Happy Birthday to meeeee

I suppose I'm supposed to be distraught over this major life event, but I just haven't quite got there yet. 30 just doesn't seem old to me. Now don't get me wrong, it seems much older than I FEEL, but I just can't bring myself to mourn this new era. If anything I should be celebrating. My 20's were about learning to feel comfortable in my own skin, accepting who I am and learning from my mistakes instead of regretting them. I feel like my 30's are going to be just as significant, how can I fear that?

We spent the holiday weekend at Dad and Ruthie's where David, Cara and Keller so graciously joined us. I know their 5 hour trek from Plano with an 11 month old could not have been pleasant, but despite the little obstacle in the backseat, they came, and I am so, so grateful for that. Keller is walking all over the place now, and is just getting bigger and bigger each time I see him. The kid eats more than Alex. He's a TANK! He's such a good little guy and so fun to be with. Ashley is just in love with him and spends time chasing him around and playing baby games with him. Anything to get her hands on him. Alex, on the other hand, is Alex, and tries to pretend he doesn't exist. Seriously. He does a pretty good job of it too. It's nothing against his cousin, but Alex has always had an aversion to "babies". He says they always "bother" him. I know it sounds awful, but really it's quite entertaining to watch Keller try to get Alex's attention. Alex's eyes bug out and he just stares at me as if to say "MOM HELP ME!" You just can't help but laugh. Of course, I required "mandatory" love and bugged him to "give your cousin a hug", "give him a kiss" etc. Translation: "Do something cute so I can at LEAST get a picture." I drove him absolutely crazy and more thank likely this worked against me since remember, this is Alex.


While we were there we got to check out dad's insanely lush garden. This year he used organic turkey (or was it chicken?) compost mixed in with his regular stuff, and he also raised the bed. His garden was so green and full of veggies, it was just gorgeous. Dad saved the kids some cucumbers and zuccini to pick, and as you can see the zuccini was more than ready! I just can't get over how lush it is, and tall, it is just so tall! In a week or so, he's going to have soooo many ripe tomatoes, too bad he doesn't even LIKE tomatoes! Ha! I can't wait to go back next time and see if the corn stalks produce. I guess he has about 5 or so stalks and a couple appear to be growing pretty good. I think this is his first time to attempt corn, so his expectations aren't too high.


























So yeah, I fully expected to wake up on the 30th anniversary of my birth and find my boobs sagging to floor, my back aching, and an undeniable desire to nag at my husband. Fortunately, for me (and Mark), that didn't happen. Instead, I woke up to my three most favorite people in the world singing happy birthday to me with a tray full of yummy breakfast treats in tow. They made fried eggs over hard, just the way I like them, bacon, an everything bagel with cream cheese, a bowl FILLED with fresh strawberries, banannas and apples and a cup of perfectly sweetened and creamed coffee (mind you, this is no easy task). The four of us lounged there in bed together picking at my breakfast and chatting about whatever silly little children chat about. It was the perfect start to a perfect day.

The rest of the day was just as perfect. Ashley and I went shopping, just the two of us. We spent a good two hours trying on clothes and just being girls. We had so much fun shopping together and probably tried on half the clothes in the store. We left with our loot and went home to Nana's where we had an early dinner of homemade fried shrimp and I forget what else...does it matter really though? I'm telling you, Nana's fried shrimp is the best anywhere. I don't even order fried shrimp at restaurants anymore, I'm always disappointed. I just hold out for special occasions at Nana's and make up for lost time by eating and eating and eating. After dinner we had homemade chocolate cake with dark chocolate icing a la mode. DE-LISH! It was so good, that we had a second helping later that night. (shhhh)

You know you're old when you get gifts like these...and you LIKE IT!

Camera used to take above pictures *not pictured. :) Thanks Dad and Ruthie!!!


Thanks to all my sweet family and friends for making my birthday special...and Mollie, for making me smile when I read your text message. :)

My Next 30 Years

Our camping trip

After dropping off Splash Cinnamon Stick Urben, Turkey, Prince Roker (all fish) and Sarge at Grams and Pops house, we headed out to Inks Lake State Park last Friday. By the time we arrived around 3ish, most of the campsites were already taken. This is definitely prime time for camping, but thankfully Mark made reservations over a month ago. In leiu of writing about our experience, I decided to upload a small portion of the 500+ pictures I took over the weekend.

