EASTER FUN!!

Easter was exceptionally special this year, not only were we celebrating my mom's birthday, we were also battling ridiculous temps for April... even here in South TX!! This Easter I had plans... a menu of baby lamb chops and an arugala salad, even scalloped potatoes... I had fabulous wines picked out and couldnt wait to share it with our guests .

but the compressor on my AC unit had other plans...

we could BBQ? um no. not only would I not forgive myself for eating "ham"burgers on easter... it just isnt a BBQ type day.

So my dad came to the rescue and said LETS DO BRUNCH!!

And we did.... Off to the Westin at La Cantera we went... and what a fabulous spread we enjoyed. The food was terrific, we weren't rushed, plenty of fun activities for the kiddies... and the best part??? CLIMATE CONTROL!!!

Whew!! Where have WE been??

Its been a whirlwind few months here Deep in the Heart... Between spring break and T-Ball and FIESTA! ... I can't believe March and now half of April is behind us!

We had a wonderful "Stay"cation for our march Spring Break... including some time spent at Sea World and downtown at the beautiful Grand Hyatt on the Riverwalk. What a fabulous vacation spent with my incredible family... We had breakfast with the Sesame Street Characters at Sea World... enjoyed the new "bay of play" water park for the kids and then retired to our suite-( yep! all 1600 sq ft of it) for the rest of the weekend!! ( look to FB for the pics!)

Colton is now playing T-Ball for St. Monica's CYO and Donnie is head coach- and I'm team mom. crazy right?? We've been BEGGING for this time of is life to hurry on up so we can be involved with something here in SA, and it has run us ragged- in a really good way of course... Nothing is worth more than time spent together as a family- and we are thrilled to be in this altogether!!

Of course now factor in Donnie's Season of softball-- he's playing for Radiology's team.... and on weekends he's also on Lackland's War Hawks Tourney team... so we've been busy to say the least. I can't believe its Holy Week... and after the 30th... everything changes again-- as he is heading to BAMC! ( thank GAWD we can save that hike and gas and worrisome commute!!)

My parents are heading out here TOMORROW! YAY! YAY! YAY!  We can't wait for them to get here, and I know they can't wait either... the kids are so excited to see Momma & Poppa!!

We are also down to 7 weeks left of school!! COME ON JUNE!! Summer has already hit us here- as we've had high temps and icky humidity already... so I am looking forward to a summer back on the East Coast... Plan is to hit Charleston in early June for a few weeks, and then head on up to Long Island and spend the summer with my parents...and yes- there will be Beach & Boating all.summer.long.

Pics to follow of C-Man in his cute uniform and his lil sis cheering him on!!

Such Loves...

just a few new pics of the kidlets... can't wait to get out with my camera and take some Springy ones!!

Back to Normal??? NEVER!!!

Well, we are finally back to a somewhat normal schedule in our house!! My husband has returned to day shift !!

As most of you know, I am not a fan of being alone. Nights were not a fun time for me at all. Yes, we saved a ton on childcare, but its really hard to be a single parent ( especially when the other parent is just sleeping)

And believe me I mean that in the most endearing way possible.

12 hour nights... Panama Shift... every other weekend on... not. fun. for. anyone. I work all day long with REALLLY NEEDY TEENS. Rushing home to get to the door only to say "hi,be careful, call me when you get to base, I love you" is something that is not easy to deal with.  I've sucked it up as best as I can for the past ( almost) 3 years I've been here... so bear with me. I am not spending as much time online as I used to!!

WARM & FUZZY

BECAUSE HUGS AND KISSES ARE ALWAYS BETTER WHEN THEY ARE WARM & FUZZY!!

SNOW DAY in SAN ANTONIO!

just so we are straight... for all my NE friends and family... this wasn't so much as a dusting...

but it gave us a day off so it makes me extremely thankful it happened.

All week long it has been the hottest topic not only at school, but on every single news station here in San Antonio.  So much in fact I think I mentally checked out for the weekend yesterday around noon!
Between the crazy power outtages, frigid temps and the justification that "we can always make up the day this month for Presidents day" - it was pretty much the general attitude of everyone that this snow was going to happen.

