We're thinking about getting a Wii Fit or as this video calls it, "a little white thing you stand on". This video says they cost $300 but I think they're around $90. I don't know, we have a couple of hoola hoops already so after watching this I'm not sure anymore...
I have a pretty sarcastic sense of humor that most people don't get but I thought this was pretty funny.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Garage Sale at REI
Yesterday Tommy, Tori and I went shopping for Tori's Kenya trip supplies. We had already found all of the necessary toiletries, meds, etc. and ended up at REI cause she wanted a "Life Is Good" cap and a compressible pillow and stuff.
She really wants an oversized, comfy, soft, light jacket for the plane and found exactly what she was looking for in a "garage sale" pile in the back of the store for just under $10. The only thing wrong with it was the zipper was broken. She didn't care cause she never zips it anyway.
There was some pretty strange stuff in that corner! Some of the stuff was used and returned and some was damaged. I can appreciate a bargain as much as the next person but I just didn't expect this type of stuff to be sold in an upscale outdoor equipment store such as REI. I think one running shirt had sweat stains on it. There was even a pair of insoles that were obviously used and filthy. Now that's gross! There was another shirt that we tried to get a pic of the tag cause it was too funny to me. The picture didn't come out but here's about what it said. "Worn 9 months, small hole in right arm pit." First, it's amazing to me that they would take something back after 9 months! Second, it's amazing to me that anyone would want to buy it!! It was a simple, plain green tshirt that had been worn by who knows who and who knows where and it had a hole in it. That's just crazy to me!!
Ok, so we went to pay and the lady said we had to be an REI member in order to get the garage sale prices. To be a member, we'd pay a $20 fee and then we'd get 10% off of future purchases and be able to buy stuff from their garage sale. I honestly wanted to laugh out loud but refrained. We didn't get the jacket cause then it would have cost us $30 instead of $10, we don't shop at REI that often and we would be just end up getting more junk email and snail mail. Not to mention that it would feed the materialistic demons of discontent and we'd end up "needing" a kayak or our own rock climbing equipment for all the big rocks we climb around here. Of course, I guess we would save 10% on it, though.
My question is this. They are garage sale items that are either used or damaged but they're saving that stuff for the members? Like it's special or something! Like it's a membership perk to get someone's used and returned junk! If they have a membership they could get the new stuff for 10% off! I mean think about it. Their members are sold on the new and expensive stuff. They will most likely buy that tshirt new for $40 (with their coveted %10 off!). You would think that REI would just want to sell this used/damaged stuff to anyone to get rid of it. I think this membership only garage sale concept is high up on the list of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.
So, it made me think. We're having a garage sale soon, no date set yet. We've got some good used stuff and there may even be something in the lot with a small hole in the arm pit. I think I may sell memberships to get to shop at my garage sale. Maybe for only $5 or $10, $20 is a bit much. I'll reserve a special corner for membership holders.
Anyone who wants to send this to REI is welcome to. I think I may even do it myself. Maybe they'll see how ridiculous of a thing it is they are doing. Nothing against the store, we like their stuff, I just have issues with the whole membership perk/garage sale concept.
She really wants an oversized, comfy, soft, light jacket for the plane and found exactly what she was looking for in a "garage sale" pile in the back of the store for just under $10. The only thing wrong with it was the zipper was broken. She didn't care cause she never zips it anyway.
There was some pretty strange stuff in that corner! Some of the stuff was used and returned and some was damaged. I can appreciate a bargain as much as the next person but I just didn't expect this type of stuff to be sold in an upscale outdoor equipment store such as REI. I think one running shirt had sweat stains on it. There was even a pair of insoles that were obviously used and filthy. Now that's gross! There was another shirt that we tried to get a pic of the tag cause it was too funny to me. The picture didn't come out but here's about what it said. "Worn 9 months, small hole in right arm pit." First, it's amazing to me that they would take something back after 9 months! Second, it's amazing to me that anyone would want to buy it!! It was a simple, plain green tshirt that had been worn by who knows who and who knows where and it had a hole in it. That's just crazy to me!!
