Techno-Num Nut!

Ok, I hope this title did not offend anyone. I am not speaking of anyone in particular. You see today I am sitting in a workshop called "The Native are Restless: Reaching the GT student through technology." Sounds interesting, I am sure, to those of you who are not in education, to me however it sounded great. "Right up my alley" However, we have been in here for two hours and all he has taught me was how to use MySpace.com and now how to Blog. I am not lying or stretching the truth at all. So as I use my time wisely I decided to update my blog. Now this is where my bloggin brain starts to gripe! Why is it that advertisements never state the truth. Would it be so hard in our fast paced culture to just come right out and say... this is a boring class on stuff you already know, or this car is really not a good deal. Why!?! Don't we as consumers want the truth? Or Are we so fascinated by pretty words and hype that we still buy into this nonsense? Stay tuned this might get better!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Being an only child I had the blessing of growing up to be best of friends with my mom. We are very close and talk numerous times a day. I thought that since she just celebrated her _ _ birthday that I would give you the Top 10 things that I love about my mom.

#10 My mom has forgiven me for stealing her car when I was in the 8th grade and taking it on a joy ride. (right mom?)
#9 My mom has a heart of gold. I can only hope to be a genuine and kind as she is.
#8 She is the best LeeLee in the world! As the boys say her house is made of fun!
#7 My mom is the type that would stay up until 3 AM talking you through your problem, even if it had no effect on her, and she had to go to work the next day.
#6 Do you know how many times I volunteered this working mother to bake cookies, brownies, or cupcakes for my class and then told her at the last minute. (I know those paybacks are coming!) She would always do it and they were perfect!
#5 Class- my mom has so much class! She lights up a room when she walks in, whether it is with her beauty or her smile you will not miss it.
#4 My mom is a pillar of strength. No matter what trial she is going through she sees the silver lining, pulls up her "big girl panties" and makes it through!
#3 Her love for my dad is unmatched! I challenge anyone to beat the love my folks have for each other. Just to think that they have been together since they were 13...AMAZING!
#2 She is a PRAYER WARRIOR! My mom wakes up with God and they talk, just the two of them, every day. Her prayer life is something that I look up to and strive to emulate. Everyone that meets her knows it. No matter what you are going through she has words of encouragement to help you through it. I know that I can trust her to be praying for me and my boys.
#1 She is my best friend! I can yell and scream and know that she will be there for me when I change my mind in ten minutes. I also know that she will set me straight when I need it, doesn't matter if I want to hear it at the time or not. She is patient and kind, caring and considerate, and she is AWESOME!!

I feel like an idiot!

Ok, Bloggin Buddies I have a bone to pick! I decided today that I would update a few things on my site, notice picture, and I found it! What is IT you ask? I found two misspelled words on my welcome note. If you took the time to read it and thought, OH MY! I apologize! But I ask if you saw it why didn't you tell me? I am going to declare some blog rules, like Man Law.

Blog Rule #1: If a friend misspells or mistypes a word correct her immediately.

Blog Rule #2: If a friend writes something in a rage that might be misconstrued please help her out gently. Gently is the key for fear that her blog did not release all of her rage and you might be the next target.

Blog Rule #3: If a blog offends you, know that we are sorry and did not "really" mean it to. Note our feelings could have changed by the time you read the post.

Feel free to add new rules of your own! I love Bloggin!

Do you know this child?

Travis has decided that he loves to have his face painted. At school his after-school-care-teacher brought paint and made him into a scary pumpkin, the 1st picture. It was hilarious! The second picture was taken at the Baylor game this past weekend. Travis and Tyler have met some boys that are also at every game and they look forward to sitting on the first row and watching the game with them. The one joy of Baylor football is it is not crowded! (There is emphasis on the ONE JOY!) Anyway, these boys decided to paint their face so of course it was not long before Travis was asking me if he could too. So yes I allowed a stranger to paint his face! I just think it is so cute! The real surprising thing is that he will sit still long enough to have this done!!!

