Today our Thanksgiving Holiday officially began...the boys are out of school all week, and Miss Ellie is out too! We are having Thanksgiving here this year, so we have no where to go, nothing to pack, and really nothing we have to do, so that means we'll be taking the days slow, and doing lots of playing and hanging out. Just my style!
Today, we definitely started out slow, the boys just got back from a boys weekend with Daddy, so they were slow to wake up, but things sped up quick once they realized that Daddy recorded Rocky 3 for them. They quickly stripped down to their "boxing shorts" and went after it! After that we cleaned up the house, I started some laundry, and one of Jake's friends from school came over to play. After lunch, we took Jake's friend home, put Ellie down for her nap and I poured a cup of coffee and read a little while the boys played. Once Ellie woke up we worked on our Thanksgiving tree, then headed outside and played a little "Horse", some "Mother May I" and finished off with a round of "Red Light, Green Light". We came in and warmed up with a cup of hot chocolate, and now I am off to get ready for a date night with Hubs!
Yep, I'd say it's shaping up to be a good day indeed!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Twelve Years Ago Today....
B asked me to marry him!! On a random Monday night-Veteran's Day, he completely surprised me by proposing. It's hard to believe that it's been twelve years, but in some ways, it's hard to remember life before him. He truly is my best friend...and so much more!
So, in the midst of our crazy life, I just wanted to stop and tell you, B, how much I love you...I love our crazy life together, and I love what God is teaching us, even today, about this life He has called us to! I can't wait to see where the next twelve years take us! It is my privilege and honor to be your wife-I love you.
M.
So, in the midst of our crazy life, I just wanted to stop and tell you, B, how much I love you...I love our crazy life together, and I love what God is teaching us, even today, about this life He has called us to! I can't wait to see where the next twelve years take us! It is my privilege and honor to be your wife-I love you.
M.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Fall Favorites
Today the weather is beautiful. So pretty in fact, that Ellie and I decided to have a picnic lunch in our backyard. As we were eating our lunch, I began thinking about all of the reasons why I love Fall. Reasons like cooler weather, the leaves changing colors-who doesn't love that?-pumpkins, scarecrows, mums, pumpkin patches, college football-HOOK 'EM, #1, how 'bout that??!!-my pumpkin spice candle, Trick-or-Treating with my kiddos, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, and then I thought about Deer Season. Okay, stay with me...
I grew up in a hunting family...between my Papaw, Daddy, brothers, uncles, etc...come Fall season, someone was heading somewhere to kill something! Now, my mother has never been much of a hunter, but growing up, somehow my Daddy convinced us to tag along at least once or twice during the season. Thinking back over those trips today has brought back some special and fun memories of our times together as a family...here are a few of my favorites.
~playing "freeze out" on the way down to the lease-when it's really cold out, you roll down every window in the car and the first one to roll their window up was the LOSER!
~watching for deer on the way down
~all of the "rabbits" that would suddenly jump in front of our car, causing my Daddy to SLAM on the breaks just as one of us was drifting off to sleep! (sound dangerous??)
~road burgers
~'neakin in the deer lease truck
~all of us crammed into the tiny camper
~watching Daddy jump out of the truck and kill what I thought was the biggest deer I had ever seen!
~deer lease breakfasts-yummy!
~sitting around the campfire at night listening to Jeff Foxworthy's tape "You might be a Redneck"...right after it first came out
~killing my first doe with Daddy
~laying in bed that night and listening to my older brother tease me with cries of "Mama, Mama", when I told him how her babies were right there when I killed her! (Sidenote: I did not know they were right there...Daddy had me looking through the scope which only let me see what was directly in front of me...smart move on his part, 'cause had I seen those babies, I don't think I could have pulled the trigger!)
~singing Ray Charles songs as we rode around the lease looking for deer
~listening to Brooks & Dunn's song "Neon Moon" over and over and over again, all because a certain someone in our family was missing another certain someone-who, by the way, is now a part of our family! :)
I know these memories don't make any sense to most of you, but to me, these are precious memories of my family. We weren't perfect-FAR from it, and we didn't always get along, (still don't), but we are family. I think that is really why I love Fall so much. When the weather changes, it makes me want to pull my family close and snuggle, when the holidays come-I want to be with my family, when I'm watching the #1 Texas Longhorns (sorry, I had to put that in there again-it may not last much longer!) there is no one I'd rather watch with than my sweetheart, and nothing makes a Pumpkin Spice Latte taste better than when it's shared with someone you love, (or delivered to you by someone you love)!
