My sweet sister

Today is my sweet, beautiful, wonderful sister's birthday.  I won't divulge her age because I'm fairly certain she can still kick my butt.  She has always been crazy strong :).

I miss her every day and look forward to her living close again (come on summer).  She is such an amazing sister, mother, daughter, aunt, and friend.  I don't think she realizes what a rock star she is.  She is doing a great job of raising her kids, pretty much by herself.  She is always there to lend an ear, a hand, a shoulder.  She would give the shirt off of her back to help a friend.  She loves my boys unconditionally, as if they were her own.

I wish I was with her today, celebrating her awesomeness.  I look forward to next year when we are living in the same town again.

Happy Birthday to you, beautiful Robyn!

Happy 100

Today would have been my sweet Nana's 100th birthday.

Such a stylish lady :)

My sister and I with our Nana & Papa

We were so lucky to grow up with her and Papa close by.  When we were little kids, they always seemed to live close by.  I remember them taking my sister and I to ballet lessons and movies.  My Papa was a horrible driver.  I'm fairly certain we were always terrified when we got in his blue Ford Fairlane LOL!

We moved to the states when I was almost 6 and my grandparents stayed in Canada.  I remember missing them terribly and asking if I could live with them in Canada for about 6 months after we moved.

When I was 10, I got to spend a whole week with them all by myself.  No parents or siblings, just me and the grandparents.  It was such a fun trip.  Did I mention they lived across the street from a Dairy Queen?!?!  I don't have very many childhood memories that don't include them.

When I was in my early 20's we began to notice some changes in Nan.  She was always a bit ditzy (one of her best qualities in my opinion) but this was more than that.  Sadly, shortly after my sis got married, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Her and my Papa moved back to Scotland and lived the rest of their lives in an assisted living home in their hometown of Perth.  I never got to see them again after they moved.  My mom said it was for the best because they were not the people I remembered but I do wish I could have given them one more big hug and kiss.  I wish they had met Mr. T and the boys.  I wish I could have told them how much I loved them and how thankful I was to have them in my life.

So today I am sending a Big Old Happy 100th Birthday up to Heaven.  Love you Nana!

Texas Stars

Had a blast at the Stars game on Friday night. Gt and his middle school band played the national anthem from memory. It was AWESOME!

The Stars won and there were several fights! Win,win :)

A New Adventure

Tonight we embark on a new adventure.  In a few short hours I will be taking GT to high school orientation.  Yep, I said it HIGH SCHOOL!!  Didn't he just start middle school last week?  And last month, we took him to his first day of kindergarten, right?  How can I have a kid heading to high school when I still have days where I feel like I'm 18? OK maybe not 18 but mid early 20's for sure!

Our boy is growing up and there is nothing that I can do to stop it.  Trust me, I have tried.  I asked him to not turn 13 and well he did.  I asked him to stop growing and to not grow facial hair and guess what - he is still growing and has to shave regularly. :(

I guess I am going to have to come to terms with the fact that he is growing up (at a rapid pace) and I either hop on board or get left behind.  Just as long as he remembers that he is and always will be my sweet Bubba.

So in honor of this momentous occasion I will post a super cute and maybe a little embarrassing (for him) picture of our soon to be high school freshman.

Today

I am excited to see what 39 has in store.  Life is good.  I've got a man who loves me flaws and all.  My kids are AMAZING!  I couldn't ask for a more loving and supportive family and my friends are rockstars :).  I'll say it again...life is good!

Thirties

On Friday I turn 39. As I enter the last year of my thirties I can't help but reflect on all of the changes that have occurred in me and my life.

I started my thirties in a new city and state, a thousand miles from our extended families. I was also VERY pregnant with our 3rd son. Maybe both of those things contributed to my rather blase reaction to turning 30. I figured I would freak out a little but not so much. (I anticipate a full freak out next year when I turn 40 LOL).

I've learned a lot in the last decade. Mostly about myself. When I first became a mom, I thought that if I gave my whole self to being a mom, I would be awesome at it. I stuck with this theory for a long time. It is a really crappy theory!

My "A-HA" moment came when Magoo was still a toddler. I went to the doctor and asked to be put on antidepressants because I couldn't get out of the funk that I had been in. She was very frank with me and told me I wasn't clinically depressed, I just wasn't making myself a priority in my own life. She recommended that I make time to workout regularly, treat myself to me time (a movie, a pedicure, whatever), and spend good, quality time with Mr. T. Best. Advice. Ever!! 


There are still weeks, months days that I forget this awesome advice.  Sometimes Mr. T reminds me with a gentle "You need to go shop or something" :) and sometimes I'll stop and think "What the hell is your problem?"  And then I remember...oh ya - I'm putting EVERYONE before me.  There is nothing selfish about making you a priority.

Here's another bit of unsolicited advice...make your relationship with your spouse a priority.  Go on dates.  Ask family to keep your kiddos for a long weekend and go somewhere together.  Put the kids to bed early and watch a movie cuddled on the couch.  Send a sweet text or voicemail to your spouse telling them you appreciate all that they do.  It doesn't have to be a dozen roses or a new car, just don't forget about each other in all the craziness of raising a family.

2012 Resolutions

Every year I say that my resolution is to eat better and exercise more but this year I want to have a more meaningful resolution(s).  I don't know what it is yet but I have some ideas running around in my head.

I know that I want to be a more positive person.  I want to stop focusing on the negative and instead find the good in things.

I want to teach our boys to be more compassionate.  To each other, to us, to their friends, and even to strangers.

I want to spend some time focusing on what I want to do when I grow up our kids grow up.  I am open to suggestions...don't hesitate to share those with me :).

I'll let you know what I come up with.  I'm sure you're all breathless with anticipation ;).

Happy 2012!