Real or not real?

This is a question my kids ask all the time when they are watching t.v. Our DVR has really messed with their perception of reality. We will record movies or shows for them to watch on the weekends. They know they can fast-forward through the commercials. When they are watching a program that is not recorded, they don't understand why they can't skip the commercials. Jackson always yells out, "Skip it, Mom!" when the commercials come on. I try to explain that it hasn't happened yet, so you cannot skip it. Just imagine trying to explain this to a four-year old! Just a few years ago, (okay, months for us~we are slightly behind times!) this was not a problem. If they were watching a show, they knew they had to sit through the commercials. Now they are either asking to skip or trying to push the fast-forward button to make it skip. I am a little confused about this when I am listening to the radio. If I miss something that is said I find myself wondering where the rewind button is! I guess my kids and I will have to get used to our new reality!

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Addison is saying some more words now.
bow
Addie
no~ This one just started tonight. I was wondering when it would rear it's ugly head!
MeMe~ Drew's grandmother
bubbas
waz at~ What's that
dat doo~ Thank you

Soon we won't be able to get her to be quiet!

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I am counting down the days until Thanksgiving Break. I REALLY need a break!

Yo-Yos suck!

Jackson wanted to "sleep like a man" tonight so he is without a shirt. I guess he thinks men don't wear shirts to bed. I hope my "little man" doesn't get cold tonight!

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I hope that doesn't offend you Grandmother and Granddad, but I have had my fill of yo-yos this week. I was approached several weeks ago by our counselor. She said the "Yo-Yo" guy would do a "free" assembly if we agreed to sell yo-yos for a week. Yes, I have done this before and knew better than to say yes, but I am a softie and have a difficult time saying no to someone. (No, this doesn't mean you can take advantage of me now!) So, against my better judgement, I agreed. I regretted this decision the very first day I started selling them! I have fixed more yo-yos this week than I care to remember. We have had yo-yos stolen and had a kid give me a check that was written out to another school, had the amount changed in kid handwriting and was written in September. Have I mentioned that I didn't even notice all of those things until our sweet secretary brought it to my attention a few hours after the kid "bought" $20 worth of yo-yos? We have taken away so many yo-yos this week from kids who evidentaly thought it was okay to start yoing even when lessons were being taught or when they were walking down the hallways. These are just the major things that have happened this week with yo-yos. Believe me, there were many more little things that happened in every class this week that have added up to major frustration. My only hope is that all the yo-yos will break beyond repair and I will never have to see another yo-yo again! And, no, I didn't buy any for my kids! I didn't even want them at home!

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I was so tired when I got home after school. All I wanted to do was take a bath and go to bed. We have a busy weekend and I haven't been sleeping well this week. I started looking around and realized the house needed to be cleaned. So, instead of taking a bath and relaxing like I wanted to, I cleaned the WHOLE house. I just finished about an hour ago. The kids were real sweet with eachother the entire time, so I was able to work without interruption. Drew is scouting tonight and working a cross country meet tomorrow and I didn't want him to have to clean again. He hasn't let me clean at all the last several weeks, so I wanted to help him out. So, Sweetie, hopefully you will notice the clean house when you get home tonight! I'm so glad to have that out of the way! One less thing to do tomorrow.

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It is almost 9:00 and I am going to go take a very hot bath in my very clean tub!

It's a date!

Laura, my sweet friend and Bryson's former Kindergarten teacher, asked Bryson to have breakfast with him this morning. You cannot imagine the excitement in this little boy! This morning he woke up excited and ready to go to school. I didn't even have to ask him to brush his teeth! When we had to stop for a red light he would let out a big sigh. When the light would turn green he would say, "There! Finally!" He watched the clock relentlessly. In the car he told me he "couldn't wait for his date with Miss S."

"A date?" I asked.

"Yes, Mom, it's a date."

"Well, I guess I should tell you that you don't kiss on the first date!"

"Mom, it's our second date and if you kiss your teacher it's illegal."

Maybe when he is 16 I will call girls "teachers" instead of girls and see if this still holds true!

Thank you, Laura, for loving my little boy. You are such a positive influence in his life. I appreciate your willingness and desire to give up your time to be with him!

