Are We Ready for the Summer yet?

Are we ready for the summer? YES!!! The last couple weeks of school have been crazy with activities and anticipation in summer! Vacations, staycations, lots of summer camps and vacation bible school, and lots and lots of swimming! Long hot lazy days and lots of homemade fun to be had. The whole family is ready for some summer fun! To kick it off, Grandma Georgie and Grandpa Rey came down from Nebraska to visit. We hung out at the house, played outside, and took them to one of our favorite lazy day places....Brenham Airport and then on to the BlueBell Creamery for some hot day yummy fun!
We still have yet to completely decide on a few activities we will be doing, but so far, the first summer weekend has been super fun. With a Kindergartner and preschooler, only God knows how the rest will go. It is going to be an adventure we are all looking forward to.

Watch out Sampson - Here comes Kelsey!

My two fisted cookie eating graduate - so happy!


Wednesday night was a big event in a little girls life. Kelsey and the rest of her classmates in PreK at Wee Wuns of Cypress United Methodist Church, participated in her first (of several I hope) graduation ceremony. Yes, she and her classmates were called one by one to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas for successfully completing all preschool and PreK classes - and to benchmark their crossover into "big kid" school. My oldest and only little girl will be heading off to Kindergarten at Sampson Elementary in the Fall.

She is very excited - and nervous - to ride to the bus and participate in all the things the big kids get to do! Time sure flies when we're having fun, and this came up pretty darn fast, so we must be having a blast. So proud of you and while you are ready for the great adventure, please be patient while Mom holds on tight sometimes. We are proud and love you!

I Never Knew I Had So Much Style!!!

So I took the kids to the shoe store to buy Kelsey a pair of dress sandals for her graduation that she would not flip out of and fall on the stage. After she found hers, she thinks mom needs some "more dressy" shoes to wear to her graduation. So we went over to check out what was in my size. I pick up a nice pair of shoes. She says, NO. Kelsey picks up several pairs of shoes, of which she says are "sooooo you Mom." Hmmmm. I think Kelsey has great style of her own, but I think I prefer Carters picks just a wee bit better.

Giggle, Giggle.....ZZZZZZZ!

Kelsey had slept in our bed this night and as usual, we had all legs and arms in every rib, or we were teetering on the edge while she slept soundly and deeply. I finally got comfortable enough to fall into a restful sleep when all of a sudden I heard the sweetest little giggles and awoke to find Kelsey rolling around and laughing hysterically. Then she said, "that is sooo funny!" After saying her name several times, I realized she was still asleep - big bright smile and all. SO I rolled over and went back to sleep.
This morning after breakfast, she came running over to me shouting she had the funniest dream last night. "So tell me about it!" I said. "Mom, I dreamed I went to school with only a shirt on and a backpack. Isnt that funny?" All I could do was laugh - not at the dream but at her reaction to it. "That IS silly!" I said. Then Daddy who overheard everything came into the room with a high five all ready for slapping "Woohoo! I still have that dream Kelsey".

Kelsey and I are very much alike, but one thing for sure were we are different, when I have the dream of showing up somewhere with not all my clothes on, I wake up horrified, worried and anxious. Kelsey has this dream and wakes up laughing hysterically! She does have such a great sense of humor - my daughter can teach me alot! When I see red flags, Kelsey sees possibilities. When things don't go right and I get stressed, Kelsey sees the humor in it all. There are times when I am tense and want her to be more serious and stop goofing around - more for me than for her. I hope her view of the world never changes....after all, we have enough of us stiffs in the world already. And there will be plenty of times her sense of humor will allow her to laugh at herself. Oh to be kid again and to see the world through her eyes - truly all rainbow colored!

My Little Picasso

The last two weeks of school are filled with all sorts of fun activities for the kids at school. Today, Carter's class had Big Art Day. It is a glorious half hour filled with paints, shaving cream, water and any sort of object that can be used to make giant masterpieces. The kids love it! Best part is, there are NO RULES for not getting messy, and mom does not have to clean up her house afterwards. Carter had a blast!!!!

Jon & Kate Plus 8.....We're Waiting...

All the buzz about he cheated, she cheated, is driving me crazy! I have to say, I really don't care who did what. All I know, is that I love to watch this show. Only two kids and on my most challenging days, watching this show humbles me and puts things back into perspective. Wayyyyyy back into perspective. I must be a wimp! Anyhow, Kelsey and Carter both love to watch it with me. They are both mesmerized with all 8 running around and total chaos in the house. Kelsey asks how they each get time with Mommy. Carter thinks how cool to have all those playmates all the time. I am happy to only fix meals for 4 instead of 10. THAT would get old.

I can't help but think about what I would do if I had been in the same position as they. Would I accept an offer to have our life played out 24/7 in front of America? Have our life manipulated and twisted in the media? Splashed on the front pages of tabloids? I don't know and God somehow knew I could not handle it, or he would have made me Kate. All I can say is, whatever happens to them and their family, I wish them the best, but they had to know all this gossip was coming with the offer.

The new season starts in a few days and we will be watching!!!Will you?

Summer.....Hurry Up Already!!!!!!

It is almost here. The end of the school year. While I am very, very bored and tired of making lunches, the kids are very, very ready for some lazy summer days and anything that has to do with water!! Kelsey will be graduating from her PreK at the end of May, and Carter is ....well....done with his MDO class. As he puts it.." its boring!". Anyhow, if the end of school does not get here soon, someone may explode. I think its safe to say, "We are ready!"

A Special Day for Moms......

This is my fifth Mother's Day. While most children probably do not fully comprehend the profoundness of being appreciated as a mom, I can honestly say I did not until I became a mom myself. I always knew my mother was important, for there was not anything my mother did not do or sacrifice for my sister and I. She always did what she felt was best for us - even if was emotionally painful. She was always there for us when we fell and still is there for us when we ask. I may be all grown up and be a mom now, but I still need my mom....and she will always be my mom. I love her for her unending generous heart and all too many times putting herself aside for us. We may not always see things the same or agree on everything, but no matter what, her love never wanes. It is true, a mother's love never dies and truly is unconditional. One very important lesson my mother has taught me by example is to stay strong, and that life hands us all kinds of bumps. Its not being able to get over the bump that matters, its how we get over it. I only pray that I may be half as strong as her and can teach my daughter the same. Thank you Mom. I love you. Cindy


Diane, Me, Mom (1972)


Dad, Mom, Me, Kelsey, Todd, Diane (2004)


A MESSAGE FROM TODD....

Mom I want to thank you so much for the love, strength, toughness, and kindness that you gave me everyday of my life. A little about my great mom... Even though my mom was little in stature, she was huge of heart. She loved her four boys like no mother could ever love. She never took a day off, she never complained and embraced every challenge in life with a smile and strong determination. As the years go on I appreciate her more and more as I realize the sacrifices she made for her sons are greater than I ever realized. As another Mother's Day passes, I cannot thank my mother enough for her undying support and love she has for me.

I love you mom. Todd


Grandma Hattie, Mark, Pam, Steve, Curt, Mom, & Me (1972)


Dad, Mom, Me (2000)

Painting the World