Opening Weekend 2012

Let's Go Rangers!

Mark loves baseball and has always been a huge Texas Rangers fan.  Last summer we didn't attend many games, but the summer of 2010 was all about baseball.  If you read my blog back then, we went to several Rangers games in Arlington, a Cardinals game in St. Louis, a Reds game in Cincinnati and a Cubs game at Wrigley Field in Chicago.  Even though the boys are still pretty young baseball games are family-friendly and fun.

This year Mark got tickets for our family to go to a Texas Rangers game on Sunday evening.  We hadn't been to a game during Opening Weekend in about 8 years.  It was exciting to attend a game since the Rangers made it to the World Series the last two years.

Mark, Will and Ben just before the gate opened.

Rangers Ballpark in Arlington 

The boys were a little confused about why I asked a complete stranger to take our photo with my phone.  You can tell by the looks on their faces, ha! 

It was a neat coincidence to run into my cousin, Tommy, and his son Luke.  We didn't expect to see anyone we knew and we ended up seeing several people at the game.  It's a small world (even though there were over 45,000 people at the game!). 

Take me out to the Ball Game!  

In the outfield they shoot fireworks when a player hits a home run.  Ben thought that was the coolest thing.

My guys :) 

Mark bought a package deal--the Coca-Cola Family Pack--the package included tickets for the boys to play in the brand new Kid Zone.  They absolutely loved it.  I did too because it was indoors and there was air conditioning--major bonus!  

Will loves The Price Is Right game show so Rangers Plinko is right up his alley. 

There are three medal squares that you jump on to make the Texas Rangers "T" light up. 

Ben trying to make the "T" light up. 

Will doing his best to make the "T" light up. 

This is a terrible photo of me.  We were eating ice cream cones.  I included it because it's funny how Will and I have the exact same expression.

Easter 2012

We celebrated Easter with Mark's family on Saturday afternoon. 

All the kiddos were ready to hunt eggs!

Will insisted on carrying my A&M shopping bag while he hunted eggs.

Ben's a serious little egg hunter. 

On Sunday morning, Will and Ben were eager to see what the Easter Bunny left them.

The boys got lots of goodies from the Easter Bunny.

They love the Peeps that the Bunny left. 

The boys got a new book and soccer ball from us.

One last photo of our family at Mark's parents' house on Saturday.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

A few photos of the boys before church this morning.



Miscellany Monday: April

It's Monday and it's April!

{one}

The ladies Bible study we started in January has been incredible.  When I was in high school, I remember our youth group doing a study over the gospel of John.  It was life-changing.  In a way, this has been life-changing as well.  We studied Chapter 18 & 19 last night.  If reading about the crucifixion of Christ doesn't overwhelm you, then you need to examine your life.  I've been left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and a feeling of being so unworthy of such a sacrifice and love.

{two}

Sunday is Easter

He has risen!

******************

Let's transition from meaningful things to everyday life.  I feel silly talking about something so important and then discussing the random daily happenings of our life. 

But, isn't that life?  

Life is a mix of the profound and ordinary.

*******************

{three}

You know that you're a teacher when you are thrilled that April 1st--April Fools Day did not fall on a school day but instead was on the weekend.  I was also happy that St. Patrick's day was on a weekend.  No pranks or pinching!

{four}

Weight Watchers Update

I've lost 4lbs so far!  I feel like it's been a long fought battle for those 4lbs.  I was getting pretty discouraged because I wasn't seeing results on the scales.  I think my clothes are fitting better, but I still wasn't seeing the pounds come off like I wanted.  Losing those 4lbs made me finally feel like I've accomplished something.  I know that 4lbs doesn't seem like much, but it's something I'm proud of.  My goal is to lose 16lbs total.  I'm not sure how long it will take me, but I'm committed to reaching my goal.

{five}

I'm ready for this weekend.  We have tickets to watch the Texas Rangers play on opening weekend.  Mark is a very happy guy.  We usually attend at least a couple of games each season but last year we only made it to one.  I'm hoping that we can go to more this year.

{six}

I love my flower beds this time of year.  Everything is lush and the flowers are vibrant.  Spring is definitely the time my flower beds look their best.  By the time the heat of the summer hits, it's almost impossible to get anything to thrive.  When I got married 10 years ago, my former roommate flew in from Seattle to be in the wedding.  She noticed as we drove around running errands how brown everything is in Texas in the summer.  She's from Washington--The Evergreen State and all of the brown must have made an impression on her.  I'd never really noticed it until she pointed it out.  Ever since then I've had a new appreciation for the green we have in spring.

