Five Geese a Waddling.....

This morning, we woke up and looked out the front door to the lake and what do you think we saw? Five large geese have arrived at the lake. They spent the day swimming and waddling around. They do not seem alarmed at human beings either. Do you see the guy fishing?

Mike walked up as close as the sidewalk to the geese and though they began to amble to the water - they truly were not frightened by the people fishing - and there were several folks around the lake. Maybe tomorrow, if they are still here, we should toss some bread to them?

Can you say this Word? What is it?

Snow Day 2008

On March 6, 2008 we had one of the best snow storms we ever get in Texas. At least in our part - the Panhandle usually gets more. But for us this was the first time the kids got to build a REAL snowman in their whole lives. Here are some pictures so that you can share our fun:






The build-up of snow on Mike's car after he had been home a bit.

Pirate Day - 2nd Grade

The 2nd grade spent some time learning about pirates. A portion of one day was set aside for an official "Treasure Hunt" at school. They had lots of fun. Mommy had to get creative to find some costumes for Megan and Ryan.


Ryan says "AArrgggghhhh - Ahoy me matey!"




Megan is the prettiest pirate I have ever seen.


These are our meanest pirate faces!

The Twins 8th Birthday Party

Megan & Ryan celebrated their 8th birthday at ASI Gymnastics with friends from school, soccer, and our neighborhood. It was lots of fun. Mom, Dad, Grammy, Poppy, and the DeBolt family were also there to celebrate.



Ryan in the foam block pit.

The Party guests in the foam pit. It is much harder to walk around in there than you would think!

Megan in the foam block pit.


Fun and games with Coach Joe



Ryan getting cooled off after playing hard!


The lighting of the birthday candles.

Our New Friends

I am playing catch up on my blog as I got behind for various reasons. It is actually mid-March but I am taking you back to early February.

Ashley's passing was tougher than we all expected. Every time we went into Jason's room we automatically looked to the spot where we kept her cage. It was so very empty! Additionally, at meal times one of us was constantly saying "I am going to save a bit of this for Ashley!" only to realize that we couldn't take her treats any longer. We really missed our friend, and her late sister Sabrina.

Therefore, we decided pretty quickly to head to the pet store and look for two new friends. Our first trip on a Monday was a wasted trip - they were out of stock! So, on Friday February 1st, we went back. We settled on 2 small female hooded, or fancy, rats.

Meet Taffy and Oreo a.k.a. Wee Dee. They were very tiny and very fast!

Oreo a.k.a. Wee Dee was quite outgoing and friendly. She was happy to be held any time we opened the cage door. Taffy took about 2 weeks to really get comfortable and warm up to us. Every time we tried to catch her she would dart away from us.

Now, they are quite at home and they are being kept in the gameroom where there is constant activity and human company. We have really enjoyed their antics. So funny are they! One evening, one of them was running in the wheel and the other one decided to jump in too. We had one rat holding on for dear life and spinning upside down while the other one was running really fast. We were all dying laughing.

This week, they have begun to sleep in their food bowl. So much so, that I turned the 2nd bowl right-side-up thinking they would at least not sleep in with the food. One rat will climb in the bowl, and curl up with an arm, leg or even head over the edge, and the other rat will drape herself over the top of the first rat. After awhile, the bottom rat must get tired of being squished, because they trade places!

Oh, neither of these pictures are all that great. We will have to try again. Taffy has a brown stripe down her back, and Oreo has more like 2 dashes or spots on hers.

Anyway - the family feels complete again!

Happy 14th Birthday Jason!!

My eldest child turned 14 years old today. Where did my 9 pound baby boy go? Today, that infant is almost looking me straight in the eyes at 5 foot 6 inches and he wears a mens 9 1/2 shoe!

The cake was a cookie cake - though looking at this picture, I don't understand two things: 1) why didn't we take the plastic lid off? 2) Why did the bakery put the 14 at the end after his name? Good grief!



Here is the young man. He got some new athletic shoes of his choice from us. He got money, a gift card and some cool skate things from all the grandparents. He had hoped to use the gift card at a particular store in the mall - but they were out of stock on the hoodie he wanted. So, we may have to wait until after school starts in the fall when they start putting out winter clothes again.

Speaking of fall, Jason will start the 9th grade in late August. I can not believe that he will be in high school! Un-real. He has already registered for his course selections. If everything goes as planned he will be taking:

CORE CLASSES:
* English I
* Algebra I
* Biology Pre-AP
* World Geography

ELECTIVES
* Art I
* Athletics
* German I

His FINAL elective will be:

* Business Image Management and Multimedia/Computer Multimedia Animation Technology

Jason has decided not to continue with band after 8th grade. As a former marching band member all through high school - I am a bit sorry he isn't continuing - after all he plays very well - but it is a big committment to do marching band. His heart isn't in it - so as long as he stays in athletics, we are going to support his decision.

