April: Ahhh, it never slowed down

What.A.Month

April 1-4:  STAAR EOC testing.  Obviously, my personal children were not directly affected with this testing.  However, it made life at work stressful.  Oh, and the fact that I failed to order mandatory tests for 2 students didn't really help my stress level.  In the end, it all worked out.  And yes, I do still have a job.

April 5:  Daddy had a stress test.  We've been so blessed with his health since his diagnosis of diabetes and his triple bypass years ago.  Annual stress tests have become a "non topic" because they've been uneventful.

April 6:  HGSA pictures and first games. Kennedy played well and the Thrillers won.

Kennedy playing second base.

April 7: Buy refrigerator and stove for the new house (to be delivered on Wednesday)

April 8: Telpas testing, appraisal on Henderson house, news that Dad's stress test was abnormal, 7:45 softball game

April 9:  Telpas testing day #2, appraisal on Minden house, tumbling, 6:00 softball game

April 10: Spend two hours on the phone with The Home Depot people trying to locate our new appliances.  They were supposed to be delivered to the Tyler store.  The people at the Tyler store assured us that they were not delivered there.  I called the Longview store (where we actually purchased them) and explained the situation.  The guy assured me that the computer said that the appliances were delivered.  I clearly explained to him that they were NOT at the Tyler store where they were supposed to be delivered.  His brilliant response..."Oh, that's not good".  Exactly.  Not Good, and I'm NOT P-A-T-I-E-N-T either.  Two managers and 18 hours later, the appliances were located.

April 11:  Dad's heart catheterization and stent placement.  Before the procedure, Dad was in an area of the hospital with several curtained areas around a nurse's station.  After the procedure they brought him back to the same "room".  As he was coming out of the anesthesia, he would ask, "Did the doctor come in and talk to us yet?"  We kept telling him that the nurse talked to us, but that the doctor had to leave the hospital and would be back to talk with him.  After about 30 times of asking, he surprised us when he asked"Am I back in the same stall?"  I giggled and assured him he was in the same "stall".  He said, "So when I put those clothes on, they should be mine and fit, right?"  "Yes Daddy, they are yours and should fit, but I don't think you'll be needing them in the next few hours.  You're going to spend the night tonight."  Naturally, his next question was, "Did the doctor come in and talk to us yet?"  Ahh...I love that man.

"Enjoying" his meatloaf

April 12:  Blake Alayne turns three!  We had the traditional doughnut and candle for breakfast. Click here to see her early years and here to see her one year ago.  April 12 was also the last night we spent in our home in Henderson.

 

No, she did not get to eat "free doughnuts" even on her bday.

Pinky finger needs a little help sometimes

April 13:  The big move.  Although we had been moving things for a month, this was "the moving day".  Kennedy ended up staying in town with the former neighbors.  Taylor called to come home.  Naturally, we were full of energy and everything was put away at the end of the day so when Taylor began to puke it was no big deal.  Yeah.  Stomach virus on night #1 in the new house.  She was pretty pathetic when I found her literally snoring in the bathtub after several episodes of being sick.

Thankful she propped her head up before going to sleep

April 14-19:  Appointments out of town, dog groomer, softball games, gymnastics, life in the new house, close on Henderson house

April 19:  Bad weather day for me, but not the girls.  I was able to eat lunch with Taylor for the first time all year.  Secretly made homemade icing for cupcakes for birthday party.  Taylor ate a cupcake and said, "The cupcake is good, but that icing is naaasty!"  Awesome.

April 20:  Blake's birthday party.  Who really plans a party at home exactly one week after moving?  I did, and it was a terrible idea.  However, we had a good time and no one died from looking at the unpacked boxes and stacks of things to put away.  This was truly one of the best birthday parties ever.  Miss Susan and Mr.Jackie brought their team of mules and wagon for the kids and adults to ride.  Blake sat up front and rode and rode and rode.  We had to bribe her away from the "horses" with cupcakes and gifts.  After about 45 minutes, she was back to the wagon rides. 

