The Ivy

We live in a poison ivy forest. I discovered this last weekend when the telltale rash appeared on my left forearm. I have got to have the WORST REACTION TO POISON IVY EVER. If you want to kill me, put me in this forest from hell and my skin will turn on me-in the way drunk people turn on sober people in a social gathering. Only worse. Luckily, my skin did not revolt as usual, and let my immune system do some the necessary work to heal. Unfortunately, I still have what looks to be a touch of Necrotizing fasciitis (a.k.a flesh eating bacteria). My skin sucks. But I digress-back to the issue of the poison ivy forest. There is one grove of trees that is INFESTED with the ivy-any green leaf in the area is the devil. I declared war on the ivy yesterday with some poison of my own (in the form of roundup-poison ivy version). I'll keep you posted on the battles. In the meantime, the ivy isn't just in that grove in the backyard, it's in my every waking thought. I think it's out to get me.

I feel it is my duty to perform a public service announcement on this topic and post a picture of the wretched plant.

BEWARE!!!

Wii Fun!

So, this last weekend our friends Natalie and Chad made the roadtrip from Houston for a visit...

Natalie and I were college roommates, strangers at first and now friends for life. God definitely knew what he was doing when he let us share a bathroom in the Fall of 1993. How smart of Him! We have shared the college experience, the husband experience, the teaching experience, and now the mom experience. You could even say they are family since we named them Grady's Godparents. We are both home with our kids now, and I constantly wish Houston was just a little closer so we could hang out more often.

We didn't have any major plans while they were here. We cooked meals and drank Sangria. And then Todd brought out the Wii. I have to admit, while video games usually drive

me insane-this one is great for family fun. In the old game system days I would walk in to see Todd (and/or Tanner) zombied in front of the TV incapable of answering yes or no questions. In the new improved days of the Wii, there is much jumping, sweating, laughing (and crying), and yes or no questions are a little easier to answer. It's a small victory-but a victory nonetheless. So, we played the Wii, drank the rest of the Sangria and talked about old times before there were 5 children running around
trying to be the boss of us. I'm sure 10 years from now we'll be drinking Sangria, playing a new game system that allows people to answer questions involving REAL answers, and talking about the old times when all we had to worry about was potty training and sharing.

Dear Diary

I have kept a diary most of my life, which I know probably lumps me in like .5% of the world's population. And half of those are probably in therapy somewhere. Or writing blogs. In the recent move, I found my very first diary-given to me by the Easter Bunny in 2nd grade. Here's the first entry:

"Sunday, (Easter) April 3, 1983
It was a great day! Patti and I found 12 plastic eggs and 7 hard boiled eggs. We went to a picnic and saw many friends. I made an Easter Card for mommy and daddy with a big Easter egg that I made in it. My mom curled my hair for me. I wore the dress that my grandma sent me because my mom said it was my new Easter dress. At the picnic Chrissy and Michael and I made a tent. Grandma sent Patti and I a huge Easter Egg full of candy!"

It is so funny to read through these entries of my childhood. Some of the things that were so important to me then I barely remember now. Reading my own thoughts as a child is kind of like an out of body experience. It's me-but not me. It's me "in the making" I guess. I can see how certain events in my life made me who I am. I know it sounds corny, but I'm very repetitive through the years. :) Above all else it's given me a little insight about where Madison is headed. I know I already lived through the experience of childhood, but reading this diary puts me back in the mind of an 8 year old. a 13 year old. a high school student. I'm thinking that mind will help me think in the years ahead. Lord knows I need the extra brain cells.

Go Diego Go!

So yesterday we celebrated Grady's 2nd Birthday. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I know everyone says that about their kids growing up-but really. I can't believe how fast the time has gone! We just planned a small gathering at McDonald's to play and cut cake. It turned out to be a REALLY small gathering of just us! Although Grady was so excited when he saw the balloons and cake that I don't think he knew the difference. :) We had to pull him away of the "birday pary" cake to play. After a little playing we packed up and headed to Gran's house to finish out the festivities.


