Happy Saturday!!

Summer loving

Check out these gorgeous kiddos!!  I am one lucky momma.  Yep, they are all mine!! :)

  

The whole gang in Texas for Summer break........Sarah, Delanie, Maci & Garrett.

Father's Day

I've definitely been slacking on the blog lately.  That migraine completely knocked me out!  I've got so much to fill you in on! :)

Father's day was the perfect time to celebrate the love of my life.  This guy......let me tell you.......he has brought so much love and wonder into our lives.  From the very beginning of our relationship, he was 100% onboard to jump in as the "bonus dad" to Garrett and Delanie. 

Not too long ago, Garrett sent me the text below.....

He asked me if I had ever heard Brad Paisley's song "He didn't have to be".  The song is all about how a stepfather stepped into life with a woman with a young son.  Definitely worth a listen.  The video is amazing!  :)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjO1F6oCab8

This is what Father's Day at the Richardson's looked like. Jim put his grill master skills to good use.  His steaks are better than any steakhouse I have ever been to.  No joke!

Happy Father's Day Jim!!  We are so lucky to have you in our lives. 

Migraines suck

Migraines suck! 

That is the understatement of the year.  You would think that, after living with them since the 1980's, I would be used to them.  Nope......not even close!

I went to the dentist a few weeks with a toothache.  The dentist thought I needed a root canal redone - joy! - so he sent me to an endodontist.  After the endodontist took x-rays, he determined that I was dealing with a sinus infection instead.  Antibiotics were prescribed but it was too little too late.  Everything went to Hell in a hurry. 

That damn sinus infection led to one of the worst migraines I've ever had; TWO migraines in fact. 

After taking antibiotics from Thursday - Sunday, I woke up Monday thinking I could power through the work day.  I made it until lunch time then had to call it quits.  I ended up in the emergency room Monday night.  After a few hours, my pain went from 9 (on a scale of 10) to a 3.......enough progress to send me home to sleep it off.  Sixteen hours later, I was back in the emergency room and we had to start over again. 

Nine days after that ER visit, this is what my arms look like.  On average, it takes about 4-5 tries for a nurse to hook up an IV for meds.  Seriously......I look like I've been beaten with an ugly-stick. 

In the end, I missed 2.5 days of work AND slept for no less than 12 hours every day since then.  All I can say is THANK GOD FOR MY HUSBAND!  For a while there, I didn't know what day it was or how to spell my name. 

All because of a sinus infection. 

Through this entire ordeal, I keep thinking about the people who have it much worse off than I do.  I'm trying to be thankful that this is my only health issue.  So.......this week it was back to the neurologist to adjust my "game plan".  We will continue to do the Botox injections every 12 weeks (35-40 injections all over my head/neck/shoulders/upper back) and keep adjusting the recipe of meds for maximum relief. 

Stay tuned for more details. 

Firepit

Jim and I finally broke in the fire pit over Memorial Day weekend.  Let me tell you, I have been DYING to get down there!  It was a perfect evening for a fire.......temps in the 60s and just a slight little breeze.  My husband has serious fire-building skills!! :)

Delanie had several friends over so we loaded the s'more bucket up and got everything ready.  It's surprisingly quiet in the backyard even though there is a school and a busy road right up the hill.  Honestly, it felt like we were back at Madden's (click HERE to see that post)......only this time we were in our pajamas and about 100 feet from another cocktail. 

A roaring fire + my handsome husband = HEAVEN!! :)

Part of the reason I love love love a fire is because it instantly relaxes Jim.  Once he brings that fire to life, he sits back with a beer and you can literally hear his deep sigh. 

Don't let this photo fool you......that fire was HOT!!  The picture below took several tries.  We could barely keep our feet by the fire long enough to take it!

Side note:  We have a new batch of babies!!  Check out those adorable little goslings!  We have three or four families who call our backyard home.  :)

June goals

Dang......it's already June! 


I've always written down monthly/yearly/life goals but last month I decided to put it out there for the world to see.  By "world", I mean the whopping six people - all family - who read this blog.  :)  Click HERE to see that crazy brave post. 

To keep myself focused, here's how I did in May.....

Goal #1:  Focus on my health

I made it to half of the Monday yoga classes and about half of my Wednesday night Moms on the Run classes.  No excuses.....life just has a way of getting in the way.  Since I'm a glass-half-full kind of girl, I consider this a win!  Sure....I could've missed a band concert to get to another yoga class or ignored an on-coming migraine to walk a few extra miles.....but let's get real, that is not going to happen.  So, I'll take a pat on the back for the classes I was able to go to and try again next month. 

Goal #2:  Time management

I have to say that I enjoyed this task.  The lunches I actually spent at home (again, this didn't happen every week), I sat on the deck and enjoyed the sunshine.  I am proud to say that I did not visit Chik-fil-a or the shoe store one time this month!  It's the small victories...... :)

Goal #3:  Have fun and be creative

I put my big girl panties on and went to the all-day crop with the Maple Grove Scrapbook Club.  Good grief......I was as nervous as a cat.  Honestly, it was a little disappointing.  There was supposed to be 10-15 girls there but it was only me and one other scrapbooker.  It was a little awkward but I did it! :)  Awkward.....but productive.  I worked on the cards I'm going to add to my Etsy store next month. 

