DNow 2010

*I have blogged A LOT tonight, so scroll down!

I have a lot of things to share about this weekend. Here is the first...and only...picture I took at our house. Boys aren't into picture taking and I wasn't bold enough to ask since there were so many I didn't know.

There isn't a good way to write all of this out, so I think I'll share "tid bits" that I want to remember:

• We hosted 15 junior boys at our house, plus 2 leaders. Not to mention Ryan, myself and Whitney having to sleep somewhere.
• Sat. morning we cooked an entire box of pancake mix, 18 blueberry muffins, a pack and a half of bacon, half 15 sausage patties, apples, 2 boxes of strawberries, 1 bag of powdered doughnuts. There was hardly ANYTHING left on the table!
• These boys are amazing! Here they are singing praise and worship. (I wanted to stay and listen, but went to the girls house instead)
• I love watching Ryan with these guys, getting some "guy time" in, as well as watching him interact and have that relationship with them that I know is based on more than just his XBOX.
• Watching a room full of teenagers worshiping the Lord is AWESOME! Many times it is challenging to me to worship like them and to love God like them.
• This weekend was total confirmation to me that I am ready to go back to teaching youth. These girls that I have not taught this year, but taught last year, were the ones I hung out with during this DNow weekend. I miss them. I'm ready to get back and grow with them for their senior year!
• Sunday morning we cooked another pack and a half of bacon, 15 sausage patties, 40 biscuits, 3 packs of gravy, scrambled almost 2 dozen eggs, cooked 1 pack of cinnamon rolls and 2 packs of orange rolls, apples and strawberries. Just had some eggs left...Wow!
• I saw God move, I saw God work on hearts and I saw teenagers step out and be used by God! Amazing!

I look forward to see what God is going to do with the things he showed me and the youth here this weekend. He's working on hearts and changing lives. I'm so thankful to be part of it in such a small way. I konw it was a GREAT AWAKENING (the theme) for me! Praise the Lord!

Friends

This is Dacen. He lives just around the corner. He and Courtney are becoming buddies. She had been wanting him to come play, his momma needed to go to the store, so he came to play! They played pretty good together. Then they got hungry and had some lunch! Fun times! This was just a cute picture of Lindsey and her friends cheering that I got. Lindsey is the 3rd one from the right. She is LOVING cheerleading to say the least. She literally walks around doing cheers all.the.time! Ryan asked her tonight if she was going to be a "hoopster" one day. She just said, "I don't know what that is." He told her it was a basketball player. She informed him she wasn't going to play ball, but that she is a cheerleader. We'll see one day if she's willing to try it.

Seeing Baby Will

We finally got to meet Will Cowgur! Lindsey of course was so excited to hold him! Can you tell? He's adorable and so little. He's not much smaller than Whitney was, but oh boy, how they grow so fast! Which is obviously what you want, but at the same time it is hard for me to think back about how tiny she was and how much she's grown and changed. Caroline and Courtney would be trouble I think if we lived there and they hung out for very long or very often! This seems to be Courtney's new smile. I guess it is sort of cute...

Then it was their turn to hold Will

Here are all of our kiddos! This time in the year (before Cole turns 5 in a few weeks) we have kids that are 5, 4, 3, 2, 4 months and 10 days! WOW!! I love that Martha and I get to do this thing called motherhood together!

I love that our kids know and love eachother! Oh there are fun days in our future....

What do you think?

I have started trying to give Whitney some cereal. The first time she ever had it, my camera battery was dead. But, she seemed to like it and I was so happy about that. However....

The next few times we tried it, I wasn't so successful. She's not too fond of it. We've tried it with water, with my milk, with formula. We've tried hot, cold and warm. None seem to be better than the other yet, but we will try again this week.

Valentines with Grandma and Grandpa

The weekend of Valentine's Day we went to see my parents. Dad had come home from the hospital, so we went to visit. Ryan's dad and Pam came by my parent's house to bring the girls some Valentine treats. This isn't the best pic, but the only one I got before they tore into the bag of treats. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for all the treats.

Uncle Allen, Aunt Margaret, Katherine, Chris and Evan came to see Dad as well. Of course Honey had a kid activity--making cookies. The cousins had fun making cookies for all of us!

Valentine's Day

I realized when I was looking through pictures to upload I hadn't even done Valentine's Day. These Scogin girls are very lucky girls! Their daddy is amazing. Last year, Ryan surprised us all and sent a flower to the girls at MDO. Lindsey still talks about it and therefore, he set his precident. This year he did NOT disappoint....

Courtney got 3 roses because she is 3. These were delivered to our house and she felt so special. I also got a dozen yellow roses delivered. So sweet. I forgot to take a picture of mine, but they were very beautiful!

Lindsey got these pretty pink roses delivered to her at school! When I went to pick her up, her teacher said that her face just beamed when she got them. She was supposed to get 5 roses because she's 5. However, there were 6. I'm guessing they were sitting there and someone saw them and thought that it was supposed to be a half dozen and stuck one in. Ha! Maybe not, but I'm thinking not many people order 5 roses to be delivered, especially on Valentine's Day.

