Chopsticks

We ate at Ton's. Its this great Mongolian grill thing. Stone was so cute trying to use the chopsticks. He eventually decided it wasn't for him since he could barely get it on a fork!
Both of them are better at it than I am. I am so not cultured!
Heaven knows I need to put the fork down

To Stone, his fortune read: "You are going to the store to get a surprise."
I took them to Target and bought them some wrestlers.

My fortune read:

I am taking it for what it says.

After finishing up some school shopping we went for some well deserved manis and pedis!
Sam especially loved it.
Stone was trying to figure out how he could get one of those chairs in his room at home, but didn't enjoy having to have his pedicure done by a man and refused the manicure.

School's Out

The boys have worked so hard all year and now they are out! Well, school was actually over for them last Friday on the 26th, but I was just now thinking about it.

I have so many great things planned for them this summer. They are at that stage now where the memories are going to really be special when they are older. I want them all to be good ones.

We are heading to West Texas/New Mexico for a few days this coming week to see Daphne in Clovis and then heading backwards to Lubbock to spend some time at Ninny's. Hopefully I will be getting my hands on Baby Jackson again!



This year's first day of school pic. I cannot believe how fast the time flies by and how much the boys grow and change every single day! Both of them had the usual first day of school fears about making friends and learning new things. Now they are both wondering when they are going to see their friends this summer or if next year will be harder. They are completely different kids from the day that I took this photo. 1st and 2nd grade were really good to them.

I'm so Sensitive, Always Have Been

The day started out just horrible for me...

It was zoo field trip day for Stone and he already did not want me to go with him. I just didn't want him going somewhere so busy with just anyone's supervision so I signed up to chaperone against his wishes. He has been going through this little stage where he is all about his friends and won't hug or kiss me at school in front of them. Almost like he is embarrassed of me. Now at home it's a different story, he is all over me laying in my lap for hours and smooching on me every chance he gets and cries if Sam has been with me longer than him. This is probably how it is going to be with him I guess. More than likely this is NOT a stage or faze. Sad but true. I've heard that you are who you are going to be by the time you turn 6 years old.

Anyway, this morning after Stone fussing about how he didn't want me to wear what I had on or if I did wear it he wanted me to keep my jacket on, (Ugh! How hurtful...he's 7) I drove to the zoo to meet the buses there and got pulled over by Fort Worth Police. 75 in a 60. I really don't think I was speeding. I mean, I was distracted with my thoughts of my child being a mean spirited little punk this morning, but there were so many vehicles around me traveling in this little pack and he was even pulling people over WHILE I was sitting there on the side of the road waiting for my ticket. I cried because of the morning with Stone and even told the policeman about it. He asked me how old Stone was and gave me an "Awe" face. Then he gave me the ticket.

The zoo was OK. Hot, but OK. (been there 100 times since moving here) Turns out because of the fantastic turnout of chaperone volunteers and small classrooms I only had one other student other than my own. They had the best time together and now that I am more aware of Stone's feelings of wanting to be independant I just sort of hung back.

They mapped their route before we entered. Yeah, we stuck to that!

Lunch time with the rest of the buddies from Mrs. Thompson's class. What a fun bunch!

He really is something special. I just wish I could slow this process of growing up down just a touch.

Tomorrow there is a backyard campout at our house.

It's a Cool, Cool Summer...so far

Today was the boy's first official swim of the season. I didn't want to let them get in. They were begging me! It wasn't even sunny today. It hasn't been too sunny in quite some time. I've been enjoying it so much though. Rainy days are perfect napping days for me. Soon the sun will be out in all of it's Glory and I will be gasping for cool air in the sweltering Texas heat.

Today though, they jumped in and froze their little bottoms off.

We haven't bought suits yet for the summer so Stone wore some little tiny trunks from probably two years ago and Sam wore his boxers!

I can't wait for it to warm up so I can get in too.

Dollars Days

I had to run a few errands this evening. Like picking up a HUGE cardboard box so that Sam (the big one) could mail our friend Brian an amp to Florida. You know they sell boxes at those storage places for 28 dollars? Well, they do. And the man inside who jokingly told your boys that he was going to "introduce them to his dog" will help you carry it out to your car FREE of charge!