So, go and enjoy your family this Fall!
I grew up in a hunting family...between my Papaw, Daddy, brothers, uncles, etc...come Fall season, someone was heading somewhere to kill something! Now, my mother has never been much of a hunter, but growing up, somehow my Daddy convinced us to tag along at least once or twice during the season. Thinking back over those trips today has brought back some special and fun memories of our times together as a family...here are a few of my favorites.
~playing "freeze out" on the way down to the lease-when it's really cold out, you roll down every window in the car and the first one to roll their window up was the LOSER!
~watching for deer on the way down
~all of the "rabbits" that would suddenly jump in front of our car, causing my Daddy to SLAM on the breaks just as one of us was drifting off to sleep! (sound dangerous??)
~road burgers
~'neakin in the deer lease truck
~all of us crammed into the tiny camper
~watching Daddy jump out of the truck and kill what I thought was the biggest deer I had ever seen!
~deer lease breakfasts-yummy!
~sitting around the campfire at night listening to Jeff Foxworthy's tape "You might be a Redneck"...right after it first came out
~killing my first doe with Daddy
~laying in bed that night and listening to my older brother tease me with cries of "Mama, Mama", when I told him how her babies were right there when I killed her! (Sidenote: I did not know they were right there...Daddy had me looking through the scope which only let me see what was directly in front of me...smart move on his part, 'cause had I seen those babies, I don't think I could have pulled the trigger!)
~singing Ray Charles songs as we rode around the lease looking for deer
~listening to Brooks & Dunn's song "Neon Moon" over and over and over again, all because a certain someone in our family was missing another certain someone-who, by the way, is now a part of our family! :)
I know these memories don't make any sense to most of you, but to me, these are precious memories of my family. We weren't perfect-FAR from it, and we didn't always get along, (still don't), but we are family. I think that is really why I love Fall so much. When the weather changes, it makes me want to pull my family close and snuggle, when the holidays come-I want to be with my family, when I'm watching the #1 Texas Longhorns (sorry, I had to put that in there again-it may not last much longer!) there is no one I'd rather watch with than my sweetheart, and nothing makes a Pumpkin Spice Latte taste better than when it's shared with someone you love, (or delivered to you by someone you love)!
So, go and enjoy your family this Fall!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
No time to Blog
Well, I guess technically I am blogging right now, but I am only blogging to say "I have no time to blog"! And really, as I type this, I realize that this probably isn't necessary because the few people who actually read this already know that I have no time to blog, because they have listened to me vent about how crazy-busy life has been lately. :) Anyway, really, I hope to catch up soon, and post pictures of baseball, playing, birthday parties, etc....but for now, I am spending my "free time" catching up on laundry, ironing, playing with kids, and out at the ballpark...and when I can, enjoying a quiet moment here and there. :) Hopefully, I'll be back at some point with some pics!
Monday, September 8, 2008
School Days
Well, 2 weeks in and we've already been bit by the bug! :)
After 2 days in preschool, Ellie spent the weekend producing some diapers of "questional" proportions! She never acted like she felt bad, but her appetite was definitely decreased, so I figured something was up. Then it happened...last night at about 9:30, Jake came out of his room to inform us that his stomach didn't feel quite right...an hour later, he was producing some vomit! On the up side, it seems to be a "one and done" virus, meaning he went to bed and slept all night and is driving me insane today wanting to go outside and play football and all sorts of forbidden activities for "sick" children!!! I don't think I'll have to worry about him trying to play "hookie" anytime soon-he has figured out that staying home from school=no fun!!!
Despite our bug infestation, the first two weeks of school have been wonderful! Trent LOVES Kindergarten and is really into reading books now! Jake has stepped right into 3rd grade without missing a beat. He is the type of child that really thrives in school- the structure, the schedule-he is very self-motivated, so unlike me it's not even funny. And sweet Ellie, she loves preschool. She loves her teacher, her friends, her "pack-pack"-so much so that I am having to remind myself not to get my feelings hurt when she walks right into her room and never gives me a second glance! :)
I am enjoying getting back into a morning routine. My favorite part is getting up early with B and drinking our coffee and having our quiet times side by side. I used to have my quiet time in the afternoon during naps, but I realized this Summer, I couldn't wait that long! I pretty much need to soak myself in the Word first thing, before I have an opportunity to do any permanent damage! :)
And as an added bonus, the weather has been glorious here!!! Have I mentioned that Fall is my absolutely favorite season? (Followed closely by Christmas) I love the crisp mornings, the changing leaves, the pumpkins! I am fully aware that I still live in Texas, which means tomorrow it could be 100 degrees, but I am soaking this cooler weather up while I can!!