Ok, so we went to pay and the lady said we had to be an REI member in order to get the garage sale prices. To be a member, we'd pay a $20 fee and then we'd get 10% off of future purchases and be able to buy stuff from their garage sale. I honestly wanted to laugh out loud but refrained. We didn't get the jacket cause then it would have cost us $30 instead of $10, we don't shop at REI that often and we would be just end up getting more junk email and snail mail. Not to mention that it would feed the materialistic demons of discontent and we'd end up "needing" a kayak or our own rock climbing equipment for all the big rocks we climb around here. Of course, I guess we would save 10% on it, though.
My question is this. They are garage sale items that are either used or damaged but they're saving that stuff for the members? Like it's special or something! Like it's a membership perk to get someone's used and returned junk! If they have a membership they could get the new stuff for 10% off! I mean think about it. Their members are sold on the new and expensive stuff. They will most likely buy that tshirt new for $40 (with their coveted %10 off!). You would think that REI would just want to sell this used/damaged stuff to anyone to get rid of it. I think this membership only garage sale concept is high up on the list of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.
So, it made me think. We're having a garage sale soon, no date set yet. We've got some good used stuff and there may even be something in the lot with a small hole in the arm pit. I think I may sell memberships to get to shop at my garage sale. Maybe for only $5 or $10, $20 is a bit much. I'll reserve a special corner for membership holders.
Anyone who wants to send this to REI is welcome to. I think I may even do it myself. Maybe they'll see how ridiculous of a thing it is they are doing. Nothing against the store, we like their stuff, I just have issues with the whole membership perk/garage sale concept.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Crazy Dancin'!
This video is cool. No flack about the name, please - I didn’t name it. The video is clean, I promise! This is a family blog afterall.
It was fun to watch and made me smile. I loved seeing all the different people from all over the world dancing and having fun the same as the next guy. It also makes me want to go to all of those places. We should all definitely smile more and "crazy dance" more! I won't be posting a video of me crazy dancin' though! I know you're relieved about that.
Enjoy!!!
Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
It was fun to watch and made me smile. I loved seeing all the different people from all over the world dancing and having fun the same as the next guy. It also makes me want to go to all of those places. We should all definitely smile more and "crazy dance" more! I won't be posting a video of me crazy dancin' though! I know you're relieved about that.
Enjoy!!!
Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
Brush your teeth and live!!!
My kids won't like this one but here goes...
The other day and for several lazy summer days now, I’ve had to ask my kids (not all of them, I must add, but a couple of them and I won't name names) if they’ve brushed their teeth and taken their vitamins. Since any sort of routine is completely non-existent this summer, for some reason these simple tasks they've done since they had teeth just don't seem all that important to them. You’d think that the fuzzy stuff growing on their teeth making them all yellow and stuff would get gross after a while!
Anyway, our last discussion didn’t seem to do much good either so I thought I’d post about it. I remembered hearing, from Anna at school I might add, that if you brush and floss your teeth you can actually add years to your life as keeping your teeth and gums healthy prevents gum disease. So, I did a little research and found this article. This is just piece of it, if you want to read more, you can click on the title. It mentions Oprah too so it has to be true! They also list 10 suggestions to ensure good oral health thus leading to a longer life! Hurry!! I know you're dying to get started!
Tooth or Consequences: 10 Steps to Add Years to Your Life
CHICAGO–March 9, 1999–University of Chicago internist and anesthesiologist Dr. Michael Roizen is making headlines with his RealAge program, which he designed to provide people with a scientifically valid age reduction plan.
You may have read about it, seen him on "Oprah" or "20/20" or even bought his book. And maybe you were surprised that flossing your teeth ranks right up there with taking your vitamins, quitting smoking and reducing stress as one of the top five things you can do to reduce your "RealAge." In fact, keeping your teeth and gums healthy allows you to add 6.4 years to your life, according to Roizen's plan.
