The Scene from my Back Porch

ONE

2011-10-06T23:45:00.000-05:00

As hard as it is to believe, my sweet Annabelle is a year old today.

We had a small family party for her on Sunday. I disobeyed the cardinal rule of first birthday parties:

Nap first, party later.

This was the closest thing to a smile that we got in most of her pictures. She wasn't unhappy at all, just SLEEPY. She was a good sport, and loved her cake, but was more than ready for her nap well before we opened presents. :)

Another little "slip-up" was her super duper cute birthday outfit. Yes, I let her wear it while she ate cake. She only turns one once, and I'd learned from Sadie that it would probably wash beautifully (it did). The only problem was that her tights made her slide all over the table! I was hoping to get all these super cute smash cake pics, but as soon as we sat her on top of the table she slid right into the cake! Oh well. Lesson learned (and I still love her outfit!).

This is her "fancy" cake that we ordered from the incredibly talented Lawanna Gilmore (it was also her Daddy's cake...luckily he's accepted that he'll probably have to suffer through many girly cakes in the upcoming years). Every time I watch "Challenge" on the Food Network, I think she could be serious competition for those people (and it was just as delicious as it was beautiful).

Sweet Annabelle, this year has flown by. I can't believe how many things have changed (for the better) since you came along! You are my little over-achiever...you crawled early, walked early, said "mama" first (and for that, I thank you!)... You are also going to be the cause of many more gray hairs for me. When Jackson was a year old, we didn't even put up a baby gate because he never tested his boundaries. Sadie would crawl up to the gate but never tested the latch. You not only test the latch, if you can't open it, you go around it. Lucky for us, your Daddy is a handyman, but I have a feeling you're going to keep us on our toes. :) You are our little drama queen who charms everyone with her little smiles and sweet looks, yet can turn on the tears at the drop of a hat--or when someone tells you "no." We all love you so much (especially your brother who was sooo certain he needed a baby brother) and have so much fun making you laugh.

Happy birthday, baby girl!

Ode to my Awesome Handyman Husband

2011-09-27T17:24:00.000-05:00

One of Kevin's favorite things to say when we watch DIY shows is, "I could SO do that." And he when he has time, he can. Two of my favorite things in our house are things we made all on our own. The first is our breakfast nook bench. I thought I'd blogged about it before, but apparently not. It was a family project where Kevin did most of the hard work and the kids and I just did the painting/cushion making, but I think it's pretty sweet...

And the second thing...

When we were building our house, Kevin and I had a very similar idea in our heads as far as what we wanted the decor to be. We both liked the whole rustic, living-by-a-lake, animals on the wall (okay, THAT was his dream...I just decorate around it...), cabin-ish feel. Our living room focal point is definitely our fireplace, and I remember the day we walked in after the stone masons had finished it. We instantly loved it. One feature our builder improvised was the mantle...we originally hoped to put a solid cedar log up, but it wasn't in our budget, so instead our builder had the stone mason's fashion one out of rock. Again, our first opinion of it was that it would be perfect.

But here's the thing about rough-hewn stone mantles: There's not one single level spot on it. Not one. I made the best of it for a few years, but it was a whipping trying to figure out what would sit up there without looking lopsided or crooked. One day I was staring at it in frustration, when an idea began to develop. My awesome handyman husband could build a box to go around the stone! It could be rustic and cool and LEVEL. I presented the idea to Kevin, and he kinda stood there awhile and finally said, "But I LIKE our mantle!" After I presented (pleaded?) my case to him, he saw the logic in what I was saying. So for Christmas two years ago, he started working on my new mantle.

But.

Turns out the mantle wasn't the only problem with the fireplace...mainly the fireplace itself. Long story short, it simply wasn't safe or energy efficient. We had no idea that this was the case until we had a company in Tyler come in to replace our ghetto gas logs with pretty ones. That's when they told us that we were lucky our house hadn't burned down. All of the sudden the mantle was the least of our worries.

So. Fast forward a year. We hired a friend/reputable contractor to help us with the fireplace issue. We put in a new firebox that would make burning gas logs safe and much more energy efficient. To do that, we had to tear out some of our rock, but it was totally worth it. Last year we had a beautiful fire in the fireplace and no cold air blowing down on us.

Which brought us back to the whole stone mantle issue. Now, full disclosure would require me to tell you that the fireplace guys told us that a wooden mantle would be a fire hazard, because it would be too close to the actual fire. But here's my logic: We never ever burn our fire unless we are awake and in the living room. So I started casually hinting to Kevin that I would love to have a mantle...and with a little teamwork (he built, the kids and I sanded and stained.) this was the result:

(For whatever reason, this picture makes it look unlevel, but it's not. I just checked. Weird.)

I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am with the end result. It is exactly the mantle I had in my mind. I think it is supercool and rustic and I LOVE the fact that we all put our mark on it (literally--in the distressing process, we all hammered, scratched, and beat the living daylights out of it!) And just a few days ago, I got to really decorate it for Fall for the first time ever....

Love it? I do! Thanks honey!

First Day of Sunshine Friends 2011

2011-09-14T21:32:00.000-05:00

Jackson and Sadie started Sunshine Friends Preschool a few weeks ago. We took the requisite "First Day of School" pic just before going inside. Clearly they are thrilled. :)

But seriously, they LOVE Sunshine Friends. They both have great friends in their class and love their teachers. They do not, however, like having their pictures taken...at least not when I want to take their pictures. (An upcoming post will feature a video in which they both came running in my room, both in their underwear, shouting, "Momma!!! You've GOT to see what we just learned how to do!!!")

This is Jackson's last year of preschool. He's an old pro at this preschool thing and was totally okay with cutting back to three days a week so we could hang out more this year. Sadie has already started sharing with me all the things she's learned in the first few weeks of school, but when I say, "Sadie, you're so smart!" she says, "No I'm NOT!!" We're going to have to work on that whole self-image thing (that's a whole other blog altogether)...

Once a week, while they are in school and Annabelle goes to her babysitter, I go back to the school to work...because I am THAT irreplaceable!! ;) TOTALLY KIDDING. But it's fun to help out and not feel the pressure of STAAR or any of the other stresses that come with day to day teaching.

This is going to be a wonderful year. And it's already going by too fast.

The Great Balloon Race

2011-08-02T22:36:00.003-05:00

First, on a completely unrelated note: Boy is it HOT! Like, miserably hot. Crazy hot. If you're reading this on the regular site, you'll notice a different background--the name is "Sun Dried." The didn't have anything called "Desert Wasteland." :)

Ok. Now that I got that out of my system...

Last week my sister Debbie asked if we would be interested in going with her, Eli, and Joe to the Great East Texas Balloon Race in Longview. It went something like this:

Deb: Would you all like to go to the balloon races with us?
Me: Sure! We would LOVE to do that!

Deb: We have to leave at 5 a.m.
Me: I'm sorry, what?

Apparently, the balloon festival is a weekend event, and if you want to see the balloons on the ground, you can pretty much do that any time; but the actual RACE part, the COOL part, starts at 6:30. In the morning.

Ugh.

Ridiculously early departure time aside, I still thought this would be something the kids would love. I've always wanted to see it myself. I told Debbie we were in (along with my brother Andy and three of his girls)and made plans to leave at 5. I also started planning ways to minimize early morning drama--kids slept in their clothes, I took my makeup with me (there was a strict "no makeup allowed" rule in our car--I was totally okay with that).

Despite the fact that they got up at 4:30, the kids were really excited about our adventure. Nobody slept the entire way. Since it was Sunday, we got in for free, got great parking, and were pretty much as close to the "target zone" as we wanted to be.

After we got settled, we didn't have to wait long before the first balloon appeared on the horizon. It was a very cool experience, especially toward the end, when the special balloons started to appear--bumblebees, spiders, purple people eaters, Noah's ark,...

The Dr. Pepper balloon was Sadie's favorite! :)

It was a wonderful experience for us. If you live within driving distance of Longview, you should make a point to go to the Great East Texas Balloon Festival. I'm pretty sure we will be getting up before dawn next year too. :)

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

2011-07-20T12:30:00.002-05:00

It's funny how God works things out for us.

A few weeks ago in our Sunday school class, we were talking about taking risks. Scott, our teacher, asked what came to our minds when we heard the word "risk." My immediate answer was, "Reward." In business you always hear those two words together--without risk, there's no reward. Then we started talking about how comfortable we were with taking risks. My response?

"Change is baaaad."

I wasn't alone in this feeling. Turns out a lot of people are a little wary of the unknown. Honestly though, it's not that I really think change is bad. I think it's scary. I am very hesitant to step out into the unknown. I tend to be very careful about weighing the pros and cons before I do just about anything.

Kevin, however, is not so hesitant.

And I'm sooo thankful for that.

No. Really.

Not that it hasn't had its scary moments. Right after Jackson was born, Kevin quit his coaching job. Without another job lined up. I spent about three months in panic mode. It wasn't that he left a perfectly good job--it was far from perfect and it was rarely good--but it was security. It was income. It was insurance.

But God provided for us then--a good job that also provided all those things that I needed to feel secure. It also provided a promise from Kevin to me that he would never quit a job (perfectly good or otherwise) again without something else lined up. It's a promise he's kept (without problem) for the past five years, and for the past four years he's been in a job that really seems to suit him and that makes me happy. The one and only drawback was that he was self-employed. No benefits.

For almost the entire four years, that wasn't an issue. As a teacher, I had decent insurance for myself and the kids, and Kevin was able to insure himself through a private HSA. It wasn't until Annabelle was born that change appeared on the horizon...and this time, shockingly, it was coming from me.

I love teaching. I love my colleagues, my students, and my campus. But when Annabelle was born, I took 12 weeks off to be a mommy. During those twelve weeks, I got to attend programs at Jackson and Sadie's pre-school. I got to really enjoy my kids. One night, jokingly (sort of) I said something to Kevin about not wanting to go back to work. He stunned me by not completely laughing off the idea. He actually suggested that I start looking at ways to make that happen.

Geez. Now I had to start thinking about taking a risk. It was a huge risk in my mind. The what if's drove me crazy. Sure, we could get private insurance, but would it be as good as what we had? It would be super-expensive. I know lots and lots of people in this world live just fine without insurance, but it's a fear I have. I can't help it.

I started looking into going part-time at the school. It isn't done very often, but I thought that the current economic problems of the state might result in some creative staffing. Unfortunately it didn't work out. With that disappointment, I signed my contract for next year and started trying to prepare my heart and mind.

That's when Kevin came home with another option. He was looking at an employment website and noticed that there was a job opening for an in-house landman with a local company. "In-house" was big. It meant working for one company, and as an employee of that company, he would receive company benefits. Not more money, just more security. When he told me about it, he said, "They want someone with five years in-house experience. I don't have that, obviously, but I applied anyway. It can't hurt."

Honestly, I didn't think much more about it after our conversation ended. In my mind it was a wonderful opportunity, but it seemed just out of reach.

The next day Kevin called and told me he had an interview.

Really?

Not only did the interview go well, it went extremely well. The fact that Kevin didn't seem to have the right experience didn't seem to matter. Suddenly, this pipe dream was looking more and more like a legitimate possibility.

About halfway through this journey came the Sunday school lesson about risk. I knew God was talking directly to me. He'd blessed us with this possibility, but it wasn't a given. It wasn't perfect. But the one thing I worried about--having good insurance--was taken care of. It was impossible not to see His hand in it.

And it took three more weeks, but finally our prayers were answered. Kevin got the job.

I officially resigned my position at the junior high on Monday.

A very good friend of mine was chosen to replace me today. I am so happy for her, mainly because I feel like God was answering her prayers too. :)

As I type this, I'm watching Jackson and Sadie build a fort out of blankets and pillows. Last summer they couldn't build one without my help, but this summer I only have to supervise. Pretty soon we will make a trip to Walmart and have people give me the "Wow, you've got three little kids" look. I realize this time isn't going to last much longer. Jackson will start kindergarten next year.

Time to make this count.

Vacation Time!!

2011-07-20T10:44:00.000-05:00

Ever since we took a trip to the Hyatt Hill Country in San Antonio last summer, all my kids could talk about was going back to "that hotel with the lazy river." However, Jackson also put in another little request for this year's vacation... "It can't be far far away." Lucky for us, the Gaylord Texan just opened up Paradise Springs, it's own little version of a water park.

Lazy river? CHECK.

Reasonable driving distance? CHECK CHECK.

Summer special on room rate? WE HAVE A WINNER!

After baseball wrapped up for the season (you can see my sad face, right?), we decided to spend a longish weekend in Grapevine. It was a great little getaway. The hotel has lots of neat little summer activities (balloon animals, jugglers, stilt guy, tatoos--of the temporary variety) on top of fireworks on Friday nights (FYI--the fireworks are over Lake Grapevine, so it isn't exclusive to the Gaylord. BUT, you have a perfect view from the top of the parking garage, where they have music and refreshments.)

We had a great time at Paradise Springs. Annabelle is just as big a fan as her big sister and brother. She even managed to take a nap while we floated. No, really. For over an hour. We spent most mornings in the water, and then took the afternoon to visit other sites like the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, which took us to the Stockyards in Ft. Worth. The train was a neat little adventure, but boy was it hot! It is about an hour and a half ride, and the temperature was fine as long as we were moving....but there were several stops along the way (so that other trains could cross), and it was around 100 degrees. But the kids never complained and they loved the Stockyards.

Another day we went to Legoland Discovery Center.

TIP: Visit on a weekday and buy your tickets ahead of time!!!

We went on a Saturday and had to wait about 30 minutes even with our prepaid tickets (there is a separate line for prepaid tickets and the other line was FOREVER long). If we'd gone on Tuesday, we could've walked right in. It is totally worth it though if your child has any interest at all in Legos. Sadie got her first "girl" Legos, and was soooo excited.

Now, if you have older kids who are strong swimmers, your money would probably be better spent at Great Wolf Lodge. There is definitely no comparison to the amount of water rides (there is only one water slide and it is only for kids over 48"). But if all you have smaller kids who still like to hang out with you (OR, if you don't have kids and just want to hang out on the lazy river for hours on end), Paradise Springs is great. And even on a holiday weekend, we never had to wait for a shuttle (another slight negative--the park is at least half a mile from the hotel). Plus, right now they are having a "Summer Fest," with free tatoos, braids, balloon animals, etc, etc, etc...the kids loved it. Balloon animals were a theme for the weekend...

The tattoo line was by far the longest line we waited in the whole vacation. Luckily, the line was at the waterpark and the kids could swim while I waited (and fended off potential line jumpers...but that's another blog). Jackson is all about the skull right now. I couldn't believe he wanted it in the center of his back, but he was stoked about it.

You can't tell from the picture, but Sadie got a glitter butterfly tattoo. That thing stayed on for days...like, almost two weeks. It finally started to peel a little and look a little ghetto, so I took it off with alcohol. Otherwise, it would've hung on at least another week. She loved it. :)

One of the biggest positives of the trip was the fact that my niece Holley agreed to go with us. She was a HUGE help for us (being that we were able to play a man-to-man defense and not a zone), and Sadie was in Holley heaven! :)

As far as "staycations" go, I highly recommend Grapevine. If you want lots to do, you've got plenty of options right there. If you're kids are older, you've got Six Flags and the Ballpark within thirty minutes. The kids are already asking when we are going back.

On to T-Ball...

2011-06-10T22:17:00.000-05:00

In the midst of soccer came the baseball draft. Now, if you remember last summer, Jackson wasn't a big fan of this sport at all--until the last week of the season. Those last two games he was all about practice and improving and getting better, so we had high hopes for this spring. So we were a little bummed when--after we signed him up and payed the fees--he told us he didn't want to play.

Sorry, kid. You're playing.

Yes I know. We're mean parents. We may even be "those" parents. But we are justifying this by saying until he's played enough to know he really hates it, he can't really hate it. Right?

Practices went well. He has friends from pre-school on the team this year, and he doesn't feel like the "baby" of the team. He still likes "taking a break" more than actually playing, but he gets on base consistently and he is soooo much faster than he was last year!

I will admit, I take the whole baseball thing more seriously than I should, because he clearly isn't planning on making a career of it. I try not to push him, but inside, I keep hoping one day he'll say, "Hey momma, wanna play catch?"

It's my Field of Dreams moment. Don't judge me.

At any rate, we've played lots of games, and we've won quite a few. He's gotten a few medals from tournaments, and he's actually disappointed when they don't win.

That right there is progress.

On Being a Soccer Mom

2011-06-10T21:29:00.000-05:00

I miss "The 30 Days of Me."

Not because I like talking about "ME" so much, but because I liked the prompts. Yes, I'm a junior high teacher and almost all the writing we do at this age is prompt driven. That's how I roll. :)

It's not that we haven't been busy. Oh my, have we been busy. Jackson started soccer in February. This is a new experience for our entire family. I am a total soccer newbie. When I was a kid, soccer was brand new to our area, and only a couple of my friends played...and even then I knew running up and down a field while kicking a ball and managing not to trip all over myself was not my area of expertise. Yes, it would've provided hours of entertainment for the spectators, but I'm pretty sure I would've been scarred for life.

