STUCK BETWEEN MEMORIES AND CALORIES
 
 
     We have been up to the same ole stuff around here. The kids keep me and Cody so busy we don't have time for much. We love it, of course! Luke is still running around the house in mismatch costumes. His imagination is crazy. He keeps us in stiches ALL OF THE TIME! He started pre-school this year and is going twice a week. He is loving it so much. He goes to his regular in-home childcare the rest of the time. I was laying him down last week and he said, " Mom, where am I going tomorrow? I said, Mrs. Pam's house. He put his hands out and asked, Well, when is my day off?" His new thing is Legos right now. He can build just about anything and will play for hours with them. He has always been a daddy's boy and I always joked it was a good thing because Jake is always so far stuck up my butt there wasn't room for two. But here lately this little one wants his mama more and more. I totally love it!

 

 

 

 



     Jake just finished his fall ball season. He tried out for the College Station 12 team last summer and made the maroon team. We drive to College Station twice a week for practice and Katy every other Sunday for games. We are on the road A LOT. We study spelling on the road, we practice math facts, and we talk about sports and his dreams. People think we are absolutely insane for doing what we do with this select ball. And that's okay. My mom drove from Willis to Clearlake when I was a kid so I could play on the best select basketball team in Houston and I made some of the best memories of my life there. We have already made great friends with the other families and Jake talks about the boys on his team constantly!  I will never forget one time my brother had to take me to practice and it was a good hour and a half if we didn't hit traffic. I kept telling him I had to use the restroom but he would just kinda nod and turn his music up louder. I am one of those people that when I say I have to pee, I gotta pee NOW. We hadn't no more pulled in the parking lot at the gym and I peed all over myself! I think Mom had given us twenty bucks to get something to eat on the way home so we had NO extra money to go buy me any new clothes. He turned that car around and drove me an hour and a half back home. Cussing me the whole way I'm sure. The times I am completely exhausted I remember something I saw one time...one day you wont have any kids to chase after and a quiet house. Enjoy it while you can. We are doing just that!

 

I haven't been on my diet or worked out in two weeks. I have cooked meals for my family I haven't cooked in a long time because they are "fattening." Which leads me to my next thought...I grew up in a BIG Cajun family. My mom was one of eight and my dad one of three and they were all from Louisiana. I think I was the only one born in Texas and my grandpa used to call me" HALF ASS COONASS." The things that I loved the most about the holidays and going to Louisiana was that certain smell. No, not a yankee candle smell or a glade plug in. That smell of the beginning of a roux, pork roast, smothered pork chops, or the start of rice dressing. So many memories with the women in our family happened in a kitchen. My grandparents raised all eight kids in a 1200 sq. foot house. Once their kids had kids we would be packed forty deep in there.  They had couches on every wall and a tiny kitchen. My grandmother was such a pack rat most of the counter space was taken up by junk. But we didn't care, we loved it. We would race to Westlake just to see what they were cooking. Mouth would start watering about Sulphur because you just knew it was going to be so good! What I would give for my kids to have visited that house just once...
     I have been off of my diet for two weeks now and haven't been able to work out oFast forward 20 years and this is our life now. I attempt to meal prep every week for me. These meals do not consist of roux, smothered pork chops, or rice dressing. They are the typical high protein, low fat meals. In return my kids eat something quick. Something frozen I throw in the oven or fast food. In the mornings they will ask for pancakes and I will pull out the frozen ones and they whine they want homemade. HOMEMADE?? I can't make homemade because then I will eat one now with syrup, and then eat one for a midnight snack and that's NOT on my diet! So, I don't cook it anymore! Here lately I have been thinking about these little boys, and the memories I have as a child. I want them to think of their mama as the best cook in the world. I want them to have that comforting feeling when they walk in from college with a friend and they can smell that gumbo on the stove. I want that smile on their face when they see those pork chops and rice and gravy on the table for supper. Do I want to be healthy and eat right and exercise and buy organic foods? Sure. But sometimes in this crazy world we live in now I just think we may have it all wrong.

I hope Thanksgiving is eating that piece of pumpkin pie and making lasting memories with your family!!
I hope Thanksgiving is a wonderful time spent with your family. I hope you eat that piece of pumpkin pie, and make lasting memories with the ones you love the most!

