Life with the McDowells

The only one for me

2012-02-13T17:51:00.004-06:00

The mass of people in the store grabbing stuffed teddy bears, heart-shaped boxes and fake roses off the shelves was a reminder to me that tomorrow is Valentine's day. I secretly laughed as I walked through the crowds, thinking to myself that the crap they were buying would be wasted on me.

Will a box full of nasty chocolate really make your sweet-heart know you love them? How about that bear holding a heart? That is going to solidify the fact that you are their one and only true love?

Maybe it will. Maybe it will make someone feel important for a single day.

I hope the recipient's of the bears and candy and flowers tomorrow feel the love that it represents, but more importantly, I hope they feel that love every day of their lives.

I probably wouldn't fall in the category of a "typical" woman...the material stuff that goes along with this holiday doesn't interest me.

If Mike walked through the door with so much as a card tomorrow morning, I would be surprised. He knows that I think that sort of thing is a waste of money. If the card was handwritten, then I would cherish it but a store bought card means nothing to me.

Valentine's day is one day of the year. I don't want to be told I am loved one day of the year - I want to feel it everyday. I don't want a rose that will die. I want him there to hold my hand and kiss me goodnight.

I want to know that I can count on him, trust him, ultimately like him on a daily basis.

I want to know that I am respected, appreciated and important.

I want to laugh with him, cry with him and at the end of an incredibly long day I want to curl up with him and close my eyes.

I want to know that I am beautiful to him even when I feel horrible about myself.

I want to know that he thinks I am a good mom.

I want to know that he thinks I am funny and that he gets me...and my obscure way of thinking.

I don't need or want the material things. I have what I want.

And he is - without a doubt - the only one for me.

Self-Sufficient at 2 years old

2012-02-07T10:00:00.000-06:00

There has been a boycott going on in our house these past few weeks. A nap boycott. By our two year old. Somehow Jude figures out a way to get out of this precious hour of the day...precious to us, not to him.

At daycare, his teachers tell us that he is the last one to go to sleep. He watches all of his friends gradually close their eyes and enter the slumber state, and then and only then will he lay his head down and close his eyes.

Jude is potty-trained. He sports his big boy underwear all the time and does his # 1 and # 2 business in the toilet. When he goes to sleep we stick him in his diaper. Last Saturday he decided that he would poop during his nap time and then scream DADDY at the top of his lungs until we went upstairs to get him.

Sunday rolled around and Mike put him down for his nap. He told him that if he needed to poop, he needed to tell Momma and we would come upstairs to help in do his business in the potty.

Okay Daddy.

As I worked on our tax return in the study, I heard Jude calling out Momma....Daddy....Momma...Momma...Momma...Daddy... Of course, since he is my third kid and I think I know everything as a parent, I thought he was trying to play us. He didn't need to go to the potty. He just wanted to get out of his nap. I was 100 % sure I was right.

And then I started doubting my wonder-parent status. Was I wrong? Did he need to potty?

Of course not - I am all knowing! I've gotten played by the best of them (Micah) and I know all the tricks.

Self-doubt creeped back in and I came to the realization that maybe I was wrong. Even though I knew I was right. Maybe, just maybe I was wrong. I crept up the stairs and tried to peek under the door. I thought if I could see his little feet running around, then I would know he was trying to get out of his nap.

I didn't see anything.

At that moment I had a decision to make...open the door and find out if he was playing me or go back downstairs and leave him in his room to spend his nap time playing in his room.

I opened the door. And this is what I saw.

A poopy diaper on the floor surrounded by all of the baby wipes. Some that he had used to try and clean himself and some that had not been used, but just thrown around the room. His sink was over-flowing with water and wet towels were all over his bathroom floor. His bathroom rug was soaked. And there, standing in the middle of the chaos, was a bare-butt Jude smiling up at me.

He hadn't played me. He was telling the truth - he did need to poop. And he tried his hardest to clean up after his mess.

My man. Mr self-sufficient. I scooped him up and we cleaned up the mess that he had made. It wasn't just his mess, though. It was my mess too. I doubted my man and he did what he had to do. Nature can't be stopped.

We tried to lay him down this weekend and it didn't work - Mike found him with his superman underwear stuck on his fat belly, both of his chubby legs through one leg hole.

He is growing up - no more mid-day break for us. On a positive note, our Disney World trip next month won't have to be planned around our toddler anymore!

Inside Micah's Brain

2012-02-05T09:31:00.003-06:00

Self-portrait

Self-portrait in 100 years

If I had $100 I would ... "buy a jacesy (jacuzzi) for I could relax for once! And it would be great."

If I had 100 pencils I would ..."have a pencil store."

If I had 100 mosquito bites I would ... "die."

If I had 100 friends I would ... "be popular."

If I had 100 legs I would ... "do everything."

If I had 100 eyes I would ... "be ugly."

If I had 100 "TVs" I would "be in heaven."

If I had 100 "puppy" I would "play all day."

If I had 100 "homework" I would "hate IT!"

If I had 100 "water bottles" I would "pee myself."

This is a glimpse inside my 7 year old daughter's mind.

This is the mind of someone that will one day rule our world.

You are warned...

Kind Soul

2012-01-18T13:47:00.004-06:00

While recovering from my accident, the hardest challenge I faced was not laughing. It hurt to smile too big or to laugh out loud. My swollen mouth and my skin healing underneath the stitches would not allow me to smile too wide. And it was nearly impossible not to laugh when surrounded by the three characters I call my own.

I could tell you about watching Jude run through the house at lightening speed, his arms pumping up and down while he yells out, "Buzz Lightyear - Star Command!" Or how he lovingly called my stitches the spider on my nose.

I could tell you about how Micah walked up to me with tears running down her face, accusing me of not telling her where I was going. When I reminded her that she just saw me through the front door when I was outside, she broke into a grin and laughed.She realized I had caught her in a lie. We now have proof that Micah can turn on the tears (quite convincingly) and turn them right back off if need be.

Instead, I want to tell you about how William makes me smile.

His room is connected to Jude's room, and on weekend mornings he has taken it upon himself to get Jude up for the day. He takes him to the potty, brushes Jude's teeth and gets him dressed. Then he walks Jude down the stairs to our room. This small act of responsibility is not something we have asked William to do - he just does it.

I would like to say it is 100% altruistic, but I can't...he has asked for a bump up in his allowance. He knows how to work the system.

I told him I would buy him a book.

Last Saturday night was Mike's company dinner at a really nice restaurant near our home. I had been looking forward to the night - it is not very often that I have a reason to dress up. Of course, I could not go with my cracked front teeth and scabs and stitches on my face. As Mike finished getting ready, I sat in the living room and moped.

William knew that I wanted to go - he watched me have a little pity party for myself. He kept telling me to go and I repeatedly told him that I couldn't. "Just go, Momma. You look fine. You won't gross anyone out. They shouldn't judge a book by it's cover!"
I didn't go. Instead, he let me cuddle up with him for the evening. He doesn't let me do that very much anymore - cuddle up with him. He prefers his own couch. His own space.

But he knew I needed a little extra love that night.

His kind soul melts my heart.

Building her up

2012-01-17T16:00:00.000-06:00

This hangs on the wall beside Micah's bed.

She sees it every time she walks into the room.

She sees it every time she leaves her room.

She is read this every night before she is told good night.

I have to recite it by heart, and is I get one word wrong, she let's me know.

Notice the first adjective to describe our daughter is smart.

Not beautiful. Smart.

Intelligence trumps beauty any day of the week.

Lazy Saturday

2012-01-16T16:00:00.000-06:00

Enjoying a Saturday morning at home.

Busted by the Cops

2012-01-15T10:26:00.000-06:00

It started out as a fun way to end a morning spent at the zoo. A harmless picnic at the Miller Outdoor Theater.

We set up our lunch, oblivious of what mayhem was to come.

Micah tested her cartwheel skills on the incline of the hill.

Lunch was devoured under the warm sun.

Then we noticed there wasn't a barrier to the stage of the theater. In our minds, that equated to free reign.

I turned up the Black Eyed Peas on my phone and Mike video taped the performance in front of us.

These guys had the time of their lives - bumping, shaking, swinging, running...and trying their hands at break-dancing.

Mike and I couldn't stop laughing.

And then it happened.

We figured out why we were the only ones on the stage...we were breaking some obscure law that everyone else seemed to know but us.

I swear there wasn't a sign...

You should have seen us trying to corral Jude off of the stage - he wasn't interested in ending his performance.

Not until the cop showed up.

Please notice that William is no where to be found...he was too cool to get on stage and shake his money maker. He walked the stage, but something in his head kept him from breaking free like his brother and sister...and that is called his common sense.

Something that we were obviously lacking...oh well, no one was arrested...this time.

A letter to my 16 year old self

2012-01-14T10:00:00.000-06:00

Dear Stacey,

You are a 16 years old sophomore in high school, scared to death of the future and lacking self-confidence in how you look. This is how you feel on the inside, but no one knows this because you have excelled in hiding your true feelings. Everyone would describe you as opinionated, confident and ready to take on the world.

If I could, I would like to give you some helpful hints for your future. You may not listen to me because you tend to think you know it all...but maybe you'll glance at this.

Right now you are trying to figure out who you are and what you like. You are trying to figure out what really matters to you...you are ahead of the game already because you know that you are what matters most. You have never been someone that allows others to put you down, but you have become so determined to not get hurt that you have excluded yourself from alot of experiences and from alot of people. Open yourself up to new people. Open yourself up to new things. You may get hurt, but you will be okay. I promise.

Be true to who you are - don't make life decisions based on what others are doing or what you think others would do. Do what you want to do. You tend to have a dreamy idea of what the outcome will be when you make certain life decisions, but life rarely turns out the way you think it will. And that is okay. Everything happens for a reason.

Let go. Let got of judgements. Let go of resentments. Let go of grudges. They hold you back and the people you are judging and resenting aren't thinking twice about you. So don't give them any more time in your life by thinking about them.

Be thankful and show it. Especially to you parents. Right now Mom and Dad may get on your nerves from time to time, but they love you more than you will ever understand...until you hold your first child in your arms. Give them a break. Hug them and tell them that you love them. They will be your best friends and be your support throughout your life.

Lay off of your brother, too. He will change. You will change. One day you will love and respect each other. You will be able to count on him, as surprising as this sounds it is 100 % true.

As hard as it is not let everyone know what your opinion is, learn to hold your tongue. Number one, you don't know everything. Number two, things are usually happening in the background that you don't know about and you tend to look like an idiot when you speak and don't know the whole story. Number three, taking a moment to reflect and gather your thoughts before you speak will always make you look smarter. You can get your point across more clearly when you speak intelligently and calmly than when you are loud and argumentative.

Stay strong and stay true to yourself. Do not settle for second...your true love is waiting for you and you will meet him when you least expect it.

You are an amazing young woman, even if you don't think you are. You will accomplish so many things in your life. Make sure that you enjoy yourself for the ride.

And try not to worry - the things you are worrying about right now will pass...rather quickly.

So, in a nutshell, the next 18 years will be a whirlwind and you will do great. Learn to relax, accept, thank and enjoy and you will do just fine.

You are loved.

Signed,

Yourself at 34 years old

Smacked in the Face

2012-01-13T09:35:00.000-06:00

I have this fear that when life is passing by smoothly, something will come along and smack you in the face. Our lives have been moving at rapid speed and each night, as I kiss our kids goodnight, I marvel at how lucky we are - how blessed and healthy we are.

We are still blessed and healthy, but speaking of getting smacked in the face...

