A Day With The Boys

by Holly

We spent one fine Saturday recently with our nephews Jared and Tyler. It started with a teeball game which is a lot of fun if you haven't experienced this! Below is Jared ready for a play at first base. He's six and a half.

This is Tyler at short stop. He sucks his two middle fingers routinely so I'm not sure if that's what he's doing here or not. Tyler is 4.

After the game and lunch, the boys came home with us and they all played in the pool. This was fabulous! Eli did well with the rambunctious splashing for a little while. Justin and I sat in the shade and enjoyed watching them.

Eli had enough pool action and decided to play on his own. Look how grown up in his swim trunks!

Tyler and Jared relaxing after the swim. We were watching Nemo and having cookies and lemonade. What a day!

And one footnote: Eli's car hasn't been the same since this day. Tyler decided it was dirty and dunked it in the pool. No more sounds. I think the engine's frozen up.

Are We Getting Old?

by Holly

I don't have anything of great significance to write about, or even have any pictures moved to the computer as of late, so here you go. I was wondering today if I'm getting old, for two reasons.

1. I love my birthday more than most anyone, and those of you that know me understand my celebration of my birthmonth. My husband helps me celebrate, last year hosting a fabulous party for my 30th. June is my birthmonth, so a few days ago Justin brought home a birthday banner from the store and hung it around the office, over my computer. Thanks honey! Why does this relate to me getting old? Because this year on my birthday, the majority of my family will be in North Carolina for a family reunion while we will be here in Lubbock... I will be going to church and then on to a bridal shower that afternoon and don't feel as if this is even recognized as the tragedy that it is in the 'birthmonth' scheme of things. No festive celebration with 50 friends? No every-member-of-the-family-must-be-present-for-cake shindig? Its so sad getting old.

2. We ate at Furr's cafeteria last week when my parents were in town, and picked up a coupon on our way out for $5.99 buffet on 6/15 and 6/16 only, good for 4 people. I've been looking forward to going back to Furr's all week, and tonight we did. I had liver and onions. Enough said on this point.

Happy Birthmonth to me, and to anyone else celebrating this fine June!

In All Fairness

by Holly

Is it fair of me to get frustrated when my friends don't post often, when I just noticed that its been 11 days since I have?

Pandora Radio

by Holly

I know I'm not 'up' on most modern things, including technology and basically anything happening in the world, so bear with me if you all already know about this. Pandora Radio! This is fantastic! Justin introduced me to it, where you enter your favorite artist and it builds your personal radio station around that artist and similar ones. You can give it a thumbs up or down, or flat out tell it never to play a song again.

Justin had made a station that he listens to at work at times, of course called Garth Brooks station. I just jumped onto his account, so I can listen to his station if I want, but I instead made 3 more stations myself. Just like the radio in my car, I can choose whichever one fits my mood at the time. Naturally, my first was George Strait station, to which I added Billy Currington, Don Williams and Johnny Cash. How can you go wrong with those? A most pleasant surprise with this one was when Pandora surprised me with a little Creedence Clearwater. That's right, CCR! Man, this is the best!

The next one is my Third Day station. I didn't add any artists to this b/c Pandora is doing a fine job all on its own providing me with variety here. And my third station is Sheryl Crow station. All I've added to her is Collective Soul so far. She's my newest one, just created today. I seem to be getting a lot of Michelle Branch and Natalie Merchant, but I guess they do have similar styles.

So, if you haven't tried Pandora out, give her a try. She's amazing!

My Baby is Sick

by Holly

Gone are the days when feeling sick was also a good thing because you got to stay home from school and be free! Well, I called into work today, but staying home means my heart breaking because my baby is sick, burning up with fever, horrible runny nose and just plain doesn't feel good. We have an appointment with a new pediatrician, getting established with a new doctor not being on my fun list at all.

I know Eli doesn't feel like himself by all of his symptoms, but above all of that, he just fell asleep in my lap watching cartoons and he has NEVER done that before. So, he's napping on the couch till we leave for the doctor in a little while.

Pray for his quick recovery, but more than that, for the kids who are really sick dealing with issues far beyond a summer cold. May you and your little ones all be well and full of life today!

ADDENDUM: Eli actually has two ear infections, so we've got another round of antibiotics and are giving him Motrin and Tylenol for the fever, but it could be a lot worse.