Saturday, August 22, 2009
I lay awake
Friday, August 21, 2009
waxing nostalgic about the firstborn...
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Taking a Break...
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
"chilling" at Bovay
Here is our Motley Crue
A rare shot of David consuming mass quanities. David was not a fan of the food choices, so one night we went into "town" Navasota Texas and picked up Dominos for the crew. Dominoes pizza never tasted so good. We had plenty left over for the kids to eat at lunch the next day, too. Playing Pirates on the lake.
I think the boys were trying to board each other's canoe. Quentin rode with Ian and his Dad and Galad had Dylan and David. I was in charge of photography. They kept the groups small as they went from place to place, so they had plenty of opportunities for fun. At the canoes they were able to paddle around the whole hour. Good Times.
Quentin got a little seasick. But he recovered in time to shoot some pellet guns.
We had a great time and I look forward to the next great scouting adventure. I wax a little nostalgic because David will be going to big Scout Camp next year- one that doesn't need parental supervision.... wah wah wah!
Alice and Joely were in the safe hands of Robert. They had a good time with their Daddy all to themselves. We sure missed them though.
One final shot of the camping fun.
Here is David and Dylan, doing David's favorite thing, Climbing. There was also a BMX Track a good time was definatly had by all!
Oh and if you think camping in texas in July is insane, you are right. However we were blessed with cooler weather, especially at night and best of all, no mosquitos buzzing around.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Meet the Texans
On July 21st Quentin got to meet the Texans. I entered he and David in a contest sponsored by Reliant Energy to benefit the Sam Houston Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The contest was for Reliant to pay for Summer Camp (115.00) and the "consolation" prize was a training day with the Houston Texans. Quentin and his dad had a great time touring the facilities and running some plays with a handful of players and some of the coaches. Sadly Gary Kubiak (an aggie) wasn't there and neither was Mario Williams or Andre Johnson. He did meet Nick Ferguson, Mike Brisiel and Frank Okam and some coaches. Robert, ever the optimist, wondered if these players were mandated by a judge to do community service. The Texan Cheerleaders were there also, but Quentin didn't get their autographs. He did get his hat signed by some of the people there. He was flying high when he came home. His only regret was that he had to miss his first practice with his junior league football team.
"They even have their own cafeteria"
Sadly the "dinner" Robert and Quentin got was a brown bag from a sub shop, but still it's cool to see that the Texans get to eat.
Just practicing at the training field. Glory lasts forever Quentin, Glory lasts Forever.
Apparently, besides getting paid millions of dollars to play football, you can even get paid to swim. Quentin was very impressed with the aquatic center!
This is the weight room, the media is NEVER allowed in here. I put this picture in to show that some of the scouts wore their uniforms (insert laugh here) Robert wouldn't even wear his pack T-shirt. I don't think it occured to Quentin to wear anything other than his Texans T-shirt.
Quentin now has 5 practices (two and a half hours each practice) under his belt. He's well on his way to becoming a first class lineman. He plans on being a member of the wrking Crew at Texas A&M and then he'll buy his mama a new house when he plays for the Texans. Of course after his mission.
Most of Quentin's teammates have been playing full on tackle since first grade, some since kindergarten. I don't know exactly how to react when he gets his bell rung in practice or when I feel their is unnecessary roughness. I TRY to keep silent and just cheer him on and ignore my inner demon that wants to go hit the kid who hit my kid and well hope and pray I never become a football mom and bejewel myself with t-shirts that say "quentin's mom" etc.
BUT I KNOW IT WILL COME TO THAT!!!! QUENTIN ALREADY SAYS, MOM NEVER DO THAT!
His coaches seem nice enough, I havn't heard them yell and they do give encouragment. Quentin was afraid to miss his Thursday night practice last week when we went to my mom's, he made me get it cleared from his coach. I'm glad that he's showing dedication. His coach gave the OK and laughed when I told him Quentin was afraid he'd get traded.
When things get tough we remind him of the mantra, "Glory lasts Forever"
Monday, July 27, 2009
Having fun with Steff, Molly and Jacob
Isn't the pool awesome? By the end of the day, even Alice was making the leap into the pool from the Rock Wall.
Thanks Steff Jacob and Molly!
Monday, July 13, 2009
This is DQ Country
Take pictures with Cheerleaders (he said "Dad'll like that")
and eat dinner there-
We are still waiting to hear from Uncle Bo....
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Going for Glory
Joely was cute but very HOT- the tryouts were at one (who was the scheduling genius???)
Robert went and met mom and dad in Brenham after the tryouts and got Alice and David and dropped off Quentin. Originally Joely was going to go, but Robert and I chickened out, we just couldn't let the baby be gone a whole week!
So..Quentin is spending a week at my mom and dad's house living the good life all by himself. I'm sure as a member of a four child home, it's good to be an only child now and again. Thanks mom and dad for taking the kiddos!
If mama's cryin'-them's good onions!
That is not alfredo sauce, it's just buttermilk-
Then you cover them with a mixture of 2 cups corn meal, 2 cups flour , generous ammount of kosher salt, pepper and o'course TONY's
We love Tony's Blends. They are all good, but we stick with the original. After they are good and coated, drop them in hot grease (I had it just above medium on the stove) and cook for about two minutes until golden brown. Quentin helped with all of it.
The Chicken Wings were baked in Stubbs BBQ Sauce, you can use whatever you like, the trick is to bake the wings until nearly done, then add the BBQ sauce and then Broil for 5-10 minutes to get them crispy-licious.
