Wordless Wednesday... 2/4/09

I know it's been way to long... but I'm trying to get back on track. It's certainly not b/c I don't have enough photos to share... I've got 1000's! LOL

Enjoy!


I love PJ photos :) and especilaly when either of the twins are in the other's PJs. ;) Check out Paul Thomas with the "CAM-mote" (that is what Nora calls the remote)


the hardest part for Paul Thomas was letting go of the blow dryer. After that, the puzzel was easy!

Nora making her "decision".... which flavor. I tell her everytime she can pick 5... they are 5 for $1...and funny -b/c she takes forevah to decide.. and then picks all 5 of the same one flavor. LOL

Paul Thomas loved hearing his voice echo off of the grocery list... he got louder and louder..

Olivia tries to flag down the ladies on the ride-on things...Hey can I get a ride with you!?!!?

Nora played the Salomi in "The Very Hungary Caterpillar" for grandparent's day at school... so of course we had have have some sliced and taste it before she could play her part. ;)

the babies loved it too!

ooough... two new books too! ;)

Come on Down the weather is great!

actually hold off on visiting a few days or so.. at least until our current guests leave... and we're not trying to rush them.... After all they JUST got here. ;)

Daddy and Clara arrived here today around 4pm our time and it was 70* when they stepped out of their truck. :) They really feel like they are on vacation now with the heat.. b/c today back in KY their town received 4" of snow and felt like 8*

They've come every year at the end of Jan/beginning of Feb since they married in 2006. They call it their anniversary trip :)

I'm not sure how long they are here for - Daddy doesn't usually like to stay very long as he begins to worry about his cows getting out after the 3rd day or so -but maybe, just maybe they'll stay until the snow in KY melts away! ;)

no seriously... this year they postponed the anniversary trip a few days so they could arrive in time to be my kido helpers while I have my reduction surgery Thursday (Feb. 5th).

Tomorrow we'll make a trip to Walmart while Nora is at school.. then pick her up and have lunch.. then spend the rest of the day here at the house.....Daddy, Clara and I really make a great laundry team. LOL Clara keeps the machines going.. then she and I fold it up all the while Daddy is watching CNN and The Weather Channel at the kitchen table just itching for the last piece to be folded so he can carry it upstairs :) for me. Isn't' that grrrrrrREAT!?

Who knows I just may be able to get a few of my "Daddy Do's" scratched off of my list while he is here.... like the curved shower curtain bar... that I bought last May...

I'm really thankful they arrived a day or so early so they can learn the babies routine and also where to go pick up Nora from school... I won't find out if I'm staying over night for my surgery until after the surgery is over and how I'm doing... the nurse said it's about 50/50 so bring an overnight bag just in case.

I'm sure David will keep our family and close friends updated on my progress. :) and as soon as I'm back home and feeling up to it - I'll let you know (here) how I'm feeling.

for now... I'm just a little nervous....and still can't believe that it's FINALLY happening! ;)


~bonnie

25 Things I love..

David and I both like to use Facebook and about 2 weeks ago there was a thing being pssed around called "25 random things about me." We both participated and it was fun to read comemnts that our friends left and also in turn read their 25 things.

Well I got to thinking... since it is February - and Valentines month, *the month of L-O-V-E*... why not do the same thing only this time one liners that begin with “I love” ?

So it didn't take me long to come up with my list -and I could probably do up another 25 (and I might) so here is a cut and past of what I shared with my Facebook friends today. ;) Enjoy!


Ok so here goes…I love......

