Krogs Critter and Choobie Land

2011 Catch - Up: Raleigh's 9th Birthday

2012-01-23T10:46:00.002-05:00

Raleigh's biggest wish for her birthday was to wake up in the morning and come down the stairs to a party all ready and waiting for her.

We made her stay upstairs until about 10 am when we were finally finished making the pancakes from scratch, etc., etc.! She wanted a "rock climbing" theme for her party, so we turned it into a "Raleigh Rocks" party. We even played games with rocks. A little bit goes a long way, and she loved it.

Here is the party in pictures:

We had her cake later in the day, and Grandpa Bear showed up without even knowing it was her birthday! He came right in time for yumminess.

She loved her new bike and her new boots! And we sure love Raleigh. She spices up our lives with her creative energy and pizazz and her fun sense of humor. We love receiving her special notes and watching her grow. She has a great and active mind, and she'll do much good in the world. Happy Birthday, Raleigh!

Happy 2012!

2012-01-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

This year we celebrated the New Year with the Kunz family. They have kids that are all just about our kids' same ages, and Dallas and Brandon share a similar love for running and biking. So we were excited to join them for New Year's Eve for appetizers and fireworks.

I'm not sure which was better, the appetizers or the fireworks . . . and both were great! We ate those awesome teriyaki meatballs from Costco, spinach 'n artichoke dip, sausage dip, strawberries, homemade bread and jam, and more that I loved but can't remember right now.

We went outside for fireworks around 8:45 pm, and their next-door neighbors were W-A-Y into it. Even more than the Purdy's get into it. They had some serious homemade fireworks - even some that we all had to take cover for! (Now that's a party!) Madeline, who is wary of fire, even tried a sparkler.

We called it quits about 10:00 pm, and rang in the New Year in our snuggly beds . . .

. . . except for Raleigh, who woke us all up at 7:00 am banging pots and pans in the kitchen because she had missed out on it the night before.

Happy New Year!

One of Our Best Family Days of 2011 - Part Deux

2012-01-20T13:26:00.006-05:00

After leaving the Folk life Festival on Labor Day, we drove up into the mountains to Anna Ruby Falls. We felt refreshed in our air-conditioned car, drinking our ice water, and sitting down. And when we got out of the car in the mountains, we felt ready for adventure!

What is fun to me about being a parent is watching our children experience adventure. And all of the beautiful scenery was brand-new to Emery. Each of the girls were animated and excited, and I couldn't take enough pictures.

I could kiss those squishy cheeks all day.

Aren't these two getting big? I think they'll both be taller than me.

And there's a handsome chap!

Precious big sister!

They love taking care of Emery.

And posing for pictures.

I think we're beginning to look like each other.

We almost had a family picture!

Downhill is always fun!

A few more poses.

I was this close to capturing a timeless pose from Dallas. He's probably glad I didn't! But this is what was left of it.

We drove down to Helen, ate a few burgers, and headed home! Such a great family day.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2012-01-20T13:10:00.000-05:00

We're sure glad you were born!

"Bo Bo!"

2011 Catch-Up: Daddy Daughter Dance

2012-01-19T20:00:00.000-05:00

They dressed up in their snazzies,

made great faces for me in the Autumn leaves,

drove off into the sunset . . .

for a night of dancing with their daddy (while I enjoyed some quiet).

We all love Daddy-Daughter dances.

One of Our Best Family Days of 2011

2012-01-18T21:00:00.000-05:00

Labor Day was approaching, and I really wanted to plan something fun for the family: our last shebang before school really got rolling. After some internet searches, I came upon a Folk Life Festival on the grounds of a pottery/art museum just outside Helen, GA, as well as a waterfall nearby. It was an hour and a half away, and we were game! We took in the festival first, Southern-style: we spent at least 20 minutes at each booth, and we were there for hours! We had a blast, and we learned so much about folk history. It was hot and sweaty but so much fun.

Here Madeline learned what it was like to be a miner and go inside dark caves with her headlamp (or should we call it a head candle?).

We got such a kick out of this guy. He knew so many things about Indian life; he was amazing. I think we spent the most time with him. Some lady in the crowd said that he was her former 8th grade Science teacher. I bet he was awesome.

Here he is showing us how to launch something really far with a lever-mechanism used by the Indians. He had no qualms about launching weapons across the grounds. Nobody was hurt, either.

Here he is about to blow an arrow onto a fake turkey he put out into the grass. This man was hilarious.

We were fascinated by all of his artifacts.

Madeline got to demonstrate again: she was a little timid about animal skins on her head.

The black squiggly lines on this vase were made by burning horsehair onto the outer edges. Fascinating. I think my dad would've loved this festival.

Emery was entertained despite the temperature.

The carriage ride was the girls' dream come true.

They are dying to have their own carriage. They bring it up multiple times a week.

This man and his wife played songs on their giant banjo (don't know the name for it) and their Appalachian something-or-other, and they were awesome! We spent a lot of time with them, too. They played a lot of Jimmy Buffet, which I loved.

The older girls and I spent a long time making corn husk dolls while Dallas pushed Emery and Choobers on the swings. These teenage girls taught us how to make them; they have their own little businesses making and selling these dolls.

I could not understand a word this guy was saying. Really. But Dallas spent a long time talking with him, and he could understand him. He made these incredible carvings.

I was blown away.

Raleigh enjoyed this corn-husking machine.

She was hooked!

These are authentic slave quarters showing reproductions of documents used to contract slaves back in the day. It was wild.

A couple of our finished dolls. I made Kensington's.

Dallas was still chatting.

Old-fashioned woodworking

When we were about to leave, here came trouble! "Trouble," the six-week-old puppy that Emery was so excited about. I could understand about every other word from these people.

Their dog was sure cute!

And we left the festival hot and thirsty and ready to go to the waterfall.

This was our view across the street. It was so fun to see the North Georgia mountains.

Part two coming soon.

2011 Catch-Up: Emery's Birthday!

2012-01-18T13:41:00.005-05:00

I feel like it is very fitting to document our fourth-born's first birthday almost six months later. That's how it goes when you are number four, I guess. Hopefully Emery won't mind. It was a nice, low-key evening, and she went straight to bed after she ate her cake and opened all of her recycled (old toys) from her sisters. No fuss, and great cake - we had a great time! Now let's get on to the real purpose for this post - delightful pictures of our buddha baby:

Somehow she made it into clothes by the end.

2012-01-06T13:26:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T12:18:00.000-05:00

Our Bean-ie Baby

2011-10-27T14:10:00.000-04:00

Never More and Witches Ball

2011-10-26T10:09:00.005-04:00

I was very flattered last month when a woman whose taste and style I really admire (so much that when I talk to her, I feel like I'm talking to a celebrity) told me in her sweet Southern accent, "Honey, you've got talent! I love your work! You're right - your style is just like mine!"

She runs the hippest most happening booth in a store called Queen of Hearts in Alpharetta. Her "booth" is about 1000 sq/ft of space at the front of the store where she puts antiques, furniture, and other hand-picked items up for sale. I've been there many times just to look at her section and gawk at her style to find ideas (since her prices are out the wazoo.)

One day I was there at the store with my mom, and we spotted her filling her space with more items for sale. Dallas and I had wondered before if she'd take items on consignment because I can't keep up with stocking and restocking an entire booth myself, so I told my mom, "I wonder if she'd take things on consignment?" And she said, "Why don't you go ask her?" So I did.

She was interested, as long as she liked my style.

And funny enough, I was confident she would.

That's when the above-mentioned conversation happened.

It was awesome.

Here are just a few of the things I put in the store:

The print I used for this picture came from The Graphics Fairy, which is one of my daily reads. I love to dress up vintage images, and for this one I made a silk rosette and black veil out of tulle (if you can see it), and even though it is a crow, we're pretending that it is Edgar Allen Poe's notorious raven. I used an elegant black damask to frame it, and glued hand-stamped linen pennants to a strand of twine to string "Nevermore" to the top. I love how it says "Halloween" without screaming it.

