UPDATE AND THEN SOME...

JUST FILLING YOU IN ON OUR HAPPENINGS, OR IF YOU ARE A BOX IN THE GARAGE, THE NON HAPPENINGS OF UNPACKING!

SANDY MARIAH NEWS DEBUT
THE KIDS DEBUTED THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER LAST WEEK, (I'LL POST AFTER I HAVE IT SCANNED). DUE TO EXTREME TEMPS, DOOR TO DOOR SALES WERE NOT AS FLUSH AS THEY HAD HOPED. AS WITH MOST PAPERS ACROSS AMERICA AND TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES, THE SANDY MARIAH NEWS IS BEING CUT FROM A WEEKLY PUB TO A MONTHLY OR BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION. WE DO HAVE ONE LONE ADVERTISER AND A LOYAL FOLLOWING OF A FEW NEIGHBORS, BUT WE NEED TO BLITZ THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO MAKE IT COST EFFECTIVE. MORE TO COME...

THE FIRST PAPER THAT STARTED IT ALL
AS YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE WAY THE PAPER THING GOT STARTED WAS OUR DAUGHTER'S FAKE PAPER THAT SHE BEGAN OVER SPRING BREAK. UP UNTIL TODAY, I COULD NOT FIND THE FIRST ISSUE (I FOUND IT CLEANING OUT MY PURSE, LD-I SHOULD HAVE BEFORE/AFTER PICS OF THAT MESS!). FOLLOWING IS HER FIRST JOURNALISTIC ENTRIES, PHONETIC SPELLING AND ALL...

LUBBICK NES PAPER

HELO WOODS!
TOMMY WOOD AND ALLISON WOOD MOVED HERE FROM DALHART, WHITH THER 2 CHILDREN, SHERIDAN AND BRENNER. THEY WILL BE GOING TO SOTHCREST. TOMMY WORKS AT EDWARD JONES. SHERIDAN IS 8, AND IS IN 2ND GRADE. BRENNER IS 6 AND IS IN KINDERGARTEN. WE ARE VARY GLAD TO HAVE THE WOODS IN LUBBICK WHITH US.

MORE REPETERS
AT REPETERS MANCHEN WE NEED SOME MORE HED REPORTERS. THES ARE THE HED REPORTERS WE HAVE SO FAR: HOLLY MINT, GRACIE COVER AND KITTY WOOD. SO PLEES JONE US.

LITNING BUG CONTEST
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LITNING BUG CONTEST. AT LITNING BUG LAKE. 9:30 P.M.HOW YOU PLAY IS YOU GET FREE JARS AND CACH AS MANY AS YOU CAN. HOO EVER GETS THE MOST GETS TO CEEP ALL UV THEM.

LUBBCK BOOK FAR
AT LUBBCK LIBRARY THARS A BOOK FAR. WARE YOU GET FREE BOOKS TO KEEP THERE WILL BE REFRESHMINTS AND ACTIVITYS. ALL ON FRIDAY NIGHTS 8 TO 10.


WASSUP MISTER B!
OK, THIS IS ME AGAIN AND NOT SAID DARLING DAUGHTER. OUR SON GOT TERRIBLY SICK ON MONDAY THIS WEEK WITH A VERY HIGH FEVER. BEING SO ON TOP OF THINGS THAT I'M SO NOT RIGHT NOW, I HAD NOT YET TRANSFERRED TO OUR RECOMMENDED DOCTOR.

SO ON TUESDAY A.M. I WAS SCRAMBLING FOR A NEW DOC AND DID GET HIM SEEN TUESDAY AFTERNOON. WE WALKED IN AND THE DR. ASKED HIM, 'HI, WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?'. THE SULLEN, SERIOUS AND HOT KID SAID, "WALKING WITH MY MOM". ASK A LITERAL QUESTION DOC, GET A LITERAL ANSWER. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS NOT LIKE OUR BELOVED B AT ALL! HE WAS RUNNING A 103 TEMP AT THE EXAM WITH ODD ACHES AND PAINS. HE TESTED NEGATIVE FOR FLU AND STREP.

