collegebound... 

I'm back!

Much time has passed since I've posted an entry. And with time has come alot of changes. Five days ago our oldest son left for college. I'm taking it kinda hard. I'm the kind of mom that loves taking care of her boys. I love doing for them and I love being needed. Therefore, this change is quite an adjustment for me. After 18 years, it is difficult to let them go and do for themselves. Don't get me wrong. Our boys are very independent and very able-bodied. They will all be fine when the time comes to leave. They are secure with who they are and worldly enough to tackle 'head-on' whatever comes there way. The problem lies with me. I'm simply struggling with the fact that he is no longer within my grasp. I will not know when he is home safely in his bed at night. I won't be there to make sure everything is okay. I won't be able to see him daily, look in his eyes and know that all is right in his world.

I will pray alot. I know that we have done a good job teaching him right from wrong. I know he will try new things and I know it may not be something I would have chosen to do. I know he will learn from any mistakes he may make. I realize he is journeying thru life, the way he is suppose to. With technology the way it is today, I know I am a phone call, email or text message away.

He came home for the night yesterday. Just a quick stop in before classes start tomorrow. I was so happy to see him. I didn't cry when we took him to school but everyday since then has gotten slightly more melancholy. When i got home yesterday and he was sitting in the living room, I smiled. I felt a rush of emotion and a big knot formed in my throat. I motioned for him to follow me to my room. I made him lay on my bed and I held him like a five year old and I cried. I had to let it out. Tough as I am, it was more than I could handle.

I'm better now and I realize he will be fine. Maybe it wasn't right for me to show him how sad I was. But, the way I see it, I've never kept my emotions from him before, why start now. He loves me, I know. He may be 18 and not show it all the time. But, I know he loves me.

Kyle....the TV Star!

The Victoria Advocate - http://thevictoriaadvocate.com/
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Bay City High School senior Kyle Tomek realized the dream of his young lifetime when he was selected to be a guest on the taping of the ESPN2 show "Bass Tech" earlier this month.
On Jan. 16, Kyle and his dad, Gregg, flew to Little Rock, Ark., to appear on the one-hour show, which is similar to "American Chopper" and "Extreme Makeover Home Edition."
In each episode, the host reads from the mailbag a letter of an idea sent in by a viewer for the project of the week. The Bass Rats, a group of bass fishing experts, will then work on the project from start to finish over the course of the episode.
"A 13-year-old boy came up with the ideal of customizing a kayak that would allow you to go into shallow water and stand on it to fish," said Tomek. "The kid couldn't be on the show, so my name was given to the producers of the show after seeing my fishing articles in Gulf Coast Connection Magazine."
Tomek said that he was selected because he was a high school student and aspiring writer and fisherman.
"The TV crew on the show knew that I would be going off to college next year and that I would need a small boat that could easily be transported and doesn't require a lot of storage room so they come up with different ways to customize a kayak," said Tomek.
"The neatest part about being on the TV show was being with the Bass Rats and seeing how they put the show together. While I was there I got to see how they edited the Redfish Cup series and the Bass Master series. I also got to meet Jerry McKinnis, who has the longest-running outdoor fishing show on TV."
Tomek said the Bass Rats helped him customize a kayak with trolling motors, pontoons, fishing pole holders and a GPS (global positioning satellite) depth finder.
Tomek plans to attend Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi when he graduates and plans to use his kayak to fish while working on his journalism degree. His dream is to one day have his own outdoor fishing show.
He said that he should get his customized kayak in about a week. And on Feb. 24-26, the kayak will be showcased at the Bass Masters Classic on Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee, Fla., at the "Bass Tech" booth.
"I will have Chad Bullard and some of my friends over Saturday to view the show, and my dad will be cooking breakfast," said Tomek.
The episode on "Bass Tech" with Tomek will be aired Saturday morning, Jan 28, at 8:30 and 10:30 on ESPN2, Channel 32.
Ross Cunningham is a reporter for the Matagorda County Advocate. Contact him at 979-244-1330 or rcunningham@vicad.com, or comment on this story at http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/

Merry Christmas!

