The Boys Of Fall

It's that time of year again. Yay(hear the excitement?). The hotness, the coldness, the pads, the helments, the cotton candy, the nachos, the frito pie, the hot dogs and let's not forget the ring pops. High school football in Texas has started once again. Awesome.

I must admit...I am NOT a football fan...at all. This is weird since I grew up with my brother playing, I was cheerleader and on the drill team and now for the past 15 years, my dad coaches varsity. I Keep thinking when the boys start playing next year I will be all about football but right now, not so much.

I gotta say, I love my dad, he's a great dad, a wonderful husband and an amazing pepa. He loves his family more than anything...well, except maybe coaching football. He is a teacher and a coach at the high school. He loves both but I think if he could coach without teaching he would. He lives to coach. No seriously people...he lives to coach. When he is out on the field, he is right where he belongs. On the football field is where I see him at the most peace. He loves his players and the coaching staff is one big family. My dad and Tal(Head Coach Sanders) have been coaching together for about 13 years now. They started in Ferris and moved to Tom Bean 3 years ago and I know neither one could be happier anywhere else. Tom been is an itty bity town...population 941-give or take a few.

There is a song that just literally gives me chills when I hear it. It's called The Boys of Fall by the smokin' Kenny Chesney. The chorus says it all.

"Well it's turn and face the stars and stripes, It's fighting back them butterflies, It's call it in the air, alright yes sir we want the ball, And it's knocking heads and talking trash, it's slinging dirt and mud and grass, It's I got your number,I got your back when your back's against the wall, You mess with one man you got us all, The boys of fall"

I really don't know much about the game, but that song reminds me that there's more to football than actually playing, it's also about being part of something great...something that many young men dream to be a part of. A true team. After all, during football season you don't see your family for like 4 months. So you make another kind of family. Your football family.


The first game of the season was great. We didn't win but the boys played very well(I guess, that's the word that was going around anyway). My kids had a blast. They watched and talked. The boys dreamed of being out on the field with them. Maybe next week. Taya got to play with her name sake-Taya Sanders. She is a beauty. Big "T" told us that little "T" looked JUST like her. Hey, they both have blonde hair and they are both bueatiful. Tot had a blast.

Then there is Ethan...he has a crush on big "T" but that's all good cause I believe she has one in him just the same. They were chatting it up. The future Mr. and Mrs. Ethan Ramey.

"What mom, we're just talking".

Here they are talking gym class.

Mr. Tough guy Corbin showing he can run with the big dogs.

Tot was getting her work out on too.

Here's the gang...


All in all it was a fun night. The kids can't wait til next week.

Good Luck Tom Bean Tomcats!

Off To School They Go

Welcome to TOM BEAN ISD!

The start of this school year brings mixed emotions. New school, new friends, new memories. The boys were nervous, skeptical, yet excited and ready for a new chapter in their school career. I think it brings them a lot of peace and joy to know that pepa teaches less than a mile away and everyone who is anyone in this town knows him. It makes them feel safe and secure in their new little world, thus bringing me comfort as well.

So as we prepared for the day today, last night I set their alarm for 6AM. The bus will be here between 6:35-6:45AM. That is WAY early for my little tike's. That is way early for me. Unfortunately, I have to be at work at 6 so am not here in the mornings. I gave Matt his wake up call at 6 and asked that he have the boys call me once they were ready to go. I am sitting at my desk when I get a call from Ethan at 6:17. I asked what he was doing...he said "Oh just outside waiting on the bus." Are you kidding me? The bus doesn't come for another 15-20 minutes. I ask where Corbin was and he said "Waiting on the bus with me". I told them to be safe and have a wonderful first day of school.

I get a call at 6:35 from Matt saying they just hopped on the bus and were on their way. Matt said they saw the bus coming and you could see the excitement on their faces. Man how I wish I could have been there to see it. Matt then said he was bored and didn't know what to do as it was only 630 and he had been awake since 6 so he couldn't go to sleep and tot was still snoozin'.

