Catching Up...

I can't believe it has been so long, however I can believe it!

April of 2010 our whole lives were thrown in a tailspin.
My husband was laid off from his job.  The rest of that year consisted of me getting back in the workforce, losing our house, Gage going to live with his mother, and scary times of learning to cope with such a loss in wages!

For the next two years we played catch up and juggling...
In March of this year, Robert finally landed a job at Dyonyx.
The catch...Dyonyx and his job are stationed in HOUSTON, TX!!!
So we did the split household living, the girls and I stayed in Corpus Christi while Robert came home on the weekends.  I was still working full-time and don't know how we managed it all, but we did. 

July 1st
We finally all moved to Houston.

August 3rd
We made the permanent move to Tomball, TX.  

Life is pretty hectic.  I miss my Corpus Christi peeps, however with the modern fun of Facebook I still feel connected to everyone.
The girls thoroughly enjoy their new school and life seems to be getting back to normal.


However, I feel as though I am missing something...
Is it that I need to go back to school???
Is it that I need a part-time job just to get out of the house???
Or maybe I should sit down and write that book I always say someday I will do???
I know I need something outside of the house I just can't seem to figure out what will make me happy!

Tata for now...more to come (I hope)!

The Need to Accept and Move On

Despite what I have thought...I have never accepted the death of my lil brother. Yes I can talk about him and yes I know he is dead...but I never grieved!!! I never broke down and cried, other than the initial shock kind of crying...

Most of you know I lost my youngest brother when I was 17, a Senior in high school...that was April 16th of 2002...The last time I saw his grave was April 19th...He has been gone for almost 8 years and it terrifies me to go and visit...I have blocked so much from that time, yet remember in vivid detail so much too!!! A few months ago, I finally had the courage to even ask where he is buried...but that is all I did.

What kind of coward am I? There is no big deal in going to see him...The world will not cease to rotate...I will not cease to breath...But the very thought of driving there stops me in my tracks. I can't breathe properly, my heart aches, and tears fall of their own accord.

I reached out to a person that was there for me (however somewhat a small part) during the time of his death and burial...and everything flooded back. Colby...this person and the memories we share...the friendship...the heartache...and it is the hardest thing for me to get this person out of my mind as of late!!!

I am going to make it a goal to visit before his 8th year anniversary rolls around!!!

Thursdays Drive Down Memory Lane...

These are my girls...

The redhead is Brianna...my awe-inspiring goddaughter...my baby girls just idolize her and I have to say most of it is so deserved...She is an amazing young girl, who unfortunately lives so far away from us...

Brianna is of course holding the Peanut!!! Such a toot...she has grown up so much since this picture...She is in Dance now and lovin every minute of it!!!

Now on to Cami...This was her first time in the gym...took only once and she was hooked...This pic is from her 4th Birthday Party...The Sept after that she started attending gymnastics classes...Now she is on the Level 2 Competitive Team all in one short year...She makes Mommy and Daddy proud...

A current of my lil Gym Bug!!!

Thursdays Drive Down Memory Lane...

Lil Miss Cami...a week old!!!

My Papau

This is my Papau...

He is 74 years young today...

I am so happy and blessed to have him in my life!!!

He is and will always be my FIRST TRUE LOVE!!!

Happy Birthday Pops!!!

This Past Weekend

This past weekend was something...

Friday

I went to lunch at "Chicken-Fil-A" with Hayden, Hailey and Daniel and their two kids, Taylor and Dylan, and Mindy and her two girls, Belle and Pia...We then went shopping endin up going to Academy and a few places in the mall...It was crowded but I was never really noticing cause we were in our lil group!!!

Saturday

Hailey with Taylor in tow, Mindy with Belle and Pia in tow, Kara with Jocie in tow, and me went and had Manis and Pedis...Kara and I both were Pedi Virgins...I definitely enjoyed it...Kara was a lil giggly...Afterwards we went to Just for Kix and I picked me up 2 pair of Yellow Box Flip Flops...I had to go home to pack for Austin...We had some really awesome Chinese food and hit the sack pretty early, because of Cami's Gymnastics Meet the next morning!!!

Sunday

I managed to get up on time, feed, and get Cami ready without going insane...Robert was a big help in packing while I had the fun task of doing Cami's hair for Competition...We got to the meet and it was pretty crowded, got Cami situated with her team...Cami did so good...8.8 on Vault...7.0 on Uneven Bars...8.85 on Beam...8.2 on Floor...I am so proud she got 3 Red Ribbons and 1 White Ribbon a big improvement from the mock meet...

Thursdays Drive Down Memory Lane...

This picture is really OLD...Taken back 1998...

Startin up top is Michael he was 5 in this pic...He is now 16, taking Driver's-Ed and taller than me!!!

