Mini Vacay

So I mentioned last week that Hubs is at his annual coaches retreat.

Since he is kinda on a mini vacay, I think I am going to take one too.

I want to spend some time with R8 and be totally plugged into him and not so much the computer. R3 is going to the lake to spend some quality time with the grandparents. So R8 and I are going to have some mother son fun.

I will be back in a few days.

See ya!

A coach's wife

My life as a coach's widow has started again. It happens this time every year like it has for the last 11 years.

Hubs is a Jr. high / high school football coach, basketball coach and track coach. My friends always wonder how I do it each year. I tell them it is just what you are used to. Some have husbands who work shift work or nights. Some have husbands who work 9-5 while others might own their own business which requires longer hours. Me, mine is a teacher and a coach.

So when high school football season rolls around he is gone, a lot! He has his Jr. high team to practice with and then games once a week, usually on Thursdays. Fridays, he is with the varsity team, in charge of all the filming and digital stuff. Saturday mornings, he is back up at the school, taking care of the film for next weeks game and breaking down digital plays. Very hi-tech, I know.

So in a sense I become a part time single parent. I really don't mind at first. The boys and I usually take in a few of the Jr. high games. Gotta show Hubs some support from the fam.

We try to take in two games for varsity. On the nights we don't go, we have standing ritual. We go eat Mexican food and the off to the treasure store. The treasure store is really the dollar store.

Y'all where else can you get toys, bathroom cleaner, and Christmas decorations all in one store? Seriously, my kids love the treasure store. If they are good at dinner each boy gets their choice of 3 three toys. $6.00 for some junky toy that will make they deliriously happy for a few days and then break. But I won't care because they were cheap!

Back to the point, if there is one.

Hubs started back to work this week and next week he has a "coaches retreat". If you want to call it that. He says they map out all of their strategical moves and plays. Me, I say they are sitting around playing poker, or video games. Pigging out on chips and drinking beer. I wish I could be a fly on the wall sometimes just to see what they are up to.

Anyway, Hubs doesn't get finished with coaching till March. So from the end of July to the middle of March it's coaching season. Kinda like deer season but with out having a deep freezer full of meat to show for it. But I must admit once football season is over he is around a lot more. Something else I must admit, by the end of basketball season I am ready to have my Hubs back on a regular basis. Thank goodness track season is a short one.

Anyone else who is married to a coach, I feel for you.

So for now, it's me, the boys, and multiple trips to the treasure store.

Go Big Blue!

The more things change the more they stay the same

When I was younger every now and then my mother would make us come in early from playing out side and take a bath and put on our pj's while it was still day light out side.

I would go in kicking and screaming all the way. I would gripe how all my friends got to stay out and play till it was dark. I would gripe about having to take a bath. I would moan about how it was still day light out side and I was in my room in my pj's. I sulked till the sun went down and tried to reassure myself that I didn't miss a thing.

The boys didn't put up a fight when I said time to come in. Well R8 didn't. R3 thinks he is nature boy and should be out side all the time. So any time I say come in, there is some sort of ruckus.

Here it is 8:05 PM and I am in my pj's. Happy as can be.

The boys are bathed and watching a movie. Hubs is on the couch, with my lap top watching the Astros.

Me, I'm just chillin'. Funny how things change as we get older, yet they stay the same.

I survived!

I really did survive this past weekend. I don't think I could have fit anything else into it. We even made it with only one thing going wrong. And it wasn't even that major.

The big part of the weekend didn't happen until Sunday morning. R8 was baptized! Next to the day my children were born this was pretty big thing regarding their lives.

In true R8 fashion, he was cool as a cucumber. Not even nervous one bit. Talk about secure in his decision.

After we had all of our family over to celebrate. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and just relaxed. The one thing that went wrong was Hubs ran out of propane for the gas grill. No worry, George Foreman took over. I told Hubs to look at this way. He didn't have to stand outside in the 426* heat and sweat.

Everyone stayed for most of the afternoon. Then I brought S and her girls home and hung out over there with R8 until it was time for church.

After church, all of us, the four of them and the four of us went to dinner. Nothing like Mexican food y'all after two days of hamburgers and hot dogs.

It was great to just hang out with S,J and the girls. We really haven't had the chance to just kick back and pig out on chips and hot sauce.

I had one of the best days. Actually I had one of the best weekends. As CrAzY as it was, it was a blast!

