I made him clean it up!!!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
What happens when...
I just found some photos on my computer I forgot about. These sequence of photos must have been taken on a day where I was MIA or just chasing the other three around. So without further delay, THIS is what happens when Cuatro (who was almost 4) gets a hold of toilet paper:
Memory Lane
Just wanted to post some old photos that Joe just loaded on my computer:
Laura at Rodeo Day in Kindergarten:
Audrey and Laura demonstrating "safety first"-2011
Audrey around Easter 2011
Cuatro's "mad" face 2011
At a junk yard in South Texas-2011
Grace at Rodeo Day-Kinder year
Sunday, January 6, 2013
2012-Year in review
I have done this recap for a few years now and while I am recording it for memories, it is nice to reflect on what has happened and how we have been guided by our always faithful Heavenly father:
This year will definitely go down in Tidwell history as the biggest change came in the form of moving several states away, but more on that later:
January: Started as it always does with four of our birthdays in 7 days. This year the girls birthday was at Magik Theater with lunch at Willie's for them and their little posse of friends. I surprised Joe for his 35th birthday and invited some of his good friends and their wives to listen to one of his favorite singers and have dinner. It was a fun night but I had to ruin the surprise to get him there:)
I also gave up my position as co-chair of the women's ministry at church after almost five years. It was a hard decision but my family needed me more.
February: Audrey turned 2 this month and we had a little family celebration with just my parents and Joe's aunts and uncle. She loved all the presents AND attention! We also took her and her cousin Grayson to the zoo the following week to celebrate with my mom, Aunt Alyssa, and Aunt Whitney. The kids also attended their first gospel brunch at a dance hall down the road. Some of the men and women from our praise band at church put it on and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
March: Joe was accepted to The University of Maryland as a PhD candidate in cognitive neuroscience. So we had a big decision to make but life doesn't stop for that so in addition to that big news, the girls had Dr. Seuss day at school and world thinking day for the girl scouts all in one weekend. We also said goodbye to their old kindergarten teacher and friend, Ms. Palomo who was going to take her talents to a company in San Antonio. Audrey also started at our church's preschool this month and couldn't have been more excited. For the kids spring break, Joe and I headed to Maryland while the kids stayed in Houston with our dear friends the Totton'. Joe went to interviews and meetings at the University while I drove around to look for houses and meet with realtor's. We didn't find a house but made our decision about moving AND.... to Maryland we were going!! We came home tired but hit the ground running with field trips, meetings, and birthday parties. At the end of the month, Joe and I drove to Austin to have lunch with our good friends the Shea's who we had not seen in over six years. It was so fun to catch up and since I was already therem I spent the night away in Austin at Sarah Hick's to help with and attend my first CAbi party. I loved the clothes but I loved getting to hang out with my good friend even more!
April: Joe, me, and the two youngest kids headed down to Carrizo Springs, TX on Palm Sunday to attend the dedication of the new church sign in honor of Joe's aunt Lucile. This trip was a hard one for the kids(due to staying at a house that was not kid-friendly that weekend and Audrey falling in the pool) and we ended up leaving early. We had our annual cousin Easter party at Whitney's house where we decorated eggs, ate lunch, and had a good old Easter egg hunt. In the middle of the month we had a special guest, Grayson, stay with us for 3 nights while his mom and dad went on a tenth anniversary cruise. I had forgotten how tiring but fun twins can be (Audrey and Grayson are only 5 days apart). We ended that week with Joe and I hosting a "Wing and Pie" night at our house where he and his friend, Bryce, fried up wings for everyone. I made lots of appetizers and all the guests brought their favorite pies. This would be an annual thing if we lived in Texas:( I ended this month being one of the leader's for our church's high school girls retreat. I was unsure of myself in this situation but God blessed the weekend and it was one I will remember for a long time. (It also helped me see what I will be dealing with in about 6 years!) The girls were amazing and I realized that while alot has not changed since I was in high school, alot of the things these sweet girls have to deal with are so much more intense. I pray for them all everyday.
May: We went to our friends annual crawfish boil where we always have alot of fun. I also learned that my job as room mom for both Laura and Grace's class required decorating doors for three hours and taking and coordinating gifts everyday for one week. You also throw in a mother's day tea at Cuatro's preschool, constantly showing our house, hosting a graduation luncheon for my niece, and attending two graduation parties in the same day and I was officially exhausted by the second week in May! Cuatro and Audrey ended their preschool year by going on a field trip to Kiddie Park and singing in the end of the year festivities.