"It makes sense," says Dr. Robert Schoor, president of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). "Periodontal (gum) disease is a bacterial infection of the gums, and that bacteria can travel into the bloodstream and other parts of the body, putting a person's health at risk."
Recent research has found that periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases and premature, underweight births.
And this from another page of the above linked website. I don't know about you, but it makes me seriously ask, "what if?".
Bacteria associated with periodontal disease have been linked to other serious health risks.
Osteoporosis
Heart Disease and Stroke
Pregnancy Problems
Diabetes
Respiratory Diseases
This article was not enough for me, however. I felt I might need photos to make an impact. So I hope you’re not too grossed out but I thought this might be effective for my kids and maybe it might help you as well if you’re dealing with this issue with your children. I do what I can...
Healthy tooth:
Gum disease:
Okay, I know that's extreme but GO BRUSH YOUR TEETH!!!
Update: My efforts were less than effective. Oh well... They read it and instead of running upstairs in horror that this may happen to them, one went outside to ride her bike and one went right back to playing Rock Band. The other one is still sleeping but she brushes her teeth. Guess I'll have to think of other tactics... Any ideas?
The other day and for several lazy summer days now, I’ve had to ask my kids (not all of them, I must add, but a couple of them and I won't name names) if they’ve brushed their teeth and taken their vitamins. Since any sort of routine is completely non-existent this summer, for some reason these simple tasks they've done since they had teeth just don't seem all that important to them. You’d think that the fuzzy stuff growing on their teeth making them all yellow and stuff would get gross after a while!
Anyway, our last discussion didn’t seem to do much good either so I thought I’d post about it. I remembered hearing, from Anna at school I might add, that if you brush and floss your teeth you can actually add years to your life as keeping your teeth and gums healthy prevents gum disease. So, I did a little research and found this article. This is just piece of it, if you want to read more, you can click on the title. It mentions Oprah too so it has to be true! They also list 10 suggestions to ensure good oral health thus leading to a longer life! Hurry!! I know you're dying to get started!
Tooth or Consequences: 10 Steps to Add Years to Your Life
CHICAGO–March 9, 1999–University of Chicago internist and anesthesiologist Dr. Michael Roizen is making headlines with his RealAge program, which he designed to provide people with a scientifically valid age reduction plan.
You may have read about it, seen him on "Oprah" or "20/20" or even bought his book. And maybe you were surprised that flossing your teeth ranks right up there with taking your vitamins, quitting smoking and reducing stress as one of the top five things you can do to reduce your "RealAge." In fact, keeping your teeth and gums healthy allows you to add 6.4 years to your life, according to Roizen's plan.
"It makes sense," says Dr. Robert Schoor, president of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). "Periodontal (gum) disease is a bacterial infection of the gums, and that bacteria can travel into the bloodstream and other parts of the body, putting a person's health at risk."
Recent research has found that periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases and premature, underweight births.
And this from another page of the above linked website. I don't know about you, but it makes me seriously ask, "what if?".
Bacteria associated with periodontal disease have been linked to other serious health risks.
Osteoporosis
Heart Disease and Stroke
Pregnancy Problems
Diabetes
Respiratory Diseases
This article was not enough for me, however. I felt I might need photos to make an impact. So I hope you’re not too grossed out but I thought this might be effective for my kids and maybe it might help you as well if you’re dealing with this issue with your children. I do what I can...
Healthy tooth:
Gum disease:
Okay, I know that's extreme but GO BRUSH YOUR TEETH!!!
Update: My efforts were less than effective. Oh well... They read it and instead of running upstairs in horror that this may happen to them, one went outside to ride her bike and one went right back to playing Rock Band. The other one is still sleeping but she brushes her teeth. Guess I'll have to think of other tactics... Any ideas?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Birthday Celebration!
