My First Real Adult Birthday Party!

For the first time in my adult life, I had a real birthday party! Ok, so there wasn't a cake, but it was a party! Jason had the idea, then I took it and ran with it. We started off with dinner at my most favorite Mexican restaurants, Cantina Laredo. Then we went to Pete's Dueling Piano Bar. If any of you have never been to a dueling piano bar, you must go! It is so fun and will keep you laughing all night. It's like two comedians on two pianos.

I lost my camera (thankfully it has since been found!) so all of these pictures are compliments of Marcia and Amy. Thank you both for bringing your cameras! Most of the pictures below speak for themselves....I clearly had a fun night! So many of my close friends were there to celebrate for me, which was humbling knowing they came out for me. I'm not used to that! It was a night I will never forget, thanks to my fabulous friends!

Isn't Todd & Marcia such a cute couple? She is so freaking pretty.

They had all that served in the armed forces come to the front and sing "Proud to be an American". I was in the LONG line at the bathroom and missed it. I would have cried though, that song always makes me cry! And because I'm proud of my soldier. Thanks, Marcia for taking this!

My good friend Sergio ended up coming with his wife Lisa. I didn't think they were coming, so I was happy to see them! I think this was like the 10th hug I gave him...you can tell by the look on his face he is thinking "yeeeaaaahhhh Alli, I love you too. Uh-huh, ok, thaaaanks for the 10th hug!"

mmm....I love apple martinis!

Me & Kristi, my birthday twin. What? You don't think we look like twins? We share the same birthday, but she likes to remind me every year that I am 1 year older. Thanks!

Me & Marcia....we had so much fun together!! She started off as Jason's cousin when I first met her 14 years ago, but she is by far one of the best friends a girl can have!

Ah, Jason & Todd. They share a deep passion for NASCAR, fishing, and yes, each other. They make a cute couple!

I love this picture Marcia took of us.

I found something really funny, didn't I? I told you that place would have you laughing!

For those of you who might find this offensive, sorry. That's just how my husband is. He is a typical man...just checking to make sure they are still there. :)

Bluebonnets

Tis the season for bluebonnets! I missed taking the kids annual bluebonnets pictures last year, so I made it a point to NOT miss it this year. I grew up with my mom taking pictures of Meredith and I in the bluebonnets. When I reached a certain age, I didn't find it amusing to sit in the flowers with Meredith. But now I love looking back at those pictures. I hope my kids do the same when they are grown.

It was a windy day, but thank goodness Joshua was in a good mood and said "cheeeeeese" many times for me.

As always, Sammi smiled perfectly for me.

All Joshua really wanted to do was run! So I let him....

....running some more!

Sammi taking the time to smell the flowers. I love this picture of her.

Sammi took this picture. Isn't it good?

My beautiful girl.

Fun in the field of flowers. I was so careful to not have them step or sit on any of the flowers, but I am pretty sure I failed this time. :(

Isn't he cute like this? He never stays in one place very long, so I had to snap fast!

Cheeese!!!

Me and my baby boy. Another picture that Sammi took. I am glad now to have someone be so willing to take my picture! I am usually never on the other side of the camera. :)

Ah, the good 'ol college days....

This past week I was in Austin at UT for a few days doing various recruiting events. Being there in the different buildings, on campus, and talking with the graduating seniors made me miss being in college.

I miss the days when I woke up just in time to throw on clothes and a baseball hat to run to class. Great naps in World Lit, running into friends on campus, joining different causes or groups, going to the library or another place to study with friends, and the parties! For those that went to a really liberal school like I did at UNT, you just loved (sometimes not!) listening to the various people or evangelists coming to the square to preach or talk about what was on their mind or their cause. Having to walk past the many groups passing out fliers for whatever they wanted you to join or read about. I know I ticked off several because I didn't want them. Oh well.

In Denton, we had a place that was half a laundromat and half bar called This Suds For You. Not kidding. But we loved it! I remember having to scour my car floorboards to get enough change to do my laundry. But I ALWAYS had money for beer while we waited for our laundry to be done. Ah, the days of messed up priorities! :)

While I was at a career fair at UT, I talked to so many seniors. Some that knew exactly what they wanted in life and some had absolutely no clue what they wanted to do. Some had their resume filled with internships and tons of organizations they were heavily envolved in, all while maintaining a 3.75 GPA (those made me feel like such a slacker when I was in college!). Some did not. Those that did not and knew I was noticing that, I made sure to tell them that just by graduating they are now in the 25% of the US that has a college degree, which they should be proud of.

That night, I sent Jason a text message about me missing the college days. He replied with: "send me all of your money, trade vehicles with a homeless person, turn off your cell" Oh yea, now I remember the yucky part of being in college....being broke!

