Seafood for Breakfast

Today was a big day to be a first grader: Reading Restaurant!

We moved to The Woodlands the summer before Connor started first grade. There have been many programs and concerts over the last five years; but, it all began with Reading Restaurant. Reading Restaurant is a time for the students to show off their reading skills to their parents in a fun way. I remember Connor's big chef hat and little apron. I don't remember the theme of our meal -- if there even was one. But, he did a great job reading books to us and then the class performed a poem or two.

Fast forward five years, and when I got the notice that Colby's Reading Restaurant was set for Feb. 21, I got teary-eyed. Now I am not very emotional. But it hit me hard that this was the LAST Reading Restaurant I would be going to. In fact, everything of Colby's that I go to will be the LAST. Gosh, I hope I don't cry my way through his school years! (And before I get some smart comment from my sister - no, I do not want another baby!!)

So, this morning, Chris and I went to school and he greeted us donned in his chef's hat and apron.



He asked very politely if we would like to be seated at Snyder's Seafood Shack. We assured him we would. He seated us at his desk that was decorated with shells and nets and placemats and then gave us a menu. He quickly hurried off to fetch our "book" of food.



He read "More Spaghetti I Say" and "The Lunchbox Surprise" and then offered the Chef's Surprise.



After we paid our bill in hugs and kisses, I hugged Mrs. Snyder and told her thank you for letting me have one more Reading Restaurant!

Where I've Been

So my sister wants to know where I've been. What's wrong, Danette, tired of seeing my duck-taped toilet everytime you pull up my blog?!? By the way, the duct-tape is still holding up!! :)

Well, I would like to say that I have been on a deserted island soaking up lots of sun or on an African Safari watching animals in their native surroundings...but, I've just been being a mom! I've either been at my computer working on endless pages of Connor's school's yearbook or sitting in a baseball bleacher!

I am thrilled to say that as of Friday, I have all but 18 pages of the yearbook submitted to our publisher and they are therefore out of my hands! The last are due March 10 -- so the end IS near.

Baseball is in full-swing. I try to tell myself to enjoy being layered and wrapped in blankets as I sit out there in February because, all to soon, I will be sweating profusely! I do have to say that we will all be looking good at each of the boy's games because this year has been the year of new uniforms and any kind of paraphenalia that has either the Hooks logo or the Enforcers logo on it -- we have blingy shirts, blankets, chairs, etc. The boys have awesome uniforms. If we don't win, we will at least look GOOD trying!

So, in case I don't post again until March 11 when my full-time volunteer position is finished - rest assured that I am not on an island or in the wild. I am just riding the up and down roller coaster of "Mom Land"!

This One's For My Dad

When I was little, my dad used to say that duct tape and baling wire would fix anything. His other saying is, "There is someone who gets paid to do that." He says that alot to my husband.

Chris and I really do like projects. And, luckily, I married a really handy man! Chris has done everything from sprinkler systems, building fences and gates, totally renovating our bathroom -- including plumbing, tiling, rebuilding a wall that was totally crooked! --, crown moulding, baseboards, anything electrical, everything landscape-wise, including a flagstone patio. Shoot, he even rebuilt a Goldwing motorcycle bolt-by-bolt. As you can imagine Lowe's and Home Depot are frequented at least once EVERY weekend by one or all members of our family.

Well, Friday night Chris comes in the living room and says, "Did you see that our toilet seat has split?" I said I wondered why I felt something pinch me when I was getting up! I figured, no big deal. We will pick up a new toilet seat on one of our weekend trips to a local home improvement center. You can imagine my surprise when I went to use the bathroom Saturday evening and saw this...



Duck tape on my toilet!?!

I bet my dad is pretty proud of his son-in-law right about now! I guess I better go search the phonebook and see if there is someone I can pay to fix that!!

He Got Me

It is anyone's guess how quickly OR happily Colby will get up on any said morning. One morning he will be super sweet and easy and the next he is not so super sweet or easy! Yesterday morning was the absolute worst by far! He was mad at the world before one eye even opened! Needless to say when he got on the bus yesterday morning I already had a ton of "mom guilt" on my shoulders for the way I reacted to his mood.