This next one is so simple and understated - I love it! I also got this image from The Graphics Fairy, and the rest is self explanatory. Isn't the Graphics Fairy great??

These zipper bags are made from imported Belgian linen and lined with 100% silk. Let's just say I had a hard time letting them go and secretly hope they don't sell! I just need something to put in them . . .

Madeline's Friend Jessica's Big-Time Birthday

2011-10-26T10:03:00.003-04:00

There's nothing like gathering four of your closest friends . . .

for a night on the town . . .

to celebrate your seventh birthday.

Wow.

Greetings from the Great and Spacious Building

2011-10-20T08:17:00.008-04:00

This past weekend, I spent some great girly time with my mom, our friend Lorna Boot, and our new friends Annette Stein, Kajha Perry, and Mallie Steele. We helped Annette rep her children's clothing lines at America's Mart Atlanta, and we made a little extra $$$ at the same time. We had a lot of fun! And we came home with some great goodies we bought at wholesale prices (and really tired feet). Can't wait 'til February, Annette!

We spent our days up there on the 13th floor.

My Mama and me

We're entering the building on the right . . .

. . . to 13 floors (of hundreds of shops on each floor) of wholesale heaven! (Or should I say hell?) I actually had my Junior Prom here.

Looking up at the elevator

Looking down on the runway

And here is where we perched for three days of busy busy busy! (I only came home with one migraine and two almost-migraines. It wasn't the work; it was the traffic.)

Twirls and Twigs is one of Annette's clothing lines. It won the Earnie Award this year for best girl's collection, which is like the Academy Award for children's clothing. The lady who designs this line uses recycled scraps from the women's fashion industry to make them. They're really unique and fun.

Here are some of my favorites:

I got to bring this one home.

The main line that I help Annette with is called Jelly the Pug. It's a really fun and successful girls dress line. I love all the dresses below (except for the red and pink ones).

We brought this dress home, and it is to-die-for on Miss Choobers!

I'd love to bring this one home after the Spring line is gone.

This line is called Baby Mish, and these are all super soft and sweet.

The three Lornas!

Fashion Show

Thanks, Annette! It was fun!

But I was really happy to come home to this . . .

and this . . .

Whew!

Just Another Week at Our House

2011-10-19T14:45:00.002-04:00

This little sweet pea joined the rest of us at the dinner table. It was messy, but fun! She kept clapping at herself.

And this paper plate ended up on the floor a few times.

Madeline thought it was fun to sit next to her for her "first time at the table."

Miss Choobers painted some masterpieces . . . and then her nails.

Raleigh and her favorite shoes. (I used to have the same ones, only they were pink high-tops with the tops folded down.)

Monday night always includes a big batch of popcorn!

MMmmm . . . rice and beans!

I wouldn't want to meet this face in a dark alley! Emery had hand foot mouth disease this past week (ick! Poor thing, look at her eyes), and then she got grease on her face after getting into Dallas' bike. She's a busy girl now!

Madeline, with her "feather extensions" that she and Raleigh made.

Miss Choo is always ready to pose for a picture - even in her pajamas.

Raleigh's pet rocks . . . oh wait, no. These are Madeline's.

Barbie Photo Booth

2011-10-18T13:52:00.003-04:00

I found these pictures on our camera last June.

Had to share.

I'll give you three guesses as to who took these photos. And she's sometimes called "Miss Krogsworth." She makes me giggle.

I love you, Raleigh!

Summer Catch-Up: Kenda's Birthday

2011-10-12T21:15:00.006-04:00

Here are some great pictures of our first get-together at my parents' new place. We celebrated Kenda's birthday and got to see Nate while he was coming through town.

Nater Potater

Dad with the grandkids

I can never get enough of Dade's cuteness!

The girly cousins

Nate, thanks for giving me a big cheesy smile! I've missed it!

Happy Birthday to you, Kenda!

Pictures for Kenda from Raleigh and Madeline

We were so excited to give her the best cookbook: Our Best Bites. She was so excited to get it, too!

No evening is never complete without making my mom laugh so hard she cries. This time we were playing a made-up Mad Gab game that I created for Kenda because it's one of her favorite games. I can't remember what her phrase was, but it included the word "Whippy." Every time she got to that word, Mom started laughing so hard she was crying - it was hilarious. I think we should all email her/text her/facebook her at noon tomorrow and say "Whippy" and nothing else. Hopefully she won't start crying.

Burt's Farm

2011-10-11T19:57:00.008-04:00

After spending a couple of hours at the Ward Campout Saturday morning at Lake Lanier, we took some great advice from friends and drove out to Burt's Farm in Dawsonville. (We've really missed Hee Haw Farms since we moved to Georgia . . . but this place we went to was more about the pumpkin patch than the farm. We're still looking for a Hee Haw replacement.) It was a gorgeous Autumn day, and we enjoyed spending time away from the hustle and bustle.

Raleigh and Madeline picked out their favorite Prizewinner pumpkins. The pumpkins stayed right where we found them since they were about $60 a pop!

Miss Choobies took this one home.

Emery was pretty upset when we found the pumpkin stem she was smuggling in her mouth. We had to confiscate it. At least she got to keep her shades.

Dallas drove the girls to the checkout line in a wheelbarrow. He's a cool dad.

Afterwards, by the parking lot, we played in the stream running next to the farm. The older girls loved it.

Madeline fell in.

'Til next time . . .

Choobies Gets the Giggles

2011-08-22T19:39:00.005-04:00

We were at the table eating dinner, and I asked Raleigh how her Primary class went with her new teacher. She said, "Good - Barbara came in and talked about . . . ."

Choobies said, "Barbara?! Like Barbara-que sauce?!" in her luscious little lisp (lithp). Then she started laughing and laughing at herself, and we laughed with her at her clever little joke.

Then we took tons of pictures of our Choobie-Love making funny jokes and being oh-so-cute:

It didn't end with dinner. Afterwards, she kept on going:

Funny girl!

Here she is, cleaning the bathroom as a "consequence." She loved it so much, she was hoping to get in trouble so that she would have to do it again!

Love you, Choobies!

Summer Snippets

2011-08-17T21:15:00.000-04:00

Random pictures from our hectic summer in no particular order:

Our new front door. Sorry, no house pics! It's only been a few months, but we are still getting settled. We love our new place, though.

Our little sushi pie back in May.

Miss Middle, wishing these were real.

The girls love having a fun next-door neighbor friend who is literally in our own backyard! Priscilla is a cute and fun new friend!

Madeline wrote and illustrated a special book in 1st grade for her "Young Authors" project. She wrote a story about a fun experience she shared with Jess and Raleigh in Virginia Beach a couple of summers ago titled, "The Silly Song." In the first page of her book, she dedicated her story to Jess and Dannii "because they are so nice to me," and she gave it to them at the lake while they were here visiting us from Thailand.

My dad was too seasick to board the boat, so we left him on shore to read a stack of Alabama Visitors Center brochures we picked up for him to read.

Raleigh wouldn't give me "five," but she LOVED tubing this year! We haven't been out on the boat since last year, and the girls loved it just as much this time around.

This is the only "cousin shot" we have from our summer visitors - Gunnar and Henry, and Henry is missing from this picture! We should've had the camera out more, but we were too busy shuffling babies around.

Our Lil' Pudgie Wudgie

2011-08-09T20:19:00.002-04:00

Pardon the pixels . . . just sit back and enjoy our little pudge.

And don't be afraid of her chompers, but beware: our little ankle-biter really does bite!

Goodbye, Creekview!

2011-07-14T20:29:00.005-04:00

If pictures can say a thousand words, this next picture is one of them:

Miss Erika is our all-time favorite school secretary, and we will miss her smiling face when we begin at our new school. She knows every student and parent, including the names of spouses! When I was sick with pneumonia last year, I had difficulty getting the girls to school on time, and so she began a tradition of giving Kensington her own tardy slip so that she could have one like the big girls! She would write "Chubbers" (which was supposed to say "Choobers") on a little yellow slip that she could take home. But how can you correct the spelling on a name like Choobers?!

