Cherish yesterday...Dream tomorrow...Live today...

April 24th...

2009-04-24T07:00:00.003-05:00

Another year has gone by. I still miss her. This song seems so fitting to the fact that Jennifer died too young. I often wonder who'd she would be today. I think of her often and wish we'd had more time together but I know that I will see her again someday! I love you and miss you!

Done...

2009-04-23T19:35:00.002-05:00

I think! At least for today! Hopefully when I get on here again...it will look the same and the blog monster won't have messed things up! :) You never know when he'll show up and screw your blog up! Seems that he got a hold of mine before and I couldn't fix it...Andrea couldn't fix it...so, I've had to go about it a different way...but its changed! YEA! Now maybe I can start blogging some things!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION...

2009-04-23T13:43:00.004-05:00

I am working on it AGAIN! Sometimes I think this blog is more trouble than its worth. I've left it alone for quite a while cause it was frustrating me! Then something happens that I think I want to blog about. I don't...cause I don't want to have to look at it cause I'm not liking the look of my blog. So, today I am trying to suck it up and figure out how to change the things I don't like. Next big project...creating my own background! If it never changes from this...you will know that once again I've gotten frustrated and quit. I'm trying! Hopefully you will see a nicer blog and background...sometime soon! :)

Lucky...

2009-03-06T17:24:00.002-06:00

little guy! Jacob has to be the luckiest kid at finding the steals at Wal-Mart. About a month ago he wanted that new credit card Monopoly. Those are like $35. He brought the game to me and said its not that much its on the wrong shelf. Yea...whatever. Just go scan it! He comes back telling me its only $5! So, today he wanted this Magnetix marble something. The original price on this thing is $88! The stupid thing scanned $10! I couldn't believe it! How lucky can one kid get? Wish I could find steals like that! :)

Do I really...

2009-03-06T17:21:00.002-06:00

look like such the nice person that the 20 year old cashier at Wal-Mart feels like she can tell me all about her problems with her parents. By the time I left she had told me she was stressed because her parents didn't like the way she dressed or acted and she was having to move out. She is only 20 years old and this is a lot to deal with...blah...blah...blah...on and on. Oh, and she had a fight with her best friend yesterday and yelled at him cause she is so stressed. Now she feels really bad about it! Weird!

Stupid blog...

2009-03-02T11:34:00.002-06:00

technical issues...working on...frustrated with...enough said! :(

Boards...

2009-02-15T09:37:00.004-06:00

these are boards that I have made recently {all thanks and credit goes to Andrea T. - I wouldn't have come up w/this on my own! :)}

The Pharmacy - Part 2...

2009-02-07T13:16:00.004-06:00

so, on Wednesday I did not go back and pick up the prescription. I dropped if off at 2:30. The pharmacy is down the street from Jake's school. Well, he gets out at 3:20. Thats why it being ready in one hour would've been great. But NO...they said an hour and a half. No reason to drive home just to turn around and go back and get it. I decided just to pick it up on Thursday. Well, you know the drive thru had a long line. I thought it would be quicker to go in! Not so much! Finally got to the counter and gave her the name on the prescription. She goes to the bin and looks. No prescription! Asks me the name again...checks the computer...checks the bin...checks the computer...walks around the pharmacy...verifies with me when I dropped it off and the name again...checks the computer (I'm thinking she's checked the computer 3 times and obviously its not shown to have been filled!). Finally I told her "if it makes a difference it will be in the safe." She goes the pharmacist...they open the safe...and I'll be - there it is! She comes back and I told her usually there is the paper form in the bin w/no medication and then they know to go to the safe and get it. She tells me..."by looking it up on the computer we can tell by the medication name if its in the safe or not." Ok thats all fine in great...you looked at the computer 3 times...your a pharmacy technician...why did I have to tell you its in the safe?!?!?!? Yeah, not so sure if CVS is the best place to go! I've had problems the last couple of times I have been there! Might have to rethink this!

The Pharmacy...

2009-02-04T15:46:00.002-06:00

why do they ask you what time you want to pick it up if after I tell them they tell me a different time cause it won't be ready? Really...why not just tell me what time I can pick it up!?!?

This is what happens...

2009-01-27T11:06:00.005-06:00

when you try to spray paint when its too cold outside!

I had painted a board purple. Wrong color of purple to match the picture I made. So, I bought a darker purple. Thought I'd just spray over the other color real quick. Let it dry. Pick up my pictures later and I'd be able to finish the board! Not so much! There is a reason the can of spray paint says best results when air and surface temperature are 50 to 90! It doesn't really care if you are in the garage or not! It made some kind of mess on my board. I guess I won't be doing any boards until this weather warms up! Hope its soon! I wanted to finish these!

The planner...

2009-01-16T18:08:00.003-06:00

this is what started the whole Photoshop addiction! Last Friday some friends got together and we made this!

Now - the green and brown was Andrea's. She is the brains behind all this madness. She created the whole thing and did hers over Christmas break. We absolutely loved it and had to have one! She agreed to help us and in the process it taught us some things on Photoshop (we knew nothing going into this!). Even though I have this awesome planner and I must say way cute - I can not take one bit of credit for it! It was all Andrea! YEA! I am doing creative things but only because I'm being instructed. I love doing it I just don't think in that type of creative way! I have to have help! :) So, the pink and brown one is mine and the blue and brown is Kristy's. I won't tell you that it took us all day - and I mean all day! From about 8:30 A.M. to about 7:30 P.M. We were on a mission and not stopping til it was complete. Oh well, we did take a break to eat lunch at On The Border (where else?) and pick up photos at Costco. There was also standing in line to get a membership! That took a little while. :)

I can't wait to print this!

2009-01-16T18:02:00.003-06:00

I hope the printed version of this page is as good as the picture on the computer. Or I just hope I did it all right and it prints correctly! This is my first 12 x 12 layout done on Photoshop. I absolutely love it! I found these great papers (free) on a blog that Kristy told me about! It so fun! I can see myself getting more scrapbooking done if I do it digitally. I still like paper but for at home when you don't want to drag all your stuff out - digital is the way to go! The kids are hating it cause I won't let them near the computer. :( But I've been busy creating!

Why are my kids so crabby in the morning?

2009-01-15T07:25:00.004-06:00

Seriously. My boys are not morning people. It amazes me every day of school I am downstairs hollering for Jacob to get up! At 7:00 I am hollering "You better get up now! You are NOT missing the bus!" Mostly cause I'm still in my pj's, not ready and like this morning...freezing cold! I don't do cold! He is less than pleasant about having to get up. Come Saturday morning though he'll be up at 7:00 watching TV! WHY?!??!

Then there was Jerrad. Usually we just don't talk to him in the morning. Its much more pleasant that way! Plus who are we kidding...he gets up at 5:45 and leaves for the bus at 6:40. I usually don't roll out of bed (to start waking Jacob) til 6:45. So, most mornings I don't even see him. Not this morning. Steve needed to borrow the digital camera Jerrad has for work. Well, he was less than pleasant about that...he was in the office studying (semester exams today). Right before he goes to catch the bus he comes in my bedroom and asks (a dumb question)..."Are the buses running today?" Me - "Why wouldn't they be?" Jerrad - "Cause we get out early today." Right...Jerrad they are going to let 3300 kids find other ways of transportation today and not run the buses! This is what...the 3rd year to take semester exams...to get out early on those days...and the buses have always ran! Does he realize that if the buses didn't run there would be no school? Does he realize that only happens when we have bad weather and the roads are bad? Does he realize that hardly ever happens...it is Texas. I can think of 2 maybe 3 times since he started school that they've had to cancel because of the bad roads! Not many!

The bright side...we have a 4 day weekend...we won't have to do mornings on Monday and Tuesday! Jacob better sleep til noon! I know Jerrad will cause he'll stay up late - since there isn't any school!

Tinker Bell...

2009-01-14T19:00:00.002-06:00

I was going to get this picture on here sooner but kept forgetting. My family was here for Christmas. As usual we end up splitting - the men/boys go find something to do and the women go shopping! We went to the Disney store and my sister, Andrea, bought my niece, Jennifer, this Tinker Bell outfit (complete w/little clear shoes!). She loved it. She wore it around all afternoon! But what was so cute was how funny she had to walk in those shoes! They were definitely made for looks and not comfort. Its like she wouldn't bend her feet and was walking stiff legged! But she wasn't taking the off - hurting or uncomfortable she still walked around here in them!

I FINALLY DID IT...

2009-01-14T14:03:00.003-06:00

I finally created my own custom header (with the help of Andrea - teaching me Photoshop and giving me the header measurements)! You have no idea how many hours of I have sat at this computer searching how to do this. Trying to do it. Getting frustrated. Searching some more. Trying some more. This has been going on for months. I would sit down after the kids went to school and play around with it and before you knew it I had to leave to go get Jacob! Thats pretty stinkin' sad to have sat here that long and accomplished NOTHING! Its not the fanciest header but its a start! Now that I sort of have an idea how to create it I can work on it and improve it (as I learn more in Photoshop)! I'm just glad to have something up there at the top! Thats a load off my mind. One thing I can mark off my to do list! :)

All caught up...

2009-01-08T12:13:00.001-06:00

sort of! I am caught up on e-mails! I got a tag e-mail (twice - same one) and a recipe exchange e-mail (twice - same one)! But I think I've done it all and sent if off (to more suckers!). :)

Jiggle Butt Run 2009...

2009-01-03T13:17:00.004-06:00

This morning (bright and early) my friends and I did a fun run/walk (called a run but you know...we walked it!). It was fun to spend time with friends. Of course all that walking built up and appetite and we had breakfast at IHOP before going home! :)

Christmas 2008

2009-01-03T13:15:00.002-06:00

I think I've waited too long to even be in the mood to blog about it. Really...I might just not be in the mood to blog. I'm kind of tired and probably could really fall asleep right now! Christmas was good. Just like it is every year. We got up Christmas morning and the boys opened gifts with Steve and I. Then we headed to Staci's house to have Christmas with Steve's family. We hung out over there for a while. My parents came into town. Came home and mom was making a cheese cake (for Steve) and I got everything ready for our dinner Friday night. That way it just had to be cooked and mom and I could go shopping Friday morning. Which we did! My sister and her family got here around 4:00ish, I think. Opened more gifts, ate a wonderful dinner and hung out. I think we actually all watched the movie Get Smart. Pretty funny. Saturday was more family time and hanging out. Steve, Jerrad, Dad, and Tommy met big Jacob and Mark and went to the gun range to shoot (new hobby for Steve and Jerrad). Me, Andrea, Mom, Katy, Jacob and Jennifer did some more shopping. Saturday afternoon we all went to Cheddar's for a late lunch and my family packed up to head home. Mom and Dad actually took Jacob with them. That felt a little odd him leaving me! It was good for him to get away with his grandparents by himself. Although he wanted Katy to stay and Meme and Papa's the whole time too so they could play. Jerrad and I went to OKC on Monday afternoon and stayed til Thursday morning. Then we came back home. It was a nice time but I was really ready to get home.

It's Over...

2008-12-28T16:08:00.003-06:00

I say the holiday time is officially over! Why you ask?! I have taken down all the holiday decorations. Once the gifts are open...its a done deal! Time to take it down! I enjoy them while they are out but once its done I like to get it all put away and get my house back in order! I do miss all the smiling snowmen! I just see no reason to leave it all up after all the family is gone and there are no presents under the tree! :(

I will have to post pictures later. I am on the laptop and all my pictures are on the computer in the office. Being lazy right now! I've also got pics from ICE at the Gaylord Texan. That was pretty impressive.

I will try to get all my post and pictures done later tonight or tomorrow. I've got to make a run to the Wally and get a few things. I think Jerrad and I are going to Oklahoma either Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. I haven't decided yet! Jacob went home with my parents on Saturday so I guess I'll have to go sometime so I can get him back. Although I think he'd be perfectly happy staying with his Meme and Papa!

Merry Christmas...

