River Rats

Jared, Mackenzi, Taylor and Maci
Out in 100+ temperatures!

Yesterday after a week long of BEGGING and persuasion I caved and allowed the kids to have a Kool-Aid stand. They made their own sign, I got the drinks ready and Angie provided the ice and cups. I explained to them that I wasn't going to help them go through all the work for them to be out there for 15 minutes. In the past no matter what the activity, they normally complain about the heat or whatever to come back inside. They set up shop and I have to admit I was definitely proven wrong. They ended up going around the neighborhood advertising their goods and selling $10 worth of drinks. Impressive! And..... stayed outside for 2 hours. Nice. You couldn't have paid me to sit out there in the scorching temps! Hey and just look our black table found another use.

Driving on my street.
Look how high the water is!

Today couldn't have been more opposite. Due to Tropical Storm Erin hitting Corpus Christi yesterday it has decided to park itself right over San Antonio. We have literally gotten dumped on with rain today. Luckily we didn't have too many outings today. Driving in the rain and getting in and out of a car with 4 kids just isn't a good combination. My friend who cuts our hair happens to live just down the street and was able to trim Taylor's hair at the last minute.

Taylor's new haircut

Our weather has certainly been strange today. There are moments when sheets and sheets of rain come down. My kids thought it was pure bliss to run out in it. No thanks! As you can see it is up to their ankles just on our street. Crazy! I really can't complain about the rain because my grass was becoming a bit crunchy so I welcomed it with open arms :)

Within just a few minutes, seriously it let up and the sun broke through the clouds. Bizzare. The little boys seemed to brave out on the street once the rain stopped. Luke's comment was so funny today. When we opened the garage he said with excitement, "Mom oh my gosh look there is a wiver in front of our house!" Who needs a pool or any other form of entertainment when you have puddles to run through?

running through the river in the front yard

The big finale of SYTYCD is on, I am beyond excited for 7pm to come. And in other news, Kelly A. has decided to take a spontaneous day trip to San Antonio for Chuy's. Hopefully the weather will cooperate so we can enjoy a nice visit. Should be fun!

good deed: read scriptures with the kids.

Puddles Of Mud

As most of you know, I am in the thick of Harry Potter and I just can't seem to read it fast enough. It's definitely a page turner. Unfortunately I think I have some sort of reading disorder because after about 35 pages I am out like a light! At any rate, I don't think I recall just reading or not doing "anything" for sometime. It has been extremely nice that Doug has been home the month of July. Once August starts, it will be a different story. Needless to say I am soaking up every ounce I can!

view of neighborhood via taylor

Today the sun broke out for a few hours just enough to enjoy a few hours at the water park. If you looked out the window now you would have never known. It has been raining or pouring I should say ALL afternoon. Perfect reading weather eh?

card from lucy

The good mail keeps trickling in and it feels like Christmas at my mailbox! I am saving all of my opening until Friday and will reveal it for the big day. A big advance thank you for all of those who have sent sweet cards and packages my way! I also received a nice thank you card from Lucy.

And just in case those concerned about the "absence" of mom around. I seem to think the family is doing just fine. Doug made dinner, yes AGAIN. Taylor also came up with a FHE program with a great lesson....... I am off to wizardry and the dark arts of magic. Hmmm I may have to take reading up more often. :)

good deed: Sunday read Ensign message
good deed: took the kids to six flags.

Spoiled

You can barely tell from this photo I took looking out my bedroom window, but it has been pouring rain since about 6am this morning. It doesn't look any better tomorrow since the clouds are reported to be "stationary" Quite honestly, I am feeling a bit like the weather. I feel like my body is trying to fight off some sort of flu. I crashed around 8:30pm after taking two cold medicine pills. I wasn't even able to keep my eyes open to see all the SYTYCD. Of course it never fails, I awoke several times throughout the night. I do this everytime I take medicine. Annoying.

Feeling crappy, I couldn't even manage to pull myself together until about 3pm today. I layed in bed ALL morning. It made me realize how spoiled I have become with things in my life. For starters, the sun. It has been raining for 23 straight days on and off. That's a whole lotta rain for Texas!! I didn't realize how much I depend on the weather until things I normally do are hindered by it. (swimteam and my exercise didn't happen today) Let alone really have the motivation to drag kids out in it. Each time I talk with my grandma, she expresses how wonderful it would be to have rain. I guess living in AZ you would welcome any sort of drop in temperature. I am sure I will be eating my words about rain a year from now.

Doug, Erik, and Flo
Father's Day Morning 4:30am

Unfortunately, rain has caused a delay in several airports along the Northeast. Normally I wouldn't even care but today a delay means more time for my poor husband to sit at an airport. His flight from Maine has been delayed several hours along with his connecting flight back home. I think we get spoiled with the transportation means we have living in our country. What? A delay....come on! At any rate I am still hopeful that he will make it home before midnight. I have been anticipating this day for the past 2 weeks. And the other bummer is while he was there at his study course his computer crashed on him due to some virus in the internet world @$@$! Doug has decided that was the last PC he will ever own.

I have also realize how spoiled I am into having such a supportive, helpful husband. Doug may be gone on call, off and on, but he rarely goes out of town. These past 13 days haven't been terrible, but not having him around for bedtime rituals, dinner, and just as a companion has been tough. I don't know how several of you do 6 weeks or even months at a time flying solo. I can only imagine how hard it is! I hate to appear like a wet blanket, (truely how I feel) but now I know exactly why I should be grateful for so many things. What I would do to feel healthy today! I think I have realized how spoiled I really am.

good deed: read scriptures with the kids.

Changing Gears

I had high hopes for washing the cars today, cleaning the outside windows and letting the kids play outside on the slip and slide. The reality of that was crushed when I woke up to lightening and thundering. This meant no swimteam this morning. I managed to get a quick run in before the rain began to fall. So we changed our plans and decided to turn to a more "rainy" day schedule.

Last night the older girls wanted a sleep over which caused crying and whining from Maci and Jared. "They never get sleepovers!!" I made them a deal and stopped off a blockbuster to rent a movie and told Maci she could sleep on the floor in Taylor's room. They were tickled pink. This morning they have already been camping in the bedroom with all the blankets. The more I think about it, it's comical seeing my boys inside of a barbie tent. But you use what you have right?

Taylor and Mackenzi were on the computer. How odd. Ha. We discovered last night the power of instant messaging on our email accounts. Taylor couldn't resist typing messages to dad, when he was SUPPOSED to be studying. :)

Weston and Luke are my big helpers. In fact, they fight over who gets to put away the silverware when unloading the dishwasher. Jeesh. Today Luke was playing, so Weston got to do it what he says, "all by myself" We are getting more and more dependent it seems these days. Well, it seems to be lunch time I am off to dish up some homemade pizza crusts. My kids favorite!


good deed: balanced the checkbook.