Oh Happy Day!!!

Why Do I fall into peer pressure? When Trevor was a baby I had huge pressure to get him off his bottle at 1. He had to be potty trained at 2 and heaven forbid if he still had his blanket by age 5. It created alot of stress for me. (And poor Trevor. I feel so bad for the 1st child.) But being a 1st time parent I didn't know better. Now that I have some experience under my belt I've learned that my kids will tell me when it's time. Yes I still have to encourage them to let things go but for the most part they just give it up on their own. Josh once threw his Binky behind his bed we couldn't find it and that was the end of that. It was wonderful. Gavin did same thing. One day he puked while his Binky was in his mouth he said it was yucky now and wanted nothing more to do with it. But I lost sight of things when it came to potty training again. Both Josh and Trevor were so EASY. And Gavin has really been struggling. Alot of it again was the pressure of he's the only one not trained. He has been fighting it all along the way, he's super scared of the toilet for some reason and wanted NOTHING to do with underwear.
Well happy days are here again. I just let it go for a while and three days ago he was doing a little dance around I asked him if he needed to go potty and he said yes so we ran and he did it and has been accident free for 3 days now. I'm so proud of him. To celebrate we had a play dough party. He loves to make play dough icecream cones and I found a great play dough recipe that isn't as messy as the store bought stuff I hate. I know I'm not out of the woods yet but I'm Celebrating this huge accomplishment. Good job Gavin you are super AWESOME!!!

Eclairs

The skeptical critics. Gavin is allergic to egg so he couldn't have one.
The finished product. Yummy!!! I hope Ryan likes them too. That's the true test!!!!
I learn so much about myself everyday. Like how OCD I really am.


When we lived in Seattle I was a beginner cook. A not so good one for that matter. I have a mother in law and sister in laws that are amazing chefs and it was all to intimidating cooking for them. Because well my dishes usually SUCKED!!! No they never said that it was just the truth. It didn't help that my oven was horrible and cooked things from the outside in instead of the inside out so I burnt just about everything and the middle was always doughy. So when we moved here I was determined with my gourmet kitchen to redeem myself. Yes I still throw away dinners but for the most part I've improved more then I thought was possible. Now I love cooking and trying new things. Ryan calls it my food porn as I'm addicted to looking up new recipes and trying new dishes from Food gawker. I never thought I would be making gourmet dishes that actually taste good. But here's the thing I learned the most. Now when I attempt something and it doesn't work like (rolls) I get obsessed about making them until they are just perfect. This is so not good for my waist line. Even if they taste great they have to look great too.
Well this weeks obsession is eclairs. Every time I make them they turn out flat.
But today ta-da they worked and were soooooooo stinking good. I love eclairs they are one of my most favorite treats and I'm so happy that I now know how to make them.

On another note. Cute Josh has never heard of them. So I told him they were eclairs like Grandpas name he was intrigued. He ate 1/2 of one then asked for the other 1/2 but instead of calling it a eclair he called it a egrandpa. So cute. So it looks like eclairs in my house will now be Egrandpa's.

13 years ago we got engaged..

Who would of thought that 13 years ago  on March 20-th. This is where my life would end up?  Ryan asked if I would say "yes" all over again.  I asked if he would still "ask the question."   We both said the same thing.  "in a heart beat."  I thought I was in love then.  Now I realize I didn't know what love was.
I'm so blessed to have met such an amazing man.  We had so many obstacles against us.  And after two years of dating we couldn't bare being apart. I'm so blessed to have someone who encourages me to be my best and doesn't hold the dumb things I do against me.  "like crash the new car into his car then the house."
   That night he proposed was magical and Ryan was so calm.  And anyone that knew Ryan then would of never thought he was just about to get down on one knee with out throwing up somewhere in there. :).   I love him so much and can't wait to celebrate our wedding day.    And I'm so glad we got to celebrate this special day too. Thanks for loving me!!! And for 13 amazing years.

Not the best picture but our sweet Joshua took it so it makes me smile.

Spring break

Our own little cabin.  Can you tell the boys were excited?

Walkiing to the pool.

The Lake

 

The lazy river and kid play land.

The lazy river

Gavins little slice of Heaven.

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The kids loved to run and play on these.

Josh was so competivite at minature golf.  That kids a natural he made a hole in one or two in each round.

