Memorial Day- Food and Friends
I got to thinking what I could post about today. I have been thinking about Amber Nicole all day. She is one of my best friends from high school that is by far one of my most favorite people in the whole world. What I love about Amber is she has worked for everything she has and she has the most positive attitudes in the world. So many of us including myself have been given so many things by our parents to help us "get started" in life. It has not always been easy for her. She very seldom calls me to vent or complain. She is thankful for what she has and always makes me see the good in every situation. She enlisted in the Army when we were seniors in high school and has been gone ever since. She started at the bottom and worked her way up. She is now married with two kids and takes care of her mom and stepdad. I depended on Amber in school for so many things. She was my right arm during basketball season, my support system, and always my biggest fan. She has been the most honest and most loyal friend I have ever had. If I gained 5 pounds or my shorts were too short she was the first to let me know. She is the cutest thing I have ever seen and has a perfect family now! She loves the Lord and her chilren like I do. Obsessed may be the right word. Thank you Amber for being the best thing in the world. Thank you for all of the sacrifices you make for our freedom!! You are truly my hero!!!
Here are your recipes I have been promising!!
Meatloaf-
1 pound HB meat
1 medium onion chopped (small)
2 stalks celery chopped
1 tablespoon mustard
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup oatmeal
Mix everything together. Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Put it all in a baking dish. (one of those loaf pans, like you would bake bread in) Pour ketchup all over the top(cover all of the meat)
Bake at 350 for an hour. I cover mine with foil and take off the foil about 15 minutes before it done!
Quick Peach Cobbler
Mix 2 cups of self rising flour, 2 cups of milk, 2 cups of powered sugar togther with a mixer. Pour in a 9x11 baking dish. Take 2 cans of sliced peaches and drain the juice. Pour in the pan. Take a stick of butter and cut in small squares spreading them out all over the pan. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 for an hour. Take foil off and turn up the temp to 400 and bake until the top is golden brown!!!
I did not proofread this. Luke is eating his hands. Love you!!1
Monday, May 30, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Change
Last night was graduation for our whole school. That means my class and Jake. Those were really the only two I was worried about. The theme was change. Our school changed from a private school last year to a charter school. The best way for me to explain charter school is a public school that is privately ran. We can pick and choose the students we want and the state funds us, which means I get paid like a public school teacher as opposed to private and my kids are usually so well behaved. It's really hard to beat. As my principal talked about all the change that has taken place this last year at school I sat and thought about how much has changed in my life. I never would have thought a year ago I would have another perfect baby boy already. May 14 of last year is when Cody asked me to marry him. Jake and I made the BIG move to Centerville mid June. Cody has a job where he works shift work. I knew it was going to be so tough raising a family with him on a different shift each week. He worked a week of days, a week of evenings, and a week of nights. Then they cycle would repeat. Cody had put in for a different job within the plant but it takes months for them to make a decision. They have to go through psychiatric evaluations, interviews, training, and all of this non sense before they hire. Thank God Cody passed his psych. evaluation( ha) because the day I found out I was pregnant he found out he got the job!! He now works a month of straight days, a week of evenings, a week of nights, and back to a month of days. Let me back up and say finding a job here is not the easiest task. Centerville district is incredibly small and teachers NEVER leave. It was by the grace of God that the charter I worked for in Willis took over this school in Crockett and I was able to transfer. Everything has fallen right in to place. My biggest worry moving here was Jake's education and where I would put him. A daycare wasn't appealing to me and the choices are slim to none here. Just so happened my school in Crockett had a pre-school for 3 year olds. Jake has blossomed this year and has grown up so much right before my eyes. He has adjusted to all of this change so well.
Last night I was a mess. I am such a crier. I cried when they called Jake's name and said he wanted to be a police man. I cried when I looked up and saw Cody rocking Luke in the audience. I cried when my principal announced my 4th graders and how much change they have had to deal with because I sub for 8 weeks. I cried when I rocked Luke to sleep last night because he is too precious for words. When I was pregnant I could blame it on my hormones but the truth is I have always been this way. I don't know why I seem to be so surprised that God keeps blessing me so much. He always provides and lays it all out. I am still waiting for him to change my body so it looks like it did before both of these kids!!
