February Winter Storm

 I thought we would honestly skim by without any other really cold weather this year. It was hot in January, in the 80's. It's been so warm that I almost packed up the girl's winter clothes and busted out the summer clothes but thank goodness I didn't. This week is supposed to be dreadful. Hopefully this week will be our only week of winter cold for the rest of the year. Texas weather is never normal, either too cold or too hot when it's not supposed to be. 

Thankfully I did not have to work today and did not have to get out in this mess. Me and Jewell stayed in the warm house all day until we had to pick the girls up from the bus. It was 35 degrees today for the high with rain. It actually got cold enough to see some snow flurries this afternoon. Tomorrow is supposed to be even worse, with possible snow for most of the day. They canceled school so the girls will get to stay home tomorrow. I am supposed to go to work but will just have to see if the roads are icy, if so, I won't be going in. 

Wednesday and Thursday will be about the same and then next week it will be back in the 60's. LOL Crazy weather! 

I tried taking a quick picture out the door of the snow flurries. Maybe I'll get a picture of some snow tomorrow. 

Staying home calls for some fun in a box! Justin got something delivered from Amazon in this box, so I gave it to Jewell this weekend to play with. 

I threw some markers in and she's gone to town playing in it. Coloring it, watching her shows in it and hiding from her sisters in it.

You can have all the toys in the world and those will never beat a cardboard box!

January Things

These two got new bikes for Christmas. Jolee was in desperate need of one and Jewell is the right age for her tricycle. 

Justin picked out a purple and black one for her. She zips up and down the street on it

Jewell is working on getting her legs strong to push her peddles. She still needs a little assistance going uphill. 

Luckily the weather has been nice enough most days to be able to go out and enjoy a bike ride.

I can't believe this chick here will be in High School in August! Yall.....I feel like I was just in high school. How can this be? Time is a thief. 

Jaina had UIL competition on Monday. She was in listening skills again this year. She placed 6th. She was bummed out cause last year she placed 1st but she said there was a ton of kids she competed against this time.

She also had band chair competition. She was challenged by another girl for her chair and then Jaina challenged the girl above her. She said she did not win the chair above her, but she got to keep her original chair. 

And this chick always looking to win the jack pot, haha! 

Win big baby!

Itumble Party Fun

Jolee got invited to a birthday party for a girl in her classroom named Ashlynn. It was at Itumble in Jarrell. Jolee had been looking forward to going to the birthday party for weeks. I took her on Saturday, and she was so excited. Jarrell is about 10 minutes from Salado. The gymnastics place was very nice and clean, I was pretty impressed. 

They let the kids run around and play. There were two employees helping the kids on the different equipment. Jewell was content on the ipad when the birthday girls Mom came and asked if Jewell wanted to go out and play. I asked her and of course she wanted to go!

Boy this girl right here got out there and wanted to do what all the other girls were doing. She wasn't going to let the fact that she is 3 and the other girls are 10 slow her down! LOL

She got out there and even zipped lined with them 3 times! Lol 

Jolee on the other hand walks to the beat of her own drum. She and a friend were off doing their own thing not even paying attention to the instructors. They were having a ball by themselves.

She ran up this wall at least 10 times trying to reach the top.

They had a great time. Jewell even got to sit with Jolee and have some snacks and a piece of cake.

After we were done, I took them by McDonalds for some Happy Meals and then we headed to the school to pick up Jaina. Jaina likes to go up to the school and watch the basketball tournaments on the weekends. Then we headed home.

Road Trippin

Last week I had a very busy week traveling to Dallas not once but twice for funeral services.

I love a good road trip whether it's for fun or for work and so does my co-worker Dennis. We love going on road trips together. We talk the entire time just about everything, we listen to 70's classic rock and stop for good food. 

If we know we are headed to Dallas, our first stop is in West for some Kolaches

Yum!

They are so good!

Our first trip was to the Dallas/Ft. Worth National Cemetery. We had a short service and at the end the son of the deceased came up to us and told us thank you. Then he preceded to tell us to keep a look out for a new movie coming out in December 2023 called Wonka that his daughter has a lead role her name is Calah Lane. I thought that was pretty cool.

Then on the way home we stopped at Twisted Root Burger Company in Waco for a burger and some fried pickles.

The burgers were terrible! The meat was pink and not even cooked! Gag! We definitely won't be going back.

Dennis gave it 2 thumbs down, lol

Then Friday we were back at it to Dallas again but this time we were going to East Dallas to a town called Sachse.

We had a nice service and the weather was beautiful.

We went right through my old stomping grounds, Mesquite. Unfortunately, we did not have any time to go by my old apartment I use to live in. 

Once we were done with the service, we made our way to Rock Wall. Another town Justin and I use to come to all the time when I lived there. 

We were starving and I picked out a Mexican restaurant right on Lake Ray Hubbard called Gloria's.

The food was really good and look at this view! Defiantly doesn't feel like you're in Dallas when you look out at this lake. 

After we were done, we walked along the board walk and by the light house.

We even took a few photos down by the water.

So pretty!

Then it was back on the road again and we were both dreading the traffic

Since we were sooooo close to the Mortuary school I had Dennis drive me by. I haven't been back to the school since the day I graduated.

 Yall will never know the love I have for this school! 

My heart almost exploded when I saw it. I almost cried.  All the memories came flooding back. 

This school means everything to me. It's where my life and career started. I know most of my friends went off to big colleges, but I didn't want that, I wanted this! I was 22 when I went to school here, newly engaged and so eager to go through school and start my career. If I could go back and do it all over again I would! Good times here, met a lot of friends, learned a lot, studied a lot, struggled a lot, cried a lot, and made some of the best memories. It truly does hold a special place in my heart. 

I wanted to go in so bad, but they were closed. So, I peered in and tried to remember as much as I could.

The school is a lot smaller than I remembered. It's just from one end to the other does to the back. The hallway to the left was our classroom. We took all of our classes in one room from 7:15am to 12:30. I would get off school, go home, eat lunch, watch Days of our Lives, nap and then had to be at work at Restland Funeral Home by 3pm. I worked as a Funeral Director's assistant in the clerical office writing obituaries and submitting paperwork and answering the phone. I would get off from work at 9pm then go straight home and study until around 3-4am and get about 2 hours of sleep every night. I did that for the entire year. I was very focused on school and hardly went out partying or exploring. I knew this was it and this is what I wanted. 

The hallway to the right was a small library, a break room, restorative art room and embalming lab. 

Here I am 17 years ago. 

Man, that went by quick! 

It’s the Season for Cookies

This chick got a surprise when we were at Girl Scouts last week. She won her very own package of cookies, and she was very excited about it.

When we were at the cookie lock in they had different stations set up with crafts and games and at one of the stations they had a bunch of cookies in a jar and the kids got to guess how many cookies are in the jar and Jolee was the closest and won!

Jolee’s group has been working hard on their patches. They are gearing up for world thinking day. This year their country is the united Arab emirates.

Jaina loves helping and teaching the Brownies. The girls call her Ms. Jaina :) 

We picked up cookies on Sunday. The girls are so excited to go to school and sell cookies to their teachers. I wasn’t sure if Jaina wanted to participate this year but to my surprise she is all in! I thought maybe she wouldn’t want to because the kids would make fun of her or it’s not the thing to do in 8th grade but all the kids support her and think it’s cool.

And all this one here talked about was wanting a “round circle cookie” once I figured out it was the peanut butter patties we shared a box!

She said “oh these are yummy Mommy”

I brought the cookies up to the school on Wednesday and Jolee got to sell to all the teachers in the school.