one week down

Aside from a few minor meltdowns, mom and kids made it through our first week back at school.  It was an awesome week.  I love my classes.  All of my students are fun and sweet.  They even still think I am sweet.  I laugh and tell their parents that will change after next week.  HA!!!

After meeting all my students, some returning in 8th grade and others new to 7th grade, I am very excited for the year to come.  They are going to be a great group of kids to work with.  Seventh graders were mostly scared to death of ending up in the wrong class, or not doing it right.  They did an awesome job!!  Next week they will have the system down easily and be old pros.

Calleigh and Carson had a great week too.  They both are LOVING their teachers.  What a relief for mom to have a school with such amazing teachers.  Looking forward to their successes in school this year.

I won't be receiving Mother of the Year this year.  I forgot to take FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL pictures.  I know, you say how can that be?  I don't know.  We weren't rushed.  Just got to school before I thought of it.  Then, it was just embarrassing, and I hated to humiliate them on the first day of school.  I probably do a good job at that without trying.

Although I would love to be home this weekend and do laundry and kick back, we will spend tomorrow in town playing basketball.  UGH...I am so tired!!!

Have a fantastic weekend!!!

rain

Last night our dry and thirsty land finally got a drink!!  Thank you Lord!!!

Who knew rain could be so much fun!!!

all in a days work

home

After 17 days, 3 destinations, 6 planes rides, 2 rental cars and 6 hotels....WE ARE FINALLY ALL HOME!!! And oh my, does it ever feel good.

I forgot how much I loved my house.  I love my dust.  I love my own washing machine.  I love cooking in my kitchen.  I love sitting on my comfy couches.  I love driving my very own suburban.  I love having more than one room to hang out in as we did in our hotels. I love NOT having to live out of a suitcase.  I just love being home.

But we had so much fun!!!  Disney was a huge success for all, especially Cydney Claire.  Her favorite was probably Minnie Mouse, but when she picked her souvenir...she chose PIGLET!! The big kids favorite was probably Hollywood Studios.  There were big, fun, fast, and exciting rides there.

After several days of Disney, it was nice and relaxing to dip our toes in the water in Marco.  The beautiful tan that came along with that was definitely a plus for me.

Telling my boys good-bye brought tears.  (I am not good at good-byes!)  But the girls and I headed to Virginia for a busy week of Bluedevil basketball.  We didn't fair as well as we had like at the National Tournament, although they did very well.  They placed about 13th out of 34 very good ball teams.  I am super proud of those Texas Bluedevils.

Finally...we flew home with a quick overnight stay in Amarillo for a family reunion.  It is always good to see family that we don't see often.  Sure would have loved to have seen them longer.

But home never felt so good!!

growing up

There is probably nothing in life that creates such mixed emotions as my children growing up.  I love each new stage they enter.  I love how the mother-child relationship changes through each new stage of childhood.  I love that my children take on a new level of independence and responsibility.  I love most that their hearts begin to mature and in tender moments their sweetness comes pouring through.

One of these such moments happened last night.  The son of one of our of dear family friends fell last night on his rip stick and broke his arm terribly.  When Calleigh came home from practicing basketball at the gym, she sent a text to all of friends that made my mother heart smile and tears come to my eyes.
     
     "Please pray for Tate.  He was doing something and broke his arm. Will possible have surgrey.  We are pray for fast recovery and healing.  Please pray!!"

Through the misspelling and missing words, the meaning came through loud and clear.  It touched my heart that she would call her friends to pray for their friend.  She is growing up and maturing.

Over the last months she has been asking if she could start shaving her legs.  In my mind, I had a clear cut time frame for these things to happen.  Fifth grade wasn't really what I had planned.  But, I also hadn't planned on her being so mature and grown up in fifth grade either.  I tried to blow if off and put her off at first.  That only lasted a little while.  She was persistent.  Hairy legs "embarrass" her.

I gave in.  As I sat on the bathtub this week showing her how to shave her legs, I had a smile on my face, but an ache in my heart as I realized another sign of her growing up.  As much as I love the young lady that she is becoming...I HATE IT!!!

I was doing some cleaning last night and came across a picture we took on our cruise just last summer.  I couldn't believe how much she has changed in a few short months.  She is losing her little girl looks and changing into a beautiful young lady...inside and out.

