Update...

I haven't really posted a Life Update in a while.  No real reason other than I just haven't done it.

Tommy - He is on his diet 100% and looks great.  He's lost over 60 lbs.  So proud of him.  He has been patiently waiting for football season (American Football - not the World Cup!)

Me - I've been working and trying to diet.  Not as easy for me as it is for Tommy.  I get up early every morning to hang with the dogs and have some time to myself.  I get ready for work at 4:00 am then play on my computer for about 45 minutes after that so I can get my "alone" time.  I'm a morning person so it really is easy to get up.  The hardest part is staying away at night!!!  8:30 comes and I want to go to sleep.

Erin - she's been doing swim lessons.  She loves it and I love her teacher his year.  Mr. Tim is great.  Erin has learned a lot from him and has made friends with the little girl that is in her class.  She is growing like crazy and gets taller every time I look up.  Her class at school has shrunk.  It's down to about 8 kids.  She's been on green everyday for a while.  I've been taking it for granted.

Mae and Scooby - Continue to get on Tommy's last nerve.  When Momma and Daddy kept them a couple of weeks ago they got out of their fence.  They were found, but Tommy said he wished they hadn't been!!!  I don't think he was kidding either!

All for now!

DIY Duvet Cover...

I wanted a new duvet cover for our bed.  I decided to make one by myself rather than spend the big bucks to buy one.

It turned out okay.  I'm not hugely in love with it, but it will do for now.  It was inspired by one I saw on Urban Outfitters.

The inspiration...

Here's some picks of the one I made.

I've Got a Secret...

NO I AM NOT PREGNANT!!!

I have a secret but I'm sworn to secrecy until I'm giving permission to share it out.  It's regarding me.

Stay tuned to hear all about it.  I'll share when I can!

Yankee Doodle Boy...

While I've been playing around with my sewing, I stumbled onto a really cute pattern on-line for bow ties for little boys.  Of course I had to make them for the best little boys in my life!  

I made this one for William for 4th of July.  I thought it turned out super cute.  Since I wasn't sure we would see them before the 4th, I mailed it to him.  Apparently he was very excited about the mail and even more excited about the bow tie.  

He made me the video below as a thank you.  It made my day and I thought I would share!

Yankee Doodle Boy...

Life at the Camp..

We spent the day at the Mize Fishing Camp yesterday.  Instead of going to the Country for Father's Day, we decided to all meet at the Camp.

As always the kids had a great time.  They were covered head to toe in dirt when the day was done.

It was super hot when we took the boats out.  Tommy, Erin and Peepaw were in one boat and me and Capt. Mark were in the other.  We had just gotten settled after Mark took us deep into a creek when Erin said she was ready to go back.  The fish weren't biting anyway.

The only mishap we had while fishing was when I got hung up in a tree.  I was casting into the shadows under a tree and misjudged.  My lure landed about 6 feet up in the tree above it.  (Yes, apparently my aim was really, really off.)  I tried to get it undone but Mark eventually had to pull the boat up right under the tree while I practically had to climb the tree to save the lure.  In the end, I got it.  I totally blame the whole thing on the rod I was using.  It wasn't Old Pinky - it was one Mark had in his boat.  (I would have never done that with my own rod/reel - ;) Pinky rocks!)

Here are some pics from the day.  Happy family!

Jake and Erin admiring her new pole!

The last one is in the bottom of the Trinity River!

Triple Trouble!

Master Chef Mark Mize with his 

Sensei Louis Mize!

More Triple Trouble!

He only made this face while I was trying

to take his picture!  Toot!

Eating ice out of the cooler to cool off.

You can work up a sweat playing at the Camp!

Moby Dick...

As many of you know, Tommy is a planner and not very spontaneous.  I love him no matter what, but he doesn't just like to pick up and do something. He's more the kind to plan it out and make sure everything is taken care of before we leave.

I'm a happy medium because we all know I'm a planner too, but sometimes I just want to fly by the seat of my pants.

Yesterday was one of those days.  We had come home from the river early so I could do a work thing.  I didn't feel like we really got all of our fishing out.  So, at noon, I suggested with load up and head to Lake Conroe.  We already had the boat ready to go and all we needed were some drinks, sunscreen and a bag of ice!  Why not?

To my surprise, Tommy said he was thinking the same thing!!  I didn't even have to beg or cajole him into going!!

Man, it was hot.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky and practically no breeze whatsoever.  We fished hard for several hours with not so much as a bite.  After moving several times in an attempt to find the little boogers we finally did.  Tommy was the first to land a fish. He reeled it in and then I got one.  (Mine was bigger!)  We hit a few more (1 more for me and about 6 more for Tommy) before a storm blew in.  We brought home 6 keepers and plan on eating them tomorrow night.

Because we were hungry Tommy stopped at a hole in the wall Mexican restaurant.  We went in smelling like fish and chicken liver (yes, I did bait my own hook a couple times!)  We took turns scrubbing up in the bathroom like we were preparing for surgery.  My hair was all windblown and frizzy and my shirt was stuck to me from sweat.  All in all, I was pretty foxy.  The waitstaff didn't seem to care - although the hostess did sit up in a corner...hmmm...

What turned out to be a last minute trip turned into a great afternoon.  We should do that more often! (I'm pushing my luck here!)

