tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20986239429206319632024-03-12T22:37:35.684-05:00KBAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-87365759330532148912013-03-28T12:30:00.002-05:002013-03-28T12:30:25.150-05:00What I love right now... 2 things I love right now are: The Office on Netflix and GIFs. <br />
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Michael's reaction to Toby coming back</div>
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I recently signed up for Netflix and so far, I love it. I love it because I can watch at home, at work, on my phone. I can now be a couch potato anywhere I go!! Its awesome. My kids love it too because all their favorite shows and movies are accessible whenever and wherever and I love it because .... NO COMMERCIALS. I don't have to hear "Mommy, I want THAT toy" about every single kid commercial. </div>
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When I signed up, I found The Office. I have only seen a few minutes worth of it over the years that its been on, but never really got into it. I have heard people talking about how funny it is. So I thought I'd give it a try from Season 1, Episode 1 and now... I'm hooked. Its really very funny if you like sarcastic humor. The boss, Michael Scott is over the top. He is equally hilarious and frustrating. I'm on Season 4 now and I am routing for Jim and Pam so much. I just can't get enough of this show. Also, there are parts of Michael Scott that remind me an awful lot of my own boss. So I can relate with the frustrations. </div>
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What shows are you hooked on? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-13567445975526110242013-03-12T13:34:00.000-05:002013-03-12T13:34:27.927-05:00Broken7 weeks ago, tomorrow, I underwent complete radial head replacement surgery (elbow). Two days prior, I was with my best friend and her son and my two kiddos at the roller skating rink. It was MLK day and the kiddos were out of school so we decided to take them to do something fun. You know what they say, "Its all fun and games until somebody gets hurt". Ya... that somebody was me.<br />
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I was skating along. Left my kids in the dust. (they were perfectly fine, skating along with friends and their Nina -godmother and my BFF). I can skate pretty well, but I have never really mastered the stopping thing. Yes, I know there's a stopper on the front of the skates. Yes, you just point your toe down and wha-la you stop. But... I was skating along, pretty fast when I was coming up to two girls at an alarming pace. I thought quickly and decided that my best bet was to just squeeze in between the two girls. There was plenty of room, or so I thought. Next thing I know, our skates had locked and while the girls kept going on, I flew face forward into the concrete floor, bracing myself with... my elbow. Slammed it down and was in immediate pain. I was scared, the music was all of the sudden blarring and no one was coming to my aide. Probably because people fall ALL the time so I'm sure whomever saw thought I'd get up in a second. Finally two teenage girls that work at the rink came to help me. It hurt and I could not move and one look at my elbow told me something was broken. Little did I know it'd be much worse.<br />
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A trip to the ER (thank goodness the ER was less than 5 minutes away) with scared children in the backseat. I'm crying, in major, major, MAJOR pain. The ER doctor told me it was a clean break in the radius bone and I had to follow up the next day with an orthopedic doctor.<br />
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At the orthopedic's office they said my elbow was out of place and it needed to be minimize (put back in place) and that I had shattered the radial head pretty badly. They sent me to the ER again to have the elbow minimized. I was given some really great drugs that made me feel super happy and then I fell asleep so they could do the procedure. I remember saying "oh that hurts" but didn't feel anything. I woke up and the doctor tricked me saying "are you ready" I said "sure" and he said "just kidding, its already done". It was very weird as I was highly drugged. However, my elbow did not stay in place because the radial head was just too shattered. I needed surgery right away.<br />
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The surgeon said he would try to repair was was there before he opted to replace anything. Unfortunately it was "shattered beyond repair". So now I have this in my elbow:<br />
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Up until last week really, I was unable to do so much. Its crazy how much we use both arms! Opening a bottle of soda... nope (priorities people!). Folding laundry... nope. Hooking a bra.... nope. Putting my hair in a ponytail.... nope. Fixing my daughter's hair... nope. Cutting my food... nope. So much more that I just could not do. It was miserable really. However, I did manage to do a lot on my own as well. I mastered how to blow dry and flat iron my hair with one hand. I can still vacuum (thank goodness). I could still text - WHEW! Mostly I was just in pain a lot and at about the 2 week mark I was slowly knocking on the door of depression. I have some other family issues going on too (that I'd rather not discuss here, but nothing I can't handle just something I'm not looking forward to) so that didn't help either. My husband was really my rock. He is a rock star and took care of the dishes, the cooking, the laundry,the grocery shopping, the cleaning, and even attempted a time or two to put our daughter's hair in a ponytail. And of course everyone of use got sick at some point during the first two weeks after my surgery. </div>
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Now that I'm almost 7 weeks out, I am feeling SO much better. Doing almost everything I used to all on my own, just without the use of my left arm for the most part. I can now type with both hands and hold light things with my left. I still need help opening some jars or bottles ("hey, kids... come help mommy" is heard far too often in our house), or folding the laundry. (I can do towels on my own and sometimes socks, but it takes me forever!) Last night we made spaghetti for dinner and I realized that I could not pour the pan of browned meat into the strainer in the sink. Hubby saved the day. </div>
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Being stuck on the couch, healing, and letting other people do the things I normally do without a second thought has really chilled me out on a lot of things. I am typically the kind of person that doesn't let others help because "I can just do it better". I learned that everyone has their own way of doing things and so what if my husband can't fold a fitted sheet to save his life, its clean, "folded" and put away and I didn't have to lift a finger or strain myself in anyway to do it. </div>
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This whole thing has also shown me what awesome character my children have. I don't mean to be <i>that</i> parent who thinks their kids can do no wrong (trust me, they can, they have and they will...) but it makes my heart melt that in a time like this they are so selfless. Never once did they complain about helping out. Never once did my sweet daughter complain about having to come to my aide to help me get dressed in the early days, or help me wrap my arm in a trash bag so I could shower. She was always willing to help. One evening I asked her to take some laundry out of the dryer. I left the room to come back to find her sitting in front of the TV folding the laundry that she just took out of the dryer. The child is 6. She amazes me. My son, 8, who normally has a hard time showing compassion has been SO thoughtful with me. Asking daddy to do things for him instead of me, knowing that I can't. (they both normally come to me for every.thing.) Being extra gentle when near me. Giving my arm gentle kisses. Helping me wrap my arm with the ace bandage. And best off all, applauding me when I could finally move my arm on my own. These kids. Amaze me. </div>
