Something missing?

Something missing from your life? Feeling down and out, gloomy, or just plain mopey? Here's the problem....it's a humor deficiency. This next video is sure to put a smile on your face!! There is just something funny about your loved ones faces put on someone else's body!

kids break dancing

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What a waste of $2.99

The other day while at the grocery store, (taking my time with no kids!) I came across a cookie cutter looking thing in the shape of 2 dinosaurs...one upside down and one right side up. It is really a sandwich cutter that cuts your sandwich in 1/2, cuts the crust off and leaves it two cute brontosaurus's. With me having a 5 year old boy who needs to bring a packed lunch everyday, I thought this the perfect accessory!
Today when I drove up to the car line, I scan the sea of kindergartner's waiting anxiously for their parents. Where is Nolan? Pouting on a bench with an angry face. Apparently he is way too cool for cut out sandwiches & now miraculously loves the crust. It is still sitting in his lunch box, crumpled up in the bottom half of the baggie. All I had to say is "it's a long wait until dinner!"

Brad Paisley Concert

While Chris was in Chicago he was able to catch a Brad Paisley concert with Brooke, Jill & Nate. Christian Svensen hooked them up! Brooke and Chris got to go backstage to meet Brad. Luckily, Jill took some photos! You can see Brad playing behind Chris & Brooke in the backround.

hApPy BiRtHdAy ChRiStiAn!!

Homemade kids cards...priceless!

Yee Haw it is Christian's birthday!! We are eatin' some cake in his honor today! Ice-cream cake...YUM. Can you tell he really likes the Wii game the kids picked out?
Chris- We love you and hope all your wishes come true!! XOXOXOXOX

We also want to wish a Happy Birthday to Aunt Brenda too... way across the U.S. in Chicago! Sending you xoxoxox's from Texas.

FiRsT dAy oF sChOoL!!

Baylie is in Mrs. Watson's 6th grade class. Baylie is so excited about that because she had her in 4th grade as well. Super nice teacher.

Ben got Ms. Schneider for 3rd grade...which he has had as well for 1st grade! He LOVES her.

Nolan is in Mrs. Turnage's kindergarten class.

They are all so happy with their classes and teachers. This is the first year that we have had no one cry!! (including me)

Be Careful What You Wish For

I have said mulitple times to my kids this summer, "you guys just need to go to school!" Of course it is during the teasing, fighting, mess making, & whining times this phrase has just flown out of my mouth. The last couple of days, I have been thinking about my kids starting up their new educational years, Baylie in 6th grade, Ben in 3rd and my baby Nolan starting a full day of kindergarten! It really hit me tonight at dinner when we were all sitting around talking... it is really here... the first day of school is tomorrow. Baylie mentioned that she is wearing all black today because she is in mourning. I mentioned that I am going to wear all black too because I too am mourning. Baylie quickly responded, "what are you mourning?" in her usual sarcastic tone. Christian decides to chirp in..."Mom's whole life changes tomorrow. Her whole life has been dedicated to taking care of you kids and now that is over!" My first reaction was to throw my dinner roll across the table and hit him in the mouth with it. Now, first of all I wouldn't go that far as to say my ENTIRE life is dedicated to kids, but the last 11 years has anyway. BIG difference...11 years vs. an entire lifetime. So, I just ate my roll and thought about how he is PARTIALLY right with tears running down my face.

As I was cleaning out a cabinet we use for all the pool towels and swim suits I came across a big, fat, black beetle...it was dead. Not only was it dead, but hollowed out from sitting so long. I sat and cried again. Not because my house needs to be cleaned but because I thought I had just cleaned that cabinet out...where has all the time gone? It seems like Nolan was just a baby. Reality has hit...it has been over 5 years. My kids are growing SO fast. I treasure every second I have with them.

With all three of my kids in school all day, I will have lots of time to wash the loads of laundry, dishes, make beds, and clean out the cabinets with dead hollow beetles in them...maybe that's why I am so sad. That will surely make anyone cry!

bye banana trees :(

Here is my email from our HOA. I am still trying to figure out if I like them.

