Life is a Highway

I don't really have anything of significance to blog about, but then again, define signifiant.

Lately my focus has been on how not to feel like a bad mom. When the two kids are together it is all out war. They fight, argue, hit, cry and yell whenever possible. I guess that is exaggerating but it sure feels like it some days. I spend a good 2 hours after we all get home after school trying to be positive, and give good Christian responses to their attitudes. Then hour 3 rolls around...my patience is shot and I pretty much just end up yelling until Daddy gets home to set them straight. One day, I called Travis in such a foul mood that he left work right then...certain I was about to drive us all off a bridge. Only kidding of course.

Being an only child...this sibling stuff baffles me. If I've said it once...I've said it 100 times. I do not get it. Regardless, I'm not sure how much understanding the dynamic would help anyway. There are some strong personality traits running amuck in this family...mainly between Payton and I. All in all, I know that is most likely where the problem lies. Strong wills.

Anyway, they really respond well to Daddy's conversations. Those usually stick with them a good 3 or 4 days....and for that I am SO thankful!

Independently, they are pure sweethearts. I am always entertained by Payton. She is SO independent and I can trust her to make good decisions most of the time. That child constantly keeps me in stitches. She has my sarcasm and sense of humor. I LOVE THAT!

I always feel so loved by Carter. He really, really loves his mama. On our days home together...I am certain that he could sit on my lap and hug and kiss me all day. He makes me understand that whole saying about the special bonds that Mom's have towards their sons. I LOVE THAT!

That's all.

San Antonio

We just got back from an impromptu trip to San Antonio. Travis had to go on business and at the last minute I decided that the kids and I should tag along. Aside from my meals and entertainment (and the kids stuff), the rest of the expenses were covered. Can't beat that!

So off we went on Monday. My only plan for us was just to get away and have fun. It would be just me and the kids playing since Trav would be in meetings. I did no research, had no real plans...we just went and did as we pleased.

Tuesday started off with a swim

Then we headed downtown to walk. Can't go to SA without a trip to the Riverwalk. On the way we ran across a Children's Museum. So we stopped in there. It was very COOL and the kids loved it.

Here they are shopping at the HEB area. They actually had real working check out stations with computers and scanners that actually scanned the merchandise and put it on the computer screen. I've seen a ton of these places before, but I was impressed with the technology here!

Powerball area. I couldn't get them out of here! Air powered tubes and balls..it was every child's dream!

Carter loved this...He sat "piloting" for a LONG time!

Digging for fossils

After the museum it was WAY past lunch time so we hit the Riverwalk. The river was drained for the yearly cleaning and they were supposed to fill it back up later in the day. The kids didn't care...they thought it was cool to see the dead fish and ducks! We saw a Rainforest Cafe and everyone agreed to eat there...and I was thankful for an early concensus as I was famished!

We headed back to the hotel for a little rest time, hit the pool one last time for the day, and ended the night with room service and the Wizard of Oz. Mommy retreated to the other room to watch American Idol.

The next day was more pool time and a trip to San Marcos. Of course I spent waaay too much...but Travis just better be glad I was on a time limit and had to be back to pick him up from his meeting. I didn't even get through a quarter of it. Although, I drove around first and found the area I thought I could do the most damage in the shortest amount of time. I am certain I succeeded! Travis wants to go to Schlitterbahn this summer, and he promised me a whole day by myself to hit it up again. Better start saving now!

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3 Decades Down...I made it.

Today is my 30th birthday. It was an all in all great day. I started the day out by turning my alarm off instead of just hitting snooze...thus waking up with about 10 minutes to get Payton to school. We made it.

I then hit the gym and with the intent of running the longest distance I have ran in my life...6 miles (all you avid runners, no laughing). I wanted to feel guilt free for my birthday dinner! My headphones felt the need to take a day off and decided not to play my music. I was automatically discouraged thinking that there was no way I could make it without music or my audiobook. I made it.

I have no New Years Resolutions. I tend to do better with short, measurable goals that feel more instantaneously gratifying. But...I do have goals...things I want to achieve that will make no major changes in my life if they are not achieved...but things I want to do nonetheless. So with that...I am making my New Years Resolution a New Years Motto.

"I Made It"

So I gave myself a gift. I committed tonight...on my 30th birthday...to do something I have never before dreamed of doing...or even wanted to do before just a few months ago. I am not going to say what, because I want the goal to be obtained because I wanted it. Because "I made it" happen, and not because I told everyone and felt obligated to follow through.