1. I love being a mommy! I’m forever grateful to God for including this job in his plan for my life.
2. I love how Olivia say “ought-OH” so sweet… she has just a soft voice.
3. I love picking Nora up from school every day.
4. I love that I remember so much of my childhood and all the fun I had.
5. I love making quilts & hand stitchery.
6. I love it when I’m in another room and I hear David laughing out loud at the TV.
7. I love the way my babies look at me.
8. I love it when Paul Thomas plays Peek-a-Boo.
9. I love watching Olivia hold her baby doll.
10. I love reading books to the kids…and the nights when Nora reads to me!
11. I love bath time routine with the kids every night.
12. I love watching the twins climb the stairs!! Yea, I don’t have to carry them up as often now.
13. I love blogging about my family.
14. I love when David plays with the kids.
15. I love Paul Thomas’ laugh.
16. I love hearing Nora sing “Open the Eyes of my Heart Lord….I want to see you….”
17. I love how Paul Thomas calls everyone Momma, but me he calls “MawMAE!”
18. I love it when I hear David say my name… it’s a rare moment.
19. I love doing the HAPPY song after Nora eats all of her food.
20. I love listening to Nora play with her doll house – what an imagination.
21. I love Olivia’s curly hair.
22. I love kisses at bed time – thru the crib rails…mmmmuuuuahh!
23. I love when I’m holding the twins and they both hug my neck.
24. I love having a husband that is such a great father and is so fun!
25. I la,la,LOVE playing in the floor with the kids!! My favorite time each day.
    

Getting Ready a little early..

Today (Fri) while the babies were napping - Nora and I got a head start on her Valentines. One of the little girls in her class named Carley passed out her Valentines last week??? I'm not sure why so early?? but that got Nora in the mood to begin making her own too.

First we cut out a heart template and then traced it all about on the poster board. Nora even helped on this part which took lots of concentration on her part ;) I wish I had taken photos of us in progress... but at the time I didn't think of it.
I bought a 5 pack of glitter pens, which didn't go far... but we did the best we could with them. It was Nora's idea to add the buttons to the glitter paint while they were wet. I'm hoping they stick.

No one can truly appreciate these homemade hearts as much as I can... these are her **treasured buttons** ... the same buttons she has been playing with, cooking with, counting and sorting for over 2 years now as I worked on my quilting projects... First upstairs in the sewing/guest bedroom and recently in the dining room where I've moved my sewing machine to.

In the guest room, she'd carefully carry them over on a platter to the night stand and have me stop what I was working on to come open her oven doors for her... ;)

I only cut around about half of them - I'll save the rest for her to work on later. I know she's gonna be mad at me for even cutting on some of them as she is so independent... ;) We'll have to go shopping to find the perfect heart suckers to tape to the back of each valentine..

I only wish now we had cut them out first and she'd signed her name on the back of each heart. It will be hard for her to do that now with the buttons glued on. *sigh* Hind sight is 20/20.

Monday she will take shoebox to school to decorate as her mailbox for Valentine's Day. I don't recall ever making one of my own as a kid - but do remember other kids having them with them on the school bus. I always thought the shiny ones were the prettiest. (aluminum foil)

what's mine is mine and what's Yours is mine

Paul Thomas has loved shoes for several months but only within the past week or so he has laid claim to Nora's Cinderella slippers!

We're talking EVERY waking moment of EVERY waking day... doesn't' matter if he has on footed PJs or not - he is gonna be wearing these shoes! uham, I mean "heals" that I call clickers..

b/c despite the tile floors downstairs.. he has never fallen or slipped... he just click, click, clicks all around and man is he fast!

In the photo - all of his favorites... his "clickers", a ball, the step ladder, and that baby doll carrier... he HAS to have it on his arm just as bad as he HAS to have those Cinderella slippers on his feet! *sigh*

So far, David is playing cool... holding his breath hoping this is just a phase.. but you can bet Daddy would have a fit if after work he came home to "polished piggies" LOL :P

Maybe for valentines... ?

Goodbye AT&T - HELLO SPRINT ;)

I don't remember if I posted when I lost my cell phone just after Christmas or not... what an expensive trip to Target that day turned out to be... I wish I had never went the first Saturday of the new year to look at clearance items...much less bought that new CHI shampoo! Every time I shower and use those bottles I get sick to my stomach.

