Things have been entirely too serious around here....

so...I thought I'd just jump in here for a minute and fill you in on the latest episode of "The Young and the Restless" aka "The Adventures of David".

I believe that I have mentioned once or seventy times that little Dave is a completely different animal from the rest of the Zoo. He was colicky, he didn't want to nurse past eight months and actually thrived on formula, he is blonde haired and blue eyed, he screams..a lot..with joy, with anger, with surprise..it really doesn't matter the circumstance, David just likes to scream. Once he began sleeping through the night, he did it with a flourish...we're talking 11 hours straight, people. Once he learned to sit, he was content to sit amidst a pile of toys, or in front of his beloved "Signing Time" for hours without complaint. I'm telling you, he went from being the most work of all (during those colicky times) to being the easiest one of all...

Our mistake was in teaching the boy to walk. He resisted, preferring to be carried every where he went of course, but we persisted, encouraging the tiniest efforts and even rewarding him for the smallest progress...we were fools. Because now you see, the animal is mobile and can climb stuff, and knows where all the good stuff is hidden. Did I tell you before about how he decorated the kitchen not once, but three separate times with food coloring? Did I mention the Sharpie marker on the walls and doors of our hallway? Have I told you about the cookies that I needed to deliver to a customer, that had tiny little bites missing from them? Have I mentioned waking up in the middle of the night to find him in the living room, having turned on all of the lights, sitting in a pile of bills and other mail with a ball point pen and drawing on said mail?

Well, I know I've mentioned that I feel the need for a gate to keep him in his room at night while all the normally watchful eyes are sleeping...but alas, I'm still losing that argument. Which leads me to David's latest late night adventure...

I awoke at 5:30 as usual to start my morning run, only to open my bedroom door and find little Dave standing there holding something in his hands and eating it with great enthusiasm. As soon as he saw me, he dropped the something and took off running for his bed. I bent over to pick up the something and discovered that he had eaten two one ounce squares of chocolate almond bark that I use for baking and was working on a third! Yes, my son is a chocaholic, and a candy addict as well. One day in the future when he is sitting in his weekly therapy session, I'm sure he'll blame me for his addictions. "It was all my mother's fault! She ran a cake and cookie business right out of our house!! I was surrounded by sugar MY WHOLE LIFE!!!"

You know, back when I was praying for God to give me just one more baby, I had considered the ramifications of having a newborn at 40 years old...what I neglected to consider were the ramifications of having a 2 year old at 42!!! Next week I will celebrate my 42nd birthday, but oh.my.word. it feels more like 82! Can I get an "AMEN" from the choir please??? Thank you, thank you very much, and please pass the Geritol...

Here is a rare picture of the little guy sleeping (yes, he is actually asleep) at his brothers' football game...I'm guessing his late night adventures wore him out!

Have I mentioned my love for all things football????

Okay, it's bragging time here at Kids, Cakes, etc...

I haven't posted too much about the football season, because quite frankly it didn't start out too well for any of my teams. The Longhorns have been winning, but not convincingly, and people around here are completely freaked out by that. A narrow win, just doesn't do it for Longhorn fans.

Then my Texans let David Carr go, and that made me angry, but they have been winning, so I suppose I'll forgive them...maybe.

Benji's team started out their first game with a 12-0 lead, and then completely blew the rest of the game and got toasted. The next two games were no better. Then yesterday, they came to play! I was only able to stay for the first half because we had an unfortunate conflict with Jon's game, but I did get to see Benji catch his first pass in a game! It was quite the proud moment. They have been practicing a new play where they throw him the ball, but so far it hasn't made it into a game. He is a starting Wide Receiver, but they haven't been running pass plays this season. They promised him they would get the new play in for this week's game. I was praying they would do it before I had to leave. (I was also praying that he would actually catch it! :) Cause it's a whole lot easier to do in practice than it is in the actual game when there is another team doing their best to keep you from catching it!) They didn't actually run the play, but while B was blocking for the guy who was supposed to be catching the pass, he realized the guy had run the wrong route, so B broke off of his block and made a diving catch for a ten yard gain on the play! I was quite the proud mama, let me tell you! I won't mention the fact that when I left we were winning 13-7, but apparently they completely fell apart in the second half and the other team ended up winning. I won't mention that because it makes me sad, and I just want to revel in the glow of B's first catch in a game...