Last Tuesday night, I was finishing up my 3 mile run. When I started the run it was light outside, but dusk turned to dark rather quickly. I came to a point in my run where I could turn right and go home or turn left and keep running. I was feeling so good, so strong that I chose the path to my left. I was determined to meet the goal I had set for myself...what I have discovered about myself while running is that I won't give up to get my miles in. I want my miles. I need my miles.

As I ran on the sidewalk in the dark, I tripped. Instead of reaching my hands out in front of me to catch myself, my hands went behind me and my face caught my fall. It was as if I dove into the concrete face first. I immediately stood up and felt my face...and when I pulled my hands back I could feel that they were covered in blood. My first thought was that I bit my tongue...then I felt that my tooth was missing...and the blood kept gushing.

Luckily, I was about a quarter mile from my house. My only thought was to get home as quickly as I could. I half jogged half walked back to the house with my hands covering my face. When I reached our yard, I started calling Mike's name. Rex, our neighbor, was at our door talking to Mike and I thought, "Let me just get to them. I'll be okay if I can get to them." They finally saw me and went into action. Mike ran to get towels and Rex led me inside to clean me up.

I have said this before, and I mean it more today than ever, we have the best neighbors. If Rex and Angie hadn't been there to help us, I don't even want to think about how scary it would have been. They both swooped in and took over, like the angels that they are. Angie stepped in to take care of the kids and Rex stepped in as the calm, clear headed force that we needed at that moment. He cleaned me up as best he could and drove Mike and I to the emergency room. He took over so Mike could make the important calls to my parents and my brother and get everything together for our trip to the ER.

Once we arrived at the ER, I was assessed, had x-rays of my face and finally stitched up. Nothing was broken, except my pride. I received 24 stitches in my nose and upper lip. My front tooth is chipped in half and I have small chips in a few other front teeth. I have scratches on my chin, both shoulders and both knees. My lips were so swollen, I looked like I was a star of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

That was one thing I have enjoyed - the swollen lips. Normally I have thin lips, so I have been admiring my plump lips as much as I can...unfortunately, they are covered in scabs and bruises so I can't test them out in the kissing department.

We were home by 11pm, and as tired as I was, I could not sleep. My mind wouldn't shut off - I kept reliving the events of the night and thinking about what this trip had cost me.

Financially, how much will this cost - the emergency room, the stitches, the dentist, the plastic surgeon.

Physically, it cost me a few weeks of my training schedule. I am used to working out 5 times a week. I am not used to laying in bed with my elliptical machine mocking me.

Emotionally, it cost me my pride and vanity. I am not the type of woman that can walk into a room and have all eyes turn in my direction. In my mind, I am an average beauty. All women are beautiful - some are drop dead gorgeous, some glow with beauty, some don't even know that they are beautiful. I have never been drop dead gorgeous, but I have glowed. While I ever glow again? When I walk into a room now, will all eyes turn to me to look at my scars?

This accident also cost me time. Time with my kids, as they are afraid to get too close to me. I miss them. I miss their hugs and kisses. Micah and Jude acclimated to my appearance quickly, but it really scared William. When he saw me after I fell, he was shocked and frightened. I hate that I caused him to be anxious. I hate that I worried him. I hate that he doesn't want to look at me because it upsets him.

It also cost me a personal goal. I was running Tuesday night to prepare for my first 1/2 marathon race in Houston this Sunday. That goal is now postponed to next year. I hate that I won't be there with my friends, cheering them on. That experience was taken from me when I fell, but I will succeed. I am determined to succeed.

In the grand scheme of my life, this is just a blip. A set-back. I am trying my hardest to enjoy this recovery time, but I am not one to stay in bed all day. I am trying hard to appreciate how lucky I am. So many things good have happened that would have really been devastating - I could have fallen in front of a car, I could have fallen so hard I knocked myself out, I could have broken bones or had much more serious cuts to my face.

It could have happened to one of my kids.

But it didn't. Thankfully, it was me that was smacked in the face. Thankfully, I will recover and go on with my life. Thankfully, I have a husband that loves me with his whole heart and doesn't care that I look like I am wearing a Halloween mask right now.

A smack in the face won't keep me down.

Nimrod

2012-01-02T16:00:00.000-06:00

For over a year now, Micah has wanted her own pet.

Someone that she can keep in her own room.

Someone that doesn't make noise.

She chose a Chinese Water Dragon as the newest addition to our family. I knew something was up when she jumped at the chance to go to Petsmart with Mike...and snuck her wallet out of the house with her.

Micah paid for Nimrod and all of his accessories with her savings, and she will have to continue to pay for his meal worms and anything else that goes along with having him for a pet.

She needs to start budgeting now...Nimrod could live to be 15 years old...which means she could be his Mommy until she graduates from college.

And if he lives that long, he could be 40 inches long.

Lovely.

Great decision, Mike.

So far, she has been very attentive and regulates the temperature in his aquarium. We marked on her calendar each day he needs to be fed, and she is being the responsible parent for little Nimmy.

I can hardly wait for her high school gradation pictures...Micah posed with a three foot long lizard draped across her shoulders.

Welcome to the family, Nimrod!

How to ring in 2012...McDowell Style

2012-01-01T13:54:00.000-06:00

Instead of being surrounded by drunks and people that don't matter and then worrying about driving home with idiots on the road, we rang in 2012 from the comfort of our living room.

"McDowell Style"

And I can't think of a better way.

Notice that there are no pictures of me busting a move...I did. And I won. I can groove with the best of them...which is a great mystery since I am so uncoordinated.

Year In Review

2011-12-31T16:22:00.001-06:00

With only a few hours left of 2011, I want to put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) and try to remember what went well for us this year and what our family wants to work towards in 2012.

To say that this was a busy year for us would be an understatement. Our unofficial family motto is to pack in as much as we can to each day. The great thing about this is that we did a lot. The drawback about this is that when you go, go, go it can be hard to stop and appreciate the little things.

On one hand, we experienced a ton and made many memories.

On the other hand, the down time in our house is lacking. But, I can say that when we get that down time, it is so appreciated that we cherish it. We drink it up.

We are having down time right now...Mike and the kids are playing video games and I am in the other room, enjoying their laughter. If I was in there, they might ask me to play...and then the video camera would come out and they would have evidence of me dancing to Baby Got Back.

Black-mail.

I think not.

What went well for us as a family in 2011...

We traveled a lot - camping at Jellystone park...visiting family in Mobile, Alabama...soaking up the sun in Panama City Beach, Florida...spending Easter with my family in Austin...celebrating Jude and Micah's birthday in Galveston...enjoying adult time in Las Vegas!

Mike finished his degree in Instrumentation and Electrical with straight A's and was offered his dream job (which he will start on January 2nd).

I recovered from my surgery and decided to overcome my fear of running. I competed in my first 5K, 10K, 10 Mile and 1/2 Marathon.

Micah played two seasons of soccer and continues to improve.

William took up tennis and really seems to enjoy his time on the court. Micah started tennis lessons, too.

Micah participated in Girl Scouts while William continues on with Boy Scouts.

This was my best year at work - a lot of clean-up, stream-lining, organization and documentation. We received the cleanest Audit report since I have been in my position.

I finished out last school year as William's room mom and was Micah's soccer team mom this past fall.

Jude continues to amaze us each day - he is so damn smart. He is now officially potty-trained and out of his crib...right in time for the new year!

The kids received straight A's in school. In fact, they have yet to get a B.

William has the top reading award in his class for logging the most minutes.

We made a huge dent in our debt and will be on track to have our personal loan and Mike's truck loan paid off by this time next year.

We - meaning all five of us - handle all of the household chores and do not rely on outside help. The kids continue to earn their allowance and saved enough money this year to pay for gifts this holiday season and to pay for any toys or gadgets they want through out the year. I even make them pay for their own school pictures. We do pay for a lawn company - and that $100 a month alone has helped our marriage!

Added the most precious and obstinate Golden Retriever puppy, Tucker, to our family.

What we will be working on for 2012...

Micah will continue with tennis and soccer. William will continue with tennis.

Mike wants to start reading more.

I will continue to run - the Houston 1/2 marathon in January and the Austin 1/2 marathon in February; the bridge series next fall and whatever other races come my way.

I will start to cook and have a meal plan for the week - I already started on this during the break by making oreo truffles, corn salsa and potatoes for Christmas dinner!

Mike and I will start to pay the bills together. This has always been my responsibility in our family and it is time to share the wealth...

We have a few trips planned for the year - Austin in February, Disney World in March...and I'm sure something in the summer time.

Pay off the two loans above and tackle our third and final loan so we can actually say we are debt free.

Increasing our retirement contributions to the maximum amount.

I will study and take the GMAT this spring so I can start on my MBA in the fall of 2012. Daddy gets out of school and Momma starts back!

Our whole family will enjoy having Mike at home each night and every weekend...and I will work hard to hand over the reigns in the parenting department to him and not try to do everything myself.

William and Micah's goal is to not annoy each other as much...wish us luck.

Jude's goal is to continue to crack.us.up. And to get out of the terrible two's as quickly as possible.

I think we will kill it in 2012.

He Wanted Pictures

2011-12-29T18:00:00.000-06:00

When we arrived at my parent's house on Christmas day, my Dad informed me that he wanted pictures. Pictures of everyone. Pictures of his family.

He is just a little proud of all of us.

He is so proud of us that every time we walk through his door, you can feel the pride radiating off of him.

His grandkids are his best friends.

This was supposed to be an adult only picture...except Jude wanted another M&M so he snuck into the picture.

Merry Christmas to the best man I know - my Dad.

Waiting is over...

2011-12-28T19:25:00.003-06:00

We told the kids that we would be upstairs to escort them down at 6:30 am on Christmas day. William was up at 5:24 am and Micah was up at 5:43 am. She texted me at 6:15 am to make sure I was up. My girl.

The only one that wasn't awake was this little man...and he was not having anything to do with waking up until the magic word was spoken...presents.

Then they fled downstairs to see what Santa left for them. He did things a little different this year - wrapped each gift and then threw them in a pile by the fireplace.

And then it was on...paper was flying everywhere!

William immediately started putting together a Lego kit Santa gave him.

The kids played with their gifts - really took the time to enjoy them and gave me time to cook breakfast.

The kids requested a scavenger hunt to find their presents from each other and from us. So, of course, Daddy delivered...he made up 7 clues and hid them all over the house. They had to figure out the clue, rush to find the hiding spot and when they found the clue, they had to run back to the living room to read it.

Seven times...you would think that the hunt took along time. Not so. These guys were on a mission.

Their last clue sent them to Jude's playhouse where their presents were hidden.

They opened those gifts...and they thought it was over. One last clue was hidden in the playhouse that led them to their final gift...

A X-box with kinect. I thought William was going to blow a gasket! He has wanted a X-box for a few years now and we finally broke down and got it for him...er, us. It is a family gift, one that we will use each Sunday afternoon for our family game night.

After all the presents were opened and after I cleaned up the wrapping paper (I'm just a little OCD), they sat down to enjoy.

Christmas in this house is now officially over!

Same Thing Every Year

2011-12-28T18:58:00.000-06:00

Each Christmas Eve, we partake in the same sequence of events...the only things that change are the characters continue to grow older.

We make Santa's sugar cookies.

And ponder world peace...kidding.

It is imperative that we use ALL of the dough or else.

And then we complaint LOUDLY that Momma skimped on the ingredients for real frosting and bought the canned stuff that is so hard to apply.

Our living tree is on it's last leg as it was cut down the day after Thanksgiving.

