One of the good ones

A good measure of the influence you've had on someone is how often they keep in touch. By that measure Jason has made a big impact on Lane. He played for Jason at Abilene High and Jason always had the utmost respect for him. Lane worked his heart out in everything he did. He was never content to do something halfway and Jason appreciated that. When Lane went to Africa on a church mission trip, he flew all the way home with a 10# carved wooden elephant on his lap, to give to his favorite coach. Jason said Lane reminded him of himself. So everytime Lane calls, Jason mentions it to me and when Lane says he'll be in the area and wants to stop by to see us, we rearrange our schedule for him. Lane is an extraordinary young man and we are secretly hoping that he will wait long enough that Emma will one day catch his eye. That's how great we think he is.

2nd grade reader

I got a call this morning and on the other end of the line I heard the sweetest little voice. I couldn't understand a thing he said but then the translater came on, "This is Mrs. Luongo and Tatum, and he wanted to tell you what he did today". Okay, I know this is bad, but I immediately thought he said something about coloring the walls red or marking on someone....but no! What he wanted to tell me was that he read 70 words per minute! In laymen's terms that means he is reading on a second grade speed level. This is huge!! What a smarty pants this little guy is! Mrs. Luongo said they are going to have to move on to some harder stuff to really push him. And to think, just 7 months ago, some quack doctor told us that he couldn't even read. He just keeps amazing us!

NO!

What might be heard on a normal night at bath time in our house: Don't Bite! Don't pee on the floor! Get back in the tub! Stop squirting water! Sit up! Don't pinch! That's not your toy! Turn the water off! Leave the water on!
So imagine his suprise when Jason walked into the bathroom to find Tennison on top of the toilet like a gymnast on the pummel horse, only hands on the seat, going teetee in the toilet. He had gotten out of the bathtub to sit on the toilet. WHAT?!

Life is Pain Princess

The first red flag: "How do you make it scream?"

Second red flag: A round brush in long hair

But the beauty persists with the treatment

"Now it's your turn Mommy!"

Sleep

Ooh, such cuddly, kissable, melt my heart sweetness. Love, Love, LOVE this!... All scrunched up, arms tucked under himself, no sound but the deep, soft breathing... lips all puckered, chubby cheeks...oh! those cheeks!

And the feet...little sausage toes, dirty from no shoes outside, little old man wrinkled pads, but still so smooth, warm as fresh toast...

And then the bear cub awakens from his slumber, just waiting to be picked up so that he can bury his little warm head in the crook of my neck, and don't forget to bring Green frog when we go, he likes to cuddle too. THIS is what I will miss!

Spring Watermelons

The first watermelon of spring...Tatum at 5 slices, Emma 3, Tennison would take 1 bite of each piece and come back for another (as I learned after I went outside to investigate how the littlest one was eating melon the fastest)

Baby No More

Who is this big kid sitting at my breakfast table, demanding to eat cereal with a spoon? He staggers into the kitchen first thing in the morning and immediately begins his day with "EAT! EAT!" No booster seats for him, what an insult! He will sit at the table like the rest of the family. My baby has been hijacked and replaced with this boy who has definate opinions!

Goodbye Midland

"The Tall City", so called because obviously it is the only thing that can be seen on the horizon for miles. Midland is the definition of "flat"

St Paul United Methodist Church, this is the church I grew up in. I still remember every closet, every hall, every classroom. I had a great childhood in this church. When we went there it was alive, active, and constant. My best childhood friends Trena and Rachel were there. I was part of Easter contata every year but I never got to play Mary the mother of Jesus. I sang in the choir, went to summer camp, ate potlucks, and made my own shaved ice cones. My dad had a key to every door and everyone knew everyone and we were all loved. It was a great church. I wish I had made the decision to marry in this church, but vanity won out. Goodbye St Paul's.

