Pink

Here is one of the dresses I won on ebay. Ralph Lauren and only been worn once. $11.23

Whoooooohooooooooooo!

Girly Girls

I've always been more of a tomboy than a girly girl. I think because my Dad treated me like I could do anything I thought being girly was wimpy. Let's be honest, I wore a Dallas Mavericks t-shirt, cleats, pig tails and jeans every day of 5th and 6th grade so the boys would pick me first to play soccer. In the past few weeks I've realized that girly is O.K. :) Not to mention that lately everyone thinks Molly is a boy. She mostly wears Gap and won't wear a bow so it's to be expected. In celebration of my new realization Molly has 3 new pale pink dresses (sorry Michelle) and a new back pack. It's a tiny one that she can wear to Sunday school so I don't have to carry the huge diaper bag. She picked it out at Baby's R Us and it is probably the most girly one there. I showed her about ten others and she kept holding it and saying "this". As long as she doesn't get the "princess" attitude it's OK with me.

PS-It looks so cute on!

Sunday Taxes

You know some times (MOST OF THE TIME) life hasn't turned out how I imagined it to be. My Papa lived to be 95. He was an amazing grandfather, just like I imagined my dad to be. Right now I am in the middle of doing my mom's taxes. I don't mind helping, it's just strange at 33 to be doing what my dad would have been doing. I always expected my Dad to make it to 90 and be just like Papa. Sitting here today I know that God has not gone by "my plans". I'm finally at a place of accepting the situation as it is. I do see good that has come from his suicide, as strange as that may sound. In the weirdest way I feel like my Dad's passing happened to STOP the cycle of depression. Katy and I both realize the seriousness of depression as a disease and are doing something about it. I HOPE with all my heart that Molly doesn't have to deal with this but if she does I'll be here to help her along the way. This is the beginning of ending the cycle. Typing that makes me so sad because my Dad honestly didn't know what it was or how to deal with it.

Dad,
I miss you so much today. I wish you were here to see Molly and play with her. I know you would love the way she chomps on ice like we do. I know you tried your best to do what was right and good. I know that you never hurt us on purpose and if you could go back and make it all right you would. Your death is helping us make a better life in this broken world.........
Amy

My Journal

In the past I've always felt like I "should" journal. I would start writing and then stop after a few days. This year at school they gave us a notebook to encourage writing. Well, I taught writer's workshop and then got in trouble for it. So confusing! I've had a lot of hard days here and actually used my journal every day. Now I can actually look back and see what I've learned and how I would do things different the next time around. Some times I draw, write gratitude lists, write letters (that no one should ever read ;) and I have one page (all black) that I write down my "mean" thoughts. It's good to get it out! I've also collected notes and pictures that make me happy. There are pictures of friend's babies, Molly and tid bits that have made me feel positive. This is by no means a scrap book. I feel like this journal has been a big part of helping me make it through an experience that has made little or no sense to me.

A note from Katy--"God created us, a self that is wonderfully and fearfully made with a purpose uniquely suited to the way it was formed. The self is freer, because it knows itself to be finally and ultimately held safely in a Love that is unchangeable and real. This love does not lose track of us no matter what dark places we must walk into. It's a love deeper than any abyss that we might fall into. It is a love with the power to heal any brokenness we might encounter.

A gratitude list

Waking up today. SO CUTE!!!!! After I took this picture she was signing more so I would take another. Too funny.

86

I made an 86 on my 2nd exam! I am thrilled!!!!! The class average was a 49.1 so it actually was a difficult test. Knowing that I will most likely make an A makes me feel SUPER excited that I could be accepted to nursing school. Today was a lonely day at school. There are nice people there. However, nothing beats talking in the middle of 2 classrooms with Amanda or talking through a wall with Michelle. LOL! How I miss my real friends!

Here is a picture of M last year. It's so boring to post without pictures so I used and old one.

Fixed

The gas leak is fixed! It was a plumbing problem after all, not the ac people. $750 all together. The city permits were the most expensive. I don't care at all, just glad to be safe!

Gas Leak

They came out to fix the gas leak today and there were actually 2 leaks. 1 at the hot water heater and one on the furnace of our new ac/furnace. Scary! I have no idea how much it will cost to fix but I am thankful we are ok. My sister works as an O.T. in the Parkland burn unit. She sees so many burns from houses exploding.

My test was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hard last night. Everyone around me thought they failed. I am hoping for an 80! Love me some chemistry! YIKES!

Last Year

This picture of Molly was taken last year at this time. We used it for her dedication photo because I thought it was so cute. Can we please stop time!!!!! Last night I smelled something funny like car gas in my hallway. Then Kt and Nick came over and smelled it too. I called Atmos emergency and our hot water heater was having a major gas leak. YIKES! So, they turned off the gas and we have to get a plummer to fix the rest. Can you say cold showers until it's done? Tonight is my 2nd test. I know the lipids and protiens pretty well but not metabolism. 6:00 prayers please!