Mr.Jackie, Blake and Sophi leading the ride

As if bringing mules and a wagon wasn't awesome enough, Mr.Jackie and Mrs.Susan also brought Blake a rabbit for her birthday. As you mothers out there gasp with shock, consider this fact--she actually brought EACH of my girls a rabbit for Blake's birthday!!  For the last 9 years, I thought we were friends.  Seriously, I adore animals and had considered buying ONE myself so I agreed to her gift ahead of time.  After all, remember why we moved to the country?  Each of the 3 rabbits has a distinct personality.  Kennedy named her rabbit Spotty.  He/she is quite fast and not thrilled to be handled.  Blake named her rabbit Honey Bunny, and she is...well, you can see for yourself.

Honey Bunny, the "baby"

 Taylor's rabbit is a lionhead rabbit, and he/she is super cute.  Taylor calls him/her Swirls.  However, I call him/her Benadryl.  Can you guess why?

Sorry, I couldn't get this one to rotate but isn't she cute with hives and swollen eyes?

April 24: First day to come home right after school.  As an attempt to reinstate "normal" I planned to serve grilled burgers and bacon wrapped jalapenos for dinner.  After just a few moments, I smelled smoke and realized that my meal had been transformed into charcoal briquettes.  Since the goal was "normal" I decided quick and easy fish sticks were appropriate.  For the record, I do not serve my family fish sticks often. 

April 22-25: TAKS and STAAR testing.  This time is affected my job and my child.  Kennedy was so excited that she could wear clothes other than uniforms to school.  The weather was beautiful.  She headed for the car with a jacket.  I asked her why she needed a jacket.  Clearly irritated with my questioning, she said, "Because those teachers are so stressed out on testing days that they keep is freezing cold and walk around doing this (fanning her face with her hands) while we are cold."  And, that's another post all together.

April 26: Close on house in Minden (that we've been living in for 2 weeks).

April 27: TAAF State Gymnastics Competition in Denton.

Taylor's Split Jump

April 29: make up softball game
April 30:  G/T field trip to Art Museum in Tyler and softball game


You know that saying "April showers bring May flowers"?  Well, April showers brought us Miracle Whip!  Stay tuned for the details!

Easter

Where have I been?

Last week someone mentioned to me that I had not updated the blog lately.  I guess I had not really thought about it.  After all, it is summer.  Those of us who teach take summer very serious.  To think someone actually thought that I would THINK or even WRITE during the summer is ridiculous!  Seriously though, today I looked back and was surprised that it has been over a month.  So, I got out my trusty camera and arranged the pictures by date to see what exactly I've been doing since the last update.  Here's what you've missed out on with the Dickerson Family!

First, I made a whirlwind trip to NYC that went from idea to leave for NYC and return home from NYC in about a week. It was crazy...but memorable and fun. Friday night I met a good friend from high school and we had dinner and saw Billy Elliot on Broadway. Here we are on the big screen in Times Square. Can you find us?

Then, on Saturday I fought my way through Penn Station to find my parents as they made their arrival from New Jersey on the train. Later that evening we were out checking out Rockefeller Center. Aren't they just too cute?

Friday evening we enjoyed the the Brooze Brothers performance in downtown Henderson. The girls and their friends managed to almost take over the stage.

On July 4, we went to Nanny and Pa's house to see the fireworks. Fortunately for us, they have spectacular viewing opportunities from the backyard so we don't have to pay the money or fight the traffic to see the fireworks in the city of Tyler. Pa even provided a stage for the girls for this annual event.

Here, Kennedy sings Taylor Swift...

And then Taylor sings...

And then BADkid follows and repeats EVERYTHING she has ever seen her sisters do...

And of course, the host, hostess, and 2 grandkids. There was a rumble of thunder (or 200) and Kennedy took cover in the house.

Although I've lived here most of my life, I had never been through the Tyler Rose Garden. One day the girls and I had about an hour to kill and took a tour. Here are the oldest 2 checking out the ponds, etc before they were distracted with the roses.

It was H.O.T. I don't remember exactly, but think somewhere in the range of 102 or 103 with 99% humidity. Blake said

And, we had the BIG event of the summer...Kennedy went to overnight camp for the first time. She was amazingly brave. We took her to camp and dropped her off to spend six nights without her knowing a single person there.

While Kennedy was gone to camp, Taylor and I cooked. Here we are with our super cute aprons!

And, we played in the rain...and small pond that our new back porch created. I would never say "I told you so" but I suggested we might need gutters. Bob said we didn't. Would anyone else like to offer up an opinion?