Good morning Mrs. Jeppesen,
It's has been a while since we last talked.

I was informed by one of the DRC Committee members that
you currently have banana trees planted in your back yard and need to be
removed. Bananas trees are not an acceptable plant material in
Vaquero. Were they planted after the DRC completed a Final Observation
on your home? The DRC does not recall seeing them during our Final
Observation.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need anything.
Kim Eubank

The last round of golf before school starts

Nolan took all these photographs...What a good little photographer!

Not by the hair of my chiney, chin, chin

"To shine for me to-shay!" Here is the boys' latest video...you can't just watch it once!!

"Tomorrow Never Comes"

“Tomorrow Never Comes”
If I knew this would be the last time I would watch you sleep, I would hug you tighter. I would plead with the Lord to protect you. If I knew this would be the last time I saw you walk out the door, I would hug and kiss you and call you back to hug and kiss you one more time. If I knew this would be the last time I would hear your voice in prayer, I would record every gesture, every look, every smile, every one of your words, So that I could listen to it later, day after day. If I knew this would be the last time, I would spend an extra minute or two to tell you, “I love you,” instead of assuming you already knew it. If I knew this would be our last time, our last moment, I would be by your side, spending the day with you instead of thinking, “Well, I’m sure other opportunities will come, so I can let this day go by.” Of course there will be a day to revise things, And we would have a second chance to do things right. Oh, of course there will be another day for us to say, “I love you.” And certainly there will be another chance to tell each other, “Can I help with anything?” But in my case, there isn’t one! I don’t have you here with me, and today is the last day we have—our farewell. Therefore I would like to say how much I love you, And I hope you never forget it. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old. Today might be your last chance to hold tight to the hand of the one you love and show all you feel. If you are waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? Because if tomorrow never comes, you certainly will regret for the rest of your life Not having spent some extra time for a smile, a conversation, a hug, a kiss, Because you were too busy to give that person what ended up being their last wish. Then hug tight today the one you love, your friends, your family, and whisper in their ears how much you love them and want them close to you. Use your time to say, “I’m sorry,” “Please,” “Forgive me,” “Thank you,” Or even, “That was nothing,” “It’s all right,” Because if tomorrow never comes, you will not have to regret today. The past doesn’t come back, and the future might not come!

That's what you get when you're the little brothers!

Holy cow... This is what happens when the big sister doesn't have a little sister to play with. It is always the oldest sibling to take charge and make up the games they will play. Baylie and Ben did all the recording on this...it is a bit shaky. Nolan stars as Hannah Montana and Ben as Nicole Cyrus? I especially like the toothbrush microphone. Don't always feel bad for the little brothers though...they do get her back on a regular basis. (You need to mute the music at the bottom of the blog before you play this)

Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum in a Dish

How many pieces do you wish?

Summer Slippin' Away

These are some mid-air shots of the kids in the pool. See the water coming out of Baylie's mouth? When does school start again?!

Play Doh

Ben and Nolan made homemade Play-Doh. That is one huge, bright orange snake.

Children 4 Sale...For Cheap!

Junk drawers...we have about 5 of them. While I was cleaning out one of them I came across a check from Grandma Jeppesen from Christmas of 2007. oops. It was made out to Christian for $30.00. (It was for each child to get $10.00 from Grandma & Grandpa for a Christmas treat.) In the notes section at the bottom of the check grandma wrote "for the children." I set it aside. A couple of minutes later I hear a horrified shriek from Ben. I look over at him expecting some horrific injury and see him holding the check. He exclaims..."What the heck?! You're selling us to grandma for 30 bucks??!!" Cute eh? :) I love my kids!

It's summer in Texas...

It has been SO hot! 100's for days!! It is one of my life's frustrations to develop wonderful friendships with families we LOVE, and then to find that the demands of life don't seem to allow for the 'keeping in touch' that I would love! Well this weekend we made it a priority...worked around Chris' airline schedule, skipped out on summer sport camps, and went to spend time with friends. The Baum's! We went to their lake house about an hour drive from us and played all day. We had a great time and are grateful for their friendship.