pills viagra online buy viagra now cheap soma tablets discount viagra overnight delivery generic viagra overnight viagra prescription online viagra for sale cheap cialis in canada cialis canada natural viagra online viagra herbal soma online cheap order reliable viagra online generic viagra in india buy generic lexapro buy viagra in australia order no rx cialis buy cheap levitra viagra online no prescription buy levitra cheap lexapro pharmacy viagra online discount pill viagra online viagra sold levitra online cheap viagra drug prescription real viagra order cialis no rx buy generic soma cheap viagra from uk cheap lexapro tablets cialis no online prescription generic online viagra viagra get cheapest lexapro find viagra on internet buy cheap viagra prescription viagra online generic information viagra cheapest levitra prices mail order viagra purchase cialis no rx low cost viagra soma pharmacy xenical discount express delivery of viagra cheap cialis in uk order xenical online where to buy levitra buy prozac online cheapest cialis cheap viagra prescription drug viagra online purchase order cheap cialis online fda viagra viagra for order cialis overnight delivery place to buy viagra viagra online sales buy cialis in canada viagra dosage amounts cialis purchase best generic viagra discount prozac order viagra usa generic pill viagra viagra buying order viagra cheap online cheap viagra in uk where to buy xenical prozac without prescription lexapro pills lexapro sale order cialis cheap online buy viagra with visa cheap cialis from canada generic viagra lowest prices find cialis no prescription required viagra from usa buy viagra in bangkok online pharmacy cialis impotence cialis in malaysia wholesale viagra viagra cheapest price cialis 20 mg drug viagra buy generic levitra order soma online viagra effect soma for sale buy discount cialis buy viagra online no prescription where order viagra online price of cialis viagra no prescription required cheap prozac cialis overnight cheap viagra on internet buy cheap zoloft buy cheap prozac online where to buy viagra on line find cialis without prescription viagra rx price of soma prescription viagra cialis no prescription buy zoloft no prescription cialis price of levitra viagra release news lexapro discount buy discount generic viagra soma generic viagra take generic cialis online suppliers viagra online lexapro no prescription purchase viagra without prescription discount generic viagra online soma online stores where to buy lexapro zoloft generic herbal alternative to viagra find daily viagra cheap cialis no prescription buy cialis online order viagra from india buy cialis no prescription required discount cialis lexapro for sale buy viagra canada buy generic cialis compare cialis prices order discount viagra purchase cialis online medicine viagra purchase zoloft online viagra sale cialis approved order viagra in canada find cialis on internet viagra store cheap cialis internet buy cialis order viagra overnight delivery cheap generic soma find viagra no prescription required viagra online price where viagra product viagra online buy cost viagra viagra india lowest price prozac viagra consultation online buy viagra with mastercard viagra drug interactions cialis in uk lexapro without a prescription order cialis in us buy viagra next day shipping levitra discount viagra sample lowest price xenical buy viagra in us brand viagra order single viagra cialis cost buy soma online soma prescription buy viagra in spain cheapest cialis prices buy generic viagra online viagra billing cheapest generic cialis online where buy viagra viagra new price of lexapro order reliable viagra cheap viagra prices impotence cure cheapest viagra price buy viagra online discount viagra without prescription certified viagra viagra order zoloft online online viagra where extra cheap viagra purchase viagra in us viagra medication find no rx cialis generic cialis viagra online without prescription generic viagra from online levitra cialis online stores cheapest viagra on the internet viagra malaysia buy no rx viagra zoloft online cheap viagra online review cialis medication viagra on line generic lexapro alternative viagra cheap cialis in usa cialis sale certified cialis compare viagra prices online where to buy cialis buy viagra next day delivery purchase sildenafil online lowest price soma viagra within a week buy viagra no prescription required prozac online viagra online canada xenical prescription buy no rx viagra online buy cheap viagra from canada soma online cialis viagra ordering overnight delivery lexapro generic viagra soft tab buy levitra without prescription viagra mastercard price of xenical buy viagra from india low price viagra cheap quality viagra cheapest prozac order levitra lexapro cheap generic viagra cheap zoloft online cheap viagra from india buy online viagra discount cialis without prescription