Christmas

Shame on me for neglecting my blog! Busy starting a new job, moving kids to different schools and yes, Christmas shopping inbetween. I walked away from my job of seven years of working in the Deaf Community and serving the Deaf children. Actually, I took a job close to home, so that I could be home by 3 pm with all my chickens. I work with hearing children now. So much has happened this year. My sister is now a nurse in the NIC U at Winnie Palmer in Florida. I thought she was going to be the only one with a great new job, but I followed her by three months. The children are so busy. School was cancelled due to SNOW today. They played out in the snow all day. We are all snowed out. Frosty melted by late afternoon and the kids were sad to hear that school would resume tomorrow. This is the only place in the world where you can enjoy a Hurricane ripping off your roof top one month and a Blizzard the next. Who knew this was all in a package deal? Thank God the trees withstood the weight of the snow this month and the high winds back in September.

4th of July

4th of July was fun. We went to a Bar B Q at the clubhouse and they had Karokee. Tori wanted to enter and sing. Tori and Zoe entered the contest and sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. The crowd joined in and nick named the girls the "Twinkle Sisters" Then Daddy and the girls had some fun with fireworks in the back yard. Zach fell asleep outside in the rocking chair at 9 pm. The next day we took the kids to the Aquarium. That night at the pool at the club house we attended our first "Dive -in Movie" It started at 8 pm and they showed some old cartoons on a big projector screen and everyone swam and floated around in the pool and watched. It was fun. Zachie was all over the pool in his floaties. He loves to jump in and swim away. Then on Sunday my friend Mona came to watch the kids at 4 pm and James and I went to go see Chris Rock who was in New Orleans at the Super dome. He was awesome. He did a one hour new act. It was great. We even came back home to find no children in our bed. Courteousy of Mona, she had put everyone in their own bed and all were fast asleep. So Oreo and Moo Moo lived it up and it was the good old days with just Oreo and the cats in our bed. It was like floating on the sea, there was so much room. But by 2 am Zoe bear had realized where she was and joined us. Oreo was booted back off onto the floor, and she groaned about it. I waited for Zach to appear, but he was content in his sports bed. By morning the party was over and James marched on to summer camp, and we are hanging out. The pool is closed on Mondays,so the kids play upstairs and terrorize the animals. I know the animals enjoy Tuesday- Sundays. I bet they can't wait for us all to return to work and school in August. So far this summer, Tori learned to ride her bike without training wheels, Zoe can swing by herself now, and Zach can make it across the Monkey bars...himself...scary, but true. I do spot him, in case... So it was a good 4th of July.

Happy Father's Day!

The girls got into Daddy's closet and went to town.

Easter and Horses

Chilly weather

One day when I run it is 80 degrees, the next it is 44 degrees. I can't believe how much it can change in one day. My Zachie loves his new full bed. He still wants to fall asleep with me by his side, then I sneak away very carefully and quietly and I replace myself with Gizmo- our little dog. As long as there is a warm spot in the bed, zach will sleep. But if he opens his eyes and sees I did a switch on him, he will scream so loud! I think he wakes up three times, and I lay with him until he falls back asleep. Then I don't know which bed I am in half the time, because I wake up and move so much. No wonder I am so tired.But running has given me new energy, so I don't mind all the interruptions. It happens all day, why not all night?
Zoe and Tori have started their dances for the recital. They are so excited and now we need to purchase white dance sneakers for Tori's hip hop class. I can't wait to see that in action! James is also dancing with Tori in a number to "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend." So we will have to get that on tape. That is the perfect song for Tori. I hope her future husband is rich enough to afford her, she can't marry cheap if she wants her way.

Springtime!

Easter is around the corner. I love the Cadberry Eggs. They always contribute to 2 lbs! I have started to run again. My inspiration is Sister Madonna, a 77 year old nun who does Iron Man triathalons. Look out world, because here I come!

