Sappy Week!

Man I think I am hormonal this week.  I am a single mom until next week for one.  I wonder why we miss our spouses so much when they are gone and then get on to them for any and everything as soon as they get home!  I need to really think about that.  I have been watching videos all week and just boohooing to all of them. They are happy cries though. Just feeling completely blessed with my family, my friends and especially my kiddos!  I still feel bad when I have unglued moments where my kids are waiting for my head to spin.  I sure need to start giving them moments to remember.  Like our trip a couple of weeks ago.  We had a blast.

Take a moment to look at these videos when you get a chance.  Life is precious.  I think I need to find a way to remind myself of that when my blood pressure starts to rise!

Just Fishing by Trace Adkins

Remember When - Alan Jackson

These are the Days - Van Morrison

Happy Thursday!

Vacation Fun

Finally back into the swing of things from being on vacation.  I do have to say though that road trips are the best way to really have quality time with your family.  Family of 6 in a pickup truck was pretty scary at first but we all made it work.  We sang and told jokes and saw so many good sights.  We also got to see family on our trip which made everything that much better.  These are the times in our lives that will always be remembered.  I fondly remember the road trips that my grandmother took us on.  I hope that I can give my kids the same type of memories.

The Next Joe's

I am attempting to paint my two youngest boys room this week.  My goodness!  They are the BIGGEST slobs!  I counted 7 coke cans hidden in their room.  Those flavor ice popsicles?  Yep.... several of them all throughout the room.  Wrappers were hidden under blankets!  There was a dumpsite underneath their mattresses.  If you have seen the movie "Joe's Apartment" you understand.  I think they are the next Joe. Why do kids not realize that they are swimming in filth?  Ok.  After this week their room will be painted and redecorated.  I am thinking if they cherish their lives they won't eat or drink another thing in their rooms.  I sure feel sorry for their future wives!

Mommy Blues

I am really missing my oldest Mason.  I just can't believe he has moved out and started his life.  I am so utterly proud of him for the man that he has become.  He has accepted a job going to Syria and then Afghanistan.  Is it wrong to wish he would change his mind?  Ladies, grab onto those little ones because they leave before you know it.  I need to really start spending some quality time with my boys at home because they will be on their own before long too!

Mommy/Kenzie Bonding Time

MaKenzie has always been in to cooking shows.  She use to want to be Rachel Ray when she grew up.  We have found another show on TV that MaKenzie really enjoys and I have been recording it on DVR so the two of us can watch together.  It has become our little bonding ritual together.  Even better this week since Daddy has been out of town.  This show is about two ladies who try out recipes in a cookbook.  They aren't chefs by any means which really makes it fun to watch.  Who knows!  Maybe me and Kenzie will have a show one day!  I love these moments with her and I hope this is something that she remembers fondly when she gets older.

Sink Repairs

Who says women can't fix things?  Ok.  So I had help. My sister helped me start to replace the faucet in the kids bathroom. It has been leaking for closed to 2 months now.  I thought I would surprise my husband and show him that women CAN do some of these things.  So I can't tell you how we got it but the thingamajigs got put in the right places.  I even ventured to Home Depot today to get hoses and plumbers putty. Goodness I hope I can complete it right because I sure don't want hubby telling me that I should have waited for him!

Daddy's Breakfast

Little Miss MaKenzie.  She really wanted to make breakfast for her Daddy for Father's Day.  She microwaved little confetti pancakes.  She really had to keep herself from eating Daddy's bacon.  I really treasure the days when kids still are in awe of their parents and get so excited when they come up with something all by themselves.  The boys made Troy cards that really came from their heart too which was very sweet considering they are teenagers!  I really am thankful to hubby for being such a great father to all of our kids.  I love him very much.

Shame on Me!!!

I can't believe it has been months and I have not blogged!  It is going to be really hard for me to look back at my progress if there is nothing to look at!

Many things have changed for me in the last months.

We finally purchased our house.  Yay!  And I have been having so much fun decorating it.  Thanks to my neighbor who can decorate because I sure can't.

We are getting along good with our brother and plan on taking a road trip to see him this year. 

