I am still around....

Just busy is all....keep checking back. I'm up to my neck in pureed pumpkin and carpet cleaning.

Don't tell, but I think I may be cheating on my hubby with the carpet cleaner that I got on the side of the road. Yes you read that right. Someone abandoned it for trash...but after $30 and a new tank she's working miracles.

We will be back soon---we have lots of catching up to do!

Cheers,

me

Sunday best.....

This one is for Papa.

"I may look like a girl on the outside, but inside I'm all cowboy"

"I wear a skirt, I carry a gun, and I do as I please...I have a good life"

"Oh give me a home...where the buffalo roam...."

On Saturday, we went to a ranch to look at rattle snakes, bunnies, peacocks, horses and other animals with some new friends....
Party of five!

Three amigos....

This would have been a cute picture, but Baby Girl didn't want to cooperate....

That's what friends are for......

Does this photo even need a caption?

I've got mad skills......

Junior started reading leveled books at home...

This was his very first one----read it all by himself!

Little man tied his shoes for the first time all by himself!

"Will you take me to the zoo?" "If the zoo wants you let them come and get you..."

Bowling....

Bored on a Saturday? Can't get more good clean fun than bowling!

Yeah! Little Man got a strike!

Even Baby Girl threw a few down the lane!

Junior kept trying to find the luckiest ball....

Stickers and "Opal"

Ah, the joy of stickers....stickers on the furniture, on the floor, in her hair, and finally.....
on paper! :)

Meet the newest addition of our family....."Opal". She is white with blue eyes and the kids just love her....she is a wonderful little kitty.

Opal got a new toy, but Baby Girl thought it was for her.....and got herself "stuck, mama! Mama, stuck!"

When we brought Opal home, Baby Girl said...."Kitty, home now. Kitty, love you!" They are two peas in a pod during the day.

Sabbatical.......

Upon doing some research I'm discovering the joy of being an educated woman. This joy culminates into one simple word with profound meaning: Sabbatical.

In 2003 I graduated from college with a Bachelor's of Science in Education. Soon after college I became gainfully employed as a Speech Therapist. I worked for four years at a private and non-profit school for kids with disabilities....and I found my passion. People have often said that it takes a special person to do what I did. They insist I must have an extraordinary amount of patience. I am just me.

Whilst working full-time I finished my Master's degree in Special Education. People have often said that was such a waste---but in the educative world I'm finding it was very much to my advantage. Those in the Ivory tower seem t like that I can wear a few different hats.

In 2007 I followed my heart and found something within me....quite literally, it would seem and was blessed with a daughter in December of 2008. Up until recently my daughter became my whole world.

In the past 7 years I have been a Speech Therapist, home caregiver for children with Special Needs, a Traveling Salesman (selling high-end communication devices), a group home Supervisor, a Substitute teacher and Aide, and a traveling speech therapist. I can tell you that in the last seven years I did not find anything even half as rewarding as being a mom.

Dictonary.com defines Sabbatical as both an adjective and a noun.

-adjective

1. of or pertaining appropriate to the Sabbath
2. of or pertaining to a Sabbatical year.
3. bringing a period of rest.

-noun

1. a Sabbatical year
2. any extended period of time from one's customary work, especially for rest to acquire new skills or training, etc.

As you can imagine this all has me pretty excited. Not only am I ALLOWED to take some time off----it is fully recognized in academia to do so. I in a sense have a completely valid excuse to take said time off.

Genesis 2:2-3 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

It is my seventh year of work......think God will bless it?

.

How the West was FUN!

Our Sunday started with a trip to our church (which is just around the corner). The boys really seem to like it there! I enjoy the worship part of the service....but soon after the worship portion, Baby Girl started saying "I HAVE TO PEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" really loudly and although it was incredibly embarrasing I was happy that she said it so loud. By the sixth trip to the bathroom I had not heard much of the sermon at all but I had a little girl that was pretty pleased with herself. By our sixth trip I was pretty sure the congregation must understand what was going on.....

After church we headed home for some grub and then out on the road again to have some family time. Turns out a western supply store was having a "Country Fair" sponsored by 4-H to raise money for local kids. The event was completely free. There was rock painting, a petting zoo, a bounce house, free balloons, free popcorn, country music, a gun re-enactment, horse rides, roping lessons, goat milking (yes, goat milking), and fortune telling! This was all free and lots of fun......and it was very hot!

Little man with his faithful steed.

Little Man takes his hand at goat milking!

And now Junior......

Here's the no-name 10 day old baby goat (it's called a Kid, kids.....)

Baby Girl enjoyed petting the Kid.

On the FREE hayride....

Ride 'em cowgirl!

and cowboy.....

Does he still have it?

Oh....look! A target! Nope that's just Junior....

Missed! Better luck next time Hubby......

You can see how exciting the bouce house was....it was VERY hot. The heat and the sun makes us very tired!

There were real horses, but every time we tried to ride them they were taking a break or there was too long of a wait. It was really hot outside! Here's "Cowboy" looking like....well....a cowboy! :)

Baby girl didn't care if it was real or not----she was very happy to have a balloon and kept a death grip on it!

There was a gunfight re-enactment. These actors were shooting REAL guns with black powder blanks. They went over gun safety and how children should never never touch a gun. Bullets either.

"New" Stuff!

It would seem that our little girl is growing----after spending nearly a year in 18-24 month clothing, it is clear that it is time to move up to "toddler clothes". I got out the big bin of 2T clothes we have set aside for her and was surprised to find all sorts of little things that I had packed away for her. We bought new jammies last year on clearance and lot of shirts and pants. Baby Girl was most interested in the "puffy" coat that I got for $5 on clearance after Christmas last year. She also was fascinated with new-to-her dress shoes.And sandals....

"Tryin on all this stuff is EXHAUSTING!"

She was pretty please with her "new bed".

Watching a little "wee-bee" (TV) before bed......I just love these jammies. I'm going to be sad to see them go!