It's beginning to look alot like CHRISTmas!

**BEWARE all related readers(especially female cousins)this post will most surely contain CHRISTmas present pictures and/or descriptions. Proceed at your own risk and possible dissapointment.** It's 2 days peeps. You can wait!Here is a picture of sweet Echo to distract you. It's not the greatest picture, but she was soooo cute trying to eat the CHRISTmas wreath.

I have been a busy little beever this week with the makin' of the presents. I choose to make all the cousin presents and I am almost done. I made an A&M throw quilt for the KIG. He's named after the football field so I felt it was appropriate. And since hes the little guy at 7 and a half it's a bit easier to make a blanket his size!
Basically I was being lazy. But hey, don't hate!! I had a super busy week last week and got nothing done personally.

And I am in the process of making pot holders for the girls. I think they are pretty darn cute if I do say so myself and I will now provide photographic proof!
I HEART ironing! is that strange?
the apple ones go to a friend and the more colorful ones to the cousins!I also have some pinned and ready to sew with mushrooms, mice and bumblebees on them. Here's to hoping that they like them.

The big boys are easy. Homemade food and they are set. So tomorrow is baking day.

Now, lets keep our fingers crossed that I get a LAPTOP for CHRISTmas so I can stop being that weird blogger at the library or the girl who steals her Mommas computer while shes in the bathroom!

Ridin' the TRAIN

For my birthday I rode a train. No lie, an honest to God steam engine. It was A-MAZING! My parents were basically tired of hearing me talk about how much I desired to ride an authentic train so the Saturday after my birthday we all piled in the truck and headed to Rusk, Texas home of one of the Texas State Railroad depots.We boarded the train which was super duper cool and the ride began.

OMG!!

So stinkin' worth the wait. I had the best time! It was cold and fall like and foggy. My personal all time favorite weather. I am a rainy day kind of girl and I was estatic. The leaves were all red and gold and there were pinecones.

I would love to tell you more, but I have a feeling y'all might be a little bored. Feel free to email me if you want the entire story. Instead I will leave you with some photos. Be jealous. It's ok.

still not cheese

So, as I mentioned in a previous post I don't eat red meat. I like chicken and fish. I can tolerate really white pork. But no questionable meats. No road kill, no unidentifiable, no pressed, processed or mechanically separated. Just to let you know the score.
Well, the other day I have this really DISGUSTING cold. Can't breath, eyes are running, nose is running, head is aching blah, blah, blah. You get the gist. I go over to my parents house on Tuesday's to watch my show since I don't have cable so I am sitting on the couch and my Mom calls. Since I am sick she is being all sweet and seeing what I would like best for supper.

Say it with me now... Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

Yep I am spoiled.

So after some thought I decided on pizza. By this time I have consumed gallons of TheraFlu and Lipton's cup o soup. I am slightly concerned that if I ingest anymore straight liquid I might drown. Really. I am not a fan of drowning. I am thinking that if I eat something spicy I might actually be able to TASTE it. Ahh, taste, flavor, substance. I have missed you.

So my sister arrives home and she likes Domino's so we call and order something covered with deceased wildlife and a half cheese/half pepperoni. My Mom swings by on her way home to get it... and they don't take checks. Now, my lovely Momma. Born in 1958 in Muleshoe, Texas. She wears reading glasses, has BEAUTIFUL silvery hair, wears a skirt everyday, and always writes in cursive. PERFECT PENMANSHIP PEOPLE!! She does not have a debit card. She does not have a credit card. She writes you a check or she gives you cash. Period.

And she tells the peeps at Dominos to keep their stinkin' pizza and she will go elsewhere. She calls us at home to give us the sad news.

I have a head full of snot and an empty tummy. I am not pleased. Thanks anyways Dominos.

We call good 'ole Belton Pizza Hut. I ask Hey! Do y'all take checks? The reply Yeah, sure. I place my order. One half cheesy goodness/half questionable pepperoni; one hunter's bounty. Hand tossed crust, extra marinara and we are set.

Momma heads in for the pickup and... THEY DON'T TAKE CHECKS!!!!

YOU ARE KIDDING ME! I ASKED YOU!

I have been betrayed. Lied to. Lead astray. Mislead. A multitude of other words ending and beginning with lead.

My Momma calls. She has told them to keep their pizza and she will go elsewhere. Pizza Hut, you have let us down.

So sweet, loving, patient Momma heads to the HEB. THEY will ALWAYS take her check. They know her there. It is home. She purchases a plain yet exotic FOUR CHEESE PIZZA and some dough /sauce/ carcass something or another for her and my Dad.

