New Addition

No, sillies...not the baby...remember, I'm not due 'til October. :) On Memorial Day we went down the street and got a kitten from our neighbors who had 4 kittens they were giving away. They were all gray with white feet, except for the one we got. We got a girl who happens to be polydactile. That just means that she has more toes than usual...ours has 7 toes on each front paw. Crazy huh? Apparently it was her dad who gave her this trait. We were told that her dad was an orange tabby and her mom is a siamese mix (although she doesn't look like the siamese part...is a white long-haired cat).

Since she has those big front feet, the family had started calling her "Sasquatch," but we weren't too fond of that. The name did fit logically though, so we just shortened it to Sassy. She was born April 8th, which makes her about 7 weeks old. She's a cutie and so sweet and patient with the kids. It's a good thing too...they are SUPER excited and tend to definitely show it.

There were more pictures that I wanted to post, but couldn't get them to upload. So, maybe some other time I will post the ones of us actually going down the street to pick her up. Anyhow, enjoy the ones that we did get loaded up. Be sure to read "New Addition" and also "New Addition (cont.)." And...thanks so much for the comments from you all letting me know that you are indeed checking out our site and I'm not wasting my time. :) I appreciate your feedback.


Grady still marveling over the idea of carrying this cute little thing home for good.















Me, the kids, and the cat. I love the kids' expressions in this picture.



Feeding the cat. Grady just feeding Sassy, Hadley making sure the water is the right temperature. :)



This was taken yesterday morning, when we all got up. The kitty was still sleeping on her "bed."



The kids were napping and the cat decided it was her naptime too. We set up her stuff in the empty, what used to be, study...her bed (much better than the outside bed), litter box, food/water, climbing/scratch area, and toys. I think she'll be happy here. :)






The kids coming into the room where the kitty was after their naps. They were excited to see her there.

New Addition (cont.)

The kids were very surprised to see the kitty cat in our house...and delighted of course. This is Joel showing the cat her toy. I had a cat before and didn't buy her a thing...just a litter box and food. But, a kitten is different...especially when you live in a house with very nice leather couches. We are trying to avoid declawing her...and don't really want to do that until we spay her anyhow (which will not be anytime soon). So, we got her a scratching post/play area and some toys to keep her happy and occupied.





Hadley petting Sassy.
















The kids and Sassy. Hadley is talking to her, as she does to all animals.










Lazy cat...flat on her back. After they saw her for awhile and played in "her room," we closed the door and let her sleep some more. She never got out of her bed the whole time the kids were in there. She had had a rough 24 hours though...being taken away from her family, sleeping outside alone last night, playing HARD with Grady this morning outside, getting shots, getting medicine by mouth, and getting a bath. She seems happy and content though. And the kids just LOVE her.

Does Anyone Ever...

read this? :) I know that most of my posts are pictures, so I'm not starting any deep, controversial discussions or anything. But, I just wanted to see if anyone ever checks this site. So, leave me a comment if you read this. Just want to be sure it's worth keeping this site. Thanks.

Picnic and Water Park

After we went flying on Wednesday, we went by and grabbed some Bodacious bar-b-q and headed to the park for a little picnic and play. We went to the one with the water fountain part...like a mini water park. It was fun. Here are some pictures...


Joel and the kids in the water fountain area. So fun. You can't really see it, but Grady's face is VERY dirty. He let go and fell face first off the merry-go-round. We found out after he'd had a bath and a nap that his face was also bruised. Hadley is always dirty and Grady is always banged up. :)



Joel taking Grady for a run through the water. Isn't that a fun water contraption?



Hadley's turn.












All wet now...and Hadley seems to be a little chilly.















There are spickets/fountains in the ground and Joel showed the kids how to step on them. They liked it.














More stepping on the water.












Hadley in her hat. Actually, it's Grady's hat, but she was borrowing it.















Walking back to the car, Hadley was holding on tight. Notice Grady lolly-gagging in the background. Hadley had lost her hat and he picked it up for her...that's what he's carrying; that and a huge cup from lunch.