So after school they hop the bus again and make their stops. They stop at the high school to grab kids and see pepa ingoing the process. Pepa then hops aboard the bus to say hello and Ethan tries to convince him that he should take them to football practice. Pepa declined as it was stinkin' hot out. So they end up at home at 3:50. Taya waiting in the front door wearing nothing but panties...so cute. She told me she wants to get big and go to kooool too. I tried to explain to the boys last week that they grow up so fast and they need to enjoy being a kid...adulthood will come too fast. It ain't all the jazz I thought it was when I was a tike. I guess I need to let Taya know that going to school isn't all fun and games too.

We started chatting about their day and the friends they already made. Apparently, Ethan has a crush and was going to ask her tomorrow if she felt the same. I told him this is not a good idea the second day of school. After all, he is too young to be a stalker. Taya was trying to talk to Corbin as he did his spelling words(which he got all correct on the first try) and he simply told her "Taya, I can't play right now, I have a big test." I laughed as if he were studying for the BAR examine. The test isn't until Friday anyway. Just very cute.

Funny story-Corbin's teacher's name is Mrs. Lacy. This is ironic since when uncle Brian was in second grade his teacher was Mrs. Lacy. Then the very next year when I was in second grade I had that same Mrs. Lacy. Now Corbin is in second grade and his teacher is Mrs. Lacy. He thought it was so awesome that he had the same teacher momma and uncle Brian did. I had to explain these aren't the same Mrs. Lacy's...but all the same, it is a neat tidbit of info that made him smile.

Today was also Matt's first day of school...New school for him as well. Chemistry, Spanish, Phsycology and Government. He has a FULL plate. I think this may be his toughest semester yet. Good luck my love, I have faith in you. You are my hero and i grow prouder of you with every passing day.

So here's to a new year...and new journey:)

Settling In

The move is over. YAY!

Thursday night we loaded the Uhaul. Friday morning we made the hour and half drive to our new home. There we we UNloaded the Uhaul and unpacked the boxes. Then it was time for my FAVORITE part...DECORATING. I really believe I missed my calling as an interior decorator. Who needs medical software programmers anyway?

Maci(our puppy)can't decide f she likes it here or hates it. Random animals showing up at any given moment and so many trees. The other day she was prancin' her way through the overgrown grass in the yard...it was priceless(think she even attacked a tall piece of grass, and she won).

The kids came home today(they were at mema and pepa's all weekend)and LOVED their rooms...which is good cause I worked my tail off.

I needed a tomato and sour cream for our fajitas we had for dinner so I just jumped in car and drove the 4 MINUTES to my folks house. Who needs a grocery store when you have moms fridge so close by? I was there in back in less than 20 minutes...and that includes my chatting time. AWESOME!

Matt even enjoys the drive into town. The hills, the trees, the serenity of the country. I love seeing him so happy and full of smiles(once Dish network comes out tomorrow this will be even better).

I get home from my folks and see Ethan in the garage beatin' the heck outta the punching bag. He looked at home and so happy and comfortable with his new surroundings. This melted my heart.

So as I sit here...Taya and boys in their room chillaxin' watching TV, snuggled up next to my wonderful husband...I look around and feel totally at peace and like everything is right in our little world...

WELCOME HOME RAMEY FAMILY...WELCOME HOME!!!

Our Anniversary This Year

I am ecstatic to stay that this Thursday, August 12, 2010, Matt and I will have been married for 11 YEARS! This is huge! We made it ANOTHER year...I remember back when people thought we would divorce after 6 months and others swore I was hiding some pregnancy. When the 6 months past and when the 9 months came and went without even the slightest sign of a little bambino, I think folks then started to know what we had was real. And Yes, they were right.



No time for a honeymoon as we had a mere 3 days to pack up our stuff and drive to VA for Matt to report back to the navy. That first year was TOUGH. No friends, no family, no nothing...but each other. Money was tight, maturity was low and we were all alone...3000 miles from home. Matt made a few really good friends on the ship and I eventually made a few myself. That first year came and went and we survived.

