WOW! WELCOME 2010!

I almost forgot my password. I can't believe it has been this long. What have I been doing..life? I am almost embarrassed that I only work two days a week and I just cannot keep up any better. I always feel like I am barely above the water and I'm not sure why. I am going to start some vitamins hoping that will help!

I never posted any more pictures from homecoming because Hayden and Kalei broke up and she was devastated to say the least. It's so funny how that knock you to your knees feeling comes back so fast. The feelings she was feeling were all to real to me. I hurt for her. It's heartbreaking seeing your child so upset. You know the truth, you know life goes on but it is so hard for them to see that amidst the break up. We got through it though. She has such great friends. I am so proud of her and her friends. They are good kiddos...at least I think..LOL!

Tootie is still dancing. Still has all A's. I was sure this was going to be the nine weeks that we had the first B, but she pulled it out. No softball this season for her, too busy with dance. Competition should start soon and I am excited. Their dances are soo cute!

Lauren is still Lauren. Need I say more? She is still dancing and I think she wants to start either soccer or cheer leading..her latest. We probably will end up playing soccer.

On a different note, the end of 2009 brought about many issues and lots of prayers. I for one had this horrible pain in my head that is still there today but better. Had lots of tests, dr visits, an ER visit only to be told its a migraine. During all the testing they found some abnormal blood work. I am still waiting to see a specialist regarding this. Please keep me in your prayers.

Since my last post, one of my good friends lost her grandmother, who was like her mother. she was diagnosed with cancer and went downhill extremely fast. Then Kalei's band teacher lost their sweet precious son who was born to soon. I had a coworker diagnosed with cancer and another coworker's husband had a relapse with cancer but is now in remission. A neighbor passed away. One of my close friends 14 year old daughter was diagnosed with end stage liver disease out of the blue and had a liver transplant within 2 months of diagnosis. It has been a whirlwind to say the least. I have a feeling a major part of my headaches are stress related.

But hey...Its a new year and it has started off great. My friend noted above with the liver issues received the call about the liver on Jan 2. What a better way to start off the new year with a new liver..LOL! One of my best friends also started the adoption process back in the fall and she got a call last week that they were chosen for a child! They should get the child in a week or so. I am so excited for them and this little one. He is going to be in the best home he could possibly ever been in. One filled with love and laughter. I am so proud of my friend and her husband for choosing to give a child a second chance at a wonderful life he might have otherwise missed out on.

Terry has been gone since the beginning of January to a training in South Carolina. The girls and I have been living it up! However, I am ready for him to come home so we can get on with 2010!

I have recently come back in touch with an old love..sewing! The little ones have been really excited for me to make them things and I am having a great time doing it. I will post some projects soon. I can't wait to make the cute little summer clothes! I am tired of all the blah winter brings..ready for some spring!

WHO DAT!!!

More to follow..

I will post more Homecoming pictures later. Here is one that I took and edited all by myself! Thanks to the help of Jennifer and Teris, you guys rock!

.....And The Beat Goes On......

Well another month has passed since my last blog. I think the title of this one fits life perfectly. It seems everyday is a new day yet the same as yesterday. We are very busy with all the kids activities and work so it seems all I have to blog about is the same thing. Kalei recently ordered her letterman jacket at school, still working hard in band, and yesterday she dressed up for 80's day. She told me I should be able to help her since I was an 80's girl. I thought I was more a 90's girl myself! I found it quite amusing though when I told her she should tight roll her jeans and she said "what is that?" As someone posted on facebook, you know we are getting old when our parents dressed us for 50's day and we are dressing our kids for 80's day!

Yet another season has begun at SMGSL. Tootie moved up to girl pitch and here is some pictures of her pitching debut! She recently tried out and made the competition dance team at her dance studio. This in itself my prove to be a full time gig! We will see! I am always glad to see them try new things even though it is a bit of a strain on us. I think it helps them become more well rounded and keeps them from tiring of the same thing.

And here is Lauren. She has moved up to a new age group as well. She is the smallest on her team. She is in first grade with some 3rd graders on her team, however, it doesn't bother her any. She is just there to have a good time. Look at this face, doesn't it look like she is totally excited about her first game??!!!

Is the outfield really this boring or is she just tired??

Here are some pictures from the first day of school. My mom requested that I post them since she was not able to see the girls. Could these two look any less alike??

Happy Fall Y'all! It's my absolute favorite time of the year. Cool weather, football, and gumbo. Could life get any better??? GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!!!

What happened?

Terry and I recently had a major parenting milestone. We made the decision to allow Kalei to ride to school with a classmate. Not a classmate with a mom driving..the classmate is driving. As I think about this I wonder what happened to my little bald baby girl, you know the one with the missing front teeth, the bandaged knees who couldn't ride a bike or tie her shoes. When did she become so grown up and think her parents don't know anything and she knows it all. When did we stop being her best friends and she suddenly have a thousand other friends with whom she wants to spend every waking minute. How did she go from not knowing how to use the home phone to having a cell phone implanted in her right hand? I feel like I took a nap, woke up and she went from a little girl to a high school sophomore with lots of determination and a tremendous amount of will power!!! Happy belated 15th birthday Kalei, we are so very proud of you, what you have become and where you are headed!

LOOK WHATS NEW!!

Tootie has a new look! She got glasses last week! I think they look soooo cute on her! I am already used to her wearing them. She kind of looks funny without them now. I guess they were just meant to be...she always has been an accessory kind of girl! Now her accessories have a purpose...she can see!!

