Better

Well, I think the funk has lifted and I can finally function. That or the meds kicked in. Wish that comment was a funny one but I had to call my Dr. and I just said "help me". lol I was going crazy those first few days.

Friends have been fabulous - offering help and such. I asked Steve last night if I was dying. haha because everyone has been so great.

But, I've finally stopped being so mad at God, so that's progress I'm guessing. :)

Tonight we have game night with our small group from church. Lots of great pictures to follow!

Trying

Ok, I suck at blogging because everyone who reads my blog is now on facebook and I post my life on facebook. But, I'm writing tonight to express my feelings at the moment. This I guess is for me to look back on and hope things feel differently when the meds kick in. lol

So, I was leaving a Doctor appt on Friday and I get a call from my dermatologist. I knew it was bad news because if it was good news it would be the nurse or a letter in the mail. I'm no dummy. She starts off by stating the one under my arm (this was the one I was concerned with because I know melanoma spreads through the lymph nodes and I know there are lymph nodes under the arm) is totally benign. Ok....now, go on. The one on the foot though....one side has atypical nevis (which is what most of my suspicious moles come back as) and then goes on a long story about several pathologists have looked at it and confirmed that that side has melanoma. Then she goes on to say I have the best kind of melanoma to have - Yippee Skippee I think. :( Hey - you have the best type of skin cancer/melanoma to have - what great news!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She then follows it up by saying the scheduling department would call me Monday or Tuesday to schedule surgery. Um, hello - I'm a very Type A and I can't wait Saturday, Sunday, Monday and then Tuesday to find out when its going to happen.

So, all Friday I'm in shock - Steve took me shopping and I got a couple of super cute tops. We rented some movies but um, Inglorious Bastards and subtitles and the brutality of it it sent me upstairs to watch The Office DVD reruns. I stayed in shock and felt nothing Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Well, I guess I felt something - lazyness. I wanted to crawl under the covers and just waste the day away. I'm sure I was a real pleasure to be around....

I stayed away from google until Tuesday - by the end of my search - I was convinced it had grown into my bone on my foot. See - type A crazy.

My surgery isn't scheduled until February 24 - apparently my surgeon only does surgeries on Wednesday. I wanted to say - hey, schedule me with a surgeon on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. But, I really have to pray that God has led this surgeon to work on me. I need to turn to him but I'm turning away because honestly I'm mad. I'm kinda more than mad - I'm pissed. I don't want these genes passed on to my kids. I don't want to have to go every 3 months for visits to see if I have questionable moles.

I have two of the sweetest friends I met at church - Merran and Carli. We fight constantly over who is each others BFF but I won the status last night. I guess getting cancer trumps good qualities. lmbo They came over (as a surprise) and got in touch with Steve and found out all of my favorite things and brought them...Coke Zero, Dorito's, reeces cups, twix bars, twizzlers and snickers. Um - can you say sugar high. We talked - just girl talk for 4 hours. It was the best. I love them to pieces. We get together every Thursday and I love it.

But, onto today after I slept until 9:40 (Steve got Bella ready for school and Ava played with My Little Ponies right next to me). I woke up today and realized - I have cancer. Yes, its skin cancer - the wimpy kind of cancer - but I have CANCER. It's really messed with my mind today. I'm being the worst mother, worst wife because I'm just consumed in this massive pity party for myself.

Psychologically - I really KNOW I will be fine. But, my type A mind wonders and thinks this cancer on my foot is growing by the minute why can't they understand this and take it out now....oh, yeah - I have the good kind of cancer.

I know I need to turn to God and seek him - but honestly - I'm mad at him. Why our family, why me? My uncle has stage 4 lung cancer, and prostate cancer - isn't that enough - now, there is poor me. I hate being the victim. I'm so opposed to being a victim but I don't have the fight in me yet - where are you fight? I need you.

Deep post huh? I don't know where it is coming from - just the words are coming from my fingers.

I guess I've expressed where I am - pissed and depressed. And it sucks! It sucks big time. I want to snap out of it and go back to being little miss perfect. I like her better than broken down, leaning and requiring help from other people. I'm more use to Miss Perfect.

Christmas 2009

The pictures are all out of order because I'm annoyed the Colts just threw away a perfect season and I'm pouting. lol

I was a bad Mommy and didn't take pictures of every gift - they had too many and the video camera was on so ....yeah - I was lazy. lol

Descriptions Under Pictures:

What? We gave Mommy a decent annual pajama photo after only 10 pictures and no one cried?

Too cute for words!

Kris and I at the movies on Christmas Eve. We took the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks.

I had wrapped box, in wrapped box, in wrapped box over and over for their final presents (Bella a iPod Touch and Ava a new bike. Here they are working on Isabella's gift.

She thought she had went to all that trouble for a pair of shoes! lol

Finally!

Ava on her bike. I wrapped the little bag that goes on front and the water bottle and then had the bike hid in my trunk for about 3 weeks.

Ava working on her last present.

Activity Center

Voice operated password journal.

Ava with her Dora twin brother and sister.

Isabella with Wizards of Waverly Place Hair stuff.

Ava with her Barbie bath.

Ava HATES and hates is putting it mildly for anyone to brush her hair so I thought this might encourage her to not fight it so much. Tinker Belle hair cair.

Wizards of Waverly Place magic spell wand.

Littlest Pet Shop

Ava with a new petshop. We only have about 200 already....

The girls checking out their gift from Santa - 2 short haired hamsters. Yes, I have lost my mind. They named them Ferb (Isabella) and Chumpy (Ava - that is her nickname Isabella gave her as a baby).

Ohhh, clothes - yeah! lol But, Isabella is always giving me the peace sign when I take her picture.

Ava playing dress up at our friends house on Christmas day.

The girls had a great Christmas this year and got way too much stuff as usual but I did good and bought them stuff they would *hopefully* play with vs just buying stuff to open.

Slacker

I will post pictures of Christmas - I've had bronchitis and pneumonia for a week now and still feel yucky. I have a good excuse this time...not just laziness.

Funeral

Ava and I are heading down south to Mitchell to be with my BFF whose Grandmother died unexpectedly on Saturday. My heart breaks for Stephaney. Her Grandmother was like a mother to her and Steph adored her and her Grandma taught her so much. Please pray for their family during this time.

Steve will remain home with Isabella and get her off to school Monday and be home with her all Monday night. Tuesday he doesn't work until late morning so he'll be able to get her ready on on the bus. I don't know the arrangements for visitation or the funeral yet so I'm not sure if I'll be home in time to take Bella to piano this week or we just miss or I ask someone else to fill in taking/picking her up. My head can't think that far ahead yet. Will know more today.

I have to come back Tuesday late afternoon/ early evening because Isabella has a music program and art show at school at 7:00 pm..

My mind is mush....but all will be ok. This will be the first time in almost 8 years of Isabella's life Steve has had complete responsibility for her. He's never had either kid for 24 hours alone. Too bad its not Ava he's stuck with. I'd like for him to enjoy some of my crazy. lol

I stand corrected

We were present at a "dairy farm" not a milk farm.

I can't help I'm a city girl......hahahhahha

The Farm

I'm a city girl these days - have been for about 20 years. Grew up in small, rural town - no stop lights when I was even growing up. I'm use to the convenience of having several choices in grocery stores within a couple miles of my house. I'm use to not having to go to WalMart (I despise the place), I like having 2 different Targets I get to chose to frequent, I like I'm 15 minutes from 3 major malls. But....I love driving out to a small little town my mom grew up in (can't even get ATT cell service there). I love bringing my girls from the fast paced life we lead here with the hustle and bustle of being on the go with church, the gym, friends, music lessons, school - the list goes on and on.

We use to only visit this side of the family twice a year. Every Memorial Day we'd go to visit and then we'd all meet in Knoxville at one of my aunt and uncles. For years after I graduated high school I didn't go. I was too cool for all that mess. No cable TV, no internet, playing corn hole outside - the list goes on and on. I'm so thankful - I *am* cool enough to appreciate family now.

In April we found out my Uncle - the pillar of our family - was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. He is a good, God fearing man. A great leader, loyal to his family, friends, faithful husband, great uncle. Just the best guy around. This diagnosis shook the family the pieces. We couldn't stop thinking about it. We decided to start getting together once a month to visit. The entire family (aunts and uncles) meet once a month and eat and play cards for about 48 hours. Its the best time - seriously.

I love my aunts to pieces - during my struggle with all my miscarriages - my aunts embraced me, wrapped their arms around me, studied scripture with me and helped me understand what was going on. Had I been still too cool for them - I would have missed out on it.

I'm sure Steve has a hard time believing that when I visit in Lawshe - I love serving the men of my family. Lightening would strike me immediately if I ever served Steve a meal poor guy. Sorry Steve!!!

So, on our most recent visit (the day after Thanksgiving while all you other nuts were up at the crack of dawn getting those fabulous deals) - the girls and I were with family. We met up with my aunts and uncles and had dinner then went to a farm. A real farm. I guess its a cow farm or a milk farm. I don't know proper terms. The cows could sense I wasn't a big fan of theirs and they snorted and snotted to let me know they got my vibe. After watching them get milked we went into the barn next door and got to see some baby calfs.

Now, I could have done without this part because my hair sucked in and sealed the smell of all the cow poop in the barn. No one else got to experience this part - but me. I took one for the team that night!!!

So, here are pictures of my fearless city girl Ava meeting some new friends.

Thanksgiving 2009

Annual torture of taking picture on Thanksgiving morning. ---no making fun of Ava's outfit - she's a high fashion girl.
This was what Ava ate the entire meal - almost 2 1/2 hours at Maggiano's some of the best food around and she ate bread - the entire meal. She didn't complain so I can't complain I guess.

Family photos..

Next post will be of our trip over to Lawshe, Ohio visiting my uncle.

Who Knew?

Who knew you could have almost daily/weekly struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome 11 years after an attack and how it can change you.

I went back to my Psych Nurse Practictioner and she got out her little handy dandy notebook and read word for word to me. I was glad to have an answer for how I was feeling but down right pissed off no one bothered to address it before. Some of the comments were isolation - I stay isolated or like to stay isolated. Unwillingness to accept love - that one took a long time to break through with but I still have the comments I make of feeling i'm not worthy of the love from the people around me. She said that even when Steve works nights it triggers it. Nice - huh? Being married to a chef who works nights - but Im on the right med so I should be gold to go.

End of story - she tweaked meds just a bit. Will start weaning in 6 months after the holidays of a med that my family Dr. put me on that probably isn't doing anything but she's pleased with how things are going!

Open Book

Anyone who knows me knows I am an open book. I don't hide or censor my feelings or thoughts (even though there are times I should) and I pretty much lay it all out there about whats going on with me.

I saw a Psychiatric Nurse Practioner about 2 1/2 weeks ago and when I say my life has done an 180 - I really mean it. There are many reasons for why I went, many reasons for why I waited so long to go.

Growing up, I never struggled with depression. Never really struggled with anxiety - yeah, I would get nervous when I had a test in school but nothing life debilatating. I had both girls and never experienced post partum depression. Anxiety kicked up a notch after being a mom but that was to be expected, especially with my type A personality.

During my pregnancy with Ava I had severe back pain. After I delivered her it only got worse. I spent a good year working with Dr's trying anything and everything - trigger point pain injections, steriod epidurals, accupunture, pain patches, pain meds, exercise, traction, tens unit - the list goes on and on. During this time my pain management doctor told me I had "Little Miss Perfect Syndrome" and I should possibly consider going on some medicine to help me cope. It took me about 6 months before I was willing to give it a try.

I was depressed dealing with the back issues for over 3 years but I wasn't really what I considered depressed - I was more "frustrated". My anxiety level dealing with 2 small kids 24/7 thrown on top of my Little Miss Perfect Syndrome sent my anxiety into a tailspin.

Moved to Indianapolis and Dr's still kept treating my symptoms as me being depressed. Now, I was getting depressed after hearing them tell me I was depressed. I would see the drug commercials with the check off boxes to see if you were depressed and I would only answer yes to about a 1/10th of them. But - hey, they are the Dr's - they say I'm depressed - I must be depressed. No one was addressing my anxiety.

A few months ago - in an Oprah kinda light bulb moment - I realized I wasn't really living. I was barely surviving. I was getting up each morning doing just what I had to do to "survive". I actually dreaded going to bed at night because I knew I had to wake up the next morning and do it all over again. I found no joy in anything I did and I was overwhelmed so easily. I felt so sorry for Steve and my girls that they had to live with someone like this. I know I couldn't have been a fun person. I remember driving home from the library one night and told Steve I think I should go and see a Psychiatrist because I was getting tired of our family Dr. just throwing new meds that some rep was probably giving him a trip to win if he prescribed x amount of prescriptions. I had a med for depression, a med for anxiety, a med to help me sleep - the list could go on and on - and guess what - my life still sucked!

I have shed many tears with dear girlfriends discussing my struggle. I have the absolute perfect life. I have a faithful, loyal husband. I have 2 beautiful, smart, funny healthy girls. I live in a gorgeous house, I drive a great car, I am able to be a stay at home mom - forever. Heck, I don't even have to cook most nights. But - I still hated my life. I knew I needed help.

So, I humbled myself and called a "stress center" and made an appointment with a Licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practioner with lots of initials behind her name. lol She spent 2 1/2 hours discussing different scenarios with me and seeing how I responded, she asked me countless questions and she LISTENED. She was so frustrated with my family Dr. for not picking up on my signs and following what she felt was the typical "oh she's a young mom and is depressed" scenario. After talking with her she told me that my problem was my anxiety and it was ruling and controlling my life. I was controlling and handling it with excessive - obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Plus, the anxiety was so overwhelming to me I was almost paralyzed. I couldn't do hardly anything around the house without it totally stressing me out. Now, no one really enjoys cleaning toilets and dusting - but the thought that I needed and had to do it, again, sent my mind into overdrive and would keep me up for hours upon hours.

11 years ago I was brutally attacked outside my apartment complex in Raleigh. After 2 1/2 hours with this new NP she made it clear this is where it all started. It all made sense - even Steve couldn't believe we missed it. Since the attack happened I have a horrible time in crowds. I break out in cold sweats, get head aches, get dizzy - and quite frankly even a little bitchy. Any plans during the week or anything that throws a kink into my schedule of "no schedule" gets me worked up for days. She switched a lot of the meds I was taking (had me to discontinue them) - and prescribed a new med specifically for anxiety. The last 7 days - once the meds have had time to really start working - I feel like a completely different person. Steve notices it and probably appreciates it the most. Poor guy - what he had to suffer through. As he was walking out the door to the gym tonight I told him - for the first time in a long time I could actually say I felt happy.

So, bottom line in my open book post - if you are struggling - humble yourself to find the right medical professional that will listen to you and address what you are going through.

Thankful

I shouldn't have jinxed myself. A few posts back I was gloating about Isabella being thankful for such sweet, non-material things. I guess that Thankful list was just a warm up for the long essay she had to turn in that came home today. I will quote her "I am most thankful for...."

• Jesus, God, (ok giving major props that these are the first two on her list), my two cats and candy. My mom (I'm behind candy and the cats now???), Dad, Ava and my friends. I am thankful for my turtle and fish. And acorns. (hmmm - acorns - really?) I love banana pie and blueberry bubble gum. My family and video games and Texas. (this must make her Dad majorly proud). I love dogs. And nachos. (again, another proud Dad moment). I am glad to have the sun too. I love doughnuts and smores. And Sponge Bob (Mother of the year is coming my way - I can feel it in my bones). I like Halloween. I love animals. I am thankful for fruit roll up. I am happy for bumble bees (she must have smoked some crack before this because she is deathly afraid of bees). And hot air balloons. And my birthday. I love my teacher.

Nerd Alert!! Nerd Alert!!

Most parents fight constantly with their children to do their homework. Not us. Isabella is the type that does her homework on the bus during the 20 minute ride home. Thank goodness she is beautiful and popular or else this kid could be majorly isolated and made fun of! LOL

So Much Fun!!!

Steve and I had so much fun at the Colts game today. Great seats - for free!!! And we hooked up with Dan and Kris at halftime. And - the Colts won!!! Yeah!!!

Steve, me, Dan and Kris at halftime.

My BFF Kris and I.

Steve and I - me forcing him once again to take a picture with me.

Week in Review

It was a great week! Steve was on vacation all week and while we didn't really do anything major it was great to have him hanging here at the house. It was also a great treat for me to be able to run errands and go to the gym without Ava in tow.

Yesterday I took the girls down to my moms for the weekend. I dropped them off, ate lunch and hopped back in the car and headed home. A vendor of Steve's gave him tickets to the Colts game on Sunday - so the girls spend the weekend with Grammy and Pa and Steve and I get lots of dates. Mom and Terry are going to bring them home on Sunday.

Last night we went out and grabbed a pizza and beer then did a little shopping. I have a slight obsession with Christmas ornaments. I just can't stop buying them. A few years ago we ditched all the ball type ornaments and have a "family" christmas tree. Steve loves (I think) my memory as we pull out the ornaments each year. I can remember who gave it to us, when or why they gave it to us, where we were when we bought it, what year we bought it and so on. Each ornament on the tree has a personal meaning to us and I just love it!!

