Flying By The Seat of My Pants and Loving It

2012-01-18T19:22:00.000-06:00

So here are some pics of the fam over the break as well as Kelsey playing basketball. Kelsey's best friend GiGi on NYE....
The one pic is of 4/5 brothers in Jeremy's family....They are in height order not birth order...that would be 4,2,6,and 7.....

Weekly Accountability

2012-01-17T07:52:00.003-06:00

So today is the end of week 2 and the beginning of week #3 for me on BFL. I am happy to report that I lost 5 pounds this week. So that brings the total so far to 11 pounds. I was dragging last night at the gym lifting weights but I am looking forward to my aerobic activity this morning. I have been reminded that the endurance factor will be a big one to make it to my goal. But I am determined to make it to my goal by September 18th. I would like to run a 5K for my 40th birthday and get back to that person that could run and run....I think I had a lot more patience with the world when I did that....So here's to week 3 seeing more success and motivation....And if I pass on the yummy goodies, please support me instead of encouraging me that one little bite won't hurt....Thanks!

Here begins week #3

2012-01-16T10:16:00.000-06:00

So my weigh in is tomorrow. I am hoping to still see good movement on the scale but I know at some point I will hit that muscle replacing fat stage....So I am just trying to keep a positive attitude. I know that if I rush it or get discouraged that I will just talk myself into failure. So I am happy to report that I did workout all 6 days last week. I forgot that swimming is harder than it looks! I still wake up every morning with sore body parts! Friday morning I could not move my arm! I am still shocked that I let myself get this out of shape, but I am excited to get back into shape. For me the hardest part is that in between stage of getting in shape and recovery. I want to go out and run and play soccer, basketball, or football with the kids. But my ankle isn't strong enough yet. But I am getting back into real shoes so by appearances I should be able to do all of those things. Then I look lazy when I say no. But I don't want to spend another 5 months of this year in a cast or boot-so I am being very careful!
However, I must add that having more energy is so nice! I am sure it helps that we are having San Diego weather these days, but if I can beat some of these allergies than maybe I will be back to spending all of my free time outside! :)

It is nice as the kids get older that they have good friends. I am so grateful for good friends! We had some stay the night with us and I really enjoy them. Kyle's best friend, Drew even came to McAllen with us over the break and he and Kyle are good friends! I hope it stays that way all through high school and beyond....
Kelsey had Mia over and they had a lot of fun too. She has a couple of other good friends that they have fun together. It is a sweet experience as a parent to watch your kids grow up and be good kids. They still have some typical teenager traits.
It is hard to believe that in less than a month I will have TWO teenagers!!! Where does the time go? Kyle practiced driving in the neighborhood with Jeremy this weekend. Kyle was sooo excited! I am just dreading that insurance bill in a year!!! LOL
We played some driveway basketball too. Keira was making shots on the 10ft basket and hanging in there with the big kids. Kenna wasn't too sure about the chaos, but she was doing a good job dribbling and loved it when Jeremy lifted her up to dunk it!
So as we enjoy our holiday today, I look forward to another week of good healthy choices! I made some amazing barbacoa as well as a Thai beef noodle soup that were all lite recipes!!
I will post them if anyone wants them....As well as keep posting all of the ones I find that I try that are good!
Happy MLK day! Hope you have a good one!

The Land of Diet Cokes and Naps!!!

2012-01-13T15:45:00.000-06:00

So, I know that they say being a mom is bliss, but there are days when that alternate universe filled with naps and diet coke with lime sounds pretty heavenly....I really can't complain since my littlest will be 5 in a month but some days and for a lot of the past 15 years I think I would have loved an extended vacation here. I know I would have gotten bored and not progressed or grown as an adult but being the only child that I am-that peace and quiet sounds nice!
But alas it is time to get ready for some middle school girls basketball, a busy weekend-the last one before soccer starts again...We are back in full swing of the kids at AR as well as working out at home. So I guess you could say-this far off place will have to wait a few more years....kind of like a real far away vacation (LOL)! But I love my kids and enjoy spending time with them. I am loving the gym even though I was soo sore this morning I couldn't lift one of my arms! It is fun to see the progress I am making and I look forward to reaching my goal! So TGIF and have a great weekend!
But if anyone visits this new land-enjoy a diet coke with lime for me...and throw in some chips and salsa too! :)

Psych 101 According to that Crazy Mom

2012-01-11T16:12:00.001-06:00

So I didi take several psych classes in college. You know for my useless degree in anthropology and history. It was fun back then-I only wish I had been a bit more responsible and gotten something useful...
Anyways....
I realized today that there is something truly rewarding about seeing your accomplishments. Not from a recognition standpoint. There was a study done with children that their inner praise held more weight than the outer when they were small. I think this is true for adults as well. It has been hard for me to say-ok-this is my time to go to the gym at a scheduled time every day based on appts and what not-but I have it in my phone and I have been each day. Of course I am walking around like I have been working out for 9 days now also-but that is a whole other post!
I think the lesson I have learned this week is I may not be the prettiest, or the skinniest or the one who can bust a move in the group classes-but I enjoy working out. I always have. Just somewhere along the way-I figured I had to grow up and not spend any of my time there. Now I know that I can spend some time there and still find the euphoria of working out. I am certainly no where close to being how strong I was in my 20's but I have 3 BFL challenges to get back to that or even pass it up! I have a goal that on my birthday I want to try a 20 session speed session at AR like my kids do. It will have been long enough since my achilles repair and I passionately love to run. And for some strange reason I think it would be totally fun-even though I am sure I will be dying!
It was also fun to help Kenna with gymnastics last night. I love spotting little kids and doing things like that. I hope that she continues to let me help her and teach her as she learns more and more tricks. Keira will let me help her too-but she loves her free time to play with her friends and enjoy the outdoors. I get to help a little with coaching her basketball team-so that will be a blast as well.

So the chaos of sports and 4 kids begins again on Tuesday. Part of me can't wait to be crazy busy and doing all of these neat and fun things-but part of me has enjoyed the time off to just get things done and hang out with the family. It is fun to get to see your kids turn into teenagers and watch how they change in some ways and not others. I always learn something new from each one of them.

Now to just figure out the best way to plan Kelsey's 13th birthday party. Then a week later another birthday party for Kenna. I am so excited to have a photography session scheduled with KELSEY CALL photography!! I think they will turn out so cute and give me new pics to hang on my walls! Then this August once Kyle is 15-I am planning a family shoot with Kelsey so that I can get some new family pics with me close to my goal weight up on the wall!

Well, I am off to make dinner...chicken and zucchini pasta....Yum! Bathing Suit season here I come.....

The land of many makeover recipes and some just plain yummy ones

2012-01-10T12:00:00.002-06:00

Chiptole makeover rice recipe

In my rice cooker I will add

1 c short grain brown rice

juice of 1/2 lime

2 c water

1/2 tsp olive oil

Place rice, water, and oil into the rice cooker. Set on white rice settings. While it is cooking in another bowl combine 3 TBSP fresh chopped cilantro, lime juice and 1/2 ts oil. When rice is done mix rice with the cilantro mixture.

Enjoy...

The brown rice adds fiber as well as fewer calories....

Meatball Muffins

by Amanda K Brann on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 11:47am

This is enough to feed my family of 6.

1 ts olive oil

3/4 minced onion

1/2 c shredded carrots

1 bell pepper, minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 ts dried oregano

1/2 c ketchup, low sugar

1 1/2 pounds of extra lean ground turkey or beef or chicken. (I used my homegrown organic grass fed beef)

1 c bread crumbs

2 TBS dijon mustard

1 ts worcestershire sauce

1/4 ts ground pepper

2 large eggs

cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Heat olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, carrots, and bell pepper. Saute until soft-then add oregano and garlic. Remove from heat and let cool. Meanwhile in a large bowl-place the meat, bread crumbs, eggs, ketchup, dijon mustard, pepper, and worcestershire sauce. Mix well with fingers. Add the veggie mix to meat. Form into large meatball. Place into giant muffin tins that have been coated with cooking spray. Top with low sugar ketchup..

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes. This would be good with any sides or as a leftover for lunch! It smelled so good when it was baking!!!

Black Bean Avocado Grilled Chicken Salad

by Amanda K Brann on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 11:40am

Serves my family of 6

1 ts olive oil

1 1/2 ts chili powder

1 1/2 ts cumin

1 ts crushed red pepper (I would have loved this but omitted so my little ones would eat it)

(I used my favorite Santa Fe seasonings Desert Blend for all of this)

4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips

1 1/2 cups of black beans, drained and rinsed

Avocado-smashed or diced depending on how you like it in your salad

1 1/2 cups of frozen corn, thawed

6-8 cups of your favorite salad mix. I used romaine and baby spinach

1 TBS of your favorite fat free dressing (I used salsa_fat free and tasty!)

Place olive oil in pan and saute chicken breasts until brown on the outside with just a little bit of pink left on the inside. Add of of your seasonings. Can add salt and pepper to taste here, if you want to...Once chhicken in cooked throughly, add the black beans and cook for another 3 minutes. Add corn and cook for another 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Assemble salad bowls-salad mix, meat mixture, avaocado, salsa

This counts for a protein and a carb on body for life. It is sooo filling and sooo good!!! I made it in under 45 minutes!!!

Cafe Rio pork recipe makeover only 200 calories per serving....

by Amanda K Brann on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 11:31am

So I have to add that I have never had this famous salad, rice, thing....but I love the ingredients in this recipe that add so much flavor and are different from the original recipe that I have seen that is out there....I just put it in the crockpot and it smelled sooo good!!! I can't wait to see how it turns out! I will serve it in a burrito bowl with Cilantro lime brown rice, lettuce, low fat cheese, and pico or salsa and avocado...depending on whose dish it is...

Marinade:

2.5 lbs pork loin, all fat trimmed

6 oz Coke Zero

1/4 c UNPACKED brown sugar

1/4 c water

Adobo seasoning to smell....(it is by Goya)

Marinate this in a plastic bag for a few hours or overnight.

Place in crockpot with marinade and cook on high for 3-4 hours. Remove pork from crockpot, discard any liquid, and shrerd meat with two forks.

Place shredded pork back into crockpot. In another bowl combine

8oz Coke Zero

6 oz can diced green chilies

8 oz tomato sauce

1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce

garlic powder to taste

cumin to taste

chiptole chili powder to taste

salt and pepper to taste

1/3 c UNPACKED brown sugar

Pour over shredded pork and mix well. Cover and cover on high for 1 1/2 hr more.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

by Amanda K Brann on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 11:00am

2 sticks softened unsalted butter

2 c turbinado sugar (or you can use 1 c white sugar and 1 c of brown)

2 large eggs

2 ts vanilla (for best flavor only Mexican vanilla will do )

2 c pumpkin puree (if you want to know how to do this just ask) or 1 can of pumpkin if not using fresh

2 1/2 c unbleached flour

2 ts baking soda

1/2 ts salt

2 ts sweet spices from Santa Fe seasonings company (my favorite)-just ask

(or you can use pumpkin pie spices to taste)

1/2 bag of mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. I prefer parchment paper but if you have none then grease two cookie sheets.

Beat butter until smooth, beat in sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla. Slowly mix in the pumpkin until blended. In a separate bowl mix the flour, baking soda, and salt, and spices. Slowly beat into the butter mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips.

My cookie scoop broke so I had to spoon them onto the cookie sheet, but I would use a cookie scoop to scoop onto the cookie sheet.

Bake for 13-17 minutes depending on your oven. They are done when light brown on the edges. Cookies will be light and airy with a cookie yet cakey texture. They are not dense at all. If you would like a denser pumpkin cookie I do have a denser recipe, but this is one I really enjoy and so do the kids!

My personal touches try to make it a little better for you by changing some quality ingredients but not changing the richness of the cookie. Applesauce will change the texture of it if you trade out the butter so watch the bake times.

Enjoy!!!

For all of the requests I have gotten for my brisket recipe- here it is:

3 lbs of brisket

1 ts onion powder

1 ts garlic powder

1 ts celery powder

1/2 ts black pepper

1/2 ts sea salt

1/4c worcestershire sauce

1/2 c bbq sauce (we prefer sweet baby ray's)

liquid smoke

Place meat in bag and rub dry spices on meat on both sides.cover just barely in liquid smoke. Put in fridge overnight for best flavor or if there is not time for just an hour or two. Take out and place in foil lined pan. Add salt and worcestershire sauce. Cover with foil and place in oven that been preheated to 275. Cook for 4-6 hours or until tender. Remove from oven and top with BBQ sauce. Cover and place bake in oven for 30-45 minutes. Take out and Enjoy!

This is very moist and falls apart. Great for when you want to do an inside brisket. I got it from my grandmother. For everyone that has asked me for it-ENJOY!

So here are some of my recipes....I have a ton more! If anyone out these in cyberland wants me to post them-please let me know....

Week #2-The things I have learned so far in 2012

2012-01-09T20:33:00.000-06:00

So I guess I should wait for tomorrow to start posting numbers since that will be the official beginning of week 2 but I was so excited to see on the scale that I had already lost 5.5 pounds on Saturday. I think the even better thing to me is this time feels so much different then the times before. It feels like a new journey back to me. I have been wife, mom, teacher's helper, PTA helper, coach, taxi driver, chef, etc. that somewhere along the way I lost who I was. I will admit it. I can accept that. I became Kyle, Kelsey, Keira, and Kenna's mom. I thought when I grew up that is all that I could be. But I have learned over the years that I can be whoever I want to be. I can still have dreams and accomplish them. I will be 45 one day any way so why not try to get that second degree in nursing and pursue one of my hobbies-medicine. I love science. I always have. Only now I have to confidence that maybe I won't be a total failure at it.

Jeremy's grandmother, June, used to always say that she loved every moment of her kids' lives. She enjoyed some more than others and was glad when other stages were over, but she enjoyed the stages while she was there. As Kenna gets close to kindergarten and Kyle gets close to starting high school-I realize that I finally understand what she meant.
Snuggling a newborn baby is like a daily opportunity to feel the hand of God in your arms every time they fall asleep in your arms. Watching them take that first step to you is knowing your whole life is a bout to change-whether this is your first baby or your last....When the sweet babble turns to babble that all can understand, a whole new world opens up. When you reach the point of realizing that you will never have to buy diapers again..(now that is a pay raise!) When you stop having to wipe bottoms-that will truly be graduation! Watching them learn to read and becoming confident at it. I could go on and on....but I think you get the picture. I have tried to treasure each precious moment that I have with each of my kids. I am not always the best at it. Being an only child and grandchild-the chaos of four kids gets to me sometimes and I think I was absolutely insane!!! Other days when I realize that Kelsey and Kyle will be gone in 5 years-I think I would not know what to do if I was "all done" with having kids at home already.
But my road is nowhere near coming to an end. I am ok with that too. I have watched how life is a gift that we must always cherish and hold dear. Our Father in Heaven gave it to us and only He knows how many breaths we will take here on this earth. Only He knows if my children will outlive me or if I will outlive any of them. It is hard to accept that time in the Lord's eyes is not simply linear....We want what we want and in the time period that we want it in. The Lord's will and what He is trying to teach us-well-those that are more humble and tender hearted than me-learn this lesson a lot easier....

So, as I run around being about my children's business on the Lord's time hoping to represent Him in my actions, words, and love....I realize that the material things of life in the end stay here. The accomplishments don't last forever and the legacy that I leave is what will follow me for generations to come.....Have I taught them that prayer is the key to a relationship with our Heavenly Father....Have I been a good example that when I see a need-I try to meet it....A kind word is worth more than being right...and singing and dancing are just a lot of fun.

Mostly, I hope 2012 brings us closer as a family. We all go so many different directions. We all have our own dreams and desires-but I hope that we will take the time to just create good memories with each other. Whether that be singing together on the Wii, dancing to Just dance, playing board games, or riding bikes, watching and supporting one another in all that we do, a family vacation here or there that doesn't revolve around sports. These are the things I hope for this year.
Enya (Keira's classmate who died of Liver cancer in less than 90 days) taught me that we must treasure all that we love each day. As the quote I read recently said-what if the only things you had tomorrow were the things you thanked him for today. "Tatay Joel" had to say goodbye to his precious daughter last week. All he wanted was more time....I want to make sure each day I enjoy the time I have as the greatest blessing the Lord has given me.....
Yes, I have my weight loss goals that I have imposed on my family. That by September 18, 2012 I will weigh 135. I will run a 5K before the end of the year. I will try to find a buddy who will do a triathlon with me and my mountain bike...But in the end I just want to be a good mom with good kids....A good wife who learns that it is better to be humble and kind than right....A woman who learns to become a nurse and help others....

"He loves me the way I am, He's my strength when I stand, He is my King and my Father, I am His daughter..."

