Merry Christmas

I sent out nearly 80 christmas cards this year, yet I am still receiving cards from folks and wondering if I sent them one. If you didn't get one from us this year, please accept my apologies and my good wishes. I was cramming in the writing, stuffing and stamping during naps and after 9 pm, so it was a bit harried and I think I missed a few people. God has been so good to us and we have so many great friends around the world.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday! If we don't cross paths this season, I hope we'll see you in the new year!

Random Musings

Here are my thoughts for the day (so far). Try not to be alarmed.

You know how you sweep the floor and are shocked to see the pile that accumulates. I look at the pile and think, "I didn't realize it was that bad.". Micah looks at the pile and thinks, "I didn't realize there was that much to eat around here." Seriously, he makes a run for the pile when he sees me pull out the broom. Kids are gross.

Katie has assumed the greatest responsibility in our home these days. She frequently checks the bathrooms to be sure the "toilet doors" (aka lids) are closed so that Micah won't play in them. I like her names for things and if she can't quite describe something, she adds "thingy" on the end.

I think I have decided to quit commenting on blogs that are about anything serious or intelligent. I think I have twice posted an opinion and both times been blistered and ripped apart by complete strangers that disagreed with my thoughts. Both times were about spiritual things and the slayers professed to be Christians as they tore my comments to pieces, attacked my character and said things you would (hopefully) never say to someone in person. Why do they think it is any more acceptable to destroy someone in print than to actually say horrible things to their face? I think all of us at times need to get up and take a drink or something and then reread what we write before we hit that unforgiving "send" button!

I think God could have come up with a better plan than for leaves to die and fall on the ground every fall. There are just too many of them. If we could eat dead leaves or if they would just vaporize, that would be much more convenient for me. Even if they would shrink to one fourth the size when they died, I'd be cool with it. But then, he never asked me!

I need to buy some cokes at the gas station. Why are they always so much cheaper at the gas station?

That's all I got!

Micah : Rascal Fan

Wow - the third day in a row! I must be really with it these days! I'm not sure what motivates me to blog on certain days and then neglect it for a month. It may be that I really like reading blogs, especially people like P and J who blog every day. It helps me feel more a part of their lives. So I am motivated to have something new for the 3 people who may check this blog!

Anyway, I frequently reflect (a.k.a. mull) over the deficiences in my parenting. Currently, I have been feeling somewhat guilty that my son is obsessed with Rascal Flatts (that's a country group, mom and dad!). Whenever he is whiny or fussy, I put on the "Me and My Gang" album and he is so contented. Therefore, since he is a pretty whiny kid sometimes, we listen to that album a couple times a day. I guess it might be the fact that my husband is a music minister, but it makes me a tad guilty that my son isn't quite as attached to Christian music. You would think that we would have that playing in our home, and we do periodically. He just doesn't like it as much. And, being the loudest person in our family, we get to keep our sanity if he gets to pick the music!

But amazingly, after having heard that entire Rascal Flatts album at least 400 times, I noticed a song that I have never really "heard". Truly, I could probably sing along with the song, start to finish, word for word, but the meaning has never sunk in. Here are the lyrics. See what you think....

They tried their best to drag him out

Of a courthouse down in Montgomery

And now they wanna kick him out of school

And take him off our money

They can take those words off of paper and stone

But he ain’t gone, no

Chorus

He ain’t the leavin’ kind

He’d never walk away

Even from those who don’t believe

And wanna leave him behind

He ain’t the leavin’ kind

She stayed mad at him for a lot of years

For takin’ her husband

Started losin’ her faith

And thinkin’ that her life meant nothin’

But when she looks at those kids she raised all by herself

She knows she had some help, yeah she knows

Chorus
He ain’t the leavin’ kind
He’d never walk away
Even from those who don’t believe
And wanna leave him behind
He ain’t the leavin’ kind

No matter what you do

No matter where you go

He’s always right there with you

Even from those who don’t believe

And wanna leave him behind

He ain’t the leavin’ kind

Cool song! Too bad I haven't noticed the message before. I guess that is how life is a lot. The same words buzz around you and it takes a certain time or circumstance for them to have real meaning. God must get pretty frustrated with us - he has provided the answers to our hardest questions in the Word but it still seems to miss it's mark, even though we read and read it! Things we say to each other are the same - if you are a parent, you know exactly what I mean. I guess the point is the same as me continually listening to this album - hopefully the words will sink in at the right moment!

The second point is for you, Tiffany - how cool is country music!

Thought for the day...

As we face the holiday feeding-frenzy, here is a thought to inspire you...

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention

of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body,

but rather to skid in sideways,

chocolate in one hand, real coke (not diet) in the other,

totally worn out and screaming,

"WOO HOO what a ride!"

WOW - 2 posts in one day...

I must be on it today! No posts for a month and I hit it twice today!

