On Catching up and a Merry Christmas...

Oh little blog, I'm sorry for the hiatus and plan on updating with Halloween, Thanksgiving and 18 month happenings and Christmas {among other things} soon. But for now, I'll wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy new year! I may just reappear after the new year.

For now, I leave you with our Christmas card that I never had printed and mailed out and our Santa pic this year. 

He loves Santa. Yells his name with that happy, high pitched, sweet little voice; he just doesn't want to get too close! Haha

Merry Christmas, friends! Wishing you and yours a blessed holiday season. 

Our life right now

Summer time is officially here! We've tried to soak in some pool time every week. It's the only way I can stand being outside, otherwise I melt! We've gotten to spend sometime swimming with friends and I just discovered one of the pools in our neighborhood has a little splash pad! Woohoo!! {I now know why people get disposable swim diapers instead of reusable. I may have officially decided to convert to disposables! Nasty}

I haven't been able to go to my boot camp after the second class because a 30+ lb folded, heavy duty table fell out of the back of my car onto my toe and it's all shades of black and blue. I am finally able to bend it some, but it sill hurts to put any pressure on. I was hoping to pause my classes and start back up once it felt ok to run/jump on, but it's not looking like that will happen. Maybe I can get at least the last week/week and a half of classes in before it expires. I really liked it so far, just wish I was getting the full benefit of a month straight.

The hubs and C have taken several walks to the park, but it's hot y'all! I wish the swings were covered like the playground is.

My child eats like a grown man. No lie!! Even my friend was stunned at the amount he put away tonight.  For dinner alone he had:

 1 strawberry, 8 blueberries, 1/2 a Roma tomato, almost two  English muffin pizzas {Sweet P didn't want hers after a couple of bites, so C ate her half}, about 10 pieces of shell mac and cheese, probably 10-15 peas AND a few small pieces of chicken.  Followed shortly by 6 oz of milk before bed!   **he did have  healthy lunch of chicken, peas and carrots**  He's the real life Hungry Caterpillar!!   No wonder it's his favorite book!:)

 The other day the girls in our small group got together for breakfast and coffee at Panera. I'm thinking it may have to be a regular happening this summer:) This was minus 2 babes:

This summer is quickly filling up with play dates, birthday parties, family time and little projects I have my mind on.

Here's to sweet summertime!

 

October Recap!

It's been a busy month filled with wonderful things and wonderful people!
On October 4th we celebrated our dating anniversary of 14 years. Yes, you read right! 14 years! It's hard to believe how far we've come in that time. It's also a little weird to tell people you've been with someone for literally half your life! We enjoy seeing/hearing people's reactions.

We've had lovely small groups on Wednesday nights!

Have seen friends we haven't see in a while.

Went to Hall's Pumpkin Patch in Colleyville with the Bass'

Went to see Colbie Caillat at House of Blues with friends.

Attended my 10 year high school reunion this weekend, stayed out way too late and visited with people I haven't seen in 10 years. We also won the award for longest High School Sweethearts! awww. and I didn't even get a picture of just the two of us!

I'm most excited that this coming week is my last week of vacation for the year!!! I plan on getting a lot of organizing done and getting rid of crap, getting my craft on, going to my grandparent's new house (bittersweet, downsizing from the home I grew up going to and having many overnight stays)
and reading!

Happy Fall Y'all!!

Just add mechanic to my resume!

Tonight Mel asked me if I wanted to join her on a little jog on a trail in between both of our neighborhoods. Of course, I am walking out the door when she is pulling in the parking lot that we are to meet at and my car won't start. I quickly get my hubs to come out and jump it so I can be on my merry way. As I was leaving the house he says to me " You have the cables in your car in case it won't start for some reason" I think NOTHING of it and hurry on my way.  Mind you, we've never had a problem with our pathfinder starting, so we were hoping it was just a fluke.

I finally get there, we stretch,  make a quick run and catch up on the weeks events and when we return to the cars Tiny Tim won't start {remember, we named him that because he was anything but tiny and we got him around Christmas time two years ago:) }

 I'm not going to lie, I breifly think for like the next 10ish minutes on how I might be getting electrocuted and Mel tells me how she would kick me away from the plugs/car if I get shocked. We strategize and go back and forth on whether or not there is a specific order on unplugging the cars.

After talking to my hubby, J (Mel's hub) and my brother AND turning down a kind stranger who offered to help, I finally managed to put the last clamp on and didn't shock myself!

