Our Family and All the Chaos of Life

Christmas with beautiful girls

2011-11-27T21:33:00.000-06:00

Oh man! Taking photos of girls is so much fun. I could have spent another couple of hours taking pics of these two and hope to get to do so again in the future. They were a blast!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T20:13:00.000-06:00

We had such a great time spending Thanksgiving with family. We see don't see everyone nearly often enough!

Christmas Photos

2011-11-24T19:26:00.001-06:00

I took the boys Christmas pics last week and I'm seriously having a problem deciding whinch ones I like best. I love them all!

My goofy little boy trying to make his Mama smile! Well, it worked - he made me laugh out loud with this pose of his. Hahaha!

The last few months:

2011-11-24T19:16:00.000-06:00

Above - First day of school.

Above - Dallas World Aquarium

Above - wonderful weekend scrapping at the cabin!

Above - Camping out with scouts.

Above - Lego Death Star.

Above - 1920's gangster and Snake Eyes after a battle. Halloween 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T11:35:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted in soooo long! Although this year has not been the easiest for me, I have so much more to be thankful for than not. I've got such a wonderful and supportive family and we are all healthy - for that I am truly grateful. I'm missing my parents more than usual on this Thanksgiving day, but I'm so lucky to be able to talk to them on a daily basis (sometimes more than once). As usual, they are hosting a sure to be wonderful Thanksgiving meal at their house with close friends and Marines that are away from their own families. My parents are awesome!
So, I haven't posted pics or anything since August! Well... honestly, I haven't posted a lot of anything this year. I have also not taken nearly as many photos as I usually do this year. I've taken lots of photos at some events, but not very many every day photos. I need to fix that.
I think I will start with posting a selection of photos taken over the last few months...

These ones will make you smile too!

2011-08-06T20:26:00.001-05:00

Makes me smile...no, it makes me laugh

2011-08-06T20:18:00.000-05:00

The boys and I had so much fun with these shots. We played, sang and danced our way through so many photos that I had a hard time picking out my faves. These ones are mostly just the ones of Little B. Hope they put a smile on your face too!

More of our week

2011-07-21T17:21:00.000-05:00

Shorty and I have been having the best week! I'm so glad I left some of my tables up in the living room from a crop I had at my house recently. They've come in handy as Joshua and I have worked on Legos, puzzles and crafts. He got a new Spider man game and he must think he can climb walls himself since this is how I found him playing it when we got home.

We had lunch Tuesday afternoon at Panera's - yummy! It was super crowded though and I kept getting odd looks every time I took a pic of Joshua. It was kind of funny...

The BEST frozen strawberry lemonade:

The cookie that was the size of his head:

Bu-bye cookie...

We played 3 games and had so much fun. I was playing with a Retro action on these photos. I don't know why, but bowling always makes me feel nostalgic, so I figured these were perfect to play with this action since it makes sense to me. LOL! And there you go, a glimpse inside the way my brain processes things...

July 4th Parade

2011-07-19T11:27:00.000-05:00

Joshua and Me - All Week Long

2011-07-19T10:50:00.000-05:00

Since Little B went off to camp for a week, I took a week off to hang out of with Shorty. So far, we are having a great time. I'm so thankful that I'm able to do this - to take the time and really focus on him. For the most part, I've ignored pretty much everything other than him. I want to give him my complete attention.

I do miss Bryan and I hope he's having a great time - I know he is! He better be taking some photos...

This is at 3am - right before we woke him up to take his big brother to set off on his trip.

I love this pic of me and the boy. Makes me smile!

This was Joshua's attempt to take my picture - It's a little blurry, but I like it anyway.

Today

2011-06-20T11:21:00.001-05:00

Today I am grateful for my dad. For all my life he has been my hero; my role model. Being in the Marine Corps for all of my childhood meant that we spent more time apart than I would have liked and for the past 7 years he and mom have been off on more adventures around the world. However, no matter how far away he is, he takes the time to connect with me, to talk and laugh. Not just with me, but with his grandsons. They know him and love him and admire him, even from the other side of the globe. No one needs to tell me how very blessed I am to witness and be part of this relationship. It would be so easy for him to take the easy way out and not call, not email, not share photos, not send packages, not acknowledge milestones - simply because he is so far away. But he works at it and the boys may not know it, but I know it and I love him all the more for all of the effort he puts into it. One day the boys will also really know it too.

So, today I am grateful to you Papa! Love you!

Today

2011-06-15T09:47:00.000-05:00

Today I'm grateful for great face to face visits with great friends. Nothing beats non-stop, stimulating conversation with interesting people. I was supremely spoiled yesterday and got to have 3 visits with 3 different, wonderful people. So much better than chatting via the phone, FB, text or email. :)

Twighlight Camp Part II Again with the Pictures...

2011-06-14T17:27:00.000-05:00

Twilight Camp 2011 WARNING: Picture Heavy

2011-06-14T17:15:00.001-05:00

Joshua had such a great time at camp this year. I'm so glad I was able to go out there and spend some time with him. And it wasn't as miserably hot as I expected - hot, but not unbearable. Joshua was most excited about the archery and BB guns. Shocking right? LOL!

End of year pool party

2011-06-14T16:54:00.000-05:00

Ahh - the end of the school year arrived a week and a half ago and Joshua's cub scout den celebrated with a pool party....

Graduation

2011-06-10T13:50:00.000-05:00

Brett graduated!! And we're so proud of him! I wanted to get so many more photos, but this is why I will never be an even photographer - I just can't adjust on the fly and I swear all school caffeterias and auditoriums are designed to sabotage photos. I did come away with a few shots though...

Easter - I know...a little late

2011-06-10T13:35:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to share a couple of pics from Easter. We had a great time visiting family and the boys had a blast hunting for easter eggs. Grandma hid something like 66 plastic eggs all over the place!!

Random Photos of Others

2011-06-10T13:02:00.001-05:00

Attitude Adjustment

2011-06-09T20:50:00.000-05:00

This is how I've been feeling lately. LOL!

I am so in the need a major overhaul of my attitude. I've been completely moody so far this year. It's June people - it's time for an adjustment! I attribute some of it to the fact that I spent the first couple of months of the year with a broken arm, but that's only part of it. I need to accept the fact that I can't control everything (actually, I can control very little) of what goes on around me or how people behave. The negative feelings are such poison. I can, however, control how I act and react to the numerous small, seemingly insignificant events that tend to get me all twisted up. I can also try to teach my kids to be the best they can be and not worry about what other people do around them (unless it's dangerous). I am my own worst enemy and I have all of these ideas of what I should be instead of being happy about who I am right this moment. It's almost amusing to me. When I was a kid, I never worried about what other people thought of me. I think it must be due to the fact that I moved around so much. I've found that since becoming a mother, I tend to care more. I'm not going to sit here and say that no one should care about what anyone thinks about them, because there are people in my life that I will always seek approval from and I'm OK with that. But to worry about what anyone else thinks?? It's too exhausting and it leads nowhere. I have also been putting terrible stress on myself to really go all out on this photography thing. I love photography - I hate business. LOL! So, for now, I think I will just do what I've been doing. Taking the odd job here and there and loving it. No more freaking out about marketing plans, packages, web pages and contracts. There will be time for that later. For now, I plan on continuing to learn and grow and taking photos of my favorite subjects. (and hope that the odd jobs continue to trickle in just because I LOVE taking photos of other people too).
I just need to work on letting things go and not holding a grudge. I recognize these poor qualities in myself and they will probably never go away completely - I don't know that I want them to, but I do need to get them under control since the only person affected is me (and at times my family).
As part of my attitude adjustment, I need to remind myself of what I am truly grateful for:

My 3 boys. My life would be so very lonely without them. There isn't a day that goes without a smile, a hug and kiss and an "I love you" passed between the four of us.
The rest of my family. We are truly blessed to have our parents in our lives (and of course Uncle Brett). Their support and encouragement is priceless. We don't see them often enough, but maybe that's something we can work on.
The ability to provide. Brandon and I are lucky enough to have jobs and be able to provide for our family.
Faith. We have enough faith to get up every morning no matter what kind of mood we're in or what kind havoc "Murphy" has created in our lives and know it will all turn out OK.
Integrity. In the way I handle my work, in the way I handle the people around me; both family and friends. I don't purposely promise more than I can deliver and I am always willing to lend a helping hand.