I just thought I'd post some new pics of the kids. Katie cracked me up yesterday - we have been telling her that when she conquers a certain bodily function (I'll spare you the details), she can start having sleep-overs. In an attempt at motivation, I asked her yesterday who she thinks she'll have for her first sleep-over. She said her friend Trevor. I gently explained that girls only had sleepovers with other girls. She said, "Oh yeah - I guess if I had a boy sleep over it could get pretty stinky!" Glad she is learning young!

The second picture of Micah is his infamous "scary face". Despite our efforts to turn him into a circus monkey, this is the only trick he will perform on command occasionally!

Don't you just hate those split-second decisions? We had a major one today. Katie has discovered that if you ask the ladies in the bakery at the grocery store for a cookie, you can have one, which has in turn taught Micah at the tender age of 1 to start hollering "a-geee" (which we believe means cookie) when we enter the store. So today, cookie in hand, we are cruising the frozen food section when the inevitable happens. He drops the cookie. In the 2 or 3 seconds that passed immediately after the drop, our eyes meet and a wealth of information is communicated in just a glance.

He thinks, "Crap - I dropped the cookie."
I think, "Crap - he dropped the cookie."
He thinks, "It was only a small bite."
I think, "Yeah - really only a crumb."
He thinks, "But I think I want it anyway."
I think, "There was hardly anything left to it."
He thinks, "I am pretty sure I want that piece of cookie."
I think, "Maybe if I kick it under the freezer he'll forget about it."
He thinks, "I will not forget."
I think, "Maybe I can just keep walking and he will be distracted by his sister who is inside the freezer right now drawing on the fog inside the door."
He thinks, "I may just have to start screaming if you don't give me the cookie."
I think, "Maybe we don't need to eat this week and I can make a break for the door."
He thinks, "We do need to eat, staring now and starting with that cookie on the floor."
I think, "Oh wow - that's a great price on frozen waffles."
He thinks, "Focus mom - here it comes."
I think, "Okay - okay - have mercy on me."

And so I pick up the cookie, wipe it on my jeans, put it back in his sticky little fist, say a prayer for his health, and get rewarded with a big 13-toothed smile! And then begin to have second thoughts. He is smart though - he shoved that cookie so far back in his head, I'd need to head to the kitchen utensil section if I decided that I'd made the wrong decision and decided to take the cookie back.

Oh well. You win some and lose most with kids. I guess that is why God said to pray continually! I'm still praying about the cookie!

I have no regrets today...

Rick and I had similar experiences on Monday, and it was cool because we both took away the same thing.

I was driving home from Target. Micah was with me, tired and ready for a nap, but not quite ballistic. I had nothing pressing to do. I was driving through a fairly poor neighborhood, a short-cut for me, and saw an older lady, probably 50's or 60's, walking towards town. She was using a cane and moving slowly and somewhat painfully, from my observation. She also had her purse, making it clear to me that she was headed shopping. She had quite a hike ahead of her and it looked like it would be a tough walk.

I contemplated stopping and turning around. I even slowed down while I thought about it, and watched this lady struggle down the road from my rearview. I really can't tell you exactly why I didn't. My only good excuse is that I was afraid. Oh what, I am not sure. Probably that she would think I was a freak or a weirdo and I would be embarrassed. Great reason! It couldn't have been fear of being hurt or attacked by her. Micah has already taken down bigger folks than her! I just can't tell you exactly why I didn't stop.

So I had major regret. I told Rick about it and he shared a similar experience that happened to him that same afternoon. He actually did turn around, but by the time he got back, someone else had taken to opportunity to help. We both felt totally bummed that we didn't take the chance to be used to help. We decided that the next day, yesterday, we would live with no regrets for not acting when the spirit moved us.

I am so thankful that I had another chance yesterday. A new friend, not from church, called and we talked about something really tough she is going through. It took me the last 30 MINUTES of the call but I finally got brave enough to ask her if we could get together that night and pray. That is totally out of my comfort zone, unfortunately. I have much to learn, especially as a ministers wife! But what an AWESOME blessing. We talked and prayed for 3 hours and I was so blessed by it.

I am thankful for another chance to be moved by the spirit and once again, I am renewing my commitment to live today with no regrets. Have you had any regrets lately?

Western Day

Katie's preschool celebrated Western Day. This meant that about 100 4 year olds (or newly turned 5-year olds) dressed in random cowboy paraphenalia (I don't pretend to think I spelled that right) and rode their stick horses around the preschool. It was very cute - reminded me once again why I bothered to have children (I have needed that reminder lately!) Katie is posing with 2 of her preschool buddies, Camryn and Courtney.
I guess this is the corral!

More Pictures...

I got Micah's pictures taken yesterday. I had the hardest time choosing from the 10 or 12 that they showed me! He was so funny! I had Rick scan these ones in...

