Words will stick...

Has anybody ever said something to you and it was stuck in your mind forever, especially if it was said to you earlier in life? I once had an eighth grade science teacher that I actually thought was a bit peculiar. Then one day he said something in his lecture that I carry with me today and someday I will even tell my kids. He said, "Don't you get it, you are never going to be praised for your achievments, it's your neglects you will be critizied for"! I bet this is something that many of us are guilty of. As long as things are smooth we are content but just as soon as something is out of order or left undone it is quickly noticed. I guess I just felt like I needed to write this because we need to remind ourselves to step back, take a breath and remember to thank somebody for something they did whether it be a comment, a favor, a shoulder or even an everyday task. We all get caught up in the flow of things and easily become ungreatful without knowing it and this is something that I want to change in my life. So you see kids, there are other things that you will get out of going to school, other than learning how to take a test at the end of the year. So keep your ears open and you too just might pick up a few words of wisdom from your teacher...then you should remember to thank her.

Dinner Time Conversations

Hannah: Daddy do you like oranges?

Robert: No, not really...I never have.

Rachel: Daddy, that is extremely rude God worked hard to create those oranges for you!

These are the things in life I just want to bottle up! I think I am going to create a section just for Rachel sayings...LOL!

My Rachel...

What is it about the baby of the family that makes everyday milestones even more emotional? Everyday I look at my little girl and I can see everything that is babyish about her slipping away. With Rachel being my last child I wanted to hold on to every feeding, giggle, first steps, but then I blinked and off to school she went. Yesterday we were sitting on the couch and it was as if I witnessed a miracle...she was reading to me! It's not like this is my first rodeo. I already have two very intelligent kids in school and have gone through this, but this time it was different. I was even compelled to call Robert and tell him, "Our baby is reading!". Today for both Veteran's Day programs she got to be the Masters of Ceremonies. I had no idea she was going to get to do this, and I must say I have never been as proud as I was today. Yes, that was me clapping for her after everybody else was done, and I didn't care! Robert and I are so blessed to have three beautiful, healthy, unique children...I just hope we can keep up with them!!

and the Crush of the Month is...

Everyone of my friends know I always have a celebrity crush to talk about, so tonight I have decided to create a Crush of the Month entry and let you guys, well girls know who I have had my eye on. Don't worry it's all in fun, and my husband never gets jealous!! LOL


So this month we will start with someone that I just discovered this month but didn't realize how many movies he's been in that I watched. You can catch Timothy Olyphant in Catch and Release, The Perfect Getaway, and more recently the new series Justified on FX. This fall he will also be guest appearing on my favorite show, The Office. I don't know why he has been kept a secret for so long, but boy am I glad he's been revealed!!

Summer, how I handled it...

Here we are, less than a week til school starts, and I will be shipping my last one out the door. I can't believe my baby will be starting Kindergarten, good luck Rach! I am a little sad but I think I will manage. It seems just like yesterday it was Zach who was being dropped off at his desk as I walked out with tears in my eyes. It has been an eventful summer for me, some good times and some bad and some "what was I thinking times".

The summer started out very sad for us due to losing Robert's grandmother. I am so proud of my husband for being strong and keeping it together for his family at a time like that. To ease the kids' grief and pain they would stay outside until the first star appeared and tell MawMaw goodnight and that they love her. It was something I used to do when I was little and lost my mother, and I thought this would help them too. She will be greatly missed.


After a few weeks by the pool the kids and I were loving the break and I was loving my tan. We had big plans Fourth of July week and weekend spending time with family and friends in Houston. I packed for two days and made sure I had everything in order, even had a list. The plan was for me to drive down with the kids and meet Robert a couple of days later. I had never packed and loaded the kids in the car so perfectly and I mean everything was going "too" smooth. We had just one stop before heading out of town. Hannah had her gymnastics class from 5:30 to 6:30 and even though we had mentioned skipping, we went ahead and went. BIG MISTAKE!! Fifteen minutes into her class I got up to see how she was doing and I couldn't see her. Then I spotted her in the pit with her instructor. The owner came up to me and said "We think she may have dislocated or broke her arm". Well...they were right on both, she dislocated AND she broke her arm on top of dislocating her shoulder. Needless to say we did not make it Houston that night, even though I was still hellbent on going! After a few days of rest we went ahead and drove to Houston for a family gathering and since she was going to be in a cast for four weeks...I said goodbye to my tan.

