Bible Verses for Children

I have not painted murals on my children's walls in our new home. This is the first time in their lives to not have something on their wall and so far it hasn't driven me too crazy. However, I have been thinking that I want to do something special and have decided to paint/write a special bible verse on each of their walls. And I need your help.

Jagger has a car/truck/motorcycle/racing room. I have been looking up verses about racing. Here are a few that I like so far:

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous! Don not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your GOD is with you wherever you go.

1Cor 9:24 Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! ....you knew I would love that one!!

2Tim4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.


James has a camp room. He loves tents and swimming and doing all camp activities. I was thinking of going with something about rock or foundation but have yet to find anything good. The only one I've found so far is this:

Deut 32:4 H is the Rock, His works are perfect and all His ways are just.

James is also really funny so it would be neat to find a quirkier verse for him.


I have joked and said that I'm going to do something on Kaylee's wall about honoring and respecting her parents and loving her brothers. hahaha I have nothing though. She is a typical 9 year old and loves all things rockstar and funky. She is definitely funky.


Anyways, I would really love some suggestions from you guys. I was hoping to do it this week but might have to wait until next week or until I find the perfect verses.

Thanks for your help!

Pictures by Janey Wood

We have a photographer in Texas that we LOVE! Her name is Janey Wood and she is absolutely amazing with what she can do with our family. She understands that I don't like posed pictures and just chases after my kids and gets them just as they are. She meets me where I want or suggests places when I don't have any suggestions..which I didn't this time. Janey suggested going to the waterfall outside of the Baytown Nature Center (and apparently I'm the only person in Baytown who had no idea about this photo op!).

I can't figure out how to turn these pics on here so I'm sorry you'll have to see some sideways. Here are a few good ones. I have one I'm keeping for Christmas cards and refuse to show (last year at Christmas I didn't have any pictures that I liked that I hadn't put on the blog already!).

Enjoy!

Last Day In Texas

It's Sunday already! Ugh!

But oh what a fun week it's been!

This morning we went to church and then out to Double Dave's by ourselves for lunch. We did a bit of shopping and then headed to our in-laws to spend some time with Dad on Father's Day....and to take advantage of the free pool!

Tonight we ended our Texas stay with some DELICIOUS crawfish with some favorite friends at Richards.

The kids getting in some last minutes of play time....THUMB WAR!!
The mommies getting some last minutes of play time too!

Check out those heaping plates of crawfish!

The hair is back, plates are almost empty...and my lips are burning!!

Last hug for the bestest friends ever.

Kaylee didn't join us...she just wanted to hang out with her MaMaw. I hate that she isn't in this picture!

Jimmy would steal this girl if he could...

Kissing Cousins

Today we went to El Toros for lunch to celebrate Jimmy's birthday with his family. We didn't take any pictures while we were there. However, we were smart enough to get some pictures of the cousins before they leave each other again until Thanksgiving. They aren't really kissing as the title suggests...but it was all I could come up with.

Schlitterbahn Birthday

Yesterday was Jimmy's 37th birthday. WOOOT WOOOT! Happy Birthday to my favorite man in the whole wide world!

We went to Schlitterbahn to celebrate with friends and family. And we spent NINE hours swimming and riding rides! Crazy Fun!

One of my favorite stories is from Kaylee. She told me that when she was on the big wave part of the lazy river she got sucked under water. She felt like she was drowning and just had to pop back up...which she did...in someone else's tube. The person looked down and her and said "well, hello there. Would you like to get out now?" Then the person lifted the tube to let her out. They have double tubes and I thought she meant someone was in one side and she was in the other. However, last night she corrected me and told me she popped up with someone in a single tube. OMG...laughed so hard!!

At the end of the night Jimmy was done swimming but all the kids wanted to go down the lazy river one more time. He would pop up on the side of the river though so we could all say hi. At one point we were all going up a conveyor belt to go into the rapids and Jim was standing on the bridge in front of us. I decided to sing Happy Birthday and all of his friends with me joined in. Then everyone else in our area joined in. It was like we broke out into musical. Jimmy said it was very loud and cool. That's me ya know...loud and cool! haha

Another perfect day...and even more perfect because it was Jim's birthday. YAY JIM!

A Magical Time

Uncle Jon and baby Camden flew in yesterday morning. I have only gotten to see them for a couple of minutes but Kaylee, Jagger and Jimmy got to go swimming with them in the afternoon. Baby Cam is such a cutie! I will have to get lots of pictures of that little doll!

