Pink-O-Ween

What do the Anderson's, Gusler's, Hamilton's and Martinez's do to prepare for Halloween?---create their own tradition and holiday!!

PINK-O-WEEN

For Pink-O-Ween consists of going to the pumpkin patch, having Walmart Adventures and Painting PUMPKINS!!!

Here is the first one I did and will post others later that everyone else did....I did not get pictures of those!

From Marvel to Horses and Fainting Goats!

I am very proud of my new home Mail/Family Command Wall…over the Christmas Break I gave myself goals….

1. Get new bedding for our bedroom….well I got that as a Christmas gift so that was AWESOME!! Thanks Jomi for "hinting" to the hubs for me! I love it!! All I need now are to pick new curtains and curtain rods. 

2. Find a wall decoration to go above our bed. 

3. Get an organizational wall done! ---Pinterest Inspired! 

Well 1 and 3 are complete and while #2 was attempted twice myself and David were not satisfied with the selections I came home with…however I did find the perfect piece of metal art however it was too small for the wall space….so now I am leaning towards painting the wall and making it a drastic accent wall! 

Well break is over and what better way to spend the first weekend after school has started than playing video games….Lego Marvel to be exact….I choose Lego games when its my turn to pick a game because 

1. I am terrible at video games…2. You can't die in Lego games! 

This way I avoid….getting frustrated and David does not get antsy will playing with me. It's a Win-Win situation….look at that The 7 Habits have carried over from school to home! 

This weekend is MLK weekend….let me just say it is a difficult concept to teach Kindergarteners about racism and equality when they have never lived in that kind of world. Not to say that I myself have either but I am older and grasp the concept….so the easiest way to explain it was to say that Martin Luther King Jr. helped change the minds of lawmakers that everyone deserved to go to school together instead of boys only with boys or girls only with girls and that if you have different colored "hair" it didn't matter because the world only works and classrooms only work when everyone is together. It helped that one of my students had just moved and they were still missing her and wanted her to come back. We took on a Win Win attitude as we read The Crayon Box that Talked. Anyways this weekend we went to my new "BFF's" sons birthday party in Colorado City….she is actually a super good friend of my sister's and has now adopted my family as her family. While we were visiting with her and my sister we got to go see a baby goat….some horses as well as the ultimate……FAINTING GOATS!!! You would have thought we won the lottery how excited everyone was about the goats….the video is on David's phone so that will have to come later. Dj enjoyed playing with most of his cousins and was beyond thrilled that we took Bichael and Buckey with is. (John Michael and Robbie) We rushed home today so that we could get the boys to baseball practice. 

Well I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend. I know that I will be reading for Grad School and enjoying Monday and Tuesday off….however Tuesday is for a Curriculum Committee Hearing…bluh….all day long in Vendor Presentations! 

6 Months Later!

Wow!! Where have The Anderson's Been! Well tons of stuff has gone on in the past 6 months since the last post….I decided to go back to school for my Masters in Special Education specializing in Curriculum & Instruction with a certification in Educational Diagnostician! Whoa! Such a long degree name! So since August 26th this has been my best friend….

Aside from school we embarked on the Potty Training Journey with Dj and were doing quite well until he broke his leg right before Thanksgiving at Cheyenne's Birthday party! Lets just say that we will no longer be jumping or anywhere near a trampoline. A month later we are now two days out from a cast and refusing to walk….which according to the Doc is normal. I must say THANK YOU to all that have helped us with Dj since having a broken leg….my co-workers gave us older clothes really pants that helped because they were the tear away kind….Trey who drove us to the doctor while in Ft. Worth…grandparents who had to deal with babysitting a kid with a broken leg! 

We welcomed Elfie into our home…we love our Santa's helper that keeps a close eye on Dj during the weeks leading up to Christmas. 

Even Elife broke his leg flying back from the North Pole one night. He even told all the Rescue Bots about his accident. 

Elife brought Christmas into the Anderson Casa…..he brought us a Christmas Tree directly from the North Pole! 

Well now back to relaxing during my WINTER/CHRISTMAS VACATION!!! I've got lots of WRAPPING to do as you can see a bag peeking out in the corner of the photo above. 

The Dream Begins with US!!

Our goal for this year is to become Healthier versions of OURSELVES!! Yes everyone usually makes this resolution but we have events this year that are a strong motivation! 10 year reunion and hopefully Dj starting sports!! Above is the logo from Keep Movin' Fit Camp. I have completed one 6 week camp and a 21-Day Challenge! Camp consisted of mostly cardio and total body workouts! The Challenge was mostly weight training. Below is the picture of my Purple Passion team at camp this session! 