We got it :)

Highways are closed, we were apparently BARRICADED in our development to prevent anyone from going on the main road, and people actually abandoned their cars on I-35!Problem is no one here really understands that 70 mph is not ok ON ICE!!!

Im happy to be "snowed in" so to speak... its a 3 day weekend, my hubs is HOME, and its heading to the 60's tomorrow :)

The End of an Era...

There is no more baby crib in the house!

The littlest pea has graduated to a big-girl bed... but not without dramatic events...

Last Friday night I put the kiddies to bed, and after much protesting I went in to find her not in the crib. (the climbing has become a habit. Ninja pea, has stealth skills and can scale the crib without making a sound... which is why i was a little concerned about the crying screeching I heard.)

She isn't on the floor.

nope, not in the closet.

still hear screeching...

OH DEAR GOD... there you are!!

She opted for another escape route this time... and chose to go over the back-side of the crib.

and she was stuck.

her fat little thigh was wedged in the slats--- and she was pinned between the crib and the wall.


so in one fell swoop I freed the little birdie and the crib was sent to no man's land... ( read: garage)


So far so good in the big girl bed! She's sleeping well in the twin and is secured with a higher gate ;)
stay tuned- she's quite the entertainment!!

Getting a Grip on my needs....

These past few weeks have been filled with a ton of Anxiety for me. I'm not sure what spurred it, but it kinda spiraled out of control last week, where I finally realized it was time for me to buck up and deal with things.

I'm that girl who always had a handle on everything. In every sense of the word, my life was always about completing tasks, moving onto the next thing... always bigger and better in every sense of the word. The past 7 years have been a  whirlwind ... and now have calmly settled into a rut that I am completely uncomfortable with.

without delving into a synopsis of life taking off over the past 10 years... I've come to realize that at this point of my life, the very present, I am standing where I wished I could always be. A wife with a loving husband, 2 beautiful kids, a career and a life to be proud of. Sure, I am constantly juggling things, constantly trying to keep it altogether... But I am standing at the edge of all I ever wanted to achieve in life and its scary!! Its been move after move, job change,kiddos, health issues, finances, stress, STRESS, STRESS.  and now, the storm has settled and I dont know what comes next!!

Ive learned Ive been replacing the stress with new stress and not ever really closing up on the initial factor. Ive let worry consume me, which has taken a toll on me physically and emotionally. I've dropped every extra extra-curricular activity to accommodate for our life here in TX, including any free time or splurge on myself. While I'm happy to trade in my Nordstrom shopping spree's for Carter's Outlet, I found myself spiraling rapidly down to not really knowing who I was anymore.

Yes. 100% I am Colton and Ryley's mother. That supersedes everything in my opinion. I can't stand it when mom's say " oh I've lost my identity" pretty much because I'm in my mid 30's and I don't believe we really "find"ourselves til now. Yes, gone are the days of pulling all nighters only to party all weekend long. Gone are the days where I could work double shifts and overnights and walk away with a mad bankroll too. I like to think of it as a priority shift. I'd take many a sleepless holding my babies tight, over coming home to an empty house dreaming of the day I could be called mom.

Thing is though... I finally admit that I need time for me in order to be 100% effective. My kids are now at an age where its "time"  to get back on track and be KELLY again. My husband and I have been waiting for this day for a while and as hard as it is  to say they are growing up, we are very so excited to have time for "us" again.  (*note to all mom's of one and heading for 2... enjoy the time you have alone with your 1st now... because once the new baby is out of the infant seat... it is hard to get anywhere!!)

My point is, I've finally found the road I need to take next in order to keep from becoming unglued. In order for me to be Nurse by day, mom by night and still perform miracles and magic... I have made peace with the fact that what I think makes me happy, wont actually be effective unless I AM HAPPY.  I need a creative outlet, a physical one too. I need time to myself after saving the world all day. I need time with God too. Im putting it to rest that needs equate to selfishness, and forging on in 2011 NEEDING things so I can be healthy for my Husband and for my family...