2008-12-21T16:16:00.005-06:00

this is my Christmas present. It won't really fit under the tree, so it will be staying in the garage! So, Steve and I were talking a few weeks ago about my Tahoe. Let me first tell you a little about my Tahoe...I always wanted one. Since the thing came out I wanted one. I patiently waited! Then March 2003 Steve went (on his own) and bought me one and drove it home! It was a surprise. I said it was the last car I'd own and I'd drive it til it fell apart. Well, it hadn't fallen apart but when I left it at the dealership last night I was about 250 miles from rolling over 100,000! Steve thought it might start having issues pretty soon and would rather get rid of it! He thought right now would be a good time to get one cause the car dealers are hurting to sell cars. I didn't think a lot about it cause if you know Steve you know that he researches everything to death. He will get the best deal. If it doesn't look like he will get what he wants he will walk out and just not do the deal! I didn't want to get too excited cause I knew it might not happen. So, he's been doing research and looking on the internet. My stipulations were 1) I want a Tahoe 2) it has to have the 3rd row and 3) I'd like leather. Oh and probably 4) I wanted white! And on Wednesday he says to me "we might just keep this one for a while cause I don't know that I want to spend the money on another one." Right! I saw that coming! Then yesterday he didn't want to sit at home. He wanted to go look. He was also trying to get me to look at a Toyota. He wanted me to consider a Sequioa???? I didn't even have to say no! He tried to sit in it! HA HA he didn't fit! The seat didn't go back far enough and it had a center console and his knees where in the dash! lol YEA...back to looking for a Tahoe! So, the short of the long story is...I got the Tahoe pictured above. It's a Tahoe, it has leather and it has the 3rd row! It is not white. I like the one above (color - stealth grey metallic) just have to get use to it. Steve said I was not trading a white Tahoe for another white Tahoe! He said you don't buy another car the same color! Well, you do if you don't like change! I really do like it! Its just different. The inside is light tan where my other one was charcoal - dark colors. Thats a big difference! I really do like it and I'm excited. Just afraid to get too excited...like its not real! If you know Steve he does not mess around and take big purchases lightly. I can't believe he'd buy me another Tahoe and tell me its my Christmas! Geez, what am I suppose to get him?!?!?!? No pressure!

6th Grade Holiday Party...

2008-12-21T16:14:00.002-06:00

Friday was the last day of school before Winter Break. Friday was Jacob's last Holiday Party as an elementary school kid! Next year there won't be any room moms, planning, sending stuff and partying! Kind of sad but a nice break for a mom that has been doing this since Jerrad was in Kindergarten...10 years ago! WOW!

I think the 6th graders enjoyed it. What kid doesn't like getting fed?!?! By 5th and 6th grade they are pretty much done with the craft making at their parties. Not many of them are into that. So, last year and this year we did a gag gift exchange! This goes over great! They love it! They are all given a number. Person #1 opens a gift. Person #2 can steal person #1's gift or open a new one. And it just goes on and on. To save time we only let each gift get stolen twice. If you don't make it dead...the game goes forever. There is always a few gifts that EVERYONE wants!

I think it was a fun time. Jacob ended up "stealing" a gift. He wanted the bear mittens! Little did he know that was one of the gifts I had provided! That was one that several kids wanted too. He stole them the second time so that made that gift dead! YEA for him!

Skate Park???

2008-12-18T10:22:00.003-06:00

Lately Jacob has been playing with those fingerboard skate boards or otherwise known as Tech Decks. He has two pieces to the Tony Hawk SK8 parks thing. He asked for several more for Christmas. In the meantime, I guess this is his skate park. I found this in his bedroom floor when I went upstairs this morning! Yes, those are bowls from the kitchen! He also used PS2 games, a yearbook, he has cut up boxes and taped up a "half pipe". I really like the two large skate ramps - that came from the garage! Yuck! They've skated on those outside! I'm sure those aren't dirty!

Service King Christmas Party...

2008-12-18T09:43:00.003-06:00

Thieves...

2008-12-18T09:24:00.003-06:00

So, yesterday morning my alarm goes off at 6:30 A.M. I lay there until about 6:40 when I jump up realizing the alarm at 5:45 did not wake me up! (I was suppose to put a 20 pound ham in the oven for Steve's shop lunch) I go in the kitchen stick the ham in the oven. I get back in bed for a few minutes. Jerrad leaves to catch the bus, Steve leaves (all around 6:45). I can't doze off for a few extra winks of sleep cause the dog is on the side of the house my room is on barking her head off! She never barks unless someone is outside that she doesn't know. Well, on the other side of the wall is a sidewalk. I just figure someone is walking and she'll stop - eventually. As I'm listening to her bark I hear tires squealing. Think nothing of it. Its about 6:55 and I get up to get Jake up. We go about the usual routine. He goes to catch the bus. There are two Arlington police cars out front and my neighbor across the street is talking to them! I wonder what could've happened. I get Jake off and I wait til I see my neighbor go to work and I call his wife to make sure everything is ok. The neighbor is a locksmith and he has two vans. A work van and his person van. He drives a different one home all the time. Just so happened the night before he'd driven his work van home. Well, someone had broke into it! But we are not talking about broke into it during the night. It had happened in like five minutes. They had done it between the time all the kids left on the bus, Steve left for work and the time my neighbors wife looked out the window! That was gutsy. People are leaving at all times for work. The high school kids are out there to catch the bus! Its crazy! My neighbors wife told me that she had gotten up after her high schooler left and heard our dog barking. She just happened to look out the window and noticed a car in front of her mailbox and she saw feet around the van and white tennis shoes. Being still half asleep she thought it was her husband. She went to the kitchen and looked a the time - 6:52. She paniced...that wasn't her husband - he is still in bed. She yells at him someone is breaking into the van! As he's getting up she walks outside and says "What are you doing?" There was a driver already in the car and the other two people jump in and the take off! Those were the squealing tires I heard! Our dog had been barking cause there were people out there! Steve and Jerrad both said they'd seen a car yesterday but paid no attention to it. Its still dark when they leave and yesterday it was drizzling too. Steve said he thought it was weird cause he backs out of the drive that way and he'd never seen a car in front of the other neighbors house at that time of morning. They had to have been sitting in it! Anyway, the neighbor thought that when they pulled away they'd turn left and they could get a license plate number. Well, they turned right. Which means they knew where they knew exactly where they were going. Cause when the cops came they came for the I-20 service road - they said they passed no car with the description she gave them. She said thats because they went the other way. The police said there is no outlet that way! OH YES SIR THERE IS! There is a sign that says No Outlet so people will stop going that way. The police didn't even know you could get out! Those people went that way so they knew. Either they came from that neighborhood or that area but obviously they'd scoped things out. I'm just thinking if I'd got up and looked out or something when the dog first started barking - they might've been caught! In that short of time they had gotten in the van and stole some very expensive tools! I still can't get over the fact that they would pick that time of day to do it! CRAZY! I hope they get caught!

Service King Christmas Party...

2008-12-14T20:31:00.004-06:00

what a night! Once again the Christmas Party was at Gilley's in Dallas in the Palladium Ballroom. Lots of people. Lots of drawings for all sorts of amounts of gift cards and even 2 plasma TV's were given away. They added something new this year...Service King Idol! Long story short is Rob and Steve were going to sing Man of Constant Sorrow from the movie O Brother Where Art Thou. Well, everyone knew so they decided to change it up and not tell anyone! This is what everyone at the party saw!

I must say it was pretty hilarious. You can tell the music (I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred) is sort of hard to hear for all the screaming and laughing! It was also hard to get a good video. The lighting on the stage makes it look really bad. Then Rob and Steve kept going seperate ways and I was trying to get bits of both of them. So, the video is not the best quality! They were the only act that actually made money!

Medicine...

2008-12-14T20:21:00.004-06:00

I have to tell on myself. This has to be one of the stupidest things I've done! Saturday morning we slept in. When I woke up I had that feeling my allergies were going to kick in. So, I got up to take my pill. I take a Claritin every morning. Jacob also take a pill for ADHD every morning. This particular morning I got my Claritin out. And its not in a bottle or anything. You have to peel it out of that foil/plastic packaging. So, I lay it on the counter. I open Jake's pill bottle and get his out. Pill still in my hand I get him a cup for water (he can't reach them in our cabinets that are built for 6 foot tall people!). I think to myself I'll get Jake some water and take my pill and then give it to him for him to take his pill. He's still not downstairs yet! Fill the cup up and pop that pill in my hand right in my mouth! About the time I'm swallowing and turning around I see my little white allergy pill on the cabinet! YEP! I swallowed the blue capsule! How do you mix those up? It was in my hand and I was totally not paying attention! I just started hollering at Steve! I took Jacob's pill! OH NO! Jacob walks up to me and says "you better be good today!". Judging for the affects I think its safe to say I'm not ADHD! I've read if you are not it does the opposite of what it does for a child with ADD. It didn't slow me down. I sort of felt a little funny. Kind of jittery on the inside. I felt like I could just go all day! Talk...oh my I felt like I could've talked forever (I know that seems normal - but it was lots more!). It was crazy. I do see how people have used that for dieting and could loose weight. I really understand how it suppresses Jacob's appetite. I certainly did not have one all day and we even went to Pei Wei for lunch! I had to get a box to go! I have to say that's one of the dumbest mistakes I've made!

Thursday night...

2008-12-14T20:10:00.005-06:00

Miller has started having these family fun nights. The staff did one on October around Halloween that was called Math-O-Ween. It was a night of math games. For one reason or another we didn't go. This month they had Traditions Around the World and it was using Social Studies. Jacob asked a week or so ago if we were going. I told him if he wanted to I'd take him. Ok, I swear I never heard him say one way or another! Well, Thursday afternoon I was going to ask him again and totally forgot. He went to play and I had started watching one of those Lifetime TV movies I'd recorded! It was about 6:45 when I thought "oh, I forgot to ask him". So, I thought maybe he'd forget. Well, not so much! At 7 as he is sitting down to eat dinner he asks "is that deal at school tomorrow night?" OH NO! I said had to tell him we'd missed it. He was not happy with me. He wanted to go! So, later that Kristy texts me wanting to know why I wasn't there. Then she tells me Jacob had artwork displayed! Jacob had told me that Mrs. Stroup had given him a couple of things to draw. I missed the part that they were pictures for the Traditions Around the World night! I felt so horrible! But my wonderful friend, Kristy, did take pictures of it for me! Just give me the Mother of the Year Award!

The Quilt...

2008-12-09T18:42:00.004-06:00

so, we had craft night at Kristy's on Saturday. Jennifer, Dawn and I worked on scrabble tile necklaces. So easy to make! We did this while Andrea showed Kristy how to make a rag quilt. It looked so simple. It was really cute. I wanted to make one. I took notes on what I needed and what size to cut everything. How hard could it be. Well, let me tell ya...if you get batting of the wrong thickness...it can be very hard. Ok...maybe not hard but it made it difficult. I'm kicking myself now for not stopping when I realized the batting was too thick and getting some that was thinner. That mistake will not be made twice. Since the batting was thick it kind of messed up the some of the stitching and not all the squares were exactly right. The back of the quilt looks like a train wreck. It will not be pictured here! No one will see it til I make one that turns out good!

Jerrad did tell me last night he'd be honored to have my first quilt. I told him he could have it or I'd probably have to send it off with the goodwill stuff! So, he is keeping it although its not perfect. Which might be good cause no telling what will happen to the poor quilt once it gets to his room! At least if he ruins it - I won't be devestated!

I am going to try to make another one. I think with the thinner batting it should be much easier and I think it will turn out better!

Teenagers...

2008-12-07T10:01:00.003-06:00

the things they will do when they are bored!

Things Jacob says...

2008-12-04T11:18:00.006-06:00

First I have to tell a little back story. Jacob has a way of loosing things or misplacing them! A couple of years ago after spending much of his birthday money at Toys R Us he lost his wallet. We were leaving and he decided to use his change in one to those machines by the exit. He laid his wallet down. Well, we where half way to the car when I thought were did his wallet go. I was going to put it in my purse. Cause I kept his wallet so he didn't loose it at home! I sent Jerrad running back in. There was a mother and her daughter at the machines. They said they didn't see a wallet. No one else had left the store. Who knows what happened to it. Jerrad swears that lady and her daughter took it. There is no proof. From then on Steve said he could not have any of his money he got. I've always kept it and his wallet. You know you forget and he takes it somewhere to spend money and I just forget to get it back. Well I took it back a couple of months ago when I found out that he had $100 cash in it! First reaction was he should not be carrying that around! Second, where did he get that money? Seems that these Bakugan toys he has been collecting...he has also been selling them at school! I put a stop to that real fast! Steve was a amazed he made that much money! He wanted to start selling them on eBay! lol So, I have the wallet again. Jacob got a good report card this last six weeks. Its been quite a while, if ever, since we've seen a report card with no "c's". A long time ago I had told the boys I'd give them so much money for each "A" and a little less for each "B". Well, Jakes grades have not been great so he has not seen this money! Well, this report card he added up what he should get. The sweet thing is so innocent he asked if he could have that much money out of his wallet! He was ok with that. I tried to explain I'd give him the money or buy something but I wasn't giving him his own money for his grades! He so funny! So, then he made a Christmas list. #7 on his list is...my wallet back!

