Unexpected...

Well, we made an unexpected trip to Lake Lewisville today with our friends/neighbors. We have been trying for weeks to come up with a good time for us to get out there together and this morning was it...finally. When I woke up this morning I just knew that I needed some fresh air and a change of scenary. It was a cloudy, overcast, windy day...but any day having fun boating around with friends isn't a bad one at all! We just bundled up & went. We all had so much fun and I think it did me some good.

Here are some of my favorite pics...











The trip to the lake today made me realize how much I do enjoy going there...and how much I have missed it. The last time I was at the lake was the summer of '06 and the time before that was my last fishing trip with Dad in '02! Looking at it that way I think that it's sad. I know to some degree I avoid the lake because of all of the memories I have with my Dad...but why do I do that?! I should be going all of the time, because my Dad's spirit ignited when he was on the lake and THAT is what I should remember and cherish when I'm on the water! Man did he love going to the lake! It makes me sad that I didn't appreciate his passion as much as I should have. The lake obviously brings back wonderful memories of my Dad...and my mission this year is not to run away from my memories, but embrace, love, respect, and remember every detail I can...for that is what will keep my Dad alive!

Dad - just wanted to let you know that your grandsons love the lake, they love the boat, and love the wind in their hair. You would be so proud! I only wish you were here to teach them how to fish...you would have 2 fishing buddies by your side!

Grateful

There isn't a day that goes by when I take my children for granted. I cherish every moment I have with them, every hug I get, every slobbery Landon kiss, every zerbert Andrew chooses to give to me on whatever body part is available at the time, every smile, every "Love you too" from Andrew, every growl from Landon, never ever will I ever stop giving thanks that I am their Mommy and they have been given to me as the greatest most priceless gifts I could have ever wished for. My heart explodes at how grateful I am for them.

Down & Out

As most of you know...I have been sick this week. I have officially been taken down by whatever I have. Usually, I can cope and tough it out...but not this time. It started on Monday evening as a minor sore throat & turned into something n.a.r.l.y. After my trip to the Dr. on Tuesday morning...I knew 2 things...

1) I didn't have strep (which I would have bet my life on at the time)

2) I officially had the flu (which I would have bet my life that I didn't have at the time).

Not only did I test positive for the flu...but it was Type A! For those of you who don't know the swine flu is found only in Type A...so I got another joyful swab of my nose to send off to the CDC. The thing I find most amusing is that I won't know for 2 weeks how my test results came out...by that time I will be well, so what's the freakin' point!

I thank my lucky stars that Cory was able to help with the boys Tuesday & Wednesday. I was so tired, weak, cranky, etc...that his help was not taken for granted. It seemed like such a big effort to move...let alone chase after Andrew & carry Landon around throughout the day. He was a lifesaver - and I love him dearly for being such a great husband & Daddy! I do hate having to miss out on all of the fun...play time at the park, Cory's work event at the RoughRiders game (the RoughRiders are a minor league baseball team), and quite possibly a birthday party. The best I can do is arm Cory with the camera and hope he uses it so I can catch a glimpse of the fun I am missing out on!

I really hope I am feeling better by Mother's Day. I always love Mother's Day...Cory (& the boys) always manage to find some way to make me feel so special & loved. It's fun to see what they have in store for me. Last year was a picnic in the park - food was furnished from my favorite sandwich shop and we soaked up the sunshine and showed Andrew how to fly a kite for the first time. It was also my first Mother's Day being a Mommy of 2 perfect angels...and so that made it even more special for me! I'll try and carve some time out on Sunday to fill you in on my day.

Until next time...

Andrew...or Should I Say Bueller....

"I recall Central Park in Fall...How You Tore Your Dress...What a Mess...I Confess..."







This one I just thought was super sweet...



We had lots of fun in the bathtub tonight & I just had to share our "No More Ear Plug" celebration with you all!

Until next time...

1% Away From Perfect Hearing!

We just got back from visiting Dr. Skiles this morning, and we got such great news I had to share it with everyone!

As most of you know, we have been battling the ear infection craze with Andrew from when he was very small. He constantly had an ear infection in one ear or the other (& sometimes both) and was always on the necessary antibiotics to fight these infections. We were in a never ending cycle...until our wonderful Doctor sent us to see Dr. Skiles a wonderful pediatric ENT. Almost 2 years ago now we had tubes placed in Andrew's ears and his adenoids removed. I have said over & over how this is one of the best things we have ever done. Andrew's hearing & speech tripled within the first few weeks of surgery...and as most of you know he hasn't slowed down since! He now quotes lines from movies, sings songs, tells knock-knock jokes, & keeps the whole family in stitches with his one liners.

Today, we had a 6-month check up to see how his ears and tubes are doing. We start off the appointment where they take a "picture" of the mobility of his ear drum and it has NEVER looked better. Dr. Skiles said that it looked like a text book image of what it was supposed to look like! He said that Andrew's ear never reacted as it should during this test...and today we have finally reached that point. Woo Hoo! Andrew also did a different type of hearing test today, and with that test his hearing came back at 99%! That means Cory & I are going to have to be super careful when we are trying to keep surprises because Andrew can hear almost EVERYTHING! His tubes are no longer in position in either ear, which means he has finally reached the point where his body is starting to take over the job that the tubes were in place to do. That means NO MORE EAR PLUGS!!! No more ear plugs in the bath or at the pool...HE'S FREE!!! The best news of the day (yes, there's more) is that based on the results today...there are no residual affects from all of those ear infections, the antibiotics, or the surgery itself. His ears are perfect...and all of our prayers have been answered!

Until next time...

Instant Faves

I just had to share these pictures with you. These became some instant favorites of mine, and I just couldn't resist...

Flickr Updating

I am excited to say I am finally finished posting our October pictures on Flickr! There were a lot of pictures due to all of our Halloween Festivities, but we had a great time at all of them and I wanted to share as much as possible with everyone.

I've decided to try something new with all of my updating. I am going to start integrating the blog & Flickr together. From now on,I will rarely post pictures on the blog. I will however be including links that will allow you to check out some of our sets/photo albums on Flickr. I'm hoping this will save me some time in the future and will enable me to keep things streamlined and up-to-date. I will not be posting links to all of the different sets/photo albums - so if you want access to everything let me know, and I'll send you an invite to my account on Flickr.

OCTOBER 2008:
Trip to the Pumpkin Patch
Fun Around the House
Halloween

Looks like I will be starting on November now!

Until next time...