Fun with family

Our family spent the last few days with my family in Hempstead. Wow, we had such a great time!! We very rarely get to go on a trip with all 5 of us. Bless his heart, Bryan is normally working hard for our family so, we normally have to go without him or we are without a couple of the kids or something. Not this time. Bryan took vacation and we all got to go as a family!! Yea!! What was the event you ask? We went for a family fish fry!!! Gotta love those! My cousin Jason and his sweet girlfriend Kim hosted a party in honor of my cousin Billy (a.k.a Buck to those of you that knew him when he was a little guy)! He is in the Army and home on leave from Alaska before leaving to join our forces in Iraq fighting for our country. I am so super proud of him. He has become an amazing man and I loved spending every second possible with him. I am blessed to have him as a cousin and lucky to call him a friend. These last few days were filled with lots of laughter!! I love getting together and reminissing! Here are a few pictures of the weekend! Billy leaves for Iraq in September so please, remember him in your prayers.

Billy Ray Kirkham proudly serving our country


My hubby Bryan with my cousin Billy


My cousin Jason, Me and my cousin Billy


My goofy cousins Billy and Jason


My beautiful baby girl with her baby cousin Madison (my cousin Jason's little girl)


Billy with all 3 of my babies, Kyle, Brackston and Brittanie


Kim and Me (Sorry about the photo, I left my make-up in Belton)


My cousin Jason and his adorable girlfriend Kim

They grow up too fast!!

I just wanted to share today that babies grow up too fast!! Today, I registered my youngest of three for Kindergarten. I can not believe that he is already going to school. I always thought I would be extatic to send him off to school but, now that the time is here I am really kind of sad! He will be attending our neighborhood elementary school, Miller Heights! We all went today as a family to register him and he was beside himself. He wouldn't quit talking about it. He wanted to meet the Principal and see his class and wanted to know who his teacher was. It was so funny to see how excited he was. I think Bryan and I have enough anxiety for all of us. Brackston doesn't seem to have any fears! He is ready and counting down!! Earlier this week Bryan and I walked him down to the school to just see the outside and play around on the playground a little. He hasn't quit talking about going to big boy school since!!! We will go August the 21st for meet the teacher night and then my baby will start school officially August the 25th. I took a picture of Brack in front of the school today and I thought I would share so you guys could see how big my baby is getting!! We are really excited for this new phase in our lives but, I imagine that it will not pass without a few tears from his Mommy (sniff, sniff)!

The Proud NeNe

I know I haven't posted in awhile. Things have just been crazy. I have so much to tell you guys but, today I have decided to focus on one of the true joys of my life, my nephew. Those of you that know me, know that I waited for what seems like forever to have a niece or nephew. I have only one brother and I didn't think he was ever going to marry and make me an aunt. Looking back I am very glad that he waited for just the right one. I am blessed with an amazing sister-in-law who is beautiful, hysterical and an incredible wife to my brother and mother to my adorable nephew. My sweet David Austin is growing so fast. He is 1 year and 5 months old. That almost kills me to say that, I can't believe he is so big. Anyway, he has started talking and my brother downloaded a video on youtube that I thought I would share with my new blog friends. Have fun watching this quick video of my baby! Talk to you soon.

