Mother's Day Tea at Sunnyvale Elementary

Mrs. Knight did such a great job putting on a little Mother's Day Tea. It was special and the songs were precious too.

Put my Mommy in a Box! I love it!

The Joys of Potty Training

So, other than sleeping at night, Foster is pretty much potty-trained...yippie! He sports around his "Buzz" and "Woody" undies and makes sure mommy calls them underwear, definitely not panties! Before leaving the babysitter yesterday, Foster tried to go P. He didn't end up going so we carried on and headed home. Letha, my fabulous sitter reminded Foster to make sure to not upset "Woody" and therefore do not pee or poop on him. Last night was NOT a cooking night, rather it was a night of being tired and hungry! So, as we were sitting in the Taco Casa line which is yummy, by the way, Foster says to me, "mommy, I need to Poop. "oops, I pooped on Woody...I'm sorry Woody, I'm sorry. It's Okay Woody, it's alright Woody!" It was priceless. I thought that when we arrived home, I would be cleaning nasty p out of his undies, but there was not any so he must have just passed gas. Kate says to Foster after he told us that he had the accident that is, "Foster, what, you think momma will be mad at you since you pooped in your underwear. Foster you are two years old and you are potty trained!" It was so cute!!!

TAKSing or Taxing!!!!

Today was the second day of TAKS at SMS! The past few days have been pretty smooth I have to say! I feel like the entire semester has been full of TESTING, benchmarks or TAKS! Only two more days and I will be HOME FREE! We did have a bird in the school today during lunches which caused a little craziness, but all is okay! This year has flown by to say the least. How can it already by May!? I love my school because the kids are just so well-behaved! I love my school because of the wonderful people I work with, I love it because of the high standards and expectations for our students and staff. I love it because I never have to be mean to kids! That is not my strength...discipline that is. I like being the "good guy!" I get to be that all the time! I love my school because of the office staff that I laugh with, can be my transparent self with, and especially act stupid and silly with! I love to hear Nurse Penny say, "I will cut you!" Yes, we got that from Bon Qui Qui! I love to watch Tish doing breathing exercises with me so I can breathe when stress overtakes me! Hilarious! There is a little hand motion that goes along with it! I don't love my days that are non-stop, but every place has it's negatives, right!!! It's tough, but it's good and of course it is TAXING on TAKS DAYS!

Foster...tinkle in the potty

I love this pic of Fos which was taken by Sarah Jones...a fabulous photographer and sweet friend!

Yippie....Foster went tee-tee in the potty today for the very first time! Letha called me at work and let Fos tell me that he went potty and got a jelly bean! Yay Foster!!!

An Exciting Day in Big D!

POST-MARATHNON PIC...AMANDA DID AWESOME! I AM SO PROUD OF HER! SHE FINISHED THE 13 MILES IN 2 HOURS 18 MINUTES!

PRE-MARATHON PIC

The four blondies!
FRIENDSHIP

Today was an exciting day as I had the honor to cheer my special friend on in her 1/2 marathon! Wow...what an adrenaline rush for me and I can only imagine what she felt! Amanda did awesome and I am so proud of her! We met her at several points along the way holding posters, yelling, taking pics, and I even jumped in and ran with her for a bit at several points! It was such a special and exciting day! Maybe one day I will run it with her!

This morning was also a big day in Dallas as Texas Stadium was demolished! I have many memories at that stadium cheering in my high school days for playoff games and dancing to "ice ice baby" in the stands as a freshman back in 1990! Such fun times!!

Easter Morning...

This was the best we could do this morning! As you can tell, we all have "sleepy" eyes after a restless night! Kate was overtired and if you're a mommy, you know what that means....a bit of tossing and turning to say the least! I think I got up four times before 1:00 a.m. to quiet a little girl who was waking the whole house up! Needless to say, she was taking a nap today!

Grandparents....aren't they GRAND! I feel like I am leaving Nani and Poppy out, but haven't had a recent pic of them with the kids. That is on my "to do" list for sure!


I tried to get Foster to pose so I could get a pic of that beautiful purple Iris planted many many many years ago by my great-grandmother, Grandmommy Smith! There are many,but this one was the only one blooming so far and must have decided to bloom early this morning which was great for Easter Sunday! Thank you Lord for beauty and for life!

