Changes in vision

Two years ago Caylee didn’t pass her vision test at school. I was a bit freaked out since we had only lived here six months and I had no clue what optometrist to take her to. The only option I had was to look in the yellow pages for an optometrist that took our insurance. And how, might you ask, did I decide on who to use? Simple. Whoever had the biggest and prettiest advertisement space was who I called! I figure if they are proud enough of their work to take out a full page ad, then they should be good. Well, the lady was fine, but a little too “out there” for my liking. She prescribed Caylee some reading glasses but said she would probably outgrow the problem and be just fine. She was right. Caylee has passed the last two years and no longer needs her glasses. But look how cute she was…

I have been expecting to get another letter from the school regarding Caylee, but it was a surprise when the letter came and it was for Baylee! Then it all began to click...

- the closeness she needs when reading 
- her favorite spot in the house is the closest spot to the tv
- when she's allowed to watch something in her room, she pulls her chair right up to the tv.

Bless her little heart, she was BLIND!

I had gone to a local optometrist last year and really enjoyed him. So when they called to confirm my yearly appointment I asked that Baylee be seen with me.

I can't tell you how awful I felt when she was in the pre-screening area. Guys, she couldn't read the top line! They didn't have the huge E, it was just a poster with different sized letters. I wanted to hug her sweet neck right then and there and tell her how sorry I was for not catching this sooner! Oh, and as we filled out the paperwork, she also informed me (for the first time) she had been having double vision! Sheesh! 

So today Baylee went to school with her brand new glasses. She had the weekend to adjust and was so excited to be able to see things far off. And another thing, people can now tell the girls apart!

Does this make me a bad mom?

I just tried to bribe my children with an ice cream cone. All they had to do was say "Boomer Sooner" to their principal when he opened the van door this morning. And when I noticed that wasn't quite doing the trick, I upped the ante to a Sonic Butterfinger Blast. Baylee considered it for a moment, but Caylee wanted nothing to do with it. And for girls who barely get a "Good Morning" out to the man each day, I knew it was a long shot.

So they didn't participate verbally, but they can't hide the fact that they're wearing their OU t-shirts and OU hoodies!

And how much do you want to bet they ask for that ice cream cone or Blast when I pick them up?! You snooze, you lose, girlies!

Needless to say, the van was quite full of laughter this morning. 

Family photo

I finally had the opportunity to go through our Christmas pictures today. With the craziness that is the holiday season and having to adjust to a new computer, today was the first day I had to sit down and see what memories we captured. And to my surprise I found this jewel.

Somehow we managed to capture the essence of everyone in our family. Let's dissect it together, shall we?

Brandon - Ever the techno-freak that he is, he is the one who took this beauty. In his closed fist is the remote to the camera. He had the three of us in position and all he had to do was slide right in. In a house full of girls, that seems to be what he does best. He adjusts to the needs of his girls on a daily basis. The poor man is highly out-numbered. He's also higher than me in the picture, portraying how he is the head of this house (after Christ, of course).

Cari - I'm safely nestled beside Bran and behind my girls. That's my most comfortable spot in the world. In this picture you will notice my hair is pulled back and I have a camisole on. You will most always find me like that. If I'm home, the hair is up and out of the way. And I always wear a camisole. Mostly because I have no boobs and most shirts are too low for me. See that smile? Yeah, it's true and genuine. Love it.

Baylee - First of all, let me say this. That girl can not take a bad picture. She is the most photogenic girl I have ever known. It seems the older she gets the more natural it comes to her. She's my sweetheart and it shines in this picture.

Caylee - My little nature girl. The wildness of hair hair is her to a T. She is crazy and absolutely hilarious. And seeing that she never gives us a real smile in pictures, I am so pleased she was at least trying in this one.

I am so glad I took the time to look through these pictures today. I wonder what other jewels are out there?

Year in review

This has been quite a year. God never ceases to amaze me as He is so gracious to our family. Compared to years past, this was a quiet year. We were blessed with a peaceful year as we continued o adjust to life here in Arkansas. Someone told me the other day that I looked different. They asked if I was pregnant, there was apparently some sort of glow. But I'm not and I know what it was they were seeing. It was happiness. It was love of life. I can honestly say this is the happiest I have ever been.

Here are some of the highlights from the past year:

1. Forgiveness

Early in 2008 I was able to finally release all the guilt I had been holding in. I carried it around for seven years and I finally let it go. It is so freeing to not be ashamed. Praise the Lord for the people He put in my path to get me to this point!

2. Crazy Arkansas weather

We had a nice amount of snow that fell on March 1. It made the girls laugh so hard that our one and only snowfall was in March. We had a snowball fight, made a snowman, and laughed, laughed, laughed. We also spent many nights watching tornadoes. There were tornadoes all around our town this year, but we were always sparred. 

3. Friends

We have been so blessed. God has brought some amazing people into our lives. We aren't just acquaintances anymore, but we have formed lifelong friendships with some dear people. We laughed, hosted parties in our homes, and made wonderful memories. We also mourned over miscarriages and grieved with dear friends who lost a baby at birth while her twin sister held on to life in the NICU. Through it all, God brought us all closer together.

4. Horse camp

I never imagined I would be the mother of horse lovers, but I am. The girls went to a week long horse camp and loved every minute of it. They learned to ride Western and English, shoveled poop, cleaned stalls, and loved on all the horses. They would live there if I let them.