{seven}

Summer vacation is on my mind.  We usually start planning our vacation after Christmas break is over, which I know is a little in advance, ha!  I think the anticipation of a fun trip is what gets us through the spring semester of school.  This summer we are looking forward to taking two trips.  Mark and I are going to Vegas for our 10 year anniversary.  Later in the summer we are going to Red River, New Mexico with Mark's parents.  While in Red River we plan to take a day trip to Santa Fe.  I'm really looking forward to that.  I haven't been to New Mexico since I was a kid so this should be a great trip.

{eight}

Several weeks ago I told you about my cousin Clay who was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  I finally had a chance to talk to his sister.  She filled me in with the details concerning his tumor.  It's a geo blastoma (I think I'm spelling this correctly, it's not glioblastoma).  She told me that the geo blastoma is rare--less than 1% of brain tumors are this.  Clay is recovering at home from the brain surgery.  He has started chemo and radiation.  Thank you for all of your prayers.  He still has a long road of recovery ahead, but we are hopeful and still pray for a full recovery.

{nine}

One of my BFFs Angela has a great giveaway going on. 

 If you are a mom of little ones this is a giveaway you definitely want to check out.  

You could win a Let's Go Activity Pack (a $22.95 value)

Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters

Friends, Fun and Sun

One of my BFFs, Terri, and her family just moved into a gorgeous new home. What better way to break in a new home than having 40 friends and family over for a birthday party the week after you move in!  Terri was amazingly calm and such a gracious hostess considering the stress and chaos of moving, preparing for a party and being a mommy to three kiddos under 5.  She's my new hero!  I wouldn't have been able to pull off a party under those circumstances.

There are two weeks worth of photos because I skipped my weekly phone dump last week.  Last week I went out to eat with some of the elementary teachers (I'm a junior high teacher).  They are such a fun group to hang out with.  The group tries to get together once a month.  This month we went to Buffalo Wild Wings and everyone wore their college t-shirts since it was March Madness.  After eating at BWW, we went to a bookstore to hang out.

Alichia, another teacher friend, is one of my favorite shopping pals.   She's also a world traveler.  She's traveled all over Europe and the U.S.  So amazing!

While I was on my girls' night, the boys had a boys' night.  Mark took the boys out to eat and then they had ice cream.  Don't judge but Will really wanted to go to Burger King.  It's not a place we ever eat at so I'm sure that's why he chose it. 

After Burger King the guys went to Braum's for ice cream.  They chose the "blue ice cream" which was birthday cake. 

I let the boys jump on the bed.  I do. 

I haven't had donuts since I started Weight Watchers at the end of February.  I miss them each Saturday morning when the boys enjoy their donut holes and chocolate donuts with sprinkles.  Ben always wanted a plain chocolate donut until recently.  Now he's just like Will and wants his chocolate donut with sprinkles. 

We stopped by "The Land" this week.  This summer we will start the process of having contractors give us estimates for how much the gravel road and driveway will cost.  There's still a lot of work to do, but it's a start and that's very exciting!  Hopefully the road will go between these trees. 

This isn't where the driveway will be.  Mark's actually standing on the land that his brother owns.  That land connects to ours.  Mark's looking for bluebonnets.  We sowed seed there a few years ago but haven't had any luck getting the bluebonnets to grow.

This week I showed you several new milk glass pieces.

Here is where they end up once I display them.  They are on top of my kitchen cabinets.

Another view 

A smaller cabinet has my collection of bud vases, a candle stick and pedestal dishes on top of it.

It's spring and my toes are happy to see the sun.  I had to paint them a bright, happy color in honor of spring. 

Essie: Watermelon

Will's wearing his new camo flip flops 

Ben's cute little boy camo flip flops. 

Swing! 

Look how high!

Play

I had a great afternoon hanging out with Will and Ben in the backyard.  After we picked up the boys from daycare, Will wanted to eat his snack outside.  Will and I got to hang out and chat while he ate chips and I had carrot sticks.  He told me about his day and we discussed random thoughts of a 5-year-old.

Tonight after supper but before church the boys had about 45 minutes to play.

I tried to get a photo of the boys together.  Ben decided to grab hold of Will's hair. 

Hey!  Don't pull my hair!

If you look closely at Ben's sweet face, you can see that we had BBQ chicken for dinner.

My other sweetie is growing up too fast! 

We've been making the most of our perfect weather by playing outside any chance we get.  In Texas there's a window of nice weather in the Spring and Fall where you can be outside at anytime of day and enjoy yourself.  When it gets to the dog days of summer we barely get to spend any time outside because it's so hot and humid.  I'm thankful for this nice weather and the opportunity to play outside with the boys.