The Hendrix Family

CHOOSING THE RIGHT

2010-04-17T06:11:00.000-07:00

Every third Thursday of the month I volunteer, during school lunch hours, at the Spirit Store. When your child comes into the cafeteria, it is customary to go over and visit with them for a minute at their table before the chaos begins at the store. So this past Thursday that is exactly what I did, but what I came upon will forever be embedded in my memory of not only the Spirit Store, but more importantly the actions of Nick.

So this is what went down: During lunch, you are only allowed 6 kids at a table. Nick was at his table along with 5 other boys when one of the boys who was already at the table with him, who is in need of friends, wanted to switch seats with Nick. So Nick got up to trade places with this boy when another boy swooped in and took this boys seat. Needless to say, the boy that took the seat would not move which forced the boy, that is in need of friends, to move to another table that did not have all the boys at it. The next thing I know, I see Nick grab his tray of food and move to the other table with that boy, leaving all of his buddies at the other table.

I asked him quietly why he moved. He was fighting back tears trying to be as discrete and brief as possible, so I got the point and left it at that. So on Friday afternoon, while we were laying on our living room floor, I decided to ask him about what happened the previous day at lunch. He told me the same thing as the prior day but with more detail. As we were laying on the floor discussing it, I was expressing to him how proud I was of him and how he handled the situation, tears began to well up in both of our eyes. I told him that his actions truly made that boy feel important and liked.

As a parent, you strive to teach your children to be an advocate for those that perhaps don't have the personality or the means to be one for themselves and to do what is right even when it is not necessarily the easiest thing to do. That is exactly what he did. He made a very BIG statement without saying a word to all of his buddies about how to treat others.

WHO ARE WE? CHAMPIONS!!!!

2010-01-31T07:45:00.000-08:00

Nick and his buddy Tyler getting ready for the BIG GAME!

Matthew and Danny Pellar going over the plays with Coach Dave Cichey

Matthew on the sideline waiting to go onto the field.

Championship photo
Nick jumping in for a photo with the team. He really was an awesome fan!
Matthew, Chris and Ian after the celebration!
Our family

So this is how it all went down in a nut shell.

4 quarters of football with a score of 0 to 0.

It was a complete defensive show down!

Overtime

Raiders when the coin toss and get the ball first on the 10 yard line

First pass=touchdown! Their crowd goes crazy!!!!!

2 point conversion attempt by the Raiders...receiver catches the ball and is then hit by Wilson and he fumbles it into the endzone, where our fastest player, Chris, recovers it and runs it back for a 100 + yard, scores us 2 points on the board and our crowd goes absolutley BALLISTIC!!!! (myself included)

The Raider fans are silenced! :)

6 to 2: The Raiders have the lead

Longhorns take the field with the ball on the 10 yard line.

1st down=run the ball=gain a few yards

2nd down= run the ball=gain a few yards

3rd down and goal= punch it into the endzone

Longhorns 8: Raiders 6

THE FANS CLEAR THE STANDS AND THE CELEBRATING BEGINS!!!!!!

It was a night that we will never forget. Words can not express how thankful I am that Matthew had such an amazing experience for his first year of football. The coaches were awesome and his teammates were amazing! From the beginning of the season to the end, Matthew grew by leaps and bounds. He initially was faced against our largest player for a tackle drill and he had no idea what to do nor how to hit....by the last tackling drill, he took him out along with one of our best tacklers on the team. It was AWESOME.

Needless to say....I LOVE FOOTBALL!

A WHOLE LOT OF HEART

2009-11-18T06:10:00.000-08:00

Nick is the Longhorns official "SUPER FAN"! He paints his face different for each of the playoff games and pumps the boys up before the games!

We decorated the fence with signs that varied from Longhorns to GET'ER DONE!

Matthew(#34) Bailey and Carter where the team captains for the Semi-Final game against

The Hurricanes.

Our team lined up behind the team captains as they shook hands with The Hurricanes and flipped the coin.

THE KICK OFF!

Matthew plays Defensive End, Tight End and Full Back.

We were down the entire game up until the final 2 minutes of the game. At half time we were down 14 to 24. We fought back and held them on defense. We were down 22 to 24 with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter. We drove down the field with just under 2 minutes when coach called a wedge and Matthew punched it in for the touchdown and to take the lead. Our amazing kicker kicked the field goal and the score was 30 to 24. There was 1 minute and 10 secs left for us to hold them.....And that is exactly what we did. Matthew had an amazing tackle in the backfield on # 10 and his counterparts took out # 10 as well on a run down the field. The clock ran out on their final attempt down field and we overcame all odds by exhibiting amazing team work and a whole lot of heart!

The Celebration!

The family after the game.