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So while I am not 100% better, hardly... I still do not have full range of motion back, in fact I'm behind the curve a little... I know that I am not broken and I know that I am loved and I have seen the people I love in a new and different light and I respect them and cherish them so very much. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-46739316983895314142012-12-13T11:56:00.000-06:002012-12-13T11:56:07.492-06:00Down yanderMy grandmother was born and raised in Mississippi. And it showed. The way she spoke and the funny words and sayings she had. I used to wonder what language she was speaking when I was a child. She called a toilet a commode, she called margarine Oleo, and she'd ask me to go "fetch my glasses from down yander". "Down yander" always meant down the super long (at least it felt that way as a kid) hallway lined with family photos, to either her bedroom or the sewing room. <br />
That sewing room was one of my favorite places as a kid. It smelled like her perfume, fresh fabric from Hancocks, and the faint smell of my grandfather's cigarette smoke. Even after he died and the house had been painted, you could still smell it on a damp day. Its the only time I've ever enjoyed the smell of cigarette smoke. <br />
The sewing room was where my grandmother taught me to sew. Its the reason that I aced Home Economics in 9th grade. I sewed many things in that room. And I wore even more things that were sewn in there. I learned about ric rac and corduroy and lace collars. (It was the 80s!!) We made hideous sequin sweatshirts and shirts with buttons glued all over them (that was the 90s!). We read, quietly together. She would have her stack of Harlequin romance novels, and I had my pile of Babysitters Club books. Her Diet Coke would sit in a can cozy on the bookshelf next to the orange velour chair. Sometimes she would have curlers in her hair while we read in the morning, before we headed out for a day of shopping. <br />
The back wall of the sewing room was covered in family photos. They hung over the couch that pulled out into a bed. They were pictures of me and my two cousins and my uncle and his wife and my parents. Some were new, some were old. And I loved ever single one of them. Over the sewing machine was a large picture of my grandmother's mother as a little girl and a picture of her parents. They were old. And they were a little creepy. <br />
If it was quiet - which it usually was if the hum of the sewing machine wasn't going - you could hear the traffic on Loop 820. I loved that sound, especially at night. <br />
There were two windows, one faced the front of the house, the other faced the neighbor's chain link fence. When the mailman came around in the afternoon, the dog next door would bark and my grandmother would say "old Beauregard's barking, time for the mail". <br />
She sold that house in Fort Worth in 2003 or 2004. I remember walking thru it trying to soak in everything about it. The wood paneling, the faint smell of smoke, the huge pine trees that made creepy shadows thru the windows at night. But it wasn't those things that made that house so special to me. It was her. Her southern accent, her smell, her sternness, her inability to meet a stranger, her cooking, the fact that there was always, always, always a supply Blue Bell ice cream and Diet Coke in the refrigerator in the garage. <br />
Last Christmas she passed away. And I miss her so very very much. I miss that when it was time to go, I'd give her a hug, her voice would waver as she said "love you babe" and she would fight back the tears. She was much to strong to cry and she thought she hid her emotions, but I could feel them. <br />
I love you too Grandmother Bug. I miss you. <br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-7171526764197718602012-12-06T13:40:00.001-06:002012-12-06T13:40:01.999-06:00How I Feel<div align="center">
A few GIFs to show you how I feel about certain things in life... enjoy!</div>
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When my boss starts talking about baseball, or football,</div>
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or his son, or his vacation plans</div>
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When I don't have a good comeback</div>
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How I must exercise after eating Thanksgiving dinner...</div>
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When my kids ask to play at the BK play area...</div>
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Trying to explain something complicated to my kids... </div>
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Trying on clothes that actually fit...</div>
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Ahh... I love gifs. </div>
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And I love <a href="http://www.nicegirlnotes.com/" target="_blank">Nice Girl Notes</a>, to which I credit this post to. (that means I stole the idea!)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-73631822166979558642012-09-18T08:00:00.000-05:002012-09-18T10:30:06.660-05:00Red River 44Thursday Morning, September 18th, 2012.... I dropped my kids off at a friends house. She watched them on Thursdays while I went to work. She told me about a helicopter crash in Iraq and my heart sank. My husband had been in Kuwait for a month. The night before I received an email that he would be on a flight that night to Iraq.<br />
I drove to church and prayed. Prayed like I've never prayed in my entire life. And quite honestly it was a selfish prayer. Please. Don't let it be him. Please. Over and over and over. <br />
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Early afternoon came and my kids were home and down for their naps. The phone rang and it was a fellow Army wife. No names had been released yet. But she had found out the name of one of the guys who lost his life the night before. Sgt. Daniel Eshbaugh. My husband's best friend and the guy that my husband almost always, <u><em>almost always</em></u>, flew with. I screamed out like I had never done in my life and slammed the phone down. A life of grief and missery flashed before my eyes. A knock on my door was my next fear. And how would I tell my innocent little babies that daddy was not coming home.<br />
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My friends gathered around me. To hold my hand. To wait with me. I was waiting for the worst. I was hoping for a miracle. <br />
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"No news is good news." ... Its a phrase military wives know all too well. I'd like to take that phrase and kick it where the sun doesn't shine. But they are words we live by, words we hang on to. And they are words that I seem to have forgetten on September 18th, 2012. No news is good news. <br />
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The phone rang and I didn't want to answer. Something else I had forgotten in that moment. Bad news doesn't come through the phone lines, it comes up to your front door and into your house and slaps you across the face. But that day... that day I didn't have to face the bad news. My miracle happened. My prayers were answered. It wasn't him. The voice on the other end was an Army official who told me sternly but with some major compassion and a hint of assurance "No news is good news". <br />
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A few hours later, the phone rang and at the other end was my husbands voice. Alive. Alive and shattered after having just seen his best friend and 6 of other co-workers and brothers in arms go down in flames. <br />
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Each year when September comes (and other times through the year) I am reminded of how that day went. Of how that day DIDN'T go. Of how I got my happy ending and 7 families did not. I think of those long afternoon hours of dispair. I think of how that woman called me to tell me what she knew. Since then I have hated her. Hated her for what she did to me. She broke all the rules and I'll never know why. But its time to stop blaming her. I doubt she made the phone call knowing how I would react. I honestly just believe she didn't think at all. So its time to forgive her. And let it go. And honestly... had I not had those hours... maybe I wouldn't treasure what I have so much now. Maybe when times are bad, or boring, or normal, I wouldn't stop to think that my life couldn't have gone a different direction that afternoon. I am so grateful. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8706811@N08/5772944559/" target="_blank">Red River 44, You are never forgotten.</a> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-58914451429848813012012-09-17T13:19:00.002-05:002012-09-17T13:19:58.697-05:00Tball girlWe spent a majority of our weekend at the ballpark. Saturday from 10:30 to 3 and Sunday from 12:30 until 5:45. I have no clue how, as a parent and just sitting watching tball can tire you out SOOO much!! But it does! <br />