So, here are a few pics of the kids on their first day of school:
After 2 days in preschool, Ellie spent the weekend producing some diapers of "questional" proportions! She never acted like she felt bad, but her appetite was definitely decreased, so I figured something was up. Then it happened...last night at about 9:30, Jake came out of his room to inform us that his stomach didn't feel quite right...an hour later, he was producing some vomit! On the up side, it seems to be a "one and done" virus, meaning he went to bed and slept all night and is driving me insane today wanting to go outside and play football and all sorts of forbidden activities for "sick" children!!! I don't think I'll have to worry about him trying to play "hookie" anytime soon-he has figured out that staying home from school=no fun!!!
Despite our bug infestation, the first two weeks of school have been wonderful! Trent LOVES Kindergarten and is really into reading books now! Jake has stepped right into 3rd grade without missing a beat. He is the type of child that really thrives in school- the structure, the schedule-he is very self-motivated, so unlike me it's not even funny. And sweet Ellie, she loves preschool. She loves her teacher, her friends, her "pack-pack"-so much so that I am having to remind myself not to get my feelings hurt when she walks right into her room and never gives me a second glance! :)
I am enjoying getting back into a morning routine. My favorite part is getting up early with B and drinking our coffee and having our quiet times side by side. I used to have my quiet time in the afternoon during naps, but I realized this Summer, I couldn't wait that long! I pretty much need to soak myself in the Word first thing, before I have an opportunity to do any permanent damage! :)
And as an added bonus, the weather has been glorious here!!! Have I mentioned that Fall is my absolutely favorite season? (Followed closely by Christmas) I love the crisp mornings, the changing leaves, the pumpkins! I am fully aware that I still live in Texas, which means tomorrow it could be 100 degrees, but I am soaking this cooler weather up while I can!!
So, here are a few pics of the kids on their first day of school:
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Farewell Summer!
*Warning, I'm playing catch-up so this is long! :)
The last days of Summer are here. On Monday morning we will set our alarm clocks, rise with the dawn and begin a new season once again.
I can hardly believe that Jake will be in the third grade. How has it gone so fast? I know all moms feel that way, but I guess sometimes the days seem so long that when this feeling rises up within me, it often surprises me. It literally feels like yesterday that it was just the two of us playing toys, reading books, singing songs, fixing snacks-and yet, 8 1/2 years have past! I kid with him sometimes and tell him I'm not letting him go into third grade, and that he can't grow any bigger, not one more inch-but inevitably he keeps growing! :) I am so proud of the young boy he has become. Even at such a young age, he has a passion for God's Word and a compassion for others that I know comes from the Lord. B and I are praying that this year the Lord will increase that passion and love for others and that Jake will begin to use these gifts to "minister" to others-other kids in his class, or on his Baseball team, teacher, or anyone for that matter! (Eph. 5:1-2) Jake is a special little guy, and even though I really am going to miss him during the day, I am really excited to see him grow, and to see what the Lord has in store for him.
Now, don't get me started on Trent Carter! My buddy is off to Kindergarten! My little entertainer is off to "entertain" his new teacher and classmates. And what a show it will be! I'm not sure what Ellie and I will do without our Star Wars reenactments, Bibleman shows, our afternoon Longhorn football, baseball, basketball games, and the countless other shows he comes up with. :) I am going to miss that little boy so much-but he is ready. He is so ready! Our prayer for Trent is that even though he is young, that he will indeed set an example for others in everything he does. (1 Tim. 4:12) Being the younger brother is tough sometimes, Jake (from Trent's perspective) seems to get a lot of attention and praise, and of course everyone knows that Jake gets to do EVERYTHING-but we are praying that God will show Trent that he is special and unique in his own way and that He has a tailor-made plan for his life, that will fit him perfectly.