My dad turned 70 yesterday. This past Saturday, my sisters and some other family members took him to a Brazilian Churrascaria, Fogo de Chao, in Houston for dinner. We lived in Brazil when I was a kid for 4 years and it was a great time for our family. So anytime we get the chance to relive memories from there we take it.The restaurant was an interesting and intense experience! It's also pricey but it was worth it for this occasion for sure. It was pretty much like a feeding frenzy of activity unless your coaster was
turned to red, then they stop bringing you meat and you have a minute to look up and take a breather. If your coaster is on green they swarm you like nothing I've ever seen with meat after meat after meat. The meat was perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious! They bring small dishes (because they know you are about to eat your weight in meat) of garlic potatoes, some fried corn meal stuff and fried bananas. I think Gwen and I ate our $50 worth in bananas! They were incredible!!
It was fun, we were gluttons, and we celebrated! I can't believe my dad is 70. That age seems old when you say it but for some reason, it doesn't fit him.
Dad, we hope your 71st year is the best ever!!
Check out the wrapping job! My sister wrapped it in a brown paper sack with blue duct tap and the bow is plastic grocery bags. Pretty cool, huh? My dad really liked the wrapping and the gift!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Nothin' good happens after midnight or 4 minutes before...
On Thursday night, after my sister's wedding and cleaning up and eating dinner out with my family, we finally got to bed around 10:40 (which is super late for us and we were beat!). We were rudely awakened by the doorbell at 11:56. I woke up Tommy and then Tori met us in the hallway at the top of the stairs. We were all half asleep and dazed. Tommy went downstairs and Tori and I looked out the bathroom windows to see if we could see anything. We didn't see any activity. She and I finally came downstairs and Tommy had already peeked out the door to see what was there and it stunk really bad. We looked out the downstairs windows and he finally felt like it was safe enough to open the door.
Some childish individual had put a smoke bomb on our front porch, on the straw mat. Straw is flammable, you know! By the time he had opened the door, it had already burnt out but it was super stinky.So, if you're reading this, and you were the one who thought it would be a good idea to spend 1.99 on the smoke bomb and then thought it would be funny to wake up the Stunz's at 11:56 at night - you were wrong! We lost precious sleep, were just a little freaked out, found zero humor in it and now we have to buy a new welcome mat cause ours has a big ol' burnt mark in it!! And it still stinks so how welcoming is that?
Friday, June 20, 2008
Mr. & Mrs.!
I gave Gwen a card at her "night before" party that on the front read in pretty silver letters, "Mr. & Mrs.". And on the inside it said something like, "How can two small words mean such love?" Awwww..... :)As of about 6:20ish last night, Mike & Gwen are officially Mr. & Mrs.! Everything was beautiful. It was short, small, simple, sweet and special just as I said it would be. We welcome Mike and his family into our family.
These are a few of my snapshots. These are the four sisters and their spouses and our parents. The last one is just for fun because that's what Anna is - just fun! The pics are not the near as good as Jenny's but they're okay for pop up flash photography. Jenny has a few of hers posted on her blog if you want to take a look.
We do have a beautiful and wonderful family, although not without our quirks! It wouldn't be a family, though, without that, would it? I'm not quite sure Mike knows exactly what he's gotten himself into. It's too late now, though, buddy, you're in for life!!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Goin' to the chapel...
... and we're gonna get married!My sister Gwen and her very soon to be husband, Mike, are getting married today! It will be a short, small & simple wedding but super special!
Gwen's daughter Shannon will be standing with her and her son, Matthew will be walking her down the aisle. How sweet is that?!?! Mike's brother will be standing with him. I can't say that's sweet cause that would be unmanly! But it will all be very special!!
Jenny will be taking some professional photos of the wedding but I'll post some of my amateur snapshots in the next day or two.
