Thanksgiving update

Ok, I was supposed to post after we all got together for Victoria's birthday because Leann took offense to the "old" comment I made about her having a daughter that was 25. And, after seeing how great she looks I agree that it was untrue:) Leann has lost a lot of weight and cut her hair. She looks awesome (I'm very jealous). The bright side to her being smaller than me (at least I am still 2 years younger even if I don't look it) is that she brought me her 'fat' clothes so I have plenty of new things to wear.
I took my class to an indoor pool at the Owasso YMCA on Friday. They had a great time. I wish we had a facility close to school that we could go to. It had an area that had fairly strong flowing currents that really work your leg muscles. I woke up really sore Saturday. But, that wasn't enough torture for me, so we went to one of my class parent's house and helped cut down a tree (well, I watched) and loaded branches to haul off. We will end up with a full pickup load of firewood for this winter. I helped load the branches so there was plenty of bending and reaching. Maybe this will jump start me to loose weight to. I had lost about 20 pounds until the evil Halloween candy showed up at my house. Stupid Twix.
We are headed to Mississippi for Thanksgiving. Clint's grandmother is 102 and really doing fairly well. The Egg Bowl is in Oxford this year. Go REBS! Mom and Daddy are going to leave for the valley today. I hate it when they are gone, but they love being down south when it is cold here. Lindsay is going to have baby Charley on Monday so I would imagine that John and Rhonda will be in Dallas. I'm not sure what Leann, Beth and Jan are doing. If they would post their news, it would be on here:)
Time to leave for church. Clint needs his pitch pipe so I have to get there early. I usually go early when he does but he had to be there at 8:00 and I had trouble getting moving this morning.

If you log on and read this, I'd love to hear your family news too. My email is 4sistersclosets@gmail.com
--Tammy

Happy Birthday Victoria!

Today is Victoria's 25th birthday. I can't believe that the grandbabies are in their 20's now except for Zach, Wyatt and Ethan. Even then, Ethan is the only one still in high school. When did they all grow up? Grandma, Aunt Beth and I sent flowers to her work. She's coming in this weekend for us to celebrate. Hopefully Zoey will feel better so Whitney can come. Zoey had a double ear infection this week. Ouch. I remember the first ear infection I had. I called Leann and apologized for calling her a whiner when she would get them. I had no idea they hurt so much. I don't remember having one when I was little, just the one in high school.
Today is Veteran's Day. We had a program at school to honor them. I told Misty and Shelley to take the kids and I didn't go. Not because I'm not thankful for them and admire them more than any other group of people on the planet, but because I never made it through the National Anthem without crying and since Corey died, I really can't hear patriotic songs. The assembly lasted about 45 minutes and recognized all the veterans that came to school today. I knew I would be a bawling mess by the end of it. When I helped them get to the gym, they were playing Lee Greenwood's Proud to be an American and I almost lost it then. Four of Wyatt's buddies are in the Marine Corp. I worry about them and what the new administration will mean for national security. Brett (one of Wyatt's friends) is leaving for Afganistan soon.
Well, I'm still getting out all of our winter clothes. I didn't realize I had so many. I'm going through and if it isn't wash and wear, I'm probably going to donate it to John 3:16 Mission or Goodwill.
Sunday's teaching at church was on the last Beatitude. Blessed are those who are persecuted. I take for granted how great a life we have and the blessings of being free to worship without being beaten or killed. None of that could happen without our Veterans.
Wow, that got a little serious. So, on a fun tone, Wyatt and Keaton (one of his best friends) were playing the board game version of Millionaire and Wyatt called me for the "phone a friend" to ask me who wrote Winnie the Pooh. I actually knew that one. (A.A. Milne) Then he called back later to ask Clint what color blood does an octopus have? Well, the answer to that one is blue. I love fun facts!

Few things beat a roaring fire

Clint and I are enjoying the first fire in the fireplace for this fall. He played guitar and sang for me too. I love sitting against the hearth and staying there until my back gets so hot I have to move. I remember when Mom would cook a pot of chili or stew over the fire while we were at school. It would taste sooo good. The swing arm is still there so I think Clint is going to use it one weekend and fix something yummy.
Clint had an interview with the DA's office this past week. He should hear early this week if he is getting called in a for a second interview. PRAY with us that he is offered a job with the DA's office or with Legal Aid (he interviewed with them, too.)
Both the boys are doing great. Ethan is trying to get enough rest. He's having allergy problems so he's taking Zyrtec (??) and eye drops. Basketball season is in full swing with scrimages and long practices. Wyatt is working for a marketing company. He's applying for a second job with Jenks schools. I think he would be great working with kids.
Mom and Daddy are heading down to South Texas soon. I'm not ready for them to leave, but they are ready to head to warmer weather. It hasn't been too cold here yet, but the cold is coming.
I think I'm going to Beth's Monday night to play with Zoey while Whitney and Beth do something fabric. I'm not talented with that kind of stuff.
Victoria's birthday is Tuesday. She's 25! Leann is old........