Whenever I called in to make a change in picking the girls up, she used her fancy Caller-ID, and without me saying who I was, she would say, "Okay, whose class is Raleigh in? Okay, whose class is Madeline in? And how is Dallas doing?" Very impressive. Even Emery was mesmerized by her. Don't you love people who know your name? I love it! Especially at my girls' school.

Raleigh's teacher, Mrs. Schrantz, was so great for her - a perfect fit. She genuinely enjoys her students but doesn't take any snuff, which is exactly what Raleigh needs in a teacher. Raleigh is very sensitive (and also very unconventional), and Mrs. Schrantz had just the right amount of love and tolerance. She even let Raleigh stand at her desk all day because she knew it would help her concentrate. That girl is full of creative energy.

This is Madeline with her wonderful first grade teacher, Mrs. Happe (pronounced happy). She just personifies the word! Her classroom had a great calm about it, and Madeline was a great leader in the classroom this past year. This picture was also taken with her friend Matthew, and here is an email his mom sent me that just made our day:

Although we've never met, I just wanted to drop you a little note about your wonderful daughter! Matthew invited Madeline to join us for lunch today. She is so sweet and from the first time I had lunch with the class for Matthew's birthday a few months ago, I could tell what a good heart she has!
She has looked out for him this past year and has tried to help him be included with all of the other children..I cannot express my gratitude for the friendship she developed with him. Developing friendships is very challenging for children with autism and from the very beginning of the school year, Matthew has always included Madeline's name among his friends!

Madeline with Mrs. DeCouto, her parapro. She told me on the last day of school that Madeline is the sweetest most well-behaved child she has ever met - ever. I love hearing things like that.

The girls are excited to start a new schoolyear, just about 5 weeks away. Wait, who's counting? We'll miss you, Creekview, but it's on to new horizons for us this coming year!

Dal

2011-07-13T20:14:00.003-04:00

He woke up early and rode his bike a few miles to the starting line . . .

Where he swam, biked, and ran . . .

And we cheered him in again as he won the neighborhood-buddies-triathlon! And retained in his possession the golden chain.

These were the participants:

That's my Dal! (Pardon the grainy pictures.)

It was a wonderful birthday weekend! We threw him (pardon the pun) a Football Party. Madeline made a sign that said, "We think you're great!" with pictures of a football, a goalpost, a helmet, etc., and we made homemade pizza with tons of toppings (pesto and feta being some of our new favorites). We played some football-related games that I can't even remember right now because, really, the best part of the evening was this:

I love how those girls look at their daddy, and I love how he looks at them.

Here's our audience for Raleigh and Madeline's play they put on for us down at my parents' house. It was a smash!

And here's our birthday boy! Love you, Dal! (Better late than never, eh?)

Underwear Thursday Continued

2011-07-08T20:08:00.003-04:00

Here's a random sort-of-underwear picture for a random sort-of-underwear post:

Last night as we schnuggled into bed early (as a new resolution) . . . and our "early" was 10:45 pm . . . (still need to work on "early") . . . Dallas and I got a bad case of the giggles. This happens every once in awhile, where we are in bed at night, tired as can be, and start saying things that make us laugh so hard we're crying.

I think it began last night when I told him about the underwear post. Except I was talking about all of the things that I didn't write. Like all the things that start going through my head when I see the fancy row outside our window. See post here.

It's one of those moments where you have to be really tired (and at least one of you has to be a Purdy.) Tell me if the following things might cross your mind:

Why are there two pairs that are not, ahem, completely white? And where on the row will they be next week? Or the next? Should I look forward to spotting them, or should I avoid spotting them? Should I even be using the word spot?

What if there were only six pairs on the line one week instead of seven?

Or worse, what if there were eight?

You follow?

Dallas noted, "Some people put themselves on the line; others put their underwear on the line."

And then everything went clear downhill from there.

Underwear Thursday

2011-07-07T20:53:00.002-04:00

We recently moved into a little rental cottage across town. It is cute and quaint and feels like a vacation home. We love it. A few days after we moved in, I noticed that the lady in the house next door hangs her laundry out to dry.

How cute and quaint! And economical.

I told the girls, "At least they don't hang their underwear out to dry."

But on Thursday . . .

I was aghast to see seven pairs of billowing white underwear hanging from the line, right outside our kitchen window! I went around the house muttering loudly, "Oh my gosh! . . . Oh my gosh!" I think I even called my mom.

Then it started happening every Thursday. A predictable laundry ritual.

Seven pairs of white-y tight-ies in a row, sharing clothespins with each other while catching my attention every time I passed the window.

At first I dreaded the weekly visits from the underwear fairy, but now the girls and I look forward to Thursdays with a mixture of anticipation and dread. And each Thursday when the time comes, we shout to each other, "It's the UNDERWEAR!" and everyone runs for a window.

Today I told the girls that we need to start a tradition every time the underwear comes out. It is a little weekly celebration of sorts.

Any suggestions?

Happy Father's Day, Dal!

2011-06-18T21:24:00.002-04:00

Our girls are so blessed to have you for a "prince."

Love, Dionne

Today

2011-05-20T13:15:00.004-04:00

Does anyone else out there read this blog? I stumbled upon it about a year ago, and I really love it. Today I am inspired by these two posts:

This one.

And this one.

That's all.

Happy Friday!

Hippity Hoppity

2011-04-23T21:44:00.001-04:00

For All Eternity

2011-04-21T12:36:00.008-04:00

Where's Waldo?

2011-04-21T12:30:00.002-04:00

Thanks, Rik, for brightening up my kitchen drawer and my birthday week! I love you so much!

Spring Break Surprise

2011-04-08T22:03:00.001-04:00

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

2011-04-02T08:00:00.001-04:00

I came into the bedroom where Miss Choobies was playing with her Barbies inside the crib. She had set them up all around the walls of the crib.

Then I saw this Barbie in distress on the floor of the closet (in her otherwise clean room):

"Why is this Barbie over here, Choobs? Do you want to play with her?" I wondered.

"NO! I throwed her over there!" (which actually sounds like, "No! I frowed her over dare!")

"Okay. Do you want her back?" I asked.

"NO! The Barbies throwed her out of the city!" she said, impatiently.

"Why did they throw her out of the city?" I wondered again.

"Because they were WICKED!" she shouted.

The previous day on the way home from church, we asked the girls about what they had learned in their Primary classes. Choobs' response was, "Nemo throwed up on those guys." We couldn't figure out what she was talking about, but she kept repeating the same story. Turns out their lesson was about Jonah and the whale.

I'm so happy we're learning so much at church! (And glad Choobies has learned how to apply these lessons to her life!)

Potty Poetry

2011-04-01T12:34:00.004-04:00

The training of the digestive tract of Kensington-dear

Is all that we've been doing 'round here.

"She's nearly four!" you exclaim, aghast.

Well, she's scared of the toilet. I'm so glad you asked.

But alas, she tried it, on Monday night.

And the spontaneous potty training has been such a delight.

We bought Robin Egg bribes to use for trade

For successful trips to the potty she's made.

The chocolates are dwindling in number. (I stole a few.)

Because she's learning to pee and to poo.

She has stayed mostly dry, once at night and most days,

Let's give our lil' Choobers a

HIP HIP HOORAY!!

Please also enjoy this other poem about Miss Choobers' digestion!

That's What It's All About

2011-03-27T06:52:00.003-04:00

Madeline, as she held her baby sister before church on her bed (decorated with beautiful tissue paper flowers she and Raleigh made earlier that morning):

"It's not about the flowers. It's about the relationship and the breeze."

You're right, Madeline!

Blood and Guts . . . Mercy (MRSA) Me!

2011-03-01T13:59:00.003-05:00

"Ew," he said calmly, with a satisfied smile on his face. "I can see your guts."

