Happy 5th Birthday, Annabelle!

As some of you may know, this is going to be a crazy week. We have 2 birthdays and a graduation. We have already celebrated the birthdays but there is something to be said for just enjoying the actual day, especially for mommies. So this week I will focus on my little two on this blog even though the fact that Wes is graduating is such a momentous occasion. I may write about that, as well. ;-)

Here are some of my favorite Annabelle moments and pictures:

Home from the hospital with her Daddy
Annabelle Hazel

Annabelle in the nursery singing the B-I-B-L-E

First snowFirst Vacation Bible SchoolSwimming with Daddy

First time ice skating

Annabelle with her toddler bed for the last time.

First dance recital

First real bike

Please excuse me, I am going to go cry now.

What it feels to be free

For some time now I have been struggling with my health. I have been tired, lethargic, cold, irritable, had insomnia, woke up tired, had muscle aches, depression, gained weight and had some strange wrist pain. It was making it almost impossible for me to function at my normal level (I do a lot of stuff y'all, so it was bad). I am so very good at self-diagnosing myself via Google and have decided that I have some sort of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). I could go to the doctor and spend several hundred dollars in tests and risk them not finding anything wrong with me (my husband is living proof that it happens). I decided that, since hypothyroidism is so common and it runs in my family, that I'd take a supplement and see if that helps first. So I went to the local (and very popular) health food store called Sprouts. They had about 4 different types of Thyroid support supplements. I chose the cheap-y ones (if you call 8$ cheap) that I would take 3 times a day. I am not fond of having to remember taking them and I am definitely not fond of having to chew them, I'd rather swallow a pill. But alas, I chose the cheap-y brand and they are chewables so I guess I got what I paid for. Anyway, I have not taken them 3 times a day. I have been taking it at least once a day for about 5 days and I cannot tell you how much better I feel. I have been getting very tired at bedtime (it's a good thing) and waking up earlier feeling refreshed like I haven't in a long time. I feel happy when I wake up and have more energy. I still have some wrist pain and weakness but it is infinitely better. All of these things lead to another...

Because I feel so much better, I am learning to let go. I am learning to get on the back of Wes' motorcycle and letting myself be free (albeit, only down the alley and the next street over). I am learning to get on that ridiculously high tree swing that Wes made and trust that the rope will hold. ;-) I am learning to take the opportunity to look at new zoo animals that I have never seen in the 3 years I have had a membership and taking time to explain to the kids all about them. I am feeling more free these days and it is the perfect time of year for me to let go. I love spring!

You can't always get what you want...

First of all, I know for a fact that Amy has a slew of pictures to share with ya'll that will prove to be infinitely more interesting than my post, but given some free time - I felt like sharing. Dad asked me at work about our birthday party for the kids, "So did you take any of them on a ride?" My answer - "No Dad, it was dangerous and crazy enough."

One would think as a near-college graduate I would have little to still yet learn, but apparently there are still items I am yet uniformed in. I'm learning a lot about little boys and what it takes to keep them safe.

Getting everything you ever wanted will not make you happy. I know... everybody is aware of that, but it doesn't stop most from trying. In the past two months, I have been blessed with a house, new furniture and appliances, time, and that beautiful chunk of metal you see in the picture. I wouldn't take any of that stuff back, but I gotta tell ya - stuff will not bring you closer to your wife, kids or the Lord. In fact, for a worrier like me, it can be a detriment. The way I think, the more you have, the more to break.

I'm just thankful I have a gracious wife and a Bible. At some level, I think she really understands me and what I like. Sadly enough, the only things I know that she wants all go to the house. She doesn't have time to think about what she wants when her husband is on mad spending sprees... (well, just one). Just don't kill me when it has to go to the shop someday Amy :-)

It is going to take some serious refocusing if I am to make this approaching season of the year and my life worthwhile. We have some really neat projects planned for the summer, both small and large. Immediately, I have a few more things to wrap up for school - but honestly, I've checked out on that already. It's really just one more final that I am going to take this Wednesday. Thankfully, I'm starting to come to terms with the whole stressful idea of sitting in front of hundreds of people for two hours as well. But I could probably still benefit from some muscle relaxers and anti-anxiety drugs. I need to look into DBU's policy about recreational drug use... it's probably in the stack of instructions they sent me.

A month in pictures..

I think it has been awhile. I am not sure how long - but I am sure you missed me terribly. Yep.

My BFF-4EVER and I loaded up our 6 kids and took them to Nordstrom. Crazy? Yes. Fun? yes.

The first nice day this year we decided to grill hamburger and have a backyard picnic.

He ate that burger like a champ.
The girls enjoyed it very much.