There are a lot of other things that go on my list and I think I'll make it a point to add to it often. Sometimes seeing it in front of me is all I need to stop feeling so jaded.

The violin

2011-05-11T21:34:00.000-05:00

I'm still so thrilled that Little B chose to play the violin. I love classical music (not that that is the only type of music they play) and wanted Bryan to have some appreciation of it. Originally it was a deal. He didn't want to play and I wanted him to. So, we agreed...give it a try for one year and if you don't like it, you can drop it. Well, I'm very excited to say, he LOVES it and wants to continue next year. They sounded wonderful tonight and I'm so proud of them - those orchestra teachers are truly wonderful, nurturing women and I'm so glad they are the ones teaching these kids!

Home-made

2011-05-08T21:26:00.000-05:00

Uncle Brett made this boat out of cardboard and duct tape for school. The boys got to keep it after he was done with it. It was impressive - the boys had a lot of fun paddling around the pool in it. Good job Uncle Brett!

Easter

2011-05-08T15:08:00.000-05:00

Just a couple from Easter...

Just playing

2011-05-05T23:51:00.000-05:00

Just playing with my camera. My boys just rock, OK? They are so willing to be my models and let me try new ideas and practice on them. As soon as they see me setting up they ask me how I want them to dress and where they should sit. LOL! They do rock! The second pic of Shorty is too dark on his face, I know... but that look of his is so him - arched eyebrow and all. And I just love Little B below with his beautiful eyes and his reflection on the floor. SIGH - I may have been a little frustrated tonight since I was really struggling with my camera, but getting a handful of shots of my boys that I at least love, is worth it.

Camp Cards and Packing for Camp

2011-05-03T22:37:00.000-05:00

So glad this is over, but also glad Little B did it. He sold what he set out to sell and got pretty good at it. He even enjoyed helping people by handing out shopping carts.

This is the first time he took his big hiking pack camping. It's almost as big as he is! He was very excited to use it finally - thank Papi! He had everything other than his chair in that thing. I'm sure it's going to get a ton of use.

Pouting

2011-05-02T19:07:00.000-05:00

Just a couple of my baby. Does he have the pout perfected or what?

Work it Brett!

2011-04-25T20:46:00.001-05:00

That's right!! We got him to laugh!!

Class of 2011

2011-04-24T11:18:00.000-05:00

Prom Night

2011-04-17T13:32:00.001-05:00

Took some photos of my brother-in-law and some of his friends before they took off to dinner and prom. It's hard to believe that he's getting ready to graduate high school. I came across a photo of him the other night from around the time Brandon and I first started dating 15 years ago. Brett was a tiny bleach blond 2 year old with tons of energy. Now he towers over me and instead rolling his eyes, he grins and humors my request for a hug every time I see him. He looked very handsome all decked out for prom and his girlfriend is absolutely stunning. Here's a couple of shots of him with his nephew, parents and grandma. Hopefully, I'll be able to post more later of his friends.

Despite the crowds...

2011-03-22T12:41:00.018-05:00

There were a TON of people at the arboretum over the weekend. I guess now that we've been getting some really nice weather people are itching to get outdoors. The spring blooms were absolutely gorgeous too. I felt a little rushed because of the crowds, but still managed to get some shots that I really love...

My little old men

I totally love this one even though Shorty has that look on his face.

And this one isn't the greatest shot, but I love how bright and open his eyes are!

Such a trouble maker!

Always up for exploring and crawling and climbing...

Silly little grin!

I just thought this tree was stunning and the petals falling off of it made it look like it was snowing.

Peekaboo!

Had him really cracking up!

One boy trying to be very sweet and cooperative, while the other one causes trouble...

Hehe - I just love the look on his face!

I think this one is my favorite of Little B

Well, maybe this one is....

Blast it! This one is too!

Me and My Boys!

2011-03-14T17:33:00.003-05:00

Quazi Cruise

2011-03-14T17:00:00.015-05:00

I had planned on going on a short cruise to Mexico and I was really looking forward to it, but a little stressed out over my arm not being totally back to normal. Still I went with a great group of friends and we were having a blast!! Our departure time came and went... We found out that the Port Authority had closed decided to close the ports due to fog and we wouldn't be leaving on time. No big deal, we were having a great time. By 4am, the ports were still fogged-in and the ship would be leaving for 3 days of fun at sea, but wouldn't have time to make it to Mexico. Carnival did a great job at trying to make it right for everyone. They gave us the option of a full refund if we wanted to get off the ship the next morning. My main goal was to get some great photos in Mexico, so I chose to get off. It was really a good thing it happened since my arm just wasn't ready to cooperate. Some of the 22 of us who went stayed and really enjoyed the 3 days at sea, which I'm so happy they did! I still had fun getting the experience of being on the ship and seeing some of what it had to offer.

Snow in Texas....Again

2011-03-14T16:52:00.004-05:00

I think this may becoming a yearly event. School actually closed down for 4 days! That never happens around here! The kids didn't mind at all and loved playing in the snow and cuddling under blankets when inside.

Shorty's First Pinewood Derby

2011-03-14T16:38:00.004-05:00

He was thrilled that it was finally his turn to make and race a car of his own. He had been watching his big brother do it for so long... He worked really hard on his car. Can you guess which one is his?? ;) He came in third place for racing, but the big news was that he got first place for Style. He is soooo proud of his trophy!!

Christmas

2011-03-13T12:39:00.006-05:00

Just a few shots from Christmas morning before the Nerf gun fiasco...

Christmas Eve

2011-03-08T09:44:00.010-06:00

Better late than never... This was our Christmas Eve. We had a surprise box under the tree that said open by December 24th. It had a brand new cup and plate for Santa and a book of Christmas Eve games. It was nice to add a new tradition and a lot of fun!

We played Rudolph says...

and we searched for the hidden Santa!

We kept the oldies, but goodies too. We watched "A Christmas Story"

The boys wrote a note to Santa too!

They set out hot chocolate and cookies for Santa on his new plate and in his new cup!

Happy New Year!

2011-03-03T14:09:00.007-06:00

I decided that February 22nd was the official start of my new year. I was hoping for 2011 to be a little smoother than 2010 and I still have high hopes, but it started rough. Or maybe I should say 2010 ended rough. I broke my humerus bone on Christmas morning! I was chasing Shorty around with a Nerf gun and slipped in the kitchen, slammed my arm on the counter on the way down and broke my arm. (Beware of those Nerf guns!) It was not a pretty site, let me tell ya. I was barefoot and still wearing my jammies. I had just spoken on the phone with Mom and Dad and we were playing before having to get dressed to head on over to Grandma and Grandpa's house to celebrate Christmas with them. (I know...wonderful timing) Brandon ran into the kitchen to see what happened and I immediately started screaming "Oh my God! My arm's broken. You need to take me to the hospital!" To which, my dear husband, who we learned that very day, is NOT good in a crisis situation, started screaming back "Just relax!". (No, I didn't lash out at him with my good arm, but I was tempted...) Meanwhile, Shorty was up in his room hiding and screaming himself since he was convinced it was his fault. My poor baby. I tried my hardest to suck it up and assure him that it was NOT his fault, but MINE and this is why we have the No Running in the House rule. I have to say, Bryan rocked it! He was dressed to shoes in 30 seconds flat, he checked my wallet to see if my license and insurance card was there and he threw a bra in my purse. Thank goodness for him!

