My 3 Sons

We did come back from our cruise! We had a great time. We did everything, we did nothing. Just perfect! I love being near a pool just laying there relaxing and not caring who is running or flipping or screaming. There was none of that around me and it was great. Susan and I sang a duet at the Karaoke bar. It happened too quick to talk myself out of it. All of a sudden there we were singing on a microphone in front of real people. We were so good, people were dancing. Well, not good but they were dancing.

A lot has happened since my last post. Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, Ty had surgery to remove the rods in his leg from the break last year. He developed some sort of reaction at the incision sites. Very fun!

Other than those exciting things, not much else going on. The boys are out of school until next week and we are enjoying the new presents and doing nothing! We went out to our farm to ride, like we always do. We were there when all of a sudden a little dog came out of nowhere. This was a surprise from the usual whining cow, begging for food.
We don't have a dog, so the boys (and I) were a little skeptical about this little guy. Billy tried to "shoo" it away, but he just hung around checking us out. He was ugly in a cute little way, but had a winning personality, as far as dogs go. We ignored him and loaded up to ride around the farm on the four wheelers. We had to stop at the creek to cross and there came the little dog, panting and he had a thorn in his paw. He hobbled up to Billy to take it out. Sort of cute, but not being a dog enthusiast, not too impressed either. We kept going, but the little guy kept following us, burning rubber trying to keep up with those tiny legs. We ended up stopping so he could catch up. Billy finally picked him to ride on his lap on the four wheeler. He loved it! He hung out with us for the next 3 hours until it was time to go. We started loading up and the dog, whose name was now Koscuisko because that is the farm we met him on, started to whine. He knew we were headed home and he was going. He jumped in the car, I removed him and we took off. He followed the car all the way out and at the last gate, Billy felt so sorry for him that he let him in the car. I looked at him and reminded him that we don't need anything else that makes noise, eats or goes to the bathroom. He took the dog up to the farm house and layed on the gas so he couldn't follow us. We still wonder where little Koscuisko is today and whose heart he is winning over. I personally am over him. Kinda like a summer camp fling....he's history. Besides, he was a boy. If we get a dog it's going to be a girl and she is not going to the farm. She will be a city dog with painted toenails and bows in her hair. Too many boys around here!

Enjoy your new year! We are hanging out with Billy's brothers, sister and all the in-laws that come with that minus his parents! We are going to a hall in the country. I'm totally from the city so it should be an adventure to go to a good ol' boy hall and see a concert. Billy is so excited. Check it out here.

I am about to embark on something that I have needed for a while now! Some friends, Dena, Susan and I, are going on a 5 day cruise to Mexico!!!! We are so excited.
Dena has 4 kids, enough said, and Susan has 5! Two of which are her nephews that are living with them for a while. So we are going to sail away and forget our little worlds for a while.

On a sadder note, my best friend's mother is in hospice and isn't expected to live through the week. This lady is so special to me and my family. She and my mom were pregnant with me and Terri at the same time and we are only weeks apart. Our moms met at church, so Terri and I grew up going to the nursery, preschool, elementary and high school together. This is the same beautiful girl whose wedding I was just recently in.
Her mom wasn't able to attend her special day and it was a bitter sweet day for her. Ms. Betty has a brain tumor and has survived it for the past 8 years, but now it is just taking over different parts of her body functions. She has been blind for the past 7 years and has done pretty good with it. My sweet Terri has a new husband, a wonderful job as an interior decorator traveling to different countries to fill million dollar mansions with decor, but she is having the worst time of her life. Please pray for her, her brothers and especially her dad who is NOT handling this at all. I know Betty will be home with God soon, but it will so hard here on earth without her.

Well, it's over! One of the bigger events we put on at church is over and done. This year, Tina and I were babies. Goo goo, ga ga! Comfy outfit.


Since Billy is still on the injury list at home, we decided that he could be a Spurs player, on the injury list. (He's tall enough, but the boy got no game) He's real cute though!


