From Beginning to End.

>>This was written in Aug of last year (2010) when Anderson was just starting PreK summer program at Liberty<<ANDERSON UPDATE:
A started PreK August 16. He is doing so well already, they sent out a curriculum sheet and it says they will teach the ABC's and counting and to write his name. He already knows his ABC's and can count to 10, but I was floored that he might know how to write his name. He is sharp as a tack and makes me so proud to see him learn and come home excited to tell us everything. He is growing up so fast!!!

Its now almost the beginning of May!! Anderson has been through his first whole year of PreK. I can't believe I stopped blogging there has been so much that has happened I wish I had kept it up a little better. Anyway. When they gave us the curriculum sheet at the beginning of the summer last year my baby has JUST turned 3 and they were telling me that he would write his name by the end of the year -- and here it is about a month before his first year of PreK wraps up and summer starts and this is just a tiny piece of what we have accomplished.

I didn't bless my son with a short name -- and just as I said when he was a baby, I didn't plan on calling him Andy.. so here it is. He knows how to write it, and can pick it out of a group of other names, and knows all the letters and can recite them to you! To say that I am proud is beyond true. My sweet boy is growing up on my and like to remind me of that all the time!
As we near the end of one school year we have already re enrolled him for next year then its on to Kindergarten!!! YIKES.

In other news, while it seems there has been a whirl wind of things going on and we stay busy not a lot has changed. We are still working toward building our house but we need to find a lot/ acreage and pick a plan.. and and and and .... we still have a long ways to go but we have paid off a lot of out debt which feels great! Still living in Shawnee OK and loving it. Anderson is finishing up soccer and starting tee ball (which is his favorite). Other than that we are just keepin on keepin on.

Treasures..

Before I had Anderson I did want a girl, just the idea of the cute clothes and stuff. Well as much as I think every daddy needs a girl, I think every mommmy needs a boy. Anderson is my light, Ron is my rock. They together complete me. Anderson is all the time picking me flowers, weeds, leaves, accorns.. little treasures that he sticks deep down into his pockets just for mommy. Then he comes running up with this amazing light in his eyes to show me my "SURPRISE" and presents me with whatever little treasure made him think of me that day... (I am scared to death one day it might be a LIVE treasure) hahha
Yesterday him and Ron went to the golf course to soak up some of the last sun rays of the year and A found his treasure. He came home and was so excited to present it to me.. he found a BEAUTIFUL rock, just for ME.
I just love my boys so much and I am blessed beyond measure to have them in my life. I have said this so many times, but something about that rock lastnight just brought a light to my heart and a smile to my face.
Boys are special and mine is no exception.

rut. funk. whatever..

I have felt like for the past couple of months my hormones have been changing. I have been going through some pretty drastic high's and low's.. Currently I feel like I am in a LOW, quick tempered, unhappy, low. This has lasted longer than normal and Ron has actually addressed me about it. It reminds me of right before I found out I was diabetic...
Ron told me that he didn't know what was wrong with me, but I needed help and he would support me 110% in getting the help but he could not and would not live like this anymore. (My blood sugar was running around 800 and to say that I was a bitch is an understatement.)So I went to the doctor to find out what the heck was wrong with me, I went in thinking that I had some thyroid issues and would take a pill and be fine. Little did I know that my doctor would look at me and say "Oh my, your diabetic." Not only did those words change my life, 4 years ago, but they are still a thorn in my thigh today. haha
Anyway.
My "rut" has been at work for a while, I am usually a go getter, excited to see what all projects I can get my hands in and I love seeing the finished product knowing that I had a hand it it. Here lately it's just do my job -- the bare minimum and go home. Now that attitude has followed me home and I am taking it out on my sweet husband who deserves this no more than than a tree in the back yard would....
(bad analogy; yes.)
He sent me an email today just asking if I was "ok" and letting me know that everything would be ok and that he would be here for me however he could be. He just wanted me to know that he was thinking about me and wanted me to know that whatever it is that I am going through we will get through this together.
>>How did I get so dang lucky?<<
Work sucks right now,I am learning that you can be right and wrong in the same breath and I am learning what it is to be the worker bee. To NOT get recognition for the projects that you do - unless they fail then you FOR SURE get the "recognition." I'm not afraid to fail at work, it's through some peoples greatest failures they have learned their most valuable lessons. I like my job and the ones I work with, I am just still learning the definition of "fairness" in the workplace. It usually has something to do with seniority and brown nosing.. around here anyway. But I have learned to LAY LOW, those of you that know me will understand how hard this is for me.. but who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks...
I am going to take a step back, ask for some help and see what happens. I am not a bad person if I say I am having trouble staying afloat right now. I feel as if I have no one to turn to, I have friends that have REAL problems. I can't even put a finger on whatever is going on so its been labeled as a rut. Why in the world should I call can burden my friends with these issues when I know that they are hurting- I don't want to add to that. So I do what I do. Bottle it up and make it look like everything is FINE. (that's a word I have come to HATE, fine. I'm fine, it's fine == everyone is always fucking fine, when you know that they may appear to be ok on the surface, but they are like ducks and their legs are going a million miles an hour under the water were no one can see just to try and keep THEM afloat. But they are FINE. Sometimes people say they are fine as an escape, its easier to be FINE than it is to hurt and I get that, I am the queen of FINE maybe that is why I hate it, because I know that I am NOT FINE. Yet we are all FINE.) I used to be really good at the bottle it up, press it way down and don't think about it stuff. Eventually it all went away, well most of the time it seemed to. Right now my old plan is failing me. I need to find a way to restructure, come up with a new game plan. I am a happy, helpful, fun loving person and I despise this person I am when the rut comes to visit.
Anyway. This is not a plead for help. haha I don't need to "step back from that ledge my friend" and I don't think I am in need of medical help -YET (have you seen the woman in my family.. its comin)Just kidding. I just needed somewhere to try and sort through whats swimming in my head. Sorry if you read this, it's a total Debbie Downer of a message. But aren't we all entitled to a few of these.....