Jason was invited by the high school coach to play baseball (not related to school) this spring. Workouts have started and he has grown so much that we had to get him a new bat and new cleats. They can wear metal spikes this year. He is hitting well with the new bat in practice. I am anxious for the first game!

Rest in Peace, Ashley. You were loved!

Pets or Pests??

When my son Jason was 11, he practically begged us off and on all of 2005 for a pet rat. Mike and I had mixed feelings, after all, it's a R-A-T !!! Our only experience with rats in recent years had not been a positive experience. We moved a stack of firewood for Mike's Mom, and we disturbed a family of rats. It sort of freaked us out. ;-)

One of Jason's good friends Brandon had two female fancy rats - May and Rena. Brandon's mom Bonnie told me all about them. Brandon tried really hard to get me to hold one of his rats. I just wouldn't do it. Hello....it...is...a...rat!!!!!!!!

Nonetheless, Jason did get 2 female rats for Christmas 2005. Two females that he named Ashley and Sabrina. They were very difficult to tell apart, but it turned out that Sabrina had a white tip on her tale. Well, as the five of us began to be more familiar with "our rats" we began to notice how much personality they began to develop. And in time, we all began to hold them and play with them.

Many evenings we would go to Jason's room and let the rats run loose on top of Jason's bed. They were so funny running around exploring and burrowing in the folds of the bedspread. They would run in and out of our clothes. Mike would lay on the floor and prop a foot on the bed and Ashley would walk onto his foot, down his shin to his knee and then JUMP onto Mike's stomach! Ooooofff! He would sit up, and she would climb up his shirt and walk across the bridge (his arm) back to the bed where she would actually look for his foot to repeat the game.

Sadly, Sabrina got very ill in April '07 and we took her to see the vet. She was too ill to get better, and we chose to let her go. We had a little funeral in the back yard. It was quite an experience for Jason, Ryan and Megan.

We didn't feel it would be fair to Ashley to introduce a strange rat to keep her company, so we proceeded to pay her extra attention and just spoiled her rotten. Ashley began to show her age too, and would have some bad days - but then just as quickly, she would perk up and go back to being her spoiled self!

Ashley was so funny! All we had to do was walk into Jason's room and she would come running to the side of the cage next to where we keep her food and treats. She was shameless! Reaching those little paws and arms through the wire of the cage grabbing and begging for treats!

Over the recent Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, Mike deboned some turkey with his fingers, and then decided to take a piece of turkey to Ashley a.k.a. DeeDee. He calls "Dee-Dee....you want some turkey?" Ashley came scurrying to the open door of the cage and got a sniff of that turkey and tried to snatch it from Mike - the only thing is that she couldn't tell his fingers from the turkey and she tried to take his finger! It isn't that she was biting him - she just wanted to carry the turkey to where she could snack on it privately! LOL!

Anyway - yesterday - Ashley seemed pretty weak. I got a hand-towel and took her out of her cage after lunch and just loved on her, gently stroking her head. I know she loved it because she started chattering her teeth. A sure sign of contentment in a rat! Last evening, I took her out again in the hand towel and Jason sat with her for at least 45 minutes just stroking her head and ears. She chattered her teeth, and then settled down for a snooze. She was very weak, and could barely drink water that we offered her. We went to bed knowing that we might have to make a sad and difficult decision today.

God made that decision for us during the night. Ashley went to sleep peacefully and forever. Jason came down this morning to tell me that Ashley was gone. We will have a little burial service this afternoon and bury Ashley next to her friend Sabrina out in our back yard.

I know that Ashley knew we loved her. And more than that, we enjoyed Ashley and Sabrina both. They gave us enjoyment, laughter and fun for a little more than 2 years.

Thank you, Ashley and Sabrina. You were loved!

Wise Words - I really value these !!

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14 If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Happy 8th Birthday Megan & Ryan !!

Today marks 8 years since Ryan and Megan joined us 5 1/2 weeks early on the New Millenium! After lunch today we celebrated their 8th birthdays with our immediate family of 5 and also with my Mom and step-Dad.



We had yummy chocolate birthday cake:



After cake, the kids got to open some gifts:

The kids get to choose a birthday dinner. Megan wants to go eat Pizza tonight, and Ryan wants me to make homemade beef/bean enchiladas. We will have the enchiladas tomorrow night following Ryan's indoor soccer game.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MEGAN & RYAN !!!!

