Friday, February 27, 2009

Freaky Friday...

Friday...finally...time to get my freak on....no, really it's time for another wonderful weekend alone with my main man. Love it! Here's what's on the agenda for the next few:

1. Friday:
  • Appointment with the attorney at 4:00 PM....ex-husbands are grrrreeeaaatttt.....
  • Dinner and drinks with the hubby...=)

2. Saturday:

  • Sleep in until I feel like getting up
  • Austin's basketball game
  • Sambuca's in Addison with hubby for some live music

3. Sunday

  • Sleep in until I feel like getting up
  • Carter's soccer game
  • Over to Ben and Jen's for Addyson's birthday party with the fam

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

My Final Project...For Awhile...

My final project for awhile...I almost "Modge Podged" my fingers together tonight. I made a little something...one for each letter in her name...for my precious niece, Addyson. Happy birthday, baby girl!

The Chalkboard...

A few people have asked me about how to make the chalkboard, so I thought I would post a mini tutorial. I am loving mine! I hung it in the kitchen and have been writing daily reminders and celebrations on it. Today it says, "1 more day until Friday!"

I bought all of the supplies, including the frame at Hobby Lobby...shocker...


  1. 1 open-back frame (They have some HUGE ones on their clearance aisle right now for 80% off!)

  2. 1 can of chalkboard spray paint

  3. 1 artist canvas

  4. 1 "hook" to attach to the back of the frame so that you can hang it

All you have to do is spray the canvas with several thin coats of the chalkboard paint, allowing about 10 minutes in between each coat. Once it's dry, put glue...using a hot glue gun or super glue...around the inside of the frame where the canvas will be, put the canvas in place and hold down long enough so the glue adheres. All you have left to do is attach the hook and hang it up! If I can do it...anyone can! Have fun!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Look What I Made...

We're having a baby shower tomorrow for Preston's teacher, and I wanted to make something to put in her sweet little baby girl's nursery. I am going to attach a wide ribbon to the back of the frame, so that she can hang it on Rylee's wall...

I think it turned out pretty cute! And by the way...I think I might be addicted to scrapbook paper...

"Look What I Can Do!"

Every child's favorite phrase, "Look what I can do!" Have you seen the character Stuart on Mad TV? Check him out...

Now...here's Trysten "being Stuart"..."Look at my trick, Alli!"...constant entertainment...or else I'm just easily entertained...

Carter...

Yes, this is Carter sitting at my desk in my humble little classroom at 8:53 on a school day....today....this school day....He has pink-eye, which I discovered when I took him to school this morning. Ryan has a training at work today, so he cannot stay home with him, therefore the sweet lady in the front office is scrambling to locate a substitute for me. Yes....a sub....with only 4 teaching days left until my precious students...my babies...will be sharpening their #2 pencils and bubbling in all those tiny circles on the infamous TAKS test. Not a good day for me to have to take off, but what is a mother to do?

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

These People Make Me Sick!

Not really, but why can't I have a creative place like this at home...Oh ya....because I'm not RICH...jerks...No, no...that's rude....but look at these fab spaces...
Wow...
"Yes...let me show you my 'crafting' room. It's nothing really...Just a little something our contractor slapped together." I could do some major damage in this room...

Now...this room is vintage beautiful...Doesn't it make you want to sit at the desk and write letters or something?!

Okay...this...this is just wrong....Ryan...this is what I want...although he knows I would lock myself in this room all day!

Everything is organized in this room...in cute little baskets and decorative boxes...I think I am going to be sick with jealousy...

Really? Who ARE these people!?

All I know is I want to be this beautiful and this organized...A girl can dream, right?

Your Turn...

In our staff meeting the other day, we had to answer the question, "If I could _______, then my life would be easier."

I said this:

"If I could quit my job and stay at home to take care of the 1.5 million tasks required to keep our family of 6 afloat, then my life would be easier."

Your Turn. What would your answer be?

Monday, February 23, 2009

I Give Up...

Down at the very bottom of this post, you will see the dresser I bought 4 years ago from The Magic Moon which is an over priced children's boutique. The only reason I even entered the store many years ago to look at furniture was because I was temporarily INSANE. I was about 3 months pregnant with Carter...my last baby....and was so completely sure I was going to have a girl. With that glimmer of hope and after decorating 2 nurseries for boys, I decided I was going to go all out for this imaginary girl I assumed was growing in my belly. It was then that I fell in love with...


This:
This:


And this:

Once I received the news that another player for my basketball team was making a comfortable little home inside of me, I told myself...FORGET IT, I AM BUYING THAT RIDICULOUSLY OVER PRICED FURNITURE ANYWAY...Now look at it...
Notice how Preston has carved his name into the front of the dresser?! Are you kidding me!?? I have no idea when he did this or what possessed him to do this....

I give up on nice furniture until the kids until the get a little older...

