Thursday, March 31, 2011

Anniversaries

Last week, my grandparents celebrated their SIXTIETH wedding anniversary. I am not kidding you...SIXTY. 60. SIX-ZERO!

It's amazing. They have been married for so long. I am sure they can tell stories of ups and downs, happy times and big arguments that have gone on over their sixty years of marriage. But, they forged ahead. GrandDa and Daddy Ben went through something that no parents should even have to endure. However, they were able to grow stronger in their faith, in turn growing in their marriage. What a huge event, especially these days, to celebrate such a long lasting marriage. Congratulations, GrandDa and Daddy Ben!

Travis and I also celebrated 7 years of marriage on the 27th. While 7 isn't quite 60, I am so proud of what we have accomplished in our marriage and our lives in the short 7 years we have been married.




To celebrate, we went to Hot Springs and headed to the races with some friends. We had a great time hanging out and having fun. My parents (who will celebrate 30 years of marriage in June) were great hosts. We enjoyed our company and getting away for a couple of days together.




Travis,
I know you say seven years is a long time, but it's flown by. You are my best friend and I love you more today than ever. We have had our share of obstacles, but together, we have been able to overcome them all. You are a wonderful father and an amazing husband. I love you, Travie, and cannot wait to see what the next 7 hold!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

A Bathroom and A Bike Wreck

Today was one of those days where we didn't do much, but it was a good day.

This week is Spring Break at Emma's school (even though they made-up two snow days on Monday and Tuesday of this week). So, I took a few days off to spend time with the girls, work around the house and play outside.

Today was a gorgeous day. This morning was a little chilly, but we had errands to run. We stopped by my office to pick up some stuff and, of course, say hello to Oscar and Aaron.

After that, we met The Brown's at Mojitos for lunch. The girls LOVE to get together with Claire, Owen and Bree. Catherine was tired, so it was NOT the nice relaxing lunch we had hoped for. (By "not relaxing", I mean, she was wallowing in the floor screaming, running away from me and acting the way I swore my kids would never act, pre-kids of course.)

We came home. While the girls napped (and I recovered from the lunch from yeah), I redecorated their bathroom. We bought an older house and remodeled it about 6 years ago. The girls bathroom has this tile...it's green...it's really hard to work with (and even harder to ignore). It also has a green sink, a green tub and a green potty.

While I would LOVE to get all the green out of there, we have to be cautious how much money we sink into this house. With the housing market the way it is, we are likely not going to get much ROI, if any at all.

But, this is what it looks like so far. I have one more picture to hang in a lavender frame and this is all I am doing. I feel like it looks MUCH better and these colors kind of tone down the green. (Yes, I made the hair bow holder. Spray painted an old frame and hot glued some ribbon on.)



This evening, we cooked out and played outside. Travis taught Hannah how to shoot a BB Gun after a LOOOOOOOONG lecture about gun safety. (Travis is definitely the lecturer in our house.) Emma watched her favorite show on TV. I would have rather her play outside, but she rarely gets any "Emma time" without her sisters bombarding her. So, I just let it go.




After dinner, we decided to head out on a walk. Emma and Hannah rode their bikes and Catherine rode in the wagon. It is so pretty around our neighborhood right now. There are so many flowers blooming. I really REALLY love Spring.














On our way home, Hannah had a bike wreck. The girl rides with reckless abandon and it was bound to happen sometime. (She is also a helmet girl...loves to ride with her Dora helmet on!) She had to ride home in the wagon. Travis took care of making sure her bike got home. :)



We got home and I doctored her all up. A little hydrogen peroxide and a band aid...she's all smiles again!


Well, the squeal to the "Great Mojitos Fit" is going on right beside me. Guess it's bed time for me Catherine

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

St. Patrick's Day and Soccer

(Not sure why all the pictures in this post are sideways. They look right on my PC.)

It's been a while...and we have been so SO busy. (I looked at my calendar today and realized it's just the beginning of busy for us over the next month.)

Last week, I was in Minneapolis for meetings on Monday-Wednesday. At some point while I was there, I started getting sick, (maybe it was the gusting winds, or the snow on the ground, or the fact I didn't pack a coat...duh!). By the time I got home Wednesday, I knew I was not going to feel better without the doctor.

Thursday morning, Travis was getting the kids ready for school in the cute shirts, bless his heart. I got up to snap a few pictures and fix their hair.

(C was not happy and I was feeling too bad to even attempt to get her to cooperate....)







That afternoon, I went to the doctor and got some meds for my strep throat. Travis was super dad and did a great job taking care of the girls while I was out of town and on my death bed sick.

I am on the mend now and feeling SO much better. The girls are glad I am back to my old self, because in the words of Travis "When Mommy is sick, our world falls apart" or in the words of Hannah "Daddy doesn't know how to make a ponytail!".

Last night, Hannah had soccer practice. Both girls started spring soccer recently, so games will be starting soon! Hannah is HILARIOUS at soccer. She just smiles and waves at me to make sure I am looking.



