Fairytales?!?!

Well I took a little break from blogging. We've been busy. I have been thinking about fairytales. Anyone who has a little girl knows about fairytales and it is also a topic that comes up frequently in conversations that I have. What exactly is a fairytale. I mean it's most definately not that a knight in shining armor comes and saves the princess from the evil dragon and they live happily ever after...Because, #1 there's not anymore knight's in shining armor or princesess or dragons and notice how the "happily ever after" part is not described in the story. We know that they live happily ever after, but we are left to draw our own conclusions about what "happily ever after" really is. I think the reason for that is b/c everyone's "happily ever after" differs. What I consider happily ever after and what you consider it to be are probably 2 very different things. So..after thinking about all of this I thought about what MY fairytale is, what MY happily ever after is. My fairytale was to get married, become a mom and to have a family. Some people might think that's silly. That I should want a big, successful career and to travel the world, but that's not what I wanted. Sure it would be a big thrill to close a big deal at work or to see the world, but I really don't see how it can compare to having a 2 year old wrap his arms around you and say "i lus u mama" or to a 4 year old telling you that you are the most beautiful and best mama ever and that she doesn't want to get married b/c she wants to live w/ you forever. Fairytales are what you make of them. I definately feel like I live my own happily ever after everyday. Some days are a little better than others, but that's to be expected. I'm sure even Cinderella had bad days! And while I'm not ruleing out having a career or traveling the world, all I'm saying is that I'm really happy w/ the way things have turned out for me so far. I'm living my fairytale and I hope everyone else can too!

The Original Blue Blanket Returns.....

Tyler has a blue cuddly soft baby blanket that he has had since he was a baby. He loves it. First, it was his "bank-bank" before he could grasp the word blanket. Now it is his blanket. He sleeps with it at night and at naptime. Well right after we moved to College Station and before the child proofing was complete Tyler put his beloved blanket into the gas oven! It didn't catch on fire or anything like that but.....parts of it did burn. So....I went to Wal-Mart and bought one almost just the same and had his name embroidered on it after placing a frantic phone call to a lady here that does embroidering. She did in an hour and Tyler was none the wiser. But as for the original blanket...I could not throw it away. I figured that I could use it in Tyler's 1st Year Quilt, so I put in a drawer in Tyler's room and forgot about it. I didn't even remember it when I took all of his baby clothes to the quilter to be made in to a quilt....but today at naptime Brad put Tyler down and shut the door like always. I went in to check on him and discovered my baby wrapped up in THE ORIGINAL BLUE BLANKET. I don't know why, but for some reason it made me a little teary eyed, thinking about all the times he had used that blanket and been covered up with it. It made me think about the ONE time we lost it and how upset he was until it was found. It made me think of when all he could say were Momma, Dada, Ball and Bank-Bank and now how he speaks in complete sentences and it is so clear (to Brad, Emma and I anyway). In turn I started thinking about Emma being a baby and how for two kids that look so much alike, how different they both are...Emma started talking it seems from the moment she came out, smart, funny, beautiful, silly, stubborn and DRAMATIC and Tyler...slower to talk but much more coordinated than Emma was at his age, a little more laid back than Emma, and never cries unless he is REALLY hurt. He's so handsome and has the exact same devilish but irresisitible grin of his daddy. He's such a BOY, jumping, hitting, climbing, running, wanting to play ball and just now starting to torment his sister purposely and then laughing when she cries....I am so lucky to have these two little people. SO LUCKY!

Anyway....I have been able to blog today and yesterday b/c #1. Brad is home, #2 It is raining for the 3rd day in a row. So, we are not outside...which is were we usually are and #3 b/c the kids both took super long naps. Well...I'm off to cook dinner...a new recipe..taco stuffed pasta shells. Just thinking about it makes me hungry!

My baby is a MAN!

Well it's official. My sweet 2 year old little baby boy who cries for his momma and smiles the sweetest most mischevious grin ever is a MAN. Today Brad and I were watching t.v. when a commercial featuring Pamela Anderson in her Baywatch swimsuit came on. Tyler stopped dead in his tracks and stared at the t.v. in a kind of drunken state. We laughed and that was about it. BUT, this commercial came on about 3 more times through the course of the day and EVERY time no matter what he was doing, Tyler stopped and stared. He even stopped once when he was playing BASEBALL!!!Brad finally asked him if he liked the girl on t.v. and he smiled and said UH-HUH! So I guess he likes blondes....and boobs! I dread the teenage years! We also started potty training today. Tyler did pretty good for Day 1. We took him to potty about every 15 minutes and once he came to Brad and told him he had to go to the bathroom and he actually WENT IN THE POTTY!! YEAH! But he also went on the floor once! This process only took about a week w/ Emma, but I have heard and heard and heard again that it takes longer w/ boys. So I am prepared for it take a long time and I am also prepared for the fact that Tyler may not be ready just yet.

She did it!!

The kids have been so funny today and last night. I hope I don't sound like I am bragging too much about my kids but that is what this blog is for! I also think that all moms think their kids are the greatest things in the world, but mine really are! And besides these are probably the only children I will ever have so I have to take every opportunity possible to toot their horn b/c eventually they'll become mother hating teenagers! So here goes...everything I can think of that has been cute/funny since last night.

