Happy Birthday Texas

Last week, Texas celebrated it's 175th birthday ~ the 175th Anniversary of Texas Independence.  And we Texans are SO darn proud of our heritage, that we are gonna celebrate it all year long!!!

Seriously.

Every month, all over the state, something grand is planned.

Just 2 weeks ago, while at Sissy's 4th grade field trip, we were a part of the celebrating too.

Every year at Sissy's school, the 4th grade goes on the "Amazing Alamo" field trip  - they get a private charter bus ("with a bathroom Mom!!") that takes them down to San Antonio for the day.  They visit the Institute of Texan Cultures, the Alamo, and then the watch the IMAX movie "The Price of Freedom" (about what?  You guessed it- the Alamo!).  This field trip is a rite of passage for these kiddos and they look forward to it for years.

What is particularly exciting for me is that when I was in 4th grade, we did the exact same field trip (minus the movie - no IMAX in the 80"s....we toured Mrs. Barid's Bread factory instead).  So I jumped on the chance to be a chaperone.

So you all 'Remember the Alamo' right?  no?  Oh that's right, I'm talking to non-Texans.  So short version, The Alamo is a Spanish Mission built in what is now San Antonio, Texas.  In March of 1836, a small group of Texans defended the Alamo against Mexico and were defeated.  Because of this loss, Texans came together and won their independence against Mexico a month later under the leadership of Sam Houston.  175 years ago to be exact......

so how impressed are you that I knew all that by heart?

don't laugh at me.

every young Texan knows their Texas history....especially the history of the Alamo.

and did you know that Texas has had 6 different sovereignties leading us?  No?  Let me name them for ya:  Spain, France, Mexico, Confederate States of America, Republic of Texas, and the United States of America.

ya, I knew all those by heart too.

love me some Texas history - they don't call me a Texas girl for nothing!!

Dinner Theater

Ya'll know that our only form of entertainment these days is the Baby.  He keeps up in stitches at the dinner table.....

For weeks we had to work on "momma" - I know he knew who I was all along....just wanted to make me go bonkers trying to get him to point me out.....

And he is always ready to show his signs.....

These were from a few weeks ago and in just that short time, he has started using more & more words.  "Wa-Wa", "Cheer-o's" & "fish" are some of his favorites!

We are just loving this stage - and you can tell that this Bubba never tires from all the attention.

These are my Confessions...

Wow- lots of posts from me this week huh?  In between painting 2 rooms, taking care of a sick girl, learning shapes with the Bubba Boy, and trying to fit in some runs, when....when have I had anytime to write??  I don't know...but here I go again.  
I have quietly been reading these Confessional posts for the past few weeks, thinking very snootily to myself- "I don't have anything to confess".......until this week......
So, here are my confessions.......
I Confess....that I had a roller coaster of a week with tons of ups & downs and I took it out on my dear sweet blogging friends when I didn't have but 2 comments on a funny post.....
but
you guys lifted me up and put me back on earth at the same time.  I am in it (meaning the blog) for ME - no whiny about comments anymore!!
I Confess...that the last four remaining boxes of girl scout cookies are yelling at me.  
Becca......come and eat us....we taste so good.
but they really don't.  I am so over gs cookies - they have been in my house since the first week of January and I am sick of them.  Those damn thin mints don't even taste good anymore.
sick sick sick
and I have this warped sense that the faster I eat them, the quicker they will go away.
I need Matt to hide them from me....and muffle out their voices.....
I Confess...that I am the only Gleek in the neighborhood.  When I post on The Facebook (cuz that's what big daddy Mark calls it) about the latest episode,  the comments I get back are from afar.  
And when I send out the massive text to all my IRL friends to see if anyone wants to go to the Glee sing along tonight - get get nothing - weird looks - shaking heads in dismay.....
But that's ok - I found 2 friends who are kinda on the fence and are going to go with me tonight.  
But I think they will think twice about that decision when I show up dressed as Emma Pillsbury.  

I Confess...that I never enter any giveaways on your blogs b/c I frankly never win.  WHOA.  Hold the cart.  I won not once 
but
wait for it....
TWICE THIS WEEK!!!!!  
Mammarazzi gave me a sweet necklace for St. Paddy's Day
AND
I just found out that I won a $40 gc to CSN from Miss Jennifer Katherine herself!!!  
Wow - the moral of the story?
Throw yourself a pity party and see what gifts come your way!!!  Woo-Hoo!!
I Confess...I have spent WAYYYYYYYY too much time on the computer this week - researching a girls weekend in Austin in May, searching for curtain ideas for the living room, looking at summer camp options for the kids, determining what our summer plans will be (to travel or stay home?)....
enough....
you get the picture....
that's why this post has to be short......
gotta get outside and enjoy the sunshine with the Bubba Bear 
Anyone up for a run??  Gotta work off those cookies......

The Truth About Them Lies

Alrighty, Connie is asking for the truth.  She and JennyKate are dying to know.  BUT!!  If you haven't read my Liar-Liar-Pants-On-Fire post yet, this will be a spoiler for you.....

So I gave you 4 truths and ONE lie.  Which one of these did you think was the lie?