June: The girls had their last day of school on June 1st and me and my good friend who is the other room mom for both classes handled the food and festivities for their class. I also hosted a CAbi party at my house that night with all my good friends. The next week, the girls went to Dance Camp with their friends and enjoyed it (except for the Justin Beiber theme--Grace cannot stand him and I don't blame her). I was able to sneak away downtown with my two good college friends and stay at a luxurious hotel and catch up before I moved far far away:(. I loved this weekend for so many reasons but the rooftop swimming pool was the highlight for me! I came home and immediately headed to the girls last Daisy meeting and bar-b-que. The kids swam and played and we got to know the families a little better that we had been involved with all year. The next day we started VBS where I was in charge of the 1st and 2nd grade this year. My good friend Leah agreed to help me all week and with the help of good high schoolers and candy bribes, we all survived the week of the "Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and hopefully made an impact in these little lives. We ended the month with Joe going to a wedding without me in Fort Worth (I was traveled out and needed at home) and Michael Ann coming to help me pack the house. We made quite a dent and as always had lots of fun. I also hosted a going away party for the girls at a water park in Bandera. We had a blast but got so sunburned. The last weekend in June took us to Mustang Island Family Camp with all our "people". We all look forward to this every year and the kids start talking about next year on the way home every time. This year did not disappoint and Audrey does a little better each year.
July: This month was sad for us as it marked our final days in Texas. I was able to spend a whole day with my grandmother and sisters so I could just be with her uninterrupted by children. We went through pictures and laughed and ate and laughed some more. We also had our family pictures taken in the town we have lived in for the past six years. This is the town we dated and fell in love in and we had our pictures taken in front of the church we were married in and where each of our children were baptized. So these pictures mean alot and so does this hometown and all the people in it who are apart of us and our history. We celebrated our July 4th at the Calders like we always do along with many good friends and saw two different firework shows from their house on a hill. On the 7th several of our friends threw Joe and I a going away party. I laughed and cried all night which are two emotions I don't mind sharing with the other. My family had a going away party for us one week later where we ate good food and had some good friends from our high school days over too. We are so unbelievably blessed with good friends and family who would drop anything to be there for us and often have. We love them and miss these faces so much. The rest of July was a blur of packing and getting the house ready to be rented and last-minute lunches with friends. Joe and our good friend Todd left on the 19th and due to lots of bad circumstances and losing and finding another house in two days, the kids, my mom, Alyssa and me flew up over a week later. We unpacked quickly as Alyssa had to leave in less than a week and my mom three days after that. We got all but one box put up by the time they left which is quite an accomplishment!!
August: This was a hard month as we adjusted with alot of research for preschools and going to orientation meetings for the girls school and just finding our way around. Cuatro and I were able to go to a minor league baseball game with our friend Carrie and her son Alex. The boys had a great time eating baseball food and watching a few innings before we called it quits My friend Michael Ann came up again to help me get adjusted and just give moral support. With her help, I was able to get the kids signed up for soccer and get their uniforms before the season started. Joe and I celebrated our 12 year anniversary this month in a low-key way as we had not found a babysitter yet. We ended the month with school starting for everyone and a certain boy of ours turning five. We celebrated Cuatro's birthday with a bowling party with two families we already knew from the Marine Corps (they thankfully have boys who are all the same ages as our only boy!).
September: September was full of twice a week soccer practices (one for the girls and one for Cuatro) and soccer games. BSF started this month as well and it has once again been such a great expreience to be in God's Word each week with so many women. I was nervous about not knowing ANYONE but God put me with such a wonderful leader and in a good discussion group where I am encouraged every week.
October: The girls joined a Brownie troop at their school after trying to get in one since we moved. They love it and I love how laid back they are. This was a great way to make friends within the school and meet other moms. Cuatro's preschool also visited the firehouse and a local pumpkin patch complete with a hayride to go pick our own pumpkins. My mom and dad came and stayed for 8 days!! What a treat this was for all of us. They were able to explore all the major cities around us while we were at school or BSF and on the weekend we all went in to DC to walk the memorials and see the white house! We walked alot and the kids were so tired but it was worth it. I am so glad they were able to come to the kids soccer games and just spend time together. I also was able to take the three oldest to Disney on Ice while my parents watched Audrey. My friend Carrie and her son Alex came with us and we had so much fun.
