Eeeeek!

So far on this visit to Louisiana, we've seen 4 water moccassins. This one was the first that we saw, and thank the Lord he was DEAD when we saw him. My brother measured him at 5 feet, 8 inches long. That, my people, is one Big Ole Snake!!!

My Uncle Nolan; the Cajun Snake Killer.

One of my Mom's cats called attention to it in Mom's backyard and when Uncle Nolan went to see what was up, he saw Big Daddy rearing his head to strike the poor kitty.
Rest assured, he will no longer be able to attempt harm anything else...because
He's Dead!

FYI

For any of you traveling with babies...I give this TWO THUMBS UP! Sarah has been fussy since Sunday because her routine has been messed up and she is now sleeping comfortably in this...

"Tootie" has been removed...

Thanks so much for the replies on my last post, Beth and Jenn.
I now know that my Lopez Files are safe.

I'm off to wash dishes...

I got an idea...

I've started a blog page for Phillip and I, so that we can write back and forth and have an archive of what was written. For example, if he wants to go back in time to see another pic of the Coach purse that I want, he can. I'll include all sorts of things: recipes for us to try, the kid's sizes if he wants to buy gifts, lists of wants and needs (for Christmas and other gift giving purposes) for Us, the family, general everyday goings-0n that would otherwise bore other readers to death, etc. I'm also adding a countdown and count-up clock for the deployment.

I guess I'm telling you this because it might put the bug in your brain to do the same for your family. Let's face it, I'm an organized woman...

Oh, and do me a favor: Go to your left and click on "Tootie". If you can see the blog without giving a password, then there is a problem and I need to know about it.

Ya'll have a good day, ya hear?

I think that "every little thing's gonna be alright"!

I don't want to speak too soon. But things are okay on this end. That doesn't mean that life does not feel different; because it does. There is a certain emptiness that I feel right now, and that sucks. But things could be worse, right? I have this awesome way of dealing with things that I really don't want to deal with...it's called not thinking about it. Life has to go on. I have to keep things normal for myself and my children. Life in this next year will be all about fun, a little work, and planning for the future. Okay, and now I'll get off of my soapbox because I'm starting to irritate even myself with this damsel in distress crap. I do have to say though, that I sincerely appreciate all of the phone calls and emails that I got this weekend and today. I feel loved. I'm actually glad that we got the good-byes over with...I feel for my friends, as they will be in the same boat very soon. I will be calling and emailing you to make sure you're okay...

Our trip to LA yesterday was good. Had a small hiccup in Houston when I missed the 610 North exit, but I quickly fixed that. All in all, we made it safe and in good time.

I know that I have some very loyal readers on this blog and I appreciate that. Again, I say that the whole purpose of this blog was to inform friends and family of our happenings and whereabouts and if anything, I want you to be entertained at the same time. If this blog is boring, then what's the point of reading it. I'll try to post lots of pics throughout the next year, because I know that Phillip would appreciate it. He likes my style of writing. At times, I want to quit this blog, but then he threatens me with violence (just joking) if I actually go through with quitting. I'll have to get on him about actually updating his own blog, and I would also appreciate it if he'd take off that darn pregnant pic of me that he's got on it. As soon as he posts something new, I'll add him to my blogroll to your left and then you'll see that absolutely horrible mother-hen pic that I'm talking about!

Anyway, I know I'm rambling. Right now, I have the time to. Gabe is with his Pa-pa and Ya-ya at a funeral/wake. Hey....he wanted to go.

As for our exciting day today, we went to visit my Dad and my Mom. My uncle killed a HUGE water moccasin in Mom's backyard and I got a couple of pics of it. WELCOME TO LOUISIANA!!! I'll post the pics when I can download them to my handy new pen drive (am I spelling that right?).

Later ya'll!
J~

It's going to snow...right now!

Some people come into your life and over time, you realize how special they are...

Linda came into my life by marriage. I feel like she is a second Mom, a sister, a really good friend. She actually made me cry today by emailing and telling me to listen to Bob Marley..."everything's gonna be alright".

And she FINALLY left a comment on this blog. Or maybe she's left one just recently on another post besides the one before this, and I'm just noticing it now...my neurons aren't exactly connecting these days.

(I love you, woman. And yes, I'll be singing Bob Marley all day tomorrow.)

Fun in the....well, it was Partly Cloudy

"But Daaaaad, all the other babies are wearing them!"
"Yes, but if all the other babies roll their strollers off of a cliff, would you do the same?"

Phillip, the over-protective father, finally conceded on this bikini because it covered more than the others offered at Babies-R-Us. (the arguments over clothes start already!)

We're amazed and so were everyone else that she actually keeps her sunglasses on. She was doing it up like a Rock Star yesterday!

Okay, so I guess you're wondering where we were. The last time Phillip was deployed, I took Gabe to Schlitterbahn and he's been wanting to take Dad there ever since. We finally got the chance yesterday. We all had fun, and I got the chance to even out my sunburn/tan from the cruise.

We've been so busy this week. We had our last dinner with Craig and Mary on Wednesday. Of course, we went to our favorite place, Orchid Thai. I mentioned it before and I'll say it again...We'll miss them. But, we are going to be in Louisiana a lot this summer, and so we will see them soon.

We are all preparing for what's to come. I'm thinking that when I drop Phillip off for "you know what", I'll keep on driving down to Louisiana and spend at least a week. It will be a good diversion for all of us. Phil and I made a list yesterday of all there is to do for Gabe and I while we visit LA. Besides spending time with family, I can take Gabe to places like the Audubon Zoo, Chretien Point plantation (a couple of miles down the road from Mom's house), we can go take a picture of the statue of Evangeline (in St. Martinville, LA), ghost tours, swamp tours, festivals of all sorts, etc. etc. If you stop to think about it, Gabe is a "military brat" and doesn't REALLY know where his parents come from; this will be a good opportunity to teach him about his roots. And when we plan to go somewhere, I'll basically send an email to my local kinfolk and friends and ask who's in for the excursion.

Idleness is the devil's workshop. We plan to stay busy.

Go, Ken! Get Busy...with ya BAD self!!!

This post has such a title because I am affectionately teasing our very humble brother-in-law, Ken. He was inducted into the Texas Rangers today and we are very proud of him.

Angie, Ken, Elise and Brigg

Okay, so I told Ken to strike a "Zoolander" pose and this is what I got. Again, I say "Go Ken....get busy....with ya BAD self!".