Seeing the real me...

It's Saturday morning and I am starting to rise out of my slumber...(I've been out of bed for 2 and 1/2 hours now). I was opening the blinds...but not the curtains...and a thought came to me. I want to be able to see out but I don't want people to be able to see in. Now, those of you who know the real me know why this is. Then I thought to myself, how can this apply to my spiritual life? Sometimes this can't be the case in my spiritual life. In order for us to be used by God and receive His many blessings...we have to let the real us be seen...and that's why it is so important to be real...not two-faced...not a fake...not a hypocrite...but real...who God made us to be and wants us to be. Now...I don't like letting people see the real me...I wouldn't say that I am any of the above (some may disagree but oh well) but I don't want people seeing my weaknesses. That's another part of it too. It's okay to let your weaknesses be seen...now I'm not saying run and tell the whole world all your problems...but we can't walk around like we are perfect and we live perfect lives. We are humans and we make mistakes and we deal with problems and we enjoy the good things in life...BUT He is real and He wants to be the center of our lives.

Just had this thought and wanted to share...If you don't agree or don't like it...oh well...This is me and who I am...and I love my Savior!

Out for a while...

At the Western Days Parade...making his cousins feel sorry for him because he "didn't have any candy"...yeah right!
With Grandpa at the Civil War Re-Inactment.

Parade again.

My blue-eyed girl.

So yes, I have been away for a while...I get busy and blogging is the last thing on my mind. Quick overview...Classes are much better than last year so the day goes faster. Cross Country not doing bad...district meet on Monday. Cheerleaders will be good if I can keep them all healthy. Basketball started Wednesday so it is late nights for us and my kiddos are already gym-rats! Kiddos are doing well. A is 9 months and above average on everything. P is 2 going on 15 most days. I love them more and more everyday. Hubby and I are trying to keep our sanity with school, bball, kids, etc...but we get to do it together! Here are a few pics of the fall. More to come.

Back to school, back to school...

We started back to work this week...no students...just meetings and working in our rooms. I don't have a computer right now in my room so I am kind of at a stand still because our technology guy is very sick. I mean I have a computer but it is new so it is not yet hooked up to the server...so all my paperwork that is saved to my folder is not accessible. Today was a workshop at another school. We were late because we had to have physicals for bus driving...yes I am getting certified to drive a bus...for athletic purposes only! And we had to leave the workshop early because I had practice and had to get back to the school.

Now...the physical...not so good...blood pressure WAY to high. I have NEVER had high blood pressure. Pretty sure it is just because I am stressed right now. So I have to relax and find Jesus again :)

I am very proud of my cheer girls. Today they...the ones who were there...accomplished a shoulder stand...something we have never done the entire time I have been the sponsor. Go me for teaching them!!!

The little ones are doing well. My little man is visiting grandparents before school really starts back but our little princess is going to the sitter...and loves it! She is crawling and sitting on her own and has two teeth! LOVE her!!! And I miss my little man like CRAZY!!!! So ready for him to be home!

Let you know how school goes after the kiddos come back...(we have figured out how to stop that...they just keep comin back every August...hmmm!).

So tired!

With August comes getting ready for school. I had cheer camp last week...needless to say I slept ALL day Friday. Two former athletes stayed with us and put on the camp. It was GREAT to visit with them. They feel like part family! This week is 2-a-days!!!!! Love it but...I am running with the girls. AND I AM SO TIRED!!!! Jillian did not prepare me for this! I am still doing my Jillian workouts...you might think I am crazy for running and doing the 30-day shred but I have to...that's why! Today was an interesting day...while running our "course" they girls ahead of me start screaming "SNAKE, SNAKE" I froze...(there were no girls behind me). They all just ran over the snake thinking it was rubber...me...I froze then ran the other way. Needless to say, we didn't run back that way! We survived...the snake...I did have one athlete vomit today...that's always good...shows me they are working hard!

Please be in prayer for a man hubby and I work with. His dad died recently. Don't know much about the situation but they do need prayers.

Love to you all...have a blessed day and stay cool!

So tired...

When July hit, I was super excited because we were not going to do ANYTHING!!! We were just going to stay home and enjoy each other and our kiddos before we went back to school. Well, just as I make plans, God laughs. We have been going this whole month it seems. Our latest travel was to South Texas with some friends. Now when I say South Texas...I mean SOUTH Texas...60 miles from Del Rio to be exact. I was an interesting trip. Hubby killed an axis deer and little man fell in some cactus. Needless to say we made it home safely and were off again two days later...after two days of Algebra I EOC workshop...BORING!!! Just got back from my sister's house on the lake. Got to ride the "big boat" and LOVED it! Of course that was after we rode the 4-wheeler to Pappi's (?spelling?) to get the key. Fun times!

