Tuesday Ten

Top ten shows I watch on a semi regular basis

10. Dancing with the Stars

9. American Idol

8. The Young and the Restless

7. Big Bang Theory

6. Law & Order SVU

5. Reba

4. Law & Order

3. The Good Wife

2. Biography (almost anybody)

1. One Tree Hill

Manic Monday

Soccer:

ALL WINS!

Last games of the regular season! We celebrated Grace and the Unicorns with a pool party, Ryan and the Red Dragons with a party at Cici's Pizza, and after the huge tournament this weekend, we will celebrate Andrew and the Strikers at Fudruckers! Lots of soccer and lots of parties!

Sunday
Stacey: 11:30-6
Charly: Adair, 6:30, DTB

Monday
Stacey: 8:30-6
Ryan: Cici's soccer party, 5:30

Tuesday
Stacey: 8:30-5
Charly: GIRL'S NIGHT OUT
Andrew: 4:45, Sandstone

Wednesday
Stacey: 8:30-6:30
Charly: Downing, 6:45, GBL

Thursday
Stacey: 10-6:45
Charly: Harris, 6:30, DTB
Andrew: 4:45, Sandstone

Friday
Stacey: OFF
Charly: Carr, 6:00, home-Castlegate

Saturday
Stacey: OFF
Charly:OFF
Andrew: 12:00, 3:00, soccer tournament

Will we be champions?

Sunday Sweet- My Baby

The bathtub is my babysitter :)

Saturday Songbook

This is me right now... I miss the city. It's become such a special part of our marriage- it was our first 'real' vacation, when our kids were tiny... what an amazing escape! Those of you who know me, know that I am a pretty fast paced person. Lying on a beach for 5-7 days with nothing to do, just 'relaxing' would be absolute torture! I heart New York. It is on my mind because we love NY in May and everything is really stressful right now, so as I sat by my husband last night in the car, I just wished we were in New York. Oh well, maybe next year :) For now, I want to rent a good NYC movie, like You've Got Mail... any suggestions?

New York State of Mind

Billy Joel

Some folks like to get away,
Take a holiday from the neighborhood.
Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood.
But I'm takin' a Greyhound on the Hudson River line.
I'm in a New York state of mind.

I've seen all the movie stars in their fancy cars and their limousines.
Been high in the Rockys under the evergreens.
I know what I'm needin', and I don't wanna waste more time.
I'm in a New York state of mind.

It was so easy livin' day by day
Out of touch with the rhythym and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, the Daily News.

It comes down to reality, and it's fine with me cause I've let it slide.
I don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside.
I don't have any reasons.
I left them all behind.
I'm in a New York state of mind.
Oh yeah.

It was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythym and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, the Daily News.
Who, oh, oh whoa who.

It comes down to reality, and it's fine with me cause I've let it slide.
I don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside.
I don't have any reasons.
I left them all behind.
I'm in a New York state of mind.

I'm just taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River line.
Cause I'm in a, I'm in a New York state of mind

Family Friday

Tonight we are headed to Waco to see Miranda Lambert, ACM Femail Vocalist of the Year. This is exciting to me because 1. I've never seen her, 2. We don't really go to too many concerts anymore, and 3. We are taking 3/4 of our kids (Lu is spending the night at Mimi's house).

******************** EDIT***********************

Hands down the worst concery I have ever attended. Miranda herself was probably great, but the venue was kept at a crisp 40 degrees, and all the people in charge of sound should be arrested. It sounded like a bunch of toddlers happened upon a room full of instruments and just started playing... I know they were good musicians, but it all jumbled together and sounded horrible. Blah. The kids were so bored. Oh well, live and learn.

Thursday Thoughts- career

ca·reer   

/kəˈrɪər/ Show Spelled[kuh-reer]
–noun
1.an occupation or profession, esp. one requiring special training, followed as one's lifework.

I could go so many directions with this one...

I am a teacher. I wasn't born into this profession like so many others... No, my mom did not teach school, nor my dad, grandparents, etc. It was pure coincidence that this happened to me. On July 1, 2004, Stacey and I took Grace the the Children's Museum. It was her first birthday so while Stacey chased the other kids around the big kid areas, I sat in the toddler with Grace and a grandmother, there with her granddaughter, who I now know as Audrey. Audrey was also a year old and the girls had lost of fun throwing foam blocks at each other (and at us, as I recall).

