In My Head Are A Thousand Posts...

Okay, maybe not a thousand, but at least a couple hundred! The problem is the time I need to sit down and actually put them into my blog. Then there is the downloading of pictures, if I can find the right camera and memory card that I need that is. I could spend hours blogging, which would be fine with me. But I have a feeling my starving, naked family that would be living in a filthy home would object. Some people are obviously way more organized than myself, it's a flaw I live with daily folks.
Anyway, I need to catch up on a post promised a long time ago. WB did his 3K and my sister did her very first triathlon the next day. It was another frigid day. The temp was below freezing with windchill and I don't even want to guess what the water temp in the lake was. I cried when Kim stripped down to her shorts and running top. It may have just been the Arctic blast that caused the tears, but they were there. The officials decided to cancel the swim, oh did I mention not only was the water freezing but there were whitecaps larger than what I've seen on the beach recently. Anyway, that meant run, bike, run which can throw a person off, especially when they've been training diligently for the swim.

Kim started the race and as we waited for the first runners to come in she was probably the third woman and about 10 men in before her. She's a powerhouse I tell ya! Anyway, she hopped on her bike and was off again. Which meant I ran back to the car with Little One to stay warm. Bikers started coming in and she was in the lead pack. I cheered her off to her final run and then ran back to the car for warmth. At this point there was some commotion because bikers were coming in asking where the second loop was. Apparently, it was not well marked and some people had missed the second loop therefore not going the distance and shaving considerable time off that leg of the tri.

The finish was awesome. My sister was a good 30 paces behind the woman in front of her on the last stretch. Kim kicked it into overdrive and blew past her to finish at least 30 yards ahead of her. I'm telling you she is a machine! Here's the real kicker that women in front of her was in her age group so she overtook her to win 1st place. Yes, first place for her age group!! And to make it even more amazing my sister ran an extra 1/4 of a mile or so because the course was not well marked and she took an extra loop. That woman she blew past, later looking at the times it was obvious she had not done the extra loop on the bike. So all in all Kim would have blown the competition away in her class. Pretty cool, huh?

There's the champ with our mom.

WB's New Year's Eve Birthday

Yesterday was WB's birthday. He was a very last minute tax-deduction for his parents! He and Soph love to tell people that everyone celebrates on their birthday (Soph's is July 4Th). WB's parents came over from Austin and his youngest brother and family came in from Victoria for a birthday dinner.

I finally got to see my nephew for the first time and it was before he started walking, but just barely!

We ate dinner at Chimichurris on Lake Houston. We had the wine room to ourselves and it was fabulous. So much yummy food...fried plantain chips, chimichurri sauce, crab claws, empanadas, grilled yucca, and on and on. I always eat way too much when we are down here!!

WB's loves carrot cake so I made it from scratch using Alton Brown's recipe. It was a huge hit, I'll take everyone's word on it because I am not a carrot cake fan...give me chocolate please!

This morning everyone came over for some apple fritters and mimosas.

I give up on ever drinking champagne at midnight. Scott and I toasted in the New Year at 10:30 and then went sound asleep.

Here's WB with my little nephew and Little One. Stop, I'm not looking at this picture for one more second... It makes my ovaries tingle!

To Those who served...

Happy Veteran's Day!
I have a secret to share with you...I cried off and on all day on November 5th. You want to know why? Because I was scared to death what the new elected President might do to this country and all the men and women who have fought for our freedom and constitutional rights, and are still fighting. Okay, then my liberal friends told me to get a grip..."how could it be worse" they said. Then my conservative friends said..."we will survive, we still have a voice". So I sucked it up, dried my tears, and told myself that this country has made it through all sorts of difficulties and our constitution has remained intact. So it is fitting that today I salute all those veterans who have helped to shape and mold this country, many did so under some very similar uncertain times. I must give special thanks to those family members who over this country's history stood up for what they believed in and defended it. You helped to shape and mold me as well!

To my Great, great, great grandfather Lear, thanks for taking a stand and fighting for your beliefs in the Civil War. If you only knew what history you were making, history that would change this country forever.

To my Gramp who fought for the Army during WWII. How foreign the land must have looked as you served in the China Burma India Theater as a young man from Indiana/Kentucky!

