Long Time No Blogging

I have a confession to make. I don't like to blog anymore...sorry! It's not that I don't like it, but it's just easier to do this new thing called Facial Literature aka Face Book. At first, I was reluctant, but with the ever-so-gentle push(computer shove) from MDM I now have a facebook?
Mandy got me started but now I'm in full control. I'm over the "vandalism" otherwise known as "someone wrote on your wall". I was a little concerned that it was too much like tagging, but now I know that it's just showin' some love. So if you ever are around the popular facebook.com, look me up! I'll be your friend and I might even give you some flair. Peace out.

Camps, Camps and more Camps

So this is already JULY! Freaky.... We officially have a middle schooler in the house. WOW~ we have such a great youth group at church! There is something for those kiddos to do everyday almost. Weird how you drop them off and they call you when they are done. It's almost too good to be true. All day (9-7) at Fiesta Texas, overnighter at church and paintball the next morning, area wide lock-ins the list goes on and on.

This week, Tanner is at Spanish camp from 10-2:30. I miss that little guy. It's just weird not having the little one with me and having the big boys home. It's always the opposite. He's my little buddy. Or should I say, My little compadre?

Back to this middle schooler in the house. We told him that after report cards were in for the year, we would talk about getting him a cell phone. My friend who has done the whole middle school thing said it's really nice to let them have one for youth group and practices, etc. I was totally against cell phones until they drove, but we caved. Truth be told, it's been nice. Especially the texting. With the exception of one Wednesday night when our guest speaker at church went over and during the closing prayer, I receive a text from Ty wondering why I'm not outside at the car. That was also fun sitting by MY Mom and getting the LOOK because my phone was going off during church. So it's all a viscous cycle. Me getting in trouble with my mom because of my tween. Aye yi yi.

Off to another jetski race this weekend. Pray for our daddy's safety!

2 Weeks Down.....

It's already been 2 weeks and we have just slowed down! We went "camping" at the lake the first weekend. Billy had another jet ski race and he did so good!!
Getting better every time. He placed 4Th out of 12, but in more impressive results, no broken or hurt body parts! That works for me every time. Just after Billy's race was safely under the belt, some people approached Billy and I to ask if Ty would like to race for them as a junior racer. My response was an emphatic,"NO!". But Billy's response was "Cool! Yea. That would be great." WHAT?!??! I'm not going to address this one for a while. Just let it blow over, or at least hope it will. He is a great rider, but he's 11!.

The next day after returning from the lake, I was the teacher of a 4 day cooking camp. So much fun! I made them all their own monogrammed apron, a laminated cookbook and a bag of essential utensils for their baking enjoyment. The class limit is 10 of which we had all 10. 8 of them were boys!!!! You can only imagine how that all went. They were good, but we were done 1 hour early almost every day. They did everything at lightning speed. Good times~

Then my friend came over with new baby Owen. 3 weeks old today. Happy Birthday baby boy! Owen, Anne and I are planning a shopping trip today since all my boys are at our farm working on the windmill. I love being the only girl who can opt out of all the farm duties I want to. And today with heat index of 105, I opted out! I haven't shopped with a stroller in a real long time. But I know that baby won't be in the stroller if I can help it.

Busy Little Bees

Summer is finally officially here! The boys last day was Wednesday, which went on just a little too long for me. But who asked me? No one! Anyway, every Summer, I have a "Summer Talk" which could also translate to semi-threat, promises of fun or punishment. You know, laying down the law so to speak.

Examples?
I don't want to hear the following:
*I'm bored
*He's being mean to me
*I was doing this first and I want to be alone
*why can't we go to the pool until daddy gets home?
*there's nothing to do or eat in this house. Can we go to Fiesta Texas?

I'm all for fun and being not as structured as in the school year, but with 3 boys, there has to be some sort of structure! I gave the talk last night which consisted of a chore chart by name and specific jobs along with the payment on Fridays IF they had done their job. Everyone was compliant and I went to bed thinking it was well received. This morning, I woke up to the vacuum running, the dishes being put away, the lawn being watered, Ty's clothes in the washer and the recycle trash can was already on the street for pickup!