It wasn't until we arrived at the hospital that I came close to crying. I was terrified that I was going to have to sit there in the waiting room for 2 hours (as we've done so many times in the past) before I could get some good painkillers and see a doctor. However, its good to note that the ER is not very busy on Christmas morning. More importantly, the doctor and nurse who attended me were absolute angels. They were gentle with me and with Joshua, who was still unconvinced that it wasn't all his fault and they were truly sorry when they had to hurt me more during the treatment. Now, I usually pride myself on being pretty tough when it comes to pain, but this was like nothing I've ever experienced (and I was pretty accident prone as a kid). For the first time in my life I hyperventilated and almost passed out. They determined that I had a spiral fracture to my humerus and didn't need the doc to tell me that it was a horrible break after hearing 3 x-ray technicians freaking out over my x-rays. LOL! Thank goodness for Bryan's smart thinking with the bra, because it took the doc and the nurse to get that bad boy over my broken arm an onto my shoulder. Trust me when I say, everyone I had to interact with, including myself, was grateful that I had a bra on over the next several days that I couldn't take it off and put it back on... Thanks to a shot of morphine and 2 tablets of some other painkiller that I don't remember, once Brandon got me home, I was starting to feel a little less like I just wanted to pass out and not wake up for a couple of months. Oh, and even though the ER isn't busy on Christmas morning, it is almost impossible to find an open pharmacy on the same day, but Brandon came through and found one quite a ways away.

I ended up going to see a specialist a couple of days later and he put me in a brace that was its own special kind of torture and required a map to figure out how to put back on. I'm so grateful it wasn't a cast since they can't cast an upper arm. Eventually I was able to take it off to shower and then later to sleep.

So...I ended up with my arm in that brace, sleeping in a chair for 8 weeks. It's finally off! YAY! I have some rehab to do since my left arm doesn't quite work yet and my shoulder is a little out of place and keeps locking up, but I am so thankful that I'm getting closer every day to getting back to life as normal. The human body is a wonder to behold - I'm in awe of how it protects itself and how it heals. Most of all, I'm grateful to my 3 boys who took care of me, even when it got old, to my parents for talking to me on the phone almost on a daily basis and to my friends who would come see me in the prison that my house felt like. ;)

So...Happy belated New Year. My 3 biggest goals for this year are:

1. Get my arm working again.

2. Start to like my new floors again, because I'm currently mad at them. heehee

3. Continue playing with Nerf guns with my boys, just without the running around the house part...

The dreaded brace:

Skipping some...

2011-01-25T18:32:00.003-06:00

I'm skipping some posts that I'd like to come back to at some point, but I'd really like to posts these videos now. Loved the String Fling and was quite impressed with all of theses kids. Best of all, Bryan was in total awe of these high schoolers and can't wait until he can play at their level. Now, if any of the videos seem to rock back and forth a lot, that is because Joshua was manning the camera while dancing in his seat to the music. ;)

My December Baby

2010-12-24T09:18:00.009-06:00

Joshua asked me to make him enchiladas and spanish rice for his birthday, so I did. How could I not? I love watching him eat. I know that sounds odd, but after having a picky eater (and discovering how common it was for kids to be picky eaters), it's super fun watching Joshua who loves veggies and fruit and cooking. He'll try anything and he loves his mama's enchiladas. We invited Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Brett over to celebrate with us. Kind of embarassed by my motley selection of chairs and my folding table, however, I only have 4 chairs for my small table and my normal table was under a pile of Christmas projects... LOL!
Joshua gobbled up his enchiladas and ice cream cake and was very excited about the gifts he received. Thanks Grammy, Papi, Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Brett!

My boys

2010-12-10T16:45:00.012-06:00

I love, love, love this one...

I love this one as well!!

Little butthead!! And he thought that would discourage me from taking his picture? Bwahaha!

HIS Campout

2010-11-10T15:50:00.011-06:00

We went on our first family campout with Joshua’s Tiger Den. He was very adamant about it being HIS campout and not Bryan’s. He’s been tagging along on all of Bryan scouting activities for years and it was finally his turn. It was a lot of fun – we love the camp grounds at Dinosaur Valley. The kids got to “dig” for fossils and learned a lot about how to identify them. And what a great place for exploring and running and climbing! The weather was perfect, even though it was pretty cold overnight. It just added to the whole experience. And we loved trying out our new tent! (which I didn't get a pic of, grrrr!)

Love, love, love this photo of Bryan and his buddy!

I can’t forget to mention that the older brothers who’re now Boy Scouts were fantastic! They were ready to help anytime we needed them to and we did rely on their help a few times!

Unsteady

2010-11-10T15:42:00.005-06:00

A little wobbly, a little unsteady, not too sure he even wanted to skate... He ended up having a great time, falls and all at the 6th grade 80's skate party!

Back to the farm

2010-11-10T14:46:00.022-06:00

We go to Owens Farm every year to take part in their pseudo pumpkin patch. No, we don’t pick pumpkins, yes they are pretty much just scattered around an empty field… But the kids love it and because they love it, I love it. I get to take some really fun shots and it’s kinda cool to go back and see photos of the boys over the years and how much they’re growing.
This was the first time Grammy and Papi were here in town and able to go with us. The boys really enjoyed sharing our yearly tradition with them. I also had the chance to get some great pics of them with the boys. Can you tell which boy is attached to which grandparent? LOL! I love the bond they have with Grammy and Papi and can’t express how grateful I am that they have them in their lives!

He flew!!! FINALLY!!

2010-11-04T21:33:00.024-05:00

Joshua waited for a year for his turn to go on a big trip! He was super excited about flying on an airplane. He has been on an airplane before, but not that he remembered. Plus, he was getting to go to Washington D.C. thank you very much! As I’ve done before with Bryan, I let him pretty much dictate our touristing. He HAD to do the following: National Air and Space Museum, the National Zoo, the President’s house and the Washington Monument. Our first day there, we went to the Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington Cemetery and to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial. That was very cool. He enjoyed the ginormous Marines and strolling through the cemetery. We paid our respects to the veterans who had passed on and he and Grammy placed stones on some of the Jewish headstones. He loved looking at the photos, flags and uniforms in the museum while Papi and I looked for a specific person in the records of the first women in the Marine Corps. We even had the opportunity to chat for a good deal of time with the curator of the museum, a lovely women who had retired from the U.S. Navy.

The second day we headed directly over to the National Air and Space Museum. There was no way we were leaving without seeing everything! (even if it some of it was quick) He took tons of photos himself and I loved seeing his perspective on everything. Afterwards we made our way over to the President’s house passing the Washington Monument. We didn’t go up it like I did with Joshua, but we were pacing ourselves according to Joshua and he was starting to get tired of all the walking. He was totally fired up about seeing where the president lived and we got some really good shots of him with the White House in the background.

