Welcome Puppies

As a kid growing up I never got to experience the excitement of having puppies...real puppies, from birth. Never saw them be born. Nothing.

Our dog Maci, who is pretty much a puppy herself(turned 1 on 03/02), just had her first(and only) litter. 2 boys and 2 girls. I saw the 1st 2 being born...went to bed before the last 2 made their debut. It was so neat to see Maci react. It seems it came so easy and natural for her. On the down side, she is one protective momma. She won't even let our kids, who she has known since she was 5 weeks old, near the pups. I have to give them to the kiddos to hold in order for her not to growl. We are hoping as the pups get bigger, momma will chill out. Fingers crossed.

Meet Gracie, Roscoe, Marley and Herman.


Although I know it's not realistic to keep these little darlins', I already know it's gonna be harder than heck to give them up. We will cherish them and shower them with love as long as we can. Who knows, maybe these dogs are extra special and need to nurse longer than other dogs...

Baseball Ready

I never have been a big fan of baseball(or any sport). It seems so slow and drags on and on. Gets nowhere fast. Now that I'm in love with a baseball player, I really enjoy the game.


Last night was not only Corbin's first game of the season, it was his first baseball game ever. And he did awesome. The whole team did great. Won 11 to 4!


Corbin was the 3rd up to bat and the first to make a hit! Got on first base...no sweat. The second time he was up to bat, the ball FLEW up in the air...he took off running...straight thru first base. The only hick-up here was that he could have kept running. That ball was gone. He was so concerned with getting on first he didn't realize he hit a home run! By the time he realized he could keep going the other team got him out at second base. I think his best play of the game was when he was playing short stop and got a player out at second. He was so proud of himself...and he should have been.



On the drive home Taya told him "I so proud you!"

We have another game tomorrow night and every Monday and Friday night thru mid May. Shockingly enough, I can't wait!

Family Man

As I sit here writing, the most wonderful man I know is outside having a water fight with the kids for about the 20th time this week. This after a morning of baseball, around the world in basketball(which I kicked butt in, if I do say so myself), taking tot on a bike ride for the ump-teenth time, chasing the dog down the street(she is a fierce looking dog, all 5 months, 2 ft tall, 3 ft long part of her)and yard watering. The man never stops. He'll play til' it's time for dinner. Then relax with the kids, read Taya a story before bed, sing her all her favorite night-night songs, rub and sing to the boys when they go to bed, watch "my shows" with me til' I hit the sack, then after all that...do his schoolwork. Then tomorrow he'll wake up and do it all over again, this time adding actually going to school in the mix. He is my hero.

I heard a song a couple days ago that reminds me so much of Matt, it's as if he wrote it himself. I know this day and age good men are hard to come by. I know this cause I have so many friends who are sill searching. Luckily I found my guy at a young age...and the rest is history.

Enjoy the song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx02b3GsXqM

To all the men out there that actually are family men(would rather be home with he kids and wife rather than out at bars or clubs or even with friends)...you are way more appreciated than you will ever know. I know mine is.

Gotta run, I hear some water guns calling my name...

Something To Be Proud Of

So as we were driving home from dinner last night, I decided to pop in my newest favorite CD...by Cori Lynn Ross. Seriously "family", if you haven't heard this yet, you are really missing out. I know almost all the words to all 6 songs. The kids nor Matt had heard the CD yet. Just you wait...

Anywho, I as a mother(and a person) know it's a great CD when 1) I hear my 8 yr old say "Okay, I want these on my Coby"(which is a sort of MP3 player). 2) Corbin and Taya are carrying on in the back seat and I hear my 10 yr old SUSHING them because he can't hear the music and finally 3) I turn around and hear and see my 3 yr old singing all the words to "Walking Through Walls". She has the chorus down. Oh yeah, there is a 4) Matt, of all people, says "This one stands out", referring to "No Apologies".

The boys now, at their age, love hip-hop, pop and some rap. They like Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Miranda Cosgrove, The Jonas Brothers, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Ethan's latest crush...Katy Perry. With all the different genres of music and the vast awray of people singing these songs that we hear in our homes, it brings a sense of comfort to me knowing that songs like the ones on the "Make It Easy For Me" CD can still somehow make it into the hearts and lives of these 3,8 and 10 yr old little darlins' and that folks...Cori Lynn, is something to be proud of:-)

Unexpected Inspiration

Today we were with some family and friends and had an unexpected thank you. We all go through things in life and especially in marriage that we are never prepared for. Whether it be little lives being created, the meshing of 2 lifestyles into one or the numerous financial whoas, you can never be prepared for what a marriage is going to be. All are different and all are difficult in one way or another. Marriage isn't always pretty. It isn't always a fairytale. It isn't always flowers and butterflies. The ugly truth is that it can be down right ugly. It can be spiders and snakes. Matt and I at a young age realized this. We still realize this more and more as the years, days in fact, continue to go by.

A young couple just starting out, one in school, the other working endlessly trying to make ends meet. They get married, high on life and love. Excited to see what God has in store for their future. They have some unexpected issues and start to question the choices they made. They know all along they are in love and this will last but sometimes just talking to someone who has been through the trials and tribulations is the reassurance they need for pressing on. Matt apparently had a talk with a young man a while back and told him not to give up and to stick beside his bride and their marriage. Well today, that same young man came up to Matt and told him thank you for the advice. He told him that Matt and I and our marriage are an inspiration to him. This warms my heart. Knowing you could help someone out so much by doing something so little is true gift from God. A lot of people see(and hear) about the bad times but are rarely ever around to see the many, many good times so when someone tells you they respect you for what you have gone through and overcome, it puts a sense of pride and accomplishment in you. I often think that we would be so much better off had we not been thru the sheer crap we have. The truth is we are better people for making it through it all. Matt is a better husband. I am a better wife and we are both better parents. I hate that marriages crumble without ever having a chance. If our life together and marriage, the good and the bad, can help just one other young couple conquer the devils need to have their marriage fail, then I feel like everything we have gone through in the past 12 years was absolutely worth it. Every tear and every smile. You take the good times despite the bad. You accept each others faults and love each others differences. That is what a marriage is. That is exactly what our marriage is. You add 3 screaming, demanding, loud, crazy kids to the mix and the greatness only multiplies.

Today we got an unexpected "Thank You". Today we got an unexpected start.

My Life...In A Great Song

I heard a song last week that is just perfect. Perfect for me and all the other mothers and wives in this crazy world. It reminds me that just because I may not understand why God does the things he does, that he ALWAYS knows what he's doing and EVERYTHING he does in making us all stronger people. Inside and out. I do loose sight of all the greatness I do have in my life. This song reassures me that their is one person bigger than us all and he alone makes us who we are. God will never put you in a situation, you aren't strong enough to make it through.

Go to the website below and click the "Play" button on the right hand side. The song is "This is the stuff".

http://www.francescamusic.com/?psid=SEMpreorder01

These are the little faces I get to wake up to every morning and the little cheeks I get the privilege of kissing goodnight every night.

How can I not feel immensely blessed?

TAKS

Well, It's that time of year again where the kiddos must endure the dreaded TAKS test. Corbin is still too young to have to take it(he will get that joy next year in the 3rd grade) but Mr. Man Ethan is taking it for the second year. Last year he did great. We were very proud. It's a hard stinkin' test and he passed with no problem. We are hoping for the smae outcome this year. Fingers Crossed!

For those of that pray, please say a quick prayer that our little man does just fantastic:-)