Pounding Out the Christmas Carols

From Collages

Ahhhh, Christmas, the one time of year Miss Payton actually enjoys practicing the piano. She gets to choose her Christmas pieces. After that, it's her, practicing on her own, anxious to learn the music to the songs she knows so well. My daily pleas to get practicing, which usually turn into ONE, LOUD RAISED VOICE and threats of not playing with friends.....nope, not this time of year!

All your pounding out of the Christmas Carols paid off, Miss Pay. You played beautifully in your recital. We enjoyed watching your performance and are so proud of your hard work. It has been fun watching you improve and grow as a little pianist. Keep it up. It will be worth it in the end!

We love you!!!!!!

She Was A Ham

From Collages

"I don't want to go to practice," she pouted.

"Please stay with me. Don't leave me here all alone with these people I don't know," she pleaded with teary eyes.

"Do I have to do this stupid performance, I don't even know the words to the songs?" she moaned.

Goodness gracious...the drama!

Oh, boy, we thought......

What are we in for?.....

Because we had missed the dress rehearsal, we had no idea what to expect. What will our Avery, our Ramona Quimby, Junie B. Jones girl do? Will she throw a fit on stage or cry the entire time? Will I have to wave her down and let her sit in the audience with us? Believe me, these things have happened before. With Avery, there's just no tellin'!

The curtains opened, the lights went on, the music started...

There was Avery, bright eyed, smiling wide, singing out loud, doing the actions, strutting her stuff,

in her beautiful, red dress.......

Her singing group, Tavasi, their songs and actions that went along...

ADORABLE!

We were so impressed. The entire program was priceless, and we enjoyed every minute of it.

Bob, Owen, Pay and I were all giggles, smiling, eye-brows raised, shaking our heads....

Miss Avery.....

She Was A Ham!

And So This Is Christmas...

From Christmas 1

From Christmas 2

From Christmas 3

AND SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS...

I HOPE YOU HAD FUN...

THE NEAR AND THE DEAR ONES...

THE OLD AND THE YOUNG!

Whole lot a lovin'

After a whole lot a lovin' (about 18 months....to be exact)
We're expecting a BABY!

This silly pic. of me pretty much sums up my emotions....

I'm flying.....

I've been ready for another for some time.

I honestly didn't think it would happen. I never felt alright with that. I was sooo not done.

My baby boy isn't a baby anymore, and it's been killin' me.

But now he'll get to be a big brother, and all is well.

It almost seems surreal.

I had an unexpected ultra sound yesterday. It's true. There is a little baby tucked tightly inside my already growing belly.

Witnessing that was a special surprise. The Dr. telling me the baby was looking more like 13 weeks rather than 15, was like a swift, unexpected kick to the shin! OUCH!

Oh, well......I won't complain.

ME'S HAVING A BABY!!!!!!!!!

P.S. After seeing my post, Pay made one of her own. That girl's a crack up. Check it out here.

If History Repeats Itself

The first week in January, I'll have one of the most fun weekends of my entire life (ya, I know I live a pathetic one,) and.....

Boise State will, once again, win the FIESTA BOWL!!!!!!

I love the above pics. We were at the Fiesta Bowl in 2007. Boise State had just beat Oklahoma. We were going crazy. Bob was trying to get pics. but was jumping up and down and going wild himself. I sport a huge smile across my face every time I view em'! They bring back a flood of my favorite memories. Oh, that nail biting game, the weekend with friends and family, sunny AZ, the parties, the hype, fearing the Sooners, Bronco Nation everywhere, ALL of it..........

Oh, History....please, please repeat yourself!!!!!!!

Big, Red, Swollen Eyes

....and a major, pounding headache.

In preperation for a talk Bob had to give in church yesterday, he found and made me watch a zillion inspirational videos. If you haven't hear the Dick Hoyt story, Google it! It is amazing. You see one Sat. afternoon, years ago, Bob was flipping through the channels and came across the Ironman. He didn't even know what it was. They did a feature story on Dick Hoyt and the powerful message hit Robert hard and inspired him to want someday to complete a triathlon. I bawled like a baby watching these videos all day. By the time I went to bed.....

I had big, red, swollen eyes and a major pounding headache.

It was worth it. I was inspired.

Check it out!

Gratitude

From Collages

I'm feeling grateful.

Grateful that we spent a fabulous Thanksgiving day at the McBride home where we're always happily welcomed, spoiled, and completely doted on the entire stay.

