Pumpkin Patch 2009

Every year we make a trip to the pumpkin patch in Flower Mound. I love that it is so close to our house and it's free! My parents joined us this year and we are so glad they came with us. Some how I did not get a picture of them with Allie. I don't feel like I did a very good job of getting a lot of "scenic" pictures. It was so busy and people were just every where!. My mom and I waited in line for 25 min. to get kettle corn. I think another reason I didn't get as good of pictures as usual is because Allie was so busy. She is at a really fun age and can really enjoy more things. She had a great time with the bounce houses and climbing the big slides and sliding down. She is really into posing right now, so she did give me some great smiles. Towards the end we ran into the family that watches Allie. She loved seeing them and enjoyed riding the train with Mae.

We decided to eat dinner at McDonald's and I finally got my burger! For those of you who don't know, I have really been craving a hamburger. I had hoped to grill out, but that didn't work out. It was still very yummy!

Mae and Allie. She is so sweet to Allie and Allie just loves her. I hate that the sun was in her face.

This was her favorite thing to do. She felt like such a big girl.

Not the best scenery for a picture, but it wasn't crowded in there and Allie was ready to pose. She would pick up a pumpkin and turn around and pose for me.

Usually I ride the train with Allie, but I had hurt my back and with me being preggo, I didn't feel like bumping all around the place.

Of course she had to have her picture with Diego.

*Next up: Halloween party, Jarod's b-day, air show, fall festival at my parents church, celebrate my nephew's b-day and a soccer game. That is all this weekend!!!

Catching Up on the Month of September

Saying that I'm behind is stating the obvious! We were very busy during the month of September, so I thought I would just combine everything into one post. I have included pictures from Allie's first day of preschool, Plano Balloon Festival, Ranger game, Allie's first soccer game and the Texas State Fair. Allie is attending preschool 2 days a week at a Baptist church close to school. I am so happy that the lady who watches her was able to work this out for us. Allie is the oldest where she stays and she really needed interaction with kids her own age. With me working, I never thought that would be possible so we are so grateful that she is getting this opportunity. She absolutely loves school!


We met our good friends EA and Ashley and a few others at the Plano Balloon Festival. Actually, EA was surprising Ashley for her birthday. We got there just in time to see the balloons take off. We had a great time hanging out with friends and eating yummy food. We stayed long enough to see them light the balloons (absolutely beautiful) and see fireworks. A lot of my pictures did not turn out. Bummer!

For Father's Day, I bought Jarod tickets to the Ranger game. Our seats were awesome! We were 4 rows to the side of home plate (closest to Ranger dugout). They are the best seats I've ever sat in. It was amazing how close everything was. They lost the game but we were on TV some! After the game they had fireworks and they let us move up a couple of rows to the cushioned seats. They were awesome! Jarod and I are spoiled now!

I'm so happy that "Pudge" is back with the Rangers!

Allie is playing soccer for the first time. She is on a team with some friends from our small group at church. I think she really likes playing. Her first game was a little rough. She wanted to be out there the entire time and she was grouchy because she was hungry. There were a few tears shed. In Saturday's game she only cried once which was improvement. I'm really enjoying seeing her in this environment. I think it is really good for her and it's really funny to watch!

Allie and her buddy Cale. His dad is the coach.

We went to the fair on opening weekend with my parents. We got there fairly early and it was not crowded at all. We were lucky enough to get some coupons from nice people in the parking lot. We had a great time, but boy was it hot! We drank lots of water and ate some yummy food. We did not try fried butter (new item this year). If you are not from Texas, every year they have different types of fried food to try. This year was fried butter. I did see someone with it and it did not look very appetizing. Allie really had a good time! She enjoyed seeing the animals, climbing a sand hill and being a "farmer". She also was able to drive a couple cars. By the end of the day we were all exhausted but so glad we got to go.

My Lil Farmer!

THE BIG 29

I am a person who loves birthdays! I'm always so excited when it is my birthday but this year has been a little different. For some reason, I just wasn't all that excited about my birthday. You probably think I'm crazy, but I think it's because I was turning 29. I know that isn't "old", but it just feels weird. I'd honestly rather skip 29 and go straight to 30. Maybe my hormones are just crazy right now! Last night I woke up at 3:30 (my usual time) to go to the bathroom. When I got back in bed, I couldn't go back to sleep b/c all I could think about was my birthday and that I was turning 29. Crazy I know! So of course when I woke up I was sad, grouchy and a tad bit emotional.

This birthday morning was a lot different than any other. I left over 10 min. late to work. On my way, my good friend and teammate Michelle called me and her car wouldn't start. I told her I would come get her (took 20 min.) Picked her up, then took Allie to Carmen's. We were 45 min. late to work. Thank goodness for a helpful teammate and understanding office staff. We had grades due today and we had both planned on getting to work early (even if I didn't go pick her up I still would not have been there on time). It was just a crazy morning, but by the time I got to my class my kids were being so sweet and they had brought me gifts! I was shocked. I have never gotten gifts from my kids before for my b-day. They were just the sweetest things and just made my morning. The rest of my day was filled with yummy food (we had a luncheon) and sweet emails from friends and family.

Jarod had sent me a text earlier informing me that I had a gift at the house when I got home. I was a little confused b/c we just got a new TV and that is both of our b-day/x-mas gift this year. When I got home he had picked up the house (disaster b/c I'd been sick all week) and vacuumed the house (aw!). It was the best gift ever! He also took my car to be washed and cleaned and then took me out to dinner. Now I'm just waiting for my Oreo blizzard cake to thaw out so we can eat it. Yum-O!

