Well, it seems everyone updates their blog but me...

It's obviously been a looooooong time since I posted on my blog! And, really I probably wouldn't have even thought to post anything right now except that I need to get my thoughts down "on paper". I'm having a hard time deciding what to do for my son's 6th birthday party. I thought I had it all figured out: it's a John Deere theme what would be better than going to the fair and seeing all the John Deere's there right? Wrong! The fair costs a lot of money! Now, I can't think of anything to do and oh, yeah, it's about 3 weeks from today! Yikes! I guess if there's anyone out there that actually might read this, What are your suggestions on how to celebrate a 6-year-old boy's birthday with a John Deere theme?
Maybe I'm just having a mental block because I don't want to believe that my son is getting so old already. I know, I know, 6 really isn't old but seeing as the last time I think I posted about his birthday, I think he was turning 3! 3 years goes pretty fast, darn it! And, in just a few short weeks he starts REAL school--kindergarten. wow. Don't know what to even say about that...I do love that I can communicate with him a lot easier now than when he was younger. I love that he is so sweet and kind and is concerned for others. Tonight for example, even though I was kind of getting on him about getting his PJ's on, he stopped and noticed that my water glass was empty and so he turns to me and says, "Mom, can I get you some more water?" Kind of blew me away. Love that boy! He's a great kid and I'm pretty darn lucky that he's mine! Now, I just need to remember that when he's throwing a tantrum! :)
Kate finished the last day of her week long "Beauty and the beast" ballet camp today. She is so funny because I know that she really does like ballet and going to her class but you'd never know it from the recital they put on today. It was just a mini one but she didn't do any of the moves! C'mon kid! You're so excited about going and then won't do the ballet moves! All you have to do is follow along with the teacher! Oh, well, she looked so super cute in her blue and green tutu, I guess it doesn't really matter if you actually do the dance part! Love that girl! But boy is she stubborn!

Sleepless in Seattle and my wonderful husband

We were flipping through the channels tonight and stopped on "Sleepless in Seattle". It was right at one of my most favorite parts (and probably one of the saddest) where it's New Year's Eve and Tom Hanks is remembering his wife and then she comes on screen from his memory and he says something to the effect of "I miss you so much it hurts.". I, of course, started tearing up and my husband looks over and says, "Oh, honey..." in just the sweetest way and asks me why I'm crying. And I just told him because everyone wants to have a LOVE like that where you and your spouse were meant for each other or soul mates or something along those lines. And, then he says the sweetest and most surprising thing to me--"We're like that, honey. We were meant to be together. I knew it the first time I turned a manifest in to Operations where you were working and you (me) were like, 'Oh, HI Sterling!' (and with eyelashes a fluttering, he says)". He says from that moment on, he knew we were meant to be together. I was knocked off my chair with that comment! I had no idea that my honey felt like that. This was way before we even started dating!! It was something I totally needed to hear and never in a million years expected him to say. I'm convinced that God told him what to say in just that moment to make my heart swell with love for this wonderful man I married! I am so blessed to have the most amazing husband! I am definitely one lucky girl!

Genealogy.com: What is a First Cousin, Twice Removed?

Hello all my blogger and non-blogger friends!

Yes, it has been a long time since I wrote last and that's OKAY, I've decided, because obviously I was not ready to post anything yet. So there! :)

ANYWAY... I got to thinking about a question I've had for a long time about First and Second cousins and once or twice removed cousins and I decided I was going to look it up. I don't know what took me so long to check it out. I mean, geez, you can find anything on the Internet! Below is a link to a very interesting article posted by Genealogy.com that explains it all!

Genealogy.com: What is a First Cousin, Twice Removed?

Hope you find it as interesting as I did!

(And, yes, I know what all of you are thinking...I will post again, soon...Just don't hold your breath or anything! ;) )

Kate's 1st Birthday!

Isn't she just the cutest!? Kate Scarlett Kesler Age: 1!

Hello all from West Texas!

Yes, we're still alive down here, barely! Looking back it's been a rough winter.... Lots and lots of illnesses, but hopefully that is all behind us now that the weather is getting nicer! Yeah, that's right, I said the weather is getting nicer! :) In fact, for Kate's party on her birthday, Sunday, January 27, 2008, we had near 70 degree weather! It was so awesome to not be cold!

So speaking of Kate's party, we had such a great time! But we missed all of you that couldn't be here! We decided to do a big bash, of course, because that's just how I am! I mean it was my baby's 1st birthday! How could I not? ;) Anyway, we rented a Disney Princesses Bouncy house and had yummy cake and ice cream and our house (thanks to my sister!) was all decorated in pink and white streamers and balloons. It was sooo cute as you can see from all the pics!

I'll keep this short this time although there are so many things that I need to write and let you all know about that have been or are coming up for the Texas Keslers!

OK, sorry for the teaser, but I've got to keep y'all coming back some how!