I am so thrilled!! I may not have to do too much this summer, as it should be!!! I'll be kicking in the back yard reading in my lawn chair, sipping fresh squeezed lemonade. I should add that to the list. All this for only $2 per week per child.

THIS JUST IN: Tanner came in wanting a raise! "Mom, since I have to do (rattled off his personal list). Can I have $3 per week? I can barely breath right now." (which reminds me, I should sign him up for acting classes. He's a natural)

OD'd on EMO

Last night, we went to our nephew and godson, Evan's graduation from high school. It's been a while since I have been to a high school graduation and WHOA! the emotions all came back from my graduation ceremony. I could taste the excitement of those "kids" and was emotional when they started walking in 2 by 2 with the band playing in the background. The other day, I was getting to my sewing machine and came across some random pictures. HIGH SCHOOL and freshman at ACU pictures. Look here:
Can you tell I was not used to wearing hats? Oh, and nice white hose and shoes!!! Ick~ Then I found this picture of me and my precious roomie, MDM! No, I wasn't on the ACU Wildcat football team. It was the huge Jonathan Martin dress with boat-neck collar and gigantic shoulder pads of 1990's. Mandy and I were waiting for the line at Luby's to go down at the Mall of Abilene after services at Southern Hills/Social Thrills. Hope you don't mind Mandel! You are adorable in this picture, so hopefully you won't be too mad at me?! Love you!!! Who knew I would meet a best friend for a lifetime right after shaking a man's hand who said I passed high school and could go on to college!

Some more reasons why I'm overloaded:
*don't have a preschooler anymore
*I just know someone at Elementary school will correct Tanner from saying 'prayground' instead of 'playground' (sad day!)
*Tanner saying to me that "God made him to sing because I'm a good singer. I didn't understand that until I was 4 and then I said to myself, 'I should sing too in chapel' so now all I do is sing to God."
*"Mom, you should hold me now while you still can. I'm going to Kindergarten you know?"
*"Mom, today is my last day at Preschool. I'm gonna need an alarm clock so I can start getting up when the big boys get up."
*"You are the best mom in the whole world! Even in China."
Ok, that's enough for now....can't see through the tears. We love our baby Kindergartner! (notice the tears in daddy's eyes)

Graduation

Today was Tanner's graduation from preschool! He was so proud. Billy was too....so much that I caught him staring out the window, crying. Poor Daddy!
Tomorrow night, our godson, Evan is graduating from high school and last week, our sweet niece graduated from UT. We have stretched out the graduating span in our family.
Today, I got to finally meet a little guy whom I have been waiting to see FOREVER! I'm sure his mommy and daddy think so too. Check out this beautiful baby boy, Owen. It is also his mommy's 30th birthday today! Happy Birthday Anne!! She said she was up all night just staring at him and smelling him. This is her 3rd and she knows how quickly time flys by. How sweet that she wants to soak it all in so she'll never forget. Such a wonderful mommy!! I love Owen's precious blond hair. Big brother and sister have gorgeous white/blond hair too. I can't wait to see and smell him more!
May is so busy! Party after party after awards ceremony after pool party...it never ends. Off to create a Thomas Jefferson costume....nothing like an end-of-the-year project days before school is out! I'm over it..

Speed Racer!

It's that time again, when my husband has the need for speed. Last year, he raced his jet ski and by the next race, he had broken his arm, so that was when he hung up his helmet. That is until this year. All bones are in one piece and He's back! Which means, we're back at the lake! Which means we travel the Texas highways and byways to campgrounds and lakes all over the Lone Star State. Which equals fun!!!

I have had Billy on no caffeine and cardio and strength workouts regularly since January, but I think he has been skimping on the cardio part. He pooped out about 15 minutes in with 15 more minutes to go. Maybe this month he will listen to me! He got 4Th place Saturday and 5Th on Sunday. But our traveling team member, Paul, got 3rd Saturday and 1st on Sunday. Something tells me Billy will listen to me at the gym a little more next time. Actually, he said he'll do more running and Precor. I love being right, but I love more when he acknowledges it. (he he)

The boys had the best time watching their daddy while I was deep in prayer behind the lens of my camera,watching their daddy. Here are some shots.