WHERE HAVE I BEEN???

Well lets see...The month of May was quite a busy one, but then again aren't they all. We started all stars for Tootie. This allowed us several things: 1. to spend countless hours in the heat, but also work on our tan! 2. to get to know some wonderful families and develop friendships that will last a lifetime. Just some of the "perks" of softball!
May also marked another year of school coming to a close. Awards day was great for the Manuel girls! Tootie received all A's for the year, Citizenship Award for her class, she also received outstanding musicianship, promising artist award, and the Texas bluebonnet reading award. She also made the cup stacking team and even though her class didn't place they were definitely the best looking group of kids there. (All the boys looked cute in their hot pink shirts!) Lauren received the "friends of the library award" for her class for always demonstrating good behavior and turning your book in on time etc..it must be true, kids always act better away from their parents..LOL! She also received the "peacemaker" award for her class, for always wanting to keep peace in the classroom. She was always quick to point out a problem to her teacher between other students..sound like a tattletale award to me! Lauren finished Kindergarten and I was a little upset that our school does not do graduation...my frustration was simply directed at the fact that I will not have a picture of her in a cap and gown like my other two...silly I know! Kalei finished her freshman year of high school in the top ten percent of her class with an A average. She had one of her best years in school to date and I am very proud of her efforts! She came home the last day of school and ran through the door screaming "It's official I am a sophomore, mom go ahead and start crying!"
May also marked the seventeen year anniversary of my brother's fatal car crash and the tenth anniversary of my dad's fatal heart attack. It's hard to believe they have been gone that long. I so wish my dad could meet my girls. He and Kalei had so much fun. Could you imagine him with Lauren!
June has come and gone as well. What did we do??? Play softball of course, and dance, and swim, and... we continued with all stars during the month of June and guess what??? the heat it was still there! Luckily it didn't affect the girls too much. They continued to play and to date have placed at every tournament they have entered. (Except the state tournament, but hey there were 60 something teams there and we had only been together three weeks at the time!) Let us go back now, that should be the finale not the beginning! June also meant dance recital time, for Tootie it was her fourth so she was a pro, for Lauren it was her first and she did outstanding!! I am so proud of her and I would have never ever imagined she would have got up there but she did! It was so cute and of course I cried! Kalei started a performance camp in June for athletes. What determination she has. They were up every morning since school got out, in the heat, exercising, running and lifting weights. She was one of five girls in the camp and could out lift most boys there. What a woman!! She was only in it for the t shirt! Which they didn't get until the last day of the camp and then she said "All that for this cheesy shirt!"..LOL! I will save the best part of June for last....WE WENT TO DISNEY WORLD for seven days. Yes it was soooo much fun and no it wasn't as hot as it is here! It was Lauren's first trip and thanks to my friend Heidi @ http://www.whiteglovedestinations.com/ we had a truly "magical" experience! Love ya Heidi you were such a great help!! If you are planning a trip to Disney in the next month or even years, Heidi is your girl!
It's now July and like I do every year I am thinking where has the summer gone? We just finished up all stars this past weekend with a first place win. Way to go out with a bang, right? Guess what, only six weeks until fall ball! I know some of you think we are totally crazy but you have to be apart of it to appreciate it. My girls absolutely love it and I am glad they do. Kalei also played as a pick up player for a team this weekend and they finished 3rd! It was a great weekend of softball! Kalei also finished up her performance camp this past week. She has one week off and then she starts band camp. We are also looking into drivers ed. Can you believe my oldest baby girl is going to be driving???? I am so looking forward teaching her.....not really! Coming from the child who says "brakes are highly overrated!" Oh boy, can't wait!

By the way...the Tonya tomatoes have gone on to a better place.....they didn't survive the Texas heat while we were enjoying the Florida heat!!

As always I like to leave you with the latest Laurenism..she told me.."I cannot believe the king of pop is dead!" referring to Michael Jackson, all I could do was laugh!

Here is to the rest of the summer, may it be fun and enjoyable!!!

CUPSTACKING TOURNAMENT

"RAMOS' ROCKSTARS"

Notice the face paint! This is serious stuff! Tootie and her BFF Ms Ramos.

"the best teacher ever!"
This was 3rd grade awards day.

Lauren-fine arts award day

Tootie-fine arts award day

Lauren's last day of kindergarten!

Dance Recital '09

Lauren's first dance recital

Disney-09

I love the look on Lauren's face, priceless!

This was the first characters we saw!

Need I explain???

Tootie and Cinderella's stepsister-they had the same

hairbow so she made toot do a special pose with her!

The girls at Epcot, in Canada

A hug from Daisy!

Cinderella's castle which fascinated Lauren!

I tried to get Kalei to tell Buzz she

named our cat after him but she was too

embarassed!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!!!

ALLSTARS '09 SMGSL STORM

Tootie rounding 3rd headed home!

Tootie and coach Terry, we call him daddy!

He tried to get her to call him coach daddy, didn't work!

My little all star!

#00

"Hi five" with coach Mark!

Happy Mothers Day!:)

Happy Mother's Day Mom! Haha, I got on your blogspot to put this on here...I'm about to go downstairs and tell you to look at it:) I hope you like this! It took me like 2 hours to make:) from your oldest (and favorite;D) daughter, kalei:) <3

Make a Smilebox slideshow