Winter Camp

This week Isabella's gymnastics school has a winter camp for the kids. She will be going four days to play with her friends and play on all the equipment they have at the school. She is in hog heaven at gymnastics school with Ms. Cindy. She loves/adores her Ms. Cindy. She talks about her all the time and can't wait to see her when we go to school. She would much rather go to gymnastics school than church school. She loves gymnastics. So for her birthday, we are going to enroll her in a class and start her on her way to trying out new sports and the such. At 3 years old, is when most sport activities will allow kids to start participating. So, I'm going to try soccer, gymnastics, ballet and a few others. She's going to decide what she likes and we'll go from there. I think she'll really like all three.

Christmas 2008

This year Christmas was just as wonderful as the years past. Isabella understand a little more about the whole Santa Clause bit, that he brings her presents while she's sleeping. Next year she'll have it all down and completely understand! We went to the in laws for Christmas Eve dinner and to hang out for a little while. Then home by 8:30. Kids in bed by 10:00 and then Santa arrived. He did a great job this year. The kids were spoiled this year, and got way too many toys. Cooper loves to play with the packaging and wrapping paper; the toys, not so much. Isabella loves all of Cooper's toys and her own, she thinks she got a double Christmas this year. Brian got me two new camera's and I got him underwear. Boy did he get screwed! But the guy is the hardest man in the world to buy/surprise. He gets the credit card bill, so he knows where I shop, so it's pointless. Last year I did good, I paid cash for the popcorn machine, but I was stumped this year. So he got a sweater and underwear. The day after Christmas I went shopping alone to Eddie Bauer. I love that store. The clothes fit me really well and I got some amazing deals. A sweater I had been eyeing since before Christmas that was $89, I got for $39. As well as a few others sweaters and a few shirts. I was a very happy camper. Then I went to Kohl's to just look around and got Isabella so much needed blue jeans. She hates the ones I have got her, so I got some new ones that are not tight and a whole size bigger 4T. She is such a big/thick girl. Then I came home and Brian went shopping. He went to Kohl's and bought some socks and a new shirt and some blue jeans. Then the kids and I packed for the farm and headed out of town with some of the in-laws. Jane, Lisa, Ashley, Zachary and my kids and me all went to the farm for a relaxing weekend. We arrived after dark and ate dinner and then watched tv for a bit. The next day we woke up and Bella and I played in the dirt. While Cooper was napping, I pushed Bella on the swing that PopPaw made for the kiddos and she didn't want to get off. I had me really good camera and took hundreds of photos. I can't wait to see them all. Brian, Eddie and Aunt Judee all drove up for the day to visit. Brian got the little riding lawn mower started and mulched the leaves, I got the blower and blew the leaves out of the flower beds so he could mulch those too. He had fun mulching and Isabella had fun riding around with him on the mower. Then the silly thing ran out of gas, then the battery wouldn't start up again. So Ash and Zac couldn't ride it. That was a bummer! We still needed to mulch a bit more, but the wind was blowing so much it was a lost cause. The tv was just about to go out, it had a crazy picture, but I don't go to the farm to watch tv so I didn't care. Saturday evening we made spaghetti and cookies. Then Brian, Eddie and Judee all left to come back home. We all went to bed then back up the next day. Jane, Lisa, Ash & Zac left after breakfast, I stayed and cleaned the house and did some laundry. I vacuumed all the rooms, swept, dusted a big part of the house and really enjoyed being there with just Cooper and Isabella. Isabella is so at home and comfortable there and Cooper will know nothing different. We are slowly making the place home. Fixing the furniture the way we like it, and taking care of the very old furniture where needed. A lot of it needs some major TLC. It's going to be a wonderful country home when all is said and done. I found a quilt at BB&B I like that would really complement the house/room. I just have to make sure its really the one I want before I buy it. Michelle is going to decorate her 'room' and I'm going to decorate my 'room', so that we really feel at home. It will be nice to have a bedroom at the country house, our place to escape.

Another Merry Christmas To Me!!

Cooper is finally crawling! Woo hoo! Christmas Eve we were at Brian's parents house and his Aunt Lisa helped him crawl. She got beside him and started to crawl and he just started doing it beside her. It was great! He got tons of praise, so he did it again. And now he hasn't stopped. We went to the farm again this past weekend and he was everywhere. I am super excited, because now when I leave a room, he'll scream then I'll tell him to come see me and he'll crawl right over. What a sweet gift he gave me. 8 months old and finally crawling.

