Ahhhhhh......

My kids...I love them with every inch of my being, but geez, they are making me batty!!! I feel like I'm in a whirl-wind of a life right now. Bryce has apparently in a phase (I'm gonna call it that, cuz if it's not, someone better help me!!) right now that everything is 'no!' And very meanly-ugh!!! He is challenging everything I say, do, ask, suggest. In fact, I just do reverse physcology on him-it works wonderfully! Jason will just say that he and I are too much alike-have to agree!

Jake! Ugh! That's what I feel like I say all day long. Hell, all day-I only see them from 5:00 to bedtime around 8:30. Now, that's awful...of course, "Jake" is usually followed with a "NO!" He's into everything...and has acquired quite an attitude!!!

Really, I love my kids and they keep me real, but... damn can I get a break?!

Thank the Lord Above!

Well, I'm not sure how many of you I've spoken to or have read my facebook page, but Mom is doing well. She is a little sore and very tired, but all in all doing much better. Here is the description of the procedure in 'Nikki' words-short and sweet...

Friday she went back at 11:30 (about an hour and a half sooner than expected). The procedure itself was not bad-about a 3-4 inch incision in her neck, took out the left half of her thyroid (that was the only portion that had the complex lumps), tested it all across the hall, not cancerous, closed her back up, and she was in recovery about an hour later...

We all rested better knowing that everything turned our okay. Mom is still not 100% satisfied because now comes the regulation of her hormones-that's a pain in the butt!! She'll be strong and will have lots of family support.

Thanks again for your prayers, thoughts, and well wishes to our family! As I've said before, we are nothing without our families~

Things that make ya go hmmmm.....

You know we are all faced with situations in life that we have no control, but why? Or should we even question? In most situations, our family is our life. And I feel so sorry for those families that are not blessed with yelling and screaming, playing football in the yard, fishing on weekends, hugs, kisses, tears, laughs, headaches, etc. that most families-ESPECIALLY MINE-are so used to doing and having. There is never a dull moment in our house, and then put all of us together and watch out!!! But unfortunately there can also be sorrow and worry, and pain and hurt. This is when we turn to God. He is the only person who will guide us through, and without Him our lives are nothing-we don't have yelling and screaming, football in the yard, fishing on the weekends, etc.

Tomorrow, keep my family-my mom especially-in your prayers throughout the day! She is having a procedure done, and your thoughts and prayers would be appreciated! I will be posting updates, so keep checkin'!

How our lives take a turn....

Fourth grade has always been a pretty tight-knit, close grade level. We hardly ever have people that come and go. The past 2 years, though, we have. This past year, we gained two brand new teachers. The year before, we gain and lost two experienced teachers, Kiana Lock and Michelle Muniz, both of them coach's wives. Saturday morning, I received a text message that Kiana Lock, who lives in Gainsville where her husband is the AD, was rushed to the Dallas hospital. While there, the doctors rans tests and found that she had bleeding on her brain and diagonsed her with acute lukemia. Talk about a shock of a lifetime! As the weekend continued, I was updated with texts-none of them good! She had taken a turn for the worst, was put on life support, and shortly there after lost all brain function. Her husband and family were faced with the horrible decision to disconnect the power keeping Kiana's body alive. Sunday morning, I received the final text on Kiana's progression, and learned that she has met Our Maker in Heaven. She was such a joy to teach with, if only for one year! Kiana had a challenge of being a coach's wife and a mom-both of which was was extremely wonderful at! I know that this is a difficult time for the Lock family, so your prayers and thoughts would greatly be appreciated~

Kiana left behind a wonderful husband-full of life, always looking on the bright side of a situation, talented coach/teacher, loving dad. The most heart-felt loss will be her children-1 in college, and 2 in high school-all gifted educationally and academically. They will all miss their mom and soulmate, but I know that she will be watching their EVERY move and blessing them with her guidance and spiritual strength.

So today, as we kiss our spouses good-bye, drop our kids off at daycare, remember how precious life is, and how quickly it can be gone. Just this morning, I had to tell Bryce that someone else was going to pick him up from daycare because I will be attending Kiana's viewing in San Marcos. He was not very excited. He asked if he would see me before he went to bed. Now, you must understand that I put my kids to bed every night, so I was a litle upset when he asked me that. I reminded him that I put him to bed every night, and tonight would be no different. Then I started thinking....anything could happen, and tonight I might not be able to put him in bed and kiss him good-night. I reminded him, then, that I love him and will try with all I have to make it home in time to put him to bed, read him a story, and kiss him good-night. Again...life is short~live it to the fullest!

Oh, what a weekend!

This weekend was quite fast. Friday night we had supper with The Winkenwerder Family at their house. The pool and Slip-n-slide were both in full swing, and they had a blast. The whole intention of getting together was to look at where we are going to stay for our vacation together. Well, we started to do so, only to find nothing! And what we did find-Goodness! People are asking an arm and leg to just sleep there! So, still we look. I love to stay in Port Aransas, but we want to stay in Rockport to be able to fish-we'll see. Originally, Galveston was THE destination...guess I was outvoted...we'll see. During the UT baseball game, we decided to play Guitar Hero on the Wii-but all of us tried to play. They have the drums, 2 guitars, and microphone. Well, after a LOONNGG time, we finally got it to work. And we had soooo much fun-well, Dawn and I did! Once we stopped and looked at the time, it was 11:30pm. TIME TO HEAD OUT! No one wanted to leave, but everyone was so tired. Once loaded in the car, we headed out and before we got to the stop sign, the boys were out!