Christmas...

2008-12-02T18:53:00.009-06:00

I love the holiday season! I love getting the decorations out and put them around the house. I love having the tree up! I like to listen to (some) Christmas music. Celine Dion's CD is my favorite! So, today I drug out all the decorations out of the attic. Got the tree up. I'm guessing that the last two years I have placed the tree in a corner. Therefore, only decorating three sides. Only buying and using enough garland for those three sides! Well, this year I decided to put it right in the middle of the window! See where this is going?!?! Not enough garland to go all the way around! Those pieces say 12 feet long but I just don't see it! One piece barely went all the way around the bottom. I wanted the tree in the middle so I headed to Hobby. On the way I got to thinking I'm not sure if I bought that garland at Hobby or Wally. Got to Hobby...nothing matches what I have! Great. I decided to go with white! After picking up several of those and some new ornaments I headed to the checkout. Standing in line and I think "oh, I should get cardstock to make my gift tags while I'm here." Head to scrapbooking. Pick up some cardstock. Head back to the front. "Oops...probably should get the stuff for Jacob's project as long as I'm here!" After I think I've gotten everything I finally checkout. Well, since I'm so close to a Wally I thought I'd just run in there and check to see if they had the same garland. Yes, I went to the United Nations on Cooper St. Luckily I parked close to the garden area and went in that side door. Quick in and out. Real quick cause they didn't have my garland either. So, back to redoing it in white! Got home. Took the old garland off and put the new on. Probably could've used one more strand but this will have to do this year (note...buy more before Christmas is over and save it for next year!). I start hanging the ornaments. Remember I said I bought some new ones. Well, I'm two short now! Yep, I dropped two of them while putting them on the tree! The wood floor was not forgiving. And they had glitter on them...now my wood floor is sparkly!!! I guess eventually it will come off!

I am way ahead of schedule this year. I've already wrapped all the gifts I bought this weekend. No, I'm not done shopping but I've wrapped what I've already gotten! Still shopping to do! My cards are done. Just need to get a picture of my family to put in them. The two we took this weekend did not turn out well. Hopefully I can get this done one night this week so I can get those in the mail.

I used my sewing machine! I made gift tags. Nothing fancy. Some look better than others. Mostly tags for kids so they won't be paying much attention to them anyway! Still learning the machine. Kind of scary! I think it will be fun once I get use to it. I might need some tips from Andrea and Kristy!!!! I can't wait to scrapbook and stitch a page!

Jerrad mowed and weed eated the yard this afternoon....so, that means tomorrow or Thursday I will get out there and put my lights in the yard. I love that too! All clear lights in the yard! I think its so pretty! One of these days maybe I'll get Steve convinced to put lights on the house! He use to at the other house. Of course that was easy. He used the staple gun to hang them up. He didn't even need the ladder. Just reached up and stuck those suckers up there. Well, now its a little harder! He has no interest in hanging them for a two story house! I was so determined to have lights the first year we lived here...I tried to hang them. I thought I could at least hang them on the areas that were only a story high! Wrong...oh so wrong! Its really way up there. And a 6 foot ladder really doesn't help me much! It was just a disaster! So, we have not had lights on our house here! Probably won't til Steve lets me pay someone to do that!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY...17 YEARS!

2008-11-30T16:28:00.000-06:00

This is Steve's idea of a good gift wrapping job! Obviously he does not have OCD or have a care about how his gift looks! :) But this is what make his so much fun! You never know what he'll do! After I was opening it he began having better ideas of how he could have made this better and harder to open! Believe me...black duct tape is sticky! Yes, this is a pillowcase! Luckily not one we use! Of course the gift wasn't much of a surprise. I'd told him where to go and what to get and exactly where to find it! He does not have a clue what he should get unless he is told directly what I want! Although my family did get a kick out of this. See...I do not sew! I do not do buttons or hems or anything! Not my thing at all. Never even cared to learn! Well, I still don't! The sewing machine is to sew scrapbook paper! I am so excited. I can't wait! I hope to make all my Christmas tags this year and stitch them! I might be calling on Andrea and Kristy for some help! I just think its so neat and what better way to practice than to have a sewing machine! Of course, Steve had to get over the shock of me asking for one and then I had to tell him (we were on the phone) to tell my dad to stop laughing! All I could hear was him laughing in the background! Dad knows me...me sew...yea right!

I can not believe it has been 17 years! Steve was 20 and I was 18 when we got married (although I'm still only 29...so don't try to do the math...it doesn't work...). We were married in Oklahoma City and believe it or not...we had an ice storm that night! Talk about stinkin' cold! You know I don't do cold! Of all nights for it to be down right freezing! Being young...broke...Steve still in school...there was no fancy honeymoon. Sunday afternoon we drove back to Fort Worth. Monday morning he went to school and I went to work! Woo Hoo! I know...fancy stuff! :) We've taken many vacations since then! Some with kids and some without. So, I think its worked out pretty good! I'm not a mushy person so I don't have any of that romantic mushy stuff to write! Sorry! Who are we kidding...I'm not good at writing either! I did to hire some one to write me blog for me! That would be great...I always think what I write sounds corny and goofy!

Grandma...

2008-11-29T16:23:00.000-06:00

Friday my parents came down and my grandmother came with them. This is my dad's mom. She'd been visiting them all week. She lives outside Denver, Colorado. I haven't seen her in over 5 years. It was nice that she came with them and spent the weekend. We had a good time. Of couse mom and I did our Christmas shopping as we always do after Thanksgiving. Grandma went with us. We had lunch at La Madeline's Saturday morning! I had not ever been there. Kristy and Kam met us there too. Of course, Kristy had to tell me what to eat. Not the type food I eat. I got the Chicken Salad. It was very yummy (not as yummy as Kristy's) but I ate it! Jacob was with us so of course we had to hit the McDonald's drive thru for him afterwards! There wasn't anything on the kids menu he'd eat! It was a nice weekend!

Thanksgiving and the Cowboys...

2008-11-27T16:10:00.000-06:00

Those two just go hand in hand! This year Steve got invited to the Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day! Bonus...I got to go too! I have never been to a Cowboys game. This was my very first. We ate early Thursday with Steve's family so that we could get to the game. Steve's sister, Staci, was great and took our boys for the day (didn't really want to leave them alone on Thanksgiving Day! What kind of mother would I be?!?!?). The game was good. Even better since they did win! Ya know there is always that possibility that they could lose! I didn't want to see one of those games! It was lots of fun. Too bad we might never see another one! Its just crazy the cost of the tickets for the new stadium! Maybe one of these years we'll get another chance to go to a game...in the new stadium!

Notice...I did not make you suffer by posting my pictures of the Jonas Brothers! Really...was that a show? Two songs...nope I don't think so! It didn't sound all that great...they did sound better than they did on the AMA's but still rough! The worst was Demi Lovato that butchered the National Anthem! OH MY! I didn't think it sounded that great...then this morning on Kidd Kradick they were talking about how bad it was. He replayed it on the air! You poor people that suffered through hearing/seeing her on TV! It was BAD! Guess it doesn't matter what you sound like when your mom use to be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader! lol

Scrapbooking...

2008-11-23T16:05:00.000-06:00

After being up really late for the Twilight movie...Kristy, Andrea, Jennifer and myself were headed off to Weatherford to the The Covered Bridge Inn for a scrapbooking retreat! Lets just say we ran all weekend on very little sleep! I did get about 58 pages of scrapbooking done! I finished my 2007 album and was able to start on 2008! YEAH! I was so excited. Although I do still have to go back and do my journaling for 2007. That shouldn't take me too long...I hope! The retreat was a great time and a much needed break from all the busy stuff at home! I did get my very first massage! LOVED IT! I will be doing that again! Probably not til the next retreat but I will do it again! That was well worth missing an hour of scrapbooking! It was a great time and I can hardly wait for April for our next one!

twilight...

2008-11-21T15:52:00.000-06:00

I know this was over a week ago now...but I'm just now sitting down to do ALL my blog updates! A group of us braved the crowds to see the movie at midnight! It did receive mixed reviews. I look at it this way...because I read the book and know there is a little different version I can live with it. Parts of it were not the same and some of it was very cheesey! Since I loved the book so much I can tolerate the movie. Yes, I would see it again...when it comes out on DVD! Some people absolutely didn't like it but I can take it or leave it...that easy going personality coming out again!

This is the gang that went to the movie!

The Doors...

2008-11-05T19:28:00.005-06:00

They are FINALLY finished! Well, for the most part. I need to do some touch up painting and paint the trim where Steve shot the nails in. Then Steve has to repair the wall where he really had to jack it up to get the glass in. The company that cut the glass didn't quite cut one side real straight. It was off just enough that it would not go in. Steve had to file and chisel away part of the wall to get the glass in without snapping it! I really like them. It turned out really well. Dad and Steve did a great job of putting this together without us having to do the custom made deal for an outrageous amount!

Just had to do it...

2008-10-31T09:54:00.008-05:00

I just had to post these long ago pics next to their current school picture! How sad that they grow up SSSOOO fast!

Halloween Past...

2008-10-31T09:33:00.017-05:00

Happy Halloween! Halloween is a little sad this year! Jerrad stopped trick-or-treating years ago. That wasn't so bad cause Jacob still always went. Last Friday night Jacob told me he didn't want to trick-or-treat this year! WHAT!?!?! Yes, I was shocked. I thought he'd do it at least this year and that might be the last! Nope he's done! So, this year I have not cute pictures of the boys dressing up. There will be no Halloween page in the Hayes Family Scrapbook! I was so bummed I didn't even attempt the Pumpkin Patch (you know we go just so I can get pics for the scrapbook! lol). Sad times here. So, I thought I'd post some of the boys pictures of their costumes from years ago!

Jerrad (1995) - Halloween Outfit!

Jerrad (1995) - Pumpkin

Jerrad (1996) - Mickey Mouse

Jerrad (1997) - Woody

Jacob (1997) - Clown

Jerrad (1998) - Race Car Driver
Jacob (1998) - Pumpkin

Jerrad (1999) - Jeff Gordon #24

Jerrad & Jacob (1999) - Jeff Gordon #24 & Blues Clues

Jerrad (2000) - Augumon (don't ask - I have no idea!)

Jacob (2000) - Dipsy

Jerrad (2001) - The Crocodile Hunter

Jacob (2001) - Bob the Builder

My Freshman...

2008-10-30T14:10:00.001-05:00

Scrapbooking...

2008-10-27T17:59:00.004-05:00

I love to scrapbook. I am not the best...by a very LLLOOONNNGGG shot! I enjoy it but I'm not real creative. Once in a while I do have a "moment" and create a page I absolutely love. I think I started doing it a little in 2003. I just started with some basics that I'd gotten as a gift. It has grown from there! I've learned tons from friends and looking at magazines and such. When I started I was doing a family book. Then I thought I'd do a book for each of the boys with just their sports pictures in it. Well, who are we kidding...they won't play sports forever! That's not enough to fill up a book. So, I thought I'd go back and include school pics. Just the class picture for each year and any party pics or awards I had. Well, for Jacob all of those pics are done and in my big album. Not a prob...take them out and put them in another album. I only had 2 pics that I'm going to have to have pics printed again and create two new pages. Those where first day of school pics that I only did one page for the two boys! I wasn't thinking! I was trying to figure out how to color copy a 12 x 12 page or use undo to separate them. I was asking a friend about it and she suggested to print the pics again and do another page! WOW! Wish I'd thought of that (thanks Andrea!). All in all the whole process of switching everything has gone fairly smooth. Jerrad's book looks a little rough in the beginning. First reason for that...I sucked! Friends, it is so sad what I considered to be "scrapbooking". OH MY! I am horrified for anyone to see what I did! You definitely can tell I improved just by looking through his book. Second reason...I was a beginner...didn't know what I was doing. The very first book I purchased was one of those with straps! Yes, I know...not smart...again! Wait it gets better. When I began I didn't do my layout on a page. Oh no that would've been smart! I put it right on the page in the book. Yep, I did! Now if you've used or picked up one of these strap type albums you know that each side has metal. That the only way I know to describe it. Anyway...just a big mess. So, in order to make this new idea work I took a razor blade and cut the metal edges of both sides of the pages. So, along with the first pages being really, really bad...they are a little small inside of the sheet protectors! Oh well...it will just have to do for now! I can't redo all of it! I'm going to say it was a learning experience...lol...yea right!

Jacob...

