Just Call Me Monica!

Well, any of you who know me AT ALL know that I am far from anything close to being organized. My house is always a wreck. Sometimes even a person like me can get tired of being messy, though. I'd been frustrated with the state of my house for awhile and then I saw something amazing that my friend Kristi did with her pantry. She actually got the idea from her friend's blog. Anyway, I figured it wouldn't hurt to try to be *somewhat* organized in at least one area of my life! So, while Bethany was at the grandparents' this week, I tackled my pantry. Kristi lent me her label maker (by the way, I will be purchasing one just like it for myself) and I made several trips so Dollar Tree and Walmart. This is the end result. Tadah!!!


It even has it's own special shaft of light!!!

New Skin!

Thanks to my friend Kristi for making my new blog layout! She's so talented! She's working on starting up her own business, so I'll give her info out if you'd like to use her. Thanks Kristi!

Goin' for a Stroll

My good friend Jennifer lives just a few doors down the street from me. For a good while now (since Bethany was a baby!) we've walked around the neighborhood at night. We walk 5 laps, which is 2 miles. We do it under the guise of exercise, but really, at least for me, is just a great time to get out of the house with NO KIDS and just chat with a friend. Those 2 miles go by a whole lot quicker with a good friend to talk to!

Well, last night Raymond had to go see a patient at the hospital, but I still wanted to walk. Since my parents have Bethany for the week (woohoo), I just had to take Landry with me. I strapped her in the jogging stroller and put some sunglasses on her. She was really good for about 3 laps, then I think the wind started to bother her a little. By that time Raymond was home, so he took her so I could finish. All in all it was a great first walk for the little one!

Oh, and for those of you who might be worried - I really did strap her in. I just took these pics before I did so!

Generations of Friends

When my parents were about our age, they had a close group of friends at their church. It reminds me a lot of the group of friends we have at our church! All of them had kids around the same ages and we all lived relatively close to each other in the same smallish town. I have many memories of playing at each others houses after church on Sunday nights, riding bikes through the neighborhood, going camping, and, of course, getting into some trouble. At some point, though, everyone moved away. Some just across town, some across the state and some across the country. It's really awesome to me that they have all stayed in touch and remained close friends. They have visited each other, had annual get togethers, etc. Now, funny enough, they are all back in the Dallas area and continue to be good friends. Most of us kids have stayed close, too!

Yesterday we had one of our get togethers at my parents' house. Now it's not just the parents and kids, though. We have grandkids, too! We all hope that they can grow up to be friends just like we did.

Here are some pics of the fun day!

My girls before everyone arrived


Bethany patiently waiting for Annie to get here!


Aunt Sara and Landry


Everyone chillin' on the deck










As you can see, Landry had no lack of people to hold her yesterday!

Bethany and Annie (my friend Holly's daughter) swimming


and playing in the bouncer



and playing with pink sand in the sand table


Bethany longingly looking at the big pool!


Please Grandma, may I swim in the big pool?


Finally! The big girls let us play with them!


Jumping with Pappy

Happy Mother's Day to Me!!!

I got one of the best gifts a new mom can get this year for Mother's Day. Landry slept from 11:00 pm until 7:30 in the morning - woohoo!!! Thanks baby girl!

We spent the day with my mom (Grandma) and my grandmother (GiGi). They both had a wonderful time with their granddgaughters. GiGi has gotten to hold Landry more than she's ever held Bethany. That's because Landry is a much more laid back baby than Bethany was. Bethany seemed to be screaming every time GiGi ever had a chance to hold her!

Landry and GiGi



Bethany helping Grandma open the card from her.



And playing the piano with Aunt Sara.



Giving Mommy the charm "she" picked out at James Avery.



Sleeping Beauty with her Daddy.






All the girls on GiGi's front porch.



And some pics of my girls in GiGi's front yard.

My Big Girl!

Wow! Landry sure has grown so fast! She's 10 weeks old today. I can't believe how much faster it goes by with the 2nd baby! Here are some cute pics of her recently.

Tennis Match

No, the girls did not play in a tennis match this weekend. However, they did wear some really cute little "tennis" dresses to their cousin's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's.

Don't you love all the scrapes and scratches on Bethany's face?









Bethany with her cousin Lexi, who just turned 3! She still had the purple feathers in her hair from her dance "recital." That was some great entertainment!!!