Not know the story? Let me give you the summary aka long story short - which I'm not so short on most times. LOL

I was at the Christmas stuff in Target 1st Saturday of the new year...David called me to tell me he and twins were headed to check out.

I say OK, Nora and I are on the way, hang up and put phone in pocket. walk up to front, stop at the shampoo bend down to read a bottle, stand up, walk to check out see over 35+ carts between David and me, go to call him, and I HAVE NO PHONE

ANYWHERE - not in pocket, purse, or shopping cart!^?$%*#

yes, I looked, and looked, backtracked all my steps 7 or 8 times, asked employees, customer service...even scanned all phones being held by everyone and anyone in the store that day... a week later check again, 2 weeks, on and on... whoever found it never turned it in so I consider it stolen. :/

Anyway -on to trying to get another phone.. after all I'm still being billed for service, so I need a new phone right? right.

For the past 4 weekends we have visited the AT&T store every Saturday - the day of to suspend service.. next week to see if we could get a replacement phone.. and have even called them and Tech support at least twice every week...

Nothing but the run around!

Can you believe that they told me there was NO PROMOTION I could receive b/c I had signed a new 2 year contract this past summer.. when I bought my (stolen) phone.. and that their cheapest phone in house would cost me $189.00!!!!!!!!!!!! I looked at it and it was a cheapO flip phone that didn't even have a color screen or camera... ummm NO THANK YOU! I need a phone to use with my laptop! no way I'm paying that much money for a junker!

Well this week David harassed them once more with a phone call and wasn't so nice on the phone with them.. after it was all said and done.. they were gonna give us 4 choices of phones for reduced rate of $299... Backberry curve, pearl or two others..I forget... but all compatible to use with my laptop.. still not a great deal - but a reduced cost..

So yesterday we drive over to Pt. Aurthur to the same AT&T store.. get in there wait our turn.. explain what Customer Service has promised us.. they look it up - AND NO DEAL! no notes anywhere to verify what we told them customer service had told us... urgh!

AT&T rep. tells me her hands are tied, she can't do anything unless they put in in the account notes so David uses his cell to immediately start calling customer service and tell them off and to get it verified and put on the computer b/c dang it we want to buy a phone today! It's been 3 weeks already we are not driving over here agian for a phone!

While David is on hold - he uses a computer on display at the AT&T store and looks up Sprint's phone number and tells me to call that number and just ask if they have any current promotions...
I stand there in the middle of the AT&T store and call SPRINT! on their display phone!

Tonya, who answered, told me that the same phone we are looking at (Blackberry Curve) is ON SALE for $149 and also will have a $100 mail in rebate - total cost to me for the new phone will be $49. I ask for info on rate plans.. and directions to their store in Beaumont..

sounds GOOD TO ME! Let's leave!

I tell David Sprint's deal -loud enough the person on the other end can hear.. he tells them we are leaving they say HOLD on.. so he does all the while we are loading up kids and stroller in the van..

He is still on with ATT customer service... and they begin to pannic - yet giving him the hold on a minuite.. I guess typing it all up .. but bottom line they WON'T match the deal!

So we drive over to Beaumont to Sprint.

Breaking my contract will cost us $174 with AT&T... but I rather do that then pay them another $299 for a phone! yeah I really dislike AT&T now - Especially after today! I'm so glad we dropped their a$$ and went with Sprint.

We've never switched carries in almost 10 years... and they could care less about keeping us.
AT&T jerked us around 3 Saturdays in a row and were doing NOTHING to help us get another phone! nothing!

So worth it to pay the $174 to break our contract.. and go with Sprint's deal.. only $49 after rebate for same phone!!! we came out $76 ahead!

Not only did we get a GREAT deal on an awesome phone... it gets better -

I got to keep my same phone number! and the icing on the cake? Sprint participates with Upromise so now we get $50 towards Nora's college for the new service!!!