Our coach yelling, "WHO ARE WE"? and the boys screaming, "CHAMPIONS"!

Matthew and his buddies!

Ian Cichy #22, Matthew Hendrix #34, Chris McPhaul #32 and Danny Pellar #94

NOW WE ARE OFF TO FACE THE RAIDERS FOR THE SUPER BOWL

GET'ER DONE

HOOK EM HORNS

CHAMPIONS

A YEAR AGO TODAY

2009-11-03T14:15:00.000-08:00

A year ago today, my dad, Michael William Conser passed away after a 2 1/2 year battle with terminal liver cancer.

There isn't a day that goes by that I am not saddened by the loss of my father and the void that is left with his passing. I think that the hardest part about losing him is not being able to call on him when I need a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen or for a sounding board on life's challenges and life's rewards. To this day, I have 5 different messages with his voice that I do not have the heart to delete. One is just asking me to call back, another is about how awful our 49ers were but how he was looking forward to seeing how the boy's "Cowgirls" were going to do. Another is a sweet message to my Nick about his accomplishments on the ball field. I am not sure when the day will come when I will have the ability to delete them, but for now they are here to stay.

Every time I watch our son Matthew walk, I am reminded of my dad. Matthew has the same "strut" that my dad had. We call it the "Conser Strut". It is with a little attitude, the feet pointed to the outside a bit and as you walk, your back is leaned a little and you kick your feet out a bit. There is just something about that walk. It is the walk of a Conser!

In our son Nick, I see my dad's strong-will and determination. By golly, my dad would not take anything from anyone if he felt that he was being wronged or that someone else was being wronged. Nick is the same way. My dad was a very loyal friend and would give the shirt off his back to a friend in need. Nick has inherited this quality as well.

I know that there will come a time when I will see him again. I also know that he is in a much better place and that he is no longer suffering. For that, I am grateful. It is often difficult to see the silver lining when it comes to losing a loved one, especially one soo young, but I do truly believe that there is one in his case.

Up until his last few days of life, my dad thought that he would be saved, like Job, in The Bible. He felt as though he would be healed physically and that life would resume as it had prior to his diagnosis. He may not be here with me today , but I know that the Lord saved him. He had the opportunity to right some of the wrongs that he had in his life. He had the opportunity to ask for forgiveness for the mistakes that he made and he had numerous spiritual experiences that allowed him to know that all would be well.

I had the opportunity to be with him during his last days and will forever cherish those memories. We laughed, we cried, we hugged and just enjoyed one anothers company. It was difficult at times seeing him the way that he was, but knowing that in the end he would no longer suffer, I was able to make it through.

I miss you dad and look forward to the day when I see you again..........

CATCHING UP

2009-10-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

So I have taken a little break from blogging, but am back in the saddle after my 5 month sabbatical. I am going to catch up over the next few posts more for my me and my lack of ability to remember what happened yesterday, let alone a year ago! So here it goes:

BIRTHDAYS

Nicholas turned nine this year. I am often amazed and saddened at how quickly my boys are growing up!
9 things I love about Nick:
1. He is hilarious
2. He is extremely generous
3. He is a loyal friend
4. He loves his cousins
5. He would give his favorite shirt off of his back if someone said they liked it
6. He is the epitome of a Super Fan for his brother
7. He doesn't take anything from anyone
8. He has an infectious laugh
9. He is strong-willed

Showing off his Under Armour Outfit

Sporting his new Texas Longhorn hat

This was Nick posing as an Abercrombie Model with his new Abercrombie Sweatshirt. I thought that his father and I were going to wet our pants when he posed like this! It was hilarious!

Matthew celebrated his 12th birthday with a group of boys. We went to the football field and played a little tackle football. They had a blast. A few grass burns, but luckily no broken bones!

Matthew wanted a new lawnmower for his birthday.....I do not know many 12 year old boys that want a mower for their birthday. I did not have it in me to give him that, so his dad opted for new golf clubs instead!

12 things I love about Matthew:

1. His ability to lead others by his example

2. His willingness to work hard without complaint

3. His subtle yet funny personality

4. His desire to do what is right

5. His loyalty to his family and friends

6. His dedication to his studies

7. His ability to calm a room

8. His competitive yet humble attitude

9. His generosity towards those less fortunate

10. His tender heart

11. His excellent personal hygiene :)

12. That he still hugs me and tells me he loves me!

(not sure how long that will last)

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Nick was voted by his peers as AWESOME ATHLETE of his class! He was stoked by his award. No need for the reading or math award...he has that down....but AWESOME ATHLETE was the one I know he wanted!