I looked down at my left thigh, which his dad and Dallas were examining. I caught a glimpse of the painful, gaping hole in my thigh, overstuffed with bloody gauze.

Ew. I could see my guts. And I began feeling woozy. "I can't look!" I told him.

"Then don't look!" he answered, as he covered my eyes with a surgical mask. He kept it there so I wouldn't. And he kept me entertained with his playful concern.

A few moments later, when I struggled to get comfortable, he marched in with a stack of pillows and told me that he was going to put them all under my leg. Then he exclaimed, "You should be on Monsters Inside Me!" He couldn't get enough of it.

Thanks to T-Man, I survived yet another examination of my leg that week.

Monday, Valentine's Day, was the usual love-fest for our family: lots of fun lovey-dovey decorations, little Valentine's gifts, heart-shaped homemade pizza, a dance party. I do remember that I sat out towards the end of the dance party because my leg was bothering me.

The next day, a sore that I had on my upper inner thigh started to grow bigger and became increasingly painful. It had been there over the weekend, but it seemed like something that would go away. By Wednesday it was the size of a fried egg - the yolk part a dark reddish bluish purple, and the white part a deep red. It was excruciatingly painful to the touch, and I could hardly walk or sit. This was not the usual owie.

Then the fever came.

I talked with a P.A. friend of ours that morning, and he told me that it was a staph infection, and he prescribed an antibiotic. But now that I had a fever, it was looking more serious. My doctor got me right in, ready to lance it.

I had drawn around the infection with a sharpie marker to watch for spreading, and now the "fried egg" was spreading in a wide band halfway around my leg on both sides. But it was not ready to be lanced. The doctor wanted to give me one more day. He said that the P.A. had done the right thing in giving me the antibiotic.

Then he said in his Latvian accent, "I give you shot - it hurt really bad! You no cry, I give you lollipop." Well, it did hurt - but not bad; I didn't cry, and I didn't get a lollipop. Just a sore Rocephin-filled leg.

The next morning, this awesome lady came over:

She folded piles and piles of laundry for me. And played with Miss Choobs. And bought lunch for us. She basically kept my mind off of the impending doctor's visit, which we both had no idea would be as bad as it was.

At 12:45, I kissed everyone goodbye and hobbled off to the doctor while my mom babysat. The abscess was still growing, but little tiny pinpricks of pus-pockets had formed, which I thought were a good thing for lancing.

I lay on the operating table, and as the doctor painfully tore the bandage off my leg, he said. "Uh oh. This is not looking good. We need to cut it - TODAY!" After that it was a scramble to sign paperwork, prep me and the abscess, and to gather surgical instruments.

I love my doctor, but he thinks aloud. These were his thoughts: "This is MRSA, the drug-resistant staph. We need to cut it. It hurt really bad. I try to numb it, but the numbing not usually work." I didn't like those thoughts.

Especially when they became a reality. The next few hours were torturous as I gripped the nurse in agonizing pain and yelled when he jabbed the abscess with numbing injections (twice). How blessed I was that it mostly worked. Since he had to cut through about twelve layers of tissue, the numbing medication didn't work completely, and it took my breath away when he made the incision. "Don't breathe like that. You gonna pass out on me!" he nearly shouted.

It was intense. It was agonizing. The abscess drained, I developed another fever, I began blacking out, and I went into shock with two hours of teeth-chattering and shakes. I had chest pains, and they put me on a nebulizer. They told me that I probably had to go to the hospital for IV antibiotics. They gave me another shot in the leg.

And then this handsome man left work early to come be with me (and to bring Emery over so that I could feed her):

I love this guy.

I didn't have to go the hospital. I got to go home. I had the fever all night, and it broke in the morning.

That was the Thursday after Valentine's Day. On Friday I went in for another torturous appointment where the doctor changed the gauze in my open wound. No half-numbing this time - just tugging at and stuffing gauze into a very sensitive site. One side was healing, and the other side was spreading. There was more talk of a possible hospital admittance and another shot in the leg. And then it was the weekend.

And to be honest, I was absolutely freaked out to ever go back to the doctor's office again in my life for more torture and pain. I felt like a psycho.

That's when Saturday we ended up at T-Man's house, and he and his P.A. dad and Dallas were examining my leg yet again. Yes, it was still spreading. One side was not looking better. I was still in a lot of pain. It looked like this (but had spread out of the lines about an inch):

And for the first time, I was laughing through it all because of the hilarious antics of an almost seven-year-old who was mesmerized by my "guts." (And no one was shouting, "This gonna hurt really bad!") His dad educated us, and I have to say that knowledge really is power. We took his advice, and by Monday morning's visit . . .

The doctor said I was "out of the woods."

It's been a week and a half since then, and we've had countless dinners, phone calls, visits, kind words spoken to us, and lots and lots of prayers. I can finally walk and sit and drive again.

And looking back at our celebration of Valentine's Day . . .

I realize two things: I had no idea what I was in for that week.

And I really love my husband.

Love is not flowers and candy and decorations. Love is taking care of each other when it really counts.

So for me this past Valentine's Day, I felt an overwhelming sense of love from my family and friends.

And I'm so glad that it's over.

Dallas' Accidental Half-Marathon

2011-03-01T12:41:00.003-05:00

"Where is Dallas?" we wondered aloud. "He sure has been gone a long time . . . ."

About two hours after he left the house to go running, he came inside, drenched in sweat and smiling. Turns out he was a little bit lost. Lost in that the only roads he knew in Peachtree City were the bigger highways.

13.3 miles of them.

For the Love of Emery

2011-02-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Raleigh's Shop of Horrors

2011-02-11T12:53:00.002-05:00

Don't be afraid. Just sit here while I hypnotize you with my jelly-guy-on-a-string.

I may look scary in my fake red glasses and "dress" I made myself, but you can trust me.

I promise . . . .

The Worst Part of Our Day

2011-02-11T12:37:00.000-05:00

Homework time! Anyone with me on this one?

Madeline's Mustache

2011-02-10T21:25:00.002-05:00

Well, there it is. Madeline's most recent mustache.

Did you know she has a thang for mustaches? On herself?

Several weeks ago, we had dinner with some friends, and Madeline gave herself the most exquisitely red Raspberry Ice mustache.

And then she saved it for Show-and-Tell the next day at school.

That's how cute Madeline is.

Sushi Love

2011-02-09T20:55:00.003-05:00

Happy February!

2011-02-01T13:30:00.000-05:00

Ugly-Awesome Christmas Trinket Tie

2011-01-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago in the foyer at church, I overheard a friend's dad say to another guy, "You're so conservative!"

He was referring to the other guy's festive tie. And then I took a look at his! It was what I call "ugly-awesome," an adjective reserved for only the ugly-awesome, meaning it is so ugly that I love it. And ever since then, I have been waiting excitedly for an after-Christmas bauble-buying fest!

Here's the loot:

I tried to find some larger, flat ornaments to fill in big spaces, as well as some smaller filler items. These were all 75% off at JoAnn, and most were 60 cents or less.

First, I had Dallas put on an old red tie I decided to use so that I could measure how much space I had to work with. Luckily, Dallas already owned an old red tie, AND he didn't care if I glued things all over it, AND he even said he would wear it next year, (AND I hadn't even made it yet when he said that)! Then I laid out the larger pieces and began hot gluing.

Here are the larger pieces ready for adhesion.

Then I filled in all of the spaces with little doo-dads. Funny enough, I think it's missing something still. Maybe something white here and there? This tie may evolve between now and next Christmas.

"You're so conservative . . . "

The Soup That Saved Christmas

2011-01-07T20:00:00.001-05:00

I first tasted this soup on Thanksgiving Eve down at my parents' house after a very stressful day. It was so soothing and satisfying (as are most things made with a mother's love)! I made this soup over Christmas break just before the sickness settled in on our family, and it lasted us through the weekend.

Some recipe hints for novices like me:

Slow-cook boneless-skinless chicken breast in the oven on 250 degrees in a foil-covered casserole dish for a few hours instead of boiling a broiler/fryer. Then add a couple of bouillon cubes to the recipe (to make up for the lack of broth).

