Skipped Mardi Gras in New Orleans this year because there were just too many exciting events in Texas for our babies over the next few days. Today happened to be their 100th day of school & silly hair day! So we had all the kids and grandbabies here for a Mardi Gras dinner of jambalaya and a king cake from Gambino’s.
Besides we have some plans in the works for parading in the future!
Got to hang out with my lovely mother in law today. She is such a busy gal so I was thrilled to have her ask me to spend the day with her. I even got to be the first to see their new beautiful home!
It’s been talked about for years. We often wondered if it would ever happen. Then came a misdiagnosed cancer scare and a horrible motorcycle accident that were both awful reminders of the miles between us. It had been decided when he retired he would be moving to Texas. And then the unexpected happened. The company he had dedicated years too started laying off countless people. He became one of those numbers and was forced into an earlier retirement a few years sooner than he had intended. We all decided it was a blessing in disguise after what the last several years had dealt him. So I found him an apartment I thought he would like. Took him to see it and got him put on a waiting list. Finally the call came, there was an opening! Today we got my dad settled into his new apartment in TEXAS just a few minutes away from our home. Now our children get to have frequent play dates and sleep overs at their Paw-Paw’s! Now their will be no missed holidays. Now their is room for many more memories to be made. And most importantly now I will be close by when he needs my help. Welcome to Texas Daddy! We’re so happy to have more family close by!
Happy 6th birthday to our spunky, vibrant, and oh so loving sassafras, Bitty!
Today our little doll woke up for school surrounded by balloons!
I picked this day for my day to volunteer to teach an art class for her teacher so I got to spend a little extra time with her today! And was able to be in her class when they sang Happy birthday and she got to share a king cake with her classmates. My mom and dad even met us at the school to have lunch with her.
This evening she decided she wanted chicken nuggets, french fries, and strawberry drink for her birthday dinner. Afterwards we sang Happy birthday to her with yet another Gambino’s king cake, what a lucky little lady! She was especially excited that she got to open a present this morning (her birthday outfit and headband to wear today) and a few presents tonight! She has had a big smile all day and tomorrow we get to celebrate her some more care bear style!
Spent a quick weekend in Denton for my best friend’s baby shower with Matt and our little lovelies. I can’t wait for my Godchild to arrive! It was a short but fun filled trip. We even had a sushi night in our hotel suite to wrap up a perfect day. Then on our way home stopped to played for a bit in Waco. Luckily we were home before the horrible weather kicked in. We were traveling on MLK day, but I can never forget to share my favorite quote of his as well as a new one I stumbled upon today.
My fella threw me a 40th birthday party this evening. It was a perfect evening with family & friends! Thankful for the amazing people in my life and all of the wine they gave me, ha ha
I’m 40 now. For some reason 30 terrified me. So much so that I jokingly pretended to be 29 for so long that I often had to ask Matt how old I really was. Even my lil monsters knew Mama turned 29 year after year. Somehow, I’m good with 40. Like really good. I AM 40! I am happy. I have an unwaivering faith in God. I’ve been married for over a decade to the most loving and supportive man I’ve ever known and somehow get to call mine. I am a mama to four truly incredible humans that I will forever be in awe of. I am the proud Maw-Maw to two precious little souls. I have a priceless bond with my parents. I’m a daughter in law and a mother in law to two special women. I have a closeness with some of my family that I wouldn’t trade for the world, even some cousins that have forever been more like a sister or brother to me. Friends I’ve had since we were kids and now get to watch our own children grow together. I’ve got friendships that I’ve built since relocating to Texas from New Orleans many many years ago. I have two sweet little senior pups that follow me around day in and day out (I admit this is because I’m the one that always slips them people food, but hey they love me and I’ll take it!).
I am short, loud, sometimes spontaneous, wear my heart on my sleeve, am known to cuss like a sailor, have a raging temper when it comes to anyone messing with someone I love, tend to be a bit of an over thinker, mildly OCD, generally have trouble hiding my emotions be it happiness or anger, yet I’m one of the most sincere people to have in your corner. I am a family, friend, iced latte, Moscato, book, yoga, red lipstick, post it note, and children/animal loving lady.
In the last decade we have made so many of our dreams come true. Our family has grown and reshaped in various ways. We moved into a home that we now get to watch children and grandchildren grow in due to my husband’s hard work for our family while encouraging me to be the stay at home mama I cherish being. We have traveled to interesting places both with our children as well as little getaways alone with my love. Some travels have been far away and sometimes only as far as our backyard. I am healthier than I’ve ever been. I can now keep up with my children and grandchildren on a trampoline, at theme parks, and on playgrounds. I have wrinkles that show the life I’ve lived. Some from worry, God knows I worry like no other, and some from lots of happiness and laughter. I have many grays that pop out before my next hair appointment and oddly enough even that doesn’t bother me, fingers crossed I get the streak in my hair that my Maw-Maw had. I’ve got stretch marks from carrying four children I was once told I wouldn’t have. I’ve got scars from more surgeries than I care to count. I’ve been hurt tremendously in my life time and I’ve also been loved beyond measure. So how could I possibly be distraught over turning forty? This feels like quite the privilege! So bring on the next decade of my life that I’m so blessed to be living. I look forward to celebrating more birthdays with the ones that love me most. To watching my husband bake me another beautiful cake while I sit across the counter from him sipping on a glass of wine and smiling so much it hurts. Listening to the most precious voices singing Happy birthday to me year after year. Dancing and (horribly) singing in our kitchen with our children and grandchildren while cooking dinner. I am so thankful to get to experience FORTY!
I look forward to learning and growing in new ways. If I’ve learned nothing else in this life time it’s to forever know I will never stop learning from others. I will not always be right. It’s okay to admit fault or wrong doing and apologize sincerely. I am not and will never be perfect. My biggest teachers have always been my children and I’m certain I learn more from them alone daily than I could ever teach them. THIS is 40!
Took my mom to an appointment this morning, then we went to PF Chang for lunch, before my hair appointment. After some of our usual afternoon routines and getting kiddos fed and settled in for the night I took my husband and my dad to see “Die Hard” for one of the movie classics nights at a local theatre. It’s only one of Matt’s favorites, so I had to he sure they got to see it on the big screen. Turned out to be a busy but fun day!
While some are our partying this year away, we opted for our usual way of celebrating New Year’s Eve, at home! We made finger foods which seems to have become a tradition, took silly pictures, Aub had a friend sleep over, & hung out with my parents. Only somehow this year by 10 pm this is where we landed. In bed, with a glass of wine, under a warm blanket, and snuggling with my husband. Honestly, I can’t think of a better way to ring in the New Year. Of course at midnight we will go out in the freezing cold air and see a few fireworks with any of the kiddos that managed to stay awake long enough to see them. Looking forward to a New year of memory building with my family and friends. So many great plans already being made.
Woke up early with our three little ladies, my husband, and my parents to see what Santa tucked under the tree for them! Quite possibly my favorite thing about Christmas morning is the genuine excitement children hold opening their gifts. A little later my mother in law came to spend some time with us. And then our son, daughter in law, and grandbabies came over for a fun filled evening. It turned out to be a rather perfect day.