Body for Life Challenge

2012-01-03T09:22:00.000-06:00

So I have decided that it is time for a change...I am going to change the status quo and get up early to get lunches made for everyone, make sure I cook more at home and we eat out less. I have entered myself into the body for life challenge. Not because I really think I will win but because it is a challenge worth doing!
So today is day 1....here it goes....Hopefully by day 84 I will be willing to post all of my before and after pictures!!!Until I reach day 252 which will hopefully be a new me at my goal weight!!! Here goes my new adventure as the quote says, "Life begins when you put yourself in the uncomfortable!"

2012-01-01T22:12:00.000-06:00

Just a few pics from July-Sept.

And so it begins anew...

2012-01-01T22:00:00.001-06:00

So I realized sadly, that I let 2011 slip by with 4 posts....last year at this time Jeremy was still in the hospital very sick and I was not looking forward to the year...I guess I was right-it was a rough year. But I believe that it can only go up from here!
I have my goals and plans for this new year. I realized that these pictures of my kids are way outdated and I need to start posting more.
So, I guess for one I will write more about my crazy, busy, messy life. But most of all I learned one thing this past year....what a true friend is and what it means....
As the year went on a lot of people would make the comment to me-Again? Something is wrong again? And there were just a few who would be at my doorstep, willing to help me get through it all. I treasure these people and the lifesavers that they were for me. I am grateful that God put them in my life to let me know He was helping me.
I am grateful for my little family that is quickly growing up...I only have Kyle for another 4 1/2 years before he leaves home. Yet it seems like just yesterday I was chasing him down the street with him in just a diaper. He is such a wonderful young man. He has such a kind heart. He has good friends and he wants to keep his standards. He is a joker so if you don't know him-you might think he was serious in all that comes out of his mouth. But he is a treasure and a jewel. I will miss him and I plan to spend as much time as he will let me in the next few years.
Kelsey will be 13 in a month and she keeps growing up and up. She brings so much joy and peace into our house and between her and Kyle I feel so blessed to be called mom. She is all that I ever wanted to be but was not. I love watching her grow into a beautiful confident young woman.
Keira will be 8 this year and be baptized in March. She is starting to come out of her shell and I am excited that she finally wants to take piano lessons. I know that she will love music and I love watching her play basketball. Upward sports are such a great thing! I wish all youth sports were so uplifting and inspiring! She is reading and is a math wiz like her dad!
Kenna will be 5 next month. She has taught me more than I think I ever wanted to know about life! She has grown up so much and is gaining confidence in all that she does. It is so nice to watch her not be afraid of the world like she once was. It has been hard and time consuming and some days I just want to run away...but I know she will succeed in kindergarten in August! I will miss the SPARK program most come the fall because I have been with these wonderful ladies for 3 years now. I can't thank them enough for hanging in there with me and helping Kenna find her social courage.
Jeremy is healthy and working hard at his job. He does have a few late nights but for the most part we could not ask for a better schedule! His boss said she wishes she had 10 Jeremy's so although he doesn't like me to brag on him-I am proud of all that he does in his career, at home to help me, and all of the coaching!! He gave up coaching Kyle's baseball team and is now coaching Keira's basketball team. Hopefully when she plays soccer I will get the chance to coach again also. :)
As for me, I have learned that depending on someone doesn't make you weak. It helps you to get to know people who turn into great friends. I never thought my achilles would rupture and this whole 6-8 month process would be this tough. But I am grateful to Dr. Miller, Lake Houston PT, and my family for helping me get though it all! They have eaten way too many sandwiches and ramen noodles this year! But they never complained! They helped keep the house clean along with help from my friends!! They kept us from getting too behind in laundry! I got to go to Kansas and see my little sister in law and her family! It was a treat for me and I loved the week we were there! I hope to do it again soon! I got to see my brother in law and his family over Christmas after several years and it seemed like no time had passed (expect that our kids are older now)
I came to realize that even when we get emotionally attached to something-it doesn't mean that our kids are too.
I learned that the stress we put upon ourselves is generally that of our own making. We waste a lot of time and energy on things that are not in our control. But when we take a leap of faith, we are rewarded with windows that are wide open.
Most of all, I am grateful for free agency. I have the power to choose. I know the Lord believes I can make choices that will help me get to where I need to be. I may not be perfect. I may struggle. But I can live my life after the pattern he left me and treat others around me as He would.
So here is to a year of happiness and success. To go back to school, to lose weight, to be in the shape that I want to be, to sing more, to dance more, to laugh more, but most of all to love the life I have and not take one moment for granted....

Really? God must have a sense of humor!

2011-10-25T09:17:00.000-05:00

So I was hoping to avoid any sort of true craziness this month. After all it is my birthday month...But no, I think every month this year something major is going to happen each month!
So Sunday night my stomach started to hurt. It got really bad and went into my back. I figured I just needed some rest so I rested on the couch. By midnight I was miserable and finally gave in to the idea of going to the ER. Well, it turns out I have a gall bladder full of gall stones and all of those tummy aches for the past 2-3 years have been just that. One is blocking the duct-so that is why it hurts so bad.
So anyway....I get to have another surgery asap. I never thought this would be us-but-geez! It makes me want to just stay in bed just o miss another crisis! LOL!
But at least I can say we get to see family next month and I look forward to that! Kids are good and I just have to get through this-before Kyle has his surgery-but I really am beginning to believe God has a sense of humor!!

Time flies and I just hang on for dear life mostly

2011-10-22T02:11:00.003-05:00

So I was surprised to find it had been 6 months since I have come over to the blogging world. I am just finding that I post on FB more bc it is easy from my phone and I am rarely at the computer anymore. And well this has been quite the year...I have figured out that every month except May we have either had a surgery or a major ER visit. It has been frustrating and humbling all at the same time. I am a pretty independent person so asking for help has been hard. I have to confess that I am glad to almost be totally mobile again so I won't feel so guilty about not getting things done like I want to.
So just to write it all down...
Dec-Jan-Jeremy in hospital for 13 days
Feb-Jeremy rushed to hospital for an emergency appendix surgery, etc. stayed for 4 days
March-Kyle had surgery for a birth defect known as tarsal coalition
April-
May-I had surgery for a partially torn achilles
June-Jeremy had a bout of diverticulitis and Kelsey was rushed to the ER in Alabama for a concussion and heat stroke so we drove to alabama to make sure she was ok!
July-I ruptured my achilles
August-I had surgery with a cadaver achilles tendon to fix it and begin the process of 7 weeks of no weight bearing in a cast with crutches.
September-Kyle has been to the ER twice with a broken finger and hurt elbow believed to be broken. Thankfully the elbow was not broken! The last week of September he puts me in a walking boot to my knee.
October-Kyle had a midfoot ankle sprain, 3 weeks after that I get to move to a short boot and start 3 times a week at PT, go see the Chiropractor bc I am so off balance now having been in a boot or crutched since May.
November 3-Kyle will have surgery to fix the left ankle that has tarsal coalition and I should be getting my two shoes back for the first time since July!
December-surgery on my right foot to fix the several larger bone spurs in my right ankle!

Not to mention the asthma, allergy flare ups, ear infections and sinus infections the weather has brought!

Now don't get me wrong-I think one of the greatest lessons I have learned have been my gratitude for each day, for good health, for kid's that are so responsible and helpful, for kids that get a long so well. It has brought us closer together as a family. I am grateful for that.
But as I know many of you in the blogging world read this-you have brought me dinner or helped with the kids and I am so thankful. I know life is busy and I appreciate all that you did for me and all that you helped me keep my house in survival mode! It means a lot to me and I don't think I can ever thank you all enough!
I also even have learned to appreciate to just watch and enjoy the kids. I am still competitive and I still expect great things out of my kiddos, but I don't want the time to go by so fast that we don't have great memories together. I love knowing their friends and it made my day when a friend said-you know all about teenager things-that is sooo cool! You are one cool mom! I have to confess-that made my day. Then another time-I saw a kid write-yeah-I love your mom too! It just makes me said how fast time is going to go-and all of these big kids will be in college!

Kyle is an amazing kid. He is so athletic, strong, confident, smart, handsome, and has such a sweet tender heart. I love the fact that on Sundays when we get to church that he lets Kenna snuggle on him and plays with her all the time. It is neat to see their bond even if he is 10 years older than her!
Kelsey is such a wonderful girl. She helps so much with the girls when I am down and she is growing up soo fast. She is beautiful, funny, and has so many gifts and talents-most days I just stand in awe that God would give me a daughter like her to raise.
Keira is the "I've got it all together " kid. It is that time in 2nd grade where education starts to click. She HATES to miss school! She just loves to learn and doesn't want to miss a thing! She loves being social and I am positive she will be my most social butterfly-Class president, head cheerleader, best dressed.....not just because she has all of those traits but because she has such a tender heart that she will be kind to all!
Kenna has really blossomed. She still struggles with anxiety and social situations, but she has come so far! She is actually looking forward to kindergarten next year and I never thought I would see that day! I am so grateful for Spark and how amazing those teacher are! I love going-even if it takes up part of the day. I will miss them next year since I have been blessed to spend the past 3 school years in their classroom! I may have to sneak in and go just to go! LOL!!!!
Jeremy is working hard at work and I am so proud of all that he has accomplished this year even with all of his health struggles. He provides for us, spends time with us, helps around the house and even let's us have dogs when he is not a big dog person.
I love him so much and I am so glad that he puts up with me each day.
So off to another busy weekend of baseball, soccer, babysitting, birthday parties, and friends. I will post pictures soon-that is my goal!
Time does fly by but the journey and it's challenges have helped me see-
"I know You've washed me white, turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night
I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals
I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me"
Thankfully the Lord doesn't give up on us-ever....His peace will carry me through whatever that trial may be....

The Chinese mothering style article

2011-04-11T19:09:00.002-05:00

So there was an article in Time magazine about a woman who was Chinese and raised her daughters in that cultural mindset. Her husband is American. It was an interesting article in that she stated so we praise mediocrity in this country now and that is why we are behind in education. We praise the "losers". Everyone wins. No one is cut from the team, no one is allowed to fail in school.

Yet America strives to win it all. While I am not like the mom in the article that stands over her 7 yr old and says no dinner or going to bed until you have that scale right on the violin. If I know they have the ability and talent-then expectations are a good thing and I would have to agree with this mom. I may get knocked for saying that-but structure and discipline helps us all to find success later in life. It gives us the ability to get up on time bc we are committed to what we do. It helps us see that when we work hard at something there are tangible results. I am far from perfect-but someone once told me that they thought that the dad picked friends based on habits and hobbies. While I have no idea, his daughter has excelled in her area of skill.

You may ask, what prompted this....as I watched Keira in a different class tonight in gymnastics I realized that when our kids learn a skill and we want them to progress-we must do our part. She was too busy goofing off in the other class because she had too much free time. This make up class gave her no free time and she worked hard and progressed thru skills I did not know she even had the strength for. When she was skipping the lunges-I pointed it out to her and she stepped up and did them all out. Expectations.....kids will rise above them....

hopefully in the end I don't screw up my kids-but when they succeed at something they have been trying so hard at-the smile on their face is so worth it! the lesson they learn when they lose helps them to work harder for the next time....

I am glad I had the chance to be a mom...it maybe hard like 5 doctor's appointments in one day today, etc. But the lessons I have learned from them are priceless.

My thoughts on that article about the blogs

2011-04-10T14:06:00.002-05:00

So I am going to try and return to the blogging world....not sure if that will be successful...I am just now catching up to my life...not in cyberspace...

I hear the life a a mormon mommy is pretty and fun and glamourous...

Can I have that life?

I will be 39 this year and mine has never been the way these mormon mommy blogs are described...My life is not a gap commercial-my girls are not always perfectly dressed with perfect hair. My husband is usually in baseball clothes when he gets home from work, and well my son is a walking hollister ad-but that is his doing not mine. My daughter is an athlete who likes ponytails and tennis shoes and dirt. She takes nothing from the mean girls at school and has the sweetest side to her that I love.

My seven year old will be a fashion designer one day-and I love her style and creativity...

And that bear...well we will see.....

Does anyone not like to read-hey my life is normal and kids are normal and when it gets hard-I know I will get through this because someone before me did something just like it....

I can take courage in that....

I am inspired by that...those women I know who work so hard day in and day out to raise their families while their husbands work hard to support them while they are working away from the home a lot. I know it is hard. I know it is exhausting. But the world does not give an praise for that....

There is no break for a woman who stays home and raises kids and her husband is working out of town or long hours...her job NEVER ends.

The housework never ends....Those that have jobs as well-it is even harder. These woman are the ones that hold our society together and are setting an example for the next generation. To not be weak but to be strong and kind hearted all at the same time. It is across all spectrums that I find these woman. So to them I pay tribute today. Life is not always beautiful.... but it is a beautiful ride.....

Wow, Where does the time go??

2010-12-31T15:35:00.002-06:00

So here I sit on December 31, 2010...

I have watched November come and go. Another Thanksgiving come and go. It was fun to have a small Thanksgiving here at home with just us. Although it seemed to be missing something with no one extra to share it with. Although it has been a hard year for us in a lot of ways-we have been blessed in other ways. Thanksgiving is always better sharing your blessings with others....

The kids finished their sports' seasons on top and each started a new training program at a place called Athletic Republic. The head trainer, Travis is a great guy who pushes them hard but believes in them so much. It is really neat. Plus they are all Christian and it is important to them to instill good values and self esteem into the kids that walk thru their doors so I think that is really cool. I have enjoyed the time we spend there almost more than their actual sports some days....

I have learned hard lessons too. People are only out for themselves and their kids in the sports world. So the friends we have that are still our friends years later-I truly cherish. These are the people that have realized that there is more to life than sports and I appreciate them a lot.

I also learned that people I thought were my friends really aren't and that has been a sad lesson as well. But I have learned that this past year in more than just sports. I have learned that is true in a lot of things. True friends are hard to come by. Most are fair weather friends.

It has been a sweet fall for me homeschooling Kelsey and I will miss her when she goes back to school next week. I know she is ready, but it has been so much fun to get to know her and I will miss that each day.

It has also been fun to see Kyle make the B basketball team. He is not a ball player so this was icing on the cake and it is just a lot of fun to go watch him play. He has his little "middle school girlfriend" that he likes to say came from being the A team QB. I am just proud of his all A report cards and good choices and funny personality. All of the teachers adore him and all of his friends parents adore him. I adore his girlfriend and her parents so it is fun seeing the group of kids all hang out with each other and watch them all grow up and "go out" with each other, etc.

Keira has had an AWESOME first grade teacher in Mrs. Black. Thankfully the trend held true and all the kids have had wonderful first grade teachers. Mrs. Black has been so kind and wonderful to Keira and helped her come out of her shell and grow and progress in her learning and I can't thank her enough. I really appreciate her and wish I could do more to help her. but the principal won't let us in. It has been great for Keira and I wish she did not have to leave her class....

Kenna started her second year at SPARK. It has been a wonderful year so far. Lori and Melissa are wonderful and I could not ask for better teachers who love Kenna and have helped her come out of her shell. She is still shy and a hard nut to crack but once she is cracked-man is she a fireball!!! I think she is gonna wear me out!!!

Jeremy has been working hard at work and has completed many projects and been commended by his boss and his boss' boss this year. He was assigned even more projects just recently. He has his gall bladder removed and a hernia repaired in October. Then just two weeks ago found out that he needed a colon resection. So on Monday he had his colon resectioned. So for the first time since December 31, 1995-Jeremy and I will spend New Year's Eve apart...because he is still in the hospital due to complications of recovering....We hope he will come home on Sunday or Monday. Most of all we hope that all of the diverticulitis will not come back and bother him anymore!!! But I will miss him tonight.....

My year has been a busy one keeping up with everyone. I had been doing great with the running but then have been fighting this unknown sinus, allergy, asthma, bronchitis, etc. infection since August. It has my doctor stumped but we are trying the allergy shots now-I survived the RUSH treatments without an ER visit so maybe that will help-I hope so-I want my life back without steriods, and more steriods and more medicine. I want to be able to breathe again without coughing or chest tightness or losing my voice every month.

So although I am shocked by how fast time has gone by-I am not sad to see 2010 end. I hope that 2011 is better and not so hard. I look forward to better health for Jeremy and for me. I look forward to better times and more peace. Yes, I know where to find it. Sometimes just hard to b e still when you are always coughing..... :)

May the New year bring happiness to all.....

Can't believe it is almost November!

