Did We...

celebrate Thanksgiving,

or Christmas?

As a matter of fact, we did.

Josh turned 7...

... on Janurary 30th. I hope this will be a great year for you my sweet boy.

He picked out his own cake.

I think he even tasted some of it.

Squirrel Hunter

Josh and his daddy love to hunt. Santa even brought Joshua his first real gun this year for Christmas. Not to worry, he does NOT ever touch it unless his is with his Daddy. Anyway, they have been hunting numerous times for deer, ducks and of all things squirrels. I am so happy that our boy is finally old enough to do these activities with his daddy. Last night was a big night for J because he finally killed his first squirrel. He was so proud of himself and came running into the house for me and my camera. Just look at his face beaming. Soon he and his Daddy are going to cook and eat those tree rats while the girls and I find something, anything, else to do.

Let Them Be Little

I have tried to make my children independent people who can do for themselves in most aspects of life. They can bathe by themselves, make simple meals, do their own laundry, pack their own lunches, etc. Because of their self sufficient ways, I often forget that they are still little children. I was reminded of this the other night when Josh was having one of his tantrums. He had had a "horrible day" and couldn't control the anger and tears. Anyway, I thought I would, for once, put aside what I was doing, run him a bubble bath and sit by the tub while he bathed. He and I talked about stuff and just hung out together for a while. He was soothed from the mood of earlier and I had some time to be still and listen to him.

It hit me that I expect them to do so much on their own that I don't get to enjoy those little moments like I should. My babies are growing up so fast and I realize I have to slow down and enjoy their company while they still want mine. Life is so good.

Tis the Season

I have always wanted to be one of those people who have it all together. You know the ones, their Christmas cards are addressed by Thanksgiving, most if not all gifts are wrapped and ready by December 1st and the Christmas decorations are up and perfect. Every year I tell myself this is the year I will be more organized and have it all done early so I can actually enjoy this season without any stress. Again it is not happening. We still don't have our family tree purchased, boxes of decorations are everywhere but none of it is out in any kind of order, my dining room is a landing zone for any and everything that we don't feel like dealing with which is a LOT of stuff, our Christmas cards are finally addressed but sitting on my desk because I haven't gotten to the post office to buy stamps and mail them, and the list goes on. HO HO HO

Mastectomy Law

I got this in an email from my mom's sister who is a two time breast cancer survivor. I have already signed this petition but if anyone reading this hasn't already please consider it.

Mastectomy Law Please read
Please Read and forward to all your friends...It could be you or someone you love.
Proposed Mastectomy Law Change (written by a surgeon); I'll never forget the look in my patients eyes when I had to tell them they had to go home with the drains, new exercises and no breast.. I remember begging the doctors to keep these women in the hospital longer, only to hear that they would, but their hands were tied by the insurance companies. So there I sat with my patient giving them the instructions they needed to take care of themselves, knowing full well they didn't grasp half of what I was saying, because the glazed, hopeless, frightened look spoke louder than the quiet 'Thank you' they muttered. A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery. This Mastectomy Bill is in Congress now. It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important. Please take the time and do it really quick! The Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill is important legislation for all women. Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same. There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the 'drive-through mastectomy' where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached. Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support.. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below.
http://www.mylifetime.com/community/my-lifetime-commitment/breast-cancer/petition/breast-cancer-petition

How Cute are They?

sitting around the campfire

Lacie and her purse

Meg loves a dog.

Sometimes in the chaos of living I forget to sit back and appreciate the little things in life. Mom kept all the kids for us a few weeks ago so we could work and in the case of Mere and Bill, attend a forestry convention. When I arrived to pick up my brood this is what I found. The kids had built their own little camp ground in the back yard, complete with campfire. Now look closely at the fire, they ripped up red, orange and yellow paper and stuck it between the sticks they had gathered to make it look real. It is amazing the things children will think up. How great is it to have a Grammie who will allow you to act on those impulses that would make this mom cringe because of the mess. Life is so so good.