We are outta here :)

Dallas, Mimi and I left this evening (9:30pm) to be exact. We came to visit Grammy in Bernalillo, New Mexico and to celebrate her 80th birthday!! Uncle Greg, Diana and Pam Wages get here tomorrow morning. We had a pretty good flight. It wasn't too bad, but wasn't as smooth as I hoped for. Dallas was absolutely perfect in everyday! He was such a sweet boy the whole flight here :) He was talking up a storm and was ecstatic to ride a "plane!!" He walked all on his own through the airport and was looking at everything! He was overjoyed with new things to see! 

Our surprised look! We were waiting on Mimi to go potty and decided to get a few pics :) Dallas was in the best mood ever! 

Here's all three of us!! Me and my pink hair! It's already out now :) only lasted about 24 hours and was super easy to get out with the glue remover!!! Thank God, no way was I going to let my indecisiveness get the best of me!! ;-)

My little munchkin in his own seat, trying to buckle his seat belt. I'm glad I got this pic, because he refused to wear his seat belt the entire time! He loved put the tray table up and down, as well as the window shade. He would say, "up, down, up, down." It was cute! He also loved mocking the noises of the plane. 

Here's Mom & I trying to get a little Mother/Daughter picture in!! I love this pretty lady so very much!! 

He loved this statue at the Albuquerque airport. He was reaching up to touch it. 

He looks so tiny to have so much power over me! I am absolutely in love with this guy!! He is my world, and I can only hope and dream to raise him to be one-of-a-kind! I am so blessed to call him my son! 

This riding escalator thingy wasn't on, but I wanted to let Dallas have a chance to walk on it anyway. He was just like a sponge soaking everything in. We found the truck pretty easily in the lot Rusty left it in (the lady driving the bus took us to our car and had the keys for us!) I drove us home and that was my first drive in New Mexico! It's pretty dark, but we got to Aunt Niece safely and Dallas has been asleep ever since. I even woke him up to change him...

We are looking forward to an exciting day tomorrow! This Momma needs to get some sleep. I already miss my bed and sleeping with my Lancipoo! Thank God for our blessings...I am so thankful for our life! Amen!!

Arts A Blast

Since my last post was more of a double edged sword (necessary to write to get my feelings out, but not much fun to talk about...) I figured I'd follow it up with something memorable! Mom and I went to Arts A Blast a couple of weeks ago! You are encouraged to bring your own wine and snacks! That's a party in itself, but you also get to paint and have girl time :) 

 You pick a night to attend by what's being painted. Everyone paints the same picture and the teacher gives step by step instructions! It's exciting to see everyone's art work since you all pick different colors and interpret things so uniquely. 

Here is my precious Mom and me: we had a BLAST! 

Mom likes to be creative, hers was the brightest of the whole class! 

I am so thankful for this little cutie!! 

Here are some pictures of my painting:

This is called a "painting pony" lol, side braid :) I felt so French or something...

Finish product to take home and hang on my wall! Love it :) I can't wait to return with our whole group and paint with my girls! 

  

My eyes are open!