cheapest cialis price cheap viagra pill sales viagra cheap viagra blue no prescription cheap prozac online buy sildenafil online without a prescription order soma zoloft online stores viagra in usa cialis pill cost of cialis cialis in us find cheap viagra buy viagra in england cialis buy overseas viagra viagra cheap us cialis sales zoloft prescription viagra find viagra sales buy xenical soma without prescription levitra online cheap prozac tablets levitra prices order viagra from us prozac discount cialis buy 20 mg cialis purchase viagra on internet pill viagra prozac pharmacy pharmacy cialis buy viagra online canada cialis pharmacy cheapest soma prices lexapro prescription pharmacy viagra once daily cialis cheapest price buy sildenafil in spain buy generic viagra best viagra price buy real viagra online cialis without rx order cheap cialis viagra free sample viagra soft generic viagra india buy cialis us purchase viagra from india cialis for order compare viagra prices find discount cialis online cialis online review xenical pills cialis us buy cheapest cialis on line buy cheapest cialis sample viagra cheapest place to buy viagra online viagra fda cheap soma order viagra in us viagra sale cheap cheap generic lexapro buy xenical online viagra online us pharmacy buy cialis generic prozac online cheap viagra no online prescription generic xenical buy viagra cheap xenical cialis without a prescription cialis discount half price viagra sale viagra buy cialis internet viagra sale price safe place to buy viagra online cialis prescription viagra online uk viagra certified buy viagra us online order viagra online buy cheap prozac buy cheap xenical store viagra online viagra united states viagra overnight cialis vs viagra order viagra from canada viagra pill cialis pills cheap viagra cheapest generic viagra xenical no prescription cheap cialis from uk viagra without a prescription viagra fast delivery canadian viagra no prescription viagra tabs viagra viagra in uk buy soma cost cialis viagra from us cheapest generic cialis order discount cialis generic viagra sale purchase viagra cheap viagra tablet where to buy soma prozac generic levitra sale prozac without a prescription viagra low priced viagra on line pricing in canada cheap zoloft lowest price for viagra cialis free delivery checkout viagra cialis australia order zoloft buy prozac 10 mg cialis viagra us viagra tablets sale where cheap viagra viagra pills buy brand viagra buy viagra us where can i purchase viagra real viagra online viagra from mexico buy viagra online without a prescription online order viagra cheap cialis tablets where order viagra order levitra online zoloft pills lowest price lexapro viagra next day delivery discount viagra online buy no rx cialis viagra prices buy cheap generic viagra find viagra without prescription buy cheap zoloft online cialis internet cheap viagra pharmacy 10mg cialis cialis no rx required order cialis on internet viagra approved viagra where purchase viagra online canadian generic viagra viagra dosage cheap cialis pharmacy lexapro prices buying cialis levitra pharmacy buy viagra online cheap order viagra no prescription required cheap cialis pill cheapest soma generic viagra canada discount viagra cheap viagra in usa where to buy viagra online buy discount cialis online purchase lexapro online buy zoloft without prescription viagra tablets for sale viagra pharmacy generic levitra buy cialis from us find cialis visa viagra soma sale online viagra viagra order buy viagra internet sildenafil xenical prices levitra no prescription viagra usa tadalafil buy viagra on get viagra order cialis no prescription levitra without a prescription viagra buy drug buy online viagra securely generic viagra next day buy viagra in united kingdom cialis bangkok buy viagra in uk cialis 20mg 25 mg viagra cheap generic xenical buy generic viagra express delivery can you purchase viagra online cialis cheap impotence treatment cheapest viagra find discount viagra free cialis cheap levitra viagra money order cheap generic levitra viagra free shipping viagra samples buy viagra on internet order no rx viagra 25mg viagra discount cialis online cheap cialis online viagra buy viagra cheap viagra pharmacy miami order cialis no prescription required purchase levitra online viagra tabs us viagra buy cialis on internet cheap viagra overnight delivery where viagra available buy viagra in thailand cheapest cialis online order lexapro viagra medicine find viagra online cialis generic viagra sale generic zoloft buy cialis overnight delivery cialis no rx cialis uk buy viagra now online viagra fda approved cheap price cialis viagra australia viagra by mail cialis vendors cheapest viagra online order lexapro online purchase soma online viagra england buy soma without prescription free viagra canadian healthcare viagra viagra bangkok viagra prescriptions cialis buy drug