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~1~

 We went to get the girls' ears pierced this morning.  There weren't two people at the jewelry counter to do it so we had to come back.  The girls were disappointed, but once their ears were pierced, they forgot all about the wait they had.  Pumpkin cried right after they pierced them.  Poor thing.  Her heart was beating quite fast.  The other girls did their best to make her feel better by gushing over her ears.  Honey yelled, "Ouch!" but was otherwise fine.  Sister said, "That didn't hurt." which is NOT what I was expecting from her.  She has a reputation at the pediatric clinic because she cried and screamed so loudly when they were flushing her ears out a few years ago.

~2~

Brother said to me, "Am I not the right child for you?".  I've been too hard on him.  I've got to step back and figure things out.  My heart is broken.  I really want him to be happy.  I'm not trying to make him "normal" but I need him to not be too impulsive.  Sigh.

~3~

I have to buy a dress.  I hate dress shopping.  I can never find anything I like that fits well and looks good.  What kind of dress should I get for a wedding that starts at 5:30pm?  And, it's outdoors in Williamsburg, VA.  I need to get clothes for the kids too.  

~4~

The older 3 kids have their piano recital this Saturday at 2:30pm CST.  If you have a chance, can you say a quick prayer for a smooth recital?  All have struggled with their music but they're getting close.

~5~

I've been waiting for the bluebonnets to show up.  It hasn't yet.  It's my favorite time of the year in nature.  Nothing beats a field of bluebonnets in their peak.  Nothing.  Okay, maybe those Virginia bluebells or the foliage in the fall in New England.

~6~

I played the word CHEZ against my brother, David, for 112 points.  My poor brother.  He doesn't have a chance.  It's a lot of fun playing Words with Friends against him and the other ladies I know.  Honey really gets into it and is quite my cheerleader.  One time she said, "That'll show him."

~7~

We have a performance date for the play our homeschool group is putting together.  It's been a wild ride.  It's been wonderful watching them get what is going in the play.  A little over a month remains before they perform, "A Midsummer Night's Dream".  Shakespeare has never been so fun.

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~1~

I bought an iPhone last week.  It's a lot of fun to have.  The time in all the waiting rooms goes much more quickly.  I put one of my favorite songs from my college days as a ring tone.  My children think it's a funny song.  I think it's a fun song but don't listen too closely to the words.  It's "Blister in the Sun" by the Violent Femmes.  Really, don't listen to the words.  

~2~

I'm addicted to the game Words with Friends.  It's a lot of fun to play even though I'm not very good at word games.  I'm more of a numbers gal.  I'm playing with at least two different people. It's a perfect game in that I don't have to make my move right away.  I play and the other person plays whenever he or she can get to it.  It's been quite the mental exercise for me which is something I need (need to help stave off the Alzheimers, you know).  If you play, my user name is kctex.

~3~

My friend, Cecelia, came over to teach me how to make bows.  I have the basic technique down, but my bow isn't as pretty as hers.  I think I'll keep practicing but in the meantime I'm getting my special occasion bows from her.

~4~

Sister has been chosen to dance a duet at the spring performance.  It's a fast dance and I can't wait to see her perform it on stage.  I'm certain my dad will cry after that one.  He did last year after watching her group dance.  I'm very excited for her and very proud of her.  She really works hard at ballet.  It is truly her passion.

~5~

We're almost at the 3 month mark.  At times it seems the time has flown and at other times I wonder when the end will come.  I feel like such a wimp because besides a 6 month deployment 4 years ago, he's been home (not counting his various TDY trips–business trips for you civilians).  Not like Jess who has had to endure a deployment every other year for the past few years (3 deployments).  AND, she had two babies, one in each of the last two deployments.

~6~

I've been pretty good about getting on the treadmill this week.  Three times for a total of 5 miles.  My goal is to walk 2 miles each time but this morning my legs were like lead.  I did finish out the one mile.  

~7~

It's time to change our clocks this weekend.  We'll need to spring forward.  I am NOT looking forward to it.  It's always such an ordeal for me.  My children usually fare pretty well, but the spring time change is a humdinger for me.

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~1~

I've been watching the Winter Olympics.  Have you?  I enjoy a lot of the winter sports.  In the Summer Olympics, I usually get bored with a lot of the events but the winter ones don't bore me as much.  I could even watch the curling but only for the "what is that?" factor.  As I type this (Thursday night), the ladies individual ice skating is going on.  It's supposed to be uninterrupted coverage soon.  I'm not sure I can stay up to watch it all.

~2~

Speaking of the Olympics, there was recently a discussion on Ravelry about how athletes should act on the medals podium when the American national anthem is playing.  I was surprised at how people from different countries felt uncomfortable with the patriotism that Americans tend to show.  I've had a difficult time watching the athletes wear the flag while they race around after winning.  I concede it's a great accomplishment, but I can't get the idea that those same flags are placed on coffins of service members who are killed in action.

