Crazy weather I mentioned ....

Here's some photos from the snow that moved in last night .....

David and I went out to take some pictures and I guess I forgot about the sheet of ice that was under the new snow and ..... ummmm... yep - you guessed it. I busted my butt! David had his camera but couldn't get the photo to take quick enough. Or maybe he was laughing to hard - not sure. But nevertheless - it was a memorable moment : )

Front yard (last night)...

us :)

I couldn't get this picture to come out. For some reason, would not focus : (

it says "I love David"... awhhhhhh :)

Back yard (last night)....

Front yard (today)...
crazy snow for texas.

Since we got crazy snow - there was no school. So boys were excited to play.

Here's Andy ... so happy : )

Ben, Andy and Will rolling snowballs ...

Looking down our street (our house is on right).

you can see our car and truck there...

Down the other way of our street.

crazy, crazy snow.....

Will

Andy is DONE :)

Our house :)

David, Will, Ben and Andy

and Kuma : )

My handsome hunny ....

who desperately needs to shave :)

Kuma... the back of her anyways. I couldn't get a good shot of her. At first she didn't want to go out. I think she held her bladder for like 14 hours b/c she was afraid of the snow. Then she finally went out and she was laying in it and eating it. She loved it!

Me and David : )

Ben, Andy and Will building a snowman...



The boys had a lot of fun in the snow. Wish we had sleds for them. Would of been more fun. The snow is great, but we are ready for it to go :)

Crazy Winter Week ....

We have had a really crazy week here with the weather for Texas. It has been ice and now snow all week long. The kids have been home from school b/c school has been canceled all week. The roads are bad so we can't get out and go anywhere. Everyone is getting cabin fever ....

Here's our week at a glance:

Monday: David had Jury Duty. Ben and Will stayed home from school due to strep (from which Ben was recovering from 104 temperatures). They all 3, have been sick all weekend. Andy went to school - although I probably should of kept him home. He wasn't quite 100%, but no fever.

Monday night: Arctic blast blew in from somewhere and landed a sheet of ice all over the roads. The sleet woke me up in the middle of the night. And was so loud that I had a hard time sleeping. Thanks for that : )

Tuesday: Then the sleet was followed by the power going on and off early in the morning. B/c of the below freezing temperatures, the generators were overloaded. So we had rolling blackouts all day long. They would last 15-45 minutes and happen every hour or 2.

So, with that being said .... School canceled due to inclement weather and rolling blackouts. Which means below freezing temperatures and icy roads, and no electricity at spurts of time. Very nice! David had Jury duty, but the courts were closed due to the ice. So he's happy about that.

So ... no school, freezing weather outside, and no electricity. Really? Is this a joke? Also not good for my husband who works from home. No electricity = no Internet and no work.

Wednesday: Still freezing temperatures and ice. No school AGAIN! Really?? And also since the schools are closed - so are the courts. No Jury Duty for David! They actually canceled Jury Duty for David, and told him he served his time and that they would start over and call in new Jurors. Yea for something going right!

Thursday: Still freezing temperatures. I think the roads are better. But AGAIN, school is Canceled. Really? This time I don't quite understand, but whatever. We all slept in till 11am, even Kuma (thank you, moochie!). So that was fantastic.

Thursday night: Snow moving in from that huge snow storm in the North. Couldn't they keep it to themselves? We are TEXANS we don't know how to properly deal w/snow and ice. Our gloves are thin, our hats are thin, our shoes are flip-flops. They aren't snow material. Our whole city shuts down - LITERALLY!

Friday: Woke up to Snow covering everything .... which is on top of the sheet of ice that blew in on Tuesday. Nice Texas weather, huh? So ... yes, you guessed it. NO SCHOOL ... AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! This has got to be God's way of punishing stay at home mom's. Or maybe just me for my behavior as a child. I don't know ... but come on. Enough is Enough!

So all day I bundled kids up, played in the snow, unbundled kids, cleaned up piles of wet clothes, rebundled kids since they were frozen, and then .... bundled kids up, played in the snow, unbundled kids, cleaned up pile of wet clothes,rebundled kids since they were frozen ..... yeah - i think you get the picture.

Saturday (tomorrow): Ben has a basketball game. Hopefully the roads are clear and we can get outside. I am guessing games will be canceled - but maybe not.

Sunday: My cousin, Monica and her daughter, Brittany are coming to visit. I am so excited to see them. Brittany is being looked at by DBU for Volleyball. They are staying here w/us. So excited to hang w/my cousins : )

And what's great is ... This weekend is Super Bowl XLV. The first year for it to ever be here in Texas and the city is covered in ice and snow. It's made all the Super Bowl festivities difficult b/c of all the low temperatures, ice and snow. I am not a big football fan ... well, not at all - actually. However, in honor of my great friend, Cristi Roach & her family (who are from Wisconsin), I do semi-care about the Green Bay Packers. So ..... Go Pack Go! Also ....this is history and I know my boys will care about football b/c they will be men one day (LOL!), and that's what men do (care about football and super bowl's). So I guess this will be something they remember - for sure. Super Bowl XLV covered in Snow and ICE!