But that doesn't stop our Angel Scooby eating pizza from adorning it's tallest branch.

This is the 21st year he as been on my tree - Mom bought him at the Warner Brothers store when I was in junior high.

Each ornament that hangs on the tree has a story behind it. No "pretty" trees in our house.

They each have meaning...like this hand sewn snowflake Doe, my grandmother, made when I was a girl.

Homemade pizzas are devoured.

And then one present is opened...

which holds their Christmas Eve pajamas. In years past I would get them Christmas themed PJs, but as William is growing up and is "over" that kind of thing, I selected a pair that would make each one happy.

See - Jude is happy.

We hang their pictures they made for Santa on the fireplace.

And then take a funny face picture on the fireplace hearth.

The last order of business is reading The Night Before Christmas. This was Micah's first year to narrate the story for us and she did a remarkable job.

Upstairs with the lot of them - brushing teeth, tucking in, trying their hardest to close their eyes and fall asleep...like these two brothers.

A Giving Tradition

2011-12-25T18:00:00.000-06:00

We started a new tradition this year, something that will hopefully grow with our family for generations. We are blessed. My parents are blessed. My brother and his family are blessed. If we want to buy something, we save the money and buy it. If we want to go somewhere, we plan ahead and go. We have the financial ability to do this.

So we don't really need to buy a Christmas gift for each other. We agreed to spend the money we would normally use to buy each other a gift on a gift for someone that really needs it.

This accomplishes two goals. One - to help others and teach our children the importance of giving. Two - eliminate the need to cart home gifts from Christmas spent with my family. While these gifts are much appreciated, they can be wasteful and add to the clutter in our homes. Something that we are desperately trying to manage on a daily basis.

This year we bought five bicycles for children in the Houston area with the Elves and More charity. One from each person in our family dedicated to my parents and my brother and sister-in-law.

William and Mike spent an afternoon putting together the bikes.

Mike said that it was such a wonderful experience - spending this time with William and watching him enjoy himself while helping others.

I already have ideas brewing in my head for next year's "gifts"!

Santa vs. the Tooth Fairy

2011-12-22T11:41:00.000-06:00

My one and only Christmas wish is to pull Micah's two top teeth out. They have been hanging there - being pushed and distorted - for over two months now.

Her baby teeth are stubborn (like her) and wild (like her). Her permanent teeth are fighting hard to knock out the old dangling ones...so much so that you can already see the new ones under the babies.

What if they miraculously fell out on Christmas eve and Santa and the Tooth Fairy met up at our house?

I tried this line of reasoning with her and she still wasn't buying it...she said they would probably get into a brawl and Santa would have to kick the fairies butt.

She is probably right, but I still want these teeth out. NOW!

She cussed. A lot.

2011-12-20T16:28:00.000-06:00

Once upon a time, there was a mother of three.

And she cussed.

She only cussed when she was too lazy to think of an appropriate adjective to describe whatever she was cussing about.

She also cussed in front of her kids.

On one occasion she dropped the mother of all cuss words in front of her kids and their friends. While stuck in a car. In a parking lot. Trying desperately to back out of my space and getting cut off by a guy in another car.

On that occasion, the cuss word slipped from her mouth. And it was the appropriate adjective to describe that guy.

She really, really tries not to cuss. When she thinks about it.

She doesn't think about it often enough.

Her kids bet her that she couldn't go a whole week without cussing.

She lost.

Luckily they forgot about the bet and she didn't have to pay them each $25.

She is a a great mother. She is a great wife. She is a great friend. She also cusses.

And she drinks beer.

She may even pass gas in public and blame it on her two year old son.

Once upon a time, she was me.

And she still is. Forever and ever.

Deal with it.

She likes who she is.

P.S. - To any parent of my children's friends who read this...it is all fiction. I never cussed in front your child. At least I don't think I did... I tend to forget unimportant things like cuss words...especially if they make me look bad.

The Perfect Picture

2011-12-19T15:43:00.002-06:00

Getting the perfect family portrait for our Christmas cards when you have two dogs and three kids under the age of 10 can be pretty comical.

Some would think that is was as simple as one...

...two...

...three...

...or four...

...maybe five...

...possibly six takes...

to get as close to perfect as our family can get.

Who am I kidding...it took over a hundred shots. And my favorite ones are where we are all looking in the wrong place. We are so far from perfect, that those shots are the most accurate.

Of course, I would be crazy to use one of those for our Christmas cards...that's why I stuck that one on the back of the card. I'm only half crazy.

Strip at Night

2011-12-18T12:00:00.000-06:00

For my first half-marathon we decided to do it up big - the Las Vegas Strip at night! We arrived in Vegas on Thursday and the race was Sunday night, so I had a few days to mentally prepare for the 13.1 miles I was determined to run.

This is our group about to head out to the start line...in 30 degree weather. Our group was very diverse - a great mix of people that I am proud to have shared this run with.

I was nervous before the race started - a race that had 44,000 runners in it! The entire strip was shut down to allow for the race, and it was jammed with people - it was so crowded that I actually ran 13.5 miles...and extra half mile just dodging and weaving through the runners as I raced to the finish line.

The race started at Mandalay Bay and ran to downtown Vegas and back.

It was an experience I will never forget - the first night-time race in Vegas. Passing the hotels (while trying to not trip on the runner in front of me) was amazing.

I felt great while running - tackling each mile as it came and only thinking of the one that was right in front of me. I tried my hardest to not think about the total number of miles to go, only focusing on what I was doing right at that moment. I tried to stay in my zone.

As I crossed the finish line at 2 hours 35 minutes, the hell began. We had about 15 feet after the finish line to recover before we were funneled into a crowd of runners desperately grabbing for a mylar sheet to wrap around themselves to contain their body heat. Unfortunately, since this was my first race, I did not know what it was for. By the time I figured out what the wrap was for, it was so crowded that I couldn't turn back to get one. Then we were herded into another area to grab a medal and fight for water and granola bars.

I felt like a cow heading off to slaughter...a freezing, hurting cow.

I made my way back into the Mandalay Bay convention center and tried to assess what to do next. My group was meeting outside, but I knew I couldn't do that in the condition I was in. I texted Mike to see where he was - the last time I saw him was at mile 10 where he was cheering me on. He had my scarf and coat and all I could focus on was getting to him.

I started to shake violently - muscle spasms and the sheer cold - and knew I couldn't stay there. I had to get to Mike as soon as I could.

As I made my way through the convention center, I saw people passed out and people throwing up. Unfortunately, the path to get back to Mike was through the crowd waiting to see the Michael Jackson Cirque de Soleil show...and it was opening night. The "MJ" fans were waiting to see the show and they refused to budge aside to let the thousands of runners exit the convention center. After standing in the crowd - not moving - for over 20 minutes I was able to climb through a small opening and make my way through the crowd. I literally had to walk over bodies of runners that had passed out. I couldn't even stop to help them because I would have been pushed down and trampled.

Once I broke through the crowd I was determined to make it to Mike, who was a tram ride away from me. When I saw him, I was finally able to take a deep breathe. I wasn't alone anymore. I wasn't in charge of my fate. I gladly handed it over to him.

We made it back to our hotel room and I showered while he took on the mission to find pizza and beer. That was my only request - I wanted to lay in bed and enjoy pizza and beer after the scariest hour of my life.

I have been told that this race is not the typical race - that the Houston half-marathon that I'll be running in January is the complete opposite. I cannot wait to experience how a real race is organized!

Even with the horrific experience after the race, it is something I am proud to have accomplished.

It can only go up from here!

Time Together

2011-12-17T17:29:00.000-06:00

Mike and I spent an amazing few days in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. We honeymooned there...and second honeymooned there...and haven't been back in over 8 years. We were there for a race I was running - my first half marathon - and to enjoy each other. Our schedules have not allowed for us to spend much time together lately. In fact, our last night alone with no kids was in August.

We made the most of our time - we experienced The Beatles Love show (amazing!) from the very top row and we saw death defying dives in O...and then nodded off because it was so dark in there and we were still reeling from the late night before.

We watched people dance on bars, rode roller coasters, ate wonderful food and lost about $40 in the slots.

We relaxed...really relaxed.

We laughed...really laughed.

With these guys.

I mean, who wouldn't laugh with these guys!

Who would have thought?

2011-11-30T21:22:00.001-06:00

Who would have thought that one day I would marry the guy that I heard on the radio trying to win concert tickets? A guy that I didn't even know yet. I can still remember where I was on I-45 when I heard the game and I can still remember playing along...and losing. He won.

Who would have thought that almost 14 years later, that guy would be the father of my three beautiful children?

Not me. I never thought I could be so lucky.
Never in a million years.

The boy who could fly

2011-11-26T21:08:00.000-06:00

My favorite morning

2011-11-25T20:33:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving morning is undoubtedly my favorite time of the year. Driving to downtown Houston early in the morning when we are the only souls on the highway makes me feel like we are in on a secret that not many people know about. Then we get to our "spot" on the parade route and realize that thousands of other Houstonians are privy to the secret.

And the parade begins...

I love that the parade has become something that everyone looks forward to each year. A morning where we can all be together surrounded by skyscrapers is something that I am truly thankful for.

How poop forced me to slow down

2011-11-23T12:15:00.000-06:00

Working for a school districts has it's many perks, the number one being that three times a year I get to have a week off with my kids...one week in November then three weeks later we get two weeks off in December and then a week off in March. I try to make the most of each of the days I have, having a list of things to accomplish and places to go for each day.These lists tend to counteract the purpose of these weeks off...slowing down, recharging and spending time with my family.

Jude has made it his personal agenda this week to make me slow down. I have spent a better part of these days sitting next to him on the floor keeping him company while he gets over his fear of pooping.As our third kid, we though we had this ppop thing figured out. I don't remember the older two having any mental block about pooping. He pees like a champ, but he refuses to poop in the potty. He also refuses to poop in his diaper. This means he refuses to poop....period.I am feeding the kid raisins, whole grains, yogurt, tons of diluted juice and gallons of water (at least it seems that way). Every time he starts to find a hiding place to do his business...or strain like he is...I pick him up and we sit on the potty.

Most of the time we are not successful, but sometimes we get lucky.And when that happens, I feel like I won the lottery.Funny how a 2 year olds bowel movements have so much meaning to me. Sick but funny.So we have slowed down this Thanksgiving break. We are hanging out alot at home...so Captain America can run around naked while he works out his number twos...Don't get me wrong, I love this time...and the lists are getting taken care of. Thank God for Internet shopping!

As we grow we stay the same

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Bittersweet Memories

2011-11-22T05:50:00.001-06:00

We walked down memory lane Sunday afternoon. After visiting with Doe and Pa, and eating her favorite lunch from Whataburger, we went to their house. So many memories were made there when we were kids. When I became a mother, I looked forward to them having the same type of experiences there.

They will have their memories, but they won't be like my brother's and they won't be like mine.

They won't remember running up and down the steps to this porch a thousand times.

Or playing under this massive tree in the front yard.

They won't remember racing down to the mailbox after hearing the mailman drive down the red dirt road.

Or running for cover under this tree on New Year's Eve when we would set off firecrackers on that road.

I sat on this front porch for hours reading.

And many walks and rides were taken down this hill.

As a child, I always wondered what was kept in this garage. Every time I had a chance to take a peek inside, I took it...and was overwhelmed with the history that was kept here.

Oars, old fishing poles and shovels can be found everywhere on their back porch.

Once they were used on boats like these.

In this pond.

They won't have these memories. They won't know what it is like to walk into Doe's kitchen and smell the goodness of her cooking. Or clean the fish that we caught in Pa's pond.

