Picture This!!

2012-01-31T13:35:00.001-06:00

Test post from phone.

Day 7 In the Shadow of the Cross

2012-01-17T09:38:00.002-06:00

I was driving to the Christian school to pick up JJ and was listening to the radio.

As I was driving along, I glanced up and saw this amazing shadow. It even took me a minute

to really figure out where the actual shadow came from.

I pulled over into a parking lot so I could take a picture.

Hannalee was in the backseat and of course, like she always does,

asked what I was doing. If you're on the phone she asks who was it, what are they doing and

what did they say. We just laugh!

So of course as I pulled over in the random parking lot she asked what I was doing.

I pointed out the shadow on top of the building and asked her what it was.

She said, "A CROSS!" It's Jesus' cross!"

Priceless.

AND...the other part of the story was the song on the radio.

I dont know this song, but I've got to find it again because about the only phrase I heard,

at the same time I'm pulled over taking this picture was the phrase,

"in the shadow of the cross."

Good job, God!

Psalm 63:7

"Because you are my help,

I sing in the shadow of your wings."

Day 6 Dad's Day at WOCS

2012-01-13T15:31:00.001-06:00

The dad's were invited to come to JJ's school today to tell about their careers. We had been talking about this earlier in the week and JJ asked Dusty, "Dad...what do the students call you at school?" Dusty said he would tell him when he talks to the class. It's not a secret...Mr. Cloud. Just thought it was cute that JJ asked.

Dusty read a story to them...I mean...he teaches kindergareten after all! What else do you do when you're a kindergarten teacher and you visit your sons kindergarten class?!

Genesis 2:3 NIV

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.

Day 5 Will there be a confession stand?

2012-01-13T15:25:00.001-06:00

We were going to a basketball game to watch the 4th and 5th graders from the Clinton campus. The game was at Canute....about 10 minutes from Elk City. We left right after school and JJ was saying how hungry he was. Well..I wasn't too worried about it. He gets 2 snacks at school everday. While were driving he was still saying that he was hungry and was wanting a snack. We were almost at the ballgame and close to the gym. Then JJ said, "Mom, I'm so hungry. Are they going to have a confession stand at the game?" WHAT??? Dusty and I looked at each other and cracked up!! We laughed out loud!! It was priceless. We explained what "confession" was... it's even funnier because their Bible truth for this month is "truthfulness." I think he's getting the right idea about confession and truthfulness this month...just got a little confused! :) Cute.

And yes...there was a CONCESSION stand at the ball game. He ate Laffy Taffy. Green.

Day 4 Hats on Day at WOCS

2012-01-13T15:12:00.003-06:00

Today was "Hats on Day" at JJ's school. They had to pay at least $2.00 to have the privilege of wearing a hat to school today.

This is taken from the website at the Foundation for Children with Cancer:

What is Hats On Day?

Hats On Day was founded in 1995 by four sixth-graders in St. Louis, Missouri. They began the fundraiser when their friend and classmate Kevin Beffa was diagnosed with a type of childhood cancer called Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Kevin had been a bright, happy child with a passion for soccer. When he got sick, he began to miss school, had to give up his favorite sport, and lost all of his hair from treatment. Kevin also needed a bone marrow transplant, so Hats On Day was planned to show support for Kevin during his suffering and to raise money for his surgery. However, just days before the event, Kevin passed away.

The founders have continued in Kevin’s memory with the aim of creating awareness about children undergoing chemotherapy and related issues like hair loss, illness, and missing school. From 1995 to 2008, the fundraiser has grown from just a few participating schools to schools across the country. The funds raised are used to make young cancer patients’ daily lives more comfortable as they deal with this disease. When you participate in Hats On Day, you make life happier for children with cancer and show compassion for the many difficulties young cancer patients face.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to host Hats On Day! But you can host the event anytime throughout the school year.
Hats On Day has grown to be one of the most influential and profitable fund-raisers among school age children, raising over $1,000,000 in the past 10 years.

This is a picture of some of the kids from JJ's school that wore their hats!

Day 3 JJ's new report card

2012-01-13T14:58:00.000-06:00

Well...this is just for JJ and for someday to show him how hard he worked in kindergarten at the new Christian school! His grades for the first quarter were "S" but now...he thinks its cool to have a "REAL" A+!!! And not just one of them!!! We are proud of your hard work and heart JJ Reed! I'm proud that there is a "Bible" grade....worth every penny!

What Mrs. Dungan wrote: JJ continues to be a positive role leader. He is a delight to have in class!

Thank you, Mrs. Dungan!

Day 2 Hannalee asleep upside down

2012-01-13T14:44:00.003-06:00

Because back to school after over 2 week off for Christmas vacation just wore us all out!! She was so tired and had missed a nap that she just wasn't going to give up nap easily! When she finally did, this is where and how...upside down practically, on the big red chairs by the fireplace. Snoring. :)

We tell her sometimes that we love her to the moon and back. She's started saying, "I love you in my room." or "I love you more than my baby doll." too cute!

I love you to the moon and back a million times, Hannalee!

Genesis 37:9 NIV

Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."

First post of 2012!

2012-01-13T14:36:00.002-06:00

Well...sigh. I just didn't know if I'd blog again this year. But my BOOK from last years blog just came in the mail!! I LOVE IT!! IT'S THE BEST!!

Now...I've got to catch up because that book was worth every penny!!! It really has just simply become my scrapbook! Soooo....here I am frantically trying to play catch up with the year and the pics I've already taken! I'm posting today pics that I have on my iphone and laptop...because...the iMac is well....upside down on my desk and NOT WORKING. Don't ask. don't even ask. All I wanted to do was to upgrade my RAM so the STOOPID thing would run and work faster. Well...so much for that! I started this project December 12. Today is January 13th. It. Doesn't. Work.

So...laptop it is!

Here are a few pics to share:

The first thing that happened this year was that JJ turned 6. But alas--THOSE pics are on the iMac. ARGH! At least....I hope they are still there. I hope. I hope. I hope! That's another post.

Smack dab in the middle of winter...it's 60 degrees outside. JJ (who loves to go to rodeos--only to have snacks, play in the sleeping part of the trailer--never to ride a horse) actually asked to ride Bear (the older than me horse) on his own. He had it in his head that he wanted to ride. So of course Papa Jerry saddled everything up! Hannalee got to ride with Aunt Kimmie and Papa Jerry!

1 Kings 20:25 NIV

You must also raise an army like the one you lost--horse for horse and chariot for chariot--so we can fight Israel on the plains. Then surely we will be stronger than they. He agreed with them and acted accordingly.

Day 151 Christmas Eve at Home and Weatherford

2012-01-01T18:42:00.001-06:00

After we opened presents with the Clouds we came home and opened presents here and then we to my folks in Weatherford.

We were going to be away from our house on Christmas Eve

so we left a note for Santa on our door asking if he would

please bring our presents to Meme's house.

Shew! He did!!!

Sprinkling out Reindeer Oats!!

Hannalee did NOT want to do this...at all! She cried???!! :)

cookies and milk left for Santa at Meme and Papa John's house--

note--those are "Great Sally cookies" that we decorated. :)

Thank you all for a wonderful year and Christmas!

We love you all very much and are grateful to God for your love and friendship!!

With Love,

The Clouds

Day 150 Random and Christmas Eve at Clouds

2012-01-01T18:12:00.000-06:00

Well....with 365 days in a year....I didn't quite blog everyday. But I'd say I did pretty good overall. I'm going to upload some last minute pictures from Christmas and such so I can close out this past year's blog from 2011. I'm going to print this blog again like I did last year and have it made into a book. It will cost an arm and a leg but it will be a great scrapbook! Thanks for reading!

Happy New Year!!! May the Lord bless you deeply this year in 2012! May you live out His will for your life and have the courage to do it grandly and with the glory to Him!

I was a blue crayon. His yellow shirt was a "post it note"

His "post it note said: I love blue!"

Halloween Festival...she was in a huge bubble and blew it to pop it and get out!

cousin Halle finally came to visit...from Quatar!!!!!

What joy!

Wyatt got his own baby brother...with a real expecting to come this spring!