I'm still here, really!

I know, I know!!! It's been forever since I posted last! Bad Rachel! For my 2 or 3 loyal readers, please don't give up on me yet! :)

This past month was pretty rough--illnesses (yucky stomach bug), major tiredness (mostly due to my sweet baby girl not sleeping--Read this as Me not sleeping either--), long stretches of days when my husband had to work, etc. etc. Just a tough time. Hopefully we're past all that!

Anyway, lots of cool things happened during that time too. Our Katie got three teeth (2 on the bottom, 1 on top), she learned how to roll over both ways, she started crawling and pulling herself up, waving, clapping. It's crazy! She's growing and changing everyday and I totally feel like I'm missing it because I'm either trying to get dinner on the table or I'm trying to calm down Sterling Alexander when Kate starts getting into his toys ("Move her Mom!!!) or I'm trying to spend a minute of quality time with my husband (It's okay to hide in the closet to try and have a conversation together, right?). Thank goodness for cameras and pictures!

I keep trying to remind myself to enjoy this time. Especially when my son asks me, like he did today, to sit next to him on the couch during the dinner rush to read to him. So stinking sweet! It would have been so easy to put him off, but then I stopped and thought about what life is going to be like in a few years..... Yeah, I'll be lucky if I get a "Hi mom" let alone a chance to really spend some quality time with him. So, I figured I better take advantage of it while I've got it. Who cares if every room of the house has toys and dirty clothes and dishes in it!! RIGHT NOW I've got a little boy who loves me and wants all my attention. I better cherish this time, DARN IT!, even if it did mean that we ate dinner at 9:30 PM!

Here's some pictures of Kate in her ever changing state! Plus, you be the judge....Kate has two holiday dresses and I'm not sure which one to have her Christmas pictures taken in. Let me know which one you think is better! Thanks!

"Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day...."

It is an absolutely beautiful morning here in West Texas. It was cool this morning in the 60's with bright blue skies, plentiful sunshine, and a light breeze. And, it's quiet. No TV, no radios, just the sounds of nature--birds talking, leaves being rustled by the wind; you know how it is. It's just so wonderful. It's serene.

My son is playing sweetly with his trains in his bedroom and my girl just feel asleep in my lap. As I take her to her room to lie her down in her crib the thought comes to me---these are some of the best days of your life--cherish them. It's so true, isn't it? We don't know what the rest of our lives are going to bring, so we need to remember to cherish the moment we are living in.

We get so wrapped up in the everyday chaos that when a quiet, peaceful morning comes along, we almost miss the specialness of it. It almost reminds me of being a kid and how even though life wasn't perfect all the time, it felt safe. I miss that sometimes. That total feeling of knowing that everything in life was going to be okay no matter what. I hope that's how my children feel. I want them to always know that they will have that in their hearts.

By jove, I think he's got it!

Wasn't it a great day today? How could it not be--it's my sister-in-law, Eryn's birthday! Yeah!

And as great as that is, it somehow pales in comparison to what I'm going to share next.

MY SON WENT PEE AND POOP IN THE TOILET OF HIS OWN FREE WILL!!!!!!!!!
HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HA-LE-LUJAH!

Okay, here's the story.....We went to the barber shop today to have the "boys" (Big & little Sterling) hair cut. Unfortunately, to get the barber we wanted, we had to wait. I thought this was going to be an issue---make a 3-year-old wait patiently???? But, no, the heavens were smiling upon us! Not only was he extremely well behaved, he was happy and intrigued by all that was going on around us. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised then when my son turned to me and those sweet words came out of his mouth, "Mommy, I have to go potty!". I just looked at him in disbelief and then shook it off and jumped up to run him to the "potty" (er, I mean restroom). We made it in and out of there without any accidents. I was filled with joy! Unfortunately, our barber was still busy so again, I worried that we might have an issue with the waiting thing. Again, he was the perfect angel. (Really...I'm not making this stuff up...)

So, a little while goes by and my son again turns to me and even more beautiful words come flowing from his mouth, "Mommy, I have to go poo-poo!" What? Did my ears hear him correctly? Was my son actually VOLUNTEERING to use the potty to go poop (no less) of his own free will? I think I did a double take. I think I even heard myself in disbelief saying, "Really?" So, as he's taking off for the restroom, I finally find it in my power to peel myself up off the floor and run in there with him. He was amazing! He got right up there and pooped in the toilet! (That's when I heard the Hallelujahs start singing in my head!) I don't know about him, but that was the first time I think I ever left the bathroom feeling victorious! What a great feeling that was. I don't know if it was the combination of stinky old men or discarded hair or clipper oil, but it doesn't matter because my son pooped and potty-ed on the toilet of his own free will!!!!!!!!!!!!


...........Or maybe it was the fact that he knew he was going to get a sucker from the barber once he got to him...........

Whatever it was, let's just see how long it lasts...........................