I only work today till noon, then off for a week!!!! I'm so happy. Christmas is a wonderful family time of the year. Everyone seems happier, kinder...

Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope Santa is good to you....!

fine, just fine....

i'm two weeks post-op and feeling very well. trying to get accustomed to my new eating habits. Iv'e gone from all liquids for two weeks to pureed foods. I pureed a perfectly descent meal into what looks like very bad toddler food. oh well, what can i say. it beats broth....

i'm almost finished Christmas shopping. i'm proud to say i've done it 100% online. i didn't have to set foot in the busy shopping mall. now, that's something to smile about!

a change for the better...

i would like to let everyone know about something i've decided to do.
after much research and discussion, i've decided to have "lap-band" surgery for weight loss.
my surgery will be on thursday, december 1st.
the procedure will be done laparoscopally. it takes about 45 minutes and i will only have to be in the hospital overnight. gregg will be with me.
i will have a silicone band place around my stomach. this way, i will only fill up the top portion of my stomach when i eat, (and then the food will move on down and be digested normally.) there is no cutting or stapling. the stomach will only hold 2oz of food at time, so i will only be eating about a half cup of food at every meal.
for the first two weeks, while the stomach is adjusting to the band, i will be on liquids, the next two weeks i will have pureed food and then move on to soft foods and then a regular diet.
the doctor that is doing the procedure is dr.carlos ferrari. i was referred to him by dr. dane and i've also talked to others that have gone to him so i am comfortable with my choice.
i will be having the surgery at memorial herman memorial city hospital at I-10 and Gessner in houston.
unlike gastric bypass, this type of surgery is reversible, the band can be removed if needed. the weight loss is a little slower than the popular gastric bypass surgery. but they say a slower weight loss is better for you in the long run. within the first year, a patient will typically lose about around 70 lbs or so. i am a hundred pounds overweight right now so i am hoping for a successful surgery.
i've been told if i were to remain the weight i am now, that in another 10-15 years i would more than likely have more medical issues. gregg and the boys are very supportive of my decision and i hope you will be too, as in doing this i hope to live a long and healthy life!
~cindy

At the Ranger's Baseball Game in '96 

Time flies....

Wow! Today is Gregg's and my twentieth wedding anniversary! I think it's a wonderful thing! I am proud and happy to have such a great husband, father and best friend...!

Did you brush your teeth, Did you get your lunch money...

BAAaack to School day! The boys all got off to school this morning. I made a point to get up and devote the morning to a good sendoff! I made them each a 4 egg omelet with sausage and cheese. And sent them off with happy faces! Our fifth grader has been going for 2 days already. He seems happy and content to be back in the swing. Our freshman mentioned that he wasn't nervous at all, I think he's happy to be going into highschool, (could just be the abundance of pretty girls). Our senior, well, I think he's happy just being a senior.
Hopefully it will be a great year had by all.

Hey, and my lunch breaks will now be my own again........! Yes, the simple things!

hi!

T.G.I.F.!

It's 1:40 in the afternoon and I'm hoping that the afternoon zoooooms by. I don't know if you've ever done this, but, you know how it feels when you wake up on Saturday morning and think...yes! no work...it's the wknd...i can sleep longer! Well, this morning I woke up and thought for a split second that it was Saturday and then BAM! it hit me......it's only friday. Dang It!

I'm going to finish doing some back to school junk this weekend then we have a baseball team barbeque to go to on Sunday. It should be alot of fun.. just hope the weather isn't too terrible hot.

I've walked two miles every morning this week. I'm hoping I can manage to get to three miles a morning before the 20th. That is when we go to Sugarland for our first official training day. The first thing they do is clock you on three miles to see where your benchmark is.

Thanks for the encouraging words and the wonderful donations to the Leukemia Society!

Check out my walking blog or my donation page if you'd like!

have a nice weekend!

Down Hill Slide...

August 1st. The summer really has gone by quickly. School will be starting in only two weeks. The month will be a busy one. I've gotten a jump start on the school supplies $$$. But, I've got school clothes to purchase also.