We have been trying all week to get together with my Aunt Diane. Yesterday we finally made it happen. She left a message on my facebook asking if we'ld like to meet her at Chuck E. Cheese. I hate Chuckies but it's a halfway point for both of us and a great place for the kids....so we went.

It was a blast! We were able to get the kids 200 coins and were smart enough not to hand them all out at one time. They loved playing the games and picking their prizes. What fun!

Jim and I had a lovely time too. We got to visit with Diane and Gabrielle which was so enjoyable. I love getting to visit with family! We had so much fun we even stayed for 3 hours! Crazy!

Jim and Kaylee went back to Jon's hotel room for the night. I went back to Jen Jen's with the boys so we could go to bed early for Schlitterbahn today. Ya right...we stayed up until 11:30 to play Wii Fit. Sooo fun! And hysterically funny!

I am so looking forward to sleeping when I get home!!

Wednesday

Jen, Hilde and I (and all of our kiddos) went to the Wave Pool in Mont Belvieu. We spent four hours splashing in the waves and making me completely sea sick! The kids loved it and I did get pictures this time....it was my excuse to not have to go into the waves for a bit..hahaha.

Jagger and Coby didn't come to the wave pool because they went with Jimmy to see some Monster Trucks where they get made. They also went out for lunch and then to the park. It was a boy day for them. However, as soon as they left and the girls found out where they went they were so jealous that they didn't get to go. Apparently all of our girls love Monster Trucks too. Too funny!

My in-laws came back into town last night and invited us out to Kemah for dinner. We went back to Joe's Crab Shack where the food and visiting was lovely! Then we let the kids play in the water fountain and they loved that. (I can't believe they aren't tired of water yet!!) We actually had to peel them away from the water so we could go visit the shops and get some ice cream cones. Yummy!

Jim and Kaylee went back to Mom and Dad's RV to sleep and the boys and I went back to Jen Jen's for some Wii playing and then into bed....at 11:30pm!! My kids are going to have to learn normal bed times again when they go home!!

Driving Bloopers

Hilde: It's so stupid, they have a camera on those lights on that side but not on this side.

Krista: Those lights right there?

Hilde: Ya, but not everyone knows it.

Krista: Right there?

Hilde: Yes.

Some silence while we drive for a bit and Krista looks around nervously.

Krista: Because I drove through that red light on Sunday. In your vehicle. (I was following Jim and he went through yellow so I got stuck going through just turning red.)

Hilde: WHAT????

P Street Pool and Jen Jen

It was another day spent at the pool and that makes it another perfect day in my books!

Hilde, her twin sister, Heidi, Jimmy, all the kids and myself all went to P Street Pool. It was so much fun. We played for 3 hours and I think we might finally be losing our extreme whiteness! We bought kolaches on the way and the kids pigged out on those for lunch. Jimmy picked up C and D burritos for us ladies and we ate those for breakfast/lunch. Delicious! I do love Texas food!! However, I did forget my camera yesterday so there will not be any pictures of that outing...although I'm sure you're wondering if there will ever be pictures of this trip!! haha There will.

I made chili and we had chili dogs for dinner at Hilde's for dinner. So good! Then I packed up my bags and headed over to Jen Jen's house for the rest of the vacation. My children are just loving all of their friends and I'm loving getting lots of time with my best friends too.

And we made it to bed before 11 last night...at 10:45...wooot woot!

No Hildeisms yesterday...surprising, I know.

Dena's Pool and Dating

Another perfect day.

Hilde and I and 8 children went over to my girlfriend Dena's for some swimming and lunch yesterday. It was so fun. It was a little scary to have so many little kids (add Dena's 2 to the 8 we had with us) and only 3 adults. We managed to talk most of them into life jackets though and it all worked out.

We swam for a bit then we got out to eat lunch. I had bought a package of ham, a big package of cheese, cut them both up and then we had some ritz and cut up navel oranges. We had lots for all of the kids and it was cheaper than lunchables. And quite yummy. We brought popsicles for dessert and then Dena shared some delicious lemon/lime cake that she had leftover. It was perfect.

The kids ran around the backyard for a bit longer while we sat and visited and then we headed home to just hang out for the afternoon. Oh...and Kaylee, Hillary and I got pink dye in our hair...so fun and cute!

