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!

Phillips/Glabraith play time and Liv's first REAL haircut!

January has been back to reality! We have had CRAZY weather days. Today it started at 18 degrees and ended up at a spring like 65!!!! We are doing well though. We had a fun playdate with one of my dearest friends and her precious boys this month. The Galbraith's invited us to join them at the Science Spectrum and we had SO much fun! Denise and I have hit many milestones together. Our oldests, Ty and Noah, are a month and a half a part and her middle Caleb and Olivia are just a little over a week a part! Denise and Zach moved to Lubbock just about four months after we did. We had been in the same small group at Prestoncrest so this was SO comforting to me! We have grown really close and our schedules have not these past couple of years sadly. We used to get together for our muffins and coffee every week and now we hope for once a month if that! I just love this girl regardless and thankfully, our children feel the same way about each other!

Right after we left the Science Spectrum, we ran through Burger King and then to the 'Beauty Shop' for Olivia to have her first REAL haircut! I had been doing it up until now, and it was beginning to show! Tande did not dissappoint and Olivia did such a big girl job of sitting still! I will have to post an after shot later. Its still above her shoulders but a longer look to it. She likes to be able to do dog ears too so we comprimised.

Christmas in Arlington

The excitement was too much for Grandpa!

Linda in her new hat!

We went down to the stockyards to watch the cattle drive and then went to eat at Risky's with a bunch of the highschool crew. Trent and the kids hit the candy store before we left! Are those not the biggest lollypops EVER?

Ty with Laura's new puppy, 'Elle'

Ty was dressed immediately to ride the new skateboard and scooter that Santa brought!

We had a wonderful break. We captured some great moments of really the first Christmas the kids have truly enjoyed! We had a sweet lil family Christmas at home and then left the following Saturday for Arlington. I was able to see lots of friends that morning and then had my family's Christmas. The next day Trent and I went to Austin for the Texas Junior Golf Tour's tournament at Barton Creek. It was a BEAUTIFUL resort and had breathtaking golf courses. Trent did recruiting and I learned a lot about what he does! He also surprised me with a spa day there! I have never felt like Cinderella the way I did that day! A full hour deep tissue massage, an hour facial, mani & pedi, and lots of time in the sauna relaxing and getting warm. They even served me lunch in the middle of all this! Just a wonderful day. It was nice to get away for a few days with man too. I could totally live in Austin!

We have been back into the swing of things for a week now. Last week started LCU basketball games again. We ended up at the ER in the middle of the first one! Ty collided with a coke machine when I was not looking. I did not think it was very bad at first until we got all the blood out of the way. Three stitches later, he is doing great. Nice little scar to go above the last one he got three months ago! He is only five and we have not even started sports yet!!

Somehow I ended up getting the flu yesterday afternoon and am still wiped staying home today. I am however doing the never completely done LAUNDRY.

Liv Can Cook!

The day before Christmas Eve Ty was away with his cousins playing and Olivia and I had such a fun mother/daughter day! We went to McDonalds to eat. Then we went to Target to shop. We came home and she wanted to make brownies so I let her! She did everything but put them in the oven and take them out for safety reasons of course! We took them to Meme and G's later for dessert after eating chili out there on such a cold night!

100 Random things...

From a friend, I know nobody will actually read this. Maybe someday if I ever take the time to have my blog bound my kids will find humor in it?! I tag Amy Davis, Nicole Brantley, Kerri Thompson, Sara Kemp, Linnea Oxley, Jodi MAC, Emily Thomoson and Mandy Davis




100 random things about me:




