Happy Anniversary, Mom & Ben!

Journaling Library Pockets

I recently joined a swap with some scrapping friends. The idea was to make library pockets and a tag to use for journaling on our layouts. Here are the pockets I made...the brown tag pulls out for journaling and the brown strips on the front of the pocket can be stamped or otherwise customized for each recipient. The two reds (heart and flower) actually match much better than what show up in this scan. Can't wait to see what I get back!

Our 8th Anniversary

Eight years ago today, I married my best friend.

This is a little something I made him (it's now in a frame). Look at how young we were! The quote on the little tags is one I came across a few weeks ago and is a current favorite. It's by Judy Garland and reads, "It was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul."

I love you, Chris...yesterday, today and forever.

Friday Favorites (Finally)

Yeah, Yeah...I hear ya, Kelci...I've dropped the ball on Friday Favorites lately. Well, here I am doing it. Oh, and if you're looking for an interview result update...you can find that here, too. ;0)


Yum. Home-grown tomatoes. Okay, so they weren't grown at *my* home...but they did make their way here! This is the load of tomatoes Mom brought me from the Jett's house last week. And, yes, they are all gone now.


Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. You know, when the economy sucks and you are feeling a little down in the dumps, nothing warms your heart like gooey cheese on buttered bread. Yep, that was my lunch today.

Hmmm...what's up with all the food? I must be needing a snack or something. Oh, and my last favorite??? MY NEW JOB! Yay me! I got a call from my new principal late yesterday afternoon. Yippee!!!

Interview done

Okay, so I didn't actually tell many people that I was going to an interview...well, I didn't even tell many that I had applied! We've been thinking about it a lot over the past few months. And, as sad as it makes me to not stay at home with the kids anymore, I'm pretty grateful for the time I did get. And, realistically, it's the right thing to do for our family right now. I won't say it has been an easy decision emotionally, but it is financially. Anyway... Last week, I found an opening for a Family & Consumer Science teacher in CCISD (the same district I left when Cole was born). I finally got in touch with someone who could reset my password so I could actually access the application and got that stuff done late last week. Monday morning, I got a phone call asking if I could come interview today. Yep. Did the morning interview with the campus principal and it went fantastic. She told me that she wanted me to meet with the district Career & Technology Director (the person over ALL of the Career and Technology programs in CCISD), and could I do it this afternoon? Well, okay. (Sorry Chris...you'll be exhausted tonight!) So I did that and it went fantastic, as well. Evidently, the principal wants to make a decision by THIS Friday, so I should know something soon!

Wish me luck...

Well folks, it appears that my days as a stay-at-home mom are numbered. Thanks to the ever-increasing cost of living, I'm throwing my hat back into the paid-employment arena. I have an interview tomorrow morning (Wednesday) at a local high school. Say your prayers...I'll keep you posted!

Cole's Carnival

Cole's Happy Day

Cole has been requesting to sing "Happy Day" for several nights now...it's too cute. Often, he will even request the name we should sing with it.

His birthday party on Saturday was so much fun. Even though many of our friends/family were out of town, we had a great time. We set up carnival games in the front driveway and Aunt Sarah even did a little sidewalk chalk graffiti for us. I think that Nana has a secret life as a carnie, as she REALLY got into it! :0) The kids enjoyed the "fishing game", face painting, balloon animals (by my uber-talented husband), bean bag toss, ring toss and the "spray-away" game (they had to shoot ping pong balls off golf tees with a water gun). We then went inside for good old carnival food like hot dogs, frito pies, popcorn and lemonade. When it came time to blow out the candles, Cole knew exactly what to do! Thanks to everyone that helped celebrate Cole's special day. (And happy belated *25th-again* birthday to my cousin, Jan, who shares her day with Cole.)

Evidently Blogger is being poopy right now and I can't add pictures...will try something else in a second...

Camp Nana - Downtown Aquarium

Yes, Cole's 2nd birthday WAS this past Saturday, but I need to finish up Camp Nana before I show you pictures from that circus!

Friday concluded Session One of Camp Nana. We met up at the Downtown Aquarium for fish, felines (the giant white tiger variety), food and fun. Chris even came along for the adventure!

Happy Birthday, Momma!

I love you!!!

Happy Father's Day...

...To the three most important men in my life: Dad, Ben and Chris.

Daddy - You always know how to bring a smile to my face and make me laugh. Thank you for teaching me to have sense of humor. I love that you never meet a stranger and 99.9% of people really, really like you. (That other 0.1% of people just suck anyway) Caleb also wanted to tell you that the "catfish whistle" he invented a few weeks ago seems to work.


Ben - Thank you for always being there for me. We really miss you and Lucy...hope the weather in New Mexico is nice. Caleb wants to know if you ate rainbow fish or buffalo today.


Chris - You are a wonderful husband and father....and, most recently, an awesome balloon animal maker. Thank you for being such a hard worker for our family.

