IKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just got off the phone with Sandra. It seems that Ike has hit them! She says they didn't get any rain, just strong winds. They haven't had any electricity since yesterday afternoon! They have trees down and it's a mess. I told her that as long as American still is flying in tomorrow I am coming! If I have to help cut trees up and things like that, I don't care. I am still coming.

As far as I can see, it looks as if my flight is still on for tomorrow. Yeah!!!

Ok, I think that is all I needed to say. . .

I think this is all that has been happening in our family the past several weeks. Clyde and I are still battling our coughs. Clyde had a cold. I thought I was getting his cold, except the Dr. said I was having asthma attacks. So now I am taking Steroids, an antibiotic, and have an inhaler. I am starting to feel much better. I am glad that Ike is gone. I think this is what has started everything up!

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane. . .

Every time I start to think about my trip the song "I'm leaving on a jet plane" comes into my mind. Except I know when I will be back! I am leaving Tuesday morning to go and see Sandra! I am so excited!! I have so much to do, just know where to start. I will be gone until Saturday afternoon. I am looking forward to having time to just sit and visit. We have talked about painting some rooms in Sandra's house and doing some canning.

Thank you Clyde for this wonderful Birthday Gift!!

Another Hamster is gone. . .

I am sad to report we have lost yet another hamster. Hannah was playing with her hamster on Friday night and everything seemed ok. Saturday she went to go and clean his cage out. He was still and so she moved him to clean it. She thought that he was just sleeping. When she put him back in his cage she realized that he was dying.

I think one of the hardest things a mom has to do is watch her children cry over a dead pet. I am grateful for our neighbors Debi and Paul who have helped us out several times with our dying pets. Paul place Figit in a box and Clyde and Hannah buried him in the backyard during the rain. He is resting nicely near the plum trees.

Painting Bedrooms

We have also been busy painting bedrooms. Hannah's room has never been painted. It is one of the few rooms we don't have painted in our house. Hannah's room originally was our game room. Clyde built a wall and made it into an extra bedroom. Sarah and Hannah marked off the squares on the wall. Clyde painted the blue color and I painted the edges around the baseboards.

Georgah's room was one time our tv room. It has also served as a guest room, but now the tv is out of there and it's just Georgah's room. Clyde painted the walls and the swirls. Georgah and I bought the diamond looking stones and the glue to have them glued to the wall. I helped by painting the edges again. Georgah says her room seems like a room a Princess would have.

Solar Screens!

We just had solar screens installed on our house. I love the way they look!

First Day of School!

School has finally started. Or should I say it started 3 weeks ago! I have been busy and am just now getting to posting pictures. Between the 4 girls we are now at 3 schools and 2 of them are new for us this year.

This picture doesn't do Sarah any justice. This was early in the morning say 6:30! Sarah is in seminary this year. So, with her being in seminary that means she is a FRESHMAN and 14!! It still boggles my mind that she is in High School! Sarah is in Journalism and Debate this year. So far she loves it!

Hannah is 12 and is in the 7th grade. Hannah is playing the flute in the band this year.

Georgah is 9 and in the 4th grade. She loves to read and can't wait for band to start back up. She so wants to play the drums. She also would love to learn to play the guitar. Do I hear future girl band member??

Rebekah is 7 and in the 2nd grade. She too loves to read! Rebekah is a friend to everyone.

Time for Change

For the past 2 years, I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve as the Relief Society President of our ward. I have loved it! I have been blessed to work with many wonderful sisters. I have always had great counselors.

I have had a feeling for several weeks that my time was close to being done. A week ago I had the opportunity to go with one of my counselors Robyn to the temple. We were there as a couple was there for the first time. It was a good session. I knew than that I was done. Later that night I had the same feeling, so when the Bishop talked to me on Wednesday I was at peace with the decision. I will miss the weekly adult conversations as I will be moving on to Primary and Cub Scouts. It has been so long since I have worked back in Primary. In the past 15 years, I have only been in primary for about 3 years total. I have been working with the Relief Society for the past 4 1/2 years. The rest of the time as been in Young Women's. I know this change will be different and I am looking forward to the change.

I still think it is funny how we don't have any boys, and yet Clyde and I are know both working in the scout program. I have always wanted a little boy to dress up in a cub scout uniform. I guess I will be blessed to have the Bears as my adopted boys. I am very excited to be a part of the Cub Scout program!

For those of you who have worked with me in the past 2 years, Thank you! I couldn't have done it without your support and love. I am thankful for the listening ears and the words of encouragement to help the sisters. Thank you for taking the time out in your lives as well to serve the Arlington 5th ward. I am also looking forward to being able to stay home and help my girls get ready for church. They might even have their hair curled or at least pulled up. I have missed those mornings, but I wouldn't have traded them in for anything.

So, with that said. . . . Cub Scouts here I come!!

What a day!!

Today started off by waking up early to a traditional Texas rain storm. Heather and I waited the storm off and by 8 we were off for a quick trip to San Antonio. We drove down to see my sister in law Paige. We picked up the chairs for Heather's new table and a few things for my mother in law. I love Paige's new house. It's beautiful!

We stopped at IKEA in Round Rock on the way home. We grabbed a quick bite to eat and new dish towels for me, and a bed tent for Heather's youngest, Sebastian. I only wished we had had more time to roam. I love IKEA's dish towels. They are so cheap and hold up so well.

Heather and I pulled into the drive way as Clyde and the priests from our ward were sitting down to Clyde's catfish gumbo. Tonight Clyde and the Priest quorum assistant took the priest to Sid Richardson to camp. Tomorrow morning they are going to get up and go Kayaking. I love that Clyde loves working with the Young Men. He does such a great job!

After unloading the van and getting it ready for the boys to take with them, I went shopping with Michelle, Heather, and Cyndi Perry. We had a great time shopping a Target. We also stopped for dinner at Wendy's. I am grateful to my mom for helping out with Georgah and Rebekah today. I couldn't have gone to San Antonio and out shopping if it hadn't been for my mom. Also, she helped by picking Sarah up from Freshman orientation and taking her to a babysitting job. Thank you Mom!!

I still can't believe that my Sarah is starting High School this year! She is growing up way tooo fast.

The things we do. . .

The things we do for our kids. . . Friday night at midnight the new book, Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer came out. Hannah babysat for Angie again. Sarah and I picked up Angie at 11:30 and off we went to Barnes and Noble.

We stood in line and bought our book. I have never before gone to a bookstore at midnight. I didn't even know you had to reserve a book before it came out. Thanks to Angie I have learned a lot about new book releases. Any whoooo, Angie bought an extra book and was kind to loan us the book so that Sarah and Hannah could both have a copy of the book to read. This has made our weekend quiet. The girls are loving this book. They have giggled and laughed together most of the day.

I still haven't read the series. Angie gave me her set of audio books to start. I put the first cd on and started picking up the house. Within just a few moments, I had a living room full of girls sitting on the couches listening and giggling. Needless to say, I didn't get very far. I am thinking this will be a good thing to start after school starts or as I am recovering from my foot surgery.