I've starting training for a marathon! I'm very excited. Thus, I will probably be posting more on my 'walking blog'. Any extra encouragement would be appreciated!

My main focus for the month though, will be my kids as usual. I like the household to be very organized by the first day of school. I need to transform the house from the 'summer carefree craziness' to the 'let's study and be focused' setting. But, aside from that I will be walking as much as I can and trying to gain endurance.

My middle son, Travis, just got back from the NBC Hap Dumont World Series in Arkansas. They took 2nd place. It was a very busy week for him, playing up to three games back to back. They won the series the past two years so I guess it's only fair to take second this time! He got back on Saturday and today starts football practice! Wow, to be young ......!

a house renewed...

man, the day has come to force ourselves to spend money on our house. we knew if we didn't, the roof was going to blow off with the next hurricane that rolls thru. we had a list of priority items; new roof, replace the two sets of french doors that have been nailed shut due to falling apart at the seams and tile. our carpet was put in when we bought the house 14 yrs ago. we've had three kids grow up on that carpet. dirty shoes, spilt drinks, just all around dirt. it was time.

so, for the last week, we've had almost everything we own jam packed in the garage. we have one tv tray and a couple of plastic chairs between the five of us. it has been nothin but chaos. we aren't tiling all the bedrooms. this means our bedroom has also become a temporary catch all for everything from the big screen to the ten-ton safe. heaven forbid if i have to go to the bathroom during the night. it means shimming sideways, stepping over loose items, dodging a bookshelf and groping for a light...

as of today, the tile is complete. it's awesome. i cringe at the thought of moving our 'garage sale' style of furniture back in on that beautiful tile. oh well, one thing at a time, right?!

maybe i can post a pretty picture of the completed project for ya!

x 

kyle doing what he loves... 

Gotta love em..

God knew what he was doing when he decided I needed to be a mother to boys. Especially in the teenage years. I am guessing I probably would not have been very good at the hairspray, fingernails and accessories when it comes to teenage girls. This weekend, our middle son had his 8th grade formal dance. It was on Saturday night. It was already going to be a busy weekend and this big event would also be taking place in the middle of participating in an out-of-town baseball tournament.
Other than the money spent on ordering a tux and a corsage and the time it took to take him to be measured for the tux, we were pretty much prepared for the dance. On the other hand, I noticed that a whole heck of alot more went into preparing for the daughters.
They had to have spent many hours shopping for the perfect formal dress and shoes ($) and then the trip to the salon for the nails and the up-do ($, $). It would have been a much bigger ordeal getting a girl ready. I can only imagine the stress that would be flying around my house. Luckily, I just had to send him to the shower, help him into his monkey suit and off he went!
Being a mother to three boys....$priceless!

Travis, 8th grade dance... 

Travis, 14yrs old @ 8th grade formal... 

no book

Oh, forgot to mention.
I didn't get the book off ebay.
It ended up going for like 86.50

whoosh.

oh well..

mother's day in bed...

i made the mistake the other day of saying, "boy, i haven't been sick in a long time".
then "bam"!! it hit me.
i woke up mother's day morning and could hardly swallow. my throat hurt, head hurt and to top it off i had poison ivy!
i had been doing a little yard work the day before and darned if i didn't pull at some good ol poison ivy barehanded.
so, needless to say, i spent all but mother's day lunch, in the bed...

i have to say, my hubby and boys really took care of me....breakfast, a big balloon, two dozen roses and two sweet, sweet cards....

they must love me!

Weigh In...

Ok. I need a little weight loss help now!

We are taking a little family trip in exactly 51 days from today. I cannot reveal my starting weight because it is just a little too humilitating. I need to lose about 50 lbs, but no way is that going to happen in that short of time. If I could at least lose 1/2 of that before our trip, i'd be happy.
Any inspiration out there? I'd love to hear it.

I realize i'm too far past every being a "eye catcher" again. But, honestly, i'd just like to be able to get out there and do all the fun stuff there is to do with my boys and not be embarrassed to be in shorts.