1. I am EXTREMELY cold natured!


2. My favorite color is red.


3. My favorite food is sushi (rolls)- thanks for the introduction Mike Yoshita!


4. My favorite car I have ever had is my current one- Chev. Suberban! The passat was a close 2nd!


5. I married my exact opposite! God really knew what I needed!


6. My favorite thing to do is sit on the couch with my family Saturday mornings watching Batman and drinking coffee!


7. There are not many people that I have known and lost touch with- maybe three!


8. I drink way too much coffee and diet coke.


9. I love the smell of clean laundry and bleach


10. My favorite candy is 100 grand bars


11. My favorite stores are Forever 21, Target, and Hobby Lobby


12. I have a strong appreciation for golf, thanks to my husband who is one of the best I know


13. LOVE to go to movies!


14. I get way too into the Barbie aisle at the store.


15. I love to 'comfortably' dress up



16. Love long hot baths and sitting by the fire


17. I wish I would have stuck with dance longer


18. I used to be a Hospitality and Corporate Designer for an Architecture Firm in downtown Dallas- seems like it was all just a dream now!


19. I get together with my highschool friends more often than those from college


20. I have lots of strange names for the ones I love!


21. I really do wish I were I dream of Jeannie!


22. My middle name is Renee


23. I am an only child


24. I love old people and children probably more than the average person!


25. I have come to really love this brown town that I have now lived in for 6 years!


26. I have control issues


27. Lubbock drivers irritate me greatly


28. My 'church' family really IS my family! Wow am I blessed there....


29. I can't wait to see my children open their Christmas presents!


30. LOVE girl's night out!!!


31. Also love dates with my husband!


32. I drink wine.... really its the only alcohol I enjoy and maybe only once a year!


33. Roast is my all time favorite home cooked meal


34. I miss my Nana and Paw Paw on a daily basis. Both of which have been gone for quite some time now.


35. I really enjoy cooking and baking but rarely feel I have time to do so. Yea for our quarterly casserole swap!


36. I almost enjoy the satisfaction of laundry and don't mind folding it, but for some reason have real issues with putting it away!



37. I could be in the movie 27 dresses! I actually was in 9 before I had my own wedding and related a lot to that closet!


38. Because of the way the previous number played out, my husband and his mother did the majority of the planning of our wedding! I did however pick out my dress and found a picture of the cake! They even went and registered for us. I was just a bit over it by then and working my biggest deadline ever at work!


39. We had a family only wedding and still had 150 guests. 8 of them were my side!


40. I had no attendants in my wedding, it was seriously the happiest day of my life until my children were born. I cried at all three events!


41. I was nearly 30 when pregnant with my first child, wouldn't change that for anything!


42. I had a blast with my roomates after college and am so glad I was able to experience the single life in the way that I did.


43. I had to have two epidurals when I had Ty. The second worked rather well.


44. When I had Olivia, I only lost feeling from the epidural on my right leg from my knee to my toes. I was a little peaved.


45. I have scoliosis


46. I am double-jointed


47. I laugh out loud every time I watch Elf and Raising Arizona regardless of the fact that I have seen them both hundreds of times!



48. I cry everytime I hear the song, "Remember When" by Alan Jackson and "God Bless the Broken Road.. That Led Me Straight To You." by Rascal Flatts- I picture Trent's face the length of both of theses songs!


49. I can still do the splits and a cartwheel at almost 35 years old!


50. My parents and I were baptized together when I was 13


51. One of my favorite memories with my Dad is sitting out on the tailgate of his truck on Christmas Eve with the binoculars looking for Santa.


52. I graduated from Abilene Christian University a year late in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and a minor in Biblical Studies.


53. I use different accents to make my kids at school laugh, such as Italian Woman, Farmer Dan, and Burly Man! I also do a great Choir Girl when singing!


54. I can stare at the Christmas Tree for literally hours.


55. My favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night


56. I once went 150 on the George Bush Tollway in our old Passat, it was great. We made it from Lewsiville to Plano for a wedding in 10 minutes!


57. I absolutely love to be in a tank top and flip flops with the temperature near 100.


58. I am comfortable speaking in front of people. Weird.


59. I LOVE my bed.


60. Home is my favorite place to be.


61. Dave Matthews holds a dear place in my heart and envelopes our (Trent and mine) dating years! I have only missed one concert in 12 years!



62. Fort Worth will always be home to me.



63. I ran the track with several of my girl friends in our underwear the week before we graduated, it was late at night! We spent hours later laying on a huge track mat just talking and laughing!