They were messy and good. In fact too messy to take pictures- our fingers were super dirty!
Definatly finger lickin' good.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
YUMM-O
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Spending the Fourth with My Fam
Against her will Truffles got to "swim"
Here I am hangin' in Heff's Grotto- and little Joely safe in her life jacket
Swimming is Miss E- Mom and Dads little Doberman Pinscher- she's a sweet dog but she's under the impression she's the size of a rat terrier-when in fact she out weighs mom and can stand taller than her. She loves to be thrown in the pool. Truffles looks on in amazement.
The only thing better than Grandma's pool is her never ending supply of ice cream treats. They help keep you cool while drying off ! Thanks Grandma.
As a kid, I don't recall going to many fireworks displays (one in 1979 when I was a special guest thanks to my award winning American Legion Essay-another post) but mostly we stayed home because nothing could compare with what my dad the original pyrotechnic man could put on. I remember going to the indian reservations to get the good stuff. The shows were AWESOME- this year was no exception. Uncle Brian and Dad had it all, except no Roman Candles or bottle Rockets- due to the burn band and winds.
He had a ton that went way up high in the sky, they just dont' photograph well. And of course Sparklers! After working in the ER I've never let the kids play with sparklers, but Grandma had them, they actually look a lot safer than I remember and nobody got burned. I'm sure sparklers will be requested from now on. David was real interested in the fire- I'm sure one day he'll take Uncle Brian's spot and do the lighting.
We had a great time and when we came home we only had 1/2 the amount of kids with us- another bonus! David and Alice are staying this week and Joely and Quentin will stay next week. Divide and Conquer.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Say yyyyes to vvvvv VBS
Here is Quentin with Aunt Elaine.
On thursday night it is family night and so we go and listen to their songs, pick up their crafts and eat cookies. Robert's grandma joined us there.
Here is Maw Maw Jo Jo-
Her real name is Annie mae Elizabeth Johnson, but with all the grandmas the kids have, David and Quentin christened her maw maw Jo JO because of her parrot named Jo Jo. I need to get some pics of Jo Jo.
When we lived in East Texas, the kids attended multiple Vacation Bible Schools, you could easily rid yourself of children for the entire month of June, all for free! The kids loved hanging out with their school friends and playing games. I stayed one time at Calvary Baptist Church to see if they needed any help, and they didn't. These VBS's are well oiled machines and they are so well organized. The odd thing, they have no idea how many kids will come, but they never run out of supplies. Truly a loaves and fishes thing.
We can't wait for next year at Central, when the theme is Saddle Ridge Mountain
Friday, June 26, 2009
Lest we Forget, Farrah Passed away too....

I don't think I identified with Jill Munroe as much as I did Kelly, but I always thought it would be wonderful to be her. It would be awesome to have that beautiful blonde hair all big and feathery and have her amazing voice and look like she did as she ran around catching bad guys for Charlie. I thought being married to the million dollar man, would be a dream come true.
I wanted to be a cute girl from a small town in Texas.

I'm sure many people thought she was just another pretty face. But when she made that movie, she put a face and a name on spousal abuse. Before that movie, nobody talked about it. I beleive there are many women out there who owe their life to this movie.
She was in a lesser known movie called, "See you in the morning." It also starred a young adorable Drew Barrymore and I beleive Jeff Bridges. She played his beautiful model first wife, not really a stretch for her, but I remember crying my eyes out during the film.
I was a little disturbed when she was on David Letterman that one time and she quite frankly lost her mind, I worried about her.
When she started showing her artwork, I was again amazed by her talent. I wish she could have won her battle with cancer.
I feel like we really lost an angel.
What makes me the angriest is that her death is being eclipsed by the death of Michael Jackson. Who cares that we have one less pedophile on earth?
At least with Farrah, all you have to say is her name, you don't need to add a last name.
Rest in Peace Farrah
Monday, June 22, 2009
In a bowl you can eat!!!
2 cups biscuit baking mix (recommended: Bisquick)
2/3 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Flour, for dusting the work surface (thanks Paula, we're morons, we wouldn't have thought to dust the work are with flour)
Stir together the baking mix, milk, and cayenne. Shape into a ball. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead 3 or 4 times. Divide the ball into 6 pieces. Roll each piece into a 6-inch circle. Place a dough circle over the back of each muffin cup. Press around the cup to form a bowl shape. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Let cool slightly. Remove the biscuit bowls and let cool.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Land of the Lost
WRONG!!!! Although it was funny, this is definatly not for children and although similiar to the wonderful show with awesome special effects that I watched all through my youth, it is not for children. The language was inappropriate, ceramic boob shots, Chaka kept his hand's on Holly's breasts and there was also a little sleestak mating.
Fare thee well Mrs. Randolph...
I wish she would teach first grade too!
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
And they called it Puppy Love...
Waiting for Grandma
This is what Greeted Grandma and Grandpa.
They came to watch Alice's Dance Recital, David's School Program and Quentin's Crossover Ceremony to become A Webelos Scout.
(and not that's not a typos, its Webelos for single and plural- thank you very much)
Joely turned traiterous and would only allow Grandma to help her. Only grandma was fortunate enough to watch her "pee pee." THANKS MOM!
Also mom got to play cootie and pop up pirate OVER AND OVER AND OVER-
I didn't get a shot of it, but she did play the drums on rock band, while Quentin was on vocals.
Good Times