So, here I start. I'm planning on cutting back on my servings at mealtimes. And I do intend on getting over to the track and walking as much as possible between now and then....

Help, anyone who might have a few great ideas....! Hit me...

Big Pink Book

I'm bidding on Ebay right now. It's for a children's book that was my favorite when I was a kid.

Being from a "traveling family", it seemed like every time we moved growing up, my mom would throw stuff away as she packed. I'm sure it makes sense to do that. But in the meantime, alot of the remnants of my youth disappeared. I do still have a few stuffed animals but that's about it.

Anyway, I had this alltime favorite little book when I was about 6 or 7 years old. It was called "The Big Tidy-Up". It was this really big pink book. I happened to locate a few on ebay but my gosh, they want like a couple hundred bucks. That's crazy. Some of them still have the $1 sticker still on the cover.

I'm holding steady on my bid of $40.
We'll see what happens.

Not Friday yet....

We went to a special mass at church last night. It was a memorial celebration for Pope John Paul II. Brandon was one of over thirty alter servers. They had the lights dimmed and lots of candles and flowers around a framed portrait. It was a very special tribute to a wonderful human being.

On a lighter note, I'm not getting any respect from my seventeen year old! man oh man, he's my first born and I must have done too much for him. He's helpless and unappreciative right now. OK, I'm thru venting....

Just one more day till the weekend...

not as pretty on the pic as in real life...sorry! 

texas bluebonnets 

Oh, the bluebonnets!

we went to brenham this weekend to a baseball tournament. if you've never been through the hills of brenham during april, you are really missing out! the bluebonnets and all the other wildflowers mixed in are just gorgeous!

there were many people stopped on the highway posing for pictures in the middle of the fields. so, of course, you know we had to do that too. although 5 fourteen year old boys, in uniform, don't get too excited about sitting amidst some flowers!

i pick up my pictures today, i hope at least one turns out ok! if so, i'll post it here!

spring break

it's spring break around here. beautiful weather too! but, guess who's stuck working....! always! travis went on a school field trip to keystone colorado for the whole week. he's been calling everynight to report in to us. he's having a great time! kyle has been home most of the week but got an invitation from the owner of Gulf Coast Connection magazine to go fishing at Port O'Conner. So, he left Thursday morning early and will be back Saturday. Poor Bam has pretty much been home all week. Catching up on cartoons! I did take off Wednesday at noon and he and i made a quick trip into houston to pick up the i-pod i won off the radio last month! it's great, i love it! he's been having some fun with it too! other than that, business as usual at our house. baseball is firing up and by the look of the weather, springtime is at our doorstep!

all in a day's work

i am just hanging out at work right now. wondering how to update my blog journal when my days lately have been pretty routine and normal. (not complaining!) just doesn't make for anything new to talk about! let me see...
i get up at 6:00am. try to exercise a bit. drank a few sips of coffee. take a shower. make breakfast for my boys. get dressed. distribute lunch money. leave the house at 7:30 for the school rounds. pick up a neighbor boy. pick up my niece. drop off two at the jr high then drop off two at elementary. run any errands i might have. grab my diet coke from sonic. be at work by 8:30.
are we bored yet? i can tell you i'm not. i guess i really don't mind the busy pace. i actually think i'd be lost without it! i get to chill out in the evenings for a little while with my family. after dinner we usually clean up the kitchen and spend a couple of hours visiting or watching a show on tv together. lately it's been "extreme makeover-home edition", which we all seem to really like or "american idol", that show cracks us up when they sift thru the no talents!
being together in the evenings gives us all time to talk about things going on in each of our lives. then we all commence to bed by around 9!
a day in the life...
it works for us!

my how you have grown...

man, i just realized i haven't posted a thing since the start of the new year. i guess i'm spending time trying to be organized (and my workload at the job is a little busier right now.) although, it's amazing how much time is spent just trying to run a functional household. it is very time consuming but the rewards are, oh, so worthwhile. i think that, the way that time gets away with you, it's so important to have a very basic, stable routine to keep everyone and everything in harmony. this way, when the out of the ordinary things pop up in between, everyone is able to handle them alot better. then before you know it, everyone is getting older and you realize wow, this is really paying off, our kids are turning out to be very respectable human beings. it makes you feel so proud of how hard you have worked. i know i am...