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Your Workspace

What does your workspace say about you? I read an article online the other day describing in detail how a person's workspace, whether you work in an office...in my case, a classroom...or from home...i.e. a stay-at-home-mom...your workspace speaks volumes about your personality. I decided to take a look around my classroom to see what mine is "saying" about me. I then thought of my husband's workspace...clean, neat, organized...yep...perfectly describes him, and I love it because there's nothing worse than having to clean up after a grown man.


Here's the front of my classroom....
"Command Central"
My desk...I love lamps so much that I have ALWAYS had one in my classroom...
So...what do you think mine says about me, and what does yours say about you?

Neurotic....

That is my name, and I wear it proudly...sometimes. Remember when I posted that I bought some trim and covered the chandelier shades in my dining room? Ya...I found trim I like better yesterday, ripped off the "old" and put on the new...


Saturday, February 21, 2009

Making Progress!

Carter had his second game this morning and is making progress...He actually kicked the ball! I was so proud of him that I screamed his name...bad mom...he was so excited, to see me so excited...he turned to smile at me and forgot to keep playing! Love him!


The boys and I being silly before the game started...Good times

Friday, February 20, 2009

Yesterday...

From start to finish, yesterday was an amazing day...from my students treating me like I was "queen for a day", my kids making me homemade cards, to my hubby...the sweetest man ever...spoiling me, it will definitely go down as the best birthday ever.

I absolutely love my group of students this year. Luck gave me such a caring, smart, creative group of kids, and yesterday they went all out and planned a little surprise birthday party for me complete with decorations and cupcakes! I felt completely overwhelmed when I opened a gift from them and found a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble and a $50 card to Hobby Lobby! So generous...I decided to go to Hobby Lobby right after work to satisfy my obsessive desire to be creative...had to share what I bought...=)

Love anything that says "FAMILY"...I had been eyeing these blocks for awhile.

Remember the big chalkboard I want to make? I decided to try a small version first, and I love the way it turned out!

When I walked in the door yesterday, this is what was waiting for me...precious...


It was a great day....

Thursday, February 19, 2009

My Parents...

To me, it's hard not to think of my parents on my birthday...after all, if it weren't for them, I wouldn't be celebrating another year older. If you know anything about my past, you know that when I was 27, my parents divorced after 32 years of marriage. The day they delivered the news to my brother and I was hands-down the worst of my life.

Backing up, the night before their announcement, my entire family attended a huge retirement dinner for my father at the Crescent Hotel in downtown Dallas. It was a formal affair, men in tuxedos and women in cocktail dresses, a band, a dance floor, an abundance of food and memorabilia of my father's 25 plus years he served as an actuary at Watson Wyatt Worldwide. My father gave a speech that night, and there was a tone in his words which hinted to a big change about to take place in his life, but at the time we were oblivious to the direction of which he was speaking.

The next day, my brother and I (My sister lived out of town at the time.) both received the phone call asking us to meet them at Ben's apartment that evening. After arriving and sitting down, my father said the 8 words no child ever wants to hear..."Your mother and I have decided to separate." My heart sank, my life literally flashed before my eyes, and I dispersed a few expletives...It felt like the rug that was my life, had been ripped out from underneath me, like all my childhood memories had never really happened, like life as I knew it, was gone. It sounds dramatic, but divorce is dramatic. I could not, and still cannot, recall a time when my parents yelled at each other or were openly disrespectful, so the news was shocking. Children see their parents as a unit, and it was difficult to think of them otherwise. Our once close-knit family would become distant and scattered.

Fast Forward about 4 springs ago...my siblings and I had "heard the rumors" that my parents had been "hanging out" together, but they kept it pretty much a secret from us. Apparently my dad had decided to move his storage building from one place to another and had invited my mother to join him in going through old photos etc. in order to divide them up between the 2 of them. Those moments spent in a hot, humid, dimly lit storage room sparked memories of a life and a family they had created together. When summer came around, my father took the whole family to Key West and asked my mother to come with us. Despite me going through the demise of my own marriage at the time, it was an incredible vacation. We were a family again; we could laugh about the good old days again because they were no longer painful to remember. The final night of the trip, as we all sat in one of the condos together and watched the video of my brother's proposal to Jennifer, my father took a ring out of his pocket, turned towards my mother and asked her to marry him "again" for all of us to see. It still gives me chills to think about that moment. It was amazing, precious and I will never forget being able to witness the love between my mother and father.

They remarried in a small family ceremony on September 29, 2006, and I have never seen them happier. Although their divorce was devastating on the family as well as on themselves, their respect and love for each other now makes each moment of that hardship worthy. I have always considered my parents role models. They taught all of us to believe in ourselves, set our goals high and how to love those around us. They have loved me through the ups and downs, good and bad and have never given up on me. I am so completely blessed...

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Wednesday Randomness...

