So I guess I forgot to mention...

...that all sorts of things are going on around here.

We've had Father's Day

We've setteled into the house a little more

We've played around a little

School for Madeline is going well.

Work for Will is moving along.

Work for me is well...work!

Lately though, things around here have been a little rough.

 

I've been crying all the time and usually for no actual reason.

 

I just haven't felt well at all.

 

I've been exhausted but can't seem to get enough sleep.

 

My clothes don't fit even though I have lost some weight.

 

So we went to the doctor.

 

They ran some tests, took some blood, and talked to me.

Then they sent me home with all of these...

 

So that's why I feel off my game!

It's a boy!

An awesome palindrome

Hello Friday! It's a girls weekend, just Maddie and me! Things are still moving on and looking good. I saw this video on another blog I read and just had to share it with you....it is so inspiring! Best wishes for a great weekend!!

I think it's time for a hair cut...

...don't you?

Gloomy Days

Well here in sunny west Texas it hasn't been very sunny! We've had tons of rain in the past couple of weeks...I think they said we are almost at our yearly average and it is only July. This has made for some difficulty keeping little ones occupied! We've done some crafting, some game playing, some lego building, some music dancing, and a little bit of napping;)

Have a restful weekend!

Back on the horse?

Since my last post in April so many things have happened! It is crazy to think that we are finally settled together as a family in Odessa.

I was able to fly to Odessa for Memorial weekend and at the time had heard from zero schools about a possible interview and I was becoming pretty stressed. On Memorial day I received an email requesting an interview with Hood Jr High School in Odessa (which happens to be the jr high that I attended!) for a master teacher position. I flew to Dallas on Monday, put my portfolio together on Tuesday, flew back to Odessa on Tuesday night, interviewed on Wednesday and flew back to Dallas Wednesday night. I still had 2 more days of school/finals for my kiddos! I was pretty exhausted:) Wednesday evening I was contacted by my principal who told me that she had been contacted for my references! I was so excited!!! Later that evening I was called by my new principal and offered the position! So I have a job!!!!! I will have two weeks of training to prepare me for my new position. To say that I'm not worried would not be the truth, all I can do at this point is pray for confidence and guidance. I have only half joked that I hope I learn enough at training so that I actually have a clue as to what I'm supposed to do!

We have been working on getting the house into shape and I hope to post some pictures here soon!

A quick update

Well Madeline has been in Odessa for a little over 2 weeks and seems to be enjoying her new school. Right now she is getting to sleep in because her class is only in the afternoon. This is, however, making for a tired and cranky Maddie in the evenings because there is no time for a nap! Will's job is still going well; he's enjoying the work and the slower pace of life in Odessa. He has actually played more golf in the past few weeks than he has in the past year! Yesterday he and his dad, along with 2 other guys, played in the annual Trinity Golf Tournament. They shot a 6 under but the story is that they really should have been closer to 10 under because of the wind. Yeah right! Wind in west Texas??? (lol). I have been flying out there each weekend and that has been nice. We are definitely on the downhill swing of this semester. I only have 8 more weeks of school! Whoo-Hoo! (but who's counting?) We have found an amazing house to live in and we should close in a couple of weeks. It is an older home in an established neighborhood. It is definitely larger than we were looking for and it needs some love and attention, but we feel that this house could be our forever home. I'll post some pics when I get some that aren't trapped on my phone. Until then, here are a few shots of Madeline. If you look closely you might see that she's no longer a baby girl…she's definitely heading towards growing up.

(hello big eyes!)

Whirlwind, positively whirlwind!

Did you ever hear that obnoxious Texas Lotto commercial a few years ago? Well if not, the premise was that they were interviewing the different lotto balls and one number with a high pitched female voice that when asked how it felt to be a lotto ball, she responded, "like a whirlwind! Positively whirlwind!".

Well folks...the best way to describe the our lives these days is that we've been on a whirlwind! Since my last post, we received a bid on the house...negotiated a bit...accepted the offer...packed all our things into a Penske truck....and moved!

Not as smoothly as it sounds with several rescheduled closing dates, parents that came to help only to be told that it wasn't happening for another week...having to scramble to fit everything we own into said moving truck and an additional trailer and relocating all parties involved:)

We closed on the sale of our house on Friday February 26th at 5:30 and spent the rest of the weekend loading and finishing the last bit of packing. Will and his parents left on Sunday afternoon for Odessa and Madeline and I drove to North Dallas to stay with friends until spring break.

It is Wednesday of our Spring Break and we are finally relaxing. I will return to Dallas to finish out the school year(we have 11 more weeks to go), Madeline will start at her new school Monday and Will is continuing to love his new job.

We have done some house hunting this week and that has been an interesting journey...I am continuously amazed to see how other people live in their homes! We hope to find something that is perfect for our family soon so we can begin the next chapter of our lives.

I don't have any photos to share right now but I will try to get some things posted soon!

Lots of love from west Texas!

Valentine's Day Cards

This year Madeline and I decided to make her Valentines for her school party. We cut hearts from card stock and glued them together.

Next we made glitter decorations and she signed her name to each one.



Tomorrow after they finish drying we will punch holes and slide pencils through. It was fun to work together...even though I was trying not to get the glitter everywhere!

A little catching up to do.

I have been so bad about updating lately...here are a few pictures from the past few months of what we have been up to:)

Madeline brings DC Bear home for the weekend and he went to have pizza with us!


Madeline in Chapel


"Shining Like Stars"



Looooong day at school!


Before school



Big girl hair cut



At the Stephen Fite concert with her school.



Guns Up!!


At the Baylor Vs Tech game in Cowboys Stadium...amazing place!



Chapel - She shows courage "when I try new foods"!!



Cousins at the little one's 3rd bday party! So much fun :)




On a really cold morning in December at The Museum of the Southwest.



Working the new game with Aunt Christine!


Dressing up at Oma and Grandad's house


Madeline and Oma : A Portrait


Madeline and Aunt Tracy!


Madeline and Uncle Beau Beau


More Aunt Christine



















This is where a picture of Madeline and her Uncle Charlie would be if he would let her take a picture;)

For some reason I can't find my pictures of Maddie with her Auntie and Cousin so this parting shot will have to do. In case you are curious, it is probably around 34 degrees in this picture and where is my brother's jacket??

Riding her bike in the freezing weather!



First bowling trip! She LOVED it!!!



Bowling with Daddy.

I promise to write more later but now I'm headed to bed:)

Family Photos

We went to Odessa before Christmas and while we were ther we did family photos. I was pretty happy with how they turned out...the photographer (of 2 Angels Photography) did a great job!

Brothers and Sisters

D & D

Cousins!

Just Will and me :)

Charles, Kara, and Cassie

The three of us

My sweet and sassy girl:)