What to do with three kids who can't go to the pool or even get out in the Texas heat and play, you ask? Let them run a muck with their friends while I venture into the world of sewing. I ventured in and I ventured out, however I created five beautiful skirts for my girls and acquired a taste for the band Snow Patrol. My friend and I had a good time and a good laugh at me, but I guess I would have never known if I never tried.



I would have to say the best thing about this summer was friends and I had and needed all kinds. I needed the old, the new and even the lost. Somewhere I read you need a friend for every aspect of your life and I am so blessed to have them. I found a hilarious new workout buddy friend who is back at work now...sniff,sniff. Don't worry I will keep tabs on you and we will always have Kenny G and the downward dog. Unfortunatly, I did have some struggles with my depression this summer and am very thankful for the ones that helped me through it with coffee and long talks. Along the way I managed to mend a friendship and catch up on the lost time and find a lost friendship so we could laugh at ourselves "way back when". Out of all these friends I have my "soul friend", you know the one that will be there no matter what? I got to spend some time with her even though it was not enough, but with her it's never enough.

As I say goodbye to the Summer of 2010 I want to reflect on all the Disney Channel I watched. I will miss you Zach and Cody and even little Hannah Montana, because you are all I heard in the background. I would also like to reflect on my discoveries like Wasabi and Soy Sauce Almonds and that eating at Chick-fila is not fine dining. Also did you know that red roses smell so much better when they are handed over by your husband of twelve years? Trust me they do!!

I am so excited for Monday August 23rd to arrive, I will have a newfound freedom for at least six hours in my day. Okay, okay I will admit it!! I am going to miss my kids so much! This house will be too quiet, so quiet that I might have to turn on that Zach and Cody on the boat show. I was really never watching it...honestly. So long Summer 2010, hello Fall, I can't wait to see what you have in store for me! I know you will keep me super busy!!

Walk Now for Autism Speaks

When I announced on Face Book that we had a big announcement I never imagined the amount of feed backs we would receive or suspense I would generate. Really I wanted to announce this on April 1st because that day is the beginning of National Autism Awareness month. So now I am going to tell you so it doesn't get any bigger and there there will be no rumors going around Kyle that I am pregnant . Which was a good guess by the way :).

Sooo here it is...We have started a Walk for Autism Speaks team and would love for all of you to join us! This is a great way to raise money for a cause that is very close to our hearts. Four years ago, I was sitting in my car at the post office with my children and I never imagined how much our family's dynamics were about to change. Our daughter Hannah who could walk, talk, and do just about everything any other three year old could do stopped talking that day and very shortly after stopped making eye contact. Then I remembered a couple of weeks before that she stuttered almost every word that came out and she was very distant, which then led to this massive breakdown in the post office parking lot. From there I called the doctor and got an appointment immediately and the next few days it was test after test. The outcome...Autism. Fast forward to today, Hannah is a thriving eight year old who is very outgoing, smart, and caring but not without the occasional setbacks. We would not have the Hannah we have today if it wasn't for early intervention.
I know and am very grateful that our family was just skimmed by this dreadful disorder. For those that don't know Autism is a spectrum disorder and not everyone that has it acts like Dustin Hoffman in Rainman. Many people with Autism can be highly functional. These are the children that could grow up to be your future Bill Gates, Bobby Fischer and even Keanu Reeves(that one is a shocker to me). Unfortunately there is the low functioning side of the spectrum which can be very expensive and taxing on the families. According to the National Autism Association the divorce rate with families affected by autism is 80%. That does not surprise me with all the costs and isolation the primary caregiver is put in.
As of today we are constantly fighting for government funding, the insurance companies and for the stigma to be lifted. This is our chance to make these tasks easier to achieve. Please join the Royal Walkers (once again Robert's idea lol) on Saturday October 9th, 2010 in Round Rock Texas to walk in the Autism Speaks 5k. Below is the link to our Team's information...Hope to see you there!!

http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/austin/royalfam

Mommy's on a diet!

Zachary: Hey Dad when are we going to take my old clothes to Goodwill?

Robert: I don't know probably on Saturday.

Zachary: Well why do all my clothes always shrink?

Robert: They don't buddy, you are just getting bigger.

Robert
& me: Except if you are Mom then they really do shrink.


It's true my clothes are the only ones in this household that shrink and that is why I am on a diet now.