Time for T-Ball!

Feels like we have been waiting forever for it to start again...Zach really enjoyed T-ball last year and loves watching baseball on TV with us.  We even got to go to a San Antonio Missions game last year that the kids loved.  He had his first practice today and was most excited that his dad is one of his coaches.  He will be playing on the Mets team this year (although he wore his Yankees hat to practice...old habits die hard around here). He did really well at his first practice and was very engaged...I hope that he is off to a good start this season and a fun time!

Rodeo Time in San Antonio...

Rodeo is a big deal down here in San Antonio...a big deal. Both kids schools do special things for it, but Erin's preschool is very into teaching the history of Texas and talking about Rodeo.  Here is Erin all dressed for her singing and dancing at school...

Enjoyment...

We have had a very nice weekend...enjoying the time together as a family...enjoying days of having fun things to do and everyone having fun, getting along and being in good moods.
Zach finished out the week on green and purple...had a rough start, but great finish.  I turned in my YMCA groupon and went the rest of the week.  Took a yoga class Saturday that was awesome...loved it...too bad they only have two a week that are just yoga...I will go again next Saturday for sure, but will miss Thursday night because Brandon is TDY this week and Zach has piano that night. I didn't get the family deal, so for now, I have to go when the kids are at school or at times Brandon is home to watch them.  Tomorrow I am meeting my friends there (gym buddies)...so excited to be doing this and with friends makes it easier, more fun and gives me that accountability.
Saturday night Brandon and I had a date...we tried a new place in Gruene, TX...right in New Braunfels basically. It was called the Gristmill...so yummy and great atmosphere...we walked around the little historic town of Gruene for a bit and enjoyed the time out...then went to see "No Strings Attached"...Our first movie in a while and it was good.  The kids had fun with their sitter that night, so that always helps.
We went back to church Sunday AM, the traditional service seemed to be the winner for us and 8:30 is a good time...we had a nice time and I like this church a lot.
Then tried to go bowling but the place in town was full for league...so we hit IHOP for some food, then home to get changed and gear up for the base bowling...had a blast...both kids really were into it and in good moods...they ate there again...hungry weekend!  We then hit the park on the way home because the sun had come out and we were in the mood to enjoy it.
Today we took Erin to her gymnastics class and then stayed after to let the kids do free time up there...I never do it with them because A. Zach is in school the two days a week they offer it. B. He is now past the age he is eligible, but looks young enough to pass for 5, so we went today C. It is too hard to chase both of them across a huge gym with lots of scary equipment they could climb on and get hurt.  So with Brandon there, I was brave enough to do it. They had a BLAST.  Wore Erin out though and she was a pill through lunch...but we got home, she got a nap and Zach had a fun time doing chores with me and an outing with his dad.  So it was a good day for all of us.
Tomorrow Brandon heads to Fl for a TDY until Friday night.  The kids and I don't have much planned other than usual stuff...for Zach's ABA therapy this week we are going to try a play date...Nathan is coming here and Erin is going to his house to play with his sister Alyssa (her BFF).  Zach and Nathan have never played one on one, only with their sisters or in a group, so I pray this works and is a good fit. I love the mom, Brandon likes the dad and Erin and Alyssa love each other...this would be great for Zach to have a pal he can hang out with and for me to have one that I feel like is a good influence on him.  I would trust my kids at this house and with their parents...so I hope this works!
I am going to go get some things done, but will put some photos and updates up soon...

Y - M - C - A

So...this week there was a great groupon...$29 for a single person or $59 for a family - 2 month membership to the YMCA.  I was all over that. I have been wanting to join for a year, since it opened. It is a nice facility and lets face it, it is nice to have a place that is family friendly to work out and utilize.  But, the cost for a family membership was expensive...I wasn't sure if I would go enough to be worth it...the kids are in school, so i didn't think I needed the family one since I wouldn't be using childcare most days...and I didn't know anyone going to be my motivational buddy. So I didn't join...I kept thinking about it though...
But when I saw the groupon...i was all over it. I got the single person one and actually had a referral credit of $10, so it was only $19...for 2 months at the gym...YES!  I went today for the first time as a guest with a friend...4 of us went together actually, our kids are all at Erin's preschool together...we did ZUMBA.  It was a lot of fun.  Not what I expected, but I am intrigued and want to go back and try again. I also am interested in other classes...tomorrow we are trying body pump...lord help me.  I am excited and hoping I can stick with this with the help of my friends.  A group of us also signed up for a 5K in Austin in April...again, Lord Help me. But, if I can do it, then I can cross that off my bucket list and be good with the fact I did it. :)
So, tomorrow is another day at they YMCA for me...we will see what happens when my groupon months are up and if I keep going...for now, I am excited to be excited about going...

