A Moment Like This

As most of you know the end of year/beginning of year is a busy time for my consulting job.  So, I haven’t managed to get any posts in.  However, I did get a chance to update the gallery with some Christmas photos.  Click on the Slideshows page to the right and you can see them for yourself.

Have a very Happy New Year this year!  Much love from Frisco.

We had a great Thursday full of Turkey and Golf.  Well, at least that is what they call it. I am not sure any of the kids came anywhere close to having good form, but they sure had a blast.  Most of Sierra’s attempts to do it the right way came out looking like this: (Notice where the ball is AFTER the swing.  She finally took to a chopping/scooping motion and was able to at least get the ball to move a few feet.)

After abusing many golf balls, we started our annual photo session to try and capture Christmas card worthy family photos.  Except, that Chris and Stewart both pulled holiday duty at work, so there were a few crucial pieces of the family missing.  Add a bunch of kids to that, and well, you take what you can get.

I managed to get a few of Sierra, but she was forcing it. The golf carts were calling and the kids just did not want to sit still any longer.

Unfortunately, I did not take my camera for the best event of the day.  We loaded up six golf carts and headed out to drive the whole course.  About halfway through the cart with Davette and Haley quit working.  At least it quit working going up hill.  So we spent the last half of the trip having Haley drive it as far as she could and just as she started to roll back she would put on the brakes and hold it until we pushed her up the hill. Then we started all over again at the next hill, and the next, and the next.

I missed Davette pushing the cart and Haley all by herself. I missed us all doubled up laughing at her.  I missed Lance pushing with one hand and using his other hand to watch ESPN mobile. That didn’t last long by the way.  By the second hill they realized that 1) Davette needed to get out of the cart and 2) both hands were pretty much a necessity.  

Luckily the Gator showed up just as we got to the final, and largest, hill.  We hooked the uncooperative cart up and dragged it back to its home in the garage.  So this Thanksgiving we are thankful for large machines with strong engines.  And for the record, if you ever get in a golf cart and it’s beeping at you before you even begin you day, turn around and trade it for another cart.  It will save you from having to learn the hard way just how far it is around a golf course!  

We had a great night over at Chris and DeAnna’s house. The kids got to play in the yard for a long time before the sky cooperated and got dark.  They were all super cute as usual.  Here are some cute photos to share from our night.

I made sure I got IN at least one picture this time!

I like to call this last one “When Fairies Attack”.

Sierra wasn’t so sure about checking out the large, loud saw at the sawmill, but daddy and papa sure were!

There’s a family reunion going on in Durant, Oklahoma.  There are family members upon family members who haven’t seen each other in months…so what’s a person to do after they’ve stuffed themselves silly with food?  See how many laws they can break of course.  Thanks to Chad for the idea of making sure we documented each offense on film!

I am pretty sure that even in Oklahoma there are rules on underage gambling…

And I am sure OSHA would have something to say about this…

 Aww, but they sure had FUN doing it!! Well, at least until they started the 360’s.

Sierra had a Halloween party on Friday night for her cheerleading team.  This is how she left for it:

And this is how she returned.

This is the first time her baby tooth didn’t have an adult tooth right behind it.  We are having a great time watching her toothless grin!  Judging by the tooth next door, Sierra will be singing ‘All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth’ for sure.

Let’s talk about iPhones.  Is the navigation neat?  Yes.  Do they look really sharp?  Yes.  But it pretty much stops there for me.  The fact that there is no stylus is a big negative for me.  I just can’t stand trying to get my fingers to press those itty bitty letter keys. 

But the real deal breaker is just that…the breaking part.  I am just too big of a klutz to carry around something that is 95% crystal.  Think about it.  How many people do you know who are on at least their second iPhone, because the first one died a horrible death?  Or your really hip friend who always looks so put together…what does it do to that image when they whip out their phone and you see the unsightly crack raging from corner to corner?

So again, I repeat, they are really sharp looking.  Sharp enough looking that even I get a hint of jealousy when I see one.  But then I come back to my senses, and realize that Apple must have a really awesome marketing department.   

PS. For those of you who want the cliff notes version of today’s post, see below.

PSS. The views expressed in today’s post do not necessarily reflect those of all inhabitants in my household. XXOO

On one of my busiest work days of the year, school is out.   Don’t ya know that is the story of my life?  So, off I head on Monday, with Sierra, to Hobby Lobby to purchase more Perler beads in an attempt to keep her occupied for the day.  As we are leaving, I come across what I know has to be my next blog entry.  The only down side.  I didn’t have a camera to capture it. 

Picture this.  Sparkling white Honda Accord.  Bright blue McCain/Palin sticker in the middle of the back window. Not your typical bumper sticker. This is a huge square sticker, plastered right over the brake light.  For those of you who aren’t visual.  It looks like this:

Got the picture?  Pretty standard suburbanite whose a vocal Republican.  Well, apparently they were moonlighting in the Democratic district recently, because the top of the car was covered (REALLY covered) in bird poo.  Apparently, there are some feathered friends who will not be voting Republican come November.   That’s okay with me.  Maybe the flock of Democratic BIRDS swooping down on the polling places will keep the Democratic PEOPLE away! Mental picture over.  You may resume your day.

Last Christmas, Amazon introduced the Kindle.  The electronic gadget that stored a gazillion ebooks in a light portable unit.  Only catch was that it was around $400 just to purchase the unit and then you had to still buy the ebooks.  The ebooks, unexplainably, were almost as expensive as the real thing.  So, while it sounded like a fabulous idea I could never justify the cost. 

When we got our Tilts (smartphone) I installed a mobile reader on my phone thinking it could serve as a Kindle.  That only solved half my problem though as I still didn’t want to pay for the ebook.  Fast forward, several months and the Frisco Library has just introduced their new Digital Library.  They now offer ebooks to rent with your standard (FREE) membership.  You can even have up to seven titles at a time.  You just download them and they expire in two weeks.  No due dates. No running by the postoffice. Brilliance. 

So who has been burning through the digital library?  Me!! The one who loves to read, but NEVER  finds the time.  Well, now I always have a book with me.  I read it in the carpool line, waiting for a cashier at Walmart, during cheer practice, just about anytime I can get a free minute.  Of course, I’ve been sucked in by a few good books and found myself not being able to stop reading.  I then wind up reading until the wee hours of the morning.   But even that isn’t so bad.  You can’t beat a lightweight ’book’ the size of a deck of cards that has it’s own built in nightlight.   So, today’s post is all about giving Frisco’s library a big thank you!!

PS  If you are looking for a good read check out The Judas Strain by James Rollins.  Not a new one, but it was well worth the effort.