Tuesday Night Lights

JT has officially started playing football at the middle school. He is #62 in the photos.

He is the one that you can't really see his number - black socks, white shoes.

Yep, that's him tackling, which I guess is better than being tackled.

Again, he is in there tackling.

My preferred position - him just standing there.

And he is the guy in the middle.

He is loving his first adventure with football. I love watching him but really hope baseball season starts soon. 

Sugar

This summer we opted to take a few smaller trips rather than one large trip. The first was at the end of the school year to Great Wolf Lodge and the second was a special invite from Lee and Rebecca to a sugar plantation.

Originally this trip was going to be just me and kids so Rick could stay home and get a few things done and enjoy some quiet but the accident threw us a curve ball and I felt more comfortable having Rick drive and a road trip is always a bit more fun with him. The other added excitement was that we got to take the rental car that had DVD player although we quickly realized that while the Chevy Traverse is fun to ride around town, it is not a road trip car for a family of six.

I don't even know where to start with describing this trip. I should probably start with mentioning how thankful it is to have two natives show us Louisiana. I am not sure the boys (and the girls) would loved red beans and rice, BBQ shrimp, or a host of other treats if it wasn't for Lee and Rebecca. And as I have stated numerous times here and other places, Lee and Rebecca may be the best hosts ever. Along with that the plantation was just beautiful and such a fascinating place.

So let me start with a quick bit about where we were, which was lovely Patoutville, Louisiana; home to Enterprise Plantation.

Deeply rooted in Louisiana history, M .A. Patout & Son, LTD, LLC is the oldest complete family owned and operated manufacturer of raw sugar in the United States.  The company is composed of Enterprise Plantation along with three subsidiaries: Sterling Sugars, LLC, Raceland Raw Sugars, LLC and Patout Equipment Company, LLC.

Enterprise Plantation, founded in 1825 by Simeon and Appoline Patout, is the original M. A. Patout & Son sugar plantation located in Patoutville, Lousiana. Sterling Sugars and Raceland Raw Sugars were acquired by M. A. Patout & Son in 1994 and 1996. The combined capacity of the three mills is 4,600,000 tons of cane annually.

Rebecca's dad is a descendant of the Patout family and shares in the ownership of the plantation. This family legacy includes the ability to stay at the original caretakers house on the plantation property.

Working clockwise from the top right corner is the house we stayed in, which  was beautiful and so large that there was an entire section that we didn't even hang out in. The brick building below at one time was a wine cellar as the family had originally intended to grow grapes and start a winery. The bottom photo is the mill, the original workers quarters complete with mud walls, the big house, the planters are actually huge cast iron bowls that were used in the mill, and then a row of cedar trees.

We had such a relaxing weekend just being lazy, swimming, eating, drinking and laughing.

What is a trip to Louisiana without Rebecca doing something incredibly fun with the kids like tossing marshmallows in to their mouths from upstairs. She even joined in.

The Lucas clan loves us some Louisiana and time with Lee and Rebecca. We are looking forward to our next adventure with them.

5 and 7

Yesterday kicked off the first day of school. JT started 7th grade and Zach is in 5th. The girls won't start for another two weeks.

Children of the Cane

Finally, after lying to you on my last post, I am working on updating my photos from the summer. Here is another teaser from our trip to Louisiana; this is the girls in the sugar cane.

Sugar

I am working on editing my photos from our quick trip to the sugar plantation. In the meantime, here is a rare Meghan shot. That is KitKat with me and Lulu in the background heading in to the citrus grove.

10 Already?

I like to torture the kids on their birthday by sharing their birth stories with them. Today in great detail I recounted how I spent the evening before Zachs birth with Michelle at a high-end auction, watching people bid large sums on ornate furniture, and talking to the couple next to us who shared their picnic of wine and cheese. I carelessly sipped the sparkling wine and ate soft cheese despite knowing they are all on the banned items list for pregnant women.
My labor with Zach was the toughest of the three but even then it really wasn't that bad. He was demanding the first few days at the hospital but since then he has been the most easy going guy. He is always ready to offer a hug, comfort someone when they are sad, or provide a witty remark. He is happy to spend hours pouring over atlases, encyclopedias on airplanes or cars, and memorizing random facts.
I know he is my kid but he is really fun to hang out with. I am looking forward to continuing to watch him grow and develop in to an even better kid than he already is.

Thank You Ford Motor Company

In September of 2002 I was 8 months pregnant with JT and with hormones in full force I remember telling Rick that we should really go look at a new car. At the time we had my trusty Oldsmobile from graduate school that Rick took to work and a Ford Explorer that I drove. We had recently been told by a mechanic that the Explorer was probably on it's last leg.