 Today was our first TEAM WORKOUT and man it was rough! 60 burpies, 200 squats, 200 sit-ups at least 100 pushups, jumping jacks, mountain climbers.

I am very proud of David he joined Planet Fitness! He has 24/7 access to an awesome gym and classes. Can't beat that price monthly.

We have started making healthier food choices and WOO HOO David ate sweet potatoes!! Well time to get to bed....4 am comes really early!

Feliz Navidad!!

Get Low!

Well Fit Camp has been well Fit Camp...a no holds bar kinda thing!! Since the Fam has been sick I've missed 2 days...tried to keep up w my journal..and do the best I can at all the different exercises! That said the bar below was my new friend and all I remember was GET LOW as we lunged across the ACU Basketball court for 40 mins! The whole hour was designed to work on our core and @$$!! Night all I've got a 3 am wake up call/text!! Yes they text me that early!!

The Past Couple Weeks...

Wow! This summer feels like it is flying by! I can say we have had tons of fun this summer and looking forward to some more!

Here are some pictures and mini recaps of whats been going on!!

One of the biggest changes is....drumroll please....MY NEW JOB!! I'll have more on that later once I actually get to look at my room.

Sunday was David's Dad's birthday and we took over a Batman ice-cream cake. Dj loves playing "BALL" with Poppy!

Wednesday Dj and I went to the Camp Bowie Aquatic Center in Brownwood with Norma and the kids! It was so much fun and Dj loved it after he got used to constant water. Here he is walking around during our lunch break. If you haven't heard of this park you should go...it only cost Dj and I $5 to get in and we got to take in a cooler!

 The weekend of Father's Day we went to Dj's 1st Ranger's game! They won and we got to see a Fireworks show!! Dj loved the game and watching the fireworks. It was fun to spend some relaxing time with friends. Shaft, Sharon, Rachel and William and of course Dj's new friend Indica joined us!

While spending time in the Ft. Worth area we made a stop at Toys R Us to check out some ideas for Dj's 2nd birthday present!! Needless to say my boys know how to have fun "Noodle" style!

Road trip & Back from Korea

Yesterday me and the KIDS went to C City to see my sister! We got there around 12 and got home around 6! Yes a six hour trip that was followed by Play Faire Park--putt putt golf and Sonic with our friend from high school who has been working internationally teaching English in Korea!
I have a fun surprise to share just not yet! We are planning a Fathers Day trip to the Rangers game and finally got our tickets :) we are also anxiously awaiting a phone call for an impromptu trip to Ft. Worth!!

I have a secret....

NO for those that read....I AM NOT PREGNANT!! ha ha! It's really no secret but its nice to think of it that way! But.....

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!!

Well tomorrow is my last day of official work! YAAAAAYYYY! Today we went to celebrate the last school day with children by grabbing some SNO-CONES on our way home from grandma's. It was so nice to get off work early relax, get the car washed and head for sno-cones! Let me just say....I HATE taking the car to get washed. I did not like the experience and David simply laughed at me but whatever.
After work I met David and his mom at Lowe's they were getting some organizational ideas for our summer projects.

Summer Bucket List:

• Organize and Re-arrange our bedroom closet
• Finish organizing and cleaning the laundry room/office (this is sooner than later as Shaft might be here this weekend)
• Plan Dj's birthday party
• Survive Dj's birthday party--July 7th (you better not miss it) I've already told some people and put it on calendars....yes I am that over achieving mother that has had this planned since last year!
• Spend as much time as possible enjoying the summer break
• Make an exercise plan and stick to it :)
• Prepare Dj for Mother's Day Out!! <----I can't believe our big boy will be going to school next year! (Proud Mommy moment)
• Take a family vacation with Norma (We may or may not get to go with them but it would be nice if we could!)

I am sure that I'll have more to add....oh and did I mention somewhere in all of this I will be taking my GRE exam and filing my application with Texas Tech Graduate School for the Fall.

Well tomorrow should be an easy breezy day!! Check in at work make sure nothing is wrong with my paperwork that I turned in earlier today and then DATE DAY with the hubby once he gets off work!!

Well crazy doesn't end....