Jackson, thank the Lord, has only half my genes. He seems to enjoy the game on most Saturdays. I think if he could just run up and down the field and not ever have to kick the ball, he'd love it. It's the whole multi-tasking aspect that throws him for a loop sometimes. :) His coaches insist that it takes a season or two (or six?) to really "get it." They're so kind.

In the last couple of games, he's found his niche. He was born to play sweeper. For those of you who (like me) never watched even one minute of soccer before, sweeper is the guy (or girl) who tries to keep the ball from getting close to the goalie. So....he pretty much gets to stay on one end of the field until the ball starts heading his way, and then he has a few seconds to prepare for contact. The rest of the time, he gets to play in the dirt.

You can imagine how happy this makes him.

My baby boy is FIVE.

2011-04-21T09:25:00.000-05:00

Jackson turns five today.

I don't even know how to process that.

Five. How did that happen?

I asked him the other day if he would still sit in my lap and snuggle with me once he turned five. He laughed and said yes like that was the most idiotic question I'd ever asked.

Whew.

Every single day I realize how much he's NOT my little boy anymore. We have real conversations. He has a memory like you wouldn't believe. He is fascinated with letters. While we've worked with him to learn his name, we haven't pushed anything else yet...but I feel like he's going to be one of those kids that pushes himself to learn. I love that.

He told me the other day that he didn't want to get married. I told him he still had a while to change his mind about that. He teared up and said he was afraid to kiss the girl. I tried to reassure him that once he found the right one, he wouldn't be afraid anymore. But he doesn't believe me, and I'm okay with that.

I really am not sad that he's growing up, because this tiny little moment of his life is so much fun. But I want to freeze it. I want to keep him curious and innocent and stubborn and kind hearted.

Happy birthday, buddy. I love you.

Our Anniversary Weekend

2011-03-08T14:08:00.000-06:00

One of the things I look forward to every year is our anniversary getaway. Every year we make it our mission to find somewhere special to go for a night or two, just the two of us. Some have been more memorable than others ( the 7F Lodge in College Station is amazing, Fredericksburg during their music festival was entertaining, and our stay in the _ at Salado was really unique--in a good way!). We planned this year to make our way down to Gruene, but hit a snag. In years past when we've headed south, our trip usually ends in Austin for the state basketball tournament (It's a family tradition. Some people go skiing; my family watches basketball.). Because Kevin is self-employed, he only gets paid if he works and taking off an entire week can be costly. So...we opted to put Gruene on hold (it would be better in summer anyway) and find somewhere closer to home.

I'm usually the one to search out some cozy little bed and breakfast, but this year Kevin took the reins after I suggested going to Grapevine. Next thing I know, he calls me and lets me know that he has two nights booked at the Gaylord Texan.

Awe. Some.

As much as I love the bed and breakfast experience, getting the chance to be pampered after five months of being a mother of three sounded like Heaven. And this weekend was all about pampering. My husband knocked this weekend out of the park.

When we got to our room on Friday, Kevin and arranged for flowers to be delivered and have the "romantic turn down service" ...so many sweet little touches.

If you know me, you know that taking pictures on weekends like this isn't my strong suit. Trust me when I say we had a great time. We spent most of Saturday in the Relache' Spa inside the Gaylord. I'm such a spa freak. It was one of the best massages I've ever had. Of course, after carrying a carseat for five months, any massage would probably be a good massage! :)

Saturday afternoon we ventured to historic downtown Grapevine. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it.

Saturday night we went to Pappas Bros. Steakhouse. Oh my. It's a special occasion place, for sure. But it was delicious!

After we slept in just a bit on Sunday, we packed our bag and headed back to Van. I love that our weekend fell at the beginning of our spring break, because now I'm refreshed and ready for a week with my kiddos!

Of course, I may need another massage by the end of the week. :)

Lucky 7

2011-03-06T00:00:00.037-06:00

Seven years ago today I married my prince.

In those seven years, I've discovered not only is he my Prince Charming, he is my Prince Funny, Prince Practical, and Prince Dirty Old Man (Yes I know you're shocked. Yeah right.). He is also the smartest ~~person~~ man in the room. ;) He makes my life easier even when it makes his more complicated. He knows the cracks in my armor and chooses not to chip away at them. He treats me differently than he treats anyone else, and it makes me feel special.

He is the best best best best thing to happen to me. Ever.

I love you babe.

Day 30: A picture of someone I miss

2011-03-01T07:46:00.001-06:00

This is Meme. The adorable little cherub on the other side of the fence is me. :)

I miss Meme. She was such a feisty little woman. I wish I could have spent more time with her and really gotten to know her. I love thinking back to the times I spent at her house with her and Papa Peden.

Her name was Lubie Clyde. She would be 98 on her birthday this Sunday.

We would sit at her kitchen table, and she would simultaneously teach me how to play dominoes while telling me to keep my feet off the railing under the table.

She always seemed to have all the lemon drops and angel food cake on hand. Lemon drops never tasted as good anywhere else, and her angel food cake was amazing. One day not so long ago I asked my mom if she had Meme's angel food cake recipe. She smiled and said, "I think she got it from a box mix."

Her and Papa always sat on the second row at church. When I would sit with them, they would play tic-tac-toe with me to keep me quiet.

We spent a lot of time on the swing in her back yard.

Christmas Eve was at Meme's every year for the first several years of my life. The only tree I ever remember her having was a stick painted white and decorated with lights and ornaments. I knew it wasn't the way our tree looked, but I never remember thinking that it was odd. It took a while for it to feel like Christmas when we stopped going to her house on Christmas Eve.

I don't remember her voice or her laugh, but I can remember laying on the floor in the middle of her den, playing dominoes, her with a toothpick in her mouth saying, "'Let me see...' said the blind man."

I remember going with her on a regular basis to the nursing home to visit Aunt Pudd and Miss Ada. She always took bananas to Miss Ada. I thought that was nice. It was years later when I realized that Aunt Pudd was Meme's sister.

When she got sick, she went to California for treatment. She brought back a pearl for me and had it set in a ring. I still have that ring and it is still very important to me.

The stories of her that my dad tells are some of the funniest I've ever heard. One involves her hurling stuff at him when he climbed a tree to get away from her. :)

If I try really, really hard, I can still smell her house.

She was strong and stubborn and funny.

Her funeral was the only time I saw my Papa cry, and had the largest amount of flowers I ever saw.

After she died, my Papa needed to repaint their house. Apparently, choosing the paint color had always been Meme's job. It was always a nice, muted yellow. When we drove by and saw that Papa had chosen the brightest most horrific yellow imagineable, we wondered what in the world made him choose that color.

"Clyde liked yellow," he said.

Day 29: A Picture that ALWAYS makes me smile

2011-02-28T09:28:00.000-06:00

I love this picture.

I love the little girl in it too, even though she's almost 14 now.

Since the day she was born, my niece Holley has been this bright little light in my life. It was the first time in my life that I got to be the "favorite aunt"...or the favorite anything for that matter. Each of my brother's five girls has an aunt or uncle that they just took to instantly. Holley is mine. When she was a baby, she looked just like me. It makes me feel good when people still see a resemblance, because I think she's a beauty.

In her 13ish years, we've spent hours on Nannie's back porch swing, done lots of cooking, and spent many Saturdays being lazy and watching "Say Yes to the Dress."

When I was single, she kept me from feeling lonely. She reminded me that I was special to somebody.

When I started dating Kevin, she was the first person in our family to officially meet him. She approved. She liked the way he opened the car door for me. She's a smart girl. I hope she remembers that when she starts dating.

When I found out that I was pregnant with Jackson, she was the first person (besides our parents) that we told. Jackson was due on her birthday. He was born three days early, but in a way I think that's better. She deserves her own special day.

We don't get as much "just us girls" time as we used to. In some ways, that makes me appreciate her more, because she is incredibly understanding about it. She humors my kids when they drag her upstairs to play. I keep telling myself that someday soon I'm going to send my kids off for a Nannie or Nana day and take Holley to get a pedicure or something, because before I know it, she's going to be all grown up with kids of her own.

She makes me proud.

She makes me happy.

She makes me smile.

Day 28: Something I'm afraid of

2011-02-27T21:23:00.000-06:00

When I started thinking about this post, I realized I have lots of fears.

All irrational.

But this one tops the list: I HATE driving in the rain.

I have no terrifying personal experience on which to base this fear. I've had two wrecks in my life. The first one was in the rain, but it was more a drizzle, and it had more to do with me not slowing down soon enough. The second one was on loose gravel (another thing I have a deep abiding respect for now).

It was after the second wreck that my fear of driving in the rain started to creep up on me. I guess it's more a fear of not having control of a vehicle. Or of people around me not having control of their vehicles.

Now, it's not that I WILL NOT drive in the rain. I refuse to let it cripple me. But I'm that granny driver that will creep along at 45 mph. And I am praying the entire time for the rain to stop (one time it actually did--which was a total blessing because I was on the verge of a panic attack), for cars to slow down, for everyone to arrive at their destinations safely.

Go around.

I don't mind.

Day 27: My Dad and Me

2011-02-25T09:00:00.002-06:00

I love my dad.

It's a good thing, too, because you know how most girls typically turn into their mothers as they get older? In some ways I am--I walk like her, I have a lot of her mannerisms--but in all honesty, I think I'm turning into my dad.

There are worse things that could happen.

When I was a little girl, I thought my dad was an author. I knew he had an amazing ability to draw, so when he would come home with a book (from the book club my mom signed up for), I just knew he'd spent his entire day writing and illustrating it for me.

(Perhaps, just maybe, I might've thought the entire world revolved around my happiness...)

I was most definitely a mama's girl...she was the "lenient parent"...I think it had more to do with the fact that she was around me all the time and knew me better. Dad was super protective...

"Don't lean on the car door! It could fly open at any minute and you could fall out!!!"

(Turns out that happened to him as a kid...)

"When you go around this curve, ALWAYS stay on your side of the road."

(This little nugget was given to me in my early driving years regarding a curve on the way to our house. I've had to stop myself from saying it to my husband. It's good advice.)

"Don't put that straw to your forehead! If you fell you could poke it all the way through your skull to your brain!!"

(Yes, he actually said that. More than once.)

"It will feel better when it stops hurting."

(I remember the first time he said this to me...I was running through the pasture behind our house and tripped on some tractor attachment that was hidden in the tall grass. I scraped my knees and bruised my shins and thought it might be the worst pain ever. And that was how he comforted me. I actually said that to Jackson just the other day and got a tiny bit of glee from being on the other end of it.)

I understand now that if I'd done some of the crazy things my dad did as a kid--and lived--I'd be a crazy protective parent too.

As I got older, my Dad and I seemed to have more in common than my Mom and I. It had a lot to do with me being a teenager and Mom and I spending too much time together. But I also think it has a lot to do with genetics. Doesn't that determine everything?

Like the fact that my mom hated MASH and Barney Miller and Taxi, but Dad and I loved them.

Or how Dad could keep me captivated for hours talking about the flood and how it created the Grand Canyon. (He can still talk for hours about this. Just ask him. ;) )

Or how we both thought the lone gunman theory was a bunch of hooey.

Or how I loved hearing his stories about his childhood and how he would roam around Pruitt with his cousins, causing nine kinds of mischief.

I also get a lot of other traits from my dad.

Like how I would rather talk about anything else than my innermost feelings. I can count on one finger the number of "deep" discussions we've had. It was the most uncomfortable hour of both our lives.

Or how when it comes to any sort of project, it's has to be perfect or I won't be able to quit tinkering with it. If you've ever watched Dad pack for a trip, you know what I'm talking about. He is the MacGuyver of luggage. Honestly, he's the MacGuyver of anything broken. He is not beyond using a piece of string and chewing gum to fix something--and it will be fixed forever.

Or how one of my favorite parts of a vacation is planning it.

Or how despite my inability to verbalize my deepest innermost feelings sometimes, I know my kids know how much they are loved.

I love you, Dad.

Day 26: Something that Means A Lot to Me

2011-02-24T21:00:00.044-06:00

This is my desk at work.

Remember in my last post how I said I love seventh graders? This is one of the reasons why.

Now before you go thinking that I have allowed hooligans to ruin a perfectly good desk, know two things:
1) All the writing is on tape, or post it, or something that can easily be removed. (Well, not easily. But it is not permanent.)
2) This isn't a perfectly good desk. It is old. One of the legs is falling off. It needed character.

There's a story behind the tape.

My third year at the junior high, I had a very special group of students. These kids were the type that come along very rarely, and we were blessed to have a grade full of them. They were bright and funny and creative and so much fun to teach.

My last period class that year consisted of 26 girls and 2 boys. It was an advanced class, and Oh. My. Goodness. They were such an amazing group. The only problem was for a short period of time I didn't have enough desks, so each day, one girl would get the privilege of sitting at my desk. They were sweet girls and I trusted them.

Imagine my surprise one afternoon when I went back to my desk and found several pieces of tape in various locations with little "love notes" written in silver Sharpie...

"Hi Mrs. Reed!"

"Mrs. Reed Rox!"

"Love you!"

"Thanks for letting me use your desk!"

Maybe I should've been mad. But they made me smile. From that point on, any girl that sat at my desk would leave a note. I have several that claim to have been the originator of the tradition...honestly, it doesn't matter.

This is a shot underneath my desk. They like to be sneaky sometimes. :)

Over the years, I've had to make rules for students wanting to leave their mark.
1) You can't leave an anonymous note. Your name must be included.
2) Your note must be to me and not about how great you think you are. It's my desk. I need to know how great you think I am! ;)
3) All notes must be in Sharpie and on tape or post it...otherwise it will disappear.
4) Notes can only be left in the spring, and you must have my permission.

In some ways, my desk is a time capsule. There are some notes that are so blurred and faded with time that they are impossible to read...but I still know who wrote them. The kids who wrote on it are, in some cases, 19 years old now. But to me, they are still 12. They still think I'm cool. They still miss my class. Their biggest problem is still not remembering the combination to their lockers.

Every year, kids move on to 8th grade, promising to come back and say hello...some do. Most don't. They get busy, they move away, they grow up, they find other role models. And that's okay, because I still get to see what great young adults they become, and I get to feel like maybe I had a little hand in it.

And that's what it means to be a teacher.

Day 25: My Day

2011-02-23T12:28:00.002-06:00

My days have had essentially the same view since 2002.

I love my job.

I teach in the school district where I spent 12.5 years as a student. I teach and have taught with people that taught me. I waited 4 years before I could even interview here because there was literally no turnover. It is a great district with great people.

I've been working at the junior high for nine years, and in those nine years, I've changed rooms four times (three of the four times were in the first three years...that's the price you pay for being the new girl). I like my current room. It's always interesting, because you never know exactly what temperature you might encounter when you walk through the door. In August, the heat comes on. One day while I was on maternity leave, I got a text message saying it was 41 degrees! Never a dull moment!

When I was student teaching, I knew that I wanted to teach 7th graders, and I've had the pleasure (yes, really) of doing that very thing for those nine years. Every time I tell someone that I teach junior high, I get something to the effect of, "Wow! Who'd you tick off to get that assignment?" But I love that age. I've taught pre-K kids all the way up to 8th graders. My favorite was always seventh. Seventh graders never change. Until they become eighth graders. I'm blessed in that every year there are kids that seem to actually like seeing me every morning. And I'm always learning from them. They are interesting conversationalists. And they are great fun to joke around with, because on most occasions, they get it.

The "bonus" of teaching at the junior high is that I also have great co-workers. I get to work with some of my best friends. We laugh on a regular basis and have so much fun. They are my "go-to girls." I'm also blessed with an amazing boss who understands what really matters in life. More than once he's said to me, "Your family comes first. Do whatever you need to do, and we'll handle things here." It really is a great place.

I love my job.

Day 24: Something that I wish I could change

2011-02-19T21:57:00.000-06:00

I've gone back and forth on this one. There are lots of things in life that I wish I could change: my weight, the start time at school, my current hairstyle, my inability to sew, the distance between my house and Target, my ability to only speak one language, the inordinate amount of reality shows on TV these days, certain aspects of our house... I could go on and on. Some things I have little control over; others can change in one phone call.

But there was one thing that kept creeping into my brain. And I don't have a picture of it, so I'll have to tell you a story instead. You'll get the idea.

When I was 15 years old, I was sitting in Algebra II on the first day of school. Mr. Terry Waters was my teacher. Over the summer the school had switched to a computerized attendance system. We wouldn't get those paper report cards anymore--all our information was stored on disks and hard drives--it was a brave new world! :) Anyway, I was sitting in class, listening to Mr. Waters call roll, when he stopped. A grin the likes of which I've never seen crossed his face. Not a happy, "I'm so glad it's the first day of school" grin. No. More like a "Boy am I going to have fun with this" grin. And he was smiling directly at me.

I got nervous.

He looked over his glasses, still grinning.

"Margaret?"

Crap.

The stupid computerized system had made public my deepest secret: my first name.

For years, any time I had to register for something or go to a doctor, my mom would have to go through this whole speech. "Her name is Margaret Angela, but she goes by Angie." Half the time they would remember, half the time they wouldn't. It was annoying. But I'd made it through 9.5 years of school without having to divulge that information to any of my friends. Most of my teachers didn't even know because we'd nipped that little problem in the bud at the office. But here I was, sitting in math, with nowhere to hide.

"Here, Mr. Waters."