Also, roll out the noodle dough as thin as you possibly can. Mine were a bit thick, but they were still so good. It will take some work to mix all of the flour in, but it is so worth it! And really, just use half of the homemade noodles as the recipe suggests.

Thick Chicken Noodle Soup with Homemade Noodles

(from Denise's Recipe Stash)

1 broiler/fryer, about 3 1/2 lbs.

2 quarts water

2 tsp. salt

3 large carrots, sliced

2 large celery stalks, sliced

1 onion, chopped

3/4 c. flour

1 can evaporated milk

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. poultry seasoning

1 tsp. sage

1 tsp. celery salt

1 Tbs. parsley

3/4 c. butter

In large stockpot combine chicken with 2 quarts water and 2 tsp. salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cover. Cook until tender, about 1 1/2 hours. While cooking, make noodles. (See recipe below.)

Combine flour and milk for thickening. Set aside.

Remove chicken from liquid and cool. Set aside.

Add prepared vegetables and seasonings to the hot liquid. Cook about 12 minutes. Drop in homemade noodles (use only 1/2 of recipe below) or purchased; cook 8-10 minutes.

Add butter to hot soup. Reduce heat. Add flour mixture and bring to slow boil, stirring constantly until thick. Add chicken and serve.

Makes 6-8 servings.

Homemade Noodles

3 egg yolks

1 egg

Beat well. Add:

3 Tbs. cold water

1 tsp. salt

2 c. flour

Mix together well. You will need to use your hands. Divide dough in half. Roll each portion out very thin on floured surface. Let stand for 1 hour to dry. Cut into whatever size you prefer. Use immediately or freeze. Can be frozen for 1 month before using.

Enjoy!

Wishing You a Merry Virus and Happy Our Nasals are Clear

2011-01-07T13:11:00.004-05:00

Our holiday season this year began as what Dallas called "our best ever." We enjoyed so many festive events together as a family and with our wonderful friends and extended family. We enjoyed Raleigh and Madeline's piano recital at an assisted living center, attended the Festival of the Nativity, ate dinner with a few different friends, watched the Christmas Devotional together, had festive family nights decorating the house and eating holiday desserts, skyped with loved-ones near and far, made some awesome new Christmas decorations, attended a few Christmas parties, and even spent a whole Saturday in December painting a mural as part of a service project for church. It was all "magical" and Christmas-y!

Dallas and I, along with another couple, painted this mural for our service project. We were happy with how it turned out! Go here to read the Church News article about our fun day!

We had a special dinner with Grammy and Grandpa Bear before they left for their long trip to Utah for Grandpa Van's big 80th birthday-bash:

Grammy is wearing a "cape" that Raleigh made for her that said "Birthday Girl." She wore it all night - what a good grammy!

Choobies fell asleep on the "pink chair" in the middle of dinner, so we swept her off to bed and enjoyed the other girls. Grammy and Grandpa Bear brought special presents:

Custom-made American Girl Doll sleeping bag and pillow sets by Grammy . . .

. . . which have been put to good use already, and some Baby Legs for all! All of the kids, that is. Here's Madeline in hers:

She wanted to wear them to bed with her pajamas.

Thanks, Mom!

Even Emery has enjoyed them!

Here are some pictures from a party with lots of great friends:

And finally . . .

Christmas morning!

(How would you like to meet up with Madeline in a dark alley with that look on her face?! She looks like a scary cat!) The girls must have been good this year because Santa brought them some pretty neat things!

I stayed awake for most of the festivities . . . unfortunately, I came down with Strep two nights before and still had a fever. By Christmas night, three out of our four kids had high fevers, I was still sick, and the worst part was that Emery was sick and not breathing well. We had some very scary late-night moments with her, and by Monday we were able to get everyone in to see the doctor and brought home one of these for Emery to help her breathe:

I love how she's looking at Dallas. He took mighty good care of us. What a way to spend his precious days off, though! As Raleigh got better and her appetite increased, I found signs like this around the house:

We ate soup all weekend (and it was divine), but she was ready for a real meal! She was also compelled to make this "pharmacy" out of all of our spices and a creche:

I guess this picture is a metaphor of Christmas Day at our house!

And we're sure glad this little plump-kin is better, so we can kiss her little toes under the mistletoe (which still happens to be hung, along with all of our other Christmas decorations)! (FYI - I overheard Dallas calling Emery "Miss Butter McFrumple Knuckle." Thought you should know.)

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T22:31:00.001-05:00

From our Barbie house . . .

. . . to yours!

Just Loving This Girl

2010-12-19T20:11:00.004-05:00

Now don't tell me you couldn't just eat those dimpled knuckles and squish those big cheeks!

This picture was taken over a month ago, so she's a little bit little. (I put that last phrase in there for my own entertainment.) She loves her daddy!

Those wide eyes are pretty much a given when Choobies is around to love Emery to death. Choobies is dangerous around babies she loves. She absolutely smothers Emery, so we have to be careful!

Here's a special place to perch! Madeline loves to spend time with Emery every day after school. She likes to tote her around and include her in whatever she's doing . . .

Like, let's say . . . knitting. (Doesn't Emery look like a baby doll in this picture? Almost creepy?)

What kind of caption would you put on this picture? Isn't it hilarious though? What is she thinking in her mind during this photo shoot? I love it!

Funnies from Raleigh

2010-12-16T22:23:00.004-05:00

Tonight I was editing a book report of Raleigh's. For part of her assignment, she was supposed to tell how she could relate to the character. She wrote, "I can relate to the character because I like my dad better than my mom, too." (sniffle) . . . She came into the room where I was looking over her assignment. I began smiling, and she knew why! She said, "Don't feel bad, Mom, it's just my mood right now."

A couple of months ago Raleigh was having a difficult time sleeping because she was having scary thoughts. I asked her to pull out her scriptures and read them to help her feel better and have more uplifting thoughts. She groaned, "Oh, Mom! Why do they have to be so RELIGIOUS?"

Another night Raleigh was having a meltdown at the dinner table about whether the very last taco she was supposed to be splitting with her sister was a half or a fourth of a taco. (Because it HAD to be exactly right.) Later we were practicing fractions with Madeline, and Raleigh walked by us. I said (in jest), "I bet Raleigh knows the answer to this one! What is a fourth of a taco plus a fourth of a taco??" Without missing a beat, she quipped, "A FIGHT!"

Now That It's Christmastime . . .

2010-12-16T19:29:00.006-05:00

Let's not forget about our wonderful Thanksgiving! After a MOST hectic and stressful week preceding Thanksgiving, we were so thankful just to go down to my parents' house and relax. Only problem: our kids had been so stir crazy after our two-week-long lice episode (because of the nightly two-hour hair check and vacuum-everything-visible-time) that they went absolutely BERSERKO. And my cousin Drie was down for the weekend for her first visit to Georgia!! Bad timing . . . sorry, Drie! Really, they were crazy. But we were able to spend time together, and we threw Madeline a Turkey Birthday Party. Happy Birthday, Madeline! And Happy Thanksgiving!

Here was half of our birthday party gang for a round of Turkey Bowl.

Not your normal Turkey Bowl . . . we used a pumpkin and some "drumsticks." Thanks, Drie, for helping me make the drumsticks and a thousand feathers for the party.

This is our bowling ball after it hit a tree.

The turkeys took all of Madeline's presents. Luckily, they left a feather behind with a clue! Raleigh set this game up for Madeline, and she made such cute clues!

It was fitting for Madeline to have a Thanksgiving birthday because she is a naturally grateful little person. She notices things that people do for her, and she holds on to many memories and little treasures for their sentimental value. She's our lovebug.

Here we are falling asleep at the table, waiting for the boys to come home so we can start feasting!

This turkey held all of our love notes to Madeline . . .

Which she still has in safe-keeping. Happy Birthday, Madeline! We love you!