Day 3 found us at the National Zoo. What a great place that is! We had a little bit of rotten luck at the first few exhibits, but after that we started seeing his favorite animals coming out to pose for us. He got a kick out of the Panda and loved that he got some really good glimpses of his all time favorite cheetahs. He also got to see a Tiger getting a snack and lazy yawning boy lion! He absolutely loved it all. I’m so very grateful that I get to do these kinds of things with my kiddos. Thanks mom and dad for passing on that travel bug!!

The Birthday Boy

2010-11-04T18:56:00.009-05:00

I detest how some days seem to drag, yet the years seem to zoom by. I still remember the day Bryan was born. He was my miracle then and he’s been a continuous blessing every day since. This is such a neat age for him. He’s so much fun to talk to and joke around with and he’s so much smarter than I was at his age. He loves to really think about things, he’s the best tourist buddy and his mind is so open to adventure! As sad as I am when I think about the years slipping by and the fact that it will be all too soon that he’s driving, in high school, off to college and on to a life and career of his own, I’m just as excited for each new phase of his life; seeing what an amazing person that he’s turning into.
We celebrated the last year we have before he hits the teenage years with Grammy and Papi this year. Later he had a bunch of buddies over for a night jam packed with junk food, Halo on the XBOX 360 and no sleep whatsoever. (On a side note: being over in the next room listening to their boy talk was extremely entertaining for me!)

Singing and Scouts

2010-11-04T18:27:00.006-05:00

September brought us the first PTA performance of the school year. Joshua took part in it and it was quite entertaining. He’s not all that shy once he gets into it. Of course along with school performances comes the frustration of the people who feel the need to not have any sort of common courtesy *thank you dude in the front row who still felt the need to hold his camera up above his head while weaving back in forth, blocking 75% of the photos I took in the process*. Oh well, everyone wants shots of their cuter-than-every-other-kid 1st grader…

Bryan and Brandon also went camping with scouts again. I love that they go together every single time and I love that I get some one on one time with Shorty on those camping weekends. This was a fishing campout. Bryan likes to fish and he did bait his own hook and he learned how to gut a fish. YAY! I say YAY! Because anyone who really, really knows Bryan knows that a) he doesn’t like to be dirty and b) he is a complete animal lover and this was really hard for him. He did come home and say that he was never going to “torture” an animal like that again. LOL! After asking him what he thought he was eating when he had a burger or chicken strips, he told me that he was completely aware that he was eating animals and he was OK with it, but preferred that his food come pre-packaged. He didn’t need to see how it got there. Hehe! Boy after my own heart.

New Floors (and dining room walls)

2010-10-30T18:09:00.006-05:00

I hate, hate, hated the flooring in the kitchen, dining room and entryway. YUK! The entryway had wooden tiles that were popping off all the time, the dining room had ancient carpet and the kitchen had yellow and brown vynl tile, ala 70's. However, no longer to I have to steer guests away from those areas of embarassment. I now have the most beautiful tile floors instead. They are a natural stone of browns, dark reds and tans. I love, love, love them! Since I had new floors, the wall color would not do, so we stripped the badly painted over wallpaper from one wall. We were supremely surprised to find that it was applied right to the sheetrock, realizing it was the original wallpaper from the builder in 1971. UGH! So a mudding we went (well, Brandon did). We painted the walls, the crownmolding, the bay window, the entryway, floorboards, and these railing thingies that divide the entryway and dining room. It's amazing how different the room looks now. I admit though... I still have yet to hang any of my art back up. I suck at that! Seriously, I was the kid in school that the teacher said "Everyone can freehand their geometry homework, except you Andy, you use a ruler!" I'm gonna have to bribe someone to come over and help me...

The First Day

2010-10-30T17:55:00.004-05:00

It was another first day of school. By now Bryan's an old pro at this. It's still all new for Joshua, although he is so independent and wants to do everything on his own. Bryan took off on his own and I went to Joshua's class with him. His new teacher was very sweet! It is a little sad to know that this is Bryan's last year of elementary school. Hope it's a good one...

August

2010-10-30T17:09:00.011-05:00

August was a busy month. It was full of sleepovers, swimming, Scout activities (including our first time at a Court of Honor), and pre-school start dates.

Bryan and I had a nice time just the two of us. We went shopping, got haircuts and went to see a movie.

We were getting a fashion show of new school clothes.

Joshua and I went to Spaghetti Warehouse, shopping and Build a Bear. That was the biggest meatball ever!!

Sleepovers with best buds...

Court of Honor. Bryan received his first merit badge for swimming, recognized for the mile swim and received his first rank advancement! Yay Bryan! Yay Cobra Patrol!

Instead of camping in the miserable heat, the scouts did lock in. They had a great time climbing, running and playing lazer tag all night. I even managed to stay almost the whole night!!

Yes, I'm still here

2010-10-26T16:26:00.006-05:00

So... I said I was going to update my blog and I've been wanting to, but I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed. We were busy all summer, but when I try to think about what it is we've been so busy doing, I draw a complete blank. I think I'll have to go back and check out my photos to see why I've not only had no time to update my blog, but no time to just breathe either.

Bryan went on a big camping trip for an entire week!! I missed him so much, but was so glad he was having a great time. It helped immensely that the troop leaders recognized how hard it was for some of us moms and sent pictures and emails all week long.

He was exhausted when he got home and had no voice, but he was a grinning fool! He loved camp and impressed some of his leaders by signing up for and completing the mile swim. I'm so very proud of him.

July also brought my birthday. It was the most fun I'd had on my birthday in a long time. I got to spend time with some really great women doing what I love to do most - scrapbook!

Time for a change

2010-09-18T00:37:00.002-05:00

Fall is supposedly upon us here in the U.S. Not here in Texas - Texas has no Fall. Grrrrr.... However I can fake myself out by staying inside with the A/C cranked up, surrounded by Fall colors and decorations. Hence the change to the blog as well. Does it say Fall to you?

I haven't posted anything in forever either. I need to catch up - I mean my life is just way too exciting not to update the world wide web right?? LOL! Anyway... it won't be happening tonight. I hope to at least make a couple of updates tomorrow. Seems like I pretty much check out of the photography and blogging past times during the summer. The heat here is just energy draining....

Such a Beauty!

2010-06-22T16:02:00.026-05:00

She's such a beautiful young woman. The wedding was lovely as well. Here are some shots in no particular order (because I'm too lazy to change them since there are so many)... They aren't the greatest quality - it was hard shooting inside this church, but I liked these ones anyways.

My little man

2010-05-27T21:58:00.008-05:00

He looked so handsome tonight at his Kindergarten Graduation ceremony. He's my little man and he's in such a rush to do everything. I wish he'd slow down just a little bit for me. Every now and then it catches me off guard that I'm doing so many things with him as a mom that I won't ever get to do again. I'm proud of every accomplishment; every milestone he reaches, but there's always just a little sadness in the background. I'm so proud of him and he WAY excited to go on to 1st grade next year!

Pool season is finally here...

2010-05-26T21:13:00.007-05:00

And the boys couldn't be happier!!

Having fun with actions

2010-05-26T20:44:00.004-05:00

Playing with some actions in Photoshop tonight and having a lot of fun with them...