Best choice for us by far!!!

Still stinks that I lost my other phone...and all the contact info... but at least we got a GREAT deal on this one!

I'm so glad we didn't skip the tree this year

I la,la,LOVE our Christmas tree! But I have to confess... I came very close to skipping it all together this year. Especially after seeing how hard it was to be on guard every waking hour with the twins while we were visiting my dad's home at Thanksgiving (and there were 4 of us adults watching them!)

The whole drive back from KY, I kept thinking how in the world are we gonna keep the babies from tearing down our tree!??

Finally I came to a conclusion - instead of putting it up in the den -this year we'd put it in the front room and add yet another gate to our "gated community" and just simply keep the babies outta there for the next few weeks.

and although we didn't get out all of our special ornaments this year.. and we didn't even put on the red ribbon that I love...we did put up several of our old memories as well as a few new ones that Nora made this year. ;)

This first one is my favorite new one from this year b/c of what it means.. Learning to use scissors was a HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT for Nora this year in preschool. I still remember her huge proud smile when I picked her up from school and she showed me this candy cane she made all by HERSELF. :Da star that Nora brought home from School this year. She also made a flower pot bell at Vacation Bible School this summer and I saved it for the tree - but forgot to take a photo of it.

and speaking of made "by myself" - this Noel wreath will always be special - my mom and I went through a huge crafting stage in the 80's - we had an awesome room in the basement set up with all our paints and made lots of stuff. She let me make this wreath all by myself! ;) I still wonder why I didn't give the letter "L" a design... maybe I ran out of ideas?

This cross is one I made at Vacation Bible School one year.

and this glass ball was made by a friend in Georgia.. in our BC life (before children) we gathered with about a dozen other BC couples every week for Friday Night Steaks... and that year one of the wives made these for each of the couples. Wasn't that sweet? I wonder where everyone is living these days since Augusta... Only one of those couples do we still keep in touch with now almost 12 years later..

and the bear in the stocking is another I painted at home with mom.... and the candle below was the one she made that year.. I'm so grateful to have an ornament made by my mother.

I'm looking forward to making ornaments with Nora, Olivia and Paul Thomas in the years to come...

From our home to yours..

Since the new fad of 2008 was to "Go Green" we decided to adapt to changing times and instead of mailing cards, we'd send our Christmas Greetings electronically this year. ;) at least this way you get your photo before uham, Easter, *cough, cough* LOL

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family across the miles. :) We hope that where ever you are, you and yours have a blessed Holiday Season. Thank you for being a part of our lives.

We send our love to all of you from Texas!

David, Bonnie, Nora, Olivia and Paul Thomas

Anyone know where I can find one of these?

Have you seen the newest remote yet? No? oh you gotta see it - I want one real bad . . .

Maybe if I see Santa I can ask him for one... but since I have no plans to go to the mall or anywhere shopping for that matter, I guess there is no hope running into Santa before Christmas... :(

~bonnie

Happy Birthday Malorie

Another Special Birthday today - to our neice Malorie who turns 11? Eleven? already?? no... why it seems as only last Christmas I got to visit her and hold her for the very first time on Christmas Day (the day she came home from the hospital)


She has grown up so fast... the photos that I am shareing with you today were taken when the kids and I evacuated to KY for hurricane Ike. Malorie's brother Lance had a pool party in September and although cold... the kidsn't didn't mind once they got warmed up. :)


Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to YOU,
Happy BIRTH day dear Malorie...
Happy Birthday to you! :)

KY Cousins: Lance, Nora, Ethan & Malorie

Malorie was so helpful to Nora in the pool... She is so sweet, loving, and very patient with her.

and Nora felt every bit as "big" as Malorie by doing everyhing that Malorie did.

and this is a cute one I captured - Nora "SNEAKIN UP on Malorie" :P

Today when I told Nora it was her birthday on the calendar she asked if we got an invitation to her party... I tried my best to explain things, poor Nora didn't quite understand that we are located over 900 miles away from the party... :(

Happy Birthday Malorie! We love you and miss you!!!

