I've Been Tagged

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning
B. Each player answers the questions about themselves
C. At the end of the post, the player tags 3 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know they are tagged.

10 years ago I was: At my first teaching job, buying my first car (which Jhonny totaled last fall), and still single.

5 things on my to do list today: To Do list? What's that? I guess I need to take Jessica to dance. . .everything else is impromptu

Things I would do if I became a billionaire: Can't think that big. I'd just like to pay the bills and have some left over. Definitely get out of ALL debt.

3 of my bad habits: Gilmore Girls, Procrastinating, talking too much (according to my husband).

5 places I've lived: Texas, Idaho, LA, Utah, DC, Venezuela

5 Jobs I've Had: Drama and Debate High School Teacher, Drama and Speech Jr. High Teacher, Theatre Arts/ Yearbook / English / Dance Teacher for private expat school 1-12, ESL and Teen Leadership Teacher, High School Counselor, Substitute Teacher

Something most people don't know about me: I covet a calling to the Young Women which I've never done.

Okay so I'm not sure who to tag since I'm a little new to the blog thing. So I guess the only two of 3 options I've got are:

Jhonny
Tanya
?

Jessica's latest artwork

This is our projected family picture. If you'll look closely, I'm holding Gavin and Jessica is holding Lily. Dad is holding a cookie. I think the bike is a pretty good likeness, don't you?

Play Time

Someone once told me that rough and tumble play with dad helps develop language skills. That's my way of saying, "I'm not sure if this is true," but it sure is fun.

Saturday there was NOTHING on TV worth watching. I decided it was time to hit the off button and spend a little quality family time. Jessica wanted to play "Penny, penny, who's got the penny?" Which was fun for a little while, but kind of got too easy with only three people to play with that could understand. I suggested we play something that Lily could do like Ring around the Roses. We all had fun falling down. Then we played London Bridge is falling down. I soon got Jhonny to take over for me since all the action was taking a toll on me and Gavin. He decided to do London Bridge with his feet instead which soon turned into a round of "Nana".

This game originated from my Aunt Dixie. She used to play it with me & my siblings when she babysat us years ago. I don't really know why we say "nana", but the "yahoo" is obvious. They just can't get enough! Poor Dad got worn out. But he still found some energy to do the flying trapese with Lily.

Drum roll please. . .

I was so excited this morning to find out, I couldn't sleep. Then I couldn't wait so I left early for my appointment. Then my blood pressure was sky high. I told the lady that I was finding out today and so I was kind of excited. She told me to RELAX and breathe. It came back down to normal after a few tries and deep breathes. But I'm sure it didn't stay there.
Jhonny couldn't make it out for the sonogram so he was waiting at work to hear the news. It wasn't long before the gender was confirmed. I was pretty excited once I found out. After I got out of the sonogram room, my phone started ringing.
So what do you think? Sorry - it's just a face in these first two. The baby wouldn't turn right to get a profile, so we had to settle for the skeleton frontal view.












Introducing, Gavin! Yep, it's a boy!
When I told Jhonny, he was dumbfounded. Later when we met for lunch, he kept asking if I was sure it was a boy. I said, "That looks like a boy to me! None of my girls had one of those."

Anticipation

"Do you know what you're having yet?" Is the question I've heard most frequently in the last two weeks. February 21st is the big day. Thursday. I don't know how to feel. Boy - what a new experience that will be - a chance to finally use our boy name. It would be so wonderful to have a little Jhonny running around. Girl - well we've been there and done that. We do make excellent girls if I do say so myself. We might actually have to pin down the name after all. Right now it's about 50/50. So - any guesses from our audience? You have until Thursday to put in your two cents.

Strawberries

So, I'm not sure I like surprises. It seems that everytime my husband tries to surprise me by holding off on the expected I start to harbor resentment. Then he pulls something off that just makes me feel guilty for having been upset in the first place.