Annual Well Visits

Friday, December 21st, my kids had an early dismissal from school and what better way to start the Christmas Holidays then to go visit the Pediatrician for their well checkups! The kids were thrilled, let me tell you. :-)

I was a very bad mother this year -well not bad - just not as anal as in years past! As you know, Jason's birthday is January 31st, and the twins birthday is New Year's Day. The kids should have been to their well checkups in January/February 2007 - only between Christmas, birthdays, school, sports, and cases of the flu and strep - they never went! Until now. It has been 22 months since their last "Official" weights and measurements.

Here are the stats:

JASON (who will be 14 in a month) grew 3.5" and stands 5'6'' He gained 17 pounds - he now weighs 114 pounds!! He is just about to catch me in height - only about 1-2 inches and we will be seeing each other straight in the eyes. His foot size has already exceeded mine. Jason is in the 80th percentile on Height and the 60th percentile on weight.

RYAN (who will be 8 on New Year's Day) grew a whopping 5 inches! He is 4'4" tall He gained 13.6 pounds - now weighing 67.6 pounds. Ryan is in the 75th percentile on Height and the 85th percentile on weight.

MEGAN (who will be 8 on New Year's Day) grew 4.5 inches and is 4'3" tall. She gained 10 pounds - now weiging 55 pounds. Megan is in the 75th percentile on Height and is in the 60th percentile on weight.

Our pediatrician gave all of them glowing reports and said they are VERY HEALTHY and growing well. Each one got a booster for the chicken pox vaccine in addition to getting their flu shots.

Well, that is the scoop on the kids vital statistics. For those keeping tabs - we haven't managed to get the kids picture made yet for the holidays. Argghhh... Don't give up hope!

Merry Christmas!

Well, for those of you who may be wondering - I haven't taken my kids annual Christmas photograph yet!!! I still plan to, but it is looking much more like New Years cards instead of Christmas cards. I may even post it here when I get it done.

I was just thinking about Christmas's past. We sent our nieces and nephews cold, hard, cash this year. I remember that when I was a kid, I always LOVED getting money cards in the mail for Christmas and other occasions. The bills were nice - but I always liked the greeting cards that had the coin slots cut in them! Do any of you remember those? Oh, I know, inflation being what it is, kids today probably don't have the same appreciation for 6 or 8 quarters and dimes. Still, cash is cash, and it is money they can take and spend absolutely anywhere.

I was also thinking about my maternal grandparents and a neat TRADITION they had. Each year in my Christmas stocking along with trinket toys, an orange, and some chocolate - there were always some of those mixed nuts still in the shells. You know the ones - they are always for sale in the produce department during the holiday season! Most of the nuts were just down in the stocking - but there were also the MAGIC WALNUTS!! I don't know how much time my grandparents spent on this - but they would painstakingly cut or crack the walnuts exactly in half and scoop out all the insides. Then, they would either fold dollar bills small enough to fit inside - OR - they would put quarters, dimes and nickels in there - and then they would glue the halves back together! Imagine my surprise to find MONEY inside the walnuts! My folks have tried this with my kids in the past couple of years, and it was a big hit!

My paternal grandparents sent us a neat cloth calendar every Christmas, and I always got a pretty piece of Avon jewelry, too. I know there were other things too - but these are the special ones that stand out in my memory.

One year in high school, I was getting a new flute for symphonic band and marching band. My mom cleverly laid the flute case in the cardboard box that was meant to hold 24 cans of coke - she removed 6 cans and placed the flute case there, then wrapped the whole shebang. It was very heavy, and I never guessed what was in it!

With my own kids, we typically leave our tree lights on overnight on Christmas. It is kind of cool on Christmas morning to see the Santa gifts glowing in the light of the tree. (Shout out to Melissa Dovel for pointing this out - we have been doing this - but I couldn't quite describe it!) When we hear the kids stirring around - we call the grandparents and tell them to head on over for the unwrapping! In between, the kids open their stockings and check out their Santa items.

My kids also get to open ONE gift on Christmas Eve. Sometimes, we let them open gifts from beloved cousins in other states as well! They love doing this and it helps to curb some of the enthusiasm! Oh, and we always leave cookies, carrots and milk out for Santa and the reindeer!

What are your favorite memories and traditions?

Animal Tales program

Tonight was the 2nd Grade Music Program at Megan and Ryan's school. The program was called "Animal Tales". It was a very cute program consisting of dialog and lots of singing and hand motions. All the kids dressed as various animals.

