Bachelorette Weekend

     Last weekend I headed to Fredericksburg to celebrate my soon-to-be sister-in-law (they are getting married in a little over 2 weeks, ahhh!). Since I organized the trip I sort of got to make the plan, so I decided that a weekend in Fredericksburg is always fun, and a great girls' trip for sure.

The Saturday group

    At first it was just going to be Saturday night, but as the time drew near I knew that in order for it to be a real weekend away for me, I needed to go on Friday. Thankfully Dalton agreed, after I snapped him out of his frozen deer in the headlights stare. So Friday about lunch I set off for a fun weekend.

I made baskets for the rooms with mints, mini bundt cakes and wine.

    I settled into the hotel room (shared with Mom and Amanda) and then met up with the bride to be and her Nana. We visited until Mom and Amanda arrived, then headed out to start the festivities with a visit to Hondo's. There was a really big crowd when we arrived (a sign that it's good), so we found a place in line and started scouting out tables. When one came open Mom snagged it and kept our place while we waiting and ordered. A burger, onion strings and a margarita was on the menu for me that night, and it didn't disappoint. It was all very delicious!!! As I looked around the table everyone else's food looked really good too. After we finished chowing down and comparing food notes (I think a bachelorette party in which most of the attendees are married and 'settled down' goes a little differently than an all singles one, am I right? Either way, I really enjoyed this version).

 Not only was this a great girls' weekend but also a getaway for me and Mom. 

She scouts out the table at Hondo's. 

Amanda, Nana, Amy, Me and Momma

     We listened to the music outside for a bit and Amanda and I both sighed and "aww" wishing our guys were there so we could dance…I think it's been a while since either of us couples has been dancing. Then we headed down the sidewalk to window shop. Shops and wineries all close early in Fredericksburg, a fact I learned the hard way the next day when we didn't get to go to Wildseed Farms….guess we'll have to go back now.
      We got back to the rooms and split up for the night. And we laughed and talked for a while before we went to sleep, nothing deep or important, just things that were funny to share. It was a nice, relaxing way to fall asleep. Except that we couldn't fall asleep….we all laid there waiting but nothing happened, so after Mom confessed that she had taken some Benadryl to help her sleep (she is notorious for not sleeping well….a real night owl) Amanda said she had some ZzzQuil and so we both dosed up. The next thing I knew it was Sunday and I'd missed all the fun, but boy did I sleep well. Just kidding! Not sure if it helped much or not, the fact that we had hard pillows and thing comforters may have had something to do with it (I can complain because I chose the hotel….which really was nice besides those two issues.)

Ready to celebrate Saturday morning 

     Next morning I got out of bed at 8:30…did get some good sleep after all. We ate breakfast at the hotel, visited outside and then attacked main street. We visited a few shops and I looked leisurely and even tried on clothes just for fun. I kept saying "I'm not going to buy this, just try it on" because most of the clothes were way out of my price range….I mean who spends $40 for a baseball style Tshirt? Not this girl. It was nice to shop without a purpose or time limit though.

 

Having lunch at the Silver Creek grill. I had the steak salad. 

     Pretty soon it was lunch and we met up with more girls there. We ate outside where we could watch the people pass by, and listened to a one man band play various songs. He started with 5 Little Monkeys because there was a little boy there and so I jumped up to film it on my phone. It is now Ace's favorite video to watch, and he can sing the song just like the blues man did. The singer even sang a song dedicated to Amy. She was a little uncomfortable for a bit but then started smiling. It's always hard to get attention from strangers in public!

     Post-lunch we shopped some more and after walking into about 6 stores where I didn't even feel that I could afford to try things on, we went into one with clothing in the $30s. Woo hoo! I tried on a couple items and had my style consultant weigh in (Amanda), then chose a top that was different from the other clothes I have, very comfortable and flattering, and under $40. So I bought it. That combined with a bottle of wine and two books for the boys satisfied my shopping needs, so I could relax. Until I went into the 5, 10, 25 cent store. And that store could have taken all my money…… if Mom wouldn't have pulled me away. I had mini tin cups for the boys, a mini grater, deodorant, tortilla press, and my eye on some other mini kitchen gadgets (I like mini things obviously), toys for the boys and various odd things that were interesting. I wound up putting everything but the deodorant back (that was a necessity since I'd left mine at home) and vowing to come back soon.

