My Young Man

Andrew is now 12 years old! He is officially a young man at church. It is hard for me to see him leave Primary.

Andrew is truly the man of the house when Daddy is at work. He...

-chases after wasps with the bug spray
-kills spiders or any bugs that get in the house
-chases after Spencer when he starts running down the street
-is very protective of his little brothers
-wakes his brothers up in the morning to start getting ready for school
-can prepare his own food
-gathers firewood and starts the fire in the fireplace
-will do laundry (when there is something he wants to wear the next day) ;)
-reads to his little brothers
-mows the lawn
-kills snakes in the yard
-and is a HUGE help with anything I ask!

I LOVE YOU ANDREW!!! Happy Birthday Bear!!!

Videos????

So, I finally decided to update my blog. 6 months later. I was completely inspired by a video created my a couple of bored kids. Reminded me of their mother. :) I love when they put the video game controllers down and use their imaginations to do something like this. It isn't the kind of video I would have made when I was little (fashion shows, beauty pageants, and music videos). It is definitely a "boy" video, very creative. I love it! (p.s. - after this first video was shot, we took turns starring in the video. When it was my turn, Spencer was unhappy and came to kiss the boo-boo on my nose!)






In other news, we took a family vacation to San Antonio in July. We weren't sure if we were going to be able to go at all. Our vacation lay in the hands of an 11 year old all-star baseball team. We had our vacation planned and then found out that Andrew made the all-star team. Now it was just watch the games to find out if they would go to the state tournament. I was disappointed when they lost that last game that decided which team would be moving on, but by the next morning I was super excited we were going on vacation!!! We went to an Astros baseball game, SeaWorld, Schlitterbahn, Natural Bridge Caverns, and the Safari Wildlife Ranch.

I am taking piano lessons again. I took lessons for about a year when I was little. I am quite pleased with the progress we have made in a month and am having a lot of fun!

Things to look forward to:
-Uncle Brian is coming in town to visit!!!!
-My Brian will be turning 8 in two weeks!!! We are looking forward to his baptism!
-School starts (unfortunately on Brian's bday - he's not very happy about that) and I will have 2 free days a week!!
-I fully intend to get my house completely organized after school starts!

My Lucky Day

I was having a terrible day. I left my purse loaded with cash at the ball park, I locked my keys inside my van when I went to the store, I slipped on my freshly mopped floor as I took dinner out of the oven. I was still shaky inside and couldn't believe the bad day I was having.

Well when I went back to the ballpark, my purse had been untouched. I don't think anyone there even moved it, they all just ignored it. I am so grateful for that because it could have had a really bad outcome. Bobby was able to come unlock my van (even though I had to wake him up because he's working nights). While waiting for him I ran into 2 families and another friend in the shopping center. It was nice to have a good group of people to wait with. When I slipped on the floor, I just knew I was going to hit the floor hard while holding this hot, glass pan. But my front foot caught the bottom of the cabinet and stopped me with a jolt. I just carefully set the pan down on the counter and couldn't believe I avoided that disaster.

So here I was feeling terrible inside when I remembered what a man from our ward briefly said as we waited for Bobby. That it must be my lucky day because no one took my purse. I thought about that and almost started laughing. It must be my lucky day because of all of the disasters that could have been and didn't. I suddenly felt so much better inside and happy again. All of the shakiness was gone.

Then the phone rang. My sister-in-law informed me that they were okay, but a dump truck had backed into them. They were in her small sedan. She said they got slammed pretty good and were waiting for the tow truck. The important thing was they were okay.

So, yea, I feel pretty lucky today. The day could have had a much different outcome.

In Training

Training starts today

89 days to go

10,000 meters

6.2 miles

Party at the finish line

I have decided to participate in the Crescent City Classic this year. I've never done it before, but can remember waiting for my brothers at the finish line when I was a kid. The heel of my sneakers recently fell off so now is the perfect opportunity to get myself a good pair of shoes.