WITH A MILD DECONGESTANT WE LEFT AND UPPED HIS MOTRIN/TYLENOL DOSE AS I WAS GIVING HIM NOT ENOUGH FOR HIS WEIGHT. HE WAS BACK AT SCHOOL BY THURSDAY AND IS MUCH BETTER, PRAISE GOD!

DRESS UP DAY AND 1040 WINDOW PRESENTATIONS
MISSIONS WEEK WRAPPED UP WITH DRESSING UP AS A CHILD FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY. THE STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE GROUPS, FIND OUT MORE AT http://www.1040window.org/ . THE MAJORITY OF NON CHRISTIANS FALL BETWEEN THE 10TH AND 40TH PARALLEL OF THE NORTHERN HEMISHPERE STRETCHING FROM AFRICA TO CHINA.

EACH CLASS STUDIED A COUNTRY AND GAVE FACTS AND A PRESENTATION. KINDERGARTEN HAD JAPAN, THEY SANG A SONG AND EACH STUDENT RECITED A FACT ABOUT THE COUNTRY, (OUR SON, BY THE WAY, DRESSED UP AS A SPANISH SOLDIER FROM THE CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS (ST. AUGUSTINE, FL) - NOT REALLY ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE 1040 WINDOW, BUT HIS OTHER CHOICE WAS A BRITISH BOBBY!).

2ND GRADE LEARNED ABOUT THE COUNTRY OF NORTH KOREA, (OUR DAUGHTER DRESSED UP IN A BORROWED CHINESE TOP AND PANTS SET THAT WAS BABY BLUE!). I LEARNED A LOT AS A PARENT LISTENING TO EACH CLASS AS THEY PRESENTED FACTS ABOUT THE UNCHURCHED OF EACH COUNTRY.

THEY ALSO PARTICIPATED IN UNDERGROUND CHURCH - COMPLETE WITH A POLICE OFFICER COMING TO CHECK ON WHAT THE CELEBRATION WAS ABOUT! THEY ALSO RAISED MONEY TO SPONSOR A WELL IN AFRICA. WHAT A GREAT MISSIONS WEEK!

WHAT IS TOMMY DOING?
HE HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD ON OUR YARD. TODAY, HE TORE DOWN THE DOG RUN, THAT WE DECIDED WOULD NOT HOLD A LARGE DOG AND A SMALL DOG WOULD SLIP THROUGH. THIS IS IN PREPARATION FOR THE PLAYSET TO COME. HE HELD HIS FIRST EJ FUNCTION RECENTLY AND IT WAS GREAT TO MEET SOME FELLOW LUBBOCKIANS!

WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING?
BLOGGING AND NOT UNPACKING.

PRINCESS AND SUPERHERO NIGHT
WE WENT TO CHIC-FIL-A LAST NIGHT FOR PRINCESS/SUPERHERO NIGHT. EACH TIKE WHO WAS DRESSED UP GOT A FREE MEAL! THE COW AND MRS. COW WERE DRESSED UP TOO - THE COW WAS DRESSED UP LIKE BAT MAN, IT WAS SO HILARIOUS! MRS. COW WAS DRESSED UP LIKE CINDERELLA, THEY HAD CRAFTS AND PICTURES WITH THE COWS - A GREAT WAY TO SPEND A FRIDAY NIGHT. WE CAME HOME AND FOLLOWED IT WAS A FEW HANDS OF UNO (TO BE CONTINUED TONIGHT). SCORING: MOMMY 320/ DADDY 265/ PEEPS 264.!!

OK, THAT WRAPS IT UP FOR US, WE ARE CONTINUING TO VISIT CHURCHES, THERE ARE LOTS OF GREAT ONES! WE STARTED BALLET THIS WEEK AND HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR TBALL IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. WE HAD A VISIT FROM MIMI AND POPPY LAST WEEKEND AND AN EASTER COMING UP. BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUT ALWAYS MISSING OUR FRIENDS!

