A different View

The boys...upside down. I think they look so different, especially Harrison. Jackson on the other hand needs a haircut. I am a fan of the long hair on boys, but his is just so straight (as you can tell). I wish it had some curl to it. I am fighting a sore throat and feeling bad. Ugh. Went to book club tonight. Our next book is "Memory Keepers Daughter." If you'd like to read it and then we can talk about it - I'd love that. It should be a good book. But who has time to read? I guess I will make the time. I could read right now, it is 3:00 am, I just fed the baby and I am drinking hot tea so I don't keep coughing. Shaun has already left the room to sleep in with Jackson because I am coughing so much. Oh, and Jackson has another ear infection. Welcome back to school - Lots of new germs for us to come in contact with. What fun!

Oh Brother...

The boys today. This is my attempt at catching a moment between brothers. At this point pictures of them are still really tough. Either only one is smiling or I am worried about Jackson crushing his brother. Harrison is 4 months and one week and Jackson is 3 1/2. I hope everyone had a great weekend.

In the end, things work out okay.

My mom and I were looking for some old paper work. She said, "I have your old school bag in my garage." I didn't even know what she was talking about. But when I found this bag it instantly brought back memories. This is what I carried to school in 7th grade. I guess back packs weren't in at that time. This bag is a world traveler. I mean that. I had this bag when we lived in Turkey, it then moved to Germany, San Antonio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Amarillo, Albuquerque and now it is home. Wow!

So, inside I found this old report card. OUCH! The teacher comments kind of sting. "Very talkative," "Capable of much more," " Very loud and talkative." I mean, really? I talked too much? Do I still talk too much??? The grades were kind of pitiful too. Yet, this is helpful. I mean at the time, my parents could have been pretty concerned. But they always knew I'd be okay. I'd like to tell those teachers, I went on to get a Master's degree and I am in the profession of listening to others, but they probably wouldn't believe me.

I just got a e-mail from Jackson's teacher recently. She said, "Jackson is so full of life and enthusiastic." Is this pre-school teacher lingo for "out of control, wild and doesn't listen?" Hopefully not and if so, I guess it can still all work out okay.

P.S. Jackson asked me about this bag. And I told him, "It is momma's bag from when she was a girl." He said, "Momma, you so funny, you still a girl!"

Karate

Many of you heard about my great idea to get Jackson to do Karate this summer. Well, Shaun loves it and really tries to go at least twice a week. Jackson is not really sure if he wants to go. When he gets there he does fine, but getting the karate clothes on him can be a challenge. Tonight he said he did not want to go because, "I don't know how to learn." Hopefully, dad and the teacher will help him feel more confident tonight.

Family Historian

A mom has so many roles. I could list them here for fun, but it wouldn't really be that fun to go through them all. Family historian is on the list. On our small vacation to Port Aransas this summer, I encouraged my husband to take some candid shots of me with the boys so that I'd have more pictures of us together.

This is the shot he took (without me having to ask).

So, look close Jackson, this is you and mama at the beach!!

Have a fun weekend and don't forget to have that camera close by...

Gruene Days

At least once a month we love to go to Gruene Texas. It is our way of spending some quality family time together and kind of getting away from the big city. Jackson loves to eat outside at the Gristmill - he gets to eat tons of crackers, fries and see the water...what fun! The other thing he loves to do is be the first to spot the water tower of Gruene. The cute thing is that he calls it a Water Mountain.

Harrison on his first trip to Gruene. He is getting so big. Let me know if any of you who read this blog want to meet us out there some afternoon. The weather is getting better and better for this kind of fun...they also have a country Santa, Kris Kringle, at Christmas. Jackson and his daddy always have to wear their matching Gruene Hall t-shirts. Just wait till you see Harrison in his matching t-shirt too!

The Hook Up

It all started with us. Nancy and I met in High School 18 years ago. Whew, who would have thought a friendship would last so long. So, after high school she and her boyfriend Jason worked at the Ingram Park Olive Garden. One night we (Nan and I) went to sit in Jason's section for dinner. Shaun (who worked there too) then came over to our table to visit and really never left. The story goes that after Nan and I left, Shaun gave Jason some sort of hand signal that meant "Hook Me Up."

The rest is history, I fell in love with a man who smelled like a bread stick. Now, Jason and Nan have been together for over 17 years and Shaun and I together for 16. Wow.

So, our dear friends came to visit yesterday from Los Angeles. They brought over their cute nephew, Aiden, and we all went down memory lane.

The boys had tons of fun driving around the neighborhood.

Look both ways boys!

Notice Aiden's face, I think this is before Jackson drove them into a curb.

On purpose, of course.

We just all had to hook up again that night for some adult fun. We went to my favorite place, Paesano's for dinner. Luckily Jason has a long term food memory and can never forget about Shrimp Paesano. He has to have it on each trip to San Antonio. We laughed the whole night.

Merry Christmas! (inside joke)

We have been friends through so much. I think History is what makes us all get along so well. And the fact that you don't have to cringe when your spouse tells a story (okay, I still cringe) because they expect those stories and it is why we all get along.

I want these two to move back to Texas. If anyone needs a great attorney or a Electrical and Computer Engineer, let me know - these two are just for you.

I just had to put in this last picture. Sorry Jason, it is one of those pictures that will forever make us four laugh but if you tried to tell someone else the story, they just wouldn't get it.

This was one of those nights that makes you walk to your car, grab your spouse's hand, think of the good ol' days and smile. Thanks Nan and Jason, because of you, we went home with our face hurting from the laughter. We miss you.