Sunny with a chance of flowers (and chalk)

I am stealing a few minutes to write! : )  Ches took Clay and Mary Claire to get their hairs cut (heehee), and Ethan went along for the ride.  He doesn't like for a vehicle to leave our house, and him not be IN it! : )

Yesterday, the kids had school, and I finally got my hair done!!  I feel human again.  Ahhh... Mary Claire had a sweet friend over to play (and I never even heard them!), then Ches called asking if I had dinner plans (why, no, I don't...why do you ask?) and said we were going out.  Yay!  Love when he has a long, hard day. ; )  We went to Chili's, played us some cards, then went to Krispy Kreme for a Hot Now!  When our carpool group for Bunco went (to KK) on Tuesday night, they gave us all books of 12 Valentine's cards (each for a free donut!)  So, we went to the drive thru and asked if we could get them from the car.  They were so nice, and let the kids get chocolate sprinkly ones!  I thought they were only glazed, but yum!  (I have about 50 more free donut cards if you'd like one or a few!)  (They have to be used by March 15, so you must eat fast!)
Then we went to Lowe's to get me some flowers (now, with our 60 degree temps, the dead flower pots are no longer acceptable).  We also stayed in their book section till we closed the store!  We are notorious for this now.  We got a house plan book (heehee), and a book on staging.  Guess my future.


Today we've been out since morning: planting the new pansies I got last night at Lowe's.

I didn't take pictures of the other 6 pots..didn't want to bore you. ; )

 We also got some new flags to change out my Razorback one (and flip flop one out by the pool) that are getting beat up in the wind.

I would have inserted a picture here, but it seems I'm out of picture space.  Huh?  All that garbage I stick out there everyday has taken up real space it seems.  I have to purchase more, then I'll post more pictures.  Nothing is free in this world. Oh, and it takes up to 24 hours to become available.  Then it is only good for a year.  You might notice me sharing fewer pictures...maybe.

We planted, the boys (and an adopted neighbor child) played ball, and we got so much done!  Ches even uncovered the pool!  We have someone coming to "open" it this week, but it was starting to get algae growth, so you have to get to it fast, or it takes over!  We'll just shock it daily till they get here.  They have to hook the pipes to the pump back up, and unscrew the plugs out of the jets.  We also need our pool light bulb changed, and I won't let Ches near it.  He thinks you just reach down there...Ha!  He'd get the shock of his life!  I think you have to drain the water.  I mean, it's been...four years now.  So, you don't have to drain it down often.  But, it's the safest way, I think.  Any ideas?

Then, we rode bikes and scooters and played sidewalk chalk!  We even planned a tree house.  I've had a book on tree houses for a couple years, but I kept getting pregnant, and I wouldn't work on it...for fear.  Now, maybe we can build one...in time to move?  If we get the lot we are thinking, it has no big trees.  I can't see a buyer hating a tree house, could you?  Does it signal danger?  (Ha! -not like changing a pool bulb!)

Tonight Mary Claire has a girl scout meeting to get ready for Thinking Day tomorrow, and Clay has a blue and gold banquet (boy scout awards ceremony).  We'll be busy, and you can be assured of lots of pictures tomorrow! : )  Hope you have a great weekend!

New solution (for today)-a slideshow! : )  Click on the link below to view:
Flickr Photo Album of our day : )

Can't wait for Christmas! (neither can a couple other short people!)

Dum-diddy-dum! a Puppy has struck again! We've been enjoying puppy (Lexi, for now) for almost two days! She's sweet, and is starting to perk up. She mostly wants to be with Clay, but likes to be held if she's not prancing around. She stays very close-not even venturing to another room. She's eaten, peed (on paper! once on carpet..), and pooped (once on paper, once a few inches away..).
We had to go out yesterday to get Mary Claire more strips for her meter and insulin (using pen needles to fill her pump reservoir now, so new insulin for her every 3 days-very potent!), and to bank, post office.... So, we took Lexi! She's an angel in the car. : ) She rides on Clay's lap, just so very content to be held. Since we had to go out... we went ahead and took her to the vet yesterday. She got a rabies shot, some Nutri-cal to give her energy since she's not eating as much as she should, and some Heartguard chunks to avoid worms. He said she had a slight underbite (only bad if we're showing her-heehee, only to friends!), and a something patella (kneecap that could go out of place, but she'll raise her leg if it does). Other than that, she's great! No fleas, earmites, poopy problems-worms? Funny, the whole world that exists out there that you are oblivious to if you don't have a pet! : )
It's definitely something else to take care of-watching her like a hawk after she eats to wait for her pee and poop! Making sure she's eating, resting, warm, has fresh water, etc.
Well, I got the dressing made for Christmas Day, and made some sugar cookies for the kids to decorate tomorrow. I did three loads of laundry, vacuumed the house, and mopped the floors. Whew, I remember looking up at the clock-and it was only 9:30! That means the kids got up WaYyyyy too early if I had time to get all that done!
Ches and the kids have gone up north (teehee-to Missouri) to see his mom and stepdad and exchange presents. Ethan is still not going anywhere, so I'm staying behind. He's sound asleep (as is Lexi on my lap..).
Well, we've survived the crazy break-in period, so I think Lexi (current name still..) will be fine. Welcome to the Family, Baby Girl! : )
We may be on to the next thing. A-hem. Ches has been looking at house plans for the last few days. Since the rate dropped, and should stay down for the next 3 to 6 months, he'd like to sell and build. We'd have to sell our house first, live in a rental house or something (Big Something), and then build. We've been on both sides: caught straddling two houses for months, and living in a hotel because our house sold too fast. Let me just say, the hotel was much preferable! We'll see where this goes... I will say I lurve the plans he's finding-huge laundry rooms (my request-my second bedroom, you know!) bathrooms to the backyard for pool guests (to avoid the drippy bathroom runs-mostly Mary Claire though) (Thank you, God, that she pees in a toilet and not my swimming water!) Let's see... fewer two-story rooms (totally wasteful use of space and energy (and energy bills!), and space used more efficiently. Mary Claire's room could have been two rooms. Need I go on? If we don't move, we'll be just fine here, if we do, fine too. We're a family no matter where we live. : ) A family of 6 now-Clay says! : )
Happy thoughts: It's warmed above freezing for a while : ), I don't have to go out today, warm puppy, sugar cookies to decorate, mostly clean house, no need to plug outside Christmas lights in anymore (oh yeah, blew the outlet, btw), two fewer gifts to open Christmas morn (I caved to requests this am), excited to use my new iPod alarm clock with hidden subwoofer (whatever) (Christmas present from Ches), and CaN'T wAiT for my Wii!!!! and wii Fit!!!!! X I X I X (me doing excited jumping jacks)!