I should probably clarify that at the time I'd known Mr. Waters for five years. His daughter was my best friend. We went to the same church. And from that moment on, my name was Margaret as far as he was concerned.

Now, I love my parents. They tend make pretty good decisions most of the time. And I'm sure my namesake, my great-aunt Margaret, was as wonderful as they say. And really, it could've been much, much worse. My Meme's name was Lubie Clyde. My Mama's name was Geneva.

Some days I thank the Lord that they settled on Margaret. :)

Day 23: My favorite books

2011-02-16T11:39:00.001-06:00

I have two:

...and...

When I taught fourth grade, someone asked me if I'd ever read To Kill a Mockingbird. Actually, it was more of an indictment--"You HAVEN'T read To Kill a Mockingbird?!!??? ~~How can you call yourself a teacher~~?" (She didn't actually say that last part, but she was totally thinking it.) Her incredible passion for the book caused me to make a special trip to Barnes and Noble just to buy a copy. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I found myself knee deep in one of the best pieces of American literature ever. I found myself reading parts of the story out loud to my dad, because it reminded me so much of stories from his childhood. Atticus Finch is one of the most noble characters ever imagined. And then you have Harper Lee herself, who wrote the great American novel and then tried to fade into the background...it's all just fascinating to me.

Then there's The Outsiders. This was the first book I ever truly fell deeply in love with. I was in junior high--seventh or eighth grade--and one of my friends talked about what an amazing book it was. This was a time in my life that reading anything besides Seventeen magazine was a pain in my behind. But I decided to read it, in hopes that I might find something that didn't bore me to tears. There were tears, yes, but not from boredom. Since then, I've read the novel at least ten times, which is eight times more than I've read any other book. The fact that S.E. Hinton--a teenage girl--wrote this gripping tale about teenage boys is incredible. It is sad and funny and heroic and tragic. And yes, there are times when it reads just like a high school essay...but to me that was part of the appeal. As an adult, I love the lasting appeal this story has. I've watched 7th graders fall in love with this book for years. The characters are timeless. The girls love the tale of heroism and the boys love the adventure. I love discussing the book with them, seeing it through their eyes again and again.

I'm gearing up to teach The Outsiders again this year. I've been building the book up for a few weeks. I always have some students that refuse to believe that any book can be interesting.

"Reading is boring."

I can't wait to shatter that myth into a million pieces.

Day 22: Something I wish I were better at

2011-02-15T10:17:00.001-06:00

When I began reading others' blogs, I began to see these beautiful pictures they took. All by themselves. I love to take pictures, but they never turn out as well as others I see. But I'm working on it. Practice makes perfect, right?

Day 21: Something I wish I could forget

2011-02-14T11:49:00.001-06:00

I hated college.

I've always been pretty open about the fact that my college years are the ones I wish I had a "do over" for. It wasn't that I got short-changed on my education, and it was nobody's fault but my own. It was just a miserable, miserable time for me. Literally one bad decision after another.

I think part of it was I had so much fun in high school. It was such a positive experience filled with so many great friends and memories; I guess I had the same expectations for college. It started out with a lot of promise--great roommate, great college, great outlook. I just didn't give it a legitimate shot. Everything had come so easy before. All of the sudden it took work. I didn't make friends as easily in college, and I didn't make A's as easily either. Then there was the whole being a grown-up side of the equation.

And although I can't forget it, I did move past it. The best part is, once you scrape the bottom of the barrel, it only gets better from there.

Way better. :)

Day 20: Somewhere I would love to travel...

2011-02-13T15:23:00.000-06:00

I wouldn't call myself a travel buff.

I do love to travel, and I feel like I've seen most of the places I've always wanted to see. But there are two parts of the country that I've never seen that are on my "to do" list: New England and Hawaii.

To clarify just a bit, I have absolutely zero desire to see New York City. Zero. Zilch. Nada. It's swell, I'm sure. It just isn't me. But I would love to visit Boston. And Maine. Rhode Island? Yes please. Small and quaint--that's what I'm looking for when I think "New England." I also think it would be fascinating to visit the birthplace of our nation. Turns out there are cruises that take you from Quebec all the way to Ft. Lauderdale. That's my kind of cruise.

I think my desire to visit Hawaii has a lot to do with my love for the TV shows LOST and Hawaii Five-O. It just looks like one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I'm all about beauty.

*And yes, I skipped day 19. It's a picture and a letter. Right now I have neither. I'll get back to you on that.

Day 18: My biggest insecurity

2011-02-11T12:22:00.001-06:00

Sadly, this one was easy.

But before you read any further, I want you to understand that this isn't a pity party. I'm happy with myself and my life. I had a wonderful childhood/adolescence. I just wish my perspective had been better.

I have always been the "fat girl." In my head, at least. Back before "body image" was even a concept, I firmly believed I was the heaviest person in the room. This didn't start with puberty, either. I don't ever remember not feeling fat. I think it started when I was 8. I had always been at least a head taller than almost everyone else in my grade. I was 5'7" in 6th grade.

The absolute most horrific days of school for me were the days when we were weighed and measured in front of God and everybody. It didn't occur to me that being six inches taller would cause me to weigh more. I just remember coming home with my report card at the end of the year and my mom freaking out because of how much weight I gained. I'm not blaming her at all--but let's just say I get it honest. I also remember asking the nurse to not say my weight out loud.

If you're a boy, you're probably not going to understand this post even a little bit.

I remember my lunches in high school almost always consisted of some sort of weight loss bar or shake or a salad or whatever weight loss fad was going on at the time. I went to dieticians and Weight Watchers and aerobics. Some things worked; others, not so much. It didn't matter that the nutrionist and Weight Watchers told me I only needed to lose 5-10 pounds. They were obviously using the wrong scale.

I remember one of my "friends" getting mad at me for something and calling my a "fat cow." I remember nothing else about that day, but I remember exactly where I was standing at that moment.

I remember being in a dressing room and overhearing a conversation two other people were having about my size. They didn't know I heard, and they weren't trying to be mean. But I wanted to crawl under the floor.

Thank God I was blessed with wonderful friends. Those people made me feel beautiful no matter what. I never sat home on Saturday night by myself. I never felt alone or unloved. I basically had the best friends ever.

By the time I was a senior, I had pretty much learned to accept myself for who I was, how I looked, and be happy with it. But at the same time, I remember a moment during that same year, when Homecoming nominees were announced. I wasn't one of them, and it honestly had never entered my mind that I would be. But as we were walking to class, one of my guy friends said something about being surprised that I wasn't nominated. I just laughed and said, "I guess nobody thought I was pretty enough."

He replied, "I did."

Now, this guy was never ever more than a good buddy of mine, but at that moment I wanted to kiss him square on the lips. He made my day (year? decade?) with those two words.

Looking back, I wish I could've seen myself more realistically. I wish I could've had more confidence in my appearance and appreciated the compliments rather than wondering who in the world they were talking to. I still struggle with my weight and how I must look to other people. But I'm working on it.

Day 17: Something that has made a huge impact on my life recently

2011-02-10T12:21:00.001-06:00

Well, duh!

Having kids changes everything, obviously. I am so glad God allowed us to have Annabelle join our little crew. Yes, we went from man-to-man to zone, but it usually works out. I find myself referring to "my girls" now...oh the fun we will have!

Day 16: Someone who inspires me

2011-02-09T22:17:00.000-06:00

When I started thinking about this post, I knew I couldn't choose just one person. One of my life's many blessings is that I am surrounded by people that inspire me. I happen to be a sister to three of them.

I was born a "few" years later than Debbie, Kim, and Andy (John, to those of you who went to school with him, but seriously? He's an Andy.), so we didn't have a typical sibling relationship. My mom was 36 when I was born, and they all thought she might keel over in the delivery room. She was SO OLD, after all. Yes, they were all a lot older than me. But I can't imagine a better way to grow up.

Debbie was 18 when I was born, and she was married and out of the house before I was 2. Kim and Andy like to say that she was bossy, but I don't remember that. Maybe that was the effect I had on her...everyone just mellowed when I was around! :) Debbie and I are alike in many ways: we were both drum majors in high school, both English majors in college, both teachers as adults. But Debbie also possesses qualities that I can only hope to have some day. She's always been the organized one. The one who pulls out her daytimer any time a potential get-together is mentioned. The one who sends her kids off to church camp and donates any clothes they haven't worn in a year to charity. The one who taught me the beauty of a ginormous purse and a great cup of coffee. She's also the diplomatic one; though she is rumored to have lost her temper a time or two, I've never seen it. I always admired her relationship with her kids. I can remember being in awe as a teenager at how her kids told her EVERYTHING (seriously. And if you know Mark...). She is kind and patient and objective and an amazing listener.

Kim is only 15 years (ish) older than me. I actually remember her in the house with me. We even did sister-type things together. We would bust out the suntan lotion and hop in my baby pool. She would take me cruising for boys. She would tell me stories at bedtime. If I claimed to have the hiccups, she would let me have a spoonful of sugar. I was 5 when Kim got married, and I was her flower girl. I stood at the front of the church and cried like a baby because she was leaving home. If you know Kim, none of this surprises you. She is quite possibly the most thoughtful person I know. Care-taking is her gift. She loves her family deeply and cherishes her friendships. She is outgoing and fun. She is so much like my mom it's almost scary; but it's in all the most positive ways. She cares about her community, her co-workers, and her school. She works tirelessly in support of the things she believes in...I don't know how she does it! She will be the one getting all those awards for things like that...I will be sitting in the crowd giving her a standing ovation!

Andy is 12 years older than me. He was my hero growing up. Honest to goodness--I thought that boy could do no wrong. He also let me hang out with him more than most big brothers would. When Kim moved out, he let me sleep with him. He would even read me bedtime stories--except unlike Kim, he would start with the cover, then the title page, then the copyright page...he hoped I would get bored and let him quit, but I never did! He taught me how to ride a bike and how to ride a four wheeler...he was the coolest person I knew. He was even my peewee basketball coach one year. Then, when I was a teenager, he changed. And he wasn't my hero for a long, long time. We barely even spoke. It's one of those things, I realize now, that he had to go through to find his gift. But of the four of us, he may just be the most inspirational of all. He has this amazing ability to help people. I have had people tell me that if it weren't for him, they don't know how they would've made it through. He has a story to tell--one he's now willing and able to tell--and he inspires others. Thankfully it has a happy ending. He is the brother I remember, the one I love.

One of my very favorite places to be in the whole wide world is surrounded by my family. It's pretty easy to see why.

Day 15: Something I want to do before I die

2011-02-08T11:02:00.000-06:00

I couldn't think of anything for this one, probably because I don't like to think about dying.

Karen totally hit the nail on the head though. I would love to see Hawaii, or Italy, or New England. But my life will be complete without those things, as long as I can see my kids grow up.

I want to see them fall in love and find their own happiness.

I want to hold my grandkids.

I want to laugh with them and cry with them and let them hate me because I'm "unreasonable."

I want to see their first days of school and their college graduations.

I want to help them move into their first homes.

I know this is totally selfish of me, and I know as a Christian I should have no fear of death. In that regard I don't. But I still pray that God allows me to live long enough to raise my children.

Day 14- Someone I cannot imagine my life without

2011-02-04T15:42:00.000-06:00

I've thought about, and started, and erased, and restarted, and erased again, and thought some more about this post for a few days. There are several people that fit this description to a T. I don't want to imagine my life without my babies or my husband. I was fine before they came into my world, but I would never be the same if they weren't here now. But there is one person who impacted my life so profoundly that I can honestly say if it weren't for him, I literally wouldn't be here today.

These are my brothers and sisters.

The blonde headed boy in the middle is my brother Scott.

Scott and I haven't met yet. Scott passed away almost exactly a year before I was born.

It's not something I think about or dwell on, but I know that his death is the reason I'm here.

When I was a little girl, my mom would show me pictures and tell me stories about Scott. I think it helped her to be able to talk about him to someone who wouldn't worry about her or look at her with pity. I enjoyed them. She just wanted me to know him, and I am so glad she did. It was a blessing that would reveal itself later.

As I got older, bits and pieces about the week before he died would come out, and when I was in college, I wrote a story about it in a creative writing class. It was a descriptive story, I think, so I could've written about anything, but for whatever reason, I knew I had to write about him.  It was good enough that the professor chose to read it in front of the class. And then the professor did something he'd never done before: he told the class who wrote the story he read. Of course, that made my day, but looking back I know it was a total God thing. You see, when I went to my American Lit class the next hour, a woman I didn't know sat down in front of me and turned around.

"Your story was good, " she said.

"Thank you."

"Can I ask you a question? Does your mom still keep pictures of your brother around her house?"

"Yeah. Our hallway has family pictures in it, and he's there. She still talks about him a lot too."

She was quiet for a minute.

"My son died last year. My family thinks I need to clean out his room and put away his pictures.  They want me to start moving on with my life. But I can't. I don't think I should have to."

I didn't know what to say. She said it made her feel better to know that my mom still talked about Scott. She asked if she could have a copy of my story. I gave her the only one I had. I never saw her again, and I was never able to find another copy of my story.

I think about Scott a lot. I sometimes try to imagine both of us in the world at the same time.   I like to think we would've been buddies. But I know that wasn't God's plan, for whatever reason.

And I know He knows what He's doing.

At Last!! Day 10: The person I do the craziest things with...

2011-02-04T15:17:00.001-06:00

**Finally! Day 10 is posted! I have been trying to get the perfect picture for this post, and this week was just too crazy. Then this morning, Kelly Lockwood posted the picture you see below on her FB...and I said to myself, "Self? That is the perfect picture for Day 10." So thank you, Kelly L.**

Okay. Full disclosure. The actual topic for today was the person you do the most ***** things with. Do you even know me? I'm not even sure what the **** stand for! :) To say I don't have a wild side is a bit of an understatement. But I do have a friend that I laugh with on a daily basis, and we have had a lot of fun over the years.

I knew Holly in junior high and high school, but we didn't really become good friends until I started teaching at the junior high. We have so much in common--for example, we both come from big families (Hers is definitely bigger. Try to find someone she's not related to. Go on.), we both are total homebodies, we both taught fourth grade for one--and only one--year, and we were both voted "Most Likely to Succeed." Yes really. Holly is--as the picture indicates--not afraid of much and the perfect mother for boys.

I can always tell it's going to be a good day when Holly says, "Hey, I've got an idea!"

Like telling our students that we got into a fist fight in junior high and that we still hate each other and we only pretend to like each other because we work together. (And if you're a seventh grader reading this--it totally happened. And I won. No matter what Mrs. Braswell says.)

Or the "Christmas Parades" down the halls...which involved tacky Christmas decorations, Mrs. McGuffey's scooters, rolling chairs, and having to run ahead to plug in the CD player so that everyone could clearly hear, "Merry Christmas from the Family," by Robert Earl Keen.

Or our "Donkey Derriere" video for our friend Tammy, who was leaving us for greener pastures.

Or the letter. Oh wait. Wrong friend. :)

There are a few key retirements coming up this spring at the junior high, and they've requested that a big deal not be made of their exit. But Holly's already said, "Hey, I've got an idea!"

This should be GREAT!

Day 13: My favorite band...

2011-02-01T10:41:00.015-06:00

For someone who spent most of my formative years in piano lessons, band, church choir, and in my room listening to the radio, I am musically illiterate. I like what I like, but if you ask me the name of the song, or, heaven forbid, the name of the artist, I'm probably just going to give you a blank stare. I chalk it up to my brain being full of more important things--like 36 years' worth of lyrics. Those I know.

So I guess I would have to say I don't have a favorite band or artist. But I LOVE Genius on iTunes. Genius and I have become best buddies since my sweet husband gave me a new iPod Nano for Christmas. I was sitting at a redlight one day, trying to figure out how to make a playlist, when I touched the Genius button. Curious, I touched the name of a song, and poof! Instant playlist with songs I actually love. Genius introduced me to "Everything is You" by Eli Young Band, which is probably my current favorite song. Texas Country music has started growing on me (which is good, because our iTunes is full of it!!).

I also like Cory Morrow. For those of you who don't know Cory Morrow, he has a song called "Angela." When a singer writes a song just for me, I listen. :)

My other favorite song right now is "All That I Can Say" by the David Crowder Band...it is amazing. Probably one of my all time favorites.

I could go on and on...but not really. I've exhausted my musical memory. That's what Genius is for.

Day 12: Something I love...

2011-01-31T09:56:00.000-06:00

Okay. Day 10 is on its way. Promise.

If you read my blog regularly (and I can't tell you how happy I am to have TWELVE followers! Yippee!! No, really--I am so happy to have you!), you know I love my husband and children with all my heart. I'm also a pretty big fan of the rest of my family. So you'll have to forgive me for using this post to show you someTHING I love. I found while deciding what to write that I actually love lots of things: pedicures, massages, good books, bed and breakfasts, the view from my back porch, mountains, chips and hot sauce...the list goes on and on. But yesterday when I put Annabelle down for a nap, I realized that there is a product in our house right now that I am currently deeply in love with: the Angelcare Baby Movement and Sound Monitor.