And two days from now, we leave to go on an Amtrak ride to Arkansas. Yes, I am a little scared but I must not show fear! Our little man LOVES trains so this should be like the ultimate train ride. And the day after we get back, cheer camp starts so I will be back in partial work mode. Where did the summer go???

I will post pictures later...a little tired right now. Enjoy your week and God bless you all. Please keep us in your prayers as I am seriously nervous about the train ride!

Now we wait...

Today was an exciting yet stressful day for us...we put our house on the market! Yes...in these unsecure times, we have taken a leap of faith. Oh, let my faith stand strong, oh Lord. We want one of two things to happen after selling the house...1) we move to the Longview area sometime in the future...2) if we settle here, we find land. So, please be in prayer for us...that God will make His will clear to us and that we will follow it. So...now we wait.

In the mean-time, I have changed my diet to work on lowering my cholesterol. I am doing good with it but I do have those meals...about once a week...that aren't too good. Well, today I had one of those meals and I hated every minute of it. First, it wasn't that great (taste). Second, I got full pretty quick so I didn't get to enjoy the parts that were good. And, third, I was totally sick to my stomach when I got home! I think I will stick to my salads and veggies!

Here are some random pictures...enjoy!

hubby and me at Casting Crowns concert

"the girls"

"the boys"

Baby Dedication

Have a blessed day!

Changes...

If you want to win a Lifeway Bible Study Kit by Priscilla Shirer click here.

I made a visit to my lovely medicine man...as my sister says...Dr. E. He says that my cholesterol is too high and I have to make some changes. So...I eat LOTS of veggies these days...salads, green beans, brocolli, V-8 juice, etc. And I have started taking Cholest-Off. If you know anything about it, let me know. I asked the pharmasist about it and he said everyone who has bought it from him has liked it. I asked him if it could hurt me and he said no...so I think I will be ok.

Now...food has changed, yes...but I have started exercising...again! Jillian Michaels...here I come. I have taken on the challenge of the "30-Day Shred" to which my sister told me I would cry. The first night...I yelled at her after she said they were right thre with me...in the same shoes as I am...to which I relied...no you aren't...you aren't fat like me!!!!!!!!!!!! Didn't change anything but it felt good to yell back.

I am attempting day #2 today. Probably won't be able to move tomorrow. Talk to you later!

much needed

So today has been a productive day. I woke up to a 6-month-old kicking me in the face and yes...screaming...ate my oatmeal, put baby girl back to bed, did my workout, played outside with little man, then began the vicious task of cleaning house. Not your everyday cleaning house but washing walls, baseboards, ceilings, ceiling fans, dusting everything, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, etc. Yes, I am very tired and still have lots more cleaning to do. I did stop for lunch, which those of you with high cholesterol like me...I had a spinach salad with white albacore tune, mozzarella cheese, avocado, pickles, and tarter sauce, crackers, and green tea. I am well on my way to losing this baby weight and lower the ol' LDLs.

By the way, here is a picture of all the grands at mom's "surprise" birthday party.

Could it be....

So we had to nights of uninterrupted sleep...thanks to my baby girl! We put her to bed two hours later and she sleeps 4 hours longer. Could we be turning over a new leaf or is this just a fluke...

More to come!

Seriously...

I forget the pictures post at the top...read below for more details!

So I have been wide awake since about 3:30 this morning. First, little miss priss woke up because her diaper was wet...Fortunately she went right back to sleep after a quick change. Not a minute after she falls back asleep and my head hits the pillow doI hear little man. So I get up, tell him to come downstairs. But first I thought to myself, let's check his pull-up so he doesn't pee all in my bed. Pull-up dry as can be so I make him go sit on the potty. Long story short, he made it sound like he didn't need to go, wasn't going to go. Stand him up to put pull-up on and guess what I found...you got it! He used the potty!!!!!! He did not forget to remind me of the candy he gets for using the potty. I did have to tell him we would get it after breakfast.

So since I am awake, I am going to slowly start sharing some pictures with you.

Okay...the first picture is how I found my little stink pot sleeping one day. She was quite content until I started snapping pictures.

The next has a tad bit longer story...