The weary traveler AKA Momma arrives home and we get to cookin'. Heating. It's whatever. We pull the Cheese Pizza from it box.

IT'S A PEPPERONI PIZZA!!!

I kid you not. There is a pepperoni pizza IN the cheese pizza box.

My poor Momma. She is defeated. Undone.

Her HEB has betrayed her. How could this happen? Why this pizza? This box? This night? We stand in the kitchen stunned. Dismayed. Darn it. Hungry!

We pull the pepperoni off my half pop it in the oven and we eat. The taste? Bitter defeat.

In the end I take some more TheraFlu and we call it a night.

Ren Fest!

So, this really has nothing to do with what I have to say today but I thought I would throw it in there. Went to the Renaissance Festival in Plantersville a few weeks ago. Some friends and I go every year so it was a fun weekend to just hang out. We all know how I feel about bagpipes so I had to listen to Tartanic about a zillion times! They are still tons of fun. The weather was awesome and the costumes were...interesting. There was a man. In a skirt. He was belly dancing. Interesting.


Yes, I find it slightly disturbing as well. I will be going back next weekend for Highland Fling. Which means... you guessed it! MORE BAGPIPES! Be still my quaking heart. **sigh** And Highland Games and kilts and haggis and general fun to be had. If anyone is interested in tagging along, let me know.

the dreams i have

Here they are, in no particular order. The dreams that I have.

that doc martens come back in style 'cause their so darn amazing.

that the trader bookstore always has the book that i'm looking for.

of a farm. with chickens and goats and kids all running around together.

of clotheslines and recycling bins.

of someone who appreciates the fact that I make my own laundry soap.

of Alaska.

of panning for gold in an ice cold stream.

of lumberjacks and plaid shirts.

of amazing shoes.

of leather tote bags and perfectly steady tripods.

of butter toffee.

of sunsets and sunrises out of a different window every day.

of perfect hair everyday.

of snow and bears and wolves.

of RVing.

that my dog lives forever.

now, many of these dreams are never going to come true. some of these dreams I will make sure do come true. that's the most amazing things about life. everyday we get up and we choose to make our dreams come true. and its hard. and its scary. discouraging. disheartening. overwhelming. sometimes we want to pull the covers over our head and pretend that if we don't see it happen then it doesn't. but the truth is if we don't make it happen then it doesn't. so, i'm gonna make it happen. even if i don't always have perfect hair or amazing shoes.

i see God in the mustard

So, I will begin this little message sharing with you the fact that I hate my car. With much passion. HATE IT. I hate that it's so small. A child in a car seat is about the only individual that can fit comfortably in the back seat. The defroster doesn't work so I have to drive with the window down when it's cold to be able to see. There is no lock on the trunk, just a gigantic hole where the locking mechanism used to reside. The passenger side fender is dented and I have one hubcap that looks like a large carnivorous animal tried to snack on it. The air conditioner works, praise Jesus; but it makes a horrendous noise. True fact, one day a few weeks ago I am in the drive-thru line at the Starbucks waiting patiently for my turn to request a Grande Cafe Vanilla Frappachino, when it happens. The gentleman in front of me yells out of his window---

"Miss, could you please turn off your car while I order? I can't hear."

So, properly chastised for my obvious lack of drive-thru etiquette; I turn her off. Yes, her. I call her Faye. It is now my turn so I pull up... yep, had to turn her off again 'cause I couldn't hear either. Same thing goes for the lady in the SUV behind me. My little tiny car makes more noise than her SUV!? And then I get to the window and the guy shouts out to me --

"Did you want whip on that?!"

Please, shoot me now.

In short, I HATE the blooming thing. And while she has never left me stranded in our 10 years together we've had some really tense moments. I am ready to make some changes in my life and sadly, sweet little KIA, you are not invited.

So yesterday as I am leaving morning church I decide to roll my windows down since it is such a cool day. Only 89 at noon!! Woo-Hoo. And of course I don't have power windows. Now, a normal person could just fling their body over the center console and manually roll down the window. Which is what I would normally do. But yesterday I was not is the best of moods so I decide to throw myself a pity party. It went something like this.

"Stupid junky KIA. I hate you. I loathe your manual features. I hate your little tires. I despise that when I honk my horn people look around for a Barbie Jeep. I want to drive with all my windows down and let the wind blow through my hair. I want a sunroof and a trunk that opens. I want better gas mileage." Complain, Complain, Complain. You get my drift.

As I approached my house I decided to stop by the Sonic and get a Cherry Limeade. A little instant gratification. I pull into a stall and push the button. And wait, and wait, and wait... Hello, it's 12:30. There are a zillion people at Sonic. And here I go again, whining because it's so hot in the car. If I only had ELECTRIC windows I could have them all open and get some air circulating. And I'm off. Galloping towards a real temper all about a stupid car!