Treasure the moments with your babes...they will be gone much to soon!!!

Be blessed,

olivia & libby

One of the many things I love about living "in the country" and having a cattle business is that our kids have the opportunity to raise their own bottle calves.  It is such an exciting time for the kids because they wait and watch for days for baby calves to be born at the feedyard.  When a baby calf is finally born, they get all giddy and can hardly wait to bring it home.   The baby calf usually comes to live with us within 48 hours of being born.  The are such babies.  Calleigh and Carson bottle feed them twice a day for many, many weeks until they are ready for solid feed.

 This is Libby.

 And this is Olivia.

Libby and Oliva are our precious new bottle calves.  They are the cutest things.  Just as Calleigh and Carson were so giddy to get their new calves, Libby and Olivia get all giddy and jumpy when they see the kids coming to their pen to play or feed.  It makes me smile.  I love this life!!

at the park

bluedevil basketball - branson post #1

Better grab your favorite drink and a comfy chair, this post could get lengthy!  Have tons to tell you....

I had every intention of keeping you informed of our week of basketball at the AAU National Tournament in Branson last week, but technology was not on my side.  I guess, due to the many hills and trees, phone service was a little shaky.  I couldn’t check my facebook or post to my blog from my phone.  Talk about drive me crazy....a week without Facebook is a good way to do it.  I felt out of touch with everyone except the our Bluedevil family.  But never fear, the hotel has wi-fi.  Ya, whatever!!  Very undependable wi-fi, if you could even call it that.  I could never get a blog post to post, much less any pictures to upload.

Sooo... your stuck with an incredibly lengthy post covering a weeks worth of basketball.

The trip to Branson was relatively uneventful.  We split the trip in half to make it a bit easier on the kids.  I didn’t have Cydney (he flew with Robby’s mom), so I was able to spend some time with the two older ones.  We sang REALLY LOUD and even danced in the car.  I know what your thinking...I was being safe!!!  It was fun!!!

The tournament began with an opening ceremony that is fashioned after the Olympics.  It was really cool and the girls loved it.  It is customary for each team to bring items from their hometown/home state to trade with the other girls at the tournament.  Last year  we tookTexas license plates and they were a huge hit, so we took them again this year along with Bluedevil pins.  Most teams bring pins with their team logo to put on their lanyard.  Each girl then wears her lanyard through the week and has a keepsake from the tournament.

Basketball didn’t start as we had hoped the first day.  Bluedevil girls were a little shell shocked from being at the National Tournament.  We lost the first game in pool play, but made a good comeback on day 2 and finished second in our pool.  This seeded/placed us for the championship bracket of the tournament.

Calleigh is #15

Day 3 of the tournament began the championship bracket.  We got lucky and got a bye the first round.  This moved us to the Sweet Sixteen.  That afternoon, the girls won their game which moved them to the Elite Eight.  It was pretty exciting knowing that we had made it to the top eight teams of the tournament.

Day 4 was a heartbreaking day for Bluedevil basketball....for this mom, anyway.  We lost our game that morning by 5 to another Texas team which would eventually win the National Tournament.  Although we had lost, we held our opponents to the lowest scoring so far of the tournament.  No one they played had lost by less than 20 points.  The girls had nothing to hang their heads about, but losing is never easy.  We lost again that afternoon to an Indiana team by 2 points.  We just couldn’t get our game going again.

Friday morning we played our last game against an Oklahoma team for 7th place.  We won the game!!  Although we hoped for a higher placing than 7th place, we are super proud of our Bluedevil girls.  They played hard all week, and never quit fighting until the last buzzer rang.

Out of 27 teams that qualified for the AAU National Tournament, Bluedevils finished 7th.

Proud to be a Bluedevil mom!!!

a mother's dream

As a mother, I have so many dreams for my children.  I think every mother has incredible dreams for each of her children.  It’s part of the job.

• I dream for my children to have a college education, to have a great job that challenges them and doing something they love to do.  
• I dream for my children to each find a spouse they care the same type of marriage that Robby and I have.
• I dream for my children to have friends that encourage them, support them, and hold them accountable i life.
• I dream for children to share in the joys of parenthood.
• I dream for my children to live a life of prosperity and fullness.
• I dream for my children to have so much love that their cup runneth over.
• I dream for my children to happy, no matter where the road of life leads them.
• I dream this....and so much more for my babies (growing babies!)  One of this mom’s dreams came true a few weeks ago when I was able to sit on the front row close to the front and watch Calleigh and Carson be baptized!!!  It was an unforgettable moment that will forever be etched on my heart.  To know that my children will walk with Jesus...makes my own cup runneth over.  I was such a precious moment!!

