But..But...But...

Well I forgot my beloved camera in South Texas :(, therefore I have no fun country photos to share as of yet. Mom and Dad are sending the camera my way, they know it's one of my life lines!

On our trip down (10 hours) the boys watched Star Wars movies. They really love the Clone Wars cartoons so Pop's popped in all six movies! So we stopped for a bite when the boys came upon the scene were Anakin goes to the dark side. We replayed the scene it went like this.....

Emperor: Hence forth you will be known as Darth..Vader.
Zenon: What? Go Get Darth Vader?
REWIND!
Emperor: Hence forth you will be known as Darth...Vader.
Zenon: What?? Kill Darth Vader??
Rewind!
Emperor: Hence forth you will be known as Darth..Vader.
Zenon: What? Darth Vader?
Pops: NO Mijo, Anakin IS Darth Vader!
Zenon: WHAT?!!! But But But...Why? I, I, I, I, But he's a good guy! Not a bad guy!
(all this with tears welling up in his eyes)
Pop's explained all about the Dark side blah blah blah.
Well needless to say he's still distraught.
Poor Z.
Who knew he'd get so sentimental?

Lessons, never to early to learn.

There are a few lessons we are going to teach the boys after our holiday break. Lesson's we've slowly started to mention already. It started with "I'm starving!" This was one of the things that irked my mother. Her response was always "Liza, you don't know what it's like to starve!" "I'll show you starve!" And she did. The next time we crossed the border to Mexico so daddy could cut his hair and she could buy some vanilla. She pointed to the children begging for tacos and coins I was young but I got the message. Did I quit saying that I was starving? No but I caught myself a bit more during the process, until finally I quit saying it. We'll the boys have started with their mom's ol' nasty habit of "I'm STARVING!" Of course I don't live near Mexico to prove a point so I just stop and repeat what mom said to me and hope it sinks in!

Well we want to teach the boys the importance of giving and the importance of earning a honest buck!

How are we doing this?

Well Z's class adopted a Salvation Army Angel. His teacher is going to have the class shop for the Angels gifts on line as a group then she will purchase what the child needs and wants. All he asked for was a warm coat and a toy car.  Fortunately the boys have a Remote controlled car we bought a while back and well since they all ran on the same frequency it was hard for them to play together. So it's been up in their closet, unopened, brand new and waiting for someone.

I thought of just pulling it out and taking it to the school knowing they'd never miss it. But then I thought NO! I will sit them down explain about giving and have them give the teacher the car themselves. So they can know that gift of giving.

Now comes the honest buck part! It's more on working for what they broke! For days they've been playing with the dogs pooper scooper...yes the pooper scooper. They take the handle end (clean end) and open and close it chasing Nina around the yard, of course she acts silly, barking and running. They giggle til the cows come home and we scold them telling them they are going to break it! Well, Well, Well. Guess what I found broken while hanging sheets outside???Yup a broken scooper AND they broke my 4 year old giant stick that I found and use to hold up my clothes line when the clothes are too heavy! Stinkers!

So they will work to earn money and march their bottoms to Target and buy a new scooper! Yup! They are going to work in the yard filling holes. Nina has done quite a job digging up the yard and the boys are going to fill them all up with soil. When they are done I will pay them for their work. Then later take them to the store with cash in hand and have them buy a scooper. Maybe next time they'll think twice before disobeying us. Or maybe they'll want to work in the yard more for money?? HEY! It could happen!

What a week!

Oh it's been one of those weeks. I'm truly exhausted.

So much class work( went out of my schedule and sat for 8 1/2 hours straight doing class work!), house is a total wreck, and I'm going to have a full house this weekend (though that's a Yay and Nay situation, will explain in a bit.) But after this hard week, I then walk out with the boys yesterday afternoon and see this.

My Garden.

(The statue says "By his hands we all are fed.")

I didn't realize they had bloomed so beautifully. These guys are all .99 cent plants I bought this summer and look! So beautiful.

I guess God was giving me a gift for my horrible week, has to be all God because you know what? I forgot I had these plants and yeah haven't watered...EVER.

Yeah I know it rained but not all summer!

My sister's and their sweeties will be in town this weekend. All on a sad note. My brother in law lost his mom this week and her funeral will be here in the Big D.

Sad of their loss but happy to see my sisters....is that awful?

