Trip to CT

On May 20, 2011, my mom and brother and myself went to CT to watch my other brother graduate from Central Connecticut State University. He graduated with a degree in Actuarial Science.

This one didn't turn out that great. He was on the move, and we were on opposite ends of the arena from each other.

Johnedward's name was being called out. :) Very proud moment!!! :)

Already sitting back down. And I caught a few pictures of him looking for us. :)

Johnedward checking out his diploma.

Took a little while to get out of their and back across the street to our Hotel Lobby. But by the time we all got there, Johnedward was already there. LOL!!! His girls had gotten him a graduation balloon and a bear. They are so sweet! I told him to say "CHEESE" and I think I got him mid cheese. lol

Again, this was the most proudest moment in my life, other than my wedding and the birth of my children!! And I was so excited to meet Hilary finally.

OH MY GOODNESS!!

It's been over a YEAR since I last blogged, WOW! I can't believe it! There has been soooo much that's happened in the last year. Saira turned 8 and Ryan turned 11. He'll be 12 next month. Oh my, a pre teen!! I became another year older, 35. I've been to 2 retreats with my scrappy friends and to a NKOTBSB concert in June. OH MY! That was the BEST fun EVER!! This summer was really great. It was really busy at first, but then it slowed down which was great. Now we're all prepared for 3rd and 6th grade. My poor baby girl, she will be dealing with all that exit level tests, now called STAR tests, formally called TAKS. Surely she'll do just as well as her brother has the last 3 years, if not better. :) Our summer vacation is on a count down to being over... 4 more days.

I'm kind of glad that 6th grade stays with Elementary now. When I was in the 6th grade out in 29 Palms, California, it was in Elementary. Jr. High was only 7th and 8th. I think Ryan feels like he's ready to move on to Jr. High though. He keeps dissing the thought of having to stay in Elementary, "even though it's suppose to be Jr. High". That's what he's been saying all summer.

Both the kids have grown and matured alot this summer. My son has totally passed me up in height. I've known he has, but a few months ago it totally hit me that he's out grown me. :( Saira, her and I practically wear the same size shoe. Umm, you read above that she's only 8. What the heck?!?

OH OH!!! One other exciting, bitter sweet thing is that Ryan will be playing Jr. High football. Aww, I've looked forward to this every since he was born, but I don't think I'm ready for my baby boy to play with the big kids. ;)

Me, my mom and brother took a weekend trip to see my other brother graduate from College. That was one of the most awesomest family moments EVER. I was beyond proud of my brother. He's worked so hard for 7 years to get his Actuarial degree. Here you go, some more info on that: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actuarial_science It's a pretty big deal... ;) Picture above is me and my sweet mama on our flight to see my brother! I'll for sure have to blog about that trip later. It was so awesome, and I can't wait to go see my Conneticut family again. Oh, yes, that's were my brother was going to College, Central Connecticut State University. I wish I could move there, to Guilford, CT where he lives. I loved all the history I learned in the 2 days we were there.

Ok, I promise to be back soon and blog again. I won't stay away for another year. LOL!!!

Memphis (2nd Trip)

We went on a 2nd trip to be with Chad for Easter. And the Easter Bunny even knew where to go.  :)

Chad and Saira coloring at Cracker Barrel

Still coloring/playing games.

The bridge that crosses over the Mighty Mississippi River over to Arkansas.

The bridge that crossed from Memphis Tn over to AR

Eating some AWESOME BBQ at the #1 BBQ place, Rendezvous

At Rendezvous

Dry rub ribs at Rendezvous

My bbq sandwich at Rendezvous and the best cole slow and beans EVER!! Their cole slow is different!

Rendezvous

Haaa!  Messy girl! at Rendezvous

Oh yeah!!!  That's a rib eating girl right there!! at Rendezvous

Rendezvous

Rendezvous

Mmm, their sauce is sooooo good, it'll make you slap your mama!

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Messy face, messy hands

Gee, they even cater

they are located in an alley, down in a basement...lol 

Some Memphis Pics (1st Trip)

Here's some pics from our first trip to visit Chad in Memphis.... I took 234, so I figure these will do :)

Holy Smokes! Busy Summer!

Wow, I've been totally neglectful to my blog.  :(

We've been so busy these days.  The last time I posted we went to Memphis.  We took 2 trips there.  Once during Spring Break and then again at Easter.  Those trips will be something I will never forget.  My first road trip with my kids.  With Chad working out of day this year we've traveled around to see him alot.  He came home from Memphis 2 weeks after Easter on April 19th I believe.  He took a week break and then the following Monday he went down to Port Lavaca, Texas.  So of course the kids and I took a trip down to visit him on June 12th for a few days.  He finally finished that job on July 8th.  So on July 16th-19th we went on vacation.  Cause you know we didn't have enough vacations going to see Chad...  ;)  We took our anual trip to San Antonio.

Rewind a little bit to the end of the school year....