Goal #4:  Etsy store

Speaking of the Etsy store.....my goal was to create three new designs.  I'm on track to have this one done.  In fact, I'm taking it a step further and looking into becoming a "vendor" for a store downtown.  More details to come (I don't want to jinx it!).

Goal #5:  Enjoy more family time

This is the update I'm most excited about.  That birthday party I was so hell-bent on having this month?  Delanie asked that we wait until June.  Check!  That weekend in Texas I was so excited about happened and was AWESOME.  (Click HERE for those details.)  Check!  Enjoying the deck/firepit .....I'll post pictures of our first fire next week.  Check!  Done, done and done! :)

Onward and upward......hello June 2015!!

What I am NOT looking forward to this month:  Doctor appointments
 

June is the month for our annual physicals, etc.   Every year I vow to spread these out but then June comes around again and ....... yep!  It's time for checkups with the neurologist, asthma doctor and the "lady" doctor.  Yahoo.  And it's time for Delanie to check in with the orthodontist.  Thank goodness for hour-long lunch breaks.  :)

What I AM looking forward to this month:  Parades

I am stoked about Marching Band season!  During June, Delanie has several parades each week.  PLUS, the band goes on a four day retreat.  I love love love watching these parades.  I'm going to soak up every single second!

What I'm NERVOUS about this month:  Vendor applications

As soon as this is done, I'll post all the details.  All I can say right now is......YIKES!  Tons of prayers are going into this one.  It's a big step for my Etsy store and, one way or another, it will work out the way God wants it to.  Just thinking about it puts butterflies in my belly.  :)



So long SFA!!

I can't believe this little cutie graduated college!!  I can't wait to show you all the pictures! :)

Graduation weekend was fast and furious!  Holy cow.....we were so busy that it just flew by.  My flight arrived Friday afternoon and I went straight to Bill and Charlene's for supper. 

We left the house before the ass-crack of dawn to make the trek to Nacogdoches, TX.  About an hour into the trip, this was the sight in my rearview mirror....

Isn't he the cutest thing you've ever seen?!  Maci rode up front with me and helped put Lauren's scrapbook together.  To keep each other busy (and awake!), we played the ABC game.  We started this game when my kiddos were just learning to read.  The game is super fast and super fun......depending on the letter of the alphabet, you have to find a road sign that starts with that letter.  The first person to Z wins.  Maci whipped our bee-hinds!!

Four hours later, we met at Lauren's apartment for some preliminary hugs and kisses.....and to open presents!! :)  Lauren showing off her loot.....

Charlene stayed at the apartment to help her baby get ready.....

.....while the rest of us headed to the coliseum at Stephen F. Austin University to grab our seats for the ceremony. 

We had some extra time before the ceremony so Garrett, Maci and I walked down to the bookstore for a sweatshirt.  It was so damn hot!!  Plus, it had been raising in Texas for six weeks straight and the humidity was enough to choke a cow.  Poor Garrett had to buy a t-shirt to wear under his dress shirt because it was SOAKED!

Back to the coliseum to watch our sweet LaLa walk across the stage. 

The SFA coliseum was gorgeous!  Tons of Lumberjack purple everywhere you looked....

Garrett and Maci getting the wiggles out (and looking pretty darn cute!) before settling in for the ceremony.....

Before the ceremony, Lauren came over to say hello.  The photo below was while she was technically a college student.....

How sweet is this picture of her loving on her Nana?

Sidebar:  Did you notice that graduation cap?  She designed it herself! :)

Lauren had about 600 students graduating with her.  Even though there were tons of graduates, the ceremony went by pretty quickly.  I cried like a baby when I saw her walk across that stage!!

Now she's officially finished with school FOREVER!! :)  Check out that grin......

Before we knew it, it was all over and we were staring at this gorgeousness.....

Let me just take a minute because I may be tearing up as I'm typing this.  Good grief, I love this kid so much!  Just looking at her cute little smile makes my heart swell.  :)

Time to let the cameras loose!!

I'm framing this one....

The proud parents of a COLLEGE GRADUATE!!! :)

Cousins......

 

Aunt Sue Sue.....

Garrett and Maci showing Lauren some love....

This seems to be Garrett's favorite pose..... :)

 

I had to attach a special little something to my flowers to remind her that someone "up north" loves her like crazy!

After the craziness of the day, we checked into our hotel room and spent exactly 11 minutes resting.  These two kiddos fell asleep before their heads hit the pillow....

 

Next up.....dinner at Outback Steakhouse to celebrate!!

Back up at the crack of dawn Sunday morning to head to Dallas.  Garrett - thank you sweet baby Jesus - drove home.  I was in the backseat snoozing.  To keep our sweet driver awake, Maci started up the ABC game again.  :)

My sweet baby boy.....

We got into Mansfield just long enough to grab lunch before heading to the airport.  (I told you it was a crazy fast weekend!)  The kids and I went to Garrett's favorite burger joint......Grease Monkey.  It's about two minutes from University of Texas at Arlington (where both Garrett and Maci are going to school) and the burgers were TO DIE FOR!! :)

Let me tell you, I would not have missed this weekend in Texas if my life depended on it.  Have I mentioned how proud I am of our sweet LaLa?! :)  She graduated on Saturday and started her "real life" job the following Monday. 

Love you long time, Lauren Marie!!