Sam and Isaac came out to the house when they realized we'd already left McDonald's. Grady was beyond pumped to see Isaac and the few moments of playing with friends made his day practically perfect. He finally got to eat his "birday pary", and long after everyone else was done he still savored every moment.


To top of the day, we celebrated Papa's Birthday with
Grandmother, Grandad, Aunt Michelle and Abby. with MORE CAKE! By this time Grady was an expert blower outer of candles. It was so fun to see him excited about his day, to see him play with friends and hug his family. After all we've been through this past year with his health, it was a day of celebration in more ways than one. I just wish time would pause a little here and let us hold on to the moment a little longer.

Mother and Daughter Time

Although I have had some wonderful mommy-son time lately, I do have to share the unique mommy-madison time I had a few weeks ago...at HANNAH MONTANA!

My super cool sister was able to score some tickets to the much anticipated show at the Houston Rodeo. It was the most attended show of the entire rodeo season-which is just so crazy if you really think about it. Actually you don't even have to think about it. It's just crazy. It was fun though-the road trip down to Houston just me and Madison in the car singing Gringo Honeymoon and If I had a million dollars....then educating Patti (the super cool sister) on the necessary points of being a Hannah Montana/Miley Cirus fan....then going to the rodeo and anticpating the BIG SHOW.

I think Madison was mostly overwhelmed by the whole experience. There were a cajillion people there, and it took her quite some time to process the fact that Hannah Montana was there AND it was the same person we watch on tv. very confusing stuff. She did warm up to it finally, and started singing along "Best of both worlds....lalalala"...and Patti and I sang along when Billy Rae sang Achy Breaky Heart. O yes he did.

It was great fun though. I hope it's the first of many concerts that I'm invited to, and that I'm cool enough to score some tickets.

WOOK! U-FLY MAMA!

Yesterday I took the

boys to the Butterfly Exhibit at the Ft. Worth Botanical Gardens. I almost talked myself out of the field trip because of my never ending "to do list". I hate that to do list-it always tries to talk me out of something fun! I won the argument this time, and I'm so glad I did! The boys were in awe of the thousands of butterflies. Tanner was amazed when a butterfly landed on his head! of all things! Grady ran around telling me to "wook!" I have to say, it was totally my cup of tea too. We held hands and wandered through the exhibit looking at all the butterflies, and talking about how beautiful they all were. You can totally see the look of awe in the boys' faces as they look at these two HUGE butterflies hanging out on a tree. Afterwards, we strolled through the beautiful gardens and found a perfect picnic spot.

Then they ran around like the crazy kids they are looking for more butterflies...I finally convinced Grady that the butterflies had to go "night night", and we left the gardens, but not before I was full of warm and fuzzies from all the mommy-son bonding.

The day reminded me how quickly the kids are growing up, and how much more important butterflies are than to-do lists. It was a time to just be, and I took it.

One Family, One Faith

This Easter was really special in more than just the normal Egg Hunting ways. After 12 years of marriage, Todd took it upon himself to enter into the Catholic Church. We've been attending RCIA classes weekly since September discussing the history, traditions, and philosophy of the Church. I have to admit, it's been a really great experience. Just the extra time with Todd every week has been wonderful, but then to grow together in a united Faith was a bonus I'd never expected. This past Saturday all the "training" culminated with Todd recieving the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion. The service was almost magical-something else I didn't expect, but the candlelight and the longevity added a little something special. Madison attended the service with us, along with my sister, her boyfriend, Todd's parents, and my parents. When it was time for Todd to recieve his Sacraments from the Priest, Madison came up to us and took my hand and Todd's hand. She looked up at him with such pride and affection.

While we have been going to Church since we married, and the kids are being brough up in the Church, having Todd be a part of all the tradition and ritual is a blessing I never knew I wanted so much, and a blessing that united us as a family more than I realized.

So, from now on, we are one in Faith-all five of us trundling up to the alter every week for Communion. All five of us making the sign of the cross. All five of us kneeling in prayer.