Now Jon's team has been the complete opposite, they started out their first game poorly, and lost 6-24. But since then, they have won 3 games straight and not allowed a single point scored against them! Jon started out as a wide receiver on offense and a linebacker on defense. He played these positions because in practice he could catch pretty well, and he was really good at tackling. The tackling took them all by surprise because he is probably the littlest guy on the team, although one of the oldest! Anyway, Jon wasn't doing as well at these positions as he would like, because they required speed, and that is one thing Jon does not have! So, I spoke to his coach, and just mentioned that Jon really wanted to play on the offensive line. He was shocked, because Jon is so little, but I assured him that blocking was one of Jon's best talents, so the next game, he put him on the line and guess what? Jon is now officially on the offensive line! His coach told me that he rewound the game tape a few times just to make sure that it was really Jon knocking those bigger kids on their tails and even pushing one back 5 yards!

So, Jon was enjoying his spot on the offensive line, but he was still playing linebacker on defense. Now linebacker was exactly the position Jon wanted to play, however, again the speed thing was keeping him from being able to make as many tackles as he would have liked. He was able to get in on a few, but he wasn't ever able to be the first contact and make a tackle himself. However, that all changed yesterday. Yesterday, they put Jon on the defensive line for some reason and on his first play, he busted through the offense and made the tackle behind the line of scrimmage all by himself! You should have seen the look of pure joy on that boy's face! As soon as he had the chance he ran over to the fence to make sure I knew that he had made a tackle all by himself! When we got home, he was taking his gear off, and he just looked at me and smiled and said, "I really like that defensive line!"

And, of course, the girl has done a great job cheering as well. She is one of the youngest, but she is able to learn and memorize all the cheers and moves as well as the bigger girls. I've had a couple of the football player's mom's comment that she looks like she was just born to be a cheerleader and that she looks like she could have just stepped out of a 1950's cheer squad. She just looks the part I guess. The important thing is that she is having fun cheering for her brother's team, and he likes having her out there cheering for him!

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those moms who thinks her kids are just the best and do everything right! In fact, I could list many, many examples of missed open-field tackles, bad attitudes, shoving other players to the ground because they made fun of your size...and on and on... But I actually had some stuff to brag on this week, so I chose those things as the fodder for this post, because it's my blog, and I can post what I want to! LOL!

Well, I've got a cake ready to decorate, a two-year-old to put down for a nap, and my Texans are playing the Colts today and the game will actually be TELEVISED! (Ever since Vince Young signed with the Titans, we get the Titan games on tv here instead of the Texans games....sigh.) So, I'll be recording the NASCAR race to watch later, and watching the Texans' game live while doing laundry and trying to clean up this pigsty! Ben has the three older kids over at his mom's house for a visit, so it's just little D and me here this afternoon. A perfect scenario for housecleaning and football watching! (At least while he's napping anyway!)

Just Wanted to Share This With You All

Last week when I went to pick up Benji from Youth Group, they were watching this video. It is just so powerful, that I wanted to share it with all of you. The Youth Group did an altar call for anyone that was touched by the video and they had a lot of girls AND boys on their knees sobbing at the altar. It started off a little slowly, but it is extremely powerful at the end.

Just a Quick Note

Hello Everyone! I can't believe I haven't posted since September 3rd!!! Where have I been? Living life with 4 kids, two football teams, one cheer squad, one ballet class, one husband, one 2 year old, and a feast or famine baking business....need I say more?

Anyway, I really don't have time to be here now either, however, I didn't want anyone to think I'd fallen off the face of the earth altogether!

I haven't even been around reading blogs too much, so it wasn't until I went to catch up with Barb that I even realized that Amy Wilhoite passed away a few days ago. I am so very sad for Amy's husband and son. I found Amy the same day I found baby Ethan, and both of their stories broke my heart. I guess God had a different plan for Amy, and I know his plans are always the best, but it is still hard for those of us left behind.

Well, I really must get off of this computer now, but I need to announce the winner of the GIVEAWAY! And the winner is....Cheri! Congratulations Cheri and you can email me with your address and how exactly I mail stuff to you in Italy! I hope you enjoy the book!

And now, I will leave you with a few pictures, so you can see what I've been doing while I've been gone! I'll have some more with cakes and cookies soon too...for now, it's all about the kids!

Here is Maddie cheering at Jon's first game...



And here is Jon taking a picture with Rashad Bobino (middle linebacker for the Texas Longhorns...#44) at practice one day. He just came by to encourage the boys and to take pictures with whoever wanted one. Cool huh?



I'll post some "action" shots soon, but I have to go through them all and try to pick out my own kids from the crowd. It's tough getting football pictures because everyone is in a giant group, or a big pile on the field! LOL!

Well, I've gotta go for now. Hopefully, I'll be able to get back a little sooner this time and catch you all up with life here in Texas. I miss all my bloggy friends!

An UPDATED Giveaway!!!!

UPDATED! UPDATED! UPDATED!

