Q is for Quincy

*Yay*! We have another baby in our family! My sister, Johnna and her husband, Sutton, had a baby daughter, Quincy Margaret, on Tuesday, December 1. She was 8 lbs. 13 oz. and 21 inches long. We are so excited to have another cousin and niece. I stole a picture off of my sister's Facebook, and here is sweet baby Quincy. Isn't she pretty? I see some Oman cheeks and her eyes, lips and even the tip of her nose looks a little Oman! She reminds me alot of all 4 of mine when they were newborns.

Playing ketchup (catch up!)

It's been over two months since my last blog post, and three months since any real news. What have we been doing, you ask, that we have been too busy to post some news? Well, here's a run down -- this is long, but hopefully good! And in no particular order....our top ten...

1. Had two official cases of the H1:N1 flu (Sam and Rachael). And what we think were two unofficial cases (Jack and Avery) -- not diagnosed at the doctor. All, thankfully, mild.

2. Met the Chick-Fil-A cow. We LOVE Chick-Fil-A!

3. Went trick-or-treating -- some of us for the first time!

4. Organized and attended a 20th High School Reunion; that would be Yours Truly -- I can't believe it's been 20 years!

5. Invaded the salon -- when there's four kids to have their haircut, it's the Detten's Salon Takeover -- some of us got our hair cut for the first time!

6. Started school....some of us for the first time! We just finished our second six weeks with flying colors!

7. Gotten 7 (that's right, SEVEN!) teeth in! Ouch! Lots of drooling and fussing!

8. My father, John Bill Oman, was diagnosed and is now free of bladder cancer. We thank you all for your prayers for his health and recovery. Keep them coming!

9. Helped with two school fundraisers -- gift/mix sale and Karnival Krazy. So glad they're over! Our PTO officers did a great job!

10. Been blessed beyond measure! Lots of happy times on ordinary days.

We are also awaiting the birth of the eleventh child among all of us Oman girls. Baby Q should be here any day now!!! Please keep Johnna and Sutton in your prayers. We are excited for a new niece and cousin!

Amidst all of this, there have been many loads of laundry and dishes done, lots of diapers changed and tears and noses wiped. We have also been super busy with our business. We've learned more how to be creative, spread our resources and appreciate the smallest of blessings. These times have tested us -- just when things get tough, a miracle happens, and we realize God wants us to keep going. We've seen the power of prayer so very strong in our lives, and we know that God is good -- all the time.

Birthday Catch Up

We celebrated Rachael's sixth birthday on July 5. She was very excited about her big day and picked out her pink dress and crown to wear. We just had family over (that equals LOTS of cousins!). Rachael wanted pink strawberry cake, so I made it, but it did not go over as well as my usual white cake does. Isn't she pretty? I can't believe she's six years old!

For her birthday gift from her MiMi and Poppy (Dennis's parents), Rachael got to do the quintessential girl thing...go shopping. She insisted on dressing up, and Judy took her out to eat and then to Dillard's to buy some cute outfits. Several weeks later we went in to Dillard's and the sales lady remembered her. She said that Rachael said the funniest things when trying clothes on like "that's too grown upish for me." That day, they also went to Chico's where Rachael has befriended the sales staff (when she's gone in with me) just to say 'hello' to them. Rachael has a strong interest in fashion, and wants to someday be a fashion designer (after, of course, working in Chico's, she says!).

She is a great shopping companion, because she will be completely honest with you when you are trying on clothes. She gives me the thumbs up or thumbs down and tips on how I can improve the look. Once I tried on a dress that looked great on the hanger, but not so much on me. She informed me that "the dress would probably look better on me if I would just grow my hair out!" It's so nice to have my own personal stylist on staff and free of charge!

Girls' Night Out

A couple of weeks ago, Jack and Dennis went on their annual Detten guys' weekend trip. They went to Colorado and spent a few days in the mountains. Sam, the girls and I stayed here to hold the fort down. We worked at the store every day, and tried to do something fun at the end of each day.

One day, the girls stayed with their Uncle Chris and cousins while Judith, Sam and I went to see Julie and Julia. It was great fun -- the movie was right up our alley! Uncle Chris handled 4 kids like a pro, and the girls had fun playing with their cousins.

Another day, the girls and I had our nails done (actually, I had my toes done). Sam was such a trooper to hang with us girls! It was a full hour in the nail salon, and he took it like a man! After our little pampering, we ate at Pizza Hut.

The boys had a great weekend -- sorry no pictures...there were no mothers along to document the trip! They saw the same black bear on two different occasions, and they went fishing, hiking and four wheeling. Jack came home smelling like fish and I sent him straight to the shower while I threw their stinky clothes in the wash....such a difference between what girls think is fun and what boys think is fun!

Waiting at the salon...it was a long wait!

Avery having her nails done...dark pink with yellow polka dots.

Rachael having her nails done...pink with light pink polka dots

The finished look; mine are the zebra toes!