And to top all of this off, Ellie is going to start "KK" two days a week! That is just crazy! She is as excited as she can be-for not really knowing what she is getting herself into! She has her "pack-pack" all ready, with her "name on it", and every time we drive by her school she yells out "Ellie's schoooool"! One of her best little friends is going to be in her class, and really they are more like sisters, (being only 9 weeks a part), they have been together, literally, their whole lives. Shannon and I are praying extra hard for their teacher! We have a feeling it won't take her long to figure out that Ellie and Kate already know each other and have been in a few "scraps" over toys before! :) Good luck with that! B and I are really enjoying Ellie. She is a firecracker, to say the least. She is FULL of joy and personality. Our prayer for her is that as she grows, God will continue to shape and mold her into the woman He has called her to be, and that one day she will be like a "pillar carved to adorn a palace" (Ps. 144 :12) full of His beauty and strength.
So that's my farewell to Summer....but before I close, (I sound like I am preaching a sermon) I'll share a few (ha! more like 12!) of my favorite pics of the Summer!
Sweet girlfriends.
Sword fights!
Summer Camp!
Craziness...
Older brothers'influence:
The older brothers!
Two of a kind!
Best lookin' 8 year old in town!
You got me!
A little girltalk.
Glow sticks rock!
Pure Joy!
Here's to a great Summer!
The last days of Summer are here. On Monday morning we will set our alarm clocks, rise with the dawn and begin a new season once again.
I can hardly believe that Jake will be in the third grade. How has it gone so fast? I know all moms feel that way, but I guess sometimes the days seem so long that when this feeling rises up within me, it often surprises me. It literally feels like yesterday that it was just the two of us playing toys, reading books, singing songs, fixing snacks-and yet, 8 1/2 years have past! I kid with him sometimes and tell him I'm not letting him go into third grade, and that he can't grow any bigger, not one more inch-but inevitably he keeps growing! :) I am so proud of the young boy he has become. Even at such a young age, he has a passion for God's Word and a compassion for others that I know comes from the Lord. B and I are praying that this year the Lord will increase that passion and love for others and that Jake will begin to use these gifts to "minister" to others-other kids in his class, or on his Baseball team, teacher, or anyone for that matter! (Eph. 5:1-2) Jake is a special little guy, and even though I really am going to miss him during the day, I am really excited to see him grow, and to see what the Lord has in store for him.
Now, don't get me started on Trent Carter! My buddy is off to Kindergarten! My little entertainer is off to "entertain" his new teacher and classmates. And what a show it will be! I'm not sure what Ellie and I will do without our Star Wars reenactments, Bibleman shows, our afternoon Longhorn football, baseball, basketball games, and the countless other shows he comes up with. :) I am going to miss that little boy so much-but he is ready. He is so ready! Our prayer for Trent is that even though he is young, that he will indeed set an example for others in everything he does. (1 Tim. 4:12) Being the younger brother is tough sometimes, Jake (from Trent's perspective) seems to get a lot of attention and praise, and of course everyone knows that Jake gets to do EVERYTHING-but we are praying that God will show Trent that he is special and unique in his own way and that He has a tailor-made plan for his life, that will fit him perfectly.
And to top all of this off, Ellie is going to start "KK" two days a week! That is just crazy! She is as excited as she can be-for not really knowing what she is getting herself into! She has her "pack-pack" all ready, with her "name on it", and every time we drive by her school she yells out "Ellie's schoooool"! One of her best little friends is going to be in her class, and really they are more like sisters, (being only 9 weeks a part), they have been together, literally, their whole lives. Shannon and I are praying extra hard for their teacher! We have a feeling it won't take her long to figure out that Ellie and Kate already know each other and have been in a few "scraps" over toys before! :) Good luck with that! B and I are really enjoying Ellie. She is a firecracker, to say the least. She is FULL of joy and personality. Our prayer for her is that as she grows, God will continue to shape and mold her into the woman He has called her to be, and that one day she will be like a "pillar carved to adorn a palace" (Ps. 144 :12) full of His beauty and strength.
So that's my farewell to Summer....but before I close, (I sound like I am preaching a sermon) I'll share a few (ha! more like 12!) of my favorite pics of the Summer!
Sweet girlfriends.
Sword fights!
Summer Camp!
Craziness...
Older brothers'influence:
The older brothers!
Two of a kind!
Best lookin' 8 year old in town!
You got me!
A little girltalk.
Glow sticks rock!
Pure Joy!
Here's to a great Summer!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
If you have a second...
Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters over at their blog "Girl Talk", are doing a week long series on Homemaking, and how to instill in our daughters a love for home and family. If you have a sec go check it out, it will be well worth your time.
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