Whiney Dogs and other annoying sounds......

Explain to me how a dog that will eat your face if you come close to me, snarf at Nadia when she gets close to me is too scared to WALK BY Nadia? Lance is SUCH a baby! Seriously, I just got up & stood between Lance and Nadia so he could walk into the room. Yes, I know I'm enabling him to be a twit, but his bark is REALLY loud and it annoys Mom & Daddy, as well as Nadia who howls at Lance to shut-up. I can usually ignore anything, I am a mom and a teacher too, but that hurts my ears. Maybe I shouldn't let him lay on the couch beside me with his head in my lap if he's going to bark so much:-)
I voted today. People don't know me very well if they actually ask who I voted for. 3rd generation (that I know of) Republican. I think being a Democrat is the only thing Clint thinks is actual grounds for divorce:-) Daddy asked Clint not long after our wedding if he would have married me if I'd been a Democrat. Clint actually paused before answering. Anyway, it will be very interesting to see who wins and how the country reacts. Regardless of who wins, we still need to pray for our nation. I think the next 4 years are going to be very hard on all of us.
Must go now, I think Clint has dinner ready:)

Another BabyCole

Ashlee has picked a name: Carson Cole. So, there will be another BabyCole. I'm not sure if she's going to call him Carson or Cole. I like them both so I'm happy either way.
Wyatt's court date went great. We got the best possible outcome that we could have hoped for. The marine corp isn't completely ruled out, just postponed for a while. He has some fines, community service and probation:)
My class is going pretty well. I have one student that is seeking attention the wrong ways. I'm looking for ways to keep him from hurting one of my other kids.
Clint had an interview today with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma. It serves indigent, poor and elderly clients. He thought it went well so we are hoping they offer him a job.
Ethan's basketball season starts Saturday with a tournament. He's home early today (which is unusual) and he said it was b/c 2 of the players were in a car wreck this morning. They are banged up but will be ok. 1 was ejected from the vehicle so it is a miracle he wasn't seriously hurt. I hope E learns the seatbelt lesson from this:)
We had our first freeze last night. I only thought I was ready for winter.
More later, Lance is whining (imagine that)

Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!!!!!

Well, Ashlee had an ultrasound on Monday. Wyatt's baby is a BOY. In one of the pictures he is sucking his thumb. Wyatt did that too so of course it made me cry. her due date is the middle of March. I asked Wyatt if it seemed real to him that he's going to be a dad and he said it has always seemed real. Well, I've been excited since I found out, but it really seems real to me now. Ashlee made me copies of the pictures so I've already started an album.
Ethan is at the homecoming dance tonight. He looked very handsome in his tux. Paige's dress was navy blue with silver sparkles and his vest, tie and hankie were navy with a black tux and white shirt. I took pictures and if I ever figure out how to post them then I will.
OU lost today. Ole Miss didn't play. i took a 3 hour nap so I missed OU losing. They were ahead when I fell asleep so you can blame me:)

Finally Fall!!!

Well, I guess I'm going to only post about every two weeks or so. But, since I'm the only one who EVER posts, no one can gripe. School is going great. I have 6 kids, 4 boys and 2 girls. Two of my kids have genetic disorders that I had to google because I had never heard of it, 2 have intellectual disabilities and 2 have autism. I REALLY love my job. There hasn't been a day that I'm not ready to get up and go to work. The kids are really sweet and my para-teachers (I have 2) are wonderful. I'm enjoying the people I work with. Sapulpa is very different from Tulsa Public. I'm really glad I made the move. A smaller district operates very differently from the biggest district in the state.
Monday, Ashlee has an ultrasound and she should find out if the baby is a girl or boy. Mom and Daddy had lunch with Jan and Zoey last week. Pequetta told Zoey she was precious and Zoey says "no I'm not, I'm the princess". Which is true. She is adorable. Lindsay was in last weekend but I didn't get to see them. They had a birthday party in Talala and then the OU game in Norman. Did you catch the Ole Miss score last week? The beat Florida in Florida. Today they lost to South Carolina, but only by a touchdown. They are doing much better than the past few years. I wonder how long until another Manning will come along......
I'm not sure when Mom and Daddy will head south. Daddy had a sleep study done last week and I think they get the results back this week. Mom isn't using her breathing machine at night, but is going to once they get back in TX. If Daddy ends up with one, they will both look like something out of Star Wars.
Enjoy the great weather and start the countdown to Halloween, then Thanksgiving and it will be Christmas before we know it.