The crazy playland.  We were insane to let the kids play in there.

Gavins favorite ride he couldn't stop laughing the whole time.

You can't go to the Carmel with out having carnival food.

Diane and Fernando were festive in their hats.  I swear we were the only one's not wearing them.

Keith Urban concert.  We had great seats (not) but hey it was still fun to see him :).

Diggin in before we can even set down.  That's my kid :)

So I convinced Ryan to take some time off seeing how then next few months are his CRAZY months and we don't get to see each other for a while. (Tis the life of a wife to a traveling sales man.) We wanted to make it a crazy fun trip for the boys and go somewhere we too can enjoy. Uncle Fernando came to the rescue and sent us some info on a resort in http://www.latorrettalakeresort.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=la%20torretta&utm_content=BAGGeneric&utm_campaign=BingPPC Conroe Tx.
 It's right out of Houston so we invited them to come and spend a day with us at the pool. Luckily it was in the high 70's but still a bit chilly to get in the water. Me being a WIMP froze to death. So I sat out huddled in a towel with Diane wile Fernando and Ryan took the boys and swam until their lips were blue. They had kid water slides that Gavin could go down. He was in HEAVEN. And Trevor and Josh both could go down the big ones. They had two heated pools and hot tubs as well as a lazy river and then three kid area's. It was also on a lake so you could rent a boat and water ski. But we were to wimpy for that one just yet. It needs to warm up a little more :). Our room was AWESOME we got a suite so we had our own room, then there was a living room and the boys had their own room. It worked out perfect the boys crashed and slept all night so we all got decent sleep which always makes a vacation better.
We spent two days there and then went into Houston. This is when it got interesting. Our new room wasn't a suite in fact it was so tiny and with the rodeo being in town most hotels were PACKED so it was the best we could find. We had to make a bed for Gavin from the tiny chair and ottoman I pulled off the comforter and got a extra sheet and tried to make it as cozy as possible. Poor kid kept falling off so I pulled him in bed with Ryan and I on our tiny double bed and well that wasn't any better. But hey like my Mom always said when things don't go just right is your Making memories. We made alot of memories and learned what we wont do on our next family vacation that's for sure :). Anyways we took the boys to the Space center which was cool but during spring break it was a HUGE mistake. It was PACKED. We waited in line for hr's just to see the lame show so the cool one was even a bigger line and the tours forget it we would be standing there for 2 hrs before we even got to get on the train. So we wandered around a little let the kids play in the ball pit. I was over at the gift shop with Trevor because he was too big to go in the play land when Ryan called me to tell me he can't find Gavin. We searched that thing a million times. Trying to stay calm. He has to be in it somewhere right? And it was CRAZY in there. So I was at the top and Ryan was at the bottom when I went down the stairs and saw Ryan holding him. He tells me that he just popped out and so he grabbed him. What a relief. But not the truth. Later Ryan filled me in on what Gavin really did. And that was he was brought by the security guard looking for his parents seeing how he was wondering around the space center ALONE!!!! I see why he spared me the truth at that time I was pretty frazzled with the fear of my child missing and could count my blessings that it turned out the way it did. But I'll never take my kids to a place like that again. The kids were bummed as they thought you got to go to SPACE for some reason when we told them they were going to the space center so this was a big flop. Another day it would of been fun just not on a packed crazy one. Later that night we met up with Diane and Fernando at their house and had pizza and the kids played Nintendo. The next day we had planned on taking the kids to the carnival beofore the rodeo but it was raining like crazy so we just hung out driving around for a while. The rodeo is all in doors but it wasn't until 6:30. So we had alot of time to kill. And the kids were dieing to go to the carnival. But finally the rain let up and we got to go. As Gavin calls it the CARMEL. So cute. We let them each pick 3 rides to go on and Trevor picked the most insane one. My back has been killing me so there was no way I could go on it and Ryan hates rides like that but he was sweet enough to go with Trevor. It was so funny to watch them. Gavin and Josh shared a few rides together and then Josh and Trevor. We watched a magic show and then met Diane and Fernando at the RODEO. It was the 1st huge one I've ever been to and felt so out of place being the only one not in a cowboy hat and boots. It was alot of fun to see. Ryan was kind enough to take Josh and Gavin back and put them in bed while Trevor and I stayed to watch Keith Urban in Concert. I really like a few of his songs and haven't been to a concert in YEARS so it was fun to experience that with Trevor. He was really good and I'm so glad I stayed. Ryan's the best ever. We had to leave early as Trevor was getting pretty tired so we said Bye to Diane and Fernando and walked back to the hotel.
Up early the next morning we packed up and headed home. Stopping at the BLUE BELL ICE CREAM FACTORY. My slice of Heaven. Again with it being spring break and crowded the line for the tour was hrs long so we just decided to walk around ourselves and get a fresh scoop of ice cream TO DIE FOR. Oh how I love ice cream. All it all it was a great trip something we all needed after the roughest month ever.
I love my little family and cherish the moments of time we get to spend together.