*This is a sticky post and will remain at the top of my blog until the contest is over. Scroll down for newer posts!*

My friend, Marcy has finally published her book of family devotions! Marcy is not only one of the funniest women I know, she is an amazing teacher. (I'm still trying to get her to start her own blog!) Anyway, she has published a family devotion book titled Catching Fireflies and it looks like so much fun that I decided to share it with all of you! I have ordered two autographed copies and am going to give one of them away to one of you!

UPDATE: I received the books in the mail last week and have been going through it over the past few days. It is even neater than I imagined! Here is an excerpt from the Introduction in the book:

"I remember warm nights in late spring, early summer, waiting for it to get dark outside. When it was just dark enough, my family would go outside and catch fireflies. Fireflies only came out in the dark and it was so fun catching them and watching them glow. Fireflies locate each other by their light, they illuminate the darkness and they warn predators to stay away. Some groups of fireflies even blink in unison throughout the night. I always found the light in these little bugs to be fascinating.

I can't think of a better description for the purpose for this book. Family devotion time should be as fun as catching fireflies. Family devotions should be full of fun activities, because learning about God's love can be fun. Families should be able to locate each other by the light within them, they should illuminate the darkness wherever they are and when families are lit on fire in unison together, they will warn predators like divorce, discord and demise to flee at the sight of the light."

Doesn't that just sound like what you want for your own family? Me too!! So, I started looking through some of the studies, and the first one that caught my eye was one in which you teach your children about being "bound up in sin" by wrapping them completely in toilet paper! How fun will that be? There is a story that you read aloud and as you read you unwrap the "mummified" child demonstrating how believing in Christ frees us from the bondage of sin. BUT THEN, she goes on with the example to show how even as Christians, we can become bound up in sin and even though we are free, we can still live a life of bondage. This story is the opposite, you read about a Christian who becomes proud and quits caring about others, stops going to church, etc. and with each of these things you are wrapping another part of the body with the toilet paper until eventually the Christian is completely bound just the way the unbeliever was before Christs mercy unbound him. It is a very fun and silly way to demonstrate a very powerful truth.

There was not much response to my first post about this giveaway, but I am hoping that now that I have seen the book and been able to give an actual review, that interest will be sparked! So, I am extending the deadline for the giveaway until this Friday, September, 14th.

All you need to do is post a little something on your blog that links back to this post (just to get the word out to as many people as possible) and then leave me a comment letting me know you are interested in winning the book. And if you want to take a look at a sample of some of the lessons, you can just click on the button at the top of this post, and it will take you to the official website for the book.

Thanks ya'll! I can't wait to share this book with someone out there!

Go and Check This Out

If you haven't already been by there today, you need to head on over to Shalee's Diner and see what she has posted today. It will bless your little heart!

I Just HAD To Do This One

I know, there are all kinds of these little "Blogthings" out there to do, but ya'll, this one was about CAKE...I HAD to do it. I just HAD to! Besides, it said something nice about me. Much nicer than this one!

You Are a Chocolate Cake

Fun, comforting, and friendly. You are a true classic, and while you're not super cutting edge, you're high quality. People love your company - and have even been known to get addicted to you.

What Kind of Cake Are You?

Reason Number 473 Why Exercise is BAD for You...

Have you heard the old joke about why you never smile while riding a motorcycle? You know, 'cause you get bugs in your teeth! Well, that goes for running too. Although honestly, I don't have too much trouble NOT smiling when I'm running. I usually don't smile until I'm all finished, 'cause THAT is something to be happy about! However, I think perhaps a pair of goggles may be in order...

Yesterday morning, while I was out for my morning run, a bug flew in my eye! That's right, directly into my eye...and stuck there. When I closed my eye and tried to wipe it out, it started burning like fire. When I finally, removed what was left of the carcass from my eyeball, it was an ANT. Yes, a flying ANT. And you know what the burning was??? The little sucker stung me!!! Right on the eye! I have an ant bite right on my tear duct! I really should be on Oprah for this one, don't you think? I mean really, has anyone in the history of the world ever been stung by an ant on their tear duct??? I don't think so!!!

The strange thing is, it really doesn't hurt. In fact, as soon as I removed the ant itself, it stopped hurting. And it really doesn't itch too much either. It does a little, but not so much that I can't keep my hands off of it. The really funky thing about it is that I can feel it when I blink. It feels like there is something in my eye...all the time. It's really just annoying, not painful or anything, but really, really annoying!

So, I'll just wait here for Oprah's people to call, and I'll be sure and let you all know when the episode of "500 Reasons Why We Shouldn't Exercise" or "When Weird Things Happen to Normal People" airs. 'Cause really, I could be featured on either one...sigh.