Something Borrowed.....

Borrowed from Michelle

Only one word can be used in your answer and it can NOT be used twice.

1. Where is your cell phone? bed

2. Your significant other? precious

3. Your hair? curly

4. Your mother? sweet

5. Your father? heaven

6. Your favorite time of day? morning

7. Your dream last night? weird

8. Your favorite drink? limeade

9. Your dream goal? peace

10. The room you're in? mine

11. Your ex? jerk

12. Your fear? alligators

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? tropical

14. What you are not? normal

15. Muffins? fiber

16. One of your wish list items? daughter

17. The last thing you did? homework

18. Where you grew up? Kingwood

19. What are you wearing? jeans

20. Your TV is ? Oprah

21. Your pets? allergic

22. Your computer? laptop

23. Your life? fun

24. Your mood? silly

25. Missing someone? Mandy

26. Your car? Suburban

27. Something you're not wearing? makeup

28. Favorite store? ATL

29. Your summer? smouldering

30. Your favorite color? pink

31. When is the last time you laughed? minutes

32. When is the last time you cried? week

33. Your life? content

34. Your children? adorable

35. Your future? exciting

36. Your beliefs? conservative

37. Your ego? blah

38. Your image? fun

39. Your appearance? athletic

40. Would you live your life over again knowing what you know? definitely


Feel free to copy and play along!

Blessings My Friends!

Viva San Antonio

It's finally over! The last 10 days have been Fiesta here in San Antonio. Basically a huge city-wide party, complete with a day off of school for a parade. When we first moved here, it was the strangest thing for me to comprehend...an entire day off of school for a parade? Seriously?! Now, it's just how it is. My mom is still in denial of the fact that "it is what it is". There have been projects after projects for the boys. Such as, but not limited to, making a Fiesta King crown, decorating a shoebox for a float parade in school, decorating a bicycle for a bike parade and decorating a white hat with the most colors possible. I'm OVER it! I know it's been going on since the Civil War times, but could we possibly cut back to a weekend? I feel like our home will be TP'd tonight just because I typed that! It is what it is....bottom line, it's fun! Next up, Teacher Appreciation WEEK! Ah, presents per day for all 5 teachers in our lives. I personally like the idea and the fact that they give us a list of topics per day. This should be a breeze compared to last week!

25 years and I'm Still scared

I was watching the Today show this morning and they had a 25th anniversary to the Thriller dance on there. I was so frightened of that song much less the video when I was 10 years old. I would see on MTV, back when they would show videos, and I would close my eyes and plug my ears and find my way to the TV to change the channel. (back before there were remotes) The dancers still kinda freaked me out today. I know I will have a dream about it tonight. Shoot! And I was sitting right by the remote too. Should have changed the channel. I know somethings never change and I still tried to be a big girl and watch.

I'll have to wash it out with The Office and Grey's tonight!!.....Thriller who?! Michael Jackson didn't know thriller until the writer's strike and all new episodes of Grey's Anatomy!!! (clap, clap, clap)

Backyardigans

This weekend, we re-mulched our flowerbeds with pecan mulch. Mostly because I like the rich color that it has and it keeps those pesky stay cats from strutting their stuff in our yard. I'm not a kitty cat fan. I grew up in Kingwood, aka "The Livable Forest", so squirrels are nothing new to me, but I realized that the boys were in awe of the squirrel. Now that we have 2 truck loads of pecan mulch in our yard, squirrels have become a regular critter in the yard. I just went out to the back to water and there were 5 squirrels and about 10 white-wing doves getting their nut on. We have a backyard wildlife rescue going on it appears. Since the squirrels have become a regular site, I can not get that song out of my head..."I'm just a squirrel trying to get a nut so move your butt on the dance floor." Who sang that, MC Hammer? I think it was something MDM and I would sing in our dorm room. I guess it's catching on around here because when I came in from watering, I found Ty singing "I'm just a squirrel" and dancing.

