I compare it to snow:  it snowed here in 2004, the first time in decades, and it felt surreal.  Seeing these images yesterday, in person, were so surreal:

Snipers on rooftops:

Swat-looking-police in the streets:

Secret Service men and women with earpieces:

This is the *tallest* building in Victoria~I assume that these were snipers  (you can just see them at the corner up there):

It was a little intimidating!

We had such an exciting evening!  Normally, when I take my family on wild goose chases (looking for meteors and comets in the wee hours of the morning, etc.), I am disappointed.  Tonight was a winner!!  We were surprised to find out yesterday that former President Clinton would be in Victoria today~talk about short notice.  While we are pro-life, Presidents/former Presidents do not travel to Victoria, Texas often!  I wanted my boys to meet President Clinton.

We left our house knowing that because of the rain, only 400 people would be able to hear President Clinton speak downtown.  But, I had *plan B* in mind!  As I pulled out of my subdivision, it looked like the clouds over downtown were clearing up, so I switched back to *plan A*:  drive downtown and see if he would speak outdoors after all.  We just happened to park in front of the library, right where President Clinton would walk out to speak.  Lamb, my oldest, got a somewhat blurry pic:

I loaded up the little boys while he got a few more shots of the back of President Clinton's head,

then we quickly moved into *plan B*:  get up close and personal at the airport!

Chances were good that he flew in at our little airport, so we drove over to see if we could get more pictures.  I saw a suburban pull into a hangar next to the airport~two airplanes were on the tarmac, looking ready to go, so I drove in to get a better look.  Two policemen/deputies asked me, "Can I help you?" and I suddenly felt paranoid and scared, so I asked if I could just turn around right there.  They wanted to know why I was there and when I told them that we had hoped to get a glimpse of the former President, they showed me where I could park! 

The group at the airport ended up being only about 22 people.  One of the ladies present worked at the airport and had met President Clinton when he arrived earlier.  She brought her daughters back to meet him and she told us that if we called his name, he would probably come over and shake hands and talk to us, etc. 

We waited for about 30 minutes, then we saw the lights of his motorcade arriving. 

He was on the phone when he arrived; he got out of the car, finished his conversation, then came over to us and walked down the line of people, shaking hands and taking pictures.  When he got to us, he shook my 5-year old's hand first, then my laughing 3-year old's, asking, "Are you having fun?"  Then he shook my hand and talked to my baby, shaking his hand.  My oldest was next and I wanted to get a picture of him shaking his hand, but it all happened too fast! 

(This last photo is when President Clinton bent over to talk to Lion and shake his hand~I think Lamb was too excited to focus!)

He was very personable and friendly and I thought that it was nice that he took the time to greet us like that.  He still had one more rally to go to in Houston tonight.  We watched him board the plane with his Secret Service men and my 5-year old asked, "Mommy, is he the President on the dollar?"  LOL

After my mouse stopped
working, my keyboard also stopped working!  I thought it was some
kind of virus, but when I had it evaluated, I found out that both
portals were blown out.  I am hoping to have both *remote*
keyboard and mouse by Thursday.  I am at a friend's house
(rebeccawow) using her computer tonight!  I needed to get on here
for a couple of things--
First, I received my Pay It Forward package from Amy last week! 
She sent a cute pillow (handmade?  I'll have to find out!),
candle, and gardening book.  I hope to post a pic when I get back
on-line!

I cleaned the cookies and history, then re-booted and ran the adaware program.  The mouse worked for about 30 minutes after that, then I heard three *beeps* and it stopped!  Anyone ever heard of this?

Well, it takes FOREVER to do anything using the keyboard, so I am getting off the computer for a while!  I am frustrated...

Also, Beth, I can get to my messages to SEE that you sent me a message, but I cannot tab over to open it!  Sorry!!!  I CAN read my e-mail, though, if you want to send an e-mail (if it cannot wait!).

Hugs,

Kat

My computer mouse keeps freezing up and I am now using the tab button and arrow keys on my computer to navigate the internet!  It is very frustrating...and, I ran an adaware program and it found "something", but I could not use my keyboard to delete it!  I am not computer-savvy enough...  I am going to unplug the mouse and the modem and let them sit for a little while, then try to boot up again.  (again, again, again!)

It is one gorgeous day!  I am about to bundle up my boys and get out-and-about for a bit today.  This is one of those days where I am not going to mind too much--it is chilly and beautiful, a perfect day for a little drive!  We will run our errands, then maybe stop at a park to play before returning home.

