Relay for Life...

This year Zachary and I participated in Relay for Life through the National Spanish Honor Society at his high school.  Relay for Life, you ask?  What's that?  It is a fundraiser that benefits cancer research through the American Cancer Society.  It is a way to give back on behalf of anyone who's ever been affected by cancer, be it a death to cancer or a survivor, it could be a close family member or just a good friend.  In one way or another, most of us have been affected by cancer at some time in our lives.  We have.  We lost our Memaw last year to cancer and other complications.  But there is some good news, we have an Aunt that survived breast cancer and lymphoma, and is still doing great!  Yet, until we participated in Relay for Life we never really knew nor saw just how many people are truly affected each year by cancer.  It was just astounding to see the latest cancer survivors take the first lap around the track and to watch all the people on the sidelines cheering them on!  The relay walking also takes place at night because it is showing that cancer never sleeps so we must continue to keep walking on through the night and continue the fight against cancer.  But even though it was for a noble cause we still had fun as you can see in the pictures.  Zachary stayed all night but I left him with his team mates and teacher, I wasn't brave enough to try it all night...maybe next year!  Yes, I said next year because I want my whole family to be involved next year and to help in the fight against cancer.  If the research even helps just one person, it would be worth it!  

Have wheels, will travel!

So many changes are happening in our lives every single day!  In just 2 days, both of my boys became even more independent than ever.  Yes, they mastered their own set of wheels!  Well...in a way, they did.  Zachary took the driving part of his driving test on Monday, October the 3^rd and just as we expected him to, he passed and is now a legally licensed driver.  It is a somewhat scary thought for me...knowing my son will be driving on the road by himself with all the crazy drivers out there!  Sounds like I will be praying even more and possibly acquiring more grey hairs, I would prefer the first over the latter!  Then on the very next day, Tuesday, October the 2^nd, Zane learned to ride his bike!!  It was rather interesting in how that came about too.  For the past year or so, we had been trying to help Zane learn to ride his bike with the training wheels and learn to balance using them.  But needless to say, it just didn’t happen!  He didn’t like the way he leaned on the training wheels and usually ended up falling over, getting upset, and then finally quitting until the next time.  Well, we were getting ready to go camping and I told him to try it again so that he could take it camping with us if he learned, but he didn’t want try it.  So, I asked him if he wanted me to take off the training wheels and I could try to help him ride it that way.  And to my surprise, he actually said yes!  Off came the wheels and I walked with Zane to the alley, on he got and I gave him a steadying push and he took off riding like he had been riding his whole life!!  My chin about hit the ground because I couldn't believe my eyes...and I think it surprised Zane as well.  Needless to say, the training wheels should have come off a long time ago...but better late than never!  As you can see, both of them are just as proud as they can be...and to be honest, so am I!!  

  

Happy 16th Birthday, Zach!!

Today Zachary turned 16...yes, you read it right, 16!  I am having a hard time comprehending it myself!  He is now legal age to drive and get a job, he's a Junior in High School and has a girlfriend that is older than him...where did my little boy go??    Unfortunately, that little boy is gone, but I can look at Zach and see how he is growing, maturing, and becoming a young man that I can truly say I am proud of!!  He has a great personality, likable by everyone, handsome and just an all-around good guy!  He is also very smart and in the National Spanish Honor Society and about to be inducted into the National Honor Society!! But one of the most important things about Zach is that he truly loves God, loves living for God, and loves being involved in everything to do at church for God; this is what I am most proud of!!  Yet I look forward to what the future will hold for him.  I truly believe that God has placed a calling on Zach's life and I know that if he continues to put God first in his life, there is truly no telling what he could do!!  I can't wait to see what God has planned for him...I just hope I'm along for the ride because it's going to be awesome!  I love you Zach with all my heart....Happy 16th Birthday, Sweetie!!

Fun times with Zane!

Zane is always ready for fun!  Whether it is outside or in the bathtub, he wants to be playing!  Of course, at his age, he should be.  I know that if I ever want a laugh, it's with Zane that I will get it!  I love to watch him being a kid; he's so good at it!  I was just thinking about how much he's growing and how I have to cherish each and every moment that God blesses me with...because that's just what it is, a blessing!!  Well, gotta run. I'm going to play with Zane and have fun!

A new "friend" for Zach...

A lot of things are changing for Zach as he grows up, including a new "friend".  Her name is Amber and she is a very sweet girl that visited our church with another friend!  Zach and Amber really seemed to 'click' and that "friendship" has really grown.  In fact, this new "friend" has consumed a lot of his thoughts and time.  Let's just say it's a good thing we have unlimited texting or we would be shelling out a lot of money!  Now he's looking forward to turning 16 since his Dad said he could group date at that time.  Hmmmm...wonder who his first date will be??    

Happy 9th Birthday, Zane!!

