The Moon Is Out

While the sun is out here..

the moon is full some where.

Easter

When there are two preachers in the family... Matt's Dad, above holding Cooper, and...

(that's Andy playing with Coop, the brother just under Matt)
... Tim, on the far right. Celebrations usually come a few weeks after the world celebrates. It works out well though. While most people are paying full price for Christmas gifts, Easter baskets and Easter eggs, the Knox's get everything at a discount of 50% or greater!

Chloe got Sixlets in her discounted Easter egg!! Candy tastes better when you didn't pay full price. Did you know that?

Coop and his Papa. Coop will not nap at Papa and Mama's house, but he WILL nap in Papa's lap.

He even stays asleep once placed in his car seat.

Chloe

I made this tutu for Chloe about 5-6 months ago. At the time, she wanted nothing to do with it, in fact Elmo wore it; it was his.
Now she's starting to realize girly things. Yesterday at church, I noticed underneath her dress she had a mini'tutu' on. I'm not sure what it is called. It's not fluffy. It kind of looks like something a ballerina would wear while practicing or something. I cracked up when I realized she had it on. She usually wears it to bed.

These are her new princess shoes. They also are a staple in Chloe's wardrobe. They may not fit, but she definitely fits in when we dress in our tutu and princess shoes and head off to Wal-Mart.

Solving The World's Problems

I am going to solve one of the world's problems right now. Hang on to your seat, this is going to be a doozy of a ride.

I have read stories of cell phone owners being charged multiple thousands of dollars in overage fees ie, over use of minutes, texting, internet service etc.

I read one story where a person was charged $27,000 for texting too much. Now yes, that person was a dummy for not knowing they DID NOT have unlimited texting, BUT the cell phone company is a dummy also.

See, do they (cell company) really believe they will ever see that $27,000? Doubtful.

Here is my solution to this small, minut world issue.

If you own a credit card there is a limit, and 9 times out of 10 you are unable to spend above the limit. You get cut-off.

My answer is? Once a certain dollar amount is reached in overages, the cell phone company should cut you off ! At least call you or text you to inform you. It is most likely that it is a child flapping their gums or getting arthritis in their fingers, not an adult. If it is the child, it is likely the adult doesn't know the child is doing this.

Therefore I propose cell phone companies create 'spending' limits for cell phone users.

Ok, that problem is solved, see how easy that was and it only took 2 minutes!!

Next on the agenda, ohh I don't know yet... These things just come to me. I can't fix all the world's issues in one day.... I'm not Obama. (that was 100% sarcasm.)

Scrumdiddlyumptious

need i say more?

Dave Ramsey Free Event RE-POST UPDATE

UPDATE: I'm RE-posting this. I was listening to his radio show a moment ago, and he mentioned some radio stations will carry the event live AND FOX Business Network will air it as well. Sooo there are a few other options for you.

Should be fun... Click on it to find out more and see if there is a gathering in your area. There are gatherings in just about every town, so should be easy to find one!

You Go Miss California

Good for her!!

(the following contains ranting and complaining and possibly makes no sense when read properly and not in anger)

Perez bashes her on his blog and I must admit I watched his video post to see what he had to say. I am not posting it here because it's really a waste of time for you to watch it. You'll wish you had those 2 minutes and 30 seconds back of your life if you watch it.

Anyways, he said she didn't lose b/c she said it shouldn't be allowed, but b/c she didn't say (not quoting but summarizing) every state should vote for their own laws on the topic. Ok, so if that is the case, California voted NO and people STILL disagree and are trying to have the vote over turned!! What is the point in voting then?! Nothing has been decided yet, but you get my drift.

Miss California, thanks for saying what you truly believe. I mean when Miss USA starts having judges like Perez. It's not worth winning it anyways.

She might have well been asked, "So do you agree with the Muslim religion?" or "Are you a believer of Christ?" or "Do you call your holiday tree a Christmas tree?" or "Did you vote Obama or McCain?"

Perez said she alienated herself by answering the way she did and that Miss USA can not alienate herself and that is why she lost. Well, she gave her honest opinion to a highly controversial question.

I mean the girl that won go a question that dealt with tax dollars bailing out companies. She did not think our tax dollars should be used for that.

She gave her honest opinion and won; it just so happened it was the most popular opinion.

Perez.. move to Vermont.