Always happy to have a new truck!

Niece Kelsey and Me

(she just turned 16 and got a new red HHR!!!)

We got to hide it in our garage and she found it there after we sent her

on a scavenger hunt all over town!!

Day 147 A Surprise Semi Truck RIDE for JJ!!!

2011-12-30T21:13:00.002-06:00

Well, if you know my kid, you know that this has been the year of the semi trucks. We've had a year of Barney, a couple of 2-3 years of John Deere tractor stuff (still love it too!), a year of monster trucks, and now this year it's been all about semi trucks.

So they've been working on this house next door. Literally for a year. See last January posts where I wrote about JJ getting to ride in the scraper/bulldozer while they were doing dirt work....a year ago next week. Today...they finished putting in 8 semi loads (yes...8...I swear!...OUR yard has 1 semi load of sod we rolled out...and it's an acre. YOU do the math!!!

Anyway....we have watched and watched as semi after semi has been here over the course of 2 week with skid steers to roll out sod. JJ has watched and watched....and dug in our flower bed at the same time while watching. Too cute. Bless his heart...he needs dirt under his nails just to be happy! :)

As I was leaving the house yesterday I saw the driver of the semi getting out...I saw an opportunity!! I stopped in the middle of the road after pulling out from our drive, rolled down my window, made some comment about HOW. MUCH. SOD. they've rolled out there. The I just flat out asked the guy, "any chance you'd give a ride in your truck to a 5 year old little boy about to turn 6 on Monday for a surprise birthday treat? We are having a "semi truck" birthday party. (just in case you're wondering....no you don't find any decorations with that as a theme....I've made our own invitations and am even making JJ a tshirt with "his own logo" on it for "JJ's Trucking"!) So, he said he wouldn't be around that day but would be back here again tomorrow and could ride with him to his next job from here. I was excited!!!! I had really wished a semi could come on his actual bday and give hi and all his friends a ride at the party. But I thought that was pushing it a bit. I was happy with him getting his own ride.

The truck showed up next door to finish working...and we've never mentioned a word of this to JJ. When the driver, Mr Stan, came over to talk to JJ he asked if his mom was here. He came and got me and then said if I still wanted him to ride he was ready! I told JJ what we were doing and by the look on his face....I wasn't even sure if he was scared, very surprised, excited or nervous....after talking to him about it tonight....it was ALL of those! :)

So, Stan and Buddy, and guys from Western Oklahoma Sod...thanks for the semi ride. I hope he'll always remember it!

BUT!!! Here's the funny thing about JJ and semi's....clear up until I was at least 10...if not 12?....I waned to be a truck driver when I grew up! There was a show in the early 80's (yes..you can figure my age here) called "BJ and the Bear"....he had a red semi and traveled with a monkey. My parents were really worried for a long time that I would really but a truck driver when I grew up. I never was. Just traveled enough to be one. Maybe JJ will just have the traveling spirit in him too! :)

Sister didn't get to ride....just in the "chase car" with mom and dad!

When JJ and all of the workers got out of the truck, Buddy--Stan's son--?

said, "He grinned from ear to ear the whole time."

Such a silly thing...but made my eyes swell up...just because he was happy!

We love you JJ!

Day 146 "THE" Christmas Cookies

2011-12-17T16:07:00.002-06:00

Well....it started out as going to see Santa...then it turned into all of us going to dinner, one spending the night with us...looking at lights...that turned into 2 extra cousins going with us to look at lights then it turned into 4 kids total, looking at lights, watching the Polar Express (twice), and all sleeping over...all of that to finally arrive at making sugar cookies and decorating them this morning. The house is ALMOST cleaned up. Last toad of dishes in the washer...and I've not showered for the day. It's 3:20pm. It might happen today. And then again....it might not! :) JJ is at a party....Hannalee and I went to jog around the track at the park and Dusty is resting. I've got 30 minutes to myself to: blog, work on a present, put away dishes, put away laundry, nap and shower myself. Hum...guess I'll blog! ;) Just for you Aunt Sally!

Well...its now 8:15...I've finally showered and kids are in bed! Here's the pics from our cookie decorating party!

Day 146 Great Sally's Christmas Sugar Cookies

2011-12-16T21:02:00.002-06:00

Well today was the day! MY WHOLE LIFE my Aunt Sally has always had THE Christmas sugar cookies. If you'd been good that year, you got cookies. If not....bummer for you because no one is going to share theirs with you.  AT. ALL. In fact...we will hide them from you. Never tell you we received them. And eat them in secret! But this year...this year just might be different!!

Aunt Sally came to my very own house from Weatherford (about 45 minutes away) and gave me one easy lesson and helped me make my own dough!!! I just wish it were like Friendship starter bread dough...you make your own and then it just lasts!  :)

We've all had copies of the recipe for "Sally's Christmas Cookies" over the years but my whole life we have sworn that she does something different to the ingredients than what is listed on the recipe. She brought the book today to prove....that no, really, there is no secret ingredient! I saw it with my own eyes...no secret. And yes...the recipe is written on a piece of paper that is nearly as old as I am. I learned today that maybe...just maybe the secret is in the process. Mix this first. Sift that here with that. Add this all slowly. Maybe...just maybe that will allow me to make my own batch.

So now I have seen her make the dough. I've made it with the "Real Sugar Cookie Queen" in my own house and have 2 batches in my fridge...waiting. Chiling. Ready to used (and eaten) tomorrow morning! We haven't nibble on it since it's been in there! At all! But as I'm typing this I'm thinking..."oooohh! cookie dough!"

The rest of the story I have to tell is that when I was about 9 years old I asked Aunt Sally if she was going to be baking some pies. Yes...she said. I asked if she was making them at Grandma Smalley's house. Yes...she said. Can I help you, I asked. Yes...she said. The rest of the story is that 9 pie crusts later....there was FLOUR EVERYWHERE. We were literally wearing it...all over us and all over Grandma Smalley's house. Just today with Aunt Sally (my kids call her Great Sally) re-telling me the story she said that she could remember Grandma (Toots--some called her that!) came walking down the hall, saw the disaster of flour in the kitchen that we had made, nearly had a cow and turned around and walked away. All the while, Aunt Sally promising that yes indeed we would clean up the kitchen...and ourselves! :)    Thanks Great Sally!!! Thanks for holding that memory for me!

Oops! Great Sally caught me!

THIS is why I "should" be out running! ;)

PS ....me and 4 kids all just had a spoonful of cookie dough! Yep...its good!

THANKS GREAT SALLY! Just sorry you'll miss the mess of actually MAKING and ICING the cookies! :) With 4 kids under the age of 7!!!!

Day 145 Santa at the park!

2011-12-16T20:39:00.001-06:00

We finally went and saw Santa at his workshop at the park tonight! Poor JJ just couldn't stand waiting so we finally HAD to go tonight...because in his sweet world if you don't tell Santa what you want...well, you know! ;) We missed riding our local "Polar Express" train ride with Santa this year. I cried when he realized it and I felt SO bad. He was heart broken and I felt horribl!! But he was first in line tonight to tell Santa what he wanted...."a dirt truck semi." It will sure haul a lot of dirt, Santa said! :) Hannalee......well...she CRIED!!!! She saw Santa from a far while they were sitting on a sleigh taking pictures. She efven yelled out "hey, Santa!" But when we were in line and JJ and Kennedy were talking to Santa...she was shaking, hiding, crying and all but screaming about NOT wanting to get any closer than she already was! She wanted nothing to do any of it! JJ has had to tell Santa for two years now what his sister wants! Bless her heart! He told him about the puppy like Kenney's.

Two cousin/best friends are spending the night after looking at CHRISTmas lights. They are playing babies, puppies and watching the Polar Express. In the morning we will make some Christmas cookies from the dough that Great Sally helped us make! (See next post about THAT!)

Day 144 Wee School Christmas program and party

2011-12-16T20:31:00.001-06:00

Twice a week (when she's not at Rainbow Lane) Hannalee goes to our church preschool. It's great and she loves it! A couple of her friends from Rainbow Lane are in her class here too.