Right after Annabelle was born, I told you how much I loved her bassinet. It was perfect for her right up until a couple of weeks ago. She's just too big now. :( So we decided it was time to move her into her own room and her own bed. With Jackson and Sadie, I had serious anxiety issues about this. I would lie awake at night with the monitor right next to my ear, just waiting for a breath. I would fight the urge to check on them every 5 minutes. I basically didn't sleep very well for worrying (I know, I know, Kim. YOU'RE the worrier of the family...well apparently it's contagious.).

I've learned that God knows our hearts so well that sometime He will send us people to answer prayers we didn't even know we were praying. See, I was praying for Him to watch over and protect my babies as they slept. What I also should've been praying for was something to help ease my anxiety about it. That's where Angie Smith comes into play. If you've never visited her blog, you need to. Start from the very beginning. It's worth your time. Anyway, a few months ago, she wrote about how her new baby girl was sleeping in her own bed and how she suffered from severe anxiety and worry about SIDS (her nephew died from it). You can read that post here. A lot of her readers recommended the monitor to her, and I decided to research it a bit. It is one of the best reviewed products out there. I even went back today to make sure the reviews are still positive. Basically, there are two bad reviews: one says it's too hard to set up; the other says it works too well. Well, that's a reason to give a product one star!

This is an awesome product. First, the sound aspect is the best I've ever had. It's so quiet--no feedback. Plus, it's got a thermometer on there that is dead-on with our thermostat. And the alarm is super loud--it will go off it you pick up the baby and forget to turn off the monitor, which is a hassle, yes, but you learn to turn off the monitor when the baby isn't in the bed.

I can't tell you how well I've slept in the past week. Do I still worry about Annabelle? Yes, a little. But I don't find myself listening for the slightest sounds anymore. I have a peace of mind that I didn't have before.

Day 11: Something I Hate...

2011-01-30T12:08:00.001-06:00

You may be thinking, Um...doesn't 10 come before 11?
You would be right. But I have a picture in mind for Day 10, and I can't get that picture on the weekend. SO.
You will have to wait for Day 10.

There's really only one thing I hate, and that's "hate" with a little "h" because it's more of an annoyance really.

I am not a fan of laundry. It takes up my Saturdays, and there's nothing theraputic about it. When you clean other things--like a drawer or a closet--it tends to stay clean at least for a little while. Laundry doesn't do that. Not even for that day! The folding is my least favorite part. Which is why all these clothes are still in the basket. And no, I'm not going to put down the phone and fold them right now.

We Interrupt this Blogathon to Bring You Something Really Cute

2011-01-29T21:07:00.000-06:00

Annabelle and I are home this weekend while the rest of the family is at the deer lease. She confided in me this afternoon that she felt she wasn't being adequately represented in this blog. So we had a photo shoot.

Day 9: A person who's gotten you through the most

2011-01-29T17:18:00.000-06:00

Honestly, the day I met Kevin, my life took an upswing. It hasn't always been hearts and flowers, but we have been blessed. But this much I know: He is my rock. When I need to cry, he lets me (even though he is incredibly uncomfortable around crying). He lets me vent, even if I have to give him 15 minutes of background info before I go into full-on rant mode. He loves me in spite of me sometimes. He lets me be angry at him for stupid reasons, and he gives me time to reach the conclusion that it's stupid all on my own. He helps me reach the important decisions. And he's the best Daddy in the world.

Day 8: A Picture that Makes Me Laugh...

2011-01-29T14:37:00.000-06:00

I have to laugh at this picture now, but at the time, not so much. It was our first effort to have both kids in the same picture at the same time since Sadie was a few weeks old (that was a total disaster). We just knew this time would be better...but no. This picture sums up the entire session. Sadie seems to be saying, "He's a boy. What'reya gonna do?" I was furious at the time (Jackson had just turned two and was every bit of terrible that day), but now I love this picture. It sums up their whole relationship at the time: Jackson loved Sadie, but from a distance, and Sadie was all, "Who's that kid?"

This picture was from a session with the talented young people at the VHS Journalism Department. This shoot actually went extremely well. We have tons of wonderful pictures of happy children, together and separate. This picture was taken right before we were done, and we wanted to get "just one more" picture of the kids together. Sadie's wearing a tutu her Aunt Kim made for her, and we didn't have a picture of the two of them while she had it on. For some reason that escapes me now, Sadie began to throw a fit just before this picture was taken--hence the pacifier and the exasperated big brother. I love it!

Day 7: My most treasured item(s)

2011-01-29T13:41:00.000-06:00

There are three pieces of jewelry that mean the world to me:

My new birthstone necklace.

My wedding ring.

My thumb rings.

I love these pieces for different reasons and for the memories they invoke.

Kevin bought me the birthstone necklace for Christmas. He got it from The Vintage Pearl, a great website with beautiful and unique jewelry. I might have strongly hinted for it (or sent him a link saying, "If you love me..."). But he takes hints well. I love it because it's a symbol of our sweet little babies, who are constantly getting less little and more sweet, which is a nice trade off.

Every time I look at my wedding ring, it reminds me how blessed I am. I remember when Kevin and I were dating, he was so careful to guard my heart (and his). He didn't want to say anything flippantly that might hurt me down the road. Even though I knew beyond any shadow of any doubt that we were going to get married eventually, I had to let him reach that decision on his own and in his own time. He didn't let on that a proposal was anywhere on the horizon...but I'd learned to be okay with that. The funniest part is how--just to bug him--I would send him pictures of rings I liked. Then, on the night he proposed, he asked me what kind of ring I wanted, and I said, "Oh, something simple. A solitaire, not with a lot of diamonds around it or anything..." The man's face turned white! He said, "um...What do you mean, not a lot of diamonds?" I clarified that I wanted one big stone--not a lot of little stones. A diamond band would be swell, but not a cluster. The color returned to his face. I didn't know that he had the ring in his pocket at that time! He picked it out all by himself, and it is the perfect ring for me.

My thumb ring is special for a totally different reason. I bought it myself, with one of my first paychecks from Kaufman ISD. I hated my job. I hated my life even more. But I loved that ring. I'd always wanted a cool thumb ring. I also loved the gym I joined that year. I would go work out for an hour or two every day after school. I would de-stress and not think about the nightmare my life had become. Those hours at the gym paid off in a huge way as far as my health and waist size went...it also seemed that the more I worked out, the more focused I became, and the less hopeless my life seemed. I'll be first to admit I was not in a good place spiritually. But I was blessed, because people that loved me were praying for me. I started to feel like a human being again. Someone that deserved to be happy. That spring I quit my job at Kaufman, got a job in Van and never looked back. The only thing I miss is that gym. When I look at my thumb ring, it reminds me that life does get better, God does have a plan, and whatever He's got in mind is way better than what I tried to do on my own.

Day 6: A person I'd like to trade places with for a day...

2011-01-26T19:09:00.000-06:00

Hmmm... I've never really had the desire to trade places with anyone. I love my life as is. I also figure everyone else has their own issues. But if I had to, I suppose I would want to walk in the shoes of the person that lives here:

The End

Day 5: A favorite memory...

2011-01-25T14:57:00.000-06:00

This picture has nothing to do with the "memory" part of this day, but it's one of my favorites.

When I was a kid, before I started school, my mom and I had a morning ritual. We would wait for everyone else to head off to school or work, and then we would eat breakfast while we watched cartoons or Sesame Street. I would climb up in her lap and snuggle and share "toast 'ems and coke." Chocolate Pop Tarts. With lots of butter. No it wasn't healthy. But I loved it, every drippy morsel. And I loved her even more. We would talk and laugh at the TV and plan our day. She would tell me stories, my most requested one being about the day I was born (I wasn't self-absorbed at all!). Since I was child #5, she had the patience to repeat herself until my attention wandered elsewhere.

I think about this time a lot when I snuggle with my own kids. Most mornings, there just isn't time...which I hate. But some rare mornings, everything just works out. I will be up early, Jackson or Sadie will crawl into my lap, and we'll watch cartoons and talk. And even though I've never purchased chocolate Pop Tarts on my own, and even though real Coke hasn't crossed my lips since age 8, the two moments in time seem so similar.

Maybe it's because it all goes by too fast.

Day 4: My night...

2011-01-24T09:42:00.004-06:00

I am a night person.

I have always been a night person.

I remember when I was 7 or 8. A teacher friend of my mom's called around 10 p.m., and I answered the phone. She proceeded to tell me how I should've been in bed an hour ago and why in the world did my mother let me stay up so late. I don't think my mom appreciated it very much.

I also remember being in 6th grade and remembering the night before that I had a social studies project due the next day. I was one of those kids that never told my parents about projects, and they never asked because I always got good grades. But that particular night, around midnight, my mom comes walking down the hall to see why my light is still on. Let's just say she wasn't pleased. Her punishment for me? I had to stay up until it was finished, and I would have to suffer the consequences of sleep deprivation.

It didn't quite have the effect she was going for.

The truth was yes, I stayed up late. But not because my mom didn't try to get me to go to bed early. It was because I couldn't just hop into bed and shut off my mind. The other truth was no amount of sleep was going to make me a morning person. I'm still not a morning person.

But my nights have changed over the years.

In college and before marriage, I would stay up all night organizing closets or cleaning out cabinets or painting furniture or working on scrapbooks or some other project, because my most creative moments seemed to occur amidst the reruns and infomercials. I loved going to bed, whether it be at midnight or 5 a.m., with a sense of accomplishment.

When I met Kevin, all that changed. He is the polar opposite of a night owl. When we were dating, our nights usually consisted of him coming over after football practice, eating dinner, and falling asleep on the couch at 8 p.m. After all, he was at work by 5 a.m. most mornings. Needless to say, married life was a little bit of an adjustment in the beginning. But as time went on, I came to appreciate the early bedtime snuggle.

After our kids came along, nights changed again. Kids tend to require structure. So each night revolves around dinner, baths, and quality cuddle/wrestle/cartoon time. We try our best to have our kids in bed by 8:00. After that I'm able to finish all those little tasks around the house that are impossible with kids running around. You know, like have a conversation with another adult. Or watch a TV show from beginning to end and actually hear it. Or blog.

Some things haven't changed though. I still get a burst of energy most nights around 10 p.m., regardless of how tired I was earlier in the day. I still have trouble shutting off my mind and going to sleep, even though I know 6 a.m. comes really, really early (and even though I also know that Annabelle will probably wake me before then). And I still am not a morning person.

Day 3: My favorite TV show

2011-01-23T09:00:00.019-06:00

I had to think about this one for a while. I love TV and I love so many shows. I can remember being in college and thinking that someone should create a network that played old reruns for my generation--Dukes of Hazzard, Gilligan's Island, Charlie's Angels, Designing Women, Cosby Show...yeah, Nick At Nite totally stole my idea. I say all that to say I watch shows from beginning to end, and usually when I've seen them all, I will move on to something else for awhile. I've done that with so many shows over the years...Boy Meets World, Golden Girls, In the Heat of the Night, Little House on the Prairie, and most recently Friends...which is probably the only show I can watch over and over and never get tired of seeing. But here's my favorite current show:

I love Brothers and Sisters. Coming from a big family, I can relate to this show on so many levels! In my opinion it's one of the best casts on television right now. It is the only show that I will sit down and watch every week without fail. I like that it doesn't take itself too seriously. I will miss it when it goes off the air next year.

Day 2: The person I've been closest to longest...

2011-01-22T16:32:00.000-06:00

One thing this little challenge has taught me is that I don't have very many pictures of myself! Not only that, I don't have pictures of myself with people I love. I must remedy this. I was sure I had a picture of me with my dear friend, but I still haven't located one, so....

Anywho.

This is my friend Janet.

This is proof that we've been friends a really long time:

...a really, really long time.

...and I hereby give her permission to publish any junior high mullet or high school big hair pictures she might have of me. That's only fair. :)

Janet is one of those "forever friends." One of those people that you want to share good news with. One that will laugh with you and cry with you. One that will literally dumpster dive for a friend. Literally. But that's another blog.

We've known each other since Little Dribblers in 3rd grade. We also played softball together, and it was then that I realized what a great friend she was. I've always been the kind of person that liked to be by myself, and Janet was one of the few people that I really enjoyed having around for long periods of time! We spent so much time together "back in the day"...summers were split between our houses. Many of my favorite memories include her. She is truly one of those friends that knows everything about me and likes me anyway. (And thankfully she doesn't tell everything she knows either!:) I still enjoy the times we are able to get together and just talk.

One time when we were in high school, we were doing something with our youth group...I don't even remember what it was. But Janet had to leave early, and I will never forget what the teacher said about her after she left, because it was such an accurate description of her. She said, "Janet has such a kind heart. She is so accepting of everyone. She is one of the nicest people I know."

That was her in a nutshell back then...and it's still so true today. I dare you to try to get her to say something mean. :)

I have so many good memories of Janet and me. We've shared lots of laughter and tears. Our boys are best buddies, and it warms my heart. I'm honored that after all these years, I can still say she's one of my best friends.

The 30 Days of Me: Day One

2011-01-21T12:09:00.000-06:00

When I first saw the "30 days of Me" challenge on Karen's blog, my initial thought was, "Really?" But as I read through this little blogging challenge, I felt my creative juices begin to flow. If you're a blogger--or if you're not--I think you should participate. It's not nearly as self-centered as it sounds, AND it isn't just one of those "What did you eat last Thursday?" kinds of lists. It's really more a celebration of the people, places and things in your life that make you who you are. Which really makes it more about them, and less about you doesn't it?

Day One says to include a picture of yourself along with 10 facts. The 10 facts I can do...no problemo. But of the thousand or so pictures on my computer, 10 are of me and I don't care for any of them! So I searched and thought and searched some more, and then decided to ask my husband to send me a picture he had at his office...it was when I felt the prettiest. Yes, it's almost 7 years old. But it's my blog, dadgummit, and it doesn't matter that the picture is almost 7 years old!

I love the backstory to it: It was Valentine's Day 2004, and when we scheduled the photo session a few weeks earlier, I had no idea that we would get 4 INCHES OF SNOW that morning. At first we discussed rescheduling, but Karen Price and Cathy Dykes--the brilliant photographers behind this picture--were more than willing to venture out into the muddy slush that remained that afternoon. It was still FREEZING, but it was still a wonderful day.

And here are the 10 facts...

1. When I was 8 years old, I was riding my four-wheeler around my parent's land. I came across a huge opening in the woods that to me was the most beautiful place on earth. I went home and told my mom and dad that I was going to build my house there one day. And I did.

2. I had a very vivid imagination as a child. I see that same imagination in my kids and it makes me smile.

3. Drying my daughter's hair is one of my favorite things to do. She's very patient with me while I pretend to be a hairstylist. And her hair looks so beautiful afterward. And I know she's not going to let me do it forever.

4. I had a poem published in college. Yes, it was just a college publication, but I was published nonetheless. The funniest part? My significant other at the time thought the poem was about him. And it wasn't.

5. I was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" in high school. I still have no idea what my peers were thinking. Ironically, I teach next door to another person voted "Most Likely to Succeed." Both graduates of VHS now teaching at VJH, and both feeling pretty successful. :)

6. I loved high school and hated college... so much so that the very thought of graduate school makes me break out in a cold sweat.

7. As much as I love our house now, I still miss our little house on Stadium Lane.

8. I remember several years ago I asked someone whose singing ability amazes me why she didn't try out for American Idol or try to break into the music business. She said, "I love to sing so much. If someone who knew something about music told me I wasn't very good, I don't think I could get over it." That's how I feel about writing.

9. I am a total homebody, who is blessed to be married to another homebody. Some nights we look at each other and say, "We need friends." But then we'd have to leave our house at night.

10. Every year on our anniversary, Kevin and I take a little trip to celebrate. Part of the fun is finding a cool bed and breakfast. Yes, we are B&B people.

Happy Birthday, Sadie Beth!

2010-12-31T12:20:00.073-06:00

Anyone who has a birthday close to Christmas knows how hard it is to plan a party this time of year. Sadie is one of those unfortunate souls. Last year we managed to throw together a family party at the last minute, and it was fine. But since school started, Sadie has been planning her birthday party with her friends, so I knew we weren't getting off the hook easy this year. Our December was super busy, and before I knew it, her birthday was here and there was no party in sight. :( Mother of the year, I'm not. That's when I asked Sadie what kind of party she wanted to have, and a small miracle happened. That sweet child said she wanted to have her party at Chuck E. Cheese.

Do you know how easy it is to plan a party at Chuck E. Cheese? Super. Easy. Within 30 minutes, I had the party reserved online and invitations sent. I ordered a cookie cake and relaxed.

Sadie was so excited the day of the party! She had some great buddies join her.

I love this picture on so many levels! You might be wondering where her little girl friends are. Apparently she prefers to hang out with the boys. And what sweet little boys they are!

We were so excited to have ~~PeeWee Herman~~ Ryan be our host at Chuck E. Cheese. He was really nice to the kids and super attentive.

I like this picture primarily because the last time we were at Chuck E.'s both my children wouldn't get within 50 feet of him. Jackson is still not a fan of large costumed animals, but Sadie figured since he was throwing a party for her, she might need to show him some love.

The last great party moment was the Ticket Blaster...Sadie let Jackson join her in this wind tunnel full of tickets. Let's just say they didn't quite get the memo about grabbing the tickets while you were inside. They thought it was super cool, though, and ~~PeeWee~~ Ryan helped them out in the end.