Joshua's field trip

His class.  He has the best teacher ever.

They got to touch and hold alot of the animals.

His favorite part playing in the DIRT!!

The boys always ask their Dad if he can go on their field trips.  It makes me kinda sad.  Not only because they want their Dad to come, but because Ryan is usually the only Man there.  But I understand this is a time the boys get to show off their awesome Dad. And I'm in their class rooms all the time so I guess it evens things out.   They went to the Zilker park nature preserve center.  A perfect place for 1st graders to explore.

36 years young.

Ryan's 36th b-day was this week. It was the end of one of the hardest weeks we've had a in a while. Everyone was so sick 1st the swine flu hit us, then Josh got pneumonia, after I got better from the flu I had a allergic reactions to medication and then to top it all off after Ryan was slowly recovering from the flu he got his
6th kidney stone on his b-day. Isn't he lucky. I felt so bad that I couldn't celebrate it like we usually do. I had all these GREAT plans but was too weak to even attempt one. So I just made him his favorite dinner Chicken Satay with Peanut sauce, and Creme brulee for dessert. The kids made him a candy bar card and rib rack for his smoker. We are heading to Houston for Spring break and when we come back I have tickets to phantom of the opera to celebrate. I know not the most masculine thing to do but it was something better then just going out to dinner like our usual. So hopefully it will be something we can enjoy together.

Ryan I just wanted you to know that I love more then words can ever express. Thank you for being such an amazing Husband, father and best friend. Happy Happy Birthday!!!

Blue and gold, flu and crazy hair

This week has been packed full!! 1st Josh got the Flu on Wed. It was so miserable. He threw up so many times I stopped counting after 20. It made for a LONG LONG LONG miserable night. I just laid by him and when I heard him say Mom I dove in with a bowl. Poor kid. I always tell my kids not to drink from the drinking fountain at the school because it's filled with GERMS. The latest one that was going around was Swine flu so when I came in to see if Josh was ok the 1st time he threw up he said. "Mom I'm so sorry I drank from the fountain and now I have the pigs." He's such a character even when he's sick.

Finally Thursday he was feeling a little better and just in time for me to help Trevor with the blue and gold banquet. For some badge they were supposed to make a cake. SO i just hurried and got a football mold and told him to have at it.
It actually turned out really good. (YES I'm a perfectionist and helped a little) but Trevor did alot of the baking.


With Josh still feeling queasy I ended up staying home with him and Gavin. Good thing because about a hr. after Trevor and Ryan let the pig's hit me like a ton of bricks. I couldn't stop throwing up. Josh kept saying "sorry Mom I didn't mean to make you sick. I felt so bad." It was so sad that he felt so guilty. I haven't had flu forever at least not like this. I couldn't move my body hurt so bad and I couldn't stop throwing up. Ryan just locked me in our room and took over. I was SOOOOOOO grateful.

He took the boys to the Inner space caverns so I could sleep some and they had a blast. Even little Gavin wont stop talking about how cool it was. And how scary when they turned out all the lights.





Today Josh had Crazy hair day to celebrate Dr. Seuss birthday. He wanted a Mohawk and to paint it blue. But they wouldn't allow temporary color for some crazy reason so we just gave him a Mohawk. He really wanted to play the park of a rocker and wear his star wars (ugly) shirt and give me rocker hands. He's such a funny kid.



I love Gavin wanting to be just like Josh. He's so cute.



Finally I'm feeling better enough to conquer another crazy week filled with filed trips, Tax tests, voting, Ryan's interviews (Boo I hate those) dr's appointments, play dates and pre-school registration, and the not working potty training progress. WHEW