Sammi's Big Turnaround Soccer Game

Sammi had a soccer game on Saturday. Let's just say that the past few games did not indicate that she had or wanted a future in pro soccer. She played a great wing man! But when the ball came anywhere near her, she did nothing. At all. As if she was scared of the ball or afraid to be aggressive against anyone. Her first season she had no problem kicking a ball from someone or getting in the middle to at least be in the group by the ball. But not this season. I know I know, she is only 5. Jason nor I ever said anything, but we were left scratching our heads as to why now she didn't even want to kick the ball. Jason turned things around for her because she has no problem running and is pretty fast. He told her to go down to the other goal and pretty much play goalie, even though they don't have that position yet. It worked! So this past game, she kicked the ball. A lot! She was so excited. Most of the time she also runs and looks at her shadow or looks at us. It cracks us up! They play 3 on 3, so for the most part it is a pack of 6 girls running around the ball. It seriously is the funniest thing.

I promise, I won't blog about her game every week or bore you with tons of pics each week. But just this once I'll post some "action" shots since for the most part, they look the same each week. :) Other than one of us chasing Joshua as he runs onto the field, it is fun family time for us.

Sammi kicking the ball! Check out that grass....I for sure did not play soccer on a field like that! I think it was mowed down weeds. And the uniforms! Did you see the Inaria brand socks and shorts? And the jersey? Really. I had a t-shirt with the name and number printed on it at the local Forney print store (aka our neighbor's garage) worn with whatever shorts our parents put us in, whether they matched or not, and whatever tube socks. I guess that's the difference between Forney Youth Soccer and Keller Youth Soccer. I get enough jokes from Jason about that!

Check out that form! She's so stinking cute when she runs. For her size, she is fast. I wonder if they have 5 year old track and field? Just kidding!

Thank goodness my mom found this shake & go truck that we left at her house. It kept Joshua occupied for awhile...in 2 year old terms that is about 5 minutes. But I'll take it!

In action. Can't you see the fear in the little redhead's face? Yeah, she's scared. I just know it.

Sammi & Grandpa....probably the most faithful watcher of Sammi's "skillz" every week besides her mom and dad! He LOVES his grandkids.

Sammi and her #1 fan (tied with her daddy). It's rare I'm ever photographed. I actually thought to have my mom take this. Selfishly, I did it on purpose because I actually had make up on, although you can't tell. :)

Sammi's favorite part of soccer is at half time and after the game. For the snacks! And as always, she has to share with Joshua or we all hear him screaming. I thought I was smart to bring his own. Nope, doesn't work when she gets something completely different.

After the game we went out to lunch. Here is Lito (my amazing, wonderful, most patient stepdad!), Sammi, & Joshua.

Sammi & Joshua pretending to sleep. Of course they opened up their eyes when I took the picture.

Again, I promise not to bore you with soccer action pictures each week. But if I get her on video running down the field with the ball and into a goal, you bet I'll post it!

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone had a wonderful day! We had a great day....busy but fun! Every year we either go to my mom's house if Meredith and her family are in town, or to Jason's mom's house with Julie and her family. This year Meredith stayed in Austin and Julie is in Richmond, so we thought we would stay at our house and have our parents over. So after church, my mom, dad, step dad, and father-in-law came over for lunch. Whew, it's a lot of work being the host! But I loved having them over.

Enough of me yapping...the pictures will walk you through the night before and the day of Easter.

Joshua dying his egg....he dropped it and it cracked. But that didn't stop him! Next year I have to get extra dippers. He was NOT thrilled about giving it to Sammi for her turn. In fact, he was so unhappy that he promptly went to bed after a fit he had. Poor Josh, he was tired and wasn't in the mood for sharing. :) But wen he was dunking his egg and seeing it come out in another color, he would always say "whoa!" Cute.

Sammi's turn to dye her eggs. She was so meticulous and did it like a pro. But when she dyed it yellow, then put it in the blue dye to make it green and it didn't turn out to be a true green, she quickly questioned it and wanted to know what to do to make it right. Her inquisitive nature makes me smile!

Morning after finding their baskets. Sneaky Sammi saw a few goodies in Joshua's basket before he woke up that she wanted. So she just took it upon herself to put them in her basket. Nice try! She was not happy that I made her put them back. As you can see from this picture, Joshua was not in the mood to have his picture taken. His response when he sees me with the camera is either "no! go!" or "cheeeese!" You know what he said this time. Ha!

Ah, gotta love presents from grandparents! My dad got them a basket with candy and a basketball. They fought over the ball and now we are having to teach Joshua that throwing a basketball at us is not the same as throwing a football!

I love this picture of Sammi with my mom. Aka "Lita". She made the kids a cute planter for flowers. She took an egg, cut the top off, took out the yolk, put dirt and a flower in it, then glued it to a saucer for a flower pot. So cute!

