"How do you know..."

We took the kids to see the disney movie "Enchanted" on thursday. It was showing at the dollar theater (well it is actually $1.50). They made it through most of the movie without any problems. Ryan had to take Ethan out once or twice. As soon as the dragon showed up Ethan was once again interested. I thought the movie was very cute and one I would like to have in my collection. I wasn't to sure how Madalyn liked it. I did find out later as I was trying to find a ringtone for my phone that she really liked the song "That's how you know". Since she seemed to like it so much that is the song I picked for my ringtone. All in all I think we all enjoyed the movie and had a good time spending the day together as a family. *Don't forget to pause my music playlist at the bottom of the page before you play the video clip.

Guest Book

I made a Guest Book so please take a look and sign in. We love to hear from all our friends and family. It is at the bottom of the page. Thanks to everyone that reads our family updates and also to those who leave comments. We love y'all!!

READY and waiting...

I am so ready to find a house to buy. Although it won't happen until this summer. I keep looking up homes for sale in the area and wishing it was time. I should probably stop that but I am so impatient. I can't wait for the day...

* I can park in my own driveway and not have to carry my groceries up a flght of stairs or through a parking lot (because you couldn't find a parking spot close to your apartment).

* My kids can run and have fun in the house without thinking the neighbors will be knocking on the door soon.

* I can paint my walls and decorate the way I want and not have to think about the holes I left in the wall.

* I no longer have to pay rent that doesn't help us in the future.

* I don't have to worry about my guest vehicle being towed because it is parked in the wrong spot or at the wrong time of day.

* I get all my things out of storage.

* The kids have a real room (not the living room floor).

* I no longer have to use the laundry mat (because I have my washer and dryer out of storage.

* I have a yard for my children to play in.

Okay, so I guess you probably get the idea. So now the count is on. We have until the end of June to find a house. Although I am very excited to have our own house it is also a bit scary. With all the foreclosures that are happening and also any repairs will be our responsability.

Hopefully the next four months will fly by and we will find the perfect starter home for our family.

Valentines Day Fun!!

We started off our Valentines Day fun with a trip to the famous "Round Rock Donuts" for breakfast. We had heard this was the best place in town to get donuts. So we gave it a try and were disappointed. I guess I'm a little partial to "Shipley's Donuts" or "Shippy's" as my nephew use to call it. After we had our donuts we drove to Cedar Park to have some fun at Lakeline Mall.

We were a little disappointed that they didn't have a play area inside for the kids. We did however, find the Disney store and they were having a great sale. I bought a few things and the kids got to pick out a couple of things for themselves. Madalyn picked gold princess gloves and a little box in the shape of a crown with 7 rings inside. Ethan picked out a couple of toys from "Meet the Robinsons" and a little stuffed Bear from "The Jungle Book". We then made a lap around the mall and decided to go find a park. We ended up going back to Round Rock to Old Settlers Park. The kids had lots of fun with Mommy & Daddy.

It was soon time to leave and go find a late lunch. I had already planned on going to Red Robin and new how to get to it. We had to go to Pfluegerville just a few miles away. Ryan had the "Guacamole Bacon Burger" with bottomless fries and a "Very Berry Raspberry Limeade". I had the "Burger Parmigiana"with bottomless fries and a "Freckled Lemonade". The kids split a cheese pizza. They also ate nearly all of the strawberries out of my drink. We really like eating here when we get the chance. Although after we left Ryan and I wished we had split a burger instead of each getting one. We were STUFFED!!

The rest of the evening we enjoyed at home watching movies and eating popcorn.

Tag, Your It!!

My friend Sharon tagged me! So I thought I would play along since it was fun reading her answers.

1. What is his name? Ryan Woodruff

2. How long have you been married? 6 years in May

3. How long did you date? about 6 months

4. Who eats more sweets? That is hard to say, I think it would be a close call.

5. Who said “I love you“ first? I think he did.

6. Who is taller? Ryan, almost a foot taller.

7. Who can sing better? I think Ryan sings well, if you can catch him in the act.

8.Who is smarter? It depends on what area we are talking about.