Wordless Wednesday...

My Wednesday morning cuteness....How could anyone not adore these two????

Dentist...

Well it was time for the children's semi annual dental visit...I am not going to lie, I was a bit worried.  Last year Zach had no cavities found after numerous cavities in CA...I am pretty sure he maxed out around 10 when we lived there.  It wasn't good.
So going in today, I was nervous.  Erin had yet to take x-rays, but had sat in the chair for a cleaning. So I wasn't sure what we would get today.  Zach has also yet to lose a tooth and will be 7 in May...so....
They did great. He had a clean and cavity free mouth...Thank you God!  His x-rays showed his HUGE (seriously one tooth is the size of two of his current teeth, not joking at all!!!!) big teeth waiting to come in..his roots are gone and officially from the dentists mouth, there was wiggling. Oh good Lord.  I don't even want to go there...on so many levels.  The grossness of the tooth pulling and gappy hole part aside, my baby losing his teeth is just anther milestone people that I am frankly not ready for and not at all looking forward to.  Can I go back to potty training?  Really he is too little to be this big...
Erin did great also...she got her x-rays done (sitting safely in my lap of course).  She got her teeth sparkling, princess clean as well and was super happy to show them off.  All in all, a fabulous visit for us...yeah!!!!
Here are some photos of the the dental visit fun. :)

Just for a smile...

The kids enjoyed wearing their winter clothes the last two weeks with the crazy weather...can you tell he is super excited even though it was 18 outside and windchill 8?  We know we are lucky compared to the rest of the country, we know...we just simply aren't used to it. 

Had to share his big smile...

All my snow photos were on my camera that died...seriously it was 3 days straight of electronic deaths here...my phone, my point and shoot camera and my hair dryer.  I got a new phone because thankfully me contract was within the two month window. My phone had been a piece of %#&@!!!!  So I was very ready to get something that worked...all the extra fun of a new phone was just icing on the cake for me. :)  I am not a huge user of my cell phone usually, but have started to enjoy this one, especially considering when I need to use it, it works. Imagine that!  I got a new point and shoot camera too...we got lucky with a great deal at the BX...I can't live without my camera. Of the above 3 mentioned, it is my most important item.  We got a new camera for Christmas, a real nice camera, but I still love my point and shoot. I carry it in my purse most days, I use it daily for photos of the kids, ebay, you name it.  I was so sad that my other one just literally died.  But I am getting used to my new one and using it a lot, so that is good.  My new hairdryer was a on sale at Target the day we ran in there...super cheap and so nice...has 3 heat settings like I like and it is a lightweight model. I love it!  So all in all, maybe the "deaths" were all okay, just wish I had more time to have some spacing. :)  My wallet is hurting now. HA HA!
Speaking of that. I had big plans to make money at the Munchkin Mart again...a big consignment sale I participated in last fall here in Schertz.  I made a good amount on things and wanted to do the spring one. I have been sticking things in the garage for months in preparation.  My plan was to use that money toward the kids summer programs...well they aren't having a spring one. I am so upset. I have no idea what I will do with all this crap now, but I am hoping I can still sell it to make the money for their summer stuff.  Big bummer...
I have been gladly getting to do some ebaying and scrapbooking.  Zachary has been working on a new website his teacher got him hooked on, very educational and he loves it!  I have let him work on my computer while Erin either practices cutting, writing, playing on the main computer or the wii...we all have been hanging out upstairs in the guest room and playroom most days for hours. All my scrapbook stuff and ebay stuff is up there, so I am able to sit down, get stuff done and they are happy and entertained too...and no fighting when I am right there.  Loving it.  I am so far behind on scrapbooking that this has been a very nice chance to get some things done.
Brandon has been playing Bob Villa all day. Our doorbell was broken...not sad about that really since we get so many solicitors...but he is fixing it as I type...the wiring in it was all messed up and he was not happy to see that there had been a small fire in the box...this house is awesome, but some of the things we are finding are making us happier it is a rental.  The other issue today...our heater/AC ongoing saga. I have said all winter our house is freezing downstairs...I know heat rises, but my sofa is like sitting in an ice box. I had the heater up to 75 last week, wearing fleece and was still cold.  So Brandon had the heater person out and he said it was all fine. I wasn't convinced. So after I bitched some more Brandon investigated.  A vent that as supposed to open and close to bring in fresh air was broken and stuck open...leaving a huge hole to the outside and letting COLD air in the house...I knew it.  So he has been working to fix that all day and get our house warmer.  Have I mentioned how much I love that he can fix everything.  He is like having my own MacGyver around.  I love him!
Tomorrow we are heading back to the Lutheran Church we tried last weekend...we liked it and are trying the 8:30 service, the traditional one tomorrow...then we can decide which one fits us better.  I think Lutheran is the closest we can get to catholic right now...giving Brandon and I the comfort of what we know and feels right to us, while giving the children the experience of church they need and want, to be included.  They need that chance to learn about God and to be part of church.  I am excited and hope this works for us and we can be done church shopping and settle in there...We spent all last year at a church we never felt a part of, so we are hoping this one is different for all of us.  So far, it already is.
So, I better finish up on here and get to bed...