It was a bittersweet day. I tried not to think about the fact that we were there to box up Doe's pictures and her the china that was passed down to her from her mother. I tried to focus on the past and not the present, but it didn't keep the tears away.

The "NO" Phase

2011-11-15T17:16:00.000-06:00

We are suffering through the "NO!" phase with Jude. Actually, not suffering...more like enduring...and laughing...and sometimes getting a little annoyed.

"Jude, do you need to go potty?"

"NO!"

"Jude, do you want a cheese stick?"

"NO!"

"Do you want a yogurt instead?"

"NO!....Okay....I want a yogurt...with the yellow spoon. Thank you!"

The automatic first response is always negative, until he realizes that he actually does want something and then he turns it around and is the sweetest.

I wish I could bottle him up right now - he can keep growing up, but just let me bottle up his essence right now so I can open it when I need a pick me up and just savor his coolness. Someone needs to invent that - a way to capture exactly who they are at a particular moment so we can relive it over and over again. Get on that pronto.

The other night he was in his Captain America suit...yes, the one from Halloween that he wears almost every night. We are getting our money out of that costume! We were all upstairs enjoying a little family time - Micah was cuddled up with me on the couch and William and Mike were playing Mario Cart. Jude was laying on his tummy with his right hand propping up his chin...laying right next to Daddy. His long hair was wavy down his blue back...and he was sporting a big band-aid on his left cheek.

Big brother decided to "help" him out of the Little Tykes shopping cart toy and as he fell he cut his cheek on the edge of the desk. Jude cried and cried while I doctored him up, and after I put his band-aid on, he looked me in the eyes and said, "Thank you!" I told William that it will probably leave a scar and he said I should thank him - he was toughening up Jude's image!

Can't we ever have a normal day in our house?

Never mind - that sounds incredibly boring. Normal. Yuck. I'll stick with my obstinate man wearing his hero's costume....with a scar under his eye.

Teacher Conferences...

2011-11-14T16:41:00.001-06:00

Last week I scheduled a teacher conference for both the kids...on the same day. At first, I thought that maybe I was getting in over my head - meeting with teachers can be an overwhelming experience - especially if we aren't exactly sure what we will be told about our children...praying for confirmation that they are as awesome as we think, but not sure what truth we will actually be told.

Academically, William and Micah are doing wonderful. We were more curious on how they are socially in their classes. We know how our kids act at home, but that doesn't mean they are the same when we aren't around...

Come to find out - they are the same.

We met with William's teacher first and she described him as quiet, intelligent, thoughtful, confident, helpful, mature and a rule follower. He is our pleaser - he sets his mind to accomplish something and he does just that. He internalizes everything and weighs the pros and cons about what he says before he says it. We were worried about him at the beginning of the year because he didn't have a close friend in the class - his "go to" person. He was worried about this, too.

Our worries have been put to rest - he has found his niche and is soaring through the year.

It is always nice to hear your child's teacher reinforce what you already know about your child. Mike and I left that meeting with smiles on our faces, reassured that he is on the right track and that he is as great away from us as he is with us.

Two hours later me met with Micah's teacher and as we sat down to speak with her, she had a huge grin on her face. She confirmed our suspicions. Micah is Micah - messy, creative, smart, self-assured...and not working up to her potential. This is the same comment we received from Micah's teacher last year. "She can do the work with her hands tied behind her back, but she doesn't. She has the ability to do so much more than what she is doing, but she seems to be happy with where she is...which is working at a level lower than she is capable of."

She stuns us with her imagination and her witty, sly comments. She can easily do the work, but rushes through and skips some of it. Her mind is already on to something else rather than focusing in on the mundane that needs to be completed before her.

She questions...everything. She has a comment...about everything. She is confident and we never know what she will be wearing when she graces us with her presence each morning.

Micah is Micah. The funny thing is that the entire time her teacher was describing her personality to us, all I could think was, "Micah is Ryan. I am raising my brother. This is exactly what Mom used to say about Ryan while we were growing up...smart as a whip, but not working at his potential. HELP!"

Her teacher confirmed what we already knew - Micah needs to be in the GT program just like William. She has been tested three times and misses the magic number that she needs to score by inches each time. She needs the challenge. She needs the stimulus - the extra work. There is no doubt in any one's mind that she is off the charts, but she has to follow the rules and score a certain grade to be placed in the spot that is waiting for her. Damn rules.

I came away from this morning amazed by the children we are raising ... and amazed at how different they both are. Raised in the same house, with the same set of rules by the same parents and they are as different as night and day.

The core is the same - the values are the same, but the personalities are light years apart.

Just like me and my brother.

Field Day 2011

2011-11-08T17:00:00.000-06:00

Lemme Take Your Picture

2011-11-06T17:00:00.000-06:00

Ever wonder what it would look like when a 2 year old wants to take control of the camera?

A priceless work of art.

Stop by Adventures & Misadventures of Daily Living to see other priceless works of art.

See...we did celebrate!

2011-11-05T21:20:00.001-05:00

Slacker that I am, it is almost a week after the most important day of the year and I am just now documenting our wacky Halloween. Oh well...shoot me.

Our Halloween started a few days early with a 13th birthday party for the most beautiful newly minted teenager I know.

Captain America and the birthday girl, Jordan.

The younger, more refined, guests.

Wierdo the Clown and Nerdy.

The McDowells

My own personal hero.

Momma America and Genie

You can't ask for anything more than Fat Elvis and Captain Muscles.

Halloween finally showed up and we got our "Trick or Treat" on!

Kam as the sweetest 50's girl.

We raked in the candy...and recycled any that we didn't want to the truckloads of kids that hit our neighborhood. The biggest hit for us was the Captain America family...Jude would hit them with a "Trick or Treat!" and they would give him a handful of candy...then he hit them with a "Thank you!" and they shoveled in another handful...I'll have to remember that for next year!

The DOMINATOR

2011-10-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

I knew my 4 year old niece was a force to be reckoned with, but I had no idea of her skills...

If you find yourself upset for any reason, search out an opportunity to watch a game...especially a game where the only girl on the team DOMINATES!

I promise you will forget why you were upset to begin with.

The F-Word

2011-10-26T17:00:00.000-05:00

Micah - Micah, Micah, Bo-Bicah, Banana Fana Fo Ficah, Me My Mo Micah...Miii-cah

William - Don't try Tucker's name. You have been warned...

Micah - Why?

William - If you do Tucker's name, you will say a bad word. Not just a bad word...THE bad word. The F-word.

Micah (whispering to herself) - Tucker, Tucker, Bo-Bucker, Banana Fana Fo F...... OH!

William - Told ya. You almost said the mother of all bad words.

Micah looks over at me - Momma...what does the F- word mean?

William - Yeah...what does it mean?

Me - Well....it is like...ummmm....let's see...who wants ice cream?!?

William and Micah scooted out of the booth seat at Jason's Deli and headed to get dessert.

Micah - Why does she always do that? She never answered us.

William - Maybe she doesn't know what it means, either.

Co-Pilot

2011-10-25T17:00:00.000-05:00

Two weeks. That is how long I have had a co-pilot in my car now that William has upgraded from the business class to first class. No more back seat for the 5 ft, 100 lb boy that I birthed almost 10 years ago. This new chapter for us is interesting in that I find myself glancing over and seeing my child watching the world go by through the windows and my mind wanders back to him sitting in a high chair feeding himself cheerios.

What I am seeing in front of me doesn't mesh with what my mind is showing me.

This is happening in our conversations, too. I forget that I am talking to my 9 year old son because the topics we are discussing and his responses to my questions mirror those of a soon to be adult. His dry sense of humor is really developing and I take great pride in that.

He is so different from his sister - opposite in many ways yet somehow similar traits run through both of them. William radiates a quiet intelligence, and old soul. When I am around him, I am calm...well, that is unless he is driving me crazy.

Last week, at 6am, he walked into our room fully dressed and ready for the day - shoes and all. Wow. I usually have to remind him repeatedly throughout the morning routine. The next day - same thing. I asked him what was going on - why was he being so responsible? "I'm just tired of you yelling at me in the morning." Damn - I had no idea he was actually listening to me since I had to tell him over and over and over again to put on his pants.

He is growing up, becoming even more handsome and thoughtful each day. He eagerly takes on the responsibility of helping with his baby brother - making him smile when he is sad. The sound of their laughter as they chase each other around the house is sweet, sweet music. Sometimes I can't tell when one boy's laugh ends and the other boy's laugh begins.

I know we can't go backwards in time, so I will savor today and enjoy my co-pilot...the one that likes to tell me I am going the wrong way.

Proud

2011-10-22T20:56:00.000-05:00

I have three beautiful, smart and amazing nieces - each are a wonder in their own right. Two of my nieces are seniors this year and one was nominated for the Homecoming court for our high school. For me, this is a foreign event as I was no where near the level of popularity it must take to even be nominated in high school.

Carlee, Kameryn and Arielle

Memaw and the girls

Their first grandchild

I remember holding her for the first time 17 years ago.

Ryan and his oldest daughter.

Beautiful inside and out.

Their true personality.

Kam and Micah sporting the home-made corsage that Mike made them.

The Garnett Family

You live your life, going through the motions of the day, trying to accomplish all that you can. The minutes turn to hours that turn to days and sometimes you don't take the moment to appreciate the beauty of your life and your family. You have to stop and really see how lucky you are to be alive and to be surrounded by the support. Being together as a family and cheering on one of our own during one of the many shining moments she will have in her life makes me stop and appreciate how truly blessed I am.

And proud of our family.

Captain America

2011-10-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

There are few things in my world that are make me smile like our little man dressed up in his Halloween costume. He is overly obsessed with Captain America at this stage in his toddler career...to the point of hilarity.

He actually thinks he is Captain America - he asks his teachers to call him Captain America instead of Jude. He runs around the house screaming at the top of his lungs, "CAPTAIN AMERICA!!!" as he pumps his arms up and down. His shield is always close at hand.

We have used his new obsession to our benefit...when his face begins to crumble and he manufactures big crocodile tears because he isn't getting his way, we ask him if Captain America would cry like that and just the mention of his hero brightens his mood.

His costume hangs on his bathroom door and we admire it every night while we brush his teeth.

Mike is the adult version of the same costume and I am the female Captain America for Halloween. The three of us will be unstoppable this year...

We are going to rake in the candy!

How to Enjoy a Football Game

2011-10-12T17:00:00.000-05:00

Small town Texas high school football...it is just like in the movies. A packed stadium rooting for their team all the while stuffing their face with nachos, Frito pie, popcorn and the all important giant pickle.

Our five spent Friday night in our hometown stadium on the second from the top row directly on the 50 yard line. Being so high up in the stands gave us a birds eye view of everything.

We decided the best part of the game was chugging soft drinks which led us to go up and down the stands numerous times to the bathroom...which was a good thing because I found $12 up for grabs on the floor in the ladies room.

We also made good use of my phone and took funny pictures while the guys scored down on the field.

And that is how we enjoyed the football game.

Among Friends

2011-10-11T17:00:00.000-05:00

Among friends you can pass...

...and catch...

...and sniff...

...and wrestle...

...and bite...

...and make crazy eyes.

And they will still love you.

10 Miles

2011-10-10T17:00:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I ran my first 10K (6.2 miles) and accomplished a goal I had set for myself this year. Upon finishing this run, my friend turned to me and asked me if I was ready for the 10 mile race we had signed up for. In my over-scheduled mind, I thought that the race was at the end of October and that I would have plenty of time to prepare. Nope. I was smacked with the knowledge that I would have 3 weeks.

