Catch up time!

I guess that it is time for me to write a new blog. We have been busy, busy, busy. Rayden finished up Parent's Day Out, now I have a whole summer of trying to entertain the little guy...Good Luck To Me!!! He will still do tumbling two days a week, so at least he will still have something structured. I have actually enjoyed it this week, not having something EVERY day that we have to get up and out of the house for. We will have a lot more time to just kick back and enjoy!!!

Rayden's End of the Year Party

Swinging with Maddie

Casen playing in the chalk with his new friend!

Blowing bubbles

Playing on the slide!!!

Playing a game of T-ball

Cousins & Friends!!!!



It has been a hard month for the family. Chance's uncle, James (his dad's brother) passed away earlier this month from a heart attack, so we took a trip to Dallas for that. Last week Chance's aunt, JoAnn (his dad's sister) passed away from a heart attack also. This has been very hard to deal with as JoAnn was a favorite to all of us. We are very fortunate that we got to spend a good amount of time with her last summer when Chance was working up in Jacksboro. She really loved Rayden, and Rayden loved her. I am sad that Rayden isn't old enough to hold the memories he has of her. We will do our best to keep her memory alive in our boys. More bad news for the family, Chance's grandma (his dad's mom) was in the hospital, she has cancer, breast & liver and it has already gotten into her bones and eaten part of her spine. The Dr's aren't giving her but about a month. She is now at home where she is more comfortable. So, please be in prayer for the family as they deal with all of this.



While we traveled to Jacksboro for JoAnn's, Rayden stayed behind with my dad. He wasn't understanding death, and I didn't think her funeral would be the place to try and explain it. He had a tumbling meet that Saturday and even though I hated to miss it, I was glad he got to go. My dad says he did very well, and he won two trophies and a medal. He is SOOOO proud of the trophies!!!!



Casen is 10 months old now and walking all over the place. He no longer crawls and he is always on the go. He loves to play with balls and trucks and he loves to be outside. He ate a whole mouth full of dirt the other day and even though it couldn't have tasted very good, he was going for some more!!! He loves food of all kinds and loves drinking Capri Suns with his brother! He is still just a happy little guy, smiling & laughing all the time, dancing whenever he hears music, and spends a good amount of time tormenting Rayden by playing with his toys. We are working on sharing....not going all too well!!!



We are glad summer is here, more time outside and less time feeling cooped up. I am loving the warm weather!!! We are still working on fixing up the outside of the house, although we are nearly done except planting something in the front and working on building a pergola area in the backyard!!!


The boys at the field trip to the fire station

Being silly wearing diapers on their heads!!

Rayden sharing his ice cream!!!

At the wonderful little carnival that came to town!

Biggest Loser- Blogging Style

I should have posted this last week, since we just finished week one, but I am certain it isn't too late if there is anyone else that wants to join. Visit my friend Dawn's Blog for more information on it. It is a weekly check-in of the amount of weight you have lost (it is based on honesty- you don't have to weigh in in front of anyone or post your weight). There are like 14 girls participating at this point and you will be encouraged with lots of prayers. I already lost 4lbs this past week and I am SUPER excited to lose more!!! Anyways, if there are any of you who would like to join, please let me know, or you can let Dawn know on her blog. Have a great day!!!

Happy Birthday Dawn!!!!

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday Dear Dawn,

Happy Birthday to You!!!

I hope that you have a wonderful day!!! You are such a Christ-filled person who shines His love onto others. You are a great friend with a good heart and do so much for others. You are a great mother to your boys and wife to Ronnie. I hope that the next year brings all of the things that you are hoping for!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Congrats Shannon!!!

I just wanted to tell my friend Shannon congrats on graduating from SPC today. I cannot imagine how hard it is going to college while also being the mother to three. Shannon, I know you have worked SOOOO hard and I hope you know that I am proud of you and admire you very much. Keep up the hard work as you move on to the next step in your college career!!!

Ft. Worth Zoo

Last week Chance's uncle passed away in Ft. Worth. The funeral was Saturday, so we decided to leave at 5 am Friday (so the kids would sleep) and drive in to take the kids to the zoo. I think I was actually more excited that Rayden!!!! We got to the zoo and spent a little over two hours there. It was hot, and would have been much nicer had we not had to take poor little Casen, but he was a trooper none the less!!!

The Elephants ~ Rayden's favorite!!!

Chance & Rayden getting a look at the Giraffes
Casen hanging out in his stroller!!!

Getting a good look at the Rhino

The penguins

(it was air conditioned in this exhibit, so we spent a while in there!!!!)

Chance & Casen watching the penguins

After the train ride ~ hot & tired and ready to leave!!!!

Catching up!