I have discovered that the more children you have, the more opportunities for random laughter abound you. Two random moments from this morning:

1. As a result of having so much fun at practice last night, Carter slept in his soccer socks. He obviously took them off for his bath this morning, but when he came back downstairs after getting dressed, he was wearing his entire uniform...cleats and all. I desperately tried to convince him to at least take off the cleats, but to avail. It was one of those moments I decided to pick and choose my battles, and the soccer uniform won...I did send a pair of regular shoes and socks for when his feet start hurting later. =)

2. On the way to school, we were listening to a segment called, "Mad Moms in Minivans" on a local morning show, and Preston said, "This game is actually the same concept as Family Feud, Mom." He's such a little man...

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Benihana's

My parents took the family out to dinner on Sunday to celebrate my birthday...the big 35. It's actually not until Thursday, but they are leaving for Costa Rica...rough life...and won't be back for over a week. I couldn't wait to consume massive amounts of Japanese food...hibachi style...at the new Benihana at Legacy Circle. The food was great, the company was amazing...the service was awful. Sorry, "Beni"...just speaking the truth.

All the kids...minus Addyson...sat on one side of the table together. It is really nice now that the kids are old enough for us to actually go out to eat without my anxiety going through the roof...I don't miss the days of packing a bag full of snacks and toys to keep the kids entertained until the food arrives!

Ryan helping Carter with the menu...
My sister-in-law and friend, Jennifer...I'm so lucky!

My brother and my neice...sweetest baby ever!

Austin making Addyson laugh...My dad said, "I think Austin is telling you he wants a baby sister!"....uh....no...

Monday, February 16, 2009

Visual Candy....

I love "visual candy". Lately I have discovered some amazing decorating blogs and started collecting some of my favorite ideas and thought I would share...Enjoy!

Apothecary jars...enough said! Change the contents for the season, add a ribbon or a tassel, insert a favorite black and white picture, print out a favorite quote, cut it out with scrapbook scissors, or simply tear the edges, and tuck it inside...the possibilities are endless...

I am all over this next fall!

Anything monogrammed is beautiful! Heather...I might be contacting you soon!

My next project is making the chalkboard seen in the background. I can see this in the kitchen, a hallway scribbled with love notes to my hubby or sweet reminders for the kids or above a firplace or sofa. Love it!

This is going in my Halloween file for next year! Notice the apothecary jars!!

I am always on the lookout for new curtain designs, and I love the detail at the bottom...



Don't you feel inspired now!!!!?

A Good Laugh...

If you are ever in need of a good laugh, attend a soccer game where the players on the field are between the ages of 4 and 5...absolutely hysterical. As you may remember, I volunteered to be the coach of Carter's team due to the fact his team had no coach...so...let's just say that my husband volunteered...scratch that....has been forced to take over the reins. I am helping at practice, but I'm leaving the coaching up to him.

Since we received an email on Wednesday that the league was adding 6 more kids to our roster...insane...not everyone has a uniform yet, so we were forced to improvise. The instructions were to have your child wear a red T-shirt and black shorts....that is not at all what Carter showed up in from his dad's house. We looked like the most ghetto team on the field, but the kids...and adults...had a blast! Here are a few of the highlights:


Don't you like Carter's "outfit/uniform"?! When his dad brought him, all I could do was shake my head. This picture is so symbolic of a pre-k soccer game..."That's our goal down there!"..."No, it's that one down there!"...We ended up "giving" the other team 2 goals.

My precious little boy...Every time he came over to the sidelines he would ask me, "Mom, are the yellow guys the bad guys?"


You must view this one...It perfectly captures Carter's craziness on the field...I could not stop laughing. It was the sweetest sight to see him having so much fun...oh...and he finally realizes there is actually a game going on around him!

These poor little boys had never done the whole hand-slap thing after the game...The coaches told them to stay on the line, and they took it literally and all tried...both teams at the same time...to stay right on the line...They just stood there looking at each other while the coaches tried to persuade them to move. Classic...

Sunday, February 15, 2009

100 Things I Love About You...

For Valentine's Day, I decided to make something for Ryan rather than buying him some lame "something or other" from "somewhere or another". I cut out strips of scrapbook paper...100 to be exact...and hand-wrote all the different reasons I love him so much and placed them in a glass jar for him to read. He loved it...

Valentine's Cupcakes

We attempted to replicate Ms. Stewart's Valentine's cupcakes on Thursday night...not so sure they visually resembled hers, but the little jewels sure did taste good. The boys cracked us up throughout the creative process...as usual:

Trysten was on a roll...first this:

Then this:

Notice the concentration...


I love Trysten telling Carter that he has to wait his turn...

Just plain silly...

The finished project...not identical but yummy none the less! XOX!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Can't Wait...

I am thrilled about having some "alone time" with my hubby this weekend. This has been a stressful week, and I cannot wait to cut loose a little. On Friday night we have tickets to go see Waking Norman and Monte Montgomery at the Grapevine Palace Arts Center. It's my first time to see Monte, but I have checked out his music, and it's right up my alley. Both groups are good mix of Dave Mathews and John Mayer. Check out their sites, and you can check out their tunes!