There was no way I would be ready in 3 weeks to run 10 miles. I started to freak out - each time I thought about what I was going to have to do, I started to feel sick to my stomach. Doubt set in and it wasn't going anywhere until I could prove to myself that I could do this.

Last weekend I ran 6.55 miles - the farthest and the fastest that I had ever run. I chased away the doubt.

I knew going into the race that I would probably need to walk part of it - and I was okay with it. I broke the route down in my head and as I ran, I told myself to just get to 3 miles and then think about walking. Then I told myself to just get to 5 miles...then to the next water station...then, if you feel like you need to walk go ahead and walk.

I am proud to say I only walked twice and each time for only a tenth of a mile. I walked at 7.5 miles and then again at 8.25 miles. I finished in 1 hour 47 minutes - amazing for me. And five minutes after I finished, the sky fell and we were soaked with rain that we so desperately needed.

At mile marker 7 there was a water station and as I grabbed my water I saw this woman with a phone up to her face taking pictures. She was walking backwards and stumbled on a trash can. As she tried to steady herself, she took her phone from her face and I saw that it was my dear friend, Vicki. She had come out to support me, much to my surprise! It was exactly what I needed - seeing her gave me a boost in my confidence and helped me keep going.

Having someone there for me, at my biggest race thus far, was wonderful and something I will never forget.

And on a side note - Mike and I enjoyed a nice pasta dinner the night before the race...only I mistakenly ordered the only meal on their menu without pasta. Typical me.

Overboard

2011-10-09T07:35:00.000-05:00

"Momma - can I be in a beauty pageant?"

"Why do you want to be in a beauty pageant? Do you know anyone who does pageants?"

"Yes - a girl in my class and she has won alot."

"Well, Micah, Daddy and I don't think that a beauty pageant is the best environment for little girls. You are beautiful inside and out and we don't think it would be best to put you on the stage and be judged on your beauty."

"Okay - I understand."

...I wish this is how the conversation went...instead it was like this...

"Momma - can I be in a beauty pageant?"

"A BEAUTY PAGEANT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? No way, Micah. I'm not about to put you on some stage dressed up to look like a hooker with a ton of make-up! We aren't putting our daughter in that! You are only allowed to do things that will help you grow as a person - like soccer and music lessons and softball and girl scouts and anything else that will make you stronger mentally and physically...being paraded around and told by adults that you are pretty enough is NOT going to happen! GET THAT? Now, that is what your Momma and Daddy think...that doesn't mean that your friend's mom is bad because she thinks something else. She can do whatever she wants with her daughter, but we don't think that beauty pageants are the right choice for anyone...especially our kids. They make you look like a TEENAGER and you are only seven!"

"Okay..."

Not me proudest moment as a mom...I flew off the handle and made my daughter think her friend's parents are nuts for letting their kid do pageants...which is what I think, but I shouldn't have put that on Micah. I shouldn't have gone overboard on the reasons why we think pageants are evil empires.

I apologized and she forgave me, but I can never take that moment back. I can never erase that look from Micah's face as I continued to rant about the horrors of beauty pageants...the look of knowledge that her Momma jumped off the deep end into crazy town...

...and I'm still trying to swim back.

Please don't Wilt

2011-10-06T18:00:00.000-05:00

Micah has played four soccer games this season, and she has been called names by players on the other team during two of those games. She is 7 years old and has already been subjected to mean girls. I know girls can be hateful and emotionally destructive to each other - I remember being a girl and called names or picked on. I also remember being the mean girl and making someone feel smaller than a piece of dust.

I guess I just wasn't prepared to have my own daughter walk off the field with tears in her eyes. I'm not prepared for my Micah, who exudes more self-confidence than anyone I know, to be so easily shattered by a stranger's comments.

Last Saturday, a little girl on the other team called Micah a "Sucker" and a "Baby". I don't know what possessed the little girl to be mean to our team - they were winning while we were running around trying to catch up. I saw the girl talking to Micah and I saw Micah talking back to her...swinging her hand around and cocking her hip. She was ready to let loose on the girl, but I stopped her just in time.

Should I have stopped her? I am struggling with that. I want Micah to defend herself and stand up, but I don't want her to stoop to the level of the other girl...and I think that is what was happening.

On the way home from the game, Micah cried deep, heavy cries. I explained to her that when someone is mean to her, she has two choices. She can ignore them - which is close to impossible to do - or she can tell them to stop talking to her that way. She is not allowed to be mean back to them - which is close to impossible not to do.

When we arrived home, our neighbors stopped by and we talked about what had happened. Micah was a little embarrassed and didn't want her friends to know what the girl had said to her. When she realized that Carson and Jordan, two people she adores and looks up to, had been through the same thing before, she instantly felt better. We are so lucky to have friends that build Micah up and reassure her that she is a great kid and will guide her through these years.

I am so afraid that Micah will wilt as a person, and we are doing everything in our power to build her up every day so she knows how special she is. There is a dry erase board in her room that she and her friends have deemed the graffiti wall - they have written little notes all over it. In the middle of the board is a saying I wrote that reads, "Micah is the best daughter in the whole world. She is strong and smart and funny and witty and amazing and beautiful and has a smart mouth and I love her to Pluto and back and to infinity and beyond." I read this to her each night before I cover her face with kisses.
I hope she never forgets how special she is.

Typical Man

2011-10-05T18:00:00.000-05:00

We are now entering a new era...one we have been looking forward to since we discovered that Jude was on his way. Potty Training. If memory serves me correctly, it was more difficult for William than it was for Micah to master the potty. {If I had a blog that was older than 3 years old then I would know for certain.}

Every morning when Jude wakes up, I ask him if he needs to sit on the potty. Sometimes he says yes...most of the time he says no, even if his diaper is dry and I know he needs to go. Power struggle with a 2 year old is my favorite way to start the morning.

This past weekend, I showed Jude the Cars under-roos I bought him a few weeks back and made a deal with him. He could only wear his underwear if he promises not to pee in it.

Within 20 minutes he ran to the kitchen to inform me that he was wet...

Within 22 minutes he was in this position.

And he stayed in this position for another 15 minutes - totally mesmerized with Mickey Mouse on the TV.

Completely oblivious to the world around him. Typical man...on his throne.

Louie stood guard just in case Jude tried to make a run for it...at least he is potty trained.

Exactly how did you get pregnant...3 times?

2011-09-29T17:00:00.000-05:00

The maniac below decided that she wanted a play by play on how I got pregnant.

I, being the awesome and amazing mom that I am, was at a complete loss for words. How do I explain that to my 7 year old daughter in a way that would deter her from asking even more questions but still satisfy her with an answer...and not make me blush?

I'm not sure what brought the question up in her mind...we weren't doing anything special or talking about babies. We were finishing up bath time after cheering on Jude for pooping in the potty for the 1st time (yeah - that was fun to clean up). I was in the nursery putting pajama's on the poop-man and Micah was still swimming around in the tub when I was assaulted with the following questions...

How did you get pregnant?

Okay - you and Daddy decided to have a baby...but how did it get in there?

Great - you loved each other, but that doesn't explain how it happened and why it happened three times!

So part is from him and part is from you...but how did it get smashed together to make a baby?

It was all I could do to keep the squirmy kid on the changing table and stick one foot in his PJs while thinking fast enough to throw out answers to her questions. Obviously, I was not doing a very good job by her standards because the questions just kept coming with a hint of urgency in her tone.

I sat a diapered but half dressed toddler on the ground and walked into the bathroom.

Micah - it is time to get out of the tub. Come on - we are going to miss Modern Family!

That is all it took - she was up and out and dressed in record time...and the questions stopped.

For now.

Saved by the inappropriate yet hilarious sitcom that is not the best thing for my kids to watch...but dammit, it sure is good.

His Many Talents

2011-09-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

After only one week in our family, Tucker is starting to clue us in on his many talents.

Surfing today....hang-gliding tomorrow.

Then he will start to pick up his own poop.

A girl can dream.

Life

2011-09-25T22:02:00.001-05:00

The game of Life managed to make it's way into our household recently. It started as an app on the kid's I-Pod and transformed into the actual board game thanks to a quick trip to the toy store...and paid for with the allowance money from William and Micah.

It's amazing how much you can learn from playing this game with the kids...

Both kid's chose the college path because they want to earn the big bucks.

Both kid's tried to accumulate as many kids as possible because the other player's are forced to pay them $5,000 each time they add a baby...I didn't have the heart to break it to them that five grand won't even last them the first six months if they have daycare bills.

William had to be the banker and Micah watched him like a hawk to make sure he didn't cheat...however she cheated every chance she got.

I remember playing Life as a kid - you could be anything you chose, live anywhere you wanted to live and still have to deal with the unpleasant things like taxes and lawsuits...and you can only retire when all of your debt is paid off. It was one of my favorite games.

I haven't played the game in over twenty years so I thought I'd play a little risky this time around. I lived in a double-wide trailer and gambled each chance I got...and lost it all.

I came in last place with the least amount of money to retire with. Micah was the big winner...did I mention she cheated...and cheated...and cheated.

At least with the game, you can always have a re-do. Not so much in the real thing.

Melted Heart

2011-09-21T17:00:00.000-05:00

You must have a heart of steel if this doesn't melt it.

Louie and Tucker's second night as brothers and it is as if they have always been together.

Of course, after only a few days later Louie has become an escape artist. He lays down to fall asleep...then Tucker snuggles up close to him and falls asleep...and a few minutes later Louie wakes up and realizes that Tucker is on him...and he strategically escapes and moves three feet away to finish his nap alone.

Toughest 10K

2011-09-20T17:00:00.000-05:00

I have always wanted to be a runner - the stamina and endurance that it takes to keep going, not to mention the mental strength needed to put one foot in front of the other, is something that I have always craved. It is not something that I have always possessed, but I have fought hard to get to where I can honestly say I have it now.

And it only took me 34 years to get there.

As a kid, I was the chubby, smart friend. Never the best at anything. Never the center of attention. Never the pretty one - really just a wall flower...with a smart mouth. Since marrying Mike and having our kids, I have been given the chance to grow - physically and mentally - and I took it. I have fallen off the track countless times, made wrong decisions and made excuses but I have always found my way back and grown from the experience.

This past weekend, I accomplished a goal - I finished my first 10 K. Mark that one off!

The Toughest 10 K was in Kemah, Texas and started on the boardwalk. My friend, Brandon, and I tackled this together...he is in the blue and I am in the light pink below.

After about a mile and a half of running though Kemah, we made our way to the Kemah bridge...and had to make our way over the bridge 4 times. Brandon left me early on, so I was on my own to find my pace and my place. I started to run up the bridge the first time and was smacked in the face with how steep the bridge really is. That was when I made an educated decision to power walk up the bridge and sprint down the other side...and run when on flat ground. I have never run further than 4.5 miles at one time and a 10K is 6.2 miles, so I wanted to save my endurance for the end.

The bridge was the most daunting part of the race, but it ended up being my favorite part. When I was power walking up, I was able to really look around and enjoy the moment. When I was sprinting down the bridge, it was like a ride.

The last leg of the race brought us back to the boardwalk, and there were tons of people standing on both sides of the road clapping and cheering me on. Brandon was there, too, giving me that extra boost to make it across the finish line. As I ran across, the announcer said, "Stacey McDowell from Pasadena, Texas!" So cool.

My official time for the race was 1 hour 13 minutes and 10 seconds with a pace of 11:47 per mile. I was 611 out of 825. Not bad for someone that has been running for 6 months.