 Today is my sweet little guy, Zane's 9th birthday!  I really can't believe that he actually turned 9 today!  He is growing up so fast and it just blows my mind.  When I look at him I still see my little tender-hearted boy that will always be my baby!  But I can also see a maturing little guy that loves to have fun and be ornery all at the same time!  The baby part of him still loves to cuddle up to me and every so often will let me still rock him...of course, he would just die if he knew I was letting the whole world know that!  Yet the little guy part of him loves to pull a prank and always finds time to pester his big brother, Zach!  He is just this amazing, smart, funny, handsome, sweet little guy that I am so thankful that God placed in my life and for giving me the privilege of being his Mom!  I only pray that I can lead him in the path and teach him the way to please God all the days of his life!  I know that with God on his side, there is no telling what he could accomplish in life...he just has that type of personality!  I just hope that I get to be with him on his journey in life because I know it will be a blast!  I love you Zane with all my heart....Happy 9th birthday, Sweetie!  

School Days, School Days, Dear Old Golden Rule Days....

 So yes, school started this week and I was really sad...probably more than the boys.  They would have liked a littler longer summer break, but they were ready to see friends too...it was bitter sweet for them!  Zane is now a big 3rd grader and Zachary is an 11th grader!  WOW!  It's going way too fast!  But even so, school started out great for them!  Zane is loving his teachers Mrs. Bass and Mrs. Johnson.  He has two teachers because they are job sharing, which is basically where one teaches on Monday and Wednesday and the other teaches on Tuesday and Thursday and they alternate on Friday.  Should be interesting, but they both seem just really sweet!  Zachary has now gone from a trimester year with 5 classes to a semester year with 7 classes and so far, he's not hip on it!  Even though he seems to really like all of his teachers, well, at least so far!!  And I thank God for answering my prayers that both boys would get good teachers this year....I claim it by faith!  Well, just wanted to show off some pictures of their first day...besides, school can't start without me snapping first day pictures!!  My boys just LOVE that I document everything, since I scrapbook.  But oh well, one day they may even thank me for taking a bunch of pictures.  Hey, I can dream!!

  Zachary enjoying his wonderful sausage and egg muffin sandwich.

                He is such a good looking kid, even if I say so myself!

Zach and his best bud, Cody.  It's their last year in school together since Cody graduates this year.

Both of them are not too hip on me snapping their picture as they walk up to the school!

   Zane enjoying his wonderful egg and sausage muffin sandwich.

Zane is such a cutie...and I don't think I'm being prejudice either!

                      Seated at his desk and ready to start 3rd grade!

                                                   Zane and Mrs. Bass

Summer, Summer, wherefore art thou Summer??

Sitting here trying to update a blog, that has unfortunately been neglected, I am forced to reminisce about our summer that is now nothing but memories.  I am totally mystified as to where it went...I still can't figure it out!  I know we did a few things together, like going to Amazing Jake's with friends, going to the Circus, staying up late playing games, and just hanging out.  Nothing too major or really extravagant but we did get to go on one small weekend trip.  It was to the Houston/Galveston area for the second weekend in August....but it was just Zane, Zach, Nana and myself.  Well, let me just tell you about all we did...We got in League City on Friday afternoon and spent the evening in Kemah which was just about 10 miles from where we were staying.  Kemah is a little town on the coast that has a boardwalk which has a very small theme park and several restaurants.  The boys got to ride a boat called The Beast that was very fast and promised to get them wet.  Well, that was right up their alley...and as you can see from the pictures, it truly delivered!!  But they loved it and said they would totally do it again and recommends it to everyone!!

  Kemah is definitely a fun place to go!  The next day, we got up early and headed to Galveston, which was only about 30 minutes away.  The day wasn't too hot and the boys really were looking forward to playing in the ocean...especially Zane!  In fact, he about drove us crazy from the minute we left Rowlett!!

We stayed and played at the beach until about 2pm and then headed off for some lunch.  Then we made our way over to a boat ride in the port that promised we would see dolphins....

And as you can see, we were not disappointed!!  We all really enjoyed seeing the dolphins, it was so fun to watch them jump and play right in front of a boat.  They would actually get in the waves in front of a big boat and it would push them along in a sort of surfing fashion.  It was amazing!  Actually, we enjoyed the whole boat ride...it was definitely worth the money!

Then after the boat ride, we decided we wanted to ride another type of boat...the ferry!  Well, actually, Zane didn't want to go because he was ready to get back to the hotel to swim, but he was out voted and we went on the ferry anyways!  We rode it to Port Bolivar and back.  While on the ferry, a lady handed Zane a bag of cereal to feed the seagulls.  He would throw up some food in the air and they would swoop in to catch it...it was really neat to watch!

If you look closely in the next picture, you can even see the cereal in the air!

But needless to say, Zane loved every single minute of the ferry ride!! So, after the ferry ride it was about 8pm, and with all that we had enjoyed that day, we were exhausted...well, all of us except for Zane, that is!  Yep, you guessed it...he was still wanting to go swimming at the hotel pool!  So since we wanted to make sure Zane really enjoyed our vacation, Zach and I dropped Nana and Zane off at the hotel so they could go swimming.  (Nana had already promised Zane she would swim with him in the pool...and surprisingly, she seemed to have a sudden burst of energy to do it too!!)  So Zach and I went to get some grub.  The night ended with  us bringing in some take-out and we all finally crashed around midnight.  On Sunday morning, we got up and headed out early for the Texas Battleship and the San Jacinto monument.

