Welcome Home!

I know that this isn't what this is about . . . this is about these two guys who rescued a lion cub and had to release it into the wild. They went to try and find the lion who is now the head of his own pride. The lion recognizes them and embraces them and loves on them like they are long lost sons, he even introduces them to his wife. It occurred to me that maybe this is what our Father will do when we get to heaven.

Messy Baby

 

 

You know those biter biscuit things? Well, I guess every child has them (practices on them, uses them - whatever the term is) and mine are no different. Carlie seems to be such a dainty, quiet, little thing, but the other day I gave her one of these things and went to do a few dishes. When I turned around she looked like this. Too funny and headed to the bath tub.

Omelette This One Slide

While I was doing this . . .

 

. . . I did this.

 

Questionnaire Thingy

When I get these questionnaire things I answer almost all of them. If I'm extra busy I have to let them pass. Thought I'd post one here just for fun. It's one where you can only answer in one word, but I usually cheat, so we'll see . . .
The Rules: Answer the questions using only one word. Then tag four others.

1. Where is your cell phone? van, I think
2. Your significant other? plane
3. Your hair? messy
4. Your mother? work
5. Your father? work
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? none
8 Your favorite drink? soda
9. Your dream/goal? Chinababy, everyone home
10. The room you’re in? family
11. Your hobby? surviving
12. Your fear? snakes
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home
14. What you’re not? fit
15. Muffins? gluten-free, double choc. chip heated with a tad of butter on the top (hadn't had breakfast yet)
16. One of your wish list items? minimalism
17. Where you grew up? Piedmont (go Wildcats!)
18. The last thing you did? brush teeth
19. What are you wearing? shorts and t-shirt (Life is Good)
20. Favorite gadget? camera, iPod touch
21. Your pets? two dogs
22. Your computer? Mac
23. Your mood? tired, gotta get energized
24. Missing someone? yes, husband
25. Your car? beautiful, needs washing
26. Something you’re not wearing? shoes (yuck - small town girl here)
27. Favorite store? Target, Pottery Barn via ebay!
28. Like someone? lots of people
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday (it's too early to laugh today :)
31. Last time you cried? weekend just a tad

I Guess I'm Still Stuck on My Reunion . . . This Brings Me Back!

Ahhhh!! The Karate Kid was such a good movie, especially this scene. I think I watched all the KK movies a million times. You think if I watched them now they'd be really cheesey? Prolly.

Scott the Fireman at the Reunion

 

 

 

Scott Owens, one of my classmates who, by the way, was pretty ornery in high school. Is now a firefighter in Oklahoma City. His unit was able to bring the big red engine that Scott drives to the reunion picnic to educate the kids on all the equipment. The kids really enjoyed it!

More of the Reunion

 

Can you guess who we all are?

 

Kirk Johnson

 

Johnny Hochgraefe - I learned how to spell his last name after hearing it many times every school year since the first grade, I'm sure he remembers how to spell my maiden name for the same reason!

 

Tommy Noble

Twenty Years Have Past . . .

 

 

 

This last picture is Terri Hale (my basketball buddy - this girl was feisty!) and Chic Campbell's son Zeke.

A couple of weekends ago I had my twenty year high school reunion in OKC. We gradutated about 85 people and approximately half of us were able to make the reunion. I must say we have a great group of classmates and I really enjoyed each of them. We look good, too!

Confessions . . .

The other day I was watching Rachael Ray while I was feeding Carlie a bottle. She had some authors on there that had written a book called Confessions of an Otherwise Perfect Mom. I was thinking what my confession might be, not that I consider myself perfect at all. Some of the other moms confessed really dorky stuff like one lady said that when her husband was going out of town she would act all sad and like she was really going to miss him and then throw a little party when he left (I DO NOT do this, my reaction is the opposite, I love when my husband is home!). But, when we were first married I was very young and immature I had a lot to learn. When I was perturbed at Lyndal I would mismatch his black socks with his navy socks, he never knew, but I felt better. Since I have grown and learned more about marriage and communication I DO NOT do this anymore. I think it is funny that I used to do this - tee hee!

Hey Tori!! Look What I've Been Doing!

 

 

 

 

OK. I started cleaning out my closet last week. It's going to take me a little while because I can only work on it when my little ones are napping. Man! Have I been going at it! I should've taken a 'before' picture, but I just started with the 'during'. Maybe the 'before' picture would've been too embarrassing. Let me just describe it to you: Not only did I have my clothes in there, but I also had all my shoes, purses, bags, some old magazines, some vintage clothes that I think are really cool, some of Carlie's clothes and hairbows, some books, and all the diapers and wipes. I do have a pretty large walk-in closet, but it was so crammed full of junk that to get to my shirts I would grab onto the door jamb and leeeaaaannn in to reach my shirts. I have already taken 3, yes that is THREE, loads to Goodwill, and I have a little left to do. It is going to be beautiful! Why didn't I do this sooner? Well, is childbirth an excuse? What about a very inquisitive and energetic three year old? What about ugh, I just didn't want to tackle it? What about that I have four kids? I could go on and on, but no need because I started and I'm almost done!
I think I need to go shopping, I see some blank space in there :)!

Have You Heard of THIS!?

UNSCHOOLING?!
Did a kid come up with this? Read on . . .

Can anyone explain to me "unschooling"?

It's like "just say no."

Just say no to school years and school schedules and school expectations, school habits and fears and terminology. Just say no to separating the world into important and unimportant things, into separating knowledge into math, science, history and language arts, with music, art and "PE" set in their less important little places.

Most of unschooling has to happen inside the parents. They need to spend some time sorting out what is real from what is construct, and what occurs in nature from what only occurs in school (and then in the minds of those who were told school was real life, school was a kid's fulltime job, school was more important than anything, school would keep them from being ignorant, school would make them happy and rich and right).

It's what happens after all that school stuff is banished from your life. -Sandra Dodd

We are going to . . .

 

The CCAA recently updated their website to say they have matched families with an LID through January 26, 2008. They matched families with an LID from Jan. 21-26. Again, our LID is December 11, 2006. When we first started they were doing about three months worth of LIDs at a time, now they are doing just days worth. We are praying and very hopeful that once the Olympics are done things will pick up again. This would be perfect (isn't God's timing always perfect?) because there has to be a year's difference between Carlie's birthday and our Avery's birthday.
John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Sweet Beach Baby . . .

 

 

 

 

Carlie Grace McMurphy's first trip to the beach. She was so good and seemed to have a really good time, well, as good of a time as an almost 9 month old can have, right?

More Destin . . .

 

 

 

 

I'm having trouble stopping!

From the Glass Bottom Boat . . .

 

 

 

 

Lots of dolphin!

Destin . . . There's more!

 

 

 

We buried Nicci in the sand and made her a mermaid. The last two are from the glass bottom boat ride we took.

Destin . . . .

 

 

 

 

These were taken from our balcony and at our "beach spot."

DESTIN

 

 

 

 

We got back from Destin a little over a week ago. It was so beautiful and relaxing! We really enjoyed spending time just playing on the beach, but this time we also explored a little more. One day we rented waverunners and had a ball! Another day we did the glass bottom boat and saw a lot of dolphin, even a baby and it's mommy. Lyndal and Conner did some snorkeling. And Sue and I enjoyed some really good shopping. We can't wait to go back!