2008-10-26T19:28:00.003-05:00

September 2008 - 6th Grade Picture
September 2008 - 6th Grade Football - Mavericks
Arlington Optimist Club

My butt hurts...

2008-10-26T19:17:00.003-05:00

seriously! It really hurts. If I had fallen lately I would think my tail bone is broken! As graceful as I am I have not fallen (no, Kristy, the fall in the cafeteria doesn't count! lol). I know why it hurts. Let me explain. Have you ever sat on metal bleachers for a long time? Long time being, lets say about 6 hours give or take a few minutes?!?!? Well, if you haven't let me tell you that is long enough to make your butt sore! Whats the reason for this madness?!?! Well, Jerrad is playing Fall baseball. Every Saturday for the last 6 or 7 weeks they've played a double header! Saturdays have been very LLLOOONNNGGG! They have to be there one hour early and they play approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes or 7 innings each game! See your butt would hurt too!

Choir Concert...

2008-10-15T09:28:00.006-05:00

Who is this kid? He has grown up so fast! Last night was Martin's Fall Concert. I must say....pretty impressive! Everything at Martin is BIG. Including a choir concert! Everyone was dress in black! ALL the boys had black tuxes. I thought the whole wearing the tux deal was a little much til seeing the concert! It looked nice! Everyone had exactly the same tux, same shirt, same tie, etc! It made them look very professional (if choir can be)! I am still adjusting to the fact he is in high school! I keep waiting for all the terrible teenager issues to come up! Suprisingly...nothing yet...as I knock on wood! He is growing into a very responsible young man! I am still amazed at the fact he gets himself up every morning, gets ready, eats breakfast, has time to surf the internet a little and goes out the door at 6:40 for the bus. He does his laundry when it needs to be done. Gets all his homework taken care of. He really manages his time well for a 14 year old. I think! Who are we kidding he takes after me! Sort of! lol I know all this could blow up and he turn into the EVIL TEENAGER! But for right now I am going to enjoy this!

What's been going on?!?!?!

2008-10-09T13:41:00.004-05:00

I've been told I need to update my blog (thanks Kristy!). I didn't think I really had anything to blog about but I guess I sort of do! I mentioned in one of my posts that I was training for a new job and how its been so busy around here and Steve's had to help get the kids around. Well, I finished training on Oct. 2nd. Was very nervous about starting to take live calls. When I say nervous I mean very nervous, very preoccupied with it. Which only got worse. I started my first shift Saturday night. My worst fear came true. My very first call was a total nightmare! On top of that I had computer problems. I won't go into lots of details here but I was just freaked out! I was off Sunday. Had to work on Monday. I was so nervous and scared. Once again computer problems to top off all the other feelings I was having. Got those fixed....finally. Finished my shift. Tuesday....I am sick to my stomach. Wasn't sure if I had a bug or it was the job. Couldn't get the job out of my mind. Its the oddest feeling I'd ever experienced. I didn't like it. This could be a really long, long story but the short of it all is Steve didn't like the way I was acting, I didn't like how I was, I'm missing all the kids stuff at night, etc., etc, and its was the hardest most complex thing I've ever done. Its not just people calling in to get their balance or pay over the phone. I knew they could call in for all kinds of things from what we were taught in training but each account was different. It was not cut and dry simple! No! Every situation had a twist and there were all these reason codes and of course we were told where to look those up but you don't have to memorize them or study you just look it up. There was just lots of stuff. Its just not for me! I'm not thick skinned enough either for the rude customers. I hadn't talked to mom since I started so I called her yesterday morning and started getting upset. Then Steve had called and I called him back and cried and cried! I couldn't keep doing it! He told me to quit it was no big deal but he'd rather I be back to normal than be all moody and yucky like I had been! So, yesterday afternoon I sent the email telling the Lead that I was quitting! I'm done with that! After that I totally felt better. The sick feeling went away! All those thoughts that where in my head went away! I just feel 100% better knowing I don't have to get on the phone and take those calls. I feel better knowing that I can see the rest of Jacob's football games and not have to miss any of Jerrad's baseball games! I just feel very relieved!

Rearranging...

2008-09-18T11:05:00.003-05:00

I'm getting very bored with my blog! With that said I've moved the two slide shows to the bottom of the page...that is if you still want to see them! I'm sure by now EVERYONE is as tired of those as I am! lol Hopefully I can figure out how to change this up and make it fun!

And finally...

2008-09-04T00:04:00.005-05:00

(hopefully my last post tonight...playing catch up!) my new friend!

I know its a treadmill! I am trying to make friends with it! Steve bought a treadmill this weekend! I have to say its just too miserably hot here to actually go outside and walk! I just can't get motivated enough to do it! Time just doesn't pass as quick either. I listen to my mp3 but I have this fear of someone coming up behind me or a dog sneaking up to me! I've had the crazy dog experience before! Creeps me out! Everyone is so busy. You want to walk with friends and say your going to do it but stuff is always coming up. Your schedules don't always match up so your available to walk at the same time. I was seriously thinking about a gym membership again til Steve told me he'd been looking at treadmills.

So, its up and running (it runs...I only walk!)! I walked 2 miles yesterday and 2 miles today. I'm going to try to do that at least 5 days a week and see if I get any results. I NEED RESULTS! I'd love to wear some of my clothes in the closet! Do you know when they hang in the closet long enough they begin to collect dust! How sad is that?!?!?

I'd better get to bed. Surely I set some kind of record for posts! I think I did 3 tonight (NO! I did 4 of them)! Woo hoo! All the craziness begins again...bright and early!

Busy...

2008-09-03T23:48:00.004-05:00

It seems like the first weeks of school are always hectic. There's getting back into the routine of things, football practices, homework, etc. Well, this year just seems more hectic! Jerrad is up at 5:45 (this is AM folks!) and getting ready. He walks out the door at 6:40! I wake Jacob up at 7:00 and he is out the door at 7:25 (he started riding the bus this morning! I love the bus!) This is making time for me to get in 2 miles of walking (see post about New Friend!) before having to get ready. I've been spending my days doing PTA stuff, copying in the workroom, running errands and HOMEWORK! That's right...I said homework. Towards the end of July I applied for a job with this company called Alpine Access. Its a work from home deal. I only did it cause it came on the recommendation of someone that worked for them and said it was great. Well, she also still has friends and connections there and happened to let the recruiter know I was applying. Needless to say things moved pretty fast. Short story is I got the job. I will be answering phones at home using my phone/computer (complicated explanation but awesome how this all works!). I am on the GECF (General Electric Consumer Finance) account...credit cards...store specific to the GAP. There is lots to learn! So, of course there is training. Just so happens training is Monday through Friday from 7:00 to 11:00 PM. This is where we've gotten real busy. Steve is having to help get the boys picked up from different places in the evenings. He is having to attend all the beginning of the year functions that fall at night! I hate that I'm not the one taking the boys to every single thing! I know Steve is so tired after working his long days! This week has been bad too and then he's had to drive all over creation! I love him for helping me right now so I can get this training behind me and start work (training ends Oct. 2nd)! He has had to pick Jake up from football practices! Today he had to drive to Irving after work to get Jerrad (he started a bible study tonight with the teens). We've got upcoming football stuff (games/weigh ins/practices), Jerrad bible study, Martin Open House, Grand Slam Baseball Event at Martin, football pep rally...the list just goes on! Its only my 4th day of training but so far he hasn't complained about helping me! I keep telling him its only temporary til I get to my "flexible" schedule (training is 100% attendance - mandatory!). I'm excited about the job. I hope it all works out and this was a good thing that I did!

Shingles update...

2008-09-03T23:42:00.003-05:00

I must have the mildest case ever! All I've got is still some pain. Its not the type of pain you'd associate with shingles. It's not that sensitive sensation to the skin. Its more deep inside and just aches. I told my mom it almost felt like my back feels when I've got a kidney infection. Its about the same place too! No, its not a kidney infection. I've been able to control it with mostly ibuprofen! So, I guess you could say I'm over it?!?!? Not really sure. The spots I had have very small scabs (you can't see can only feel). They are a little purple like scars which I think will lighten with time. The waist band of my pants aren't irritating like last week. I am very fortunate that I did not have them bad. I just hope that if I ever get them again (yes, you can have them more than once) that its a mild case like this. I can handle this. It wasn't so bad! Watch, I will be in severe agony next time! lol

Labor Day...

2008-09-03T23:33:00.005-05:00

I know its a little late posting this but its been busy around here. (Explanation in another post!) We just hung around the house for the day. We slept in (as late as we could)! Steve got up and got the smoker going and put on a brisket and 3 (yes, 3) chickens. About lunch time Staci and the boys came over to hang out for the day. I think the boys (yes, including Steve) had fun playing around in the pool! We had plenty of water guns! Although I might be a little worried about Staci...she had SEVERAL guns!

Jerrad had stayed the night at a friends house. He and Danny showed up later after all the pool fun. Although they found ways to entertain themselves. I'll have to get the picture off Jerrad's phone to post for ya'll. Its pretty funny stuff.

The boys (Hunter and Drew) had naps. After that it was playing PS2 (Hunter is obsessed with any car game!) and trains! We had trains upstairs and downstairs. And let me tell ya...Drew can be gone and at the top of the stairs before you know he's gone! We did try the gate! We took it down after he climbed over it and made it to the top before we figured out where he went! YIKES! He's a fast little dude!

It was a good relaxing day just doing nothing! The food was good too!

SHINGLES...you have got to be kidding me!

2008-08-27T11:14:00.004-05:00

It was confirmed by my doctor this morning...I have shingles! How odd! Sunday afternoon I noticed these bumps coming up on my side. Anyone close to me knows over the past year I've had my share of weird bumps and rashes. These were not like any of those! Then they got to hurting. Not excruciating pain but uncomfortable. Almost like I'd exercised (yea...right) and made my obliques (fancy word for side abs!) sore. Monday night I decided to try the internet and figure it out. I thought maybe shingles but maybe not. Steve tried putting some lotion type medicine on them and I flinched when he touched my skin...it was very sensitive. I looked up pictures of shingles. Really...they need some new pics. My bumps look nothing like what they show! After talking to mom and hearing when she had them that hers didn't look that way either I thought well maybe they are! Yesterday afternoon I was pretty uncomfortable so I thought I'm just gonna go to the doctor. Made the appointment. Went this AM! Wasn't there five minutes for him to say "unfortunately, those are shingles!" He gave me a prescription for anti-viral or something. It might be a steroid and then a prescription for pain meds in case it gets worse and the ibuprofen doesn't help. Who knows how long I'll have this! Hopefully it doesn't get worse and is over soon! The doctor said things that bring on shingles are an illness (haven't been sick), being tired (that just started Monday w/school starting - this showed up Sunday!), and stress. I didn't feel stressed til Monday either. Mom seems to think that maybe its the stress and that I've been stressed and worried about Jacob for some time now and that's what could've brought it on! Who knows. Dr. Poquiz also said sometimes there isn't a trigger you just get them! GREAT to know! Even better news...you can get them more than once. Oh for joy...I'll be sure to look forward to that!

The last first day...

2008-08-25T08:31:00.004-05:00

This was Jacob's last first day of elementary school! Today he started 6th grade! I can't believe he is in his last year at elementary school! It seems like just last week he was in Kindergarten. I'm excited to hear about his day too! He wore his Heely shoes to school...but did take the wheels out. I told him he can't wear those shoes w/the wheels for PE. Thats a sure way to get in trouble. He put the wheels in his pocket...he wants to put them in when school gets out. He also said..."I'm going to ask Mrs. Jordan if I can put them in at recess." I'm thinking to myself...at least he said he's going to ask first so, maybe he won't get in trouble! Thats progress if he thinks he needs to ask first...now if he just remembers to ask first!!!!

First day of high school...

2008-08-25T08:17:00.003-05:00

Its official! Jerrad started his freshman year at Martin High School this morning. Nothing like going to a small school! lol (If you live in the area...you know Martin is far from small...more like a small town of its own!) I'm ready for him to come home (I know...its only 8:20 AM). I want to hear all about his day! I hope he really enjoys high school and makes the most of it!

Twas the night before school...

2008-08-25T07:43:00.004-05:00

and my kids decided to swim! With the rain lately they hadn't been in the pool much until tonight. I guess they thought they'd better have one last evening of messin' around before it gets too hectic around here! Plus the fact that Jacob got TWO new water guns for his birthday...they had to try those out! What better place than the pool!

Heelys...

