Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

We had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you had one too! We missed seeing lots of our friends and family, but were very blessed that my Mom was here with us. We had a great time! We did a little shopping and lots of playing. The boys played numerous games of UNO with Lomi. The weather was beautiful so there was lots of outdoor basketball and football.

The sweetest part of Christmas Day was that evening, Tuck and I were snuggled up on the couch watching movies with Keyto and Brando. Tuck looked up at me and said " this is the best day of my life"! Wow! Brought tears to my eyes. He went on to point out how he loved his presents, Santa, snuggling with me and spending time with Lomi. I can't begin to explain the sparkle in his eyes and the sheer love and joy in his face at that moment. Life is good!

We will head to Brent's parents this weekend to spend some time with them! There will be some very exciting gifts for the boys, so tune in next week for the story!

Brent and I went back to work yesterday and as for me it is very slow. I have one wedding and one graduation I am working on. It is pretty cold here. I think today is the last day and it will warm up until the 1st then get cold again.

I will post some pics later of Christmas and our house decorated!

Two Days in a Row!!

Whewww! Can't believe I am posting two days in a row! I have lots of pics to share so I wanted to put up some more.

This weekend in Waxahachie we went to the parade. So that is me and the boys waiting for it to start. It was breezy and cool, but not unbearable. We loved the old tractor pulling the float. It just seemed so fitting to the small country town!

Downtown was the Victorian Christmas and every year this man comes and plays these bells. It is called Cast in Bronze. It was so amazing and very beautiful. I want to go back and get one of his CDs. I am a Christmas music nut! I have lots of music and drive my kids nuts in the car. They want the radio...not during Christmas though! Anyway this man wore this costume which at first glance was a little crazy, but really went with his performance. He would do some crazy moves and give some unusual looks. Very cool.

Here are the boys putting up the Christmas tree (shoot I didn't it again). Tuck was so excited we couldn't get the lights on fast enough. Time for a new tree though. Half the lights don't work so we have to add lights every year. It was a job I'll tell ya! Looks pretty now though.

Off to move Tuck along for school. Have a beautiful and blessed day.

Good Morning!

It has been way too longs since i last blogged. I think about it everyday, but it is non stop around here.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Brent's parents and friends from Lubbock who are now in College Station. Thanks Gina for the cute towels!! It was great to see familiar faces and to relax and spend time with family and friends.

My Birthday was right after it was very nice. Brent and the boys took me to Chilis (we were supposed to go to Olive Garden since it just opened, but the wait was crazy). They got me a chocolate cake, candy, and some roses. I had already had a great birthday when we went home before Thanksgiving! Turning 40 was A OK! My mil took me to a class in Arlington at Recollections AND made me the cutest album (pics to follow). That's my mil to my right.

Brandan is on the A Basketball team and doing really well. He is certainly learning a lot! They have to wear a suit and tie to school on Game Day. The tie is clip on! He looks very handsome.

Last week the day after Thanksgiving we went into Waxahachie with Brent's parents and took some family pics and pics of Santa. Then we went to the big park there. I tell you, in some places of the park you feel like you are in Ruidoso (that's where Brent and Tuck are).

Sorry about B's pic being sideways. I didn't realize it was until it posted and then couldn't figure out how to delete and turn.

Gotta go to work, will post more later. Lots more pics of Waxahachie's Victorian Downtown Christmas.

Finally a Day of Rest

Today is Sunday and Keyto and I are just chilling out, doing some laundry, and going to the grocery store. The other boys are in Euless at a baseball tournament. My Dad left this morning so we didn't go to the game. We had a great weekend. It was so nice to see my Dad. I really enjoyed showing him around. We had two soccer games yesterday and two baseball games (we only went to one). Tucker's game was his last. He has team pics today and then a party sometime soon. Keyto still has one game, but it has to be rescheduled.

My first week of work was very exhausting. I also have a head cold so all that thinking was hard. I am having to now add work thinking with all the other stuff I do. It will take a couple of weeks to get in the work mode. For example, I forgot to clock out at lunch on Friday!! I know that when the girl training me is gone, I will learn to think for myself and figure things out and learn what my way of doing things is!

