Spring Break 2009

Ahh, Spring Break. It just brings back memories of being in school and getting a break for a week...just because! As an adult, I still love the "idea" of spring break. Of course, I would love it more if it meant a real week-long vacation. In reality though, spring break has a totally different meaning: Alex is out of preschool for a week -- yikes! Translation: Alex is home for a solid week with no break from me -- yikes! This year was different though. We actually had a really fun week. I usually dread the breaks because I am not preschool...I can not fill Alex's day from 9-2:30 with crafts, songs, books, stations, friends, music, playground...you get the idea. Luckily for me, we had fabulous weather this year. And we took advantage of it nearly every day.

Monday, Alex wanted to go to the mall, which is one of his favorite things to do. He loves watching the people on the ice rink, walking around, playing in the children's play area, visiting the Disney store, eating. It's just tons of fun! Note, shopping was not in that list. Oh well.

Tuesday was St. Patrick's Day and we went to a park with our play group. We went to Craven's Park, which Alex calls the blue park because the playground equipment is blue and white. He loves this park! I think he had a lot of fun with his friends and sliding down the fireman pole! Alex and his friend Jack attempted to play frisbee, which was really fun to watch.

Wednesday we ventured out to the Dallas Arboretum. I wasn't sure how to convince Alex that this would be fun. I knew how much I would love it. So I told Alex we were going to a big park with Aunt Mary and Great Grandma. SOLD! He bought it because what could be more fun than another day at a park with Aunt Mary and Great Grandma to boot! Well, it worked out better than I could have imagined. The arboretum was so incredibly beautiful -- hundreds of tulips, daffadils, roses, azaleas-- breathtaking! There was a ton of stuff for Alex to do -- these little houses to play in, log cabins, covered wagon, gigantic frog fountains, a sandbox! Not to mention lots of grass to roll in. He had a ball! And I think Grandma and Aunt Mary managed to enjoy themselves too. We also got to play at Great Grandma's afterwards, which was an added bonus because Alex loves to play with the puppies.

Thursday the kids had doctor's appointments. They were follow-up visits. The good news was they were both healthy. Well, for a few more days anyways. We just enjoyed the day with Roger and finished off with a trip to Marble Slab. Another one of Alex's favorite things to do. He loves the "pink" ice cream with sprinkles.

Friday we spent the day with the Ericsons, a family we love that moved to Lufkin. They were in town visiting for spring break. We started at the bowling alley. The kids each had a card to play games, a round of bowling and a hotdog for lunch. Alex got to play his first round of laser tag with Roger. I think he had fun. Then the mommies left for lunch while the daddy's took all the kids to the park. It was a fun day, though I think Roger was worn out by the end of the day! What a fun spring break we had. Pictures from the arboretum to follow.

Time Out For Women. . . Time Out for Nora!

Ever since I first heard about Time Out for Women, I have always wanted to go! So when I received an email about TOFW coming to Houston, I asked my mom if she'd want to go. So last weekend, Roger, the family and I drove down. It was so fun! It was just Friday night and most of the day Saturday: so not too long, but not too short. Friday night Sheri Dew and Wendy Watson Nelson spoke. I have to confess, I was almost star struck by Sheri Dew. Saturday was full of great presenters too: Mary Ellen Edmunds, Brent Top, Wendy Ulrich and Chris Stewart.

I think with any conference such as this, you hope to leave with a least one "ah-ha" moment. And I had that moment during Wendy Ulrich's presentation. She went through the topic of sin vs. weakness. I've never thought about the difference between the two before. Nor have I seen them broken down before in the way she broke them down. It was very enlightening! And to top off the whole weekend, I also got to see one of my besties, Jennifer.

As for Roger, I'm not sure that the weekend was as great for him. Alex started to get sick on Tuesday before we left. By Thursday night, his asthma was full on. Despite reminding me that I really got the easy part of the deal, Roger was a real trooper all weekend! He took care of Addison, made sure Alex stayed on top of his medicines and was just all around, Mr. Mom! So not only was I spiritually fed, but also got a nice little break from the kiddos. And it was so fun to spend some time with my mom...without having to share her! What can I say? I still enjoy having my mom all to myself every once in a while! And Mom and Dad made sure that the weekend cost Roger and I practically nothing. Without them, I never would have been able to go to Houston and attend this conference. I'm so lucky to have such great parents and a truly supportive and loving husband.

Still Under Construction, But Coming Along

I'm still working on learning how to blog. I'm hoping to upload a picture or two...wish me luck with that (OK seriously. I called Lindsey and she totally walked me through how to upload pictures. Thanks to Lindsey, you can see a couple of pictures with this post!)

So...tonight, Addison had her first meal meal of spaghetti. I think that is a right of passage for any child is who is learning how to self feed. She thoroughly enjoyed it after refusing the baby food version from Gerber. And as for Alex, he says new and funny things to me every day. Roger was outside today watering our young pecan tree with Alex right there beside him, of course. Alex came into the house to tell me he needed his firefighter hat so he could use the fire hose. I didn't really understand what he was talking about until I looked outside. I guess to my three-year-old, the water hose could also be a fire hose. So we found his firefighter hat (yes, it's actually a Firehouse Subs hat) and I told him to get one for Daddy as well. I think this is an example of the little quirky things that your children say that make you laugh and that you hope to not forget! And one of the reasons why I wanted to blog.

I DID IT!!!

One of my new years resolutions for 2009 was to start blogging. So here I go. We'll see how this goes and how long it will take for me to get the hang of it!