I See Us on a Beach Down in Mexico...

You can put your feet up, be my señorita
We ain't gotta rush just take it slow
You'll be in the high life
Soaking up the sunlight
Anything you want is yours
I'll have you living life like you should
You say you never had it so good

That is EXACTLY what we did.  We returned to para, para, paradise in Cancun.  Last year (when we went), I was super jealous of my sister and Lisa's cute little Vera Bradley carry-on bags for the airplane. Matt and I packed together and check a big bag - a big BORING looking bag.  I was on the hunt for something super cute and got my very own VB bag for Christmas this year.  Isn't it the cutest???  I got matching accessories to complete the look.  Now, I totally "look the part" of being a regular at the airport - hah!  The biggest trick was trying to figure out how to pack for five days in such a small space.  Doing lengthy mission work in college reminded me that I could tight roll all my clothes and fit much more in the bag. The zip compartment on the bottom held all my shoes perfectly.  During Dillard's recent additional 40% off sale of clearance items, I was able to snag two really cute dresses perfect for Mexico.

     We settled our kids at my parents house and headed to the airport early Thursday morning.  Paul scored us all FIRST CLASS seats - woo hoo! We arrived in style to Mexico...I've never ridden in a seat that reclines totally back.  It was about the coolest thing ever.  We got Mexico a little after lunchtime and headed over to our resort -Secrets Maroma which is about a 45 minute van ride from the airport.  All of us were starving when got there.  Because we had arrived early (or before check in), our rooms weren't available.  We decided to head down to the pool restaurant and eat.  By the time we finished, our rooms were ready.  It didn't take us long to get changed into our swimsuits.  The weather there was refreshing but HOT. 

The hotel staff greeted us with cool towels and champagne!  Welcome to Paradise!

After hanging around the pool for a bit, we headed back to the rooms to get changed for dinner.  It was International Night around the pool patio and was a smorgasbord of different foods.  Afterward we headed to the Disco to see a comedian and to the theatre for a magic show.  We were all worn out from the early morning so headed to bed.  In an effort not to bore everyone with loads of details, I'll just hit the highlights of our 5-day trip which included...

TONS OF EATING....breakfast was by far our favorite...wall to wall buffet of everything you can think of -homemade crepes, omelets, made to order eggs, pastries, waffles, meats, fresh squeezed OJ, lots of different fresh tropical juices, complete with a harp player...UHmazing

Seeing lots of critters all over the resort!

 Participating in our FIRST foam party.  It was the sort of experience that you love but might also die in the process.  Sometimes those bubbles got super high and were a tad stingy on the ol' eyeballs.  I'd have to carve out my own private grotto for air.

 MORE EATING....

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Dancing, laying around, and being able to put our lives on HOLD and get away from all the noise of our homes and lives.  Work can wait.  The kids are fine (thanks Mom and Dad). Marriage is at the top of our priority list, and I'm thankful that Matt and I can have these moments, with our very best friends, after 22 years together.  Relationships are what truly matters.

We arrived back in Bowling Green early Monday evening, snuggled up with our babies, and basked in the joy of another FUN memory made in this life journey together!

Spring Forward With SNOW

The kids are out of school today for SNOW of all things.  This weekend was gorgeous.  I got some early morning shopping done.  Me and K got us a free spray tan at Sun Tan City.  Miles and Matt went golfing. I spent most of Saturday afternoon outside walking, working in the yard, playing ping pong in the garage, hitting volleyball with Karson, and enjoying the spring SUN.  The trees are budding.  My hostas are sprouting.  Our clocks moved forward one hour yesterday.  Again, a pleasant day - a little cooler but still productive.  Got some exercise.  Me and K went and got spring pedicures.  I picked up some Seven Dust for some of my laurels which are getting eaten by some sort of bug.  And today, BAM, snow!  I knew it was in the forecast but was sort of hopeful it wouldn't come.

    The month of March has slowed down a little.  Basketball is officially over.  The Lady Spartans won the District Tournament over BGHS (the last week of February).  It was an exciting night and the first time Karson's team (since middle school) hasn't been the runner-up to BG.  Thirteen members of our team were recognized for All-District in Academics.  How amazing is that!!!

 Winning the District took us to Western Kentucky University for the Regional Tournament the next week.  We played/beat Todd County and Karson was able to get a few minutes of playing time.  In the next round, we faced Glasgow and won which put us in the Championship with BG.  During regular season and District play, we had already beaten them three times so we knew it would be tough facing and beating them again a fourth time.  And, unfortunately, things didn't go our way and our season ended =(.  It was a sad night - lots of tears.  The girls held their heads high though and all went to El Mazatlan for dinner to celebrate their season.

 It's been a slow month without basketball which has been really nice (and a welcomed break).  Our lives seem "more normal" getting to hang out as a family.  Matt and I are getting away for a little beach therapy at the end of this week while the kids hang out with the grandparents.
     I'm hopeful the weather will shift quickly in BG so everyone can enjoy some SUNSHINE.  

February Moments...

I've had a couple of those MOM moments lately.  I'm not sure if it's because I see my life flashing before my eyes and have no way of slowing it down.

• Is it because my Memaw, who is suffering with dementia, called me Becky the other day (and I'm thinking that's me in 40 years)?  
• Is it because weight doesn't come off as easily as it once did?  
• Is it because I have this unusual crease above my left eye right on the bridge of my eyebrow or weird age spots on my legs and arms?  
• Is it because I am coloring my hair more these days than ever? 

I feel old.  I'm worn out.  Maybe I'm depressed?  Maybe I'm tired?  Maybe I need a Swiss Cake Roll?  I don't know.