It was this meeting that changed the course of my life... seriously. The grandmother struck up a conversation with me and learned quickly that I was in college. She asked all the questions (Where do you go to school?, What year are you?, What is your major?) and made all the usual comments (That must be hard with 3 kids!,etc). When she asked ' What do you plan to do with a history degree?,' I couldn't answer her. What was I going to do? I had a passion for history from my grandfather and loved that we had that to share, but other than having more educated conversations with an 80 year old man, I had no idea. That's when she told me about her job as a reading specialist, and before that, a 1st grade teacher. I had never even considered education before... never, which I think is strange because as a child, I always wanted to teach... didn't we all?

We talked for an hour about teaching, reading, her school, how it effected her as a mother, a wife, and much more. The following week, I went to my advisor and transferred to the college of education. That was almost 6 years ago. I now teach at the very school the sweet woman talked so fondly of ... I teach first grade, the same as she did... and I have the privilege of teaching WITH her, as she is still the reading specialist at Pebble Creek Elementary.

It just goes to prove that God puts you places for a reason... and God put me with Judy that afternoon.... I am forever grateful that she took the time to talk to me that hot summer day and even more grateful that I get to work with such an inspiring woman and teacher.

Tuesday Ten part 1

TEN jobs I think I could do relatively well

10. College History Professor

I love love love history and could easily make other people love it too... I aced history in college, even requiring my professor to make harder tests for me, since he had a rule that no one could make 100 on hsi tests... I did anyway :)

9. Rubber Band baller

I don't necessarily want to do this for any period of time, but I think I'd be good at it and I jsut really, really want to learn how to do it!

8. Greeting Card Designer

In a scrappy, shabby-chic style, It hink I could totally pull this off!.

7. Ice Cream Sampler

I know ice cream. I know what works. Nuff said.

6. School Supply Personal Shopper

Am I the only weirdo that loves shopping for school supplies? Surely not!

to be continued...

Manic Monday

Soccer Scores:
Strikers- WIN (andrew scored TWICE!)
Dragons- Loss (Ryan scored the only goal)
Unicorns- Loss :(

Sunday:
Stacey- OFF
Charly- Capener- 1:00
Eubanks, 6:00, DTB- RAINED OUT

Monday:
Stacey-8:30-5
Ryan- 5:00, Sandstone- CANCELLED

Tuesday:
Stacey- 8:30- 5:30
Charly- faculty meeting
Downing, 6:45pm, GBL
Andrew- 4:45, Sandstone


Wednesday:
Stacey- 10-8:00
Charly- Eubanks, 6:30, DTB
Ryan- 5:00,SWVAC
Grace- 5:15, Sandstone

Thursday:
Stacey- 12:45-8:30
Charly- ___
Andrew- 4:45, Sandstone
Grace- 5:15, Sandstone

Friday:
Stacey- OFF
Charly- Capener, 3:30, 1/2 shoot NB
MIRANDA LAMBERT!!!

Saturday:
Stacey- 9-6:45
Charly- Matthews, Senior shoot, lake house, 6:30
Andrew- 10:30, VP
Grace- 11:30, SWVAC
Ryan- 2:00, SWVAC

Sunday Sweet- kisses

I love kisses... the real kind, involving lips and the chocolate kind... I never go very long without kissing the people in my family.... I love their sweaty little faces, the tops of their little heads, their freckles.... I love kissing my babies.... here are some kisses caught on 'film'...

Sweetie Kisses

Grandpa Kisses

Sister Kisses
Love Kisses

Mommy Kisses

Go kiss someone!

Saturday Songbook

I had one of these... a house that built me. My mom lives in it now, but when I was growing up, my grandparents lived there. It was safe, secure, and stable. It always had the same smell. The pantry was always stocked with the same things, there were always the same groceries in the fridge. It was 'familiar' and in my life... my childhood in particular, things were always changing... the 'sameness' of that house and those in it who loved me were truly what built me...