Mom modeling a fur hat, getting silly on the sidewalk

     Time was ticking so we decided to head to Becker Farms Vineyard and winery next. We passed several on the way, ones that I'd been to before, but I'd never been to Becker. It was a beautiful location. There was a wedding set up for after the winery closed and it looked like a beautiful place to get married. Amy picked out a bottle of wine that we shared on the patio. It was a busy afternoon, with lots of others tasting, sipping and buying wine. We visited for a bit then went inside for a tour.

 

Amanda and I sampling the vino. 

 Brooke, Rebecca (Amy's mom) and Amy

     We waited and waited, then finally the tour began….well not sure if you could call it a real tour. The guide was not knowledgeable and so it was short and uninformative. I was disappointed because I'd been to one before that was very neat and informative. So after learning nothing on the tour (because of our particular guide…I think other tours were a lot better) we loaded up and went back into town. We hadn't thought of needing reservations at 6pm for supper, so when we walked into the place we'd planned to eat, we were shocked to hear that 9pm was the next opening (especially since the place was totally empty). So we decided to go eat mexican food at a less 'unique' place. It was a good decision. We got right in, the food was delicious, and very affordable! While we were eating we decided that instead of going to listen to music, we'd attend a play that was being put on by the local theater company.

 

     The play was a little different, the plot being that a man accidentally called up his dead wife and couldn't get her to leave him and his current bride alone. But the acting was really good and it was nice to do something out of the ordinary. The play didn't end until almost 11, so after that we all were ready to call it a night. We went back to the hotel and said goodnight to our non-roomies. Then we started talking about religion, the Bible, what's in it, how they determined what books to go in it, Mary Magdalene and her 7 demons that were driven out by Jesus, different churches, Adam and Eve, the Young Earth theory, and how crazy it is that they teach evolution and big bang theory in school when it's obvious that something more had to happen to get this intricate creation……I loved this time! It is so nice to talk about 'deep' stuff with other women and just spend time talking about the Word in big and little ways. We finally decided to leave the discussions and go to bed, but then laid there in the dark laughing about our husbands (the funny things they do, no bashing!), briefly arguing about the church and what that means biblically, and talking about our kids. Finally we went to sleep about 2 am.

Amy in front of the staged scene at the play.

