AHS Seniors 1992!

Here we are proud and true, senior class of '92!

Well had my 20th highschool reunion last weekend! I actually contemplated not going b/c I see my friends fairly often. Most of them still live in the metroplex but after hearing that the three that don't would be flying in, I was for sure in!!

We are a random rare little group of people! We got really close by our senior year, which I think we all decided should be attributed to Young Life. We are still in contact with our leaders, who have attended several of our Christmas parties and made it to our pre-party as well for the reunion! We used to take a camping trip together every summer until most of us were married off or had moved away :( Lots of great memories even after highschool!

Every time we get together we revert right back to being about 17 years old again. Never akward, like no time has passed. This weekend was no exception!

My friend Heather, is still in Fort Worth. Her dad is still in the house she grew up in, which is also where we seemed to end up after whatever adventure we had been on back in the day. Her sweet Dad, took off on a road trip and left us his house with a ton of food and nice beverages ;) We all rode together in Heather's mini van from here, should have gotten a pic of that! Then we came back and had a slumber party, guys included, and stayed up until about 4 laughing and watching videos. Our friend Linnea and Thea brought breakfast and coffee to us in the morning and the laughter continued! Her dad also arranged for us to be able to swim at the Elks Lodge so our kids could play together too.

We went to another gathering Saturday night in an area of Ft.Worth that is new to me and SO COOL!!! Man, I wish I still lived in that area! That night we all (girls) made our name tags to read the last name Shaw and decided we would pretend to be Sister Wives with Joel (who also was my prom date) being our common husband! When that gig was up we switched around true nametags. Same old goofy bunch! My friend John had come and gotten me and then drove me around the area to see how things had changed. It was great to have time with just him catching up.

That night I realized there were so many people that I had really not gotten to know of which I had known my whole life! I guess that happens in a big city and when you graduate with over 700 people! Sad none the less though.

The next evening Heather had us once again but minus two travelers Maria and Joel and Holly who had left for YL camp, for fajitas and dessert. We were all a tad more mellow. It turns out staying up all night takes a toll on 38 year old bodies as compared to our 18 year old ones! Here are few pics from the festivities. I hope blogger actually cooperates and posts.

Boys's beds

Scored these twin beds at a community church garage sale close to our baseball fields after a game about a month ago. Paid $40.00 TOTAL! I plan to paint them and coordinate them in a room to be shared by my 8 year old and 2 year old.

Six years is a big difference in age. I did not think I would be going this route. Ty's room was once the playroom until Levi arrived. Levi will be in a regular bed by the end of summer. Both of my other children were out of a crib by 2 years old but Levi is.... different. In EVERY way. He does sleep through the night and takes great naps, which is a HUGE blessing for how active he is. He is just now walking himself to bed and not crying himself to sleep. We may be closer than end of summer but I have a lot to do before his new bed will be ready. Right now he goes to bed at least an hour before the older two. Summer is different though. We usually let the older two stay up later and watch tv.

This room change is especially going to be sad for Olivia. Ty has had a double bed since Levi was born. Ty's room is actually the mother-in-law suite in our house. Olivia sleeps in that bed with him every Friday night and more often in the summer. They are close friends and big snugglers. I love this for them. We also need another room though. For which I will be giving more information on at a later time and NO its not for another baby!!!

After pics to come....

End of the year MAYhem....

Our elemetary school has a play day, as opposed to Feild Day that we had back in tha day! I think its a better idea all around. No stress ALL play! This took place on a Friday. A day that Levi was not able to be at school and a day that nobody was available to watch him. Therefore, our time there was short. I thought he would love it and could participate in the bounce houses, playing with balls and the playground, however all he did was want to run from me while laughing. EPIC FAIL. I did manage to snap a few pics of Olivia and her friends but Ty's class was not until the afternoon and I missed it entirely :(

Ruidoso Pics

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Ruidoso, New Mexico Baseball Tournament

My oldest son Ty (aka on team as Tybo) is 8 years old and on a select travel baseball team. This is our 4th year with the same team, The Lubbock Titans.  Our third tournament this spring was Memorial Day Weekend just four hours away. My parents came and took care of Levi while the four of us took off in Dad's Jeep to the mountains.  The baseball was great, although we turned out third :( , but the scenery was even greater.  Our little family needed this SO badly.  Levi is a precious blessing, however he is every bit of two.  He demands all of my attention when he is awake. This was a wonderful opportunity to focus on the older two and just enjoying nature. Perfect weather, and a perfect weekend! We all, with the exception of two families, stayed at Rainbow Lake cabins. They were just as cute inside as they are out.  The kids got to sleep in a loft! They had full kitchens and a relaxing porch overlooking the pond. Dad did good!

