Go Team Go!

1st quarter at a Leander Lions football game.

Black Friday

For the second year in a row I participated in the "I MUST be nuts" event known to others as Black Friday. My husband even set his alarm so he could help me get out the door and to the store by 3am. He even loved me SO much that he had a 1/2 pot of coffee programed to be brewed before I had to walk out the door.

The BEST stop of the morning had to be Lowe's at 5:30am. It isn't what I bought there that made it great, but rather the fresh hot coffee they were serving at the door. God bless them! My coffee (and back-up cup in Ray's mug) had long since disappeared.

Was able to score some GREAT deals both for Christmas and just for me and although I wasn't able to score everything on my list, I'm tickled with the shopping I was able to do.

Trick or Treating 2010

Despite feeling like complete and utter doodoo I was able to get the kids dressed for Halloween and my DH (who is also super sick to the point that he's going to doctor for first time in about 6 years) took them out for Trick or Treating. They scored! Plenty of candy to rot their teeth and have them bouncing off walls for weeks AND enough for hubby and I to "graze" as well. Kids had a great time which is most important thing. Ryan had a last minute change of mind and wanted to be Spiderman w/o mask again this year. Hadley was a Medival Princess. Sick baby stayed home with sick mommy.

Blast from the Past ...Like It Was Yesterday

There are some people who even if you've not spoken with them in 12-ish years, the minute you say hello again it was like you were just together chatting last week.

So was the case with a dear old friend, Jeri Ann. We quickly caught up on the big picture topics and next thing you know we were laughing over old memories (older than I'd like to admit...dang time flies) "COBWEBS!!!" and sharing the everyday life stuff with one another. I'm so happy to have had the chance to speak with her and look forward to being in touch with her again.

NO Kissing!

So yesterday evening we had to have a talk with our 5 1/2 yo daughter about NO KISSING BOYS!

She informed us that there was a boy she liked at school so she kissed him but he didn't like it. Neither did we! Didn't think we'd be having to talk about no kissing at this age. It about killed Ray. LOL...

My Babies Are Going Off to SCHOOL!!!

(pix coming)

I can NOT believe it! My oldest babies have started SCHOOL! Hadley started Kindergarten this year and Ryan is going 1/2 days to Pre-K. Both kids really like their teachers so far and they are looking forward to riding the bus. First couple of days we're taking them.

To make it more exciting, Nanny came to visit and help us with the transition. The kids were especially excited about this. Before we told them Nanny was coming to visit, Hadley had expressed her worry and concern regarding "what if you and Daddy forget to wake me up for school?" I told her that (1) we would NOT forget to do that, especially the first day of school and (2)told her that Nanny would be here as well. Before I could say anything more, she exclaimed with relief that Nanny would make sure she was up and ready for school. LOL... Like I wouldn't. Anyway, it was quite funny.

I just can't believe that my oldest babies are going to school already. Where did the time go. The one downside of the new job was that I didn't get to enjoy their last summer before going off to school with them. work work work...

Working on the Weekend

Not only have I been busting butt during the work week, often bringing home work at the end of the day, but I'm so swamped that I've sadly found myself plugging away on the weekends. I've gotta get a handle on things before my family forgets who I am and I go made from lack of downtime.

Babies Growing TOO Quickly

The subject sums it all up....

Going Back to Cali

Third trip in a month with the new job. Not bad though. Only terrible part is that coming home it is always the midnight arrival. Tack on close to an hour to get home and that makes getting up for work the next morning tough.

I AM however, beginning to make some good headway on my knitting. Have close to 6 hours each trip to knit.

Mom is coming to town tomorrow while I'm in CA. She's coming to pick up our daughter and take her to spend a couple weeks with Nanny and Granddad before she starts Kindergarten this fall. She is SO excited.

Toy Story 3 in 3D

We took the kids for their FIRST ever movie at the theatre. Decided to watch Toy Story 3 in 3-D. HOLY COW!! While it was an EXCELLENT movie and we had a GREAT time, it was SOOOOOO expensive! Not just because it was 3-D either. I mean, sure, that added to the cost but OMG movies for the family is a wallet emptier.

