Tanner...what can I say?

One of these days he's totally going to embarrass me - in the grocery store, or church, or school - but for now, when it's at home - it's just down right funny:

Tanner and Dad are sitting on the couch, each at opposite ends.

Tanner: Dad, do you smell any gas?
Dad: No.
Tanner: I do.
Tanner moves right next to Dad.
Tanner: Dad, do you smell gas now?
Dad: Yes.....(gross look on his face)
Tanner: I farted (evil grin and laugh)

I blame his father.

Ringing in 2009...

...ok, more like whispering in 2009. Our New Year's Eve proved quite uneventful and very quiet! We didn't even watch the ball drop! I was actually in bed reading (an awesome book, btw!) when 2008 became 2009. Jeremy was at the kitchen table working on his laptop and said, Happy New Year, to which I replied, Happy New Year. We didn't even kiss. LOL We're so old. Or maybe we're just boring.

We usually do up New Years here in our home - and this year, while maybe more subdued, we still had a good time! Yesterday, we munched on Rice Krispie treats shaped into flowers, butterflies, circles, teddy bears, stars and hearts. We also had quesadillas...mmmmm...
The kids each received two shirts/sweaters this year. Hunter got a Star Wars Clone Wars long sleeve tee and zip hoodie. Tanner got a Star Wars Clone Wars long sleeve tee and Alvin & the Chipmunks long sleeve tee (Tanner LOVES Alvin & the Chipmunks movie!). Lizzie got a sparkly pink sweater w/ hood and a Tinkerbell long sleeve tee. (can you tell I love long sleeve tees?) Today, Daddy surprised us by getting Hunter a Remote Control monster truck, Lizzie an Easy Bake Oven and Tanner a giant mac truck with hot wheels type cars and a new Indiana Jones sword! It's been fun!! We also surprised the kids with movie tickets to Disney's Bedtime Stories. A fun, CLEAN movie!

All in all - a great start to the New Year!!!
Happy New Year to all!!

New Year's Resolutions

I think I make some New Years Resolutions every year - that I don't follow. One year it was getting birthday cards to family members - ON time. I think that lasted until like May. Ummm...I'm sure that I've made countless others over the years that I've never kept, some not even until Jan. 2.

I had thought I would swear off drinking pop. Yeah....no. I do want to stop drinking it. But I think I'll doom myself if I make it a resolution. That was all I had come up with until last night. Now I have an entire list of things. But I'm hoping that these *resolutions* become life-style changes.

OK - here goes:

This first one is something I've always said I would do, but never have. I think I started it once MANY years ago, but didn't finish it. 1. Read through the Bible in a year. I've been terrible about reading my Bible - at all. I'm hoping that getting on this schedule will help make it a habit in the future. On the same line, 2. Read: Passionate Housewives, Desperate for God, Love & Respect w/ companion books, and the Purpose Driven Life. I plan to blog about each of these books as well - as I'm reading them. One BIG one is 3. KEEP MY HOUSE CLEAN!!! I could write another entire lengthy post on this, but I won't.
On a physical note, I want to 4. Lose 50 pounds! And to help me do that: 5. Drink 64 ounces of water EVERY DAY! To keep up the weight loss and water intake, I plan to 6. Go to the gym at least 3x per week!

I'm counting on you - my 4 faithful readers (yes, I do believe the numbers have gone up! LOL) - to keep me accountable!! And to pray for me as well! The first 3 are the most important to me. I really want to improve my life - which involves all 6, but if I can get those first 3 going, I think it will help me with the last three!

Happy New Year!!

Vinegar and Water...

it will cure what ails ya! It will also cure what ails a 5 year old little girl! And not in a fun way.

All together now: awww....poor Lizzie!!!


Carry on.

New Pictures and Video

If you check out dropshots you'll see pictures of our LOVELY snow storm....kids had a blast playing in it (ok, we did too!). Also, check out the videos of Wii playing!!

You'll find them in the Albums labled Winter Storm 08 and Fun with the Wii.

Enjoy!

Somewhere in the Middle

It's not often that I get to choose the music thats played in the van...the kids are usually always in control! LOL I'm lucky that they like all the same music as me (could be b/c that's all they've ever heard!) We definitely have the "kiddie" music - but it's all christian, so it still works out for me! Their favorites are mine - Casting Crowns, Gaither Vocal Band, Third Day, Natalie Grant, etc.

What I find, however, is that I don't often get to LISTEN to these songs. They're often interrupted by all the typical vehicle chatter: turn around, put your feet down, stop being mean to him, "don't make me come back there" (ok, I really don't use that one, but it seemed appropriate to add that here!). Anyway...

I was actually alone in the van waiting for Hunter and Lizzie to get out of school, so I was actually able to LISTEN to these lyrics. I've heard this song before..LOTS, but never took the time to LISTEN to the entire song. WOW!! Casting Crowns songs have always had wonderful messages...and this one is no exception. I found myself in this song way more than I'd like to admit. So as you read these lyrics - pray for me. I don't want to be Somewhere in the Middle - and I am.

Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans ***
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves

Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side
oving me even on these nights when I'm caught in the middle,
caught in the middle

***this line really speaks to me. Do we really make our plans according to our faith? Yes, I do. And that just tells me that I don't have enough faith!

If you happen to hear

a loud bang (yes, even as far away as Kentucky and Oklahoma!), that's just my head exploding.

That is all.