Our entire team took a break Sunday and ran to walmart to purchase some poles and went fishing. Two of the boys caught fish, but all had a ton of fun! 

I have now loaded pictures four times. I guess I will have to edit later :(

TOO BUSY

Last week of school is C R A Z Y!!!  I am especially crazy. What am I thinking painting my bathroom, organizing, rearranging, all the while doing laundry for the whole family for this weekend preparing for a trip to Ruidoso for a baseball tournament???? STUPID.

My parents came in town Monday. They have been great to take Levi since he is such a terror at school these days. Today they took me to breakfast and then took the older two for ice cream and to a  park while little terror sleeps so I can finish some of the mess I started stated above :) 

I will have an entire week off next week and then just work Tuesdays and Thursdays for the month of June.  June is the end of baseball, the dance recital finally, AND...........my TWENTY YEAR HIGHSCHOOL REUNION! SAY WHA??? I surely can not be old enough for that?!

Speaking of feeling old. Had the recognitions this week at school. Second grade felt pretty normal. Looking around in the audience at Kindergarten we totally stood out as the oldies :(  And to think, we will be back in four more years for LEVI??!!! 

Pictures to come next week, lots of after pics and of the baseball tournament.

Some of my favorite things are

Rainey Days that make the house all dark...

If you have not had this combination, you are missing out!

The 1974 highchair my mother had for me has been used by my three children as well.

Looked new until the third kid. Getting some wear.

Although we are not too far away from this not being necessary, I want to keep it forever. The vinyl did not bother me one bit. It takes me back to another time, LOVE IT. May have to invest in recovering though to avoid scratching.

So we (the littlest one and I) have been home all week. We tried to go to school yesterday but low and behold more tummy issues.  Not agian till the end of the day and then not again til this morning. He acts completely fine. Eats, drinks, not dehydrated at all. Plays fine. Other than a diaper rash you would never know anything was wrong.  We went to the doc who took a culture but his gut feeling tells him its viral. Thats always nice to hear at the tune of $75. Not that I want it to be anything more serious, heavens no!  Just kind of what I already thought anyway. Understandably the school was concerned.  So we are going to keep up that BRAT diet and make another go of it tomorrow. I guess we were blessed all Fall and end of Spring is Tummy Time at The Phillips House!  Having to be gone is hard on the pocket book but I have been VERY blessed with wonderful people where I work that are always caring and understanding.  Something I do NOT take for granted.

A bit ironic Mother's Day

I typically think of my mom when I am sick and how she was always great to take care of me. Even as an adult, remember Spring Break?!  Well Levi woke up at 4 AM Sunday morning with horrible tummy issues and a very high fever.  I stayed up with him until 6:30 and then got the rest of my family up for church. We go to early service.  Its not what I would pick but I have been going to early since I met my husband and its actually a whole lot easier on little kids since they are up anyway which makes us as well!  Well as I got a quick shower and am drying off they pull me into the kitchen before they leave.  I was SO surprised! I don't remember another Mother's Day with a bunch of gifts! 

The best part is Trent let THEM pick them out and they did really well!  I left it out all day and enjoyed each time I walked past that table. I would have LOVED to have been on the pew with them but baby needed me more. He woke up at about 7:45 and was still in pretty bad shape. I have mentioned before that usually if he is awake he is on the move. Its actually made me really sad not to EVER be able to hold him or just love on him unless he is still out of it and not aware, and that usually only lasts all of around 5 minutes.  I HATE that he was sick but I sure enjoyed holding him.  This continued on until around 5 in the evening.  Poor little dude. He has been fever free since then but still having tummy issues so we are home today.  The day before I was home taking care of Livi who was vomitting!

sick lil bear

SO nice!