Joel started dancing around and Hadley was laughing so hard...wish you could hear laughter through pictures.














Bathtime after the fun...now it's time for a nap.

Flying with Joel

First of all, I have a new little 1st cousin...Shane Dawson Hough, born Tuesday, May 23rd at 10:08 AM, weighing 8 lbs. 2 oz. If you want to see him, go here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=tt0qv3l.18iar5e1&Uy=-on10g1&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0. Copy and paste into the address line and then once the page opens up, click on the "view photos without signing in" button if you don't want to sign in to see them. He's a cutie...and so are his sisters. Now, on to today's post...

Wednesday was one of the best days ever. I slept in (I'm telling you...as a night person, this is a definite advantage of having a morning person as a husband), had pancakes for breakfast, and then our little family went flying, with Joel as our pilot of course. SO FUN!! We just headed up north a bit to Lake 'O The Pines and then back to the airport. We were in the air about 45 minutes and it was great. It was the kids' first time to ever fly in a little airplane, and with Daddy as the pilot...and only my 2nd time to ever fly with Joel piloting (the first being when he was still a student and didn't even have his pilot's license yet...the instructor was with us). Anyhow, it was alot of fun. And this was only the first part of our terrific day. You'll get the scoop on the 2nd part of the day in the next post. Here are some pictures from our flight...


The kids (and the piggy) enjoying the flight.



Me and the family in the plane...this just gives you a little idea of how the whole plane looks inside...it's pretty small.









Joel at the controls.
















As we flew over this, Joel turned to me and said, "Will you marry me?" :) I didn't know it, but this was the exact spot where Joel proposed to me 5 1/2 years ago in a canoe...right there where that little inlet is.



Right after we turned around and started heading back home, I looked back and saw this. She was really trying to keep her eyes open.



Then...they were closed for good.



Then...Grady fell victim too. :) It was awesome. We'd much rather them pass out than be throwing up or screaming because their ears hurt...or be scared of it. They did great and loved it.



Me and Joel...and the kids' feet. :)



Our little growing family by the plane.

Potty, Food, and Dirt

Some pictures from last week:


Our short-lived, 2-day half-attempt at potty-training? Here is a picture from that. Isn't he cute on his little potty?














Grady helping me cook some eggs for supper. He is such a big helper. It's so cute.















Hadley in her fine jewels looking up at Joel. No, she hasn't been to Mardi Gras, but you would think it by the looks of the toy box. Our first Sunday back in Longview, we pulled up to church at the same time as my friend Nicole. She looked over at us. Hadley was still in an infant carseat/carrier at that time and Nicole said, "You know you are from Louisiana when you have Mardi Gras beads as your carseat mobile." :) It was funny. Hey, it kept her thoroughly entertained.

After supper the kids wanted some loving...both of them at the same time, usually the way it happens. Where will we put the 3rd (and 4th and 5th, etc.)? At the rate we are going, Grady will still only be 4 or 5 when we have the 5th. :) I'm sure we'll find room. :)



O.K., I absolutely cannot explain the expression on my face. I had just woken up, so I take no responsibility for the way I look. I take no responsibility for anything when I have just woken up...not exactly the chipper morning person. But, this was fabulous. If you read my post on the 17th, you know that I was brought breakfast in bed by Joel and the kids. Breakfast in bed is not such a rarity really...God gave me the most wonderful husband ever. But, "candles" (yes, those are straws...Joel couldn't find the real candles at first...I had to tell them where they were and then he brought me a pancake with the real candles :) ) in my pancakes is rare. It was fun. And yummy. And look at that cute little girl wanting some of my pancakes.
Grady's new trick...turning a flip. This was after the flip had already been turned...I could never snap the shot mid-flip.