time to start anew...

once again, the year has come to an end. it's true what they say. the older you get, the faster time goes by. we've heard it all our lives, and now i can say how very true it is. a day feels like a minute, a week like a day, a month like a week and a year like a month. whoaaa, that's deep.

the year was wonderful for our family. we worked, played, prayed and grew together as a family. we are very lucky to have our home, our good health and each other. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

i think the beautiful white blanket of snow on Christmas eve capped the year off just right! we couldn't have asked for a better present...

happy new year to everyone!

Christmas 2004 

ho ho ho

I found out today that Christmas day will be held at our house this year! It is going to require alot of preparation if I want it to be nice. We are used to entertaining but it is normally a bunch of guys watching football and eating chicken wings. This will be a little different! I will have to take extra care in the "decorating" department. Maybe a new red table cloth or two! I'm sure it will all work out. I just need to start my planning now and do a little at a time!
It's time we start giving Mom and Dad a break from the holidays! They've been having it at their house the last few years and I think it's beginning to take its toll. This way they can enjoy everybody and not have too much to worry about (except the dressing, i haven't mastered that yet!)
Well, i'll be sure to let you know a month from today how i'm feeling....! Can you say red and green paper plates?!

now what am i forgetting.....

i'm happy today. it's Friday and i just might be getting off early today! this weekend is my annual bouldin sister slumber party. we will be meeting each other tomorrow at noon. i'm pretty much ready. i got our little gift bags done yesterday. i have in my head what i need to pack, but for some reason, the camera keeps slipping my mind. that would suck. we are suppose to each bring a little dessert. i still need to pick that up, probably on my way out of town. don't know what my boys are going to do while i'm gone. hopefully stay busy fishing or doing "guy" stuff. i'm going to try not to worry bout em too much! it's only 24 hours without me! i can't seem to get my mind on the job today (so, what's new?), it seems like i'm just moving papers around my desk! well, one thing i know for sure....it's finally cold outside! yippee! i've been waiting for it for a while now! the little jackets i made for my sisters will be perfect for this weekend....! see ya later!

a real pic of travis!

trav is the blonde on the left!! hee hee 

i just had to share the cheerleader pic! travis went to a halloween party with a few of his friends dressed as cheerleaders. the pic is priceless and one i know he will enjoy looking back on in years to come!

25 things I've learned...(in progress)

1. being a good mom is one of the greatest goals in life.
2. a sense of humor can get you thru... most of the time.
3. fall is not a long enough season.
4. you should buy pretty candles and use them.
5. that looking forty is not so bad.
6. always treat your spouse with all the respect you'd want in return.
7. you should love the body God gave you.
8. that kids with "structure and stability" grow up to be good people.
9. if all else fails, try laughing.
10. you're never to old to play with silly putty.
11. that the smell of playdough can take you back.
12. eating dinner together around the table is still an important tradition.
13. the importance of prayer and strong faith.
14. teaching your boys to do things around the house will help them become good husbands.
15. make your home a very comfortable place to be for your kids, so they won't want to roam too far.
16. how important it is to look after the elderly in your life.
17. prayer is powerful.

if stealing a pic from someone's blog is wrong...then i don't wanna be right... 

colors of fall...

really? leaves turn colors? being from texas, i thought they went from bright green to crusty brown. it's almost halloween, mind you, and it is still summer. temps in the 90's. i love this "seattle" pic. it's giving me a chance to dream about what it is suppose to be like....!