Well off to class I go and hope that 8 hours of study and homework did this gal some good!

Schedules.

Sweet photo of the boys running through the park.

(Yes this has nothing to to with the post but I love the photo.)

There is not enough time in my days. I feel sometimes like I am breaking at the seams.

So I've decided to do something about it. Will this work I have no idea but I won't know unless I try right?

So I am going to work on a schedule that well,  runs my days by the hour. I know sounds monotonous but maybe I can get some stuff done! Seriously how many of us waste more time trying to figure out what to do first and by the time you know it it's time to pick the kids up which is followed by homework, snacks, keeping the peace then start dinner. I found out it's a lot of us! So lately I've been devoting 2 hours a day to homework and studies, from 10:30-12:30. After that I make myself lunch straighten up and by the time I know it, it's time to pick up the children (the first few hours in the day are a blur!). Also I found a site that gives you ideas on how to make 5 dinners in 1 hour. SOOOoooo I will try this concept and see how this works for me.

Being a wife, mother, student, room parent for two classes, housekeeper, and dog walker takes a toll on me. So maybe I can get organized a bit and quite having to look at dirty dishes and piles of clean, unfolded laundry. I've NEVER had piles of clean laundry lying around...NEVER!

If I find fabulous sites that help I will post them along the way.

Boys' best friend.

Little E is very close to Nina. Z has warmed up considerably. Z we think was always a bit weary because well Nina is a hyper mess! I love on her and tell her what a good girl she is and correct myself by telling her what a "Sweet" girl she is...good she is not. She by all means should of been named Marley.

Little E and Nina (check out the hole she dug up behind them, rotten child!)

But Nie has been a fantastic addition to our family.BUT she is horrible in the house, she acts like a wild animal whose never been indoors. She eats my gardens, digs up my yard, keeps eating something she's allergic to outside, still won't alert us when she has to go potty and will go pee pee on my carpet if she's too busy playing to go outside. I CAN'T let her in my kitchen anymore she's huge and her head reaches my counters, she's a swiper! BUT She is an awesome running/walking partner. She runs and plays chase with the boys indoors and out. She waits by the bedroom door until I come out. She loves for me to hug her mid walk or run. She'll lay at our feet as we watch television.

 Oh Nie! Sometimes I wonder who lost you? Do they miss you? Why didn't they chip you? Were you loved? Was the pound scary? So glad they did lose you because we found you and two little boys can't get enough of you! So much so when they asked if Nina could play with them in the living room I explained they'd have to put up their Halloween candy. I told them the dangers of chocolate to dogs ( the chocolate is why we had her crated at the time). They quickly gave up their treats for their Nie. I don't blame them, she's worth it.

Impromptu Halloween!!

This Halloween was full of last minute changes!

Originally we planned to stay home for Halloween due to the fact that it was a school night, that changed since we'd be in the OC for E's Saturday football game. THEN we find out he has a make up game on Sunday so there we were on Halloween cheering on our little guy.

This is what Pa Paw and Z do while watching Little E

Little E getting his game on! He's the one in blue farthest to the left blocking. So cute!

Him and his team mates with their Grrrr face.

Halloween evening brought more Impromptu goodness when the boy's cousins decided to join in. They were super tickled. Needless to say I quickly used the old bean! I had baked cupcakes and we had well tons of candy so I sat them down to do some Cupcake decorating..They loved it!

Little E showing me how yummy it all was!

Some of us adults had to get in on the action!



Our little monkey's.

Pa paw hasn't been too happy with the Cowboys, check out his Wade Phillips Dunce hat. Hilarious!

And this costume too was Impromptu..pretty creative!

One last minute pic of the crew before heading out!

They had a blast and of course we didn't go over an hours worth of trick or treating, a few if not ALL our little ones were pretty exhausted.

Halloween wasn't how we planned this year but I'm so glad it went down the way it did.



Past Week.

Don't have much to say today and while looking through photos found this. And well it pretty much sums up our week. We painted murals, went to a Farm and got pumpkins and I made some yummy apple bread. As you can see I still have apples left and will most likely make us a pie.

So when the evening comes and I'm unwinding from a busy weekend...I shall eat pie.

Yesterday.

Yesterday I took the day for myself. No running errands, no major housework, no school volunteering, not even homework! I watched some DVR'd television, only a few light loads of laundry, and I baked and finished up some of our murals.

