The Estate Sale Was a Success!

Like I have told you we lost two wonderful people about two weeks ago. Eric and Rosse will be greatly missed by many people, especially their children.

Today we had an estate sale where many people donated items from their home and baked goods. Many people came out and we made a good amount for the family. We are very excited that it turned out so well.

This estate sale has brought me back to how I felt right after we found out. We didn't know Eric and Rosse very well. I had only met them a couple of times, but my hubby knew them a little better.

My husband is part of a motorcycle group, and when the group was out riding in Austin during the ROT rally there was a tragic accident. My husband was not there. I don't think anyone really knows how they ended up losing control. However, no matter what the media says, they were not doing anything stupid and they were not drinking. The organizer of the group will NOT let you drink. And I know that Eric would never try to jeopardize his wife's life by doing something stupid. It was a pure accident and a horrible tragedy.

Now that they have passed on we know that they have gone to Heaven to be with the Lord. I am at peace with that. What really tears me up is to think about their two babies who are almost the exact same age as my two. Mine are both about two months younger. Those are the people that we are thinking about now.

I just keep replaying in my mind how I think the children are reacting to their parents never coming home. It is terrible, and it has made me stop to think before I go out and do anything stupid. I don't want to leave my babies until I am old and they already have spouses and children of their own. Right now they need me.

I am just purely stunned at how fragile life can be. Days after the accident the last time I had seen them kept replaying in my mind. I could see them so clearly. Almost like I could reach out and touch them. It really didn't feel real. How could they be gone if I can SEE them?

Please just pray for the families who lost a daughter, son, mother, daughter, niece, nephew, brother, and sister. These are the people who need us the most right now. We hope that we can be a support for these people. Our group is starting a nonprofit and you can read about it here - www.houstongixxersridersdownprogram.org.

Anyone From The Houston Area?

Two weekends ago a terrible tragedy happened within my husband's motorcycle group. Here is what one member from his group has written about it.

"The couple died instantly on Saturday, 13 June 2009 at approximately 0815 in Austin, Texas. They were both 23 years old. A group of us went to Austin on Friday to celebrate at the Republic of Texas (ROT) Rally. We went out as a group Friday night for dinner. We talked and laughed and celebrated our life and our love for riding. On Saturday morning the group left for an early morning ride through the hill country. Everyone arrived at the end of the route except Eric and Rosse. They were found a short distance back. They did not make it through a curve and they both died at impact. Eric and Rosse leave behind two small children, Johnny (3) and Gina (1).

Rosse was a beautiful girl, a loving wife and mother and she enjoyed spending time with Eric on his motorcycle. Eric was very friendly and generous and often someone’s designated driver, not only because he didn’t drink alcohol but because he truly cared about his friends. At the HoustonGixxer’s one year anniversary, 25May2009, Eric was presented an award “HG For Life” because of his dedication to the group."

This has been a terribly sad time for everyone involved in this group and the parents of both Eric and Rosse. If anyone is from the Houston area we are having two benefits this weekend. On Saturday the group will be hosting a rummage sale and on Sunday a bbq plate sale. If you are unable attend and would like to help there is a paypal account set up for the children. Just email me and I will send you the paypal address.

Here are the details-

rummage sale and bake sale:

Date: June 27, 7am-2pm (will finish when majority of items are sold)

Location: 19001 FM 529, Cypress (S and S Instruments)

Items: This estate sale offers items from a household including golf clubs, pool stick, air compressor nail gun, cordless vacuum, two couches, grill, large mirror, sturdy side tables, chairs, bar stools, purses, clothing, fishing equipment, motorcycle equipment, tools, kitchen items, baby changing table, baby rocker, fold away bed, TV stand, toys, and more items.

Directions:
From downtown, take I-10 West and exit "Barker-Cypress", take a right. Take a left at 529. S and S will be on your left. If you reach Greenhouse Rd, you have gone too far.
From Katy area, take I-10 East and exit "Fry Road", take a left. Take a right at 529. S and S will be on your right. If you reach Barker-Cypress, you have gone too far.

BBQ plate sale:

SUNDAY JUNE 28, 2009 @
WEST ALABAMA ICEHOUSE
Noon till it’s Done!
1919 W. ALABAMA
HOUSTON, TX 77098

*FOOD*BEER*BIKES*FAMILY* FRIENDS* ~~* WHAT ELSE IS THERE?*

~~Featuring “80 PROOF” Live Music 4-6pm
~~A Texas Style BBQ Extravaganza (Brisket, Sausage, Beans, Corn on the Cob)
~~Tasty Dessert Treats by local caterers
~~Raffle for Awesome prizes

I would love for you all to come out and support!

Vacation Bible School

Please PLEASE pray that I make it through VBS! They anounced at church a couple weeks ago that they needed more volunteers for VBS. So I volunteered and of course I told them to put me where they need me most.

