Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Jase and I were watching "Jumanji" with the kids after dinner last night. I looked up and noticed we had a surprise guest.

Of course, we knew immediately who it was. But for your benefit, I had to run in the kitchen and get a head shot.

Jason bought me this Greedo figure not long after we got married, and he has held a place of honor in our kitchen window in every place we've lived since. Until last night, I had never noticed he apparently makes a brief daily appearance in the den as well.

Entrepreneurs

The girls have taken on several summer jobs pet-sitting and watering neighbors' yards while they travel. They are thoroughly enjoying having their own money, and it's amazing how quickly the value of a dollar changes when you've worked for it.

Originally, Courtney was working to make money to take cooking classes with a group of her friends like she did last summer. She has earned enough money already to pay for the whole week, but suddenly isn't so sure the class is worth that much money. In case you're wondering, Jason and I are loving every bit of this.

This morning in the car, Courtney was questioning why in the world Hannah would take twenty whole dollars to the movies with her. I explained that if you're willing to keep taking on jobs, you'll have money continually coming in and won't feel so afraid to spend a little sometimes.

At this point, Jake blurts out "Mommy, I have been TRYING to start a very successful massage business, but Daddy WILL NOT pay me a dollar for a massage!"

Let the Adventure Begin...

Well, I decided to sleep on the couch with Jake last night in case he got sick again. (Make that toss and turn on the couch...not the most comfortable couch for sleeping.) At 1:30 I coughed and Jake sat up instantly and said "MOMMY! ARE YOU OK???" I told him I was fine and asked how HE was feeling...."I feel great!" :)

So....I'm back on track for my first day at work today! A bundle of nerves, yes. But I'm walking forward. Like I tell Jake, courage is not the lack of fear...it's doing what scares you even though you're afraid.

Ok, Lord, let's do this!

Really, Lord???

This last week I found myself at a crossroads. To make a SUPER long story short, my flying job has pretty much fizzled out. As God is so famous for doing, He laid the perfect opportunity in my lap. Much the same way He laid the flying job in my lap 7 years ago. I've been asked to work part-time for some friends at their auto shop as a receptionist/office assistant. At first, I was very afraid to take the step, knowing it meant I would be completely unavailable to fly--IF they called. And lately, that's been a ginormous IF. But it has become more and more obvious that God is leading me and my family down a different path for the time being....and it may be a short time or a long time...but I'm always up for an adventure. So after praying with Jase about it and feeling confident that God is in this, I called my friend and took the plunge.

This is a blessing in so many ways. I won't bother to list them all, but just trust me. Or if you really want to know, call me and I'll fill you in. :) To say that I am an adventurer who hates change probably sounds like a huge paradox. But that's me. I have fought nerves all day today knowing my new adventure starts tomorrow. I have prayed and asked God for peace and blessings, and to grant me continued favor in the eyes of my employers (even though they already love me) and my co-workers (who I haven't met yet.) I've asked Him to help me make the most of this new start. I've asked that my children will get along for five hours a day without me until school starts. I have thanked Him repeatedly for a fresh start and the opportunity to help out with the family finances. And for providing this job where I'm already wanted.

When my friend asked me to come work for them, she said "You would be such a God-send to us." Really? She has no idea what that meant to me at a time where I feel I am the blessed one! So I say....BRING IT! I am ready for my new adventure which starts TOMORROW!

Then...Jake came downstairs at 9:00 tonight and puked his precious little toenails up in the kitchen trash. REALLY, LORD??? It's ok. I'm still smiling. But it looks like I'll be delaying my new adventure by a day or two.

Maybe Jake got my blonde hair...

Jase had to travel to Oklahoma last week for a rig visit. I decided that I would jump out and mow the front yard real quick Thursday morning so that he wouldn't have to worry about it over the holiday weekend. (Honestly, it was kinda selfish...I hadn't seen him all week and didn't want to share him with the lawn.)

Anyway, he comes home several hours after I had completed the yard and says "Is the lawn mower broken?" I told him it wasn't and asked why he would think that. The pictures should explain it all.




I have an old co-worker who used to get great joy from telling people that I dye my hair dark. Maybe THAT'S where Jake got his blonde hair!

Ok...I Gave Up!

Treasures

Market Day was a huge success! Jake was the first in his class to sell out of his product, and the bonus was that he made $4.35. Not really sure how he did that since he was charging 25 cents each, but we're all happy for him anyway!

Here are the treasures he bought from his friends' "booths."

Market Day

For some reason, 2nd grade teachers decided the kids needed a project on the last week of school. SO...tomorrow the entire 2nd grade will participate in "Market Day." Each child was to make 10-15 items they could sell at a "booth" to other students.

Here is what Jake made to sell...with lots of help from his sisters. They were very excited about this project.The girls have little flowers on their heads


He made half girls and half boys.




This last one is a boy because "it looks all muscle-y."



I can't WAIT to see what kinds of treasures he comes home with!