By year 2 we had our precious bundle of joy, Ethan and Matt was out of the navy. THIS my friends, is where it got interesting. Essentially 2 kids having a kid. What where we thinking? Apparently weren't-but wouldn't trade that "Oops baby" for anything. Then 21 months later along come Corbin...the other "Oops baby". Again, would not trade him for a thing. Then after 2 amazing little boys and 4 and a half years later arrives Taya-AKA my princess. She was the only "Planned" baby. So nearly 8 years after that glorious wedding day, we had a FULL life and 3 kids...perfect kids.

Let me just say, IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY. NOT at ALL. We have had to work harder at our marriage than anything else I have ever experienced. Getting married at such a young age and growing up along-side our kids is intense. NOT an easy task.

I can't even begin to put into words what my husband means to me. I can try though. To me, Matt is the greatest gift. My best friend, my partner, my rock, my shoulder, my lover...Truly my better half. He makes me want to be better. I look at him and see Gods will, Gods power and Gods strength. I see how he lives everyday to the fullest and doesn't let tedious stuff get him down. I see his desire to be more than he already is. His desire to make everyone around him happy. I love this.

Matt knows me better than anyone else. My fears, my strengths, my weaknesses, my determination, my stubbornness and my dreams. He knows me inside and out. He loves me for the good. He loves me despite the bad. He loves me unconditionally. His loves never fails to amaze me. He makes me smile...makes me laugh...makes me strive to be better. Better at being a wife, better at being a mother, better at being a friend, daughter, sister...better at everything. He will do whatever it takes to see me happy.

I know Matt pretty well too if I might say so myself. I know what buttons to push. Which set him a blazin' mad and which melt his heart.

Honestly, my deepest desire is to be with him and full fill his every wish. Give him all I can and work harder to give what I can't. The past 11 years have been years of tears, heartache, heartbreak and turmoil at times. But more importantly, they've been years of laughs, smiles, devotion and undying, unwavering love.

This year we said we would go away for a honeymoon, after all, 11 years deserves it. However, God had other plans for us. We are MOVING on Friday. New house, new city and a fresh start. What could be better.

So here we are...11 years and 3 PERFECT kids later...still married and preparing for our future. Still going strong. Forever.

So here's to us on an incredible 11 years of one crazy, fun marriage. Can't wait to see what the next 11 hold...

Happy Anniversary Matt...I love you more than ALL THE STARS IN THE SKY. You are my hero:)

Gearin' Up

So...we are 10 days away from the big move. The junk cleaned out, new things bought. Boxes are packed and stacked to the sky. The entry way and dining room have become make-shift storage units. We are living on minimal dishes and silverware. The kids, minimal clothes(the rest are packed).

The boys are oh so excited to make new friends and be closer to an old one(Taya Sanders, our Taya's name sake). Not to mention they will be able to go to Pepa's football games and sometimes join the boys in the field house(this is a BIG deal).




Odd fact...the closer we get to moving day, the sadder I get. This move is very bitter sweet. This has been our home...a place of love, comfort and safety for the past 2 years. It has felt like HOME, not just a house. Corbin started "real school" here and Ethan soared through tough tests. Taya was an itty bitty thing when we moved in-now she's a big girl.

We have chats every now and again to get the kids pumped up about moving and leaving some friends behind. The other day Taya and I were having a chat and I asked her if she was exited to have her new room. She looked at me so serious and pittiful. She started breathing fast and hard(the seconds before the tears), looked at me and said "But I will miss ya'll". This BROKE my heart. The thought that she could even think that she would leave and we wouldn't be with her. Only a sweet, precious little Taya could be so sensitive.



I love THIS life...couldn't ask for more. Priceless.

It's The Small Things

Who knew receiving a text message from your husband simply saying "Taya went poop on the big girl potty chair" could make you grin from ear to ear and literally laugh out loud. Aww, It's the small things...that mean the most.