Raenette- so blessed

Ready or Not here I come!

2009-05-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

I guess my time away from my dear blogging friends is like a game of hide and seek. Yes, I have been hiding for quite awhile, like 4 months, but I was found just a few days ago when getting "called out" for not blogging anymore. I thought, seriously, the only ones that read this are the ones that I see on a weekly basis so what's the point. My husband then mentioned I used to read it so I knew what was going on because you just don't tell things. So here I am back on base for now, anyway! A lot has really been happening around the Klein household. HMMM let's think back to some of the old blogs.........I'll start with the one titled Who are You? I think that is what it is called, anyway, yes that snotty woman that I spoke of, oh funny story. We had yet another event where she attended with her husband and I got to see a side that showed me just how fake she is. From a lady who looked down upon me about a year ago is now inviting me over for an afternoon swim and cocktails. SERIOUSLY!!!!! It all changed when my precious husband made a speech at a large company function, apparently she found that impressive! She then started making proper conversation with me and somehow it went to politics and how I ran the Republican Women's group at A&M and was a major role for the Aggie's for Bush Campaign. She then invited us to her home for that swim and cocktails. Such a joke! All in all though, that night was great and the party was a BLAST! So here is to you M&S Engineering, HAPPY 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

Here is another update from previous blog titled From Step-son to Son Happy Birthday to my Favorite Teenager: Lawton is now 14!! I can't believe how old he is. He closed one chapter of his life today finishing middle school and started a new chapter as he begins high school. He is a great kid. He is so smart and tender hearted. I think it is pretty funny though that he is way taller than me and his dad. He now is 6 ft and wears a 11.5 shoe. CRAZY!!!! If now we could just put some meat on his bones!

Last but not least, the blog titled, Not Too Cool For School: my BABY finished pre-K yesterday. We had an amazing year with Mz. Lynday! She is such a blessing to our family and to Zane. I am honored to have a woman like that teaching my child. Lance and I explained to him that he had a summer break and wouldn't go to school for 2 months. He cried and didn't want to miss his friends. Yes, that is my social butterfly!!!

So game players, do I need to come find you now? Will you come out of blogger hiding?

Something funny!!!!!

2009-01-12T11:52:00.000-08:00

This was our 1st Sunday in the Emerald Rainbow Family Fun Center for our worship inviting others in the community. As most of you know I am NOT a shy person, but when it comes to speaking in front of crowds I HATE IT!!!!! Since we have started community worship with the children in service they get to have their own little sermon piece that has to be "quick"! I feel that I never get it out right because I'm worried about time and Sunday just felt so uncomfortable doing it. Well if you work with children, you know that it is always better to get down on their level and at our 9:15 service I took a seat on the stage, the mic wouldn't work so I had to scoot back further away from the kids. Apparently I gave the praise and worship crew a crack show and was told about it afterwards. Girls, come on like anytime we sit these days you take the chance of showing the rear. If the fashion police want to make jeans come up a little more I would be happy to wear them but I don't see that happening anytime soon!!! HA!!! I apologized to the men and they were like, "what are you talking about." So at the 10:45 service I tried to stand and it just felt sooooo wrong. I looked back at the band and said, " I'm sorry, but I'm going to sit now." I have no idea if they got another show, but i think it is so funny. Nothing like a little Raenette crack to add to your life!!!

Emerald Rainbow Family Fun Center

2009-01-05T07:57:00.000-08:00

Well, it was long waiting and finally the Emerald Rainbow Family Fun Center opened for business. I think the name is way too long so we have decided to shorten it to the ER. It is not only a a place for children to have fun but adults too. This place has a salon/spa, an organic cafe and the obstacle course is fun for us too. I took Zane with some friends and as long as they let him do the big kid stuff it was fun for him and kept him busy.

Taking a break from jumping and playing trains!

Jamie, is that baby ready yet?
My friends enjoying some girl time while the kids play!

playing trains again and we have a train table at home. I guess they are better at other places

One of our kids on the rock wall!

Going down the slide...what fun!

My good friend, Jen Taylor, on the rock wall!

She's coming down!

If you havn't been to the ER, go visit and bring some extra cash for the bowling and some food. It is so nice to have something like this in our little town. Oh, yeah, and our church meets here now on Sundays. Please come visit Riverside here at the ER at 9:15 or 10:45!!

Good bye 2008 bring on 2009

2008-12-31T08:38:00.000-08:00

2008 was a very blessed year for the Klein family. God blessed us in so many ways. We bought our first home, I started a J O B, Lance was truly blessed within his workplace and a miracle happened....we got 2 dogs! After all the struggle that Lance and I have been through it was like I had to keep pinching myself. God is so good and his love for us endures forever. I praise him for all that he has given to us in 2008. I pray that with our new adventures in 2009 that our Lord will be the center of it all and we will be able to bless people as we have been blessed abundantly. I pray that all of you have a very blessed New Year all year long and that we all continue to seek his face in the good and in the bad.

Rewind from now to November

2008-12-30T06:40:00.000-08:00

I have been really terrible at blogging here lately but I am going to get back on track......here we go! Our lives have been busy and fun since you have heard from me last so here is a rewind. Zane kept asking for roller skates for Christmas, well see for yourself!!!! Lawton kept wanting a camo backpack for an Israel trip that he is saving for. He wants one a lot like Ben's so this is what we could do!

Christmas is also Zane's birthday so of course he had to have a cool birthday cake. He wanted us to sing to him twice and so we did!

Christmas at Bear Creek was nice. It was full of laughter and blood. Poor Aaron..that is what he gets for shooting a gun that is out of his league...just kidding B.I.L.

Zane got a tool set for his birthday morning! What fun to work on projects now with daddy!

Zane also got to celebrate his birthday at school before the Christmas break. Lance and I brought pizza and cupcakes to the children and he felt so special to have us both at his school at the same time. I can't believe he is 4!!!

He is counting 1,2,3 for them to start singing. His teacher is the best ever!! She really is a god sent to our family!!

It snowed here one morning. The day before it was 85 degrees and then it snowed that night...crazy Texas weather. Zane had been praying for snow and I was so excited that it snowed for him to see that God loves us so much he sent us snow!

Every other year we switch off Thanksgiving between my family and Lance's family. This year I got to see a lot of my family. We went to my sister's in Lindale. My grandparents got to see Zane and Zane just loves them. It make me so happy since they only get to see them about once a year! He he is with my nunu and Papaw!

In early November we went with Lance to a conference and then swung by College Station. We ate at the good places and then walked around campus. It was so much fun and people loved seeing Zane with all his Aggie gear! He is a true Aggie through and through and he already bleeds maroon!

Whoop it up!

I hope you enjoyed our whirlwind adventure for the past few months. January is a whole new beginning and I will try to keep up the blogging.

What do the Klein Saturdays look like?

2008-10-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

As a child I remember our Saturdays of getting up early, watching cartoons and I would make coffee for my mom and dad. Saturdays were relaxing! My biggest thing was getting to go to Wal-Mart with my Dad to pick out new bushes to plant. We would go home and my sister Melanie, my mom and dad and myself worked in the yard. My other sister sat in her room and read. We would go to the park for pic-nics with neighbors or friends from church. Our Saturdays were ours. I did play sports growing up but our games were on week nights and so was practice. Of course this was back in the day when teaches and schools realized that kids played sports so not much homework was given. It was also during the time when no homework was given on Wednesdays because most families went to church on that night (that is a whole other blog). It was also a time when there was no select sport teams and playing sports did not run the family. The family ran the sport. I am not shy to say that I do NOT enjoy watching soccer. It is growing on me but it is still by far my least favorite. So years ago I was not happy to find out that Lawton was going to play select soccer for a team in Boerne. Our Saturdays revolve around where and when the game is. I'm not talking one hour but more like 2 not including the traveling time to get to these places. It makes me sad that every Saturday our life our family revolves around this and for Zane this is the only life he knows. Zane doesn't know Saturday pic-nics in the park or Saturday "fun" day. He knows at 3 it is Lawton soccer day. I feel that it takes away from us going as a family to the zoo or harvest fields in the fall, hunting weekends in Freer. Most of you are saying big deal we all have sports on Saturdays, but what you need to understand is that select soccer is year round. Yes, year round!!
As I sit and complain, I couldn't be happier for the soccer player that Lawton has become. I have watched him get more aggressive and fight for the ball for his team. I have seen him get excited for others when they score and I have watched him teach Zane everything that he knows. Zane gets so proud of Lawton out on the fields and yells "Good Job Lawton" at every game. Even though I get bummed with not allowing Zane to do kid things, I see him support and cheer on his Big Brother!

my birthday!

2008-10-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

Well, on October 17th I turned the big 31! Last year Lance threw me a big surprise party, so this year we took it easy. My awesome hubby took the day off so he could treat me to my favorite breakfast place, Le Peep! Lance and Zane took me there for brunch and afterwards we headed to look around at Academy. After a fun morning we came home and I took a long nap. Lance watched Zane so I got about 2 hours of interrupted sleep. Lance and Zane went to Fair Oaks to pick up Lawton; when they returned we went to have dinner at our neighbors. They were so sweet to have steaks and some very tasty sides for a birthday dinner. Debbie was even so kind to have a cake made for me. So very sweet. We are so blessed to have wonderful neighbors.
Leaving there around 9:00, we fed the horses and then went to the San Antonio Airport to welcome home our "family" from Riverside. They had been in Israel/Turkey for 17 days. We were so happy to see them all return home safe and with so much knowledge to share. I loved seeing the children's faces as they saw their mom or dad step off of the plane. That was the perfect way to end my birthday!