5th grade had a little different award ceremony. They were awarded medals based upon their test scores along with awards from their teachers. Matthew aced all of his tests, so he earned 3 gold medals. They were suppose to dress up nice for the awards ceremony.....Some wore suits, others wore vests and some a little more casual.

Matthew was awarded the MVP award for his class. This was the award given to the student that was the most well-rounded student. What an amazing accomplishment! We are soo proud of both of our boys! Congratulations Matthew and Nick!

DAY WITH THE MAYOR

2009-05-10T18:00:00.001-07:00

I was recently at the school volunteering for PTA and was asked to come into the Principal's office. Now being a parent of two boys and being asked to step in to the Principal's office can be a little concerning at times. Not that I think that my boys would get into any trouble, but you just never know. So Mrs. Rowan proceeds to tell me about this opportunity that came across her desk regarding a day with the Mayor of Frisco. She tells me that she was asked to chose a model 5th grade student that best exemplified what Pink Elementary stands for. A Student that is trustworthy, hardworking, thoughtful, kind and so forth. She said that the decision was unanimous amongst her and the 5th grade staff. Drum roll please...................They chose Matthew!!!! I was so touched by the fact that here this sweet young man that I know is wonderful, is being recognized by a staff that has only known him for a little over a year! What an honor.

Matthew and Mayer Maso

Mrs. Rowan hyping up this award. She told all of the students about the festivities of the day with the Mayor. The biggest excitement came when she told them about the Limo ride!

Matthew being called out of the crowd of 700+ students to find out that he was chosen. (The picture wasn't great because I was too far away, but he was so surprised)

Matthew and his dad

Now that is a priceless smile. We are so proud of the young man that he is becoming. He is such a wonderful example to all that he comes in contact with. Way to go Matthew!

Matthew and Mrs. Rowan

"THE LIMO" pulling in to pick up the kids

Matthew getting ready to head off to meet the Mayor.

Matthew is going to have numerous opportunities to make a difference in this world. He stands for what he believes in and does not waver. I look forward to the many wonderful things that he will accomplish throughout his life. We are so proud of you Matthew!

Best of Friends

2009-05-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

Donna and I met 8 1/2 years ago while living on Fabens Ln. in Gilbert, Arizona. We hit it off from the start and became the best of friends. Our boys were the same ages which made for great play dates, lots of trips to the park and numerous outings for lunch at McDonald's. 4 1/2 years after we met, we moved away to Las Vegas, but always stayed in touch with daily phone calls and trips back and forth to and from Arizona. Even when I moved further away to Texas, we have continued to see one another and talk all the time.

She has been with me through some of the most heartbreaking tragedies in my life and at the drop of a hat would come to my aid if needed. I often tell my children when they talk about missing their friends and how they wished that they lived here or there. I remind them that instead of being sad for not being there, they need to be grateful for the opportunity to get to know those that they miss so much. That's how I feel about Donna. I know that the Lord knew that I needed her and she needed me. I can not imagine my life without her in it and for that, I will always be thankful.

So why this tribute to Donna.......it is because she just took off back to Phoenix after spending a fun filled weekend with me here in Frisco, TX. She tackled her fear of flying and even held tight during the SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO WARNING that we had last night. We ate lots of yummy food, took in a chick flick, shopped, stayed up late talking and even shed a few tears. We had so much fun just being together. The only regret is that I did not BLAST Enrique like I used to do back in the good ol' days!!!

Thanks for the memories Donna!

SO LONG MY DEAR FRIEND

2009-04-20T20:19:00.001-07:00

For as long as I can remember I have drank soda. During my younger years it was regular soda and over the past 5 or so years it has been diet soda. I have contemplated on numerous occasions giving it up but never had the courage nor the will power to do so. Over the past few months I've been killing myself at the gym and really have seen little progress for the amount of effort that I have been putting in. I think that a major reason for lack of results is due to my addiction to soda. I drink an excessive amount and have finally come to a place where I am good with letting it go. I know that it may sound weird to some out there...but it has been a source of happiness in my life.

There is nothing better than a frosty beverage out of the fountain on a hot summer day. I especially like a diet coke with lime when I am out to dinner or just hanging watching a movie at home.

Coke Zero has been my beverage of choice for quite some time now. I will be donating my recently purchased 24 pack to my dear friends The Peterson's tomorrow:) I know that for the next couple of days I will go through major withdrawal...but have plenty of water and Advil on hand. I will keep you updated on my progress.

Nick's Ortho Update

2009-04-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

Nicholas has been undergoing extensive orthodontic treatment over the past 9 months....He recently had to have a tooth pulled to allow his permanent tooth to have a place to call home.

