A Very Special Day!!

We have 2 very special things to celebrate today:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!

I hope you have a wonderful birthday....I am honored to not only call you my mother but also my friend. I love you!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!!!!

36 years ago today you both pledged for better or worse, til death do us part. You have both kept that pledge. Everyone knows that marriage isn't always easy but the love you have for each other has carried you through. You raised Chris and I to be successful, hard-working adults and always put family first. Paul and I are so grateful for all you have done for us over the years and can't wait to bring your first granddaughter home and welcome her into this crazy family.

Not alot going on....

I know, I know it has been a week since my last post. Honestly, there has not been alot going on around here this week (could be a good thing). I worked an extra shift this week so that took up Sunday through Wednesday.

Thursday Paul and I ran a few errands, cleaned house, did laundry. You know the exiciting weekly chores. Then yesterday we went to Paul's mom and dads to visit. We went out to the lake for a while with his parents and grandparents and rode the jet skis. We also grilled hamburgers and worked on quilt squares. We don't have alot planned for the Memorial Day weekend. Paul goes back to work tonight and I go tomorrow. So there you have it, another exciting week in our lives.

Update on Avery's 100 Good Wishes Quilt: After mom and I laid out the pattern last week we concluded that we would need 168 squares for the size and pattern we wanted. Luckily we extra material left over from people that had given us a whole yard as opposed to just a square. Paul's mother and grandmother helped me last night and we were able to cut the remaining squares we needed. I ordered some fabric this week for the backing and when it comes in we will start putting the quilt together.

Referrals arrived this week for the families that were LID June 6-15. We are still a long way off, but we are trying to keep ourselves busy in the meantime.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!!!

A few important tidbits I forgot to mention......

After my previous post this afternoon (I guess I was anxious to get to the pool)I remembered several things I wanted to update on.....

Today marks our 5 month anniversary of our LID!!!!! That's 150 days we have been "officially" waiting.

My mom and I got together last night to look through the quilt squares and come up with a pattern for Avery's 100 Good Wishes Quilt. We have decided to do a snowball pattern and we both think it will turn out beautiful! I'll keep you posted on the progress.


Yesterday at Paul's and my Babies R Us shopping expedition, Paul picked out a dress for Avery. Paul always jokes about how he is going to take Avery 4-wheelin, hunting, fishing, and make her an outdoorsy girl. Needless to say I was a little surprised when this is what he picked out:


It is a complete set with dress, jacket, bloomers, and hat. It is adorable! I think Paul did good!!!

I think that is all of the major goings-on around here. Tomorrow it is back to work!!

Have a good week everyone!

Action-packed weekend....

The beginning of every week Paul and I spend our time working and sleeping. Not much else goes on. Thursday our weekend begins and then it seems as if we are going non-stop. This week was no exception.


Thursday evening we attended Katie's pre-school graduation. It's hard to believe she will be starting Kindergarten next year. CONGRATULATIONS KATIE!!!!


************The Graduate*************


Paul and Morgan hanging out after the ceremony.

Immeidately after the graduation we attended Kelby's basketball game. His team won 50 to 18. The boys played AWESOME!!!

Friday we ran our weekly errands. I started the day (I know, I sleep late) by having lunch with my "Ladies who Lunch" group, we have changed our name to "Mommies who Lunch". All of the women who attend are already mommies (Valerie and I just don't have our children with us yet!) I truly enjoy visiting with this special group of women. We cut up, laugh, moan about the wait, and everything in between. I can't wait until our next lunch!!!

Ironically enough the restaraunt was in close proximity to Babies R Us, so after lunch Paul (who went sports shopping while we were eating)and I just had to go in and look at all the newest trends in children's items. We found the most adorable bikini on the clearance rack for $3.60 I could not pass it up. So now, Miss Avery owns her very first bikini.



I am sure she will look adorable wearing this.


Upon coming home from our shopping trip we had yet another surprise package from Aunt Kay and Uncle Larry

I hope Avery inherits my love of books and I can just see her and Paul laying on the floor coloring together.

I forgot to mention that I have discovered the best invention ever made. You that know me know that when I am eating I am also usually busy talking at the same time. Needless to say I often get a little food on my shirt because I am not paying attention. Well today, lunch was no exception, I was eating chips and salsa and dropped a little salsa on my shirt. I was mortified, but here came Erin to the rescue. She had one of these Tide To Go pens and generously lent it to me. I worked fabulous!!!!! The salsa was immediatley gone and no one had to know!!

