Just Pics

I haven't been taking many pics b/c of my camera (it's opening on the top). I don't want to ruin it yet, so I'm being very careful, but I am not taking as many pics now! :( Well, here are some that I took last week and weekend. Daddy and Rachel being silly.

Rachel helping me put the dishes away. (We got her bangs cut later that day. They are super short. I'll have to upload a pic later today!)

Zoo pics added

Well, I've not been keeping up with my posting like I said I would. I get so excited about the pics that I take and tell myself that as soon as Rachel's napping, I am going to blog. It just hasn't been happening! Also, my camera is kind of breaking or coming apart at the top, so I don't take it out like I used too (I don't want to break it even further and not have a camera of my own).

We did go to the zoo on Sunday. What a beautiful day it was. :) I didn't want to waste that day at home in our little ol' apartment, so I dragged Ben out with Rachel. :) I really wanted to go to the Witte Museum to check out some stuff that we didn't get to see last time we went in august. We got there at 11 am, but it didn't open until noon. :( So we had a whole hour to wait, who has time to wait when it's GORGEOUS out. So I finally decided that I would NOT boycott the zoo, as I had been for a few years now!
That's a joke, but I just didn't want to go to the zoo for the following reasons:
1) As a 1st grade teacher, I went numerous times and had about enough of it.
2) I hate the HEAT so I didn't go with Ben and Rachel in the summer and fall (which is just as hot and humid).
3) I wanted it to be Ben & Rachel's "thing" to go to the zoo (kinda like a daddy/daughter date).
4) I don't like smelling the animal "smell". :(
5) I just don't really like the zoo (I found out why... my parents really don't like it either, or so they were telling me yesterday. I'm thinking that I got that "I don't wanna go to the zoo" attitude subliminally from my parents. ;)

But to tell you the truth.... I LOVED GOING WITH MY FAMILY!!! It was so nice to see that Rachel and Ben had a routine and Rachel remembered where to go for each thing! Daddy was so excited that I was there (awwwwww, I know, but mostly b/c he could take his camera with his HUGE lense and take pics that he couldn't take when he had Rachel w/ him). I had so much fun that we bought a family pass so we all could go together, but I could also take Rachel during the week when it's nice out (not hot)! ;)
Note: When we were driving to the zoo, Rachel heard us talking about going there instead of the museum and she said, "Zoo- Daddy and Rachel!" (Translated: "Hey, only daddy and Rachel go to the zoo!) ;) Ben made sure to change her idea on that! :) He told her that he wanted me to go with them and that it was okay! ;) I am glad that she has a place that she knows Daddy and Rachel go, that's just too sweet! (I'm a daddy's girl, so I love seeing that relationship grow under my own roof!) :)

Well, I'll post pics later.... I'm on my laptop again. :) God bless you!

R-A-C-H-E-L spells Rachel

We've been working on letters for about 6 months or so (she knows a handful of letters, but we're still working on the rest). Rachel was always interested in the alphabet. We had the regular magnet letters at first. For Christmas (not this last one, but the previous), Yaya bought her the cool magent letters that you can hear the name of the letter and the sound that it makes. It's perfect. Well, we've had the cooler one on the fridge forever, but just last week, I took out the old cheap magnet letters and she wanted to spell her name for us.... here is the pic of what she did with no help from us.... I was so impressed! (The C is backwards and the "L" is really a J, but I was so proud anyhow! ) ;)

Recap of last week....

Sorry it's been so long AGAIN! I was on a roll last week (well, Monday and Tuesday). I wanted to keep up-to-date with my blogging and do a little each day, but just wasn't able too! I've been keeping up w/ reading my favorite blogs, but I was using my laptop, so I couldn't upload my pics there! Excuses, excuses... I know!

Well, I'm going to start with Ben's B-day last Tuesday (1-8-08). He came home to mommy and Rachel waiting to go. My parent's watched her so we could go on a date! :) It was so nice! I know we should have made a family deal out of it, but it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO nice to go to a restaurant (Olive Garden) and NOT SCARF DOWN our food b/c the little 2 yr. old was getting antsy. You know what I'm talking about!!!

