Guess what.

I don't think I took one photo of this Christmas. Let me think.

Thinking.

Thinking.

Thinking.

Nope, not one photo.

And guess what else.

I took my tree down yesterday and put away all the Christmas decorations.

I didn't do a Christmas card either this year. I just wasn't in the spirit.

The New Year will be here this week. Doesn't look like a New Year Card is going to happen either.

Valentine's Day. That's my goal. Be on the lookout for it.

Good Nights

This little person, who is not this little anymore, can melt my heart with the smallest of words.

Recently our good nights have turned in to this:

Me: I love you.

Him: I love you, too.

Me.: I love you more. Good night.

NEXT NIGHT:

Him: I love you.

Me: I love you, too.

Him: I love you more.

Last night as we snuggled up to say good night and exchange our "mores" he said:

"You're a good momma."

Did you just tear up a little, too?

For Peggy- A Toast

A Toast - by cheryl e wilson (so ee cummings!)

I've experienced that old Southern Comfort,
seen the Royalty of the Crown,
I've been to Margaritaville
where Jack and Jim, they left me with a frown.

I went to Boone's Farm
to see those Strawberry Hills,
But the Country didn't Quench me
and Tickle Pink did not leave me thrilled.

I've waded through the Hurricanes
after Sex on the Beach.
I've played with Fuzzy Navels,
the sweetest of them peach.

I've been Screwed by the Driver,
done the Kamikaze death dive,
I've been stomped on by that Turkey,
and somehow, somehow I survived.

So, let the executive have his whiskey,
let the debutante sip her wine,
Just give me a tall, cold beer
and I'll be fine!



written circa 1990, probably at the height of my binge drinking.

It's A Girl!

Born on August 10, 2009

at 7:09pm,

Big Daddy iPod and I

are proud to announce

the arrival of

Baby Pinky,

a baby iPod that is going to keep me running- literally! Pinky is about half an inch tall and about an inch wide. Big Daddy iPod and I are so happy she is healthy. Big Daddy said he's glad he won't have to run with me on the treadmill anymore and go back to entertaining me while relaxing by the pool. Many thanks to Baby Pinky's Grandma and Grandpa for the birthday money.

For Katie

I love this song!!! That's right Katie! You're not from Texas. Texas wants you anyway!!

It's a hard life.

Why do I have to
have such a hard life?

What are you

talking about?

Everyone is always
bossing me around.
You,
Drew,
Daddy,
Matthew.

Everyone!

And one day

you'll have a wife.
Get used to it kid.

A Boy and His Hair

Front, left, right and back. A boy and his hair. What nice hair you have!

Oh my! That's awfully short! No turning back now.

I see you mom!

What's that funny face for?

His brother watches on!

Hey dude, nice mohawk.

Cool heart birth mark with your cool new mohawk.

A close up of the heart. Or, his angel kiss.

Dude, I need some shades. The sun is INTENSE. (We talked about intense yesterday in great detail. JB said, "I'm intense."

I may have an intense hair cut but I'm really just a sweetie pie.

Name That Ray

It's been a while since I've posted the beloved mascot from Highlowaha. He's a busy guy which makes me a busy gal. Here are the latest additions. And, if you would like a tshirt of Ray take a look at his GalleRay. Not all of these are up yet but they should be over there within the month or so.

Drew & Beethoven

Drew told me all about Beethoven a couple of weeks ago.

I especially liked the part where Drew told me that Beethoven's dad would go out to the bars and get drunk. When his dad got home, he would make Beethoven get out of bed and play the piano. If Beethoven made a mistake his dad would smack him with a stick.

My response was, "Huh, you don't have so bad, do ya?"

Mine

My Kitchen...

My closet...

My laundry closet...

The room I want to be my craft space....

(This room goes from straightened up to messy to straightened up but now all organization has been put on hold because I had to purchase a new TV and repair brakes. I have grand plans for a wall of high shelves getting everything off the floor. $$. Sigh. My poor studio/guest room is last.)

The corner of the living room I'm using now...

Highlowaha's

Sorry about the blurry photos but it's late!

Hard work never felt so good!

In January, my office announced a fitness contest to be held from Monday, February 2nd to Monday, March 30th. We were to form our own teams of 3 people per team. We would earn points for exercising and losing weight.

I was not happy when the first report of rankings came out. My team was in 5th place. I couldn't believe we were behind a team where one of the girls (dear friend that she is) had texted me over the weekend and said she was having a beer AND a hamburger. That lit a fire under me and there was a competitive spark lit in me like never before. Before I continue... first and second places were so far ahead because these guys were machines that worked out all the time anyway. So, it became a battle for third.

I made sure I got as many workouts in as possible. I went and bought a Balance Ball from Target so I could count that as my weight training. I worked out on my elliptical machine at home while watching tv- sometimes I just wore my jeans on there and went slow. I even broke out the step from 1980-something and did 80's aerobics in my living room. After the boys went to bed, I'd turn on the DVD for the Balance Ball workout. Tania and I are great friends now. I worked out on the treadmill in the office fitness center during my lunch. We moved up to third place with second place still 30 points ahead of us.

I changed my diet drastically. Sometimes healthier than others. And, I fell off the healthy wagon more than once. One night I couldn't help it and had to have a root beer float with the boys. It was sooo good. I'd have a piece of chocolate here or there or some kind of treat occasionally to make sure I was still human.

