I hope everyone had a wonderful, restful, Memorial Day weekend. We had to get away for a couple of days (I have so much to do at home, which is exactly why I needed to get away for a couple of days). I think I slept about 30 hours in 3 days, which I really, really needed.
On Saturday we went to Fiesta Texas! The water park was open this weekend. It was extremely crowded, but we still had a good time. We took pictures, but they are on an old-fashioned water camera, so we won't actually have them until we finish the roll and get it developed (how quickly do we become spoiled by the digital world we live in?
On Sunday we went shopping for KC's birthday. She shopped at Old Navy, Justice, and American Eagle Outfitters. Boy do they grow up fast! We also managed to get new shoes for Abby (Sketchers) and Brady (Nike). Decent sales on both, so I was very happy. Then Bill grilled steak for dinner and I watched a few episodes of House, MD from the DVD I got for Mother's Day. I am quickly becoming addicted to House reruns. It has to be one of the best written shows on television.
Monday was time for cleaning up and the drive home. Now everyone is scrambling to finish the homework they forgot they had, and I am trying to catch up on all the things I ran away from over the weekend (mostly laundry). We have two weeks left of school (last year, we were finished before Memorial Day). Hope the kids and teachers don't go crazy over the next 2 weeks!
On a different note, in honor of Memorial Day, I would like to thank all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. We must always remember that freedom isn't really free. You and your families have paid the price for all of us, and we are eternally grateful. God Bless you and your families today and every day. Thank you.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Katherine Carol turns 11!
Little KC is turning 11. I brought lunch and cupcakes to her school yesterday to celebrate, which reminded me why I teach high school, not elementary. Actually, her class was very well behaved. I had to fill out a form for the child nutrition office about the cupcakes (where was I bringing them? why was I bringing them? where did I buy them?) and put the ingredient label onto the form. Unreal. Because we all know that childhood obesity is largely due to birthday cupcakes at school, rather than hours spent playing video games and eating meals from a drive-through window. Ahem.
Here is KC with her fifth grade class at lunch:
And here is the birthday girl sharing the cupcakes in question with her class:
I managed to save one cupcake for my littlest cupcake, who BTW just got her ears pierced last week:
Anyway, after grumbling a bit that KC should be celebrating me since I'm the one who did all the work 11 years ago (which she reminded me was the purpose of Mother's day), I tried to really look at her and see her as an 11 year old. I think moms tend to keep memories of our children in our heads, young and beautiful (for which I am grateful to my mother). But when I really looked at her, I saw that in many ways she is even more beautiful than I realized. KC has a strong spirit . . . she always has.
The day she arrived, way back in 1997, she stopped breathing and they had to put her on a ventilator. We were so afraid we would lose her. I can remember going into the NICU to see my giant baby (she was 8 lbs 6 oz, in a world of preemies) and thinking how tiny and vulnerable she looked. But she was a fighter right from the start. They had to put tiny restraints on her arms to keep her from pulling the wires and tubes out, and she'd try to crawl away from the oxygen tent to mount her escape. Once we were allowed to hold her, she was the most gentle, calm baby. As long as we didn't stick any needles or tubes in her, she was content to just be.
I think that's one of the things I admire most about KC. She has the strength to just be. It's not that important to her what anyone else thinks about her. She is who she is, and I love that about her. She was born an old soul, and I think it gives her a serenity and peace that I admire (and envy). It's as if she stared fate in the face right out of the gate and won, and every subsequent day is a gift. It certainly is to me. She is truly a gift from God, and I am thankful that on May 20, 1997, He gave me my beautiful, graceful, beloved Katherine Carol.
Happy birthday, KitCat! I love you!
Here is KC with her fifth grade class at lunch:
And here is the birthday girl sharing the cupcakes in question with her class:
I managed to save one cupcake for my littlest cupcake, who BTW just got her ears pierced last week:
Anyway, after grumbling a bit that KC should be celebrating me since I'm the one who did all the work 11 years ago (which she reminded me was the purpose of Mother's day), I tried to really look at her and see her as an 11 year old. I think moms tend to keep memories of our children in our heads, young and beautiful (for which I am grateful to my mother). But when I really looked at her, I saw that in many ways she is even more beautiful than I realized. KC has a strong spirit . . . she always has.
The day she arrived, way back in 1997, she stopped breathing and they had to put her on a ventilator. We were so afraid we would lose her. I can remember going into the NICU to see my giant baby (she was 8 lbs 6 oz, in a world of preemies) and thinking how tiny and vulnerable she looked. But she was a fighter right from the start. They had to put tiny restraints on her arms to keep her from pulling the wires and tubes out, and she'd try to crawl away from the oxygen tent to mount her escape. Once we were allowed to hold her, she was the most gentle, calm baby. As long as we didn't stick any needles or tubes in her, she was content to just be.
