Long time, no posting...

I know it's been a while since I last posted. It's been busy around here. Let's see...the last time I posted was when we went to LSU spring football. Ok...the next weekend (25th), we had Lauren's b-day party at city park. Her theme was Hello Kitty...she had a beautiful b-day cake (and I forgot to have the lady put Happy 5th Birthday Lauren on it...it just said Happy Birthday). Anyway, Mom and Dad came up for it. She had a few of her friends there and they had a blast. I do have pictures, I just haven't uploaded them yet. Two days after her party, she got an ear infection and I had to miss work Monday (27th) to take her to the doctor. He put her on a med she's never taken before and wants to see her back in 2 weeks to see if she needs to see her ENT again or not. I just pray we don't need tubes AGAIN...she's had 3 sets already.

The next weekend (May 2nd) we went to Fayetteville for LSU/Arkansas baseball. We stayed with David's brother. We haven't been to Fayetteville in 2 years. I didn't take any pictures that weekend...the weather was nasty, BUT LSU did win the series against Arkansas...GEAUX TIGERS!!! I only went to one game and didn't stay for the whole thing. Melanie's nieces were keeping my girls and two others and their dad came back to pick them up before the game was over. That was ok with me though. It was cold, wet, and I was ready to get inside and get in my p.j.'s. The guys were after midnight getting in.

This week has been rather interesting. Lauren noticed something on her arm Tuesday morning while we were in my classroom. She said it was a mosquito bite, but it wasn't itching. OK...I didn't think anymore about it. That night when I was bathing her, I noticed a few more red spots on her leg, but was in such a hurry I didn't really inspect them. When she got out of the tub, she came in the living room and said, "Look". Her legs were covered in red spots. So, we planned for David to stay home and take her to the doctor because I had a workshop the next day and didn't need to miss.

Well, I woke up around 4:45 the next morning because our ceiling fan was off and I was getting hot. I looked around (still half asleep) and realized the electricity was off...then I heard it. The wind was blowing so hard it sounded like it was literally going to blow the roof off, it was lightening so much it almost looked like it was daytime, and raining so hard!!! Then came the sound...yep, you guessed it...the sound of a tornado...then came the hail and it was hailing so hard...I've never been so scared in my life. I punched David twice...once when the wind was blowing so hard and the rain was so loud...then again when it started hailing...I guess a freight train would have to come through to wake him up. I laid there with my eyes WIDE open wondering what was happening. I've always heard that a tornado never lasts more than 10 minutes or so and would you believe at 5, it was so calm! I could hear the thunder in a distance...it was still raining, but not as hard...still lightening, but not as bad...and no wind! Eerie is not the word. Morgan came in our room crying about the time it had passed. I got up and had to get ready holding a lantern with one hand and applying make-up with the other. I let David and Lauren sleep in because he was taking her to the doctor. I got Morgan up and got her ready, then Elizabeth called me only to tell me that school had been cancelled due to lots of trees down and lots of people without electricity. So, I had to wake David up and tell him he now had to go to work :-) It was starting to storm a little again, but nothing like it was earlier. I took Lauren to the doctor only to find out she's now allergic to sulfa drugs. She's highly allergic to penicillin too. He put her on Prednisolone and Benedryl.

Come to find out, it was an F1 tornado that came through Monticello that morning. Mom came up Thursday night (7th) because David went to Fairfield Bay on a golf retreat with our church. He just got back today and she left today. I took her out to eat last night at Cowboy's and we rode around and assessed the damage. There is so much damage so close to our house...it went right by us...trees down EVERYWHERE...big trees completely uprooted. Lots of damage to the buildings at the fairgrounds. God was protecting us that morning...I truly believe that!!!

Mom helped me clean house this morning...so glad she did or I would probably still be cleaning. Now at least I can rest tomorrow...with the exception of some school work that I need to get done. I know this post was long, but I had a lot to tell. I hope everyone has a very Happy Mother's Day tomorrow. Maybe I'll get some pictures uploaded to share. Oh, I forgot to mention, I went to Muffins for Moms Friday morning with Morgan. We had a good time!

More LSU pics...

I know, I know...we were in Baton Rouge a couple of weeks ago and I'm just now finishing up posting pictures. Better late than never! I'll call this one...a day at Perkins Row. Perkins Row is like Branson Landing. It's not complete, but is so nice. A few of the stores there so far are Guess, BCBG, Anthropology, Urban Outfitters (I can't think of any more, but there were more). Here's the girls striking a pose outside at Perkins Row. Lauren loves water and has to touch it...no matter where it is. I just knew at any minute, I would be fishing her out of the water.

This was taken in front of one of the water fountains there.

Posin' for the camera again...they're good at that...especially Morgan. She's my photogenic child.

See what I mean??? Morgan wanted to take a few pictures too. She took this one of me and Uncle Mel. She did a pretty good job if I must say so myself.

On our way to the football game...you would've thought there was a fire as fast as the guys were walking!!! See how far behind Mel and I were? Look at all the purple and gold :-) Of course, I always have to have a picture of us with the football field in the background. Lauren was ready to go back to the RV already and we hadn't been there 30 minutes yet at this point. She wouldn't survive a "real" football game.

More Easter pics...