64. My friend John Miller taught me how to drive a stick shift, reluctantly, when I was 16.


65. Savannah Georgia is my favorite place I have ever visited.


66. I have a HUGE love of Art. I miss visiting the DMA on a regular basis, my building was directly across the street from it so it was very convenient at one time.


67. I just recently become somewhat of a reader. I have read three books this year, that is a record for me!





68. I love being a mom even more than I thought I would.





69. I truely believe that everyone who has entered my life did so for a reason. God has made many many attempts to mold me through others.





70. Text messaging is the best invention ever! No talk, to the point!





71. I have acquired a strange love for hip hop in the past couple of years, probably from working out- also a recent acquirement!





72. I did locks of love a year and two months ago and will probably never have long hair again.


73. I had LASIK surgery almost two years ago and LOVE IT!


74. I am starting to see myself age in my face. I am not as scared about it anymore.


75. I am not a touchy person. I like to be left alone for the most part, but have come a long way!


76. I spent a lot of years caring too much what others thought, now I am almost the other extreme.


77. Shopping really does give me a high!


78. I crave something sweet after every meal.


79. I wore my slippers to school today! No, it was not pajama day... that is this Wednesday!


80. I love to watch my children sleep.


81. I think everyone should be required to watch The Pursuit of Happyness and read The Last Lecture


82. I am TERRIBLE at math!!!! Yet somehow swung an A in Geometry! I still count on my fingers and do long multiplication! I am scared of when my kids might need help with their homework someday!


83. The Rockettes Christmas show at Radio Music Hall is the best show I have EVER seen!


84. People talking loud on their cell phone annoys me to no end!


85. I am not big on peanut butter.



86. I drug jumper cables under Trent's car the entire way to church Sunday before last to church.



87. My husband gives the best massages ever, I LOVE THEM!



88. I love to have my hair messed with.



89. I really enjoy coloring!



90. Milk duds in popcorn with a diet coke at the movies.. priceless.



91. 82nd Street Cafe in Lubbock Texas has the best Vanilla Creams on the planet.



92. I have been converted to sweet tea.



93. I do not claim a denomination anymore although I attend a Church of Christ now. Don't assume I agree with everything.



94. I am shocked if ANYONE reads this!



95. I feel 16 everytime I go home.



96. I get intoxicated by looking into my daughter's eyes.



97. I put things in strange places and then lose them forever.

98. I don't fold underwear.

99. I love holding a new born baby!

100. I have a purse fedish.

POLAR EXPRESS

So Tuesday afternoon we come home and watch a movie... BUT... 45 minutes into it we have to stop it. I tell Ty and Pop to go put on their new pajamas and robes and we are off! They have no idea what is up. We pull up at Samuel Jackson Depot where a train awaits with many others in their pajamas! It was 20 degrees and the wind was blustering snow flakes by us!!! Ty's eyes light up!!! So do Pop's! They get in line to board where the conductor yells out.... "ALL ABOARD! NEXT STOP, NORTH POLE!!" This is when Ty REALLY gets excited! This was a special surprise for Pop too because his dad, my Paw Paw, was an actual train conductor. Every time we are in the metroplex he takes Ty on some sort of a train ride.. ... its kinda their thing together! I tell Ty, Happy Birthday and they take off on the train while the rest of us go eat and meet them back later. I was told that they drank hot chocolate and listened to the story and then arrived at THE North Pole (AKA Santa Land) where Santa boarded and talked to each child and handed them a bell. They even sang Happy Birthday to Ty! They de-boarded ALL smiles! I think it was a night to remember!

Michael Ty is FIVE

Its hard to believe this guy will be in kindergarten next year! Wow, this is a milestone. Pop and Cita came in Monday evening and were able to share a meal with several other family members here in Lubbock in honor of Ty's birthday. Trent made redbeans with jalepeno sausage and rice and mexican corn bread! SO yummy on such a cold day! We celebrated with family the day before because Ty and Pop had a big surprise the next day which was the real day. That will be in the next post. Ty was a little embarassed this year and does not like attention to be drawn to him but made it through the song and really enjoyed opening his presents. Among them were some HUGE Incredible Hulk gloves, an Iron Man mask and launcher, and Batman and Joker action figures along with many nice clothes! He and Olivia had fun the rest of the night playing!

