Change of Plans

Category 4 means we get the heck outta here. So, as of now, we are heading to some friends' parents about an hour or so North in MS. My guess is that if it continues to strengthen, shift or get larger we may change them again.

Be Impressed

It is nice to be proud rather than totally embarrassed of your government officials. Bobby Jindal is our new Governor. He ran for Governor in the previous election. Unfortunately he lost to Blanco and was not in office locally when Katrina hit. Ironically, she was not re-elected. Early in the week he had buses ready and National Guard in place and on stand-by. He is already evacuating people who have no transportation. Buses are lined up as are the people. Be prepared to see his face at some point for President.

Gustav

We think we are staying put in Hammond. As of now, 8:55am Saturday, we are farthest enough East to where we really feel safe staying at our house. Looks like it will hit about 2 hours West of us. We do have a few options for evacuating North if we need to. We can get to these places via the highway and should not have to get caught up in contraflow on the Interstate. Of couse, all of this is subject to change as the direction of the storm changes. But, since we have been in LA we have had to decide about at least 6 storms. We did evacuate for about 3 of those. So, I say that to say, we are not being stupid or uninformed. Our television has been on the Weather Channel or local news for about 36 straight hours.

another funny

I love it when I have my blog up when I hear the kids say funny things. Streed was just asking for coke. Relentlessly. Chip kept saying no. It went like this.

S-Daddy, can i have coke?
C-No (these lines were repeated about 5 times each)
S-But I didn't have any last night!
C-I don't care if you had any in three days, you're not getting any
S-Daddy, I don't like you all the time.
C-Well, sometimes I don't like you either.

Flying By

Nate will be 6 months this Thurs. I introduced squash this week. He isn't too impressed. I did something differently with him than I did with the others. I put applesauce or sometimes a little hit of juice in his rice cereal. Why? Good question. I think I messed up.

Yes Streed wore this shirt when he was 2.

See Below

I know things shrink but not that much. It is 18m.

With his arms raised it is as if her were saying...

"Why am I so small?"

"Better yet, why are they so big?"

My answer to all three of them will be:

"I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are His works!"

An update on Streed...

He is into all superheroes and power rangers. I am not quite sure how this happened. He saw Power Rangers once while flipping through the channels. A co-worker of my mom's passed down some clothes again this year. Believe it or not this cute Power Ranger shirt was in the pile. He loves it. I love how it fits his skinny little body.

He loves his Ella and Nate. He is so good with both of them. He is getting a little bit tattleish when it comes to Ella. We have been talking about not delighting in others' misfortune/punishment and trying to spur Ella on to love and good deeds. He then tries to help her obey by reminding her of the rules, mainly staying in her seat during meals. He was pushing Nate's feet and swinging him a little too high here.

He is loving our new nightly routine. He and I have been "cuddling" on the couch doing flash cards before bed time. He is loving the one-on-one time, as am I. And he is actually going to bed easier after we have that time.

He loved the olympics. I think mainly because he got to stay up a little later to watch. He always cheered for the chinese. Once he knew it frustrated us he did it even more. He started eating his meals fast and saying he won the gold medal.

He shares mine and Chip's love for fixing up houses. Once Chip put down the base boards he kept saying how pretty it was. I must admit it is really pretty. A nice change from not having any for about 7 months.

Who do you love?

I love my brothers and my brothers love me!

She was shaking her hips back and forth when I took this picture.

She is a little bit tom-boy and a little bit prissy girl.

She loves purses and shoes.

The many faces Ella

These two are copying Streed. He went through a pouting stage. She started doing it this week. I just copy her when she does it and she starts lauging. She thinks it is funny.

An update on baby girl...

She is a laugh a minute. Getting super close to being potty trained. Talking non-stop in a copy-cat style...whatever we say she repeats it. She does what Streed does all day long. He usually is happy to have her along. Unless she has his cars.

Playing in the yard with Streed. They were pretending to Bob the Builder and Wendy. Actually Streed was calling her Bob's dad and me Wendy.

A little later, also in the back yard. The diaper is optional these days. Most of the time I don't care. Until she forgets she isn't wearing one and wets the floor! When she goes in the potty, which she did twice today, we start singing and dancing. Streed & Ella love it. We say, "Ella tee-teed in the toilet and not on the floor". This is a variation of what Jill sang to Jadyn.

I guess she has seen Chip do this. He has started drinking lots of water.

Always loving on Nate

kidsconsignmentsales.com

A friend sent me this website the other day and I am so excited. Thought I would pass it on. From there you select your state and city to find stores and sales near you. I am planning to get rid of lots of stuff at the sale near here and I am so excited. I am sure I will spend what I make but that is fine with me.

truth

Streed just asked Chip for a cookie. Chip told him he could have one after he woke up. Streed said, "you will eat them all".

"hold me nate nate"

This is Ella's new favorite phrase. She always wants to hold Nate and help feed him. Clara was helping me the other day so I could get pictures of this. Ella actualy does a good job. One of the pics looks like Nate is saying "help me mama".

i think i am teething

Good for the mind, body and soul

I am so excited right now. God has provided a wonderful outlet for me. Several of my friends have told me I need to get a college girl to come over once a week so I can do whatever I need to do. Well, this is even better! Monday I started a job at a new health club in town. A job is better than a babysitter? Yes, if your job is one day a week and comes with a free gym membership for your family...which includeds the Kids Korner...where your kids can stay for two hours at a time! This is no ordinary gym. The aerobics room itself is bigger than my house. Not kidding. It is 2500sq ft. Chip and I went today for a boby pump class. I can barely type my tricepts are so tired. I hesitate to link the "body pump" page (you'll see why) but it is just the best class. Our instuctor, my friend, is 7 months pregnant with her 5th child. She killed us, yes Chip too. He will admit it. What is so fun is that I did "body pump" when we spent the summer in New Zealand in 2002. All of the girls on our team loved it. A few days ago I told Krista, the instructor, that I did a class in NZ called "pump" that I loved. She got excited and told me it started in NZ. So, I was hooked at that point and knew I had to go. The best part, I have friends that work out there too. Jill is also working one day so we can work out together on our off days for an hour and then swim or sit and talk at the cafe for the other hour before we have to get the kids out of their play area. It is fun too because several college students work there. So, needless to say I will be shredded and sane!

Say it ain't so

Tonight Streed was asking about our pastor and his wife. They are having a baby soon. Their little boy is Jordan. He asked if Jordan had had their baby yet. He then said "I want a baby". I told him he had a baby. He had Nate. He said he wanted two babies, another baby just like Nate. I said I didn't know about all that.

Growing Up

It is funny to hear your kids talk. This morning I was laying in bed. Streed and Ella were walking down the hall. I don't know what Streed was doing but Ella kept saying "no, no, no". Then I heard Streed say, "Sissy, are you in a bad mood?".

laughed till i cried

thank you to all of my funny blogging friends. laughter is good. i laugh throughout the day but some of your posts and little one liners really make me laugh.

My favorites

Here are more of the pictures we took in about 15 minutes one afternoon before Chip had to run to a night meeting at project. A student took the pictures for us. She snapped about 200. She was so sweet to do it for only the price of a footlong subway dinner. She even allowed me to upload them to my computer and edit them myself. Thanks Esther for the memories. I just love them. I am trying to figure out where to put them at my house.