November: The kids had their last soccer games for the season at the beginning of the month and Joe and I were so happy to get our Saturdays back! On the 12th, I tried to get to an open house at the girls school at 9am but my babysitter for Audrey did not show up (there is a no sibling policy at their school). I was so upset but my neighbor helped and I was able to go to the last thirty minutes . I felt horrible as all the other parents had been there the whole time but I should have been leery as this day was about to get alot worse. I picked up Cuatro as usual from school and we played outside for awhile that day and then I went upstairs with Audrey to get something before we walked to the bustop to get the girls. Audrey managed to tear down a curtain while my back was turned so I got on the back of the elliptical machine to put it back up on the rod and lost my balance. I twisted my ankle underneath me and lay there screaming in agony. I didn't know if it was broken but knew I could not move it or walk. I felt like I was going to faint and felt panicked because the girls bus would be a the the stop any minute and I wouldn't be there! Cuatro heard me screaming and ran up to see what he could do. He got my phone and grabbed the boo-boo bunny from the freezer without me asking. I called my neighbor and she came right over and got her mom to pick her kids and my girls up and take them to her house along with Cuatro and Audrey. She drove me to urgent care while we called Joe and by the time he could get home I was on my way home. It was not broken according to the ortho specialist we saw two days later but the ligaments were stretched. I was put in a boot and given crutches for two weeks and now have a brace. It is getting better but it didn't make for a great time trying to take care of four kids. Thankfully we had hired a babysitter a month before and she was so good at coming over and cleaning, taking care of the the kids, making their school lunches, and taking care of me. Thanksgiving was good despite my ankle and we spent it at the Murphy's house with their family and our friends Carrie and Alex. Our friends the Young's came that weekend to spend the night and just hang out. My sisters came at the end of the month for 5 days and I could not have been more excited.
December: My sisters and I explored DC and Annapolis and put up my Christmas tree and decorations. I enjoyed having them all to myself and we had so much fun just drinking coffee and encouraging one another. Joe and I attended our neighborhood's Christmas progressive dinner which was a good way to get to know many of our neighbors better. This was also the night that Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy so I might have made a fool of myself trying to get to Joe to tell him but what a night for the Aggies! I was able to take the girls to the Nutcrackers with their Brownie troop and since we were early to the show they allowed us to walk backstage and meet the characters!! This was the same day that the tragedy took place in Connecticut so I spent the night just enjoying being with my seven year olds and praying for those families who were mourning the loss of their six and seven year olds. They haven't been far from my thoughts or prayers this holiday season. We headed to Texas on the 20th and after a LONG plane ride we were greeted by our family and friends for a fun nine days in Texas. We were so happy to be home and see all the familiar sweet faces we so love. We celebrated the birth of our Savior with the people we love most and that was so incredibly special. So that is our year. We are back in Maryland and back in school and getting into our old routine. I pray this year brings deeper friendships here and a deeper relationship with our new church family. I also pray this year brings a deeper understanding of Christ to my kids as we continue to teach them WHO and what matters most.
This year will definitely go down in Tidwell history as the biggest change came in the form of moving several states away, but more on that later:
January: Started as it always does with four of our birthdays in 7 days. This year the girls birthday was at Magik Theater with lunch at Willie's for them and their little posse of friends. I surprised Joe for his 35th birthday and invited some of his good friends and their wives to listen to one of his favorite singers and have dinner. It was a fun night but I had to ruin the surprise to get him there:)
I also gave up my position as co-chair of the women's ministry at church after almost five years. It was a hard decision but my family needed me more.
February: Audrey turned 2 this month and we had a little family celebration with just my parents and Joe's aunts and uncle. She loved all the presents AND attention! We also took her and her cousin Grayson to the zoo the following week to celebrate with my mom, Aunt Alyssa, and Aunt Whitney. The kids also attended their first gospel brunch at a dance hall down the road. Some of the men and women from our praise band at church put it on and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
March: Joe was accepted to The University of Maryland as a PhD candidate in cognitive neuroscience. So we had a big decision to make but life doesn't stop for that so in addition to that big news, the girls had Dr. Seuss day at school and world thinking day for the girl scouts all in one weekend. We also said goodbye to their old kindergarten teacher and friend, Ms. Palomo who was going to take her talents to a company in San Antonio. Audrey also started at our church's preschool this month and couldn't have been more excited. For the kids spring break, Joe and I headed to Maryland while the kids stayed in Houston with our dear friends the Totton'. Joe went to interviews and meetings at the University while I drove around to look for houses and meet with realtor's. We didn't find a house but made our decision about moving AND.... to Maryland we were going!! We came home tired but hit the ground running with field trips, meetings, and birthday parties. At the end of the month, Joe and I drove to Austin to have lunch with our good friends the Shea's who we had not seen in over six years. It was so fun to catch up and since I was already therem I spent the night away in Austin at Sarah Hick's to help with and attend my first CAbi party. I loved the clothes but I loved getting to hang out with my good friend even more!