You know where that is??? Kindergarten. We will be trying to heard about a million kindergarteners around the church from activity to activity. And we will also be splitting up to do three stations during our classroom time. I am painfully shy, so this has got me a little worried. What if I don't teach them like I am supposed to? I have never taught before! Ugh!

Ok, I better start getting us ready or we won't get there on time. Thanks for hanging out with me for a bit.

Are You Going To Washington DC?

Our plane tickets are purchased. Our hotel room is reserved. I can not wait till we get to Washington DC. We are going to be there 9.12.09 for the tea party! We are going to make a difference even if the politicians want to pretend that it won't happen. We will replace them all if we have to. We will restore our country back to the ideals of the constitution. This country will be based on values once again!!

This letter was written by a great American. I agree with her 100%!

An Open Letter to Our Nation’s Leadership
From an angry citizen in Arizona

I’m a home-grown American citizen, 53. Registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election, I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represented my views or worked to pursue issues important to me.

Now, I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is; I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me.

There must be someone. Please. Tell me who you are.

Please stand up and tell me that you are there, and that you’re willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please. Stand up now.

You might ask yourself what my views and issues are, that I would feel so horribly disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut-job am I? Will you please tell me?

Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:

1. Illegal immigration. I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and the trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not again. Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S., I'm not a racist. This isn't to be confused with legal immigration.

2. The TARP bill. I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze. Repeal.

3. Czars. I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars. No more czars! Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.

4. Cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over. There is more to say.

5. Universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don't you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!

6. Growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of with your real obligations. Why don't you start there?

7. ACORN. I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real estate deal that closes. Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and investigations. I do not trust them with taking the census over with our taxpayer money. I don't trust them with our taxpayer money!

Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before taxpayers get any more involved with them. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, hello! Stop protecting your political buddies. You work for us, the people. Investigate.

8. Redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. It is mine. I have always worked for people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs. That is the only redistribution of wealth that I will support. I never got a job from a poor person. Why do you want me to hate my employers? Why? What do you have against shareholders making a profit?

9. Charitable contributions. Although I never got a job from a poor person, I have helped many in need. Charity belongs in our local communities, where we know our needs best and can use our local talent and our local resources. Butt out, please. We want to do it ourselves.

10. Corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we'll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful. Have you ever ripped off a Band‑Aid? We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.

11. Transparency and accountability. How about it? No, really, how about it? Let's have it. Let's say we give the buzzwords a rest and have some straight honest talk. Please try ‑‑ please stop manipulating and trying to appease me with clever wording. I am not the idiot you obviously take me for. Stop sneaking around and meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.

12. Unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now.
Take a breath. Listen to the people. Let's just slow down and get some input from some non-politicians on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed-reading our bills into law.

I am not an activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant or a violent person. I am a parent and a grandparent.

I work. I'm busy. I'm busy. I am busy.

And I am tired.

I thought we elected competent people to take care of the business of government so that we could work, raise our families, pay our bills, have a little recreation, complain about taxes, endure our hardships, pursue our personal goals, cut our lawn, wash our cars on the weekends and be responsible contributing members of society and teach our children to be the same all while living in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I entrusted you with upholding our Constitution.

I believed in the checks and balances that keep you from getting too far off course.

What happened? You are very far off course.
Do you really think I find humor in the hiring of a speed-reader to unintelligently ramble all through a bill that you signed into law without knowing what it contained?

I do not.

It is a mockery of the responsibility I have entrusted to you. It is a slap in the face. I am not laughing at your arrogance.

Why is it that I feel as if you would not trust me to make a single decision about my own life and how I would live it but you should expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children?

We did not want the TARP bill. We said no. We would repeal it if we could. I am sure that we still cannot.

There is such urgency and recklessness in all of the recent spending.

From my perspective, it seems that all of you have gone insane. I also know that I am far from alone in these feelings. Do you honestly feel that your current pursuits have merit to patriotic Americans?

We want it to stop. We want to put the brakes on everything that is being rushed by us and forced upon us. We want our voice back.

You have forced us to put our lives on hold to straighten out the mess that you are making. We will have to give up our vacations, our time spent with our children, any relaxation time we may have had and money we cannot afford to spend on you to bring our concerns to Washington.

Our president often knows all the right buzzwords to say. His favorite? “Unsustainable.”

Well, no kidding. How many tens of thousands of dollars did the focus group cost to come up with that word? We don't want your overpriced words. Stop treating us like we're morons.

We want all of you to stop focusing on your re-election and do the job we want done, not the job you want done or the job your party wants done.

You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long because we are coming.

We will be heard and we will be represented.

You think we're so busy with our lives that we will never come for you?

We are the formerly silent majority; all of us who quietly work, pay taxes, obey the law, vote, save money, keep our noses to the grindstone and we are now looking up at you. You have awakened us, and the patriotic spirit so strong and so powerful that it had been sleeping too long.

You have pushed us too far.

Our numbers are great.

