9/12/07

Happy Birthday to my brother

my baby brother is no longer a baby but a grown man with two beautiful children and a loving supportive wife.

How I wish I could be there more for him but there are 2000 miles between his family and mine and the phone calls are nice but not quite the same. I heard my beautiful niece coo last night via telephone but I would have loved to see her face when she did.

Happy Birthday my beautiful brother. Know that you are so very very very loved here in Texas. Please know that even though I am physically far away, you are always in my heart, constantly in my thoughts and every day in my prayers.

I love you

Sissy

9/11/07

What a week!!!

Labor day I took the girls to China Town and to Korea Mart. We stopped at the Richardson Fire department and did the tour thing there. Then on to McDonalds for a fast lunch. We went to the Sherwood Shores Fire department next so that the girls could see the difference between a municipal run fire department and a grateful to have what they get Voluntary department.
The girls had dinner at the Cummings house and I got to treat myself to Red Lobster. Woo hoo. Chris had to work but I suffered through it. LOL

Tuesday - First day of School for Sabine. I picked her up at 3:30 and we went to a tour of the police and fire station. on to the City Council meeting for photo op with counsel. We then went to Gander mountain for shopping and dinner at Texas Road House. There Rep. Larry Phillips gave them all certificates signed by the Govener of Texas welcoming them to Texas.

Wednesday - Tour of Austin College and dinner and a movie at my place. I personally did not know you could fit that many Teens in my living room on on my couch but they seem to stack on top of each other and there was plenty of space for everyone.

Thursday - I had to work the instrument drive but the Cummings stepped in and took the girls shopping for western wear and then fed them dinner. I took the to Target after I got back from the instrument drive in Anna

Friday - Anybody ready for some foot ball!?! Rally on the green along with a dinner by Dickies. Sabine learned that just the word pepper ment hot. Poor thing. SHS won their game 25 to 6 against Greenville. I got stuck in the consession stand but Sabine and Catherine seemed to have a good time.

Saturday - another work day for Mom but the girls did the mall thing and had a great time. The good news is my car is still in one piece. LOL I then took the girls and Ariel to Frisco to shop and get some needed bonding time done.

Sunday - Sabine and Caedee got stuck in the nursery watching the toddlers. Oh boy then we went to Sandy's for a wonderful traditional German Meal, with sauerkraut and sauerbrauten and potato dumplings. Lilo was there and she and Sabine spent the afternoon yakking away in German. I think it did them both good. Washed clothes and got things ready for Sabine's trip next week and the girls went to a party at Katie's house.

Monday - Pack Sabine up for a week trip to Galveston. Boy the house seems quiet with Just Caedee here by herself

Tuesday - Another instrument drive and more laundry where are all these clothes coming from LOL

On the plus side Chris and I have been able to stay up with Fly lady and her challenges. It helps it really does help. We'll see if I can keep it up

That all for now

SJ

9/2/07

Days two and three of Sabine's visit

Saturday of course I had to go to work but the girls were happy with just hanging here around the house and at starbuks. They came to pick me up in Whitesboro and I was glad to see them. We took the girls to the Whitesboro Fire department and they let them crawl around the rigs and in the ambulances. The were wonderful I need to make them a card and get it to them next week along with a pan of brownies as a way of saying thank you for being so wonderful. We then went back toward Sherman only to get a flat tire and had to change it out. So to Wally world we go. She was kind of taken aback at all the holiday shoppers (Labor day) and the lobster tank threw her a curve ball. I don't think she liked them and was a little scared of them. Got some groceries and then decided to go to dinner at Taste of China. I don't think she cared for americanized Chinese food either. Poor thing. We came home and she emailed her folks and then came downstairs to thank us for a wonderful time she had today. How sweet. What a good girl.
Today was fun. Chris and I had to be at the church by 7:30 to help cook. Caedee drove my car to the church and met us there at 8:30. I think our baptist services and fellowship was a little much for her but she rallied and made it through. She is not use to praying but she seems to be enjoying spending time with us. I made wings for lunch along with green beans. She did like the wings. The girls went to take care of Sam and the fish and then they stopped the the fire station on 11 to take pictures. Chris grilled burgers and chicken tonight and I sent the girls to Piggly Wiggly for side dishes and salad fixings.
I am getting more comfortable with Caedee driving my car. She is really a good driver.
After dinner we introduced Sabine to Chicken foot - Woo hoo she skunked us all. She plays uno in Barvaria and this is very similar to the card game.
Well it is getting late and the girls have called it a night. I am fixing to soak my poor feet and call it a night myself. Tomorrow is a trip to little China and maybe the Gordonville Fire department.

I'll keep ya posted!

Flylady really works

several years ago I tried to be a fly baby and follow the teachings of the Flylady. However life got in the way. Well this week I was able to finally get the house in order, following some of the basic guidelines of her website. Taking one room at a time (except my bedroom that is next week's project) I followed step by step each listing for the different zones. Now tonight taking the time to followup with declutter, put up and put away I was able to in 30 minutes:
unload and reload the dishwasher,
declutter my counters and wipe them down,
reset my dining room for breakfast,
shine my sink,
damp mop my kitchen floor,
wipe down a piece of furniture (wooden magazine rack).
Run upstairs and put fresh hand towels in the girls bathroom,
reload their fridge with water,
carry down dirty laundry and trash,
and start a load of laundry.

I was surprized and amazed. Her system really does work. However let's see if I can keep it up for 21 days.
That will be the real test when I go back to work and I am so exhausted that it is all I can do just to shower and crawl into bed. We'll see then.
But for now I am happy with my shiny sinks

I'll keep you posted.

9/1/07

She's here!

Got in last night about 10:30 with our exchange student. She is exhausted but so sweet!! I am so happy I can't wait to bring her up to the shop so she can meet everyone. I want to show her all the cool Fireman sbing stuff that Sherri has and get her started on her albums. I am so lucky.

RM has a full size frige in her apartment so she moved her dorm size frige upstairs so I loaded with water and fresh fruit for her that way she doesn't have to make a trip down stairs.

She went with me to see SHS's football game at Hillcrest but I could tell she was fading fast. So after the 1/2 time show I brought her home so she could start to catch up on her sleep.

I let her email her Mom when she got to the house so that she could let her know she was safe and had arrived then after that she crashed and is still asleep

I'll post pictures soon!