     The next morning it was time to pack up and say goodbye. I'd originally wanted to shop a little more with everyone but I talked to Dalton and he was sick with the stomach bug, and apparently the littles had been having lots of…ahem….not so great bowel movements. So I decided not to push my luck and head on home. We all met at breakfast before I left and talked about the upcoming wedding and Garrett. We had to laugh because Garrett has just as many girl friends as male ones. He's got a kind heart that wants to befriend everyone, but his charm and looks confuse the ladies and they all want to date him instead of just be friends. Yet somehow he doesn't pick up on that. ; ) He is charming…… Once we'd finished our Texas shaped waffle and good chat, I left Mom, Amy, Amanda and Nana there to finish shopping while I started home.
     The ride home was very pretty; you can see more of the hills on the way back. I cruised along listening to whatever stations I could get and then switched to listening to Romans being read to me. It is so deep and big that it's hard to focus on sometimes but I like listening to the Bible; I think I'd like the OT more though because it's more story-like. We have the Jesus Storybook Bible on CD and love listening to it in the car with the boys. They love books on tape!
     After I went through Comanche I was thinking that I only had about an hour to go, woo hooo, when I heard a whistling sound outside my window. I thought it was weird but, after checking my windows, kept driving. The whistling sound came again, louder and I stopped the car, afraid to look. I had a feeling it was something I did not want to deal with alone on the way home. And it was. My front left tire was flat and getting flatter by the moment. As I got out to look at it, I heard it continue to lose air rapidly. Pushing the panic aside I called Dalton. The good news was that I'd pulled over into a big driveway, so I was well off the road. The bad news was that the driveway that I'd pulled into had a big gate with BEWARE OF DOGS signs on it, and behind the gate were 4 BIG dogs. Off the road sat an older style house, half hidden by trees and I could see a person on the front porch…watching me. I felt very awkward and kinda scared. I wanted them to help me, but I didn't know if they were the kind of people I wanted to help me. And there was no way I was going in there with the dogs, so they'd have to come out to me.
   I called Dalton and told him what happened. In his pitiful sick voice he started to tell me how to change the tire. I know what you are thinking…..I don't know how to change a tire? Well, I'm sure that I could if I had to, I know the basics. But I've never had to change one on my own. This may be anti-feminist but I like being a woman so I don't have to….one of the many things I like about being a woman instead of a man. So I got out the tools and went to the tire. I took the cap off and was about to start loosening the lugnuts when I car pulled up, hallelujah! And a man in the passenger seat asked if I needed help. YES I do! He and his wife got out and he changed my tire for me. In the meantime the lady who lived in the house came down and lent a hand as well, moral support and a cinder block to put under the car for safety reasons, since the jack wasn't in a good spot.
    During the process, the two strangers realized they knew the same people, so they talked about people they'd went to school with, where they lived, etc. during the frequent breaks while changing the tire. I also found out that the man's wife, Joyce was his second wife. And that his first wife was also named Joyce, as well as his sister. They were on their way back from visiting his mom when they saw me, they bring her lunch after church on Sundays. It was nice to have other people there to chat with instead of it just being me and the helpful man, so I didn't complain about the conversation or extra time it took. Once the tire was changed and the flat tire loaded into my car I thanked them all and got back on the road.
     Finally I made it to Mere Mere and Popsey's to pick up Cooper, who'd been squatting their for most of the weekend. Then it was home to my other guys. It was so good to be back! I really missed them and was ready to get back to my job, refreshed from the trip. Being greeted with big hugs and I love you's always helps! I sent Dalton straight to bed when I came in, and he didn't argue. He slept the rest of  the afternoon while I played with the boys. Then I took the little ones with me and picked up a few necessities and chicken for supper.

The boys checking out their new tractor books. 

And I think that Dalton and Tucker spent a lot of time in this position. 

    It was a great great weekend! Loved celebrating love with Amy and enjoyed the break from 'life' for myself. Now, back to the grind!

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." Titus 2:3-5

Fall Is Here

    Fall…..ahhh, the time of year I love (but doesn't everybody say that?). We've been enjoying this fall season, celebrating the upcoming weddings, spending time outside and waiting for another cold snap so we can break out the warm clothes and put away the shorts.
    Each fall, Graham's Christian private school holds a fall fest fundraiser. We went a couple of years ago but couldn't make it last year. So this year we were excited that it fell on an open weekend (which is a rarity this fall.) And the weather was a bit cooler, which was a bonus!

     Dalton and I were about as excited as the boys were when we pulled up to the 'fest'. They had a petting zoo with a camel and zebra (we looked but didn't pet - cheaper that way), bounce houses, many carnival games and food.
    We bought some tickets and headed to the games first. Cooper won a prize for throwing a baseball through a hole (I was impressed) and Dalton won us a soccer ball by hitting the bell with the sledgehammer.
    After we played some games and let the kids bounce around, they went on a train ride…their favorite treat by far. Then we bought some fried fish and listened to the music. The kids didn't stay seated long, they had to go boogie to the music. They asked for one more train ride and we obliged, and then loaded up three very tired but satisfied boys and headed home.
     Fall fests are one of the joys of fall, and a local one is even better!! (Unfortunately I accidentally deleted the other pictures I had on my phone.)

    We also bought some pumpkins a couple weeks ago at the local nursery, ones that my friend grew. They are beautiful and really made our porch look like fall has arrived. Of course my little helpers were ready to buy the entire patch, but they settled for one just their size. Karper was in town at the time too, so he joined in the pumpkin fun.

     I had a helper to haul my pumpkins too, and all three boys were eager to arrange and rearrange the pumpkins on the porch. Actually, they haven't stopped rearranging them any time they are outside. I have three stacked together and Tucker pushes the stack over any chance he gets. 

Fall is a great time for play dates in the park, and unfortunately sickness…

Ace and Tucker had the croup, not fun!