9. Who does the laundry? Me, until recently with our move we use a laundry mat and I make him go with me.

10. Who pays the bills? Ryan

11.Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Ryan

12. Who cooks dinner? Me most of the time, but Ryan enjoys cooking too.

13. Who drives? Ryan

14. Who is more stubborn? I would say that I am usually the stubborn one.

15. Who kissed who first? Ryan kissed me.

16. Who asked out who first? Ryan asked me out first (The first time he called I had gone out of town, I was really sad. The next week he called and invited me out to ice cream at Swenson's ,which is no longer in business. So Sad!!)

17. Who proposed? Ryan, about a week before valentine's day. He just got to excited and could not wait. I was thrilled!!

18. Who wears the pants? Neither one of us does, we try to share the responsibility. Although I am pretty bossy. HA!!HA!!

Well I think that is it so now I that am done I tag: Liz , Robyn, Lindsey, and Stephanie

Guess Who's Engaged...

On Saturday evening the kids and I were driving home from Waco when my sister-in-law, Kelli, called. She announced her engagement to Zack (opps I don't even know his last name). Kelli said he had proposed early that day. After I got off the phone with her I shouted "Aunt Kelli's getting married to Zack!!" I was really excited for her. Madalyn talked about Aunt Kelli and Zack for the next 30 min. She asked "does this mean Zack will be my uncle?" I said "yep and you could probably call him Uncle Zack next time you see him." She thought that was great. Later I was talking to my sister and Madalyn had to talk. She told Aunt Amy "guess who's getting married?, Aunt Kelli and Zack." Then she asked to talk to Teegan, "guess who's getting married?, Aunt Kelli and Zack." She then asked for Jackson and Bryson and had the same conversation with each of them. It was really cute.

When we arrived in Round Rock we went to Firehouse Subs to see Ryan and get some dinner. Madalyn immediatley told her dad "guess who's getting married?, Aunt Kelli and Zack." She continued her conversation by asking if they were going to have babies? Ryan said "someday they will." Madalyn asked if they would name the babies Josh and Gabe? Ryan said "no, you already have cousins with those names." That must have satisfied her for now.

Well, Congrats to Kelli & Zack!! We are very excited for you both.

*As a side note every time Madalyn would tell one of her cousins Kelli and Zack were getting married this image of "Saved by the Bell" kept coming in my head. If you don't know what that is you probably didn't watch much TV after school in the 90's. Kelli and Zack were 2 of the charachters in this TV series (Saved by the Bell) and they dated off and on.

Now I KNOW how my Mother felt...

Today one of my good friends that I grew up with came over to my parents with her two girls to visit me and my kids. After we had visited for a couple of hours we decided it was time for lunch at Chick-fil-A. We got into our cars and started down the street. I went one way and Mindi went the other way. Here is my conversation with my 4 year old on the way to Chick-fil-A.

Madalyn: "what happened to Mindi"?

Me: "she went a different way, we will see her in a few minutes".

Madalyn: "oh, Mom we are going to get lost & we don't know where to go".

Me: "Madalyn I grew up in this town I know how to get to Chick-fil-A".

Madalyn: "are you sure we won't get lost"

Me: "yes, I am sure"

Madalyn: "okay, Mom".

On our way home from Chick-fil-A we had much the same conversation only this time she had a little more to say.

Madalyn: "Mom, would you slow down you are driving too fast"

Me: "Madalyn, I am driving the speed limit"

Madalyn: "you are going to get in trouble by the police man".

Me: "no I won't, I am still driving the speed limit".

Madalyn: "well are sure you know where you are going"?

Me: "Madalyn, please stop telling me how to drive".

As I said those last words I could remember my mother & I having a very similar conversation. Now I know how my mother felt when her young daughter was trying to correct the way she drove.

Hershey Kiss Anyone?

