Big Boys and Bedrooms!

Look how big my little men are!! That's the first day of Kindergarten for Henry,

4th grade for Isiac, and one of the sadder days for Quinn. #1 I try to make him wear

pants, promise. He is just too buff for that. That's him sitting watching his brothers go

off to school, wishing he was on the bus. But, he got a Chucky Greasy Cheese day to

make up for it with his Daddy! All day Kindergarten rocks!

So, I was having a huge issue with Quinn waking up when Hen gets up for school at 6:30!

(They shared a room). So, I solved that problem. Q-bert joined his little bro in his room.

And, of course, I had to redecorate it with the help of my Momma & Mindy. Turned out

pretty fetch, if I do say so myself. Wish I could paint, but the Landlord hates me too, so

I will wait til we move to really add it. What do ya think? Can't wait to show you

pics of my new Hollywood Glam front room!! Mom has been visiting us for 2 weeks,

and I have to admit, we have been shopping every one of those hot days!

Brace yourselves guys this is called a crazy catch up post...

Well as you can see, we have had some really wild times already this summer!

Here's our list-

Family Reunion, sad to say but Grammy Shade's funeral, basketball ended (hence the cookies I whipped up), those little gems you see in the rice are just a few delightful belt buckles I produced for the fam auction, time at the cabin with cousins, and of course DOLLY PARTON's

concert- which me and my cute twinner keep showing up places wearing our extra tight Dolly

shirt at the same time. She is always reading my fetchin mind! We made our men folk come with us. I know what you are thinking, already had heard it a ton, yes our husbands look a grand amount alike, especially with those rugged beards. We should launch a reality tv show.

Of course, that isn't all that we have been doing around here. Because we are Grammy's Marges grand daughters, me and Mindy had to can peaches this week. Made mouth watering fresh peach jam too. You know I am going to have to mix up some biscuits now. Also, Ad, me, Cam, & Mind went to the musical, CATS. That's the pic where we are pulling our best cat impressions. We have been to the lake, if we are outside we are swimming. Ad keeps trying to make me wear my bikini to Mom and me swim. Not nice for anyone! Ad and I went to Austin for a steamy weekend for our 10 Year Anniversary. Stings my little heart just a bit to say, nope I didn't get that wedding band full of diamonds that I was promised for all my effort and love on our 10 year. But, we made some great memories instead. Who needs diamonds.

Well, there has been many more adventures, but they can wait til next time, I am sure you

have fallen asleep by now!

A Marvelous Time in Mexico!

I DON"T want to make any of you too jealous sharing all of our delicious details

of this beyond fab trip, but, it was to luxurious to keep it all to myself!

#1 Picture this- on the beach EVERYDAY eating the most fresh guac ever con chips & virg. pina coladas

#2 Excursions a many! Zip lining, four wheeling in the jungle with a stop for a mouth watering blue

fish taco, a romantic evening on a secluded island, jet skiing, & whale watching (not talking about me

on the beach, but the real THING!) We also released some endangered turtles make to the ocean.

#3 Picture this- Me and Mindy loaded down with pesos, bargaining everyone in site to land the most

exquisite hand blown glasses, vanilla, shark tooth necklaces, & handmade linens.

#4 Wrap your mind around this- the best company, non stop laughs, an ocean front room, a spa that

turned me into a new women. (I didn't bring my hair stuff over, so I had to walk back looking like a freak)

#5 If you ever wondered who would win a chicken fight between me and my twinner, well I can tell ya, ME.

She was fighting dirty, so I had to go for the eyes. Oops, gave her an instant black eye, smearing her

mascara. She prob doesn't agree that I won, but I asked the older gent wearing a wig, what his feelings

were, and he chose me.

#6 Ad got to spend some much needed time with his Dad and Step Mom. The boys strutted around being

manly, running races on the beach, and throwing the football. He also gets crazy seasick, so there were

times I had to nurse him back to health.

We had the best time, and plan on keeping up these yearly trips!

Firsts & My Birthday

Here's me and Can Man. That's right, I am no longer Blonde. Just got sick of

the same old. Still getting used to it, but I think I'm loving it. I am afraid of

being that girl that has had the same hair since high school. What do you

guys think? Be honest!