Simply Fun...

A History lesson for sure beginning in 1872!

The green peas that Kate and Foster helped Pops plant three weeks ago are now growing!

Daddy put a new Texas Flag up for Pops and Foster helped too! He was in need of a new Flag!

Daddy and kids

Mommy and kids

Picnic in the River

This trip, we helped Pops plant green peppers and tomatoes!

There's just nothing like playing in the Blanco River!

We saw 16 deer and one of those was an Axis Deer which Kate loves to eat!

Part of the new entrance and "work in progress" in Blanco. Dad carved this in the rock and will add "Established in 1872"

Helping Pops plant green peas!

Shamu....Kate and Foster's first time to Sea World

An early Easter present for the grandkids when they visit Blanco. "Bullet" is the name for the mustang!

We've had a fun and busy March...it came and went! Spring Break mixed in there could have helped it go by a little faster! We spent most of that spring break week in Blanco visiting grandparents as well as visiting Sea World. It was Kate and Foster's first time to see Shamu and baby Shamu! When we arrived in Blanco that week, Pops and Keekee had surprised them with an early Easter present. They had to follow the eggs to the little red mustang named "bullet." The kids had tons of fun driving that car around everywhere.

This past weekend we went to Blanco once again and had so much fun just hanging out enjoying the beautiful weather....simple and fun to say the least! Daddy got to go with us and we did everything from having a picnic in the river, trampoline wrestling, helping Pops plant peppers and tomatoes, riding around looking for deer, sitting in the dinosaur tracks, watching Pops paint the "Smith Ranch" rock which as Matthew said is a history lesson for the kids and finally putting up a new Texas Flag for Pops! Of course the Easter Bunny delivered a basket of goodies during the night, but we talked about what the real meaning of Easter is all about! We are grateful today that Jesus Christ has risen and lives inside of our hearts! My prayer is that we will always have hearts that are a reflection of him!

The Week Before TAKS!

You see actually this was not to be my office at all...outside of my door reads "Assistant Principal" and we do not have an Assistant Principal. It is just the Principal and myself! This past summer when I moved in, I just happen to say that I sure would love to have this office so I could see the outdoors on a daily basis vs. my counseling office which had NO windows and much to my surprise, Josh Williams said, " I don't see a problem with that being your office." YIPPIE! I was quickly known as the lucky girl who got the best counseling office in the district! Well, we only have three schools total so that's not saying much or actually it is because less is more! :)

That is not at all what my desk looks like these days...this was from this past summer and the craziness had not begun!

Well, my life is a bit crazy right now! UGGH....I cannot breathe! I got up at 5:00 a.m. to do P90X arms and back that kicked my hiney! Prior to that, I woke up this morning asking the Lord to please help me get tons done today at work since I only had today and two more "school" days before test day! Being the testing coordinator/counselor really is tough! As I said before, God will see me through!!! I will keep believing and knowing that is truth! My wonderful principal has been out the last three days because he just had his first child....I can remember what that feeling was like...so special and just the greatest joy ever! I'm sure glad he is back!!! I did not STOP all day long! I did in fact get tons done today. Thank you God! Tomorrow all I have to do is hang my rosters!!! Yippie!
Tonight I have been reading Paige's blog about her precious friend Jenny and that just softens my heart!! I love reading her blog! This was posted on Paige's blog and is pretty neat. Jewelry has been created in memory of Jenny and Paige's friend is selling it on ETSY and all the proceeds go to the Jenny Bizaillion family. Go to this link and see what you think....www.etsy.com/shop/cfoster629

Easter Bunny Spring Pictures!

SWEET AND PRECIOUS TO ME

Kimberly Grogan, a wonderful photographer and family friend asked if we had time for a bunny shoot to which I said, "well, of course we do!" So, we spent the day yesterday taking pictures at her new studio, http://www.tinroof-studio.com/. This place is so neat in the middle of Arlington nestled back among many trees, tall green grass, old barns, and white fences, among other things....the city with a country feel and therefore such neat picture backgrounds. I can't wait to see them all. It was a fun family day!

Balcony Friends!

