Easter Change Up..

Today is Easter.  Rick is upstairs preparing for church, with beautiful Easter songs from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir playing. I am not worried about the trivial things Easter can bring.  Preparing a dinner, setting tables, making sure the bathrooms are clean, filling last minute eggs, these are the things I have done on Easter Sunday in the past.  I would go to bed at night and try to reflect on the things we talked about at church and the Savior, and fall to sleep in 2 minutes because of shear exhaustion.  Waking up the next day to the realization... I had not focused on the Savior.  I had missed the purpose of Easter!

This year I decided to change things up. Everyone got Friday off of work. So we decided to do our annual get together and egg hunt then.  Doing this would leave Saturday for yard work (Yes, Houston is in full lawn and yard maintenance season), and Sunday for true reflection.  It was a success!  Our family here in Houston, and two of my sisters girls and their families came together for some fun, CHAOS!

We all met at the theater to watch "The Croods" it was a cute movie and the spontaneous giggles and out bursts of laughter made it worth every penny.  Then it was off to Valley Ranch, our favorite BBQ in North Houston. Eight of the Eleven children really just wanted to play in the play area, which we sit really close to on purpose.  Some would come and sit and eat then run off to play again.  Everyone got along great and we checked dinner off the list. No cooking,  no clean-up!

We ended up at our house. I had raided Walmart hours before and purchased bubbles, jump ropes, balls, and had the kids bring their bikes.  We live in a  quiet culdesac, where the kids can run wild. That is exactly what they did, while their oldest cousin Bailey hid eggs in the back yard.  Over a hundred and twenty of them filled with candy and money. After running off their extra energy, we called them back to the gate and let them loose to hunt eggs.  After a successful hunt and pictures, we enjoyed talking and  eating Loo's delicious coconut Easter bunny cake.

Best thing about it was... that today, I can reflect on Jesus Christ and that he lives! Happy Easter! Change ups are good!

March Madness...

Was so looking forward to what March would bring.  Had our big singles regional Chili Cook-Off at the first of they month.  Due to a case of Strep I missed out on that one.  I did have Rick go to the store for me, and buy ingredients to make a back up batch of chili in case we didn't have enough.  Due to the fact I could hardly get out of bed, I just threw everything into the crock pot, and called it good.  The funny thing was it got voted best chili.  I didn't want it to be in the competition, it was just a back up!  I won two Chili's gift cards.

This week it was time to go scout out the bluebonnets. We took Ike, and stopped off at Keith Elementary to have lunch with Benz.  Benz couldn't have been more pleased to have Ike come. They enjoyed their Panda Express, and then we were off to Brenham, TX about 40 miles away, to scout out the flowers.  There wasn't much to see along the route, which meant it probably wasn't a good sign.  I was so hoping there was a good crop due to more moisture this year.  By the time we got to Brenham we knew it wasn't good.  The fields covered in years past were barren.  That prompted us to stop at the bluebell ice cream factory for a spot of ice cream.  It didn't take the disappointment away, but gave us the will to drive out to Old Baylor Park. The nonexistence of bluebonnets was evident again.

Two cute boys enjoying lunch. 

Enjoyed our ice cream!

Decided to take a few pictures with Ike and head for home.  He was scared of the bees, so he would squat and grimace in the flowers like he was doing his business.  The only places he would sit were on our laps or the old twisted oaks.

Then on Saturday it was opening day for Bay and Benz softball and t- ball. I Love their baseball park up in Fairfield. It is beautiful.  Covered seating, trees, just a great place to watch ballgames.  Would have loved to have had this park in the days our kids played ball. First it was Benson game.  He was confident and told me he knew everything about baseball.  He was sporting his new sport glasses like a rock star.

 Just looking cool...

Then it was time for Bailey's game.  She did great. She covered her bases, went after the ball.  She had some great hits.  They had one bad inning, or they would have been victorious.

Pip was intrigue with a lizard, not the games.  She rescued a little lizard from a gang of overeager little boys, who weren't trying to make the little lizards life easier.

This was here back off from the Lizard look, she was giving the taunting boys.

So I got thinking... since it was February, I would write about things I love.  I don't mean family, friends, human related love (that's obvious how I feel about those I love), just simple "things" I love.

Some of the random "things" I love...

clean sheets

clean toilets

no dishes in sink ( clean sink)

thunder/lightening/rain
fall

freshly fallen snow

icing on cupcakes

hot baked rolls or bread smothered in butter

soft downy smelling towels

Pappasito's/ Lupe's/Tex Mex

when the dishwasher, washing machine, and vacuum are running all at once
Cherry Vanilla Coke (sonic, "lots" of ice kinda like a snow cone)

fire in the fireplace

newly painted toe nails

flowers in the yard

organized anything

writing/taking notes/poetry

going on drives... long or short 
chocolate marshmallow cookies

empty in-box

no favorite thing, just simple things I love.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tightening ones belt...

Tax increases, Christmas paid for, looking at the possibility of no bonus this year, has found us tightening our  belts (budget).  Three words I really hate.  Was going to say "dislike," but that would be lying big time. Wishing I could find more joy in cooking, eating out less, less traveling, no new clothes or shoes, etc... I am thankful for all I do have.  Please don't think less of me, but being frugal is like the plague to me. It is not one of those things I am good at.
 
I have tried painting trim and doors, fixing up, cleaning out, reading, being sick (that one not by choice), and a slew of  other stuff to keep my mind off the negative.  Maybe it can be blamed on January, the economy, the weather, or anything else blamable. When it gets right down to it, it's my pathetic attitude. I make the choice of how I want to handle challenges. Lincoln's words, "you are as happy as you make up your mind to be," rings in my ears.  For now, I will choose to be thankful and work on the totally "HAPPY" part...carry on.

Up to date until August

Family picture are done.  It will be the first time in 6 years.  I learned however, if you want more grandchildren just schedule a family picture, and they will come.  We were excited to hear that our cute Virginians are blessing our family with G-10.  That is our code for the grandchild count.  We were just blessed with G-9 in October when baby Zeke arrived.  Ten is a good number.  Now how to reconfigure my grandchild wall of fame.

It was the coldest December, since we moved to Houston. Were planning on having pictures taken outside. Due to Zeke's bout with RSV and Gavin's cough, we had to find another option. Jarod called and got permission to use his law office, BOA building downtown. It ended up being a good choice.  Here are some of the final pictures.  Included a few of the funny ones. Gavin hope you will always laugh when you get older and see your fingers (bunny ears)  I certainly will.

Girls only

My cute Daughters

The Boys

My three sons

The G-9

Look what we started



Love them all!