I think Micah said his first sentence yesterday. He said, "Hi Mama." Very cute! Currently, Rick is playing hide and seek with the kids. Micah has a hard time staying quiet long enough for Katie to find them. The funniest part is listening to Katie tell Rick where to hide. "Daddy, you hide under the bed, if you will!" Whenever he rebels and hides somewhere unknown to her, she starts the hunt with, "Ready or not, here I come! This is going to be cool!"

Katie Day

This really was a Katie-day. She began her reign with a new hairstyle, followed by a manicure at the nail salon up the road (you'll have to ask Rick about that) and ending with a romp in the hay with some of her preschool buddies. It truly was a fun day.

The Hair Stand-off is Over!

It was a pretty eventful day today! Katie has been to the hairdresser exactly twice in her life. The first time, she was a year old and didn't know what was going on. The hairdressed snipped a couple hairs for the scrapbook and we took a few pics. A few months later, she went again. You have never seen such hootin and hollerin! I couldn't hold her in the chair. Since then, she has had a fascination and bizarre fear of hairdressers. She lets me cut her hair while she sits on the kitchen table but will not go into a hair salon without a fight.

Today, though, she asked to go with me to get my hair cut. And then, shock of all shocks, she wanted hers cut and she wanted to go first. She did great. Like a pro! The hairdresser curled her hair up - SO CUTE - but after all that work, Katie said she didn't like it, so she brushed it out. What a shame. However, I was still celebrating the fact that I don't have to cut her hair anymore! I managed to salvage a few curls when we got home! Unfortunately, she has just finished a blue sucker when I took this shot, so she had to smile without showing teeth!

I also had to include a less glamorous picture of Katie asleep on the way to Nashville this weekend! This shot is sure to end up in a slideshow someday! She and Lucy (the Cabbage Patch doll) have the same mouth!

My life has been changed...

2 things have recently changed my life.

For the first, I give all credit to our friends the Akers. They introduced us to the amazing Allegro marinade. It makes the cheapest steak taste almost as good as Outback. I recommend marinating steak 4-8 hours (it tenderizes too, so the cheaper the steak, the longer you want to marinade) and chicken not more than a couple hours. Don't add any salt until you taste it because it is pretty salty (that coming from a salt-aholic.) We are going to try adding it to burger meat the next time we grill burgers! It comes in a skinny bottle and you can find it with barbecue sauce at the grocery store. There are 3 flavors - original, hickory and teriaki. I like the original the best but Rick likes the hickory. I'm sure the rest of the world already knew about this (except for Cristy, and she can testify that this is awesome) but we are usually the last to know about anything anyway, so what else is new!

The other thing is Innertube on cbs.com. We live in the dark ages and don't have cable or dish or anything like that, so if I miss a show, I still actually TAPE it, ON A VIDEO TAPE. Hello. My name is Teresa and still use a video tape. However, last night, I realized with dismay at 8:30 that I had forgotten to tape Survivor, and we were at church in a meeting. But this morning I went to the CBS website and watched the entire episode, free, full-screen on my computer, and clearer than I can get on the TV! And there were only 2 commercials! I am going to watch Shark later today because I was too tired to stay up late last night to watch it! I may even get hoocked on more shows (like I really need that to happen). Did anyone else know you can watch full episodes of network shows online? Hello? When did that start? So, if there happens to be anyone else in the world (besides mom and dad!) who don't have TVo or DVR or whatever, you need to check this out! (I think it would probably be an exercise in frustration if you don't have high speed internet, though.)

Anyway, just thought I'd share my life changing experiences with you? Anyone else have any new and amazing products that I need to know about?

Micah is on the run!

Well, Micah has officially declared walking as his primary mode of transportation and is experimenting with speed now! I wouldn't call it a true run, but there is a quickening of the pace when he is headed towards something he's not supposed to be in to and he hears me calling him and coming to get him! He has also discovered the perks of walking as they pertain to the transporting of objects. He finds he can steal stuff and run, buying himself more time before he is discovered and the contra-baby item confiscated. He is no dummy!

I guess if I could summarize his personality right now, I would compare him to a very charming wrecking ball. He is very sweet and funny, but he can destroy almost anything, and quickly! Unfortunately for us, he is growing faster than his ability to understand "no" or a swat to the bottom. He can reach stuff that is on the kitchen counters already! Yikes! So, once again, I am re-Micah-proofing the house! By the time we see some of you next, we might be living in bare, padded rooms!

The Many Faces of Katie...and one amazing cake!

Well, Katie had a great birthday. Actually, it was more of a "birth-week" celebration! I think that the coolest pics of Katie's bithday are her funny expressions! Note the fancy earrings! They were not made by Rick!