I then picked up my boys, they played with Nie, had some fresh baked apple bread, Z relaxed and E and I painted.

I caught this picture of him that I just absolutely love. He loves expressing himself with paint brushes, crayons and markers, and I love that he loves it.

Green Meadows

Little E's first grade class went to Green Meadows farm. They had a great time, would I say a blast, I don't know but they enjoyed themselves that's for sure.

E petting a Turkey, I guess he's getting acquainted for next month.

At the park before heading out.

My E is such a gentleman, his little friend next to him had a pumpkin, horsey and a bottle of water she was trying to balance while walking to the bus.

E looks and asks if he can help. She says yes and there he went, I was so proud of him. He's a chip off the ol' block. His Pop's is the same exact way.

As the trip came to a close I felt overly exhausted. Came home helped the boys with homework and fell asleep at the end while Z was reading to me. He kept telling me to wake up!

I then crawled, yes crawled to my room and plopped on the bed. I felt sick.

I laid there until Nick called that he was on his way home. He arrived and let me nap, cooked the kids dinner, bathed them and suggested I skip class for the night. I did because I felt awful, please oh please don't be getting sick! I just don't have time for it.

Thank you Nick for being so sweet, your the best!



My little artist and Bologna loaf.

Is it possible to know the personality your child is going to have while they are in utero?
Or just by looking at a sonogram photo?
I'm starting to wonder.
Z was a SUPER calm baby in the belly, only movement I felt was constant hiccups. I used to cry and tell Nick "How can our poor baby rest when he has such horrible hiccups?" "He must be so annoyed  with it!" Yeah I was a bit hormonal.
And his first sonogram photo?
Child was kicking back in the womb and we swore it looked like he had a video game controller in his hands. Like father like son??

E? Oh that E. He moved this way and that way. Made waves out of my stomach. Kept me up at night I swore he was playing soccer or jamming with a band.
His Sonogram?
We don't know. He was moving everywhere! Looked like one of those Mexican jumping beans!

Then to now?
Let's see.
We watched Nightmare before Christmas and while the movie played we painted murals on our kitchen windows of Jack Skellington for Halloween.
Well....Little E and I did.
Then he insisted we run out to the front yard every few minutes to look at our creations from the outside.
Z?
He lounged around in his underwear with Nina alongside watching the movie claiming he was too tired to paint, and preferred to have a snack while laying around like a bologna loaf on the couch.

Yeah we had their personalities down with just one look. Just one single look at those sonograms and we knew.
Oh well I can't complain.
I love my active little artist and my bologna loaf, they're mine...all mine.

Musicology

This past weekend I spent relaxing watching music videos on youtube. And you know what I noticed? All the different effects some songs had on me. Some made me feel sad, some happy and sometimes the feelings didn't match the song. I guess because I could be so mad while a crazy happy song is playing. But that got me thinking of my favorite memory songs and I broke my favorites down to 5.

Glycerine by Bush:

Nick met this pixie blond while doing this modeling type thing and told me all about her, mind you we were only buds at the time. Nick said while Pixie blond did the run way "walk" thing Glycerine played. I told him now every time he heard that song played he'd think of the Pixie blond. He said now when hears the song he thinks of us having that conversation in the kitchen of my old apartment, how funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z66yp3cMwkw&ob=av2n

Where is the love by Black Eyed Peas:

When I was discharged from the hospital after having Z I couldn't bring him home. I had to leave my little Z behind in the NICU. As the nurse wheeled me out I started to sob, hard. She told me not to worry that God was good and he would send my baby home to me soon.
I thanked her for her kindness then Nick sat me in the car and buckled me in. Then we drove away.
He then turned on the radio and this song was playing, I don't know why but hearing it made me sob again.
Now everytime I hear it I feel a pinch of sadness then reach over and give my Z a squeeze.
Well the nurse was right, God did send my Z home to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc&ob=av2e

The Reason by Hoobastank:

My baby sister married young, 17 to be exact.