The boys were different, not matching as in the previous years. Ty was a dirtbike rider (gasp! shocking right?). Mason was Anakin Skywalker. So cute with his blonde locks. And Tanner was an Incredible. Sidenote: Billy bought the costume for Tanner without me and he bought him a size 7/8. He is a 5T. Needless to say, it was "incredibly" big on him, but he didn't care! Note him trying to keep his fingers out of those long sleeves.

They got endless amounts of candy and most will go into the give away bucket for Tuesday night. They also got a lot of prizes. Check out this bling!


All in all, it was a great day. Oh yeah, except for the fact that our across-the- street neighbors moved today and it was Mason's best friend. He has been crying all morning and afternoon. Poor guy. Even candy didn't help until the first wave of sugar hit his bloodstream. He's better now, but when he comes down again, look out! He is our emotional one, that's for sure.

Thank goodness for an extra hour of sleep tonight! I could sure use it. I'm gonna sleep like a baby (sorry had to say it).

I would like to think of our home as a Bed and Breakfast retreat, not the hospital/recovery house that it seems to be as of late. Last night, William had, in his words, "a spill" from his dirtbike. When he called and I heard his voice, I could just tell he was in pain but was covering it up for my benefit. He landed on his back and had the wind knocked out of him like nothing he had experienced before.

He was ready to go to the ER when he got home, but desperately needed a shower. We had to cut his shirt off because he couldn't life his arms. We put on some comfy shorts that I could just pull on but then the issue of a shirt was pressing. He said to just get a button shirt. Problem was,it didn't match! I had a hard time putting a nice, dress shirt on with basketball shorts! What is wrong me? I suggested putting on some nice cargo shorts that would be more stylish. I would help him. His look said otherwise. Oh well! I was just kidding.....not really the time I guess.

Our good friend from church is a ER doctor at the hospital we go to, and believe me, we go a lot! He was going in at 9pm and Billy got home at 8:45, so when we got there, Bob had already alerted triage and x-rays. When the x-rays were done, he concluded that he fractured 2 ribs. I feel so bad for poor William. Breathing is painful, the recliner isn't the most comfortable bed in the house and just getting up from the bed/chair makes him grit his teeth. Oh, and I am expecting people calling today answering the ad that I placed to sell all 5 dirtbikes and 1 four-wheeler. I'll cut a screamin'deal! I suspect that is going to hurt alot more than any cracked rib :). But,it's my duty, right?!

Here are some of the funny stuff that comes out of the mouths of our babes:

Tanner: We were driving through Stone Oak (for those of you who read this from SAT)and we pass the Mormon Temple on the way to baseball. This thing is huge and in my opinion, pretty gaudy. There is a 13 foot gold angel on top. Tanner always comments on it like, "What is that? or "Can we go there mom?" but today he says, "That's not a church, it's a trophy!"

Antoher common saying at our house is, "I can't wait until it's Easter." (Tanner) I know he really means Halloween, so we all correct him. One day Mason decided to set it straight. He tells Tanner, "Ok. Easter is religious and Halloween is man-made. Besides Easter is alot harder than Halloween. You have to hunt for the candy. Halloween is so much easier, just walk up to the door, ring the bell and say Trick or Treat...there it is. Easter can get a so tiring." Talk about lazy!! I think I am going to hide fruit in their Easter eggs this year.

They are funny little boys.

Oh be careful little hands what you do! Or should I say, Oh be careful mom what's in the washer before you wash anything!! Last Christmas, Billy and I treated ourselves to a new king size mattress. Now anyone who has a king size knows that the sheets can get pricey. I asked my mom for sheets for Christmas. She went all out with the really nice, high tread count sheets. Pure luxury! I wash them and put them right back on because the other sheets are junk compared to these. Well, Thursdays are the day to wash. So I did. I saw the green crayon in the washer when I was putting the sheets into the dryer and thought I saved myself from accidentally putting the crayon in the dryer. I guess there was one in there too or tangled up in the sheets. I got them out to put them back on the bed and they were tie-dyed green amongst the khaki and white pattern that was supposed to be there. I was just sick! But what can you do? They still sleep the same, just more colorful. Grass green to be exact. Thanks Tanner, our little artist. So that my friends is my mommy tip of the day! Laundry anyone?