Rick and I made the journey to Covert Ford out in Hutto, Texas, which at the time it felt like we were driving out to a corn field in the middle of nowhere. 

We walked through the car lot (although I probably waddled) and looked at the used Explorers. Rick and I both despise car shopping so I am certain neither of us were in a great mood as the salesman followed us along chatting. I recall sitting in an Explorer that we thought was the one until the salesman asked if I wanted to sit in an Expedition. I climbed in the big silver beast and fell in love. I went back and sat in the Explorer again just to be sure but I knew that Expedition was mine. Sitting in it made me feel safe. We drove it home later that day.

This past Friday in preparation for the kids and I taking a mini-road trip to Louisiana we headed out in the trusted Expedition to run errands. There are multiple ways to get us to where we were going but out of habit I took my normal route that I drive to work. We sat at a light waiting for the green arrow to turn left. I don't even recall what we were talking about or what was on the radio. I remember looking at the guy to my left who was in work clothes and talking on the phone and thinking he was probably from Dell and taking a conference call. I looked up, the light was green, I looked back over at the guy next to me, and then I looked forward to where I was turning. I never looked straight ahead. If I had, I would have saw that there was a truck coming our way that was not stopping. All I heard was a horn honking before there was impact, the Expedition being pushed, and the air bags deploying. The boys and I described it later as what we imagine it feels like to get hit by a train (although a train is probably worse). JT was screaming, Zach and the girls were in shock. The powder from the airbags looked like smoke and I just kept telling JT to calm down for everyone to get out of the truck now. I wanted to scream and cry like the kids but knew I couldn't breakdown in front of them. I herded everyone to the median, counted the kids, checked everyone, and then held them each. 

A sweet couple who saw the accident jumped out to check on us. As well as every employee at the Mr. Clean Car Wash that is there on the corner. Lulu was attached to my leg, Kit Kat was just sitting quietly on the ground next to Zach who was crying, and JT was pacing and crying. While I was trying to calm JT down, the gentleman (whose name Zach told me later was Skips) sat on the ground with Zach and spoke to him in quiet words that in the midst of the chaos I couldn't hear.  Zach won't tell me all of what he said, just that he told him everyone was ok and that was all that mattered.

The EMS, Fire Department, and Police all arrived. It is honestly all a blur. Everyone was asking me questions, asking me to fill out forms, asking me who was coming to get me.  I never saw or spoke to the other people but from what small pieces of conversation we overheard and pieced together later they were all ok.

My phone was sitting in the console when we were hit and I wasn't able to find it. JT had called Rick and only said "Mom was in an accident." Rick had no clue what to expect. When Rick drove by the truck and saw it sitting flat on the ground (all 4 axles broken) he thought for sure that if not all of us but at least one was either injured or worse.

This September the Expedition would have been with us for 13 years and officially 15 years old. We have loved every moment with the Expedition. It has brought home all 4 of the kids from the hospital. We have driven through 23 States in the Expedition. We have laughed, cried, argued in the Expedition. The Lucas Family Circle of Trust lives in the Expedition. Every year as something minor cracked or broke, Rick and I talked about getting a new one but we keep saying, "Let's just hold out for one more year." 

We all walked away from the accident without any major injury. We are all a bit shaken but otherwise we are fine. The Expedition is not fine. It is sad to lose such a trusted vehicle. The moment of safety I felt when I first sat in the Expedition never left. I am thankful for every inch of steel Ford used to build that vehicle. Thankful that after 15 years, the airbags still worked perfectly. Thankful to all the people that stopped despite whatever they had going on to check on all of us. Thankful for whomever was watching over the 5 of us on Friday. 

I am not sure how we will replace the Expedition but I doubt I will be happy with anything other than another one. Honestly right now, I am just thankful that missing an item is the only thing I am doing.

Dollhouse

Just like the boys are entertained for hours with legos, the one toy that keeps the girls happy is a small Fischer- Price dollhouse that a friend gave the girls. When I see the girls enjoying the dollhouse I get giddy not just because they are entertained by something other than a tablet but also because I think about the future dollhouses I will be buying.

Here is a secret, I want to make  a dollhouse; a wooden one decorated with tiny furniture but I unless I have a secret room where me and my nerdiness hang out this dollhouse is going to be destroyed by my friends.