A Confidence Builder

2011-09-19T17:00:00.000-05:00

Soccer season is upon us, nestled in the hottest fall on record for a trillion years. Even though Micah's first game with her new team, the Lady Villians, was at high noon her cheering section was on the sidelines.

There were just enough girls to play - with no subs - so these players battled it out with sweat dripping off of them. They never complained or gave up.

She is so aggressive - so unlike me at that age. At the beginning of the game, Micah was a little unsure of herself - afraid of making a mistake - so she held back and let the other girls take the ball.

Then, it was like a switch went off and her confidence started to build. Before long she was leading the pack.

Her little brother has been bitten by the soccer bug, too. Check out that foot position!

Notice the dead grass he is playing on. That is all you see around here - dead, brown grass.

Droughts suck.

And Tucker Makes Seven

2011-09-18T17:12:00.000-05:00

We have been waiting for about a year now to add to our family - waiting for Mike to graduate from school, waiting for our lives to calm down a bit, waiting for Jude to get a little older.

Finally, the day came when we found the seventh member of our family - a Golden Retriever puppy ... that just so happens to look exactly like Louie at as a puppy.

I'd like to formally introduce you to Tucker Mango McDowell.

It took us two days to come up with his name. Our neighbor suggested Tucker and Micah stuck Mango with it...and there you have it.

Tucker Mango McDowell.

The kids were so excited to meet Tucker. We walked Tucker and Louie up to school on Friday and surprised them with their new dog brother. Micah walked out of school, saw me, saw the puppy in my arms and bolted to us with a gigantic smile on her face.

Just to let you know, this is Jude's Tucker. Only his. If you make the mistake of calling Tucker "My good boy." Jude sets the record straight really fast - it is his Tucker.

We had no idea how Louie would interact with Tucker - he has had the run of our family for 5 years, and we didn't know if he would accept him or deny him.

HUGE ACCEPTANCE. (Thank God!)

Louie spent the first day sniffing the heck out of Tucker...and getting a lot of attention from us. We must have thrown the ball to him a hundred times...and rubbed a bald spot under his ear, confirming our love for him. Without a doubt, Louie is the best dog - patient, loving and easy to please.

It wasn't long before Tucker and Louie started behaving like siblings. They so resemble Micah and William right here...

This is the 3rd day of our family of seven, and we are all in love with out little Tuck...even when he pees on the floor.

Rich in Charm

2011-09-08T18:00:00.000-05:00

Just south of us is an area rich with history and charm. We ventured out to see what we could see this past Labor Day...and stumbled upon a candy store that is over 100 years old.

I say stumbled...more like surprised the kids...we knew it was there, but they didn't.

Walking in, we were overwhelmed with the size of the shop and the assortment of delicious chocolates - all perfectly lined up and shining under the lights.

We showed up just in time to watch the taffy being pulled and stretched into bite size pieces. The man working the ancient machine had been doing this same job for over 30 years. He showered the crowd with the taffy - tossing it in the air for everyone to take a taste.

Even though the chocolate potato chips, gigantic peanut butter cups and bite size chocolate truffles were calling our names, we settled on a scoop of ice cream to satisfy our sweet tooth.

Next time, we will be getting the $10 jawbreaker that is as big as a baseball.

The Strand

2011-09-07T21:49:00.000-05:00

Here are a few things that you can find on The Strand in Galveston...

...a telephone booth that held a phone that cost 50 cents to make a call...

...and a typewriter or, according to William, a computer before there were monitors.

You can find stylish hats...

and a two story trumpet.

And a stoop on a building that was built in 1872 with the water line from Hurricane Ike that washed through here 3 years ago.

Heaven

2011-09-06T16:00:00.000-05:00

This little man is heaven to me.

He was a gift that we didn't have to have, but we wanted him.

We functioned before he came, but for the life of me I don't know how.

He has made life fuller without even doing a thing.

Just being. Just smiling. Just loving.

That is what heaven is to me.

Marriage and a Mud Mask

2011-09-05T15:00:00.000-05:00

Every once in awhile I hear about a proposal that makes me the tiniest bit envious. You see, my proposal was anything but romantic...and I have had 12 years to remind Mike of this fact. He blew it. That was the one any only time I will ever be asked to spend my life with him, make a home and make some babies...and you can never get that moment back.

Let me set the stage for this tale - we were 21 years old. Babies who thought they knew everything. It seemed like all of our friends were either married or engaged, so the most natural thing for us to do is join in on the fun. Mike went to Service Merchandise, a store that sold jewelry along with kitchen appliances, to find the ring for me. He chose a solitaire diamond ring that had been traded in for an upgrade...yes, that means it was a used diamond. It needed to be set so he left the store with only a receipt in his pocket.

A few days later, he couldn't hold the secret in any longer. As we sat on the couch at his apartment, he jumped up and grabbed his wallet. He pulled out the receipt for my engagement ring and handed it to me. He didn't say a word. He didn't get on one knee. He just stood there looking at me with a goofy grin on his face. What was I supposed to do with the receipt? I did look at it long enough to see that he spent around $700 on the ring.

I handed him back the receipt and was a little pissed off - did he just propose to me with a receipt? But he didn't really propose because he didn't ask me to marry him...does this count? Am I engaged? What the hell! So I was left to wait with the knowledge that he was going to propose sometime soon...and that my ring cost $700.

Weeks passed and I remember feeling let down after each time we were together and he didn't give me the ring. I wished that I didn't know anything about it...the suspense was killing me.

One night, as I sat in my apartment watching Dateline I heard a knock at my door. Mike walked in and took hold of both of my arms. He sat me back down on the couch and he knelt beside me. He pulled the ring out of his pocket and told me that he loved and and he asked me to marry him. As I sat there in my ratty pink bathrobe with a mud mask on my face, the love of my life asked me to marry him.

And I said yes.

He didn't have the courage to ask my parents for my hand...remember, we were only 21 years old. Babies. The next day, I skipped my classes and went to my mom's school to tell her our news. I sat in her office with my hands folded strategically in my lap while we made small talk. Within minutes she asked to see my hand. I was never good at keeping secrets - even good secrets - to myself.

The only thing my parents wanted to know was if we were going to wait until I graduated from college. They already knew we loved each other and there was nothing that was going to stop us. And they loved Mike like their own.

I have a little confession - I love how Mike proposed to me...I have told our engagement story to a ton of people, and I have never met anyone else who was proposed to while their face was covered in a white acne cleaning mask.

I would have rather not have been given the receipt, but that is Mike...he can't keep a secret either.

We were made for each other.

Happiness Abounds

2011-09-04T16:00:00.000-05:00

These three hoodlums will have their Daddy home every day after school and every weekend.

Know why?

Because their Daddy kicked butt in his interview and was offered the job that he has been going to school for these past three years.

No more shift work. No more missed games and practices. No more going to sleep without being tucked in by their Daddy. No more. No more. No more.

Happiness abounds in our house...just in case you are wondering.

And it is an overwhelmingly good feeling.

Botanical Scavenger Hunt

2011-09-03T17:02:00.004-05:00

We live in a large city, surrounded by oil and gas plants and 18-wheelers speeding by on the highway. Every week there is a new church or a new fast food chain opening up on the next corner. Children learn to read with the help of the numerous billboards on the side of the roads.

Not the prettiest place in the world.

But if you dig deep enough, you can find a refuge in the concrete world. Ours came in the form of a botanical scavenger hunt at the Mercer Arboretum located about 30 minutes north of us.

With the directions in hand, we immediately found the fountain with the lily pads.

Beautiful plants, trees and flowers engulfed us as we walked through the gardens.

Jude always found the spotlight as we walked the trails.

We sprinted through a boxwood hedge maze...

...and took mental pictures with our imaginary cameras.

As we came to the end of our hunt, we climbed the tallest hill and sparred with invisible villains. A sharp side kick to the gut and that guy is down.

Unfortunately, when there is an outing with three kids there is always a complaint...it's hot...I'm thirsty...he pinched me...and I told them what I always tell them...Suck it up! There are kids out there that are watching TV right now and not with their wonderful Momma outside having a new experience!

They don't fit into a mold, they break it.

2011-08-29T19:00:00.003-05:00

One of the many reasons I love the two elder hoodlums is their sense of style. The confidence that they must possess to walk out of the sanctity of our home and into the world of elementary school, filled with teasing from prissy girls and soon to be jocks.

My two walk with their head held high. The don't fit into a mold, they break it.

Knee high socks when it isn't crazy sock day. Plaid on plaid that clearly clashes. They have picked out their clothes since they were toddlers, giving their individuality a chance to shine...or at least get them second glances.

Right now, at the ages of 7 and 9, it is cute and humorous that they pick clothes that aren't quite cookie cutter. I cherish this time in their lives and hope that as they grow older they stay true to who they are.

My Hero

2011-08-28T21:28:00.001-05:00

Captain America is asleep upstairs in my house.

There is nothing to fear because he will protect me.

He will defend his family and punch out the bad guys.

He is a good guy.

And he wears diapers.

Puberty

2011-08-25T17:00:00.004-05:00

As much as I detest the notion that puberty is just around the corner for our eldest son, I cannot deny it. At nine years old he isn't showing any signs that we are nearing the "stinky & hairy" phase, but I am not an idiot...the writing is on the wall.

And I am so thankful that Mike gets to handle our first stumble into this dark side...

While I was at soccer practice with Micah, Mike took the opportunity to explain some changes that would be happening to William in the next few years...just to prepare him. Or mess with him. Or maybe a little of both.

Imagine my surprise at the dinner table when I was told that "the talk" had happened. No, not that talk. I can't handle that! From what I could gather, the conversation went something like this...

Mike - Buddy, do you know what puberty is?

William - Yeah.

Mike - Really? What is puberty?

William - When you get hair under your arms and you start wearing deodorant.

Mike - Well, that is right, but there are more things that happen...things get bigger, your voice changes...

Mike said you could tell that William had no idea that things were going to change that drastically. Oh, to be a fly on the wall.

Then the conversation steered to when the changes would happen, and for the life of Mike he couldn't remember when he hit puberty. Really? I know the exact date I hit puberty. December 11th. I am kidding.

Mike - Everyone's body is different.

Micah - Yeah, I know. Like my body can dance and William's body can't.

William - Hey Jude, do you know what puberty it?

Jude paused, looked at William and said, "Cupcake!" Laughter filled our dining room and all was right with the world.

After the kids had gone to sleep Mike and I talked about how the conversation went...and what we determined was that we may not know when puberty will hit for William, but we will have a pretty good idea that something is happening when his showers take longer than two minutes.

I love my family.

10 lbs of Sweat

2011-08-24T17:22:00.010-05:00

A morning spent at the dog park is a morning in dog heaven.

Sniffing, drooling, running, peeing, chasing, leaping.

This is Louie before we entered the park...

...then he made a friend with a dog bigger than him...

...then he played ring around the tree...

...then he passed out. Literally passed out from happiness.

Mike said that dogs sweat through their mouths. I'm not sure if that is true, but if it is then Louie lost about 10 lbs of sweat....all over the inside of my car.

We are in the process of adopting another Golden Retriever so Louie can have a friend. Watching him with the dogs solidified the idea for us - he was smiling with joy.

And when Louie smiles, you smile.

Boy vs. Girl

2011-08-23T17:07:00.011-05:00

When you ask Jude if he is a boy or a girl, you never know what answer you will get...sometimes he is a girl and sometimes he is a boy. It just depends what he feels like saying...or if he feels like wearing a bow in his hair.

He is secure in his manhood.

Can't you tell by his flowing mane?