So, it's my 1st time being a red head (Ad is liking waking up to a "new" girl)

& Cannon has gotten his 1st tooth! My last baby is growing up so fast. I

fully admit, I am trying to soak up every second of him. Mindy always

says I am ruining him, by holding him 24-7, but we are just treasuring

our time together. Plus, you should see what I am able to accomplish with

a kid on my hip! Pretty amazing fruits!

Now on to my Birthday! (I am getting so old, yuck!)

For those of you that know, (not sure I want anyone else to know, but whateves)

During Junior High & High School, me and Mindy's nick names were

"The Twinkie Twins." Why that? Crap if I know, but it used to really treat me

wrong. So, after an amazing time at the Nut Cracker with Mind & her girls.

(absolutely love having them here to do girly stuff with) We came back

to celebrate with our hubs & kidos. The men surprized us with that beautiful

yellow cake. Yes, those on the top are TWINKIES. Those boys of ours, are

just so flippin funny! Good one, guys! No, it was way cute of them to do.

Haven't spent a birthday with my twiner for a billion years.

Merry Christmas Everyone! Hope you have a good holidays!

Fireplace Frenzy

So, it finally got cold enough for a fire here the other night. Weird, I know. So, my sweet, masculine, hubs

decided to build one. As many of you guys know, men feel very strong about this subject, so I tired to stay in

the background as much as possible. I could have stepped in, (my pops was a scout leader for 20 years), but it recking his ego was not worth it. It was a rocky start. He worked feverishly for 25 mins to get a blaze. Finally, the heat started to fill the room. Smiling proudly, I took his picture. We celebrated a little too early. It went out! Trying to build his confidence by adding a few tips was a tricky process. We shred some logs for kindlin with our bare hands, (we don't owe axes or hatchets of any kind). Made a pile of them, and with some gentle love and a lot of blowing, he finally reached success. Man, can I tell ya, a fire has never warmed me more! So proud of my stud for not giving up, and since then he has created many cracklin fires.

Hope everyone has an amazing Christmas season. Love this time of year. I have tons of reasons to bake, and excuses galore for my constant eating. Time to get some shopping done, another fav past time of mine!

Halloween & Other Happenings!

Look at my kick ace family! My mom hasn't thrown a Halloween party in forever, but

she did it up right this yearl. My hubs alot let me take my baby Cannon and head out

there for the weekend. (My fam hadn't even met my little man & he's 9 months--Lame you

guys!) If you can't tell I am a girl from India. My super amazing friend Sonalee lent me this

athentic outfit. Don't mind my glow in the dark skin, it's Halloween come on. How do you like

Cannon's costume? Made it myself, so if you ever need me to wrap you in a turbun, done.

Burke and Hayley came down and helped me fill the ceiling with balloons. Love those two.

We really lived it up! We didn't hit the sheets til 4 in the morn, staying up talking and laughing

with my sis's, mom, & aunt Denise.
My boys were back here in Texas also having a great time with their pops. They were vampires,

but all the pics are on Ad's phone, of course. They got so much flippin candy. Sure, they all leave

the house everyday, but not me. Those stupid Almond Joys just stare at me, yearning for me to

pick them all up and shove them in my face. Of course, I do it. Do I feel bad? Yep, so bad, I make

a batch of peanut butter bars to wash them down with. Smart! Anyways, it was a great time, &

so good to see my fam!

P.S. Mindy, Cam, & the kids are driving here right now. They are finally making the move. I

can't tell you how excited I am to have my sis near me and for good. I keep trying to picture

what it will be like... will the 8 phone calls a day go down or up? My boys are flippin out too,

to have cousins close. I am sure now that they are here, more of my fam will come to visit.

Just my fam wasn't enuf, but with the two of us, they will feel way more guilty not showing up!

Happy 5th Birthday Hen

Shade Tree is 5 years old today! He got a pogo stick, the Hungry Hippo Game, & some clothes!

Here's some pics to remember years past- if Iwas a cryer, I would be a sobbing mess right now.