Birthday Invitation

This week I am going to be busy getting ready for Jackson's 1st Birthday Party on Saturday.
I have a to-do list for each night of the week. I even spent hours this weekend trying to decide on a birthday outfit, one year picture outfits, and an Easter outfit. Ridiculous? YES I think so too! This is when having a girl might be easier, I could pick a cute dress and be set.

I wanted to show Jackson's invitation because I thought they turned out so cute. (I blurred out our address) Traci did such a good job! (and she is having a baby girl tomorrow, can't wait to hear she has made her arrivial)


If you are in the area and want to stop over for some cake, we would love to have you celebrate Jackson's first year of life with us!

Praying for Katrina

My freshman year of college I met one of the sweetest people I know. She is full of life, love, and laughter. I was sad when I had to leave Northwestern and her behind. Well 4 years later God allowed our paths to cross again as we both accepted teaching jobs in Houston. Since I don't have much family down here it has been nice to have an "old" friend close by.

Well just this week she was dignosed with a rare form of leukemia. Please join me in praying for peace, strength, comfort, and complete healing for my friend and her family.

Spring Clearing

We love our backyard, the pool especially all the overgrown weeds, I mean flowers and bushes not so much. We finally payed someone to clear out some of the bushes, vines, and weeds. So this last weekend we decided it was time to lay some mulch and make the backyard look a little bit better.
First round of the mulch:)

The Junge (aka: our backyard) before:

The before pictures were taken in the summer before we moved in so everything is in bloom and green. But come summer our yard will look even better.

After: Clear and clean

Before there were so many bushes here it was a struggle to get into the house without getting strangled. Much easier now!

While Brian was working Jackson and I were playing.


Request:

Please pray for my sweet friend Katrina as she is experiencing a lot of pain and awaiting some answers from the doctors. Thanks for praying!

They're Back

Somehow they made their way into my cart tonight at Target! Sweet tarts jelly beans are my favorite holiday candy. They are slightly different than before. I think they changed the shell a little bit, but I still couldn't stop eating them. Usually I buy a bunch of bags and keep them through out the year for when I need my sugar fix. However, I hope this year I will be able to boycott the candy section during the Easter season or I may be buying bigger pants as well!

What is your favorite holiday candy?

Not an Ordinary Monday

It started off with me having to wake Jackson up to get him ready to go to Sandy's. I think I can count on one hand how many times this has happened. I lifted him up from his crib and he was still sleeping, this brought me back to his first few months of life when all he did was sleep. I love a sleeping baby, but a happy, talking, smiling boy is just too much FUN! I didn't want to drop him off at daycare today. I wanted to stay home and play with him. Jackson is a great reminder of the JOY I want to have in everything I do all day.

Then it was off to school for meetings. The students got the day off and normally I despise these days, I would rather just have the students there then sit and be bored all day. However, I got to have a 2 hour long break. I never get to leave for lunch much less have 2 hours. I ran many errands, including a stop at Half Price Books, a return to Marshalls, a pitstop at Old Navy to use my 40% coupon, a diaper run to Target (I did manage to find myself a few things), and a stop at home to pick up my house and put away laundry. Oh yea, I did also pick myself up something lunch. I would say it was a productive lunch break!

The afternoon was spent at the Berry Center with other teachers who are participating in the Reading Workshop Pilot Program. During this time I talked to a few teachers, listened a little, shared a few things, and made a to-do list that was a mile long and mapped out the rest of my reading mini lessons for the year. I love knowing where I'm headed! I can be so much more effective this way. I am so excited for the next reading units. I need more days I can work only on school stuff. My brain gets carried away with ideas and can't stop turning till it is written down or carried through. Crazy, I know! And the day ended earlier than expected, always a plus.

Both my boys got home at the same time as me and we spent an evening together.

Let's just say after Jackson went to bed, I spent a couple hours having fun mapping out lessons and ideas for the rest of the school year and now I think I am ready for bed...

That is if my brain will slow down for an hour or two.

Love Is...

In honor of Valentine's Day and one of my favorite books-

LOVE IS...

*waking up next to your best friend each morning

*finding a hand written letter on your pillow, in your car, or in your lunchbox

*snuggling with a little baby, especially if his name is Jackson

*sneaking out to get your husband a breakfast treat while he is up to his own surprises

*a hug at the end of a long day

*spending an entire day (outside) with your family

*coming home to a clean house

*what I don't deserve each day but recieve anyway from God and my family

One thing I am trying to be better at this year is doing things intentionally for the ones I love to show them how much they mean to me. I think the little things are what mean the most. I had a wonderful day with my sweet Valentine's!

Look Who's Walking Now

Jackson took 2 steps when Brian's parents where here and that was about it. Yesterday he starting taking more on his own. He would be standing by something and then turn and take off walking to it. Today he was doing even better, especially if we hold his hand to start with and let go.

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved Like This

I have the love of these two people and God has blessed me beyond what I deserve. I love my family. Everyday isn't picture perfect, partly because of me, but I am striving to love them like God loves me. I am so thankful He (and Brian) love me inspite of it all!

Yesterday at school Brian surprised me with an Edible Floral Arrangement. The card read: To the best wife ever, I love you more than yesterday. I think I have a lot to live up to. He made me feel real special and loved!

I LOVE fruit and every piece so far has been about the best I've had. There is so much fruit on this arrangement. I have been eating fruit on and off all day. Yummy! Thank you my love- you know what I like.

This boy just melts my heart every time he flashes his big brown eyes and dimples at me. I light up with every smile and ma-ma. I can't wait to hear the words I love you! We had a great day outside playing at the park together.

Just a sneak peek of the video you will see soon!

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you, bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart."

11 Months

I had a meeting after school tonight, so it was just Daddy and Jackson. I would say Jackson had a good time!

One month away from being one year old. On one hand I can't believe it and on the other hand I don't remember life before Jackson. I am busy getting ready for his party, March 6th- mark it on your calendars:)

At 11 months Jackson:

-weighs 24.5 pounds, is 32 inches long and wears 12-18 month clothes

-walks everywhere with support, has taken 2-3 steps on his own a couple of times

-LOVES to eat, there isn't anything he doesn't eat

Favorite food: goulash, gerber pasta pick me ups, graham crackers

Least favorite food: green veggies

-had his first kid's meals at a restaurant

-still nurses in the morning, takes 2 more bottles through the day

-uses a sippy cup at lunch and dinner time

-8 teeth

-waves bye-bye, starting to clap and high five, shakes his head No when you say No, Jackson

-slept 11-12 hours straight the last 3 nights (please continue:)

-"talking" more each day

-Still an easy going, happy boy!!!

The Last Day With Grandpa and Grandma

Grandpa and Grandma let mom and dad sleep in again, so I got to play with them all morning.

Grandpa's hats and keys are so much fun, and I have to say I think I am pretty cute!

Then I took a nap in Grandpa's arms and then Grandma's.

After I woke up we took them out to eat for some Mexican food at Los Cucos. I think they like it because Grandpa wouldn't share his burrito with me and Grandma was eating all the chips and salsa.

It was a great day, but after dinner it got even better. I got to ride on the carousel with Grandpa. I had so much fun. My horse went up and down and mommy, daddy, and grandma were waving like crazy people at me. I went around and around. I hope my mom and dad take me back here real soon.

I can't wait for the next time I get to hang out with my grandparents. Thanks for spoiling me (and my dad and mom)!