Spring Soccer has Sprung!!!

Parker and Kinlee have started Spring Soccer again. They are on different teams because of their age division, so it definitely makes for busy times! We did manage to get them to both have the same team color so that Mark, who coaches both teams, doesn't have to change shirts between games!!:) Parker's team is nicknamed (by the kids, of course) "The Money" - because they are green, of course!!! Their cheer is "1-2-3...Cha-Ching!!!":) They have won 2 games so far and are a really good group of kids. GO MONEY!!!

Kinlee's team is nicknamed "The Gators"...we thought about it later and thought we should have nicknamed them "Spare Change":) I don't think they would have appreciated it too much, though. They enjoy playing together and doing the "Gator Chomp" in the huddle! They have only played one game so far and won!!! They, too, are a great group and have a lot of fun!!! GO GATORS!!!

Lambert's 2010!!!

Yes...I know...it has been quite a while since I've blogged. I will use the same ol' excuses we all use...we've been busy....it's been crazy around here....blah...blah....blah! It for SURE isn't because we haven't been up to anything around here! THAT has been the problem. I survived the Spring/Summer Consignment Sale - no pictures to prove it, so you'll just have to take my word for it!! It went well...done til' fall! One thing I DID document with pictures, though, was our annual "Tax Return Trip to Lambert's". (I really need to shorten that name!:)) Maybe I'll just call it "TuRTLe" from now on. Anyway, we had a really good time, ate entirely too much, and even managed to smuggle a few rolls home for some of the kids' teachers. As a matter of fact, the teachers at their school are all doing "The Biggest Loser". The kids took the rolls to school the next day, proceeded to find out who all was participating, and handed out rolls accordingly to try and sabotage their efforts. Little stinkers!! They only had one teacher actually turn them down, though....oh for the will power of that woman!!!
Some of the "roll catching" photos below are a little blurry, but it's pretty hard to get a good action shot while attempting to NOT get hit in the head with a roll!! We had a blast!!!

Until next year, Lambert's....we love you!!!:)

Still Recovering....

Phew!!! What a week it has been! It all started last Thursday when I left on my trip to Texas. I was flying out of Little Rock on Friday, spending a couple of days with some friends in Texas shopping and chatting, and returning home on Sunday night....sounds delightful, huh??? Well, it WAS delightful, just a little more involved than I just mentioned! Let's just put it this way...I don't think Mark will EVER let me leave again!!!:) Here are the girls I ended up spending ALMOST A WEEK WITH!!! Here's what happened:

First of all, I regret to mention that this is the only picture I have to document said trip. You see, as I said, we were too busy shopping, eating, and chatting to take any more (excuses, excuses). Anyway, the trip started out as planned. I got everyone squared away here at the house with clothes for the next few days, a clean house, adequate food for while I was gone, and plenty of cash because I knew the food I had left wouldn't get eaten anyway - that's what fast food is for! I got to Lubbock as planned, and we had a wonderful weekend! We had a great time catching up and visiting, but it all came crashing down on Sunday. We had gone to an early service in Lubbock because my plane was set to leave at 12:30. I received my first (of many) phone calls from the airport saying that my plane had been delayed until 4:45. No problem - we now get to eat lunch together, and chat some more. After eating and chatting, we proceeded to head to the airport. On the way, I received another phone call that my flight had been cancelled due to fog until THE NEXT DAY!!!! What to do?? We head to the airport to see what our options were. We decided to switch my flight to Abilene (still the next day) so that I could go back home with the girls and spend the night there. Mission accomplished...until.....I get to the airport in Abilene on Monday morning, and all flights are a go! I double-check the flight in Dallas to make sure I am not going to be stranded there....again, all flights are a go! Fly to Dallas. Get off the plane. Call Mark to let him know the flight is on time to depart....oops - get a call from the airline - CANCELLED UNTIL TOMORROW!!! What?! I am in the Dallas airport!!!! Never fear, Steph (my TX buddy) has an aunt and uncle in Plano....20 minutes from the airport....they are on their way. Phew!!! I meet Tom and Nancy and we become house-mates for the night. Very relaxing stay, I might add. Meanwhile, Mark is at home with both kiddos, one of which (Kinlee) is VERY upset that I will not be returning home until Tuesday (or so we thought). The kids had been out of school all week because of snow, and he was having to take off work. Poor guy. Off to the Dallas airport on Tuesday morning, fly to Little Rock....finally closer to home. But wait!!! Those roads are too bad to drive on and there is no way I'll make it home before dark when things start to re-freeze. SO, spend the night in Little Rock, it is... This is getting ridiculous!!! Found out that Mark and the kids had Mac 'n' cheese, chips, popcorn, and water for supper - I must get home SOON!!! Wake up Wed. morning, things are still a little icy - I'm outta here! I finally got home Wednesday afternoon around 3:30. Phew - I am tired just typing it - I know you're tired reading it (if you even made it this far). Lesson learned- IF Mark ever lets me leave again, I don't think I'll be taking this trip in the winter. I had a great time ( and a longer-than-planned stay), but was very ready to get back home! Hey, look at it this way - the kids looked forward to my cooking when I got back!!!! Always a bright side!!! Thanks for reading! Glad to be home.