 

  Being a mom is down right exhausting.  I never knew I had it in me.  I am an only child and having three has been tramatic!  The loudness and chaos were a hard transition for me. I will say that I have finally acclimated and actually not as aware of it.  I will never forget being annoyed with my husband as he was throwing my children on the couch and encouraging them to jump up and down. Not because I was afraid of them being hurt, but because they kept hitting the wall and messing up my pictures!  He said to me,"Did you not EVER jump on a couch??"  My response," Uh  NO!" I probably grew up a little too fast and have realized I have another chance to be a kid :)  I want them to have fun memories of me.

  There are a lot of things I really enjoy about being a mother.  I love seeing their faces as they run to me after school every day.  I love lazy mornings when they lay all over me and I can steal kisses on their heads. Twirling Ty's curly hair and stroking my hands through it when I go to wake him up for school in the morning.  I love bath time with my little one, playing with his bath toys with him and hearing his giggles.  I love brushing my daughter's long silky hair and putting int in buns and braids for dance. I LOVE dressing up dolls with her and have so much fun shopping for her, whether its girl toys or clothes.  I enjoy being Ty's biggest fan at the baseball field and never thought I would be so competetive!  I love mornings after hearing my name called and go to get Levi how he reaches his arms out to me and lays on my shoulder.  They each have had a huge impact on me. Ty has helped me to learn patience- not there but working on it! He has more energy than anyone I know although his brother is a close second!  His random hugs and kisses are pleasant surprises and reminds me to do it more myself. Let's just say touch is not my love language.  Olivia helps me to have compassion and think of others more.  She is always looking on the bright side when I am being negative. She has a beautiful heart. All of these things are not from me and I clearly see why the Lord has made them and put them in my life.  I think He teaches through them more than I teach TO them!

    I have to end with my favorite memories of my own mother:

*My mom used to put me on her waist and twirl around and sing the song 'Oh How We Danced On The Niiiiiiiiight' and would throw me over her shoulder and pretend I was a purse! LOVED THAT!
 *The day we went shopping for my wedding dress. We went to a place in Dallas right by my church and then went and ate at Chili's right by it. Had the most fun laughing and then went back and got 'THE' dress. One of my favorite days.
* The day my first son was born and seeing her hold him for the first time with tears in her eyes.
*The night we brought him home from the hospital I went to change his diaper in his bassinett and saw his circumcision for the first time and just started crying uncontrollably. She just came and held me and encouraged me.
* Our trip to Nacadoches on Mother's Day weekend probably 15 years ago. Had SO much fun shopping and lunching and staying up late talking.

My Mom

*This past year we spent an entire day together doing almost the same thing. We hit probably 8 antique stores and ate a Home Cafe, my favorite place in Lubbock.  I will have to post pics of that place sometime-its just not describable. 

We enjoy a lot of the same things and I hope that as my children get older we can do more of these types of things more often. I am in the thick of craziness with schedules and if one is not sick another is.  Probably the best time in my life at the same time.  Motherhood is a gift in MANY ways. He is forming through it. Helping me understand His love and pain.  So blessed to be able to have experienced it.

Happy Mother's Day

A MOTHER'S LOVE

A Mother's love is something

that no one can explain,

It is made of deep devotion

and of sacrifice and pain,

It is endless and unselfish

and enduring come what may

For nothing can destroy it

or take that love away . . .

It is patient and forgiving

when all others are forsaking,

And it never fails or falters

even though the heart is breaking . . .

It believes beyond believing

when the world around condemns,

And it glows with all the beauty

of the rarest, brightest gems . . .

It is far beyond defining,

it defies all explanation,

And it still remains a secret

like the mysteries of creation . . .

A many splendoured miracle

man cannot understand

And another wondrous evidence

of God's tender guiding hand.

~Helen Steiner Rice~



MAY

• Baseball games averaging twice a week, as well as practice twice a week
• Two baseball tournaments
• dance recital
• teacher appreciation WEEK, more than three teachers
• one teacher's birthday
• ANOTHER field trip for second grade
• play day on the 18th
• end of year parties
• kindergarten recognition
• second grade recognition
• dad in tournament
• LOTS of people out at work= lots of filling in
• dad busy closing out taxes for the end of the year after buying four companies
• dad's company being audited that same week 
• friends in town
• pajama day.. AGAIN
• Insect Project (Livi did the Butterfly)
• Mother's Day
• 3 birhtday parties

May is quite possibly the busiest month of the whole entire year. Beating December by a long shot thus far!

