More House FUN

SO I got the playroom painted and it is cute and the kids like it. here are a few pic's

I also went to the allergist and found I am HIGHLY allergic to Dust Mites.....eeewwww but hopefully with a few mattress and pillow covers I can survive....and a maid to come vaccuum ....for my own health reasons OF COURSE!

So we had one last fun outing with Uncle Brad before he left town to go back to Alabama....we hit Sea World on Monday with Grandma and Bepaw and had such a good time. We saw Shamu and the ski show where Macy demanded to change to her bathing suit like the gils in the show!, played in the Happy Harbor rode all the rides and did the water park and saw a 2 day old baby baluga whale....so cute and chubby. Lets just say they are still tired from all the fun. They loved the aquarium and sharks too...go figure. Here are a few shots

Go Spurs Go

So our "Good Guy Team," did it again and won the championship....Yea. We were talking with Dale and we asked him all of the players names he knew.....he said I know 2. Ok who are they....well I know SLAM Duncan......who? SLAM Duncan .....Uh Dale that is a great name but his name is Tim Duncan....oh ok well I also know Timmy.....uh Dale Timmy is Tim Duncan....oh well who else is there? So we informed him other the other players and he commited to memory Manu Giniobli....b/c it is like O Bi One Giniobli....like O Bi One kanobe. Maybe they should has used Dale's name to make Timmy a little more tough sounding..... just call him SLAM!

So I also went to try and get Championship T's at academy and also did this 2 years ago and while it was a little less custerish it was still a cluster and did manage to get a couple t's but yikes what an ordeal and always I CHOOSE to do these tasks with all 3 kids and Macy both times has been way to tired to cooperate...and people are just RUDE and pushy....almost makes it not worth it at all! I can tell you I will skip the downtown party on Sunday.....talk about a cluster!

A couple of other funnies...Dale said I know what clouds are made of....what? Soap Suds.

Macy took Duke into her big girl room and said My big girl bed....you buy it for me? Yes said Duke and she then said You buy me a Jeep? Yes Monkey, Duke said, I buy you a jeep. Ahhh a little girl just wrapped daddy a little tighter around her pinky!

The winds of change are a-blowin

So since we finally decided to stay in our current abode we have decided to change it up a bit. We added an attic storage in our dropped garage, it is HUGE and wonderful so far we have emptied an entire storage unit up there ....and still have room! We purchased new furniture for the family room a leather couch and awesome round chair, & new coffee table. Macys Big Girl room is complete and she loves it. Done in a shabby chic motiff that is sooo girly and cute. New curtians and spread for the master bedroom, that really accent the style of the furniture where the old ones did not, and since Duke is not into me getting anything different this was a compromise and I likey! I painted the kids bathroom with funny fish all over and they love it as well as put up a cornise board over the tub and new shower curtians and new fish stuff. They love it and it is so Happy looking!We also put a granite top on our kitchen island, the color is Bordeaux and it so pretty it really looks wonderful and accents the kitchen great. I also have some new appliances coming, the install of my new dishwasher and LG washer dryer combo....it washes them and then dries them....same unit....(musical interlude) HEAVEN..da du da du...must be missing a washer/dryer.... da du da du....

WOW that will be awesome and my Kennmore Elite dishwasher that is gonna actually CLEAN my dishes....again interlude Missing one kenmore dishwasher...in my house next week! I also got a second fridge/ freezer some might think this is a Beer fridge and you would be SOOO wrong it is a milk fridge for my laundry room....so great like 6-7 gallons a week, and water and the essential caffines...and I must be honest and admit there is ONE beer in there right now. And I still have a list of to dos....rock the fire place, extend the deck, paint several rooms, a screen door that Duke is hesitant to install...his thought is the door should be closed the AC is on .....seariously we have 3 kids options are:

1. open door W/screen = no bugs

2. open door W/bugs

On with the list.....swap out my entry light, a murphy bed for the work room, and some cedar accents that Duke is dragging his feet on so I will have to do them solo and prove to him they will be awesome. So goal is by summers end the house will be OURS....and it only took 7 years.

My kids are great....and they have been to Grandma and Bepaws twice since the end of May... and I totally get why they love it soo much. It is Kid-u-topia....the trampoline, sand box, play pool, electric cars, swing, tadpole pond and nets to catch them, and toys on toys and THEY let you stand on the coffee table to build REALLY BIG block towers.....they also let you build forts and help cook.....I wanna go too! Macy went through like 8 changes of clothes in 2 days....every time she went out back she got in the pool or dumped pond water all over her....SOO FUN Grandma and Bepaw ROCK! ALSO momma sam brought back from India a ton of new movies and games for the kids and candy.....wow my kids are SO deprived!

NO More teachers...... no more books......

Dale and Mrs. Washington

Schools out for Summer! So we had a great last week at School. Dale had games on Monday his Poetry Picnic on Tuesday, Bubbles and Books Wednesday, Yearbooks on Thursday and a party on Friday....tough week! So it was great for the poetry picnic his teacher sent home a folder last week of 6 nursery rhyme poems and said pick one from here or any book, memorize and recite Tuesday. Not to brag but Dale was the only one who did a poem from a different book so he had the only different poems there.

They were Advise by Shel Silverstein.....William Tell William Tell heres your arrow grip it well, theres the apple aim for the middle, .....Oh Well, you just missed by a little.















