First Haircut

West received his first haircut today while I was getting G and J from school. Justin did a good job! It's even. Not too short. Justin gave him a bath and dressed him before I got home. Such a handsome little guy!













Annie took our picture.

February Begins

*I’ve got a pretty bad case of fishing fever.  No hope of a cure is near.  The wind is blowing 35 mph and freezing rain is coming down sideways.  Wind chill is in the teens.  I’m ready for spring.
I have a week of vacation in March again and have my camping spot reserved.  New TOTP readers can click HERE to read about last year’s adventure.
*My new favorite Pandora channel is Eddie Rabbitt Radio.  You should try it.
*West is becoming more and more like his father.  He’s a good eater and is becoming awfully pigheaded about some things.  He is a lot more popular with the ladies than I ever was though.
*After some informal assessments, I’ve determined that Jonesy is reading as well as most publicly educated 3rd grade boys.
*I’m guessing that Annie is going to charm her way through life by looking cute when she wants something or flashing a beautiful smile when she doesn’t really understand what’s going on. Whatever works.  
*Georgia is maturing and has been very helpful lately.  She is her brother’s best friend.
*Books I read last month:  “The Mormon Mirage” by Latayne Scott,  “Echo Burning” and “61 Hours” both by Lee Child.  “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell.  “The Hole in Our Gospel” by Richard Stearns, “Wild Justice” (audio book) by Philip Margolin.

funny manners

Jones:  "Dad, we had a substitute at school today.  She had four earings in her ears and she had kind of a boy haircut.  She had a big ol' belly too. It stuck way out.  I thought she was going to be on Biggest Loser, but I didn't say that.  That would have been rude."

Happy Birthday Song

Happy Birthday to Sister Sheila.  Best sister I've got.  Favorite daughter of my mother and favorite mother of my nephew.
This week's song is for her.  A live performance by one of my favorites, Bobby Bare.  I think this is his first time to be featured here on TOTP, but it won't be the last.   

Random and Butlers

Georgia took pictures of me and West.









Annie took pictures of Georgia, West and me.









Sleeping baby.









Jonesy's latest sleeping fashion. She builds a fort of couch pillows around her and she still wears a headband.












Alison and the kids came for an overnight visit. Cassidy and West, fun toes for Alison, and Georgia, Claire and Jones. I didn't get pics of the twins. :( We did venture out to McDonald's for lunch and an indoor playground with eight kiddos.
We had a fun two days together!






























West standing. In his 0/3 mo pants :) They are almost too short, but they still fit in the waist.














West and Jonesy. So sweet.













The girls were being silly and kissing and hugging each other.

Happy Birthday to Me

Saturday 1-22-11
The kids and I along with Kirsten and Madalyn went to Chili's for my birthday. Two adults and five kids. We were hoping to miss the lunch rush and we at 1. Annie and Madalyn dropped and spilled the salsa, the bowl broke, dropped an empty bowl but it did not break. West grabbed Kirsten's Diet Coke and spilled it. We had a super great waitress(and we tipped extra) We all enjoyed my free birthday brownie and ice cream! Then we all had to tour the ladies two stall bathroom before leaving. I finally asked(after approx.5min.) two ladies to please get out of the handicapped stall. Chili's is not the place to take measurements for handmade clothing.
We left Chili's with smiles and headed for Waco. We joined the Petersons and the Vaughts for an afternoon at Cameron Park Zoo.
Kirsten and Kara surprised me after the zoo with a babysitter and a girls night, but Kaitlyn starting throwing up on the way back to Temple. So, plan B. Jason kept all the girls and Kirsten, West and I went out for about two hours. We went to Lifeway. Spent 10 minutes in the parking lot trying to get two of the doors on the suburban to close. A nice man from the store ended up helping us and we got it fixed. After Lifeway, we decided to have ice cream for supper so we went to Maggie Moos. Yummm. Thanks to Kirsten and Kara for attempting to whisk me away and Thanks to Jason for enduring a "girly" evening (as he was introduced to Hannah Montana). Thanks to everyone who called, sent a text or email, or left a FB message.




















Sunday
The kids and I went to church. Jones is sporting a scarf under her headband. Annie is trying to wear her headband.















Justin took the girls shopping Sunday afternoon when he got home. They had my party at small group. There was cheesecake, flowers, presents, and singing! Justin picked calla lillies, Jones picked roses and Georgia picked orange daises. Beautiful! I also received a fancy new sleeping pillow and the second* best birthday card from my husband. It was great to celebrate with my family and our extended home group family. Thank you for making me feel special!
*First place is from eight birthdays ago. The book with a ring, poems, letters, you singing me a song, and then asking me to marry you is kinda hard to beat! I love you.

Monday
Justin, G, A, W and I went to have lunch with Jones at school. We all got in line and had our own trays. Annie was in awe with so many kids in one room that she did not eat her lunch. Georgia was intent on taking note of the lunch procedure.











Our family dinner was at Texas Roadhouse. Good waiter, good food, great family! Fantastic birthday!

TOTP Behind the Music

I looked at my fasebook page this morning and saw this picture:

 I don't know the guy who took it or posted it, but I guess my friend Craig, who is a friend of this guy who took the picture, had commented on it. (I'm still unclear about the way fasebook works)
It is a picture of the cafe in Tatum, NM.  I've only eaten there a few times.  Famous for their steakfingers. 
Seeing the picture made me think of Joel, and thinking of Joel made me think of using Shenandoah's biggest hit as the Song of the Week.
Whenever Joel and I traveled together Shenandoah always ended up in the CD player, with "Next to You, Next to Me" and "Two Dozen Roses" always getting several repeat plays.  I think Joel liked "Two Dozen Roses" best, but it's a heartache breakup song and I prefer this one.
If you ever leave Texas heading west on Hwy 380, don't settle for the Alsup's chimichanga.  Visit the cafe and sit a spell, eat some steakfingers and buy some  metal art.

Ridin' down the road in my pick-up truck
You'd better get ready cause I'm pickin' you up
With a full moon a shinin' and a little bit a' luck
We'll run out outta gas and maybe get stuck

We could get lost baby I don't care
I ain't worried as long as you're there
There ain't no place that I'd rather be
Next to you, sittin' next to me

There ain't no place that I'd rather be
Next to you, next to me

Barbecue chicken in aluminum foil
Just enough money for my gas and oil
Who needs your shrimp and your caviar
I'd sooner have you just the way you are

Rich people got their money to hold
Mansion on the hill 'n diamonds and gold
It can't compare as far as I can see
Next to you, sittin' next to me

There ain't no place that I'd rather be
Next to you, next to me

Radio playin' our favorite song
I'll change the station if the news comes on
When the signal ain't comin' in too strong
We'll make our music honey all night long

If the Good Lord's willin' when we're old and gray
The kids are grown up and moved away
We'll be rockin there side by side
With the barbecue chicken and the T.V. guide

Well, there ain't no place that I'd rather be
Next to you, sittin' next to me