Tim started again! Now to figure out what's wrong with the car. That's a job I'll let my hubby take care of:)

Yup, I successfully jumped a car for the first time!

week recap

Monday- hot water heater goes out

Tuesday -fix hot water heater... So we thought

Wednesday- hubs starting filming a pilot show, that if picked up will be aired on the biography channel. Side note- he had to grow a mustache, sideburns and comb down his hair. Its HILARIOUS! AND he has to have them for another week and a half!
read more in "a praying life." Seriously, if you've never read it. Go buy it. Now!

Thursday- gym night.

Friday- dr appointment- going on 3 more rounds of clomid and will be going in monthly for bloodwork and check for any cysts that may have formed. Much needed Lunch with mom, relaxed by the pool and read more of "a praying life", trip to homestead farms for fresh peaches. Found hot water heater leaking in our garage.

Saturday- won't have hot water until possibly tuesday. Work. gave up 3 hours of my life to accompany husband to buffalo wild wings and watch UFC. Found out they serve woodchuck- a cider I really like! So I did get to enjoy one of those:)

Hope you all have a restful rest of the weekend!

holy hail balls...

Last night we had some crazy weather! Anyone that knows me knows that I totally FREAK when I hear tornado sirens. It's seriously one of my biggest fears, and with all the terrible ones that have happened recently, freaks me out that much more.

We had hail tonight that was the size of tennis balls. No. Joke. Largest I've seen. It sounded like our windows were going to bust.

I tried to drag hubs into the bathroom during the sirens, but he thinks I over react. Me?! Never!!

I actually went outside to try and get him to stop collecting hail balls. That's what they were, balls! Not pebbles!

I got a video of a cloud that looked like it was forming by our house, (actually showed a similar video on the news of the same cloud out by the speedway) but don't want to be embarrassed by the fact that I sounded like a 5 year old girl, so it won't be posted. Two areas had some damage just blocks from our house in Watauga and in North Richland Hills due to the crazy winds. I  Don't think a tornado actually touched down, but I could be wrong.

Just glad that it's all passed. Looks like we will need to have the roof and car fixed.  Thankful that was all that happened. My heart goes out to all of those in MO that lost loved ones, homes and are having to rebuild their lives.

Hope everyone remained dry and safe during all the storms.

 After the first round had passed, we let Chloe outside and she tried as fast as she could to gobble up all the hail balls. I give her an ice cube every morning, it's our tradition, and she was in hog heaven when she saw all the "ice cubes" in the yard for her.

side note: our handy friend Jeremy helped the hubs get the water heater fixed! For some reason our Pilot light wouldn't re-ignite, but he got it back on after messing with it throughout the day. I had a nice, hot shower this morning!

trying not to complain and a good book

I'm really trying not to complain, especially when so many affected by the tornadoes don't have hot water, but I'm just really praying that our hot water heater hasn't gone out. I woke up this am to a freezing cold shower. I had the knob turned all the way to the hottest setting and nothing!


Our house was built 5 years ago. Is it normal these days to have to replace all the "big" appliances this early?! We aren't very handy people, so if anyone has a suggestion on how we can check to see if it's working without us calling a repair person, please let me know!!!


Also, I go back to the doctor on Friday. I took an ovulation kit this past month(actually 2 weeks worth) and it showed that I had an LH surge. But weeks came and went and lots of tests were BFN's so I called the dr and had my progesterone pulled again. Results are in that I'm back to not ovulating (wasn't on clomid last month) so she's going to check me out and hopefully prescribe me another round of clomid.


Husband thinks it's way unnecessary that she has to see me before prescribing when I was only on it one time. Oh well, here's hoping that it's not wasted $$!


I just started another round of provera. It feels like I'm back in march. One step forward, 2 steps back I guess.

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I started reading the book A Praying Life last week. I could have kicked myself after Melodie told me it was a free download on amazon and I forgot to download it. I checked back just a few days later when she mentioned the book and it wasn't free anymore. BUT I downloaded it and am so glad I did! It's an awesome book so far and it reminds us to be childlike in prayer, spilling what ever is on our hearts to Christ

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Paul Miller reminds us to "not be embarrassed by how needy your heart is and how much it needs to cry out for grace. Just start praying!"


At this stage in my life I feel very needy and that's ok. I'm learning to prayerfully rely on Jesus in a new way.


I pray short little prayers, longer ones, but when something comes to my mind or is one my heart or even if I've just talked to someone, I  pray about it. I find my self just praying more. He writes that praying allows our lives to feel more orderly and gives us a peace, even when things surrounding us are chaotic and crazy at times. It's teaching me to lean on Him, because I can't physically and emotionally handle things on my own. Even though we've been taught it year after year, I didn't fully comprehend how much I needed to rely and trust fully in His word until a situation out of "my" control came to be. And yes, we cling harder when life brings it's little trials, but I want to be a clinger all through life and not just when things become difficult. I want to trust and learn every day.

