~~ Lunch ~~

It has been a couple of weeks now and well, still no calls for sub jobs. No biggie really, because I got to have lunch with my sweet friend Rachel at one of our favorite restaurants-Chili's. Chili's changed up their menu, so I thought I'd try something new. These mini tacos were delicious!




Thanks for lunching with me Rach, it was a blast as always!

~~ Cheese ~~

Can I get a LITTLE wine with that Cheese?

~~ Ready. Set. Shred. ~~

I went to Target today and this is what I came home with:



It is part of the Resolution and the never ending battle to get in shape.

I get to pick Jesse up from school now every day and it is one mile there and one mile back! If the weather is nice I plan on walking so I thought a pedometer would be fun to see just how many steps I take a day. If I can remember to "save" the number I'll post it.

The weights are for my workout with Jillian. She says I can lose 20 pounds in 30 days.....we'll see about that. I am going to try, try, try to do it everyday.....we'll see about that too.

Today was Day 1 and it was 20 minutes of not so much fun exercise, but I did it!

~~ The Pick Up ~~

Today when I dropped Jesse off at school he was so excited to tell his teacher that I would be picking him up this afternoon. No more riding the bus after school to daycare. The very first time since school started that I have ever picked him up from school, except that time I had to take him to the emergency room for stitches or the time we went out of town one Friday afternoon or the time I picked him up for a doctor's appointment. Okay, so I have picked him up from school, but those times were different and don't count because, well, I picked him up early those days and had to go through the office to sign him out and they went to his class and got him.

But today, today I was there when the bell rang and school got out. I got there about 5 minutes early and waited at the front of the school. The bell rang and out came the first kindergarten class, then the other 2 kindergarten classes. I waited a couple more minutes. Okay, where are they? I finally asked one of the teachers.

Turns out Jesse's class comes out the side door and waits by the playground. I thought, great now I'm going to be late. It worked out though, I was there before him and Oh My Goodness was he EXCITED to see me when his class walked out. The smile on his face was HUGE. I have to admit that I was pretty excited too. It was an AMAZING feeling to see how much it meant to him that I was there.

It was a beautiful day, so I decided to walk up to school to pick him up which meant we got to walk home. He was so sweet, he held my hand and we talked about his day.



It's a little blurry, but you can kinda see that big, happy smile.

We picked up Michael, went to gymnastics, and when they got home there was a moment of brotherly love.





It was a GOOD, GOOD day!

~~ Cloudy ~~

with a Chance of Meatballs

Our first weekend home since the beginning of the New Year, and our first family fun movie night, well, afternoon. I had big plans for last night, but the boys were, well, I'll just say they were too tired.

We snuggled and ate popcorn and it was great! Next time we will invite Daddy!

~~ Pajama Parade ~~

It wasn't just another ordinary Friday at Michael's school today. Oh no, it was pajama day! We often have these days at home, but this is a first for him at school. Not only did they get to wear their pajamas all day at school, they had a little pajama parade. It was so cute all the kiddos walking around in their pj's. He decided to go super hero and wore his Batman pj's. Here is a picture of him and a few of his classmates in their pj's parading--some of them brought baby dolls, blankets and some even wore their house shoes.

I love little boy pajamas!

~~ 10 Years Too Long ~~

Once every 10 years or so circumstances allow me the chance to visit with my old friend, Jena. I really don't remember the last time we saw each other, we tried to figure it out at breakfast, but it was early and I wasn't doing the math right. My guess was mid-1998. I know she came to visit, here, when Sierra was a baby (97?)and I made a quick weekend trip (another, long story) to Nashville to visit her (98?). I know that it was before Feb 1999 when Alyssa was born.

Point is, it had been way too long since we have seen each other. We had breakfast before we headed home. Email is great, but there is nothing better than sitting down, having a cup of coffee or soda and talking with one another. I love that after so many years we can sit down and talk like no time has passed.

Thank you Jena for getting up early and meeting me for breakfast. I had a super time catching up and laughing!!

~~ Michella ~~

Today my cousin Michella said, "I DO!"

I can hardly believe that she is old enough to get married. It seems like just yesterday she was just a baby. I found this picture of her and her mom and me and well, I guess we have all changed, just a little, over the past 20 years.

Here she is dancing with me at my wedding reception in 2000.

And here she is nine years later at her wedding reception dancing with my uncle.

I'm kicking myself for not getting a picture of me and her together or even a good picture of her and her new husband-the ones from the church are blurry and the ones from the reception, well it was busy. This is one of the best pictures I snapped of the happy couple.

I am so happy that my family and I were there to celebrate and share her special day with her--she was an absolutely beautiful bride.

~~ Rainforest Cafe ~~

For the second weekend in a row we were out of town-seems like we are starting 2010 going, going, going. I haven't forgotten about the slow down part of my resolution.

Instead I'm focusing on the enjoying my family and friends part, which means heading out of town now and then.

So we headed to Dallas for my cousins wedding. Her wedding was at 12:30 Saturday afternoon and initially we were going to try to leave that morning, but we decided that was pushing it and we would be stressed and rushed. Since Phillip was able to take Friday off we went as soon as Jesse got out of school. Leaving a day early made the drive up a lot less stressful and we were able to check in to the hotel, go have a nice dinner and relax a little.

We thought it would be cool to take the boys somewhere fun to eat, so for dinner we drove to the Rainforest Cafe at the Grapevine Mills Mall. Phillip and I had eaten at the Rainforest Cafe years ago with the girls in Florida, so we knew the boys would enjoy it. And they did, we all did. The food was great, our waitress was great and the atmosphere was, well, great!