viagra low price cialis online pharmacy generic sildenafil citrate quality viagra 100 mg viagra zoloft sale new viagra prozac cheap viagra ordering overnight cialis pharmacy online buy lexapro cheap cheap levitra online us viagra online find cheap cialis online discount cialis no rx viagra drug where viagra from discount cialis overnight delivery buy viagra online at cheap price viagra online pharmacy fda approved cialis medication viagra where to buy prozac buy viagra without a prescription viagra from india prozac prices viagra at discount prices cheapest viagra generic purchase xenical online cialis india dosage viagra how much does viagra cost buy generic prozac order cialis from canada purchase prozac buy cheap xenical online buy prozac cheap discount xenical cheap cialis from usa cialis 10mg very cheap viagra cialis without prescription what is viagra buy sildenafil online cheap levitra tablets viagra and canada custom order no rx viagra online buy viagra in mexico cialis soft cheapest xenical prices overnight viagra online viagra lowest price cialis cheap price lexapro without prescription buy viagra prescription viagra price comparison canadian viagra online best viagra prices viagra online purchase buy levitra order cialis online cheap generic cialis buy cheap soma order cialis in canada order viagra without prescription sale cialis levitra online pharmacy viagra order viagra with mastercard discount zoloft benefits of viagra viagra forum online prescription viagra viagra tablets where cheap viagra online generic drugs prozac for sale buy viagra without doctor prescription xenical online stores order discount cialis online cheap cialis on internet buy viagra generic soma without a prescription buy sildenafil cheap find cialis online purchase levitra generic viagra cheap buy soma cheap order discount viagra online viagra samples in canada viagra no prescription find discount cialis cialis side effects ordering viagra soma online xenical online find discount viagra online order viagra cheapest sildenafil citrate purchase viagra from us viagra sale online cheap cialis overnight delivery cheap viagra pills buy viagra on line order single viagra online order cialis take viagra best viagra cheap cialis no rx xenical sale store viagra canada viagra online buy cheapest viagra online order prozac viagra in canada buy viagra from canada viagra without prescription cheap lexapro buy sildenafil in canada buy zoloft cheap viagra order cheap soma cheap cialis drug viagra online buy viagra in amsterdam 50mg viagra viagra discount online lexapro best price viagra mastercard viagra cost viagra online overnight delivery viagra order generic cialis viagra generic online viagra purchase buy cheap cialis cialis information information viagra xenical generic viagra purchase on line where to order cialis best price cialis buy viagra no rx viagra generic online soma levitra prescription buy generic zoloft purchase cialis overnight delivery sildenafil citrate cheapest zoloft buy cheap viagra online cialis rx buy prozac without prescription viagra brand pharmacy online order cialis from us lexapro cheap buy viagra in canada generic prozac tablets viagra cialis for sale generic soma viagra original cheepest viagra cialis order cheap cialis tablet where purchase viagra cheapest xenical generic viagra viagra pills sale buy viagra generic online no rx cialis cialis from canada cheap cialis without prescription cialis online without prescription viagra tablet approved cialis pharmacy xenical soma pills order xenical viagra mail information viagra online cialis in bangkok purchase generic viagra buy viagra low cost cheap cialis online cialis free sample buy viagra uk viagra natural levitra cheap cialis from india best price for cialis where purchase viagra online order cheapest viagra cheap xenical online the real viagra to buy in the usa buy viagra in malaysia where viagra where to buy viagra cialis online 50 mg viagra cheap zoloft tablets buy cheapest cialis online cheap viagra in canada cheap viagra no rx branded viagra order cheap viagra buying viagra online online prozac buy viagra cheap tablet viagra levitra generic buying viagra indian viagra generic viagra no rx required purchase lexapro online zoloft cialis malaysia online buy viagra buy viagra without prescription viagra suppliers viagra in us xenical without a prescription buy zoloft online mg viagra online pfizer viagra discount soma prozac lowest price cialis discount lexapro cheap viagra from canada no prescription viagra online viagra buy viagra overnight shipping no rx lowest price for cialis best deals viagra zoloft pharmacy zoloft prices buy sildenafil in uk price of prozac india drug viagra canada viagra online pill viagra order cheap viagra online best place viagra safe place to buy viagra purchasing viagra with next day delivery viagra on internet buy sildenafil low cost viagra