Dog Training

Here are some pictures from our dog training session today. We love Dallas (the dog trainer) and he loves our dogs soooooooo much! He would have to love them to spend this much time with them. He's a dane fan so it works out well for us. Today we brought Molly with us so that the girls can practice walking around with out knocking her over or smacking her with their tails. No problems today. Molly has a blue training clicker in the pictures below. When she grows up I imagine she'll either want to be a vet or ring master at the circus ;) Tonight we had Indian food on Knox with Katy, Mom and Nick. Chicken Korma, YUMMY! Monday is my 2nd test over lipids, protiens and metabolism. Lot's of chemistry involved so please pray!

Dallas working with Zozo

Zoey being stubborn

Molly and Tipsy-Tipsy knows how to open doors!

Molly and Socks

Foster Care Video

Hi Friends,
Our church IBC has a foster care, adoption, fertility issues ministry that is just awesome! Bob and I got involved in Tapestry about a year ago by starting a clothing service for foster care children. IBC made a video to raise awareness and to show at other area churches. Now CPS and the faith based programs are going to use it as a state model. Awesome! I didn't love being on camera especially since I had just given birth but it's not about me :) Here is the link. www.irvingbible.org/index.php?id=1524
Excited!
Amy

Baby DJ

This is Molly's idea of fun on a Thursday night. She likes to get on the counter, pull all of the cookie cuters out and mess with the stereo. I always encourage her to dance. It's hilarous! I think the picture of us at the bottom is the first one we have had together in 3 months. I'm always the one behind the camera so I've got to change that.

Tuesday Night TV

The four of us (kt, nick, bob and I) have all become obsessed with "The Biggest Loser". Last night we had a B.L. watching party. When I walked into the living room I cracked up at M on the couch with Uncle Nick and Bob eating sour patch kids. She loves them!

Serious TV watchers


Molly and Buffy (Katy's dog). Molly loves her.

The BIG girls. They are really getting so much better. GOOOOOOD Girls, I love you so much! Molly is way into dogs, imagine that! She hand feeds them and knows how to pet gently. Sweet!

Spring Break is Over :(

I'm posting this am because I am starting to feel really sad. Teaching is great for having long breaks with Molly. However, when a break is over I feel like it's the beginning of leaving her all over again. I hate that! She of course is never as sad as I am ;) She has lots of friends at the Baby House and many fun things to do. I should take some pictures of the place and of Christian, the wonderful French man who runs it. On an up note we did have a really nice break. I ran a total of 30 miles, did a fair amount of landscaping around my patio, mudded the outside of the dog room, finished 10 report cards, and mostly played with Molly. We also fed the ducks 3 times, went to the library twice and the Dallas Arboretum. Summer is soon but I don't want to rush the time away.

Pickles!

Molly loves pickles almost as much as she loves eating ice!

Arboretum Part 2

Dallas Arboretum

Puppies

Zoey's mom had 9 puppies on Tuesday! Can I please have another one?

Dog Training

Saturday we had a private dog training session at Petsmart. It wasn't so private! They train the dogs in the middle of the store in a glassed in area. All the shoppers were freaking out at the size of Zoey. I'm around 2 danes all the time so the size seems normal. Our lesson was supposed to be 30 minutes but the trainer was so excited to see danes that he gave us a full hour. Honey did really well but Zoey was nervous around all the people. Baby Girl! People had out their cell phones and were taking pictures of them. I guess they really are BIG!

Zoey and Molly last year!

From Left: Zoey's Mom Tessa, Zoey's sister Noel, and Forresette

Plus her 1st human parents-John and Teressa

Buffalo Bills!!!!!!!

T.O. signed a 6 million dollar/1 year contract with the Buffalo Bills this weekend! Sorry Cowboys, it isn't about you this year. I'm going to get a new jersey and cheer for another team this one time. Bob is going to die!

Zoo

It was a fun weekend. We had Rebecca over for the first time in 6 months. Molly loves her! Here are a few pictures of the girls from the zoo. Molly laughed and screamed at every animal she saw. Hilarious.

Good Bye T.O. :(

The Dallas Cowboys released my FAVORITE player today. I am so sad :( It will be hard to watch all the games now. Good Bye T.O. I hope you can learn to behave yourself somewhere else.

Weekend

A little update.... R (Bob's daughter) will be coming this weekend. It's the first time since September. The paper work is not complete because of holiday issues. The judge will nail the rest of that down :)

Also, we had a team meeting yesterday with my boss. There was some discussion over a math issue. I said, "this is how I've been doing it." Then one of my evil team mates said, "Amy is doing it wrong but not us." Geeeeee, thanks for throwing me under the bus. Today my boss emailed all of us and guess what I was doing it the correct way. So, now that witch won't even look at me. Nothing even happened between us except she called me out for doing something wrong, that wasn't. GOOD GRIEF!!!!!!!!!!! Summer is so soon so I know I can make it!

Into Everything!