Clean Choppers

Holy cow, I can't believe that I am getting ready to admit this to Blog and everybody but I went to the dentist today for the first time in 3 years!! Terrible, I know!!!! Let me explain. I have never gone this long without going to the dentist. For pete's sake all I was going for was a simple cleaning. I have gone all of my life very regularly and never (Praise God) had a problem, not even a cavity in 32 years. So the reason behind the prolonged visit was crazy! Here it goes....the dentist that have been going to since I can remember (at least 25 years) retired and turned over his business to his son. Now you must understand, it is not like this came as a shock to me. I was aware that it was coming and he had actually been preparing for Paul to take over like 6 years prior but, when the actual announcement came in the mail it is like I completely shutdown and decided that I was not going back for awhile!!! I know, I am retarded!!! I have absolutely nothing against Paul its just that his Dad was such a sweet heart and always told me I had perfect teeth. Anyway, it was time to make an appointment for my 3 kids for their dentist appointment (with another dentist) and I started feeling incredibly guilty because I hadn't been in what I thought was only 2 years. So the same day I called for my kids' appointment I decided I should bite the bullet and call for one of my own. Much to my surprise, they were closed for the week!!! Yea, I was off the hook!!! I listened to their recording and it said they would be back on Tues. the 22nd. So, I decided I would call back then....well maybe. Tuesday came and I was dreading the call but I somehow siked myself up to make it. Are you kidding me they didn't answer so, I did the responsible thing and left a message with my name and number asking for an appointment and a return phone call. Well Tues. came and went with no return phone call. What do these people want from me, to come to their office begging for a teeth cleaning?? I don't think so, I am not nearly that desperate for it. When I woke up yesterday, I knew that I had to call and try this one last time. Bite the bullet girl, pick up the phone and say "yes, my name is Jeniece Washburn and I need to make an appointment for a cleaning please." Yes, Ma' am, I am aware that it has been awhile since I have been in. I am also aware that it will probably be awhile before you can fit me in but I wanted to go ahead and get in your first available cleaning with Laura (my favorite hygentist). You see normally they schedule at least 3 months in advance. She paused for a moment and said "actually Mrs. Washburn Laura had a cancellation and we can get you in tomorrow morning at 9, would that be convenient for you?" Holy Cow.......I thought I would at least have some time to prepare myself. Well, I put a smile on my face and said Wow that is wonderful I will gladly take that appointment!! AAAAHHHH!!! I got up this morning and brushed like I had never brushed before fearful of the prognosis! I suffered through a groosomely long cleaning and my mouth hurt before Laura was even finished. When she completed the cleaning I said, "Oh my gosh my mouth hurts" and she said "well honey it will because we just did 6 cleanings in one. It was Sept. 2005 when you were last in." How embarrased was I? I felt like a MAJOR reject. Anyway, as if I hadn't bared enough I had to wait to see the new dentist, Paul! Although I have known him most of my life, I was still nervous what he might say because his Dad always said my teeth were perfect. He finally came in and said "I haven't seen you in awhile, how are you?" I said "well I will be better when my mouth stops hurting." He just laughed and said "Let's have a look." He was quiet for a couple of seconds and said "ok well, which ever end of the toothbrush you are using turn it over and use the other end." Huh???? I didn't get that statement at all and I guess by the look on my face the hygentist knew that I didn't get it (this in a horrible dentist joke). She started laughing and Paul said "you my dear have perfect teeth!" Yea!!!! How exciting! Needless to say I left there in pain but very excited to have been diagnosed with healthy teeth and they felt great!!!! I did find out that I got extremely lucky because with the exception of today's appointment they were scheduled out until February of 2009!! Amazing!!! You will all be proud to know that I did make my next appointment!! Yea Me!!!!

Incredibly Out of Shape

In the last couple of days I have realized how truly out of shape that I am!! Yesterday, I spent the day helping a great friend move. You know how you are told to lift with your legs to keep from hurting your back? Well does anyone care about my poor legs??? Hello?!!! I could barely even move today when I woke up. My legs were crazy sore. How ridiculous, huh? It seems crazy for someone of my age to be so out of shape. So just to you know stretch out my legs I opted to go on a walk this morning for 40 minutes. After I got back they didn't hurt nearly as bad but they were majorly pulsating!!! Retarded!!! I am going to give it my best shot to continue walking! I think that it made me feel better throughout the day. You gotta love aging and not taking care of yourself in the process. I am going to do my best to be on my way to a fabulous new me!!! Before you know it, I will be SMOKIN'!!! Wish me luck!!!!

Welcome Back Beautiful

Today was exciting because my baby girl came back from her mission trip!!! She had what she calls an amazing experience!!!! I was so excited! When I asked her to tell me of her experience the first thing she told me was how touching the appreciation shown by the recipients of the wheelchair ramps. She said one specific one rolled up his ramp with tears in his eyes and she just lost it. You know I love how amazing God is! His grace and love is so amazing. Today in church our associate pastor said something that really stuck with me. He said that most of the Bible is written in stories and that is no accident. Our lives are lived by stories and a story that my baby experienced this last week showed her what is was like to be an angel in someone else's world and represent God's love to them. I am so grateful that she had the opportunity and that God worked in her. I pray that she will be the young lady that God would have her be and that she seeks him with every breath that she takes and every decision she makes. All of this was also a reminder to me that I need to be a better steward of what Christ has given me in my life. My wish for all of you is that if God gives you a mission that you joyfully fulfill it in His love so that you may share His love with someone else.

Deep Thoughts

Have you ever just wanted to change everything about your life? I have really been praying about all the decisions that I need to make to make my home a better place to be. There are so many things going on in my brain that I can't even straighten it all out. I just wish I had someone here to make all my decisions for me and it would be much easier. See the problem is I know what it is that I want in my life and the way that I need to go about it but, there is someone in the way that I can't avoid. The dreaded ex!!! He is not going to make all these changes easy because a lot of these changes involve my two oldest kids which are his as well. Unfortunately, I make all the changes that I want to make without him cooperating! This may all end up in a mess before we are all finished. I am thinking, well I know that the only thing that I can do is pray about it because that is the only way that I will feel OK about the decisions that are being made. Being deep in thought hurts my head!!! Anybody else feel that way? Oh well, life goes on and I am sure that there are lots more hard decisions down the road!