Heartwarming moments...

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path."-- Agatha Christie

I.LOVE.MY.CHILDREN!

But don't we all??  Every thing I do, every day, I ask myself am I doing something that will make my kids proud of me?  Am I doing something I'd want them to do?  I tell my children EVERYDAY that I love them! multiple times a day sometimes.  I try to do my best everyday in raising them, hopefully to be strong, independent, GOD loving people.  I pray that they become great parents and spouses.  That they are happy at whatever they chose to do in life. 

I love that my 15, almost 16 yr old, still gives me a hug everyday. That he tells me he loves me in his silly little "I love you tooo" tone that he does.

I love that my 11 yr old baby girl loves to curl up in my lap still, she plays with my hair, and kisses me on the cheek and tells me she loves me.

I love that my sweet soon to be 9 yr old son holds my hand.  But what I love most is when he's allowed to make a pallet on my floor and sleep for the night.. he always sleeps on my side of the bed on the floor.. and he reaches his little hand up on the bed, and I'll reach over, and we hold hands.  He rubs his little fingers up and down on my hand.  My heart melts.  I get tears in my eyes thinking about the love I have for my children.  I get tears in my eyes trying to remember those moments, forever.  It won't last, I know that.  I will cherish that as much as I can, until he doesn't want to do it anymore. 

All of my kids, in my opinion, are great, sweet well rounded kids.  They are all soft, kind hearted people.  And I pray that carries over into adulthood.  I pray that my boys are like their dad.  He's always telling me he loves me, that he thinks I'm beautiful, doing things to bring a smile to my face.  And I pray that Aleena finds someone as sweet for her as well...

I love you my sweet babies...

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Soccer season has started

This weekend marked the beginning of a new soccer season!  We had 3 practices on Saturday!  Talk about just being thrown into it!   Peyton had a special treat at his practice!  Some soccer players from the local high school team showed up to practice with them!!!  They had a GREAT time!!

Peyton on the far right, tongue sticking out!

Peyton #23

Also.. I just finished day 2 level 1 of the 30day shred!  I still had to take a few breaks, but not as many!! and I can feel it in my arms and legs more today!!  It hurts to get up and down from the couch, wash my hair etc.  I just really wish I'd feel it in my abdomen, that's where I need the most work!! :-D

Be sure to check out my Business Blog

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Fun family time...

The last few days my Grandma was alive, she kept saying how she wanted all of us to stay close to each other.  She was the mother of 13, and had MANY grandkids and great grandkids.  She expressed many times that she wanted everyone to always be there for each other, and maintain a good relationship.  Today marking the anniversary of her passing, we figured we'd do something together. I had hoped it would be something that all of us could do, but didn't work out that way.  Ended up just being my mom, her 3 kids and her 6 grandkids.. We went rollerskating, and then my mom and one of my sisters came over for dinner afterwards.  We had a great time!  Here are some pictures from our night.

My sister Johann with my niece Emma

Peyton making his way around the rink

Aleena with her cousin Emma

Me with my niece Lacie

Johann, Me, Melanie and our mom

My mom with my 3 kids.

Me and Aleena

Me with my baby sis.

Me and my mommy..

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Random Weekend pictures

A local sports radio station that my husband listens to does an event every year that he's always sure to be a part of.  They have several athletes come in and do autograph sessions.  There is always 1 big headliner, someone who has been retired for years etc, that everyone knows.  This year it was Barry Sanders.  My husband is a HUGE sports fan, and goes to as many autograph sessions a year as he can.  For this event he's always camping out early in the AM to be sure to get a good spot in line for a ticket to get the autograph.  This year he got there at 4AM, on one of the coldest nights!  We had our biggest snow fall in decades!  He put his chair in his spot, and sat.. for a bit, he went to the truck to sleep for a while as well.  The line started moving at 10:30!  They were told that they were handing out 300 tickets, they counted and Jeff was in the 250 range!  Yay for him!!  But, when he got through the door, they were told sorry but they are all gone!!  My honey stood outside in the freezing cold for nothing!  :-( 

The long line
of people waiting to go in..












