GO HOGS!!!!!

Well what do you know..

Ive done so much better the last few days with this blogging business.. :-)

This girl is sooooo excited for Razorback Football!!! There is nothing better than the cooler fall weather, the colors, the atmosphere up on the hill in Fayetteville, the football players running out on to the field, the fans cheering, and that lovely sound.. "TouchDown"!!!!

I was contemplating buying tickets yesterday.. Which ones should I get.. Which ones should we stay home and have friends over and just watch on TV?? Oh the decisions.. Well I got the best gift yesterday.. I got a phone call and someone offered me free tickets for the first game this season!!! I could not be more excited!! Not just tickets though.. GREAT SEATS!!!

This is one happy girl and I am so thankful this person thought of me when they had tickets become available!!

Between my girls at the gym doing so well and football starting.. I dont know what Im more excited about.. I am blessed.. I know that much!!! :-)

GO HOGS!!!!!!!!

HomeSchool Maybe??

Ive never been much of a fan of kids that homeschool.. I didnt understand it.. It didnt make sense to me & I thought kids were missing out on so much and being deprived of life experiences...

Well.... That has all changed.. I have several good friends that homeschool & if its done properly I think it can be a wonderful thing.. These kids do things at their own pace, its much more laid back & relaxed (for someone that got test anxiety I wouldve loved this) Im sure they feel more comfortable asking for help & asking questions because for the most part in my experience its mom overseeing the homeschool work.. I knew there were times I didnt ask questions because I didnt want to be laughed at and I knew other kids understood and I didnt want people to know I was out there in left field...

Over the last 2 years Ive seen some of my gymnasts become much more serious about the sport.. Well with this comes more time in the gym.. Well when you are in school from 8am-3pm then at the gym from 4:30-8:30 then homework til almost midnight makes for a ridiculous day for a kid.. I never had all that much homework when I was in school but it seems like these days the homework is really piled on the kids.. How do teachers expect kids to participate in extracurricular activities if your loading them down with hours of homework most nights of the week?? Now the first question out of my mouth to my girls was.. "Are you messing around at school at not getting your stuff done?" Thats not the case.. They show me what all they have to do in class and then what they get to take home to do.. Its amazing to me that all my girls make remarkable grades & do very well in the gym..

Recently.. I asked some of my girls parents to find out if the girls could skip out on PE at school because they are working out almost 20 hours a week as it is.. They dont need PE at school.. We found out that they wont let my girls miss PE but they let kids that swim skip out on PE because a school official works with the swimming club... To me this does not seem fair..

I am all for my girls getting a good education, making GREAT grades and going to college... I want to see all my girls go as far as they want with their education.. College degree, Masters, PhD.. Whatever they want. I know that if they do this they will grow up with a sense of accomplishment, they will be able to provide for themselves, and they can be independent.. Just because they are girls doesnt mean they need to be dependent on someone and let someone take care of them.. But thats a whole different blog.. Anyways.. Say my girls stay in gymnastics.. Stay happy & healthy and continue with this sport.. Gymnastics can help pay for college.. Not for everyone but for some that go that far its possible.. So see education & sports can go together..

I just find it irritating that at 11, 12, & 13 years old my girls are having to choose.. Good grades or gymnastics... Its not fair... Why cant the schools work with my kids instead of making it harder for them to be a gymnast & a good student?? Not all kids want to be school athletes.. Some kids want to participate in sports outside of the school system.. Nothing wrong with that...

So this girl is quickly becoming a BIG homeschool fan.. I think its neat to be able to do the required work and it not take 7 hours out of your day.. You dont have 3 more hours of homework afterwards.. You are able to participate in whatever activities that you want. It gives you a much better oppurtunity to be a good student and a good athlete, musician, artist.. Whatever you want..

So anyways.. This is my rant for the day... Feel better now that I got that out...

Well....

Well...
I havent blogged in forever.. Just been busy & to be honest just havent felt like it.. There is always so much going on & when I finally sit down I dont really want to type out and re-hash all the stuff that has been going on.. But here's an update...

This summer has been absolutely amazing at the gym... I have 10 of the most incredible kids you will find.. They are all so different and alike at the same time.. Each one of them has their own unique personality.. But then they all come together and they all really actually get along, support each other, and encourage each other.. My younger ones look up to my older ones.. My older ones set a great example and are always there with a hug or sweet words to cheer someone up.. Its pretty neat to sit back & watch.. I might not be an actual parent but ive got to be doing something right when you see what  these girls are accomplishing and seeing them turn into very respectable & mature young ladies..

The last week of the summer we let loose & really had some fun!!!! Here are some pictures from that week & a few other shots from the summer!!

So as you can see.. We've had some fun... :-)

What else...
We went to the beach the first week of August.. Had a blast.. Or at least I did.. Gabe isnt so much for the heat & sand all day but I love it.. Gabe did get to scuba dive so he was pretty happy about that! It was wonderful to get away and spend the week relaxing, reading, and just enjoying extra time with Gabe.. :-)

Lets see... Meet season is coming.. I could not be more excited... Its going to be a great year for Flame Gymnastics.. :-) Umm.. Gabe and I have been married almost 9 months.. Cant believe our 1 year anniversary is right around the corner.. Time flies when your having fun..

Guess thats about it for now.. Ill try harder to start staying on top of this blogging business and update more often!!

Have a great day!!

Lesson Learned....