Inks Lake Camping Trip

Wordless Wednesday

Pass The Torch Tuesday

I'm so proud of my sweet girl. Once again she's knocked my socks off. For Mother's Day, she created (and presented) me an incredibly sweet Power Point slide show. What a sweetie she is to take the time to tell me how much she appreciates me. It makes it all worth it!

Mother's Day Power Point

Photo Hunters "Five"

This one was taken at Inks Lake this weekend. Five, in need of a nap and driving sissy crazy. The perfect capture of "five" in our family.

Wordless Wednesday

Pass The Torch Tuesday

This morning, Mark and I found a book of poems written by miss Ashley in her Monday folder.

The cover is a pink piece of folded construction paper entitled Book O' Poetry, by Ashley. Each page inside is an illustrated half a sheet of folded paper with poems written in pencil. This is no ordinary poetry book. This book is amazing. Each piece of work is filled with meaning and a sort of unexpected depth for a 10 year old child. A sort of depth that I'm not even sure I'm capable of expressing myself. I am just so incredibly proud that Ashley is growing in to this AMAZING human being, that is capable of expressing herself this way.

I Am
by Ashley Urben

I am curious and creative
I wonder if pigs will fly
I hear myself think
I see my brother grow
I want to go to the moon
I am curious and creative
I imagine that there'll be world peace
I feel good when I talk about problems
I touch the paper with my pencil
I worry about my great grandpa
I cry when a friend or family member dies
I am curious and creative
I understand that people make mistakes
I say that one day I'll become a vet
I dream of one day working with animals
I try to do my best in life everyday
I hope to get a good job
I am curious and creative

Homeschooling?

In my quest to find more information on whether or not homeschooling for Kindergarten is a good choice for Mr. Alex...(yes, I'm thinking about it) I ran across this and found it to be very thought provoking. I thought I'd share.

What About Socialization?

Two women meet at a playground, where their children are swinging and playing ball. The women are sitting on a bench watching. Eventually, they begin to talk.

W1: Hi. My name is Maggie. My kids are the three in red shirts -- helps me keep track of them.

W2: (Smiles) I'm Terri. Mine are in the pink and yellow shirts. Do you come here a lot?

W1: Usually two or three times a week, after we go to the library.

W2: Wow. Where do you find the time?

W1:: We home school, so we do it during the day most of the time.

W2: Some of my neighbors home school, but I send my kids to public school.

W1:: How do you do it?

W2: It's not easy. I go to all the PTO meetings and work with the kids every day after school and stay really involved.

W1: But what about socialization? Aren't you worried about them being cooped up all day with kids their own ages, never getting the opportunity for natural relationships?

W2: Well, yes. But I work hard to balance that. They have some friends who're home schooled, and we visit their grandparents almost every month.

W1: Sounds like you're a very dedicated mom. But don't you worry about all the opportunities they're missing out on? I mean they're so isolated from real life -- how will they know what the world is like -- what people do to make a living -- how to get along with all different kinds of people?

W2: Oh, we discussed that at PTO, and we started a fund to bring real people into the classrooms. Last month, we had a policeman and a doctor come in to talk to every class. And next month, we're having a woman from Japan and a man from Kenya come to speak.

W1: Oh, we met a man from Japan in the grocery store the other week, and

he got to talking about his childhood in Tokyo. My kids were absolutely fascinated. We invited him to dinner and got to meet his wife and their three children.

W2: That's nice. Hmm. Maybe we should plan some Japanese food for the lunchroom on Multicultural Day.

W1: Maybe your Japanese guest could eat with the children.

W2: Oh, no. She's on a very tight schedule. She has two other schools to visit that day. It's a system-wide thing we're doing.

W1: Oh, I'm sorry. Well, maybe you'll meet someone interesting in the grocery store sometime and you'll end up having them over for dinner.

W2: I don't think so. I never talk to people in the store - certainly not people who might not even speak my language. What if that Japanese man hadn't spoken English?

W1: To tell you the truth, I never had time to think about it. Before I even saw him, my six-year- old had asked him what he was going to do with all the oranges he was buying.

W2: Your child talks to strangers?

W1: I was right there with him. He knows that as long as he's with me, he can talk to anyone he wishes.