Grateful that Robert's family is so kick-butt cool that I love hanging out with all of them. (This really is the truth!)

Grateful that the whole fam. looked rad sporting our Sophia t-shirts in honor of talented Uncle Josh and his killer band.

Grateful that I have an amazing mother in law who makes everything from scratch, including rolls, pies, and even pumpkin pie from the pumpkins she grew herself. This lady is so talented yet humble and good. She is selfless and continuously serves others and her family like no one else I know. She even got up at 4:30 a.m. and hit the sales with me, just so I wouldn't have to go alone. I could go on and on about her. I aspire to be just like her some day!

Grateful for Robert and my little family whom I love so much, and that currently... everyone is healthy and well.

Grateful for good friends who love me in spite of all my many, many flaws.

Grateful for the gospel that is my foundation, my rock, and my one, true source of peace and comfort.

Grateful that Robert has a good job and works hard to support and take care of us.

Grateful for my parents who did their best to raise me up right.

Grateful for three brothers and their families, whom I love and would do anything for.

Grateful to be a mother and for three kids who bring me joy every day.

Grateful that we were able to go the BSU game and watch them win the WAC championship. This sounds ridiculous, I know, but I love football, BSU, spending time with our friends, laughing and cheering and getting out of control! It makes me feel young again....and that's a good feeling!

Grateful for opportunities to be inspired everyday by others who make me want to be and live better.

Grateful for good books.

Grateful for free education.

Grateful for a home.

Grateful for a passion for running....my healthy outlet.

For these things and so much more.....

I'm feeling grateful.

Happy 60th...

From Collages

MAMA MIA!

"We need our snowboots!"

Oh, the sheer joy and utter excitement of the first real snowfall....

You know, enough that the kids can actually romp through it, eat it, lay and make snow angels, scream and squeal when the cold powder touches their warm skin....

That's exactly what these monkeys did Saturday morning as soon as they awoke and saw the fresh, white blanket on the ground beckoning for them to "Come play!"

It took just a quick glance outside and then in a frantic plea they all yelled,"We need our snow boots!"

Again at the top of their anxious lungs, "Mom, dad, we need our snow boots!"

They were desperate. They needed them now, without a second to spare.

So, they were dug up and tossed from the winter bin, shoved, pulled, and pushed on to their little feet....... in seconds flat.

Forget about changing out of their pajamas.

Forget about wearing hats and gloves,

heck...forget about wearing a COAT!

as long as....

They had their snow boots!

FUNTABULOUS

Owen and I ventured to the mall yesterday with my friend Kerri and her kids. Big mistake. The mall. I can't go in the mall. I especially can't go into my favorite stores. I want everything. Why is it that when I go to the mall I feel so incredibly outdated and in dire need of everything from new shirts, jeans, jackets, boots, down to the earrings and necklaces to match? I want it all. I have no money. I am going to be strong. I am going to help my girlfriend pick out her new jeans and that's it. No monkey business.

Well, that job's a cinch and were finished in no time. I mean when you're six feet and slimmer than any runway model, everything looks great. Lucky, lucky, lucky girl. But there they are staring at me. A pair of perfect black, suede boots. I could wear em with jeans. I could wear em with skirts. They have a subtle hill to give this short girl a boost, but they're not so high I'll sprain an ankle or look a mess just trying to walk in em. I want em. I need em. I hold back.

I HOLD BACK!

Then Kerri shows me a cardigan I can't pass up. I've been needing this simple piece for my wardrobe. It's under $30. Sold! I get out of the store with one cardigan, a minor miracle for me, oh, and I did get some earrings to match. That's it, really! Done...

NO SPLURGING!

We're on our way out...heading towards our exit. We see MAC. Oh, not MAC. Kerri is the MAC queen. She knows every eye shadow, lip liner, blush, lip gloss color and perfect blend and wears it all like a pro. She shows me the new Dazzleglass lip gloss.

THE DAZZLEGLASS LIPGLOSS!

This stuff is AMAZING! It comes packaged in a beautiful, long, glass tube. It sparkles and glitters like no other lip gloss I've ever seen. It looks spectacular. My eyes go immediately to Funtabulous, a perfect shade of purplish, flecks of blue, and pink. I have to have it. I want it. I need it.

I........DON'T HOLD BACK!

I buy it, apply it, and am in LOVE. It truly is FUNTABULOUS. I am so excited about this purchase I have to blog about it. I have to share. This stuff is the bomb! Does anyone get this excited over a new glass tube of lipgloss? I bet not. I am suddenly embarrassed.