Zane trying on silly hats at Academy!

Look at this wonderful sinful chocolate kiss! LOVE IT!!!! Zane drank half of it though!

MOPS CONVENTION

2008-10-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

Mothers of Preschoolers is the Best thing that happened to me when I started staying home with Zane. It gave me sanity because I was so used to working. This is my 3rd year in MOPS and I love it so much I wanted to bless the women that come in just as my dear friend Jen Taylor and Angela Gilbert blessed me. Last year my role was not one I should have taken, but I did learn life lessons from it. I can teach my leadership that it is okay not to get along with people and still make a function happen. I can teach them that we can forgive and learn from that. This year my role is much different and so much less stressful. I am co coordinating with Ruth McClain, an amazing woman, mom and wife! I do not see how this position can be done any other way than working as a team! One of my BIGGEST hang ups about what my position did last year was to raise money for Convention. I refused to go and spend money on a "good time" when we could use that money in so many different ways. After much prayer, others inputs and pushing from others, I decided to register for the Mothers of Preschoolers International Convention held this year in Dallas. Our Bulverde group took 8 women. It was amazing. I don't think any of us knew what to expect or how the Lord would transform us during this time. I just saw out of our group so many things. I got to know people that I saw a whole new light on. I fell in love with these women (not meaning to sound gross). I saw that our group and my life is so very blessed. I learned that we are all MOMMIES and we are here for each other. I learned that I needed to have more grace for people because we have no idea what is going on in their life or in their home. I cried like a baby a lot! The teaching was awesome and the praise and worship was touching. I hope that we can go again next year as a group.

Of course I learned things about the people that I went with...well, I'll tell you about those with the pictures!

OUR HOTEL! IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!!!

THIS GUITAR WAS A TRAIN TRACK. VERY COOL
ONE OF THE PLACES TO EAT. EXPENSIVE JUST LIKE THE COFFEE AND BREAKFAST THERE
IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE GRAND CANYON
OIL DERRICKS!!!!!! I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE RAIDERETTES JUMP OFF OF THIS ONE
RELAXING AFTER ONE OF THE SESSIONS
OH, WAIT, IS THAT ONE OF OUR MOPS MOMS, OH, YEAH, SHE MOVED TO CBC! WE STILL LOVE YOU KATIE!
MORE MOMMIES COMING IN FOR THE SESSION
G O FISH! MOM SONG....YOU ARE A DOCTOR, A COOKER, YOU'RE MAN THINKS YOU'RE A LOOKER
YES, PLEASE DON'T BE JEALOUS BUT THAT IS JACKIE VELASQUEZ AND HER HUBBY FROM SALVADOR

(LEFT) LAURA..HAS A GREAT MINISTRY IN THE FUTURE..THAT IS WHAT SHE LEARNED! (RIGHT) DENISE IS FUNNY WHICH I NEVER KNEW AND SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT HOLLYWOOD GOSSIP

TRACEY..WELL THAT IS STILL TO COME AND JESSICA, MY BMT GIRL, WE WERE TOO MUCH A LIKE IN HIGH SCHOOL
TRACEY....GETTING DOWN TO THE GO FISH GUYS. I HAD TO MOVE SO SHE WOULDN'T KNOCK ME DOWN
LORI KNEW ALL THE WORDS TOO. SHE ALSO HAS SOME MOVES
RUTH LIKES FRUIT BY THE FOOT!!!

WE ALSO CAME BACK WITH LOTS OF ITEMS FROM THE MOP SHOP AND LOTS OF T'S. WE ALL FOUND OUT THAT OUR HUSBANDS ROCK AND THEY LIKE IT WHEN WE SHOW THAT T-SHIRT OFF!! MAYBE THERE WILL BE MORE BABIES IN THE NEAR FUTURE FROM THEM!

Indiana Jones

2008-10-15T13:06:00.001-07:00

Zane went to the Best decked out party EVER!! Of course when I walked in and saw all the decorations and activities, I thought, well, scratch them off our list for Zane's party because it won't be near this good. Just kidding, Melanie, Blake is always welcomed at our house.
Blake is a huge fan of Indiana Jones and he was so cute all dressed up as him. Zane had the best time swinging into the "snake pit", finding minerals and digging for treasure.

This is Case and he is in Zane's class!

Friday Night Fun with the Klein Fam!!

2008-09-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Lance's family came into town for a wedding that we all had to attend. I always love when his brother comes in and stays at our house. Lance really enjoys getting to spend that time with him. We all met for dinner in San Antonio Friday night at a good little Mexican restaurant in Stone Oak. As they ordered their beer as they always do, Germans, I got me a margarita. It came out all fancy!! It was by far one of the BEST Margaritas that I have ever had besides Margarita Sunday's last summer at Karl's.

Lance and his Dad being silly!
Zane loved this place and said,"das ees goot!"

meaning "this is good" but he says it in German every time!
The Klein girls having fun
Gail and her BABY! It is something about the youngest kids. We are way more spoiled!!

Joe McDermott

2008-09-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

Zane loves Joe McDermott. He has the best kid songs and adults love them too. Lance and I both took Zane to see Joe in San Antonio. He was excited to see "the funny guy" but he didn't get down and dance like he usually does. We realized that he was just really tired. He did get excited when he sand his favorite song "Air Guitar"
Zane did get a spider man on his leg though and he didn't want to mess it up the whole time we were there is was so careful with it. When we got home he wanted it off fast because it was burning him. WHATEVER!!!

Lance, Zane and Bradley

Loving to Pretend!!!!

2008-09-05T07:39:00.000-07:00

Zane has a great imagination and I love just listening to it! So this is what he has done this morning.......
His dad made him a rifle out of wood. While I was showering he colored all over it to make it look "camo" and drew and chamber of where and how the bullets go down to shoot really far. I came in the office to pay bills and this is what I hear. SHHHHHH! POW!!!! I shot a deer mom, actually it is a Big Buck. You pretend you are the buck. Fall over. So I followed his instruction. Come on boys, lets skin it now before it gets too hot and our meat ruins. (He skins me at this time) Let's cook him up and eat! Yummy!!!!
Boy, can you tell we are hunters or WHAT!!!!

Second pretend! He gets on the fax phone that is not plugged in to call his daddy and this is what I hear.
"Hey, Dad." Will you bring me a candy? Twix! What? I was a good boy. You aren't bringing me a candy? Oh, my mom says I was a bad boy at school today? BUT DAD I WANT A CANDY!!!!! Bring me one!!! FINE, next time I will be a Good boy!"

I think HMMMM I wonder what he really has been like at school.

Speaking of school...this is grandparents week and they have made the most adorable things and learned the cutest poems. It is awesome! They also learned how to do fire drills and Zane got scared. They kept doing them over and over until he realized it was just pretend and practice. He really thought that she was saying the house was on fire because he asked about our smoke alarms and we told them they go off when there is smoke or fire. He said he didn't want his house to burn down. He was upset. Now I know, even after much explaining by his teacher, why he was so frightened about the alarm going off!

NOT too Cool for School

2008-08-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

Zane has been looking forward to Ms. Lynda's school all summer. Lance and I prayed and prayed that there would be a way for us to send him because one, he was so excited and loved her. Two, we just knew that is where he was supposed to be. After much prayer, the Lord stepped in and provided for Zane's school. Ms. Lynda's school is AWESOME for education, development and spiritually. I love that he is getting fed the WORD everyday not only by us but by a very godly christian woman. She is so amazing that she totally transforms her room into whatever unit that they are doing at that time. The first unit is Construction and that could not have been better for Zane. He loves it and I am so glad. He actually comes home this year and tells us things that they did rather than how he got in trouble or how bad the other kids were. IT is amazingly different. She keeps him engaged the whole time.

one of her centers

their "lockers" and supplies

another center about construction and signs

LOOK HOW WONDERFUL!!!!!!
The kids seem to love this thing!

All Ready to go on his 1st day!

I'm so BIG!
Zane and Stephen
Arrive, sit and Color station
He found his name and his paper with his name. He knew what to do. I was so proud!
What he said on his first day......

"Mom, I want my Dad to take me. You sit in the car, I'll go in."

I replied, "Can I go to? I want to take you with Daddy."

Well, Can I go say hi to Ms. Lynda?

Sure, but then you just leave. I have to go be at school. You can come back later and pick me up.

Today they learned about road signs because we were driving down the road and he said, "mom, there is a yellow yield sign and you need to slow down you are going too fast."

I slowed down and then he said, Ok, we passed it you can go fast again....just until you see another one or STOP sign. OK!

Smarty PANTS!!!!

