tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145268342008-07-19T07:58:02.459-04:00Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comBlogger356125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-18405613307527770432008-07-10T10:09:00.004-04:002008-07-12T23:50:24.996-04:00

You know that big, blue octopus? Oswald. We were watching that last night; Oswald had a wish coming to him so he was consulting all of his animal friends on what his wish should be and what they would wish for. John M. looks at me with this 'duh' expression on his face and says 'Well, I'd wish for a big, big, big slip and slide that went all the way to the sky'. He seemed to be thinking 'Why

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-28812314948699252282008-07-09T10:43:00.003-04:002008-07-09T10:52:13.269-04:00

We made it back from San Antonio a few days ago. So, my first vacation without Mark, and with all 3 kids went better than expected. Except for long, hyper John-nights in the hotel room. He left with a skinned up knee, busted lip, and a foot bo-bo also. Boys, huh? The girls loved the virgin daiquiris by the pool and all of the kids loved the S'mores on the fire pits at the hotel. I'm ready

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-22868663186593397632008-06-25T10:21:00.004-04:002008-06-25T10:39:53.073-04:00

We're leaving for vacation Saturday. This is the first vacation where I've taken all of the kids without Mark. He has no earned vacation time at his new job, so it's just me and the kids. We're not going far, but I'm still a little nervous about it. Mostly, the drive and locating things. Directions are not my thing. In fact, I have absolutely NO sense of direction. Thank God for our trusty

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-15341066147241067542008-06-10T11:44:00.004-04:002008-06-10T12:04:24.128-04:00

I am: burnt out with work lately. I need a vacation (or possibly early retirement!) I think: I need a margarita to help me feel better. I thank: God that my family is healthy and happy. I know: that my kids are growing up way too fast. I wish: I could lose those 6 lbs. I just discovered I gained. I hate: obnoxious people. I miss: my friend, Jolie. I feel: hungry! I

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-39976645490792091772008-06-03T11:48:00.002-04:002008-06-03T11:54:13.714-04:00

As you probably know, SUMMER is my favorite time of year. Yes, it's steaming hot down here, but for a woman with the body temperature of a king snake, this is a good thing. I thought I'd make a little list of things I hope the summer has in store: - lots of days at the pool - popsicle after popsicle - some rainy days for splashing in puddles - a day or two at our local water park - oh,

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-54591729602427529322008-05-27T14:24:00.003-04:002008-05-27T14:28:13.468-04:00

We spent Memorial Day at the beach. The weather was nice, the breeze was great and the kids had lots of fun. Hope y'all had a great Memorial Day!

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-39496010467082442342008-05-24T14:00:00.000-04:002008-05-24T15:00:04.384-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, we had lots of rain. Which, in my yard, equates to a lot of mud puddles. This is what happened next.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-12554779580105579042008-05-22T06:43:00.001-04:002008-05-22T14:56:37.960-04:00

Only 6 more left. No longer an elementary girl. Sniff, sniff. Yes, I did cry a couple of times on graduation day.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-9883334751541404482008-05-11T01:06:00.005-04:002008-05-11T01:26:15.009-04:00

and I'm reading blogs. Can't sleep. I was looking back at my posts from last summer when I noticed I had done a 'John M likes' post. I haven't done another one of those in a coon's age (Lord, I'm no Dooce, huh?), so I thought I'd give it a go. Some of my boy's favorite things at the age of 44 months: 1.)As of last weekend, swimming in the pool. At the mention of it, he starts jumping around

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-29391197711726175162008-05-07T23:55:00.000-04:002008-05-08T00:53:35.618-04:00

I don't have a 'tell-all' blog. It's supposed to be a diary of my life. Something for me to look back at when the kids are grown. But it's definitely an edited version. I guess because I worry about the people that I know. I mean really KNOW that read it. I want to keep certain things to myself, because if I share too much, they'll know that my life is far from perfect. I want to put it all

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-10041637160478907432008-05-02T16:58:00.000-04:002008-05-02T17:10:18.282-04:00

So grateful . . . - that it's finally Friday! - for those green eyes above - for warm summerish days - to be going on a mini-vacation in two weeks - for packages of goodies coming in next week (that I ordered this week!) - for my Agapanthus about to bloom any day now - that there's only 2 1/2 weeks of school, homework, etc. left for the year! - for getting to watch Emma at archery

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-84681985349133655522008-04-24T18:05:00.002-04:002008-04-24T15:35:44.848-04:00

How did I end up with a child going into 'high school'? Actually middle school, but it's considered part of high school, and definitely not elementary. Anna graduates next month. There's a ceremony and a party afterwards. And a dress and shoes and gifts. And I'm not ready. I mean, I guess I'm 'ready' as in, we have the dress and I'm working on the gifts. I'm not ready mentally is the thing.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-56142714949179666792008-04-17T18:16:00.001-04:002008-04-17T15:27:41.599-04:00