Trust Fall

Yesterday, I was sitting on the floor on my knees. Chloe ran to me arms stretched out. She put her hands in mine and with out hesitation, proceeded to fall backwards, legs stiff and her feet under my knees.

I laughed. I would let her lean just a little, to try and gain her trust. As we continued the game I wanted to see just how much she trusted me. So I let her lean back a little further- 45 degrees. So I let her lean just a hair further. She sits down. She doesn't trust me enough to go all the way to the floor.

This morning, I awoke to an annoying yet lovely cardinal outside my window whistling for a girlfriend and in the not so faint background I could hear three dogs barking at one another. So I lay there and wonder if it will stop. It doesn't, so I think.

I run through the events of yesterday. Chloe's trust fall pops into my mind. I wonder, "Why didn't she trust me the whole way to the floor? What have I done to cause her not to trust me?"

So many times in my life, I trust God until I get to that 45 degree mark. Just after 45 degrees things start to get a little uncomfortable, fear sets in and I sit down. I don't trust God to take me gently to the floor.

Just like Chloe didn't trust me to lead her gently and safely to the floor, I don't trust God for the WHOLE 'fall' just the easy part, the comfortable part.

If only I could throw my arms up, listen to God say, "Do you trust me? 1,2,3 fall Megan."

Snakes

Chloe is a child who loves bugs, animals and all living creatures. She is, however, frightened by your normal run o' the mill house fly. BUT she loves bugs; and mostly from a distance.

We had our lawn ripped apart last week to make it more open. Matt was leveling dirt most of Saturday and he found tons of worms.

Chloe calls them 'nakes.' She carried them around in a container that was recently home to one of my butterfly bushes.

She took them everywhere.

And little did she know, Daddy used them to catch fish. 'Nakes' are always good for something.

I Feel Bamboozled

Cooper is on an alternative shot schedule, as I have mentioned before. Now that he is a year, it's time for the MMR, except the schedule we follow splits up the MMR. So for his 12 month shots he would get Mumps and Polio.

I called my doctor to make sure they have the mumps vaccine.

They don't, they are all out.

"She could call the manufacturer." You say.

She has, they no longer make the separate vaccines!

So now I'm trying to hunt down the separate mumps and listening to nurses and health department workers gripe me out, and judge me b/c of all this. Good times.

Anyone else running into this problem.

Here is what I am finding.
article

"Hunting" Eggs

I used to be an extremely competitive person. When Matt and I were first married we lived in Edmond. Everyday we would play basketball or racquetball at the YMCA. I was fairly good at racquetball, but I could NEVER beat Matt; he was better. I hated that.

The children are released and Chloe meandered her way into the gym. The teacher realized she didn't have a single egg, so she assisted Chloe in finding them.

"There's one Chloe." That was Chloe's first egg, every other child had at least 8 by this point.

The teacher pointed to one under the scooter.

But all Chloe wanted to know was what was inside.

And then she realized all this egg hunting is for the birds, riding a scooter is much more fun.

Because we really came for the cupcakes.

Did I care that Chloe had significantly less eggs than everyone else? No, because she got significantly less candy than everyone else!

SWEEET!

He Is Risen INDEEEEEEEEED!!!

*BEEEEEP*

"This is a test. This station is conducting a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test." *enter annoying beep*

Don't you hate when those tests happen? They always occur right during the best part of your show, game or movie. They interrupt the flow of comedy, tears or excitement. The stations want to inform us they are running a test, like I really care.

Yet, they always manage to get my attention.

It seems, lately, a lot of folks are hearing that annoying beep and listening to the robotic voice tell you, "this is only a test."

I was reading through a specific blog and thought, "Man, there sure are a lot of people being tested right now at this very moment in life. It seems everyone I talk to is going through some sort of trying event. Everyone is being tested." I thought.

Every time I hear the word 'test,' I think of that interruption on television and my head repeats verbatim the robo man's speech.

I equated our, your, trials to that emergency broadcast test.

Hang with me a moment, I'm having a hard time typing my words.

I feel like God is attempting to get our attention so he can run a test and see if we persevere.

Soon the 'test' will be over, the beeping will stop, we will be ready for another test and our movie, game or show will come back on.

And the next time God beeps us, we will be ready for action; ready to grow.

