Poor guy

I feel sorry for Ray sometimes because his job at the office is so hard!

Green Country Skies

Don't ever say that we don't do fun and exciting things. This past weekend, I took my kids to the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, only we weren't there to visit the museum. We were all pumped up about going to the PLANETARIUM!! I know, exciting huh?

Although the show had some very interesting facts and I left more educated about our skies than before I arrived, it was a little bit boring in parts and the kids said the same.

It can't be said that I don't do important things for my kids' education. I just hope that my kids' friends don't get jealous.

An upgrade

Remember this pathetic attempt to create a handle for our microwave, after the real thing had fallen off?

Now it's this.

I was worried that we didn't have a good seal around the door of the microwave and microwaves were seaping out causing us cancerous danger, so we replaced it before we all died. You can't tell here, but it makes the kitchen look different, more updated and high tech. Now we want to replace the stove and dishwasher so that all our appliances will look as spiffy as this new microwave.

How he came to live with us

Isn't he pretty? I know... it's probably just me, but I love this animal.

He's had a special place in my heart since I first saw him locked in an animal crate at the place where I took my dogs to be groomed. He stuck his paw through the little bars and batted at my fingers and then sprang off to play with a toy that dangled from the top of the crate. He's was the cutest thing, (after my children of course). He needed a home, but I left him there because I wasn't sure I needed a third cat. Since I could not get him out of my head, I ended up going back to the groomers the next day to take that little kitten home. He's been entertaining us everyday since.

Woot! Woot!

Here's the weekly update on the gas prices in this area. Can you believe that gas has fallen below $2?? I'm amazed and really had some doubts that we would ever see this price again. I realize that it won't stay at these prices but it's so great to see before it goes up again.

I'm not George!

"I will name him George and I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him."

And if you want to see the cartoon that this quote came from then I've put here for your viewing pleasure. (especially around minute 2:04)

Just because it's "white" again, doesn't mean it's clean!

We were a little slow at getting the pool filters cleaned for winter storage this year. We had freezing temperatures last night of 28 degrees and we still had not removed the filters out of the pool equipment and cleaned them. Actually, you are suppose to replace them every year but since they cost somewhere between $300-$500, we will be cleaning them until it's absolutely necessary to make that purchase.

Ray got home early from work and pulled out the pressure washer and started spraying them down. Then, thinking he was done after about 5 minutes of this, he came and got me to tell me he was finished and to come check them. Last year, I spent a good hour or so on them so this timely cleaning was a bit surprising. I went out to find that once I started spraying the filters, there was still murky water, lint and black particles coming out of them. It took us about 45 minutes to an hour more of this to get them as clean as they were going to get. And he thought he was done after 5 minutes!! I hope he keeps his day job because after taking out the trash, cleaning the garage and washing the cars, he's no good at house chores and I would not be very good at bringing home the bacon.

We had a nice evening last night at home. We don't have nights like that often because of our soccer schedules. Caitlin and a neighbor friend of hers from across the street went to the store and bought cookie dough. So while they made the chocoloate chip cookies, the boys and I patiently waited for our share of cookies and watched a few Family Guy episodes. That cartoon has so many things that are just so inappropriate but funny at the same time. The boys would laugh about the dumbest things. I think it was a "boy" thing, because I just didn't get it. And "no!" it wasn't the inappropriate stuff. I get that!!








It wasn't long and the smell of cookies had us headed for the kitchen where Caitlin and Kyle had started sampling them and taking crazy pictures. We each had so many cookies that I'm surprised we didn't go to bed with stomach aches. I love nights like this where we just hang out, laugh, cook and just enjoy each other.

This is what the rain brings

This was so fascinating to me. After our 4" of rain on Saturday, the low spot on our driveway had water sitting on it and as I was walking by I spot a few pink balls of what looked to be lint or some sort of fabric. I stopped to get a closer look and discovered that it wasn't lint at all. It was balls of tiny worms. Now, I know this looks disgusting, but isn't it strange and yet amazingly interesting? Ray said the worms were in a mating ball or was it a mating wad?.. I don't know but I'm sure he knew what he was talking about.


And just to make things more interesting, I'm including a video so that you can see them in action along with the snails that were also in mass attendance.