Big City...Big News!

We have been in the big city a whole week now and we are still eating with mismatched utensils and I've survived with a frying pan, sauce pan, a spatula and a wooden spoon (not for cooking by the way!). Our beloved Gigi and Papa have gone home, without their help, what a mess we would be in...in fact, we are in a mess, I've yet to find the toaster, sorry kids no waffles on the first day of school.

I've not unpacked nearly enough for being in a house for a whole week, we have spent some time running around window shopping for a few items and price comparing. Possibly the most significant item is that it has been two days since we have been to Taco Villa!

We had a wonderful visit with the best kinder-prep teacher ever! Mrs. Starks and her girls were in Lubbock this week and introduced us to a fabulous park and we fed some ducks. We were a little late and missed a wild goose chasing Mrs. Starks, who in defense threw Makenzy's coke at the honking beast!

Now for the really big news! As you know, our eight year old has been producing a daily paper that our family and friends have thoroughly enjoyed. As she and her daddy were taking a walk in the neighborhood last night they saw a lady with a dog (who was wearing a sweater - the dog, not the owner) and our daughter wanted to know more about this gal and her companion. By the time they got home a discussion of the free enterprise system and good 'ole American capitalism took place and she made an annoucement at dinner.

Ding, Ding, Ding (well, it was a plastic fork on a red plastic solo cup, so whatever sound that makes). "I have called this family meeting. I am now a business owner, I'm starting my own neighborhood newspaper and I'm selling it for 50 cents a paper. I will do interviews on Sunday afternoons and I'll sell the papers on Saturday mornings," she announced. She also gave us all designations and jobs; She is the publisher/reporter, her brother is the paper boy and gets a cut of the profits for selling door to door, she prefers to sit in the front yard with a sign. Her father is her assistant and I, the mommy, am the copy editor and typist.

That was Saturday evening, she started formulating questions to ask for her interview, her first subject the lady and her dog. After church, lunch and rest-time (much more for the parents than the kids). She headed out with her writing kit (a purse from her BFF-GC, 8 notebooks, 3 pencils and 2 pens), her lavendar flip-flops matched perfectly with her irridescent lip gloss. Also along for the ride was her father, the assistant (we are calling him, Assistant to the Regional Manager - but you only get that if you watch the office).

If you know our girl, two words to describe her would be shy and demure, not exactly characteristics of a brazen door knocking reporter. She admitted to her daddy that she had 'flutterflies' in her stomach as they walked one street over. She knocked on the door and expecting the sweet lady and her dog, she instead got the head of the house. With as big of voice as she could muster, "Hi, my name is Sheridan and I'm reporting news in our area, can I interview you?" He questioned, "you want to interview me?" And then began the process and found out all about that little dog, which is the real story of course.

I'll blog about our first edition, look for it next Saturday, of course if you want a hot copy in your hands it'll cost you a buck, stamps are expensive you know!

The news according to Sheridan.

Our daughter has started her own newspaper. It absolutely thrills me to no end and is lots of entertainment for the whole family. Being a self proclaimed writer, I tell you this kid has got it! Great sentence structure, I've left the spelling phonetic as it adds extra emphasis. We are missing our first edition, hopefully, I'll find it in this mess...oh and by the way, don't tell her you read it or you will owe a dollar per issue!

Edition 2, Tuesday, March 17th

Lubbick Nes Paper

New Jobs
Do you need a job?Well, find a job is the fastist way to find one.

Cudolys (cuddles)
Ther is a new stor called Cudolys. You get a free stuft anamol an you cuddol up with it to wach a moove.

Crcis
Ther is a crcis at 1213 Chary Park at 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Bary Pick at Bary Boosh Hill
Thers going to be a bary pick. Hoo ever gets the most barys gets all the barry pie!


3rd Edition, Wed., March 18

Lubbock News Papper

Travilling
Do you love to travil like Maxin Faust (Gigi)? Whith a Frod Explorer you go go 12 howers with only stoping 6 times. You can do two day travolor or 1 day travol. (this is absolutely hilarious, because even gigi will tell you that she stops a lot).