Next to his right is Michelle she was 7 in this pic...She is about to be 18 next Wednesday, she is the same height as me, and is a Senior at Calallen...

To her right is Amber, she was 12 in this pic...She is now 23 and I have no idea what she is up to (even though I wish I did)!!!

Amber is holding Shelby, I think she was 6 months in this pic...She is 11, about to start 6th at Calallen and a total motor mouth, but I still love her!!!

Of Course I am in the pic and if ya know me...just yea...I was 14 in the pic next week I will be 25 (man I am gettin old)!!!

I am holding my lil Bro Colby...He is Shelby's twin and older by a minute...We lost him April 16th 2002 (my Senior year)...He was an amazing child, an angel on Earth and I miss him everyday.

I miss them all everyday!!! I don't have the relationships I would like with them, but I am really workin to change that. Family is BIG to me. This world is to chaotic and life is too short to not live it to the fullest with the ones you love and have ties to!!!

Sorry for the mushy gushy on this weeks Drive!!!

Thursdays Drive Down Memory Lane...

My whole world...

Robert with Cami...She is such a Daddy's Girl!!!

Thursdays Drive Down Memory Lane...

This pic is of Robert, Gage, and me...The day after Christmas 2003...

I was 6 months pregnant with Cami.

I love how sweet and innocent Gage was at that age...He is a teenager now, sweet and innocent left hitched a ride with his stable mood in a monster truck awhile back!!!

The Fun Has Begun...

The chaos has begun...

Cami and Gage started school on the 20th...

That same week Cami was moved up a level in gymnastics and will be competing at the end of the month along with meets in Sept and Oct...She had her first Mock Meet in Rockport on Saturday, and she did so well...Tomorrow I sign her up for Girl Scouts...

The Level 2's from Northwest Kids...

Gage started Football today...Sr Packers QB...

Hayden will start Dance in September...

I am an official "Soccer Mom"...Loving that my kids are so active and that both me and Robert are so involved in everything they do...And I am overjoyed that they are getting to do so much that I couldn't do...I want and demand more for my kids (what a great motto for a mom!!!)

Summer Plans

SCHOOL IS OUT.

Gage has gone to Houston for the month of June...He is excited to start 6th grade this coming July. He has signed up to play the tuba in the band! We have had our ups and downs, but we are very content that he lives with us now!!! We have so much planned for when he comes home. Christian will be visiting again this summer. He will be down a shorter time, unfortunately. We have the boys signed up for a football camp. We have tickets for the circus again, but way better seats. We are planning to do the Aquarium, beach, AP Aquatic Center, and hopefully Funtrackers. We will SO be going to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when it comes out July 15th.

Cami is doing good at gymnastics, no surprise there. She is soon to be moved up a level, at least that is the rumor from the teach. I signed her up for Kinder on the 3rd. She is apprehensive one day and super excited the next. I do have to say I am on that same roller coaster.

On to good ole me...I started up night classes at Del Mar on the 26th. I am overjoyed that I have started back on track with getting my degree...The plan is now to finish a Bachelors in English (to teach at HS level) and go onto get a Masters in Library Science...One day become a Librarian.

Robert is going to school also starting Monday...His company is paying for all of his schoolin... It comes with a new title and new challenges for him, which he is always lookin for. In the long run the position makes him more desirable by other oil companies. I am so PROUD of him!!!

I am looking forward to what the future holds for me and my family!!!

Kickball Season!!!

Unfortunately Kickball season is almost over...This season has had its few bumps, but overall what a great bunch of girls, parents, and coaches!!! We have our end of season party next weekend and our last game on Saturday!

Good Job goes out to:

Cami

Belle

Morgan

Paige

Trinity

Hailey

Jocie

Naviah

Coach Tonya

Coach LeeAnn

Team Mom Mindy

Thanks to everyone for making this a truly memorable season!!!

Cami excelled so much this season. She has turned into a very athletic lil girl...being her Mommy and Coach makes me proud!!! Looking forward to next year!!!

Definitely have to give kudos to the PW Angelfish...They are doing so good...They still have a few more games left in the season...So Good Luck goes out to the PW Angelfish especially Taylor, Kylie and Emily!!! Keep up the good work!!!

My Weekend...

Saturday morning, Rookie Sharks had their first game ... All the girls had fun. We had some minor bumps, but overall I couldn't of asked for better players, or parents. I could of however done without the distraction of my own problems. Looking forward to the next game that is for sure.

Packers had their play-off game. They played the 49ers. Gage did awesome and even threw his first pass in a game...and was even caught by Polk. He did great. The whole team did great...They won 20-0...Securing their spot in the SuperBowl for this Saturday!!! GOOO PACKERS!!!

