

Dorothy, the Wicked Witch of the East and Buzz Lightyear.

"We're off to see the Wizard..."

"If I were king of the forest!"
(Cowardly Lion...just not so cowardly)

Sweet Ms. K was a monkey (SO cute).

This is Ms. K's brother (and her mama) Mr. K...he's the monkey's banana.

Our three little munchkins.

"To infinity, and beyond!"

Dorothy loves Buzz (this is how they act when no one is looking).

Introducing, the latest version of the iPhone, the iJerry.

Autumn at the Arboretum

We took a trip to the Dallas Arboretum on Saturday afternoon for the annual fall festival. It was a fairly uneventful outing, except for Aidan wandering off at one point. **panic** There was a wedding taking place when the park closed...I most certainly did not tell my daughter that Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, from The Wizard of Oz was getting hitched and she didn't want the public ruining her event. Alas, amid the craziness of large crowds, we were able to experience autumn in Big D...80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.

Imagine this conversation...

Little Ms K., Ms. M. and Ms. A.
(the sunshine was getting in Ms. K's eyes)

You know what he's thinking...

"In about five minutes, I'm going to disappear...Mommy and Daddy will be so surprised 'cause they won't be able to find me. I'm really good at hiding!"

Little A loved all of the pumpkins!

Happy 3rd Birthday

Three years ago today I walked into the hospital at 6:30 in the morning, ready to begin induction. Your original due date was October 28th, but the doctor said you were going to be a little bigger than your sister (7lb 9oz) and felt induction was the way to go. After being hooked up to various IVs, machines and monitors, I sat...anxiously awaiting your arrival. As the medication started kicking in and contractions increased, I anticipated your birth, but oddly relished the last few moments I would have with you in my womb. I spent eight agonizing hours in labor only to be told that you had no intentions of making your appearance the "normal" way. After much hush-hush discussion, the doctors felt it would be best for both of us if you were delivered via c-section. Because the medication had not worked properly, they informed me I would have to be put under general anesthesia. I cried. I was crushed that I would not get to lay eyes on you the moment you entered this world, but...it was all for your health and safety. I was so nervous...I prayed for you, my sweet son.

After I awoke from surgery, Daddy told me you had been born at 4:09pm and weighed 9lbs 2oz. WOW! What a big boy! Daddy was so sweet and waited patiently for me to "come to"...he wanted you to meet both of us together for the first time. The nurse then wheeled you into my room in your clear plastic bassinet. Even for a "big" baby you were still SO small. I studied your chocolate brown hair and your steel blue eyes. 10 tiny fingers, 10 tiny toes. You were truly a beautiful newborn...I know I am biased but several people stopped and confirmed my opinion.

And now here we are...three years later. Your smile lights up the room. You have an amazing sense of humor with FANTASTIC comedic timing. You are so smart and so sweet. You are a joy to have as a first born son...you still are a truly beautiful child.

I love you Aidan Michael. Happy 3rd Birthday.

Improving My Time

Just a quick update...I ran 5 miles in my neighborhood this afternoon in 46 minutes. Granted, there are a lot less hills in these parts, but I improved my time by over 10 minutes.

I will catch that turkey on Thanksgiving morning and what a mighty fine feast it shall be. :-)

Twas a Good Run

Inspired by a friend who recently ran from his home in Woodcreek to Chandlers Landing in Rockwall (woo! a total of 11.8 miles!), I decided to map a run of my own using a VERY cool website (which he also introduced me to), MapMyRun.com.

Yesterday, my sweet husband dropped me off at Harry Myers Park in Rockwall...and I ran home. I mapped it as a 5 mile run.

Overall, it was a rather unevenful run with a little more hills than I anticipated, the occasional dog barking from behind a fence (and two that were not contained), a decomposing cat in the middle of the street and a dead corn snake near the newly harvested corn fields. Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of any of these amazing sites...I was too busy keeping pace and trying to make it home in time for dinner. I was impressed by the courtesy shown to me by on-coming traffic. The only concern I had was crossing FM 549 at 5:00pm, but traffic was surprising light when I crossed.

I completed my run in just under 58 minutes. Time to start shaving minutes...getting revved up for the 8-mile Turkey Trot!

My Pumpkins at the Patch

On Friday, we met some friends for an afternoon at the pumpkin patch. The kids wandered through the hay maze, rifled through baskets of baby gourds, and splashed in the sprinkler run-off (well, at least my boys did). Here are a few photos from our excursion...

Middle "A" in the maze



Big Sister LOVES to pick flowers!



Baby "A" checkin' out the pumpkins...I think he found just the right one!



Big brother and little brother comparing gourds...too cute.



My sweet middle child (such mischief behind those big blue eyes).