And Lazy Jane by Shel Silverstein....Lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy,lazy,lazy Jane, she wants a drink of water so she waits and waits and waits and waits and waits for it to rain.















His teacher even took him to 2 other teachers and had him recite his poems for them....he was very proud, and so was I. Here is the teacher gift we gave her from the class...a bowl with each childs handprint made into a tree with apples on them and it said Mrs. Washingtons Apples
Dale wanted Macy and Reid to attend and they loved going to his school. And Mrs Washington knew them by name ....very cool .....she is an AWESOME teacher. Here is Dales recap of his year in video.

Then on Tuesday Uncle Brad came into town.....and then came the spoiling of the nephews and neice....they played on the trampoline in the sprinkler, went swimming, went to Chuck-E-Cheese, he gave them toys and gifts.....This is ALL on Tuesday! Wednesday he built model airplanes with them and they flew them....and toted Reid all over the city with him in Big Red...and Thursday he took Reid again all over the city and all the kids to the school and they shot off rockets. VERY COOL....they LOVED ITNeedless to say they were bummed when Brad left Thursday night and called Grandma and Bepaw and left a pathetic phone message from Macy and Reid begging to come visit. So Brad and Bepaw got the celebrity reception this afternoon and they are off to Kerrpatch. Hopefully we can use the time to get some stuff done here at home.

Did my credit card get stollen?

Ok so I am feeding the kids dinner tonights, quesidillas and guacamole and I tried to recreate Red Robins Chicken Guacamole burger...it kinda stunk but I ate it...ALL! So the phone rings and it is a computer generated fraud dept for our credit card. Did you make these charges....I did not recognize it so I said no....transfering to an operator. We greet, she says several charge have come and we flagged your account yadda yadda....the recent charges in question are....walmart online today for x...Yes that was me, walmart store this morning for x....yes me too, walmart store yesterday for x....again me...and tetco today...Yes that was Duke. Is this an intervention...seariously I asked her that and she laughed. Ok well that was all we wanted to check. I have never wished for my identity to be stollen but in this case I would have been ok to NOT admit that I made 3 seperate purchases at wally world in less than 24 hours all for well over 100 bucks. I think I have a problem! In my defense online was some extended legnth drapes I wanna try and YES I am very scared that I found them at walmart but really have looked at Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, Pottery Barn, Pennys, and online and just have not found what I want and they had it in an extended legnth.....and this morning was groceries, and yesterday was me killing an hour and went in for 1 hair care thing and came out with t-shirts and shorts for the boys since Reid is refusing to wear anykind of shorts that are not bathing suits....I bought 4 bathing suits for the kid to wear and some athletic shorts (sport shorts) as he calls them b/c those are ok and we needed some for gymnastics anyway and a few things for Duke b/c I love Duke but he is the real life PIG PEN, anything NICE becomes not nice, really quick when it is worn in the garage to stain something or change oil in something....and he ALWAYS has on his NICE clothes when he chooses to do this so the majority of his items are well CHEAP for that reason and he really attracts dirt to himself so nothing lasts more than a little while anyway. So NO my card was not stollen just a humiliating slap in the face from the Credit Card company probally thinking how did she qualify for a platinum card shopping at walmart! It is a sad sad day for my credit card it is I am sure ashamed to be in my wallet....what am I saying it got used right...he is happy happy happy and laughing at me too!

SO in other news I set up our slip n slide yesterday in the front yard and my kids were in the enchanted land of lollipops or something....so much fun...of course my real camera had a dead battery and so I snapped pics on my new phone and I can't figure out how to get them to my computer....really I am outdone by this phone...so maybe soon they will appear here.

In my headache news I am better. I am having migraines and rebound headaches....which is basically my body in withdrawl from lack of medications when I stop taking them....so they want me to take celebrex, and then another pill and then another one for migraines....so the idea it to JUST get the migraines and medicate them....so I am doing it my way first and not taking anything at all for anything...and so far so good....felt the migraine this morning took a pill and nothing more and have not taken anything beyond that since Sunday....I see the neurologist in 3 weeks...to get yelled at for not following directions.

Too Long

So we have had several events happen here in the Party City of San Antonio. Fiesta, Guyapalooza Block Party for Cinco De Mayo, Troy and Carolyn came to visit, Harry crooning to me and Jennifer, Migraine headache injections.....wow busy week.

First Fiesta....so we skipped the little parade down town, and the river parade but made an appearance at the most prestiegous parade event around....The Childrens Center Parade....at the kids school....very cute and they loved it. Reid decorated his float a Sponge Bob Pinata on a skateboard. and Macy well....she was a Dora Princess in her charriot wagon.....

Cinco De Mayo.....Guyapallooza.....was a block party. One of our neighbors Guy is in a church band and decided to play a garage concert as a far-the-well for one of his members....they were FANTASTIC....really they played anything and everything and it was good fun.....then across the cul-de-sac another neighbor bought the fight on pay per view and did a garage style viewing on the his Dawn Arrow Garage-tron....so we had music, a fight, and great neighbors to share it with. I still am questionable on the outcome of the fight I thought Oscar had it.

Troy and Carolyn made it to Texas and we got to visit with them.....you do not realize how much you miss them until you see them. And then that time is clearly too short.....seariously Troy there is a Texas Residency agreement in the works.....expect your copy in the mail. Macy, Dale and Reid talked about them non stop and Macy was LIVID when we had to leave screaming for "MY SAM, I WANT MY SAM," who gave her some ear rings that she carried around all day, so Duke prepare yourself for me to pierce your daughters ears.... its coming!

Monday the boys started gymnastics and they LOVE it....Dale was quickly moved up to the Boys level I class b/c of all his inhearited skill....hand stands + cartwheels + foam pit = JOY. Reid is in his own class now and I think his best little buddy Devin is gonna join him which he is SO excited for.

Tuesday a friend of mine Jennifer and her Hubby Shane joined Duke and I to see....brace yourself HARRY CONNICK JR. and he was great.....very smooth and easy to look at.....ahhh so now I can mark that off my lifetime to-do list.....but would do it again! We ate at Acenar....a great place down town....and the food was the best. Duke said it was one of the best steaks he has ever had....and that is Pretty HUGE since he is a conniseur of Beef.

So Wednesday I finally get to see the Dr for headaches.....current one was 2 weeks old this Thursday. It has been tollerable and sometimes unbearable....and Wednesday was one of the worst days. I went and got 2 Rx's to try and turned down the shot to the hip then b/c adding more pain was not my goal but 5 hours later when the rx's had not touched the pain ...I called crying and was given a shot....got home took some painkillers.....waited 3 hours took more....Duke came got the kids and took them to dinner and strangly my kids liked me miserable b/c I did not care what they ate, did, as long as they were quiet and the lights were out....so I am pretty sure a candy feast was had by all, but I really do not care. I am was bed at 8, Thursday I head to work and am sent home....(LOVE YOU LISA) went back to the dr.....got another shot....went home and slept all day, continued with the 2nd rx and it helped a little and Friday was very tollerable and today has been tollerable....I am a little swimmy in my head and if I move to fast I get dizzy, but that is better than the Ice pick in the brain headache. So I am going to see a neuroligist on Monday so that they can tell me that the squirrel that was running my brain quit and left and all I have are a few flies in there hitting the walls.... and have a pained stomach and backache I think from all the meds in my body b/c that much excedrine migraine and pain killers really can't make a body good.....but can make you feel pretty good....or at least let you sleep in my case.

So that has been the last 2 weeks.....whew....and here is a slide show to catch you up!

Send my check to.....

So a freind of mine sent me a link that to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18466753/ it is about the would be salary of an at home mom about $138,000 and then there was a discussion on and opinion board that was related on What do you think? Are at home mom underappreciated?

UUUUHHH Yes....I am so worth more than that for my family, and if they are sending checks I will accapt one but on the other hand it is a choice Duke and I made for me to be there for the kids. His job is not flexable in the realms of sick kiddos and Dr. visits, he works hard and long hours, and we decided that at least one of us needs to be at the disposal of the kids....we had them so we will raise them. Now don't get me wrong I love a break as much as the next tired mommy and all but it was a choice. Also some of the discriptions listed like laundry machine operator and cook....well yes I do those things but so does everyone, even a single man has to eat and eventually clean some underwear. I also drive a car but am not paid like Jeff Gordon is. I am worth more than a dollar amount to my family, I am the glue that makes it a family and the lubricante that makes it run smooth. Preparing our leaders of tomorrow is a tough job but it is not with out reward. Look at the well adjusted, stable, intelligent kids that mine can occasionally be and there is the pay off of plenty.

Yea on that sentimental note....if my happy, adjusted clan has stinky breath blame Macy. Yesterday afternoon she decided to brush her teeth.....I found her in the kids bathroom....on the counter, and there was tooth paste ALL OVER. The counter, the faucets, the soap dispencer, the mirror, and she had 2 dixie cups half full of tooth paste and head to toe tooth paste all over her... funny that there was NOT A TOOTH BRUSH IN SIGHT, and I thought that was essential for brushing teeth... Huh....so we clean....and clean.....and clean....and now their bathroom is colgate mint fresh, crest bubble gum sweet and crest watermellon wonderful! We then went outside to commiserate with other moms and give the house a break.....and her dress was stiff from all the toothpaste on it! NICE that is so preparing her for the world ahead of her.....somehow....counting b/c she used 3 whole containers!
I also came about 24 hours away from loosing all my frozen goods this week......I noticed on Monday my freezer in the utility room was dripping water a little.....I told the boys DO NOT open that freezer only me....it is not sealing right.....more on tues morning.....and by that afternoon I had a half gallon of ice cream that was really soft. I investigate and the dumb thing was UNPLUGGED. I told Duke this that evening and he said....oh I put the box of dog bones n top of it to keep Macy from feeding the dogs the entire box ,and when I left the room I heard something fall....I didn't see anything though....well what he heard and I found was that a flash light fell behind the freezer it and unplugged it.....all is well and minus the ice cream everything is solid again ....so add appliance repairperson to the list of my jobs too....I am JUST about indispensable.