This morning before I went into his room I quickly asked God to please make this morning much easier than yesterdays. And, He did. Colby got up relatively easy and was actually smiling. (Although I still had to make his lunch in the dark because he doesn't like the kitchen light to be on -- "it's too bright!") It was time to brush his teeth and hair and he ran on ahead of me. When I rounded the corner to my bathroom I heard singing coming from the potty. In a gravely voice (or as gravely as a 7 year old voice can be) Colby was singing, "One way or another I'm gonna get ya, get ya, get ya..." That made me laugh! When he was finished getting ready I asked him where he heard that song. "On a commercial." I told him that song was around when I was his age and I started singing it to him. He thought that was funny. I said, "Colby why are you so happy today and yesterday you were so mad?" He said, "Well, some days I just am too tired!"

I am so thrilled today he was well-rested! Maybe when he is too tired next time, I'll start singing to him in my gravely voice!!

My Week in Review

After raking and raking on Saturday, my girlfriend called and said that her husband was going to watch my boys for me so she and I could go to dinner. She has been wanting me to try this chic little sushi joint that she and her friends frequent. I was willing to try it; but, positive I would be starving afterward! So, I ate lots of snacks before we left!! She ordered and this showed up at our table...

I LOVED them!! She warned me that once I ate them, I would crave them...she was right! We got California Rolls (which I knew was a safe bet), the 7&1/2 Roll, and the Watch Your Butt Roll. Wow!! I will have to take Chris -- and soon!

Wednesday I began Beth Moore's "Stepping Up" Bible Study. It has been a while since I have done a Bible Study and am excited about this one. My sushi-loving girlfriend is going with me, so that is fun! I know Beth is going to challenge me in the next seven weeks!

Thursday I was asked to go to Mitchell and do my yearbooking thing -- take pictures at an assembly. The only thing I knew was that some Astro baseball players were coming to give the 6th graders a presentation. Connor was actually one of ten out of 650 6th graders who were going to get to sit on the front row and go up to ask the players a question! He couldn't have received a higher honor! He was ecstatic!! I was very excited for him and wondered who could be coming...surely no one THAT famous...But in walks 1st Baseman, Lance Berkman, and Pitcher, Roy Oswalt! We were all ecstatic!! They talked to the students for over an hour and took pictures with us crazy adults!! Truly a great day to be involved in school events!!




Chris flew home from England on Thursday afternoon, bringing with him my English weakness...



YUM!! I told him to bring me as many boxes as his suitcase could handle! The funny thing is is that we can buy these exact packages of Shortbread Cookies at Cost Plus World Market, which is only about 15 minutes from our house!! These just somehow TASTE like England, you know?!?

A good week with fun, unexpected adventure! Not normal around here!! I think this next week looks a little more usual!!

Why God Gave Me Men

Chris is out-of-town. So, I figured the boys and I would do what we would have done on any other non-baseball Saturday, even if Chris was in-town...RAKE!! The grand total today...14 bags!

Colby and I raked and bagged the front yard for about 2 hours this morning and then headed to the backyard. Connor was no where to be seen - which isn't unusual these days! After a while, here comes Connor! "Wow!", I said. Connor said, "I'm here to help you, mom." He proceeded to rake and bag and clean the pool while Colby and I raked and bagged too. As I watched my boys work, I realized that God knew I would need boys instead of girls because when Chris is traveling my boys will take care of me (that is when they aren't fighting!) I think, way to go God! And then we reached the yuckiest part of cleaning up the backyard -- the dog poop! I was fully prepared to go clean it up; but, without even asking Colby went and got the shovel and started towards the pen. I said, "Colby, mommy will do that." He turned and said, "No, mom. I'm a man." (I think I heard the angels singing to me!!)

However, I was brought back to earth a little when Colby came to help bag the last pile of leaves and he matter-of-factly said, "Mom, you stink!" After all, God didn't make men perfect! :)

Conclusion to "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

I told in an early December post that my mother was already asking for ideas for me for Christmas. I had none...until the Frontgate catalogue came and a jewelry cleaner and heated sports seat caught my eye. She was perfectly willing to buy me whatever I wanted--however, I continued to hold out for that item that really POPPED out at me.

So after a Christmas lunch with two girlfriends, I walked into a store in Market Street and there these were...!!!

So I grabbed them and proceeded to call mom and tell her that she and dad just bought me the most perfect gift! (She was thrilled!)

I have to say that not only are these giraffe shoes adorable (in my opinion), they are also THE most comfortable shoes I have ever owned! Thanks mom and dad!

P.S. I wasn't going to show off my shoes; but, when I went to Living Proof's blog tonight and saw that Beth was showing her new shoes off, I thought it would be OK!!