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This has been a L-O-N-G week! I am so tired and ready for the weekend. I have been selling yo-yos all week at school and I am already sick to death of yo-yos! Yes, I agreed to sell them, but there has been one problem after another. I have said that I will NEVER agree to do this again. So, if you hear me debating about agreeing to do this again, just slap me!

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Jackson is so glad it is getting cooler. He likes to wear his "cowboy pants." This is what he calls jeans! He is the cutest little thing ever!

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Addison has been in a pretty good mood this week which makes things a little easier in the evenings. She even sat in my lap the other evening. She is NOT a snuggler, but she climbed up in my lap Monday evening and lay her head on my shoulder. "Is she sick?" I wondered. I even reached up to feel her forehead. Nope, felt fine to me. After a couple of minutes she got down. "Well, that was nice while it lasted," I thought. She came back with her blanket and climbed up again. I started singing to her and talking to her. She stayed about 30 minutes! She NEVER does this. I enjoyed every second of our snuggle time. I don't know when I will get to do this again.

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Time for dinner. I will try to have some more exciting stories next time. Don't forget to check out Drew's blog http://drewsreflectionz.blogspot.com/ if you get a chance. He is such a sweet guy. He is really venturing out of his comfort zone with his blog and I am very proud of him!

Weekend

Hoppy Birsday to yoo! (No, this is not a type-0. This is what it sounds like when Japanese people sing happy birthday in English!)
Addie loved the food and the dessert!
Flying egg.
Dad, Espy and Addison.
Dad, Jackson, Addison, Me, Bryson and Drew.

This was a good weekend. I had some sweet friends from work give me some presents on Friday. My birthday was yesterday, October 18th. I am 37 now. Yes, that is strange to say/type. I know people always say they don't feel their age, and neither do I. I think back to when my mom was my age and she seemed so much older than I am! She had two girls in high school when she was 37! It just seems strange that I could possible be this "old!" Anyway, I digress!

My dad and stepmother came up on Saturday to take us to dinner. We went to Benihana's. (We missed you, Pily!) The kids really enjoyed it and the food was good, too. I think Addie ate as much as Jackson did! Bryson is so in a league of his own right now when it comes to eating! He probably eats his weight in food in a week and doesn't gain any weight. He is stuck at 70 pounds which he has been at for 6-8 months! He is getting taller, just not heavier.

Dad and Espy left a couple of hours ago, so it is just us again. After Drew finished mowing the lawn he sat down with a drink. Addie was in the backyard playing with the dogs. I looked out the window to check on her and realized the blinds were VERY dusty. Of course this couldn't wait any longer. I had to clean them RIGHT NOW! I got the Swiffer duster and started dusting. On the third window, I accidentally bumped into a picture frame that was sitting on the table beside Drew's chair. After it settled, I realized it knocked Drew's drink over onto the carpet. Have I mentioned that he had RED Kool-Aid in a very tall cup? Yes, it was all over the carpet. He wasn't sitting there. He had gone to the boy's room to discipline Bryson. (Stop clenching your teeth, Grandmother. It was swift!) "Don't come in here!" I yelled. "Come back in about 20 minutes!"

We don't let the boys drink in the living room, but we do. I guess we need sippy cups when we drink in there! Anyway, we were down on hands and knees cleaning the, now pink, mess and Jackson was "helping." I was spraying and blotting trying to do my best when Jackson asked, "Are you helping Daddy?"

"Yes." I answered.

"Why are you helping him~because he is your true love?"

"Yes, Jackson. I am helping him because he is my true love!"

So, if you come over try not to notice the stain by Drew's chair. My true love and I did the best we could to get it all out!

A big thank you to everyone who called to wish me a Happy Birthday or acknowledged it in some way! You made my day special. This month has been exceptionally difficult this year for some reason, but you made me happy on my birthday!

My Better Half

I have decided to brag on Drew a bit. If you know Drew, you know how wonderfully he treats me. It is time for me to brag on him a bit because I certainly don't tell him enough how awesome he is! Sorry, Sweetie! Hopefully this will make up for some of the times I didn't take the time to thank you properly.