Some things to note about Ty at age 5:

*Favorite color is still green

*Can not get enough of any type of super hero but is big into the hulk now

*Loves school and his teacher

*If asked his preference on dinner... always every last time says the hot dog place (Weinerschnitzel sp?)

*Favorite sport is baseball and asks on a daily basis when he will get to play again

*Has a MAJOR sweet tooth

*Loves to snuggle and crawl up in bed with his Daddy early in the morning

*Will eat just about anything you put in front of him

*Loves to play with his cousins

*Likes to pick out his own clothes everday and is picky about this and the shoes that go with it!

*Can be found sleeping in his spiderman tobagon and gloves most nights

*Also found in bed with his sister many mornings

*Very neat little guy, like things in order

*Loves to color, write letters, numbers, and sing

He is my favorite little dude ever. Makes me laugh daily, almost hourly! I say this every year.. but I think this is my favorite age yet with Ty! It just keeps getting better and better. He has such a dear heart and shows concern for everyone he knows and prays for him without any nudging! I love him to bits! He will have a Hulk party this Saturday with 9 other little boys at The Main Event for a bowling and hotdogs! Its so nice to be at this place where he can pick things and help out so much. Here's to Five years buddy!

Thanksgiving Holiday

Our Thanksgiving started the day before with a wonderful meal out at LCC with my in-laws and Trent's siblings and their families and my father-in-law's side of the family. We then went over to Meme and G's for some fabulous desserts and visiting by the fire. It was really nice to all be together which does not happen as often as it once did.

The next morning we got up at 4AM, loaded up the Burb, made coffee and were on the road by 4:30! Travelling early with small children is SO much easier! They slept until Weatherford!!! I am unfortunately unable to sleep in a car but this is always a nice time for Trent and I to visit and enjoy music on the ole ipod! We were there in time for breakfast and preparation for the turkey feast! It was a wondeful time with all of my family and I stuffed my self ridiculously!

The next day we picked up Sonic and headed out for the Fort Worth Zoo! Ty had been asking to go for sometime now and it turned out to be the best day ever for it! The rest of the metroplex was busy shopping so we got a front row parking spot at 1:30 in the afternoon! The high that day was in the mid 50's and it was perfect with a coat. The kids and Big Kids (Cita, AKA my mother) had a BLAST! My mom got the lion mad by roaring at it and he put on a nice show because of it! There are reasons that I am the way I am people. Afterward we went over to Camp Bowie, my favorite area in Ft.Worth and ate at Uncle Julios for dinner. I hadn't been there since right after college probably! It did not dissappoint!

Saturday we headed to the Dallas side where my good friend Bethany met up with the girls: My mom, Olivia and I, to do some shopping in the Sam Moon Center. I made the most of that trip to say the least! Bethany and I went to ACU and went through the Interior Design program together. We had the blessing of working together for three years at the same firm. It was nice catching up and made me miss her all the more! That evening we met our friends Mike and Chistal Yoshita for Sushi!!! They are the ones who introduced it to us years ago now, boy am I glad they did! It had been too long and we soaked them up!

We all ended up with sinus issues while we were there which seems to be typical now if we stay more than two days. I think Olivia's has turned into an ear infection and Trent may have the flu now. I just sound bad but am fine. O has a ped appt. this afternoon after school so we shall see! Maybe I will get my tree up finally?? I have kinda put it off since we are not on my schedule!

The good news is we are all home safe. The bad news is I left my cell phone charger and its now dead, so if you have tried to call me and I have not returned your call... that would be why. I really have come to realize how lost I am without modern day technology!

I am now getting ready for Ty's birthday which is the 9th. There is a super fun surprise which I cannot write about now but for sure will after. Lots of showers and Christmas parties as well.. a full month to come!