My kiddos are getting big.  The boys are definite teenagers.  Pushing my every button about every five minutes but honestly I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Little Kenzie is not so little anymore but she just melts my heart.  I still love staring at her when she sleeps.  If I can only get her out of my bed though!

Mason is doing so great in his job and he is living in the little country town of Snook.  I hardly see him though.  It sure is hard letting go of him.

Ok.  So I am up to speed now.  Now I need to keep up with this blog moving forward.

Surprise, Surprise!

Well Everyone.  My sister and I have a brother.  Crazy!  I think that me and April have been in shock for several weeks now.  We actually got to meet him this past weekend and it actually went off really great.  We had family members come down to meet him and I have had some exceptional friends that made the weekend even better and stress free! 
What is great is that through all of our losses I realized that my sister and I have stayed close and will always be close.  Having our brother and his family is just an added bonus. I guess God really does open a door when another one closes!

Feeling Blessed Today

Today I am feeling totally blessed.  I had a great weekend.  Friday I got to catch up with family at my cousin's engagement party.  I worked the Rodeo on Saturday but got to catch up with a great friend at the same time which was great.

Troy and Austin are finally over their sicknesses which took all week, at least for Troy.

Sunday was great.  We went to church, played baseball at my sister's house with the kids and then headed over to Troy's brother's house for a family dinner.  I got to hold our two newest nieces, baby Kinsley and baby Riley.  Too adorable.  I loved holding them and most of the time didn't want to give them back!

On the way to work I get a text from my husband telling me he loves me and I am everything to him.

Oh, and I am down to two cigarettes a day so I am on my way to quitting smoking for good! Yeah!

Family really makes you realize that those things in life that get you down at times really just don't matter.  As long as we have our health, and family and friends and faith, that this all that matters.

Have a great week!

How to Deal

I think we all run across some people in our lives that make us want to pull our hair out. This song just makes me laugh. No worries everyone. We all have someone that we should pray about. Just remember what is important and difficult people are always a very minor part of your lives. Oh... and also... pray :)

What we can't give our kids

I think everyone that has kids wants to save their kids from upset in their lives.  I guess it just isn't possible.  Mason had one of the hardest days in his profession yesterday.  I know it is something that he is going to have to learn to deal with but I don't think it makes it easier.  Boy did I want to make it better but I could do nothing but be there to listen to him.  I hope I was of some comfort to him.  I guess a mother's job is never done. Even if they have moved out and started lives of their own, you still can be Mom when they need it.  Boy is it hard to realize that we can't give our kids everything that they need all of the time and that they have to somehow muddle through and find the strength themselves.

Their little boo boo's turn into real life problems.

Life Change

These past few days have been filled with many different emotions.  Emotions that are so hard to explain right now.  I know there aren't many people on my post, really just dear friends so I don't mind saying what is on my mind.  Wasn't the reason for this blog to look back in a year and see where I am versus where I was?

My sister and I found out that we have a brother in this world.  We had emotions of being scared of who this person was.  We then realized that he was just as scared and nervous as us.  He wanted to be able to provide information to his daughters about where he came from.  We had to understand that.  I would want the same for my children.

After it was proven that he is definitely our brother, my sister and I have allowed ourselves to explore every emotion possible.  I think we are getting past the hard part and understanding that this is not necessarily a bad thing.  He seems like a really nice person.  And he looks more like our Dad than we do!!!!!  It is also really helping us to move forward with things that we need to get resolved about our past as well.

The Lord always places things in front of you that you don't quite understand but things happen for a reason.  We just have to be open and allow things to happen and fall into place.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

I had a really long day today.  I got to sit in a meeting to talk about my professional goals and what actions items I need to take to improve.... fun.

After a calm and peaceful lunch I get to head over to a meeting with my customer that is meant to be an hour and turns into over two hours.
Stressing that I won't get home to take MaKenzie to dance, Mother-in-Law once again comes to the rescue as I did not get out of work until the time I was suppose to take her!

But I had a great husband that sent me out the door to go and celebrate my sister's birthday with ritas and girls chit chat.  Boy I am blessed.

Makes me really think that I need to quit sweating the small stuff.  These jobs and crappy demands that we get every day that will never really get us anywhere is nothing like what the true reward is... that is friends and family!

All of my friends and family... I am grateful for you and the little things just don't matter :) God Bless and have a great Friday and weekend!