Her marriage was far from easy and at 19 1/2 she had her first baby.
Fred my brother in law was quite lost and well we didn't care for him much.
We would of wanted nothing more than for my little sister to cut her losses and move on.
Then he found God.
He changed and is one of the best men a woman could ask for.
He is the reason I KNOW people CAN change.
I don't think I would thought this way if I hadn't seen this person turn into the man he is today.
She told me he heard this song and said it was like it was made for them.
Nick and I still get a bit choked up when we hear it.
Thanks Fred for making me see..... People can change.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV4DiAyExN0&ob=av2e

I've had the time of my life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes:

Nick and I have this understanding, he can't die before me...he just can't!
I know morbid of me to be thinking of things like that but I'm a girl who goes by a schedule and well this is how I want it to go down.
With this "Fact" I want this song played at my funeral and dedicated to Nick, because it couldn't be further from the truth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpmILPAcRQo

Farther Down by Matthew Sweet:

My last favorite song!!
My wedding was one of the most stressful events of my life! I planned the whole thing alone and I thought I was going to die! When it came down to music and which song Nick and I would dance to he didn't miss a beat he said we were to dance to "Farther Down."
I was a bit confused by this choice and asked why?
Or more like "WHY?!"
He said that's how he felt when he began to have more than just best friend feelings towards me but thought I could never feel the same for him.... little did he know I already did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpmILPAcRQo

Oh there are so many more songs that I'm crazy about but I swear I'd be here all day and I have work to do! A LOT of work to do!

Fall and Football!

We finally got these caramel apples made! Ethan just loves making them, Zenon saw what they were and said "I don't like caramel apples." then walked out of the kitchen. Oh well I can't win them all.

Little E is just loving his football!

Snapping the ball to his quarterback.

In this photo I was taking random shots well, right after this particular shot he grabbed his first game flag! He got two this game which he happily reminded me that I owe him 2 dollars. If I had only waited a few more seconds I could of caught the moment! Oh an incentive to save for a my Canon dream camera right?
                                                         (E's number 10 below)

Our weekend was fantastic, though exhausting we had a blast! And I've become one of "those" mom's. Jumping, screaming and cheering my sons name as the game plays. I don't care who hears or sees me because I'll tell you what I don't stand alone, almost all us mom's are out there yelling our boys' names and ready to give hugs at the end.

Spoooooooky!

Photo from MyRecipes.com

With the talk of Turkey Day yesterday got me thinking?
Hey! What about Halloween?!
Last year the boys and I made some homemade caramel apples...YUM!
This year I decided to make some apples again but different.
I have ALL the ingredients in the house, of course apples, I have Halloween sprinkles,
White and Chocolate bark and of course what crafting mom doesn't have sticks?
So we are set! Now the thing is, WHEN do we have time to make them????
Oh! I'll make time.
The boys will have a blast!

P.s Yesterday I made Cranberry Banana bread and it made my house smell EXTRA Holiday-ish.
I LOVE the smell of the holidays!

Almost here...it's been way too long.

Sunset in The Rio Grande Valley, South Texas

Though October has just started I am anxious for November. This Turkey Day I get to go see my family. Though I saw them a lot this summer this Thanksgiving has a lot of significance for me, Nick gets to come with us. This November will be two years since he's had a vacation, two years since the big "Lay Off".  When he goes down there I get the sense that he just unwinds and gets to relax. He's super good friends with my brother in law, Fred. My sister and I are already know Nick will most likely not come out of her house (she lives right next door) so our master plan is if it gets too late he can stay and she'll stay with me at mom's we'll do our own thing....sleep! Not to mention we'll hope the kids will stay over there too...hee hee.

We can relax with a glass of wine, a mixed drink, a shot okay just anything alcoholic period and enjoy the silence.

Oh Valley Thanksgiving, I can hardly wait! In the mean time I will mentally prepare for all the emotional, physical and yummy goodness we four will encounter while there. Did I mention mom and dad live in the country? There are so many stars to see, critters to hear, beautiful evening walks through a crisp breeze and that mom makes everything from SCRATCH for Turkey Day?  Soooo yummy sooo good wish it was already Turkey time.

History repeats itself.

If you look at Z it's like your looking at me 27 years ago. I was thin with straight dark hair only exceptions were I wasn't as tall and I was darker.
And at his age I HATED eating breakfast. This of course stressed mom out. She gave me breakfast money that I hid or gave away then told her I'd paid for breakfast at school (don't know why I didn't use the money to buy snacks, sheesh I wasn't bright!). Well she finally busted me on that so what did she do?
She started pumping me with vitamins. I hated those Flinstone vitamins more than anything in the world! They were too vitaminy.
So I'd take my two vitamins put them in my pocket and chunk then in a bush at the end of the road where the bus picked me up.
One day on mom's Friday off she walks me to the bus pick up and what does she see in the bush? A mountain of Flinstone vitamins!
Needless to say I was from then on sat on the counter and watched as I chewed the nasty little things up.