I also had to include a picture of the cake! I am quite proud! It was my/our (Rick was grunt labor) first attempt at a real cake - decorating tips, fancy pan, etc. If you factor together the cost of the stuff, the 4 hours it took to make the thing and the ache of my back when I finished and then subtract from that about $25, which is what I could have bought a cake for, I don't think I came out very far ahead. But it was made with love, and 3 lbs of powdered sugar, so it was tasty!

Katie's party was fun! Only minor injuries, to pride and self-esteem, with the game of musical chairs, and no one was taken out by the pinata stick, although it was close. I didn't consider how long the thing should be. Note to self - 48 inches is too long for a stick being swung by a 40 inch tall 5 year old with 12 of her closest friends nearby! There should probably be some sort of equation for that!

Anyway, she is officially 5. She asked me today when she would be totally 5. I guess that is a pressing concern with her! But she is as 5 as she can be, and a sweet 5 at that!

Kids are funny...and gross.

Kids are funny. Today I let Katie wear a dress to school since it was her birthday. (Usually I don't let her because somehow, her legs always end up in the air, flashing her bottom to the world. Not sure how that always happens.) Anyway, she was doing prissy spins and dancing and she stopped and told Rick "Daddy, do you know why I like this dress so much?" There is never any telling. "Because it has pockets for me to put rocks in." I guess that is as good of a reason as any.

But almost as often as kids are funny, they are gross. My friend Heather and I have discussed poop more often in the last year than we have discussed anything else, I think, and not our own poop (I hear that comes later). And why is it that children believe moms exist so that they can wipe their noses on moms shirt? I consider myself a highly successful parent because Katie has only vomited once in her life (and that was in someone else's house!)

But beyond all those body fluids, I have decided that the most disgusting thing is having to brush a kids teeth less that 10 minutes after they have finished eating goldfish crackers, especially the orange ones. I don't know why, but that gags me every time. The chewed up cracker gets all gunked up in the brush. And pink barbie toothpaste smells yuck to being with, but mixed with cheddar gold fish....

Just for fun, what is the grossest thing about kids to you?

By the way, I do plan to blog about Katie's birthday! We just haven't finished the partying yet!

Oh, and for you folks who I KNOW read this blog but never comment, you can do that by clicking on the word "comments" just below this on the right hand side and putting your 2 cents in!

I just wanted to share pics of Micah's first trip to the beach. We spent the weekend in Myrtle Beach with the teens from church and Katie and Micah partook of the sand and surf! Katie already loves the ocean and Micah would most definately be to Africa right now if I hadn't kept pulling him out of the waves! He was amazingly unafraid of the waves and curiously TERRIFIED of the 9-floor elevator ride in the hotel! It was a fun but exhausting weekend! There were 2 of them, 1 of me (while Rick was working with the teens), a very large ocean and much, much sand!

As a side note, Micah appears smarter than we might have previously thought! He never did try to eat the sand. Surprising, since he seems to eat everything else! Other note - Micah does have a bathing suit, but this first "Let's just look at the beach" excursion grew to a "Let's just get our feet wet" and then to "Hey mom, since I have my bathing suit on under my clothes..." And you can imagine the rest! Micah wasn't dressed for the occasion, but then, we Castleman's rarely are!

Lest you think that we have misplaced the girl-child, be relieved. She is still very much alive and well. We do actually take pictures of her too. They just aren't all quite as charming this week! It's the teenage years....which seem to have struck a little early here in South Carolina. It might be those hormones in milk or meat or something like that that I read about!

Anyway, there have been a few endearing moments. A few! She had her first experience bowling this past weekend with her preschool friends! What a hoot! The balls were really hazardous to bouncing little 5 year olds, and the shoes were not quite cool enough, but they were so cute cheering each other on. I think Katie's score (with the bumpers up) was 58 by the 6th square when they lost interest in it and began to dance! She would have you note the lip gloss! I think my favorite part was the cheering and the high fives, which were shared for every toss of the ball! They considered actually carrying the ball to the line worth celebrating. Getting it to roll down the correct lane without stopping part way was cause for celebration again! I had never observed anyone using the "kick the bowling ball" strategy before this day! Katie was succeesful in using the lime green ball each time, since it matched her skirt! That must have helped the score! There is so much to learn from an almost-five-year-old!

Ok - so here is my Katie Quote-of-the-Day. I bought a pinata for her birthday party, which is in a week. She said, "Mom, how are you going to get stuff in there? Are you going to bash it up and put stuff in and then tape it back together?" I said the same thing I always tell her when I don't feel like explaining something - "I'll just use my awesome powers." At this point, she believes in my awesome powers still. So, she sneaks the empty pinata out of the kitchen to play with it and then I hear her yell from her room a few minutes later - "Mom - good news! You don't have to use your awesome powers. There's a hole in the back!" Oh phew...

