14 years ago today...

at 11:47 A.M. Jerrad Douglas was born. Jerrad surprised us 4 weeks early! He weighed 6 lbs. 10 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. Although he was early he was healthy! He was just very little!

Stuff about Jerrad...

...Steve could hold Jerrad in one hand when he was little.

...went shopping when he was two days old (had to go for preemie clothes cause everything was huge on him).

...Jerrad was bald! He finally got baby fine hair and didn't get his 1st haircut til he was almost 2.

... his middle name Douglas was Steve's uncles name (he passed away when Steve was a boy).

...Jerrad was the only name Steve and I agreed on (although I got to spell it...like no one else does).

...he slept through the night by the time he was 7 weeks old!

...broke his arm (two weeks before starting 4th grade) when he fell giving Jacob a piggy back ride!

...he loves sports.

...he is hard working and outgoing.

...he does not want to disappoint his parents, especially his dad.

... Jerrad was the first grandchild on both sides of the family for 3 years (yes, he was quite spoiled).

...he is an awesome guitar player (he teaches himself to play songs by ear!).

...he is very funny.

...he wants to be a ROCKSTAR!

To have started out so little he has grown so much! They did height and weight at school the other day and Jerrad was 5 ft. 8 in. and 130 pounds. He is growing into such a nice young man. I can't believe my baby will be starting high school this fall. Time really does fly by!

I don't want time to go any faster but I can't wait to see how Jerrad continues to grown and what he does with his life. He seems to have a very good head on his shoulders right now. He seems to know what he likes and doesn't and whats good and whats bad. I only hope high school doesn't change him. I hope he sticks to what he knows and what he believes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JERRAD! We love you very much!

Memorial Day Weekend...

After much back and forth between Galveston and San Antonio...it was decided that we'd go to San Antonio. It was a lot of fun. The four of us went along with Curtis, Kristy, Carson and Kamry. For it Kristy and I it was quite a whipping after doing field week all (and by all I mean 5 days from open to close!) week. Lots of being on your feet (for which mine are paying greatly!). Besides that it was a lot of fun and I really think the kids enjoyed it.

We got up and left Saturday morning. Kristy and I decided at the last minute we should probably do breakfast. We met at the IHOP and had breakfast before hitting the road.

Once we got to San Antonio we checked in and dropped off the luggage. Then we headed to The Alamo. Ok, none of us knew exactly how to get there! Curtis was in the lead first and we went the wrong way. Then Steve was leading and went the wrong way! We all ended up there but neither cars got there the same way!

Saturday was HOT! The Alamo is really neat and the grounds around it are beautiful. We even visited the gift shop this time to go somewhere that had air! I'm not sure how much Jake got out of it. He and Carson were busy talking. Jake did recognize some names from stuff he learned at school and a report he'd done. I think Jerrad understood a lot of it more. He had Texas History last year and they'd gone more into what had happened there. But the question both my kids wanted to know was why it did not look "exactly" like it did back then. They didn't understand why they'd rebuilt parts of it and where were all the old walls and stuff that are in the pictures in their textbooks?!?! I think they were expecting it to be in the middle of no where not in the middle of downtown!

After the Alamo we walked down the river a little. Then up to the street. Then the kids got to experience public transportation for the first time riding the bus to the Market Square. We walked all around the market. The kids didn't seem to impressed with that. Then we waited well over an hour to eat at La Margarita. It was so good. I don't think its as good as Uncle Julios but its almost there. After eating (and the kids all getting tatoos!) we visited several street corners trying to figure out where we needed to be to catch the right bus back to the river walk. We ended up on a trolley this time. Got back to the river and road the boat. They usually close at 9:00 but they were BUSY Saturday night and kept selling tickets!

After such a busy day we had promised the kids they could swim at the hotel. They said the pool closed at 10:00 but if we were quiet they could swim til 11:00. Trying to keep four kids quiet in a pool is nearly impossible! I was sure they'd get kicked out!

Sunday was another day on the go! We all had breakfast at the hotel and then headed out to Sea World. I really think the kids enjoyed this. It was busy there! I think their favorite was the Shamu show. We went to see if first. It was lots of walking again. I can't even begin to tell you everything we did. Of course you know I didn't ride anything! I don't like that stuff. I think Jake takes after me too. At the end of the day I realized he hadn't ridden anything either. Jerrad did. He likes all that stuff. Steve road one coaster and it made him feel yucky, which he knew it would. That was the first and last for him for the day! I think Steve and Jerrad's big highlight was they actually touched a dolphin. We got there too late to be able to feed them but they stood there long enough with their hands out that they came by and they touched one! Poor Jake was upset he didn't. His little arm would only reach so far. If he'd gotten any farther on that ledge he'd have fallen in. Guess he could've said he swam with the dolphins!

On the way home we drove through Austin for the kids to see the state capitol. Being a holiday I never thought about it being opened. We got to walk through it and the kids got to look around. I think they thought that was pretty neat.

It was a really good time for a short little vacation!

Watch the slide show at the top of my blog to see pics from our weekend.

5th Grade Field Day...