Merry Christmas To ME!

Boy did Brian do good this year on my Christmas gift. I'm not sure I mentioned that Isabella broke my camera when we were at the Gaylord Texan on Nov. 28th. So I've been without a camera (borrowing Brian's here and there) for some time now. So, I told Brian I wanted a nice camera, so he followed through. I got a Nikon D 90, and damn it's nice. I plan on playing with it for a few months, then taking some photography classes with it. I am so dang excited. He got it out last night and played with it for a little while. It's exactly what I wanted. Then he also got me another point and shoot camera to carry in the diaper bag. This time I won't let Isabella touch either one! You did great baby, like always, you sure know your gadgets and I love that about you!

Poor Sweet Baby Cooper

Cooper has been batteling a cold for a few days now and this morning after he threw up on me, I decided to take him to the doctor. I knew he just got chocked up on the drainage, but I didn't want to get to Christmas Eve or Day and he be really sick and need medicine, I'd be up a $h!t creek. So we went to see Dr. Sutton and he has a double ear infection and a slight case of bronchittis and a really bad cold. Poor baby, I am so sad I didn't take him earlier this week. I just thought it would run its course and be over with by now. He is now on two medications and ear numbing drops. He is very, very cranky, and I don't blame him. He's truly not feeling well. I'll most likely sleep with him in my lap tonight so he can sleep on an incline. I just want him to sleep well and wake up feeling better and happy. We have a busy Christmas Eve and Day so he's got to be feeling better so his first Christmas will be enjoyable.

Power Of A Woman!

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.

If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.

If you give her a house, she'll give you a home.

If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.

If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.

She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.

So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.

Dang It's Cold!

I posted earlier today that the temperature has been very cold, but now it's even colder! There is freezing rain and sleet falling now and will continue to fall until tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow's high will be a bit warmer than today, 36 degrees for a high. We always have a spell like this in December and January, usually the January spell is the weekend before Isabella's birthday, let's hope that happens again this year. I went to check on Cooper in his bedroom and it was ice cold in there, I check the temp in his room and it was 66 degrees. We keep our house warm, just how I like it, so when I walked in his room and my toes froze over I worried. Does his room always get that cold? Is my baby going to wake up with frost bite in the morning? I told Brian, he check it out for himself and I was right, it's damn cold in there! We put a towel in the window seal to see if that would help keep the room warmer and we cranked the heat up to 75 degrees, it's usually set to 73 degrees. That extra 2 degrees makes a huge difference! We're going to test a few things to see if we can keep it regulated and make sure our baby boy doesn't get uncomfortable. He loves to be bundled and warm when he's sleeping, so he has all the blankets in the house covering him (not really). When I make up to feed him in the middle of the night, I'm going to check the temps and see how it feels. I can't stand to be cold and I don't want my baby to be cold either.

Today's Journey

Today the kids and I went to my mother's to get some Christmas gifts for Isabella's teachers. Today is a very bitter cold day, isn't suppose to get much above 30 degrees. So on our trek to Corinth, it kind of misted on us, which froze and bounced off the front windshield, the temperature on the car thermometer said 29 degrees. Ouch, that's cold. We got to moms and visited for a bit and then the weather came on and it was talking about sleet/freezing rain in Collin County. So we loaded up the car and headed out the door. The last thing I want to do is get stuck on the road unprepared in an ice storm with two small children. One of my fears! When we were driving home, on hwy 121 in Frisco, at Ikea there was about a 10 car pile up/mess. We had to get off the highway and we passed a fire truck and the fireman slipped on the black ice. I was shocked, the roads didn't really look wet! So I got scared and started to drive below the speed limit and we went straight home. The weather here is so crazy in the winter, and I actually love it. The weather men don't have a snowball's chance in Hell when it comes to getting it right in the winter. Gotta love to hate them. Poor guys.

