25 Random Things

This is something that was going around Facebook when I first signed up - and it actually turned out to be something fun to do. I've had a couple of people ask about it who are not on FB, so I thought I would post it on here. After reading it again, I realized it's something I wanted to keep on my blog...and maybe my kids would get a little bit of insight into their Mom someday (something that would be fun to have about my own Mom).

Anyway, it's simple and just what the title implies - you sit and write down 25 random things about yourself. If you end up doing one, please let me know...I'd love to read it!

1. I thought this 25 random things was kind of silly until I read several and then realized it's interesting and fun.

2. I love, love, love sports - especially football and baseball, and I plan our activities around watching games - especially the Longhorns. When I was dating Jeff, he wanted to go to a movie on a Sunday and I told him he was crazy...Sunday means football!

3. I got my love of sports from my Dad. I would sit by him for hours on the couch peppering him with questions to learn the game. If I had to go to bed before a game was over, I would leave a note on the kitchen table with blanks for 'final score', 'winning pitcher', 'homeruns' or 'most TDs' - whatever I could think of. He would always fill it out and leave it for me to find in the morning.

4. I never knew what the 'middle child syndrome' was until I saw the Brady Bunch episode where Jan went to the birthday party wearing the black wig to be different from Marcia. I thought I might have it too, but after a few weeks realized I didn't feel neglected for being the middle child.

5. I have always loved big family get-togethers. I love the kids, the noise, the games, the food and all the laughter.

6. I still desperately miss my mom, who died 24 years ago, when I was a junior in high school.

7. I'm an organizing freak - everything needs a place and should be returned to its place when you are done with it, from the ketchup bottle to the shoes you are wearing to the markers and crayons. I think baskets are the easiest way to organize and I love making lists. I am married to a non-list-making and non-list-following man...God does have a sense of humor!

8. Thankfully (for my family), I am able to laugh at myself about my organizing gene, and I don't get stressed out if things aren't just right.

9. I grew up in the church, but it wasn't until I was 27 that I finally realized what it meant to have a relationship with God, and that it was so much more than 'religion'. I am so thankful that He waited for me and actually followed me around planting seeds while I was searching for fulfillment in the wrong places.

10. Other than my relationship with Jesus, my husband and my 3 kids bring me the most joy.

11. I love how different all of my kids are - Pike is the Einstein (genius smarts, scatterbrained and amazingly witty all in one), Grace is my Saving Grace (responsible, helpful, detail-oriented, sweet-spirited, servant's heart, teacher's pet kind of girl), Emma is...Emma (outgoing, talkative, silly, where's my lip gloss - I might see a boy and I'm only 6 - kind of girl).

12. I think my dad is the smartest person I have ever met. He is also humble, gentle, kind, an amazing writer and has been the best role model. I still remember so many of his sayings...one of my favorites on having a job: "Work so that they will miss you when you're gone". And that's what I have always tried to do.

13. It took me 40 years to find the perfect pair of jeans!

14. If I could pick one talent, it would be singing. I can totally see myself on stage singing my heart out...for now, the kitchen and car will have to do.

15. I hate scary movies...when I was a kid Scooby-Doo would give me nightmares!

16. I used to think the Tooth Fairy used all the teeth to make amazing jewelry for her friends.

17. A dream vacation would be going to different ballparks - Fenway, Wrigley, Camden Yards - I wish I would have seen Yankee Stadium before they tore it down.

18. I love colored Sharpies!

19. I really enjoy going to the beach, but I do not like getting in the water.

20. I cry for every emotion - when I'm overjoyed, frustrated, angry, scared, surprised or really sad. I am not a person who can hide the tears either...I get the red face, snotty nose and puffy eyes everytime.

21. I am a very light sleeper married to someone who snores very loud...is this that whole sense of humor thing again??

22. I love that my brother and sister are my best friends - and that I adore their spouses - and that we all make an effort every year to go on a vacation together with all the cousins.

23. I would much rather take a shower than a bath...something about sitting in water that you used to clean yourself is not appealing.

24. I have finally gotten over the fact that I have Fred Flintstone feet and I love to go get a pedicure.

25. I think it's hilarious that I'm a stay-at-home mom with 3 kids in school and it still took me over 9 hours to get this done!

