More Pics from Home

Well here are more pictures from our last visit

to the metroplex as promised. This first one is of Cale Davis (Amy and Brian's little boy)and Liv. I think she is showin a little shoulder to catch his eye! I know she looks a little boyish and is RARELY seen without a bow, but she had been in the pool earlier, bathed, and just gotten up from a nap so it just didn't happen!

Here is Ty with Cita doing their morning ritual, thus the pajamas with sandals. He loves to help her water plants and I let him help me at home as well.

I don't know why I can only write at the bottom of these pictures! This blogger thing frustrates me at times! Well here we are, ebony and ivory! Every morning after mommy had her coffee we took advantage of the pool until lunch time. It was 106 every day we were there so it was not just real refreshing but better than not being in the water! Ty did not like his trunks clinging to him in the water so we went for the little swimmer, actually there were a few times he just went skinny dipping because the little swimmer held a lot of water, not from him. After five days in the sun, you would never know it! Our little boy is so fair skinned! At least he did not get burned! Of course I coated him in water babies so there was not much of a chance. Trent calls these my "fly girl" glasses. I however love them b/c of the coverage and I like to pretend I am Katie Holmes.

We forgot little girl's swimsuit, so she just went topless with a little swimmer on. She loved the car float and enjoyed the water just the same!

Old roomies together again with all the childrens. Lil Amy is so so so SO special to me. Amy and I lived together just one year before I got married. It was such a great time of my life and we became pretty close during that year. I admire this girl fo so many reasons. She is just a beautiful person. We actually talk often and see each other pretty often too. Our husbands share the same obsession and compliment each other well in a partnership. Brian does a lot of business out here and always makes time for a round or two. They also play together every year in a tournament in East Texas and even won it a couple years ago. We had to forego our tradition of staying in a B and B in Jefferson and stay in a regular old hotel now that we both have nursing babies but we are hoping to again this next year. We have a raincheck for the one from last year which could be another whole post in itself, hilarious. They always make it out for a game in the fall too and we cannot wait for their next visit! Thanks for making the drive out to see us lil davies.

We had such enjoyable time in the short four days we were there. Of course there is never enough time to do everything we want to but there is always next time! Now it is back to the grind. My hours of 6:30 to 10:30 every day, school starting, Trent gone again, and only me to rush Ty to the bathroom which is every time I nurse and many many times in between! I should not complain, I am glad he is potty trained. It just brings other things with it! He wears a pull up at night and I don't let him have a drink after 8 O'clock, however he still manages to leak through the pull up and his clothes and it was at 4 A.M. this morning. Not wanting to change the bed at that time I brought him in with us, mistake. He is not easy to sleep with! Trent left at his usual 6 for workouts and Ty was up for the day shortly after that. Joy! The baby however goes from 8:30 to 8 in the morning! Got the bed changed and the same thing happened at naptime today, that only lasted one hour. I am exhausted!

Quick prayer reqest, Trent went to the back doctor last week and learned that he has fluid leaking from a sack under a disk in his back. He has been active in sports since he was a child. He played flag football and sand volley ball in addition to golf up until just a couple of years ago and they think it happened somewhere during that time. He had an MRI last night and we will get the results Thursday to determine whether surgery will be needed. He is on pain killers and steroids now and will be getting a cortizone shot to be able to play in the club championship this weekend. I am worried about that. This could really effect his future and his dreams for that matter.

Okay, its only 80 here today and we are off in the double seated wagon to the park to feed the ducks. Man I am getting excited about fall and cannot wait for the fair and to decorate!

Thirteen cheap guilty pleasures

1. Wal-mart's Great Value Low Fat, No Sugar Added, Butter Pecan Ice Cream- SO YUMMY!

2. Wal-mart's Equate Body Moisturizing Wash, I seriously like it better than Bath and Body

3. Wal-mart's Clothing brand, GEORGE- especially kids clothes. Very classic and cute but still about the price of Old Navy or something. I actually think a lot of their stuff is cuter than more expensive items!