Hurricane season

I have to say I hate hurricane season! I know hate is a strong word but I hate it! I did have another post for today but I am starting to get this anxious hurricane-ish feeling.

It's that time of the year. Hurricane season. It usually runs from June 1st to November 30th.

I live in an area of the Texas coast where hurricane season for me generally stinks.

For those of you who have had the lovely experience of torrential rain and damaging wind along with tornadoes, power outages, and so on, I feel for you. For those of you who have never been in one, count your blessings.

So right now tropical storm Dolly is out in the gulf. The weather forecasters keep moving it further north right up the Texas coast line.

Hence the antsy feeling.

When I was growing up in Houston my family went through Hurricane Alicia. Now as an adult with a family of my own we went through Hurricane Rita in 2005.

I remember watching about Hurricane Katrina on the news and thanking God it wasn't us. Then three short weeks later it was.

I remember all of it like yesterday. There are still homes around with blue tarps on their roofs. Homes still showing other signs of damage. A constant reminder when I would like to forget.

I do have to say we were very lucky. Our house only had the electrical box ripped of the brick. My neighbor across the street...a 100 plus year old oak tree right down the middle of her house.

We were out of our house for three weeks. Some where in my picture folder I have all the pictures Hubs took of the damage on his way into our neighborhood. I might have to try and find them. Hmmm maybe not that folder is huge and I need to organize it.

So with this storm approaching my mind is always wandering to where and when will it come a shore. Where I live they are saying by tomorrow evening we should begin to see the weather start to deteriorate and feel some effects from the storm. Rain through most of Wednesday but by the end of the afternoon, the storm should be out of our range.

Wow, I sounded like I know what I am talking about. I could so be a weather forecaster for The Weather Channel. Maybe I should send them my resume'. Maybe not.

My chatter tile

I survived the weekend. Yes! I will post about that another day.

So Saturday in the mist of all the craziness, Hubs checked the mail and I received my "chatter tile" from Yvette at the Charm House.

A few days ago Lisa, aka The Preacher's Wife, had a give away, but little to any one's knowledge, Yvette had a little give away of her own and I was one of the winners.

I was so excited! So when Hubs walked in with the package I was beside my self.

I couldn't wait to rip gently open the gift. I knew it was going to be tile, but had no idea what it would look like or say.

I LOVE IT!















I will say it again, I LOVE IT!

I had been thinking about where to place it in the living room but I still do not have a permanent home for it. But I want to show it off and I want everyone to notice it when they walk by.

So for now it is on the this table with these beautiful lilies.

I love to walk by and see the tile and take a deep breath to enjoy the smell of the lilies, knowing life it good.

A jam packed week

Makes for a jam packed weekend.

This week has been CrAzY for me at work. It just doesn't seem to stop. I have been trying all week to reconcile general ledgers for the end of the month from June. Then I have to process quarter end reports and get them to the CPA's office. I also need to get 20 submittals to a general contractor.

Whew!

Well the craziness is carrying over to the weekend. I had to take 1/2 a day off on Friday just to get everything done on time and I am not even sure I will.

R8 has been at basketball camp all week, and they have a thing on the last day to show the parents what they have been doing and it usually takes an hour.

Immediately after we are taking the boys to meet the in-laws to spend the night because Hubs and I have a wedding to attend.

Instead of spending the night just enjoying being by ourselves with no kids we are going to HEB. Yup grocery shopping. Y'all there is nothing like strolling up and down the isles of the grocery store with the one you love.

Saturday morning we are running to Target for a few things and then we are off to pick up the boys. Both of them have a birthday party to attend at noon. Then home for a few hours then another birthday party for R8 to attend at 4.

*note to any one who I am friends with, NO MORE BABIES BORN IN JULY!* There are 5 count em' 5 birthday's in July. R8, My niece, my friend S, her daughter, and my other friend S, her twins.

So this weekend S & S are having parties on the same day.

Then Sunday R8 is being baptized and after church the family is coming over to celebrate with a BBQ.

So by Sunday evening I should be in some what of a coma from all the craziness. I am sure there will much consumption of Advil and a dire need for a soft comfortable bed and pillow in a cool dark room.

If I survive I will be here on Monday to let you know how it went. If not check the local nut house, I just might be there.

Night time entertainment

Hubs laying on the floor, face down in the middle of the living room.