Well let it be known I have become my mother and I give my boys vitamins every morning as they head off to school.
All in all they don't mind, they take their vitamins happily since they are in chewable gummy form only one that gives them trouble is their dinosaur vitamin. Z just down right hates it!
But it's full of vitamin C, rose hips and so much more goodies to help with immunity.
Well the other day Nick was messing around in back of the van and tells me to come take a look.
In the cup holder by Z's car seat is a mountain of dinosaur vitamins hiding under paper.
Sigh.
Like I said, History repeats itself.

Here's the culprit in mention.
Maybe it's the dinosaur theme that gets us?
Immuno Raptor...Flinstones.
Who knows, all I know is Z is definitely his mommas son!

Big Tex, we love you but you exhaust me!

We made it to the Fair and the boys had a blast, next time I'm taking a wheel chair for myself!

But the weather was fantastic, food was way yummy and we again took a pic w/ Big Tex.

Little E had his first State Fair Corn dog! He loved it! He didn't like corn dogs last year and this year...his fave!

Ocean Spray had this thing set up, so they played with some wet cranberries.They also gave out a lot of juice samples...I liked the blueberry pomegranate..very nice.

Can't really see but that's Z and Nick on a ride. Z is quite the daredevil!

( Z is the little blue sleeve, Nick's the one in red.)

And this weekend I took Little E's football pics. Pop's had him put on his Grrrrr face!

He loves him some football that's for sure!

Doesn't he just look a bit too grown up? Makes my heart...sigh, so very sad.

Time

I was looking for past State Fair photos and found these video's. I sat and my eyes suddenly became moist. They've grown so much, time has gone by way too fast.

That is why I let them crawl into bed with me and I kiss them every chance I get. I let them tear around the house and I join them many a times, chasing, screaming, tickling, playing. I baby them til the cows come home and when the sun goes down and they are fast asleep, I just stand there and watch them...soaking them in. Because one day you wake up and they are no longer little itty bitty babies, they are little boys, then teenagers, then young men, then they are gone. But I won't think about that I will worry about that later, at this moment we are happy just enjoying the now. 

Z teasing Daddy.

Little E jamming to Michael Jackson's "PYT"

(This was little E's favorite song!)

Nightmare on Euclid Street.

Though Halloween is a month away the boys couldn't help but want to get things rolling!
(Our house obviously isn't really a scary "Nightmare" kind of house...It's hard enough keeping Little E in his own bed can you imagine if I decorated spooky?!)

I HATE spiders! They scare me to death and what did Little E ask for? Spiders!

I agreed and he started to reach for this giant hairy spider...I kept my shrieks to myself. Then Z saved me when he saw a package of fake webs with little spiders. Still Ew but better than big hairy spider!

Next I have to fill the house with baking goodness! I love baking months!!

After our decorating fun the boys played outside with Nael our little neighbor.

We mommies decided to take them to the neighborhood park in hopes to wear them out.Only ones who looked worn out was Amina and I. We sat, scolded, chatted,grumbled (she grumbled in french, I grumbled in spanish), screamed and finally groaned over what we should fix for dinner. Finally she decided just to make eggs. I agreed and told her lets make pancakes too! So I gave her a few cups of mix and she made pancakes for her crew as well as I. And you know what it was lovely!

You know speaking of pancakes I think I will make pumpkin spiced pancakes. Hmmm sounds good, doesn't it?

Crisp

Crisp is the only way I can describe our weather lately. Nick and I like to stand outside in the evening and stare at the moon, feeling the crisp cool air fill our lungs. It makes us both melancholy with childhood memories.
Speaking of childhood, our little ones won't stop with the talk of Halloween. So we are pulling out the decorations and pumping them up some more! Why are we doing this to ourselves? We know they will just ask even more..."When is Halloween?", " Is it almost here?", "How much longer for Halloween?", "My teacher said it's not too far!", "WHAT?! That's too many days!!". That has been our conversation for the last month! But alas I can't help but want to fill our home with pumpkins, pumpkin scents, and turn off the a/c and open windows. Yes, that will be my mission, buy pumpkins, decorate the home, hype up the kids even more (yikes) and plug in my ear plugs.
Oh and Nick and I may have decided on what to be for Halloween for the yearly Halloween party we attend. Time for me to whip out the ol' sewing machine!