And on that note ... come on, spring! Remind us why we live in Texas!

Winter weather!

Monday night we got a blast of winter weather across the area. The sleet woke me up from a dead sleep. The boys ended up in our bed b/c it was so loud. We woke up to some snow, but the roads were sheets of ice. So ... of course, school was canceled. The boys had already missed yesterday (as you see in my earlier post) so they were already stir crazy.

Yesterday, they fought, played xbox, fought, watch tv, fought, played games, fought .... big fun! I think snow days are God's way of punishing Stay at home mom's : )

They went outside for about 20 seconds and I did too - to take some pictures.

Ben and Andy enjoying the ice : )

Andy : )

Will all bundled up :)

Ben and Will

Playing basketball across the frozen puddle that's usually between ours and the neighbors house (if it rains)

And now today, we have another Winter Weather day! Snowed/Iced in worst than yesterday. And so ... of course, the schools are closed. And on top of that - we have been having rolling blackouts since 6am this morning. They last about 15-30 minutes, but come every hour or so. Apparently w/the low temperatures, the generators are overloaded.

Thankfully, today the kids are entertaining themselves - so far. I just hope soon this ice will melt, the temperatures will go back to normal temperatures and we'll be able to get out of this winter mess.

Finally converted one of them...

All the boys in my house LOVE Cream of Wheat Hot cereal, and I myself am a fan of Malt-o-Meal. When I make malt-o-meal, all the boys turn their noses up to it. Today is a really cold day out. The boys ate other things for breakfast and I made Malt-o-Meal for myself. I asked David to try it. He fought me, but finally did. And he admitted it was good. What's not to like? It's buttery, sugary goodness :)

I gave Andy a taste and he said "It tastes like hot cereal, but better!" Finally - I have converted one of them : )

Sickly Weekend!

Friday (pm): We started the weekend out with our first Family Friday Night Movie. We watched Open Season 3. Ben and Will seemed into it - but Andy, not so much. He more wanted to play than watch the movie. So, I was thankful when it was over. Sometimes he will sit and watch and movie and I hoped he would be into this movie. We'll try again next Friday night w/a different movie. The boys really love the idea (especially Ben) and are excited to make it a tradition.

So - after the movie, I may/may not have told Ben and Will to go to bed - I can't remember. But w/in 5 minutes of the movie being over, they were both in bed - asleep. It was only 9pm. NEVER happens in our house (especially w/Ben)! So - I knew they were sick. Plus, they both mentioned they went to the clinic at school for sore throat, stomach ache.

I went in to check on Ben about 11pm and check his temperature. It was 104. Holy moly! So, I stripped him down, gave him tylenol, put a wet cloth on his head, and he went back to sleep. 45 minutes later, I checked again and it still wasn't down. So I gave him motrin .... it finally brought it down.

Saturday (am): David and I took the boys to the doctor. Andy's had nose junk and been coughing all week. Will has started. I made David go w/me b/c I knew they would have to do the throat swab for strep and I had to do them one at a time or it wouldn't happen. They HATE being swabbed. They also tested Ben for flu. Ben and Andy were positive for strep. Will was negative, but Dr looked at his throat and decided he was probably starting to get it. Ben's flu test was negative. Everyone got antibiotics for strep.

Here's our doctor checking Will : )



(Saturday pm): By the time we got home, Ben's temp was 103.6. I gave him tylenol and he threw up (empty stomach). He was in bed all day. He was really sick. He had a fever all day.

David and I took turns playing outside w/Will and Andy. It was a beautiful day - 72 degrees. Really nice day!

Sunday (am): Boys still weren't feeling well. Still all felt kinda down and Ben was running fever off and on all day.

(Sunday afternoon): Will was outside playing basketball and actually jammed his finger pretty bad. I tried to pop it (something Uncle Ray taught us) - but it didn't work. It was pretty sore and on his right hand (his writing hand).

So ... no school today for the boys. They still aren't 100%.  And they are predicting bad weather the rest of the week.

Hopefully the weather isn't too bad and the boys get better soon.

Andy's Ow-wee...

Today, we were all playing outside as we do most everyday it's nice. I was changing out Andy's 'baby carseat' with Will's old booster seat. Andy was helping me. He was pretty excited about the new seat. So he ran to the truck, and he fell as he was running. And unfortunately - he often doesn't wear shoes....