Oh, it's becoming quite apparent......

THIS GIRL NEEDS A LIFE!

College Football

The exciting wins....
The roar of the crowd.....

The giant upsets....

The Bronco's perfect record..... The hope for a BCS bowl game...
Date night = Bob and I at a sport's bar watching the game.

Sitting behind Coach Pete at a friend's kid's basketball game and going giddy!It's official....we're obsessed.

No wonder I can't get my husband to do a darn thing around here!

Oh, ya, baby........It's college football time!

Halloween 09

From Collages

Mother of the Year- NOT ME!

I'm busy...

I don't need to explain...

I know you are all feeling it...

Oh, life is a whirlwind...

I'm trying hard to keep afloat...

In the midst of my chaos...

I'm making mistakes...

forgetting important things...

and trying not to rake myself over the coals for it.

You see.....I'm learning life lessons,

just now realizing...

that....

When I was in the second grade and my mom forgot to sign my permission slip to go swimming, so I sat in the school library with the librarian, sulking, while everyone else was having the time of their lives in the pool....

It wasn't because my mom didn't love me. She was busy too...

But those are the things we remember!

So, yesterday, the kids and I jump in the car and take Avery to Tavasi (her singing/dancing) class.

We wave good-bye to Aves as she enters the building.

Next we drive to Maverick to get frozen yogurt.

We're in filling our cups when two, young girls walk by in their Halloween costumes.

Just like that...

I'm reminded...

Avery was supposed to wear her costume!

Panic....

She'll be the only one...

She'll be devastated....

She'll never forgive me...

I could picture her sad, little face....

I call Robert...nearly in tears. I tell him,

"These are the things they remember!"

There's nothing I can do. We live 20 min. away.

So, I try hard to brush it off, although it gnaws, and gnaws, and gnaws at me.

45 min. later, we pull up to Tavasi.

All of us get out and run inside.

I am thinking Avery's going to need me to swoop her up and love on her.

She'll be distraught, for sure.

She's beaming...

"Guess what, mom?!"

She holds up her sour Skittles...

"I was the spotlight!"

That's right...

NOT ONE WORD ABOUT NOT HAVING A COSTUME!

She was elated!

Every, single, girl was wearing her costume.....except Avery.

I couldn't believe it.

Her teacher is a genius.

I look at Payton with wide eyes. This is code for, "Don't say anything about the costume!"

The entire car ride home, we rant and rave about how great it is that Avery was the spotlight.

I call Robert....."We've witnesses a small miracle. Do not mention the costume, I repeat, Do not mention the costume!"

And so I realize, that even though I love my kids more than anything and try hard to do right by them,

It's not always going to happen.

I'm going to forget, just like my mom did.

Mother of the Year- NOT ME!

And it's o.k!

Family Photos

Family photos...

Although looking back brings fun memories,

it can also be pretty heart wrenching for this mama.

Reality is staring, rather glaring......back from the photos themselves.

No, I'm not talking about my added wrinkles, although those are rather frightening too!

My sadness stems from seeing my babies.....they're NOT babies anymore!

Look how they've grown.......in just one year.

Sniff, Sniff....Giant Sniff!

Their sweet, little, soft, chunky faces are maturing.

I almost can't stand it.

And yes, I know, I know......Robert is getting old!

(wink, wink)

Avery Has A Boyfriend!

Owen and I were lucky enough to spend a morning with Avery and her Kindergarten class at the Pumpkin Patch.

It was fun to see her so excited for her very first bus ride!

We enjoyed running through the giant corn maze and tried desperately to keep up without rolling an ankle!

Hunting for the "perfect" pumpkin is always a task. Perfect for me means they're small enough for them to carry!

All this was good.......until something interesting became quite obvious.
Look over there, Avery....we could run away together!
Easy, my main man, my mama be watching!
I'll pretend I'm not enjoying this even though I really am!
Oh, I'm going to get you.....and when I do......
Who is this kid separating us, and why is he ruining our picture, our moment, our lives?!

Oh brother, yes, she is still watching......don't worry....I will never invite her on another field trip again!

You're not invited. I mean it, mom!Too bad, sista. After today's display of puppy love...I think Owen and I will chaperon all your field trips!

Obvious....I told ya.

The frightening conclusion........

AVERY HAS A BOYFRIEND!