The Great Daniel Debate and other insights

Sooo the great debate around the Daniel house is build or not to build....that is the question? Do we NEED a new home......or want it......is the novelty of picking what you want worth the price? Is it ok to sacrifice on some stuff for the sake of a great deal? So I think we have determined NO....to buy for the sake of a great deal is not really a reason enough alone. I want my next home to be the forever home.....potentially and I do not want to sacrifice when if I wait a year or 2 I can have that home, Duke is wary of the real estate market and its fluctuations at the moment and we have enough room, are happy, love our neighbors, love the school Dale is in and its proximity, and LOVE the freedom that our current situation allows us financially. So I think we are going to do a few cosmetic changes here and hold out. Rock the fireplace, extend the deck and buy some furniture and a new dish washer and call it good for a bit longer. But then again we change our minds about once a week so we'll see if this sticks....if not, I am gonna shut up about it all and come xmas if you get a card from a different address then we moved if not then we did not!
So I have to give a little insight into one of my last evenings here.....we refilled the sand box with sand.....sooo great....the kids are loving it and Reid says lets make angels and next thing you know all 3 on their backs making sand angels....cute huh....well not really b/c fresh sand STICKS in hair and on skin all too well and we ended up with I think half a pound inside.....so at the point that I am cooking dinner I decide I cannot handle the grit under my feet any more and vaccuum.....I am vaccuuming and the noodles on the stove boil over.....I am vaccuuming and moving a pot, and then around the corner comes Macy.......diaperless and says I poopie in the pottie....and I say then get to the potty....still vaccuuming, stirring, and encouraging the potty usage.....that my friend is MOM talent....so I finished, she pooped and peed, and dinner was all ready by the time I was done. However it was a mute point b/c then we ate and dinner was all over the floor and we started back at the grit underfoot and the cleaning again....oh the excitement of it all!
Actually one exciting thing has been Tad....our newest pet....a tadpole from Bepaws pond. Well he is turning into a frog....has back legs and is growing front legs....it is actually really cool to watch it happen....every morning Macy gets on her stool and proclaims I see him, I see him, he is resting, Broder do you see him?Hes in there.....but the day he hops onto the counter I will pass out but until then Tad is pretty neat.

Sunday yucky Sunday

So what is up with the Texas weather.....cold, hot, windy, and rain all in one day. I think Mother Nature is going thru the change and her hormones are way out of whack! We have had a pretty unproductive couple of days.
I worked all day on Thursday and Friday at the DayCare running the office with a friend and I totally know that a full time job is so not for me. From 8:15 to 7:00 pm is a really long day. Dale was MAD when we drove home on Thursday and I said ok we need to eat shower and get to bed and he said WHAT WE DID NOT GET TO PLAY AT ALL! Only to do it again the next day. I have run the office before and tried to over compensate by having the laundry done by wed, and house clean and you would think that just being here to eat and sleep should not cause too big of a mess.....WRONG I had dishes all over the kitchen, junk on the floor from coming in and dumping it all. It was a disaster on Friday at 7:15 when I got home and seariously we had been in the house walking around for less than 5 hours the last 2 days....SHOCKING.
I got a new phone and I think I might be in over my head a little b/c I can't even figure out how to charge it.....no joke....it is cool though now I can email Duke.....that is when ever I figure out how to charge the phone and then get all his info in there and type and send it.....so at this rate could be by Christmas.
I also failed in coaching this spring. I am going to let the boys quit Baseball. This is gonna seem like a total cop out and it is but I will justify it anyway. The league is really unorganized and I knew this going it but.....non the less. Duke now has a big project that will occupy him every saturday thru the end of May.....so I am solo for every practice and game. Which really means I will not be able to watch/encourage the player b/c I will be watching the other 2. Dale's practice is far away in rush hour traffic (huge Hassel) And finally and most importantly it was more of a battle to get Dale to go with an attitude that did not give me a thoughts of locking him in the car.....and I figure that is not good for any one so maybe next year with a different league. Reid could care less really either way but I am gonna play the sanity card this time and cop out!

Too Long, so much to cover

Well since my last post we have had quite a bit happen and been BUSY. So we'll see if I can get it all in.

The Ankle:

I am recovering and in PT 2 times a week .....kinda think it is worthless but I will be a good paitent. It is still weak and this weekend I have a wedding.....and my tennis shoes are NOT in the wardrobe option....game time decision definatly.

Macy turned 2. We had Grandma and Bepaw, MySam, us and my great neighbor Erin over for cake and gifts. The best was that she was excited by clothes....holding them up and beaming.....oh yes she is all girl. Then she got a baby doll in a car seat she can carry and we were done with gifts. It is hard to open gifts while holding a baby. Her dress was too cute and she matched her cake that was SOO good. All in all a great party. Also her sweet teachers gave her gifts that scream Macy....a pink gingham capri set, and squeaky pink shoes! SOOO GREAT. She is so loved! here are a few pics

Easter also happened and the Bunny came and did he ever deliver. Macy had pink camo eggs, Dale had regular camo eggs and Reid had sports ball eggs. Also balls, clothes, movies, toys and nerf dart guns.....because what is the resurection of Christ without firearms! Yea a little sac-religious but none the less. Macy loved finding the eggs but could have cared less about the candy in them.....but strangley loved the ones with money? Dale also lost his very first tooth and the tooth fairy brought him a 2 dollar bill AND let him keep the tooth, we made a special pillow with a pocket for the teeth. He was very excited to be big enough to loose teeth and Reid keeps saying I lost one too.... So now that the chocolate buss has subsided here are a few pics of the indoor egg hunt since it was 40 outside!

