San Antonio

Over Spring Break we took a QUICK vacation to San Antonio. It is our favorite local vacation destination. It is close enough to home, yet far enough away! Usually only a 5 hour drive. This time, there was a TON of traffic up and down 35 therefore it was a 7 1/2 hour drive each way! YUCK!
As soon as we got into San Antonio, we checked into our hotel and got ready for dinner. We had a dinner reservation at our favorite restrauant, the Little Rhine Steakhouse. It is on the riverwalk, but just off of the main drag, so there is not a ton of foot traffic. We sat outside on the terrace because it is the best view and the weather was perfect.
After dinner we headed back to the hotel and let the kids swim in the pool. That was a HUGE hit. I don't understand why the highlight of a vacation is swimming in the hotel pool. (could have saved alot of money on Sea World)

The next morning, we got up early and headed to Sea World. Matthew had made reservations for "breakfast with Shamu". We got to get into the park an hour early and eat breakfast "backstage" at the Shamu show. We had seats right next to the tank that allowed us to watch the whales goof around. It was quite amusing.

Right after breakfast, we headed straight into the Shamu show and got great seats!! The park was REALLY crowded that day, so it was nice to get a good seat for the show. We saw all of the shows and made our way every so slowly around the park. No rides this time around, the lines were about 1 to 1 1/2 hours for every ride, so we passed this time. (the kids were disappointed about that) At about 4 o'clock we went ahead and left Sea World. The kids were getting hot and tired, and we headed back to the hotel.

On Sunday, we had a slow morning enjoying the last few hours of vacation. We had a late breakfast outside along the Riverwalk. Outside dining is such a treat sometimes. We took the Rivertaxi really quickly before heading back home. An interesting bit of information, the rivertaxi driver mentioned that they are extending the riverwalk/ taxi all the way to the zoo. That will be cool to do in the future!!

At about 12 or so, we hit the road back home, and back to reality. We look forward to another trip with the kids again soon!! Hopefully next time the traffic won't be near as bad!!

Geocaching!!

On Saturday, me and the kids got our first taste of geocaching!! It is basically treasure hunting with a GPS!! My brother, Josh, and his kids came up from Austin, and brought their GPS. Caleb, Allison, Matt, Josh and I took 6 kids and braved the cold and wind to hunt down 4 caches. It was awesome! We spent 3 hours around the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano, hunting down the caches. We signed our name to the logs to show that we had found it! The kids had a great time, and SO DID I! Next step, purchase our own GPS and do this ALOT more! If you are unfamiliar with geocaching, here is the wikipedia definition...

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and "treasure," usually toys or trinkets of little value.

Anyway, here are some pictures that we took! Looking forward to the next time we can go!

Memory Quilts

Just wanted to share with you two quilts that Renee and I recently completed. Renee and I have been working for about 6 months (maybe more) to create TWO photo memory quilts for Gena's children. If you don't know Gena's story here is a link to a previous blog. Renee and I poured over MANY pictures of Gena, Kenny, and the kids, and narrowed it down to a few that we liked the best. Sami's quilt is made up of blocks that Gena had started about 4 years ago intending on creating a quilt for Sami, and then time got away from her. We took the blocks, and added a border and some photos to make her quilt, and Ben's was made completely from scratch. We are so proud of them and how they turned out, and even more happy that the kids are so pleased with them. Sami showed hers off, and Ben spent most of the day cuddling with it. I hope that they will still cherish them as the years go by!! Enjoy the pictures of them!!

New Year Resolutions

This Year I resolve to....

1) Lose the same 50 pounds I have been complaining about since I gave birth to Chloe.
(but don't ever ask about How I am doing with that, cause it will just make me mad and remind me that I still haven't done anything to accomplish this)

2) Get organized.
(although I know that I will never have the same level of organization that Renee does so why even try)

3) Blog more often.
(ughhhhh, one consequence of actually having a blog is keeping it up)

4) Get my Christmas Cards out this year.
(I never think about it until the week before Christmas, which of course, is too late)

5) Take down my Christmas decorations.
(this one, I KNOW will get done)

6) I would really like to RUN a 5K.
(isn't aspiring to do something just as good as actually doing it?)

7) Get in a good routine of house cleaning.
(Monday is laundry day already, need to find a way to get all the other chores done regularly)

8) Read more.

9) Be nicer.

10) Finish at least half of this list!

Your are gonna do WHAT?