My babies and how much they have "changed" in such short time
Last night was graduation for our whole school. That means my class and Jake. Those were really the only two I was worried about. The theme was change. Our school changed from a private school last year to a charter school. The best way for me to explain charter school is a public school that is privately ran. We can pick and choose the students we want and the state funds us, which means I get paid like a public school teacher as opposed to private and my kids are usually so well behaved. It's really hard to beat. As my principal talked about all the change that has taken place this last year at school I sat and thought about how much has changed in my life. I never would have thought a year ago I would have another perfect baby boy already. May 14 of last year is when Cody asked me to marry him. Jake and I made the BIG move to Centerville mid June. Cody has a job where he works shift work. I knew it was going to be so tough raising a family with him on a different shift each week. He worked a week of days, a week of evenings, and a week of nights. Then they cycle would repeat. Cody had put in for a different job within the plant but it takes months for them to make a decision. They have to go through psychiatric evaluations, interviews, training, and all of this non sense before they hire. Thank God Cody passed his psych. evaluation( ha) because the day I found out I was pregnant he found out he got the job!! He now works a month of straight days, a week of evenings, a week of nights, and back to a month of days. Let me back up and say finding a job here is not the easiest task. Centerville district is incredibly small and teachers NEVER leave. It was by the grace of God that the charter I worked for in Willis took over this school in Crockett and I was able to transfer. Everything has fallen right in to place. My biggest worry moving here was Jake's education and where I would put him. A daycare wasn't appealing to me and the choices are slim to none here. Just so happened my school in Crockett had a pre-school for 3 year olds. Jake has blossomed this year and has grown up so much right before my eyes. He has adjusted to all of this change so well.
Last night I was a mess. I am such a crier. I cried when they called Jake's name and said he wanted to be a police man. I cried when I looked up and saw Cody rocking Luke in the audience. I cried when my principal announced my 4th graders and how much change they have had to deal with because I sub for 8 weeks. I cried when I rocked Luke to sleep last night because he is too precious for words. When I was pregnant I could blame it on my hormones but the truth is I have always been this way. I don't know why I seem to be so surprised that God keeps blessing me so much. He always provides and lays it all out. I am still waiting for him to change my body so it looks like it did before both of these kids!!
My babies and how much they have "changed" in such short time
Jake (Then)
Now ( 4 years later)
Luke (Then)
Now ( 2 months later)
I swear my next post won't be so sappy!!!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Field Day
Today was Jake's field/beach day! I was able to run out on my conference time and get a few pics. How cool is it that I am able to be involved in so much that he does and still work a full time job. You really can't beat it! I did notice that he was the cutest kid at my school and puts a bigger smile on my face than anybody else. I loooooooove this precious little boy so much!
Friday, May 20, 2011
It's the Freakin' Weekend
I swear this week has been the LONGEST of my life. It has drug on and on. Our schedule is so out of whack! I am back at work, Cody is working evenings, Jake is at his dads, and my mom and step mom have been here all week to take care of Luke. My mom left on Wednesday and my step mom came. I swear I love these women so much. I really am so lucky they are always so willing to help. My step mom, Annette, and I have had such a good visit. We sit outside most evenings and just talk. She lost her only daughter almost exactly a year ago leaving behind her only granddaughter, Savanna, that is in the 1st grade. And probably the most precious thing around. Annette lived for her daughter and granddaughter. I am certain Savanna, Jake, and Luke are what keep her going daily. I am a firm believer that when it is your time He takes you home because He needs you more than we do. This is so hard to grasp when He takes somebody so young, somebody that you love, and somebody who still has a small child who will grow up without a mommy. It has probably been the worst thing we have ever went through as a family. It has made me realize that tomorrow is not promised no matter how old you are and how many babies you have at home. There is not ever a day that goes by that I don't pray for my step mom and Savanna, it literally hurts my heart. So, anytime my step mom is here we talk about Amy and if she was here what she would have done in certain situations and all of the fun times she had. We cry, we laugh, and we still try to understand why she's gone. She lived her life to the absolute fullest and had a good time anywhere she went. Savanna and Amy had a bond just like me and Jake do. I think Luke has helped my step mom more than anything because as one life ends another one begins. There is no doubt Luke loves his Granny. His face lights up when she is around.