I had to post another pic of the day. This one, Rick's dad took at Cracker Barrel last weekend while they were here. This is the reason why you have kids, certainly why you have a second child. We chalk the first on up to an experiment. If there are no moments like this with the first one, there is rarely a second one! Fortunately, children have these amazing moments of sweetness, probably instinctively, to further the human race. Of course, what is not pictured is the explosion of mac and cheese that followed, the refusal to drink milk and the poopy diaper, all which occurred while I had only one wipe in my bag. But anyway... the moment was very sweet while it lasted! May you have a similarly sweet moment today!

Katie has such a fun sense of humor. This is a picture that she took with her camera of Micah then stuck to the fridge with a Cinderella magnet! Clever! Someday though, I bet there will be paybacks! I just had to share!

More birthday fun...

I wanted to post a couple more pictures from Micah's birthday! I love the fray that is created when 5 preschoolers/kindergarteners try to "help" a one year old open his presents (like every kid is not born knowing how to rip stuff up!) This is an ariel shot - I guess it's what my living room would have looked like from a satellite!

Of course, leave it to a kid to disregard all of the fabulous new things he has just received from his honored guests, and creep off to a corner to play by himself with a free balloon! Good thing he is so charming! By the way, we do typically dress the kids, although somehow, Micah ended up in the buff for most of his birthday pictures! Oops.

This is my pick of the day. It's dad and butterbean (that is Micah's name at home, for those of you out-of-the-loop) having some last minute mullet-love before the haircut!

Micah's Big Day!

Well, it happened. My baby turned one! What a day! The cake and the presents were a lot of fun but the hardest part was the hair cut! (Note the before and after shots.) We decided it was time to do away with the mullet! I'm not a real fan of the mullet, but it was the concept of my baby starting to look like a little boy with a bowl cut that I was so sentimental about! He did surprisingly well, considering it was a new experience, having a buzzing, vibrating thing on his head! I only hacked it in a few spots. It just made me sad to cut off the sweet baby hair! Now he looks so grown up! Yikes!

We had a great party - 3 families from church that Micah likes came over and the cake I made was a four foot long caterpillar, all green, with antenna and fun eyes! It was fun to make.

By the way, someone needs to fill me in on how to make the pictures on this blogger line up right! (Sorry my postings are so funky - the never look the same on the editing page as they end up looking on the post.)

I hope you had as good of a day as we did!

Rick's Latest Project

I tell you, it is a lot of work thinking up things for Rick to do!

Here are some pictures of the project he just finished in Katie's room. The first picture is a before picture.

He added the shelves and the window seats which have drawers under them.

I am so proud of little Ricky! He did a great job and Katie loves her new space! I'm glad she likes it because she spends a lot of time in her room with the door shut to keep Micah out of all the little things in there.

I discovered another basic truth about children recently. There is a major difference between little children and older children in their willingness to share self-incriminating information. I wonder when the ability to discern which things are good to share with parents and which things aren't advisable to share develops. It hasn't developed in Katie!

Today, for instance, we are getting out of the car after coming home from a swimming birthday party she had with about 10 kids and she tells me, "Mom - I had to pee pee in the pool today, 2 TIMES!" (hee hee hee) Now, what in the heck am I supposed to do with that information? It's a little late to call everyone out of the pool due to a toxic spill. Also, she knows that's not cool and that I'm going to scold her for it! Why tell me now?

Another episode occurred a couple weeks ago. When we were saying prayers at bedtime, I asked her to think of things to thank God for. Then I asked her if there was anything she should tell God she was sorry for and ask him to help her not do again. After some prompting, she remembered that she had kicked her brother that day, just out of spite, and infortunately for her, right in front of me. So she prays, "....and God, please forgive me for kicking my brother today. (Mom - I really kicked him 2 times when you weren't looking) Please help me not to kick him again...." So what do I do now? Do priests impose penalties on their confessors when they find out what they have done? She was asking forgiveness and so if God forgives her, I guess I have to also!

Good grief. Kids are so funny! I dread Katie losing her lack of inhibition! We will be much less entertained!

The Last First Day of Preschool...

...for Katie was today! She started back at the same school she has gone to for the last 2 years and she was very excited.
It was so cute to hear the greetings between friends! Katie's favorite is "Hey, Girrrrrrrl!"

I can already tell that Micah misses Katie! He fears less for his life, and we both enjoy the quiet, but she is a breath (or sometimes a tornado) of fresh air and I can't wait to pick her up and see how her day was! This time next year.... Well, we just won't go there! Happy Monday!

One of the blogs I check periodically had an entry that discussed who the best bloggers were and his conclusion was stay-at-home moms. Why exactly, I don't remember, but I guess I blow that theory. Sure, technically I have time to blog - the kids nap for a couple hours a day - but those hours are crammed with all the things I find difficult to accomplish during waking hours. Such as...

