Our Little "Independent"

As we were passing under George Bush Tollway the other day Benjamin made sure that everyone in the car knew that the street we just went under was George Bush. I was surprised that he knew it. So "George Bush" sparked a conversation between Benjamin and me about Presidents, Republicans, and Democrats. At one point I asked Benjamin, so do you think you'll be a Republican or Democrat when you grow up? His answer was "I just want to be Benjamin". Good answer kid.

Gingerbread House

This is the gingerbread house Benjamin and I did during Savannah's nap the other day.....













This is the gingerbread house 15 minutes after we finished it. The silly roof won't stay on!

The Way Kids Think.....

Me:
"Benjamin, I'm so glad you don't wear diapers anymore".

Benjamin:
"Momma, I'm so glad you don't wear diapers anymore too".

Thanks for the visual son.




Me:
"Benjamin, what do you want to get Jesus for his birthday this year?"

Benjamin:
"A T-Rex dinosaur!"

Me:
"Why do you think he'll like that?"

Benjamin:
"Because I gave it to him....oh and he'll make it invisible!"

Makes perfect sense kid.




Savannah:
"Momma, Momma, Momma, Momma, Momma, Momma, Momma, Momma...."

Me:
"YES, SAVANNAH?!?!?!"

Savannah:
"Ho, Ho, Ho!"

As much as the constant "Momma" annoyed me on this one, her response made me laugh out loud.

Vegas

I took a trip to Vegas with my friend Natalie a couple of weeks ago. We had an absolute blast but I tell ya, being the low-key person that I am, Vegas is a city I can only do once about every 5 years. It's non-stop in that city!

Of course our first meal there (breakfast) had to include mimosas!

















This is Natalie getting her shirt for signing up for the 1/2 marathon. Since she hurt her hip and was on crutches the entire trip, she obviously had to opt out of the run that she had signed up for months before hand. Poor thing! She was a trooper though.

















Mike and Natalie. Mike ran the entire 26.2 mile marathon the next day!













Natalie and me before hitting "old" Vegas.













Our rings we purchased to commemorate the trip.














Liza and Natalie in front of our hotel, the Luxor.

Debbie Downer

I'm so glad today is almost over. You see, my day started at 2AM. I woke up with a sore throat and couldn't go back to sleep. Then, after I dropped the kids off at school my car dies on a busy street and I have to wait for David to arrive to save me. Come to find out, the guys who changed my oil last time didn't put something back right (this is WAY over my head but whatever it was it was easily fixed by David). Then shortly after that I end up at the doctor's office getting tested for strep throat. Later that afternoon I let Benjamin eat a cookie with nuts (I forgot to check if it had nuts) and he had an allergic reaction while walking out to our car from school. I've only got a few more hours until bed and I'm ready to put this day behind me. Hold on, I'm in the middle of cooking dinner, something's bound to go wrong with it, right? The day still isn't over yet! I'm still smiling though...things could always be worse!

Life is Good....

Does it get any more peaceful than this? Frederick sleeping by the fire all curled up in his bed, all lights out except the Christmas tree, and a sweet little boy also by the fire, passed out with a light snore. Ahhhh, life IS good!

Thanksgiving 2010

Guess I should have posted this too with the post below! Duh! We spent Thanksgiving this year in Waco with David's family. Had a great time. We all seemed to be fighting colds but that certainly didn't seem to slow many people down.

David, Kelly, Benjamin, and Savannah












Cousin Abby and Benjamin at Homestead Heritage showing the candles the two of them made.

















Check out the static in his hair! This was from jumping in the grandparent's bounce house.












Savannah too!













McKinney family picture. Loving the look Savannah is giving me!

Thanksgiving Dress Up

This is WAY past due but I came across it recently and want to post it! The kids had a Thanksgiving feast a couple of weeks ago at their school. I thought it was a great opportunity to dress them up in the Thanksgiving spirit. Mom and I found the cutest little turkey dress for Savannah and a matching bow. We decided to dress Benjamin up in matching colors. However, he turned out looking more like a UT fan....ugh, at least Baylor rocked their world when we played them! Anyway, here's a picture below. They look absolutely thrilled to be matching don't they?

Fear...but thanks to this blog I've talked to myself out of it....

I'm fearful. Fearful of one big thing lately. Death. I fear dying and leaving my kids without their mother. Fear of my kids dying and leaving a whole in my heart that I feel could never heal. Fear of my husband dying and my kids not growing up to know him. Fear of my parents and other close relatives dying. I seem to obsess about it a lot lately. It even cripples me from going about life sometimes. I fear meeting up with a friend for dinner might end up in a car crash and me dying. So if the plans happened to get canceled because of one reason or another, I'm okay with it. I fear taking trips with my husband for fear of the two of us dying. I fear my kids riding in the car with other people because I feel I'm the only perfect driver on the road (big-headed, I know).

I'm getting older. If my life doesn't get cut short, then one day I will die of old age. That old age just seems to be coming faster and faster. I'm not ready to leave. I want to see my kids grow up, I want to experience the joy of being a grandparent, I want to see how much more my relationship with David will continue to strengthen and grow. I want so desperately to grow old with him. Time just won't slow down.

So how is it, with me being a Christian, that I have this irrational fear of death? We are to have no fear in death. I mean, we're going to be with our Lord and Saviour, why isn't that all I need to comfort me and put my fears to rest?

This isn't "my" life. My life belongs to my Heavenly Father. So I'm being selfish and I'm looking at it all wrong. Give as much as I can to others. Make their lives easier. Make memories with the ones I love, now. Enjoy every moment that I have with all these precious people. Bad moods, impatience, grudges....let it go. Life is too short. God has given me this time now and I will not take it for granted anymore. I will squeeze all the fun and love out of this life that I can and look forward to one day laying my tired head at my precious Saviour's feet, and eventually all those I love will be there too. Now that's some comfort!