BUSY weekend!

Our weekend was insane! We were gone from home ALL WEEKEND LONG!

Saturday morning Little E was all ready for his first football game! Well we woke up to the lovely sounds of thunder and all was cancelled! So we headed to IHOP for breakfast.

Next we had Aiden's birthday. I made his cake, though I fudged and wrote 4 instead of 3...but I fixed it.

After Aiden's party we had ANOTHER party for Jennifer at Aunt Judy's that was so relaxing and food was yummy.

(name and decals I made out of fondant, swirls are made of gumpaste, this stuff is seriously fun to work with...tasty? Now that's another story!)

Sunday we spent the afternoon with Leandra and Abraham.We took the boys to lunch and walked them kids for 2 miles around the park. They played until they dropped and we got our much wanted exercise!

The weather was so beautiful! I told Nick I want to live where the weather is like this everyday!



It's almost here!!!

State Fair of Texas opens in 2 days....2 DAYS!!!!
Z & E have been enjoying the Fair since birth...seriously.
They were both 3 months old when they were first carried on to the fair grounds.
It's a tradition we don't wish to stop.
Now they get to try yummies w/ us...okay kind of they don't like anything I pack their lunches.
But I eat this Greek Salad they have that is SUPER YUMMY! Pop's ALWAYS gets Texas Nachos and a corn dog. Boys get to have some cotton candy and we walk and play and it's oh so fun!

(Check out E's chubby cheeks! LUV IT! They were 2 & 3 here.)

Oh Big Tex we will be seeing you next week...Oh yes we will!!

Makey Bakey!

Why I wrote that title, I don't know it makes me what to smack myself!

There's been a lot of baking going on here in our home with more to come!

Someone at the boys school is finishing up their Trip around the Sun and I need to make her a treat.

Also, I have the challenge of making another little cousins cake....need to get on that research and quick!

This cake below was for our sweet little cousin, he loved it. Didn't come out quite exactly how I wanted it, but pretty darn close.

Cake!

Birthday boy w/ his cake!


And this well I just thought it was pretty darn cute!!





 

Happy Hump Day!

Our days so far are filled with goodness. E like always, takes to school right away he loves it!
Z is doing great in some of his classes...notice I wrote some. But he'll come around worse case scenario, find an alternative that works for him. I'm game!
Speaking of school the boys are doing some learning at home.
I took some pics of them doing some Math work sheets for me.
Why were they doing work sheets?
To earn them some Wii time.
Hey if it works, then why not?


















Little E is using beans as counters, oh beans your so versatile!

DFW Parks & Playgrounds Give Away!

My friend at DFW Parks & Playgrounds is having a give away to the "Gentle Zoo". Go to her facebook page and become a fan! Go to her blog and read more on how you have more chances to win! With Pumpkin Patch season around the corner this would be a great treat for your little ones! Not to mention its a great source when looking for a fun park to spend the day w/ your little ones picnicking or just letting them run off some of that energy!
From their park visits I have to say this was my favorite review, why?
Because it's in the O.C of course! And it doesn't hurt that it's practically down the street from the MaMaw and Papaws house.

http://dfwparks.blogspot.com/2010/05/lake-cliff-park.html

One Krabby Patty!

Our 3 day holiday was nice, we had birthday's, cake baking and all around family goodness!
Then back to school and back to the ol' hustle and bustle.
Except I'm doing it all with a frown.
I'm Crabby.
Extra Crabby.
I think it's just an accumulation of sinuses, allergies, school work, boys school work and house work that just doesn't seem to want to get done!
Luckily I have a wonderful husband that allows me to throw a hissy then gives me a hug, he knows I need it. (Mind u this isn't always the case).
I need to get out from under this little cloud, but how?
Hire a maid?
Pay someone to do my homework?
Get an after school tutor for the boys?
No I just need to try and be graceful.
But if you know me...there's nothing graceful about me!
So I will learn to cope and get accustomed to it all.
In the mean time the process will not be pretty.
Why?
Because I'm grouchy....Hey! the boy's don't call me "Plankton" for nothing!

Out of the blue.....