So, with a 30 point spread I was just thinking about third place. I lost 13 pounds. And it was our combined weight loss as a team that pushed us into second place, which to us was really like first place!! We received an Academy gift card for $25. I also took second place for the most weight lost and the difference between me and first place was half a pound. I feel good, energized- and that's better than anything. I'd like to lose a total of 5 more pounds so I'm trying to continue with my routine.

Hmph! The old fashion way of exercise and diet works and even though the contest is over (as many folks have pointed out to me) you just can't stop maintaining all that you've worked so hard to accomplish. Bikini season is just around the corner and I'm going to be ready! And, JB can't call me fat anymore.

Ray Update

Erin-go-Bray

Ray drank a bit much for St. Patrick's Day over at Highlowaha! April will be a fun month for Ray and Taste of USA is coming up in May!!

Soccer

Soccer is going really well. They won the first game. I missed it because I went to Houston to a baby shower for the cutest pregnant woman ever! Pearl and I went to work out at the gym. We walked the treadmill and I'll be damned if her 8 month pregnant-self wasn't kicking my butt!

Oh- back to soccer. The second game they won 15-0. And though they were understandably excited, we had to have a little discussion about good sportsmanship. We have a little break now with Spring Break but will be back to it next week.


He shoots! He scores! This is from last season where Drew dribbled it down, shot and got it past the goalie.


I love this shot of JB throwing the ball in. I'm not sure if this is during a game or warm up but I just love his form.


We drove to Temple, TX a couple of Saturday's ago to watch my nephew play. They unfortunately lost. A lot to nothing. But who's keeping score. Here we are on the sidelines.

Blogging...

I'm always having fun with the gang over at Highlowaha. That's Ray up there that I draw for the blog. Claudia started the blog in 2008 and this year she invited Heather, Katie and me to join in the writing fun. We hope you'll tune in. We ran an event last year called Taste of USA. That will start again in May with a new twist. Last year we headed up to Philadelphia as Pennsylvania was our winning state.

Two other blogs that I just love are these:
I have a serious girl crush on Pioneer Woman. She does it all. Writes love stories. She takes awesome photographs. She takes awesome pictures of the food she cooks. I want to be her - minus the home schooling part.

I found Pioneer through Bakerella. Bakerella makes me want to bake - and I don't really even like to cook or bake! I made these. I want to make this, this, and she makes me want to play with fondant.

Check them out!

Technical Difficulties

I am having technical difficulties over at highlowaha.

Emails aren't being delivered on time- they're a day late!

Google Analytics isn't reporting any stats.

So, this is a test post.

Aren't you glad you tuned in. :)

AnniversaRay

AnniversaRay walked the Red Carpet on February 18th at Highlowaha. And on February 19th Claudia announced that Heather, Katie and I will be writing with her on the blog. Check out us out at Highlowaha!

Happy Valentine's Day

Check out Ray at Highlowaha

Marshmallows and Blogs

I have to get pictures from my friend Cassie- aka Luci Lemon- from this past weekend! The boys and I drove to their house in Montgomery to hang out for the weekend. It was so much fun. We played on the zip line, they jumped on the trampoline and we roasted marshmallows. JB announced excitedly, and to my surprise, that this was the first time he was ever going to roast marshmallows! How did I let you get to be 7 years old and never roast marshmallows? I can't tell you how many S'mores he ate or how many marshmallows Drew burned but I can tell you it was exciting to see the fun they were having. I can't wait to post the pictures.

On other notes of beginnings, I have started yet another blog. Give Me 1,000 Kisses is where I hope to keep you updated on my current art project. Right now, I just have the how it started story and the instructions on what to do if you would like to participate. I have about 20 lip prints and need to get started. Getting started is on my to do list for this weekend. Along with cleaning up that place I call home.

Official Highlowaha S.W.A.K Drive

Read the whole story here.

I am working on a new project this year on something I started years ago. I am recruiting people to send me their lip prints. To get started, first send me your lip print applied to any kind of paper- copy, yellow pad, napkin, coffee filter, you get the picture.

Send it to:

Cheryl O'Pry

2701 Knoll Trail

Euless, Texas 76039

I will then turn around and send you a piece of art paper for another print of your lips. Then, I turn your lip prints into schools of fish.

So, go ahead.

Kiss some paper and send it to me at the address above.

Gettin' All Techy On You

Hey! Hey! Hi! (My new friend Margaret has me talking like that. :))

I have a new email subscription link.

Just scroll down a little bit and you'll see it on the left tool bar there.

If you put your email address in there whenever I update this exciting blog you will get an email letting you know. Isn't that cool?

I know this isn't anything new to you old time techy's but it's new to me because I just figured it out. Fun! We'll be adding to our fun blog site at Highlowaha so you can subscribe over there, too. New changes are coming for the site and you won't want to miss out on the fun.

Okay, so now go subscribe!

In my world everyone's a pony, they eat rainbows and poop butterflies.

While I was in my room last night, I could hear the boys laughing about something in the other room... something that had to do with a lot of burping. They finally come running in and JB performs for me and I couldn't help it. I know I shouldn't encourage it but it's just so funny. They say it's from Horton Hears a Who but I don't remember it.

He burped the ending 3 times before we got the camera out... 3 TIMES! Not counting the numerous times that he did it in the living room. And each time an explosive burp at the end. Nope. Couldn't get it on video and this one cracked us up today in review.

HooRay! Happy New Year!

Read about HooRay at Highlowaha.

The boys and I spent a fun evening at the Beeny's where after dinner we had a ball drop at 8 complete with hats, streamers, noise makers and a New Year toast. We are so lucky to have such fun friends.

We now have four days of playing with our new Christmas goodies and cleaning stuff up.