Our Haircut Song

When Robin and Paul were 3 and 2, this song was on the Disney Channel which was still brand new. It makes me happy and I sing the chorus whenever we need haircuts around here. It is such a cute song, forward to 1:10 to listen.

I am always surprised when I can find random things like this on youtube. There was another song I liked called Polka Dots, Checks and Stripes but I couldn't that one.

From Russia With Love

My mom and Roger are on their mission now. Last night I wanted to call her about something and even went to look for the phone when I realized she is busy with other things. I miss them. I love that they have a blog so we can see what they are up to. With the blog they don't feel like they are 11 timezones away from us.

Mum's the word . . .

Click here for a full Homecoming Week report.

80's Day

Traditions

This is homecoming week in Lindale and last week we were invited to a mum making party. The mums are huge and gaudy and I didn't believe that they were real until I saw girls wearing these amazing creations across their chests. Because it is not familiar to us so Robin and I have been having a hard time getting on board with this sweet Texas tradition, however when I suggested a mum making party to Robin she didn't make any gagging noises, in fact she was excited about it. (She has done a 180 with her attitude this year.)

I shopped, the day before with my friend for all the fixin's (your heard me, I said fixin's). I must admit that this still seemed foreign and goofy to me but it was impossible not to get excited when everyone around me was having so much fun shopping and picking things out.

To make a homecoming mum you need: a fake mum (4-6inches), glittery ribbon, glittery letters, shiny garlands of stars or footballs or band instruments, glittery plastic figures that represent your extra-curriculars, shiny bells, lots and lots of staples and even more hot glue.

We went to our friends' home with our bags of glittery fixin's. Again, the excitement was very contagious and we had so much fun stapling and gluing and trying things out. Robin made her own and I made one for Paul to give to his sweetheart. The mums turned out big and glitzy and ribbony it was such a fun day.

Here are some pics.
Getting started.

First layer.

Almost done.

Finished!

To teach and preach and work . . .

Mom and Roger are leaving for Russia today. I am excited and thrilled and sad and proud and apprehensive and want a real Matryoshka doll.

We love you so much!! You're going to be great!

Puppies, Weeds and Pleading . . .

So when we moved into this house we kept stepping on these horrible sticker-burrs that were all over in the carpet. They stick to everything and sting for a couple of hours after you pull one out of your foot. They are evil.



Last fall we figured out where they were coming from . . . that's right, our yard. The only way I can see to get rid of them is to dig them individually, out of the ground. Last night was our first try at ridding our yard of these awful weeds. We worked for about 2 hours and probably got about 1/20 of them. ~Sigh

At about the 1 hour mark, 2 darling little puppies ran into the yard and the rest of the time was spent deciding what to name the dogs and then explaining to me why, to be truly happy, we need at least one dog.

Could it really be this easy??

I blogged about Gloria's thumb sucking a few weeks ago. Shannon commented on THUM and then last week Erin said that she tried it too. I bought some Wednesday. I think it's the same nasty stuff my mom used on me 32 years ago.

Here is the ingredients list: "cayenne pepper extract, citric acid, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, lacquer". Mmmmmmm!

Gloria let me put it on without a problem. Sara wanted a taste and the look on her face when it hit her tongue, was enough to keep Gloria from even trying it. She hasn't sucked her thumb since Wednesday and she even reminds me to put it on. Keep those fingers crossed I think we may have done it!

Ike

Ike Update~ We are all fine. We lost power for about 2 seconds and we lost internet/phone for a couple of hours. There are lots of downed trees on the roads but that is the only damage we've seen. I hope we can be of help to those down in the hard hit parts. We're just waiting to hear.


Ike will make landfall on late Friday night and we will begin to feel his effects tomorrow around noon when the first rain bands reach us.


We've been told to call all our visiting and home teaching families as well as neighbors and make sure they have access to secure locations. We are supposed to be prepared for 50-70 mph winds and heavy rain.

We are also working with community groups to help with evacuees. I'm not sure what we'll be doing sometimes it's making sack lunches and sometimes they just need donations.







As for our little family, we have candles and flashlights ready. We filled our BBQ tank, as well as our cars with gas and all the clothes are washed. I need to go get a few groceries but other than that, I think we're ready.

Fantasy Football

This commercial makes me laugh every time.

September 11th

~I think of my dad everyday. I wonder what he would think about the hot topics in the world today, Iraq, the election, mortgages, global warming.

~I wonder what he would think about our life here in Texas, our children, our difficult decision to leave the army, our chickens.

~I wonder what he would say about where I am in my life right now. What advice would he give me if I came to him with the things that weigh heavy on my heart and mind?