Amy & Savanna
I picked up my camera this morning on my way out of the door so I could sit and read some more on it today. I have some cute ideas for some pictures of Luke that I want to try this weekend! I will post them if they turn out. Here are some pictures I found on my camera that had not been uploaded yet!
Jake and Dayton
Is it normal Jake has muscles like this?
Luke Thomas
I swear this week has been the LONGEST of my life. It has drug on and on. Our schedule is so out of whack! I am back at work, Cody is working evenings, Jake is at his dads, and my mom and step mom have been here all week to take care of Luke. My mom left on Wednesday and my step mom came. I swear I love these women so much. I really am so lucky they are always so willing to help. My step mom, Annette, and I have had such a good visit. We sit outside most evenings and just talk. She lost her only daughter almost exactly a year ago leaving behind her only granddaughter, Savanna, that is in the 1st grade. And probably the most precious thing around. Annette lived for her daughter and granddaughter. I am certain Savanna, Jake, and Luke are what keep her going daily. I am a firm believer that when it is your time He takes you home because He needs you more than we do. This is so hard to grasp when He takes somebody so young, somebody that you love, and somebody who still has a small child who will grow up without a mommy. It has probably been the worst thing we have ever went through as a family. It has made me realize that tomorrow is not promised no matter how old you are and how many babies you have at home. There is not ever a day that goes by that I don't pray for my step mom and Savanna, it literally hurts my heart. So, anytime my step mom is here we talk about Amy and if she was here what she would have done in certain situations and all of the fun times she had. We cry, we laugh, and we still try to understand why she's gone. She lived her life to the absolute fullest and had a good time anywhere she went. Savanna and Amy had a bond just like me and Jake do. I think Luke has helped my step mom more than anything because as one life ends another one begins. There is no doubt Luke loves his Granny. His face lights up when she is around.
Amy & Savanna
I picked up my camera this morning on my way out of the door so I could sit and read some more on it today. I have some cute ideas for some pictures of Luke that I want to try this weekend! I will post them if they turn out. Here are some pictures I found on my camera that had not been uploaded yet!
Jake and Dayton
Is it normal Jake has muscles like this?
Luke Thomas
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Pictures
I had newborn pictures done of Luke when he was a week old and I just got them back. He has changed so much already. He is looking so much like a baby and not a newborn! The picture of Jake by himself is my absolute favorite. He is so very handsome!! I got Jake's pictures done every 3 months until he was a year old. That probably won't happen for my little Luke. I have been reading about my camera so I am going to try and get my moneys worth from it!
This is my favorite picture of them together!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Boys...Kinda Boring
Has it really been two weeks since I blogged?! I am not going to try and catch up because there really has not been too much going on. I came back to work yesterday and it's really not as bad as I thought it would be. I have this week and next week and I am done for the summer. Jake and I are back to our daily drive and talks to and from school while my mom is home with Luke. I saw Jake on the playground yesterday and he begged to come to my room for the rest of the day. He said,"I very don't want to take a nap, Mom." Lord knows he still needs naps so I made him stay! Besides the fact of having to get up so early I think he really loves coming to school. They do the coolest stuff in his room. Sometimes I wish I was a student in there.
Luke is 8 weeks old and is getting to be more fun everyday. I am more in love with him today than I was yesterday. He smiles so big when we talk to him. He has been the perfect baby, really. He sleeps through the night, he never cries, and he is absolutely precious. I still wake up every morning and look at both of them and ask is this really my life? Are these really my kids? Do I really have the most handsome and genuine man as my husband? I just cant get over it. Luke will be going to the doctor for his two month check up soon and I will post all of his stats!! I do know that he was 20 inches when he was born and now he's somewhere between 25 and 26 inches. He's growing like a weed!
