Thursday Thirteen

Today my Thursday Thirteen is a list of 13 things I need to accomplish in the next 2 days!

13. Finish my devo for the Ladies Night Out - tonight
12. Finish the food for tonight as well
11. Call all the ladies to make sure they are coming
10. Plan two other games for the evening
9. Pack for our weekend away
8. Make sure the kids ahve enough clean clothes for the weekend
7. Clean out the car for our trip
6. Give hubby and son haircut
5. Get corn to send with BIL to Texas for his friends
4. Catch up on house work so I won't be sad when we get home from trip
3. Sleep to prepare for car ride
2. Get snack bag ready for car for everyone
1. Stop and relax! (yea right!)

I am excited about all the things going on right now. I just have to remember to stop and smell the roses along the way. I will let you know how our trip goes when we get back!

What's your language?

Here is something fun. I thought I would have more dixie. Take the challenge and see how you come out. Let me know!

Your Linguistic Profile:

45% General American English

35% Dixie

5% Midwestern

5% Upper Midwestern

5% Yankee

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Still Friends

Everyone knows that our family was founded in College Station. The AFC holds a special place in our hearts as that is where Andy and I met. We dated and married while we were still in school. We lived in College Station for 3 years after we were married finishing up school and enjoying our time with friends and family.
We moved from CS to this foreign land of the north called Iowa. We have made a home here but we will forever be Aggies. Therefore we fill it our duty to brain wash our children to love the school that helped in making our union. The great Texas A & M. Our children have clothes that bear this wonderful place called Aggieland.
Our minister and his wife attended another school a little further north called OC. This is fine. We as Aggies have a great appreciation for Christian schools. There is a big line that runs from ACU to TAMU. We love our friends that choose to attends these wonderful schools. What we as Aggies tend to frown on is the other school in Oklahoma know as O poo (OU). Rosa is a good friend to Braxton and they get along great but the other day she came to my house in OU clothing! What were they thinking!!! We let her stay but we thought it only fair to read one of Braxton's favorite books to her over and over again.
Aggie Goose Rhymes is Braxton's favorite. He has HOWDY, HULLABALOO, GIG 'EM, CAVALRY, and WHOOP down real well. By the time Rosa went home she was saying Aggie real clear. Her mom called to ask what I was teaching her child. I told her only things that were good and pleasing to God!
Here are some pictures of the kids in there school outfits. Go Ags.

New Pictures

My camera went on the blitz. Needless to say I had to get a new one. I have been playing with our new toy. Here are some pictures of the boys. More to come soon!

Thursday Thirteen

Thursday Thirteen

I was at a loss today as to what to do for my thirteen. I decided to write about the 13 things I love about the month of August.

These are in no specific order!

1. It is the month I married the love of my life

2. We share our special day with my Granny (it is her birthday)

3. My sister celebrates her birthday on the 13th of this month every year.

4. One of my favorite aunts has a birthday on the 25th of this month year every year.

5. My first child was born on the 19th day of this month.

6. I found out I was pregnant with my second child in this month.

7. We always get visits from our family this month.

8. The green grass

9. The cool breeze

10. Cookouts at church and at home with friends and family

11. Swimming until we are just tired out

12. Watching my boys grow everyday

13. Knowing that fall is just around the corner.

Here are some things I love about August. What makes this month special to you? More pictures to come!

How we love Uncle Karl

Sunday afternoon we had lunch outside in the cool. We were enjoying our time outside with family. After lunch we decided to have some cake and ice cream that was left over from the birthday part. I fixed Braxton a sugar cone with a little bit of chocolate chip ice cream. He was enjoying his "cream creams" when he decided to eat the end of the cone first. He does not eat ice cream quite fast enough so it tends to melt faster than it goes in, hence the reason we try to eat this delicious snack outside.
Braxton is dripping in ice cream when he decides that he needs to give uncle Karl and hug and kiss.
Karl is super excited about this as you can see from the pictures!
Thanks uncle Karl for being a super sport and loving you nephew no matter what!

Happy Birthday Braxton

Thank you Rosa for the great vacuum cleaner. Braxton's room is really clean!
The cake and ice cream were really good. Braxton really enjoyed them a lot.
Brazos had so much fun - the party was to much he slept through it all.
The cake!
Fun times with family and friends. Da, Mama Z, Andrea and Karl were all here.
Sharing Cake and ice cream with Rosa.
Blowing out the candles with mom.
More cake and ice cream.