Snow Globs (globes)
Snow Globs has a lot uv difrit globs. Thers also space globs, erth globs and planet globs. Get a free coopon and get any glob for free.

Houses
Ther is lots uv houses on the market. One got bot on Sunday.

Play Houses
Com help billd the play hous at the Woods. At least just bild one for your kids.


4th Edition, Thursday, March 19th

Lubbock Nows Paper

Non Art Class
Do you like art? Well, Buzz Marcheene (a.k.a. her brother) didn't go to art class to be an artest. All he had to do was get a notebook six inches tall.

A Pet Stor
Thers a new Lubbock pet stor called PetsMart. Evrybottey must by a pet at PetsMart in order of Brock Obama. If you don't get a pet your going to jail. (this is so funny, because, as you can tell she really, really wants a pet!).

Disney Stor
Thers a new Disney Stor. Ther stor is somuch fun. Even Micky Mouse is there!

The Wild Twin Club (this is an association made up by her and her brother)
If your a twin, you'll luve the wild twin club. You can help even wen your not a twin. Just give donashons. The moto is Brenner and Sheridan roc and rool. Plees Jone!

These lovely additions come wrapped in a pink hairband!

ONLINE RANDOMNESS

1. We are online! We have internet service and although I don't really care about what is happening in the world it is nice to feel connected! I've not had any time to comment on blogs, but I've really enjoyed seeing everyone's pics and keep up with what they are doing. Amy, I'm so glad you started doing this when you moved, it makes me feel like I can still stay well connected with friends even though we have also moved.


2. Oh yeah, moving...well, it looks like a disaster in this house. I'm not a naturally gifted organizer, I really have to work at it. For me, a mess has to get bigger, before it gets better. We are still without a toaster, it is somewhere, I'm rewashing the same 3 outfits for us all and after I found our flatware, THEN I found the plastic set that we were supposed to be eating with for the last week! UGH.


3. Whoever said diamonds are a girls best friend never owned a shop vac! I cleaned out our car yesterday, let me be honest, I needed a shovel. We have literally been living in our car for the past two months, trips back and forth and back and forth. It was positively disgusting! Those shop vacs are a wonder aren't they! After I vacuumed up all the yuk and muk and proudly displayed my nearly clean car for my hubby. He said, "did you clean out the shop vac before you used it, I packed some stuff in there!" Are you kidding me?


4. The kids have had a really good spring break, although, we have no idea where most of there stuff is, they have played really well together and Sheridan has started a family newspaper. Brenner is her delivery boy and the price has gone from 25 cents an issue up to $1 per issue. Although, she is a fabulous writer and Brenner a fabulous henchman collecting funds, they don't quite get the concept of a subscription. They have been charging each family member to only READ the paper! I will post those at a later date, they are so fun!


5. Lubbock is treating us well, most of our neighbors are gone for spring break, but we have two little boys that live next door that are 5 and 7. That should be fun. We have made numerous trips to Dollar General and Taco Villa and maybe I'll decide where furniture should go permanently, I'm still rearranging chairs and things.


All for now, see you later!

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersen, Good-bye (3rd post)

I have a lot of pictures to post, but no time to download. Hopefully, I'll get to that someday after unpacking is done, is that ever done? First, we had a lovely going away event at the ROC on Sunday, March 1st, we had an opportunity to visit with many friends and thank you to the special group of friends who made cookies and punch and of course to Krista for the lovely decorations in my favorite colors - lime green and brown! We are so very blessed to have wonderful friends and a great community, we will miss everyone very, very, very much.

On this past Monday, Brenner had his top four teeth removed due to reoccuring abcesses in his gums. He did very well during the procedure, but coming out of the anesthesia was terribly traumatic and awful. But the good thing is, it is done. We had to do it this past week, or he would have had to wait until May.

