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.