Take a Hike Ike!!

We're making precautions for yet another HURRICANE!! Tired of the hurricane posts? Well, we're tired of the hype! But, this time it looks like the real deal.

We are starting to feel the effects, it's raining.

Galveston Island is already starting to flood.

When you're watching weather reports please remember we live in the most

northwest corner of the city. Here are a few prep pictures from yesterday.

The boys were attempting to cut down some branches close to the house.

This is turning into a "Little House on the Prairie" episode. Papa Bear came in and said, "I'll work with the boys outside, could you make sure the dishes and clothes are all clean?"

What year is this - 1896? Why does he get all the help?

I told the kids to go take pictures and video to post.

They have turned this simple task into a Steven Spielberg movie-

look for that later. I hear singing!!!

Thanks Coach

for spending the week with us and helping our baby with football!

He's in the "#89 Bills" jersey

Saturday Practice

Sunday Fun

This is what they did everytime I tried to take a picture!

Football is the theme of the week

Teen Bear and I are hibernating in this morning while Papa Bear,

D'Ole Bear and Baby Bear are at football practice. Here is some of their

front yard practices this week.

Hurricane Gustav

After MUCH hype, Hurricane Gustav was a no show in our area.

But, not before reeking havoc on our plans. I know what you are

asking yourself, if it didn't show up how could it affect us?

Did you see the word "hype"?

D'Ole Bear was supposed to come Sunday night to pour all his football

knowledge onto Baby Bear. He's legendary. But, after watching the

news Saturday, calling him, getting him worried....for nothing, the decision

was made that it would be best if he didn't fly :(. We were sad, real sad.

But, you know weather can turn on a dime and that's it did

So, he came Monday. No harm done.

We celebrated by making our own Hurricane

Recipe:

1 ounce each: white rum, dark rum, 151 rum, 1/2 ounces grenadine

3 ounce each: pineapple juice and orange juice

In honor of Louisiana and the storm we ate Shrimp Etouffee-

It's Super easy and super good! I forgot to take a picture.

Saute together:

1 onion

1 green pepper

2 stalks celery.

Then add:

1 can cream of celery soup

1 can golden mushroom soup

1 lb shrimp or crawfish

Heat and serve over rice.

Football Camp started last night-

I thing our dog, Maggie learned the most.

The peanut gallery

Sweet Memories of East Texas Old & New

Papa Bear and I have fond memories of East Texas. It's were we met,

"fell" for each other and where he asked me to marry him.

I sing in a Praise Band at Church. One of the members is from

a small town in East Texas and has always wanted our band to play

at his parents church. What better time than a 3 day weekend!

Kids who wished they lived on a ranch.

Feeding the catfish

Saturday night we went to their "Ranch"

for some great food and Southern Hospitality.

Thank You, we had a great time!!

Bright and early Sunday morning we went to sing at this church.

These two sat in the loft.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VufVi3ei15s

"Blessed Be Your Name"
Let's call this my before picture-
No, I'm not unhappy, just concentrating

These were our Awesome hosts

Ms. J. and the Divine Ms. T.

This is D. he arranged everything. He's married to Ms. J.

Thanks for eveything, you took great care of us!

These nice people fed us lunch

We took the Papa Bear's truck. He's been dying to get it

on the road. It rained bugs- glad my new car was safe at home!

Before our drive home we stopped at the local Walmart to pick up
supplies (tons of H2O) for Hurricane Gustav- more on that none event tomorrow.

This One's for You Mr. F.!

Last night we went to the first HS football game of the season.

We lost 27-17 :(


But it was still a great night. The weather wasn't too hot, the kids ran around
and I gave myself the self appointed job of photographing this guy- #32


He's my sweet friends brother. She's with her friend No-No.

Wondering why there's no pictures of our kids?
I never saw them, the whole time we were there.
That's progress my friends, when we can go to an event as
a family and the kids ask, "Do we have to sit with you?"
To our delight we say, "NOOOOOO!" Then they scatter!


I taped 3 plays- there would have been 4, Mr. F.
But, your lovley wife didn't tell me until the last second
that he was on the field. Please have a talk with her!

In full disclosure, I was not there for the whole game

and he was in some plays before I got there.

It's not your eyes, it does blury

Da' Band

Is he going in, Is he going in

Welcome the the 60's!/5th Grade Recognition

At the end of every year our Elementary school lets the 5th

graders put on a talent show. This was Baby Bears performance:

a song from the move "HairSpray"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJzARcJ_3CM

My girl is 3rd from the left with the long blonde hair he's ALWAYS wanted!

My sweet friend and one of the "Dynamites"

Hannah Montana Wanna-be

Tracey

Enda




Dark but worth the look

I made these programs and my boy is PLAYING with ours!

It's easier to beg for forgivness than ask permission

Our house is divided. Baby Bear & I LOVE all things cell phone. Papa Bear & Teen Bear could care less. But lately even Teen Bear has been saying, "Mom, I think we need to get another cell phone". This is a HUGE admission for him. Several times I have forced him to take mine or Papa Bear's phone. Guess what happened? I washed both of them within a matter of weeks. I liked my phone, really liked it! I bought a replacement on ebay that from the picture I liked, but in person was UGLY! So today Baby Bear & I decided to throw caution to the wind and beg for forgiviness when we bought these:

Can you guess who's is who's?

It's the little things that make him happy.

Why no picture of Teen Bear, because he still really doesn't care!

Per your request- There has been mention that Goldie doesn't exist.

She does. She's just too busy to talk.

Boy Scout Camp June '08

I know, I know for those of you who faithfully come to our site everyday I've been an absentee blogger. Teen Bear and I have been hiding out, sad that summer is almost over!

While baby bear and this friend went to the Alamo and San Antonio.

But, I'm back ready to tell more stories and Teen Bear is making a video

of our talents, look for that soon! And school starts Monday, look for pics of HAPPY kids!

This summer Papa Bear and I have enjoyed not 1, but 2 weeks without kids.

Crazy I know, how do we survive! The first week was to a boyscout

camp 180 miles west.

Happy Campers

Papa Bear drove a group up and then came

home to spent a fun week with me.

Car party

More fun!

They look happy right? That's what Papa Bear PROMISED me.

That I had Nothing to worry about, the kids are fine.

He was half right. Everything was going great

until this one called home.... Upset

Begging to come home. So I did want any Mother would do. Jump in the car drive like a bat-out-of hell to pick Papa Bear up at work...early...to go rescue Baby Bear. When I got there guess what Papa Bear said? 2 guesses. He's said "NO,We are not going to pick him up!" That right there was the recipe for unhappiness for the rest of our week.

All I could think about was this face hot, unhappy and wanting his own bed.

It was almost more than I could stand. Because all us Moms know our kids ALWAYS "save the drama for their Mama's!" It's not that he can't be away from home, he can. He just doesn't like to be uncomfortable. The next week he went with a friend and his family for 2 days and nights to a waterpark and he told them what a GREAT time he had a C.A.M.P.!!!!!!!

The look of someone who had a great time and

wants to go back as a camp counselor

This is the look of someone who prefers the Marriott and room service

PS- Only 5 of the 45 kids in the troop completed the requirements
for the 1 mile swim award-ours were 2 of the 5!