The older I get, I become much more wise...as we all do! Today, I found the culprit to some prank calling & texting! (Calling my phone at 5:15 am on a Saturday morning, pretty ugly names, harsh words and tacky moves!! It lasted for about 3 days!) We all have done/will do it, but the extent for me & my friends growing up was pretty harmless! I remember the excitement of someone answering and getting to hanging up...never knowing it was you, or how to get ahold of you. Today, we live in a world of technology! With computers & Internet, it's a never ending information highway! However, my oldest step-daughter has pushed too many buttons and messed with the wrong B! I remind her I will always be older, smarter, stronger and a bigger bitch than she ;-) I love those around me with my whole heart and would give the shirt off my back for a friend or family in need. I have an abundant amount of feelings for my kids...an unconditional, everlasting love!!! But I am officially cutting my emotions back off to Destiny. As mean as it sounds, it's the only way I won't drive myself CrAzY!! Lol, it is what it is! I have been told a million times, I can't change her. I FINALLY accept that!!! She is what she is and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! Her biological mother has abandoned her two children and left them to their own, being forced to be raised by others. I firmly believe kids need their Moms! The Mother carries the baby for 40 weeks, delivers, and is supposed to love her baby as well as raise them the best she can! It's not Destiny's fault her Mother has become who she is--but Destiny has been given a second chance for a "Motherly figure" to love her, teach her right from wrong, be there to support her, educate her, and most importantly be a Mom to her. I have gone to every play, graduation, awards ceremony, field day, meet the teacher, parent/teacher conference, choir performance, band performance, Christmas/Valentine/back-to-school/end-of-school/Halloween/fall/ spring party & get together there ever was since 2nd grade!!!!! I cleaned her throw-up, washed wet sheets, taken her back & forth to the dr, dentist, listened, gave advice, picked her up from school, taken her to school, hugged her, kissed her, taught her to read, helped her with homework, taught her manners and tried to help her function normally in a world full of lunatics. I have bent over backwards, been the forefront, cried many rivers, and been strong for her, now...she has exhausted all measures! Its not just a silly prank call/text that has me upset...It's just an eye opener to how she truly feels about me. I have 2 other kids that need a Mom. They respect, love and cherish me. There's my focus people!!! It's clear to me now...I can't keep up with the negativity and drama! I have to keep positive and stay focused on my babies! Please don't misconstrue my "jotting down feelings." I would accept Destiny with open arms at any moment she decided to make changes for the better. She reminds me of some sort of addict. She isn't going to change until she's ready, and this is my bottom line! ;-) That being said, I love her forever and always, but refuse to deal with her shenanigans. Her Daddy can deal with her and his parents. That whole situation just isn't for me. I'd rather remove myself from that problem than let my negativity be seen and heard. Okay, I think my rant feels complete! Thank you Lord for steering me in the right direction and giving me sight to see! Thank you for letting me raise such AMAZING children who teach me more and more everyday! I am so blessed and couldn't be more ecstatic to walk with you! Amen!

My how life changes...for the BETTER!

Of course we still drink beer ;-) but we don't go out every weekend with our friends...our friends now have kids and our kids are our new friends! We spend the majority of our time with them I wouldn't have it any other way either!! I love all these kiddos (my kids, nieces & nephews...friends kiddos) I find it absolutely intriguing being fortunate enough to see these babies develop their own personalities and turn into real people, little people! 

Thursday Arielle and her classmates had their awards ceremony and graduated to the next school (Harry H. Herndon intermediate.) 5th grade look out, these kiddos are incredible and they are headed your way!! 

I am so very proud of her!!! She made A/B honor roll for the entire year--only 1 B, which was an 89!! She was literally one point away from the presidential award. Oh well, there's always next year. I took Arielle, Hailey, Maigen, Kassidy & Dallas with me to Hobby Lobby and then Chick-Fil-A for lunch! I love these little ladies and I am so happy Arielle has such a good group of girls to be friends with. 

 Big kids are out of school for the summer, and the anticipation of fun is setting in! Friday Shannon & Presley, Ashley & Hunter, Arielle, Hailey, Dallas & I went to the Dallas Zoo! We packed a lunch and set out for the day!!

(No, we have no clue who the little girl on the end is!) We had an awesome day! We watched the bird show which was new to me and that was super cool! We ate our picnic lunch inside in the air conditioning. We got to cool down and take a little break. 

Visiting the goats!

Hunter & Dallas riding a little fake horse!

Dallas & Mommy

The boys checking out the fish!!

Love, love, love this pic of Shannon & Presley! They both look so cute!

Dallas wasn't in the mood for a group picture! -never is!

Shannon with her nephew Hunter & her sweet Baby girl, Presley!! :) 

Dallas and Mommy at the bird show, waiting for it to start!! 