Jake's Birthday Post ( A day late)


           Jake is EIGHT today! Lord, how does this happen? This is more of a bragging post. Sorry, not sorry!

Jake is my clone. He's my buddy. Nobody knows him better than me! He's always seemed so mature for his age. He is a very serious child. He is a little shy and he rarely lets people see his silly side. He is so tender hearted and sensitive. I tend to be much harder on him than Luke and I'm sure it will be obvious once Luke starts school. Since Jake has been in school I think he's had his color changed twice. He's never made below a 94 on a report card and has become quite the little reader. Cody and I spend a lot of time with him doing school work teaching him how important it is. As much as he loves sports I try to reiterate that his education is always number one. I use sports most days to explain math problems to him and when he finishes a novel in a day it's usually a book that involves a ball. Whatever works! 

He is a remarkable athlete and I know if he can continue working as hard as he does he is going to be something special. He understands people don't get "lucky" by playing in college or the professionals. They work. We may not see them work but I promise they are putting in the extra time somewhere. Anybody that knows Jake sees that wherever he goes he's got a ball in his hands. He's always working. 

Jake is halfway through his classes to make his first Communion and first Confirmation at Easter! He asks me every Sunday if it's finally the day he gets to receive communion? I have to admit my mom talks to him and teaches him all about our Catholic faith and picks up my slack. I have been very strict this year on him about these classes. We try not to miss on Wednesday nights even if we have practice or games. I want him to always know that it comes first, over all things!

I have written before that Jake was my light during my darkest times and he's always pushed me to be a better person and mom. Cody and I stay awake many nights talking about parenting and praying we are doing it the right way. It's such a hard job! Can I get an Amen? I know it seems that I think he's a perfect child. He messes up just like they all do and I hope he learns with each mistake. I do know it doesn't matter how much he fails and how much he succeeds but when I look in his big brown eyes my heart and eyes fill up. He makes me the proudest mommy in the world! 

Mom made everything he loved last night! His birthday spread....

Some of my FAVORITE old pics....

WE'RE BACK!


I have been thinking about this blog and how lonely its been for a long time. I have been trying to get to this point but I have been unsuccessful. UNTIL TODAY! I'm determined to get this post written!


Its been 2 years. So much has changed in our lives. I'm not sure I can remember all of it but here it goes.


Last time I posted we were finishing up the house and I was a stay at home mom with Luke. One of the best years of my life. Cody was working a straight day schedule and Jake was in Kindergarten. Our biggest headache and project was getting the house done. Funny how God works....

We finished the house in March of 2013 and got moved in over spring break. We are still trying to finish the house (ha) and I am ready to change some things already! I stayed home with Luke for the remainder of that year and had talked some about working for my parents for some extra money. Definitely wasn't what I wanted to do but in a small town a teaching job rarely comes open. That summer came and went and as bad as I prayed for a teaching job it just didn't happen. I interviewed at districts surrounding Centerville but didn't land any of those jobs. I continued to BE STILL and wait...

At the end of the summer my old high school basketball coach called me and said he was interviewing at Centerville for the girls coordinator position. I was very excited for him in hopes I could catch some of the games and maybe start helping him in the free time I had, which happened to be all the time in the world since I wasn't working.:)  We had talked about me maybe coming to work as an assistant for him in the future but we knew something would have to open up and again, that doesn't happen very often in this little town. I had been to visit Savoy, my old coach, many times since college and talk to him about getting into coaching and he would always say, "come talk to me when you're ready!" It wasn't that I wasn't ready, it was I couldn't pack up and move to Willis where he was coaching at the time. When he moved here I started to see God's plan unfold, even though I wasn't employed yet. Again, I continued to BE STILL and wait...

