Where have I been???????

Where to start? So much has happened since I last blogged. FB sort of took over from my blogging. That's where most of my pics live. And now, I have so many pictures that it's overwhelming.

Since I last blogged, I started teaching full-time, am on the PTA Board at Cate's school, am Cate's Room Mom, my mom had her gallbladder out, Cate had lice, I did the 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk, and my family joined a new church plant in Mansfield. Whew. Are you tired? I am.

Working full-time has been a huge adjustment. I manage to get everything done, but I don't love missing preschool parties and not being able to work up at Cate's school. I'm trying to work just part-time next year. I think that will make me a much happier mommy and a better and more patient teacher.

Mom had her gallbladder out about 2 wks ago. That was fun--not at all. The pain beforehand was excruciating and then she had some blockage to her liver so she turned a not-so-nice shade of yellow. Thankfully, she's much better now. Staples came out today...or maybe they come out tomorrow. She is sooooooo ready for them to come out.

Lice. What can you say? I suspect hat day at her school as the culprit. Catie has hair down to her waist. I spent 4 hours on the bathroom floor combing out nits--the bathroom was the only room with a light bright enough to see the nits. Note: Nits are very hard to see in honey-blonde hair. The best I can say about it is it was a bonding time, lol. For the last 2 hours, she was sound asleep in my lap.

The Breast Cancer 3 Day was amazing. I was very proud of myself; I walked every mile. The blisters/sore muscles weren't too bad. I won't do it again till the kids are older; the practice eats up too much of what little free time I have. I love the slogan though (one of them anyway), and I'm really trying to apply it to my life: Do something that matters.

The new church plant--I'm so very excited about that as well. We are based in Mansfield. We hope to be meeting in a school in early Spring. We are a Christian church with instrumental music and a very contemporary feel. I absolutely love both the worship leader and the minister. The worship leader has such a thoughtful approach to worship. He is always looking for the best way to enhance people's communication with God. The minister--well, I've gone to church my whole life so I've heard a LOT of sermons. What I love about him is that he makes me think. It's not the same ol', same ol'. And he doesn't care if you're comfortable about it or not. Just like Jesus. Now, lol, I'm not saying he's JESUS, but like Jesus, he is most concerned with helping people mature spiritually and be the best they can be, not about making them FEEL good. He is also the hardest working minister I've ever known. If you're in the area, we'd love to have you visit. I know you will be blessed!!!

I will try to get some pictures up soon. This picture drought is ridiculous.

In the meantime, one last request. Our building manager's wife was killed in a car accident yesterday afternoon. They have a 2 yr old and a 2 mth old. Pray, pray, pray. I'm not sure how you get past something like that. I know he needs the comfort only God can give him. And pray for us to support as best we can.

Blessings and love to you all,
Khristy

Vegas

1. Iconic Vegas sign

2. The Aggie girls the night of Jon's Birthday Dinner at Sensi in the Bellagio--Joyce, Michele, Khristy, Katie, & Amanda

3. Shawn & me in the Bellagio Conservatory

4. Jon & Michele--couldn't ask for better friends!!!

5. Shawn & me posing on a Bellagio balcony with the Paris hotel in the background

My little actress & the bluebonnets

1. Catie & Ms. Lesa--who having JUST got in from camp still came to see Cate, Heather, & Nathan.

2. Cate played Chicken Lickin' at Drama Camp. They re-enacted the story: The Stinky Cheeseman and other stupid stories. Very cute!!

3. Cate in the bluebonnets.

4. Quinn in the bluebonnets.

5. JD in the bluebonnets--note the lovely war wound.

Dinosaurs over Spring Break

1. JD & Cate searching for fossils.

2. Family pic with the long necks.

3. Cate, my little drama girl, showing her fear of the dinosaur coming after her (her idea!).

4. Kids playing in the dinosaur head.

5. One of my fave pics of JD

*These are in reverse chronological order.

Cute Etsy store!

My sister forwarded me this super cute link for Fancy Schmancy Designs...because every home needs a few more polka dots ... on Etsy.com. She's doing a giveaway for a monogrammed cake holder so I'm doing a shameless promo! Here's the link: http://fancyschmancydesigns.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-etsy-shop-and-give-away.html

Precious stuff...the woman has 5 kids and still does this....she may be a robot....but regardless, her stuff is adorable. Take a look!

End of School

We're all in the midst of the end of year crunch. Things are crazy! Shawn's traveling a lot, and the kids have had all kinds of things going on--end of year parties, talent shows, and preschool graduation.

Our exciting news is that Cate made her school talent show. I didn't even know she was trying out!!! I asked her what she was singing in the show, and she said, "I want a hippopatumus (sp?) for Christmas!!" How funny is that? Christmas in June! But the music teacher told me she was relaxed, on pitch, and had cute little motions. And I found out that they try out in front of their whole grade, teachers, and assorted staff. She tried out in front of ~70 people. The whole thing stresses me out! I didn't worry about the tryouts bc I didn't know she was doing it. The show is June 2nd at 8:15 and 9:45 if you'd like to come.

Our other news is that I have a second interview at the Life School for the speech/drama position. My 2nd interview is next Thursday. Prayers appreciated, although I have total peace that God's in control and whatever happens is meant to be.

Other than that, we're all ready for summer. The kids want to swim every day. I think we will have the use of a friend's pool this summer (they're going to be gone almost the whole summer) so I'll have 2 little brown Indians by August. Poor Quinn may be a darker shade of pale by then, although I tend to slather him in SPF 75 so he may not be, lol.

Hope all's well with you and yours.

Bob Smiley Live!!

I just spent an evening laughing at an old friend. But as I wrote on Facebook, it's okay; he's a comedian so he was happy we were laughing!!! I went to high school with Bob Smiley, and even back then, he was hysterical. He & his brother and me & my best friend were inseparable back in the day. Tonight brought back so many fond memories of church and high school--back then my biggest problem was would my lunch money stretch till Friday and would Dad give me money to go to Braum's after church on Sunday? I don't mean to belittle the teen years, but at least in my case, I had it really good. I had loyal friends and family. My family was always there for me; my best friend would no sooner have betrayed me than she would've stopped breathing. She just couldn't do it.

And Bob & Brian--well, they taught me that guys & girls could be friends--best friends. They made me feel beautiful, special, funny, and important. And yet, I was always safe with them. I knew they wouldn't make a pass at me--or expect me to go drinking with them or try drugs or anything like that. We had the much cliched "good clean fun." And oh my, did we have fun! We always did church activities together, but we also supported each other at sporting events and we could all be counted on to be a prom date in a pinch! A prom date with no strings. I had a prom date once who expected/hoped I'd go up to a cabin afterwards and.....who knows what he hoped. Bob & Brian simply expected us to have fun and be ourselves. There was no pretending and no stress.

I guess this is all in my head:
1. Because I saw Bob's show tonight http://www.bobsmiley.com/
2. Because Shawn & I are getting ready to help teach a class on Sex & Dating to our high schoolers at church so male/female relationships are at the forefront of my thinking right now

So consider this a giant thank you to God for taking care of me in those vulnerable years and giving me people who loved me and looked out for me!!!