What a way to start the year!

First, to get caught up, go here. 

Got it? 

Great. 

Now, here we go again!  We have got to be the luckiest family on earth!  January 2, 2011, 9:00 p.m.  I was sitting at the computer and all of a sudden the lights flickered and then the computer lost power.  I thought I heard something scratching on the window outside, so I went to the front door and locked it.  Robert wasn't home, so I called him and told him to come home and look around outside before he came in because I thought someone was out there.  I picked Tara up and went into my bedroom, where I started smelling fire.  *Insert freakout and uncontrolable shakes here*  I thought it was coming from our air conditioner so I opened the closet it was in but didn't see anything.  I called Robert back again and told him to hurry, because I smelled fire.  I heard the "scratching" again, so decided to go outside myself and check it out.  Instead of someone, I found the corner of my house on fire.  I ran back in to start getting stuff out, but as soon as I walked in the door I stopped, stood there for about 30 seconds and turned around and walked out.  I've done this before, I had my baby on my hip and there is absolutely nothing in that house I had to have.  I called 911 about the time Robert pulled up.  He got the electricity shut off  and went in for his guns and clothes.  Tara wasn't wearing a shirt, so he went back in for some of her clothes too.  I moved my car out of the carport and put the kids in there with the heater running.  About 10 minutes later the highway patrol showed up, we stood there and watched it burn, knowing that any second it was going to really catch and start spreading.  Waiting, waiting, waiting, still no fire trucks, but then we finally see lights.....it's the ambulance.  Um, thanks but no thanks!  I'm going to stop there because we had horrible experiences with the fireman the first time, and this time wasn't looking any better.  Let's just say Robert had a few choice words with them after they finally got there (30 minutes later, in a VERY small town), poked him in the chest, and threatened to have him arrested for being on his own roof!  They finally got the fire out, and by they, I mean Robert's uncle, who isn't even a fireman.  The only damage was to the outside, except for a little water damage in our bedroom.  We are still in the process of getting all the insurance stuff worked out and getting everything fixed, and since we still don't have electricity, we are staying with Robert's mom.  I'm still kicking myself for not taking pictures of the last one, but I can say this, we are very blessed!

 



Besides all that, what we have going on, is pigs.  Only 2 more weeks until the show!

If you pray

I want to thank you because it worked.  God is good!  Long story short, the week before Thanksgiving I found a huge knot on my neck.  I already had an appointment with Dr. T the next week, so I just waited to see him.  Without going into icky details, lots of bloodwork, tests, worries, praying and several weeks have gone by, and I finally found out everything is ok.  I have been prepared to have my thyroid removed, but after talking to Dr. G, we have decided to wait.  Yes, the knot is still there, and some days it is huge, and some days you can't see it at all, but he said we will just watch it an wait for now.

So on to more exciting things! :)  Jesus' birthday came and went.....again.  My kids got way more than they needed.......again.  We had a great time with family.......again. 

Charity and I went on our usually Allen trip, so Tara stayed with Nana and Papa Dale.  I dropped her off at the library with Mom, and she LOVED climbing on all the same stuff I used to climb on!  Of course, the first book she grabbed.....Trucks!  Shocker!

Christmas Eve

It's been around 10 years since Robert and his siblings and their families have had a family picture so I MADE them do it!  This was the only time everyone would be together for at least another year.  We were going to take them outside but it was raining so this was the best we got. It's a pretty impressive group though!  I'm pretty sure it has tripled in size since the last one!  Him and his brother REFUSE to smile, but getting them there was enough for me.  I take what I can get!  This was a surprise for their mom and I just know she will be so happy when we give it to her!

These kids are my whole world.  I love them so much!

The best we could do of all of us.  Like I said, I take what I can get!

These 3 have grown so much in the last year!

Christmas Day

What does the little girl want to play with?  Well, first we had to put on her new tennis shoes, and then it was time for some football!  None of that girly stuff for her!

I'm thinking Kase was pretty happy with everything Santa brought him! :)

Off to Nana's we go, and Tara got her first taste of the famous boiled custard.  I'm pretty sure she liked it, she had a death grip on that glass!

And after 2 glasses, I wouldn't let her have any more......so she cried!

All the kiddos playing bingo for movies.  It's become a Nana Christmas tradition.



*I thought I had posted all of this ealier, but I guess I forgot to publish it!  So now I have more "exciting" news to share, but that will be later today.....