5. Summer in Oklahoma for the girls 

They learned to ride their bike on Grandpa's three acres. What an accomplishment! Now they're riding fools! They helped Dad take care of Grandma Arnold and Mom take care of Grandma Faye. Such sweet memories they will have. Fishing with Grandpa and of course swimming every day. If only Grammy would let them get her hair wet!

6. School

This was the first year the girls were able to return to the same school that they left in August. And what a blessing that was! It definitely made the first day of school much easier. 

7. New rides

We were able to get a new van this year - a dream of mine had finally been fulfilled! We said good-bye to our sweet Blackie - the vehicle the girls grew up in. I cried as we took our final ride in him. I looked at my seven year old girls and saw them in their car seats all those years ago. The milk stains on the fabric say it all.

8. Mexico

Brandon took his first plane ride and it was an international flight. He enjoyed his time and savored every bite of food. He fell in love with the mountains and brought us back some amazing goodies. (Mexican cheese!)

As this year comes to a close, I'm excited to see what 2009 holds. 

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  ~Ephesians 3:20-21

Still here...

I have been a very unfaithful blogger. And I am sorry.

I went through this phase where I felt I had nothing to write about. I should've just sucked it up and wrote about our daily lives. Things were kind of hectic, I suppose. We had Thanksgiving, school Christmas program, church cantata (which required an insane amout of practice through the week & two performances on the weekend), Brandon was gone to Mexico last week, and the girls missed two days of school because of ice. And now, I can't even believe I'm writing this, but it's only one week until Christmas. I just finished wrapping the girls' presents - except for their bikes which are hidden in the attic.

Oh, and let me tell you something else. Something so tragic I'm unsure what to do...

Our computer crashed!

Long story, but it crashed. We were able to get it back on and thankfully all our pictures are safe and sound. But everything else uninstalled and it's a nightmare. Bran's home for his Christmas vacation so I'm using his work laptop because no matter what we do, the internet will not work.

All of this to say, I'm alive and I still want to be a blogger. I'll be back after the first of the year. The girls get out of school tomorrow and then we'll be heading to Oklahoma on Monday. This weekend is all about our Christmas here as a family of four. Sugar cookies to bake and memories to make!

Merry Christmas, everyone! And I'll talk to you all next year!

Football Fanatics

Wow! This was one of the best weekends in a long time! I'm telling you guys, it was fabulous! All football, all weekend. So fun!

Friday nights in our house are simply referred to as "Fantastic Friday Family Fun Night". It's a given we will be together and enjoying each other's company. Sometimes it's a movie. Sometimes it's a Wii night. But this past Friday was football and it was all for ME!

You see, I will confess. I am a football freak. I love it. High school football and college football make September through December oh so enjoyable. Friday night our high school team was in the state playoffs. I had heard from an Athletic director friend in Oklahoma that our opponent was, as he put it, "the best high school football team" he had ever seen. Well, if that doesn't tempt me to go, I don't know what would!

Here's the only problem. It was freezing. It wasn't just cold, it was FREEZING!! I was struggling all day. I wanted to go, but I needed to be rational and think about my girls. I flip-flopped all day long. Go or stay. Go or stay. And then, when I went to pick up the girls from school, I got my answer. The football stadium's big screen was on and there was no turning back. So we all bundled up and went and cheered on the Panthers!

I know this picture is blurry, but I was shivering. It was 28 degrees!!

Oh, and we lost after leading the ENTIRE game. Ugh! So not fun. I won't bore you the details because all that matters is that we lost.

And then came Saturday....

Our good friends and neighbors are Texas Tech fans. They both attended Tech and when I found that out I knew we had to have an OU/Tech party on game night. We planned this MONTHS ago, before we knew how good Tech was going to be this year. I had been a nervous wreck for weeks in anticipation of this game. I love to watch my Sooners at home and in the privacy of my family because I tend to be one of those crazies that yells at the tv. But now I was having guests and it was supposed to be a close game. As it turned out, OU romped Tech and I had nothing to worry about. Poor them.

VS.

The best part of the night? Well, other than the amazing score for OU?

The sugar cookies!

Oh, and I will go ahead and admit it. I was a little obnoxious with the OU tablecloth and I forced them to drink from OU glasses. : )

Boomer Sooner!

BK

I wasn't going to mention this today, because I don't want to be a Debbie Downer. But after the night I had trying to sleep last night and the emotional drive I just had, I know I need to put my thoughts into words. Hopefully by the end of this I will feel better.

Today would have been my sister's 36th birthday.

What a sweet soul she was.

Oh dear, here it comes again. Anger.

I haven't been mad about her death in a very long time. I'm usually content with the fact that she's not in any more pain. I usually rest knowing her broken body is whole again. But today I am mad. I want her here. I want to talk to her and I want to hear her funny one-liners and I want her to see the life I have now. I want my sister.

I couldn't sleep worth anything last night. I tossed and turned and tossed and turned. I woke up at midnight with a massive migraine. I never wake up in the middle of the night with a migraine. I usually go to sleep to get rid of one. I dreamt Brenna came to see us here in our new home town. She was happy, but sick. And then the rest of the night I was at her funeral. Isn't that awful? By four I finally gave in and found some medicine and a cold rag for my head.

Ok, I've got that all out of my system. I'm not going to dwell on this anymore. Being mad that she's gone will not bring her back. And she wouldn't want me to sit and sulk. Instead I choose to celebrate the 30 years that she lived. I choose to remember the last four years we had together. I'm going to remember the good times and I'm going to laugh. She always made me laugh. I'm going to communicate with my brother because I know today is hard for him too. I'm going to talk to my girls about their Aunt B. And I might even make her favorite cake - a cinnamon streusel bundt cake.