Living That Meme Life

I love when a good meme speaks to me. I've taken some screen shots lately of ones that I really related to, and what is a blog good for if not sharing funny memes so we can all have a good chuckle today?

This fits me, huh?

We're simple creatures really.

I never waste time.

100% TRUTH

Drew Gurley, I am looking at you!

Paige brought the diaper caddy in the car yesterday.

The DIAPER CADDY.

I feel so heard with this one!

I personally never do this. {grin}

In all honesty, it's all me.

I saw this and died. Brent, you get this.

The Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Yesterday was a doozy of a day. It started off badly, and I told myself, 'Surely today will have to go up from here.' Nope.

It started off with getting into an argument with Trent over a piece of gum. It wasn't really about a piece of gum, it was about him not listening and constantly being defiant with me. I have been holding in a lot of upset feelings at his disrespect [therapy appointment is next week ha], and my reaction was disproportionate to his behavior...but I am human and I had hit my limit. I sent him to school with bad words still floating in the air around us. And I hated myself for it.

Yesterday was a gloomy, rainy, cold, gray day. That never helps my mood.

A partner at work suggested something that was utterly ridiculous and my response might not have had my usual filtering in place.

I did get a workout in, but after I got home I found out that our beloved preschool teacher lost her son in a car accident on Monday. I don't think I know a kinder woman. She loved on Trent when he was at his most unlovable, and I am broken-hearted for her. Add to that my guilt over the fight with Trent, and I was a mess for a good chunk of the day.

Brent and I also were grumpy with each other for a little part of the morning - before we learned of this death. I don't like when we're out of sorts. Luckily, we are much more mature as adults than we were as teens and were able to talk through our miscommunication.

The kids picked on each other a lot after school.

I just felt really sad and out of sorts all day. Luckily, for me, tomorrow is another day. A good friend of mine, who is also a trauma therapist, and I were talking about this loss as her kids also went to this school. And she told me Parenting is a unique form of vulnerability. And that really struck a chord with me - if that isn't the simplest sentence conveying the most complex emotions then I don't know what is!

I have no point to this post except I was hoping getting these thoughts out of my head might help me feel a little less yucky. I don't need to move to Australia, and I am fortunate that my good days immeasurably outnumber my bad. But man I don't want to repeat yesterday ever again.

The Great Sheet Debate

Y'all.

I have a serious question for y'all. 

This is a constant debate in my marriage that is bleeding over into my family.

DO YOU USE A FLAT SHEET?

Brent HATES the flat sheet and refuses to sleep under it. For years, he pushed it to the bottom of the bed, but now he has taken to sleeping on top of it while I sleep under it.

That's weird, right?

BUT...if that wasn't bad enough - now my children refuse to sleep with a flat sheet. Trent pulls his quilt completely untucked and makes a little nest for himself, and Drew won't even sleep under her quilt anymore - she sleeps under a little blanket.

Is this hereditary? Am I the oddball here? I need some support that flat sheets aren't nuts!

Also, thoughts on me cutting my king-sized sheet in half to make Brent and me both happy? {grin}

Dell Match Play

Last Thursday, we went to the Dell Match Play golf tournament at the Austin Country Club with 3 other couples {2 of whom live in our neighborhood within .5 miles of us!}. We have friends who work at Dell, so we were able to get discounted tickets. Brent was a collegiate golfer and still plays competitively, but this tournament is not so much about watching golf as it is about eating, drinking, and socializing - my kind of golf tournament!

The Austin 360 Bridge and Lake Austin - love this view

Remember when I said I wanted to see Phil??

HI PHIL!!!

I saw him at another point and shouted 'Go Phil!' and I got a little wave!

Good friends!

Power nap before Round 2 of fun!

We decided to leave the tournament about 5:00, headed to our hotel, showered {and napped - Paige started my day at 5:00 AM}, and then headed out to dinner.

The whole gang - Aren't Brent and I so cute with our color coordination?

We ended the night playing Jenga until almost 2:00 AM in one of the other couple's room - they got upgraded into a really nice suite. My favorite part of these next few pics is my friend, Susie's, face in most of them.