4. Jergen's Body Glow Lotion

5. Dustees jewelry and purses (Our version of Sam Moon)

6. Suave Color Protecting Shampoo and Conditioner, Finishing Spray and leave in Conditioner

7. A vanilla cream Diet Coke at Sonic, about two to three times a week......yes I am back on them but at least not every day now, I see it as a treat for after school :)

They are under a dollar from 2-4 for Happy Hour.

8. I almost always leave with a few items from the Dollar bins at Target. They make great teacher's gifts and secret sister gift and are usually seasonal!

9. Rembrandt Whitening Strips, $20

10. Color T-shirts at Academy. Usually can find them for under $5

11. MMmmmmmm....Fried Cream Corn at Chicken Express and a sweet tea to go along with it.

12. Harold's Sidewalk Sale or Midnight Madness. I got several shirts two weeks ago for $12.99 a piece!

13. Hitting the clearance rack at Bannana Republic

Am I right side up or upside down......is this real

or AM I DREAMING.......................
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND BABY!
Okay, so I was at home for a week and late Friday was already dreading the drive back by myself with two kids the next day when.............my husband walks in the door of my parents house! He flew in and surprised me with tickets to Dave for Saturday night as an anniversary celebration! We hit six years on the 12th and ate sushi that night but you have to understand that Dave Matthews is a special thing to us and been a part of us since we started dating. We have gone to a concert together every year since I have known Trent with the exception of last year when I was pregnant with Olivia- first time in 9 years! Even Ty got to hear him from the womb! It was at Starplex and was incredible as always even despite the heat. Brought back so many memories. Harry and LeeAnn went for their anniversary as well and we got to visit with them a lot before the concert started. I also ran into one of my old college roomates and friend, Mandy! What are the odds in a crowd of so many people??!! What an incredible night. I was in heaven. What an amazing man I married. So thoughtful. So romantic. I would only leave him for Dave. Totally kidding. It was so funny watching people there. You had the college kids yelling ______ Yeah! And the old fogies swaying a little and nodding their heads. We got to smell a lot of weed.........Great people watching. All in all it was a WONDERFUL night. We came back to my parents and went for a late night swim and slept in the next day- sort of. ...... and I did not have to drive back by myself! I am still singing crash-one of my favorites. No Satellite, also a favorite or Two Step but ya know there is just not enough time for him to play them all. He played "our song" (crazy) once a couple of years ago, the time I mentioned when pregnant. I am still smiling.

One Last Trip

Having a blast at home. We got to to to my favorite lunch spot, BooBoo's and then down the way to Jumping Party Place. The kids had a blast and so did we. These are my highschool gal pals. Heather, little girl Rachel and newbie Jessica, Linnea, little boy Drake and newbie Parker, and my sis Holly. Heather and I also got to take in a dream bar and decaf Capp at Corner Baker and do lots of catching up and Holly and I took in a movie, You Me and Dupree. I am having a ball. Today I spent the majority of the day in the pool and visited with my Grandpa and aunt Linda. Ty LOVES "PawPaw" and was in his lap the entire time he was here while Olivia played at his feet with a tractor. More pics to follow.......

I got my One Step Ahead catelog in the mail yesterday, I don't know why I started receiving it. I guess I got on a list somehow. Anyhooo..... some of the items in there just make me laugh. So many in fact I decided to devote my Thursdsay Thirteen to them! I hope I have not offended anyone out there who might be reading and have purchased one of these items. I not saying they are bad, just sort of made me laugh. Some more than others.

Okay this one not so much because or the item but the description of the item:

1. My Brest Friend Breastfeeding Travel Pillow

This nursing pillow is preferred by lactation experts...because it helps new moms breastfeed more comfortably and successfully. It elevates baby into the perfect position so she can latch on easily, which helps eliminate nipple soreness. The patented back support keeps mom comfortable and helps relieve neck and shoulder strain. Adjusts to fit all waists, and (even Dad's) stays firmly in place. A secure way for dad to feed baby, too. With handy pocket and machine washable cover. Traveling? Our inflatable travel pillow lets mom and baby nurse just as comfortably... anywhere! One Step Ahead® Exclusive!