Check out the size of the roots on that tooth. They were deep and I do not think that the tooth would have budged for a quite some time. Nick did absolutely amazing at the Dentist. No laughing gas...just a little Motrin after. I think that he has an extremely high tolerance for pain. Way to go Nick!

This is his lovely face mask! I initially thought that he was going to wear head gear.....but he was not that fortunate. He thinks that this apparatus is pretty cool. The day that he was fitted for it he wore it out of the office. Our Orthodontist told him that he only needed to wear it at night.....but Nicholas thought that it was cool and insisted on wearing it out that day!!

It looks worse than it is.....It is suppose to pull his top jaw forward and push his lower jaw backwards........it seems to be doing a great job. He wears it to bed every night and who know when he will no longer need to wear it. So he's had a top and bottom expander, face mask, 4 braces and a tooth pulled. I am sure that there is more on the horizon for Nick.

He really has been a trooper when it comes to his treatment. I look forward to the day when he is finished and we can see the final product.

2 TEETH, ONE HEAD AND 2 STAPLES

2008-11-12T06:59:00.001-08:00

So what do you get when you have 4 boys and a girl playing hide and go seek at the Hendrix household?

You get two front teeth to Matthews head!

Two Staples following shortly there after!

Lots of Neosporin to keep it moist!

And Matthews first official trip to the ER for an accident!

So my girlfriend calls and wants me to watch her kids while she and her 14 year old daughter camp out at the mall to see "Edward" from the upcoming movie Twilight. I do not blame them one bit.....They were front row joeing it at the stage and I too would have stayed put for my child to see whomever they wanted to see!

So envision 5 screaming, wild kids beaming balls at one another , playing tag and wrestling all around our house for hours. I could not send them in the backyard because the night before we had the Amazon River flowing through it and it would have been destroyed had they been out there. So I send them out front to shoot some hoops and play catch while I start dinner. Needless to say, the basketballs go in to the yard next to me which consists of mud, mud and more mud. Lo and behold Nicholas decided to go into the mud with his BRAND NEW ADDIDAS TENNIS SHOES on and I just about lose it once I see what he has done. I do not know how many times I have told him to stay out of the mud in his good shoes. I want to hit him over the head with his muddy shoe, but settle with dragging it across the grass a few hundred times as I attempt to scrap off the layers of mud from his BRAND NEW SHOES! AHHHHHH.

I shuffle everyone inside to feed them dinner and tell them that it is time for some down time. Somehow down time/quiet time =Hide and Go seek to the kids. I figure no harm can come if they stay upstairs and stay out of the attic, right? Fast forward to Matthew coming down the stairs with blood dripping down his face and all over his hands. Now I am freaking out inside because blood and Aimee do not go hand in hand. All of the kids are around me and I feel like the walls are closing in on me as I try to asses the situation. Now I understand why the paramedics tell you to back up when there is an accident....it is because it is STRESSFUL ENOUGH trying to deal with the injured let alone all the people hovering around you.

I get the bleeding to stop and get a better look at the gap that has been left by Alec's' two front teeth. Alec's' teeth are hurting so I ensure that they are not loose and am relieved to know that there is not another injury. Luckily Alec's mom is a nurse and she was on her way home while this was going on...so she checked it and since Matthew was heading to a 3 day sleepover camp with school, she felt that he should be taken in for stitches.

Two shots of lidocaine, two staples and a ton of neosporin later, we returned home thankful that Matthew was cleared for camp. I assume that this is the first of many to come when you have a house full of boys.

ONLY NICHOLAS AND HIS FRIENDS

2008-09-29T07:59:00.000-07:00

Okay..........well this story starts back some time ago when Matthew played his first season of baseball. Well as most of you parents know, when you have a son and he plays any type of semi-contact sport, he typically wears a cup. Most boys love the day that they get to wear their cup for the first time. They knock on it...tap it with the bat....shift it around until it is in the right spot and so on.....Well on Matthews debut of the wearing the cup...Nicholas wasn't sure what it was and playing the perfect role of the annoying little brother, he runs around the house pointing at himself while shaking his hips back and forth yelling, "WEINER THINGY....WEINER THINGY....Matthew is wearing a WEINER THINGY......"!!!! Adam and I could barely contain ourselves. We were hysterically laughing. The thing that we have found with boys is that there is always something to poke fun at when it comes to stuff like this.