W2: But you're developing dangerous habits in him. My children never talk to strangers.

W1: Not even when they're with you?

W2: They're never with me, except at home after school. So you see why it's so important for them to understand that talking to strangers is a big no-no.

W1: Yes, I do. But if they were with you, they could get to meet interesting people and still be safe. They'd get a taste of the real world, in real settings. They'd also get a real feel for how to tell when a situation is dangerous or suspicious.

W2: They'll get that in the third and fifth grades in their health courses.

W1: Well, I can tell you're a very caring mom. Let me give you my number

-- if you ever want to talk, give me call. It was good to meet you.

- - AUTHOR UNKNOWN - -

Photo Hunt "Childhood"

Yesterday was Field Day for Ashley. It was also Field Day at her old school in Leander. After most of the events were over here in Georgetown, I picked her up from school and we went to Leander's field day so Ash could surprise her friends.

This picture was taken at Pleasant Hill with her old buddies. To hear the girlish squeals when they saw Ashley walk up, was just priceless! I chose this photo for the theme "childhood" for a number of reasons. These girls are childhood friends and have grown up together through the prime of their childhood. In just over two weeks they will all finish their last year in elementary school and I know silly faces like these will still happen, but I also know that they will eventually become few and far between. The look of innocence on their faces just makes my tummy flutter.

Where's The Poop

Yesterday, Alex and I ate lunch with dad, made a trip to Ready, Set, Play
and afterwards headed over to half price books to play a game of checkers and read a few books. Alex picked out this book called "Where's The Poop" and just had to read it. The next 5 minutes were excruciating. Trying to read this book in a quiet book store was more than I could take. "Baby Penguin, you need to go poop." "Silly momma, I already went poop and I feel much better!"
The best part is folding up the flaps, because yes, this is a flap book, and finding the animals poop. VERY realistic looking poop. Each page had me laughing out loud like a silly little girl. And then we get to the very last page, which is just one big flap with a picture of a door. You open the door and there's the little boy's mom sitting on the toilet, saying "Please close the door, I need privacy while I'm going poop." This book was just too much. After barely making it through the entire book because my sides were hurting, Alex informed me that we just HAD to buy this book. I refused. This was for a little boy trying to learn to use the potty and we don't need it.

Well, here we are almost 24 hours later and I'm realizing that we HAVE to have this book. So I look it up on Amazon just to see how much it is, and if it's worth ordering or if I should just go back to half price books, and then I see the reviews. I read all 12 of the reviews and now feel like the most adolescent mother on the face of this earth. Each one talks about how appropriate this book is and how well written it is with the amazing pictures and great message etc. Not one of them mentioned sitting in the bookstore laughing out loud with their 5 year old son. Ut oh.

Happy Birthday Kelly!

A poem for today

I Took His Hand and Followed

Author Unknown

My dishes went unwashed today,
I didn't make the bed,
I took his hand and followed
Where his eager footsteps led.

Oh yes, we went adventuring,
My little son and I...
Exploring all the great outdoors
Beneath the summer sky

We waded in a crystal stream,
We wandered through a wood...
My kitchen wasn't swept today
But life was gay and good.

We found a cool, sun-dappled glade
And now my small son knows
How Mother Bunny hides her nest,
Where jack-in-the-pulpit grows.

We watched a robin feed her young,
We climbed a sunlit hill...
Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky,
We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was neglected,
That I didn't brush the stairs,
In twenty years, no one on earth
Will know, or even care.

But that I've helped my little boy
To noble manhood grow,
In twenty years, the whole wide world
May look and see and know.

Wordless Wednesday

The newest addition to the family

Just when I thought my heart couldn't possibly hold anymore love than I already have, an early birthday present from Dad and Ruthie arrives.

Here's my new baby the Nikon D40 DSLR:

I'm so happy I could just burst!

Ashley - 1 Mom and Dad - 0

Yesterday Ashley presented Mark and I with a Power Point presentation. She had us sit down while she stood next to her computer and literally gave us a full presentation. She had it memorized and was able to speak to us without looking at the screen. We were and still are in complete shock.

While I can't upload the actual PPT Presentation, I have created an album of the slides she made.

