Classic Cuties

Another Surgery

2012-02-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

Kenzie baby had her tonsils taken out this morning. She's on her way home and doing okay. Y'all keep this sweet girl in your prayers!

Happy Birthday, Kyle!!

2012-02-07T08:18:00.001-08:00

No worries, Brother. Age doesn't have a thing on you!!

You still got it! Happy Birthday!

SHE MADE IT!!!!

2012-02-07T08:12:00.000-08:00

My kid is a member of the National Junior Honor Society!!!!
Think I could get a bumper sticker?!?

Because I Laughed...A LOT

2012-02-03T10:18:00.001-08:00

Remember MY Daddy's surgery in August when I posted this?

Well, when Joey had his surgery Wednesday, I sent Daddy a text that said, "Since we did it to you..." with Joey's surgery picture.

His response: I looked better. He just looks fat.

Daddy Does Surgery

2012-02-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago my ~~5th grader~~ husband hurt his thumb playing softball. He was going to catch a ball, running foward at full force, lost his balance, fell right on said right thumb, and bent it all the way back to his arm.

After a doctor visit with x-rays, he was so happy to find out it wasn't broken. After an MRI, though, he was not thrilled to discover he had to have surgery to fix his really messed up ligaments. His biggest concern?

Not being able to be a 5th grader!

So Wednesday afternoon, we headed to the surgery center, got him suited up and shaved, and sent him back to the OR.

Joey has an iron stomach. I'm so jealous. After anesthesia, I always throw up. Joey throws down! He came out of anesthesia, and he was mad! He was saying things like, "I just want to get the hell out of here!" He said things to the nurse that were just so unlike him. He was mad.

He was also in a lot of pain. When he started asking for whiskey with his hydrocodone, I knew he was going to be just fine.

That night when we went to say our prayers, I think Remington knew there was something a little off with Daddy, so he knelt to pray with him.

UTEP, Take 2

2012-01-30T11:06:00.001-08:00

Kylee danced again at the UTEP ladies' basketball game Sunday. Again, the girls did so good!

Blaine also wanted in on the action. He got to be in the Pizza Run. If they score a basket, they get a year's worth of pizza.

He didn't dribble the ball because they are on a time limit. As you'll notice, the buzzer goes off pretty fast!

Kylee's Hopeful Journey to NJHS

2012-01-30T10:23:00.001-08:00

National Junior Honor Society. What an honor! It all started with a text.

I'm so proud of her! She came home with all the paperwork she had to fill out.

She asked Mr. Garcia and Miss Eva to write recommendation letters for her. When she came home with Mr. Garcia's letter, she could not wait for me to read it. She called me at work to read it to me. After reading it, she said, "Mom, it even looks all official!!"

It brought tears to my eyes! I mean, it's one thing for us to think she's great, but for a teacher that put up with her and 30 other 5th graders day in and day out to think she's great, too! A proud moment, for sure!

Miss Eva's was just as amazing! She, too puts up with a lot of prepubescent young ladies on a daily basis, and she, too, thinks ours is amazing. *tear*

Kylee also had to write a letter for herself, telling why she thought she was qualified and deserved this opportunity. I so wanted to help her and change things she wrote to make it "better". But the more I read it, the more I realized, it doesn't get better than that she can do this on her own without my twist on it.

After all, I didn't get her an opportunity to be selected for NJHS. She did. I didn't get the amazing recommendations. She did. I didn't fill out the paperwork. She did. And I didn't write her letter. She did. And I couldn't be more proud of the girl she's become. And I didn't do that either. She did.

We made copies of the recommendation letters because she wanted to keep the originals to frame for her room. Can't say I blame her!

BFF Dance Camp

2012-01-16T13:23:00.000-08:00

Socorro High School held a dance camp Saturday morning. Norma, Lindsey's mom called earlier in the week to ask if Kylee could go with Lindsey, since it had been a while since they had seen each other. Of course I said yes, and of course Kylee did, too. So Norma picked them up Saturday morning to take them.

They had a little performance that afternoon to show off what they had learned. We got there a little early and saw some of the rehearsal, and these twobeauties probably spent more time looking at each other and giggling than anything else.

Their performance is here

Never wanting to be apart, Lindsey went home with us. If you read Joey's birthday post, you'll know the rest of the story.

Blaine's First Basketball Game

2012-01-16T12:52:00.000-08:00

Blaine had his first basketball game Saturday morning. After his first practice Tuesday night, he was not at all thrilled about two things. 1) They don't keep score. (You know my competitive little thing. This was bad news!) 2) There are three girls on the team. (For now, girls are not his thing! And I'm okay with that!)

Saturday morning, though, he was ready and excited. Before the game, they had a little warm-up time.
My favorite part of the whole experience may have been the way he kicked his little leg up when he shot the ball.

Then after a prayer (yay, Y!) and handshakes,
it was game on!

This basketball team has such a different feel to it. Even though four of our baseball team decided to play in this off season, it's a whole different atmosphere. As I mentioned before, they don't keep score. The referee is more like a third coach. They don't call for double dribbling or traveling. If they carry the ball too long, the ref would say, "You've got to dribble the ball!" Or if they were just standing in front of another kid, he would say, "Remember to put your hands up!" They had two sets of players. One group would play a few minutes, and then the ref would blow the whistle to switch to the second group. Everybody plays.

Blaine and Elijah were in the first group, while David Angel and Joaquin were in the second. Even though they weren't keeping score, and it was a very laid back atmosphere, you just can't take the intensity out of these two.
Notice the other Warriors (our team) behind them? They aren't nearly as intense as these two. One of them would even suck his thumb when he was benched. It was great. Everybody in the building was smiling. So different from baseball, and so fun! I was actually relaxed instead of about to puke. Ha!
I can't wait until next week! I think Kylee will really enjoy watching this, too. She and Lindsey were at a dance camp this Saturday morning. Stay tuned for that post.

Click right here to watch Blaine the basketball player in action.

My Honor, My Kids

2012-01-16T09:02:00.000-08:00

Report cards came out this week. Both of my kids are on the honor roll, and I couldn't be prouder of either of them.

Blaine, my second grader, is reading at 3rd grade, seven month level. He reads almost as much as I do!

Every time I go to their school for anything, I hear nothing but praises about my kids. Sometimes it even surprises me what is being said, because it's not always the kid I know.
I'm so, so proud of them and honored to be their mother!

Joey's 42nd Birthday

2012-01-16T08:18:00.000-08:00

Wednesday was Joey's 42nd birthday. With his birthday so close to Christmas, sometimes it's really hard to decide what the get him. The last couple of years we've gone to Ruidoso with friends so he can play poker at the casino, but with basketball and dance, it was going to be a while before we could get away for a weekend. When I asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he said he got all he could think of for Christmas. So I was on my own.

I went for the nomination for wife of the year. I planned a surprise poker night for he and his buddies. I knew there was no way I could keep it a secret until Saturday night, which is when we were throwing the party, so the kids and I wrapped his poker night in a box.

The morning of his birthday, the kids told him he could only have his cards. The present was to come at dinner at Pelican's, his choice for his birthday. Kylee didn't get out of bed early enough to give him her card, so he even had to wait for that. We met Papa and Nana at Pelican's. While we waited for our food, the kids started in with the gift. Kylee gave him his card, while Blaine gave him Dad Dad and Mom Mom's card.

Then the gift.

In the box was also an invitation to the poker night HE was hosting. Even though ~~Carlo~~ somebody accidentally spilled the beans, and Joey knew about the party, he didn't have a clue how we were going to tell him about it or what was in the box, and it certainly didn't dim his excitement about his poker night.
He was grinning (note the picture) from ear to ear and wanted to know who I had invited.

Saturday was the big day. Between a basketball game and a dance camp (both to be blogged about soon), I spent most of the day getting ready for the poker night. I made all of Joey's favorites: bologna and cheese sandwiches, pigs in the blanket, mini cheesecakes, and some other stuff that others might enjoy as well. Kylee and Lindsey used Kylee Christmas presents to bake and decorate cookies.

Then we set everything up and the kids and I left.

Then plan was for us to go to Dad Dad and Mom Mom's and spend the night, but we had to take Lindsey home first. When we got to Lindsey's house, they played a little while. Lindsey wanted Kylee to spend the night, and Nick wanted Blaine to spend the night. After lots of talk with their parents, making sure it was okay, I left. Alone. I decided since I was alone, I would just go home, close my bedroom door, and stay there. That's how I got this picture.

I understand a great time was had by all. They played until the middle of the night, just as I expected.
BTW...I'm not mad at Carlo. It was a total accident, and he sent me a sweet text during the party saying I'd done a great job for Joey. All is forgiven. Well, with me anyway. He took home the poker pot, so it may be a different story with the guys.
Happy birthday, Joey!

Look Who's Two!

2012-01-12T17:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Brodie!

42 Years Young

2012-01-11T13:04:00.000-08:00

Future Gold Digger?

2012-01-08T15:22:00.001-08:00

Today I sit and wonder if my Kylee is a future gold digger, UTEP Gold Digger, that is. The Gold Diggers are the dance team at UTEP. Kylee's dance team was invited to dance at the girls' basketball game at Don Haskins for two Sundays. Today was the first and only that was nationally televised on Fox Sports Network.

It's been a long time since I've seen my girl nervous before a dance performance. She told me last night she was a little nervous. She's such a natural, and the stage is about the only place she isn't shy. When we walked through the tunnel this morning, I sensed her nervousness. When I asked her if she was still nervous, she jumped on my case about why I posted that she was dancing at the game on Facebook. Nope, she didn't answer my question. Yup, I knew she was nervous. She told me if she had wanted it on Facebook, she would have put it on Facebook. Ooops. hehe

The girls got to go out on the court to practice a little before the game started,
and then went back in the tunnel to...to do what dancers do when their coach takes them backstage.

The Lady Miners had a tough first half. The only real enjoyment in the first half of the game was Pete.
At halftime, the Miners were losing by 17 points.

Kylee's halftime show was specutacular! She sucked up her nerves, smiled the whole time, and shook her tail feather. She really may be a future Gold Digger. ~~Her family~~Everybody agreed they were actually as good, if not better than those girls!

The second half, the Miners came back to play, and play they did! They came back from their deficit and won the game. It was exciting for most of us. Kylee went to dance, though, and that's all she was really interested in.

We took pictures with her supporters
and went to eat.

While the girls were in the tunnel, Kylee ~~knowing her mother would want pictures~~ used her iPad for a picture with her company.

We DVR'd the televised game while we were there. Despite Kylee looking at the big screen while dancing and seeing herself on it, when we watched the game at home, the halftime show was not televised. Good thing her mama videoed it! We will do it again the 29th.

**DISCLAIMER** It's stage makeup, people, only stage makeup!

Welcoming Abigail and Bullzeye

2012-01-07T17:31:00.000-08:00

The kids had Christmas money burning a hole in their purse/wallet, so before I had to go back to work, we went on a trip to the mall. No surprise they both spent their money at Build a Bear Workshop. ~~Because we need more stuffed animals like we need more real dogs~~

And so we welcome to the family, joining Sparkle and Cowboy, we introduce Abigail and Bullzeye. (That's not a typo. It is the way Blaine spelled it when he typed it into his birth certificate.)

Tweenage Daughter

2012-01-07T17:05:00.000-08:00

Kylee cleaned out her 'nursery' (more because she THINKS she is too old for them, rather than FEELS like she's told old for them. amen.) to have more room in her bedroom for 'older' stuff. Then she found a futon online that she decided she wanted. She didn't get it for Christmas. I think Santa decided she'd rather have an iPad than a futon, so she didn't get the futon.

She was using her iPad to look at futons again while we were in Ruidoso. She couldn't find the exact one she had found before, but she found one she liked better. As she was showing it to me, Pops asked her what we were looking at. When she explained it to him, he handed her the money and said, "GET IT!"

So she did. (Excuse the iPhone pictures. They were to text to Pops when it came in!)