Fast forward a few years.....to just last weekend. We went over to our friends the Nate's to have some dinner and play this awesome game from Germany called LeGretto?!(something like that)....anyway.....as the adults are playing the game and the kids are thrashing around in the house....in just their underwear(Michael, 8, Preston, 6 and Nicholas, 8) Mind you Nicholas is always running around in his underwear. For some odd reason that we can not figure out, he likes to just hang out in his underwear. Needless to say on this occasion he had arrived at their house wearing his baseball uniform and as Nick would put it, "His Weiner Thingy" as well. Well as Nicholas is strutting his stuff around, Michael came up with a new name for the Weiner Thingy.......He called it a NUT BAG!!!!! Have you ever heard of a funnier name. I thought that Gina (Michael's Mom) and I were going to wet our pants we were laughing soo hard. I find that as a Mother of two boys and being surrounded by all of their friends that I have to be ready for what they throw my way. I am sure that there will be many more funny stories along the way. Thanks for the laughs Nicholas!!!

NEW YORK YANKEES GAME

2008-09-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege to take Matthew to his

FIRST EVER NEW YORK YANKEES GAME!!

We purchased 4 tickets to go as a family, but with Nick away on his trip and Adam out of town, Matthew and I had the ball park to ourselves! We both sported our YANKEE apparel and bought some well needed souvenirs from the club house.

We attempted to get autographs down by their dugout....but since it was 100+degrees outside......they didn't come out until the last minute. Matthew did have the opportunity though to stump a Texas Ranger fan after he began heckling us.....He was yelling that the YANKEES stink and so forth and Matthew nicely went up to him and said, "Excuse me sir...how many World Championships have the Rangers won?" He didn't say another word:)

We resorted to taking our seats in the nose bleeds and cheered on our YANKEES! Matthew called it before the game that Derek Jeter would hit a homer and sure enough at his first at bat he did......We went crazy in the stands along with the other fans!! Matthew was grinning from ear to ear. What a fun game it was to watch.

With Cotton Candy, Mountain Dew, Garlic Fries and everything else under the sun.....we had a spectacular night. What a great memory I will share always with Matthew. I am so thankful that he still thinks that I am cool enough to go to a game with:) Time will only tell how long that will last.....I hope it is forever.

Happy 13th Anniversary!!!

2008-09-15T17:16:00.001-07:00

It was a little over 13 years ago that Adam spotted me in the hall at UVSC in Orem, UT. He should have ran but I am so thankful that he did not!! It seems like just yesterday that we were sealed in the Manti Temple. Words can not express the gratitude in my heart for Adam. He is such a wonderful husband, father, provider and friend. Throughout the last 13 years, we have made many wonderful memories. We have lived in 4 different states, bought and sold three different homes, had two wonderful children, had one "high powered bird dog" and numerous events throughout the years. He has taken me to many beautiful places and has created wonderful memories with our family.

Adam and I at dinner in St. Kitts

Our "High Powered Bird Dog" Monroe (he died a year ago in Sept.)

Some of my sisters(Adams too) in NYC with Matt Lauer (notice the front row shot:))

Sunset in Aruba

Cruisin with Jennie and Rob
The view from our lounge chairs in Barbados

Our family in Arizona at our Niece Sages' baptism

Our sweet boys when they were 6 and 3

Christmas picture in 2003

The boys and I skiing at Brighton

13 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT ADAM

1. He makes marriage easy: he always lets me vent and get all worked up over things that don't really matter but he knows it makes me feel better.

2. He is very selfless: the year Matthew was born was a tight year financially for us. He was still in school and I no longer was working. Adam used his birthday money from March to buy me a Mothers Day gift in May. He has always gone with out so that I did not.

3. He is the funniest person I know: I find such joy in hearing him laugh and listening to the stories that he tells. His laugh is infectious and his keen sense of humor brings much laughter into our home .

4. He loved me even with all of my baggage:) Need I say more!

5. He loves the Dallas Cowboys: and I do not....we have had a battle or two during the football season over the years. The best part about it is that Adam calls my dad on a weekly basis to tell him how awesome his Cowboys are and how bad the 49rs are!

6. He has an amazing family: words can not express the amount of love I have for his family. I consider myself extremely blessed to have them in my life!

7. He has moved me a few places: if it wasn't for the moves in our marriage, my children wouldn't know and love their cousins, we wouldn't have our best friends in Phoenix, Vegas and Texas and we wouldn't have learned to rely on one another the way that we have.

8. He has provided for our family to have a stay-at-home-mother: there isn't any thing in this world that I would trade for the time I have had to be a stay-at-home mother. At times I didn't think that I could make it...but it is well worth it!!

9. He is an awesome dad: Matthew and Nicholas just adore him. they wrestle every day, play catch in the backyard, jump on the tramp, yell at the TV during Cowboys games, shoot hoops and have lots of fun together.

10. He spoils me: Adam has taken me to some very beautiful places over the years. He also is known for blowing the Christmas budget to buy me something special. I always get a Sunday nap by myself and he does simple acts of kindness throughout the year.

