Catching Up

Hey there!  Its been a while since I've been here.  I've thought about blogging but something would always come up and I would forget about it and before I knew it, nearly a month had passed by.

Here's a little bit of what's been going on since I last met with you....

I went to an Aggie game.  Yes, I can hear you all saying "WTH" out loud.  My cousin Shari is an Aggie alumni and has season tickets to all the home games.  She had three tickets available one weekend and invited my brother, Bella and I to join her.  They had to talk me into it.  What ultimately convinced me was there was food, drinks, family and football.  Even if it was Aggie football, I couldn't argue with the food, drinks and family part of it.  I did not go to school at the University of Texas but I am a Longhorn fan forever.  Aggieland has a very different atmosphere and that's all I'm going to say.  I also wore my longhorn bracelet that day. You can see it on my wrist below. I had my horns up!

This was the only piece of clothing I took with me...my BURGUNDY scarf!  LOL!!

As I told my niece, brother and cousin.  I don't have a problem with the color, its the logo you put on it that I turn my nose up to.  Here is me and Toot at the game.  We made it through halftime and then went back to the camp to tailgate and watch the Astros.  Ok, everyone else finished watching the Aggies but this girl watched the Astros.  Hahaha

The following Monday, the Port hosted its Annual Golf Tournament.  

That's me, Nick and Lauren putting out sponsor signs at each hole.  

The next day was Halloween!!

Here's my Day of the Dead Cat (that's what she called herself)

She was the cutest!  Everyone LOVED her mask.  

I watched the World Series and lost tons of sleep like every other Astros and Dodgers fan out there.  

Of course the best part was watching the Astros bring home that championship!!

Veterans Day Bella and I went to the parade to see two of our favorite Veterans in their very first parade...my daddy and my brother.  Lena's brother-in-law Thomas rode in the parade with Daddy and Tony as well.  He served in the Air Force, while both Daddy and Tony served in the Navy.

 Here's Daddy and Thomas....

Tony was at the end of the float....

Here are all three of our Veterans ....

There was a ceremony at the stadium after the parade so we walked over for that.  It was amazing. The parade was amazing.  I have never cried that much through a parade before.  So proud of all our men and women.  We all stood for the entire parade and cheered as everyone drove by us.  It was awesome!!

I don't think I've mentioned that Christopher is taking a floral design class this year.  This momma is reaping the benefits of it.  He has done two "holiday" projects and I have been the lucky recipient. 

Here was October's project...

That was a real pumpkin!  It held up for so long.  

I don't know why this picture is coming out so fuzzy because its clear everywhere else. GRRRR...

Here is November's project.  A turkey!!  Isn't he adorable!!  

I love that he is taking this class and also a little bit envious.  For many years, my dream was to have my own flower shop.  Love, love, love that he is doing this and that I get to enjoy his class projects.  

Last but not least, its Thanksgiving week so I am working a couple days and then taking off the remaining week.  We are celebrating at Daddy and Lena's house Thursday.  I am making dressing and double-layer pumpkin pie, plus anything else I feel like making.  I am going to slowly de-fall my house this week and get ready to put Christmas up.  I do want to show you the turkey I finally broke down and purchased a couple weeks ago. I have been drooling over this guy since I first saw him way back in July when Hobby Lobby put all their fall decor out.  Bella and I had to run in there for crafts for a project she was doing for school so I told myself if he was still there, I would get him. I lucked out because there were only two left.  I love him.  He fits right in.  

So that's what I have been doing.  

I have made progress on Christmas shopping but not enough.  Hoping to change that this week.  

Happy Turkey Leg Week to y'all!!

Special Weather Statement

For the last week or so I have receiving a "Special Weather Statement" on my weather app. The SWS is advising me of the high heat in the area.  Well no kidding! If you have been outside then you know it's just been awful out there, yet here are folks (my sister) who thrive in this heat. My hope it that come winter time, I will receive these SWS's telling me it's going to be really cold or even better, we will have a chance of snow. I really need to think about moving further north some day. I don't know that I will ever want to leave Texas, but who knows.

Today we are headed to daddy's for lunch with the family before my niece heads back to that place with all the maroon.  She wanted to have lunch with the family before she left. Rumor has it my brother-in-law is grilling fajitas. That would be awesome. I'm bringing dessert...

Berry cobbler and chocolate pudding pie....

Y'all stay cool and take care of yourself if you're planning to be outside.  We are headed back to school tomorrow so I'll follow-up with pictures.  I might be crying since it will be Christopher's last first day of school.