I dream for my children to have an intimate relationship with their Heavenly Father and know the love and joy of a relationship with Him.


Be blessed!!!

dear kids,

I don’t know if you noticed that our house cleaner came yesterday and our house really looks quit nice.  I was thinking how nice it would be if our house could stay picked up and looking nice and neat...not perfect, just picked up.  No clothes on the floor, no shoes left lying around, towels taken back to the bathroom after your shower.  

It would also probably be helpful if your homework folder weren’t laying on my bedroom floor.  You are probably going to need that homework folder in the morning, and you are going to wonder where it is.  Panic may even strike when you realize that you can’t find it.  That would be so sad.  I hate it when I feel panicked.  Not a good feeling at all.

I know that with the weather warming up it makes you want to play outside.  If you wanted a little more playtime I thought you might be interested in knowing helping to clean as you go would result in more playtime in the afternoons.  I know it isn’t asking much, but every little bit helps.  It also helps mommy’s attitude when she isn’t frazzled over things like this.  I know you would like to change that.  

Just thought I would ask.....

Love, Mom

one year ago....

***Contest Closed****

...I began sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Kirkland Klan.  What a fun year it has been.  There have been many memorable moments...some I would relive, others I think I will not.  I can't believe how my kids have grown and changed in a years times.  I wish I could slow down the clock and keep them this age for a while.  They are such fun!!!

In celebrating this one year anniversary, I am going to give one lucky person a brand new shirt from one of my favorite places.  You guessed it....Wild Olive Tees.  I once was a winner of a Wild Olive Tee in one of their contests. I absolutely L.O.V.E.  the shirt I chose...one of my favorite scriptures.  I have since purchased these shirts as gifts for some of my favorite people.  To get your name in the drawing...visit the Wild Olive website.  Leave a comment below this post and tell me which Wild Olive tee you would choose if you are the winner.  I will accept comments/entries until Sunday at 8pm CST.  I will then randomly choose a winner from all entries.  So don't delay...get those entries in soon!!!

As I lay here on the bed tonight, I don't really have much to say.  We just got in from one of my niece's birthday party.  We cooked out...it was a perfect day here in the Texas Panhandle for cooking out.  Tomorrow the wind is supposed to show it's nasty head again.  Makes us appreciate these beautiful days when we have them.

Calleigh is taking her reading TAKS test tomorrow.  For those of you out of state, it is our state assessment.  I fully expect her to do well, but I would appreciate your prayers for peace of mind as she works through the test.  My 7th graders will also be TAKS testing, and I would so much love your prayers for them as well.

My house is super quiet...all are tucked in their beds.  I believe I will take that as my cue to jump in my own.  I hope your Wednesday is wonderful...many blessings

Oh...and don't forget to leave a comment to win your very own Wild Olive tee by Sunday!!

I am not being compensated in any way by Wild Olive Tees.

made my heart smile

I always love it when our kids say funny things.  It makes me giggle, and my heart smile.  I always wish I were near a pen and paper so I could write it down and remember it forever.  (I always wish I could remember it long enough to get home and write it down...not so much!!)  I know that some day, I am going to wish I had all of these special "child-like" moments to make me smile forever...even when they are grown.

Tonight we in town.  Robby has been looking at a new pick-up for some time now.  It is so hard for him to break down and buy it.  It isn't as painful to look!!  So, tonight was the night he had to make the decision as to whether to buy the pickup or not....something about rebates going off?????  Calleigh was so excited.  She told me plenty ahead of time that if Dad really did buy the pickup that she would be riding home with him, not me.

He bought the pickup.  As we were pulling out of the parking lot of the car dealership, I backed up and let Robby go in front of me because I wasn't sure which direction he was going.  He came around the corner and zipped off in the other direction.  As he pulled away Calleigh says..."My dad is a hottie in that pickup."

I giggled!!!  I am sure she had heard that somewhere....

Calleigh, I think your daddy is a hottie in that pickup too, but don't tell anyone!!!