Saturday morning, Jay was gone doing something with a cow-what fun! So I was at home with the boys-WHAT FUN! We sat outside and played in the sand pile-and when I say pile, I mean pile. When everyone decided to come home and stay home, we ate lunch, got comfy (buried the AC) and took naps!!! The plan was to have Father's Day with my family that night, but we also had a very good friend's bridal shower that same evening-what to do! Well, I made both!!! The boys stayed at Mom & Dad's house with Jason while I attended the shower. I had a really good time and did not particularly want to leave, but I wanted to spend time with Dad as well-and Jamie was very understanding! At Mom & Dad's, we always have fun-the kids have a blast! It's not very often that they are able to get together, much less get along! But they did tonight. BBQ-ed chicken for supper...hats off to the cooks! It was great! But again, we looked at the clock, and it reads 11:45pm-it was almost the next day! Bryce had a hard time understanding that...Off to the farm, and alseep before the end of the block!

Sunday morning, I did not make church, but I could have because at 6:00 our rooster-YES, A ROOSTER-woke me up! If I could have found a gun.......we would have had chicken noodle soup! Jason, my dad, and Dusty decided the night before they were going to go fishing. They really meant it because they were on the boat in the tank, casting their lines by 6:00 am! Again, everyone finished, came in, washed up, and got ready to go to Jason's family for Father's Day. We got to spend the day with Kelly and Sydeny, playing and learning all that she's now into. How they grow up so fast! We had lunch, dessert, and then sat around some more. Jake couldn't make it. He fell asleep on my lap, Bryce was getting grouchy, and Sydney was already in her bed. This all pointed to us needingot head home-and we did. We had a nice evening at home to celebrate Jason's Father's Day with the boys, too.

As soon as I upload my pictures, I'll post! Enjoy your week....

We celebrated Father's Day tonight with my parents! The boys had so much fun...playin with the slip 'n slide, playin outside, cooking, and just laughing!

Meet my kids!

Here are just some random pictures!!

Jake the diver!

My kids always keep me on my toes, but I choose to believe that Jake will do so more than Bryce will. This morning, I heard Jake calling me, "Mamma! Mamma!" So I go in to say good morning and find him trying to crawl out. I was talking to him, getting clothes together, picking up toys in his room, etc. I turn just in time to see him going over the side of his crib, HEAD FIRST! I grabbed him by his shirt and let him 'fall' a little, to see what it would feel like. I picked him up, and he just smiled at me! Like I said, never a dull moment!

Look how peaceful he sleeps-and yes, he's had a pillow in his bed since he was born!!

A couple of weekends ago, we went to Port Aransas for a night. We met up with The Baker family, and the kids got to play. They had a blast and Bryce keeps asking when we can go back...





















I really think that in no time, Bryce and Jake will be best buds!

Okay, so here are the pictures of my 'babies'

Another no-picture day!

Well...another no-picture-day! Sorry, but as I began looking for pictures, I found only those of when Jake was born! 'They' always say that the second child is so forgotten-poor Jake! Actually, I try to do a real good job of give both of my kids attention, only Bryce requires much more attention than Jake does. Bryce is the high-strung, active child that can't sit still (hummmmm, isn't there medicine for that?); while Jake is the just-leave-me-alone-I'm-happy-entertaining-myself child. God knew what He was doing when He gave me Jake!

Long time, no talk

Well, as most of you know, we have not fallen off the face of the earth, we've just been busy-as busy as most of us are! My life hasn't exactly changed much...well, yes it has! We have added a new addition to our family over ONE YEAR AGO! I'm tellin' ya, it's been awhile. Jacob was born on April 18th 2008! I promise that I will post pictures soon.

Since Jake was born, Bryce has made such major adjustments as a big brother, and especially as a big boy! He loves going to Ms. Tracy's each day and wonders why he can't go on Saturdays. She is so patient with him-and he takes major, major patience. Many of Bryce's favorites right now are any kind of outside play, any kind of sports, riding his 4-wheeler, asking questions, and helping Jake learn new things. He's always asking, 'what that being a good big brother?' Can you tell that we have to remind him all the time? :)

Jake...oh Jake! What a bruiser? He is such a big boy already. Bryce is his idol!!! Jake does everything that he does. If Bryce has a blue cup, that's what Jake wants (he doesn't even know the color blue). Whatever Bryce is playing with, Jake wants to play with, etc. It's really cute, and Bryce handles it well-I guess! In addition to Jake wanting to be just like Bryce, he is attached to Jason's legs the minute he gets home. In fact, if Jay has anything to do outside, he texts me (how sad it that) that he's home and he'll be inside soon. OTherwise, it's hell to pay for me!!

I could go on and on all day aobut the things my kids can do, what they know, how much they are boys!! Pictures are to come......