Yesterday I could not find Ethan and he was being so quite. I thought he must have fallen asleep somewhere. So I began my search through the house. I didn't take long for me to look under the dinning room table. To my suprise Ethan was not asleep, but he looked like he was going to be sick. I immediatley grabbed my camera an d began to take pitures of my sweet little boy sitting under the table surrounded by Hershey Kiss wrappers. Luckily he never really got sick yesterday.

Family Blessings...

Once again we headed back to Bryan for a visit. This was a special visit because Ryan's sister Elissa and her family were visiting from Kansas. We also had the pleasure of attending church and seeing our nephews blessed.

The kids and I went on wednesday and then Ryan came after work on Saturday.

Wednesday and Thursday we spent just visiting and relaxing with family. On friday we had the 10 grandchildren at sears portrait studio taking a new picture. They did so well, it was absolutley amazing to see the kids behave so well after waiting an hour after our appointment time to get in the studio. Imagine Madalyn is the oldest (age 4) of the 10 grandkids. The youngest 3 are all about 6 mo. old. When my mother-in-law called to schedule the appointment I think the lady at sears was in shock with amount of children and the age range.

On friday afternoon we decided to take the kids to the park and fly a kite. They had fun taking turns holding the spool.

Saturday the kids and I went to a hockey game that my oldest to nephews, (Mason & Bryson) on my side, were playing in. They lost the game but the boys played fairly well and we enjoy watching them play. Then we had another hockey game a couple hours later b/c Mason also plays on the big boys team (age range 12-17, Mason is the youngest and smallest in this league). Mason scored the winning goal and had a very good game. This was his first time to play up with the big boys. I think he does very well at keeping up with them and holding his own.

Ryan arrived at the ice rink at the end of Mason's game and we headed back to Ryan's parents. Ryan, myself, Sara, Nathan, Elissa, Jonathan, Kelli and her boyfriend Zack went out to eat at Oxford Sreet. Grandma and Grandpa kept the grandkids for the evening. After dinner we enjoyed sometime visiting at Sara & Nathan's house while we ate some cheesecake.

Sunday was another busy day with Michael and Andrew being blessed and then lunch after church with all the family. We had to leave Sunday evening but we had a nice visit with our families. We hope they enjoyed thier visit as well.

I'm Tagged

Senior Picture 1998

Well, I have been tagged...but at least I don't have to run around chasing people. This is much more fun and much less tiring. Although, not quite as much exercise. Anyway, Robyn & Liz tagged me, so here you go! :)

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning

B. Each player answers the questions about themselves

C. At the end of the post, the player tags 4 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they are tagged

10 years ago I was:

a Senior in HS counting down the days to graduation

5 things on my 'to do' list today:

1. take a shower

2. watch my kids plus 1 (my niece Teegan)

3. help my mom clean sort through stuff (declutter)

4. check the progress on my townhome being rented in Bryan.

5. practice my patience

Things I would do if I became a billionaire:

1. pay off all debt

2. buy a house

3. set up our retirement

4. set up college funds for our kids

3 of my bad habits:

1. getting frustrated when things aren't done my way (ie. folding laundry)

2. procrastinating

3. jumping to conclusions before I have all the facts

5 places I've lived:

1. Axtell, TX

2. Woodway, TX

3. Rexburg, ID

4. Bryan, TX

5. Round Rock, TX

5 jobs I've had:

1. Hillcrest Hospital (radiology file clerk) Waco, TX

2. Discount Cell (online cell phone & accessories store) Hewitt, TX

3. Advance Therapy (PT tech) Bryan, TX

4. Advance Therapy (a few years later ....Tech and receptionist) Bryan, TX

5. Savant Technologies (answer phone calls for the co. my brother works for) remotely by cell

Things most people don't know about me:

I have not given a talk in sacrament since I was in high school (and dreed the day I get asked to do so ....not very good with public speaking. :)

OKay...now-who's it?

You've been tagged:

1. Mindi

2. Lynnae

3. Julie

4. Mandy

This was fun...thanks Robyn & Liz!