Last Friday, (sorry I don't know dates, in fact I have no idea what today's date is), we closed on the house on Elm and This Friday we closed on the house in Lubbock. I'll be sending out forwarding address/phone info shortly. Then Tommy and I got to drive back in the "wintery mix".

The wintery mix delayed our move date by a day, so we are not loading today, Saturday, we are loading tomorrow on Sunday. In the midst of all of this, the house had to be packed. My sweet parents who have been here since last weekend, have packed 100% of the house and have kept the kids organized and going. I don't know what I would have done without them. I guess you never quit taking care of your kids. Gigi and Papa are a grand example of servanthood to our family.

I have to pause to tell you right now, that all the coffee cups got packed and since we didn't expect to be here, Tommy is currently drinking coffee out of a 3 ounce crystal punch cup! He looks quite dignified in a contintental sort of way.

As much as our family always gets along, the stress of moving has def. taken its toll on our normal jovial moods, Sheridan is annoyed she can't find her favorite jeans, Brenner is quite upset that his toys are packed, Tommy was not too happy to go buy breakfast at McDonalds during spring break weekend and I am sitting in oblivious blogging mode!

Due to the storm I was unable to pick the kids up from their last day of school, Bs teacher made out the sweetest card to him, her words i will forever treasure. Their classmates made them going away cards and they are all so sweet. Ss class had a "we will miss you party" on Thursday and on Friday, the scene of her saying good bye to her BFF is something I'm probably glad I didn't see, my parents said the girls weren't the only ones crying. I know the kids will do well and make friends, and I know that their friends here will always hold a very special place in their hearts.

We will be offline for a few days, so we will catch up soon. Hugs, kisses and prayers for all!

mommy according to Brenner, 6

1. What is something Mom always says to you? You Love me.



2. What makes Mom happy? me hugging you



3. What makes Mom sad? When I get spankings




4. How does your Mom make you laugh? being funny and making the Jason Kreverik face (a very long story)




5. What was your Mom like as a child? a mama




6. How old is your Mom? 41




7. How tall is your Mom? big




8. What is Mom's favorite thing to do? kiss me




9. What does your Mom do when you're not around? gets bored!




10. If your Mom becomes famous, what will it be for? kissing me




11. What is your Mom really good at? hugging me




12. What is your Mom not very good at? jumping on the roof




13. What does your Mom do for her job? stay home




14. What is your mom's favorite food? I don't know




5. What makes you proud of your Mom? she kisses me




16. If your Mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Uncle Ashley (my brother in law who is an actor)




17. What do you and your Mom do together? hug




18. How are you and your Mom the same? We have the same last name.




19. How are you and your Mom different? We have different first names.




20. How do you know your Mom loves you? cuz you say it



21. Where is your Mom's favorite place to go? home

Mommy according to Sheridan, 8

1. What is something Mom always says to you? How was school today?


2. What makes Mom happy? me!


3. What makes Mom sad? When I'm at school.


4. How does your Mom make you laugh? when she plays Brenner's star war's video game.


5. What was your Mom like as a child? CRAZY!


6. How old is your Mom? 41


7. How tall is your Mom? small


8. What is Mom's favorite thing to do? scrapbook



9. What does your Mom do when you're not around? She wonders where we are



10. If your Mom becomes famous, what will it be for? her hair



11. What is your Mom really good at? Telling me what to do.



12. What is your Mom not very good at? playing in the snow



13. What does your Mom do for her job? You just help daddy do stuff at work.



14. What is your mom's favorite food? Bob Cat Bite (a burger joint in Santa Fe, they serve burgers with grilled onions and pasta salad as a side, whenever that is on our menu at home, I tell the kids we are having "bob cat bite", I guess I make it alot).



15. What makes you proud of your Mom? Driving the car all the way to Wyoming. Didn't you do that once?



16. If your Mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Lucy as in I love Lucy.



17. What do you and your Mom do together? paint our nails



18. How are you and your Mom the same? we are both little ladies



19. How are you and your Mom different? you are a blondie



20. How do you know your Mom loves you? you give me presents at Christmas



21. Where is your Mom's favorite place to go? the movie theater