More Truths to Remember

Last week I shared with you an insert from our church bulletin... and this week they added some more. :) so I'll share with you again.

1. The most important things in your home are the people.


2. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.


3. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.


4. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.


5. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.


6. We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.


7. Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.


8. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.


9. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. *Learn from the turtle - it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.*


10. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

Questions

Guess WHO was the last to leave the kitchen last night?


Guess what I discovered this morning when I walked into the kitchen? The door left open all night! (pic is after clean out)


Guess who got to clean up the mess?


Guess how many times this SAME thing has happened this year?


Guess who JUST went to the grocery (only YESTERDAY) and bought 4 gallons of milk + various other dairy items?


Guess how much this is gonna cost?


Guess who better not evah do this again!?$#^?!



Some of you have already heard about David leaving the refrigerator door open.. or thinking he closed it but it swung open instead. *grrr* This is the THIRD time this has happened this year.. the first two were back to back! and I can't believe it but for one reason or another we were just talking about that... and then look what he up and did last night!?


It's bad enough that we lost everything due to loosing electricity THREE times during Hurricane season this fall... (Tropical Storm Edouard, Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike) along with another THREE times thanks to David's one last trip to the fridge before bed...


All I can say is - 2009 is around the corner and lets hope this was just a streak of bad luck for 2008...

Car Cart Momma, I see the Car Cart over THERE

I had put it off ad put it off... but today I couldn't go any longer.. We were out of milk AND diapers! and you can't go without diapers in this house.. so off to Kroger we went this afternoon after the twins woke up from their naps.

When we got there Nora was combing the parking lot for a "car cart" - you've seen them little cars attached to a very short (and hard to drive) shopping basket. Our Kroger only has two of these and she knows that unless we see one outside and get it - then there is no way I'm gonna hold/carry the twins into the store and take a risk that there may or may not be one.. too bad none of the regular shopping carts have the double seating upfront like the car carts.

I usually try to do all my shopping on the weekends while the babies are home with David... and even if Nora and I go in for just couple gallons of milk, she insists on riding in that car thing... so we do.

But today was the first time the twins got to ride in it.. not the car part but the sit side-by-side double seat thing... and boy did they have fun!

Here we are in the parking lot ready to go.

Olivia wasn't so sure when I started pushing.... hold me Momma!

and in the store... so much to see...

I forgot my list at home *URGH!* :/ Do you remember what we need to buy babies???

COOKIES!

yummmm yeah COOKIES!

Me too! Momma!

MMMMM - thank you Momma! :)
and just when we were about done.. Paul Thomas discovered a special treat above the checkout lanes... Christmas Ornaments hangin up! "BALL!" "SEE!" he'd say over and over.. so loud. He was so excited and everyone around was so entertained ;)

insert video 120 here

and here we are ready to unload and go home.. we didn't get everything on the list I LEFT AT HOME.. but we got the essentials! Diapers, Milk and Toilet Paper and some other stuff... :P

and Nora was happy to find a bag of PINK M&M's :D
What a fun trip to the grocery today... Occasionally things go smoothly when we are out and about.. and when it does, I cherish it b/c not every time is like that... so glad I had my camera with me to take pics to remember our day and share it with all of you.

Fun Friday

We get a lot of forwarded emails from a collection of freinds and family everyday... so I thought instead of forwarding ...I'd pick on and share with you here each Firday. :) Enjoy! ~bonnie

Ralph came home drunk one night, slid into bed beside his sleeping wife,
and fell into a deep slumber.

He awoke before the Pearly Gates, where St. Peter said, 'You died in your
sleep, Ralph..'

Ralph was stunned. 'I'm dead? No, I can't be! I've got too much to
livefor. Send me back!'

