(Hum the Jeopardy Theme to yourself)

What should my kids be for Halloween?

Here are the ones I am thinking about for Lindsay:


I was also thinking that Joel could be a Monkey, and he and Lindsay could match. Is that too cheesy?

My idea for Joel is to dress him up like LEO from Little Einsteins. Mike thinks I should make Lindsay look like Annie, though I'm not sure how I'd do it since she's blonde. I might be able to make her look like June (below with Leo).



So, why don't you all chime in and let me know what you think? :)

Zoom zoom

I received this picture from Melanie today. It is one from the Zoo last week. :)

Been around the world and I can't even find myself

Don't worry. I know where my lover is. :)

So, I'm a bad blogger, I guess. I'm trying though! Let's catch up, shall we?

Since the last time we "talked", we've been very busy! On Saturday the 12th, we loaded up the van and went to Tulsa. My Dad and Mom joined us for the trip. We had dinner and stayed the night with my Aunt Mardena and Uncle Bob. We had a great dinner and loads of laughing. Lindsay didn't like sleeping in a strange place so much, but we survived.

Sunday, we went to the Memorial Drive church, the new stomping grounds of our friends Shane & Alice Coffman. He has some pics of our visit here: http://shanecoffman.blogspot.com/2006/08/thanks-for-coming.html, if you are interested. We loved their new church home! And it was so great to see Shane living his dream. Alice made us a wonderful lunch, and then we headed back home.

Sunday night, we went to Incredible Pizza with our connections group for a "back to school bash" for the kids. That, of course, included Mike, who seemed to have a good time. All I have to say about Incredible Pizza is: that place is NUTS.

Mike started back to school on Monday the 14th, though the kids didn't start coming until Thursday. He's loving his job. Enough about him, he has his own blog!!

The kids and I have slowly settled back in to a routine of sorts. It was so nice to have Mike home for the summer. However, I don't feel I accomplished as much when he was home. It was so much more fun to watch movies and travel when he was home! For about 3 days, Joel looked all over the house for Mike. I kept telling him that his daddy was at work. Consequently, from about Thursday on, Joel has made the mental connection that anything he wants but can't have is "at work". Conversations go something like this:

Me: What do you want to eat for breakfast, Joel?
Joel: I need Pizza.
Me: We can't have Pizza for Breakfast, silly. How about some applesauce.
Joel: No pizza. Pizza at work.

We went to the Zoo on Wednesday morning with Zane & Melanie. That was a blast! I'm ready for those Zoo trips to be cooler, though. I didn't get pics at the zoo, but Melanie did. Maybe I can get a couple from her soon... For 2 days after going to the Zoo, Joel kept asking to "go to the zoo with Zane and Memamie". When I told he we couldn't go to the zoo right now, he said... "No zoo, zoo at work."

Thursday evening after the kids were in bed, I went to pick up my mom to go to Kohl's. I love that place. I keep telling my mom they should just give me the stuff it's so cheap. I need to get a job there... Anyway, I got a "nail" the size of Texas in my tire as I was leaving the neighborhood. What a pain. The good news? My tires have a 24 month replacement plan, so on Friday, I drove to the dealership without having to put on a spare tire (I have run-flat tires on the new van) and they replaced the tire for no charge. What a deal!

I took Lindsay to the pediatrician on Friday. She's growing perfectly! She weighed 20.1 lbs and was 28 inches "tall". Also new on the Lindsay front, she's officially weaned. Only took us about 2 weeks to get that taken care of. Cry freedom! :)

Friday night, we spent time with both sets of grandparents. My parents had a back to school-ish dinner for all of my dad's co-workers. It was nice to meet several new workers and nice to chat with those we've known for a while now. They are a great group of people. After dinner, we went to Mike's parents' home for "Pie and Pickin'". Joel enjoyed identifying the bass, guitar, and banjo. He played every instrument, even though we told him not to touch them, and he danced in the circle as they played. What fun!

Saturday, Joel, Lindsay & I went to Quail for the Kids Safety Fair. Joel had a blast jumping in the moon bounces, and Lindsay took lots of notes from the Stranger Danger presentation. Here's a picture of her taking notes:



So, you are essentially caught up. I'm going to try to do better now that school has started. I promise!!!!!!!

I just want to be where you are...

Lindsay loves her big brother. Yesterday, she was trying to get in to the high chair with him. Joel didn't want her to. I labeled this picture: "Stop touching me!"


Joel is into helping out around the house. Here's a picture of him helping in the kitchen:


Also yesterday, Lindsay pulled up by herself for the first time!

Summer days driftin' away

This is too cute not to share. Lindsay is starting to pull up. Didn't she just start crawling yesterday? They grow to fast... I labeled this picture "Who, Me??"


Her big brother has a new name: King Applesauce.

Mike has only a few days left at home with the kiddos before he reports back to school. We're going to miss our summer family time!! If only no one had to work... ever.

It's been a long time coming...

So, I really am alive. To catch up with the events of the past week...

Tuesday, I spent the day working so we could go out of town.
Wednesday, we got up at 4 am and drove to Hurst to my grandparents house. Wednesday was a full day of family reunions and mourning my uncle. The kids did great, and it was our first road trip in the new minivan. I don't quite know how I lived without it!!!

Thursday, we spent a bit more time with family and then headed back north to OK. I spent about 12 hours working to get ready for Friday's audit.

Friday I was a complete basketcase. It isn't over, but the preparation I needed to do is done, for the most part. We'll have another appointment at the end of the month.

Saturday, my mom, my cousins Ellie, the kids and I went to the zoo. It was HOT! They seemed to have a good time, though. Saturday evening, Mike and I went on a double date with Keith and Kathryn Varner. What fun! We ate at "Cheeseburger in Paradise". I had a chicken sandwich that was wonderful. Then we went to see Superman Returns. It was a great evening!

Today (Sunday), Joel woke up with a rash all over his legs. I was on the phone with the pediatrician by 8am. After 2 trips to Mercy After Hours and 2 trips to Walgreens, we now know that he has hives and that he will be fine. He did have to get a shot, which was not his or my favorite part of the day.

So, you are caught up with events of the week. I hope that I will have some pictures to share with you all tomorrow. My mom took the Zoo pics, so I need to get some from her. I have lots of picture of Joel's rash, but I'll save you from those...

Hasta la vista...