They may surprise you. For every one of us who will be there, there will be hundreds more that could not come. Unlike you, we have their trust. We will represent them honestly, rest assured. They will be at the polls on voting day to usher you out of office.

We have cancelled vacations.

We will use our last few dollars saved.

We will find the representation among us and a grassroots campaign will flourish.

We didn't ask for this fight. But the gloves are coming off. We do not come in violence, but we are angry. You will represent us or you will be replaced with someone who will. There are candidates among us who will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes that you have made of our Constitution.

Democrat, Republican, independent, libertarian. Understand this. We don't care. Political parties are meaningless to us. Patriotic Americans are willing to do right by us and our Constitution and that is all that matters to us now.

We are going to fire all of you who abuse power and seek more. It is not your power. It is ours and we want it back. We entrusted you with it and you abused it. You are dishonorable. You are dishonest. As Americans we are ashamed of you. You have brought shame to us.

If you are not representing the wants and needs of your constituency loudly and consistently, in spite of the objections of your party, you will be fired. Did you hear? We no longer care about your political parties. You need to be loyal to us, not to them. Because we will get you fired and they will not save you.

If you do or can represent me, my issues, my views, please stand up. Make your identity known. You need to make some noise about it. Speak up! I need to know who you are. If you do not speak up, you will be herded out with the rest of the sheep and we will replace the whole damn congress if need be one by one.

We are coming.

Are we coming for you? Who do you represent? What do you represent?

Listen. Because we are coming.

We the people are coming.

Not Me! Monday - the dreaded Monday morning edition

Thanks for coming to check out what I have not been doing this Monday morning! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not run to my room just now to escape the screaming of my two lovely well behaved angels. I am not blogging to mentally relieve myself from the constant waaaaaaaaaa! I am not counting the minutes until nap time.

Well, actually I am not because then I have a long list of items to take care of - grocery shopping, paying the mortgage, picking up new post office keys, sending off forms, and getting my van inspected.

Do you think I can get that all done during their 2 hour nap? No. I didn't think so either. I will not be lugging two cranky screaming children through the grocery store today for my monthly shopping trip.

Oh and please remind me that I need to blog about it on my other blog. I definitely have not gone months without updating it because I have been failing miserably in financial planning. I am kicking myself to get on board now and quit going out and having fun!

I did not just go into my dinning room after I got fed up with all the screaming to find my son standing on a chair with no idea as to how to get down. He doesn't get himself stuck on chairs or tables frequently. And he definitely never takes a tumble off of any chairs.

Oh and most of all I did not find 12 count boxes of Poptarts on sale this weekend for $1 and purchase three of them so that my hubby would have something quick to grab for breakfast for when I forget to pack his breakfast. I do not forget to pack it weekly. Or even daily at times. And I most certainly DID NOT steal a couple of them this morning to feed to my two precious little ones that I only feed foods made from scratch out of nice wholesome ingredients.

I of course slaved over a hot stove all morning long instead of desperately trying to put my house back together after this weekend. You know. Because I kept up my weekday cleaning routine all weekend long as well. That is why it is called a weekday cleaning routine. :)

Weekly Wrap-Up: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

This last weekend my friend who just happens to be a teacher introduced me to the book, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. She let me borrow it and the kidlits and I read it multiple times this week. We also did many reinforcment activities using the alphabet.

To make this really cute palm tree I used this template and printed it out. I then held it together with a sheet of green construction paper and cut out all of the leaves. I then switched to brown and cut out the rest. My daughter then used alphabet sponges I purchased in the craft section of Wal-Mart to sponge paint letters all over the page.

My son had a ball drawing with markers on construction paper and his face while she worked on her art project.

Outside on the road at the back of our house I wrote out the entire alphabet with sidewalk chalk. My daughter would throw our handmade bean bags (click here for instructions) and she would jump each time she said a letter until she got to the letter that her bean bag landed on.

I got the inspiration for this name card and alphabet cups from this site. Her's are way cuter, and made out of bottle caps, but these are the only things I had on hand and I didn't have much time to get the activity ready. I think I will make her version in the future. For now this works for us!

To get the printable for this activity click here. You are actually supposed to print and laminate this, but I instead cut it out for her and had her glue it on construction paper. She got bored after doing this activity for a while, so we stopped. I will offer it to her again today to see if she wants to work on it some more.

We are also going to start back up on our Hooked On Phonics today. We were doing it and she got all the way through the upper case letters, but she was not getting the rhyming part. She finally understands what a rhyme is so we are going to start back up with it and hopefully finish it this time. She absolutely loves the computer games that come with it.

This week offically kicked off the beginning of our letter unit studies. Each week we are going to do a letter craft and some activities to go along with it. Make sure to check back each Friday to see what we have been up to. And please click here to visit Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers to see what other bloggers have been up to this week.

My Little Neat Freak

Look Mama!

I am cleaning my bike just like Dada!

Now time to clean the floor!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek