Pic #28 . . . Well, Not Really

So,

Tonight is supposed to be picture night.

The night where we give an update on the baby's progress.

But tonight, we were having some technical difficulties. 

The photo editor I use was running very slow.

I could not get all the details added.

But we didn't want to leave you waiting. 

So we decided to share a couple of pictures that include Mattie. 

She was here for pictures and we had some fun!!!

Ta Da!!!!

I can stand like Mommie!!

I hope the editor will work tomorrow!!

Until then, 

God bless!

Picture #18

This week has been girls week.

Tiger has been out of town.

Grumpy has been out of town. 

When Mattie found out Lolo was home alone, she said

"Lolo, just stay with us this week! We'll have slumber parties every night!"

Well how do you say no to that?

So I have been at my mom's all week with my girls!

It's been fun!

Until next week

God Bless

Pic #14

IT'S THURSDAY!!!!

And we all know what that means!!!

IT'S PICTURE DAY!!!

I say PJ will be another martial artist!!

Katie says he is kicking all the time!!!

They've had a great week. 

Phillip has been helping Mattie with a school project all week. 

It is complete and ready to turn in on Monday. 

Grumpy and I aren't allowed to see it until Sunday though. 

Mattie also had her GT Showcase this week 

She walked Grumpy and Phillip through three projects. 

Katie and I took pictures. 

It was a great night. 

This weekend, we don't have anything planned 

Except rest. 

We all deserve it, 

Especially Frank. 

He's had several late nights this week. 

Until next week

God Bless!!

Mattie's Reaction to the Oops!

In March, I posted this about the gender reveal party we held for our family.

Here's the video of the reveal.

Mattie obviously was not happy about it being a baby girl.

An her face in this picture...

shows she is just not thrilled.


Last night I posted our weekly belly picture along with a big oops!

I couldn't get the video to post.

So as promised,

Here is Mattie learning there was a big mistake in revealing the gender of the baby!!







Though not nearly as exciting as the party video,

She is quite thrilled to learn it really is a boy!!

I've said it before, but I will say it again...

She is going to be an amazing big sister!!!

Until next time,

God bless.

Picture #11 and Pancackes

We are gradually getting back on track! 

Just two days late this week!!

Miss Phoebe is quickly growing, you can tell by that belly. 

Katie is feeling good, just tired.

Really tired. 

I think if she could. she would sleep 24/7.

But I guess she needs to rest now while she can, because as we all know, once Phoebe arrives mommy will be begging for rest.

Had a great day today at the Kiwanis Pancake day. 

Mattie B used to love to go eat pancakes and Mattie May does to. 

Ready to eat!!!

Ran into her friend Tat that she hasn't seen in a year.

She loved the funny names on the bag of the milk cartons. 

Until next time 

God Bless. 

Picture #7

It's Thursday!!

That means it's picture day!!

Last week, Baby H was the size of a lime,

but has grown to be the size of a plum. 

If you read my last post, you know that little plum is a GIRL!!!

Mattie really wanted a baby brother, but I think after talking to Hysti and Tiger,

she realizes how much fun having a sister will be. 

They also talked to her about being so far apart in age.

They are seven years apart and Mattie will be ten years older than Baby H.

I just know she's going to be a great big sister. 

Now for a test! 

How observant are you? 

There is another really big change about to happen for our family, 

and we have been dropping some very subtle hints in the last few post. 

See if you can guess before you get to the last clue.

Clue #1 - A count down clock named "Secret Day" was added to my side bar a few weeks ago

Clue #2 - One of the items Katie had listed in Picture #5 is "Getting Ready to Pack & Move"

Clue #3 - Post "This Kid" on March 19, 2015 tells about Mattie trying different types of food 

Clue #4 - The Picture #6 post states "lots of changes are coming" 

(yeah that could have been about Baby H, but it wasn't)

Clue #5 - There are three clues during the reveal party, so I'll list those as sub-clues;

Clue #5A - Hansel & Gretel are on the reveal box

Clue #5B - On the poster behind Katie's head showing the boy/girl guesses, 

boy and girl are listed as junge and madchen

Clue #5C - the reveal is a pink dirndl

So have you figured it out? 

If not, you'll see it as you look at Picture #7. 

Yep! 

My babies are moving! 

It's exciting and sad at the same time. 

I have been able to love on Mattie just about every day of her life. 

But as hard as it is for me, 

I just keep telling myself how great it is going to be for them. 