Yeah - that's what I thought.

Let's Get it Started In Here...

2011-08-22T17:02:00.000-05:00

Today marked the first day of school for our hoodlums. 4th grade and 2nd grade will never be the same. Either this is becoming old hat for us or we just have become extra cool - today went off without a hitch. Micah has a wonderful teacher that has been around for awhile and William has a brand new teacher, straight out of college. This should make for an interesting year for both of them.

William, Micah and Carson

Strike a Pose

His 3rd outfit of the morning

Momma's brood

The Walk

Both kids were downstairs at 6:23 am ready to go even though we didn't leave for "the walk" until almost an hour later. The funniest thing that happened was watching Micah walk by the principal with her hands over her hair...we were told that the feathers in her hair may not be in the dress code this year. She was so nervous she would be taken to the principal's office and have the feathers striped out of her hair. Rest assured I reviewed the handbook and her feathers are staying!

Harry Potter Wanna-be

2011-08-17T19:00:00.001-05:00

Hello, My name is Jude and I am a Harry Potter wanna-be.

I pick up sticks and pretend that they are my wand.

I twirl my wand in the air and say something that sounds like a spell I heard in the Goblet of Fire and then point my wand at people.

They disappear or evaporate or move ... whatever, my spells work.

You have been warned.

Dialogue of My Dog

2011-08-16T19:00:00.001-05:00

Love me....I love you. Love me! Love me!

Pet me! Pet me! Pet me! Pet me! Just rub my head...get right behind my ear.

I'm your handsome boy. I'm sitting just because you told me to sit.

Want me to go get my ball? Stay right there and I'll go get it...Pet me first!

Got my ball? Got my ball? THROW IT!!!

I love you! I love you! I love you!

Is that your hand coming close to my ears? Closer...Closer...Right there!

Handsome boy....that is me. Louie, your handsome boy.

Love you! Love you! Pet me! Love you!

At least that is what I think he was saying to me.

I can't stop smiling

2011-08-15T19:00:00.001-05:00

After devouring a dinner of turkey burgers filled with cheddar cheese, we stepped outside in the 100 degree heat so Micah could get some more practice riding her bike. At the beginning of summer she learned to ride her bike...a little bit. She could ride by herself as long as someone pushed her off and she could only ride in a straight line.

Sitting there eating our dinner, I looked at Micah and tried to comprehend that she is now 7 years old. I thought back to when I was her age and realized that if Micah doesn't learn to ride her bike soon, then she will be 8 years old and with the stigma of not knowing how to ride her bike...she will be teased like I was at her age. I was terrified to learn how to ride, so I walked everywhere. I was the only kid in our neighborhood group that didn't ride my bike, until I decided enough was enough and I taught myself to ride in the alleyway behind our house.

Micah was terrified, too. Until she did it once. Then nothing could stop her...and the smile on her face was a permanent fixture each time she sped by us. She was so proud of herself for overcoming her fears. Each time she passed, she would look over at me to make sure I was watching her and I would give her a thumbs up, my smile almost as big as hers.

After she rode around the school's parking lot for the millionth time, we headed back home to clean up for the night. She and I snuggled together in my bed and she still had that smile on her face.

"I just can't stop smiling - I'm pretty good!"

I hugged her even tighter and told her she was awesome. My girl - the bike rider.

Robot on the Lawn

2011-08-14T20:51:00.001-05:00

Friday night was date night for us. A night we had been looking forward to for a few months.

Actually, it was a night Mike was looking forward to because I bought us tickets to see two bands he enjoys...I was along for the ride.

Sublime is one of Mike's favorite bands...even though the lead singer over-dosed many years ago, they still have a following. They opened the concert at the Woodlands Pavilion, and we made sure we were there in time to enjoy their whole set.

Whenever we go to the Pavilion, we always sit in the lawn - I prefer it that way. We can spread out and are always surrounded by a plethora of unique and diverse people. In front of us was a group of frat boys and a Hispanic family. We had hard rockers sitting next to us and a couple of pot-heads sitting behind us...and everyone got along...and the people-watching was out of this world! A girl with dread-locks walked by us with her mother, and I asked Mike what would he think if Micah came home looking like that. "As long as her grades are good, I don't care what she looks like," he responded. Good man.

311 headlined the show, and Mike kept telling me that I would know their songs when I heard them...and he was right. I recognized a few of their songs. They were great performers, especially the shorter singer - he could do the robot like nobody's business.

It was a great night full of good music and great people...I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Painstakingly Exact

2011-08-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

The clock reads 11:49. I rounded up and told them it was 11:50.

Guess who corrected me? Micah.

Our daughter has become painstakingly exact when it come to time. She is always looking at the clock and informing anyone and everyone what time it is. Exactly what time it is...rounding is not in her vocabulary...and it can be exhausting.

We are so structured in our lives, and in order to live that way, clocks and time are important to us. I'm afraid that I have rubbed off my daughter and she has become a miniature dictator of time in our house.

Once it gets close to bedtime, I can guarantee that Micah is watching the clock and making sure that everyone has had their bath by the allotted time of 8 pm. She continues to watch the clock to make sure she and William are in bed by 8:30 pm...if it is 2 minutes past 8:30, she will let me know.

Her behavior has made me question if I have been too structured in raising the kids....have I made our beautiful daughter neurotic at the age of 7?

Perhaps I have, but chances are she would have been neurotic over something anyways with me as her mother...and at least it is over something that will help her in her life.

Looking at the world today, I think I've done everyone a favor...she is on the road to being a leader and not a slacker!

McFly.....McFly....

Rock Star

2011-08-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

Put down the camera....please.

I know it is difficult since there is a Rock Star in your midst, but try to restrain yourself and hold the pictures.

Just kidding - I couldn't resist taking a picture of Jude one morning this week...he now insists that he wear his sunglasses to daycare...and into daycare...and into his classroom...and he will only remove them after he eats his breakfast.

He cracks us up on a daily basis with his quirks and his comments.

Yesterday I was using the restroom, and as he walked by he said, "Momma, you have a white booty." He could see my tan line - my dark legs and my white....well, my white booty. So observant for a two year old. He'll let you know when you have a booger, too.

Jude isn't becoming a Rock Star....he has already arrived.

Thinking of Only Myself

2011-08-08T08:00:00.003-05:00

We don't go to the mall often, so when Micah decided she wanted to have her "Daddy Date" at the mall, we all went...and then split up - me with the boys and Micah with Daddy. As I walked by store after store that I had never heard of, I realized that I am out of the loop...

When does a working mother of 3 have time to be in the loop?

On her last Friday off of work.

It was like an epiphany - I could actually take my last Friday off and spend it doing what I want to do, shopping at stores I want to go in, eating what I want to eat. I could take the kids to daycare to play with their friends...I could take a day for myself.

So that is what I did. I started with getting my haircut - the first time since January. I chopped 5 inches off and now look like a professional - the decision to stop growing my hair out was made this week when I wore my hair in a ponytail two days...I looked more like a high school student than I did a supervisor.

Then I spent the rest of the day at the mall with my Mom...using the gift cards I received at Christmas.

I would like to take this moment to encourage all women to have a bra fitting session...you will be shocked! As I wrote here, I got my body back after having 3 kids and I was unaware as to what size I have become....let me just tell you, I was TWO sizes off. Mike is a lucky man...

That evening, the kids spent the night with my parents and Mike and I enjoyed eating Pei Wei on our couch while we watched The Fighter with Mark Wahlberg (my boyfriend). We are never alone in our home together, and it was refreshing to be able to watch our living room TV...and not see a kid's show on it.

The next morning, a friend and I ran in the Outrigger's 5 K race. When we arrived at the location, the sun was just coming up over the bay and it was beautiful. This was my second official 5 K race, and I did better than I had done the two times I ran earlier in the week. The humidity almost choked me to death when the run started, but I finished in a little over 32 minutes.

After the race, we enjoyed pizza and beer...at 8:30 in the morning. I think I'll be making this an annual run!

The break was a great idea, but there is nowhere I would rather be than where I am right now...surrounded by me three.

Morphing Before Our Eyes

2011-08-07T14:15:00.000-05:00

Dear William,

In two weeks you will be officially a 4th grader - one year shy of ruling the school, of being the top dog. Summer is almost over, and you have grown so much these past few months.

Physically, you are starting to look like a young man...you are resembling your Pepaw more and more each day. Sometime you make a face and I feel like I'm looking at my father. Your front teeth have straightened up, though braces are in your near future. You have grown taller and slimmed down over the summer.

It is reassuring to me that even though you are morphing before our eyes into a man, you still look just like your baby pictures. It is uncanny but brilliant all at the same time.

Over the summer, you have matured and taken on more responsibility in our house. You are so patient with Jude...I wish I could say that you were patient with Micah, too, but we just aren't that lucky. I still have to remind you each morning to brush your hair, brush your teeth and feed Louie, but I think that may be more my habit than you really needing me to remind you.

You have developed into a kid that has a style all his own, and you are very vocal as to what you want to wear. Gone are the days when I can pick out your clothes...you have to be with me to buy you anything. I am looking forward to school clothes shopping with you...it will either be a disaster or a wonderful experience - nothing in between.

Sometimes when I am walking around in the house, you will come to me and put your arms around me for a hug. I've noticed that you only do this in the privacy of our home - never in public. You are almost to my shoulders now. Each time you do this, I am afraid that it will be the last for a while, so I savor it for as long as you will allow me. I love that you have started to sleep on the bottom bunk so I can sneak a kiss or two each night before you shrug me away.

You are still a child, and for that I am grateful. I have a feeling that this year will be a year of constant change for you as you continue to question and grow mentally and physically. I'm so glad that your Dad will be around alot more this year so he can handle those questions with me.

You are my favorite 9 year old boy and I love you more than life.

Momma

Solitude

2011-07-31T10:52:00.000-05:00

As much as I adore this face...

...and this face...

...I can't help but admit that one of my favorite times of the day during our vacation...or any other day, for that matter...is when I am in the shower. Alone.

In the shower, with the water running down full speed, you can't hear the bickering or the yelling or the crying. No whining can penetrate the roar of the water. During those few special moments of each day, I am responsible for only me. It is like the world stops for a precious period of time and whatever is happening outside of the sanctity of my shower doesn't matter.

Don't get me wrong, I am honored to be the mother of the hoodlums above. I gladly take on the responsibilities that come with being a parent...especially a mother...I know what I signed up for and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. However, I am far from saint hood and I readily admit that I need my solitude on a daily basis. Even if it is only for a short time.

I find it interesting that once my kids realize that I am not there as an audience or referee, depending on the situation, they almost always quiet down.

The shower refreshes me both physically and mentally, and for that I am grateful.

Panama City Beach, Florida

2011-07-30T20:00:00.001-05:00

July 2011 - Panama City Beach, Florida, a set on Flickr.

Four days of true happiness...and too much food!

Killer Time

2011-07-30T19:55:00.000-05:00

Back in March, I started thinking about what type of vacation our family would like to go on this summer...it had to be smaller in scale than San Diego last summer. We budget for one large trip every two years, and this trip needed to be kinder on our pockets.

Somewhere we could drive to...somewhere I could get a deal on the hotel...somewhere that would entertain a 2 year old, a 7 year old and a 9 year old while not driving the 33 and 34 year olds nuts.

Welcome to Panama City Beach, Florida!

The hotel was wonderful. I wish I could say that I knew when I booked it that it would have so many kid activities going on, but I didn't...and we were surprised at the pool side movies, the magic shows, the obstacle courses, and the fire dancing!

