Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you. The highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity. Choosing right over wrong, ethic over convenience, and truth over popularity ... these are choices that measure your life. Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for there is never a wrong time to do the right thing.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Happy Father's Day!!

I wish I had access to all my pics for this post, but this will have to do for now...I have been so blessed in my life to have been loved by such great men.

Let's start with my Dad...


To say I was spoiled is an understatement! I could do NO wrong in this man's eyes. Everyday he would bring me home a Whatcamacalit candy bar in his lunch pail...I used to wait so eagerly by the door to listen for his truck! He took me everywhere with him even to work sometimes! We would stay up late eating peanut butter & honey, he made the best grilled cheese sandwiches, he always let me drive home from town on the back roads, whenever I asked for something (anything) if he replied with a maybe, I would immediately jump up & down screaming "Maybe Means YES, maybe Means YES!!!" It always did! He made up a song shortly after I was born and sang me too sleep with it more times than I could count! I have very rarely ever seen him cry. The 2 times which stand out most were ...the 1 time I ever remember him disciplining me other than with a "don't do that again"; I was an ornery teenager (13 I think) too big for my britches...and this time, he had no choice but to step it up a notch. So he let me know he was going to have to spank me...Now "My Dad" never spanked me, never...so I thought to myself, ha, are you kidding. I turned and faced the wall with that terrible teenager look on my face like uh ok (brat what a brat I was) and he gave me 2 swats. Actually they were NOT swats, but merely slaps and even that is stretching it. I turned around to grin at him as if to say "Are you serious" and he had tears in his eyes. :( That was probably the most disgust I have ever felt in my life. I was so sad I had hurt my Daddy.

The other time was at my Wedding. We stood there waiting for the doors to open, him trying ever so hard to be tough, wanting to buckle at the knees and when they did finally open I said, "Daddy" He quickly said, "come on Tab" Knowing if I lost it, he surely would too. He crackled out a "Her Mother & I" when asked who would give me away...well and now the rest is history.

He taught me honesty, integrity, loyalty, the list goes on & on, but most importantly, he taught me LOVE. Thank You Daddy, for being you...I LOVE YOU!

My "Other" Dad came into my life when I was in Middle School. The ornery teenager from above :0) He was fun and lenient. Always telling my Mom "just to let me go" :0) Spoiling me rotten as well, shopping, golf, music. Paying me exorbitant amounts of $ to do my chores! He is such a goofball always dancing & acting silly! Saturday mornings I was always awoken with waffles! We played many a board game, & all car rides consisted of several attempts to beat him at states and capitals. He drove home the importance of good grades and rewarded me ridiculously for honor roll. Being a product of divorce has actually served me quite well. I have 2 additional parents who have brought such joy to my life. I LOVE Ya P.K.! Thanks for being the best "other" dad in the world!

And my husband...
Such an amazing combo of both men with his own little ways! This poor kid didn't know what he was getting himself into! A spoiled little spitfire I was...(ok still am, but I am mostly in retirement!!) I think he should've been forewarned as to the severity of my spoiling beforehand, ha! I think he was too young and in love to have listened anyway! But now... *wink* He works so {TOO} hard to make our life great. Coming from a childhood which was nothing like the above listed greatness, he somehow manages to deliver all these incredible qualities into our children's lives. He teaches our kids fun, responsibility, loyalty, honesty, sports, generosity, hard work, leadership...this list goes on and on. Always with a tender heart. He definitely has their bluff. If he even hints at raising his voice, they fall into line as if there is something terrible on the other side of that rough (really teddy bear) growl :0) I don't think I could've chosen a better man to raise my precious babies with than Hal. I look forward to the life before us, and I can only imagine what our grandkids will receive! I think I will order their baby dentures when I find out the kids are expecting!! He skates right under the radar and I am the meany who makes them eat healthy! I LOVE YOU Halarini! Thanks for making our kids dreams come true.

I do have pics of the frames the kids painted for Hal for Father's Day. Aren't they precious...

Despite the rain wrecking our picnic plans, we had a great chill day...
How was your Father's Day?

Friday, June 18, 2010

My Baseball "Super Star" & 1 BIG OWIE!!!

Thursday night was the last game for our AA Orioles this season. Minus the par for the course highly uncooperative weather, it was a blast this year!!

Drewy plays Pitcher & Catcher mostly with an occasional 1st or 3rd and does such a great job! I LOVE seeing his little handsomeness out on the mound & behind the plate! It amazes me how good they are at 8 & 9! Drew LOVES the game. He has such a sports brain. He always knows the count whether out in the field or on base! He practices out in the backyard any spare moment he gets. :0)
They had a great final game, although they ended up losing at the end. It was 0 - 0 until the 5th inning. We were up 1 - 0 until the 6th inning. Drew struck out 11 of 14 batters pitching a PERFECT game for the 1st 4 innings! WAY TO GO DREWY! I LOVE this little man in the making!
His Daddy was beaming!
So were his coaches!
Of course I forgot my camera, here are a few pics crappy taken from my phone a few games before...