I had just returned from Regional Track Meet. Feeding Addyson in the recliner, hubby in the kitchen, Peyton in his room. Suddenly we hear "Daddy"...then from daddy "What have you done???????" He had "gook" all over him. I smelled it...couldn't figure out what it was. It's like you know the smell but just can't put your finger on what it is. We (parents) start getting loud with each other..."Wher had he been?" "In his room!" "Are you sure?" Loof in our room...nothing. Walk into his room..."OH...MY...GOSH!!!!!" What used to be a FULL tub of vaseline now COMPLETELY EMPTY! All over him, the bed, the closet door, the tv, toys, the banester rails...EVERYTHING!!! Needless to say, daddy did a GREAT job of cleaning him up...still working on the cothes, though.

Have a blessed day!

Kids say the darndest things!

So our two-year-old is growing up fast. He thinks he's about 12...at least! Last night he was looking at an owner's manual. Hubby was talking to him and he turned around and said "Daddy stop talking...I'm reading". HE'S 2!!!! He doesn't know how to read! We laughed so hard! Then he went to VBS last night and had a great time...but when I asked him if he wanted to go back he said "no". Don't know why but okay. Hubby has talked him to say "you want some of this" and kiss his "bicep". What a great dad!

Little bit is wearing us out...OMG!!! She screams...all the time. She screams when she is happy. She screams when she is mad. She screams when she is tired. She screams when she is hungry. She screams when she is wet. She screams when she is dirty. (You tired yet?) She screams when I am not holding her. She just screams...squeals even! The nieghborhood dogs can hear her. I keep praying and telling her I love her.

Posting pictures soon so stay close.

Summertime!

Summer is here...YEA!!! But with summer comes cleaning...you know...stuff you are not able to do during the school year. I was SO pumped about summer cleaning...the last week of school. But now that it is here...I can't gather the energy to do it. I just want to sit around and sleep (go figure) and play with my kids all day. It will get done...I promise!

Please keep us in your prayers. We have to make a decision about something sometime this week. No details yet...nothing life threatening. We are praying that God makes it obvious to us both what needs to happen and that we (hubby and me) are on the same page. So far, neither have happened.

Other news...I have suddenly gone from "mommy" to "momma" to my 2-year-old. Don't really know how but it happened! Addyson is SOOOO rotten. Love her like crazy but she is bad sometimes. We just let her cry because we don't know what else to do that won't spoil her more. We are going to get her ears checked out AGAIN (for the 4th time)! Pray that goes well.

And for those of you who keep up with me, my dear friend did lose her baby. She has seemed to stay strong during all of this and wants nothing more than for our God to be glorified in the whole situation. But if I know her like I think I do...she still has her weak moments when she needs to cry. I wish so bad I was there with her but she is a long 4 hours away. Sister, if you read this, I love you and am praying for you. I will come see you soon.

Have a terrific Tuesday and until next time...

Garage Sale!

Getting ready for our big garage sale this weekend. When I say big, I mean BIG. Two families and we are getting rid of a LOT of stuff. Hubby said "If we haven't used it in the past 3-4 months then it needs to go." I quickly reminded him that there are more seasons than what occurred over the oast 3-4 months. Then he changed his mind and said the past year. Hopefully we can make some big bucks!...yeah right.

Visited my parents this weekend. It was a nice visit but very hot in their house. One of the ac's broke and they didn't try to fix it or go get a new one until the day we left. My kiddos slept in just diapers and were still sweating. But had a great visit. Peyton is still talking about it.

I met up with an old friend. It was great to visit with her and let her meet my kiddos. They probably made her swear off kids for a while!

Stopped by Casey and David's for a few hours. Peyton LOVED the boat ride with Uncle David but wanted to ride Mark's "big boat". Too bad he took the key :)

This weekend is Addyson's Baby Dedication. Hope it goes well.

Yes, I do exist!

I know, I know...it has been FOREVER since I have posted...give me a break. When I went back to work, my computer life STOPPED unless it was my school email. Things are good here. Today was our last day...woohoo! Going to visit family this weekend and maybe some old friends...depends on when we can leave. Kids are doing great...I think. Addyson just finished her THIRD round of antobiotics for ear infections. Hopefully we won't have a repeat of Peyton (tubes last summer). She is 4 months old now and SPOILED ROTTEN. Her babysitter's daughter carried her EVERYWHERE when she would get home from school. It may be a long summer. Addyson is starting to laugh out loud...it is the greatest noise ever...grab things, and eating baby food! She can roll over from front to back and is working on back to front. Peyton is 2 going on 15. He gets corrected and disciplined...a lot. His favorite thing to do is hide from mommy under the covers on our bed. We play this game on a daily basis. Summer is going to be great. Not too much going on...just some small vacas along the way. I am super excited for my best friend, Jean Marie...she is pregnant AGAIN. Had a little bit of a scare because they thought she miscarried but actually everything is okay right now. Please keep her in your prayers. Hope you all have a safe Memorial Day weekend. Remember those who have given their lives for us so we can live in freedom...and the One who gave His life for us so we can have eternal freedom. God bless!