The House That Built Me

Miranda Lambert

I know they say you cant go home again.
I just had to come back one last time.
Ma’am I know you don’t know me from Adam.
But these handprints on the front steps are mine.
And up those stairs, in that little back bedroom
is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar.
And I bet you didn’t know under that live oak
my favorite dog is buried in the yard.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like i’m someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself
if I could just come in I swear i’ll leave.
Won’t take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years.
From ‘Better Homes and Garden’ magazines.
Plans were drawn, concrete poured,
and nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama’s dream.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like i’m someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could just come in I swear i’ll leave.
Won’t take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

You leave home, you move on and you do the best you can.
I got lost in this whole world and forgot who I am.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like i’m someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could walk around I swear i’ll leave.
Won’t take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

Soccer Scores:
ALL WINS!!!!!!!!! ( I can't remember scores)

Sunday:
Stacey- 11:30- 6
Charly- Hunt, 6pm, DTB/TAMU

Monday:
Stacey-OFF
Charly- Witte, 3:30
Ryan- 5:00, Sandstone

Tuesday:
Stacey- 8:30- 5:00
Charly- Reed, 7pm, GBL
Andrew- 4:45, Sandstone


Wednesday:
Stacey- 10-8:15
Charly- Beachy, BBS, 7:00
Ryan- 5:00,SWVAC
Grace- 5:15, Sandstone

Thursday:
Stacey- 8:30-5
Charly- Family Game Night
Andrew- 4:45, Sandstone
Grace- 5:15, Sandstone

Friday:
Stacey- 8:45-6:45
Charly- Carpenter, 6:45, BBS, CGF

Saturday:
Stacey- OFF
Strange- 5:00, BBS
Charly- Zatanna,6:15, TAMU, etc
Grace- 9:00, SWVAC
Ryan- 12:45, SWVAC
Andrew- 9:00, VP

Sunday Sweet- baby toes (and other parts)

THIS is exactly why I don't have those baby cravings.... because I get to play with them, photograph them, and then hand them back to mom and dad right as they start to get fussy :)

Saturday Songbook

So, I take pictures. This is not something I set out to do in my life, it just sorta happened. The more I do, the more I love it. I adore the fact that my pictures are hanging in peoples' homes. I love meeting new people, playing with babies, watching families grow and seeing what I can create with what people give me. I love trying to replicate the vision people have for their families. And I love this song :)

Kodachrome

Paul Simon

When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It's a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of edu---cation
Hasn't hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

If you took all the girls I knew
When I was single
And brought them all together for one night
I know they'd never match
my sweet imagination
everything looks WORSE in black and white

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome
Mama don't take my Kodachrome
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome
Leave your boy so far from home
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama don't take my Kodachrome

Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Family Friday

Soccer is our LIFE! We have not 1, not 2, not 3, but FOUR soccer games this weekend....

Thursday Thoughts

Right now, my thoughts all involve bluebonnets. I adore living in Texas, especially since everyone and their dog (literally) wants pictures in the bluebonnets.... I have regular honkers.... like, people that see me in the same place on the side of the road almost daily and honk, smile, and wave as they drive by. It's great for business! I am coming up with some new marketing ideas, a really SUPER COOL kids 'series' that is going to be appealing to parents, as well as children and will create some amazing pictures! Now, off to edit some more...

Tuesday Ten

I am done being fat. I want to comfortably go into my closet, put something on and not try to look at myself in the mirror from 10 different angles to see if my shirt is clinging to my fat rolls or my butt is as wide as a semi... I am just done! I started my new lifestyle today... notice I said new lifestyle, not diet. Eat less, move more, be aware. Below are the ten things I am doing to make this goal a reality.

10. walk at least 3 nights a week

9. NOT eat past 8pm

8. set short term, realistic goals

7. drink lots of water

6. NO sodas during the week

5. chew gum if I feel hungry

4. three meals a day, 3 small snacks a day

3. NOT eat in front of the tv

2. use friends as support

1. take pictures of everything I eat/ keep a food journal

What do you think???

Manic Monday

No Soccer this past weekend due to Easter :)

Sunday:
Stacey- OFF
Charly- OFF

Monday:
Stacey-OFF
Charly- Brookwood
Ryan- 5:00, Sandstone

Tuesday:
Stacey- 8:30- 5:30
Andrew- 4:45, Sandstone

Wednesday:
Stacey- 9:30-6
Charly- Witte, 3:45, home
Morgan, 6:45, BBS
Ryan- 5:00,SWVAC
Grace- 5:15, Sandstone

Thursday:
Stacey- 11:30-8:30
Charly- Reed, BBS, 6:45
Andrew- 4:45, Sandstone
Grace- 5:15, Sandstone