Ashley's Power Point

Lessons from the Obits

Sunday morning the paper comes. Only Sunday mornings. Mark Urben sits in his chair, his les pulled up as a sort of paper support as he creates his untidy pile of newspaper on the floor next to him. He usually starts with his favorite section, the glossy pages...where he weeds through dreams of sporting the latest electronic gizmos, forever searching for that non-existant sale on a flat screen plasma, which one day WILL appear. On that day when it shows up for next to nothing, I fully expect to see papers fly and skid marks appear on the floor marking his path from chair to driveway. After the glossy section, I'm not sure he reads much more, although, he does make every attempt at falsifying his interest in every other section of the paper. Some days I think his "paper reading" is his way of getting some much needed down time. Afterall, how could anyone sit and read the paper for FOUR hours straight?

At some point on Sunday I stroll by and scatter the mess even further in my atempt at finding the Metro and State section. You see, this is the only section I ever read. I know, I'm not fully up to date on the situation in our country, I don't know the latest news and politics of our city, but quite frankly, I just don't care right now. I'm too busy raising a family to get caught up in all that. Someday, when I've done my job at home, I will have more time to care, but for now, I will sit and read the obits. Yes, I WILL admit it. As morbid as it sounds, I love to read the obituaries. Why? I'm not exactly sure, I suppose it must have something to do with the stage of life that I'm in....this stage of trying to figure out what exactly this life is about, and what exactly I'm supposed to do with it. I'm learning. The obits are teaching. When I want to teach my children about "dairy" for instance, I do my best to expose them to as much information as I possibly can regarding "dairy".
I'm learning about life. I'm reading about life. Lives that hopefully have come full circle. I don't read them and weep (well sometimes I do), I read them and absorb what made up their lives. What interests did they have, how did they impact their little world? How were they special? And then I put the paper down, and go about my day with a greater appreciation for this day and a bit more enthusiasm for making it the best I possibly can. I smile at the sun shining and the noisy children. I slow down a little and absorb more than I would had I not taken the time to read about that strange face. I go out in to the world and maybe for just that day, I will see more unfamiliar faces and will be able to appreciate that they too are people just trying to get through this beautiful, yet sometimes rough life as best they can just like me. I don't know.

Pass The Torch Tuesday...Earthy Kids

Sunday was Earth Day. Ashley had Savannah and Kel over, so it was a full house. We did an earth day craft, talked about saving resources, not littering, etc. We actually spent a good portion of the day focussing on Earth Day topics, and much to my surprise the kids were telling ME about what they could do to conserve and be less wasteful. I was impressed. The kiddos did their part by picking up trash at the city park where we found some interesting trash items. We had a contest, who could come up with the biggest, smallest and strangest piece of trash. I think Savannah won for strangest, biggest and smallest. She found a rusted out paint can, a piece of confetti...a LOT of confetti and several beer bottles. I was surprised at the amount of twist ties I found. I figure it was probably from loafs of bread that were taken to the park to feed the ducks. Strange. It was a good day, and the kiddos and I had some wonderful time together at the park. Check out the pictures from our day:

Earth Day

Photo Hunt "Steps"

My three favorite sets of girl feet. Oh the fun these feet have had together. So fresh and young and full of life. I wonder what the future holds for these favorite feet of mine.

Yeah, I'm slackin

My latest excuses for not Blogging:

1. It's SPRING! I'm outside every chance I get. The yard is looking better and better all the time. I've planted all kinds of new stuff and I have plans for even more. Last weekend Mark trimmed the trees, which look 100% better, I'm so proud of him!

2. It's SPRING! (did I mention that??) I've been taking Alex to the park a lot more lately and just today we made a trip to his favorite park. After we played a little baseball, we walked down to the waterfall where we found a big metal tub filled with water and about a dozen or so minnows. After I convinced him that the minnows weren't going to hurt him (yes, I had to show him how it was done), Alex was all about catching the minnows with his hands. That was probably the most fun that boy has had since Schlitterbahn last year. He just could NOT stop catching them. He'd get so giddy when he realized that he'd caught one. And at first they'd squirm in his hand a little, and he'd let out a little yelp and a jump, it was priceless. After a while he became a professional minnow hunter and was catching two at a time. After just putting them back in the water got boring he started dropping them like little bombs (with sound effects of course) back in to the tub and then he'd just laugh and laugh. Who'da thought it could be THAT easy to entertain this boy! He didn't need a playdate with 10 other kids running around, in fact I think he had more fun on his own just wandering wherever his little feet took him.

