Mother's Day Blessings

This past weekend, we celebrated Mother's Day in one of my favorite places (aside from Maui)!

We went to New Braunfels on Friday night for the annual Geisler Mother's Day Tea!

One of our 'must dos' every time we are in town is breakfast at the Crosswalk Cafe.  Its our favorite coffee shop.  I remember taking Addison there when she didn't even have to leave her carseat carrier!  Now, she runs around like she owns the place!

She LOVES her Pap!  She loves that he gives her so much attention and takes her for walks whenever we go out to eat.  We are so blessed they are such a huge part of our lives.

Grandma's house is a small, wonderful place to be.  There is a large yard with birds and squirrels, lots of flowers and places to run around.  I guess Addison just needed a bit of a rest here.

The Mother's Day Tea was lovely.  All of the Geisler family was there.  While we were enjoying cherry limeade, chicken salad sandwiches and angel food cake, the guys were at the sports bar on the plaza!  Win, Win!

After the tea, we went to Landa Park to feed the ducks.  Turns out, the nutria were hungrier than the ducks were.  There were three of these nasty creatures eating our bread.  I have never seen one out of the water before.  They have little hands, but webbed feet, giant beaver teeth and a long rat tail.  Yuck!

After we fed the ducks, we rode the Landa Park train!  We were not planning to ride the train, but Addison won us over when she started to climb into an empty seat.  We couldn't say no.

On Sunday we had a diaper shower at church for new baby, Naomi.  She is so tiny and lovable!  I loved feeding her for a bit!  Addison was only a bit jealous, but just wanted to help do everything for the sweet baby.

Sunday afternoon, mom, dad, Addison and I went for an early dinner, then dessert at Market Street.  Addison never took a nap on Sunday.  Instead, she played in her crib for an hour, while I tried to will her to sleep because I so desperately wanted to take a nap!  Even still, she was in a happy mood all day!

At Market Street, they had pony rides for the kids!  Once again, she suckered us into letting her go for a ride!  This is the kind of stuff I always looked forward to when I thought about having kids.  I am to happy to let her do these fun things!  (Even though her Pap paid for it!  She has him wrapped around her fingers, too!)

We met up with Paul and Leigh Ann on Sunday evening for a margarita on the patio.  We love enjoying the beautiful weather with them!

It was a very fun, but very busy weekend!  I cannot believe we only have 13 days of school left and I get to enjoy nearly everyday with my sweet girl!

Enough is Enough.

It has been a sad day for me.  On Sunday night, Layla and Maya got sick.  I wasn't sure if they ate something or what was going on.  Layla was much better by Monday night, but Maya was still a bit lethargic.  Maya would not eat anything, but would drink a bit of water, then get sick again.

This morning, she drank water, but was still pretty mopey.  

I had a meeting after school this afternoon, but decided to stop by home and check on Maya first.  When I got home, poor girl didn't even move.  I knew it was bad.  Dad called the vet for me and we met there.

The vet immediately took Maya back, after checking her temperature and finding it much lower than normal.  They gave her IV fluids and ran tests.  After running the tests, they said she ate something bad.   They think it was possibly a dead animal in the yard.  (Although, I never saw anything unusual and checked the yard lots!)  

The vet recommended I take Maya to the Emergency Animal Clinic to stay the night.  I cannot afford that right now.  They did what they could to hydrate her, medicate her and get her in a good enough condition to come home with me.  I was planning to take her back to the vet in the morning for more IV fluids.

About 7:45 tonight, my sweet Maya died.  She was just too sick.  If I knew it was this bad, I would have taken her to the vet yesterday! 

I don't know how much more I can take.  I mean, enough is enough.

Here are some sweet pictures of Maya...

Addison was loving on Maya yesterday when I told her Maya was sick.  (Check out my headband on Addison's head!  Love her!)

Sweet Maya resting in my bathtub when we came home tonight.

She loved going in the car!

Baby Addison, Layla, Maya and Maggie!

I am so sad tonight.  I am sad for Addison tomorrow when she calls for Maya and can't find her.  I am sad for Layla who doesn't know whats going on.  

Life is just hard, sometimes.

The Texas Riviera

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to get away with some friends.  It was just what I needed.

We stayed on Crystal Beach in this fabulous house!  It is currently for sale, but friends of mine have a good connection!  The beach was better known as 'The Texas Riviera' this weekend.  Sounds glamorous, doesn't it?

Kaci, who invited me to join her family, has two awesome boys!  They went crabbin' on Saturday morning while Kaci and I did nothing.  It was glorious.

Our other friend, Leigh Ann, and her boyfriend Paul met us out there on Saturday-day.

I am so thankful for these girls - especially the past few months.  They have been my sounding board, advice givers, shoulders to cry on and happy hour-goers.  

It was a wonderful weekend!  I can't wait till next time!

29...For the First Time

My 29th Birthday was a few weeks ago.  My birthday was on a Wednesday this year.  Since Jimmy had Addison on Tuesday night, the day started off just so-so.  I woke up in the morning, not really wanting to admit that I was another year older.

Once I got to school, things turned around.  If you have to work on your birthday, teaching Kindergarten is the best place to do it.  I'm pretty sure they were more excited than I have ever been for my birthday.

I also had several of my kids from last year stop by to read!

Other classes came to sing "Happy Birthday" as well!

About half way through the day, it dawned on me that I am 29.  Isn't this the age that people want to stay indefinitley?  This should be my greatest year.  There are lots of people who want to be 29 again.  I don't want to mope my way through this year!

That weekend, The Geislers came in town to celebrate with us.  I showed them around my newly painted house, we went fishing with Addison in her play room,

we played with princess blocks, 

fed the birds and squirrels,

and enjoyed each other's company in the gorgeous sun.

I took a day off recently, used some of my birthday money and planted a bunch of plants and flowers.  I love that my yard has tons of color now!  Hibiscus are one of my very favorite flower!!  There is a new flower everyday on the plant.

This birthday turned out to be pretty good.  

Its a whole new year, new house (-ish), new future, new opportunities and new hopes.

Here's to 29...for hopefully the only time.