I dropped Peyton off to him just a little before the line started moving, in hopes that Jeff would get 2 autographs..

Peyton with 3 hats on his head?

confused I guess....

Jeff and Peyton then stood in line to get tickets for another autograph session, which they were lucky enough to get!!  Then the 3 of us headed over to Chili's for the longest lunch ever!! Our waitress was SUUUPPPERR slow!!! 

Me and Peyton waiting on our food...

I dropped them back off after lunch so they could get this guys autograph!

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Christmas Eve Surprise!!

Oh the weather outside is frightful

But the fire is so delightful

And since we've no place to go,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

When I went to bed last night, I had NO idea we were expecting snow today!! Yesterday we were at 72 degrees!!!!  Today?? 2" of snow!  Only in Texas?.. The kids were so thrilled today.. It started snowing around 11, and just quit a few hours ago.  Sadly it took hours for it to start sticking to the ground though.  First thing this AM we got a lot of rain, so the ground was too wet and just soaking up the snow.

What a great Christmas Present.  I moved to TX from MI nearly 14 yrs ago, and this is my first white Xmas since I've been here.  I don't miss the 3 months of winter, but I do miss it around the holidays. However, I really wish I would have done all of my Christmas shopping yesterday, when it was warmer! 

We wrapped all of our gifts, made some cookies, played in the snow, had hot cocoa, had chicken noodle soup for dinner.. kids are tucked into bed.. and mom and dad are heading there soon..

In 2005 I started the tradition of Jeff reading "Twas the night before Christmas" to the kids.  Each year I trace the kids handprints in the book to keep track of there growth.  They enjoy looking back at it. Especially this year, unfortunately I forgot to trace last year, so 2 yrs had past since last did it.  I'll share pictures of those later.

I hope you guys have a Blessed Christmas.  Remember, it's not about the gifts. It's about spending time with those you love, and creating happy memories to last a life time.  And Celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Thanks for visiting.

                                                        

All better.. and off to school/work tomorrow

The best inheritance a parent can give his children is a few minutes of his time each day.

-- O. A. Battista

 

As much as I hate to see my kids sick... I really enjoy the time to cuddle with them, spend some time at home with them, without all of the demands life has on us as parents.

To sit back and really enjoy them.
 

Peyton and I did just that the past 2 days. It was nice not to go to work.

To stay home and do some housework, and still have some time with him.

To not have to rush off to someones practice, or a game.

 

Peyton doing a breathing treatment...

He wanted to do something fun..

and whats more fun then making a cake??

Oh yeah.. that would be licking the batter from the beaters...

And we also fit in some time for

Video Games..

and Battleship..

He beat me 2 out of 3 times :-(

And me and Aleena made this to hang on our Mantle...

Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.

-- C. Everet Koop, M.D.

Flu bug.. again..

Earlier this month I made this post about Joey getting the flu.. Unfortunately, it hit our house again this weekend.

Friday Night Peyton had a baseball game, and seemed to be fine throughout the entire game.

On the way home he started coughing, and said his throat was hurting "really bad".

We got home and took his temperature, and sure enough, he was running a low grade temp.

When he woke up on Saturday it was still low grade, and we went ahead and cancelled him playing in his soccer game that day.

I came home from Aleena's soccer game, and we took a nap together. By then his temp had gotten up over 101, and he was still complaining of a sore throat. I took this picture

of him after he had fallen asleep in my bed..

I could stare at this sweet little face for hours..

Look at the fuzz on his cheeks.. and those long eye lashes!!

and I love the pouty little lips.. and that little puddle of drool

under his head! LOL.. I don't really love that.. the sheets were thrown in the washer

as soon as he got up... ;-)

He woke up in the middle of the night last night with a temp of 103, and a horrible nasty cough.