When you lost, you had to take a shot in an espresso cup! Hi Susie!

Friday morning, Kristen drove to meet me for breakfast - any chance I get to see my bestie, I'm going to take it! We tried to go to one of our FAVORITE restaurants in the shopping area we stayed, but it had apparently closed. Womp, womp. So we ate breakfast in the hotel.

This egg hater had amazing French toast!

Then we headed home to see our babies, and Brent played in the practice round for a golf tournament he was in, ha! Such fun, and we can't wait to go back next year!

The Big D

Brent and I are a couple who bickers. 95% of the time we are joking - I guess it goes back to our teenage years where we didn't know how to flirt with each other. {grin} I remember us making my BFF, Kristen, really nervous when she first spent time with us because we were always griping at each other, but it's almost always said in fun.

Well, one day a few weeks ago, Brent, the big 2 kids, and I were on our bed, and Brent said to the kids 'What do you say we move out and don't let Mommy come?' I fully expected Trent to want to go with Brent but figured Drew would want to be with me. Well, they fooled me, and both started shouting 'Yes, yes!' Can you guess which parent is the nice parent who brings home candy and lets them watch extra TV?

We joked about this for a little while and the battle lines became drawn: I would get Paige because duh breastfeeding, Drew wanted Brent {#heartbroken}, and Trent chose me because once he figured out where Paige was going, his alliance changed. We all had some laughs and that was the end of that.

The next morning, the conversation picked back up because I was teasing the kids about choosing Brent over me when Drew said she didn't want to talk about it anymore because it was making her heart sad. Ooof that made me sad, so I reassured her A LOT that we had been kidding and we loved each other etc. etc.

A little while later, Trent asked me 'Where would I live if you and Daddy got divorced?' I started up again about how Brent and I love each other, we were just kidding, we aren't getting a divorce, but Trent again asks where he would live. I say for a 3rd time how this isn't going to happen, etc. He interrupts me and said 'No, seriously, where would I go?'

I responded 'You'd live with each of us half of the time.' To which he responded 'OK.' HA!

I can't decide if Brent and I have scarred our children with this conversation - what do you think?

How to Celebrate 12 Years of Marriage

On one hand, an anniversary is a special moment. But on the other, it's just another day. So while I wanted to spend some 1-on-1 time with my sweetie, I didn't expect us to spend the whole day together. We chose not to go away this year, so we decided to just go to dinner. He watched a little bit of football with his friends and promised me a foot rub for my sore, sore feet - that is what marriage is all about - compromise!

I found it interesting that our priest touched on marriage during his homily and went through his 4 points for success:

1) Prayer

2) Patience

3) Forgiveness

4) Perseverance

I love that he touches on this a few times throughout the year - always a good reminder! 

We went to dinner at a local restaurant, George's on the Town, and it was so yummy! Good conversation, good food, a good time!

When we got home, parenting duties called. I snapped the cutest pics of my sleeping family. {grin} Our night ended quite a bit differently 12 years ago, but I must say, I wouldn't trade the nights!

I did pull out our wedding photo album which I hadn't looked at in a while. I definitely enjoyed the walk down memory lane.

And that was our anniversary! I enjoy celebrating each year and also look forward to what the future is going to hold - I know year 13 is going to bring a lot of changes {hello growing family}, but I am very excited!

A K Squared Bridal Shower

I have 2 cousins {a brother and sister} who are getting married 3 weeks apart this summer. They are both teachers and coaches, so they have a tight window hence the closeness of the weddings. Well, my family decided to throw a double shower for the brides, Kayla and Kristen {now the post title makes sense, ha}, today! We had the shower at my house, and I think it turned out so nice!

Drink station

 Food and family

Gifts!

 Silly cousins who waited for SO LONG to get cupcakes!

{This is not the outfit Drew started out wearing for the shower}

My mom and her sisters

Bride #1 - Kayla

Bride #2 - Kristen {marrying my cousin, Ryan}

All the hostesses and a bad flash on the TV!

