Sleeping Snuggles

Our boys are extremely close and always have been!  They genuinely enjoy each other.  They generally like the same things and usually get along perfectly.  They love to play with each other and share many secrets.  They help each other and are each other's best friend.  I hope it is always like that for them...

One night we went in to cover them up before we went to bed and they were in the same bed... all snuggled up....

 it reminded me of the day 7 years ago when we walked into the NICU and saw them all snuggled up.

Thank you for the blessing of happy boys!

Ice Morning 2014

Down here in our neck of the woods, we don't do winter.  We are coastal folks.  We do hurricanes and HOT summers.  But winter, we don't really know you around here!  So when the temps go below 32, we all freak out a bit and don't really know what to do!  Add the weatherman's hysteria and you and the fourth largest city in the USA in a tailspin!

Last Friday we had an ICE MORNING!  In all my years, I can remember maybe 5 times I have even seen ice here.  School started 2 hours late, so we made the most of having some extra time together.  The boys slept late... until 7:30! hahaha Then they began setting up a Texas Revolution/Civil War/ WW2 army man battle to go down in history.  They spent about 45 minutes setting it up... strategically placing each figure.  Then the battle lasted all of 3 minutes... but they were happy, so I was happy too!

 Notice the slippers?  They are new this Christmas and are LOVED!

 Having a late start also meant more time for breakfast, so we had pancakes, bacon and eggs.  These boys of mine are breakfast lovers!  They would eat bacon/sausage and eggs every day if I could pry myself out of bed in time to make it.

 School started at 10, so about 9:30 we went out to touch everything and assess the extent of the ice.

 This was the BEST thing we touched... a frozen, solid net!  This net was as hard as a rock!!  They could not wait for Jason to lift them up for a touch...

 

There were icicles on the car!!!  For you Yankees, this is normal, but these are the first icicles they have ever touched!  It was a BIG deal!

 We have two palms in our yard.  Jason and I LOATHE them, but are too lazy to remove them.  On this Ice Morning, we finally found something good about them.  They make the COOLEST ice!!! Rylan thought the ice looked like pretzel sticks!  Love that boys connections!

 And the other good thing about the fool palms, if you are an adult and hit them when ice is on them, the ice FLIES and your kids laugh HYSTERICALLY!  This was done about a zillion times today!

 

Rylan LOVED popping off the iciles and was so sad they melted in his hold little hands.

 Jacob loved that the headlights made a sheet of bumpy ice.

 The street sign outside of the school had the best icicles!  Rylan wanted to jump out of the car and pop them all off!

Who knows when we will be under a "winter weather advisory" again... but we sure enjoyed this morning!

Mr. Banks... Flamingo Style

At the New Year's Eve party, the Flamingo Mommas decided that we need to get out more!  At Bible Study we are doing the Bible Study and don't take the time to "just chat" (well, every so often we do "just chat", but it's not the norm!).  We love to CHAT, so we decided to get out more and have time for simple fellowship... and food (because that's how we roll!)

So, Thursday night, on the brink of impending ice and snow, we hit the local theater for a night with Walt and PL Travers after enjoying soup, salad and sandwiches at McAlister's.  Saving Mr. Banks was GREAT!  We laughed and cried!  

Mary Poppins is in my top 5 all-time favorite movies, so seeing the background story of the author and movie-making process was incredible!  I loved seeing the Sherman brothers tinker out a now classic, iconic song.  When Mrs. Travers started tapping her foot to a song after days of anger and hostility, I cheered!  And seeing Mrs. Travers early life for heart-breaking... yet delightful.  To see her imagination bloom, then see anger and resentment come into her heart was sad.  But overall, it was a great movie that I cannot wait to see with Jason when it comes out on video!

For four south-Texas coastal Birds, it was COLD when we left the theater, but in true Flamingo fashion, we had to stop for a photo! hahahaha

Where will we go in February???

A Typical Week

This is me!  Jacob took this pic in class on Wednesday night and it was actually good! hahaha  Since I rarely talk about myself on here, I thought it was time! hahaha

I've been faithful to Weight Watchers since Sept 2012 when the boys started Kindergarten.  I am officially 2 pounds away from my goal and feeling GREAT!  I notice that as a family we are eating healthier, and at home way more than eating out.  I also discovered couscous and have a new favorite!  My favorite thing about WW is that I can eat anything I want... just count it and keep it in moderation.  I could never say "No more cookies" but I can say "only one cookie."  Anyway, I love going to the meeting every Friday morning and have learned so much to make all of us be healthier!

A typical Sunday involves teaching class, going to worship, going to eat somewhere either with the Flamingos or family, then I tutor from 1:30-5:15.  Worship is again at 6 and then we fly home to eat fast and get the kids ready for bed.  Mondays are a work on the house day... chores, chores, chores.  The boys have basketball practice currently on Mondays, so it also means a crock pot meal since practice is from 5:30-6:30.  Tuesdays I have my Flamingo Bible Study then go to the church to get ready to teach Wednesday night class.  Tuesday night is the United class.  Wednesday is chore morning and then tutor after school while the boys play at Mom and Dad's house.  Then we eat a fast-prepared dinner and head toe church.  Thursday is another work day at home and then tutor after school.  We usually have our VBS meeting on Thursdays.  Friday is work at the school day and then family FUN night!  Saturday is basketball games and relaxing with the boys.  And then the cycle starts again on Sunday morning.

