ValentiNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNes Day

It has always struck a real nerve with me to hear so many intelligent people pronounce this love-filled holiday with a M, its not about a TIME of Valen! I took every day as an opportunity to help my little pre-schoolers in the correct pronouciation, sure cut down on my irritation!
Well that morning my husband left and my parents arrived! We started the visit by heading straight over to sign Ty up for little league, which is now just short an act of congress! Wow, those people take their little league SERIOUS! It took me over a week in preparation to get the correct documents available! That is all I will say about that. Then we were off to Baker Brothers for a nice lunch and then running more errands which included picking up our heart pizzas from Pappa Murphy's! I think this is a national chain... if you have not tried them, you absolutely MUST! Cheap AND good, a rare combination among any item! They suggested two for three adults and two children which was poor judgement, we did not even cut into the second one and will be eating for days now! May dad taught Ty how to tie a fishing line while we waited for them to cook.. too sweet~

My parents, AKA Pop and Cita, came baring many gifts including the movie, Charlotte's Web. We watched it after dinner and baths and my mother and I were actually crying at the end, while the kids slept! I think we just started it too late, but what a great movie!

I probably have not mentioned it before, but anybody reading who knows my mother is aware of her extensive background in teaching. She is just the most incredible story teller, and since her retirement has found a place where she can use that gift. There is a group in Arlington called The Story League, where many other retired teachers also go to various schools in the district not reading, but telling stories that they have memorized. They are always stories that are timely to the season or age and involve some participation from the audience along with some added props. Ty's class, along with the other four pre-K classes at Calvary had the blessing of getting to hear one from my mother! It was really neat to hear in person for the first time and she had all the teachers joining in as well!

My Dad took Ty fishing for the first time and they had a lot of fun just messing with the lines and learning their way around a tackle box while at home! We live just blocks from a big pond which is the perfect distance to go to fish! I picture Andy and Opie walking down there only appearing more like Ty and my Dad!

We had the pleasure of 60 mph winds last night that kept us awake nearly the entire night due to someone's gate in our neighborhood opening and shutting as well as the variety of backyard items being carried around hitting the fence, our windows, etc... I have tin stars that used to adorn the top of our built-in entertainment center in our last home, now have found a new place on our back fence which may have to be reconsidered. They have only been left hanging for a whole 24 hours in a row. Mostly they somehow make it off the bent nail and are all over my yard. Its a real mystery. This town makes decorative items a real challenge. I also used to have this gorgeous huge berry wreath on my door of Valentines day when we lived in Lewisville. The funny thing is there was not a sheltered entry there, it was cut out of the roof line! Had it for two years there. The first house we moved in here, the birds thought they were real and obliterated it :( Needless to say, this time of year is not my favorite for the area we live in and almost every year I re-consider moving! The dirt about sets me over!

We have had a busy week since Valentines full of LCU basketball games, t-ball try-outs, dinners, play dates, and parties. The busi-ness continues until summer anyway. I am looking for a job that might enbable me to make more money but also be flexible. I sure would appreciate any prayers you could send on my behalf, in such a time of such bank hording money, and my field being more of a luxury than a necessity. There is so much illness all around us too, just a real yuck time of year I guess. We do have a lot to be thankful despite of it all. God continues to be Good!

Still Alive at Age 35

February has been pretty eventful around our house. It started with Ty getting the flu. He missed an entire week of school! We ended up changing pediatricians in the process b/c despite his 103 temp for TWO days, they were unable to get him in for another three! I am really dissappointed about that because I liked our doctor so much, but I guess it does not matter how great the doctor is if you can not ever get in! Trent ended up taking him to the Grace Clinic and saw a doctor who is a guy he grew up with! Apparently that flu 'mist' my kids got back in September, is only 85% effective if you have absolutely no congestion which is rarely the case with anyone! Guess we won't be doing that again! Remarkably, nobody else in our household contracted it! Olivia, Trent, and now I have been struggling to breathe this past week though due to allergies. You think it could be the dust?! We are SO looking forward to the dust storm Tuesday! Oh the joy of West Texas... just LOVE getting in the shower and smelling dirt. Another favorite is everything being coated with white calcium- YES

I also turned 35 last week- really weird to me. I am now officially 'middle-aged'! Should I be going through some mid-life crisis or something?! Getting a new sports car is not an option for me however I would REALLY like some of that alternative to botox that lasts a year- in my wrinkled forehead and around my mouth. I now make sure to wear a moisturizer with sunscreen in it and age-defying mineral make-up! I guess its showing a little on the outside now, but I sure don't feel it on the inside. Mostly, I am feeling just really blessed to have had 35 years on this earth in able to experience so many incredible things. I was really encouraged by some very dear friends over the week and spent most of the week just verclept! Maybe its hormones but I really felt God's love through some super special people.

I purposely made a hair appt. for that day! Oh how I love to get my hair done! Also had the pleasure of meeting my inlaws and T's grandmother at Furr's for lunch- one of my favorite places!

Trent and I celebrated my birthday, which also happened to be Friday the 13th (how fitting for me!) by going to eat sushi and then to a movie, New In Town, which was absolutely hillarious! We had the blessing of a kid free evening which was so very nice for just one night! He left the next morning at 6 AM for Phoenix. The season is in 'full-swing'!

I was able to get out for an evening with some of my favorite girls last Thursday and had more fun than is natural just painting a plate! I even went into the 'ugly' crying laugh! Now THAT is a good night! My Sister-in-law was Emmy (or Emili as she is known to most of the world) was there too but left before we thought to get a picture. She had to get home to those babies to get them put down.

I am also including some pics of Ty with his best bud, Cole. He and Ty became friends last year in Mrs. Hess's class but now Cole goes to a different school. We still get together for play dates and this was taken at Cole's birthday party the day he got the flu! There is also a pic of Olivia with her best buddy, Avery. She NEVER stops talking about Avery. She only comes on Tues/Th so Olivia is always sad on Mon/Wed! From what I hear from Brandi, Avery feels the same way!

Field Trip

Getting on the bus





On the bus with friends Airic and Winston

The best pre-k teacher EVA- Mrs. O'Guinn

Three classes from Calvary waiting to enter the Planetarium

Waiting for the show to begin with friend Aaron

Ty with his old woman!

I have mentioned before how much we LOVE our school. The Pre-K class is studying the solar system right now, they even have a 'space' room at school! Ty is able to go on three field trips a year and this was his second, which was to the Planetarium on the campus of Texas Tech. I also had the blessing of being able to attend and help. I had never been and it was really great. It went amazingly smooth for there being 42 kids!