Tucker's class went to the Pumpkin Patch here about a week ago. It was his first big bus ride. He had a great time! I am posting a pic of that trip.

We had a lot of fun on Halloween night. Our neighbors got a big trailer and we all piled in the back and went Trick or Treating. I will post some pictures of that and also of our block party that was the Friday before. The little boy in the pic with Tucker is a neighbor and also in Tuck's class at school.

We have two stars in our family this week. Keyto was named Student of the Month of November at his school and will be in the paper. So awesome how he has adapted!

Tucker's school has a 9 week awards (here they go by 9 week grading periods instead of 6) ceremony. He received The Councelors Award for the boys in his class. It is for the student who shares, cares for his classmates, helps others, etc. Sounds just like our Tucker Bear doesn't it? Posted a pic of him receiving the award.

I am off to the store! I will post some pics now and them some later. It takes awhile for them to download onto the site!

Have a super Sunday!

I'm off, I'm off.

I'm off to WORK I go!! Yep, that's right! I start my first day of work today. It has been 12 years since I held a full-time job! Brando was 14 months old when I started staying home with him! I am excited, yet apprehensive...it is certainly an adventure, which falls into perfect place considering the last 12 months of our life. Yep, it's been a year since we first heard about Frito. Time flies when life is making you crazy!

Well, gotta go get the last two boys going...
I'll try to blog tonight about my day if not too sleepy!
Have a super Monday!

Rainy Monday

It is another rainy Monday. It rained last Monday in the a.m. I think today it is supposed to rain all day and probably tomorrow too! It was 90 degrees yesterday and the high today is like 58!! It is great! Talked to Dad this weekend and he said the panhandle is expecting the first snow the end of this week! I don't really want snow, but the cool weather sure is nice.

This weekend was nice and not so busy as some have been. Tuck had a soccer game Sat. morning and scored 7 goals! Keyto had the most exciting day of all! He scored a GOAL! It was the first for his team this whole season and his first since he has been playing as a big kid. He scored when he played and he was like 4 and 5 years old, but not in Big Boy soccer. He is usually a defender, but during play the Coach switched him to foward and right after GOAL! I was so excited and so proud! Boy was he on top of the world!

Sat. night Keyto and Tuck and I went into Cedar Hill with Tiffany (neighbor) and her daughter Brooklyn. We went to Party City and got Tuck and Keyto's costumes, then to Target, and Hobby Lobby. It was a lot of fun. We are planning a block Halloween party this coming Friday night. So we got a few little things for it. I am going to print up the invitations this morning and hopefully the rain will let up so I can put them on neighbor's doors today.

I posted some pics at the beginning of Tucker dressed up as Captain Hook (old costume the boys have passed down) for their school dressup (favorite book character) day a week ago. That is his teacher Mrs. Prachyl as Snow White. She was a great Snow White. We love her, she is very special!

I'm off to see if I can do some papercrafting, vacum and run some errands. Keyto is home sick today with a sore throat.

Have a great Monday!

Today is Saturday

It has been a typical Saturday with the boys going in all directions. I can't believe it is only 8:11 pm. Seems like it should be midnight. And the boys are still going strong! There is probably 50 people out in front in the street, in front of houses, on the sidewalk. It is really great. You just have to watch out for flying kids (on scooters, bikes, and skateboards) and balls of all varieties (soccer, football, baseball). Tucker rides his scooter so fast and so often that he had a huge hole in one of his tennis shoes from dragging his foot to stop and has almost rubbed all the rubber off in several other spots.

Our day today consisted of 10:30 soccer for Tuck here in Red Oak. Keyto had a 12:00 game in Waxahachie but needed to be there by 11:30, but Brando had a game at 12:00 and needed to be there (Red Oak field) at 11:15. So I had a Mom from Keyto's team come by Tuck's game and pick him up and then we left Tuck's game after the 3rd quarter to get BAM to his field (coach was calling me as I was on my way), dropped him off, headed to Waxa. Tuck and I watched Keyto's game (he was goalie first half) then headed back to RO for last two innings of BAM's game then home for a short rest. I then took BAM back to his field at 3:30 for a 4:00 game. Came home checked on little ones then back to BAM's field and watched first 4 innings and he pitched, then picked up little ones and took them to Fall Festival at Tuck's school (they had a great time) and BAM was brought home by a coach. Whew! I am exhausted. Luckily BAM doesn't play again until 1:00 tomorrow. This is his Young Guns team and this weekend is the last weekend of play for them. Tuck has 3 more soccer games and Keyto has 4 more.