Last night Emma, Tyler and I went outside so that they could ride their bikes. Emma has not been able to pedal her bicycle w/ training wheels and last night something finally clicked and she did it!!!! She was so excited and I snapped a few pictures!!

We also met our neighbor. Emma is so funny..as soon as she saw the lady outside Emma yells at her, "My name's Emma" So we walk to her front yard and do the introductions and Emma says to her, "Terri would you like to come over for tea tonight?" and I say, "Maybe another night Emma" and Emma says, "Momma if we don't have any tea I can run to Sonic real fast." She's too funny!! Then as we are leaving she says, "It was very nice to meet you Terri". She really pays attention to adult conversations.

Then today in the car Emma asked me if I still loved her. I said, "of course Emma you're my baby girl" and she says, "And you're my baby momma" I laughed so hard I almost cried!

Also in the car Brad turned off Emma's movie and she was not too happy and all of the sudden we heard Tyler in a VERY stern voice say "Turn on my Mema's movie" He is very protective of his family.
Brad bought Tyler some superman boxer briefs and Tyler loves Superman. I was pulling them out of the package and Tyler said, "I na put on my soup man" Which translates into I want to put on my Superman. He is so cute. He says SOUPMAN in a loud voice and puts his arms in the air like he is flying.

Also Tyler has taken to telling me and Emma to "hush". He says it at the "perfect" times. Today I was complaining about a lady that pulled out in front of us and he said, "hush it up momma". If Tyler becomes as bossy as Emma I don't know what I'll do!!

The only other thing going on w/ us is that we are going to Port Aransas to stay at Port Royal in two weeks. We are so excited. This will be our first overnight stay at the beach w/ the kids and Port Royal has really AWESOME pools! Brad and I are also going out on the gambling boat and we are SUPER excited and we HOPE to go deep sea fishing. So I'll have LOTS of pictures to post in a few weeks. In case you didn't know and you want to see ALL of the many pictures I take you can go to our picture website www.bsethawkins.photosite.com



Here are some pictures from bike riding!

Brad's coming home

Not to much going on here...just settling back into a routine after our whirlwind weekend. One bit of GREAT news is that Brad is coming home tonight! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! Emma had cheerleading class today and other than the fact that she's not to pleased that one of her coaches is a boy she's doing great...here was our conversation on the way to cheer today:
Emma: "Is that boy going to be there again?" (while making an ugly face)
Me: "Yes, he's your coach he'll be there everytime"
Emma: "Fine, he can come, but I don't have to like it"
She's too funny. She did good despite the "boy". She also has been doing Vacation Bible School...which she loves. She tells me stories every evening on the way home from VBS. Yesterday when I picked her up there was another mom peeking through the door and Tyler told her "MOVE, I want to see my Mema!" Usually Emma and Tyler's manners are pretty good, but I guess all he wanted was to Mema, which is his name for Emma. We are going to start potty-training tom. I swear so I'm sure I'll have some interesting stories to share. Here's some pictures of our trip to Sea World and the San Antonio Zoo from the weekend before last. We had a great time and I just wanted to see how to post pictures on this thing.

Here's Tyler on the way up there in Brad's hat

Here's the kids in front of the Anhaizer Busch logo at Sea World

SHAMU


The skiers at Sea World


Daddy and Emma


Emma taking a nap....


Tyler fishing at the zoo


Emma brushing the goats


Emma feeding the birds


Tyler and Daddy feeding the birds


The lion


Tyler getting a ride from Daddy

Counting My Blessings!

Okay, I read my last few blogs and.....what a whiny little witch I sound like. So I thought I'd take this one ot count my blessings....there are so many but I'll try to name some....First...GOD...thank goodness I have God and Jesus in my life. I have somewhere to turn when I need guidance or direction (and judging by those last few posts, I need it a LOT). Some people do not have that. My parents taught me about God and Jesus and I am so grateful for the Lord in my life. Secondly...My husband! He's AWESOME. He lets me act crazy and knows I'll be over it in a few minutes. He deals w/ me changing my mind a million times a day without batting an eye. He lets me whine and complain and is sympathetic. He goes to work EVERY day and almost NEVER complains. His hard work allows me to stay at home WHICH I LOVE. He is my best friend. We have virtually no major problems in our relationship. We can talk about anything and at the end of the day I am so IN LOVE w/ him! A LOT of people do not have that either! Third-my kids...OMG they are so GREAT. Even though they keep me constantly on my toes....I love em so much. They bring me so much happiness and without them I am not sure I would make it through the day. They are healthy and happy and smart...what more could a mother want (except maybe a housekeeper ;) ). Fourth-My parents...they are always there for me. Yes they can be difficult and yes I am quick to point out their flaws, but they love me. They have been there for me from the day I was born and I know that I can always turn to them. They are great and I am so lucky to be their daughter. Fifth-My inlaws. Most people HATE their inlaws and while mine sometimes irritate me...I don't even close to hate them. They are like the family I grew up w/. My sister's in law are like my best friends. My mother in law is like a second mother and my father in law is well....my father in law. They would do ANYTHING for us. They are great TOO! I have a (nice) roof over my head. I have a car that runs (even though it broke down last week) and is pretty nice. I have food, clothes, cable, electricity. Everything I could ever want and I am ashamed of myself for complaining. So while I could go on and on about how hectic it has been lately and how tired I am and how hard it is to get the kids back into some sort of routine I won't b/c I have too much to be grateful and happy about.