So all of this dollhouse thinking has me cruising Craig's list every now and again to see what is out there. This led me to seeing that there was a garage sale in the hood with a dollhouse. I love a thrift shop or an antique store but I've never enjoyed garage sales. Kit Kat and I were the second people to arrive and we snagged our latest dollhouse addition along with Barbies airplane. It may be the best $20 I've spent.

I will keep nerdy day dreaming about my future dollhouses while I enjoy watching the girls play.

Mini trip

We went to great wolf lodge almost 3 years ago and it was miserable. The place was packed, we had just come off a crazy adventure of filming what later became the pilot of the show, and we were heading back from a "emergency" trip to see Rick's grandpa who wasn't doing well. Oh and we realized at about 2am that the girls were screaming because they has ear infections.

I have a million thoughts about GWL but here is what I know: the kids loved it and there is some fabulous people watching. This was our first real attempt with the girls and road trip/travel and we are all optimistic about the results. The girls were great fun in the car, we had some really special one-liners from both of them that I need to start recording, and we had an enjoyable family dinner out, which honestly is huge as we've avoided all sit down restaurants with them for the past year.

I obviously didn't have my phone with me in the pools but here are some shots that Kit Kat requested I take.

Here is to a fun summer.

Let Summer Begin!

Weather

We've had a crazy Spring here thanks to El Nino. Usually by Memorial Day weekend we already complaining about the heat and we've settled in to a pool routine.

This month has been filled with rain and while it is a blessing to finally have the lakes getting filled back up and to have help with the drought, it has also been tough to deal with the nonstop rain.

Saturday night we had a storm come through that included a small tornado just about a mile from us that did some decent damage to several houses and businesses. Everyone we know from that hood was safe but spent Sunday cleaning up. Monday started off nice and we finally got around to tackling the jungle that had grown up in the yards due to the rain. Around 1, Rick came in and turned on the news because he said it looked bad and he could hear the storm that was Northeast of us. We all sat and watched the weather and the tornado warnings that were popping up south but the maps showed all of it moving west of us.
The boys and I had plans to see their buddy Miles perform in a local play and were set to get ready despite the rain until the news showed a small storm making its way directly through Austin and in to Pflugerville. The news told us to be prepared to take shelter. We never saw a tornado but the rain was intense and while we were excited about backyard flooding, we had non idea what the rest of the hood was experiencing until the storm calmed and we decided to drive around.

The photos show the park and obviously the creek overflowing. There was a car that got caught and they were doing a rescue just as we came out. There is also the field where the boys used to practice baseball, our own flood in the backyard, and after it was all over the most interesting night sky that eventually turned this intense shade of yellow/orange.

The chances of rain are slim this week. Let's hope we get to play baseball and enjoy a little sun.

Patience

Zach often gets overlooked as the middle child but his patience and sweetness for his sisters often overwhelms me.
We are all in a bit of a cleaning frenzy today. After cleaning the chalk wall, Zach sat for 20 minutes and complied without complaint while Lu dictated exactly what she wanted him to draw.

where did you go spring?

School is being attended by two boys – one who is obsessed about perfect attendance and another who isn’t sure the point of it and would prefer to sit at home staring at his phone. Both are excelling but I think they are ready for the break.

My parents came for a week-long visit. I think it was a bit like Nellie Bly going undercover for 10 days in the asylum.  I am not sure they have fully recovered and there may be some lasting scars. It was nice to have them here although work was stupid busy so I didn’t get to spend the time I had wanted. Grandpa Pete did get to see two of JT’s games though and that meant the world to JT as ever since he started playing at 3 he has been asking when his grandparents were going to come and watch him play.

Chickens…well, they are still here and they are devious, mischievous, still in diapers (although I think Lu is really close), masters of the kindle and finding some of the weirdest stuff on YouTube (nothing bad just odd videos of adults opening kid toys), and big fans of Teen Titans Go and My Little Pony.

Rick is surviving. He is doing well with work and still enjoying it. He finally got a truck and for at least a week kept asking me why we waited so long. He isn't pleased that I've come up with a long list of things we can now do that in the past I was told we couldn't do because he didn't have a truck.

And me…I am feeling better. When I was pregnant with JT I was diagnosed with hypothyroid. For the most part it hasn't been a huge issue but the past year I've felt miserable. At first I thought it was depression or may be just being tired from work and life. My last visit to my endocrinologist left me frustrated as she wasn't interested in considering alternatives since I wasn't feeling 100%. Back in February I had this crazy moment where I was feeling miserable, my tongue swelled up, I couldn't get out of bed and I was just at a loss for what was going on. I did what everyone does at that moment and I googled my symptoms and well after a few weeks I went in search of a new doctor. So a few months later, lots of blood-work, one stressful week that included a biopsy (with benign results), and new medication I am back to feeling so much better than I have. I've also been swamped with work. Some of it boring stuff and some exciting.