Update on Zachary

My sister in law finally talked to the neurosurgeon's office and they can't see Zac until January 9th. She has contacted a few other neurosurgeon, but I'm not sure what they have said. Should Zachary have a cancerous tumor, then St. Jude's has already said they would accept him at the hospital in Tennessee. Please keep praying for Zachary, he's been having a lot of headaches and acting out in class and at home.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

We finally decorated the Christmas tree on Friday night. Brian put the tree up the Saturday after Thanksgiving while the kids and I were at the farm for Pop's funeral. It's been sitting up there all fluffed ready for me to decorate. Finally, I found my motivation and Christmas cheer and Isabella put the ornaments on the tree. Isabella did a fantastic job, most of the ornaments are at the bottom, that's where she placed them. And I love it. A few she told me where to put them and I did just that. I have three more tubs full of the glass and breakable ornaments that I did not put on the tree, so it almost looks bare, but it's beautiful non-the-less. When I was laying in bed with Isabella that night, she said, "mommy, I love the Christmas tree, that was so fun" That was worth the wait. We really had a great bonding time, just she and I. We don't get enough one on one time, so I cherish that night.

Wow! What A Week

This past week has been non-stop. And we have had a great time, going and going! Tis' the season to party. Monday we went to a holiday party with one of our moms groups, we did a book exchange. Isabella didn't understand why we were giving our gift to the person next to us and passing them around a circle. She threw a fit. Thankfully most of the moms in the room knew her and understood that is her phase. Lord I pray it's a phase. Then Tuesday was a shopping day for me, I had to run around town getting some last minute things for Christmas. The Wednesday, I went for another procedure at the colon rectal doctor, some inferred burning internally. Don't ask, it was very painful, and I think it made the bleeding worse. OUCH! Then Thursday was Isabella's mother's day out Christmas program, she did fantastic! She sang "Away in a Manger" or "Major" how every she wished to sing it, just as long as she sang and looked pretty. Then off to run more errands then to pick Isabella up early, because she had two accidents in her pants before lunch time and had no other clothes as back up. So much for errands that day. Then Thursday night we went to an ornament exchange with the moms group, again Isabella didn't understand the whole process of passing our gift to the friend next to us. She may never understand sharing, but I'm really working on it! Really I am! The Friday I met a friend at the gym to run on the treadmill and do some abs work. I really still enjoy my time at the gym. Then Friday night we were on our way to Sasha's Senior Portfolio Party and I missed my exit and when we finally got there, it was over. I could have kicked myself, I was so mad! Sorry Sasha for missing it. I really looked forward to seeing you and your work!! Then Saturday Brian worked for a little bit and we went to Best Buy, Costco, Jill's to check out those motorized cars for Isabella's birthday, we have one picked out, it's gonna be fun! Then we went to Allison's holiday party where Santa showed up with gifts for ALL the kids, that was so much fun and the kids loved it. Thank you Allison, Geoff and Santa for the gifts for the kids, that was really sweet! Then off to Uncle Nicky and Tim's holiday party, Isabella and Cooper were the only kids and Isabella made herself comfortable from the moment she walked in the door. She and Cooper were a real hit among the friends at the party. We were invited to Gayla's holiday party and I was invited to a party with my friend/trainer Becca, but for one reason or another we/I couldn't go. Next week will be much slower, hopefully. Thursday is a play date for a family the play group adopted for the holidays and Isabella's last day of school for the holidays. Then Friday morning early childhood intervention is coming to evaluate Isabella, she's having a hard time showing remorse, I go into detail about that once I meet with them on Friday morning. Then Saturday morning we are going over to Flo and Sofia's house for a holiday play date and we have been invited to a holiday party at Joe's house that night. Wow, now I can take a breath. This time of year is always so much fun, and with children it makes it just that much sweeter!

House Full

Tonight was one of many Christmas parties we have been invited to attend. But since Brian had to work late and we don't have a baby-sitter in town (my mom's still at the farm), we aren't going to Danyel and David's annual party. But, since the entire Corr side is invited, I have offered to have all the kiddos over so the parents can attend. So, we have Zac, Katie, Kyle and Megan here to play with Isabella and Cooper. The kids all love to see one another and run/play everywhere. It's fun to hear them play with each other. Megan and Isabella are 9 months apart, so they sometimes play really good with one another, sometimes not. Isabella didn't have a nap today, so she was already in rare form. I'm not sure Megan's status on nap today, but the two of them can be a circus. Megan taddles on Isabella for, everything. Megan spits on Isabella and Bella taddles on her. They love to one up the other, and at such a young age.
The kids watched about 4 Christmas movies and then I put in Monsters Inc, Kyle and Isabella didn't want to watch it (although Isabella picked it out). So they watched Noggin with me in the playroom, while I typed all this craziness tonight. Then about 10pm Isabella told me she was ready to go to bed, she NEVER asks to go to bed. I went to put her down and 2 minutes later Kyle and Megan were on the couch, sleeping like angels. Then Zac came to tell me Katie was out. Out of 8 bodies in the house all but 2 were asleep by 10:30pm. That is rare in its self.

