#2 - Galveston

Last year - beautiful condo - refreshing pool - beach - expensive seafood :-)

#3 - Bed and Breakfast at Granbury

So much fun perusing all the local shops.  I don't even know if we even spent any money :-)

Bet you can't even tell she's 8 months pregnant with Walt. 

#4 - Lake Whitney Camping Trip

The cheapest anniversary trip we ever took was to Lake Whitney when Will was around one year old. The bike riding was nice with all the flat roads and Amy made a really good camp dinner of grilled chicken and watermelon.  I think it was even around the time that Will started to take his first steps.

We tried to replicate the trip in a subsequent year, but everything went terribly wrong :-)

#5 - Prom Dates

I've enjoyed going to proms and banquets with my wife over the years. She always dresses up so nice and makes me proud to be her husband. 

#6 - Bike Riding at Getzendanger

Bike riding at Getzendanger was definitely one of the best dates we ever had. We dropped the kids off at a sitter and headed for the park. We rode all the way to the end of the trail and looked around the old train station. After that we went somewhere for ice cream. :-)

Isn't she pretty?

#7 - Staying Home When my Boys Were Born

In Honor of 10 Years of Marriage...

I present the top 10 stories of our marriage over the next 10 days :-)
#top10

#7 - Staying Home When Will and Walt Were Born

I don't remember how much time off I took when Annabelle was born, but it was days - not weeks.  When both Will and Walt were born, I took off at least two weeks.  It was so awesome to not have any obligations and just adjust my schedule to best help with newborns.  I would whole heartily encourage any other dad to do the same.  

#8 - Living in the Trailer Park

In Honor of 10 Years of Marriage...

I present the top 10 stories of our marriage over the next 10 days :-)
#top10

#8 - Living in the Trailer Park

So many experiences :-)  I think the best part of life in the trailer park was finding joy in each other, when we had so little else to distract.  More than anything, I enjoyed walks together with Amy in the evening, when all our kids were very young.  The setting sun always calmed them down and we knew we would have the rest of the evening to relax.  Sadly enough, I don't even remember what we did in the evenings before Netflix!

Oh, and... the bear shaped pool!

In Honor of 10 Years of Marriage...

I present the top 10 stories of our marriage over the next 10 days :-)
#top10

#9 -DBU Homecoming Dates 

Like any good marriage, we've established traditions over the years.  One of my favorite traditions started with a date night to DBU's homecoming.  We had rushed to get to the game on time, so we were hungry afterwards.  I think we were headed to Taco Bell, but decided to try a small Greek restaurant in the same shopping center.  It was delicious!  I haven't had a lamb gyro since, but I would do it again anytime.

Sadly, we missed the homecoming game this last year - my fault.  Amy has forgiven me - I think...

Top Ten Moments of My Marriage #10

In Honor of 10 Years of Marriage...

I present the top 10 stories of our marriage over the next 10 days :-)
#top10

#10 - "Corny"

Leading up to the summer of our five year anniversary, Amy and I had gone through a Food Network binge.  We were into the Next Food Network Star big time!!  On the long drive down to Galveston for our 5 year anniversary cruise, we busied ourselves by talking about our fields and crops on Farmtown and also about who was going to win the season finale.  We made a deal, whoever's favorite lost had to make a ridiculous dinner of choice for the other.

Well...  I lost, but my amazingly sweet wife still made my over the top corn dinner.  That's right folks, corn on the cob, a corn fritter, canned corn and corn chowder.  I still owe her a dinner of her choice, but I sure enjoyed mine :-)

Budget Saving Tips - Cheese!

I have several friends - quite a few actually- that are just starting out as a family, others who are just experiencing the tugs of large family constraints. Some of them have asked me some of my money saving grocery tips. Well, friends - this one is for you!

First - I am currently becoming the most frequent Sam's Club shopper. Some of you swear by Costco - and it does cater to a more refined palatte. Mine is a perk of my job, so I use it. Since packing school lunches, it seems I am there more and more each month!

I had always wanted to buy that ginormous cheese - you know, that ridiculous 5 pound monstrocity - of shredded cheese but I just couldn't figure how we'd go through the bag without it spoiling. Your freezer is your friend!

For some of you, this is completely a no-brainer. But for others, maybe you didn't come from a large family. Maybe you were not taught the principles of house management (I wasn't!). Maybe you have lots of little ones that are merely picking at their food and you can custom make their meals. That won't last forever, my friends! They will eat eventually. A lot!

 If you are really hard-core, you can buy the block and shred it yourself. Maybe some of you even make your own cheese.  I have more important things to do, but I hear my husband's family did that (shredded it, not home make it). That's awesome if you have time. Be sure to shred it before you freeze it because it will crumble if you do it after it has been frozen.

So, what do I do with this enormous bag of cheese? Eat it. Well, not at once. But one recipe for my family of 6 generally calls for 2 cups of shredded cheese. I set out to figure out exactly how much cheaper this is than buying the little 2 cup packages - and freezing is the key here.