Ben and Rachel reading his cards together! :)
Daddy reading his cards more thoroughly! :)

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

I didn't bake him a cake that day b/c we were going out to eat. I did bake one on Thursday after I got back home from work. Here we are eating it! Rachel helped me to decorate it and was super excited to sing to him "Happy Birthday!" She's getting really good at singing the b-day song! :) It's cute!

Rachel had her OWN piece of cake (we've always shared and I usually fed it to her little pieces at at time and little or no icing, but not this time). :)

Cheese!!!

Daddy getting a piece of yummy cake. :)

Mommy getting in on the action! :)

More PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On Wednesday (1-9-08), we had a play date with an old friend from college and teaching profession, Jennifer. She and her son hosted the play date and also had a friend and her son come over too!
Here is Rachel playing w/ D. He has quite the play area full of FUN toys. Rachel wanted to take everything out! We had to do a little at a time! Rachel is 1.5 yrs older than her playmates, but she did very well. Both boys are precious and very sweet. I had a fun time chatting with the moms and just enjoying the kids. :) Both ladies are also pregnant, so I have so much admiration for them!
Afterwards, I had to go to the tax office to renew my license registration. The line was OUT THE DOOR, so I just decided to do the mail registration! But since I was in that area, I went to see my cousin Chrissy at work. We were also able to go to eat at TC! :) It was good! I am always happy to be around Chrissy. She just brightens my day and we can talk about ANYTHING!!!! I just love that about her! :)

Thursday (1-10-08), I had to work for the first time in 2 weeks. I missed the kids a lot! They were very good and I had a blast teaching them w/ Blue's Clues software.

On Friday (1-11-08), Rachel, Mom and I headed over to La Cantera so that I could exchange some things from Christmas. My sis and bro-in-law got Rachel this GORGEOUS gown (dress is just to plain to describe it). Well, it was her size, but too small. We decided to get a bigger size. They didn't have it, but were so nice and ordered it from Georgia to be shipped to my home (free of cost, of course)!(We just got the gown today, she's wearing now b/c she likes it so much! It fits just right; let's hope we can still use it in the summer time for her b-day!)
I was very impressed with the sales ladies and how sweet they were to Rachel and helpful to me! Rachel kept talking real fast and asking for something and one of the ladies figured that she was asking for a balloon. It was funny! They gave her a pink one! :) Too nice!
We also took her to Stride Rite to get some shoes (from the leftover money on her gift card from Yaya). They had some pretty ones in the clearance area (can't get myself to buy the ones that are regular price, just too expensive). We found some cute ones, but of course not the right size! Augh! Well, the sales lady, once again, was SO SWEET! She ordered the same shoe in the size we needed from Alabama! ;) I was just so impressed with how nice the sales people were there at La Cantera. It was a blessing from God to send people like that for me to interact with throughout the day!

Having fun on Friday afternoon... we decided to have a family dinner night when daddy came home. We were having some fun while waiting for daddy! :)

"You've gotta pucker your lipsssss like dis...."
"Here's looking at you mommy!""My mommy is silly! "
Nose-to-nose kissie! :)
We're super silly! It's funny how hyper I can get w/ this little girl! Her laugh is so contagious!! She's always asking for "more", fun, that is! :)

Finally Daddy's home!!! :)

We went to Peter Piper Pizza for dinner! It was a new experience for us , that was our 2nd time going with Rachel (the first time she was only a few months old). It reminded me of all the times I had gone when I was a kid with my parents and brother and also the many times we went with our cousins! FuN TiMeS!!! :)

Rachel and Kermie having a blast!


