May 28, 2008

Ok, so I've been very neglectful in my blog-keeping. The homeschooling totally kicked my backside and I could barely keep my head above water, but hallelujah, we're about done!!!!!!! It's been a long year, but I don't regret a bit of it. Sure there were times when Shelby and I couldn't stand each other, but overall, I think it's been good for us to get to know each other a little better. She's still Shelby and I'm still me, but it's ok. We'll get through (even though there were days I wondered!) Her 16th birthday is next Thursday so we're gearing up for that. The party, the drivers license, etc. So far, no "dates" lined up, but Mike and I are totally not ready for that one bit!!!

Alix is winding down at Medlin. She's currently got a cast on her right hand (her writing hand!) for a torn tendon in her thumb from playing volleyball. She had big plans for volleyball camps this summer, but those are not going to happen. She has to keep it immobile for close to 4 months, so all summer long =-( She's also looking at places to do community service (no, not because she got in trouble!) for National Junior Honor Society. She and a friend are looking into various things to do, plus it'll keep her busy and not so "bored" all summer ;-) Paula C, she needs to come down and hang out w/you guys for a while so she can keep busy!!

Ok, so here's the deal. I'll be able to tell if anyone is reading this...I'm trying to "go green" as best as I can and doing a lot of research on it. I don't want to go crazy w/it, but at least be responsible in things and using what God gave us as natural resources, etc. So, is anyone on this journey, too? I know Paula C. has been "going green" as long as I've known her! She's always had a garden, etc. We actually have 3 tomato plants and a green pepper plant potted on our back porch and we have our first tomato!! We've never done anything like it, so it's so exciting. I don't think they'll allow cows or chickens or pigs in our backyard here in Trophy club, nor could I butcher them to get my "free range" meat, but I'm trying to be more aware of things.

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions on things that are working for you? I'll try to keep posted things that we're trying to do. One thing we do is "recycle" our paper...sort of. If we print things out, we reuse them and print on the other side so we're using both sides. It may seem minor to some, but to us, it's a step in the right direction!

Gotta go..time to shut the computer and peripherals down for the night to cut down on the phantom energy stealers through the night =-)

April 10, 2008

Yep, we're still here! As the school year begins it's descent to summer, I've been busier than usual trying to get Shelby ready for next year and make sure things are on track for her return to NHS. We had a meeting this week w/several "higher-ups" at the high school to get this year started off on the right track. Pray for all of us that the year will be much better than the last year she was there. She will have to do well in her classes and stay on top of things to graduate in 2010 as planned but she can do it!

Alix is busy w/volleyball again and loving it. They have a cool coach...she's a junior at NHS so she's "cool" and current w/what's required in the high school level. She's also keeping busy w/NJHS and all of the things she does w/her friends.

I'll try to put more on later. Just wanted to update while I had the chance!

Talk later!
m

March 16, 2008

As we get ready to head into Spring Break 2008, here's a little of what we faced about 2 weeks ago... SNOW! We couldn't believe it! One day it's in the 70's and the next we have 5-6 inches of snow! It was so pretty and the girls (and Mike!) had a lot of fun making a snow man and throwing snowballs!

No big plans for spring break. Just trying to figure out some things to do in town.

Will fill you in later if we do anything fun!
m

February 24, 2008

Yes, it's been a while since my last post...life gets away from me and my blog comes in last place. Anywho, how is everyone? I've heard from some of you but I'm wondering how the rest of you are doing! Life continues at warp-speed here =-) Trust me when I say that once you have teenagers, your life is no longer your own! I'm trying to remember that these times will go by quickly and to enjoy them as much as I can while I have them!

Shelby is driving more and more. She still has just a learners permit, but asks to drive more frequently. She's really taken a liking to the BMW and says it's "her car", so that's what she likes to drive around in. Mike got a new (used) truck a month or so ago as we prepare to become a 3 driver family. He's missed having a truck since he got rid of the last one. This is a cute little Ford Ranger, 1999 I think. So he has fun driving that, Shelby the BMW and I'm still enjoying my Toyota. Still not quite sure if I'm ready for the whole Shelby-driving thing, but it's coming up rather quickly!

Alix got into National Junior Honor Society this last week. They had their "induction" ceremony and got their NJHS pins. She was so thrilled to get in and we are very proud of her accomplishments academically to get her to the point of being accepted. She's wanting to start taking a dance class so we'll be looking into one at Southlake this next week. Of course, Shelby wants to take a dance class, too. It's always a competition with the two of them these days. It doesn't bother me or Shelby much, but it drives Alix absolutely nuts!!!

That's about it for now. Still trying to find a church where God wants us all to be and be able to minister in. We are getting ready to start the Financial Peace course by Dave Ramsey at Aurora Baptist church. That's been our home-base church for now, but not sure that's where we will end up. Great church but it would be nice to have something a little closer to home.

Take care of yourself and I'll try to post again soon!

m

January 3, 2008

It's quiet around here these days, but that's ok! The girls are on a ski trip in Colorado w/a youth group so I've got the house to myself! It's so peaceful, but I miss them just the same...too quiet, I guess. Mike's back to work so it's just me and the dogs + cat.
Alix keeps in touch about once a day to let me know how things are going. She had fun skiing yesterday but had a tough time stopping! It's very cold and slippery, she said, so she's slipping and falling a lot! She says Shelby is caught up in whatever drama happens to be unfolding and Alix is trying to stay out of it...sisters...
That's all for now. Getting ready to head out to grocery store...ugh
m

