I Didn't Know Walmart Carried Karma

I have never believed in Karma...however, today Karma visited me in Walmart.

Chris has been known to come home from time to time and relive a recurring embarrassment based on my laundry skills. He will be sitting in a meeting and in an effort to get more comfortable, bend his knee and place it on his other knee. After some time he will look down and see a Bounce sheet peeking our of his pants! Sometimes those little sheets are stuck up in a pant leg and I just don't catch them all!!

Today, I got dressed in black pants, black socks and black shoes and proceeded to walk all over Walmart. I ran into a lady from church and talked to her for a while. I continued down just about every aisle taking my time and looking around. I proceeded to the checkout and loaded all my things on the counter, went to start putting the bags into the cart, and looked down. What was that white thing hanging out of my pants?? I reached down, grabbed it and stuffed it in my purse. As I stood there wondering who all had seen me, I became more embarrassed that the people who did see me might have thought that it was actually toilet paper hanging out of my pants and then (an even more horrific thought occurred to me) who may have just seen me stuff it in my purse?!?

We Are Now "The Techy Family"

We have had a desktop computer for 15 years or so. There were several times before we would upgrade to a newer, more powerful computer that we would call our computer bad names!

By the first week of December, I was ready to throw ours out the window because it was so slow and messed up -- I mean, having to wait for Facebook to come up is reason for such insanity, right?!?

The decision to get a new computer was easy; the decision on what kind of computer brought on an attitude of trepidation. After making a list of pros and cons, we went with a Mac Laptop. I have friends who love their Macs and I have friends who say how they are so hard to figure out after owning a desktop -- Let me just say...,"I LOVE MY MAC!!!"

It is fast, has an awesome program for all my pictures, makes total sense to me, and this whole "Laptop" thing is ingenious!! In fact, I am sitting on my couch typing away!

My main concern was that we would need two laptops to keep our family of four happy. But, Santa took care of that by way of the ITouch and IPhone. The boys got ITouch's for Christmas and I got an IPhone. So, if you should walk up to our house and peek in, this is what you'll see...Connor, Colby and me on the couch each with our handheld device playing games, surfing the web, checking Facebook/e-mails -- and Chris on his chair with the laptop in his lap playing games, surfing the web, checking Facebook/e-mails! We are a NERDY family!

I will have to say that the IPhone may be an even greater invention than my Mac Laptop because it can do it all and fit in my purse. I can leave the house and not worry about changes in baseball schedules because I can check anytime I want. I can play games while sitting in a waiting room or at practice...awesome!!

I now have two concerns: 1. my marriage -- Chris and I have been guilty of "talking" to each other via Facebook while in the same room! 2. which applications to buy next!

A New Year Already?!?

I was feeling very overwhelmed with the fact that I haven't blogged in about 6 weeks and that I hadn't done my 2009 recap. Then just a minute ago I went back to look at last years' recap and saw that I didn't do it until January 5 of last year. So, really, I am only one day late!!

Blogging hasn't been high on my priority list (once again). But I am really going to try to do better this year (yeah, right!) However, I started getting the "blogging bug" again after watching Julie & Julia. I am by NO means going to do a diary of cooking through a cookbook -- I am not a cook, don't enjoy cooking, and don't want to enjoy cooking! So, what could I blog about every day? I don't know. I'll have to think about that. Maybe the best place to get a chicken sandwich (Chick-fil-A) or cheese-filled jalapenos (Sonic) or Tortilla Soup (Chuy's)...I could go on and on!!

Anyhow, here's my recap of 2009. Maybe next year, it won't be too far into 2011 before I do it again!

JANUARY: Connor and Colby were both busy with baseball practices and even played in a tournament each this month. The Hooks were working hard at fundraisers raising money for the trip to Cooperstown, NY scheduled for August. Connor attended his first RUSH weekend, or for us old folks, Disciple Now. He had a blast! The boys and I went to a Go Fish concert at church -- a kids Christian band out of Canada. I continued working at our church's Mother's Day Out program. Chris didn't go out of town once this month!!

FEBRUARY: Baseball practices and tournaments in Cy-Fair and Beaumont filled our month. Chris only had to travel to Dallas this month.

MARCH: Colby played in a tournament at Doss Field and Connor played at Spring/Klein. Chris was offered a job in January with a different company. After much thought, discussion and prayer, we decided to go for it. He ended up getting to take off a few weeks in March before starting his new job at Weatherford. Lots of little projects got done around the house!

APRIL: Mom Ann and Popcycle came to see the boys play some ball! Chris began traveling again -- this month to Ft. Worth, England and Austria. Chris and I had a "blast from the past" lunch with two friends from High School/College -- Kurt and Carrie Staller. The boys played in Cy-Fair and Spring/Klein tournaments.

MAY: Grandma and Papa came for a weekend of baseball -- Colby at Doss Field and Connor at Baseball USA. Connor played at Baseball USA again this month as well as in Beaumont. The end of the year Mother's Day Out program ended my career for the year. Connor turned 13!!