See ya Summer .... Hello FALLL!!!!

Summer is winding down... I have figured out with the exception of Spring I love all the the season. I love living in a place where I get to experience snow and cold in the winter, all the blooms and rain in the spring, the hott sun in summer, the beautiful colors and cool temps of fall... I don't not like spring, its just that I fight my allergies so bad that is the only month I always dread and look forward to getting over before it ever gets here. (I do love to see all the color come back after the blah of winter.)
I am so excited for my favorite of all season FALL. I love football and cool temps, beautiful rich colors, cooking soup, chili, stew... awe!! I love the FALL.

I have several projects I want to tackle this fall/winter.
-Stain my living room (possibly texture as well)
-Paint my kitchen (tile maybe??)
-Paint Anderson's bedroom
-Paint the spare bedroom

When we moved into this house all the walls were stark white. I am not a fan of white walls, it makes a house (to me) feel very clinical. We have lived here for 2 years and I have managed to paint the living room, hall and our bedroom. So this fall and winter will be dedicated to some interior over hauls. hahah

I would love to re texture all the rooms that I am planning on repainting as well, but I don't know how far I will get with that.


ANDERSON UPDATE:
A started PreK August 16. He is doing so well already, they sent out a curriculum sheet and it says they will teach the ABC's and counting and to write his name. He already knows his ABC's and can count to 10, but I was floored that he might know how to write his name. He is sharp as a tack and makes me so proud to see him learn and come home excited to tell us everything. He is growing up so fast!!!

Family First!!!

Anderson is three now. When we first moved to Shawnee he was barely one. Our "vacations" consisted of going to my mom and dads or spending a long weekend in OKC, maybe Dallas .... Lame? Yes, I know. Last year we made it out to Thunderbird for a week in mid September, (I had started a new job and didn't have enough leave time until then)it was beautiful for about 3 hours. Then a cold front blew in, it was cold and rainy -- Anderson was 2, so we hung in the camper and watched cartoon movies with him. It was fun, a nice family get-away, but not a vacation.
THIS YEAR:
We found this little spot not but 2 hours from home on lake Eufaula called Jellystone Park. It's set up to be kind of like Yogi Bear or whatever, but what it really reminds me of is the place the family stayed in Dirty Dancing! It's in the cove of the lake, we rented a little cabin and we get a boat slip -- Some of the things JellyStone offers are paddle boats, they have water trampoline and water slided that are set up in the lake... they have a zero level pool, then they do activities in the evenings. They have an indoor / outdoor theatre, a little game room to play cards or table games, or build puzzles. Now those of you that love Mexico vacations and such are probably thinking, sounds like Church camp or something. And you are right to a point, but all I can think about is that this is our first family vacation and I know that Anderson is going to have a blast, and when he has fun so do we!!
This is kinda right up our alley anyway, we love camping and boating and just kickin back to relax. No agenda to follow, we wake when we want.... play when we want.... eat when we want.... Then when my 3 year old gets tired and needs a nap, we are seconds away from our little 5star cabin.. hahah
I have not been this excited about some thing in a very long time. I feel like a kid a Christmas, I haven't been able to sleep all week. Not because I have a list a mile long of stuff that I need to pack, but because I absolutely can't wait to get there and show Anderson what a REAL vacation is!!!
And if you think it couldn't get any better :: THINK AGAIN!!!!!
My bestest girlfriend in the entire world (and her hubs) are coming tonight, we are going to go play out on our lake all day tomorrow! We always have a good time so be looking for the next installment of "The life and times of Harry and Lloyd" .. and hopefully not long after that we will have
"The 3 stooges ... Harry Lloyd and Martha" That's right girls, its coming!!!
I hope that as we keep bookin through this year, this finds you and yours blessed, happy, and health! Love.

