April Days

Hey everyone! Just wanted to get some updates on here about what Crawford and I have been up to lately. Last weekend was the Crawfish boil that I referenced in the last blog. It was a wet, fun time. It had been raining for two days straight, but Uncle Nickey was determined we were going to have that boil one way or the other. So, I bought Crawford some new rubber boots and off we went. With a little help from Cousin Asher, Crawford found the biggest mud puddle in Uncle Nickey's yard, and dove in. That started a whole new game and Garrett, Asher and Crawford were set for the night. So glad we had a change of clothes with us or Crawford would not have been allowed back in Lolly's car. They had fun though, which is all that matters. This week was a hard one for all of us. First, we were planning mom a suprise 50th birthday party that was this weekend and everyone in Van, Tx knew about it but her.And if you know Van, that is a feat in itself. Somehow, we made it without her finding out. The party was a success, with many of her friends from school and her supper buddies there to suprise her. It was fun getting one over on her because she really had no clue, yet she would have easily found out if she would have paid attention. My dad's cousin, Vicki and her husband Trey came all the way in from Abiline. She was most suprised when she saw them. I think daddy still owes her that steak dinner though. I have been up to my neck in Region VII schoolwork. It is the program I am in to get my teaching certificate and right now it is 2 lessons a day at about 2-3 hours a piece. I am not getting much sleep at all. I have to wait until Crawford gets to bed so I can do it, because he needs and wants my attention all of the time when he is awake. I am on the social studies unit right now, fighting my way through all the information from the fourth to the eighth grade. Guess what, that was forever ago!!! I have my first big test on Saturday. It is going to be hard. Studying for social studies 4-8 should be easy since I have been in those grades before, right? Well, let's just say...I have slept since then. (Like 16 years worth of sleep!!) I think it is all going to be worth it though. I spent a day with fifth and sixth graders last week at a school here in Marshall and it was wonderful. I have so many hours I have to observe for this program. It was great. I was with a reading teacher that was working on TAKS tutorials for students that had not yet passed. It was amazing to see how hard those kids try. I wish them the best of luck this week as they tackle the TAKS. Jason has had about three tests in the past week, so he is busy studying there as well. We counted down last night and we have 9 weeks until he gets back. The church has given us until he gets back to get out of our house, so I am currently looking hard at all of our options to get us out of the house we are in. I have been packing slowly and getting things in boxes we dont need right now. So goes the days of our lives...

Spring Time Fun!

Well, its been a couple of weeks, so I figured I better get with it and update you all on our crazy, busy lives. On the 12th our niece, Ellie turned 6. Can you believe it? So, she celebrated her birthday early with a party at the jumping house in Tyler. Boy was that fun. If you havent been to one of those, you need to head to one. I think my mom had more fun than we could have ever imagined. Crawford didnt really like it because it was so loud, but he enjoyed playing basketball with the other kids. I hope everyone had a Happy Easter. We did, even though Jason wasn't here for us to spend it with. It was a busy weekend. We started out by spending Good Friday with Mammy Jo and Papa Pete in Rockwall. We took Papa Pete for a belated birthday lunch and then played in their backyard for hours. For Easter, we went to two chuch services, the sunrise at 7 am (yes, am) and then the early service where Grumps played the bass guitar as he does every Sunday in the praise band. Then it was time for Easter fun at Grandma Libby's house with the Crow family, where we actually were only missing two of our family tmembers (Jason and Erin K). So, it was a loud Easter. It started out really cold and nasty and just when it was time to hide the eggs, it got sunny and a little warmer. It was great. Crawford, Asher, Baby Philip and Garrett had a blast getting eggs and giving them to one another. For those of you who dont know, those are the four boys that were born within 8 months of one another, with Crawford being the youngest. It was great seeing them all play. We even had little Lilly Ann out for the big day. Last week, we found out that we have to be out of our rent house by the end of June. (Originally it was May, but they are giving us an extra month untiol Jason gets home,) so we are currently trying to decide what to do about a home for the next couple of months until I get a teaching job (hopefully) in the fall. My teaching program is going great. We start the reviews for the test here in the next week, so I will be back to the books for a 4-8 generalist test. Whoopie! Tonight, we had mom a suprise dinnere at the Country Tavern in Kilgore where Ellie, Asher and Crawford performed for everyone around. They were dancing to the juke box. We had lots of great food and great company. She was so suprised when she walked in and saw her oldest sister Aunt Jan, Uncle Phil, Uncle Bubba, Aunt Marla, and Seth there. It was great to see her smile because all she wanted for her birthday was a family dinner. Oh, did I mention she is 50! This weekend we are headed in for the big annual family crawfish boil in Van. Robby and I realized that this means our family will be spending two weeks in a row together like we used to. Fun times! (We decided all that can be thrown is crawfish heads and tails, no oatmeal this time!) That is another story, just ask mom or Aunt Lana and they will be sure to fill you in. This weekend is Grammy's birthday and I think they have a big trip planned themselves. Jason is doing great at training. Acing all of his tests both physical and mental. It has been really intense for us all the past couple of weeks, so please keep us in your prayers. I told him if he is nice, I might give him our new address! Hee hee! I will be posting pictures soon.