Quick Trip :)

We went to stay with Granny Betty (Joshs grandma) at her time share on Canyon Lake in New Braunfels. On Monday we left the girls with Granny Betty and George and went to float the Guadalupe River. Apparently, it is much funner when the water is higher, so I was told. I was the only one who had not been tubing, unless you count the lazy river at Schlitterbaun. We had to paddle almost the whole way, but we still had a good time in the freezing cold water. The group of us that floated the river.

After we got back from the river the guys were a little tired...but Kenzie was ready to go. So Josh and I took Maddie and Kenzie to the pool.

This is Maddie at 11 oclock or so when she was talking in her sleep and she sat up for about 3 minutes before she finally laid back down. I was just laughing, because its cute to me. Josh felt sorry for her I guess, but its his fault because she got it from him, lol!

While we were there we checked out games and played putt putt for free, which was really cool. Then on our way home we went through Fredricksburg and did a little shopping. Josh bought me a really cool UT hat and Lacy bought Jaycee her first Christmas ornament at the Christmas store, which I LOVE! We also went into the handmade candle shop and watched her make some ghost candles, also very neat. I havnt been to Fredricksburg since we stopped there on our way to the state volleyball tournament my Freshman year. It has grown so much!! I could spend an entire weekend there looking through all the stores.

WOW!

The girls cruising in the back yard on Maddies gator. Watching the fireworks from the Pops Concert at the Rio Concho Manor parking lot with Granny Betty and George.
My festive 4th of July cake with homemade cream cheese icing!! yum!

With facebook as popular as it is now days, I feel like writing in a blog is sometimes repetitive, but I do still read everyone elses on a regular basis. So here is an update so I dont become a blog ghost!

Josh- got moved back to Central fire station when he got his promotion to driver so he has actually had some long nights at work here recently as opposed to working at the airport fire station where the runs were few and far between. We also went to Josh's 10 year reunion a few weeks ago and I met several more of his classmates and got to spend the day at Fort Chadbourne.

Marlayna- been spending the summer cleaning and somewhat packing stuff that I wont need in the next year. I will explain our moving status in a minute. I have also been babysitting my neice Jaycee when Josh is home to help. When Josh is at work, his mom watches Jaycee because frankly...she is pretty high maintance, lol. We went to the river with my best friend Mallory and had a nice relaxing couple of days just catching up and floating in the river. Today I had a staff development and the girls went with my friend Amy Richardson for the first time and they did really well. So it looks like she will be watching them on the days that Josh works this year. I planted some Target dollar bin tomatoe seeds several months ago as something fun to do with Maddie and now that has turned into 11 full grown tomatoe plants in my back yard. I am so excited!!!

Maddie- She is doing gymnastics this summer and absoultely loves it!! She is also finally swimming again with floaties (after YMCA swimming lessons, she lost all courage in the water). Lacy got an above ground pool and we have been over there quiet a bit and she is regaining her confidence more and more each time. She has also found a new foundness of Justin Beiber, and wants to hear Baby, Baby on repeat everywhere we go. This song among many others she can sing along with, which amazes me.

Kenzie- she is a ball of energy! She is also such a Happy Girl!! It is so hard to get on to her because she just smiles her supper cute smile and it takes everything I have to keep a straight and serious face! She has 4 teeth on top and bottom, but no canines, but 3 of her 4 molars have already broke through...In the past 6 months her weight hasnt changed and her hair hasnt grown much at all :/ She LOVES cows! We went to the ranch the other day and I have never laughed so hard...she kept whipping her head from side to side, pointing, and saying oooohhhh! and then shaking her hands with excitement!

As far as our moving plans go, you may think we are crazy, and until 2 weeks ago I would have agreed! We are going to buy a modular home (aka double wide) and put it in Bronte. We have been looking at houses in Bronte and although some have been acceptable, they have either been way over priced or just not big enough. So after Lacy and Dusty convinced us to go look in Abilene, I am now convinced that this is the way to go! They are built SOOOO much better than they used to be, and you can get so much more house for so much less! However, since Maddie wont start school for probobly 2 years, we are going to stay here for one more year while I am working in San Angelo and will buy a lot in Bronte and try to pay it off before next summer when it comes time to buy the house. This way I will not have to drive back and forth to work, and we can take our time packing and getting stuff fixed and updated before we sale this house.

There is so much more I could update on, but as usual this post is long enough...so until next time! Goodbye

The Answers!

Last week I posted the Q&A post, and here are the questions I was asked and the answers.

Chelsey asked: Where did you learn how to make such awesome cakes?!

My Aunt Robin (actually my mom's cousin, not really my Aunt...its a long story, but just know that I think of her as one of my Aunts and even lived with her for 6 months during my Freshman year). Well she made cakes for people in Wink and I was always facinated, so she told me how to make the icing and how to color it, and showed me the supplies I would need with a general explaination of how they work, and I have been making cakes since about 8th grade I think. So my basic knowledge came from my Aunt Robin and I have just taught myself the rest. And thank you for thinking they are Awesome!