A month after school started I got a call from Savoy in the middle of the day. I was driving home from lunch in Willis with mom and Luke. This had become one of our weekly trips. He said a coach had resigned and there was a position open. But, I had to decide that day if it was something I wanted to do. Of course, frantic and excited and nervous, I told him I would call my mom and husband and let him know. After talking to Cody I realized I had no sitter for Luke and that's another thing we are VERY short on in this tiny town. There are no daycares and the waiting list for the few ladies that keep kids are a mile long. I called a parent that referred me to Mrs. Pam, who is precious, but always had a waiting list. I knew my chances were slim but I called anyway. Pam gave me the best news! She had just had a kid leave and had an opening for Luke to start right away. I couldn't believe it. At that point I had no choice but to say, "Ok, God, I'm doing this!"

The time I spent at home was wonderful and it was exactly what my family needed at the time but I knew I needed to be doing more. I absolutely love teaching and building relationships with children. I felt like I was being wasted at home. As I grow older I realize it's not what YOU DO, it's what you DON'T DO.

The rest of my story is history. I came into the school year late and my assignment was teaching environmental science and special ed ( another coincidence) and coaching JV girls basketball. Since then, I have picked up volleyball and track. I have never worked so hard in all my life. I have never had a job more rewarding than this one either.

Cody is back on shift work which makes it very hard with my long hours but we find a way. Our in laws pick up the slack, praise the Lord. Cody is going back to school to finish his degree and that will hopefully open doors for a day job that is permanent. We are thankful he has such a good job even though the long hours put stress on us. My mom has recently built a house in our backyard and we love having her there!

 

 

 

 

Jake is about to be 8 and Luke 4. I will have to update about each of them next time. They are growing like weeds and its bittersweet. Luke just told me the other day, "I can't be your baby forever, I'm just growing fast, Mommy!" Yes, son, yes you are. They are so independent and so fun.

 

 

I know many of you have seen me post pictures of the family with a new little added gem. I have had text messages asking if we had adopted a child. Haha. No, we haven't legally adopted Chance. His parents live here in town and wouldn't let him go even if we tried. In my family you don't have to be adopted to be a member. He does live with us full time and we love him as if he were our own. He is a senior this year at Centerville. He is a typical teenager who loves to play sports and has no clue what he wants to do next year. He would love to play baseball but we have SHSU on backup. My boys drive him crazy but love him and worships the ground he walks on.

 

 

 

Cody and I didn't experience some heart ache this year. We found out when school started last year that we would be expecting another little bundle of joy. We have prayed for another baby since Luke was born and have just been patient as to when. Our lives were so busy we never put much thought into when it would happen. We knew we had enough to handle as it was. At about 9 weeks I miscarried and was heart broken. I asked all of the usual questions like why me? Did I do something? Was it my fault? Etc. I had no idea at the time that Chance would come and live with us and become an "official" part of the family. I know how bad he needed us, but what he didn't know, was how bad we needed him.

 

 

The Lord always has a plan and we may not always understand but I do know if we can ever just BE STILL he will prevail!

 



 



Boys, House, Church...OUR LIFE

It's been FOREVER, I know. I am not a quitter and plan on posting again. Hopefully, on a much more regular basis. I feel like there is just so much to catch up on and I can't possibly cover it all. I will try. I drank coffee tonight at church and I'm wide awake. Here goes nothing...

The Boys-

The boys are still 100% boys. They CONSUME my life and I love it. They get cuter by the day, y'all. I can't spank Luke as much as I did Jake. I'm tired. And I'm older. And he's so cute. And I realize some of the things I spanked Jake for are just boy things. And more than likely they will just outgrow them. I know Jake will love to read this one of these days. I love ya, son!

I thought it would be cool to coach Jake's Little Dribbler's team along with the 500 other things I am doing right now. It's been challenging. I forgot how much they don't already know and how hard it was to teach them the basics. As much as I want Jake to LOVE basketball, he is really all things FOOTBALL right now. I love to see how passionate he is. He actually loves the game. He cries when his favorite teams lose, practices his touchdown dances moves daily, lines up my couch cushions to make tackles, and would sleep in his Texans uniform if I let him. Basketball paid for half of my college and literally brought me all over the US. So, of course, I think it's awesome to see my child love something as much as I did! He is still loving school. He is reading like a champ and I still almost pull all of my hair out over every AR book he brings home. But, we get through it and he makes me the proudest mama in the world!