Jake took some hard core swimming lessons last summer. I swear his instructor was an Army drill seargent at one time. I was allowed to go and secretly watch on his last lesson and I was amazed at what she had taught him but he was scared to death the entire time. He has not done much swimming since then until the last few weeks at moms. He usually stays in the hot tub 98% of the time. The big pool is still a little too much I think. All of the sudden he has been diving to the bottom of the hot tub and picking things up off the bottom. He will swim from one side to the other with his head completely under. Swimming must be the equivalent of riding a bicycle, because he acts like he has done this his whole life. It makes me feel so much more comfortable when we are there. Something about a pool right outside the door and babies makes my stomach turn. Jake has needed so much attention here lately. We play and he wants me to watch him do everything. It's really cute. He is starting to become so independent and wants his mommy to see it all. Who wouldn't want that precious baby following them around all day and wanting to help in every way? Jake is a brown as a bean and I swear his eyelashes have grown another 6 inches overnight. I tell him every night I am going to have to beat the girls away and he better let them know that his mommy is the only girl he loves! He thinks I am kidding. He will learn soon enough how right mommy was.
7 days and counting until summer. I can't wait to be home with my babies again!!!
Has it really been two weeks since I blogged?! I am not going to try and catch up because there really has not been too much going on. I came back to work yesterday and it's really not as bad as I thought it would be. I have this week and next week and I am done for the summer. Jake and I are back to our daily drive and talks to and from school while my mom is home with Luke. I saw Jake on the playground yesterday and he begged to come to my room for the rest of the day. He said,"I very don't want to take a nap, Mom." Lord knows he still needs naps so I made him stay! Besides the fact of having to get up so early I think he really loves coming to school. They do the coolest stuff in his room. Sometimes I wish I was a student in there.
Luke is 8 weeks old and is getting to be more fun everyday. I am more in love with him today than I was yesterday. He smiles so big when we talk to him. He has been the perfect baby, really. He sleeps through the night, he never cries, and he is absolutely precious. I still wake up every morning and look at both of them and ask is this really my life? Are these really my kids? Do I really have the most handsome and genuine man as my husband? I just cant get over it. Luke will be going to the doctor for his two month check up soon and I will post all of his stats!! I do know that he was 20 inches when he was born and now he's somewhere between 25 and 26 inches. He's growing like a weed!
Jake took some hard core swimming lessons last summer. I swear his instructor was an Army drill seargent at one time. I was allowed to go and secretly watch on his last lesson and I was amazed at what she had taught him but he was scared to death the entire time. He has not done much swimming since then until the last few weeks at moms. He usually stays in the hot tub 98% of the time. The big pool is still a little too much I think. All of the sudden he has been diving to the bottom of the hot tub and picking things up off the bottom. He will swim from one side to the other with his head completely under. Swimming must be the equivalent of riding a bicycle, because he acts like he has done this his whole life. It makes me feel so much more comfortable when we are there. Something about a pool right outside the door and babies makes my stomach turn. Jake has needed so much attention here lately. We play and he wants me to watch him do everything. It's really cute. He is starting to become so independent and wants his mommy to see it all. Who wouldn't want that precious baby following them around all day and wanting to help in every way? Jake is a brown as a bean and I swear his eyelashes have grown another 6 inches overnight. I tell him every night I am going to have to beat the girls away and he better let them know that his mommy is the only girl he loves! He thinks I am kidding. He will learn soon enough how right mommy was.
7 days and counting until summer. I can't wait to be home with my babies again!!!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Very Near Future
Yes, I am very aware that our family picture is HUGE up there and I need to play around with it to make it fit. I actually am waiting for the pictures we had done of the boys to get here to replace it.
I feel like I always write about what is going on in my life right this second and it hasn't taken me that long to realize its actually really boring. I don't want to miss any fun stuff the boys are doing at the different stages of their life. I thought I would change it up a bit and write about things coming up that we are looking forward to.
Yes, I am very aware that our family picture is HUGE up there and I need to play around with it to make it fit. I actually am waiting for the pictures we had done of the boys to get here to replace it.
I feel like I always write about what is going on in my life right this second and it hasn't taken me that long to realize its actually really boring. I don't want to miss any fun stuff the boys are doing at the different stages of their life. I thought I would change it up a bit and write about things coming up that we are looking forward to.