1. I have met the president of the United States.
My Sophomore year in High School I was (briefly) in an Explorer Scouts group and we built a trail in the desert (I lived in the middle of nowheres Nevada).  We won an award called "Take Pride in America" and were invited to the White House for the awards ceremony, where we met George H. and Babs.  It was August and horribly hot with makeup running down my face and I was more worried about looking good for the cute boy on my trip than meeting the prez.  Sadly, that's what I remember most about that one.


2. I was the Valedictorian of my High School Class and graduated summa cum laude of my class in college.
Yup. I was a smarty.  No one thought this was a lie - that made me feel special.....


3. I was on a reality TV show.
I was!!  Huh?  Labor Day 2004, our wonderful neighbors-turned bestest friends conned us talked us into doing a fun little show called "Design Invasion".  It was a home-makeover show where they "surprise" the neighbors, make them leave, and we "make-over" a room in their house.  It was a TON of fun with lots of stories to tell.  So I will write it all up and post it here in the near future.  And try to get some clips - it was funny ya'll!

4. I love parachuting from planes - have done it several times, but with kids, I don't get to much anymore. ;(
This, my dear friend, is a bold faced LIE!  You will never catch me parachuting form an airplane!!  NEVER!!!  


5. I have lived on an Indian Reservation.

This one was too easy - I think I mentioned it on a post back in October.  We lived on the Quinalt Indian Reservation on the Olympic Peninsula for 6 months -my parents were teachers there and they thought it would be fun to live there too??  Crazy cakes! Our house was egged all the time - we were not wanted - and we quickly moved to a sweet town south of there called Ocean Shores.  When I read the Twilight series, it was sensory overload - I could picture everything perfectly! It's just south of Forks!


Now don't you feel complete knowing all these crazy facts about little ole' me?  Good.  Your welcome.

These are a few of my Favorite Things....

you just can't help but bust out with Julie Andrews now can you?
your welcome.
I have always wanted to be a part of Mamarazzi's Swaps and this one is going to be fun -it's all your favorite things!
If you want to join in, click on the button.  But hurry- spaces are limited!

Whiny Baby

Just call me what I am - an approval-seeking, whiny baby! Seriously!  How did you guys put up with me yesterday???

I re-read my post this morning and thought - What a spoiled little brat!!!

I was having a bad, yucky day - I have had a few disappointments over the past few weeks and I took it out on my blog.  sorry.

But the strangest thing happened.

Within one hour, I had the most sweet, loving comments from y'all - God sent his little angels to me to lift my spirits. ONE HOUR Y'ALL - how did you know to look at my blog when I needed it the most?


Because He knew I needed you.


And the day kept getting better.

Bubba & I had the best trip to The Home Depot- I was buying paint for my Dining Room (Happy Camper!) and had so much advice given to me by the sweetest old man who had been a painter for 30 years.  I have never in my life been so excited to discover and use frog tape.  Yup.  Frog tape. Go google  that one y'all.

And while cleaning out my email, I found an email from the sweet Mamarazzi telling me that I had won this from her Taking Back Monday Giveaway last week:

how lucky blessed am i??

Funny thing is, I had the email sitting there in my inbox opened, as if I had read it, but I didn't really read it until yesterday when I needed it the most.  I don't believe in coincidences y'all - that happened that way for a reason.  

I contemplated pulling yesterdays post (because as I re-read it, I hate it!) but I realized it was what I was feeling at the time and it was me just being me....and all the comments were so very lovely, that I didn't want those to go away too! 

So, no more whiny baby-ness from me.  You all have embraced me and made me feel loved!!  Thank you all for your friendship - it means so much!  

Approval? Do I need it?

Nah....I just want to be liked.  Is that so wrong?  As childish and as silly as that sounds, that is who I am.  All my life - believe me, my momma dealt with some serious drama from me over this simple struggle.
Everyone has the need to feel included and when you are not - and it's obvious- it hurts.

I have come to terms with my personality - I generally like the world and want them to like me back.  I don't care what baggage you bring - I don't care how you treat me - I don't care if you aren't really "my type" of friend - I still want to be liked by you. ANd I will do my darnedest to win you over no matter how bad you treat me.

Others in my life don't have this "flaw" in their personality and  go through life not caring what other people think of them - As confident and poised as I seem, I do care.  I wish I didn't so much - would save me a ton of time spent analyzing and wondering "if".

Anyways, where am I going with this?

This blog.  I started it for family to see the kids growing up (I don't know if they even read it anymore....) but it has evolved into something so much more.  This is a place where I can type what I think and not worry about what I am thought of.

Until that little worry monster creeps in......do I have any comments?  why isn't so & so reading my blog anymore? why won't my family leave me comments?  have I offended someone?  why am I only getting 4 comments on that really funny post?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I hate it.

Really, I do.

This is not who I want to be.

To me, comments are feedback and another form of approval, so why this need for approval in the one area of my life that shouldn't matter?

I've read that people who seek approval from others have a problem with their own self-esteem.  I don't have that problem - hopefully you have seen by now that I am pretty confident and not ashamed to show it.

So what if I don't get someone's approval?  Will I curl up in the corner and shun myself from society.  uh no. Stop posting?  no.  I know all this, but how can I shake this damn monster on my shoulder?

I know I'm not the only one out there that feels like this??  Right???

Alright - enough complaining from me.  Just leave me some love and I'll shut up already.

thanks.


p.s. I struggled with even posting this...thinking y'all would think less of me...sheesh!