She is so excited to have this in her room. Every time I walk by, she is on it...on the iPad. She spent so much time in her room right after she got the futon (or whatever it is), cleaning it up, organizing it, getting it just right. Then she posted this picture on Facebook with the caption, My room, homies. It did my heart good to know she was proud enough of her room for it to go on Facebook. But when I realized how teenage her room looked, it knocked me back a few steps! Then when I saw her profile picture on Facebook it knocked the breath out of me!

I'M NOT OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE AN ALMOST TEENAGE DAUGHTER!!

Kell Bell

2012-01-07T13:55:00.000-08:00

Our time with Kellie was so much fun. As much as I worried about them growing up, as the girls grow into young ladies, I enjoy them as much when they were this size.
I let them have the master bedroom for the clubhouse (mentioned in the Ruidoso post), the big bathroom with the bigger bathtub (pictures inappropriate), and the big cozy bed.
In case y'all didn't know, I'm the coolest Aunt/Mom.

There were times when Blaine felt a little left out with these two, but for the most part, they did well. They were loud and wild and played a lot ~~of grab ass~~, but they had fun, and I loved having her.

The girls were obsessed with Blaine's boxer briefs, and we ended up having to go buy them some of their own. It was mainly Kellie, you know, but she is not a girlie girl (her words). Personally, I thought they looked just as girlie in beautiful in boys' underwear as they ever had.

Joey took them all ice skating the night before we took her back to her parents.
We had a great time with Kell Bell and can't wait for her to come back!

Designer Blog Giveaway!

2012-01-01T19:06:00.001-08:00

Designer Blogs

is having a giveaway! They have done two blog designs for me, and I heart them! Go check them out!!

Who Let the Dogs Out

2012-01-01T14:59:00.000-08:00

We've been so busy going, going, going, that we just continued right up to the New Year. We dropped Kellie off in Sierra Blanca to her Daddy New Year's Eve morning, and came right back to El Paso to spend our Christmas money. We spent it like we stole it! I got a new couch, a range microwave, a new garbage disposal, a new entryway chandelier, and new boots. I only got to bring home the chandelier and boots. The rest are for another post when they arrive.

The kids were sick of going, so we decided our New Year's Eve would be a trip to the movies, the girls to see New Years Eve, and the boys to Mission Impossible. We got home around nine o'clock, not expecting to see the new year arrive. As soon as we got home, we went to say good night to our puppies. Only he side gate was open, and the big dogs were gone. The kids and Joey jumped in his truck, and I went on foot to find them. Then I also got in my car to search. We found Bisbee pretty quickly about two streets over from the house, but were shocked and discouraged when he was without Chester.

We spent the next almost three hours looking, to no avail. The kids were bawling, and their parents were close to it. About 11:30, we decided to call it a night, with a plan of putting up flyers with his picture and offering a reward, and a trip to the pound to see if he had been picked up. Blaine said if he was at the pound, he would spend all of his money to get him out, even if it meant he had none left. It was a depressing mood for sure.

As we were going to bed, Joey said he was going to talk to the teenage kids across the street who were playing pool in their garage with no end in sight. We decided it couldn't hurt for him to just ask them to keep their eye out. Blaine had cried himself to sleep; Kylee was somberly watching TV; and I was headed for a stress relief bath. The next thing I know, I hear Joey say, "Well, go in there and let them know you're ok." Those kids had already seen Chester and held on to him.

Ten minutes later, we rang in the New Year happy again after a long, painful last few hours of 2011.

So welcome, 2012. Please continue to be good to us!

Mission Ruidoso Christmas...Accomplished

2011-12-31T17:06:00.000-08:00

This Christmas was such a ~~snow~~ cluster! Plan A was to leave Papa and Nana's and head to Ruidoso to meet Pops and DD and the rest of the Taylor clan in Ruidoso. But it snowed. A lot. The roads from Midland to Ruidoso were closed, and the roads from El Paso or Pecos to Ruidoso weren't exactly the safest. We went to Plan B. We decided to leave here and head to Midland. Then I got a text for Plan C. We were leaving the day after Christmas and meeting in Ruidoso.

Monday morning, we activated Plan C and headed to Ruidoso. Plan A included the kids staying with Pops and DD at their cabin while the grown kids stayed at a rented cabin. Since we were the first to get to Ruidoso, we went and got the key for the rented cabin and started Fiesta stackups there. When everybody got there, we welcomed Dawn's parents, Don and Pauline, to the madness. Yes. Pops and DD have been married 13 years and some of us had never met her parents. It oughtta be a crime. I mean, really!

Then we activated Mission We're Starving
followed by Hurry Up and Open Presents ~~So the Kids Will Shut Up~~

The rest of our Christmas day in Ruidoso was just as it should be. There was lot of joking,
playing pool,
hanging in the clubhouse/closet,
grand pictures,
and playing favorites ;-).

Then the littles went to spend the night with Pops and DD, and the bigs hung out at the rental and were silly. No comment on that at this time...or anytime.

The next morning, Joey left EARLY to get back to work. Kyle, Myra, Michael and I had breakfast and then headed out to Pops and DD's to see the littles. They had snow fun.
Then Paige and Ryan came to join us and while Don and Bandit napped Pauline taught the rest of us how to play hand and foot. I'm addicted. I love it. Maybe because Pauline was my partner and we kicked butt and took names!!

Then they left. Kyle, Myra, Michael, and McKenzie went first. Then Paige and Ryan. Kellie stayed with the kids and I, though, and we were excited about that. McKenzie was going to stay, but it was naptime when they left, and she wanted her Mama. We're told she woke up in Roswell rested and wanted to come back. She didn't get to.

That night the kids and I headed back to the rental and hot tubbed it. I have no pictures, though, because I was in the hot tub with them. We also found some of Kyle's clothes he had left behind, and Kellie dressed as her Daddy. Girlfriend is fun-ny!

We spent the rest of the week being with Pops and DD and hanging out in Ruidoso. Wednesday, the kids baked a from-scratch, homemade German chocolate cake for Pops' 59th birthday, and then we went to Ken and Jaye's for a yummy dinner and birthday celebration.

Pops and the kids ended the night in the game room,

and we ended our trip to Ruidoso with great memories.

iHeart Christmas

2011-12-30T16:35:00.000-08:00

After Christmas morning at home, we headed to Papa and Nana's for lunch and time with them.

See that confused look on Papa's face? He told Joey (in my presence) a while back that he needed something bigger than a cd to hold all his favorite songs. I remembered and got him an iPod shuufle, but when he opened it, he had no idea what it was! He was so confused. It didn't take him long to understand, though, and after opening their calendar
he and Joey headed back to the computerto get it loaded.
Kylee and Nana decided what kind of cake to have for desert while Blaine played his new 3DS.
It was a fulfilling, lazy Christmas, and just what we needed before heading out for our next Christmas. Yes, we're blessed...and spoiled. iHeart Christmas!

Home For Christmas

2011-12-30T13:55:00.000-08:00

Gifts from Santa
Gifts from parents
Stockings
Puppy love

Mom's Favorite Day of the Year

2011-12-30T09:39:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year!! It's relaxing yet full of anticipation, excitement, and nonstop chatter.

After we got dressed for our second annual Christmas Eve party with the Onicks,
we continued with our own Christmas Eve tradition. The kids exchange gifts from each other and give us our gifts from them. Although they had given each other enough hints earlier in the day that they had both guessed what they were getting, it really did not dim their excitement.

Kylee got Blaine walkie talkies to go 16 MILES! And Blaine got Kylee an art set that he spent at least 30 minutes on the floor of Hobby Lobby with all the art sets they had spread out to pick the perfect one!

Another reason this is my favorite day of the year? I get to see what my kids pick just for me. Kylee spent her own money at school with a teacher and bought me Scentsy bars. Be still my beating heart! And Blaine picked bath salts, because "I know how you love your bath and smells, Mom." My heart may just burst.

Then we moved to Dad. He got a Wii game from Blaine and a Grumpy sweatshirt from Kylee, both carefully thought over and picked out.

Before we left for the party, we got a picture of the kids with their best friends.

Don't be fooled by the near perfect picture. This was quite a feat to get!

While at the Onick party, we tracked Santa on the Santa Tracker on my phone. Blaine was obsessed! He carried my phone around all night with updates on where he was. Chili, Argentina, Valenzuela, New York, and then...

Time to head home!!

I Caught Him!

2011-12-24T23:26:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, y'all!!

Crowded Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T15:47:00.000-08:00

It's gonna be a crowded Christmas Eve in the Onick house tonight. Somebody will be visited by both Santa and the Tooth Fairy! This tooth has been hanging on by little more than a thread for a little over a week now. He has never let us pull his teeth; they have to fall out on their own. He was eating an orange this morning and all of a sudden started singing, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!" When we looked over, his tooth was in his hand. Joey told him he pulled his tooth on purpose so he could be visited by both Santa and the Tooth Fairy on the same night. Blaine said, "I really didn't! It's a Christmas miracle!"
I sure hope it doesn't get too crowded in our house tonight!

'Tis the Season...

2011-12-22T14:19:00.000-08:00

...for no school and fun with friends.

Kylee and Kaitlyn met at the movies Monday night, and then Kaitlyn came home to spend the night with us. You may remember Kylee's friend, Kaitlyn, from our trip to Balmorhea for Labor Day.

Kaitlyn spent that night, the next night, AND Wednesday night! I'm not complaining! She's a joy to have, and it was nice to have her around for Kylee while Joey and I worked this week. Blaine went to Terry's a couple of days and then with his Daddy to work.

The girls had a blast. Doak and Andrea got Kylee a pie pop maker, so the girls and I went and got the ingredients from a couple of the recipes for them to make. The first day, I got this text.

The second day I got home to find them like this.

And the third day, while Blaine was at the farm, they SWORE not to tell him if I took them to the Fred Loyahouse for the light show. Kaitlyn had never been, so I agreed.
There wasn't really much to tell him, it turns out, because the shows are only on the weekends. I figured they would be disappointed, but they didn't act it. I think they were just happy to be together, as it should be.

Forrest Gump Revisited

2011-12-20T20:22:00.000-08:00

OUR Courtney Love

2011-12-20T18:08:00.000-08:00

Twas the Weekend Before Christmas...Always

2011-12-20T08:54:00.000-08:00

We always have their Christmas the weekend before.

There are always beautiful girls

and handsome boys.

(please ignore the girl. Michael hides from the camera!)

There is always silliness

and tender moments.

There is always chaos
and great presents to show for it aftewards.

And there is always, always family love,

four generation love,

and GRAND love!

So, as always, Merry Christmas from the Tribe!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2011-12-18T14:08:00.000-08:00

I love watching my kids do what they do. Usually it's baseball and dance. Sometimes it's special things, like Christmas concerts. Going to their Christmas concerts makes me want to jump up, grab a microphone and sing at the top of my lungs, "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" I wouldn't, of course, but only because it would mortify ~~Kylee~~ them and I'm pretty sure ~~she~~ they would just quit telling me about them. So I sit quietly, choking back tears, and grin...a lot.

Tuesday night Blaine had his Christmas program. He told me Monday night he had to wear his suit with a Christmas tie. When you watch the video, you'll realize that wasn't exactly the truth. I found out they were to wear black pants and a white shirt, and Mr. Strut His Stuff told all of his friends he was gonna wear his 'tuxedo' and look amazing. I'll admit, he did look amazing.
Click here
to see him do his thing.

Mrs. Martinez, who is on maternity leave, came to see ~~him~~ them perform. He was SO happy to see her!

His grandparents that were in town came, too.

Oh, we were there, too, of course.

The next night Kylee, looking pretty dapper herself, in a real tuxedo shirt, had her band concert. Her band director is also on maternity leave, and she also came to see them perform. Again, Kylee was so excited to see her. I shoulda been a teacher, 'cause evidentally my kids adore them. (Mom Mom is a teacher, too. Prime example.)
Click Song 1, Song 2, and Song 3 to hear them play. They did a really good job. So did the substitute band director taking Mrs. Lopez's place! (Sorry about the song that was cut off. My memory stick ran out of room because I didn't format it, so I had to go delete some stuff.)