Then after Easter and a fabulous sermon from Emmitt at CBC http://www.communitybible.com/this_week/index.html check it out ....not sure if it is there yet but its is great. Then we went to DISNEY PRINCESSES ON ICE with a freind a her daughter. Macy was sleeping beauty and she loved the show and all her glam. Ear rings, neclaces, wands, toole....and poof... what is not to love! here are some pics of that

and to prove that beauty is fleating here is an after shot

Memo to the Universe

So we are sitting around watching Dancing with the Stars last night and my kids are dancing. Dale is tangoing across the floor arms stretched out, Macy is spinning and bopping in circles and and Reid is flopping on the floor like a mamed fish. Duke says Reid is break dancing and Dale stops and looks at Duke and says "is he gonna break dancing for all of eternity?" Yes.....memo to the Universe dancing has now been Broken and will reamin so for all eternity!

So our little princess turned 2 today.....sniff sniff....where did my baby girl go? I said when she was born if I can get through this next year I can do anything....then when she was 1 I said the same thing....now 2....can I use this phrase for the next 15 years or is that too much? Cupcakes at school and a killer cake this weekend and family coming to celebrate...what more could you ask for.

Ankle update....I went to the Dr at the urging of my neighbors and spouse and it is not broken......I just tore all the ligaments.....and have to start physical therapy....and wear this ugly boot contraption.....and it is BLACk from ankle to toes .....a very becoming look for spring!

Ok well off to the CPA ......Uncle Sam is waiting for us this year I am afraid.....oh well guess I should be happy that I have something to pay taxes on right.

Thats what running gets you!

Ok so after agreeing to work today in the office.....I think I should have re-thought it.... I vow early on in the day to a friend I wanna loose a couple of pounds and find my swim suit body.....Murphy heard this and clearly placed another friend infront of me with in the hour with doughnuts.....I ate them.....they were GOOD. So then a bit later an insurance adjuster shows up to look at a teachers car....I go to find and relieve her, she is at the gym....I RUN to the gym....OK curse 2, Murphy sees this and puts a rock under my foot and I TOTALLY wreck my left ankle. My ankle is the size of a softball, and it hurts so bad....I limp to the gym, relieve her, limp back to the office and finish my time and leave.....stop at CVS buy an inflatable cast and get Dale, come home and duke helps me take off the boots I was wearing and then I had to go register Dale for school at what may be his new school....I want to have him registered at his current and possible schools and see what develops with the house....since they are both tight on enrollement I do not want to miss out later. My 6 yr old is helping me walk.....very sweet but pathetic, I opted to skip the grocery store but was going to use a driving cart and might even do so tomorrow....NICE.....Duke offered to get milk for me, so the kids will not go w/o the essentials.....Chocolate and Strawberry milk. MY highlight is that I went to the jewelers and recieved back my wedding ring, IT IS BY FAR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL RING I HAVE EVER SEEN! I called Duke and said I am dying.....he said your ankle.....yea it hurts but I am dying because I got my ring back and it is amazing.....now at home my ankle is throbbing and UGLY but we have tball practice tonight and I should take Dale.....Should ....see my brain has allread made up its mind to NOT go and is quickly convincing the rest of me. It is only Tball RIGHT? uggg....so the ugly day has a great end .....and my kids had good days at school which they normally do but since we are pointing out the good here they have GREAT teachers...Mrs Becky, & Mrs Kathy are hands down the absolute best teachers on the entire planet.....they take such good care of Macy .....really I am so lucky to have that .....and a killer ring....and cool car and cute kids.....and great hubby.....ohh see now I am getting confident.....I guarantee it will be short lived b/c when I am done here I am gonna walk across the kitchen to change Macys diaper....which is poo....MURPHY and I am a gimp.......could be entertaining to watch me try and chase her down.........THATS WHAT RUNNING GETS YOU!

Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Anniversary

Ok so today is 9 years for Duke and I....yea....we have come so far in 9 years, seems so short yet also a lifetime. He is an awesome husband and great daddy and the best friend to have....as it should be. So in nine years we have had 3 kids, 10 vehicles, 4 living spaces, 2 of which we owned, 4 great parents, 3 great brothers and 3 great sister in laws and some awesome nieghbors and stable jobs.....I call it a successful 9 years. So Duke suprised me with an heirloom upgrade to my wedding ring that is gorgeous and Sam got me a watch....that is gorgeous as well. We ate at Red Robin with is very casual but then we are pretty casual people since we ate our wedding night at IHOP at 3 a.m. since we failed to eat at the reception and somehow the to-go noshes did not get to the limo for us. So to keep tradition going we are going to IHOP tonight for dinner with the kids to celebrate our families 9th birthday....which is great b/c they eat really well there.

For spring break I have taken on purging my house so I am on my 3 load to the salvation army....My closets and drawers have never been happier but since all of this is hidden behind doors it looks like nothing has changed....BOO HISS....but man o man we had a bunch of crap and still do but now much less....

So tomorrow we have our television debut....Newmark homes is filming a local commercial and we are going to be in it....in the background at a BBQ and cooking....should be interesting and I will let you know how it goes....Macy will color on a wall, Reid will crack open his head, and Dale will be mad that there is no playstation and I MIGHT be in a corner sucking my thumb....ta ta for now I have to fold clothes in my NON Model home.