Two Peas in a Pod

2008-08-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

We LOVE the Fredericksburg Parade and Fair. It is so much fun and "small town". Lance takes off on that Friday and we get there early to get a good spot. Usually at the Nimitz museum but this year we changed our plans, put a kink in "we always sit at Nimitz" with his mom and grandparents by sitting at his uncle and aunts store Soto and Schmidt. It was so convenient. They already had a place reserved for us, snacks, water and we could use their restroom. It was awesome! Zane had been wanting to take a buddy along all week. He asked his friend Riley to go. He also asked Gavin on Thursday night. We said, "Zane, we don't have a car big enough to bring all your friends." He said well, let's got buy one then." HA! Honey, keep praying!
We picked Riley up at 7:45 and headed to German Town. The boys were so good the whole day even when the parade got boring and HOT! After the parade we had lunch with Bopie and Momie and then headed to the carnival. They had a blast and Lance and I really enjoyed having the boys. It was a lot of fun for Zane to bring a friend. It helps when both kids are WONDERFUL......most of the time!

Cooling down with snow cones!
Last stop at the carnival
On the way home right after leaving the parking lot!
Talking to each other on pretend phones!

Way Up There RI!!!!

Waiting for the Parade to begin

Silly BOYS!!
Clownin Around!

Thanks for going Riley, we had FUN!!!!!!

Breaking Traditions!

2008-08-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

I did it and so will my boys!
Lance always participated in the Johnson City Fair and Rodeo as a kid. Whether it was the stick horse races or mutton bustin he was out there. Lawton did the mutton bustin a few years back and last year was Zane's turn to start in the family tradition. He was so cute riding his stick bull, but he cried at every turn. This year I was prepping him for the festivities, but God was prepping Lance in something completely different. This year our church had their annual baptism and back to school bash the same weekend that the rodeo fell and during the same time. I knew it wasn't a hard choice to decide which to go to because we have always gone and we had to carry out the traditions....the rodeo! So about a week or two before the Saturday Lance told me he was wanting to get baptized. AND MISS THE RODEO! WHAT!!!!
I was shocked and floored. I had been waiting for the day for Lance to decide to get baptized ever since the day that he decided to follow Christ wholeheartedly about 7 years ago. He was baptized as a child but wanted to do the "REAL" baptism again. I believe that our church calls it re-dedication. A few nights before he wanted our whole Acacia group (home group from church) to get in the river with him. It was a great time and of course I cried during the whole thing! God is so good!!!

Lance playing with the boys!!

My friend Jen with our friends little boy, Matthew!
See, we do love each other!
Being surrounded by our "family"
and he is UP!!!! I love seeing all of us with each other!

I think there is something so neat about being baptized in water that our heavenly Father created. Our pastor tells a great story about the Jordan River and how it always looks so calm, but it really is rough white water. That is how our lives look, not calm all the time but rough and fast flowing. I love that picture!

My little Rock Star

2008-08-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

Most days Zane wants to be a praise and worship leader like Mr. Glenn at our church. Although, he has been carrying around a little Bible non-stop. He then says he is going to be a preacher like Pastor Scott and have a cool little microphone ear thing that is yellow where he talks. Well, the other day he wanted to be....just watch!

Look Who Came for a Visit

2008-08-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

Last week Zane's Favorite Person in the Whole World came to see us. He was so excited. He said, "Momma, I'm going to build a castle for my little princess, Laney Bug."

I hate that these pics didn't go in order, but this was our Bug after spending a few hours with us!
Here is our Bug as soon as she got here. Zane was soooo excited. She is sitting up now and even......

Crawling. She turns for a pose though. Is this a Little Princess or WHAT!!
Ms. Kendra even brought Snogit for us. Jolyon and Zane had a great time playing with each other. Zane misses seeing them everyday!
Zane was worried that Laney would get hurt crawling around and pulling up on his chair.
Playing in Zane's room. We are so glad you came over and played. Zane did ask Kendra if she was leaving and she said no. Zane said well, I think you should and leave Laney Bug with us!
Hopefully one day soon dear Zane you will have a sister of your own and she will never leave even when you want her too, but we can only hope she is as happy and beautiful as your precious Laney Bug!!!!

COWBOY UP!!!!!

2008-08-11T13:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have no cowboyness (is that a word) in me. Lance on the other hand is a man with lots of aches and pains due to his earlier cowboy days. He rode bulls and bareback horses so I guess this is where Zane gets it and it leads to this...
I told Zane to go get dressed because we were going to church and minutes later he comes out with this......

I died laughing and he asks, "Can I wear this Please, to church?"
How could I deny it. Shorts, John Deer boots, cowboys belt with holster and gun, baseball shirt, and cowboy hat. SO ridiculous but cute. He then says he is going to be in rodeos like Daddy was. I have not decided to break is little heart yet by telling him that the only thing he will be doing in rodeos is riding the stick horse races or the man in the truck picking up the barrels. After all the aches and pains that his Daddy has, I'm sure he would agree!
Look at him though, what a natural little cowboy. Oh, and so charmful with that smile tipping his hat to the Ladies. Oh, my we are in for it!!!!!

Summer... Summer..... Summer.... Time

2008-08-09T11:13:00.001-07:00

Our summer has been full of fun but very relaxing! No running here and there and everywhere. AND thank the good lord above NO SOCCER!!! Here is a little of what we have been up to or things that I have seen that just captured my heart!

Gary Gilbert...What a great tree to climb right above his mom and throw leaves in her hair. I love watching boys be boys!

Look at these two! Always laughing it up and being silly. Just wait until I put them doing the worm together one night at Acacia....Priceless!
Jen Taylor...what you can't see is her name tag that one of her boys made her that says I LUV My Mom. She had it on all day and wore it into Buck and Ozzy's! Proud Momma!
Angela Gilbert's Mom and Dad. YES, they put up with ALL of us and our kids. WE love them!
Somehow most of the kids from Acacia all seemed to be able to have a spot on the Gator! Be careful Logan, you just ran into Gary and now he is on your hood!
Zane can swing ALL BY MYSELF, MOM!!
Showing his rear...that is what he does best
He loves the tire swing
We FINALLY had a little rain. Ethan Heare had a ball playing in the rain at church. It was such a joy to watch him discover this. The excitement on his face and the desire for more and more of what he had just discovered.
Thank you, Jesus for the rain so I could see this!

Lots of swimming.

BIG ARMS!! BIG ARMS!!!
Being a Ham
Look Miss Lizzy, I'm going under!
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Happy summer to all and we only have 2 more weeks of summer fun left......I guess it will be welcome back to reality.....dinner at 5:30, bed time AGAIN, School Again and boooo Soccer Again!!

PUPPY LOVE

2008-08-07T18:45:00.000-07:00

On July 3oth I took Zane and Lawton to the last day of the summer reading program. There was a storyteller there and he was AMAZING!!! Lawton was even in one of his stories. When leaving we were stopped by some nice ladies there with FREE kittens. They were so cute and Lawton, Zane and I wanted to take one home especially since we just had a snake in our garage. I thought that would be the PERFECT excuse to give Lance when asking if we could have one, but no such luck. We were all sad when Daddy said no to the kitten, even though we expected that to be his answer. After a few hours Lance then said he was throwing up the idea of getting a dog. WHAT! I thought! I better jump at this chance now. So, I went to look up dogs in shelters on the Internet. There were a few that I found and called about all that same day. Thursday came along and then I came across this adorable pic......

After seeing this precious face I fell in love. I immediately thought her name should be Sugar after the name of the dog in Lance's made up story he tells Zane. I showed it to Lance when he got home and he said that dog's name should be Sugar. I thought the same thing I told him. We all went to Canyon Lake animal Shelter to take a look at the pup. Her story was that she was dropped off a puppy herself with a litter of pups. Two later died, one was adopted out and one was still there when we went to look at this one. The shelter had name her Puppy. After seeing how Zane would relate to her since he hates dogs; we knew she was a fit for the Klein family. She was so sweet. It was Puppy love for all of us or should I say Sugar love. We signed the papers and took her to her new home.
She was very sad at first and lonely. This is where she went to hide and didn't come out for a long time! We were concerned she didn't like us!
She came out a little. She liked running around outside but getting cool inside! Zane loved giving her treats every 2 hours. We found out she doesn't bark and she is fully house trained. It is amazing. This is WAY better than having to deal with a puppy. Oh, Zane loves her b/c she doesn't jump or isn't hyper. She is the Perfect first dog for him. She fits right in to our family and we LOVE her!! I'm FINALLY not the only blond chick in the house now!!!
See how comfy she is now. She finally feels at home on her own little dog pillow. Too sweet. Oh, and Lance even likes her being inside. Now that is a miracle!!

What we were up to in July

2008-08-07T18:09:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry I haven't posted in like FOREVER!!!!! We have been very busy. July is our month to have Lawton for the summer and it was fun even though he got aggravated with Zane a lot but hey; that is what siblings do.... right? Since my last post we went to Dallas to see Lance's brother and on our way home we took a detour to Stephenville to visit Lance's college, Tarleton State University. Lance wanted to show me around and show it to the boys. Lawton wasn't that impressed, but what 13 year old is. Zane thought it was cool that his Dad went to college without his mom and dad. I asked tons of questions that really had no answers to them. I'm so used to everything on a college campus having a story behind it...Gig'em Aggies! It was neat to see that part of my husbands life. I will post pics of Dallas later, but for now here is Tarleton!