C'MON SUMMER!

Pantry Organization that can come back to bite cha

I am in the minority of recycling people in my town. I know... I know.. .lets just say the priorities are, well- different here in A LOT of ways! Anyways- two years ago I think? I finally organized my pantry. A fellow blogger inspired me to do so. I used baskets I already had (those gingham lined ones are from Pottery Barn and have been in my laundry room cabinets at my last house and on playroom shelves back before three kids and we had a playroom!) and bought some air tight acrylic bins for snacks and a wire grocery basket on clearance at Hobby Lobby and the bottom green basket was from world market but cheap. I also bought that 'plastic' burlap sack to hold all the plastic walmart bags for trash bags. See the thing is, I was using reusable bags but I buy WAY too much stuff and the bags were taking up too much room before I had bought everything I needed. So I only use them now if I am running in to get just a few items.  I take almost everything out of boxes and recycle those. We FINALLY have a cardboard bin at our local place that we are responsible for taking our own items to. We also are responsible for sorting clear and color plastic, same on bottles and slicks from paper.  JOY! Its not convenient by any means but i have Huge containers in my garage that I take about once a month. 

Back to the pantry. This was a great idea at first, to have the snack basket accessible to the kids. They are required to take a snack to school each day so I buy a variety of things like rasins, pb and cheese crackers, nutellea and breadsticks- thanks to Cita, granola bars, and chex mix and have fruit out on the counter, they pick what they want and are responsible for putting it in their bag. These items are for NO OTHER time! I have other stuff for at home for after school snack. If they got these things whenever they wanted we would go through them too quickly.

Well here inlies the problem. A Toddler who can reach them too and does whenever he wishes. Most things he can open himself. GEESH! I may have to re-think the organization because he is quick and sneaky about it too!

Attention Walmart Shoppers!

Not only does the coffee taste EXACTLY like Folgers for only $6.........

You get the added bonus of cute storage bins! Just rip that label right off.



perfect for storing OTHER things also used at the kitchen table :)

I thought about adding some chalkboard labels but IDK... it may be a bit over the top.  Who knows, maybe I will.

Ladies Retreat in FULL

It makes me emotional to think very much about it.  First of all I want to thank a TON of people for donating items for door prizes and place settings!! I was in charge of these things with a very tight budget. Our Ladies Bible Class took up a donation of about $100 total for prizes.  Most I found were around $5-$7 at Hobby Lobby and discount stores like Ross and TJ Maxx as well as dollar section at Target.  It was quite a challenge to find items that a woman of any age and pesonality would enjoy but I believe The Lord blessed me in this endeavor and made it really fun. I especially want to thank two people for making items and sending them across the US to donate! First of all Nicky Dear Nicole on ETSY. You can find her shop here and follow her blog here.   I am enclosing a pic of the lady who won the BEAUTIFUL necklace she made! I also have bought banners for my wreath on my door from her. SO CUTE! I also want to think Mrs. Tina Sperry, whom I went to highschool and church with in my younger years. I have one of these super cool key fobs and you need one too! You can find them here!  I also had many friends who own their own business donate items from Mary Kay (Mistie Brashier), Scentsy(Mary Katherine Kotara), Thirty One & It Works (Tiffiany Burgess), and my friend TC who sells hair products gave a HUGE amount of samples of great stuff like TIGI, Tea Tree, etc. as well as my friend Judy Price donating a large amount of perfume samples from Dijor and Jenelle Hanks for Dove samples all of which went at the table settings.  THANK YOU!!!

