dear carson

Today you turn 10!!  No more single digits for you! I can't believe you are growing up so quickly.  You are such an amazing young man.  Your precious, sweet heart is my favorite thing about you.  I love the way you are concerned with others feelings.  I love the way you are so gentle with your baby sister.  I love hearing you and Calleigh laugh together. I love your quirky sense of humor that often makes me giggle.  I love your laugh, and I love your smile!!   I am so incredibly proud of you....I love you!!

The day you were born was so laid back.  I had gone to the doctor two days earlier and Dr. Carrillo scheduled for me to be induced.  You were a few days early, but I was ready to have a baby.  Going to the hospital was not panicked or rushed, it was just like driving to an appointment.  However, much more exciting.

I remember telling my nurse how quickly Calleigh was born and that you were likely to be born as quickly. I think she thought I was just some young mom, and I really didn't know what I was talking about.  Daddy and I laid around watching TV for a few hours and suddenly it was time.  The nurse hadn't even called Dr. Carrillo to come to the hospital.  I was READY!!!

I remember Dr. Carrillo walking into the room and asking if he had time to put on his scrubs.  I wanted to grab him by the collar and tell him NO!!, but we waited.  And just like I told her...YOU WERE HERE!!  When they held you up, I knew immediately that you were smaller than Callegh was when she was born.  Sure enough, you weigh in at 6 lbs., 13 oz.

As we brought you home, our life began crazy!!  All of the sudden, I realized I had not one baby, but two.  As grown up as I thought Calleigh was, I was quickly reminded that she was still a baby in a sense.  She still wanted to be held just like a baby.  And so did you!!


I remember nap times were often in our old blue rocking chair.  I would have one baby in each crook of my arm, and we would all three sleep for hours.  There is nothing better to hold my babes and sleep!!

Having an older sister, you played all the girly games your sister wanted to play.  You even let her dress you up. What a good sport you were and always have been.

Watching you develop in an athlete has been such a fun experience as your mom.  I honestly dreaded the day that you played tackle football, but this has been the most fun time for me.  I have loved every second of it.  I pray that God protects you in all you do.  I pray that you continue to allow God to grow you in your talents.  I know He has great plans for you.

Carson, you are a great kid!!!  Don't ever let the world tell you differently.  You have a precious heart.  Allow God to mold your heart as you grow.  You make me so proud of you.  I love you with all my heart.  And I LOVE being your mom!!  What a precious gift God gave your dad and I 10 years ago.

I hope your birthday is fabulous!!!

Mom

one week down

Aside from a few minor meltdowns, mom and kids made it through our first week back at school.  It was an awesome week.  I love my classes.  All of my students are fun and sweet.  They even still think I am sweet.  I laugh and tell their parents that will change after next week.  HA!!!

After meeting all my students, some returning in 8th grade and others new to 7th grade, I am very excited for the year to come.  They are going to be a great group of kids to work with.  Seventh graders were mostly scared to death of ending up in the wrong class, or not doing it right.  They did an awesome job!!  Next week they will have the system down easily and be old pros.

Calleigh and Carson had a great week too.  They both are LOVING their teachers.  What a relief for mom to have a school with such amazing teachers.  Looking forward to their successes in school this year.

I won't be receiving Mother of the Year this year.  I forgot to take FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL pictures.  I know, you say how can that be?  I don't know.  We weren't rushed.  Just got to school before I thought of it.  Then, it was just embarrassing, and I hated to humiliate them on the first day of school.  I probably do a good job at that without trying.

Although I would love to be home this weekend and do laundry and kick back, we will spend tomorrow in town playing basketball.  UGH...I am so tired!!!

Have a fantastic weekend!!!

rain

Last night our dry and thirsty land finally got a drink!!  Thank you Lord!!!

Who knew rain could be so much fun!!!

all in a days work

that's my boy

Doesn't mind being dirty filthy

Hates lotion

Can't Doesn't care if his clothes match

Could care less if his clothes are clean or dirty

Keeps a messy room

Likes weird things like guns and football (I mean who would want to be purposely hit and tackled?)

Can't multi-task

Hates chores around the house, but

Loves his friends and playtimes

He makes me one happy momma

just a walk

There are many days that I don't blog, for I feel I simply have nothing to blog about.  But, just a short walk through the yard with my camera and many things caught my eye to share.  It's amazing what lies just beyond my eyes that remind of life as it was just a short time ago and how it can change in such a quick time.

Beyond the swing set, beyond the trees, lying against the fence are Carson's old Tonka trucks.  Unused, but well loved.  Tossed aside because he is much older now.  He rides bikes, plays football and basketball, build forts, and many other things.  But digging with Tonka trucks is not on his list of activities anymore.

It really wasn't all that many years ago that he was a cotton top little boy that spent hours digging in his sandbox with his trucks.  But things change.  Time flies.

It was just a walk through the yard, yet it brought so many memories of where we've been and how far we have come.

olivia & libby

One of the many things I love about living "in the country" and having a cattle business is that our kids have the opportunity to raise their own bottle calves.  It is such an exciting time for the kids because they wait and watch for days for baby calves to be born at the feedyard.  When a baby calf is finally born, they get all giddy and can hardly wait to bring it home.   The baby calf usually comes to live with us within 48 hours of being born.  The are such babies.  Calleigh and Carson bottle feed them twice a day for many, many weeks until they are ready for solid feed.

 This is Libby.

 And this is Olivia.

