Lessons my mother taught me....

Yes, much to my teenage dismay, my mother did actually know somethings she was talking about. As I get older, I have discovered that you do actually TURN INTO YOUR MOTHER. It's true....it happens. And it is scary!


I remember when I was 4, maybe 5, and I begged my poor mother relentlessly to get my ears pierced. She finally consented...and off we went to get them pierced. I don't remember the actual piercing, but I do remember that evening. My ears were on FIRE, or so I thought. It was horrible.....and I begged my poor mother relentlessly to take those earrings out. I must have been really good at the relentless begging because she finally consented. But there was a catch. She would take them out, but she was not piercing them again. Whatever...I didn't care - get them out. So she took them out and I went to bed. The next day my lovely 4 year old self wanted pierced ears again. My poor mother was like 'Hell no.......we are not doing that again'. It was many many years later when I was much older that she relented and pierced my ears again. That time it stuck.


So when I had my lovely daughter I though about the whole ear piercing debacle of my youth. I decided then and there that I had learned a lesson and would not repeat my mother's mistake. RyRy was not getting anything pierced until she could take care of it herself. She has begged my poor self relentlessly over the years to get her ears pierced. Shannon and I got together and pulled a number out of our glutes (LOL Mere) and decided we would tell her she could get them pierced at 8. I have discovered over the years that my child can really beg relentlessly and make me crazy.


So finally it came....she turned 8 this year. So we waited for her to be ready, and come to us about going to get the ears pierced. Finally she really seemed ready to get it done. We took her to get them pierced......

All I am saying is .....thanks mom! I may have driven you crazy....but at least I learned my lesson!

The Graduate...2009

I think that the only truly happen person on graduation date is the graduate. Everyone else is just sad that person has grown up in front of their eyes, and really depressed about how old they are now. LOL! We took the normal family photos before we headed to the venue....

In case you didn't notice...how HOTT is Maddie in that yellow dress? I picked it out, was with her when she purchased it, and then had to talk her into wearing it. She was stunning! Oh...and Shannon is missing because our AC had gone out for the 2nd time and he was at home waiting for the repair man....nice hu? Then we took this lovely photo.....I should let you know that Maddie is obsessed with 'bubbies' (as the RHNJ say it) and especially mine. This dress apparently really accentuated them - and well......it led to this silly picture. Then we went to graduation. I don't really have in pics from graduation because......well there is a good reason. I was sitting next to Chewie, who was sitting next to family friend Josh. I at the very beginning of the ceremony Becca was yelling at Chewie to take pictures, and he was kind of standing there - frozen. Next thing I hear is Josh say 'Man are you crying? Do I need to take that camera and shoot some pics so you can cry?' Then I started to tear up.....but I wasn't about to let Josh see me cry.....so I spent most of the time trying not to tear up and blubber like an idiot because Grady was graduating. Maddie however was not sitting next to us and was not afraid of Josh's scrutiny...and well she cried all of her make up off - she was still crying afterwards when we were outside hunting through the sea of people looking for our graduate. I need to briefly mention that Jimmy (who is in the photo w/Grady below) and Grady were beach ball smugglers...meaning that they smuggled in deflated beach balls under their caps....and Jimmy blew them up during the cermony under his gown....and the class bounced them around a few times before they were confiscated...and a totally innocent girl was blamed for it......shame on you boys!

Congratulations Grady! Now we all get to take you to college! LOL!

Due to overwhelming request.....

Here are close ups.......of my totally HOTT hair!!! It is a little flat because there was not a brush to be found at my house at 6:05 this am when I was getting ready for work...but I love it anyway! I look worn out because I am slaving over the stove to make baked goods for the WAC Bake Sale tomorrow...so if you are in Waxahachie - come by the WalMart for some goodies. I will make RyRy perform some tricks for you! LOL!

Welcome to the Real World.....

The day has come.......a day we have dreaded. It seems like just yesterday he was a little boy running around with XMen in one hand and Batman in the other. Dressed in his favorite outfit - shorts with penny loafers - no penny needed. Now he is a grown man - an ADULT. Who has graduated from childhood.....off to college.

I am so proud of our (my) Grady. He has turned out much better than I ever expected...LOL! His high school graduation party was a bittersweet evening. We are proud of him, but also sad that he is going off into the world - without us. But much to his embarrassment we are all taking him off to college! LOL!

Company Picnic...

We finally had a chance to attend Shannon's company picnic this year. They had 2 giant waterslides, cotten candy, sno cones, fabulous bbq, entertainment, and face painting. RyRy got to bring a friend! We had to drag them away to Grady's graduation party. I think they ate something like 6 cotten candies each. Later that night they had STOMACH ACHES!!

Oh....yeah....that's my new Hair By Gina.....it's awesome!

Promoted....

In case you had any doubts.....RyRy did complete the 2nd grade. (That is her with the Principal, and the last photo is her teacher Mr. Bell)

On The Catwalk.....

The ROHS Cheerleaders had a fashion show fundraiser. They wore all kinds of different outfits from days long ago all the way to the present. Some of the outfits were hilarious. I really loved when my friend (from high school) Melissa started dying laughing from across the room when one of the girls came out in a dress that was just like one she had worn. We both pointed at each other and said 'THAT WAS YOUR DRESS'. It was not as cute now as we thought it was back then. LOL!


Here are Maddie, Sachel, and Kasey!