25 Random Things...

This has been all over facebook...so if you are reading this, consider yourself tagged! It was fun to do. I was actually laying in bed last night trying to think of more "random" things about me. I think my list would be a lot longer than 25. :)

1. I love, love, love to travel and I love hotels
2. I could wear jeans and t-shirts everyday
3. I do not have a competitive bone in my body
4. I clean my car out every single time I get out of it
5. I iron all of our clothes everyday
6. I HATE the taste of coffee and alcohol (separately or mixed, J.B. HA! )
7. I must wash my face every night before going to bed
8. It drives me NUTS when people abbreviate things in their writings (pics, hubs, lol...oh the list could go on!)
9. Conn is the funniest person I know
10. Conn and I hardly ever argue (see #9)
11. I HATE to cook but I don't mind baking
12. I lost weight my freshmen year of college and my first year of marriage...when most people tend to gain weight
13. I did not think finding an Expedition EL with captain chairs and leather seats wold be so difficult
14. I played the flute in elementary school
15. I valet parked cars for an Amy Grant party when I lived in Nashville
16. I have always wanted a tattoo
17. I have always hated math and still have a very difficult time with it. Good thing Conn is so good at it...for the sake of our children
18. I hardly ever worry about anything
19. I do not have a single phone number saved in my cell phone
20. I love to shop
21. I love to eat out and we do...a lot (see #11)
22. I talk to my mom on the phone at least 2-3 times a day
23. I seriously only go to the grocery store about once a month
24. I love having a boy after having two girls
25. I love being pregnant and giving birth (preferably with drugs) :)

Oh, How I Needed This Today!

From the blog: www.rocksinmydryer.typepad.com

If You're Sitting There With Spit-Up On Your Shirt, This One's For You

Over the last month or so, we’ve been transferring all our old family video onto a digital format. I have no idea how we’re doing it, so please don’t even ask. I simply know that there are numerous cables and buttons involved, so I happily back away, leaving the work to my technical support department, also known as my husband.

I understand enough to know that, in order to make the transfer, we need to let the videos actually cycle through the recorder. As a result, the last several weeks have been an intense walk down memory lane as hours upon hours of family video have played through my TV. There have been some surreal moments – it’s disconcerting to be chopping ingredients for dinner and suddenly hear the sounds of yourself giving birth in the next room.

This concentrated reminder of my days with little ones has made me feel extra reflective, as I’ve thought back to the season in which I had three little boys under the age of four. Seeing their sweet runny-nosed faces expanded on my TV screen prompts me to make several observations:

1. Three little boys is a lot of little boys.
2. Did we not own any Kleenex?
3. Sometimes carpet is a bad idea.
4. Those were precious days.
5. My word, that was HARD.

I’m not sure I was fully aware, back then, how incredibly taxing those days were. I operated much of the time in survival mode, buzzing between a pediatrician visit to a botched bedtime to a temper tantrum to an explosive diaper (or three). And I loved it – make no mistake. For all the exhaustion, there were many times that were so precious they did (and still do) take my breath away. But the intensity of the demands had me bouncing back and forth constantly between joy and discouragement, wonder and fear. I remember feeling guilty, sometimes, knowing there would never be a sweeter season in my life, so why was it that I sometimes just wanted everyone to go to sleep already?

I’m still very much in the trenches of motherhood, though I’ve mercifully passed into the days in which everyone is responsible for his or her own bodily fluids. Standing on this side of the preschool years, let me tell you, if you’re sitting there reading this with spit-up on your shirt, that you’re not crazy – what you’re doing is very hard.

And it really does get easier.

They grow up into remarkable little people who can fix their own sandwiches and laugh at your jokes and ask good questions. They can help you look for your keys, and they can unload your groceries. They bathe themselves, and they answer the phone. They’re really fun.

And you know all that, of course, because you’re parenting your little ones with the full of intention of watching them grow into independence. But I also know (oh, how I know) that the rigors of those early years can make it easy to lose sight of the fact that the days won’t always be so demanding. Sure, you’ll face plenty of intensity in the teen years, but it’s a very different kind of intensity from what you face now.

So, in the meantime, go easy on yourself. Enjoy those precious moments as they come, and know that the exhaustion and discouragement will sometimes roll through, as well. You’re normal. Tired, but normal.

Know, too, that the day will come (sooner than you think) when your little people will grow into big people. They’ll sit next to you on the couch, and together you’ll watch video of the demanding, adorable, wild, and funny days you’re living right now. You’ll laugh, and then, with a kiss and a pat, you’ll send them up to bed. And they’ll do it. All by themselves. And you will smile and think to yourself that this is very good.

'Just Kickin' It'...On a Sunday Afternoon!

3 For 30

My husband planned this...

He sent me a special birthday wish...


and, I will be getting some much needed sleep here...

More to come later!!! :)

Oh, Bouncy Seat...How I Love Thee!

Today...

I am 30.
I am thankful.
I am blessed.

Happy Birthday, Brandon!

My oldest brother, Brandon, is 34 today!

Happy birthday, bro!
We love you so much!


Birthday boy!

Me and my brothers (& Cash)

Brandon and ALL his girlies!

Sweet Friends

Cash finally got to meet our dear friends, the Aylors!

Kathryn, Me & Cash

Maggie, Nash, Braxton, & Lily

Braxton & Lily

Yummy lunch!

The kiddos took some pics of us. :)

Steve and Lily

Lily and Braxton having fun! :)

So sweet!

The balloon man was there.

Precious sock monkey that they gave Cash!

We love you and miss you dearly!

Happy 8th Birthday, Cole!!!

You are truly one great cousin!!!
We love you and hope your special day is oh-so fantastic!!!

Please welcome...

my mom (aka...Mammy, Julie, Jules, etc.), to the blog world!!! Pop on over and say "hello"!

www.mammysfrontporch.blogspot.com

A Dad and His Boy

He's Back

Season Premiere - January 11

Are you ready???

Music to My Ears

Conn has started leading worship on the weekends at one of our church's satellite campus' in Tomball. I love to watch and listen to him practice.


He usually sits on the couch, in front of his Mac, with only one of his ipod ear buds in. He doesn't really sing loud, just hums the tunes and strums on his guitar. He never practices until the night before, while watching a game or the ultimate fighter on t.v. :) Yet, he is absolutely amazing on Sunday!!! It really amazes me to watch the talent that God has blessed him with.

Renaissance Rewind

OK...these are well over a month old, but I still wanted to post them on here.

We took the girls to the Renaissance Festival the Friday after Thanksgiving. Conn and I both grew up around this area, and I think I had been once and Conn had never been. Well...if you have been, it is definitely something you will never forget. WOW, is all we gotta say!!! Good thing we had free tickets. It was truly a Renaissance kind of experience in all its glory! The people watching was spectacular!!! The girls had a blast, even if we felt like we needed to shield their eyes from half of what we saw. HAHA!

Lily and daddy on the huge swings

The girls rode ponies.
Maggie was a little unsure about the whole thing. :)

Even though it was almost Dec., it was hot and sunny outside!
Sweet, sweet Maggie Mae
Riding the carousel
The girls jumped on theses trampolines that literally flung them high into the air. They LOVED it! Being 38 weeks pregnant at the time, I thought about trying it myself. :) Little did I know that Cash would come just 3 days later (not from jumping on the trampoline!)
See...I told ya!

Of course, every girl has to get her face painted and fairy dust sprinkled in their hair.

Worn slap out!