Congrats!! Lots of love and best wishes for a happy lifetime together from the Stunz family, Gwen & Mike!!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Broadcast
Bigstuf in one word was incredible. The theme was Broadcast this time and it was all about how what you enjoy or put first in your life is what you broadcast through your life to others who listen. That’s how it started and at the end they talked about how you need to make things right with God before He can start working and broadcasting through you in many different ways. Jared Heard and Stuart Hall were the speakers and they were incredible. While Stuart was the funniest and got the point across, Jared had the best message. 
I’m sure if you asked people who went they would say the opposite. But this is my post.
The band was one of the best praise and worship bands I have ever heard. Better than Steve Fee I am sorry to say. They played anything and everything just like it is supposed to be played. The guitarist, Ben I could easily compare to Phillip Hintze my guitar teacher and played incredibly. James David played acoustic guitar and sang. He sang realllllly well and had awesome hair like Ben the guitar player whos hair seemed to get longer every session.
The beach was beautiful and I got too many pictures on my phone of it. Ha I couldn’t help it. We saw stingrays an screamed like little girls until we could make it back to shore in a hurry.
It was fun and I learned a lot. Most importantly I feel like I am closer to God and I think everyone who went could say that. I can’t imagine anyone saying that they weren’t changed by going to Bigstuf it was so incredible.
There were many great stories that were told and I couldn't begin to tell you all of them.
Here is one. Just watch the video. Click on Jack/hope...>>>>>> Jack
I’m sure if you asked people who went they would say the opposite. But this is my post.The band was one of the best praise and worship bands I have ever heard. Better than Steve Fee I am sorry to say. They played anything and everything just like it is supposed to be played. The guitarist, Ben I could easily compare to Phillip Hintze my guitar teacher and played incredibly. James David played acoustic guitar and sang. He sang realllllly well and had awesome hair like Ben the guitar player whos hair seemed to get longer every session.
The beach was beautiful and I got too many pictures on my phone of it. Ha I couldn’t help it. We saw stingrays an screamed like little girls until we could make it back to shore in a hurry.
It was fun and I learned a lot. Most importantly I feel like I am closer to God and I think everyone who went could say that. I can’t imagine anyone saying that they weren’t changed by going to Bigstuf it was so incredible.
There were many great stories that were told and I couldn't begin to tell you all of them.
Here is one. Just watch the video. Click on Jack/hope...>>>>>> Jack
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Cherished Chaos Returns Soon
The kids will be home in a couple of days. The house is soooo quiet!!! Tori has called at least once each day and is having a great time. I haven't heard from Jakeb not once!!! The difference between boys and girls, I guess. I know he's still alive because Tori has seen him once or twice. I think he's been busy beating people in the basketball tournament.
Anna is having a great time at my mom's. My mom has been wonder woman this week! She's in charge of her church's VBS this week and has five kiddos at her house. Three of them are under the age of 5! My mom has always loved sharing her faith (and her pancakes!) with others and just can't imagine not bringing every kid in the world that would want to come to VBS with her. My mom makes the best pancakes in the world - from scratch! None of this Hungry Jack business! She loves cooking for her family, especially for her grandkids! I think Anna will probably come home a pound or two heavier. :) Anna moves over to Mimi's this afternoon where she is just as spoiled there as she is a Mawmaw's. When she comes home from being with grandparents, there's some re-training that usually occurs and we have to tell her, "You're not at Mimi's anymore! Go do your chores and get your own drink!" :) Grandparents are awesome and our kids have the best in the land!
Tommy and I have spent a lot of quiet time watching "the nothing" that is on tv. I'm not quite sure why we pay so much money for it when we constantly find ourselves flipping channels to find something worth watching. I've done a little shopping and got to have coffee with a couple of friends. It's pretty much been quiet and uneventful. This afternoon we go with my sister and her fiancé to eat dinner and then to a concert in the Woodlands -Chicago and The Doobie Brothers. I can't recall ever having gone to a big name band secular concert. If I did, I'm guessing it wasn't good cause I don't remember it. I know I've lived such a sheltered life! :) Anyway, it will be fun to hang out with Gwen & Mike and enjoy some good "blast from the past" music.
