Numbers

As simple as I would like my life to be...sometimes...simple is just not in the equation. Maybe due to the blur of activity, lack of sleep, stress, etc. I find numbers running through my head. I am, as most are aware, a concrete, black and white person. Numbers fit that bill. They are very solid and reliable for a person like me. So, my blog tonight consists of some of these numbers that are floating around up there... and hopefully it will explain a little of our lives the last while.

53
The speed at which I was driving when our cat, Scamper, hurled herself from the top of the SUV.

13,564
Pictures I accidently uploaded on my ipod before heading to Idaho.

8
Flights Dave and I have taken over the past 2 weeks.

4
Unexpected days spent in the hospital with my mom.

3
Goals Pookie scored in each of his first two soccer games.

1
Karate graduation for Bubba who leveled up to a Green Belt.

2
Lessons Sis successfully completed in Piano. She really enjoys it.

12
Work days Dave has under his belt, back at Microsoft.

103
Kisses for Pookie before he would let me leave his side tonight.

5
Family members who made it to Dallas to visit- if only for a short while!

43
Kids who made me one proud Primary President on Sunday. The Sacrament Program was wonderful!

3
Women who I am priveledged to work with in the Presidency, You are amazing!

1
Tough Cookie for a Mom! You are the best example!

1
Husband who patiently deals with his busy, stressed, emotional wife. My hero!

Countless
Times I need to be reminded of all that I have to be grateful for.

258
bubbles I counted on Dave's screen saver the other night before I realized it was way past my bedtime...just like now...

2
Number of Nighttime Alkaseltzers I took to help ease the pressure in my head from my head cold....

I am fading...the numbers are floating away...good nighhhhhttttttttt

Bubba in karate

Lots of room for growth in that uniform!

Loved having the Pace's share a hot Dallas afternoon with us.

Why I Love America and Texas

My second grader came home from school with a paper. It read...

Today we remembered 911 in a safe and honorable way. I reminded them that we are free because of our brave men and women going to battle and our brave President leading the way. I told them we are Safe, Strong, and Steady. Parents: Please discuss with your child the importance of freedom. Please talk about the day of 9-11 and where and what you were doing and thinking. Student: Please write down 3 "Special Feeling Words" about our country. Please also draw 1 symbol representing the USA.

As I sat reading this, I got teary eyed. I love that in Texas, it isn't bad to be patriotic. I love that in Texas, my children are taught about 9/11- it isn't forgotten. I love that in Texas, we still pray at rodeos :). I love that in Texas, the school children start each day with a moment of silence (where they are allowed to pray if they chose). And I love that in Texas, there are restrictions to the size of belt buckles allowed at school!

Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of akwardness that comes with living in Texas, or should I narrow that down to Forney. How about the neighbor that mows her grass in the dead of night (sure she has a headlight, but really lady, you just mowed two days ago...and grass doesn't grow that fast here!)? Or the sweet old man in the doctors office waiting room, reading the magazine upside down. He was really into the article and was distraught when the nurse called him back. Or how about our own little statue of liberty...yes, Pookie thinks it's the real deal. But you can't deny the Patriotic nature of those around town.

Since moving here two years ago, I have been impressed at the support our military men and women get from the Texan people. So, on this 7 year anniversary, I hope that we all stop to remember and pray for those still fighting for our freedom. I hope that we never forget and pass on our patriotism to our children.

In Answer to your Questions...

Somehow I failed to mention another summer mishap in the Crosby home- Sis's leg, or more specifically her foot. She had a run in with the trapeze bar on the swing set while she was playing outside alone. I found her in fetal position, screaming. The swelling was immediately ugly; which led to an Urgent Care visit and then two visits with the Foot Specialist. Now all that remains is this monstrous beast of a cast. This is Sis after the boys helped her feel better. And she did...Webkinz rule her world.

She was back up and running after a day. She soon accomplished walking a hole through the first cast within two days. The doctor was impressed at the damage to the cast. Onto the second cast (with much more material added to the underside). Sis had been a great sport about it all. She even held up pretty well during the two Swim/BB'Que parties that she had to observe...until...we went to the Zoo and she couldn't play in the exciting water river, hence the meltdown.