At her Thanksgiving program she barely (never really) looked up at even me the whole time and never sang a word of her songs. Sooooo the opposite of how JJ ever has been! He's a ham and LOVES to stand in front of people and sing/perform. He's never been shy like that. But Hannalee did a GREAT job this time! She smiled and waved at me and did a great job singing in her class!

Thanks Hannalee for having such a sweet heart! We love you! You did a great job!

Day 143 Hannalee's Open House at Rainbow Lane

2011-12-16T20:24:00.002-06:00

Hannalee is in the Yellow Class at Rainbow Lane this year. I'm her teacher! Well...one of them. It takes about 5-6 of us to teach our friends.....the 3 year old are in 3 classes. Yellow. Orange and Purple. The 4 year olds are in Blue and Red and the 5's are in Green. Get it....rainbow colors....for the classes at Rainbow Lane?! Pretty clever. Hannalee has been on the list to go to preschool here since she was....oh,....about 6 months old. There is a waiting list every year for and there are even kids on a list to start school here for the year 2014. Yes....2014!

She had her open house last week and of course meme, papa John and nana and papa Jerry all paraded through with us to look at all of her special projects she had made to show us! We had to guess which picture on a wall was her self-portrait. Pretty hard to do....but if we had first seen the letter "H" written on her picture we would have known it was hers right away.

Then we saw her Christmas wreath and handprints all cut out. She had done marble painting on squares and they were turned into presents under a tree. We watched a slide show of the pictures throughout the semester and we found her "stocking" that was hung by the chiminey with care. She made a reindeer cutout, a Christmas tree from paper and named what made her happy: "horses." No surprise there! There she told her teachers that she was asking Santa for a "puppy dog like Kennedy's" for Christmas and that her favorite thing at Rainbow Lane is reading books. I was hoping she'd say "her mommy" but that's ok....I'm glad its books! I love you, Hannalee and I'm glad you like school!

Day 142 My Daddy's 70th Birthday

2011-12-11T19:51:00.001-06:00

Dear Daddy,

Thanks for all you do for all of us all the time!

We couldn't do what we do without you

and wouldn't be who we are without you either!

Love you lots!

Your Sweet Daughter

Day 141 Putting up our CHRISTmas tree

2011-12-11T12:53:00.001-06:00

Every year we buy the kids a new ornament....

this year Hannalee got a horse and JJ got a green race car

(only because I didn't find a semi-truck).

We also got ornaments from our vacation at the cabin

in Creede, Colorado.

JJ was in charge of The Star

Dancing with Daddy to Christmas music!

And...there are still no presents under our tree...

Just the Nativity and baby Jesus....the real reason we celebrate

CHRISTmas!

Day 140 Cake Pops!

2011-12-11T08:26:00.001-06:00

Over two months ago Meme brought us a Cake Pop kit....pans and chocolates and sprinkles included!

We finally made them! What fun!!!

It didn't take as long as we thought it would but we were short one necessary utensil....

a piece of styrofoam to stand them up in!!!

So we rigged up the cookie sheet over the sink.

Good....effective enough...but a mess to get in the fridge!

OH MY!

They were yummy!

Thanks, Meme!

Bring on Great Sally....we are ready for COOKIES!!!!

Day 139 Nana's Christmas Tree

2011-12-10T14:38:00.001-06:00

It was Nana's turn to put Christmas stuff up....she had a lot of little helper Elves to decorate. It was quite the sight to see! :)

Looks a little "Charlie Brown-ish" but it's good!

Day 138 Putting Up Our Snow Village

2011-12-10T14:18:00.001-06:00

JJ has been asking since the day after Thanksgiving to put up our Snow Village.

Our outside Christmas lights went right up so I had to finally (and quickly)

put away all of our fall decorations so I could make room for the Christmas stuff!

One day after school we were finally ready to put up our first Christmas decorations!

JJ loves the snow village. It's a collection of churches, and houses, and of

course "Santa's Workshop" that all light up. One house is a ski chalet that was my

Grandmother Smalley's and was alway in her snow village.

Thanks JJ for always wanting to have fun!

I love you!

Day 137 Hannalee's Favorite Outfit

2011-12-10T14:14:00.001-06:00

She will wear short all winter.....with leggings, boots and any "jewelry" she can find! Of course she loves playing with her baby dolls right now. They are never too far away!
I love you, sweet Princess!

Day 137 Tied own shoe

2011-12-10T14:04:00.000-06:00

Finally!! After much practice and practice

(and after making him wear tennis shoes and NOT boots)

he can finally tie his own shoes!

He was so excited and so proud of himself!

He said, "Now Camden won't have to tie my shoes!"

And...when he got to school today, he got to be the

"SHOE SHERIF!"

Anyone that needed their shoes tied went to JJ for help!

Too cute!

Day 136 Daddy Date @ Dove

2011-11-19T23:10:00.000-06:00

Just because......a Saturday afternoon lunch date with Daddy at The Country Dove...well, daddy really wanted Creamy Potato Soup. Mommy will take just Hannalee back someday and "have tea!"

Love you oodles, Hannalee!

Day 135 Very First Book it Award @ Pizza Hut

2011-11-19T23:08:00.000-06:00

Well....I wasn't sure it would happen before he graduated....reading that is. For a boy that really would rather work like a farm/ranch hand, or play with semis and tractors in the dirt, I wasn't sure we'd ever get him to learn how to read! A bit exaggerated I know...but he's SUCH A BOY!!!! :)

In the month of October he earned his very first Book It Award from Pizza Hut. They are only good for a month so we took him out to eat tonight! What a fun treat and reward! Way to go JJ! Way to go WOCS and Mrs. Duggan and that A Beka Curriculum! Woot!

Day 135 It's a "Wonder-Full" Life

2011-11-19T09:30:00.000-06:00

Last night was JJ's Thanksgiving/Christmas program for Western Oklahoma Christian School. The prek and K kids from all three campuses did Thanksgiving stuff and the kids from the Clinton campus in 1st-6th grades did a Christmas program.

JJ did a great job....he's such a performer...I can't imagine where he gets it from??! :) He was handsome, spoke out loud and proud and made us and God proud! His school (all 14 of them) spelled out the word T-H-A-N-K-S-G-I-V-I-N-G and had a poem to go with each word. JJ had the letter "N".... "N is for neighbors, across the street and over seas." Then they sang 2 short songs about Thanksgiving.

We love you JJ Reed! And we think your group of friends here at this school are just awesome!

Day 134 Hannalee at Wee school

2011-11-17T17:10:00.000-06:00

Well.....she's not the "ham" the JJ has always been. She never opened her mouth to sing a word and barely (not really at all) even looked up to see me there. But she looked cute!

Day 133 Hannalee Dancing with Daddy

2011-11-17T17:06:00.000-06:00

It was Saturday morning and we had been cleaning house. Dusty turned on some music and picked up her and started dancing! Too precious!!

Thanks for being a good daddy to our sweet girl!

Day 132 First Lost TEETH!

2011-11-14T07:35:00.000-06:00

Well....they had been "wiggly" for over 6 weeks! Yes...6 weeks!

He never touched them to loosen them up. He would hardly let us even LOOK

at the loose tooth. Then next thing you know the NEW tooth is already coming in

and the baby tooth is still there...barely loose after 6 weeks.

He was scared really. But we had to go to the dentist because the other teeth

were coming in.

Lesson learned...after $483...I"ll pull them myself next time! ARGH!!

That was ridiculous that I even paid that much. I could

hardly write the check.

Time for a new dentist you think??!!

But the tooth fairy came...only after he asked if "she" was real or it was really just a mom or dad.

Without my heart breaking I said what any mother would,

"What do you think?"

He thought she was real. I left it at that.

So we put the tooth under the pillow and the next day was so excited,

$6 and a "MOM! She's real! The tooth fairy is real!"

It was sweet. The money is in his piggy bank....saving for (another!) semi I'm sure.

We love you JJ.

Thanks for being such a sweet boy and so grown up!

Day 131 Meme and Papa's house

2011-11-12T14:20:00.000-06:00

We went to see my folks...

the night before a cousin fixed Hannalee's hair like this and I let her sleep in it and just re did it the next morning.