Happy 3rd of July

Happy, Happy, Happy!

Today is a good day and its a Monday!!  LOL!!

Nothing significant going on, I'm just in a decent place.  I feel good today and I'm happy.  This is huge for me because I feel like I have been in a funk for a long time now.  

Me and my sweet girl one morning last week.  She almost always gets up before I leave for work to see me off.  She says, I just need to see you and hug you before you leave.  #ohmymeltingheart

 We are down to less than a week before my vacation begins and I cannot wait.  I'm ready to chill out and relax for a glorious 12 days.  We will hit the beach for a week with the family and then shift to the river for a few days.  My vacation begins this Friday at 5:00 p.m.

I've pulled out most of my red, white and blue decor.  I did snap a picture of this area that welcomes you when you enter our home.  Remember those magnolias from Canton?  Those are it in my watering can.  I picked up Uncle Sam on clearance at Hobby Lobby last year. I had seen him early on but didn't want to spend the money.  Deanna, Kristian and I ran to the Hobby Lobby in San Marcos last summer when we went to the river.  There he was for only $7.  Couldn't pass that up.  My Family, Friends, Freedom sign is a few years old. I think I got that at Kohls but I'm not certain.

My children ended up spending the weekend with me.  Christopher had to work Friday and Sunday. He is a cook at the Chili's in town. So proud of him.  He is enjoying it, although he would rather not make salads.  hahaha!  Bella and I went to hang out with my friend Lauren from work Saturday evening.  We went up to the fairgrounds and watched fireworks.  They were awesome.  We sat with Lauren's brother-in-law, sister-in-law and their boys.

Bring on the fireworks!

Sunday, Bella and I went to pick up a few groceries but first we made a drink stop at Sonic.  She found her sunglasses in the car and had me take her picture.

And yes, that is a blanket on her.  I may have had the A/C blowing really cold in the car.  ha!

This is a little cross stitch project I've been working on since last weekend.  Bella loves flamingos.  She found this one and asked me to make it for her.  Its coming along.  

That's about it for us.  Mommy has been working every day and the kids have been chilling at home.  Lucky kids.  When Chris has to work, Bella stays with my sister or daddy.  They have been kind enough to help me out with her this summer so I can have a break from daycare costs which has been wonderful.  

Hopefully we will get off work early today to begin our July 4th holiday.  I will be off tomorrow but back to work Wednesday for a short 3 days and then.....VACATION!!  I may have previously mentioned that but I wanted to make sure y'all didn't miss it.  :)  

Have a great week!!

Welcome May

I have realized that I am not the only person who is in shock that today is first day of May.  This year is blowing by faster than ever.  We have four weeks of school left.  I am counting down just like my kiddoes are.  While I am ready for summer break, I am not ready for the summer temps.  I know I whine about this all the time, but I just don't know how I could stand it as a child because back then I LOVED summer time.  I'm just old now I guess.  LOL!!

My sister's softball team has made the play-offs again this year.  The first round was Friday night and they came on strong winning 13-0 in 5 innings.  Next round begins this Friday in La Grange.  I probably will miss the first game since it begins at 6:00 and I have to work until 5:00 but I'll likely travel Saturday to catch Game 2.  Love watching those girls do their thing on the field.

A Dress A Day In May started today.  As you can see, I wore jeans today.

The Port hosts a Take-A-Child Fishing Tournament every year in May.  This year, we are allowed to wear jeans to work along with the current or past TACFT shirt for the next two weeks.  I love jeans so you know I'm taking advantage of that.  Plus it sure makes getting dress every day a lot easier when the only decision I have to make is which shirt I want to wear.  The shirt above is this year's shirt.
I'll pick up DADIM after the fishing tournament.  And who knows, maybe I'll participate on the weekends with a dress or two.

Hope y'all are having a great Monday.  I'm ready to hit the hay.

Weekend Happenings

We are now in April people!  Geez Louise...before we know it summer will be here and ending and I'll begin my Christmas shopping.   I'm totally not ready for that.

This weekend began with my children going to their dad's house however; Christopher decided he didn't want to go so he stayed home.  18 now and wanting to hang out with his friends.  No surprise there.  His father agreed so he stayed while Bella went.  The break was actually going to be good for me because I have been in a funk so a quiet house is what I needed.  No big plans although I thought long and hard about making a road trip to Round Top.  I decided against it because I really didn't want to go alone.  With encouragement from my girlfriend Jenn, I went shopping Saturday hoping to find some Spring dresses.  No luck there but I did treat myself to this cookbook I have been wanting for a while...