I swore he had croup, he sounded like a seal barking. he couldn't even talk, was crying and trying to say something, but nothing would come out!! :-(

So I registered him for Care now at 3:30 this AM, and had him there when they opened by 9.

I LOVE there web check in, no need to wait in the lobby!

They call you when a room is ready for you.. that's the best thing when you don't feel good.

This picture was taken with my cell phone, he was trying to sleep on the bed in the room while waiting for the DR.

While we were gone though, Jeff was doing this for us... :-)

How he's been spending most of his free time...

And doing some breathing treatments...

He's got a really bad sore throat, the DR was surprised he didn't have strep.. and his lungs are full of junk.. she said he was borderline with pneumonia... but that he was getting decent airflow..

so were doing treatments every 4-6 hrs...

I'll be home with him for the next few days.. hoping to get caught up on some housework..

do some cuddling with a sick little guy..

and work on my business some..

Speaking off.. please visit my other site.. www.southerngalsboutique.blogspot.com

I've added a "widget" to the left that shows some things in my Etsy Shop.

Any order placed before December 1st will save 10% off of there order (any total BEFORE shipping/handling) when you mention seeing it here! :-)

My sweet boy did what??

Peyton is our kid that has always been the tattle tale.

The one that didn't like to see anyone doing anything wrong,

always quick to tell someone..

From the moment he started talking (which was well after his 3rd bday)

he was playing cop to someone.

Every teacher has even commented on the fact that he doesn't like

to see anyone doing anything out of place..

So.. imagine our surprise yesterday...

when this sweet little man...

Came home with this note from his teacher

(Throwing dirt clods at recess.. and

Instead of walking out of building with our class,

Peyton snuck up the stairs and was going out of building

when I stopped him!!)

WHAT????

He is considered a walker at his school, I just meet him right outside

of the school, easier that way.. and apparently he decided he was going

to go hang out with a friend upstairs, so hopped right out of the line

and was trying to sneak off!!

He was not happy when we read his agenda...

After having a long discussion with him regarding

being respectful to his teachers,

always being on his best behavior etc...

We asked him to write a note to his

teacher apologizing for his behavior..

Dear Mrs. Hammonds,

I'm sorry I was throwing rocks at recess and

sneaking around at school and I won't do it again.

Tomorrow is a new fresh start.

I will behave to and won't be bad,

you can trust on me.

Your student,

Peyton.

Jeff and I thought this was the cutest thing.. you can trust on me...

I held him in my lap afterwards telling him that we still

love him very much, and were proud of him for owning up

to his responsibilities. And that we expect him to be

on his best behavior at all times, setting an example

for those around him in school.


On a side note.. I added a new diaper cake to my other blog.

www.SouthernGalsBoutique.Blogspot.com

Please check it out! :-)

What a weekend...And Giveaway!!!!

As with any family, our weekends are always so busy...

but this weekend seemed to just really fly by us!

I miss my bed!! It doesn't seem like I got to be there too much this weekend.

Our weekend was filled with a lot of this...

Aleena and Peyton had a game on Saturday and Jeff had one on Sunday.

Aleena got injured in her game Saturday, so she only played for a few minutes in the first 1/2!

Someone kicked her in the calf, just on the outside of her shin guard.

She's OK now though and will be good to go for practice later this week.

While out at the soccer fields I consumed a little to much of this..

On Sunday we went to see these guys play...

(and they lost unfortunately)

Where I consumed more of this then I needed too...

And we had WAY too much of this!! What happened to the cold front that North Texas had a few days ago??

And not nearly enough of this was done!!

Tonight Jeff has a board meeting with the soccer association,

and Peyton has soccer practice. I'm hoping it will be an early night.

The next week will be very busy for me at work, and I'm sure I'll be working some

overtime.

Don't forget about my first giveaway on my other blog... read the post below! :-)