side effects soma discount viagra free delivery cheapest levitra order viagra no rx online xenical buy cialis from canada viagra visa buy cialis in us lowest price zoloft purchase viagra from canada buy viagra from brazil viagra information find viagra buy viagra caverta order prozac online zoloft buy viagra overnight delivery viagra prescription cialis prices buy real viagra find no rx viagra buy cheap lexapro cheap generic zoloft buy discount viagra online price viagra cheap viagra no prescription order viagra from viagra overnight shipping xenical online cheap buy viagra in london 100mg viagra buy viagra from us buy sildenafil internet buy xenical without prescription viagra without rx cheap viagra without prescription buying cialis online buy sildenafil citrate cialis tablets viagra uk buy and purchase sildenafil online purchase cialis without prescription the name generic viagra viagra review best price for generic viagra buy viagra pills viagra from canada lexapro online cheap buy cialis no rx lowcost viagra buy xenical cheap no rx viagra online mexican viagra suppliers viagra lexapro online stores lowest price viagra order herbal viagra online 20mg cialis zoloft discount xenical pharmacy buy and purchase viagra online zoloft for sale cialis tablet buy cialis cheap no rx viagra where to buy zoloft cheap discount viagra purchase prozac online impotence medication cheap lexapro online cheap viagra without a prescription get viagra online buy cheap soma online cialis buy online generic viagra price prices viagra purchase viagra no rx mail viagra levitra online stores purchasing viagra zoloft without prescription viagra vs cialis buying generic cialis effect viagra generic cialis cheap pharmacy viagra purchase viagra no prescription canadian pharmacy viagra tablet cialis cialis price zoloft cheap cialis online cheap viagra now online buy viagra cheap online online pharmacy levitra without prescription zoloft no prescription cialis 10 mg lowest price levitra buy cheapest viagra medical drugs buy generic xenical buy viagra lowest price viagra mail order viagra cost pill buy cheap lexapro online buy cheap cialis online buy cialis on line buy sildenafil canada generic viagra reviews impotence pills natural viagra cheapest prozac prices purchase soma cialis overnight shipping buy cialis online cheap order viagra with visa viagra cost zoloft without a prescription buy viagra no prescription order viagra on internet buy lexapro online buy generic viagra overnight shipping cialis in australia cheapest lexapro prices buy cheap cialis internet where buy viagra online cialis soft tab cheap viagra from usa cheapest generic viagra online buy australian viagra buy levitra online viagra no rx zoloft online lexapro online tramadol hydrochloride buy generic viagra next day viagra canada buy cheap levitra online buy viagra in great britain viagra for cheap herbal viagra viagra cheap overnight viagra for sale without a prescription cheapest zoloft prices buy viagra new york viagra cheapest drug cialis online purchase buy viagra online at lowest price order cialis without prescription price of zoloft soma prices very cheap viagra online buy lexapro prozac online stores viagra vendors viagra en mexico order generic viagra impotence drugs discount generic viagra compare cialis prices online viagra very cheap cheap xenical tablets generic viagra next day delivery order viagra no prescription buy discount viagra purchase viagra in canada soma no prescription order herbal viagra pharmacy viagra online buy viagra toronto purchase viagra overnight delivery viagra online prescription where viagra line cheap viagra online find herbal viagra online find cheap cialis buy lexapro without prescription purchasing viagra online order cialis overnight delivery viagra price low cost cialis viagra best cialis cheap drug prozac prescription buy viagra low price erectile dysfunction viagra on sale prescriptions viagra buy cialis low price pills viagra generic viagra online order generic viagra online xenical without prescription prozac no prescription viagra free buy cialis without prescription viagra from uk purchase generic viagra online xenical cheap viagra overnight delivery viagra online ordering where can i purchase viagra online viagra alternative purchase xenical buy generic cialis online cheap generic prozac viagra cheap drug buy cialis lowest price xenical for sale cheap soma online overnight viagra find cheap viagra online overnight cialis levitra pills levitra for sale discount levitra purchase zoloft online buy viagra online without prescription drug cialis buy cialis from india generic viagra next day shipping original viagra buying generic viagra online reliable discount viagra cheapest viagra prices discount viagra no rx prozac pills purchase cialis approved viagra viagra buy online prozac sale buying generic viagra viagra from canada pharmacy

