After Christmas Post

     This title might be a little misleading I guess. It's now the beginning of March, and I haven't posted anything since I posted the "Christmas" one. But for lack of a better title. . .It's not that we haven't been busy. In fact, that may be the problem; we may have been too busy. Me with babysitting, teaching one day a week, babysitting, and, of course, babysitting.

     I guess the biggest "news" is that we finally finished the pecan picking season. Man, we were so busy; I loved it, though; and I know Russell would, too. We went out to the farm every week-end toward the end of the season and picked and picked and picked. I finally decided to "hire" some pickers for halves. This worked out so well; I think I actually gave all of them more than half each time but they were so diligent and such hard workers and really nice, nice people.  I will definitely call them again if we have the same kind of season next year, except I will call them earlier, when they pecans first fall!

     Altogether, we harvested over 3,500 pounds of pecans. We have never done anything like that before. It was so exciting. We sold some retail, but most of them we sold wholesale at Vicksburg Farm Supply. More than one day I rode over in my car with about 400-500 pounds at a time. That's why I decided I need to get a truck--nothing fancy, just a good, old, "work truck." I am ruining my car. Of course, I also gave some pecans to friends and family, and I kept some myself for pecan pies

     The kids just keep growing and growing--all too fast I think. Elizabeth will be 8 in April, and she just got her ears pierced. She is so excited--quite a grownup lady. She is enrolled in tumbling and is on a competitive cheerleading team. I saw their first performance a couple of months ago. It was so cute. I think I put pictures in my blog about it then. The team has come so far since that time! They didn't do any tumbling in that routine, but they are all flying all over the mat now. I'm posting two short videos, one showing the routine they will be performing at a national competition at Disney World next week! The other is a tumbling sequence she is doing. I am so impressed. She has learned so much in so short a time.

    

     And, of course, Megan (who won't be 3 until June!) is also taking "'nastics.'" She loves it. She brings one of her leotards in her book bag almost every day and wants to put it on and "practice." Here is a picture of her and her big sis one day after school being creative at the snack bar. She is wearing her black leotard here. The boys are being creative also, in their own ways--don't they look like zombies!! They spend so much time playing video games!!! They do, however, like to go outside when the weather is nice and play football.

     Gotta share what my precious little Megan said to me the other day. We were in line waiting to pick up the other kids. She was in the back seat in her car seat, eating a lollipop. The stick was sticking out of her mouth, and out of the clear blue, she said "Grammy, I love being with you." Doesn't that sound mature! I mean she says, "I love you" all the time, but this is so different and means so much. She just melts my heart!!

     They are all so special, each in their own way. It gets kind of hectic sometimes after school with all of them here, but I wouldn't have it any other way--unless I could have Russell here enjoying them with me. That would be just perfect!!