R3 running down the hallway screaming "cannonballs" and crash landing on Hubs back.

R8, all 86 pounds of him, running down the hallway and jumping onto Hubs back.

Hubs makes a sound like he is dying.

Then all three of my boys rolling around on the floor trying to put some one in the middle to make a sandwich.

Now that's prime entertainment folks. Prime entertainment.

Take it easy on me

Don't you just love it when your kids make your life a little easier?

Monday afternoon Hubs started to feel under the weather. He was running a fever and had chills. So I told him not to worry about cooking dinner, I would do it when I got home. He was going to make pork fried rice and egg rolls, Yummy.

So at 4:30 I went to pick up R8 from basketball camp, then stopped to get gas, then ran 20 minutes in the other direction to pick up R3 at day care and then 10 minutes to get home. Whew!

By the time I got home it was an hour later. On the way home R8 said he didn't want fried rice for dinner but he wanted grilled cheese.

Oh I could have pulled the car over and hugged his neck! I was thrilled I would not have to go through the lengthy process of making pork fried rice and egg rolls.

So we got home and I made grilled cheese and served them with BBQ chips and a pickle spear. Along with a brownie for dessert.

I know it wasn't the most healthy dinner but at least it was not a trip to one of our local fast food chains.

Thanks R8 for making my night a little easier. Mama loves you.

Time with God

A couple of weeks back Lysa posted about having quiet time with God. Ever since then I have been thinking about how I am lacking in this lately.

It seems one thing or another has cropped up and kept me from spending time with Him.

I woke up quite early Sunday morning 6:45 am to be exact. I felt as if God had awoken me for the purpose of spending time with him.

I got up and went to sit in the recliner. I didn't go get my bible. God was saying just be with me, talk to me, open your heart to me.

I did just that. I sat there in the silence with my eyes closed, talking to God. I could feel him come into my heart and fill my head and ears with his presence.

I felt a peace sweep over me and such a sweet comfort. A calming comfort as I shared my heart with him.

It was so good to spend this time with Him. God filled my soul completely.

As always He knew I needed to be in his presence.

Thank you God for loving me enough to give me what I need when I need it.

What a girl wants, what a girl needs

Friday morning Hubs called to ask me something and it sounded like he was in his car. Which I thought was a bit strange since it was so early. He told me he and boys were running a few errands for a surprise later.

So when I got home from work there were several surprises waiting for me. First the all the clothes were put away and dinner was being cooked.

Boo Mama would have loved it because there was a plethora of fried foods. And anyone who knows her knows her love for fried food.

Hubs was frying the following: mushrooms as an appetizer, then he fried okra, hush puppies, shrimp, and home made french fries.

Oh how good it was! I will probably need to see a doctor about my clogged arteries but it was so worth it!

But the surprises didn't stop there. Then dessert. Hubs bought me some gummy coke bottles. Next to Tootsie Rolls and Bit of Honey these are my favorites.

Then he even had one more surprise...family movie night. He did pay-per-view earlier in the day and after dinner we all sat down to watch National Treasure II. Hubs and I went to the movies to see this but I liked it so much I didn't mind watching it again.

Oh Hubs how I love you for all the right reasons.

You do the laundry.
You cook.
You clean.
You provide entertainment.

What more could a girl want?

Oh My Gosh!

Now that I am only twitching every couple of hours, I can tell you what happened earlier in the week.

Twitch, Twitch

So I mentioned a while back that my office flooded. Before we could redo my office we had to determine where the water was coming in. This has been done and now we are in the beginning stages of a very extensive remodel.

The floor has been ripped out and there are walls missing. Yes there are several walls with no sheet rock and beams are exposed.

I have been moved out into the lobby and I try to keep the door to my office closed because the heat and humidity are lets just say higher than the Empire State Building is tall.

If I keep the door closed it stays cold due to the A/C that I have cranked down to 50, but once the door is open, the heat is on.

Well today I get to work and get settled down to start working on reconciling some general ledgers. And all of a sudden I feel something hit my leg.

I look down and see a HUGE roach on my leg, yes ma'am I said roach.

I of course scream at the top of my lungs, only to realize no one is going to come to my rescue. Hubs isn't there neither is my boss.

So I try super duper fast to flick it off my leg and it lands on my chair. GROSS!

The whole time the hair on the back of my neck is standing straight up. UUUGGHH!