While the Easter bunny (my dad, step dad, and Jason's dad) hid the eggs in our backyard, my mom took the kids in the front yard to blow bubbles. I had to come up with a way to get them away from the windows to the backyard!

Joshua didn't quite get the hang of hunting eggs again this year. He would find an egg, then just wanted to hold it or try to open it up and see what candy was inside. He wasn't thrilled with the ones that had money in them.

I just love this picture. But I had to snap fast because she did not want to waste anytime not finding eggs....or let Joshua get any of them.

The Easter bunny tried really hard to hide the eggs....under a pile of leaves! But "he" hid a real egg in there, which was stepped on. That one went in the trash!

After the hunt with all of their loot!

Silly Sammi!

Can't you just hear Joshua saying "cheeeese!"??

Check out those chipmunk cheeks full of candy! Both of them were just giddy from all of the candy they got to eat. I don't think they had a real dinner that night! Oh well, what's one night of candy for dinner going to do to them?? :)

Mr. Mom

This weekend Jason was home alone with the kids. It is not often that I am away for an entire weekend. I went to a scrap book retreat...I go twice a year and this was my 4th trip. The first retreat, Jason recently had surgery on his finger (who can't forget that awful ordeal with his cut finger??) so he could not pick up Joshua, much less change a diaper. 2nd retreat was right after the knuckle replacement. Same thing. The 3rd retreat he had to work that weekend. Anywho, you can see where I am going. But this time, nothing! Yea! I was so excited to be gone to relax, do a hobby that I love, and hang out with friends. Oh yea, and know that he was home alone ALL weekend with the kids and see what I deal with.



For what I am about to write about, please do not think I am an ungrateful wife that is picky and finds fault in my husband. It all just really made me laugh because I immediately thought about the movie "Mr. Mom". If you have never seen the movie, rent it! It's hilarious.



I get home today around 3:00 and so excited to see the kids and Jason. I walk in, and the kids are finishing lunch. Yes, lunch at 3:00 PM. Sammi is wearing mix-matched pj's and Joshua is wearing camo pants with a tie-dyed shirt that didn't even have the same colors. The house is a wreck. Jason looked so relieved to see me. Not a look like he missed me, but he had a look on his face of "oh thank goodness, relief is here!" He talked about how it took him hours to get the dishes done because he kept on having to stop to do something with or for the kids. I went outside to unload my car and Joshua followed me. I told him we needed to put some shoes on him. Jason told me that some shoes are in his truck. He opens it up and all of their stuff from the week at my mom's was still in there since Friday. I take it out and see the kids toothbrushes on top. I asked him if he brushed their teeth all weekend...nope. He said he didn't think about it. I asked him if he brushed his teeth...yes, of course. So I then asked him why he didn't think to brush theirs. All of it was so comical to me. About an hour after I got home Jason asked if he could go run errands. Ha ha! I was pretty sure he was desperate to get away.



Needless to say, I got a good laugh out of all of it....but I would never tell him this! :) Coming home to a messy house and messy kids was all worth the wonderful, relaxing weekend that I had!

Random Facts About Me

I have a ton of pics to upload and create new blogs, but I'm so behind on everything in my life right now! But in the meantime, here are random facts about me. I posted it on myspace and thought I should add it here too.

1. I pop my knuckles and other joints everyday. Probably too much.
2. I was the only female in my drafting and engineering classes in college. Drove me crazy (some old fashioned guys that had the mind-set of someone in the 50's that women can't do "man's work") but it made me work harder. I won awards because of that...not letting them beat me and think their sexist views were right.
3. I cannot stand for my food to touch! The person that invented the divided plate was a genius!
4. I am addicted to celebrity news. I have had People magazine since I was in high school. But at least I admit it!
5. My dream retirement is living in a big log cabin in the mountains in Colorado. Then I can drive around the mountains as much as I want!
6. I LOVE cars...I can look at the headlights, front, or back of any car (ok, not really old cars) and tell you the make or model. If a car passes me and I'm wrong, I make a mental note so that I am not wrong again. I know, strange obession. But I love cars of all kinds.
7. I cannot stand it when people whistle, smack when they eat, or hum. Just be quiet!
8. I was a major tomboy when I was growing up. My sister had to give me make up for Christmas one year....I think that was a hint!
9. I don't have any big fears of anything (spiders, snakes, etc) but I fear of dying while my children are young.
10. I have to clean my ears everyday or I feel gross.
11. I LOVE to read maps and floorplans. I honestly think the best birthday gift I got from Jason that really showed he knew me was a huge book full of floorplans. When I am in a new state or city and am driving around, I love to read the maps of the area. It drives Jason crazy when he is driving. He says he doesn't want it to look so obvious that we are tourists.

Ok, that's it. Now do you feel you know me better? Or wish you didn't know so much? :)