Friday:
Stacey- 9:15-6:30
Charly- Theis, BBS, 6:45

Saturday:
Stacey- 12:30-8:30
Charly- J. Smith, BBS, 7:30am
Grace- 9:00, SWVAC
Ryan- 10:15, SWVAC
Andrew- 10:30, VP
Lucas- 4:00, Aggie soccer

Sunday Sweet- bluenonnets

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Saturday Songbook

I don't care who you are, you are LYING if you say this isn't one tasty piece of man candy.... I LOVE me some George Strait and, all kidding aside, really adore his music. He isn't a writer, that's just not where his talents lie, but he is an ordinary person (yes, I know this from personal experience, thankyouverymuch) with an extraordinary voice and I smile the second I hear his song come on the radio.

I Saw God Today

George Strait

I just walked down the street to the coffee shop
had to take a break
I'd been by her side for eighteen hours straight
I saw a flower growing in the middle of the sidewalk
pushing up through the concrete
like it was planted right there for me to see
the flashin' lights, the honkin' horns
all seemed to fade away
in the shadow of that hospital at 5:08
I saw God today

I've been to church
I've read the book
I know He's here, but I don't look
near as often as I should
Yeah, I know I should
His fingerprints are everywhere
I'd just slow down to stop and stare
opened my eyes and man I swear
I saw God today

I saw a couple walking by they were holding hands
Man, she had that glow
yeah I couldn't help but notice she was starting to show
I stood there for a minute takin' in the sky
lost in that sunset
a splash of amber melted in the shades of red

Chorus

I got my face pressed up against the nursery glass
She's sleeping like a rock
My name on her wrist wearing tiny pink socks
She's got my nose, she's got her mama's eyes
My brand new baby girl
She's a miracle
I saw God today

Family Friday

My boys are out frogging right now... together. They are 8 and 9 years old.

I had 4 kids in 5 1/2 years.

That was God's plan, not mine, however I am seeing now that this is the perfect little family for our lives. My kids have friends in their siblings and prefer to be together. The WORST thing I can do to any of my children is isolate them from their brothers/ sister. They are so incredibly close.... all of them, different combinations, different ways.

Grace is at a sleepover tonight. The dynamics around here are totally different and as we sat down to dinner out on the back porch, no one said it, but we missed her. It's not the same without all my ducks, but I think it's interesting that the other kids noticed it too. Lucas doesn't know where to sleep tonight, because every non-school night Grace makes him a bed on her floor and they play house until they crash. I love that my kids love each other.

This particular subject popped into my mind after an hour long phone conversation I had today with one of my brothers. I hung up, after he filled me in on his life, school, son, etc. and thought 'I hope my kids do this with each other'... I hope they grow up to mean as much to each other as they do now.

That is my job as a parent... to bond them together, teach them to love and respect one another and yes, there are times they want to rip each others heads off, but I am quick to remind them that I had much younger brothers and that was it... I had NO ONE with shared interests and even to this day, there are sibs I can go MONTHS without seeing or talking to. I am responsible for making sure that isn't the case with my kids. It is my job and I take it very seriously.

This post is brought to you by the letter 'R' for RANDOM RAMBLINGS!

Thursday Thoughts

Perfectionist

I would venture to say that this word has never been used in a sentence with my name... EVER. I am the exact opposite of this... a non-perfectionist, one might call me. This almost drove my mother to drinking when she was trying to teach me to quilt. Let's just say, my corners didn't meet up and the rotary cutter was NOT my friend, especially when it came to triangles.

I admire perfectionists, I do. I have them in my class every year and marvel at their determination. I just don't feel the need to be 'perfect.' Maybe it's because I don't like to set unattainable goals. I will NEVER be perfect, so I won't try to be. My children, house, husband, car, classroom, etc. will never be perfect, so why try to kill myself trying to make it so?

College was my major exception. Someone once told me that I couldn't do it. I saw that as a challenge and aside from a few minor blips (*cough* Dr. Kaplan's reading 411 *cough*) college was, indeed, pretty close to perfect.

I am starting to see that 'college' mentality with my photography. I am so far from perfect when it comes to my pictures, I can't even see where perfect would begin if it one day decided to just be mediocre. But I want to be... I want to take classes, I want a mentor, I want more lessons on lighting, software, composition.... I just don't know where to go.

Do you know how frustrating it is to want to improve yourself, but not knowing how to go about doing it?