Spring Has Sprung

Spring is here!  Finally!!  Our spring break, on the other hand, has come and gone.  It was great to see Bailey and we were even able to take in one of her basketball games.  She is such a wonderful big sister and is becoming quite the young lady.  I just love watching her spend time with Hayes.  He calls her "Baybee" and it's adorable.  He looks for her when she is gone and says good night to her picture before bed.  I am so glad that even though they are years and miles apart, they seem to still be close as siblings. 

Jason is still enjoying his job and I think even getting used to the 58 mile drive each way.  He is really taking pride in what he is doing and his hard work in college is paying off.  He is working every other Saturday, so that means we have to be creative with our weekends when we have a whole one free.  We decided to go to Fort Worth for an overnight date, while my mom came down and watched Hayes.  We had so much fun together...just the two of us.  Great food and entertainment plus some good laughs made for a wonderful time with the love of my life.  It was the polish our relationship needed since we had the baby. 
I hope he understands how much I love him and that I will never give up on him.  This Cowboy has my heart forever. 

Hayes is loving this spring weather.  Bailey and I put together a slide for him over spring break and if we thought he liked to be outside before, we had NO idea what was to come.  He would be out there all day if I let him.  He just loves to run, play on the slide, throw the ball, and just be a boy!  He had his first Easter egg hunt at school last week and he loved it!  He even hops like a bunny.  He is my little sponge.  Soaking up everything and starting to repeat what we say.  Suffice it to say that Jason and I have to be careful with the language we choose when he is around.  Stringing together sentences has become a new past time for Hayes.  I love hearing him say, "my chair" or "mommy's shoes" and "daddy's truck."  He is growing up so quickly that I can hardly keep up!  Watching him experience things for the first time is an amazing blessing for me.  It teaches me as well.  Allows me to enjoy life and not take it so seriously sometimes.  Just have fun! 
It's crazy how much you can learn from a toddler.  That may be a future post.  ;) 

Emotional Rollercoaster

So far this year has been full of ups and downs...and yes it's only January. 

Downs first...

January started out with Hayes and another ear infection.  UGH!  I am starting to think he may need tubes.  Poor baby.
We lost my Aunt Jan this month to Leukemia.  This disease is affecting so many people dear to me that I can not stand it.  I did the Big D Climb again this year in her honor.  I hope we find a cure soon.  Cancer in general is hitting way to close to home lately. 
We also found out this month that Mur has lung cancer.  It's not good and the treatment will be hard...dealing with the inevitable will be harder.  I am so thankful to have such a wonderful mother-in-law.  She loves her grandchildren so much.  I want Bailey and Hayes to understand that.  I want to be there for Jason when this all sinks in.  I want her to know how much she is loved and appreciated.  I want those around me to count their blessings and know that each day is a gift.
I am acutely aware of that as I type this.  My sweet friend and co-worker Lucy passed away this morning.  She lost her battle with a blood cancer.  She will be so missed. 

Ups!

Jason got a job!!  He was hired on at Andres Construction as an assistant superintendent.  He LOVES it so far and is looking forward to learning hands on.  I am so happy that his hard work in school is paying off.  I do miss having him in the district though.  It was nice when he could pop in and say hello.
This month, my grandma turned 84 and my grandad celebrated his 91st birthday!  These are wonderful things!  I am so blessed to have had them around for another year.  I think they are taking a trip to South Texas soon.  I wish I could go with them.  They are such gems!
Bailey started playing basketball and she is doing well!  I can not wait to see her in action.  She is really enjoying it and that makes me so happy.  Hayes is also enjoying shooting hoops in the living room with Daddy.  "YEEEAAAHHH or BAM are his two favorite things to say after he makes a basket! 
I am leaving on Thursday for a quick girls trip to Galveston.  Hayes will be spending four days with Nana and Pops!  He is going to be in heaven...and so are they!  Jason is going to go see Bailey play on the hardwood this weekend.  I am excited to hear all about that!  She will love having him there.  I just wish we could all go.

I am not sure what the rest of the year will bring.  More happy memories than sad ones I hope.  One thing I am sure of is that I am ever thankful for the people in my life and for all that I have.  I promise to make the most of this crazy life I have been given.  "Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride."

Take Five

 It has been five months since my last post and I really have no good excuse.  Just life, I guess.
 Many things have happened in those five months.  A few days after my last post, we went to Tennessee for my family reunion.  It was a wonderful time with family!  Almost all 21 of my first cousins were there, and I had such a great time introducing Jason, Bailey, and Hayes to everyone.  Bailey went white water rafting with my aunts, Jason played golf with the boys, and I enjoyed some pool time with cousins.  Family BINGO night was the best, and we celebrated my grandparents 65th wedding anniversary!  It was the best reunion ever!

Watching my Aunts and Uncles interact is always so fun!  I wish we could get together more often.

AUGUST

Sadly just two days after we got back from Tennessee, my Grandpa passed away suddenly.  It was quick, painless(for him anyway), and very unexpected.  I think that is some of the reason why the blogging stopped.  Jim Schanck was a wonderful man and I am so happy that my husband and children were able to know him.  I know that the hearts of my Nana and their children are broken.  Seeing my father lose his father has been part of the "circle of life" that I was not too familiar with.  I was fortunate enough to make it 35 years with all four of my grandparents.  I treasure that.
Also in August, I started my 10th year of teaching.  Wow, ten years already!  Time sure does fly!

SEPTEMBER

We celebrated Hayes turning one!  I can not believe that precious being has been in our lives for a year already.  He is an amazing little boy and I am so proud to be his mom.  He had an OSU tailgate birthday party, and I think he enjoyed it!