Grammy also helped the girls with a little sewing project, which was the highlight of their trip. Raleigh and Madeline gave them special names.

We've got "Birdie Kusherdie" and my favorite,

"Turtie" (not to be confused with terdie).

Now let's move on to Christmas!

Oh, Poo!

2010-12-08T14:10:00.003-05:00

Santa's Elf (that would be me, Dionne), couldn't get much Christmas shopping done today! I would like to place the blame on the following little squirt (literally):

Because she had four messy diapers in one shopping trip!

That's okay, we still love you, Sweet Sushi Pie!

The Golden Chain

2010-12-03T13:17:00.011-05:00

His adoring fans came by the van-load . . .

And braved the 60 degree weather . . .

To witness the record-breaking win . . .

By this champion in the yellow jersey!!!

The competition was tough, and we are proud of you, Dal!

Some of the local guys get together each month for a little bit of competitive exercise. Dallas placed first in this month's duathlon (Run 1.5 miles, Bike 15 miles, Run 1.5 miles) and beat the record with his time: one hour and thirteen minutes. He didn't even get lost this time!

"My dad's awesome!"

In usual Raleigh-style, we held a second duathlon at home later that afternoon with Raleigh and Kensington as the sole competitors. The odds were undeniably in Raleigh's favor (hee hee), especially with the route she conceived: 3 lap run, 8 lap bike, 5 lap run, 1 lap bike, 11 lap run, 4 lap bike, 6 lap run, 5 lap bike, and on and on and on.

Raleigh took the lead . . .

Leaving those with training wheels in the dust.

Choobies geared up on her pink and purple birthday bike with a big tulle bow,

And pedaled close behind. Well, not too close.

She loved the cheering crowd!

Just look at the endurance!

Little cutie! (Notice the bike part she rigged to the front of her handlebars to make herself feel tough for the ride.)

Raleigh takes her laps seriously,

But leads her "Little Sis" in for a big finish. (They ran/biked about 85 laps less than they had planned but still had a great race!)

Here are our first and second place winners! (With their "Candy Chains" just like Daddy's Golden Chain. Love it.)

Madeline was forced by Raleigh to hold up her three fingers because she didn't want to participate but still wanted a Candy Chain. Let's just say she got third. She helped out in the cheering section.

Until next month, Dal . . .

We'll be there to cheer you on . . .

Love you!

A Plea from Emery

2010-11-20T21:58:00.003-05:00

Hello, World . . .

Could somebody please

Find my sister

A good orthodontist???

Pestilence

2010-11-15T19:40:00.007-05:00

The Victim

"They have four blondes and two brunettes,"

Said one louse to another.

"You'll place forty nits on one,

And I'll plant one on their mother."

They schemed and plotted, and then they trotted

To the Matthews' house next morn.

And this is how the pestilence

Of Sunday past was born.

Then creepy, crawly (by gosh, by golly),

The lice infested the head of Raleigh!

She stood before the lengthy mirror

As Mom combed through her hair.

"You have a bug upon your head.

Oh no! There's more, I swear!"

One, two, three, and four.

Not one less, and not one more.

Then off to the CVS Pharmacy,

Dionne's shining prince did trod.

To break the Sabbath with pesticide

For hair. (It's rather odd.)

Scrub and suds. Investigate

The Hair for further nits.

(Without a magnifying glass

We were quite beyond our wits.)

From half past two 'til half past six

Under light of lamp,

Dallas picked through Raleigh's hair.

Oh, isn't he a champ??

Each girl with long blonde hair (plus Dal)

Was subsequently checked.

ONE nit was found in mother's hair,

Oh, what-the . . . ? What-the-heck?

"That was a 'louse-y' day," we said,

To the lifeless, dirty lice.

What a way to spend our day!

(But the family time was nice.)

The letter going 'round third grade

To warn us of the chance

Of catching a school-wide pestilence

Received no second glance.

But when we saw the indication

In poor Miss Raleigh's hair,

The recollection of the letter

Did make us stop and stare.

"Could they really come invade our space?"

We ponder each new day.

Just clean and clean and fumigate

And hope they'll stay away!

The Ar-TISTE (French Accent)

2010-11-12T14:40:00.003-05:00

It was a regular, rainy day, and Miss Kensington-Pie was hard at work making tiny drawings on pieces of scrap paper by the window. She was also playing with a tiny matchbox car.

So I drew her two tiny pictures of a prince and a princess, folded them at the waist, and put them in the car as passengers.

A few minutes later, I saw this:

Her own version of my princess. (Don't get confused - hers is on the left!) I cut it out for her. And then when she was finished playing with it, I kept it! Can you believe this girl?!

She's our little artist!

Doing Homework Upside-Down So My Baby Sister Can See

2010-11-12T11:28:00.003-05:00

Miss Grouchy Pants

2010-11-03T15:29:00.010-04:00

Some days I equate a clean house with feeling appreciated. "I have spent my day making the house shine, and when all of you people keep it that way, I feel like you care," I say subconsciously to myself. So when evening rolled around, and my shining cottage had turned into the county dump, I was a little . . . er . . . grouchy.

I had tempting thoughts like, "If I stopped doing what I do, maybe they'd APPRECIATE ME MORE around this place," and, "If I just act mad, they'll jump up and start cleaning up clutter!" I tried both for a few minutes, and neither worked. Darn my girly emotions sometimes!!

The worst mess was in the girls' (a.k.a. Raleigh and Madeline's) closet. There were mini-mountains of papers. Some were folded, some were crumpled, and some lay strewn about the floor, seeping out the door. Yuck! I told myself that I would not touch their stinkin' mess.

Yet in the morning when I walked past the ruins that used to be their bedroom, I decided to at least go in there and get everything off of the floor. Which I did. And then I proceeded to the closet with a trash bag (because let's face it - most of their treasures are really trash, and the best time to purge is when they are at school and know nothing about it.)

Here is just a fraction of what I, Miss Grouchy Pants, found:

Dear Raleigh,

If we make up our own club, we should make a art club. We should let anyone come in.

Love, Madeline

Dear Madeline,

I hope you feel better. Here are some suggestions if you don't feel well.

1. Read the Friend

2. Read the scriptures.

3. Sing songs out of your hymn book.

I know one of them will work.

Love, Raleigh

Dear Raleigh,

I love how you are so nice to me.

Love, Madeline

(Sharing Barbies)

A note to Kensington from Raleigh:

Hello, How are you today? Would you like a glass of milk?

I love you, Raleigh. You are so fun to play with. I love how you teach me how to build LEGO houses. Have a good day!

Love, Madeline

Madeline and Dallas,

Don't forget gymnastics starts on Monday!

(from Raleigh, who wants to teach gymnastics to anyone who will take lessons from someone who has never had a lesson)

Raleigh made a gymnastics class schedule for the family. You can see what days we are scheduled for and what we'll be learning.

Dear Madeline,

We love you and hope you get your chores done.

Mom, Dad, Raleigh, Choobs

(Raleigh)

Please come to our play this coming Saturday at the Matthews' house. Refreshments afterwards. The play is called Peace Out on Pie.

(Raleigh)

Dear Raleigh,

I hope you have a good day at church.

(Madeline)

After sifting through the "garbage," Miss Grouchy Pants became Miss Emotional and Miss Repentant Pants, and now their treasures are in safe-keeping, right where they belong.

P.S.- If anyone wants to know what to get these girls for Christmas, a ream of paper will do.

OktoberFest

2010-11-01T22:21:00.006-04:00

We've had such a great October! New job, fun times with family and friends, and more adjustment with our new little baby. Here she is, dressed up with us at a Halloween party we went to. (You might not be able to find her; she's incognito. But here's a hint: she's a "Super Baby." I couldn't find our newborn-size bear costume, so I rigged this costume up before we left. Not bad . . . .)

The rest of us are b-o-r-i-n-g because we wore last year's costumes! But hey, they still fit us, and I wasn't about to make six new costumes this year after just giving birth.

Making WITCHES BREW! It had real gross stuff in it, and it smoked!

