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March 14, 2009

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Forever In Blue Jeans


I'm FINALLY starting the "Year of Mom" pictures. I've been meaning to start this since Jan 1 and here it is March 14th - guess better late than never! I decided to start with my "original baby". He doesn't get as much Jacob & Mommy time now that little sister is here so Thursday I took him to the mall. We had Chic-Fil-A, played on the playground area inside the mall, and finished it all off with a cookie from Great American Cookie Company. He "conked out" in the car on the way home. Ahhhh...what a great afternoon.

March 11, 2009

Of Ice Cream and Carrots

This past Sunday we went to our friend Charlie's house for lunch. The weather was perfect and lunch was served on the back porch. Now mind you, Charlie is 92 years old and built this porch himself. Well, with a little help from my Dad, my brother, and his girlfriend. Charlie's, that is, not Brad's - he's got a wife who probably wouldn't appreciate a girlfriend in the picture. Anyway, Charlie is kind of like an adopted Great-Grandfather to our kids...he loves them. And we love him.

Little Miss Lia was introduced to the wonderful world of ice cream by Charlie...
She can't get enough...she must help him by using both of her hands you see.


Nothing better than melting ice cream running down your mouth while you're outside on a perfect day listening to the birds chirp in the background.

Later that same day...screeeeech

WHAT is this stuff??
It's carrots, Dearheart - and that's how I feel about most vegetables myself. Though I can't let you or your brother know that at this time in your life. I REALLY want you to develop a taste for them. And if you don't by the time you're 30'ish then I won't make you eat them. And you'll thank me.

March 10, 2009

Readin' About Jesus - and NOT singing

The other day Jacob sat down in his "Special Blue Jacob Chair" and proceeded to tell me "Mom, Gay-Cub gonna read Bible 'bout Jesus; Mom, you not sing".

"ok, son, ok"

(What's that supposed to mean when your almost 3 yo asks you not to sing??) ;)

March 7, 2009

6 months

Six months ago today we became responsible for this little soul.

09/07/08

We fall in love with her a little more every day.

03/07/09

March 6, 2009

Conversation

So I was just changing Lia's diaper as Jacob watched earlier this morning.

J: "wook Mom...E-ah wost her TT"

Me: "no, Lia is a girl, she doesn't have a TT like you"

J: "yes, Mom, we need to find it"

J: "Mom - where is your TT?"

I have a feeling we've just started the "interesting" conversations we'll have to have with out kids. At least at this point the questions are easy to answer - I know one day things will be a little more complicated to explain. For now I'm going to appreciate the innocence.

Good Mornin' Sunshine

February 14, 2009

Will The Real Mark, Brad, and Tim Please Stand Up...

or something like that...

We went to the "World of Wildlife Museum" in town the other day and to my amazement, 2 of my cousins and my brother were represented there. Although, with the name "World of Wildlife", I shouldn't have been to amazed. It's true, it's true, right there before my very eyes were Mark, Brad, and Tim. My cousin Kelley got left out - but he's not the "wildlife" type anyway. He wouldn't have been running around with such hoodlums. Mark and Brad are pretty much the "family clowns" so it's appropriate they were on the same team. And Tim, well, this just goes to show blood is thicker than water...he turned on his partner! And judging by the heads all around the display, I'd hate to see what the "trophies" would be if this would have been a game of Rook! (In which case Kelley would definitely have been involved.)

"What's this" I wonder. Looks like a serious game going on.


"No, It can't be!"


It's Mark and Brad.


And Tim.


At this point I'm not believing what I'm seeing.
I think the boys do clean up nicely don't you? I mean, look at the before and after pictures...once they're all gussied up.

Mark



Brad (and to think I was brave enough to let him hold my first born!)


Tim


Kelley - he's handsome too, and tends to keep out of trouble.



The things you didn't know you didn't know about my family.
(hummm...wonder how us girls would be depicted??)

February 6, 2009

Handmade Gift

Lucky you! The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2- What I create will be just for you.

3- It'll be done this year. (might be a little while)

4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.

The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

So....who will be the first 5 people?????

February 5, 2009

February 4, 2009

He Makes Me Smile

You know what's funny...hearing a 2 year old talk with an East Texas accent. Just wanted to share that thought. Some of you have "commented" (read made fun of) on my accent over the years, but you ought to hear Jacob. It even makes me laugh sometimes. That boy can make my heart smile like no one else. (except maybe his sister)

February 2, 2009

Trip to Florida

I'm back...from Florida. ;) We left 70* weather to come home to an ice storm...can I go back?? I've been trying to get pictures uploaded along with commentary for each one for the last couple of days but Blogger is giving me a hard time so I figured if I was ever going to get any pics up the fastest way to do it would be in a slide show....











This was just before we got on the airplane in Dallas. Jacob looks super cool in those infamous red sunglasses and Lia checks out her super cool feet she's recently discovered. And David, well, he's "Super Cool Dad". ;)



Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Torres. Theirs was the first place we went after getting off that plane. This was the first time any of David's family got to meet little Miss Lia so it was special.



Lia sleeping soundly in Great Grandpa's lap.



Jacob and Caitlin D. - they're twins...can't you tell! ;)



One day Cindy & Daniel and David & I (along with "the sucklings") got to go out shopping at a really nice outdoor shopping center. The three older kids stayed with Mimi and Grandpa - it was a win-win situation for everyone. ;)
Daniel w/ Liam; David w/Lia



Three Little Monkeys
Jacob(2), Addison(1), Noah(3)



Grandpa sure knows how to make a girl giggle.



Noah and Jacob enjoy a snack of pickles...it's a good thing that wasn't Cindy and I or the rumors would be flying by now! ;)


Daniel and David with the three older kids...this was in St. Augustine right by the fort. It was an absolutely perfect day to be out!


My girl and me.


The entire Torres clan. We were all together for the first time in over 2 years so of course we had to take a family picture. The last time we were all together 3 of the 5 "babies" hadn't been born yet, and Zack wasn't an "official" member. We're glad to have them all 4 now.


Us 4


Daniel & Cindy; Noah, Addison, Liam

Saturday afternoon we had a get-together with some of our friends at a local park.

Karen D. with Lia.


Jim & Sarah K.


"Popeye" graced us with his presence. (aka Caleb K.)
Proud Mom looks on.


Marvin C. and Sam D.


The three "Birthday People". Caleb and David Sr. share a b-day and Great Grandma's was a few days before.
Caleb was 12
David Sr. - 60
Great Grandma - 80


Fred, Sharon and Freddy B.



Bonnie & Marvin C.
(Marvin is a fellow Native Texan - not sure what he's doing with that blue and orange jacket on!)


Rhoda and Francis N.


Lia gets lap time with Uncle Daniel and Liam. She thinks he's pretty cool.


Bath time for 3 Little Monkeys - Jacob's not sure what to think about all the action. It's a bit different different than taking a bath by yourself. ;) They had a great time "washing" each other's hair.


Lia and Liam.
They're 6 weeks apart.


Lia thinks Mimi is pretty cool.


Happy Lia.


Jacob had a great time in Grandpa's swing. He wanted to be out there any chance he got. Of course Grandpa was usually happy to oblige.


We left 70* weather in FL to return to an ice storm in Dallas. Lovely. We made lemonade out of our lemons though. My Mom was supposed to pick us up at the airport Tuesday night but she couldn't get up there so we stayed in a hotel at that airport that night. Then the next day we left our luggage at the hotel and had the shuttle take us to a nice mall that was just a few miles away. We stopped at the Rain Forest Cafe for lunch - Jacob loved it. If you've never been there you should go if you get a chance. They have life sized Rain forest animals throughout the restaurant and you feel like you're eating in the Rain forest. Our table was next to the elephants which did their "thing" every few minutes...of course just as the server was about to take our picture the elephants "came alive" and I got smacked in the head by its trunk. It was pretty funny actually.

