Bluebonnets, Blue Bell, A Movie & A Marker Fight...

Amazing how much you can do in so little time. Seems like I did so much this weekend for only 2 days. Friday I ran some much needed errands and hit the gym. I usually only do cardio when I go cause there is usually some what a lot of people when I go after work but on Friday I went at 10:00 a.m. so there was hardly anyone so I was brave and did weights. I felt really good after my work out. I went home & showered up and did some laundry and then went to pick Jacob up early from school so we could go to the library. Before Ike happened Jacob & I used to go to the library just about every other week. He loves, loves, loves books so it's our little "our" time. Ike happened and the library closed until last week so we were very excited to go. We read a couple of books there and then he ended up checking out 14 books!! So we then stopped and picked up a couple of groceries and some hot dogs and burgers so Ruben could grill them for us for dinner. We got home and Ruben started the pit while Jacob and I read ALL his books over and over again. We ate, hung out, and then it was off to bed (we were waking up early in the morning).

I love bluebonnets. I think they are so beautiful. I have been telling my mom for some time that I really wanted to take some pictures of Jacob in some bluebonnet patches. Not just a patch with a couple of bluebonnets but fields with tons of them. She mentioned there were some going towards Brenham...so we decided to make a day of it and go out that way. We left around 9:00 a.m. and it took a little over an hour to get there...not bad at all. We saw little ones here and there and then just driving down the highway you see cars & cars stopped at these beautiful bluebonnets fields. It was amazing. It was very windy so we were scared Jacob or Madelyn would get sick but we were there so we had to see what happened. We had them both wear white so the bluebonnet color could stand out. We had a lot of fun...there were so many of them, it really was beautiful. & Jacob had a great time running through the fields.

We also stopped at the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham. They didn't offer weekend tours so we went into the shop they had and sat down and had some ice cream...boy was it good!!! We had fun sitting there eating our ice cream! We even got old time hats that they used to wear in the ice cream shops a long time ago.

We got back home around 5:00 p.m. and we were pretty exhausted. We made dinner and Jacob went to bed and Ruben and I stayed up and watched Role Models. Sunday rolled around and it was pretty much a lazy day. Ruben and Jacob played as I finished the laundry and by that time it was lunch time again. We ate and Jacob took a nap & Ruben started working on his homework again. When Jacob woke up from his nap I decided he & I would go to the movies since he has been wanting to Monsters Vs. Aliens so we got ready and headed to the 4:00 p.m. showing. We had fun...the movie was really cute & funny...Jacob loved it. We got home had dinner and Ruben & Jacob started playing again. Things got a little out of control and they started looking for things by dumping out ALL of the toys bins. I couldn't believe the mess!! So then they start throwing this ball at each other and then think its funny to throw it at me. I don't think so...it was War!! They had dumped out the bin that has all the coloring books and markers so I grabbed the black marker and went behind Ruben and drew a big line down his back (he didn't have a shirt on). So Jacob and I are laughing and Ruben grabs the blue marker and starts chasing me. So we are all laughing and running from each other trying to mark on each other when we get the chance...acting like a bunch of kids. I get Ruben all on his arms, he gets me on my arms and face and Jacob has marks on his hands and legs. Jacob went after Ruben but we noticed there was no mark...he had grabbed a Color Wonder marker (the ones that only write on certain paper) so we were laughing about that. A few minutes later we were covered in marker marks and decided to call a truce. It was certainly time for a bath. I scrubbed and scrubbed to get the marks off Jacob but you can still tell where they were. I still have a faint mark on my face...haha. Ruben and I had fun acting like little kids with Jacob. We did so much this weekend but most importantly we spent it all with Jacob. We love him to much!! I can't wait until next weekend...we will be going on our mini vacation to Grapevine, TX to ride the Thomas train...Jacob is so so excited!!

Time Fly's When Your Having Fun

So my niece's big day came & went but it sure was a day to remember. I still can't believe Madelyn is 1 years old...I guess the saying is right..."Time fly's when your having fun!" Friday we had our family come in from out of town and Saturday was the BIG day. The weather was perfect and every thing turned out great. Madelyn rang in her 1st birthday with tons of family and friends. We played games, ate, and hit the pinata. I thank God the weather was so nice...I don't know what my sister would have done. I had a great time taking pictures for my sister. I probably took a thousand pictures of the cake alone...it was amazing. They did a really good job making it how my sister & I told them to...everyone loved it...I was scared of it. I had to hold it from the bakery to my moms with my sisters crazy driving! Scary!! But we got it there in 1 piece. I hope Madelyn looks back at the pictures from her special day and see all the hard work that went into her party and all the people who love her & spent her special day with her. Here are a couple:

T-Ball & Almost Party Time!!