Both the kids had Perfect Attendance for the year.  I was so proud of them.  It's hard to be at school every single day the school doors are open.  I tallied up the days I subbed.  80 days!  The last month of school we had field trips.  Saira went to the Houston Zoo.  Her and I had a great time.  Would love to go back sometime without the school and during a cooler time of the year.  Ryan went to the Downtown Houston Aquarium.  That was a neat place.  I was so thankful that his great teacher made those kids get around and enjoy everything there was to do.  She even had me doing things...LOL!!  She got my fat butt up on the Carousel.  I'll have to share a pic of that!

So the last week of school, my kids didn't have school.  They earned their Flex Days for having good attendance and good grades, but Ryan also had to pass his TAKS test....  AND he did!  I was so worried, those tests are hard on those kids.  He passed his Writing, Reading and Math.  :)  I cried when I got his note from the school saying he got the Flex Days.  Very proud mama moment!  So the kids didn't have school, but I had to sub that week.  The kids hung out with their friends while I worked.  But before school was out for the rest of the kids in school, there was Memorial Day weekend.

We had so much fun that weekend.  The kids went to the beach for their first time ever.  They have been down to Galveston to "see" the beach when we did other things there, but they never have been on the beach.  That was tooooo much fun!  Then the next day, all 4 of us went on the river for the first time in a friends party boat.  That was FUN, until HELL fell out of the skies...LOL  It came a bad storm. 

Well now I'm going to work on posting pictures....  Enjoy :)

Big Adventure...again...

Chad is still working in Memphis. So as soon as school was out (at 3pm) on Thursday, we headed on out for our 9 hour trip. It was much better traveling at night with the kids. Not that last time was bad. But they were able to sleep more than 1/2 the way here. Traveling at night brought back memories from when I was a kid. Back then, we traveled around ALOT! If we weren't moving, we were on a vacation some where. It was great. We also did alot of traveling from CA to TX. And that's where my trip the other night brought back memories. As a kid, I'd stay up late keeping my mom awake. Back then I was great at it. ...I was a motor mouth...LOL ;)

I feel bad that the kids are missing church in the morning for Easter, and the egg hunt. BUT, sometimes I think it's more important to go and see the one you love! So in the morning, we're going to meet Chad at IHOP when he gets off work. And when we're done, we'll pack up and head home. Probably some where around 9am or so.

Maybe when I get home I'll remember to upload some of our Memphis pics.... from this time and last time.

:)

Exciting Adventure

It's Spring Break time! And to spice up our break, I decided Tuesday evening we'd take a trip to Tennessee to visit my sweetie. I've never gone on a trip on a whim. Big time exciting!! But anyways, my sweetie is working here in TN. So why not come visit, right?
In a few days we plan on going to Graceland. And I can't wait to snap some memories while we're there.

Kit Help

Ok my friends... I need your help, what site offers the best scrappy kits for the money? I need awesome kits!! :) I've been spoiled the last 3 years with the best kits on earth. ;)

Big day Friday

That's the day my baby girl turns 7! 
I can't wait for the challenge reveal with the Color Team at Scrapperie.  I loved the color combo!!

HAPPY MLK DAY!

Lots of subbing...

Tuesday I was called in to sub for the 5th/6th grade Science teacher.  Come to find out, she's going to be having gallbladder surgery.  I subbed all week for her.  So now I'm going to be her permanent sub until she returns.  Which will be anywhere from 4-6 weeks. 

Last school year I thought I was going to be the permanent sub while the Pre-K teacher was out during her maternity leave.  Which was a week before school let out for Christmas.  But someone was already set up when school started. 

Now that I'm the permanent sub, all the teachers have told me they are going to try real hard not to miss because they all like me to be their sub.  ;) 

They can have me back at the end of February....lol

Please say a prayer for me, that I can make it.  The longest I've gone is a week straight subbing.  ....ack!! 

Soooo soo so so COLD!!

Here we are on Saturday night at 7pm and it's 32 degrees.  Last night it got down to 19.  Suppose to be the same tonight.  All week we've gotten down to freezing temps.

OMG!!! I'm a Tres Chic Girl

I can't believe it... I'm a Tres Chic Girl. I'm so excited to work on Sandi's design team with Scrapperie. I'm ready to get some scrapping done this year!!!
Come enjoy the monthly crops and weekly challenges as well as the Wednesday Night Chat Nights.  There is always lots of fun going on at Scrapperie!!

wow, another Blogoversary

My goodness, it's that time again.  It's my 5 year blogoversary!  Time sure has gone by so quickly.  And I wish I blogged like I use to.  Hopefully I can take the time to do that this New Year.  :)

New Christmas Present

I'm already using a Christmas gift that I got from my dad yesterday... a laptop. I'm so glad to finally have one. I'm ready to dive into the digital scrapbooking and I'm going to do it with the Creative Memories Memory Mananger and Story Book Creator programs. And I plan on doing it with the laptop. :) Thanks Daddy!!!

Speaking of Scrapbooking, it's getting closer to our Annual winter Scrapbook Retreat in January. I can't wait to go!!