It is also the season for apples, which means home made applesauce to me. 

It's hard to beat homemade applesauce!

 

     Even though he can do this year round, I snapped this picture of Cooper climbing a tree in the yard the other day. He really likes climbing, obviously. Yesterday the boys were "building a house with sparkles on it." When I asked why he had sparkles, since boy houses shouldn't be sparkly, he replied, "Girls like sparkles, so they'll want to come inside with the boys." 

Hmmm sounds like a girl trap to me!! 

Sometimes my little boys sleep too late and I have to call on Popsey to pick up Cooper. Now Cooper requests for someone other than me (I'm not offended at all….right?) every day. Maybe it has something to do with what he gets to do with Popsey, like haul hay or go to the office. 

"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything." Acts 17:24-25

Me Moments Gone Wrong

    Life here in the crazy house can get pretty hectic. So hectic in fact, that showers for me have become a luxury as much as a necessity. Now getting my hair washed and legs shaved, that's in a whole other category and definitely not a daily occurrence. So the other day when supper was finished, the house was picked up (I would say clean, but picked up is the more accurate description of my house these days) and all the boys were outside with Dalton I thought it was the perfect time to sneak off and have a  long shower…..the stand under the water and relax kind, not just jump in and wash off while a boy or two is banging on the door. Somehow it's not easy to relax and 'wash the day's cares away' when you hear crying and chaos on the other side of the door and you know that your presence can help end it, ha!
    Notice I said sneak off to the shower…..is this common to all moms or are my kids just extra clingy? In any case I joyously headed to the bathroom, careful not to be seen through the doors or windows, lest they follow. My life is a lot like a spy game, without the cool gadgets and foreign travel. There is a lot of sneaking, tiptoeing, looking to see what others are doing without being seen, and clandestine activity in the dead of night.
   I made it to the shower and hopped in. The window by the shower was open so I could hear the boys playing outside. Ahh, wonderful sounds I thought as I washed my hair thoroughly, and decided to shave my legs. Then I heard a cry of outrage outside…not a hurt cry, but one of 'he took my toy' or 'he isn't being nice'. I pushed it away, knowing Dalton would handle it. Then no more than a minute later Cooper bursts through the bathroom door…."mommy, Ace is being mean. He took (insert machine here) and won't give it back." My boys are pretty good spies too, did I mention that? They can find me in no time. I poked my head out and told him to stop whining and go talk to Dad about it. Where was dad anyway?? After a stern warning to leave, he left and shut the door. Back to my shower.
    I was halfway finished shaving my second leg, with conditioner still in my hair, when the middle one burst in. I know what you're thinking…why didn't I lock the door…well seeing as how I thought they'd all be outside I didn't think it would be necessary. Lesson learned. He toodled on up to the shower (yes, he toodles everywhere he goes.). "Mommy, what are you doing?" (Um, showering, duh).
Me-"Taking a shower, now go back outside."
 "I wanna take a shower."
"Not now, please go back outside."
"But I wanna take a shower. I'm done outside." (at this point I start wavering…it would be nice to get them showered before 9 o'clock)
"Ok, take your diaper off and hop in." (I hear the sound of diaper velcro coming undone and then….a smell fills the steamy bathroom….a dirty diaper smell.)
"No!! Don't take it off, just a second…..oh no you already have it off….don't touch….hurry and get in" I get out of the shower to wrap up the diaper so that we are not completely suffocated by the smell, dripping on the rug with one smooth leg and one hairy one.
I put Ace into the shower and then get back in. Now for those of you who are offended at the thought of me showering with my two year old, either you've never had kids, definitely not had 3 kids 4 and under, or don't value being clean. I only had two choices: a) let him in and finish showering myself or b) get out with ratty hair. Obviously for me the choice was a.
So I finished my shower, helped him get clean, got out and put my comfys on and then helped Ace get out and dressed.
Moral of the story? Lock the door when you take a shower, even if the littles are not on the property.

 These guys….love 'em so much! Riding in Daddy's 'heavy chevy'

(Cooper fixed my hair in this picture and said I had to wear it all the way to town.)