I'm a Cowboy!

Last weekend on the way home from my parents, my hubby and I had a conversation about how I have no friends. We don't ever do anything with people. Very seldom we hang out with the babysitter and her husband and during the summer we hang out with the other coach and his wife. But I am talking about people we talk to on the phone, invite over to watch the big game, etc. I am...a loner. My closest of friends live so far away! So, hubby has decided to take the situation into his own hands and plan things for us to go do. Thursday night we took the kids to a rodeo. Neither of us had been to this particular arena so we did not know that it was not enclosed. And it was cold that night! We came very close to buying a $200 comforter just to stay warm. We did by Peyton a cowboy hat and by the end of the night, he was saying he wants to ride cows and horses...yeah right! And he looked at me and said, "Momma, I'm a cowboy!" Too cute.

Then today he went golfing with hubby. All I have to say is I will have to post the pics so you can see his outfit. Then we all went fishing and then grovery shopping...LONG DAY!!!! Tomorrow we are going to church...trying a new one that is a bit closer to the house...then it's off to the lake for a picnic lunch. As my mom says,"Is he trying to cram it all into one weekend?" You would think! I do appreciate so much his efforts. All have been successful...except the picnic...it hasn't happened yet.

Enjoy your day in the Lord tomorrow!

Oh, and happy birthday newphew #2 and I miss you Nanny but I know I will see you again!

Born Again!

Okay...so I cannot post the video I want on here. But if you go to youtube and search "born again third day", select the very first video it brings up. Here are my thoughts...look how happy these people are when they are raised. It absolutely thrilled my soul to watch it and praise God I AM born again!!!!!!!

I figured it out!

I figured out how to change the background.

I found my verse s for today...

Jeremiah 29:11-14a
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity..."

Okay, while typing that, some things came to me. First, keys parts to me...1)seek me with ALL your heart and you WILL find me and 2)call, come, and pray and I will listen.

Also, have you ever noticed that verses like this are not written in past tense but instead present or future tense. You probably already knew that but it just came to me. To me, this means that our God IS a living God. He is not dead and only did those things for people of His time, but, instead is alive and doing them for ME!!!!! Hallelujah and Praise God!!!!!!!

Have a wonderful day!

Angry...

I feel angry today. I'm sure that it is a lot of things just weighing down on me...going back to work in less than a week, trying to get personal paperwork organized, taking care of kiddos, trying to keep house clean and laundry done, and most of all trying to my spiritual life back where it needs to be. I know my sisters are going to tell me two things...1)Spiritual life comes first and 2)You can't do it all. So, for you sisters, I am going to the word today...

HELP!

I am trying to change my background and am having tons of trouble. I follow the directions on the cutest little background or whatever it's called but then it doesn't make the changes when I view my blog. Help please!

Yea Friday!

YEA!!!! It's Friday! You may be thinking "What does she care what day it is...she gets to stay home everyday!" True. True. BUT Friday means the weekend is near and I get to sleep more because hubby will be home and HE can wake up in the middle of the night and feed Baby Girl...at least one time. The other times I have to wake up because he doesn't have the "equipment" to feed her.

Some thoughts for Friday...

You know you are a mom when you take a drink of your heavily sugared up coffee and think "man my creamer smells soured". But then realize it's not the creamer. It's you and the dried spit-up that your daughter left all over you and the bed in the middle of the night and you were too tired to clean it up!

Peyton's idea of a quick shower...new diaper, clean clothes, teeth brushed, hair wetted (I'm sure that's not a word!) down with mommy's spray-in conditioner and fixed with daddy's gel, and a nice big squirt of daddy's cologne. Oh well...it's Friday!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love

Okay, Here are some pictures of some great things that have been going on in my life. I titled this post "Love" because some of these are from Valentine's Day and other are of my loves. I know I always post a lot of pics at one time but that is me...Enjoy!

Here are the gifts that the kids and I made for their daddy...aka my hubby!

And this is how we looked after the project was finished...

Me and my babies.

My blue-eyed girl.

Baby girl's name that her babysitter made on her cricket...or however you spell it. We painted the frame on the wall and then put her name in the middle.