Jacob signed up for four events. He did the softball throw, 400 yard relay race, obstacle course and jump rope. While trying to watch these events I was also suppose to be running the concession stand with Kristy (side note she and I have been there everyday from 7:30 A.M. to almost 4:00 P.M.). I did get to see the softball throw. He did ok but didn't get a ribbon for that event.
In the madness of the concession stand I missed the relay race. Jacob said his team came in fourth. Not too bad. I did get to watch the obstacle course and he was moving pretty fast! I wasn't sure how fast but compared to some of the other kids I didn't think he did bad.
I also got to watch the jump rope contest. He was fourth in that too! Really, why don't they give out fourth place ribbons?!?!?! I went back to my post at the trailer and time was flying by! They did a ribbon ceremony, which I missed! One of the moms came out to say it was all over and she said "Oh, and Jacob won a ribbon!". Yes, my little man won 3rd place in the obstacle course! Sweet stuff. I think it made him feel pretty good. So, since I missed the photo op in the gym we did it out front of the school with the Miller Maverick mascot! I know he could've cared less but it had to be done!
I think I might die of exhaustion before Friday! I didn't realize selling stuff could make you so tired! Of course there is the opening of the day and closing the thing down too. That might have a little to do with it! Oh well, its all for the kiddos and of course Kristy and I have got to spend the whole week together! Can't pass up that opportunity!

Happy Birthday Kristy!

My "person" is having a birthday today! I feel like I have known her forever. Truth is we met almost 4 years ago. Many people think we've known each other longer. Many (especially at school) don't know what to think when they see one of us without the other one! Our first 3 years of our friendship was spent teaching preschoolers. Must be how we got to know each other soooo well...you can only have a very limited conversation with a classroom of 3 year olds! There were many nap times that it was a wonder any of them could sleep for us causing such a commotion. There have been sad times and serious times but there has been way more laughter! We've laughed to the point we've hurt or almost peed our pants! When Kristy told me that she was going to quit teaching preschool to work for her dad when Kam started Kindergarten I was sad. I don't like change and Kristy knows how I don't like change! I thought about it and I really didn't want to teach with anyone else. So, I took that as a sign I needed to leave too and do something else (still trying to figure out what that something else is!). I was afraid that not working together we'd drift apart as friends! Who was I kidding...that hasn't happened! We see each other every afternoon when we pick up the kids but yet we never seem to run out of things to have to text each other about during the day!

I don't have a way with words like Kristy does. I love to read her blog. She is so funny!

How do I describe Kristy...

....the best friend someone could have

....a wonderful mother

....a loving person

....a caring person

....just as OCD as I am

....someone you can laugh with

....someone you can cry with

....understanding

....sweet

....thoughtful

....giving

There are probably many more but this is what I got now! So, happy birthday and enjoy your day! I love you friend! Your the best!

P.S. I won't tell anyone your only 29!

P.S.S. You are only 9 months and 3 days younger than me! (She likes to make it out that I'm so much older than her!) lol

P.S.S.S. I was going to put a mushy best friend poem on here...when you search best friend poems...either they are talking about dogs that died or everyone that wrote one their best friend died...they were horrible!

Arena Football League...

I saw my first arena football game last night. Robby, Sherry, Steve and myself got to to the Service King suite at the American Airlines Center to watch the Dallas Desparados.

It was fun. It is a fast moving game! I think the boys would love to see one of those games. I want to go back and take them. Too bad its almost the end of their season. Only two home games left!

We did see a guy break his ankle. Not sure what happened but his foot was going the wrong direction! It looked very painful! If I'd been that guy I'd been screaming!

Happy Mother's Day

WAL-MART is OPENED!

Many of you might think this a bit odd but we are very excited about our new Wal-Mart. If you have visited the two nearest Wally's you would know why. Wal-Mart on Cooper (or the United Nations, as Kristy calls it) is just old. I remember going there with Jennifer Norton when I would visit Texas when I was a teenager. I've been married almost 17 years so that Wal-Mart has been there much longer. Besides being old tons of people flock there and you can find every kind/type there is! Then Wal-Mart in Mansfield opened. That one was tons better until they did their "remodel". I just don't feel right in there. It's just different and to me it doesn't flow well! I feel like they've moved stuff and aren't done but they are done!

It is so bright and shiny and NEW! I can't wait to go buy groceries there! Here is some neat stuff the press release said about this store.

The store was built to complement the surrounding area, with stone accents, red tile roofs over the entrances and a palette of muted desert colors. A wrought iron fence surrounds the perimeter of the parking lot, which is shaded by several mature trees and features extensive landscaping. Residents from nearby neighborhoods can easily walk or bike to the store on the concrete walking path with lights that resemble antique lanterns.The new store was constructed with energy efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste.

The freezer cases and non-sales areas of the store have LED lights and sensors that automatically shut off the lights when those areas are unoccupied or customers are not present. LED lighting throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. Customers will notice hundreds of skylights, which harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. In addition, the cement used in the store’s concrete flooring is made with recycled materials and the floor’s finish reduces the need for chemical cleaners.

On top of all of this...it is so close! It is closer for me to run there for bread, milk, etc. than to go to Albertson's or Kroger! I'm gonna love this!

"My Person"

You have to read Kristy's post! She made me cry! I'm such a lucky person to have this "person" in my life!

Oh and I LOVE GREY'S ANATOMY! Yes, Kristy got me hooked on it!

http://www.the-gile-family.blogspot.com/

This is what happens...

when it is left up to me to take care of a plant! I have had this stone vase/planter thing for probably two years! I really like it but I managed to kill the ivy that use to be in it. Then I put some fake poinsettias in at Christmas. Well, I got another planter thing at Canton and really wanted a couple of plants for the living room. One is still sort of alive (it might make it on the blog before you know it) but this one I think has bit the dirt! I was hoping it could hold out til Mom got here and helped me a little but I had to throw it out last night. It just looked too sad sitting there all limp and dead like! So, don't make fun of the fake one I posted a few weeks ago that I put in my room! This is why that one is FAKE!