Feeling a little euphoric when we got home, he was horsing around throwing toys in the air & hitting them with his hand...which led to he & his sister horsing around...we hadn't been home 10 minutes, when...
Drew ran into the dining room chair & starting bawling, I mean really bawling. I didn't see him hit, but he was holding his face. After about45 seconds, Haliee went to him to check it because he doesn't normally act like that. He is pretty tough. AND she starts screaming...
OH.MY.GOD...OH NO DREWY....which totally FREAKED him out.
So I went to him...OWIE! His eye was just swelling like crazy, it was already as big as the1st pics within 1 minute. He hit right on the brow bone, poor kiddo. Hal & I calmed them both, good grief Haliee girl, lol! They were both so totally freaked out. Here is his battle wound...
And the next morning his eye was swollen shut...

By bedtime 24 hours later...Much better but black & blue...

You can't keep a goodman down! Atleast there were no stitches! Poor lil' man! ***I couldn't get him out of the dang uniform! NO JUDGING :9) He was still loving his awesome game even wounded!

Stuck!!!


So since it warmed up end of Spring, Hal has been taking the kids "4 Wheelin'" Which I was super nervous about, but...they took me along one day & really...all it consists of is going over some top soil dirt hills left from construction between our house & the School in the trees. So, I breathed a HUGE Sigh of relief and let them have at it!

They have been out dozens of times. Zoe LOVES it too...Well last week I was listing bows and away they went, Hailey Mac in tow too. About 10 minutes later I get a call..."Mommy, we're STUCK!"

Me: Stuck? HAHAHAHAH...HA

Haliee: "No really Mommy, we are seriously STUCK!"

Hee hee...so beaming with glee, I headed out to rescue them! The Mom "bucket" as my husband so dearly references my suv had to go rescue Mr. 4x4 best driver in the universe Himself!!! LOL!

After I gloated as long as I could before being beaten, I went back home to continue working...

Only...to...receive a 2nd "Mommy" call...15 minutes later~ BAHHHH! What a mess. I tried not to harass him too much this time as I really don't want him going on any real hills, I would much rather him be stuck in little top soil hills with no traction! He is really a much better driver than I but..we will never let him know I do admit that!

The kids however, were so happy to be stuck! They had the best time!!

Summer Kick Off...

Last Saturday night Haliee & Hailey Mac were feelin' mischievous! So what else is new right...So...they asked if they could go prank Mr. Drake...Now Mr. Drake was Haliee's homeroom teacher for 6th grade. He also taught 5th grade @ the elementary school the previous year. So Haliee has known him awhile! Being the sweet student she is; she talked him out of his address about 6 months ago! She has ding dong ditched his house a few times...but not since last fall.
So the girls made a sign for the front door making themselves known, lol, they have to make it known who did the crime! Drew decided he needed to be an accomplice so I loaded them up equipt with silly string and away they went...

Here they are attacking his poor front lawn! they placed the sign on the door, rang the bell, and sprinted back to the getaway car! Only...to...beg...to...go back to be caught lol! His poor wife Bonnie! Good thing they are young & good sports! We LOVE them! Haliee is going to be his TA next year, so I am so glad they'll get to hang out again!
When we got back home Hal pitched a tent for them all in the backyard. They were so excited, made their beds, payed games, hung glow bracelets on every zipper pull...and...10 minutes after Hal & I settled into bed to watch a little TV...here they came! The girls were too chicken to stay out there alone & Drew was begging them to try...SILLY GIRLS!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Last Day of School & Drew's Bday Treats!

Every Year our Elementary School does a huge LUAU "Aloha Day" Party! It is similar to a carnival but everything is free. The kids just run like mad from booth to booth eating otter pops, getting tattoos, different relays, bowling, face painting, rope climbing, dancing (they hire a DJ), you get the drift! This year I was in charge of the fruit loop necklace station. Should be easy enough right? It was...but...the kids were just a little amped! There were fruit loops smashed everywhere, the sugar would come off on your fingers and it was so sticky, yuck! But they loved it, so another successful memory right!? :0)

Drew was sick in Seattle and ended up missing the next week of school. He had an icky virus he just couldn't kick. So we ended up moving his bday class treats to Aloha Day. Just your par for the course class treat party, but I loved how cute Drewy looked embarrassed as they sang to him!

The Haliee's I think I will rename them Haliee2 (squared) get out of school before Drew so they came to help me & celebrate with him as well. They snapped most of the pics & took the video so love them!!! He chose brownies with M&M's, thanks Drewy for making it super easy on Momma this year! :)

Silly Self Portaits are a must! I forgot to edit it beforehand so we shall leave it horizontal!