Becky, look at that butt. :) On Saturday, we went over to some friends' house to grill for supper. It was fun. They have a little boy, Braden, who will be 2 this Saturday I think...anyhow, they decided to get under the porch and play in the dirt/sand. This was the end result...which only took about 2 seconds. :) Hadley had sat down in a wet/damp area of the yard and so her backside was REALLY getting dirty. The last of the pictures today are of our forever dirty little girl. Grady was a little dirty too, just because it was very hot that day...but, he has never just wallowed in the dirt like Hadley does. I'd swear she's part pig. :)

Ultrasound

We went for our ultrasound on Monday evening. It was stupendous. The midwife we see is about 45 minutes away. Our great friend Judy kept the kids for us and so we made it into a date. First of all, the ultrasound showed that everything is perfectly normal...you know, 2 kidneys, perfect spine, pumping heart, etc. We didn't find out too many details other than everything looked good, but we will get the full "report" from the ultrasound at our next appt. After the ultrasound, we had a great visit with the midwife. Then we went to a great Mexican restaurant that we had never been to before. Then, of course, we rushed back to our kids that we missed. :) I am usually never in pictures...or rarely in pictures. I'm usually the one taking them. But, today it's all about me. :) No, but seriously, I am in every last picture...crazy. So, here are the pictures of the ultrasound and date...


Here we are in the middle of the ultrasound. Can't really see much on the screen, but it's a cute little baby...take our word for it.









This is taken right in front of the birthing center where I see my midwife. Isn't it a pretty street?














This is our "too hot" shot. The "too hot" sign with the "too hot" Mama in front of it. That's sarcasm, by the way. And, I am poking it out a little...I look really big in the picture, but there is a poke involved.












Eating our great Mexican meal with my husband...great date. Great night...can't get much better...seeing your unborn baby move around on a TV and then going out for chips and salsa (and much more food) with your husband. :)

60th Anniversary/Graduation Pictures

My husband is now a CFI (certified flight instructor)!! WOOHOO! Yes, he finished up about 4pm this afternoon after dodging some major obstacles (like weather this morning and broken down airplanes and such). So, we are super excited to have that chapter over. Thank you for all your prayers.

Now for more pictures from the week in Saline...these are from the last 2 days there.


On the 13th, we had a 60th Anniversary celebration for Granny and Granddaddy Hough. The 24th is their actual anniversary. It was a great time and we got to see some family and friends that we hadn't seen in years. Here, Grady is nabbing some of the mints.





Granny and Granddaddy cutting their cake. I think this was their first wedding cake...they eloped to get married. In fact, Granddaddy was only 16 years old at the time...Granny had just turned 19 (yes, an older woman). Scandalous, huh? :) They both got gifts too. Their last name is Hough, pronounced like "rough" and "tough." Granddaddy was always known as "Huff," his nickname. So, he got an orange towel with "Huff" on it...there's a story behind why the towel, but I won't explain it all here. Granny got a wedding band. In these 60 years, she's worn out 2. One of those that she wore out Granddaddy had won by counting the freckles on a little boy at a jewelry store.


Granny and Granddaddy and their five children.



The 5 kids with spouses.



Tucker, Ariel, Colby, and Kiley deep in conversation.



Granny and Granddaddy with the grandkids (13 in all, but 1 wasn't there...and there's 1 on the way due any day now), grandkids by marriage (3 in all, but 1 wasn't there), and great-grandkids (4 and 1 on the way).



Hadley playing with Eli on the pew...and Grady taking a little break. :)










My brother cracks me up...all the time.
















Yep...goofy. :)
















Joel and Hadley having a good ole time...Hadley was laughing so hard playing with him.



One of the things we always do when Jared is home is go to Lakewood Inn...a really good seafood restaurant not far from us in Saline. Colby (cousin) and his girlfriend Melissa and Ariel (cousin)tagged along. Looks like they are having fun. :)



The other side of the table. For some reason, Mama and the kids didn't get in either picture. They were in the periphery that didn't get in the camera's view.








The kids saying goodbye to Uncle Jared. He is a veterinarian in the Army and they are pretty strict about how much time he can stay somewhere. So, he had to go back earlier than originally planned...but, we were glad he got to come for a little bit at least.











My cousin, Cobly Lee, graduated from Saline High School on the 14th. Here we are with Colby and our "dark-complected cousin," Shemarcus. I'm not really sure why I have raccoon eyes in this picture, but we'll just go with it.






Shemarcus and Tucker.