Here they are with their stuff! So cute! I could go on and on about how I know this makes them feel. Ryan knows it is important, but he has NO IDEA the impact that has on them and the standard it sets and example it shows for their future husbands.

Dancin' Girl

Check out these moves!

This is Lindsey's first dance at halftime that they have been practicing at cheerleading. It is hard to get all of them together because they are in one long line. So if you can't tell, Lindsey is the one in the middle. She is LOVING cheerleading to say the very least! I guess it is in her blood! I honestly am not the one that talks about it, SHE is. She lays in her bed after we have said prayers and does cheers. Courtney does too. I guess that is our new "big" thing. I think it makes her feel like a big girl and it is something new and exciting! Enjoy the video!

Now I want to brag on my husband! He is coaching 5-7 grade boys this year in Upward. He has enjoyed doing this every year. It amazes me to watch him. We've missed quite a few of his games with them conflicting with Lindsey's. He has only missed a couple of hers, but with staggering times, we have missed several of his. Last weekend Lindsey cheered for Ryan's team so it was a lot of fun for me to watch them both. I knew from watching him and knowing him how good he is with these boys, but last week someone complimented him.

One of his boys' dad's came and asked me if I was Ryan's wife. I said yes. He went on to tell me how much he thinks of Ryan. How good Ryan is with these boys and how much Ryan has meant to his son. WOW! I was so proud! He is a pastor at a church in Fort Smith and said that he was going to be doing a sermon on being driven. He asked if Ryan and I might be able to come and he could use Ryan as an example of how to be driven in the right direction! Again...WOW! Again, I was so proud! I'm so thankful for a Godly husband who is a good example to these boys. Not having boys, I think it is his "fix" of boy time. Between these 5-7 graders and his 11th graders on Sundays, he is an excellent example! Way to go Babe! I love you!

Sometimes I think he missed his calling in life because he has such a passion for coaching and does such an amazing job. However, I know that life is busy and crazy so I'm thankful that he can coach "on the side." Gooooooooooooo Upward!

Catching up...again!

I feel like I'm catching up all the time. Whether it is pictures, house, laundry, kids, dishes, etc. Why is that? It seems to be a "theme" lately with me. Oh well...


This is a picture of Whit taking a bath at Honey's house when she and I were up there while Ryan was home taking care of our sick girls. It was too funny not to get a quick picture of it!This is from last weekend when Honey and Granddad came down for Honey's birthday and to watch Lindsey cheer. Whitney was asleep, but here is the birthday girl with 2 of her granddaughters.


Then Courtney was DONE with pictures, so here is Granddad in on the pic, with Whitney, minus Courtney. Oh well...

Ryan got me a zoom lens for Christmas and we have had fun "playing" with it at Upward games. Ryan got this picture on Sat. Pretty good for us rookies! ha!

Here is Lindsey and her friend Maggie...

Waiting on the sidelines to go out for halftime. This Sat. she's going to do her dance she's been learning. I'm going to try and video it and get it on here...I know you will be anxiously awaiting!

Today at school she's having her Valentine's Day party. She was beyoned THRILLED to say the least. She's been working on this masterpiece of a box ALL.WEEK.LONG! I'm glad it is finished. I don't think she got everything done she intended to, but she had to take it today, so it had to be finished, like it or not. She was so proud. I put the paper on and did her name in box letters, but she did everything else on her own! I'm so proud of her!

This is the top of her box...

This is the bottom of her box...

One of the sides....

Another side...(notice her name with "polka dots" that she did herself) Can you find all of her name? Lindsey Lee Scogin? So precious!

I was glad that she got so excited about this project. So many times parents (including myself) want it to look a certain way, look just right and be "how it is supposed to be" but this time I just stood back and watched her little mind work. She was so excited and so proud! It made me happy to see her show it off to her teacher! Lindsey's quite the artist!

A precious (to a mommy) story:

Last night when I was telling Lindsey good night, she said she wanted to tell me something, but that I couldn't tell Courtney. Ok. She said, "You know how Daddy left you notes as a surprise?" side story really quickly: While I was at mom and dad's house with Whitney and he was here with the sick girls, he decided to leave me notes around the house in random places. He's never done that and it is one of the sweetest, most thoughtful things he's ever done! I found them for several days. I'm not sure that there isn't one left somewhere. Lindsey would see me find one and so we talked about it. back to original story: She said, "I left a Valentine card in Courtney's toy drawer for her to find as a surprise. Just like Daddy left you notes for surprises." Melt.my.heart! Anyone who says they aren't paying attention, that they don't listen and that what you do does not influence your children...here you go! What a good daddy he is and what a great example for her to follow! I love them both dearly! Courtney hasn't found it yet, but I KNOW she'll be excited when she does!

Lots Going On

We've had a good week. Busy at times, but good. We started the week saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Honey! We didn't get to see Honey on her actual birthday, but they came down on Sat. to visit and watch Lindsey cheer, so we gave her present to her then. I got her this necklace. It is super cute! She (and my girls) like birthstones, so that is why I chose this one. I think she liked it....(this pic is the one from the website, obviously not her exact one)Then on Sunday, I got up to get ready for church and when I looked at my phone, I had a text: William Ross Cowgur was born Sunday morning at 3:01. Isn't he adorable? I haven't gotten to see him in person yet, but I'm dying to hold him. Martha was a super star and had no drugs--simply because Will was coming and coming quickly! All are home and doing fantastic!