Ready...

I'm feeling so much better today...thank the Lord! Ryan and I went to visit Grandmommie last night, along with my parents, sister and my brother. When we arrived, my dad was filling out the paperwork and trying to find a witness to sign her "right to die without medical intervention" forms. That was upsetting, but when we began to talk to Grandmommie, she was so at peace. She kept saying, "Is it almost over? I'm ready to go home." We spoke of good memories and of the many people Grandmommie is looking forward to seeing when the time comes...her mother, her husband, her 3 sisters and many old friends. It was difficult to listen to her describe what she wanted me to include in her casket with her, one of which was a picture of the boys. Only God knows when he is ready to take her, but when he does, we'll know that she was ready. She is an amazing woman.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Realizations...

I did a lot of thinking last night about everything going on, and as I was reading The Shack last night...cannot put it down...I did realize one thing. My grandmother has lived a very happy, amazing life. She was blessed with 2 incredibly successful sons, more friends than she can keep track of, and a husband that loved her dearly. I realized that she is ready, she's done, and she misses her husband. I am quite sure that death is not something she fears...In fact, I think at her age and after her experiences in life, she thinks of heaven as a better place than where she is now. I cannot imagine our family without her, but it's not about me. It's her happiness that's important, and one person should not have to live in so much pain and suffering. Ryan and I are going to see her this evening, and I am going to wrap my arms around her frail little body and tell her how much I love her...

Ryan and I with Grandmommie at our wedding...

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Grandmommie...

"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning." -Louise L'Amour

I found this quote on another blog, and I was hoping I was meant to see it...to make me see the light at the end of the tunnel...and then I received this email from my sister...

"Hi! I just wanted to let y'all know that I just talked to Mama and she said that Grandmommie is not doing well. She's back in the hospital because her blood pressure got really high today and they gave her medicine to make it go down. It went down really low and then they admitted her to the hospital.Daddy is probably going to stay with her tonight. Mama said that she is telling them that she is ready to go and is asking them to pray for God to take her. I just thought you might want to know. You might want to go see her if you can. I'm really afraid that this might be the end. I can't even stand to think about it.

Shelley"


Grandmommie is hands-down the pillar of my family and always has been. My dad's mother, my grandmother...has always been a huge part of my life. Her husband, my grandfather, Bigdaddy, died before Carter was born, and ever since then, she has never been the same. They were so in love, never raising their voices to each other, but we knew when they didn't agree because of the line..."Now, honey." I can still hear them saying that to each other...

Just For You...

I had posted some pics of my pad....trying to make myself feel upbeat...yesterday, but I deleted it because the images took up so much space. Then, I received a sweet comment from Confessions from an Impulsive Addict...if you haven't checked her out...you MUST do so...wanting to know where my pictures went, so just for you, doll...here they are!



The buffet from the dining room that we decided to use in the entry...

Dining Room

Family Room...The painting in this room took forever...but I love how it turned out

Powder Bath...This tiny little room was A LOT of work...

Kitchen...A.K.A. "Family Headquarters"

The window seat in the kitchen nook...I have to have animal print in every room!

Master Bath

Master Bath...love our monogrammed towels...gift from a good friend
Master Bedroom...with Ryan's "bachelor days" furniture...

That Would Be Today...

Have you ever had a day that you just wanted some really good news to brighten your day? That would be today. I need something to make me laugh...=)

Monday, February 9, 2009

Numb...

I honestly thought I was feeling better and done crying, and then I received a text message tonight. It read:

"Don't know if you heard but Lauren Linville passed away this morning."


My stomach felt sick immediately....Lauren was a friend of Austin's that he has known since kindergarten. We used to live in the same neighborhood, and I remember Lauren would invite Austin over to play, and he would happily go...I'd pick him up, and find him with a barbie in his hands..but she was also a competitive athlete, and could hang with the boys on the soccer field. I know she broke one of her legs at least 2 times. I remember watching her cheer for Austin's football team...there might have even been a little innocent crush in there somewhere...I remember her coming by my classroom when I was her older brother's teacher. I remember hearing she had cancer, and I remember finding out not so long ago that it had found it's senseless way to her brain.

I am numb, I am devastated and I am completely confused...Another child. Another life ended way to early. Another family left to suffer.

Organization...

Follow this link if you love new, aesthetically pleasing ways to organize your kid's clutter...There are some great ideas, and the link will only be available one more day!

Here are a few of my favorites:

We have an art closet, and it's pretty organized...but THIS....this is cute! Ryan...I know you are dying for me to do this aren't you!














I am constantly changing, on the pantry door, the artwork/papers the kids make or bring home from school, but this would be a great way able to display more. I think I would probably hang them horizontally to get more use of the space.



















I love this one! The creative genius that came up with this puts it on the table while her kids are doing homework, so they have EVERYTHING they could possible need right at their fingertips.













Go check it out!!