Hopper Kee

I go the ok from James and last Wednesday night. Hopper became our 7th addition. She is a sweet grey dwarf rabbit. Now I am sure we are the only ones that live on the golf course where it is so quiet outside, but the minute you open our door....Surprise! Two dogs to greet, three cats to pet, one turtle to admire and a soft bunny to hold while you watch T.V.
James is in California this weekend. We have a big pony birthday to attend on Saturday. Tori wants to start Jumping (horses). I told her we will try it and I contacted a lady who lives closer to us who teaches English. She is Western right now. English, Western....all these crazy titles.
Her birthday party is set for March 9th. Snow, Dressian, and Cupid will be hauled first class by trailer for some carrots and good times to our house. Getting ready for horses to visit, is always an adventure. Especially for those golfers on our hole. Sometimes they may think they are hallucinating. This will be their 2nd annual visit to our home.
That's the news here at the ranch/13th hole. Where you have to see it to believe it!

Mardi Gras Virus

Well, this was a big set back this week. All of us got the throw up virus. James and I took turns trying to get in some hours at work and take care of the kids. Next week, I am off, and that would have been the better time to be sick. It never works the way you want it to.
My two girl friends had to come and help me out over the weekend. James was out of town when the virus struck. I have no idea what I would do without my two friends to save me when James is gone. I need a live in nanny.
Tonight, we are headed out for a Mardi Gras parade. Zachie has a shirt that says, "Got Beads?" He is such a ham, I take bites and never can get enough.
Happy Mardi Gras!

37 Degrees...

is way too cold. How can people live in this? Thankfully, I park my car in my garage, but I have to get out when I get to work. Just walking 20 feet, I start to run to escape the feeling. This also means no outlet mall shopping. I can't concentrate on good bargains while running from store to store. The girls and Zach are not going to be happy when they realize no outside play this weekend. They are going to tear up the house. The maid cleans today, so I give the house until 8 pm when the toys break loose and the inmates take over the asylum. I am curling up on my couch with my 20 lbs of pure love cat, Sammy Sosa. James will be so jealous. Poor guy. He is in Texas this weekend. Well, my big plans will be to survive staying cooped up inside with the inmates. This is our young Jedi Knight in training. Yoda will be so proud. Young Jedi Knight Zachary already beat the girls on the head with his light saber to test it out. It works!

Yoda is back by demand.

Mike the Tiger

One of our most beloved blow ups, is still out in our front yard. The kids enjoy going to the window and seeing him all lit up outside. Zachie doesn't say Tiger, he says, DA DA DA DA to the hym of Go Tigers!
Christmas is gone in the house. All that remains are the outside back porch lights. It has been too cold to go outside and take them down. The house feels a little empty without the presence of two big trees. Guess we will have to fill the space with a toy.
James will soon be in season. We will be hiding out in the house until the weather turns warmer. Anything under 70 degrees causes for hibernation, especially for Bear. We already have sandal fever and can't wait to break out the swim suits and shorts. My birthday was sweet. James and I had a sitter and went to P.F. Changs and lived it up. We can't wait to return. We toasted that 2008 will be the best year ever.

Happy New Year!

We are back from our Florida Vacation. We were able to pull off seeing Mickey Mouse and my brother and his family. As always, mom and dad out did themselves and my sister kept us entertained by introducing the kids to a tire swing at a local park. As if the park in my sisters back yard was not enough. Tori and Maria got sick in the car on the way home. Uncle James and Uncle Scott went a little bit to far. However, the girls begged for it! And to top it all off, with the nonstop jammed pack actionfun with cousins and all, I asked Tori what was her favorite part of the trip, and she said,"Riding 10 hours in the car and singing with Zoe" How sweet.

Christmas is still up here at home. I tried to take it down and the girls cried, so we will be watching the game and high fiving the Christmas tree! Tori has no school tomorrow, catholic schools know better than to have school on a championship day game. My boss even emailed us telling us we could wear Blue jeans with our LSU gear. I plan on bringing my fold up chair and tailgating after lunch...at least in my day dream. HA!
Well, I don't have to lay out uniforms tomorrow, so I am going to hit the shower. Happy New Year.