Today is Thursday & Thursdays to us means....T-Ball!!! Today will be Jacob Ryan's 2nd T-Ball practice. Last week they had to practice in the gym because the weather was too yucky for them to be outside. So hopefully today they will be able to actually play on the field! Fingers crossed!! He loved T-Ball last week and he has been talking about it ever since. He did really well at practice. He caught the ball, and swung really well at all his turns at the stand...Ruben & I were very proud of him. I probably would have broke my heart if he didn't like it but thank the good Lord he did. I took my regular digital camera & took so many pictures but being that it was in the gym the lighting wasn't always that good and of course my camera was dying and kept messing up. This time I am taking my professional camera!! I don't care what anyone thinks...Jacob is my 1 and only and I want to have great pictures to remember for ever!! Ruben thinks it's silly how many pictures I take but when he sees them he realizes that they are important. & besides he spent a lot of money on my camera so I better use it every chance I get. Here are a couple of pictures of Jacob playing T-Ball last week. So on Saturday, March 21 my niece, Madelyn Grace, will turn 1 years old!! I can't believe it!! Time has flown so fast since God brought our family that precious gift. She has filled my heart with so much love and joy...shes my Grassy!! It's also really neat that her 1st birthday party will actually get to be on her actual birthday. Her party theme is going to be Strawberry Shortcake because that was my sister's first birthday party theme so we thought it would be neat if they were the same. My sister isn't into characters and such so her party will be mostly reds, pinks, greens, and whites with accents of Strawberry Shortcake. It should be a day of fun!! We will have moonwalks, fun games for kids & adults (that should be the funniest), and food from Juanito's (our family loves Juanito's) and strawberry's you can dip in a chocolate fountain...all kind of stuff...it should be a lot of fun...I am so excited...I can't wait!! I also can't wait until she opens her present from me...I worked really hard on it & had it made early just in case...it came in much earlier than I had thought so I have it just sitting there trying not to look at it every day and by accident mess it up. I made her a photo book of her first year. It came out really nice I am so proud of it. Its a big 12X12 book with like 30 or so pages with pictures from my sister being pregnant, when she was first born, every holiday, and in the back I wrote a letter to her. I wanted to get her something that she would be able to keep forever if she wanted to...I figured she would gets lots of clothes and toys but this is something my sister could put away for her & look back at it when she is older. I would like to make her one for every year of her life so hopefully I will continue to do that. Here are a couple of pictures I took in her birthday outfits:Madelyn in her birthday dress.

Madelyn in her birthday onesie & tutu that I made her. She looks so cute!!

What Child Is This??

Oh that Jacob Ryan....what a night he gave us!! It first started on Sunday night...we got home from my moms house and we picked up some dinner on the way home. We all ate & then Jacob wanted Ruben to shower him. So while he took him a shower I got his clothes ready for school the next day. We all got ready for bed & Jacob decides he wants to stay up and play...I don't think so...bed time is 8-8:30 for him. So he's not listening, laughing when we are trying to talk to him...just out of control!! I could not believe it!! Ruben starts to grow upset because he has to wake up at 4:30 a.m. and he is ready for bed. Jacob is streaming to watch t.v. and I had enough. We threaten him with not being able to play t-ball this week (which usually works when he starts to act up) but this time he didn't care. We then told him he was grounded from watching any t.v. for a few days which made him madder. Finally about 10:00 he gave up and passed out. The next morning he said he was sorry for how he acted and promised to be a good boy. Since he was good that morning I told him that when I picked him up from school we would go to the book fair and get the books he had picked out.

After work yesterday I worked out and then went to pick him up and we looked through all the books in the book fair. He picked out 2 books about baseball, 1 Clifford the Big Red Dog book, and 1 Cars book. So we went home and read his new books and had dinner and then went outside and practiced some t-ball. We came inside showered, played hide and go seek inside and tried to get ready for bed. Ruben let him watch Dragon Tales and Thomas on Sprout and then he said it was going to be time for bed. (Ruben has spring break from school this week which is why we were both putting him to bed instead of me just doing it...Ruben usually isn't home until after Jacob has already gone to bed...he gets out of school at 10) When they were over we turned the t.v. off and the fits started again!! I couldn't believe he was going to try to pull this stunt again!! So we let him cry until he figured out we weren't going to play his game. He didn't want to sleep in his room and he yelled and cried so I laid with him until he fell asleep...again around 10:00. I went back to our room and crashed. He woke up again later in the night so I went to lay with him & we both crashed out. I woke up around 4:00 a.m. and went back to our room until the alarm went off at 4:30...Ruben was so tired we didn't wake back up until 5:30 a.m. I think Jacob is acting this way to test what he can get away with but it can get to be so stressful. When he is with me alone he is lovey dovey with me, acts right but then when his Daddy is there he acts like any typical boy, which is fine but sometimes he gets out of line. Ruben doesn't like to discipline very much because he has work & school all week and doesn't get to spend as much time with him so when he does get to spend time with us he doesn't want to waste it punishing Jacob. I know he is a little boy and boys like to play rough and be loud but night time is not the time for all of that. He gets everything plus more and I think he needs to learn that he doesn't call the shots...we do. We can't let him get away with everything any more or he will only act out more. During the week we usually have a pretty solid routine down & I think its trowing him off that Ruben is home & of course he just wants to play with his Daddy. At school he is always good...I don't think he has ever gotten into trouble at school so I give him lots of credit for that. I hope tonight goes better!! Just need to vent a little!!