I Love Fall!

Well, even though it does not feel like fall yet, it is! I just love this time of year. I love the colors, the clothes, the TV shows, and it is finally the time of year when we are settling into our routines. The boys have already bought their Halloween costumes, however I think that we will be buying another one just for fun. You see...Travis decided to be a knight. My mom took him to Target where he found a costume complete with the sword and shield. Only one problem...the costume does not come with pants! I am assuming that we are supposed to buy black sweat pants, but Travis will hear nothing of it. He came running out of his playroom declaring himself the "Knight of the Full Moon." Absolutely hilarious! This is one thing that my son does best...makes me laugh! I hope you have the picture in your mind of my little one, OK not so little, running down the hall and from the waist down he is pantless. It was great fun! Anyway from Texas to Ohio to Japan, Happy Fall Ya'll!

Why am I so busy?

(This picture makes me laugh! So I had to share!)

Well, it is that time of year again... the time when I wonder where did the day go? The boys are both in baseball right now as well as our many other activities. Tonight we rushed home from work/school to quickly get a little homework done, make dinner, eat in record time (all around the table at the same time, which should get us extra points), clean up while getting Travis dressed for his game. (Why are cleats so hard to put on?) Then we load up, and I mean this in the literal sense. Three of us in one car with bats, helmets, gloves, hats, the scooter because heaven forbid Tyler have to sit still for five minutes, and off we go! Yes you read correctly THREE of us! You see ALL of my BOYS play baseball on Tuesday nights. Bill stayed for the first half and then he was off to his own game. Thank goodness we are far enough into our marriage that he understand I do not need to go to every single game. Heck I am lucky to make it to one a season! The game was fun, but then the race was on again. Quick stop at Sonic for a celebratory sundae, home, shower, read, bed! WHEW! Now it is almost 9:00 and I have sat down for the first time all day. So I ask myself Why do I create this insanity? The answer is ...because I love it! I love the smile on Travis's face when he hit a home run for the second time in two games. I love hearing brisket for dinner, YUM, that is the best! I love to smell the clean little boys (not so little anymore) run from the shower to their bedroom. AND I love to sit here and not hear anything except the snoring of sleepy boys getting ready for tomorrow's adventures!

Mom is sick, Oh No!

A good friend of mine posted about her family's recent bought with the flu and how she learned for the first time that Mom does not get to be sick. You see dads can get sick and lay in bed all day just miserable, while the whole house will cater to his needs. It usually includes tiptoeing around so as to "not wake Daddy!" Where is that when Mommy is sick? What I have learned is that voice or not I still must clean the house (yes, the cleaning lady comes tomorrow) make dinner, get the shopping list ready, create a scrapbook page for Travis (not by choice, it was homework), make sure the boys are at baseball practice on time, etc....
Ladies we should rally up and demand change! Ok, so much for that burn your bra attitude that I tried to have. Even if Bill said, "Honey, you just lay down and relax. I will cater to everything that needs to be done. AND never mention it again." I would still get up every ten minutes just to make sure things were ok. We are mothers first! So no matter how sick we are or how bad it hurts we push on. We can be sick between 8 pm and 6 am, assuming no one else is sick. (Right Kristen?)
To all moms, YOU ARE GREAT!

Ponder This...

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.
Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.
Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.
Had no army, yet kings feared Him.
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today!
Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us.

Sometimes we do not feel equipped for the job that we are given, but we must remember that when we are following in HIS footsteps we have all the tools we need.

There have been times lately that I have wondered just why I am in the place I am. Then I am presented with a wonderful sign of HIS perfect plan for me. I feel so blessed to have friends that I can share this with.
I hope you see HIS blessings today!

The Good News or the Bad?