I am having a great day! For starters, I am listening to the new John Mayer CD, Continuum. Love that guy! Then the doorbell rang and my new heart rate monitor was on the doorstep (free overnight shipping!). This thing is amazing! Basically, it is a personal trainer on my wrist and the best thing of all, it's PINK. You can download the workout onto the computer and it will chart your fitness progress. I have a personal goal to run triathlon some day soon, well, not too soon, but not too far off either. I have a great workout friend, Anne, who will meet me anytime, no excuses. Our husbands thought we were crazy to get up at 4:45am to go to a cycle class, but we absolutely love it! Mine thought it wouldn't last, but I get up and go 2 times a week and would do more, but he leaves for work at 5am, so that would be illegal for both of us to be gone at the same time. Anyway, I can't wait to use this monitor and all of it's features.

Another reason to smile, it's premiere week on TV! I am a TV junkie and can't wait to veg out in front of Grey's Anatomy tomorrow. Although, I am sad it is on so early and on Thursday nights. Oh well, I'll take what I can. Enjoy your evening tomorrow all my Grey's Fans! I'm going to read my user manual now.

Today is Ty's 10th birthday!! I can't believe that little boy is already in the double digits. I hear we have just entered into a whole new realm of parenthood. But we're not 'skeered'. Our church just started an adolescence class this quarter for 4th and 5th graders to teach them about peer pressure, drugs, you know, the "fun" stuff about growing up, but how to grow up with God in your life to help you with these issues. Last Wednesday night was the first class, taught by 2 RNs and a doctor,all of which are members of our church. I can't believe MY child is in it now. It was always for the 'big' kids at church, not my kids. Ty really liked it and Sunday at his party, they were doing a bungie trampoline jumping thing and the other boys were doing back flips and just being nutty on that thing. When it was Ty's turn, he just jumped straight up and down very cautiously. The other boys were chanting to him "back flip, back flip, back flip". He just kept jumping and saying no, I don't want to. Even his father was heckling him. He never gave in. When he got off, he whispered to me, "Mom, did you hear all of that peer pressure? I didn't give in to them! I learned that in my Discovery Class Wednesday night. Are you proud of me?" How cute is that? I wish that was all the peer pressure he would get in his little life. It starts small I guess and I just pray it lasts for a long time to come. He has been such a joy to have in our family. I think we'll keep him!

Don't forget Sunday is Grandparents Day. My poor mom endured 2 days of school lunches so she could participate in the boy's G-parent days at school. She is a vegetarian and today was nasty, mcnasty sloppy joes and the alternate was ham and cheese munchers. She brown-bagged it! I am so glad that she is living here now so she can do these special things with the boys.

Do you ever have those days where you just need to not do anything important because you just aren't firing on all cylinders, so to speak? Today was that day for me. I am preparing communion at church for the month of September. Not yet aware of my abilities today, I ventured into the kitchen at church and proceed to drop all 32 bread trays, complete with doilies. They are LOUD when they all collapse at one time onto tile flooring. I hear a roaring laughter from the nearby office and 3 people came to see what it was, knowing really what it was, but checking on me due to the loud nature of the accident. Luckily, Karessa offered to help me! Sometimes accidents help out a person. Then, we filled all 60 trays with grape juice and were strategically placing them into the refrigerators, when I bumped the tray on the top of the refrigerator. Luckily it was only one tray that spilt everywhere. Could have been terribly worse. If the communion coordinator could have seen me today, there would be no more communion preps for me.
Have a great day!

Oops! Forgot about this little area of my life. A lot has been going on since my last post. School started 3 weeks ago and I started working everyday again, so "busy" is all I know. 4th grade is full of homework for Ty, Mason has a weekly reading challenge and spelling tests to be ready for, and Tanner,well he's easy. We love his new Pre-K teacher, Ms.Chasity. Mason had her when he was at Northern Hills, so she knows Tanner and know his shyness, which is slowly changing as he gets used to her. She just found out she is pregnant with her #3!

