Memorial Day

The front of our new house.
The backyard. It's gonna take a lot of grass!


Aunt Joanie and Uncle Paul taking the kids and Tramp for a bike ride.

Uncle Paul is so patient!

There they go!

On Memorial Day I took the kids out to play while Stephen put the swing set back together. The kids ran and ran. Whenever they heard the train, they ran to the fence...like they could see it. I swear 10 trains passed that day. I thought this was too cute.

Caleb was the designated taste-tester. He tasted at least 100 rocks. Why oh why do boys do that? I'm sure my neighbors and their guests got tired of hearing me say, "No rocks Caleb, spit it out!" His face was covered in dirt by the end of the day.

Even though Caleb is ALL BOY, he has a soft side for his sisters.

I felt like it was my birthday or Mother's Day because Stephen did all the work on Memorial Day. He brought the stereo and speakers out. He prepared the hamburger patties and the corn. He did the grilling and made sure my drink was never empty.

Look at this sweet face. Abby sat in her bouncy seat on the step and just chilled out with the rest of us. It was the best family day we've had....ever! I look forward to many more wonderful times like this in our new backyard.

Happy Days Are Here Again

I'll post pictures later.

We are in our new house! Stephen had to go back and forth to the old house a few times Thursday night and didn't get home until 1:00 am. He took a one hour nap and got up for his 3 am shift. We still don't have a cell phone signal out here. We've called Sprint twice and both times they've claimed to have pushed a magic button to extend our area but it hasn't worked. So...I can't call out of town and Stephen can't get business calls. Anybody else ever had this experience? We are on the outskirts of city limits, it's not like we moved way out yonder.

We met our next door neighbors. They have a little boy Caleb's age. I pray that whoever moves into the house on the other side of us has some little girls. Lauren is always the only little girl when we have other kids to play with.

Yesterday we had a wonderful surprise visit from Aunt Joanie and Uncle Paul. The kids got to skip a nap and play outside while Stephen and I got to work, uninterrupted, in the house. They took the kids for a wagon ride, a bike ride, and even to the neighborhood playground. Caleb got to reorganize the mulch in the front flowerbeds and Lauren got to fly her mini kite. They sure spoil us! I wish they'd move a little closer.

Happy Birthday to Mandy

Wishing one of my best friends a wonderful birthday!

Love ya!

PS: We need to take some more pics together, I couldn't find anything before early '06.

Updated--Will we ever get into our new house?

UPDATED-

We sold our house.....April 15. The buyer insisted that we close on or before May 15. We asked about the weekend before and the buyer sat on the contract for days. When our realtor asked his realtor what the deal was, he said Mr. Buyer wanted to close on May 15. I don't know about you but I could see Mr. Buyer stomping his hands and feet like a little kid.

We agreed on May 15. Stephen made about 100 phone calls. He told all the utility people to turn off our old utilities on May 15 and he set up new accounts (with different companies) and had them turning everything on the same day. We transferred our mail. He had movers coming on the 14th to take all our things so the carpet cleaners could come and do their thing. Stephen's parents agreed to take off work and come on the 13th (last Tuesday) so they could watch the kids during closing and help us get settled. Stephen made arrangements to rent a car the day of closing so we could take Abby with us and leave a car with car seats for his parents. The entire house was packed. We had eaten just about everything out of the fridge because we knew it would be unplugged for 24 hours.

All that came to a screeching halt just a few hours before his parents were to leave Fort Worth to head our way. Our realtor called the title company and found out the Mr. Buyer changed lenders at the last minute and there was no way the new lenders could get all the paperwork completed by May 15. They wanted to close on May 23 (this Friday). Stephen will be at my school all day filming the talent show. We got them to agree to May 22. Stephen had to call everyone and let them know to change all our plans by 7 days. The post office said they could not cancel the change of address so all our mail is already being sent to the new house.

Last Friday as we were walking out the door to go to Fort Worth, our realtor called again and said Mr. Buyer wanted to close Monday...in 3 days. Uh..no, not going to do that, sorry! Our realtor had already told him no.

