WooHoo for Ryan! Don't take on too much, cousin. We don't want you worn out before you hit 30! Good job pontificating. Miss you all!

Sounds like everything is going GREAT!!! And you have a FULL plate. Wow. But I know you can do it all! Good luck!!! I hope it's a great school year!

I am so glad that all the various jobs you two have worked out. I know you will be as busy as ever, doing good things for everyone around you!

Super awesome about Ryan!!! Tell him congrats for me! And you ..as always are staying super busy!

You are going to be great at your two new tasks! I LOVE that you are there and that you are right across the hall from Conner. FCA has such a good group of teachers. I love all of you!

Wow, good for Ryan!!!! Is Ryan still "the Public Address Announcer @ FC basketball games too?

I'm the treasurer. :)

It was good! I actually used Quaker Oat Squares instead of Chex and I liked it! I'll give you the recipe if you can't google it. (pumpkin spice chex mix) I just returned the magazine, but I can get it back for you. :) Let me know if you need it.

Hey, while I'm stateside, why don't you come up to Mom and Dad's and demonstrate that roasting technique? Would love to see you.

My foodie cousin - oh, the irony! There was a time when I thought you'd starve based on what you would eat. Glad you've become more wise to the world of food! :) I think I'll try some roasted veges tomorrow night. We're having company for dinner, so I'll have more guinea pigs!

Nov 22 - Jan 17, though some of that time is booked. Check with my scheduler (Dad) for a good time to visit.

I actually thought about Kelly but our sonographer was so unsure of the gender she didn't take any pictures of the baby's bottom and she said it was to protect herself since she wasn't sure. Seriously, I think we just got referred to the wrong place. Every other time we've had an ultrasound it was nothing like this time. I would like to try again but we'll see if Frederic wants to pay for another one!

wow, that's awesome for ryan! How did that happen?

Whoa and YEA for RL!

Jesse's going to be soooo jealous when he hears Ryan gets to go to the Masters! Oh my! We're doing good though :)

Thanks for the update - so glad so many things are good! Niece # 6 and no nephews? That's somthing else! I wonder if you guys will have all boys to balance things out. :) We're doing great. Justin has less than 2 months of school until he's done for good, and he's starting the job hunt. Exciting times!

We went to the Master's last year...LOVED it! SO FUN! Who is he going with? Hope to see you around sometime soon!

Give me an excuse to watch...just to see him in the gallery.

Another niece? I hadn't heard. Glad to know you're both well. We're all fine. We've had hints of Spring, so I'm inspired to clean.

Oh no, it is annoying to me as well

Thanks Staci! My first trimester hasn't been that bad. I kept thinking maybe I wasn't expecting since I wasn't that sick. I was nauseous a week around the time I found out. I was a little bit in Paris but I think that's because my schedule was off.

My tips: Organization! This means having everything set up and ready to go (minus the pulling out tables part). Also, display things as attractively as possible. Every time you have a rush of people, go out and straighten everything out. Clothes are really important to organize because people will not look at them if they are in a huge pile. NEVER put tarps out and throw stuff on the ground. Do not set things up outside if you can help it because dew gets on it and wreaks havoc. Bryce and I rarely even touch stuff that has been outside overnight when we go to yard sales. Have plenty of change and small bills. You must use a calculator (although mine died this last time and I was able to do the math on paper). Sounds dumb and looks a bit tacky, but if you can use a little money apron, try it. Bryce bought one for 79 cents at Lowes and it was great not having to worry about a money box while I was up and down organizing things. Don't take stickers off if you can help it. It saves time, space on paper and most of the time some of the tags will fall off anyways. Be flexible on some prices but stick to your guns on others. You know the value of your stuff. If the person is smart, they will know too. If not, let them walk away...someone else will love your treasure. DO NOT spend money on advertising. Post great signs (6-8) and write a great (even funny or cute) ad on Craigslist (be as descriptive as possible). If you have any furniture items, make sure you describe it. Sound modern and fun. Get up early and expect the rush to come about 30-60 min. before your advertised time. Get as much sleep as possible the night before and dress in layers. I'm always freezing to start (even in the summer) and boiling by the time it is done. Clean up and REMOVE SIGNS (I hate it when people don't) immediately. You may even find someone on Craigslist that will email you offering to pick up (usually a "church" or something) anything left over. Don't donate junk (the old coffee cup collection, etc.) to Goodwill. Recycle what you can, give away what you can and then donate to Goodwill only if you still have decent stuff. Good luck! Have fun! BTW, in order to make a good amount of money, you will need to sell furniture. We've found anything (even really ugly) that has to do with furnishings will sell--lamps, appliances, tables, chairs, etc.