2008-08-24T18:59:00.005-05:00

I KNOW! I honestly hate these shoes! I swore I would not buy these shoes...and really I didn't! We had Jacob's birthday party last night. He got money and a couple of gift cards. He immediately said I want to buy Heelys! GREAT! But the more I thought about it the more I talked myself into just letting him do it! Lots of stuff happens around her for Jerrad. Jerrad always is wanting or getting to do stuff. They are close enough in age I think sometimes it bothers Jacob but yet they are far enough apart and different enough its not always the right thing for Jake. Jerrad got a new guitar just a couple of weeks ago (he already has one!). Then he has asked to move his room (that will be a whole other post...construction...you know that freaks me out!). So, I thought all Jacob wants is these blasted shoes...I caved. What will it hurt? Really? I know I've heard all the stories about falls and breaks but really...are those any worse than the Ripstick thing he rides? Or the bike? Or the scooter....this could go on! Jacob is now the proud owner of these....

Speaking of scooter...this is the new thing...he got this for his birthday too! You don't have to actually use your foot...you pump it and go faster and faster...someone is bound to get hurt around here!

11 years ago today...

2008-08-24T18:12:00.010-05:00

this little butterball was born! Jacob Stephen was born at 1:53 PM weighing 7 pounds 8 1/2 ounces and was only 18 1/2 inches long! Jacob was also early...but only about two weeks! He has been a handful since the day he was born!

Stuff we love about Jacob

...he is very loving.

...he has a good heart.

...is a total kid at heart (probably always will be).

...is funny.

...was my child that was into everything!

...had a mouth full of fillings and caps by the time he was 3 years old (yes, we brushed his teeth)

...never know what he might do or say!

...he did not sleep the first night we brought him home from the hospital! (No kidding...I was so tired I would write down when I fed him on a notepad...just so I could keep up!)

...didn't sleep through the night til he was probably 5 (NO! I'm not kidding!)

...his middle name is the same as his daddy's "Stephen".

...His daddy and I agreed on "Jacob" and not long after...Staci was engaged to a Jacob! (We have little Jacob and big Jacob!)

...Jacob is the 2nd grandchild on both sides of the family.

...Jacob had white blonde...curly...hair! (It never was the same texture after that first haircut!)

Jacob is growing up so fast! I can not believe he is 11 years old! He will always be my "baby". Although I do have to compete with his Meme...she has always been his favorite and it hasn't changed as he's gotten older! While Jake is still small for his age...only about ____ and 70 pounds...I think he will grow later! As long as he outgrows me I think he will be happy! I'm his goal right now! lol

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jacob....We love you very much!

Football has begun...

2008-08-19T11:40:00.003-05:00

This is what Jake's clothes looked like last night after football practice...IN THE MUD! I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that they are pretty much ruined! I think he will wear these again tonight (after an attempted washing!) since it is STILL MUDDY!

Jerrad's New Toy...

2008-08-19T11:26:00.004-05:00

Jerrad is quite the guitar player. He spends all day messing with it and learning new songs (he plays by ear). This is what he loves. On his birthday in May we had discouraged him from using ALL his birthday money to buy a new guitar. We finally had to tell him why. Steve has a painter that works for him that had parts to a guitar and they were going to build him this guitar and this guy was going to paint it. It probably would've been really neat. Well, for one reason or another it is just not happening. There is this other guy in the company that buys, collects, and sells different guitars. He and Steve were talking and he was going to sell one but wanted someone that really wanted it and would take care of it to buy it. Steve jumped all over. Its a high dollar guitar. Steve got the deal of the century on it (of course...he buys nothing without getting a deal!). Jerrad was surprised and really...really...likes it. Its got some fancy name that means something but you know I don't know what it is! lol

My Birthday!

2008-08-19T11:20:00.001-05:00

So, Saturday was my birthday. We took the boys to Staci's to spend the afternoon and stay the night. Then Steve and I headed to the Gaylord Texan! It was really awesome. I love the inside of the hotel! I wish I could have all those color plants and greenery around my yard! I don't know where they get those or how in the world they keep them alive but I'd love to have them! You know I'd probably kill them if the outside Texas heat didn't!

Anyway, we got there and caught up with Bill and Chrisse (their son Colton is gone right now...so they were kid free too). We walked around the hotel a little! Out in the middle they had this clown with a monkey. Just as we walked up she asked if anyone was celebrating a birthday! You know I don't like attention or being in front of people! Well, Bill, Chrisse and Steve all point at me! So, the small crowd sings happy birthday while the monkey plays the bongo drums! That was ok...then the clown asks me to come up front. I really didn't want to do that. Ok...she is going to make the monkey kiss me! Well, it was no kiss! That monkey licked me! Grossed me out...totally! Me of all people...the one person that isn't an animal lover!

On our way out of the hotel there was this gold cowboy statue sitting on a bench. Chrisse wanted to take a picture with it. Well, before she sat down we noticed money in his pocket...well then I saw his eyes! HE WAS REAL! It was so cool. He looked faked...for real! Chrisse still wanted pic with him so I took one!

We had dinner at Uncle Julio's in Grapevine. It was so yummy. Their hot sauce is my favorite! I was sick by the time we left. After tons of chips, hot sauce and fajitas! And of course, we got dessert! YUMMY!

After dinner it was back to the hotel. We walked around some more. Hung out. Bill and Steve and then Steve and Chrisse played a game of pool! I think Steve won both games. Then the four of us played shuffle board! I had never played this! It was fun but I stink at it! I either sent that little puck thing too far or not far enough!

It started getting late so we headed back up to our room. Got comfy in the bed and watched What Happens In Vegas...it was pretty cute. Steve obviously wasn't impressed...he fell asleep! He says cause it was late! lol

So, Sunday afternoon when we got home I had a prize from Kristy! She had texted me on Saturday that she left it in the garage for me! She got me these neat tools and ink for my CRICUT (or the cricut I'm going to buy with my birthday money)! I can't wait to use the ink and see how that works!

Chrisse got me this purse. Its so cute. I love it! Its so nice having a smaller one and I can find everything in it. I've been carry such big ones lately that I can't find nothing in them!

Then I also got this camera. I'm considering it as my birthday from Steve and the boys (besides the night out at the Gaylord). If you saw my other post you know that my camera broke. I was glad I got a new one before our stay at the Gaylord...or I'd have had no pictures! That would have been awful!

High School...

2008-08-14T15:16:00.002-05:00

Today was Warrior Welcome for 9th graders at Martin! I can not believe Jerrad is going to be starting high school a week from Monday! I think he is excited but a little overwhelmed by the size of the school. He seems to think he is going to get lost. I doubt he gets too lost...he'll be surprised by how fast he learns his way around! He has to spend the next 4 years there. His senior year he'll look back and think...what was I so worried about?!?!

He was telling me earlier he need school shirts. He was naming off the Martin stuff he wanted and different things. I said don't worry I'm sure you'll have a good selection of shirts by the time you get out in 4 years. Then he was trying to figure out all the clubs and what ones he might be interested in joining! OH MY GOODNESS! The madness of high school is just begining!

He is so funny. He says I'm going to all the pep rallys and I'm going to football games...I just said OK. Just have fun and enjoy high school BUT stay out of trouble! First sign of trouble or bad choices on his part and that kid will be on lock down so fast!

I really hope he has a good high school experience and enjoys it and does the best he can in all his classes!

Sad News...

2008-08-14T15:07:00.004-05:00

My camera broke! Tuesday was a sad night! It literally made me sick to my stomach and want to throw up! Steve laughed at me! He said it was no big deal. Not the end of the world! Yes it was...at that moment anyway! All I could think was no camera...no pictures...nothing to scrapbook...what if I need it??? What if there is a moment that needs to captured??? The camera had been in my purse and I don't know if I've dropped my purse or if its fallen off something but that has to be how it broke. It was in a case but nothing thick. It was thin...more cute than protective! My advice...don't keep it in your purse!

Good News...

2008-08-14T15:06:00.001-05:00

Jerrad was baptized at church Sunday morning. We are thrilled with the decision he has made!

My baby is home...

2008-08-08T16:10:00.003-05:00

Jacob made it home this morning. Of course he was on the last bus to unload! I never saw the kids get off the last bus so there was a little hunting and a little bit of panic going on! I am so glad he is home. I really missed him. I don't remember missing him quite as much in the past couple of years! Maybe its cause he acts like its no big thing to go away! That makes you realize that they are growing up. He has been really quiet since we got home. I think he is pretty tired. He must've done lots of hollering and having a good time cause he is hoarse...hardly any voice! I don't know what it is about camp and their voices. All 4 years Jerrad went he came home on Friday hoarse. So, far every year Jake has gone he has been the same way!

I'm glad he had fun and now I'm glad he is home. We don't have much summer left til school starts! UGH!!!!!

Breaking Dawn...

2008-08-06T10:10:00.002-05:00

I AM FINISHED! I loved this book! I am so sad that it is the end of the series (from Bella's perspective). Stephenie Meyer did a great job of tying up all the loose ends to end the book. I am thrilled that she didn't do something off the wall! She actually ended the book with a "happily ever after"! I guess its back to counting down...the days til the movie opens!!! 12-12-08!! I'll be there!

MercyMe and the Texas Rangers...

2008-08-05T14:56:00.002-05:00

Saturday night we went to see MercyMe before the Rangers game! They (MercyMe) were awesome. They sounded so good live! I have to tell you it was a scorcher! I think the temperature when we got there was 105! Yes, this is summer in Texas! I loved listening to MercyMe but I have to say I did also enjoy finally getting to our seats...in the SHADE! It did offer some much needed relief! I love the picture of the three boys (Jacob, Drew, Hunter) underneath the umbrella just lying there! This is what they were doing at the beginning of MercyMe. I don't think they were much into it...they just wanted shade!

Team World...Childrens Camp 2008

2008-08-05T14:36:00.003-05:00

Alan, Noah and Jacob

Its that time of year again. Jake left for Children's Camp. I am excited for the time at home but sending him off always make me nervous! If you have the privilege of knowing my Jacob then you probably understand why. Not only for those reasons but he is my baby! I tend to worry more about him more. Both my boys are wonderful. I just feel like Jerrad has a really good head on his shoulders and makes smart choices and Jacob is just a kid at heart...through and through! He is all about the fun stuff...so I am sure he is having a blast at camp. Although I really do miss him!

Its finally here...

2008-08-02T00:58:00.010-05:00

Breaking Dawn! I can not wait to start reading! I am so excited I didn't know whether to come straight home and read or blog about the night. I opted for blogging and then reading! It was crazy tonight! Lots of teens at the Barnes and Noble. I felt like I was back in high school!

Kristy and I had been planning on this night for a month now! At dinner tonight I was telling Chrisse about it and she wanted to go. She is crazy...she would've dressed up for the prom night theme if she'd known sooner. How crazy is Chrisse? Watch her video...yes she got out there and danced with all the others! (Chrisse is in the pink shorts!)

The three of us even had a picture made. Had we known there were pictures being done you know we are so OCD we would've planned for our outfits to have been red, black and white! They are suppose to e-mail those. Of course, I don't have them yet. I'm sure that wasn't their priority to get them done tonight! Obviously not as excited as we are.

Side note...Chrisse went with us...never having read any of these books! She was totally along for the party!

This is how crazy the teeny boppers where...of course it was a Jonas Brothers song!

We actually got there a little after 9 PM. The book could not be sold until 12:01 AM! We walked around, sat and looked at books, people watched, stood in line for 45 minutes for water and a coffee! We later realized there were people lined up outside! Chrisse said she was going to go outside and smoke...before I knew it she was back. She said forget that! They told her if she went out she had to get in the line that was wrapping the outside of the building to get back in! She got back inside real quick! Then we realized thats why they had been at the door counting people in...occupancy limit! They only let people in as others left! Boy were we glad we got there early!

Chrisse got tired of carrying her purse, water and magazines she wanted to look at...so she found herself a basket!

The end result...

WE GOT OUR BOOK!

Oh, I almost forgot..when there wasn't a DJ the Bella Cullen Project(http://thebellacullenproject.com/index.cfm) was there singing their songs that were inspired by the book. They are quite catchy tunes about vampires and werewolves!

Fun Times at the Pool...

2008-08-01T11:19:00.003-05:00

So, yesterday Kristy and I braved the scorching heat. The only way to stay cool in Texas is to be in the water. Yesterday was the same as the last week...triple digits! Just down right hot! Kristy had two extra kids yesterday, Abby and Ethan (see Kristy's blog http://www.the-gile-family.blogspot.com/). All the kids had fun. Jacob and Carson were off together. Kamry and Abby were off together. It took both Kristy and I to keep up with Ethan. We hung around the smaller pool keeping an eye on him. He is the cutest little thing. He would crack me up cause he'd come up to us telling us something and turn around and walk away just talking...like we could hear him! It was really cute!