I go get the broom and sweep it off the chair and out the front door. I figure the ants are hungry and they could use a nice snack.

PLEASE! The entire time I am having such a fit and physically shaking and twitching.

I then proceed to soak my chair in Lysol along with my capri pants where the nasty thing landed on me.

I call my boss, who is at a job site for the day, and say if he doesn't want me to work form home for the remainder of the week he better let me call an exterminator. It really didn't matter what he told me because I was calling one either way.

So I get my self calmed back down around two hours later. Only to realize that I need to go into my office because the filing cabinets are in there.

I open the door and peer inside. I check the room for critters and flying bugs. Nothing so I enter. I am at the cabinets pulling reports and I heard something hit the floor. I look and see, yes ANOTHER roach.

Once again. the hair on my neck begins to rise and the twitching returns. I go and get the Bengal Roach Spray. (I swear by this stuff) It is more expensive but it is worth it.

I douse the bleeping roach with so much spray I could have set the smoke alarm off with a chemical cloud.

But it doesn't end there. As I am killing the nasty critter ANOTHER, yup, ANOTHER one come down the missing wall. I scramble to kill it too.

At this point I am coughing and gasping so much you would have thought I was trying to kill myself.

Finally all critters are dead and I refuse to go into my office until all the walls are replaced and the floor complete.

The best part of all of this. We have surveillance cameras through out our office and the whole darn thing was caught on tape. Everything from the first morning attack to the afternoon invasion.

The end.

Gossip Gossip, what to do

I have thought about this for several days and I just can't seem to get it out of my head.

You know when someone does something that just lingers and you don't know what to do about it. So since this is where I talk about what is going on in my life, I figured this would be the best place to get it off my chest and ask for advice.

So here it goes.

Yes baseball it over but the words spoken from one of the other moms this past weekend are still stinging today.

At our last practice this mom lashed out about a teacher that Hubs teaches with. This teacher retired and the mom proceeds to explain how glad she is that she will not be there next year and why she was glad. So on and so forth.

I was completely dumbfounded. I had no idea what to say. So I excused myself saying R3 needed a potty break. I loved the teacher she was bashing. I didn't know how to handle the situation I was put into unwillingly, so I just excused myself.

Then this past weekend this same mom started in again on a friend of mine. She wasn't dragging her name through the mud. But she wasn't very nice either. We live in Small Town, Texas. Where everyone knows everyone. Not only that but it seems everyone knows every ones business. I try to stay out of this circle. I don't want to know what is going on with everyone. I have enough trouble keeping me together. I don't need any extra drama.


But I almost lost it, but I just kept shoveling pickle flavored sunflower seeds in my mouth. At one point I looked like a chipmunk.

I really wanted to tell her off. To tell her to keep her mouth shut. To tell her she didn't know who was related to some one or who was friends with some one she was talking about. I wanted to tell her I wasn't out here to gossip but to watch my son play ball. If she would shut her trap and focus on her son instead of what was going in Small Town then maybe we all might get to enjoy the game a little more.

I didn't though. As tempting as it was, I didn't.

I found this verse in my bible when I got home about gossip.

A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. Proverbs 20:18-20

I kept thinking about how it hurt that she was talking about a friend of mine. In the midst of her rant I had already decided I didn't want to be a part of her gossip. So I made it a point to keep my entire focus on R8 and R3 and to keep on eating my sunflower seeds which had now made my tongue raw, just to reinforce my decision.

I had also decided not to even mention the incident to my friend. That would only hurt her and what good would that do. None, absolutely none.

So I am in need of some advice on how to handle her the next time I see her. Which I will be all to soon for my liking. I really just want to get the things I ordered from baseball and leave. But what if she starts on one of rants. What to I do? Run for the hills and never look back? Any advice you could give would be great.

Thanks!

Summer time fun

This picture is what summer time is all about. Fun times with friends. Nothing like a drink from the slip-n-slide to quench your thirst.

We're in the band

I said before R8 received Rock Band for his birthday from Hubs and me. I don't know who has been having more fun with it. Hubs, R8, or myself. We seem to play a lot.

On the 4th of July we went to a friends for our annual BBQ and they also have Rock Band. The adults, all 8 of us, took turns playing. We played till 12:30.

I must admit, I totally stink at the drums. I would so get booed off the stage if they did that in this game.

