No BEANS about it...

Ashlyn (9): Mom! Is it human being or human bein?
Mom: Huh?!
Ashlyn: Is it human being or human be-IN?
Mom: Oh! It's human being..with an eeeennnggg at the end.
Ashlyn: So..., it's not like human bean like pinto bean??
Mom: (laughing) No silly, it has a "g" at the end.

a few seconds later...

Mom: That is so funny Ashlyn! That is so going on the blog!
Bailey(11): (walking in from his shower) What girl is going bald??
Ashlyn: Huh?! Bailey-nobody said a girl was going bald!!
Bailey: Mom? What did you say?
Mom: (still laughing) I s.a.i.d. that is so going on my blog.
Bailey: Oh. I thought you said some girl is going bald. What is going on your blog?
Mom/Ashlyn: Oh...nevermind!!

A few more "Daddy's Girls"

More pics from Thanksgiving compliments of Devin.

Sutton and Krista

Sutton, David and Reagan

Girl cousins..

Boy cousins.. (Krista-we need more boys. You know I would try but my hubby is 0-4!)

Daddy's Girl

Trying to get the perfect picture

Well...we tried. I think we may have a couple of good shots to make our Christmas card with.

It's gone...

I was so excited for the 4 days of "vacation" to get here and I swear they were all gone in the blink of an eye.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. We had the kids (minus Jo) and headed down to the country to see my parents. We left DFW around 11:30ish pm Wednesday nite as David was out of town and that was our only option for his return flight. There was hardly any traffic and the trip went quickly.
David got pulled over in Temple...but didn't get a ticket. In fact, he has never gotten a ticket since I've known him and he gets pulled over waaaayyy more than me. He doesn't speed tho. He usually rolls stops signs, doesn't signal, cuts of cops...oh yeah-he cut off a cop Wednesday (actually early Thursday morning) when he failed to yield to on coming traffic. Yep. I know the guy must have thought he was drunk or something. That is..until he flashed his bright flashlight into the eyes of our 5 sleeping children. At that point I think he was completely surprised to see that many kids in one car that belonged to one couple!! Not to mention that he conveniently flashes his military ID, and the cops always sees our military registration on the window, AND we have insurance thru USAA which reads...1stSgt Dyess on it. Honestly tho-since we are so close to Ft. Hood, I thought he would just write him a ticket anyway...but thankfully he didn't. Another reason to be thankful on Thanksgiving Day!!
The food was awesome as usual. I got to see my parents, all of my siblings and all of my nieces and nephews. The kids are at such fun ages now. Of course we still have Dayden(2) and Peyton(19mo) who have to be watched like hawks-but the others just go and play and do their cousin thing.
We came back Friday evening and spent the rest of the weekend just being with each other. Got the tree up, the mantel decorated and a few other things that needed some holiday cheer. We DID NOT go shopping. Mainly because we have too many people to coral in a crowd and I'm kinda fond of the kids so I didn't want any of them stolen before the holidays. Ask me after Christmas--I may be giving them away!!
All in all it was a great 4 days off. For now I'll have to settle for quiet evenings with the kids and a nice cozy fire. Oh, I forgot, my father in law bought me a ton of firewood, a rack to stack it on, and a tool set. He loves me!!
**Pictures to follow soon..

Almost here...

I am so excited for Thanksgiving to get here I can hardly stand it!

I am very excited to spend 4 days away from work and with my family!! I plan to STUFF my face, take naps, gossip with my sisters, and soak up some much needed extended family time.

I'm sure Devin and I will have plenty of pictures for your viewing pleasure.

...(sigh) I just need to get thru now until tomorrow at 5:00pm...

While you are shopping this holiday season....

...please consider Reagan's fundraiser (my niece and God-daughter) while you are marking through your list of purchases.

You will see the reason for this post on Devin's blog. Let's just say this young lady LOVES volleyball and has been selected to play on a top team in her volleyball club. Your part is really easy...so check out Reagan and let's get her fees paid for!!

Thanks in advance!!

Veteran's Day

My family proudly joins the entire military community in tribute to those who have served — and those who serve today — to protect our freedoms and keep our nation great.

Oh..how my heart sinks when I look at this photo, but it also swells with great pride.

If you know/see a Veteran today-please thank him/her for their service and wish them a Happy Veteran's day. Also, say a prayer for those who won't get to thank their loved one, as they have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our great country.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

...to my two favorite men in the world!!

Today is my Dad's birthday. I sure wish I could be home to give him a great big birthday hug! Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

Today is also the Marine Corps birthday and they are celebrating their 233rd year. So, Happy Birthday to my Marine!!

I love you both and wish you both a wonderful day!!