Micah's absolute fascination with the inside of the dishwasher! Wow. Never seen anything quite like it. He can be at the other end of the house, totally occupied and content, and he hears the tiny click of the dishwasher opening and he's there as fast as his little knees can squeak across the wood floor. So, naps are for doing dishes.

Likewise, there is a distinct fascination with the inside of the dryer, which is usually hot and not a baby-friendly environment.

And then there is the vaccuum. Kids typically fall into 2 categories when it comes to the vaccuum, and both are represented at my house. There is the mortal fear/extreme stress, related to the racket of it, which results in crying and fleeing (Katie). The other type is the "wonder-what-that-noise-is-and-if-I-can-crawl-under-it" - Micah. Both make vaccuuming difficult during waking hours. Another chore for naptime.

The mopping - water in free availability. You know...

Etc.

So, all that to say, I am a poor blogger, but for good reason. There are moments when the kids are awake that I can sneak off to the computer, and I do. However, if discovered, Katie begins the interogation (ie. What are you doing? Can I play Sesame Street? Can I have a princess fruit snack? When are we going somewhere? Why can't we have a dog? What part of the cow did my burger come from? etc.) Her loud, squeaky little voice attracks Micah to the scene, who promptly reaches for whatever he can reach on the computer desk. So, my screen begins to read 33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 You get the idea!

Sorry. I'd love to fill your day with laughs and delight. But it probably won't happen on a regular basis here in cyberworld. You'll just have to come visit for that! My kiddos are great for that these days! Katie is dying to go back-riding (on a horse) and loves the flowers Rick bought me for our anniversary today, which she calls raviolas. Micah still only talks about cookies, but he is sure funny to get love from. He has the stereotypical (wow, long word to spell this late) slobbery kiss that folks without kids are grossed out by, but moms and dads get a kick out of. He is also so close to walking that life is pretty action-packed lately! We are also watching to see him finally take Katie down - there are some paybacks due and he is getting close to being stronger that she is. Shoot - couple more weeks and he'll be able to take us out.

Rick and I did get to go on a date this weekend for our anniversary - #11! And the best part was, Micah didn't even have a fit while we were gone. Wish I had known that while I was flying through dinner, stressed that our friends the Akers, who had the kids, wouldn't talk to us anymore after they had put up with him screaming for 2 hours! Micah is still loving me a little too much! I'm trying to enjoy it. It goes so fast.... yada yada yada.

Well, that's about all my sleep deprived brain can hold, so I'm done! I'll try to come up with more deep and profound, or at least somewhat entertaining things to post. Happy Saturday!

I had to post this picture! Micah had his first haircut (by mom!), although I didn't make it all the way around! Believe it or not, he wouldn't stay still long enough! I actually only got the top and parts of the sides, so he kinda has a mullet. But from the front, with just a little hair product, hey - he looks just like dad!

What a great trip! We got back last night from spending 5 days in AR. It was so great to see friends and family, and friends who feel like family! We went to surprise Todd, Rick's best friend, for his birthday and to be with a friend who's son was having open heart surgery. Praise God, the surgery was cancelled and we had a much better visit with them at church. Todd was very surprised to see us show up at dinner! But the best surprise was when we gave Rick and Todd a guided fishing trip for both of their birthdays! They had to get up at 5:30 the next morning and drive up to the river to meet the guide who was awesome! They caught over 60 fish during the morning, despite dire warnings that this summer had been terrible for trout! Anyway, they had the perfect day and Heather and I managed to get ALL 4 KIDS asleep at the same time, so our day was good too, despite Heather having to climb up in the McDonalds playground to rescue Lainey, which I am still laughing about! That is one of my worst nightmares - a clausterphobic/germophobic has no business going to a McDonalds playground!

South Carolina has been very good to us, but there is something about being "where everybody knows your name." Katie had so much fun catching up with her little friends. The child has a more exciting social life than we do! She went to a kids night out at Downtown Church, had a sleep over with her buddy Anna Kate (details on Anna Kate's moms blog www.thefarleyfamily.blogspot.com ), was invited to a birthday party, etc.! She had so much fun and it was hard to think about what things would be like if she still lived by those friends that we love so much. She has good friends here, but I am still very much attached to the kids she was in the nursery with as a baby! The little girls all had a weeping-fest on Sunday after church! I think it was worse than the Sunday we left to move here!

Rick got to lead worship at Downtown on Sunday morning. What an awesome thing! 900 voices sound really awesome praising the Lord, however, we did miss our church here. We have been so blessed to be a part of both! We also stopped by the jewelry store Rick worked at for a few minutes. Another note of thanksgiving there - the Simpsons blessed us so much by teaching Rick a trade that continues to challenge him and support our family! They are good people and we miss them too.

We ended the trip with a night in Nashville with Rick's parents and his neice that was visiting. It is always good to be there and Katie really enjoyed Hannah, her only girl cousin! But it is good to be home.

