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Just some random pictures from my phone:

Saturday Night Entertainment

A city boy's version of smores roasting...

Track the progression of the roast on Ben's face...

Christmas Video

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Paybacks

A wise Christian woman once taught me that a person will be "paid back" for judging others. And, this was a biblical lesson based on the verse Matthew 7:2 "For in the same way that you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Some may interpret that verse differently, but her take on it was that if I judge someone else, I will reap that judgment.

This has proven to be true at times in my life, and none more apparent than in parenting.  See, my aunt had her babies when I was in high school, so I was old enough to be observant. And, in my 17 years of life at the time, I thought I knew better than she did about how to take care of kids (except when I accidentally put my cousin's head in the moving fan). 

For example, I remember thinking when I got in her car that I would NEVER let my car be as messy as hers. Fast forward to my three kids later, and someone recently told me they were afraid to ride in my car for fear that they would stick to the seat....payback #1.

Another example, I used to give her a very hard time for buying her kids Gymboree clothes that were all matchy-matchy. If you know me at all now, you will know that is payback #2.

Another thing I remember is thinking, "how can she let her kids watch Barney? Not that he is "bad," but he is just so annoying...my kids will NOT watch Barney."  And now?

We went to Chuck E Cheese earlier this week. Lindley ran up to this ride, threw herself on Barney, and said, "Barney, I LOVE YOU!"

You Know You're a Good Mother When...

- Your oldest son is better at taking care of the younger ones and better understands what the 2 year old is saying

- Your daughter thinks Cheetos are carrots

- Your baby still doesn't recognize his bathtub

- You mistake a bloody gash on the side of your daughter's head for pizza sauce

Well, at least they are cute :)

If All the Snowflakes...

...were candy bars and milkshakes, oh what a snow that would be! Here is Ben standing outside with his mouth open wide during our first SNOW this year!!

It was quite exciting around our house this morning with the snow coming down. And, Ben got to be late to school so we could play in it for a few minutes...I knew it would be gone by the time he got home!  He made a quick snow angel and we each threw one very small snowball at each other.

Giving Thanks

We had a great Thanksgiving! It was very low-key and stress free, and of course full of early morning shopping.

Family Circus, Volume 2

Things have been a little crazy around our house this past week, and to be honest, I'm not even exactly sure what day it is... :) I went to my last Leadership Texas conference which was held in Fort Worth earlier this week. I am so grateful to Lanny and his parents for all that they did to enable me to be a part of that program this year. It was an amazing experience for me.

Anyway, updates on the kids:

Ben:

Recent Ben-ism's - In his prayers, “thank you for the people all cracked to pieces.” When I asked, he said he was praying for the people who got in the tornado (which was like a month ago);

the moral of a story according to Ben, “don’t get stepped on by a giant.”

One of his friends was a t.u. cheerleader (texas longhorns for my non-Aggie friends) for Halloween and he called her a Home Depot cheerleader.

“Mom, I need some more towels. Can you write ‘more towels’ on your list?”

Lindley:

She still loves to sing and dance!! All the time!! Her Daddy taught her a new way to see an old favorite...

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Brandt:

Brandt is now 3 months old; he was weighed just last week and was almost 15 lbs!! He is a tubba chubba!! And, if you are keeping score, my diet is even more restricted. We are hopeful, though. We loves his smiles and hearing what he has to say :) He loves to talk to the airplanes on the wall by his changing table.

And, I know this gets old for some people, but it just doesn't get old for me. Here is a similar picture of Ben way back when.

And Lindley at the same age

Halloweeny-O

Lots of fun Halloween activities!  Ben's concert and parade at school; pumpkin carving, Halloween carnival, trick or treating, and party at a friend's house afterwards. During trick or treating, we didn't stop at any houses that were 'all darked up' according to Ben.  Many thanks to Meme and Grampy for all of their help!