We also celebrated Bailey's 11th birthday!  We took her to Medieval Times and had a great time cheering on our Knight and eating with our hands!  She is turning into such a beautiful young lady.  I have been blessed with a great bonus daughter! 

OCTOBER

This was a pretty quiet month for us.  We did get to celebrate Hayes' second Halloween, but the first one where he was walking!  He was Bamm Bamm and  Whitney's daughter Gracie went as Pebbles!  It was fantastic!  We are so thankful for "Aunt Jana" for making the costumes!

NOVEMBER

Very thankful this month.  We went to my parent's house for Thanksgiving!  It was bittersweet because we found out that my great Aunt Jan, my Nana's twin, was diagnosed with Leukemia and was not expected to make it until Christmas.  I felt so sorry for my Nana.  She had just lost her heart, and now she was about to lose her soul.  Aunt Jan told her that "Jimmy wanted her up there first."  Aunt Jan...what a pistol.  As of the date I am writing this she is still hanging in there and receiving treatment.

DECEMBER

Christmas this year was GREAT!  My brother came home for the first Christmas in 8 years.  He brought his wife, Amy-Lee but she ended up in bed with the flu most of the time.  Poor girl.  Hope she will still want to come back to Oklahoma to visit!  We went to my grandparents, Eskimo Joes for cheese fries, and the Wee Too, where Grandad used to take us for breakfast.  It was a trip down memory lane for my brother and I.  I'm so glad we did it and that Jason and Bailey got to travel that lane with us! I love making new memories.  I couldn't help but think, what if it was the last time that my brother, parents, and both grandparents would be all together.  I am glad we made the most of it.

As we get ready to head into 2013, I look around my life and count my blessings, event the ones in disguise.
I do not know what the new year will bring, but I know that I will take nothing for granted.  Life is too short.

Happy New Year!! 
I resolve to keep up with my blog more!  :)

Sweet Saturday

This weekend was one of my favorite weekends I have had in a long time.  Nothing crazy happened, no big vacation was taken, but there was a moment on Saturday that made me literally stop and thank God for my life and the people in it.  It was not a huge moment, and yet it was.  It was not a crisis or anything.  Just a simple, wonderful, minute in my life that I will cherish forever.  I was in the kitchen and Bailey and I were making cake balls for a friend's birthday.  Hayes was crawling around on the floor, banging pots and pans.  I decided to turn on the ipod and speakers and "jam" while we baked.  Of course since I was in charge of the playlist, it was 80s music.  Hayes LOVES music.  He loves to dance and move around.  He especially loves when you hold him and dance.  We turned the music up loud and just got silly!  Bailey picked up Hayes and was dancing all around the kitchen with him.  The sound of both of them laughing and the smiles on their face, and mine, almost brought tears to my eyes.  It was in that instance that I quietly thanked Him for the blessings in my life.  It wasn't a huge moment...and yet, it was. 

Graduation for Daddy

We have been pretty busy this summer despite not having much planned, so I have not been updating the blog as often as I would like.  I did, however, want to be sure to write about a VERY important event that happened in June.  June 22 to be exact.  Jason graduated from college!!  He worked so hard for three years and out of all those who started the program with him, he is the only one to finish! I am so proud of him.  I know it was not easy to go back to college at the age of 35.  Especially while working and raising a family.  He stuck it out and now we will just pray that God puts a job in his path that will allow him to use the degree he worked to hard to earn.  I am so happy that Bailey and Hayes were able to see him walk across that stage...not that Hayes will remember, but I'm glad Jason knew we were all the to support him.  We love you and are so proud of you, Daddy!

Missouri Or Bust

Our first summer road trip was a huge success!!  Ten hours in the car with a 10 year old and a 9 month old was actually a good time.  Of course we were all glad to be out of the car once we arrived, but the travel was pretty painless.  On our way to visit Pa Pa Tim and Nana Linda, we stopped in Joplin and got to see the work of the Chrome Shop Mafia.  They are the group that had the show Trick My Truck.  They sup up big rigs.  Like this one...

We had so much fun in Missouri!  Pa Pa Tim has lots to do on his farm.  Bailey practiced her trampoline tricks while I took pictures of the hummingbirds.

Uncle Mark took Bailey and Jason out on his boat while Hayes and I played in the grass and enjoyed the sunshine. 

We had a wonderful visit with the family.  I am so glad that Linda finally got to meet Hayes.  Maybe it's my older age, or just the fact that I'm a mother now, but I value family and the time spent with them more than ever.  I know that life is short and precious and we need to make the most of it.  It is trips like this one to Missouri that help make memories we will always cherish.  This trip also happened to fall on Father's day.  I am very glad that Jason got to spend it with his father and his children. 

Next family road trip, Tennessee...Stay Tuned!!

And He's Off...

Well, June has started out with milestones galore! Sunday, June 3rd Hayes decided to pull up to a standing position several times and he also said his first word.  I am proud to say that it was Mama!  He has been babbling it for months, but he said it with purpose...to me.  It melted my heart.  I'm sure one day I will hear it so much that I will consider changing my name, but for now I am going to cherish every time I hear that sweet voice.  June 4th was also a big day.  So that Jason wouldn't feel left out, Hayes said Da Da when he walked into the room.  It was SO sweet!!  Beyond speaking his first official words, Hayes crawled for the first time!  Yep, we've got a baby on the move!

The first few times he did it he cried the whole time, but now he's got it down and he's really enjoying being mobile.  We are in trouble now!  He gained his freedom and we are losing ours.  HAHA!  He's already found his way over to the dog crates.

My little boy is growing up so quickly.  It is bitter sweet, but I know it's life.  I love my life.