Texas and Arkansas Trip

For the Memorial Day weekend we headed to Texas. We had planned on going to Arkansas but plans changed after we found out about our little friend in Texas who has been having some challenges with his leg healing. Nana and Poppa from AR were not happy so they insisted we leave the kids with them while we were gone. We met them in OK City on Friday, dropped off the kids and away Nathan and I went to Austin. We hadn't been together...just the two of us...in a long time. A much needed trip! Our main focus was to be with Eric and Heidi and help them for a few days. We stayed one night at Robert and Linda's which was so very wonderful...they are like a second family to me and I've always called Linda my O.M. (other mother). My mom and her were best of friends! Lots of good memories together. Saturday we made it to Eric and Heidi's. Tucker was to have surgery on Monday but was trying to enjoy the weekend by keeping active. We saw my grandparents, Aaron and Emily on Saturday night for dinner. We had a sit down elegant meal at their house...Jidgie always outdoes herself! Sunday we had a wonderful fellowship meeting, gospel meeting, and spent the evening at Heidi and Erics. Monday, Tucker had surgery and did pretty well. Nathan and I went to supper with my grandparents again along with Aaron and Emily to Cafe Blue...out on the lake. Very scrumptious. So nice to spend time with my grandparents...they are so very dear to me. Tuesday, we had lunch with Don and Jeannie and then Nathan left to fly back to NM. I had planned to stay a few more days to help out with Tucker. Tuesday night, Tucker got very sick and they had to move him to an intermediate ICU on Wednesday. Things were very rough for a couple of days and then he made a turn around. Friday night Tucker made it home...they released him early because he was done with being in the hospital...he'd been in the hospital about 60 days over his wound issue. He was one happy boy to be home....fell asleep around 8 and slept until morning! Big grins! Happy babies makes for happy parents....and friends! Saturday morning I left for AR. Hadn't seen my babies in over a week! I will miss my dear friends, the Waters! So glad it worked out for me to come and help...the timing couldn't of been more perfect!

My O.M. and I

Emily and Aaron...love them both!

Don and Jeannie...what a wonderful couple

My buddy, Tucker

Graham and Tucker playing marbles..."which one am I thinking about?"

Lenore and Tucker

Aaron and Bria

A Budding Photographer

Kaleb loves to take pictures and he really is getting good at centering and taking a shot. Maybe he'll teach me a few things. I thought this was a cute picture of Mariah and I....I love the little hand wrapped around my neck pulling me in close to her!

A Visit from Arkansas!

Fred and Georgia, some good friends from AR, arrived yesterday by train! They've been on a trip to California and decided on their way home they would stop here in Raton. The train station is not even 5 minutes from our house! We enjoyed their visit and so glad it worked out to see them...bringing AR to us!

For lunch today we had over Bill and Shirley McFetridge and Betty Barnett. I was glad to introduce the Alderinks to some of our friends here in Raton.

Spontaneous Photo Shoot

Nathan spotted this old bridge...behind a no trespassing gate so we couldn't explore but thought it was neat looking from a distance.

For a 5 year old and a big camera, I thought Kaleb did great taking this photo!

What's More Fun Than a Park?

Answer: Nothing, in my kids mind. So, what a great way to enjoy the afternoon sun....finally! 80 degree weather and I am LOVING it! It's been cold, rainy, windy...I've been wearing my boots and jacket until the past couple of days! No wonder they don't plant a garden here until June. Enjoyed our family time together just playing!

Yes, they're cute BUT....

KA-BOOM! Another one down! These little praire dogs are very cute but destroy so much land! As a non-resident, we have to pay for a license to kill them...go figure! It's family fun....Nathan gets his gun shooting in, I get some photography shootin' in (as well as some praire dog killin) and the kids love to target practice! Lots of teaching about gun safety!

On the way home Nathan was talking to me and from the back we hear Kaleb say, "Dad, I think you are allergic to talking." "Well, why is that son?" "I just think you like to talk a lot!" It's funny how kids like to insert big words they've heard into a sentence.

Target Practice

They all took turns shooting the BB gun

"Did you hit it, Sister?"

"YES...we got one! YAY"

Can you believe it?

Yes, well..."it's about time" you say! I started going through the blog from 2 years ago and was amazed at how much I had forgotten! I decided I'd put more effort into blogging. I have 2008 and 2010 caught up...now for 2009! I think I'll do some quick highlights at some point. Thanks for your patience and enjoy!

By the way, we are still living in Raton, NM. Not sure how much longer we will be here since there are 6 new farms starting in the southwest....we've gotten word that Nathan will be moving to one of these new sites! We will keep you posted! Just thankful we have been in one spot for 5 months...soooo settling!

Kaleb's Korner

*My amazing boy, Kaleb, is growing up sooo much! I often wonder how 5 1/2 years have passed so quickly!

*He is a huge helper....loves to help wash dishes, make bread, set the table, clean the table, make his bed in the morning, and helps keep his sister 'in line'! =)

*He is getting more expressive with his stories and his 'pretend' world has broadened....I love to listen to his play-time!

*His favorite meal is still grilled cheese with cottage cheese and chips and apples.

*He loves 'ma-sgetti' too!

*The other day he was hungry and I suppose I wasn't fast enough. He decided to start taking out food of the refrigerator. He ended up making his own sandwich with a little help spreading his Miracle Whip. I suddenly could see a 16 year old standing there raiding the refrig...it was very sobering! It all goes tooo fast.

*He loves to go to the shooting range with daddy....he's a great shot with his BB gun and .22!

*He is doing 100 piece puzzles without difficulty and now we work on bigger ones together.

*He is sooo ready to get back in school...kindergarten starts this fall for him. He always ask to do 'homework'....how long will this last???