Very cute!

The kids had fun playing with each other.

then before we ever left the house for church,

JJ fell asleep on Papa John.

It was too precious!

Day 130 Halloween

2011-11-12T14:10:00.000-06:00

JJ was an army man. Our friend Aiden had the costume just for dress up play and JJ wanted to be that very thing. So we just borrowed it and waalaaa...we had a costume. Hannalee was a cinderella princess at Rainbow Lane (picture to be found later) and then for Wee School and Trick or Treating she was a Candy Corn Princess. Oh! JJ found a Woody costume to play dress up at school. But they don't have Halloween parties...it was just to play in. funny!

I was a blue crayon costume that we wear at Rainbow Lane and Dusty wore a yellow shirt to be a Post It note. I tried to talk him into being a crayon with me. Then JJ very cleverly said, "dad, you should just be a piece of paper!" haahaha! Very clever JJ!!

Day 129 Just Playing with cousins

2011-11-12T14:02:00.000-06:00

Mommie did Miss Elk City pageant stuff all weekend and you kids

stayed home with daddy. Kennedy and Kaden got to come over and play

for a very long time today.

Then tonight, you got to go to their house and stay for a very long time while

daddy and cousin Kelsey came to watch the pageant.

You are all such good friends and love each other very much!

Day 128 Miss America 1981 Susan Powell

2011-10-20T23:04:00.000-05:00

Susan Powell is from Elk City and was Miss America in 1981. I was 11. Yes...that means that now I am 41. I'll do the math for you! :)

This weekend we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Miss Elk City pageant...nooooo, I'm not a pageant girl, never have been, never will be. Not that 's there's anything wrong with that. But I am on the board as a member this year. They asked and I said yes. Little did I know HOW MUCH TIME it was going to take! sigh....

So Susan came back to Elk City to do a private fundraiser concert tonight and will host/emcee the pageant on Saturday night. (7:00..tickets $10 at door or at The Vogue). Tonight the tickets were $400 a couple! I know! But people were there and people came! It was great! Very fun! NO, I didn't pay that...see above statement about being a board member. :)

So I've had this pillow since I was 11 that was autographed by Susan in 1981. I still have it. My aunt had it made for me and did all of it! My mother still had the pillow in my room somewhere. I had her dig it out for me. So there I was..at the Cabaret..with this pillow in my purse! I was determined to ask Susan if she would sign the other side of the pillow for my little 3 year old, Hannalee!! We all ooooh'd and aaawww'd at the pillow and marveled that I still had it! Hannalee wasn't too happy about me leaving to go to "the party" tonight. But I told her I was going to meet "a princess"...I thought she'd think it was okay...that was the best way I could try to explain to her about who Susan is.

So....the pillow's autographed...once in 1981 and now again in 2011. Thanks Susan! And thanks for the free CD's straight from the recording studio!!! WOW!!! Five cuts...just for tonight's crowd only and unmixed! Very cool!!!

Thanks Great Kathy!

Day 127 Our 7th Wedding Anniversary

2011-10-20T22:44:00.001-05:00

No picture...but a sweet story to tell...

Sunday was our 7th anniversary. We celebrated several different times and ways. Dusty had to go to the endocrinologist in Norman on Wednesday so it gave us an excuse to eat out and shop a little in OKC and called part of that our anniversary too.

I had bought him a new Bible and gave it to him on Sunday. I knew he would want to look at a different kind so we did that at Mardels on Wednesday. We looked. And looked. And looked. And looked. Then it was time for the appointment. We left and went back to Mardel's several hours later. The employees thought we were still there..the whole time. We assured them we had really left and were back! We cracked up! But while we were looking at Bibles, litterally sitting criss-cross applesauce on the floor, we were just talking and trying to decided between two Bible...I told him just to get both etc. Then one of sales ladies asked if were led couples ministry at our church. We just smiled and said no....with a look of "why is she asking us this?" She then told us we were just so cute together and to each other and went on! AWWWWWWWW! That was the best anniversary gift! Very neat!

Thanks Honey! I love you! Wifey

Day 126 Hannalee's Mail Call

2011-10-18T22:35:00.004-05:00

Dear Hannalee....

You have been working so hard at Rainbow Lane and at Wee School! You love school and a great student! Maybe one day you'll grow up to be a teacher like mommy and daddy! Maybe that will be God's will for you. You just listen and pray and God will tell you one day!

We love your laughter and your giggles. You love drawing and painting! You also love getting into mommy's tape dispenser and staples. It's all such fun though, isn't it?! :)

You've learned so much already this year! I was so surprised when I came home after a long day to find a sweet card in the mail from you! You were learning about community helpers at Wee school at our church and you mailed a letter because you were learning about the mailman!

Thank you for always doing your best! I am always grateful that God gave you to me and daddy and I love that you live your life with zest! I wouldn't have it any other way!

Thank you for loving me!

"Ruth 3:11 NIV

And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character."

Day 125 Very First Report Card! WOW!!!!

2011-10-18T22:13:00.001-05:00

WOW!! I don't know why I ever worried! ;)

I'm not bragging (too much) but I'm really just posting this here so

we can always remember this great very first school report card and

share it with our grandparents!

(Plus at the end of this year the blog will all be printed into a book!)

WOW!!

JJ wasn't too sure about it though when I read "S+" he thought about and could

tell how excited his daddy and I were about it though!

Then he later said, "I thought it would say A+!!!"

Ohhh...bless his heart...I told him that is exactly

what it was like!

His teacher called him a leader and mature!

Way to go JJ Reed!

Keep up the good hard word!

It always is worth it when you can feel so proud of yourself

and you can honor God with your behavior!

We can't ask for anymore or better than this!

Love you oodles! LYL, Your sweet mommy (YSM)

Day 124 Creation Pageant

2011-10-18T21:55:00.001-05:00

What a treat!! For the first quarter of JJ's school they memorized all 7 days of creation AND the Bible verses to go with them! WOW! Each week they learned a new Bible verse, had to memorize by Friday and were given a grade over how well they memorized it! At the end of this first quarter they then put on a class play. All 4 of them! :)

Their teacher went above and beyond to make this a very special "first school program for them. Not only did she decorate a backdrop for each day of creation she had a snack after the pageant to go with each day!! It was crazy good! :) Ocean water, sun chips, fish crackers...everything about creation! The kids even had their masks to be an animal that God created! What a hoot to hear them giggling "backstage" while they put on their tails and masks! We loved it!

JJ we are proud of you and

honored to be your parents!

You and Hannalee are our pure joy and blessings!

We give thanks to God everyday for the

love and laughter you bring to our family!

Thanks for all your hard work, respect and obedience!

We love you to the moon and back!

Mommy and Daddy

"My soul thirsts for God, the living God."

Psalm 42:2

Day 123 The Corn Maze

2011-10-09T08:14:00.000-05:00

JJ's school went to the corn maze in Weatherford last week.

The Kindergarten class had been learning all about the 7 days of creation so this was a great connection!

We had a guided tour through the maze; had a tractor ride to the pumpkin patch;

rode on the "bucket" train; feed the goats by hand;

petted the big animals; had a picnic lunch and got to go to the park!

SHEW!

It was great day!

If you don't know about PBar Farms, check them out at

www.pbarfarms.com

"The Universe was formed at God's command."

Hebrews 11:3

Day 122 JJ's Phonics and Cursive

2011-09-29T19:49:00.002-05:00

This is only a sample of JJ's hard work in school!

There have been numerous papers this good with phonics and

reading words...but I thought I'd better save one on my Blog

so I'll alway remember his first papers in Kindergarten at

Western Oklahoma Christian School!

"Be strong and courageous! Do not be discouraged; do not

be afraid. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go!"

Joshua 1:9

JJ Reed.....

we are so PROUD of all of your hard work in Kindergarten!

Your cursive handwriting and phonics with your reading words....WOW!

Thanks for working hard everyday.

Thanks for loving Jesus.

Thanks for being the sweet boy that you are!

We are proud of you!

Love, Your Family

DAY 121 JJ's Reading Homework on the Swings!