All the same, it was a wonderful time and kids had a BALL! That's all that really matters.

Miss My Mommy

...not just because I love her so, which I DO, but I tend to get SO MUCH more work done on all my projects when Nanny is here.

Headed to CA

Very excited and nervous about leaving in an hour to head to the airport for my trip to CA. Flying out to interview tomorrow with several members of the executive team for a company looking to bring on board someone in Austin to head up their recruiting efforts.

We are excited to make it this far in the interview process and I'm looking forward to learning more about these guys, and the position, tomorrow.

Baby's First Steps

Reese has begun taking his first steps. His very first tentative ones were last Thursday evening, supposedly. I didn't see them so they don't count, do they? Ha ha. He took 3 steps on Saturday and Sunday found him trying to take more. He doesn't get more than about 3-5 steps at any given attempt but he keeps trying and will be running through the house in no time at all.


We're STILL working on getting those top two teeth. They are being a bit cantankerous. He has his 9 month well-baby check-up this week. I can't believe it is already here! My wee baby is growing up WAY TOO QUICKLY.

One-Eyed Monster & Most Expensive "Green Bag"

So my one-eyed monster knit up pretty quickly. I LOVE him! I've been wanting to knit him up for some time now. Making a toy for the baby seemed like a good excuse to create this fun little critter. Maybe when the baby doesn't want to play with him anymore, he can cheer me up at the office.

On the complete opposite end of "quick knits" is what my DH calls the "most expensive green bag in the world". I very much enjoy using my green bag as it holds SO much stuff. Wait. See? I can put even MORE in it! As great a bag as it is, however, I don't see my knitting up another one anytime soon. I lost count of how many shopping bags I used to make the thing and knitting with plastic bags is hard on the hands. All that said, this little gem took me forever to finish. (Okay, so I have some WIPs that have been on the needles even longer, but still...) Hubby lost track of how many hours I spent knitting my "green bag" hence his comment about its "real cost". You'd be amazed at how many goodies I can cram in this thing though!

(pix coming)

Sad Goodbyes

Monday night we had to say goodbye to a precious part of our family. Ginger, our dog of almost 12 years passed away. We found a beautiful place in the yard to lay her to rest. We miss her so terribly but are at peace with the fact that she is no longer in pain.

God summoned a beast from the field and he said, "Behold man, created in my own image. Therefore, adore him. You shall protect him in the wilderness, shepherd his flocks, watch over his children, accompany him wherever he may go...even into civilization. You shall be his companion, his ally, his slave.

To do these things, God said, I endow you with these instincts uncommon to other beasts. Faithfulness, Devotion and Understanding surpassing those of man himself. Lest it impair your courage, you shall never foresee your death. Lest it impair your loyalty, you shall be blind to the faults of man. Lest it impair your understanding, you are denied the power of words. Let no fault of language cleave an accord beyond that of man with any other beast or even man with man. Speak to your master only with your mind and through your honest eyes. Walk by his side, sleep in his doorway, forage for him, ward off his enemies, carry his burdens, share his afflictions, love him and comfort him.

And in return for this, man will fulfill your needs and wants, which shall only be food, shelter and affection. So be silent and be a friend to man. Guide him through the perils along the way to the land that I have promised him. This shall be your destiny and your immortality."

So sayeth the Lord, and the dog heard and was content.

Sadly, we also lost a family member this night as well. Ginger will be greeted with a batch of chocolate gravy prepared by my great-aunt Pearl who decided it was time to go "home" at the age of 98. She, too, will be greatly missed.

Kids First Cavity & Other Toothy Adventures

Recently took the kids to the dentist for checkups. Hadley got a perfect score on her teeth. Ryan almost got a perfect score but has to go back for a very small cavity fix. They each also have a few "issues" with new teeth coming in. One will likely have shark teeth as the adult teeth are pushing through faster than the babies will fall out. We'll keep watch on this to see if (1)it actually occurs and (2)we need to have baby teeth extracted. Other kiddo has extra teeth. What?? Again, we'll keep watch on the progression of these growing mouths.

Are Fairies Real?

Our 5yo daughter asked her daddy if fairies were real. He responded with, "What do YOU think?"