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Friday, February 27, 2009

Freaky Friday...

Friday...finally...time to get my freak on....no, really it's time for another wonderful weekend alone with my main man. Love it! Here's what's on the agenda for the next few:

1. Friday:
  • Appointment with the attorney at 4:00 PM....ex-husbands are grrrreeeaaatttt.....
  • Dinner and drinks with the hubby...=)

2. Saturday:

  • Sleep in until I feel like getting up
  • Austin's basketball game
  • Sambuca's in Addison with hubby for some live music

3. Sunday

  • Sleep in until I feel like getting up
  • Carter's soccer game
  • Over to Ben and Jen's for Addyson's birthday party with the fam

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

My Final Project...For Awhile...

My final project for awhile...I almost "Modge Podged" my fingers together tonight. I made a little something...one for each letter in her name...for my precious niece, Addyson. Happy birthday, baby girl!

The Chalkboard...

A few people have asked me about how to make the chalkboard, so I thought I would post a mini tutorial. I am loving mine! I hung it in the kitchen and have been writing daily reminders and celebrations on it. Today it says, "1 more day until Friday!"

I bought all of the supplies, including the frame at Hobby Lobby...shocker...


  1. 1 open-back frame (They have some HUGE ones on their clearance aisle right now for 80% off!)

  2. 1 can of chalkboard spray paint

  3. 1 artist canvas

  4. 1 "hook" to attach to the back of the frame so that you can hang it

All you have to do is spray the canvas with several thin coats of the chalkboard paint, allowing about 10 minutes in between each coat. Once it's dry, put glue...using a hot glue gun or super glue...around the inside of the frame where the canvas will be, put the canvas in place and hold down long enough so the glue adheres. All you have left to do is attach the hook and hang it up! If I can do it...anyone can! Have fun!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Look What I Made...

We're having a baby shower tomorrow for Preston's teacher, and I wanted to make something to put in her sweet little baby girl's nursery. I am going to attach a wide ribbon to the back of the frame, so that she can hang it on Rylee's wall...

I think it turned out pretty cute! And by the way...I think I might be addicted to scrapbook paper...

"Look What I Can Do!"

Every child's favorite phrase, "Look what I can do!" Have you seen the character Stuart on Mad TV? Check him out...

Now...here's Trysten "being Stuart"..."Look at my trick, Alli!"...constant entertainment...or else I'm just easily entertained...

Carter...

Yes, this is Carter sitting at my desk in my humble little classroom at 8:53 on a school day....today....this school day....He has pink-eye, which I discovered when I took him to school this morning. Ryan has a training at work today, so he cannot stay home with him, therefore the sweet lady in the front office is scrambling to locate a substitute for me. Yes....a sub....with only 4 teaching days left until my precious students...my babies...will be sharpening their #2 pencils and bubbling in all those tiny circles on the infamous TAKS test. Not a good day for me to have to take off, but what is a mother to do?

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

These People Make Me Sick!

Not really, but why can't I have a creative place like this at home...Oh ya....because I'm not RICH...jerks...No, no...that's rude....but look at these fab spaces...
Wow...
"Yes...let me show you my 'crafting' room. It's nothing really...Just a little something our contractor slapped together." I could do some major damage in this room...

Now...this room is vintage beautiful...Doesn't it make you want to sit at the desk and write letters or something?!

Okay...this...this is just wrong....Ryan...this is what I want...although he knows I would lock myself in this room all day!

Everything is organized in this room...in cute little baskets and decorative boxes...I think I am going to be sick with jealousy...

Really? Who ARE these people!?

All I know is I want to be this beautiful and this organized...A girl can dream, right?

Your Turn...

In our staff meeting the other day, we had to answer the question, "If I could _______, then my life would be easier."

I said this:

"If I could quit my job and stay at home to take care of the 1.5 million tasks required to keep our family of 6 afloat, then my life would be easier."

Your Turn. What would your answer be?

Monday, February 23, 2009

I Give Up...

Down at the very bottom of this post, you will see the dresser I bought 4 years ago from The Magic Moon which is an over priced children's boutique. The only reason I even entered the store many years ago to look at furniture was because I was temporarily INSANE. I was about 3 months pregnant with Carter...my last baby....and was so completely sure I was going to have a girl. With that glimmer of hope and after decorating 2 nurseries for boys, I decided I was going to go all out for this imaginary girl I assumed was growing in my belly. It was then that I fell in love with...


This:
This:


And this:

Once I received the news that another player for my basketball team was making a comfortable little home inside of me, I told myself...FORGET IT, I AM BUYING THAT RIDICULOUSLY OVER PRICED FURNITURE ANYWAY...Now look at it...
Notice how Preston has carved his name into the front of the dresser?! Are you kidding me!?? I have no idea when he did this or what possessed him to do this....

I give up on nice furniture until the kids until the get a little older...

