1st day of 3rd grade!

Today was Matt's 1st day of 3rd grade. Ken got home around 6:30 am and stayed up til Matt left. He also made him a nice breakfast. I luckily had everything ready the night before and had no problem waking up (I am not on a schedule yet). I am so excited for him and he was too (too bad you can't tell in the picture). He is growing up so much. He isn't a big fan of pictures right now...well he doesn't want to smile for them *shrugs* but I went through that stage too at one time. At least I still have a few more years with Mady being my little cheeser before she too enters into the "no smiles for pictures" stage. I hope he has a wonderful day and an amazing school year.

Last lazy days of summer

Ken was off this weekend so we decided to continue w/ our low week into the weekend. I read a book in one week,The Help, which I recommend and now I'll start another book on Monday. Friday we ran a few errands and made sure the kids were bathed before 7:30 (first Redskins game of the pre season). I am happy to report that the Redskins beat the Bills. We spent some time outside before the game and we discovered that Mady loves the way fresh basil smells. She wasn't too crazy about the mint which I am sure makes her Tia Kathy happy. She terrorized a poor bumble bee and made a mess on the slide at the park with the wood chips. At least she had fun with her brother. This will be Matt's last week of summer vacation before he starts school on the 23rd. I still can't believe he will be a third grader. Where did the time go?

Low key week

We all haven't been up to much. Celebrated DH's birthday on the 5th and have been slowly cleaning out the kitchen and updating our plates and accessories to Fiestaware :) I also made Mady a bow clip rack. I'm not crafty but I'm proud of it and today I received a beautiful bracelet in the mail from my MIL. It has mine,Matt's and Mady's birthstones as well as their names. I love it.

A few videos of Mady

Christmas in July

Well, every year since we've been married I have DREADED Christmas time. Spending all that extra money for gifts for kids,family and each other. With all our other bills still needing to be paid we barely make it to the end of Dec. I spend most of my time worrying other than enjoying. So, this year I said to DH that as soon as we got back from our TX trip we'd start buying a little at a time gifts for the kids and family. We made a list w/ ideas for each person we needed to get gifts for. It has really helped plus we get to bargain shop now for gifts. We've already bought a few gifts for July. We won't buy anymore til Aug. It has been such a relief and now I can't wait til its Christmas!! Matthew is a little harder to shop for. Most of his items are more expensive. It has been easier shopping for Mady since she doesn't have any preferences yet. I've got a few ideas for Matt that I know he'll love and that are outside what he usually wants/thinks about (mostly Club Penguin or Spongebob). I'll update w/ next months buys :)

Promise to my husband

Thank you Ken for rearranging the den last weekend :) I like this set up way more than the other two set ups before :/ I promise you DH I WILL NOT ask you to rearrange THAT room again!




Yes, yes the room is a bit of a mess and I (Ken) need to hang up a few more pictures...

Deep In the Heart of Texas

Where to begin? Well, first off Mady was WONDERFUL on both flights. I was really scared to fly with her this year. Last year I just wore her in my sling and no problem but we hit some really scary turbulence on our way to Dallas. After that I swore I wouldn't fly again but ummm living 1780 miles away is just impossible to go and come especially for family emergencies. So, I sucked it up and flew to Laredo. She slept pretty much the entire two flights AND we were turbulence free!! I get so nervous when I fly that I don't eat til I get to my destination so from 4am til about 1 I didn't eat. Soooo when I arrived in Ldo I was STARVING!!! It was wonderful being picked up by my mom and sister. We went to H-E-B so I could buy supplies before heading home. It never really feels like I left Laredo when I go back once year. Yea a few places had opened or closed since my last visit but everything still pretty much looks the same. It was great that my dad got home early too. We all went out to eat and Mady was a monster...ok not really she just sat the whole time in the booth and played w/ my sister's water. Mady really took to my parent's home...a little too well. I thought she'd behave the first two days and just be shy. Nope she declared it hers and was loud as ever. The boys arrived that Sunday and I felt so much more at ease having them there. I'm cheesy but I really hate to be away from Ken. Our visit was so short. It seems like I blinked my eyes and we were back in MD. It was great getting to see my MIL and SIL. We went to Sea World for the day and had a great time. Before we knew it we were leaving them and coming back to Ldo for a few more days. I hope that we soon move back. I miss TX so bad :(