In the Home Stretch

It's that glorious (insert sarcastic tone here) time of year again at school. The home stretch where everyone is ready for a break! Every teacher, parent and child. I have once again taken on too many projects including painting, making appearances, parties, cooking, baking, etc!! How quickly I forget each year that I just want to have fun in December. I just want to visit friends, hang out, and party. Adam's birthday is this month so that contributes to the wanting to celebrate. We had a fantastic time in Lake Charles this past weekend. I'm so glad we made it. LSU game party, then spent some much needed time with old friends and family. So much needed, that we decided we will drop everything and go back next weekend! Still today and every day, I say to Adam (each time we cross that 210 bridge) that I would drop everything and move back to Lake Charles (around our school schedule, of course)!! ;)

Thanksgiving!

I was feeling like listing the things I'm thankful for, but, not to my surprise, they weren't much different from the things I was thankful for last year at this time!
Here is my list from last year with a few changes in parentheses.
2010 LIST (with 2011 changes in parentheses)
1. My husband...strong and funny and supportive and patient and a Daddy!!(2011:He is number one for a reason)
2. My strong Baylor, who is benevolently unaware of how many people's lives he's touched. He just lives like any normal kiddo, griping about school, homework, & chores... But never about dr. visits, bone marrow biopsies, bloodwork, xrays, hearing aids, daily hormone shots or having hands like no one else! He's a bit of heaven.(2011: one change here-we did start ADD medicine &, wow, how he sprouted into a smart little guy)
3. Funny Adeline, who's excitement & zest & curiousity wear us out! She's incredibly healthy and such an addition to our lives (2011: ummmm, can I stress zest & curiousity WEAR us out???)
4. My great friends. Friends like Melissa who keep me sane and "un-momly" and Kristie, who loves my child, and is orgaized enough for the both of us! She's so organized, she knows what her 3 kids are doing, and can still keep track of mine all at the same time! All of our other friends that keep our life fun by going out with us on the weekends, or chatting with us at work, or remembering to send a text when we haven't talked in a while, or comment about how cute our kids are on Facebook!! You're all special in some way! (2011: More new friends like Heather, Lacey & Ashley & old favorites like Leslie & Steph who make me miss Lake Charles dearly)
5. Our great families. Our family who we know are there to help in any way! Theresa, who remembers to call and check in. Wes & Sarah who stay close & are great babysitters! Mom for saving us on any day when we're in a pinch. My dad who provides opportunities for my son to have four-wheelers and see deer and other wild animals that aren't possible as "city folk"! Nana Perky for having Baylor thinking that Target is the special place where families go to bond, haha!! Grandma Liz who will always say yes to any outlandish thing that Adam asked for because she loves him so much & who always thought it was important to introduce us to things like books and musicals, which we now make important to our own kids! And Papa Johnny for being such a supportive listener to my husband during all of their "insurance business" talks!
We love our families! Can't say it enough!
6. Our health...Yes, the old cliche! But with the daily/weekly stories of people we know finding out unhealthy news, I thank God every single day (not just November) for our health. We have tried our very best to keep our bodies as healthy as possible, no more feeding chemicals! We try on a daily basis to keep our diet clean & let our kids know that it's important to exercise your body. It's tough, so it seems like every day is a new day, but we've come a long way from the days of processed foods and fast food joints being part of our daily routine. (2011: still much of the same, but I said all year since last Thanksgiving that we would run a 5K as a family & a whole year has gone by and we didn't do it!! New goal for this year)

Nonuts!

Adeline is now old enough to tattle on daddy. When adam has the kids, they frequent the donut shop way more than I would like in the mornings before school. I do not approve, and today she came in and told me "nonuts, mmmm" (which is Adeline for donuts)! I asked what made her think of donuts and she said "daddy nonuts". I said," yes daddy takes you to get donuts. Does mommy get donuts?" Then with this sheepish look like she realized maybe she wasn't supposed to say she said "Noooo"!
Ugh, I very much dislike donuts. I tried to convince Adam to stay away by telling him they're just giant french fries with sugar poured all over them. It hasn't worked!!

Nail Painting

Yes, she found the nail polish on her own when only daddy was home. Yes, she got it open. Yes, she made a mess. And, no, dad did not notice, but we did get pictures!

Halloween 2011

Happy Halloween! We had a little cowgirl, thanks to Grandpa Lulue and Yoda, of course. There are no pictures of the 2 of them together because Adeline was too scared of Baylor!

"Work Friends" or Just "Friends"?

I wonder why we use the term "work friends"? I was lying in bed thinking about this one night recently. Maybe because lots of life moments have been happening with my work friends. My work friends are my friends. I hope. And, why wouldn't they be? I spend more time with my work friends than any of my other friends, or family, for that matter. My work friends are the first and last ones to see me every day besides Adam & the kids. They're the first to know if something is wrong, the first to hear bad news, and the first to hear good news. They listened to me the many times I cried and worried about Baylor's hard times in school or, most recently, the 100 times in a row that I did the pro/con list about choosing a daycare for my baby. They share with me their problems and their kids' problems and their family issues and their newest little bundles of joy! My closest friends made throughout the years have been people I've worked with, and they are the friends I stay in touch with most often. So I concluded that, for me at least, there really aren't "work friends". I just have great friends that I happen to work with!