Side note-- I would like to say that I am a believer in signs from God. And I would also like to say that God has had to bonk me on the head to make me listen. Several times.

As I am waiting for my Cherry Limeade I am looking around. I kind of smile at the older gentlemen in the spot to my right as he is pulling out. I glance back out MY window and hear a little pop and notice the car hop coming my way. Yea!! I pay for my drink and put the car in reverse. I look over to the passenger side to make sure no one is coming. So... remember that little pop I mentioned earlier? That was the sound of the older gentleman next to me RUNNING OVER A MUSTARD PACKET! The ENTIRE passenger side of my car is splattered with MUSTARD! It is dripping down the windows. The ROLLED UP windows.

God says BONK- right upside my head.

If I had those fancy windows I wanted I would be COVERED in MUSTARD. The upholstery of my car would be COVERED in MUSTARD.

Lesson learned, people. God always gives us what we need according to HIS KNOWLEDGE of those needs. I didn't know this was going to happen, but HE did. And acted accordingly. So, this morning on my way to work I rolled down my drivers side window and let the wind blow in my hair and thanked God for a car that starts and a job to drive it to.

i'm losing

what do you do when a friend changes right in front of your eyes? its like you can see all that they were being stripped away and replaced with this person that you are not even sure you like? how do you confront someone that is not even aware that they are changing? how do you let them know that you love them, but that you don't really like this new person they have become? if overflow of the heart comes out of the mouth then i am terrified that this heart has been changed for the worse. how do you pray for someone to be something else? how do you let someone know that you love them so much, but that you are scared that maybe if things keep heading in the same direction that that could change?

Welcome!

I would like to take this time an welcome my new baby cousin! This is my cousin Kristi at her baby shower.

Jenavive Dylynn Ballard
was born on August 27, 2009 and weighed in at 8pounds and 12 ounces! She was born on our Granny's birthday. This is very special for us because she passed away on June 4, 2008. Baby Jenavive is the first grandchild born since her death and we couldn't be happier that she was born on such an important day in our lives. We are so happy to finally get to meet you Jenavive and we can't wait to see what God has in store for your life!

Jenavive joins her 4 year old big brother Julian Kuper(as seen above) and we are excited to see what kind of mischeif they get into in the future.

Congratualtions Aunt Joy and Luis on your first granddaughter!

And of course, we can't forget proud daddy Gary!

i heart you guys!

25 RANDOM THINGS you never thought you wanted to know about ME!

1. My drivers liscense lists my eye color as grey. I told the nice lady at the counter that they were obviously blue and she told me I was dreaming. Seriously... I have Eyore eyes.


2. I wear Gas Permeable contact lenses in my Eyeore eyes(and yes, they still make those!)


3. I am a huge fan of Watermelon Blow-Pops. Huge Fan.


4. I love carnival rides. I love the lights and the creepy carnival workers and how if you see the rides in the daylight you would have to be crazy to even think of riding them. I love how they tie you in cars because the straps are usually broken and how they use bobby pins to secure the doors. I love the thrill of possible injury.


5. I have been bungee jumping,


6. And sky diving,


7. And free climbing,


8. And repelling and


9. I want to do it ALL again.


10. I HATE going out to eat.


11. I love shoes but would prefer to be barefoot at all times.


12. I look like orphan Annie (and NOT in a cute, ragamuffin sort of way) if my hair is shorter than my shoulders so I wear it long.


13. I am addicted to Teva's


14. I haven't eaten beef since I was 12 years old and Texas still lets me live here.


15. Frogs are a negative with their big googly eyeballs and their gross sticky feet. No thank you.


16. I have nightmares that one day suddenly all my teeth fall out. My dentist has assured me that I am not in danger of this, but frankly Dr Voightel, I'm still a little freaked out.


17. I still attend the same church that my parents were married in. (it's a really long story that I'll post later)

18. I work as a cartograher. No one ever knows what this means unless I explain it.


19. I sleep a total of 4 hours a night and that's on a good day. I have done this since I was born.

20. I am endlessly amused by the Disney Channel.

21. As a teenager I would tell people I wanted 18 kids and they said it wasn't possible. Thank you, Michelle Dugger for opening their eyes!

22. I love sweet tea.

23. I have 10 piercings(all in my ears people!) and 4 tattoos. I love body mod!

24. I am FREAKED OUT by feet. Don't touch me with yours, don't touch mine with anything. Pedicures are torture.

25. I would live at the library. Really.