Tomorrow is Father's Day and the kids won't be around. Tommy is great at a lot of stuff and he's especially great at being a dad!! Maybe Jakeb will call his Dad on Father's day. We'll see... We celebrated Father's Day with Tommy on Tuesday before the kids all left. Tommy & I will go see our dads but it'll probably be just another quiet day for us.
Then on Monday, the cherished chaos returns.
Anna is having a great time at my mom's. My mom has been wonder woman this week! She's in charge of her church's VBS this week and has five kiddos at her house. Three of them are under the age of 5! My mom has always loved sharing her faith (and her pancakes!) with others and just can't imagine not bringing every kid in the world that would want to come to VBS with her. My mom makes the best pancakes in the world - from scratch! None of this Hungry Jack business! She loves cooking for her family, especially for her grandkids! I think Anna will probably come home a pound or two heavier. :) Anna moves over to Mimi's this afternoon where she is just as spoiled there as she is a Mawmaw's. When she comes home from being with grandparents, there's some re-training that usually occurs and we have to tell her, "You're not at Mimi's anymore! Go do your chores and get your own drink!" :) Grandparents are awesome and our kids have the best in the land!
Tommy and I have spent a lot of quiet time watching "the nothing" that is on tv. I'm not quite sure why we pay so much money for it when we constantly find ourselves flipping channels to find something worth watching. I've done a little shopping and got to have coffee with a couple of friends. It's pretty much been quiet and uneventful. This afternoon we go with my sister and her fiancé to eat dinner and then to a concert in the Woodlands -Chicago and The Doobie Brothers. I can't recall ever having gone to a big name band secular concert. If I did, I'm guessing it wasn't good cause I don't remember it. I know I've lived such a sheltered life! :) Anyway, it will be fun to hang out with Gwen & Mike and enjoy some good "blast from the past" music.
Tomorrow is Father's Day and the kids won't be around. Tommy is great at a lot of stuff and he's especially great at being a dad!! Maybe Jakeb will call his Dad on Father's day. We'll see... We celebrated Father's Day with Tommy on Tuesday before the kids all left. Tommy & I will go see our dads but it'll probably be just another quiet day for us.
Then on Monday, the cherished chaos returns.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The kids just left and I miss them already!
Tonight, Tori and Jakeb left for BigStuf camp in Panama Beach, FL. It’s Tori’s third time to go to that camp and Jakeb’s first. I’m not sure which one of them was more excited. They sat around all afternoon looking at the clock. “Is it time to go yet?” It was at BigStuf two years ago that Tori came back with a strong desire to go to Kenya and in just over a month, she is going. It’s always cool to see what God does at this camp.
Anna will go to “camp grandma” starting tomorrow. She’ll be going to my parents until Saturday and then to Tommy’s parents through Monday. Whatever will Tommy & I do with ourselves??? Actually, I have to get a couple of major projects done here at home and work a little at the church office to do some web work and finish cleaning up some things on our church website. Tommy will be at work too. I’m hoping we’ll get to enjoy some peace and quiet in the evenings, maybe watch a movie or two or maybe spend some time with some friends, who knows.
I'm sure I will miss our kids a lot!! Even though it’s nice to have a break, I was made to be their mom and I’m just not myself when they’re not around. I’m sure I'll wander through their rooms a few times during the week. I'm sure I'll be keeping my phone close to me just in case they call (they are pretty good about calling - I sure hope that lasts). I’m sure we’ll have some stories to post when they all get home. And I'm sure I will be glad to see them.
Anna will go to “camp grandma” starting tomorrow. She’ll be going to my parents until Saturday and then to Tommy’s parents through Monday. Whatever will Tommy & I do with ourselves??? Actually, I have to get a couple of major projects done here at home and work a little at the church office to do some web work and finish cleaning up some things on our church website. Tommy will be at work too. I’m hoping we’ll get to enjoy some peace and quiet in the evenings, maybe watch a movie or two or maybe spend some time with some friends, who knows.