Daycare Shopping

I've been daycare shopping for Adeline all of this week. We can no longer stay at Mamu's house, but we will miss her like crazy.
They are all so different, the daycares. I quickly counted out the first two places I visited simply on lack of "warm and fuzzy". That is an actual very high ranked daycare characteristic on my list!
It's funny all of the things that change when you become a real parent. Of course, when you're pregnant, everything is going to be a perfect wonderland when your baby is born. My kids were definitely going to be the most beautiful, incredibly smart, and very athletic. Maybe even get some scholarships so we don't have to pay for college. Then, they're here and real, and everything just goes to hell! You no longer care about all the fancy stuff when they're babies, and, instead, just concentrate more on holding them (and maybe taking showers!). Then when they start school, you don't seem to worry about them being the smartest, but just hope they have friends! I'm sure these little surprises continue on and on.
I found myself saying to one daycare manager today, who was explaining the school curriculum (of 2 year olds, mind you), that " I don't really care if she learns anything, just that everyone loves and hugs her"! Now when Baylor was 2, I thought this but never would have said it. Today, I didn't even regret it. AND, I would, in a heartbeat, choose the daycare that said back to me "oh we totally agree"!

Mmmmm and Ewwww

Okay Adeline does have quite the vocabulary, but her comparison of how things taste is just plain "mmmm" or "ewww". It's very funny. When she takes the first bite, she'll usually say "that's ewww" or "that's mmmmm"! Tonight she was eating dinner and, of course, Baylor didn't like dinner so I asked Adeline if it was eww. She said "No, mom, Mmmmm!" I love that girl, and her stinky brother that thinks all of my food is "ewww"!

Adeline & Daddy Yell at Football

Baylor So Sick!

We tackled 104 fever yesterday! Really scary. Baylor's fever spiked and we couldn't get it down. The dr. checked for strep after school, and it was negative. He ran 104 all evening. We couldn't break the fever. He was supposed to go back to the dr today to test for flu, but he woke up fine & didn't run a fever all day. He always does this stuff to us :)

Biggest Loser & Modern Family Are Back

I can't help it, I LOVE Biggest Loser. I'm so glad it's back on. Now, it does come on Tuesday, which is usually ice cream night for Nicole and Adam, so we are that couple sitting on the couch eating ice cream during Biggest Loser! Ha. However, we do work our booties off in the gym every other day. It's worth it!
We were already crying in the very first episode this year!
Now, for everyone not watching the TV show, Modern Family, set your mental clock for Wednesdays 8:00!! It is the BEST show on television right now. So, so funny. I hate to admit how much TV we watch from 8-10 pm after the kids are in bed, but it's such a stress reliever :)

New School Year, New Adventures

Well, the new school year brings me back in the classroom. I think it's the best move ever. I'm so happy every day with my class & the stress & the planning & the small successes! I'm teaching 2nd grade this year. I was at two schools before training in technology. Now I get to stay at just one of my schools, back in the classroom, and Baylor moved over to be with me. He is in 4th grade this year at a new school, but he said he thinks this school is the best place for him! It was the sweetest thing!
I'm on a new team that I love & making some great, new friends. I'm not going to lie, I feel like I'm right where I need to be.

Top 5 things I'm thankful for at my job:

#5- 21 seven year olds that want to hug me
#4- A new team with 4 other great teachers & friends
#3- Treats in the teachers' lounge
#2- 21 seven year olds that think I can sing well
#1- Getting paid to do what I love!

New Janese Family Pet

In an effort to not get rabbits from Gran, we let Baylor bring home a kitten from Grandpa Lulue's house. What a pain! My furniture, not to mention our skin, is torn to shreds. She sure is cute, though. She is named Caddy, thanks to Adeline, and Baylor has been really good doing his pet owner duties like water, food & litter box. We'll see how long that lasts! Adeline thinks the new kitten is hilarious because she occasionally just appears out of nowhere, until she attacks her (this can be read either way--Adeline attacks the kitten & the kitten attacks Adeline!).

1st Day of School

Baylor: 4th grade
Me: 2nd grade

Adeline's 2nd Birthday

I know it's cliche, but boy does time fly! I can't believe our little Adeline is already 2! We celebrated simply with a pink lemonade theme. All the family came & we got some great gifts!

The invitation!


Party Favors!

How does this work?

We blew them out!


Dolls! My favorite gift!

Wiffleball Bat Shiner

Whoops another ER trip! Baylor was playing with his friend Trenten at my friend Kristie's house. She called to tell me that he got hit with a plastic bat & he may need stitches. So, we met her at the after hour clinic & THIS is what I saw!

They wouldn't even see us at the clinic. Sent us straight to the ER. He was a trooper with 5 stitches on top of the eye and 2 underneath.

Cousin Emma's 1st Birthday!

We can share!

Look how tall!

Adeline & Emma

Baylor & Carter

Grandpa Lulue walking the Carter & Baylor

Fun At the Boardwalk

Braden came to spend a couple of nights with us this summer so we decided to use the last of our Kemah Boardwalk Family Fun tickets that Grandpa Lulue gave Baylor last year for his birthday. All we had left were tickets to ride the Joe's Crabshack Beast speed boat. We wanted to wait for warmer weather so we've held on to them. So we went out expecting to get splashed & got drenched like tidal waves were hitting us over and over!! It was unexpected but fun! Then the kids played on the splashpad while we listened to some bands warm up & rehearse for the night. I hope they had fun.

New Pictures

Adeline 2 years
Baylor 9 years

July 4th at the Beach

We got to spend a relaxing July 4th at the beach this weekend thanks to our friend Georgia! Everyone had a great time.