Get Schooled

2010-04-23T10:01:00.002-05:00

There's a birthday party going on at the Get Schooled blog. Lots of yummy give aways. Check it out: http://getschooledblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/today-is-your-birthday-happy-birthday.html?showComment=1272034849193_AIe9_BGvjlImYYXr7BW_9VxO38p87-bNzkdeJTJ0V579yxwqy7-Di1wg2VIDNpqV8sckLeskjDFRkPIQwV7Pz9ccb1yU1YgwRSQVC4FLZknxfcfqg7Ccv_Yz2MPBYCBh1XZX7qlp21KCxIe0PlCUkAch0rpFJ2eLpG17wJ9B8ROH47D7VkCINBG_QFY30EnASZ_qX6TA_DSQeSMZgti6oIBfxh4jPyFYZgQxhQiQCZaZk1d55sYi36lt1sj-cfMHuaQ5n343AdgM#c8135765131140815716

Random snapshots at the zoo

2010-04-17T02:02:00.014-05:00

I love the zoo. We love the zoo and that's why I have 80 million pictures of the zoo. In another life I would have liked to have been a wildlife photographer. Taking pictures of exotic animals all over the world. How exciting would that have been? So...I go to the zoo and take snapshots of all the critters there and every now and then I find a couple photos that I really love. Of course taking pictures of my little critters is just as fun... Here are some favorites from our last outting a couple of weeks ago with Joshua's little buddy.

I'm pretty sure this guy wanted to make a meal of the boys. He looked like he wanted to get to them!

ALRIGHT

2010-04-11T01:02:00.003-05:00

I hate, hate, hate the word ALRIGHT. Since when has it been acceptable to use "alright" as a a description for everything? How do you feel: "Alright" How does it taste: "Alright" How does it look: "Alright" Do you like it: "It's Alright". Seriously - do people not have a better inventory of words than this? And how are you supposed to translate "alright" into a real description? So, you think the dinner I made was Alright.... hmmmmm.... does that mean it was good? that it sucked? or maybe that it was simply edible, but you would never, ever choose to eat it on purpose? Just asking....

I wonder if I would get a more intelligent response if I just stare at the next person who says something is Alright. Probably not, the reply for staring would be "WHAT??"

(I do think I will create a scrapbook page for this particular annoyance)

The end of a chapter.

2010-03-29T21:22:00.011-05:00

Bryan (and some of his friends) has hit some huge milestones lately. This month he had his last Den Meeting ever. The Weebelo II's decided that their last meeting should be laid back with plenty of time to visit. They had pizza and cupcakes and other wonderfully non-nutritious yummies. It was also nice for us parents to chat.

Our silly Weebelo II's

Arrow of Light:

The Arrow of Light Ceremony was wonderful. The boys worked hard to earn the highest honor in Cub Scouting. The gentleman who performed the ceremony for our den did an excellent job. He was animated and seemed to truly love the goals of scouting. He made Bryan WANT to continue on in Boy Scouts. The arrows we presented to the boys were made by a Tatanka Indian. They were very authentic looking. The boys were also presented with display racks made by the Weebelo I’s. We are very proud of Bryan accomplishments and we were super excited that Grammy, Papi, Grandpa and Uncle Brett were able to be there at the ceremony with us.

Bridging Ceremony – a.k.a. Last Pack Meeting

Den 7’s Bridging Ceremony took place at our last Pack Meeting. Have I ever mentioned that we have an AMAZING pack? Great leaders, great parents, great kids! One of the other mothers, Penny, put together a great slide show with photos of the boys all the way from the beginning as Tiger Cubs to the present as Weebelo II’s. We presented Jeremy with a plaque because we wanted him to know what a great Pack Master he has been. Seriously, he works really hard to make this Pack a success! We gave Laura an album with letters from all of Den 7’s families. She has the patience of a saint – who knew that boys could scream so much and so loudly??? Then Boy Scout Troop 751 did the honors of meeting the boys on the other side of the bridge and welcomed them officially to Boys Scouts. They already have their first meeting this week!!

Our fabulous Den Leader.

The boys thanking their families.

The boys thanking and presenting Jeremy with his plaque.
The boys receiving their Boy Scout Books and Sashes.
The actual bridging.

He's a Boy Scout now! My wish for him is that he enjoys it, learns from it and takes it all the way to Eagle.

Next year's rookies...

Random flower pics (and maybe 1 or 2 boys)...

2010-03-28T20:07:00.009-05:00

Snow Flakes in TX

2010-02-11T17:34:00.008-06:00

We woke up this morning to fluffy, white snow everywhere. The biggest snowflakes I've ever seen were falling from the heavens. It is just beautiful out there.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my house??

This shot totally cracks me up - Joshua on the receiving end of a massive snow ball from his big brother!!

Joshua stuffing what's left of our broken flag pole...

Just playing it cool until he could sneak up behind Bryan with that snowball.

Not entirely sure, but I think he was taste testing that snow...

Such a great smile - love it!

Pretty sure he is up to no good. LOL!

Ahhh - the grassy snow man that just wouldn't stop falling apart. He was focused though...

DEFINITELY up to no good!

Check out all of that snow falling!

Snow angel made by my #1 angel.

Another gorgeous smile!

I just like this photo because of all the snow falling around them.

I think they both ended up with snow down their front collars on this one.

It was a lot of fun watching them play in the snow and I even put my camera away to join the snowball fight!

OK now, don't laugh at all this excitement! We don't get much snow around this area and this much snow is super rare - so we have to enjoy it when it happens. It will be gone by tomorrow night, I'm sure...

Procrastination and bad habits...

2010-02-11T17:27:00.002-06:00

or maybe just procrastination is my bad habit. Can you call it procrastination when you never get it done at all? I have a terrible habit of starting stuff and never finishing it. It always sounds good when I start it and I'm usually really hyped about whatever the new project or goal is, but then it fizzles out and I just STOP. I don't think it's that I get bored. Maybe it's that I get overwhelmed by it all. Totally purging my house of s-t-u-f-f sounded great and I did get all the bathrooms and a lot of the kitchen done and it felt GREAT!! But then.... have I continued on my quest for a clutter-free home? Nope. Started doing some online courses and blew through three of them and then... nothing for about 3 month. O.K., I'm back at this one - I really do want to finish them and then give the PMP cert exam a shot. Also registered for an online photography class - have I worked on it since ooooohhhh June? Nope. Well, I need to have this one done by May or it'll be money wasted.
Yes... I have issues... maybe I just need about 5 extra hours in a day to do everything I want to. Then again if I had 5 extra hours would I get them done or would I... procrastinate. LOL!

Hello Again...

2010-02-05T22:57:00.004-06:00

It's been a heck of a week around here! Busy bees; that's what we are. We had the Pinewood Derby races, a visit from Brandon's mom, a nasty cold, jury duty, taxes, purging, teacher conferences, fund raising and very little scrapbooking. Whew! Somewhere in there we even managed to hang out as a family and make dinner on a daily basis.

We had a great time at the Pinewood Derby, jury duty was depressing and having a cold all last weekend sucked, but we've still had fun. We watched Zombieland last night (yes, I know it's totally gross and probably not the best movies to let my kids watch) and we laughed our butts off! Totally silly and funny!

I'm still taking a photo a day for the most part. Having lots of fun with it. Trying to show our daily lives through the eye of a lens can be a fun challenge.

So, here's a little peak at some recent daily photos...

February 3rd - Bryan the Spy. Those glasses are part of his disguise.

January 22nd - Joshua created a Little People Parade in his room. Made me smile when I saw it later.

January 29th. My pretty heart box. My plan is to fill it with little strips of paper with random ideas written on them for the times when my scrapping mojo takes a vacation.

January 25th - Percy Jackson and the Olympians series has been WAY fun to read with Bryan. We have both been really enjoying them. This was the last book. So good!!