On a not-so-critter note, I was the photographer for our church's Mom/Daughter Tea. It was adorable!!! Some of the ladies of the church loaned out their china, which scared me to death, but it was beautiful! One of my favorites:
We have so many talented people in our church and we just happened to have a lady who is an expert at having tea parties. Who knew?! She and 2 of her friends did all the catering. Just look at some of this spread! Yummy!!!

I always volunteer to be involved in froufrou stuff! I love it and can't very well do it for any of my boys' birthday parties. That would be awkward, as Tanner would say.

The Bike Ride

Let me first start off with a picture of what we gave my mom for Christmas.
She always says "Don't get me anything. I don't need a thing! Save your money." blah, blah, blah....so when she tells me things like that, I just get random on her. We bought her this sweet ride, along with a silver helmet. Today was just beautiful outside, so we decided to take the bike on her maiden voyage. Notice she didn't wear her helmet! She looked around and said "No one else is wearing theirs. I WILL NOT be the only doofus wearing their helmet." She's crazy! The boys were wearing their helmets, she just didn't want to. It was like having 4 kids! She took off and went a little squirrely, which scared me to death. I asked her when the last time she rode a bike was and she said, "Oh about 30, 40 years. No big deal." And away she went. That was the most nerve-wracking bike ride ever. She did good though. We live on too many hills, so it didn't last too long for the first time out. While we were riding, Tanner said, "I lost my tooth!" Sure enough, he did loose his first tooth! Blood all in his mouth and a big grin saying, "It didn't hurt!" Then Mason is gagging because it was gross watching him talk with a mouth of blood. Ah, life with boys... when we got home, I said "smile" for a picture and this is what he came up with. Let's try it again. He's a big kid now~

Dallas Supercross

We went to the Supercross this weekend in Dallas. The boys LOVED it! Here are some pictures to explain why. We got to take pictures and autographs with Davi Millsaps! He's a celebrity to us. We were in dirtbike heaven. Then, we got to Ivan Tedesco....the picture says it all. Could I have a bigger smile?! YUMMY!!!! Billy knows of my love of Ivan and has approved of this photo to be framed and in our bathroom. Here is Ty and Chad Reed's bike, #22 and then a picture of Chad by his RV. He was a little too busy to sign any more autographs. He's a hot shot. He won, of course.

While in Dallas, we were in a restaurant before the races. I was in the bathroom and while washing my hands, another lady who was washing her hands stopped and said to me, "I usually don't dress like this." which completely took me off guard so I said, "Oh, OK. I think you look great!" Just a bit awkward. Then she proceeded to tell me she just got through with a 20 mile bike ride. Can you tell I'm still a little taken aback from this encounter? I didn't know what to say or why....still don't! The only down side of this entire weekend was the drive on 1-35 when my car's transmission went out! We were only in Hillsboro (still a 4 hour drive from our home) and drove the car at 40 miles an hour (that's all it would go) to Waco and left the Suburban at the airport there so we could rent a car. They only had compact cars!! So all 5 of us and some of our luggage got into the tiny-weeny Kia and drove the rest of the 3 hours. Thanks to Allen Samuels in Waco, the Suburban has a new transmission and she is on her way back home to us. Ah, such an adventure!

My Prayerful 11 year old

Tonight, Ty begged to say the prayer before dinner. I always LOVE when the boys say their prayers. So honest. I always tell the boys to talk to God like they would talk to their best friend, because He is and He wants them to talk to Him that way.

So Ty says, "Hey God. Thank you so much for money to buy this house, this meal and everything we have. Please be with me to do good in school because I sorta don't like it, sorry! (he did a cute little face while having his eyes closed. I peeked!) Please be with Dad so he won't be so tired and do good at work. Hang on, "Mom? Are you OK?" I said, "yeah, I'm good thanks." He begins again, "OK, sorry God...Mom says she good so be with my bros and in Jesus' name, Amen."