We had a really great time touring them both.  In fact, I think we were sad to see the weekend come to an end because it seemed to go by so quickly.  But we finally made it home around 7 that night, and after the ride, we were glad!  Yes, it was a quick get-away but it was a good ending to our summer break...yet I'm not really ready for it to be over, even though I really have no control or say in the matter.  Because, trust me, if I could, I would have my kiddos home with me ALL THE TIME...I just love them that much!  So, most likely, my next post will be about them going back to school....YUCK!  Until then...enjoy the time you have with your loved ones, because time passes too fast!

So time does fly!

So yes, a lot has happened in our family since September of last year.  Both boys are growing like crazy and is costing us an arm and a leg to try to keep them in clothes and shoes!  Yes, Zachary turned 15 and was he ever excited....yep, because he was ready to start driving!  He took Driver's Ed in October and got his learner's permit and from that very moment he has not stopped bugging us to drive.  In fact, he is counting down the days until he turns 16 because he THINKS he will be able to drive everywhere and anytime!  HA!  Boy, does he have another thought coming!  However, since we are trying to raise responsible children, we informed him that he will have to get a JOB and actually pay for his insurance, gas and most of the minor upkeep on his truck.  The upside of Zachary is that he is a very responsible young man and is actually a pretty good driver.  Zachary completed 10th grade and made all A's and B's, in fact, his fifth six weeks he actually pulled all A's!  We were and still are very proud of him!  That is a major accomplishment considering all the honor classes he has!  He even managed to earn an Academic Letter for the year!  So, now he has informed us he wants a letter jacket to put it on!  I'm sure he will get it, besides after all that hard work to earn it, you have to have something to show it off on!!  This picture is of him accepting the award!

Zachary is changing everyday...in fact, he even started shaving and it about broke my heart because his baby face will soon be a thing of the past.  He texts girls ALL THE TIME!  I know, I know, it's only normal for his age to start thinking about girls, but it is really making me insane to realize that in a few years he could possibly be serious with one of them!! YIKES!  But I won't borrow worries by thinking about it now...besides, we told him that college is first....now if he will only listen!!

As for Zane, he seems to be growing by leaps and bounds!  He completed 2nd grade with all A's and B's and we were and still are very proud of him too!!  He found a love for reading this year and we thought that would never happen to him because he just didn't seem interested in anything to do with learning.  But he did actually make the comment to me that he really loved to read, and I was so excited to hear him say those words!  At first, I really thought I was hallucinating when I heard it, but thankfully, I wasn't!  He did so well one six weeks that he earned the Pearson Pride award; it is an award given to the kids that perform outstanding during that six weeks!  This picture is of him and his award!

He further surprised me by crying on the last day of school because he was so upset that he was going to miss all of his friends and his teacher!  I was seriously beginning to suspect that an alien had taken him over...but you can imagine my relief when I found out it was still Zane!  Even though he has a soft side, he's still all boy and as you can see from the pictures, he loves to show me his ornery side every now and then!  Gotta love him!

As for me and Ron, we celebrated 24 years of marriage in May.  It comes as a surprise to me that it has already been 24 years....I guess the old saying time flies when you are having fun could really apply here.  Yeah, we've had some rough times but it's the good times that out weigh the bad times....and I wouldn't trade anything for my family!  I am so blessed!  So until I have more to say...make time fly by having fun!!

Some Changes....

This is probably one of the hardest updates to my blog that I have ever made!  Perhaps that is why I have been postponing it for so long....yes, there have been some more changes in our family.  In fact, the day of my last post, we had a very devastating change in our family.  It was Zachary's birthday that day and we were at church when I received a call that Memaw had passed away.  She had been in pretty bad condition since her fall in March 2010.  Yet there were times that when our hope would grow stronger, believing that she was going to get better and get home!  However, that never happened.  I believe in my heart that the day when Pawpaw passed away was the day that Memaw gave up hope of getting better.  She had lost the love of her life and although she loved her family, her soul mate was gone and she wanted to be with him!  It was so upsetting for Ron, the boys and myself, not to mention the rest of the Smith family.  I wanted to write a poem in her memory since I wrote one for Pawpaw; however, words have not come to me to express what she meant to me.  Even as I write this update, tears are streaming down my face for my precious Memaw.  Yes, she was Ron's grandmother...but she was more like my grandmother than Ron's.  There wasn't anything I couldn't talk to her about!  Before her fall, she and I would talk to each other at least every other day, if not everyday!  And oh, how I miss those talks!  There are times even now that I catch myself picking up the phone to ask Memaws' advice about a situation, or ask her how to cook something, or just to chat about my day!  I will forever miss her and never, ever forget her! I will update more about our lives soon...and hopefully soon I can write my own little memorial to Memaw.  It will come, but I think my heart and my head still need some more time....until then I will relive my fond memories of my time with her!