After pondering for a bit she replied, "Well, tooth fairies are real so that means that all fairies are real."

Can't argue with her logic on that one.

Summer's Almost Here

It's been mid-90's for severals days now and we're still in the beginning of May. PLEASE don't let this summer be a scorcher like last summer.

Pajama Sundays in May

You have gotta love it when it is Pajama Sunday for the kids at church. Talk about easy to get the family out the door...and we have a WHOLE month of them! Yippee. Kids love it too.

Still Here...Just Been Busy

Felt like forever since I last posted and when I saw the date of the last post on the blog, I realized it HAD been forever. I'm still here...just been super busy with this and that.

My Little Man is 6 Months Old!

How can one NOT love this face?

I can't believe my precious bitty baby is already six months old. Time is flying by and he's growing up far too quickly.... especially since he is my LAST.

I love you my sweet, funny, oh so precious, baby son.

Glimmer of Sunshine

First bloom of the year was from my yellow iris that Naomi and I dug up last year from a couple's yard (after Naomi went and knocked on their door and asked for permission, of course). It was a beautiful glimmer of sunshine in my day.

Soon to be crawlin

It won't be long now until my little guy is crawling...or at least we think he's gonna crawl. The way he's been warming up for things, he may crab walk instead.

From Drab to FAB!

Wild hair strikes again! Of course, it hit so fast that I didn't think to take good "before" pix but was able to drag together some to at least give you a glimpse of where I started.

Decided to refinish a plant stand and garden bench that both were beyond even what would be considered "shabby chic". After much sanding, painting, staining and sealing I'm SO thrilled with the end results!

Garden Bench BEFORE









AFTER












Wood on the plant stand & the color/condition of the metal on the plant stand BEFORE














AFTER











Both "renewed" items are now at home in their new place in front of our veggie garden.

Pretzels & Brownies...Yummy

Craving a vehicle by which to eat mustard, I decided to try and make some pretzels today. They aren't as good as the ones I like buy but they were pretty darn yummy. Yes, I wrote "were". They didn't last that long. YUM-MY! That was our something salty treat. For our something sweet, I whipped up a from scratch batch of the 5 Star Brownies that the family loves so much. The kitchen now looks like a bomb went off. I'll be cleaning forever, but what yummy treats for the family to enjoy!

Rest While YOU Work

What a beautiful day Saturday turned out to be. Just to think that three days ago the kids were building a snowman! Love that Texas weather.

Early morning, after getting the baby fed, I headed outside to clean the pond filter (ALMOST took a fall into the pond...THAT would have been COLD!!), finish sifting the dirt for the garden (just need to add the amendments now), and dig post holes for the wooden fence that we are going to put around the garden (the one we took down from around the pond garden area). Holy cow that digging post holes kills the hands and arms. ug. Anyway, I digress...

Ryan wanted to "help" me in prepping the garden and, turning down the hard labor part of the prep, he decided that he'd measure the holes I dug to make sure we got them as deep as they needed to be. Apparently, even THAT proved to be hard work.
Next thing I know, Ryan is telling me, "Mommy, I'm just gonna rest and watch you work." Gee, thanks for that.


Soon his sister joined him. It was such a warm and sunny day, had I been able to magically get those post holes to dig themselves, I'd had laid down and joined the kiddos for a rest in the sun...and to think that three days ago they were building snowmen!

Tramatic Day at the Doc's

Hadley: I don't ever want to go to that place AGAIN!
Ryan: Me too!

Today was Hadley and Ryan's "well kid" check-ups at the doctor. Both are doing great, I'm very happy to report. Hadley continues to be off the charts on her height. Ryan is right at about 50-75% percentile on his growth.

Despite not being able to hear me when they are told to clean their rooms, both their hearing checked out just fine. The only potential problem of the day was in respect to Ryan's eyes. We had some trouble checking his right eye. Left eye is great but doc wants to set up us with an eye doc to make sure his right eye is good as well. Probably nothing to worry about as doc said that, especially boys at his age, sometimes kids get tired/frustrated with the test and therefore don't test well. Hoping that was the case with Ryan.