Camp Nana - Houston Fire Museum

Camp Nana (Session One) also included a trip to the Houston Fire Museum.

Caleb liked it because:
A) He got to try on a fireman's uniform.
B) There was a fire-truck "cab" where he could push buttons, turn on lights and talk on a radio.

Cole liked it because:
A) There was an old fire-truck to sit in and he could buckle, unbuckle, and re-buckle the seatbelt with Nana.

Camp Counselor Nana and Mommy liked it because:
A) It was cheap.
B) It was not crowded.
C) It was air-conditioned.
D) Caleb and Cole had fun.






There was also a very touching display of pictures from the members of HFD that went to help in NYC after 9/11 along with an actual beam from one of the WTC buildings.

Camp Nana - Ellen Trout Zoo

On Monday, Camp Nana took us on a field trip to the Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin. Caleb, the honorary schedule-maker, was quick to inform us that we would be riding the train first. We then had a picnic lunch (complete with a stalker goose) and then a tour of the zoo facilities. Ellen Trout Zoo is FANTASTIC for the younger age crowd. It was almost unbearably hot, but since there is a lot of shade and the zoo is on the smaller side, we still got to see it all before we melted. The highlight of the day was when the hippo swam right up the the plexi-glass where we were seated and getting to see the million baby peacocks.

Camp Nana - Water Fun

My mom is super busy this summer...conferences, trainings, various teacher-ly duties and a few trips to New Mexico to visit Ben. However, she is free most of this week and has so graciously decided that "Camp Nana" is in session (also known as "Camp NONNA" if your name is Cole). We spent the past few days at her house during Chris' "ON" shift.

You should know that Camp Nana is highly exclusive...only the truly priveledged are allowed to attend. The children are exposed to various intergenerational play experiences as well as ample spoiling. There is a seemingly endless supply of chocolate milk and various other "treats". The Camp Nana counselor is also known to read multiple bedtime stories and/or rock children on the front porch until vomiting is induced. (Yes, this did happen, although certainly not on purpose!) Parents attending Camp Nana are truly pampered - diaper changing duties are greatly reduced, meals are generally planned (and cleaned up) by others and, on most nights, you can sleep by yourself (oh, the luxury!). You should be jealous.

One of the many activities so far was what Caleb called "Summertime Fun" - meaning turn on the water 'cause we're playing outside. After many different approaches to water-play, the hands-down winners were jumping into the lop-sided plastic swimming pool (Caleb's pick) and the yellow water-sprayer (Cole's pick).

Happy Birthday, Sarita!

Today is my baby sister Sarah's 23rd Birthday!!! Happy Birthday! Can't wait to see you next weekend!

I DO have a brain!

The CT Scan proved it! Okay, so I saw Dr. Blum this afternoon. He had me describe "the" headache and compare it to what a migraine feels like. I then did a bunch of physical tests and even took me in the hallway to do a test that looked similar to the drunk driving test...without being on the side of the road. Long story short, he gave me a prescription for my migraines and also diagnosed me with "thunder-clap" headaches. Thunder-clap headaches may (or may not) be a pre-cursor to an aneurysm...but there is no predicting that. It may never happen again. I had the CT scan to make sure that there wasn't any bleeding. Thank GOD there wasn't. Thank you to everyone that said a prayer, crossed their fingers or did a tribal dance for me today. ;)

It's official...I'm a headcase

So, you may know that I'm a sufferer of frequent headaches. Well, last weekend after Sharon's baby shower, I had the monster of all headaches. Very scary and I probably should have convinced Chris to take me to the hospital. Anyway...can't change that now. However, I DO have an appointment with a neurologist tomorrow afternoon. Cross your fingers that he can figure something out and not just shoo me out the door since it's a Friday afternoon. By the way, his name is Dr. Blum...think he's related to Geoff Blum???

Fun in the Sun

Saturday was a fun-filled day. First, the boys got new summer haircuts thanks to Daddy. Cole got buzzed (he looks so much more mischievious now) and Caleb, well, I'll let the picture do the talking:



Isn't that hilarious? We thought it wouldn't hurt to have a mohawk for a week or so...we are hoping that it will get it out of his system before school starts. Cause we KNOW Momma ain't lettin' him go to school like that! LOL. It's actually pretty stylin' - no?

Saturday afternoon was the event Caleb had been looking forward to - JR's birthday party. The boys had a BLAST!






Caleb enjoyed acting like a superhero and Cole evidently was there to pick up chicks...

Really???

So, yesterday we were driving across Houston to Caleb's favorite cousin, JR's, fifth birthday party. Somewhere along the Katy freeway, I noticed one of those yellow signs...

Are they for real? And wouldn't you know it...I saw the same signs on the next two "bridges" (or overpasses...whatever). Doesn't the highway department know that it's a hundred-freakin-degrees already??? As my dad put it, was there an ice truck overturned or something???