A First and the Pic of the Day

2010-01-21T23:19:00.003-06:00

We had a couple of firsts in our family today. Bryan has his first eye appointment today. I was worried since he's been complaining lately about not being able to see the board in class. Brandon's comment that he was around his age when he started wearing glasses didn't help. However, doc says no need for glasses yeah!!! Not-so-surprisingly, blurred vision is coming from mashing his hands in his scratchy, allergy eyes.... Much to my annoyance later in the evening, I forgot to take a single picture of Bryan at his first eye appointment - grrrrr. In my defense, I was a little distracted by our good-looking, Anderson Cooperesque optometrist.

Another first today.... Joshua received his firs black eye today. I think Bryan was also around the same age when he got his first black eye. No, it wasn't a fist fight in the school yard, it was a collision at recess with a friend. Hope his friend is doing alright. I DID remember to take a photo of this one.

Housecleaning and Blueberry Tea

2010-01-19T15:13:00.003-06:00

Why is it that insurance is so complicated??!! I swear they do that just so you have no idea what you're supposed to be paying!! grrrr! So, that is what I did this morning - wrapped my brain around our vision and dental insurance. I needed to know what was covered and what we were going to have to pay for out-of-pocket. I also spent some time figuring out what was in our HSA and what should be in our HSA and what will be in our HSA. I hate that insurance and medical care costs have gotten to the point where I am afraid of going to the doctor's office out of fear of having to shell out a bunch of $$$. I think I have a firm grasp on it now and have it all written down in an easy to remember place. My first test will be tomorrow when I take the boys to the dentist for routine checkups. I say routine since that is all they will do tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure Bryan is going to need some work. Little do my kids understand that I hate going to the dentist too. It always seems like we have to pay a lot and there is always something wrong. I liken it to going to a mechanic - you think you're doing just fine only to find out that you actually need $1000 worth of work... Then Thursday is an eye exam for me and Bryan. He's been complaining that he's having a hard time seeing things in class. I was really hoping that his eyesight would be like mine - pretty darn good. Still crossing my fingers until I actually hear the words, even though Brandon said he was around the same age when his eyes started going to crap. Boooo!

On a lighter and much more pleasant note... a fellow villager mentioned buying blueberry tea and how much she liked it. So, since I have forsaken sodas on weekdays (give me break, I'll cut them out of the weekend eventually), I decided to buy some and give it a try. Let me tell you....YUMMY!!! Love it! Had some hot blueberry tea over the weekend and it was awesome and smells DIVINE!! Made some blueberry ice tea today and it was even better!! Thank you to my villager friend for posting about it! Oh, and I'll let you know when I finally get around to cutting out the sodas for good. LOL!

Catching Up

2010-01-18T14:02:00.004-06:00

Hey! Since when do I have a life?? I've been pretty busy lately and have busy plans for the rest of the month. Thank goodness this has been a long weekend. I had a great time at http://www.scrapvillage.com/ taking part in their Virtual Crop. I so didn't get as many pages done as I wanted, but I had soooo much fun chatting with everyone! I even got to host the Journaling Challenges, which was so awesome - I really enjoyed learning about these wonderful women! I want to continue working on the challenges next weekend - they are always so inspiring. This is my favorite page from this weekend:

Today I'm gonna work on assembling Project 365 from last year and maybe even even do the first couple of weeks of 2010, so I don't get behind on Project Life as well. Here are the daily pics from this weekend...

This would be my boys dancing to "Like to Move It" from the Madagascar soundtrack. Friday, Jan15

Caught red-handed! Stealing a drink of my coffee! Saturday, Jan16

This would be Fort Bryan. He claims that it was to keep him safe from the "soda ghost" he claims lives upstairs in our house. He has supposedly heard the sound of a soda can being opened 3 times while upstairs alone. LOL! Sunday, Jan17
And this would be part of my cleaning process for my scrap room - gather everything in my basket and go around putting it all away. Monday, Jan18

It's been a nice weekend. Back to work tomorrow nice and refreshed. Looking forward to next weekend's crop at the Barn with a couple of friends after lunch with another friend.

Of course, first I need focus on work, cub scouts, pinewood derby races and all the homework in between. :)

Favorites from the holidays

2010-01-10T19:14:00.009-06:00

My baby had a birthday!! He was so excited about turning SIX!!

We had a birthday dinner with Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Brett. Joshua loved sitting next to Uncle Brett and goofing off with him!

How can you not love that gorgeous chocolate face??

We went to "Ice" at the Gaylord Texan hotel. Lots of fun and WAY cold! LOL!

I L-O-V-E this photo of Grandma and Bryan. WOW - for some reason Bryan looks so much taller and older in this shot!

Then there was Granpa taking as many pictures as I do...

This is inside the middle of the Gaylord - so pretty!

You'll poke your eye out!!! We love watching A Christmas Story every single Christmas!! The boys seem to enjoy it more and more each year!

Christmas Eve and the boys are ready for bed! They wanted to get to sleep fast so Santa wouldn't pass them by...

Wands to add to their collections!! Hehe! Now they have Dumbledore's and Serius Black's wands!

Our wonderful, wonderful parents - we're so grateful for them!!

And then the boys with Grammy and Papi when we gave them their Christmas before they left.

OK - done for now....

So Bad at This!!

2010-01-10T18:30:00.002-06:00

I know - I'm so bad at this. I had hoped to blog more often in 2009 than I did, but I DO think I managed to do better that 2008. LOL! Baby steps right??

I the holiday season found everyone happy, healthy and surrounded by those you love. Our holidays were very nice! Mom and Dad were not able to be here for Christmas, but we did get to enjoy them over Thanksgiving. PLUS, we get to see them again in a couple of months - YEAH!

So, what does 2010 have in store for you? I'm hoping for good things - not only for us, but for everyone who had a rough 2009. It was a mixed bag for our family. Both good and not so good events. We have most definitely been blessed in more ways than one, but it was an emotional roller coaster none the less. In February I thought I was going to be laid off and ended up being hired onto another team within the company. BIG BLESSING!! My parents were posted to Baghdad - not so great, but they've managed to stay safe. BIG BLESSING!! Bryan continues to be smaller, but the shots have been helping and he is quickly catching up. BIG BLESSING!! Bryan had a rough beginning to the school year after the wreck that was 4th grade thanks to a VERY unorganized teacher, but he finally found his groove and has been doing great! Another BIG BLESSING! Brandon was laid off over the summer, not so great. We are hopeful that the new year will bring him a job that he truly loves.

OK, now for the re-cap of some of 2009 goals:
1. I am keeping the weight thing on here - I don't think it will ever get taken off.
I told you this one was never going away...

2. Go to Belgium - I am keeping this one as well since it is pretty much a done deal - I am going to Belgium in May to see my parents.
I DID THIS ONE!!! Bryan and I had soooo much fun on our trip!

3. More writing - not just here, but in general. I would like to document some more of our lives and thoughts. I took an awesome online class recently called Stories in Hands. It had some great journaling prompts that I can't wait to explore.
I think I have done this, even though not to the extend I had hoped for, so I am going to continue working on this one.

4. Project 365 - It is my goal to accomplish this project: Take one photo a day with a small caption or thought along with it. I'm really looking forward to this one as well. I plan on posting most photos on here. Unless it something I don't feel is OK to post online.
This one was a half, half one. I took the pictures, but I didn't post them. Posting them daily was really difficult. I am doing it again this year, but I think my goal will be to just post at least one photo a week, even though I will still be taking one daily.

5. Take a formal photography class - Everything I know is self taught and I think I would like to take a formal class now.
I'm in the middle of taking an online class that I want to be finished with by May. YEAH! However, I think a real life class might be in order.

6. Be happy as usual - I really hope 2009 holds good things for all of us!
This one was a challenge at times, but I think I got a bit better at just spending time with my boys and not worrying TOO much about the things that could wait.