JUNE: School ended on the 4th; however, the boys didn't attend their last day of school. Instead, we loaded into the car and drove to Chama, NM to celebrate my parent's 40th Anniversary. My sister, her family, our grandmother, mom and dad, and the four of us met at the Elk Horn Lodge -- one place my parents stayed on their honeymoon 40 years before. We all rode the Cumbres/Toltec Railroad and ended the day at a chuckwagon cookout. A fun, fun weekend. The boys went on the Albuquerque with Grandma and Papa while Chris and I spent a night in Santa Fe. We met up with them in Albuquerque where I stayed for the rest of the week after taking Chris to the airport to do a tour of Singapore, England, Abu Dhabi, and Paris. The boys and I drove back to Houston in time for Vacation Bible School and a couple more tournaments. Chris got back in town in time to go and see his idol, Eric Clapton in concert.

JULY: A quieter month on the baseball front -- only one tournament in League City for Connor. Still practicing, though, to not get rusty! Chris and I took a whirlwind trip to Albuquerque for my 20th High School Reunion. Had so much fun reconnecting with all who attended!

AUGUST: About a year before, Connor's baseball team, the Hooks, decided to play a weeklong tournament in Cooperstown, NY. These tournaments are only open to 10-year-olds and 12-year-olds. We were given the week of August 7-14 to compete against 103 other 12-year-old teams from around the US. The boys raised over $20,000 to help with the costs and created a lifetime of memories! Chris's parents and sister and brother-in-law joined us for a week of baseball in the picturesque surroundings. It was an amazing week. Since we were so close to New York City, we decided to spend five days sight-seeing and being true tourists. We saw so much and loved everything about NYC! Statute of Liberty, Ellis Island, Chinatown, Little Italy, World Trade Center Site, Central Park, museums, Time Square, etc. -- so much fun!! I even got to go to a taping of Live With Regis and Kelly!! Got to check one off my "goals in life" -- seeing Regis in person! We went to The Lion King on Broadway, ate wonderful food and even camped outside of David Letterman's studio and were feet away from the guests for the night which included Donald Trump. Unfortunately, we are not self-made millionaires and had to go back to reality of work and...school! School started on the 24th where Colby became a 3rd grader and Connor an 8th grader.

SEPTEMBER: Connor decided to play football again for his Junior High while still doing baseball. We spent the Labor Day weekend at the lake house of some dear friends -- fun relaxing day on their boat where the boys couldn't get enough tubing and jet skiing. No rest from baseball -- tournaments and practices still in full swing! Grandma came in to watch Connor play football and then...

OCTOBER: ...she and I left for Canton's First Monday Trade Days. We met my sister and had a blast of a weekend shopping, shopping, eating and shopping some more. This was our celebration for mom's one year anniversary since her Stem Cell Transplant. In between Canton and Halloween was lots of baseball and football and trying to fit some homework in as well. Chris ended up being in Germany at the end of the month and missed another Halloween at home. Connor decided he was too big to dress up this year; but, Colby was a scary biker dude.

NOVEMBER: Chris was still in Germany the first week of the month. Connor ended his football career with no injuries(!) and the team record of 5-0-1. The Hooks went to Pflugerville, TX for the State Tourney and took 1st place -- leaving them 4th in the nation! The Hooks then went on to take a SIX WEEK BREAK!!!!!! Colby's team did not take a break; but it did give us a few nights off every week. Every year we meet my parents and sister and her family for Thanksgiving. This year my dad decided that we as a family needed to do a service-type project. I found the Mission Arlington in Arlington, TX who feeds about 5,000 people on Thanksgiving Day. We all met in Irving and spent Thanksgiving morning delivery food to those who were in need. I think the grandkids got a sense of how lucky they are and as they get older, we will be able to do even more volunteering that will hopefully make them more aware of their blessings. The day after Thanksgiving was spent at the Ft. Worth Stockyards where the kids had a ball and finished the day at the Stockyard Rodeo.

DECEMBER: Connor had been having horrible knee pains for about a year and since he was on a break, we decided to see an Orthopedic. As it turns out, he has Patella Tendonitis -- overuse of his knees and flat feet has caused this. He is in physical therapy and wearing lifts in his shoes and bands around his knees when he is active. We aren't sure what the future holds as far as his catching in baseball; but, hopefully these things will help ease the pain. Our dentist has also been telling us he needs braces; so, we have begun that journey as well. He got his spacers in and is experiencing the wonderful world of soreness right now. Chris traveled to Poland for a week, was home two days and off again to Germany. So much traveling and time off for New York had us staying home for Christmas. We had a nice, quiet time here enjoying our family of four. My parents came in on the 26th to celebrate a belated Christmas and Colby's 9th birthday.

2009 was very good to us and we feel very blessed because of it. I pray 2010 will be just as good and may we all enjoy life a little more each day!

In Honor of Those Who Have Served

School projects have been taking over our house lately. However, this project was a special one in that it celebrates all those who have fought for our country.

For years, the 8th graders have been given the assignment of finding a veteran, interviewing them and then constructing a poster about them. Local news crews come every year and do a bit from the school.