So all in all, turning 29 wasn't that bad!

*Michelle if you read this, I still think we should have just gone and eaten breakfast instead of going in to work!

April Fools

BIG NEWS: Allie will be a BIG SISTER in April! Our official due date is April Fool's Day. We are very excited and so is Allie. She has requested a "real" baby since Christmas. She is so excited and would like a baby brother. I hope she is not disappointed if it's a girl! I am almost to the 12 week mark and I already feel like it's going by so fast. I'm not a big fan of the first trimester and I have been exhausted! Starting work at 8 weeks preggo was not easy. The first week I would come home and crash on the couch. Thank goodness Allie is so good and patient. Each week has gotten easier and I look forward to having more energy in the weeks to come. I only get sick at night time, which is better than getting sick at school. I was really sick with Allie and didn't like food. This time I'm only sick sometimes (am taking some meds to help) and want to eat all of the time. I never seem to get full! Plus, I'm already starting to show. That caught me a little off guard. I've always heard that you show quicker with the 2nd one, but I was not expecting it to happen.

Jarod and I feel so blessed to be able to raise another one of God's children. We have wanted to add to our family for the last year and we have patiently learned that it is all in God's timing. Please keep us in your prayers that I continue to have a healthy pregnancy. I've been so worried these first weeks after miscarrying last August. I know that God is in control and I've put everything in his hands.

*At some point I will get better at blogging again. I have lots of things to put on here!

Allie's 3 Year Pictures

We had Allie's pictures taken a few weeks ago at the Dallas Arboretum. It was beautiful and it was hot and we got there at 9:30! We used the same photographer that we used last year. Her name is LE and I just love her. She is so patient with Allie. Allie takes a while to warm up to new people. I had to bribe her with marshmallows! Hey whatever works, right? I think she did a wonderful job. I had a really hard time choosing my favorites to share. I put several on here and there are several more that were left off. Let me know your favorite!

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Classic Allie

We decided it was too hot outside and Allie needed to cool off in the fountains. She had a ball getting wet!

I think she kind of looks like the frog in this picture. Too funny!

Mystery Solved

We finally think we know what has caused me to feel badly the last couple of months! On Monday, I went to see a new GI doctor. The GI doctor(s) I saw in the hospital were not on my insurance plan and said that if I still felt the same that I needed to go back in. I should have gone in June, but I just couldn't make myself find a new doctor. I really thought I would feel better and everything would be just fine. I was pretty good for a week or so, but after we got back from our trip I have felt just awful!

When I talked to the doctor on Monday, I told him everything that went on while I was in the hospital. He said that it should not have taken me 2 days to "clean out" my system for a colonoscopy. When he mashed on my stomach I still had the same pain. He said that he needed to do an upper endoscopy to see what was going on in my stomach.

I went in for my endoscopy early yesterday morning. It was very quick. I think I was only asleep for 30 min. When we talked to the doctor he said I had some irritation in my stomach. He thinks that I had some kind of infection that attacked my body and it changed the bacteria in my body which was causing me to be bloated, feel nauseated, have constipation and upset stomach. This is also know as Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining). We are so thankful that it wasn't anything serious and that we finally have some answers. He has put me on two different antibiotics. One stops that bacteria from spreading and the other helps change the bacteria back. We are keeping our fingers crossed that this works. I will go back in a few weeks for a follow up to see how I am feeling.

Road Trip Part 2: Rockford, Illinois

We had a great time in Rockford. It was so good to see my cousins and my aunt and uncle. The drive up there from Omaha was about 7 hrs. Much better than 12! Allie of course was great in the car. All of the pictures I took were at the wedding reception. The reception was at a country club right on a beautiful golf course. We were able to snap some good shots before the rain came in.
Luke and Jill's wedding and reception were both beautiful. Karlie and Greer were both in the wedding and did such a nice job standing on the stage. Allie loved seeing Jill look like a princess. She thinks everyone in a fancy white dress is a princess and she called Luke her prince. Allie could not wait until it was time to dance. She did not eat her dinner very well and I asked her why and she said because she was ready to dance! My kind of girl. It was hard trying to get her to understand why she couldn't dance on the first dances (Luke/Jill's, mother/son, dad/daughter). Once the fast music came on she was out there! We had a few minor meltdowns anytime she needed to leave the dance floor. I tried to get her dancing on video, but it was too dark in there to see anything. She literally danced until it was time to leave. I'm not sure how she managed to dance so long! She loved dancing with me, her cousins, my cousins and perfect strangers!
There was lots of fun had by all and I'm so glad we made the trip up there. On our way back we split the trip up. We stayed in Springfield, Missouri on Sunday night and then got back home by Monday late afternoon. I think we were in the car traveling around 33 hrs.!
(Sorry for all of the pictures. I tried to put them into a slide show and couldn't get it to work and I had a hard time choosing!)

Princess Jill and Prince Luke Tenery (welcome to the family Jill)

The Tenery family: Josh, Kaitlin, Aunt Allene, Jill, Luke, Uncle Dennis, Katie Tenery Lipscomb, and Justin

The Siblings: Josh, Luke and Katie

The other Tenery Family

Kelly and Scott (they will be married 10 yrs. on July 17th!)

Poppy and Mimi with their grand kids

Me with my cousin Katie

I just love this picture of Annie!

My sweet girl dancing!

This was after breakfast on Sunday. All of the kids were exhausted!