She also has THE BEST coach ever. He is so patient and kind. (I mean...I would lose my mind trying to get nine 3-4 year olds to pay attention and cooperate.) Last night, they played Red Light/Green Light while kicking the ball. Instead of saying "Red Light!", he would say a body part (i.e. head, elbow, bottom, etc) and they had to put that body part on the ball. The kids loved it and it was really funny to watch.





That's pretty much what we have been up to for the past week or so. Keep checking back because we have some SUPER fun things coming up!

Friday, March 11, 2011

"Start Spreadin' The News...."

I'm leaving today in May! I'm gonna be a part of it...

NEW YORK! NEW YORK!

My mom and I are heading to NYC in May! I am beyond excited. We are planning 5 days FULL of fun. But, there are three things I am most excited about....


WOOOOOOHOOOOO!! (Thanks, Mom and Dad, for the awesome birthday gift! Ya'll are the BEST!)

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

28: Ramblings from a Birthday Girl

I have always had this nagging desire to be remembered by everyone I meet. I am not sure where that stems from. Maybe it's because I am named after my Dad's sister, who died at a young age. Maybe it's because I think if people remember you, you have made an impact. I don't know...but it's been there as long as I can remember.

At 8 years old, I was full of life with a big bubbly (nice way to say WILD) personality. I always wanted to be a doctor. I had this urge to be something GREAT! (My little brother wanted to be the trash man...)

When I turned 18 and was about to graduate from High School, I was ready to take on the world. I could not get out of DeQueen fast enough and sometimes, Fayetteville didn't seem like it was going to be far enough away. I had big dreams. I was ready to take on the world. My dreams were big...HUGE. I was determined to make my mark, to never be forgotten.

I always had different "plans" for life. I was going to move to NYC and live it up just like on "Sex and the City". (Nevermind the fact that I would need 8 jobs to afford Carrie's shoe collection and Charlotte's house). I was going to move to Cali, learn to surf and just fly by the seat of my pants. I was going to travel the world and be somewhere different every week. (Of course with each "plan", I had a wardrobe fit for a queen.)

Only those BIG things were going to make me happy. GREAT dreams were the only dreams that were significant...and I HAD to be significant.

Never once in all those dreams, did I think, "I am going to live in Arkansas as a business professional and raise three kids with my high school sweetheart." In fact, at one point, I would have laughed if someone said that was their "plan".

Now, at age 28, I am living my dream. I'm not in a big city wearing a new pair of Manolo's every day. I am not catching waves in Cali and living on beach front property. I am certainly not jet setting to a different fabulous location each week. (I mean...going to Houston, TX every couple of months is not QUITE what I had in mind back then.)

Little did I know that all my "ruined" plans would lead me to where I am today.


I am living MY life and believe it or not, this is so much better than anything I ever dreamed. I am married to a man that is an amazing Daddy and loves me to the moon. I have three healthy, happy little girls. I have the best, most supportive family around and friends that would give me the shirt off their back.

While I may not be known around the world, they miss me while they are at school.

I am certainly not changing the world one modular expansion at at time, but my hugs impact their lives monumentally.

I may not be anything great to everyone, but to three little munchkins, I am the greatest thing ever.


So, I am 28 now and I am the happiest I have been in my entire life. THAT makes me significant. Plans fall apart. Most of the time, when they do, they fall into something even better than we could have ever dreamed.


I pray my girls dream big and realize even the smallest things can make their lives greater than they ever imagined!


Monday, March 7, 2011

Stories of Weekends Past

Well, I guess I shouldn't make promises that I cannot keep! :) Below are some updates from a couple of weekends ago. But first...

Sarah is home and recovering well! Her surgery was a HUGE success and she is such a trooper. The girl was cracking jokes just hours after surgery and was roaming the halls of MD Anderson the following day. Here is a picture I stole from her facebook page of her with Pat on their way home. Seriously, doesn't she look gorgeous and she just had brain surgery!? (JEALOUS!)



So, a few Friday nights ago, Travis and Emma went to the Daddy-Daughter Dance at her school. They do this every year and Emma LOVES it.

This year, it was a Hawaiian Luau. Emma has a grass skirt that Honey and Daddy Brooks brought her from Hawaii. It was so cute. Travis, on the other hand, wasn't feeling the whole grass skirt thing. So, he just wore a lei and called it good.





I was snapping pictures before they left and the other two INSISTED I take their picture with Emma. (I mean...Catherine sat in her lap and refused to get up. She just kept yelling "CHEEEEESSSEEE!")


Saturday night, we went over to Aaron and Nicole's to cookout and ride horses. Let me just say, the kids LOVED it! Aaron was so patient with the kids and let them ride until dark. Nicole was a great hostess and the food was awesome. We had such a nice time hanging out with everyone.


Sunday, we headed up to see Meredith. She welcomed little Hayden into their family on Saturday the 26th. He is SO precious and has as much hair as Catherine! Meredith looks awesome and Reece is loving his new brother.