Some other news, Tanner has been sick with allergies all week and Thursday, I stayed home with him. Wednesday, Billy was home with him and decided to teach him how to ride his bike without training wheels, despite all the Benadryl and Motrin in his tiny body. He did great though! He was really ready to ride on 2 wheels that's for sure! I personally would have waited until he was drug-free, but it worked. Whatever.

Yesterday, I let Ty ride his bike to school with our neighbors. Around 3:10, the phone rang and it was the nurse from school. Ty had wrecked on the way home and they went back to school since they were closer to it than home. Ty said he was glad to be with Christopher because he is a safety patrol and in 5th grade so he knew exactly what to do. What the nurse didn't tell me until I got there was that he needed stitches due to the fall. It was all cleaned up and bandaged when I got there, but Christopher explained to me that if I had seen Star Wars 4, it was just as bad as a cut in that movie. THANKS Mr.Safety Patrol! Sure enough, the ER decided it was bad also and put in 6 stitches in the top of his knee. The same leg he broke in November and since he still had the rods in his leg, he has to be on antibiotics for infection. Oh, and since the knee is such a wonderful place to have stitches in a 10 year old boy, he will have to try not bend his leg for 14 days, maybe more. Then we will go to remove the stitches. Does it ever end with 3 boys around? I don't think so!

Well, that's all for now. I am going to go wrap everyone in bubble wrap so I can ensure a safe end of the evening. Take care.

Sometimes today's technology makes me a little creeped out. For example, the boys and I went to the gym's swimming pool and we have to enter through the family dressing areas. Ty asked me about a sign outside the door that read, Please turn off any cellular devices that have camera capabilites. Oooo, never thought of that. So sad.

Our preschool at church was cleaning out/throwing out different things and I got 2 VHS movies just because they were free. Tanner asked what they were. I told him they were movies and he said, "No. They're too big to be movies mom." I had to remind Mason how to start it in the DVD/VHS player. They really didn't like waiting for it to rewind before they could watch it. Spoiled, I tell ya!

Now to the old, or more mature, I should say. My mom works at the church part-time too and yesterday, she called me when she got home. She started the conversation with, "Well, you are going to hear about this, so I wanted to tell you about it first." Mike (the minister she is assistant to) asked her to find a love poem to put on the back of a funeral booklet he was preparing. He told her "google" love poems and pick out a good one that signified love and marriage, because the couple was so close. So that is what she did. Lots came up and she picked one that said, love, commitment, marriage. Then BOOM.... PORN! She said it came up faster than she could close them out. Cracks me up! Finally, she had to get our office administrator (Charli) to help her because the virus notification came up. Charli had to call our computer guy who said not to touch anything, just leave it but he couldn't be there for another hour or two. In our office, me, mom and Karessa (youth assistant) are all in the same room with computers just there for all to see. I would have LOVED to been there to see my mom's face. She said she was so embarrassed! I imagine so. When she went into the main office, the ladies in there were teasing her, "So Nancy, I hear you got yourself into a little trouble in there." (he he he)

Technology, not for everyone.

Our littlest boy is 4 years old! When did that happen? He is so grown up. We had our family party at Alamo Cafe Sunday and his friend party will be on Thursday at Build a Bear. Should be fun. He is so cute, and BiG :(





Happy Birthday Tanner!

We had another wonderful camping trip with our family. The country store was fun! Got another t-shirt and my sister-in-law had already been there when we arrived and she got me another anklet. We had matching ones, cause we're dorks!
We got some of the best campsites. They had wonderful views and were right on the water.
We brought the jeep for Tanner and Mason to ride around on. Mason would take it to the store to buy candy, junk, etc. One trip back, he came up to me and said he was pulled over by a cop, aka park ranger. He was so scared. He said, "Mom, I was wearing the seatbelt and I wasn't going that fast, but he still pulled me over and told me that I couldn't drive the jeep on the public road. He didn't give me a ticket though." Our first experience with getting pulled over. Here is the jeep that is illegal in state parks all over Texas.

