The Club

Well, someone could have warned me...maybe told me NOT to watch last week's Grey's by myself. I know, I know, it's not your fault...but it was...well, there are no words. "The Dead Dads Club"...leave it to Christina. And I'm sorry, but George could not have said it any better when he said, "I don't know how to exist in a world where my dad doesn't."

I went to my mom's today and just being in that house is so hard on me sometimes. My dad is everywhere. Riley even points things out - "Bumpa's Hat!". I'm guessing I was a little on the sensitive side about this issue already.

I have to admit, I LOVE this show, but everytime I finish watching an episode I feel really depressed...how strange is that? Because I KEEP watching it and I do love it, but it's just not a happy show, is it?

Well, although George is a fictional character, his situation and his feelings are more real than I wish I knew...and for those who are not already members of 'the club' (as well as it's sister - 'The Dead Moms Club') all I can say is that I sincerely hope it is a long time before you have to know what it feels like, with every part of my heart I hope that for all of you...and for those that are already members...well...I'm sure you are hoping with me.

Number 2 Number 2

Ha ha! I couldn't resist! Well, 2nd day in a row he went poop (and pee this time) in the potty after lunch and before nap! He's so proud of himself! I told him I guess he was ready to start this potty training business and I would have to get the stickers out for him and he got SO excited! STICKERS! STICKERS! I guess this is really happening!

And just so I'm not just talking about poop all the time...here are some pictures!

Trouble, trouble, trouble! Keeping himself 'busy' while I cook dinner.

Doing his part to help around the house!

Having a chocolate cookie! Thought the chocolate on his face was too darn cute.

Everybody Poops...

And Riley did it in the potty!!!

Riley consistently poops during the first 15-30 minutes of his nap, which is right after his lunch by our schedule, so Chris and I thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to try and get him to potty right after lunch and before his nap. So today I plopped him on that potty and he was so excited (he's been on there one or two times before...during bath time when he said he needed to poop...but never did anything). I just said, "Okay baby, go poop in the potty" and he started grunting and scrunching his face like he was going, then he said, "I finished". I didn't think he did anything, but sure enough, when I got him down there it was! He was so proud of himself (of course, not nearly as proud as his mommy!), and he even flushed and watched it go 'bye bye'.

I have posted a picture on my pics blog, so be sure to check it out!!! I'm just kidding! Ha ha, don't worry! No pictures were taken of this momentous occasion, but I just had to blog about it! I'm sure there will be more 'potty' moments shared over the next few months. I'm not sure how 'full speed' we will proceed from here, I figured I'll just start by getting him on there before and after meals, bedtimes and baths and see how it goes. No pressure, as it's a little sooner than we planned, but we just thought it was the perfect opportunity to see how it went. Our little boy is growing up! What's next after potty training? Learning how to ride a bike?!

Photo Buzz

Okay, here's the scoop. Chris has been into photography for years and years...got one of those fancy Nikon pro-grade cameras for his high school graduation even! And a year ago he upgraded to a Nikon pro-grade digital, which even fits all the lenses and accessories he had for the 'regular film' one (yes, I know all the terms, but figured I'd go 'layman's' on blog! lol). At that time he had the desire to try to make money with photography. We even had some friends over and shot them so he could set up a portfolio and website gallery. I can't tell you why, but we never moved forward after that. The only thing I can think of is that we weren't ready to spend the money on lighting, backdrops and props, but I really don't know.

So recently we discovered that a friend of mine...who lives in another city...has received the opportunity to start her own photography business utilizing an in-home studio. This is also something that we never thought of, maybe that's what kept us from moving forward? My sister-in-law, Melissa, suggested that we look into that option and finally move forward with the desire we let fade out a year ago. And we are!!!

We have decided to give it a shot! Our lighting and backdrops should be delivered tomorrow, we are frantically working away on our website and business plan and we couldn't be more excited! All our energy, time, thoughts and conversations have been focused on this task for over a week now...but we are getting so much done! As soon as we have our website up and running I will definitely share with all of you! Well, that's enough blogging, need to get back to planning! Ha ha. Hope everyone is doing wonderful out there!

Happy New Year!

Yeah yeah yeah...I know I'm behind! My posts are going to be out of order and WAY late for a little bit, but I'm working on it!


For New Year's Eve we went to my mom's house for a party...had a great time! Here are some pictures!

Riley LOVES to play in that cooler...and I LOVE this picture!

Family pic of us all bundled up!

Riley and Uncle Danny hanging out on mom's new couch


Congratulations cake Danny bought Justin for his promotion at work
(yes, it was supposed to be funny!)

Justin seeing cake for the first time

(when he walked into kitchn we all had our camera's on him and he thought we were just being stupid and flipped us all off...then we told him to glance down and he realized what we were waiting on! Ha Ha!)

Danny playing Guitar Hero II - Playstation game...it ROCKS! Literally!