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Abby played 4 games and did really well. She is catching and throwing so much better! I absolutely LOVE the fact that when she goes up to bat, the other team is shocked that she can play just as well as the boys! Love it. She played catcher and centerfield mostly. She assisted in getting a few outs in centerfield. Her team won 1st place in the tournament. So fun. <br />
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I will tell you what is <em>not </em>so fun about tball though.... The competitiveness! It can get pretty hostile in the stands, letmetellyou. The kids play because its fun. The parents, well.. some of them take it WAY too dern seriously. Really.. <br />
Yesterday I had the pleasure of listening to a mom from the other team scream at the top of her lungs in a very Okie accent "GO PEANUT!!!" Apparently his nickname was Peanut, at least that's what I'm hoping. Well, when Peanut tagged my daughter out coming into home plate and then proceeded to push her to the ground to tag her out AGAIN (um.. once will do it kid) I had to walk away when the mom was telling her kid "That's okay, you didn't do anything wrong". Hmm.... Now I'm sure the kid didn't really have any malicious intent but the fact of the matter is, he did do something wrong. The coach should have been the one to quietly correct him, and nothing really needed to be said from the stands. <br />
While checking to make sure she was okay in the dugout, a teammate came up to Abby and as sweet as he could possibly be said "I'm so sorry Abby, that was all my fault!! I got confused and didn't know when to run". Seriously, that kid has the kindest heart I've ever seen in a 6 yr old!<br />
All-in-all another great weekend in the books. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-70355568049487420202012-09-11T10:20:00.001-05:002012-09-12T16:09:06.349-05:009-11The University of Oklahoma campus. Waiting in my car, listening to the radio. Confused about what they were talking about. Walked into the Michael F. Price college of business for my first class of the day. I had to walk passed the graduates lounge. A crowd was starting to form in the doorway. I hadn't planned on stopping, but the TV inside the lounge caught my eye. I heard a news anchor repeat "The World Trade Center in New York City has just been struck by an airplane". It was oddly quiet in the hall as more students gathered. The second plane struck. My stomach sank. We all knew this was no accident now. People began to murmur that we were surely going to war. <br />
I walked to my class as it was about to start. The professor walked in and told us all to go home and stay there. I went home to my tiny apartment near campus. My eyes were glued to the TV. I cried. And cried. And cried. <br />
I'm sure when I am old and gray (God willing) that this day will still be fresh in my mind and I will still shed tears. Tears of sorrow for the loss of so many innocent people. Tears of fear that there are people in this world capable of such madness. And tears of hope that one day we'll all be in the kingdom of heaven and we will sufer no more. <br />
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Where were you??? <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-11102704403850388722012-09-08T12:26:00.000-05:002012-09-08T12:26:00.530-05:00<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #7030a0; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 13px/19px "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-line; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">Psalm 30:5</span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #7030a0; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 13px/19px "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-line; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">"Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" </span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-line; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #08387a;"><span style="background-color: #e8ffff;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #e8ffff; color: #08387a; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-21450466479487680452012-08-24T08:30:00.000-05:002012-08-24T08:30:01.374-05:00Radom Fact FridayI can be very random at times. Sometimes I have a lot to say but really no context to say them in. So here we are, a bunch of random things that are going through my head today. <br />
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-I have a secret that I am dying to tell. Especially to my kids because I know they will be so happy and excited about my secret. <br />
-No... I'm not pregnant!!<br />
- I really think iPhones should have a lot more notification sound options. How many more times must we be in a room with other people when we hear an iPhone and everyone says "was that your phone or mine?" <br />
-I still love the Dixie Chicks. <br />
- I'm a Pinterest Flunky. I pin and pin and pin but that's really as far as it goes. <br />
- I'm so ready for winter. Like a serious winter. I'm not messing around with mild temperatures and no precipitation. I want it cold and I want snow. <br />
- Maybe I need to just move?? <br />
- When I was younger I was just sure that when I was a grown up I would move far away from home. I live 4 1/2 miles from where I grew up. <br />
- My husband lives 0.7 miles from his childhood home. Wow, we've really gone far! <br />
- I'm ready to have lasik done on my eyes. I'm over being freaked out by it and ready to just do it already. <br />
- My bank account isn't quite as ready for it. <br />
- My bank account also is not ready for new furniture, a new car for the hubby, or a swimming pool. <br />
- Stupid bank account. <br />
- It can however afford a small monthly fee for Abby to start gymnastics class. yay! <br />
- I always say I'm going to write down all the funny things my kids say but then I forget and I don't and then I forget what they say that is so funny. <br />
- But they are funny. <br />
- oh.... here's one... The other night my husband was saying goodnight to Alex. They like to roughhouse before bed. I'm not a big fan of disrupting the quiet.. sleepy mood in the house (although I secretly love hearing the giggles and cries of out right laughter coming from his room). Well, once again, they were at it. Alex stops mid-laugh to tell his Daddy (in a super serious voice) "you know mommy can hear us, right? We are both going to get in trouble." My son. He knows me so well. ;) <br />
- I woke up this morning to a little girl in the middle of the bed using my arm as a huggy pillow and I pretty much melted. <br />
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What kinds of random things are on your mind today? Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-74479516037712649892012-08-23T11:22:00.002-05:002012-08-23T11:23:22.183-05:00A new school year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My kids started school last week. They are at the same school this year. And they are both so happy about this! (So am I!!!) We were *lucky* enough to win a spot in the one and only all day kindergarten class at our school. Yes... we won a spot. Its craziness really. Our school system is required to "offer" all day kindergarten, but due to space and budget and politics... not all of the kindergarten classes are all day. For this year they did a lottery and drew names for the 20 spots. Our school has 4 half day classes and one all day. We we SO happy to get one of the all day spots because that meant we didn't have to pay to send Abby to a private school that offers all day and she would get the most awesome teacher ever! Seriously, her kindergarten teacher is so cool. I love her already. <br />
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Since Alex is the big kid who has had years and years of experience at this school thing, he happily explained to Abby all the details about school. He told her what is good in the cafeteria and what isn't, what the cool toys are on the playground, who the nice teachers are.... you know...all the important stuff. He really has been great with her. After two days she was a pro and happily talking about <strong>her </strong>school as if she'd been there a year already. </div>
