Wine, Greys, PP and MIL

Today, I had a text from my sweet Mother-in-law, Susan, "Wine and Greys?" and of course my response was "YES PLEASE!"  I mean who wouldn't want to be in a quiet house with one of the best people in her life with a glass of wine to relax,  it is the start of my weekend!  (Be jealous, please!)  After some great episodes, half a bag of carrots (forgot to eat dinner before I got there), and a whole BIG bottle of white zinfandel (split between 2), I'd call it a great evening!  I love mother-in-law quality time!!!   

 



Custom made Kitchen sink steps

My husband is so crafty.  He was telling Mason to wash his bowl out after he ate his snack after school but there was one problem, Mason couldn't reach the sink without having to crawl up the counter.  That's when Jacob (hubs) said, "I know what I am going to do, I'm going to make a step for the boys so they will be able to wash their own dishes!".  I told him that was a great idea and withing minutes he brought in this amazing custom made kitchen sink steps and then he painted it.  I am taking orders now!!!  =)

Cusom steps made by my husband, Jacob.



Cody testing it out!



BLUEBONNETS

Yes, we found bluebonnets, in our next door neighbors yard.  I grabbed Hayden and Charlie and we took quick pictures before we got caught. =) I'm hoping to get better pictures of all 3 boys in them but this is what I was able to get! Enjoy!

Dotson picnic dinner

Today was such a beautiful day that as soon as I got home from work I knew I wanted to make dinner early and eat outside on our picnic table my husband so craftly built.  I had already decided I was going to make chicken fettucine alfredo for dinner.  Here are the steps I did to make this delicious dish.

Most of the Ingredients:

Step one:  sautee red bell pepper with Smart Balance light butter

Step two: cut chicken into bite size and cook with a touch of olive oil

 Step three: Add the alfredo sauce and red bell pepper with the cooked chicken

Step four: cook fettucine

Step five: Mix together in a pan, Chicken alfredo and fettucine, top with crushed ranch crutons and bake for a few minutes

Dotson family picnic dinner oustide

Hayden enjoyed his noodles!

 Mason enjoying his noodles! (beautiful eyes)

Cody enjoying his noodles! (slurping)

  

Just what I needed to see

My pastor just posted a tweet...... "2 busy 2 serve at your church? FYI: Every Sunday U attend your local church, you are served by busy people. Get involved!" 

It's just what I needed to hear.  I want to be on fire for God not only personally but even by expanding my horizon, and serve others.

Fruits of the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Gal 5:22-23


A verse to remind myself of what attributes I want to have instilled daily in my life.  Especially, so my boys can look at me and say, "my mommy shows God through the way she lives her life daily."

Houston and Buna Trip (March 12-14)

Thursday (3/11) we got our bags packed and friday (3/12) morning instead of getting the boys ready for school we hopped in the car and headed to Houston where my dad lives.  Once we arrived to Houston we took a potty break and then got our bags out of our car and put it in their car and got back on the road towards Buna.  Buna is a small town my dad grew up in and my grandparents still live there.  It has been over 4 years since I had seen my grandparents, so Friday evening was spent getting caught up.  Every year on the 2nd saturday in March, Buna has a RedBud Festival.  They have a parade and carnival.  We woke up saturday (3/13) morning, got dressed and ate breakfast and headed to get a good spot for the parade.  The people in the parade would throw out candy and beaded necklaces.  My boys LOVED it.  After all the fun and lunch with the grandparents, we headed back to my dad's in Houston saturday evening.  Sunday (3/14) we enjoyed a nice dinner and worship at my Dad's house.  Some long time family friends (The Greens) were down so that was very nice to be able to catch up with them.  My husband and I even had the pleasure of getting prayed over by them and others in the church.  It was just what we needed.  We packed up our things and kissed Cody since he was staying with my dad until thursday.



Cheat day!

Yes, that's right.  I gave myself a cheat day.  It's been 2 1/2 months without sweet tea and TODAY ONLY I decided to have some (well a lot actually) and then go back to NO SWEET TEA or SODAS after today. I'm fairly certain it won't be a problem.  I did enjoy every sip and gulp of my Mother-in-laws amazing tea.  Until next cheat day.....

Hayden's Party was Bug-a-licious!

For Hayden's 4th party we decided to go with a "bug" theme.  I got the cutest invitation made from Etsy. 

