Visits, School and Cool Weather

Well, we just had a great visit from Mom and Dad. I've not got those pictures to a disk yet so I'll have to put them up later. But we had fun doing some things in Austin and the surrounding hill country. We went to the Botanical Garden and Nature and Science Center, which were very cool. We also visited the LBJ Ranch. We had extra special fun at the Half Price Bookstore, of course! The kids just loved having them here. Bekah sewed her buttons with Granny and Paul was able to show Grandpa his rock collection. All my extra kids loved having them here as well. Rian thought the world of James and Grandpa and wanted to spend all her time with them. It was so cute.

In other news, I am looking into starting school in January. I'm a little nervous about that, but it would be a wonderful opportunity for me. Probably looking at Elementary Ed, which would give me summers and vacations with the kids.

Paul is running for Student Council as a third grade representative. He is excited about that, although I did make sure he understood that he may not be elected. We'll see how all that turns out. I'm not really sure how he'll do giving a speech in front of all the 3rd - 5th graders.

Tim shot two deer this year, so far. We cut up meat last night for sausage making. Not my favorite activity and I've told him that we do NOT need anymore! :) Although, the fresh deer meat is delicious, as Mom and Dad found out. We usually cut some up and freeze it for use all during the year but Tim wants to try the sausage making this year.

Our weather is turning cool! Yea! It finally feels like fall. The kids actually wore sweaters to school this morning. Next week, when it cools even more, they can wear pants to school. I love when the weather turns. It really makes it feel like the holiday season to me. I am trying to figure out how to make Bekah into a strawberry and Paul into a Pokemon trainer for Halloween. HMMMMMMMMMM..........



First day of school! My silly kids. The serious picture did not turn out. They are both doing so well. Paul has all As at the moment. Bekah keeps asking when she will be able to read.










The Kindergarten teddy bear picnic. This was so cute. They ate teddy grahams and played with their bears. Bekah is on the far left in the light yellow shirt. All the kids thought this was sooooo fun.








Bekah lost her two top teeth. She was so proud. When she lost her very first tooth, she was very nervous about it. Paul had to reassure here that it would grow back in. Surprisingly, she hasn't cried when she loses them. Blood, even a tiny speck, can make her lose it.







Look sideways and you can see Paul and Tim scraping the popcorn stuff off of our ceilings. What a messs! But it looks so much better with texture and paint. We've really been please with the final outcome. I'll have to get some picture up of that.







All the Hefner cousins. Starting on the left:
Zach, Bekah, Caleb, Paul and Jacob. Youngest to oldest. Or shortest to tallest, :)

Tagged!

Well, my turn. Enjoy!

Jobs I've held:
1. Wife, mother, homemaker extraordinare, TX
2. Adminstrative Assistant for HOA management company, TX
3. Receptionist/Office Manager for small company, TX
4. HEB checker (grocery store), TX
5. Worked at a computer company in Orem, UT making hard drives
6. BYU grounds crew
7. Worked at at tourist Candy Store in NV
8. Cleaning Lady for small office in Evergreen, CO.
9. Co-Owner of cleaning company with best bud Elizabeth, CO
10. McDonalds (for a whole six months!), CO
11. Babysitter, CO and Sonora, CA

Places for a Weekend Getaway:
What's that? :) We have had some nice getaways at B & Bs around here. But I really like to have a soft bed in a clean place with cable tv.

Guilty Pleasures:
1. Reading all day and doing no housework.
2. Watching a favorite show or movies all day.
3. Drinking a coke and eating chocolate-at the same time!

Movies I could watch over and over:
1. Sgt. Bilko - never fails to make me laugh
2. Princess Diaries one and two
3. Sahara
4. Cheaper by the Dozen one
5. Lord of the Rings, all of them
6. Little Women
7. Elf
There's a lot more!

Places I've lived:
1. Portland, OR
2. Fresno, CA
3. Sanger, CA
4. Sonora, CA
5. Evergreen, CO
6. Provo, UT
7. Virginia City, NV
8. Orem, UT
9. Leander, TX (Last 11 years!)

What was likely the first thing you thought of when you saw your husband for the first time?
Who is that wierdo with the long hair and why is he always hanging out here? :) Well, you certainly can't judge a book by it's cover. He was so unlike other guys I'd been attracted to but you never know what God has in store for you.

Places I've Been on Vacation:
1. Orlando, FL (I've been twice)
2. Las Vegas, NV (before kids)
3. Los Angeles, CA for a friend's wedding
4. Portland, OR (have lots of family up that way)
5. Brown Deer, WI(my wonderful and beautiful sister lives here, love ya!).
6. Various towns in Iowa and WI as Mom and Dad moved around.
7. Austin, MN (Andy and Dana and family)
8. Minneapolis, MN area to visit Em and Ben
9. South Padre Island, TX (right after a hurricane!)
10. Houston area to visit James in his various locations
11. Port Aransas, TX

Favorite Foods:
Pizza, Chinese, and guacomole, at the moment.