Also, each year when we get together when my moms side of the family we do an ornament exchange. The idea is to buy an ornament that represents you or that we can be reminded of the person each year when we hang it. I love having those memories each year and an ornament from some of the most important people in my life! Plus - as a family we all buy an ornament that kinda represents us this year. I collect tea cups and saucers as well as porcelin tea pots. This year I found a tea cup and saucer ornament so I got that, I got Isabella a piano since she started piano this year, Steves is a cowboy santa with a guitar and Ava's is a frog - because she is all about frogs!! I also got Isabella a turtle one to wrap and open on Christmas because she got her turtle this year. We also buy ornaments that are personalized with their names - my mom started this tradition. And one final tradition we do is buy a picture frame ornament with the year and put our family picture in it. Its fun to see how we've changed each year as a family.

Isabella brouht home a "I am Thankful" project the other day. She had to write what she was thankful for and draw a picture. She wrote " I am thankful for my Mom (yeah, I was first!!! lol), Dad, sister, my fish, my cats and turlte. And God." The picture is of all the the above - although I literally spit my coffee out when I looked at the picture closer because she drew really big boobs on my person. lol Then she drew clouds and an angel and God in the sky. Gosh, I love this kid to pieces!!! Stuff like this just warms my heart and makes me think I'm not that sucky of a parent. She gets what is important to her and didn't draw superficial things. When we were talking about the picture she said she felt bad that she wrote God last because he was the who "started it all and made us all and he should have been listed first".

She is really reading her bible and wanted to grasp and believe. I know some churches and people really push for kids to get baptized young but I think it is so important for her to make the decision on her own with full and complete understanding of the sacrifice Christ made for us. She's really close.

Halloween 2009

A little late but here are some pictures from Halloween!

Steve and I have a big weeekend - so I'll be posting pictures Sunday night or Monday for sure!

Religion and Politics - uh oh!!

This is a first for me I think. I usually keep the blog pretty main stream about my family but I've just been in such a spiritual funk lately and so frustrated, annoyed and kinda fed up with so much of it all.

So, the topic that is brewing for todays post is God and Prayer in schools and Homosexual persecution. How's that for some hot topics? lol

I guess what started the whole thought process (while sweating it out on the stairmaster today at the gym) - I was looking at Facebook and saw banners/posts about Keeping God in schools. Ten years ago I would have been plastering it all over the place and argued until I was blue in the face as to why God and prayer should be kept in schools. But, as I mature I look at it differently. What if the banners were "Keep Allah in our schools", "Keep Buddah in schools"...as Christians - we would be FURIOUS since we/I do not believe my God is the Muslim Allah or Buddah or any other God. I guess I feel like to other Christians I am such a Rebel for feeling this way and even more admitting it.

Do I believe prayer should be allowed in school? Absolutely - and it is. Children and students and teachers pray daily in school. But, do I believe in organized teacher, student led prayer? No, I don't. What if your child's teacher is Jewish and they were telling our children when they prayed in Jesus name they were not praying to our Saviour and Messiah? Would we not be outraged???

I just feel that Christians who are so passionate about these things take a step back and see it from the other side. If you feel passionately about having prayer and God in your childrens classroom and curriculum then I would suggest private christian schooling or homeschooling.

Now, onto the next topic. Why are Christians and churches so darn judgmental? Especially to Homosexuals? Why does organized religion and Christians chose to exclude and down right degrade others when they talk about it? Fighting and banning gay marriages? Why this issue? Why the passion behind this issue. Yes I am all familiar with Matthew 19:5 that says "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh". But the bible also says - "Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed be kept pure for GOD will judge the adulter and all sexually immoral".

But yet - I have belonged to churches with pastors who have been divorced, elders who have been divorced, leaders in the church with known admitted affairs, pastors and leaders who were not virgins and pure when they were married (that were also christians at the time of marriage). Where is the outcry of this? I guess these are accepted "politically correct" 'sins' to commit.

Maybe I'm more passionate about it because I'm closely related to this subject because of my sister who is a homosexual. She's probably cursing me and wanting to knock me out for talking about this. lol The persecution and down right nastiness she's had to experience and endure is not fair - and this is including persecution she received from her own family - me included. Most of the persecution and abandonment is from the church and "christians".

How often does the bible speak about worry and the sin it is in our lives. But, I sure don't see churches not allowing admitted worriers to join the congregation. Or telling those who worry they will burn in hell. Christianity is a PERSONAL relationship with Christ. I don't know what anyone else's personal relationship is with God - and it doesn't involve me. I, along with anyone else, do not have a right to be so down right judgmental when it comes to those who are not like us.

God is so compassionate, loving and full of grace to us - to us who do NOT deserve it. When can we start showing the same compassion for our fellow mankind? I will end my rant with these words - spoken by Jesus himself - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22: 37-39.

Next!

Ava was the next to get the fever and cough. Life has been tiresome the last week in the Garza household.

I know we are prayed over and prayed for. Thank you all.

On the mend

Isabella is doing quite well and I would say she has recovered. We are still going to keep her out of school an extra day. We had planned to send her back today (I think it was today I'm so confused from lack of sleep) but she spiked a fever yesterday afternoon so that ended that idea. Plus, while talking to her teacher she said that every single kid that returned to school that was diagnosed with h1n1 went home the same day they returned because fever returned. So, I would rather keep her out a day so to make sure the other kiddos in the class and school remain healthy.

This morning Ava was acting run down and sick - I took her temperature several times and it came up normal. I made them breakfast and during the course of that Ava wound up throwing up. Not a great way to start the day. After a bath she took a nap and seems to be totally fine.

Fingers crossed tomorrow is an easy day for me.

H1N1

Isabella tested positive today for the H1N1 flu virus (swine flu). Thankfully, I was able to get her in to a local Pediatrician in the town next to where my mom lives. She was able to be started on Tamiflu within 14 hours of the first time her fever and cough hit.

She is doing pretty well - as long as I keep on schedule with the motrin, tylenol and tamiflu she remains comfortable. Otherwise if I'm even 30 minutes late on any of the meds she gets miserable pretty fast.

Isabella has asthma and the virus has been hitting kids with asthma harder than others so that is really where my concern lies. Praying for a speedy recovery for her, protection for me, Ava, Steve and also my mom and Step dad since we were staying with them when her symptoms first arrived.

Famous

This is a scanned copy of a mailer being mailed out from Maggiano's corporate offices. When Steve brought a copy of it home and showed it to us - Isabella said "I'm lucky, my Dad is famous!" lol

This is the outside page...
opens up to a picture of Steve. He looks like someone said something really funny. :)

and the bottom portion of the inside of the advertisement has the following at the bottom with a business card to peel and bring in.

Ramblings

This blog post is going to be about tons of different topics - all over the place.

This morning as I was getting my coffee mug out of the cabinet (my favorite coffee mug by the way. A huge, huge mug Steve got for me on a business trip in Chicago) slipped out of my hands, shattered and then knocked over a large glass that was on the counter. Both shattered and the heavy pieces of ceramic from the coffee cup as well as the shattered glass fell on my foot and sliced it open. I knew immediately it had to have cut me because the pain was pretty intense. The girls of course started freaking out when they saw the blood. I kept thinking to myself all of this before a cup of coffee - probably going to be a bad day. lol Isabella kept pleading with me to sit down and put a band aid on my cut (she is a huge worry wart). I finally got the glass all cleaned up and thrown away and bandaged up my foot. I had to use 3 bandaids because the cut is so long. Its fine now as long as I don't walk on it - when I walk on it it pulls the cut apart because of the location. But, all is well now.

Then, shortly after I go to call Steve on my iPhone and it isn't working properly. The only way you can hear is if you put it on speaker phone. Also, they can't hear me unless its on speaker phone. I called and have an appointment at the Apple store for 6:40. Since its less than 30 days old the rep told me they would probably just give me a new one. I am going to be quite upset if all the new apps I bought don't transfer over. I spent $20 of applications the past couple of days. My neighbor Jenny gave me $20 in iTunes gift cards a couple weeks ago.

The girls went Halloween costume shopping last night. They didn't like what the Party City type of stores had so we ordered some they saw online that they liked. Ava is going to be a devil - how appropriate and Isabella is going to be a ninja. What the heck is a ninja?? And a girl ninja?? Oh, well - she's never been mainstream with her halloween costumes anyway. lol

Steve and our new neighbor Shane as well as Mark and Amy went in together and had all of our yards airated (I don't know how to spell that) and then Steve went and got grass seed and seeded all 3 of the yards. Hopefully its not too cold for the new grass to grow. One thing we don't ever argue about money wise is with the money spent on the yard and flowers. I love having a nice yard and nice flower beds and working each day making it look nice.

Two posts in one week - am I back to the old, long winded, almost daily posting Alisha???? We'll have to wait and see.

Fabulous Family Filled Weekend

Warning - there are many, many, many pictures of me in this post. lol I was determined to get pictures of me with all of my aunts and uncles as well as take pictures of the weekend. Half of the time I bring my camera with me but feel embarassed walking around snapping pictures and even when I do that - I'm never in the pictures because I'm the one snapping. After looking at the quality of these photos it makes me really, really want a D-SLR. But, that will probably wait until the yearly managing partner bonus in June. I can wait until then.

What is kinda sad about these visits to Ohio is growing up we would visit as a family twice a year. Every Memorial Day and also at Christmas. After I moved away to North Carolina I didn't go back at Memorial Weekend or the Christmas gatherings. When I was pregnant with Ava I decided to go with my mom for the Christmas get together. Everyone meets at my Uncle Dale and Debbies house in Knoxville, Tennesse and we spend the weekend together. We eat and play cards the entire time. After that Christmas visit I decided to head back and see everyone over Memorial Day - it was even more fun than Christmas time. Since then I have went every memorial day/New Years weekend and spent the weekend with family. Then since we found out my uncle Dave has lung cancer the family has got together every month since May and will continue to do so as long as he is sick. I will take a miraculous healing and gladly give up the monthly visits if it means my uncle is around on this earth for a long and healthy life.

I love my aunts and uncles to pieces but what makes me love them all the more is how they treat my girls. They love them like their own grandchildren. They play with them, hold them, read with them, feed them, buy them things - they just are wonderful with my girls and I'm so, so thankful I've made the effort the past 5 years to spend time with them again and really get to know them better.

Ok, enough sap - onto the pictures. Descriptions under the pictures...

Isabella and Max. We stay at my moms best friends house when we visit. She has a beautiful golden retriever named Max. He is the sweetest dog around and my girls adore him. He slept with Isabella every night. Head on her chest all night long.

Here is Max cuddling up with Ava. He is such a loveable dog.

Isabella and Mommy

C.J. (my cousins son), Tonja (my cousin), Delaney (my cousins daughter) and my aunt Barb.

My sweet, sweet niece Dialycia and me.

Me and my uncle Eddie. If you have ever watched the movie Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase and you remember the Eddie in the movie - well, my uncle Eddie resembles him quite a bit. He is the ultimate dumpster diver, yard sale shopper and auction bidder around. The last two visits he has brought my girls toys and gifts. They are quickly learning Eddie is one of their favorite people. lol Eddie wants to go on the Amazing Race with me. I'm kinda scared of that scenario - I think his patience with me would run thin - but it would be an adventure I am sure.

My mom and I.

My uncle Dale and Ava. When I was a little girl - I think around 18 months old I would stand in my uncles hand and he would walk around holding me up with me standing in his hands. I snapped a quick picture of Ava doing it. I want to scan the picture of me and post these pictures side by side. This is a great memory seeing this picture.

Here is Eddie delivering the "goods" to Ava. You know what she was the happiest about??? This diaper bag they give away to new moms in the hospital with formula samples in them. She kept saying to everyone "I can't believe he gave me the bag too!". It was cute.

Me and my sweet girls. Ava doesn't look to excited to have her picture taken with me. :)

Self portrait of Ava and I. ( I warned you all there were tons of pictures of me in this post. lol)

My uncle Dale and Aunt Debbie.

It was my Uncle Dave's birthday and Ava was right by his side the entire time. I love this picture of the two of them.

This is my Uncle Merlin (my moms fraternal twin brother) and my aunt Mary.

Dave and Barb and I. This shirt is NOT flattering on me at all. lol

Playing cards Sunday before heading home.

Blogging Break

I took a blogging break for a week or so. A week or so ago Isabella's asthma flared up and poor thing was miserable. She went on prednisone to calm things down and it did the trick but wow, was she ever a grouchy bear while on prednisone. The last couple of days the temperature dropped about 20 degrees and she's back in full asthma attack mode. This is the normal time of year weather that triggers it. The school nurse called today for me to bring Isabella her inhaler because she was having trouble breathing. Poor thing is going to have to stay inside from recess until it warms up a bit.

Then, last Monday Ava spiked a high fever and horrid cough so off to the doctor again for her. We never really got a hard core diagnosis - just some antibiotics to take if she didn't get better. She ran a fever all week long and was finally fever free Saturday.

The girls and I went back to my hometown for the big Persimmon Festival. It's a great weekend and tons of people who have moved away come in town for it. We had a great time visiting with old friends and family but I'm too old to stay out and up late several nights in a row and add to the lack of sleep some cocktails here and there and I feel so sluggish. It's always hard coming "off" of festival weekend because it is such a good time that the drive home is always filled with feelings of being homesick for all my old friends. Whats worse - I didn't take one picture the entire weekend. Darn it!!

Just as I get things unpacked and laundry washed and put away the girls and I will be packing up to head out of town again. We are going over to Ohio to visit with my aunt and uncle again and celebrate his birthday. All my aunts and uncles are coming in so it will be a good visit. I will take pictures this visit I promise!

Traditions

Today as I was pulling out the Halloween and Fall decorations I enjoyed looking at all the halloweens of the past. Each year I buy a halloween themed picture frame (usually from Target for $5 - yeah!!!) and put a picture of the girls dressed up in their costumes. So, I have a total 4 Halloween ones so far and each year I just put them out when the fall decorations are up and then they are stored until next year.

I do the same thing with Christmas pajama's. I have pictures each year of the girls wearing matching Christmas/Holiday pj's in a Christmas themed picture frame. The matching pj's will be stopping soon because I can't find too many options now that Isabella is older. But - they will still be Christmasy or winter themed. And like the Halloween pictures frames, I only display the PJ pictures during the holiday season.

I love having traditions and wish I did more. I do always buy a Nutcracker each Christmas as well as a new ornament from each place we vacation. I'm thinking next year for St. Patricks day I'm going to serve green foods all day.

I love being a mom (even though I complain about it often) and I want to create fun memories for the kids. Anyone have any other traditions they do - doesn't just have to be Christmas traditions?

Labor Day - Part 2 Long & Picture OVERLOAD

I had originally planned to post these pictures the day after the fishing post but got sidetracked as you can see.

We spent all Saturday over at my aunt and uncles - Dave and Barbs house. I felt like a country girl this day. All the women did was cook, set the table, serve lunch, eat, clean up. Sit for 5 minutes, pick lima beans from the garden, shell lima beans, cook/prep more food, set table, serve dinner, clean up dinner and dishes. I was wore out from hanging in the kitchen the entire day but it was great fellowship with my mom and my aunts, the kids had a ball playing outside and with all the old school Little People sets and it was nice to prepare meals for my uncles who were working so darn hard the entire day.

It is hard to describe the feelings I had when I would look outside or stand on the deck and listen to the men working. My uncle Dave is the 2nd to oldest and his baby brothers - ok, so maybe they aren't *babies* but *younger brothers* all came up (1 lives in Knoxville, 1 in Champaign, IL and another in Columbus, OH) to help my uncle build this garden shed. It just showed what families are suppose to do in a time of need. Sacrifice whatever they had planned to come and help their older brother who is fighting a non-discriminating disease. I went away from this weekend being so proud to be a member of this family.

Descriptions will be below each picture.

This was around 10:00 am on Saturday. David (green hat, Dale white hat and Merlin -hidden but wearing a white doo rag (is that how that is spelled?).

Going with the philosphy of measure twice, cut once.

My aunts - Barb, Debbie, my mom and my cousin Tonja shelling lima beans (a first for me. I did try the lima beans and I'm with my Uncle Dale - they still taste horrible after all these years. Not missing much by not eating them for the last 34 years or so).

My mom and I did take about an hour away from the kitchen work to take the girls to the creek...or *crick* as it is called in Lawshe. :) Growing up when we went to visit my Grandpa - my sister, brother and I looked forward to swimming in the creek all.year.long. It wasn't until I was about 25 did I realize most people didn't swim in nasty creek water while visiting grandparents. lol

Isabella testing the water out.

Ava copping a squat on a rock. The creek was really low due to lack of rain this summer.

I wish I knew how to draw on a picture so I could circle and put a big ole arrow on the photo so you could see what Ava was doing. She had caught a toad and was throwing it up in the air. PETA...don't bother writing me - I already discussed this with Ava. :)

Ava going after another frog.