 

 

 

 

And this child right here. MY HANDS ARE FULL. He is hilarious 99% of the time. He is a typical class clown. The faces he makes and the things he says keep me rolling all day. He is talking in complete sentences and it blows me away the things he picks up on and understands. Every time he falls down I ask him, "Luke are you okay?" So, now before I can even get it out of my mouth if he falls, he yells," I OKAAAAYYYY." A few weeks ago I had to run to the lumber yard to do something for the house and I was cutting it very close to getting back in time to get Jake from school. I pulled up to the store and said, Okay, Luke, we have to hurry in here so we can get Bubba at school." He looks at me and says, "We run?" He randomly comes up to me throughout the day and kisses me. He loves shoes. Particularly these 50 cent Spider man ones my mother in law picked up from the Dollar General one day to have a pair at her house. Just my luck. He wants to wear the things all over the place. Even with his footed pajamas. He loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. All day I hear,"I want more Toodles." The decision to stay home with him may have been the best decision I have ever made. I love my "job" more and more each day!

 

The House-

 

Oh, the house. SIGH.  BIG, BIG SIGH. I feel like I have this mental list in my head all day every day of the things we have to get done before we move in and the list gets longer each day. Yes, we could call a contractor to come and finish it but we wouldn't be saving near the money. I am trying to be patient and let Cody finish. We have been soooo incredibly blessed with family and friends to help. We are close. Very close. My dad has built every cabinet, drawer, and vanity that's going in and I have NO IDEA what they will look like or what he's doing. And I love it. Í am that picky but he's that good. I did the same thing at my wedding, I didn't even pick my bouquet and it turned out amazing. I like the suspense. I like to try to be laid back and appreciate somebody elses ideas. I did print my pinterest folder and give it to him and told him halfway what color stain I wanted (it's two mixed together.) I really don't know what Cody and I will talk about, disagree about, or even do to occupy our time when this house is done!!  I can't wait!

 

 



My Church-

I would be completely crazy if it wasn't for church. But not just any church, my church. I love this little place and the little building we are at two, sometimes, three times a week. I am so thankful for grandma and paw paw that instilled such an awesome foundation in my mother that carried on to me. My mom comes up almost every Sunday to attend church with my family. I love when I tell Luke we are going to church and he says,"I see MAMMY (Grammy.) Cody has chosen to become Catholic(all on his own)  and will receive his first communion on Easter. So many nights I get out of the shower and my husband is in bed reading something to become closer to his faith. I have prayed for this since the day we got married. I was asked to be on the pastoral council here at church two weeks ago and we had our first meeting tonight. As I sat there in mass tonight praying, it is overwhelming to see how God has worked in my family in just a short time. We still have such a long way to go but we are loving every step!

More blogging for this tired mama another day! Excuse my errors. my eyes are heavy.

Picture DUMP

 

I really can't believe its been a month since I have blogged. I hate to picture dump on you but I already feel like a load is off of my shoulders. I take pictures intentionally to blog about then I end up forgetting. So, here they are! All at once!

 

The house is coming along so fast. I know it is about to start slowing down with having to run electrical, blow the insulation, hang sheet rock, and then PAINT. I am almost to the point that I would bring my sleeping bag out there and sleep. The windows are on the way this week. I know the contractors get so sick of seeing the old Tahoe drive up out there but I can't help it. It is starting to get so exciting. My dad came this week and measured for cabinets, vanities, built ins, etc. I was able to print all of my Pinterest ideas and hand them to him. If anyone can make them happen, it's him.

 

 

 

The back-I can't wait to drink coffee on this porch!

 

 

 Homecoming Pep Rally

 My Luke. Precious.

 

 

 Jake's first sleepover at the Henson's house for Tate's 6th birthday

 

 

I have some things I actually would like to blog about but my family is on the way and the house is a wreck. Luke and I went to the pep rally today to see Jake. I witnessed my won child being bullied and it may have been the hardest thing as a parent I have been through. The more I type, the more upset I get. We will save that for a post in itself.

 

We are headed to the Cotton Bowl tomorrow with my sister and Stephen. They just happen to be the biggest OU fans imaginable. I would love UT to win but could really care less. Please pray for me and this two hour car ride with these crazy fans!!!