2011-09-12T20:04:00.001-05:00

JJ had a list of over 10 short words to be practicing....we took the list outside, took turns holding up different letter cards and JJ had to sound out each word as we were swinging!

Dusty wanted us all to go down the slide while he sounded them out

but we ended up on the swing! We would swing forward and he would have to

say the sound of each letter and read the word!!

He did great!!!! He also got one small sour gummy worm for each word!!!

Needless to say, he is reading and his tummy is full!! :)

WAY TO GO JJ!!!!

Day 120 Hannalee, where's JJ?

2011-09-11T23:20:00.000-05:00

It was a great cool evening out and the kids had been riding bikes.

Nana and Papa Jerry had come over for dinner, taco soup, and stayed to watch the kids a bit.

Hannalee....where is JJ?

Found him!!!

Too sweet!

Day 119 Cattle Herding

2011-09-05T21:00:00.000-05:00

We took a quick, surprise trip to see my folks today! We didn't call. We just showed up!

And papa John was "playing cowboy!'

Meaning, he was separating the momma's from their babies. NOOOOOBODY was happy!

Bawling and crying everywhere! I kinda felt for them!

When we pulled up papa had just pulled one trailer load out of the gate and was ruuuuuuuning to close the gate behind him before the momma's came after HIM!

Those babies got unloaded and then we went and helped him on the Gator to wrangle up two more babies. But because it was easier...we took a momma with us too!

Once we got back home with them (only 3 this time) we had to get the momma out of the pen from the calves! We did it on the first try! I was rather proud of us! I told Dusty that "The Pioneer Woman" has nothing on me! Except...cooking....and her own show! But we had fun!

Hannalee was in the back of the gator...holding her hands over her ears!

HATED the sound of all the baby calves crying for their mommas. SHE felt sorry for them! :)

Isaiah 30:23

"He will also send you rain for the seed you

sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful.

In that day, your cattle will graze in broad meadows."

sounds like heaven to a farmer I'd think!

Love you, daddy!

THIS is the very small version of what was in the trailer!!! And not happy!!! :)

Day 118 Pony Rides at Rainbow Lane

2011-09-05T08:03:00.000-05:00

Jeremiah 46:4 --

"Harness the horses, mount the steeds! Take your positions with helmets on! Polish your spears, put on your armor!"

This is the third year in a row that Papa Jerry and Smokey have been to Rainbow Lane to give pony rides. I've realized this year that Papa has just as much fun as the kids....if not more! Thanks Papa Jerry!

A "real" cowboy....hats, gloves, ropes, bandana, boots, jeans, spurs...too hot for chaps!

Thanks Cowboy Dan!

Awwwwwwww!

Day 117 Rodeo Weekend

2011-09-05T07:52:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 63:13

"who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble!"

Labor Day weekend is usually a big deal here in Western Oklahoma. I mean THREE DAY BIG. Since Friday night there has been a rodeo going on. And of course there's the hometown parade that no one would dare to miss...even if it was 102 degrees. But this year, we did! We decided to spend a day watching Dusty's sweet nieces at their junior rodeo over an hour away. They've run barrels and poles all summer and this was their final weekend and they get prizes tomorrow! They've done good overall!!

My sweet cowboy!!! I love you JerryJohn Reed Cloud!

You are the best, sweetest thing ever!

You are my heart!

Kennedy and Hannalee on Old Bear

Hannalee you are the cutest cowgirl!

You live with zest and spunk every moment of everyday

and you are sweet, helpful, and just plain funny and pretty!

GO KENNEDY!!!!

GIDDYUP!

Now there's a conversation!

Kyra looking so serious & ready to run!

Kelsey all dolled up and smiles all ready!

THIS is really why JJ likes to go to rodeos...the junk food!

Day 118 Hannalee's Open House at Rainbow Lane

2011-08-22T18:34:00.000-05:00

Hannalee is so excited about being in the yellow class with so many friends! And one of her teachers is going to beeeeeee...................MOMMY!!!! THIS is going to be interesting............... :)

Genesis 9:16 NIV

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

Day 116 Cookie Monsters!

2011-08-20T16:51:00.000-05:00

My niece Skylar called and wanted to come and spend the night with us before she started back to school! So of course I said YES. Her teenage, too busy for us, silly sister wouldn't come play with us! But she would swim with us once we took Skylar home!

We had a plan....make homemade pizza, homemade chocolate chip cookies, and watch the movie SOUL SURFER.

OOPS!! Too much flour!!! :) such a giggly girl!! :)

We Love you, Skylar!!!!

Day 117 In the News!

2011-08-20T10:52:00.000-05:00

Working hard on cursive handwriting in Kindergarten!!! You are so cute!!!

Day 115 Breakfast Outside

2011-08-19T17:17:00.000-05:00

Day 114 Hannalee at Wee School

2011-08-19T16:59:00.000-05:00

Hannalee is going to Wee School at our church this year...two days a week while I teach PE and Spanish at the Christian school. She had a great first day! Who wouldn't love a turtle in your room!??

Day 113 First Days of School

2011-08-19T16:40:00.000-05:00

This year JJ is going to kindergarten at the Western Oklahoma Christian school! We are excited about him having Chapel, Bible lessons, and prayer time at his school everyday!

On his first day of school we gave him a new Bible.

Also, he has a Bible verse test every Friday....for a grade even....he passed this week! Shew!

"The universe was formed at God's command." Hebrews 11:3

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudesof the heart.

JJ we are proud of you for being such a great kindergartner!

I'm thrilled that your teacher sent you a note saying that she prayed for you today.

She loves how faithful you are about praying for rain for the farmers!

She said you'll be a great farmer someday if that is God's will for you!

Thank you, Mrs. Dungan!

Day 112 End of Summer Putt Putt with Nana & Papa

2011-08-19T12:51:00.000-05:00

We celebrated the end of summer and back to school by doing two things:

one day we got to go to the park to play putt-putt, ride the carousel and play at the playground.

We had a great time...it was cloudy and "cool"...meaning it wasn't 110 degrees. Maybe only 99!! :)

The other thing is a different post...pizza and swimming!

Psalm 13:5 NIV

But I trust in your unfailing love;

my heart rejoices in your salvation

Day 111 Rio Grande Pyramid

2011-08-19T12:45:00.001-05:00

This is the Rio Grande Pyramid...the headwaters of the Rio Grande river. Starts out our backdoor at our ranch in Colorado!!!

If you look at the second picture...off the right is a "rocky ridge"....that is the beginning of Black Mountain Ranch...it used to be a guest ranch in the 70's and 80's and now has 12 cabin/homes on it and we own one of them. we have for 30 years. I love this place! Thanks mother and daddy!

Isaiah 18:3:

All you people of the world, you who live on the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and when a trumpet sounds, you will hear it.

Day 110 JJ's money and horse

2011-08-19T12:36:00.000-05:00

JJ worked hard one morning picking up trash around Papa Jerry's farm!

So much so that he earned $5!!! Way to go JJ.

You are always such a good worker!!!

This is JJ on Bear...ALL BY HIMSELF!!!

He's always riden (for 5 minutes or less) on a horse in a small round pen while Papa Jerry led him on the horse and led them around. But this time!! OH MY!! JJ got to be ON HIS OWN!!!

That's a pretty big deal, folks!

Such a big kindergartner now!!!

Hannalee and Papa Jerry on Penny!

Day 109 Just Because

2011-08-08T05:51:00.000-05:00

We took pics of each other with the kids so Dusty would have new pics to put in his frames in his classroom at school!

Such joy and laughter they both bring!

School is starting soon. I am working 2 part time jobs teaching this year...

One at the new Christian school teaching PE and Spanish. JJ will be in kindergarten there this year.

And I'm also teaching 2 days at the fabulous Rainbow Lane Preschool.

Hannalee will go there this year. I've worked there as a sub, then one 1/2 day while JJ went to school there and now I'll teach 2 days while Hannalee goes there.

Quite the adventure we are on!!

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I love you very much! You are my heart!!

Day 108 The Bible Tells Me So

2011-08-02T01:36:00.002-05:00

Hannalee got this Bible at VBS this summer. And just this past week she's been carrying it with her. EVERY.WHERE. She so clings to it...and pretends to read it. And sings "Zacheaus" non stop. It's precious and blesses my heart.