My thing is the guitar. I love it.

The funny thing is my friend S got totally hooked that night. T and I kept telling she would have Rock Band before the weekend was over. She loved the singing part. She was so funny to watch.

I talked to her on Saturday and guess what, Her and her husband are now the proud owners of not only Rock Band but Guitar Hero.

Rock on sister S!

And welcome to the band.

The ballpark is closed

Well it's over. Baseball has finally come to an end for us.

On one hand I am sorry it's over on the other I am so glad. Have I mentioned it was hot? 456* to be exact.

R8 and his teammates played hard and rallied back when they needed to. But it just wasn't in the cards for us.

We had some great coaches. Not one adult got rowdy as you know they can when things don't go the way they want. I was proud of them.

The kids had fun, which is what it is all about at this age.

R8's team mates even sang him happy birthday.

So until next season, We're outta here!

Happy 8th Birthday

Happy Birthday R7!

Today R7 officially becomes R8

So in honor of his 8th birthday,which by the way I am having a hard time saying.

8 is so grown up. 7 seems young still but 8 that's just two years away from double digits.

I'm just sayin'.

Back to my point. So in honor of his 8th birthday I am going to list 8 terrific things about him.
I totally stole this idea from Vicki.

1. He is still young enough to want hugs and kisses from his mama.
2. He likes to ride his bike to visit his great grandma who lives right down the street.
3. He has recently accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. Amen!
4. He and I share a great love for some awesome chips and hot sauce.
5. He is very witty.
6. He is a wonderful big brother.
7. He loves to eat raw veggies as a snack. Thank goodness.
8. He has inherited my gene for entertaining. He loves it when everyone comes over to our house.

Happy 8th birthday R8.

I love you!

Mom

Happy July 4th

Happy 4th of July!

I hope every one has a great time watching fireworks and eating BBQ.

I am off to our annual BBQ at a friends house.

See ya Monday.

All Star Tournament

Is it wrong to want your child to win and lose a baseball game?

R7 and his team have their tournament starting this Saturday.

I am excited for the game but I am dreading the heat. 536 degrees is a bit hot. If we lose this weekend baseball is over. If we win we continue to play. Did I tell you it is hot?

Y'all wish me luck as I battle the blazing hot sun. And I will wish R7 and his team good luck.

Go All Stars!

P.S. Did I say that it was hot?

Baptism

This past Sunday I attended church with my friends S & J. Their oldest daughter M was baptized.

R7 and M are the same age. They are actually only 2 1/2 weeks apart. They both made a profession of faith during VBS week.

Watching M make the decision to accept Jesus has been like watching my own child. My heart is overwhelmed with pride, love, and joy for her.

The service touched my heart. M's aunt sang and her uncle said a prayer. It was truly amazing to watch every one surround her with love and blessings.

In the weeks to come I will continue to pray for M and her new journey in Christ.

I also will be praying for R7 as he has made his profession but has yet to be baptized. I know this will happen in the weeks to come.

I feel blessed I get to see my child walk with Jesus Christ. What an amazing journey this will be for him. I want him to remember just how excited he is now as he gets older and his journey in Christ gets longer. I pray he will always remember this feeling and this time in his life.

How wonderful it is.

The boys

I always knew the day R7 was born that I would eventually want another baby. So four and half years later we had R3.

When R3 was born I knew right then and there that was it. I was very happy with two boys. I didn't even want a girl when I found I was pregnant. I wanted another boy. So when the ultra sound tech said R3 was a boy you can hear my voice on the video say YES! I would have loved a girl if God had given me one but He gave me boys.

Today while I was walking down the hall way with clothes in one arm, R3 said let me turn on the light for you mama. And he did just that.

When did he grow tall enough to do that? When did he grow tall enough see over the kitchen counter?

This time has flown by. It seems it went way to fast. I barely remember the baby years. The bottles, the baby food, and diapers. Yes I am glad that part has passed but I barely remember it.

I love how the boys are old enough to tell me when they don't feel good. Or they hurt their hand or skinned their knee.

But I have realized that my youngest, my baby baby has begun to grow up. Eventually the boys won't need me or Hubs. They will grow and become men and have families of their own.

But for now I am going to soak up the mama hugs and kisses. The crawling into our bed at 2 AM. Their small voices saying, mama, I love you.

I will take a deep breath and just bask in their presence.