This cannon had a story!!

Same CANNON!!!!
I thought this Sign was Cute!
NO Story!!
Mr. Tarleton, Lance and Zane

A Terrified MOM and a Happy little BOY

2008-07-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

After waiting FOREVER to take Zane to the dentist, I decided to go ahead and be a "good" parent and do what was right even though I SO DID NOT WANT TO. Let me just start by saying I HATE the dentist. I would much rather go see my OB/GYN than go to a dentist. Getting the point? I have not been to a dentist in 5 years. My teeth are horrible and I'm okay with that b/c anyone who wants to stick a needle in my gums is just pure evil. Oh, and the smell and sound of them drilling with those tools is just awful and is like death to my ears and nose! BUT being the "responsible" parent I decided to suck it up and try to make it a fun experience for Zane. I talked it up! The dentist is going to make your teeth look pretty like the lady who cuts your hair makes your hair look pretty. He fell for it hook line and sinker! He was stoked about going to get his teeth looking pretty. Wednesday morning he had his 1st dentist appointment at 10:00. I was so nervous that I had an upset stomach and the shakes....I know so ridiculous..but true. Zane was excited.

As we arrived, I walked into a place like out of a story book. This was the coolest dentist office that I have ever seen. I might like going to the dentist if I had one like this growing up or heck even now! There was a theme for everything. Zane was a little overwhelmed and asked for me to hold him. As I held him while filling out the papers, I wondered if he could feel my sense of nervousness for him. I put it all aside and tried to act like the obnoxious 1st time mom who was so excited about his 1st visit even though it was killing me inside. I got out my camera, started acting like a tourist and playing with all the toys in the place. Zane then started having a great time. Our 1st station was X-Rays. He did great and he loved that the room looked like space. He got 2 stickers and we were off to the next station. Cleaning was totally cool. He chose a tooth brush. He told the hygienist that the cleaning felt good to him. He got another prize. Now we waited for the Dr. I thought we were in the clear by this point but no such luck. She came to "count" his teeth to tell me that he had a cavity. What!!!!! I totally did not expect this. We were having such a great time until now. Lady you can go back to where you came from. Of course all of this was running through my mind. Not my baby, I thought again. She then explained all the NEW RULES to me. I have failed as a parent and my baby has a bobo on his tooth. He got his last prize, we sat up the next appointment to have it filled and I walked out of there with the new anxiety that our next visit wouldn't be so much fun and cost a lot more!

What did I learn? Zane will not have hard candy, gummy things, lemonade or sugar gum from his precious Oma. I got in the car and Zane said, "that was fun lets do it again!" I explained to him that the dentist saw a bobo on his tooth and that he couldn't have the things that I had mentioned above. Poor Zane all the fun junk as a kid is gone!! Oh, but wait, there is always cookies, ice-cream and snow cones!! He still can't wait to go back. So thank you Stone Oak Pediatric Dentistry for a positive and happy environment so my child won't be like me!

Futures looking Bright....Got to Wear Shades!
These protected him from the bright light

It is all smiles before the Dr. arrives

Warming up to the place

Oh, he found something that he could drive
Opening wide to see those pretty teeth
A new tooth brush..totally cool
Chillaxin..after the cleaning

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

2008-07-10T08:56:00.001-07:00

Our 4th was not very eventful but it was fun and relaxing. My sister, Jamie, and nephew, Noah, came in to see our new home. My mom and dad came down too. It is always nice to have my family around since I don't get to spend that much time with them anymore. I'm sure our visits will be even more fewer and far between because of the price of gas.
During the day we hung out at the house and down by the river for a little while. The kids had fun and the adults relaxed. Later that evening we headed to Boerne for the Fireworks. They were great and it was a long show. I could not believe how many people were on the streets and along side of the road for the show. It was a fun and safe 4th!

Me and the boys being silly

My sister Jamie and her son Noah
Me and Zane watching the fireworks
The boys just being stupid
Waiting for the show to begin
The teens just chillin
My mom and dad with Zane
My mom watching Zane be a dork
Me and my hot hubby

Zane at the river trying to catch a frog

Lance was thirsty. He decided to take a big drink right after Zane just peed.

Just Kidding!!!!
My daddy watching his grandkids have fun..Oh and Lance too
Zane took this pic
My mom and dad again with their youngest grandkid

Independent Little Man

2008-06-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

Zane was gone for 9 whole days. It was a nice break but I really started missing him around day 7. Although he said he missed me and asked for me at times, he was not ready to come home. After being at my sisters for 5 days and my parents for 4, I thought for sure he would be ready to come home to be with his mom and dad. I met my mom in Columbus to pick Zane up and have a little lunch before we headed back on the road again. I was so excited to see him and he ran to me, jumped in my arms and gave me a huge hug and kiss. He talked non stop about all the fun he had with his aunt Melanie, his cousins and his NUNU and DA. He was so excited and had to tell me everything fast and made sure that I was listening and looked interested. He was cracking me up. He held my hand into Schoebles and in the line to get our food. He usually never does that. He kept telling me I looked cute and that he loved me. After we ate it was time to switch over all of the things that he took there and all of the new things that he acquired (thanks Caleb and Chrystian)! Before we got into our car he said, "Ok, Mom I got to see you. I want to go back with Nunu again." Dear baby boy, your dad would have been so upset if I wouldn't have brought you back home.

I am so glad that he is able to go away and have fun with his grandparents, aunts and cousins without me always being there. I truly don't think he would be able to be so independent and courageous as he grows up without these experiences. As parents we have to allow our children to spread their wings and fly even when it is killing us inside. 9 days was a long time for me and I didn't think he would be able to make it, but he did and is ready to go back again WITHOUT MOMMY, he says!

A few funny things he said on the trip was:

Melanie, I'll start calling you Ant Melanie. She said OK and he said FIRE ANT MELANIE!!

He wouldn't get dressed one day and my mom said what are you going to do then. He said drink coffee and sit around all day like my mom does.

Getting in a fight with his cousins and then saying, "Do it again and see what happens!" (the other boys are 12,11, and 9)

Seeing a overweight person at the snowcone stand and telling Melaine that the lady had a baby in her tummy. My sister had to explain the concept of being overweight. He then told my mom that there was a baby in her tummy even after the explanation. Nunu laughed and said no that is just FAT.

The pictures are the things that he did at my sisters.

WHILE THE KIDS AWAY THE PARENTS SHALL PLAY

2008-06-23T12:57:00.001-07:00

On June 15th Lance and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary; it happened to be Father's Day as well. So, not much kissy kissy was going on that day, but this week we have more than made up for it!! Let's just say we celebrated our honeymoon. Last Monday I took Zane to Waco to meet my sister, Melanie, and my nephew, Caleb. He stayed with them from Monday until Friday. Friday he went to my mom and dad's to get spoiled some more. I will pick him up in Columbus on Wednesday and I can't wait to see my little man. I sure have missed him, but I have enjoyed my time with my husband as well.
I think it is so important in a marriage that a husband and wife continue to spend time together and grow with one another rather than apart from each other. As a wife and mom I get so caught up in being the mom that I forget how to be the wife at times. I once heard from a christian marriage counselor that the children are a welcomed guest in your marriage. I love that statement. One day our children will grow up and have their own lives and we are stuck with this individual that we once knew so well but have to get to know all over again if we continue to stay wrapped up only in our children's lives. Like I said this is hard for me. I have trouble turning off the "Mommy Switch" most of the time to be the woman that my husband desires. This time alone has been so good for me because it has taught me that I need to learn to separate the two. I know it will not be easy but I can try.

So your asking, is that all you two did? Absolutely NOT. We took walks together, sat in the river and talked, danced in the garage, had no interruptions at dinner, went out with friends, watched movies and just spent time together.

My favorite day of all with out Lance was sitting on my back porch while it rained reading a book and having a glass of wine. My favorite day with Lance was chillaxin at the River. While Zane is off making memories with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, I'm making memories with the man I love and my best friend.

What you are called to at an early age

2008-06-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

This past Friday our MOPS group had our Planning Retreat for the year. I have been so excited to be part of this group and this year to Co-coordinate with an amazing person. I was having doubts on myself if I could lead this group to be successful. Before the meeting started I spent time praying for our group and my abilities. God never speaks to me about me or I don't listen. He usually speaks to me about others and in dreams, but never directly to me about me. As I began to question myself God reminded me about when I was younger planning and leading family activities and picnics in our local parks. I was so young and I had completely forgotten about those times. He told me that at a young age I was a leader and a planner. He had called me to be those things and not to fear for fear is of the Devil and with God all things are possible. He totally "Wowed" me. Sitting and reflecting on that, I began to think about the characteristics of my son, Zane. What does he do and act to show me what God has called him to do. He loves music with all of his heart and soul. He is truly gifted. He sings, plays the guitar and drums and is good at it. He is a social butterfly and compassionate for those truly ill and for people that he loves. He loves babies. He loves to make people laugh. He loves words of praise and encouragement. I believe that is one of his love languages. I have no idea what God is calling him to do, but I do believe that it is great and mighty things for his kingdom. When he was born I believe that Satan tried to destroy his life , but God did not allow it. In my heart I feel that his love for music and people is what his ministry will be. I look forward to watching the Lord mold him and shape him into what he wants for him and what he has called him to be. One day may my son look back and the Lord speak to him to reassure him that God called him at an early age!