Im telling you-- mark my words... this is gonna be the best year yet!!

52:2

A little late.... but its what makes me so busy,happy,tired,peaceful!!

MOMpetition Strikes again....

MOMpetition strikes again…

Posted on January 9, 2011 by the PEApod

There is probably going to be an entire section devoted to MOMpetition and all the quirks that go with it, so I am warning you now I will make fun of it, but quite frankly, some ideas are really good, so I might try it too.
So, here’s the first “fad” of the new decade…brought to you by mom’s everywhere….
PROJECT 365 ; Project 52 ; pretty much anything having to do with documenting your life through pictures.
So, yes…
I’m blogging again.
I’ve got a tumblr account for project 365 ( nydctx.tumblr.com)
and yes.. I will be posting one pic a week for the next 52 just like all the other MOM’s I’ve been sweatin’ – xoxo
SO, without any extra fluff… I give you my FIRST pic

Here Goes Nothin'

Now before anyone thinks ” why not a beautiful picture of her gorgeous face??” I think this is pretty honest and speaks volumes of the Journey I’m about to embark on for 2011…
For daily fun photos visit my tumblr! nydctx.tumblr.com!

WELCOMING 2011

Welcoming 2011

Posted on January 3, 2011 by the PEApod

I was so glad to see 2010 go. Not because we had a bad year, but just because I was really looking forward to a “new” year to start fresh, make some new changes, and ultimately start living out loud again.
Most of my friends always knew me as the partygirl… always up for being out and about, running here and there, never having enough time, and always being able to cram what I needed into 24 hours.
I’m not so sure that girl still exists!!
Whether it was actually leaving my 20′s behind, having 2 kids, or just moving westbound and down… I changed into a woman who became more of a home-body, rather heading out.  My go go go got up and went.
Dont get me wrong I wouldn’t change a second of it! I’ve got a wonderfully amazing husband, 2 of the sweetest little peas, a big ol hound of a dog.  I’ve got a great job, wonderful family and friends who support us, 2 great cars, and lots of filler stuff to make me happy… so what went missing?
2011 I think is going to be one heck of a soul-searching year for me. Maybe it should have been 2010, or 2009… but right now I feel it. I feel its time for me, to change in many aspects…spiritually, physically, emotionally, and most importan a behavioral shift.
I’ve got a feeling its gonna be a fabulous ride

Sweet Little Peas

Moving along.... here's the new blog! Switched to wordpress and DID NOT like it at all... so without further hold up... I've C&P'd and im back to blogspot

Sweet Little Peas

Posted on December 4, 2010 by the PEApod

That’s my most favorite term of endearment for my 2 little ones.
I’ve come from a world of blogging – but decided to start a new one, to really just let go and write how I feel. I’ve never been very serious about blogging, particularly because I really don’t have very much to say. I blogged for 2 years in an attempt to keep up to speed my friends and family who are far away… Since Facebook has become the social media device I frequent, I barely blogged much anymore… until I realized that there is some things I’d like to share and I’d really like to say.
so here goes.
I’m a wife, a mom, a daughter.  I am a best friend, a caregiver, and a go-to-gal. I offer my opinion when asked, but be prepared… if you ask I’m gonna give it to you straight. I’ll give it unsolicited on occasion, because I don’t fuzz up my friendships with what you WANT to hear… I tell you what you NEED to hear.
I have experience. I can juggle a schedule, work, maintain some sort of sanity, get the kids fed and to bed and we’re all pretty darn happy. I don’t have a magic 8-ball, I don’t have all the answers…but I also don’t expect to. I’m a realist. and we SURVIVE.
So, you aren’t going to find neat little blog posts here, but I will deliver some gems for you, because underneath all the hats I wear, I’m human and at the very least I can entertain you.
So stick with me. I will deliver. I can’t promise a pretty package… but I can sure as hell promise you’ll remember.