We spent a portion of everyday at the beautiful (sea-weedy) beach.

Mike taught the kids to ride the waves in water that was so clear we could see our feet.

Many sand castles were built...and then destroyed by the small set of feet below.

Thanks, Jude.

Smiles were on our faces the whole time we were there....except when Jude was throwing a fit because he was so tired and naps were only 30 minutes - if we were lucky.

I have no doubt that we will be visiting PBC again in the coming years...there were so many things we didn't get to experience even though we stayed an extra day.

For me, the best time was playing in the snow white sand that felt like sugar and watching the joy on the kid's faces each time a wave slammed against them in the surf.

Mobile, Alabama

2011-07-26T16:20:00.001-05:00

Mobile, Alabama, a set on Flickr.

All the pictures from our packed day in a great historic town.

Hell Yeah I Want a Doughnut!

2011-07-26T16:14:00.000-05:00

As we drove along the tree-lined streets of Mobile, Alabama admiring the historic homes and secretly dreaming that we lived in a one of a kind house with a wrap-around porch that has a crest by it's front door authenticating that it is historically restored, we spotted a sign that has been missing from our lives for many years.

Krispy Kreme

It didn't matter to us that we had already eaten a delicious and full breakfast not even two hours earlier...we were going to eat again. A brunch type of meal.

There is only one Krispy Kreme doughnut store in Houston - and it is on the other side of the world.

I couldn't help but feel that a little giddy...and then when I found out that it was the very first Krispy Kreme store....JACKPOT!

I think Jude's expression says it all...

Hell yeah I want a doughnut!

History

2011-07-26T09:05:00.000-05:00

A magnificent view - something we had never seen in all of our years...a 400 year old oak tree in Mobile, Alabama.

Take a moment and think what the world was like when this tree was a seedling.

Think of how many people have climbed it's limbs in 400 years.

The history of the tree overwhelmed me....the size of the roots overwhelmed me, too.

Visiting this tree was a small part of our time in Mobile, but it left a large impact.

A New Start

2011-07-10T15:08:00.000-05:00

Three years ago Mike started on a path to a new career.

A career that will bring him into a field where he can get back to working with his hands.

A career that will take him out of shift-work - meaning he will be home every night to tuck his children into bed.

No more missed games. No more missed family dinners. No more planning our schedule around his work.

For three years, I have been a single parent a majority of the time. At times I have been bitter about this, but I knew that in the grand scheme of our life, this was a small period and that we would make it through.

For three years, our kids have missed their Daddy...but they coped and persevered and learned that time they spent with their Daddy was quality time...quantity didn't matter.

Last Thursday, Mike took his final test in his final class. He has graduated with his new degree in Electrical and Instrumentation....and made straight A's in every class.

I have a special night planned for us to celebrate our graduation. I say our graduation because in many ways I earned that degree, too. Not to take anything away from Mike and his accomplishment, but we are a team and throughout this journey I have had to be the primary player at home.

And I would do it again in a heartbeat, because the place we are now is so much more brighter than the place we were three years ago. Mike is up for a new job - a job that he needed this degree to qualify for. A job that would let him be off every night and every weekend...a job where he would be working with his hand...a job that would change all of our lives.

We are hoping that life smiles on us and he is given the job he has earned. If not, then that means something better is to come for him and for us.

I am so proud of Mike for this accomplishment and for not giving up. That is the man I married - strong...and pretty damn good-looking, too.

Day Nine & Ten - Let's Organize & Surprise!

2011-07-10T14:33:00.000-05:00

With only two days left of our time together, and with me enjoying purging our house of incidentals and the crap that comes with having 3 kids, we spent part of today filling trash bags and bags to donate to Good Will.

When the organizational bug bites me, it bites hard, and I get to where I want to live in a house where everything is put away and in it's place. To live in a house like that would be a full-time job considering the ages of our kids. Oh, but to dream...just one week where there is nothing out of place and everything is clean.

Such lofty dreams I have...

We ventured out to get the boys haircut...and Jude charmed everyone over with is eyes, his voice and his "See you later!" catch phrase that he tossed to everyone coming and going out of the salon.

We also snuck into our neighbors house and hung up the welcome back signs in the girl's rooms. From the report I received this morning, both girls loved their signs...so our surprise was a success!

Now, on day ten, I have a moment to myself and am taking a break from cleaning our shower... for the fourth time today. I have gotten it as clean as I possibly can without re-grouting the damn thing. Mike...Mike...where are you when I need you!!!

Day Eight - The Mundane

2011-07-10T12:08:00.000-05:00

After seven days of non-stop action...or so it felt like since Mike was either working or in school every day...the eighth day brought us back to some type of normal for us. Errands were the main goal of the morning - paying home owner's insurance, signing William up for a tennis camp, buying art supplies for a project we were tackling that evening.

Our phone rang, and William was saved from the mundane. He was invited to go to Kemah with his friend, Ethan, and he jumped on it...I was just a little jealous...

... because this is how we spent our time while he was gone. Catching up on the boob tube...some Nick Jr. show that Micah swears she only watches because Jude likes it, but she secretly enjoys, too.

That evening, once Mike finally made it home from work, they created "Welcome Home" banners for our two favorite neighbors who have been away at church camp. Laundry was calling my name so Mike, the artistic parent, supervised their banners.

Louie supervised, too...like only he can - from the ground secretly scoping out the floor, waiting for anything that resembles food to fall into his domain.

As I said before - days full of action are what I enjoy. Staying home means that I have to deal with the clutter, the dirty dishes, the dog hair on the floor...the wreck of a house that occurs when we are home. I start to feel overwhelmed when I am at home too long because of all that my eye catches...all the things that I would love to accomplish but never really gets checked off to my standards.

On to Day Nine...

Day Seven - Palm Beach

2011-07-08T13:39:00.000-05:00

On the seventh day, we loaded up the car with Memaw, Pepaw and Kameryn and spent the day at Palm Beach in Moody Gardens, Galveston.

It was a horrible experience. A day I never want to re-live.

No one had any fun...especially on the jet skis.

Pepaw just threw Jude down the slide by himself...and he was traumatized beyond belief.

Kam only rode the slides once - nothing could make her happy.

My sons kept fighting all day long.

The lazy river was just awful...Memaw couldn't stop complaining about how horrible it was.

Again, my boys just could not get along...very aggravating.

I wish Kam could have had a good time...I hate that she was so unhappy.

This face really says it all...get the heck out of my face and leave me alone!

I had to apologize over and over again to my boys about how awful the day turned out.

And my girl wouldn't stop crying.

And if you believe any of what I wrote, then you have no idea how much sarcasm runs through my veins.

It was a wonderful day...very tiring, very bright and very memorable.

We ended the evening with a family dinner at our new favorite Mexican restaurant, gathering together to wish my sister-in-law's Dad a happy farewell. He is off to live in Budapest for awhile, and he will be missed by all of us. I love when we are all together - I love talking to my nieces who are almost grown and are planning for their future. They make me smile.

Day six - Natural Science Museum

2011-07-06T21:11:00.000-05:00

Today was our sixth day of "Momma is off - let's go, go, go!!!" My goal is to hit every place that we have an annual membership...and this morning we hit the Natural Science Museum.

I love this museum. We have a routine when we are here.

First, we explore the butterfly center.

Then we check on our friends, the dinosaurs.

They are always the same...and they always freak Jude out just a bit.

And, of course, we have to will the pendulum to knock over the pointy pieces of wood. Luckily, one was hit right when we walked over and we could move on with our excursion.

There are many favorite moments for us when we visit the museum...for the kids, it is the McDonald's that is located in the museum that we always eat at.

For me, it is the gem vault. That is always our last stop of the visit.

This afternoon, Mike and my Dad took William and his friend to see Transformers 3 and I took Micah and Jude to the local yogurt shop.

It was a good day...especially the last few hours. I locked myself in our bedroom for some alone time, much to the dismay of our three kids who continually knocked on the door.

I just needed a few hours...to prepare myself for another outing tomorrow!

All of Discovery Green Pictures

2011-07-06T14:54:00.001-05:00

Discovery Green - 7/5/11, a set on Flickr.

Day Five - Discovery Green

2011-07-06T09:14:00.000-05:00

Once Mike finished school on Tuesday, we packed a lunch and headed to Discovery Green in downtown Houston. We haven't been here in two years - not since Jude was a newborn.

The kids hit the playground - full force...

...but it wasn't long before the fountains called their names.

After an hour or so of fountain play, we enjoyed our dinner...and our dessert of frosted animal cookies.

We don't get treats like that everyday and I for one was looking forward to tearing open that bag of cookies!

The park has so many cool areas to explore.

We ended the evening on the top of the tallest hill...dancing to Michael Jackson's "I'm bad...I'm bad...you know it!"

Get down with your bad self!

Day four - Houston Zoo

2011-07-05T10:05:00.000-05:00

Day four's morning was spent at the Houston zoo...in the hottest month of July that Houston has ever seen. We still had fun - and lost about 5 lbs in sweat.

Once we arrived home from the zoo, I prepared to work out. William decided to join me and did the whole hour of P90X Core Synergistics with me. I was proud of my non-athletic son for sticking it out and not giving up. Come to find out, he stuck it out so he could have a chocolate protein shake after the work-out.

Whatever works...

My parent's came over to our house to watch fireworks. At 9:15 pm we walked behind our house and watched about five minutes of the fireworks...then our ankles started itching so we came back in and enjoyed the Houston fireworks on TV.

Now we are off to start day five...

Day three - Pajama Day

2011-07-05T09:47:00.000-05:00

I can count on both hands how many times a year we get to have pajama day - a day where we do absolutely nothing and never leave the house.

Day three of our time together was a PJ day, per the request of the kids. They lounged around all day, never changing clothes, and watched movies.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Rodrick Rules

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Rodrick Rules...again..

William and I have successfully brought Micah over to our side and she is now obsessed with the Harry Potter Movies...now we just need to get Daddy to admit he likes them and we can become the sad, sad family of Potter nerds.

Jude even likes Harry Potter. Whenever he sees him on TV, he say, "Haaaarrrryyy Potter!"...in the same way Santa Claus says Meeerrrrryyy Christmas!

I am not a fan of pajama days. Lazy days. At the end of the day we are all so tired from doing nothing, that I end up feeling worthless. We did use our brains a little bit and planned out what we want to do with the rest of our days off. We also discussed the trip we will be taking to celebrate William's 10th birthday in February... Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando. I cancelled our Disney Cruise because the kids were not too excited about the thought of being on a ship, in the middle of the ocean...possibly surrounded by sharks.

Anyways, I was so happy to close my eyes at the end of our pajama day...give me some action over laying around any day!

Day two - A day of firsts

2011-07-03T10:35:00.000-05:00

Day two of our vacation was spent with our family at my brother's house, and we took the opportunity to try out new things...

First time I jumped off the rocks...followed by many more times because Mike can't seem to capture an action shot...

Micah's first time to jump off, too...it only took her a couple of hours to get her nerve up.

First time for Jude to sit at the kid's picnic table. Big kid now.

First time for him to go down the slide...followed by thousands of other times. He couldn't get enough.

First time for him to sport sunglasses upside down. He is following in Micah's stylish footsteps.

First time for my parent's to stay in the tube together, and not fall out!

First bite into the first watermelon of the summer.

First somewhat choreographed dance performed by the popping duo. They will hit the road with their act later this summer...check back for tickets.

This wasn't the first time we have spent a great afternoon at Ryan and Claudia's house swimming...relaxing...eating...enjoying...

...and I'm sure it won't be the last!