....priceless

I have to say, it's nice when your sister-in-law is also your ten year old's teacher. Today was Brandon's first time to be an alter server in church. He didn't want me to go cuz he said he wanted to get it down first before I came to watch him! Sandra emailed me this afternoon to tell me how well he did. She said when he was walking up to the alter, he was smiling a big ear to ear smile. She said the candle he was carrying was casting a little glow on his face.........priceless!

wander and wonder

I can't keep my mind on the "workplace" today. It's wandering everywhere but here. The hubby's job, the kids, the house. I could spend twenty-four hours a day just taking care of what's at home. Keeping the balance. I guess that explains my loss of concentration. I am definitely a creature of habit. I thrive on the ol' routine. In doing so, when I see anything in the future that looks a little shaky, you know, fear of the unknown, i tend to feel a sense of panic. there is a very good possibility we may have a major job change in our future. the job that actually "pays" the bills. i am praying hard for it to be positive either way it may go. but thinking that what had gotten us thru, day in and day out, could just stop on a dime, it's scary. and the wonder of what might come or not come is bothersome. i can only pray. if the job loss does in fact happen, i hope it will be one of those "things" where you look back one day and say "man, i'm glad that happened". we are only so in control of our destiny, the rest is in the hands of the Higher up. i will cross my fingers and toes and know that whatever happens, we will grab it up, give it all we got and move forward....

"The Big Four-0"

THINK PINK

So, you hit that magical “middle” age.
Now what’s a girl to do?
You think it’s happening to somebody else
And definitely not you.

Everyone around you is so proud
They cover you in black
And buy you dead flowers
And paint R.I.P. upon your back.

It’s only a number
Keeps repeating in my head
I still feel like I always did
And their acting like I’m dead.

So, I’m starting something new this year
i said…. and gave a wink.
I’m starting “fresh at forty “
No black for me, just pink!


So, you can throw away dead roses,
& pour black paint down the sink.
Cuz today I’m turning forty
And officially I’m PINK!

TGIF.......This feels like de ja vu

Well, it's Friday again and boy am I glad. Am I wishing my life away? cuz it sure seems like I look to Friday a lot! We don't have too much planned this weekend. Kyle is going to Gonzales with a friend and his family to go hunting. It is rice festival weekend here, I took bam and Katie last night so I don't know if that will do it for me or not. Depends on how lucky I get. Gregg is suppose to take the boys fishing either sat or sun morning. I hope to work a little on my sis slumber party gifts, fun! I might check out the movie schedule. I took bam to the Dr. This afternoon for his allergies, trying to get them under control. He was kinda shocked when he got on the scales and had grown 5 in. in one year and had gone from 89 to 115lbs. Must like my cooking?! Or takes after his mamma's side of the family! Heaven help him! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I will be sitting outside, looking towards the north and hope, hope, hoping for a cold front to come my way........!

Kyle and his friends and their "keepers" 

Brandon (10yrs) trying his hand at horseback riding! 

and the beat goes on...

As of yesterday, all my kids are in the "double-digits". Bam turned 10 yesterday! He was a happy guy. Everything has been going along pretty normally. Dealing with the heat, the dying grass in the yard, work and kid's activities. I am enjoying football season. The blackcats play at home this week so we will be going to cheer em on!

another fat pic of me...? 

hi there...

hi! i haven't taken time to write in a while! no news is good news, right?! after a busy weekend of birthdays, football and baseball, it's monday again! sitting on my butt in front of my computer at work. geez, where did the time go! Travis played in a baseball tournament in Spring this weekend. He stayed with his teammates. They won first place. I missed not having him around all weekend though. We celebrated Gregg's and his mother's birthday this weekend. I cooked
chicken speghetti! He took Kyle and Brandon fishing early Sunday morning! I did get to work on some of my goodies for my upcoming Sister slumber party, that was fun! I'm still waiting for cooler weather. Seems the closest i'll get to fall is the picture on my computer desktop...!!