11. He has integrity: he has lost a few things over the years because he was honest. I know that he does what is right even when no one else is watching

12. He married me for time and all eternity: I know that we will be together forever!

13. He picked me: out of all the girls at UVSC and around town...he saw and chose me!!!!

Thanks for the last 13 years, Adam!

I love you and Happy Anniversary!

First Day of School

2008-09-09T06:48:00.001-07:00

Better late than never is the motto when it comes to the Hendrix Family Blog! Yes, school did start 2 weeks ago....but since I signed back up for the PTA for something I thought was going to be a breeze and turns out it is not....my blog has suffered. Matthew started 5th grade this year at the ripe old age of 11! He is the King of the School and word on the street is that he is the love of all the teachers in the 5th grade:)Not to mention the ladies:)!!!Ahhhhh

Nicholas is in 2nd grade and is 8 years old! Notice the lovely shaggy hair? I asked Adam the Saturday before school started to get his hair cut since I was not in town and he said,"It looks fine!" Well I arrive home Sunday and he confesses that he needs a haircut but too late now...so needless to say he started with the shag but once the Law was back in town....it quickly was chopped off on Monday after school.

On Monday in the halls of the school after dropping Nicholas off in his class, I told Matthew that I was going to do the party dance once I left! He quickly reminded me that it was not just a single day party dance but a nine month party dance!!!! Thanks for the reminder, Matthew! So to all of the stay at home moms who look forward to school being back in after 3 months of vacations, sleepovers, fights, messes, hugs and kisses I dedicate this song to you...Celebration by Kool and the Gang!!!! Don't get me wrong.....I love my boys, they mean the world to me and I can't imagine my life without them. But with that being said, school is wonderful!

GREAT TO BE EIGHT

2008-08-13T09:17:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go. It seems like just yesterday that Adam and I were sitting in the hospital holding Nicholas and wondering how on earth are we going to take care of two kids. Nicholas turned eight on July 28, 2008.

Nick wanted a Army cake with a battle ground. Notice the blood
on the enemies.

Partying with his cousins

We busted out the water slide!

When he turns 28, it will be July 28, 2028. How cool is that for a birthday date!!

Nicholas brings so much joy and laughter into our home. He makes us long for the energy that he exhorts on a hourly, daily basis. He hits the ground running from sun up to sun down. One of the greatest qualities that Nick has is he is very thoughtful. While shopping at Target, he will pass certain things and comment on which of his friends or cousins would like this or that. He would buy everything in sight for them if I would let him. He is also your biggest fan! While Matthew was playing baseball he would constantly be cheering for his older brother and when Matthew wasn't pitching he would be telling me that Matthew should be in because he thinks that he is the best at everything. We can learn a lot about kindness from Nick. On the side of laughter this is something funny he said, "I can not wait to turn eight!!! I get to get baptized! I get to go to Cub Scouts and I get to learn where a baby comes from!! " We have conquered two of the three and we are not looking forward to the third. We have a feeling that this time might not go as smooth as the last!!:)

LIFE IS A BEACH !!!!

2008-08-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

We made our trek to California via American Airlines this July. We met up with the Ogdens at Paradise by the Sea in Oceanside. This is an annual trip for our families and is a favorite of our boys. We spent 6 days in California. We went to the beach every day, Lego Land on the boys birthday and to the pool and hot tub every night. We had such a great time seeing the Ogdens again. We sure do miss living by them in Las Vegas.

Making our way to the beach
Nick and Zach

Nick catching a wave Matthew riding the wave all the way in

Shovel and sand is all these boys need

Best of Friends

Me and my man!

Nick
Good times!

I am so thankful that we have the ability to make such lasting memories with our family. When I asked the boys what their favorite part of Summer has been...they both said "The Beach". It reminded me that even somethings as simple as water, sand, sun and a couple of shovels can bring lasting happiness and fond memories. See ya next year, California!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!!

2008-07-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

It is absolutely crazy to think that our baby Matthew is now 11 years old. Time seems to be flying by. Just yesterday we were holding our sweet baby in the hospital wondering how on earth we were going to raise this precious child. 11 years later, we are in awe as we witness the transformation from little boy to an amazing young man. We were in California over his birthday and he shares the same birthday as his little buddy Mason Ogden. .

Matthew and Masons Birthday Doughnuts

Kalvin is our nephew and Matthews best friend. It has become our family tradition to bring him along on one of our family vacations each year! Matthew and him have been the best of friends since birth and they don't plan on anything ever changing.

Mason and Matthew sported matching shirts on their birthdays! Mason worships the ground that Matthew walks on and Matthew just loves Mason. He is very sweet with him and makes sure that he pays special attention to his bud.

