See ya February

We had a great February that ended not so great. I just found out today that it's almost certain that my cat that I've had for 13 years has colon cancer and that she isn't going to be around very long. This really sucks for me because this cat, like my dog Rudy, has lived with me EVERYWHERE over the past 13 years. El Campo, College Station, El Campo again, Waco, El Campo again, San Antonio, El Campo one last time, and Fredericksburg. I don't want to think about missing her because she's been such a fixture in my life and my 3 kids absolutely love her. We find out Friday for sure that it's colon cancer and we've already started some medication to help make her more comfortable and that's the plan, just keep her comfortable for as long as she's happy and eating.

Back to the great part of February. We've had nice weather mixed in with cold weather and there has been a ton of outside play as a result - especially on the trampoline. We get home and Wyatt walks to the front door and points out and "talks" about going outside. He LOVES it. My Uncle Bill won a picnic table at a raffle and gave it to us to use which has been great! Addison loves to use it to sort her flowers that she's picked from the yard. Nora loves to stand on it to wait for her turn on the horse tire swing. We've used it for people to eat on too! On President's Day the kids schools were closed so we stayed home and I finally got my hammock up! The girls thought it made a great tent but then started swinging on top of it with me too. Can't wait for the warm weather so I can really enjoy it!

This past weekend we went to the St. Philip's dinner dance which was a ton of fun and I actually WON a prize! I am the proud new owner of an awesome new patio set! I'll post a picture when I get the rest of it up here from El Campo - I wasn't planning on taking back a patio set but am happy to do it in pieces.

The special surprise in February was the "snow" that we got early in the month. We came out of church and it started falling. By the time we got home and changed into warm outside clothes it had stopped falling but had coated the yard and trampoline quite nicely. We had a fun time playing in the yard and on the trampoline. Nora finally got her "Christmas snow" - it was just a few months later than she wanted.

My Baby is One!!

Oh how I've dreaded this day - Wyatt couldn't possibly be one already?!! Ever since I found out I was pregnant with Wyatt there's been a constant struggle for me to remember to stop and enjoy whatever it is that was happening rather than hurrying through life trying to take care of everything that's needed to be done. Between raising two girls, getting a house on the market, wrapping up my job in San Antonio, selling the house, completely re-doing and updating the house we moved into, unpacking the entire house while Chris worked, getting the kids settled in new schools and new activities, and getting my own work schedule down, I feel like I'm losing the battle more often than winning it. I think God knew I needed help and so he gave me the sweetest little boy in the world who is ALWAYS happy and so easy going. Sometimes I wish he'd be a bit more demanding so I wouldn't have any option but to pay more attention to him - and on rare occasion this happens. Now don't get me wrong, the kid isn't a silent lump. He's full of personality and love, and boy do I love to cuddle and love on him! Lately he's started to give really big strong hugs around my neck - it's an extra squeeze of love and I just can't get enough of him. I'm in denial that he isn't officially a baby anymore. I recently put his swing up in the closet and brought the play tool/work bench out of storage. He LOVES it! We got a trampoline for his and Nora's birthday and while he is certainly too little to be on it with the big kids by himself, he absolutely loves to be in there walking and bouncing around. He walks absolutely everywhere these days, but I still carry him every chance I get! I figure I better do that as long as he'll let me because I know all to well that the day will come when that will not be a preferred option for transporation:-( His beautiful eyes and sweet smile light up the mornings for me and this is when he has his best conversations. Chris likes to say that he's practicing saying every single "word" he knows and sometimes I think that is what he's doing! Anyone can see he's a very good eater, he especially enjoyed his cake! I can't pick just a few photos to post so I'm going to be ridiculos and post the link to the about 250 or so photos we took on his birthday last Friday and at his birthday party Saturday. I love this little guy and his sisters more than life itself. Happy Birthday Wyatt! I'm looking forward to many more amazing years:-)