I am happy to report that the short marriage of Valentino and Natacha has ended. While Natacha was a good wife who enjoyed chasing and wrestling with her husband and would even give him the occasional bath, she was just plain stupid. I’d say she was also a little (or a lot) boring! When we would call Natacha, she would run the other direction. When we took her outside to potty, she would do a great job! The problem was that she was too stupid to realize that she had to potty ONLY outside. In the 3 months we had her, she only made it one full day without potty-ing in the house. One day!

Eventually, we began to blame Valentino for Natacha’s mistakes. It seemed incredible that one little dog could be that stupid! We feel certain that this tense situation caused major problems in Valentino and Natacha’s marriage (as it helped mine very little!).

Finally, Natacha (and her even more stupid owner) realized that she just didn’t have the brain capacity needed to become a member of the Smith family. The rest of us, after all, understand where it is appropriate to potty and where it isn’t! This is just a basic tenet of the Smith Creed. So, after much counseling, Natacha moved to the Dumb Friends League (the perfect name for a home for her). Our only regret is that we didn’t wait until Nana could take her since Nana’s greatest enjoyment in life is taking dogs to “the pound!” Sorry, Nana!!

IMG_1913
As the Eurythmics sang, “Watch Me Walking Out the Door!”

Dec 18
Happy Birthday, Cooper!!! Posted by Kittino

We love you, buddy! Have a super day skiing with your dad!! No more single digits for you. It’s double digits from here on!!! Happy, happy, happy Birthday!!!!

IMG_1702
Cooper and His Dad - Notice Any Similarities????

My baby girl turned 5 on December 10th. She had a great day, very, very busy! We started out the morning decorating Christmas tree cookies at her school. They were the most decorated trees ever with lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of sprinkles. Rowland came to help, and the kids seemed to have a great time.

IMG_2025
Jia at School with Some of Her Classmates

IMG_2029
Daddy and Jia Snuggling

I ran home to take a short nap because Carson stayed late to make up a test. As I was walking out the door at 3:35 to pick up KeKe and William from school (so they’d get home in time to celebrate Jia’s birthday), I got a call from the director of Jia’s preschool. “Kitty, this is Susan.” “Hi, Susan!” “Are you going to pick up your baby today?” “Oh, my gosh! I totally forgot about picking her up!!! I’m on my way!” I was supposed to pick her up at 3:15. Total lack of brain cells!!!!! How could I forget my baby on her birthday? I ran to get her about the same time that Carson was calling to say that he was ready to be picked up. Thankfully, he offered to walk home. Amy picked up her kids and came over to my house to set up everything for the party while I went to pick up Keke and William who were now in the office as the last children to be picked up from school! We all rushed home, and Amy had saved the day!

The Smiths and Englishes decorated cookies and opened gifts at our house. None of the kids seemed to notice that their mom had played Dingbat of the Day! There was a lot of laughter, and lots of cookies decorated and eaten!
IMG_2032
All of the Kids Around the Table Decorating Cookies

IMG_2050
Jia Opening Gifts with a Lot of Help!

The final stage of the birthday party was a trip to Dairy Queen. You know you have good friends when they’ll go to Dairy Queen for dinner! The kids enjoyed it, though, and that’s what it’s all about!

IMG_2058
Jia and Her Best Buddy Cayden

Once dinner was over, it was off to the preschool for my last preschool performance! Jia was a beautiful angel, although she didn’t look like a very happy angel. She doesn’t like standing in front of people and performing. I think that she still is afraid that she’s not going to do the “right thing.” In the beginning, she seemed okay.

IMG_2073
Jia as an Angel

By the time the performance was over, and she had reached us, she burst into tears. She didn’t want to sing and be up on the stage. Poor girl! She was totally stressed. We quickly took off the angel costume and headed home!

I’d like to say the day was over, but at 8:00, we still had one last project - our Christmas pictures! The boys changed shirts. Carson even wore a collared shirt for the first time in over a year! I fixed my makeup and curled Jia’s hair a little while Rowland, exhausted, set up the camera. About 10 pictures and two locations later, we decided that we had “the” 2007 shot.

IMG_2083
This was the Runner-Up Photo

IMG_2080
And Here’s the Winner!
William, Rowland, KeKe, Kitty, Carson, and Jia in Her Model Pose

Thankfully, we were finally able to put to bed December 10, 2007, the long-awaited 5th birthday of our youngest princess!! Happy Birthday, our Angel!!!

Dec 14
Psycho Mom Posted by Kittino

I’m rushing around this morning like a mad woman, taking Carson to school, making cinnamon rolls for the other children, getting them ready for school, rounding up gloves and boots for the newly-falling snow, packing up projects (why in the heck are we doing projects right before Christmas?), getting myself ready to go to Space Lab in 3rd grade (yes, as Carson said, I stink at science!), and preparing for 18 people to come to my home for the staff/elder Christmas party tonight. (As you can see, I have no business blogging this morning, but I needed a quick rant!)