I can not believe that it has been 2 years already. My how time does fly. We have had a very busy weekend. Da and Mama Z came up for Braxton's birthday and the fair. We went to the fair, had a birthday party, and enjoyed each others company. Our visits are never long enough.

Braxton had a good day. He enjoyed all of his friends being here to play. He really liked going to the fair and seeing all the animals. He had fun spending time with Da and Mama Z.

Brazos also enjoyed all the festivities. He was spoiled rotten all weekend. He liked all the lovin.

Here are some pictures from the weekend. More to come soon!

Thursday Thirteen

Thursday Thirteen

I asked my husband what I should do for my TT for today and of course he said I should list the 13 reasons I love my husband. Seeing how we reached a new milestone this week with 8 years I decided I would agree and tell you 13 reasons I love my husband and why I am thankful from him.

13. He is the love of my life.

12. He was my friend first.

11. He is my rock on earth

10. He is a great sounding board

9. He is smart.

8. He is the father to my children

7. He is the spiritual leader in our household

6. He is a wonderful dad to the boys

5. He is an aggie

4. He has put up with me for 8 years

3. He loves my family as much as I love him and his family

2. He always puts God first

1. He puts my needs before his.

This was one of the easiest lists I have ever made. I could make part 2 to this one and just keep going. People just do not know how wonderful my husband is. Thanks babe for always being there for me and taking care of our family. You are a wonderful man and I love you very much. Thanks for 8 great years. I love you!!!

Happy Anniversary to the Love of my life

Well today marks a very special 8 years for Andy and I. Looking back I really can't believe just how fast time has flown. I am looking forward to the next 80. Andy is a very special man who puts God first and his family second. We are blessed to have him as a husband and father.

Thanks Andy for 8 great years. Thanks for the being our provider, comforter, and friend. Thank you for always being there ready to help and make things better. You are a wonderful husband and I am so lucky to have found you.

Let the good times roll

As I sit here in a quite house I am learning just how far behind I am. I was going to kill sometime while the boys are still napping and thought I would check in on my friends and their blogs, only to find that I am way behind!

We had a good weekend and thought I would update you on our happenings here in Iowa. Saturday we went to the Sweet Corn Festival - sounds kinda funny right? Well it was great. They have a parade and then you go to the festival. It is all the corn you can eat (which is about 3 pieces) - it was SO GOOD!!! Then there were vendors and games for the kids and fun craft items for the adults. It was a lot of fun. We went with some friends from church. We enjoyed out day. We came home and grilled supper outside and enjoyed our evening out on the deck.

Sunday was a day full of fun, fellowship, and friends. We enjoyed our day.

Monday - today - we went to the Iowa state fair. Andrea and I took the boys to the fair. We walked and looked until we were give out. We then came home for a good nap.

The fair is in town for 10 days we will go again this weekend when my parents come up. We are really looking forward to our visit from Da and Mama Z.

Andy is in Moline all week for some classes. I am thankful that Andrea and Karl are here to keep me sane and help with the boys. They have been such a blessing to us and I am so thankful for them.

Well that is most of the updates for now. More to come. Have a great day!

Thursday Thirteen

We are well underway on Weight Watchers. It has been good for me and I am trying to keep myself motivated so I can accomplish all I need to. Today's 13 is list of things I have learned to appreciate, learned to do, and learned not to do over the last 4 weeks!

13. Count Points - I have learned how to look at a label and tell you how many points it is worth. There are some good things for small point values

12. Portion size - I have learned that the portion size they put on the side of things is often very small, but you can just eat that much. One cup of milk and one cup of cereal really do make breakfast!

11. Chicken does taste good - while it is not my favorite meat, I am learning new ways to fix chicken so that I can eat it more that one day a week.

10. My husband can really eat - I am amazed that he is eating more than I am and it never does anything to him. I am so thankful that he does not have to deal with weight issues.

9. Lunch - You can have two pieces of turkey and two pieces of cheese and 15 pringles for lunch.

8. Snack - is a wonderful thing. There are good things out there like 2 point ice cream and 2 point pop corn. We like those things a lot!

7. Grocery Shopping - Seems to take longer than it ever has. It takes a long time when you have to count points on everything that goes in the cart.

6. Walking is fun - We have been trying to walk 4 times a week - we have been staying on track with that. It makes me feel good to finish the walk and just breath.

7. Swimming - We bought a family pass to the local pool - we have been going twice a week. Braxton loves to swim and I water walk with Brazos. The pool is open year round so we will be able to enjoy it even during the winter.