Kylee also had all of her dance open houses this week, which is where I got the dancer pics in the earlier post. Although we have been super busy and never home to wrap gifts, we are total caught up in the most wonderful time of the year!

Today Featuring Me and My Babies

2011-12-11T19:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the pictures, Papa!

6th Annual Tree Trip

2011-12-11T19:03:00.000-08:00

Today we went for our SIXTH annual tree trip. Joey is harvesting, as I seem to have mentioned in the last several posts, and he couldn't go. The kids were so upset, but we went anyway and enjoyed our time.

It was a gorgeous day! I was so worried about it being so cold, but the sun was shining, and the kids were enamoured with the snow.

I had to remind them we were there for a tree! So after some snow angels
we set out and found the perfect tree.
I can't wait to see it decorated, because I'm pretty sure this is my favorite tree EVER! So Papa and the kids got to the business of cutting it down.
And after a short break for Mom to get a picture,

it was back to the snow. Kylee was in her own little snow world.
The snow absolutely thrilled her, which, of course, thrilled me.

Then there were snow ball fights
and the building
and completion of snowmen...
or a snowdog and a snow Perry the Platapus, as the case may be.

We were then off to town to eat. Blaine has loved our waitress since we started eating at "The Western Bar" in 2008. She wasn't there last year, and we were afraid it was the end of the love affair. But low and behold, we walked in today, and there she was. She knew immediately who that boy was, too!

My baby boy is growing up. When we first met her, he was flirting with her. (Notice his hand on her leg in 2008) Today he was shy, and I'm sure I've never seen him that red! But then there was a cheers that she was there.

Okay, maybe the toast wasn't because she was there, but it worked with my story! She even gave me her email address and asked me to send her the pics of all the years of them together. And we don't even know her name!

After the usual shopping, time on the playground,

and a stop at the Old Apple Barn,we were homeward bound.

Thanks, Papa and Nana, for such a great time every year!

Dancing Paparazzi

2011-12-11T18:23:00.000-08:00

A Week for the Record Books...ehhh...Blog

2011-12-10T11:43:00.000-08:00

Tuesday night we came home to Blaine saying, Mom, what is that noise? What noise, son? Then he said, Oh, no! I just stepped in water!

Then I heard the noise he was talking about. It was a definite spraying noise, and our kitchen was a lake! The water pipe in the wall by the washer had burst. Joey is harvesting and never home, so I called him to tell him he MUST come home. He told me to turn the water off at the curb and he would be home as soon as he could. After the Gus, our favorite neighbor boy, turned the water off becuase somebody wasn't strong enough to do it, I told the kids, We're outta here! We went shopping and to eat.

When Joey got home, he tried to fix it, to no avail. We called a plumber, but we wouldn't have water until the next day. I never realized what you cannot do without water. I would have been a total failure in the olden days. But the next morning and $125 later, we had water.

The day after that, I get a phone call at work from Joey. He said, Your son has just been suspended from school. He's lucky he didn't cause my death, because I was afraid I was having a heart attack! He had a .22 shell in his jacket pocket. And...it was my fault!

That morning when he put the jacket he had been wearing to school on, I told him it was too little and threw him another one. The one he wore hunting. While he was sitting in class, he put his hand in his pocket and realized it was there. He took it straight to the teacher, bless his heart, and told her he knew he wasn't supposed to have it at school but wasn't sure what to do with it. Doing her job, she called the principal.

The principal came and got him, took him to the office, and talked to him about the situation. The normal consequence for having ammo on school campus is automatic referral to KEYS (alternative school) for a week. Joey and I may or may not have said a few ugly words when we heard this, though we will never admit anything, but we only said them to each other. After talking, Joey and I agreed he needed to handle this one, because I may or may not have lost my cool.

To make a very heart-wrenching, emotional story a little shorter, Joey convinced them that his SEVEN-year old had used his common sense, and now they should use theirs in the punishment. They suspended him for one day. We told Blaine he had done the right thing and was NOT in trouble at home, and that he should go enjoy his day at the farm with his Daddy. He told us everybody was very nice to him, and that made his mommy feel so much better.

The next day, I asked him if he had free dress. He said, How would I know? I was uh-spended, remember?! Oh, yeah, that. While I was making lotions for the teachers at school, he informed me he'd like one for the principal who "had to" uh-spend him. Such a good hearted, kid.

Even through the turmoil of this week, we realize we are so blessed!

Home Sweet Home

2011-12-03T15:36:00.000-08:00

This weekend, we are enjoying our home. Well, the kids and I are. Joey is harvesting. The most wonderful time of the year is his busiest time of the year. I'm a single mom. And his son is feeling his dad being gone so much. When he got home last night, Blaine was all over him,so happy he was home!

Before he got home, the kids had a little kitchen creation game. They each made each other a plate. Blaine made Kylee a plate that looked like Dad Dadbecause he "knows how much she loves Dad Dad". And Kylee made Blaine a plate, too.

Then they rated them.

I loves nights like this when they are BFFs! They don't come all that often anymore, so when they do, it warms my heart!

After their game, Kylee put on her waitressoutfit, said, "Welcome to poodles," and served her brother drinks.Yikes! Don't worry. It was really only lemonade.

I'm really not sure who enjoyed the night more, the kids or me. Home Sweet Home.

Thanks-living at Deer Camp

2011-12-01T19:44:00.001-08:00

I can't really tell you much about this one, as there are no girls allowed. I can tell you that I sent a disposable camera in Blaine's bag that was lost, along with Pops' phone, which had more pictures on it. I can also tell you that after finding out the camera and phone were lost, I text Pops on said phone telling him I couldn't believe they lost them. Because, you know, I am a genius.

I can't tell you where these pictures eventually came from, other than Joey text me some and put some on Facebook, but I can tell you my boy had the time of his life. I can't tell you what kind of hygiene was kept, but I can tell you deer camp stories from a 7-year old are hysterical and imitations of a grandfather by his grandson, priceless. I can't tell you what words were said, but I can tell you Blaine has told me stories that he says he left some of the words that were said out.

So while I can't tell you much about deer camp, I can tell you Blaine, his Daddy, his Uncle Kyle, Michael, and Pops were thanks-living it up!

Thanks-living in Ruidoso

2011-12-01T18:35:00.000-08:00

Friday morning, my three favorite girls (Kylee, Kellie, and Kenzie) and I headed to Ruidoso to meet Randa and DD for some more thanks-living. Our lifelong friend, Rita Childs, was also there.

We lived in thanks of shopping, morning walks with DD,

laughing at and with Walter,

more massages,

'champagne' and bath salts,

getting to see Uncle Ryan,

and just chilling with DD at the cabin.

Thanks for the invite and the fun, DD!

Thanks-living

2011-12-01T18:23:00.000-08:00

We have so much to be thankful for. Sometimes I think we forget just how much, but this Thanksgiving, our family did some serious Thanks-living.

We started in Pecos, with our annual gathering at Kyle and Myra's house. The boys fried the turkeyswhile Mom Mom slaved away in the kitchen, the adults visited, and the kids played. While we are so thankful to have happy, healthy children, they are getting to an age that we never see them. They are off playing. I took thiswith some 15x zoom.

After lunch,there was more playing, watching of football, and the annual massages.It was a greatgrand
day with lots of laughs...especially with these guys around!Jack and especially Jennie crack.me.up! I'm so glad they come to Thanksgiving every year!

After all the festivities, the boysheaded off to deer camp, leaving the girls...and some boys.

These girls,well, let's just say they make my day thanks-living for sure. After learning to change a diaperfor future babysitting gigs, Myra and I took them to Black Friday at their ~~begging~~ request, even after being cautioned if they went with us, there would be no Christmas gifts bought for them. We were going to take this onetoo, but she just didn't quite make it. So we headed out to the hopping place of WalMart in Pecos, Texas.

That sarcasm there was quickly squashed. It really was hopping! There was a LINE to get into the PARKING lot!! After jumping a curb and parking on the sidewalk, which thrilled Kellie and Kylee to no end, we followed the crowd. Y'all, I really think they were breaking a fire code! Every register was open with a line that started in the front and extended all the way to the back of the store! Myra and I knew immediately there would be no purchases made by us. After walking around marveling at the crowd for a few minutes, we announced to the girls we were outta there! They were devastated. Kylee said, "But we haven't even seen a fight!" ha!! These girls watch way too much TV! Myra and I kept walking. Since we were made to walk single file by the crowd, Myra was leading, followed by me, followed by Kellie, with Kylee bringing up the rear. I turned around to tell the girls we would take them for a coke or ice cream or something since the shopping was a bust just in time to hear Kellie say to Kylee, "Maybe we could piss off some old people....oh, Steph!" Ha! I <3 these girls, even if they say things they shouldn't! Just for fun, we did about six Chinese fire drills on the way home! (Good idea, Myra!) Their giggles were priceless!

Because this post has gotten so long, and I promised a post today on Thanksgiving, stay tuned tomorrow for the continuation of our Thanks-living weekend!

Miss Me?

2011-11-30T18:57:00.001-08:00

Have a big Thanksgiving post coming tomorrow. Promise!

2011-11-24T19:30:00.001-08:00

An Old Fashioned Party

2011-11-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

Blaine's baseball buddy, Alex,had his birthday party yesterday. It was an old-fashioned kinda party and so, so fun!

They had burlap sack (kinda) races,three-legged races,a sponge-throwing contest
and a wheelbarrow race.(By this time, Blaine had already made his way back to the jumping balloon.)

Even though they were soaking wet and miserably cold and it's playoff season and all of our players will probably be sick, they had a great time!

That Amazing Tooth Fairy

2011-11-07T12:48:00.000-08:00

Blaine's front tooth finally fell out...well, it was knocked out by his knee coming down the slide, but whatever works, right? I, for one, was sick of looking at it dangling out of his mouth but not being allowed to touch it,though I will admit it's a little weird now looking at that gaping hole.

With the time change yesterday, we were all sleepy before bedtime, and everybody but Joey fell asleep in random places. This morning about 5, Blaine comes running into my room bawling because he forgot to put his tooth under his pillow for the tooth fairy, and she didn't come. I told him we would go get it right then and maybe if he went back to sleep, she would still come, and if she didn't, we would try again tonight. The next time I saw him, thisis what he looked like. She came!!

Sports Paparazzi Take 2

2011-11-07T12:14:00.000-08:00

Talking 'Bout My Girl

2011-11-03T12:46:00.000-07:00

Sports Papparazi

2011-11-03T12:21:00.001-07:00

The Heart of a Champion

2011-11-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

As we were driving home after trick or treating, Blaine was doing his best to stay awake. Joey was telling me about the manager from the Cardinals retiring. Kylee said, "Why would he do that?! They just won the World Series!" Blaine from the back in his sleepy little voice said, "That's what I'd do; go out a champion!"

Trick or Treat

2011-11-01T12:54:00.000-07:00

Trick or Treating was at the Estradas this year. Since Blaine didn't get to dress up for school yesterday, we came home, got him dressed, went and got flautas from El Parque, and went over.

And trick or treated
Mat is SO good to my kids.I'm not sure who loves him more, them or me! He such a great teenager to be around them, and he LOVES them right back. It's a great combo, and we are blessed to have him! (and his parents, too!)

Until next year...Happy Halloween!

Punkin Carvin 2011

2011-11-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

Again this year the kids picked designs for their Daddy to carve in their pumpkins. After pulling out all the punkin guts,Daddy got to work and knocked it out of the park.

I don't think I need to explain who decided on which pumpkin!

Strawberry Shortcake

2011-11-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Papa!!!

2011-11-01T09:51:00.001-07:00

Papa's birthday present

2011-10-30T18:39:00.001-07:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly allows you to customize your photo book just the way you want.

