Boo's spring break

Boo decided rustic camping was not how she wanted to spend her spring break and opted to entertain Mimi while PawPaw was away.  She spent some time with Gigi and her cousin, Adom and visited the pioneer museum.  She hung out with Granny, Emmie and Avery while Mimi worked.  While she was visiting Granny, Aunt Lindsay surprised her and picked her up and took her to see Mr. Peabody and Sherman and a play date at the park.  Afterwards, they went to get Emmie and Uncle Troy and had a dinner date at Gattiland.   It is no wonder my kids never want to come home when they get away, can we say spoiled much?

my success story

My trainer, Michelle asked if I would like to enter my bio as a trainer success story at the gym.  I kept putting it off b/c I wanted to drop "just a little bit more".  And I finally realized as with everything else in life you will never loose enough or have enough $$ ... so be happy with what you have.  I submitted my original bio as below, I had to shorten it for the plaque at the gym, but here is my success story...

During my first pregnancy, everyone encouraged me that it was OK to eat for two and at 4'11" I put on a whopping fifty plus pounds, and I never had the opportunity to take that weight off before getting pregnant with baby #2 less than five months after baby #1.

I joined the gym after baby #2 and lost twenty pounds doing body pump and body combat, but I never could drop those last fifteen pounds.  I got a job at a local gym as a fitness consultant and later became a silver sneakers instructor.  And much to our surprise found out I was pregnant with baby #3.  Shortly after having him I joined the 24 Hour Fitness Team as a group exercise instructor.  And twenty months later, surprise #4 was born.

I struggled with confidence, self-motivation and my new identity as I was now pushing forty and a mom to four kids in less than eight years .  I had the desire to be the best example for the members in my classes, my family and friends, but nothing was really working this time around to get me excited about the gym.  

I met Michelle as a co-worker and had seen the success of several members she had trained with.  In less than eight months I lost twenty-five pounds, gained a new knowledge of food and calories, and she pushed me to do things I never knew was possible.  I have more energy, more passion for life,I enjoy working out and I'm preparing to tackle my first triathlon and my forties.  

rendezvous wrap up

 She is officially hooked and next month, she will be participating in the state knife and hawk throw.  She learned to start a fire with flint and steel and was the second fastest fire starter with a time of  2 minutes and 2 seconds.  She learned to shoot a bow and arrow and use a slingshot, shot a canon, and learned things she could have never read in any book or learned in any classroom, and she made one proud PawPaw.

rendezvous girl, day 3

 I had the best day ever!  I met, looked and got many new things from people.  I met friends too.  Mountain Man Moses took me here. I have played many games with my friends.  I got a gift from a friend that was a turtle bone.  And a lady said since it was my first time at a rendezvous I could have a necklace from her trading store.  I had burgers for dinner.  PawPaw went to get some rifle cleaner.  While PawPaw cleaned his gun I waited for dark.  Finally, we were on our way.  We found a spot and PawPaw set up his chair.  They set up cannons and they soon....... Fired!!  After that, we went and listened to music. They were good, they played the bass, guitar, drum and violin.  I met two more friends named McKenzee and Chloe.  Then, I almost fell asleep in PawPaw's lap.  I had a great sleep in the tipi, only it was a little chilly.

rendezvous girl by LE

 Over Spring Break, LE was invited by PawPaw to attend the week-long South Western Rendezvous.  She has been talking about it for months, and to be honest I never thought when it came down to it that she would really go.  But, my Pioneer/Native American Girl did.  She slept in a real teepee, with no electricity or running water for almost a week.  On Day One, was a trail walk and she had to go "hunting" along the walk which she hit the first target with her tomahawk.  She met several new friends, and met a new pen pal from the Dallas area.  That night, a terrible wind storm hit and most people lost their tents, but PawPaw's teepee had no problem weathering the storm.
On Day Two, " the morning was cold, but it got warmer and the weather did too".  PawPaw went to a shooting thing and I took a lot of pictures.  And then, we waited for Red Bear.  And we waited for what seemed like forever. PawPaw and Red Bear threw the tomahawk and knives.  And then we had lunch.  I did kid games and I actually shot a bow and arrow and a real cannon! Me and my friends played more games and shot more arrows.  And then, we went for supper and had hamburgers on the fire that I made.

thank you friends

Our sweet friends, Ellison and Kyla recently cleaned out their doll closets and was so gracious to pass on to Kit, Emily, Molly and Kirsten.  The girls passed on doll carriers/suitcases, shoes, accessories, as well as a wardrobe more extensive than mine.
Now see my dolls? They too are outfitted by Kyla and Ellison and I am so grateful.  For years now, my friend Erica cleans out her girls' closets and passes on the most stylish outfits, jackets, and shoes to my girls.  I cannot tell you the last time I have had to purchase clothes for my children between Erica blessing the girls several times each year, and my sister-in-law Susan sharing Brady's clothes (and Mimi's treasure store finds).  We are truly blessed and this Mama and Daddy really appreciate it.

a major award

At Daddy's evaluation this week, he found out he was nominated for the Dell Champion Award.  It is one of the highest awards one can receive from Dell for his service to the company.  His manager nominated him for the award which came with a cash bonus and an email from the Big Man himself.
Congratulations Ben!
I overheard one of the girls telling a friend, have you ever heard of the super bowl?  Well, this is like that, but with computers.

dance recital 2014

The girls had their first dance recital over the weekend.  It was very informal as the class was part of our homeschool group.  Classes had to cease b/c one of the families moved and we could no longer afford to lease the space.  The girls enjoyed it and as the year has progressed we have needed to spend more time on school work, so having those extra couple of hours in the morning are going to help us get back on track.

The girls performed a tap routine to Elvis' Hound Dog and a ballet routine to Yesterday by the Beatles.  Boo had the tap solo.  Thank you to Miss Natalie for allowing us to borrow dance costumes from her little dancer.Miss Joelle did a beautiful routine also, which had the girls mesmerized.
I wish we could continue on with lessons b/c I think the girls really enjoyed the time and what they learned.  It was a great learning opportunity for them.

Chloe Girl, 2000-2014

We lost our sweet Chloe yesterday to cancer.  She was thirteen years old.  She had not been herself since we lost Duncan.  She wasn't eating well,  very lethargic and over the weekend her breathing changed and she would not eat at all.  I took her to the vet yesterday and after several tests and X-rays they discovered a large mass in her lungs and on her spleen.  It was inoperable and at her age was not recommended.  It was a very difficult decision, but one the doctor recommended.  We brought her room so the girls could say good-bye; a decision I regretted at first.  I could not have my children (one who wants to be a vet) thinking every time a pet leaves for the vet they die.
I am beginning to think the poet who said it is better to have love than lost was full of malarky.  Soon, I will write Chloe's Story, but cannot quite yet.

"the big easy" peasy king cakes

Sometimes I think we were born in the wrong state, don't get me wrong I love Texas, but man I love me some good Cajun food and good Cajun traditions.  I had no idea a king cake was basically a cinnamon roll, light bulb moment!!!
 I figured why couldn't we make a king cake out of the cinnamon rolls that come in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.  IT WORKED!!!  WE unrolled two containers of cinnamon rolls and put them on a baking sheet in a wreath shape.  Then, we baked according to the directions on the pkg.  We added some food coloring to the white icing and Mama drizzled the icing over our "king cake".  I even got a plastic baby from the bakery dept. and hid it inside one of the rolls.  Happy Fat Tuesday, ya'll!