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Alex is in 3rd grade this year. Apparently 3rd grade is the year they stop being babies. Its the big kid year. Funny... I thought that wasn't supposed to happen until Freshman year of college. Hmmm... I'm really not ready for this. Lets rewind time and we'll curl up on the couch while I feed you a bottle and play with your toes to make you laugh? No? Whatever.. Go to class and learn your multiplication tables and cursive and nevermind your dear ole mom. I'll be over here in the corner looking at your baby book and wondering how in the world 8 years has gone by so quickly. </div>
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And while I am sad that they are growing up a little too fast for my taste, I am also very excited for what this school year has to offer. This year I am serving on the PTA Executive Board. I absolutely love being so involved and I know they love it too. I look forward to all the school activites and even the homework (ask me about that again in a month or so!) and I look forward to seeing how they grow as they learn. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-48548331013178073142012-07-03T14:30:00.000-05:002012-07-03T14:30:00.087-05:00CollegeI honestly don't remember a lot from college. And no, it wasn't because I partied the memories away. I was a good girl in college. I was a married woman for most of it. Living off campus, in a house that my husband and I paid for and working my way thru it. But for some reason, I just don't remember a whole lot of what I learned in college. Probably because I didn't give it the attention it deserved. It was not a priority. I wish I had made it a prority. I got by. I graduated and my degree is hanging on my wall in my office, but to me its just a piece of paper. <br />
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I found this picture while cleaning out a closet a few weeks ago: <br />
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Ah... the Conquest of New Spain. Good ole Bernal Diaz. This book brought back a lot of memories of a class that my best friend and I took one semester. I think that's the class I did the best in because she was the one who really made college a priority so she kind of forced me to make it a priority too. At least that class. I can't remember what it was called, History of the Aztecs or something similar. Why oh why did we chose that class?? It was a challenging class, but it was fun too. The professor lived and breathed Aztec History. He spoke about it with such passion that you would have thought he actually lived it. The whole class time was lecture. There was no textbook (that I recall) but rather it was just him telling us stories every class period. I rushed to write down every single thing he said when all I wanted to do was just sit back and listen. He taught us about the Mayan calander and the Aztec calendar. What a mess! We had to remember all the emporers. My friend and I made up a song using the first letter of each emporer. <br />
Even though I don't remember all the details of the class and all the facts we had to learn I'm still glad I took that class. <br />
What was your favorite college class and do you remember everything you learned??Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-68938216129048090612012-06-28T08:00:00.000-05:002012-06-28T08:00:14.768-05:00Thankful ThursdayToday I am thankful for: <br />
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- VBS and all that my kids are doing and learning <br />
- All the amazing people that volunteer for VBS<br />
- Losing weight when I'm not really doing anything to help the cause <br />
- Tylenol Sever Sinus<br />
- My boy that LOVES his new glasses<br />
- he looks SO cute in them<br />
- a newly re-arranged and re-organized home<br />
- my kitty<br />
- because he purrs<br />
- and he's sweet<br />
- my dog<br />
- because she knows that she is mine <br />
- its a weird unspoken (obviously) bond<br />
- texting<br />
- texting my boyfriend ;) <br />
- sending silly pictures to each other<br />
- it really does make me feel like boyfriend/girlfriend instead of husband/wife<br />
- swimming<br />
- swimming pools<br />
- a great babysitter<br />
- snow cones<br />
- friendsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-60902218356128977072012-06-25T11:00:00.001-05:002012-06-25T11:00:08.115-05:00Life in iPhone pics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What's been happening... according to my iPhone camera...</div>
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This kid turned 8. Ouch. </div>
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We swam in freezing cold water</div>
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The kids went fishing at the neighborhood pond </div>
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We went to ball games </div>
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And played with baby dolls </div>
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And went to more ball games </div>
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And won 1st place at a tournament! </div>
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Had team pictures taken </div>
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Worked on our cannonballs </div>
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Found a book from college that brought back lots of memories </div>
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Cleaned out the craft room (kitty supervised) </div>
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Got glasses </div>
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Suffered a nasty throat infection. The cure is a Braum's milkshake. </div>
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What have YOU been up to?? </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-88345704107863076032012-05-17T10:26:00.001-05:002012-05-17T10:26:37.228-05:00Thankful ThursdayCopying from a friend this morning and hopping on the Thankful Thursday bandwagon. <br />
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- spellcheck <br />
- pigtails<br />
- muffins with moms<br />
- especially since they were serving donuts too! <br />
- the ability to attend functions at my kids' schools<br />
- a spot for Abby in ALL-DAY kindergarten for the next school year!!!!!!! <br />
- no more paying a monthly tuition for school<br />
- my job, even though I have been known to complain about it... but seriously its the best job ever in the sense that I get paid way too much to do way too little! ;) <br />
- flip flops. all.summer.long.<br />
- Summer Break!!!!! <br />
- Being able to be home more this summer<br />
- My parents<br />
- (they have a pool!!)<br />
- (and they're cool)<br />
- My in-laws <br />
- a cell phone with a built-in camera - where was this in the 90's?!<br />
- a beautiful pond in my neighborhood<br />
- where 2 laps equals one mile<br />
- and walking it with my kiddos<br />
- and getting to enjoy their company free of all other distractions<br />
- seeing Alex run almost a half mile straight<br />
- kid's a natural <br />
- an upcoming visit with a friend... and her new BABY<br />
- patio night<br />
- visiting old friends in Tulsa who also have a new BABY<br />
- watching a friend run her first 5K on Saturday!<br />
- and seeing her beautiful family! <br />
- forgiveness and grace<br />
- oh and SUMMER BREAK!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-35235833477402425772012-05-16T14:05:00.001-05:002012-05-16T14:05:07.303-05:00HomeI live in the same town that I grew up in. <br />
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When I was still in high school, my boyfriend (now husband) had just joined the army. We used to talk about what his plans were after basic training. Would he enlist in the active duty army or the National Guard? We talked about the fact that if he enlisted in the active duty army, he would be stationed at an army base in another state. Our plan was to get married and move away. This excited me to no end! There was a college nearby the army base that he would most likely be stationed at. I would go to school in our new city and we would have all sorts of fun new adventures in our new place. A few years later we would probably move again and start our fun adventure somewhere else. We would even probably go overseas. It was so exciting. <br />