Just A Quick Recap

On Friday (the 13th) we celebrated my Mommy's birthday & it was so much fun. We all met at my Mom & Dad's so we could give my Mom her birthday present (a new Coach wallet she was wanting) and surprise her with a cake. We then went out for dinner & what a circus that was. Ruben thankfully called ahead to put our name on the list so we didn't have to wait that long. We had a fun time talking & laughing at Jacob & Madelyn of course. After dinner we went back to my Mom's for some cake!! I think she had a great birthday.

Saturday we didn't do anything but lounge around all day just the 3 of us which was nice. The weather was yucky but it made for some nice movie watching time.

Sunday I ran some errands with my sister & Mom to get some last minute things for Madelyn's 1st birthday party on Saturday. We went home and made the candy bags and filled her pinata. I can't wait until her party it should be so much fun!! My sister on the other hand is not taking it too well...she wants her to be a baby forever.

This week sure will be busy!! I have a lot to do before this weekend and Jacob has t-ball practice again on Thursday & we have family from out of town coming in on Friday...I can't wait! & then the BIG day will be on Saturday...please pray for NO rain...I honestly don't know what my sister would do if it rained...I think she would have a heart attack!! Jacob also has a book fair this week at school so we will probably shop for some books when I pick him up today...he already has some picked out that he pointed out this morning...he LOVES books!!

On March 31 my Sister will be having surgery...although surgery scares me I know this is a life changing time for my Sister & I am SO SO happy for her. So I ask you to please pray things go well during my Sister's surgery!!

With This Ring I Thee Wed

So today is my sister's and brother in laws 3rd anniversary so I wanted to dedicate a blog to them. Happy Anniversary to two of the greatest people I know...I love you both and thank God you are in my life. I couldn't be luckier than to have an amazing sister & brother in law. May God bless you on your anniversary and all the MANY MANY more to come!

(Some pictures from their wedding - March 11, 2006)

Happy 3rd Anniversary Elisa & Gilbert!

Scary Day...

Monday morning started out like any other day...the alarm went off at 4:00 a.m. & there I am trying to wake Ruben up but it was a no go...lets just say we both didn't wake up till about 5:30 a.m. (the time change took its toll on us) so Ruben gets dressed & off to work. I got up showered, watched the news & was doing my make up when I heard a car door close in the drive way...it freaked me out. With all the crazy things going on I am really paranoid it's not even funny! So I go to grab my phone from my purse & was headed to Jacob's room so we could hide...I seriously thought it was a robber. This sense of fear just came over me, my legs felt like they melted, my hands were shaking & tears were just rolling from my eyes...I hear banging at the back door & jiggling the door knob...I didn't know what to do...I was about to dial 911 when the door opened & there comes Ruben saying "Hey I brought do-nuts" so cheerful! I start crying like none other screaming at him for scaring me. I couldn't believe he would scare me like that...of course he didn't mean to & he felt really bad. I was honestly one of the scariest moments of my life!! So he came home from work cause his back had been bothering him since Sunday & they didn't want him getting hurt at work. So Jacob woke up & I got him dressed for Rodeo day at school & off we went. On the way I heard on the radio there was a loose gunman in Pearland...are you kidding me!! After what I just felt this morning!! So I called Ruben to watch the news and find out more. I dropped Jacob off at school & I went to work. Ruben called me & said he was going to pick up Jacob cause he didn't think it was safe since they couldn't find him. So he picked him up & I left work cause I just so uneasy about it. So we all spent the days together which was nice! What a crazy day!!

On Saturday Ruben, I, Jacob, my mom, sister, Madelyn, and Rubens mom & dad went out to Denny's...my favorite and then headed out to the Rodeo Carnival. It was so much fun!! Jacob loved all the rides & even rode the mechanical bull...it was the cutest thing. I of course had to have a funnel cake before we left. We all had a great day & Jacob had a blast!!

Well that's all for now...we are going to go outside & practice Jacob's t-ball...he starts on Thursday...yey!!