Almost catching it.

Got it!

Here Ava was just soaking up the sun! I love this kids zest for life. She wears me out - but she can enjoy the smallest things to the fullest. I love her to pieces.

Ok - Ava has finally released the frogs to freedom and she has decided to do what all of her great Uncles do while at the creek and *skip rocks*. Problem is, Ava picks up 3 lb rocks to try and skip. lol She had a blast doing it - and in the grand scheme of things, that is all that matters.

She's released this one like a discus. Her Aunt Michelle would be proud of her form. :)

We saw a crane just enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Beautiful Isabella.

Ava was so funny with this rock. She knows it is a Garza tradition to stand on a rock and have your picture taken while on vacation. So, she spotted this rock, climbed on it and said for me to take her "rock" picture. She's caught on quick and I hope she continues this tradition with her kids.

Here is a picture later in the day before dinner. They worked for over 8 hours. After dinner my uncle Merlin (my moms twin brother) had to head back to Columbus because he is a preacher and had to preach the next morning - but my other uncle Eddie (who closely resembles the Uncle in Christmas Vacation in so many ways its funny) had arrived and he took over with the construction.

Side note about Eddie - he is all about bargains. Well, free is more like it - but he brought the girls some stuff he got at an auction and so now they think he is just about the greatest thing since sliced bread. He brought them a HUGE bag of magnets. I will take a picture of my fridge with only a small fraction of the magnets - needless to say there is not any available room left - and some of the magnets are quite questionable with their sayings. He also gave us a big box of Christmas ornaments. These I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. I am addicted to Christmas ornaments and having a memory or story behind each ornament so this makes me so giddy and happy you can't begin to imagine! Also he brought a Barbie computer (working even!!) for them and a couple other toys. I love that he thought of my girls to bring this stuff for them. :) I know I'm getting off track and long winded but - hey - it's my journal/memory keeper so to speak so I'll ramble...I love watching my aunts and uncles with my girls. They love on them like they are their own grandchildren. They are constantly playing with them, hugging and holding them, pestering and teasing. It just warms my heart to see it and how the relationship develops.

Ok, enough sap....

When we were getting ready to leave for the evening the girls were sitting at the end of the driveway with Barb and my aunt Debbie. It was so cute seeing them sitting on the flower bed rocks watching the cows...even though the girls were dirty, dirty, dirty and hair falling out of ponytails.

Here is a picture of my aunts brother moving the calfs (I don't know at what age a calf isn't a calf but anyways...) from the Mama cows (probably a farm word for that as well) to another field. The Mama's were NOT happy with this move. But - my girls loved seeing the cows run by so close to them. Me - on the other hand was scared one was going to jump on my car and put a dent in it. lol

Ava crashed after a shower. It took a matter of a few short minutes and she was fast asleep in the recliner while watching TV.

Isabella flashing her peace out sign. She's so cool. lol :)

Sunday morning at Dave and Barbs church - Dale and Debbie sang the special music. It was a goose bump causing song. They sounded so good. And the bonus for us is they are going to be singing again when we all go back over in October for a birthday party for Uncle Dave. Thanks Dale and Debbie! You are such a blessing to me and my family! Love you!

And after church at a restaurant eating lunch. Ava wearing her frog princess aluminum foil crown she made in Sunday school with my mom.

There were many tears shed during this photo op by Ava but she made me promise I wouldn't post the pictures of her crying so I'm keeping my end of the deal. Now, lets hope she keeps hers by not crying the next time we visit. :)

Fishing

Ok - it is no big surprise I am not a camping, fishing type of girl. But...I could get use to this type of fishing....drive up to private pond, have someone bring out the fishing poles with hooks already on them, worms in a bowl of dirt and having Joe there to put the fish on the hook, remove fish once it was caught, discard of fish, put new worm or fix remaining worm left on hook. Fish for a couple hours, leave and not smell like fish! This type of fishing I can get use to!

Since my Uncle was diagnosed with cancer we have been trying to go over to Ohio and visit with him once every 4-6 weeks. Like I said before - it stinks that we have to wait until someone gets sick to visit often. We go over to a very small, rural town - so small that you literally have to go "up the hill" in order to get ATT cell phone service. :) We stay with my moms childhood friend from school Cecelia and always play cards and visit with Cecelias sister Pam and her husband Joe. My kids think Cecelia, Pam and Joe are our relatives (they think they are their aunts and uncles) so I just let them think that. We went fishing on Joe and Pam's property - they have a pond in their back yard. So beautiful.

Isabella waiting for a bite.

Mom trying not to get her line caught in the cat tails.

Joe and Mom

Ava watching Pam

Isabella caught one! She actually caught a lot - too bad the storage cage for the caught fish was broke or we could have maybe had fish for dinner the next night. hahahahahahaha Maybe next time.

Isabella has caught another one!

Ava was over the whole fishing thing in about 5 minutes. She doesn't have the patience for it. She did always want to "touch" the fish each time someone caught one and then Ava would throw it back in the pond. GROSS!!!

Isabella proud of her catch.

Ava thought it was more fun to torture the bait instead of fishing. Here she is with a worm.

Ava and a fish before she threw it back to freedom.

The girls playing with Pam and Joes dog Lily.

Speech and the Cat

Our long last cat reappeared on Sunday afternoon. We think she had been locked in a little storage shed. She was in the backyard area when the neighbor girl came and rang the doorbell to let us know she was back there. She lost soooo much weight - she was just fur and bones. It was sad. I saw the shed opened on Sunday and the lady who lives there working in the yard so I'm thinking that is what happened because it was on a weekend that she disappeared. Poor Daisy was so hungry - she was literally scarfing the food down without even chewing it. I'm glad she is ok but I was liking it better when I thought she was just living with the little old lady and we were down to one cat. Oh, well.....

Ava had her first speech appointment today. Ugh - this is going to be work. It's not something that is going to be a quick fix and definetly something we have to stay ontop of here. I can look ahead and see many tears shed - both by me and Ava during this process.

Karma came back to bite me in the behind. I was trash talking Drew about running and I ended up pushing it too hard too soon and have bursitis/tendonitis in my left knee. I've continued exercising and just icing it at night but I'm going to have to take a few days off so it can heal. Darn it!!! The Dr. put me on some heavy duty anti-inflammatory steriods to knock down the swelling quickly. Hope it does the trick - and quick. I'm impatient!

Heading away for the weekend to visit family. So off to pack and ice the old knee. Isn't aging great?

Tired of Crazy

Goodness - there are some crazy - and I mean seriously mentally crazy people around me and it is somewhat tiring having to deal with them. I am just at max capacity for crazy and can't handle much more.

Can I get an Amen!?!

Girls Weekend

Friday afternoon Brandy, Stephaney and Cindi came up to hang out and spend the night. I haven't laughed so hard like I did this weekend in a long time.

Here we are celebrating Brandy's 37th birthday at Maggiano's.

And a picture of our dessert platter Steve's Sous Chef Rachel made for us.

Everything was so wonderful Friday evening. I don't know if it was the good company, being dressed up or what - but it was a grand time. I did get a kick out of these 2 tables that were sitting next to our booth after the Sous Chef brought out the dessert platter. I heard one of the guys ask the waiter who was sitting at the table and if it was somebody famous! lol Rachel made us individual root bear floats and a spruced up banana split. It was sooo good.

After dinner we headed over to Bella Vita - the restaurant on the Geist Resevoir Marina. We sat on the deck overlooking the marina and had a couple drinks and many laughs. Our waiter - Eric was so fun and we had a blast and even more laughs with him.

Stephaney made Brandy the most awesome birthday gift ever. She is so creative. Must be all the 4-H training. lol She saves and remembers EVERYTHING. Usually this is not a good thing. She made this 20 page booklet spoofing America's Next Top Model. On the front it had a picture of Brandy, Steph, Cindi and Jamie and I from a dance our Junior Year in highschool (were we cool or what?). She then had pictures of people from school and little descriptions of them and their "background" and what their qualifications were to be judges or coaches on America's Next Top Model. Then, for each one of us she had one of our senior pictures and titled it our "Best Shot" and then a brief description of why we were disqualfied from the competition. It would take me too many paragraphs to continue explaining the rest but lets just say, I had to redo my make up after reading it because I was crying so hard laughing.

Last night the girls and I went down to my friend and neighbor Kris's house. Kris and I drank a glass of wine and caught up and the girls played with the dog. Today we have a tailgate party at the church for the Life Groups and a rib cookoff. It's going to be a good time!

Friday the girls and I are heading over to no mans land in Ohio to visit with my Aunt and Uncles, my mom and other great friends. We are taking the girls fishing at my moms best friends sisters house (that's a mouthful!). The girls can't wait to go fishing and are driving me insane talking about it. I may just embrace my surroundings and join in on the action.

I've had to take time off from running which makes me have to do the dreaded stair machine because I think I was running too long to quick and I strained a ligament in my knee. Can't say that I'm looking forward to running again this week because it still sucks big time to run. But, it's good for my heart and health right? That's what I keep telling myself.

24 Hours with Ava - Revisited

I was going through my old blog and reading older posts - boy - I sure loved to talk on that blog. I had diarreah of the mouth most days. lol I came across a post I titled 24 Hours of My Life with Ava...it was written around her 2nd birthday 2 years ago in July-oh my, did it bring back memories. I'm copying it so those who know Ava well can get a good laugh. She hasn't changed in 2 years. :)

6:30 am - I'm playing in my room and Mommy comes in. She doesn't look happy this morning....I don't know why. My hand was a little tired this morning and to let her know I was up I thought kicking the door would let her know. She does notice my arm has come out of my nightgown though.

6:45 am: I ask for my pacifier and I'm told no. Mommy put the paci's in the closet because I wouldn't keep them in bed where she says they belong. She gets me a sippy cup of milk instead. Is she crazy? Why would I want milk over my pacifier? I tell her I want water and she says something to me about drinking my milk and something about Isabella drinking milk and look how big she is. I'm not buying it though and just hold onto the cup.

7:10 am: Fight with Isabella over who gets the good spot on the couch to watch Sponge Bob. I win, as usual.

7:30 am: Fight with Isabella over who gets to brush their teeth first. I win, as usual.

7:40 am: Fight with Isabella over who gets the best spot on the couch again. I win, as usual.

8:30 am: Head to the gym for Mommy to go to yoga. I love playing here as long as my sister is with me. I've learned if I cry just a couple of times when Bella's not there, they will call Mommy over a loud speaker and she comes and gets me early. I like it when that happens.

10:30 am: Mommy picks us up at the child center. We walk past the womens locker room and I tell her I want to go to the pool. She says no and I voice my displeasure.

10:32 am: Walk past cafe in the gym and ask for a snack. Mom says we'll eat at home. I voice my displeasure.

12:00 pm: LUNCH TIME!!! I ask for a string cheese and mommy gives me one. But, that's not what I really wanted. I wanted a pudding cup. So, I voice my displeasure and she eats the cheese and I get pudding while she's making my sandwich. I lick the side that has jelly on it and eat that side of the bread. I do this everyday and I don't know why Mommy still bothers to put Peanut Butter on it...I never lick it or eat it.

12:30 pm: Dessert!!! I want some dry cereal AND a cookie but I'm told I can only have one. I pick the cookie and eat it.

12:32 pm: I ask for the dry cereal now and Mommy tells me I can't have it since I already had a cookie for dessert. I voice my displeasure and get no where. Mommy just takes me out of the booster seat and cleans me up. I am not happy about this.

12:45 pm: Isabella is playing with the Princess and the Pauper singing Barbie and I want it, so I try to take it. She doesn't give it up too easily so I pinch her. She's loud when she screams!

12:46 pm: Mommy brings me another Barbie but I want the Princess and Pauper doll - because well, Isabella has it.

12:55 pm: I'm playing with my Dora's Talking House.

1:00 pm: My sister wants to play with Dora too, but she keeps moving things around in the house. I tell her very nicely to move, she's persistant and doesn't. I pinch her. She's loud again.

1:15 pm: Mommy comes and tells me it's time for my nap. I don't really want to nap and I tell Mommy nicely that I don't want to but she puts me in bed anyway. I guess I can suck on my paci and close my eyes for a little while.

3:15 pm: I wake up and WANT TO COME OUT NOW!!! Where in the world is my Mommy? Bella? Daisy? Mommy? Bella? Daisy?? Anyone?? Isabella comes and opens the door for me. It's about time.

3:30 pm: Go outside to play. Isabella drives me around in the Barbie jeep. I want to drive also but she won't move. I keep asking her nicely to please let me drive, but she won't give in. This time I hit her and try to bite. She tells Mommy on me. Tattle Tale.

3:35 pm: We are back inside. Apparently I don't play nicely.

5:00 pm: Mommy has dinner made despite her telling me constantly that I'm at her feet and following her around. Daddy comes home and we eat dinner.

6:30 pm: Bath Time!!! I DON'T like to have my hair washed and I want out. But Daddy tells me he has to rinse my hair. Personally, I think he just likes getting water in my eyes. I don't buy the logic I should look up to the ceiling so the water stays off my face.

7:45 pm: PJ's and book time. I go and get the Elmo book. Daddy asks me why I bring this book - we just read it last night. I try and tell him its my favorite but I don't think he understands. He reads it to me anyway.

8:10 pm: Bedtime. Mommy gives me a hug and a kiss and tells me she loves me and asks me how she got so lucky to have the 2 best girls in the world. She asks me this every.single.night. I thought Mommy's were suppose to know everything. If so, why does she ask the same question every night? I just smile and give her a kiss back.

8:11 pm: Mommy walks out and leaves me in my bed.

8:12 pm: I call out to Mommy I need a drink.

8:13 pm: I call out to Mommy I can't find my paci.

8:14 pm: I call out to Mommy I can't find my blankie.

8:15 pm: I call out to Mommy I need another drink. Mommy doesn't look too happy this time.

8:20 pm: I call out to Mommy I need a kiss. I try for a couple more minutes and she doesn't come. I think she has forgot about me.

6:15 am: I knock on the door and call out to Mommy and tell her I'm awake.

6:20 am: I knock on the door a little harder this time and tell Mommy I'm awake.

6:33 am: I knock again and this time call for Mommy AND Isabella. I think they have forgot about me again.

6:45 am: I pull all of my doll babies onto my bed. I think I have 14 at my last count. While I'm up I go ahead and pull the books off of my bookshelf and dump all of the puzzles over. Mommy LOVES picking up these. I start singing Wheels on the Bus.

6:50 am: I try kicking the door again since it worked yesterday. Mommy comes and she looks tired. But then she looks at the bed and the books and the puzzles and I think she looks mad. I wonder why?

6:52 am: I say "Hi Mama" and give her a big smile, hug and kisses on the cheek (these are her favorite) and she looks happy again!.

***the parts about Ava knocking on the doors was because she was too small to be able to open them on her own. Ava doesn't pinch and bite anymore - she prefers hitting.***

The Finer Things

Isabella has learned from me quite well about liking nice things. She was taking a shower the other night in our bathroom and didn't want to use Steve's "manly smelling" shower gel so she asked me to get her something different. I pulled out of the linen closet some Oil of Olay almond butter/lavender oil bath wash. The stuff really is great - I love Oil of Olay bath products.

Fast forward a couple of days. I hear Isabella telling Steve that Ava's bath soap was in the white bottle (the oil of olay is in a purple bottle). When I investigated further - she was making sure Steve didn't use the good stuff on her and was making Ava use the CVS brand body wash.

Tonight, Isabella gave Ava a shower for me (do I have a great kid or what) and I saw Ava heading to the shower carrying her white bottle of CVS body wash. LOL

Ava the Make Up Artist

Yesterday Ava got her shots at her Dr. appointment and I mentioned I bought her some make up. Today she was experimenting with it and was very happy with the outcome. She told me when she grows up she wants to be a "Make Up Person". I think there is potential there. At least she matched the eyeshadow to her clothes.

Here she is doing her "peace" signs like Dialycia and Isabella do in every.single.picture. You can also see her bandaids that she refuses to take off from the shots yesterday. She wants to keep them on for sympathy but I told her they came off tonight because she was getting a bath. She wasn't happy to hear that.

And here she is the other day proud of herself for learning to blow bubbles with her gum.

God Bless Her

I was brushing Isabellas hair a few minutes ago (sidenote - it is so, so nice she is able to shower, wash and condition her hair, rinse it, wash her body, dry off, put pj's on and brush part of her hair - I finish the brushing). While brushing I told her Ava had to go to a special Doctor because of her speech. She acted so concerned and asked "Why"? "She talks just fine".

I know this doesn't come across as sweet as it was, but I wanted to get it down in writing for my memory bank.

Speech, Shots and a Lost Cat

How's that for a title?