Girl's Night Out

2008-06-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Finally seated waiting for the movie to begin!

Waiting in line to be seated
Denise and Leona
Leona and Linda
Denise, Leona and Me

Denise and her sweet Mom Janie

Sandy and Kendra
Me and Leona
Toasting to a night out Sandy, Kendra and Me
It is Starting soon
Well, the M&S Girls had a night of team building for themselves. The wives of the company that Lance works for all decided to get together for dinner and a movie. Some of us brought some more girls along for it was a "girls night in the city." We had a great time getting out of the house and away from kids. We enjoyed a meal at PF Chang's. The best part was that we didn't have to cut any one's food up and remind them to take one or two more bites. It was relaxing. Then all of us headed to see the much awaited for SEX IN THE CITY. Because I have watched most of these on TBS now, I had forgotten about all of the scenes that well, I could have lived without. The movie was long and the story line was ok. Beginning of the movie was great they just dragged it out way too long. All in all though, it was a movie with all the girls and I didn't have to get up to take anyone to the bathroom. Let's do it again M&S WIVES!!!

Zane's Last Day of School

2008-06-09T07:48:00.001-07:00

Zane had his last day of school on the 30th of May. He doesn't quite understand that he has to take time off from school. He really enjoyed this Art Time class. He tested his teacher a lot though. Next year we want to put him in a different school if we can afford it. We are praying hard for this to be possible. Zane is the type of person who will enjoy school; I just haven't figured out if he likes it for the social aspect of it or the learning.

Zane getting his end of the year medal

Zane with his classmates and teacher
Playing the Drums
The Boys: Zane, Hunter and Dillon
Listening very Intently

Fun Filled Week

2008-05-28T17:42:00.000-07:00

First I want to apologize to everyone for not taking my camera along because we had so much fun. Last Friday Zane went to stay with his Opa and Oma and he says they had a great time. Lance and I went to all of Lawton's soccer games. 7:30 in the a.m. seems so early for games but it sure does beat the heat. They played fantastic and we had two games on Saturday and three on Sunday. They won second place for the whole tournament. It was so great to see those boys win for a change. With a new coach and positive attitudes that team will do great next season. Lawton has gotten so much better. His ability to move the ball and get aggressive is outstanding. Between games Lance and I decided to go for an appetizer and some COLD beverages at Chuy's and then we headed to a movie to kill some time. May I suggest a great date night movie is What happens in Vegas. It was so cute and very funny. Sunday 7:30 game, then church, then game again. We were busy busy. Sunday night we had a SPURS party and that was a lot of fun too; it helped that we rocked the house Sunday night with a huge win. GO SPURS GO!!!!!! Monday we recovered down at the River park with friends and had a great time. Zane and his little buddy Gavin played very well together. Zane is a little River Rat. He loves to float and he's so not afraid of the water. That can be a good and bad thing. Tuesday comes along and I thought...finally we get to start recouping from our busy weekend. Not so much. Some friends of ours invited us to the Spurs playoff game against the Lakers. Who could say no to that! We found a sitter ( Thanks Ang and Chris. Zane loved his first sleepover and loves hanging out with Riley.) We had dinner out and then game was on! We were 3rd row behind the SPURS!!! How awesome is that! I felt like a kid in a candy store. So much fun! It was very disappointing that they lost but it was a great game. GO SPURS GO!!!!! Today, well, lets see I'm exhausted from all of these late nights and crazy days. Once Saturday gets here maybe I can slow down.

Who are YOU?

2008-05-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

Last night was a night that I was looking forward to. I would be meeting people that my husband and his co-workers have been entertaining for business purposes. Of course this time all the wives were invited. As we arrived I began to get very nervous. Lances boss asked me what was wrong because he could see it all over my face. This is so normally NOT like me! He got me a drink to calm my nerves and then I finally saw a friendly face. This other woman and myself began to catch up on things and then it was time for dinner. I sat across from one of the men and his wife who I was told were "good" people. Lets just say that most of these men were not of the most moral high standard. The "good" man and his wife asked the ultimate famous question that seems to be the norm when meeting someone. "WHAT DO YOU DO?" I dread that question now. Of course my reply was, " I stay at home with my son who is 3." I make sure that I no longer use the words "I'M JUST A STAY AT HOME MOM" Of course my words didn't seem to transform their thoughts of me since I was the only woman at the table who JUST STAYED HOME. I felt as if I had to justify myself. I started rambling on and on about where I attended college, how I taught school for 6 years before WE decided for me to stay home. I felt as if I had something to prove b/c I was inadequate. One lady even had the nerve to say so you just stay home with ONE. I then replied, yes but we have 2 children. Then she acted more interested when I said he was 13. Oh, well, my husband is a step too. He and Lance just have more in common. I was puzzled. No ma'am, I'm the step mom. Oh! was her shocking reply. I then realized that she was just trying to make small talk with me and she really didn't care. These women talked about their travels here and there and everywhere!!! They discussed expensive restaurants, designer clothing, who knows who and again traveling to different countries. For the first time I felt like a loser!!! As we traveled back home, (which our neighborhood was also frowned upon) I discussed my feelings with Lance. It seems there are two different ways to look at SAHM:
1. Oh, so what does your husband do so you are able to stay at home. You are able to stay home and raise your children instead of daycare. VERY NICE and BLESSED!
2. Oh, you do nothing but sit on your ass all day and eat bon bons. You don't work or have your own thing. Well, who are you if you don't have a job.

After crying myself to sleep last night in my hubby's arms because I felt so inadequate and lonely and stupid. I woke up this morning realizing that I am not going to let those fake people bother me. What your job is does not say WHO you are. That is WHAT you do! If God wants me to see Rome one day then he will and he won't make me go broke doing it. I am a child of God. A woman who lives every single day loving her husband and son the best way she knows how right now. I am a person that God has called to love on his people and bring the kingdom of heaven to those who are hurting. I am bold, strong, blunt, loving, caring, compassionate, and smart, even though I JUST STAY HOME!

From Step-son to Son-Happy Birthday to my Favorite TEENAGER!!!!!!

2008-05-20T14:40:00.000-07:00

Lawton, where should I even begin? What a joy you are to be around; to laugh with and AT! When you were 7 we didn't get along much, ok, at all. As you have grown and as I have learned to be a better mom (thanks to Zane) I have a true love for the person that you are and look forward to the man that you will become. You are sarcastic, tender hearted, great with kids, love God, smart, handsome, and I could go on and on. I remember when we would say that we hated one another, boy how times have changed. I LOVE YOU with all my heart.
It has been 6 years since I became your step-mom and we both have changed so much. I look at you and see a very bright boy changing into a young man. You have touched my life and made me love you for you. I am so glad that we have gotten closer. Your love and friendship mean the world to me. I enjoy the talks that we share and when you open up your heart to me about even the smallest things. I love to watch you replay what you learned in youth on Sunday morning, your whole face lights up. I love to watch you hang out with your friends that you have made here. I love to watch you show Zane tricks on the trampoline. I love to watch you sing and jam out to your i pod. I love to watch you just grow into the person that you are. You now have your own ideas and thoughts and even though some may be a little weird b/c your 13 they are YOURS! We mold you and give you advice but all in all you are the type of person who knows what they want, they just need reassurance sometimes. As I watch you, I think you are too hard on yourself. You are insecure about things. I pray that you will find that security within yourself through God. You are very bright. You will make mistakes along the way, but you will learn from them and we will be right here to lift you up and catch you. You are very blessed to have so many people in your life who love you. 4 parents, could you get any luckier, and we all love you!!
Your teen years will be so much fun. Enjoy them full speed ahead! Look forward and don't look back. Make memories to last a lifetime. Oh, and you can stop growing now b/c you are already taller than your dad and Uncle Aaron!!! You can grow some more later. I love you my favorite 13 year old! Lawton and Uncle Aaron (above)
Lawton with his friends at 13 b-day party (below)
Lawton making Zane smile in the ER after Zane broke his leg
Me and Lawton 2 years ago at the Rodeo
Lawton and Zane at the Alamo in March 2008

Lawton last summer at the River
Lawton's soccer last season
Lawton with his Dad and Mom
Lawton with his new braces cleaning my mower for me

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

Lance with Oma Klein, Steve Klein, and Aaron Klein

My Mom and Dad Mother's Day last year!

Gail with her two boys and below being silly

Momie, Donna's Mom, Oma Klein, Gail, Donnas two sisters, Donna, Me and Zane

ME and My cutie patootie

As we always do, Mother's Day is usually split. One year we go see my mom and the next we stay here with Lance's mom. This year it was his turn to share time with her and celebrate her being his mom. On Saturday Lance's parents decided to come to our new home so we could honor just her without grandparents being around. Lance and Aaron cooked for us and it was wonderful. We also had great dessert that we bought for ourselves from Costco. The men had it easy and their clean up wasn't so hard either.