Have you ever had a friend that when you talked about her, you got emotional because you love her pure and precious heart so much....well that would be my wonderful friend, Amanda. I am so very thankful for her and so thankful that the Lord crossed our paths 8 years ago in San Antonio, Tx. She taught me the meaning of BALCONY FRIEND...those friends who stand tall and cheer you on when you think you can't keep going and well, just cheer you on ALWAYS!! They stand up for you, would do anything for you, come over when you need them and always have just the right thing to say.... Since we met in SA several years back, we have always said we were "kindred spirits" and I truly believe that! When Matthew and I moved back to Dallas prior to she and Trey, we were sad that we would be four hours away and she gave me a little silver cross with a saying on the back. I still see that everyday as it sits on my bathroom counter! She is so very special to me! I love her heart most of all because it is so pure and always about the "right" things! Her little girl, Elise, is just like her....just precious! Thank you Amanda! I love you friend! Can't wait to cheer you on for you race on April 11! I had hoped to run it with you but the training just couldn't fit in to my crazy life right now! However, I was honored to have been asked and there is no other person that I would rather run a race with and obviously that holds several meanings!

"It's Not Your Turn Paci!"

Yes, I heard my little Fos tell one his paci's in one hand while the other was in the other hand and still another was in his mouth that it was not that paci's turn yet. OH MY....can you believe it! How can anyone love a paci that much!? My little man does and I have just got to get rid of them at some point!

So....Remember this picture of Foster back in September of 2008. Well, obviously the pic on the far left is more current, but he loved those paci's back then and still loves them today. Now for getting rid of them....I HAVE TO DO IT SOON! Come on Mommy...I can do it!!!

FRIENDSHIP AT FIVE!

Well, as five year old girls do...Kate insisted that she didn't wear socks with her tenny's to school yesterday and although I was okay with it, I told her to put those socks in her backpack so that when her ankles had blisters, she would have those socks to put on. As you know it, we pulled in the parking lot and got out to walk in and she says, "mommy, my feet hurt," to which I answered, "well, did you put those socks in your backpack?" OOOPS MOMMY....no I forgot to put them in as I was too busy watching Arthur!!! I told Kate I was sure sorry, but that I had told her to put those socks in her backpack and I didn't know what to do about it.

That afternoon when I picked her up, sure enough she had on a pair of socks with those shoes and I asked her where she got them. She told me they were Hillary's socks. Hillary and Kate just hit it off this year and love each other so much! You see, Hillary had always been home with her mom until this year and actually she is just four. This was her first year to be away from home all day long and you can only imagine how hard that is after being home with mommy for the last four years. Hillary's grandmother is the Elementary Counselor and has told me time and time again that she just didn't know what she would do next year when Kate goes off to Kindergarten while Hillary would be staying in Pre-K for one more year. She even asked me if I could just hold Kate back a year. We both laughed. Anyway, on to the story....I found out the following day when I had to walk students over from the middle to the elementary school that in fact Hillary took her socks off of her feet that she was wearing at the time only to give them to Kate. Hillary knew Kate's feet really hurt and she wanted to help! As Glenda, Hillary's grandmother, told me this she had tears streaming down her face. She just couldn't believe that they did that all themselves, that Hillary took her socks off for Kate and that Kate was happily willing to put the worn socks on of Hillary's....possibly sweaty and all. Now, that is the friendship of five-year-olds! If only I could be more that way!

My Kate and My Foster

I love them so much and am so grateful that the Lord blessed us with such precious little things. I pray that God gives me wisdom as I "mommy" them on a daily basis while juggling everything else in my life. It's tough to be a working mom, but God doesn't give me anything I can't handle! He will see me through!

What is he about right now, you say.....Foster loves his paci's, he is not potty-trained and in fact I can count how many times I have set him on the potty to "try." My awesome babysitter, Letha, says that she will be happy to potty-train him during the day when he's with her, but that I have to be willing to do it in the evenings. UMMM...Not YET! She also wanted to mail his paci's to the paci-fairy, but I am NOT ready for that either! I think I will wait until summertime! What else is Foster about....he LOVES and ADORES people! He kissed the pizza delivery girl last week and although I was a little apprehensive, he puckered up and she leaned down for his kiss. Everyone needs lovin, right! He is a happy little love bug! I just want to kiss him all of the time as every other mother does in this world! Foster loves to eat toast in the morning for breakfast and he says, "with honey on it mamma..." I wish you could hear those words as they are just precious! He loves to be WILD! He loves to take what Kate has, loves to go to Letha's, loves to play with my coasters of all things, loves to watch "Psalty's Songs," loves his sister Kate and hugs her every night and every morning when we leave for school, loves to EAT, loves to push anything that can be pushed including choo-choo our dog, loves to write and draw like Kate, loves to be outside. I know there is more that I am forgetting, but I can't think of it right now and Matt isn't here to help me so I will add more later. The pic above is of Fos at his 2nd Birthday...Cowboy Birthday!