I began reading it yesterday and have only made it through the appetizers and breakfast, but oh my gosh, I LOVE it.  This is my new favorite.  Sorry Pioneer Woman.  Its pretty and full of yummy recipes.  Easy recipes.  Some fancy, some not.  Great stories and I love the way she has the recipes laid out in each section.  Plus, proceeds go to the American Cancer Society and Cystic Fibrosis. Annnnd, I discovered we have a couple things in common.  Not only has cancer affected her family but this cookbook of hers was 20 years in the making!  I've almost caught her with my family cookbook.  LOL!!  I know mine won't be on the best seller list but it will get done and printed one day.  

I also ventured into Hobby Lobby Saturday.  This weekend we will celebrate Easter with my mom's side of the family.  I'm sure I have mentioned before that we do these family baskets at our gatherings.  You put together a basket of goodies (of your choice), spending about $25-$30.  Everyone who brings a basket gets to draw a number for a basket.  Its really fun and I love a Spring basket. I'm pretty sure I was in Hobby Lobby for a good two hours or more looking at things, picking them, putting them back, etc.  Here are some contenders...

  

Ultimately went with the round staked birdhouse in the middle picture because it was different.  I really loved the birdhouse on the bottom, wanted it for myself but I put it back.  You should be proud of me for doing that. I haven't completed my basket but I have two pieces to start it.  

I also decided to add some Easter touches to my magnolias at the house so I picked up the eggs and carrots below.  The welcome stakes are Godparent gifts.

 And here are my magnolias dressed up for Easter...

Sunday, Bella came home early so we decided to make homemade chocolate chip cookies. 

this kid is a mess...

These were a nice treat and turned out really good.  Soft and chewy, just like my babies like them.  I do too.  After we finished that, I got supper ready and in the oven.  After it came out, Bella and I let it cool and went for our evening walk.  That girl encourages me to get out and walk every night, and there are nights I just don't feel like getting out but she wants to, so mommy goes.  I always feel better when I do.

Today, my brother is at MD Anderson having his follow-up testing to make sure his treatments did their job.  Praying for positive results.

Y'all have a great week!

Welcome December

Its December y'all and that means it needs to be cold outside.  I'm so over the 80 degree temps.  Normally I wouldn't complain about the 80's however, it is now December 1st so its getting a little ridiculous.  It would be awesome if we could see something beautiful like this...

There was that time in 2003 or 2004 I think it was that it snowed Christmas Eve and we woke up to a very white Christmas.  That was amazing.  

Isn't that just beautiful?  

I will settle for this....

But if Mother Nature changes her mind...I'll take the snow too!!

This n That

Apparently I'm having trouble blogging these days. I really don't have anything newsworthy to report.  This is the only recent picture on my phone...

And that was almost two weeks ago!  I have my niece & nephew's soccer and football schedules saved to my pictures but that's it.  Sad.  I finally put up my fall decor this past weekend.  My apologies to my friend Steffani for giving her such a hard time for not having hers up yet.  In all fairness, I really wasn't giving her a hard time, I was more surprised it wasn't up when she noted it on FB (insert big cheesy smile).

I have to say, with it still being a thousand degrees outside, I just have not been feeling it-LITERALLY!!  I lit my pumpkin candles and thought that might help. Eh, not so much.  I looked around at everything and was just blah.  I don't know what my problem is.  Maybe its the weather. Maybe I'm just tired.  I decided I would probably go ahead and pull out my Halloween decor this weekend, see if adding that to the mix will help.  Maybe then I'll find my other coffee cups that are MIA.  Who knows what I was thinking when I put them up last year.  I'm sure in my head, it was a great idea.  ha!  

Oh hey, here's something newsworthy!!

CANTON IS NEXT WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so ready for that.  I also took an extra couple days of vacation so I will wind up with a 5 day weekend. Hallelujah!!  I was telling the girls that I really don't have any big things on my list this year to look for so I'll just get to kind of look around and see what I find.  We are hoping a cold front will find its way down by next weekend to make it a little cooler.  That would be awesome.   

The truth is, I live for my weekends these days so I can mentally rest.  It is so crazy busy at work during the week that I am plum exhausted by Friday.  Don't even get me started about finding energy in the evenings to do homework, cook, clean up and all those other fun mommy things that have to be done during the week.  Bella's teacher told us at Open House last week that she's not going to punish them if they don't get homework completed for the week, its more for practice.  She's a working mom of a 1st grader so she totally understands getting home from work and just wanted to have a little down time.  Its been hit and miss most of the time.  I cheer out loud when Bella tells me she has done all her homework, mommy just needs to check it.  Its the little things that are huge these days.