So on my down days, which I have a lot of, I'm spilling out my heart, making known just how I feel. Dirty. Messy. Overwhelmed.



I'm only on chapter 5, but I think this book will be one I read multiple times.


One of my favorite quotes from the book so far...

"Learning to pray doesn't offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart."

Thankful for this book this week... It's a dirty, messy, overwhelming week!

it's been a month...

I know it's been a month since my last post. Life has been a little crazy lately. It's hard to believe it's been a month since my uncle passed. Since then here's what's been going on...

...funeral service was a beautiful tribute to my uncle
...thanksgiving was bittersweet, but we were able to see all of our families.
...I completed an order for 50 owl ornaments for a group of Chi Omegas at a school in Wisconsin {the real reason I haven't blogged! All my free time for the past 21/2 weeks went to making them}
... wonderful girls night out
...annual Christmas shopping night with my dad
...baby shower
...wedding shower
... fun night with our book club girls. It included no talks of  a specific book, but instead life, one girl's experience at W's house for a Christmas party and a yummmmmmy cookie/bread exchange!
...the cookie exchange led to me trying out a new recipe that I'll have to post later

...now to finish Christmas shopping, go to a wedding and try to slow down the rest of the month!

Any good gift suggestions?!!?!? I'm always interested to hear what people will be giving to family/friends :)

Hello, Vacay!!

I'm officially on Vacation for the next week!! Here is what I'm hoping my time will be spent doing for the next 9 days:

~Keller Farmers Market {I never get to go because I am almost always at work on Saturdays}

~catching up and reading the 4 books I have started!

~Finishing up painting the trim in the house

~ Catching up on blogs

~making lots of fun Christmasy and everyday things { I get to participate in a Holiday Market at a friends house!! I am so excited!!} PS- friends, you will probably be getting an invitation in the next few weeks! Anyone is welcome to come. There will be a Mary Kay lady, Stella and Dot, a lady that makes decorative pillows, Home Decor, a lady that makes fun accent chairs, Food lady, maybe even a special cake maker with her yummy treats and me! There are some others but I can't remember off the top of my head!

~cooking new recipes and trying to get some meal planning done.

~going to some fun workout classes that I don't get to go to during the work week

~ spending as much time outside as I can.

spoke too soon...

So the day after I posted about my growing pepper plant, my lovely little bullie pup decided she wasn't getting enough nutrition through her dog food... she pulled out my plant and ate most of it. I've re-planted it and am hoping with some extra TLC, it'll grow back in no time. My garlic on the other hand is doing wonderfully! My basil is even starting to sprout!!

before...

after :(...


yummy garlic!!

That's about all the container gardening I have going on right now!

MIA...

I took a little break from the blogging world but I'm back! I don't have a lot to update on other than the fact that I need about $987,982,347,692,835 worth of work done on my mouth. I don't have dental insurance and you put that with having horrific teeth all my life, the dentist is not a fun visit! So hopefully we will get everything taken care of tooth by tooth. No really, it's BAD!


I also planted a bell pepper plant, garlic and some herbs in my garden of containers! I don't have a real garden this year, so planting in pots it is! The garlic are already starting to sprout and the pepper plant is growing by the day! I'm super excited to see if I can claim to have a green thumb.


We are LOVING the series we are going through at bour church and just over the past few weeks have grown closer thru a current series that dives into the book of James; which is all about living through faith and trusting whole-heartedly in His word/wisdom. It's crazy what you learn if you just open your heart to hearing HIS. From tithing and trials to putting your own desires aside and matching your desires with those of the Lord. The other night after dinner we sat on the couch for a few hours and just talked about what we were learning and what we wanted to focus on during this season of life. One of our main things to concentrate on is NOT following OUR hearts. So many times you hear "follow your heart" but so many of those times it's probably accurate to say that our hearts may not be completely in line with His. He knows what's best for us and knows what we need so whether it's what we think is best or not doesn't matter, we are called to obey and need to trust that HIS way is the best way. We want to be obedient. I want to be obedient. One area we have slacked a lot is in our finances. With a new business and lots of obstacles, tithing has not been in the forefront of our minds. Sure, we make sure that our sponsored child is one of the first things we take care of, but with having so many other things to take care of we tend to tithe last. Giving should be our first priority and by being faithful and putting our trust in Him; we know through the word that He will take care of us. That's sometimes a very hard thing to trust and believe in, but it's promised! Proverbs 3:9-10 states " Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing and your vats will brim over with new wine."