If in a "jam" with your spouse what are your tactics to get out of the "doghouse"?
I usually just have to wait it out (although, I wouldn't say I was in the "doghouse" just because he was mad at something.)

Websites I visit daily:
1. Hotmail
That's really it for daily. Just don't have the time!

Best first Kisses landmarks:
First kiss with hubby was in my apartment. We sat there forever waiting for one of my roommates to leave!

Places I would rather be right now:
1. Getting a pedicure
2. At a resort somewhere lounging around reading a book not thinking of all the work to be done and the children to be watched this afternoon

Now I get to pick 3 blog friends to tag:
I don't have three blog friends, so whoever read this, YOU'RE IT! :)

School Is In!

It's been awhile! The kids have been at school for over four weeks! Paul is in third grade and he's doing well so far. Third grade starts all the testing and such so it will be a new experience come spring. He is in the advanced math class which is great for him. His teacher is pretty young and we weren't sure about her at first. But, I should have just trusted God, because she seems like she'll be great. I am a little sad that there aren't as many opportunities to be in the classroom, but I know she has some big projects she'll need help with later. Paul's favorite subject is still PE. And we do have a really good PE teacher.

Bekah did a lot better her first week of Kindergarten than I thought she would. By the end of the first week she went right in without crying. Her teacher is sooooooo wonderful. Of course, on assembly days and when there is a substitute we start off teary, but once she gets busy with school work she is fine. She just loves everything about it. She was the student of the week last week and that was really fun. I am probably going to end up as room mom, or co-room mom.

I, of course, am keeping busy at home. The work never ends, plus we are painting the main living areas of the house now. Last week we scraped the popcorn stuff off the ceilings and sanded. This week or next we'll put up the new texture. Hopefully we can get it done before Mom and Dad get here. And, if that weren't enough, I still have little Rian three or four days a week and I just got a new crew yesterday.

We have new neighbors across the street. They are super nice, but don't speak much english. We talk through the children. Anyway, the mom just got a job so I watch the baby (7 months) for a few hours in the afternoon and their 4 yo girl and 8 yo girl after school until the teenagers get home from school. It went pretty well yesterday. I know it's a lot, but it's only until the end of the year and I really wanted to be a blessing to this family. They have a total of like eight kids in a house that's no bigger than ours!

And, if that weren't all, I am going to teach spanish to kindergartners for 30 minutes a week. I am really excited about that. I also teach a class a church on Sunday nights. Am I a little overwhelmed? YES! But I really feel like the Lord is going to make all this work out.

Well, considering all that, I better get going. I still have to do the tag questions from Emily!

Fishin' Fools

The fishing was great this year with all the rain. The boys fished all the way into the beginning of August, very unusual for Texas. Our lakes are all full after many years of drought. So, these pictures are samples of what they caught on an average trip. These pictures were taken at Lake Buchanan, about an hour and a half northwest of our house. These are all catfish, mostly blues. Paul also caught a record flathead catfish on one trip.

More Pictures!

It's kinda hard to see the new house colors well, but you can see the difference with the siding.
Another view of the front...it used to be white siding with dark green trim. Now the siding is gray with light green trim.
And a view of the back.
Paul is now 8 years old! He had fun at his party, even though it started to pour rain as we ate outside.
Paul opening his presents. The boy to the left is Paul's best friend Josh who lives across the street.

Six Flags Pictures!

We were the second car to arrive that morning. We were about an hour and a half early but we ate breakfast and walked around the outside a bit.
Paul and Bekah on the Batman for kids. They could make the planes go up and down on their own.
Tim and the kids on the teacups. They loved this one. You can see Bekah peeking over the edge.

July Activities

Another month has gone by! I know, I know...I still don't have pictures up. I will continue to try.

We have been working on Bekah's room this week. Her's is the first to get a remodel in the house. We've scraped all the popcorn stuff off the ceiling and put up texture (and I must say that Tim did an excellent job) and are now working on the paint. We've chosen a light purple and then I'm going to paint some big flowers on one wall. Bekah wanted flowers everywhere so we compromised. My lovely neighbor took Paul and Bekah to the movies with her kids so I actually have a quiet house this afternoon.

Paul's birthday party is on Saturday. I can't believe he will be 8. We are having a few family and friends over to celebrate. We went with an easy theme...water and barbecue! Sprinklers and a slip and slide for the kids (and any other water stuff we can find at the house) and and easy barbecue lunch for everyone. Should be fun!

Then next weekend is Tim and my anniversary. Number 12! Don't know what we are going to do yet, except go out to eat. I bought a new dress so I need to go out somewhere decent so I can wear it!

Of course the remodel will continue through the end of the month and into the next. Paul's room is second (we figured to get the easy ones done first). Then maybe the hallway...I don't know. I never realized how much prep work there was. Tape, scrape, texture, sand, dust, prime, paint...good gracious! It should look really nice when it's all finished though.

Oh! The outside of the house finally was finished a couple weeks ago. I didn't like the paint at first but it's grown on me. The horizontal siding makes such a difference. It really looks like a different house. Again, I'll have to get pictures up so everyone can see.

Well, that's all the news for today.