Retro-Post

I'm going to try and catch up as much as possible in this one post - so it might get long!

Grace had her 9th birthday in November and I posted a letter to her, but never posted pictures. She had a slumber party and it was a blast! Finally, here are some pictures from the fun:

We got her an American Girl doll - Julie. She even dressed up as Julie for Halloween a few weeks before this. She was so excited! If you read the letter I wrote her, this is the gift she's talking about at the end.


Grace wanted brown and blue to be the only theme and I have a friend at church who made this cake for her. As you can see, she is extremely talented!

We did a "Make Your Own Pizza" - and thank you Angie for being there to help me clean up!


All smiles while eating thier pizzas!


Here's the whole group after playing a few games. The boys got to stay for the 'party' part - and we started the real party after they left. :)

Another picture of the amazing cake!

The girls decorating their own pillow cases. They were so creative!

Hanging out after the Fashion Show and Karoake.

In December, Emma turned 6! It's hard to believe my baby is already in kindergarten and is 6 years old! She had her party at Mudpie Co. I love that place! The kids had a great time painting - and all the dishes turned out so cute! The big kids (Pike, Adrian, Grace and Abby) got to choose something else and paint out in the big room.

Emma's excitement after getting her own American Girl doll.

She wanted Mia, who was the girl of the year. And, I have to tell you, she almost didn't get one after the reaction she had when Grace got her doll in November. Check out this next picture:

Yep...that's Emma crying because she couldn't understand why Grace got a doll and she didn't!

Here's Emma and her friend, Sarah, painting at Mudpie.

Grace out in the big room painting her turtle.


The boys, Pike and Adrian, working hard.

Emma just wanted a cookie cake, so Aunt Angie made it for her and we decorated it.

The Birthday Gang together for a group picture. Most of the kids are in Emma's class, and then cousins Kayla and Kade were there and Logan.

OK - that's all I can do tonight. It's late and I'm tired, but I still have some catching up to do. And then I really do plan on staying current!

Happy (very belated) Birthday to my 2 precious girls!!!

More Emma Stories...

I have to record more Emma stories; otherwise, I will forget them and wish I had written them down somewhere!

Emma Story #1 -
We were driving to meet Jeff and Grace for dinner (Pike was at his small group) and she's reading in the backseat. Here's the conversation that followed - and remember this girl is 100% serious and is not trying to be funny!

"Momma, my foot is asleep"

"That's OK - just stretch out your leg."

"I know why it's asleep...it is so tired from today. I worked it so hard."

"Really, what did you do to your foot."

"Well, at lunch, I put it up to my ear. (OK - I know she puts her foot to her ear at home and pretends its a phone every now and then, but I had no idea the girl was doing it at school - much less at lunch!) And then I exercised it at recess and at Kayla cousin's house I did jumping jacks on the trampoline with it and then I made it do push-ups." (Push-ups, really?)

I'm trying not to laugh and I say something like, "It sounds like your foot had a big day."

And she says, "I know! And I don't understand how it can be so tired and sleepy now, but it will stay awake all night long!"

I know, sweet girl, I'm not sure I understand it either!

Emma Story #2
A little background...Emma is not the best eater - especially at dinner. She doesn't like too many things I cook and, even though she usually ends up eating it, she's very slow. So, if it's dessert night, she usually misses out.

One night I made a simple meal of baked chicken, rice and veggies - and she missed out on dessert. When I put the girls to bed, this was her prayer...

"Dear Jesus, Thank you for this day. It was a good day until dinner. And, Jesus, could you please help Momma pick out something better to cook? Oh, Dear Lord, give her a better idea for tomorrow. And tell her to save me a cookie. Amen."

Humble Rodeo

This past Saturday night we took the girls to the Humble Rodeo and stayed to see Kevin Fowler in concert. We went with some good friends - Mike and Teri Jones and their 2 kids, Jared and Emma (or Big Emma as our Emma refers to her). We met early and ate dinner at Tin Roof BBQ and then headed to the Rodeo. We had a great time and Teri and I made a few mental notes for next year...#1 listen to a few songs from the featured artist and know some of the words - would have made it a little better and #2 remember that they start selling beer right before the rodeo ends and the concert begins - that would have made it a little better, too. :)

It was fun and the kids had a blast. Pike was sad he missed it...apparently Jeff has a Kevin Fowler CD that he plays in his truck alot with the kids (so they knew the songs and the words and were one step ahead of Teri and me!). On a side note - Pike had Reality Weekend at church. He spent the entire weekend with 6th grade boys at a sponsor's home. We dropped him off Friday night and got him back at church on Sunday morning. Even though he was disappointed about missing the concert, he had an amazing weekend and said he would have much rather been with his buddies staying up until all hours of the night.