Libby and Oliva are our precious new bottle calves.  They are the cutest things.  Just as Calleigh and Carson were so giddy to get their new calves, Libby and Olivia get all giddy and jumpy when they see the kids coming to their pen to play or feed.  It makes me smile.  I love this life!!

at the park

golf camp

The week we left for Branson, Carson had golf camp in the city.  It made for a busy week, trying to pack for Branson and spending every morning in town for Carson's camp.  The city is a little to far for us to drive in and come back home, so find something to do we must!!  It really isn't that hard.  Shopping is the first thing that comes to mind...sshhhhh!!!

Carson had a great week at week.  I am amazed each year of what he learns while he at camp.  He truly loves to golf.  Speaking from a mom's perspective, I think he is quit good at it!!  On Friday of camp he played 9 holes on the par 3 golf course and shot a 41.  I am pretty sure that I couldn't go out and shoot anything less than or even close to a 41.  Way to go Carson!!!

The fun he had, friends he saw, and the great golf he played was well worth the miles and the time.  Proud of you Bubba!!!

a mother's dream

As a mother, I have so many dreams for my children.  I think every mother has incredible dreams for each of her children.  It’s part of the job.

• I dream for my children to have a college education, to have a great job that challenges them and doing something they love to do.  
• I dream for my children to each find a spouse they care the same type of marriage that Robby and I have.
• I dream for my children to have friends that encourage them, support them, and hold them accountable i life.
• I dream for children to share in the joys of parenthood.
• I dream for my children to live a life of prosperity and fullness.
• I dream for my children to have so much love that their cup runneth over.
• I dream for my children to happy, no matter where the road of life leads them.
• I dream this....and so much more for my babies (growing babies!)  One of this mom’s dreams came true a few weeks ago when I was able to sit on the front row close to the front and watch Calleigh and Carson be baptized!!!  It was an unforgettable moment that will forever be etched on my heart.  To know that my children will walk with Jesus...makes my own cup runneth over.  I was such a precious moment!!

I dream for my children to have an intimate relationship with their Heavenly Father and know the love and joy of a relationship with Him.


Be blessed!!!

what are the chances?

On most mornings it is a struggle to get my kids out of bed.  They lay in their beds until the very last second, or until mom hollers that they better be out that bed PRONTO!!!  This week, even when they did get up, they would dress, eat breakfast, and crawl back in my bed for a little extra lazy time.  Point being...on school mornings, they are hard to get up.  

The simple fact is, we are sleepers in my house.  When we don't have to get up, we don't.  

For some reason, it was a God thing, Carson came in my room this morning and whispered in my ear "It's time to wake up."  What!!!  Why is he waking me up?  Has my alarm gone off?  A state of confusion set in.  Sure enough, I open my eyes and I see daylight peeking through my blinds.  "OH....,"  I look at the clock and it is 6:36am.  We are sure to be late for school.  But, I have to wash this hair, there is no question of that....I have a one-day hairdo.

By the grace of God, we all scurry around and just tend to our getting ready business.  We were out the door ON TIME!!  How did that happen?  Thank you Lord!!

Thank you Lord for waking up Carson.  Thank you for everyone's willingness to work together to get ready without grumpiness.  Thank you for a smooth morning.  Thank you that we were not late to school.

Hope your day is blessed!!!

dear kids,

I don’t know if you noticed that our house cleaner came yesterday and our house really looks quit nice.  I was thinking how nice it would be if our house could stay picked up and looking nice and neat...not perfect, just picked up.  No clothes on the floor, no shoes left lying around, towels taken back to the bathroom after your shower.  

It would also probably be helpful if your homework folder weren’t laying on my bedroom floor.  You are probably going to need that homework folder in the morning, and you are going to wonder where it is.  Panic may even strike when you realize that you can’t find it.  That would be so sad.  I hate it when I feel panicked.  Not a good feeling at all.

I know that with the weather warming up it makes you want to play outside.  If you wanted a little more playtime I thought you might be interested in knowing helping to clean as you go would result in more playtime in the afternoons.  I know it isn’t asking much, but every little bit helps.  It also helps mommy’s attitude when she isn’t frazzled over things like this.  I know you would like to change that.  

Just thought I would ask.....

Love, Mom

rock climbing

This past weekend the kids celebrated a nephews birthday but going to the new Amarillo Rock Climbing House.  Everyone had to sign a waiver to be able to climb.  As I read the waiver, it scared me to death.  What was I signing my kids up for?  

But as it turned out...What a fun time!!!  Of course, the kids just loved it.  Carson was up and down, and all around. I am not too sure he isn't part monkey!!  

(I forgot my camera, so pics from my phone will have to do.)

Cydney and I...well we probably enjoyed ourselves the most.  We spend a great deal of the time in the party room enjoying the giant cookie cake.  Cookie cakes from the Great American Cookie Co. have to be one of my all time favorite things in the world.  Definitely one of my favorite things about birthday parties.  I think Cydney would agree!!

Robby...another story!!  He enjoyed himself alright.  

He forgot that he was closer to 40, than 20.  

He is very athletic though, and loves being involved in sports and trying new things.

CLIMBING!!!!

Losing his grip...

OUCH!!!

Now, that a cruel reminder that we are close to 40!!

Quit honestly, even though it is huge and swollen here...it looks really good.  As the week progressed, his entire foot was swollen, it started as purple and is now beginning to turn greenish.  Even his poor little toes have bruised.  CRAZY!!!

I am really not the nurse type.  I am more of a toughen up type of person.  HA!!!

But, this week God has used this to soften my heart.

I have loved being able to take care of him.

I love this GUY!!!

But, I would prefer that he not go rock climbing in the near future.  He probably shouldn't push his luck with my soft heart.  hehehe!!!

Have a blessed DAY!!!

wordless wednesday

 

this is my life