This is for Flo

I am kicking myself for not knowing it was your birthday. Hopefully this video will somewhat make up for it. Don't forget to pause my playlist first.

Pretzels & Peanutbutter

Twenty-eight wonderful months!

Oh no! Vundo!

*If this the first time to you are reading this post, be sure and turn your speakers on to hear my playlist. Sometimes my music goes along with my most recent post. The previous post was our Passion Play and I did find the main song for it but have since removed it. Come on now, it's fun! ;P

Original post: I have been fighting this virus since last week. Not the kind that makes you sick, but makes your computer sick. Well, I guess it has made me somewhat sick. I finally had to buy a portable hard drive to backup all of my files. Turns out, I have over 18 GB of pictures covering the last two and a half years on my PC. The portable holds 500GB. I have located the file and infections in the registry but they are locked and cannot be deleted manually nor with the 11 virus scan software I have downloaded.

I am posting this from my old PC that is now Briana's. I don't know the fate of my PC, but it looks like I will lose all of my updates and will have to start from scratch. Any suggestions are welcome.

I highly recommend everyone get some sort of backup or two (portable/external hard drive, disks, etc.). You never know when, not if, something will go wrong. I had been using Symantec Antivirus and it never detected it. I update regularly and it still got through. Ugh!

Track is over...

...getting ready for some time on the diamond. But here are a few shots of the last meet.

Bri and her team placed 6th in the 1600 m relay at district.
You never know who you might run into at these meets.
Rance stayed snuggly warm and was thoroughly entertained by Brianna Lynne.

Warm weather fun

On an outdoor adventure.

Looking for wild aminals.

"Er is mommy!"

Imagination with pipe insulation.
Didn't escape unharmed.

George and juice make it all better.

It's tough being little.

I could just squeeze him!

27 months

Another month older for Mr. Rance.

Since his new interest in Dora and Diego, Rance likes to wear his backpack around. He was waiting for me to "go". To him, it doesn't really matter where, just "go."

No pants required.

He takes his art very seriously. Really gets in to it.

My DNOW Heroes

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3 :18

This was the verse for the Disciple Now weekend. These guys went out and they were the church. They cleaned yards, painted houses, and fixed up playgrounds. They all worked really hard. They prayed hard. I am amazed at how devoted they are.

Be sure and pause my playlist to the left to hear the video below.

(L-R) Kaitlyn, Bri, Jennie, Cora (homeowner),Traci, Megan, Meagan (our DBU student), Noa, and me kneeling. My girls for the weekend. I love these guys girls! They have taught me so much. And it is very clear that God is their Hero.

Other Projects

While I wait for the floor mix I will use for the computer closet to dissolve, we have had other projects in the works. My personal electrician replaced the old spot light fixtures over the fireplace with pendant lights. There is an example of the the old one in the picture below on the top right. It was probably a nice choice when it was installed back in '74. Oh, and Rance was a "big" help.

And the after shot. What a difference. I guess it's time to get rid of the wreath too.

Trevor has been busy with his own remodel lately. There was a leak in our bathroom going under the flooring. He tore out the vinyl flooring, removed the toilet and demoed the shower stall to the studs. Colton and Rance wanted to get in on the action and helped clean up some of the pink tile. We have been sharing Colton's bathroom in the meantime. At least until we get a new shower surround installed. Oh, and the leak was from the wax ring under the toilet being completely gone and the drip pan underneath the shower tile floor. I guess it finally cracked after all these years. I will update his progress as it comes along.

26 months

Rance wanted me to take his picture but was preparing for it by squinting before I could even point the camera at him.

And one year ago, with short hair.

SheSpeaks

UPDATE BELOW
I signed up a while back to do surveys through this company. I received my first item a couple of weeks ago called Emergen-C. It is a powder multivitamin for kids 4 and up. Part of the appeal is you mix it with water and it fizzes(not much fizz, more foam). It comes in 3 flavors: orange pineapple explosion, strawnana berry blast, cherry yumberry. No, I did not misspell any of them. Colton was my first guinea pig volunteer, since it is made for his age group. He tried the cherry first and did not like it at all. Bri tasted it and wasn't impressed and neither was I. Rance was a little more open to the idea but it didn't take long to change his mind. The next time Colton tried the orange mix and actually liked it enough that he drank the whole thing. I doubt he would want to do this everyday though. He then tried the strawnana and it was poured down the drain. So now I am left with several more samples and coupons to pass on to whoever wants them. If you are interested in trying them just send me an email which is located to the right. Who knows, this maybe something for your kid.