I hope we have a name for Baby H before they leave! 

God Bless

More fun with Baby H

Last night we had a small family gathering. 

My family can make a party out of anything. 

This party was to find out the gender of Baby H.

The decorations turned out great. 

Even Mom's cactus was dressed for the occasion. 

Frank and I knew the answer, 

and we had been tormenting everyone all day. 

We gave them one final tease before everyone arrived. 

Everyone dressed in the color of their guess, 

Blue = Boy

Pink = Girl

The teams were quite lopsided with more on Team Blue! 

 And Mattie showed how excited she is with all her Big Sister accessories!

We started with a guessing game. 

I had filled this jar with candy,

Half blue & half pink, 

well almost.

There was one more of one color, 

the winning team color. 

I had everyone write there guess on their team side as to how many they though was there. 

This box holds the answer to which gender Baby H is!

After we had dinner, it was time for the reveal. 

Mattie held the box

Phillip and Katie pulled the ribbons. 

And it didn't take long to learn what gender Baby H was. 

YES! IT'S A GIRL!!

And someone was really wanting a boy!

Baby H has been prayed over and will be loved beyond belief. 

And big sister Mattie has since turned that frown around 

and is all smiles about having a little sister. 

So now we wait on a name for the next little princess.

And God continue to bless us as we wait!

This Kid

This kid...

She makes me so happy!!

And she is learning that it's fun to try new foods!

It's a good thing she's learned to try it!!

God bless!

Safety City

There are rights of passage for every grade once you start school in kindergarten. 

In Abilene, you learn about a special event that takes place when you are in the third grade. 

You hear the big kids talk about when you begin kindergarten. 

A lot of times, 

you drive by the park and know, once you get in the third grade, 

you'll get to go there, 

The excitement builds for years. 

Today was Mattie's day to get to go. 

Go to Safety City. 

Luckily, they had great weather. 

She learned how to escape from a burning house, with what , as she explained to me,

 was real fake smoke and real fake fire. 

Out safely, and all smiles!

First in the car that belongs to the electric company

"you know Lolo, the one you used to work for"

See ya later!!

And a turn on the bicycle.

It was a great day. 

Beautiful day. 

And rain came later. 

God Bless

No Ghost

We stayed in The Menger.

It has a very interesting story. 

Part of that story says it's the most haunted hotel in Texas. 

Yeah, I didn't know that when I made the reservation. 

But we're up this morning all in one piece.

No ghost sightings! 

Hahaha!

Off to eat breakfast then visit the Alamo.

God bless!

Tired

Mattie and I are taking a mini vacation.

She choose San Antonio.

We've had fun! 

But I'm tired. 

Seeing the Alamo in the morning! 

God bless!

Hum :\

Days like this are hard. 

What do I blog about, because I didn't do anything particularly exciting.

But I need to post something to get back in the swing of it.

Nope.

Nothing. 

I guess enjoy a picture of my crazy Mattie!  

Until tomorrow,

God bless.

Exciting Things Have Happened in the Past Year

Someone once told me the only constant in life is change. 

That statement could not be more true. 

When I started my little blog, it was just to see if I could do it. Then it really became about Mattie May. 

A lot about Mattie May. 

Then in 2012, it became about my cancer journey. It was a journal for Katie and Mattie and anyone curious about that journey. 

I became very lax in writing in my little bloggy. And as I look back to check, it has been almost a year since I posted anything. 

Many things have taken place in the past year, 

Some really exciting things! 

But after the news I received this week, I think it's time to wake my sleepy, little blog. 

Last April, Katie, Mattie and I were meeting for lunch after church. She asked if a friend could join us. He had just returned from deployment and didn't really know a lot of people. I didn't care because I was hungry. I just wanted to eat. 

That friend was Phillip. 

He and Katie started dating. And Mattie approved. 

June brought about Katie's 30th birthday. Growing up, her June birthday was just as bad as my December birthday. Between vacations, sporting events and summer camps, birthday parties just didn't happen very often. So Frank and I decided to throw her a big surprise party with lots of family and friends. 

Phillip agreed to help get her there. 

Oh, he also proposed at this party. Again, Mattie approved. 

We took our annual trip to Florida for US Open Karate (at which my family rocked!). 

In October, Frank and I walked our 1st 5K. It was a lot of fun and I am really looking forward to doing that again. 