MAY
I have to go back to school on May 16 for two weeks until we are out for summer. I took off two extra weeks and would have liked to take off the rest of the year but with all the budget and teaching jobs being cut I figured I should go back before summer. JOB SECURITY! My mom and Cody's mom will keep Luke those last two weeks of school for us!
JUNE
We are headed to the Frio River and we are counting down the days. 49.... This trip is going to be a blast. Not only is this one of me and Cody's most favorite places to go but our WHOLE family will be there this year. We ended up renting the house that will sleep all 27 of us! It has been a long time since my sisters and brother have been on a vacation together with all of our kids. Cody's parents and brother will be there too. To top off this trip we recently found out Stoney LaRue will be playing at the house pasture on the same weekend we will be there. Jake is going to be on top of the world!!
JULY
This will be one of my very favorite months! My best friend is getting married! July 4th weekend we will have Amy's bacholerette party in Austin and her and Nick will tie the knot in Florida on July 23. I am so honored to be the one standing right by her side as her maid of honor. Amy and I have been best friends for 23 years. She saw me in Kindergarten popping my knuckles across the room and thought I was so cool. Ha. True story. I am so glad she has found happiness and hope all of her dreams come true!!!
December-February
Cody and I finally decided on a house plan. Who knew it would be so hard to find exactly what we wanted? During this process I realized that the houses that are so pretty on the outside have horrible floor plans. We have talked about building this house for so long and it always seemed so far away, its crazy that it will happen this year. Praise Jesus!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Jake had a Weekend
Jake has probably had the best weekend he has had in a while. We did not do anything spectacular or out of the ordinary but he was right in his element! Friday night he spent the night with his cousin Dayton. Dayton usually stays with us because I have been afraid Jake will cry at bedtime for me to come get him. Okay, Jake would not be the one crying. Maybe I would. Dayton lives out in the country on seven acres so him and Jake have a blast. They play outside in a dirt pile, pretend they are shooting animals, get dirt in places that shouldn't be allowed, and most of all be BOYS. Like boys back when I was growing up. They aren't inside watching TV. They are outside pretending just like all little boys should. Since the day Jake was born he has loved being outside, loved hunting and fishing, loved being dirty, and most of all loves being a BOY. It's almost like he was destined to be a country boy even when we lived in the city.
Corbin, Dayton, and Jake
Saturday he went out to the Porterfield's place with Cody. They have 107 acres and it's BEA-U-TIFUL out there. Kenny, Cody, and Jake worked cows and rode around on the Ranger. Jake was in heaven. Luke and I rode around with E-Beth and got some good pics! Jake looks like a complete nautural!
Me and this guy make pretty babies!!
Pretty sure they guys grabbed a beer, Jake chocolate milk!
Jake has probably had the best weekend he has had in a while. We did not do anything spectacular or out of the ordinary but he was right in his element! Friday night he spent the night with his cousin Dayton. Dayton usually stays with us because I have been afraid Jake will cry at bedtime for me to come get him. Okay, Jake would not be the one crying. Maybe I would. Dayton lives out in the country on seven acres so him and Jake have a blast. They play outside in a dirt pile, pretend they are shooting animals, get dirt in places that shouldn't be allowed, and most of all be BOYS. Like boys back when I was growing up. They aren't inside watching TV. They are outside pretending just like all little boys should. Since the day Jake was born he has loved being outside, loved hunting and fishing, loved being dirty, and most of all loves being a BOY. It's almost like he was destined to be a country boy even when we lived in the city.
Corbin, Dayton, and Jake
Saturday he went out to the Porterfield's place with Cody. They have 107 acres and it's BEA-U-TIFUL out there. Kenny, Cody, and Jake worked cows and rode around on the Ranger. Jake was in heaven. Luke and I rode around with E-Beth and got some good pics! Jake looks like a complete nautural!
When he got home Saturday he took a 4 hour nap, woke up and was ready to go again! I wish I could bottle his energy and sell it.
** We cooked fajitas and played poker with friends Saturday night and I made PW's mexican rice and it was so delish! I could eat it as a meal!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)