To my Great Uncle Johnny and Great Uncle Jimmy. Uncle Johnny, I can only imagine what it was like to fly your B-29 over the vast Pacific during WWII. Great Uncle Jimmy, just what was going through your head as you watched your fellow soldiers and friends fall during the Battle of the Bulge, yet you fought on for your country.
I loved listening to your war stories as a kid and adult, and greatly miss your presence at family gatherings, but your stories will be passed down, I promise.

To my Dad who signed up for the Army Reserves, even with Vietnam lurking in the background.

To my Uncle Roger who served in the Navy as a young man.

To my Uncle Bill, who graduated from Westpoint and went on to serve several tours in Vietnam. Thank you for continuing to serve you country for many years until you retired with three stars on your shoulder.
To my Uncle Tom for his time in the Air Force Reserves, that actually brought him across the country to what is now my hometown, during his basic training.

For WB's little brother, Mark, who left high school and went straight into the Coast Guard. Good to know you were defending our coast!

To Cousin Brian, who currently serves this country as an Army officer. Thank you for your continued dedication.

And finally to WB, my hubby. He wanted the Air Force to be his career, for serving honorably until God's insistent calling eventually pulled him in another direction.

What about you? Who would you like to thank on this Veteran's Day? And don't forget to say a prayer for those defending our country at this very moment.

My Secret Plans

I've been harboring some secret plans for awhile now and I figured I'd go ahead and share them with you. Even though we live on just two acres it seems like an enormous amount of space to me. Maybe it's because two sides of our property border rolling canyons of ranch land. Maybe it's the fact that the several acres across the street is not developed by its owner. Maybe it's because I've been a city girl most my life. Whatever it is, I LOVE it. So much so that I really don't ever want to leave. WB assures me I'll love the next place too. He tempts me with living in the Garden District of New Orleans in some historic home, a suburb of Houston close to family, and on and on it goes.

And this is where WB and I tend to veer off onto separate paths. He lived almost his entire life in one place. I lived my entire life moving from place to place every couple of years. I've been there done that, I want some roots. WB on the other hand seems to hear the call of the wild and he's ready to roam. I don't mean he doesn't love it here, he does, but he could also love it somewhere else. And if he continues on his career path he needs to move around, experience different refineries etc. Even a few moves up on the management ladder here would mean he would need to live closer to his work. And I have no desire to move back to where we've come from. I miss our old town, but going back would seem like a step backwards or like we were going in circles.

Okay, here's where I'm going with this. If we could stay here, at least for several years, my plan would work better and that's where I try not to let reality seep into my dreamlike state. So just forget all the above. My secret plans are to build a guesthouse on the far side of our property. Not for guests but for my parents and my in-laws. They wouldn't inhabit it at the same time, mercy no, but at different times of the year. I've got it all planned and the beauty is no one has a clue, well until now. To be honest I'm not sure why all of a sudden I would want my parents and WB's parents living in my backyard, We've been pretty independent these 11 plus years living nine, ten hours from the nearest relatives. Heck, I've lived away from my parents starting my senior year of high school because my Dad got transferred and I didn't want to move right before I graduated. Then I went to college ten hours away...

But I'm older now and with three kids of my own and I'm thinking how cool it would be to have them around. All the things they could teach my girls, all the fun we could have, someone within screaming distance when WB is away, and heck I might even have another baby just to add to the excitement!

I've even picked out this:

And wouldn't that just look so quaint right here:

Do you see that mowed piece of land where the light is shining? That's the spot.

See, it's beyond our gardens and down by that little grove of mesquite trees.

Now the funny thing is I haven't really mentioned it to WB. Well, except for: "How about we build a guesthouse?" or "I'd really love to have a little writing studio somewhere." or "Look honey, our new neighbors are building guest quarters, what a great idea!" But last night I briefly mentioned my secret plans. I sort of waved my hand in the direction of where we might put a guest house. And today I let him finish up the mowing (yes, I love to mow) and when I looked out our upstairs bathroom window I screeched. He had mowed a large square just exactly where I want to put the house. We normally leave that side of the property unmowed except for a few little "nature" paths. I tripped and jumped down the stairs to find him.