Phillip & Katie decided the wedding would be right before Thanksgiving. So on November 25, 2014, under a tent at my mom's, they were married. It was a beautiful ceremony again, with lots of family and friends. 

So obviously, it was a busy, happy, life changing year. 

And it seems that 2015 will be no different. 

Mattie and her demo karate team tried out for America's Got Talent in January. She also competed in the AISD UIL academic competition in spelling. She didn't place but that's OK. we all need to learn it's OK to participate and not win, as long as we do our best. 

February is just starting. The 4th, Frank and I celebrated our 31st anniversary. 

Phillip, Katie and Mattie took us to eat. It was a lot of fun. 

While we were at dinner, Mattie told us that in October, she was going to be a big sister. Yep! Frank and I are going to have another grandchild. 

Mattie's drawing of her expectant mother! 

So I decided it was time to dust off my little blog and record more memories for this next little bundle of joy!

As with everything else we have learned in life, we know that with every new day there will be changes in our lives...

But as long as we follow God, everything is going to be OK. 

God Bless.

A Funny from Saturday

 

I realized I didn't say how Mattie did on the rest of her divisions at the Texas Heat Wave Tournament on Saturday.

She received first 3rd in Self Defense.

She did not place in Traditional Kata or Open Kata.

She received first 3rd in sparring also.

YAY Mattie!!

You did great!

After the tournament, we were starving.

We headed home and stopped in Weatherford at On the Boarder.

Love this place. Just haven't had the chance to eat there in a while.

Aimee and her kiddos met us there.

It took forever for the waitress to come get our drink orders.

After she took the orders, we waited even longer for her to come back.

When she finally did come back, she didn't have any drinks. She explained to us how she had written them down and misplaced the paper.

So she took the order again.

Again we waited.

When she finally brought them, a couple of them were wrong.

But she was very prompt in fixing that.

It took a while, not as long as we had been waiting, for her to come back and take our food order.

I will admit, Mattie was playing a game on her iPad, so she didn't hear the part where she said she was taking our food order.

All she heard was when she asked her "what would you like."

At that point Mattie looked at her with those big baby blues and said...

"What! Did you loose the order again!?!?"

Oh My!!!

It took everything in all the adults powers to not laugh out loud!!

I didn't complain to management because in the end we had a good meal and a lot of laughs. And I know that everyone has an off day or are just learning a new job. And in the end, she did get everything right and didn't charge us for our drinks and also gave us a queso.

And I do have so much more to be thankful for than most...

Until next time,

God bless.

This is not the ALDC

No reason to try to back up and say what all has been going on so I am just starting fresh for what all went on today.

Today was Mattie's first AOK tournament of the year, Texas Karate Heat Wave in Duncanville. She was ready.

OK.

Well...

I do need to back up a little,

but just to Tuesday.

As we were getting ready to leave, she asked me if she could to Self D a the tournament on Saturday.

Whaaaaat???

I've already signed you up!

You've never done Self D before!

Do you realize you only have like one day to practice?

No I didn't say any of those things to her, I said I would talk to Shihan and see what he said.

Well of course he said he would get her ready.

Wednesday night we left early to watch the Harlem Globetrotters (fantastic as usual!)

Thursday, her dad picks her up so she would have to be done at 6:00PM, but they will get it done.

At 5:45PM I remind him she is leaving in 15 minutes. So he get Drake to help her.

It's going great, but by the time they get organize it only leaves 10 minutes?!?!

Thank goodness, Buddy said he had an errand to run and he could leave her for another 20 minutes!

YAY! A little more time! So a total of 3 minutes to practice! Goody!!!

Sparring practice on Friday runs long and we have got to get out of town for the tournament on Saturday, so still just the 30 minutes from the day before.

We all get to the tournament and Drake grabs Mattie and her helpers and they go through it two more times!! WOW! This should be good!

I don't like going into a competition unprepared but that was happening today.

It's Junior Self Defense which means She will not only be competing against some older kids, some are literally twice her age!!

They call names to make sure everyone is there and she will be the last to go! YAY! Such a huge benefit!!

Once she goes, she does great! Not very smooth, but she remembered everything she was supposed to do.

We had talked with her about having to compete about the older kids, so not to get her hopes up about winning. And also that the others had much more practice time than she did.

So imagine how excited we all were when they called her for first 3rd!!!

What does this have to do with the Abby Lee Dance Club (ALDC)? A lot!!!