As I’m sending William and KeKe out the door, William yells that the bus has come early. Of course, the bus would come early on this slow, easy-going morning! William puts it in high gear and runs to the bus stop. KeKe runs a short ways, then stops in the middle of the freakin’ street and begins to cry that she can’t go any further. I’m walking up the street, hollering at the top of my lungs, “Run, Kitty, Run!” as she stands in the middle of the street and cries, “I can’t. My leg is hurting.” Psycho Mom appeared and screamed for the whole neighborhood to hear (and Child Protective Services, I’m sure), “If you don’t run to that bus, I’m going to really hurt your leg!!!!!!” Now, I’m running for her, and Mr. Bus is waiting for her. When she sees me running towards her, she takes off running and crying the whole way! Just so any neighbors happened to notice Psycho Mom, I hollered at her (for their benefit), “Good job, honey! You made it!” Then, under my breath, “She’s going to make me insane.” Of course, how much more insane could I be at that point?

I feel much better. Now, I can be late for taking Jia to school and for me to get to Space Lab. I think I already live in Space Lab anyway!!! As Carrie Underwood would sing, “Jesus, take the wheel. I can’t do this on my own!”

Dec 13
The Knot Posted by Kittino

I’m feeling down today, like a big knot in the middle of my stomach. I can’t really figure out why because I’m having a nice, relaxing day at home with Jia. I’m making banana bread and have finished addressing my Christmas cards. I need to cut out the craft for Kitty’s Christmas party next week, and I’d like to sew new names on a couple of my stockings. I should get dressed so that I can run to the grocery store, but I don’t even feel like doing that. So why the yuk feeling?

I have a couple of ideas. One is that I had bad dreams last night, and I don’t remember what they were. That’s a real possibility.

The other is just part of getting older. As I addressed Christmas cards the last couple of nights, I was struck with how many people in my address book are no longer on this Earth. Rowland’s precious Memaw died suddenly three weeks after William was born. I really loved Memaw. She loved me just because her grandson did. I can still hear her “hoohoo” when we walked in the door to her house. Then, there’s Rowland’s mom and dad. Rowland’s mom loved the theatre. She and my mom would get together and take Carson and me to see shows when he was little. Although she was much more proper than I, she always made me feel like she liked me, that I was a good wife to Rowland and a good mom to my children. She was especially excited when little Kitty was born since the family is so full of boys. It’s sad that she died when Kitty was still a baby, and she never got to enjoy her. Rowland’s dad was such a special man, like Rowland. I enjoyed the family times with him when he would laugh and be playful. He, too, was crazy about the grandkids. He never got to meet Jia, and that makes me sad. Rowland has a picture of him in his home office, and as I was getting out a cookbook today, I stopped and looked into his eyes. I miss Bill.

There are other people who have died who I didn’t see very often, but I still have memories that make me sad when I come across their names in my address book. My Aunt Bo and Uncle Ralph, my Mamaw and Pop…… As I flipped through our Grace Church directory, I was saddened to see how different some of the families are now. Some have died like Dan Barnhart, Charles Gist, and Janet Greenwood. Several others have divorced. Some have moved away, and although they were special to me at one time, I don’t have any idea where they are now. Others were as close as sisters to me, but we don’t even talk anymore. I was reminded of a friend of mine who died just a year ago and left behind three children as well as a girl I only know through the internet who recently died and left three children and a grieving husband behind. That makes me feel sad as well.

Although Rowland’s “other brother” and my “sister-in-law” live here, the rest of our families are far away. Little Kitty stood by the refrigerator this morning as I was making her some Sunny D. She saw a picture of her cousin Douglas and began to cry for her family. She cried and said, “Why did we ever have to leave Little Rock?” I reminded her that this is where God’s plan for our lives was, but she continued to cry for her family so far away. I told her (like I have told myself a million times before) that as long as the six of us are together, that’s our family. I reminded her that Camber, Cayden, and Cooper are her “cousins” and that they live less than a mile away. I hurt for her because I understand her feelings. It’s not just missing specific people, although that’s part of it, but it’s missing special memories, familiarity, the way things used to be and won’t ever be again.

