Weekend in Houston

We had an eventful weekend in Houston. Managed to throw a bday party for Alli (Jarrett's sister) on Wednesday night and buy me a new car! My company car is being picked up tomorrow. I officially have a mom car...2007 suburban. Pretty exciting.

Took the kids to a bouncy house place Thurs morning and had dinner with my mom and her dear friends at Taste of Texas. So great to catch up with all of them and show off my children. We were praying at the dinner table and Reese kept saying, "bless you, thank you, bless you, thank you." It was hilarious!

Friday mom and I took the kids to the Houston Zoo. So much fun and a really pretty zoo. We saw all the animals, rode the train and had a picnic. Davis liked the monkeys the best. I think Reese was glad to learn more animals names. Friday evening was Davis' first time to go to a slumber party! He spent the night at Aunt Claudia's house (Jarrett's aunt and his 3 cousins that are in high school, junior high and elementary). They went to Chuck E. Cheese, baked cookies and all slept in the same bed. He had a ball. When I dropped him off he just kept saying, "go mommy, you can go." I couldn't believe how brave he was. A part of me was so proud and excited that we are at a new stage where he can do fun things like this, but another part of me was sad that he didn't need me there. So cool to watch someone grow up right before your eyes. He did great and enjoyed being spoiled by the Mougel family. Thanks for playing with him!

Reese, mom (Belle) and I had girls night out with some of mom's other friends. We had dinner and then I met a friend at a local bar for a few beers. So great to catch up with so many people while I was home.

My friend from high school was in town this week from Switzerland and we were able to catch up for about an hour before the next activity was going on. Really great to see her so happy!

We made it to church this morning and ran into old family friends. So great to hear my old pastor speak and have such a wonderful weekend with my mom. I feel pretty accomplished from my weekend there. Got great time with a few friends, spent nap time at my grandparents, celebrated Alli's bday, entertained the kids, saw Jarrett's family, and even relaxed a bit.

Thanks Belle for having us at your home! I hope we didn't make it too messy. We always love coming to play. Look forward to having you here for Easter weekend!

No more pull ups at bed time!

I promised Davis that if he kept his pull ups dry at night for a few nights in a row we would try a night with underwear on. He has done excellent keeping them dry, but I am terrified to take them off at night! What if the bed gets wet, he wakes up, wakes me up, have to change sheets, etc! What a pain! I love getting to sleep through the night. Isn't that selfish of me? I know I need to keep my word. So, tonight is his last pull up of the pack! I guess tomorrow I will have to really test him! Let's just hope I am not up in the middle of the night changing sheets :) My little boy is growing up so fast!

I might try blogging again!

Ok, I am back! Well...maybe. I am committing to myself to be better about blogging. One reason I wasn't is because my camera broke. Figured you would get bored reading a diary without any pics of the 2 little munchkins. I finally took the time to download some pics and thought I would get back on here to update the page.

Lots has happened since I last blogged in December. January and February were rough months for us. Jarrett's dad (TA) was home with hospice and finally went to be with our Heavenly Father Feb 10. We were spending every single day there and are so thankful for the time we had with him while he was home. At the end of February I had to go away for a week due to work meetings. It was a tough week for me to leave the kids and Jarrett. I think it was tough for Jarrett too. He worked from home and took care of the kids all week. When I got home from that trip, we realized this job is not working with our kids lives right now. So...I am proud to report that April 1, 2009 I will officially be a stay at home mommy! I am very excited about the challenge, change of pace and commitment I have made. Hope I don't pull my hair out by Friday :)

I am doing a lot of brainstorming about starting up a marketing/consulting firm that would market small business owners in the San Antonio area to mom's. Lots is in the works, but I just need a lot of prayer to truly convict me that this is worth putting the money and time into. I am super excited about the idea and visualize the possibilities. Now I just want to see if it would really work. Savvymommas.com....coming in the near future!!!

Jarrett and the kids are doing great. Enjoying the warmer weather and spending more time outside with the time change.

Last post today...promise

I would post pics but our camera is broken. I need to take it to get fixed this week. Promise more pics later.