Goals for 2010: (at least some of them)

1. Get out more - quit taking the easy stay at home option. I'm making more of an effort to get together with some friends in person and not relying only on FB, IM, email and cell phones...

2. Finish my online photography course by May.

3. Take an in person photography class.

4. OK, I know this one will shock you!! Ready?..... Lose weight! LOL!

5. Purge one room at a time through my house - we really need to declutter and simplify.

OK, the rest are saved for my scrapbook room wall. hehe!

Wishing you well for the new year!!

OH!! and planning on posting some of my favorite pics from the holidays.

Holy Moly!!

2009-11-25T08:58:00.002-06:00

So...it's been 4 days since I posted my last 5 things to be thankful for. I have some catching up to do! So sad that I can't even mange to do something for 12 consecutive days. So, here are 20 things I am grateful for:

Photography - I love taking photos and I have since I was a kid. I've especially been interested in portrait photography lately. Thank goodness for my dad and his encouragement - he gave me my first bad ass camera!!
Fall - my favorite time of the year. Texas doesn't really have seasons, but the arrival of Fall means it's not hot as the seventh level of hell...
Strawberries - how can anyone not love strawberries? and I love that my baby boy loves strawberries too!
My treadmill - I know it gathers dust... but I have the OPTION of walking any time I want!!
Mouth wash - Do I really have to explain this one??
That I remember my Great Grandma - She was so pretty and so strong.
Headphones - So I can block out all the noise at work.
My corner chomper - just the name is cool! I love rounding corners...
Bryan's teachers this year - they rock! They are intelligent, caring and supportive. It makes a total difference. Trust me!
Smiles - They are contagious. I try to tell my boys that they can spread a good mood by smiling at people.
Internet/email/instant messenger - How I wish they had been around while I was globe trotting as a kid.
Cub Scouts - They have been so good for my oldest son, even though he can't stop whining about a stinkin sweater that is in the laundry right now. ;)
Audio Books - I know I shouldn't be grateful for these since nothing beats picking up a real book, but considering life's hectic schedule - these little jewels are a god send. The alternative would be never ever "reading" a book.
Fuzzy socks - they just rock! Speaking of.... I think I'll go put some on now.
Backup up discs of photos - trust me on this - do it! Have I mentioned that I HATE Best Buy? Thousands of dollars to recover March of 2005 to April 2008 photos!! No, I didn't pay and yes I still want to vomit about losing all of those photos!
Cricut - Just became an owner of a Cricut not too long ago. It's WAY cool!
Dates with my boys - I try to have individual dates with each of my boys on a regular basis. I love that one on one time with them.
Cell phones - how did we ever survive without them?? And what's a land line?
Children's Hospital of Dallas - WOW! It's hard to put into words how wonderful this place is and what amazing people work there. The facilities are truly geared towards making kids more comfortable and less afraid. The people are so kind and professional and seem to really care about children!
Scrapbookpictures.com - How cool is it that I can have prints made in ALL kinds of sizes? They have great customer service too!

Whew!! Did you actually read all of those?? One more list tomorrow.

Repressing the Grouch

2009-11-21T19:16:00.003-06:00

I'm a bit grouchy today. I don't really know what the deal is. I can see myself from a distance being moody, but I can't do much about it. On a good note, thinking about the things that I'm grateful helps. I know that sounds so corny, but it's true. I admit it, when I first sat down to think about five things I am grateful for today, it wasn't coming easy. I was definitely looking at everything from an extremely negative angle. However, after dwelling on it for a bit, I came up with my five AND I'm in a much better mood as a result.

Education - I am so grateful for all of the different schools (16 total) that I went to by the time I graduated. It is one of the reasons I can talk to a wall right now... if only a wall could talk back. LOL! And seeing how others percieved their educations was really interesting to me. I loved school!
The Dallas Zoo - what's better than spending the day at the zoo with my babies??
DVD's - OK, movie night with my boys is way fun too! We are movie freaks for sure!
Blankets & Pillows - plus movie night?? HELLO! Snuggling while watching a good movie rocks!
Captain Crunch - totally craved this while pregnant. I don't care that it cuts the roof of your mouth, it's still yummy!!

So, if you're in a funk, think about all the blessings in your life and you're sure to improve your mood.

Yesterday

2009-11-20T08:45:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was a total beat down. It amazes me that I can get so stinkin tired going back to work after only 2 days off. As a result, I didn't even turn my computer on when I got home. So... here is my list of things I am thankful for from yesterday AND today:

The Dallas Arboretum - I really do enjoy that place. I don't think we've even seen the whole thing yet, but it has offered me a place to get some really great shots of my kids.
Any kind of music - Brandon claims that my iPod is schizophrenic. But you name the genre, I have a sample of it on my iPod. (except for maybe rap, never really got into that) I'm trying to expose the boys to lots of different types of music too.
I'm American! I know there are a lot of people out there that wouldn't see this as a positive, and they are entitled to their own opinion. But I am proud of my country and that I can call it my home.
For my Latin heritage - I love that I can be American and still be proud of my heritage. There is certain amount of guilty pleasure I take in knowing that my family is so different. The way my parents met, the place I was born, etc. Only a military family would get it.
Great friendships - I've met so many people in my life and no matter that we flittered in and out of contact with each other, I still cherish every friendship I've ever had. In some way, each of them helped shape who I am today.
The rain - it's raining today and I absolutely love it! I love the smell of rain in the air, the cloudy sky, the sound of it hitting the windows. I love thunder and lightning and curling up with a good book or a snuggly baby.
Mama Lita - I am so grateful that my boys have been able to meet her and hug her and let her know that they love her.
Air Conditioning - I live in Texas...enough said.
Enchiladas - YUM...thanks for teaching me mom.
Paint - I love that I can change a whole room with just a coat of paint. It keeps me from wanting to move, it keeps me from getting bored. (my husband is not so thankful for this)

So, there is my list. I'm off on a mission right now. A mission to find some photos of some of those great friendships. Also, I hope to spend some time creating - maybe I can manage a couple of layouts about the things I am thankful for.

Today I am Thankful

2009-11-18T09:22:00.004-06:00

I am enjoying my list and today I made my parents give me a list of their own 5 things for today. Here are mine for today:

I am employed. Given that Brandon is still looking for a job after being laid off last summer, I am most sincerely grateful that I have a job. And it's a bonus that it's a job I enjoy.
I love that I can wear jeans and sneakers. I am so not a dress up person, so wearing jeans is a major plus!!
My house - I LOVE my house. It's older, but roomy and beautiful!!
Japanese Blossom lotion from Bath and Body Works. The scent is just relaxing to me.
My car - so that I can escape anything anytime I want. Thank goodness for that freedom.

Thoughts of Gratitude

2009-11-17T20:21:00.008-06:00

I had a really great night last night and super day today. My parents arrived from Baghdad yesterday afternoon safe and sound and we spent all day together. My dad gave me my Christmas present early - yeah! I'm so spoiled!

Here is my list of 5 things that I am grateful for today:

My new camera!! Sooooo excited!!!

Grandma and Grandpa - I really love the time they spend with us and especially with the boys, who are so lucky to have both sets of grandparents and 2 great grandmothers in their lives!

My childhood overseas - I was so lucky to be exposed to so many different places and cultures as a kid. I am truly grateful to my parents for this.
My faith. I love being Catholic, I love the traditions and I love that my husband encourages my faith.
Scrapbooking - after countless attempted hobbies, this is the one that I have stuck with for 11 years. What other hobby could provide a great creative outlet, therapy and produce something that my kids love to look at??