A Visit

I had a great experience Friday night. We got together with some friends to sing. At some point in the evening, Micah and Katie were occupied and I got the chance to become wrapped up in the music. We sang a song that we used to do in chorus at Harding - Give Me Jesus. For just a couple minutes, I was transported, back onto creaky risers, with Anita on one side and Debra on the other, and I could see Dr. G's face smiling at us. I truly felt "back in time." It was cool.

However, as much as I enjoyed the visit back to that time, I was just as glad to open my eyes and see the adoring look on Micah's face, as he pulled up on my legs. It was nice to visit my college days, but I sure wouldn't want to live there again! I think the problem that some folks have is that they think that living __________ - back then, ahead when, etc - would be so great. They forget to look around at the blessings of the moment.

I am quite content to be here and now and just glimpse back then or dream ahead to when...

Hope you are having a contented day!

I had to post this picture. Have you ever seen anyone quite so enthusiastic about eating? This kid is loving life with every bite. Might explain why he is over 27 pounds at 10 months old and his first real word (which he says while looking at the actual item) is "cookie!" The kicker is, he is that excited about everything - even broccoli. And his sister orders a salad at a restaurant instead of a burger. Where have we gone wrong? :)

Hope you are having a good weekend!

Uhhh... That would be NO DEAL!

I had a first today. I guess maybe I have been subconciously envious of all of Micah's "firsts" so I had to try one of my own.

I have always loved game shows. When I was little, I was in love with Bob Barker (Price is Right) and wrote off to the show. They sent me an autographed picture of Bob (when he still had dark hair) and it hung in my closet for years. So, when I heard that "Deal or No Deal" was holding auditions in Columbia, I immediately began to think of who I could talk into going with me (because that's not something best done on my own) for my first game show audition!

Long story short, the auditions were today at a mall. The mall specifically advertised that there would be no camping out in the parking lot allowed and that the mall doors would open at 6:30 am. The auditions started at 10 am and as long as you were in line at 1 pm, you would be auditioned. My friend Jeanie was convinced to go and it was her idea to be there by 6 am. (I had planned to shoot for 8:30! Ha.) So I was up before 5 and ready to go. We got to the mall by 6 am and, I promise you, there were at least 1,000 people already in a line that stretched the entire length of the mall and cars steadily filing into the parking lot. Probably another 100 people lined up before we could decide what to do. There were freaks and geeks, normal mini-van driving folks like myself, people with musical instruments and pets and, in general, a ton of folks that looked much more interesting than Jeanie and I. So, we ate fresh, hot, Hardees biscuits, laughed at ourselves and were back in bed before anyone ever missed us!

Unfortunately, I had been planning for the last month how I was going to spend my million dollars. Oh well. It'll have to wait. In the mean time, the Wheel-mobile is supposed to let me know when they are in the area! Maybe I'll hone my game-show auditioning skills and decide to be there by midnight the night before, like the men at the front of the line said they had done!

So, no deal today! Sorry to the folks who were going to Hawaii with me with my first million!

The Land of Perpetual Mowing

I think I live in the land of perpetual mowing - lawn mowing, that is. It is currently 100 billion degrees outside (well, actually 96) and there is someone mowing their lawn. At 9:30 this MONDAY morning (don't normal people work on Monday's?), there was someone cranking it up. At any hour of daylight, it seems like someone is mowing their lawn, not off in the distance mind you, but right beside the window of whichever of my children, or me, happens to be sleeping.

It is not that our neighborhood is the picture of horticultural perfection. Rick manages to keep the weeds below knee level and we look about average. And he only devotes a couple hours every other week to that endeavour. So I ask you, why in the world do I constantly hear lawn mowers? I guess I need to move to Samoa.

Speaking of Samoa, I just figured out how to put a link on the link section, to the right of this post and down a few lines. It is to the blog of our good friends who just moved to American Samoa (an island owned by the US in the south Pacific - just go to Hawaii and turn left, then go straight for about TWO THOUSAND miles! You can't miss it!) They are working as vocational missionaries/adventure seekers! Their experience is fun to read about, and you aren't too far behind if you start now - they've only been there a couple weeks (and I already miss Jaime very much!)

Happy 4th of July and Happy Mowing!

You know, I have a few blogs that I check periodically and I get bummed when I look and there is nothing new. And then, I look at my own, and there is nothing new. I guess I figure everyone else has a more exciting life than me and has much more to say!

The only thing exciting in our house is that Micah FINALLY sleeps all night! It took only a couple nights of screaming and he was done - like, "I finally get this. Cool." Since then, he has learned so much - I think his little brain is able to work better. He says Mama, Micah and what sounds much like cookie. He calls Rick "gaa gaa" which is pretty close. He is also starting to stand on his own without holding onto anything for a couple seconds at a time. I know there is much to fear when he learns to walk, but as a somewhat experienced mom, I can truly say that I am looking forward to it in many ways! He weighs over 26 lbs. I would love for him to bear some of that weight himself, some of the time. He also wants to keep up with Katie so bad - it truly drives him crazy at the park or the beach to not be able to handle the terrain on his knees. I have never seen a kid hate a stroller like this kid does - he can't handle being restrained! So, in all, it will be a good thing. And I may lose some weight chasing him! It will be good for all of us!