Once I make it...you will know. Until then...is there anything you want to make happen?

Re-Toasting the New Year

It's only January 6. In the last 6 days 2 certain areas of our life have taken a completely unexpected turn. They were pleasant surprises and answers to prayers. So, I need a NYE do-over. 2010 is already shaping up to be a year of changes, a year of prosperity, and surprises. Cheers!

You probably know that Travis was promoted to Service Director about 6 months ago, and moved from the Plano store to the Dallas store. The move was good for him...it was an opportunity for him to learn to manage all the daily ins and outs of a service department, paperwork, budgets etc. But on a small scale as the Dallas store was significantly smaller. He opened the Plano store and was there 4 years...it would be missed. So the move was stressful for him because not only was it a new environment, but new responsibilities etc. He would be the one answering for the profit/losses etc. However, it was a promotion in the midst of all the GM bankruptcies and car buyer freak outs, so it was a HUGE blessing at the time.

Travis has always loved his job..and I noticed over the last couple of months he seemed to not be enjoying it as much. I attributed it the fact that his lee-way with being the "new guy" was slipping away and he was beginning to feel the pressure of being wholly responsible. I started praying for him. Not knowing what to pray for specifically, I asked that he find peace in his job and to enjoy himself.

Yesterday, he got a call asking if he was interested in heading back to Plano. Basically, the Service Director there was promoted...and Travis' old GM bargained with the Big Dogs saying that he wanted Travis back or else. It would be a lateral move title/responsibility wise...but with a surprising salary increase. I guess they thought they needed to offer him something good to get him to consider. What they didn't know...is that Plano was his baby and he missed it bad. So it was a no-brainer money or not. He accepted the position within about 4 hours of the offer. Which you know Travis does not do!

I told him to think of the last few months as a vacation from his baby. Like when you go on vacation away from your children and it feels so nice to do something new, to be away even though you miss them, to find yourself again. Then you come home renewed with a new found strength and appareciation for your life. Plus, he was able to learn things on a smaller scale that will help him handle the daunting "money stuff" with a larger dealership.

I asked him last night if he was happy. And he said yes. That is all that matters. Another answered prayer.

Catching up

I just spent a good hour catching up on all my favorite blogs. I got on with the intention of posting to mine...I should have posted before reading because now, I'm tired and ready to get off the computer.

So this is the contribution.

We are healthy, happy, and so incredibly blessed.

I was reminded by a comment on my last post about something Payton said. We have a family at church that we adore. Mrs. Lisa teaches the 2 year old class and both Payton and Carter (and every other sweet child that goes through her room) absolutely adores Mrs. Lisa. Carter actually had separation anxiety over the summer when Mrs. Lisa takes her break.

Mr. Steve and Mrs. Lisa also do Bible Hour. Mr. Steve is best known for the puppets...which he had to alter for a bit due to Payton being freaked out. Their children are absolutely precious and we have always had a special bond with all of them. Travis is especially fond of their daughter Emily since over this past summer he broke her jaw. Not really...but he was driving the boat and pulling her and another sweet guy on the tube...and poof...freak accident. Anyway...I could on and on.

Well the other night we were at their house for a youth group devotional and Mr. Steve came in to tell me a conversation he had with Payton. I copied and pasted from his comment.

Mr. Steve: "Hey, you're eating all my candy."
Payton: "So"
Mr. Steve: "Well, I'm gonna come to your house and eat all of your candy."
Payton (without any perceptible pause): "Well your gonna get fat."

That child....cracks me up.

No Cutesy Title

Not much to report on the fitness front. This week was super duper busy and I was only able to make it to the gym 2x. On Tuesday, I ran 5 miles on the treadmill and managed to shave 6 minutes off of my time. I felt like I could have run about 2 more miles but I had to get the kids out of the daycare. The rest of the week was chaos and gratefully, I didn't gain a single ounce. All numbers are the same as last week.

A kid conversation to end the post with:
Payton: "Carter did you know your birthday is coming up and you are going to be 3!"
Carter: "No I not, I gonna be 7."
Payton: "No Carter you have to be 3 before you can be 7."
Carter: "Oh. I gonna be 49."
Payton excitedly replies: "OK! THEN YOU CAN REACH THE MICROWAVE!"