Cold...

Not sure if the cold weather has frozen my desire to write on here, but I haven't had the time or made the time as of late...so for those few of you that read this regularly...sorry I haven't been better about updating.  I have fallen off the workout wagon a bit...the cold weather has made it impossible for me to do anything....too cold for outside or garage right now and even yoga hasn't happened since the kids have been home and inside so much.  Blah...So I feel blah and need to get back in my routine...I was doing so well too!!!!  I need to stock up on a few items for next winter to be able to go out in the colder temps...one thing is an ear scarf (?).  I don't have anything to cover just my ears and I think I would be willing to go out more if I did.
I have been reading, but nothing amazing and worth sharing.
Clearing out last years spring clothes and prepping for Ebay and getting new spring things. I swear it tears me up to see how much they have grown and to get rid of some of the items really is hard for me...too hard.   I love that they are growing up in some ways, but mostly it is hard to watch them get bigger and farther from my little babies.  So it has been a weepy clean out for sure.
Zach finished his GT (gifted and talented) testing this week at school...we will get his official scores on that in April.  Not sure what they will see, but he seemed to really like taking the tests. :)  He is doing well and working hard on a lot of his goals.  One goal, the tying of tennis shoes is still not going as well as I had hoped, but we can hope it will get better soon...He did all of his Valentine's day cards himself...no whinning....so that was nice.  He is signed up for tball too, should start next month.  He starts his new piano teacher tomorrow night and is excited...I hope this is a good fit.
Erin is still doing well with gymnastics...she is a determined little one I tell you. I am so surprised at what she is willing to try and what she can do in there.  She is loving school still and working hard on learning to write her name and really has taken an interest in me reading to her a lot...also asking a lot about what time it is...she has the hour part down, not the minutes, but hey that is pretty good.  I will be signing her up for preschool for next year soon...going to check out the teachers at UCUM next week and see what I think and then hopefully know who would be a good fit for her.  I am still considering Wiederstein (where Zach goes) for their prechool program, but a bit torn about that choice...I see pros and cons to both...UCUM is expensive and Weiderstein is free.  About the same hours, but I can pay for more at UCUM if I choose.  Smaller class at UCUM by about half.  I just don't know...
Brandon has been working like crazy with the summer match going on...assignments for summer moves are done now and there are a lot of people in the military that move in the summer...so a lot of work right now...he has been home late for about 3 weeks now...it is 8 pm and he is not even close to being home...
The temps today never got over 30 here, wind chill in the teens with gusts around 25-40 mph today. It was COLD.  I am ready for a few warmer days to get some things done. :)
That is about it for now...just wanted to update...photos and more will come soon...

And the birthday goes on....

Last night I was treated to a wonderful night out by some of my girlfriends here...Another lady I play Bunko with also had a birthday last week and we were treated dinner and fun with friends...I had a great time and so thankful to having made some really special friends here.

 Top Row - Jan, Erin, Me
Bottom Row - Jennalee, Kristine, Carrie, Tammy (other bday girl) and Jodi

It was a nice chance to hang out with my friends...after two days home with the kids and Zach being sick I needed a night out....and we have some yucky weather here for a few days...temps didn't get over 26 today so far and it is 4:30 PM as I type...Not that it is bad compared to the rest of the country, I get that...but for South Texas it is very unusual and no one is prepared...
So I think my birthday is finally over....for this year at least...what a great one 34 turned out to be...I feel so loved, blessed and thankful!