O Christmas Tree...

When I was a kid at Christmas time, I always wished for a tree with white lights and fancy ornaments.  I don't know why??  We always had a wonderful tree with colorful lights and a million ornaments.  So many of them were made be us, and my mom would always spend time helping us make them.  But I thought other trees were better because they were "fancy".  I'm ashamed to admit that I always seemed to want the opposite of what I had.  Isn't that a terrible trait?!?  Shame, shame on me.  I mean I even resented that my mom made mac-n-cheese from scratch instead of from a box...really crazy...I know!  So, back to the Christmas trees... After I put up our tree this year, I sat back and took a long look at it.  It made me smile; it made me happy.  Really happy.  It was the perfect tree.  The tree that I always wanted but just never knew it.  You see, my tree now, is just like my family tree when I was a kid (minus the colorful lights).  Every ornament is different and so many were made by Zachary (Nate's day is coming).  I have ornaments from friends that I have taught with over the years, ones from students, close friends and relatives.  My favorite thing to do on my birthday (day after Christmas) is go ornament shopping.  I love to look back each year and see what I bought.  I even love the very pathetic ornaments that I bought the first year Randy and I celebrated Christmas as a married couple...the dollar store was my best friend. :) 
As an adult, I appreciate all of the lessons I learned as a child...I didn't have a clue at the time that they were lessons.  Appreciate what YOU have.  There is no need to compare yourself or life to that of others.  Everyone is different and that is good...just like my tree!!!

BTW...I would never choose box mac-n-cheese over the homemade version...ever!! :)

Eight is Great

Zachary celebrated his 8th birthday this past Sunday!!  He had a blast at his bowling party on Saturday and then a fun filled Sunday with the family! 
Zachary is a cool kid and I'm so happy to get to spend my life with him!! 

 Zachary had fun bowling!

 Cade, Autumn and Z being silly.

 Z and AJ!!

 Cade was beating all of the big kids!

 This is a terrible picture, but if you look in the very back...

you can see Nate bowling what ends up being a strike!

 Zachary and Sam!!

 Nate and Cousin Autumn

 Nate says, "It's you birthday Bubba!"

 Nate was trying to blow out the candle!!

 8 years old!

 Remember that the cookie cake was right in front of Nate? 

When Randy picked it up and moved it to another table so he could cut it, Nate lost his mind!!

He thought his daddy was taking it away!

 Zachary T. and Zachary H. celebrating their 8th birthdays at the same place...at the same time! :)

 Zachary with MeMe and Poppy

Grandma and Grandpa Trenary

This picture cracks me up.  Both boys have their mouths wide open

 after Z opened a gift of all 3 Toy Story movies.  Haha!

And just for the record my mom and dad, GreGre and PawPaw, were also there to celebrate.  I just don't have a picture to post. :(  Sorry mom...

Paper & Pen

I want to write a book...
I know what you are thinking...How can she write a book??  She can't even keep up with her blog!  True.  Very true...

I've wanted to write a book for as long as I can remember.  My first strong memories of this are from high school.  I LOVED the required daily journal entries and was always so excited about the poetry units.  I would often sit in class and write the first chapter to my book. But once I had a first chapter, my mind would stop.  I could never express myself on paper the way I could in my mind.  Does that make sense?  See what I mean??  Towards the end of high school I thought that instead of writing a book, I should write a one-woman-act and take it on the road...traveling the world.  I mean, everyone would want to see it, right?  The answer to that would be NO.  Who was I but a girl from Baytown, Texas, on Mockingbird Lane. I scratched that idea and just performed for the mirror...kidding...sort of!!

Since Zachary's birth and our journey to "find" him, I have strongly felt the desire to write.  But still, I struggle with the same problem...can't quite get my thoughts onto paper.  So I'm using this blog (mostly read by family), to ask for a digital voice recorder for Christmas...Oh no she didn't...Oh yes she did!  Maybe I could talk into for a while and then start to get all of these thoughts out of my head.  I have an awesome idea for a book that I think would reach a lot of people.  I have the title, the idea, but not yet the words. ;)

Check back in a few years and see how my progress is going!! ;)

Sweet Dreams

Yesterday Nate was napping...sound asleep.  All of a sudden I hear him yell "Trick or Treat".  Talk about Sweet Dreams!

Go Bobcat!

Zachary decided to join Cub Scouts this year.  He has been working hard to earn badges, etc.  He and his fellow den members were awarded their Bobcat Badge this week.  Zachary was very proud and excited. :)  Thanks Amy for taking the pictures!

Fall Pictures

Thanks to Charly Stagg Photography for the cute pictures!

The Darker the Better??

So, I've been thinking a lot about age lately...getting older. ;)  I live in a college town, so it's not too hard to feel old.  I'm always (and I do mean always) looking for new creams and potions to minimize my wrinkles, discoloration, etc.  I read somewhere that as you start to hit your mid-30's, you should darken your eyeliner...wear more and even use it on your inner rims.  Well, I have been obsessed with doing this for at least 6 months know.  I think I'm addicted.  I've always been one of those people that must have eyeliner (it's the one thing that I never leave home without), but I've always worn it in a conservative way.  Now I just seem to pile it on.  Once you start, you just can't stop.  But I wonder, does it really help a person appear younger?  Doubt it!! 
What do you think?  What is that one thing that you do to make youself look younger?  Or do you even care?  What product will you not leave home without?  Let me know. :)

Oh...and I and never leave home without sunscreen on my face!!  That's a must too. :)

No that isn't my eye...wish it was!

It's Bothering Me

"It's bothering me, Momma."  I have been hearing this sentence from Nate more and more lately AND I love it!  I love that he is able to tell me that something bothers him.  He tells me if the tag of his shirt is scratching his skin, if his shoes are too small or not on just right, if his pull-up needs adjusting, if his nose is stuffy, if his brother isn't being too nice and on and on.  I have this need for my kids to be comfortable at all times (though it doesn't happen...this is the real world), so I like to know if there is something bothering them.  Zachary never ever EVER told me if his shoes were too small...ever.  And I was always worried that his foot was squished into a shoe that was way to small.  Nate, on the other hand, tells me they are bothering him and points to his toes.  Time for new shoes...so glad to know. 
So for now, I enjoy hearing him say, "It's bothering me, Momma."  Though one day I might be writing about how it drives me crazy! ;)