I have to think God got a kick out of that. As the mom of this child He's loaning me, I surely did.

Warrenton, TX NOW WITH PICTURES!

Edited with pictures:

If you live in or near Texas, please do yourself a treat and go to Warrenton and Roundtop for their semi-annual antique days. My sister-in-law and I went on an impulse on Sunday for preview weekend. I almost had a mini crazy fit when we drove up and had to grab Linda and squeeze the crap out of her to relieve SOME of my excitement. She didn't really know what to do with me for the first hour with my impulsive clapping and jumping up and down. This wasn't my first rodeo, but it has been about 5 years since I had last been there. If you love antiques, "junk", random items of loveliness or anything of the sort....please go!!!!! I wore my pedometer and we walked 10 miles. I had yard decor in mind and got some yummy stuff to jazz up our garden. I also bought a chaise lounge so I can lounge around sipping on a mint julep in the backyard. I am so happy just thinking about it. Billy is working tonight, so tomorrow he will get to see my lovely purchases. When I dropped off Linda, Robert (Billy's big brother) just started laughing out loud when he opened the door to my Suburban. He said, "My brother is going to LOVE this one!" (referring to my lounger) I think he was being sarcastic, but the funny thing is, his little wife was fighting me for it! So hah Roberto. I always enjoy spending time with my sister-in-law. We are so alike, yet so different. She has 2 boys, a Senior and a freshman in high school. I am not looking forward to subbing in my children's names to everything she was saying about them. They are good kids, but they are boys and their minds get very interesting to say the least! Warrenton/Roundtop Antique days are the first weekend in April and October, with their previews the week before. So head that way all my Texan friends! You won't be disappointed.

Here are some pics of my purchases:
HAD to have it! A.it was sprinkling off and on B. it had a cross on it in bling C.I loved it!
The antique chaise lounge with brand new cushions from Target. So if I get lead paint poisoning in the near future, you will all know what to tell the doctors. This cute little ensemble. Two of these for the front porch.
This, just because I love iron things. And finally, this antique stained glass. Now you all need to go because there is so much more than this! Wear your walking shoes.

Cooking Class

This summer, I am going to teach a cooking class at church. This is the first year that I have done this, but I have always been involved with the classes with enrollment and cookbooks, etc but never acutally cooked with the kids. I am so excited to do this! Here is one of the recipes that I tried out for the staff, Raspberry Biscuits with Vanilla glaze. Yummy! We take 10 kids and do kitchen safety, recipes and teach them how to serve God through cooking. We share with the office staff, we eat some for ourselves, we take some home for our families and at the end of the week, we have a luncheon for the staff and the kids serve them. It's such a great camp and I am so excited to do it! My only problem, I tend to sing, dance and be goofy in the kitchen. Do that with 10 elementary kids and they could get crazy with me. We'll tone it down....I hope! Here's to cooking~

Easter Photoblog

Our Easter was so much fun! Full of cascarones......


Poor Billy thought we were taking a cute couple picture and SURPRISE! I slammed one right on his precious little head.
Then there were the boys and their cascarones.... Tanner getting his 15 year old cousin, Cameron.
His retaliation!
Of course our boys are always up for a game of cascarones.
I love to see my nieces. I can't believe one has graduated from UT and the other one is graduating this May! They were just little peeps when I met them 14 years ago. They are so cool. They think of me as their big sister instead of their Aunt. I'll take it! The boys changed into their skate clothes because Cameron was there. Skate or die dude!
Oh, and the hiding and finding of over 100 eggs!




Hope you all had a wonderful day too!

Nana is a gameboy!