So cool, a Bald Eagle! I don't think I've ever seen one this close!! I have to admit, this trip to the zoo, was spectacular! We never get to see the tiger, and this day, he was out playing. He had a big ball in the water and was rolling it with his paws! No pic though :( also, the lions were closer than I had EVER seen! Normally you see them off in a distance laying around. The pics I got were decent, but have nothing on the reality of being there and seeing them so close, with a sheet of glass separating you two! This was by far my favorite part!!

So snugly, makes you want to cuddle right up with them!! :)

There paws & faces are huge!! 

All in all, the Zoo was a major success!! 

We met the boys at Chilis for dinner. My son was lovin' being able to hang out with the girls! He absolutely adores his sisters and their friends!! 

Crazy kids! Dinner was yummy! :) I am so thankful Lance works as hard as he does to be able to provide for his family. He goes above and beyond to make sure we have everything we need and more! He currently revived a promotion to Internet Director! I am so proud of him and his new title! :) he works incredibly hard and deserves it! I hope we are doing a good job of spoiling our children as well as teaching them respect, manners, and the importance of how hard work pays off. I want to have reasonable, level headed, hard working kids one day...not children who feel like they are owed something. Parenting can be so very difficult sometimes! I trust in my heart I am doing the best I can and making the best choices I can for my babies! I am going to continue to pray for God leading my family down the right path! Lord please forgive my sins :) 

What a FUN weekend!

Dallas is getting over his illness and I was tired of being cooped up! We slept in Saturday morning, then got up had lunch with The Poe's at Scotty P's. I love their Greek salad! Plenty of food for a great price ;-) We decided to shop a little bit at Fire Wheel mall. Arielle, Dallas and I stopped at the fountain for a picture! Dallas wanted to see the water so bad! 

He could see the water from his stroller and kept repeating, "Mama, water?!" I stay impressed on how much he talks and can communicate with us! He truly is a sponge soaking everything up!!!

So glad Miss Arielle took our picture! I want to make sure Dallas has plenty of pictures of us to look back on one day when I'm wrinkly and shrinking, lol.

On the way back by, I begged Shannon & John to let me snap a quick pic with Miss Priss! 

I love this picture of them! Such great friends! :) We ended Saturday night with dinner at Edohana. Lance met us there after work and we went straight from shopping. Sunday morning, alarms were set early for a Canton, First Monday trip. Lance kept Arielle and Dallas and we headed out about 8. We had bows to buy baby! I got 2 pairs of SuPeR cute Yellow Box flip-flops, bows for Arielle, ribbon to make bows for Arielle, really pretty ribbon to decorate some frames around the house & I'm sure there's more I'm leaving out! 

We needed round 2, or 3, or 4...because my head was too small! Lol, I love these girls so much! We have a freakin' blast every time we get together!! I couldn't imagine my life without these two! They bring me so much laughter, joy, and happiness! We have inside jokes out the wazoo and our stories are never ending!  We make each other laugh non-stop and don't really care who else thinks we are funny, because we think we are funny!! 

Yummy Chiloso for dinner, and bow making was in full effect! Arielle slept all evening complaining of a sore throat and headache :( guess its doctor for my girl today! We put Dallas to bed in his big boy bed last night! (He has got to get on a better schedule!!) I love reading to him and listening to Lance read to him as part of our nightly routine. 

I bought this book FULL price ($15.99) at Arielle's book fair last week...(ouch) I don't normally do that! But when I skimmed through it in the store, I fell in love! Dallas asked his Daddy to read it last night and even though he's read it before, I kept tearing up! We are truly blessed to be able to sit next to our happy, healthy kids and read to them! I am thankful Lance is such an amazing Father to our sweet Dallas!! Watching my boys read together melted my heart. I know there are an abundance of men/women who aren't part of their children's lives, (for whatever reason) and it's absolutely heartbreaking!! I adore these munchkins and wouldn't have it any other way!! Dallas looks up to Lance just as a son should his father. Time doesn't stand still and we have to live in the moment! I found this quote online and thought it was cute:

A man's desire for a son is usually nothing but the wish to duplicate himself in order that such a remarkable pattern may not be lost to the world.  

                                      ~Helen Rowland