Loving Life

So, I keep putting this post off, because there's so much that could be said about my great friends here in Oklahoma. =) And I would like to post pictures, etc., etc., etc...But I don't think it's ever going to be the PERFECT moment where I have "enough" time, so I'll just go ahead and say it. I love my friends here. Most of them are new - VERY new - but they have already grown to be so dear to me!!!

Dina is...DINA! We can always count on her to fix us GOOD food...and make us beautiful quilts! =) She takes care of us! I want to take pictures of the four quilts that she's made us - and I WILL - but I haven't yet. She and her son Dusty (who we also love so much!) come over a lot on Tuesday evenings to eat dinner with us and watch American Idol. Asher and I went over to their house last season for the same thing, but now that we have Ainsley, and she goes to sleep at about 7:00 every night, it's easier for them to come here. And that way Beau can watch AI with us too (even though he's not really "into it"...supposedly! =)). Tonight we fixed burgers, hot dogs, and "armadillo eggs" (hollowed out jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese and a little smokie and wrapped in bacon!) on the grill. Mmmmm! And we had brownies too! We were all stuffed, and we agreed that it is a good thing we only do this once a week. =) And Dusty! We love him for lots of reasons, but one of the main reasons is the way that he loves our kids! He's 14 and SO SWEET with them!!! Asher loves him too!!! And Ainsley's growing pretty fond of him as well. =) And by the way, he just won FIRST PLACE at the Regional track meet for shot put! Way to go DUSTY!!! The state meet is Saturday!

SHANNON! Today I was about to LOSE MY MIND around lunch time! I REALLY thought I was going to! I wanted to SCREAM! My kids were making me NUTS! Every day, Beau comes home for lunch, but he had one of his bosses in town today and found out right about lunch time that he was going into town with him...which was fine, but that about sent me over the edge. =) I NEEDED him! (But OF COURSE I wanted him to go have lunch with his boss!!!) About that time, Shannon called. I almost didn't answer it, because I was really in no state to talk. But I did, and I cried on the phone to her. I didn't mean to...it just happened. =) And she came out to see me. It was SO NICE! The kids went down for naps right before she got here, so we had a really great couple of hours just relaxing and talking. (And then they woke up right as she was leaving, and reality set in again...but I was better by that point.) And she brought me little treats too! She brought us a pretty hanging basket of impatiens - which I HOPE I can keep alive!!! =) And she brought me a stack of magazines to look at and two cds that she burned especially for ME! =) One was music from Twilight, and the other one was inspirational songs for mothers...so sweet! I needed that! =) She also brought some toys for Asher to play with! Thank you Shannon! You truly did brighten my day (and my kids' day too!)! Who knows what would've happened if you hadn't come!!! =) We had a lot of fun the other day too. They are building a new house, and I went over there and helped her glaze her kitchen cabinet doors. I'll post pictures so you'll know what I'm talking about.

MISS WUTH! (Or "Ruth" if you're not Asher =)) She's my newest friend here, and I know that we're going to become very close! I've mentioned her before, but she has two little guys around my kids' ages - three years and almost nine months (I think). And that is what bonds us...not to mention that I just like her!!! =) We've decided that we're going to have "Make a Wish" days for each other. Last week she came to my house and dusted my downstairs and cleaned my windows...and supervised the kids...while I got cleaning done too. It was GREAT! And this week, I'm supposed to go to her house to help her with whatever she needs - although I don't think it's going to happen, because my kids seem to be a bit under the weather. This past Saturday we went to Muskogee together to go to Hobby Lobby (sorry Shannon - I know you asked me first! =)). It was such a fun day. Oh! I also recently found out about a walking track in town (from Shannon =)), and Ruth and the boys met the kids and me there yesterday morning to get a little exercise. I'm glad she is in this season of life with me!!! =)

And Autumn!!! My Wal-Mart friend! =) For a LONG time, Dina was my only friend here...then there was Autumn! =) She also has two small kiddos - four and two, I believe. We don't get to see them quite as much because of schedule conflicts, but she is a special friend as well. She has been my spur-of-the-moment-movie friend a couple of times. Last week we went to see a movie, went to Chili's afterwards and talked there for a VERY long time before heading home. She's a talker...and I love hearing what she has to say! =) From the first time we got together to hang out, we talked about "deeper" things...and I like that. She's one of those rare "as iron sharpens iron" friends! Thanks for getting my number in Wal-Mart Autumn! =) Where would I be without you?! =)

So there you have it. I'll have to post pictures soon...so you can put faces with names. I'm so thankful that God is blessing me with these sweet friends!!!

Usually it's Asher quotes, but I had to share MY latest. And no, it's not what you're thinking...thank goodness! =) Asher has had this thing since he was little - If he gets his hands on a Nerf ball, he takes a bite out of it! I figured it was just a "baby" thing, so I put away all things Nerf. But I decided to break out his Nerf football today, and what do you know? He took a huge chunk off the end. So I (naturally) said, "Don't bite your balls!" And I'm sorry, but that's funny...I don't care how old you are. =)

I do have to brag on one thing about him though. He's been writing "H"es like a mad man. He says, "H. H. Across." When he draws the lines down, that's when he says, "H". And then he says, "across" when he draws the line across. Brilliant! =)

Ainsley's newest thing is wiggling so much in her bed that she ends up in the top corner.

Now. Off to make some dinner...