~I think about playing catch with him (I was hopeless), and being carried, sleepily into the house on his big shoulder and I think about things that he told me, moments when he was in tune to me and told me what I needed to hear. . .

. . . and I miss him.

Spitting Contest

So we've had a really good garden this spring and summer with mixed success. Some things I really expected to do well didn't and other things I planted just to see what would happen were great. Even when things don't grow well though, I learn a lot and try to keep good notes so I will remember next year. I find gardening so satisfying.

One of the somethings that did well is our watermelons. We planted them in the middle of June and they were not thriving at all. I was ready to put them out of their misery when they started to perk up a little. By the end of July the plants seemed to have exploded, vines everywhere.

We went from 4 dying watermelon plants to this in about 2 weeks.

Every time we searched through the plants we found another tiny watermelon growing in the mass of leaves. We have 14-15 huge melons out there just waiting for us to pick them.

We harvested our first one last week. So much fun! It was very sweet and had a huge seeds so they were easy to find.

Do you know how to tell if your watermelon is ripe and ready to pick? You look at the bottom. If it is white it isn't ready. If it creamy and turning yellow it is going to be perfect. You can also thump it. If it has a deep sound or sounds a little hollow it's a good one.

2 recent discoveries . . .

We have recently tried two new products that we really like at our house.

#1 ~Best Foods Olive Oil Mayonnaise

It has 5 grams of fat vs. 12 grams in regular mayo and it tastes just like the same mayonnaise we know and love with just a hint of olive oil flavor. The Rodgers give it a thumbs up!

And #2 ~Gourmet Garden Basil Herb Blend

This stuff is great! A friend of mine told me about it awhile back and I just got around to trying it. It's a little pricey for that little tube but it goes a long way. It has a few ingredients that I can't read (I hate that) but I like that better than the pricey fresh basil that gets all black and slimy before I have a chance to use it. They have other herbs in this same line including cilantro, dill and ginger, I can't wait to try them.

Another thumbs up!

Thursday Night Lights

Paul started practicing with the varsity team this year but then the coach called him into his office and gave Paul the choice to warm the bench on the varsity team or to start on the JV team. Paul chose the JV team. Thursday night was his first home game and the Eagles won 26-0! Here are some highlights. Keep your eyes on #44.

Celebrate With Me!

I sprained my ankle about 6 weeks ago. BOOO! The Dr. said if I stayed off of it I would be back running in 3 weeks. Yea!! His assessment was incorrect. BOOOO! I tried to run here and there after the 3 week mark but it was painful and I would swell up again. BOOO!

Wednesday was the 6 week mark so I tried a run again yesterday. I ran 3 miles, no pain just a little swelling. Today I ran 2 miles, no pain, no swelling!! Yea!! I am going to rest the next couple of days and then try to get back on to the training schedule I was on before the sprain. Yea!!

I am too late for the Tyler Half but there are a bunch of 10 milers and half marathons in December, I'll be shooting for one of them. Yea! Yea!

I'm so excited to get going again. For our hot date tonight, Paul and I are going to buy some new running shoes.

Fun Waste of Time

I couldn't figure out how to download the picture but I really like this game.

http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42833/*http://games.yahoo.com/free-games/bricks-breaking

Cyber Seminary

Paul had all the kids and their parents over to help them understand the program and get registered.

So Paul decided to teach the home study program to our little group of 3 seminary students this fall. Then Tyler was chosen as a participant in a pilot program for "Internet seminary" so Paul has found himself in charge of the entire stake. It's a really good program though and he's really excited about it.

All the kids register and then log on once a day to answer a question or complete a short assignment from the teacher. That's how they keep roll, you don't log on, you weren't there. There is also a class chat room and blog; Paul's not sure how to best utilize those yet. Then once a week they get together in their own ward or group and have a lesson in an actual classroom.

They are still working out all the bugs but frankly, the biggest problems come from some of the teachers who need to work on their computer skills.

I love being involved on the ground floor of stuff like this! It's such a great idea!

Refugees

Our 4 refugees with Sara at the zoo.

Our good friends the Penrods are staying with us while Gustov does his thing. She and I worked together in Relief Society in Germany. We expected our 8-year-olds together. They arrived Saturday and get to stay until they get the all clear to go home. It has been so fun to have her here. Our kids match up and have been playing remarkably well together. It has been so great to catch up, eat good food and indulge in some relaxing girl talk.

I hope my dear friend is getting a break here, as her hubby is deployed. It is hard to see how weary she is . . . I remember . . . except she doesn't have an awesome sister to come and save her or babysitters (two deep) to help her during this very long 15 months.

Gustov is headed our way and should go right over us as a tropical depression. We've been warned we could get up to 20 inches of rain. I hope we don't float away.