Just a little about whats going on in our lives...

record snow fall...

we have broken the snow accumulations record for DFW. At our house I just measured 9.5 inches last night and woke up this morning to a FOOT of SNOW! My work closed at 4 yesterday and when I got home, hubs and I made a mega snowman. It seemed like every house had a snowman in front. I couldn't let ours be the only one without. We also had a little snowball fight. No comment on the winner...

Our winter wonderland....

woke up to this outside this morning...

never have I EVER built a snowman like this....

went for a drive last night around the neighborhood and saw people on a ladder building this guy...wish the ladder was still up so you could see just how big he is...

our trees last night...

I have a video from yesterday, but for some reason it didn't transfer to my computer. I'll have to post it later!! Now to go get ready for work...hoping they'll say we don't have to go in today. I don't see it being a very busy day!

snotty dog noses?!

It looks like all three of our pups have colds right now. It started off with just the girls, but Tiger got it last night. All three are sneezing and have snotty noses. I didn't even know that was possible! I feel so bad! They look like they don't feel that well and all I can do is wipe their noses. Anyone know of an OTC medicine that I can give to them?? They already get Benadryl daily.

On another note...The Rose's should be having little Caedmon any time now!!! They went to the hospital last night to be induced so now, we wait! Say a prayer for them as they go through the next couple of days. We can't wait to see that precious boy!

White Wednesday...

It's December 2nd. It's cold, I'm drinking coffee with gingerbread creamer and IT'S SNOWING!!!!!!!!

Ahhhhh...Love this time of year. Chloe seems to like the snow too. She had her first experience out in it this morning and I think she tried to eat our whole back yard!

Welcome, December!!

dog park...

Yesterday was such a nice, cool day that we decided to go spend sometime at a local dog park. We loaded all three pups into the car and hit the park for two hours of doggy fun. Tiger tends to be the dog that would rather sit by any person before making new dog friends. He even manages to pull himself up on benches or picnic tables and sits by whoever will let him!

We originally started taking them to the dog park so that we could socialize Daisy a little more. She loves people, but dogs are another story! She has gotten so much better that now she lets other dogs come up to her and never barks. She's learned to be nice to everyone! We still keep her on a leash and will until we feel pretty confident that she won't do a surprise attack on a dog. YIKES!

Chloe is our social butterfly and loooooved making new puppy friends! Towards the end my dad brought up his dog and socializing him went better than we thought. He didn't like Chloe at first, but seemed to become friends after about 15 minutes of nipping and barking. They chased and played and by three o'clock, all were tired.
On the way home we got to see a little airshow that is done about 15 miles from our house. Goo Blue Angels! They flew right above our house!!

I have two weeks...

to get in shape for our 5k on the 31st! Unfortunately it's been about a month since I have put on my running shoes, or any workout gear for that matter.

I plan on starting up my 30 day shred again tonight and starting the ever so difficult challenge of running on Wednesday night. I really wish I loved to run, but I don't. I'm a terrible, slow runner with bad knees. I like the feeling I have after words {well not the sore feeling, but the feeling of accomplishment} but during my entire run my sweet, encouraging husband has to constantly motivate me. Honestly it's probably the only way I make it thru.

We have our 5k on Halloween morning {that The Brock's have decided to do with us:)} then a month later we are doing the 8 mile Turkey trot. We made a little agreement with my dad's fam after the 5k last year, so we must to the 8 miler this year. I can just feel my knee cursing at me!!

let the games begin...

weekend recap...

So far it's been a great weekend. I spent the night on Thursday at my mom's for a little girl time. I got off work late that night so we had Chick-Fil-A for dinner! Yum!! Friday we headed out to do a little light shopping and my sweet mom bought me a few cute things for my trip to PA and NYC. I was in desperate need for a couple cardigans and found some cute ones at Old Navy. Best Part...they were having a big fall sale!!

We enjoyed lunch at one of our favs, Pei Wei and went on to find her good, comfy shoes for her cruise to Europe coming up. I really enjoyed hanging out with my momma and getting some good mother/daughter time.

Friday night, Ashley took me as her date to see Ms. Britney Spears!! It was so fun and you just can't help but dance to her music. Love anything I can dance to!!! Jordin Sparks opened for Brit and did a wonderful job as well. It was a great way to end a great day!

Ricardo was tied up tonight, so I met up with my dad at Grapevine's Grapefest for a little bit. It's a small scale version of the state fair! It's a big deal out in our neck of the woods and there is so much to see, eat, do and EAT!! I did pretty good considering I'm on a 1300 calorie diet right now.

Tomorrow after we eat lunch with the hub's fam I am meeting up with Lauren and Angela to plan sweet baby Rose's celebration!!

Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!!