Livestock Show and Rodeo

Well it's that time of year again! The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. I took Joy last year with a friend and she liked it, although still kinda young and didn't fully understand everything. This year she had allot more fun and enjoyed a little more, and we had more to do! On a side note the picture uploading for blogger is very frustrating to me at times, and I forget this and don't load the pictures in the right order so sorry, but these aren't in any great order, but I did group them in like pictures. Enjoy...

Cowgirl Joy, I bought this outfit when I went back to the Rodeo Wednesday night to see Alan Jackson. We went today to get the boots from Cavenders!

You could say Joy was a reluctant model for the pictures, no smile, but she loves her new outfit and boots even if it doesn't show!

One of her favorite things at the rodeo was sitting in/on the big tractors! I made her cry when I got her off both times!

Hmm what does this switch do?

Big Tractor!

The one thing I promised her about the rodeo and she would tell you anytime you asked was she was going to get to ride a pony at the rodeo! So here she is on her pony ride (only one at $6 a ride!)

Waiting in line for the new farmer experience for kids!

Sitting on the hay was the most exciting thing!

More Hay sitting

We have our basket and we are ready to be farmers.

Joy wanted to go see the pigs, but some schools were there and not real friendly/good about being in line or letting you back in so I just took a picture from afar. The look there is come on Mom.

Feeding the chickens

Waiting in line with the apron on.

Baby piglets at the birthing center.

Beauregard Elsie's son. (If you don't know Elsie she's the Borden cow if you don't know Borden you're not a Texan)

A cow eating hay.

Miss Moo and Howdy dancing.

Joy shaking Miss Moo's hand, I had to tell her to let go!

Miss Moo and Howdy saying hello to eachother.

Joy would not see Howdy by herself so here we are together with Howdy.

Howdy The Houston Livestock show and Rodeo bowlegged H.

That is our pictorial of the day and our new cowgirl outfit. I think Joy is a proper Texan now and has something I don't think I ever had, a pair of cowboy boots. Liz and I are going to take care of that detail later this week/month with our own trip to Cavenders or somewhere else to get some boots of our own!

Updating...

Okay so maybe it's not all Rob's fault that I don't post too often. Nothing much happening in our lives of great signifigance so not allot to post. I think that is good means things are happening as they should. So here are some pictures to update you on our lives.

This is Joy being cute in her adorable red dress and black shrug, just had to share.

Here we are at the zoo apparently I am taking a picture to see if something is caught in my teeth?!?

More zoo, we were there with our Mommy group first time to go with a group and let her out of the stroller. We learned 2 things, taking the stroller is a good idea, going with a group and letting her go ahead while Mommy is the back of the line going through the children's zoo crazy doors is a bad idea. My timid shy never leaves Mommy's side child ran from the crazy doors down the otter slide and was on her way to the playground when I finally got out of the crazy doors. I guess we have been to the zoo enough she is comfortable there and usually I am right there following her because it's just our family or me and one other person so she did what she usually does. I don't think she even knew I wasn't right there with her, but she still got a good scolding and we went back to the group. She didn't leave my side again. This is my angel sitting on a bench at the zoo.

Riding the carousel, a must do we rode the polar bear this time.

This is Tucker, we like him, but we miss Mac.

Excuse the PG-13 shot, but she put on Daddy's socks and pulled them up then put on his shoes all by herself and then Daddy took the picture! Too cute!

This is her new swing. Hurricane Ike made us take down the old swing, and Rob just never put it back and she has been begging for it to go back up. The problem is it's lopsided and hard to push, it's just difficult to push her for the 10 seconds she wants then take her out again. So he offered the idea of a single rope swing. I went ahead and got it, and this is what she does with it. She stares at it. She tried it once with Daddy, but didn't get the concept. The good news is she isn't asking for a swing anymore?!?

If Joy catches you laying on the floor she will usually say turn over I want to ride you. So sometimes we let her and other times it's a no go. On this day she was being particularly cute/funny about riding Daddy so I took some pictures. This first one is how she gets you to get up, she pulls on the shirt until you relent and get up.

Along with this smile is an infectious laughter so even if you are the horse you are getting the benefit of knowing that she is having a great time!