I love that my family still loves to get together and that we have fun together! Can't wait to celebrate both these couples again in June and July!

Forty is a Big Number

So in reality 40 isn't that big of a number. But it is when you're talking about years of marriage! Today my parents celebrated that milestone, and I couldn't be happier for them.

Not only are they wonderful parents and grandparents, they are wonderful spouses to each other. They are such an example of what I hope Brent and I are growing toward.

They are best friends who still hold hands and enjoy each other's company. They support each other and {for the most part} know when to nag and when to let it be. In 1 word, they are a TEAM.

I've seen them argue, but I've also seen them make-up. I've seen my mom nag my dad 1 too many times, but I've also seen them dance in the kitchen because one of their favorite songs came on the radio. I've seen them go through loss, and I've seen them embrace yet another grandchild. I've seen their love for each other grow through it all.

I hope after 40 years Brent and I are as happy as they are!

Happy anniversary, you two crazy kids!

We Closed! We Wrote Checks! We Have Keys!

Yes, folks, you read that right!! I am typing this post in our new office {although sitting on the floor because we don't have a chair}. We are about 1% unpacked and about .02% organized.

Allena, where's the soap? I want to take a shower. Crickets...

You mean you don't know what box you packed the soap in? Crickets...

Let's see - over the past 5 days we have had stuff in:
a) our storage unit
b) our friends' garage
c) my parents' house/garage
d) my car
e) Brent's truck
f) Brent's parents' house
g) Brent's dad's truck

So no, I don't remember where the soap is! {grin}

But...BUT...BUT

WE'RE IN OUR HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Soap be damned!

Cue the angels singing.

Moving is not any fun - it's stressful and hard on everyone. Brent and I are both trying to remember that as Trent acts out a million times worse than usual and Drew clings to me. But we are so happy to be in our new {wonderful, beautiful, magnificent, glorious} home.

An official tour to follow...but give me some time to find the soap. {grin}

Show & Tell Tuesday: Meeting My Mate

I saw on another blog that today there's a link-up called Show & Tell Tuesday, and the topic is Meeting My Mate. I think I've blogged about 47 thousand times that Brent and I are high school sweethearts, but I don't think I've ever blogged about how we met and our love story. I am so excited to share that today! Grab a snack...this is a long one {but oh so sweet}!

Rewind to about 1995 or so... Brent was in my dad's algebra class, and {I think I'm remembering his side of the story correctly} he was in my dad's class after school for some reason. I stopped in to get money or something, and he thought I was cute. He continued to notice me for a while, but I didn't know who he was. He was on the golf team, and one of his good friends was dating a friend of my sister's, so he actually ate lunch a lot with his friend...and my sister. {It's kind of funny now that I think about it because I had a class with David - my sister's hubby - before they knew each other, so we each knew each other's spouses first.} 

During our sophomore year of high school, he sent me a Santa Gram. I remember being confused as to who it was from and someone had to point Brent out to me. I did not think he was cute. He was short and kind of dorky looking. {Sorry babe!}

Brent and Allena {and Patty} around when we first roughly knew of each other.

{I had cut my bangs myself and they were just a smidge too short, no? Ha}

Fast forward a year, and I'm 'talking' with Brent's best friend. A guy who is SO not my type. Brent and I end up hanging out together in a few group settings. He's grown about 7 inches and suddenly seems A LOT cuter...and he's funny and nice. Hmmm... I spent Valentine's Day 1997 with Brent's friend, and we had a disastrous evening. I knew our 'relationship' wasn't going to go anywhere. The dates get hazy in my mind, but at some point I find out he made out with the girl Brent was 'talking' with, and Brent caught them. We are both pissed, and it brings us closer.