My mom plays heart games and not usually with boys. I realize that title sounds a bit like a Beyonce song waiting to happen, but quite the contrary. She's not dating, so no games with any "boys" or elderly men for that matter. Her heart goes into atrial fibrillation from time to time and she has to wear a portable heart monitor to measure her ups and downs, mostly ups. Anyway, Tanner just picks up the phone and calls his Nana all the time. Yesterday, he called her and I walked in on this: "I just want to come over so I can be the only child for a while." She always approves, no matter what the excuse of the day is for him to get some "Nana time". She literally lives right around the corner, so it's no big deal to take him there and they both enjoy their time together. She had just come home with her monitor on and she called me to say that Tanner was asking tons of questions why she had wires hanging off of her. She wanted me to know what she had told him in case I needed to add to her descriptions to our smarty pants 5 year old. That night, after he came home to be a sibling again, he told me that Nana had a heart monitor on that is kinda like a Gameboy. I acted surprised so I could hear his version of what she told him. Because he is my baby, I like to get real close to him, on his level and usually close enough to give a quick kiss on the cheek every now and then while he is talking. He said, "She sometimes has to wear a heart watcher to see if her heart does crazy beats for a reason or if she is just crazy. But it doesn't hurt and there is a memory stick in it so the doctor can put it in his computer to see what's crazy in her heart." How could I not give kisses for that? Then he said, "Now could you please get out of my grill?" Talk about "game boy". He's playing with my heart now!
I called her to give her his interpretation of the heart monitor. She was laughing so hard, I think her readings will be off! She politely told me that she never used the word "crazy" and she would have been offended if it weren't true! They are two peas in a pod for sure. You never know what will come out of the mouths around here.

Communion Meditation

Sunday was hectic with an extra 5th grade boy who spent the night and time change. That meant that we had to leave for church at 7:15 am. But we did it! Everyone was fed, clean and tucked in. My Tanner bear does NOT enjoy going to Children's church, so I have no problem with him sitting with his "sweet, sweet Papa" during church. Actually, I love it. Our whole family sits together with my mom and I love Sunday mornings. This particular Sunday, Tanner was drawing on the back of our attendance card during communion. He tapped me on the arm and showed me this.
His sweet voice whispered in my ear, "It's Jesus on the cross." As tears filled my eyes, he looked at me and said, "Why are you crying? He did it for us Papa." I seriously thought I was going to have to leave the auditorium because that "boo hoo slobbering ugly cry" was rapidly approaching. Then, out of the silence of communion and the subtle sniffing on my part, I hear another little one in service bust out with "We are the Champions. We are the Champions, of the werld!" I know I shouldn't laugh during communion, but that was funny. Sweet little Nathan's momma didn't think so. I love kids!

Every Girl's Crazy 'Bout A Sharp Dressed Man

This kid cracks me up. Look at his pose! I asked him why he completely turned his foot sideways and he responded with, "To see my sweet new shoes." It was picture day with Chasity at school. This was the last preschool photo, so he got a "sweet" new outfit. But let me tell you, this kid is 5 going on 25. He spiked his own hair and came out of that bathroom and said "Smell!" as he blew a gail-forced wind into my face at point blank. Granted, he did smell minty fresh, but he also smelt a bit like Billy. I asked him what all he put on. "Well, I put on some of dad's cologne and also some of Ty's deodorant." I was going to ask him to define "some" but with the overwhelming amounts of different aromas, I didn't go there.

Ty is in 5th grade and the school did "THE PUBERTY TALK" last week. They emphasized the importance of daily hygiene and the imperative use of deodorant. So we rushed out to purchase some D.O. I really don't want to do this whole puberty thing. You know how you can leave a baby without question at a fire station, Baby Moses Law? Do they take 11 year olds? He's a good kid, but I don't want to deal with all the boy issues. Billy knows my fears and he has taken full responsibility to handle any boy issues that I may not feel comfortable with. Which is basically all of them! I'll take the dating thing, but that's all.
This is why Tanner is learning so much about D.O. for the B.O. at the tender age of 5. He's sure a sweet smellin' boy. I told Ms. Carmen when I dropped him off, "Watch out for Tanner today. He's either going to get chased by all the girls because he smells so good or he'll get chased by all the bees!" She said, "Doesn't matter. They both will leave a sting." Nice one Ms. Carmen, nice!

I adore that girl! If she would do a Pre-K 3, I'd be on it like white on rice.(ACU throw back for all my Wildcat friends!)