Choo Choo..

It has been a while since the boys have played GEO Tracks. In fact we have not put them together since we moved. So yesterday afternoon I pulled the big tub inside and we got started. I am not the best at putting the tracks together. But I made it work. Well when daddy came home for lunch today I was replaced. Parker asked daddy to fix the train tracks because he is "much better than mommy at fixing trains and using all the tracks." That's fair... he is way better at it. I need to post some pics to show you how much better it can be put together. :)

Mother's Day Treats...

We painted flower pots for Mother's Day again this year. This flower pot was for Meme. I can't show you Gigi's yet.... That will come soon!

We painted butterflies to fly around the flowers.

Fishy Time...

What did you wake up to???

The weekend is here and Parker stayed the night with Meme and Dandy. Which meant I had an opportunity to sleep in on Saturday morning. Paxson wakes up at about 5:30 -6:00 every morning. However, if you lay in bed with him, put a movie on, and get him a cup of juice he will lay in bed and watch pretty much an entire movie. Which means I can go back to sleep until about 7:30 or possibly even 8:00! :)


5:00 Paxson wakes up and I get in bed with him
5:30 He wakes up again and wants "juice" "Movie" and "blankie"
6:00 I fall back a sleep while laying next to him watching a movie
7:00 "Mommy more juice Mommy more juice Mommy more juice" .... continues on, so I get
up and get more juice.
7:10 I try to go back to sleep while Paxson lays in bed watching a movie drinking his juice

7:45 I wake up to "Mommy eggs...Mommy eggs...Parker eggs...mommy up here"

(he sits on the counter while I cook to help assist me"

Keep in mind that Parker and Paxson's room is up stairs........

7:46 As I lay in bed I wake up to hearing Paxson and him handing me something......... and this is what it was......


Yes he carried the entire carton or eggs up stairs opened it and passed out eggs. He managed to keep all the eggs intact! :) Needless to say Paxson and I went downstairs and made eggs. :)

A Peak...

His banner and cupcake toppers...

I love making things...Plus parker loves using the paper cutter and Paxson loves unwinding the ribbon. So it's a group project. I will share more pics later. :)

My brother graduates later this month. My mom is holding a party for him prior to graduation. Therefore I have the pleasure of helping her plan. Anyone that knows me knows I LOVE party planning. So I jumped right in. Here is a peak...

I was recently reminded how fortunate I am to have such an amazing family on both sides. My own personal family and my "married into" family. Of course I have always known how wonderful my family is and I have never ever been unappreciative of everything they do and continue to do. I am eternally grateful for their love and support! I recently received a totally unexpected but oh so thoughtful gift in the mail from my mom. It's funny how mom's just know! A few tears fell thinking about how much I love her and how much she means to me! Just another example of how blessed I really am. Thank you mom for being you and understanding!

This past weekend my "married into" family also treated us well! Saturday they took Parker shopping and Paxson and I caught up on some cleaning. It was actually a very peaceful and relaxing day. Yes, several big bags were brought home full goodies for the boys. Then Saturday evening they grilled yummy yummy fish and invited us over for dinner. Sunday was filled with church and another tasty meal. I have to say hands down Dandy's burgers beat the rest! After lunch everyone came back to our house to watch Parker try out his new motor boat. :) Nothing to exciting but I consider it a very well spent weekend! :)

A much needed play day...

Jacob came home from school with us for an afternoon play date. We started with lunch at McDonald's and playing. Headed home for a little more play and a rest. After a brief rest we ventured out to the park.

The guys making a plan to get the girls...

Parker sharing a treasure

Jacob's turn to hide the treasures

Jacob found one...

Digging for hidden treasures (big pretend coins) the girls eagerly joined in.....

Paxson spotting a "bad guy" telling Parker to go get him!

Pax and Jacob getting Parker

Parker and Jacob heading into the train to try and catch the bad guys.

After Jacob's parents picked him up we stopped by our local grocery store to pick up a few items for dinner. Meme and Dandy came over and we grilled dinner and had a wonderful evening visiting and relaxing. Perfect start to a much needed and appreciated peaceful weekend. Parker has plans with Dandy to go listen to coyotes this evening. Sounds pretty exciting to me! :0

Decision Made....

The Boys with their new tattoos. Super Parker and Super Paxson (issued by the tattoo artist known as Daddy.)