While doing my grocery shopping last night I picked up one of the pens and it will now be a staple in purse. If you haven't discovered this little gem, try it out.

It's the litte things in life that amuse me!!!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend. Thanks for checking in on us.

Yes sir, that's my family!!!

I had previously mentioned that we went to my brother's house on Sunday for my mom's mother's day dinner. My sister-in-law made some awesome chicken spaghetti and a delicious soapapilla cheesecake. I took a couple of pictures and thought I would let you all in on my crazy family:


I told my mom and dad that I wanted a picture of them together and this is what I got?? Yep, that's my dad (at least now you know that I come by my humor naturally).


This is my nephews demostrating their newest wrestling move the "master lock". While Kolin is holding Kelby he keeps screaming "Can you pick the lock?" Could this possibly be why we are adopting a girl?


Kelby is the hoops master and wanted to showcase his talent on my blog.


This is Kolin chugging his ice cold root beer at the cantina.


My dad and his grandsons, Avery doesn't know what she's in for.

I just realized that I did not take any pictures of my brother and sister-in-law. They must have been busy preparing dinner while the rest of us were goofin' off.

Anyway, this is my family. Crazy, goofy, and everything in between. I wouln't trade them for the world.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even though we are celebrating Mother's Day today I need to say a special Happy Birthday to two very special little girls!! How ironic that two very special girls in our lives share the same birthday?



Happy 3rd Birthday Mollianne!! We had the pleasure of meeting Mollianne and her family through our adoption endeavors. Paul and I attended this beautiful little girl's party yesterday and had a wonderful time.


Happy 5th Birthday Katie!! Katie is the daughter of my best friend and like a daughter to both Paul and I. We have been involved in Katie's life since birth and love her to pieces. She and her big sister Morgan keep us "on our toes". Yesterday we accompanied Katie and several friends to Build-a-Bear and then out to eat.

So that was our weekend, celebrating with wonderful birthday girls!! I attended church with my mother this morning and we will be having dinner with my family tonight to celebrate Mother's Day. We will be meeting Paul's mom later in the week for her celebration.

For all you mother's out there HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!
For all you eagerly anticipating moms(like me)next year is OUR year!!!

We have the most generous family.....

We have had several surprises in the last couple of weeks from our families with things for Avery and I wanted to take an opportunity to thank them for there never-ending support and love.


I went to the mailbox today just expecting more junk mail and bills. Imagine my surprise when I found a package full of clothes for Avery. Paul's aunt and uncle sent these several outfits. They are all gorgeous. Thank you sooooo much Larry and Kay!!


I have mentioned before that my mom was making all the bedding for Avery. She had finished the comforter several months ago and was working on the other pieces. Here are the results:


This bunny was made from a picture I gave mom and requested one like it. I thinks it is adorable.


When we came home from Baltimore earlier this week mom had surprised us by finishing the bunny and the diaper stacker (complete with diapers inside). I love, love, love the diaper stacker. It is made like a little dress with the "straps" being tied to the bed.


When we came home from camping a couple of weeks ago she had finished the dust ruffle for the bed. It looks wonderful.

Gee mom, where can I go this week and come home to another surprise??? Thank you so much for the time, effort, and love you have put in to making the bedding. I couldn't have found a more beautiful set anywhere.

I also wanted to give a big THANK YOU to Paul's mom and dad. They generously bought the crib mattress, sheet, and crib pad for us this week.

I guess it really does take a village to raise a child. Avery will be the luckiest little girl in the world. She will have great parents (if I do say so myself), the most awesome grandparents around (even my goofy dad), and loving aunts and uncles. Not to mention two cousins who can't wait to meet her.

THANK YOU family, you mean the world to us!!!!

Start spreading the news........

No not THAT news.....I was referring to the New York, New York song.

Here are some pictures from our day trip to New York City last Sunday.


A distant picture of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. We were going to take a ferry to the statue but we missed the boat (a whole other story).



We're not in Kansas anymore Toto.....


Ground Zero, it is very hard to imagine that the twin towers used to stand at this site. They broke ground last week for the memorial.


We went to the top of the Empire State Building and this is a picture from there. You can see that Central Park is virtually the only green spot in the city.


Our group in the middle of Times Square

So we are back to real life and regular work schedules next week. We are spending today cleaning house and running errands. We do have a fun-filled Saturday. We will be attending two birthday parties. We will start the day helping Miss Mollianne celebrate #3 and then we are off to help Miss Katie celebrate #5. Ironically enough these two girls that are very special to us share the same birthday. It should be loads of fun!!