Hoping you are finding many, many things to be thankful for as well...

Another Beautiful Day

2009-11-16T10:40:00.002-06:00

It's cold outside and I'm loving it!! Finally a sign that Fall is here - gotta love Texas and its total lack of seasons! I'm toying with the idea of stoking up the fireplace today. Just because I can. Hehe.

I have a lot to be thankful for today, so here's my 5 for the day:

My parents arrive in less than 3 hours!! YEAH!! I can't wait to see them.

Reader comments - I love, love, love seeing comments on my blog. I don't mind feeling like I'm talking to myself, but somehow seeing comments makes me happy, less lonely and it's just as excited as getting a piece of good mail. :)

Cinnamon apple scented candles - it's the absolute best way to make it feel like the holidays are here. It smells like Christmas.

Indoor plumbing - I'm just saying... life without a shower would suck! Having to go in an outhouse would suck even more.

Good health - That the people I love most in the world are healthy, both physically and emotionally. I am truly grateful for that.

More to come tomorrow... Loving my list. It really makes me realize how very blessed Iam.

Thankful

2009-11-15T19:06:00.003-06:00

As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to take time to focus on what I am so very thankful for. So many times, we go through the motions during the holidays, while being inundated with commercials and ads about all the toys, gadgets and so on that we need to get for our loved ones. While I am NOT a fan of Black Friday (I have only experienced that nightmare once and that was enough), I do love buying stuff for my family members. Of course, along with the purchases, there comes stress. Stress to find the right thing, stress to keep within a budget, stress over who to buy for... This year, the belt is tight, but I want to really take the opportunity to be thankful and to teach my kids to be thankful, to share that amazing feeling and to understand that the best gifts we have can't be bought for 40% off on Black Friday...

So, I'm going to share here 5 things I am thankful for (in no particular order) every day until Thanksgiving. While I'm making my own list here, I plan on having my boys make their own lists of gratitude as well.

I'm grateful for...

Brandon - who occasionally says the most perfect thing. (like today's: "everything I do in this house is to make you happy" - ya he made me smile).

Bryan - who is at an age when he's sooooo much fun to talk to.

Joshua - who has a super amazing imagination.

Coffee - because it keeps me sane. Seriously.

Pledge - because it really is amazing to see what my wood furniture is REALLY supposed to look like after a good dusting!!

So, what are you thankful for today?

Here's my sanity check:

Little Boy Rooms

2009-11-13T22:50:00.003-06:00

Today I spent most of the day sorting through toys, hanging wall art, and pulling out brand new, never-been-used Disney Cars bedding. It was exhausting and I am nowhere near done sorting through toys. Seriously, it's almost embarrassing how many toys I've gone through... On the flip side, Joshua has been very generous and not at all upset about the toys we've put aside to donate.
We still need to work on it, but after the rocking paint job (come on! What little boys who is way into cars wouldn't like racing stripes painted across his walls?), a photo collage made by one awesome Grammy, a stop light and the new bedding, I have to admit the room looks incredible! Joshua was so excited about everything that it was super easy to get him to bed tonight and big brother even agreed to lay down and watch a movie with him. BONUS!
Now, will they get along or will I have to split them up??? We'll just have to wait and see...

Blogging for Scrapbookers

2009-11-13T00:23:00.007-06:00

I'm taking my first online class from http://www.shimelle.com/. Although, I've been blogging since the end of 2006, I think there is definite room for improvement. I'm not the most consistent person in the world (and boy, do I wish that was the case) and I'm not the most articulate either...

There are a few things I hope to get out of this class:

Some tips and tricks on blog design (I have already benefited in this department)

Some friendly reminders pertaining to writing techniques

I would love for this to help me develop some habits - like maybe posting more frequently

I want to develop my blog into, not only a place to keep family and friends up to date, but a place I can go back to in order to jog my not-so-spectacular-memory. I love to scrapbook, but I find myself forgetting the details so often. It would help to be able to come back here and say "oh ya, that's what I wanted to remember about Christmas morning 3 years ago". Cause let's face it, I am never, ever, even remotely close to being current on my scrapbooks. That doesn't bother me and wouldn't bother me even more if Iknew I had those little things that I THINK I will remember recorded somewhere.

So, for the next few weeks, I'll be learning new things and working on my posts and hopefully picking up some good habits. I'm only about a week behind and I did lesson 7 before I did lesson 1, but hey - I'm doing it...

Before the day gets away from me

2009-11-11T20:59:00.005-06:00

I have a quote that is one of my all time favorites. It goes like this:

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that the place will be proud of him." - Abraham Lincoln

Today is Veteran's Day and like so many people around the country, I want to give thanks to the men and women in uniform. Thanks for their dedication, sacrifice and bravery.

I grew up in a military family and have a monumental amount of pride in, not just my country and our military, but pride in my dad. He has always been my hero and will always be a source of comfort and safety. And what an amazing role model he is for my boys.

After years in the military he's still off having amazing adventures with mom. Although, he isn't here where I can see him on a daily basis and I miss him (I miss both of them), I am so insanely proud of the man he is.

So, Happy Veteran's Day (and I love ya Papa!)

A video for Grammy and Papi

2009-10-10T09:13:00.002-05:00

Birthday Boy

2009-10-09T22:10:00.002-05:00

Bryan had a birthday last month. We celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa the weekend before and then just the four of us the actual day of his birthday. He is growing up so fast. It's hard to believe at times and it makes me feel so old! ;) He's still totally into Legos. I can't wait to post some of his projects once he finishes. He's working on a grocery store and some Star Wars stuff and the Eiffel Tower. I'm going to have to add onto my house just to make a place to display all of his work!

Our Family and All the Chaos of Life

Christmas with beautiful girls

Thanksgiving 2011

Christmas Photos

The last few months:

Happy Thanksgiving!

These ones will make you smile too!

Makes me smile...no, it makes me laugh

More of our week

July 4th Parade

Joshua and Me - All Week Long

Today

Today

Twighlight Camp Part II **Again with the Pictures...**

Twilight Camp 2011 **WARNING: Picture Heavy**

End of year pool party

Graduation

Easter - I know...a little late

Random Photos of Others

Attitude Adjustment

The violin

Home-made

Easter

Just playing

Camp Cards and Packing for Camp

Pouting

Work it Brett!

Class of 2011

Prom Night

Despite the crowds...

Me and My Boys!

Quazi Cruise

Snow in Texas....Again

Shorty's First Pinewood Derby

Christmas

Christmas Eve

Happy New Year!

Skipping some...

My December Baby

My boys

HIS Campout

Unsteady

Back to the farm

He flew!!! FINALLY!!

The Birthday Boy

Singing and Scouts

New Floors (and dining room walls)

The First Day

August

Yes, I'm still here

Time for a change

Such a Beauty!

My little man

Pool season is finally here...

Having fun with actions

Get Schooled

Random snapshots at the zoo

ALRIGHT

The end of a chapter.

Random flower pics (and maybe 1 or 2 boys)...

Snow Flakes in TX

Procrastination and bad habits...

Hello Again...

A First and the Pic of the Day

Housecleaning and Blueberry Tea

Catching Up

Favorites from the holidays

So Bad at This!!

Holy Moly!!

Repressing the Grouch

Yesterday

Today I am Thankful

Thoughts of Gratitude

Another Beautiful Day

Thankful

Little Boy Rooms

Blogging for Scrapbookers

Before the day gets away from me

A video for Grammy and Papi

Birthday Boy

Twighlight Camp Part II Again with the Pictures...

Twilight Camp 2011 WARNING: Picture Heavy