Opening the bottles of champagne - getting ready for midnight

They look so scared!

Double-fisting it

Still waiting for midnight - we're all jazzed up and ready to go!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Happy Birthday Daddy

Today my dad would have been 51 years old, but birthdays do not end with death. So today, we celebrate your day Daddy, and we wish you a very Happy Birthday.

Dad
by Judy Burnette

Dad...so many images come to mind
whenever I speak your name;
It seems without you in my life
things have never been the same.

What happened to those lazy days
when I was just a child;
When my life was consumed in you
in your love, and in your smile.

What happened to all those times
when I always looked to you;
No matter what happened in my life
you could make my gray skies blue.

Dad, some days I hear your voice
and turn to see your face;
Yet in my turning...it seems
the sound has been erased.

Dad, who will I turn to for answers
when life does not make sense;
Who will be there to hold me close
when the pieces just don't fit.

Oh, Dad, if I could turn back time
and once more hear your voice;
I'd tell you that out of all the dads
you would still be my choice.

Please always know I love you
and no one can take your place;
Years may come and go
but your memory will never be erased.

Today, Jesus, as You are listening

in your home above;

Would you go and find my dad

and give him all my love.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU -

Happy Birthday To You -

Happy Birthday Dear Marianne -

Happy Birthday To You!

Wishing you a wonderful 29th birthday!

I know this one is going to be pretty low key, what with your 11 day old baby girl and all, but just know that you are loved and thought about on your special day.

Happy Birthday!

More Pictures

I posted 2 more sets of Christmas pictures this morning. I was in a hurry, so please excuse any spelling mistakes. Enjoy!

Just click on 'My Video Blog' on the right.

I'll be posting some videos soon!

Christmas Vacation

We had such a great time in San Antonio. Quick Rundown - if I can still remember - Got in Thursday night around 6:30 and met family at La Fonda (their favorite Mexican food restaurant), then went back to the house and the kids played together for awhile. They are SO ADORABLE together! It really is sad that it can't happen more often. Brooke is such a young lady; she is also very beautiful and very smart. She didn't want to sit still long enough to really show me her reading skills, but I grabbed a few minutes here and there and was quite impressed. Becca is a little fireball! She has such a strong personality at such a young age. She's a pretty easy going kid, but she's definitely her own person, standing apart from her older sister, which is so neat to see! But it's obvious those two girls are the best of friends! I think Randy and Jason came over Thursday night and we hung out in the 'big room' just chatting. Friday was a slow start for everyone (I think partially because it's so fun to watch the kids play together), but we headed out to Freebirds around noon for lunch. Then Melissa and I went grocery shopping for Christmas dinner. If I remember correctly, we spent some time 'frolicking' around in the front yard and then went to visit Susie (Chris and Melissa's cousin) around 6pm in the hospital. She was diagnosed with cancer in May (pancreatic, I believe) and has been undergoing very aggressive treatment ever since. She had two surgeries the days before we went to see her (one to relieve fluid building around her heart and another to relieve fluid building around her digestive system). She was very weak and plugged in to all sorts of machines when we visited, but after talking with her right-hand man and fiance, Andrew, we came to understand that the two surgeries, although very hard on her body, should increase her quality of life and really help her after she recovers from the surgeries. I am so glad we made it to visit her since she had to spend Christmas in the hospital. Saturday was Christmas at Bob's house! Melissa and I spent from about 9am to 2pm in the kitchen cooking (she made the absolutely delicious casseroles - green bean, corn, broccoli/rice/cheese and I made Texas Caviar, ham & cheese ball and devilled eggs!). It's not easy cooking holiday meals (especially in that kitchen!), but it is so worth it when you see your spread on that table and hear all the 'mmmms', 'oooohhhs' and 'aaaaaahhhhs' while everyone is eating! After lunch we opened gifts, which with 3 kids was SO MUCH FUN! Sadly, Melissa, Ben and the girls left on Sunday afternoon, but we still had the morning for visiting and playtime, which was very nice. Sunday was Christmas Eve and after Melissa and Fam left we visited with Bob, Scott and Patricia, even went to look at Christmas lights with Scott & Patricia around 7pm (including Incarnate Word of course). Riley fell asleep on the way home, which was good because we had to head over to C's grandparents for their celebration after Midnight Mass. We visited with S, P and Bob and just tried to keep ourselves awake until it was finally time to leave around 12:30am. We had some great tamales and strawberry atule, exchanged gifts, visited with family, and left around 2:30am to go home and go to bed. Monday, Christmas morning, we woke up to a ton of toys left by Santa around Bob's Cmas tree; we had breakfast; packed up and had to go. We stopped by Spicewood (near Austin) to see C's mom on our way home. It was a long drive home, but completely worth it because we had a wonderful Christmas in San Antonio.

I ended up writing A LOT more than I expected, so I'm going to go ahead and continue putting the pictures on my 'video blog'. Be sure to check it out!