Matthew and Kalvin

Matthew is very kind and he brings a calming spirit where ever he goes. From a very young age he has always been dedicated to whatever he is involved in. Whether it be school work, sports, chores or friends, he always does his best. Not many boys wont complain as they push the push mower on the wet grass in 100 degree weather. Not Matthew. He willingly serves, strives to do his best and is an inspiration to our family to do our best.

We love him very much and can not imagine our family without him. Happy 11th Birthday Matthew!!

IS THAT SUPPOSE TO BE A SODA BOX CAR?

2008-06-23T09:54:00.001-07:00

For the last few weeks Nicholas has been asking to build a box car. I knew that I could figure out how to build one but felt like this would be a great opportunity for Adam to have some male bonding time with Nick:). This past Saturday, Adam and Nick set off on an interesting adventure that started at The Home Depot. 2 metal rods, 4 tires, a couple of bolts, a few screws and a piece of wood later, they returned to embark on what would end up being a disaster of a box car!

As most of us know it requires a bit more than a few rods of metal and some screws and bolts to make a box car. But Adam being the craftsman that he is thought that he could build one without a pattern or any previous woodworking experience.

Now most box cars have rails, a seat and definitely a steering wheel or some sort of rigged rope that allow the driver to steer the car. Needless to say, and you can tell by the pictures, Nicholas' box card had none of the above! His feet were his brakes if he need to suddenly stop. He was to drop them in between the first and second piece of wood and hope that he didn't break a ankle in the process.

A steering wheel would have come in handy to assist in guiding this one of a kind box car down the driveway. The car automatically veers to the left due to the fact that the front wheels are a slight bit wider than the back wheels. Measuring would have helped fix that, but that would have taken too much time:) Two of the neighborhood kids were over and advised Adam that their dad could soo make a better car than he did! What could Adam say to their honest comments. They were 100% right. He laughed about it and their Dad offered to help build Nick a actual box car.

What I love most about Nicholas is that even thought this box car didn't turn out like he dreamed it would(his exact words) he is proud of it regardless. He still thinks that it is awesome even though everyone who passes by probably wonders, "What on earth is that suppose to be?" As my brother put it so well, "He would be better off in a red wagon!" LOL. Hats off to Adam and for his attempt at his first, but definitely not his last, box car.

District All-Stars

2008-06-08T19:37:00.001-07:00

Matthew recently had the opportunity to try out for the All-Star team for his league. There are two teams that are formed once the season comes to an end. There is the district team and the city team. The difference in the teams is that the city team stays at home while the district league travels to others cities trying to qualify for the Little League World Series. It is apparently a pretty big deal here in Texas(Pretty much all sports are a "BIG" deal in Texas) to make the All-Star team. Matthew did his best at the try-outs and then stressed the following days as to whether or not he made the team. His coach told me the following Monday that he was chosen for the District Team but didn't want to announce anything yet because he was the only player from his team to make it. We are awaiting our final game tomorrow and if we win we will clinch first place and our coach will be the all-star coach. He will then be able to take 3 players from our team along with Matthew to the district tournament. This especially means a lot to Matthew because he has had to prove himself over and over with new teams and coaches and his hard work and dedication has paid off! We are so proud of him! Way to go Son!!

Upper Expander$$ Lower Expander$$$Revese Headgear$$$$...

2008-06-08T19:08:00.000-07:00

We recently embarked on an adventure to the Orthodontist. I have known for quite some time that this day would come. I knew that our sweet little Nick had a small mouth(by what comes out of it....who would of known!!:) but didn't realize how messed up it really is. Needless to say, there isn't any room for his permanent teeth to come in. These cool pictures can give you a glimpse at what the next 16 months of orthodontics will consist of for Nick.

The above picture allows you to see the crowding of the teeth and the lack of space for his eye teeth to come in. This poor kid has a double cross bite and an under bite. He will have an expander placed in the upper and lower sections of his mouth and he will be wearing headgear at night and while at home to pull his upper jaw forward to correct his under bite. You can imagine how fun that is gonna be for me trying to get him to wear it to bed. The conversation I had with Adam went a little like this, (Aimee) "Nick's mouth is messed up...he has to have an expander on the top and the bottom and he has to wear head gear!..giggle...(Adam)Does he have to wear it to school?" (Aimee) Oh no way!(you think I would allow that to happen?) "Only at night and while at home"(Adam) How much is it going to cost?" (Aimee) $$$$$$$$!!:)

The nice thing about the orthodontics is that Nick has a major sweet tooth so he no longer will be found at any given moment raiding the pantry eating sticky candy. His body is going to go through withdrawals for the first couple of days but our dental bill should improve. Lucky for us Matthews teeth look good so we can hold off on him for the meantime

11022 Yorkshire Lane

2008-05-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

The front of our home

Swing driveway for basketball and skateboarding!