Over this year, I have been in a MUCH better place.  I've been actually saying NO to commitments that are simply too much and been able to accomplish much more at our house and manage being a mom so much better.  Doing our Flamingo Bible Studies has been such an area of spiritual growth... it's not even measurable!!!

All in all, God has been good to us... even in the valleys, God has been good to us!

Proverbs 3:5-6 Hat

We love to learn God's Word!!! I am so proud of the boys for all of the memory work they have learned over the past 5 years and get THRILLED when they can apply a verse to a current situation.  It's nice to see the desire turning into reality of them using God's Word to solve problems.

This month in class, their verse is Proverbs 3:5-6... "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." To help the kids practice the verse, we made these cute heart hats.   It's a paper plate!  The pink strips are verse strips that the kids put in order and then glued them on in order.  All the kids had fun and looked so cute wearing them down the hall!  But most importantly, it helped them learn God's Word!

More Football Love

It is well documented that our family loves football.  Rylan loves the Packers and Jacob loves the Cowboys.  Since both of their teams were out of the play-offs, we had to pick teams to support!  As a family, we easily decided to support the BRoncos because we LOVE Peyton Manning.  The 49ers-Seahawks game was a wild card decision.  The boys cannot stand all of Kapernicks tatoos, so they decided to support the Seahawks.  Jacob made this sign to hold up during the game.  It worked and the Seahawks won!  Now on Super Bowl Sunday, we have decided to drop the Seahawks and go all of the  Broncos.  Can't wait to see who wins!

Legos... Our Favorite Past-time

The boys LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all things Lego!  Most days they spend quite a bit of time either constructing sets or creating their own!  This day Jacob was creating a palace with all kinds of hidden hatches and look-out towers!  He even made a double twin bed room for the only two girl mini-figures with a hidden gun safe.  Gotta love his plans!!

 While Jacob and I were building the palace, Rylan and Jacob were working on the Rancor Pit Star Wars set that he got for Christmas.  They finished it in one day!  That was a super cool set!!! The Rancor was huge and scary looking! It even had hidden passages for the rancor care-keeper and a closet area for Lando to hide.  Rylan thought the skeleton from a previous rancor victim was awesome and hilarious!

I see Legos in our future for a long, long time!

Go Blazers!!

We officially have two more basketball players in the family!!  In the fall, we asked the boys if they wanted to play fall baseball and they said they wanted basketball.  Well, basketball is not offered until winter, so it was a long wait!!  They are playing through the Y and so far are really liking it!  They have had 4 games and have 4 more games.  Already, we are seeing so much improvement!!!  Almost every day, they practice in the driveway.  Jacob wants to be JJ Barea and tries all kinds of wild shots, but we force him to work on the basics!  The 8 foot goal was hard for Rylan at first, but he is finally getting comfortable with his shot.

Rylan is our defensive specialist!!! He has great hands and (politely) frustrates the offense!

 Jacob has ball-hog tendencies (they kind of all do), but he is really good at bringing the ball down the court.  I'm pleased with his ball control.

 Jacob on defense... He is VERY aggressive!!! The last game he stole 4 passes (which is allowed) and 5 or 6 dribbles (which is NOT allowed).  He flops all over creation going for the ball (much like his momma!hahaha)  He is one tough cookie!

 Rylan in the passing lane... He blocked 3 passes last game!

 The the Blazers biggest fans... Granna and GPop...

 and Momma and Daddy!

All the games and practices are at my old elementary, which is really neat for me!  The gym is updated since the 1980's and is really nice now!  We are so proud of the boys and cannot wait to see them get better and better each week!

Morning Reading

Our sweet boys are early birds... we are NOT!  They usually get up about 20 minutes before us and we usually find them reading near the lamp in the den.  Over the past few months, it has been so heart-warming because they are not "reading" the books by solely looking at the pictures and making up the story, they are actually really the real words!!! As a reading teacher, this development warms my heart to the fullest!!!!  They have been doing so wonderful this school year and I never want to forget the early morning reading times they share!

United

Jason and I are taking a wonderful marriage class at church named United.  Right before Christmas, Mr. Joe got up in the pulpit to announce the class.  It is limited to 12 couples at a time, so I leaned over to Jason and whispered, "I don't care if you have to knock people over, get us in the top 12."  I was only slightly kidding about the knocking people over part! hahaha  Jason succeeded in his mission and we were #2 on the list!

