Introductions

I realize that since I moved to blog format that everything I had on the old website is gone. I know, I've said this before. So periodically, I try to post things that were up on the old site.

One thing that I should do is introduce my family to all of you.

This is Shelby. She is our 1997 model. Eight pounds, 8 ozs. Twenty-four hours of labor, 3 of which was pushing (TMI?). Our firstborn, the oldest, the bossy one. She is in 5th grade (which is middle school at our small rural school). Most of the time she gets along with her younger sister and she and our youngest adore each other. But she and Chance just clash. All the time. It's mostly his fault. Anyway, Shelby LOVES to read, she started reading before she started Kindergarten (her teacher said she was the first student she ever had that started the year reading!). She has read every single Harry Potter book (after me, of course). She also enjoys horses, reading, listening to music, reading, Hannah Montana (and all things that have to do with Miley Cyrus), writing stories, reading, singing (and she is pretty good!). She does not enjoy watching Chance and cleaning her room. She cheers and plays basketball. As she is entering the world of tweens, she is adding talking on the phone and emailing friends to her list of things to do. Her foot is one size smaller than mine and I catch her in my closet drooling over my shoes and boots that she plans on wearing next year. Girl, you better stay away from my Ariat Fat Babies!!!

This is Ch'ree. She is our 1999 model. Eight lbs, 4oz. 12 hours of labor, 10 minutes of pushing with NO DRUGS! She spent a few days in Lubbocks NICU because she decided to spit up blood. I think she just wanted the helicopter ride to Lubbock to make her daddy jealous. Ended up she just had some acid reflux. She is the drama queen. She can cry at the drop of a hat if she needs to. She thinks it will get her out of whatever task I have assigned her. It doesn't work. She and Chance DO get along. Drew not so much (his preference, not hers). She also enjoys reading and writing stories. Except she likes to start many books and finish few. She also likes pretty things, she is kinda a frilly girl. She cheers and plays basketball (both girls have also dabbed around into soccer and baseball. They both enjoyed soccer. I didn't enjoy two different teams with all different times of practices and games in town). She can also stare at a TV and tune the entire world out around her. At any given time. She may not even like what's on or know what it is, she is mesmorized by the glowing box (Dad, does that sound familiar?). Like her sister, she also enjoys music. I think she is the most low maintenance of all the kids, though.

This is Chance. Our 2002 model. Nine lbs, 9ozs. Six hours of labor with an epidural, which after the last birth experience, I demanded as soon as I walked into the hospital. Even though he is three years younger than Ch'ree, he is the same size as she is (except she wears slim clothes and he regular). He's a tough boy. He shows his tough side to his sisters all day long. But when he is at school, he is the most compassionate kid there. He seldom gets in trouble at school (home is quite another matter). He can play the PS2 like there is no tomorrow (I have to work hard to beat him at many games). His biggest enjoyment is to get under Shelby's skin. He is on the verge of getting reading down. He talks about underwear alot. He likes to wear nothing but his underwear, alot. He wants to be in the middle of everything. He loves Power Rangers and Spiderman, and now rides a bike with NO training wheels. He also loves riding his 4-wheeler. He has a cousin who is 6 days younger than him. They are the same size, both blonde, both blue eyed, and when they get together, we call them Nitro and Glycerine.

And Drew is the baby. Our 2005 model, he was nine lbs, 3 ozs, 12 hours of labor. And the epidural guy did a WONDERFUL job with this one. After Drew was born, I was ready for more! Totally painless experience. He idolizes his big brother and Shelby. He loves Thomas the Train, Power Rangers and anything with dogs (currently Scooby Doo is a fav). He shuns underwear, prefers diapers (much to my dismay, as I want him potty trained). He loves apple juice, cartoons, his dog Tex, and the horses. He's quite fond of his daddy and mommy, and never have I seen a child that HAS to be snuggled as much as he. Like his mommy, he feels he must have shoes on his feet as soon as he wakes up and doesn't take them off til he hits the sack. And he hates hitting the sack. He would stay up all day and night if given the chance.

And this is Jeff and myself.

Jeff is 6'4". He's a 1973 model who was born and raised right here in Floyd. He farms and ranches, is on the volunteer fire department (and is almost done getting his EMS-Intermediate license. Watch out, he can put an IV in you!), the Lion's club, and on the school board. He works hard farming 1,300 acres and ranching another 1,200. He has put up with me and my Irish temper for nearly 15 years (13 1/2 wedded). He enjoys playing some old country tunes on his bass guitar, watching various Star Trek shows, wrestling with the kids, and pranks (his favorite is a remote controlled fart machine).

And me. Y'all know me. I'm a 1974 model troublemaker from Georgia who somehow found herself in New Mexico. I may not have been born a country girl, but I sure wanted the part all my life and now I have it. I love animals, especially my dog and the horses. I love being a farm wife. I've always been a tomboy, I grew up playing softball and on the swimteam and joining the neighborhood boys playing football and seeing if I can land on both wheels after jumping a ramp on my bike at the bottom of the hill (I didn't, it was a hard landing). I enjoy yardwork and gardening, I just wish I had a green thumb for it. I fear wasps. I'm learning guitar, I claim to be a scrapbooker and quilter (but haven't had the opportunity to do either in a long time). And recently I have found I love photography. I'm working on the basics of exposure right now with my digital SLR (a Nikon D50). I coach the elementary girls cheerleading squad (and no, I was never a cheerleader in school, but I wanted to real bad), and have coached the kids' baseball teams before. I love the Atlanta Braves, but haven't watched a game all year since TBS took my Braves away from me. I used to love to read books, but can't find the time for it anymore. Hmmm, maybe if I quit reading blogs....

We are a pretty close family. My life revolves around the kids and their activities, and around Jeff and what he needs me to do on any given day (get parts, rode machinery, get lunch, etc). I may go days without adult conversation. My MIL, FIL and SIL are my best friends, next to my husband. For fun we like to go camping (in the 5th wheel of course. I may be country, but I like my modern conviences) or just visit with family.

And now you know everything more than you probably ever wanted to know about us.