2010-10-24T11:36:00.003-05:00

Well I guess it is true the older you get the faster time flies! Jeremy had surgery at the beginning of October and it feels like the month went by in the blink of an eye! I am getting into a crazy routine of Kelsey's homeschool stuff in the morning and Kenna's preschool Spark stuff in the afternoon and then Keira and Kyle come home and it is one to homework and sports practices. So I don't mean to be anti-social just having four kids to keep up with has become very time consuming. But I do enjoy it. I am sick of pollen this fall. It has been a lot worse for me than in the past and I am ready to be done with feeling bad every other week it feels like. But hopefully there will be a break in a high pollen count soon! I don't sit down to the computer much with having an iphone other than when I am doing school work for Kelsey so the blog is pretty much neglected but I thought I would take the time to record a little bit of the fall here.

Soccer for Kelsey has gone really well. She has played great all season and at ODP she has done great. Try outs are in January and I think she may have a shot at playing up. She is going to Athletic Republic for PE and that has really helped her and her speed and agility is amazing. I am amazed at the things they can do to help those kids learn to use their bodies with the proper mechanics!!!! It is so worth the time and money! The owners were telling me that none of the other ARs were getting the results that they were-these guys here in Humble are taking almost .9 seconds off of the 40 yd dash. That is huge! In six weeks! But you can see it in one session in how the kids body movement changes. I just think it is neat to watch. But I am a nerd like that.

She is doing great in her school work at home but she misses her friends at school and has dreams of doing EVERYTHING so she has decided to go back to school in January, I think. So she can be a cheerleader, in athletics, drama, and honors classes and soccer. I think it is really neat to see her blossom and grow up. Hard to let her grow up-you want them to stay little but amazing to watch them blossom!

Kyle has made just as amazing of a transformation this fall as well! He has grown into this handsome young man! He is maturing into the leader I always knew he was. He is in athletics and decided that he wanted to try out for 7th grade QB. Well we thought having never really played that he would end up on the B or C team, but he worked so hard he has earned the job of the A team QB and had led the team all year. He has three more games and they are playing great. They get better each week and he is really just showing what maturity he has that even when he had an very painful ingrown toenail-he still got up every morning at 6am and practiced until we got it taken out. He is still playing tournament baseball as well and has become a powerful hitter on the big field. He had an amazing tournament this weekend with his bat and some great catches in centerfield. He pitched a little and did well but we don't want to stress his arm too much. But he is also making straight As!!!! I just think this is so great with his ADD and all that he is doing is such a huge accomplishment for him and I couldn't be more impressed with his choices. He is taller than me and I am sure that he will be sprouting even more!

Keira has slowly gotten into the first grade groove. She is settling in and as I have gotten to know the teacher better I am very grateful for her. It has been such a busy fall that I have been worried about her-and I not too sure about the new school administration yet, but I know she is surrounded by a good teacher and good specials teachers so I hope that makes for a good day and we will be able to catch her up from the disaster called kindergarten.....We are still straying to find an activity that she enjoys and wants to stick with for more than a day....It has been a challenge!

Kenna has done great at Spark and I owe a lot to Lori and Melissa! They have really pulled her out of her shyness and she is improving every day! She is talking to people more and interacting and I couldn't be happier! She wasn't scared of the same things she was scared of last year so I can't say enough wonderful things about the SPARK program!!

Lastly,

In the past two weeks I have had my friends lose their friends suddenly as well as a friend lose his dad. This made me realize that I wanted to make sure that I had written down that I am grateful for my friends and all that they do for me. They brighten my day and are there for me when I need something. They know me well enough to know when I am faking it and when I am good. They know when I really need help. They know my kids and my husband's sarcastic wit and aren't offended by it. They accept me as I am. If I lost them suddenly I would miss them terribly, but I hope that I tell them how much I love them and appreciate them often. I know I would see them again on the other side....

I am grateful to the Lord for all of the blessings in my life and for all of the many wonderful things He has given me. I never lose sight of that ever. My children are my four greatest blessings and to watch them grow into these wonderful people is amazing.....It is my greatest gift from the Lord....after the Atonement of course...

Two weeks almost done!

2010-09-02T09:23:00.002-05:00

Well I have a ton to do today but I figured I would jot down a few thoughts...

We have survived almost two weeks of school. Kelsey and I still like each other. Kenna is still happy. Kyle LOVES football and seems to be doing ok in all honors classes with good teachers. However, Keira is still having a hard time and I wish I could figure out how to help her. She had such a rough year last year and I had hoped that it would get better but she is still not wanting to go to school. It just breaks my heart. She is such a sweet spunky spirit. She shouldn't have that much anxiety about school.

We are headed to Austin this weekend for a soccer tourney so it will be fun in two ways from a totally selfish standpoint...

1. All of the other kids get to be with grandma and grandpa for the weekend. This is much needed time with them and I know all parties involved will be in heaven! Thanks mom and dad!

2. It will be nice to spend time with just Kelsey. When you have more than one kid this doesn't happen very often. So I am grateful for these opportunities...

I also have been thinking about why is it most of us are motivated by things that HAVE to get done instead of by desire? It seems that mentality of checking off my list is how many live their personal, professional and spiritual lives. Why is that? It is the very few who stop and can see and feel beyond. Keeping up with the "Jone's" really doesn't matter if you are drowning in debt or you end up divorced. Pushing your kids in whatever it is to the point that they don't like you anymore causes a void that you can never get back. Yet too much freedom and being their too much BFF causes just as much harm. It is a balancing act that is so hard to find and manage. But as my kids get older and I watch all of these parents around me-I am so grateful for the ones who have gone before and have great kids.

I am grateful for the adults who take the time to get to know my kids and give them their unique perspective on life. I think that is probably the greatest gift my grandmother gave to me. She always told me to keep an open mind because you never know what somebody can teach you. I am realizing that there are lots of great "things" I could have accomplished but most of all I hope my kids grow up to be good, honest, loving people who value a hard day's work.

I want all of their dreams to come true....Professional athlete, olympic athlete, marine biologist, vet, coach, etc. I hope that they will learn with commitment and humility they can become leaders and find great success.

So I have set my own goal to run a half marathon in March and by my 40th bday run a marathon. I don't know that I will ever have the time by then to get all of those miles in each week for the marathon, but I know I can do the half. So I am set to do it and I am excited. I am soo sore right now, but I am excited (yet tired) when the alarm goes off at 4:50am to get up and run. I can knock out 2 miles right now and I look forward to when I can run more regularly. Maybe I will try a few races in between...I was fast back in the day...So

happy fall as LAbor Day weekend approaches. I look forward to a new adventure.

first day of school

2010-08-23T23:52:00.002-05:00

well I am a teacher now too...

It is almost midnight and I am already behind

The morning sun is soon to shine

My sleep will be not too much

in these months of books and stuff.

Hope my KEEIraboo

comes to love school

that teachers cherish

not letting her perish

My baby boy may be the QB

I may have high anxiety!!!

He had a great day with

teachers he likes..

I hope that it stays

and seventh grade

is not a hike...

Kenna will see a new Spark or two

Mrs. Gregory and a few new

faces that will hopefully delight

She will learn her days of the week

and maybe even change the song by a tweak..

As for me I will learn if a teacher I am cut out to be

A testing ground this will prove of me

I hope I make it

I am excited to try

But man, these nights are gonna fly by....

Reflections of the Sun.....

2010-08-14T22:07:00.002-05:00

So as I have been absent from the blogging world for a while I have learned a lot about myself and the world around me....

I have remembered how much I love to be outside even if it is really really hot. I love getting a tan in May that lasts all summer long and taking the kids swimming. I love that I had the chance to coach again in June and look forward to doing it again in December and April. I am not sure that I am doing a good job at being the mom of a teenager but I am doing my best to raise a good boy that will become a good man one day. I love the sound of happy screaming children at odd hours of the day running around my house because as my title suggests-I do fly by the seat of my pants....however, I love even more after all of that screaming the silence of a quiet house at the end of a day that is clean and organized. I have gotten so much better as the kids have gotten older at cutting the clutter monster down to size and I look forward to chopping it into tiny pieces once and for all!!!

I have watched Kyle sit on the bench for almost three months supporting his team as his elbow healed and sat as he went through PT all summer so he could play in the world series with his team...

I have been given good friends these past few months that have taught me that true friends love us no matter what. They listen, and talk and laugh and love. They will tell us like it is and even if we are wrong they let us know. They stand up for us. They help us out. They love our kids-even the hard one that no one ever really wants....If we call or text in tears at 2am-she'll answer with what took you so long. Those few friends I have found these last few months and I am so grateful for them.

I had the privilege of spending time with not only Jeremy's family this summer but to also see my mom married to a great guy. I feel very blessed to have all of these wonderful things this summer. The trials that life brings sometimes seem suffocating but I am grateful that even when it feels like there is not strength to make it through that over the years the Lord has helped me.

In three days I will have been married for 15 years...how time flies! I am grateful for the dedication and commitment that Jeremy has for me and the love and affection that he has shown me over the years. We have walked a journey that has taken us over mountains and valleys and canyons and raging rapids and hot deserts and grassy plains and thick forests and sandy beaches to vast oceans. But we have also seen beautiful horizons and colorful sunrises and poignant sunsets....Thank you Jeremy for this life that I would not trade for another. I have learned things I would have learned no where else....I love you always!!!!

Thank You Kelsey Call Photography and I am back in the blogging world!

2010-08-10T10:22:00.005-05:00

so we took these pictures at the end of May but I have been off of the blog since I got the iphone. I am so grateful for all of the blessings in my life. As we have had the summer to stay busy and spend time together it makes me grateful for all of the wonderful experiences that these kids get to have. We saw Grandma and Grandpa over memorial day. We saw Grandma Kip and Tony get married in a beautiful ceremony and spend time with them as well. It was a special treat that we got to spend time with my Uncle Dave. Then we were able to have my nephew fly down from Utah for 10 days and we played and had fun. Poor Jeremy has been working so hard and we have missed him so much but we really appreciate all that he does for us each and every day. HE gets up at the crack of dawn and works until the sun goes down, coaches Kyle's baseball team, and plays with the girls. I think he has set a record for going swimming this summer with us even with his crazy schedule! so thanks J! We love you lots!!!! You are the best!!! I am sad to see the summer come to a close but as crazy as it sounds I am a little excited to get back in to the swing of things and even more excited to start watching Kyle play football for TMS. It will be a fun filled busy fall! But I know that the Lord has blessed me with a good life and I am grateful for it.

Mother's Day thoughts

2010-05-11T10:35:00.002-05:00

So I celebrated my 13th mother's day this year. It was a sweet one considering that in 1994 I was told I wouldn't be one. Each of us have our own road of motherhood, whether it be easy and natural- hard and with medical intervention-adoption-or just being the village mother. But each woman's heart longs for that feeling to hold and nurture and child and call them her own. We are not perfect in the words that we say. Our emotions can blind us throughout our lives. It is a shame as to the pain it can cause others. Primary infertility or secondary infertility-motherhood is still that longing....As I have read so many different thoughts this Mother's Day I have been reminded over the many different emotions I have felt over the years from grief, to sorrow, to happiness and joy to longing and aching....But this Mother's Day I woke with gratitude in my heart that no matter that journey, no matter the cost-I am able to celebrate Mother's Day.

Sunday morning each child gave me something when I woke up and (Jeremy went out of his way this year and gave me a picture of us at midnight in a really cool frame.) Then in the morning he had Kenna give me opal earrings and then he gave me an opal necklace. (my birthstone) Kelsey gave me a mother daughter necklace that made me cry. Keira made me a sweet card and Kyle made me a certificate and card. It was such a sweet day and one that I will cherish. It has been a rough few years transitioning with older kids and "feisty" Kenna. She can still be an armful, but she is maturing in some ways and getting a little easier. When she is in a good mood she is really cute!!!
As I watch each of them grow and develop it is amazing to me to realize how much I love this job called mom. I may not have the great paying job or some cool degree that will earn me a great paying job-anthropology degrees probably are not worth much :) but I finished what I started and I do still hope to get a graduate degree one day...
But looking at how in the blink of an eye Kyle and Kelsey are turning into handsome and beautiful young adults-it makes me sad to think that I thought I appreciated all the time I have had with them and yet I wish I had more....The next 6 years with Kyle will go by so fast it makes me sad to realize that he and Kelsey will be in college in 7 years. So sad....I will really miss them...
Don't get me wrong-I love Keira and Kenna just as much and I look forward to all of the time I have left with them and I know that I can appreciate that time just as much-and that being a mom does not end when they leave home and that the next 7 years will not be easy-but these kids are so precious to me and I love every minute I get to spend with them and with Jeremy as a family. It has been a lot of fun!
Thank you Jeremy for not giving up on me and believing in me all of these years. I know it is not always easy and that at times it is easier to give up and start over, but I still believe in true love and still believe that Black Hawk's song "Love Like This" is our song. Thanks for sharing this ride called parenthood with me all of these years and I look forward to all of the years to come....

One of the moments of being a parent...

2010-04-28T10:27:00.002-05:00

So we took family pictures last week with Kelsey of course. I know I keep giving shameful plugs on my blog and facebook, but I really think she is the best photographer with how she captures personality in a way that most people are not able to. It is an art and she is an artist. I have not even seen most of them, but as I looked at the sneak peek of my own kids and then looked at a sneak peek of some mutual friends' kids the stark reality of how fast my kids are growing up hit home even harder. I am not sure where the time has gone. On some days it seems just yesterday that it was Kyle who was the 3 or 4 year old that was the sun kissed blonde kid causing trouble in Primary with these mischief laden blue eyes. Not much has changed in almost 10 years as Kelsey can attest from our photoshoot-he is still full of mischief and mayham, but he will be a teenager in 3 short months. When I look at Kelsey, she is this beautiful strong smart athletic young woman now. Not the little chubby blond toddler with a toothy grin that I probably will always see her as....And Keira...well she is not a baby anymore that is for sure...She is definately a six year old full of opinions and ideas and worries and wanting to be like her big sister and brother. When she gives us her true smile it will always remind me of the day she was born....Then there is Kenna....she is still a handful...she is still clingly....she is still opinionated like no other...but she does not look like a baby anymore. She is a preschooler on her way to becoming a little girl. I am entering a new phase in life and it definately shows in these pictures... Now if only I could catch up to Jeremy in the weight loss department and look younger like he does then while the kids look older and we look younger it will all balance out in the end......RIGHT????

Four years

2010-04-19T21:56:00.003-05:00

Four years ago today I had a miscarriage at 13 weeks. I always believed in having a spirit before we came to earth-it was one of the principles that drew me to the church. I had a connection to this baby that I had not had with the others. Even as I began to bleed like the other pregnancies on Easter I just figured it would be a long pregnancy. When I got the news on the 17th that there was no heartbeat, I prayed for a miracle. But by the middle of the night on the 18th I knew that was not to be the case. I can not deny the Lord's hand in those four days. I had a blessing from Jeremy that carried me through the night until we made it to the doctor. And I felt his little spirit with me all that time. It wasn't until I woke up after the procedure that it was so profound. I knew he was with me before the D&C and gone afterwards. So I have that testimony of we lived before we came here. I can only hope that even if I never got the chance to hold him in my arms and get to know him as others have with the children they have known and loved and lost-I hope that I will get that chance one day. One of my mission friends posted pictures of her 20 week baby's hands and feet impressions that was lost last year and it was amazing to be reminded just how fragile life is and to appreciate every moment that we have....

My thanks to Chick Fil A

2010-03-31T22:41:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to share my experiences lately with how amazing the people at Chick fil A have been to us. Mainly because it really got on my nerves today when I went to Sonic and got the girls cherry slushes and asked them to put in a cherry and they charged me 10 cents for each cherry! Ok so I know that they are now charging for flavors when they did not used to. I know the market is tight and the ecomony is tight and they do their little happy hour every day to get people to come in and hopefully buy food as well. But come on-I have to pay now for a cherry in a cherry slush?
So on to my Chick Fil A story...On Saturday Kelsey had a party in the Woodlands so the little girls and I stayed over there during the party. We found a really cool park to play at, feed the ducks and get really dirty! Kenna had a blast learning to climb the climbing wall and Keira discovered that she loves to slide down the firemen's pole and really big slides! They both loved playing in the sand as well. So I still had 2 more hours to kill after all of that so we found a Chick fil A for dinner. (Their new favorite place to eat) After finishing their entire kid's meals each girl decided that they wanted an ice cream shake since that is what Kelsey got to have over spring break....Well, I knew that they could not eat a whole one and I did not want one...oh what to do, what to do. So I ordered one shake and I took it back to the table and I split it between two cups and gave it to the girls. Well, there were tears that they both did not get whipped cream and a cherry!!!! So I went back up to the counter and asked the guy how much it would be for whipped cream and a cherry. He got a bowl made a huge pile of whipped cream and topped it with a cherry and handed it to Kenna! This made her night! Keira was happy with her ice cream and I was so happy not to have ice cream!!! But this is just one of the many things they have done for my girls over the many trips we have made recently thanks to sports and tournaments! They have given them balloons, we have gotten a whole extra order of nuggets when the order came out wrong, the manager always gives Keira a handful of mints when she asks upon leaving-which makes her day or night!!! And what has been the most impressive of all is that the kids 4 piece nugget meal with fruit is less expensive than the four piece nugget meal at McDonald's, Burger King, or Whataburger! For a mere $3.39 you can get it with fruit and for $2.89 you can get it with fries! So when you add the customer service to that it really makes for a better dining experience. And well the disposable placemats have become my favorite thing when eating out for the little girls there! At the one in the woodlands there were even little things of Cheerios for the babies while they were waiting for the food! So props to Chickfilas and all that they do to go above and beyond in this day and age when everyone else is cutting corners and nickel and diming you. I appreciate and I hope that others do too! Plus they are closed on Sunday so their employees can spend time with their families!