The Good News

The first day of school started off great! The boys walked right in and were only slightly nervous, you would never know it though. I only got teary eyed in the school, when I got in my car alone I did let the tears fall a bit. The hole in my heart was repaired when I picked them up and realized how much they loved their day. Tyler had so many great things to tell me about. Travis loved getting to be the "boy leader" for the day. Since he knew his way around the school he was sent on many errands. My job was fabulous! Just enough freedom to make the day go by quickly. I met with students today and had a great time learning all about them. I really am thinking I made the right choice. I know there will be tough times, but so far so good!

The BAD NEWS

It will be interesting to see how you read this blog...bad then good or good then bad. If you read the good first I hope I left you with a nice warm feeling about the first day of school, because I did not get to the second day. Yes, my little one has had a run in with the "LAW" Out law that is. (Heather Outlaw is his teacher.) As I am basking in the glory of my new job a get an e-mail from Mrs. Outlaw. POP! that was the sound of my happy bubble popping as I read..."He's had a really tough time sitting on the carpet, being quiet and following directions." Great, could he not just pick one thing to do? So I quickly respond and reassure her that it will be dealt with. Speed Forward to 4:00...I pull up to get the boys and they happily jump into the car, not noticing the grimace on my face. I immediately open Travis's backpack and folder.

The conversation went like this:

Mom: Travis did you move your clip?

Travis: Yes...How did you know that?

Mom: I got an email, what happened?

Travis: I don't know, I was just sitting there!

(I roll my eyes, I was expecting that!)

Mom: So you are saying she is lying?

Travis: Yes, she told me to move my clip for nothing...

Mom: What else did she say? (wait for it)

Travis: I guess she does not like it when I roll my eyes at her. Am I in trouble?

Mom: YES!!

(crying starts...)

Rolling his eyes! I am not sure of how it all transpired, but all he fessed up to was the eyes. It is only the second day of school!! What will the next 175 days be like? All of this is going round and round in my mind and I am slapped with a memory of kindergarten.

Very early in the year when I was five I was sent to the principal for ...spitting on teachers' cars while walking in line. I am positive that if we had e-mail my mother would have been notified immediately. Instead they let me be in control of telling my mom. She found out ...when I was in the sixth grade! (No Lie! Sorry Mom!) Luckily, I straightened up while keeping my secret! Hopefully my son will straighten up, if not it will be a long year with the "LAW."

A New Season

Tomorrow I embark on a "New Season" in my life. Yes, tomorrow I am officially the mother of "School-Age children." This might not seem like such a big deal, however it has been HUGE to me the last few weeks. Beth Moore explains a woman's life as a series of seasons that we all go through. Some transitions are easy and you welcome the change, and others are harder. I know that God has prepared me for this new change. I am also starting a new job tomorrow that has me very excited. You see, I did not want this job. I only applied because it was pushed on me and was a way to get out of the classroom. Well, little did I know that it would be molded to suit my every passion! Only God's Hand could have done that! This job will give me some freedoms that a classroom teacher would not have.

Tomorrow is an important day, I get to walk Travis into his class, turn and walk down the hall and get in my car, where I am sure I will break down into a pile of Maybeline Mess. (Aunt Lisa that could be Bobby Brown, if I had a hook up??) Anyway, I am sure that this season will bring amazing experiences that I never knew I could have. So I say good bye to the season that started 8 years ago in a small bathroom where I first found out that I was pregnant; and hello to a new season, one that does not require diapers or daycare, sippy cups or sleepless nights.

I am a JUNKIE!

OK, I know that title got your attention! I feel the need to make a confession and I think my blog is the best place to do it. You see for the past year I have become a junkie! Totally consumed by this one thing and everything about it. I wake up thinking of it, recite it in my head over and over all day until I can sneak away to my car for a little fix, and then at night I truly get my real dose. Well, it is time that I admit I have a problem and try my hardest to correct it. I do not think they have a 12 step program for me, however I hear that there are over 17 million other people that suffer from this same addiction. My fear is that it is too late for my children, I have already got them hooked too. (what kind of mother am I?)