Summer is looming. We are kicking it off with a quick trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Dallas. After that we lots of ideas but nothing set yet.

Remember when you were a kid and you got a new pair of shoes and the most exciting part was wearing them out of the store? Well, the chickens have decided to wear swimsuits out of the store. Lu has also renamed it New Navy because the clothes are new not old.

Easter Eve Bandits

I have this long post about finding balance in a chaotic life and how so many friends are going through struggles with their marriages.  I stopped last night because we were watching a movie. I had every intention of finishing it tonight but then the Easter Eve Bandits hit.

The weather in Texas is finally pleasant. Rick and I sat outside on the deck watching the girls prance around and prattle to each other and us about lord knows what. It is in these moments, when I am drained from a long day, realizing that of the 50 things on my to do list only 2 of them got done. I stare at the girls in wonder. How did they get in to our lives? I mean I know the how but it more the sheer amazement of how these two beings have turned our lives up-side-down and taken us on a wild ride that never in a million years did I expect or plan. They rule our lives and this household; all four of us are at their mercy and they are only 3.

As we sat on the deck Rick and I each got caught up in watching the two of them work out that they could fill the empty water gun they had located with the water from a cup they had left over from dinner. It was pure genius; mad genius. The shit that doesn't happen with just one toddler but happens when there are two. I shutter to think what parents of toddler triplets deal with on the daily.

Not a single concern crossed my mind when I realized that they had both gone in to the house. I was too busy enjoying the quiet moment and watching the cardinals in the backyard. The silence was broken when JT came out to tell us he and Zach were going out to play with friends on the street. We went inside and were met by KitKat who proudly announced that Lulu had Ninja Turtle stickers. Like waking from a dream, it took a moment for me to register what she was talking about. I went in to my office and saw my light was on and then I ran in to their room and saw the Ninja Turtle and princess stickers and bubbles that I had gotten for their baskets strewn across KitKat's bed. I yelled. KitKat firmly declared it was all Lulu and Lulu ran and hid under the blankets on my bed and cried.

It took 15 minutes to calm me down. It took 20 minutes to calm Lulu down. She ended the night in her bed telling me that she really loved me and daddy and she was sorry. She also said she really loves the Easter bunny.

Easter will be a little less exciting but to be honest, I wasn't too worked up for Easter this year anywho.

As my Easter gift to you guys,  I am sharing some photos from the last few weeks so you can see that the kids are still alive and growing. I know the boys would want me to note that they are both quickly catching up with me in height. I know 5' 2" isn't a huge height to overcome but I am sure they aren't stopping there.

Happy Easter everyone! I hope the bunny visits you and brings you some special treats.

The girls bowling over spring break.

The girls went with me to get my blood work done recently. I explained to them what we were doing and they selected these outfits as perfect for the occasion.

The kids and I on a walk through the hood to one of our favorite spots.

Me and KitKat 

Me and Lulu

Lulu dressed and ready to go.

promise

Some  gentle musings coming soon. I think this abnormally bad weather has given everyone a bit of cabin fever and a lack of desire to do much. Or maybe just me. Either way some update soon.

so this is 40

Well it is clear that old age has settled in because I've started and forgotten this post so many times that I can't recall what my original thoughts were and my thoughts probably weren't that original. I think I had wanted to provide some great insight in to what it meant to be 40 but I have nothing really. I don't know that it is much different than any other year with the exception that I think with every other decade turn the thought was about what is yet to come and with this one I find myself not so focused about what is yet to come but appreciating the now.

A quick birthday recap. I was treated to some fun afternoons and evenings out with friends before and after my birthday. I was surprised by flock of flamingos on my yard the day of my birthday. And yes there are 40 flamingos. This little flamingo stunt has alerted basically everyone in Pflugerville to my new age and I've been stopped at the grocery store and at school and wished a happy birthday (because "I saw the flamingos").

This past weekend, I got to sneak away with some good friends for a quick Girls Getaway to Fredricksburg. It was fun times. I am probably not supposed to share the details but needless to say we laughed, we ate and drank too much and really we just got enjoy each others company without the distraction of life and kids. It was quite the treat.

Here is my deep thought for turning 40. Again nothing original but more some thoughts on moving forward and where I hope to place my energies as I work through this next decade.