Trick or Treat

David and I took Bailey, Ashlyn and Dayden to the downtown Wylie Trick or Treat. There were so many people there. We didn't know there were that many people in Wylie. Anyway, the kids had a great time. We really enjoyed seeing how the other kids were dressed. We saw a little "Chicken Little" who was by far our favorite. Unfortunately, he was gone before I could snap a pic. We also liked the "Headless Lady"-altho she was kinda spooky too.

Devin's Lil Spell checker

Okay, you just have to read this post from my sisters blog. This kid (one of my nephews) so-cracks-me-up!!!

"I'm sorry I painted Mommy!"

O.M.G.!!!

What happens when you go to the restroom and leave your 2.3 year old to her Dora DVD???

She gets your purse off of the kitchen counter (which you strategically place to deter any little people from rummaging thru it for gum, pens, etc...) and decides to "paint" all over herself and your very light beige carpet with your LIPSTICK!!!

I really wish I had thought to take before and after pictures. But, I was so completely and utterly taken aback I didn't even think about it. I ran straight to the computer to google "lipstick out of carpet". Who cared about the "war paint" on her face? Or the lovely "painted" wallet and checkbook I now have?

...and Daddy? Oh! Daddy just thought it was funny! "Don't worry about the carpet-I'll get it out." Really?!? Did you happen to develop magic powers while in Iraq???

Thanks to Google I found out that nail polish remover has a pretty decent chance of getting it out. Who knew it would take 2 bottles!! Yep, that's how much she "painted".

Perhaps the overwhelming smell of the remover is why it never occurred to me to take pictures...

Needless to say, the "paint" is mostly gone. You can certainly tell where it was...but not like before. I would recommend the nail polish remover but definitely open a window!!

Just before I finished blotting out the last little bit Dayden runs to me and says:
"I sorry I paint on the carpet Mommy. I not do it anymore! (insert huge please don't spank me smile here.)"

**Did I mention that I HATE lipstick?? I only carry one color. I only use it for special occasions and it's a pencil. You can imagine how I cussed myself for even having it in my purse since I wear it maybe twice a year!!

Fence-before and after

Patriot Pride

The Patriot Pride assembly was last Friday, a week ago.

Welcome Home Gift

I thought after his 3rd tour...he deserves it. So, here are some pics of what I got my Marine for his welcome home gift.

2009 Harley Davidson Road King Classic

Kohl's Trip

Night before last as I was "assisting" David in his final garage clean up phase- I found a box of his clothes. ( The man has way too many clothes and wears the same few ones all the time!) Well, in this box was 4 pair of brand new slacks that we had bought from Kohl's as he had plans to start a new job. They were even still in the bag with all the tags attached.

(A little history: the day we signed on our new home David got a call that his unit was being activated/deployed. O.M.G. And just a few weeks earlier had been offered a job which would require training in California for only GOD knows how long. So, he was in the middle of making an employment decision, buying a house and being deployed. Needless to say, he decided to leave the post office and pursue this other opportunity. But before he ever got out there to actually get HIRED-he got called out on active duty.) **PLEASE PRAY FOR US!! My husband will be officially unemployed as of the end of the month!!

Anywho, we didn't have a receipt but we had all the tags attached so we went to return them. Why? you ask...because this deployment offered a full gym and an almost 24 hr chow hall...and how do I say--he--ummm-gained a little weight and those slacks just weren't gonna work.

Well, typically I let David work his magic on the ladies and he gets his way 99% of the time. But for some reason, he wanted me to do it. So, with a little weight gain humor and the use of my precious red headed yet didn't get a nap all day 2 yr old, we walked away with the 2 exchanges and credit for the others!! (He's still gotta have slacks that fit...for church ya know!) Yay Kohl's!! You are still my husband favorite store!!

Daddy's Lil Helper

Maybe someday he'll get that boy-but she sure is the spittin' image of her daddy!! She follows him EVERYWHERE and loves to be messing with all his stuff!!

More kids

Yep...every kid on this swingset belongs to us!!

Park with ALL the kids

These are pictures from the weekend we had 5 of our 6 kids and we had April and Amy. They belong to a friend of David's from the Post Office. He and his wife were recently granted guardianship of these two girls. They have endured more in their 7 and 9 years than any of us will ever have to endure!! Until 6 months ago Billy (friend) didn't even know he had 2 great nieces and now he has them full time. He and his wife are wonderful people and quite loving. Billy's older kids are 30 something and 20 something so it's been a while since he was a full time dad. His wife hasn't had children of her own (and feels so blessed to have this opportunity) so we decided they could use a break!! Given their past history-they haven't let them out of their site so the were in desperate need of some alone time...