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Your Workspace

What does your workspace say about you? I read an article online the other day describing in detail how a person's workspace, whether you work in an office...in my case, a classroom...or from home...i.e. a stay-at-home-mom...your workspace speaks volumes about your personality. I decided to take a look around my classroom to see what mine is "saying" about me. I then thought of my husband's workspace...clean, neat, organized...yep...perfectly describes him, and I love it because there's nothing worse than having to clean up after a grown man.


Here's the front of my classroom....
"Command Central"
My desk...I love lamps so much that I have ALWAYS had one in my classroom...
So...what do you think mine says about me, and what does yours say about you?

Neurotic....

That is my name, and I wear it proudly...sometimes. Remember when I posted that I bought some trim and covered the chandelier shades in my dining room? Ya...I found trim I like better yesterday, ripped off the "old" and put on the new...


Saturday, February 21, 2009

Making Progress!

Carter had his second game this morning and is making progress...He actually kicked the ball! I was so proud of him that I screamed his name...bad mom...he was so excited, to see me so excited...he turned to smile at me and forgot to keep playing! Love him!


The boys and I being silly before the game started...Good times

Friday, February 20, 2009

Yesterday...

From start to finish, yesterday was an amazing day...from my students treating me like I was "queen for a day", my kids making me homemade cards, to my hubby...the sweetest man ever...spoiling me, it will definitely go down as the best birthday ever.

I absolutely love my group of students this year. Luck gave me such a caring, smart, creative group of kids, and yesterday they went all out and planned a little surprise birthday party for me complete with decorations and cupcakes! I felt completely overwhelmed when I opened a gift from them and found a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble and a $50 card to Hobby Lobby! So generous...I decided to go to Hobby Lobby right after work to satisfy my obsessive desire to be creative...had to share what I bought...=)

Love anything that says "FAMILY"...I had been eyeing these blocks for awhile.

Remember the big chalkboard I want to make? I decided to try a small version first, and I love the way it turned out!

When I walked in the door yesterday, this is what was waiting for me...precious...


It was a great day....

Thursday, February 19, 2009

My Parents...

To me, it's hard not to think of my parents on my birthday...after all, if it weren't for them, I wouldn't be celebrating another year older. If you know anything about my past, you know that when I was 27, my parents divorced after 32 years of marriage. The day they delivered the news to my brother and I was hands-down the worst of my life.

Backing up, the night before their announcement, my entire family attended a huge retirement dinner for my father at the Crescent Hotel in downtown Dallas. It was a formal affair, men in tuxedos and women in cocktail dresses, a band, a dance floor, an abundance of food and memorabilia of my father's 25 plus years he served as an actuary at Watson Wyatt Worldwide. My father gave a speech that night, and there was a tone in his words which hinted to a big change about to take place in his life, but at the time we were oblivious to the direction of which he was speaking.

The next day, my brother and I (My sister lived out of town at the time.) both received the phone call asking us to meet them at Ben's apartment that evening. After arriving and sitting down, my father said the 8 words no child ever wants to hear..."Your mother and I have decided to separate." My heart sank, my life literally flashed before my eyes, and I dispersed a few expletives...It felt like the rug that was my life, had been ripped out from underneath me, like all my childhood memories had never really happened, like life as I knew it, was gone. It sounds dramatic, but divorce is dramatic. I could not, and still cannot, recall a time when my parents yelled at each other or were openly disrespectful, so the news was shocking. Children see their parents as a unit, and it was difficult to think of them otherwise. Our once close-knit family would become distant and scattered.

Fast Forward about 4 springs ago...my siblings and I had "heard the rumors" that my parents had been "hanging out" together, but they kept it pretty much a secret from us. Apparently my dad had decided to move his storage building from one place to another and had invited my mother to join him in going through old photos etc. in order to divide them up between the 2 of them. Those moments spent in a hot, humid, dimly lit storage room sparked memories of a life and a family they had created together. When summer came around, my father took the whole family to Key West and asked my mother to come with us. Despite me going through the demise of my own marriage at the time, it was an incredible vacation. We were a family again; we could laugh about the good old days again because they were no longer painful to remember. The final night of the trip, as we all sat in one of the condos together and watched the video of my brother's proposal to Jennifer, my father took a ring out of his pocket, turned towards my mother and asked her to marry him "again" for all of us to see. It still gives me chills to think about that moment. It was amazing, precious and I will never forget being able to witness the love between my mother and father.

They remarried in a small family ceremony on September 29, 2006, and I have never seen them happier. Although their divorce was devastating on the family as well as on themselves, their respect and love for each other now makes each moment of that hardship worthy. I have always considered my parents role models. They taught all of us to believe in ourselves, set our goals high and how to love those around us. They have loved me through the ups and downs, good and bad and have never given up on me. I am so completely blessed...

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Wednesday Randomness...