Monday...2 days ago...our realtor called again. She told us Mr. Buyer will not be in town on Thursday and chances are we can't close on Thursday because there wasn't enough time to get the paperwork to him and then overnighted back to close on Thursday. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. I said if we don't close this week, I am finished. I said I am unpacking on Thursday whether it is in our new house or our old house. There is a statement in the contract that says we will close on the 15th or within 7 days. This is extremely stressful on us and has a trickling effect on the kids. What could be so important to Mr. Buyer that he has to go to Kansas and not be here to close on the house that he INSISTED we close on May 15? Our realtor said he has a business venture.

The latest as of an hour ago is we may still get to close tomorrow. Friday at the latest. But.....(I tell my students not to start their sentences with 'but') the movers can't come until Saturday!

I just want to be in my new house, unpacking, setting up, dreaming of what colors to paint the walls. I want to put grass in the backyard and let the kids run free. I want to plant an herb garden and a butterfly garden. I want to invite friends over. I want to set up a real crib for Abby and put the Pack n Play away. So maybe a prayer for my "lost cause" would be appropriate right now! And after I get into the new house I promise I won't complain again.


At least not for a month, okay?

Update: As of noon today, we will close on our current house at 3:00 this afternoon. We will close on our new house tomorrow at 11:00 and the movers will come at 2:00! Now, will there be any more changes? That's the million dollar question.

A Blessed Baptism

The night before the baptism, my old neighbor came by and we had a good visit. Abby loved her.

I had the baptism at my home parish, St. Rita, in Fort Worth. This is where I made my first penance, first communion, confirmation, and attended school. I was a member of the youth group and even more active as an adult. I knew I might run into some old familiar faces but I didn't expect to see Mrs. Cihak, my 4th grade teacher.

Abby is ready for her special day.

Abigail Claire, baptized in the name of the Father

and the Son,

and the Holy Spirit.

Parents and Godparents

plus Grandparents

add my aunts and uncles

Abby's Godparents, Megan and Ryan.

Stephen's Family

Granny and Abby

The cake and invitation.

Aunt Joanie (my Godmother and Caleb's Godmother)

Let them eat cake

The Whole Family!

What Moms Tell Their Children

Who knew?

This is an email from a friend:

Well, I would like to share this with you. Yesterday I went to throw out an empty Reynolds foil box and for some reason I turned it and looked at the end of the box. And written on the end it said, "Press here to lock end". Right there on the end of the box is a tab to lock the roll in place. How long has this little locking tab been there? I then looked at a generic brand of aluminum foil and it had one, too. I then looked at a box of Saran wrap and it had one too! I can't count the number of times the Saran warp roll has jumped out when I was trying to cover something up.

So, did you know this?

Say a little prayer..

2006

not for me (as the song goes)

but for my grandmother.

My family has been protecting me from her lack of progress because they know I am going through a lot right now but I just found out she is not doing well. She has had nurse care at home but my aunts and uncle have been taking turns being with her during the day and there is a possibility that she could be hospitalized at any time. She has been undergoing treatment for cancer and she has great difficulty breathing. Thanks for your prayers.

Something to be happy about

Well, it seems that most of what I've been writing lately has been about things going wrong. I know I must find happiness, peace, and joy in all that is happening in my life. I know that if all these things weren't going on at the same time, it would be smooth sailing. I'm trying to find all the joy in my life and focus on the good things, because there are good things. For example, there is a lady at work who I have never really talked to. I say hi as I pass her in the halls but that's the extent of our conversations. Today she saw me in the library and started asking if I decorate cakes. My first thought was that she was going to ask me to decorate a cake for her. Then she told me how she was helping someone clean out their house and that person's ex had left behind some cake pans. She gave them to me, she wouldn't even accept payment for them. I don't know why cake pans make me so happy, I have over 50 of them already, but they do. I guess the lesson to be learned is that joy can come in many different forms. Doing something small can make a person's day so I need to "pay it forward" and look for small ways to bring joy to others' lives.

Venting!