Well, before any of you decide to disown me or delete me from your favorites I will tell you...I am a High School Musical Junkie. Yes, I know...you are thinking "how old is she?" I love it! I was one of the 17 million that set my DVR to record the premier only to learn that it was released on ON DEMAND the day before. (for shame!) I have downloaded the CD to my Ipod and I am sure that I am the oldest on the treadmill walking to Summer Vacation. My friends feed this addiction as well, Kelley will be bringing me the latest edition of Rolling Stone where Zac Efron is on the cover, don't worry I do not have him hanging on the ceiling...yet.

I agree it is a problem, and I should get some help, but those darn WILDCATS are just so much fun!

Any help for this 30 year old mother of 2?

Join me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F6lNN1cPY4

Farewell Summer 2007

This has been the longest summer since I graduated college and I can now say that I have enjoyed every moment of it. Every year I dread this day...The Last Official Day of Summer, this year is a little different. I really feel like the boys and I are ready for school to start, we have done all that we can do (well maybe...). I have compiled a list of the things I will miss most about this summer.

1. Sleeping until 9:00 am! I love that the boys are old enough to entertain themselves in the morning.


2. Sitting at the pool with Kelley go through our to do list, trying to decide what we can put off until tomorrow.


3. Seeing the joy in Travis's eyes when he learns that he can play outside all day. It was never too hot for him!


4. Napping in the afternoon (what a life...)


5. Staying up late with the house to myself reading and watching soaps, having nothing that I really "needed" to do.


6. Playing with the boys and watching them play with each other.


7. Travis's belly laugh when Tyler acts silly.


8. Answering the question "How many more days of summer?" Knowing that they are excited for school to start.

9. Seeing the little white bottoms go running from the shower to their bedroom. (hee hee!)

10. Hearing the words "Thanks mom that was a great summer!" from Tyler!





Well, it is a short list but has a lot of meaning to me. We have had a great time... me and my boys!!

New Trainee

Apparently I have the sign on my forehead that says "Please train your new employee on me". I hate it, Can we not set a register up in the back of the store and require these "trainees" to at least know the menu or whatever before we give them the main register on a Saturday. Not that I disagree with people getting out into the workforce, however do you see me coming and put the newbie on the register?

Yesterday I was at Walmart for my weekly grocery shopping. Sunday afternoon in Wylie is the BUSIEST time to be at walmart. All of us grab a basket and carefully merge into the traffic going from isle to isle. For goodness sake do not try and get out of the herd! Well, I had already put up with the "herding" of moms with shopping carts and was finally ready to go home. Of course I have one more hurdle in this glorious walmart trip and that is the register. As I pull up I notice that every line is out into the main aisle. Usually this is a signal to the management and they will quickly send out the troops to open more registers. So I stand in the middle lane just watching to make eye contact with any "associate" that has the ability to open a register. Do not laugh you know you do it too! SO I wait....and wait....nothing! I stood there and read an entire People magazine and still could not put my stuff on the belt. Now I am getting frustrated, this is walmart, I could scan the stuff faster than this lady is. And then it hits me...there is another person standing at the end of the lane clearly providing assistance...OH NO a TRAINEE! Why am I not surprised? 30 minutes after I got in line I hear, "Good afternoon, thank you for coming to walmart. Did you find everything you need?" Now I am at a fork in the road. I can say oh yes and drop it or I can say what I really think... "No this has been a terrible experience, first I was herded along aisle by aisle with people that have screaming kids and could not write a list if they wanted to, then I stand in line for 30 minutes to meet you who do not really care what I think but your new associate handbook told you to greet every customer like that so I am telling you what I think." Of course I did not say what I wanted to, I just smiled and said "Uhuh" and waited the 15 minutes it took her to scan my $80 worth of groceries. I left in a rage! I think a good training exercise would be for me to blow off some steam to one of these trainees and see how they handle it. (hee hee) Can you imagine me...(crying saying) and then last week my dog died and then yesterday there was nothing in the cookie jar...? That will teach them. Ok, I feel better, anybody else have "trainee ready" on their forehead?