Her room. We are not completely finished with it. We...I...still have to put up decor and clean off the dresser. If you have any ideas for decor, please feel free to let me know. But please know I don't do characters and very little flowers. Yes, we did paint this ourselves...with the help of our lovely babysitter and girls from our basketball team. And it would not be this clean had it not been for my loving sister #3...and trust me it really is clean! I know you are jealous of the paint job but believe it or not we really are not professionals... :)

Sweet baby girl sleeping today...too precious for me not to share.

Snow ice cream that hubby said was nasty and wouldn't even try it.

I really wonder what is going through kiddo's mind right now??

Mommy and kiddo with the finished product.

Snow Day 2010!

Before I begin, I am going to have to post two times just to get the pictures on here I wanted to show you.

Hubby and kiddo with finished product

Our house...I know...we don't have any flowers in the flower bed and it looks really tacky but that is a spring project.

Just a neat picture I thought.



Baby Girl while we were outside playing.

The attempt at Mickey Mouse pancakes on such a beautiful day!

Kiddo's playground covered in the white stuff.

Is this the life for me???

So I have always said that I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom...my mind may be changing...quickly! The past two days I have been at home with both kids. Granted I love both of them very much but I think I have spanked my 2-year-old more in the past two days than in his whole life. Now I have not beat him...you non-spanking believers. But I have disciplined him. How many times and how many ways can you say "get out of the trash", "do not eat stuff that was in the trash" or "quick digging in the trash". Like I said, I love my children more than anything but I think the three months during the summer are stay-at-home-enough for me...I think.

I will try to get a picture of baby girl smiling...it is hard to make a 3-week old smile though.

She is finally here!

I messed up and my writing is bleow the pictures...but here are my kiddos!

So my baby girl is finally here. She is now 10 days old and as beautiful as ever! It was an interesting 10 days though. Long story short...I had to have a D&C yesterday. Was still having lots of pain that I shouldn't have had and by Friday at lunch we finally figured out why. Don't fret though...everyone is well. I am very tired and a little sore but my babies are good!

Since I wrote the above, she is now 13 days old and is growing like a weed. Had her two-week check-up today and doc said they like for them to be back to birth weight by this time. Well, she has surpassed that by 7 oz...could be the 4 oz of milk she drinks every 3 hours!!! Fortunately, that is formula since I am on antibiotics at this time. And to add to that..I am pumping because I do want to nurse...this may be more info than you want to know so you may want to stop reading but if you don't...I am using an electric pump for the time being. If you have never used one or you have never seen one...they made this humming noise. My two-year old son found it one day and turned it on. He then proceeded to drive the handles and make car noises. Wait...it gets better. Then he tried doing the same thing again...WHILE I WAS USING IT!!!!!! Wait...it gets even better. Then one day as I was finishing up, he pulled up his shirt and said "Do mine, mommy, do mine!" So now when I am pumping, I try to lock him out of my room. It is amazing what a 2-year-old can pick up on.

Back to baby girl, doc said her hips feel a little loose but nothing to be worried about. She goes back in two weeks to check up on that again. If still loose, then we can worry...or at least I will. Still have to keep her out of the public until shots at 2 months. He did say that she can have them at 6 weeks if need be...but I think I may want to stay home longer. Have to consult hubby first.

I hope you are all having a blessed day and week. Here are some photos.

Almost done!

So looking back, it has been a while since I let the world know what is going on in my life. So, in trying to avoid working on lesson plans, I thought I would update you. I am 38 weeks prego today. Her name has now been changed to Addyson...for the 1000th time! But that is final...I promise! I go back tomorrow for a check-up but I only have a week left at the very most. Doctor is going to induce on the 18th unless I have her before then...I am praying I have her before then. I am absolutely miserable these days but that goes with it, right? I have had a crazy week with school activities, little girls' cheer camp, a fever blister, AND pink eye in BOTH eyes. And that still hasn't gone away. My eyes aren't red any more but still are matted shut every morning. Other than that, things are good. Baby's room ready, for the most part, thanks to tons of people (i.e. babysitter, husband, and basketball team)! One little section left to paint but won't take long. I promise to put pictures up when it is finished.

Along with life being crazy when you are a teacher, coach, cheer sponsor, wife, mother of a 2-year-old and one on the way...it is hard to find time for yourself. That time usually consist of sleeping, sleeping, and more sleeping...unless you are awake at 4:00 in the morning, then I watch Nick at Nite, the Food Network, or HGTV. I find it so hard to find time for the only one that matters...Him...my Heavenly Father. So, if you find time, please pray that I can find time. I talk to Him daily, but to really study His word has been pushed to the side.

I hope you all have a blessed week. Maybe the next time I am on here, I can post pictures of our newest addition.