Poor baby - he ripped the skin off the end of his toe. It was pretty sad. After we got it bandaged up - he wanted his daddy to hold him.

Comfy shoes

I have these shoes that I bought from Target, that I can't decide whether or not they are house shoes or not. I wore them all last winter as regular shoes. I did get some grief, but I love them .... so I'm okay w/it : )

I had to buy a new pair this winter b/c mine were worn out. I bought a different brand this year (Skechers) - so I know they are regular shoes. Ben asked if he could have my old ones (b/c he would always steal them). Then Will and Andy wanted some as well. Luckily they were on clearance at target for like $2.25 and I was able to find them in Will and Andy's size.

The boys all love their house shoes ... and I must admit - they are very warm.

Angie ...

My girlfriend, Angie, and her family, sadly, will be moving to California this summer. Her husband's job is transferring them there. So, we are trying to get together as much as we can now before they move. With family committments and everything else in our lives - it's tough, but we do the best we can and try and make it happen as much as we can. It will be sad for both of us when she moves. We have become really good friends and it's hard to say good-bye. We talk on the phone everyday in carpool line. I know we can still do that, but I will definitely miss her.

We met for dinner at Mi Cocina (one of our favorite places) and had a great time. I love hanging out w/her. It's so much fun to spend time together and focus on us and our lives and be friends :)

Someone took this picture for us w/my phone. I think they were a little tooooo close to us : ) Total blow out, but still cute.

Update, May 1, 2011: They aren't moving! They've decided to stay here afterall. They did sell their house - but bought another. They are happy to be staying.

Mommy's away - XBOX in charge??

Last night, I went to see my friend's band (as you see in the earlier post) and Daddy was in charge of the boys. So you know what that means, right? Yes, of course - no supervision. Daddy is on the xbox and the boys are left to do whatever they wish.

Well - they did something really special this time. It was pretty great.

THEY CUT THEIR HAIR! And not just a trim. They really cut it.

Here they are.....
Will didn't do so bad. He kinda jig jagged a little bit.

But Ben ... oh, Ben. He cut his all the way to his hairline. Nice, huh?

So, both will be getting haircuts today. And I will have to shave Ben's head almost. He's not real happy about it (or this picture). But what am I supposed to do? Can't send him to school (or out of the house) looking like that.

I guess next time I go out w/a friend - I will have to hide those xbox controllers. Thanks Daddy!

Cold, Rainy Winter Day

It's been pretty cold outside lately. And today - cold and rainy mixed together. When it's like this - the boys don't usually go outside. For one b/c their dad and/or I have to go out w/them and it's much too cold for us : )

So on days like this - they have to come up w/ways to entertain themselves. I thought this was pretty clever and kept them busy for awhile. They gathered all the pillows and blankets from around the house and piled them in a big pile and would take turns jumping off the bed onto the pile. They really had a great time doing this.

This is actually Ben jumping. Andy is on the ground in the blue pajama jumper and Will is over by the window. Tough to see him. But they are all there. 

Room switching...

I think we may be doing a little room switching/combining again. It's not completely decided, but we are thinking about it. Will does not like to sleep alone, and Andy doesn't either. Both start/end up in our bed at night. So our thought is to put Will and Andy together in hopes that that will help our problem. Then use the extra room as a media room for the boys - which we desperately need. A place for all the electronics and a place where they can go to relax.

So .... I will talk to the boys when they get home. Get their thoughts and go from there. Keep your fingers crossed....

8!

David,

I am grateful for another year to be your wife and your bestfriend. I love you more today than I did yesterday. Thank you for loving us and for working so hard for me and the boys. You are an incredible man, husband and father. I am thankful that you are mine for the rest of our lives.

Happy Anniversary, my dear sweet Husband! I love you with all that I am!

And I think it's pretty cool that today is 1-11-11 : )

This photo is actually from August 2010, but it's all I could find.

We need an updated picture : )

I love you,
Lo

Snow Day!

We were predicted Snow in our area and the kids couldn't wait for it to come in. They were so excited. Finally, the snow started falling and they were out the door. They had so much fun in the snow - for a little while until they realized snow meant COOOOOLLLLLDDDDDD!

Luckily they have rain boots - so that was good. But they don't have gloves for snow. I will have to get them some so that next year - if we get snow - they'll be able to play in it longer.

Will, Ben, Andy and a girl from across the street.

And Kuma : )

Ben chasing Will w/the BIG snowball

Andy : )

Will, trying to figure out how to get the snow off : )

Will, throwing some snow balls .... 

 Don't you love his hat? I got it in Battery Park in NYC. So fitting for him : )

Poor Will got hit in the face w/a snow ball and his hand got a small cut somehow in the snow.

Andy .... little more snowball rolling.