Halloween Scream Tournament

2011-10-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

The Rangers played in their first tournament this weekend at the Sportsplex. Saturday they got off to a rough start, and by the end of the day, these seven-year olds were exhausted and a little disheartened.

But this morning, they came back renewed and with a vengeance. They played like the champions we always knew they were. In fact, I'm not sure I've ever been as proud of these boys.

Between games, we took them to IHOPto refuel their little tanks.

They rallied, won all day, and claimed the championship title of the silver division. They were so excited!And went to get their awards.They even got the necklaces that are all the crave in the baseball world.

Papa was there for every game, and Blaine wanted so hard to make him proud. Last night after the games, he was talking to Blaine about catching the ball with both hands so he could turn the play quicker. Blaine was so tired, we weren't sure he was listening. The first ball Blaine caught today...with both hands...Papa turned to me and said, "See that!" He caught all his balls today with both hands, and I could tell (even from the little emotion we get from him) Papa was proud. It was fitting Blaine took his necklace to Papa to put it on him.He was gone before we took pictures with the awards, though, so Blaine just settled for his parents.

Congratulations, Rangers! We are so proud of the champions you are becoming!

Sierra Vista Fall Festival

2011-10-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

Last night JB was joined by Strawberry Shortcake (who I am not allowed to take pictures of, yeah right, until Monday, so you'll just have to wait for the 'official' pictures until then and enjoy these sneak peaks for now) to go to his Fall Festival at his school. We went last year, too, and they LOVE going!

As we were walking around, I quickly discovered why Blaine won the costume contest. Everybody we walked by, from the grandmothers to the mothers to the little sisters and even the brothers, would scream, "Justin Bieber! Look! Justin Bieber," like it was really JB! Some of the girls would run up and touch him, and some of them would just stare at him in awe. It was so funny. Even Kylee's middle school friendswanted their picture take with him. It was so funny. And there was this one little girl that would run up and just grab him in a bear hug every time we saw her!

This year there was bingo,a REALLY cool Operation game,the ring toss,a cake walk,and a lot more.

Kylee went in the haunted house, but Blaine didn't want to go, not that I would have let him after the fiasco at Spooktacular, but he stood outside and talked with Jasonlike it was no big deal. He's such a weird kid! The way Jason carried himself and was dressed freaked me out. Not Blaine. He's scared of thunderstorms and haunted houses, but not Jason. Weird.

Blaine's teacher, who is going on maternity leave pretty quickly, made the cutest shirt to wear for her costume.I just loved it. Kylee, of course, loved seeing Mr. Garcia.

When the festival closed, we went to the Aslesons to watch the World Series. After the Rangers lost...boo!...Kylee had Joey and Derek perfecting their dance moves, which had D'Anne and I rolling!

Fun stuff, y'all!

JB Productions

2011-10-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

***UPDATE***
Blaine won the costume party at school today! He got first out of the entire school, from Kinder all the way to 5th grade!!!
************

Today Blaine dressed up for Halloween for school. He decided what he would be last year, and this costume has been in production for a while. JB Productions presents the making of a Bieber, Justin Bieber, that is.

First we I found the jacket.
Then the jeans.

The shoes, well, they took some work.
The boys took care of the hat.
And this morning I dressed Justin Bieber and took him to school.

And he was in full Justin Bieber mode, too.

And I, for one, have serious Bieber Fever!!

(Kylee will dress up Monday)

A Post As Busy As Our Weekend

2011-10-25T18:46:00.000-07:00

What a weekend we had! It was busy from the minute school was out Friday afternoon until Sunday night when I tucked my sweet, exhausted, content babies into their beds.

Friday night was Kylee's first 'Band Night'. The Americas High School invites their feeder pattern middle schools to play with them at the football game at the SAC Center.I volunteered like the ~~idiot~~ great mom I am to help the band director keep up with kids. What it amounted to was chaperoning a few kids at a time to and from the restrooms. ~~I will never do it again!~~ The bands played together in the stands,and then at half time marched out on the field and playedwith the high school band. Want a better view of my girl, you say? I deliver!Oh, and I have video!
Song 1
Song 2

We were so proud!

Wondering where Blaine is? Well, he was supposed to be with us, but POPS AND DD CAME!!! And they brought Kellie and McKenzie. And they rented a hotel room. And there is an indoor pool. So he ditched us for a better offer! Don't worry. As soon as halftime was over, I asked if I could take Kylee and we headed to the hotel, too. And they got two rooms for all the kids to stay with them.

Saturday morning Blaine had BP (batting practice), and Kylee had dance that she couldn't miss because it was the day before a performance. Poor Pops and DD got a little taste of how it goes around here. Joey and Pops took Blaine to BP (oh and McKenzie). Dawn and Kellie and I dropped Kylee off at dance, went and picked up the boys and McKenzie for lunch. After lunch, I took everybody back to the hotel for swimming and went and picked up Kylee. Back to the hotel for her to join.Joey took Blaine home to get him ready for his game; McKenzie and Pops napped, and the girls swam a little longer.

When Pops came down to get the girls and I to get ready for Blaine's game, we had a little incident. As we were walking down the hallway back to the room, the girls were running. I told them to quit running. Pops said, "Oh, leave them alone." I said, "They are not three!" He said, "Oh, pfft!" Then, in typical Punky Taylor fashion, he took off running. I mean, he was booking it. The girls were loving it. Then, he ate it. I mean, face first into the carpet of the 6th floor of the Marriot. Then I remembered. I was in Dallas in August for back surgery with the man laid out in the floor. I almost puked. To my relief, other than some nasty carpet burns, a blister on his hand, and a little soreness later, he's fine. And his granddaughters? Might as well have been on the floor with him...laughing. They are still laughing. One of my cousins ((it's you, James!! Old goat!)) and I have a story about my grandfather that happened years and years ago. (I will tell this story soon in another post, I guess) I still laugh about it. I will for all my life. This is theirs. They will remember it and now, knowing he's okay, will laugh about it all their lives. Pops, I think after that, it's safe for you to go back to roping!

Then it was time to play ball! Blaine was so excited to have Pops there to watch him!And DD, too, but, you know, it's kind of a guy thing. He was even more excited that Pops and DD were there for a win! I was excited, too. I was excited to get my kids' picture with all their granddadsand Kyle and my kids with all our parents.

Supper was as exciting as the rest of the weekend was proving to be. We took the kids to Shoguns.

Then more swimming at the hotel before, once again, spending the night with Pops and DD.

Sunday was a shorter day (thank the good Lord) but just as fun-filled. Kylee danced at Spooktacular,just like lots of Octobers before. She was excited to have Pops and DD there, too. After all six
Dance 1
Dance 2
Dance 3
Dance 4
Dance 5
Dance 6
of her dances, the kids decorated pumpkins. When I was trying to get a picture of them with Pops and DD and their pumpkins, Pops decided Dora needed to be in the picture, too. The haunted house Blaine and McKenzie insisted on going in ended in me carrying McKenzie and dragging a screaming-like-a-girl Blaine through. But we ended with fun.

But the fun of the weekend was over, and it was time for Pops and DD and Kellie and McKenzie to go home. We are so glad Pops and DD came to see the kids' activities and just be here to visit. We can't wait to do it again. Thanks, Pops and DD!!!

The Punkin Patch in Pictures

2011-10-16T17:40:00.000-07:00

'Cause, you know, it's pretty self explanatory!

What's Wrong With This Picture?

2011-10-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

Both kids played a little game of "what's wrong with this picture" with me this week.

Because they are on intersession, Kylee has spent a lot of the week with Mom Mom working on her science fair project, or so I thought. While I was at work, doing what I was supposed to be doing, I started receiving these texts.

What's wrong with this picture? Because it sure doesn't look like working on a science fair project to me!

Thursday night during Blaine's baseball game, I look up to find another child at second base. I look to short stop. Nope, not there either.

What's wrong with this picture? Because it sure doesn't look like the position my son plays!

P.S. The science fair project is done and amazing. More to come on that.
Joey is thinking he needs Blaine at catcher when we move up to kid-pitch. More to come on that, too, I am quite sure.

Happy Anniversary, Pops and DD!!!

2011-10-10T07:05:00.001-07:00

My Favorite Girls

2011-10-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Kylee brought this back from Clovis and told me it was my gift from my two favorite girls. Truer words may have never been spoken. They are definitely two of my favorite girls. And while I'm jealous she got to go to Clovis and see my other favorite girl, I'm thankful for her relationship with Grandmommy, and I'm thankful for her relationship with Dad Dad and Mom Mom. While it may be a few years before she realizes how blessed she is to have those three relationships, her Mama knows, and her Mama thanks God for them daily.

Only child

2011-10-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

Kylee is in Clovis with Dad Dad and Mom Mom. Blaine couldn't go because he has two baseball games while they are gone. Last night he said, "I don't like being the only kid. I miss Diddy."
I hope he remembers that when she gets home and they are fighting!

Stripper Shoes

2011-10-05T15:45:00.001-07:00

Yes, I know, a blog post about your daughter should be ballet shoes, not stripper shoes. But, evidentally, my daughter has an obsession with stripper shoes.

We went to Target to spend the yard sale money that was burning a hole in their pockets. We had some time to kill, so we were silly.This is a preview of no Halloween costumes, just fun.

After they spent their money and had their fun, we went over to Payless for a part of Blaine's costume (more on that later), but Kylee went NUTS!!When I told her they were stripper shoes, of course, she just rolled her eyes. (Now, for those of you that come here, I don't mean that all these shoes are stripper shoes for adults. But when you are 12...just sayin'!)

We had a fun little afternoon of shopping that left my son wiped out! When I looked in my sideview mirror on the way home, thisis what I saw.

In Sickness and In Health

2011-10-04T12:41:00.001-07:00

Saturday was kind of a weird day at our house. I felt awful and was ready to just sleep. The boys had baseball practice and then went hunting with Papa. Kylee had dance, did not want to go hunting, so she was stuck home with me after dance. This girl is never boring.

Our neighbors were having an open house all weekend to sell their house. As I was lounging on the couch, all of a sudden, Kylee is carrying bags of stuff outside. When I got up to see what was going on, thisis what I found. She decided to take advantage of the people coming and going next door to make herself a little money! She made $15! Every time she would sell something, she would come back in the house looking for more stuff to sell.

When the crowd seemed to be dwindling down, she and I ordered Outback Steakhouse takeout and cuddled up on the couch with a movie. I was already feeling much better. We were finished with our supper and our movie before the boys got home. I think they stayed at Papa's after hunting to watch the Yankees play.

Sunday was pretty typical. I did laundry, except it was double since I didn't get it done after Dallas last weekend. Kylee headed back out for more sales, and this time her brother joined her.Blaine kept yelling at everybody that walked by or drove by, "Yard Sale! Yard Sale! We're having a yard sale!" His sister did not find it humerous...at all. She said he was scaring them away instead of bringing them in. She quit him. She only stayed out there with him long enough to make $1.

After she came back in, it seemed the crowd got thick.He ended up making $25.

Kylee was not happy, not to mention the fact that he had been to Papa and Nana's the night before and got to see Chessie, their kitten. She went outside to talk to him, and he came in asking if we would take them to Clint to see Chessie. I think she killed two birds with one stone. She killed his sales and got to see Chessie so he couldn't say he saw her last.

So we went to Clint. It was actually a good time to go, since the kids are on intersession for the next two weeks. Otherwise, we wouldn't have headed out there at five o'clock on a Sunday.

On our way home, the kids decided to play the quiet game. After about five seconds, I realized how nice it was, so I said, "If you make it all the way home, I will give y'all something, too." Kylee starts sign language, telling me she wants a pen. I said, "NO, no notes." She dug around and found something to write on anyway. She passed me a note. I responded, "Well, nothing for you. I told you no notes." She sent the note back with a second line.She was hot! I mean, HOT!

When we got home, she stomped in the house. When I told her to get in the shower, she said, "You're not going on Facebook, are you?" All I said was, "Get in the shower." Then went straight to Facebook to thispost. She obviously wanted me to see it or she wouldn't have said anything.

