Happy Birthday Sarah!!

It's hard to believe that 17 years ago today Sarah was born. She is growing up way to fast! Sarah has brought so much joy and laughter into our home. She has a great personality. Sarah is such a great big sister. I know that all of her sisters look up to her. She loves driving them places and spending time with them.

I am extremely blessed to be her mother. Happy Birthday Sarah!!

Lady Matilda

The past few months we have watched our sweet Basset Hound Lady Matilda, or as I would call her Millie Jane, act as if she was sick and than get better. Well, the past few weeks she just got worse. By Monday night you could tell that she was really starting to suffer. We place a call to our wonderful Vet Dr. Patrick Reeves. He came to our house on Tuesday evening. With in just a few minutes we knew that she would not make it. She was diagnosed with cancer. Probably cancer of the uterus, but we aren't sure.

When in a few minutes we said our good byes and she was gone. She was such a lovable dog. She loved to climb up on the couch and sleep for hours. There were many a times she would be sleeping and someone would come up to her and cover her up with a blanket. She loved it! Millie also loved to lay next to you where ever you layed.

We will miss Millie Jane. I am glad to know that she isn't suffering anymore. Our new problem is Freddy, our Corgi, doesn't like to go outside by his self! He now has no one to herd. Which he always did with Millie.

Happy New Year!!

2011 is going to be a year of great changes!! All the girls go back to school tomorrow. Christmas has been packed and put back into the attic for the next 11 months. It's time to start fresh and become more productive in all the areas of life.

Growing up!

I love watching the girls grow up. Today Georgah has her first babysitting job. One of her teachers from last year called and asked for her to babysit for 2 days. Georgah is extremely excited! She set her alarm and picked out her clothes for the day. It's hard to believe that she is already at that age to babysit. She will do great. She has learned from the best, her older sisters!

Sad News. . .

It looks like Wally is very sick. The vet came to our house today to give all 3 animals their shots, heartworm preventive, cut toe nails, etc. For the past 2 weeks we have noticed that animal was going to the bathroom all over the house. YUCK!! It is like 6 times a day and 2-3 times at night. Not FUN!

The vet took care of Bruce and Millie and gave them clean bills of health. Yea! Millie didn't like her nails being clipped today. She was funny. She was semi howling at him. It was like she thought she was too special to have her nails clipped.

Next it was Wally's turn. I put on his party hat, aka muzzle. Wally has gotten very grouchy in his old age. He used to like our Vet, now he tries to take off his hands. Mine, too. This is why for 2 hours before he gets there I have to medicate him. He gets the muzzle for our protection. The dr listens to him and feels his stomach. I could see it in his face. He asked if his stomach was always swollen looking or hard. I told him yes. He informed me and mom that he thinks Wally has Cushings Disease. He said it's not good. Treatment is extrememly expensive and it doesn't always work.

At this time, the dr said he was done looking at Wally. After several attempts to collect some blood for blood work, he finally was able to collect a small amount. He is such a kind and gentle man. He said he didn't want to give Wally his shots. He was afraid it would put too much stress on his poor body. He also said it probably wouldn't do him any good.

I have felt for awhile that he was sick. I know his time is short with us right now. My heart is sad. Wally has been my little buddy since Clyde brought him home from Bill and Glenda. Wally would always stay at my feet when he was little. To this day, he still isn't far from me.

Wally is a very well liked dog in the neighborhood and with some of our closest friends. He is always the first to greet someone at the door. His bark sounds worse than it is. He has also been referred to as the "Giant Hamster".

I will truly miss my little buddy.

What a year 2009 has been for us!

We have had a great year! I can't believe it has been almost a year since I have posted anything. We have been very busy. The second the girls got out of school for the summer our adventures started and I don't think we have really stopped! :)

The summer started out with Sarah and Hannah going to Girls Camp in Anna. They were home for 1 week and we all loaded up in the van for our Gormley 12 State Tour! We had such an amazing trip. I was a little nervous for the fact that we had no hotel reservations or any plans set in stone. We knew the route we wanted to take, but that was it! We visited Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and back to Texas. We were gone for 10 days and visited 9 National Parks and Temple Square. We drove just a little over 4,500 miles!