Last night Jim and I got to go on our first real date in over a year. Kaylee was at Jen's and the boys were at Hilde's. I didn't have to worry about them at all and we were not on a time frame. It was so nice to leave them and know they were completely safe.

We went to Kemah looking for crawfish. They didn't have any but we found Happy Hour and some snow crab legs. Yummy!! We walked around for a bit after and then drove around our old neighborhoods and stopped at Sonic for dessert. It was just wonderful and so very much needed!
Hildeisms for Monday:
She sat on the couch after her bath and then realized she still had conditioner in her hair and had to go back to rinse it out.

She was cooking hamburger meat to make spaghetti sauce and after a few minutes remembered to turn on the stove.

Life at Hilde's...never dull, lots of laughs!

Church and Pizza

I was so excited to go to church yesterday. Funny how you are gone for almost a year and when you go back everyone is in the same seats...hahaha. It was wonderful to be at our home church. Jimmy and I were swarmed with tons of people to talk to before and after service and it made our hearts so full. We absolutely love Second Baptist and are so looking forward to going back once more before we leave.

After church we headed to Double Dave's where we met up with more friends while we pigged out on the best pizza buffet ever! Luckily they have a back room where we got to sit and let our million children in tow run around. The staff is always so good to our kids and brought them out pizza dough to play with too. So fun!

My kids have picked up right where they left off and are having a blast with their friends and checking out all of our old hang outs. I wonder if they miss Colorado at all yet. I sure miss the cooler weather!! Although today we are going swimming again so I won't complain...today.

Swimming and Baking

I am staying at Hilde and Chris' house right now. The kids are having a blast. They have all of their best friends with them (well, some of them anyways). We woke up yesterday morning and after hanging around for a bit decided to go swimming at the pool where my in-laws have their RV. Jimmy took the camera home with him last night though so I can't post them until later. The kids really enjoyed getting to swim outside. We are all a little sun-kissed and we're loving it!
Last night we made tacos for dinner....yummy! That part was easy enough. My Hilde wanted me to make chocolate zucchini bread for dessert. I went out and got all of the main ingredients thinking she would have the rest. I even bought flour and sugar...we should be good right? Wrong! Hilde had to go around to the neighbors to collect a meatloaf pan, baking soda, cinnamon and a grater (and her neighbor didn't even have a grater...these people need to cook more!!!).

So, we get the ingredients and I am telling her what to put in. We get them all together and throw them in the oven to cook for 70 minutes. With about 30 minutes left on the timer Hilde looks at the counter and asks what the oil is out for. I had told her to put 1 WHOLE CUP in the batter....she didn't. We look in at the bread which is not looking so good. You have to understand....this is such a normal moment with Hilde...things like this always happen when she is around!

Luckily we have enough stuff to put together half of a recipe and still end up being able to make one loaf of chocolate zucchini bread...and it was delicious. But now we have no leftovers and I'm not making it again! So sad!

All in all, it was a perfect day 1.

Recipes and Summer Vacation

So, on one of my dumpster diving trips I found a magazine called Everyday Living with Rachael Ray. It looked interesting and I'm certainly not going to pass up a free read. I brought it home and read it outside while the kids rode their bikes around on the alley. What an awesome magazine! And so many recipes. And not the kind with a bazillion ingredients that I would never make. I folded over 4 recipes and have made two so far. You should try them for yourself!

Marsala Chicken and Mushroom Bake...a pic of the magazine and mine side by side.
You can find that recipe here: http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipes/no-recipe-zone-recipes/Marsala-Chicken-and-Mushroom-Casserole

This is Porke and Beans Stuffed Peppers.

That recipe can be found here: http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-index/dinner-recipes/Pork-and-Beans-Stuffed-Peppers

This is a yummy dessert my friend, Julie, told me about. I have always made chocolate dipped strawberries but she goes further and makes chocolate dipped marshmallows. YUMMERS!! I went one step further and rolled some of them in crushed pecans after I dipped them in chocolate...I call it Rocky Road Marshmallows...I know, genius!

Well, I'm very excited to tell you that our family is leaving for Texas today. We are very excited to see our Southern family and friends. We'll be bringing the laptop and camera with us so I will try to blog daily. However, after the 16 hour drive with 3 kids I may need a day of margarita recuperation before I can do anything!