Lost Cat: We have lost one of our cats. Daisy - she is about 4 years old and the first cat we got. Last week sometime the cats were outside (they are inside cats but will sometimes go outside for a bit) and we didn't realize they were out. The next morning, Steve said Molly was sitting at the back door wanting to come inside. He didn't even think about Daisy being outside at the time. Two nights later - out of the blue - Isabella starts to panic and asks where Daisy was. Daisy is super shy and doesn't really let anyone pet her or come close to her. We searched all over the neighborhood for her, put up some signs but we still have not heard anything or witnessed any sign of her. I just hope she is safe. Isabella is having a really hard time with it. Molly - on the otherhand is rejoicing she is the only cat in the house!



Shots - poor Ava had her 4 year well check visit today. I didn't think she was getting any shots but I was wrong. She ended up getting 3 and it just broke my heart. She also is going to have to start speech therapy again. She substitutes letters often and the Dr. could only understand about 50% of what Ava was saying. I'm glad she's going to get the help she needs because she does get frustrated when we can't understand her. Isabella usually can understand and translate for us but sometimes even she can't understand it. After her shots I took her and let her get a little make up kit. She still had money from her birthday so we got it and it's made her feel better. Although - she is limping and saying "ouch, ouch, ouch" each time she takes a step. lol



We are getting in the swing of things with school being back in session. Isabella will play for an hour or so after she gets home and then comes inside for dinner, then practices piano, does homework and showers and gets ready for bed. She's been doing great with going to bed earlier - I think 2nd grade is just wearing her out.

It is on!!!!

Like Donkey Kong! How 80's is that saying? lol But...it is on!

My neighbor Amy is a big runner - like a minimum of running 25 miles a week. I don't walk 25 miles in a month probably. Well, she's really been encouraging me to run with her and she is a great motivator and a great friend so I've started running again. I use to run all the time....like 12 years ago. I'm on day 4 of my "training" and each day it is getting easier. Today, I can honestly say I kinda enjoyed it. But, part of it was I drank 16 oz of this Black Powder stuff that gives you major energy (not jittery energy but just really motivates you and gets you moving faster) and I had downloaded from iTunes some Black Eyed Peas and Flo Rida - am I hip or what?? lol And i hit the treadmill at the gym.

Now - we have sweet Amy and then we have J.D. and Drew. Drew is JD's daughter (Jenny) boyfriend. He probably smokes a pack of cigarettes a day and he is taunting me. So - it is on. They leave on Sunday for Louisville to set up the IronMan triatholon down there and they will be back in a week or so. JD, Drew and I are going to hit the treadmills at Anytime Fitness (where JD works out) and we are going to go at it. Drew says he'll even run with a lit cigarette to prove his manhood. Now - if anyone thinks I'm stubborn - well, you haven't met JD and Drew. I predict I will be removed from Anytime Fitness in an ambulance but I won't get off before Drew. JD will be able to outrun me blindfolded, backwards and with 50 pounds of weights on him - he's going for moral support I think - hopefully for me. LOL Maybe I'll talk Amy into going with me and coaching me.

I save Drew and Jenny's dog (Sheba) the other day and this is the thanks I get...taunting. Bring it Drew - you are going down! LOL

I have a 2nd grader!!

Isabella started the second grade today. It really seemed like just a regular day. She was a little excited (mainly because of her new messenger book bag) and woke up on her own this morning. She is in what is called the S.E.E.K. room at her school. It is a combined 1st and 2nd grade so she already knows where the room is from last year as well as her teacher who co-taughter with the 1st grade teacher last year. Here she is sporting her Smart Girls ROCK tee we had made for her 1st day of school.
And a picture of little sis hugging her before school.

It's been quiet with only one kid in the house. I'm not complaining that is for sure. :) It's nice to have that one on one time with Ava while Isabella is at school. I'm homeschooling Ava this year for preschool but we aren't starting until the Tuesday after Labor Day.

Isabella started piano lessons on Tuesday. She did great and practices often throughout the day. It will be different now that she is in school and won't have the freedom of all the time during the day to practice.

Monday evening we had several of our neighbors over for dinner. Steve smoked some ribs, chicken and a brisket and then had a pitch in for side dishes. It was so darn good. I was full to the point of being majorly uncomfortable. I couldn't even go to the gym the day after though because my legs were still sore from the 100 squats I did on Sunday. Yes, you read that correctly - over 100 squats. I would do a set of 10 after each rep of exercises. Won't be doing that anytime soon.

I've also started back with running. Let me tell you one thing - running sure isn't fun. I told my neighbor Amy I would run with her so I'm trying to get in shape to begin that torture. Today was my second day of running some at the gym - it was a bit easier (only because I drank some Black Powder beforehand) but it still pretty much sucked the entire time. But, the sweat I worked up felt awesome.

That's the latest happenings in the Garza household. Have a great weekend!

Pitching Hollywood Style

I don't know why the first picture is so small - if you want to see a close up of it, just click on it and it will enlarge.

Here are a few pictures of Dialycia pitching this past week. Obviously, I'm super proud of her. I can't imagine doing this and having the pressure that was put on her during these games at the ripe old age of 11. (She was on a 10 an under team because at the start of the season she was 10). But, let me tell you - this past week I witnessed with my own eyes the TALLEST and BIGGEST ten year old girls in the States.

Hollywood and a Rant

Thursday morning on the way to the gym I found out my 11 year old niece was going to be pitching at the 10 & under Fastpitch Nationals. I did a quick workout and headed home, threw clothes in a suitcase and headed out to watch her. It was awesome. She is such an athlete! She won the first game (also scored the runs to go ahead and then struck out the last batter to win the game). It was fabulous!!! Then they had to play an hour later and she had to pitch against the reigning National 10 & under Fastpitch Champions. They didn't win this game but she did awesome - also, once again was the one who scored the runs for the team.

Her teammates call her Hollywood. I have to say she got the nickname honestly. Her dad and I are pretty materialistic in the fact we like nice things and namebrand things. Dialycia always has her hair done super cute, designer shades on, Under Armour sweatbands on (I think they may be more for show than actual use), $300 bats and the list goes on and on. Oh, and she drinks Figi water. My sister in law said they originally were poking fun at her with the name but it stuck and it was adorable hearing her teammates cheer her on while she pitched. "Go Hollywood, finish her off. Let's go two six (26 is her number but apparently now a days you say the numbers seperately lol)". I was a nervous wreck!!!!!!!!!

Here is a picture of me, Isabella and Dialycia after her first game she won.

We've hung at my brothers and sister in laws for the last few days. We went to Ohio for a day and half to visit with my aunt and uncle. It was a great visit even if it was short. It really is an eye opener that you need to make time for family and not wait until someone gets really sick to start playing catch up and visiting. I have the greatest aunts and uncles around that is for sure.

And now on to my rant. LOL I am always amused by people who fill out polls and leave cryptic messages on facebook and emails. The comments about hating people who are materialistic, self absorbed, brag, shallow and so on....I know the people who write these things and I know their intentions - that is what makes it all the funnier for me. People - I KNOW I am these things. I fully and completely admit them. I like who I am. I think there isn't a thing wrong with bragging about successes you or your family members have worked hard for. I see nothing wrong with working your tail off at the gym and eating healthy because you want to stay in shape and look good. I see nothing wrong with buying name brand or expensive things if you can afford them. I also believe you usually get what you pay for - hence the reason for buying some more expensive things. I like quality. I fully believe in the motto if you look good you feel good. Who doesn't want to look their best, be healthy and feel good about themselves? I completely admit to all of the above and make no qualms about it. I am who I am and I wouldn't change a thing!

Ok, rant over. The girls and I are heading back to Indy in a couple hours and my niece is coming with us for a few days. Yeah!!! Off to pack up and get ready to go.

My Life Before Kids

Most only know me as a Mommy and Steve's wife and not for all the crazy hours and hard work I put in before quitting to assume the hardest job on the earth - Stay at home Mommy.

Steve and I met at The Embassy Suites in Raleigh, North Carolina. They were remodeling the restaurant in the hotel and Steve transferred there from Dallas to open it up and run it. I was hired a couple months after he was and we opened Nicola's Ristorante. It was a great restaurant and awesome Italian food. While I was there we partnered up with a local art group and displayed local artists work in the restaurant and bar. We had twice a year art shows that had huge turn outs. It was a great first job to have in Restaurant Management. I also oversaw the roomservice and bar area. The employees at this place were INSANE. Typical restaurant workers - partying hard and with all of that came crazy situations I had to deal with.

Here is a picture of the inside of the restuarant.

Hotel the restaurant was located in.

After Steve and I got married we had to be transferred to different properties within 6 weeks since we were both managers and technically he was my superior as Executive Chef. We decided to move to Dallas where Steve had lived for many years. I stayed with the company and Steve ventured out. I took a position at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District in downtown Dallas as an Assistant Food and Beverage Director.

This was where the upscale dining restuarant called The Opus was located (tables were removed for the picture).

Front of the Symphony.

This was the main entrance off of the street - to the left was The Opus and behind where this picture was taken was a more casual dining restaurant called The Pasta Pavillion. This was by far the coolest job I've ever had. The other managers were awesome and we had so much fun. Ironically - this was the job Steve was at before transferring to Raleigh - he was the Executive Chef here. The restaurants were only opened before symphony performances and only for 2 hours. We were usually open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings and then Sunday for brunch. When the Symphony wasn't playing we did huge banquets and dinners. Biggest seated dinner was for 1400 people and we had other reception type banquets for over 2000.

It was always exciting and always filled with famous people. While working there I met Kenny Rogers, Michael McDonald, Lyle Lovett, Phil Vasser, Larry Hagman (JR from the show Dallas), Angie Harmon and many many others. We did all backstage food and beverage for the performers and being management we were always backstage at some point.

After the Meyerson I was promoted across the street to General Manager (at the whopping age of 28 years old!!) at The Belo Mansion. It is an old mansion owned by the Dallas Bar Association. We did the food and beverage daily during the week for the attorneys taking continuing education classes and then every.single.weekend - we did weddings. Friday nites, 2 weddings Saturday (afternoon and evening) and then also sometimes on Sundays.

I was pregnant the last 9 months while working here. I hated this job with a passion. The money was awesome but the people who worked for the Bar Association were horrid. It was the worst job I have ever had. The people and then all the pressure and stress with being the top one in charge royally sucked. One of the happiest days of my life was pulling out of that parking lot for the last time! Within the first 2 months I was there I had to fire one of my catering managers who continued to show up to work drunk and at her functions. She was one of the top performing sales managers in the company so to say I wasn't met with resistance by people to fire her (this is after she was able to take a leave of absense for 30 days to go to rehab) is an understatement. This job just plain sucked.

Happy 4th Birthday Ava!!

Yesterday our baby girl turned 4! Like I said earlier - it's been a long 4 years. Great years - but long ones. LOL Life wouldn't be complete without Ava in it.

Last night we had our great friends and families over. Mark, Amy, Jack and Christine as well as Dan, Kris, Lexi, Kourtney, Reilly and Erin came to have cake and ice cream. Ava wanted cake for breakfast so we had already cut into the cake but she insisted on round 2 of Happy Birthday when her friends came. She loved the attention!! Mark my words - this kid will be a politician - she loves the spotlight!

Round 2 of singing. Ava picked her cake - chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling with chocolate icing and a rainbow.

You would have thought it was Christmas! She woke up bright and early and wanted to open gifts immediately!

Dumb Mommy moment. At quick glance - I thought this wrapping paper was of popsicles. Upon closer look (aka - when Isabella asked why I bought baby bottle wrapping paper) did I realize they were in fact, NOT popsicles.

A closer look.

FurReal puppy from Grandma and Papi.

Happy to get a princess scooter.

Acting silly during round 1 of Happy Birthday singing.

Showing me how old she was.

Get ready to flip out Daddy!!!

I think we have a budding Vegetarian on our hands. Isabella is getting very concerned about using and wearing leather and eating meat. It really is the red meat she is having the most trouble with - she loves steak but last night she just kept staring at it and saying "I can't believe this was a live cow", "don't you think it is cruel to eat a cow". As a chef, Steve has "issues" to say the least with people with picky palettes and vegetarians. Guess I need to start talking with him about acceptance a bit more. :)

Backyard Camping

Here is the small tent - just a 2-3 person - which worked fine. I can pretty much guarantee there won't be 4 people ever in it.

Roasting marshmellows

We had to put the firepit on some wood so it wouldn't burn the grass and leave a dark spot.

The Good Life

Life has been pretty good lately. Nothing major going on, just lots of small things to keep us busy. Last night and tonight Steve and the girls have camped out in the back yard in a tent. I've camped inside - in our high thread count sheets. Believe me - they are much happier with me NOT being out there. LOL They build a fire in the fire pit, roast marshmellows, make smores and they said they sat around the fire last night and told stories. They did take the portable DVD player out there with them so they aren't roughing it too much.

Tonight we went to an Indianapolis Indians minor league baseball game. It was the first baseball game for the girls and the first time I've been to a baseball game in quite a while. They had 10 innings listed on the score board so I don't know if they started playing more innings than before. I thought there use to be only 7??? Maybe for overtime or whatever they do in baseball?? Kris and Dan and Lexi also were there and Steve and the girls walked over and talked with them for a bit and then when we were leaving Kris and Dan and their nephew Nolan came and chatted with us. Kris and Dan are so sweet together - and Nolan - ahhh, I might want to have another baby if it turned out as sweet and cute as that little guy. We left after 5 or 6 innings - but it was fun.

Tomorrow we get our piano. Steve and Dan are driving about 30 minutes away to load it and bring it home - Bella starts piano next week so we are excited to get the show on the road. I'm ready to just have a piano in the house. We got a great deal on one - bought it off of craigslist for only $300 - it is just an oak upright piano. I of course wanted a concert pianist baby grand Steinway - but champagne taste on a beer budget - so compromise it was. :) Hopefully, in a couple years we will upgrade to a nicer upright (mahogany or black is what I'd like) and then a few years down the road a black baby grand. These girls better love playing - LOL. Although they are going to be doing it whether they love it or not. There aren't too many adults that you meet that don't wish they knew how to play the piano.

We started a small group with 3 other couples in the church. We met for the first time on Sunday. I have good, good feelings about the group and the bible study and fellowship we will be doing. The other couples all have children that are the same age as Isabella and Ava so it works out great. We are going to start meeting at one house and dropping the kids off at another house so we don't have constant interruptions. We had a babysitter last week but the kids still came in and out a lot. Next Sunday we are going to have the kids and babysitter at our house and we'll meet at another couples house a mile away.

Sunday is Ava's birthday. She'll be 4. I can't believe it. I'd like to say it's flown by but truthfully, it's been a looong 4 years. God love Ava - she's such a stinker and constantly keeps us laughing one minute and pulling our hair out the next. She is such a blessing to us though!

Mark and Amy and the kids have been on vacation this week so it's been lonely without them around. They come home in a couple days - so I'll be glad to see them and the girls will be super glad to see Jack again.

Steve and I have really started focusing on cardio for the past 2 weeks. We are up to 45 minutes now and we are pretty hard core. I'm not a sweater really - but man, oh man. I am soaked at the end of the workout. My legs are spent and like rubber for the remainder of the day - but it releases those endorphins and just makes you feel great. I better be shedding some pounds or else the endorphins better make me feel really, really, really good.

I thought my mom and I and the girls were going to be able to go over and visit with my Uncle Dave and Aunt Barb this weekend but it didn't work out with Moms schedule. Hopefully we'll get over there in a couple weeks. It really has been an eye opener to me that we shouldn't wait until someone gets sick in order to go visit those we love.

So, that's the last few days recap. Nothing major - but lots of little things.

I'll post pictures of the camp out (I gave the camera to Isabella last night) and of Ava's birthday in a few days. When I asked her what she wanted she told me a scooter, some Barbie thing for the bathtub (I took pictures of it with my cell phone for when I go back) but then she said she didn't care what she got - she just wanted "lots of presents". Typical.

Love to all!!!

Shouting from the Mountain Tops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve made partner with Maggiano's. This is huge!!!!!!!!!!! This Garza household is so happy and excited and proud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah Steve!!!! (and Jen - his GM who also made Partner).

Dinner With Friends

Last night we went out to dinner with our friends and neighbors Mark and Amy and Dan and Kris. We went to a place called Bonge's Tavern. It is in the middle of nowhere, has about 10 tables and besides the awesome, fabulous tasting food their claim to fame is the tailgating that takes place in the parking lot as you wait for your table.

We went on a Wednesday night at 7:00 and had a 90 minute wait. Kris and Dan had brought a bottle of wine just in case we did have to wait - thank goodness because we sure did enjoy it. The wait was actually quite pleasant. They had some benches and chairs sitting outside so we sat down, drank two bottles of wine (we had to buy another from the restaurant. Well, actually Mark and Amy bought it - thanks guys!) and talked, laughed, talked some more and laughed some more. It was a great time.

Once we were seated I open my purse to put my sunglasses in it and this is what I see in there...
a pair of Ava's panties!!!!!!!!! Now, if that doesn't make you feel like a Mom, I don't know what will. LOL I forgot I had them in there from Monday night. We went over to some friends house and the girls were playing outside with a slip and slide and having water gun fights so they wore their swimsuits there and I brought them some panties in case they wanted to change out of their swimsuits...and obviously, Ava stayed in her swimsuit the entire time - hence the Cinderella panties in my purse. (I couldn't get a good picture with the flash on so I had to take it with it off and thats why the pic is so dark.)