Blake learned to love other people's shoes and boots. This was the night of her surgery (just tubes).

Oh, and it was FINALLY time to go back and get Kennedy from camp. Here's the goofy daddy and Blake sliding down from the giant tree house at Pine Cove Camp.

Last week was Mimi's birthday. I had my 3 and my brother's 2 kids helping prepare for the surprise party. Here you can see everyone getting ready to work hard on the cake.

Blake worked herself up to this...before we even opened the box of cake mix...

We had to have decorations.

I'd never tell the world how old my mom is, but I will say we bought a box of 80 candles and used all of them but 24! (love you mom!)

We are under a burn ban in East Texas. Glad this small forest fire didn't get out of control.

This picture just makes me smile. I vaguely remember my dad being a grouch when I was a kid. Somehow I think that my kids don't see him in the same light.

We have a new artist in the neighborhood. She's one of those "all natural" kind of artists.

Although we've been super busy, it seems that we do spend a lot of time just being at home. The big girls enjoy reading to the BADkid when she'll let them hold the book and turn the pages when they finish reading a page rather than when she gets an itch to turn the page.

And for some reason, none of us can keep up with our shoes!

So, although technically I'm off for the summer, I've been busy every single day. It's been super hot, super busy, super fun, and super challenging!

Picture updates

Here are some pictures from some of our family fun from the last few months....

You know the conversations that we've all heard about the third (or whichever)child who doesn't have the same caliber baby book, isn't as protected, etc. Well, we work hard to disprove this theory at our house. But, at the deer lease in January I took this picture. Look close. Yes, she is chewing on a rock. Yes,cutting teeth on a rock!

Later that same day, Iwas having a fun size Hershey bar when Blake took it upon herself to get a bite. After one small taste, she had to have it. I know it's not real healthy, but can't you see the pure joy in those eyes?

A few weeks back, we had a weekend with U-n-b-e-l-i-e-v-a-b-l-e weather. We are so blessed with kids and kids and more kids on our street. And, since we live on a dead-end street, they pretty much play in the street even though all of us remind them not to get in the street. Anyway, the boy (yes the ONE BOY) was on his side of the street shooting nerf darts at the girls (about 5 of them)on our side of the street. After discovering that he couldn't beat the girls, the little guy came on over and joined the girls.



The next picture is one of my favorites. When Taylor was about Blake's size, she fell in love with a book called Millie Moo. Now, four years later, Taylor is reading the same book to Blake.



Any recap of the highlights of the last few months must include the SNOW DAY!



The last few pictures were taken at Chad's mom and dad's house last month. It was a beautiful day outside. I tried to "play" photographer and accidentally got some neat shots of the girls.

Pa "resting" with Blake.



Taylor at the bottom of the pulley in the playhouse.





Kennedy on top of the playhouse sending "goods" down to Taylor.

Blake just looking super cute in the leaves.

Two of my favorite girls...wonder why I couldn't have one like this with all three girls?

I know, it's like the blog that never ends, but these are too funny. The first one is a picture that I thought was just too funny not to share. Aren't Chad and his dad just precious on the four wheeler?

But, when they came back toward me, I was able to see why they were so close and cuddly on the four wheeler.



We've been busy, but we've made great memories!

3 Girls, 1 Camera

About two weeks ago, I had the bright idea to take all three of my girls to have professional portraits taken. To my friends who have photographed my kids before--we'll be back, but we had coupons for this one! For my friends who have offered to photograph my kids, please know if I can drop them off and come back to get them when it's over, call me! The experience was not quite as bad as I anticipated, but it was not fun! With all of that said, we did get some great pictures. Here's a small sampling of what we were able to capture!

The foot picture did not turn out as anticipated. However, how can you not love those little piggies? Maybe when Blake is a little older, we can get her to cooperate and not pull the cover off and expose her hands! :)

As the baby, Blake ran the show. Well, actually she pretty much rooted and attempted to nurse on the photographer if she held her for more than 0.3 seconds. However, the photographer was really young and had no idea what was happening. She even commented that "Aww look, she's snuggling with me". Guess she didn't realize the open mouth was an indication that Blake was hungry and didn't really care whose boobs they were! The following picture clearly expresses Blake's opinion of the photographer!

Until next time....