Countdown is on!

Every year I get to this point of the summer, 5 days left, and I feel the need to cram everything I have procrastinated into a few days. I have now instilled this into my boys. They want to do something fun every day this week. Travis has decided that we can go to Hawaiian Falls, Chuck E Cheese, and the Museum today. Then tomorrow we can go to Six Flags and Cheesecake Factory. HA! It is a good thing I work, I think he spent my August paycheck in two days. Little do they know I am planning on painting, cleaning the closets, redoing the bathroom and steam cleaning the carpet on Monday. (hee hee) Really it is 10:30 and I have eaten breakfast with boys and now I am talking to my friends about all the things I should be doing. Now that is productive!

I do have a bone to pick with my bloggin' buddies...I hear rumors of numerous people reading this blog yet I only have one or two comments each time. I think if you read and do not leave comments you are snooping! HA! Caught you! I am making a new rule because I want to know you were here. If you read you must at least tell me Hi! You do not have to comment on my post but at least let me know that you were here. Deal? Well, we will see! Love to all!

Motherhood (A love hate relationship.)

When I became a mother I had no idea the intense emotions that I would feel. How could you love one person so much that it hurts? My aunt just sent her oldest daughter away to college, that is something I can not even imagine going through right now. The gamut of emotions that she is feeling is huge. Sad, joy, proud, lost, excited, hurt... WOW!
Isn't it amazing how we can look at our little ones and love them so much, even with their dirty feet and faces. Then in a blink of an eye Travis can bang the hammer into my kitchen floor leaving a huge divot in the linoleum and I feel completely different. GRRR! Then he comes into the bathroom, after being in time out, and gets down on all fours to help clean up with a smile so bright it can light the city. Immediately my anger disappears and me heart is filled with love for him.
Motherhood...I love it right now, but might change my mind in five minutes. (The boys are screaming...gotta go!)

Needing Some Motivation

I am feeling like a Bloggin' Slacker lately! I have two great friends that find it possible to blog almost daily. I love reading their posts and then find myself sitting there thinking, what can I possibly say that needs to be heard. (This is when the silence falls over the crowd and the pin drops, blink, blink, blink)

Is it bad that all I can think about writing is about people that should be the focus of some self-help book. I will not be tacky! However, as I was sitting with some neighbors yesterday we decided to buy an island (figuratively of course). On this island we can either vote you on forever or simply assign you a temporary pass to correct your actions. Think of it as a Hollywood style rehab! As we laughed last night at the number of people that should be voted on our island we realized that life would be much easier if we made the rules. HA! I know that surprises some of you, Jennifer wants to be in charge!

I was just wondering if any of you have people that you would like to send to us and what rules shall we add to this new democracy we are forming?

(WOW! I need to go back to work!)

I LOVE VACATIONS!

What a week! We returned today from a 7 and a half day trip to one of the most relaxing places I have found in Texas. I feel like the song, "I've been everywhere man..." Port Aransas, for those of you who do not know, is one of Texas's best kept secrets. It sits just south of Corpus Christi and north of South Padre. Three years ago some friends asked us if we wanted to join them for a couple of days on the beach. After realizing that it would be pretty affordable we took them up on it. Now we are hooked! The blue house on my previous blog is now our "beach house" according to the boys. It is three blocks from the beach, we always walk down there on the first day and on the way back we quickly realize that driving is worth it. This year we arrived on Sunday and left on Sunday. These were the only 7 days to not receive measurable rain in the last 45 days. Can you believe it? We swam, played, shopped, and just sat in the sun from 8 am to 10pm every day. I swear you would not recognize my children, they are little brown beach bums!