December 27, 2007

The actual "Christmas Day" is over, but I am still in the birth of Jesus celebratory mode! This year, more than before, I'm aware and in awe of what Christ did for me by coming to earth in human form. It goes beyond my imaginative grasp, but I'm thankful!
We had a great Christmas w/my family from Houston and my grandmother from Indiana. It was so good to get together again and see each other and laugh. Our house was full, but it was a good kind of full ;-)
Christmas Eve at my Mom and Dad's house was great, too. It seemed more relaxed this year, not sure why, but it was good. Christmas Day morning was just the four of us reading the Christmas story and opening our gifts. It was the first time in a long time we'd done that, but Betty and Bob wanted to spend time with Ryan (and Kayrene and Jeff!) for his first Christmas morning. That afternoon we went to Jeff and Kayrene's to have Christmas celebrations there. More food...we got to play with Jeff's new Wii. It was a lot of fun! I wasn't sure it would be that big of a deal, but it was fun. Our family now wants one when the price and novelty wear off a bit!
Now we are spending time w/Betty and Bob before they head back to Indiana on Sunday or Monday. Getting a lot of movie watching in!
The girls are gearing up to go to Colorado on Sunday. Shelby is excited, Alix is hesitant as usual ;-) I'm excited for them and know they will have a really good time. I can't wait to hear all of the fun things they do while they are there!
That's what we've been up to. How did you all survive the holidays?
I look forward to hearing from you!
m

Christmas

Hi to all who are reading my blog after getting our Christmas card! I hope you are all doing well, staying warm and getting ready for the blessed Christmas season!

I try to keep this updated at least weekly. My intentions were to do it daily, but with homeschooling, it's gotten pushed aside! And yes, you read that I am homeschooling. Shelby and I are spending some quality (?!) time together this year before she heads back to Northwest High School in the fall. It was a HUGE decision for all of us and it's a HUGE step, but hopefully we are getting her where she needs to be to go back and not be totally in a fog. It's a good thing, although somedays I may give you a different answer! Shelby also got her drivers permit this year and is working part time in the cafe that is located in the building where Mike works. She enjoys the job and gets to see some "stars" in the making in the theater class that is held there. That story in one of the older blog archives if you want to look for it! It's about Cody Linely. (if you have tweens, you'll know who he is!) She's very involved in the youth group and loves to go to any and everything that they do!

Alix is very involved in all the activities she can be in while in the 7th grade. She was on the volleyball team, she's cheerleading (like mother, like daughter!) and she's wanting to get into National Junior Honor Society. She's received straight A's for the first 2 Six Weeks and she studies hard so she can do well. She also LOVES to spend time w/her friends, especially going to the movies. It's a good year for her so far and her schedule has kept us all pretty busy.

Mike and Shelby spent some time in Honduras in June. They left the day after school got out for the summer and came back the day before Shelby's birthday. It was a life-changing experience and they are both eager to go back! We have some friends there who are missionaries and Mike and Shelby went to help out for several days. They have quite a few stories from their experiences and are always eager to share if you want to hear about them!

We all went to several concerts this year which is unusual for us! It seemed like we were going all of the time! We went to see Kenny Chesney (country singer) who also had Sugarland and Taylor Swift as opening acts. They were at Pizza Hut Park which is an open air venue and it poured down rain most of the night! What's cool is that they all won BIG CMA awards this year so we were glad we saw them all in one evening! That's a whole other experience, let me tell you! (I will if you want to know about it! )

Mike and I went to see Martina McBride (country singer) who had Little Big Town w/her. That was a great show-loved both acts! Oh, and I won those tickets on the local country radio station! Mike, Shelby and I went to see Chris Daughtry (former American Idol contestant-bald rocker, same season as Carrie Underwood). He was great! That concert was at the American Airlines Center in Dallas after the Texas Stampede and Rodeo. Lastly, Shelby and Alix went to the very infamous Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus w/the Jonas Brothers concert in Fort Worth. Of course, tickets were sold out and selling for thousands of dollars, but we were able to get some from Ticketmaster the night before the concert for face value of the ticket and they were great seats! They had a blast-the highlight of their year! Alix actually tried to see the Jonas Brothers at the Texas State Fair when it was Public School Day and all kids get free tickets. It was hot and totally packed and she was so crowded in that she almost passed out! Oh, and Mike went w/Shelby and one of her friends to a Six Flags concert to see Skillet, Grits and Kutless (Christian rock bands). Mike showed his age by wearing ear plugs =-) I know there are more that Shelby went to, but those are the highlights! Way too much money on concerts this year, huh?!!

We welcomed a new nephew/cousin in July. Mike's sister, Kayrene, and her husband Jeff, had a precious little baby boy, Ryan Jeffrey. He's a sweetie-smiles all of the time (well most of the time!). He's a doll and we are so thankful to have him in the family.

Our big highlight of the year was going to NYC in October for our family trip. It was suppose to be Alix's 13th birthday trip and we all got to tag along. We had a blast, but needed much more time there! There's so much to do and see that it's overwhelming. We came back thoroughly exhausted, but so glad we went. We saw Mary Poppins the Musical on Broadway which was fabulous and of course hit most of the tourist traps. If you've never gone, you need to. You'll love it!

We are getting ready for the holidays now. My grandmother, Nanny, is coming in town this Wednesday and staying w/us until Saturday. I don't think she's ever stayed w/us so it should be interesting! Mike's parents are coming next weekend and will stay the first leg of their trip at Kayrene's so they can spend time with the grandson and then will come here the day after Christmas. Shelby and Alix are going to Colorado December 30-January 5 w/the youth group (and Mamaw and Papaw are going!). They've never been and really want to try skiing, so they are heading out to see how they like it! Mike and I will be stuck at home, all by ourselves... =-)

We will be thinking of you all as we go through the season. If you sent a card, it's up in our entryway so we can see it daily and remember you all. Hopefully we'll see you all again very soon, but until then, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

m