I am concerned if a Dad is nursing.

2. The Bumper Bonnet. Seriously? There are elbow and knee pads also available for the over-protective parent.

3. The Leash and Harness. Again............seriously?

4 Good Gravy! How heavy would this thing be with an actual kid in it? Why is he pushing the kid in a stroller while wearing this ridiculous thing?

5. Meet The Fockers!

6. What a lazy stinkin kid!

7. Ha! Poor Dog! The hands in the front are a little off.

8. Okay, I mix formula for added calories in Olivia's rice cereal. Its really not that hard, put two scoops in and poor in water. You are not supposed to use it over three days, this is A LOT of formula even for a baby who is drinking it on a regular basis, not real fresh either!

9. Naughty-SeatKids can't outsmart this "Time Out" seat! It makes sure naughty little ones observe their time out, even when you leave the room. The ingenious cushion has a clever weight sensor inside — if your child gets up, it sounds an alarm! Ensures time out is taken seriously. For kids 35 lbs. and up. Requires one 9-volt battery (included).

If you leave the room is the naughty seat really effective anyway?

10. "Time Out" Yellow Lab Make time outs easier — for you to enforce and your child to endure! This plush puppy offers naughty little ones a measure of comfort during necessary time outs. He's soft and cuddly, with a timer that lets kids count down the minutes while they ponder their behavior. 10"H. Imported. Styles may vary

I thought time out was not supposed to be easy. What is the point if it is?

11. C'mon Lady, $50 for a bath seat? Where do you put this thing after the bath? A rolled up towel is free!

12. HELLO! Discipline your kid!

13. Scary that the kid is in the kitchen to begin with and able to play with the knobs. Where is the parent? How do you cook over this sheild?

Pulling Weeds

Well my last post does not show up so I don't know that this one will but we'll give it a shot. I had some time this afternoon while the rest of my family slept, to work out in my front flower beds. I needed to pull a lot of weeds and trim some bushes. I think this type of work is very therapeutic on many many levels. Lots of time to think with no interruptions. God talked to me during this time and I saw many parallels to the way he 'weeds' us in our everyday life. You can apply these in many ways and take from it whatever you want. Here are some of my observations:

Something has to happen to make the weeds easier to pull, like a good rainfall or moistening the ground with a hose.

At first its a little overwhelming because there are SO many of them!

Its almost impossible to get every last one in one sitting so you go for the ones that stand out and 'show' the most.

Your going to get dirty when pulling them, even if you have gloves on. Its not the most 'comfortable' thing. Its hot when the sun is shining on you. It kills your back even if you sit to do it!

You have to make sure to get them at the root and not just pull off what shows or they will just come back, and even bigger than before!

They seem to be more plentiful near the 'good' plants, taking their water and trying to overpower them.

Its SO satisfying when you get a big one by the stalk and yank it out by the root and then see the soft dirt all fluffed up in its place.

Even though some are pretty and have flowers on them, you don't necessarily want them in your flower bed.

There are all kinds of nasty slugs deep under the surface that you don't even know are there until you start digging.

Although its hard work, the flower bed is SO much nicer to look at when they are gone and you are finished, well you think your finished............

Its a continuous process, they will keep popping up, even if you try to prevent them with weed killer, spreading blackout fabric and mulch. It just nature for them to do so. Its just better if you watch often and get them when you first see them and they are small, or it becomes quite a task and your back to being overwhelmed.

Happy 25th Anniversary!!!!

Today is Trent's parent's 25th wedding anniversary, their SILVER! We had a celebration last Friday night so that his aunt and uncle, who are taking the family picture and here from Tucson, could be included in the festivities! We ate at one of their favorite mexican food restraunts and enjoyed fellowship and cake! I am posting this because their marriage has been such an example to Trent and I. I know I have written before how much I respect this couple but they really are just amazing. They treat each other with so much love and respect and some fun humor thrown in there! They share their spiritual challenges with us along with what they have learned along the way. They keep us accountable in a way that they don't mean to or even know probably. I hope that our children can say the same about us someday. Trent's Dad took him on as well in marrying Kay Ellen and has made him much of the man that he is today. Thank God for G! For many reasons really, but especially for the father he is to Trent and the father-in-law he is to me. Kay Ellen has also been an exceptional mother and mother-in-law and set quite an example herself. What a loving, caring, giving woman. She is absolutely beautiful inside and out. We hope you have another wonderful 25 years together and feel so blessed to celebrate your marriage with you. We love you Meme and G! Happy Anniversary.