Running has never been enjoyable to me. So, my aunt and I are going to speed walk it. Considering the fact that the only exercise I get right now is chasing after kids, I need to get out walking everyday to prepare. I am really getting excited about it and really hope that the weather is beautiful that day!

National English Toffee Day

Today is National English Toffee Day. (According to the DJs on my radio this morning when my alarm went off) ;) So I figured this was the perfect day to talk about the free toffee I received.

English Toffee Anytime sent me a whole pound of Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee. I was thinking it would be nice to try it. I've tried toffee before and it's okay. This toffee is divine. It was so much better than I expected. There are almond pieces inside the toffee surrounded by the most delicious milk chocolate topped with crushed almond, which is almost like a powder. The textures and flavors are all perfect.

From their website:

Buttery almond toffee covered with pure Guittard chocolate and coated with the finest chopped almonds. English Toffee Anytime is preferred by discerning toffee connoisseurs everywhere. Prepared to perfection, free of preservatives, and each box is hand packed and shipped without delay. Life's Essential Indulgence is perfect for traditional celebrations, but anytime is even better.

Happy National English Toffee Day!

What a deal!

My CVS shopping trips today were great! Okay other that the fact that I really wanted the Cottenelle toliet paper that I paid $8.22 for (which I now think may not have been the best deal I could have gotten).

I got $104.38 in products
I spent $23.49

Now, I would not normally spend $104 on this stuff. Who really wants to pay 9.99 for a stick of men's deodorant (even if it is Professional Strength). I'm thinking we pay a little less than half of that. But today I got it for free! Not one cent! And I got 3 of them!

I got 6 tubes of Colgate toothpaste for $1.50

Arm and Hammer Degreaser - FREE

Palmolive $.50

Excedrin (20 ct) - FREE

Garnier Fructis hair gel - $.99

3 bottles of Softsoap (hand soap) - $1.50

Halls Naturals Cough Drops - FREE

2 Kit-Kats (had to keep the babies happy) - $1.00

Cottonelle 20 pack - $8.22

5 bottles of Listerine Smart Rinse - $6.00

Add in $3.32 in tax and a mistake that a cashier made with one of my Extra Care Bucks that cost me about 50 Cents and there you have it!




Walgreens is never quite as good for me, but I can still find great deals. I have been reviewing todays purchases and realized even with all my savings, I made about $9 worth of mistakes. My total spent could have been even less!

I got $74.90 in product
It cost me $21.77

4 boxes of Kelloggs cereal - $3.00

2 boxes of Quaker oatmeal - $1.98

2 cans Progesso soup - $3.80 (should have been 4 cans for this price but I wasn't paying close enough attention)

4 - 130 count packs of Centrum Vitamins - $3.00 (for all 4 packs!)

Orajel Cold Sore Medicine - FREE

2 small bottles of Benefiber mix - $1.00

2 Palmolive - $.58

1 Gallon of milk - $3.89

Tax was $5.36!!! - I hate that!

365

My mom was telling me about Project 365. A way to really document the day to day happenings in your life. Take a picture every day and write about it. I started to really like the idea. Until she told me that the company who put together an awesome kit to help you out sold out of them just hours after putting them on sale. Do I really feel like going through all of the work to do one myself? Life is getting busier for me (a change I learned that I like -for right now) and taking a pic and journaling about it everyday is asking enough without me figuring out what to do with it after that.

Then Mom mentioned that she ordered 2 kits! And she's going to let me buy one of them! Wa Hoo! I am really excited about this and can't wait to see how it turns out.

Yum Yum

English Toffee Anytime is having a giveaway!! Go check it out and get yourself a pound of free toffee!! I hear it's awesome!!

Click here for details.

11 years

11 years ago today I rode home from the hospital with my brand new baby boy "stuffed" into his carseat. If I can find the picture I'll post it. We've learned a lot about how to buckle a baby into a carseat since that time.

A couple of days ago he turned 11. He got to spend his birthday having a blast. Playing football in the wind, rain and mud. Those boys were sliding all over the field.

I was wearing a poncho, so that kept my center dry. But from my biceps down to my fingertips and my thighs down to my toes were absolutely drenched. I should have worn my rubber boots!!

