I've lost my Maria

I am realizing how much Allie helps me! We went to the Dr yesterday and he said "I am not going to lie, this is a bad break and I can't fix it here in the office." So Monday they are going to put Allie out and try to get it back into place. Her hand is really swollen and she is feeling the pain. It is her right hand. She was/is worried b/c TAKS is on Tuesday and there is no way she can take it then, hopefully next week on one of the makeup days though. I told Allie I lost my right hand gal- literally. I guess this is good so I appreciate her more. There are so many things she helps me with the kids, dishes, laundry and whatever else I need. She has had a great attitude about this though. Monday is a big day for her class. They are going to Enterprise City, something she has looked forward for months and now won't be able to go. She is hoping she doesn't miss too much soccer and worried she won't be able to play FB @ recess or go to PE. I never thought she would be a tomboy but I am so glad she is who she is and holds her own with the boys.

Allie's Awards

Allie was awarded a BECCA award in school a month ago. I really didn't know what it was for. The office just called me to come to the Friday assembly when it was awarded. To make matters more confusing Becca is the school dog. Becca goes to everything and lives in the school. I didn't know what it was till the principal was explaining it. It is a friendship award and someone has to nominate you. A younger girl in 3rd grade nominated Allie for being a good friend. Here is her picture with the principal and the girl who nominated her.
Allie also participated in the schools UIL Social Studies competition. The students compete with students from other schools (about 6 or so other schools). She got 3rd place. She thought it was going to more about politics than history and was surprised when it was more about history. We are happy for you Allie. Allie loves politics and I think she does a pretty good job of analyzing the political landscape.

Hello again Dr McNutt

I was almost to the school to volunteer in Chase's class when the school nurse called me (her calls are way too frequent I must add) to tell me Allie had hurt her hand during recess and I need to get her to a Dr. So we call Dr McNutt's office and he was in surgery for the day so we went to Dr G. He ordered x-rays, it is fractured (I think he said on the growth plate). There was not a ortho that could see her today so we will go back tomorrow.

Adam was proud of her and how she broke it. She was playing FB/2hand touch at recess and she was going after a boy. He turned and her finger popped. She never cried . When I got to the school I asked the nurse is she crying, she say she was actually laughing. Sure enough she was giggling. She thought it was pretty funny. I am just glad she is okay and it is not major. I am thankful also to have lived her long enough to feel comfortable knowing which Drs to go too. I love Dr G and Dr McNutt. One thing I am not looking forward to is wrapping her cast with padding to play soccer. We too familiar with cast padding.

Here are some pics within the hour after she hurt it.



These are her fingers tonight around 6pm.








This is really funny though. I called the school so the boys could go home with friends. There was a different lady at the front desk and when she realized that our kids ride a different bus than their friends she said they couldn't do that, that we had to check with transportation dept(I hated to make matters worse by saying our kids ride home with friends and come to our house all the time). I told her I didn't know how long I was going to be and they need to ride home with their friends. She was very nice and said I will call transportation for you. Rene ( the mother of the kids our kids were going home with) called me a few minutes later laughing so hard. The office had called her and said that they were going to send our kids (her 3 and my 2) home one a different bus. They sent a special bus to take those 5 kids home alone because they thought the other one would be too crowded with our additional 2 kids. I still laugh thinking about those kids riding alone on their private bus. When I picked them up Chase said it was awesome! I really am embarrassed too- I could have called someone else to get them. Rene even said she would come pick them up at the school but they said it was no problem, the bus was ready to go.

How Firm a Foundation

A few weeks ago a friend came into RS and said Tricia we were so surprised how Evie knew almost all the words to "How Firm a Foundation". They said it was so funny b/c it was the first week they were learning it and Evie already knew it so well. They even had her come up to help teach it. I am only sharing this because I usually don't get raving reviews from Primary. I love Primary but I am glad I am not in it right now b/c I really don't want to know everything my kids do in there. This is an example, last Sunday Adam had taken Evie out, a few minutes later I took Nielie out in Sacrament Meeting. After the meeting my friend who was sitting in front of us said," It was so cute, Chase was doing a headstand in the chair while you were gone", yeh real cute. That's what I mean about not wanting to know everything that goes on. I am really thankful for the good teachers that they have and their patience and effort to make Primary such a good experience for our kids.

This is Evie singing the 1st verse and little bit more, she can sing along great with the cd but needs some coaching without it. She is real excited for Grandma and Grandpa to watch her.

I am having trouble uploading the video, going to need Adam's help.

Family Campout in the Back Yard

The week before Chase's Birthday we had so much fun with a campfire in the back yard. We spent about 3 hours outside. It was so cold- about 30 degrees outside, a full moon and just beautiful outside. Adam gave us some country tune with his I-Phone and we felt like we were back in College Station @ Snook. We had hot dogs and smores. Adam really made it camp out by putting up the tent and sleeping outside with the kids. I felt it was too cold for Nielie (actually I thought it was way to cold for myself too). About 4:30 a.m. I woke up in the house b/c I was cold and it was 26 degrees outside I went out and made them all come in. It was real fun! We can't wait for the burn ban to be lifted in Collin Co so we can do it again.

Chase's 7th Birthday

Chase had his birthday on January 17th. He had fun party with a few friends. We had a scavenger hunt that Allie organized and the kids loved. In the scavenger hunt they found the things they would use for the party ( flashlights, stuff for smores, sticks to roast their hot dogs and marshmallow's, and paint balls). They had so much fun having a campfire, shooting paint balls, and playing flashlight tag in the dark. Chase is sure fun and we love him. He is a very high energy kid. A few nights ago he came in and he said "Mom I just can't get to sleep, I have so much on my mind. I am so hyper!" So true, he can get his mind going so fast. He wants a dog so bad and I will not cave for a dog. I have had him reading the Beverly Cleary series on Henry and his dog Ribsy. The other day he walked in the kitchen and said "Mom, I just found an inference". Adam was in the kitchen and I looked at him and said Chase say that again-I can't even remember what the inference was I was just so surprised he even knew what one was. He has a great teacher- Mrs. Dwiggins. She really gets Chase to work for her. She has been wonderful for Chase and we love her.

Am I my mother?

We have had some real problems with the kids bathroom for about 2 weeks. I had cleaned up a flooded toilet about 20 too many times in a 2 week period. I had gotten out the good ol'snake several times but could find nothing. After a day when I was tired of cleaning up poopy water (It seemed like about the 4th time in one day) and finding nothing with the snake I had had it. Part of the problem was the kids would flush and leave the room and not realize the toilet had overflowed. Then I remembered my mom and how she would get the snake out when the toilet wouldn't come unplugged and just had to laugh. I don't remember her getting as mad as I was getting but I wonder if she did. I do need to be thankful for one thing though, because of her use of the snake I knew what one was. I wanted to call a plumber but Adam wanted to figure it out. He actually removed the toilet and found the little toy Nielie had stuck in the toilet. I had wondered about Nielie doing something like that b/c she loves to flush the toilet. Luckily I have not had to touch snake since Adam fixed it.