Keyto did great at goalie today. He played defender the 2nd half and also did well. Tucker played hard and scored 5 goals for his team today.

I can't wait to sleep in tomorrow. Of course I am so used to getting up at 5:15 that I'll probably be up at 6:00, but at least it will be on my own and not the alarm!!

It was nice and cool last night. We turned off the air conditioner and opened the windows. It was great all day today and I can tell the humidity has dropped tremendously due to my hair not frizzing out by 8:00 am everyday!

Well, I'm off to find my boys and hopefully start winding them down!

Will post pics of Tucker and Keyto at Fall Festival tomorrow, and hopefully good news about Brando's last couple of games. They did win the first one this morning. It was the first one all season for this team. Of course there was only 4 total teams and only 6 total games for the regular season!
Sweet dreams!

Pictures I promised

I want to share the a couple of the pictures from the Tara Sawyer tournament that Brandan played in last weekend. I have told a couple of you about it, but wanted to share more. The tournament is one I mentioned a little in a previous post. Tara Sawyer passed away about 6 years ago from a bacteria she got in a lake. She was a great softball/baseball player. You can read more about her on the website they have set up. Just type in Tara Sawyer baseball and it should pull right up. There is also a letter her brother wrote that is very touching. The tournament also gives away an award called the Barnabas Award (the website also explains this). It is name after Barnabas in the Bible. Well, Brandan's coach nominated him for this award. The pictures I have posted are from him receiving the award and then talking with Tara's parents. He also got to meet Jon Whettland who was the MVP in the World Series one year for the Yankees (one of Brando's fave teams). Brandan has only played in one other tournament and been practicing with this team for about 2 months! It is so amazing that they recognized these qualites in him (he has great coaches). Anyway, I was so proud and pretty much crying as I watched him speak to Tara's parents. As hard as this move has been, it really has given the boys some great opportunities they wouldn't have had back home.

Today has been a good day! I took Tuck to the Dentist to see what we would have to do to put the spacer back in his mouth that came out about 2 weeks ago. I have been stressing over this since it fell out. But, it worked out awesome. After we waited an hour for the Dentist to get there (stuck in traffic on I35), he said he could just put it back in right then and there and then...NO CHARGE! Can you believe it? I was so impressed! Thank You Monarch Dental!

I also took a job applic. to the City of Ovilla today. I really am praying that this is the one. It is part-time in the afternoons! My neighbor, Denise, is an angel. She has volunteered to keep Tuck about an hour after school until Keyto gets home on the bus. So keep me in your prayers.

I took my first That Cookie Chick order this week and had a successful delivery yesterday. That is another good thing about that job, I can do my cookie stuff (orders & delivery) in the mornings.

I have been having fun decorating for Halloween. I need to finish a white pumpkin I painted, then I'll post pics of my deco. Can't wait for Christmas!!

Hopefully will blog tomorrow, if not this weekend!

Enjoy your Friday

It's Wednesday

Today has been a nice day except that little Tuck has some kind of stomach flu I think. Yesterday I went to have lunch with him (pizza day). The little girl across the table ended up throwing hers up at the table. Well, I told Tuck not to look, but he did and ended up doing the same. I thought it was just from what he saw. NOpe...last night he did it again and has had a temp ever since. No more throwing up though. So, we have been home chillin all day. I have ribs in the oven which is another story. Up until last night Brent and I thought they were a brisquet. Boy did we feel dumb!!

I have done some cleaning today and got this little canvas done for the boys bathroom. I thought I would show you pics of the bathroom to give you an idea of the theme. I know my mil will be so proud of me for finishing this. I used the paper packet I got at Archivers this summer.