Our family, sans elephant with his trunk in my hair.


Nana and Papa were finally able to make it up to Dallas to retrieve their "precious cargo". ;)

January 16, 2009

Schizophrenic Post

So…I’m back…and I’m feeling a bit “schizophrenic” as you can probably tell from the post title. I’m not REALLY schizo. But after reading this post you may wonder.

There’s the good, the bad, the ugly, and the random.

First with the bad…as of 10:00 this morning Brad, Lesha, Trace & Trevin (BLT’s) are no longer living here. Whaaa!!! But the funny thing is, I’ve been dreading it for so long and felt deep sadness about it so many times that now it seems almost anti-climatic. Now, don’t get me wrong, when they pulled out of our driveway this morning to go close on their house I cried like a baby. But I didn’t feel lost like I thought I would. I still had a 2 yr old crying to go inside as it was waaay too cold for his liking, a 4 month old in my arms looking up at me as if to say “Mom, when are you going to feed me?”, and a husband at work thinking about me. It's not like they're moving to another continent or anything. They'll be 3 hrs. from us. But that's slightly different from the 8 minutes they are now (were). No more - "hey why don't you come over for pancakes", or "how about dominoes at our house tonight, we'll supply the pizza, you bring the drinks". Meetings are going to be strange without them…there will be an empty couch where they always sat. It used to be “our” couch to sit on until T&T were born. We moved somewhere else so they could sit there. Maybe we’ll move back. Then there won’t be “empty seats” to be such a visual reminder of who used to be there - and who, in our selfishness, we wish was still there. (Are you following me, or is this just a bunch of incoherent blabbering??)

Taken this morning as they were leaving…see those 2 little boys…they have a piece of my heart they’re taking with them.

Now the good…I got a sweet new “toy” for my birthday. My birthday isn’t until May – May 6th as a matter of fact – but good ‘ole Mom and Dad decided to get me the camera I’ve been wanting for years now. (YES, years) {If anyone out there feels so inclined to get me an early, REALLY early b-day gift, I do accept cash - just thought I'd let you know.} There were such awesome deals at X-mas time that it was kind of silly not to get it then. And if you’re going to have such a nice piece of “equipment” you might as well use it right??? Especially when there are babies growing right before our very eyes. I have a LOT to learn about photography and this camera but I’ve got a couple of awesome “test subjects” to practice on. These are THE test subjects of choice for me…



Now for the ugly…(get ready for this) our toilets. I know, I know, some of you are shaking your heads wondering where on earth this came from. (I warned you I’m feeling a bit schizo today.) Ours are 1979 blue, and 1979 brown. I’ve loathed them from the day we moved in (over a year ago now). I’ve decided I’m going to get a part time job soon. VERY soon. Yep, I’m going to take the plunge and get back into the workforce. Now, it won’t be anything to exciting, just a part time something in the evenings 3 or 4 days a week. I have no clue where or what, but Momma needs to get OUT of the house and back into the adult world periodically. So what does this have to do with toilets you ask..weeeeell the first thing I’m going to buy are 2 new “thrones” for our house. Aren’t you glad you’ve read this far?? ;)

Other random things:
How is it that 2 people can be SOOO much alike? Take David and Jacob. I know Jacob supposedly got half of his genes from David, and half from me, but I'm beginning to wonder if that's all just another conspiracy theory. I think he got everything from David, and nothing from me. To begin with, Jacob looks just like him. He’s got his Dad’s personality. Guess it’s a good thing I like his Dad or else I’d be in a world of hurt. ;) He even inherited his “allergy to penicillin” gene. OK, OK, OK, fine….but it doesn’t stop there. When riding in the car there is a particular radio station I like to listen to that plays old country music. I can’t tell you how many times Jacob has said to me “Mommy, noisy, turn it down”. And I don’t even have it up loud. Every now and then they’ll play songs I don’t care for – some songs get a little twangy even for me. The other day though, a bluegrass song came on and Jacob said “turn it up Mommy, I like it”. WHAT??? My 2 year old son likes bluegrass?? I’m NOT a bluegrass fan but guess who is…yep, David. I’m thinking we should have named him David III.