I think that's one of the things I admire most about KC. She has the strength to just be. It's not that important to her what anyone else thinks about her. She is who she is, and I love that about her. She was born an old soul, and I think it gives her a serenity and peace that I admire (and envy). It's as if she stared fate in the face right out of the gate and won, and every subsequent day is a gift. It certainly is to me. She is truly a gift from God, and I am thankful that on May 20, 1997, He gave me my beautiful, graceful, beloved Katherine Carol.
Happy birthday, KitCat! I love you!
Where has May gone?
It's May 21st? Really? Where has the month gone?
It seems like only yesterday that we celebrated Mother's day. We had a nice lunch with my mom, Jill and Sierra . . .
then a nice dinner with Bill's mom in Lake Jackson.
Bill and the kids bought me a cookie cake and an exercise bicycle, which really is a mixed message when you think about it . . .
We had baseball playoffs. The Juniors Astros lost the opener, won the second, then dropped the third to a team I really, really wanted to beat. Long story. Anyway, that finished off spring ball and last weekend.
KC had auditions for the dance company, and she did a wonderful job, and earned her spot on the junior company for another year. They are a great group of girls, and I'm really happy for her!
Brady's select ball team is going to be coached by Woody Williams (the former Astros pitcher) for the next six weeks or so, up until the state tournament at the end of June or through the World series in July if they win a spot. Coach Williams runs a tight ship, and the boys will have to undergo strength and conditioning workouts along with their baseball workouts. Cut back on the fried food and soda, and lots of running. Brady won't lose any weight (I hope) but he might gain some muscle, so we'll see.
KC had a choir concert at school. It had a western theme, and I got a front row seat because Bill had volunteered to help on a Saturday with scenery and making stick horses. Very nice show and the stick horses looked great.
Where does the time go? Tonight is the team party for spring ball, then I can officially retire from Team Mom duties forever. Bill and I made a DVD with pictures and some video from the season. We're happy with it, but it ate up lots of free time. Actually, that was kind of the whole theme with spring ball. Fun, but lots of time.
June will be here before I turn around!
On another note, today is May 21st, so it's been five years since Bill's brother JoJo passed away. Joe - if you can read this in heaven, we still miss you and think about you often. Thanks for watching over the kiddos.
It seems like only yesterday that we celebrated Mother's day. We had a nice lunch with my mom, Jill and Sierra . . .
then a nice dinner with Bill's mom in Lake Jackson.
Bill and the kids bought me a cookie cake and an exercise bicycle, which really is a mixed message when you think about it . . .
We had baseball playoffs. The Juniors Astros lost the opener, won the second, then dropped the third to a team I really, really wanted to beat. Long story. Anyway, that finished off spring ball and last weekend.
KC had auditions for the dance company, and she did a wonderful job, and earned her spot on the junior company for another year. They are a great group of girls, and I'm really happy for her!
Brady's select ball team is going to be coached by Woody Williams (the former Astros pitcher) for the next six weeks or so, up until the state tournament at the end of June or through the World series in July if they win a spot. Coach Williams runs a tight ship, and the boys will have to undergo strength and conditioning workouts along with their baseball workouts. Cut back on the fried food and soda, and lots of running. Brady won't lose any weight (I hope) but he might gain some muscle, so we'll see.
KC had a choir concert at school. It had a western theme, and I got a front row seat because Bill had volunteered to help on a Saturday with scenery and making stick horses. Very nice show and the stick horses looked great.
Where does the time go? Tonight is the team party for spring ball, then I can officially retire from Team Mom duties forever. Bill and I made a DVD with pictures and some video from the season. We're happy with it, but it ate up lots of free time. Actually, that was kind of the whole theme with spring ball. Fun, but lots of time.
June will be here before I turn around!
On another note, today is May 21st, so it's been five years since Bill's brother JoJo passed away. Joe - if you can read this in heaven, we still miss you and think about you often. Thanks for watching over the kiddos.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Recitals and Ball Games - Oh, my!
Howdy! It's been a busy couple of weeks getting ready for a very busy weekend!
We started the weekend with not one . . .
But two Warriors games on Friday night. This guy should never have tried to steal. Brady has him by 3 steps . . .
They won both games, which meant playoffs on Sunday! Yikes.
Then, on Saturday, we had a Spring Ball game:
He looks sad in the dugout, but he's just hit a long fly ball to center that went right to the center fielder. Great swing, just in the wrong place. We lost that game, and he looked sad when that happened, too.
Saturday night, Abby has a fever of 101.5, and the recital is Sunday. Quick trip to the emergency room. A prescription for antibiotics later, she's ready to go.
