so... they announced at Finley that the kids could wear their mums on Friday! I've been making Lexi one for the past few years and wasn't about to miss this year! For all of my Idaho friends, a Homecoming Mum looks like this...

Isn't it lovely? Now being a Northern girl, I had to learn the importance of a big mum. These are 3 1/2 ft long, with plenty of band trinkets. It might be thrown to the wayside if they receive a mum from an actual boy, but I wanted the chance to make them one! Fun fun fun!!

I'm declaring war... I've sat and watched my family go thru so much this past year. From a (close as a) brother becoming a single dad, to my dad's torn retina, to his carpal tunnel, to my mom's hole in her heart, to my brother and his wife losing their first pregnancy, and now my brother's epilepsy trying to make itself prevalent in his life... My heart is aching for my family, life isn't fair and I know that there will be struggles, but enough is enough!!! You can't have us, we are God's. There is a light inside of us that will never go away, but gets brighter everyday as we go towards eternity. It isn't going to work, we will still be praising God at every corner. You can give up now, because we aren't going to.

I love you guys.... hang in there!!!! I've got your back :0)

This is what happens when a sub gets bored during conference period...

there's no denying it, she's my daughter!

My moon flowers making their appearance.

Took the opportunity to share sushi with lexi last weekend. Ike was busy with his friend, so we headed to Toshio's in Duncanville. They weren't bad! I absolutely loved the spicy crawfish roll; I know it isn't traditional, but it was delicious! We also ordered the Toshio roll (house roll) tempura fried shrimp with avocado and cucumber, and an eel roll. Can't wait to take her again, since she and I are the only ones in the immediate family that enjoy it.

We did find an great wine shop as well, and picked up a couple of bottles that we have never tried before. I am not very experimental and we don't drink it enough to be well versed. I was very excited to find Winealicious!

I put in my application for a Starbucks Barista this morning. I've always wanted to be part of a Starbucks team; you all know how much I love coffee. I am an Occupational Therapist by trade, but I would need some refresher courses bigtime to get licensed in the state of Texas. Plus, I don't really know if I want to commit that much time to a job. I still want my family to be my main priority. This sounds like something that I can go and work part time, enjoy being part of a cool company, and then walk out the door when my shift is over.

I hope you all have a great long weekend! I don't think that we are going to be doing much around here. Everyone is so whooped trying to get back in the swing of things from school. Maybe I will get some more landscaping done in the front yard.

Later ya'll

look! it's my hero Marilyn Meberg!! I want to be her when I grow up!

These gals are AWESOME!! They are the worship team for WOF. Women of Faith has changed my life, mostly by giving me a momma vacation once a year!!

yes please say i look like her! i had the priveledge of going to the Women of Faith conference with my mom and her ladies for the second time, this past May. There are few things more precious to me than time with this amazing woman. I am me because of her.

my best friend, rach... i miss and love her!!!

a little late, but this was my ride to dinner!! My pseudo grandfather, Jim, rebuilds antique cars.
When I went to Idaho this past May, he made sure to bring one to grandma's house!

when josh lived in Cali as a teen, this was the board he used...

a sobering reminder of the power of nature...

riding the ferry... it was so hot!!

see all the hermit crabs?

The Gulf of Mexico

'hermit crab rocks' on the island... we rode the ferry

the view from our hotel room in Galveston over the 4th

Mosaic Madness with the kiddos

The school year starts on Monday and I think that I am ready this year. Not necessarily for the kiddos to be gone during the day, but excited about getting back in the schools and staying busy! Not to mention getting back in the gym everyday!

Lexi will be starting 7th grade and Ike will be in 5th. dang.

So, I have been on a mission to save some moulah lately, and am happy to report that our power bill is 165.oo this month!! It appears that my methods are working!

Cheech and Simon=friends

Ike and the massive tortoises