*He used to always ask if was 'going to fall'? Now, he is getting less fearful but that leads to issues with fearless Mariah! =)

*Funny talk (Feb 20, 2010):

Kaleb: Sister, are you going to eat all those raisin?

Mariah: Yep, bubby.

Kaleb: You are eating lots of calories, sister!

*He's gone snow skiing once and feels like he can tackle snow boarding now...he wants to be like his Uncle Aaron.

*He and Mariah love to do their night-night prayers....his sincerity is precious...."help me be a good example; we know we can't do what we want to but we need to ask mommy and daddy and you; thankful for our love and mercy...I love the inflection of his voice and his child-likeness.

*Nathan and I have been talking a lot about blood type...kids are always listening....Kaleb was showing Nathan his big muscles and said, "I have big muscles like you dad because I am 'O' like you!"

Quote for the Day

"The things that weigh the most are unmeasurable to man. We can weigh our flesh but can we weigh the will? We can weigh the heart but can we weigh the love or the intents? We can weigh the brain but can we weigh the thoughts or the conscience? We can weigh the tongue but can we weigh the words? Only God alone can measure these things. (Dan 5:27)-thou art weighed in the balances and found wanting(lacking)."

Mariah Moments

*My dear girl is full of fun, adventure, expressions galore, drama, and sassy-ness (gotta get this one taken care of before she's a teenager), and she is a laugh a minute!

* She is social and loves to be with people. When we are done with our errands for the day she always is crying from the back, 'no go home mommy...more shoppin'! Kaleb, on the other hand, always says, ' mom, can you leave us home so we don't have to do errands....that makes me bored.'

*She has helped Kaleb be more social in saying 'hi' to others. In fact, Kaleb always tells Mariah to say 'hi' to others for him! Pretty funny how he's got that worked out.

*She is hard to discipline at times because when she is in trouble she starts making all these crazy faces, shaking her head 'yes', blinking her eyes fast, sticking her tougue in and out of her mouth like a snake, and then begin talking like she is making some big excuse! oh my....help!

*She is a little momma....loves her babies and normally is taking care of several and talking to them. She loves on them and then they get pow-pows (spankings) and puts them in time out! She feeds them, rocks them, wraps them up, plays meeting with them and prays with them. So sweet!

*Mariah does not really like to eat meat or sandwiches....loves her fruit, vegetables, yogurt, etc.

*She loves following her 'bubby' around and doing everything he does...including climbing high spots in the house and using a hammer or a knife.

*She is learning to pray and always wants to be the one to pray out loud..."Father, thank you for mommy, daddy, bubby." We help her with a few other words but I love her eagerness to pray.

*She carries in her purse a bible, notebook, sunglasses, and bottle to feed her babies. You can catch her playing meeting any time of the day sitting on her little stool and using her bible as her song book.

*Funny saying (2.15.10):

Mommy: What are the name of your babies?

Mariah: Tortilla....cheese...tortilla

*Mariah and Kaleb normally like to 'work-out- with me while I do my work-out videos. The other day she walked in the room, shook her head 'no' and expressed matter of factly, 'no exercise mom. I too tired. I lay down." And she did! I was laughing hysterically.

*Mommy or Daddy: I love you!

Mariah: I love you....MUCH!

Quote for the Day

"You can bend it and twist it...you can misuse it and abuse it....But even God cannot change the Truth."

Raton Hail Storm

I've never been in a hail storm that lasted about 10 minutes! It looked like snow had fallen after it was all over! Nothing larger than a nickel size...some areas got golf-ball size hail. That would make a mark! Kaleb was standing at the door and as I heard the storm get louder, I happened to be watching his face! His eyes were huge, his mouth wide open...."mom, come look at all this 'stuff' on the ground!"

Emotional Eating!

What I do when Nathan leaves town for the week to console myself...make a strawberry-rhubarb custard pie and E-A-T it! He always wonders why I am extra sweet when he gets home! ha! He's gone for the whole week so no telling what else I'll make!

Enjoying the Sunshine

Spring is finally here...green and sunshine!

Quote for the Day

"Joy is never in our power and pleasure often is." - C.S. Lewis "Joy is God-given gladness that is not at the mercy of circumstantial happiness. Pleasure gives only momentary feelings of happiness...so, happiness will come and go but joy endures even in the teeth of adversity."

Dear Sweet Betty!

Betty comes to our meeting and we just love and appreciate her so much. Every Thursday morning she comes over for coffee and usually ends up sharing the day with us. Wonderful fellowship. Of course, the kids love her too because she spoils them rotten!

Quote for the Day

“There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way'." Abraham Lincoln

Mother's Day Weekend

Aunt Jann, Mariah, Teo, Glory, Jaiden, Rex and Kaleb

Jaiden and Mariah

"NO Girls Allowed" Tree House

The boys loving the trampoline

We headed down to Pecos which is just north of Santa Fe. My cousin, Jarrett and his wife, Glory live on an amazing place! The kids loved playing with their 3 kids! Such a wonderful and peaceful place...the Pecos River runs right in front of their house!

Preparation

Nathan took off today for a long Mother's Day weekend. Such a sweet husband I have. He took the morning to till the garden. Unfortunately our weather is still cold and have several weeks before we can plant. They say not until the end of May because there is still a big chance for a freeze. We woke up every morning last week to freezing temps. I am ready to put jackets and boots away! Where are you Texas weather?

The kids loved helping in the garden. In fact a couple of weeks ago I got out here with a pitch fork and went to town...they did a great job helping me then. I have lots of seedlings started in the house. Some little ones enjoy watering so I'm thinking a lot of little plants are drowning! oh well...all apart of learning.

Pecos River