Will's eyeing someone : )

The boys had a great time in the snow. David took them out - I stayed inside. Mommy hates the cold.

Mommy cleaned the wet floor and the tons of wet clothes that got dropped at the front door. The snow is fun for 5 minutes, then I'm ready for it to go. I wonder how my mom dealt w/that. I should ask her.....

Ben & Basketball .....

Ben's team name is The Dragons and he's playing for the Community Center. He had his first two games (ever) today and he did great. The league usually schedules two games in one day for one of the game days and ours just happened to be our first game day.

He had a ton of fun and really enjoyed the game. He plays basketball at home w/the neighborhood kids and they have taught him pretty well.

His first game was a great game and really close. The final score was 17 to 13. The other team won in the last few seconds. His second game was also a great game and really close. The final score was 16 to 15 and their team won! Yea Ben! Thankfully Ben isn't a competitive kid - so he was happy either way. He just likes to have fun.

We were excited about his Jersey Number .... 23! All who know us - know that's our family number. All of our birthdays (except Ben) are on the 23rd. Ben was due the 23rd, but was in a hurry to come out and was born on the 20th. Also, one of Michael Jordan's numbers were 23. Ha! I only know that information b/c my great friend, Eric's, cousin use to think he was Michael Jordan. Ha!

These photos are from the first game. I actually didn't go to the second. I stayed home w/Will and Andy.

That's Ben (#23), getting a pep talk from his coach in the blue shirt.

Ben's in the middle w/his sports googles on, drinking water ....

David, Will and Andy watching the game .... or fighting over David's phone : )

He played the first 3 quarters and sat out the last one. 

He has games every Saturday in January and February. I am glad we signed him up. He seems to be really having a good time and loves the sport. His coach is great and really does well with the kids. I think it's going to be a good season.

Saying Good-bye

It's never easy, especially when she is one of the greatest women I will ever know. I am sad that today we laid my sweet, Nanny, to rest. But I am thankful that she is free from pain and suffering. Probably the last 6 months of her life wasn't a quality life. And that's no way for anyone (especially her) to live.

We had the viewing on Tuesday evening. David helped me make a DVD slideshow for the funeral. I gathered all the pictures I could, we worked with the funeral home and got it done. I blew up some pictures that I had of my Nanny and I think it all turned out great. I think it truly honored her. I got to the funeral home early to work w/the funearl audio guy and get everything set up. In all this ... in all the work and planning, I didn't stop to think this was a Visitation for my Nanny. I got everything set up and then I turned around and there she was. Man - it hit me hard. I hadn't thought about what all this meant.  

The Funeral was (yesterday) Wednesday afternoon. Funeral's are always so difficult. I really dislike seeing people in the casket. My Nanny didn't look like herself. She had lost so much weight - it really didn't look like her at all. I almost wish people would choose to leave the casket closed during the entire funeral. It's always so troubling for loved ones anyways. This is definitely not something I want for myself when I die. I want to donate my organs and be cremnated.

The only positive thing (if there is such a thing) about the funeral was that I got to see my family. Facebook has been awesome, but it was great to reconnect with people I hadn't seen in sometime. Tuesday night a bunch of us went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner after the viewing. It was so refreshing to hang out w/my family. And then yesterday, after the funeral, the same group went to El Fenix for lunch. I am so thankful for my family. I love them so much. And I don't get to see them near enough.

We didn't snap a photo at Texas Roadhouse, sadly.

This is from El Fenix. My Aunt Linda and her husband had already left so we missed them in the photo.

Everytime we get together, we vow to do it more. This time we will. I will plan some things through the year - so that we are sure to get together. Waiting for a funeral is not acceptable. Especially when your family is as great as mine!

I will forever miss my Nanny! My heart breaks for her passing. She was such a great, spirited woman.

I love you Nanny.

Bernice Wilson "Nanny"

Tonight my heart is filled with sadness. I got a call from my cousin, that my sweet, perfect, 95 year old Grandmother, Bernice Wilson, has passed from this world. My Nanny is gone!

I feel great sadness because I will miss her so much. I love her more than I can express. But I know, these last months, weeks, days, hours leading up to this have taken it's toll on her tiny, fraile body. And I am thankful to God that she is no longer suffering. 

My Nanny has lived 25 years without my PawPaw and I know she has longed to be with him. She has lost 2 of the 8 of her children and she was ready to be with them.

I thank God for my family in McKinney who live near her and have sat vigile her bedside. I am truly thankful for them. I am thankful she was not alone when she took her lasts breaths from this world.

I wasn't always the granddaughter I should of been, visiting her as much as I wish I would have - but I will love her and miss her for the rest of my life.

David, Nanny and Me
January 11, 2003

I love you, dear sweet Nanny!