WV Pool Party

We are in West Virginia. One thing I find interesting is how everyone seems to know each other here. Curtis told me it is because most people have been here there whole lives. It is always interesting when we come to town, because Bruce (my Father in Law) causes a big stir. Everyone wants to see him...find out what he's been up to...so on and so forth.

So I hear rumors about old friends of his who have a pool. Something about a girl he went to school with as a kid who had a crush on him at one time or another. But I digress. Apparently, they have a pool. And not just one of those above ground pools, but a certified in ground pool. It's kind of a big deal.

So they knew that we were coming to town and had called a few times asking where we were. Connie kept telling Bruce to call over and let them know we would come over today...but he didn't wanna (hear my accent coming through?) He thought we would just show up.

So show up we did.

We pulled up and his friend (we'll call her Charlene)...jumped up and grabbed a towel and put it over her. Then went on to tell him it's because she hasn't shaved...because of COURSE that is what you tell someone when you haven't seen them in a few years.

From that moment on, I struggled to keep up with all the goins' on....

But here are some of the highlights...

2 ATVS pulling up with a mom, her daughter, and the daughter's step-son.
- The mom is smoking. Haley tells her not to.
- The daughter is 30. Her stepson is 24.

One lady was a retired cop (who is now 60) and she asked Bruce if he remembers her flashing the school bus when they were kids. When he said no, she said, "yeah...you would have remembered if I did." Then went on to talk about how she used to work at K-MART and wear a black thong with white pants and made all the boys crazy. (REMEMBER - I DON'T KNOW THESE PEOPLE!)

This same lady asked the 24 year old stepson of her friend if he likes fat chicks...cause she wanted to get incestual with him.

Then a sweet little old lady came by from next door (who of course was Bruce's old schoolteacher) and let them borrow the newspaper. But she wanted it back, because even though it was delivered in the morning, it is the NIGHT edition, and her husband refused to read it until it was NIGHT.

They took said newspaper and looked through the yard sale ads, because of COURSE they are going yard saling in the morning...and last week she bought "fat lady clothes" at a yard sale...because yard sales never have "fat lady clothes" and she wanted to stock up. But she doesn't go to skanky yard sales because they have bad clothes.

She apparently buys too much at these yard sales though because she has 54 MIRRORS in her living room. And a door from the old funeral home...just because she wanted it.

Then we heard tales of a 7 year old apostolic boy who came up and tried to rebuke the demons out of her.

Now...these two sisters apparently throw some interesting parties, one of which had a doctor who was walking around passing out viagra. She decided to go to the doctor. And then he asked her why and she said because she thought he might know someone she could give viagra to....

One of these women also has a bowel problem. Apparently has to poop as soon as she gets the urge. And her sister said, "she has literally pooped on the side of the road in every position possible." One time she had to poop in a public stall next to a little girl and her mom. The little girl heard her drop the bomb and kept asking her mom who was pooping, and they lady felt bad so she started talking like BARNEY and said "It's BARNEY...and I have to POOP!" And the little girl and "Barney" had a conversation of the stall door for the next couple of minutes.

Okay people...I could go on and on...but I think you get the drift.

Here's what I know. West Virginia is filled with some wild, wonderful people. I fit in just fine!

BIG NEWS!

We bought a new home!!!!!!



Send us a card...

2509 Middle of the Woods
West Virginia

A Weed Inspired Thought.

As I was pruning my flowers today, I noticed a lot of weeds and some dying plants.

And a scripture came to mind...

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever.

Isaiah 40:8

Time to get into it.

Picasso.

Haley has started getting up in the morning and going directly to the living room, where she pulls out all of her art supplies and has some creative time on her own.

It's really quite lovely because she likes "alone time" and mommy and daddy like "sleepy time". This is what we call a win win.

Lexi likes to begin every morning with snuggle time...so imagine my surprise when I awoke to hear two little voices in the living room...obviously quite busy.

When I came out to check on them, I didn't have my glasses on...so I relied on my hearing and I heard words such as:

Paint
Butterfly
Face

When I got closer, I saw this...


Behold... the Butterfly.
Artist...Haley Templeton

Lesson in Worship...

Yesterday, I was watching a Hillsong Video of a new song they are about to release. If you know anything about Hillsong, you know they are extravagant worshipers and their congregation is always expressing themselves outwardly.

I left the video of their song on, and I left the room.

When I came back in, I saw this...


Whatcha doing Lexi?