Here is my handsome husband sitting out in the parking lot enjoy a great conversation.

Lovebirds - Mark and Amy. They are so sweet together and love each other so much. It is great to be around them.

Me with Amy and Kris outside.

Kris and her *friend* Dan. (inside joke - they are in a serious relationship - Amy and I practically had their wedding planned for them by the end of the night).

A crooked shot of Steve and I.

A straight foreward picture - although I like the crooked one better of us.

Another of us girls without Kris wearing her Naughty Teacher reading glasses.

Steve and Mark.

Not the best picture of me because I have a shiny face from sweat and deer in the headlight looking eyes but it shows - no deep furrow lines or deep lines on my forehead thanks to Botox! LOL

Steve showing his utter disappointment with the Colts helmet on the bottle of ketchup. I don't understand why every restaurant in Indiana wouldn't want to put Dallas Cowboy logos all over their product.

The whole gang just as our meal arrived.

Amy laughing at how small my feet are so she put her foot in my shoe to show the difference in size from her foot and mine. I don't know what I'm laughing about in the background. LOL

At the end of the night - my feet were tired from wearing the almost 4 inch heals for hours so I asked Steve if he would carry me over the gravel outside. Amy decided she wanted to give me a piggy back ride - of course I didn't turn her down. LOL *Disclaimer: all patrons had already left for the evening - we were the only ones left in the restaurant.*

We had such a great time that we vowed we were going to go out once a month as a group and try different restaurants. Next month we are hitting up a new Mexican place Kris and Dan have been to and said was great. Already looking forward to it.

Walter

Introducing the newest Garza member:

The girls have been asking for a frog (yes - a frog) for the last month or so. There is a frog (or several that look alike) that appear on our front porch every evening when it gets dark. They have begged and pleaded to be able to catch one and keep it in a box. Now, I don't like frogs but I'm not mean enough to put the poor thing in a box so it can die overnight. So, we were talking with Amy and Cory (her 14 year old son) and telling them they wanted to get a frog or a turtle. Cory said they could have his turtle he's had for the last 5 years. He gave us everything - the cage, warming light, bowls, mulch, ect. We made out on the deal because we just gave him an iTunes gift card and we got all of the above PLUS the turtle.

The girls LOVE Walter to pieces. I actually like watching him eat. We are getting great use out of our garden because Walter is a vegetarian. He's been eating leafy green lettuce and cherry tomatoes. Ava wants to hold him constantly but I'm a nervous wreck when she holds him. Ava isn't the most delicate person around.

Today the girls and I went through their rooms and got a bunch of toys together to give to one of our neighbors so she could have some toys when her nieces and nephews came over to play. They only complained about 1 item each that I put in the box that they wanted so I gave it back to them - I thought great progress had been made for them only wanting one item/toy. When we walked back after dropping it off Isabella said "I love giving to charity". LOL

Introduction

We are probably strangers to everyone now. Life is just busy with lots of things going on and we are outside most of the day and evening so I just don't have blogging material or the time to sit and write long winded posts. LOL So...(a certain SIL....lol) don't harass me for updates until you start your own blog and find stuff to write about daily. It's not as easy as some may think. Just kidding!!!!

Last night we had the neighborhood block party celebrating the 4th of July. Great turnout - about 80 adults and 20 or so kids. Steve grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and another neighbor Benjamin was grilling corn on the cob on his grill and everyone brought a side dish to share. Then when it got dark Steve let off some fireworks we got from my Moms store. This year was by far the best firework display - we bought some really good items.

Pam bought stuff for the kids to decorate their bikes and scooters and then later in the night we did a little parade with the kids. It was so stinking cute - they were so proud of their decorated bikes and just smiled big grins as they road up and down the road we had blocked off.

Christine decorated the Barbie Jeep for Ava - it looked really cute.

Isabella and her patriotic bike decor.

Ava sporting the dirtiest face of the night.

Me and two of the sweetest girls around. We have such a great time when we are together and we are so similar and hold back NO secrets. Lots of laughing going on with Kris, Amy and I.

Steve and I.

Buffet

Isabella said to me the other day "apparently, mosquitos think my body is an all you can eat buffet".

Too busy

Summer has arrived and life seems so busy - always on the go.

This week starts VBS at church so I'll be there helping everynight from 6:30-8:30. Yesterday after church I asked Ava what she learned in church and she said "God again. Every time we always talk about God." She seemed a bit confused as to why the topic never changed. LOL When I asked Isabella she told me she was learning about Moses. We asked her what she could tell us about Moses and she said "he's a really old guy who trusted God". :)

We are now on the hunt for a piano. We found a piano teacher for Isabella and she'll start in August so we are searching Craigs List to find a decent piano. Steve wants to buy a keyboard and pressed on and on for the keyboard purchase. HE wants the keyboard!!! She can only start out on the keyboard as she learning the notes and then we'll have to buy a piano. I say spend a couple hundred dollars more and just have a piano to match what she is practicing with. ugh

Steve and I went down to Mark and Amy's and played a few games of pool. It was a lot of fun. Really Mark and Steve played pool and Amy and I moved the balls around between their shots. Next up - ping pong battles!

Today we are off to the gym, then going to the pool with Jack and Amy and then home to get ready for VBS.

Soccer 2009 - Go Silverbacks

Yesterday was the last game of the season and our little soccer girl scored a goal. And it was intentional. LOL She was ready for the pass. Stopped it, turned and kicked a strong kick and SCORE!!

The look on her face was better than the bragging of her scoring a goal and then as she was running down the field Steve and I looked across the field at each other and it was sweet. We just shared a look of pride as parents not coach and mom. Sweetness it was I tell ya!

Isabella showing the number 2 sign instead of #1 since the Silverbacks placed 2nd in their league.

Coach and Daddy with his daughter and player.

Silverbacks on stage receiving their trophies. The kids were so excited and all sat together in a row with Steve away from their parents. It was sweet.

Ok, now I get the bad parent, I'm going straight to hell award for sneaking a picture of Ava while they were praying. It was just too cute to pass up the photo opportunity.

Here is the team acting silly before the ceremony started.

Next year Ava will be old enough to play and I told Steve he will be coaching 2 teams instead of just 1. He wasn't overly thrilled with my statement.

Ormond Beach, Florida 2009

Lots of lessons learned this trip...1) Never ever drive again. Even taking 2 days to make the trip. It still sucks. 2) 7 days on the beach - day in/day out - is too long. At least with kids this age. They wanted to swim 12 hours a day making very tired kids. Very tired kids = very stressed out Mommy. 3) Check out immediately and find new accomodations once you find out your condo has wet carpet padding from 3o inches of rain 10 days prior and makes the place stink. Also, if you smell cigarrete smoke upon entering room - and its a non-smoking room. Again, check out immediately. It WILL aggravate your daughters asthma. 4) My hair does not adjust well to the humidity.

Ok, now that all the logistics are out of the way - we did have a good time. Especially the kids. They would wake up at 7:00 am every morning and want to hit the pool immediately. We were in the pool every day by 8:30 which wasn't that big of a deal because it was almost 90 degrees that early in the morning.

When we arrived a huge thunderstorm had just passed through and we were greated by a beautiful double rainbow. It didn't rain or cloud up once the entire time until the day before we were to leave and storms rolled in. So, we left a day early.

As I headed to the grocery store to buy some necessities (aka - beer and coffee), Steve took the girls out to the beach.

Descriptions under each picture.
The girls the afternoon we first arrived jumping the waves.

Daddy and his girls searching for sea shells (we kinda had to force/make them do this each day. Don't they know you are SUPPOSE to do this when you go to the beach???).

Me and the girls (all 4 of them). LOL

Ava chilling on a raft in the pool.

Ava being Ava and throwing a fit because her sand was not coming out of the bucket.

Isabella washing the sand off of her hands.

It's still not coming out!!!!!

Ava deciding to start over and dumping all the sand from her bucket into the ocean.

Family foot portrait. :)

Ava in the ocean

Isabella testing the water. She actually swam in the ocean a couple of days. I was shocked she decided to do this. She watches way too much Discovery TV and Animal Planet and knows what is looming in the ocean. LOL

Steve throwing Isabella in the pool.

We went and played Putt Putt one afternoon. They LOVED this. Isabella did really well and was able to par most holes. Ava - not so much. She was very innovative with her method of getting the ball in the hole. The girls hair is so matted and messy because they had just got out of the pool and threw some clothes on before we headed out.

Me and the girls at the putt putt course. See how well my hair is reacting to the humidity??? This was the only time it wasn't in a ponytail or me having a hat on.

Here is a picture of Ava's method. Throw down putter and push the ball with your hands. Worked every time!

We went to Outback after putt putt and Ava ate all of Steve's green beans. She put it in her mouth like braces in this picture. LOL

Only family picture of the entire trip - other than our feet picture.

Memorial Day 2009 - TONS of Pictures

I took the time to actually make sure the pictures are loaded in order of their happening.

Descriptions under pictures.

Garzas on Rocks! Enough said - the Garza family understands and will appreciate this picture.

After the creek and the pouring rain that happened while there the kids came back to Cecelias and Ava got out of her wet clothes and put a nightgown on. This was around 4:00. She played outside for about 6 more hours. Hence the dirty, dirty look she is showing. If this isn't a white trash kid, I don't know what is. Barefoot, dirty, nightgown, scraped up from falling into a barbed wire fence, and eating a cup of ice. Lord help me! (edited to add - yes, she had a bath after this and no, she didn't sleep in this nightgown.)

The Peterson Siblings. My mom and her brothers. L-R: Oren, David, Merlin, Mary (my mom - Merlin is her twin brother), Eddie and Dale.

Ok, I normally am way to vain to post a crappy picture of me but this just shows how much I love my Uncle Dave. I had my hair all pulled back because I DID get wet during the rain (just not AS wet as others) and I was a hot, sweaty mess. His arm is in a sling due to blood clots that formed after they put the port for his chemo treatments. He was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer (never smoked). BUT...we serve a Living God who is the great Physician and can heal my Uncle and that is what I'm clinging to and praying for. Please pray for Dave and my aunt Barb as they face the treatments and healing.

The kiddos walking the railroad tracks heading to the cemetary on Memorial Day.

Dialycia standing at her Veterans grave.

Ava showing the utmost respect to this former soldier and decided to sit on the stone. ggrrrrr - She was in a bad mood because she was so stinkin' tired and I was trying to tell her why it was not respectful to sit or stand on the tombstone. She had open ears the entire time. Yeah, right. She also is mad because she only has one flower to lay on the grave. She wanted a bunch.

Ok, I've now *found* (aka stolen) another flower for her but she is once again mad because there are "leaves" on it. Oh, and she decided she didn't like the previous grave she was at so we moved....once again.

Here she is after she layed her flowers down (notice the leaves off of the peony that Super Mom pulled off for her darling daughter????).

21 Gun salute. My kids just LOVE this part. The entire cemetary is silent after the first shots are fired and then you hear Ava cry out "Mommy, that is too loud and it scares me. Followed by her sobbing".

Isabella with Cecelia trying to be brave and not hold her ears during the gun salute.

Standing during the playing of Taps.

My Uncle Dave and Aunt Barb have goats on the farm to help with the weeds.

What is this??? BOTH girls looking at the camera and no one crying???

Ava, Isabella and Dialycia petting a 3 day old baby goat. I am sure there is a farming word for baby goat but I've already admitted school was a social experiment for me and not a learning possibility.

Two of the greatest people around - My uncle Dave and aunt Barb.

Ava is thrilled to have her picture taken once again.

Grammy and Ava

Dialycia feeding a 6 month old goat.

Ava feeding a goat.

Isabella feeding the goats.

Ava was given a branch with some leaves on it (these leaves she apparently likes and is ok with) and the Mommy goat would take bites of the leaves until they were all gone. Ava would giggle after each bite.

The Things I Learned.....

Following is a list of the top 15 things I learned this weekend.

1. Crick and Creek are the same thing.
2. Warsher and washer are also the same.
3. If you get the same set of cards again the deck was apparently not "shifted" very well.
4. If you don't want to play certain cards in a game you can slush off instead of slough off.
5. Kids receive more joy from playing in the barn, searching for toads, stomping in mud puddles, throwing rocks in storm drains, playing fetch with a dog and swimming in a creek than watching cartoons or playing video games.
6. If it's raining and you ask someone who is getting soaked to look for an umbrella - they WILL be annoyed. Asking if there happened to be a tarp in the truck by chance will also provoke the same reaction.
7. I would last on the game of Survivor for probably 5 minutes.
8. I apparently love my brother more than he loves me.
9. Some of the most amazing people in the world are in my family.
10. One of the best feelings is laughing so hard at a home video that you almost pee yourself. Especially when it is at the expense of someone other than you.
11. I tasted the best cupcake EVER this weekend.
12. My child can possibly get dirtier than I ever imagined - and I loved every minute of it.
13. If you are going to arrive 5 minutes late to a Memorial Day service at church, don't wear flip flops that alert the entire congregation of your late arrival. (For clarification - I was the one wearing the flip flops).
14. I suck at the following games: euchre, corn hole, pass the trash and Screw Your Neighbor.
15. I could pretty much guarantee my Uncle Eddie was going to pass me a 2 when I traded cards with him - but yet I was a sucker and continued to trade with him. See #14.

And we're off!!!!!!

In a few hours we will be off for the weekend. We are going to Isabella's soccer game at noon and then heading straight out to travel to spend the weekend with my moms side of the family in Ohio. Small town of maybe 100 people - no cell phone coverage (apparently AT&T hasn't felt the need to put towers around the area). The kids play in the barn, catch frogs/toads, swim in the creek and lots of other great fun things. My city girls LOVE this weekend and look forward to it every year.

The adults play cards until wee hours in the morning. Have cook outs, talk, take pictures and play corn hole. Minimal money is spent and the focus is just family, family, family and lots of fun. On Monday we always go to the church and have a memorial day service and then go to the local cemetary and have a playing of taps, 21 gun salute and then we place flowers on the graves of all the men and women who served this great country! It's awesome.

Steve is hanging back here at the Casa and going to the Indy 500 on Sunday. We've lived here for 2 years but this will be the first time he has gone. A vendor of his at work gave him 2 tickets. I told him to root for Jeff Gordan to see if he knew Jeff was a Nascar driver vs Indy driver - he did. My man is so smart. LOL

Then.....we leave Thursday evening to spend the week at the BEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are taking the kids to Disney and they don't have a clue. We are going to surprise them the morning we head to the Park. Thanks for the awesome hook-up from our neighbor JD!! I in all truthfulness don't want to go to Disney but the kids will be so excited. We are planning a big trip next year and plan to spend about 7 days at Disney so this is just an appetizer until the main course next year!

Have a great weekend!

He forgot....

AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Isabella and the tooth fairy struck a deal this afternoon because he forgot to leave this morning as well as after school. He's giving her $20 and calling it a done deal for all remaining teeth to come out. She made out on the deal because she doesn't have that many teeth left to fall out I don't think.

Dear Mr. Tooth Fairy

Please remember to make an appearance this evening under Isabella's pillow. Please do not forget like the last tooth a couple of weeks ago that ended up costing you $10. The Garza tooth fairy family has been following Dave Ramsey and we really need to start paying a more normal rate for a lost tooth. Your $10 a tooth (to pay interest or whatever for missing like last time) or your continued variance between $5 and $10 is too much. I really, really think Mr. Ramsey would agree with me. I think $2 for a big front tooth (like the one lost today) sounds reasonable and $1 for all other remaining dinky teeth.

Kindest regards,
Your wife

P.S. - I have lots to say, my list keeps getting longer and longer. Just need to find time to sit down and make a post! Will add to the list of to do's for tomorrow.

A Better Day

Lord knows it has to be better than yesterday.

Recap:
Breakfast - 2 ice cream sandwiches
Lunch - bowl of Rocky Road ice cream
Supper - 1 ice cream sandwich and a small portion of pasta with chicken

Today:
Breakfast - Blackberry, raspberry protein shake.

Already off to a better start.

My surgery recovery is a slow process and I'm trying not to overdue it so I've spent lots of time watching movies with Ava. Yesterday we watched Kung Foo Panda 3 times (although we both napped a bit the during the 2nd showing).

Another blonde surgery moment - I called my BFF from high school to update her on my surgery. I apparently forgot I called her - and proceeded to call her not once, not twice - but 3 times. Boy - I'm a sharp one aren't I? LOL

Huge props to Kris and Amy for playing Mommy role this weekend. The kids spent the night with Amy on Saturday and came home Sunday late afternoon. Kris had the girls on Friday night. Also, I had to call Amy (and wake her up mind you) to drive Isabella to school on MOnday because as we were walking to the bus stop - the bus was pulling away. So, she got up and drove Isabella to school for me. I love my neighbors - Kris and Amy are far, far, far more than neighbors - they are best friends for life! BFFL!~LOL

Life is So Good

There isn't any other words that would work for the title of this post. Life is just really, really good right now. I have many days where it's hard to want to put my feet on the floor and want to really face what the day has to offer - but the last couple of weeks have just been super. Nothing monumental has even happened - just savoring the greatness of the warm weather, bathing the kids after a full day of playing outside (that requires me to also clean the tub each evening from the ring of dirt they leave behind), the smell of fresh cut grass, planting flowers, reading outside in a lawn chair while the kids play, drawing with sidewalk chalk, kicking the soccer ball, long walks in the neighborhood - the list just goes on and on.