Here are a couple of pictures...mental note #3 - we can go down to the arena before the concert starts to take pictures (and could probably do this at the same time we buy a beer). :)



Teri and me watching the Rodeo

Big Emma and Grace waiting for Kevin Fowler to come on stage.

I also have a funny Emma story from the evening. When we were at Tin Roof she wanted one of the snow cones they were selling and I told her that we would wait to see what they had at the Rodeo. As we are walking into the arena from the parking lot, she is holding my hand and looks up at me and says, "Momma, If they have cotton candy in here, will you buy me a snow cone?"

Yep, that's my Emma...I don't see her as much as I used to, but I sure do enjoy those moments when she shows up!

Gotta Love My Girls!!

Both of these things really happened to me this week...

Three days ago, Grace is in my bathroom talking to me while I was putting on my make-up and she says, "Momma, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Do you think I'm going to be something when I grow up...or am I going to be like you?"

What??! I look at her and laugh.

Then she realizes how that sounded and says, "I mean you used to be something."

Oh, that's much better! And this is the one of my 3 who probably appreciates me the most right now! Yikes!

Then today I went to pick up my new glasses and took the girls in with me. Emma was looking at the round mirror on the table that flips over and is magnified on one side. After she finished putting on her lip gloss and singing to herself, she said, "Here Momma, you look in it."

I did and it definitely magnifies everything. "Wow! It really makes my face look big!"

Grace chimes in, "It makes it look kind of wrinkly."

And Emma quickly corrects her, "But Grace, it is all wrinkly!"

I just had to laugh again...at least this time they were right!

Way to Go Angie!!!

Angie did it and we are so proud of her! She ran in the Houston Marathon this morning - her first one - and she did great! She ran the whole way and finished strong. I met Kyle and the kids downtown to cheer her on. Some of Kyle's friends came out to support her, too, and we had the best time. Here are a few pictures of her during and after the race.

Mile 20 - We got to run with her for a little bit. From the left is Adrian, Joshua (the son of one of Kyle's friends), Kayla (in blue shirt), Kyle with Kade on his shoulders, me and Angie


Angie and me at Mile 20!

Kyle and Adrian waiting for Angie to come by at Mile 24. That's Kade waiting, too. The funky wig was used so Angie would be able to spot our group as she was going by.

Angie slowing down to hug Adrian.


A big hug from Kayla!

All smiles at Mile 24!!

A big kiss from Kyle after the race!!

Admiring the medal Angie got for finishing the marathon.

You did great Angie! What an accomplishment - we are so proud of you!!!

Snow...in Houston!!

I had to share a couple of the pictures we took yesterday - when it actually snowed in Houston! This was not the typical Houston barely-there flurries that were last seen here 4 years ago. This was a good, wet snow with huge snowflakes that came down for hours and actually covered the ground and tops of bushes. We were even able to make a small snowman and had some friends who made a huge one!

The kids had a blast playing in it and trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues. And I think Uncle Kyle had just as much fun as they did when they all jumped on the trampoline and had a snowball fight.

One of the things the kids say they miss about Amarillo is having snow around Christmas, so this was an unexpected and fun treat!

This is our house as covered in snow as it will probably ever be.

Pike, Grace and Emma enjoying the big flakes!

Pike, Kayla and Grace on the trampoline. Adrian is actually on there too - he's hidden behind Grace.


This is our little snowman we made with a carrot nose and M&M's for eyes.

Our friends made a big snowman! This is Craig, one of Pike's friends, with his mom Adriana, one of my friends. They made it as a surprise for Christina whose birthday was the next day. Adriana said some UPS delivery drivers were coming through their street and stopped to take pictures with him!

All the kids got to bed late, but it was worth it!