A Boy and his Guitar

So you may remember me mentioning that my boy loves music!  He has several "electric guitars" at home and he regularly plays them with Jason.  However, weekend before last, we went over to Meg and Jeff's house for dinner.  Their daughter, Shelby, has a pink princess guitar. 

It was INSTANT love.  Joe lugged that thing around ALL night.  

enter states exhibit...  

He played to Ryan in the yard.  

Hey played by himself.  

He carried it in the jeep.

and stored it in the back while he drove.  

He serenaded us all night long.  

So much so that the next day.....  

we bought him his very own! 

Not exactly like this but close.  

He has not put it down since...  unless he is playing with his forklift, of course.  

I'm a runner

Now if you knew me at all in the past...  you would know that if I was running, it was to something or away from something.  HA!

Part of it was because I was a smoker.  blech!  

I quit four years ago when I got pregnant with Joe...  and there are still a few times that I miss it.  But, I don't miss being a slave to the damn cigarette.  You don't have to worry about restaurants allowing smoking... where you sit... what purse you carry... do you have enough to get you through the night... so on and so forth. 

Then there was the fact that I faked being "in shape".  I mean, how can you really be in shape when you are polluting your body with cigarette smoke? 

so...  I had Joe in 2007 and quickly got back to my pre-pregnancy weight however NOTHING was where I left it. 

NOTHING. 

And many of you know that I did bootcamp.  Faithfully.  And little to no results, really. 

Well, about February...  something came over me.  Not sure what and not even sure how.  But, I strapped on my runnin shoes...

 and hit the pavement and the treadmill and more of the pavement...  and started running. 

Now, it has been two and a half month's and....

I have now completed my first 5k marathon and I did it in 31 minutes 45 seconds.  This may not be an accomplishment to you... but to me...  this is HUGE! 

I had so much fun.  I did it with Jason and my sister and brother in law.  It was crowded.  It was crazy.  it was raining.  It was FUN! 

Before it all started, we were hanging out in a tent waiting for the band of rain to pass and a young woman had already finished the 10k and was about to run the 5k for fun.  :)  ha!  But she made me laugh!  Her comment was...

"I just got to the start and ran like a Kenyan!"

HAAAAAA!  ha ha ha ha ha. 

So, we got behind everyone else (mistake number 1) and got ready for it to begin.  The horn sounded and it actually took us four minutes to get to the starting line.  Then we had to dodge and swing around all of the walkers. 

They ran us through the zoo (mistake number 2) and people were looking at all of the animals and oohing and aahing.  :)  Which was great but those of us that actually wanted to run had to struggle a bit here. 

I finally saw my opening and made a break for it.  The hole closed behind me which meant that the other three didn't get through but at that point... I"m shorter than them... every man for himself!  HA!

I crossed the line and then waited for the rest of the gang.  WHAT a rush!

We did it!  We ran the whole thing and did it in good time.  It was soooo super exciting and we are gonna do it again in two weeks in Nacogdoches.  I can't wait! 

Just read a horrible article

I just read a horrible article, one that all parents should read but that I will not subject you to.  It was an article about parents accidentally leaving their children in a car to perish.  It was graphic.  It was horrible.  I don't really even know why I am sharing this article with you...  I cannot even FATHOM the pain these parents are feeling and will continue to feel for the rest of their lives.

These were not intentional.  They were accidents.

I remember reading or hearing about them and thinking horrible thoughts too.  Even judging them (and really... who am I to judge?).

After reading this article... (man oh man, I wish I hadn't read this article... ) I keep thinking how easy, not that's NOT the right word...  how avoidable.. yes, how uncomprehendable... yes, how with the added stress and preoccupation we all face... how easy it would be to do this. 

God this is unfathomable.

Accidents happen.  Just last night Joe was being trailered behind our bikes and the trailer tumped over.  He was fine.  He has a scraped elbow and a cut on a finger.  He was fine.  It was an accident.  J and I both feel horrible and that is all it was... a bike accident.

So I sit here...  wishing upon wishing I could go and hug my little boy.  I am probably a different person for having read this stupid article.  I can hope, and I can pray that all parents are conscious of a change up in routine and can urge them, and myself, to take extra precautions when doing so.

We can only protect our children so much... but this is one instance where with proper diligence...  we can all be better.

Houston Fun.... backyard, Easter, partying it up at Harmony's

Smiley Jacob

Emi and Joe opening Aunt Cole's easter presents. 

Joe swinging and beautiful Lila

the fabulous Shannon O'dear made this!  Isn't she talented?

Starlette Sarah...  and the three muskateers eating Ice and spitting it back!  HA!

Beautiful Eileen.

Eileen and Oliver sittin in a tree... K I S S I N G

The birthday boy and three more muskateers

two beautiful blue eyed boys

MY beautiful blue eyed boy!

Houston Zoo with Emi and Mackenzie

So last week, Joe and I went down to houston so that Emilie and Joe could get some quality time together.  

They played so well together... and really, it's a great thing that Joe doesn't mind bossy cousins.  Ha! 

The first night they took a bath together.

Thursday they had the chance to just play at the house.  It worked out perfectly...  it really gave them a chance to just be.  That afternoon, Emilie went with her mama and "aunt" sandy to pick up Mackenzie from her school.  They took some pictures in the blue bonnets and went on to chuck e cheese.  Joe and I got to go see our friends Crissy and Sarah and Jacob.  Joe and Sarah were both very "hold me"  "hold me" ugh!  double UGH!  

Friday, we went to the Houston zoo and the kids all had such fun!  and I, of course, loved taking pictures.  

Emi and Mackenzie ... BFF's

This bird was a piggy bank.. or rather a birdy bank.  The kids got a kick out of peering in it's mouth. 

Pretty Mackenzie

the kids had such fun running and posing. 

Sitting in a birds nest and of course, a GIGI. 

The petting zoo was fun for the girls.  Joe would have rather just climbed. 

And NO zoo trip is complete without a ride on the train.  

We finished off the day with lunch at Niko Nikos which was fantastic! yummy nummy greek food.  Although it might have talked back to me over and over and over again... oh the garlic!  :)  but worth it!  :)