Take a Deep Breath

Sooo... Can you feel spring in the air yet? I kind of feel it. Well, of course we have been busy little bees cleaning up so we are definitely in the spring cleaning mode. But this is with a very well-intended purpose - selling our house. Last weekend, I hustled the whole family outside into the backyard to do major cleanup. Jackson and Kaitlyn had more fun jumping in leaves or throwing rocks in the pool than anything else. Kaitlyn was a good helper too with the broom and laying down some mulch.

We have been meeting with a real estate agent and driving around neighborhoods. We are definitely in full swing of looking for a new house. Both Brandon and I feel the pressure to pick a neighborhood and look for houses in a specific area. I think we have now both moved our mindset to more of a central location - Coppell/Flower Mound area. We have really liked our area and didn't realize it until we have started looking around. We love the proximity of shopping and friends. Although, moving to Coppell, may not be as big of a deal since it is so easy to jump on George Bush. Flower Mound is a little tougher to get out of.

We both feel this decision is a big decision for us and we are praying for the patience and guidance to make a good decision for our family. I think this decision is tough because there are so many great areas in DFW and we really want to try and hit all of our priorities. With driving around, we both do agree on one thing, Allen is little far and out of the way. Although, we will be leaving, good schools, a great church and some pretty good housing deals there right now. Yes, it sounds, like I don't want to leave, and I don't, but I think Coppell may have what we are looking for too. We have attended church there and like it a lot. Now the dream house. We want it all, but I think we are realizing that the big reason we are moving is so the kids have more room to play with a playroom and a backyard. We can't wait to get a big playset with swings and slides, etc.

Our official date is March 4 to put the house on the market. Is this really happening is what I keep asking myself!

We had to blow off some steam yesterday after driving around with the kids, so we stopped and took a chance on bowling. Even though they were a little young and we only stayed about 45 minutes, they both loved throwing that ball down the lane.



Here are some pictures of activities with the kids.

Soccer fun with Kaitlyn. She is the next Mia Hamm. She can really chase that ball. She gets really excited when she kicks the ball in the goal and loves the cheers. Jackson has a little gym class, but haven't gotten any photos yet.


A princess pizza birthday party for Caroline. Jackson came and loved playing with the other kiddos.

Birthday Video

Brandon made this video of Kaitlyn's Birthday. I thought I would share even though for some reason the quality was downgraded when I uploaded it to Photobucket.

Weekend Update

A couple of updates. Saturday was quite a day. We began with a little birthday painting party for Kaitlyn and her friends. She loved the playground out back. We made a little 4 shirt so she could wear that over her outfit. She loved her Winnie the Pooh cake that she picked out. We also learned that we need to remind her to hold on to the swing when she is swinging on it. She popped out quite unexpectedly, but it was a gentle fall.
We also attended an old friend's wedding on Sunday - Kristen Norton. She grew up with Brandon in Beaumont and we went to Italy together. I volunteered Brandon to video their wedding and I took some quite shots. I don't know why, but my pictures didn't come out like I liked, but they looked great in them! Kristen always asked us if we knew anyone to set her up with, but little did we all know that it would be her hairdresser that set them up.

And an update on my cousin Shellie - It is going to take awhile to recover, a couple of months in a stroke rehab and her left side is coming back a little bit at a time, but time will tell if she will be able walk or use her leg. So many friends and family are helping out and showing support. A lot of the men in the family have decided to shave their heads in support of her. It was so sweet to see the bald heads.

It is Kaitlyn's Birthday! A Poem for Kaitlyn from Mommy

Kaitlyn Magdalene Meche is 4 Today!

Oh sweet daughter of mine
How you have grown over time
You are curious, funny and sweet
Oh how you have lit up our lives
Being 4 is going to be so neat!

This week we made a little poster - Celebration of Life - for her school. Her school doesn't sing happy birthday, but we make a poster with a picture of every year of life from the time she was born to today celebrating every year of life. She then walks around the school so everyone can celebrate with her. It was so amazing to go through old photos and to say old photos were just three years ago, blows my mind.

On this day, four years ago, I spent 14 hours in labor, 2 and a half pushing like I was running a marathon until she came; So perfect with all her fingers and toes, waiting to greet her mommy and daddy. She didn't come quietly, she made her debut with a loud cry and a soft whisper when she heard her mommy's voice. She was such a happy baby. She was a curious and active toddler and has become an imaginative preschooler.

I could never have imagined having a daughter like her. She is so strong and independent, but so very attached and sweet at the same time. I am stunned by how much she wants to learn. I know I am telling her a great story or telling her something she is interested in when her eyes focus and she has a super thoughtful look.

Today, I gave Kaitlyn a choice of two toys to bring down from the attic to play with since they have been up for awhile. She said, "Hmm, let me think." It was so cute and then she really sat for a minute and thought about what she wanted more.

She is ready to go at a drop of a hat and is always up for an adventure. She will be the first to raise her hand to do something, and the first one to meet friends when they come to our house. Kaitlyn is an animal lover, an artist, peanut-butter enthusiast, a loving sister, book worm and wonderful daughter.

She has brought me more joy than I could have imagined being her mother as well as more worry, because I know I could not be without her.