We begin spending more and more time together...still always in a group setting. I remember him coming to one of my track meets with said friend, and I was SO excited he was there! The first 2 big moments for us {or at least in my mind} happened during a UT basketball game and a group night of bowling. I honestly can't remember which came first - but both really meant something. There were 4 of us who went to the basketball game - Brent's friend {the same one I had sort of dated who made out with the girl Brent had been sort of dating}, Brent, me, and a friend of mine. After the game, we got frozen yogurt at a TCBY near the arena. Brent and I played footsie under the table, ha. I still smile every time I pass that TCBY {it's near my office downtown}. During the group bowling night, Brent and I made a bet. If he won, I had to go out on a date with him, and if I won, he had to go out with me. #thisishow16yearoldsflirt #hewon

From that point on, we talked on the phone a lot and did a lot of flirting but nothing official. I went to his house for the first time after a track meet {still in my uniform, ha} and met his parents and nephew {who wasn't quite 2 at the time and is now almost 20, wow}. We just sat in the living room together, and it was amazing.

On April 5, 1997, we were on the phone, and he was about to go out with some neighborhood friends, and I told him 'Don't do anything you aren't supposed to do!', and he asked me why not.  And I responded 'Because I'm your girlfriend and I say so!'. That was the first time we declared ourselves. #dorks

Now for some visuals of our time together in high school...

How could I not fall for this guy? Playing with his nephew...

I think this is our first picture together. #babies

Homecoming week senior year

Prom 1998 {His dad let us take his new truck, we were rolling in style!}

Graduates!

My graduation party...

We ended up choosing different schools for college which was good/tragic. Brent's got a golf scholarship to Stephen F. Austin in east Texas, and I was born to be an Aggie.

Getting ready for the 4 hour drive to Nacogdoches

{I rode home with his parents and was pretty heart-broken}

College was great and challenging. 5 years of long distance was not easy. There were lots of fights {LOTS}. But it also enabled us to grow individually and make friends without each other. I got to be Allena independent of Brent's girlfriend and vice versa for him. And our weekends together {typically every other weekend} were awesome. 

Kelly always called this our 'A Wedding Story' picture, ha

We didn't graduate unscathed though. The summer between our 4th and 5th years {Brent redshirted his freshman year, and I did a dual bachelor and master's program, so we both stayed 5 years} was TOUGH. I felt disconnected and unappreciated...and had a crush on someone I worked with. Let's just say it wasn't good. We ended up breaking up, and I was pretty terrible to Brent. 

Right before we broke up... still a cute couple!

I think this was our last visit together before we broke up.

I wanted to see what life was like without him, but that didn't last long. He was always the person I wanted to call with good news or talk through bad things. I would hear songs, and it would remind me of him, I just felt like I wasn't complete. So we got back together. We both had some wounds {Brent more than me obviously}, but I knew we were in it for the long haul. That time apart was the final piece of the puzzle to me knowing without a doubt he was the one for me for always. We both graduated and began our lives back in Austin.

I started my job in September with Brent getting a part-time job shortly thereafter. He got his first 'real' job that February, and a few weeks later we got engaged. We had gone ring shopping together, so it wasn't a surprise, but he did manage to surprise me with the proposal. I had been out of town for 2 weeks for a work assignment in Kansas. I had left my car at the airport the whole time because I left during the day on a Monday. I remember getting off the plane in Austin {February 27, 2004} knowing no one was there to meet me, and I was tired. I had a giant suitcase, a huge winter coat, and a laptop bag to get all the way to long-term parking. I really wanted someone to be meeting me to help me with all my stuff. I looked up and at the bottom of the escalator was Brent! I didn't even notice his sign - just that he was there! And he could help me with my luggage! Then I noticed his sign that said 'Will you marry me?' He got down on 1 knee and pulled out my gorgeous ring. I of course said yes, and he of course helped me with my bags. I was on cloud 9! We went out to eat that night and the next day {Saturday} I went to work, ha!

We were engaged just over 7 months. It was a blur of planning and gearing up to really start our life together.

Engagement pictures - to this day I still love them!

Decorating our reception hall

Rehearsal dinner

I have almost no good wedding pics on my laptop.

October 16, 2004...one of the best days of my life!

Our honeymoon to Turks & Caicos

Now here we are...almost 18 years later from me telling him he was my boyfriend. 2 kids, 3 moves {with another 1 on the horizon}, 5 jobs, 5 vehicles...

Lots of love!