Yesterday we spent the afternoon w/ Pa Paw.
There were steaks, baked new potatoes, Veggie Pasta (for me) and pizza for the boys and of course...swimming.

While the guys swam I studied for Psychology. While studying I looked up and saw this........





















He was watching television from outside through the sun room. He was in deep concentration and looked so serene.
With this alone I felt a gush of emotion go through me.
He was mine, so was the little guy showering inside, and the Pop's was mine too.
We were all at our parent's house enjoying each other's company, the weather, the day.
I felt so euphoric, but most of all I felt truly blessed.
So much feeling swept over me just from looking up and seeing this calm little one watching a show well that he shouldn't of been watching...Family Guy.
Yeah that channel was changed pretty quick.

First Day 2010

Well they have gone back this time as a 1st and 2nd grader.
Where does the time go?
Like always I bake up a storm to get my mind off my empty home.
Though honestly it wasn't empty, I had Nie, she tripped me many a times walking around the kitchen wondering what all the yummy smells were.
Sorry toots! You can't have chocolate!!

My boys came home with talk of new teachers, new friends and all done with smiles...YES!
To an awesome year!

And they will be off.....

Tomorrow is the first day of school for my little 1st and 2nd grader and I'm already bummed!
I truly hate sending them off.
Not knowing their every move is a true killer for me.
Is that crazy?
Obsessive?
Maybe it is.
But I really had hoped to home school my boys to enjoy every moment with them.
7 hours a day for about 9 months they are in the care of some one else...that some one should be Moi.
But alas I send them off, with a big smile and stressed heart.
Though I know they will do fantastic!
They surprise me every day, I couldn't ask for more.
To Tomorrow, may God bless us with a fabulous first day....no a fabulous year.

Wonderful ending

Summer break is coming to a close.
Am I happy to send them off to school?
No, No I am not.
Summer means lazy mornings and breakfast for lunch.
Walks around the neighborhood and runs through the sprinklers.
Catching bugs and lounging on the couch.
Going to dollar cinema's and eating pricey popcorn.
All of us spending the night at Mamaw and Papaw's.
Holding my boys late into the night not having to wake up early the next morning.

A few end of summer goodness.

Riding their 4 wheelers at their Aunt Judy's, it's fantastic out there!




















Taking the boys to work w/ me at the shop.
Mamaw had the idea to let them get wet in one of the bay's.
They had a blast.




















Being cute...yes those are rubber maid containers.

















To next summer...I'm already counting the days.

A evening w/ Pop's.

Nick and the boys went to Cowboy stadium, I couldn't go due to class...boooo.
He came back with my camera full of new pics.
This happens to be one of my favorites so I'd thought I'd share.


















He also came with photos of Miles Austin for me...yay!

To be or not to be and for me that is the question....

I have been reading a new book well...not too new I was on the local library waiting list for like 4 months! But it's a book on Vegan living.
Do I want to be a Vegan? I don't know.
Have I seriously considered going back to being a vegetarian?
Yes, yes I have.
As we get older we notice things...some subtle, some not so subtle.
First off the whites of my eyes are well...not so white anymore.
My skin is horrific!
And I have no energy what so ever!
Then again that could be from lack of sleep from staying up all night studying.
So where do I stand?
Well I don't know.
I would love to go Vegan and I think I could if I could let go of that cotton pickin' ground Turkey!
And then there's cheese, my obsessive love for cheese.
Times have changed a lot since I was a vegetarian last, maybe there's a nice cheese substitute that tastes like REAL cheese!
Is there such a thing?
Could such a wonderfully yummy delicious thing actually exist?
And is there such a thing as a part time veggie?
If not maybe there ought to be!

But for now I give myself a challenge! A 2 week challenge, minimal to no dairy or meat for the next two weeks...just to see if I see a difference in my complexion.
If I like what I see I will be a "Part-Time" Veg.
Yeah that sounds like a plan.

Let them have cake!

This month I have been doing a whole lot of cake baking.
Z got his Iron Man cake and he was quite happy with it.

My first time really using fondant for their Spongebob themed cake.
Quite challenging but I enjoy a challenge of course unless it's a Math related challenge! THEN no thank you!















Cake for Jacinda.
















Cake for Little E. He's really into Captain America..SOoo glad when the movie comes out they'll be more Captain America goodies for us to choose from!