We have been staying home so much lately.  I am usually one who likes to run around, taking my boys to various community functions.  Last night, I was thinking about the things I needed to do today with a feeling of dread--I did not want to leave my house!  I have really started to enjoy just being home and puttering around my house all day.  The weather has definitely helped my attitude about getting out now, LOL.

When it was "pizza" day on the menu at school, did your cafeteria ALWAYS serve corn and pickles with the pizza?    Last night, we had a nice *cafeteria* dinner!  My 3- and 5- year olds both love pickles, while my 13-year old cannot stand even the scent of a pickle.  Their daddy is a pickle fanatic...he buys huge jars of pickles from Sam's and eats them with pizza or, during movies at home, popcorn.  My own dad buys pickles for my husband, LOL.  In our first year of marriage, I found a pickle ornament and jokingly wrapped it as one of his gifts.  This year (meaning this past Christmas), in the dollar bins at Tar-jay, I found "play food" pickles in a jar and put them in his stocking (our boys quickly commandeered those!).

Writing about pickles reminds me that I have not seen a relish tray at a family function in years.  Relish trays used to be a fixture at parties--standard fare!  Dill pickles, sweet pickles, bread and butter pickles...black olives, green olives, pickled okra... What happened to relish trays?!  (I suspect that they were replaced by extra desserts!!!)  Maybe I need to be the one to bring back their popularity in my circle of family and friends.  But, I will be leaving off the miniature corncobs...

I am trying to weave something new into our routine each day--this is something that I have tried before, but was not very good at (have I mentioned that routines bore me?!  LOL).  Anyways, in the spirit of trying to be more *self-disciplined* and also trying to run a more stress-free home, I started this week with daily goals.  Sunday, I gathered all of the mail and calendars and worked on organization (though I only got back to it this morning and completed it!  Small steps, right?).  Monday, I worked on laundry (again, an unfinished task--I also struggle with not finishing what I've started...).  Today began with one goal and switched to another--final decision:  errands and grocery shopping.  Tomorrow will be cleaning day, Thursday will be a catch-all day where I will tie up any loose ends from the week, then Friday I am going to re-organize my thoughts and figure out what works best! 

You can ignore all of the above...it is pretty much me, thinking out loud. 

I am loving the weather this week.  Today, we woke up early and enjoyed the soft blue light that was coming through the windows~it was a wet, cold, and beautiful view from the deck!  The forecast predicts more rain today and tonight, and I am thrilled.  I think I am in just the mood for rain!  I am almost always in the mood for cold, LOL!  We drank hot spiced tea (homemade from my friend Stacey) with our breakfast, while enjoying the view from the rain-spotted windows.  I lit my new candle and just enjoyed the quiet morning with my boys...

I am tired this evening~but I am trying to work through it.  We are having company tomorrow evening and I want some things packed and out of the way...

Today, for the first time in too long, all three of my little ones napped at the same time!  It was wonderful~I was able to put away all of my clean dishes, re-organize two cabinets, and organize bills/calendar with no interruptions--I forget how much I can accomplish in one sitting like that...It is still hard for me to accept that I cannot clean my entire house in one day like I was once able.  Clean hard one day, then just maintain for the rest of the week--oh, how I miss that, LOL!  Nowadays, if I can just get both bathrooms cleaned in one day, it feels like an accomplishment! 

I have been meaning to post these pics for a while~ 

back in November, my dh and I left our boys with my mom and aunt at the beach house while we spent the day celebrating our anniversary.  When we returned, our (then) 4-year old was asleep on the top of the granny-chic couch! 

We could not believe he could sleep like that.  When we first returned, we thought he was playing!  Our 13-year old took pictures (and videotaped!) so that he could show him the next day.

He must have been really tired!

I just finished cleaning the kitchen and I am checking my e-mail before I take a shower.  I am hot--I hand-wash my dishes and I use really hot water.  We have a dishwasher (besides me, LOL), but it is so old, I do not trust it.  We are going to replace it soon~I will probably get to use it twice before we move!!

I have been on and off the computer all day.  I work, then reward myself with the internet--it's a good system.    I still have the ingredients to make chocolate covered cherries (Valentine's treat?), but tonight I used the rest of my fudge ingredients.  I made one batch before Christmas, but never got around to the second batch.  My boys are thrilled!

We are getting out of the house for a bit tomorrow~library, lunch, then a museum.  It takes me about two hours to get myself and everyone ready, so I will have to wake up early in the morning!  I already have their clothes for tomorrow laid out...my routine is to get myself completely ready, then wake up the baby and dress him, and finally everyone else.  For the longest time, I thought I could get us all ready in an hour and a half--and we were late everywhere we went, LOL.