*On a side note, Drew chose to have his bday at the local baseball park (Spokane Indians)~ farm team for the Texas Rangers this year & their opening day wasn't until June 18th, so he is getting quite the bday spread this year! His Baseball team is going that night as a whole team, so we will be going the following weekend! I'll be posting about that next!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Hi!!!

I feel like life is passing me by! Sorry, I have so much to blog about I've got to find the time somewhere! I am still on the laptop *UGH* hopefully next week I will be back to my normal chaos...crossing fingers}

So here is a week's recap minus pics WAHHHH!

Haliee's softball is over! Tourney was last week. Phew...I wish the ball fields were closer to each other, it is way too hard trying to be across town at 2 places at once! Today is the beginning of Drew's tourney week, so we are on the home stretch! I will be workin' the snack shack so hopefully Haliee comes home from her end of year sleepover party to hang out with me in there. :0) We shall see...

Yesterday was also the last day of school! Yippee! I am happy, I love having them home. I am guessing we'll be eating alot of spaghetti, tacos, etc. as we will likely have a house full all summer! :0) I am so fine with that! Hailey Mac has already been here everyday this week!

Both kids got straight A's! :0) YAY!
Haliee received a 4.0 award a well as a $25 gift card to regal theatre & candy from her Pays to get A's award! We are so proud of her. Man middle school packs on the homework. She is the model student I never have to bother her at all about any of it. She does all her work, projects, etc. all on her own! Man, I could have 100 Haliee's...minus the mess!

Drew also got straight A's although they don't really grade in letter grades yet. He scored #1 in his class on their reading isats (state testing) & was advanced in all the areas. He is super strong in math and HATES writing but still received advanced. Ahh he is such a pain when it comes to writing. the kid has an amazing vocabulary but hates to jot it down. Oh well, there are worse things right!?

So collecting $/purchasing coaches gifts for both teams, teachers gifts, end of year parties, school luau booth running, sports, birthday party planning...I am a tired Momma!

Last night I helped Hal in the front yard getting our lawn, etc. back up to par. The day before we left for Seattle @ 3 am a drunk driver kid decided to crash into our yard. UGH! he was stuck in the grass revving his engine for 15 minutes until some friends ran down the street to help him get "unstuck" We called the cops & they found the kid, but he broke several sprinklers & totally tore up our yard :( Hal is just a little ticked. It was pretty scary, I just knew he was going to hit the house when he was revving the dang engine so high. So we fixed he sprinklers, put down new topsoil & planted seed in the damaged areas. Hopefully we'll recoup the $ from the restitution the cops requested. We shall see...

I have listed a few new cutie bows & some 4th of July are coming as soon as I have time to list them. I have some orders to get out this weekend too. It is such a pain editing pics in photobucket grrrr...well at least I can edit them at all right!

I am still hurting everyday, ugh..whatever, hopefully we can figure out whats up soon...and if I am being honest, I am having a rough week emotionally. I am going through my normal motions, on the outside, I am fine...but I am sad. I have empty arms this week :( Which really makes no sense right!? Life is so busy & hectic where would I squeeze more babies in? But no logic warms the heart. I think the reality of not having the ability to ever be pregnant/nurse again is the hardest part. There is nothing I can do about it and it just stinks :( Trying to be optimistic and I am so thankful for what I do have...but is is really hard...ahhh...I ma sure the laundry I am getting ready to do will help right!?!

Happy Saturday & I hope to post some pics soon! Seattle was a blast, the Mariners Game was sooo much fun! A great surprise to Drewy! I can't wait to share :0)

Friday, June 11, 2010

Another Vintage Pearl Giveaway!!!

Erin is awesome & never ceases to amaze me! Go check her out & enter to win some fantastic prizes. :)

http://thevintagepearl.blogspot.com/

I entered to win Casie the angel wings necklace as today is Kayden's Angel day. can't believe it has been 6 years. :( What a sad day. Squeeze your babies extra tight today!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

One Rough Week...and some new bows!

Phew, life is throwing me some curve balls these past few weeks! I have come to the realization {I AM NOT IN CONTROL}! Not easy, but necessary to not go insane! I am still hurting, so going back again to the doc Thursday. I have been bombarded in addition to our everyday crazy...with...a funeral which required travel, airline foul ups, extra travel, a dog in the vet, a broken printer, a car wrecked into my yard, a broken computer, a mini vacay for Drew's bday, an unexpected city bus foul up in the night with a $80 return cab fare to boot, a sickie boy, a missed staff meeting...CALGON...I will elaborate more later, but until then...think of me :0)

On the flip side, we are home, all are mostly healthy. I am thankful...trying to remain optimistic. I do realize it CAN ALWAYS GET WORSE! Makin' memories right!?! There are some really great things which happened amongst the chaos! :) I'll post soon!

I did manage to get 2 more sets of bows listed though! Hooray! only a week late! I thankfully had uploaded the pics into photo bucket before all this started happening! Ugh, but...blogger won't allow the images from the html code. :0)
Of course it won't!