School Bells Are Ringing & Vacations Are Ending...

Well, we started the summer with CJ going to Dallas to stay with Aunt Kristi & Aunt Mandy for 10 days while Chris and I got a much, much needed get away. CJ had so much fun with his Aunt's swimming, playing with Josh and Joey, going to the see the Ranger's play while we took a spider convertible and road tripped having a FANTASTIC TIME. We first headed to Las Vegas. Shock, shock, I'm sure - lol since it's one of our favorite getaways and then from there we just "winged it". We hit 11 states in 10 days and had a blast. Some states we had been to before but what the hey... We went from Vegas to Utah and saw Bryce Canyon (really beautiful) then from there went to Estes Park, Colorado and enjoyed tons of animals and gorgeous weather. Chris was sad that we couldn't fit fishing gear into that convertible. The streams were amazing and the Elk were plain AWESOME! One got mad at Chris and started snorting (the one above actually). From CO, we decided to go to South Dakota and visit Mt. Rushmore. That was definately a one time wonder for us. Yes, we took in many extra miles by not planning in advance but, that's part of the fun, not knowing where you are going to be tomorrow! From the Mt. we headed back towards Dallas to pick up our little man and head home. We had some exciting times (like downhill at midnight) with nothing but drop off's on either side, our america's funniest home video's episode of trying to get the above flowering cactus pictures (we got stickers all in our shoes) - I had on flip flops need I say more, ha ha. Elk snorting, moose stopping etc. We have some tails to tell. But, we had fun and made memories and that's what's important!

Now, the real world begins... CJ started first grade and seems to be doing well so far. He's excited about what this year will bring and he's reading, reading, reading and learning so much. I feel blessed every moment I have my wonderful family and I love seeing him grow and learn. It's an amazing process and one that I'm so grateful for! I've learned that when life hands you lemon's you put them in your sweet tea and put a smile on your face and be happy your from the South! Women are strong here!!!

Our fall is going to be filled with FOOTBALL and some "mini" family vacations. We can't wait! From ASU games at home and out of town games too. We are also trying to plan a trip to Jeff. City to see Missouri and Texas (GO TEXAS) in October. We'll see what happens from there. Our lives are crazy and we wouldn't trade a moment! Hugs and Kisses until next time...

Summer is here.

Well alot has happened the last couple of months. We finally have moved into the new house. there are still a few loose ends but those should be tied soon. CJ is out of Kindergarten. He had excellent grades and is growing by leaps and bounds. He is still skinny as a rail but getting taller.

He is so proud to be 6. He tries to use that as a reason to do whatever he wants. Example "Daddy I want to stay up all night. I am six now". We are trying to teach him some responsibility now by giving him chores like making his bed, helping around the house, etc. He starts his allowance this week as well. I still cannot believe how lucky we are to have him. He is definitely a Daddy's boy and I am so blessed this is so.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game...

I look at CJ and can't believe he's gotten so big, so fast and he's ready for T-Ball. This is his first year to play. We apparently missed the "cut off" last year and had no idea. So, he's playing with the local baseball association this year and thinks it's the greatest thing ever. He's on the "Twins" (appropriate since his daddy is a twin), LOL and he chose #5 since he is 5. hah! He's had his first game and hit and made it to second. We were proud! However, he got to second and nobody told him to run to third so he stood there looking around. ha ha ha. He loves his coach and his team and now when we are at home, all he wants to do when he turns the TV on is watch "baseball". The one thing he doesn't like is having to hit it off the "T". He wants to play "coach pitch" ball. We keep telling him, "next year".

Better Late Than Never...

So, I'm going to start by apologizing for being SO B-A-D at this whole blog thing! I haven't updated since our AWESOME trip to Dallas for New Year's and yes, I do realize that it is now April. I'll try to give you a quick overview of our first 3 months of the year and I will try to do better in the future - I've been harrassed enough, already! :)

Our January started off with a bang, literally! Tree's were snapping and powerline transformers were popping thanks to the "ice storm 2009". We lost all power for 7 days (yes, 7 days) and we were some of the lucky one's. Other's didn't have power restored for weeks! Chris got stuck in Memphis overnight and I waited until the next day, grabbed some clothes, dropped CJ off at my parents and headed off to Memphis in ice and snow to move into a hotel with Chris so we could still work. Leaving CJ for who knew how long was hard and I felt guilty but, we had to work. He of course thought it was fantastic and so fun. No school and he was "camping". Mom and Dad then lost power and moved to my grandmother's 2 bedroom zero lot line house. Mom, Dad, CJ, and the dog. My poor 91 year old grandmother, took it like a champ! Crazy times!! The ice storm pretty well did us in as well as our fridge and freezer. You never really realize how precious power is until it's gone. Things you definately take for granted! I won't again, I promise you!

Chris is still working on the house, we plan to move May 1st - yipee!! I can really see it coming together and I'm so excited. So is he so because he says all the time, he's ready for some weekends with his family not work, work, work.



CJ is fantastic, he's reading so well and loves to try to figure out what you are spelling. He's reading billboard signs as well as every book and magazine he can get his hands on. Apparently 5 year old boys do love Southern Living and the Pottery Barn catalog, LOL. Oh, and he's made a 100% on all of his spelling and math tests, we are so proud of him!!



In February, we had a really fun date night over Valentine's Day. I suprised Chris with tickets to see Larry the Cable Guy and I have to say, unsuspecting to me I had a blast. It was really a great show (not tacky and tasteless). It was really, really funny and we enjoyed our time together. What was really ironic is that we looked across the convocation center and low and behold, we saw my parents! Yes, my parents! HAH!



March was just plain crazy. CJ started karate, a really good friend of mine (Lorie) up and got married and moved off to Little Rock, I will miss her! And then my mom and I took off on a little extended weekend "girls trip". We had a blast just the two of us with the exception of her locking the keys in the trunk. After 2 locksmiths that couldn't open a BMW, we had to cave and call my dad and he literally had to drive up and brings us another set of keys to open the trunk. Amazingly, he wasn't too upset! He's such a good man!!!!



Our next few weeks will be interesting and busy. I have a "work trip" in April to New Orleans in which two of my girlfriends are going with me and we are going to have an "extended - girls weekend" then we move into the new place. Also have Kristi's graduation in Dallas from DTS (Dallas Theological Seminary), she's a christian counselor now - WOW and then of course the most important is that CJ will be 6 on May 16th. I can't believe it, it goes by SO FAST!!!



Until I have time to post again! XO