Raleigh, spreading some witchiness, wearing her new (fake) glasses.

Madeline and Co. with their loot.

North Georgia in the Fall is absolutely THE BEST! It's similar to being in the mountains with all of the hills and trees and changing colors. Our church had a Trunk 'R Treat at a Christmas Tree Farm owned by someone in our Stake. It was the perfect setting, the perfect temperature (with just the right amount of "crisp"-ness in the air), and it smelled like chili!! (Because we had a Chili Cookoff for dinner. And I am happy to report that I am the proud new owner of a golden pumpkin because my chili placed high honors as being the "Most Unique." Ha ha ha! It really was good, actually - a White Chicken Chili with Tomato Garnish.)

Here are some little witches who were haunting the party:

Choo Choo and Madeline

Don't be scared to come to our trunk! These scary ladies give out candy if you knock on the door of the makeshift haunted house! We made this house last year and recycled it again this year, too. We put Christmas tree lights behind the window-cutouts to make the whole thing glow, and the girls take turns sitting behind the door to hand out candy. They like this part more than going around to get candy - I think we have a tradition on our hands!

The hayride.

Madeline takes a turn.

Now notice the difference between the next two pictures . . .

I had to tell two certain witches to stand up like normal and quit posing. Can you guess which ones they were?

C'mon, guess. These are our "theatrical ones."

Now this next picture is really scary, so be careful. This was taken under the ghost in Butch's front yard on Halloween Eve. There are a couple boys missing in this picture (Dallas and Dade.) We always have a fun time with those Purd's!!

And here's my favorite picture of October:

Childhood is just magical, isn't it?

Pictures to come of Dade and Emerson in their Halloween costumes . . . the cutest cousins in Peachtree City!!

Hoot Owl Sugar Cookies

2010-10-29T12:45:00.003-04:00

You've just gotta make these. The Cub Scouts at church last night each got to have two a piece - those little luckies! (I would've sent less with Dallas if I had known there were so many extras!)

World's Best Sugar Cookies

("World's Best because the dough is not dense. It has perfect flavor and just the right texture. If you want to roll it, it needs to be chilled for an hour first. If you're making regular drop cookies, just know that these really spread! And cook for 8 minutes to get the best texture.)

2 and 3/4 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 c. butter, softened (yes, that's two cubes)

1 and 1/2 c. granulated sugar

1 egg

2 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter and sugar with other wet ingredients. Add the dry ones. Drop on a cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool. Frost. Enjoy!

(Don't eat three in one evening. You'll have crazy dreams about going to the lake full of pinto beans with your dad and your boat capsizing in shallow water, and then jumping back in to set sail to the Ukraine. Kind of disturbing.)

S.O.S. Part 2

2010-10-16T22:44:00.002-04:00

Really, guys, get me out of here! (See previous post.)

Some Call Me Poppleton, Some Call Me Sushi

2010-10-15T13:08:00.004-04:00

I'm almost eight weeks now, and you gotta get me outta this place! I make a fuss, and nobody listens to me . . . . They call me funny names like Poppleton and Sushi and Babycakes and Lil'Bit (that one's from my big sister, Raleigh.) I think these people are crazy - just look at them:

This is Raleigh, my biggest sister. She spends just as much time doing handstands and cartwheels around the house as she does walking on her feet! And look at what she did to the wall while my mom and I were sleeping! It was the backdrop for a seventeen-act play she directed. Everyone in my family got to be in the play except for me, and they performed it while I was sleeping!!

Here is specimen #2, my older sister, Madeline. She is wearing a purse on her head that she "insided-out" and some other crazy clothes. My Grammy helped her make the purse out of her old favorite blankie "Purps" that she's had since she was two months old, and it was ready to be burned! Hey, two months old? I'm almost two months old!

Now look at this girl. This is my older sister, Kensington. They tell me that's her name, but nobody calls her that. Oh no! It'll probably happen to me, too! This girl is dangerous to be around - they can't leave me alone with her because she smooches and loves me way too much. She goes around the house pretending to be a princess and says things like, "Pleased to meet you," and she calls me "Baby Derdaid" (Baby Mermaid). I hope that name doesn't stick!

I'm serious, guys, you've gotta get me out of this place! Just thinking about it wears me right out . . .

Bad to the Bone

2010-09-04T11:32:00.004-04:00

Duh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh. Ba Ba Ba Ba Bad to the Bone . . . . (Pretend the song is playing in the background.)

This city never sleeps:

(The view from our hospital room.)

Now that Miss Emery has come to town.

With her hand to the bottle (okay, actually, she's breastfeeding), and her pack-a-day habit (diapers, that is), we're trying to get a little rest around here.

Isn't she sweet?! Don't let the faux-hawk fool you!

The New Arrival

2010-09-02T12:56:00.004-04:00

Raleigh, Madeline, and Kensington are thrilled to announce the arrival of their new baby sister!

Emery Rose Matthews

August 23, 2010

1:31 pm

7 lbs 3 oz

20 inches

Cute as a button, and lots of brown hair!

Welcome to the ZOO, Emery! . . .

We are in awe.

What's Happening . . .

2010-07-29T23:31:00.000-04:00

One Year Later: Miss Nancy's Last Ride

2010-06-23T14:32:00.004-04:00

There she is, in all of her glory. Eighteen years later and off to the salvage shop. Named (if you're curious) after one of our favorite ladies of all time, Miss Nancy Abbott (who Raleigh is named for in a roundabout way).

In Virginia Beach last summer the repairman told us that she had about six (maybe twelve) more months of life in her. And he was absolutely right! We drove her til her dying day sometime back in March.

Sweet Miss Nancy.

To fully understand our love affair with Miss Nancy, please check out one of my all time favorite posts here. And as icing on that cake, please check out this other post here.

This is How the Big Boys Tube

2010-06-17T14:39:00.007-04:00

Nate . . . Dallas . . . David.

My daddy's the coolest.

(Thanks, Kenda, for the pictures!)

Almost Three, and It's about Time!

2010-06-16T18:09:00.003-04:00

Long, lovely (a little scraggly) locks . . .

That have never come into contact with scissors.

Almost to her waist! We'll miss the natural curl . . .

Or will it still curl? We hope so!

Finished!

Sniffle.

Vicious-Licious

2010-06-13T22:32:00.002-04:00

Lil' Miss Precious beat up her friend Joshy tonight.

Gave him a bloody nose.

And earned herself a good old-fashioned time-out.

The Time of My Life

2010-06-11T18:22:00.010-04:00

Last week when I was sitting on the side of the pool watching Raleigh and Madeline perfect their backstrokes, some good friends of ours randomly asked me if I wanted to go to Six Flags with their family later that afternoon. They were taking their boys, and they had just enough free passes to get us into the park (minus Dallas, who was working).

I told them I would consider it - I had a lot to do to get ready for a church activity I was semi-in charge of, and I am seven months pregnant, and it does feel like the middle of July here (even though it's the beginning of June). And I would have to take three kids by myself (no Dallas) to a theme park!

But it was free. And spontaneous! And just what we needed to make a little summer memory for the girls, who have been dying to go to Six Flags.

So I went. We packed some snacks, wore our swimsuits, talked it up and got really excited, and we even made it there in 40 minutes! The big boys went with Mr. Mike on the big rides, and Audra and I took the girls and the younger ones with us to all of the kiddie rides. It worked out great! Especially since I cannot ride anything anyway (pregnant as I am).

It was such a fun day for the girls - they couldn't have been more excited! They've never been on roller coasters, and they were so brave! I had just as much fun watching them as I would have had riding them. I think. We spent a lot of time cooling off at the water park, and we played HARD! We spent time in parts of Six Flags I've never been in, mostly because we had little kids with us who couldn't go on big rides.

