Hello!

Oh man, I am really behind! :( I have been telling myself for WEEKS to post some pics on here and to write a little tidbit here and there about what's been going on, but I STILL DON'T POST! :(
Well, here I am...
I need to write some things about Rachel first. She's the reason I started to blog anyhow, as a way to document her growing up. First, the last few days she's been helping me get breakfast ready (where's my baby?); she takes out the cereal from the bottom shelf, she gets a spoon for each of us and she asks me what else I need! ;) I was thinking, man, in a few more months or so, she's going to be self sufficient (for breakfast at least) and more things are coming fast! Where's my baby? I guess, I've been asking that out loud A LOT lately because she's been telling me, "Mommy, I miss me being little." "I want to be a baby again, GOO GOO GAGA." I tell her that I am just remembering when she was a baby, but I want her to still grow and be a big girl and to keep learning new things! ;) She's so sweet!
Second, she has just grown taller in these last few months. She still weighs about 30 lbs and is over 3 feet. I don't know the exact measurements right now, but I can see in her pants that she's growing (the are fitting like high-water pants)! ;) She can fit into many of her 24 mos and 2T clothes (of course they are a bit short) and 3T. She is also wearing 4T pants (the shorts are too big at the waist). She's so skinny!
Third, I've been schooling Rachel a little each day to get her ready for preschool. We're praying that she'll be able to attend Oak Hills Preschool next year. I know she will do well, but as a teacher, I am finding that I didn't do all that I wanted to do with her while I am home with her! I don't know if all mother go through this (especially former teachers) , but it's hard to teach your own child! I know that it's because I want to MAKE her do something and when she becomes lazy or doesn't want to comply, then I want to get after her. As a teacher, I saw how kids behave differently with their teacher rather than their mommy. I can see how it is the SAME way with Rachel and I! I know if I could home school, it would be different. But right now, she's still little and wants to see how "far" she can go before she really pushes my buttons. It's a mommy vs. child thing, I guess! I am not pushing her SO hard that she doesn't want to learn, but there are times that I want to MAKE her do things and she is just NOT! ;( Oh well, that goes with parenting. :) I love her to pieces!

Well, I had some pics from when my brother, Lee, visited in March... but they are uploaded to my laptop, and I am on our desktop right now. Maybe, I'll get those up soon! He came home to recover from her MOHS surgery done in VA to remove the cancer that had spread on his chest. He has about a 6-8 inch scar on his chest, but he's healing nicely. He (and the rest of us) were really shaken by the scare of CANCER, but GOD IS SO GOOD! HE has given us total peace throughout the whole process. We and many, many other people were praying for the cancer to be gone and GOD has answered that!!! Lee has totally seen that he needs to continue to be in a relationship with GOD ALMIGHTY. Lee's committed to doing that and WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO GOD FOR THAT!

Isaiah 53:5 (New King James Version) ⁵ But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

Anyhow, Lee's back home! :) He got home last week, Tuesday, and he'll be here for 19 days! :) YAY! He has recently gotten engaged to Jen! She just got back from deployment (both were deployed on the same boat- USS Roosevelt) about a week ago. Lee asked her to marry him that night that she returned and she said YES! :)
I'm so happy for both of them! They compliment each other very well! :)

CONGRATS LEE AND JEN!!!!!!
Battle of Flowers Parade 2009
Here's Rachel's first bus ride! :) She loved the "BIA" bus ride! ;)

Anxiously waiting for the parade to start! :)
Me, Rachel and Mom


The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band
Gig Em! Whoop!


Daddy and Rachel being silly- after the Aggie Band went by, Ben was ready to go! ;) J/K


Lee watching the parade with our cousin, Jonah and our uncle and aunt. :)

Picture break! :)

Ben's cousin, Danny, was in the El Rey Feo court... he finally saw us as he passed by! :)

I love this pic of my two loves! :)


My cousin, Matthew, was marching in the feature HS band, The O'Connor Panthers! :)
*Since they were the featured band, they were the last ones to march in the parade... by that time, I had gone to the potty and totally missed him! :( I was sad. Ben got a pic, though! ;)
**He's the one smiling holding the sax!


We had a GREAT time going to the parade this year with our family. Ben and I had not gone in a LONG while (maybe 5 years) and this was Rachel's first time, she LOVED IT! Especially the bus ride! :) We had a big group go together, my parents, Lee, my Aunt Lilia and Uncle Ashley, Uncle Robert and Aunt Gloria and their son, Jonah. We sat right in front of the USO where there was a bathroom and a nice cool, quiet place to sit for a bit. Since my Dad, Lee, Ashley, and Robert were all in the military we were able to use the facilities! :) woohoo!!!
It did rain a bit when we got there, but then the clouds just covered the sun and there was a nice breeze. It was great! It brought back great memories of when I was in the band marching in the parade. Ben too! He was really remembering when he was marching with the Aggie band! :) It was all around FUN!!!