The little Mommy

2010-03-29T15:13:00.002-05:00

Kenna is our little Mommy....I don't think even Kelsey loved baby dolls as much as Kenna does!!!

Kelsey's lost bday picture!!!

2010-03-29T15:11:00.001-05:00

Happy bday Booty Baby!!!

Is this not the sweetest picture?

2010-03-29T15:09:00.002-05:00

You've Just Been EGGED!!!

2010-03-29T14:38:00.003-05:00

So I am going to have to go backwards because these was such a fun surprise for the girls! An unnamed person left these little treats on our front lawn this afternoon and this note on the front door! The glee, delight, and joy that was expressed by Keira and Kenna as we pulled up after school was so wonderful that I can't thank this person enough for their heartfelt kindness for picking us. It was a treat that my kids will remember and I am grateful for this little act of service and creativity that really brightened their day! Thanks so much to our special Easter Friends.....

2010-03-25T13:07:00.002-05:00

I will get the Spring break post up...I know I am turning into the sparse blog poster, but Iguess it has just been busy. We had fun and I need to catch up. It was a great week off. We have all been healthy-I keep fighting off the sinus infections this spring, not the kids, but other than that things have just been busy with baseball and soccer in the Woodlands. I might want to move there one day....just so I can drive less....but I digress...Pictures to come and details of our adventures.....

Life is what we make if it

2010-03-15T14:25:00.003-05:00

My friend Sheri told me about these books that I just had to read last weekend at Kyle's baseball tournament by Jeannette Walls. She said they were written by a woman who was maybe 5 years older than us at the most but her life stoyr was amazing! So on Tuesday she dropped her book by as well as the "novel" she wrote about her grandmother's life. These two books are incredible reminders that it is our attitude and what we do with it that determines what we take out of the challenges we are faced with. She faced alcoholism, homelessness, no indoor plumbing, going hungry and going through the trash for food as a child and teenager-yet became a writer and is now published with a college degree. But most of all she is not bitter about her upbringing, she is not bitter about the life her parents raised her in or their struggles-she chose to see it a positive light. What an amazing reminder to the strength of the human spirit....

And I love her grandmother's phrase half broke horses, but maybe that is because I am a horse person....but these are great books and I highly reccomend them. But on The Glass House I have to put out a warning that since her father was an alcoholic there is some foul language so if that is offensive then just know that it is an amazing story.

Yeah- I found that SPARK Again!

2010-03-11T15:43:00.003-06:00

So I am a nerd, I know, but I am excited that I found these products again after so many years! I was a distributor many years ago when the company was still new and young. I believed in the nutritional products then, but just got busy with life and stopped using them. When Kelsey and Kyle were swimming last summer I started talking to one of Kyle's friend's dad's who was a distributor and although it has taken me almost a year to finally become one again-I am so excited to have these products back in my life, mainly because I wanted the discount :). Spark has these great b vitamins that just bring a smile to my face that I love and seem to really balance me out. You can check these products out at Advocare.com( I even have a website there somewhere) , but if I seem more peppy in the next little while-you will know why....Hopefully it follows with some serious weightloss and athletic prowess returning as well....

Little Kenna pictures

2010-03-09T15:04:00.002-06:00

Here are Kenna's baby pictures in honor of her birthday that just passed as well...

Feb 14, 2007

7' 4'

21 1/2 inches

12:43pm

College Station, Tx

Here is Keira-those first few days...

2010-03-09T14:56:00.002-06:00

What a cutie.....

March 11, 2004

College Station, Tx

2:02pm

8' 5'

21 inches long

Hard to believe Kyle and Kelsey were that little....

And can't believe just how jaundiced she really looked-They almost didn't let us bring her home...now I can really see why....

My Miracle Baby....

2010-03-09T14:01:00.004-06:00

Well, Keira turns six on Thursday. It is hard to believe that this little spitfire will be that old. I have written before of the endometriosis and the prognosis they gave me in 1994. I have always claimed that Kyle and Kelsey were my mission blessings. After Kelsey was born it became apparent that it would not be so easy anymore. We tried for almost 4 years when the hormones had made me so sick I was ready to give up and come to understand that my family was complete at two. I prayed and fasted one last time for a miracle and told the Lord I would stop telling Him what to do. Ironically, one month later, I found out I was pregnant....It was not the easy pregnancy like the others. I was on bed rest a lot. I ended up with a c-section because she was breech from the very first sonogram and never turned. They could never tell us what she was and we had the hardest time agreeing on a girl's name. But when they finally placed her in my arms I will never forget that feeling of realizing it was all worth it. The older kids spoiled her( they were over 5 and almost 7 by now), grandparents spoiled her, and we spoiled her! She was such a happy baby and probably our healthiest baby. She loved her mommy and was this little pixie. She still is...Of all of the kids she looks the most like me, she has the wildest side, she already has a knack for fashion and shoes, she would rather have make up and clothes than cleats and a ball. She will ask for diet coke and a salad by nature-she is a girly girl through and through....And I love all the "pooterisms" that make up each day and will miss them as she grows up. I know each one of my children is a miracle when it was a question mark on having any of them, but the long wait for her always makes her birthday right before spring break a little bit sentimental for me....

To my Valentine....

2010-02-25T06:32:00.003-06:00

So I know it is almost March and I have glazed over Valentine's Day. With Kenna's birthday being on Valentine's Day it has a tendency to get overshadowed by the birthday. But I wanted to add that Jeremy was very sweet to surprize me all month long with little things to brighten my day. He knows that one of my very favorite candies are the conversation hearts so he put them on my pillow spelling out I heart U ! Then he got me yellow carnations when I told him I never got carnations in school when we were talking about getting carnations for the girls this year. He wrote me a sweet poem to go along with the little chocolate he got me as well since he knows I am trying to get back in shape. He also knew that it would be a crazy weekend so he took me out to dinner on Friday night to celebrate Valentine's day our 15th together. So even though 3 years ago he told me I would have to wait 18 years to celebrate another Valentine's day-he really spoiled me this year. I am grateful for all of his romantic surprises this month and I appreciate all of them. He has even gone out of his way to fill of my gas tank for me! (see previous post) So thanks my handsome doc ;)! I love ya and I am so glad that you are mine!

My tribute to Trudy and Andi

2010-02-24T14:34:00.002-06:00

These two women at Dr. Shaw's front office are awesome!!! (Don't worry everyone else I will be in soon with a camera for the rest of you!!) They are always so sweet and cheery to everyone even the people who are grouchy and mean. But they are especially sweet and kind and caring to all of my kids. Keira and Kenna talk about them on a regular basis and they always brighten our day. They show interest in my kids and listen when Kyle wants to talk about baseball or Kelsey wants to talk about her current topic of interest or Keira wants to talk about make up or Kenna just wants to cuddle. Thanks ladies for being awesome!!!

Here is Mixer the Hedgehog

2010-02-23T14:31:00.003-06:00

Here is Kels's birthday present, Mixer the hedgehog. We have fallen in love with this little guy. He is a lot of fun, not smelly and loves his mealworms and crickets. He visited Mrs. Guzzo's classroom and was a champ with 21 kindergarteners then visited Mr. Cannon's classroom with 27 fifth graders. I was really impressed by how well he did. I thank Animal Ark for this pet reccomend!! We have loved him!!

the baby"s third bday

2010-02-23T11:40:00.003-06:00

well it is official, my baby is 3 and my oldest is on his way in a few months to being 13.....where does the time go???? I have to add the build a bear accessory trip for Becky Bear, but she was a sport putting up with a soccer tournament. Kelsey won first place so it was a good day, but she loved her bday and her little party at chuckie cheese with a few friends. Kelsey is now 11 as well and her party is this weekend so more pictures to come....

This Stuff is Amazing not just Advantage....

2010-02-23T09:59:00.005-06:00

I just have to post this on my blog! When we moved to College Station in 2001 a young inner city kid stopped by the house with this product and said I can clean anything with this. I told her yeah right. My bath tub is so old and nasty I have tried everything! (We were students and in a rental in the historic part of CS) I told her if you clean my entire bathtub and make it white again I will buy the bottle. She cleaned my bathtub and it was white and spotless!!! Well, that concentrated bottle lasted me for 4 years because I didn't know where to reorder it and treated it like gold. It got out everything!!! I loved it! Well, I was gone about a month ago and Jeremy was outside and a kid stopped by and showed Jeremy how it would take the mold off of the driveway. He was shocked. So he bought a bottle after the kid was able to get sharpie off of a towel in front of Jeremy. So I use it all of the time now, but as I was mopping yesterday and catching up from being sick and being gone I thought I have tried everything to clean my grout and nothing works so I wonder.... Well I took my mop edge and just rubbed and do you know what? My grout looks like new!!!! So I won't have to pay someone a ton of money to have my grout cleaned before I need to reseal it! I love this product even more!!!

This past weekend I remembered my camera!!!

2010-02-23T09:08:00.002-06:00

So we were back in Sugarland, but this time it was not wet and cold and muddy!!! But we were playing in the National Fusion Soccer CLub Tournament which is on the 59 and Grand Parkway side instead of the Eclipse side of Sugarland which is more in Missouri City. These fields were rock hard and parking was a NIGHTMARE!!!!

Keira got to the the bat girl for the Warriors this weekend so she LOVED being with her dad and big brother and a dugout full of boys and everyone telling her how cute she looked in her pink helmet. We had our adopted "nephew" since Kyle won't let me adopt him as a brother, Drew for the weekend (Kyle's best friend and one of Keira's many crushes). So it was fun for her to be with them.

It was fun for me to just have two girls as well. Kenna and I got to sit on the sidelines and then we hung out after the first game. We watched a movie in the car to relax and keep out of the wind but mostly just be together. Kelsey played great on the field and even scored a goal!! The disappointing news was two of our best girls were out this weekend due to injuries so we had to play girls in new places and new chemistries but I thought they did a great job and we made it to the finals playing against her old team twice. We lost in the finals 2-1 and got second place, but the girls played great and I am proud of all of them. It is sad that she can't play until May 24, 2010, but Coach Kim said she gets to be an assistant coach at the games and Kelsey was really excited about that. She even made sure she was going to the game this Saturday. What a miraculous turn around from where she was a few months ago. I really struggled with this move but always felt like it was the right decision. Every time I talked to Coach Kim I always felt like she understood the girls. When she held a parent meeting on Sunday before the first game she went over the schedule for the Spring and league games starting this Saturday, mentioned that Kelsey wasn't allowed to play, to remember to just cheer your daughter on, and then she said your daughters at this age are already competitive enough by themselves. They are unsure of themselves at this age and they are unsure of their skills. They need you and me as a coach to encourage them and give them confidence that they know their stuff so they will succeed when they are in those pressure situations and in games. So be there for your girls and encourage them and build them up. Even Kenna runs up to her and lets her pick her up and hold her and play with her. She is an amazing woman who cares about these girls as individuals. It goes back to what I have always said. As a parent you want the person you turn your child over to-to love them like you do-With Coach Kim you feel like she does. And this group of parents-they are all just as kind and compassionate. I maybe the only one on the team with little ones, but I don't feel left out or out of place-they are incredible and I know Kelsey is on the right team. It is not about winning or losing. She is developing a talent that may open some awesome doors for her in the future......and I look forward to next year when we start homeschooling and we get to spend even more time together as well. It is nice to be in a good place....

I don't have pictures, but Kyle and the Warriors had a great weekend as well in their first tournament of the Spring. They made it to the semi-finals. Kyle's pitching was off the charts this weekend!!!He was throwing something fierce and nasty and they could not touch him!! And his batting was just as wicked!!! Sometimes I wish I could be in two places at once!! Way to go Kyle!!!

Good, Better. Best. But What do you do when you find Amazing?

2010-02-15T18:23:00.004-06:00

So I am having one of those moments again....the ones where you have that inner battle....I want to give my kids the best of everything and I want to stay balanced and focused on the important things but I still want their one activity to be a good one. If they have a rare talent in that activity how far is too far to let them take it?

I have two with this ability....I struggle with this decision probably weekly, but more so in the spring and the fall. I know the good, better, and best talk. I know that even though I am teaching my kids to follow the Lord that I could do a better job and teach them to take the best road, but I am not. It is not the worldly awards that I want for them as a mom-it has for me been amazing to watch them grow into their talent over the years. As others played on Sunday we did not-We held back. When others went to select-we waited until there were no longer options and level playing fields. But still with amazing are there still limits and if there are how will the doors open for progression in that field?

I know with Kyle it is his dream that he plays for the New York Yankees when he grows up. I know that he trains hard and he works hard and he eats, sleeps, and breathes baseball. He has a wicked fastball and a killer curve ball. He is a great baseball player. But he is also a worthy priesthood holder and he does his very best to be there every Sunday he can. He does his best to get to all the church activities that he can. He like his friends at church. But he isn't there every Sunday during baseball season when he is at a tournament. He isn't there every Wednesday when there is practice. He is an honor student that still has homework to get done as well. And he has all A's but keeps fighting that one B in 6th grade-not bad for ALL honors classes. He is such a responsible kid who loves his sisters and helps out at home and has such a sweet heart. He is funny and witty and handsome. It makes me sad to think I only have 6 1/2 more years with him. It will go by WAY too fast!!!

Then there is Kelsey. She has this amazing talent as a goalkeeper in soccer. As I have mentioned we made the decision to switch clubs and she has made some new friends and the trainers are incredible and the change has helped that talent shine so much that her new team has walked away with a 1st and 2nd place trophy both tournaments they played. She smiles when she goes to soccer. She dives and jumps and pounds and bounds and punts.....She only had 2 goals scored on her all weekend this past weekend and one was a fluke that bounced off the girls knee. I am amazed when I watch her. She makes it look so easy. Just like her brother in baseball. They are pressure positions and they just let it fly.....But as I watched yesterday and I thought about it being Sunday I couldn't help but wonder I hope that even if these are good decisions as a parent I am still doing the right thing. Being a parent is sooo hard sometimes.....I just want these beautiful kids of mine to turn out happy and well rounded and grounded with a strong relationship to Heavenly Father and their Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet the doors that could be opened with these talents are some amazing doors as well....

Maybe one day I will have the answers.....there was a high councilman who got up with this talk I refer to and said in the end now that his daughter had played sports on a college scholarship at BYU and met her husband and gotten married it was not worth it and if he could do it over again he would not play sports on Sunday. I guess ask me in 10 years when they are all grown up and in college and I will be able to answer that question.....Until then I can only ask for advice from my wiser friends who might know better than I.....

My Tribute to Kelsey Call Photography!!!

2010-02-12T11:58:00.002-06:00

http://www.kelseycallphotography.com/

Here is one of my favorite pictures of Kenna from last year! I can't wait for this year's pictures that will include all of the kids, but I love the mischief that she caught in Kenna's eyes that is sooo Kenna! She is a soo full of life when not in public and Kelsey caught that! I could post a whole bunch but this one just shows that Kelsey can get even the kid that won't talk to anyone out of her shell!!! She rocks!!!

I am not a big Chocolate person, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE THESE!!!

2010-02-11T14:47:00.002-06:00

So I am on the boxtops email list and got on a survery group that randomly gets things to try out before the public. Well, I got the new box of Chocolate cheerios this week and let me tell you that these cheerios are soooo good! There are other flavored cheerios that I do not care for, but these rock!! I think I could eat the whole box!!! I do not like chocolate cereal, but these are really good! Plus there is only 100 calories per serving, 2 grams of fiber, 9 grams of whole grains, and they taste good-plus they are good for your cholestorel too! So I am loving these things!!!

Question to the Blog world

2010-02-09T11:47:00.001-06:00

So I see that a lot of you are or have gone private....

So I am taking a poll-send me a comment on why you did and what your thoughts are on that... I am debating on if I should or not... So to the cyberworld if anyone cares out there-send me your thoughts.....

Kelsey's Birthday!!!

