First Day of School

Ok..so it's been a few days since the real 1st day of school, but hey - better late than never!  :)  I love school time....I love sending my kids off to school excited for the new school year.  My kids were so excited to go...we were supposed to start school on August 11th and didn't due to the new High School not being complete.  So the morning of the 29th was welcomed by all!  So we are three days in and Hunter has had homework for two days - 1st grade is no joke!  It is the year of homework.   Jaylin started the 5th grade and today is her first day to have homework...school is definitely in session! :) 
I love school!!! :)

My babies are growing up! :(

Apparently you aren't allowed to walk 5th graders in anymore - had to take my picture from the car! :(

At least Hunter let me walk him in! :)

Jaylin's Birthday Celebration 8.28.2011

It is hard to believe that my little girl is 10!!!!  Holy cow...where did the time go? 

It was a great day...lots of fun!  Glad that I am fortunate enough to have gathering like this for my children.  I think I had two "real" birthday parties growing up...I guess that I why I get so excited to throw parties for my children...I guess I'm living vicariously through them! 

There is so much that I could say, but I think that I'll let pictures do the talking for me today.

8.26.2000* - The first of two anniversaries ;)

I married Rick on a hot summer evening in 2000...it was a wedding that was funded by the two of us (+my DQ boss).  It was a beautiful ceremony - lots of bridesmaids and groomsmen, on fantabulous singer ;) and two really cute flower girls.  The day was full of love and laughter.  It was a wonderful way to start our lives together as a married couple.  Fast forward to August 28th, 2001 - the birth of our beautiful daughter (Jaylin Marie) - a nice addition to our little family, from two to three.  Fast forward to September 11, 2001 - The day our country was attacked, Rick said at that moment "I guess I'm off to war soon" and sure enough by March of 2001 he was gone...it was the longest 17 months of my life.  Fast forward to June 4, 2005 - the birth of our sweet son (Hunter Stephen) - a nice addition to our family, from three to four.  Life was good...we were happy, in love and working together to achieve the goals that we'd set forth for our family - Rick started his job at the PD and I started working on my Master's degree...it was difficult but we managed.  Fast Forward to March of 2008 - bombshell dropped on me and it resulted in a break in our little happy home.  I never saw it coming....apparently neither did he...until the very end. The second longest 17 months of my life.   Fast Forward to August 2009 - Reconciliation - by the grace of God Rick and I were able to start working on repairing our marriage and moving forward with our lives.  Fast Foward to September 2010 - The second Anniversary date - a nice service and rededication of our love for each other.  Fast Forward to August 2011 - Happier than ever....stronger in both our faith and in our love and faith in each other.  What a blessing....so what should be our 11th wedding anniversary is our 10th (of sorts)...the reason for the astericks.   I don't care about the number (well I do a little), but the most important thing is that we have each other and are more in love than ever and dedicated to treating our marriage and relationship like a fragile flower - to be nurtured and loved ever so gently. 

So happy anniversary to me.   <3

Alarm issues...

Guess who didn't wake up in time for her morning run?!?  Yup...that would be me!  The sad thing is that I even had a back up alarm that didn't work....Rick was supposed to call me at 6:00 to make sure that I was up and about...he was out for his meal and left his cell at the police department...even if he'd had it he forgot anyway...so no call for me and no morning run.  I did spend the afternoon packing and assisting my brother move and ran with Jaylin at the end of her softball practice!  Not exactly what I'd planned, but it was something. 

So tomorrow is a run day....I'll run in the morning and try to squeeze in a little workout (shoulders/abs/legs).  I'm adjust my schedule to run four days a week and weight train 3....maybe then I'll drop some lbs. :) 

Where oh where have I been?

The past 14 days have been busy....I didn't mean to go two weeks almost without posting something!!!  So what's been going on since I've been MIA?

* Celebrated my birthday with awesome people!  I really can't say enough how much I endjoyed that       week :) 

*  Managed to squeeze in a little work with SWASAP Board meetings.