Have a blessed weekend.  I hope your heart smiles!!

rock climbing

This past weekend the kids celebrated a nephews birthday but going to the new Amarillo Rock Climbing House.  Everyone had to sign a waiver to be able to climb.  As I read the waiver, it scared me to death.  What was I signing my kids up for?  

But as it turned out...What a fun time!!!  Of course, the kids just loved it.  Carson was up and down, and all around. I am not too sure he isn't part monkey!!  

(I forgot my camera, so pics from my phone will have to do.)

Cydney and I...well we probably enjoyed ourselves the most.  We spend a great deal of the time in the party room enjoying the giant cookie cake.  Cookie cakes from the Great American Cookie Co. have to be one of my all time favorite things in the world.  Definitely one of my favorite things about birthday parties.  I think Cydney would agree!!

Robby...another story!!  He enjoyed himself alright.  

He forgot that he was closer to 40, than 20.  

He is very athletic though, and loves being involved in sports and trying new things.

CLIMBING!!!!

Losing his grip...

OUCH!!!

Now, that a cruel reminder that we are close to 40!!

Quit honestly, even though it is huge and swollen here...it looks really good.  As the week progressed, his entire foot was swollen, it started as purple and is now beginning to turn greenish.  Even his poor little toes have bruised.  CRAZY!!!

I am really not the nurse type.  I am more of a toughen up type of person.  HA!!!

But, this week God has used this to soften my heart.

I have loved being able to take care of him.

I love this GUY!!!

But, I would prefer that he not go rock climbing in the near future.  He probably shouldn't push his luck with my soft heart.  hehehe!!!

Have a blessed DAY!!!

you want a what

Sometimes my children!!!  Calleigh came home Sunday night from basketball practice wanting this...

Yes, a guinea pig.

  What in the world ever possessed you child to want a guinea pig.  I can't even spell it, much less want one living in my house.  She has offered to save her money from now until eternity to pay for all the wants and needs of this little creature.

I just don't get it!!!

Not one bit.  It's like an oversized rat to me.  Yuck!!!

Those humongous eyes just staring a hole through me...eek!!

No offense to those of you that own a guinea pig.  I just don't want one living in my house.

I am ok with dogs.  Can tolerate cats.  All outside!!

We do have a scruffy little shi-tzu, Maggie, that loves to come in our house for short periods of time, but thankfully, she loves playing outside.  I will be the first to admit that I wanted Maggie.  But, I quickly discovered that I am not much of an inside pet kind of girl.

Especially not a guinea pig.  Or any other furry little rat-like creature.

So sorry, Calleigh.  I just can't go there.  But when you have your own children, I bet your children would love to own a guinea pig.

what a team

Saturday proved to be a very successful day for Calleigh and Raider.  Remember, I told you that she had a bucket calf that she had raised since he was 3 days old.  She put in lots of hard work for the past 5 months getting ready for this competition.  The project consisted of more than what took place at the stockshow on Saturday.  She kept a record book of what she fed Raider, meds, and any other information you could think of pertaining to Raider.  This was 25% of her score.  Then, she had to meet with a panel of judges for an interview regarding the raising of Raider.  Being that her daddy runs his own business and hires employees frequently, he was pretty passionate about her interview skills.  The interview was another 50% of her score.  The last 25% was her ability to show at the stockshow.  In the showmanship she placed 1st in the junior division.  When all the scores are totaled up, the highest score receives the trophy for Grand Champion.  Calleigh is the proud owner of this Grand Champion trophy.  And I...am one proud mommy!!!

Robby and I coached and led her through many areas of this project getting ready for each part.  But in the end, Calleigh had to do the work her self...all by herself.  And she did IT!!!  I have to admit, watching her show that calf in the show ring made my heart swell.  All the do this, and do thats that we had spewed...she really listened.  And she did them all...VERY WELL!!!  No matter what the judges opinion of her abilities had been, I knew I was super proud of her performance.  As it turned out...the judge was too!!!

The stockshow was a very exciting weekend for Cydney too.  She has really loved Raider since the beginning of the project, but she mostly kept a fair distance between the two.  Saturday was different...she was right in the thick things...combing, touching, and lovin' every minute of it.

Hope your weekend was wonderful too!!!  Have a blessed week!!