The boys did a great job in the weather. They have now won their first 3 all-star games and will be playing the championship Saturday morning.

IT'S SNOWING!!!

My husband woke me up at 4:45 this morning. He said, "I'm sorry to wake you, but there is something you don't see very often." So, I'm thinking that the boys did something really cute in the middle of the night. Then he said, "It's snowing."


I think that is kind of cool, but do I really want to crawl out of bed to squint really hard to see a couple of tiny flakes falling out of the sky. However, we are in Southern Louisiana, so that was enough to get me up.

I couldn't believe what I saw. It is really snowing outside! The meteorologist on our local news just described it as a moderate to heavy snowfall. Here. In the deep south. I think it's been twenty years since I've seen this here.

I immediately wanted to wake my kids. When we first left Kansas they kept asking us when it was going to snow. We had to tell them the sad truth. It doesn't snow here. They were not happy with that news. But today it is snowing, and they were too tired to get out of bed to see it. Hopefully it is still snowing when they do wake. I have the news on waiting to hear of any school closures. I actually hope there is!

Jon Michael

Jon Michael Humphery, 30, of Moss Bluff died after a short, untimely illness at 3:15 PM on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 in a local hospital. Jon was born April 29, 1978 in Lake Charles and has lived in Moss Bluff for over ten years. He was a 1996 graduate of Iowa High School. Jon has worked as an offshore captain for Aries Marine for the past 16 months. He was a member of St. Theodore Catholic Church and served as a volunteer firefighter in Moss Bluff. He was very involved with his children's sporting activities; coaching numerous recreational football, baseball, and soccer teams in the Moss Bluff area. He enjoyed barbequing and loved spending time with his friends, family, and especially his children. His children, wife, and friends were his life and his love. Jon will be missed dearly by many. Jon is survived by his wife of ten years, Angie Reeves Humphery of Moss Bluff; sons, ****, *****, and ***** Humphery; parents, John Humphery and wife Faye of LeBleu Settlement and Dionne Hine and husband Todd of Lake Charles; half-brother, David Humphery and wife Laura of Seoul, Korea; grandparents, Clifford and Inez Humphery of Moss Bluff and Rose and George Louviere of Welsh, LA; and numerous close family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Norman Reeves; brother-in-law, Jeremy Reeves; and uncle, Wade Louviere.

For the past two weeks I haven't been able to think about much else. Just Jon, Angie and their boys. They are a wonderful family with huge hearts. My heart aches for this family. They laid Jon to rest yesterday.

Thursday, I went to a Catholic Rosary for the first time. It started with a scripture service and then the rosary followed shortly after. I enjoyed the scripture service. I don't think I really understood the rosary. But I wanted to go to honor my friend, so I went.

Back to the scripture service ... The priest (I assume that's what he was) talked for a little while. He said "The circumstances surrounding Mr. Jon are unusual. One week he is having migraines. The next week he is in the hospital. The following week, we gather here." He's right, it doesn't make any sense. But our Father in Heaven has a greater plan. And He was calling His son home.

Yesterday morning was the funeral. The feeling was so opposite of what I felt at my grandmother's funeral. I was so happy for her. But this time is different. A young widow and her three children are now trying to figure out how to move on without their husband and father.

Bobby was off of work and able to attend the funeral with me. As we waited for the service to start there was a low roar of friendly chatter. Lots of smiling faces as friends greeted each other and embraced. Then a song began to play. Bobby turned to me and said, "Music is amazing. The whole feeling of the room just changed." All of the music was on CD which I am not used to. My favorite song that was played was this one.

Thankful #16-18

#16 - I am thankful that my husband is getting to see cousins that he hasn't seen in years today. And meet their spouses!

#17 - I am thankful that Bobby has a good job that supports our family. We have everything we need.

#18 - I am thankful for Monica. She has a place set up at her home for working on food storage. She welcomes everyone from the stake to use the canner and sealer anytime. She finds great deals on rice and beans and orders tons (literally). Her husband drives to Houston willing to pick up food in bulk for anyone who orders it. I don't know how she keeps everything organized, but she does a great job!