Monday morning I took Superstar to work with me. She was invited, but she did not want to go. But Monday night while Superstar and his dad were at baseball practice, she and I went to see The Help. We are friends again...for now!

Homework Robot

2011-10-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

Blaine came home and had a project to create an invention that would help the world. He had to create it and build it. He pulled all his Leg0s out and started building. He asked me for help, but, I mean, really, I can't build! This was a total Daddy project.

So when he starts explaning it to Joey, Joey said, Tell me what an invention is. Blaine said, It's something you make up that will make the world better, so you get it 'plummished.' (published)

What makes the world better? A robot that does your homework!What could be better than that?! And ALL the kids would buy it! It would bring at LEAST a hundred bucks! Maybe even a thousand!

I tried to get him to 'present' it to me, but he wouldn't because, 'that's not part of the homework.'

Advanced Acting Drama

2011-09-28T08:48:00.000-07:00

Imagine! Drama in Theater Arts? I mean, really, I guess it should just be expected in that class, right?

Kylee had her first 'Advanced Acting' class performance last night. They brought in a 'professional choreographer' to teach the class two dances. Then, as a grade, they were to get in smaller groups and choregraph their own routine to perform also.

Kylee had been telling us that her group was just falling apart. She was the only one doing any work, and the other three girls kept being absent. When the other three girls got back from their absenses, after the routine was due to be 'turned in', of course, they didn't like what Kylee had done. A few weeks ago when this was being discussed, I didn't realize it was for this performance, I thought it was just a class grade.

So last night the groups did their individual performances and then the two group dances. Their group performances were so fun!

Ladies Choice

Mamma Mia

Even Blaine and a little boy, who has now become his friend because his sister and in the class,got into it. They were moving and grooving right there sitting on the floor. They even threw their hands in the air a couple of times.

Did you notice Kylee had no individual dance? As she put it, their group "sucked" after everybody decided to make changes and bail on her. She was worried about it Monday night after dress rehearsal, and she told me that it was awful and it was going to be embarrassing because they sucked. Right before Tuesday night's performance, Mrs. Moore (the theater arts teacher) pulled her aside and told her she knew her group had -- and then she used a big word Kylee doesn't remember what it is and had to ask what it meant, but basically -- betrayed her. She understood Kylee had put a lot of work into the dance without any help, and then they decided it wasn't good enough. So she decided she was not going to let that group perform, when the other groups had worked hard on theirs. Because she had seen the work Kylee had put into it, she told Kylee she would receive a 95 on the assignment, while the other girls were getting zeros. To avoid drama ~~you know, since there hadn't been any already~~, she didn't want Kylee to say anything to the other girls about her grade or even discuss it with them at all.

Kylee said she guesses when Mrs. Moore told the other girls they weren't performing, they freaked a little, because they were asking Kylee to just go back and practice with them, that they could get it together. Kylee just told them she wasn't willing to embarrass herself. Such drama! I'm so glad I don't teach middle schoolers...especially a middle school drama class!

It's always nice to have grandparents there to cheer them on.Papa was at home babysitting their new kitty. I guess he does baseball games, and she does dances when there's a newborn at home. (hehe)

Kylee's 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Enriquez's daughter is also in Kylee's class. We talked to her after the performance, and she said she recognized Kylee's "adorable face" as soon as she saw her on the dance floor.

And with that, the curtain closes on another performance.

Whose Gift Is It?

2011-09-25T16:16:00.000-07:00

Did I mention the 30th anniversary party wasn't actually over? On their anniversary, we gaveDad Dad and Mom Mom a trip to Dallas to stay at Great Wolf Lodge again and go to a Texas Ranger Game.

I have to stop and give Doak major kudos here for planning and organizing this trip. He did an amazing job, and all ~~Kyle~~ Myra and I did was book our own family's rooms and write a check to him. So thanks, Doak!

Friday we all headed to the big D. Doak and Kyle drove their families, while the El Paso bunch flew. Kyle left earlier than Doak, and my family left earlier than Dad Dad and Mom Mom, so we got there at almost the same time.

We finally got to give McKenzie her birthday present.
She's going to be 'Sepatariat's' jockey for Halloween. Since we were talking about Halloween, I told her that Kylee was thinking about being Strawberry Shortcake. She told me to be sure I put 'frinkles' on her face.

Then we hit the water park for the hour and a half we had before it closed.This is the only picture I have from the waterpark Friday night. Kylee and Kellie took off by themselves, and the rest of us were on the tube rides with the kids. I'm not willing to risk my prized camera in the water, so this is all I got. Then Joey and I headed to the airport to pick up Dad Dad and Mom Mom while Kyle, Myra, and the kids ordered pizzaand waited on Doak's family.

The next morning, we were up and at 'em, ready to get all the time we could in at the waterpark before we went to see the Rangers play the Seattle Mariners. I got thispicture of the 'big' girls before they, once again, ditched us for their own fun. I got plenty of pictures of the littles, though,since they had to hang out with us. There was also some cominglingwhen the adults would go with the kids on the Tornado, or take the littles on the 'family ride' in one big tube, or when the big girls came to play with the baby.

After a few hours of water fun, it was time to shower and head to the ball game. We got all the girls dressed with their bowsAndrea got them, got grandparents/kids pic,(I just realized Michael is missing!! What the heck?!)took a power nap in the car,and arrived at Ranger Ballpark!
Thanks, again, to Doak, we had ah-maze-ingseats that were even in the shade, and the whole rowwas the Painter tribe! Blaine spent a lot of his time training on Dad Dadabout how this game works, while Kylee spent a lot of her time with Kellie keeping Brodieentertained. All the kids took their turn on the teeset up in the stadium. After a family picture, we left the game headed back to Great Wolf Lodge.

The kids (of all sizes) had a little more fun in the water, then there was eating
tattoos

ice cream

and dance lessons in the hallway
before bed.

Then this morning before our goodbyes, there was one more Painter tribe photo op.

As I look back at these pictures from the weekend, I wonder whose gift this really was? I mean, it seems to me the grandKIDS had way more fun than the grandPARENTS. But, ya know, I guess when you've been married 30 years and still walk into the
ballpark like this,it doesn't really matter, does it?

Not My Child

2011-09-21T20:10:00.001-07:00

Anybody known who this child belongs too? Kylee likes her steak to moo at her when she cuts it. She wants it chewy! Not my child! Yuck!

*Disclaimer* This above story is true. I only really posted it to test my néw blogging app on my phone, though.

Kylee's First Trip to the Bar

2011-09-19T18:32:00.000-07:00

When I went to bed Saturday night, Kylee was still up. I figured she was old enough to stay up and know when and how to go to bed without me telling her to put her pajamas on and get comfortable. Evidentally, I was wrong. When I got up Sunday morning and went downstairs, thisis what I found. Maybe my attempts on backing off of her a little are premature. Maybe they aren't. Maybe I should just leave her alone, let her sleep in her clothes, in a chair, and be ok with it. This parenting thing needs a manual.

Later she had a dance performance for 'Punks For Pups'. It was held at House of Rock. We had no idea what or where this place was. When we walked in, it was a bar...like a hard-core bar. It smelled like college days. You know, like a...well, a bar. And it had concrete floors and...well, look.It's a bar. I never imagined they would be dancing for the adoption of puppies at a bar!

Before the dances began, they brought in some puppies that were for adoption. Blaine was enthralled.The news cameras were there, and everybody was so excited.

After the puppies were there and the girls had done their stretching,they danced their hearts out.~~My girl~~They did such a great job, I totally forgot I was in a bar with my children.

P.S. The news cameras were there, and the Kylee was so excited to be on the news. I was excited for her. She has her mother's luck. When we recorded the ten o'clock news later, the event was on the news. The dancers didn't make. But Blaine did!
Click to watch Blaine on Channel 4 News El Paso
I was so sad for her. She does such a great job I wanted her to get the recognition she deserved. She didn't, and I couldn't be more proud of the way she handled. She showed no disappointment. Good girl, she is. Maybe I should be more like her. (This is becoming a them with my children and me.)

My MVP

2011-09-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

We had our first coach-pitch loss last night. It sucked. Especially since it was to a team that was obnoxious and rude. I can't stand that. It makes me want to punch them in the face. I mean, really. That's awful, but I just get so upset. It probably doesn't help that their first obnoxious-ness was directed at my son. As Rachel on Big Brother would say, "Nobody messes with my ~~man~~ son!"

On Blaine's first up-to-bat, they questioned the bat. The umpire declared it an illegal bat, and called Blaine out before he even swung the bat. He cried. I fumed. The worst part was when they called the 'head' ump in, the bat, in fact, was not illegal, but the out stood. Whatever. This mom was hot.

He shook off his cry quicker than I shook off my fuming. Good boy, he is. Sportsmanlike conduct. I should be more like him. When he got on defense, he made a triple play. My boy. Then at his next at-bat, he hit the ball harder than I wanted to hit the other coaches. Homerun. That's right, folks, his first in-park home run, with two runners on base. Talk about upping his stats. Take that, Pirates! I'm not really sure who was more excited, me or Blaine. His 100-watt smile warmed my heart.In the next inning, he made a double play. He got the game ball. He deserved it. Although we lost, my MVP had an amazing game!

I love that he transitions from my baby boy who I found in the backyard this morning blowing bubbles in his flippies and cowboy hatto a team player on his team.

After the game, we went to Pizza Hut with some of his favorite players and their families. The kids got their own tables,and Kylee even brought games and prizes for the girls. She's such a nurturing soul and going to be an amazing babysitter...sooner than I'd like to think about.

It was Pat's (David Angel's mom) birthday. I told David not to bring her to Pizza Hut with the team on her birthday, but they showed anyway. So Carlo and Marina got a cake, and we celebrated with her.(On a side note, this family just lost their 19-year old cousin from sudden heart failure. His mom, Rosie, is a court reporter, and works with me at the courthouse. Please keep the Moreno family in your prayers as they recover from this unimaginable loss.)

I'm so proud of Blaine and his sportsmanship and love of the game. Today we head to another dance performance for Kylee.

Living our lives on dance stages and baseball diamonds...

Kylee's Karnival

2011-09-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

Last night was Kylee's carnival at Walter Clarke. She is so like her Mom Mom, in that anything that comes up that somebody needs help getting things together, coordinating, working, helping, whatever, she is in. The carnival was a fundraiser for the student council.

She volunteered to make 48 cupcakes for the cake walk. Since she had dance Thursday night, she made them all Wednesday night. Then carried 48 cupcakes, her instrument, her backpack, and a three liter bottle of coke she also volunteered for the ring toss to school Thursday morning...with a little help from her not-so-happy brother, which is a whole other story.

The carnival was yesterday from 4-8, so she just stayed after school. After I picked up Blaine from Dad Dad (and more than one 'sugar' game of 'gold' fish), he and I went to check it out.

We found Kylee and Lilahworking the washer booth, so we got Blaine some tickets so he could participate in the carnival, too. His sister showed him how to get started,and we were off.

While she finished up her "shift", Blaine and I went to check out all the other stuff. He punted a football, run in the hamster ball,, went fishing, and threw a pie in Jill's face.When Kylee's shift was over, she came to play with us a while.When Blaine was out of tickets, we went home to Daddy, while Kylee stayed with her friends at the carnival.

I realize this post is Kylee's Karnival and most of pictures are of Kylee's brother. That's the problem with middle school. SHe is way too busy with her duties and friends to hang out with her family. Last night was the first glimpse I really got of her doing things on her own, and I hated it. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of the fact she's involved and secure enough in herself to be out on her own, but it hurts this Momma's heart! As I watched all those middle schoolers run around and laugh and tease and throw shaving cream all over each other and run in the school sprinklers when they came on, it seemed like just yesterday I was in 7th grade and felt so grown up and old enought to do things w/out my mom and dad. All I could think last night was, in two short years she will be in high school, and in six short years out of my house. I'm sick. I must go.