(photo courtesy of JC Originals Photography)

Thanks to Jill and her amazing photography, more pics from our outing can be seen on her blog.

Little O.C.D. Me

First off, I do not want to offend anyone that may truly have O.C.D. This is meant only as a light-hearted poke at me...and anyone else who chooses to comment.

There are a few areas in my life where I do the same thing, the same way, every time. I thought it might be fun to share a few of them.

• When folding laundry, I have to stand in the exact same place next to my bed. I place each family members clothing in the same place on the bed every time...including the piles for their shirts, pants, PJs, underwear, etc. This only happens on Tuesdays...laundry day...every week.Ashlyn's clothes go at the foot of the bed on Jerry's side of the bed... her PJs are at the very end followed by her shirts and then her pants.

• When I change a diaper on the changing table, my childs head must be on the right, every time. I can not change it if their head is on the left (which is odd in, and of, itself because I am right-handed).

• When I clean my house, I start in the same room with the same chore, every time.

• When I take a shower, I wash my body first, shampoo second, conditioner third, and shave fourth, every time. If I run out of conditioner, I'm screwed...can't function...seriously.

• I put on one sock and then my shoe before putting on the other sock and shoe, every time.

• Every time I make my bed, the top sheet has to be folded down and the pillows have to be positioned just right. Ask Jerry, I rearrange them when he helps out. But nevertheless, I am grateful for the help he affords me.

• Every night when we go to bed, NOTHING can be out of place in the house...toys, throw pillows, kitchen chairs, dishes in the sink. It can be 2:30am and I'm loading the dishwasher.

• Toilet paper must come OVER THE TOP of the roll, every time. C'mon people, get it right! :)

Now it's your turn...you down with O.C.D? Do share...

1 Corinthians 14:40
Let all things be done decently and in order.

The First Race

The first race is the toughest (not really)...

I did it. I finished my first race. Mind you, it was only a 5K, but I did it. I ran it in 32.19...6th place for my age, 30th overall.

I'm now going to begin training for the next race...8 mile run on Thanksgiving Day (Nov 27th) in the YMCA Turkey Trot.

Chili's in Rockwall
1st Annual 5K run benefiting St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital

Battle Royale

We are going through a battle of the wills in our household right now.

My battle, her will.

Truth be told, there would be no battle if dear old Mom would just give in and allow Little Miss 4-Year-Old to run the house. Wouldn't that be a sight?! Peanut butter and chocolate milk for breakfast, Dora the Explorer on TV 24/7, mismatched shoes, no brushed teeth, naked barbies everywhere. What would happen to my boys?!

This particular day she has been cranky from the moment she woke up...whiny, not listening, argumentative. She has been refusing to take naps for some time now, and I usually let it go as long as she spends some quite time in her room while the boys are napping. But today...she needed a nap. I informed her of this and was immediately met with MUCH resistance. After trying to reason with her...the spank stick came out...and Momma was a-swingin'. One pop...she screamed loud (not pain loud, defiant loud)...second pop (same reaction). She would quiet down long enough for me to reach for the door knob and then the screaming would commence once again. After the third pop I had to leave the room. I cried walking down the stairs (the screaming had still not stopped...I just couldn't spank her anymore). I cried for her ignorance, I cried for the sting on her behind, I cried because I truly hurt inside from disciplining her.

Why are we rebellious by nature? I didn't teach my children to NOT listen to me. Why do we REALLY test boundaries when we KNOW the consequences? Do we think there will be a different outcome if we push it two, three, four times? Why don't we realize that whether we choose to obey or disobey we are still a slave to something.

Romans 6:16
Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Marshmallows and Peanut Butter

Our sweet baby Austin has had an issue with self-feeding. At 19 months, the fact that he will still only eat Cheetos, crackers, Goldfish...basically anything crunchy, has bothered me, but I blame it on the fact that he's our last baby. I breastfed the kid until he was 15 months! I made lunch for the older kids today and decided I would make the same plate for AJ. Without hesitation he picked up his peanut butter sandwich and started chowing down! He even decided to comment on the matter...

"Mmmmm, mmmmm. Dee-shish-shish."

Later on this afternoon he was reaching for the pantry. I opened it and gave him the first thing in front of me...multi-colored marshmallows. I had tried to give them to him in the past, but he would take one in his fingers, mash it and throw it on the floor (this is the usual reaction to any new food). He grabbed the marshmallow and popped it in his mouth...and kept reaching for more!

For dinner I had made tortellini with chicken. I cut up chicken and placed it in front of him...and he ate it too! I am so proud of my little man for FINALLY making a breakthrough in his feeding today! Keep up the good work, Austin Jimmy!

I tell ya...Perseverence pays!