6.More points - you get more points when you exercise. They are called activity points and we love them. It allows for an extra snack during the day. It takes much better when you really work for it.

5. Easier - it is much easier to do when you have someone to do it with. Andrea and I are trying real hard to keep each other in line. Our minister and his wife are also doing it which make it much easier to stay on track.

4. Fair time - the fair is in town - While I am looking forward to going to the fair I am not looking forward to all the good food I will have to pass on this year.

3. McDonald's - Did you know you can get an ice cream cone for just 3 points - that is a wonderful thing. I seem to be enjoying this at least two nights a week.

2. Home - with all the change we seem to be eating at home more and more - this is a wonderful thing. It allows us time to be at home and enjoy more time as a family.

1. Health - We are making our lives better. While each day will be a struggle, habit is the key. One day at a time we will make things better for our health and my family.

I will keep you all posted as we make progress.

Just pictures

Picture Day

I love taking the kids to get their pictures made. I enjoy seeing how they smile and just how cute they can be. I took them yesterday for Brazos 3 month pictures and Braxton's 2 year pictures. Let's just say that the trip was a little overwhelming. The place was over crowded and running about 45 minutes behind. Our appointment was at 10:40 and we did not get in till 11:30, I was a little upset. But, all in all we got some good pictures. We will try again in 3 months to get some better ones of the two of them. Here are some of the shots we did get.

Well I am having a lot of trouble getting my pictures to upload this morning. I will post this and try again later. Enjoy the boys!

Camera Cord

I still have not found my camera cord. Andy forgot to go and get me one on Saturday morning (I think in part because I had him doing other things - thanks babe). However Andrea and Karl to the rescue. Their cord fit my camera! YEA! So I have borrowed their cord and I am back in business. So to catch up here are some pictures and this week I will try and get the stories that go with them out as well. Enjoy. I'm Back!!!

Thursday Thirteen

Thursday Thirteen

I am so far behind. I was in the car this morning when I realized it was Thursday. Today I am writing about 13 things that make me smile.

13. Getting on blog on Thursdays to see what ideas people have had. To see all the updates and what people are doing.
12. I love the fact that Karl and Andrea are here. I know it is hard for them to be so far from home, but it has been such a blessing to have them here this week. They are such a help around the house and with the boys.

11. My boys and their energy. I love that Braxton is going non stop all the time. I love the fact that Brazos is so laid back. I am so glad that Braxton loves Brazos. I love to watch Brazos smiles when Braxton comes around.

10. I love that I have such a loving family. I am blessed with great in laws and wonderful parents. I am so glad that God has blessed me with examples of people who love him. I am thankful that I have been shown how to love the Lord and how to make a marriage work. I am so blessed.

9. I smile when the afternoon rolls around and I still have extra points so I can go and enjoy the ice cream sandwich I LOVE!! Did I say how much I LOVE ICE CREAM!!!

8. I smile when nap time comes! When I have a couple of hours of sanity in one day. I love my children and I love the break I get from the each day.

7. I smile when My son (Braxton) tries to use the potty all by his self. He is such a big boy. He has been wanting to potty train, so we have been working on it little by little. He has gone all by his self most of the week. There is a possibility we could have this down in the next month or so.

6. I smile when I feed Brazos. I love when he looks up and me and smiles. To know that he is in my care and I have been so blessed. I love that I am able to feed him and enjoy the bonding we are able to share.

5. I smile when Braxton goes swimming and just jumps right in. He loves to swim. He smiles and gets real excited. I love to see him smile.

4. I smile when the phone rings and it is a familiar voice on the other end of the line. We love to talk to family and friends. I wish I was better at making the calls, but I do love to receive them.

3. I smile when I see just how wonderful my husband is. He is such a man of God. He love our family and he loves our boys very much. He is such a good father. He plays with the boys and makes sure we are all taken care of. He supplies us with love and material blessings. He works hard so we can stay at home and play. I love my husband!

2. I smile when I think of Texas. My home is where my boys and my husband are, but a part of home will always be in Texas. I look forward to the day when we will move back to be closer to family and friends.

1. I smile when I think of the love that God gives us each and everyday. He loves us so much he gave his son as a sacrifice for us. I can not even begin to fathom that kind of love. I love my children. I can not imagine how God could give up something he loves so much. I understand more and more each day that I am with my boys just how much he loves us. Thank you God for loving us so much!

What makes you smile?