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I remember when I was about 12 or 13 I was in the car with my parents traveling down the nearest highway. Probably heading the the mall in the next city. There was construction on the highway and it had been going on for months. I asked my dad when all this construction would be done. His reply was "Probably by the year 2000!" ... I quickly did the math in my head and very firmly and very assure of myself said "Well... I won't be living here by then anyway" <br />
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Well, my then boyfriend chose the National Guard and stayed here. And I never did move away. For a few months between my junior and senior year I contemplated attending college in another state. My boyfriend (now husband) and I had broken up that summer and I wanted to be far away from this state, this town, and him. Then we got back together and attending college 30 minutes away while still living at home seemed like a better idea. <br />
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Four years after high school we got married and moved .... one town away. We lived there for 6 years and it was so nice. Even though we were just in the next town over it felt like we were far away. We didn't run into old high school buddies (or not-so buddies) at the local Wal-Mart. We didn't have the awkward moment when the pizza delivery guy turned out to be someone we graduated with (its happened, just not to us!). Then we moved back to the town we both grew up in. To be closer to our parents and to raise our kids in a nice quiet city with good schools. And now I can't go one mile without seeing someone I went to school with. <br />
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And I thought I would hate it. And on some days I do. Like the day I go to Target, un-showered, hair a mess just to run in to get something real quick and spot the head cheerleader or the football star walking my way. Even though I'm a grown up, and a much different person than I was in high school.. living in the same town that you grew up in kind of forces you to feel the same as you did in high school about certain things, certain people. <br />
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But there are the good things. The random memories that I may have otherwise lost that seem to pop up when I'm driving my daughter to school, or passing by the high school as I do at least twice a week; the ability to tell my children how much the town has grown "that used to be a field when I was a kid"; the ease of being able to drive by my childhood home at will to show my kids where mommy used to live; the closeness of our parents, who without their help I'm sure I wouldn't have come out of the other end of my children's toddler days alive; and there's also the rekindled friendships of long-lost school friends or the new friendships with the people that we dared not associate with during jr. high or high school because our cliques were not one in the same. <br />
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There is still a little voice in me that finds it exciting to pick up and move somewhere far away, somewhere new and different. And maybe that can still happen. One day maybe my children will move away and I'll move to be closer to them. But for now, I really can't image a better place to be. After all, its home.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-53406420435452355652012-05-03T13:31:00.002-05:002012-05-03T13:31:45.374-05:00Running like a chicken with its head cut off...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-95yta2Xe9YY/T6LKBuXuSKI/AAAAAAAABMI/ARaYmMystCg/s1600/IMG_3157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-95yta2Xe9YY/T6LKBuXuSKI/AAAAAAAABMI/ARaYmMystCg/s320/IMG_3157.JPG" width="319" /></a></div>
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26.2 </h4>
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26 point 2</h4>
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26 point FREAKING 2 </h4>
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That's how many miles my husband ran on Sunday. <br />
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I can run the point 2, no biggie... the 26.. not so much. <br />
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To say that I'm proud is an understatement. He's pretty much a rock star in my eyes. <br />
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Alex squeezed through the gate separating the runners from the <strike>lazy people</strike> crowd to finish off the race with his daddy. I have a feeling this kid will be running his first marathon before he's 20. We've already registered for our first fun run as a family. Our first paid mile. I'm super excited since it is for a wonderful <a href="http://www.autismtulsa.org/" target="_blank">cause</a>! <br />
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In other news... its May 3rd. I can't believe its been 13 years since that terrible tornado that we lived through. Luckily it passed about a mile north of where I was at the time and about 1/2 mile north of my house. We don't take tornados lightly anymore in this state! <br />
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Also... for pretty much this whole school year I have been trying and trying to figure out how to be active in the PTA. I never knew who the key players where, when the meetings where, who to talk to... well.... I found out. And now I feel like I'm gasping for breath with how busy my schedule has become. Its not all brought on by activities for the PTA, but it just seemed that I added just that one extra thing and now I can't carry the load. Its left me realizing that I can't do everything, yet I can still do more. If that makes sense at all. I am at a place where I am re-examining my commitments and finding out where I'm most valuable. So this summer that's what I'll be thinking about and praying about. Hopefully most of that thinking will be done poolside. <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-2895461442237308422012-04-03T11:31:00.000-05:002012-04-03T11:31:09.956-05:00Our life in iPhone pics...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had spring break two weeks ago. The kids were out for 10 days. They loved it. I was off work for 8 of those days. It was wonderful!! I'm a big fan of spring break. Especially when you have really no place to be, no travel plans, no riding in the car for hours, no real plans. It was very relaxing. We did a lot of things, but we also took it easy. First though... we went to the zoo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's the "baby" tiger. He's about 9 months old. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMYrKBvn57U/T3scR1o-lQI/AAAAAAAABJw/8SzRReRMqls/s1600/IMG_2761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMYrKBvn57U/T3scR1o-lQI/AAAAAAAABJw/8SzRReRMqls/s320/IMG_2761.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's my hubby and the kids .Hubby just finished his second half marathon. Only 3 1/2 more weeks until he runs a FULL MARATHON. That's 26.2 miles people. 26 POINT 2. Yikes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1hja9y_m6RM/T3scVK_bU7I/AAAAAAAABJ4/HCgm7v4K5T0/s1600/IMG_2767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1hja9y_m6RM/T3scVK_bU7I/AAAAAAAABJ4/HCgm7v4K5T0/s320/IMG_2767.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">We went roller skating. I promise she didn't hang onto the wall the entire time. ... She sat out some. Poor girl. Maybe next time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nJ0D-SdMSt4/T3scXAM2X1I/AAAAAAAABKA/lHR4G4cWNWQ/s1600/IMG_2774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nJ0D-SdMSt4/T3scXAM2X1I/AAAAAAAABKA/lHR4G4cWNWQ/s320/IMG_2774.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">It's all about balance. ... And mood lighting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--NQGRaP8zmQ/T3scYkOwAFI/AAAAAAAABKI/KhZVpv6whs0/s1600/IMG_2775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--NQGRaP8zmQ/T3scYkOwAFI/AAAAAAAABKI/KhZVpv6whs0/s320/IMG_2775.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">This is our new favorite fro-yo place. Any guesses? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nd6d3QY2gx8/T3scZyeNErI/AAAAAAAABKQ/WTwVZggpWzc/s1600/IMG_2798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nd6d3QY2gx8/T3scZyeNErI/AAAAAAAABKQ/WTwVZggpWzc/s320/IMG_2798.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Barbies!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4gMRxU9HsSU/T3sccEMStkI/AAAAAAAABKY/0vDrR1USuTU/s1600/IMG_2803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4gMRxU9HsSU/T3sccEMStkI/AAAAAAAABKY/0vDrR1USuTU/s320/IMG_2803.