This 5 pound bag costs about $11.66 where I live. I put it all in a hug bowl and measured out 2 cup servings into little baggies. I made about 9 baggies. So it cost a fraction for the baggies. I'd guess no more than 25 cents.

I made nine 2 cup portions.
$11.66/9 bags= $1.29 each!

If I were to buy 9 of those individually packaged at roughly $2.50 (1.66 is the cheapest I have ever seen them and there are always limitations) at the grocery store, I saved $10.84!

 I do this with Colby Jack, Mozzerella and also ground beef. Check out the door of my freezer. :-)

When I was in junior high, my friend and I tried to find "the cheese is good"in as many languages we could find. Fitting? Yes. Have a great day!

A Few Belated Christmas Memories

 My little sweet ones

 He worked very hard on his new coloring book

 Christmas Morning - the teacher goes unshaven when on break. Boy, am I glad he is back in school. ;-)

 He got a Taki's soccer kit

 I love this sweet baby

She lasted about 2.7 seconds out there in the Christmas snow! :-)

Having a Teen Big Sister

 She teaches boys how to be boys.

 And lets us try for ourselves.

And gives light saber lessons.

She also give little forearm tattoos with ink pen that are hearts with an arrow through it that says "mom". There is no documented proof at this time. 

Closer

We've always had such wonderful luck with our vehicles - not needing to share a car in recent memory. You can imagine - with our hectic schedules - how it might get interesting when one car went to the shop (we won't even talk numbers here, difficult numbers) and we were having to share between the 6 schedules we juggle.

 We are so blessed to live in an area where the kids' school is 2 blocks away. We've shared two days this week, but the other 2 days, I've been kinda stuck home. It's made me imagine what life would be like if we always shared a car, something quite a few people I know do. It's been kind of nice to walk the kids to school each morning, at preschool pick-up and in the afternoon (six times!). The weather now is absolutely gorgeous (I'm not sure how much I'd love it in rainy or cold weather!). Before school started I told myself that I would walk them more - then life got in the way and it was so much easier to just hop in the car on my way to wherever it is that we go - mostly. Truth is, when I walk them, I feel more connected. Closer to the warm sunny, wind in November, to the oak trees blowing their fall leaves to the ground. Closer to my kids, encouraging them to pick up bright red leaves and acorns and sticks along the way. Closer to what they did during the day, asking questions all the way home and listening to their hearts. Closer to the teachers, we can stop and talk instead of holding up a carpool lane. Closer to my neighbors who are out walking. Closer to housework because there really isn't much better to do - mostly anyway.

 I'm not much for sitting around, reading, sipping tea and napping and sewing or crafting (um, ya, I can't sew). I like to do. I like to be places. That's probably the greatest challenge I had staying home, when I did. I got so lonely. This mini-lock in has helped me to appreciate the ability that I have to get out when I want to. I'm going to enjoy it - that is - until I pay that obscene amount of money to the mechanic and then life will be back to crazy.  Happy walking!

Then and Now..

Then..

And Now

Then..

And now..

Then..

And Now.

Then..

And now.

Then..

And Now.

Then..

And now.

Wow. Time goes by so quickly.

Jane's Story

One day, Jane was in her home and it was raining. Mom said, "Jane, when is the storm going to stop?" Jane's mom said, "We do not plan when the storm is going to stop." "Look, the storm is over", said Jane. "I am going outside, bye-bye".

Tire Swing

 (unrelated picture of a tree at our favorite park)

 Daddy switched our little wood swing to a tire swing.

 It hangs from a HUGE oak tree in our yard.

 It's fun to hide in.

 This is how we spent the last precious few hours of summer. Wheeeeee!

 This swing goes really high! Scary for a mommy's heart!

Happy school year! We are having a party tonight to celebrate a good first week!

My Sweet Husband

My husband is wonderful. He is caring. He is loyal. He is wise. He is smart. He is a man of strong conviction. He is Godly. He is a dedicated teacher. He is gifted with students. He is gifted with his own children. He is gifted with his wife. I am so thankful he had to opportunity to teach in China - but I am SO much more thankful to have him home!! 

Washing the car

 We finally found daddy a car.

 So we worked hard to scrub it (throw towels at it and watch it splat).

 This one (I hear) is really good at detailing. I haven't seen it for myself (too hot today- 106 degrees).

 But I do hear it. Usually from others. If you've seen my car, you know.

 "Hey, I've got a sweet ride, too!"

 This kid loves messy fun. He is so delightful!

We love Daddy!

Plugging away...

 Impromptu Snowcones!

 Foot race with Grandpa

 Swimming with friends

Chatting with Daddy & students

Senior High Camp!

We are dutifully plugging away at our list - a few things have changed or have been put on the back burner. We've found other new things to replace old ones on the list, some we are saving for daddy. But that's okay, we are having fun and keeping very busy! Most nights I collapse into my bed. I thank the Lord for that because I could very easily get lonely at night missing daddy and our late night snacking and tv ritual we've held onto for years. 

My goal this summer, in the words of my sweet hubby, is to

 "chew up bones of life and suck the marrow out" - loose translation. :-)