25 Bet You Didn't Know...

I saw someone else do this & thought it was pretty cool. Choose 25 random facts about yourself you think know one really knows about you. Seems pretty easy...but 25 is a big number so here it goes...
1. Ryan is my all time favorite name...When we named Jacob Ryan I wanted a J name like mine & a R name like Ruben's but Jacob went first only because I wanted the J name first since I was the one that was going to be in labor with him so I thought I should have the right to have my first letter first...haha...& if he were to have been a girl I would have named him Ryan Morgan. I never had a girl name picked out (I think I always knew he would be a boy).

2. I named my niece Madelyn Grace for some weird reasons my sister isn't too pleased with but she loved the name so much she agreed:
Madelyn - In 5th grade I was in LOVE with Hanson!! They had a song called "Madeline" and I always loved it so there was her 1st name. We decided to spell it Madelyn because my sister didn't wasn't people to think her name was pronounced Mada - line.
Grace - Any one who knows me knows how much I LOVE ELVIS!! So since my family would have not part in naming her Elvis Presley I snuck one in...I thought of Grace from GRACELAND...where Elvis lived. Haha!!

3. My biggest pet peeve is when I am standing in line & someone behind me stands really close behind me so then I move up & they feel the need to move up as well. I can't stand for people to be in my space...I need room!

4. My all time favorite movie is called Pure Country. It was made in like 1994 & George Strait stars in it. I know every word, every song & could watch it every day & never get tired of it...EVER! "Now go on, get your ass out of here"...a line from the movie...you have to watch it...its the best movie ever!

5. I took Kindergarten twice! My mom lied about my birthday to get me into Mt. Carmel when I was 4. Can you believe that...my mom lied to a Catholic school...haha! So my family still teases me about having 2 birthdays cause growing up I didn't know which one was my real one. My real birthday is September 21 & my fake birthday was August 21...my mom makes me a birthday dinner on my fake birthday every year.

6. I am constantly planning something. I hate not being prepared & if I am not in control I freak out. I start planning Jacob's birthday parties like 4 months in advance & would it be too much if I already know what I want him to be for Halloween this year...can't tell its a secret! I plan & plan...it's what I do.

7. I have lived in Pearland my WHOLE life & couldn't imagine living any where else.

8. I work at a Presbyterian Church but I am Catholic. It's nice to see others people perspectives on things though...I thank God every day for giving me my job.

9. I don't hold my pencil/pen the correct way. I have a hard time helping Jacob with his writing because I could never learn the right way to hold it. Everyone tried and tried to help me but I just couldn't do it.

10. I bite my nails. Always have & probably always will...I can't help it. I get fake nails & I just rip them off.

11. My sister & brother in law have been married almost 3 years now & I sometimes still pull up the wedding speech I wrote for their wedding & read it...it was seriously a master piece...everyone in that hall was crying or teared up. I worked really hard on it!

12. My sister & I used to be on a bowling league when we were little...it was so much fun! I love to bowl...we still have our balls & take them when we go bowling now...geeky I know but it's better than using other balls who knows who used.

13. Orange Skittles are my favorite!

14. I gave up Chocolate for Lent this year...so good so far...until my mom reminded me it has only be 1 week...uhhh so long to go.

15. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I could eat a turkey everyday I love it so much!

16. During the summers when my sister & I were younger we used to stay home by ourselves so for lunch we would always make chicken nuggets, corn, & Lipton noodles or rice & have candle light lunches. (that's all we knew how to make so we ate it almost everyday)

17. When I die I would like the following 3 songs played at my funeral: 1. Time of Your Life - Green Day, 2. With You In Your Dreams - Hanson, 3. I Can Only Imagine - Mercy Me
A weird variety I know.

18. Although I had Jacob Ryan at a young age, 4 months away from turning 20, I truly feel God gave him to Ruben & I for a purpose...I don't know where either one of us would be without him.

19. I can't swallow pills...it is the most terrifying thing to me. It takes me a bottle of water to swallow my little b.c. pill everyday & I still struggle with it.

20. I have a terrible memory...I can tell you what I wore the first day of school for every year but ask me what I did last week & I have to sit & think about it.

21. I get distracted very easily....ask Ruben he knows...he hates how long it takes me to get ready cause I start talking or start watching t.v....I can't help it.

22. Katrina & I have been best friends since the 6th grade...so that's...12 or so years (I love you Katrina)

23. Club soda with lemon and salt is probably my favorite thing to drink...the sour the better!

24. To Jacob I am the best singer in the world!

25. I am a BIG Astros fan!! Jacob's room is Astros, his birthday party was Astros last year...I just love to watch them play. Minute Maid park is my favorite place to be. My dream for Jacob would be to one day play for the Astros so I could sit behind home plate & watch him play every game. I of course want him to do whatever makes him happy but hey...I can dream right!

Wow that was actually kinda hard...but there you go!