The day after Christmas was Jarrett's 30th! His 4 younger cousins all came over to babysit the kids and cousin Nolan while we ate dinner at the club with Aunt Alli, Aunt Carrie, Uncle Matt, the Hill's and the Welch's. Thanks so much for celebrating with us the day after Christmas! Thanks cousins for taking care of the kiddos. Hope ya'll had fun. Come spend the night any time you want! Jarrett...happy bday! Can't wait to really celebrate with ya at the Cotton Bowl later this week! I love you and am proud of what you have accomplished at such a young age. Remember our sermon today at church about HOPE! Have a plan, Open eyes and heart to new ideas, Plan for the future and Empower other people!

More about Christmas

After a morning of being kindof emotional because we didn't have plans on Christmas Eve, our friends Jennifer and Chris Hill invited us over for dinner after we all went to church. The kids had a great time playing with Price and Walker, and Jarrett and I had a great time having some adult conversation with great friends and their family. They were so sweet to include us during the the holiday season. We are thankful for their friendship.

We opened presents the next morning and Davis was definitely in the Christmas spirit. He loves his new big boy bike and Spiderman helmet Santa got him. Reese is enjoying playing with her new kitchen and having tea parties with us. So cute to see each of them explore, play pretend and get so excited about the little things.

We went over to Matt and Carrie's house for the afternoon and evening with ALL of Jarrett's family. The kids had a ball opening more and more presents from Jarrett's aunts, Omie/Opie, Aunt Alli and Aunt Carrie and Aunt Cheryl. When we were finally ready to head back to Boerne, we filled the car to the top with all the new gifts. I am forever greatful for the generous family who loves our kids so very much.

Christmas was a memorable one! It is always hard to let go of some old traditions that we grew up having, but starting new one's with our own family is so neat. Here are a few traditions we are starting with our family. I always like new ideas too, so feel free to send some to me.

Christmas Traditions:

• make a bday cake for Jesus and sing happy bday


• make cookies for Santa


• put out reindeer food for the reindeer


• ring Santa's sleigh bells by the kids window while the other parent is reading them books


• kids get 3 gifts from mom and dad...because the Wise Men brought 3 gifts to baby Jesus...gives us a chance to talk about why we celebrate Christmas and saves us money!


• clean out the play room with old toys and make a box to give to a boy/girl that won't get presents this year--Davis asked me this morning if the boy we gave presents to liked his toys. I thought that was cute,,,he actually remembered we did that for someone.

Christmas Chaos is over! Until next year...

Wow! We made it through the holidays. I always look forward to the Christmas season but by the time we are at the end of the month, I am glad it is over and we will be back to a normal routine...starting tomorrow!

We made a fast trip to Katy to visit Belle, Gee and Daddoo and celebrate Christmas with them the weekend before actual Christmas. We also made it to the annual Dickey/Duffy Christmas party to see our Sugarland (and a few Katy) friends. It was so nice to catch up with everyone there. I think there were 8 girls pregnant!!! I am excited that this group is finally getting on the bandwagon and having some kiddos. Now they may understand why we have to get home before midnight, figure out a meal place by 6 pm instead of 9, and make it somewhere to nap in the middle of the afternoon.

Christmas at Belle's the week before was fun. Davis got a scooter and he thinks it is his only means of transportation inside the house now. "PLEASE don't break anything." That is all I keep saying to him. Reese got a pink grocery cart. Sooo cute. We had fun seeing Belle's house all decorated for Christmas time. It was so pretty.

Jarrett's 1st buck

Jarrett spent this week on a friends' ranch in Freer, TX. I am proud to report that after many visits to this ranch and many early mornings sitting waiting for just the right deer to arrive, Jarrett shot a nice 8 point! He is so thrilled about it...and I am just trying to figure out where the heck I am going to hang this thing in our home? Not sure if I am a fan of dead animals everywhere, but I will always be proud of Jarrett's kill! He has always wanted to shoot one. Thanks John and Blake for your hospitality on the ranch and for helping Jarrett clean the thing. We have plenty of deer meat if anyone is interested in joining us for a meal!