Lindsey asked 2 questions :) 1)How did you and Josh meet?

Josh and I met in a Kinesiology class in college. Which I always say was meant to be for several reasons. 1st, he wasnt even a kinesilogy major, he just took the class as an elective because he knew people taking the class. 2nd, the first day the teacher told everyone to come to the front and assigned us seats so we didnt sit with people we knew, which in turn put him in my group. 3rd, there were 2 other people in our group...1 dropped out, and the other lived out of town and couldnt make it to our group project meetings, so that left Josh and I by ourselves. 4th, I found out his real name from my Uncle that was his coach in Bronte (everyone in college called him Kaleb because technically thats his first name, but all his friends and family called him by his middle name which is obviously Josh) So then we started talking about all the people we knew from Bronte and we were amazed how we had never met before. I always say that everything happens for a reason and I especially believed that after all the things that lined up for Josh and I meet each other.

2)If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I am torn between 3 places, but the 3 I would choose from would be Ireland, Germany, or Hawaii. Ireland because of its pure beauty and castles. Germany because Josh is very much German and I would like to go there to see if we could find anything out about his family heritage. Hawaii because I think it is absoultely beautiful as well, and I want to go to Pearl Harbor.

So there ya go! Thank you 2 for asking me questions!

Q&A's

I guess I am at a blogging slump lately and have just resorted to coping other bloggers ideas, lol. My friend Chelsea did this and I thought it turned out cute.So here it goes-
I feel like my blog has been boring lately, so I thought I would have a little Q & A session out there for all you fellow bloggers that would like to know me better! Feel free to ask any questions that you like and I'll do my best to answer them! Now, don't leave me hanging here! Ask whatever questions your little heart desires..serious, funny, embarrassing..I'll take them all! Can't wait to hear what you have to ask! :)

Like mother, like daughter?

After seeing Amy's post, I decided to post pictures to see how we compare...however, the youngest picture I have of Josh is when is was probobly 4 or 5. So this is the best I can do with him and Maddie for right now.

However, I do have a picture of me when I was 1 year old and a picture of Kenzie on her 1st birthday....a much better comparision, lol.

My Memaw made me this dress :)

Here is Maddie when she was 1. It's funny that my girls look very much alike, but that I see much more resemblance between Kenzie and I, than Maddie and I, when we were the same age. I will try to get a picture of Josh at the same age next time I am in Bronte.

Kenzie's 1 year post...

So she turned 1 on Feb. 17 which was 2 weeks ago and I am just now getting a chance to blog about it...sorry, the spring is pure craziness for any teacher. So here are her measurments

weight- 19 lbs 5 oz- 20%
height- 28.75"- 37%
head-17.5"


Her birthday party went really well. It was a tad bit windy, but we mananged. Her cake was the same style that I used for Maddie's 1st birthday. She had no interest in opening gifts, she just wanted to play with them. Maddie quickly took over the toys she found more appropriate for herself. (Such as a rolling backpack bag, from my always dependable bag lady, yes Shyanne, thats you! and her Jack in the box). It took several days for me to explain to Maddie that for now Kenzie doesnt mind sharing, but she needs to remember that those are KENZIES things, so that when Kenzie decides to take them back she doesnt get upset.

As far as her eating her first piece of cake...it went about the same way it did with Maddie...she touched the icing and tasted it and wasnt sure what to do, so it took her a long time to get going. Even though she didnt seem to be hungry, she squeeled when I tried to take her out of her high chair, so I guess she liked it, lol.

Kenzie waking up as a 1 year old.

"I just cant believe I'm 1!!"

Cake table

Sitting in her high chair waiting to get her first taste of cake.
After I finally took it away (30 minutes) This is what she had accomplished, lol.

Kenzie Layne is 1!

My darling baby girl turned 1 yesterday (bittersweet of course). Here birthday party is tomorrow and her 1 year checkup is next week as well. So I will update on that stuff on a later post.

• Kenzie has been walking like a champ for a month now...right after 11 months.
• She drinks about 4 6 oz. bottles a day and 3-4 jars of #3 foods. On top of that she thinks shes ready to eat everything that we do and wants a bite no matter what it is. If she doesn't get it, she throws a fit!
• She is a busy body- she loves to dance and climb on things.
• She gives kisses, waves bye-bye, gives high fives, and claps
• Lately the only thing she has been saying is "da da", but she says it for everything not necessarily referring to her Daddy. She occsionally says momma, but not very often.
• She is so facinated with Maddie, it is hilarious to me.
• She is also very demanding and will scream bloody murder if she doesnt get what she wants and can cry the biggest crocodile tears at the drop of a hat. (As sad as she looks, she will soon learn that it wont change my mind, lol)
• She has a very lively personality and will keep things interesting in our house for many years to come!

Happy Birthday Kenzie Layne, we love you so very much!

February!!