Ryan chose to be a Monkey. I am not one of the most creative people - but I actually think I did okay on this one! First I found a long sleeved brown tee shirt and cut and oval shaped piece for the monkey tummy. Unfortunately - I don't think we got a picture of that part. Anyway - the real trial came with designing a headpiece for Ryan. I used brown felt and fashioned it to make a hair line and cover his hair and throat. I also drew oversized ears and cut a pattern to use on the brown and tan felt pieces. I sewed them up and turned them right side out - oops - 2 left ears - one was brown in the front and the other was tan in the front. Tried again and failed - tried again and succeeded! Yea for Mom! Anyway - finally got the ears sewed to the headpiece the morning of the performance.

Our neighbor Sean who is really good at airbrushing, and more recently tattooing meaning he is a great artist, was kind enough to agree to paint Megan & Ryan's faces with further animal details. Here is Ryan:





Megan's choice of animal was a Panther! We had a black velvet body suit with cat ears and tail to match. All that was really left for Megan's costume was face painting by Sean. THANK YOU SEAN! Here is Megan:




Here is a shot of the left side of the stage where Megan & Ryan were standing. Ryan is on the back row third from the left. Megan is harder to see, she is the middle row about 3-4 kids from the left in front of the boy in the blue dress shirt:



Here is a shot of the entire stage full of 2nd graders.

A Milestone For Ryan !!

Ryan hit a HUGE MILESTONE today! After 4 1/2 years of speech classes 30 minutes 2 times per week, Ryan was dismissed/graduated from the school district Speech Program this morning! We are very excited. Ryan had some severe speech impairments and the speech program has changed his life. It sounds dramatic to say that - but I am totally serious. Ryan is a different kid now. He is so much happier, outgoing and is easily understood. In fact, his 2nd grade teacher was amazed to find out that he was a speech student. Hip Hip Hooray for Ryan!!

My Two 2nd Graders!