Drew gets up early each morning to make our lunches and at least once a week makes me a breakfast sandwich! It is really yummy! I never have to worry about what's for lunch because he takes care of it for me. He has been doing this for years, without complaint! He also makes sure Bryson's planner is signed and takes care of all necessary school papers. We both help him with homework, but Drew takes care of all the other stuff. He gets the kids dressed and fed in the mornings. All I have to do is worry about myself and do Addison's hair. As awesome as Drew is, he still can't do her hair! Any time he is able, he drops Jackson and Addison off at Miss Linda's so I can have a few extra minutes in the morning. He e-mail or texts me almost daily to find out how my day is going and to tell me he loves me. The nights he is home, he takes care of dinner. The nights he isn't home, he tries to plan and/or cook ahead of time so I don't have to worry about dinner. You know, from previous posts, how I HATE to cook! He loves to rub my feet and I, of course, take full advantage of this! If he knows I need some alone time, he is always willing to let me have it. He does the laundry, without complaint. He cleans the house, without complaint. He always tells me I am "off duty" on the weekends and don't really have to do anything but relax and take care of myself! You may be asking yourself what exactly it is that I do! I help do laundry and clean, but he says he would rather do it so I don't have to! How many men would say/do that? Basically, Drew treats me like a princess. I jokingly say that I deserve it considering how awful I was treated by some people in my past! I often wonder when he is going to get tired of treating me so well. We have been married for over 11 years and he hasn't even slowed down yet! If anything, he does more than he used to. There is so much more that he does, but Drew has dinner ready and I have to go eat!

So, Drew, I love you with all my heart and appreciate you and all you do for me and our family. You are a wonderful example to the boys about how a wife should be treated. Hopefully, they will learn from you and treat their wives with as much respect and love as you show me. It is my hope that Addison will find a husband to treat her as well as you treat me. I hope and pray she will not settle for anything less than what she is learning through your example. I know I am not always easy to love, but you do it without fail. Thank you for being you and for your unconditional and unceasing love. You are AWESOME!

44 Questions

Jackson: Is it Halloween, yet?

Me: Not yet.

Jackson: It will be Halloween in three weeks, right?

Me: Well, just two weeks and two days now.

Jackson: Hey, that's not much.

Me: Nope. Just sixteen days until Halloween.

Jackson: Hey, that's too many!

Me: I'm sorry. I can't do anything about that.

Jackson: The weatherman can make it Halloween.

(Yes, this sounds familiar!) :)

Me: HOW can the weatherman make it Halloween?

Jackson: With his magic star.

Me: What is a magic star?

Jackson: It's a wishing star. It means your dreams come true.

This little boy wants it to be Halloween so badly! The only reason I can think of is because he wants to be a red Power Ranger.

Okay, my life is pretty boring right now and my kids just aren't being very funny at the moment. So, I have resorted to answering a bunch of questions that were forwarded to me in an e-mail. There is really no purpose to these questions except for you to get to know me a little better! Feel free to copy and paste these onto your blog if you would like. Maybe they will spur some good conversations!


