Here we go again

You know what's really crazy? Here we are in Monroe, and we evacuated exactly three years to the day of Hurricane Katrina. And just like that time three years ago, we are glued to the tv watching what's going to become of our city. It's really strange to be doing the same thing all over again. It brings back memories and feelings that I remember from last time. A fear of the unknown and wondering what we're going to do. I'm really hoping and praying that there's not going to be a flood like last time, maybe just a little bit of wind damage, some rain. Oh, wouldn't that be nice?!

Peyton is clueless to everything. She's started taking some steps and clapping her hands. She just started the clapping thing this weekend. It's really cute. At least someone is having a great time despite the circumstances!

Making Plans to Evacuate

The seminary is closing at 3pm today. We haven't decided where to go yet, but we are starting to pack up this afternoon. Families will have no later than noon tomorrow to leave campus. The bummer is that they make us clean out our refrigerators now... we just bought a ton of meat and chicken!!

School updates can be seen here at the seminary website.

Pray for our city and the many families that are trying to make plans.

-Arnold

Hurricane Blues

The ironic part is that it is the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina this weekend...




Here is some evacuation attire available at Sketch22Tees...

Concert Pianist

First is an "old video" from April 2008 with Peyton just trying to sit upright...




and here she is today playing the piano... she has good finger placement, but needs to work on her left hand technique...

The End

We just finished watching the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics, and it was incredible! I only got to watch a little bit of the opening ceremonies, but China sure did put on a show. They said they spent somewhere around the $40 billion range for the 08 Olympics. That's really unbeliveable, but it shows. And I am so sad that the Olympics are over. It's probably a good thing because now I can get back to living my life again. These Olympics just had me glued to the tv. Of course it didn't help either that my whole family has been sick for OVER a month now.

And now for the recipe I wanted to post. This is an easy, quick, tasty one. This may even be one of those recipes that everyone knows. But since it's Sunday, and everyone likes good homecooked meals for Sunday lunch, I think it's appropriate.

Mushroom Steak

6-8 cubed steaks
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
salt
pepper
water

Salt and pepper cubed steaks. Place in crockpot and pour soup over steaks. Add about 1/2 can of water, and mix. (This will be your gravy, so don't make it too soupy, beacuse it will get thinner as it cooks). Cook on high for one hour. Then turn down to low and cook for about seven hours. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes. Yummy!

A Saturday Post

I generally love Target...cool stuff, clean, few people, etc. But today that place was ridiculous. People everywhere, their shelves were bare, the elevator was super scary. What is going on Target? Please don't become Walmart, Target.
So I think it's crazy that now I am now sick. Peyton is still on antibiotics, Arnold is just getting better, and now I have it! This month of sickness is NEVER going to end.
I feel like I haven't written a blog in forever, and it is getting hard for me to write them, but I'm trying my best! I'm going to try and post a great recipe later on just to make this thing more interesting.
By the way, one of my friends told me about a website called money saving mom, or rather it's a blog. Now that prices have gone up, I have really started trying to watch what I spend at the stores, and to cut coupons. But this blog has saved me a ton of money! Today I saved over $5 just by using coupons, and it was stuff that I always need. Last month, I found out about a deal with Luvs diapers, and they sent me a $5 coupon in the mail! I'm really saving some money with this coupon deal and this website. You should check it out!

Random Pics of Peyton

Here's Peyton "helping" with the laundry.




Peyton loves for you to give her some of your banana.

Sketch22 Tees

A good friend has set-up this new website. Check out her cool t-shirts and original art.



Click on the title of this post or go to Sketch22 Tees

Peyton at the doctor

I tried uploading a video of Peyton tonight, but I guess our internet connection is too slow. These days I'm not getting to work much because we had to take Peyton to the doctor again!!! This is like the third time in three weeks. One of her ears is still infected, and she still has a nasty cough. Her sinuses are backed up, according to the doc. So another round of antiobiotics, this time something stronger. Poor baby. She is into everything these days by the way. She's always exploring something...the cabinets in the kitchen, the miniblinds the bookshelves, and her favorite, the laundry basket. She's a lot of fun these days, but still a lot of work because you have to chase her down, pull her off, and here her cry. By the way, Peyton still has the loudest cry (read scream) at the doctor's office. I think she is associating the doctor with pain now. He walked into the room today and she jumped into my arms. He tried to come near her with the stethoscope and she screamed. He wasn't even touching her! That man is going to be deaf by the time he's forty.