MEGAN




RYAN

100 Things About Me

1. I was named after my Dad James and my Mom Lynnda - thus Jamie Lynne


2. I always wanted to change the way my name Jamie was spelled i.e. Jaymee or Jaime.


3. I got over it.


4. I don't know many adults with my name.


5. If you looked my name up in a book of names, it would be in both the "boy" and "girl" sections.


6. I was born in Fort Rucker, AL


7. I weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces.


8. My earliest memory is the house on Downing Drive.


9. I was probably 4 yrs old. Maybe 3 1/2.


10. I was friends with twin girls named 'Mimi" and "Missy"


11. I grew up and had twins of my own. A boy and a girl.


12. I can't remember learning to ride a 2-wheel bike without training wheels.


13. My mom says I learned to ride it when I was 4 years old.


14. I also don't remember learning about Santa Clause.


15. Apparently, it wasn't traumatic.


16. I ate an entire bottle of Chocks chewable vitamins.


17. I remember climbing on the counter to get them.


18. I survived it.


19. I took 7 years of piano lessons.


20. I don't play anymore, but often wish I did.


21. I played flute for 6 years.


22. I don't play that anymore either.


23. I was in the marching band in High School.


24. Marching band was a total blast.


25. My first job was at Dairy Queen.


26. Yes, I CAN make the ice cream cones with the curly Q at the top.


27. I can also dip that ice cream cone in that chocolate that makes the hard shell.


28. I used to work in customer service for a local newspaper.


29. I was on duty the day that President Reagan was shot.


30. People were actually irate that their newspapers were late that evening.


31. I am a handbell ringer at my church.


32. I can ring with 2 bells in each hand.


33. This is called 2-in-hand.


34. I took a semester of college at TWU.


35. I took another semester at UTA.


36. I didn't finish.


37. I did take an accounting course at the local Jr. College.


38. I aced it.


39. I never wanted to have an only child.


40. I got my wish.


41. Before I was married, I wished to have boy/girl twins.


42. I thought it would be cool to get pregnant once and get what I deemed to be ideal.


43. I gave birth to a singleton boy, Jason.


44. We later tried for a girl to go with the boy and got boy/girl twins Ryan and Megan.


45. The twins were born, unexpectedly, on the New Millennium at 18 & 19 minutes after midnight.


46. Both my parents are still alive.


47. Both have re-married.


48. I have 4 step brothers and 2 step sisters from one re-marriage.


49. I have 2 step brothers, a step sister and a half-brother from the other.


50. I wasn't raised with any of them on a full-time basis.


51. I like, if not love, them all.


52. I have lots of nieces and nephews.


53. All my grandparents have passed away.


54. I wish all of them could have known my 3 kids.


55. More importantly, I wish my kids could have known them.


56. I miss my grandparents more than I can say.


57. I have been pregnant 2 times


58. I have gone through labor one time


59. I have had an epidural


60. I have had one c-section.


61. I love Diet Coke!


62. I do not like Diet Pepsi, or Pepsi for that matter.


63. I met my husband while we both worked for a hospital.


64. I met him a year before we started to date.


65. I thought he was the funniest person ever.


66. He still is.


67. I was planning to move to California when Mike asked me not to.


68. I didn't.


69. We were married in 1986.


70. We just celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary.


71. We recently watched the video tape from our wedding.


72. I can drive a stick-shift.


73. I once owned a 1981 Trans Am.


74. It had a manual 4-speed transmission.


75. It was a really cool car.


76. Occasionally I dream I still have it.


77. I might have gotten a few tickets.


78. I drive a mini-van now.


79. I love it.


80. I would buy another.


81. I love being a mom. I love my family.


82. I hope my kids inherit their daddy's athletic skills.


83. And my love of reading.


84. I am a blood donor.


85. I have donated 13 times.


86. I love pedicures.


87. I don't care about manicures.


88. I am too hard on my hands.


89. I wear my nails short anyway.


90. I was a board member of my local twins club 4 years running.


91. 1 time membership, 2 as President, 1 as Secretary.


92. I am secretary of my Homeowners Association.


93. I am Health and Safety Liason on the PTA at M & R's school.


94. I am the Counter Coordinator at Church.


95. I am a co-room parent for M & R's class at school.


96. I work 10 hours per week as the school Crossing Guard.


97. I have a part-time contract typing job.


98. I volunteer to help the Middle School band as needed.


99. I chaperone field trips for all three kids when needed.


100. I think I need to learn to say NO. LOL. :-)

Seriously, I love my life. I wouldn't trade a thing.

The First Day of School 2007-2008

On Monday 8-27-07 the kids returned to school. Sorry - but we caught them with their eyes closed! Oh wait! Maybe they are still sleepy! It was hard to wake up before 7:00 a.m. after a nice and relaxing summer!

Jason starts the 8th grade. He will be taking Pre-AP Algebra and Science, Honors I Band, keyboarding, Language Arts, History and Athletics-Football. I simply can not believe that one year from now, Jason will be a freshman in high school. Amazing!

Here is Ryan. See his new shoes? This was his first pair of "cool" shoes. In the past, we have only been able to fit his feet into Stride Rite or New Balance xtra wide shoes. When we accidently found these - he was so excited! You can't tell, but the stripes on the side, and the tongue of the shoes have camophlage on them. He loves camophlage. (I don't think that is spelled correctly). He put them on when we came home with them and wore them around the house. Too cute. I love that little man! I hadn't really noticed until I viewed this picture of Ryan that he has really stretched out and looks tall and thin.

Miss Megan. She has on one of the favorite outfits she got for school. She loves the animal prints. She was very particular in the outfits that she chose to start school. She seems to be very confident in what she does and doesn't like to wear. We had a few challenges with the sizing of her clothing but found that for the most part a 7 slim works best for her.

This is Megan and Ryan's 2nd grade teacher. She is very, very nice. And, I might add that I was one proud Mom to get a phone call Friday afternoon from her. She told me that both kids did a super job all week learning the new procedures for 2nd grade, and that they were very sweet kids, AND that she was really enjoying them. WOW! Of course I am prejudiced and think they are practically perfect in every way. Naturally.

My kids weren't the only ones starting new routines this week. I started a second part time job! I have taken the position of Crossing Guard at the twins school. I was really nervous prior to the first day, but I have to say that it truly went much better than I ever expected. Mike was too funny - he walked the kids into school for me the first morning, and then he walked all the way to my post and took a picture of me! It is not a very good shot (darn pole) - but here it is:

We have a nice 3-day weekend now to relax, and then another new week. I am so proud of all my kiddos.

Happy Labor Day!

Catching up!

So, today is the first day of school here. Mike charged up the digital camera and low and behold there are 75+ pictures on there that have never been downloaded to our computer! So, I will post the back to school pictures this afternoon, and then I will begin posting all the other occasions that we need to catch up on!

Spring & Summer Fun! Our Neighborhood is FULL of kids!

Where you have kids - you have fun! Our neighborhood is stuffed full of kids and they all get along so well! I don't have pictures of everyone right now, but thanks to my neighbor and friend Michelle - I have a few new ones to share!


Miss Megan


Ryan

The Lemonade Stand Girls

Jason - he and some of the neighborhood guys
got caught playing "Kick the Dolly"


Getting a tan everyone?