Now all the parents have come to collect their sleeping beauties and it's time for me to go to sleep and wake up to start the task of decorating the house for Christmas. I pray I wake up and find my motivation and Christmas cheer. I must have packed it away with the decorations last year.

Zachary A. Curry ~ Prayers Needed

(this is an old/bad picture of Zac, from when Isabella was born)
Our nephew Zachary is sick. He has been diagnosed with a brain tumor smack dab in the middle of his brain/head. This tumor is 10mm in size and is being fed by veins. His mother would like to tumor to be removed as soon as possible! The doctor does not believe it is cancerous, but with the veins feeding it, this will be a very serious procedure. Zachary is a very brave little boy. I don't believe he really understand what is wrong with him or how serious this tumor really is. There are so many questions we all have and at this point I believe it is all God's plan. He has it all under control. God's plan is not visible to us, it's not in black/white. We must trust in Him. Lisa, my sister in law, Zac's mother, is doing amazingly well. She has it together, simply because she can't loose it in front of Zac or Ashley. She is an amazing, dedicated, single mother and God keep putting task after task in front of her and she flies through with such an amazing grace. She has been given a gift to deal with such stress and not 'show' her pain/hurt. She is so strong. I hope and pray she is taking care of herself, crying, screaming, getting mad. If she isn't, she is going to explode at some point. I only hope I can be there to pray with her, cry with her, scream with her and hold her. Just like any sister would.

Christmas Decorations

I'm just not in the mood to decorate. Is that bad? Our Christmas tree has been sitting bare for over a week and I'm fine with it. For some reason, I don't have the energy. I feel like my plate is full and I just want to dump it on the floor. Brian was going to contract a company to put our Christmas lights up on the house, but I don't want him to pay that kind of money for just 2 or 3 weeks of decorations. Next year I'll try to put it all up before Thanksgiving. So we can enjoy it for a full 6 weeks or so. I had really good intentions, but that has all gone out the window now.

I am sending out Christmas cards. I'm very excited about them. They are beautiful!!

Decompress

The past week + has been a whirlwind for me. I can't even tell you what today is and what I'm suppose to be doing. On Thanksgiving day, as you can read below, we went to visit Pop and Elva for a little while (I now wish it would have been longer). The next day, was Friday, I slept in and we had a nice morning. We got dressed and ready to start our day around 2pm. We started out to Uncle Julio's to eat a late lunch and my cell phone rang, it was Michelle, she wanted to talk to Brian. I knew something was wrong, by her tone. Brian's reaction was exactly what I expected and I just wanted him to hurry and give the phone back. Michelle told us that Pop had just died. He was with Elva and they were eating fruit together. He went peacefully.

Brian and I continued on our day, we went to eat lunch, then off to the Gaylord Texan Hotel to see the ICE! exhibit. Brian and Isabella when through the ICE! thing and Cooper and I just hung out waiting for them. I just wanted to sit and think. I am so very, very grateful we went to see Pop the day before. No one could ever that those memories from me. I had just seen my Granny a day or so before she passed away. So that too was precious to me.

Saturday, I packed the car TIGHT for a long visit to the farm. We arrived as fast as we could and I started to clean. I guess that is what I do when I need to think and let some stress out, you'd think my house was spotless. I was happy to be 'home'. Michelle and I find the farm as a safe place, comfort food (like cornbread and beans, or Granny's chicken fried chicken and mashed potatoes). I love the farm, the dirt, the smells, the animals, the trees, the friendly-ness of old town folks, the old furniture, the old linens, the old truck. Everything about the farm is freeing, its innocent, its fresh, its warm, its relaxing, its walking around the house with no make-up on and no bra in your favorite old t-shirt and sweats. Do you get the picture?