Yesterday I took Casen in for his 9 month check up. He weighed 27 lbs (50th percentile), was 27.5 inches long (25th percentile), and his head was 18.4 inches (90th percentile). So, I guess that being a little shorter makes him look so much chubbier. I was certain he was going to be in like the 90th percentile for his weight cause he seems like such a chunky monkey to us, but I guess we are used to having a skinny mini Rayden!!! He also has 6 teeth (4 on top & 2 on bottom) and is walking as much as he is crawling. He loves walking, but knows that crawling is a faster way to get somewhere.

My anniversary surprise was a hour long full body massage, and manicure and a pedicure!!! It was so relaxing and I am so proud of Chance for thinking to do that for me. What a sweet guy. That night we went out to eat at Abuelos (YUMMY!!!) by ourselves. It was a GREAT day!!!

We are still working on sprucing up the house. We are almost done with the front of the house and Chance has moved to the backyard. We had a crane over today to move the storage building. It is so exciting to see the progress we are making. I will get before and after photos up soon, I have just been waiting for the completely finished product before the pictures.

Crazy 8

I was tagged by my friends, Dawn & Shannon. So...
The rules are:
1. Mention the person that tagged you.
2. Complete the lists of 8's.
3. Tag 8 other bloggers.
4. Tell them that they have been tagged.

8 Things I Look Forward To

1. Finishing sprucing up our house!

2. Warm weather
3. Seeing my mom & family

4. Casen turning 1 & Rayden turning 4!!

5. Loosing some weight and getting back in shape!
6. Going to California (without kids!!!)

7. Getting the garage cleaned out and having a garage sale

8. Summer time.... hanging out with friends, BBQs, playing outside with the boys!

8 Things I Did Yesterday

1. Worked on switching the boys rooms (working on my to do list!!!) which pretty much took the whole day!!

2. Cleaned house & did laundry.

3.Talked to my mom.
4. Took a shower... all by myself in quite

5. Shopped online for a white noise machine for Casen

6. Bathed the boys

7. Watched Celebrity Apprentice

8. Watched Rayden play in the dirt

8 Things I Wish I Could Do

1. Play an instrument or sing.

2. Keep a clean house (or afford a housekeeper)!!

3. Sew better

4. Shop, all the time!!!

5. Afford to travel more.

6. Be a creative person

7. Open a baby store!

8. Have a little girl!!! ha ha!!

8 Shows I Watch

1. Desperate Housewives

2. Brothers & Sisters

3. Celebrity Apprentice

4. All My Children

5. 90210

6. Southland

7. Rachael Ray

8. Dr. Phil

8 Bloggers That I Tagged

(I am sure that most have been tagged, at least once, if not more, but oh well!!!)

1. Holly

2. Adrian

3. Shelly

4. Darby

5. Carly

6. Amanda

7. Brandi

May's To Do List

I have seen several people who put thier monthly to do lists on thier blog, and I have decided to do the same. I am hoping it will hold me accountable and be a constant reminder to what I still need to do. Spring is here and it seems to make me want to be productive. We (mostly Chance) have been working on improving the outside of the house, and it is looking amazing. I still have a ton to get done this month, so here is my list:

1. Switch the boys' rooms.
2. Finish sanding & staining the dresser I have been working on.
3. Finish cleaning out the garage.
4. Be ready for (and possibly have) a garage sale.
5. LOOSE 10 POUNDS (atleast....)
6. Finish the veggie garden.
7. Finish unpacking what hasn't been unpacked.

Okay, so I am off to get started.........

Five Blissful Years!!!

Today is mine & Chance's five year anniversary!! It is hard to believe that we have been married that long, on the other hand..... it's ONLY been five years????? We have been through and accomplished a lot in the last five years. We have had two beautiful little boys (and an angel in between them) we bought a house, sold a house, started a business, and bought another house. We have had our ups and downs and had so many good times I couldn't even name them all!!! Chance is such a great man, he works hard (very hard) to provide for us and to allow me to be a stay at home mom. I am blessed that he realizes that it is the best for our children but also the best for us as a couple. We get to spend sooooo much more time together because I stay home. We eat lunch together almost everyday, I am "off" when he is off, and we are able to head out of town on the drop of a hat (minus the two hours it takes to get us all packed!!!)

Today I am headed to Lubbock to a surprise destination for a day to myself (all planned by my hubby) and I just answered the door to the flower guy delivering some roses! Tonight we are headed out by ourselves for a much needed date!!! Chance has been asking me all week if I was excited about my surprise. I told him I would be happy with anything, unless he had signed me up to work for a daycare for the afternoon!!! ha ha!!!! Anyways, I better get the kids dressed so I can get on with my day off..... I will let you know how it goes!!!!