The class started the week after Christmas and has been a tremendous blessing to our marriage.  We are bound not to discuss the details of the class, but I think it would be OK to say that by having discussions based on our lessons each night has been very strengthening to our marriage.  Before starting this class, I would not have classified us as having trouble (and I still would not), but this has given us the opportunity to know each other better and grow in our love for each other.  (Sorry to get mushy).  We are three weeks into it and I cannot wait to see how much more growth we have over the next five weeks!

Tacky Day

Do you know Tacky the Penguin?  He is a very odd bird, but a very nice bird to have around!  Tacky is a series of books by Helen Lester and are among my favorites!  The boys have loved Tacky since they were 2 or 3 and would run around the house yelling "What's happening??" at the top of their lungs and giving each other hearty slaps on the back.  Well, this week at school, they have been studying Tacky, so Friday was "Tacky dress-up Day."  

Thursday night we went through all their clothes to see what looked the worst together to create the perfect tacky outfit.  What do you think?!?!?!

Jason and I went to eat lunch with them and got to see all the first grade tacky-ness.  It was hilarious!!! The boys had so much fun being silly and honoring one of their favorite birds too!

Happy 67th Birthday Mom!

I could just go on for hours about my mom.  I'm sure all girls think their mom is the best, but mine really is!!! She has given of herself to all generations of our family.  When the boys were born, she lived with us for 3 months until we could figure out all the feedings and diaper changes, etc.  When I taught school, she came up every Friday to help me re-decorate my classroom.  Those were fun hours of non-stop chatter!  She tirelessly cared for my Granny for years are Granny's health declined.  And these past few months, she has fought uterine cancer and WON!  This woman, my mom, is quite incredible!!!!

Due to the radiation treatments, her tummy is not quite ready for a "real" birthday celebration, but she was up to chicken noodle soup at Panera... so here it is!  

 As always, we had fun chatting about TV shows, the boys, church activities, stamping and scrapbooking.  It's such a blessing to live so close and to also share our hearts with each other.  I love you Mom!!!

Flat Stanley International

Miss Amanda was the boys baby-sitter while Jason and I took Financial Peace two years ago. She kept them every Thursday for 13 weeks and even several times not related to the class sessions.  She was the BEST baby-sitter ever!!! We all adore her!!!  

Well, she is now at college... and a world traveller, as this is her year to study abroad through her university.  The boys got their Flat Stanley project and had to pick one international friend to send Stanley to.  Of course, they picked Amanda!  She was going to visit Israel, so she took Stanley with her!! Here is Rylan's Stanley in Jerusalem...

 and Jacob's Stanley in Jerusalem.

Then Sunday, Amanda's mom brought a care package from her to the boys... hand-carved olive wood camels from Bethlehem!  HOW COOL!!! The boys wondered if they were from an olive grove that Jesus walked through and we decided yes! ;)

Thank you Amanda for taking Stanley around the world and sending us a piece of Israel too!

TMNT...Our Style

This fall we went to Tennessee to see Beth's family.  Isaac is quite "into" TMNT, so the boys got exposed to all this TMNT.  For Christmas they wanted the role play sets... and they got them.  So this is a normal night at our house now... Rylan as Mickey.  Can you see his nunchucks?  Probably not because he spins them so fast, they are a blur!

 Jacob as Leonardo... he likes using the sword to defeat the evil Splinter... who is usually Daddy!

 Daddy is Raphael... and I have no idea the name of his weapons!  We call them the hand spikes. hahha  Don't mess with an masked Daddy turtle!

 And I am Donnie... the smart one! hahaha  My skills with the bow staff improve daily!

 We usually run around like wild turtles fighting the bad guys or sometimes Jason will be a good sport and be the bad guy.  SOmetimes I'm April the reporter, complete with a wooden spoon microphoe to report "Live at Five."

There is never a dull moment at this house!!!

Cinnamon Rolls

In the spring of 2009, the Flamingos were asked to speak at the Smithville Ladies Day.  It was one of the highlights of my life!  Not only was studying and preparing for the lesson rewarding spiritually, but it was also a wonderful weekend with my best friends.  Here we are that day...

At that Ladies Day, a church member made homemade cinnamon rolls.  They were DIVINE!  She shared her recipe with us.  I've only made them three times and each time I realize it's not really that hard to do and they are oh.so. delicious!

Holly, Heather and I were hostesses for the January Mugs and Muffins at our church and we decided to make cinnamon rolls!  Thursday night I made a royal MESS of the kitchen, but it was worth it!  Rylan and Jacob even got in on the cinnamon roll making fun.  They helped sprinkle the cinnamon and sugars (yes, plural - white and brown) on the dough.

 I made a smaller pan just for our family and took the rest to church.  They were a big hit with the ladies, but the best part for me was walking down Flamingo memory lane and making a mess with my precious boys!

Are You Ready for Some Football?

It's no secret that our family loves football!  We love high school, college and professional football!  Now that the NFL play-offs are here, it's serious business! This Sunday my precious three boys snuggled up to watch the Broncos-Chargers game.  I loved spying on them...

It is so sweet to listen to Jason teach them the rules of the game and share in the love of football together.  I'm glad that they have a special something to share!