Conspiracy Theroy

I think that the Health Care industry has tainted the water in San Antonio this year. Case and Point....my kids....they have been so sick this year.....the flu, strep, strep, the tummy bug, you name it. But I think they get worse when being treated....is that possible. Reid was diagnosed yesterday afternoon at his WELL child physical ....positive for strep.....Macy has it today.....no fevers.....no congestion, Reid, a cough, but Macy, nothing. I guarantee in 3 days they will be snotty and congested....GUARANTEE....happens every time. And not to mention the diareaha that will follow the antibiotics and then as a topper Macy will get a secondary infection from the antibiotics...now this all sounds like a picnic right. At this point we are on toothbrush number well into the teens as I have to buy new ones each time strep enters the house, I personally am keeping oral B in business. Duke just got home so thud ends my pc time.....

Do you know what today is?

Howdy Partners, Happy Birthday Texas, Today March 2, is Texas Independance Day.....YEE HAW.

The ONLY reason I know this is Dale is using up some of his 15 mins of fame on the morning announcements at school today. He has to say the above speal....all but the Happy Bday Texas....his freind Jacob says that. He is a little nervous but he is such a ham I am sure he will be fine. Last night he was tossing a cowboy hat and had a goofy accent and all!

So Duke is pretty recovered from the Deer attack.....a super briused side is all that remains.

So we are in the process of hopefully building a new house.....and a kids room decor magazine came in the mail.....my boys decide to pick their rooms.....and then we decided to draw their rooms. Reid has 3 kitchens, a living room, and a bed the size of a peanut, and cars and trucks everywhere. Dale has a spider bed complete with legs, a dinorsaur on the celing eating another dinosaur with a man running away.....black sheets on the walls draped like a cave, and a special dresser for his Action Figure Club.....yea he has his own club.....how rough is it when you can be booted from a club of plastic guys on the whim of a 6 yr old....and he does kick guys out....they meet in the playroom, on the side of the TV armiore in a small cooler/clubhouse.....well they outgrew the bus they traveled in. So anyway back on point with the rooms and decor.....should be interesting when we get to the point of decorating those rooms in actuality.

We have a BUSY day planned today, we have to vaccuum my car b/c then whole fam-damly is coming this weekend and Brad has yet to drive my H2 and am sure he will .....and can't make him drive it with random goldfish on the floorboard, action figures, cars, and baby dolls roaming around it.....I think it would kill the "I'm a BadAss factor," for him....and I have to replace my Chicken on the front at some teenagers at Target stole my latest one.....926 MMD is their plates.....so if you see them around the Stone Oak area in an old little Ford Bronco.....tell them off for me. I swear I had one on my 2 door Tahoe and on one EVER messed with it......and now on the Hummer this is number 3 in a year.....I guess they are jealous of my quirky sense of humor and just have to copy me.....either that or maybe they just freed it and took it across the road? We also have to hit the Harley Davidson dealer to get Bepaw a gift for his birthday.....I am thinking riding chaps.....NICE and a corvette key chain for the keys. Since he is getting a Harley in place of the vette he wants. And the grocery store....yep that is the day and it sounds SO simple but remember I am taking Reid and Macy.....and if you read the Walmart blog there is no telling how much of an adventure it will become, because Reid loves motorcycles and so he will want one or 10 things there....the store has Candy ..... and I am sure all my HELP I will recieve cleaning the car will be WONDERFUL and so peaceful.....yea right...... Life is a CARNIVAL RIDE here.

7 days

It has been a big 7 days for us. One week ago, we departed to Colorado. AHHH but to simply drive to the airport w/o issue is too easy. 15 mins before we depart there is a scream erupting from the back yard. I bolt out the doorway and find Macy crying and my neighbor crying. Dev my lil neighbor buddy is just saying sorry...sorry....and crying and Macy apparently took a bungee chord to the face and is shaking and screaming being held by both Dale and Reid. All I got was there were some trailers made....where they hook the chord to a car and run around.....so fun, apparently he wanted her car and chord and tried to grab it and she protested, they tugged, he lost grip or gave up and the chord retracted and she took the hook to the bridge of her nose and eyebrow. Just tons of gratitude that it missed the eye here.....love the neighbor Dev, and they are kids, stuff happens, thank goodness my kids have fantastic guardian angels working overtime, Grandpa Butch, and all their Great Grandparents in Heaven....Thank You for them, I know they help keep my kids safe. So anywhy I walk Devin home and his mom dies a thousand deaths at the sight of Macy....and Devin is sent inside and crushed. We toss everyone in the car and hit the road, at the airport we get to our gate and I feel as though everyone is learing at me and my beat up kid....at the gate we ate some food, and I notice Macy has bood draining from her tear duct.....yikes I freak a little and try to call the Dr. it is 5:15 and they are closed. I call dial a nurse.....and she says she needs to go to the emergency room.....WHAT.....I explain I am at the airport waiting to board a plane. Ok so now I have the Airport EMS crew in route to examin my munchkin. They are VERY nice and look and find nothing obvious that would require transportation to a local ER.....I thank them, we board the plane and thankfully the remainder of the trip to Colorado is eventless, the car is easy to get, has 2 booster seats built in and off we go.
The condo is amazing, and huge, we have the ski lifts out our windows, we have a run 10 feet from a door leading into our complex, our balcony is slopeside, looking over the run 10 feet from a door....so great and there was a race that weekend and on Saturday night they had fireworks on the mountain top that looked like they were set up just for us with the view we had!
Thursday we get everyone into Ski school and Daycare, check in, get groceries.....
Friday we all ski.....weather is great, mountian is beautiful.
Saturday we go to ski and Duke is basically paralized from the boots down. He hurt his foot and is in PAIN and for Duke to admit pain is HUGE, so I know he hurts. We ski a run or 2 and do what is necesssary to ski to the condo and get him out of boots. At this point he is ready to never ski again and he agreed to snow board lessons the next day. So I set up private lessons and am PUMPED Up.
So on Sunday we get everyone to lessons and daycare and we meet Pete our private instructor from across the pond. Not to brag but I pick it up fast, Duke does not. Pete is showering me with compliments.....I have never had a person pick up this quick.....bragging to other instructors in the lift line, and Duke is sitting on the run on his butt because he requested we do a lap and catch him on the next run. So I pass him and Pete guides him down the slope. He rides up and requests that again do another lap, help Susan ...she obviously is getting more out of this than me. SO we did another lap and both say where is he.....he is at the TOP of the run.....in the snow....where we left him.... growing roots. He decides to walk to the other lift, ride it down and call it a day. Pete and I continue and go on to do runs that he claims he had never taken a beginner on.....says I am at a level way beyond beginner, linking turns, no balance issues....my favorite trick had to be a back roll to stand up....so cool and yet soo easy. So I board the entire morning with Pete, and go join Duke for lunch. The elevator was out so I marched up 7 flights of stairs in board boots to our condo....the first 4 were ok the last 3 kinda brutal. I get to the condo and Duke is walking like the hunch back....he hurt his neck on one of his unintended flips backward and nailed his head and jared his neck. We relax and then go get the kids.
Both boys progressed each day to a higher level, Reid is now skiing down the mountain unassisted, and is so excied to ride the snowmobile train to the top of the runs as they are LIFTLESS at 3-4 yrs in ski school, but he got it and loved it. Dale is amazing. Little man skiied a black on Sunday. Duke asked if the bumps were as big as him and he said No daddy they were as big as YOU. He uses poles now, he has no fear, total control.....AMAZING to watch.
All day Sunday and Monday it snowed HARD....so the drive to Denver on Monday was a little iffy, but again the guardian angels placed a show plow right infront of us all the drive up the pass to the top, I was very grateful and put at ease. We arrived at the airport without issue. Arrived home again w/o issue and made it to regular life again Tuesday. I have a few pics.....but forgot my camera so had to buy disposable and wait for the development......