My project. So we have been working on and off on the front lawn/gardening beds for awhile. First we had the million bushes that attacked you onthe way in. Rob pulled those out (amazingly hard work) and we were left with the long bed, which I then decided to pull the railroad ties off of. Those things are huge and heavy and I had to be rescued about half way through that project. Since then that bed has stayed pretty empty we ocassionally took some dirt out of it, and then planted some monkey grass along it to make it look like we cared. It really evolved into a nice weed bed. We got one letter from the home owners association and pulled the weeds, but like good weeds they came back. So I finally borrowed Elizabeth's cultivator so we could really do something to that bed. This weekend we cultivated, weeded and planted that bed with some bulbs of caladium and cannas. I have no idea what will happen but I hope it looks good. Next project is I wanted to take the railroad ties off from around the Magnolia tree in the front yard (I really do hate those things). Rob and I talked about it Sunday while working on the other bed, but he said no not to start another project. Fine I didn't that day!
Today I started that project. I dropped Joy off at daycare and since I couldn't find a sub job I went to Home Depot to get some dirt, marking spray paint, possibly some more monkey grass and a shelf for our laundry room. Step 1 remove railroad ties. Now the others had started no problem because they terminated at the wall. This was a bit more of a challenge. In the end I used the circular saw to cut through them then hand sawed a little further then picked them up and dropped them by our trash spot. I had forgotten that they are not 2 deep as it looks, but 3 deep, but I did manage to get it done. This is a picture of step 1.

And the railroad ties waiting for someone to come take them either trash on Thursday or some crazy person between now and then.

Next I marked the new bed size.

I removed the grass from one side

then the other.

I also planted the Mondo grass (the closest I could find to what we already have) obviously I still needed more.

Finally I went back to Home Depot got some edging and more mondo grass and this is the result... My square bed is now round. I still need more dirt, but I must say it is very much an improvement. I also bought some annuals but waiting to get the dirt in before I put in the flowers.

Are you Ready?

For those of you who are wishing I was better at posting pictures you are in luck. Rob has installed a switch on his computers to share the monitor so now all I have to do is push a button and stop pushing Rob's buttons!
Here you go some pictures from before during and after Christmas...

Joy taking a nap, yes she is actually asleep like this!

Making sure Santa had cookies and milk!

Her new playdoh kitchen! She is also wearing her Tinkerbell from Paw Paw.

This is her tutu I made for her. Not to bad if I do say so myself.

Opening a present with Mommy's help.

For Christmas we got a new living room fan, while Daddy was putting it up this is what Joy was doing. Very serious about her writings!

Vicki and I had the chance to go to the KSBJ Girl's Day Out which was added when the Night out filled up. This better fit our schedules so here we are!

This is Jen Driskill from KSBJ she's the evening DJ and very sweet, so I decided to be the dork with the camera and here we are with her.

This is Ayeisha Woods and James Woods they sang at the Girls Night out, if I can I will upload a little of one of the songs she sang! She rocks!

This is Kate Gosselin from Jon and Kate plus 8. I was glad we were at the Daytime show I never would have waited in line if it was the evening sold out show!

Okay back to Joy, This is her in her first Night Gown! Isn't she pretty and all grown up looking?

I took this picture to get the shoes in, and yes she wore them all night! The funny smiling face was a bonus.

Well I guess this is her picture smile for now, I can't help but to laugh at it, but it is cute! Oh and I took the picture because she is wearing her birthday crown from her 1st b-day and looked so cute! (Yes she is holding her night night diaper looking to throw it away, she is fully trained for awake time, not sleeping time.)

This is a better picture of the dress and the crown, they kinda match!

So that updates us on pictures I think. These last 4 were taken this past weekend. As far as what's happening in life, it's not much. We are getting into a routine of me working 0-3 days a week depending on other circumstances like going to the Girl's Day Out or not getting jobs or Joy not feeling well (she had a fever yesterday but seems better today) I have not been working as much as I want so hopefully the next couple of weeks I will be able to work full 3 day weeks. I have made some good use of my time and finished Joy's first album pregnancy-3months. I have started on the second and will get a second wind of scrapbooking soon I hope. I also finished my college graduation album (only took 4 years). I have a long list of to do in the scrapbook area, and hope to get more done sooner than later! I guess that really does update you, have a wonderful day!

Is it over?

Well, I have failed in posting anything for over a month, but if you know what my month was like you will extend forgiveness. It was a month filled with work, work and more work. I worked at Toys R Us up to 2 days before Christmas. Am I done? I wasn't on the schedule last week and no one has called complaining I am not there this week so yes? Do I miss it yes, it's like someone hit the breaks on me going 100 miles an hour but forgot to tell me. Would I do it again, probably, it depends on the circumstances of the next couple of years. It paid for all of Christmas and we paid off the credit card and half the roof. The other half is going on credit, but should be taken care of in 2 months or less (we hope). We are trying to do things the Dave Ramsey way. No debt! We have been trying on and off for over a year to do this, various things happen and mess us up (IKE!) but this year we are trying again. Also happening this year is I am going back to WW. I have wanted to for awhile, and just not figured out the way or time to do it. Well Joy goes to "school" 3 days a week, if I can take Tuesdays for myself to go to WW, clean house (don't laugh too hard) and do other errands, then the other 2 days I will sub. If I need to then I can easily work on the Tuesday also and go to the 6:00pm meeting instead of the 9:30 meeting. For now this is the plan.
Well I know what you really want is pictures from Christmas so here are a couple, and the rest (as usual) are still on the Mac and I will try to get Rob to leave the Mac up again tomorrow so I can indulge you all.