John M likes to 'I wish' lately. It's his passive aggressive toddler way of stating what he really wants, but won't go the full nine in asking for. He also has a fascination with cops lately, or as he calls them 'po-lice offiters'. At first, he saw them as 'bad guys' and he was afraid of them (probably because I mostly refer to them in fear, like 'Oh s&!#, a cop, let me slow down before they

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-16205096084406854312008-04-06T22:51:00.002-04:002008-04-06T22:55:25.227-04:00

Okay, so I missed 'Grateful Friday' and 'Thankful Thursday', alright? Today was a good day; nothing particularly spectacular happened, but it just felt nice and balanced. That's what I strive for each day, 'balance' and I do appreciate it when I feel like I've achieved it. We spent the weekend in Gonzales at an Arabian horse show that Mark entered one of his horses in. We stayed in my

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-52738990057910875402008-04-01T18:39:00.000-04:002008-04-01T17:04:38.932-04:00

I didn't realize it had almost been a month since I've posted. It's been busy. Anna just wrapped up her softball season, and Emma is just starting hers. Anna's well into the volleyball season, and just made the cheerleading squad for next year. That's all we need, one more thing to do. We had a fishing rodeo last week and John M. loved it. That's where the pic comes from. I've found that Emma

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-43352896398104008982008-03-10T18:36:00.000-04:002008-03-10T14:39:35.172-04:00

The ‘bad mom’ blues have me down some lately. Not on a ‘Mommy Dearest’ level, but just feeling neglectful. I have this continuous feeling that I can’t give everyone what they need. I can give them little bits and pieces of time, and maybe a bigger chunk every now and then, but not enough. I guess there’s never enough time. That’s what it boils down to. Between hauling kids from activity to

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-24441591628764739322008-02-27T06:40:00.000-05:002008-02-27T11:54:04.641-05:00

So, it's almost March, eh? I hope, with March, comes warm weather. Lasting warm weather, not just the little teases we've been getting. Anna's softball season is in full swing now and I don't like to watch ball games with hard nipples. I'd much rather sweat. In other news, my house is in disarray. We had to basically rebuild the front wall of our house because of moisture damage. Which led

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-53191550523372779422008-02-18T00:30:00.006-05:002008-02-18T00:48:12.085-05:00

Drumroll please . . . Cows . . . check Horses . . . check Donkey named Toto . . . check Goats . . . not yet, but any minute now. Mark has goats on the brain. So, tell me, what's a good name for a cute wee goat like this?

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-52879368440684412342008-02-08T21:27:00.000-05:002008-02-08T21:32:36.320-05:00

You know what I've noticed lately? That I spend too much time feeling guilty about not enough time spent with each of my kids. But a little chunk of time with each goes a long way. Today, I spent the day home with John because he was sick. So he got a big piece of my time. I had Mark get Emma from the babysitter's after school b/c I couldn't leave with John. I felt a little guilty b/c I

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-31243119806654980862008-01-25T08:43:00.000-05:002008-01-26T02:26:55.414-05:00

I read Martie's post this morning and decided it was time that I do another one of these myself. I'm thankful for: - my girls' happiness at school. They both basically have nice, good-natured friends who they can count on to help them out and be there when they need them. They've had very little bullying and 'mean-girl' syndrome. - John's daycare caregivers. I've mentioned Sam and Mike

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-25112452690749320112008-01-17T06:29:00.000-05:002008-01-17T09:45:46.416-05:00

Okay, so my mom requested a new post because she's tired of looking at my ass. Since she is one of my total of 10 readers, I'm going to comply with her request. So, does this post have to have a point? I suppose not. What's on my mind lately? Unfortunately, what's been on my mind this week is sickness, death, and the uncertainty of what the future holds. Cheery, eh? The reason for this is news

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-46295209027196703142008-01-07T17:59:00.000-05:002008-01-07T15:02:28.663-05:00

Well, actually it's my kids' ass, but here she is. This is what happens when the kids join Mark at a livestock auction and some yahoo decides to sell a donkey dirt cheap. John named her 'Toto'. She is pretty cute though, don't you think?

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-80572950503317132272008-01-03T17:54:00.000-05:002008-01-03T16:04:36.153-05:00

Happy 2008! (check me out on the left there; I wanted to post a picture of myself for this post and I have so few, so this is it, folks). I've tried to think of an idea for a 'New Year' post, but couldn't really come up with something specific, so I thought I'd just jot down a few things I'd like to work on in the next year (or possibly forever). - being more positive and complaining less. -

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-55540263082353023382007-12-27T23:49:00.000-05:002007-12-27T23:56:07.336-05:00

'A Mom and Her Boy on a Ferry Boat Ride Across the River to get a Christmas Tree That is WAY TOO BIG for their house'. Said tree.'Nuff said? I can't wait to get it out of the house.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14526834.post-51406373250890894902007-12-27T23:44:00.001-05:002007-12-27T23:47:59.912-05:00

At her art party. Guess how old she is?!

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16504027972983568300noreply@blogger.com