We feel good!
Casey was offered a position at another dealership. It could have provided more money and possibilities. However it would also be defeating our focus on family. It has been so nice to have Casey home at lunch and home earlier in the evenings. When considering the trade off it was an extremely difficult decision. The possibilities of more money sure appeared enticing and seemed as though it would be a simple solution to lot of "stresses". But in the end we purely hated giving up the family time. Who knows what next month may bring our family but for now we feel at peace with our decision. As a friend mentioned when you take a leap it becomes more important than ever to trust in the Lord. He will come through...FAITH ( I almost feel selfish at times turning over so many worries. Once I reach the point and I realize (once again) that I am not in control and "fretting" will not solve anything I feel a little guilty turning over my feelings not worrying any longer. That seems like so much to pile on our Father. But honestly I know HE will provide so why waste my time worrying!)
Another friend recently shared that she is so glad she isn't in charge! Well I have to totally agree!!! Thank you Father for loving us all so dearly and listening to our desires and showing us you will carry us through our time on earth.





.....Thanks for the verses I have enjoyed Romans! :)

Stress full times = comfort food

My choices..... a nice glass of Kendall Jackson or food or some exercise. Well I selected a nice walk/run then I came home and we made Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes. Dark chocolate with Reese's cups smothered in milk chocolate frosting topped with Reese's peanut butter cups. I still gave in to the comfort food. :) So yummy!!!

Wisdom...

This has been one of those posts. You know the kind that you sit down and start typing and your mind rambles so fast your fingers simply can not keep up. So please forgive my rambling thoughts.

Our family is facing a very important decision and lately worries have been pretty heavy on the mind! With our decision for me to resign from teaching kindergarten we knew that sacrifices would be prevalent in our future. We also knew that time with our boys would be well worth the sacrifices. We prayed, budgeted, prayed and leaped. During this time we have taken on an unexpected car payment, change of salary, change of insurance, accepted a job change , moved, and felt the recession in the "car business". However with each change or set back we have readjusted and continued to keep our goal a priority! We never made a set plan of how long I would be away from work we simply knew that we wanted to be with our boys. During one of my "break downs" when I called my mom for moral support. She said something that really impacted me and has continued to replay in my mind. She shared that she is proud of us! She said the fact that we are willing to make sacrifices and focus on what is truly important to our family makes our decision all that more meaningful! During stress full times there are occasions were it seems as though going back to work seems like such an easy solution to so many circumstances. Yet......we both believe the burdens that would follow going back to work would outweigh the burdens we are currently facing. But I also realize that GOD'S plan may be different than ours and I need to concentrate on prayer. It's easy to see the immediate future but the "big picture" is only in his eyes. Once again I feel tremendously grateful to be married to such a loving, supportive, and compassionate man. I am grateful to spend the rest of my life with a man that cherishes his wife and children. Many men would have said just go back to teaching. After all we are paying a hefty student loan payment each month but Casey has continued to share and support my desires. Only one knows our future and we pray for guidance, understanding, and wisdom. We pray that we are patient and truly listen and follow his plan. It can be super scary trying to make decisions on your own. So I am so glad we aren't!
Thank you Father for your love and protection!
God Bless!

They are here...

On our way to the park one afternoon I couldn't pass up pulling over to play in the Bluebonnets and take a few pictures. So beautiful this time of the year!

Paxson going out for the catch...

It's good and he is off with it...

Here Parker is explaining the play to Paxson. He usually just takes the ball and runs until he falls or Parker tackles him. Parker is a pretty good sport! :) Most of the time.

just hanging out

Paxson was trying to help Parker up. He said "here Parker I help you"!

Anniversary Celebration 2010

Meme, Dandy and Paxson watching my class preform.

And they begin...

Mama don't wanna hear that music no more

They used different musical instruments throughout the performance...

Parker noticing us!Preparing to bow

Paxson & Parker Anniversary Celebration

Paxson started out excited but once he saw Daddy and Dandy up close he was ready to be done. I stayed far back out of sight because I was afraid he would want me and my class preformed after his class. I will record him singing the song at home. It is to cute. :)

Parker started the performance off with a bang. I was laughing so hard at his dedication to singing loudly I couldn't switch the camera to video. Casey was using our video camera but when I went to view the recording this morning nothing was there. :( Anyway Parker sang beautiful with such great spirit. hehehe:) He so would have loved seeing the video when he was 16. :)

eeyahhhhh....

Friday nights at Gigi's house...
Looks as though everyone had their own bandanna!