Wakan Tanka, Great Mystery, teach me how to trust my heart, my mind, my intuition, my inner knowing, the senses of my body, the blessings of my spirit. Teach me to trust these things so that I may enter my Sacred Space and love beyond my fear, and thus Walk in Balance with the passing of each glorious Sun.  - Lakota Prayer

Birthday Eve

Deep thoughts on the eve of a new decade.

Hello February

And just like that January is over and we are jumping in to February with the super bowl (known over here as an excuse to eat a lot of delicious and not-good-for-you food) and most importantly the biggest birthday ever!

This month has been some of the coldest most miserable raining weather that we've had during our time here. Last year we had the ice, which made the cold bearable but this year it was just plain ol' yucky. I know I can't complain, I am not in Boston dealing with a stupid amount of snow but when you are used to seeing the sun most days the cold and wet start to bring you down.

Kid update...
We still have 4 of them although I often offer the girls up to anyone in public who gushes over their cuteness.

JT - he is cruising along in middle school and knock on wood, seems to be doing fine. He and Rick spent an insane amount of time working on his science project, a Rube Goldberg machine. All the kids in pre-AP science had to create one and this past week we went up to school to watch the videos from all the kids. It was really quite amazing. Just this week, I also got an email from JT's science teacher that he got a 100% on his most recent test. And what would the end of January, start of February be without an announcement that baseball season is starting up. We've out in our uniform and fan gear order adn we will have our first practice next week.

Zach - have I ever mentioned that Zach has an amazing memory? Obviously he doesn't get it from me. He put this skill to the test by participating and winning the GeoBee at school. We attended the UIL competition to watch Zach compete against all the Pville school winners. The audience got to play along and I have to say, I've never felt dumber than answering random geography questions. Since he won for his school, he took the Statewide test and we will know by end of the month if he is attending the State competition.

Chickens - I don't even know where to start with these two. There are days when I just look at Rick and tell him that I think it is amazing that we survive a day. They have so much energy, such strong personalities, and they know our weaknesses. They know we are too old and tired to fight them. The other day I was wrapping up work but could hear a lot of commotion in the kitchen, I asked JT to check on it and he returned with a container of M&Ms that I had tucked way up high in the pantry. When I confronted KitKat (who had pulled one of the barstools over to the pantry and climbed up to my hiding spot) she told me that she wouldn't have stolen the M&Ms if I would have just given her chicken. They are super cute though and I am always amazed with how their interests range from princesses, to horses, to teenage mutant ninja turtles. Lulu is oddly interested in Valentine's day, which we never celebrate so we've been putting up hearts around the house.

So here we are in February. We don't have big plans for the birthday celebration but a night out next weekend and I am running away for a night in Fredricksburg in a few weeks with some friends for a birthday celebration.

Deep Thoughts for 2014

We took an informal survey at the house this year and we all decided that 2014 was an ok year. It wasn't anything flash but it wasn't horrible either. It was just a year. To be fair, 2014 came on the heels of two big years, 2012 was the arrival of the chickens and 2013 was the TV show so I think it is ok to be a year that was just a year. That being said, I'd like to go ahead and let 2015 know in advance what my expectations are for the year. 

• I want laughter, lots of it and sometimes I want so much laughter that my stomach hurts
• I want to be done with diapers (until I am a grandmother - please let that be at least 15-20 years from now)
• I want to run more or if I am getting too old for running then at least walk the dog more
• I want to figure out what I want to be when I grow up
• I want to spend time at the beach or at least a family vacation
• I want to be better at balancing family, work, and me time
• I want to stop caring about those that don't care about me
• I want to spend time with those that matter
• I want to remember to unplug every now and again
• I want a year when no friends go through divorce, I know this is a tough one but just in case someone does decide to split then I want the energy to be the a good friend because divorce is tough stuff 
• I want more date nights (preferably with Rick) 

I am sure I have more things but I think that is a good start for 2015.

Thanks 2014. It wasn't always easy, there were some tears, some struggles, some mommy dearest moments, lots of thoughts spinning in my head, lots of draining moments but there was also laughter, some well-needed family time, some letting go of people and things, and overall I think it was a year of being content with life and where I am at.

The Holidays

The two weeks of break was uneventful and relaxing. I am always torn with needing to have tons of activities planned versus just letting things happen. We somehow managed to have a good mix for the holidays this year although the boys have 2 more days of freedom and Rick and I may be ready for those two days to be over.

I am working on my Deep Thoughts for 2014 but for now I share photos from the month including our first gingerbread house party, Christmas, and the girl's 3rd birthday.