April: Joe, me, and the two youngest kids headed down to Carrizo Springs, TX on Palm Sunday to attend the dedication of the new church sign in honor of Joe's aunt Lucile. This trip was a hard one for the kids(due to staying at a house that was not kid-friendly that weekend and Audrey falling in the pool) and we ended up leaving early. We had our annual cousin Easter party at Whitney's house where we decorated eggs, ate lunch, and had a good old Easter egg hunt. In the middle of the month we had a special guest, Grayson, stay with us for 3 nights while his mom and dad went on a tenth anniversary cruise. I had forgotten how tiring but fun twins can be (Audrey and Grayson are only 5 days apart). We ended that week with Joe and I hosting a "Wing and Pie" night at our house where he and his friend, Bryce, fried up wings for everyone. I made lots of appetizers and all the guests brought their favorite pies. This would be an annual thing if we lived in Texas:( I ended this month being one of the leader's for our church's high school girls retreat. I was unsure of myself in this situation but God blessed the weekend and it was one I will remember for a long time. (It also helped me see what I will be dealing with in about 6 years!) The girls were amazing and I realized that while alot has not changed since I was in high school, alot of the things these sweet girls have to deal with are so much more intense. I pray for them all everyday.
May: We went to our friends annual crawfish boil where we always have alot of fun. I also learned that my job as room mom for both Laura and Grace's class required decorating doors for three hours and taking and coordinating gifts everyday for one week. You also throw in a mother's day tea at Cuatro's preschool, constantly showing our house, hosting a graduation luncheon for my niece, and attending two graduation parties in the same day and I was officially exhausted by the second week in May! Cuatro and Audrey ended their preschool year by going on a field trip to Kiddie Park and singing in the end of the year festivities.
June: The girls had their last day of school on June 1st and me and my good friend who is the other room mom for both classes handled the food and festivities for their class. I also hosted a CAbi party at my house that night with all my good friends. The next week, the girls went to Dance Camp with their friends and enjoyed it (except for the Justin Beiber theme--Grace cannot stand him and I don't blame her). I was able to sneak away downtown with my two good college friends and stay at a luxurious hotel and catch up before I moved far far away:(. I loved this weekend for so many reasons but the rooftop swimming pool was the highlight for me! I came home and immediately headed to the girls last Daisy meeting and bar-b-que. The kids swam and played and we got to know the families a little better that we had been involved with all year. The next day we started VBS where I was in charge of the 1st and 2nd grade this year. My good friend Leah agreed to help me all week and with the help of good high schoolers and candy bribes, we all survived the week of the "Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and hopefully made an impact in these little lives. We ended the month with Joe going to a wedding without me in Fort Worth (I was traveled out and needed at home) and Michael Ann coming to help me pack the house. We made quite a dent and as always had lots of fun. I also hosted a going away party for the girls at a water park in Bandera. We had a blast but got so sunburned. The last weekend in June took us to Mustang Island Family Camp with all our "people". We all look forward to this every year and the kids start talking about next year on the way home every time. This year did not disappoint and Audrey does a little better each year.
July: This month was sad for us as it marked our final days in Texas. I was able to spend a whole day with my grandmother and sisters so I could just be with her uninterrupted by children. We went through pictures and laughed and ate and laughed some more. We also had our family pictures taken in the town we have lived in for the past six years. This is the town we dated and fell in love in and we had our pictures taken in front of the church we were married in and where each of our children were baptized. So these pictures mean alot and so does this hometown and all the people in it who are apart of us and our history. We celebrated our July 4th at the Calders like we always do along with many good friends and saw two different firework shows from their house on a hill. On the 7th several of our friends threw Joe and I a going away party. I laughed and cried all night which are two emotions I don't mind sharing with the other. My family had a going away party for us one week later where we ate good food and had some good friends from our high school days over too. We are so unbelievably blessed with good friends and family who would drop anything to be there for us and often have. We love them and miss these faces so much. The rest of July was a blur of packing and getting the house ready to be rented and last-minute lunches with friends. Joe and our good friend Todd left on the 19th and due to lots of bad circumstances and losing and finding another house in two days, the kids, my mom, Alyssa and me flew up over a week later. We unpacked quickly as Alyssa had to leave in less than a week and my mom three days after that. We got all but one box put up by the time they left which is quite an accomplishment!!