Wyatt's first birthday

Poop and a Wolf Trap - OR - Being a Mom

So yesterday I found myself not knowing whether to cry or laugh at myself at my dinner table around 7pm. No, I haven't totally lost my mind. I was just reflecting on recent events. Less than 30 minutes before I had been voluntarily holding human feces. This was a CHOICE I had made and at the time I really didn't think about it - instead I though about the amount of work I would have to do if I didn't do that disgusting act. It started with Wyatt coming home from daycare with a terrible rash on his little hind end. This led to our taking off his diaper for the evening and letting him walk around in what God gave him. This sounds easy enough until you consider the fact that at any moment he can (and did) sprinkle tinkle. Likewise, he can (and did) toot and on occasion, poop, and being in nothing other than what God gave him...there is nothing to stop it! He was walking all around the house (he walks quite well now), taking socks out of his drawer, going through the cabinets in the kitchen...awww how cute that he can get around so well -right?! Then he went into the living room, started "reading" a book on the ottoman, and stared at me with those big blue eyes...and tooted - a really loud toot. He giggled, then I looked down at his bottom and sure enough, it was more than a toot. I lunged across the floor and with my bare hands caught what was happening. At the moment I was thinking, Dear God I don't want to try to clean that out of the area rug. So, I caught it, then threw what I could in the trash, washed the rest off of Wyatt and off of my hand, cleaned my Aggie ring extra good, put a diaper on him and put his P.J.s on. Drama behind us, I thought I could get on with my evening. My parents had been visiting and were getting ready to leave. We were talking at the table when the reality of what I had just done hit me - I started laughing because that seemed like a better alternative to crying. I had just voluntarily caught human poop in my hand - WHAT!!!!! I mean seriously, the carpet could be cleaned!!! What has happened to my decision making skills? As I was pondering this question I realized the girls had been quiet for a little while. With all the Wyatt excitement they sort-of had freedom to do as they pleased. Grandma and Grandpa were getting ready to leave so they needed to say good-bye, this was as good a reason as any to go check on the girls. What did I find? My two girls playing sweetly and innocently together?? Well, sort of. I walked in on what I would call a messy pile of about a dozen or more baby boy blankets covered with the contents of two large kleenex boxes. My girls, however, explained that it was not such a pile, it was, in fact, a wolf trap!!! A WOLF TRAP!!!! I had to laugh. I mean, what wolf wouldn't be tricked by the camo and blue blankets so carefully covered with double ply ultra care Kleenex???!! At least they were trying to protect their brother, I guess,trapping any wolfs that might wander into his room. We spent the next few minutes re-stuffing the two very large and very empty kleenex boxes and folding blankets. Later, with my parents gone, my kids asleep, and right before I fell asleep on the couch, I vaguely remember thinking, it sure is great being a mom!

And just for laughs - you know how everyone always says they want skin like a baby? Well my friends, I believe I have achieved that goal. See the folds and dimples on this infant's skin ( See the back, rear, legs)? I have areas of my body that look very much like that!



Oh, and Christmas and New Year were great this year. December is a haze because it flew by so quickly but we had amazing times with all of our family. The kids got more than they needed. Sadly, my Grandma Dornak passed away at 94.5 years old. She was one amazing lady and is greatly missed, espically sinceshe was the only Grandma I ever knew. I know she was happy to be reunited with Grandpa and Our Lord for Christmas! It still stinks that she is gone. Her long term memory was pretty good but the shorter term wasn't as reliable. I guess after 90+ years you earn the right to not remember everyone you meet. I kindof liked the fact that every time I saw her these pasat two years, I would show her my kids and she'd ask whose they were. I'd say, "Grandma, these are my kids." The look on her face was first surprise and then unmistakable pride. I'm going to miss that look.

Here are a few pics from our December. Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

November 2011

Well, technically I've kept my promise to myself to blog once a month even if the last time I did this was early October and we're now almost done with November! October went by quickly but I have no idea where November went and I'm terrified that December is going to be here and gone before I know it. Wasn't life in a small town supposed to slow us down??! November was full of good times. Addie's class was part of a fall program at her school, we got outside and enjoyed the cool weather, we stuffed ourselves at Thanksgiving, we started what I'm calling a new holiday tradition for our family attending the city's tree lighting festivities, and I shot a nice buck out at the ranch!





I only have this week to catch my breath before we dive into the hectic Christmas season. I hope everyone remembers to stop and enjoy life as it flies by - don't worry about everything having to be perfect (I've mastered this) and don't try to capture every memorable moment (I'm working on this). Enjoy being with the ones you love as often as you can!

First Day of Day Care

Today was the first day of day care for Nora and Wyatt. In Nora's words "My school is open now!" She was so excited to meet her new friends. This was a happy/sad day for me. I know Nora really wanted to be back in a place where she could play with friends but I'll miss our time at home together playing dress up and having her tell me which disney princess she is and which other character I am (usually the step mother or evil queen - you get the picture). I'll especially miss our snuggle time after lunch while she fell asleep for her nap. I know, weekends will still offer the same opportunities, but it was so nice to have this time to spend with her and Wyatt. My sweet little Wyatt was the happiest baby in the nursery. I was able to go by at lunch time to feed him and he fell asleep in my arms - he is such an amazing baby! I'm so happy that I was able to have a few more months at home with him. He just cut his 5th and 6th teeth, sits up, is pulling up on everything in sight and crawling all around. We have a rough "bye bye" wave started along with "ba ba ba ba" and other silly repetitive sounds that he makes while smiling SOOOO BIG knowing that he is so close to talking! Addie is still loving her school and doing well. I love my family and thank God for them everyday.

Where to begin?