The Host...

2008-07-29T17:59:00.002-05:00

by Stephenie Meyer. Yes, the same Stephenie Meyer that wrote the Twilight series about vampires and werewolves! The Host is about aliens. I must say that this woman has quite the imagination. She has a way of writing her books that draws you in. You almost feel as if you are there! I loved the Twilight books (of which, the last book Breaking Dawn comes out August 2nd!)! I was almost afraid to read another one of her books for fear I might not like it or enjoy it as much. It might have started a little slow but that might just be me. At first your trying to figure out what his going on. Once you kind of get your bearings the book takes off! It is amazing how she draws you in to be rooting for the vampire and werewolves (in the Twilight series) and the aliens (in The Host)! Its almost unimaginable unless you read the book for yourself. I hope she plans on doing another book to follow The Host! As quick as I'm reading her books it will kill me to wait for the next ones! She really needs to write these faster!

Sweet Tea...

2008-07-25T16:21:00.004-05:00

this is my new addiction! I drink water! I mean water was all I drank! I drink coffee but thats off and on. Starbucks gets expensive and I don't always feel like making a pot in the morning. So, for the most part is water. Occassionally I'd drink tea. I like Chic-fil-A's sweet tea and of course the sweet tea Barbara (at LABC) makes. For some reason I started drinking it at home too. My boys already drink tons. I probably make 2 one gallon pitchers every other day!

Cooking...

2008-07-25T09:05:00.005-05:00

it seems that some people (Kristy and Gina) are on this cooking kick! I'm for sure that the aliens (I've been reading The Host) have gotten them! The have both posted lovely pictures of their food the last few nights...so, in keeping with that I thought I'd post what I did for dinner last night! That dinner took lots of effort! I had to log on the computer (which you know I am hardly ever on it! lol), make a decision as to what kinds of pizza I was going to order, place the order and then patiently wait for it to get here!

Things kids say...

2008-07-22T15:03:00.002-05:00

as Jacob and I walking through Wal-Mart today...

Jacob: RC is just an older version of Dr. Pepper.
Me: Really? I didn't know that.
Jacob: Yep it is. It actually tastes better than Dr. Pepper!

I should've been buying the cheap stuff all along...he thinks its better!

Food poisoning...

2008-07-21T18:42:00.006-05:00

it didn't happen but it might have! So, you know I am not much of a cook. I know SURPRISE! I really am not. It usually doesn't turn out like it did in my head and I just am not one of those people that enjoy doing it! Today was one of those days that dinner was going to turn out big and great (in my head) and didn't! Jerrad had friends over (Danny and Kaleb) so I thought for dinner we'd have mashed potatoes, rolls and chicken fried steak. Anything to fill up three 14 year old boys! Yes, two gallons of tea is not enough when these boys are at my house! They drink it like water! For starters I didn't quite set the rolls out earlier enough to rise well! I am having to do the 1 1/2 quick method of making them rise! They are still rising...only 20 minutes into that! Got the potatoes peeled and started. On to trimming the fat of the round steak. Little background for those of you that don't know...I do not like to handle raw meat! I don't like the look of it...I think it smells weird...it totally grosses me out! I don't like fat on any of it either! I was a little concerned when I opened the meat that it smelled. I think it always smells but wondered if this was a funny smell...reason being that the meat was NOT blood red! I'm thinking maybe not a good sign! Isn't it suppose to be really red and the blood really red? Well, the meat is more brown and the blood to me looks more like dirty water! Not real sure I should be cooking this and feeding it to everyone! The last thing I really want is the company throwing up at my house tonight. Side note...I don't do throw up either! Poor kids would be in bad shape if I make'em sick and then can't take care of them! Just to be on the safe side I called Steve. He said that something might have happened and it got thawed out and isn't any good. He said don't chance it throw it out. Sounds good to me! But what are we going to eat with my rolls (that should be ready sometime tonight) and the mashed potatoes? KFC! Yep, soon as I finish the potatoes I'm off to the KFC to get some fried chicken to go with my potatoes and rolls! See what I mean...this vision of dinner I had in my head...totally not happening!

Breaking Dawn...

2008-07-18T15:57:00.004-05:00

for all those that are anxiously awaiting this book...I would suggest that you reserve your copy now! I wondered if I should do this. I have no idea how many of these books will be available at Barnes and Noble on August 2nd. My fear was that I'd go to that party and be up half the night AND NOT GET A BOOK! I was in the Barnes and Noble this morning shopping when I overheard one of the women on the phone. I guess someone was asking about this book. Unless my ears are failing me she said "we have over 500 copies reserved right now". Now, whether that means that's how many they are receiving or that is how many people have reserved a copy...I really don't know! But I panicked! I am pleased to announce...my name is now on the reserved list! To make sure you get a copy that night/early morning...I would reserve one. I had checked it out online and I don't think you can do it online and get it at the store. I could be wrong. Your best bet to ensure you get it would be call the store!

Also, they gave me this flyer when I signed up.

It seems that this party before the release is a Prom type event. I will say now that I have no intention of dressing up! The lady at Barnes and Noble told me a father had called (I guess he is bringing his daughter to the release) and he was asking if he really had to wear a suit?!?! I guess his daughter was expecting him to be in character! Like I said...I will not be dressing up. I think it will be neat to see how dressed up people get. I figure it will most be the teens that do that. In another post I talked about the girl group from Martin called The Bella Cullen Project...they are suppose to perform that night. This will definitely be an event like no other that I've ever gone to!

Chores...

2008-07-18T15:52:00.005-05:00

Wednesday the boys had some chores to do around the house. One of Jacob's was to fill the bags (Tree Gators) around the trees with water. These bags have small holes in the bottom to slowly soak your trees. We have two trees we planted when we moved in that the heat is just about to get. So, we've been having to keep water in these bags. One slight problem. Our water hose in the backyard is not quite long enough to reach the farthest tree. Jacob solved the problem.

He got an extra hose we had for the pool and used it to get the water in the bag! I thought it was pretty good thinking! I used his method of filling the bag up yesterday when I did it!

Book update...

2008-07-16T18:51:00.002-05:00

I did finished Eclipse while we were on vacation. Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed that book as much as the first two! I can hardly wait for Breaking Dawn to come out! I will not have any plans that weekend except for reading that book!

I also bought Stephenie Meyers other book, The Host. As if vampires and werewolves are not enough this one is about aliens. I'm only on the second chapter so I'm not sure about the book yet. I heard its a slow start but gets better. I just feel like she has so much to live up to after reading the other three books! I hope I'm not disappointed!

Growing boys...

2008-07-16T18:39:00.003-05:00

Steve and I took the boys today for their check-ups/physicals. Jerrad didn't realize these are the same thing! I use to call them their check-ups but now with sports requiring physicals thats what I started calling them!

They both are basically healthy. Neither of my boys are big fruits and veggies eaters. Some people can't believe I don't MAKE them it that stuff. Its kind of hard when I myself won't eat most of it either. For not eating that stuff I think my boys are pretty healthy. They never get sick. Jerrad didn't miss any school this past year and I think Jake missed two days with fever but nothing else to go with it! I guess we are doing something right!

They are both growing up so fast. Jerrad is now 5' 7 3/4" tall and weighs 133 pounds. Jacob has made it to 4' 6 1/2" and weighs a whopping 70 pounds.

Steve went today for two reason. One, to talk to the doctor about testing Jacob for ADD and two, hold him for a shot! We lucked out in the shot department. They can wait til next year for his next one. So, he didn't have to get that which he was very thankful for. Last year it took two nurses and the doctor to hold him down. He came out of the room with no shoes...he had kicked these off...scratches on his face...from his own fingernails...hands flying to avoid the shot...and later his eye turned a shade of black, blue and purple! It was not a pretty situation...at all! The doctor did discuss the ADD a little but we are going to have to wait til school starts to begin the process. He needs to be observed by his teachers and they will have to fill out some paperwork as well as us. Probably the middle of September we will be going back to start this process.

Sweet mother of pearl...

2008-07-16T17:57:00.003-05:00

I finally got my header changed! You would not believe what I've gone through to get this done! I have wanted to do it for a while and finally yesterday tried. Obviously it didn't get done yesterday. I thought I had it til I learned the software I was using would not put text on my pictures! That put me back at square one today! I have read more stuff online about headers, templates, customizing blogs! I should be a computer geek by now! I'm just glad its done!

Editting in process...

2008-07-16T17:28:00.002-05:00

bare with all the changing (good and bad). I'm trying to change up my blog. I really didn't like the look of it. I was very bored with it. So, I'm learning!

Tennessee

2008-07-15T14:24:00.011-05:00

I am finally sitting down to write about our Tennessee vacation. I know you (Kristy) are anxiously awaiting pictures! For pictures...watch the slide show! Blogspot and I are having issues and this is taking way too long...too many pics anyways! ENJOY!

First I have to say, before anything else, THANK GOODNESS FOR HIGH SPEED INTERNET! I had forgotten just how slow the dial up process was! Too slow for me! I love the fast stuff!

We decided back in February to go to Tennessee this year for vacation instead of Colorado. After much searching we decided on visiting the Gatlinburg area. It was Steve's idea to invite my parents to go along. They hadn't really been on a vacation since before my Grandad got sick. They didn't want to get too far from home in case something were to happen. So, this was a much needed vacation for them as well.

We decided to rent a "bigger" vehicle so that we could all ride together. Perks of having Enterprise in your building...Steve was able to get a killer deal on a Yukon XL. We loaded up the Yukon on Thursday 7/3 and headed to OKC to get mom and dad. We spend Friday doing errands. Mom was also doing laundry and getting packed. Andrea and Tommy had just moved to a new house so we went over there to see the house. Friday night we were going out to eat for dad's birthday (7/2). Mom said we would go to Harry Bear's. I don't know who said we should call and check if they were open (it was July 4th) but we all thought no they will be open! Evidently not! Not a soul or car to be found at the Harry Bear's! So, we ended up going to Alfredo's. It was good. At least all the goodies they bring you first (chips, hot sauce, tortillas, queso). I just didn't care for the meal I ordered. The rice was awesome but I didn't care for the chili sauce stuff they put over my enchiladas. Other than that I liked it! After getting full and stuffed we headed back to mom and dads for cake. Mom and dad finished up packing and I think we were all in bed by 10! We had decided to leave by 6:00 AM Saturday morning to get on the road!

Can you believe we pulled away from the house at 5:55 AM! This was ahead of schedule even after Steve got all the gadgets hooked up! Yes, what would vacation be like without gadgets. Well, we had plenty of them on this trip! First we had the radar detector! That was for Steve. You know he likes to drive fast and a ticket would have just put a damper on things! Second we had the GPS. I must admit that one was so cool. It talks to you! It never got anything wrong and if you vary from the mapped trip it knows! It would know the minute we'd pulled off the highway...just to get gas. It really should have a pause button or one that says stopping to get gas so that Bertha (that's what we were calling our GPS) knows what you are doing. Then we had the laptop...complete with charger, power converter and movies! Luckily I had downloaded a game...my whole family is hooked on these seek and find games! I had bought one and it was on my computer at home so I thought...ummm...can I also download it to the laptop and put in the code it gave me when I purchased it? Yee haw!!!! you can! We passed the laptop around the whole trip everyone playing that silly game! I think Jacob used up all the free trials of just about every other game that came on the laptop!

So, Saturday was a full day of driving. We did stop in Memphis to see Graceland. I'm not really sure it was what I was expecting. I've heard of how on the anniversary of his death (my birthday, in case you didn't know) people go and put flower "by the gate". I just imagined (and thought I'd see pictures of...obviously not) it to be on a lot of land, secluded, gated...totally everything that it is not. Bertha told us exactly how to get there. We thought great...if we can park and just see if from the gate/road. I didn't care whether we went in or not and I knew my kids could care less. They have no idea who Elvis Presley is! We follow the signs to park...$8.00! Ok, we will do it and get pics and be on our way. OH BUT NO! Ok the parking and shopping and money pit is actually across the street from the actual Graceland. You purchase your tickets and then ride a shuttle across the street and up through the main gate to the house. I think tickets where something like $27! My kids didn't care anything about this so I really didn't want to spend that kind of money on it! So, for our $8.00 everyone got to go pee in the restrooms there! I did get a few pics and a picture of his plane "Lisa Marie". We did leave the parking lot and drove down the street and circle backed and attempted to get a pic of the house. You can't really see much!