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">The kids and I made cupcakes. Multi-colored cupcakes. For my birthday. Yes, I made my own birthday cupcakes. And they were delicious. I wish I took after pics, but they didn't last long enough! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tIQvqZ5eRCo/T3scfsgJY0I/AAAAAAAABKg/wqThpTx_rXk/s1600/IMG_2808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tIQvqZ5eRCo/T3scfsgJY0I/AAAAAAAABKg/wqThpTx_rXk/s320/IMG_2808.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I successfully tricked this cutie into thinking washing dishes was fun. However, after I made the icing for my cupcakes she firmly told me "You can wash those dishes yourself". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kA84ZPc5iMY/T3scikaRSmI/AAAAAAAABKo/-GFvHvfibgg/s1600/IMG_2811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kA84ZPc5iMY/T3scikaRSmI/AAAAAAAABKo/-GFvHvfibgg/s320/IMG_2811.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">My bday dinner with the family and my parents. Any guesses to where we are?</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Its oh-so-classy, but hey.. we love it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sr6-xOlmcio/T3sclOGYZBI/AAAAAAAABKw/pySGAUEmmU8/s1600/IMG_2817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sr6-xOlmcio/T3sclOGYZBI/AAAAAAAABKw/pySGAUEmmU8/s320/IMG_2817.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">My parents took the kids to the circus. This is not the circus. They had to leave a little early so Abby could join her team for a tournament, in which they lost all their games and still got trophies. I think organized sports can be a little "trophy heavy" sometimes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4J0WqTcHtew/T3scpy-QRqI/AAAAAAAABK4/kc1Id4BdUU0/s1600/IMG_2818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4J0WqTcHtew/T3scpy-QRqI/AAAAAAAABK4/kc1Id4BdUU0/s320/IMG_2818.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Also... for my birthday a group of ladies and I went to see The Hunger Games. This is the screen in the Directors Suites at our theater. To say it's THA BOMB is a slight understatement. Wish I had a picture of the recliners. Yes.... recliners! Holy seatwarmers batman! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAvccb37cKc/T3scs0SXvXI/AAAAAAAABLA/F_skaLxJnzY/s1600/IMG_2823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAvccb37cKc/T3scs0SXvXI/AAAAAAAABLA/F_skaLxJnzY/s320/IMG_2823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Again, here we are celebrating my birthday. Hey, what can I say... I like to celebrate. My wish on my actual bday was to hang out with my family. We mowed the yard, and then went to Bricktown and sat on the Patio at Zio's for lunch. I love sitting on the patio. I love lunch at Zios. I love cheesy-smiley pictures of this girl: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0VM1DAP4EJU/T3scw78ZacI/AAAAAAAABLI/nTfr7TyUgUo/s1600/IMG_2824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0VM1DAP4EJU/T3scw78ZacI/AAAAAAAABLI/nTfr7TyUgUo/s320/IMG_2824.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">And cheesy-smiley pictures of this boy: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PpFq22E5qpY/T3sc0Kqdp-I/AAAAAAAABLQ/e6BHRhbcKpY/s1600/IMG_2825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PpFq22E5qpY/T3sc0Kqdp-I/AAAAAAAABLQ/e6BHRhbcKpY/s320/IMG_2825.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">And cheesy-smiley pictures of this cerveza:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dpDr2wFVA-c/T3sc2og5cpI/AAAAAAAABLY/iaM3ekI4rGE/s1600/IMG_2826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dpDr2wFVA-c/T3sc2og5cpI/AAAAAAAABLY/iaM3ekI4rGE/s320/IMG_2826.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">The week after spring break, I took another day off to take goofy, on the right, to get LASIK eye surgery done. He wore sunglasses for approximately 49.754 hours after the surgery. His vision went from really really bad, to 20/20. I'm next. Maybe. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BXc5lqPwTjM/T3sc37jxqRI/AAAAAAAABLg/CV0TSaTL4D8/s1600/IMG_2856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BXc5lqPwTjM/T3sc37jxqRI/AAAAAAAABLg/CV0TSaTL4D8/s320/IMG_2856.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">We went to see The Pioneer Woman. I was unaware that we would have to wait 9 hours to get our books signed, so we only stayed to hear her speak. On the way out of the book store, I acted like a stalker and snapped this picture. I was so close I could see her dimples. I'm not really sure what is up with the guy in the red shirt reading the paper. He sat there for awhile and was very un-impressed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7BwN89w2uVs/T3sc5WKrf4I/AAAAAAAABLo/z5NTXXHKpVU/s1600/IMG_2865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7BwN89w2uVs/T3sc5WKrf4I/AAAAAAAABLo/z5NTXXHKpVU/s320/IMG_2865.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Again, being the <strike>stalker</strike> fan that I am... I had to take this picture of Ree's SUV. You can see Abby, not posing in front of the vehicle as I had asked her. Wha? Its not insane to ask your 5yr old to pose in front of a dirty vehicle just because it belongs to a writer, photographer, cook, blogger, mom of 4 and wife of a rancher. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-637gf6dvXAU/T3sc7vw-XrI/AAAAAAAABLw/KEfIWiZtpdY/s1600/IMG_2866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-637gf6dvXAU/T3sc7vw-XrI/AAAAAAAABLw/KEfIWiZtpdY/s320/IMG_2866.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">This is the pond in my neighborhood. The neighbors call it a lake, but .. its a pond. It has a walking trail around it. Two laps = 1 mile. Two laps also = goose poop covered shoes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6d-JnZrLHCQ/T3sc8nV2akI/AAAAAAAABL4/0SCrnOPVO34/s1600/IMG_2873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6d-JnZrLHCQ/T3sc8nV2akI/AAAAAAAABL4/0SCrnOPVO34/s320/IMG_2873.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">New kicks. (not covered in goose poop... yet) I'm starting this new thing... its called exercise. Specifically .. running. We'll see how it goes. Right now, my shins are not happy with this decision. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_sVySuKi-88/T3sc9qM8BtI/AAAAAAAABMA/F7f-lb_HBcY/s1600/IMG_2878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_sVySuKi-88/T3sc9qM8BtI/AAAAAAAABMA/F7f-lb_HBcY/s320/IMG_2878.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-35657038994478086512012-03-28T11:31:00.001-05:002012-03-28T11:31:00.406-05:00Milk... does a body good.I love the Ellen show. I love Ellen. She really freaks my freak and brightens my afternoons. She's hilarious and caring and honest and genuine. I love that she helps so many people and I love watching her guests as they scream and cry after being given prizes or money that will help them ease their burdens. Its great.<br />
Last week on the show, author and nutritionist, Kathy Freston talked about her new book and being vegan. I'm all for healthy eating and I know Ellen is vegan and swears by it and that's fabulous. For her. Me, not so much. I'm just not buying it. But I get that for lots of people its a great option for them.<br />
During the interview Freston talked about her new book and the small steps that she has readers do each day to become a healthier person. Day One, drink water. Easy enough. Then she went on to talking about cutting out cow's milk from your diet. Obviously, I am no nutritionist, nor a doctor, so I cannot truly weigh the pros and cons of cow's milk. However, her argument for eliminating it from your diet did not make sense to me ... at all.<br />
Freston said that cow's make milk to feed their young, just as human's do. The cow's milk is designed to plump up that calf and help it to grow into this 1,500lb cow. Yes, true. However, as human's we do not drink pure cow's milk and there are several options to whole milk that reduces the amount of fat in the milk, while still leaving the vitamins that we need.<br />
She correlated calves drinking their momma's milk to human babies drinking their mommas milk and that typically we stop feeding our young after at least a few years. So why would we still consume cow's milk after the first few years of life? That it will lead us to being fat. Well... I don't know about you, but I don't live on a diet of purely milk. Babies' only source of nutrition comes from their mother's milk (or formula milk) and because they are growing at such a fast rate, they need all the nutrients and fat that is found in milk. But as babies get older, they move on to other sources of nutrition and do not rely solely on milk anymore.<br />