update I just recently figured out another positive aspect of vitamin powder mix, kids may be able to inhale it but it would come right back out. But as for gummy vitamins that are long and slender, those can be inserted in the nose rather easy but don't come out as easy as they went in. Unless a 2 year old knows how to blow his nose real hard to avoid a trip to the doctor. Rance found that out the hard way today.The particular vitamin is by Tony Hawk so it is in the shape of a skateboard. Hope your day isn't quite as interesting as mine has been. ;P

FYI: Lowes Coupon

Go here to find the $10 off $50 coupon. It takes a little while, even with DSL, but worth the wait. Especially if you are planning a project or need something. You have the option of an online coupon code or print one for in store. You can hit the back button for more, but they can't be combined and they expire 3/2.

On the home page, you will see $10 Off Any $50 Purchase for a Limited Time. Get Your Coupon > next to the search space, as long as this offer is still available.

Happy shopping!

*UPDATE It's over now. But I was able to use 2 coupons on Saturday and saved some bucks!

Stethescope

Be sure and pause the playlist at the right to listen.

Southern Hills Church of Christ, Abilene, Texas. Man finds a stethoscope with unusual powers. He discovers what soundtrack is playing inside him.

One year

It has been exactly one year since I wrote my first post. And this is post number 125. It seems that the time has gone by so fast. There were days when I wanted to post but didn't, for whatever reason. And days when I probably could have done better. Oh well, you know what I mean. I will continue blogging as long as y'all want to read about my kids and such. I know I really enjoy reading about the everyday goings on with each of my blogger friends. Whether it's a ballgame, a road trip, or even home repair (sorry Andi).

Since I have begun blogging, I have come across several blogs that I visit regularly. I have read wonderful stories and heartbreaking ones. I have also met people that I wouldn't have otherwise. In the words of Martha, "it's a good thing."

Like Andi said in the beginning, "your addicted aren't you?" Absolutely! It's been fun and I hope it just gets better.

Ahhh, the Z-pak

Thanks Dr.E, I needed that. I don't know what I would do without my wonderful doctor and my Z-pak. My fever finally broke about 4 AM this morning after popping pills for the last 5 days. But I couldn't go back to sleep. Hopefully Rance will let me rest some today (yea, right). Thankfully, sinus infections aren't contagious and for the most wonderful teenage daughter who likes to cook and is willing to take care of her younger brothers! Couldn't have done it w/o ya babe. Now I am on the road to recovery.

By the way, Bri cooked beef stroganoff and peas for supper and it was muy bueno!

Something ain't right!

This is what my temperature was 3 hours after taking fever reducers. So far I have taken at appropriate times, 1 Aleve, 1 Tylenol, and 2 Advil. Basically all of these pills have been in my system at the same time at some point and I still have fever. I wonder what it would be without pills? I am waiting to hear if a prescription has been called in for an antibiotic for another possible sinus infection. The only other symptoms are the usual sinus congestion and headache. Hopefully I can rest better tonight. Sounds like a Nyquil moment.

My somewhat adventurous side

Saturday night we stopped at China King to eat while in Tyler. It has been a while since we had Chinese food. There was quite a lot to choose from. The sesame chicken was good and so was the fried calamari. But there was this one particular item I hadn't tried before, small octopus.

Doesn't it look yummy sitting there on my plate?

I cut it in half and ate the head part first. Rance looks a little skeptical. Or maybe he was trying to figure out why in the world his sister would be taking a picture of me while eating.

The tentacles were all curled up around my lip, kind of a weird feeling. The whole thing was rather chewy. AND, it tastes like chicken!

Now, what are some of the unusual things y'all have eaten before?

While sitting in line...

... at the bank driveup ATM to deposit a check, the conversation goes a little like this....

Colton,"Hey Mom, I see Rance's name."

Me, "uh huh."

Colton, "Yea, it says R-A-N-C-E."

Me, still filling out the deposit slip, thinking 'OK'.

Colton, " Yea, it says CLEARance!"

I stop filling out the deposit slip to look up and can't help but laugh. Thanks buddy, I needed that.
:D

28 degrees

Fog, frost, and ice.

2 Year Portraits