Ty and Noah in Dress Up Mode

This is a fun pic of Ty, in his new underwear obviously, and Noah Galbraith from last Tuesday. They were playing dress up. Ty is running around in his underwear b/c at that point we were still in bootcamp. By his outfit you would think it were Halloween or something! He has moved on to clothes since, I promise I am not that W.T.

These boys have played together since they were born. I need to post a pic of their little siblings who are only a week a part!

THIRTEEN HAPPENINGS FROM THIS PAST WEEK

1.
Trent hit a hole in one at L.R. on #7 last Thursday! The first in his career!

2.
Friday night we got to take Grandmother to Ransom for dinner and then visited at her house and the kids played with the fun vintage toys!

3.
Ty is wearing UNDERWEAR! Had no accidents yesterday and just one today.

4.
Olivia has an ear infection in her left ear and fluid in the right one.

5.
Olivia is now almost 14lbs! She is FINALLY GAINING! Also finally in 6-9 clothes.

6.
Packed up Ty and Olivia's outgrown clothes and put them in the attic until hopefully we are able to adopt a child that will wear them!

7.
Packed up maternity clothes also to attic until a family member or friend takes them for good :( :(

8.
Ty is speaking in sentences now! Well occasionally anyway!

9.
Trent's new jeep went in the shop yesterday, looks like it needs a new engine :(

10.
Got to eat that cookie with my Carmel Macchiato that Trent brought me this morning :) We will be having to buy a new pot :(

11.
FINALLY exchanged some shorts at Old Navy for the right size, meant to the past four months!

12.
Denise had a birthday Sunday! We celebrated Tuesday over Kool-Aid as our children played together! SO glad to have celebrated another year ofmy sweet friend.

13.
Ty can now ride his Harley Davidson Big Wheel! Except can't reach the pedal when he turns the wheel, but can go in a straight line!

Is there a coffee delivery service out there???

Wow, I rely way too much on coffee. I woke up this morning to the wondeful smell, staggering into the kitchen I could not wait to have a cup with the new iced oatmeal cookies I purchased on my grocery trip to Walmart last night. The lid was on so tight I had to get a gripper out to loosen it to be able to pour from the carafe. I broke the lid!!! Just the top part, not the part to actually open to pour!!!! Here I am swishing around the FULL pot and smelling the coffee with no way to get it open!!! That was two and a half hours ago and after nursing Olivia to sleep, I am dragging BAD!!! I have heard there is a hormone that is released while nursing that makes the mother sleepy, I am especially feeling that today and I have SO much to do!!!!

I have laundry to finish and more baby food to make not to mention our third day of potty training boot camp! Yesterday, just one accident while he was playing!!! I think it just snuck up on him. Today he is actually wearing shorts over his cool underwear. He only has two pair left so I REALLY need to get on my laundry. I am such a creature of habit and routine, this coffee thing is really throwing me off.... can you tell???? I went ahead and ate the cookie and would leave to get a cup of coffee somewhere but I am trying to stay consistent with Ty here to get the potty down. He is doing so good and started telling us before yesterday. We went through this about six months ago and he did great but so many people told me he was really young to be doing that and that I should just hold off and not push it so I laid off. I should have just stuck with it b/c when we started this time he was not so thrilled about getting on for some reason and he did not want to tell us before. The other day he ran to his closet and shut the door to do his business twice!!! We have made great strides since then. I think we are almost there :)


I just had to write to vent and to get some possible sympathy. My entire house is filled with the aroma of coffee and I am still real sad about it. I broke it so badly that I think we are going to have to get a new pot :(