This was my second catch.  Tommy was trying to catch me on video too but the fish were not cooperating!  It looks like he's flying.

Happy Anniversary!

Today makes 11 years that I've been married to my best friend.

I could lie and say we've never had an argument but that would most certainly be a lie.  This man stands with me toe to toe in an argument, but they never last long.  We always kiss and make up! (Right after Tommy admits he was wrong!)

I love the life we have built together and cannot imagine my life without Tommy in it.  We laugh more than we cry.  In fact, no one makes me laugh more than Tommy.  He was there for me when I gave birth to our most precious possession.  My little family is complete and we always know we have each other's backs.  No one messes with my man!!!

Thanks for a happy 11 years Babe!  Here's to like 50 more!!!

Creature Report...

Anyone who has a kid who watches Octonauts on Disney Jr. will get the title of this mail.  If not, just go with it.  The name says it all.

I had a terrible shower last night.  First off, we didn't turn on the hot water heater when we got here so I had a very cold shower.  I was finishing up when I saw something in the bottom of the tub.  I thought it was a glob of hair at first, then it moved!!  Upon further inspection, I realized it was a scorpion.

I let out a yelp and Tommy hollered from the living room what was wrong.  I told him and he came to my rescue.  He got it out of the tub and inspected it closely.  (There is still a little boy inside every grown man!)  He was giving me a running commentary about it as well.  In the meantime, I'm still standing in the shower soaking wet and freezing my tail off.

He killed my friend the scorpion and we gave him a burial at sea in the toilet.  Nothing but the best for my friends! :)

My other run in with a creature was today in the boat.

I normal pull the jug lines in and Tommy drives the boat.  We had pulled in half a dozen when we got to one that was really moving.  He laughed and told me it was probably a gar on there.  That was really all he needed to say.  I told him he could get that one.  So, he did.  And yes, it was a nasty looking gar.  He had about a 3 inch snout with those nasty razor sharp teeth.  He was able to get the hook out and all was well, but there was no way I was pulling that puppy up.  He was about 2 1/2 feet long and put up a heck of a fight.  Thanks but no thanks.  A girl has to draw the line somewhere!

I did manage to cowgirl up and get the rest of the jug lines in.  No other creatures to report about Captain!

Anniversay - A New Tradition...

This year is the first year - besides prego year - that we haven't taken a cruise or done an all inclusive in Mexico for our anniversary.  We decided to forgo the couples vacay to be able to upgrade the house and spend more on our family trip to Florida this summer.  (The sacrifices parents make!!)

So, this year we took the week off and celebrated here in Texas.

We left for San Antonio on Sunday.  We relaxed that day and went to SeaWorld on Monday.  Of course there were torrential rains that moved it just as we sat down and found a nice little quiet spot on the "beach" at SeaWorld.  They made the announcement that they were closing all the water park attractions and said to take cover.  Nice.  We ran for the car and got soaking wet.

We got back to the hotel took showers to get the sunscreen off.  We relaxed the rest of the day and just took it easy reading and watching TV.  You know, the quiet stuff adults can't enjoy when they have a 4 year old!!!

Tuesday was a much better weather day.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky in S.A.  We went back to SeaWorld.  Tommy was a trooper and rode some rides with me.  The best of that was when we stood in line for one for 30 minutes then got to the actual slide and they closed it down when we were up next.  Something technical happened and we had to wait 30 minutes at the top of the slide before we could go!  Tommy was ticked and I just laughed it off.  Whata gonna do?

Yesterday and today we're at the Mize Fishing Camp in Trinity.  It's so relaxing up here and I'm sitting up here writing this post and playing on the internet in the quiet.  We put the jug lines out yesterday when we got here and checked them last night before dinner.  We caught 4 keepers and a little one.

We got up early this morning and went back out to check the lines and re-bait them.  4 more fish.  Actually we had a dead one on the line so that makes 5 and we caught a gar so that's 6.  The gar was horrible.  I've seen them up close before but it's been a while.  I had forgotten just how prehistoric they look up close.  All those teeth and that snout!  Yuck.

We're going back home tonight but Mom and Daddy aren't through with Erin.  They're going to keep her thru Sunday so we can go out to eat on Saturday for our anniversary.  We were going to get her but they decided to make a trip to Vidor and want her to go with them.  They've been taking her to school everyday so they are getting a break from the workout, but I'm sure they're tired.  They may sleep for a full week starting Sunday!!!

We're Alive...

Sorry for the slow posting this month.  I had to work the 10:30 to 7:00 shift last week and it throws the whole household upsidedown.

Erin is doing great.  More often on green than red at school.  The class is a lot smaller since summer started and people pull their kids for the summer.  Luke is staying home and her friend Avery moved away.  Joshua started another program at the same school and only goes 3 days a week and her friend Javier switched schools too.

Pics from WA

Denyse got some great pictures while we were there.  She was nice enough to share since I forgot to get my camera out!

Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer...

Friday was Erin's Come Watch me Dance class.

Since they just started class in March, the teacher didn't think they were ready for a real recital.  So, she opted for a come watch me dance class.  (Next year will be the "real recital")

Erin did really well.  Granny came in to town and Gram and Pawpaw were there.  It was hard to watch and get pictures at the same time, so the ones I got were not that great.