Tuesday is my Dads 65th Birthday....so happy Bday BEPAW we love you! We call and left the best message in song and all the kids saying I love you Bepaw....awe


Tuesday NIGHT 7:15 I hear Duke arrive home and is BEATING on the door...oops I gave his key to the neighbor to feed the dogs...and they did a great job.....but I failed to get it back.....and I am upstairs bathing the kids.....so as a horrible parent I sprint downstairs and fling open the door and sprint back up to my unattended kids in the tub....no issues there, but Duke walks upstairs and says I have Blog worthy event for you.....I got attacked by a deer. His fore arm is the size of a softaball. Ok he has very muscular fore arms....and there is a half of a softball buldging from below the inside elbow.....and his side is cut and wounded. He starts the story two times only to stop and go get ice and rest. I have to get the kids out of the tub, dry and lotioned up and takea phone call from my brother and finally get to Duke who is laying in a chair downstairs with ice on his arm.....and shirt covered in Buck hair. Only Duke would get attacked by a Deer....but it was a humanatarian effort. Apparently upon leaving a subdivision last night he saw a deer avoid a car and get spooked and try to jump a fence. It failed to clear the fence and was punctured by a post that hung it up infront of its hide leg just behind the belly....so two feet and head on one side.....6 ft fence/ inserted pole and 2 feet on other side. It was making unimaginable noises and Duke and the driver of the other car that spooked it got out and walked over to the buck. Duke reached through the fence grabbed its head and body and lifted as he was stronger than the other guy and the other guy was pulling up from the top of the fence to free the leg.....well it worked and the deer was free....but it wanted gone and fast and in its atempt to run it pushed off of Duke....he being the only solid object it was in contact with....and kicked him in the arm and the side and ran away. So we think he is unbroken....arm is better today just real stiff and side is just SUPER tender but avoided the ribs.....he has promised to go to the Dr if it continues to hurt real badly.......WOW attacked by a DEER...only my hubby.....in a humanitarian effort....what a great guy. Yea he will milk it and yea I will laugh at him....but hopefully the Buck is fine and has a great story to tell his kid and wife.

Things that are good to know.

