The house smells like Lysol...

We have had strep throat and type A Flu in this house for 2 full weeks now. Today was the first day all the boys went to school. Marty missed 3 days of work this week and I missed 2 (which is all I work so I guess that's the whole week...). Since copays are now $25 for us I spent $100 on Doctor visits (had to take each boy in to check for strep) and Marty had to be strep checked as well. I am happy to say we are at the tail end of this most trying endeavor. We certainly have caught up on our movies and books though. Nolan says we are having movie marathons! I actually made it to Target today (to buy medicine of course) so that's a good sign that I was able to get out of the house. Anyway, enough complaining. We are as always, thankful to live in America where we have good doctors and good medicine.

The Wuestes had a good visit here in San Antonio which began and ended with us Schimceks, sick. We didn't get to spend near enough time with them. We are looking forward to a visit from the McDonald cousins next.

The New Year is looking good with Marty getting fence quotes so we can keep those pigs out. They had a special about it on the Today Show this morning. Showed the damage the wild pigs are doing in the South. They all seemed to think it was quite funny - HA. Colin and Nolan start basketball tomorrow so our rest from sports is officially over. Right after Basketball, baseball will start. My head is starting to hurt again so I will sign-off for now.

Bacon Anyone?

Finally - caught in action. You'll have to zoom in a little - he was much bigger in person. Marty set the alarm for 3:00 a.m. and there he was digging up our backyard. We were suprised it was just one piggy but when Marty threw a rock (which hit and knocked over the flood light...) the pig ran into the woods and we heard more of them. You wouldn't believe how torn-up our backyard is. We watched him stick his nose and root up an entire foot or two of grass in one movement. Hopefully we scared them for awhile but the only solution is to put a fence up. That's our New Year's project. Merry Christmas everyone.

Annual visit to the Christmas Tree Farm. Yes - it was quite hot that December day! As always, we had a great time.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to All! Even though we are exptecting a high of 82 today we are staying in the spirit. Cara texts me pictures of the snow in Chicago and Crystal and John emailed pictures of a giant moose in their front yard - that helps. We are looking forward to a visit from the Wuestes - they arrive Christmas night. We are also excited about the Alaskan McDonald's visit in January. The boys are enjoying their time off. I am looking forward to today because I get to stay home ALL DAY! Christmas shopping is as done as it is going to be for me this year. Thanks to my dear friend and boss Jennifer McCarville, the final gift was purchased last night. I searched 2 Targets, Wal Mart, and 2 Barnes and Noble for the Harry Potter legos Matthew wanted and they were sold out. Jennifer called me last night from the Target across town and bought it for me! Yay. The boys are having a hard time leaving their wrapped presents wrapped but it helps that they opened presents from their Aunts Kara and Krissy, Uncle Nathan, and Granny last night. I will have to post some pictures later. I no longer have the patience to upload pictures on this computer and only use my laptop now. Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!

Stoey's Post

It has been just about a year since we lost Stoey. I blogged about how the hogs dug up the bulbs we planted on her grave site the very night we planted them. In the heat of the summer (I think this picture was taken June 4th), this beautiful flower appeared on her grave. Mind you this was a YEAR of drought conditions very little rain with very high heat (in the hundreds already that month). I was so amazed and humbled at God's creation's ability to survive. I attribute this photo to our girl who we still miss very much.

February Rain

You would not believe the rain down here. I actually had a job interview yesterday (yes, I do look for the perfect job from time to time) and it was cancelled because the college the library is a part of was closing down due to flooding! I love the rain and after last year's drought, will not complain one bit about it. The boys do seem to be bored with it though. Nolan and Colin like to go outside eveyday afterschool and haven't been able to do that this week. Otherwise things are going well here. Everyone is doing well in school. Colin and Nolan are gearing up for spring baseball (Marty will coach Colin's tball). Matthew says he's not playing which is fine with me although he does need some sort of physical exercise so we're working on that. Nolan is playing basketball with the Y but has yet to play an actual game (has been to 3 practices)! The first game we were on a church retreat at which Nolan was hit in the head with a rock while hiking and his father announced (in front of him) his "head was cracked open" and he was going to bleed to death. There was indeed a LOT of blood but his head wasn't actually cracked open thank goodness. He had to get 3 staples at the "local" hospital which ended up being about 1 1/2 hours away. That sealed my decision about not living too far from the city! Try keeping an exhausted 7 year old awake who has just undergone a traumatic experience, was up late the night before, and has been up all day (it was dark by the time we reached the hospital)! My dear friend Patty (who drove Nolan and I to the hospital since Marty had to change our van's flat tire and I was too panicked to wait) had all kinds of electronic gadgets (3 nintendo DS's, video camera, regular camera) and lots of questions for Nolan to keep him alert. Anyway, long story short he had to miss the next basketball game as well per doctor's orders. Last week's game he refused to play in - just to remind me that I am a still a mom and just because the boys are older, does NOT mean they are easier! Ha Ha. That's all for now.

"Size matters not" - Yoda (Star Wars)

Check this out. Little spider in our house caught and paralized this guy. That's a geunine South Texas scorpion there.