On Sunday we slept late and headed to Fredericksburg to honor ALL the moms in the family. We had a nice time and it was short and sweet. After lunch we hung out at Bear Creek for the afternoon. Lance and I didn't have Zane with us and we went down to the creek to check things out. We saw so many snakes. Lance got a gun and we started shooting at the ones we would see. He killed 4 snakes in the swimming hole. We NEVER see snakes down there like that. The only kind of good snake is a dead one! All in All we had a nice time.

On other notes....I would just like to say thank you to my mom who is my hero! She taught me how to love Jesus and be who I am today. She never stopped praying for me even when she was madder than hell at me for the things that I would do. She taught me how to forgive and be who God called me to be. She taught me to love myself and be secure in who I was. She taught me that just because life gets hard doesn't mean you give up; you pray! She is so wise and full of spiritual life you just want to soak up at all times. I am so proud to have a mom who now is my friend. I love you!!!

Now, for my second mom, Gail, Lance's mom. I am so blessed to be part of your family. I thank you for giving me a man who knows how to love me and care for me. He is so genuine and he gets that trait from you. You have raised a man who is wise and doesn't take his children for granted. You have never treated me like an outsider or just the wife. Thank you. I enjoy spending time with you, shopping with you, sitting on the porch with you and just talking. You have given me another mom since mine is so far away. Thank you for being a wonderful Mother-in-law! I love you.

Favorite Things

2008-05-08T06:45:00.001-07:00

To buy a little more time in the bed after Zane comes to wake me up, we play different games. This morning it was "What is your Favorite ___________?" I found this quite interesting because half of what I thought he would say was sooooo not the answer I thought. WOW! Do I even know my own child? OK so now I know because I asked. I think that I do that a lot; I just assume the answer when I really should have asked the person the question. I think I avoid asking a lot because I don't want to be bothersome or I want them to think that I already just know. I guess I can always learn a thing or two from my three year old. Don't ASSUME. ASK!

OK, well our game went like this:

What is your favorite food?
Answer: POPCORN
I thought hummm didn't know that one. I thought taco

Shirt?
Soccer one
I thought, what I hate soccer, please choose something else. Let's just move right on

Candy?
All, but I don't like peanuts
That one I knew

Drink?
Chocolate and Vanilla shake from Snogit (SONIC-Zane language)
I thought, anything my mom is drinking because I ALWAYS still hers

Game?
Pooter HERMIE (Computer games-Zane language)

Toy?
gun
I thought it would be a tractor

Thing to do at Ms. Lilia's (pre-school)
Play on the Playground

Thing at Ms. Linda's ( a wonderful pre-school teacher who is opening up an in home pre-school; so awesome)
Learning about the rain with the rice

Person in the whole world
Laney
Of course I was expecting my name right at that moment

Color
Green
I knew that one

Here is Zane with Laney; his favorite person in the whole world!!!

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO

2008-05-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

Living close to San Antonio is like a whole new world sometimes. Where I grew up I don't remember anyone celebrating days like these, but now I live in the Good Ole Hill Country and well, I have experienced a whole new culture! So in celebrating this special holiday, Zane and I had a little Fiesta Party of our own.

He loves hot sauce and chips! It was actually really hot too and he gobbled it up! I love watching him eat spicy food; he just inhales it. He doesn't have much of a choice considering when I was pregnant with him all I ate was hot sauce and jalapenos!

Here is my little Davey Crockett. Nothing to do with today, but well the Alamo is in San Antonio and he refused to put the gun down while I was trying to get this picture!

From National Day of Prayer to My Prayer

2008-05-01T19:54:00.000-07:00

Today I met my husband with Zane and Laney (little baby I'm keeping for now) at our churches tent behind our favorite coffee shop The LOFT. We were there joining others in our community for the National Day of Prayer. We were gathered with so many during this time around our nation to pray for our leaders, our children and our communities. It was really great to hear other pastors in the area speak about their hopes and prayers for our community. I listened to one women speak of children and being an inheritance and how we should listen to little children for they truly know so much about our heavenly father. It is so true!! How Dads should rise up in our homes and be the Godly man that their children see and spend time with them. It was amazing! I spoke out loud, "YES!" I then realized that I was the only one speaking back to this woman and decided to just close my mouth which is really hard for me to do most of the time.

After getting home and doing my busy work around here, I began to pray for the men in our nation. I prayed that they would rise up and be the great fathers that God is to us. This issue has been tugging at my heart a lot lately as I hear women speak of their husbands as fathers and the relationships or lack there of with their children. I know lots of women who feel guilt for asking the dad to watch the kids while she does something on her own or even giving them baths and putting them to bed. It truly saddens me to know that these men are not the fathers that God called them to be. He called them to be an active role in their child's life. After Lance got home I told him about this and some things that I was thinking about doing and he thought it was a great idea. His heart and he knows that his calling is to help new dads or just dads in general find who they are and what they are supposed to be. How they are supposed to help in every way with their child. Lance got a taste of not having his oldest around and missed out on baths, bedtime, homework, reading, and dinner every night. He said this is what men take for granted because he did too until his divorce. He is very involved in parenting and watching Zane. I truly am blessed and I pray that other dads will get on board. I pray that they will want to be the Father to their children like our heavenly Father is to us. He wants to spend time with us!!!

A woman's work is never done!

2008-05-01T19:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, so as I sit here and type may I just add that my 3 year old just got out of bed and said, "Mom, don't be mad , I just need to go potty." He went to the potty, pulled his pants back up and said, " Goodnight, I love you." He then closed his door and went back to bed. That was a proud Mommy moment.

On other notes......since we have been in our new home it seems like I never just "sit" anymore. Our house has doubled in size and I stay so busy. I am constantly cleaning and well, there are still boxes and rooms that need some serious help. I finally feel like those women who never stop. I absolutely love yard work and I didn't get to do much of that before, but now we have this awesome yard that needs some extra care too. It is so great to be busy in our own home. I am loving every second of it. Yes, even the mowing too! We have some BIG plans for our backyard and I am so the type who would like to get it all done RIGHT NOW!! I'm a little OCD by the way when it comes to certain things. I know that it will just take time and well, more money than we have right now. I look forward to seeing the finished product of what our dream yard will be, probably right before we decide to sell and move to our 1000 acres that my hubby dreams about finding. THEN MY WORK WILL TRULY NEVER BE DONE!!!!!

BLESSINGS FROM ABOVE

2008-04-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

Where do I begin. Some of you may know my story and some well, never would have imagined, but here we go........
I was married in 2002 to a wonderful man. He worked as a hydrologist (WATER) and was not the happiest at his job. I was teaching at a local middle school in special education and hated some of the people I worked with greatly. I was a new wife, new mom to a 7 year old who didn't like me much nor I him, and in a depressed state because of people that influenced my job. My husband was stuck in the middle. After much prayer and a change in a department still within special education we became very happy and very involved in the youth group where we attended church. We surrounded ourselves with good christian people and our lives began to change for the better. All was well or so I thought.

Lance had a dream to start up a woodworking and leather company. I was scared but he said that god had told him to do this. After much fear and complaining was resolved for the most part, I gave Lance my blessing to start his company. He named the company HE and I Creations because he said the Lord gave him that name. He worked until his 2 weeks notice and we found a place for him to use as a shop. It was out of a widows home where her husband had done the same thing. The tools and the building were all included in our rent. We got a small business loan, had cards made and I began to find shows for us to attend. We were going full ahead. Lance loved working with his hands and he was so talented and good at what he had done. I was so proud of his work, but we were not selling things and we did not have the money for marketing as we should have. We were slowly going into debt. The woman's nature in me allowed fear to return because we like stability, right? This was by far the most unstable job. I was still teaching but hardly making ends meet. Literally, after paying rent and some other bills we did not have money for food. We still had faith that god would provide because after all he told Lance to start this business. During this time my sister and brother-in-law worked at a food bank and we would get a lot of food from them. Dry milk anyone? We only ate deer meat because we had killed it and processed it ourselves. We were broke. Very broke!! We lived on credit cards and my small paycheck at this time was only 1000 a month because I had not finished the masters program that I had started. I was kicking myself and I began to get very resentful of Lance for putting me through the "poor house." We fell behind on EVERYTHING. One thing was that we never stopped tithing and God always seemed to get us food, pay our rent and all utilities. The major things it takes to live were paid and we seriously didn't know how. GOD IS GOOD!!!!

One morning on my way to work, Lance was sitting at our kitchen table and I just plainly said, please call that man that you had contact with months ago for a job. Just see if he has anything for you. I then walked out the door. I cried a lot during this time, but our marriage was actually good believe it or not. I was just unhappy with the situation and I know now that I did resent him for starting that business. When I got home that afternoon he told me he was meeting David for lunch and an interview. I was so excited, but just listen to just how good god is. When Lance called him David said, Lance I was in the shower this morning and God told me to call you but you beat me to it. He offered Lance a job and it was a miracle and a HUGE answer to our prayers!