Once we were home, C loaded up his truck and went to Boy Scout Camp. A week after C got home from camp, the girls and I loaded up the van and off we went to Ohio for a week. We loved being able to visit the Nucci's. Sarah was lucky to tag along with Sabrina's Youth Conference. They visited Kirkland, Ohio and Palmayra, New York. On the way home from Ohio we took a small detour and visited the Grand Ole Opry. The girls had no clue what it was. They looked at me funny, trying to explain to them what Hee Haw was. hehehe

We weren't home but for a few days, when I boarded a plane to Orlando. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend Tupperware's Jubilee. What a great time I had! I can't wait to go back in 2010! Shortly after being home from Jubilee, school started.

In September C helped train another batch of Boy Scout Leaders. In October, I had the privilege to attend Wood Badge. I had a great time and learned a lot! The first weekend it rained and rained. At times, I thought my tent was going to be blown away. :) The second weekend was a little wet. Instead of it being really wet, like the first weekend, it was extremley COLD! I am definatly not a cold weather camper.

November kept us busy with more boy scout stuff. C did some traveling for work. We also have been busy working on Mountain Men items for Mountain Men Rendeaux. Which he is currently at today. I love the fact that he is always so willing to help out the young men in getting their eagles and helping them become better young men. It's kind of funny that we have 4 girls and no boys, yet we are both involved in the Boy Scout program. C has always said that we are training young men to be the type of husbands and fathers we want for our daughters to marry.

The girls are staying busy with school activities. Sarah is now a Sophmore and is taking swimming in school. She is also on the Newspaper staff. She has a great talent for writing!

Hannah is in the 8th grade. She is involved in the band playing her flute. Hannah is seriously thinking about continuing on with band in high school.

Georgah is in the 5th grade. Georgah has such a great personalitly. She is on the Yearbook staff and is involved in the school science club.

Rebekah is in the 3rd grade. She was baptized this year. It is such a great feeling to have all of your children baptized. Rebekah is involved with her school running club and book club.

We truly have been blessed this year!

Sarah makes District

Sarah has enjoyed taking Journalism this year. She has always enjoyed writing and has really found a passion for it this year. Sarah was asked to join the the UIL Journalism team at her school. She goes to District competition later this month.

If she does well at District, she will get to go to Regional and will have lettered in Journalism. This means that she will be able to get a High School jacket! She is so excited!! Sarah has also been asked by the district Cub Scout Twilight Camp Committee to write several short stories for camp this summer. She has often said that she would like to be an author of children's books. Who knows?? Maybe we have a future author living with us!!

Hannah and the Light Pole

This past Saturday, the girls were outside riding bikes. Our family rules are that the girls must have helmets on and they aren't to ride in the street. Hannah was riding her bike on the sidewalk and was going to turn around in the street to go the other directions on the sidewalk. As she got ready to do that she noticed a car turning the corner pretty quickly. So, she slammed on her brakes and ran right into the light pole!!

She busted her gums up with her braces. Hannah also had a knot that showed up quickly on her chin. She couldn't handle anything touching her chin. We decided to take her to the er for x-rays. She is lucky that she didn't brake anything. I feel really bad for her. I know she hurts still and the fact that she is still bruised doesn't help going to school. I offered to try and put a little bit of cover up on her bruise, but she passed.

The ER Dr. did give us her X-rays. They are pretty cool. Hannah thinks her braces might be a little messed up. She goes to see Dr. Barbre later in the week. Hopefully she hasn't messed that up!

Music

I have always wanted to be able to play the piano. Mom and Dad did give me piano lessons when I was younger, but I never really appreciated it. Now, I am wishing I had. There is something about the piano that is very relaxing to me.

I have always enjoyed listening to Jim Brickman. I guess you could say I am in a piano mode right now. That is why my new play list is ALL Jim Brickman. When I listen to him play, I can image myself at the piano playing the songs. I know that might sound a little odd. If it does, than I guess I am just a little odd.