It was a great day, and baby girl got exactly the party that she wanted, which was all that mattered anyway.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T14:17:00.001-06:00

We had a great Christmas this year.

The hardest part was getting three kids to smile at the same time.

It's getting easier to get two kids to look like they like each other, though.

We got out money's worth out of Annabelle's Santa outfit...it was so stinkin' cute on her we wore it everywhere!

This is my nephew Josh. He's "the cool nephew." Annabelle likes him already.

The thing I love most about Christmas is how excited my kids get about every single gift.

The celebration ran a little long for my dad... ;)

...and to all a good night.

Angel Fire 2010

2010-12-15T13:43:00.002-06:00

After Christmas last year, Kevin and I were talking about how we really wanted to spend Christmas somewhere in the mountains, surrounded by lots of snow. We started looking around the internet for potential cabins that we could rent during Christmas break the following year. We went to http://www.vrbo.com/ and entered the words "Angel Fire Cabin" and this is what came up:

To say a cabin like this would be our dream home would be an understatement. It was awesome. But it slept 22...a tad on the big side for our little family of four. That's when we got the idea of rounding up the whole Peden gang for a family vacation...once we sold Mom and Dad on the idea (which took very little selling since vacationing in the mountains is one of their very favorite things), the rest is history.

Of course, the year brought about a few changes...Annabelle came along, and then Jones. Annabelle was old enough to travel, but since Jones was only a few weeks old, Kim, Jed, Cody, Karen and Josh stayed in Oklahoma...which made us really sad, but we totally understood. And then Mark got a new job the week before we left, so he couldn't go either. But the rest of the crew made the trek, and boy was it worth it!

Sadie was not a fan of skiing, but playing in the snow around the cabin was right up her alley!

Jackson loved skiing! Okay, maybe loved is a strong word. He did great. Sometimes the wind was a little too strong for him, and sometimes it was a little too cold, but he was a trooper and had a great time!

Just like the rest of the Carter clan, Eli picked up skiing right away! I think Jackson was inspired by his cousin's enthusiasm!

I wish I had more pictures on my computer, but we loaded the rest on Kevin's laptop, and it's at work with him. If you're ever looking for a wonderful place to house a large group, this cabin is for you. It's ski in, ski out, has tons of room and the owner is very easy to work with. It was a great vacation. One we hope to do again soon.

The Magic of Photography

2010-11-17T22:25:00.001-06:00

About two weeks before Annabelle was born, I received an email from the mother of one of my students. We'd emailed back and forth before, and in the midst of our communication she mentioned that she was a professional photographer. Of all the talents I wished I possessed, being able to take beautiful photos is at the top of my list. The very top. So when she told me she took newborn pictures, I jumped at the opportunity...because let's all just be honest here: newborns typically don't photograph well. No matter how beautiful you think they are, the photo doesn't do them justice.

So when Chanda of Chanda Holter Photography arrived at our house when Annabelle was nine days old, I tried to keep my expectations/hopes at a reasonable level. Chanda and I had never met face to face before that day. She is such a nice person! She was on time and completely prepared, but she took a couple of minutes to scout out my house for additional props.

Then the magic began. I handed over my baby and stepped back to watch. Annabelle was sound asleep, and Chanda handled her so carefully and talked to her so sweetly. She would wait for the perfect moment to take each picture, and sometimes that required a lot of patience (poop, hunger and general fussiness are workplace hazards in her line of work). It was wonderful to watch. But the amazing thing was how she took everyday objects and turned them into this:

Or this, in which she took some fall garland and pumpkins I had laying around the house...

And then, to satisfy the girly girl in all of us...

But the two that I love most are the ones she took at the very end of the session. Annabelle was hungry and fussy and not very cooperative, but Chanda somehow managed to capture these moments...

As I look at these, Annabelle is sleeping in her bassinet nearby. She is six weeks old this week, and she has already changed so much. I am so thankful to have these pictures to remember that very fleeting moment of her life.

I can't even begin to say enough nice things about Chanda and her business. Be sure to check out her website, chandaholterphotography.com, and see some of her other beautiful images. And if you do book a photo session, ask about the "brag book"...it is a fabulous way to carry multiple images with you--a great gift!

On this day in history...

2010-11-15T01:31:00.002-06:00

When I was in junior high and high school, I was one of those girls who marked every significant (or insignificant, for that matter) moment either in my journal or on my calendar. To this day, I can tell you the birthdays of people I haven't seen in 20 years as well as various other blips on the radar of a lifetime. I don't know if I owe this quirk to my Papa, who would start every story with something to the effect of, "Back on July 15, 1937..." or to my mom.

A few years ago I decided to make my parents a calendar using family pictures, and in the process I snuck Mom's calendar off the wall and wrote down all the dates that were important to her. Let me just say that there are LOTS of dates that are important to her. If you've crossed her path more than once, you're probably on the calendar. Deaths, births, anniversaries, firsts...they are all on there. Sometimes I wonder why she puts some things on there. Other times, I get it.

At some point after high school, I stopped marking my calendar. I don't know if I just got too busy or just found fewer things worth commemorating, but I stopped. I still kept a journal, but with less frequency and enthusiasm. I did start journaling again when I met Kevin. And although I can't tell you the exact date, I know it was the first day of inservice, 2002. What I realized with him was that it isn't the date that matters. It's the moments. Like how on my birthday, only a week or so after our first date, he brought me my very own birthday cake. Or how after he met my parents for the first time, we drove up to the spot where as a kid I wanted to build my house, and he thought it was as amazing as I did. Or how he would leave little Post-It notes in my make-up drawer so I would find them in the morning when he wasn't there.

Or how, on November 15, 2003, he proposed to me under the stars, surrounded by candles, in the middle of the North Meadow. How he read a letter to me that he'd written years before we met...to me..to his future wife. How my entire life changed in that one moment, because from that point on, I had a partner to walk with me. No matter what, I would never be alone. No matter what, I would be loved. No matter what.

So to my husband on this day in our history: I love you. More today than that day way back when. Life isn't always sexy or pretty or even fun...but I'm always glad to be on this adventure with you. I'm so glad you asked me to join you!

Halloween 2010

2010-11-10T23:08:00.000-06:00

Last weekend was very exciting for Jackson and Sadie! On Friday, the kids got to dress up in their Halloween costumes for "trunk or treat" at Sunshine Friends. I have to say that if it weren't for Nana and Nannie, the kids might not have had costumes this year! Normally I have the kids' costumes ordered nice and early, but this year I was a little distracted (hmmm...wonder why?:) ) Luckily, back in the summer Nana ordered these sweet Batman and Batgirl costumes for the kids to play dress-up. Even more luckily, the kids were dead set on wearing these costumes for Halloween! The only problem we had was that the smallest size for Jackson's costume was about two sizes too big for him. Enter Nannie. She was able to alter the costume so that it fit perfectly (almost!).

Don't you love their muscles?

I didn't get to go to trunk or treat last year, so I was really excited to be there this year. It was fun to see all the kiddos in their costumed-up best. Sadie loved getting the boat-load of candy...

Jackson mostly loved being Batman all day long.

Nannie and Nana helped pass out goodies from my trunk. Batgirl was very happy to see them!

City-wide trick or treating was on Saturday, and as most divas do, Sadie chose to make a costume change. Friday afternoon she found a monkey costume that Nannie had bought a month or so earlier, and decided she wanted to be a monkey. I was fine with this because it would be warm and required almost no preparation! We have a couple of regular stops other than downtown. The first stop we made was to our neighbors' Mr. Bo and Mrs. Pat's house. They are always so nice and so excited to see the kids!

Downtown was crowded and chaotic as usual, but the kids had a great time. Annabelle chilled out in her "Peas in a Pod" costume I picked up at Dollar General for cheap. I thought it was pretty cute considering!

Sadie's buddy Hudson...I'm still trying to get her to make friends with girls, but with boys this cute around, I'm going to have trouble!

These were two tired trick or treaters! I realized at the end of the night that I didn't have a picture of them together. This was as good as it got!

Sadie managed to find every box of Dots in her bag.

The last stop of the night for us was Aunt Judy and Uncle Ronnie's house. As tired as the kids were, they were still excited to make this stop. Of course, five minutes in, both kids had shed their costumes entirely and kicked off their shoes, but isn't that what you do in front of family? :)

Postpartum Ponderings

2010-11-06T00:00:00.044-05:00

Jackson graciously shared his Batman cape with his baby sister.
Monumental.

Full disclosure: As I write this, I'm not sure how much pondering I'm going to do. But that title has been in my head for weeks, and I just had to use it! :)

First, our new addition is a month old now, and I can honestly say this has been the easiest four weeks post-baby we've ever had. Annabelle is a wonderful baby. She was honestly fussier in the hospital than she has been at home. I am beginning to wonder if chaos relaxes her. At this very moment, Jackson and Sadie are playing within 10 feet of her--they've wrestled, played house, built a car out of a chair, jumped, screamed, you name it--and she is sleeping peacefully in her bouncer. She isn't a big fan of her bouncer, but as long as she has her brother and sister around to pacify her, she's a happy girl. Honestly, she is almost always a happy girl--unless you (and by you I mean me) wait a minute past her appointed feeding time (she is the only one who determines that time and don't you forget it, mister).

Speaking of feeding...the third time is apparently the charm for that too. With Jackson, I remember a couple of weeks filled with nights of crying--him and me--because we couldn't figure it all out. I remember sitting on the edge of the bed, sobbing, and asking Kevin how he felt about only children. Once we did figure out what we were doing, I assumed breastfeeding any subsequent children would be a piece of cake.

Right.

Let's just say Sadie and I didn't mesh too well either. Oh, I knew what I was doing, but she just wasn't interested. We tried and tried, and managed to muddle through four months, but that was all we could take. I honestly can't say why, but it was a mutual decision and she seems none the worse for it (if she's lost a couple of IQ points and graduates third in her class and Jackson graduates first, I will probably never hear the end of it...but that bridge is a few years down the road...).

But Annabelle is a natural. From the very first feeding, she knew what to do. It probably helped that I was fully prepared for problems should they arise. But the only problems we've had have been the occasional bout with reflux or a tummy ache (oh, and most recently a nasty 24 hours of mastitis--horrible, terrible and no fun, but just for me, luckily), and those problems have only happened during daylight hours. It is amazing what a big difference rest-filled nights make. Kevin is getting a full night's sleep every night in his own bed, and Annabelle and I sleep great between the one or two feedings that happen between midnight and 6 a.m.

And speaking of sleeping...

I want to pause right here for any new mothers, expectant mothers, or potentially new or expectant mothers that might be reading this to get their car keys and wallets. Because if you've ever had a newborn that just didn't sleep well in that bassinet beside your bed during those first few months, you're going to want to run right out and buy what I consider a miracle in a box. Yes, I said miracle. Considering Jackson had to sleep in his carseat for three months because he screamed any time we put him in his bed, and considering Sadie woke up screaming every two hours and usually cried for a great deal of the night, I don't think MIR. A. CLE. is too strong a word.

Behold...

The Fisher-Price Newborn Rock 'n Play Sleeper.

(Right here, if I had my way, the sun would beam down on your computer and angels would begin singing the Hallelujah chorus. Yes, I obsess. Don't judge me.)

I saw this in the Fisher-Price catalog before we even got pregnant and thought if we did have a third baby, I would be purchasing this sleeper. My Aunt Betty and cousin Amanda gave this to us as a baby gift, and I couldn't possibly thank them enough. Now, if you follow the link above to Amazon.com, you're going to read a few (five or six) reviews that blame this sleeper for flat spots on their babies' heads and damaging their neck muscles. I am not belittling their problems at all, but I do think blaming one particular product is a little strong. You will also find 136 five star reviews (out of 164 total reviews). But of course, we always worry a little about the "what ifs"...so here's my two cents:

Yes, it has a hard shell beneath the cushioned fabric. I put a cloth diaper between the two layers just to be safe. HOWEVER, our pack and play was just as hard beneath what I think is a thinner layer of cushion. But Annabelle sleeps great in this. I only put her in it at night, but now I don't lose sleep worrying about her sleeping on her back (neither Jackson nor Sadie ever wanted to sleep on their backs). When we finish our middle of the night snacks, she goes right back to sleep--even if she doesn't burp! Other bonuses: It is very light. If you wanted, you could lift it with one hand and move it anywhere. It is super-easy to put together. The cushioned part comes off easily for washing. It is super sturdy. It is a perfect height to see your child from the bed. It is easy to rock and seems to soothe Annabelle easily. Oh. And it is relatively inexpensive, which is good, because it is obviously not for long term use...six months tops. But I still love it.

So.

One of the biggest moments of her first weeks home was her first bath. Not a big moment for Annabelle, necessarily, but for Sadie. Ever since she helped give Annabelle her bath in the hospital, she considers herself an expert. She spent the entire time grinning and telling me what we were going to do next.

That's how the past month has been. So much fun. So little time! She is growing so fast.

And Christmas is coming. Oh. my.

Happy Birthday!!!

2010-10-13T10:10:00.007-05:00

October 6th is always a special day for our family. My husband's birthday is on that day, and this year I decided, "What the heck. He's a pretty great guy, so I'll splurge and give him a baby for his birthday." : )

The day started off very, very early. The kids spent the night with Nana and Aunt Robin so that they wouldn't have to get up at 4:30, but they made it to the hospital bright and early. Jackson was so sweet. He was pretty concerned about me and how I was feeling. He came in several times throughout the morning, just to check on me and make sure I was okay. This picture was taken before the contractions kicked in.

Labor and delivery was more or less what I expected. I was labeled "history of quick delivery," so all the nurses were ready for the main event by 9:00 a.m. The funniest part of all that is it didn't matter how prepared we all were, we still had to wait on the doctor.

Let's break here for a quick history lesson: when Sadie was born, I went into labor at home around 11:35 p.m. (Contractions began then. Like a good patient, I was waiting the requisite hour to make sure contractions were regular...and then they went from 8 minutes apart to 2 minutes apart in one contraction), got to the hospital at 12:50 a.m., and Sadie was born around 1:10 a.m. No pain meds. Would've delivered sooner, but had to wait for doctor. Of course. Because no one else in the room can say "PUSH" quite like a doctor. Whatever.

Now, I'm not mad at my doctor. Much. But my epidural didn't take well and it wasn't exactly a walk in the park to NOT push. But once he arrived, it was a breeze. Three pushes and Annabelle was here! She came out crying and I realized why the last few weeks of my pregnancy were so uncomfortable! That sweet little girl was 22 inches long! I kept telling people that she was more of a "stretcher" than a "kicker"...and boy was that an understatement! :)

I will spare you the icky post-birth pics. She might want to look you in the eye someday. But these pics were shortly after she arrived. Her daddy and her siblings were sooo proud.

Jackson--the boy who only recently told his little sister that his cousin "stole his baby brother"--was completely smitten...to the point of just wanting to sit and look at her. Of course, Sadie loves her too, but that was a given!

Annabelle is such a sweet baby. Now, I know she isn't really smilling, but she smiles all the time and almost always has a pleasant look on her face. And she is so alert!

The nurse was so nice to the kids when she gave Annabelle her first bath. She pulled up little step stools and let them help bathe her. They did a great job! This was right up Sadie's alley, because all she wants is to be a little mother to her baby sister.

One major mistake I made was forgetting to put on waterproof mascara that morning! Oh well.

Sadie likes to give Annabelle her "wahwah" (pacifier, for those of you who don't speak Sadie)...she has a hard time understanding why she doesn't want it. And the camo moose in the picture (by my dad's shoulder) is a toy of Jackson's that he brought for Annabelle to play with. How sweet is that?

Right before this picture was taken, we let Jackson hold Annabelle. Sadie broke down crying because she thought we weren't going to let her hold her baby sister. She perked right up when we put Annabelle in her arms. (And for those of you who know Sadie at all, she has yet to call Annabelle "Honey"...she says that's not her sister's name. I think she's afraid it will hurt Annabelle's feelings.)

This is the expression I see almost the entire time this sweet girl is awake. With the exception of about 30 minutes at night, she is completely pleasant and content.

Today marks her one week birthday. Time has truly flown by so far! We are blessed.

Dear Annabelle...

2010-10-06T12:00:00.009-05:00

Dear Annabelle,

Today your daddy and I will welcome you into our world. We have been waiting for you patiently for the past nine months, but we are so ready to see your sweet face. You will be our baby. Our youngest. The one that gets all the hand-me-downs from garage sales and big sister. Speaking of which, your big brother and sister have also been waiting patiently for your arrival as well, and they are both as excited as we are to see you…well…your brother is kind of hoping you will change miraculously into a baby brother, but I promise he will love you. He won’t be able to help himself.

I still remember vividly the night we found out you were coming. I had a feeling, but confirmation came in Austin, Texas, in February. I’m not sure what this says about you or your personality, but you were the first baby we ever planned that worked out exactly as planned…almost to the day. With your brother, he took his sweet time getting here…your sister—she came roaring into this world on her own time table—much sooner than expected! But you…you will be here exactly when we hoped you would arrive—on your Daddy’s birthday. I know you're ready to make your grand entrance, but I appreciate your willingness to wait a few hours longer.