Across the street from the Storage Place (I think it may really be called just that--Storage Place) is a Dollar Tree (totally just learned that the Dollar Tree is online, WATCH OUT now!) and I, from time to time, get this urge to run in and buy everything that I think I need for ONE DOLLAR.

Today we came away with these fabulous items...


These had a big red foam nose to put on too, but Stone's nose is just too little to really keep it on long.

Sam had a enough nose for everyone. NOW I can see the resemblance of me in him. He's an extremely good looking young man, huh?

Trust me. Pigs DO NOT fly. Even with all this wind today we just couldn't keep it up for long.

Which is why there are no pictures of them flying the kites and having a wonderful time. We tried though even though we were so frustrated. I must have ran 2 miles trying to get them off the ground.

And Chinese Finger Traps!!! Who doesn't NEED one of these? I wish I had gotten a picture of Stone's face when I was explaining that it wasn't really going to TRAP his fingers inside.

The trip to the Dollar Tree cost less than the Storage Place. I even got a perfect little glass jar to put Stone's beta in! What a steal!

Hoping to find a new breakfast table this weekend or at least some new drapes.

They grow

Their tastes have really changed. I used to be able to sit down with them and read short book after short book and now they are on to BIGGER and BETTER things...

So many ornaments. Not enough slots for them to go in.

Yes! I totally get that it is now mid January! Well, only just last week I got to do one of my most dreaded tasks. I waited just as long as I could...




The taking down of the Christmas ornaments! When you are putting them up you remember just how beautiful everything was the year before and it is SO MUCH FUN putting it all out again! The kids want to help and in my case your Mother In-Law comes over to make sure that you don't do a rotten job on decorating by yourself!

Then of course, because each year you accumulate more than you had the year before and you DID NOT save the boxes that everything came in you must head to a CONTAINER STORE near you to package everything back up to store in the attic.


Stu was a fabulous help! I couldn't have done it without him.

Plans for this year's Christmas? Disney World.

A Frightful List on Happiness

Obviously this blogging thing doesn't appear to be for me. It has been months since my last post and I haven't even really thought about it at all. I have found some really great blogs out there that are seriously a lot of fun, colorful, and just plain great to read. But I tell ya, I find that when I do consider getting online and blogging that the majority of thoughts that run through my mind to write about are all negative...
I WANNA WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING HAPPY! Something happy?

So today I am choosing my children. My two boys. As Christmas has just ended and we are about to head into the New Year I thought that I would post up a few happy shots of my babies from a few years ago and make a commitment to myself to post more as a resolution. (people never keep their New Year's resolutions)

Resolution 1. Loose weight (who is with me?!?!)
Resolution 2. Post more into blog (could be very therapeutic for me)

Things I would like to accomplish this coming year/soon...

1. Weight loss. (Yep.)
2. Be a better mother. (I think I am right up on top here, but why quit trying?)
3. Organize my world. (I recently did this to the meds/first aide cabinet.
It was a true task)

We'll see...

The Dangers of Weight Loss

I took that picture on my way back to work from lunch one day in my car... I see it as a sign.

I have been trying my best to be healthier lately. Admittedly I have put on a few pounds since the birth of my last baby, Stone. But HELLO! It has been over six years now... The "I had two babies in a row!" excuse no longer works. While I am not a blob, I am the biggest I have ever been and I'm ashamed. I blame myself completely, I do not work out and I have horrible eating habits. Anyone who doesn't work out says that they never have time. Well, SERIOUSLY I do not.

I get up at 4:45am as it is to make it into work by 6:30am. I stay until 2:30pm and need to bust my butt to get to the boys school before 2:55. From there my entire evening is devoted to them. Playing, dinner, baths, stories, and then bedtime and by that time I am EXHAUSTED just to start all over again the next morning. So unless I get up at 3:45am (an HOUR earlier---not a fan of this idea) I just don't know where I could possibly put a regular work out routine. It is driving me crazy and unfortunately on my mind CONSTANTLY!

I have however been making healthier choices (salads, sandwiches, A LOT of broccoli, chicken, and of course Good Ole Lean Cuisines) and am seeing a difference. It seems my breasts have decided to shrink. Bleh!

I will continue to try to lose weight for those smaller sizes are calling me home.