One word Tag

TYPE ONLY 1 WORD.
1. Where is your cell phone? here
2. Your significant other? loving
3. Your hair? brown
4. Your mother? sick
5. Your father? retired
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? devastating
8. Your favorite drink? OJ
9. Your dream/goal? happiness
10. The room you're in? living
11. Your fear? kidnapping
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? graduated
13. Where were you last night? in-laws
14. What you're not? artistic
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. One of your wish list items: a miracle
17. Where you grew up. Louisiana
18. The last shopping you did? milk
1 9. What are you wearing? blue
20. Your TV? off
21. Your pet? fish
22. Your computer? slow
23. Your life? blessed
24. Lost any Emails? probably
25. Missing someone? yes
26. Your car? gone
27. Something you're not wearing? shoes
28. Favorite Store? sale
29. Your summer? kids
30. Your favorite color? blue
31. When is the last time you laughed?yesterday
32. Last time you cried? my dream
Now it's 4 answers
34. FOUR PEOPLE WHO E-MAIL ME: Mom, Emily, Jen, Laura
35. FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS:chocolate, shrimp, fajitas, lasagna
36. FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW? cruise, Hawaii, Disney, California
37. FOUR PEOPLE I THINK WILL RESPOND. ????

Thankful #13-15

#13 - I am thankful for the nice weather we've been having. Sure, it gets pretty chilly in the morning, but the afternoons are perfect.

#14 - I am thankful for our Stake President. He has faithfully served in the church for years as Bishop, member of the Stake Presidency and now as our Stake President. I'm sure his family has sacrificed a lot of time they could have spent with him. I just want them to know how much I appreciate everything that he has done.

#15 - I am thankful for Primary. I was having a rough morning and was not in a very good mood. The Primary children are so sweet and have such beautiful spirits. They truly helped lift my spirit. I left church this afternoon happy and smiling.

Thankful #10-12

#10 - I am thankful for Brian. He enjoys a good day's work. If we have a project to work on, he is right there ready to learn and help out. He loves to work with his hands and can keep us motivated. He also says exactly what it on his mind.

#11 -I am thankful for colors. They make everything much more interesting. Could you imagine if we only had shades of gray?

#12 - Bobby's fortune cookie tonight - "The reward for having feelings is great joy." I read this today after leaving the hospital visiting a friend whose husband is in critical condition. This was a timely reminder that without pain and sorrow we can never feel pleasure, happiness and joy. It is the tough times that make the good times so much sweeter.

Quote of the Day

Okay, so that none of you think that I can actually play the piano, I will share a story from earlier this week.

I took lessons as a child, but could never play with my left hand. I have tried over the years to teach myself more. I feel like I have gotten okay with my right hand if there aren't very many sharps or flats. I have been trying to include my left hand in a couple of songs. I can even play a couple of hymns in the simplified version.

This Saturday is the Primary Talent Show and Sis. Morris really wanted some of the teachers and leaders to participate somehow. Brian has had 3 lessons now and wants to play one of the songs that he has learned. I thought he was being incredibly brave and maybe I should try a song also. I started practicing a song this week. I feel like I am doing pretty good with the right hand only. When I include the left it goes slower and with more mistakes, but I am improving everyday. Really I am.

A couple of days ago I was practicing when the kids got home from school. My niece walked in a listened to me for about a minute and said, "I feel like somebody died!"

It couldn't have been that bad!! Could it?

Thankful #7-9

#7 -I am so thankful that Spencer's surgery went well yesterday. He slept for hours and hours afterward, but then woke up a happy boy. Today he is running around and having a good time. :) (He had 2 preauricular tags (ear tags) removed from just in front of his right ear. They used general anesthesia because of his age.)

#8 - I am thankful to know that my friend Angie is surrounded by family and friends who love and support them. Her husband is not doing very well right now. Their family has been wonderful to us and I wish I could do more to help her right now. Bobby has known them a very long time and rushed to the hospital as soon as he heard.