I just don't see how having a bowl of cereal with cow's milk and maybe a glass of milk a day is hurting me. I really just thought her argument was not a well thought out one, nor a very accurate one.<br />
I think in this time of obesity everyone is looking for someone to blame. Blaming certain foods is the easiest way out. I do agree that with the increase of fast food and over-processed foods, obesity has risen. But leave our staples alone. People drank cow's milk in the 40's and 50's and there was not an obesity problem then. Sure we know a lot more than we did 50-60 years ago, but on this topic, I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-26014613793862013212012-03-26T11:30:00.000-05:002012-03-26T11:30:29.599-05:00Being a Grown Up.So, I turned 32 yesterday. I have never really seen myself as an adult. Its like I'm stuck in 1999 at times. Sure, I have a mortgage for a house that must be cleaned and maintained, a car payment for a vehicle that I drive responsibly (even though its is as my mother calls it - a muscle car), a husband, two children, two animals, all of whom I must feed on a daily basis, and a job where I am pretty much responsible for the entire office functioning, I still have not really ever felt like an adult. I think 32 is going to change all that. I looked at myself in the mirror yesterday, and saw a woman. A grown woman. It didn't really scare me, but I felt more like, "About time!"<br />
I feel like I've never really been able to view other "grown ups" as equals in the community. I've always felt this sense of superiority that other adults had over me. Not anymore. I'm a grown up. I'm 32. I say things like "when I was younger" and "what's with the way kids dress these days" and I talk about the weather and politics (to an extent) with actual care and concern. I give advice to new moms, I teach young people at church.<br />
Maybe this getting older thing isn't going to be so bad. I think I'll enjoy being 32.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-84489798293281641492012-03-14T15:01:00.000-05:002012-03-14T15:01:04.239-05:00My kid isn't perfect.... she's exceptional.I had a Parent/Teacher conference on Monday with Abby's teacher. A few weeks prior, she and the other kids in her class (pre-K) were all tested for Kindergarten readiness and the results would be shared at the conference. I couldn't wait to hear how wonderfully my daughter had excelled at this test, and how amazed the teacher was at all my daughter could do. Well.....<br />
Lets back up.....<br />
Abby's birthday is October 18th, 2006. The summer that she was 3, the school (private church school/daycare) that she went to was moving kids around (just for the summer due to a decrease in kids that attend during the summer). She was placed in the pre-K class. Not because they thought she was just a kid-genius, but because they eliminated the 3yr old class for the summer. So.... when summer ended and kids came back to school, she just stayed in pre-K, even though she technically wasn't old enough. But that was fine by me because she has always seemed a little more mature for her age and her teacher said she was doing just fine and had friends and was happy there. So, 9 months later I questioned her teacher about whether she should repeat pre-K, or move onto kindergarten. The teacher said she was more than ready for kindergarten. Only problem was, she wasn't 5 yet and wouldn't be 5 until after the public school deadline. (Must be 5 by Sept 1 to enroll in kindergarten) So our option was to keep her at the current school (which was a 20 minute commute from our house and 30 minutes from my office) or find a school that would take her. We found a private Christian school very close to our home and the principal told us her age wasn't a problem. We enrolled her in Kindergarten. HOWEVER, the public school still wouldn't take her for 1st grade. The age requirements stay in place for 1st grade too. The child has to be 6 before Sept 1st. We were okay with keeping her at the Christian school for K and 1st. She started school and made friends and was doing wonderfully academically. Her teacher said she was right on track for a kindergartner. Come to find out, the teacher had no clue Abby was only 4.<br />
Unfortunately there were several circumstances (nothing involving the teacher) that made us really question if we wanted our daughter to attend that school. Kids in her class were telling her some highly inappropriate things that they watch at home. I had a gut feeling and pulled her out immediately. It was a quick, rash decision and I'm SO glad I did. But we were back with having to put her in a pre-K class (at a new WONDERFUL school)<br />
She's been at her current school (private church school) since October and has been doing really well, although comments from time-to-time that she gets bored at school. She's the oldest in the class, and in my opinion, the most mature in the class (I'm talking she's probably as mature as a 6 yr old, nothing extreme here).<br />
Abby is reading. And I mean reading, everything. She can breeze through the assigned books that are sent home. She knows all the sounds each letter makes, knows how to write all the letters, knows several blends, etc, etc... So I was surely expecting this readiness test to show just how "advanced" she is.<br />
At the conference the teacher showed me the results of the test. She "aced" it with flying colors, but it was some very simple tasks that she was asked to do and none of it involved reading. Her teacher was not impressed, nor disappointed, but just very matter-of-fact about the whole thing.<br />
I left very disappointed.<br />
Then it hit me.<br />
I'm her mom.<br />
Of course I think she's the most awesome-est superstar to ever have been in pre-Kindergarten.<br />
And I realized something else too.<br />
There are 12 other kids in her class.<br />
They have moms too.<br />
And each one of them believes the same things I do.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And they are right.<br />
And I think I can chill out about how she will do this fall in kindergarten. And stop feeling disappointed that she won't be ahead a grade. Because it will all work out. I just need to let her shine and let her teachers see what she can do. Which they will, that's their job. I don't want to be the pushy parent that keeps telling the teacher how awesome their kid is. Because there's always going to be a class full of awesome kids, each at different levels and teachers know that already.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-23125401415500217832012-02-07T13:03:00.000-06:002012-02-07T13:03:48.612-06:00Freeing up some time..Lately my children have heard "I'm busy right now" more than I care to admit to. I was so happy that yesterday I was able to put the laundry on hold, fix dinner late, and walk around all the couch pillows that magically find themselves sprawled all over the floor... each and every single day.<br />
My sweet little girl wanted to play store. I often find that my ability to pretend play is almost non-existent. I don't know how this happened. I was an only child, so pretend play and I were buddies. I played for hours at a time with only my imagination and my toys to keep me company. So although I really didn't want to at the time, I played store with Abby. She set up her room like a store, complete with a shopping basket, items to purchase (which included our cat, O'Malley), a cash register and play money for me. We had fun playing pretend and after a few minutes it all came back to me. I'm so glad we got to play.<br />