Katie had a sleep over this week! One of the elders wives from church invited her over! She was so so so so excited! She packed her backpack at 3:00 and held onto it until after church when it was time to leave with them! Didn't even tell me goodbye until I chased her down in the parking lot! She made it all night and even slept until 8:30 am for them! Rick and I were so depressed, walking past her bedroom that night with the bed still made and no one in it! Micah was looking for her the next morning - she is usually the first one in to see him! But she had a great time - she is just growing up so fast these days!

I guess not much else is new this week. I will try to post some pictures soon. Hope you are having a good day too!

Butterfly Antlers, and so on..

What a day - it's only 10:45 and I have accomplished so much. Just kidding! I actually have kept track of 2 different alter-ego's of Katie's, which is very important when she is living in pretend world, so I consider the morning a success. She is currently living as Lisa Branson who is 16 years old.

What is it about us that makes us always want to be someone or somewhere we aren't? I could try to convince Katie that she doesn't really want to be 16 but she'd never buy that! She is sure that being a teenager is the best thing out there! I guess there is a great lesson in this! I know that being 4 is the life and that she would never want to skip 5-15 just to be 16 already. She can't see that far, so she really doesn't know. Same with God - I think I know what and where I'd be "best" but I can't see there or then and God can. So why am I resisting him? Why would I want to determine my own path or choose my own destiny? There is a reason parents are in charge of kids and there is certainly a great reason for letting God be in charge of us!

I know not everyone is cut out for kids or even wants them, but there is much that I don't think I would have learned about God and his role as my father if I hadn't been a parent myself!

Oh - about the butterfly antlers - a little thing I picked up from Lisa Benson this morning! They are the straight things that stick up from the top of a butterfly's head!

Here is a laugh, compliments of my friend Tiffany. It's a popular game called Redneck Horseshoes... I think I recognize these guys! Oh how I miss Arkansas!

I hope you have a good day, filled with your favorite games!

One Wedding and 6 States Later...

...we are home! Katie's stint as a flower-girl is over. My brothers are all married off and I have finished all of the laundry resulting from said activites! Katie did great, well, good, well.....let's just say that she was entertaining at the wedding! She flashed her panties a couple times and somewhat dismantled the brides bouquet, but I think she served her purpose. I was highly entertained, at any rate. We are all, but especially Katie I think, so glad to have "Aunt Audrey" in the family (officially!)

Micah celebrated the wedding a few blocks away at the house we stayed at, by cutting 3 new teeth and perfecting his standing stance (which still involves something to hold on to.) It is so funny how different kids are - I looked at Katie's calendar today where I recorded her development. At 8 months, which is what Micah is, she could say several words - Micah grunts, growls and says gaa gaa - but she was just starting to sit herself up! Micah crawls faster than some people can walk and pulls up on everything! They are quite different and I'm glad - it is more fun! I think Micah loves me more than Katie ever has - he gazes at me with this amazing look of adoration! I am trying to soak it up, and not laugh too hard, because I'm sure it won't last long! He is so sweet!

On our trip, Micah had his first swimming experience! He was fearless, as are all Castleman children, and, you are not going to believe this, but he floats exceptionally well! Much wet fun was had by all!

Not too much else going on here. Hope your summer is off to a good start!

Well, it finally happened. Katie drew blood on Micah! It was not intentional - just impulsive. She was pushing him in his swing outside and somehow stuck him in the face with a big stick. Not sure how it all came together! She felt very bad about it and prayed for God to heal him! I'm sure it will happen again, and I'm very sure Micah will get his revenge someday!

Happy Easter! Thanks for the outfits, Mom!

Well, we had an exciting day. We are filling in the back yard to level it a little and Rick got to drive a dump truck. Micah loved the tractor driving around in our yard and Katie got to play in the mud! The funniest part to me was the asking...

Katie comes inside (she'd been playing on the front porch and watching Rick sling the dirt) and says, "Hey Mom - can I just put my bathing suit on UNDER my clothes?" I knew where this was going to lead, so I played along. OK. 10 minutes later, "Hey Mom - can I take my clothes off and just play in my bathing suit?" 10 minutes later."Hey Mom, there is this cute little puddle. Can I just step into it?" Etc. You get the idea! She likes to break things to me slowly! She cracks me up, how she puts such thought and planning into getting her way!

Anyway, besides that, not much going on! Please pray for Micah - he's still crawling backwards. He may be just a little slow! :) Have a good week!