The boys enjoyed fishing every morning. Ty did a 360 on his knee board and 'wowed' his 13 year old cousin. Mason overcame his fear of kneeboarding behind the boat and did awesome! Billy came up with a few new tricks on the wakeboard and I enjoyed watching everyone doing their boyish new accomplishments. We all had so much fun and are real glad to be back home!

I keep hearing about this supposed "cold front" and I wish! We are leaving tomorrow for our annual camping trip to good ol'Inks Lakeand I would LOVE a cold front! What that really translates into is high of 94 instead of 100, but that is better than nothing! I always like to shop, even at the lake. They have a great little country store within the park and I could spend hours in there. Those of you who know me, well it's no secret that I have an obsession with t-shirts, especially ones that people don't understand. Like the ones you get from camps that you didn't even go to! I have a couple of wonderful friends who hook me up with random shirts. One of which is moving on...our youth minister "Addicus Finch" aka Adam. I just hope and pray the next YM at church gets me, or else my connection with cool t's is cut. WHAT WILL I DO?! Anyway, that was way off the topic, but that's what obsessions do, they take over. So needless to say, I will be getting another "Inks Lake" t-shirt and possibly a cute anklet that are always there. I'm not kidding, this store is so fun! My sister-in-law and I both got matching "crystal-like" ankle bracelets and mood rings last year. We have the best time, no make-up, bathing suits, floating on rafts, skiing.. it's all good! I always love to come home though and get ready, ultra clean hair, make-up, ironed clothes, the works. I'm ready to chill or sweat I mean. Here are some pictures of last year's fun!

Day Camp is officially over! After spending 3 days from 9-4 in the heat, I am so glad to say it is over! I really liked it, just not in Texas. Day 2, we went to Landa Park in New Braunfels and swam after playing in the park for the first 4 hours. We were all looking forward to that initial jump into the refreshing pool, but it was more like jumping into a bath with 60+ of your closest friends. You know it's hot when the pool isn't even cold. Today, we spent the whole time indoors at Pump it Up and then in the dark, cold auditorium to watch a movie. Tanner really did great. He was so excited to be at a big boy camp and he acted like a big boy most of the time. He actually acted better than some of the big boys. My mom/his nana also works at the church, part-time, and was more than happy to take him home with her at 2pm rather than 4pm with me.

Some highlights of the week:
*driving a 15 passenger van (woo hoo)this really should require a special license
*braiding hair for the girl campers
*racing at Pump it Up obstacle courses
*High School Musical CD with little girls singing every word at the top of their lungs (thanks Adam, it's in your box)
*getting to know the high school counselors
*playing nurse (kids get hurt when they are tired, hot and cranky)
*eating sack lunches
*snow cones
*going to bed at 9pm and getting the best sleep EVER!
*getting to know the other church directors, interns, counselors and kids


Until next year....this book is closed!

One night, I had a random thought and without thinking it through, I deleted my blog! Not sure, but I think there was a full moon and it made me act irrationally. Anyway, something inside of me got very sad that I was no longer a member of the world of blogging, so with much thought,(not really)I am back and ready to write my socks off!

So I am going to attempt to rekindle my thoughts onto the keypad and enjoy being back into the blog world. Summer is almost over and with only 1 more camp to go, I am glad it's over. We started off our summer with 350 kids at VBS, then Tim (our summer children's intern) and I taught a reading camp for the preschoolers, ages 3 & 4. There were other camps that I was not able to attend, but next week is Day Camp which is 2nd-4th graders and it is all day! We travel to different parts of San Antonio and just have fun. I get to take my little boys as pre-campers. One of the perks of being employed by a church. Tanner is almost 4, but this one is going to wear him out being busy M-Th, 8:30-4pm.

My boys were in Golf Camp last week which is what I grew up doing, so it was neat to see them in a tournament at the end of the week. Really brought back memories. That's about all the events during my blogging hiatus. Here is a picture of our Saturdays lately... We are tired!

Have a great day!