I'm sure I will miss our kids a lot!! Even though it’s nice to have a break, I was made to be their mom and I’m just not myself when they’re not around. I’m sure I'll wander through their rooms a few times during the week. I'm sure I'll be keeping my phone close to me just in case they call (they are pretty good about calling - I sure hope that lasts). I’m sure we’ll have some stories to post when they all get home. And I'm sure I will be glad to see them.
Anna's Piano Recital
Anna and Tori are both taking piano now. Tori and Jakeb both took when they were younger for a few years. It became uncool and too expensive for Jakeb to keep it up and oboe took over for Tori and we couldn't do piano and oboe lessons so since oboe was for a grade, guess which we chose?Anna began taking piano lessons almost two years ago. We switched teachers in January of this year and at that time, Tori decided she would be interested in taking again. It is just the most wonderful thing to hear my kids play and sing! I sound like my mother! :)
Tori did not want to participate in the recital, which I completely understand, and Jakeb doesn't have a recital for his guitar lessons, but Anna did participate in her recent recital with her new teacher. It is a very casual atmosphere with not too much emphasis on formalities, which you'll see when Anna bows. We just aren't teaching our kids the more important things in life, I guess. She should know how to curtsey (heck, I didn't even know how to spell it but spellcheck said this was right) They had a swim party afterwards which I'm pretty sure was Anna's main motivation for participating in the recital. The girl LOVES to swim!Here's the video of Anna's song, "Plurals". She played it from memory and started in the wrong finger position but quickly found her place and had a little bobble in the middle but again, recovered quite well. She is so much more confident in her recitals than I ever dreamed of being! I'm such a proud mama!!
Friday, June 06, 2008
Fun at the Flowing Frio River. It was Fabulous
I way over exagerated the title. The frio river was not flowing hardly at all. Ha we still had a really good time. I went with the waguespacks to a camp on river road called 7 bluph or bluf or something along those lines. We stayed in a spot about a quarter of a mile from the river so we did a whole bunch of walking. We climbed a mountain that I am pround to say was over 1600 feet high. Me and my adventerous butt went up the mountain just to see what was at the top and all I found was a bunch of Goat poop. Me and some others climbed it again since they didn't believe that I had made it to the top. I prooved them wrong as I usually do to everyone... that's not a joke. Other things we did... well we kayaked, tubed, walked half the river, snorkeled till our backs turned colors. We ate... and ate... and ate. We played basketball on a 7 foot 6 inch goal and dunked a little on the old men... don't tell them I said that. I got tan... times 100 and a little more red than brown. I won't go into detail on that. We set up the wii only to find that we didn't bring a guitar hero guitar. What good is a wii if you don't have one of those? Well I guess we played a little NBA Live 08. We went to Garner and watched people dance... haha I learned the texas 2 step thingamabob. I don't quite know how it will benefit me in my later life but heck I know how to do it. It was also all country music which I might have to do another post on later. Man... What is up with country music?! Well that was pretty much it but all I know is that I had great time with the Waguespacks and they are fun people to camp with.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Ever wanted to go to Rwanda?
http://web.mac.com/jonathandgolden/Rwanda/My_Blog/My_Blog.html
This is a blog from the founder of Land of A Thousand Hills Coffee. Tommy and I have been purchasing their coffee for a while now. Their motto is "Drink Coffee, Do Good!" It's a great company and they are definitely on the right track with helping the people of Rwanda learn to earn a living and produce excellent coffee. Jonathon Golden is in Rwanda, so if you've ever wanted to go to Rwanda, now's your chance - in a round about kind of way.
We also purchase coffee from Esparanza Commodity Group. This is really great coffee also with a very different flavor. They grow their coffee in Nicaragua and although they have a slightly different twist on how they are doing good with coffee, they are doing it.