But walking through the park, a flood of memories came to me of trips-to-Six-Flags-past. It's unreal to think that the same ride that my friend Brea Zondervan pulled me onto (semi-against-my-will) seventeen years ago is still there. I remember that I was hesitating about going on it because I'd never been on a roller coaster with loops. I sat down next to her for a second, and she pulled the strap down. The kind that you can't unlatch until the ride is over. And when I am in a dangerous situation, I pretty much freeze up and become useless. Well, I froze. But as the train slowly made its way up the hill, I was thinking in my mind of every possible way to squeeze out of my belt and jump off the ride (because of my impending death-by-roller-coaster). At the first loop, I squeezed my eyes shut. Wait? Was I screaming and laughing?! Was this really fun? After that I was in love with scary roller coasters, and the Mind Bender is still one of my favorite rides (mild as it is).

Six Flags is a graveyard of former boyfriends and love-interests. If you're not already "together," you will be by the time your night at Six Flags is over. But come Monday at school, you won't be. If you're already dating, Six Flags will deepen your romance! There's nothing like adding intense summer humidity, tight crowds of people, and screaming together on big mechanical hills to enhance your relationships.

For me it holds memories of best friends and terrible pranks involving BB pellets being dropped by handfuls from the Sky Train onto lunch-goers under plastic umbrellas and very expensive, very potent stink bombs being let off in the lines to get onto the rides. It is holding hands for the first time with crushes and running together in the dark. It is middle school and high school all blurred together.

And at 6:00 pm when the storm clouds started rolling in, and we were making a run for our cars, I could remember this same scene, half a lifetime in the past. Only this time, I was holding hands with my girls and pushing a stroller. I was laughing and running with the loves of my current life.

And as I drove home with chattering sweet little girls in the backseat (one of them falling asleep) and the thunder booming overhead, I looked back at them in the rearview mirror, and a haunting song from the past came on the radio:

Another turning point;

a fork stuck in the road.

Time grabs you by the wrist;
directs you where to go.

So make the best of this test
and don't ask why.

It's not a question
but a lesson learned in time.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs
and still frames in your mind.

Hang it on a shelf
In good health and good time.

Tattoos of memories
and dead skin on trial.

For what it's worth,
it was worth all the while.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

My thoughts immediately turned to one of those boyfriends-past, and a scene played in my mind from ten years ago. High school was over and he was home from his mission, and we were still the best of friends. We were out together, and he drove into a cul-de-sac, and before I knew it, he was proposing to me. I heard myself telling him, "No."

No more words were spoken, and silently he drove me home. Green Day came on the radio and played this song for us in its entirety. It was a short drive, and this is a short song, but it played from beginning to end and drowned out the silence. And during that drive, a flood of good memories drowned out the hurt that we both felt. It was melancholy and nostalgic, wonderful and sad, and "in the end it was right."

And half a lifetime since my first trip to Six Flags, I realize that Dallas and I have never been there together. In some ways I hope we never do. I'll let those memories rest in peace.

And continue to make memories for the present.

I'm having the time of my life.

Gold or Garbage

2010-06-10T23:52:00.005-04:00

The other day my hormones were a little wacked. At least that's where I would like to place the blame for the following:

We were in the Costco parking lot, walking into the store, when Madeline accidentally stepped on the back of Raleigh's flip flop. Raleigh started freaking out, acting like her world was crashing down, and I said, "Why don't you just smash her face on the pavement and see how bloody it gets?"

Then she and Madeline both looked at me like this:

And after a good long pause, I was like, "You know I wouldn't really want you to do that, right?"

I think they were both unsure for at least the next 20 minutes, and we had sparkling behavior from both of them. But they were a little afraid of me.

The next day I made up for it. They were in the other room (all three), playing dress-up and having a "fancy ball," and I knew they wouldn't want to come eat lunch when I asked them. So I got out an index card and sent them a "special invitation" to a "royal luncheon at 11:45 am" after they had cleaned up their "royal mess." Unfortunately, the royal cook ran a little late and I was called names like "servant" and so forth, but their mess was cleaned up, and the fancy ladies couldn't care less about what I served for the luncheon. The ham sandwiches, carrots, and grapes never tasted better!

As I remember reading on my friend Ashley's blog: "Are my words gold or garbage?" when I speak to my children. Obviously, a little of both. Just working to keep more gold in our house this summer!

Purdy Family Reunion 2010, Lake Wedowee, Alabama

2010-06-09T20:33:00.014-04:00

Welcome to our awesome vacation! We spent a weekend at Lake Wedowee, Alabama, where we . . .

Admired the Southern view,

(Dad and Mom)

Admired our new lil' cousins,

(Dionne, Emerson, Choobs)

Hung out with Rikki,

(Madeline, Raleigh, Rikki)

Spent time being sisters,

(Raleigh, Choobs, Madeline)

Celebrated a wedding anniversary,

(Dad and Mom)

And warmed up to the tube - it's been a couple of years!

(Grammy and Raleigh)

We cheered on cute cousins,

(Grammy and Dade)

Relaxed on the boat,

(Madeline, Kenda, Dade)

Found cozy spots to fall asleep,

(Raleigh)

Got a little more brave on the tubes,

(Dionne, Madeline, Dallas, & Raleigh)

Covered our ears,

(Grammy and Choobers)

Tubed with our cousins,

(Dionne & Choobs, Nate & Calvin)

Got a little splashed,

(Dionne and Choobs)

Waved to our adoring fans,

(Nate and Calvin)

And waved to each other,

(Dionne & Choobs, Nate & Calvin)

And realized we were having fun!

(Dionne and Choobs)

We got a little more brave again - at least enough to go faster this time,

(Grammy and Madeline)

Then got a little crazy,

(Dallas and Raleigh)

Passed on the boat driving to toddlers,

(Nate and Calvin)

Got crazy with our sisters with a little help from Grammy and Daddy,

(Grammy & Madeline, Dallas & Raleigh)

Swung like monkeys,

(Madeline)

Enjoyed our mom and uncle,

(Grammy, Nate, and Calvin)

Posed for group photos,

(Grammy, BoBo, Nate, Calvin, Madeline, Choobs, Raleigh, Dallas)

And got silly!

We climbed many flights of stairs,

(Choobs and Dallas)

Jumped in the lake,

(Raleigh)

And couldn't stop smiling.

(Raleigh, Calvin, and Nate)

We laughed at BoBo who was laughing at David,

Who absolutely made our day! (Videos of this scene later.)

We passed around babies,

(April and Emerson)

And gave cheers to great cooking!

(Everyone)

We let our sisters fix our hair,

(Madeline and Choobs)

And took on the impossible . . .

(David and Dallas)

Obviously.

We licked beaters,

(Madeline)

Soared,

(David and Dade)

Cried,

(April and Calvin)

Roasted marshmallows indoors,

(Dallas and Madeline)

Swung,

(Madeline)

Took out the trash,

(Dallas and Dad)

Took a walk for old times' sake,

(Dallas, Dionne, Madeline, and Dade)

Admired big trucks in our diaper,

(Dade and BoBo)

And the magnolias,

And the cute parents,

(Dad and Mom)

And the cute couples.

(Kenda and Dave)

We wanted to eat scrumptious babies,

(David and Emerson)

And look as good as our sisters-in-law,

(Rikki, April, and James)

And we finally decided we like the tube! (She laughed the whole time!)

(Dionne and Madeline)

We caught some ZZzzz's (and need to catch a few more to recover from all the fun),

(Dade)

And we think we'll come back again!

(Rikki)

Goodbye, School Year! Hello, Summer!

2010-06-04T21:31:00.003-04:00

Here's Cowboy Raleigh and Ladybug Madeline during their last week of school, dressed up for theme week. (And Choobs , who wants to pose with her sisters.)

Summer is already Ca-RAZY! We have moved to a bigger apartment, and swim team (with its daily practice and weekly meets) is in full force, and we are busy with church assignments, work, and home life.

But we are still here and will give updates as fast as we can get to them!

Love

2010-05-09T21:50:00.001-04:00

Love this guy. (And our little niece, Emerson.)

Love these girls.

And this one, too. (And her cute cousin, Dade.)