Blog Makeover, Take 2

2011-09-09T12:59:00.000-07:00

Erin over at Designer Blogs has done it again. She redid my blog the first time and now once again.

I'm so excited about the outcome...again, and I really feel like it fits our family as we change and grow. If any of you bloggers out there are interested in designing your own, head over to Designer Blogs and check them out. You won't BELIEVE all you can do. Be sure you mention my name, so I can get some credits and keep adding styles to mine.

Thanks, Erin!!!!!!!

So There

2011-09-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

Kylee is learning about heritage in Social Studies. I don't even know our heritage. I mean, I ~~think~~ know there's some Indian in there somewhere. We called Pops, but he ~~thought~~ knew exactly what I ~~thought~~ knew. There's definitely Indian. I guess I'm gonna have to make some different phone calls. (Grandmommy, get busy with the research!) Some boy said in class today that there's no way Kylee has any heritage; she's way too white. I mean, really, the girl is white, but we have heritage! So there.
(Right, Grandmommy?)

I hate sight words. One of Blaine's sight words this week is 'usually'. He has always said lusually. Now I have to correct him. I hate it. First hectacolla; now lusually. When marote (remote) is a sight word, I refuse to fix it. Get used to it, teachers! I won't I won't I won't correct marote. So there.

Balmorhea for Labor Day

2011-09-05T20:01:00.001-07:00

We took our second trip to Balmorhea this summer. We had talked about going camping with the Rosales and Batistas, but we couldn't be gone the whole Labor Day weekend, since everybody had stuff going on. Carlo and his family had never been to Balmorhea, so we decided to go for the day. We left El Paso at 7 a.m. Saturday morning to make the drive.

We got a great tableright by the high diving board, and since that's where we spent most of our time,it worked out just great! I don't know how many times they stood in line to jump,but it was a lot! The girls and I even got tricky!
There was also swimming, eating, watching the kids, being silly, feeding and watching the fish and turtles, and just hanging out.

We didn't leave the park until 7 p.m., which means we spend eight and a half hours of fun. Before we drove back, we ate at the Bear's Den, where the kids got their own tables........SO grown up! The boys even had a salsa eating contest, and that salsa was HOT!!

They didn't want to leave each other and were so excited to hear we would all stop in Van Horn for gas. None of the boys saw each other in Van Horn because they were all asleep. They played so hard. Kylee and Kaitlyn were the only children awake. Kylee wouldn't stay that way long. It was a fun but exhausting day! Can't wait for our next adventure with these friends!

Me: Stenographer; Him: Stenosis

2011-09-05T06:19:00.000-07:00

On August 29, Daddy finally had back surgery. He's been so miserable for so long, and it was time! He, Dawn, and I flew to Dallas the 28th for the big day.

His surgery was scheduled for 11 a.m. We had to be there at 9 to get him ready. When we text this pictureto the grandkids, they got a big kick out of it. His doctor got a little backed up on the surgery before his, so we had to wait a while. Of course, he wanted his phone back!But finally the anesthesiologist came in to administer the good stuff!He was teasing him that when he gave him the stuff to make him sleep, he was going to make him auction for him. I wanted him to take my phone and video it, but it was a no-go. Daddy doesn't remember if they asked him to or not.

The Methodist Hospital for Surgery in Addison was amazing! As Dawn and I waited the three hours it took, they called her cell phone three times to let us know what was going on. The doctor came out and told us the surgery was a success, and he fixed all that needed to be fixed. His nerves, which should have been round like a pinkie, were flat in three places (stenosis), and he had four bulging discs and some calcium deposits they "shaved" off. (OUCH!) He said we could go up to his room and wait, and he should be there in about 45 minutes.

When he came up, he had a nasty little reaction to the anesthesia that made him very anxious. Evidentally, it's pretty common in men. His cut was bigger than we expected,about six inches. No wonder he kept saying it felt like they had put a knife in his back!

I stayed until Wednesday; then flew home. He got out of the hospital Wednesday, but had to stay in Dallas a couple of days just in case he needed to see the doctor. He flew home Friday, and he is now at home resting and healing. We're all hoping this surgery did the trick, and he will feel much better soon!

Bully Beware Part II

2011-09-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the slow update on the bully. Daddy had back surgery in Dallas, so I've been up there vying for daughter of the year. More on that to come.

Right after I typed Part I, Mr. Garcia text Joey just to see what was up, and Joey told him about our bully situation. He immediately wanted to know why this was the first he had heard of it. Come to find out, he's the head of the committee against bullying at Blaine's school. Well, who knew there was such a thing?! Anyway, he said he would "handle it" and that there would be no problem. He also told Joey there was no need for him to go to the school Monday morning, just to let him handle it.

Later when we were explaining to Blaine why Joey wasn't going to the school Monday, he said, "Oh, it's okay. Julian asked me Friday if we could be friends. I don't want to be his friend, so at first I said no. But then I decided I would try it." That seemed to make Blaine feel much better.

I'm not sure what all happened, but Blaine said Mr. Garcia called him out of class Monday and talked to him about it. Now things are all better, and Blaine is back to himself.

Yay! I hope that's all I ever have to say about that.

Bully Beware

2011-08-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

I hate bullies! I've never encountered one, really. I guess maybe in Pecos, we all knew everybody's parents knew each other, and it would not be tolerated. Times, they are a'changin!

Two weeks ago, Blaine started being teary when I would drop him off at school. He never said anything was wrong, and he would suck it up pretty quickly, but he was different. He would ask a million questions as I dropped him off, hesitant to get out of the car, and he would make sure I was coming to get him right after work. I thought maybe he was just tired or worn out.

Then Monday, after we dropped off Kylee and were headed to his drop off, he LOST it. I mean, shoulder-shaking sobbing. He said it was because Mrs. Martinez had said it was far enough into the school year that now she was going to be stricter. I told him he would be fine, because he knew how to act and it didn't matter how strict she was if he was behaving. It didn't help. He then cried that he was scared. I told him I didn't believe he was scared of Mrs. Martinez, and he spilled the beans that there was a boy in his class, Julian, who was calling him names and wouldn't leave him alone.

I don't want to coddle my kids. I don't want to be that mom that thinks her kid is perfect and no other kid should ever look at them funny. But I also don't want to be that callous mom who doesn't care.

I asked him if he had told Mrs. Martinez, and he said no because he did not want to be a tattle-tale. Trying to call his bluff, I said I would park and walk him to the playground and talk to the monitor, THINKING he would NOT have that. He said, "Okay. Let's go." I walked him to the monitor, told her he was worried about this kid, and he wasn't comfortable. She assured me she would take care of it and told Blaine to show her which kid it was. As I drove away, I saw Blaine walking off with Briana,her arm around his shoulder.

I sent his teacher an email, expressing my dilemma between coddling and ignoring, and she called me, telling me that the assistant principal and she had talked to Julian, and I was not overreacting. He came home from school and said everybody had talked to Julian, and he felt better. Joey talked to him, quizzing him if Julian had touched him, or if it was just name calling. Blaine assured him it was just name-calling. Tuesday morning, he got out of the car the old Blaine.

Wednesday moring, we were back to teary and a million questions. Thursday morning, same thing. I told him that if that boy bothered him, he needed to tell somebody, that everybody knew the situation, and that he was NOT being a tattletale. His Daddy questioned him Thursday night if the kid was hitting him. Blaine assured us he was just calling him names and would not leave him alone.

Friday, Julian hit him. Blaine was coming down the slide at lunchtime, and Julian had hid behind the slide and jumped up and slapped his face as he came down. It busted his lip. Blaine said he got in 'big trouble' and they called his parents. Joey is going to the school Monday morning. Last night when I went upstairs, I found thisin my bedroom. At first, I was appalled! I text D'Anne, who has two boys, and she said it's a Dad thing because her husband did the same thing. I also guess I don't want him to get killed, because this Julian kid is huge, after all. Bully beware!!

Oh, how I hope this situation is QUICKLY worked out! Stay tuned.

Also, just to prove he is still my happy seven-year-old, this is him last night.

This is Our Life

2011-08-25T18:50:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, Kenzie baby!

2011-08-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

She Is A Dancer

2011-08-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

My Sister Is A Dancer

2011-08-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

Saturday Madday

2011-08-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

Saturday was one of the crazier days we've had in a while. Blaine had a "short" (even if his dad's idea of short and mine are not exactly the same thing) batting practice at 9:00. Kylee had to be at dance at 11:00 (while her Mom ran to get a much needed and desired pedicure) and picked up at 1:00.

This is when the craziness starts. That's right. What you have read so far is not craziness; just a normal Saturday morning. And we didn't even talk about the feeding and dressing and taxing in between.

Blaine's first official coach-pitch game was Saturday at 1:00. He was so nervous. I had never seen him so nervous before. We kept telling him he had been playing since he was 3, and he could do this. He just kept telling us it was a harder ball and it was being thrown instead of on a tee. He was not hearing that they had been practicing coach-pitch for a month and had two scrimmages. Once he got out there, hit the ball,, and scored, he played like a champ...with a grin even! It helped that a few on the other team had never even played t-ball, and the mercy rule was envoked. I sure hope it boosted his confidence. (Yes, I did take my camera, but the battery was dead. GRRR! Another iPhone save!)

His sister, growing up too fast, was appalled that a lady would sit in the stands and watch a game like this.(The bulk has been blurred to protect the ~~very, very guilty~~ innocent.) I have to tell you, I'm so glad to know I won't be catching my daughter this way.

After the Mercy Rule was invoked, I rushed Kylee home to get her ready for her dance performance at Cielo Vista Mall (and charge the camera battery for as long as possible). She was supposed to be there at 3:00, but due to the tax-free weekend and Christmas Eve-like crowds, she was a little late, as was her performance time. Because she had just danced these dances at the GECU performance and my camera battery wasn't fully charged, I decided not to video. I actually was very excited to get action pictures of her performing.Every time I watch her, I am truly amazed...and a little jealous that I can't move that way.

After her eight-dance performance, we hurried to buy birthday presents for Elijah and Leah's 5:00 birthday party.Elijah is on Blaine's baseball team, and Leah is his little sister, whom Kylee adores and who adores Kylee. We stayed until 11:00 p.m. but we had an great time with great friends.

Loaded Questions

2011-08-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

I love that Blaine is old enough to play more games with us now, that include writing down answers. Friday night, after Five Guys burgers, we played Loaded Questions with Dad Dad and Mom Mom. When it was his turn to read the answers aloud, at first I tried to help him. I quickly realized he did not need my help. My baby can read!

One of the questions I picked was, What is your favorite thing? Kylee, of course, put CAKE! I told Blaine not to put baseball because everybody would know it was him. He said, "Yeah, I know. That's why I wrote, 'B', but then marked it out." When we read the answers, he had written, 'Watching my dad play softball.' You know, 'cause none of us would know that was him. Another question was, What was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you? Blaine wrote, 'Poop'. Then when the answers were read, he leaned over to me and whispered, "You know, like when I was one and went in my pants." Dad Dad picked the question, What is something you always wondered about. Blaine wrote, Why is your moustache so big?

But the kids were not the only ones with funny answers. Kylee asked, If you were a WWE wrestler, what would your name be? Dad Dad's answer had Joey and I both rolling. His answer? Gonad the Barbarian.

I can't wait to play again, to watch my boy read and write so well, and to laugh at kids and adult answers alike!

Hallmark Sorta Friend

2011-08-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

When I read Kelle's post, it really got me thinking about my friends. I have been so blessed with friends in my life. When she says, I’ve read enough parenting tips on raising girls to know it’s not recommended that you encourage talk of “best” friends because “best” just gets you into trouble and, like playing ball in the house never ends up good, publicly claiming someone as your “best friend” just sends another girl crying and crossing you off her birthday party list, I totally get that.