3. It's SPRING! (oh yeah, I already mentioned that) Spring = Almost Summer = I have to wear a swim suit soon. Whooptey Doo. So yeah, I finally joined a gym. I've been using the excuse that we "just" moved here and I need to find a gym, for seven months now, I figured I either needed to come up with a new excuse, or get to crackin on this oversize body of mine. Which, by the way is as big as it's ever been without a bun in the oven. Yeah, that's whole other subject that I will just pretend I didn't bring up. So yeah, my point was that I'm at the gym at least 3 days each week.

Ok, that's all I've got. I'll try harder. :(

My View Haiku

From this view of mine
Life, energy, work and peace
Squirrels play, people pass

A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity...

That's what Mark said when I whined at the hefty $45 price tag attached to an invitation from a friend for a trip to Cameron Park Zoo. Later I found out that the hefty price tag was for more than what I expected. Our little zoologist, pet loving, animal hugging daughter is going to spend the night at the zoo tomorrow! I'm so, so excited for her!! When she gets back I'm going to have her write about her experience and see if I can share it on my blog.

Pass The Torch Tuesday

I'm late...imagine that.

On our trip to Nana and Big Daddy's this weekend Ashley rattled our cage quite a bit when she asked us what car we were planning on getting her when she turned 16. I was speechless. Mark was not. This is something that I had not yet contemplated, considering our sweet little precious girl is only 10 years old. Mark, on the other hand had obviously mulled this one over, "I don't know sweetie, whatever you can afford."
And there in the van on our Easter trip, 10 year old Ashley began her plan for her first job. Three days later our little entrepeneur has a business plan and well thought out flyer to post...which I will HAVE to share when I get permission.

Mandatory smiles

I've been pushing Bluebonnett pictures to the bottom of my to do list for almost 2 weeks now. I've told the kids almost every day to "please remind me tomorrow that we HAVE to do Bluebonnett pictures." And each day something gets in the way. Alex has been anxiously awaiting our stop on the side of the road and has even requested that we stop "a whole bunch of times". So, yesterday on the way to Nana and Big Daddy's we stop. Daddy is sick, and stays in the car with the dogs while I attepmt a speedy photo session. My expectations were high considering all the preparations I've made in talking it up to the kids. That was my first mistake.

We get out there and here is what I get:

Awww, isn't she just perfect.



Aaannnd then there's Alex











Mistake #2...trying to force a hard headed 5 year old to smile. Doesn't work. I threw in the towel with the boy and put my "other" daughter Kelly in for a quick photo shoot fix. Ahhhh....much better.







After watching how happy the girls made me, Alex decided to give it one last try and I actually got 2 decent photos out of him.

Real Moms Meme

I was tagged by Mollie gosh darnit. I guess I can't complain, I always enjoy flexing the brain a bit. To finish the statement "Real moms__". I have to think. If I replace the word "mom" with "dad", this meme would be much easier.
I suppose a real mom is more than just the woman who gave birth to you. She's the one who makes your heart feel warm whenever your heart needs warming, and sometimes even when you don't. She's the one who thinks you're the cutest, most beautiful human being she's ever laid eyes on, even with your hair caked with pear juice and face covered in dirt. In fact, she thinks you're just as precious like that as you are wrapped in a fresh towel after a bath. A real mom always has your best interest in mind, even if that means you will dislike her for a little while. A real mom knows that she will always have a special place in your heart. A place that no one could ever replace, because without her, that little space would be cold and empty.

A real mom knows how to make you laugh and strives to hear that laughter daily. She teaches how you can laugh at just about anything if you choose to. A real mom shows her son how his wife should be, and her daughter how to be that wife. A real mom shows her children how to love by hugging them AND their father (and sometimes a tree or two). She shows them how to hold their head up high, even when their wrong...and that being wrong is ok. Admitting their wrongs is even better than ok.

A real mom is anyone who does the best with what they have, and is always trying do better no matter what their circumstance. She learns from her children just as they learn from her.

She always wishes for her children to have more happiness, love and patience than they could ever imagine.

I know so many REAL MOMS, and I feel so lucky for that!

Oh, almost forgot, I'm suppose to include a picture with this post. Since I don't have one that I think is appropriate, I think I'll share this one.