A List and the Olympics, again

You know being a mom comes with certain, shall I say "benefits". Here are a few I thought of. I guess it's like a list... Like for instance I noticed the other day, that I always, inevitably, have some sort of slobber/green bean combo on my shirt or pants. I wake up every morning with big huge bags under my eyes. I always end up with a pacifier in my pocketbook. I cannot spell words anymore...I think this comes with being so tired. I always have about fifty bags with me every time I walk out the door. My clothes are always wrinkled now, no time to iron. I have to go to Target it seems every other day because we're either out of diapers, or wipes, or baby food, etc. My hair has got to be thinner because she's always pulling it out. Now I wouldn't trade this stuff for anything in the world, because it just means I'm a mom, and being a mom is the greatest! I love being with her and never want to go anywhere without her. But it can be a challenge!

And now, I have to comment on the Olympics. Have you been watching?? It's been awesome!!! I stayed up till 12 the other night just to watch the women's gymnastics individual competition. And these days, I'm usually in bed early. And did you see Michael Phelps touch the wall one hundredth of a second faster than the Serbian guy last night? Today I have watched some sort of kayaking, badminton, water polo (which is defintely my LEAST favorite), track and field, a women's marathon, men's beach volleyball, and trampoline (and have you ever heard of trampoline? me neither...but you just get on one, jump really high and do some cool flips). It's been really nasty weather here, so there's not much else to do anyway. BUT, I've gotta admit, I LOVE the Olympics!

The Olympics

Don't know about you guys, but I've been quite obsessed with the Olympics this year. Like I said in the other post, I've never really watched tv that much in the last few years, but I've been totally enthralled with the Olympics. Like turning the tv on in the morning before work just so I can see what happened while I was asleep. My favorite is track and field and gymnastics, but I've also loved watching the swimming, sychronized diving (though Arnold was freaked out with the sychronized male divers...he thought it was a little, um, odd), the diving, beach volleyball(I love this! Especially watching Misty May and Kerri Walsh....ever heard of them?....me neither until the Olympics), and even the basketball(and I DO NOT like watching basketball on tv, but I loved the game between the States and China with Yuo Ming. But hey, when all you have is antenna, no cable or satellite, you are happy with even halfway decent tv. But the Olympics are great! I encourage you to watch a few minutes if you have a chance, but don't become obsessed like me!

Turn Off the Light

When Peyton was about four and a half months old, I started telling her to "turn off the light." She learned to reach her hand up to the switch, but then I would always help her. Now she can do it herself. Watch the video.

Here is a picture I've been wanting to post. The photographer at my friend's July
19th wedding took this picture.

Finally a Post

At random times in the day, I will think of great ideas for blog posts. Then when I sit down to write, I can't think of anything. I hate that. I'm actually at home typing write now, and we sporadically have the internet at home. So, this post may be really short, but I'm going to try and add things throughtout the day as they come to mind. For instance, I have a really great video of Peyton that I want to add. I have a Bible passage that God really used in my life this week, and maybe there's something else too that I will want to write about. Anyway, stay tuned. I'm not sure if the video will even upload at home, but I'm going to try it again.

This week has been very interesting, but now it's the weekend, and I plan to completely relax and take it easy! Peyton is feeling better, but she hates the pink amoxicilin in the mornings for some reason, oh, and don't even get me started on having to give her eyedrops for pinkeye. TORTURE! I am excited that the Olympics have started. I love watching track and field and gymnastics. I also like watching swimming and diving. I kind of forgot about the Olympics for like six years (while I was in college). You know, to much to do, and I don't even know if I ever turned the tv on at all. I didn't know what was going on in the world because I never even read the newspaper either. But I digress. The opening ceremony last night was really cool. I liked the fact that it was 8/8/08, and was in fact wishing that I had had a baby born on that date. Wouldn't that be a cool birthday to have? I'm sure some kid has it. Right now I am watching Peyton pull everything out of her dresser...bibs, burp rags, socks. It's one of her new favorite things to do, and since I can only get the internet in her bedroom, she of course is in here with me. Well, I have really missed writing and I'm going to try and post more often now that, hopefully, my world is going to start calming down a little bit.

Blogging Issues

I haven't been able to even think about blogging because Peyton has been so sick. This child has not been sick for nine months, and then in one week she gets slammed with a nasty cold and cough, a stomach virus, pink eye, and double ear infections. She is doing better now that we have medicine. Thank you God for antibiotics. Right now Arnold's parents are visiting us because we have missed so much time at work being out with Peyton. They are watching her which is such a blessing! Now I feel like I'm getting sick. :(
I will try and post a cute video soon. I tried posting it the other day at work, but it wouldn't load. I will try again later.