What is in the water? I’ve found out in the last week about 5 couples who are expecting this summer. Congratulations! (Were the months of October and November exceptionally cold or something??) ;)

I’ve been doing a bit of mystery shopping. I should clarify I guess…I’ve been eating a lot of Sonic lately and getting paid a little bit to give my opinion on the service I received. Yep, there really are legitimate companies out there who will pay you to eat somewhere and give them feedback. Now, I’m not getting rich or supplementing David’s income or anything, but it’s a few dollars in my “new toilet” envelope. If you’re interested in doing this too let me know and I’ll give you my “Independent Contractor” number (sounds important don’t ya think) and the telephone # to call and get started. The company is based out of California but they do mystery shopping nationwide. Have you tried the Sonic Frito Chili Cheese wrap yet? If you haven’t you should. Yep, it’s good. And it’s on the dollar menu. (NO, I’m not getting paid to put this little paragraph in.)

Why, oh why, do I feel like I have to write a book anytime I do a post or send an e-mail? Take my friends Angie, Jenn and Kim in FL – they probably think I’ve fallen off the face of the earth – or at least forgotten about them. I haven’t. I think about them probably every day, wonder how they’re doing, and think “you know, I really should at least say hi”, but I don’t. Why can’t I just sit down, shoot off an e-mail that says “hi, thinking about you” and feel good that I actually did it? Instead I think about it, let something else distract me, feel bad I didn’t do it, then feel guilty the next time I want to say hi because I didn’t do it before and it’s a vicious cycle. Urghhhh

Now I’m looking forward to our trip to FL – it’ll be great to get to see everyone there. Then we’re looking forward to a visit from our friends in LA…THIS lovely little family. Pretty soon it’ll be Brad and Lesha who?? (I kid, I kid)

If there’s anyone left reading this post all the way to the bottom…thank you. If not, it was good therapy for me to sit and write just a fraction of what’s rattling around in my head right now.

January 1, 2009

2008 in Review

My year in review...in this particular order...

start keeping 2 sweet nephews while their Mom works
wondering why the smell of carrots makes my urk
wondering why the smell of bacon makes me urk...in front of Brother
Brother sweetly saying "you're knocked up"
"it can't be so" Brother
finding out it is so
a visit from some wonderful friends for the first time in 10 years
planting a garden
a visit from Grandparents that live in FL
sweet nephew has a lung removed - my heart is scared
sweet nephew came through like a champ - my heart sings
a visit to LA to see our wonderful friends
son's second birthday
quit keeping 2 sweet nephews
visit to MN to see Great Grandparents and other family
Great Grandmother passes away
county fair and rodeo
find out "baby" is a girl
cry because dreams of having 2 sons that will be best of friends are broken
cry from shock of dream/hope of having a daughter is reality
"girl" quits moving - work self into hysterics
find out "girl" is OK - cry again
shower for "girl"
enjoy days with son before "girl" is born
"girl" is born - more crying
son loves daughter - my heart is happy
2 sweet nephews turn one - how can that be??
conventions
acquisition of another dog
find out Brother is moving - my heart is sad/happy at same time
Thanksgiving at Aunt and Uncle's house
have a great time in quaint town Brother is moving to
Christmas Eve at Brother's house
New Year's Eve at my house surrounded by lots of friends

All in all 2008 was a good year for us...here's hoping you had a good year and may 2009 be prosperous for us all - in every way.