2010-02-08T14:58:00.002-06:00

So my first baby girl is 11 today! She was born at 6:30 pm after an induction that was 10 days early. the doctor believed that since Kyle was big and late-he figured she was getting big so he'd go ahead and induce. Well, I wasn't progressing very well, but did not feel any contractions at all. When I got to a four, Jeremy insisted that b/c we were private pay he was ordering the epidural so that if I changed my mind later it he would still get his money's worth. :) Which in the long run was a good thing-b/c her shoulders got stuck and several boosters later and several locals later and an exceptional doctor trying to avoid a c-section with Kelsey practically delivered-he got her out. I did not realize how scary the situation was until afterwards and we saw how bruised and red she was-but she stole our hearts right away. I thought I wanted all boys, but she changed not only my mind, but Jeremy's as well! She came in at a whooping 9 pounds 8 ounces and 21 inches long. They had to go to another floor to find diapers that would fit her! She was such an angel through it all. It was my first private room. I loved the whole experience!!
I can't believe it has been three years since she was baptized! I can't believe in one year she will be 12 and entering the young women's program at church. I can't believe she is now legal to babysit!!!
So to all my friends here in Humble who love Kelsey-she is now legal for you to call! She will be taking the babysitting course that includes first aid and CPR soon. She just had soccer the weekends that Eagle Springs is doing it. (Kyle is available to babysit as well. He is great with the boys) She can't play on the weekends thanks to EDDOA after the 27th of Feb through the end of May-so other than Monday, Wednesday, and Thursdays-she is free to babysit-unless of course we get to her first!! :)
But most of all, it is so amazing to have watched this little baby grow up so fast before my eyes. I know I griped yesterday about how crummy I have felt and how I can't stand how messy the house is right now-but I know that I will eventually catch up-Dr. Shaw took Xrays and I do have a sinus infection so he gave me some serious antibiotics and steriods so I better be feeling better SOON! But I am so thankful for this amazing girl the Lord sent to me. She is a gift that even in her blonde moments teach me so much about love, charity, kindness, smartness, dilligence, and joy. Each of my children have given me so much-Kelsey has shown me that I can raise daughters.....when I didn't think I could....not because I am a good parent, but because the Lord sent me good kids and He knows them!!!

I think I am turning into a wimp....

2010-02-07T21:06:00.002-06:00

So I see that a whole week has gone by....I have not posted pictures like I had planned-I ended up with a cold that seems to have turned into a sinus infection and I have been totally useless here at home and well with everything!! I was soo glad it that b/c of the tournament soccer was cancelled on Monday and it rained on Thursday so I only had to drive to the Woodlands once last week. Kelsey was upset-but I wasn't. I just wanted to spend the entire week in bed with some chicken soup and a few good movies....Does any other mom ever get a cold and feel that way? Or am I just getting old and turning into a wimp about the little stuff? I am behind on folding all of the landry and doing some of it as well. I need to mop and scrub and clean the upstairs. I have given it time to go away on its own, but to no avail-so I am going to the dr tomorrow to beg for something to make it go away so I can reclaim my house and my life.

She's Smiling!

2010-02-01T11:17:00.006-06:00

So we played in our first tournament with the Rush soccer club this weekend! It was a cold cold weekend, but it was a great weekend!!

kelsey played on the field and in the goal in the five games that we played this weekend. As you can see she is happy and smiling! She was so excited and is loving this new team! I just wish that she could play league games with them in the Spring. I really don't like EDDOA and think they are a bunch a crusty old men! But what do I know, right? If you had seen Kels on the field before these pictures and now-you could see the night and day change! Kim and Juli are amazing women and coaches! I can't thank them enough for bringing the fun back into soccer for her! She played her heart out and in the hard games the parents still applauded her and knew she did her best. This was the right move and I am glad that we did it. So she wore three pairs of leggings, two pairs of shorts (one I had to rinse out before the final game), three pairs of socks, two jerseys, and three keeper jerseys!!!! Aas well as both pairs of keeper gloves that I had to wash out before the final game so she could wear them again they were soooo muddy!!!!!!!

So we ended the weekend with a second place trophy on PKs! Kelsey beat the other keeper who was bigger than she was! The girls just missed a few shots on goal and their girls got it past Kelsey. So the team knew it wasn't her fault alone. It was such a different experience than in the past. I really like these group of parents and despite the cold and the wet and the little girls being stuck in the car and how much gas we wasted letting them watch movies to stay warm-it was a great weekend!

She only gets to play in two more tournaments this month and then no more games until the summer, but we get to train with the team. And I know without a doubt that we made the right decision!

Just look at that smile!!

Perception

2010-01-27T23:21:00.003-06:00

so you realize in the course of your life that your words are not always perceived how you say them. This holds true especially when you become a parent!!!

For example:
Keira-don't climb down the landscaped side of the hill. (She is now 60 seconds later starting to climb down that said slope with Kenna following right behind) Then a little later i tell her to NOT do something and she is DOING that EXACT thing!!! This has been the story of Keira and I's relationship lately. We just are not on the same page. I hope that we will one day get on the same page-but that may never happen....(I am a mom who believes in letting kids express themselves-my disclaimer-so I pick my battles-clothes are NOT one of them)

Case in Point....Keira came down the stairs today wearing a pink and maroon striped long sleeve shirt, khaki shorts, long socks that came up to her thighs that at the top had white fur and were multi colored blocked with snowflakes on them and her red boots. She was in heaven. I told her she reminded me of Junie B. Jones and she just LOVED that! That is when Kelsey told her she just needed a bow in her hair so I had to add a big maroon bow to her hair! So I will post a picture of her tomorrow! The ironic thing is if I had to guess I was probably a lot like her.....

But on a serious note, I learned that if we just talk AT people and don't stop to listen then we might miss what they HEAR us say. Their perception is just as important as what we are saying. It is true in a marriage, a friendship, a leadership role, as a parent, as a teacher.
I have watched Kelsey these past few days and sessions with soccer and I have watched what is different with the trainers. These trainers talk to her, have her repeat back what they just told her, and then have her execute it. They make sure that what they are teaching is understood and the kids perception is what they are trying to teach. The other trainers whether in Humble or College Station just talked AT the kids.
But I thought about this when Kyle told me on Saturday that he liked to ride with certain people because they took the time to ask him about what Kyle was interested in not just topics that he was supposed to be doing. He got to know Kyle on Kyle's level. It made me see just how much we can make or break friends, youth, our own children and especially our own spouses. We are most apt to be the harshest with those we are closest to b/c we want so much from them. But I have learned that if we will stop and ask them simple questions a lot of problems can be solved easily.
On a personal note, I am so happy to have gone running 3 out of the past 5 days! And walking also! It has been a great feeling! Now off to bed so I can get up and keep doing it!

Best Sugar Cookie EVER, No REALLY!!!

2010-01-24T22:09:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I don't have a cool picture to post with it like my fellow blogger Cara, but I will post one once I make pretty ones. :) I was just trying out the recipe tonight for FHE. I had this bag of self rising flour and had read somewhere that it makes great cookies as well as biscuits and bread so I went hunting for a recipe. And let me tell you-I found it!

Soft, not too Sweet, and just like a perfect Sugar Cookie should Be.....

Preheat Oven to 375

1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
2 eggs
3 teaspoons of vanilla (you can use less according to your taste-my family wanted this much in the batter)
2 1/2 cups self rising flour

Cream butter and sugar. Add Eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. Add flour one cup at a time. Divide in half. Wrap in plastic and seal tight! Chill in fridge for 2 hours.

Take out of Fridge, dust counter with powdered sugar, roll out dough on counter, use favorite cookie cutters, place on parchment paper on top of cookie sheet (this is a must whenever you bake cookies!!!)

Bake at 375 for 5-7 minutes unless you are baking thicker cookies then it will take about 9-10 minutes.

These are great plain, but I will frost them for the kids! I am so excited about this recipe and especially with Valentine's Day coming up.

Yes, I know that I have agreed that it is not really Valentine's Day for the next 16 years, but I will still make heart cookies while I celebrate the Chuchie's 3rd birthday! :}
I'll post pictures of these cookies once I frost them! A

And if you would like some and you live near me-
leave me a comment and I'll bring you cookies!

Love Languages

2010-01-21T09:01:00.002-06:00

So over the Christmas break I read the book the five love languages for couples by Gary Chapman. In it he talks about the way we can lose our ability after marriage to communicate with our spouses b/c we don't talk in the same love language. So I had heard about these love languages for kids since Kelsey was in kindergarten. Her teacher, Mrs. Bushman (now), loved this book for kids and would tell me how she would use it for discipline in her classroom. I was her room parent and was in there ALL the time so I saw how effective she was! She had so many boys in her class as well as two boys at home as a single mom and her class was always under control. I just loved her!
Well I never read the book, but always thought good things about these "love languages". Well, Jeremy had a friend who told him about this book a few months back and mentioned just how different he and his wife's love languages were. We talked about it and then just kind of let it go. Then on Christmas Eve we stopped by another friend's house and I can't remember how this book came up again and he said he just LOVED that book. He had seen it transform marriages that were on the brink of divorce and that when he and his wife read it-it really opened their eyes to how differently they looked at giving and receiving love.
So he offered the book to us and we gave in and read it and.....yes...it is an amazing book! I can see how Ms. Congleton now Mrs. Bushman would have so much success in helping little boys behave now because she took the time to understand how to reach them in their love language. Don't you wish all teachers did that? How many less behavior problems would their be if teachers took the time to understand the kids they have and their personalities? It is a rare teacher these days that does that-but to those teachers that my kids have had that do-I salute them! I could name each one of them since there are only 6 out of the 26 teachers!
And as far as the couple communication goes....I highly recommend it to all couples! It helps you see that what you feel is a huge way of expressing love and support for you may not be for your partner. For example, I have always very lovingly filled up my husband's gas tank when I drive his car when it is empty and make sure that he is never without a full tank. I felt I was showing how much I loved him by taking care of this task for him every time I borrowed his car. I tried to move the seat back, etc. but the gas was the big one b/c I made a special stop to get it done for him. But he never said anything and whenever he took my car it never was filled up and sometimes it was close to empty when I got it back. I always got mad at him for it. (This is a trivial example, but it is a building block for bigger things) So as we read this book and I saw that one of my love languages is acts of service. So I explained the gas tank thing to him. He had NO IDEA! He did not know that I got mad at him for leaving the tank until it was empty. He did not realize how much it meant to me to leave his car with a full tank for him. It was not a big deal TO HIM. So we have really changed a lot of things thanks to this book.
My house is cleaner :) the gas tank is full :) I smile more :) I have taken the time to really figure out which ones my children are-that aren't screaming out to us. It has helped me appreciate Jeremy more each day.

So we made it!

2010-01-15T21:18:00.002-06:00

So it has been a week! I will not say that night times are completely dry yet, but my baby is a big girl now! She is diaper free! She has had maybe two accidents in the past 10 days and has stayed dry most nights!! She tells me when she has to go and she has been a big girl about it all. But I must add that I still put potty training as one of my least favorite parenting tasks! We all go through it as parents. We all know how it feels once you have a child, but it doesn't make it any easier when it happens to you even if it is the fourth time around!!
So yesterday we are in Kohl's....and I am trying to find an undergarment which is on sale....which as you know with a toddler in tow is embarressing anyway as they yell-hey mom how do you like these boobs? Or what about these boobs? Uh...Yeaaaah....well then she says mom I have to go potty! So I tell her, ok get in the stroller and I will give you a ride to the potty! So she hops in and she yells run mommy! I walk briskly as she yells "Mommy hurry up I have to go poop, Mommy! I have to pee, Mommy!" As I am passing several people on the way to the restroom on the OTHER side of the store! So we get to the restroom and THANK GOODNESS there is a FAMILY restroom! Whoever invented this concept had to be a MOM because it was a lifesaver!!! I was in there for the next 15 MINUTES! While she sat on the mini toliet, narrating stories for me about random things basically all made up! So after asking her at least 20 times are you done yet? She finally says yes and we get to wash our hands with foamy soap and dry our hands with the paper towels-of course she has to do it all by HERSELF! I now have 10 minutes to finish finding the things I came for before we have to get home in time for Keira!
So the moral of my story? You never know what will happen in the life of a mom with a toddler/preschooler-today she spilled an entire gallon of Memonade all over the counter, in the drawer, and on the floor all in the time in took me to run into my room and back (maybe 3 minutes)!
But with the Chuchie-you REALLY never know what each day will bring, BUT I AM GRATEFUL for every crazy, insane moment that this life brings....

Potty Training.....

2010-01-10T18:48:00.003-06:00

So I decided that this was the week that no matter what happened I was going to start Kenna in underwear....

And what happened...Kyle got a stomach bug and stayed home from school for three days!!! But I stuck with it and she has been in underwear since Thursday! It is a little sad to say that my last baby is wearing underwear, but she is doing a great job of it. She has taken to it like a champ. She did protest verbally, but she complied. Thursday and Friday were challenging mornings, but she did a good job and only had one accident when I left her with Kyle while I went to go pick up Keira from school. But she was in the bathroom when it happened! She has been willing to actually wake up and go to the bathroom-which is awesome compared to the others! So I am grateful for that little bit of success. With all of the other challenges I have been through with Kenna I am skeptical that it will be this easy to say that we will be done with it all in a matter of a few days, but if it does she will be up there in the Kyle department of potty training!But I will not have a baby anymore. :( She will be three in 34 days. She is going to nursery pretty well-but that is all thanks to Chrissy who is the awesomest teacher ever!!!! I can't thank her enough for her patience and love for my daughter each Sunday!!!

So the singing potty, and the pretty underwear, and candy and a few days and we have mastered the last hurdle to being a big girl....

Unfornately, I guess that makes me officially old and not a young mom anymore....

Well I finally put up the curtains 2 years and 6 months later!!!

2010-01-06T14:26:00.002-06:00

So this picture is not a great one. And I know I cut off the amazing 20 foot ceiling by not having it be 20 feet long, but thanks Trudy for adapting these panels that were so hard to find to my liking and helping my living room look a little more like home. It may take me 30 years to finish my house, but I am so grateful to have a house that is a home with a husband who loves me and 4 great kids who have opportunities to do things that they love. These were my projects for last year-so who knows what it will be for 2010....Keep checking and now that Kenna is older maybe, just maybe I won't be flying by the seat of my pants all of the time, I might just catch up on things, and get this year's project done THIS YEAR!!!! ;)

Well there is hope anyway....(note previous post about all you can do is take a picture) that is still true on a daily basis...But I hope so....

more pictures.....

2010-01-06T14:21:00.002-06:00

well it was a great Christmas all around...Thanks for all of the grandparents who spoiled the kids and the aunts and uncles who did the same! Ya'll are awesome and we love ya tons!!!!! Wish we lived closer so we could have spent it all together!!! Maybe one day!

The promised pictures...

2010-01-06T13:36:00.003-06:00

Here are Christmas pictures.....The ones with all of the grandparent presents are on the other camera. So that will be a later post, but here is our little Christmas....

this is the dress from Patriot's day that I finished with the shawl and mob cap on with her hair in curls, right before she left for school.

This is how I found the cat one night-he has a fetish for water-he is so like a puppy is scary!

Catch Up-Pictures to Come later

2010-01-05T17:54:00.003-06:00

Ok so I know I have a lot of catching up to do. I will sit down tomorrow and upload all of the pictures from the visit to the farm, Christmas and all the down time we had over the past few weeks. It has been heaven and I am so sad to see it end. I have enjoyed spending time with my kids and Jeremy playing games, staying up too late, sleeping in too late, just enjoying each other. Christmas was wonderful and not too materialistic. The grandparents spoiled the kids as usual, but "Santa" brought the kids just enough and they remembered what the season meant. We shared out New Year's Eve with friends and it was wonderful and low key. Kenna as usual freaked out about the fireworks, but fell asleep around ten so she didn't have to deal with the super fireworks display our street put on this year! It was crazy!!! I even had to come in from all of the gunpowder smokeyness in the air!!! But our firepit kept us warm and it was a great night!
We spent time with friends and family-isn't that what it is all about?
Keira, Kenna, and Jeremy all struggled with sinus infection off and on throughout the holiday season. Kenna had a massive ear infection last week that thank goodness she has tubes or I think her ear drum would have burst! The amount of drainage was huge! I have never been soooo thankful for tubes in ears as I was last week! Keira was finally allergy tested and she is allergic mainly to molds. But we think that meds will keep her in check. That was a rough day yesterday, but she was a trooper!
Most of all I am grateful for the miracles that occur in our lives. We don't know when they will happen, but when they do they change us forever. Our outlook changes and we see things differently. We see God's hand in our lives and how He reaches down into our lives and helps us when we need it. I think if we answered on our timetable it would not be as sweet or as special. I am grateful for those answered prayers. For those miracles in my life that I was able to experience this Christmas. For a new understanding....