I find myself missing those sweet days of being a SAHM where I felt needed and wanted by my kids.  Now I get texts to grab some dry shampoo on my way home or can I spend the night with a friend every single weekend (not grandma K, the middle child).  I have two teenagers.  My little kids are gone.  They look different, act (sort of) different - they are completely NEW people.  I don't know if I like it or not.  I still have one little, sweet 5th grader, but he's super independent and doesn't seem to "need" me much.  Matt's gone to a couple of his school parties, and it's almost like he doesn't even care or want him there.  Nooooooo.

THESE MIDDLE YEARS ARE THE HARDEST! 

 If Karson is like Matt and I, she'll be married in six years.  That's SO weird to even think about.

Karson helped me out at SKyPAC for Paw Patrol the weekend before last.  We needed some extra hands (and she needed some BETA hours).  It was like reliving those preschool years seeing all those precious 2-3 year olds wearing their costumes, eyes wide with excitement, and watching my GROWN teenage daughter walk up to them and hand them a pom pom to wave and cheer with.  I thought back to Sesame Street LIVE, Dora, and the Wiggles, and all the fun stage shows we took the kids to see.

Mae Kathryn came to see Miles and his team play at Phil Moore Park last weekend.  It was a heartbreaking defeat, but our boys played hard and almost won.  Seeing MK walk up and down the bleachers, up and down, up and down, and (me) holding her little hand, it reminded me of how busy our kids were at that age.  They never sat still.

For Valentine's Day, we decided to have a NEW moment and one I hope we'll continue with each year.  Our family of five did our FIRST ever escape game together at the new Mind Bender in Bowling Green.  Karson and I have done a couple of the games (in Nashville), but the boys have never done one.  They were running a Vday deal so it was fairly inexpensive for all of us to participate, and we had the whole room to ourselves which was nice as well.  We didn't escape - only 15 seconds short, but we had a great time arguing  smiling and blaming encouraging each other - hah and all got a FREE t-shirt.

Isaac's poor little b-ball team finished 1-10 this season.  It was a true learning experience, and I'm proud of how Isaac stuck with it and had a "decent" attitude considering.  I know he doesn't realize it now, but sometimes the most negative experiences end up being the most positive ones - our struggles determine our successes.  Fingers crossed he'll use the experience to improve and get better.

 Our little golfer is loving this warmer weather.  Paul and Shannon got him a net for Christmas.  We were able to get it out the box a few weeks ago.  Little did we know it would take up our entire garage.  I thought I would be safe recording him from our laundry room.  First shot he hit, he shanked it right off the garage wall and NOT in the large net.  Fortunately, it missed me.  Sheesh.

Grandad celebrates his 85, John celebrates his 36 and my Memaw celebrates her 89 this month.

Loving all these February moments....

Who's the NEW Teen in the House?

 Why that would be our bacon eating, Dr. Pepper drinking, X-box loving, Snapchat streakin', hover board riding, night owl Isaac Matthew who turned the BIG 1-3 yesterday!  I had originally started this post on his birthday, but time slipped away from me.  That's what happens when you have THREE kids playing basketball. The season is confusing and keeping it track of it all requires multiple bottles of wine - hah!

I have to brag on my boy Isaac though. He is the type of kid who simply..has that way.  Y'all know what "way" I'm talking about - people are drawn to him.  He's easy to be around.  He's always happy.  Kids adore him, especially Mae Kathryn who says I-yak in the cutest way possible.  You'll rarely see him have a bad day.  He's just that way, ya know.  I'm proud of his way and grateful he's mine.  There's zero doubt in my mind that he'll do something special with his life, he's cut from that quilt.  That quilt that says, "you don't have to conform, you can be exactly who God designed you to be and own those traits to the fullest."

We celebrated his birthday on Wednesday night because all the planets aligned and we didn't have anything going on with basketball.  Well, actually, Karson had a short practice, but it still allowed for us to do something special for him. AZZIP is a birthday must - his absolute favorite place to eat.  We invited all the family, shared some pizza, and got a cookie cake.

Thank you AZZIP Pizza for letting us invade your space for the evening!

 Isaac Matthew is very loved!

 

 I wanted to do something extra special since turning 13 is no-joke - you're officially a TEENAGER.  I decided to get him 13 balloons with 13 gifts attached.  Me + Balloons = Error (I should've known).  When Matt turned 40, I booked him a Balloon-a-Gram.  A gorilla dressed up as a South Warren Spartan was to deliver him a balloon bouquet to school.  The delivery went as planned, but the numeric balloon was a "50" and not a "40" balloon.  Isaac was supposed to have 13 balloons.  When I went into Party City, I selected 13 balloons, paid for 13 balloons (extra helium and a balloon storage bag).  When I took them all out that night, only 12 made it home.  Fortunately, I had some balloons in the garage and blew one up to add to the card.  My balloon game is NOT STRONG and neither were my fault so I guess I shouldn't blame myself.  I simply don't have luck with balloons.  Isaac was totally surprised yesterday morning when we came into the den.  He had lots of nifty gifties - Fun Dip, Sweatband, Bob Ross socks, water balloons, Nike shorts, new water bottle, glass Coke bottles, Juicy Drop gum, M & M's, a yo-yo, lens attachments for his iPhone camera and some wireless Beats.

He had his favorite breakfast - BACON.

 

It would've been icing on the cake had his basketball team won last night on his birthday, BUT you can't have it all.  It was hard defeat for the Bulls losing by only two points.  All was right in the world though when he got home and logged onto Xbox LIVE.  He had a great 13th birthday - looking forward to many, many more.

 Birthdays through the years.....