The boys and Cha Cha

Cha Cha souvenir cups

~~ What's For Lunch? And Dinner? ~~

I started today off running late--I woke up at 7:36 and Jesse is suppose to be at school at 7:45. I forgot to set my alarm, probably because I was depending on one of the boys waking up before 7:00-like they usually do. OH WELL. He made it to school before 8:00.

I took my time getting myself and Michael ready and it was probably 9:30 when I dropped him off. So nice not having to rush to get him to school before the bell rings.

I didn't have any big plans for the rest of the day, so I decided I'd surprise Jesse at lunch with some Taco Bell. He was surprised and he was SO excited! Just look at that smile!

Then I came home and started cooking. I've been wanting to try a couple of new recipes and since it is freezing cold, I thought I'd try some cold weather recipes.

First I made this:

Ghostly White Chili from HEB Showtime Magazine

1 1/2 lb ground turkey
1 tbsp minced garlic

2 tsp italian seasoning

2 tbsp flour

1 carton chicken broth

1 can petite diced tomatoes

1 can (15oz) white beans

Brown turkey. Stir in garlic, seasoning, and flour until nicely browned. Stir in chicken broth, tomatoes, and beans, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, uncovered.

Then I made this:

Banana Bread (my Grandmother & Great Grandmother's recipe)

1/2 cup shortening

1 1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 tsp soda

3 bananas mashed

Bake 1 1/2 hr at 300

Then I made this:

Potato Soup-recipe is my sweet friend's at No Onions

It was a lot of food and it was all SO good.
The chili was good, but I think it was too soupy, so next time I hold back on the chicken broth and maybe add some more or different kinds of beans.

There is nothing like a warm slice of banana bread fresh from the oven.

The potato soup was a huge hit with everyone, a new favorite at our house. I have to admit I wasn't sure about the bacon grease, but oh boy it was yummy!

~~ Hook 'Em ~~

My boys all smiles wearing their orange and white at the beginning of the BCS National Championship game-Texas vs. Alabama before Colt got hurt and the Horns struggled to stay in the game.
Although they didn't win, they came within 3 points before it went south, we are still proud Longhorn fans. Hook 'Em Horns, Baby!!

~~ Big Decision ~~

The decision made today was that I will start spending M/W/F 's with this handsome little devil:

I realize it has not even been a month since I graduated, but I knew that my chances of finding a teaching job mid-year would be, as my supervisor said, slim and none. It has also only been 2 days since students returned to school after the Christmas break. I am in the system to be called to sub when/if I am needed. However, there are probably 30+ recent graduates also "on call." Student teaching was NOT a paid semester and the cost of child care is outrageous.
SO.....a compromise of sorts.....He stays home with me 3 days a week and I will practice everything I learned the last 2 years teaching him. He goes to school 2 days a week and I am available to sub and practice (if I get called) everything I learned the last 2 years in the classroom.
It is win/win.
Bonus savings: I get to pick Jesse up from school everyday, so no after school care!
It just didn't make any sense paying to send him to school everyday when I am home all day not making any money. I'm excited to have some one on one time with my littlest man.

~~ 39 ~~

Yup, I turned 39 today.

the last of my 30's,

the end of my 4th decade,

the year befor the BIG 4-0.

Michael asked me if he could come to my party, it was so cute. I tried to explain to him that my birthday isn't like his birthday, there is no party. I haven't had a party in years.
It was seriously a GREAT day filled with lots of phone calls, emails, texts, and wall posts on facebook. I have amazing friends and family, I wish I could see all of them and celebrate with them.
Who knows, maybe next year I will have a birthday party at the roller rink and invite all my friends just like when I was, um, younger.

~~ Light Load ~~

We pulled into the driveway and as everybody jumped out of the car I said, "carry something in please." Michael is halfway into the garage and it appears as if he did not hear me. "Michael, you need to carry something in please." He turns to me and says, "I am." This is what he shows me....

Seriously? The straw and the lid from your Dairy Queen to go cup? Not the cup or the pillow or the blanket or the million toys, but the straw and the lid. That's my little helper!

~~ Rock Pile ~~

All they need to have a good time is a pile of rocks......

Sliding down, Climbing up, Rolling down, Running up and down, Picking up and dropping (not throwing) and even Licking (yes, I caught Charlyee licking one). The weather was beautiful and they all love being outside. They had a blast and they were covered with dirt to prove it!

~~ Happy 2010 ~~

Wow! Did 2009 fly by or what? I guess it is true...time does fly when you are having fun!!

We spent this New Year's Day traveling so I had lots of time to think--about the year that passed too quickly, about the year ahead, about resolutions, about what is important--

My resolution for 2010 is to slow down and enjoy life.

Don't get me wrong, it seems like every new year starts with many of the same old resolutions and this year is no different, but I really, really want to just not rush things. School kept me extremely busy for the past 2 years and it seems like I'm always too busy for my family and friends. I was busy and I probably will still be busy, but I hope to balance it better in 2010.

A few other things for 2010~

Continue to grow spiritually--challenge myself to read my bible in a year.

Keep in touch with family & friends--write/send cards more often, at least a special birthday note.

Spend more quality time with my boys--monthly/weekly family fun nights--movie, games, etc.

Get organized, scrapbook, learn to play the piano, learn to sew, run a 5K, exercise, try new recipes, read more, blog more.....the list could go on and on.

Balance-Slow Down-Appreciate