When a day starts out uneventful, watch out.

She looks harmless, but she's capable of making lemons out of lemonade.

Shelf work

I got a little distracted today on my day off from work, so it turned into a day of work at home. I reorganized my oversize pantry.

I hate this pantry because the shelves are too deep for food storage on one side. I'm making better use of that space by storing my cookware and other large items that I had in a bottom cabinet, where they were previously very hard to reach. This is a work in progress since I now have some empty cabinet space. I hope to put my Tupperware and plastic storage containers at an eye level area so that I'm not on my hands and knees digging stuff out that I need. I'm not finished but I think this is a good start.

He'll be paying me back to get it fixed

This is what happens when one of your children has a temper and gets mad while hitting the tennis ball against the wall in the garage. He couldn't get the tennis ball to do what he wanted so he hit it so hard that it ricocheted off the wall and into my side mirror on my car.

No bath for me, thank you.

Isn't she adorable? Ray gave all the pets a bath, one by one. She found a place to hide so that she wouldn't have to take a bath, and while she was hiding, she fell asleep.

Spa day for the girls

Our schnauzers had an appointment at the groomers today. Their hair has been getting matted because they have allergies and they lick to soothe their skin. So I had the groomer remove the longer hair, called skirts, that grows along their sides and leave only their beards. This style keeps them cool and makes life simpler for us all.

Not the traditional schnauzer cut, but they look pretty better all the same. Although, Brandi doesn't look happy about it at all. She's not exactly our foo-foo girl.

One down, many to go.

We won our first game in the regional tournament, 3-1. We are off to a good start, but our next game is going to be tough! Here's a picture of Caitlin taking a corner kick with the scoreboard behind her, showing our score when it was 1-0.

Once again, we ate dinner with the team after the game and this time it was at a little Italian restaurant called Monticello in Wilson, NC. It was very good and it was the first time that I had noticed the people around here have a very different accent.

Opening Ceremony Day

We've arrived in Raleigh for the regional tournament. All the teams from each state that one their respective State Cup (and some that weasel in) are invited to compete in this tournament. It's very competitive and takes a lot of work to get here.

The opening ceremony was nice and exactly the same as the past years except for the little girl that sang the National Anthem and brought us to tears or gave us chills. She was amazing to say the least! Here is a photo of all the teams on the lower level as they walk around and exchange our team t-shirts and try to get t-shirts from the other teams in our region. The girls love this part.

After that they gather together and have a team photo taken in their state shirts that were given to them by Oklahoma. The actual ceremony only takes about 45 minutes which is great because we've already been there for 2 hours sitting and watching the teams on the floor. That's exciting for about 10 minutes. I had a smudge on my camera while at the ceremony so a small portion of the picture looks a little wacky.

We had a team dinner afterwards at a place downtown called "Hi-5". The name of this place sounds appropriate for this day and age. (Sorry for the blurryness of this picture; that's what happens when you don't want to use flash because the flash will distort the color).

We had a good time but now it's back to business and it's time to open a can of "Shubert" on this place.

The Registrars

Here is a picture that was sent to me from the block party.

This is me with the Grand Paha as we sat at the registration table. Did I ever mention that the weather was beautiful that day? Just sayin'.

We don't need another

This is how my morning started.

Caitlin: Good morning, Madre. Isn't it the most beautiful morning ever?

Me: What's up... is it bad?

Anytime that sweet words come singing out of the mouth of one of my children, before 8:00am in the morning, it's a sure sign that something is up.

This sure sign came in a furry package.

Anyone need a cat?

He loves to help

Laundry is his favorite task.

Strike A Pose!

The passion vine that I bought this spring has been causing me some concern. I check it often to see how it's growing and although there are some changes, the changes are very small. I don't know if I have it planted in a bad spot so I'm going to try and find it a new home if it doesn't have a growth spurt soon.

I noticed earlier this week that it had developed a few buds, so although the leaves aren't spreading out in abundance, it is doing something.

And look!! I saw this today and just had to snap a photo. Isn't it a fascinating plant? If you want to see one that I think looks like a sea creature, then look at Tanya's passion vine. Be sure and click on the picture for a close up look. They certainly are not ordinary.