Lexi: Watching the moogzik.
Mom: Oh yeah?
Lexi: Why do they put their arms up in the air like that Mommy?
Mom: Because that is the way that people can tell Jesus they love him....it's like they are trying to reach out to him...trying to be closer to him.

And she sat right up and did this....





Mom: (in tears)
Lexi: I think we should go see him now.
Mom: Who?
Lexi: God. I think we should go up in the clouds and see God. I want to see his face. And Mommy.... when we are done, could he drop us back off at our house?

May we all have childlike faith...and be so free in our worship.

P.S.

A picture of little Haley with the tooth that is no more. (Courtesy of Grandma who read my blog and sent me the picture.)

Emotional Momma.

The first clue of my craziness happened yesterday at Disneyland. I went with my sister.  We were having a lovely time over in California Adventure near the Monsters Inc. ride when Jennifer says, "Oh look...there is Sully!"  And I said, "Oh Haley...you LOVED that Sully when you were a baby."  And just like that...I was so choked up that I couldn't speak.  

Haley was only a few months old when we first took her to Disneyland/California Adventure.  She was scared of all of the characters except for Sully.  Which is STRANGE...since he is the BIGGEST and FURRIEST of all.  One time we went with Grandma Connie and while we were riding a ride, she bought Haley a Sully doll, which is still a big part of the family today.  Well, yesterday took me right back to that moment, as if it was yesterday.  Except that now instead of a 5 month old, I have a 5 year old.  

Sidebar: I have tears dripping down my face right now as I type. 

Back to the story...

When we got home, Haley and Lexi got in the bath.  A few minutes later, I heard Curtis say, "Where is your tooth?????"  And just like that, my baby's tooth is gone.  And I mean REALLY gone. We couldn't find it anywhere. She didn't even know she lost it.  Don't worry, after searching all over the bathroom, Curtis found it on the rug.  

And admist all the joy...all the high-5's...all the "I can't believe its"... I started crying again.  Crying because I remembered how excited I was to see that little tooth come in.  She was 3 months old and there was nothing cuter and sweeter than her little tooth.  I remember that tooth biting me when I nursed her. I remember seeing her smile her one tooth smile.  And now...it's gone.

Time is just slipping by too quickly for me.  

But nevertheless, I am happy because she is happy.  Look how beautiful my toothless girl is...

Once the tears finally dried up, we had a fun time preparing for the tooth fairy's arrival.

Placing the tooth under the pillow (she was kinda nervous about the tooth fairy coming in and taking it while she was asleep)

But she was excited.

Making sure it was still there.

Couldn't be happier!


And good news...the fairy did come. And Haley woke us up at 6:30 am to let us know that she had brought her a DOLLAR! Wow. Lucky toothless girl!

MAJOR DILEMMA.

No...seriously...This is big.

Here's the thing. I live in the land of no air-conditioning.  I also live in the land of 'I need Coffee every morning to survive.'  

So here are my issues.

1) I don't drink coffee until around 10 am which gives me time to have breakfast and adequate amounts of water in my system.  At 10am, it is quite toasty in my house. But sadly, I am not willing to wake up at 6am to push this schedule back.  

....which leads me to....

2) Starbucks iced coffees.  I literally got dressed this morning to go to Starbucks and get a iced caramel macchiato.  That's $3.70  My wallet can't afford this every morning people.  

I could make my own iced coffees but they do not taste so good. 

Unless you have any good suggestions...(stop drinking coffee will not be accepted as a good suggestion)....I think the only solution is for me to apply for the morning shift at Sbux. 

Any thoughts? 

Gone Fishin'

Last week... my sweet, wonderful, darling husband gave me the most precious gift of all....alone time. I am borderline introverted, and if I don't have time by myself to regroup, I begin to struggle. We had been through a period of crazy schedules and consequently, I had no time to myself which means everything around me begins to suffer. Sensing that, Curtis calls me up one day and lets me know that he wants to take the girls away to the mountains for a couple of days. Can you believe it? Yeah, he is pretty awesome.

And thanks to a sweet couple of friends, Curtis had a beautiful home to go to in the mountains and Daddy and his girls had a wonderful time together.

Lexiism.

Tonight, Lexi looked up at the moon and said, "Look at the moon Mom...it's cut in HALF!"

Me - Oh really? Wow. How did it get cut in half?
Lexi - God did it.
Me - He did?
Lexi - Yeah...he has a special knife that cuts the moon in half.

Who knew?