I'm so motivated when the weather is nice. I tackle cleaning projects with joy, work out with excitement and don't even get stressed when Steve has to work late, work on his day off or go into work early. You get my drift.

Today after I took Isabella to school I did 2 loads of laundry, washed the entry way rugs for all of the doors and then Ava and I went to the library. Stopped at Subway and got us each a sandwich and then spread a blanket down in the front yard and had a picnic with Ava (this just warms my heart to no end remembering that moment). Then for some crazy reason I decided to clean out the garage. And by clean out - that meant moving EVERYTHING out of it, sweeping it, getting the hose and spraying it down, using the squeegee to clear the water out, sprayed down all the shelving units, garden tool holder thing, threw tons and tons of stuff away and then organized 90% of it. I only partially messed with the cabinet that has all the yard chemicals and fertilizer stuff and didn't do much to Steves work bench. I had 5 people driving by stop to ask if I was having a yard sale because I had it all pulled out in the yard and driveway. LOL

Then, finished the day with a long, hot bubble bath and did a glycolic acid peel on my face. My face just looks so fresh after those peels - it hurts like a dickens but the end result is worth it.

Steve and I have spent the last 3 days planting flowers and he finished up his garden. The flowers are going to look amazing if I may brag for a bit. I'm really happy with our selections and placement of everything. I'll post pictures once we get mulch delivered and spread. We spend so, so much time outside during the summer and early fall that we really appreciate the flowers. Plus, if anyone knows my Mom and her yard/flowers - you know I get the desire honestly.

Then, add to the mix the fabulous fantastic neighbors and life just can't get much better. Last night me, Steve, Mark and Amy and Pam were all sitting on Pams back porch relaxing (me after taking a Flexeral that I got from Amy because I pulled a muscle trying to use a shovel for the first time - LOL). Mark volunteered to mow the yard for me the next couple weeks because I'm having a little surgery on Friday and will be out of mowing capacity for a couple weeks (I geniunely like mowing the yard because its an hour of cardio that doesn't involve me being on a treadmill or elliptical). Bless his heart - he even knows we like our lawn mowed at a higher level than most. Then, when he realized Pam pays for a company to mow her yard he insisted on her cancelling them and he would just mow her yard as well. Don't you all wish you lived in my neighborhood??? Mark and Amy are so generous and just awesome friends to Steve and I - we are so, so blessed. Plus, Mark has a riding lawn mower so he can zip around the yard in no time at all.

Oh, remembering the sidewalk chalk - a cute thing Isabella did was write Pams name on the end of her driveway - I guess to remind her where she lived so she wouldn't drive past it. LOL The girls love Pam to pieces!

So, to end this fabulous day I'm going to go relax and watch American Idol and The Biggest Loser (I'm not really an American Idol fan but Amy is so I watch it so I know who she is talking about when she mentions the show - see what a great friend I am. hahahahaha)

Slow News Week

In the Garza household. A post with no pictures.

The week was spent working in the yard and flower beds tilling up the soil, pulling weeds and getting ready to plant.

Most know my love for CVS - you can get just about anything free there with a little research and coupon clipping. Well, I've had to take Ava with me for the last couple of CVS runs. I always buy her some candy at the end of the trip because I'm just a great mom. She loves Tic Tacs. After she eats them all she always asks "Can we go back to PVS Kids and get some more?" "When are we going to PVS Kids again". She plays games on PBSKIDS.org on the computer all the time so I guess she assumes I shop at a similar store. LOL

We are counting down the days until the end of school - not to much longer. Loving the beautiful weather so I can hang outside with the greatest friends in the neighborhood - Amy and Kris. They are helping me out big time next week! They are the best!

Today is soccer games and then I think we'll head to the library. Nothing major.

Cascarones

Or, in English, Confetti Easter Eggs. My mother in law sends these to the kids every year and they look forward to them more than anything else. We use a few on Steve and then the remaining get used mainly on my brother. LOL He's a good sport.

Trent holding Dialycia so Ava can work her magic.

The girls ganging up on Trent.

Ava wouldn't just crush them at first she would get it and tap, tap, tap until it finally broke. It's a wonder Trents head didn't get cut.

Just a cute picture of Isabella before soccer practice. I love being a soccer mom!

My brother and I - he was picking me up so we would be close to the same height in pictures vs him being a foot taller than me.

Easter 2009

Surprise surprise - pictures loaded in reverse order. So, you get the end of the day first....no patience to redo right now.


Ava and Mommy after church.

Steve and the girls before church. Well, the girls before church - Steve had to work.

No description needed. LOL

Isabella and Ava. My brother was ecstatic to see they were only in color cordinating outfits vs matching. Progress on my part. LOL

Poor Isabella was literally pulled out of bed 2 minutes before this picture was taken.

Dave Ramsey approved Easter baskets. Although there is a fabulous bible in Isabellas basket that you can't see. It is a bible written at 3rd grade level so she can take to church, read and actually understand it (I probably should read it and understand better - LOL).

Ok - the following are the day before Easter taken at Isabellas first indoor soccer game.

Ava laying on the ground in pink white striped pants with a group of kids she met. They had found a bug.

Coach Daddy and Isabella - #2 before the game. My camera setting was off and the pics are fuzzy.

The girls and Daddy reading daily bible story/prayer before Bed.

Spring Break - Newport Aquarium

I'm going to be a posting freak today and get caught up on the last couple of weeks of pictures and posts. Since we are going to the beach in June we were keeping a low key spring break. We drove over to Kentucky/Cincinnati and went to the Newport Aquarium. We didn't do much else because Isabella was still recovering from her 103+ fever and was worn out.

Ava before the pool - ready to rock and roll.

Isabella armed and ready with her water gun.

Ava having the best seat in the house touring the Aquarium.

When we were at Animal Kingdom a couple years ago, Isabella got her face painted. Ever since Ava has been begging for her face to be painted. She almost squeeled when she saw the aquarium had face painting. It's not the Disney experience but it will satisfy her for a little while.

Ava still finishing up eating her chocolate chip cookie.

Easter Weekend

Isabella had her first indoor soccer game this morning. She did awesome. She was aggressive and going after the ball and played goalie even for a bit and blocked several shots. Yippee!!!

More to come later. Just hoping and praying all who read this are remembering the reason for celebrating this weekend. For me and my family - it isn't about the Easter Bunny and coloring of easter eggs but Christs sacrifice for us on the cross.

My hope for everyone is to not be in too much of a rush to get to the resurrection that we forget the death and the sacrifice in which that death was for sinners like myself. The resurrection is mighty but the taste and sting of death was required!


Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
1 Corinthians 15:55

...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds WE ARE HEALED.
Isaiah 53:5

Watch Out Uncle Trent

It looks like you are wondering what is going to happen to you in the next couple of weeks???

The above picture says it all!! They arrived today - so be prepared!!!!

I just love this picture of my brother that my sis-in-law took of Trent. I think he looks so handsome in it.

The beautifully painted eggs are sent every year by my mother-in-law and my kids LOVE them!!! They get more and more excited each year. The eggs are almost to beautiful to mess with - but the kids quickly get over their beauty. They are a Mexican tradition (forgive my history story telling because I don't know the back history really) - but the eggs have the bottoms removed and they are filled with confetti and then a thin tissue paper is glued over the hole. My kids smash them on their dads head (1 dozen and then 3 dozen on my brother - LOL). Occasionally Grammy, me and my sister in law will get some confetti tossed on us - but they get great pleasure smashing on Uncle Trent for some reason.

Pictures to follow of course!

What the heck?

I had washed the girls winter coats and had them ready to be stored and we woke up to SNOW this morning. Crazy I tell ya!!!

It's hard to keep up with the blog and facebook. Sometimes I update the blog continually and others I'm updating on facebook. I need to learn to do both! :)

So, we survived Spring Break and a week with Steve on vacation at home. We didn't have many plans - which is a good thing. Isabella came down with a fever last Friday and ran a 103 degree temp for at least 4 days. We went to Cincinnati/Florence, KY area to go to the Newport Aquarium and swim at the hotel. Isabella felt like poo so she swam for a total of 5-10 minutes. We knew she was under the weather because she is a fish and has to be drug out of the pool. Steve and Ava ran some errands, swam and got out of the hotel while Isabella and I hung out at the hotel and watched some movies and cuddled. We went to the aquarium and the girls had a great time - I'll post pictures this week.

Steve went to yoga with me last Saturday and tore his back up again. He had always thought it was yoga that was aggravating the disc and now, it's pretty much confirmed. I gave him some pain pills and they've helped relieve the pain some. I'm just hoping this heals on its own and no surgery is required again. His toes/feet are already experiencing numbness like the last time. :(

The girls and I headed to Mitchell for a couple of days. They hung out at my moms and played while Mom and I watched Movies (Slumdog Millionaire and Marley and Me). Saturday the girls colored easter eggs but I think their Grammy had more fun decorating then the girls. LOL It was sweet hearing them say how "gorgeous" and "beautiful" their eggs were.

Well, I'm trying to be motivated on this snowy, dreary day. Went to the grocery store already this morning, roasting a chicken right now for later and getting ready to cut up some fresh fruit and veggies. Mom had a bunch of fruit cut up and seperated in containers and it made it so easy to grab something healthy anytime you opened the fridge. Ava requested chicken and strawberries (ugh - I just realized I forgot to buy strawberries while I typed this!!! Darn it!!!) for breakfast lunch and dinner. Hoping she'll do the same here!

Post filled with Bragging

So, back away now if you don't want to hear bragging from me on my kids. :)

We had Isabella's parent teacher conference today. She is doing exceptionally well. She is doing math at 3rd grade level as well as reading at 3rd grade level. She scored leaps and bounds above district and national averages in math and reading. And, the little nerd...um, I mean smart girl...is doing basic algebra problems. Folks, I took algebra in 9th grade. I'm sure the training she does in Math Pentatholan helps as well. Boy, don't I feel smart next to her. LOL She has a very analytical mind and just processes and thinks much, much different than her mama!

As long as she remains socially active and not socially immature I'm all for her being a nerdy, smart girl. LOL She starts indoor soccer in a couple of weeks so we are trying to allow her to branch out as much as possible. Anyway - after the conference today we were super proud of her.

We took the girls to Chuck E Cheese for their first Tasty Tasty Club reward. They had a blast while Steve and I were bored to tears waiting for them to use up their tokens. Isabella has a 1/2 day again tomorrow and then starts spring break!!! We aren't going anywhere major but we do have a jam packed week.

Sunday after church we are heading over to Cincinnati and spending the night at the Hilton and the girls are going to swim in the indoor pool Then Monday we are going to the Newport Aquarium (we got a great package deal for the hotel/aquarium tickets). Tuesday the girls are spending the night with Jack for a sleep over. That sounds kinda funny typing it - having sleep overs with a boy. LOL But, they adore and love Amy, Mark, Christine, Jack and Corey so they will have an awesome time. Wednesday and Thursday we'll take advantage of our zoo and childrens museum memberships and head there for some fun. Friday we head to my moms for a couple of days. Steve is on vacation starting today until next Saturday - yippeee!!!!

Steve took Ava on a date this morning. He is so great about spending special one on one time with each of the girls. They went to McDonalds for pancakes for breakfast and then Ava played on the indoor playground there. Ava and I spend lots and lots and lots of one on one time together - did I mention a lot of time with each other???? LOL But, Isabella and I don't as much other than little trips to the store or Target. So, our next outing - although a couple months away - we are going to go and get a pedicure (me) and she'll get her nails and toenails painted (she just wants to get rhinestones on her toes and fingernails LOL) and then we'll do a little shopping for our trip to the beach at the end of May.

How many more weeks of this basketball stuff do we have left???? It's messing with my shows people. Survivor isn't on AGAIN tonight but The Office and Grey's Anatomy are new so I'm happy. teeheee

The Latest Happenings

Wow, almost a week since a post. Life has just been busy and we've been on the run and the kids have behaved themselves so not much material to write about. :)

Isabella got her report card for the 3rd 9 weeks - all A's again. We are proud of her, of course. We have a parent teacher conference on Thursday. She's nervous about it since it's student led and has to do a lot of the talking. Plus, she has to go over the goals she made during the first conference and she's worried. One of her goals was to not miss a word on her spelling test the entire year. Well, a few weeks ago she made a mistake while writing her sentence (she spelled the word correctly on the test, but spelled it wrong when writing the sentence - the word was friends). So, she's embarassed she didn't meet her goal. Goodness - she places too much pressure on herself for 7!!! We tell her that constantly but she is who she is.

At Steve's restaurant they have a birthday dinner each month to celebrate the employees birthdays for the month. The managers all cook the food themselves and then they show a movie. Steve has been taking Isabella with him for the past 6 months. It's a sweet time between Daddy and his little girl each month. Ava and I went to yoga and had our own bonding time. The kid is glued to me so I think we may be having too much bonding time. LOL

We have been going to a semi-new church the past month. We love it so much!!! We went to it for a few months when we first moved here but just didn't really like the lead minister. Well, that minister has since moved on and the former associate minister is now lead. We love everything about this church!! I joined a ladies bible study the first week we went back and have had an awesome time meeting the sweet, sweet, beautiful ladies during this study.

Well, Ava is once again requesting a "salad sandwich with ranch" (bread, lettuce and ranch dressing) so off to pacify this crazy girl!

Laugh at yourself

I wish I would have known years ago its so much easier when you laugh at yourself. I guess insecurities got the best of me when I was younger but now, I laugh at myself quite often. I can and often embarass myself - usually by opening my mouth. LOL

Last night I had made a roast and we were having roast beef sandwiches. I made a horseradish/mayo spread that I put on mine. Well, I didn't think it had as much zing as I wanted so Steve added some raw horseradish to my sandwich. Oh.my.gosh - my sinus' were burning - it was so strong I couldn't even finish eating it. I think Steve just wanted my sandwich. :)

Ava requested a "salad sandwich with ranch" last night. Translated - she wanted bread, lettuce and some ranch dressing. I did talk her into adding some beef with her salad sandwich.

Tasty Tasty Club Sucess!

A couple weeks ago I started the Tasty Tasty Club in our house. I read about it on another blog. What you do is make little Tasty Club Cards with 7 round dots. When your child eats a serving of a new food or a food they think they do not like - then, they get to punch their dot. Once both kids get the dots all punched out - we go somewhere as a family to eat as a treat that the kids choose. Right now - it's looking to be Chuck E Cheese (Lord, help me!).

It has been a fabulous tool at the dinner table. I don't give them a huge serving at all but enough to equate more than a couple bites. Some of the successes have been -homemade chicken noodle soup with carrots and celery (the carrots and celery were the big obstacles - my kids like raw carrots but use to turn their nose down to cooked carrots), broccoli casserole (again, they both LOVE broccoli but with it going in a casserole, I knew I'd hear complaints), salad that has green peppers, fresh sliced mushrooms and cucumbers (they love salad but usually I don't put any fresh vegetables in it) and tonights dinner was a wild rice, mushroom and sausage casserole. When they walked in the kitchen and found out what I was making - of course, they complained and said they didn't like it. After Isabella took her first bite - she said "wow, this is actually good!". Ava only has only one more punch left and Isabella has two.

Steve has a HUGE pet peeve about people saying they don't like something. I don't have an issue with people having things they don't like - me, I can't stand peas or lima beans - would I try them if presented before me, of course but I won't load my plate up with them, that is guaranteed. My beef is parents who say their kids are so picky or will only eat 4-5 meals. I think it is such a huge disservice to the child and is sad they will be missing out on a lot of good food. Plus, going to friends houses for dinner when all the kid will eat is corn dogs, chicken nuggets, pizza or mac and cheese. It's kinda pathetic in my opinion. But, to each their own!!! That's what makes the world go round I guess.

So, I challenge you to start your own tasty tasty club - it works!

Oh - the reason I started this was I got a bunch of Paula Deen cookbooks at the library and fell in love with tons of different recipes and I wanted an incentive to have the kids eager to try the new meals out with me.

Chefs in Training

Every month Steve does a cooking class at Maggianos and every few months they have a childrens cooking class. Friday my mom, my SIL and my niece came up and we took the kids to the class Saturday. I don't know who had more fun, us watching and helping them, my mom who had to stand at the table and help Isabella and Ava or Steve. Ava was hilarious and entertaining as usual. Dialycia did an awesome job making hers - she was a pro and didn't need any help.

They had their aprons and chef coats - Ava was the only one wearing a chef coat and we wrote Chef #1, Chef #2 and Chef #3 on them. It reminded me of Dr. Suess - Thing 1 and Thing 2. LOL

This is after the class with their finished product - Lasagna.