SPARK Christmas party

2009-12-17T19:19:00.002-06:00

Today was the SPARK Christmas party at Jumping Joey's. I wasn't sure if Kenna was going to like it, but I signed her up anyway. She had a lot of fun and I am so glad that we went! She even hugged Mrs. Gregory when we walked in!!! I am so excited about that I can't even tell you! I hope that by the end of the year she will even start talking to her! Kenna went up and down the big slide all by herself after I did it with her. She climbed up the dragon's mouth and slid down and came out the butt. :) We climbed thru the train. We played on the baby part. She jumped on the pirate ship. She jumped on the princess castle and slid down that slide too. She ate pizza and had a cookie. she even was given treats by friends from SPARK. It was such a neat experience! I just love this program and it has been such a blessing for Kenna and I. She is not the type of kid that could do a preschool without me and Mrs. Gregory is so good and the parent that go are really nice. I really do enjoy it. We only get in a few times a month, but it is worth it! I can't wait until she starts talking to her like she does at home! We even saw Addie, our friend from church there! It was a great morning! Then we picked up Kyle, and Cara, and Kyle C. and went to Mickey D's to play some more. Kenna should sleep good tonight!

Sometimes all you can do is take a picture!

2009-12-17T19:07:00.002-06:00

At the end of the craziness of no sleep-I had pulled out my flour to make sugar cookies for the kids. Well I had gone into the bedroom to ask Jeremy a questions and I thought it was too quiet so I walked into the kitchen and found the bottom two pictures! Of course she didn't like the flour on her-so she is sans the shirt-When I asked her what she was doing-she told me she was making piles of flour so she could make treats for Kyle. Yeah.....

The top picture is what happened tonight when I sat down on the floor to hold Keira who is not feeling well and in five minutes time, Kenna has managed to feed her baby applesauce and pour my diet coke and her strawberry milk into two glasses smush a cookie and spill it all onto the table! This is not an age that I enjoy from that side of things! I spend most of my days from now until my kids are about 4 cleaning up after their make believe worlds, but when I see that smile I can't help but take a picture and not get mad. Who knows-maybe one day they will do the same for their kids and after all I do own stock in those Clorox wipes after 12 years! :)

Just the normal flying by the seat of my pants

2009-12-13T01:01:00.003-06:00

So if you see me much you know that flying by the seat of my pants is normal. :) I am usually running from one thing to another. This week it was just me, though. Yes I survived with Jeremy in Chicago all week, but Kenna started to feel bad towards the end of the week when I was trying to get the Patriot's Day stuff done and so I didn't sleep much. Well it hasn't improved. I think my total in the past 3 days is 12 hours. Kenna was pulling at her ear tonight and I am still up b/c in this sleep deprived state I gave her the wrong medicine. In all the years of being sleep deprived I have never done that-I am SOOOO getting too OLD for this! And I am feeling pretty lame right now!
So here is my list of the things I did get done-make a costume, put up Christmas lights, Christmas garland, homework, get a car to and from a dealership, had triple car pool duty this week and still got Kenna to Spark. Even if it was late got Kelsey to soccer in Kingwood, made dinners, lunches, did hair, etc. So I did accomplish something this week.(note-this is more for me than for anyone else) I was able to spend a wonderful evening with a good friend on Tuesday that lifted my spirits and taught me so much! I love her tons! She has been such a great blessing in my life and the promptings that she would be a good close friend if I would just reach out were 100% true. I am grateful to the Lord for the people that He sends to be our friends in this life that we just click with.
I just hope that this is not the beginning of another long 4-6 months with Kenna-I am already worn out. I know I will get through it-it is just physically draining and I worry that I seriously turn into BAD mom when this happens. As I sit here Kenna is finally calm and watching TV so maybe there is hope we will get some sleep soon.....That is the recap of my week...let the new week begin!

Random Thoughts

2009-12-08T22:50:00.002-06:00

So I was thinking the other day that hope is a very powerful gift that God has given us. Heavenly Father knew that we needed it to make it through this life. Along with faith and love as the scripture says. But I have been thinking a lot about the role of hope in that trilogy of words. Trials come our way-it does not matter what we do in this life or how we live it-trials will come. No one is exempt. As the song says "He answers privately.Reaches my reaching.In my Gethsemane, Savior, and friend" We will all have our garden moments when we feel alone, but we should not lose hope. Life at times may bring us moments where all seems hopeless, but if we have faith and we reach for Him-he will give us the strength to get through, get up, move on, to change, to believe, to find peace, to know that God is in charge and He will not leave us alone. I don't understand His plan at times or the trials that some have to go through, but I know that I am grateful for that gift of hope that gives me faith that reminds me of God's love. This time of year we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and his life. We try to be kinder and gentler and better. We serve more, give more, do more. I may trip and fall short most days, but I am grateful for the Lord who believes in me and knows me and helps me to get back up and helps me do better the next day. To look for those in need each day around me so that I may be a servant of Him. I know the joy and the hope that is renewed when I can share God's love with those around me.
Here is a great quote from an apostle of the Lord
"“Be assured that there is a safe harbor. You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you. Your Heavenly Father—who knows when even a sparrow falls—knows of your heartache and suffering. He loves you and wants the best for you. Never doubt this."
Joseph B. Wirthlin, in Conference Report, Apr. 2000, 72; or Ensign, May 2000

More pictures to come....

2009-12-05T11:08:00.001-06:00

It is a SNOW DAY!!!!

2009-12-05T10:19:00.006-06:00

Well I took about 60 pictures or more of the snow and all of the fun we had. I won't bore everyone with all of the pictures, but I will post several for everyone to see. It was so much fun to have SNOW two years in a row! It was fun to have the kids get out early even if it was a pain to get them all at different times. I have a TON of laundry to do from all of the WET clothes because as TEXANS we are not prepared for SNOW and so the kids had to layer and change as they got wet! But it was so much fun to be out in it and play and have snow ball fights and wake up to snow on the ground this morning! The kids tried to make another snowman this year, but the boys kept knocking it in two or smashing the balls as they were stacking them so we never got one up all the way this year. But I got a few pictures of the neighbors snowmen. We did get a little one made. I think I made about 6 batches of hot chocolate yesterday and went through an entire bag of marshmallows! Last night we had pizza and movie night to end a fun day out in the snow. It was a lot of fun and I wouldn't complain if we got to do this once a year! :) I know other Texans would call me a traitor for saying that-but I would love to have snow once a year! It was the best when it snowed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2004 down at my mom's!!

Now for my little science experiment!!!! And why I love my dyson!

2009-12-02T12:14:00.003-06:00

Well-we had a day of cleaning before we left. We have two vaccumm cleaners in the house and the bissell is downstairs while the dyson is upstairs. I like the bissell stair tool so I keep it downstairs and I use the dyson upstairs for the kids bedrooms and all of their allergies. Well I decided that I would bring the dyson downstairs and test out how good of a job the bissell had been doing on my carpet downstairs. Ok-let me just tell you-when you see this picture. I vaccummed with the bissell and then with the dyson. The cup with the dyson was empty when I started!!!!!I know it is gross to think there is still that much dust and dirt in a carpet-but now I understand why the allergist keeps telling me I need to replace all of my carpet with hardwood floors-if only I had the $20,000 it would take to refloor the entire house!!! :) But then again who does these days! Anyway-I love my dyson even more now!!!!!

And so I got a little camera happy!!!!

2009-12-02T12:05:00.003-06:00

We went back and forth about whether we were going to go or not and at the last minute decided to go. And I am so glad that we did! We all had a lot of fun! I got great pictures and I look forward to our trip to the Valley in a few weeks to create more memories there too. It is such a blessing for my kids to have two sets of grandparents to create memories with! I am really grateful for that and grateful that they will have all of these wonderful memories to reflect upon!

More.....

2009-12-02T11:56:00.003-06:00

no matter the distance, no matter the time-they always enjoy each other's company! And those pies were heavenly!

Thanksgiving!

2009-12-02T11:43:00.003-06:00

Here is the first of some of the fun shots from Thanksgiving! It was a wild weekend, but the kids had a blast and I hadn't realized we had not been there since March! Wow! Time Flies! My battery died so I have pictures of baby Jaithin on my phone, but not my camera-so I will figure out how to get those on here too one of these days. He's a cutie as well! :)

Here you go, Kate-My Tagged Answers

2009-11-20T21:08:00.002-06:00

1. What were you doing ten years ago?
I was living in Boerne, Texas. (In previous years since I am old :) I had already graduated from college and gotten married.) Kyle was 28 months and Kelsey was 9 months old. Jeremy was working full time and going to school full time. I got to spend my days playing in the sand box, jumping on the trampoline, going to seaworld, going to the park, walking around the neighborhood-or chasing a naked Kyle around the neighborhood, spend Sundays with my sisters in laws and all of our babies at Grandmas for dinner while the boys all watched football. I was a counselor in the Relief Society presidency of our ward. It was a whirlwind of a time. But I would not trade a minute of it.

2.What are five things on your to-do list?
1. Laundry-that I am always behind on
2. I want to Clean Sweep my house-will someone come help me?
3. I need to mop my floors.
4. get more serious about my diet
5. get more serious about my exercise

3.What snacks do you enjoy?
I love pretzels, parm. goldfish, celery with peanut butter, apples, bananas and Diet Coke. The deadly snacks that I enjoy are Chex Mix, M &Ms, and popcorn, and Dublin Dr. Pepper and real Mexican Coke!

4.What are the places you have lived?
McAllen, Portland,Tx, Austin, Houston, Kingwood, Provo, Salt Lake City, Hemet, CA, Mission, El Paso, San Antonio, Boerne, College Station, Humble, Texas.

5.What are the 5 things you would do if you became a billionaire?
1. I would pay off our debts. (house and student loans) 2. buy land and build dream house in country 3. establish a program that helped parents/ spouses/soldiers pay for psychological care when they could not (after death, illness, long term, care, etc.) since even with coverage copays for mental health is so expensive it is often overlooked 4. I know this is selfish but I would take my family on a world tour over the course of a couple of years and see all of the places I long to see. 5. I would help kids and sports in some way

At the Park

2009-11-19T08:56:00.003-06:00

Keira's Thanksgiving program

2009-11-19T08:44:00.002-06:00

Keira was a pilgrim in her kindergarten program for Thanksgiving. As the teacher read her prepared script her line was "Mercy Me!" in a southern accent. It was pretty funny. She had been practicing her line and singing her songs for a couple of weeks and she was pretty excited for this day. It was fun to watch her. Jeremy and I were there with Kenna and then Kelsey got her GT teacher to let her out of class to come watch the program, but since it was only 5 minutes long-she missed it, but still got to see Keira. Keira did not want us to leave-she broke out in tears- so we signed her out and had a fun day at the park, then she wanted to go to McDonald's so we used our trick or treat coupons and the girls played there. When we got home the little girls played some more. It was a great day.

A Scary Reminder of How Quickly Life Can Change

2009-11-17T10:23:00.004-06:00

This morning at 8:30am life changed forever for Sue and Charlie. They live two houses down from me. I take Charlie to school every morning. I look at him as I do the other kids on the street as one of my adopted kiddos. So it was a shock when my neighbor knocked on my door at 8:45am this morning to tell me that their house was on fire. It took 20 minutes for the fire trucks to get there. The roof is almost completely gone. One side of the house looks really bad and I guess the back is even worse. They do not know yet what started it. It just breaks my heart to watch what this family is going through. Charlie just broke his ankle on saturday at a basketball game and now this. The trials of life are so hard. The challenges we all face alter each of us and I know Charlie and Sue will get through this-it just seems like as I get older those trials sure do get bigger and bigger. I have watched kids lose parents, parents lose kids. I have seen divorce, abuse, drug addiction, and suicide. I have seen one poor choice change not only one life, but all of the lives around him forever.

Don't get me wrong, I have hope. I have faith. I am so grateful to have a knowledge of God, our Heavenly Father. I know that I need to be more faithful. I need to have more hope. I need to trust in the Lord more. I just wonder what the bigger picture is. I know that we must know pain to know joy, but it seems that lately there has been a lot more pain than joy in a lot of people's lives.

I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for all of the blessings He gives me each day. I need to stop and count them today and take a moment to pray extra hard for this family to receive blessings. Life does go on, but when we look out for one another it sure makes life a lot sweeter and a lot easier to bear when you have a shoulder to lean on.

A reminder of what a great job I have

2009-11-16T14:24:00.002-06:00

MOTHERS
Real Mothers don't eat gourmet meals
they don't have time to make them.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
are probably in the sandbox in the backyard ..
Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
filthy ovens and happy, dirty kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough
doesn't come out of carpets, unless you cut it out.
Real Mothers don't want to know what
the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
and get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.
Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade... It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom.....

The Images of Motherhood
4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mom doesn't know that, either..
16 YEARS OF AGE - Mom? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

This was sent to me today. It was a great reminder of what a great calling the Lord has blessed me with each day. May I never take it for granted!

Stop The Music!!! They Let Her Out of the Goal!!!

2009-11-16T10:11:00.002-06:00

Well after it is all said and done-here it is- Kelsey finally getting to come out of the goal and play the last 8 minutes on the field-22 games later! She did an excellent job! She was great! She even scored a goal! (It was called back as a hand ball even though it bounced off of her leg) The officials were calling things to help out the other team b/c we were winning. But she was agressive, had a break away and it really showed that she loves playing soccer-not just as a goalkeeper, but as a player on the field. So I know that we have made the right decisions to support her and develop her as a player not as a position. I want to thank Maurice for the pictures! He got these of Kelsey for us this weekend so we can remember that she was on the field for 8 minutes of one game. I think politics and big money in youth sports when they are 10 in sickening and although we have been fighting it since we moved to Houston two years ago, I am glad that Kelsey still loves the game. We have found good friends from soccer. We have found some really ugly competitive sides of people as well. But most of all even if the lessons learned have been hard lessons at times, I am grateful for what I have learned.

And since she is my daughter and this is my blog-I get to write-

KELSEY ROCKS!!!!!

Kenna's first real Boo Boo

2009-11-10T15:56:00.002-06:00

Kenna got her first real booboo last night. She hit her mouth on the handle bars of
Kelsey's pink scooter. It was a bleeder! I was worried for a little bit that she had bit right on through the lip and we were headed to the ER. (I have only taken my kids twice! Kyle for a ruptured eardrum on mother's day on Kelsey for pulling her gums off of her teeth when she hit the side of the pool doing a back flip-back when she was in gymnastics) But luckily as it stopped bleeding it was not as bad as it looked. It still looks pretty nasty today and I am sure it will for awhile, but I am glad that she is ok.

I have a nasty sinus infection and an ear infection-so I am glad that I finally went in. I got some antibiotics and steriods and hopefully will start feeling better soon! I can't wait. Most of all I hope she sleeps tonight! I am exhausted from this cute little girl and ready for her to get back to sleeping and being happy and healthy!

The Fun and Not So Fun Filled Friday!!!!!

2009-11-10T15:40:00.003-06:00

Kenna and I are sitting in the waiting room at the hospital waiting for Jeremy while he had his colonoscopy. The hospital staff was so nice to us and two different receptionist gave Kenna coloring books to keep her busy while we waited from 9:45 until 12:45 for Jeremy. All went well and he is cancer free! So it was all worth it! But he was a hungry boy so for dinner that night he wanted a buffet! Well some of our closest friends wanted to get together as well so only because they love Jeremy so much did they agree to go with us to Golden Corral. I know I always say this, but sports have brought us some really great friends! We got to share the night with two families! It was The Branns, The Lominacs, and the Grohns and all of our kids! 10 in all!!!! The kids LOVED it! And I think I may have given Julie a minor heart attack by letting Shep eat ice off the table and eat ice cream all in one night! But it was a lot of fun! Afterwards we all played the Wii fit plus at Julie's house and the kids (all 10 of them!) had so much fun! It really was a lot of fun and reminded me that it is the little things in life that sustain us through hard times. Good friends are God's gift to us and I am grateful that we have them! Natie and Nathan then came in to visit for the weekend full of baseball and soccer. It was a lot of fun. The boys got too cocky and didn't win this tournament, but Kyle did have a great batting average of .657. So it is neat to watch him improve every day at something he loves.

More Halloween pictures

2009-11-10T15:37:00.000-06:00

More Halloweenie Roast Pictures

2009-11-10T15:20:00.002-06:00

So here are some of the pictures from Halloween night. We had a block party and it was so much fun! We had hot dogs and lots of great fixin's! We watched a movie after trick or treating! We saw a fire truck and the fireman gave out stickers. We really do live in an awesome neighborhood! I hope we can stay here while the girls are little. Kyle even went to his first party that wasn't a birthday party! Kelsey was invited too. My kids are growing up. :( It seems like yesterday it was Kelsey who was Kenna's size and I was chasing her and Kyle at the trunk or treating. Now they are off partying and I am chasing Keira and Kenna!