The very first day we were there I sat on the porch and did my quiet time while I looked up at the full moon above me. I could hear the seagulls and crickets in the background and could not help but marvel at the wonderful blessings we have around us. I get so caught up in the day to day hustle and bustle that I rarely take time to thank HIM for the little treasures so often taken for granted. I made a promise to take note of the things that would normally get overlooked. What an amazing world we live in! The intricate detail of every sea creature is nothing less that awe inspiring.

I am so lucky to have a family that loves to play together. Each day the boys woke up with a smile on their face ready to jump into the latest adventure. On the last night as I tucked them into bed I brought out a spiral notebook and titled the very back page "Our favorite things about vacation." Before they went to bed we filled the page with things we did. So many of their ideas included just being with family (The Foresters our an extension of our family now.) I was so proud of them at that moment. I think we all slept good knowing that we had fun together!

Good night friends!

On the Road Again!

We leave tomorrow for the BEACH! I am so excited to plop my rear in a chair and soak up the sun. According to weather reports we will only see a "chance" of rain each day. As some of you know it is usually monsoon weather when we are in Port A. This year we decided to wait until late July to try and avoid the rainy days. Little did we know that this would be the wettest Summer on record in Texas. (whatcha gonna do!) I will try and send pictures when I can! Think of us!

(The picture is of our beach house.)

TTFN

Is Summer Coming to and End?

Why is it that right when I get used to being off and I finally learn to "be still" (Yes, Mom) it is time for school to start back up? This is supposed to be my last official week off before vacation and I have a meeting scheduled every day except for Wednesday! BLAH! Bare with me while I whine for a minute...

Ok, I guess I am done with that! I have logged on and tried to block many times this week, but did not think you would really care about the mundane life we have right now. I have luckily not run into any notable people lately. Which is bad for the BLOGGER! I should hope that in all of the meetings I have this week there should be something interesting to share.

I will leave you with some of my very own KIDS SAY THE DARNEDEST THINGS:

Tyler:

"Mom why is that Shitterbong place so expensive?" (Schliterbon Water Park)

Travis:

"My soupcase is empty now can I please eat lunch?" (suitcase)

Tyler and Travis to my dad:

"Gungle please tell us that story again..." Words only to be spoken from the mouths of grandchildren, now that is unconditional love!

Tyler:

"A Russian, a Mexican, and a Texan walk into a bar..." Bill and I quickly shout "WAIT, that's enough!" (oh-my)

Tyler to my grandmother after telling her some "clean" jokes:

"I have some more but the might be inappropriate for you!" (Yes, our jokes are for 60 and under, lol)

Tyler coming from his playroom after going to the Dallas Art Museum:

"Mom, MOM! How do you spell... naked section?"

Yes folks, that is what I am raising! The future of our country!

Travis and Travis

When we choose a name for our child we rarely have the opportunity to know anything about their personality or how they are going to turn out. It is something though that parents fret over for many hours prior to coming to an agreement. Bill and I, I must say, did not argue much over names. It was something that came rather easy for us. Travis was named after Bill's Grandy. He is the most amazing man! He is strong and gentle, loving and compasionate, godly and brave, and built from steel! Travis Sykes will turn 90 next month and has beat cancer and defied all odds in ICU even when doctors said it was really "that time." He now has two very sweet nurses that help care for him in his little apartment built onto his daughters ranch house in El Paso. When we went to visit last week I learned how a name sake can truely influence the personality of the younger generation. My Travis knows that he is named after Grandy and he looked so forward to seeing him again. It was all I could do to keep my Travis from knocking down Grandy when he first saw him and ran to give him a hug. I could only think that this is how Grandy would have reacted as well. I see so many qualities of Bill's Grandy in my son and for that I know that God had his hand. My Travis is strong and gentle, loving and compassionate, godly and very brave, and not to mention built out of steel. I can only pray that my son will lead the godly life that Travis Sykes has led in his 90 years!