Hermit Crabs n Joshua

Here is Joshua and Goog and Teej. I brought them home because Joshua has been asking for a fish and I really don't like the smell of a fish tank, or cleaning it. So far these guys have been much easier. We feed them once a day and let them out to "exercise."

Their exercise was climbing over these cars in Joshua's room. They look so small next to his monster trucks, but they had no problem climbing over them. If you look close you can see one clear in the back right.

I love a good deal

Brandon and I took 3 days off for a get away to Dallas. My dad came in town to watch the boys (thanks Dad!). We had a lot of fun. I realized that I learned from my mom to love a great deal. I bought a shirt from Ann Taylor Loft that was $35 for under $5 after presidents day sales, and a birthday discount coupon. We also saw cereal at a great price. We brought home a few (40 something) boxes for the food storage and the video shows what the boys did with them...

At the end of the line they had a spoon set up so when the last box hit, it threw gobstoppers all over the kitchen, ingenious!

Tornado Season

This picture, taken from the driveway, shows the daylight before and after the storm. The tornado was rain wrapped, but was somewhere in the dark center. This video is not as great as the ones that you see on TV, but the media helicopter was hovering over our house while we were taking this video. It was a wild night, it ended up being about an hour and a half of going to the storm shelter and coming out between storms to look. There were I think three good storms that passed. No one was hurt in the metro, our bishop's neighborhood lost some houses, but the scary stories were all from southern Oklahoma. For those that have never been in a storm shelter you can see it for a second in the video clip. It is basically a metal hole in the floor of the garage with a sliding metal lid.

It's hard to tell from the video but we could watch the clouds swiling around our house. It was a creepy feeling, even though they were the lighter colored less threatening clouds.

High Maintenance

I decided today that I must be a high maintenance child for God to keep happy. I always feel a little guilty praying and begging for him to fix things that I could fix on my own, but it doesn't hurt to ask right? I know he isn't going to make all the stars align every day, but I do know that every day he will answer some small prayer so that I know he is listening and cares.

Today my small miracle started with me driving past the drivers licence building this morning. I groaned and whined as I saw the line clear out the door and groups of people leaning on their cars just waiting. I drove on, not wanting to wait and then still be denied my licence. I have been putting this off forever. I called home for my dad to bring out by birth certificate and figured I would wait till he gets in town and then spend a day at the DMV. When I am frustrated I exercise (I need to be frustrated more often so I could be in shape!) anyways it is a beautiful day so I walked outside until I was sweating it was so hot. I came in and changed into some shorts, and out of the back pocket I pulled my drivers licence and a ticket stub dated November 1st to an OSU game. That was the last time I wore shorts, and the last time I saw my licence.

Woo Hoo!!! I was saved from the DMV, and my spirits are brightened from my small prayer being answered!

Star Wars Convert

I grew up in a family of girls and never saw Star Wars. I've fought against it for some 30 years. I even remember on a date in high school they watched the trilogy and I slept through it (where did I find that guy?). I've seen scenes here and there walking through the front room when the boys have rented it, but never actually sat down to watch it.

Well I could only last so long in a house full of boys that love Star Wars. Yesterday I spent $40 to buy the original trilogy (I laughed at myself the whole time in Target), popped some popcorn and watched all three movies back to back with my boys. It was a late night, and a lot of fun, and really not a bad flick. I couldn't help but laugh when the abominable snowman got his arm chopped off. There are some good lessons, and it was refreshing to see a good triumphs over evil film. If only I could stop humming the imperial march in my head!!!

God Bless the USA

My good friend Paola just became a citizen of the United States. The ceremony was amazing. It made me more appreciative of my citizenship when I watched about 115 people take the oath to be loyal to and protect and defend our country. I know the economy is a wreck, and I'm not real excited about the new administration, but still I believe this to be a great nation, united under God, striving for liberty and justice. It still makes me a little teary eyed to watch the 1st graders say the pledge of allegiance and then bow their heads for a moment of silence and silent prayer each morning at school. Thank you to our armed forces who work to keep our country free, and congratulations Paola!!! We are excited to have you a part of this great nation!
Each new citizen stood as the name of their country of birth was called. Mexico had quite a few, as did India and Vietnam. I am remembering about 50 countries were represented.