She was sitting in a "big girl" swing....and had to move to the "baby swing"

so she could hold on to the Bible and not the swing!

"Jesus loves the little children. The Bible tells me so."

Day 107 Swimming!!! No floaties!!

2011-08-01T13:27:00.001-05:00

Psalm 107:35

"He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs;"

Rather appropriate verse in the midst of a drought!!!

I couldn't upload the movie showing how he is swimming across the pool!!!

YEA JJ!!!!

Way to go!!!!!!

Day 106 Shaving cream!!

2011-08-01T13:16:00.001-05:00

Leviticus 21:5

"Priests must not shave their heads or shave off the edges of their beards or cut their bodies."

NO priests here....carry on.....because you can never have enough....fun, friends, or shaving cream!!!

Day 105 Vacation Over

2011-07-24T08:38:00.000-05:00

Well....my niece Skylar wanted to know when I would be posting more pics!! We just got back from Colorado and here are a few pics. My family has a cabin in the high mountains of the rockies...we are 30 minutes from the closest "town" and I mean...and old mining town. Which is really 2 hours from a Walmart and NOOOOO cell phone service. We could use dial up internet...but didn't even take a laptop this year! Bliss!!!! Thanks mom and dad for the cabin! We love it and the mountains and YOU!

wading in the water; rafting down the Rio Grande; jeeping; picnics; cookouts; fishing; moose and more!! SOOOO glad my best friend from OSU and her sweet family finally got to go with us this year!! :)

Day 104 I FOUND IT!!!!

2011-07-10T15:03:00.001-05:00

No pics in this post right now...but just an important announcement!!!!

I FOUND THE CAMERAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY WERE RIGHT WHERE I PUT THEM TO HIDE THEM FROM THE BURGLARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UNREAL!!!

Over two months ago I put the camera, video camera, and iPad tucked away so they couldn't find them. Apparently I couldn't either. But I've been on a cleaning spreeeeee--like 5 bags of toys gone--and now I'm in the office closet...where I had hidden the cameras....I'm on trash can number 2!!! And between trash can 1 and 2 ......and after one dead scorpion and one very fast and alive one.....I found the cameras!!!!
Thank you, Lord!!!! Now...send the rain!!!!!! ;)

Day 103 Turtles & Trundles

2011-06-19T15:24:00.000-05:00

It was a sad day. We took Hannalee's baby bed/toddler bed completely out of her room. I cried when I went into the garage and saw it. :( We've had a daybed with a trundle under it in the guest room/office. I'm trying to claim it as more of an office/scrapbook room....therefore, Hannalee gets a big girl trundle bed now in her room. Pics of that later!

And this.....is Tim the turtle.... you know from the song...
"I had a tiny turtle, his name was Tiny Tim.
I put him in the bathtub, to see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water. Gulp, Gulp, Gulp.
He ate up all the soap. Yum, Yum, Yum.
And now he's in my bed with bubbles in his throat. POP! POP! POP!"

He played in our yard for only a bit. He was gone when we got home from church.

Genesis 1:28 NIV

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Day 102 Ridin' the Waves

2011-06-19T15:07:00.001-05:00

Exodus 23:25 NIV

Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water.

I will take away sickness from among you...

The boys have had so much fun being together at VBS this week!!

Carson got to come home one day after VBS And they all three played in the water

for three hours straight!!!!! They were worn out!!!

Thanks for coming over Carson!!

JJ "riding a bull!" :)

Giddy up!!

Hannalee held them at bay with the water hose!

Day 101 Mary, Mary Quite Contrary!!

2011-06-11T21:57:00.000-05:00

We hit the sale and the mother load today!! One of the garden centers was closing for the season today. EVERYTHING was 75% off!!! We bought. Then bought some more. Then even one more thing, or two, we dind't think we needed or wanted. But $7 for a huge potted shrub and the same for a HUGE potted fern.....and I never knew I would be so excited about a pink geranium. The kids picked out "the mosquito" plants....cintronella geraniums!!! They loved them. Sure!! I put them on the table in the backyard. Along with my new fern!! Who knew??! :) And finally got flowers put in the HUGE pot I got for Mother's Day!! WOOT!! It was a beautiful day to be outside...the kids were filthy and we turned on the sprinklers...we had a great time!!

Day 100 Found in the DRYER!!

2011-06-11T20:42:00.000-05:00

Sooooo....I was doing laundry one morning....only had the washer going...not the dryer. Yet. Had folded clothes. Put clothes on to wash. Hung clothes up. Took clothes out of the room. Had been in and out for a couple of hours. THEN!!!! I pulled the vent out...you know...to get the fuzzies out....peeled it all off and threw it away and the put it back in. Then it happened...I heard....well.... I didn't know what in the world I heard. I yelled for Dusty to COME HERE!!! COME HERE!!!! What in the world is that?? I thought something was going to JUMP OUT AT ME from inside the dryer. But we could hear it....it wasn't in the DRYER...it was the vent hose...inside our house!! Dusty ran outside, pulled the vent cover off and out popped the cutest.....black and white, fuzzy and scared kitty!!! He was sooo cute.

We have noooo clue how he got in there....other than literally just crawled up it!! I'm sooo glad I hadn't started the dryer yet. He might have gotten out...and maybe not...and oh stars!! Can't even begin to imagine!!!!!!

We named him BOUNCE. Get it...dryer...Bounce!!:) Bounce ate a hotdog and drank (mostly played in) a little water. We took him to visit his nana and papa. Got him a little pet taxi to stay while we were gone later that day. And now...the best part of the story.....He lives in Jerry Joe's barn!!!!! With 4 pigs!! That kitten has it made. Clean barn. Company to play with and a water cooler to be cool by!! Can't beat that.

Of course JJ and Hannalee thought it was the best thing we found since Choco the dog!! Hannalee carried that kitty around all day like a rag doll. My mom calls her "Miss Vet!" She loves any animal. She's a little rough with them, but she LOVES them!!!! We are all happy that Bounce was rescued from our dryer vent hose and has a new home. :)

2 Samuel 22:20 NIV

He brought me out into a spacious place;

he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Day 99 Water Park!!

2011-06-08T12:24:00.000-05:00

As we waited a day on wheat harvest we got to go to the new water park/splash pad in Weatherford! It was so much fun!!! No pool. No slides. Just fountains and buckets that splash and dump on surprise!! And even better....it's FREE!! We loved it!!!

Genesis 26:32 NIV

That day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well they had dug. They said, "We've found water!"

Day 98 WHEAT HARVEST!!!!

2011-06-08T12:12:00.000-05:00

JJ has waited ALL WINTER. ALL SPRING. And finally...the worst wheat harvest in history is here! Shew!! Glad its here and my sweet daddy is glad its over and hopes its never that bad again!!

JJ had big plans for this year....he wanted to get up early and go with him. But really....his BIG idea was that he wanted to work ALL NIGHT. In the dark. He even said he wanted to sleep on the combine and then eat breakfast there. Out in the field!! He had such big ideas and big plans!! I love him!! If he's not a farmer when we grows up we'll ALL be verysurprised!!

JJ and Hannalee got to ride in the big wheat truck and go into town to dump at the Co-op!!! No seat belts. No carseats. Just plumb dumb hanging on like we did as kids!! :)

Getting to ride like "a big girl" in Papa John's farm truck!

Wheat truck!! What hired hands you have papa!! :)

Exodus 29:2 NIV

And from fine wheat flour, without yeast, make bread, and cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil.

Day 97 Barbie and Hannalee

2011-06-04T21:34:00.000-05:00

Well.....I bet you thought you'd see Hannalee here with a Barbie DOLL. Wrong! Barbie is a horse!! :) Hannalee has loved this horse and has always called it hers!!! Barbie has been living out in TX with a horse trainer and Edde, the trainer, has been practicing with Barbie and today...we got to see Barbie again!!! MAYBE someday Barbie will be ready when Hannalee is ready for barrel racing!! :) We'll see!!