    The next day there was a shower (of a different kind) for Merann and Jud, to celebrate their upcoming wedding. I was excited to get spiffed up and go, getting to be just Dalton and Gabby instead of mothering the entire night (not that I mind mothering…I love my littles) and hearing "you have your hands full" from everyone that I pass. Not sure if I give out a look of desperation when I'm around others or if the three boys bouncing around is what prompts that constant statement.
    My brows were pretty bushy and I had seen some clearance shoes that I wanted in town, so I asked Dalton if I could go run a few errands (after the house was cleaned properly of course….at least I didn't have to wait until nap time like I usually do). He said yes so I headed in for a little me time. Things were going great, I got the shoes for $12, picked up a gift for the couple and then headed to the nail place for my brow wax.
    This may sound strange but I like getting my brows waxed. The pain is fleeting and they usually rub all around my eyebrows as their looking and plucking, which is relaxing to me (weird I know…I really don't get out much do I, haha). As I walked into the waxing room the lady said "You want your lip waxed too or just your brows?"
What? My lip? Does it need to be waxed? I hope not. Surely she just asks everyone that when they come in, right? She hasn't even gotten close enough to see if my lip is hairy or not. What?
"No thank you, just my brows please." I run my fingers over my lip as I move to the chair.
I laid back and readied myself for the beautification. Then the girl (not my usual one) dropped some wax onto my eyebrow/lid - hot wax - and I blinked in reaction, spreading it all over my eyelid. She panicked and I tried to stay calm as the burning sensation subsided. She frantically tried to get the wax off of my lid and eyelashes and pressed harder and harder as she wiped, while repeatedly saying some apology in half English half Vietnemese (or a similar language). I kept trying to reassure her, all the while feeling like she was taking all of my eyelashes off with each wipe. Finally the wax was removed and she finished the job. She kept telling me something about being sorry and I thought she was trying to tell me no charge (I was wrong about that). I kept saying "It's ok, not a problem. I'm fine," while picturing myself with lashes on only one eye.
    Then, when she finished with my brows she got some sweet smelling lotion and started massaging it into my face and temples and hairline. I kept still on the outside because I didn't want her to feel bad but inside I was screaming….. You see I've had some problems with excema on my face, specifically my temples, and when foreign lotions with scents (especially cheap ones like I'm sure she was using) make contact with it, it will cause a big flare up that involves blotchy swollen patches of skin that get weepy and awful. So you can imagine my horror as she massaged this foreign, smelly lotion deep into my temples. Ahhhhh. And then she'd get it right up to and into the hairline which was another stresser because I had just spent an hour drying and straightening my hair. Now it was getting all greased up by the brow lady because she felt bad for burning my lid. When the torture was over I left, paid and went to my car to inspect the damage. I could see myself at the shower that night….greasy hair, red swollen temples, and an eyelash-less eye. But thankfully it all worked out. Aside from a red blotch on my eyelid there was no permanent damage. And as soon as I got home I put some steroid cream on my temples to keep it from flaring.
   I laughed all the way home. This is so typical me and things like this happen all the time. Especially when I'm trying to be cool and trendy. Like when I bought this super cute dress at TJ Max and wore it to church. I felt so stylish and strutted in to find a seat. About a minute later a girl (that I don't know) comes up to inform me that my price tag was still on the dress. Awesome. Then I was in my hometown at the grocery store and somehow dumped all of my change out in the parking lot and had to pick it all up while everyone drove by. Oh I'm sure there's so many more instances I could think of just in the last month, but I won't.

 Maybe I did need my lip waxed. ; ) Everyone tried on mustaches from 

Merann and Jud's fiesta the night before. 

   So this is my life. Constant goofiness, sticky situations, rare alone time and many many opportunities for writing material and laughs. 

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful but heartache crushes the spirit." Proverbs 15:13

"How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you." Psalm 31:19

Buckles and Birthdays

     We've been attending playdays all spring and summer. It's been fun to have something to do as a family, and it's been good for the boys to practice riding and getting to do 'horsey' things with other kids. Of course our kids were in the leadline class since they're pretty young beginners. But as the year has progressed (and we've gotten a kids' saddle for them) Cooper has become quite the rider on his own. Next year he'll be in the 6 and under class for sure.