Kitchen from the family room

Family room from kitchen

Spiral staircase! Can't wait till Christmas

Yeah!!! We are finally settling into our new home in Frisco, Texas. After months of waiting for our home in Vegas to sell, it did and we bought an inventory home here in Texas. We signed the docs and were in three weeks later. Talk about a quick move. We love the fact that our boys can finally start planting their roots and making new friends in the neighborhood and at school. They have been real troopers with regards to this relocation. We've had our ups and downs but for the most part we have survived. The school that they attend is Pink Elementary and is within walking distance from our home. The Middle school is directly adjacent and the High School is just around the corner. Not to mention that a new church building should be ready by the new school year:)

I posted some pictures of our home due to the fact that my dear friends and family keep hounding me about it. So here is to all the castle and palace remarks!!:) You know who you are!

My Dad

2008-04-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

I recently had the awesome opportunity to spend 6 days with my Dad here in Texas. He had been wanting to come and see the boys and watch some sporting events but more importantly wanted to spend some well needed quality time with me. For those that do not know, my dad was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer a little over 2 years ago and was given 6 months to a year survival rate. He being the strong individual that he is has exceeded their expectancy and continues to fight the fight as he battles this illness. He has truly been an inspiration to me as he has faced this illness head on and has truly kept his spirits high. I can't even begin to imagine what the struggle and battle must be like for him as he faces this challenge.

Before my dad arrived I had joked with him about doing some of the things that we used to do when I was a teenager....a.k.a.....shopping and spending his money, but upon his arrival the only thing that I wanted from my dad was his time. I felt the need to just be in his presence, to talk with him, seek his guidance and advice on things of the present and of the future. We spent countless hours laughing looking back on the absolutely crazy and fascinating life that he has lived. I was so thankfull for his willingness to come and share those events of his life with me. Many people live their lives with out really living. My dad has definately lived a truly memorable life.

While driving one morning we happend to pass a doughnut shop on the corner(I have never seen so many doughnut shops in my entire life than here in Texas) and my dad mentioned how much he loved doughnuts. I never knew that he loved them, I had no idea. So we started discussing which types of doughnuts were his favorite, best doughnut shops and Krispy Kreme was mentioned. Now realize that he hasn't had a doughnut in over 2 years because he isn't suppose to eat sugar. So we didn't find the blue bonnetts nor the Texas longhorn that we had set out to see, but we did discover the local Krispy Kreme Doughnut Shop. I made dad swear to not tell my mom Connie that I had taken him there. Two jelly filled, one original and one chocolate glazed doughnut later we are in tears. We were laughing hysterically. There was the selfish part of me that just wanted to be the one to indulge with my dad as he enjoyed something that was so simple yet so memorable for the two of us. It will be a memory that I will always hold dear to my heart. So I dedicate this entry to him as I reflect on the things that he has taught me.

TEN THINGS I HAVE LEARNED FROM FATHER

He is proud of me

My greatest strength, in his eyes, is my heart

To truly live a life worth living

The direct telephone number to The White House

We talk too much when disciplining our children

The importance of laughter

To see things for what they truly are and not what they seem to be

To have conviction for the things that have meaning in my life

To not be afraid of failure

When all is said and done that the most important things in life are your relationship with God and your family

Best Day of the Boys Lives

2008-04-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

Back over Thanksgiving of 2007 my parents came to visit and to spend the holiday with our family. Prior to their arrival, my Dad mentioned that he wanted to take the boys and Adam to the Thanksgiving Day game at Texas stadium. Thanks to Ebay and a gracious :) season ticket holder, Dad was able to purchase 4 tickets on the 40 yard line, 23 rows up, on the Cowboys side line. Matthew and Nicholas had no idea that this was even in the realm of possibility because tickets are not easy to come by here in Dallas. Needless to say Grandpa surprised them, they nearly passed out with joy and they could barely sleep that night. Now being the mother that I am...I made sure that my boys were decked out for their National Debut on the Jumbo Tron at Texas Stadium. They apparently were like royalty. Random people took their picture with them, they were high-fived everywhere and they made their way on to the Jumbo Tron. It will be a memory they will always cherish having spent that time with their Grandpa and Dad

I HAVE GIVEN INTO THE PRESSURE

2008-04-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

After weeks and weeks of friends and family asking me start a blog I have finally decided to give in and hop on the "blog wagon". I have never been good about sending out updated pictures of my kids and keeping in contact with my distant friends, so I am hoping that this will perhaps help in my lack of being a good long-distance friend and family member! I'm still not sure what quite to do so I am gonna throw up some photos and videos and go from there....wish me luck!