~3~

The two favorites to win gold are the Korean and Japanese skater.  It's a huge deal for these two skaters and I feel for them both.  For a bit of history, the Koreans detest the Japanese.  Japan occupied Korea for over 4 decades starting in the early 1900s.  As with most occupations, it was not pleasant for the Koreans.  My uncle recalls having to change his name to a Japanese name and how hungry he was as most food that was farmed was sent to Japan.  So, there's a lot riding on this one event.  The animosity runs deep.  That also explains some of the tension between the Korean short track skaters and Apolo Ohno.  Even though he skates for the US, he has a Japanese father.  Now, please know that this doesn't mean Koreans hate all Japanese.  It's what the country of Japan stood for at one time.

~4~

The snow has melted.  It's great to have snow and have it melt the next day.  And, to have weather in the 60s two days after the snow.  Only in Texas.

~5~

I'm planning my itinerary for our road trip this summer.  I wonder where we should stop along the way.  Any fun places to visit on the way from Texas to Williamsburg, VA to Cape Cod, Massachusetts and back to Texas again?

~6~

Ben is doing well.  We get to speak at least once a week using Skype.  We tried to use iChat but was having some volume issues.  We just could not hear each other very well.  There may something there that we weren't using properly but I couldn't figure it out.  

~7~

I don't have anything for number 7.  I'm so lame.  My life is the same each week.  We are busy yet we also live very fluid, flexible lives.  

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~1~

Our homeschool group had our St. Valentine’s Day party.  It was a bit hard because with Lent, my children could not eat candy.  But as most other children had given up candy, it was easier.  We also waited to open the bag with all the cards and goodies until tonight when we returned home from ballet.  The party was a lot of fun with limbo, cha-cha slide, and a hula hoop contest.  The boys learned to offer up their hunger a bit more as we’ve instituted a “ladies first” rule for the food line. 

  

~2~

Honey lost her other front tooth at ballet this evening.  She looks precious.

~3~ 

Gramma’s visit went well even though it was too short.  We will see her again in May/June when we embark on another road trip to Massachusetts via Williamsburg, VA.  

 

~4~

We went to the American Girl store on Monday.  I loved watching the girls’ eyes light up when they walked into the store.  It is girl heaven in there.

 

~5~

Brother was very, very good considering he was forced to be at the American Girl store for so many hours.  Gramma took him to the LEGO store that opened up this past summer.  It wasn’t as big as we thought it would be, but it was jam packed with many, many LEGO sets.  He’s been quite busy putting together his new set.

Oh, my boy needs such a haircut. 

~6~

We had lunch at the AG store.  The meals are all one price except for the Bitty Meal for the 4 and under crowd which Pumpkin is.  Each meal contains a starter and main course.  The girls were tickled that their dolls could eat with them.  Pumpkin brought Emily, her Bitty Baby while Sister and Honey brought Kit and Elizabeth respectively.  

 

~7~

I’m rereading the Percy Jackson series and continuing to wonder why they ruined a perfectly good story.  Word of caution to those who want to read and then watch the movie, do it the other way around.  First and last (I hope) time I suggest that.

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~1~

We are going to see the Percy Jackson movie today.  I think that's one of the great things about homeschooling; we can go places and do things during school hours thus cutting down on the crowds.

~2~

It's been cold again.  I'm really not enjoying it.  Where did the mild Texas winter go?  This is craziness.  My MIL is visiting from Massachusetts.  Once again, our mild weather has turned cold for her.  And, there's not been a single ray of sunshine.

~3~

Pumpkin has finally left my bed *sob*.  She insists that she will sleep all night in her own bed.  She's had greater success than her older sisters.  Sigh.  I miss her.

~4~

Ben has been getting a lot of rain in Afghanistan.  Lots and lots of rain.  Otherwise, he's doing well.  We've been able to Skype quite a bit this past week.  The kids really miss him although Honey never mentions it.  

~5~

Can we talk stop signs?  Why can't people just go when it's their turn?  Why do people keep telling me to go when they should be going?  Even before I fully stop.  What's wrong with these people?  If it's not the drivers who don't follow proper protocol, it's the ones who insist you go first.  I had this one guy in a mustang furiously waving me on.  I refused to go until I came to a complete stop.  Lest you think I never break any traffic rules, let me assure you that I do.  I just know that in this town the cops can be sticklers for a complete stop.

~6~

So many knitting projects, so little time.  So many books, so little time.  What's a girl to do?

~7~

I don't have anything for this one except that Pumpkin is neslted snugly by my side and I'm loving it.

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