After leaving Memphis we drove to Nashville. We had decided we would stop here and spend the night. We would be going to a church in Nashville Sunday morning. We finally found a hotel. The first one we stopped at told Steve they were full and most were around that immediate area...Kenny Chesney was in concert that night! So, we drove and Steve tried another but we didn't get the feeling we were in a very good part of town. We finally ended up at the Thrifty Inn. It was thrifty all right. So, thrifty I think they forgot to finish the door and put the bottom on it! There was a huge gap. You could see light! Worst of all was we were not far from the airport either...that made the planes landing all that much louder! Bonus...they did have high speed internet!

After getting settled at the thrifty inn we went and ate dinner. After dinner we wanted to see the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Conventions Center...this is not just a hotel! Mom and dad had stayed their for a business convention years ago! Dad said you have to go inside to see! Again we paid to park...$16 this time! OH MY! The inside of this place is gorgeous! I wish it hadn't been getting dark outside cause my pictures would've been so much better. But that didn't stop me from trying to take as many as I could! I just loved the inside of this place! Steve said if I had know this was so awesome I'd have stayed here instead of the Thrifty Inn! Steve really liked it too! I don't know how long we were there just walking around the different garden areas. I think they had four of them. It was beautiful! Tons of shopping places in there too!

Sunday...we went to church in Nashville and got on the road again. Final stop...Gatlinburg! We arrived in Gatlinburg that afternoon, checked in at the office and got directions to our cabin. The house was awesome. 2000 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, hot tub, deck over looking the Little Pigeon River! It was nice and no one around. There was one cabin down the road from us and we never saw anyone! Its nice but the totally secluded sort of freaks me out at the same time! Immediately the boys were in the river! We needed to go buy some groceries but neither of them wanted to go. So, mom and dad said they would stay at the cabin with them while Steve and I went back in town and shopped! GOOD CHOICE! There is one, yes one, grocery store in Gatlinburg! I believe everyone in Gatlinburg was at that store, Food City, shopping on Sunday evening! I have never seen such a busy store...Wal-Mart on a Saturday does not even get close to this place! You were literally in line with your buggy slowly moving up and down the aisles. The front of the store by the checkouts was packed! The employees said its like that all the time. I would say almost everyone there was a tourist (you could tell my peoples accents). They were like us...had a rented a house and were shopping of the week! So, it took a while to do the shopping. I was so glad mom, dad and the boys stayed at the cabin. That many people I would have been ready to kill the boys and mom was sick and she'd have been miserable and it was hot in the store! But we survived it!

Monday...of course we had to be tourist! We headed to the main drag (only one I guess) of Gatlinburg. You have to park and walk. Its like one continuous building down each side of the street. There is no parking for individual businesses. You pay (of course) to park and just walk! We had already decided to do some of the Ripley's Believe It or Not attractions. Mom and Jerrad wanted to do the Haunted House. Jacob didn't. He scares easily and it was not a good idea for him. So, Steve was going to do that with mom and Jerrad and dad, Jacob and I did the Odditorium. Its a museum of all the freaky stuff. It was interesting. I wish Jacob had gone slower and read some of the stuff but he flew through that!

I need to back up a little....before we left on vacation Jerrad had started looking at digital cameras. He wanted one. Steve told him instead of buying one he should just use my old one. So, he had my digital camera. We get to mom and dads and Jacob is saying Jerrad has a camera and he doesn't. So, dad gave Jacob his other digital camera to use. I'm not sure what happened but by Monday dad had told Jacob he could have his digital camera. We honestly looked like the crazy tourist with FOUR OF US TAKING PICTURES!

So, in the odditorium Jacob's not reading anything he's taking pictures of everything! After those attractions we walked all up and down this street. Hitting all the interesting shops. PURSES...everywhere! And can you believe mom and I both left without buying one! We found a type we liked but they didn't have the size she wanted in the color she wanted! I found one but it was more expensive then the big purse but smaller. Didn't make since to me! We made our way to the Ripley's Aquarium. This place was so neat! We had a blast in here. We already had our tickets so we made our way to the door. Of course there was a man (hillbilly as can be) checking bags. Well, before mom tells me "Darla, he needs to SEE your bag"...she has already SHOWN him hers! So, when I walk over and unzip it he's trying to get mom's attention...to open her bag! I was laughing so hard I could've peed my pants! When he told her he needed to SEE her bag she held her purse up and SHOWED him! That's my mom! We spent quite a while in the aquarium. Ate some lunch in town and walked the other side of the street. We went back to the cabin that evening and Steve grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken!

Tuesday...everyone was recuperating from all the walking on Monday. We decided to take one of the drives in the Smokey Mountains. There are three to choose from. We chose the one that takes you to the highest point in the Northeastern United States. That is Clingman's Dome in the Smoke Mountains. We drove up there. It is really pretty. A different pretty from Colorado. You are literally up in the clouds. These mountains aren't near as high as the Rockies in Colorado but because of the weather conditions and stuff the clouds are lower or something. When we got up to the parking lot I thought we were at the highest point! OH NO...that would be too easy. There is a walkway that goes up (and I mean straight up as you can go without falling over) another 1/2 mile! Guess what we did? You got it...we went up that bad boy! My calves were starting to cramp! Of course I had my standard on...flip flops! We huffed and puffed up the that mountain! Mom didn't go she waited in the car. Which was a very good chose for her. Jacob of course bee bopped up that thing like it was nothing. Jerrad didn't have much trouble either...that's why I grabbed his arm and let him pull me up for little while! Just as we arrived at the top some rain started moving in! It was the neatest thing to watch these clouds move in and literally go around you! Because of that we didn't see a lot of the views from the top but the mountains in the clouds looked really neat.

Wednesday...back to the tourist trap! We decided to go explore Pigeon Forge. In Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge there is more miniature golf than you can imagine. Jacob begged for two days...to play. We decided to play at the Ripley's Old MacDonald Farm course. It was cute. They also had an arcade they played a ton of games before golf. They saved their receipts for their tickets to get prizes after we golfed. We roasted playing golf. It was so hot. With our package deal we'd gotten for the Ripley's attractions we were getting 36 holes of golf. We decided to play 18 and do the other 18 when it was cooler. We boys said they'd get their prizes when we come back. They put their ticket receipts in their pockets (bad choice). We had some lunch. Then we went to this place called Wonderworks. This was a really neat deal. It was all hands on and learning stuff. Everyone enjoyed that. It rained while we were in there. When we got out "one track mind" Jacob had now changed to riding go karts since he finally played golf! Most of the tracks had closed since it rained but we found one that was opened. Dad and Jacob rode in one and then Steve and Jerrad drove one each. They loved it. The pavement was just wet enough they could spin around in the karts. It was fun watching them ride those. We hit a few shops before going back to the house that evening.

Thursday...we woke up and it was raining. I have to say on this vacation I got some of the best sleep. Steve and I stayed in the one bedroom that was upstairs with a king bed. I would have to say it was more comfortable then my bed at home! In the mornings the trees are so think the light didn't hardly come in the window. I woke every morning thinking it was really early or really cloudy and when I looked out it wasn't. Its just so thick with trees it seems darker. Thursday it actually was cause it was pouring rain. The river had started to rise too. It was rushing. I love listening to the river. We all decided to relax a while. I think mom went and took a nap. Steve took a nap. I sat in the living room reading. We had the screen door open so we could hear the rain and the river. It was so relaxing and peaceful! I think we finally left the cabin around 4 or so that afternoon. We went back to Pigeon Forge to play our other 18 holes of golf. Oh, as we were fixing to leave that is when the boys remembered their receipts in their shorts pockets! The pockets of the shorts that I washed on Wednesday night! Yep...that was a waste of money for those tickets! I don't check pockets! Its their responsibility to get their stuff out before putting it in the dirty clothes. Steve is just as bad about this! Guess they came by it honest. So, in Pigeon Forge it was much cooler than the day before. You could see the dark clouds and the rain that was moving in. We finished the 18th hole as it started to sprinkle! We left there and went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse! I think after that we went back to the house and started getting things ready to go.

Friday...on the road again! We left bright and early again. 7:00 AM but 6:00 AM our time here at home. Steve wanted to drive straight through. Why is it that it seems so much faster when your driving to there than from there?!?!?! We did it. We got to mom and dad's house a little after 9:00 PM. Unloaded their things and took a potty break. Then the four of us loaded back up for another 3 hours on the road! We arrived home a little after midnight and I was crawling in bed at exactly 12:30! Very tired!

It was a really fun time. I enjoyed my parents getting to go with us. I know they had fun getting away for a week and spending time with the boys.

We are in Tennessee...

2008-07-07T20:39:00.004-05:00

and I would love to start posting pictures and blogging...one problem...DIAL UP! I forgot how ancient and horribly slow it was! Now I know why the new stuff is called high speed internet...dial up is like turtle speed slow! Of course there is no high speed out in the boonies! So out in the boonies there is no cell signal either! I guess I should not complain too much...at least there is some way to get connected!

I might start blogging about our trip later this week and add pictures when I get home! Today we spent the day walking around Gatlinburg. My feet our tired. My whole body is tired. The crazy thing too is at home its only 8:45. Not really that late. Here it is actually 9:45 and I feel like it really is that late. We walked and walked and walked today! Tomorrow I think we are going to drive around and drive up in the Smokey Mountains! Anything to revive our bodies from the walk today! Then on Wednesday I think we are going to Pigeon Forge and it'll be another whole day of walking! Fun stuff!!!!!!

Eclipse...

2008-07-03T10:35:00.004-05:00

book #3 in the Twilight series. I am about half way through this book. I made myself put it down yesterday and not pick it up. I had to get some stuff done. We are leaving for vacation in the morning and I needed to start packing and getting some laundry done! I did put it down until I went to bed. Once I got in bed I had to read some. I'm not sure how many chapters I read before turning the light off. I couldn't stop in the middle of a chapter either. It has to be at the end but I would get to the end of one and want to know what was next so I got sucked into reading another...and the vicious cycle begins! This has not only turned into vampires but it involves werewolves too and a human girl, Bella, caught in the middle! I am so anxious for the movie to come out. I hope they do a movie for each book and don't stop after the first one! That would be too sad! These books have sucked me in more than the Harry Potter books did!

The Baby Borrowers...

2008-07-03T10:27:00.003-05:00

have you seen this show. Its funny to watch but also so aggravating at the same time. Its only two episodes in and I just can't believe how some kids would act...even knowing they are on TV. Then I wonder if they go really overboard just for the show and the ratings. At the same time its so unreal how selfish, stubborn and spoiled these kids are! My 14 year old acts nothing like this and I hope he never does. I think I'd have to lock him in his room to keep from hurting him! I can't wait to see the episodes where they get to keep teenagers. I've seen the previews and can't believe the way they are talking and acting. This makes me wonder...again...is it all overly done. You know at the point you have teenagers trying to raise teenagers on a show...they are all old enough to know exactly what they are doing. Our the younger teens purposely being over the top horrible just to get at these older teens that are going through this experiment?!?!?

How do they find the people for these shows?!?!

Twilight...New Moon...

2008-07-01T15:36:00.007-05:00

I love to read. I love to read if I really like the book. I'm not real good about knowing who is a good author and if they write good stuff. I'm not that into it. I really need to be TOLD a book is good and I should read it. I was totally hooked on the Harry Potter series. The bad thing is those came to an end! Then I'm like "great...what do I read now?" I did find an author (by total accident) that I've enjoyed reading her books. They aren't a series or anything but a good read.

I read some time ago the blog Andrea posted about these books by Stephenie Meyer. I got interested. I thought those would be great to read on vacation (we leave next Friday July 4th). So, last Thursday I thought I'd get started. Oh, by the way, I'd put it off cause I was reading To Kill A Mockingbird. That was a slow reader! I read it for two reasons. Jerrad has to read it this summer and do a paper for PAP English. I thought if it was fresh in my mind then I might could help him, if he needed it! The second reason was I thought maybe I'd get the idea of the book better than when I read it in high school! I am pleased to let you know it did not make any better of an impression on me than it did then! So, just in case while I was at the Barnes and Noble last Thursday...I bought one of those cheat books that summarizes it all for you. Thought if I need to help Jerrad I might have to read that too!

So, onto Twilight. I started reading it on Thursday night. I absolutely couldn't stop. It just sucks you in cause you stop and think "wow, look how much I've read!" And nothing really major has happened. Its not like the whole book is filled with vampire action! I don't really know how to describe it. You might not even like the book but I do.

I have to keep going! I was at the Wally Sunday purchasing book #2 New Moon (went ahead and bought book #3 Eclipse -just to save me a trip)!