We've had a pretty normal week...until this morning. My mom called me, which isn't that unusual, but it was still early for her to call. Long story short, my dad had a very mild heart attack this morning. At 2:15 or so, mom took him to the hospital and they took him back quickly. They did an angieogram (not sure how to spell that) and did a balloon. So when mom called at 6:50, he was recovering in ICU and she was home to "get ready" and do some real estate stuff for dad. He was himself before she left, giving her instructions on the things she needed to get done for him today! ha! About an hour later, he (dad) text me and asked if I had talked to mom yet today! Ummmm, yes and WHY are you on the phone in ICU. Those were the first words out of my mouth when I called him! :) He sounded great and said he was feeling good other than having to lay flat on his back for 3 more hours. I got lots of sweet texts and phone calls from cousins and friends. What a blessing. I could go on and on about how I'm struggling staying home, struggling not being there with my dad and even my mom as she is just "there." However, after talking to mom about it for a while, we decided that bringing 3 girls there wouldn't really be much help at all! Plus, she left there and as of an hour ago was just going back to visit. My dad had some of his golf buddies come by. So, I know he enjoyed them coming to visit. They have some great friends and I know mom will be taken care of. I talked to Taylor and he is going to try and get up there today and see mom. He's having car trouble, so we'll see what happens. Hopefully they will go home tomorrow. We are going up on Sat. morning to see them. So much going on here and nothing we can really do there but be in the way. I feel so torn, but mom seems ok and if something changes I will be in my car driving there super fast! Please say a prayer for a quick recovery and a healthy heart!

Whitney and Beau

Erin posted some cute pics on her blog. I was going to copy them and put them on here, but if you click here you can see them! Her little boy Beau is 5 weeks younger than Whit! We will have tons of pics for their wedding video one day! :)

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

I don't have pictures, but here is our update. In one word: SICKNESS!

Last Sat. morning Lindsey woke up and had 103.3 temp. She has never run a fever like that! It sort of scared me, but she kept telling me that she didn't even feel bad. So then that bothered me. The mind of a mom is crazy!

So, in the snow and ice (6 inches) I started calling the walk in clinics to see when they would open. It was only 7:45! Of course the Greenwood clinic that is less than 5 min. from our house wasn't going to be open Sat or Sun due to the weather. That meant someone was going to have to drive her to Fort Smith. It wasn't going to me for multiple reasons--driving in that plus I had to be around to feed Whitney. I called the Fort Smith walk in clinic and their answering service said that as far as they knew, they would open as normal. Off they went at 8:15 to be there when they opened at 9:00. They (Ryan and Lindsey) pull up...no cars, locked doors. CLOSED! So I call the other clinic and they are open. So, he heads across town to that one. They get in to the doc and short story, she tests positive for Type A Flu (h1n1 strand is part of type A). Great! At least we know what it is and we caught it early. They come home and she has to stay quarinteened in our room to stay away from the rest of the family, except Ryan who is her nurse. :) Courtney plays outside in the snow, Whitney hangs out, Ryan takes care of Lindsey and I am somewhere in the middle of it all stressing OUT! Ryan is supposed to leave town on Monday morning for 4 days! Can you imagine?! Lindsey sleeps the day away, seems to feel fine when we wake her up at supper. Courtney has enjoyed her day as pretty much the only kid!

Sunday morning, I walk in to say hi to Courtney as she's watching tv. I touch her head and YES...she feels hot. I take her temp. 101.8. Immediately call the doc and have meds called in for her. She crawls in bed with Lindsey, since now they are both sick, they can hang out. I have a melt down. Ryan offers to cancel his trip and stay here with the sick girls. That way Whitney adn I can leave. So, that is just what we did. We left and went to Bentonville to see my parents! The roads in Greenwood were clear by this point and mom and dad tested hwy. 540 for a few miles for me and said it was clear, so off Whitney and I went up the mountain, through the snow (on the trees) to grandmother's house we go...almost the song!

Long story short, both girls were feeling better and fever free by Tuesday. So, Whit and I came home. I think they had a GOOD time with Daddy! While I was at mom and dad's house, I got congested really bad and called for a z-pack. Whitney got congested which is almost her normal, but got a really bad cough. So I made an appointment for her with her pediatrician on Tuesday morning to stop on our way home. She has her first ear infection.

Luckily now, all are doing fine.

However, on the way to take Lindsey to school this morning, Courtney threw up in the car. All I could think was--SERIOUSLY!?! Where are the candid cameras? It was raining, my kid just threw up and I have NOTHING in the car to clean her (or the car) up with. So I stopped, stripped her down to her panties (in the cold, wet rain) and put her back in the car with a Sonic paper bag "just in case." Thankfully we didn't need it. I've decided at this point that it was the meds this morning on an empty stomach. She's been fine. We'll see what the rest of today holds!