Sam waiting patiently; he was awake the whole time we were at the salon! I held him while my feet soaked.

Waiting at Pizza Hut.

Green Eggs and Ham for Sam

Earlier this week, the kids and I went to visit my parents for a couple of days. Jack got to watch Pop work cattle (Pop even let him help brand a calf!), we ate at Double Dave's with an old friend of mine and we went to the Abilene Zoo with Mor Mor. We had lots of fun, but I forgot my camera!

On our way back home, I stopped at a little boutique in Plainview called Kristy's. Dennis's mom used to own an awesome children's clothing store here in Hereford. She always had really cute, unique clothes, especially Sunday dresses, and it was my first place to shop! She decided to retire a couple of years ago, so I've had a hard time finding nice clothes. Kristy's was having a great sale on summer clothes; I often buy a year ahead hoping things will fit, and I've had great luck so far. I found some really cute dresses and school for the girls.

As I was leaving I saw a cute onesie for a baby girl that was Dr. Seuss inspired. Turns out, they had cute ones for baby boys too! We are big Dr. Seuss fans! We read the classics on a regular basis -- our favorites are Hop on Pop, The Ear Book, The Eye Book, Green Eggs and Ham, and Oh, the Places You'll Go. I was so excited to find a Green Eggs and Ham onesie for Sam ("I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam I am!").

Here is Sam in his Green Eggs and Ham onesie. It won't fit for long, but he'll wear it alot in the meantime!

Birthday and Baptism

A couple of weeks ago, Jack turned 8 years old. I can't believe he's 8! I actually made his cake this year and we had a small family gathering. He requested chocolate, and didn't even notice that the cake was a bit lopsided....I was in a hurry and didn't level it. I added mini chocolate chips to the side when he said he wanted it "really chocolately." We are still hoping to have a couple of his good friends over to go see a movie or swim, but it's been hard to schedule.
Here's Poppy (Dennis's dad, Ralph) with Sam at Jack's birthday gathering.

I often think about the kind of kid I was when I was his age, because I have fairly vivid memories from age 7 on. I really remember my 8th birthday. It was a few months after Mama June passed away, and my new mother-to-be made my cake for me which was a very special thing for her to do. I had asked for a camera, and when I saw the wrapped box, I burst into tears because the box size did not match a camera size. It never occurred to me that the box should be bigger than the camera. I was such a pill! It turned out to be a camera, and boy, did I feel bad! Dad must have been very tolerant, because I don't remember being punished for my awful behavior.

Today we also had a special day because we baptized Sam. It was a beautiful Mass with great music (Dennis's parents both sang in the choir) and Father John, our priest gave a wonderful sermon on what our purpose in life is. Dennis's sister Diana and my sister Ingrid and her husband Jacob were Sam's godparents. We can't believe we had enough kids for all of our siblings to be godparents! Sam was wide awake during the ceremony, but didn't make a peep. He wore a gown that all of our children have worn, and I hope will be an heirloom that their children can wear, if they so choose. I have had the slip underneath embroidered with each of their names and baptismal dates, and will do the same for Sam.

Rachael has been talking about Sam's baptism for weeks. She has learned alot about baptism and other Catholic practices during religion at her school and was very interested in everything leading up to the actual ceremony. She seems to have a very special bond with Sam -- he lights up when she speaks or sings to him -- and I expect they will be great friends some day (I expect this for Avery, too, but for now, I think Sam just tolerates her!).





After Mass, we had brunch at our house with lots of family. Pop (my Dad, John Bill) held Sam, who fell asleep during Pop and Poppy's long conversation. We really enjoyed our time with our family, and this will be a day I will never forgot.

On a side note, when I was picking up the hams that we had for the brunch, there was a wonderful quotation painted on the wall of the ham place. Dennis and I have been having many conversations about the economy, the future of our business and family, and these tough times. I called him immediately when I saw the quotation, because it was so timely for us, personally. It said:

"Write your worries in the sand. Carve your blessings in stone."

How very blessed we are!

After my own heart...

You probably know about my guilty pleasure (one of them, anyway)...reading celebrity mags, mostly for the pictures. I limit it to People and US Weekly, because, really, US Weekly is just borderline trashy and gossipy (but there are much worse!). I've been pretty good lately, but last night I was at Wal Mart and gave in to temptation. Today, during quiet time, I found Rachael "reading" my latest purchase. Honestly, I really think she looks at it for the fashion, in which she has a high interest. Notice the headline, "Mommy, you are mean!" !!?!! This morning I also caught her looking at my Parents magazine. We have tons of kids books, but I guess she needs "more elevated" reading!

On another note, here is a picture I caught of Sam yesterday...he had just woken from his morning nap and was in the best mood. He has a tuft of hair near the back of his head that perpetually sticks up. Most days, it's like this, but there are some days when it will actually lay down. I thought this picture was so funny! I'm not sure who Sam looks more like -- Einstein or Alfalfa...or maybe a cross of the two?!