"This is only a test. I still love you, always have always will." *beeeeeeeeep*

Tax Flatulence

I heard a story on the news the other day. In essence, the government wants to start taxing cattle farmers for *drum roll* cow farts.

Apparently cow farts are filled with 'gases' that harm the environment, therefore we must make them, cows and farmers, pay.

Really? Really?

I'm pretty sure I let a big nasty out every once in a while and I KNOW Cooper does and I KNOW Chloe for sure does b/c she looks behind herself everytime one slips out. Oh and of course my handsome, yet gassy at times, husband has an occasion slip of the cheeks.

If I fart, you fart and we all fart... then we all need to pay taxes on our gassiness.

The funny thing, if this wasn't funny enough, is that every one of those men and women in the government is filled with gas.... Hmmm weird.

(OHHH Coop just let one ride. *cha ching let the tax dollars ring*)

Birthday Bash

Well, our little Cooper turned the big O-N-E on Friday. *tear* We loaded up the mini and headed off to see Elmo Live. (It was a good show with a good message. "Take care of the earth.")

Did you know there is a spray can sidewalk chalk? The blue color is the spray and the pink was a piece of sidewalk chalk.
Cooper was looking cute after we got home from Elmo.

(Outside the B.O.K Center)

Chloe kept saying, "I wanna see cookie monster." I don't know why she has a need to see him. I'm thinking b/c he eats cookies he has become her favorite.
The stage.

Oh the girls went crazy when he came out! ;)
Oscar got booed. I felt bad for him.
Ohh and another star... Miss Abby. (I took a more pictures, even cookie monster, but these were the best. PLUS the little girl sitting behind me kept kicking my chair causing some pics to be blurry. Did I say kicking I mean she was way laying the chair!! I had to count to ten.)
A flat Elmo will have to do for a photo opp. She did get a stuffed Zoe doll.

Saturday was Cooper's birthday party. We had a family event with Dink's BB-Q and tons of cupcakes.
When Coop was posing with his cupcakes, he managed to snag one. So we let him eat it. Yes, he loved it. This was his first taste of sugary sweetness. He ate the whole thing.
He's scrumptious. In lieu of gifts, I asked everyone to bring a canned food item. It was a success. We received about 40-50 cans of food and all of it goes to The Lighthouse Mission here in town! I'm looking forward to giving it to them.

Year Ago

These are two of the four pictures I took exactly, almost to the hour, a year ago to the day. I should have know Cooper was coming bc I rarely see the sun rise.
This is the last picture of Chloe and I where Chloe is the only tax deductible child.

Little did I know that I would go to bed after this photo and wake up having contractions.

My how time has flown huh? Any of you remember what you were doing a year ago?

Tomorrow, the four of us are off to see the one the only Elmo!! Chloe has no idea we are going and Cooper, well, he's going bc it's his birthday.

A Sponge

It's that time of year folks.

My cuddle bug is turning ONE! (on friday) Yep, he's officially getting old. *tear*

I've been reading two ladies' blogs whose babies are sick. I usually steer clear of those bc I can't shake the sadness, but I find myself drawn to them, to their stories. I want to see how God works. I want their babies to be fine. I guess I'm drawn bc I would want people praying for me and my child(ren) if one of them were ill; so I pray for them.

I guess I am just really trying to be thankful. Thankful that Coop is healthy and fat and has a working ticker. Thankful that I get to raise him and his sister. Just flat out thankful.

Have you ever held your child or loved one or smelled the coming rain and said to yourself, "Absorb this moment. Breathe it in, remember if forever. Feel it. Cherish this contact, this passion this love? Be thankful."

I find myself saying that more often these days. However, I find when you are trying to absorb something, the harder it is to absorb it. Amen? I mean, I held Coop last night while he was sleeping, I didn't want to put him in bed. Over and over in my mind I kept repeating those words. I found myself not feeling like I was a very good sponge! So I held him longer, hoping I would feel fully soaked, fully absorbed with passion, love and memories. The longer I held him the more I felt the need to hold him longer, to continue absorbing. I couldn't get enough to last me forever.

So I realize at this moment. That's how I should be with Christ.

Holding on to every moment; absorbing it. Breathing it in. Cherishing the contact, this passion this love. Being thankful. Trying to get enough of Him to last me forever.

Funny thing is? That will never happen, but I still must try.

Now I must go cherish Cooper's poop; breathe it in, smell it and absorb the moment.