"How did you know that is where I wanted to put the house?" I asked him while taking big gulps of air.

With a knowing smile he just shakes his head, "Well, I just knew."

And you see that is why I love this man. The house may never get built, we may move in two years, our parents might think we're crazy to even suggest such a thing, who knows. But that little plot of mowed grass tells me that he not only listens to my dreams, but he wants them to come true. Even if he does sometimes roll his eyes at me when I come up with such plans:)

My New Nephew

Nothing is sweeter than a newborn baby fresh into this world! Baby Colton born Friday, Aug.1 at 12:01 pm!

I am fighting major baby fever here and this sweet face has sent me over the edge!!

Happy Birthday!!

Okay, our internet has been out so I have been chewing my nails while waiting for WB to figure out what the heck was wrong. Dear man fixed it in the wee hours of this morning, bless you. So I'm back online, but about to meet my friend at the pool since today the sun is actually out!! So until I get a chance to do a longer post I need to say Happy Birthday to my Dad. Today is his day, exactly a week after Soph's:) And since I did not get the card off in time I just wanted him to know we were thinking of him.

Love ya Dad!!

Revelations

As the morning light begins to filter through the clouds and spill across my desk I'm reeling in revelations that came to me during a restless night. Ones that I am going to share with you whether you really care to hear them or not....

-birthday week celebrations while fun can be draining on all involved

-unlike the romance novels if you find yourself falling to the ground your dear husband will not catch you, even when you yelp "I'm going to fall" a half a second before you do. But the sweet, stunned man will help you to your feet afterward and brush you off. And well, isn't the reality of what marriage is really about.

-When taking such a fall in a crowded bowling alley surrounded by children you must expect the story to become an exaggeration. Rest assured there were no babies flying through the air, I have the bruises to prove it. She was safely plopped down on the floor in a sitting position right before my body gracefully flopped to the ground. Little One was slightly irritated over being so unceremoniously placed on the ground, but was not harmed... I on the other hand, well I'll survive.

-Children can get attention overload and when this happens bouts of crying, screaming, and various ugly behavior can ensue.

-That children, no matter how much you love them, are not perfect, they will have issues. But then I realize that as parents we are not perfect and we have some issues ourselves.

-That God definitely has a sense of humor.

It Does Take A Village to Raise A Child

Or at least extended family and friends and sometimes even a stranger in a grocery store. Here's the thing, when you have three children and only one you, along with a husband that works an hour away, things can get hectic. Who are we kidding things got hectic with only one child! Anyway, since the sickness has plagued us this winter it has made life difficult at times. Luckily, we have been blessed with some extraordinary people that have come into our lives since our move a year ago. Because what would I do when I'm taking my eight year old home from school early with a fever, crying because she was supposed to go home with a friend and now can't, but my five year old still has an hour left of school? In a village the villagers would pitch in and make sure your youngin made it home. Probably get fed a snack along the way... Or in my case,a dear friend offers to take home your kiddo after school, feeds them a nutritiously, yummy dinner and drops her off at home on the way into town that night. Or when you're trying to figure out how to juggle two sick kids and take your oldest and her friend to gymnastics that night, your friend steps in and offers to again feed child and take kids to gymnastics...see what I mean!!
My husband chips in when he can, but the hour commute makes it difficult to drop things at the spur of the moment. I get reassuring and validating phone calls from family far away, which keeps me sane. I even get help from sweet ladies in the grocery who take pity on me as I stand in a line that is not moving, bouncing a screaming child on hip, while two older children try their best to be patient. She no doubts recognizes my panicked expression as I stare at my overflowing cart wondering if we had enough food at home to survive and if I could possibly give in to the urge to flee with children from the store, leaving the cart to stand in line alone.
I used to refuse help. Forget the village, I had built a fortress that could stand alone! Yep, that pretty much crumbled at my feet after my second child was born. Now I embrace the village. I feel blessed by those that offer help and I hope I get the chance to reciprocate.

**Unlike the author of the book that shares the same title of my post, you will see that government agencies have had very little impact on the daily rearing of my children, just the villagers...ahem...just wanted to make that clear.