I also remember the day we decided—finally—on your name. It took months! We tossed around other options for weeks after finding out we were having a girl. I’m not going to tell you those options, just in case you like any of them better. That would be bad. Anyway. I was the first one to suggest the name Annabelle. I expected your daddy to shoot it down like he had several others. He did not. He loved it. I became hesitant. It’s the last baby name I will ever get to pick out, after all. But one day, while your daddy was at the deer lease (a.k.a. “Heaven”—if you’re really lucky you may get to see it someday, even though you’re not a boy), I was searching iTunes for a Don Henley song that I’d been wanting. I was looking at the different albums, when I saw a song he’d written entitled “Annabel”…and then I heard it. It was your song. A lullaby. Written for another Annabel somewhere else, but it was still YOUR SONG. I sent the lyrics to your daddy. He was more than sold. That was when you stopped being “Baby girl” or “Honey” (still your sister’s choice for you, by the way)…You became Annabelle. Our Annabelle Grace. For that, I will always owe Mr. Henley. I have spent the past six weeks or so memorizing this song so I can sing it to you once you're here...

I watch you sleeping

My weary heart rises up on wings

I hear your laughter

Something deep down inside me sings

Way down here in the land of cotton

You were born on a rainy day

Since then, sweet things long forgotten

They just keep flooding back my way

Oh child, I cannot tell you how the time just flies

But I have had my days of glory under sunny skies

These days, your bright dreams are all I want to see

Sleep tight, Annabelle

You can always count on me

In this cold world, folks will judge you

Though they don't know you at all

And I may not be there to catch you

Anytime that you might fall

But, you got my hard head

And your mother's grace

All the likeness of the loved ones right there in your face

And I know in the end you'll be who you will be

So sleep tight, Annabelle

You can always count on me

…So welcome to this world, sweet girl. We are happy and thankful and blessed to have you. Our only prayer for you is that you are healthy and happy. As we have told Jackson and Sadie for the past nine months, you were given especially to us because God knew you were our perfect fit. We love you already.

The Waiting Game

2010-10-01T23:47:00.000-05:00

I am 38 weeks and 3 days pregnant today.

I am ready to not be pregnant.

I am tired, sore, swollen, and just generally uncomfortable.

But at the same time, I keep thinking of things that I need to get finished before Miss Annabelle makes her appearance. The past few weeks have been a race...finish maternity leave plans, order necessary baby items, pack a bag, get grades done, stock pantry for at least a few weeks, and love on my children for a few more minutes before my attention is divided by three. All at the same time, I am trying to be fully prepared to meet this precious little one...and I honestly feel I'm less prepared for her than I was for Jackson! I spend a lot of time praying that someday she will forgive me for all the things I am forgetting to do right now, and glad that she will most likely not need long term counseling for it.

I guess that's why, when my doctor said, "How do you feel about being induced?" today, I didn't jump at the earliest possible day (we decided on Wednesday--October 6--Kevin's birthday), and I didn't jump at taking any measures to make me go into labor sooner rather than later. Of course, that probably has more to do with the fact that I barely made it to the hospital before Sadie was born. But that's another story.

So.

We are spending the weekend waiting and hoping that baby girl will be patient with us and stay put until Wednesday.

Wednesday we will be ready.

I promise.

School Days...

2010-08-17T21:35:00.000-05:00

One of the negatives of living in a small town is that there aren't a lot of day care options. We are sooo fortunate to have Sunshine Friends Preschool in ours. Jackson started school there last year, and when we found out that Sadie would be eligible to go this year, she was thrilled. She helped me pick out her backpack, and every time we drove by the church, she would say, "There's my school!" When the first day finally came for them, they were really excited.

Really. They were excited. I promise. :)

The one thing Jackson is not is a morning person.

Like his momma.

When they got to school, they went to the gym, got their breakfast, and settled in. Jackson was all about making me feel like he would miss me. Sadie was already scoping out the scooters.

They love their teachers and are completely exhausted by the time they get home every day. Sadie won't tell us who her friends are (so far only boys' names have been mentioned, which makes her Daddy a bit nervous), but Jackson is so glad his best buddies are still there.

They are both having a great year.

San Antonio 2010

2010-06-28T21:38:00.000-05:00

One thing I love about my father is his love for the family vacation. Growing up, around the end of the school year, he would either tell Mom and me to start thinking of somewhere to go, or he would simply tell us his vision. I don't ever remember being disappointed with his vision. I guess because he and I are so alike in what we consider fun. As I got older, he would just hand me the Mobile Travel Guide and say, "Plan our route."

You see, we Pedens don't fly.

Not that we're afraid of flying or that we've never gone far enough to justify flying. We just didn't. The only vacation that required a jet was a trip to Cancun when I was 5 (still to this day my very very favorite childhood vacation). We traveled to both coasts in a car. More than once. And I don't remember thinking that it was strange. It was the way we did things.

So when my parents came to our house one June afternoon and in the course of conversation my father told Jackson, "You know what I want to do? I want to take you and Sadie to see the glass bottom boats. And then, I want to take you to the San Antonio Zoo," I can't say I was all that surprised. As he left that day, he looked at me and said, "Check into that and let me know what you find out." I felt the same twinge of excitement as I did when I was in high school. I get to plan the route! (Don't judge me.)

The glass bottom boats Dad referred to were in San Marcos, also known as Stop #1 on our trip. Anyone remember Aquarina Springs? You know, the place with the flying pig? Mermaids drinking Dr. Peppers under water? (This is where I should probably tell you that as a child I was easily sucked into any sort of roadside oddity that involved caves, reptiles, and/or mermaids drinking DP under water. I'm pretty sure I got this genetic quirk from my dad too, although he acts like he made a huge sacrifice to stop there. Whatever.) Well, don't expect to see any of that now. The park is owned/managed by Texas State University now, and while structural elements remain, the park itself is no more. Except the boats. For a small fee, students/tour guides will ferry you around the springs and give you little nuggets of geological info about what you're seeing. The kids really thought it was cool. Plus the ride is just long enough to hold their attention.

The next stop on Dad's agenda was the San Antonio Zoo. The kids love zoos. The kids just aren't big fans of zoos where the animals are hiding inside because it's so stinking hot outside. They did have a great time looking at the Gila monster (the real one), venturing into the butterfly pavilion, and riding the train. But let's face it. San Antonio is the hottest place on Earth.

Actually, that's not right. San Antonio isn't the hottest place on Earth. Sea World actually holds that title. We went there too. I love this picture below because it was the kids' first experience with Shamu, and they were literally in awe. We loved all the shows we saw, and we loved watching people feed dolphins and sharks and alligators. Jackson even got to ride a roller coaster, but it wasn't a big one and he still wants to ride the big roller coaster. Sadie was too short to ride just about everything, and that didn't sit well with her either...my kids are going to be coaster riders, and I am a happy, happy girl.

We stayed at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort. I have no pictures of this place because we literally spent every spare moment in their amazing pool/beach/lazy river. The kids LOVED it. This place ranks in my top 5 favorite places to stay. If you want family friendly old-school resort with every modern convenience and ammenity, this is it. It is beautiful, it is comfortable, it has wonderful activities for the whole family (Movie night on the lawn? Check. S'mores around the campfire with a singing cowboy? Check.). Kevin and I both talked about how we could come back there for a week and never leave the resort and be perfectly happy.

On our way home we made what would be my very first ever stop in Gruene, Texas to visit the Grist Mill. I am now officially in love with Gruene and hinted strongly to my husband that it would be a lovely anniversary destination next spring. It was a great vacation overall. The kids were ready to go back as soon as we got home. Who am I kidding? They didn't want to leave in the first place!

The Big Reveal...

2010-06-04T13:05:00.000-05:00

When we decided to tell the kids we were having another baby, we asked them both whether they wanted to have a baby brother or a baby sister. Jackson immediately said a baby brother. So did Sadie, but she tends to go with whatever Jackson wants. As time went on, Jackson stuck to his guns, but Sadie would waiver depending on the day...boy, girl--brother, sister...it didn't seem to matter.   For Kevin and I, it wasn't so much a matter of whether we wanted another boy or girl, but what we thought would be best for our kids. Talk about a tough spot! In some ways, I really wanted Sadie to have a sister. I have two wonderful sisters, whom I love dearly, but both of them were out of the house by the time I turned 5...so our relationship is a little different than what we would've had if we were closer in age. I really wanted that for Sadie. At the same time, Kevin really wanted a brother for Jackson. He didn't have a brother growing up and hoped Jackson would have someone to ~~get into trouble with~~ have adventures with. He also watched Sadie trying to keep up with her brother and his buddies, and felt like she also needed a partner in crime.

So....as the day of our 20 week sonogram approached, we tried to prepare both our kids for both outcomes. Like I said, Sadie seemed completely okay with either result...but Jackson...oh boy. Literally. At night we would have serious discussions about how God was going to give us what He thought we needed. If it was a baby sister, I said, that meant that he thought Jackson would be okay without a baby brother. His response was almost always, "I think God wants me to have a baby brother," or "But I really WANT a baby brother!" So much for reasoning with a four year old.

When the day of the sonogram arrived, we took both kids with us. They were so excited to finally get to see pictures of Baby Reed #3. I showed them their sonogram pictures so they would know what to expect and understand that it wasn't going to be like seeing a baby on TV. We took our video camera along to record reactions for posterity, and while we were getting gas in Lindale, Kevin asked both kids what they hoped the baby would be. Sadie said she wanted a baby sister...but again, she seemed pretty happy about the idea of a baby period. Jackson looked straight into the camera and said, "But it could be a baby brother. THAT would make me happy."

I could've cried.

When we got to the doctor's office, the kids were so excited. They had been to the doctor with me early in my pregnancy, but stayed in the car with my mom. So they felt super special actually getting to come in the office and see what all the hubbub was about. They did a great job, but it probably helped that we were the only ones in the office (my doctor was off that day, so it was only sonogram appointments that were scheduled). When we were called into the sonogram room, the kids took their seats and Kevin asked if he could video the appointment.  I laughed because the sonographer eyed us a moment before consenting. She said some people come in with 6 family members with all kinds of cameras, and they get kindof obnoxious about their videos, "But you look pretty normal." HA!

As soon as the sonographer put the sonogram thingy on my belly, I knew what we were having. Let's just say the baby, um,. bared all...but I waited for the official word--and Jackson's reaction.

"It's a girl!" the sonographer said.

"Aww man!" Jackson said quietly. I had to laugh. He tried to smile for the camera, but it was half-hearted.

He was a great sport though, and was especially in awe when he heard the baby's heartbeat. After his initial reaction, he was nothing but positive.

So we're having another baby girl. And that's fine by us.

She may just be "Baby Girl Reed" forever, because names are eluding us.

Of course, Jackson is still holding out hope that baby sister might end up being a baby brother. He tells me these things when we have our deep discussions before bed.  This may also explain why baby sister kicks so much when he's around.

Retroblogging! The new craze!

2010-06-02T06:15:00.000-05:00

I have been a bad blogger.

I could regale you with tales of how busy we've been, or how my computer has been on the fritz, or that my husband's recent entry into the blogging world has intimidated me (seriously...he's pretty great), or how my children recently told me that they are uncomfortable with me sharing their lives with such a wide audience (all 8 of you)...but it would be lies. Sad, sad lies. Truth is, I've just been lazy. What's even worse is there's been lots to tell. T-ball, storms, birthday parties that weren't (then were), sonograms...oh wait, that hasn't happened yet. But it's going to today, and I'm fairly certain I'm not going to blog about that in a timely manner too.

I tell you all of this to unveil my plan.

I will be retroblogging. That's my new word for posting blogs months later, but putting the correct date stamp so that it will appear to the average Joe that I am a good blogger.

"What? You missed my post about the strong wind that blew the trampoline into the lake? Where have you been? I posted that over a month ago?! You must've just missed it. No, really, it's okay. Just go back and read it now. I forgive you."

It's genius I tell you.

So just get ready, because it's coming.

Party Time, take 2...

2010-05-23T09:21:00.077-05:00

Back in April, when the "strong winds" (as my children have come to call it) blew our trampoline into the lake and the playhouse into a crumpled mess, we had to cancel Jackson's backyard birthday party and reschedule it for a later date. Kevin kept telling me, "I can fix it," referring to both the trampoline and playhouse. He didn't have to tell the kids that, because the day after the storm, they told me, "Daddy will fix it."

I wasn't sure anyone was seeing the same mess I was seeing. Oh me of little faith.

Problem #1...When Kevin pulled the trampoline out of the lake, he realized he might have some problems there--some pieces didn't make it out of the lake, and others were bent beyond repair. If you've never priced replacement parts for trampolines online, let me just say that buying a new trampoline is cheaper. Especially when you, um, borrow, from the kids' piggy bank to do it. Problem #1 solved.

Problem #2...The playhouse was in pieces. Lots of them. Some of the pieces were in pieces.
(At this point you might be wondering why we didn't just file an insurance claim for all of this. Because we are cheap, that's why. We raised our deductible to a number we could still afford to pay out of pocket in an emergency, but this number was higher than what we paid for the trampoline and the playhouse together. It's not a decision we regret, because we saved a LOT of money. It just stunk in this particular case.)
...Anyway, as Kevin surveyed the damage, he still said, "I can fix it." I smiled and nodded and patted him on the back. Yes, I knew he could fix it. However, I thought that our kids might be graduating from high school before it would happen. Boy, he showed me. It took a couple of weekends, but before we knew it, the playhouse was back in one piece. We made a few modifications--we didn't replace the monkey bars because the kids are still too small for them anyway, one swing still needs to be hung, and the roof still has a "sky light." (So if you ask Jackson, "Did your Daddy fix your playhouse?" he will say, "Yes!...well, not quite...") But it was fixed enough to reschedule Jackson's superhero party.

My original plan was to have an outdoor party with superhero capes as party favors. We could sit and visit in lawn chairs while the boys saved the world, the playhouse, the sister, the trampoline...whatever. Let me just say that my plan was good in theory. A May outdoor party is significantly hotter than an April outdoor party. The boys were good sports at first, but finally they came to me, redfaced, and begged to be allowed to play inside...I totally understood, so upstairs they went, capes and all! I was pretty proud of those capes--especially when you consider I didn't sew them--however, they weren't the sturdiest little suckers.

I think this is my favorite birthday cake yet. Jackson and I sat at the computer looking at superhero cakes one night, and this was a combination of his two favorites. Only better. It was as delicious as it was cute. Jackson LOVED it. April did a wonderful job!

This is the only picture I have to show the new and improved playhouse. Trust me. It's fixed. Note the capes. Aren't they swell? :)

In the end, it was a great party. The boys (and girl) had a wonderful time "heroing up." It wasn't quite the outdoor extravaganza I envisioned, but it was everything Jackson wanted it to be, and that's all that matters.

Play Ball!

2010-05-01T11:17:00.000-05:00

When Kevin and I married, there was really only one thing we disagreed on--baseball. Neither of us are particularly baseball fans, but my childhood summers were defined by the softball schedule. And I loved every minute of it. Kevin's opinion? "No way are we giving up our summers to sit outside in the heat to watch, of all things, baseball." I also think he probably used the phrase, "I'd rather lay down and pee straight up."

It was one of those bridges that I knew we were years from crossing, but I was pretty sure he was set in his way. Sooo...imagine my surprise when earlier this year he asked me, "You think Jackson will be old enough to play t-ball this year?"

Huh?

Who are you and what have you done with my husband?

Turns out being out of coaching and not having a stressful schedule mellowed my husband to a degree about summer activities. After some investigating, we found out that Jackson was (or would be) old enough to play. We decided to let the finally say be Jackson's. He was thrilled. So was Sadie, who thought that since her big brother was playing it only stood to reason that she too would have a team.

So we got all signed up and paid our fees and waited for the draft. Jackson was picked up by the Dodgers--a pretty great team full of good kids. The first few practices were a little rough though. Jackson's circle of friends are all younger than he his or very close to his age. He's never had a negative experience with bigger boys, but being on a team with mostly bigger boys was a little intimidating. He liked being there. He liked his coaches. But practice was long and I think he realized that he wasn't as fast or as good as the older boys. We even had some discussions about pulling him and waiting another year. But deep inside I knew that once games started he would be fine. After all, games only lasted one hour, twice a week. Sure, there would be tournaments, but there would only be a few of those. So we held our breath until the first game.

Games are definitely more fun to him than practice. There are a few aspects of the game that Jackson really likes. He likes batting. Even though he's not great at it, he can do it, and Coach David makes him laugh. He knows what to do after he hits the ball. He usually gets out, but he has a good attitude, and sometimes he even helps other runners score.

There is also a perfect position on the team for four year olds with short attention spans. It's called catcher. See, apparently, since there is no pitching involved, the pitcher covers home plate and the catcher gets to look cute. And occasionally play in the dirt. It works out well for the boy.
Another positive is that even though all the boys get to hit the whole game, the little ones only have to play two innings. Which leads to two innings on the bench getting to watch!
But Jackson's absolute favorite part of the game comes after the last out (or the sixth run, which happens more often than not in t-ball)...high fives! I don't have a picture for this part, but the thing he loves most of all is lining up and telling the other team "Good game!" Win or lose, doesn't matter. This is the part that he can do just as well as any other boy.
The first few games of the year involved tournament play. We lost the first four games we played. But apparently, when you lose out of a tournament, you get a medal. He loved those medals. And the funniest part? After all the tournaments were over and we were in the middle of the season--and after we'd won a few games in a row--a realization hit Jackson...if you WIN, you don't get a medal! :)

I assured him that winning gets you a trophy. He's willing to hold out for the trophy.