We made up for it with a play date with her friend, in which we did makeovers, finger nails and made cookies. Life got better...Zoo incident forgotten.

Donating Additional Animals to the Zoo

Even after three hours in 90+ degree weather, walking long distances, and enjoying a hefty lunch, these three boys still had plenty of energy to act like wild hooligans! So....



They put them in a cage: to observe and let the other 10 people who visited the zoo entertain. Unfortunately...



These animals were smarter than the zookeepers and eventually escaped...using more of their unnatural super energy to spur them into the waiting vehicle...so they could pick at each other and me for the duration of the ride home.



Time for bed yet?

Summer Pleasures

Some of our comings and goings....


Daddy on the wakeboard at Lake McGee in Oklahoma


Pookie tubing with friend



Sis flying on the wakeboard


Our temporary 'home' in OK


Bubba, looking a little wild, after swimming for hours with a sweet Seattle friend! We loved the visit guys!


Sis with her wonderful Seattle friend and of course some added Webkins!

12 more days until school starts. Should I be getting excited to have all three of my children in school now? It makes me sad. Maybe it's because my baby is now old enough and capable to be away from me for extended periods of time, or that summer was just too short. Guess I'll just have to love on them lots the next 12 days and then find ways to be in school with them!!!

Bad Mom Moment

So I know that I am not the perfect mom. Not even close. But today, a teenager put me in my place.

The location: Famous Footwear.
It was the annual trip for the first day of school new shoes. Both boys were still lacking. Before leaving, I had insisted they wear socks and dig out the tennis shoes that have been absent for months due to the Texas heat. Pookie, being the third child, or just lazy; sat, staring at his socks and shoes until his sweet momma gave in and assisted. I did notice the extra effort it took to get the shoes on, 'just bulky socks or curled up toes' I justified. No complaints from the little man, we were on our way.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a young cheery sales clerk, who quickly had Bubba measured (size 5) and on his way searching for that perfect shoe.

Pookie was a different story. She placed his little foot on the measuring tool and asked him, "What size are you?" He knew the answer since we had just finished discussing this exact thing on the car ride over and proudly answered "size 11!". She is starting to look somewhat concerned at this point. Picking up his old displaced shoe and peering inside she turns her attention to me. "Is there a problem?" I ask. "Only that your son should be wearing a size 1 and you have him in 11's." That's 3 full sizes too small. Oops.

Some people wonder why we stopped at three children...

Fortunately, Pookie left the shoe store with the biggest grin and a completely satisfied look, cramped toes and ankle blisters forgotten. His mom had just let him purchase his dream shoes- Sketcher Airators. I left the store feeling somewhat smug knowing that during the summer months toes can at least hang over flip flops acceptably! Right?

Winner by Default

We pulled the family together Sunday night for a game of Monopoly. Pookie, not the game player, decided to 'help' be the banker. Sis was excited. The version of Monopoly we have is the 'Millineum' series. It comes with various game pieces that had our animal loving girl jazzed. She quickly swipped up the dog. Being raised with wonderful toys such as Build A Bear and Webkins, this dog had to have it's posse. So, the duration of the game was spent moving Sis's dog around the board with it's accompaning 'extras'. He had his cell phone, flat screen, globe, and bicycle (all other pieces). "That way he won't be bored, especially while he is in jail."

Other than insisting that the dog stay with his 'toys', Sis had no interest in the game. When she rolled the right amount for the 'free parking', which was loaded with cash, she was gone chasing the cat before she even knew any money was coming her way, When she pulled a Community Chest card that said, "Bank error in your favor $200" she was geting a drink. When her hotel laden property bankrupt her mom, she was entertaining Pookie with loud burps. The girl didn't sit in her seat up until it was just her and her dad left. Pressure on. That lasted one minute until her monopolies sucked all the money from the game into her 'pot', making her the winner. But wait, where is sis? Oh, she doesn't even know she won, she is outside getting on her bike...







maybe this is why she couldn't sit still