Well Feburary is off to a wonderful start! As much as I despise cold weather... I do love getting to stay home unexpectantly due to weather conditions. February is always the longest month of the year for a teacher (not one holiday, arg). So finding out that we had Tuesday off was awesome, and to find out we had a late start today was just a cherry on top!
February is a busy month, and I have lots of things to get done, so I am hoping that it flies by.
Here is my February schedule:
4th- Get together with Lacy for Dustys birthday
6th- Super Bowl Sunday (not sure what Im doing for this yet, but Im sure we will find something)
12th- my deadline for having Lacy's shower invitations in the mail
13th- Tina's babyshower
11-13th- All the men in my family will be in Junction on their man hunt. So the ladies will get together and do something, not sure yet what that will be.
14th- Valentines Day
15th- District walk-throughs at work
17th- Kenzie turns 1
19th- Kenzie's 1st birthday party at my Dads house.

During this time we have decided to also get our house cleaned, and more organized, and do some touch ups so that we could possibly put our house up for sale. We found a house in Bronte that I just love, and its a good price, but we have to sell our house first before we could get the loan. So as of now we are just packing up all the "stuff" that is just creating chaos in our house and taking it to the clinic in Bronte. (all the while hoping no one else buys the house in Bronte).

Ahhhh....my schedule for March is filling up just as quick, but I will save that for later, lol.

I love my life, my family, and the many things we are blessed with!

Christmas Breakdown

Yes, my posts lately have been few and far between and then they are probobly entirely to long to read....for this I apoligize. But for now I have to hit you with another long one to get all the details of Christmas and New Years down. So to start off the holidays we went to Clyde the Saturday after I got out from school. We went to my Memaws house that morning to have a little Christmas for the girls there. My mom bought them this super cool red wagon and they loved it! It even has an unfoldable backpack thats attached to the back that has storage on top and a cooler on the bottom. Genious! This is my sister Terra pulling them around my Memaw's yard, because I got worn out after 2 trips around the yard.
After we left Memaws, we drove to Baird to have Christmas with my dad's side of the family. We played dominoes as usual and did Chinese Christmas. Fun Fun! We stayed the night there and came home the next morning. I was to busy playing games and having fun to take any pictures, so I am counting on my family to send me some, lol.

Christmas Eve we went to Bronte to have Christmas with my mom's (Amy) family. We did Chinese christmas there as well. Then we drove home to get ready for Christmas morning. Maddie and I had already made sugar cookies for Santa so we put them out with some milk and got them into bed. We woke up at 6 Christmas morning and Maddie found that Santa left her a kitchen (not what she asked for, but still very excited). Kenzie also got a small kitchen from Santa. Then we packed up and headed to my dads for Christmas at their house. As soon as we finished there, we packed up again and headed to my Uncle Tobins house to have Christmas with the whole family and breakfast. (We had to be there by 9 o'clock). So needless to say that as much fun as we had, we were worn out fast, lol. Throughout all of these visits, I failed to get any pictures either :( We videoed the girls opening their presents at our house, but no pics.

We did Christmas with Joshs family the next Wednesday, and it turned into a two day party. We ended up staying the night so Josh could smoke a brisket for the family with his new smoker. We all had a good time. We even went across the street from Lacy's house to feed the geese. This was so memorable! We were feeding them as fast as I could get the bread out of the bag....well they were VICIOUS! I turned around at one point to see my mother-in-law holding a goose by its neck..At first I was thinking "What in the world is she doing?!" Then to find out that the thing had bit her and wouldnt let go..HAHAHAHA She even had a bruise on her leg from that darn goose. She was wearing jeans to! So needless to say when we were out of bread we took off running, lol.

Here are a few of the crazy geese attacking us for food. Jensen had to pick Maddie up so they wouldn't eat her.
Kenzie and I hanging outside at Lacy's.

Santa brought Maddie what she asked him for at Lacy's. She wanted a guitar, and stuck with that everytime someone asked her. So Dusty, I mean Santa, bought her a real minature acoustic guitar and also a toy electronic (very annoying) guitar. She put on a show for me, and sang Big Green Tractor....so funny! She also got a Gator from Santa, and this was a big hit too. Kenzie enjoyed it just as much as Maddie. This is Justing walking beside the Gator while Maddie presses the pedal and Kenzie tries not to fall out.

We went back to my Uncle Tobins for New Years Eve and had a great time playing games and watching the kids play. My cousin Tim has a daughter who is 3 weeks older than Kenzie so its fun to watch them play. My daughters are very alike in many ways and another to add to the list is thier interest in climbing stairs. Maddie loved to play on these stairs when she was little, and now Kenzie is doing the same thing. She crawled all the way to the top by herself. AH!

This is her looking down from above.

My girls and I the first few minutes of 2011! I cannot believe Kenzie stayed awake for it...barely apparently.

The 2 most important men in my life! My wonderful dad and husband. Here is to 2011!

This was actually a few weeks before Christmas, but I thought I would throw it in anyway. We went to the Tour of Lights with people I work with at school, and got to take a bus! One of my friends at work has a daughter that is about 6 months older than Maddie, and they are both very talkative which was funny. They both enjoyed the bus ride as well as the lights. It was a wonderful memory!

Josh and I sitting on the bus together, hehe. It made me feel like I was back in highschool :) Goodtimes!