Choo.... Chooo!!!
(I was surprised she wasn't terrified. She's scared of most of the little rides at Chuck E. Cheese. Maybe she's outgrown that!)
We had so much fun and it was just a reminder to me of how fast Rachel is growing. She's no longer a little baby, now she's a little girl with so much personality! She is getting to be one who can do SO much on her own and I'm so proud of her! I'm also mourning the loss of "my baby" that I will miss so dearly, but have cherished the whole way!! Thank you Lord for these blessings! :)
I need to go, this post is taking forever, so I'll post again soon! :)

Playdate with Christi, Alexis and Anthony (12-27-07)

Over the Christmas break, Christi (an old friend and her kids: Alexis, and Anthony) met with Rachel and I at McDonald's for lunch. We wanted to catch up, since we usually only see each other 1-2 times a year. (We do keep in touch through our blogs, though, and email!) ;)

We had a blast hanging out, the girls always have fun together too! It was so nice to finally meet Anthony (the last time we saw them, Christi had about a month left in her pregnancy).

Here are Rachel and Alexis climbing in the tunnel. (I was so happy that the playplace was big enough to hold me!) ;)

Here are the too cuties! :) (They are only 5 months apart, Alexis will be 3 next month!)

Christi and Anthony! He has gorgeous blue eyes!

The girls hugging the bears.Resting after all their playing!

I am so glad that God has blessed me with a friend like Christi... eventhough, we don't get to talk or see each other on a daily basis, she is a great role model for me. Through reading her blog and keeping posted of her life, she has shown me how a godly woman should be. She is a wonderful wife, terrific mother, amazing daughter/sister, and fabulous friend (yes, I learn all of that through seeing her the few times I do and by reading her blog). I am amazed at how well she handles change and that just makes me want to be a better wife, mother, daughter/sister, and friend. Thanks Christi... I pray that we can get together soon.

Happy Birthday Baby!

Today is Ben's 31st birthday! ;) He is at work right now, but tonight we're going to dinner, while mom and dad watch Rachel for us! :) (These pics. were taken last year at his surprise 30th b-day party.)


It's been 13 yrs. of celebrating his b-day together. I still remember the first gift that I bought him...
we've been friends since 9th grade (1991) because we were in band together (both of us played in the percussion section). ;) Well, we'd been dating off and on as "friends" our senior year, so I decided for that year (1995), I was going to give him a b-day gift. :) I went to Target with my be-fri Kelly and picked out a wooden CD holder (I know, what kind of gift is that. I didn't know what else to get the guy that was my friend, yet, we'd been "kinda" dating.) So this was one that was somewhat thoughtful (because he LOVED music and had many Cd's) and also useful. :) I remember having the hardest time wrapping the sucker up. I (or should I say mom) had some shiny blue wrapping paper and I added a green bow (I think). It was tough not getting a puncture in the paper once it was wrapped. Well, I had this gift for him and didn't want to lug it(it was quite big) to school and give it to him in front of everyone b/c they may think something was going on and I didn't want the questions and all that (I was very shy about having a bf). So, I did the next best thing and waited until after school when we both had to work at good 'ol Bill Miller BBQ. ;) (Did I ever mention that we both worked together after school too??? I think that GOD really wanted us to be together!) Anyhow, I think that it was during a break we had, but I told him to go out to his car so I could give him his gift to put away. I was a bit embarrassed once the moment came b/c I am supposed to be cool and collected and confident about this gift and I WASN'T AT ALL BY THAT TIME! He was very grateful and gave me the sweetest hug ever (no not kiss b/c we were still at that awkward "just friends" stage moving onto "more than just friends"; plus I was way to prude for that). ;)

Anyhow, that was a nice trip down memory lane for me... just thought I'd share the first b-day we celebrated together. ;) I'm so glad that I got to share it with the best man in my life on this earth. :) He's been such a tremendous friend, husband, and father. God has truly blessed me with him . HE knew that I needed him to be my other half during my life on this earth. God is so good. Thank you, FATHER, for giving me Ben. :)

Happy 31st Birthday Baby!

JOY

Here is part of the devotional that I received via email this morning. It's too great to not pass on...

A Foundation of Joy

By Zoë Elmore

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." James 1:2 (NIV)

It can be difficult to face our trials with the kind of spirit that sees great value in disaster, but that's what the Lord expects from us if we are to be women who walk on their foundation of joy. Here is a poem that reflects this attitude so well. While the author is unknown, the poet obviously knows the formula for the foundation of joy.

It's sometimes very difficult
for us to understand
the wisdom and the love behind
the things that God has planned.