As I sit here now, I am wanting all of my children gathered around me on the couch watching a movie and eating popcorn together. I’m needing to feel their arms around my neck and hear their laughter and constant conversation. I’m needing my husband’s arm around me as I curl up against him. God knows that we all just need new memories, and He’ll give them to us, but they will take time. Thankfully, no matter how much things change in this world, God’s love is constant. May He wrap all of us tightly in His arms as we celebrate the birth of His Son, a man who had to leave His Father and all that He knew to come to this Earth to be tortured and die for each of us. As the old Amy Grant song says, “Yes, you have to die for Him….but He knows the pain because He had to die for you!”

Dec 08
Reindeer Posted by Kittino

Jia and I went to a Reindeer Farm this week. After my experience with the pumpkin patch here, I was expecting to see horses with antlers on their heads, but these were the real deal! I didn’t know that all reindeer have antlers, male and female. They lose their antlers every year and grow new ones. The babies’ antlers were furry, although the babies looked every bit as big as their parents. The coolest buck had a rack like nothing I’d ever seen. His antlers grow so large that he can’t really hold his head up very well. They even grow down in front of his eyes so he can’t see very well. When he has his antlers, none of the other reindeer will play with him. (Must’ve been Rudolph’s problem, too!) The owner said that when his antlers fall off, though, they give him no respect and will barely even let him eat. Who knew reindeer had such bad manners and were so discriminating?

IMG_1974
This is the BIG GUY!

The kids also got to make a craft and walk around the farm a little. The owner read them a short story on reindeer, and we were on our way. It was a short, sweet field trip. Jia had a blast, though, and I must admit, I found it very interesting myself. All of the kids asked about Rudolph, but we didn’t see any shiny noses - a few runny ones, but no shiny ones!

IMG_1979
Jia’s Class with Her Awesome Teacher, Mrs. Marklin

IMG_1999
Jia Eating Icing from Her Craft!

IMG_1975
Snuggle Time with Mommy!!! My Favorite!

Dec 06
Dealing With It Posted by Kittino

Our elementary schools are going from a traditional schedule to a four-track schedule. Basically, this means year-round school with breaks during the year. Carson, of course, will stay on a traditional schedule so it’ll be a little tough for planning family trips, etc. The worst part is that my babysitter will be in school when I need him the most! Who’s supposed to raise these kids of mine?

Last night, Amy and I went to a meeting at the school. I have to say that I was disappointed when I found out the schedules were changing. As a matter of fact, we only looked at houses within our schools’ boundaries because we wanted all of our children on the same schedule. Obviously, I have no control over the schools. Overcrowding is a huge problem, and track scheduling is the only answer. Just accept it and move on! Naturally, some of the people at the meeting last night weren’t able to do that!

Amy and I got so tickled as we listened to this one lady ask TWICE why the school district hadn’t noticed that all of these new houses were being built and that we would need a new school; therefore, they should have gotten a bond and started building a new elementary school. Why didn’t they? Well, they just didn’t. Well, why not? Hello, they just didn’t! Move on! You can keep wishing they had, but that changes nothing. Or as Amy put it, “If wishes and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a very merry Christmas!” I suggested that the lady run for the state legislature. I’ll vote for her if she wants the job!

The next incredibly enlightened person wanted to make sure that since she had been in the district longer, she would have preference over the rest of us “newcomers.” After all, she’s been in the district for 6 years, and we’ve only been in the district since May. What? The poor lady in front of me told us that she only had a kindie so she couldn’t have been in the school district but this one year. I told her that she was being punished for not bearing children sooner and that the “old” people would obviously be given preferential treatment! In the end, Amy and I called for a vote to let the woman have whatever track she freakin’ wanted just so she would shut up! (Not.)

There were actually some people who were concerned about how long children would have for recess and if they’d have enough time to eat their nutritious lunches. First of all, those moms have obviously never been in a school cafeteria or they would know that kids talk. They don’t eat! And as for the length of recess, I thought that they went to school to learn. I never realized that recess was such a vital part of the school day. (So much for that education degree of mine.)

I think my favorite part of the meeting was when I raised my hand to help the room clarify the order of preference. My dear, precious, always-standing-beside-me friend actually scooted over a seat away from me just in case someone might think we were together!! Talk about true friends!!

So where does it all stand? The same place it stood before the meeting! I do feel sorry for those parents who are working and have to figure out childcare for all of the little breaks. (I also hope that God doesn’t try to use me in this area! Not my calling!!!!!!) Bottom line, though, is (in Amy’s words), “Deal with it!”