Happy Birthday to me...

Yesterday was my birthday, I turned 35. My husband and children got me a fancy coffee maker for my birthday - it is exactly what I needed and wanted. My husband truly pays attention to the things I say, I give him a hard time sometimes but he is the BEST!!!
Tuesday night Cody watched the kids so I could go to my friend Lisa's house to eat and visit - a girls night out. When I got there she had gotten some other of my girl friends together and had a little surprise party. We ate pizza and played games. It was sooo much fun!!!! It really meant a lot to me. Wednesday, Cody, the kids and I went to Carino's for lunch. Cody had taken me out to El Chico's (my all time favorite mex restaurant) last Saturday since my birthday was Wednesday - church night. Then we went to Bassett furniture store - my uncle is one of the owners - to check out a sale they are having. We are going to get a new mattress - praise God, and I am praying that I will get the kids new beds to go w/their newly decorated rooms, whenever I get that painting done.
Anyway, it was a great day full of love and happiness and I got to spend it with my super-great husband and my beautiful children.
Praise God for His goodness!!

Normalcy?

What a hectic week. We haven't gotten back on our usual schedule since vacation because Shirley's (mother-in-law) younger brother was in town with his wife and kids so we visit with them every night, which is always fun but that meant staying up later than usual and not staying home and doing things I need to do - like unpack. Plus, my sister Juli got put in the hospital - she was having tightness in her chest and she was so swollen from her pregnancy. She went to the ER and was dx with CHF (her resp were 30's - they should be 60's). She is fine now and at home - they are now sayings she had post partum preeclampsia. She will go back for more test in a couple of wks. But like I told her - I have prayed for a complete recovery and she just needs to believe it with me. I also have some of the nicest friends. They are going to be taking some meals to her so that she doesn't have to worry about cooking for a couple of days. She of course felt like they didnt' need to do that. I told her that they were trying to bless her and she just needed to say thank you. It is hard for her to accept help. Some of it I think has do with when she was younger and a single mom she was given help and made to feel guilty for it. Now she NEVER asks for help from anyone. Please keep her in your prayers and thank you for your friendships. I am truly blessed. Praise Jesus for He is the Answer.

Vac & New Nephew pics

My sister Juli and baby Braun (3 days old). (Doesn't my sister look beautiful - she think she looks ugly.)Elizabeth eating spagetti.






Elizabeth, Holt, Thomas & Reid. These are our nephews from Cody's sister Erica.
Thomas eating spagetti. And my sister Juli's kids (before Braun) and Elizabeth & Thomas.

We're Back!!!

We left last Thursday and stayed in FW and went to the Zoo Friday. That helped so much since our trip was about all together 12 hrs long. When we got to the condos we were surprised to find them not as we thought they would be. They were a little dingy - esp my bathtub which looked like it had never been cleaned - but otherwise it was nice. Each family had their own room and bathroom, we also had a washer and dryer and kitchen, so we really had everything we needed. We left this Thursday and stayed in Arlington this time. We had a friend book us a room on line, let us just say it was in a VERY BAD neighborhood and I think the trains would have kept us up. So we spent a small fortune to stay at another hotel but we got a suite so we all - my family and my inlaws - had beds. We got home last night. It is funny how you never really rest on vacations.
Well, while we were gone my sister had her baby - Jake Brawn, they are going to call him Brawn. He was a 6lbs ? oz and was 21 in long. Praise God he does not have downs and is perfect. This is her 4th and final. I have to compliment my sister, she works 5 days a wk has to drive 20 miles into town everyday, comes home takes care of her kids, cleans, cooks and takes care of dogs, chickens and her family and never asks for help. She works very hard!! We are going to go see the new babe after lunch today.
Also, my step-father has been having chest pains and it moved into his left arm yesterday so he called his dr and they told him to go to the Heart Hospital and have it checked out. Turns out he had 99% blockage to his right coronary artery and have to have a stent put in - Prais God no heart damage.
I am so bad about taking pics that the only ones I got on vacation were of the kids eating spagetti.
I will post some later - the kids are calling me.

Dallas

By Wednesday Elizabeth was completely well and we went to our first and the last night of VBS for 2006. Both the kids had a great time. Thursday night we took the kids to stay with Cody's parents so they wouldn't have to get up early Friday. Friday we left with the Flemings for our 2nd annual road trip to see the Rangers and to visit with our dear friends. It was a blast. We always have a good time when the 4 of us get together. What was really funny is we got into the car and started discussing what we wanted for lunch. I asked if they liked Chinese and they said yes and if we had a place in mind. I said PF Chang's and they just looked at us funny because that was the place they wanted to eat. They had heard about it but had never eaten there. Anyway, it was awesome. The Rangers won so that was good. Saturday we woke up and went to the Grapevine mall and did a little shopping before heading home. By the way our hotel bed was awesome!!!!! It cuddled you!! We ate at Paposito's on our way out of town. When we got home we headed straight for the hotel for the last leg of the Dye family reunion. It is always a blast. We visit and play lots of games. Tomorrow (Monday) I need to do what I normally do...laundry and clean the house but this time it will also to get ready for our next road trip.
We decided driving straight to Sam Rayburn would be wayyyy to long, so we will be stopping in Ft Worth and staying with our cuz the Watkins, get up and go to the zoo and then finish the rest of the trip to SR. Cody is very excited to get some days off. He works so hard and not really appreciated for all the work he does. I just want him to be happy. I tell him that always. But we pray and trust the Lord for the wisdom to guide us through to where He wants us to be.
I am sure I will post more pics from our vacation.
I have to say that I am very sad. My friend Jennifer and her husband and son will be moving. I will miss them, but her especially because we are very close and we have a lot in common. She is a beautiful woman on the inside and out. I will miss her but hope to see her often. It's not goodbye it is see you soon!! xoxo