Happy Weekend!!

3rd place ROCKS!!!!

I know I have been M.I.A. again, but I have a very good reason......

We went to Baltimore last weekend for Morgan's (my best friends daughter) cheerleading competition. They competed against teams from all over the United States. There were 21 teams in their division all from much larger gyms and we placed 3rd!!! We were so excited and so proud of the girls!!! I was really a trip of a lifetime.


Congrats girls!!! You dreamed...you believed...you did it!!


Morgan and Kristi right savoring the moment!



Even though we went for the competition we took the opportunity to do some sightseeing while we were there. None of us had ever been that far north before and we wanted to see the biggest sights!

Thursday after arriving we went to the Baltimore aquarium. It is located down on the harbor and was so much fun. Paul and the girls love marine life.

Friday we took a train into Washington DC and took a tour of the city. It was our first train ride and a unique experience. Upon arrival in DC we purchased a tram tour to see all of the most famous monuments.


The guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetary. We were lucky enought to catch the changing of the guards and witness some of the discipline this particular duty entails.


Paul, Katie, and I in front of the Lincoln Memorial. We have seen this memorial on tv lots of time but did not really understand how huge it actually is.



Katie in front of the flags surrounding Washington Monument. Doesn't she look patriotic?

We toured Washington all day and then returned to Baltimore that night.

Saturday we had the competition and then a celebratory dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Sunday we rented a van with several other families and drove into New York City. It was the first time we had been there and suffice it to say it is WAY different than Texas. We also purchased a tour there and rode on the top of a open double-decker bus to take in all the sights. I will try to post again later tonight to include some of the NYC pictures.

We came home late Monday evening after our flight from Baltimore was delayed. We were exhausted!! Paul and I both returned to work Tuesday and have been "dragging" every since.

After the camping trip of relaxtion 2 weeks ago and this trip of anything but relaxtion we are ready for some normalcy around here. We don't have any more trips on the horizon so hopefully I will get back to blogging more frequently!!

Thanks for checking in on us!!

Missing in Action.......

I know, it has been way too long since my last post. So let me fill you in on the goings on......

Paul and I left as soon as we got home from work last Wednesday morning to go camping with his family and also attend a family reunion. We wound up leaving the house at 9am and after driving 3 1/2 hours arrived at our destination. We took our travel trailer and camped along side Paul's parents (Sandra & Cliff), Paul's grandparents (Grammy and Daddy Sonny), and Paul's aunt and uncle (Larry & Kay). We had a wonderful time relaxing, visiting, and everything else camping entails.

Wednesday we basically just set up our temporary home and sat around visiting with everyone.
Thursday Paul and his dad were off to play golf while Sandra and I went shopping. After that activity in the morning it was nothing but rest and relaxation in the afternoon. I did some scrapbooking while the other ladies knitted and played cards. They guys were doing "manly" things like watching action movies, playing Playstation, and whining about when the next meal would be.
Friday was another day of the same except later in the afternoon the girls had "beauty hour". Kay did all our toenails even getting artistic and painting flowers on our big toes. We were definitely stylin'
Saturday we went to the family reunion and saw tons of relatives and did alot of catching up.
Sunday was the day to pack up and come home and make our plans for next year's reunion. It should be way different having a little one around next year!!

So that was our weekend, nothing terribly exciting. Lots of eating, lots of resting, lost of visiting, and lots of family. It may sound a bit boring but 4 days of practically no commitments, no deadlines, no phones ringing constantly, no makeup, no hair fixing. IT WAS GREAT!!!!



Larry and Kay bright-eyed and ready for breakfast.


Sandra, Paul, and Cliff waiting for breakfast to be done. Isn't it great that you can go around in your robe and not even care?



Even Rowdy got some relaxing time in on the trip.


3 generations of our branch at the family reunion. Grammy, Sandra, and Paul. Hopefully next year we can add Avery to the picture.


Kay slaving away painting and decorating Grammy's toes. What ya'll don't do pedicures when your camping?


The final products. Feet shots are not really that flattering.

So we were back to work Monday and thankfully it was a short week. We leave tomorrow to go to Baltimore for Morgan's cheerleading competition. We are planning to have a day in Washington DC and a day in New York City. This little getaway will definitely be alot different that last weeks. No relaxation this time.

Hope everyone else has a great week and has an even better weekend.