Gone with the Wind...

2010-04-28T06:17:00.074-05:00

There are storms, and there are storms.

The worst storm I've ever experienced just happened to come when my husband was away at the deer lease and the day before my son's 4th birthday party. Timing is, after all, everything.

The weekend actually started off well. Jackson, Sadie and I settled into my bed for movie night. This was extra special for Sadie, because she almost always misses out on such events. But she's growing up and the mere idea of getting to put on her "jamas" and eat "chawkwet" in bed were just this side of heaven in her book. We watched The Princess and the Frog on pay-per-view, then settled in for a good night's rest. Sadie went to her bed, Jackson stayed in mine (For protection. Because four year olds are very intimidating to burglars.)

In all the movie night festivities, I neglected to watch the news. Or the weather.

Around 1:30, something jolted me out of my sleep. I'm not sure what it was that woke me. Maybe thunder. Or wind. Or the pomegranate tree knocking on our window.  Whatever it was, it wasn't terribly out of the ordinary. We get wind quite a bit, and it always sounds worse than it really is. But because I was alone with the kids, I didn't want to take any unnecessary chances. I went to our closet and got out the weather radio at about the same moment that the lights went out. Of course, being the prepared ones that we are, the batteries in the radio were dead. I grabbed a flashlight and headed toward the battery drawer in the kitchen. I think at this point I realized that the wind was much louder than normal--this wasn't the typical east Texas thunderstorm.  As I crossed through the living room, I began to hear what I knew was hail hitting the windows. I looked out to see what I could see in the darkness. That's when I noticed the absence of our trampoline.

I quickened my pace.

The playhouse in our back yard was also not as it should be.

Panic set in.

I took the batteries (that of course weren't fitting as they should) and the radio back to my room and tried to fix it in there. Near my son, who was still sound asleep.  I touched his leg at one point, considering the idea of waking him and Sadie and moving into a closet. I stopped before he woke up, because in my mind waking him--my boy who already seems to have enough nightmares--might do more harm than good. When the radio finally came on, I could find nothing that would tell me what was going on outside my four walls. The wind seemed to be dying down, but how could I be sure? I decided at that point to get Sadie. I had to laugh a little when I walked into her room. There she sat, in the dark, wide-eyed and relieved to see me. But she wasn't scared. She would ask me periodically, "What's that sound?" But otherwise she was fine.

By the time we got back to the weather radio, it was clear that the worst was over. When I finally found Mark Scirto on the radio, I knew we'd been through something significant, but we were safe. There was talk of straight-line winds, possible tornadoes, and hail. My sister and my mother-in-law had been texting me, checking on us and any damage. My parents were away on a cruise, so there was no way to know what damage had been done at their house, although it appeared everything was in one piece.

Around 5:00, Kim and Jed came with a spotlight to survey the damage. Sadie enjoyed telling them about the wind. It was all very exciting to her. Jed drove around to see where the trampoline might've landed. Judging by the state of the playhouse, I figured the trampoline must have used it as a ramp. But it was no where in sight.

Did I mention that Jackson never once woke up?

Sadie and I finally settled down to try and go back to sleep. It was a new experience for her. She's never slept in our bed before. She would lay there, perfectly still, and pat my face. Occasionally, she would say, "Momma? You sleep?" Then she would laugh when I would open my eyes. We finally managed to find sleep around 5:45. With the windows up, it was cool in the room. With no electricity, it was more than quiet. Considering the night we'd had, it was good sleeping weather.

When we all got up the next morning, we realized that Jackson's birthday party would not be happening. All our entertainment had blown away! Not only was the trampoline still MIA, but the play house was in a few pieces and laying all over the "rock sandbox."  To me, it looked beyond repair.

Kevin called to check on us as soon as he saw a text I sent him during the night. He offered to come home and fix the playhouse in time for the party. I just didn't want that stress for him or myself. He just didn't know what he was coming home to. The party would wait. It turned out to be a good decision, because the woman making the cake was without electricity as well.

And we didn't get electricity until Tuesday. Let me just say a huge "THANK YOU" to whomever invented the generator.

Later in the morning, we got on the RTV and went in search of the trampoline and to survey the damage around the rest of the property. The trampoline--what didn't fall off in flight--landed in the lake.

While there were large trees down in several spots, we had no severe property damage. My parents' ranch hand, Drew, spent the better part of a day cleaning up the hundreds of sticks that blew down in their yard, but considering the huge pecan trees that surround their house, it could have been so much worse. People in Van had quite a bit more damage than we did, but again, it could have been so much worse.

But we learned a few things along the way. First, the only thing my kids missed was being able to watch TV whenever they wanted. Second, once I explained (a few hundred times) that the electricity was off, they usually found other ways to amuse themselves. Third, sleeping with the window open is pretty great. And last, but most certainly not least, we were blessed. When I think about the fact that a wind strong enough to blow our trampoline 200 yards away swept through our back yard not 20 feet away from where we slept...I know God's hand protected us. We are blessed.

Birthday Boy!

2010-04-21T18:06:00.005-05:00

Since Eli's birthday party in November, all Jackson has talked about for celebrating his own birthday was going to Chuck E. Cheese. Now, personally, I don't mind the place. But I love the fact that his birthday falls in that perfect window of pleasant Texas weather, and I hated the idea of celebrating his birthday indoors. I just didn't know how I was going to convince him of that. So instead, we compromised.

On the evening of his actual birthday, we took him and his oldest buddies (Foster, Eli and Reed) to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza. We told him that this wasn't his real party, but just a fun time for him and his friends (and of course, his sister). They had a blast. The only tense moments occurred when the guy in the Chuck E. costume came out. Let's just say that Jackson, Sadie and his buddy Foster aren't fans. Not. At. All. As long as they had him in their sights, and as long as he stayed far, far away, all was well. (Foster was keeping an eye out in the picture below) :)

These boys have been a part of Jackson's life since he was very, very small. Eli is his cousin and hero; Foster was his first real friend (they have such similar personalities it's easy to see why); and Reed belongs to my good friend Janet--so they have to be friends! ;) Luckily for us, they like each other a whole bunch too.

This picture below shows how hard it is to get four 3-4 year olds to smile at the camera at the same time! Love it! And this last picture shows the vast difference between our two children. The tunnel at Chuck E. Cheese is still mostly a mystery to Jackson, because he refuses to climb too far. Sadie, on the other hand, knows very little fear.

It's still hard for me to believe that my baby boy is four. He is growing and changing so much every day. We have conversations on a regular basis now. He tells me about his friends. He tells me what episode of "Batman" he wants to watch. He laughs at my jokes and makes up jokes of his own, most of which involve poop, diapers, and babies. He loves superheroes. He is a little bossy to his little sister, but he also loves her to pieces and plays well with her most of the time. He has a fear of growing, and I think it's because he thinks his friends won't grow along with him...and he loves his friends. He is sweet and funny and kind-hearted...and we are so blessed that God chose us to raise him.

Another day, another five loads of laundry...

2010-04-15T09:23:00.002-05:00

On the days when we have no where to go, one of the kids' favorite pastimes is playing superheroes. Sadie usually needs nothing more than her brother's permission to play along. Jackson almost always needs a superhero costume. We have a decent supply--Superman, Spiderman, SuperRobot (actually, it's an astronaut costume, but since Jackson got it a couple of years ago, he's called it his robot costume because it's easier to pronounce than astronaut), along with various capes, masks and other superhero necessities. And while they use the costumes pretty regularly, he just as regularly makes up his own version of a superhero costume.

Like this one:

Now, I know what you're thinking. There is no superhero costume here. Silly reader. If you look closely, you'll see all the components of a true superhero costume: a cape, shirt, "run-fast shoes," pants, and raincoat (okay, so I don't get the raincoat either. It's got superheroes on it. Don't judge.). Admittedly, I was confused about the underwear over the pants. That's when my son explained to me in his "oh, my poor feeble minded mother" voice that ALL superheroes wear their underwear over their pants. Duh. Very observant, that boy of mine.

Springtime in Reedville

2010-04-14T12:01:00.002-05:00

The past couple of months at the Reed hacienda have been full of adventures, starting with a Spring Break road trip. We ended the week prior to the break thinking we were going to spend most of the week at home, but Kevin had some work come up in Houston, so we decided to go with him! Our first stop was the Downtown Aquarium. The kids loved seeing all the fish, but sight seeing after a four hour car ride is asking a little much. Jackson refused to get within five feet of the giant shark, but Sadie thought it was pretty great. This picture is my favorite, but I have one of her giving it a kiss.

We had a great time in Houston. We got to visit with some of Kevin's old friends, and the kids grew pretty fond of staying in a "hotel house". Kevin had to use the car for business, so we didn't get to see as much as we would've liked, but we had a great time at the pool!

At the end of the break, we made the trek to our next hotel house in Austin for the state basketball tournament--a family tradition. (Yes I love going. No I don't watch any games.) The highlight of this part of the journey was at the mall. Not a visit to the Easter bunny...nooo...we don't do six foot faux creatures (although the bunny was awfully cute and we did walk by many, many times to wave--from a reasonable distance, of course), so a picture from the adorable backdrop was as good as it got. But these same children--the very ones that refused to step into the Easter bunny's lair--LOVED the bungee trampoline.

Jackson has jumped at the mall in Tyler a few times, so as soon as he saw the set up, he started begging Nannie to let him jump (yeah, like begging was even remotely necessary). Sadie kept saying, "I jump too!!" So we let Sadie go first. She's jumped before too, but the guy at this particular place was pretty tame. She loved it all the same...until she saw Jackson jump. As soon as Sadie finished the man running the show (who, by the way, spoke very little English and according to Jackson "didn't know how to turn flips.") strapped Jackson into the harness. Keep in mind that Sadie barely went six feet in the air. Jackson told the man he wanted to go high, and he got exactly what he wanted! (That railing is for the second floor of the mall. Please address all the "what kind of mother allows her children to be catapoulted fifteen feet in the air" mail to my mother. I was just the photographer.) Suffice it to say, Jackson had a blast. After seeing Jackson jump, Sadie was not happy at all. Not even a little bit. She wanted to go high too. And she let us know it. For the rest. Of. The. Day.

So I did what all good parents do. I bribed her. If she would be a good girl the rest of the day, we would come back and she could jump high. Jackson was totally bought in because he knew that if Sadie was getting a second round of jumping, so would he. Sadie was a saint for the remainder of our shopping excursion. When we returned to the jumping thing, she told the man herself, "I GO HIGH." And did she ever! People stopped to watch--and maybe call CPS--and she put on quite a show. She laughed and kicked her legs and was NOT ready for the ride to be over. We ended up jumping again the next day. Adrenaline junkies? Maybe. But we still didn't get near the Easter bunny!

Speaking of Easter...our Easter weekend was full of egg hunt after egg hunt, and the kids loved every minute of it! We started with Jackson's egg hunt at Sunshine Friends. It was so much fun getting to watch him have such a great time with his buddies. He loves school and all his teachers--especially Mrs. Kelli!

Saturday we went to the city egg hunt at the Van Oil Museum. The kids made a "fashionable entrance," and attracted the attention of their many admirers (haha)...that kid with his arm around Sadie? She had no idea who he was. (I did, and I figure he will either play professional football or end up a rock star, so I'm okay with her getting acquainted)...

Last year we were a little confused about what "eggs" to pick up (they only put out a few prize eggs...the rest are candy eggs and candy bunnies)...my kids are very literal, so the fact that there weren't any real eggs lying around caused a bit of a slow start. This year, though, was a totally different story! Both kids got a ton of eggage, and Jackson even came in 2nd for his age group (he was robbed in my opinion, but that's another story!). Both kids also enjoyed exploring the grounds of the Oil Museum with their Dado, who had a story about quite a few of the pieces of equipment!

Then came Easter morning. As you can see, Sadie loved her Easter basket! Jackson was equally pleased to find out that the E.B. somehow knew that putting Green Arrow in his basket would be a wonderful surprise!

We spent the afternoon and evening with family. We tried to take family pictures, but all my children were interested in doing was playing. So the more pictures we took, the more disagreeable they got! Finally we waved the flag of surrender and let them have their fun; oddly enough, those turned out to be the best pictures of the day!

We spent the remainder of the day hunting eggs, seesawing, and playing in the sandbox. The game of the day was called "let's see how much sand Sadie's hair will hold." She was as big a fan of the game as the boys, and it turns out her hair will hold a LOT of sand. Like, three days' worth.

But it was still a good, good day.

This one would be much funnier with pictures...

2010-03-27T11:08:00.001-05:00

The other day, a kid insulted me. I know--a junior high kid insulting a teacher.

Shocker.

I'm going to tell you what he said, but you need to prepare yourself for the, the inhumanity.

Are you sitting down?

He said, "Mrs. Reed? Why are you always the same?"

I'll wait while those of you who had to grab a hankie and fan yourself regain your composure.

He continued on, "I mean, you always wear your hair the same, you wear the same jacket...why don't you do something different with yourself? Do something with your hair, or something?"

I don't remember my exact response to all this, but I think it amounted to the equivalent of, "I know you are, but what am I?" AND IT'S A HOODIE, NOT A JACKET.

Classy, huh?

It wasn't so much what he said, but the way it affected me. I would love to blame hormones--but I didn't cry (of all the things I've learned about teaching junior high, it's that you never let them make you cry, and you try really really hard not to accidentally cuss in front of them. So far, so good.)--but I'm pretty sure it was just my ego that got the best of me. He played on my two feminine insecurities: my hair and my wardrobe.

Always the SAME? Really?

When I woke up the next morning, after giving the whole incident way more time in my brain than it warranted, I had to laugh. This kid has known me less than 30 weeks of my 35ish years. He has no idea how NOT the same I am. And quite frankly, I love my hair. It's not movie star or model hair, but it does what I want it to on a regular basis, and there are no weird bumps or humps on most days. I love the style so much I will probably keep it a while longer. I did go darker once, but my husband said, "Please don't do that again." (after the fact, of course)...

But the kid wasn't around for my junior high days. For the mullet. For the ~~orange~~ "Sun In" sun kissed hair. For the perm after perm after horrible perm, trying to get my hair to look like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

Nor was he there (or even born for that matter) for high school, when my hair was slightly better, at least for the 90's. But we're talking big hair. Huge. It was also my first voyage into the realm of highlights...which was terrifying to me. That and all the perms made it break off and look horrifically bad for a while... but at least it wasn't orange.

He wasn't even there in college, after I finally gave up the perm and the big bangs. When I tried to be Jennifer Aniston. When my hair was the least of my worries.

In the end, I realized that although yes, I do wear a pretty, um, standard wardrobe to school, and yes, my hair style doesn't change much. But I'm a teacher living on a teacher's salary, and I spend most of my wardrobe money on my kids, and my years and years and years of bad hair experience allows me to admit that it's far better for me to not fix what ain't broke. But always the same? Nope.

Not even close.

Plan B..or C...or...whatever.

2010-02-24T17:12:00.006-06:00

As a parent, I have learned that having a Plan B is essential to my sanity. Plan A's only work out part of the time, right?

Like when my son was in the early potty training stages and we went on a shopping trip to Tyler with real big boy underwear on, and he refused to go to the bathroom when I took him. No, he chose to go to the bathroom on the floor in Dillard's.

Plan B.

Or when Kevin proposed and I decided that June 2nd was the most sensible day to get married, because March 6th was too close to the TAKS test (yes, I know, roll your eyes. I do too.)...and then about a week into our engagement I realized that letting the T.E.A plan my wedding day was ridiculous.

Plan B.

Or when Jackson was 10 months old and we decided to be wise and start trying to have a baby then because it took us a year and a half to get pregnant the first time. Two months later I took a pregnancy test into the Dillard's bathroom and cried all the way home.

Plan B. And perhaps some anxiety medication.

You get the point. I also realize I have had some pretty significant life moments in Dillard's. (If you are employed by Dillard's and reading this, I totally made up the part about my son peeing on the floor of your store. He would never do that. Noooo. Not by the Fossil watches. Not right before we sprinted out of the store. Not him. Never.)

Anyway.

After Sadie was born, we wanted to learn from our previous miscalculations. We made a deal that after--and only after--Sadie turned 2, we would try again for baby Reed #3 until I turned 36. I could lie right now and say that would give us a 6 year window, but in reality it gave us right at five months. If, at the end of that five months we weren't pregnant, we were going to take that as a sign that we were meant to be a family of four.

Plan A was almost a go when my husband came up with the wonderful idea of a family vacation in New Mexico next Christmas. When we proposed the idea to everyone, it was well-received and less than two days after Christmas we were already reserving a cabin for next year.

In all the excitement, someone reminded us about our plan. Wouldn't it be funny to be nine months pregnant in the middle of a snow covered mountain?!?! Unmedicated labor at 5000 feet! Good times!

Yeah boy. Whee.

Perhaps we were going to need a Plan B. Again.

We decided to stick to Plan A until the end of February. If Reed#3 had yet to materialize, we would wait and try again from August until the end of the year.