The more I thought about it, I decided I have four "best" friends. They were all my besties in a different period of my life, but as phases changed, lives changed, contact changed, they remain my best friends. (This includes only friends, no family, so no feelings should be hurt....Randa)

Erinn Pattillo. Erinn and I were friends early in our lives. In high school, we became inseparable. We shared the experiences of butterfly love, heartbreak, prom, stock shows, and cheerleading together. Our stories are innumerable and mostly hysterical. We shared our first experience of living away from home together, and we learned some of our stories would never be known by anyone but the two of us. I would have never hestitated then to call her my "best" friend, even if it had hurt others feelings, because it was the truth...and, you know, in high school, it's kinda all about you. After her wedding, with five kids and two husbands between us, our lives became a little busy. Thanks to Facebook and email, we are now in touch quite regularly, but have only seen each other once, and that was for the death of a good friend, so not such a joyous reunion. But I know if I needed her or if she needed me, there would be no question about being there. And for that, I am blessed. And for that, she will always be my "best" friend..

Tanya Kiehne. Tanya and I's friendship is purely providential, I am convinced. My high school sweetheart is her cousin. When we met, she was already married with two kiddos, and I was in high school. When Shane wanted to take me there, I was strongly opposed. When Shane was gone, Tanya was there. When high school was gone, Tanya was there. When the next boyfriend was gone, Tanya was there. I was there for her third pregnancy, and she was there for both of mine. Even though our lives have never seemed to run parallel, our hearts and minds do. Even when she had a newborn and I was partying my 21 year-old heart out, I never hesitated to call her in the middle of the night to tell her something funny or to cry on her shoulder. When I was married with newborns and she was running around with teenagers, we seemed to talk a little less. But we always come back to each other when needed or wanted. And because we know too much damaging information about the other, we will always be friends. And for that, I am blessed. And for that, she will always be my "best" friend.

Daneane Jarzombek and Tina Zbytovsky. These two could not be separated, just as our friendships cannot be separated. We all met at Cavendars Boot City, working our way through our 20s. Our bond was pretty instantaneous. We are all so different from the other, yet so much alike. We all went from small-town girls to Austin together. We all went from strangers to sisters together. We have transitioned from the party girls to the working girls together. And although we are all now in different cities, in different jobs, in different circumstances, we are all in touch very regularly. We are there for the ups and for the downs. I truly believe we are soul sisters and BFFs. And for that, I am blessed. And for that, these girls will always be my "best" friends.

These four girls are truly Hallmark sorta friends. I hope I live up to their high standards as their friend. And I hope, as my children grow and evolve, they are even half as blessed as I with the friends in their lives.

Best Dance Performance Ever

2011-08-13T18:26:00.000-07:00

This is according to Blaine. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the dancers! GECU had a grand opening last night of their new branch, and they asked the Champion dancers to perform.

There was a problem. We had some girls, mainly mine, who would perform in more than once dance, and there was only one, one stall bathroom. My quick-thinking, quick-to-volunteer-her-family daughter had a lightbulb moment. We have a tent, so her Daddy could set it up next to the stage for the girls to change in, andhe did.

While the tent was being set up and the girls were doing some rehearsing indoors, Blaine noticed some other activity going on. There were several jumping ballons, slides, and a trampoline being set up. There were free soft drinks, face painting, and popcorn, too. He quickly declared that this was the best dance performance ever! And although he couldn't get on the "fun stuff" until 8, the firemen let him on their stuff before.They let him honk the horn and hold the hose.

When the girls emerged,they were introduced and the dancing began. I know I've said this before, but it slays me the confidence Kylee has when it is related to dance. While they were talking about Champion Studios, she was waving and smiling and doing little dance moves....and she was the only one doing it. I LOVE it!

On The Floor

Around The World

Forget You

More

Eat You Up

Kylee danced in every song. She probably volunteered our tent because she needed the changing room more than any of the other girls. I sure wished she moved that fast when we want her to get ready!!

Blaine was finally set free to go playand even when the performing was done, Kylee was still striking a poseat the best dance performance ever.

If These Are Our Only Worries...

2011-08-11T16:34:00.000-07:00

...our world isn't so bad.

Kylee is worried about her weight. Yup, my ever-active, skinny-miniis worried about her weight of all things! (Sorry for the bikini pic here, Joey, but I'm trying to make a point!) She told me yesterday after school that she bets she's gained 10 pounds. After thoroughly explaining to her how there was not ONE ounce of fat on her body, and even if there were, she still looked great, she wanted to bet. So we bet $5 that she had not gained 10 pounds. When we got home, I looked up the post from their physicals last year, to get her weight.

She got on the scale. She has gained 12 pounds, y'all!! She said, "Oh, darn! I should have bet a dollar a pound!" I had another long talk with her about how she looks great; she's too young to worry about her weight; and last year the doctor asked her to gain weight. Dad Dad told her not to listen to that "Hollywood crap." I also explained to her that she's obviously gained some inches to explain the weight gain, because when I gain FIVE pounds, my pants won't zip! She thought that was hysterical. I think her mind is at ease, and I can't wait to go to her physical next month to see the inches she has gained.

Blaine is our fearless wonder. The boy is afraid of nothing...except weather. He's terrifed of any kind of weather. I'm not sure where he gets it, maybe because the only "weather" we have in El Paso is wind. He's always asking about tornados, hurricanes, and earthquakes and making sure I'm sure we don't have them in El Paso.

At four o'clock this morning we had a LOUD and LONG thunderstorm. When I woke up, he was standing by my bed with his hand covering his ears. When I looked at him, he said, "Can I just get in bed with you for a little while?" I told him I would come lay in his bed for a while. When we got in his bed, he was wrapped around me like a winter blanket in terror. Then he would try to "suck it up." He would put his hands over his ears and say, "I'm just going to pretend it is just a loud truck going down our street." I'm not sure it worked, but he finally drifted back to sleep. Boy, did we pay for his lack of sleep this morning.

Life is good.

The Anniversary Cake

2011-08-07T18:22:00.000-07:00

When Mom Mom decided to plan her anniversary cake, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do. So we turned to our own personal cake boss, Kylee. This is what she came up with.

Kylee impresses me so! Not only did she come up with the design in her head, but she drew it perfectly!
So we sent her drawing to Rocio, the lady who makes all the kids' birthday cakes, and picked thisup Saturday morning. Everything was just as Kylee asked, except the '30' didn't stand up. I think it was the heat, because when we tried to stand it up, it would start breaking immediately. That didn't stop our celebration or the cake eating, though!

Thanks, Bug!

The Painter Tribe

2011-08-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a story of a lovely lady
Who was bringing up a rowdy boy and girl
Both of them were very spoiled, by their mother,
It was quite a whirl.

Here's a story of a man named Dan,
Who was busy with two kids of his own,
They were Painters, living all together,
Boil-in-the-Bag to make them groan.

Til the one day when the lady met this fellow,
and they knew that it was too much to describe,
That this group would somehow form a family,
That's the way we all became the Painter Tribe.

The Painter Tribe, The Painter Tribe.
That's the Way we all became the Painter Tribe.

Here's the story of the 30th anniversary, When we all come back to celebrate the merge,
What started with just the six, has become 20,
To the pool we did converge.

Here's the story of pool-side fellowship, where we spent a great deal of our time,
And when we ate, courtesy of the Taco Man, Boil-in-the-Bag seemed a crime.

Til the evening when this lady fed this fellow, We enjoyed a very familial vibe, This group has loved into a family,
And that's the way we stay the Painter Tribe.

The Painter Tribe, The Painter Tribe.
That's the way we stay the Painter Tribe.

This is dedicated to the twowho created, formed, and maintain our forever family.

Me Stew

2011-08-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

Presenting 'Me Stew' Video

A Dancing Football Player?

2011-08-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

My dancing queenhas been invited to be the manager for the 7th grade football team. Yes, it seems odd to me, too, but the football coach, who also happens to be Kylee's PE teacher thinks she would be perfect for the job. Her Daddy strongly disagrees. I, on the other hand, want to encourage her to do whatever her little heart desires in the things I can let her choose.

She chooses no. She may have considered it, but when I told her she was not taking seven dance classes AND managing the football team, that consideration flew right out the window. I told her she didn't have to quit dance, but she had to reduce her classes. Not even a thought in her pretty little head as to what to do. No managing the team. Now she doesn't even want to play volleyball.

I guess there will be no members of the Onick family on a football team...at least not anytime soon. I am so flattered, though, that of all the 7th graders, the coach wanted her. Another proud Mommy moment.

Coach Pitch - Take 1

2011-08-02T13:22:00.000-07:00

We have begun coach pitch. No more t-ball.

Last night the boys had a scrimmage just to get used to the whole new set of rules before the season begins later this month. Not only do they no longer use a tee, but instead of everybody getting to bat, this is like the big leagues. Three outs, and it's over. They are also using a hard ball, so everybody has to wear a "cup". You know what I'm talking about. Now the boys are typical baseball players, having to touch themselves...or the cup, I guess...every three seconds.

I was a little anxious about the whole thing. I figured it would be one strike, two strikes, three strikes, you're out...times three, and the game would move really quickly, and the boys would be disappointed. Boy, was I pleasantly wrong! Blaine was up to batthree times, and he hit the ball three times. Good hits! The rest of the boys also played so well. I think I may learn to love coach-pitch.

Don't get me wrong, there were some parts to it I wasn't thrilled about. As I passed out cokes to all the boys after the scrimmage, Blaine said, "I'll be right back. I'm going to talk to that catcher." I said, "Woah. Wait. Why?" Nothing. He just stood there. I said, "Are you going to say something nice?" Nothing. I said, "Blaine, you are not going over there to say something ugly. That's not sportsmanlike!" Nothing.

When we got in the car, he said, "That catcher made me so mad!" When I asked why, he said, "EVERY time we got up to bat, he would say, 'Batter, batter, look at me; I will tell you when to swing.' The first time it didn't make me so mad, but the second and third time, he got in my head. One time, I even swung when he said to, and it made me so mad! So I told him, 'You wanna play that way? Ok. I'll play that way.' Then I told Carlo and Noel, and he was doing it to them, too. So when he came up to bat, Noel did it to him. I can't stand that catcher!"

Here we go. Moving into the big leagues!

First Day of School, 7th & 2nd

2011-08-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

Another summer is over, but, oh, what a summer it was! Joey commented several times how he wished his summers had been like our kids'. The easy days of staying up late, sleeping late, and now worries about home work are now over. THe kids started school this morning.

Kylee started 7th grade.She is growing up so so fast. It was such a different morning for me today because as I was walking her to school, instead of clinging to me, scared of the unknown, she was making sure there was enough distance between her. We walked into the school, and she said, "Thanks, Mom! I gotta go meet my friends at the Commons." And off she went. There was no looking around hesitantly, searching for familiar faces, begging me not to go. Just like that, she was gone. I feel just that way. Just like that, her babyhood is gone.When I picked her up from school, she had 7th grade attitude in full force and effect, and she was not happy. We had received her schedule in the mail last week, but evidentally the school overbooked a class or two, so they did some rearranging. Her schedule changed ever so slightly. She still has the same classes, they just moved them around a bit. She found out first thing this morning, so it's not like she had gotten used to it and then they changed it. She was just crabby about it. Come to find out, she used to have "Karina BFF", as she is listed in Kylee's phone contacts, in one of her classes. That is no more. I'm sure she'll get over it, as most 7th graders do.

Blaine started 2nd grade.He's always made my first day of school experiences different than with Kylee. While she was nervous and clingy, he's always been excited and carefree. Kylee went with me to take himWe met Mrs. Martinezand he was ready for us to leave.Within the first hour of my picking him up from school, he said no less than 75 times how it was the "Best day ever!" He talked nonstop about how wonderful it was for about an hour and a half. If he's as good as he thinks he's gonna be this year, he's gonna have all sorts of parties, to include root beer parties, popcorn parties, pizza parties, and ice cream parties!

And so begins another exciting and full year!