These posters, over 1,000 of them, are hanging in the trees in front of the school this week for Veteran's Day.

We actually have several Veteran's in our family that Connor could choose from. Both of my grandfather's served as did Chris's grandfather and a couple of uncles. However, Connor chose my dad, who served in Vietnam. My dad doesn't talk much about his time there; so, I enjoyed finding out the answers to the questions Connor asked him also. I know Connor has a love for the military and this was a special assignment for him to get to know Papa a little more!

So today, and everyday, thank you to all who have served our country! And, a special "thank you" to my dad!!

The Ending of an Era

Baseball is the heart of this family.

When Connor was three, he tried soccer. However, it became quite apparent that soccer was not for him because all he ever wanted to know was when halftime was so he could have his snack!

Last year, when Connor entered 7th Grade, he decided to give football a try (much to my dismay!). Playing for his Junior High was lots of fun. I even learned to understand football a little better. At the end of the season, I breathed a huge sigh of relief that he made it through without one injury!

Yesterday the true "end of an era" came with the last football game of 8th grade. I say this because Connor has said that he will not try out for the high school football team. ("Yipee," said mom!) Once again, I breathed a huge sigh of relief that there was not one injury on the football field this year! (Although, in the following pictures, you will notice Connor has his finger wrapped up. He broke it - not on the football field; but, by tossing the football around with his buddies on our street!)

By the way, he is #5.



He is fixing to get tackled!


And...they get him!

Their season ended 5-0-1. Way to go Highlanders!

Hopefully, I will see my boy on the correct field during high school -- the baseball field!!



Speaking of an Ending of an Era, here is a photo of Connor's Calaca of Michael Jackson. He took it to school today --


And project #2 for Spanish was a paper doll that needed to be clothed as a celebrity. An oral presentation (in Spanish) was given in class about their celebrity today also. Can you guess who this is?


Se llama Big Bird!

A "Thriller" of a Project

I have always said that the only way to make a good grade on a school project is to spend at least $40 on materials. (It could have to do with the mother of my sons who has her own ideas of how to improve upon their project; just a thought!)

Anyhow, Project #3 for Connor this year is for Spanish class. They will be learning about the "Day of the Dead" celebration in the Spanish culture. He will be making a Calaca, which is a skeleton doll the size of a Barbie that represents a famous person. The clothing and accessories are the key to this because that is what will identify his Calaca.

Guess who my son chose to make a Calaca of??? Michael Jackson...

We sat down and made a list for my weekly trip to Michaels and/or Hobby Lobby. The main ingredient being Crayola Model Magic Clay so he can shape the doll. "Mom, you need to get a mixture of black, white and tan so we can get his coloring right." Okay...

My main concern was how we were going to dress him. Surely there is a doll out there.

So the Day of the Dead project brought out my first bidding wars through E-Bay. I spent one day bidding and loosing these Michael Jackson dolls -- are you kidding me -- they want HOW MUCH for a Michael Jackson doll?!? Chris finally told me to pay anything because it would be totally worth it for me not to buy the fabric and try to make something that resembled Michael Jackson's costumes -- I think he just didn't want to deal with a stressed out wife!

I successfully got a doll on Tuesday night and was so excited!! (That bidding thing could be addictive!)

I got back from the mailbox today and guess what was in there?
Yeah!!

All I can say is that Connor should get an A+ on this because we've exceeded my $40 project budget!!

What a Difference a Year Makes

This past week marks one year that my mom had a Stem Cell Transplant which allowed her to come to Texas and celebrate her 1-year birthday of being "cancer free".

My sister and I went to Albuquerque to help her and my dad the first weeks after she got out of the hospital. I will honestly say that when I left, I wasn't sure how she would ever manage on her own. She had no energy, was forgetful, and felt awful.

However, if you could have seen her this weekend, you wouldn't believe it was the same person. Time has given her her strength back, her memory has gotten a bit better :), and she feels great. She can also shop 'til she drops now -- which was important this past weekend!

My sister, mom and I decided we needed to celebrate her health by going to Canton, TX. Canton is in East Texas and is a small town that hosts the First Monday Trade Days -- I believe the largest one in the U.S. There are three separate sites that range from flea market junk, to adopting animals, to home decor and lots of "bling"! We shopped for two straight days and still didn't see all the home decor and "bling", although we tried our hardest!! In fact, Saturday night we were the only ones left out of the thousands that were there that day!


We took this picture after we had already made one trip to the car (AND it was the second day to shop!) and to prove we really DID close the place down that night! Yes, we shopped 'til we dropped.

It was also raining outside for most of the afternoon on Saturday. When we had arrived that morning, we had to park way out in a field at the front gate. The last thing we bought was, of course, on the opposite side of the place. So we walked with all this stuff, through the rain and dark and emptiness for at least a mile or more while laughing hysterically and having to stop because we needed to go to the bathroom so badly! Good memories!

I have spent the last three days finding places for all of my new treasures. I have decided I can't go back to Canton until I move into a bigger house!! Thank you, Mom and Danette for a fun-filled weekend and thanks to our husbands for letting us go and for "holding down the forts" while we were together!!