* Caught up with old friends while in OKC - even had a political experience that made me laugh....and kind of feel bad for someone who obviously has no clue.  It is a story that I'll save for a day where I have a little more patience.

* Spent a little extra time with the hubs his last day at drill - Army Reserves.

* Sent a picture to one of Rick's friends as a joke.....my boobs (covered) were included....it is an interesting story....I promise!  I don't just go around sending pictures of the girls.  Needless to say Rick thought that I was pretty clever and couldn't believe that I went along with it...he was proud of me....I promise they were covered no more than you would see in a bathing suit....but it was funny and had a point.  I'll share one day...really....I just need a little more time....I'm being called to dinner.

* Fell in love with our local garage sale page on facebook....I am so lazy and it is the best way to sell junk without sitting out in the heat all day!

* Made some really cute inviations for Jaylin's birthday party.  I'll post a pic soon.

* Hunter told me that my thighs were getting bigger - starting running again the next morning.

* Traveled home with the hubs to visit family - was happy not to have had to discuss politics.  Even had a nice trip to the beach.

*  Spent $50 at the McAlester Goodwill....Found some great bargains.

*  Spent a little time with my mom and brother - sold some awesome stuff for him on the local garage sale website.  Hoping to find a few more ways to help him out of a "situation".

*  Spent two hours trying to get a gigantic armoire inside my bedroom...only to determine that it wasn't going to fit through the door :(

*  Getting to ready to practice a giant cupcake cake for Jaylin's birthday...after I eat dinner.

I'm sure that more happened but that is all I have for now....dinner calls! 

An Entire Week of Celebration

I've been working on this post for a week...better get it out there before I forget it all!

For the first time in my entire life I celebrated my birthday for a week!  An entire week!!!  It started with a family trip to watch the Texas Rangers play, celebration with co-workers, a trip to the city for work (peers/super friends helped me celebrate there), a girls night out on Friday night, and a celebration with old friends on Saturday and Sunday.  There is so much that I could say about the week, but I'll just leave it at this:  I've never felt more loved in my entire life! :)  So far 34 has been great!  I'll end this post (because I am dead tired) with pictures to illustrate the great week that ended up being all about my birth!


****Please note...that I've saved drafts and added pics so many times that the pics are now out of order...I'm afraid if I don't post this now that I won't ever get around to doing it....so excuse the randomness!

The awesome cake from the hubs and kiddos :)

Birthday pic with the hubs :)

Crazy family portrait....on the bday :)

Gift from the hubster ;)



Pedi/Mani gift certificate - from the hubs and kids




Hunter helping me out!




Super awesome cupcake shirt from Tomyra ;)




Cupcake surprise from two of my favorite people - Jeff & Rene




Couldn't decide which one so they got me 4!  My kind of guys! ;)




Cupcake scentsy bday treat!




Lemon cupcakes for my office bday celebration.



Triple chocolate cupcakes ;)

Early bday celebration at the Rangers game :)

My babies at the Rangers game :)

Repping Andrus in our home made shirts ;)

Love this girl <3

So serious....

coolest bday card ever :)  Made me laugh!

My loves :) <3

Popcorn maker from Jaylin ;)

My new favorite cupcake - Strawberry shortcake...mmmm

Cupcake wasted....

One of the many desserts of the week!

Birthday sundae from Zio's

Bday cupcake from my Barry!  Red Velvet!!!

I love these people!!! 

My Amber ;)  Awesome lady!

My Ro! :)  So sweet and just great!!!





Some of the smartest, sexiest, sweetest women that I know - excluding myself here....I love these girls!

My friend Sondra - she missed out on the festivities but we got to catch up the next day :)

34 is off to a great start!  Bring it!

So let's just say that this was the very BEST birthday celebration ever!  I was so feeling the love...and if you didn't notice sweets/cupcakes was the theme of the birthday!  Now I just need to whip myself back into shape after eating all of that stuff!  I can also say I was able to cross something off of my bucket list...I'm so glad that I have easy going friends who are up for whatever....for the most part!

Bottom line:  I felt/feel the love! :)