St. Peter said, 'I'm sorry, but there's only one way you can go back, and
that is as a chicken.'

Ralph was devastated, but begged St. Peter to send him to a farm near his
home....

The next thing he knew, he was covered with feathers, clucking, and pecking
the ground.

A rooster strolled past. 'So, you're the new hen, huh? How's your first day
here?'

'Not bad,' replied Ralph the hen, 'but I have this strange feeling
inside. Like I'm gonna explode!'

'You're ovulating,' explained the rooster. 'Don't tell me you've
never laid an egg before? '

'Never,' said Ralph.

'Well, just relax and let it happen,' says the rooster. 'It's no bigdeal.'

Ralph did, and a few uncomfortable seconds later, out popped an egg! Ralph
was overcome with emotion as he experienced motherhood.

He soon laid another egg -- his joy was overwhelming. As he was about
to lay his third egg, he felt a smack on the back of his head, and heard his
wife yell..... 'Ralph! Wake up. You shit in the bed!'

LOLOLOL I didn't see that coming did you? LOL Hope everyone has a great weeked! ~bonnie

David's missing wallet

It's been a wild day here at the MINOR home, David had a MAJOR problem... his wallet was missing for about 24 hours!!!

We turned everything upside down twice both inside and outside of our home...you name it we looked, in the van, my purse the diaper bag multiple times b/c the "last place he had it was in the van"

...but b/c it never showed up we looked in the sofa cushions, the laundry baskets, even looked in the flower beds outside, all the closets (twins like to hide stuff in there), even the trash can - not just the one under the kitchen sink, but the BIG one that goes to the street every week!!! I think he tore open at least the top three bags and looked thru...

What a crazy day... I tell ya...David was late to work lookin’ for it this morning... I helped him some before I left to go walking at 8am... and he even came home on his lunch break to search some more… and we both searched again together when he got home.

Then tonight after we got the kids to bed he made me go sit with him in our mini van parked in the garage to “reenact” everything we did and went yesterday on the way home from church...no luck.

Then.. he goes to the computer desk for something - maybe to cancel the credit cards, I don't know... and he pulls out the keyboard return and WALLAH!

There's his WALLET - just sitting there. **WHEW what a relief!*

Maybe "HE's" pregnant!?@#@! LOL sounds like something I've done with the car keys when I was expecting Nora... LOL

Again, I am so happy that he found it... not only do we not have to worry with it anymore, David is suddenly in such a BETTER MOOD now too! :D

oh what a day!

Truths to Remember

This was included in our church bulletin today and I thought was worth sharing. :) I especially like the first one... it was what got me through two hurricane evacuations this fall....

1. Faith is the ability to not panic.
2. If you worry, you didn't pray, If you pray, don't worry.
3. As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.
4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants u to be still so He can untangle the knot.
6. Do the math. Count your Blessings.
7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.
9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
10. Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.

One More Angel

While Nora was making her first 3 snow angels, I had the camera on photo taking.. so we had her do one more so I could video it. Isn't she so cute! I just wish there was a deeper snow so she could actally see her angels really good.

but she didn't mind! she love them all the same!

and if we had known school had been postponed we would have made a snow man.... as did the rest of the town. I counted 28 on my drive to go pick up Nora at lunch! But we didn't know school was postponed... or we would have!

Let's have a Snow Fight All Together!

Sorry to keep you waiting.. but these videos take forevah to load! So today I'll try the last two and see if they'll load. Yesterday I discovered that my laptop would go to sleep in the middle and mess up everything.. so last night I came to the desktop computer.

thanks for baring with me. Hope you enjoy them. ;)

I'm Gonna Find the Perfect Spot

Ok, folks here's the first video of three. I know Nora and I will be watching and rewatching them for months to come. :) They are all short but I think you will enjoy them.

I still can't believe it snowed here in SE TX! My friends who have lived here all their lives have never seen the ground covered like this before... history in the making I tell ya! ;)