A little update on me and honey.  We are still together however, honey is going through a very difficult time right now with some things in his life.  I am still here for him and one of his biggest supporters (right behind his momma).  We talk every few days or every week.  On occasion its daily and that makes me very happy.  His main focus is on himself right now, and that's where it needs to be.  We discussed breaking up but couldn't do it and honestly, didn't want to.  There are days when I think I am absolutely nuts for staying with this man and allowing the separation but things may change tomorrow.  I don't really know.  What I do know is that I'm here supporting him, encouraging him and not giving up on him.  Today I'm totally okay with just that.

Have a good one y'all.

Wine & Wood

Remember back in February when I attended my first painting party?  Well, last Friday I went to my first wood painting party hosted by my same friend, Amye Jo.  This was so much fun.  We had a larger group of ladies this time but it made for an even better time.

This process took a little longer than the other party, partially because we had more people but too, there are several steps to this project as well.  And again, we had an excellent teacher!

Painting and staining our boards...

Getting our stencil ready...peeling all the letters out

Once you peel out all your letters, etc., you center it, 

stick it on your board and smooth out

Then you get a partner to help you peel the backing off...

Next, you begin dabbing your colors on. 

First you put a seal on with your "base" color

Then you add the color for your wording...

You layer this color twice.  

By the time you get to the third round, you're tired of dabbing.  

Dabbing becomes your worst enemy. Ha!

After this you rip off the stencil.  This was funny because all of us forgot that we had just dabbed our wording onto the board with paint, so we were all thinking that if we ripped the stencil, we would rip our words off.  Crazy girls.  You then take your handy dandy tool to pick out the pieces that are still stuck on your board as well as the insides of your letters.  Again, this is where everyone helped out those of us who had larger quotes.  

And our finished products!!!

I have a few extra paint spots but I have learned to like them.  They are in spots I didn't get a good seal with my stencil and where the wood was imperfect.  It makes it imperfect like me :).  I love it even more because I made it.  

I am signed up to attend a Java and Wood Painting Party in November.  We are doing Autumn/Thanksgiving themed signs (SQUEAL)!! Y'all know its my most favorite time of the year so I'm especially excited about that one.  I have also been invited to a Christmas party the first weekend in December but I'm having second thoughts about it because its going to be a rather extra large party, she's topping off at 40 people.  I'm not sure I want to do that.  I mean, I'm all about making a sign for Christmas, but I'm not sure I want to with 39 other people.  I like intimate small groups.  Call me weird, I can handle it. One thing you should know for sure is if I go, I will share my results with y'all.
Hope you are having a great week.  I woke up with a massive headache that lingered with me throughout the day.  I would have been happy to have stayed home and slept but no such luck. Oh well.

Y'all be good.

Friday Is Here

Not much to report in these here parts.  The rain has subsided and the sun has come out.  Thinking it will be a little too wet to do anything in the yard this weekend so tomorrow the girl and I may venture out to find some sandals.  I'll see if the boy wants to join us but I'm betting if the weather is nice again, he will want to put that kayak of his in the water.  Just a hunch I have.  ;)

As you know, I was off Wednesday with the babies but came back to work yesterday to no computer.  It up and died on me so I got my new one installed sooner rather than later.  Its faster and better but still some kinks to work out.  And I need a few programs installed that I use on a regular basis.  It was kind of a crazy day yesterday with that going on and it being board meeting day. Yay me!  But we made it through and Friday has arrived!! Y'all know how I love me a Friday any day of the week.

Some really good news this week...my tax return hit the bank!!  Momma is paying some things off and putting some money away.  Feels good.

On the down side, I read some negative comments on FB last night.  My own fault because I went looking at someone's profile and there they were.  No names mentioned specifically but you know who they are directed.  These are people that are my age and older that should know better, but they don't.  Its really sad, but it also upset me and took a while to calm myself and fall asleep last night.  I know I have done nothing wrong but it still hurts because there are people out there who have been poisoned with stories and lies all to make someone else feel better about themselves and to gain "friends".  I'm better off I know but it still bothers me.  As my friend Callie and I said this morning, being a good person, the bigger person and taking the high road can suck because most of the time, you are the target of nastiness.

I saw this last night...

So that's what I'm going to do, stay focused on the positive.  

Y'all have a great weekend!