My present from my hubby, singstar for the Playstation 2. Let me know when you want to come over and embarrass yourself! I am ready to challenge you!

My Joy, my Tink! She got this from her Paw Paw and wore it most of the day (over her clothes of course!) She loves it and don't even think of taking off the wings or adding the wig!

Potty Training...

So we started Monday 2 weeks ago with underwear anytime we are awake. We have done well, she will go to the potty even on big potties if she has to while out. That was my biggest worry and we sometimes still go places and she sees the potty and decides to wait longer. She doesn't like big potties and really doesn't like loud flushes. Last week we had a minimum of one accident a day. The weekend was back in a diaper because we went to the Renaissance Festival and well I was just being lazy Sunday cause I was home alone with her (and unsure how she would do at church). So Monday back in underwear and one accident. Tuesday dry all day. Wednesday dry all day. Thursday 2 accidents one during nap (teacher forgot naptime diaper) and one while drinking at snack. Friday no accidents. Saturday no accidents. YEAH JOY!!!! I am very proud of her and interested to see if the "training" is mostly done or if we are going one step forward 2 back. I am keeping my finger crossed and praying that we are mostly done!

Other news...
The job at Toys R Us is what I wanted, it keeps me busy and it has paid for Joy's Christmas presents, and is on it's way to pay for the rest of Christmas. Then we will have to pay for Ike. We still need a roofer to do our roof, but I am in no hurry even though we already have the money from insurance. I am hoping that in the end the Toys R Us job will get the credit card fully paid off and all the Ike stuff taken care of, then we can be where we were financially before Ike and Christmas.
Subbing, is not too bad. So far I have subbed at 2 schools in 3 classrooms for 5 days total. The first day subbing I was in a Kindergarten and the other teachers in K who are all around me, said I did a great job and one asked for me to come for her on Tuesday the next week. I did then a 3rd K teacher asked if I could sub for her on Friday, I said sure. On Wednesday the Principal of that school called said the Friday job was canceled, but the teacher I 1st subbed for needed a sub Thursday and Friday, so I was there for 2 days. I loved it. The kids did very well for me, and according to the other teachers and the para in the room I had better control than the regular teacher. I was glad to know they were happy with me. I enjoyed the kids too, they were very sweet. The other day in the other school was 3rd grade, which was also a good experience, I enjoyed that school and classroom also.
I think that is all I still owe you all pictures, but I just haven't gotten there. I started to get them off the camera one day and it froze up, not sure if Rob finished for me or not? If you really want pictures bug me and I will get them up. If you stay quiet I forget in my busyness.

0 to 2...

So it finally happened I got jobs! Yes I wrote that and you read it right jobs. I am now both an employee of Toys R Us across from BayBrook Mall and CCISD. Well the CCISD will be official this coming Tuesday. I am not crazy and we are not broke, we are being proactive and trying to avoid being broke or going crazy. I started Joy in her daycare in September thinking I would already be subbing then. Well 2 months later I am going to start. In addition that little storm named IKE hit and between the extra eating out and the future new roofing and fences we are trying to not go into more debt. Then this little holiday called Christmas is coming. I am a giver and love presents so it's hard to budget for them when really I know when I find something for someone and it's just right that's what they get. My Mom's Love Language is gifts, I try hard to speak her language (although I don't always quite get it right). So really the 2 jobs are to breakeven and not be in debt. I started my first real shift on Friday and it was rough on my feet, but a new pair of shoes which I needed anyway should help that. The subbing will start next Thursday not sure if I will attempt a sub job on Halloween?!? So that's it, that's my insanity of the moment.

Songs by Joy...

Here are 2 of the songs I have heard Joy singing lately...

The itsy bitsy spider did fall
Falling down falling down

(Please note that as she changed songs she changed tunes also.)

The other is a little more subtle...

The mommy called the doctor and the doctor said no more monkeys sitting in the tree.

We got really lucky other day and caught her in a singing mood and she sang a few songs for us, mainly Happy Birthday. She has become proficient with Happy Birthday, but also expects to blow out candles no matter who she sings the song to. In fact at a birthday party for a little boy (he turned 5) she was across the room sang the song and then blew and told me she had blown out the candles!

In other news, since I have been unable to this point to work for CCISD as I had hoped (although I have been told I will be in the Oct 28th orientation) I am also looking for a side job to cover the extra daycare costs up to this time and also for just some extra cash and maybe to not have a credit card bill after Christmas. I applied at Toys R Us and Kroger and they both called me back I had an interview at Toys R Us yesterday and one is scheduled for Kroger Thursday AM. I will try and remember to let you know if I get either job. If I do then don't expect a blog for awhile!