I have discovered that the more children you have, the more opportunities for random laughter abound you. Two random moments from this morning:

1. As a result of having so much fun at practice last night, Carter slept in his soccer socks. He obviously took them off for his bath this morning, but when he came back downstairs after getting dressed, he was wearing his entire uniform...cleats and all. I desperately tried to convince him to at least take off the cleats, but to avail. It was one of those moments I decided to pick and choose my battles, and the soccer uniform won...I did send a pair of regular shoes and socks for when his feet start hurting later. =)

2. On the way to school, we were listening to a segment called, "Mad Moms in Minivans" on a local morning show, and Preston said, "This game is actually the same concept as Family Feud, Mom." He's such a little man...

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Benihana's

My parents took the family out to dinner on Sunday to celebrate my birthday...the big 35. It's actually not until Thursday, but they are leaving for Costa Rica...rough life...and won't be back for over a week. I couldn't wait to consume massive amounts of Japanese food...hibachi style...at the new Benihana at Legacy Circle. The food was great, the company was amazing...the service was awful. Sorry, "Beni"...just speaking the truth.

All the kids...minus Addyson...sat on one side of the table together. It is really nice now that the kids are old enough for us to actually go out to eat without my anxiety going through the roof...I don't miss the days of packing a bag full of snacks and toys to keep the kids entertained until the food arrives!

Ryan helping Carter with the menu...
My sister-in-law and friend, Jennifer...I'm so lucky!

My brother and my neice...sweetest baby ever!

Austin making Addyson laugh...My dad said, "I think Austin is telling you he wants a baby sister!"....uh....no...

Monday, February 16, 2009

Visual Candy....

I love "visual candy". Lately I have discovered some amazing decorating blogs and started collecting some of my favorite ideas and thought I would share...Enjoy!

Apothecary jars...enough said! Change the contents for the season, add a ribbon or a tassel, insert a favorite black and white picture, print out a favorite quote, cut it out with scrapbook scissors, or simply tear the edges, and tuck it inside...the possibilities are endless...

I am all over this next fall!

Anything monogrammed is beautiful! Heather...I might be contacting you soon!

My next project is making the chalkboard seen in the background. I can see this in the kitchen, a hallway scribbled with love notes to my hubby or sweet reminders for the kids or above a firplace or sofa. Love it!

This is going in my Halloween file for next year! Notice the apothecary jars!!

I am always on the lookout for new curtain designs, and I love the detail at the bottom...



Don't you feel inspired now!!!!?

A Good Laugh...

If you are ever in need of a good laugh, attend a soccer game where the players on the field are between the ages of 4 and 5...absolutely hysterical. As you may remember, I volunteered to be the coach of Carter's team due to the fact his team had no coach...so...let's just say that my husband volunteered...scratch that....has been forced to take over the reins. I am helping at practice, but I'm leaving the coaching up to him.

Since we received an email on Wednesday that the league was adding 6 more kids to our roster...insane...not everyone has a uniform yet, so we were forced to improvise. The instructions were to have your child wear a red T-shirt and black shorts....that is not at all what Carter showed up in from his dad's house. We looked like the most ghetto team on the field, but the kids...and adults...had a blast! Here are a few of the highlights:


Don't you like Carter's "outfit/uniform"?! When his dad brought him, all I could do was shake my head. This picture is so symbolic of a pre-k soccer game..."That's our goal down there!"..."No, it's that one down there!"...We ended up "giving" the other team 2 goals.

My precious little boy...Every time he came over to the sidelines he would ask me, "Mom, are the yellow guys the bad guys?"


You must view this one...It perfectly captures Carter's craziness on the field...I could not stop laughing. It was the sweetest sight to see him having so much fun...oh...and he finally realizes there is actually a game going on around him!

These poor little boys had never done the whole hand-slap thing after the game...The coaches told them to stay on the line, and they took it literally and all tried...both teams at the same time...to stay right on the line...They just stood there looking at each other while the coaches tried to persuade them to move. Classic...

Sunday, February 15, 2009

100 Things I Love About You...

For Valentine's Day, I decided to make something for Ryan rather than buying him some lame "something or other" from "somewhere or another". I cut out strips of scrapbook paper...100 to be exact...and hand-wrote all the different reasons I love him so much and placed them in a glass jar for him to read. He loved it...

Valentine's Cupcakes

We attempted to replicate Ms. Stewart's Valentine's cupcakes on Thursday night...not so sure they visually resembled hers, but the little jewels sure did taste good. The boys cracked us up throughout the creative process...as usual:

Trysten was on a roll...first this:

Then this:

Notice the concentration...


I love Trysten telling Carter that he has to wait his turn...

Just plain silly...

The finished project...not identical but yummy none the less! XOX!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Can't Wait...

I am thrilled about having some "alone time" with my hubby this weekend. This has been a stressful week, and I cannot wait to cut loose a little. On Friday night we have tickets to go see Waking Norman and Monte Montgomery at the Grapevine Palace Arts Center. It's my first time to see Monte, but I have checked out his music, and it's right up my alley. Both groups are good mix of Dave Mathews and John Mayer. Check out their sites, and you can check out their tunes!