Sunday is the recital. First things first, Brady has his playoff game. Bill didn't even take the camera just in case he didn't get home before the recital. They lost, so no worries about Brady missing the recital!
Recital time! First up are awards! KC got her 8 year award (and she's not quite 11 yet, three more weeks!), and her teacher, Miss Katie, selected her as Most Improved Dancer!!
Now for the dances. Count along with me . . .
Opening number (Summertime! from HSM2). Both girls were in this one:
Dance 2: KC's jazz (Ease on down the road)
Dance 3: Abby's tap (Louisiana Bayou)
Dance 4: KC's tap (Bright side of the road)
Dance 5: Abby's ballet (Butterflies)
Dance 6: KC's ballet (Caribbean Blue). She was so good in this one, I was in tears just watching:
Dance 7: Abby's jazz (Poison Ivy). Laughed out loud to this one, she was so cute!
Dance 8: KC's competition jazz (same one from Lafayette in February - Rhythm bandits)
Wow, am I exhausted. All in all, the girls were wonderful, Brady played well in baseball, and Nana and Grampy were there for the whole recital, plus the Astros game.
Abby's still sick, so we're going to stay home tomorrow. I may need the rest more than she does! :-)
Happy Birthday, Jodi! We're thinking about you!
We started the weekend with not one . . .
But two Warriors games on Friday night. This guy should never have tried to steal. Brady has him by 3 steps . . .
They won both games, which meant playoffs on Sunday! Yikes.
Then, on Saturday, we had a Spring Ball game:
He looks sad in the dugout, but he's just hit a long fly ball to center that went right to the center fielder. Great swing, just in the wrong place. We lost that game, and he looked sad when that happened, too.
Saturday night, Abby has a fever of 101.5, and the recital is Sunday. Quick trip to the emergency room. A prescription for antibiotics later, she's ready to go.
Sunday is the recital. First things first, Brady has his playoff game. Bill didn't even take the camera just in case he didn't get home before the recital. They lost, so no worries about Brady missing the recital!
Recital time! First up are awards! KC got her 8 year award (and she's not quite 11 yet, three more weeks!), and her teacher, Miss Katie, selected her as Most Improved Dancer!!
Now for the dances. Count along with me . . .
Opening number (Summertime! from HSM2). Both girls were in this one:
Dance 2: KC's jazz (Ease on down the road)
Dance 3: Abby's tap (Louisiana Bayou)
Dance 4: KC's tap (Bright side of the road)
Dance 5: Abby's ballet (Butterflies)
Dance 6: KC's ballet (Caribbean Blue). She was so good in this one, I was in tears just watching:
Dance 7: Abby's jazz (Poison Ivy). Laughed out loud to this one, she was so cute!
Dance 8: KC's competition jazz (same one from Lafayette in February - Rhythm bandits)
Wow, am I exhausted. All in all, the girls were wonderful, Brady played well in baseball, and Nana and Grampy were there for the whole recital, plus the Astros game.
Abby's still sick, so we're going to stay home tomorrow. I may need the rest more than she does! :-)
Happy Birthday, Jodi! We're thinking about you!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Baby Gators!
In celebration of Earth day (April 22nd) and the fact that Brady had to spend the day in a UIL band sight-reading contest, Bill, the girls, and I decided to head out to Brazos Bend State Park for a hike!
As you drive in, you see sign after sign warning you about the alligators. Apparently there are plenty of gators who make their home in Brazos Bend State Park. We were hoping to see one, but from a safe distance.
We started with a picnic lunch near one of the smaller lakes (hoping smaller lake = smaller gators)
It wasn't too far into our hike when we spotted the first gator:
Probably a bit closer than I would have posed the girls, but so far so good. Next guy was a bit bigger and closer (but sleeping):
Then we rounded a corner and saw a mother and about a dozen baby alligators!!
They were maybe 8 inches long, and really busy swimming and catching bugs and tadpoles. The mother floated nearby and didn't seem at all concerned about any of us, but none of us got very close just in case. They were really cute little guys!!
We also saw plenty of birds and ducks (no deer near the lake, but with all the gators, I can imagine they don't get too close). Our favorite bird was an eagle (we think) which soared really far overhead:
He looked just huge and almost floated in the air. It was really amazing.
We walked about 3.5 miles total before we had to scoot home to pick up Brady.
Hope you all have a wonderful Earth day!!
As you drive in, you see sign after sign warning you about the alligators. Apparently there are plenty of gators who make their home in Brazos Bend State Park. We were hoping to see one, but from a safe distance.
We started with a picnic lunch near one of the smaller lakes (hoping smaller lake = smaller gators)
It wasn't too far into our hike when we spotted the first gator:
Probably a bit closer than I would have posed the girls, but so far so good. Next guy was a bit bigger and closer (but sleeping):
Then we rounded a corner and saw a mother and about a dozen baby alligators!!