Be Still and Know that I am God

2009-11-05T15:56:00.002-06:00

I am so grateful for a church leader that is inspired of the Lord. He knows how to remind me that I can do more to reach out to the Lord to strengthen my relationship with Him. He gently teaches me he knows that I know but forget in the everyday trials of life-that the Savior was sent to "[suffer] pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance."
This glorious gift called the atonement. It isn't just for my sins. It is for my afflictions, my temptations, my sicknesses and my pain. But I have to take the time to be still. I have to trust Him and His plan and His time. Because life involves all of us humans that make mistakes with each other. The Savior is who stands on that boat in the storm and says "Peace, Be Still". I get it now. I finally get it. Thank you for my answered prayer in MY midnight hour, but YOUR coorect hour.

For all of my friends who deal with every other weekend

2009-11-03T13:27:00.002-06:00

These are the lyrics to a Reba song. I was playing on yahoo music and saw this song. It in light of all of my friends who are in the middle of this- it got me thinking-I wonder if there are couples who feel this way? Because of my friends-they don't feel this way-but I know that there are families out there that should have stayed together and could have made it work. But any song that Reba and Kenny sing together is gonna sound great and make you believe anything is possible!!!!

"Every other Friday it’s toys and clothes in backpacksIs everybody in? Okay, let’s go see DadSame time in the same spot, corner of the same old parking lotHalf the hugs and kisses there are always sad We trade a couple words and looks and kids againEvery other weekend(SKIP)Every other weekend with very few exceptionsi pick up the love we made in both my armsAnd its movies on the sofa, grilled cheese and cut the crusts offBut “that’s not the way Mom makes it Daddy” breaks my hearti miss everything we used to have with her againEvery other weekend(CHORUS)i can’t tell her i love her / i can’t tell him i love himCause there’s too many questions and ears in the cari don’t tell him i miss him / i don’t tell her i need herHe’s over me / she’s over me – that’s where we areSo we’re as close as we might ever be againEvery other weekend(REBA)Every other Saturday, first thing in the mornin’i turn the TV on to make the quiet go awayi know why, but i don’t know why we ever let this happenFalling for forever was a big mistakeThere’s so much not to do and all day not to do it inEvery other weekend(Skip)Every other Sunday i empty out my backseatWhile my children hug their mother in the parking lotWe don’t touch and we don’t talk much, maybe goodbye to each otherThen she drives away with every piece of heart i’ve goti re-convince myself we did the right thing againEvery other weekend(CHORUS)And i can’t tell her i love her / i can’t tell him i love himCause there’s too many questions and ears in the cari don’t tell him i miss him / i don’t tell her i need herHe’s over me / She’s over me – that’s where we areSo we’re as close as we might ever be againEvery other weekend(SKIP)Yeah for fifteen minutes we’re a family again(REBA)God I wish that he was still with me again(TOGETHER)every other weekend"

trunk or treating

2009-10-30T21:03:00.005-05:00

here are the girls at the church trunk or treating.... Kyle was at a birthday party... More pictures to come from the block party tomorrow night!!!

We are the Champions!!!!!!!

2009-10-26T10:13:00.009-05:00

Don't you think my mantle looks better now?

Way to go, Coach! I always knew you could take these boys to a championship game! You are a great coach and I know this is just the beginning of lots of great tournaments like these!! Love you lots, J-Bone!

Dad and Kyle together with their trophies! Two happy boys!

Look at those happy tired faces!!! We played baseball for over four hours straight to win those trophies!

Saturday Take 2

2009-10-26T10:07:00.005-05:00

Have to give a shout out to Big Kyle-our team mascot, best babysitter when we get together and all around great big brother to the boys on the team. He's been a big help and we love him and his pig stories of little "Moo" that we hope will grow into big "Moo" for the livestock show! :)

The girls after the carnival with their tatoos and face painting and candy.

The Warriors Are the Number 1 Seed TWO Saturdays in a Row!!!

2009-10-26T09:38:00.014-05:00

There's nothing better than cuddling with bubby after a long day of soccer and baseball. Now off to the carnival!

Let Them hear who's number one!

Warriors on three! "Warriors" and Team picture

My feeble attempts at decorating...

I promise more pictures!

2009-10-21T16:00:00.003-05:00

So I mentioned that I got a camera for my birthday and here it is 19 days later and I haven't taken but 1 picture. So I will get better. I have a cold and I have no voice, but I am determinded to get caught up by the end of the month with my life. I finally got into Keira's room. I know I know-don't have a heart attck-my true friends that know how bad it was-just might! But it is workable now and I just have her closet left. I hate to admit that it had gotten that bad, but it was one of the things I had to let go of in all of this. I had to let go of the blue room too and so that is my next thing to tackle. I am not the perfect house keeper or organizer. I sometimes fly by the seat of my pants and I always have. Before I was a member of the church I loved that about me and for so many years I hated it about me. But as I have spent the last few weeks realigned my priorities I realize that there are important things and there are more important things and I will get there. I may not be the super moms/ bakers/organizers/decorators/church leaders that my friends are-but I like the qualities that I have found in myself lately. I have finally stopped comparing myself to everyone else. I still need to get in shape, but it is for me now not to look good so I am ok next to so and so.
I don't know maybe it is because I realize that I have entered a new phase in my life. But I watch Kyle as he is growing into a teenager and I want him to grow in confidence. I want Kelsey to grow with self esteem and self worth. I watch them play their sports and hang out with their friends each week and I realize that my time with them will be gone sooner than I think. I need to enjoy it and do it right.
I need to be a better mom to Keira. I need to help her more. I miss her now that she is in school. It just isn't the same at home. She is a shooting star and I hope I can tame her and help her fly not fall.
But most of all-I plan to take lots of pictures!!!!

2009-10-12T20:45:00.004-05:00

Well I guess I was semi productive last week. I got a baby gift for a friend to a baby shower on time. I made a baby blanket for a friend and gave it to her BEFORE she had the baby! So maybe there is hope I am returning to the land of the living. My house is still a mess and I still have a ton of laundry to fold and stuff to catch up on, but at least I can say I accomplished something. I forgot to take a picture of the cute blanket, though. It came out even cuter than I thought it would-so I will just have to remember it :)
We all got our flu shots today. Dr. Massoud is such a great doctor! He listens and I am so grateful for that. Kelsey will have to have another VCUG and Keira will have to have a sonogram of her heart for her murmur, but the hardest part of the day was holding Kenna down to get blood drawn. She was not having that and it took three sticks b/c she was dehydrated to get a good draw-so she screamed quite a bit! So I guess it was just one of those days. Poor girl was stuck 4 times with needles today. She was not happy about it.
I will admit I am getting sick of all of this rain, though. Kelsey was rained out this weekend. But Kyle was able to play baseball on Saturday and they won 15-4 and 23-0. But the couldn't play on Sunday so they were declared the champions. So they got the points but no hardware. Maybe in two weeks....
I am reading these psch books that have me thinking about how I could shape my personality to be a better mom and not project things onto my kids. It has got me thinking.... That is for sure... Well-I will be posting more pictures soon! I have a girl's night out for my bday tomorrow! :)

A true story that was sent to me-It is a good reminder.....

2009-10-07T09:19:00.003-05:00

There recently was a death of a 98 year-old lady named Irena. During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist. She had an 'ulterior motive' ... She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews, (being German.) Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried and she carried in the back of her truck a burlap sack, (for larger kids..) She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises.. During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants. She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family. Most had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted.
Last year Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize . She was not selected.
Al Gore won, for a slide show on Global Warming.

There was a cartoon with the email, but I couldn't copy it. But I think she is one of the heros of this time period that will get lost if we don't remember her. WWII was 60 years ago-but it changed the world. I am grateful for the example of righteous men and women like her that made a difference one life at a time.

Birthday WIshes

2009-10-02T22:49:00.003-05:00

Well I am not the blogger I once was-but I am excited that Jeremy got me a little camera that I can carry around so I can take more pictures so I can post more often. At least for the grandmas anyway. :) Or maybe they will get their own blog just of the kiddos. :)
SO I am officially 37. I am closer to 40 than 30. You have to round me up now not down. I have had a hysterectomy and am postmenopausal-so I figure that makes me old-right? Well I was at dinner tonight with the kids at Chili's and was sitting next to this older couple late 50's and she heard the kids telling me happy birthday. She said it was her birthday as well but that she was much older than me. I asked her how old she thought I was-she said 28!!!! How great is that! I told her she was 9 years off and she said 36! So I guess she can't do math either! But any way you look at it-if I got in shape just imagine how young I could pull off! How fun would that be! Maybe I could hang out with Mandy Kitchens and freak out some 25 year old one day just for fun! :) Just kidding! I wouldn't do that! But it did crack me up if she thought I was that young sitting there in Chili's with 4 kids ages 12-2 being only 28. I mean what I had Kyle at 16 and Kenna at 26? Uh NO! I was 25 and 35 thank you very much! Plus I do have a degree and stuff. That is another tangent thanks to Kyle's teacher that made me mad today and then I got into it with Keira's teacher today so I guess Kelsey got it right I am still Mama bear-regardless of my age. ;)
But most of all I have been reflecting as I do...

I don't want to take my time for granted. Yet some days I do.
I don't want to waste my time yet some days I just want to do nothing.
I so want to run again-and now that I am cleared and feeling better-I can't wait to!
Free of monthly pain forever! YEAH!!!!!!
I want to become a better sewing person...for my kids and my friends.
i want to desperately reclaim my house from the past month
and clean it from top to bottom and make it sparkily barkily....
I want to be less prideful and more teachable...
I want to trust more and be a better friend...
I want to be cool and not closed off from everybody
I hope that my kids find that their place in this world doesn't have to come right now-that they have the time to find it....
I hope that love will conquer all fears, and doubts, and insecurities....
I hope that the impossible will become possible....
I watched an ambulance drive past me today and I thought about my children- what I would want them to know if they didn't see me tonight-
I love you with all of my heart. It was my great blessing and gift from God to be your mom. I want you to always believe in your self and know that you have great worth and that you are wonderful!!! You are beautiful and handsome and smart and intelligent and athletic and creative and funny and musical and loveable. But most of all you are the great blessings I could have. I was blessed to be a mom. No other worldly job compared to that of a mom. No paycheck would make up for the hugs or the kisses that I had. I got to see your first steps. I got to see the Shamu shows, the playdough mountains, and the trips to the zoo. I got to snuggle with you you were sick and stay up all night with you. Everyone always tells me-oh you've got your hands fun in a yucky tone-I turn it around and I mean it when I say-I am blessed to have my hands full in such a great way! I have great kids. i love you guys.

Jeremy I didn't leave you out either-I love you too-very much! Thanks for sticking with me all of these years. We are not as young as we used to be. But I love you more....

Remember the Rainbows Not the Rain

2009-09-18T20:59:00.003-05:00

Well I had my two week check up and she said I not only had endo, but scar tissue and shocker-fibriods! So I am glad that I did have it done even with all the annoying side effects. It seems that there has been more storm clouds.lately, especially now that keira has the flu. I just hope that it doesn't spread.
It is amazing how many kids that are sick between the middle school and the elementary school-someone told me that one of the local peds saw 80 kids in one day this week! I so just want to catch up on Keira and Kenna's room and my floors and the laundry, but with them being sick I am sooooo tired. Jeremy worked so hard to get it all cleaned last weekend and the laundry done, but we still didn't get to her room and laundry is one that never ends-so at least I got a nap in today. I know I need to just let it go-and I will eventually catch up-I keep telling myself-remember the needful things and the Lord will take care of the rest-but it just drives me nuts some days. At least I lost 10 pounds so far! I am excited and motivated by that. I am determinded to run that 1/2 marathon in good time by 40 and triathlon regularly as well-so this is my new beginning.
I have to count my blessings this night and remember the great things the Lord has done for me. Most of all, I am thankful for words that uplift me to remind me of these great blessings to teach me to rely on the Lord and not myself.

The Refiner's Fire

2009-09-03T18:14:00.003-05:00

Well it seems that this summer has been the summer of the refiners fire for a lot of people I know. I wonder what it is that we all need to learn or is it that we just are not as dependent upon the Lord as we should be. That is a rhetorical question, of course. We each have our trials to go through and face, I just wonder why it seems that people that I really care about are being faced with such serious trials. Is it because I am getting older and the trials are bigger? Is it because life just comes at you faster?

I look back on the past 20 years and I am amazed at the things that I have learned both by force and by choice. There are lessons that I never would have chosen to learn. There are things that have taught me just how much the Lord wants us to take care of each other in these times of trials. I know that I am better at doing the taking care of and not being the one being taken care of, but I am trying to get better at that. This week has taught me a lot. I have humbled myself and called and asked for help. It has been hard, but I am so very grateful to my friends who have come by and helped with laundry and Kenna. I am grateful for these friends who have listened to me this week as I have worked through these crazy emotions and hormones! :)

I thought I was prepared for this journey, but I have realized that I wasn't. There are emotions and feelings that hit me when I least expect them not to mention the annoying incisions that are still bugging me. I wonder when we were up in heaven and we looked at this life and the trials we would face if we fully realized the pain we would face? Would we know that we would have friends to help us through? Would we know that we would have the Savior to help us let go of the pain, the anger, the loneliness, the bitterness, and the sorrow? But that we might not always turn to Him? We might in our pride rely on ourselves?
I am grateful that I have the gospel in my life. It gives me the knowledge that I have a Savior. For so long I did not know that. I am so glad that I know that I have a loving Father in Heaven who provided a Savior for me who knows how I feel. I may not always comprehend His love, but I feel it and I see it in the world around me.
Optimism is a gift that He gave me and I am grateful for it. There have been times in my life when I felt I would lose it, but I know that He carried me to that eleventh hour so that I would not lose it. So to my friends who are in that fire right now-hold on. Don't give up. I may not be able to drive for another week, but I am always here for you. :)

well, I made it.

2009-08-29T22:39:00.002-05:00

I am home and made it through the surgery. I am rather sore and hurting, but it could be much worse. I am so thankful to my wonderful friends that have already helped me and those that will be helping me in the next two weeks. I have made a goal that I will be good and follow dr's orders and not do too much. It will be hard for me, but I am determined to heal quickly and not have any setbacks.
She did find more endo when she went in which is amazing considering how much I have done to prevent it these past 9 months. So I know it was the right thing to do. I am also glad I had it done in CS at the Med. They treated me like such a queen. The staff was sooo good to me from step one. I saw old friends and met new ones. I can't say enough about the great care I received there. There was even a little pull out couch for Jeremy to sleep on with me in my room and they brought him pillows and blankets. It was such a great experience. Despite the pain and the closing chapter in my life. I am off to bed with some more pain meds and focusing on healing.
Thanks John and America for taking my kids these past two days. I really appreciate it a lot. It is haard for me to ask for help. So it means a lot to all of you that have helped me. Thanks!

First Day of School

2009-08-26T15:14:00.007-05:00

Well these pictures are posting funny so here they are. Kyle on his way to middle school, but along for the ride to drop off Keira and Kelsey. Keira got Ms. Guzzo and has not decided if she really likes kindergarten. She thinks the boys are a pain in her class and she wants to do more crafts and wants Ms. Guzzo to read aloud to the classroom more often. So I hope that she will get settled and enjoy it more. On the other hand, Kelsey got exactly who she wanted! Mr. Cannon! Kyle and Kelsey think he is really cool! He lives here is Eagle Springs and even met Kyle one afternoon to play baseball-so I think he is a pretty great teacher myself and am glad that she is so excited about 5th grade. Kyle is getting used to the routine of 6th grade. I think he is liking growing up too much. He wants to look good and do well in each class and he seems like such a little man. I don't know where the time had gone. I keep praying that he will continue to make good choices and be an example and leader among his friends.

It is hard to believe that Keira is in kindergarten. I remember wanting and waiting so long for her to come into our family. When she was born it feels like yesterday, but she was so ready for kindergarten. Like her brother in middle school she seems confident to stand on her own two feet. I only hope I have done a good enough job preparing her for the experiences she will face. Monday was a hard day for me in that it is another milestone. In three years Kyle will start high school and Kenna will start kindergarten. My time to be a parent here at home is going by faster than I ever thought it would be. I guess as I prepare for the hysterectomy on Friday I contemplate my job rating as a mom. I don't get anymore chances. I pray for them. I do my very best to prepare them spiritually and emotionally for the world that they are growing up in. It is so different from my own. When I was Kelsey's age I remember being gone from first light to dusk playing along the drainage ditch or going down to the beach or down to a friend's house. Or walking over to the shops in the village when it wasn't so huge and developed to just look around. There was a five and dime store just off of Kirby. It was safe to run around like that all day. No cell phones, nothing.