1. Do you like blue cheese? no
2. Have you ever smoked? just tried it in high school
3. Do you own a gun? Yes, I bought one for Drew before we were married. You might be a redneck...
4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? grape
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Can you say "White-Coat Syndrome?"
6. What do you think of hot dogs? covered in chili and cheese!
7. What is your favorite Christmas Movie? Charlie Brown Christmas~ Childhood memories!
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? just water or my protein drink
9. Can you do push ups? Yeah!
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? my wedding ring, of course!
11. Favorite hobby? I like to cross-stitch but don't have time anymore. Yes, I said cross-stitch! Suprised?
12. Do you have A.D.D.? I have internet A.D.D.!
13. What's one trait you dislike about yourself? not being satisfied with who I am. Oh, yeah, and I cry at the drop of a hat when talking about kids or family.
14. Middle name? Renee
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment... I am hungry. I should helping Drew fix dinner. I am very sleepy.
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? water, milk, juice
17. Current worry? When will we ever get ahead financially?
18. Current hate right now? this crazy economy
19. Favorite place to be? my grandparent's house in Octavia, Oklahoma!
20. How did you bring in the New Year? I'm almost certain I was already asleep!
21. Where would you like to go? the East Coast
22. Name three people who will complete these questions? Katie, Megan, Sarah?
23. Do you own slippers? yes
24. What color shirt are you wearing right now? white
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? haven't slept on them
26. Can you whistle? yes
27. Favorite color? Pink
28. Would you be a pirate? Arrrrr! No, Matey!
29. DO YOU SING in the shower? Only when truely inspired to do so!
30. Favorite Girl's Name? Addison
31. Favorite boy's name? Bryson, Jackson, Drew
32. What's in your pocket right now? no pockets
33. Last thing that made you laugh? seeing Katie do lunges in the hall after school!
34. Best bed sheets as a child? can't remember
35. Worst injury you've ever had? tore my ACL when I was 5 weeks pregnant playing a game with the kids at school. OUCH!
36. Do you love where you live? Yes, although I don't like the drive so much.
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 4
38. Who is your loudest friend? Debbie! ;) Love Ya!
39. How many dogs do you have? two, Jessie and Belle
40. Does someone have a crush on you? does a 6 year-old count?
41. What is your favorite book? The Notebook
42. What is your favorite candy? dark chocolate
43. Favorite Sports Team? Dallas cowboys
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? It is Well.

Marroon Out!

Pily, Bryson and Jackson at the Century Tree.
Honoring Reveille.

Bryson, Connor and Jackson on the bus to Kyle Field.
Guess where we went?!?!
Yesterday we drove down to College Station. My friend, Stefanie, and her son, Connor, went with us. We left early in the morning and arrived around 10:30. Stefanie was able to see her daughter, Katelyn, who is a freshman at A and M and I was able to see my little sister, Pily, who is in her second year there. Stefanie and Connor went to the game and Pily showed us around their amazing campus! We walked all over that place. They boys favorite place was the convenience store in the MSC!

I made a huge mistake yesterday and didn't realize it until we drove into College Station. I wore an orange shirt! Yes, that's right, orange! Jackson did, too. I really didn't think about wearing marroon. I don't have a marroon shirt. Bryson wore his A and M shirt, but Drew got him dressed yesterday. Jackson doesn't have an A and M shirt, and Drew just happened to put an orange shirt on him. I didn't even realize Jackson and I had on the same color shirt until we got in the car. My shirt really stood out yesterday, though, among all the marroon! I know people thought we were Longhorn fans. I felt like I was stared at all day! I thought about buying us a t-shirt at the bookstore, but I'm cheap! I was waiting until we went to the tent sale! Jackson has a shirt, now, but I still don't. I didn't find anything really cute that I wanted. Next time I go, though, I WILL find a marroon shirt. I will NEVER wear orange to College Station again. I promise!

We finally got home last night around 9:30. When we were in Waco I noticed a Valero station had gas for $2.61! I had enough to get home, but I had to take advantage of that price. After about 10 minutes I thought about leaving, but we already had time invested so we stayed. We waited in line for over 20 minutes just to get to the pump, but when you drive a Suburban it is worth the wait! I haven't seen it that low in months! Hopefully, we will see that price around here soon.

So, our very short road trip was fun. The boys enjoyed playing together and Stefanie and I had some good conversations! Thanks for going with us! I hope we can do that again some day!
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Here is the list of words that Addie can say right now:

Mama

Dada

guys (She yells this when she wants the boys' attention!)

Jessie (our black lab)

Belle Belle (our small dog- a mutt)

mine (She says this A LOT!)

Uh Oh!

Yee Haw (She is a Texan, y'all!)

nana (banana)

ball

mo (more)

hi (With a little Texas accent~ so cute!)

bye bye (Sounds like bye buy eee.)

fish

book

pretty (This was actually her first word!)

hot

duck

ni nite

shoe (Gotta love a girl who loves her shoes!)

shooee (Right before or during a stinky diaper change!)

yea!

ta da

cheese (When I am taking her picture she says this!)

baboo (baby)

sit down (My grandmother taught her this one!)

I will add more as she learns them. I love it when she learns a new word! She has the sweetest little (well, big) voice!