They were maybe 8 inches long, and really busy swimming and catching bugs and tadpoles. The mother floated nearby and didn't seem at all concerned about any of us, but none of us got very close just in case. They were really cute little guys!!
We also saw plenty of birds and ducks (no deer near the lake, but with all the gators, I can imagine they don't get too close). Our favorite bird was an eagle (we think) which soared really far overhead:
He looked just huge and almost floated in the air. It was really amazing.
We walked about 3.5 miles total before we had to scoot home to pick up Brady.
Hope you all have a wonderful Earth day!!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Abby, Abby, Abby . . .
Poor Abby has had a rough week. She had to spend the night with electrodes on her head Sunday night so they could start to determine why she doesn't sleep.
At first, it's not too, too bad. Just a few wires here and there:
Then they start really messing with you by sticking stuff in your hair:
But, really, the sock over the head and the tubes under the nose is really too much.
My poor baby.
Then Monday night she had to undergo allergy testing. Our appointment was for 4:15 pm (we were on time). We saw the doctor at 6:30 pm. We finished at 7:45 pm. If you've never been allergy tested, thank your lucky stars. They make 64 pinpricks in your back then put a drop of allergen on it and wait. Then they measure the bump and the rash surrounding it to determine how allergic you are to whatever they drip on you. I knew we were in trouble when she started crying as they wiped her back down with alcohol ("It stings!!"). After 20 minutes of torment, they determined that she is allergic to almost everything, cats, dogs, dust mites, grass, peanuts, eggs, mold . . . The doctor wants us to come back and consider allergy shots. They might need to sedate both of us for that one.
So Abby's had a long week. But she still likes to spice up everyone else's week, too. She told me this morning, "I asked a silly question at the assembly yesterday." I said, "Really? What was it?" She told me that Corporal Radar spoke at the assembly. She's a sheriff's deputy and she visits schools teaching them about safety, strangers, all that good stuff. At the end of her presentation, she said, "I'll answer any questions you have."
Abby raises her hand and pipes up, "When baby foxes are born, are their eyes open or closed?"
"Well . . . Any other questions?"
And in case you are wondering (I had to look it up) baby foxes are born with their eyes closed. They open an average of 8-10 days after they are born.
At first, it's not too, too bad. Just a few wires here and there:
Then they start really messing with you by sticking stuff in your hair:
But, really, the sock over the head and the tubes under the nose is really too much.
My poor baby.
Then Monday night she had to undergo allergy testing. Our appointment was for 4:15 pm (we were on time). We saw the doctor at 6:30 pm. We finished at 7:45 pm. If you've never been allergy tested, thank your lucky stars. They make 64 pinpricks in your back then put a drop of allergen on it and wait. Then they measure the bump and the rash surrounding it to determine how allergic you are to whatever they drip on you. I knew we were in trouble when she started crying as they wiped her back down with alcohol ("It stings!!"). After 20 minutes of torment, they determined that she is allergic to almost everything, cats, dogs, dust mites, grass, peanuts, eggs, mold . . . The doctor wants us to come back and consider allergy shots. They might need to sedate both of us for that one.
So Abby's had a long week. But she still likes to spice up everyone else's week, too. She told me this morning, "I asked a silly question at the assembly yesterday." I said, "Really? What was it?" She told me that Corporal Radar spoke at the assembly. She's a sheriff's deputy and she visits schools teaching them about safety, strangers, all that good stuff. At the end of her presentation, she said, "I'll answer any questions you have."
Abby raises her hand and pipes up, "When baby foxes are born, are their eyes open or closed?"
"Well . . . Any other questions?"
And in case you are wondering (I had to look it up) baby foxes are born with their eyes closed. They open an average of 8-10 days after they are born.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Injury update
As a quick update to my wild weekend (I can almost remember the days when a wild weekend was still a good thing), I have decided to try to find something positive to say.
Looking at the cuts on my arm from the airbag deployment:
If you look at them just right, I think they look a bit like a dragon:
At least I'm hoping that's what the scar will look like. And I hope no one underestimates how difficult it is for a right-handed person to take a digital picture of her right arm. Takes way more skill than I had anticipated . . .
And in response to the other inquiry, the light pole is expected to make a complete recovery with no financial assistance from me. Thanks for your {{cough}} concern. :-)
Looking at the cuts on my arm from the airbag deployment:
If you look at them just right, I think they look a bit like a dragon:
At least I'm hoping that's what the scar will look like. And I hope no one underestimates how difficult it is for a right-handed person to take a digital picture of her right arm. Takes way more skill than I had anticipated . . .
And in response to the other inquiry, the light pole is expected to make a complete recovery with no financial assistance from me. Thanks for your {{cough}} concern. :-)
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