Well, it is a pretty slow week. Not a lot of practices. We are enjoying it 'cause this weekend will be crazy. Along with the already scheduled 2 soccer and 1 baseball game, Brando is also in a tournament with his other team.

I'm gonna go check on my ribs and stick some chicken on the grill. Have a nice evening!

Little sleepy today

We've had a very busy weekend. Yesterday Tuck had a soccer game at 9:00, Brandan had a baseball (Young Guns) game at 10:00 here in Red Oak, he had another game (Rip City Angels) at 2:00 in Grand Prairie, Keyto had a soccer game at 3:00 here in Red Oak, and Brando had another game (Rip City) at 6:00 in Grand Prairie. Whew! Then this morning Brando had another game (Rip City) at 8:00 a.m. (be there at 7:15)! Unfortunately they lost this morning so tournament is over for them.

There are two tournaments here that benefit children. The one this weekends benefits a boy who was a senior and had rec'd a full baseball scholarship. He was at his graduation party and dove into a pool with too shallow water. He is now a paraplegic (please excuse spelling). The benefits go toward his medical bills. The 2nd tournament we will play in is the first week of Oct. and benefits a little girl's family. She played softball. Her family went to the lake one weekend and played in the water. A day or two later she was very sick. She contracted some kind of bacteria from the water and went into a coma and later passed on. It is a blessing though that there are so many teams around here that they can hold these kinds of tournaments to benefit the youth and their families that we play with and against everyday.

On a lighter note, I am posting some pics of Tuck and Keyto at their soccer games. They are having fun and learning lots. They both have very knowledgeable coaches.

All is well here. Just staying busy with the boys. Brent took them (minus Tuck) to Red Oak's Homecoming Friday night. Since there are so many high schools back home they didn't really know what all the hype was about. But in a small town with only one high school everyone is talking about it. They had fun, but didn't stay the whole game 'cause we whooped the team we were playing!

I am so looking foward to Fall! It is supposed to cool off here a few degrees for the next few days. Our little Farmer's Market on the corner has Pumpkins this weekend. I may have to get a few for the front yard!

Well, gotta go supervise Brent. He is moving stuff from the garage to the new shed out back so I can park my car in there. The only problem is that he thinks everything needs to go and I have stuff out there that I need on a regular basis!!

Have a super Sunday afternoon!

Lots to Say...

Whew, there has been so much going on lately. I would tell myself to sit down and blog, but then it was overwhelming with all that has been going on.

One of the most exciting things that has happened, is the closing and finalization on our old house! It all happened last Friday. I feel so relieved and like I can breath again. It is amazing the weight off our shoulders. I hope the new couple has many years of joy that we had. I am excited to get on with making our new home feel as comfortable and homey as the last.

We also celebrated Brandan's 13th Birthday at The Magic Time Machine. The boys had a great time and Shaggy was our waiter! Here is a pic of the birthday boy.

We also started school, which so far has been great. It has taken some getting use to though. I keep comparing everything to Honey! The picking up and dropping off is so weird here. The boys seem to like all their teachers. Keyto has decided to start riding the bus so we will see how long that lasts. He has to be at the bus stop (on our corner) at 6:40. He loves going early. He is starting choir next Tuesday and has to be at school for it at 7:05! Here are some pics of their first day. I am going to make them smaller than the one above and see how they look. Okay, sorry about Keyto being sideways and I don't know why the pics keep showing up at the top.

Brandan had his first baseball game on Sat. They lost by 1 run, but it was one of those great games. There are only 4 teams total and I think we are the underdogs. The other team was pretty confident they would cream us. We scored 2 runs in the first inning and ditto for them. Nobody scored again until the 7th inning. Brando pitched the first 6 innings. It was fun to be playing again. Here is a pic (I'm sure it will be at the top) of him batting in his Young Guns uniform.

We also lost Momma Kitty. She passed away peacefully of old age. It was so hard and I still miss her. I expect to see her under the bed or feel her jump up on the bed and laydown on my pillow. She would gradually take over the pillow and I would wake up with a crick in my neck. We still have Dudley and he gets lots of attention!