I am also enclosing a pic of my dear friend Denise, and some of the most wonderful women that I admire and have gotten to know, Mrs. Nora Koph and Mrs. Ruth Williams. I often tell Nora that she is who I want to be when I grow up! Her voice and smile just set me at ease.  I have always felt drawn to her and we have a lot in common. Each of these women have a gift for speaking. Ruth makes me not afraid to age and I loved hearing more of 'her story' and relating to her as well. Denise and I go back to the young married living in Dallas days. We were in the same small group there and then she and her husband moved to Lubbock a month after us! We have two children the same age and shared so much of the fear and happiness involved in being pregnant at the same time! She has four children. The most recent precious girl you can read about here

If you went to that link you will understand why she was asked to speak at a Retreat entitled, A Beautiful Heart.  Not only has she dealt first hand on the intricacy of how important the organ is, but I have NEVER met someone with a more Beautiful heart and that is just the truth. I can't ever tell her how I feel about her in person or I turn to a blubbery mess. I have never heard a negative thought or word out of this girl's mouth AND she has a great sense of humor and is super fun!!! A rare combination.  I am honored to call her my friend. 

All three did an incredible job and tears were shed as each one of them spoke. A truly moving retreat to say the least.  We also had so much fun with activities. We made scarves out of t-shirts, healing lotion, recieved back massages by a our sweet certified masooose (Sp?) Jesse, made encouraging window clings, and recieved heart healthy food and recipes as well as date  night ideas. We had wonderful catered meals and desserts.

The women in my church have blessed me in SO many countless ways. I wish everyone could have the kind of support and encouragement and accountablility I recieve regularly from them. I am surrounded by amazing examples of God's Love and service in ways I have never seen before becoming apart of this church family.  I am not aware of everyone who might be reading this but if you do not have this in your life you need it. I don't know how people make it through hard stuff without it.  You may have to make the effort of becoming involved but that is not hard and once you walk through the door, you can't beat it.  I know HE exisits. I see him in all the complicated artwork of nature and I feel him tugging on my emotion. But I believe women need women to cope with life!  The good times too!  I struggle with having faith sometimes. I get caught up in myself. I get caught up in how I think things should be. Sometimes I forget that there might be more to it than I can see. I love that we are at all different places in life and in our walk and because of this there are people who have been where I have been and can encourage me to keep going.  I feel Him more in those circumstances than any other. He talked through several women to reach me about various things this weekend. No not like magic or people being posessed. But ' just the right words at just the right time'. That happens TOO OFTEN to be coincidental! 

On a lighter note, my friend Ashley did all the decorations along with Kerri who made several of the wooden signs and it was like we were at a high dollar hotel or something!  YES those are fish who are color coordinated swimming in those jars/vases. What a refreshing weekend!

Here are some more pics of worship and fellowship times.

Ladies Retreat

I had the opportunity and priveledge to help with my church's Ladies Retreat this weekend. I have now been a member for 9 years and have been to each one. We used to have them at the Holiday Inn in town, its actually a really nice one with indoor pool and everything! But this was our third year to have it at our church instead and I have to say I really like it better this way for several reasons. Its nice to have the time to really decorate how we like to and its kind of like being, well, home!  The theme this year was A Beautiful Heart.  It was a bonus that my dear friend Denise was one of the speakers AND I got to work with all my favorite people in putting it together. People I wish I could spend SO much more time with throughout the year.  Wonderful time with Godly women is JUST what I needed. There is just too much to say about this weekend in the short amount of time I have. I am in between games for a baseball tournament today and clearing the photo card for that! So here is just a preview of what I hope to be a more detailed  post in the near future :) 

Its like a HEAT WAVE!

Its only April and our town is making records in temperatures. The high today??? 101~ A time when I am actually thankful for the dryness out here! Makes it much more barable.  The best thing about this town are the evenings. It can be a scorcher in the day and the night is almost always pleasant with temps in the 70's.  Here are some pics from this weekend that make me excited about summer.  I have to give a disclaimer though. Hearing this music coming down the street is actually a bit creepy to me, but my fun loving husband always darts for his wallet and out the front door chasing him down just like the kid he is deep inside.  One of the qualities that makes him a great dad! Our sweet friend/neighbor Ella joined in but was waiting until after her dinner to open hers. We are a hungry lil family and usually eat at 6 or sometimes even earlier. I am going to love certain things about being an old lady :)  You know like eating at 4m eating pea and egg salad, coffee a few times a day, always having a blanket on me, oh wait- I already do all these things!