So many things have happened since my last real post that there is no way I can completely update. I'm sure I'll leave important events and people out but I'm going to try to hit some of the bigger and not so big (everyday) moments. The question is will this be one mega post OR one of a few that I'll do? Guess we'll see.




Obviously the majority of my time in July was spent getting ready for the move, getting the house in San Antonio packed up and getting the house in Fbedericksburg ready for us to move into. While Chris and I hired help to get the house in FBG ready, we couldn't have accomplished as much as we did without the help of some family and friends. I didn't get pictures of everyone (and really should have, but hey, there was SOOOO much to do). The first big work weekend Wendy and Sean drove up with their kids, Misty and Joanie came in from Austin and Doug and Deanna drove in from Mountain Home. We all rolled up our sleeves and got DIRTY!! The kids played at the house the first day and rode bikes in one of the rooms where we had the carpet up and no new flooring down yet:-) Later Oma and Opa watched the kids so we could all get a little more done. Then came the big weekend before the move. Once again, without family we couldn't have done it. Aunt Nelda, Heather, Mom and Misty all pitched in and helped clean in FBG, watch and hold kids and pack in San Antonio. I can't say how much I appreciate everyone helping in the ways that they did - I'm sure I would have had a nervous breakdown with out them! Here are a few photos of the first big work weekend:

Joanie (a cleaning machine that weekend) is in the right side of this picture but due to my poor camera skills and the lighting, you can just BARELY see her, and this is the only photo I got of her that weekend - boo.


Misty thought she was going to come and help point out where furniture was to be placed. Yes I wanted an opinion on that for when the movers came, but there was a lot of work to do so I had to lend her a T-Shirt as she didn't come dressed for the occasion.


Deanna doesn't pose for pictures either which is probably why I got this shot. She and Doug started by painting a wall in our bedroom blue and then pitched in and helped in so many other areas. We need to invite them over for a real dinner because all they got was Subway or Sonic - what kind of friends are we???


My handsome hubby. I must say, he was a lot more helpful PRE move than POST move. He keeps insisting he needs to work, something about having an income and having to pay for all this stuff that's going on:-)


Doug the handy helper fixed not one but two hopelessly broken crank windows! They don't crank because they were stripped long ago, but as a big plus they are most certainly closed completely. Doug and Deanna are awesome because they have a ton of work of their own to do always AND two little ones (Addie and Wyatt's age) and they still were crazy enough to volunteer to help out for a day - we LOVE them.


I like how Wendy is the only one who looks truly happy while cleaning. This is what Wendy does best so it is only natural that she commented to me that once they got this big house clean it was going to be impossible for me (the not-so-happy cleaner) to keep it up properly.


Brotha' Sean. Poor guy spent the night with Chris and painted until something like 2am only to wake up the next day and continue to paint. There was definite painters claw happening to his hands after. We need to treat them to thank them but Sean likes a cold house and ours isn't the coldest so it will probably be the fall or winter before he'll venture an overnight trip here again!


Chris' grandparents lived in this house for around 63 years and of course had as many years of memories and things stored up in it! Some of the rooms had been updated a few times but even so, they hadn't been updated in quite some time so here are a few pictures showing some before and after efforts (we didn't do these rooms, the guy we hired did - great job, right!?)







Tuesday, August 2nd - Moving day! Move in day my mom put up with me and the few hours of sleep that she, Chris and I all had AND she kept up with the kids with Misty's help when we got to FBG. One last fun thing the girls got to do was go with their San Antonio babysitter, Ms. Amanda, to do a ton of fun things while the movers were packing us up. They got feathers in their hair, went to Bass Pro, Target to get blue slushies and then to Chick-Fil-A to eat and play. We really miss Ms. Amanda although she helped us out at the zoo the week after we moved and we plan on continuing to ask her to help whenever we can! Misty didn't brave the night with us after we moved in but Mom stayed a few more days to help with the beginnig of the unpacking. Cassy and Courtney came that weekend and helped unpack some boxes. The girls played on their move-in toys too! They got really good really quick on these things and they were worth every penny.


Settling into the house has been a slow process as Chris went straight to work, Addie didn't start school until August 15th and Nora and Wyatt are still at home with me until their daycare opens in October (when I'll go back to "work" - trust me, what I'm doing now is much harder than practicing law). I painted during nap times for the first few weeks and continued paining when movies were on or in the evening. I put myself on a strict "no painting" regement for two weeks (expiring tomorrow)because I was certain that the fumes were getting to me. I still have quite a bit of painting to do but it's mostly trim work type stuff. Some days I feel totally overwhelmed with what all I still have to do, but occasionally I remember to sit back and appreciate how much we've accomplished.

The Friday before Addie started school I took the kids to the Zoo with the help of Ms. Amanda since we'd only been once before when Addie was much younger. It's one of many examples of "You don't realize what you've got until it's gone." San Antonio really was an awesome town to live in BUT I don't miss traffic AT ALL!