Pools, Pets, and Pictures

2011-07-29T09:37:00.000-07:00

The kids and I drove to Midland Friday afternoon so I could go to Luke's funeral Saturday morning. Joey had to stay home and irrigate, so we were on our own. About halfway to Midland, I realized I had forgotten my camera. I guess it's because I was planning to go for a funeral. I wasn't really thinking about the rest of the weekend and hanging out with family. So iPhone pictures it is...for now.

When we got there, Dawn had a new bird. Blaine LOVES the birds, so we went outside to play with them.While Blaine was holding one of the smaller ones, we had an escape. His wings aren't clipped, and he flew from Blaine's hands straight to the roof. Randa had to lift Blaine on the roofto go rescue the bird.

(After that awful roof picture, I asked Randa to bring her camera over on Saturday. But for Friday night, it's still iPhone pics.)

In case you weren't convinced that between the horses and the dogs and the cats and the birds that this family is critter lovers, Uncle Ryan shows up with a baby rabbit.It was so tiny(those are Blaine's hands!), and it didn't even have his it's eyes open yet. Ryan found it on a job site alone and brought it home. He was feeding it cat milk (like baby formula for cats)and trying to convince Kylee she should take over and keep the rabbit. Just what we need! After a fight with Kylee and ugly words for Uncle Ryan, he took the rabbit home!

After the funeral Saturday morning and lunch with Randa, Randy, Cheyenne, Pops, Dawn, and the kids, we declared it a poolside weekend. Oh, and Randa brought her camera...yay!! Saturday and Sunday we were either in the poolin the hot tubor eatingAnd since the critters have to eat, too, the kids went with Pops to feed themAnd no trip to Pops and Dawn is complete with swinging on the horse walker!Then...back in the water

That was our weekend, and it was fun and relaxing. The two days kinda ran together and became combined, which is a good thing, because I only have pictures for Saturday. As soon as we got in the pool Sunday after lunch, Kylee was going to take a picture of me jumping on the board, and Pops came running out of the house and pushed her in, camera in hand. It died. Pops owes Randa a new camera. We tried yelling at him and telling him, but it fell on deaf ears,no pun intended...sorta. I missed the picture of Ryan throwing Blaine in so high that when he hit on his belly, it bust the blood vessels in his belly.

I also didn't have a camera when Uncle Ryan suggested we take the kids to the drive-in movie, which they had never been to before. Back to iPhone pics.

They LOVED the drive-in. At first they could not figure out how in the world we were going to hear. Once, it started, though, it was the best thing since ~~sliced bread~~ Nintendo DS. With only an iPhone, though, I didn't capture as much as I would have liked. The flash isn't good enough to take a picture of them playing on the playground while watching Cars 2. It was so nostalgic. We all loved it.

It was a fun weekend amidst the sadness of burying a friend, a reminder of what life is about, and how we shouldn't take it for granted. Thanks, Pops and Dawn, Randa, Ryan and Paige, and Cheyenne and Charlie and Stetson for a fun pool-side weekend!

In Loving Memory of Luke Markham

2011-07-27T07:49:00.000-07:00

We lost a sweet, dear friend way too soon last week. We have known Luke all of our lives. He was Kyle's age, and they attended school together from Kindergarten through graduation.They were friends even after. In 2001, Kyle and Luke won the Wild Cow Milking at the West of the Pecos Rodeo, as mentioned in Luke's obituary.

Lucas "Luke" Doyle Markham was born on August 12, 1977 in Pecos, Texas to Eddy Markham and Carol King-Markham. He went to be with our Lord and Savior on July 17, 2011. Luke attended school in Pecos, Texas and graduated from Pecos High School in 1995. He continued his education and attended Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas, where he graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor's degree in Biology. After graduation, he moved to Midland, Texas, where he began employment with ARCADIS Geraghty & Miller. He later worked for Conestoga-Rovers and Associates, where he advanced to Senior Project Manager. At the time of his passing, Luke worked for Danny McNeese, of McNeese Field Services, Inc.

Luke was a devoted father, son, brother and friend. He loved his daughters, Cheyenne and Hailey, dearly and really enjoyed spending time with them. Luke will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

Luke was always fun loving and enjoyed making others laugh. He was an athlete and sports enthusiast, having played football and participated in bull riding events during his high school years. He teamed up with friends and participated in the Wild Mare Race and Wild Cow-Milking events in the West of the Pecos Rodeo. He and his teammate won the Wild Cow-Milking event in 2001. He loved the Dallas Cowboys, fantasy football and NASCAR racing.

Luke began playing the guitar in high school and had a special talent for writing music. After moving to Midland, Luke further developed his love for music and expressed himself through song writing. Luke shared musical interests with three of his friends and together they formed the "Clay Henry Band" in 2001, with Luke serving as rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist. The band entertained at several places and events in the local area.

Luke is survived by his daughters, Cheyenne Markham and Hailey Grandi, of Midland, Texas; his mother, Carol King-Markham, of Pecos, Texas; his father, Eddy Markham, and wife, Linda, of Eden, Texas; his sister, Mechelle Testa, and husband, Danny, of The Colony, Texas; two half-sisters, Keely Burtscher and Mariann Imber and husband, Michael, of San Antonio, Texas; and his beloved girlfriend, Ashley Hughes, of Lamesa, Texas.

Luke was an amazing friend, and we will miss him dearly. He said if anything ever happened to him, he wanted On a Cloud played at his funeral, and it was. Toby Keith has always reminded me of Luke, so here's my song right back to him.

Ranger Baseball Spring 2011

2011-07-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

I Give You What I Have

2011-07-19T14:37:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for days to post this because I wanted more information. I never got it, and my tween going on teen, is obviously not gonna give me what I crave. So here is what I have.

I took Kylee to the dance studio Saturday night at 7:00 p.m., loaded with a party tray of Chick-fil-a nuggets and a 5 gallon Igloo of sweet tea, with instructions to return at 8:00 a.m.

At 8:00 a.m., I showed up to find a bunch of sleeping girlswho hadn't gone to bed until 4:30 a.m.

I asked her how the sleepover was. She said, "Good." I said, "What'd ya'll do?" "Lots of stuff." I decided I'd let her get rest and talk to her about it again.

We loaded her stuff, got in the car, and I asked her if she wanted Starbucks. I only got a grunt or a moan or something in response, but I knew it was a no because she shook her head. But I wanted Starbucks. When I took this picturein the drive thru, she said, "I'm really sick of you taking pictures, Mom, seriously." I can play the attitude game better than most. She has no idea. So I said, "Whatever." hehe

We got home; she went upstairs; and we heard not one word from her until 4:30 that afternoon. Then all we got was, "I'm starving. Will you get me something to eat?"

Being patient, I let her eat, and then I asked, "How was the sleepover?" "Good." "What'd ya'll do?" "Lots of stuff." Here we go. I decided to try a different approach. I knew they had a talent show, so I said, "How was the talent show?" "Good."

I've tried for three days. Mom MOm asked her. Same answers. Dad Dad asked. Same answers. Daddy asked. Same answers.

I give you what I have.

Ranger Champions 2011

2011-07-16T20:52:00.000-07:00

Last night Ranger Baseball had their annual awards ceremony. Kinda. It was more of a barbeque/swim party, and it was right up our team's alley.

Even though we have two seasons a year, since we are a year-round baseball club, we only have one party to celebrate both seasons. Our fall season break hits right at the holidays, and it's impossible to get everybody together during that time. Our spring season seems to end while everybody is trying to take vacation, so it's almost as hard. We found one weekend night everybody would be in town. Last night.

Our family feels so blessed to have these amazing other families to play baseball with, be friends with, and play ~~not just baseball~~ with. While the kids swam the coachesmanned the grill, and the moms visited. Kudos to the coaches who put this party together, trying to give the moms as little as possible to do. Even though the plates ended up in the middle of the serving table and the meat and buns were on each of the opposite ends, everybody ended up with what they wanted, and we had a delicious meal and a great time.

After lots of swimming and food, the boys were anxiousto get their hands on their trophies and pictures. So the awards ceremony begin,swim trunks and all.

After the boys were given their individual recognition, Guillermo, the manager of Ranger Baseball Club (also known as French Fry on our house; he calls Blaine Tater Tot), had some well-deserved recognition for our coaches.

Then our boys, headed to the 'big leagues' we call coach-pitch next month, partied on.

Until next season....

Blog Makeover

2011-07-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

I'm going to redo my blog. Yay! Fun! But I need help, and I want your input, all 12 of my followers. Hehe. And anybody else who happens along, feel free to vote, too!

Should I keep Classic Cuties as my name? Should I change it? I have some ideas on the right hand side of my blog you can vote for there or email me with your vote. I'm also open to any other ideas you guys may have.

Help a girl out! Thanks in advance!

Summer Olympics 2011

2011-07-13T14:46:00.000-07:00

Smallest Splash - Round 1
Smallest Splash - Round 2

Tallest Splash - Round 1
Tallest Splash - Round 2

Biggest Splash - Round 1
Biggest Splash - Round 2

Kids Tricks - Round 1
Kids Tricks - Round 2

Summer Olympics 2010

Balmorhea - Then and Now

2011-07-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

I have gone to Balmorhea my whole life. I went with our parents for an afternoon swim. I went with friends from school. I even brought friends home from college and took them. But for the last ten years, I have gone with Mom Mom and Dad Dad and met my siblings with their spouses and kids for fun and sun. It honestly has become the thing I look most forward to in the summer.

2001, ten years ago, is when I had just begun using a digital camera, and I certainly wasn't carrying it everywhere ~~yet~~. I know we have pictures from that year, but I don't have them as easily accessible as the next year, so these comparisons aren't from exactly ten years ago, but close.

While the ages of everybody and the number of children have changed,the fun is just as great!

The laughs are always great, but there are always different things happening to get the laughs. This year our rooms were on the "wrong side", meaning we figured out early on in our years that we wanted to side with the stream and evening shade. Mom figured it out before Joey and I left the house, so we brought our canopy for some shade. Saturday while we were all at the pool and Doak was at the rooms letting Brodie nap, a gust of wind came through and wrecked the already standing canopy. So Saturday evening as Kyle was trying to grill and we were all visiting, it was miserable. John and Joey sorta saved the day. They rigged the canopy for some shade.It may have looked redneck, but the shade made a huge diffence in the heat, so we were happy to be a redneck.

Of course, the babywho pretty much stayed by Kylee's side as often as possible, always gets the most pictures taken and gives good laughs. He loves his Daddy's beer. Maybe too much.

Now for my favorite picture of the trip. I was taking pictures of everybody jumping and diving and tubing, and Kyle informed me that none of his bare-bellied pictures were to end up on Facebook...until I took this beaut.I have his full permission to share this one. And if anyone asks, this was a double flip.

There was also the Summer Olympics, as there is every year, but since this post ~~has taken me~~ is so long, I'm going to reserve that for it's own post.

I <3 Balmorhea!

This Just In!

2011-07-12T17:23:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a Balmorhea post, but this is breaking news!

Remember Kylee's dance recital on Memorial Day weekend that I couldn't take pictures of because they took their own? Well, Kylee took the month of June off from dancing because she wasn't in town most of the month. She went back today, and on top of everybody being SO excited to see her, they had recital pictures in. I only bought three of all her dances because they were $15 a pop, on top of the $350 costumes and also the recital fees. She picked her favorites, and here they are.

Aren't they great?! Ahh, it makes a Mama proud!

The 5th of July

2011-07-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

I was so blessed this year to have not only Mom and Dan and Joey and the kids to celebrate my birthday with me, I also had my nieces, too! We all ate 36th birthday meal at Craveand then went back to Dad Dad and Mom Mom's for Bowie Bakery cheesecake Kylee and Joey got me. YUM YUM! I got presents, a spa day, bath salts, purses, and money (thanks, all!!), but these were my favorite gifts of all:

Kylee's card
Blaine's card
Kellie's card

and McKenzie Jean's card
Thanks, ya'll! I had an amazing 36th birthday!