Rain Rain Go Away

So after about 24 hours of nonstop downpour I think the sun is emerging from behind the clouds. Sadly, most of our dirt is washing down the slope of our acres and our grass seed has made a nice little pasture downstream from our would-be lawn. *sigh* I think we need to take out a loan and spend the $ on actual palets of grass, otherwise our house might be floating down the road before too long.

On another note, yesterday took me back to the "good ol' days" when my friend Kimberly stopped by. She had planned to leave her kids and make a trip into the metroplex to run some errands, but the flooding caused a change in her plans. The boys played nonstop as we sat and visited. In Keller, we would trade our kids at least once a week to help eachother out with errand running. Our kids became the best of friends, and our visits upon kid pick-up brought us closer as friends and moms. Since our move to Decatur, and the craziness of school in general, those days have become very far and few between. Those days will become even more rare in the years ahead. As her youngest starts kindergarten next year, she's hoping for a job in the school system. In some ways we are both looking forward to returning to the work force, and in other ways we are both scared. Things will change soon, and the memories of days like yesterday will always make me pause with overwhelming content and happiness.

House Pics

I said I would post some pics of the finished product. Here are my fave spots in the house:

The Dining Room-dark walls were a little of an adventure for me, but I like them. (excuse the scrapbooking mess-always a work in progress)

The Kitchen-I love the rock on the under side of the bar-should be kid proof-right?

The Cozy Living Room-this room turned out a little different than what I thought, but it's really cozy and almost part of the kitchen-which I think will work. A carpet picnic was in process at the time of this pic-a little windy today, and it was all I could think of for some St. Patty's day fun.

The Footlockers-by far my favorite part of the whole house. You would not believe the crap the kids have all the time! Exampled here: easter buckets, coats, shoes, diaper bag....
My bathtub-it's a girly party of the house, and o so relaxing. I don't share.

So that's it-our 'forever house'. Todd thinks we will make one more move in our lifetime, but I'm thinking we will just add to this when we can. It is a great home, and I hope we have great memories here.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

I love St. Patty's Day! I love the soda bread, the green beers, the shamrocks and leprechauns. I have to say I'll pass on the cornbeef and cabbage though-yuck! I did make it once. Only once. Guess that Irish blood doesn't pass down completely generation to generation.

To begin our green fun, my friend Shelly and I took our boys down to the Ft. Worth Stockyards. What better way to celebrate than walking around a little festival with balloon animals, stilt walking guys, and "beer to go"? We sent the boys into a maze and watched from a platform as they meandered through. Such fun. We ended the day on the patio of a mexican restaurant sipping margaritas and watching a parade.

Luck o' the Irish to ya!

I want to wash my hands, face, eyes, and ears in SNOW.

A winter blast hit us last week, and things were so beautiful. Madison and I were coming out of the fog of illness during the snowstorm. Todd actually had to call and tell us to look out the window.

This is what we saw:

backyard

front yard

the snowmobile

I wish I had been able to have more fun in the snow-but death was knocking at the door. He's gone now. Thank God.

I've been hit.

and I'm down for the count. Spring needs to get here even faster.

Oh the sickness!!!

We have been steadily sick this ENTIRE YEAR! I'm not talkin' 2008. I'm talking this entire SCHOOL YEAR. and the Scroggins family doesn't get just any old cold...nnnnnoooOOOOOO.....that would be too easy! We get the 48 hour stomach bug. We get pnemonia. We get 5 day mystery fevers. We get the flu. The real. live. flu. I think that's what we are living through right now. If I remember correctly, Madison had the first inklings of illness this time around-and it started about 3 weeks ago. It's steadily traveled through most of us-hitting Todd Wednesday. He actually stayed home yesterday and slept from 10-5; he's down for the count again today. Very odd for him. Sadly, this evening after dinner Madison was sick to her stomach, and there's fever again.

I haven't been hit yet. I'm scared.

There's No Place Like Home

Not the best pic, I know-but the only one I had on hand right now. An online virtual tour is at the top of my to-do list. Plus, I love the star in the floor-one of my favorite things about the house. Can I just say how WONDERFUL being in my own house is? A house that is MINE! I'm giddy just writing this from a desk in a house that is MY VERY OWN. Every now and then as I try to find just the right word to express my jubilation, I look out MY WINDOW to MY YARD and into MY STREET...mine, mine mine. (well, I guess Todd and the kids can have a share too.)


The transition was a little rougher than I expected. After a whirlwind weekend of 48 hour moving and unpacking, Todd and I had the house "kid ready" and were pumped to show the kids their new home. Alas, we had to drag Tanner kicking and screaming into the house to sleep the first night (still unsure of his reluctance on that front). Grady moved to a "big boy bed" in his first nights here since he had been catapulting out of the crib the past few weeks. That's been super-fun since he's not quite 2. Madison has learned no concept of PUT THE BOOK DOWN AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER, and has been caught reading at all hours of the night. But still, it's luxurious with each kid in their own room with their OWN CLOSET. Pure extravagant luxury right there. It's awesome.

After a few weeks of settling in, my very wise Tanner looked up one morning at breakfast and said, "Mommy, this house feels like our own home."

I couldn't agree more.