Like my first birthday after we were married. I didn't know it until the next day, but I was pregnant then too. (Could it just be I don't like surprises when I'm pregnant? There's a thought. ) When I came home from work and Jhonny gave me the impression he hadn't planned anything special, I just got upset. Later when I opened our front door to a huge "Surprise!" party with our friends, cake and balloons, boy did I feel dumb.
Every year on Valentine's Day, I wake up to roses and candy and a beautiful card that is usually pretty perfect. This year, I got nothing. When I got home from Jessica's dance lessons later that evening, I prepared something nice for the occasion - very untypical for a dance lesson night when I usually get home and say "Fend for yourselves people!" I expected to see my roses on the table when I walked in - again nothing.

So all through dinner I got more and more irritated and hurt by what seemed to be the obvious oversight and lack of planning. As I cleaned the dishes and got the girls ready for bed, Jhonny suggested dessert. I was in no mood for dessert. Jessica came and dragged me back from Lily's room to the kitchen where the lights had been turned off. I turned them on now suspecting something was up. There was my card and on the table with a box of 6 huge chocolate covered strawberries and a romantic chick flick to watch for the evening. Two little stuffed dogs with chocolate york patties were in place for the girls. Our Jhonny did think of us. The card was beautiful and I wondered how he managed to pull it off. Once again, I felt dumb and relieved that my honey did NOT forget me.

You'd think he'd learn his lesson by now to not leave a pregnant moody wife hanging. The important thing is that Jhonny does come through. . . and that is something to be grateful for. I'm probably most thankful for the fact that he tries pretty hard to please me. I have to admit, no matter how annoyed or irritated I may temporarily become, I've got a good man who never leaves me stewing for too long. So, Honey, if you're reading this - Thank you for loving me and for the yummy strawberries. You can't know how much it means to me to have you in my life. I love you, babe!

I got Dora!

Happy Valentine's Day readers. A few days ago I took inventory of my feelings of this day and my reaction was "Huh - no dread!" I remember a time in the not too distant past when it was just a reminder of the lack of love in my life.

Now I look forward to Kindergarten parties, and a bag full of cheap valentines and candies. Remember when we were 5 and couldn't wait to see how much candy we got in our homemade heart doily bags? Looking back on my life, I wish I could have kept that childlike wonder for the day.

This morning Jessica and I set out our Valentines for breakfast. She apologized for not having anything for me. I don't think she was considering all the homemade cut out hearts with 'Mom, I love you' written on them that she's been handing me all week. . .She just noticed the injustice of the unbalanced chocolate and candy being handed out. I didn't worry. I figured Jhonny would probably have his own way of taking care of my valentine. Then we went to get Lily and Jhonny up for breakfast before school.

Before I could get back to the kitchen with a sleepy husband I heard. . ."Dora! I got Dora!" This from Lily who was pleasantly surprised by the pile of "yummies" on her plate next to her cereal. "That," I thought, "is the true meaning of Valentine's Day." To be happily and unexpectedly surprised by the simple thoughtfulness of another.

So I'm still waiting for my valentine. . .Jhonny said to me when he came up empty handed, "Valentine's Day lasts all day." His excuse? He said he didn't get past the long lines at the store last night and gave up to try later. This is our first Valentine's Day in a one store town. Apparently you can't buy flowers in advance.

Not to worry, Lily and Jessica both willingly shared their candy with me this morning so I wouldn't feel left out. Oh the love of a child. That's the best kind of love. . .a mother's true paycheck.

Heavenly Father Loves Me

"I know He does, mm-hmm, yup"

Stealing Cinderella

Jhonny treated Jessica to a Sweetheart Daddy Daughter Dance on Friday night. She had a great time. They went to get icecream afterwards. What a great first date!

Family outing to the capitol in Austin

Saturday was too beautiful to stay indoors. We went to the park and then decided to take an impromtu trip to Austin! It was a lot closer than we thought!

The park near our home.

Waiting for dad to park the car!

Here we go!

Walking in front of the capitol

Climbing the stairs of the capitol.

Way up high!

Water in the fountain. Look at that thing float!

Playing in the park near the capitol.

Climbing after the squirrel!

Hiding from Mom

"Lily, are you hiding from Mom?"
"yup."
 

"I gotcha!"

He wanted us to know

My mom sent me this video on youtube written and performed by Andi Holt, a young woman in her ward. I love this! Check it out.