August 27th was the first day of a MUCH NEEDED break from the house - a celebratory trip to Las Vegas in honor of my cousin, Tiffany, and her awsome fight and victory over breast cancer. We had a blast telling people that we were in Vegas celebrating boobs! The first question people ask is "Where are you from?" which is almost always followed by "What brings you here?" It's amazing how many people had stories about other breast cancer survivors - it really affects so many lives. My camera died half way through the second day so I need to get our good group photos. I'm hoping we make this trip an annual occurence:-)

Girls wearing their gifts from vegas.



Overall, the kids are really happy as these pictures show...



Addie with her feathers that we had to remove so she would be in dress code. We kept them in until the 3rd day of school when we found out in the new parent meeting that they weren't allowed:-(



On the plus side, all this stress, physical labor and limited time to eat has resulted in additional weight loss for me:-) We finally have a few pictures hanging and I'm starting to make a decent dent in our storage unit so I know the light at the end of the tunnel exists, eventhough I don't see it just yet. Prayers for strength and patience are appreciated:-) I am loving my time with Nora and Wyatt at home eventhough it means I get less done. Wyatt started getting up on all 4s and "crawling" around the week before I left to Vegas. Nora's little personality is developing more and more each day. Those two and Addie crack me up at least a few times a day. Wyatt, his rolls and blue eyes make me smile non-stop. He's recently upgraded his army crawl to an "up-on-all-fours" crawl.




Nora has taken to playing "fetch" with Olsen who has recently rejoined our household after a long stay with mom and dad. She can't be convinced that cats really don't enjoy fetch so a few times a day I have to scold her for taking the cat's food bowl and walking around the house randomly throwing pieces of cat food and telling Olsen, "fetch." I mean, the cat runs after the food allright, but there is no bringing it back. Nora just adores her though, in fact, tonight we went into the girls' room and she was laying at the foot of the bed just so that she could sleep by Olsen. She also has an artistic side as you can see below. Poor Wyatt was her unsuspecting canvas too! I was literally in the same room with my back turned hanging curtains when this happened. Luckily it wiped off easily.





Addie is LOVING school (but she did have a rough day or two the last day of my Vegas trip and the first day I was back - just can't leave and not have them spoiled I guess). She wants to play with the big kids of course and loves being first at EVERYTHING and I mean everything. Last weekend was the Gillespie County fair and the girl was literally crying because Nora and I had gotten on the ferris wheel before she did and we were higher than her and SHE wanted to be highest. She couldn't be convinced that it would be ok as the ride was slowly being loaded. It was only when things really got underway and she realized that we would switch being highest (depending on whether we were going up or coming down) that she calmed down and enjoyed the ride - VERY competitive. She is always making up songs and stories for herself and her little sister. I love that they have each other!

First Day of School


First Roller Coaster ride for both girls.




I may try to go back and fill in the blanks or this may be it for a while. New beginnings are always exciting, not always easy, and certainly more work (and money) than you initially anticipate!

We've Moved!!!

Well, at least most of our boxes are under one roof now. We are officially residents of Fredericksburg as of August 2nd but we still have our "city home" in San Antonio (not by choice but due to the market). The silver lining on that cloud is that I didn't have to have everything moved out so most of our wall hangings/decorations are still in place until we get things settled a bit more here.

Sadly, this past weekend Chris' Grandma Nixon passed away. She was 92 on Thursday and we took the kids by to sing "Happy Birthday" and gave her some chocolate cupcakes (which I think Nora and I mostly ate). Grandma was in great spirits and was commenting how the girls would surely be athletes with the way they were bouncing the birthday baloon around the room. The girls fed the birds outside Grandma's window with help from Aunt Courtney. It was a great visit and I'm so happy we were there for that special day. She will be greatly missed by all of the family but especially by Grandpa who she was married to for 75 years!!! Please keep him in your prayers.

I haven't blogged about so many of the things that we have done this summer because between having a house on the market, wrapping up things with my old job in San Antonio, moving, attempting to get our house (and other related matters) in Fredericksburg settled, and trying to get settled into a new firm (Bryla & Schoessow, my in-laws practice with another great local attorney) blogging hasn't exactly been a priority. The kids have handled the move like champs! Probably better than I have. We've only had 2 episodes where they have expressed wanting to be back at their old home or old school and both have happened when the girls were overtired. Addie starts school on Monday, 4K at St. Mary's Catholic School which is just 2 blocks from the firm:-) I almost have all of her supplies together, I think.

I won't be keeping full time office hours until October when Nora and Wyatt will start at their daycare. I'll post pictures as soon as I get a chance. For now I'm doing good just to get in a quick update. If anyone happens to be comning this way, give me a call! My cell phone number is the same...for now.