Honoring My Big Sis

Today is my sister's 40th Birthday.  I can't believe it.  I look back on everything we have been through and I am just in awe.  We came here with just each other.  April had to translate for me to our American grandparents.  She has been my sister and mother for years.  She is still that way with me.  That is my sister's heart though.  She always takes care of people.  I am truly blessed to have my sister in my life and hope I show her enough how much she means to me.

My Weekend

I had a really good weekend in Fredericksburg with my hubby and friends and family.  Troy and I were really able to connect again and have some true alone time which is something we rarely get to do with as many kids as we have.  I think it actually recharged our relationship.  Troy actually drank wine which floored me because he is definitely a country boy.  I have to say that Fredericksburg is not really catered to men. I think he was a trooper for shopping and going to the wineries.  I am a pretty lucky person.

So back now to reality.  I get to turn in a self-evaluation at work and then will have a review this week with by boss to go over it. This is not going to be pretty I am sure.

Wish me luck.  The good side is at least I have President's Day off next week. :)

Going out of my mind!!!!!

Boy have these weeks been flying by.  I had a birthday that took me one year closer to the big 40! Oh well.  Life goes on... apparently.  My kids are really trying their hardest to get to me this week so I have to sit back and reflect on what's important.  I have found the way to meditate when my kids get on my last nerve.  I look at their baby pictures on my computer.  I remember when they were Oh so sweet :)  Before they got minds of their own!  Off to Fredericksburg I go this weekend.  I am ready for the wine country, shopping, and spending some much needed time alone with my hubby.  So why am I feeling guilty now that I found out Cameron has a basketball tournament on Saturday that I will miss?  I guess when it comes down to it I still want to be there for everything with my kids.

My job is really making me go out of my mind and I hope that I can honestly say that the last ten years weren't wasted here.  I can only hope that I am still marketable when the time comes to get the ax!

Ok everyone, I vented.  Thanks for listening...or reading.... I feel much better now :)

On the road to getting healthy..... I hope

So I decided I really needed to start getting more active.  I was starting to feel like I was 80 years old!  I have reduced my wine down substantially!  I am sure that is doing nothing for my weight.  I actually was happy to find out that I weighed less than I thought I did.  Wohoo! But.. still flabby so I still need to work on it.  I got put on a medicine to quit smoking.  Although I don't hardly smoke at all during the day, I normally make up for it on weekends.  I guess I am going to have to go to Jessie's and do Dance Fit and do dancing with the stars at my house.  I sure would like a Wii! Wish me luck!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

MaKenzie has said some funny and shocking things the past few days.  It just makes me wonder where she gets it from!

1.  We were watching an IAM's dog food commercial (I think it was that brand) where the dog lost 2 pounds on the weight management food.  She tells me that I need to buy that for Daddy and Austin since it works so good!  I just had to giggle!

2.  She has what we think is pink eye so today I have taken her to my office to hang out with me until her doctor's appt.  We are taking turns spelling words in the car.  I am giving her words like star, moon, sheep.  What word does she give me???? I am desperate (which is three words but oh well).  I asked her where she got that from and she says... I just thunk it up. Crazy!

3.  Last but not least, this is the shocking one.  MaKenzie asks me if I would be alive when she got married.  How a 7 year old would even wonder that is beyond me!  Of course I told her I would but it sure makes me wonder if I am living a life suitable to make sure I am here when she walks down the aisle!

I just wonder what she is going to say next.  Kids really take in everything.

Fast Weekends

I can't believe it is Monday again.  It seems like the weekends go by so fast.  I really thought this morning about all of the weekends that I spend going and doing and realized that now my kids are older (other than MaKenzie) and are out of the stage where they actually want to hang out with me and Troy.  I think I should have spent less weekends in the hustle and bustle of life.  We did actually all watch a movie together on Saturday.  It was the first time in a long time that we all were laughing together. It was truly enjoyable!  I sure hope I have more moments like that with my kids. 

Here I go. Trying to start a Blog. Let's see how it goes!

I am going to attempt to blog this year!  For all the bloggers out there I might need some pointers.  I am hoping to enlighten myself at the end of the year and maybe even learn something about myself.   Look for my post to come this weekend :)