Oh please say a prayer for me and my family. I can't even think straight right now. For the passed month we have been stressing out over moving. The movers were scheduled to come to our house tomorrow morning at 8. We have planned on closing on both houses on Thursday and having to leave town on Friday to go to Fort Worth for Abby's baptism on Saturday. We have busted our tails to get EVERYTHING done. You know, all the repairs, change of address, change of utilities, schedule the carpet cleaner, schedule the movers, have friends lined up to help us pack and unpack. We have the entire house packed up, the entire kitchen. We have lined up people to fill in at meetings for us. Stephen's parents were supposed to come tonight and stay until Friday, his mom had to take off work.

Stephen just called to tell me that the buyer changed lenders and can not close until May 23. May 23 Stephen will be at my school all day filming the talent show. How can this be allowed to happen?

So again I ask, please pray!

New way to potty train boys!

Yes, last night it came to me. I have the answer to potty training boys AND having to clean up all those 'misses' on the floor and around the toilet. Forget buying those potty chairs and the seats that attach to your toilet and scrape the coating off of the toilet seat. Forget holding your toddler so he/she doesn't fall in. THIS IS THE NEW RAGE I tell ya. I didn't have to do a thing.

I have a 3 1/2 year old little girl and a little boy who turned 2 in March. Lauren talked about going tee-tee at 18 months, I kid you not. She was a breeze to potty train. Caleb is our...let's say strong-willed child so we have known all along that we would wait until he was at least 2 1/2 to even mention potty training, besides, we are in the middle of so much drama in our house with my mom's funeral last month and us moving tomorrow! When I say strong-willed, this boy still won't use a plate at mealtime...it goes on the floor, and he insists on throwing his cup on the floor at just about every meal. This is a boy who stands on the couch and free-falls off even after MANY time-outs and lots of boo-boos.

Two days ago I was changing Caleb's diaper and thought, what the heck, I'll put him on the toilet and see how he reacts. He loved it. I pointed 'it' down and after a good minute, I told him good boy and got him dressed. He went right back to the toilet and tried to get on.

Last night I had a little time on my hands so when I was getting him ready for bed, I decided to try it again. I put him on the toilet and this time he pointed 'it' down all by himself. WOW I thought to myself, maybe this will be the one thing he learns to do quickly. So after a minute went by, I praised him and set him on his feet to go get dressed. He thought it would be fun to get in the tub....as he often does. Then it happened. I didn't see it coming at all. He pointed 'it' down again and without hesitation, as if on cue, he tee-teed in the tub! At the time, it was hysterical. I was on the floor rolling with laughter. Stephen came in from moving boxes and brought me back to reality. We now had a boy whose butt and feet were covered in tee-tee and I had to add scrubing the bathtub to my list of things to do.

So you see, if you don't mind scrubbing the tub a few times a day, just let your little boys potty train in the tub!

Win a $100 gift card to Target

Blogged In Bounty is giving away a Target gift card...think of all the possibilities of $100 in a new house. I need new bedding for the Master bedroom, a new bathroom set since we are gaining a half-bath, wall decor for our formal dining room, (yippee), outdoor play toys since we have a child-friendly backyard now. I want to win, I wanna, I wanna. (Can you see me stomping my hands and feet)? Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday Uncle John- May 10

We wish you a wonderful day! We love you!

Stephen, Stephanie, Lauren, Caleb, and Abby

Another baby is on the way!

I really haven't had much to blog about this week. All we are doing at home is packing to move. The movers come next Wednesday morning to take everything away for more than 24 hours. Ahh! Oh yes, back to the title...another baby IS on the way. Not mine though! Ha, wasn't that fun? See here for more details about the Duggar family having #18.
Can you imagine?

New Blogspot

The idea finally hit me to set up a blog where I'll post pictures of all the cakes, cookies, and candy I make. I just LOVE baking and decorating and I hope one day, when the kids are older and more independent, I'll start my own business. One day!

My baking blog address is Aggieland Mommy Bakes. I am adding pictures right now and I know it will take me a long time to get everything uploaded so check back often.
Please leave comments and give me your ideas. I like all the warm fuzzies I get from you!

Abby Laughing

Earlier this week while Lauren and Caleb were bathing, I put Abby in front of the mirror and started talking to her, then she started laughing for the first time and it went on long enough to grab the video camera and capture these precious moments.

Favorite Ingredients Friday

Overwhelmed With Joy is hosting Favorite Ingredients Friday, blog on over to see some yummy recipes.