We were still in debt and owed lots of money back, but we knew we would make it. Our credit was shot but GOD always seemed to provide for us. Oh our cars would brake down and we seemed to always get the money to have them fixed! It was amazing. Lance joined the Givler Engineering team and worked there for 3 years. During that time he received huge raises and we got prego with Zane. More debt came with Zane because of his long stay in the hospital. God still provided.

With much faith we followed God's command again and I started staying at home when Zane turned a year old. We didn't know how we would make it on Lance's income with a baby and I held our insurance for the family. All I can say is that God knows everything. Two months after I started staying home Lance gets a call from another company for him to work there. He was offered the same pay with benefits and it was only 13 miles away from our CONDO instead of 35 miles. He decided to take it and has thrived at M&S Engineering. He is so smart and I am so proud for what he has accomplished there.

During this time I learned how to fix our credit and all the tricks that you can do to fix it, put ourselves on more of a budget. I started fixing our credit in April of 2005. Let's just say it was really really really bad. I brought it up over 200 points within 2 years. We were still living in the same condo that I moved into when I got out of college and began teaching. We lived there for 7 years. There was no upkeep ever done on the place unless we complained enough. The pipes growled at us, the mold was horrible, the faucets continuously dripped, the deck was unstable, the carpet was shot, nothing ever looked clean but it was a roof over our heads. We decided to take a leap of faith and try to buy a home in a neighborhood where a lot of our friends live, closer to Lance's work (7 miles), closer to our church, and Zane's school. We knew we were supposed to be in this one neighborhood, not sure why. We found a home that we loved that was in our price range and with long waiting and the help from the Lord we were able to buy our first custom home. Everything that we prayed for for years is in this home. It is amazing to look back and think of all the things that we prayed for and see them in this area and in this home. This is not our home, but the Lords for he is just letting us live here. He gave it to us to use for his kingdom to offer our home in times of need. I thank him for providing for us during the hard times, but we now know he brought us through those times so that we may appreciate more and all the little things in life that people take for granted...like clean clothes and dishes and a garage and a nice yard and no screaming pipes, toilets that work, food on the table and a safe place to be!!!!!

We never would have imagined that we would ever be able to buy a home after what we had been through, but with the help of our Savior and him putting the right people in our path, we were able to buy our first home!

Praise you Father for our new home! Praise you for the life lessons you taught us that got us here!

OUR Rights and OUR Choices

2008-04-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

Sitting today and watching the oh so lovely news that I get to rarely see because I usually am subjected to Mickey Mouse or Handy Manny, I noticed that it had been the year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings. It just doesn't seem that it happened a year ago. I was surprised that a whole year has gone by since that horrible day. It saddened me all over again. As I continued to watch, I noticed how universities around my area were "remembering" that day and "honoring" VT students and their families. One university was holding a moment of silence for 3 minutes to take their stand against guns. What was their statement? It was for gun control. The 3 minutes symbolized the 3 days it takes to wait for your handgun. I thought interesting but ignorant.

I grew up in a home where I new of guns being in our home but I sure didn't know where. I know my dad used them for hunting but I never saw them unless he was leaving for a hunting trip. While in college a dated a guy where guns were all over his home and were a huge part of his life. He shot handguns and opened a gun store after college. Now that I am married to Lance, guns are in our home and are a big part of our lives as well. They never come into our home loaded and bullets are kept in a complete different area than the guns. We are big hunters! Our whole family! Zane started going this year to sit with Lance and Lawton is 12 and has killed lots of things already. Let's just say we eat lots of deer and turkey. So, that leads me to the whole gun control issue. Let's just say that we were not allowed to have a weapon anymore. Would we follow the law? Probably. Are drugs against the law? Yes. Do people still use? Yes. If people want something bad enough they will find the ways and means to get what they want. Not all guns are used for evil doing. If you want to kill bad enough, people are going to find a way to get that gun to kill. Now lets think back to the old west. Everyone had guns and there was a lot of killing going on. People got drunk and would shoot in the streets. Crazy? I think so. So laws changed and changed and changed. We have the right to carry and own a gun for protection, pleasure or hunting. We also have the choice on how to be responsible with that gun. Is everyone going to be? NO. Are we all responsible drivers? No. Car accidents kill too.

Don't get me wrong, it saddens me to think of how this evil man took the lives of so many. It was not the gun that had the problem, but the man behind the trigger. Should the government punish ALL people because a few have messed up minds!

If you are just wandering, yes we mainly live on deer. At one time in our life, if we wouldn't have had this free meat we wouldn't have eaten. SERIOUSLY! Whole different blog.

1st Month DOWN

2008-03-10T11:10:00.000-07:00

I started to think that weight watchers was not working!! The 1st week I was always so hungry but would refuel myself with veggies. The second week was not as hard and on and on. A few weeks went by and I had only lost 1lb! I was devastated. I weighed last week and I had lost over a total of 9 lbs. I am now on week 5 and am very pleased. My clothes are beginning to fit looser and some of my smaller ones are beginning to fit a little snug. I know by the summer I will be able to get into them again. I only have 22 more lbs to go!!!!

WHERE DO THEY COME UP WITH THIS STUFF?

2008-02-11T08:56:00.000-08:00

Since we purchased our trampoline we have found it to be very interesting around here. Zane broke his leg, Lawton can do things on it that are unimaginable and Zane and I relax to look up at the clouds. During those rare relaxing times Zane comes up with the most crazy discussions. Our last discussion goes something like this:
"Zane, do you like the clouds? Aren't they pretty?" (MOM)
Yes, Maam, God made them." (Zane)
"He sure did." (M)
"Mom, why did God put smarts in our head?" (Z)
"Do you mean our brain?" (M)
"Yes, why is our smart brain in our head" (Z)
"Well, that is where God thought it would look the best. It can be protected by our skin and hair and stuff like that. It would look silly if our smarts were in our knee or elbow or something. He made it there so it could be protected and it just looks better." (M)
"OOOHHHH, if it were in our knee and we fell off our bike our smarts would get hurt and then we may not have smarts anymore. Can we cut open our smarts and look at it?" (Z)
"No, that wouldn't be good." (M)
"When people die do they cut open their smarts" (Z)
"I don't know." (M)
"I think you should ask God. Maybe he will let us see our smarts when we go to heaven." (Z)
"Maybe." (M)
"Mom, George, our neighbor died. He's in heaven." (Z)
"Do you think he is in heaven?" (M)
"Yes!" (Z)
"Well, Zane, not everyone goes to heaven. When people do not have Jesus in their hearts and love him then they may go to hell." (M)
"With the Devil?" (Z)
"Yes, but only Jesus and that person who died knows." (M)
"WOOOOOO, THAT IS BAD!!!!!" (Z)
"yes it is." (M)
"let's jump now and bounce our smarts around." (Z)

Watch and Wait

2008-02-07T19:08:00.000-08:00

Let's think back to a time in our lives when we looked awesome in a bikini even though we didn't think that we did then. Remember those days, ladies. The age of 16-21 or so. I remember even thinking I was so fat when I first married. Now looking back, I was in good shape and well, still wearing the bikini. Exhibit A: 1st picture. As time has passed, having a baby,(Exhibit B 2nd pic) staying home and entering my 30s ( 3rd Pic) has not been so kind to me. In our younger years we could eat fast food and all the junk but it seemed to stay off the bod. Now "we" watch every bite that is put into the mouth. Will this make me age quicker, how many calories, is it organic? All the questions. I focus all the time on these things and still seem to add the pounds. Well, I decided to lose 30 lbs because... well, I just have gotten fat. In my mind it seemed that I could still eat like a teenager because I "thought" I felt like one. I was in denial!!! I'm on week 2. The weightwatchers program has worked for so many of my friends so I thought hey, I'll give it a shot. On week 2 I do not feel or look like I have lost anything but I have lost 2 lbs. I will update and be accountable to this blog b/c I'm doing the program online instead of meetings. I have shown some pics to show my progress of how I became a fat mommy and then I'll start posting pics of how I will become one hot wife once again!! Let's watch and wait to see how weightwatchers strategy will make those lbs fall off like they promise!

FUN and Not Stressed

2008-02-04T12:16:00.000-08:00

This year Zane had a great party. Last year he had a great party too, but this year the weather was much better (last year below freezing and outdoors). The weather was perfect, kids had fun, I remembered to sing Happy Birthday to him, and I was not stressed so much. We had a mini mechanical bull and I think that most of the children had a blast on it. Zane even had someone play the guitar as we sang to him. I couldn't have asked for a better day! We had stick horse races and everyone got to show off their on cowboy studs. Zane was so excited to have everyone at his house to play. I am so thankful that we have great friends to help us celebrate important days like these.