Plan B.

Or in this case, not! How 'bout that?

Monday, Monday

2010-02-01T17:45:00.003-06:00

I've always thought Mondays got a bad rap. This particular Monday, lived up to all the hype. Not in any sort of life-altering way. Just in the how-the-heck-does-so-much-stupid-crap-happen-before-8 a.m. sort of way. Literally. Before 8:00 a.m.

In order to tell this story to the fullest, I should start around 12:30 a.m. when Sadie woke up crying. Sadie, our deep sleeper. The one who has disturbed our sleep approximately 3 times since she was four months old. Did I mention that Jackson--our frequent waker--was spending the night with Nannie and Dado? Kevin got up with her the first time--and if I weren't so nice, here would be where I would insert his crappy Monday story, but I will refrain--I got up with her the next four times. Yes, four. In one night, she doubled her up in the middle of the night count. Every time, she stopped crying when I entered the room. She didn't have fever, and didn't seem to feel particularly bad. I held her, turned on her music, even tried putting her in bed with us, but nothing seemed to be what she wanted (again, not crying, just wide awake)...so, me being the mom of the year that I am, put her back to bed and decided that the next time she cried, we would let her self-sooth. She started crying about 15 minutes later, and Kevin got up and shut our door. Apparently, however, I can't sleep with our door closed and knowing my baby is crying. So I stayed awake. And listened for her cry. Because that was the plan, right? Finally, around 3:30, I couldn't take the sound of her crying anymore. I opened our door to silence. What? I thought it was just a temporary respite. I listened. Nothing. So instead of going back to bed, I go back upstairs. I sneak in her room to find her zonked out, and from the looks of it, she'd been that way for quite some time.

I was hearing things. And losing sleep. For TWO HOURS.

I also woke up late. And I have morning duty this week. So instead of eating my bowl of cereal at home, I poured my milk in a coffee mug (with a lid) and put my cereal in a baggy and thought I'd made a brilliant decision. When I got to school, I stuck the mug in my purse for approximately two minutes so that I could open the door.

In case you're wondering, two minutes is just enough time for 10 ounces of milk to leak out of a sealed coffee mug and into the bottom of my purse.

Around 8:05 my husband emails me to say that my mom thought Sadie had a sore throat and fever. Mother of the year, that's me.

But Monday didn't get the best of me. Or Sadie for that matter. I think she might be teething, but no fever right now.

I wish I could say the same for my purse.

Resolved.

2010-01-13T21:25:00.002-06:00

This year my new year's resolution was pretty simple: give up Dr. Pepper.

I gave up Diet Coke in the spring--aspartame creeps me out a little--and I figured since I didn't drink DP at home, one here and there would be fine. I might have had one every two weeks. So I was basically giving up something I didn't indulge in much anyway.

All in all, a pretty lame resolution.

Then two weeks ago my husband came home talking about this diet one of his friends had started. He emailed me the plan. And a sample menu. He was seriously considering starting this journey. We both had gotten sucked into watching "The Biggest Loser," and the reality of what we really needed to do--for our health, for our kids, for our overall well-being--had begun to sink in. It didn't hurt that we're planning a huge family ski trip for next December. Also on our "to do" list is baby Reed #3...and I definitely don't want to start out that pregnancy here.

But we didn't just jump in head first. We took the rest of that week to plan and think and research. The diet itself was constructed by a friend of ours who knows his stuff when it comes to nutrition. There wasn't one single aspect of the plan that seemed unreasonable. Lower calories, less sugar, more fiber, lean protein, healthy dairy, lots of water, green tea...moderation. Nothing seemed gimmicky or trendy. It made sense.

So we jumped in with both feet.

We started on Monday, before we got our own individualized plans, but we covered the basics. We cut our calories. We drank our tea. And water. I became very familiar with the locations of all the restrooms at school.

This journey has incredible promise. Until this week, I'd never put much thought into food. Eating. I've been on diets before. I've had success before. But I tried my best to take all the thought out of it. This isn't an easy fix. We have literally spent hours planning our meals. I almost did a happy dance in the middle of Brookshire's because I found a cereal low in calories AND high in fiber. I am constantly thinking about ways to vary our meals so that they are healthy AND appetizing. I find myself reworking recipes I see in magazines. Every day is like a little puzzle of food that I put together ahead of time. In order for the plan to work, I have to know exactly what I'm putting in my mouth.

We have spreadsheets.

I am embracing the sugar withdrawals. My new best friend is named Splenda.

Of course, the real moment of truth came Saturday when I stepped on the scale on Saturday.
I lost 4 pounds! Kevin lost 7!! Yea us!

I spent Sunday evening watching "Brothers and Sisters" and planning our menu for the next week. I am happy to say the process, while still quite a process, is getting easier. I don't have to plan so much for breakfast and lunch if I already know what dinner is going to be. Again, think food puzzle. Or, if you're like my husband, think competition.

Game on.

Birthday Girl!

2009-12-30T23:17:00.007-06:00

Sadie turned 2 yesterday. The last time I dedicated a blog totally 100% to her, she was seven months old, give or take. My, how time flies.Kevin and I debated about what to do for her party all the way up to last Monday. We'd pretty much talked ourselves out of doing anything major when we agreed she needed something special. So we threw together a last-minute family party for her...and by last minute I mean I sent out a text on Monday afternoon for the Tuesday afternoon party. Lucky for us we have good friends and family who apparently have little to do the week after Christmas. Also lucky for us there was a bakery in town with very little to do on a Tuesday afternoon. I realize this is the last year I can get away with impromptu birthday celebrations...but it turned out swell.

Sadie is the quintessential independent child. Except for all the times she clings to my leg and wants to be held, that is. Her favorite words are "I did it!" which, depending on when she uses it, has different meanings. If she is in the middle of doing something and you try to offer assistance, she will say, "No, I did it!" which translates into, "No mother, I would really like to finish this task on my own, thank you very much." If she successfully completes said task, well, "I did it" needs no translation.

She spent thirty minutes today putting her pants on by herself.

Because she screamed "NO! I DID IT!" when I got within a foot of her.

But, in the end, she did indeed, do it.

She also wants to do everything Jackson does. Ev-ree-thing. Last week we went to the mall, and Jackson got to jump on that bungee trampoline thing. After five minutes of watching her big brother jump and laugh and flip, Sadie was all about the jumping. The harness was too big and she barely got a foot off the trampoline, but for those five minutes she was as big as Jackson.

She is our daredevil, our hardhead, our little charmer...the one we will probably have to bail out of jail someday. She will sweetly bat her eyes at you when you tell her to do something and say, "no thank you" before she walks away. She can stare down the best of us, and when you get that look just know her heels are firmly dug in. She is also the one who said, "thank you, momma!" about fifteen times while I assembled her baby doll bed tonight. She is our princess. Our big girl.

Happy birthday, Sadiebell!

Halloween 2009

2009-11-09T22:52:00.006-06:00

Halloween was quite a "treat" this year! Sadie is still at that age where she doesn't really care what costume you put on her, as long as you let her join in the fun. I have wanted to dress her up as Raggedy Ann for a solid year now, and I really think her cuteness even surpassed the image I had of her in my head! Normally I would let you guys compliment my children without any goading by me, but look at this face...

Jackson opted for Spiderman this year. He is a huge fan of costumes, and loves dressing up to (and I quote) SAVE THE WORLD, which usually entails climbing on our bed and jumping into a pile of pillows. But the mask was a little confining for his taste, so it fell by the wayside pretty early. Eli and Joe were....can you guess?

Eli = ninja

Joe = turtle

GET IT?!

Those clever Carters...

They both had a great time trick or treating at our usual family stops...Nana and Aunt Robin, Mr. Bo and Mrs. Pat, Aunt Judy and Uncle Ronnie...

...as well as downtown. It is so nice of the businesses to provide a safe place for the kids to get their candy fix!

Happy holiday-we-celebrate-before-the-good-stuff-gets-started!

A Visit to Pappy's Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-29T20:31:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago, I received an email from my Aunt Judy about Bell Family Farm. Think small town, old school, family owned pumpkin patch. It was exactly the kind of place I'd been looking for, so we called up our buddies Janet and Clint, and Mark and Sheila, told them to load up Jackson and Sadie's buddies Reed, Eli and Josiah and headed out to Pappy's Pumpkin Patch. In a word, this place is fabulous.

It is just outside the Loop in Tyler, down a bumpy road and across the street from a new housing development...and yet, when you see the cars parked in the grass in front of the green barn, you just sortof know it's the real deal. For those of us who love those Kodak moments, this place has tons before you even get through the door.

And as soon as we made it out the back door (the barn is filled with unique varieties of pumpkins as well as other fall/Christmas gift items) the kids were in full-on farm fun mode.

Everything here is free. Yes. Well, almost. Face painting is cheap. Fish food, 25 cents. And of course, the pumpkins. But the kiddie train?

The one that made my daughter smile like this while it was STANDING STILL?

FREE.

The kids actually sat in the train for a while, waiting for the driver to fix the tractor that pulled it. But when it became clear that whatever ailed the tractor might not be fixed soon, the kids moved on to other things. Like the rubber ducky races at the water pumps.
And the play set. Let me just say that my daughter loved loved loved sliding down this slide. A hundred times.

The face painting was just too tempting to resist. The ladies wielding the paintbrushes were super talented and while we waited our turns, we watched kiddos walk in the tent and super heroes, animals, and fairies walk out. I was so proud of how good the boys were during their transformations...sitting still as rocks and doing exactly as they were told.

Jackson was super (no pun intended...oh, who am I kidding?) excited about the end result:

While we waited for the hayride to return from the pumpkin patch, we took a wagon ride to the pond to feed fish and dress scarecrows. Or children. Details.

Finally, our turn on the hayride arrived, and the kids were, well...see for yourself:

The pumpkin patch itself was its very own Kodak moment. Or two. Or twelve...

Jackson wore his John Deere boots on this excursion, which are two sizes too big. Turns out he was a big fan of that little flaw, because he could kick them off at any given moment. And apparently there's nothing more relaxing than kicking back with your buddies in the middle of a bunch of pumpkins.
Right before we headed home, miracle of miracles, the kiddie train started running. Sadie was happy to just watch, but Jackson, Eli and Reed couldn't possibly leave without taking one last ride!

This is the kind of place where family traditions are born.

See you next year, Pappy!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

2009-10-12T21:02:00.001-05:00

Our Daddy had a birthday on October 6th. We made him his favorite cake. Momma helped a little, but the secret to this cake is having plenty of holes poked in it...and we are really good at poking holes!

Daddy was really excited about his cake. We really wanted to put a snowman candle on the cake, because that would make it extra special. Momma said snowman candles are a little hard to come by in October, so we settled for Spiderman...which is pretty special too.We helped Daddy blow out his candles. It was so much fun we did it twice...birthday song too.

Presents came next. Jackson got Daddy this cool hat, but Daddy already knew that because Jackson isn't very good at keeping a secret! I got him a hunting watch to replace the one I broke a few weeks ago. Momma got him some clothes. Good thing we were around to give him fun stuff.

Our Daddy had a great birthday...but that's because our Daddy is a great Daddy!

New Starts

2009-09-04T13:36:00.004-05:00

This school year has started out with all kinds of new and exciting changes for our family. For me, a new subject to teach. For Sadie, getting used to going to day care four days a week (But who are we kidding? She loves going to Mrs. Tanya's, and it isn't like day care at all.). Kevin recently began a new project with a new company. And Jackson?

Jackson started pre-school.

Kevin and I joke about the fact that our children are equally ours: Sadie looks like me and has a mind like her Daddy. Jackson looks like his Daddy and has a mind like me. He has been excited about starting Sunshine Friends since he went to story time there one day last October. When we went to Meet the Teacher night the week before school started, he didn't want to leave. This kid LOVES school. I still can't get him to tell me what they do there (another indicator that he is most definitely my son), but he loves his teachers and is always excited about going back.

And these last pictures? This one here, where my children are hugging and looking like they like each other?

And this one? Where they are looking happy and smiling in the SAME PICTURE?

That's a new development too. Good stuff.

Changes

2009-08-10T23:35:00.003-05:00

I'm not a fan of change. For those of you that know me, this isn't a big shock. Rearranging furniture in our house is almost always my husband's idea, because, frankly, furniture is heavy, and once you find a good place for it, why move it again? I've owned five cars since I turned 16. If I hadn't totaled one of them, the number would be three. My husband laughed hysterically at me the other night while we watched the 10 o'clock news...he was waiting for me to start twitching because we were watching channel 5 and not channel 8. Obama's campaign slogan was not geared towards people like me. If you're going to ask me to change, darn it, you'd better have a fantastic reason.

I change my hair, my clothes, and my mood. That's about it. The whole fact that Jackson is starting preschool tomorrow would normally be my change limit for an entire year (more to come on that note later).

And yet, when my boss called in the middle of June asking if I wanted to change teaching positions, I said yes.

Huh?

Who is this person?

I have taught the same subject since 2002. I liked it. I was good at it. I was comfortable.

But still.

As much as I love to write myself, in the seven years I taught writing, I only found a handful of students who embraced it like I did at their age. Some were beautiful writers and still hated the whole task of it. Most of the rest of them just hated it altogether. I could make them adequate. I could even make them proficient, competent, and maybe even good. I could not make them love to write. And I'm not mad at them for that. If anything, I'm mad at me.

I was being blessed with a job that I've wanted to do since I student taught twelve years ago. Am I nervous? Heck yes. I have big shoes to fill and high goals to obtain. I have to reach back into my student teaching days to remember what I learned way back then. I am doing something I've never done before. And that makes my hands sweaty.

But I'm excited too.

I get to finally commiserate with my students at least a little. I love to read now, but I hated reading in junior high. I was smart, but not a fast reader. I was terrified of reading aloud. I avoided reading as much as I could without getting into trouble.

I can finally give a speech to my class telling them I understand. I get it. But I want to change their minds. I think literature--good literature--can easily sway even the most reluctant reader. I want them to see that if I could be transformed into someone who loves loves loves a good book, there's hope for all of them.

What an adventure this will be!

A Day at the Redneck Waterpark

2009-08-05T14:26:00.003-05:00

Who needs to pay $20 a person to get into some fancy waterpark when all a three year old (and his sister) really needs is a hose, some dirt, and his tractors?

Please note the fancy swimsuits.

And, yes, Sadie is eating the mud.

Where I've been...

2009-07-27T19:43:00.004-05:00

I’ve been chastised lately by my legions of fans (well, all three of them) for being a negligent blogger. I confess. I apologize. Before this summer, time always seemed to drag just a bit once the heat set in. Then we had children. The thing about kids is they provide a wealth of material for blogging, but they refuse to let you sit down for two minutes to organize your thoughts! Couple that with a busy June and July, and summer practically slipped through my fingers.

As I type this, my kids are tearing the house apart while eating cinnamon raisin toast. They are multi-taskers. I am sacrificing my home for my fans (again, all three of you).

I discovered last night that Picassa photo editing (the program I use since photoshop got ganked) has a collage function that allows me to post several photos in one. Obviously the images are a bit smaller, but in this instance it was the only way I could tell this story in a thousand pictures or less. I hope you’ll forgive me.

Jackson has been a very busy three year old this summer. He started out with swimming lessons with “Miss Mwissa.” He loved her, he loved going, and as long as she didn’t let go of him or make him put his face in the water, he was a happy camper. Sadie also benefitted from his lessons in that she and I played in the water along with them. She has no fear. None. Slides? No problem. Face in the water? Piece of cake. Jumping from the side? Just say the word. I have no pictures of this adventure, because neither my camera nor my daughter are waterproof.

One of Jackson’s favorite adventures of the summer was his first ever Vacation Bible School. He loved everything about it: his teachers, his friends, and especially the songs. He still breaks into some part of “Boomerang Express” at least once a day. On the final day of VBS, his cousin, Hope, gave him a stuffed dinosaur just before the kids performed their songs for their parents. He was a little shy about getting up on the stage until he heard the music start and saw his buddy Maddi up there. It might look as though he’s not doing much, but if you look closely, you’ll see that the dinosaur is doing the motions.

My dad turned 70 on June 29th, and my sibs and I put together a surprise party for him. My mom took him to Tyler to get him away from the house while we decorated an area near the lake for the party. As a cover for all the cars my dad would see when they arrived home, my nephew, Mark, called Dad and asked if he could “bring a few Bible study friends fishing.” Emphasis on the word “few.” When my parents drove up and my dad saw ten or fifteen cars parked near the pier, he was beside himself. I learned that it’s pretty easy to surprise a 70 year old, because he had to get up close before he realized that he knew all the people “fishing.” Even though it was hot and sticky, we had a great time.

For the July 4th weekend, we drove north to Woodward to visit the Campbells. If you’re not familiar with them, visit the “Chasing Campbell” blog here. Sadie isn’t much of a world traveler yet, so she had a granddaughter weekend with the grandparents. Jackson got to be a real cowboy while we were there since Cody and Karen bought him a super sweet cowboy hat. We loved riding four wheelers, seeing deer up close, swimming and watching beautiful sunsets.

In between all the VBSing, birthdaying and traveling, the kids managed a few adventures of their own as well as a swim or two…

I really am still in denial about summer coming to an end. We're just getting warmed up!