But we wouldn't have the rainbow
If we didn't have the rain;
We wouldn't know the pleasure
If we never tasted pain.

We wouldn't love the sunrise
If we hadn't felt the night;
And we wouldn't know our weakness
If we hadn't sensed God's might.

We couldn't have the springtime
or the yellow daffodil
if we hadn't experienced
the winter's frosty chill.

And though the brilliant sunshine
is something God has made.
He knew too much could parch our souls
so He created shade.

So God's given us a balance:
Enough joys to keep us glad,
Enough tears to keep us humble,
Enough good to balance bad.

And if you'll trust in Him you'll see
Though yesterday brought sorrow,
The clouds will part and dawn will bring
A happier tomorrow.

Dear Lord, You are good and everything You bring into my life is for my good and Your glory. I thank You for burning away my mistakes and providing an opportunity to start anew each day, just as Your mercies are new each morning. Help me to see beyond the rubble and to You for the lessons necessary to grow my faith. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Recap of Christmas Day 2007

After we went to my parent's house for lunch (leftovers from Christmas Eve). We headed over to visit Ben's dad. Here he is with Rachel. :)

He gave us a family gift card! :) Woohoo! Rachel wanted to see what was in it! :)


We then went home so Rachel could take a nap and we could finish some things. When she woke up, we headed over to Ben's mom's house. :) We ate some good brisket, ham, and turkey with buttermilk biscuits. Yummy! We then opened MANY, MANY gifts!
In this pic, Rachel is opening her first toy... it is a Barbie w/ her horse. :) She loves horses... I've since put it away for a later time (it's too much for her right now). She did, though, take it out the other day from her closet and was playing with it again! ;)
I don't know what she was doing in this pic, but she's making some face... it looks too much like one of my faces! ;) Poor Ben, we're always giving him this face, I think!
Opening more presents! She got many, many, many outfits, socks, and bows. She always received a twin set of dolls that interact with you and talk to each other. Also, she got a stroller with a backpack carrier for her dolls and she got a bag of little accessories for her dolls, and she got an Aqua doodle (where she can write on- I've since put that one up too, just so she won't be too overwhelmed w/ ALL her toys). She just LOVES her baby dolls and is always feeding them and "warming up" their milk. ;) I do that for her each morning, so she does too! ;)
We had a fun time with our family. :)

Here is a pic of Uncle JJ and Aunt Heather. JJ is showing off the BEAUTIFUL dress that they gave to Rachel for Christmas! :) It's adorable! I can't wait to put it on her! :)Grandma and Grandpa gave us a sweet card (one for Rachel and one for Ben and I). Here, Rachel is reading the card to Muffin (their dog). ;) She is going to be a teacher, I think! ;) Look how intently Muffin is listening... she's such a good pupil. :)

Recap of Christmas Eve 2007

For Christmas Eve, we went to Oak Hills @ 5pm for the Christmas Eve service. We then went to my parent's house to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We had good food, fellowship with family, singing by the fire, and of course presents. :) Here are some pics when we were opening gifts.

Grandma was helping Rachel open her gifts (a few cute outfits for the spring/summer). :)
One of her BIG gifts from Papa and Lala was a tricycle. :) Here she is trying it out!
Another big gift from Papa and Lala was this American Idol microphone/karaoke machine! ;) She was serenading us all! :) (See the pads that they got her for the tricycle?) ;)
Me.... I thought that I was recording Rachel getting her tricycle, but I realized that it was on PAUSE the WHOLE time!!! Augh! My parent's were a little ticked to say the least! (It was their video camera.) Me feeling super embarrassed that I did that (Ben caught me).

Ben took pics of me opening my gifts from my parents. :) I was happy that I got a pretty backpack purse. Mine was getting a bit old. :) I didn't get a pic of Ben opening his gifts because we opened our gifts at the same time! :(



Update: Here is a pic on Christmas Day opening the gift that we had gotten him. :) It arrived on Christmas Eve, but mom held on to it so she could wrap it for me. :) He was happy! :) I am too, now, because I found this pic! :)