I hope they don't do this in all of the kitchens. This is how Ava tastes the food.

Isabella, listening for her next set of instructions.

Spreading the ricotta cheese.

Ava working on her lasagna.

Dialycia preparing her masterpiece.

Before class starts.

Steve with his students.

Oh, I forgot. After the class all the kids were coming up for autographs and to get their picture taken with Steve. When we walked out to the car Isabella says to me "Mom, I didn't know Daddy was famous". LOL

Birthday Dinner with BFF's

Amy, Kris and I went to Maggiano's last night to celebrate our February birthdays. We had such a great time and laughed so hard it made my stomach hurt. I am so lucky we are neighbors and more importantly - great friends.

Birthday Pictures

The whole group making cupcakes.

Making individual pizzas on flatbread.

Ava making her pizza.

Each girl got to decorate their own chef hat. Isabella used some lighter paint so you can't see her name and the flowers that well. Notice the water streaks behind her??? That is from Isabella and Ava spraying Molly with the water bottle last year. We need to repaint the kitchen and the family room because these spots are all over the place. :(

Ava in her chef hat.

Isabella and Emma.

Isabella and Ava after school.

Isabella with her favorite gift - MarioKart from Grandma and Papi.

Game for her Nintendo DS

This was her birthday celebration at my brothers house with the cake my mom got her. This cake was so pretty and bright and colorful! It was delicious too!

Nothing too fancy - just some random shots from her birthday and with her friends that spent the night.

Happy 7th Birthday Isabella

For this child I prayed; and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him.
1 Samuel 1:27

Behold, children are a blessing from the Lord.
Psalm 127:3

7 years ago tomorrow, February 27, at 5:46 pm Isabella Grace Garza made me a Mommy. I had no idea my heart could have the capacity to love the way it did when I looked at her for the first time. Also, I was not prepared for the fears and worries that came with being a Mommy.

I'm sure the nurses at Medical City Dallas were laughing their bottoms off at me during my stay. I, for some reason, thought I was at Club Med or post pregnancy resort. I had memorized ext. 7171 immediately and would call them everytime Isabella needed her diaper changed. It wasn't until I was telling someone about being nervous changing Isabellas diaper at home for the first time when they asked who changed them in the hospital. I thought it was obvious - the nurses of course! No joke, the nurse would come and either take her back to the nursery or change the diaper in the room for me every time. LOL

2 days old

7 weeks
3 months


6 months

8 months

9 months (this one scanned funky)

1 year

My mom made the overalls for me and Steve was mortified with the hat. LOL

1 year - look at those sumo boobies. :) My little angel

1 year

15 months

18 months

18 months

2 years

3 1/2 years

3 1/2 years

4 1/2 years

5 1/2 years

School Pictures

PreK 3

PreK 4

Kindergarten

1st Grade

Thanks for looking!

Ava's Trashcan

This is behind the family room TV downstairs. Behind it were several valentine sucker wrappers, I swear a roll of toliet paper it seemed, several band aids and several sucker sticks.

When vacuuming I found - no joke - at least TWENTY bandaid wrappers (Thank goodness for JD giving us free bandaids). Ava had decided to throw away the bandaid wrappers underneath the couch.

Now, after a week of Ava posts - is there any wonder why I'm crazy???

Valentines 2009

Here are a few pictures from Valentines Day this year.

First - Ava wearing my UnderArmor gym headband. God help me with this kid as she ages.

Ava excited about her Love Frog from Grammy.

Isabella and some of her Valentines stash.

Ava kissing her Hersheys Chocolate bar. This kid has a serious love for these candy bars.

Heart shape pancake Steve made for the girls.

Steve was crazy busy at work on Saturday for Valentines. He said they had the biggest day dollar wise in the history of the restaurant.

Heaven Help Me

The picture says it all. This girl is a hoot! Back into the cheer outfit again.

It's confirmed!

I am the only one in this house that knows the following:

1. Where the extra rolls of toilet paper are stored.


2. How to remove empty roll of toilet paper.


3. How to install a new roll of toilet paper.

I swear, I walk into a bathroom almost daily it seems only to find empty rolls of toilet paper. Today, I busted Steve - which he tried to deny and say he was saving money because there was still some left. When I ran to get the camera to take a picture of it, he changed his tune.

When Mommy is sick & big news!

Early Thursday morning (1:00 am) I was lucky to get the stomach virus the girls had last week. Steve was home until around 2:00 pm yesterday and took care of me and Ava. When he went to work Ava thankfully went down for a nap. When Isabella came home from school (thank you Kris for dropping her off at the house) I told her I'd pay her to take care of Ava and basically they had free reign to eat whatever they wanted.

This is what I woke up to this morning -

Apparently, dinner was valentines candy, chips and apple jacks. Isabella was a sweetheart and would come and check on me every couple of hours. This morning I woke up feeling so much better. Hopefully, Steve stays healthy - especially through the weekend - he's super busy at work.

So, the big news....we now have a college professor in the house! Steve is going to be teaching a cooking class next semester at the Art Institute here in Indy!!! He has always talked about going into teaching once he retires from cooking - so this was an awesome, surprising opportunity that fell at his feet! He'll teach every Monday morning for 4 hours. The semester starts in April and goes until June I think. I'm so proud of him!!!!!!!!!!

Tired

I'm just now sitting down after a busy day. I don't think I ate lunch today - sad that I can't even remember.

I did 6 loads of laundry, cleaned all 3 bathrooms, dusted the upstairs, cleaned out the master bedroom closet - it looks so good - I just want to sit in it. LOL

I'm happy to say Dave Ramsey has allowed for an "Alisha maintenance" envelope and I was able to go and get my eyebrows waxed. It's been a productive day all around.

Poor Amy has what Isabella and Ava had the other day. I saw Mark at preschool drop off and he said she was in bad shape. I called Kris and found out what medicine she said stopped her daughter from puking and went and picked it up for Amy and dropped it off. I secretly wanted her to get better quick so she would still be able to go to dinner with Kris and I on Thursday. LOL

Off to fold one last load of laundry and then I'm settling in to watch some TV.

I was right!

The nurse called and BOTH spots came back pre-cancerous from the dermatologist. One I have to go back and have some minor surgery on because they didn't get everything. I have to wait for the last biopsy to heal and then they will go back and dig deeper.

So - my tip for the day....have yearly body checks by a dermatologist.!!

Ava

Don't you just love this kid? LOL She is a handful 99% of the time - but she is so darn funny. I love her so much. Last night she was still feeling yucky so she wanted to lay in front of the fireplace and watch TV. She was as happy as can be!

Here are a few Ava-isms from the past couple of weeks.......

• You smell good Mommy. You smell like candles.
• Why you smell like coffee mommy?
• Mommy - my food goes in my mouth, down into my belly and then becomes poop!
  
  

Birthday Evening & Sick kiddos

Self portrait in the car before heading home.

The waiter took a picture of us at the restaurant.

Ava being a cheerleader. It was about 6 degrees yesterday but she insisted wearing this. Check out the shoes!! LOL They are Isabellas old Cinderella glass slippers that are too small for Bella but too big for Ava - apparently they are her cheerleader shoes.

Steve surprised me by calling our neighbor and friend Amy to see if Christine could watch the girls so he could take me out to dinner. She said no problem and the girls went with them to watch Cory's basketball game and then stayed with them until around 9:30 when we got home last night. We went out and had sushi and then saw Slumdog Millionaire. This movie is soooo good. I will never again say we are poor - and if I do - you have permission to slap me. :)

I took the camera and Steve and I had so much fun taking pictures throughout the night and acting silly. It was good times!!

I was woke up this morning at 4:00 am by Isabella throwing up. Ava followed suit at 5:30 am - so I am washing sheets and bedding and scrubbing carpets. Ava has been good to go since her first bout so hopefully she is over it. Isabella is having a little bit more - but hopefully it will pass soon. Me and Steve - praying to God desperately we don't catch it.

Isabella's letter to me......

Isabella just gave me a letter for my birthday. It says:

From a kid who loves you most...me Isabella. Your first kid. I (heart) U.

Followed by a family picture drawing.

Steve was just happy she is drawing him taller now and it's clear who the dad is. LOL Well, plus his hair doesn't flip up like she makes me, Ava and her hair. heehee I love this kid to pieces.

What a Monday!

We were all in bed and asleep by 8:00 pm last night. All of us are fighting colds/upper resp infections and felt like poo so we called it an early night last night.

I had a day filled with Dr. visits. First, an eye appt which I had the pleasure of having my eyes dialated - I can't believe they let me drive home. I couldn't see a thing!! Thank goodness it was only a couple miles away. I did find out my corneas are too thin to ever have lasik eye surgery. I am essentially blind - you can't even say near or far sighted because I can't see a thing without my contacts or glasses on.

After the eye dr I had an hour to eat lunch and rest and then head off (still dilated in the ole eyes and not seeing clear) to the dermatologist. I had 2 areas that I knew were going to be removed during the body check. One area I would bet money is going to come back as something. I had a mole/spot removed a couple years ago when we lived in Cincinnati still and it came back as cancerous (not sure of proper terminology) but the Dr. said if left unattended for a few more months it would have been melanoma. Well, one spot that was removed yesterday is right next to the scar. My Derm back in Cincy had to actually go back and remove more because he didn't get it all the first time and now this spot popped up next to the scar so I wouldn't be surprised if I get a call back.

Its snowing again today and I'm waiting to hear if school is let out early today - I'm guessing it will.

Weekly Recap

Well, I didn't do an update last night after the super bowl because I've battling an upper resp infection and I felt like I lost a lung from coughing. I ended up having to have Isabella sleep with Steve because I kept coughing and moaning. LOL I am feeling better this morning but last night - not so much. Did watch the 1st 3 quarters of the Super Bowl over at JD and Ellens with a ton of neighbors but we left at the end of the 3rd Q because Isabella had school and I wanted to curl up in bed.

Before the super bowl we took the girls to Picture People for their annual Valentine Pictures. If I felt better I would do a recap of years past - maybe later this week. It's cute to see the progression of age. I love having a picture of Isabella with 1/2 of her teeth missing - LOL.


These are the Valentine cards we got printed. Dave Ramsey approved this purchase because we had an envelope for it and with coupon an 8x10 and 12 cards was only $12- yeah!! Click on the card if you want to see close up - Ava's face in the middle picture is totally Ava!

Picture of the front of the house after our 12.5 inches of snow on Tuesday/Wednesday. By the way - we were forecast to get 1-3 inches Monday (got nothing) and then Tuesday we were suppose to get 1-3 inches - for a total of max 6 inches. We got 12.5. I'd love to be a weather forecaster and get paid to be wrong!

Friday I headed down South to say goodbye to one of my BFF - Cindi who is moving to Houston. In the picture it is me, Cindi, Brandy and Jamie. We've been BFF's since grade school. We were only missing Stephaney to make the picture complete.

We had snow days on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. So, Friday the girls and I got to leave early and head down to my moms for the day. We spent all day Saturday hanging out at my brothers house and then the girls spent the night there and i picked them up on Sunday morning to head back home.

I have an eye doctor appointment at noon and then a dermatologist appt at 3:00 so hopefully by then I'll have stopped coughing and feeling like a I was hit by a truck.

Bad Blogger Award...

goes to ME! ME! ME!

It's been a whole week since my last post. Will update tonight after the superbowl - and I'll even add some pictures!

Ava's Prayer

Tonight at dinner Ava decided to say the prayer. Usually the girls when they pray just say "Thank you God for this day and for this food. Please bless it to nourish our bodies. Amen". Tonight Ava said: "Thank you God...I want my family....oh, wait, first let me pray for the food. Thank you God for the food. I want a family of Daddy, Mommy, Isabella, Daisy and Molly. Amen".

Steve's Birthday and some Misc pics

Here is a note Isabella wrote for Steve for his birthday. It says Happy Happy Birthday Daddy. Love You I (heart) u. P.S. By by. What ever p.s. means. (I have no idea what P.S. is). Then she has a picture of her on the top left with a ? mark on top of her head and a sad face. This is sooo typical Isabella. She has a journal she keeps at home and Oh.My.Gosh, the things she writes in this journal are rolling on the floor funny!! (ROFL - rolling on the floor laughing). If you click on the picture you can see everything up close. It's worth clicking on I think. :)

Here is our little set up we left for him when we went to bed on the 22nd. He had to close so when he got home it was actually early morning of Jan. 23rd his birthday. Dave Ramsey did not allow for us to purchase a gift this year. But, the girls always "regive" gifts they already have. So, they gave him a teddy bear with a place for their picture and a couple animals from The Backyardigans and each a letter they wrote to him. The cards are from my aunt and my mom. Oh, and Isabella wrote Happy Birthday Dad on a place card for him and then cut out two hearts and taped them together and wrote I love you on it. She's such a sweetie pie!

Here is the birthday boy and his two girls with the wonderful cake I made. LOL

This day Ava had pushed the ottomons together, put one of the couch pillows on it and a small blanket, had her chap stick and was watching TV and playing with her baby dolls in front of the fire.

The girls playing out in the snow last week. Ava refused to look at me - big surpise there!

Isabella making a snow angel.

Finally Semi-Productive

I tell you what - this cold weather has caused me to have ZERO motivation around the house. It's no secret I'm not a fan of cooking since having 2 kids - I actually use to be a pretty decent cook when it was just me, Steve and Isabella - but throwing Ava into the mix has sent me over the edge. I despise cooking, despise going to the grocery store - just anything involved with the whole process and I'm not a fan! LOL Thank goodness I'm married to a chef right? We'd probably starve otherwise.

So, today I made a chocolate cake (ok, it was Betty Crocker) but I made buttercream icing from scratch - a first for me. Hopefully Steve likes his birthday cake - he's turning 38 years old tomorrow!!! Oh my goodness! My mom and my aunt sent him birthday cards that arrived today so I have them sitting in front of the cake stand. We will be eating cake for breakfast tomorrow because he has to work in the evening.

I also made black bean soup and I must say - it was quite tasty. No opening the cans for me. I did the whole thing from scratch - didn't even follow a recipe. LOL AND - I made the kids bbq drum sticks. They love these things. me - not so much because I don't like dark meat (chicken that is - LOL) but the girls will eat a couple at dinner.

Also, I'm doing great with my new years resolution - skin care 2009. I bought this Alpha Beta Daily Facial Peel when I got my last facial and it seems to be doing wonders. My face is looking pretty darn good skincare wise. And, I'm also using my $120 bottle of Vitamin C serum I bought over the summer and I guess the combination of the two expensive products are helping the anti-aging process. Or - I'm crazy. LOL

History!

Yesterday I spent the entire day after I got back from the gym on the couch watching the inauguration of President Obama. I had chills and goosebumps the entire time. I kept getting tears in my eyes seeing all the former Presidents walk out. I will be praying for President Obama to help get our country back on track. I think it was a good day yesterday. Plus, Isabella was super excited she got to watch it all at school yesterday - although it was during recess so she was a bit bummed about that. heehee

Keeping warm and a brag!

Well, trying to keep warm! It has gotten bitterly cold here - today I think the high got to 4. Both girls had a 2 hour school delay because of the cold weather and when I driving Isabella to school it was -2 below zero. They have already planned for a 2 hour delay tomorrow because it's suppose to get -10 below zero tonight. It will warm up to the 20's in a couple of days. Which hopefully will thaw out the pipes so I can do laundry and use my bathtub.

They sent someone out at the end of last week and they took the siding off and insulated the pipes (I think that's what they did). The building contractor saw Steve this afternoon and they talked about them still being frozen so they are going to have to figure something else out. Luckily the shower pipes aren't frozen or the girls tub and shower but I usually take a bubble bath every night and I'm missing that!!!

Ok, another brag...Isabella was asked to be on the Math Pentatholon team!! The team will start meeting every Monday an hour before school starts to practice. We are proud of our smart little girl. She definetly gets her smarts from her Daddy! Well, I'm pretty smart but school was a total social experiment for me vs learning. heehee

Here are a couple pictures of Ava from the other morning. She said her head hurt so she went and put a bandaid on her forehead. She was mad that I wanted to take a picture of her and was pouting, crying and refusing to look at me at first. She had just finished eating some toast and drank some chocolate milk so she has some food on her face an a choc milk mustache!

That's the latest happenings this week! I'm finally over my virus I got - I lost 3 pounds so feeling like crap was worth it. LOL

Extended Family

I know I post often how wonderful our neighbors are so back away if you don't want to hear it again.

Saturday, Ellen calls and asks to speak with Isabella. She invited her to go see a movie and then go out to eat afterwards. So, Steve walked Isabella next door yesterday at 1:00 and they told a little fib to Ava about where she was going. heehee I, on the otherhand was suffering from a 24 hour virus - ugh - but, I'm down 2 pounds. :)

Isabella comes home around 7:00 last night and she has the biggest smile on her face. Steve had given her some money and told her that if she wanted something at the movies to pay for it herself - Ellen apparently didn't let her spend her money because she was flashing the money along with her smile. She was so excited she got skittles, hi C and popcorn. Then, she flashes her hands out and they went and got their nails done too. And, to top it off - they went to On The Border and had dinner. She talked about how "fabulous" dinner was and how she had to save room for dessert because they got a brownie sundae. Jenny (JD & Ellens daughter went with them).