Sunday was more of finding my roots, exploring, spending quality time with my children and nephews and my cousins daughter. Making memories that no one can ever erase. The kids and I went to one of my aunts/uncles house across the road to visit the horses and dogs. They have 37 horses and 8 dogs. Isabella was so at home, she loved the horses and dogs. She reminds me so much of myself. Fearless, out to conquer the world. She wasn't afraid of anything, she'd trip, fall and get right up and dust her legs off and keep going. She had to keep up with the boys. I took the kids to see the horses a few times that day, then we went to the viewing for a few hours. I left my kids at the farm with my cousin Ashley, her husband was the amazing pastor that did Pop's funeral. I am grateful for Ashley and her willingness to help me. Isabella can't sit still for 1 minute, much less 2 hours.

Monday morning we went to the funeral. The service was great, two of Pop's nephews did the service. It's nice to have an actual family member do Pops service, it felt more personable. Gary Don and Dan did a great job. We went to the graveside service and the wind was really high and it was really cold. It was beautiful, Pop planned a lot of it before he passed away, he did a great job! After the service, everyone went to the farm for lunch. Many family members came and it was nice to celebrate Pop's life with the ones he loved so much. Michelle and I didn't want to leave. So we stayed another night with our kiddos. The next day we still didn't want to go home, but we knew we needed to.

Tuesday we cleaned all our things up and packed our cars. The kids and I went to the Dodd's place across the way and 'talked' to the horses and goats and sheep. Isabella and I sang songs to the animals, "Baa Baa Black Sheep" and "Mary Had A Little Lamb" and "Old MacDonald". We had a great day. We took pictures of around the farm, the old truck, tractor, the kids playing and posing. It was a wonderful day. The kids have learned to love the farm almost as much as Michelle, Mom and I. I know we will make many, many more memories. I look forward to it.

My grandfather owned 88 acres. I have stomped most of those 88 acres in the past 20 + years. I pray my children and my children's' children can stomp all 88 acres in their lifetime. I pray that all the land stays in the family and that all the cousins for generations will gather there and make new memories. I pray that the children will have the same feeling about the farm/land that Michelle and I feel. This land is our legacy, our heritage and our family.

In Loving Memory of Hershell Scarbrough

In Loving Memory of Hershell Scarbrough

September 04, 1920 - November 28, 2008

On November 29, 2008, Hershell Scarbrough went to be with his Lord. It was a day for rejoincing for the 88 years he spent on earth. His ongoing was from natural causes and was without pain and suffering. Hershell was born and lived much of his life in the Brock, Lazy Bend area. As a young man he joined the CCC’s and later the Navy to serve his country. He married Leta Joy Woodruff also of Brock in 1942 and they had 2 children. Hershell spent 20 years with Gulf Oil and then 20 year with the railroad and retired from Texas Pacific Railroad in the 80’s and returned to Brock to the farm he bought many years before. The rest of his life was spent “at the farm” in Lazy Bend within 5 miles of where he was born, where he was married and where his children were born.

Hershell was preceded in death by his parents, Martha and Earnest Scarbrough, his wife of 57 years Joy Scarbrough, his sister Geneva Nicholson and his grandson Michael Dale Johnston. He was survived by his wife Elva Scarbrough, his children Calvin Scarbrough and Jo Lynn of Lufkin, his daughter Donnie Kay Johnston and Mike of Corinth, his step son Wayne Nash of Grandbury and his step daughter Donna King and Jim of Weahterford

Hershell was “Brother” to Juanita Harrison, Oleta Bloodworth, Margarette Overton and Husband Carl, and Cecil Leon Scarbrough and wife, Shirley all of Weatherford. He was Paw Paw to Melissa and Jeff Klingberg of Keller and children; Bradley, Clayton and Kelly, Jamie and Gigi Scarbrough and daughter Catherine of Plano, Michelle and Mark Pittard and children Micheal, Mavrick, and Major of Corinth, and Christy and Brian Corr and children Isabella and Cooper of Allen, as well as Jolee and Clay Tidwell and Shelby of Weatherford

As a proud member of the Masonic Lodge, for over 50 years, Hershell was a member of the Olive Branch Lodge in Brock who will be serving at the gravesite. Hershell loved the outdoors and hunting and fishing and working the land. He will be buried in the land he loved at Brock Cemetery. Services celebrating the life of this fine father, husband, brother, son, uncle, Pop, friend and neighbor will be at Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel on Monday December 1st at 10am. Visitation at Galbreaith Pickard will be Sunday from 6-8pm or anytime “at the farm”.