"Dance Moms" is one of my guilty pleasures. I don't know why, but I love to watch.

It's like a watching a car crash. It's awful, but you just can't look away.

Those people do more yelling in one hour than all the competitors did combined today. But I just love it! Abby Lee Miller is the dance instructor and the girls are competitive dancers. Each week they learn new routines to perform the following weekend. And the girls are very good. I just don't understand why they have to learn something new each week. The ice skaters in the Olympics this past week have been performing those routines for probably a year. It takes time for perfection.

So the other night, Abby Lee had a duet that she only spent 15 minutes with and when they performed, they placed 2nd. She was livid!!! Why??? They had 15 minutes of practice and placed 2nd! I think that's pretty good. I can't imagine not congratulating a child on an accomplishment, especially if they haven't practiced it for very long!

I was ecstatic over Mattie's 3rd place win!!!

So happy for her and all our kids that were in that division. There were 8 competitors, 4 from AMMA and AMMA took the top four spots!!!! WOW!!

Congrats to everyone that competed today!!!!

And I promise to be better at posting!!

So until next time,
God Bless.

Only Eight Days Left

I just don't know where the time goes. It seems like it was just yesterday I was typing this post about Mattie starting kindergarten and now there are only eight days left of the school year. She has done some amazing things this year. She is, for the most part, a good student. She has her normal six year old days where she ends up having to move her pin to yellow or worse, but she has mastered everything she was supposed to this year. On her iStation test she is reading at a 1.8. What that means - if she were in the first grade she would be ready to go on to second!

She still loves to help me around the house, cooking, cleaning and doing laundry of all things. She makes Frank and I laugh on a daily basis just from being herself. She is improving in her karate which she loves and is looking forward to karate camp this summer. She told us last week it was her favorite part of karate! I so glad she loves karate so much. It keeps her constantly moving.

Tournaments are still a high priority on her list but she is not going to as many as she did last year. It was just too much. They are fun, but by the end of the year we were just worn out!

We are not quite sure what the summer has in store for us yet. She will be going to karate camp and she has a huge ready list waiting for her including a new series of chapter books and we'll be doing some swimming too. We may go on some new adventures, take our usual trip to the beach or just hang out around the house. Whatever we choose this year, I know it will be great.


Until next time,

God Bless

First Day of Kindergarten 08.22.11

Seriously! Where has the summer gone?! It has been over a month since I posted about our trip the US Open and I am not sure where that month went.

Whatever happened to it, it's gone, and today was the first day of school for our Mattie May. Oops! I forgot! She's just Mattie now! Anyway, it seems to me as if this is the child that should be starting school, not her daughter.

Last night we did well and got to bed at a decent hour, knowing we had to get Mattie up about 45 minutes earlier than what she is used to. Slept well and ready to get the day started.

Some where in this bed is a five year old ready to start school.

Still not sure where she is, but this is where I left her last night.

That kind of looks like a child snuggled up there!

There she is, under all that hair! Oh My!

I know a lot of people have special things they fix for breakfast for the first day of school, but I just leave it up to her. I was ready for just about everything, but all she wanted were chocolate muffins, a banana, and milk. Not the best breakfast ever, but what she wanted. I'll insist on a little better in the morning.

We finally got teeth brushed, clothes on, and all that hair tamed!

She is ready to go.

She choose this outfit, even the knee socks. This child loves knee socks!!

And those things are hard to find for those little legs!

She wanted dog ears!

So I did the best I could with the hair she had!

A pose for Grumpy and Mommie.

Posing at school for Mommie to take her picture.

One last picture with Mommie.

My two favorite girls in the world!

Miss Cagle, her teacher.

She found her locker and her desk and was ready to go.

She said she had a great day today, and she even had homework!

She loves having homework!

How long will that last.

As best we can tell,

the most exciting thing they did today was make gingerbread man

(and women)

cookies,

And they disappeared out of the oven just like in the book!

They looked all over the school campus and couldn't find them!

I took me awhile

(with a little help from my cousin)

to see what the teachers were doing.

Isn't that a cute way to teach these kids

their way around the new to them campus?!

I can't wait to see if they find those cookies tomorrow!

And this kid...

this is how she looked after a full day at school

and an afternoon at karate!

That poor white shirt may never be the same!

I hope all of you had a great first day of school. I know not all of you still have students at home, but in some way or another, we are all connected to someone starting school!

God Bless you all!