Trauma came when it was time for shots. OMG... Ryan went first and although he cried terribly, he survived without too much incident. Of course, if I had to have six (6) shots, I'd probably have cried as well. Our precious princess, however, went ballistic and had a meltdown even before she got on the table, and she was only getting two (2) shots! You'd have thought we were trying to kill her. It was NOT pretty and although ridiculous, it did break my heart. Once both kids were jabbed and band-aided up I sat with them and consoled them for a bit.

As a "you survived shots" treat, we went to have lunch at Chick-Fil-A. That seemed to make everything better. The GOOD news is that they now have all their shots so Hadley will be ready to start Kindergarten in the fall (which she is SO looking forward to doing). Still though, it was a traumatic day for the older kids at the doc's. My poor babies.

Snow Day in Austin

Sunday was 76 degrees. Tuesday found the children having to bundle up cause we had SNOW ...LOTS of snow, for Austin! In fact, it was the first time we'd had any measurable amount of snow since before our first child was born.

Bundle up, go outside and play until frozen, come inside and warm up. Bundle up, go outside and play until frozen, come inside and warm up. (Keep repeating.) The kids had a BALL! After making snow angels and throwing snowballs the older kids started rolling snowballs to build a snowman. I had to bundle up and head out to help finish him as the body parts were too big and heavy for the kids to lift. "Frosty" was born!

We had to rebuild his head and middle body once as they toppled off when Ryan was helping me put in Frosty's nose the first time. Ooops.

What a FUN snow day!!!

Nasal Wash...Nasty

I finally caught the kids' cooties and, unfortunately, mine has progressed into a major sinus issue. My SIL and sort-of-SIL told me about the netti pot. With nothing to lose, I tried it out. That is just DISGUSTING! That said, it IS working well and I think I'll be back in good shape soon. Hoping so anyway. Being sick with two young children and a baby in the house is not fun. There is no "sick day" for mommy, no matter HOW you feel.

Fantastic at 4 Months

So we had to postpone Reese's 4 month well-baby check-up as he was in the ER the day before his originally scheduled appt and the docs said we had to wait until he was all better to get shots (which he'd be getting at 4 month appt). We just recently got in for that check-up and he's doing FABULOUS at 4 MONTHS!

He was sitting up for the doc and was all smiles for her....well, until shot time of course. We discussed his still not sleeping through the night (instead he's up several times throughout the night...sometimes every 1.5 hours which makes for LONG nights for Mommy) and doc noted that typically the magic number for sleeping through the night is 13 lbs. Well, we obviously don't give a rat's behind about magic numbers as Reese is 15 lbs 1 oz and is no where close to sleeping through the night. She recommended that we introduce solid food to him on a regular basis adding veggies and fruits to the mix. Fill that belly good and hopefully he'll start sleeping more at night. Here's crossing our fingers.....

I Don't Wanna Grow Up

Mom & Dad used to tell me, as a child, that one day my birthday, which I thought took FOREVER to arrive each year, would someday come quicker than I wanted. I thought they were crazy. Never could that happen, right?

Recently I celebrated my 38th birthday. Ug. The day began with a call from mom wishing a happy bday from her and Dad. When Ray heard me on the phone with her he cried out, "Crap! It that today???" HA HA... Despite having forgotten my bday, Ray and the kiddos took me out to lunch and got me a yummy little bday cake. I'd already gotten my bday presents for myself a couple weeks earlier...a huge garden urn for the front porch and a gardening hat to provide me a little sun relief this spring/summer!

Reese gave me a wonderful bday present in that he slept through the night for the first time (and only time, apparently as it's not happened since)!

I love my wonderful family!

Lace Bookmark

Needing a break from my bigger knitting projects, and not having been able to find my bookmark lately, I decided to knit one. I had some white cotton-type thread in my stash so I pulled out the size 0 needles and a simple lace pattern and cast on. While it was a simple knit, knitting with thread and needles that small was tedious. It is a bit more delicate than I'd use for my every day reading but I'm pleased with the end result.

While I was search through things for the small cross I attached to the bookmark, I stumbled across some fun buttons. I decided to make a second little bookmark using one of those fun buttons.