#9 - I am thankful that we have a piano in our home. Thanks Mom! Brian just started taking lessons, so I have started practicing more too. There is a man here right now tuning it for us. Brian will be so excited! He has been asking when it will get tuned ever since our first meeting with the piano teacher.

Thankful #4-6

#4 - I am thankful for Matthew. He is a ray of sunshine. Always beautifully smiling, full of energy and excitement, and he will talk your ear off. He says "I Love You" a lot and gives about a hundred kisses a day. After he was born, there were a couple of days that I thought we might lose him. He was very sick. I thank Heavenly Father all the time that he recovered so well and has no lasting side effects.

#5 - Men (in general) who take an interest in women and children's health. I just got off the phone with my husband who called with an odd question.
Him:"What's the name of that shot that pregnant women get if they have a negative blood type?"
Me: "Is someone's wife pregnant?"
Him:"Yeah. Well. Um........I'm not really sure how we got on the subject."
It's funny to think about a bunch of blue collar, plant operators sitting around talking about RhoGAM shots. haha
I do appreciate that this group of guys seem to take an active interest in the health of their families. :]

#6 - I am so thankful for friends who encourage and give good tips about bargain shopping. Now I just need to take a more active roll in that. I ordered a subscription to the newspaper this morning, so that I can have the sale ads and coupons delivered to my house. That's one more step in the right direction.

What a great idea!

Yesterday we were late for church. Again.

It seems like the last month we have been about 15-20 minutes late every Sunday. Since Bobby has been working a lot of Sundays and Spencer will never sit through an entire Sacrament Meeting, we have headed straight to the Primary Room to turn on the speakers and listen from there.

Let me just say that we go to the Primary Room because if we walk in late, we are very disruptive (in my opinion) if we walk into the chapel and find seats. Only to have Spencer start fussing 15-20 minutes later when we have to file back out and disrupt those around us again. You see if we were on time, we would only have to be disruptive once. :) Until the day when Spencer surprises us all and decides to sit through an entire Sacrament Meeting.

Yesterday, as we pulled into the parking lot, Shawn asked me (with a slight tone of disappointment), "Are we going to the Primary Room? Again?"

"Well. We should go to the chapel. But we are late. Again."

Suddenly his face lights up. He has a great idea. You could almost see the lightbulb on top of his head. "Next week we should hurry! We could get ready faster."

I almost laughed. What an awesome idea! I wonder why I didn't think of that! ;]

****A few weeks ago when we were late, I decided to let the older boys go into the chapel without me. I told them they could go sit with Paw-Paw. IF there was room. They walked into the chapel and didn't come back out so I assumed there was plenty of room next to Paw-Paw. Next thing I know Aunt Shannon comes out of the chapel with her two youngest to bring them to the bathroom. But then I noticed that she didn't return to the chapel. She stayed out in the hall with us.
I decided to peek into the chapel to make sure my boys were behaving. That's when I saw that there was no room for Aunt Shannon to sit by her other kids! When I told my boys that they could sit by Paw-Paw IF there was room, they must have squeeeezed everyone into that row until Aunt Shannon lost her seat! Oops! Sorry Aunt Shannon!!

Thankful Hearts

Bro. Dunn, our Stake High Councilman, spoke yesterday about having more gratitude. After hearing his talk I was inspired to join in with listing things I am thankful for each day this month. I am a little behind, so I'll do 2 or 3 a day.

#1- I am so thankful for my husband. Right now I can hear the chainsaw as he is outside cutting down trees so that we can have firewood this winter. I'm so excited, I can't wait to start using the fireplace this year!

#2 - I am so thankful for a neighbor who wanted his trees cut down and said we could have the wood if Bobby did the work!

#3 - I am thankful that Andrew has a great Webelos den leader. Andrew has 3 weeks left to finish working on his Arrow of Light, the highest award given to a cub scout. I am thankful that Bro. Anderson is willing to work with us to make sure Andrew finishes in time.