Good Weekend!!!

Good Saturday everyone!
We got home from work yesterday and went to work on the counter tops!! Bar overhang- GONE!!! Mark just sawed it right off!!! This morning I'm sanding down all the surfaces to prepare for the ~magic~... Can't wait to see how it turns out... I will keep you posted. The picture of the horses, Brad sent me last night- it's Mad, her friend Emma, and Sofie standing up, and V watching all the craziness.... they were having fun in Brad's arena last night- today they have a barrel race in Boyd , that's at 2- we are going to miss it to get these counters done. This afternoon we have plans with Mark's family here in Bowie- will post pics of that tomorrow!!! Hope every ones having a great weekend. Love and kisses XOXOXOXOX
Amy & Mark

Hola Familia!

We will miss our little Chloe......

Hello all!
Well we have just been super-busy getting all organized for the new school-year. Today was 'Meet the teacher' night, and we are all really happy with our new teachers. Sofie's in 3rd, V in 1st, and Mad in 8th. I can't believe how fast it's flying by. I've also been planning Mark's b-day party, and still working on the kitchen! We had a big tragedy over the weekend. Baby Chloe, my little puppy ran off and the girls and I went looking for her and posting up fliers with her picture on them- we found her a block away, in the road- completely flattened- road-kill- it was horrible to see... very sad for us to find her that way... they never leave the back yard, and I don't know why she ran off from the other dogs- we are all heartbroken... privacy fence going up soon!!! We are alone this week, so these pictures are from the two of us and the puppies in the backyard today. Mark in his new derby hat- he has wanted one for years- we got a vintage one on E-bay that he just loved- but it was way too small- so now it hangs on the wall in our music room-
Hope everyone is well- hope everyone comes over for Mark's party!!!! Gonna be a blast!!!

Our 1st Family Bike-Ride!!!

I'm sooooo upset I didn't get a picture- after our heart-healthy, grilled chicken, & leafy green salad, with carrots, tomatoes, celery, bell peppers, and home-made balsamic vinaigrette dressing- we ALL got on our bikes and went for a ride around our neighborhood. I had such high hopes... Victoria still has training wheels on her bike- and we live at the bottom of a pretty steep hill(when your on a bike)- so I had to walk with her up the hill while the rest of the crew waited for us- the next street was down-hill, so it was a bit easier, but Victoria was so slow, I was with her, Mark and the other two left us behind. V started whining so bad I told her I would not buy her any new school clothes this week- (HORRIBLE MOM!!!) and then Sofie was going along and Maddie was going fast and almost ran over Sofie, and scraped her back and arm as she passed her- ( MELTDOWN)!!! Mark was huffing and puffing and said "I hope I don't have a stroke out here!" OMG!!! I just wanted to start peddling as fast as I could and keep going... we made it back- total trip about 35 minutes... Victoria's training wheels are coming OFF- and next time, maybe we'll take the bikes to the big parking lot where the Wal-Mart used to be... no hills... or cars...

We are in shock......

With all the blood tests Mark had, I asked the doc to go ahead and test his cholesterol. Mark has never had it done, and I knew that it would be high. When he's working, he eats horribly- biscuits and gravy with hash browns, two eggs- then for snacks he has fried pies, chips, french fries... cheeseburgers, ice cream- just really BAD stuff on a daily basis- and Mark's dad had an 80% blockage of the main artery to his heart at age 45 - (we read that in his autopsy report)- so I knew Mark's cholesterol was going to be high- but when I heard how high- I almost had a panic attack- triglycerides are high anywhere over 200- MARK'S ARE.......917!!!!!!!! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!!!! He is a walking time bomb- so ..... we have been in complete shock the last 2 days- so sad- scared- taken aback- I've been trying really hard not to harp on the subject- Mark is in disbelief- thought he was invincible- as we all do, until something like this gives us the wake-up call we needed... so starting today- my morning runs will be an addition to the evening 'brisk' walks and bike riding Mark and the whole family will begin together... his lunchbox will be full of apples, oranges, bananas- not fried pies and hot fries. He goes to the doc again on Wed. for a follow-up and to begin his meds to help bring this monster under control. On the bright side- his colon problems are almost resolved. Eating well and no more blood or diarrhea... thanks to everyone who prayed for us- I love you all my sweet family...


XOXOXOXO
Amy

Need prayer please...

Hello there- my poor husband is ill- been home for 3 days now- the doctor thinks he got a bug from the lake- or food- not sure- we haven't gotten the blood test results yet- and the stool sample he was supposed to take back to have tested for parasites, hasn't made it into the little specimen cups yet. Mark says it's because you can't poop if you've been on a liquid diet, but I think he is just so grossed out by the thought of it- he can't go. So anyway, pray for him please- the bleeding has stopped anyway, and he only lasted about 30 hours on the liquid diet- doctor said a couple days- but anyway... he ate last night, and it made his stomach cramp... but, they don't listen...so, I'm leaving him home again to go to work, the house is a mess- makes me crazy... pray for us....got half way down the road this morning to go run- saw lightning- ran back inside- bummed I can't run this morning... I am super afraid of lightning- terrifies me...

Cabinets: DONE!!!

Well, we did it- cabinets completed! I love the 'butter' color, it's so warm, and cheery. Notice the new pendant light over the sink? It glows red with black marbling running through it - beautiful... I also painted the old hardware to match the light-flat black, then painted on some red paint and wiped it in the grooves, and then wiped some off- looks rustic...So- we are half-way through getting rid of the 1970's decor...my next project is the counter tops!!! Mark is going to use his skill saw and remove the end of the bar. It sticks out too far and blocks the flow through the kitchen. That should be fun?--- Then I'm going to do some "magic" on them... Can't wait to see how it turns out...
School starts in 4 short weeks- so NOT ready- we haven't done any shopping- no new clothes, shoes or school supplies. I dread it... Mornings have been so much easier for me to get ready for work while the girls are still in bed. I have bought them all new lunch boxes though! (bags really) They love to pack their own lunch...
We all went to church in Myra, TX, on Sunday to witness Tyler being baptized... so sweet-I love him- we are so proud to have a 16-yr-old boy who has his priorities straight... (well, most of the time) ~wink~ I gave the girls a major speech on good behavior on the way there- mostly threatened them with their lives... they were SO GOOD!!!