I am grateful too today for the power, pure power of the Atonement. I never really understood it's full reach-but I am beginning to see just how all encompassing the reach of the encircling arms of His love is. It heals broken hearts from all directions, it covers the pains not just physical pains of sicknesses, emotional scars, even those inflicted by others. I am just so humbled by His love for me and His hand always reaching out to me to keep going. I know that He does that for each of us. Heaven knows I am the best at forgeting His hand is there, but this summer has reminded me that I may not always be as steady as I should be He is there to steady me when feel like I am about to lose my balance and carry me onward.

As we had to say goodbye to Grandmother or "GG" and she had my kids call her last week it made me realize the long lasting effect our choices have. One choice not only changes the course of our own life, but it changes the course of may generations to come. She had 21 grandchildren and 41 great grandchildren. My little ones may not remember her, but my older one will. Kyle will remember her for always being ready to talk baseball and encourage a young man. Kelsey will always remember a good strong hug and a listening ear and a cold little bottle of coke. Me, I will remember her as a woman who took this young 23 year old into her family and although in the beginning I always thought she liked Jeremy so much more as the years went on I knew that she loved me just as much. She always encouraged me to stay home and raise my kids. She worked cause she had to she would tell me. We always had lunch or dinner at Luby's together and it was always such a special time for me to get to spend it with her even if it was just the kids and I-she always did those things. I too thought she would be around forever-and although I know I will see her again-I miss her. I talked to her just a few days before she had her stroke. She always made sure to give me a compliment and tell the kids she loved them.

Life isn't always easy, but she always made me believe that if you held on you would make it through.

But now it is time to finish getting my house ready for me to be down for a little while-not like me. So I will post the next chance I get....

Summer Reflections and A New Start On Aug 28th

2009-08-11T12:18:00.004-05:00

I am in a reflective mood again. I guess I get that way every August. In just a few days Jeremy and I will celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary and I have really learned a lot this summer. The Lord has taught me so much through so many friends and expereinces these past few months. I can't thank them enough for their patience with me or all of the angels at work. I have found that some of the hardest things we go through we can find our closest friends. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to get to know some new friends and strengthened others. I have realized that I was more prideful that I thought. I have been humbled to learn that this summer. I have learned that time is a gift from God that I most never take for granted and although I try my very best right now my house is not perfectly organized and Kenna may spend half the day running around in PJs like me. But we have found a new level of peace in our home.
I am sad at the news of Jeremy's grandmother's stroke and that it looks like we are going to lose her. She is an amaizng woman and she was so very kind to me each time I was down there. I know there is the circle of life-but it seems as I get older that the circle starts to spin a little faster and there is not enough time to enjoy all the of womderful time with your loved ones that you woould like. It also makes me miss my grandfather and wish he was still here, but I know he is so happy to be back with his wife.
The Lord instructed me a long long time ago that my home needed to be a place of beauty, a place a learning, a place of love. I have tried very hard over the years to make that possible. The clutter I know draws away from the beauty part, but a friend gave me the highest compliment that I could ever receive. She told me last week that she had never been in a home so welcoming and comfortable. She always felt at peace when she came over. It reminded me of that admonition from the Lord and that I needed to never give up.
I am also excited to announce that I am scheduled for a complete hysterectomy on the 28th of August. Yes, I know you say, excited? But it is with this new robotic system called the DaVinci system that I will only have 6: 1-2 cm scars and it will not be an open abdominal surgery. It is a cure for 24 years of dealing with endometriosis and I although I have felt great with the Lupron-this is the answer I have been waiting for and I know it is the right time. The Lord blessed me with my beautiful children and now it is my time to feel great!
I will post some pictures of our summer soon. Kelsey had two a days for soccer last week. It looks like her team will be the best 11U team in the Houston area. We play a tournament every weekend starting the 22nd. And Kyle's baseball try outs are tonight. So it has begun again. But I am grateful for the Lord and his mercies and all that He has shown unto me this summer to make me a better person and help me overcome the some of the things I struggle with.
Now I look forward to a day without a heat advisory and a cool breeze!!!

Two Peas in a Pod

2009-08-07T12:37:00.002-05:00

Well my friend that was waiting for these babies to get here through God's miracles finally did about 6 weeks ago. They were sent here by a loving mother who gave them from God's arms to the mother's arms to Angela's arms. I had planned to make a different cake but it wasn't going like I had planned-but my life never does....So Natie and I came up with these and I fell in love. Little did I know it would take so long. I still need to finish cleaning and get everything back to normal, but the time that it took was such a blessing to me.

One year ago Angela and I got to sit together each week while Tyler and Keira took gymnastics together. We got to talk and go have lunch every Tuesday while the kids played and we got to become good friends. I rode the roller coaster not in the car, but on the ground holding my breath on the highs and getting that same pit in your stomach feeling on the lows. I prayed and fasted and hoped for these little miracles to come into her life when they were supposed to. I had watched another friend go through this and I couldn't help but feel that as she always told me-you would know when it was right. So I kept relaying that bit of wisdom. All the time my sister in law was riding this same ride and a week or two after Angela "had" Brady and Carter Emily "had" Ellie. So it is amazing the Lord's timetable. We compared notes on the phone the three of us and yet through it all the ended up with little babies almost in the same hospital at the same time in Utah! So my time to make these cakes was just a small token of my thanks to Angela for letting me be a friend on this journey with her. I can't wait to hold and help with Brady and Carter and I am so happy for her in this miracle that she is able to enjoy!

Best of all-I did it.

My baby boy turned 12

2009-08-06T13:17:00.002-05:00

Well it is official. he is a deacon. I can't write much. But it was a sweet experience to watch Jeremy and Kyle pass the sacrament this past Sunday together and the previous Sunday to see him ordained a deacon by his dad. I have watched him go from this infant in my arms to a wild toddler to being baptized to becoming a priesthood holder. It seems in the blink of an eye I will be kissing him goodbye at the MTC. He has grown into a handsome young man and I am sure I will be fighting the YW off with a stick. :) He has already been babysitting 3 times this past week. I am glad to hear his has put babies to bed and cleaned up their houses. He's not my little boy anymore. His dad has done a good job of teaching him how to be a good young man and now Jeremy has a buddy to take to priesthood meetings! :) Now it is I who has to wait another few years....

I never thought that I would look forward to these years, but although I will miss the snuggle of a baby and the sweet communion with God in the stillness of the night I know there will be more times when we talk late at night and I will have that same sweetness just in a different way. I am having fun with his friends around and spending time with him. I am sad to see the summer end.

You Just Never Know....

2009-07-24T10:21:00.002-05:00

It is hard to believe that time goes by so fast. Kyle's slumber party was a lot of fun, eshausting but fun. I think that his friends had a lot of fun and I hope they will want to come and hang out here over the next 7 years. I know it is nnice to have friends go away, but it is also nice to see your kids so relaxed and happy to know they are glad to be here. Kelsey has gotten to the point where her prefers to have friends come over here the most to going anywhere-but she is like her dad and is a home body to begin with. It was so sweet that when she went away for the weekend-when she got home just how much she kept telling Kyle and Keira how grateful she was they were her siblings. I just appreciate the kids I was given more and more as they get older.
I also realize that although I always thought I would have 6-8 kids and I had to stop at 4but I am grateful for those times when I am given the opportunity to help someone else out. I went to this Mary Kay party last night to get out of the house. It was at this house that is in Lakeshore that is huge and fancy and stuff. She's making probably 50-60,000 or maybe a little less a year with Mary Kay but she was really kind of snotty-nothing like my friend that invited me or the lady with my friend that is a little firecracker of a lady who is making $80,000+ with Mary Kay. In walks this young woman with an 8 week old baby for the party. I had been to one before and she hadn't and no one was offering to take the baby so I took the baby for her and said you are so kind to let me take her for you and she said oh it is not that I just depesperately need a break. So I got to hold this tiny little baby girl. I have to confess that I was glad to hand her back and not be up all night, but it was a sweet experience to know that the Lord knows I find joy in looking for ways to serve and that I could find it at a Mary Kay party. I was ablt to get a facial and hold a baby and give a new mom a break and chat with a good friend. Not only that I was able to go to the mall with Kelsey and Kenna. Kenna was a gem so I was able to talk with Kelsey and it was a sweet experience to just spend time with my daughter and build a strong relationship with her that will last the rest of our lives.
It has been a roller coaster of a summer, but I am grateful for every minute because although it has been hard it has brought me closer to my husband, my kids, and has brought me new friends, and stronger friendships and helped me see who my true friends really are. So summer is still one of my true loves-even after this one!

the rainbow....

2009-07-20T10:04:00.004-05:00

Well, it seems that we have made it through the west side of the huricaine....I have learned to not say we are through, but these last several days I have definately felt like that country song two sparrows in a hurricaine. Jeremy made it back to work today. He has to have his follow up appt with Dr. Nunez once all of his antibiotics are done and have the scope. So the final tally was...Kenna had an allergic reaction to the anethesia that Tuesday the 7th, Kyle had braces put on on the 7th, Jeremy went into the hospital on the 7th; Kelsey has a kidney infection which caused her vomiting on the 9th; Keira had an ear infection that almost ruptured that caused her to lose her equalibruilim and that caused her to vomit; and then my new medicine caused me to get dehydrated b/c I wasn't drinking enough from everything and so I got sick and ended up with a UTI and was vomiting on the 12th. So then when jeremy got home our doctor believes that all of the IV antibiotics put a lot of stress on his kidneys and that is what caused his gout to flare up in three joints at once. Gout is an extremely painful form of arthritis that is so painful he can not walk when it is in his ankle and his knee and it was also in his wrist so he could not move his wrist. It was a long week last week. On the way home from College Station from seeing our doctor the transmission on the suburban went out so we had to leave it there all weekend.

So we never made it down to Grandma Kips and we never made it to Grandma's.

Kyle did have a good birthday. It went according to his plan. He had his taquito for breakfast; then we saw Harry Potter 6 then he had his Culver's burger and shrimp on the grill for dinner. We went and picked up the girls on sunday. Thanks Bobbi for keeping Kelsey and Keira for a few days. It was fun to just have two kids again. Weird but fun.
I realized that praying for strength seems to bring more hardship and relief seems to bring more trials so I just need to realize that life is going to be full of mountains and storms and it is my attitude that will be the measure of how I come through it all.
I think at times I probably failed the test. I got grouchy with the kids and Jeremy. I probably asked for too much help and I probably complained to Natie too much. But I did say my prayers every night and I did give thanks every night for all of the blessings that I did have and I was always looking for ways to be thankful admist it all.
So now I am getting ready for a slumberless party for Kyle and life is slowly getting back to normal. I hope that I can get back to being of service to my friends and enjoying life and all of it's craziness!

diapers???????

2009-07-14T21:14:00.002-05:00

It seems that Kenna is allergic to something in the Pampers Baby Drys and when Kroger put them on sale I bought a whole bunch so if there is anyone out there that reads this and would like to buy about 120-130 diapers size 4 pampers for $20-let me know. I got them cheap so I am making any money-I would only be able to go buy about 60 Huggies for $20. But I guess that is my lot these days.

Bring it On......

2009-07-11T03:13:00.003-05:00

Well, I think the other night when I was saying my prayers and I was feeling like I wasn't gonna get through this and I couldn't hold up much longer

the Lord said well I think you are wrong so here....

Last night Kelsey threw up and had the runs all night-took her in today-She has a UTI.

Kyle calls me a 5pm (after the office has closed) and 2 of his brand new brackets glue and all have fallen off. He has kept his moutch perfect since Tuesday.

Kenna is still not back to sleeping through the night even with all the benadryl to fight the hives!

And I am up right now because now Keira is thowing up too!

So I was talking to a friend on the phone last night and I told her when Kelsey started throwing up-I might as well just say bring it on Lord what do ya got? I guess He took me up on it!
So I just need to put my boots on and roll with the punches with a smile on my face.
Thanks again to everyone-you are angels in the form of friends and I really appreciate it all!

Hail Storm UpDate

2009-07-09T06:31:00.003-05:00

although I am about to pass out I thought I would update that thanks Dan for bugging Dr. Nunez and getting him to come check on Jeremy. Thanks Jared and Dan for giving Jeremy a blessing. I appreciate the guys that hold the priesthood worthily and are willing to use it even if I call and text and stuff making sure it gets done-not because I don't believe it will but to keep my own mind from worrying about Jeremy. Does anyone else do that?
So, Jeremy will be there for sure for the next 2-3 days for IV antibiotics. He does not need surgery as of now. Once he is discharge and the inflamation calms he will get scoped and checked out for anything else that could be wrong colitis wise.He was hurting and nauseous when I left him. So hopefully he is better. I am finally off to bed. Kenna seems to be doing a little better-so thanks for all of the prayers-they are keeping our heads above water and I appreciate that so very much!!!
Most of all-I want to thank the Lord for moving us to Humble. I know I am speaking from exhaustion, but the lessons I have learned here have changed me so profoundly. He has placed so many angel friends into my life here (and I know he has other places-maybe it was here I finally opened my eyes). Jeremy has found such good friends that a such good people through baseball. I have found the same through soccer. And although I could list them all by name right now-you know who you are. Thank you. You have given me more than I culd ever repay and that is the gift of trust. Someone took it away from me a lonf time ago. Yes, I am stubborn and want to do it myself-but trusting and hoping that friends will never let us down-just had gone wrong one too many times and I had given up. I had my two pillars of friendship from College Station, Bobbi and Natie. But here I have not only "been" a good friend-I've trusted again. It has been wonderful. I am a little derlious right now-but thanks guys-I can't express my gratitude in words to know that I can take care of my spouse and I know my children are taken care of but most of all I know you guys love my kids as your own and treat them as such when I am gone-thank you for such a lesson in Christlike love!

Hail Storm

2009-07-08T02:17:00.002-05:00

Just thought I woould add that as soon as I finished that last sentence the phone rang and it was Jeremy from the ER telling me they were admitting him for diverticulitis. I just got home (2am) for a nap and am going back at 6:30am to meet with the dr to hopefully get some answers to see if they are just going to treat it with antibiotics or if there will be surgery involved. So I guess the wind and the hail is beating down-thank goodness the Lord has blessed me with such great friends to take care of my kids so I can take care of Jeremy! Thanks! I am blessed!

From One Extreme to the Other

2009-07-07T22:16:00.002-05:00

Well today has been an interesting day. I had the most amazing weekend. Jeremy would probably say I packed too much into the weekend, but it was so great to be with such good friends and share such good company and good food. It really made me appreciate the freedoms that we have in this country. I can have basic neccesities in life-running water, electricity, a beautiful home. I have such good friends to share it with. I have loved getting to know Jason and his family better and Adolfo and his family better. They are such wonderful people with such wonderful kiddos. I think as I get older I get a better view of God's love for each of His children. I want to take the time to make sure that they don;t feel alone in this big world when hard trials seem overwhelming.
It was so fun to have Natie come and visit from College Station. She and I have always been soul sisters but I think the deal was sealed this weekend and her mom confirmed it so I now have a sister! :) Hopefully she will be coming back soon for lots more fun and excitement!
But today was a horrible day. I got up at 5am to get Kenna to the hospital for her adnoidectomy and tubes. As I expected she did not wake up well at all. She was crying very loudly and they shooed me out the door 15 minutes later. Told me she was fine. I noticed that her eyes were red below and puffy and she kept coughing, but didn;t think much of it. She wouldn't drink-she just kept crying and was really upset so they sent me on my way. I walked out in the rain carrying Kenna, realized I had dropped my phone, walked back in, walked back out and she cried the entire ride home. We got home and she cried off and on, but kept coughing and sneezing and complaining of pain. So I gave her a breathing treatment, her antibiotic, and her xyzal. she slept for 30 minutes then woke up crying some more.
Then I had to get Kyle to the ortho for his braces. Kelsey Call was sweet enough to take the girls and Kenna would only let my Kelsey hold her while we were gone. Kyle did well and he looks so cute with his braces. He is a trooper and I am so proud of him.
Then when I got home she was really up set and I realized that her cheeks had red streaks as well. I thought red lines that is odd and then when I changed her diaper I thought-latex allergy. When I put her in the bath to lower her temp she had bright red circles as well-so we gave her benadryl. She is finally asleep-who knows for how long-
Jeremy is at the Urgent care facility around the corner-so I don't know what he's going to come home with also.
My day seems to have fit the clouds this morning-when it rains-it downpours!!!!
I am trying to stay positive-but am feeling a little bit grouchy and complaining.....
Most of all why did it take almost 3 hours for Dr. Hoffman's office to call me back? I will never go back with Kenna to KW speciality hospital EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!
OK, that is my complaining pity party-tomorrow will be better. I will get a blood test and find out the level of this allergy and go one from there....thank goodness I have Dr. Shaw's office on speed dial. After tonight I think I need a doctor not just an answering service on speed dial!