Bummed

2008-01-27T19:09:00.000-08:00

4 years ago I felt this same pain that exists now. I promised myself that this time would be different but somehow it crept its way back into my heart. Deciding to have another child is a joyful time, but after trying month after month and seeing the same thing appear month after month can be disappointing and then depressing. While we tried for Zane, at first it was fun but then it became a chore. After months I became sad and heartbroken. Finally the day came when I found out I was pregnant. It was exactly 11 months of "job duty." So, this time should be different right? God gave me a beautiful fun loving little man of God how could I want anything else. My heart started yearning for another addition to our family and I told myself and Lance that I would NOT get disappointed or upset if it didn't happen. God gave me One and I should be happy just to have one that he trusted me with. It has been 13 months now that we have been trying to add that other addition and well, God has other plans. Am I upset? YES!! Am I curious why? YES! Am I getting depressed? YES! I am all of those things and heartbroken. I know that God is in charge and is our protector. I know all of these things, but it doesn't make it any less heart felt. In god's timing it will happen. I know! It was this month that has been the hard one. All the other ones were fine. I don't know if it is because I realized that we are over our year mark or if Satan is just trying to get me to doubt God. (PROB MORE OF THE SECOND ONE).

Jesus, I ask to please trust us with another one of your precious children. I know that they are only on loan to us to raise with godly values and love. I pray that you will bless our house with another sweet voice. Zane wants a little sister but we will take what you choose for us. Amen!

New Growth

2008-01-20T16:53:00.000-08:00

Well, last Tuesday we finally were able to get that camo cast off. Zane was a little excited but bummed out too. He was getting so much attention from the cast that I think that we didn't make a BIG enough deal about getting it off. Tuesday night we "celebrated" getting the cast off and went for Zane's favorite dessert, donuts. His leg and still tender and he is on restriction from what I call "fun" for about two weeks. The bone has healed perfectly and we could see new growth of bone around the other bone. His little leg is still very tender and I hate that he still can't jump run and play without it being sore. I hope to see my "baby" back to being a "boy" soon!!!

From Baby to Big Boy

2008-01-18T20:14:00.000-08:00

Since when do OUR children decide that they are NOT our babies anymore but Big Boys. I can't even say when he is upset, " I'm sorry, Baby." I get corrected immediately! It saddens me to see my Baby get so Big. After months of asking to go to school, we would just blow it off and say, next year you can go. Well, our reasoning was just not good enough for him and then we changed our tactic to Mommy teaches you two days a week. That was acceptable for about a month and now we hear the response of without my mommy but with my friends. How can we not let our social butterfly spread his wings? It is easy, in my eyes he is still my "baby" but to him he is a "Big Boy." After much prayer and emotional detoxing with chocolate we decided to let OUR "baby" go to school one day a week to be a "Big Boy." His first day is Wednesday. I'll let all know how it goes.

Surprisingly I didn't freak

2008-01-18T19:50:00.000-08:00

Christmas was filled with so much fun, excitement, and surprises including a trip to the emergency room. We are such good parents that we got our kids a trampoline so they can improve their "motor skills." Well, after opening presents and jumping for hours it was time to do Birthday. We sang and had cake (last year at Zane's party I forgot to sing to my own kid). It was getting dark and they wanted to go jump again so who was I to stop them! Oh, the mother.....then I realized that we forgot to do his Birthday presents. As I called for The Boys to come in Zane came in whimpering very unusual for the kid who has the highest pain tolerance that I know. Lance and I felt so uneasy about it and realized after Zane did not do back flips over his new bike for his birthday than something must be wrong. We gathered up and left our house with a ton of people and headed off to the ER. No doctors offices were open b/c well I guess they take vacations on Christmas! After hours and hours we left with a splint and were told to follow up with a pediatric orthopedic in a week.

Day after Christmas and Zane's birthday.....I hated seeing my "baby" sit around and look at all of his new toys but can't play with them. With a splint I had to carry and hold him constantly. Hard to do when they are potty trained (boy). I decided to defy the ER's instructions and call the ortho. I don't have much faith in ER doctors these days anyway another story). I got in that day and we left with an awesome camo cast that Zane was very proud of!!!

calgon take me away

2007-11-28T17:43:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I haven't disappeared I have just been so swamped with MOPS and Holiday Shop Around that I can't even think straight. Our event is approaching quickly and I cannot believe that all of this hard work will soon be over. 70 vendors WOW! When I first started I didn't even know if we would have a show because lack of vendors. God is so Good and he has provided! I wish I could shop but I will be working. I told my mom just the other night that a show is so much work and that it could cause a Baptist preacher to become an alcoholic LOL! When this is all said and done I will just take a hot bubble bath and try to figure out how to say no to people instead of them just seeing the word "sucker" written on my forehead.

I wish I could See!

2007-10-29T18:44:00.000-07:00

I know that there are Angels among us. I am not just talking sweet people that we say, "oh, what an angel they are." I am talking about true angels that are here to watch over us, guide us and surround us with love. I truly believe that Zane can see them. The other day as we were driving down the road he looks out the window and says, "Oh, Mommy, look how pretty." I asked what was pretty and he said the clouds and he said he loved the way they floated just like the angels were. He said that the angels were way prettier than the clouds though. He then said, "I am going to get a big big ladder and climb up to the angels and God. I have never said to him that God or the angels were in the sky. He never asked so I never had said anything about it. I just thought, how cute and so sweet.

A few days later at the dinner table Lance asked Zane what he did today and he said, I played train with Jesus and angels. Mommy was on the puter (computer) and they played with me." We asked him lots of questions about it and he said never would answer them in detail like we were hoping. He just said they had fun, laughed and then just floated away. I think it is such a great gift that the Lord has given to him. He is so pure and his mind is not filled with the garbage that adults deal with on a daily basis. I hope that his innocents never goes away and that his mind will not be conformed of this world but will be transformed by the renewing of his mind. I wish I could see the beautiful angels that visit him, but I am happy knowing that they are there with God's child that he just has allowed me to raise.

Sometimes I think Zane is the parent

2007-10-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

Children are a total reflection of their parents. Sad to say sometimes, but true! I broke a piece of wood that belongs on my computer desk and Zane decides to correct me....BAD BAD BAD Mommy! NO NO! You need to go to your room. I just laughed because I couldn't get mad at him for talking to me that way! I do it to him. Now I know what I sound like. I went to get the drill and some screws to fix my mistake and using my handyman skills, Zane starts clapping and says, "Yeah, good job Mommy. Way to go. You fixed it! Good job!"

This made me realize we have such a HUGE impact on our children. Of course I knew that, but it was brought back to light for me through my son! Words they hear are so powerful.

Oh, and my handyman skills didn't last b/c I broke it again and Lance had to really fix it this time!!

My 30th

2007-10-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, so for a year now I have dreaded this day. I did not want to become a woman in my 30s. It really depressed me and I thought I would be totally a drag on my birthday, but to my surprise it didn't go as bad as I had expected. I knew I wouldn't have a Big Party because Lance is so busy with work and preparing for the BIG test. Well, the day finally approached and I woke up to beautiful flowers, the smell of wonderful coffee and breakfast cupcakes with candles. Lance did the whole candle thing so Zane could sing and blow them out. Zane just loves birthdays and he was so excited that his mommy was having a birthday. It was so cute! Lance started my day off so nice and I knew that it was going to be a good day, if Zane continued to be a "pleasure." I took off to Bible Study and met Lance for lunch with Zane at the Loft, our churches coffee and lunch ministry (such great food). It was very peaceful. We ate outside on the patio and Zane played. You can really feel the peace that God brings to that place. I just LOVE it! That night I had cooked my own Birthday dinner. I HATE eating out now because well, with a 2 year old......it isn't much fun! I received my presents and cards from my 2 favorite men and we ate and had a great dessert. It was nice! I had a great day. Turning 30 wasn't too bad!

Days have passed and it still isn't that terrible. This weekend I had so much to do. Friday night I was blessed enough to get out of the house and go shopping with Jennifer. Of course we only shopped for our kids but it was WITHOUT the kids. It was so great to spend time with a friend that you are so close with but do not get to hang out often because of the business in our lives. Her friendship is so important to me...ok well, that is another Blog. I got back home around 12 because we live in the boonies from any mall!!!!!! I got up at 6 because Lawton had a game in San Antonio at 8:00. I am so NOT the morning person!! God knew that and gave me a child that sleeps until 8:00 am. I often try to remember how on earth I got up when I worked. I woke Zane and we headed to San Antonio. Lance had to be in Austin for his classes and so it was just me with both boys. We left SA and headed to Fredericksburg to drop them off at my in-laws because I had to go to trade days for MOPS. I was just so stressed I would not get it all done. To my SURPRISE, I did. I was back to pick up the boys by 2 or 2:15, I HAD to do a little shopping, like I promised. Lawton met me at the cattle guard and said he and Zane had a surprise for me so I was blind folded and driven in the mule to the creek. As I got out about to Barf b/c I was just driven by a crazy 7th grader I could feel a hand on my head. I felt fur and I was handed a wand of some sort. The blind fold came off and WOW! My husband had thrown me a wonderful SURPRISE part. It was great. My family came all the way here and all of our friends from church and even a few from college were all there. It was unbelievable. He used to be Mr. Romance but after 5 years and kids things aren't as exciting as they were but he really pulled this one off and I didn't have a clue. He says he never can get me anymore so he just stopped but he sure got me this time. I had thought of everything; crown, wand, balloons, flowers, food, pink decor, fancy cake and much much more. I was upset with him because he did skip his class! I never would have guessed and it was a great 30th Birthday!