So here's a family update:
Brad is working in Alvarado until Thursday.
Emma is doing VBS this week and yesterday her teacher asked me if she went to school. I said she had gone to school and the teacher said..."you can tell. she's talks very well and she remembers everything you say and she hears and sees everything"...That's my Emma...my little genius w/ a photographic memory!!
Tyler is doing good. I said I was gonna start potty training Monday, but I didn't. I bought him some underwear and I promise I am going to start this week as soon as I get my house back into order from last week.

Oh and on a funny note...Yesterday I was going to the gym and Emma and I were discussing why I was going to the gym. I told her so I could get into shape and lose weight. So as we were getting out at the gym she told me in her best "attitude" voice, "Girl, you gotta go to the gym"

TOO CUTE!

Busy Bee

I haven't written in awhile, but to say I have been busy would be an understatement. BUT the end is in sight. This weekend is almost over and soon this week will be almost over and then MAYBE Brad, Emma and Tyler and I will get to spend some time together. It is just that Brad has been gone a lot and when he has been home we have spent that time running around all over....The last few weekends that he has been off have included...An Astros game w/ the kids, a Rangers game and weekend in Dallas w/ Brad's cousin, a weekend in Yoakum for my brother's graduation plus Tyler's birthday party and most recently a trip to San Antonio that included about 12 hours at Sea World and then a trip to the zoo. In between all of this Brad has had 4-5 day trips to Alvarado and a 5 day trip to Pearland for school and this weekend was spent all over the place...first a trip to Yoakum to drop off Tyler and Emma, then in the SAME day a trip to Austin then the next day spent dress shopping in Austin for my sis-in-law's wedding dress..then back to Yoakum for her bridal shower then to College Station w/ Brad's whole family (plus the delivery of new furniture thrown in there SOMEWHERE). Now this week Brad is gone again and I'm so bummed...It could be worse I know...he could be stationed in Iraq for 15 months (which I could NEVER handle by the way) but I am feeling a little sorry for myself...if you couldn't tell. But on the other hand...the kids are doing good. Tyler is talking up a storm and it just seems like he gets smarter EVERYDAY! Emma is still my little drama queen. She is such a comedian without even trying. She says the funniest things. Today she decided she wanted to go to Zimbabwe (don't think I spelt that right)...within an hour it had turned into Zimbablin....So we went to the mall...which she now thinks is Zimbablin....

I'M SO TIRED!!!

As I type this Tyler is crawling in my lap saying "hold you" which means for me to hold him...He had been saying this all afternoon and as soon as I "hold you" he gets down and runs off. Anyway...besides the point...I'm so TIRED. I don't know why. Maybe b/c there's no more Mother's Day Out and Brad is gone AGAIN for 4 freaking days and maybe b/c I went to my moms Sunday and came back Tuesday and it always takes awhile to readjust after having been gone...especially for the kids. Getting kids out of their routine is a BIG NO NO!!! Especially mine who are on such a great routine that really makes fits and crankiness not to rampant at my house, but I tell you as soon as they get out of a routine...it goes all to hell. So I think I am fixing to go get Taco Bell for dinner...go to bed early and try to get up tom. w/ a little renewed energy, get my house back in order and get the kids back into the ROUTINE!! Here's hoping anyway!!

NOTHING TO SAY???

I haven't posted in awhile. I guess I have just been busy. Typical busy mom. Chasing after these kiddos. Brad hasn't been home since Tuesday. I'm a little stressed out. The kids don't have MDO anymore. So I've been double teamed by Emma & Tyler for 4 days straight. I'm not complaining really. I know a lot of moms do it ALL on their own, but it's not something I'm used to. So like I said, I'm a little stressed out.....But..Brad is on his way home and even when I tell him I don't want him to help me. I just want him to relax..he always helps anyway. Just him being here helps me. It calms me and makes me feel like nothing is too overwhelming. So while I thought I had nothing to say...I guess I can say how wonderfully blessed I am to have such a helpful, wonderful, loving, caring, understanding, non-judgemental husband. He's so great. I am SOOOOO BLESSED. I really have to thank his mom for making him this way. She did such a good job. He's such a wonderful man and I won't go into family dynamics or anything, but I owe it all to her for giving me such a wonderful husband. So while most daughter's-in-law have some negative feelings towards their mother's-in-law, I'll say that I don't. Mine is great. Really. I have no complaints. Only pure thankfulness that I was blessed by such a wonderful woman that at times seems like my own mother! Anyway...I gotta go...Emma and Tyler are fighting over a toy...duty calls.