Happy 4th birthday sweet, beautiful daughter!

Not out of the woods yet

If you have been keeping up with my posts about my cousin shellie, please keep the prayers going. She had a stroke this morning and is paralyzed on her left side. She is still in ICU and receiving best of care. As of yesterday, she hadn't held her new baby, Peter, yet. Her husband remains optimistic, he is a surgeon. She knows what is going on. She can see, talk and hear and that is good news. We don't know a ton because things are very hectic, but hopefully we will hear more tomorrow. :)

25 Random Things about Sarah Meche

I thought this was cute. It is going around on Facebook and I finally sat down and wrote some things out. Next up - Brandon, Kaitlyn and Jackson.


Today at 9:04pm | Edit Note | Delete

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I am a coupon-aholic. I clip coupons out of the Sunday paper every Sunday and save about $15 a week in groceries.

2. My husband and I have a secret code. We can communicate across a crowded room with our secret signs. We also have ESP. Whenever I say something random, he is usually thinking it too. Random!

3. My hair is graying a lot and I am desperately trying to cover it up. Growing old gracefully is not for me. I like my brown hair.

4. I have a secret passion to write a book one day. I would love to author a children's book or teen novel. I used to read Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley High all the time!

5. I almost didn't make it to Baylor. Finances were tight and the decision wasn't finalized until June when it was time for orientation. Student loans weren't too bad. I loved Baylor and it was one of my best experiences.

6. My passion is snow skiing. Don't get to do it much, but love it when I get a chance. My second ski trip in high school, I went down the wrong trail and accidentally fell off about 15 feet onto a bunny slope. Almost landed it, but it didn't stop me from skiing.

7. The summer of 8th grade I went to Mexico for 13 days with Girl Scouts. It was an eye-opening experience. We saw so much of the culture and a lot of poverty.

8. I am tired of the news. I would like to keep it off all of the time, except for weather and sports to hear about college stuff. I wish I could, but it draws me in.

9. I have tried to live my life without regrets and live for the moment, but I do have some regrets about some of the relationships and friendships I have had. I wish I could meet up with them now for coffee and talk. What a different perspective now.

10. I would do absolutely anything for a friend. If a friend is need of anything, I am there. I am loyal and kind.

11. Navigating being a parent and learning to be a good parent has been my biggest accomplishment and challenge. I like what my dad says - Just love them. Love is all you need. I try to live by this as a parent.

12. I can't live without Mexican food. Absolutely no way!

13. I want to have more children.

14. Such a great saying: Be Kind for you never know what battle someone is fighting. I really like it because you never know what a person has been through.

15. My favorite show of all time is Friends. I have the box set and have watched every episode at least three times. I used to watch in the middle of the night when I nursed Jackson and Kaitlyn. It was good because sometimes we would fall asleep in the chair and it kept me up to pay a little attention.

16. I love to make Kaitlyn and Jackson laugh everyday. I try to come up with little things to be traditions, but I have found they just come on their own like Kaitlyn and I going shopping together or our once a year family trips.

17. I have to have sleep. If I don't get at least 8 hours, I can't function. Although, I have learned to function better on less sleep with kids, but still love it and need it.

18. I have always wondered why people get piercings in weird places. Is it to be cool? Doesn't it hurt? What purpose does it serve?

19. I love to order chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, roll, gravy and green beans if the restaurant has it. It is one of my favorite meals. Who cares if it is 1400 calories? It is finger-licking good!

20. I always wanted to take a trip to New York City, for a while I wanted to move there, even. I couldn't get myself out of Texas. I used to get books on New York City. I am 31 and have only been to NYC for a 24-hour business trip. One of these days, I will make it there!

21. I don't think I can live without a pool now. We have had a pool for 6 years and even though we only use it about 5 months out of the year, those 5 months are the best!

22. One of the best natural wonders of the world that I have seen in my life was in Hawaii. It was a geothermal pool on the Big Island. It was better than a hot tub, it was relaxing and surrounded by beautiful trees. The beach was only a couple of steps away. Only the locals know about it or if you are like us, pick up the Blue Book on Hawaii (Best Hawaii Tourist Books ever).

23. I am not a big drinker, but I am beginning to see how a glass of wine at the end of a long day, it definitely what the doctor ordered.

24. Can I say ditto to my friend Shelley Roberts' 25 random things? I never would have imagined myself with two kids, married and a stay at home mom by the time I was 30.

25. I love being random, spontaneous and excited. I am super independent, but have found that Brandon really does fill in all of the blanks. Ahhhh, hubby!

Update on Shellie

The 6 kids are staying at Chris’s (husband) mom and dad’s house; Chris is staying at the hospital; Peter (the new baby) is staying at the hospital; and Shellie is probably going to stay at the hospital for another week or so.

All the kids came to visit Shellie (2 at a time) today. She is still a bit foggy from two major surgeries in one day), but able to briefly see and reassure her kids she was ok.

Aunt Mary says, so far so good. Shellie is in a lot of pain… staples in her head (about 6 inch incission) and stitches in her tummy from the c-section, as the anesthesia is wearing off. They shaved only half of her head! (Harrison said he wanted to shave his head too).