My father-in-law cooked up the BEST chicken and beef fajitas with sausage and my mother-in-law made the BEST rice, beans, homemade tortillas and sweet tea!  Really if it wasn't for all their help and love we wouldn't have been able to have this amazing day for our sweet boy.  It was absolutely perfect, from the beautiful day God gave us to the wonderful family and friends who were able to come.  We hope everyone enjoyed Hayden's special day as much as we did. 

And for each kid, I made little pudding 'dirt' with an earthworm.  I think the kids (and adults) enjoyed this yummy dessert.

Hayden's favorite thing was opening the cards that people gave him.  It was almost just as exciting as opening the gifts to him.  It was very cute!

Mommy and daddy ended the party with our nice relaxing drinks! Cheers to a successful party. 

Daddy with his buddies!

Happy 4th Birthday to my baby, Hayden

6 weeks

9 months

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

I was scheduled C-section for March 21st of 2007. It was Monday, March 19th, 2007 that I went in to work not knowing what was to come later that evening. During the whole work day, I had these weird pains that would come and go but they weren't painful and they were in my back. I've been through labor pains and so I knew this WAS NOT those. Come 2:30pm when it was time for me to leave I had gotten to the point where I felt like I was getting sick and the pains were still in my back coming and going. Finally, someone said, "Sandi, I think you might be in labor!". Of course I was like, "No, I can't be I'm scheduled for a c-section in 2 days....!" So, I called my mom and she came to pick me up and take me to the hospital just in case.


While all of this was happening in Cedar Park, my sweet husband was in Waco, Tx, working. He said, "Now Sandi I can't be on the phone a lot at this job site so only call if it is an emergency!". Well, I would say this was an emergency and so I called and guess what, HE DIDN'T ANSWER. So I left a long detailed message letting him know that I was on my way to the hospital possibly in labor and that he needed to proceed to head this way to the hospital. After I left the detailed message I called my mother-in-law and sister-in-law to let them know that I was going to the hospital to check on the baby and that I was possibly in labor. Jacob calls me and asks how I was doing, and me assuming that he got the message says, "Not to bad!" and then he said ok well I got to go and will call you back later. I just "assumed" that he was on his way. NOPE, he had not listened to my voicemail and his sister had to tell him to get on the road.

At the hospital they hooked me up with all the wonderful wires to check on my sweet baby and me. Sure enough, I was in labor! She waited for about 2-3 hours before she said, "You aren't going home without a baby, we are going to prep you and take you in!" WOOHOO, I was excited, nervous, anxious, scared all rolled into one. Most of all I was worried that my husband wasn't going to make it

Finally after he went home and grabbed our bags and took a quick shower he made it to the hospital. It wasn't 15 minutes that Jacob made it that they reeled me back to the OR. Then another 30-45 minutes out pops a small yet round little baby boy with curly red hair. As soon as I saw that red hair I laughed out loud but also fell in love. He was absolutely perfect. There were no complications (like my other boys) I was able to hold him longer than a quick squeeze.

If you don't know Hayden, he's the most vibrant, full of laughs (and farts), and love 100% ALL BOY. He still have FIRE RED curly hair with the perfectly placed freckles and an angel kiss on the forehead. Mommy and daddy can't believe how fast our little baby has grown but we have enjoyed being about of his life.

Today, we will celebration his 4th birthday!!!!



Dear God,
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! For letting me be apart of caring for some of the most energetic, full of life little boys! I know it's hard at times but it's so worth it to be called Mommy. THANK YOU!

The Cat in the "Hats"

Not only are my boys excited for tomorrow, but this mommy/teacher is excited as well!!!!  It's DR. SEUSS BIRTHDAY!  Just to name a few of my favorite books: The Cat in the Hat, Green eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, My foot book....I could go on and on! 

Tonight I wanted to make a special treat for the little students in my class.  I made Cat's HATS.  I purchased vanilla wafers, lifesaver berry gummies, and vanilla icing.  Placed the vanilla wafers on a pan, put a dab of icing on the wafer and placed the first of 3 red (or as close to red) gummy life savers and repeated the step of dabbing on the icing.  It was quick and easy and tastes delish!

Tomorrow, in honor of Dr. Seuss birthday, the boys and I plan to make "green eggs and ham" but with a twist.  We will get stick pretzels, green m&m's, and white chocolate chip melts.  We are going to take 2 sticks of pretzels put them close together, add the white chocolate chip melt on top of pretzels and put in oven until chocolate melts and then top with green m&m. The pretzels represent the ham and the white chocolate chips and green m&m's on top represent the green eggs!

  I know the boys are going to be so excited to make these yummy treats after school.