This evening the whole family sat down and watched Fireproof. The acting felt cheesy and overly dramatic, however the storyline was spot on. If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend it. I have never claimed to be a "devout" in any belief, but I am happy to say that I have been Catholic. I say been because I have been remiss in my actions and thoughts. I say been, also, because it is something I am going to strongly try to fix.

So much has pulled me away from what I so strongly once believed... Right now ... I say no more.

I forgive.

I accept.

I promise.

I will.

I do.

SUNDAY!!!

K.C. BBQ for the Kimmel Family!

Hubby will be out for most of the day, because of that...

Oh and the laundry has piled up again...how did that happen when I did it less than 4 days ago...

Postponed...

Packers Game postponed til next Saturday!!!

Saturday

The Packers won again...

24-0

They play the 49ers on Saturday!

I am so proud of Gage!!!

He is a great QB!!!

Can't wait for Saturday...

GO PACKERS!!!

Me, Myself and I

I am happy to report that last nights kickball practice, went off without a hitch. Everything went smoothly. I am happy that I have 3 girls from my mommy group on the team. I only have 2 new faces to learn. My team mom made the cutest bows...and she had them ready for purchase at the first day of practice. Woohoo!!! Go Mindy!!! She is my hero on the creative front. Battling the "plain-ole" blues...one ribbon at a time...LOL!!! She also found a person to make personalized water bottles for the girls, those were mailed out yesterday. Socks were ordered last night. I am excited to see our whole uniform put together. The Sharks are going to be one team to be reckoned with...on the field and on how cute they are going to look.

On a personal note...I have adapted faster than I thought to having 3 children full-time. I still go to playdates...my house stays cleaner than before...My chillins haven't missed a single football practice or gymnastic time, nor have they been tardy to either...I still workout...

Only a few small points of interest need to be refined...I am looking forward to the months to come. To kickball practices, kickball games, football practices, football games, Play-offs (and cross your fingers...the SuperBowl), Birthday parties, and acceptance.

Learning to accept and overcome.

GO PACKERS!!!

Gage and his teammates played a good game on Saturday. I was able to get there shortly after the game started. They whipped the pants off the 49ers again. 40-6!!! I am so proud! They play the Longhorns this coming Saturday.

Tonight we kick off kickball practice. I am excited to meet the few girls that I don't already know at practice tonight. I am looking forward to what the season will bring. Happy that everything is coming together so beautifully.

Can't believe March is already here. My baby girl is going to be 5 at the end of this month. I have tried avoiding anything that reminds me that she is growing up, but I just have to accept it. She is thrilled to be turning 5, because most of her friends have already done so. She has decided on a Disney Princess theme. Already done the invites, just have to hand em out.

As for me...I need to go get ready for kickball practice.

One last thing for everyone to ponder over...

Remember in K ...

If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all!

Annoying Neighbor

Gage comes home today. Last night he was texting us about having to go to a church that he thinks sucks balls. Also having to go watch his step-sister perform, she is in choir...And he isn't the biggest fan of hers at all...He is ready to come home...And today his plane flies in around 3ish...So my boy will be here definitely before 5...We have really missed him!!!

Everything is wrapping up nicely for Kickball. We have our first practice next Tuesday. Tomorrow unfortunately I have a coaches clinic. I am crossing my fingers that we will be done before Gage's football team plays or even finishes their game...It's gonna be a good one. On a happy note, during our kickball clinic they will be serving us BBQ.

Yesterday most of the neighborhood was mad at one of our neighbors...At about 3:30 one side of our street lost power, AEP came out and replaced a fuse. The power was back on about 4:45. At 5:25, the power went out again. This time they had to bring out the really big trucks and replace a transformer, because our neighbor hasn't trimmed his tree and one of his branches blew the whole transformer. We did not get our power back until close to 9:45...OMG do you know how annoying it is to sit around a warm and sticky house with 2 lil kids that rely so heavily on light and electricity to keep themselves entertained. I have vowed to cut back on allowed TV time, because of the whole ordeal. Everything wouldn't of been so bad if it hadn't been at night.

This week has proven to me that I am stronger than I ever thought I was. Now before I go I just want to say...Go PACKERS!!!

The Week So Far...

Gage had an awesome game on Saturday...They beat the Cowboys again 28-8... Allowing the Packers to go into FIRST PLACE...GO PACKERS!!!

He left for Houston shortly after the game and is having fun with his mom!

Tonight I had a kickball meeting...Found out who all is on my team.

I am happy to have a drama free team...Woohoo!!!

I have to give tremendous praise to Mindy again cause I would be lost without her...Thanks to whoever past the creative gene to her...

Cami and Hayden are constantly saying that they miss their brother...

My mind is in a frenzy with all I need to do...

So TTFN...