We haven't bought store bought coffee in a long time. Buying coffee from LOTH and Esparanza is more expensive but it's very, very good and we just cut back on something else if we need to. I've spoken personally with both of these companies/groups and they are completely committed to providing excellent coffee and loving the people of Rwanda and Nicaragua.
You can read more about fair trade here if you want. It's kind of interesting and there are many different aspects of it.
This is a blog from the founder of Land of A Thousand Hills Coffee. Tommy and I have been purchasing their coffee for a while now. Their motto is "Drink Coffee, Do Good!" It's a great company and they are definitely on the right track with helping the people of Rwanda learn to earn a living and produce excellent coffee. Jonathon Golden is in Rwanda, so if you've ever wanted to go to Rwanda, now's your chance - in a round about kind of way.
We also purchase coffee from Esparanza Commodity Group. This is really great coffee also with a very different flavor. They grow their coffee in Nicaragua and although they have a slightly different twist on how they are doing good with coffee, they are doing it.
We haven't bought store bought coffee in a long time. Buying coffee from LOTH and Esparanza is more expensive but it's very, very good and we just cut back on something else if we need to. I've spoken personally with both of these companies/groups and they are completely committed to providing excellent coffee and loving the people of Rwanda and Nicaragua.
You can read more about fair trade here if you want. It's kind of interesting and there are many different aspects of it.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
My New Job
Yesterday I took Anna and two of her friends to the Clute pool. They had alot of fun and no one got sunburned! This is an accomplishment in and of itself.
I lounged part of the time in the shade with a cool breeze blowing and part of the time in the sun sipping a cold diet coke. I got in the pool once to cool off and sat some more.
I decided that working on my tan could be my new job. Why do they call it "working" anyway? Oh well... the problems - I don't tan and instead of getting a paycheck, it actually cost me money. That doesn't work out so well.
I think I'll give it a few more tries, though, just to see. So, if you call me and I don't answer, I'm probably at "work".
I lounged part of the time in the shade with a cool breeze blowing and part of the time in the sun sipping a cold diet coke. I got in the pool once to cool off and sat some more.
I decided that working on my tan could be my new job. Why do they call it "working" anyway? Oh well... the problems - I don't tan and instead of getting a paycheck, it actually cost me money. That doesn't work out so well.
I think I'll give it a few more tries, though, just to see. So, if you call me and I don't answer, I'm probably at "work".
Monday, June 02, 2008
For the LAST time... really.
This will be the LAST of the "For the LAST Time" posts. Here's Part 1 and Part 2 if you need to catch up.
Last week, the kids all had their LAST day of school. They all finished well and we celebrated at Chili's for dinner- we even let them order cokes! Woohoo!!!
Anna had her LAST end of school party ever in a school setting because even if she does go back to public school they don't do parties in upper grades like they do in elementary. It was alot of fun. I've put a few pics below and a short video in case you've forgotten what a bunch of screaming, competitive 3rd grader's sound like.
Tori played in the Buc band for the LAST time at graduation on Saturday.
Jakeb had his LAST day as a freshman. I think we all remember how good that feels!
I worked my LAST official day at the church office. Along with that came a week full of LASTS. It is bittersweet for sure but I'm excited that I get to stay home. I just have to figure out how to live that way again.
Tommy has already started on his FIRSTS so he has no LASTS to speak of. He started his new job last Tuesday.
Life as we have known it for a long time has ended and we are heading down a new path, same destination but a continuation of our journey with new and exciting FIRSTS. (No, I'm not planning on a FIRST's series.) We're looking forward to seeing what God has for us and the new and exciting ways we'll get to serve Him.
Anna and Mrs. Gary - she was a fantastic teacher!
Anna's 1st relay of the day. She is great at sports and has incredible balance! She's pretty competitive too. Wonder who she gets that from?
What a cute kid!!!
Anna absolutely loves watermelon. One kid in her class had a plate full of watermelon rines(sp), he probably ate about 15 pieces. I'm sure he had a terrible belly ache that afternoon!
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