It was a nice break, but now I need to get back to knitting on my shawl and my tote...

Been Awhile... Still kickin

Been awhile since I've blogged much. I'm still kickin'. Life has just been getting in the way. Well, life and a 5 yr old, 4 yr old, and a 4.5 month old....

Rather than write an epic story of what all has been going on with us, I'll just try to do better going forward of posting this and that. Baby starting fuss...gotta run!

Texarkana???

Got a note from my gardening friend, "Garden Hoe" Naomi, that she has accepted a job that, while excellent for her, is going to require that she relocate to Texarkana!! WHAT??? Because it's all about ME, I just want to voice that I'm NOT happy about her moving away. I'm going to miss playing in the dirt with her.

Naomi and me at her and John's recent Bon Voyage party.

Leaves, Leaves and MORE Leaves

21 lawn and leaf bags filled and gone thus far and about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way done. I've not, in the whole time we've been here, ever raked up ALL the leaves after the fall/winter drop and they have drifted around the fence horribly, not to mention covering the yard. Anyway, this year, I want to get them all raked up. Just makes the yard look so much cleaner. Well, as clean as our yard can. Still much to do and I'm already sick of and bored with it. Ug.

My "Little" Projects...BIG Work

So with all the nice weather we've been having, I've been getting the gardening itch. And, since the dogs had pretty much destroyed my whole gated pond garden area, I am starting from scratch on everything! I got the wild hair to take down the fence around the pond and put that fencing around my garden which I've also decided to extend a bit. Fix up the front flower beds and the back bed are also on the list. And I need to clean out the pond.

Oh, and then one day, after growing tired of sifting dirt in the garden extension one day I looked over and caught a glimpse of our sad, sad looking garden bench and decided that it needed a makeover. Hey, while I'm at it I'll also refinish the old plant stand I'd gotten for free a few years ago.

Needless to say, there is a LOT going on...or will be going on... in our yard this spring. Let's see how much I actually accomplish and how long it takes me. Even my littlest projects on my gardening to-do list are resulting in MUCH prep work. I just keep telling myself that the end result is going to make all this work worth it.... at least I HOPE so.

What a Long Day

After being up a good part of the night sounding like a wounded seal, we took little Reese in to see the doc. Turns out he had the croup. The doc checked his oxygen level and he was just good enough that, if I promised to drive directly to the Children's Hospital with him, not passing Go or collecting $200, that she'd allow me to take him rather than send him via the ambulance. Praise the Lord for that cause I had the other kids with me and I would have not done well with sending my baby off alone.

Off we went to the ER. Called Ray at work and he met us there. The docs got us in immediately and after a breathing treatment, some tests, shots, and x-rays, we finally got to go home that evening. It was so pitiful seeing Reese get his chest x-rays. They set him in a little plastic tube with his arms up over his head and clamped him in to keep him still for the pix. He didn't like it one bit. He also looked so helpless in his tiny hospital gown.

Thankfully, he got better fairly quickly and we didn't have to end up being the 1 in 4 that have to go back.

I guess Reese just didn't want to be the odd kid out. Hadley went to ER her 2nd day home from the hospital cause she was hungry (nursing wasn't working well enough for her unfortunately), Ryan went in with a febrile seizure when he was just a few months old...Reese just wanted his turn at the ER experience, I suppose. There... All 3 kids have had their ER trip. Let's hope we don't have any more for a very long time.

Happy Bday..He's FOUR!

I can't believe it has already been four years since my, now oldest, little guy came into our lives. He's very much into bugs and destruction these days...typical boy. The other day, he stomped on a pill bug after tormenting it for some time (I mean "playing" with it) and said, "Mommy, I just sent that bug to see Jesus!" LOL... I was ROLLING with laughter.

We had a wonderful birthday celebration. Mom & Dad (aka Granddad and Nanny) made the trek to join us as did my brother and his family. We were SO thrilled that they all came down and we had a WONDERFUL visit. Also attending were B-Ma and B-Pa as well as other family and friends. Ryan got TONS of goodies for his birthday and everyone enjoyed eating ice cream and his "crayon" cake.