The 'hood, Stanolind, one steet of many named after oil companies. Hey, it's what drove our city. Scott Carlson lived next door and Scott Taylor was across the street. Rachel Gauldin lived just caty-corner. Scott C was probably my best friend of all. We would make forts out of old fence posts, light ant hills on fire with freon, and try to dig holes to China in his backyard. I would walk to the 7-eleven 3 blocks away to buy a butterfinger. I rode my bike 4 blocks down the street to Sandy's house for piano lessons (boy that was a long trip). A short walk down the alley and I was at school. My 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Chambers lived behind us. She was a superior teacher...I still remember my helping verbs...amisarewaswerebebeingbeenhavehashaddodoesdidcancouldshallshouldmaymightmust...thanks to her. My brother and I have races to see who can say it the fastest. We had a dog, Chip, who loved to eat locusts and climb the tree next to our house to get up on the roof. My brothers room was always dark and smelly. Mine was very cheery and full of stuffed animals. The trip to Odessa to see my Granny took what seemed like hours but now I know it was more like 40 minutes. The whole time in the car, Luke would try to claw me with his sharpened toenails. I pulled the electric fence out of the wall twice, both times after being tricked into it by my meany brother. My memories of this house could write a book. Goodbye house.

Midland Christian School may have saved my life. My parents decided to take me out of Goddard when they found out that in the 7th grade, at a friends sleepover, her parents gave us winecoolers. I was outwardly furious, but inwardly, so relieved to not have to keep up with the things I knew my parents would not let me do. Carolina and Amy were my absolute best friends of all time. I would never imagine life without them in it. At MCS, I got to be part of the volleyball team, cheerleading squad, yearbook staff, Spanish club, and theatre (which led to my scholarship at McMurry, which led to my meeting and marrying Jason). Goodbye Midland Christian.

This was the all time best job in the whole world. I got to dress up in my cutest outfits and be the first person to greet everyone and you can't believe how many phone numbers I got out the gig! It was great until I got fired because, like HELLO, like I can't work on Friday night, I am a like a cheerleader, like, seriously, whatever! Goodbye Chili's.Here's a little fun trivia...what couple married in the same church as President and Mrs. George W. Bush? That would be Mr. and Mrs. Jason D. Goodbye First United Methodist Church.

Now we're all grown up, the house has changed alot, but I have to say the town hasn't changed much. We've had our share of disagreements, but oh, how we laugh and have fun with each other. I wouldn't trade my childhood for a million perfect lives. My mom and dad are still married. We still all speak to each other and come home periodically. We are all involved in each others lives. For that I am thankful.

Goodbye Midland.

This little piggy

Emma: "I hanged out with the big girls" after going with Mom and Shane to get pedicures.
She sat in that big massage chair, her little legs barely hanging over the edge, and sucked her thumb the whole time, periodically glancing over at me with a little shy grin on her face. Look, she has my long first toe :)

Spare the rod...

Emma: I can't wait until I am a grown up
Me: Why, what do grownups get to do that you want to do?
Emma: They get to spank people

Another baby?!

Jason and I were sitting in Chik-fil-a tonight, watching our kids play, having a little "us" time, when the cutest big headed baby sat down at the table next to ours. He was probably 6 months old and I'm telling you a bowling ball had nothing on this kid. CUTE! Jason says, "you know, I'm glad you can't have anymore kids because you could probably talk me into a 4th baby". Can you even imagine!!! But you know what, in one of my manic moods, when the birds are chirping, we're dancing in the kitchen to "Take the shackles of my feet so I can dance, I'm just gonna praise You, I'm just just gonna praise You!", and I am totally and completely in love with my children, my husband, and my life (like today), I could see myself asking. Then when the pendulum swings the other way and the clouds settle over my face and swarms of mud, poop, and toys descend upon me, and I can't see how I'm going to get through the next hour without screaming or crying or both, it would all be Jason's fault. Oh, thank you God that my husband loves me so much and is willing to ride the waves of my crazy tides.

Dr. Suess Week

In honor of Dr. Suess' birthday, Tatum's school is having a theme week. Yesterday they served Green Eggs and Ham and that's all Tatum could talk about when I picked him up from school. On Friday it will be crazy hat day in honor of "The Cat in the Hat". It just so happened that Coach Blue was invited to read to an elementary school and was given this hat. Just in passing he asked if Tatum would like to have it. Are you kidding! Tatum will eat, sleep, and bathe in it if we let him. This morning he met us in the kitchen on all fours with this hat on. He WAS "the Cat in the Hat". We are super stoked about Friday when he actually DOES get to wear the hat ALL DAY!