SO. I am pretty sure my crazy brain goes missing on a regular basis and has nothing to do with me being pregnant, however, people cut you more slack when you are knocked up. I find its a good place to be when you are as scatterbrained as I.

Also. I love you too.
And I know at least 19 people who are pregnant right now. INSANE.

YES! I am so jealous of her cute cute onesie!!! I'm on the lookout for a Mario one so they can wear them together and fall in love. :) All part of my master plan! :)

Happy birthday!

Yeah, 27 *IS* more intimidating - thanks for bringing it up. ;) But 2+ weeks into it - so far, so good!
Hope your birthday was super special - Happy New Year!!

Just wait until it's 37. :( Yep, I hit that one this year. How did that happen?! Hope you had a great one!

I'm off to eat another chocolate chip cookie. . . . fresh from the oven! YUM!

Thank for the encouragement...and you'll get to see the month-by-month evolution! :) Hopefully, not too dramatic (I hope!!!)

Happy 26th to you!

I meant to tell you when we spoke the other day that the baby was the size of a..... RASPBERRY!!!! And I smiled and thought of you when I read that description.

WONDERFUL news about your dad! We're looking forward to spending holidays with both families too. Thanksgiving in Orlando with the Hinelys and Christmas here in Tally with my family! So fun!

I am so happy to hear such a great report about so many different things in your life. :)

That's SO good to hear about both of your Dads!! And what a blessing that you'll both be with your families for the holidays - so much to look forward to! :)

I led singing one of the nights that Rick was preaching with his eyepatch. This is how I introduced him as our own Captain Jack Sparrow. And our preacher trainee, B.J. Sipe said arrgh!!! LOL

I loved Ramona! Great news & glad everything is going well.

So glad to hear about your dad! Jesse's parents and grandparents are coming to spend Thanksgiving here in Lubbock, and we'll be going to the Houston area for Christmas, where we'll get to see ALL of our family!

What great news!

I hear you on the hard-to-get-time-off-during-the-holidays-in-the-financial-industry thing.

We are looking forward to the Fall Fest on Friday!!

I was about to tell you that he could feel your pain, but he just did! :-) What am I doing? I will be at your Fall Festival on Friday! I am going to come by to hug her neck and hopefully, I'll see you, too.

We are so very happy (of course) about Ryan's dad :-), and awed by the news of your dad's improvement! If you're heading through Nashville on the way to Indy, please stop for a night or a visit!

Glad to hear about your dad. I've been trying to keep up through Dad, but I hadn't heard details of the latest. As for us, we're getting ready for our big trip. Can't wait to see y'all!

yeah, but if it hadn't would more democrats have been against the bill itself? Even so, I wonder how many of the dems that voted nay were planned that way for reelection strategy.

Go as the ring from Lord of the Rings. Paint a hula hoop gold and you're done!

overalls. flannel shirt. barefoot? Dill (or Scout!) from To Kill a Mockingbird. Hair in braids, dress, apron - Anne of Green Gables? You could dress up as the crazy girl from Bridge to Terabithia (even though I hated that book - gack). If you have anything made of velour you could make ears and go as the Velveteen Rabbit. You could dress in green and wear some leaves and be Shel Silverstein's Giving Tree - or Sarah Cynthia Silvia Stout! Or one of the character kids from Mrs. Piggle Wiggle.

Okay - that's my list .

I think you should be the tree. ^ Wish I could have seen the golden ticket!

Pippi Longstocking was always a favorite character of mine, but do kids even know her today??

I was the White Witch for Narnia a few years ago. You can buy a styrofoam cone, attach it to the back for your head with hair pins and wrap your hair up and around it in braids. You would want to spray yours white/silver. I wore a white shirt, and a long white skirt I ghetto-rigged out of some material used for a previous costume. I also had some white fur I used as a wrap. There are some pictures on Facebook somewhere.

Also, I was Cruella Deville one year. That was fun. Spray half of your hair white, half black. Put on dressier/guady clothing and jewerly and black heels (mainly black, white and red). Find some kind of fur jacket or wrap and you're done. I also took a skinny paintbrush and painted it to look like a cigarette holder. Don't know how that would go over in a school setting. Yet again, pictures on Facebook.

Go to my page and click on my rooms. I have a Cruella picture, but I have no idea how to link it anymore.

Shelby is in love with Charlotte's Web these days so I suggest a character from it. She just loves Templeton...thinks he's hilarious.

We miss you too!! I'm so sorry I never replied to your email. It made me so happy, and I loved being caught up with your life. I'm the worst penpal. :( Now from the book I wrote on my page, you know what we've been up to as of late! Which character did you decide to go with for book character day??