I think I really should have titled this blog post....DEADLINES! Between work and home...I am starting to feel the pressure of deadlines. Graduation for my kids is next week....EOY fiesta next week too....on and then Maddie's First Communion and Confirmation!! YAY!! Our friend is graduating from Tech so we'll be making a trip for that....oh and did I forget its the end of the school year which means all folders and paperwork has to be completed ASAP!
On top of all that I am teaching a new friend some Spanish so that she can better communicate with my Spanish/Bilingual students when she has them on the bus. Which I <3 because it makes me feel like my kids at school are just as loved by others as they are by me!
David has been working on homework....he always has DEADLINES! I am starting to feel him on the constant pressure!
Sorry for the rant....I tend to have small anxiety attacks when my plate is overflowing...but this is a happy overflowing...it wouldn't be the end of the year with out a bit of CHAOS!
I can't believe my kids are so close to being KINDERGARTENERS!! I have been truly blessed this year with a LOVING class! We truly became a family and I will actually be sad to see them go!
So pray that I make it through....end of the year testing, diplomas, yearbook making, classroom decorating, graduation, fiestas, report cards, perm folders and ohhh yes classroom cleaning all in the next week or so!

ohh and did I forget to mention its TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK!! Try to think of your fondest memory or your favorite teacher?!

Busy Busy!

Lately I've been carpooling and baseball mom! But I am very much looking forward to next week...

Pony Rides

We spent some time with some new friends...and Dj got to ride a MINI PONY!! Both plastic and real :) Could he make that look any more fun!

Our last Hurrah!

This was the last weekend of Spring Break! We spent the weekend at home relaxing, David finishing up homework and Dj watching Rio. That is not anything out of the normal for him now...we are thinking of ways to separate him from Rio gradually. We made a trip to Lowes to find a dishwasher to go with our new Ikea cabinet! While we were there we picked out a new dishwasher and some Petunias!
Today Dj and I planted our Perunias and made brownies! David mowed and worked on his Lego Technic!

Life lately..

We spent the weekend with Trey and his family! Even though the weather sucked we had tons of fun! I got to hang out with my bestie and go shopping at Sam Moon--seriously who could ask for a better weekend! We felt much more mobile since we bought a TomTom GPS system. We took Dj to Main Event and he truly enjoyed playing games with Dad. It was the cutest thing ever.
This week has been Spring Break and I must say it feels like its flying by!! Monday we drove back in...Tuesday we meant to go to the Zoo but everyone in Abilene was there so we went to Sonic for ice cream instead..Wednesday we went shopping with Memaw and today nada!!

They call me Mrs. Handyman

Well it's been a crazy week! 1/2 Monday..Bilingual Conference Wednesday....tomorrow we have Nanaw's funeral in Ranger and the Friday bring on the mini vacation!!!

Tomorrow will be an emotional day for the family...I have loved listening to David's memories of Nanaw and of course remember my first time meeting her and playing SkipBo!

On another note...YAY!! Me!!! I fixed the toilet!!!! I went to Wal-Mart determined that I could fix it and not have to pay the plumber and I DID!! Louis came to check my work and it was done right! Bye bye $90 fix and HELLO fixing it for $10!!

Mexicano!!

Tonight I am very proud of myself!! I made homemade mexican rice, chicken taquitos served with beans. It was my first attempt at both and everyone loved it :) My rice needed just a tad more cooking time and it would have been perfecto!

¡Feliz Día de Amor y Amistad!

The title says it all!! Today was our Valentines Fiesta at school and I love all my little Valentines!! I think I got 7 heart boxes of chocolates, 3 roses and 25 cards :) and 1 GiANT puppy!! David and I really don't celebrate v-day all that much but we did make Valetines for Dj to pass out!
Hope everyone enjoyed their loved ones today!!

Drum roll pls....David's 27!!!

Last night we celebrated Davids 27th birthday! Family and friends met us at New York Pizza to enjoy some pizza and cake :)
I love that we were able celebrate all together as much as David protested...I WON! We've had a wonderful weekend of just relaxing and celebrating!! David was able to finish all his homeowner early and just hang out with us minus his usual attachment to the computer on weekends.

Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend...were expecting snow hmmm maybe late start tomorrow!!

Oh and yes I forgot candles so David is using his lighter!

New shoes New you!

Isn't that how it works new shoes new you...I wish! This past Monday we officially joined the YMCA---insert hand motions :) I hadn't bought running shoes since I was prego with Dj and David's were in yucky shape so here's to new shoes and working out! We made the switch from our old gym to the Y because of childcare...which is a sad topic at least for me because Djs first time in the nursery consisted of standing in one solitary position while we did a short 30 minute work out. The gym has busy days in the nursery so for now the plan is just to go on the non busy days and pray he gets better in there!

3 years later....and it's still like yesterday!

I think the title sums up everything about today....our hearts are so full....both heavy and joyous...we've been beyond blessed with the love of our lives Dj yet..our hearts yearn for more.

This day feels like yesterday...Clara Grace.