Every year, the girls love to dye eggs with Nana. They started off dying the eggs in their regular clothes.... but then had to change into Paw Paw's old t-shirts so they wouldn't get dye on their good clothes. Mom pretty much lets them do everything themselves...they love it!! Can you tell that Morgan is in deep concentration??

A day at work with Daddy!!!

Lauren had to go to work with her Daddy today. Well, let me back up. Yesterday, around 10:30 a.m., Mrs. Terri (our secretary) calls down to my room and says that Pre-K called and said they were calling all parents to come pick up their children due to a water leak and the water being cut off. Talk about put me in a bind! She sent someone to watch my room while I left to figure out what to do. Luckily, our church has a daycare that takes drop-ins. When I called them, they just so happened to have one spot open. I picked her up and took her to our church. Her age group was on the playground, which was perfect because she immediately saw some kids that she knew from Sunday school. When I picked her up yesterday afternoon, she was so happy...she had a great day!

Now, back to my story...her teacher called me at 7:30 last night to inform me that the water was still off because they hadn't found the leak. Sooooo, David volunteered to keep her with him for the day. He had already made arrangements to take her to have her physical at 8:00 this morning (for Kindergarten). He just ended up taking her to the office with him. She had a great time with Daddy today...she even reminded him this morning when she woke up..."Daddy, don't forget to take me to work with you today". It was so sweet. She's such a Daddy's girl!

Happy 5th Birthday Lauren!

Lauren's Uncle Mike called and ordered her a purple and gold cake for her birthday. We had cake yesterday because we knew we'd be busy packing up to come back home today. Today is her birthday...I can't believe she's already 5. You can hardly see the candles, but they're on there. I just happened to have some yellow and white candles and took them with me to Baton Rouge. Can you believe this...she wouldn't even blow out her candles...I had to. She told us she was too nervous. It was a surprise...she didn't know anything about it. I just came out of the bedroom with the cake and we all started singing Happy Birthday! She got some cool LSU gifts...I forgot to take pictures of them though. Big Don got her (and Morgan) LSU hair bows (not the ones they're wearing in the picture). Uncle Mike and Uncle Mel got her an LSU basketball...Kim Pilcher got them both LSU caps that say "LSU Cutie". Of course, she'll get her gifts from us at her party next weekend.

I still have more Easter and LSU pictures to post, but won't get it all done tonight. I just wanted to get this on here because today is her birthday...Happy Birthday LuLu!!! Mommy, Daddy, and Sissy love you!!!

Easter Sunday

Well, I know I promised pictures of the girls in their Easter dresses and I apologize for the look on Lauren's face :-) We were rushed, as usual, Sunday morning getting ready for church (5 adults and 3 kids) and didn't have time to take pictures before church. This was taken after church...after Lauren had a good nap through church...can you tell??? They looked pretty anyway...Morgan loves having her picture made, so of course she was all smiles. David's dad was unable to come in from Ohio for Easter which is why he's not in this picture with us. Again, this was after services which is why the long look on Lauren's face.

Again, a long look...can you tell she's moody??? Wonder where she gets that from? We were finally able to get her to smile by telling her that if she didn't smile, she wouldn't be able to play with Millie when we got back to Mimi's. She loves Millie. Here's the girls with their cousin, Cameron Cassels. This is at David's Uncle's house where everyone gathers after church on Easter Sunday for a feast and an egg hunt. I know I didn't give everyone time to pose for this picture, but there was no time for that. This year we hunted eggs first, then ate. When we got out to Uncle Dennis', it was clouding up and started to thunder. That was the fastest egg hunt ever!!!!

Here's Lauren with her 3rd cousin Karlee. Karlee loves Lauren and babies her every time we're around. She helped her hunt eggs this year so I could take pictures. The little ones hunted on one side of the road and the bigger ones were on the other side. I was running back and forth trying to take pictures of both of our girls. She looks pretty pooped here doesn't she? Here's Mike and Cameron posing after the egg hunt...now we have to hurry and count eggs before the bottom falls out! David is helping Lauren and Cameron count their eggs quickly so we could turn the count in and eat. Karlee helped Morgan count her eggs.

When we left there, we had to go by my brother's house to pick up Tiger...they kept him for us that weekend. He felt right at home with the rest of the boxers. I can't remember how many they have now, but it's quite a few. We got home that night around 7:00 p.m. This was the second weekend in a row that I was out of town. I'm ready to slow down a bit. It's always good to see family and visit with everyone.

Baby shower

The guest of honor...Kimber. Kimber and I graduated high school together and she is just now having her first child...a boy! Her shower was today and I was one of the hostesses. I really enjoyed being there...it actually felt like I was at a high school reunion. It was great getting to visit with everyone. She got a lot of nice things for baby "Kurt". By the way, her due date is May 5th. This is a picture of some of the hostesses...not all of them were there. There are three Misty's in this picture...that was a popular name when I was in high school.

This is a picture of me and my good friend, Sandra. She was in my wedding. We don't get to see each other as often as we'd like. We've had our share of good times back in the day!

Here's a pic of me and Kimber...the baby was moving and she was wanting me to feel...seemed like a good pose for the camera.

This is a pic of those of us who graduated together in the class of 1990...yes, next year will be our 20 year reunion...Wow...am I that old???