Day 96 Tball Season Again

2011-06-02T21:34:00.000-05:00

Here we are again....playing Tball with Kiwanis. It's our second year...we just weren't ready for competitive Tball yet! Still won't be next year I'm afraid...practices in the heat...games in the dark. I'm all about laid back, just let 'em play Kiwanis! :)

Go Orange!!! :)

Psalm 33:3 NIV

Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

I don't know how skillfully anyone was, but the

parents did a great job shouting for joy! ;)

Good Job, JJ Reed!!!

Day 95 Hannalee's First Day of Gymnastics

2011-06-02T14:17:00.000-05:00

2 Samuel 22:30 NCV

With your help I can attack an army.

With God's help I can jump over a wall.

She loved it!! She was strong and did a very good job!!!!

Day 94 Rolly Pollies

2011-06-02T14:11:00.000-05:00

Genesis 1:24 NIV

And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock,creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so.

We LOVE rolly pollies!!

Day 93 Farmin' with Papa Jerry

2011-06-02T14:06:00.000-05:00

JJ AND Hannlee both got to go to the Leedey farm with Papa Jerry. They love it. JJ really loves that they stop at the truck stop and buy candy! That's the highlight for him. Hannalee loves the cows!!

After that they got to play in the water and MUD next door with Kristi and Aiden. This is the clean picture....before the mud. I don't have a mud picture...but both kids would look like they have brown freckles and brownie mix on them.

Day 92 Hannalee's nap and JJ the Bull Rider!

2011-05-30T20:09:00.001-05:00

WOW!! Twenty followers now! Welcome, Old Friend!! :) And I mean "old" as in I've known you a long time....over 25 years?? Oh my.....

Today Hannalee wouldn't give up the nap...even though she was tired. So I MADE her lay down on top of me while I was laying down too. It was the only to get her to STOP for 2 minutes and then fall asleep. It was quite the undertaking when I had to get up, get her off of me and lay her back down...all without waking her up. But she did ....only for a second. Sweet thing!!! :) I love you Hannalee Elizabeth. The Bible describes Elizabeth as someone who "lived her life with zest!" Oh boy does this one!! God named her. I just birthed her!! :)

JJ and Coy....if there's bull riding, dirt, or mischief to get in...they find it!

I'm afriad to let these boy cousins be FRIENDS and run around

together when they are

Dear JJ and Coy,

The Bible ALWAYS has good advice........remember that!! :)

Love you

Exodus 21:28 NIV

"If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull must be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible."

Day 91 Yes 8 people.....

2011-05-28T22:22:00.001-05:00

....really can fit in this storm shelter. We didn't really think so at first. So we had to actually try!!!! 3 of them were kids. JJ is in there. I'm in the back, middle. These are some of Dusty's crazy, fun family!!! They are a hoot!!! And we are always a "herd" when even just a few of us get together!!! We decided that if we had to, we maybe could put 2 more people in here..... but we also decided if there were too many people at their house during a storm....we would all be asked to leave!!!! ;)

Happy birthday Meddie!! We love you!!!

Psalm 55:8 NIV

I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm."

Day 90 Mowing down the wheat crop

2011-05-28T09:09:00.000-05:00

Yes....he did...he had to MOW down his wheat. It was a rather sad day I thought....never knew it to be so bad that my daddy had to mow wheat...that's just wrong. All spring JJ kept saying he couldn't wait for wheat harvest because he's been looking forward to driving with Papa John in the combine..specifically with the lights on in the dark!! That's been his plan all winter and spring. But alas, we showed up one day to hang out and visit and low and behold there was papa...in the wheat field...but NOT with a combine. But rather Papa had the tractor and MOWER. I'm still floored. But JJ and Hannalee at least got to drive with him and mow. JJ kept working with Papa and then me and Hannalee and Meme got on the Gator!! Hannalee is a pretty good driver! She can drive over the cattle guards and all!!

Psalm 147:14 "He makes peace in your borders; he satisfies you with the finest of wheat."

So this year's crop was NOT the finest of wheat....so I really thought about THIS Scripture...

Acts 27:38 "When they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing out the wheat into the sea..." Might as well have done that...at least it's hay! :)

Love you daddy!!

Day 89 MAMASITA!!!!!!!!!

2011-05-27T20:48:00.000-05:00

We met on a mission trip to Guatemala.....two grown women have NEVER giggled as much as we did that first trip! We've both been NUMEROUS times....she more than me lately but she drove 2 hours out of her way to come (plus the other 5 hours she had to drive from KC to OKC) and see me and my sweet family. And it was on the day before of the tornados!!! A little crazy but all was well!!

I love you sweet friend!! thanks for the effort to come and see me!! Meant the world to me!!

Joshua 22:3 NIV

For a long time now--to this very day--you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you.

Day 88 End of Rainbow Lane for JJ

2011-05-27T20:29:00.001-05:00

It was a sad day for me. My sweet boy is officially a kindergartner! I cried. A little when I dropped him off for the last day and a little more when we sang "The Goodbye Song."

LUMP IN MY THROAT!!

But he's SUPPOSED to grow up, right?! :) Right.

And I'm grateful!!!

Psalm 119:7

"I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,

When I learn Your righteous judgments."

Jack and JJ--they are great buds!! Riding the carousel at the park.

My sweet boy!!! They had to wear red for the red class and blue had to wear blue.

Our friend Annslee!!

We love you Annslee!!! Nothing like putt putt and friends.

A few of our Rainbow Lane teachers

Sweet friend Kristi! Out of the corner of my mouth I'm telling her.....

"DON'T YOU DARE KISS ME!!"

SHE DID!! YOU ARE A NUT!!!!!

Day 86 My Lilies are back

2011-05-27T20:14:00.000-05:00

We planted these in our flower bed at the end of the season last year. I bought them from Walmart and really didn't think they would come back. But waa-laa! Here they are!! I love surprises like this!

I LOVE THEM!!! Lilies are better than silly ol' roses ANY day in my book!!!

Luke 12:27

"Consider the lilies, how they grow;

they either toil nor spin; but I tell you,

not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself

like one of these."

Day 87 We have a new swimming pool!!!

2011-05-27T20:05:00.000-05:00

Oh me.....I sooo wish!!! :) But this is the best I could come up with today....it was 101 and we were at Nana's house. The kids begged her to turn on the sprinkler....she did! Later, JJ looked right at Nana and said so sweetly and sincerely, "Thanks for doing this!" It was cute.

These are really horse feed buckets...for you city slickers!! They are usually in the back of the horse trailer for all of the rodeos the big kids go to...Kennedy got them out so we could play in them. What a hoooot!!! Love their sweet hearts.

You can find God in everything and everywhere...even in the water of a horse bucket! :)

Proverbs 11:25

"The generous man will be prosperous,

and he who waters will himself be watered!"

Day 85 Catch Up! Not Ketchup!! :)

2011-05-21T15:04:00.000-05:00

These are a few that I'm behind on...I'll add more....

once I find the camera. AGAIN.

Our neighbors down the road were robbed in broad

daylight last month.

I think I hid the camera from them.

Apparently from me too!! :(

Hannalee, Papa Jerry and JJ....I'm not sure if they all meant to

pose just like this with their legs or not?! :) Cute!!!

Why I'm a mom!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

JJ and Jack at church Cubbies program!

JJ at his cubbies church program

Hannalee at the park!!!

Dusty's last day of teaching Kindergarten!!! They always have gone to

the sand pit!!!!! Hannalee and JJ and in there somewhere!

Dusty is now the Reading Intervention and Gifted Teacher! wow!!!

Finally!! Not teaching 25 kids alone with no help, breaks, or aids!

Day 84 Where in the world??

2011-05-12T07:54:00.000-05:00

I let the kids play in the sprinkler of course. I was sitting at the dining room table with about 6 windows to look out watch them. I realized it had gotten waaaaayyy tooooo quiet. So I looked out.

I looked here.

And here....

And here.

But I couldn't see the kids!!! Where in the world were they? I didn't see them anywhere in the backyard. At all. A little nervous...I walked out in the sprinklers myself to take a closer look.

THIS is what I found!!!!