boots and ...shorts??

Anderson got a new pair of boots over Oil Patch Weekend from his cousin Miles. I thought that he would like to play in them, but I didn't realize just how much. This is what he wore ALL weekend. Shorts, Cowboy Boots, and a Cowboy HAT.. then he would not be referred to as Anderson, but as COWBOY. LOL

The summer is flying by. We have been to Perryton and Durant Ok more this summer than I would like to admit. We are going on vacation to Jellystone at lake Eufuala for a week in August. I think Anderson will really enjoy it, we are renting a cabin and taking the boat... its my kind of vacation!! I am suppppper excited. The weekend before we leave to go on vacation, Brice and Sunnye are hopefully going to come spend a weekend with us at the lake here. It's always a good time when Harry and Lloyd get together!!!! I am having a blast this summer and really enjoying my family. I wish my brother lived closer and didn't have to work so much. I really miss him.

We have a contract on our house in Durant and if that for some reason happens to fall through, we also have a back up contract. So push comes to shove, we should have it sold by the end of August. That will be a huge weight lifted.

My ten year class reunion is coming up in September, I am ecxited to get together with everyone and see all my OLD pals...

Other than that Anderson starts Prek the middle of August, I can't believe he is getting so big so fast. We are thinking about adding another, but I have to get my b/s back in better control first, so it might be a while, Anderson has a pretend sister... I guess he is trying to tell us something. Maybe next year we will stop preventing it -- I don't know about the whole "trying" thing. Anyway, its been a while since I popped in. So here is your summer update.

PRAYER REQUEST:
I have a friend that is going to have a procedure done the first of August. Please join me in prayer for her -- may God bless her and give her the desires of her heart. Love you ------!!
I pray this finds you and yours blessed and healthy. Love and Bless. Mindee

OPOSSUM.

Last night Ron and I were fast asleep, Anderson had stayed the last night night at his Nanny's house here in Shawnee. (They are moving back to Denison tomorrow) I took a bendryl so I would rest better, I don't sleep well when Ron or Anderson isn't at HOME. Anyway I hear Bo, this morning at 1:30am..This huge yelp crossed with a bark noise. I send Ron to the door to hush him, which he did.
Ron: Bo you better hush it up RIGHT NOW.
Just about the time he got back to the bed, Bo started it again. So this time Ron goes over to the door, mumbling under his breath the whole way there and throws open the door and hits the light and starts in again.
Ron: Bo. I said you better.... OH MY GOSH. Good job BO. Babe Bo has a possum cornered out here.
Mindee: A WHAT?
Ron: A possum come look.
So I jump out of bed and run over there and sure enough he had a possum cornered with its mouth wide open. That dang thing was frozen solid and was not moving. I am yelling at Bo trying to keep him away from the varmint and the next thing I know Ron comes barrelling out the back door in his under ware and flip flops with a golf club and a big plastic toy bucket.
Mindee: Now what in hell are you going to do with those Ron Duffell?
Ron: I'm gonna throw this bucket on top of it and trap it and call animal control.
Mindee: ... and the golf club?
Ron: just in case...
So he tosses the bucket - his the dang thing, which doesn't move - but misses.
Mindee: alright. Now what?
So I tell him to get a rock and throw at it. He does, hits it right on the head and it moves about 6 inches. I said you are going to have to chuck it. SO I picked up 2 rocks and rapid fire, missing both times but the thing RAN off into the yard.
...so did BO.
I called for him but he was busy chassin' he didn't hear a word I said. Now 2 weeks ago we had a skunk shimmy under our house, last night it was a possum. I LIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN YA'LL.
Anyway, after it was all said and done Ron and I laughed our butts off and thought maybe we need to get a gun. (I think a paintball or bee bee gun would work fine)