This morning was very educational for me.
Macy ran in and said "I tee tee" of course she is diaperless, so I investigate and WOW she apparetly took off the diaper, squated peed and pooped right in front of the fireplace. Lessons learned.....even if you think those pants are too hard to get off.....the're not, toddlers are FAST and can strip and poop in the time it takes to make microwave pancakes. Dark carpet is the only carpet to have.
We treck off to the Donation station to empty the back of my truck that is filled with clothes and items we do not use...there is peace in the car, we get to Walmart the next stop....still peace, get into a cart....WHAT PEACE? fighting, crying....pinching, hitting. Lesson learned grocery store carts invoke the evil in kids.
So walmart is giving itself a face lift....so NOTHING is where it was and all is a huge mess....I finally get the stuff and at this point Reid and Macy are walking with me and Macy insists to only wear tights no shoes....at least the feet are covered. Lesson : to be a grocery store trash baby the feet are bare... we had tights
They have new self check out.....no line....ok we will try it. BAD CHOICE with kids, Reid wants to ring up stuff, can't see the bar codes or scanner, and likes to make it beep so I now have multiple items rung up and no multiples of that item....we decide that is MOMMYS job, he can help by handing me items. Macy is a the candy stand grabbing all she can, Reid is trying to wrangle her, I decide OK everyone in the cart in belts....AGONY for all involved arching of the back...NO BUCKLE....CANDY!yells Macy, I WAS GOOD screams Reid through the tears.....I go back to checking out.....Macy escapes and is back at the candy.....Lesson : Dang they are SMART and Fast and determined. Reid says Mommy can I get her......I see the bottom of the cart and say yea you can try. He goes to wrangle all I have are Banannas left....AAAHHH SHE BIT ME. I return to the scene....yep a bite to the knee....and she is at the Candy Again....I go and pry the sweets out of her hands and say girls who bite do not get candy. I hold her to finish and there is no scale....what are you kidding.....so I lifted the banannas. I put them in the cart, paid and left. I figured I paid extra for a couple things and that covers the banannas. I can sleep tonight....and Lessons : Self Check out should be called W/o toddler checkout, and Skip a store when they are doing a face lift!

So I still have to go to Target to get a hoodie for Dale and hopefully a turtle neck for skiing...I wonder what I will learn there today afterschool with all 3 kids......

Tragedy

So yesterday will be a valentines day to remember....Duke comes home we have a heart cake for him, we eat dinner, Duke then walks around the kitchen and spells B I N G O D I E D......F L U S H ? No! I said that I think will be worse every time they go to the bathroom to recall that....burry it. So we sit the boys down and say we have some bad news, Bingo died and is in heaven now. What are you sure they ask, how do you know. Because he is not swimming and will not move if you touch him. So then we have to poke Bingo and prove he is dead. Dale sits for a moment and says He was a good fish..... I need to tell Troy. Troy gave the fish to Dale for his 2nd Birthday, 4 years for a Beta is pretty good. We call Troy and Dale says Uncle Troy I have some bad news.....the fish you got me .....Bingo...he died. Troys response was that is too bad, well he was a good fish right, Dale then says he was really old too. So we decide to bury him in the front yard is best and used a Sweettart box as a casket, as well as a ziploc bag. Dale is going to draw him a picture and we are going to sing B-I-N-G-O at his burial service on Saturday, and Dale is going to tell us how good of a fish he was. Hey we do top notch services here....now if Reid had his way we would probaly sell him in a garage sale.....

Update on the Plague that has hit.....we still have 3 fevers....and nasty coughs and apparently Tamu-flu tastes gross b/c both boys gag when they take it.

There coming to take me away HA HA HE HE HO HO....

To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds and no sick kids ah the HAPPY HOME. So we go to the Dr and Macy has strep throat, and the boys have the FLU! Yuck and best part is that the boys can catch strep throat too....so if they get better and then worse ...bring them back. Dale was CRUSHED to figure out this means no Valentine party, he started crying in the examnation room, and continued through the drive home, paused for lunch from Wendys, and is still bummed. I feel so bad for him, he worked really hard on his valentines for his class...oh well it is what it is.
On a good note Dale has outgrown so many pairs of his pants....like overnight....YEA he is very excited.

So much for healthy!

Last night I woke up and had a feeling that told me go check on the kids.....yea I' m psychic nah just mommy intuition. I go to cover Dale and he says no I am hot....is the night over YET....I can not sleep. I feel his head and he is on FIRE. I get him some motrin, and a cold rag for his head and he pleads for me to turn the bathroom light off b/c his head hurts. OK this is my som who is afraid of the dark, wants numerous night lights on. So I make it dark and check on him 30 mins later and he is sleeping and felt cooler. Macy woke up at 5:45 a.m., which may not seem really early to anyone but WOW it is to me. I think from 4:30 until the very last second in your bed before you finally submit to getting up counts triple time in minuites. And I can prove it....because I am much happier when I get to consume those triple min's rather than sit in glider and "rest" and rock a toddler who is giddy and SO excited by the lion on my t-shirt. Yion (Lion) .....pitty(pretty)...yion....rar(roar)....Mommy nite nite.....kiet( quiet).....SHHHH( I am being spit on at this point) Yion....pitty.....Mommy Yion....Mommy....Mommy....(poking my eyes) Mommy upy. YEP MOMMY UPPY....
Ok so I conseed and we get up. Reid then wakes up at 6:30 and has sore throat and we discover a fever as well, and Macy insits that I take her temperature too....so I do; and it is low grade and only a matter of time before she has what the boys already have. So we are all home and calling to get in to the Dr. , calling at 8 am to the pediatrician is like calling to win 10 grand on the radio.....POINTLESS but you keep trying and are so excited to get the ring, the answer and the PLEASE HOLD and wait for forever...."you want in today?" "Yes"..."ok please hold"....no i just wanted wanted to wish you GOOD MORNING....DUH. Ok good we got in at 10:50 .....I guess is strep.....all 3 have a cough, Macy has boogers that make you think she has the sinus cavity of I dunno a mucus monster.
The BAD part is that they all have valentine parties tomorrow....and will all have to miss them if they are contagious and are with a fever for 24 hours....BUMMER Reid and Macy not so bad but Dale will be sad....they all worked so hard on their valentines for their classmates and containers to hold them, and I am room mom so I am supposed to help and kinda can't with sickies....oh well better to be just sick than something worse.