They were cold in the water and found shelter in the sandbox....lid and all!!!

Psalm 91:1 NIV

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Day 83 Kids cookout

2011-05-05T15:12:00.000-05:00

while we were in OKC.....the kids spent the night with my folks....this is what they did! :) Thanks mother and daddy for keeping them--played with cousins and had a very first ever cookout down at the creek!! WOW!!!!

Day 82 On your mark....get set....

2011-05-05T07:47:00.001-05:00

WAIT!!! The OKC Memorial Marathon was SUPPOSED to start at 6:30am Sunday morning....also known as my sweet husband's birthday. But it was also the day I've trained for since Thanksgiving...the 1/2 marathon!! Just before start time at 6:00am it was lightning...delay of game for 30 minutes....rain was still in the area....and was for THE ENTIRE RACE!! THE ENTIRE RACE I TELL YOU. My 13.1 miles were soggy and cold...to say the least. Forget a very sore knee, but the shoes and hat (and everything in between) were cold and wet.

In fact, all 25,000 --yes 25,000 -- were wet and cold! Some ran the full marathon (26.2 miles), and I ran the 1/2 marathon (13.1). This was my third time to run the 1/2...the two previous times were "BK" over 10 years ago...before kids. So I thought I needed to do one more....now that I'm 40. I think I'll take my three medals, frame them, and call it good. It takes a lot of time, effort, and energy to train for one....and I could NOT have done it without the help of my mother and mother in law keeping the kids extra or from Dusty early in the mornings before school even at 5:00am and late afternoons when he'd rather rest too.

the view...of 25,000 people...it took me over 10 minutes to get the start line!!

Yes...to get to the start line!! CRAZY I tell you!!!

WET AND COLD BUT DONE!

Dry and getting warmer.

And this was the Scripture in a text that my sweet husband sent me...about mile 11 or so. Thank you!!

1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Day 81 Eggs & Cousins

2011-04-25T11:05:00.000-05:00

Luke 11:12 NIV

Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

Some had candy.

Some had $1.

And ONE had $20!!! Kennedy won that!!

NONE had scorpions!!!!! :)

We were blessed!

All our little babbies....the big kids were inside...on their phones I'm sure! :)

Alexis, Hannalee, Wyatt, JJ, Coy, Kennedy, Gracee, Kaden.

Day 81 My Easter Babies

2011-04-25T10:13:00.000-05:00

They are precious....goofy too but precious!! Thank you Lord for my children, but thank you for your Resurrection!!! He is Alive!!! Thanks be to God!!

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Day 80 Rainbow Lane Program

2011-04-25T10:02:00.000-05:00

JJ at the Rainbow Lane Program with the Red Class.

"A Celebration of Colors"

JJ was:

an orange square

a robot (the best one ever!)

a green jumping frog

Little Boy Blue

A music maker

and a Brown worm!!!!

JJ and his sweet friend that we love so much, Annslee!

The proud meme's and nana's and Papa's!!!

JJ, good friend Jack, and good friend/neighbor Aiden

JJ and Mrs. Fryman! We love her!! She works "magic!"

Thanks Rainbow Lane for a very special two years!!!

Genesis 9:16 NIV

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

Day 79 Bird Watching

2011-04-25T09:07:00.000-05:00

Well it was time to put out our hummingbird feeder and finch food!

We ALL sat very quietly this morning and waited and watched for our birds to come our goodies!We've had hummers for a couple of days, but we finally got a bird! Isn't he cute?! We had scissortails too!! Two of them!!

Genesis 1:21 NIV

So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Day 78 Tower Destruction

2011-04-25T08:53:00.000-05:00

The little "ball" that JJ is holding is an "egg" balloon with a little bit of water inside. Makes for a great wrecking ball, apparently. Pretty sure that is not what Mrs. Fryman intended it for but it worked great!

Judges 8:9 NIV

So he said to the men of Peniel, "When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower."

Day 77 Easter Egg Hunt at Nana's church

2011-04-19T17:06:00.000-05:00

Day 76 Rainbow Lane Easter Party

2011-04-19T13:12:00.000-05:00

Such a fun little program!1 They got to find 6 eggs each!

The parents were the "hiders" and then it was mass chaos as the 22 kids hunted the playground.

John 11:24 NIV

Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

Day 75 Hollywood Stars!

2011-04-19T12:48:00.000-05:00

Genesis 15:5 NIV

He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

My offspring are a blessing!! Wild & crazy they can be.

Full of love and laugther...always!

Hey Sunshine!!!

photography by Hannalee

goofy faces always

Hummmmm.....I'm thinking.....I'm cool!

Day 74 MUD!!!!!

2011-04-12T20:46:00.000-05:00

I can't take credit for this day. This was Miss Kristi's idea....and my boy LOVED every minute of it!!! Thank you sweet friend for doing such a brave thing with my little Dirt Dude!! He loves mud and he loves your family!!! :) And they even got to ride the four wheeler! JJ was in heaven!! :) There is no greater gift than such special friends from God!! Love you!!!

Psalm 40:2 NIV

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Day 73 Baby Calf

2011-04-11T22:02:00.000-05:00

Dusty's cousin has calves, dogs that bite, and chickens that lay the biggest eggs you've EVER seen!

Those to be posted tomorrow...once we get them in the incubator!! OH MY!!!

The kids got to feed the calf when we went out to pick up eggs!

Day 72 Go Bobcats!!

2011-04-11T21:56:00.000-05:00

Another Saturday morning of soccer!!

Meme and Papa even came over from Weatherford but I didn't

get one pic of them!!! ARGH!!!!!

GO JJ!!!!!!!

Day 71 Who 'dat? What say?

2011-04-06T15:28:00.000-05:00

Give them a dead cell phone that doesn't work anymore and you've given these two the perfect gift!! :) They got these from nana and papa when they were cleaning out his office. Of course neither phone works, but my stars....they LOVE the phones. JJ loves his papa Jerry's ring tone..."work work all day long. punchin' the clock from dusk til dawn. countin' the days til friday night..." and it goes on...he can say every word. So.....yesterday JJ was playing with the phone, singing the ring tone and then before the song was over, he stopped singing it and answered the phone. It was so funny...it was like he answered the phone in the middle of the ring tone and then stopped. We cracked up!!!

Oh yes...this is JJ "talking" to a "trailer customer!"

He REALLY thinks he's working.....see the look on his face...he's thinking about what kind of trailer he might have in stock or if he'll have to order it!!!

Makes me giggle!!!

Now Miss Priss...she loves this phone so much that when she didnt stay in her bed all night the phone was what I bribed her with!!!! :) I'm serious. She got it the first day and then I put it away that night and told her that she wouldn't get the phone the next day unless she stayed in bed. IT WORKED!!! I think in the last month she has only gotten out of bed twice...and even then we've put her back and she's stayed!!!!!! The phone is MY friend too!!

And really this picture of Hannalee with a phone is to remind us of what she ALWAYS says after we hang up the phone from talking to someone:

"Who's dat?"

"What say?"

Too cute!!!

Luke 24:14

"And they were talking with each other about all these things

which had taken place!"

Day 70 JJ's Semi Drawing

2011-04-01T20:45:00.003-05:00

NO...it wasn't APRIL FOOLS....

here is the pic...for real this time!! :)

My sweet boy.....I just love his heart!!! LOOK at what he drew!!! There's ROCKS inside the truck. There is exhaust coming out the pipe at the top....tires, a driver and his name & the label "semi" at the bottom!! Pretty cool!! I think I'll laminate this!!

And I'm sooooo sad that I didn't get a picture of Hannalee's drawings.....she writes the letter H and loves for us to draw a cat and a dog for her on her dry erase board. BUT it got erased before I knew it.

I did find the camera though and will have to get pics of her drawing...it is her FAVORITE thing to do!!! So sweet.

Day 69 Baby Colt

2011-03-30T15:47:00.000-05:00

well....STILL NO CAMERA....where in the world?!!!! But these are from my phone today. Good enough. The colt is a boy....out of the momma called "Precious Bugs Alive." So I'm calling him "Man Alive!" sounds like a barrel racing horse for Hannalee if I don't say so myself!!