________________________________________

My BFF-4EVER and I also had a yard sale. Annabelle and Kamron had a lemonade stand. They are quite convincing and they sold a couple of jugs of lemonade that day even though it was chilly!

They are pretty adorable.

_______________________________________________________

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
I got a year older last week so I indulged to make myself feel better. I baked this cake. I hadn't baked in a long time (see below). It is fresh strawberry cake with fresh strawberry icing. Yummy!
Actually, I had several cakes. Make that 3 and also a set of brownie cheesecake bites.
And friends brought me beautiful flowers! I love my friends.
___________________________________________

Wes and I attended a Dean's list honor luncheon.
I am going to miss the beautiful campus after he graduates.

He also got his cap and gown!

________________________________________

This blog post is almost finished, I promise!

Look at that lasagna get all bubbly in my brand new Whirlpool double oven!!!!!! Stop drooling!

_________________________________________
Random pictures from ny birthday party at Beaumont Ranch...
Will likes pool.
Yep, that's me riding a mechanical bull.

Yep, that's me after I fell off...

Annabelle did it, too. She didn't ride until she fell off. She just rode it and got off when she was ready to stop. She sure was brave!

I hope you enjoyed this month in pictures! I love your comments!

homeschoolers are...

Wierd.

I have been quite busy getting settled in here at the new house and keeping up with daily life. I am pleased that we have gotten back into a regular schedule with school (after taking 2 weeks off). Annabelle is doing sight words, lots of directional learning (not sure what you call it - I just made that up) and Abby is diligently working through her language arts and is making some neat things in her art class. For extra-curriculars, Annabelle still does dance class (though her blankie stays near her face the whole time and I've contemplated having it sewn into her costume for the recital in May) and Abby will soon be learning sewing from a super awesome friend named Anna who mentions me here. She does beautiful work and I am humbled that she wanted Abby to come hang out and do projects with her. I am afraid that my poor little homeschooler has gotten bored so this will be great for her! I am learning to be diligent to housework and packing my schedule with playdates (for sanity!). We attend MOPS where Abby is helping with Will's age group. We also added a few new pets to our family. They don't really have names but that's okay. One did not live long enough to get one. My sister gave the kids this tank and took the girls to pick out a fish for each of the three kids. Unfortunately, Abby's bit the dust (we tried to return it in a sandwich baggie but they wouldn't take it back). Annabelle's is the white one and Will's is the multi colored darting towards the bottom the the tank. :-) Will is fascinated by them.
Wes will get his cap and gown Saturday and also we'll buy his class ring and graduation announcements. I can hardly contain my enthusiasm!

This post was all over the place, sorry. Drop me a line (or a blog-comment) some time.

is moving in snow a winter Olympic sport?

It should be! Wes and some friends of ours (okay, maybe not after this) moved a piano over snow (up and down stairs no less!). They should get at least a bronze or something. Piano luging or something. Yeah, that's what we'll call it.

Well, that was an experience. I won't say how cold it was, or how slushy it was or how cold it was. I will only say that it is done. We moved in record Texas snowfall last Friday and Saturday. I can only say that we *may* look back at it in 35 years (of course, we will still be living here because of the scarring the move produced) and laugh. Maybe it'll be more like 36 years. Hey, whatever. It's done, right? Please relish with me in these wonderful photos of our move. I love my house.


This shows only a few inches. We had nearly a foot more to go before it topped out!
The kids had loads of fun running around an empty house! This is their room above.

This room has lots of names. We can't quite figure out what to call it so maybe you can help? It is on the opposite side of the house from the other rooms. It has a linoleum tile and a closet. It also is in the hallway with a half bath, laundry room and the door to the garage. We have called it all of these names:
the back room
the study
the 4th bedroom
the auxillory room
the crap room (that was Wes, sorry y'all)
the office
the storage room
the home school room
I guess it is a moot point since it just has stuff that landed waiting for it's home so maybe we can call it simply "the landing". What do you think?

This is us in the entry way. It's probably my favorite part of the house. You can't see it but it has an old-timey mail slot in the door. :-) I love it.

This was the cruddy part. There were motorists stranded in snow, slush and ice. People abandoned their cars to go home and wait for the thaw. Us? Nah, we got it. Just hop on in Donna Lasater's moving truck. You're good to go. This thing plowed right over all that silly ice. Wes is using a broom to sweep the 8-10 inches of snow off the truck so we could see.

Man, I have good timing, let me tell ya...

We're home!

Isn't it beautiful?

Stop by for some coffee some time, y'all! Just give me 30 minutes notice to throw stuff in the landing room. :~)