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.

What It Really Means

So, I had a defining moment(multiple moments, really)over the weekend and today. This after having a fantastic weekend with my wonderful husband and children. Date night at the horse races Friday night(Matt has been a few times, but this was my first. Won the first race but lost the rest), lunch with the kiddos and my folks Saturday and a day at home chillaxin' with the fam yesterday.

Friday night on our way home we had a nice chat. Then once home, all comfy on the bed, more conversation(If you have kids, you know these chats are hard to come by). Much needed. Then today on my way home from work, I hear an old song on the radio that stopped me in my tracks(not really since I was driving-but you get the drift). The song was "My Best Friend" by Tim Mcgraw. Ya see, this song first came out right after we were married, almost 11 yrs ago. Back then, we were in love and only had each other(Or thought that was all we had). We were each others best friends. In fact, this was one of our songs. Corny, I know.

The fact is that the things/reasons you are best friends at 18/19 yrs of age and have really no responsibility/children are COMPLETELY different in your late 20's. Having 3 kids also plays a huge part. I guess from the start I always thought that being a good wife/best friend was just being in love and enjoying being together. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, as time passes and you mature and life changes, you must learn to change with it. I STINK at change. I always thought that a wife made made her husband happy by keeping a tidy house, having clean laundry, clean dishes, food on the table, healthy kids, fed kids and happy kids. I believe this because these are all the things my mom did and still does for my dad and my brother and I. Well, I have determined that this was all I saw. Yeah, my mom was always fun with us and I know her and my dad were best friends, guess I just never SAW that part or really fully understood it until now.

In listening to the words of that one simple song, I heard simple words...simple words my husband has been trying to point out for years. Being a "Best Friend" and being a "Best Friend to your husband" are closely related, yet totally opposite. Being a best friend/wife have a lot more detail that go into them. I know some of you out there that have a seemingly "Great" marriage may think that I am crazy for taking 11 yrs to realize this. Oh well.

Somewhere along the way, down this winding, curving, adventurous, sometimes emotionally draining road we have traveled down, we(and by we, I mean me) lost site of this. Or it could be that I just never changed when change needed to happen. We fell out of love. We became different people...or is it that we were these people all along and never knew it. You take the good with the bad. I see now that being the wife/best friend I was back then and the things that make my husband happy now are all together different. I see that a tidy house and clean laundry are still important but more importantly is that he have someone to laugh with and tell jokes/stories to. Someone who will compromise no matter what the case may be. Someone that is a partner, a confidant and a TRUE FRIEND.

Getting married as teenagers and having a child before your 20, the second at 20/21 and the third at 26/27 is difficult. You essentially grow up along-side your kids. You learn things about you that you never knew. Some good, some bad. But you learn to accept the things you can't change and change the things you can. I am a work in progress. My marriage is a work in progress and I am pretty sure it will be for a long time...forever in fact. I accept this.

I know how very blessed I am to have the amazing husband I do. My children are IN LOVE with their father. And so am I. I am blessed for all the things he has done for me. I am blessed for him standing by me in the midst of all my stupidity. I am grateful for what we have and how far we have come. I now see WHAT IT REALLY MEANS to be your spouses best friend. And that my friends, is priceless.

We Made It Through

As the 2009/2010 school year comes to a close, I sit and ponder all the goodness that has been. 2 years ago we moved to this town and for the first time the boys have actually attended the same school 2 years in a row. This has been great. Good friends and helpful teachers and staff.

As some of you know, Ethan had to take the TAKS test for the first time back in April. Keep in mind, this is a new gig. When I was a youngster, this test didn't exist...at least not for third graders. Well, we sat down, had a talk with "E" and told him how very important this test is. We told him it was gonna be tough and he really needed to focus and that OF COURSE, no matter what the end result was, we would be so proud of him for trying his best. Test day arrives, we pump him up and send him on his way. Test day ends and he tells us he feels that he did a good job. So now we wait...Well, I am please to say that he comes home and says " Dad/Mom, I have great news" to which we respond, "What is it bubba?" He then says "I PASSED the TAKS test!" Yes folks, he PASSED both the math and the reading. We erupt with joy and tell him how proud we are of him, but I gotta tell ya, the best part was the sense of pride and accomplishment he had on his safe for himself. Truly priceless. He got 27 out of 36 correct in the reading and 31 out of 40 in the math, only missing 9 out of each test. I now owe him $50. Money well spent, I know.

Corbin received a huge accomplishment as well. See, Corbin gets in trouble as all kids do at home but the kid can't get in trouble at school if he tried-I actually think he does try at times with no success. Well, he received the PRINCIPAL'S ACHIEVEMENT award for having STRAIGHT A'S ALL YEAR LONG...NOT A SINGLE B. The excitement on his face when he brings work home is precious. He comes home and makes sure you see EVERYTHING he has done. In fact, he has so many "100's", that if they aren't all 100, he gets upset. I ain't lying...even a 98 upsets him. After all, he thinks that if he did the work and tried he deserves a 100. We are working on this.



I must add to this post by saying that we only have 1 more yr until Tot starts Pre-K. This terrifies me.

So my friends, the close of this school year is bittersweet. 1 more year down yet 1 more closer to them graduating. This year was full of firsts. First major test, first straight A's, first programs, first time to CHOOSE what you want from the lunch line, first time to miss less that 4 days of school all year...the list goes on and on. As they say goodbye to the school and friends they have known for 2 years, they gear up for a new journey.

The 2010/2011 school year brings many new firsts. A new home, new room, new yard, new city, new school, new friends, new teachers...and a wonderful new beginning.

Yes, my friends, as we head into summer, I realize...We made it through.