Last night was the first P.T.A. (pizza nite) meeting we have had. It was at Tuck's school. The kindegarten was in charge of saying the Pledge of Allegiance. The kids all went (or ran I should say) up to the stage in no particular order. Of course, Tuck was in the middle and I couldn't even see him to get a picture. He was all smiles when it was over though!

I hope all of you are doing great and enjoying the cool weather we are having. I love it. It has been so nice to open up the house and air it out. I have a roast in the crock pot for dinner and the house is clean so all is well. All we have tonight is one soccer practice. I am afraid Sat. will be a bit busy though. I'll let you know the schedule and out comes soon. I do know we have a baseball game at 10:00 for sure.

Everybody needs to start a blog so we can all keep up. There are 3 or 4 blogs I read regularly and really enjoy. The girl who is the Editor of Homegrown Hospitality magazine has a very inspirational blog. She is very positive and creative.

Oh, I also wanted to mention something that is sad for me. You know I sell The Body Shop products and Monday our founder died. Her name was Anita Roddick. She was an amazing woman who accomplished so many great things for the world. She was having headaches and then had a brain a..... I don' even know how to spell it. It is just so sad, but she did accomplish so much for so many in her life that it is very inspiring to try and do a little something for someone else everyday.

I better get busy. I may have a little time for some papercrafting before I start picking up kiddos.

Simple pleasures are Life's treasures.

Cloudy Day

Good Morning,

It is cloudy here this morning. Maybe we will get some rain from the tropical storms today. I hope all the hurricanes and possible hurricanes don't do any damage this year and everyone is safe at home.

We are getting ready to go home for a couple of days before school starts. The boys are excited to see their grandparents and friends. I am packing and baking cookies to take with us and maybe leave some here for Brent!(wink)

I listed some of my favorite Christian books to share with you. I love the two devotional ones to keep me on track everyday. I get up every morning and spent about 20-30 minutes reading and in prayer. It has made a huge difference in my attitude toward everything! It has been a tough summer and praying and staying focused has been a blessing. The Queen of the Castle is actually a weekly devotional and also very humorous. She includes household tips, crafts and recipes.

Elizabeth George is one of my fave authors. A WOMAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART is my 2nd book of hers to read. She is very simple and straight to the point. She also gives a lot of examples in how to apply what she is teaching to everyday life.

We had a nice evening last night as a family. We went to eat at one of the few restaurants in town and then hurried home to watch High School Musical 2!! Even Brent loves it! It was really cute. Gotta have the soundtrack now!!!

Well, gotta go clean out the car. Hopefully will see some of you in the next day or two.
Have a super Saturday

Simple Pleasures are Life's treasures - Unknown

Catchin' Up

I thought I would post some pics of the boys and the house.

Our new house has so many many windows! I have tried to be picky in picking out blinds or curtains. I finally found curtains for the dining room at Ikea. Man I love that place. What great prices. I am still looking for the living room and kitchen. I think I will go to Calico Corners and have some made. I just need Brent to take me (somewhere in Dallas) and see what they cost...

Okay, let me see if I can get a pic in here ... well that isn't the picture I was trying for. I must have put in the wrong number! That is Brandan at his last tournament with the Lonestars in McKinney in June.

I'm going to try again for a pic of the dining room curtains...okay finally. I think I have this figured out now.

Here is a picture of Tucker (he's on a NO shirt thing now) on a skateboard with our neighbor Brooklyn and then Keyto playing with the neighbor kids. Sorry about the sideways thing, I didn't even think to turn it!

That's all for now.

First BLOG!

Today is my first official blog. I wanted to set this up for my friends and family to keep in touch and see pics of what is going on in our little nest (for some reason I am really into birds & chicks lately)! I hope that all of you will start a blog too! I will have to learn how to post pics and all that fun stuff!

I have been fighting a crick in my neck or maybe even a pinched nerve for the last week, so I am off to town for advil and bengay. The boys need out of the house so they are going too! We will just have to stop at Sonic for a Diet Vanilla Coke, Vanilla coke and two DP's. It's about 103 here today!

Will post more later, once I figure out how to do all this.