Since Im bored out of my mind today I thought I would do a little blogging.. :)

Lately I have been reminded of the fact that life just isnt fair.. Bottom line..

Nothing you do changes that one simple fact.. Life isnt fair.. Sometimes things happen to us we deserve and dont deserve.. Sometimes the decisions we have made in the past make the present.. Sometimes oppurtunities just land in our lap.. Sometimes they dont.. Ive been reminded of this alot lately and it really has me thinking & figuring out changes that maybe I need to make..

I want the decisions I make and the things I do every day to effect my life in a positive way.. So I need to remember to think before I speak & react.. Harder said than done.. ;-)

Ive been told my whole life that if you want something you have to work for it.. And nothing comes easy.. The things in life that matter take work.. Sometimes... I find myself wishing this was easier or that was easier or why cant someone just do it for me.. Doesnt work that way..

Example.. When I moved in with Gabe his house was a disaster... He had not been living in his house for months and when he finally was able to move back in it was a wreck to say they least.. I think at the time there were parts of our house that had never been cleaned... Talk about gross.. So... We rolled up our sleeves and over the last year we have busted our butts to clean our house properly, we have painted all the rooms, re-decorated, and made alot of improvements... I love our home and it makes me feel good to know we worked hard on it... Was it easy? No.. Did we always have the money for the current project? Uhh definitely No.. But we saved, budgeted and it paid off...

Im not one to be jealous of people but sometimes it gets to me when I see people that in my opinion dont deserve something and still its just handed to them.. The 3 year old in me comes out and I want to stomp my foot and throw a fit... Why?? I dont know.. Its just a waste of energy..

Its time I roll up my sleeves with the rest of my life and just take care of business. It does no good to be jealous when a friend, sibling, family member, co-worker or anyone gets something you want or is able to go do something you would love to do..

Work hard and good things will come... I am learning that lesson.. Slowly but surely..

Money Money Money.....

So... Why is it always so hard to get ahead.. Why cant money just grow on trees!!

Seems like lately every time I think Im going to get just a little bit ahead something comes up.. ALWAYS!! Why are financial holes so hard to get out of.. School loans are not fun.. AT ALL!! Insurance payments, house bills, and credit cards are rough on the bank account...

Ive been doing so good the last couple years making payments on stuff and always paying stuff on time but sometimes it just seems like there is never light at the end of the tunnel..

Now it is my fault that I chose a career path that wont make me a millionaire.. I am definitely not complaining though.. Not everyone can look forward to going to work each day and leaving work just about every day with a smile on your face! I do..

I know there are so many more important things in life besides having a gazillion dollars in the bank.. Lately though the burden of monthly bills is just eating at me..

So.. If anyone out there just wants to help me out and plant a money tree in my yard id be grateful.. ;-) Or if anyone has suggestions and advice on how to get things paid off quicker please share.. I did get a great website today that im soaking up all I can from.. Dave Ramsey.. He has alot of great tips.. :-)

Hard Lessons

Why are  some lessons harder to learn than others??

I often catch myself lately trying to fix problems that just can not be fixed.. Sometimes I guess you just have to be ok with the fact that you have tried your best whether it fixes the problem or not.. I have also learned that you just can not please everyone and again even if you really try your best there are going to just be some people that find the negative in every situation no matter what.. Can you say Debbie Downer?!!

This has been a trying week at work for me.. I dont complain about my job but once every blue moon.. So you better believe the moon will be blue tonight.. :-) If you know anything about me.. You know I love love love kids... Hands down they are the best part of my day! However.. Working with these special little creatures can get to you sometimes.. As we all know girls arent the easiest things to get along with or figure out sometimes.. ;-) Ive had several things ive been trying to work through this week and trying to make the best of situations but just when I think I get things figured out I feel like im kicked right back to square one.. So needless to say I think by the end of the week Ill have my fair share of grey hairs and need an appointment at the salon!

On a brighter note... When I am down.. I am reminded of just how blessed I am and love the fact that I have so many wonderful positive uplifting people in my life.. I walked out into the gym yesterday pretty shaken up and my sweet 2 oldest girls were there waiting with hugs! They had no idea what the issue at hand was but all they knew was that I was upset and needed a hug.. Amazing what a hug can do when you get your feelings hurt!

So.. In the end I have learned that no matter what things will work themselves out one way or another  and it will all be ok... :-)

Be jealous! I have the best kiddos!

What A Week!!!!

It has been the most wonderful week...

I was off work all week and got so much stuff done and just enjoyed the down time..

My house is clean, laundry is done, we had home cooked meals, and go to spend lots of quality time with Gabe and the puppies!!

We had such a great time at the rodeo this week! Ran in to some of my kiddos from work! Its always so much fun seeing them out of the gym and watching them just enjoy being a kid.. Always smiling & laughing.. The rodeo in my opinion was sooo much better than last years!! We laughed at the jokes, enjoyed all the cowboys & cowgirls and the different activities!!

Over Memorial Day weekend we went to Texas to visit with some of my best friends and attend their annual BallsTown BBQ.. Talk about some amazing food!! We had the best time.. I absolutely love seeing my Texas family.. Last trip to Texas we brought home a puppy.. This trip Gabe got him a big toy!! :)

So.. As you can tell.. Its been a wonderful week!! I love my husband, my friends, and my life!!! God is good!!!

So very excited though to get back to work & see my girls this week.. Going to be the best summer yet!!!!