August: This was a hard month as we adjusted with alot of research for preschools and going to orientation meetings for the girls school and just finding our way around. Cuatro and I were able to go to a minor league baseball game with our friend Carrie and her son Alex. The boys had a great time eating baseball food and watching a few innings before we called it quits My friend Michael Ann came up again to help me get adjusted and just give moral support. With her help, I was able to get the kids signed up for soccer and get their uniforms before the season started. Joe and I celebrated our 12 year anniversary this month in a low-key way as we had not found a babysitter yet. We ended the month with school starting for everyone and a certain boy of ours turning five. We celebrated Cuatro's birthday with a bowling party with two families we already knew from the Marine Corps (they thankfully have boys who are all the same ages as our only boy!).
September: September was full of twice a week soccer practices (one for the girls and one for Cuatro) and soccer games. BSF started this month as well and it has once again been such a great expreience to be in God's Word each week with so many women. I was nervous about not knowing ANYONE but God put me with such a wonderful leader and in a good discussion group where I am encouraged every week.
October: The girls joined a Brownie troop at their school after trying to get in one since we moved. They love it and I love how laid back they are. This was a great way to make friends within the school and meet other moms. Cuatro's preschool also visited the firehouse and a local pumpkin patch complete with a hayride to go pick our own pumpkins. My mom and dad came and stayed for 8 days!! What a treat this was for all of us. They were able to explore all the major cities around us while we were at school or BSF and on the weekend we all went in to DC to walk the memorials and see the white house! We walked alot and the kids were so tired but it was worth it. I am so glad they were able to come to the kids soccer games and just spend time together. I also was able to take the three oldest to Disney on Ice while my parents watched Audrey. My friend Carrie and her son Alex came with us and we had so much fun.
November: The kids had their last soccer games for the season at the beginning of the month and Joe and I were so happy to get our Saturdays back! On the 12th, I tried to get to an open house at the girls school at 9am but my babysitter for Audrey did not show up (there is a no sibling policy at their school). I was so upset but my neighbor helped and I was able to go to the last thirty minutes . I felt horrible as all the other parents had been there the whole time but I should have been leery as this day was about to get alot worse. I picked up Cuatro as usual from school and we played outside for awhile that day and then I went upstairs with Audrey to get something before we walked to the bustop to get the girls. Audrey managed to tear down a curtain while my back was turned so I got on the back of the elliptical machine to put it back up on the rod and lost my balance. I twisted my ankle underneath me and lay there screaming in agony. I didn't know if it was broken but knew I could not move it or walk. I felt like I was going to faint and felt panicked because the girls bus would be a the the stop any minute and I wouldn't be there! Cuatro heard me screaming and ran up to see what he could do. He got my phone and grabbed the boo-boo bunny from the freezer without me asking. I called my neighbor and she came right over and got her mom to pick her kids and my girls up and take them to her house along with Cuatro and Audrey. She drove me to urgent care while we called Joe and by the time he could get home I was on my way home. It was not broken according to the ortho specialist we saw two days later but the ligaments were stretched. I was put in a boot and given crutches for two weeks and now have a brace. It is getting better but it didn't make for a great time trying to take care of four kids. Thankfully we had hired a babysitter a month before and she was so good at coming over and cleaning, taking care of the the kids, making their school lunches, and taking care of me. Thanksgiving was good despite my ankle and we spent it at the Murphy's house with their family and our friends Carrie and Alex. Our friends the Young's came that weekend to spend the night and just hang out. My sisters came at the end of the month for 5 days and I could not have been more excited.
December: My sisters and I explored DC and Annapolis and put up my Christmas tree and decorations. I enjoyed having them all to myself and we had so much fun just drinking coffee and encouraging one another. Joe and I attended our neighborhood's Christmas progressive dinner which was a good way to get to know many of our neighbors better. This was also the night that Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy so I might have made a fool of myself trying to get to Joe to tell him but what a night for the Aggies! I was able to take the girls to the Nutcrackers with their Brownie troop and since we were early to the show they allowed us to walk backstage and meet the characters!! This was the same day that the tragedy took place in Connecticut so I spent the night just enjoying being with my seven year olds and praying for those families who were mourning the loss of their six and seven year olds. They haven't been far from my thoughts or prayers this holiday season. We headed to Texas on the 20th and after a LONG plane ride we were greeted by our family and friends for a fun nine days in Texas. We were so happy to be home and see all the familiar sweet faces we so love. We celebrated the birth of our Savior with the people we love most and that was so incredibly special. So that is our year. We are back in Maryland and back in school and getting into our old routine. I pray this year brings deeper friendships here and a deeper relationship with our new church family. I also pray this year brings a deeper understanding of Christ to my kids as we continue to teach them WHO and what matters most.
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