I have one more chapter to read in New Moon and I am finished. So, before today is over I'm sure I will have started Eclipse. So, much for reading these books on vacation! I'm sure I'll probably be done before we even leave. Guess I'll have to go back to Barnes and Noble and find something else to read!

Also, they have made a movie to the first book, Twilight. I watched all the film trailers...tons of stuff also on youtube.com. From the scenes I watched I think they might have done a pretty good job of making the book to a movie. I can't wait to see it. It opens 12.12.08 and I'm sure I'll be at the theater...along with all the teeny boppers, to see it! Believe it or not this books was actually written with teens/young adults in mind! Who would have thought!?!?!?

Yes, I was on the computer this morning reading all about the books, the movie...but what got me searching and visiting on the websites was I was actually reading star-telegram.com and there are three girls that have a group and they've written songs about the books/vampires! I think they actually go to Martin High School if I remember correctly. They've written a whole CD! They are doing little concerts at the Arlington Libraries...its crazy stuff. They are going to be at one of the libraries tomorrow night and MTV will be recording the mini concert! I had no idea this was such a big deal...I'm sure all the teens know about it. Check it out at http://www.thebellacullenproject.com/ I just thought of something too...Bella is Bella Swan and Edward is Edward Cullen...but the website is Bella Cullen...does this mean they do end up together or is it just wishful thinking! Something MUST happen in Eclipse!

What will I do til Breaking Dawn (book #4) comes out on August 2nd! How crazy is this to be all caught up in a series of books?!?! Just freaking nuts!!!!! Gotta get back to reading!!!!!!

A conversation with Jacob...

2008-06-24T08:11:00.003-05:00

first I have to give you a little information. Recently he has started turning on the light switch at the bottom of the stairs. This turns on a light over the stairs and a light in the hall between the boys rooms. Most of the time he's in bed when we have to tell him "Jacob turn the lights off!" He forgets! How he can sleep with it shining in his room is beyond me!

So, last night I go to pick him up from VBS. He is in a good mood just talking. This is one things he says, "I'm tired! Those kindergarteners wore me out today!" He helped by working in a kindergarten class at morning VBS yesterday (actually doing it all week)!

This is the good one.
Jacob: You know how I have been turning those lights on?
Me: Yes
Jacob: I can't see so I have to turn them on.
Me: What do you mean you can't see?
Jacob: I made a 30 on my eye test! I can't see! Really, I can't see! It was a 30!

I'm not really sure what he meant. I was laughing to hard! I think maybe the nurse at school checked their vision and thats were he got the number. Not really knowing what it meant! Steve said well if he'd made a 100 could he see?!?! lol He can be so funny. And he didn't mean to be cause he was serious about this!

Pictures...

2008-06-23T19:26:00.003-05:00

Last week was crazy with two extra kids. I don't have enough room or time to write all the cute things Jennifer can say! She is so fun! Katy and Jacob stayed busy playing so I didn't have a whole lot of interaction with them unless they were tattling on each other. Yes, I know its hard to believe but they do plenty of that! After the girls left I figured out I'd only taken pics of Jennifer while we were at Staci's last week. Not one single picture of Jerrad, Jacob, Katy or all the kids together. Here's what I got!

I was tagged...

2008-06-23T18:52:00.008-05:00

weeks ago by Kristy. I thought I'd better get this done before she kicks my butt! Here it goes.

1. If you could change one thing about a major event in your life what would it be? I don't know that anything just MAJOR has happened that I would do different. I would not want to change anything that changed the outcome of who we are or where we are today. I did think of two things that I might have done differently. The first one is I would have tried harder to hold Jacob back in Kindergarten or to have started him a year later. I have ton of reasons for this and not a day goes by during the school year that I wonder if things would have been better for him if he was held back one year. The second thing I thought about that kind of bothers me know is that on my wedding day I had my cousin, Jennifer, that I grew up with and was very close to as a child, stand at the guest book. I don't know why I didn't have her be a bridesmaid. What would it have hurt to have one more?! I hope her feelings weren't hurt by that. I never meant to hurt her. I was only 18 and I was really not concerned with a lot of the details. I just wanted it done!

2. What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?
1. Travel (this traveling includes following the Nascar Nextel Cup Series {particularly Dale Jr. #88} to every track and state they race!) I told Steve we had to do this when he retires! He is not nearly as enthusiastic about it!

2. Set aside money so that both boys could get a good college education.

3. Help family and friends, if they needed it.

4. Shoes!

5. ????????? Can you believe I really don't know what all I would do with that much money!?!?!?

3. What are your three worst habits? Honestly, I would like to say I don't have any!!!!!!
1. I can be judgemental sometimes. I really don't mean to be but I think sometimes I might ought to keep my mouth shut. Although Steve is probably the only one that hears it when I am!

This is why I hate these things! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO ANSWER!

4. What three things to you have to have within reach at all times (think bedside, car, etc.)?
1. phone
2. bottle water
3. only if its storming...my purse! Don't laugh...I put it by the bathroom (the safe place) if its tornado weather! And of course, it has in it my phone and bottle of water!

5. If you could have any job what would it be and why? I don't really know about this one either. I think an accountant would be fun. I loved that in school. I use to think a teacher. I think the only thing good about being a teacher now is the summers off! I guess I'd have to say working at Kristy's scrappin' store or retreat! She'd have to hire me whether I'm good or not....its just a given!!! lol

I have no idea who to tag. I don't know who reads this blog! My list is small!

What's been going on...

2008-06-21T13:31:00.006-05:00

its been busy. Week before last Jacob had football camp every morning. We made it through that. Then Sunday I met my sister and got the girls. Bright and early Monday morning we headed out. Jerrad had to be dropped off for baseball camp at Martin and then the kids and I headed to Irving for the JAM God's Big Backyard. Only Jacob and Katy were going. I think they really had a good time. Everyday after drop off Jennifer and I went over to Staci's and she played with Drew and another little boy, Jacob, that she was watching. It was a lot of fun. Jacob and Katy spent all afternoon Monday, Wednesday and Thursday swimming. Tuesday Kristy and I took the kids to see Kung Fu Panda. Danny spent a couple of nights here with Jerrad. So, its just been a house full of kids all week!

Last night was the JAM party/carnival. It was really good. Jacob had a lot of fun. Wish Jennifer and Katy could've gone but Andrea picked them up Friday afternoon (they had other plans for the weekend). I (or Jerrad, really) took video of Jacob's group singing their song and then the whole group singing the theme song. Thats the last time Jerrad gets to do it. The video is a little shaky. Not really sure what he was doing!

This is the first video of Jake's group singing. I think you can see which one he is...back row, camo pants. What you may not be able to tell from this is that every time he looked at me he starting grinning! It was sweet!

The second video is the whole group. Jacob might be a little hard to see. He is on the back row almost the middle. I'll have better video when Robin gets us our DVD's she's making of the whole JAM Party/Carnival.

Everyone was tired last night. On the way home Jacob asked if he could just go straight to bed! Thats tired for him! We all slept late this morning so I think we are all caught up! Just in time to start another busy week with Lake Arlington's VBS this week! That's always fun too.

Happy Father's Day...

2008-06-15T14:05:00.002-05:00

This is my dad (with mom and all the grandkids)! I was so thinking ahead last week when we were up there for family reunion. I thought...I need to have someone take a picture of me and dad together for my blog so I can post it on Father's Day. Well, you can see I sort of forgot to do that and this is the most recent pic I had (other than family reunion photos...those can be scary!).

My dad is the most wonderful dad! Of course, mom thinks he's the best and there is no one else like him! We like to to give him a hard time but we do it for fun and love him very much. I have to say that now that I'm older...I think I come by a lot of my little quirks honestly...from my dad. Many of you know that I like things just a certain way...well, dad is much like that! He is a perfectionist! I think I came by that honest! I use to think it was from mom cause she always cleaned house and it was alway perfect...nope I think I got it from dad! Also, he is a picky eater. I never thought of dad as picky til I got married. Now I think about it cause when they come to visit and I cook (not very well, I might add) or usually as Steve cooks (we like to grill out...or I like for Steve to grill out) I always have to think...will dad eat it! I think Jacob must've taken after him too...they always eat chicken!

Family Reunion Pictures

2008-06-09T17:46:00.002-05:00

Jacob and Katy flying their kites

Jennifer showing me her "pretty eyes"

One of Jake's fish he caught

The boys playing BINGO

Katy and her fish (she is such a boy!)

Silly string...

2008-06-09T17:39:00.003-05:00

We were in Oklahoma this weekend for the Family Reunion. Saturday night we had pizza and cake for Jerrad's birthday with my family. Andrea thought she'd be funny and was going to give Steve some "hair". That totally backfired on her as you can see in the pictures! I don't know who shot Jennifer with it but it freaked her out! Its sad that it scared her but it was so funny! Guess Andrea will know better next time than to try to get Steve!

Look what Jerrad found...

2008-06-09T17:34:00.001-05:00

a baby bunny rabbit! Jerrad was weed eating around the flowerbed when he saw him hopping around! Of course my first question was are you sure it's a bunny and not a rat?!?!? I'd never hear the end of it if I posted pictures of a stinking rat!

How cute is she?

2008-06-06T12:51:00.003-05:00

I was keeping Jennifer today and this morning she kept saying "ba ba ba" and I couldn't figure out what she wanted. We went all over the house and ended up at the stereo in the living room. I took out the CD and she was all excited! So, I asked Katy what was on the CD and she said The Beach Boys song "Barbara Ann". OH! Now it made since. Well, this girl has got a dance down to this. It is so cute! I don't know how well you can hear the music but its the Beach Boys song and she dances to the whole thing! She is so fun!!!!!!

Jury summons...

2008-06-02T18:28:00.004-05:00

first of all I have to say yeah!!!! I did not get picked today! I really was hoping I wouldn't since its the last week of school and the kids have two early dismissal days. Anyway, here is how my day went.

I didn't have to be there until 12:30. So, after talking to Kristy and figuring out where to go and how long it would take I left the house around 11:30 this morning. When I pulled into the parking lot there were already a LOT of people waiting for the bus. I parked and got in line with all the other sorry suckers that had gotten a summons. Just a few minutes had passed when a bus pulled up. Loaded to capacity...needless to say not everyone got on including me. Then it just sat there forever making this horrible alarm sound. After about 5 or 10 minutes the driver got off. She said something had broke. Some air thing to do with brakes or something. Whatever it was it wouldn't let her bus go! I don't know how long after that another bus showed up. Well most of the people that were on the first bus got on that one and maybe a few others. Needless to say I was STILL not on a bus. So, I continued to wait with the others for a bus. Finally, one showed and I think the rest of us squeezed onto that bus.

Arrived at the stop. Walked two blocks. Keep in mind I'm just following everyone else. Hoping everyone else is going to the same place I am! Had to go through security! Yes, this involves taking shoes and everything off! I left my bracelet on figuring my cheap jewelry was all plastic or something. Well, it wasn't. I set that thing off. Gave my bracelet to the security dude to hold and went through again with flying colors!

Walked in a room that had tons of people. When you see that the room is going to be filled to capacity why do people skip seats? Why doesn't everyone scoot to the center? Why do you refuse to move over and make everyone climb over you? Found a seat and sat down. I don't know what time the thing finally started going but it did.

The jury bailiff made it sound as if everyone would be assigned to a courtroom. She said they'd assigned over 650 people that morning. She did tell us all the courts we were going to be assigned to would not be meeting til tomorrow morning. So, I'm already thinking...I'm stuck for two days! Once she got through all the people with disqualifications and exemptions she started. She did one group of 60 people first. They had to sit and complete a questionnaire and were assigned a court. Then she did another group of 60 people that had to also complete a questionnaire and get assigned a court. She then called a group of 18 that were assigned a court and released. After quite a while she announced that no one had to be held over (I guess they hold extras if needed, but no courts had requested it). She said the rest of us were being dismissed! YEAH!!!!!

It wasn't as horrible as I thought. Of course, it probably would've been worse if I'd been chosen. They were very informative about what was going to happen, they gave instructions several times for what they were going over, told you how to get back to the buses and the parking lot, made sure you wrote down court assignments and stuff. At least if I ever have to do it again I've been that far through the process!

14 years ago today...

2008-05-29T08:10:00.001-05:00

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...

2008-05-28T16:21:00.008-05:00

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...

2008-05-21T21:18:00.009-05:00

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!

2008-05-19T06:50:00.001-05:00

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...

2008-05-18T20:16:00.004-05:00

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

2008-05-11T19:20:00.003-05:00