 

     The September play day marked the end of the season, and average buckle winners would be announced. Cooper had been doing pretty well (considering he has the biggest horse and a fast dad, we weren't surprised) so he was definitely in the running. My parents came up to watch and spend the weekend and it turned out to be a very cold day for the play day! It was a nice change from the stifling heat, however, and now that it's been back in the 90s since then, I'm ready to need those warm clothes again. We sent the boys ahead and we followed, showing up a bit late. It served us well though because they started late and it was too cold to be sitting outside waiting. Mere Mere and Popsey came to watch too.
     It was a pretty quick play day,  a lot of folks didn't show up due to the weather I guess. The boys had fun and I even talked Dad into leading Ace in the poles. The goat slap was the event we'd been waiting for, because last month Ace got a black eye from a charging goat. When it was his turn everyone cheered him on, hoping he'd be brave. And he was….he got off the horse, charged right up to the goat and hit him with some force that said 'that's for what you did to me last time' even though I think it was a different goat. Ha! In any case, he did good and proved that he wasn't scared of the goat. Cooper did most of the events solo, in addition to lead line, so he could get practice. In the goat slap he rode down and got off his horse all by himself and slapped the goat.

Presentation time. By the time this group picture was taken they'd had many others already so they were over it!

Ace was excited about his buckle. Tucker was so excited that he couldn't stay awake during lunch.

     After all the riders had gone we went to the celebratory hamburger lunch and buckle presentation. Cooper won the average and got a big buckle to show for it. We all joke that Dalton should have gotten a buckle too, with all of the fast leading he was doing. Ace also got a participation buckle (all the lead liners did). They were proud of their accomplishments and it was fun to celebrate with them. I'm afraid Cooper's going to be in for a rude awakening when he starts competing in competitions that are a little harder.

    The rest of that weekend was spent celebrating Nana's birthday. She turned 90 and the McFarlane/Pitcock clan had plenty of fun planned. Dalton and I went to a dinner for her Saturday night while my parents watched the kids. Then Sunday after church we all went to Mere Mere and Popsey's for a birthday lunch with all the family. On Nana's actual birthday, Dalton and I went to the Wildcatter with all the grownups to celebrate again. It was great to see family from afar, and wonderful to celebrate 90 years of Nana.

"Grownup" dinner at the Country Club.

Lunch at Mere Mere and Popsey's Sunday after church.

Tucker enjoyed trying a Capri Sun, and the boys all posed for a picture with Nana. 

Group picture!! And birthday dinner Tuesday night at the Wildcatter. 

    We also snuck in a little Happy Birthday for Mom too, that included a cookie cake and singing boys. Her birthday is the day after Nana's and it seems that she is always in Graham around this time.

Birthday buddies, and Happy Birthday to GG! 

  Ace went home with Mom and Dad (not a surprise…he always wants to go with them). And the next weekend the boys and I went to pick him up and watch Pearson's football game. It turned into an all day visit with Rachel at their school's fall fest. Mom and I even got to play some volleyball with Rachel. It was so nice to play again. I loved doing something competitive and it was nice to know that I still have some skills. And getting to see my kids cheer for me was pretty neat too….they know I can do more than just mommy them, haha.

 Go Pearson Go!!

Cooper made friends with a cheerleader who gave them Capri Suns. That charmer…. 

 Picture with the player

The boys loved the track and wanted to race. Sliding down at the Fall Fest.

    Sunday Dalton and Dad came back from their bachelor weekend bird hunt and we headed home. Well, we headed home once the boys got to go to the Railroad Museum in Teague with Mom and Dad. They've been wanting to go there for a while, but it's only open on the weekends so it's hard to find the time. They had a big time playing on the engine and we had to tear them away crying.

They didn't want to leave. Can you blame them?

     So now the summer time activities are over, Cooper's school is in full swing (he's a big fan now which is nice) and fall is here (although summer temperatures haven't left yet). The next couple of months are filled with wedding preparations and activities, fall fun, recipes that include pumpkin and cinnamon and hopefully wardrobe changes that include sweaters and boots. I love this time of year!

"God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end…I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so tat men will revere Him." Ecclesiastes 3:11,14