Down...Set...Hut

It's 74 degrees this morning! Much better than the previous 85 degree mornings we've had lately. I'm so tired of dealing with "humidity frizzy" hair. Makes me want to just shave it all! Other than that little complaint...all is well in my world! Boys are busy with school work, football & fishing. Kyle is beginning to really enjoy "wade fishing" and going in the bay with his dad. Travis has had a reprieve from baseball until October and has been practicing with his eighth grade football team. Brandon is hanging in there with his first year of peewee football. He isn't enjoying it as much as he thought and told us he wants to quit. He has been practicing for a month and won't even have his first game till the 11th of September. We told him to at least stick it out and play a real game before we make a decision like that. His birthday is on the 19th, he will be in the "double digits". We gave him his gift last night (early!). He's been wanting a Gameboy advance SP....He's a happy boy! Gregg's birthday is next friday the 10th. Birthdays aren't near as fun when you grown up, are they.....?!!

Gregg & Kyle: fishing buddies 

do i see forty on the horizon??

I guess summer is back. The cool weather was just a "teaser". I'm tired of 93 degrees and 100% humidity. It's making it tough on our two little football players too. Well, hopefully we will see some changes in the weather again soon. Since the kids are back in school and I finally think I've purchased all the needed school supplies, I've been thinking in the back of my head about Christmas! How funny is that? You know how every year you think, "i'm going to start buying little gifts ahead of time this year so it's not such a blow to my budget", but really it never works out? Well, i'm gonna try it again this year. Maybe a couple of gifts every couple of weeks. We'll see if i succeed this time! What I really ought to focus on right now? Turning forty and what I'm going to do to make it memorable......maybe lose 40 lbs?! Now, that's what i'm talking about....!!

back to school, back to school...

"school bus yellow"

wow! i'm happy. school is starting and the kids will be back to routine again. brandon started this morning and was very, very excited! kyle and travis start tomorrow. they are making one last trip to the mall today to get their backpacks. it's a good feeling getting back into our "groove". plus, they have alot of learning to do! and needless to say, i will have my quiet lunchbreak back! yippee!

Looks like a long time ago, seems like only yesterday!!

my dream house in the country 

TGIF

TGIF! I'm so glad Friday is finally here. I have plenty to do this weekend but at least it is at my pace! The weather is beautiful...

bummin at work

It's a beautiful day today. The weather is beginning to cool a little. It has me really lookin to October (my fav month!). Work is blahhhh. I am bored with numbers and posting. All day, numbers. grrrrr. I need a little creative stimulation. Oh well, for now it's providing a bi-monthly paycheck. Gregg left this morning to go fishing....

doing what i do

talked to joey yesterday, she and i both kinda got excited about our next sister slumber party! we are going to have it in kemah this year. still waiting to see if the date of nov.6 is ok with punky. it's always something fun to look forward to! (is twelve weeks away too early to start planning? nahhh!)

gregg is going fishing this weekend, so.....i am going to take the boys to finish up on some school clothes shopping and maybe catch a movie while we are at it! they start school next week! it's always nice to get them back "learning" again! and my quiet lunch breaks are just around the corner!

Pics

Bear with me! I figured out how to post pics, so you will see all I had saved on my computer. Hopefully, as time goes on, I can get more recent shots (of Brandon) anyway!

Kyle and Suzanne Christmas 2003 

Travis' Mudbug Team 

Cindy and Brandon at Christmas in 1999 

Sad Week

I found out in church Sunday, that Andrew Smith was killed in a car accident. He was only twenty-one. A Quarterback for University of North Texas and was on his way back to school. His parents are the nicest people you could ever meet and have raised all three of their children in a manner that most people only dream of. I am very sad for all of them and will do what I can to help them get through such a tragic loss.

I have been getting the kids ready for school. A little school shopping here and there. A little more organization in the house (if that's possible). I had the carpets cleaned yesterday. Hope it lasts for a little while.

We found out yesterday that it looks like Katie will be staying here and going to Holy Cross School again! I'm so glad and believe it is what's best.

We are all fine. Happy. Busy...

back to work

Well, after an 8 day vacation, i'm back on the job. Like always, a vacation is never long enough. We had a very eventful world series in Mississippi. Travis' team, the Houston Mudbugs, took first place! We enjoyed watching all nine games and cheering them on to victory! Of course, being away from housework and cooking had it's advantages too! You might be able to find info on www.hapdumontbaseball.com