I had tears come to my eyes several times yesterday just thinking about how sweet, kinda and blessed we are with our neighbors. They are way more than neighbors to us - they really are extended family members.

Thanks Ellen and Jenny - Isabella had a ball!!!

Blue Friday

Well, our first Friday to wear Colts gear was a week too late. Oh, well - the girls still love their Colts attire and will wear it proudly.

And - Isabella lost her front top tooth this morning playing before school. She and Ava and Steve were messing around and Isabellla hit her mouth on the couch and it knocked the tooth out (this shows you how loose it was to begin with - Isabella isn't the bravest child when it comes to stuff like this).

Warning - Major Bragging in this post :)

If you don't want to hear me brag about Isabella - step away from this post. heehee

Report cards came home today and Isabella once again received all A's. As soon as she got off the bus she came running to the car (it was snowing/sleeting today so I drove down to the end of the street at the bus stop) all excited. She just kept saying "they said my name on Cub News, I was on Cub News". Finally, I read what she had in her hand - she received a Life Skill Award for Responsibility. She was nominated by her teacher and only 3 other students in the entire school were awarded Life Skill Awards. She received 2 gift certificates to a steak place for free dinners but truthfully, all she cared about was her name was announced on Cub News (the student led announcement show at the end of the day). And, if the first two things weren't enough bragging, I was going through her backpack and asked her what this 20 oz soda was doing in it. She received it for reading over 200 books so far this year. She has read 201 so far and is hoping to reach the goal of 400. When she reached the 100 book mark she got a homework pass to use whenever she wanted to get out of homework for a night, 200 you get a soft drink, 300 you get a movie pass and 400 you get a Webkinz.

She is such a sweet little girl and we are very proud of her! Yeah Isabella!!

~~~~ Happy New Year ~~~~

Happy New Year from the Garza Family!!! I feel 2009 is going to be a spectacular year for our family.

The girls and I welcomed the New Year in Knoxville, Tennessee with my aunts and uncles while Steve fed lots of hungry folks at Maggiano's. The girls and I had a blast in Knoxville. My moms brothers and their wives celebrate Christmas over New Years and we've been heading down since I was pregnant with Ava. Lots of eating and card playing takes place. I have gotten to know my aunts and uncles on a different level by spending New Years with them the past 4 years. I cherish New years and Memorial Day weekend with them. I love them all so much - and to see Isabella and Ava hugging and loving on them warms my heart. Mom and I had a mini-adventure while in Knoxville - I gave her the wrong exit and we spent about 30 minutes checking out the scenery all around the city! I told her I felt like Michelle did on our trip to Memphis in October. It ended up working out being lost because it allowed the girls an extra 30 minutes of sleep time. LOL

The day before we left to go to Tennesse I spent the day with my SIL and my niece. My SIL and I watched hours upon hours of marathon Millionaire Listings on Bravo, cooked, talked and packed. During this time I came to the realization that I am not cut out for the medical field. I changed her packing from her surgery a couple of weeks ago - lets just say I dry heaved the entire time I was doing it, broke out into cold sweats because I thought I was going to pass out but then also laughed so hard I almost peed on myself because she was laughing at how I was reacting to it all. The 2nd time I changed it I had a stronger stomach and didn't dry heave once! Yeah me!! heehee

Sunday we all went to the Childrens Museum in Indy and I met an awesome friend I've known online for about a year. They live in Illinois but had to drop her mom off at the Indy airport so we spent the day with Brandy and her family at the Museum. I love my on-line friends and little by little I'm meeting more of them. It's not like it was when the internet first came around - you can develop fabulous, geniune friendships online - and not worry about them stalking you and killing you. LOL Now, there are some nutter out there - don't get me wrong, I stay clear of the crazys!

Today Steve and I hit the gym doing some hard core cardio (1 hour on the elliptical machine for me. Steve did 30 minutes on the elliptical and 30 on the stairs). Tomorrow we will be back in there for some more cardio and weight training. I usually try and talk myself out of going to the gym but once I'm in there - it's like a drug. I just want more, more, more. I really love working out (once I get my butt in the gym that is LOL).

Once we got home from the gym we worked on organizing Christmas toys, putting old toys up and away to make room for the new. We only have a couple more bags to go through and we are good to go!!!

Steve's mom got Isabella this Pet Shop game - it is so much fun!! We play it over and over and over again. Thank you Grandma and Papi. The next couple of days will be spent sending out thank you cards for all the holiday goodies we received.

My New years resolutions are usually the same - focus on a healthy lifestyle by eating well, exercising and staying active. This year I added using up all of the anti-aging creams, serums and stuff I have to make me look younger and age more gracefully. LOL It better work darn it!

So, that's my update 5 days into 2009. Isabella went back to school today and Ava goes back tomorrow.

Steve finally got a Golden Retriever

Too bad it was just an ornament from my mom though! I forgot to add it to the Christmas post. My neighbor made me a scarf and she rang the door bell while I was writing the other post and I got sidetracked. It is such a cute scarf!!! Sally is a sweetheart!

Christmas 2008

Ok, first off - someone *please*please*please who is familiar with blogger and reads my blog explain to me (a very ignorant computer person) how to load pictures how I want them to appear or so the post is not the day in reverse. I cannot figure out how to type, add a picture I want, type some more, add the next picture I want - so on and on. So, you get Christmas day in reverse order....I'm an idiot.

Here is Isabella's favorite gift I think - a Colts outfit. Here in Indy they have "Blue Friday" and you are suppose to wear your colts gear but my kids have zero Colts stuff (that's a whole other post as to the reason why - short version: Steve expects Isabella (who is 6 by the way) to be loyal to and only to the Dallas Cowboys because she was born in Dallas. Cheering for or wearing any other team colors or clothes - regardless of where we live - is just about as close to taking the Lords name in vain) and this year Crapaw and Grandma Karen got them some stuff. Isabella *loves* this outfit along with her snowman Webkinz.
My brother busted out laughing as soon as he saw what I dressed the girls in. As soon as they walked in he said "I knew they would be matching". Ok, ok laugh all you want - I bought these sweaters last year on clearance at Gymboree for less than $9 each. LOL I like my kids to match or be color cordinated on Holidays. heehee

My niece got this go-kart for Christmas this year and the girls had a ball riding in it. He makes fun of my kids clothes but I say nothing about a few thousand dollar gift - I think we are even! Ok, well, maybe if my kids would have been kicking and screaming from fear I would tell him it was a waste of money and the worst gift ever. heehee My niece is a really good kid.

Family picture at Grammy's - have I mentioned how much my kids and Steve LOVE family photos?

Again - Christmas in reverse. This is a self portrait using the timer on our camera to snap a family picture before heading out to Grammy's. I'm too lazy to edit red eyes and crop out junk in the pictures for blog purposes. :)

Steve in hell. His gift from the girls - compliments of JD and Ellen. JD took the girls shopping to buy gifts for us from the girls and this is what they (um, I mean - JD picked out for Steve). I'm sure the only reason he put it on for pictures was because he was sporting a Cowboys sweatshirt - ironically bought by JD for Steve earlier this year. JD and Ellen did give Steve just about the best gift he could ever want - it is a framed print of every Cowboy jersey since the history of the Cowboys with the years the jersey was worn. Plus, a cowboys coffee mug and license plate thing.

Ava opening her My Little Pony from Uncle Lucas and Aunt Vicky.

Isabella with her iDog.

The only thing she wanted - her Nintendo DS

realizing what she was opening was her ds.

Oh, I love her so....

I tell you what - Isabella can melt my heart!!! Tonight she was saying the prayer at dinner and she said "Jesus, only one more day until we celebrate your birthday. Thank you for dying on the cross for us. I love you the same and would die on the cross for you".

You know, most days I feel like I am the crappiest, worst mother on the earth and wonder what my kids did to get the short end of the deal to have me as their Mommy - but when small glimpses of greatness comes out of their mouth like this I don't second guess myself as a loser parent near as much!

Great Neighbors & SIL update

First news - My sister-in-law (SIL)was released from the hospital today. Thank you God!! I appreciate everyones prayers more than you know. I love my SIL very much and I was very anxious and worried about her the entire past week. It is a wonderful blessing to have her resting in her own home tonight! She will probably be off work for at least a month so her recovery is going to take a while so please keep her in your prayers if you can.

Second - have I mentioned about what great neighbors I have. LOL JD called around 2:30 actually asking to see if Steve wanted to come over and watch some football tonight. Since Steve had to work I guess the girls and I were 2nd best and he invited us to come over as well. While we were over there I was complaining about our pipes being frozen in the laundry room and not being able to do any laundry (and I had a mound of it!). They offered for me to use their washer and dryer and I took them up on it. JD came over and got the laundry baskets as well as all the wet clothes from the washer and took it over to their house. Obviously when our builder "fixed" the problem we had with the pipes freezing in the laundry room wasn't a good fix! And, an even better reason they are great friends - he gave me a pain pill for my back. I won't go into the entire story as to how I once again hurt my back - first part was rear ending the truck last Wednesday on the way to the hospital and the second part was slipping on some ice and busting my behind Friday evening. LOL But, needless to say, when I bend over at the waist - I cannot stand back up without assistance.

The weather here in Indy is FREEZING. This morning when I woke up - it was one degree! Wind chill was 17 below zero. And, if that wasn't bad enough - due to strong winds yesterday afternoon - the electricity went out for over 8 hours!!! We were headed to another neighbors house for a Christmas party and the electricity went out at 4:00 and finally stayed on around midnight. We enjoyed the Christmas party via candle light and then came home to the house temperature registering 55 degrees. It was cold, cold,cold!!!! And, to make matters worse with the freezing pipes, the washing machine was mid-cycle when the electricty went out and still has water sitting in the basin. Hopefully tomorrow it will warm up enough to allow the water to drain - that or the plumber or whomever is suppose to come and fix it will be able to insulate the pipes properly (which is what they should have done in the first place) - but I digress.....

JD was kind enough to take the clean and folded laundry upstairs and the other basket in the laundry room. I'm going to go and put it all away and get the kids ready for bed. To say they are excited for Christmas would be a major understatement! Steve has to work at noon tomorrow so I'm going to get up and head to Target and finish up shopping for their Christmas stocking, mail out Steve's parents gift that just was delivered Saturday and then we are good to go! Steve is off on Christmas eve - and I am just as giddy as the kids with excitement.

Continued prayers please

Pathology results finally came in today for my sister in law and the infection is infact MRSA. The antibiotic she had been on for the last few days is not the proper meds and MRSA is resistant to it. The infection has spread further down her leg. She is now an new medicine that is making her very sick. She will be in the hospital until at least Monday if the new meds are actually working. Please continue to pray for her she is not out of the woods yet.

Todays update

Pathology still not in to determine MRSA or Cellulitis. Wound was re-packed today. Oh.My.Gosh. not for the weak stomach. Fever is gone, she looks much better but will be in the hospital for atleast 3 more days.

The latest on my sister in law

She is out of surgery and high on morphine. heehee The initial fear was MRSA on the fascia (this will mean something to the medical folk - but only made a little sense once my sister in laws mother explained it to me better). She is on some heavy antibiotics and at this time believe it is cellulitis that was under her muscle. Her leg looked unbelievable and the infection was literally spreading by the hour.

They will know more tomorrow and know if they are using the proper antibiotic to treat it.

And a side note - I was so scattered in thoughts and rushing to make it to the hospital that I hit a patch of black ice and rear ended a truck. Thank God, no damage to his truck but his trailer hitch left a nice hole in Steve's bumper. I was also super thankful to be driving Steves car instead of my BMW. Trivial I know. The most important thing right now is we believe my sister in law will be fine.

Thanks for the prayers.

Prayer request!!!!!!!!!!! ***UPDATED****

***Please pray. Heading out the door right now to drive down to my moms. My sister in law is having surgery tonight at 8:00 pm.. I'm scared.****

My sister in law is in the hospital (my brothers wife). At this point in time they do not know what is wrong with her. She has a huge, inflamed red area on her leg (my mom said it is the size of a dinner plate), running a high fever and couldn't walk because of the pain in her leg. We are waiting on test results. Please pray.

Christmas Vacation

I'm sure most have saw the movie Christmas Vacation - well Clark Griswald lives next door to us - his name is JD! JD goes all out for Christmas - he has so many things plugged in we are always scared he's going to blow the power for the entire neighborhood. The girls LOVE his house decorated and beg and plead with us to do more than garland around the front door and lights on the shrubs. This year he had to use part of Pams yard to put out all of his display. He has the lights set to a music so they are continually flashing at all different speeds - hence the reason our drapes are always pulled closed during the month of December - it reminds me of the Seinfeld episode with Kramer and the Kenny Rogers Chicken sign. LOL - I watch too much TV.

The next pictures are of Ava this morning before school. She was so excited to take her presents for her teachers so she sat for about 30 minutes watching cartoons with her backpack on and the presents in front of her. She's such a sweetheart (sometimes - LOL).

Christmas PJ's

I started doing this for Ava's first Christmas. My kids LOVE it (insert deep sarcasm here). Well, they love torturing me. Everytime I want to get a *decent* photo of a planned event (Thanksgiving, easter, Christmas, etc) I have to remind the kids (and Steve) - every.single.time. - that they enjoy looking at these pictures once I have them in the albums so STOP FUSSING and cooperate with me. LOL Can you tell, we've had these discussions often?

So, here is a trip down memory lane. I have the photo I chose to frame first, then the best outtake second - oh and I could post all night long on their outtakes.

2008
Trying to be all "gangster" with the peace signs. Don't sign up for a gang anytime soon girls - don't think you have the hand signals down just yet.

2007

Common theme from 2007, 2006 and 2005 = Ava's unwillingness to cooperate.

2006 - you cannot even begin to imagine how many trys of bribing the kids it took to get a smile.

Repeat theme - Ava crying. Her nickname her first 18 months of life was affectionly a/k/a - The Screamer.

2005 - Ava's 1st Christmas

Isabella - oh sweet baby girl, what a foreshadowing this image is. Ava was born to torture you.

She cracks me up!

Isabella is more and more like me each day. The other day I was at the gym and Steve calls me and starts laughing and saying she is such a young version of me it's not funny (poor kid!). You see, I have a minor little flaw - I make up words - often. Sometimes, on purpose - and sometimes I have to admit - because I'm a little dingy. Well, Isabella was talking to Steve the other day and saying how she wished Daisy was less shy and she wished Molly was less atackitive - I guess she was combining being too active and being too aggressive (attacking).

The weather here has been wacky. Freezing cold one minute, cold and snowy another, rainy and in the 40's the next day and now we are back to cold. I don't know when the last time I saw the sun.

Sunday some of my friends in the neighborhood are meeting up and having a "wrapping" party. It worked out to be perfect timing because I still have the girls gifts from santa that need wrapped but I haven't been looking forward to locking myself in the closet to wrap them. Now, I'll drag them over to Pams and wrap and then I'm storing them at JD and Ellens until Christmas Eve. So, win, win, win!

Men - Do me a favor, please!

Please, do NOT tuck your shirts into your gym shorts at the gym. Especially if you are wearing short shorts or biker shorts. You look ridiculous and it's a health hazard for me because I giggle on the stairmaster as I watch you and I'm afraid I'm going to fall off.

First off - NO ONE, especially men should be wearing biker shorts. If you are Lance Armstrong or riding the Tour de France, ok - I'll give you a pass. But, other than that- it's just plain gross and nobody wants to see it. Second - short shorts??? Leave that to the college girls please. And thirdly - tucking??? It doesn't look good.

Ok, fashion advice is finished.

Just finished watching The Amazing Race - the team I liked from the start won - the brother/sister team. I have loved this show from the first season and have wanted to do it more than anything. The problem is - what type of job is going to allow you 45 days off to run the race? When I first looked into signing up it was going to be filmed during Isabellas 1st birthday. 2nd time I was pregnant. Now, the people I want to do it with - my brother or Steve would never be able to get a month -45 days off. Oh, well!

Off to put Isabella to bed. Ava is already crashed.

Like Mommy Like Daughter

Isabella has inherited a love of reading from me. She bought a book at the book fair on Wednesday night - it was a pretty decent size book - I think around 200 pages. She has finished it already. She would go to sleep reading, wake up in the morning and turn her light on and read - any free minute she had, she would read this book. Last night she finished and said "good, I'm finished. Now, I can re-read it like you re-read Twilight". heehee

It has been cold, cold cold here. Too cold! The last couple of days it's been in the teens for most of the day. There are snow flurries right now and it's suppose to snow tomorrow some as well - so I can take the cold as long as their is snow.

Tonight the Grinch is on TV so after dinner and baths the girls and I will settle in and watch it. Steve is working tonight so it's just us girls.