Ready...

I'm feeling so much better today...thank the Lord! Ryan and I went to visit Grandmommie last night, along with my parents, sister and my brother. When we arrived, my dad was filling out the paperwork and trying to find a witness to sign her "right to die without medical intervention" forms. That was upsetting, but when we began to talk to Grandmommie, she was so at peace. She kept saying, "Is it almost over? I'm ready to go home." We spoke of good memories and of the many people Grandmommie is looking forward to seeing when the time comes...her mother, her husband, her 3 sisters and many old friends. It was difficult to listen to her describe what she wanted me to include in her casket with her, one of which was a picture of the boys. Only God knows when he is ready to take her, but when he does, we'll know that she was ready. She is an amazing woman.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Realizations...

I did a lot of thinking last night about everything going on, and as I was reading The Shack last night...cannot put it down...I did realize one thing. My grandmother has lived a very happy, amazing life. She was blessed with 2 incredibly successful sons, more friends than she can keep track of, and a husband that loved her dearly. I realized that she is ready, she's done, and she misses her husband. I am quite sure that death is not something she fears...In fact, I think at her age and after her experiences in life, she thinks of heaven as a better place than where she is now. I cannot imagine our family without her, but it's not about me. It's her happiness that's important, and one person should not have to live in so much pain and suffering. Ryan and I are going to see her this evening, and I am going to wrap my arms around her frail little body and tell her how much I love her...

Ryan and I with Grandmommie at our wedding...

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Grandmommie...

"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning." -Louise L'Amour

I found this quote on another blog, and I was hoping I was meant to see it...to make me see the light at the end of the tunnel...and then I received this email from my sister...

"Hi! I just wanted to let y'all know that I just talked to Mama and she said that Grandmommie is not doing well. She's back in the hospital because her blood pressure got really high today and they gave her medicine to make it go down. It went down really low and then they admitted her to the hospital.Daddy is probably going to stay with her tonight. Mama said that she is telling them that she is ready to go and is asking them to pray for God to take her. I just thought you might want to know. You might want to go see her if you can. I'm really afraid that this might be the end. I can't even stand to think about it.

Shelley"


Grandmommie is hands-down the pillar of my family and always has been. My dad's mother, my grandmother...has always been a huge part of my life. Her husband, my grandfather, Bigdaddy, died before Carter was born, and ever since then, she has never been the same. They were so in love, never raising their voices to each other, but we knew when they didn't agree because of the line..."Now, honey." I can still hear them saying that to each other...

Just For You...

I had posted some pics of my pad....trying to make myself feel upbeat...yesterday, but I deleted it because the images took up so much space. Then, I received a sweet comment from Confessions from an Impulsive Addict...if you haven't checked her out...you MUST do so...wanting to know where my pictures went, so just for you, doll...here they are!



The buffet from the dining room that we decided to use in the entry...

Dining Room

Family Room...The painting in this room took forever...but I love how it turned out

Powder Bath...This tiny little room was A LOT of work...

Kitchen...A.K.A. "Family Headquarters"

The window seat in the kitchen nook...I have to have animal print in every room!

Master Bath

Master Bath...love our monogrammed towels...gift from a good friend
Master Bedroom...with Ryan's "bachelor days" furniture...

That Would Be Today...

Have you ever had a day that you just wanted some really good news to brighten your day? That would be today. I need something to make me laugh...=)

Monday, February 9, 2009

Numb...

I honestly thought I was feeling better and done crying, and then I received a text message tonight. It read:

"Don't know if you heard but Lauren Linville passed away this morning."


My stomach felt sick immediately....Lauren was a friend of Austin's that he has known since kindergarten. We used to live in the same neighborhood, and I remember Lauren would invite Austin over to play, and he would happily go...I'd pick him up, and find him with a barbie in his hands..but she was also a competitive athlete, and could hang with the boys on the soccer field. I know she broke one of her legs at least 2 times. I remember watching her cheer for Austin's football team...there might have even been a little innocent crush in there somewhere...I remember her coming by my classroom when I was her older brother's teacher. I remember hearing she had cancer, and I remember finding out not so long ago that it had found it's senseless way to her brain.

I am numb, I am devastated and I am completely confused...Another child. Another life ended way to early. Another family left to suffer.

Organization...

Follow this link if you love new, aesthetically pleasing ways to organize your kid's clutter...There are some great ideas, and the link will only be available one more day!

Here are a few of my favorites:

We have an art closet, and it's pretty organized...but THIS....this is cute! Ryan...I know you are dying for me to do this aren't you!














I am constantly changing, on the pantry door, the artwork/papers the kids make or bring home from school, but this would be a great way able to display more. I think I would probably hang them horizontally to get more use of the space.



















I love this one! The creative genius that came up with this puts it on the table while her kids are doing homework, so they have EVERYTHING they could possible need right at their fingertips.













Go check it out!!