KATE....she loves SCHOOL! We started the year in tears...not Kate....Mommy! I was very sad that Kate would not attend DC this year, but there is a reason for everything and God is in control. However, when seeing Mrs. Conner at church the Sunday before school was to start the following day and sweet Mrs. Conner asked me about Kate's new school...I had to live in the bathroom stall for the entire church class. I couldn't stop crying! Well, 7 months later I am used to it and we love Sunnyvale too. Although I wish Kate got to enjoy singing all of those precious songs that Mrs. Conner taught her and although I wish she to to attend chapel everyday, it will all be okay. We do that at home and in the car and well... maybe Kate needs to touch a life at Sunnyvale Elementary. I couldn't ask for a better public school....Mrs. Tutle (Mrs. Amy) is the principal who has been a family friend for a long time and we attend church with her as well. Kate's teacher, Mrs. Knight is a wonderful lady and helps her husband in the summers who does mission work in Africa, Ms. Green is so loving and nurturing, and Ms. Ellis is awesome too. I never worry about Kate. She just loves her friends there and her teachers too. What else does Kate love...she loves to EAT...still loving the baby food sweet potatoes and squash. I knew there would come a day when that became a social issue and she will no longer take it for snack because she doesn't want the boys in her class to see her. She will, however, still take it for lunch. Kate is very much into American Dolls right now. Her grandmother got her the Bitty Twins for her 5th Birthday, but she took them back and got a "just like you" doll instead and named her Abbie. Although she is a blondie, she chose a dark-headed doll. She told me that she wanted one that looked like me, which of course made me smile. She is also into being a GIRL! She loves to paint her nails and will use a marker to do that if she can't find her polish, she loves to put on my make-up, dress up, fix her hair, change clothes a million times a day when a friend is over to play, loves to help take her of her brother, loves to play outside especially on the monkey bars (her new playscape) that Keekee and Pops got she and Foster for Christmas, loves to "GO!" She is like her mom in that she wants to go somewhere, anywhere! In fact, she woke up today saying she wanted to go do something and well daddy is with Kate and Foster at the Zoo...her fourth or fifth trip and Foster's first trip! I wish I would have gone, but I am absolutely worn out after a week of my first TAKS go-round for the year! Kate is my sweetie...she also loves people, but not quite as much as Fos! To be Continued with Matt's help..... The pic above is Kate's first day of K4 in Sunnyvale.

9 months Later...

No, that doesn't mean I now have a baby.....it means I have not blogged in nine months. WOW! Well, I am going to start trying to write again and in addition to needing to write for my children and document precious memories for them, I was inspired by Jenny B. after reading her blog after she left this earth to live with Jesus. What a neat thing for her littel girl to have...a written/documented piece of her mother's heart. Speaking of Jenny, I want to mention that although I never had the opportunity to meet her, her life touched me in so many ways. My longing is for my heart to feel the way it did while watching her funeral that was so Incredibly NEAT! I felt like I was experiencing a little piece of what HEAVEN will be like! I want my heart to feel that way every single day and it excites me to know that was a glimpse of HEAVEN! We are still praying for Jenny's family and would love to meet them all one day. While Jenny was fighting for her life, I would find myself thinking about her all day, waking up in the night asking God to heal her and then waking up to see what Paige had posted on FB the next morning. I wanted to know every update and see what specific things we need to ask God for next. I woke up one morning and I had met her in my dream that night. It was really very strange, but I can't wait to really meet her in Heaven. So...I am blogging again for my children and here is a recent pic of them after nine months of NOTHING! Shame on me!

Snowy Fun 2010

Wow, we had tons of snow this year for Texas and it was just a blast!