Well, October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This month has special significance when you have been touched by breast cancer. We walked in the Race for the Cure, which is SUCH an amazing thing. To see the SEA of people all walking for an amazing cause. And, I got my first mammogram! The new hospital in Rockwall was offering $75 mammograms for the month of October. Technically my insurance won't cover a mammogram until I am 40, but that is CRAZY. How many women are being diagnosed with cancer younger, and younger. So, I spent my own money to have some peace of mind.

Wow what an experience. I took Renee with me, cause I needed some support. I checked in and sat in the waiting room for my name to be called. Renee and I giggled and chatted, and totally took my mind off of what was coming. In fact, we were planning a camping trip, so we spent our time planning meals and deciding who would bring what. All of a sudden we were struck by the significance of what was to come. Imagining what Gena must have gone through as she was preparing for her first mammogram, the one that would ultimatlely diagnose her with the cancer that would take her life.

I get called back into a room, and I am all of a sudden sweaty beyond belief. I am VERY aware that someone is about to be grabbing under my arms, and thinking "calm down, she can't grab sweaty boobs!".

She was VERY professional, and VERY kind, and I am so grateful for the way that she gently cared for me, I had told her the reason why I was there getting a mammogram so early and she took great care in putting me at ease.

I got naked from the waist up, and wiped OFF my deoderant according to instruction. (she wasn't aware of my previous problem obviously) Who knew that deoderant could show up like possible tumors on an X Ray? I put my paper gown on to open in front, and waited for the torture to begin.

You know all those stories you hear about how painful a mammogram is? Well, they are ALL true?? But, no big deal in light of what they can prevent. My new best friend re-entered the room. (although none of my friends have seen my boobs, this girl saw 'em and grabbed 'em ALL OVER!) She tells me to take one arm out of the gown, and prop it up on a clear plastic sheet, and then, oh so slowly it will proceed to squish my boob like a pancake. (although it is clear, I HIGHLY recommend that you DON'T look down) Then we have to do it from the side. The side view includes not only your breast tissue, but all of that fat under your arms too. (for all you skinny women who don't have that fat, they will find some, TRUST ME!) They cram all that in there too, and once again, oh so slowly squish it again!

REPEAT for the other side!

The nurse was sweet and gave me her direct phone number to call back that afternoon to get the preliminary report so that I would not have to wait a week for the letter that would come. Thank you!

After all that, I got dressed and went back to the waiting room to grab Renee and head outta there! As soon as I saw her, I immediately started to break down a bit. Partly laughing about the ordeal that I had been through, and knowing that she would be doing it soon, but also because I could relate for a SECOND to the fear that Gena must have felt waiting on news. I was sad that I was not there for her that day, I missed her tremendously all over again. I was thankful that my best friend was there with me.

I called back that afternoon to find that everything was clear, and I was fine. Now, at least I have a base line mammogram should anything happen down the line.

Celebrating 11 Years

Matthew and Emily 1993



On our Wedding Day October 6, 1997



At the Cowboys game October, 2007


Eleven years ago today, Matthew and I made a decision to commit our lives together. The exact circumstances surrounding that decision were not perfect, or planned, but thank the Lord they happened. It was about 15 years ago when we first met, and first started dating, and here we are now, with 3 children, a home, and family and friends surrounding us. Now I know that Matthew and I will both admit that those years are far from perfect, but I also know that we agree that the hardest times are the ones that brought us closer to each other, and to the Lord. Thank you God, for the wonderful man that I call my husband. Thank you Lord for the talents and determination that you have blessed him with, without which we would not have the life we do now. Thank you Lord, for the stubbornness that you gave him, it is both a blessing and a curse. Thank you Lord that you have given us 11 years of marriage together, I don't know that anyone thought it would last, and there have been times that even I had my doubts. At the end of the day, I know that Matthew will go to bat for me every single time, right or wrong. I love you, Matthew! Happy Anniversary!

Visit with PawPaw

A few weeks ago my PawPaw was passing through town and I stopped at my Dads house for a few hours to visit with him. My PawPaw lives in Oklahoma, and unfortunately, I only see him but maybe once a year. I seem to be so caught up in my own life that I don't normally make time for special trips to see him, or any other family for that matter. MOST of my family lives within a 20 mile radius, so I have been spoiled to the fact that I don't have to go out of my way to visit with them. But, after I missed the last visit to see my Grandmother before she passed away I am acutely aware that each visit COULD be my last. And before Gena passed away I became more aware of having pictures made with her, and with everyone!!! I don't think that I had ANY pictures of me with my Grandparents, so I made a point to get one with PawPaw. It was great to spend a few hours talking to him, and not have to share it with cousins, aunts, uncles etc.. Me and Allison got to just sit and talk and visit. Just wanted to share a few of those pictures.