Huh?

See the dried-up, alien-looking thing in the middle? Apparently this is what those lovely little buds turn into. Poop. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, see yesterday's post titled "I LOVE surprises!)

I'm not giving up hope yet. My neighbor thinks they may be wild violets. Violets are not vegetables, but I'll take surprise purple flowers any day! Instead of being discouraged, I went around the yard taking pictures of things that make me happy...things I haven't killed yet. :) So here you go...Rose bush Jase bought me for Valentine's DayGinger something-or-otherPlumbago (my favorite plant in my whole yard. Jase also calls this one a weed.)GigiDaisy Mae

Life is a Highway

Sorry I haven't updated on the family in a while! I am an avid Facebook-er and often forget that a bunch of our family members don't do FB and have no clue what's going on with us!




Hannah Grace is 12 going on 20. She has had a very successful first year of middle school, and we are continually blessed with compliments from teachers and parents alike on what a sweet girl she is. Just this morning, she played the role of Sandy in the 6th grade Theater Arts production of Grease. (Please disregard the shoes....this really was only a classroom production)





Courtney is 11, and continues to keep us in stitches almost constantly. She definitely has her father's sense of humor...no doubt. :) She recently made it into the Northampton Elementary talent show, doing a dance she and her friends made up to "Potential Break-up Song" by Ali and AJ. She was commended in every section of the 5th grade TAKS test this year, which shocked her, but not her parents! We are so proud of her! This picture is of her and her best friend, Lauren, on the day of the talent show.







Jake turned 8 in March, and is growing into quite the baseball player. He made 3 double plays during his spring season, and last week, made the all-star team! He'll represent his team playing with the Bombers till the end of June. Fall of 2009, Jason plans to coach Jake's first kid-pitch team. We'll see how our little lefty does....here's a pic of Jase pitching to him during a game back in April.

I LOVE surprises!!!

Ok, my weirdness is about to be revealed in an all new way, but here goes...

A couple weeks ago, Jase was really REALLY struggling with his allergies. Bad. I have a motto "I do not mow poop" which has kept me from mowing our ginormous back yard for the last 3 1/2 years we've lived in this house. Well, ok...ever...no matter where we've lived. :) Anyway, I decided as a special way to show my love to my hubby, I would sacrifice my shoes and my sense of icky-ness to mow the "poop" yard so that his allergies could have a break.

There is one little area of our yard I've been eye-balling for the last year or so as a potential garden spot. It's the only area I believe might get enough sun. As I was pushing the mower I looked down and saw this patch of plants that did not look like weeds. I thought to myself "Hmmm...Those leaves look like vegetable leaves." So what did Angi Laird do??? I stopped the mower, grabbed a shovel and some pots, and dug those suckers up! Once I got them all into pots, I realized they have little buds all over them. I can not WAIT to see what these things are! I took one of them over to the neighbor and asked him if anyone who lived here before us ever had a garden and he said yes, but he doesn't remember what they grew. YAY ME!!!

Jase says I just potted a bunch of weeds. We'll see. Either way, I LOVE SURPRISES!

THE MEXICANS ARE COMING!!!

Yesterday while getting ready for school, Jake comes running in the kitchen with his eyes as big as saucers...

J: Mommy...please, please, please. If Daddy's job ever makes us move out of Northampon, PLEASE don't let us ever move to El Paso!

Me: Well, I don't think we would ever move to El Paso. But why?

J: Because the news just said that in El Paso the Mexicans are attacking! They built this big wall thing but left a hole in it so they can see if the Mexicans are coming. And they're COMING!

Inauguration Day Thoughts by the Laird Children

Jake: Mommy, we have a new president.
Me: I know! Pretty cool, huh?
J: Yeah. We got to watch part of it at school.
Me: Really? Did you understand what he said?
J: (a tad insulted) Yes.
Me: So what did he say?
J: Um........that he's gonna do a job. You know, like, running the country and stuff.

Glad he listened. Then Courtney came in.

C: We watched part of it too.
Me: So what did you think?
C: BORING! Fell asleep.

And Hannah, who is actually old enough to really maybe understand some of it...well, they didn't watch it in middle school!

I've Been Tagged...

~Tagged~
I was tagged in the picture game.The object of the picture tag is to:
1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer.
2) Select the 4th picture in the folder.
3) Explain the picture.
4) Tag 4 people to do the same.
No cheating (cropping, editing, etc.) Have fun!!!



Hannah's science project last year was to compare the number of unpopped kernels from a bag of inexpensive microwave popcorn with the number of unpopped kernels from a top name brand. I walked in to find her frantically trying to cram as much popcorn in her mouth as possible. When I asked her what she was doing, she said she was trying to get to the unpopped kernels so she could count them. Yes, she is a special child. G/T and everything. Thank GOD I caught her before she tried to eat TWO WHOLE BAGS of popcorn.

OH...and I don't have four blogging friends to tag, so I'll just do that part on Facebook.