Snow Snow Snow!!!

Well, the weather predictions rang true this time. Or, maybe it was the snow dance....either way, it finally happened. The Big Snow of 2010!!! The kids were out of school on Friday, so we definitely had to take advantage of the day. We caught wind of an awesome hill not too far from here, and we were able to get there without any trouble. We all had a blast....yes, even Mark with his "possibly broken knee" got in on the fun. I am pleased to report that no further injuries were incurred....unless you count my tailbone that feels like it HAS been broken, thanks to my first trip down "the hill".
We went out some on Saturday, too, but the wind was much stronger, the snow was deeper and harder, and we didn't stay nearly as long. The hill was much harder for Mark to climb (gimp) up the second day, plus Kinlee got snow in her face ( a HUGE no-no), so we headed home much sooner. I did manage to take some cool pictures of the front of our house - I love the way it looks in the snow! If you will look closely, you can see the sign that Kinlee put in her bedroom window yesterday. It says, "Let It Snow!!" You will also notice that her blue curtains are closed (which are usually opened during the day). I asked her why she closed them and in her "still mad from snow in the face voice", she said, "Because I didn't even WANT to see the snow anymore!" Needless to say, soon after that, she crashed on the couch and I haven't heard from her in hours!!:)

The Snow Dance and a Knee Brace....Not a Good Combo!

Well....here we are. Mark hurt his knee at a retreat this past weekend playing football. We do not know for sure if it is broken, if ligaments are torn, or if it's just royally messed up. We'll find out for sure on Tuesday when they do the MRI. IN THE MEANTIME, though, he did not let that stop him from doing the Snow Dance last night. It seems to have worked....no school....snow is coming down.....they are predicting 7-12 inches before it's all over!!!! Wish us luck, though...Mark insists that he's sledding today. To be continued....

Am I Ready for This???

For years, I've heard this terrible rumor that little boys eventually start to grow up. As those little boys start to grow up, they start to notice girls. As those little boys start to notice girls, they kind of begin to like what they see. We are there! I am a little bit in denial, but all in all, I am handling it okay, I think. (Depends on the day :)) This past weekend, Parker and his "friend that's a girl" (won't let him officially call him is "girlfriend" - again, I'm in denial) attended their first skating party together. He was excited all week long and couldn't wait to "couple skate".
As you can see....couple skate they did! He told me that they had to keep switching sides because their hands kept getting "sweaty". I had to laugh at that one. All kidding aside, Lexy is very sweet, and they are really cute together. She has gone to church with us a couple of times, and I am proud of Parker for inviting her. I had to laugh at this note that he passed me during church on Sunday, though. You see, the "sirmon" was entitled, "Give Love to Get Love":
So, for now, I will continue to be in denial, but also try to enjoy this next stage in our lives. Check with me tomorrow, though, and I'll let you know how I'm doing. Today, though, it's all good :)!

"No-Snow-Day" Breakfast

That's right...the kids have a "snow day" with no snow. The schools let out here because of the extremely cold temperatures today. So, even though there is no snow on the ground, we are enjoying our day. I started our day out this morning with these "Snowman Pancakes". The kids really enjoyed them, and it was just kinda fun to make them, too. Don't know what else the day holds.....Parker wants me to help him sort some football cards, Kinlee has been working on Valentine cards for February, and who knows what else. The day is young....don't know if we'll venture out to play....something about playing outside in the brutally cold weather with no snow is just not quite as much fun....!