The Bright Eyed Brunette

Well, I'm finally back from the dead.  I'm not sure exactly what illness I actually had, but I was sick, no SICK for a good 8 days!  I mean I only got out of the house to take the kids to school and pick them up.  No church, no work, no ballgames. I went to the doctor Monday and he just gave me some medicine and when  I was not better on Wednesday he gave me an antibiotic.  I really thought I was going to die.  I even wrote Carl a note about how to take care of things in case I died....it was bad. Thankfully, I started feeling better Friday afternoon :)  So much better in fact, that we planned a Saturday trip to the zoo.  It was such a beautiful day.  The sun was shining and the temps were just warm enough to be comfortable.  You think pictures are hard to get when your kids are little, well let me tell you, it doesn't get any better.  When they are 13, 11, and 8 you have to threaten them to get one! I think I still look pale, but a least I was able to get out of

Just because I am getting over a 4 day illness and I am completely exhausted, I'm just going to share a few pictures.  Some are mine, some I am completely feeling, and some I just like.  So please, allow me to be lazy and most of all, ENJOY! The Valentine's that Carl sent us at school He did a good job.   Then he surprised me with these cute rain boots when I got home! The kids opened their Mack's t-shirts before school (and wore them of course). I didn't get a picture of them because honestly, I was just trying to make it through the day. This was at our school-wide Valentine's/Bday party. T is the life of the party! I'm working on detoxifying...whoever it may be.  I believe this. Embrace them, love them for who they are.  Not who you want them to be. And Good Lord please, don't compare them with others.  Take it from someone who has been on both sides of this,  it's not worth making them feel bad...just roll

We finally got snow!!! I know most all of North Arkansas (especially West) are absolutely sick of it, but it is a rarity around here.  We got a little ice last Tuesday....enough to make us have to miss school, but not bad enough to know out our electricity (Thank the Lord!), but we actually had snow to wake up to Saturday morning!! Our very dirty snowman! I love the church with snow on it....it looks so picturesque Carl, pushing Carlie down the hill at my parents house.  My camera died right after I took this picture, so I didn't get one of the other kids :( The view from my front porch.  It's so pretty, but I'd still rather see green grass!! Beth

Today was Carl's birthday and since our basketball games got cancelled due to weather, we went to eat at Dondies White River Princess with my parents and grandparents.  That is his favorite place to eat :) Happy 34th Birthday, Carl! Grammy, Papa, and Pop Nanny and Makena Faith Me and Carlie....I had to MAKE her take this with me! Trey really enjoyed his food :) The carcases My love....it's almost been 18 years that we've been together :) I've watched him grow up!! Beth

Okay, so I'm WAY tired of these completely random posts, but I keep finding pictures on my phone that don't really fit with anything else, so you get yet, another random "hodgepodge" post! Ready for church! Praise the Lord, Carlie's MRI came back normal.  He diagnosed her with patella tendinitis which is just a big word for knee pain!  He told her to lose the crutches and start using it.  She's done quite well since then! This is from a few weeks ago when Makena got her bottom braces....now we finally have a full set! I was looking through Trey's brown envelope and came across this paper he had written about Noah.  I thought it was so sweet, I forwarded it on to Jamie and told her to read it to Noah :) Makena and her BFF, Harlee Beth

I have been the world's worst blogger so far this year!  Not the way I wanted to start out.  But, really though, I have been SUPER busy.  We have had weeks of basketball practice and games. On top of all of that, Carlie hurt her knee playing basketball :(  She did this on Tuesday at the very end of a complete blow-out game.  She went up for the rebound and then got pushed and fell on her knee.  We were getting beat so bad I was talking instead of watching the game and missed it all.  She cried so hard all the way home.  I was able to get her in with our orthopedic doctor at OrthoArkansas on Thursday and now we have an MRI scheduled (again!).  I feel so bad for her because she is for sure going to miss two games, maybe the rest of the season, depending on what the MRI finds :( My Dad and I have been coaching Makena's Pee-Wee team.  We have lost two and won one, but it has been a pretty fun season so far!  Makena is a beast when it comes to playing ball.  She will go after the b