After we were done playing we all went outside, the whole family. It was beautiful. Abby practice some swings with her new t-ball tee and new bat. (girl can HIT). After awhile I decided I better make use of the nice day and go for a walk. I asked Alex if he'd like to go with me and surprisingly he said yes. I figured he wouldn't make it very far, but we walked around most of the neighborhood and then the neighborhood pond. A total of 1.3 miles. During that walk, we raced each other, we laughed, we joked, and he did an awful lot of talking. I couldn't love my son more, but after our walk together I think I appreciate him more. I appreciate how his mind works. He's ALWAYS thinking. Always wondering, always trying to learn more and more and more. He talked about dinosaurs and how he thinks the Super Croc (Sarcosuchus imperator) was a big factor in the reason why the dinosaurs went extinct. He suggested that we did up the back yard to see if there are any fossils buried. (I veto'd that idea, but said maybe he could look elsewhere). He also talked about how the great mammoths died because the earth got too warm. I'm telling you people, he's going to be some type of zoologist, or scientist, or a museum curator. The way he talks about these things... he's so passionate about it, he's so informative and he makes me want to learn more.<br />
When we got back home I watch Alex play catch with his daddy. Last year he couldn't catch a ball... at all. He caught more than half yesterday. ;)<br />
So to say we had a good day yesterday is an understatement. Its amazing what we can gain when we are able to put our "business" on hold.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-50925366943818261962011-12-24T15:44:00.000-06:002011-12-24T15:44:11.898-06:00Merry Chirstmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EuPFCCBB53k/TvZFuyRDBPI/AAAAAAAABJQ/rHWVGuE2OAU/s1600/Abby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EuPFCCBB53k/TvZFuyRDBPI/AAAAAAAABJQ/rHWVGuE2OAU/s320/Abby.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e7MBamzGU3o/TvZF6bGH7hI/AAAAAAAABJY/LWBwHaHqtZw/s1600/xmas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e7MBamzGU3o/TvZF6bGH7hI/AAAAAAAABJY/LWBwHaHqtZw/s320/xmas1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kNl9TvGYxiQ/TvZGFS88ayI/AAAAAAAABJg/Qnd7B9cky2U/s1600/xmas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kNl9TvGYxiQ/TvZGFS88ayI/AAAAAAAABJg/Qnd7B9cky2U/s320/xmas2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UYsicehtPX4/TvZGOxCcgkI/AAAAAAAABJo/dH0vPcQmTn0/s1600/xmas3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UYsicehtPX4/TvZGOxCcgkI/AAAAAAAABJo/dH0vPcQmTn0/s320/xmas3.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />
<br />
This is my 8th Christmas as a parent. I had good Christmas's growing up and I looked forward to them every year. But now, its so much better. Its so much better to see the joy in my children as they learn about the birth of Christ, celebrate HIS birthday, and participate in the traditions that we've created together as a family. I look forward to many many many more years with them and I just pray that these things we are doing now are things that they will cherish as they are older and pass on to their own children.<br />
May you all have a wonderful Christmas and my you find peace in the birth of our Savior.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-76312233993386210432011-11-09T14:49:00.001-06:002011-11-09T14:49:31.133-06:00Photo Card<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2BatXLFwzaOVA&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=115"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/2BatXLFwzae/2BatXLFwzae4s/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1320871764000/0/" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Merry Bright Greeting Holiday</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>Create <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards" style="color: #6666cc;">modern holiday cards</a> with your photos at Shutterfly.</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" /></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-50280633969105080622011-10-27T13:49:00.000-05:002011-10-27T13:49:35.301-05:00iPhone Photo Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In no particular order..... here's what we've been up to. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Ku_TQIxaxE/Tqml7YtJVuI/AAAAAAAABH4/Q2Qm5x4qJpU/s1600/abby+10-23-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Ku_TQIxaxE/Tqml7YtJVuI/AAAAAAAABH4/Q2Qm5x4qJpU/s320/abby+10-23-11.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowling Birthday Party. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xzZi08bi4Qg/Tqml9wK6gOI/AAAAAAAABIA/NfqwVOKVSho/s1600/abby+10-26-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xzZi08bi4Qg/Tqml9wK6gOI/AAAAAAAABIA/NfqwVOKVSho/s320/abby+10-26-11.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stylin in her new outfit, she's a mini-me for sure....<br />
</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f6djnsYw3Uo/Tqml_WVOO-I/AAAAAAAABII/l5Jb_KxuzvI/s1600/at+game+10-17-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f6djnsYw3Uo/Tqml_WVOO-I/AAAAAAAABII/l5Jb_KxuzvI/s320/at+game+10-17-11.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the most miserable tball game in the history of tball games. Massive wind gusts. COLD wind gusts and dirt everywhere. We still had fun. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_JW5lcLx0uY/TqmmAsgV5MI/AAAAAAAABIQ/IfRqeuv6qcw/s1600/dog+walking+10-14-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_JW5lcLx0uY/TqmmAsgV5MI/AAAAAAAABIQ/IfRqeuv6qcw/s320/dog+walking+10-14-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dog walking around the pond in our neighborhood</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jaZjQelcSBw/TqmmCD-alaI/AAAAAAAABIY/BA7-oFNFb4o/s1600/missing+tooth+10-24-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jaZjQelcSBw/TqmmCD-alaI/AAAAAAAABIY/BA7-oFNFb4o/s320/missing+tooth+10-24-11.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's that you're missing boy??</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G5-YoTzEPzg/TqmmGd2puyI/AAAAAAAABIg/m7hhrDzXloA/s1600/OU+10-22-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G5-YoTzEPzg/TqmmGd2puyI/AAAAAAAABIg/m7hhrDzXloA/s320/OU+10-22-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BOOMER!!! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUCoy5HIYE4/TqmmGm0dsTI/AAAAAAAABIo/Rc0ZoyiYXSA/s1600/OU+game+10-22-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUCoy5HIYE4/TqmmGm0dsTI/AAAAAAAABIo/Rc0ZoyiYXSA/s320/OU+game+10-22-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now, aren't we cute?! (this was BEFORE we got soaked) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7BRBfEFO6dI/TqmmKdzCX3I/AAAAAAAABIw/XMfmWZKh5Nw/s1600/OU+storm+10-22-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7BRBfEFO6dI/TqmmKdzCX3I/AAAAAAAABIw/XMfmWZKh5Nw/s320/OU+storm+10-22-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, its not getting dark, those are STORM clouds. Boo!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vNTni97oWRo/TqmmPMimDyI/AAAAAAAABI4/7DC_XAZJC8I/s1600/ouchy+10-21-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vNTni97oWRo/TqmmPMimDyI/AAAAAAAABI4/7DC_XAZJC8I/s320/ouchy+10-21-11.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OUCHY. Still not sure how this happened, but he limped around for days. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--4BI1kvBqiU/TqmmPnMu5NI/AAAAAAAABJA/rgnka6mGK08/s1600/zoo+10-20-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--4BI1kvBqiU/TqmmPnMu5NI/AAAAAAAABJA/rgnka6mGK08/s320/zoo+10-20-11.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall Break trip to the zoo!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098623942920631963.post-41118955410215721542011-10-18T13:26:00.000-05:002011-10-18T13:26:25.148-05:00FiveMy monkey, my little kitten, my sweet sweet pumpkin-cutie-pie:<br />
<br />
I love you to pieces. Five years ago today you came into this world and I stared at you with a sense that I knew EXACTLY who you were and yet I knew nothing. We have a connection that I can.not.explain. Its amazing. Its beautiful. I look at you and I see a cuter, spunkier version of myself. I am the luckiest person on this planet to have been chosen to be YOUR mama.<br />
It breaks my heart that I will never again hold you as an infant, hear your toddler giggles, or see a toothless grin. But I have so much joy in being able to watch you grow taller, hear your exaggerated stories, and listen to you sing along to my favorite songs.<br />
I look forward to seeing what year 5 holds for us. Your wit, your beauty, your humor, your compassion, its all growing and you are becoming a little lady that I am proud to say to the world "This is my daughter".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8EuX8tVmrE8/Tp3EU2Y6jwI/AAAAAAAABHo/k7pNCW4lGNE/s1600/Abby5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8EuX8tVmrE8/Tp3EU2Y6jwI/AAAAAAAABHo/k7pNCW4lGNE/s320/Abby5.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917865045937041790noreply@blogger.com0