Kendall's Shiner

Seriously, I must give Kendall credit where credit is due.  If she is trying her hardest to get a visit from CPS (Child Protective Services, for those of you that are fortunate enough not to know), then I have to give it to her.  Poor baby!!  Yesterday she tripped on her own feet and landed on the brick outside.  So here is the result of that fall.  As my Dad would say, the brick won that one.  Bless her poor little heart.  But at least I got a great picture of her...looking at the camera and all!  :)

My sweet, black-eyed baby

17 Years Now!!

So, today marks the day 17 years ago that Jeff asked me to go out with him! I cannot believe that it's been that long!!  We actually met on May 30 at Six Flags...and got married on that day 6 years later. 17 years ago he drove to Shreveport to see me. I made a picnic for us with KFC chicken and homemade brownies. (note to self, always ask someone if they like a food that you are going to make/bring for them before you do) Isn't it in a southerner's DNA to love all things fried?!? LOL He never even told me he didn't like it, but his friend did. Jeff ate it with a smile being the gentleman that is always is.  But he really loved the brownies. I guess they were so good he thought I was a keeper. He asked me to go to his car real quick after we finished eating. So here we are sitting there in his car with navy, leather interior with no air on and sweating like pigs as he asks me to go out with him. He gave me a necklace to wear that had a gold baseball glove. Isn't he so sweet?!?  Even though we were so young, I knew that I wanted to marry him from that first summer.  He truly swept me off of my feet the day we met and they still have yet to touch the ground. 

We were in Many on our wedding anniversary last weekend. I just started thinking of how 17 yeras ago on that day I had no idea how God was going to change my life so much. I have been so blessed to have him at such a young age. I've had less break-ups, less bad dates, etc. I told him that day at Six Flags that it felt like I'd known him for years instead of hours. We just hit it off so great from the beginning.

Jeff, thank you for loving me and asking me to marry you. You have given me such joy and 2 amazing children in the 17 years that I have loved you. Thank you for always seeing the best in me and trying to make me see it too...that is such a hard job, I know! Thank you for making sure that I never doubt your love and devotion to me. Thank you for your patience, support and for making me a better me.  I am so honored to be your wife. I can't wait to see what the next 50 years bring us. I love you

Jeff & I at our anniversary dinner at The Mariner in Natchitoches, LA on Sibley Lake

At his parents' anniversary July 2008 

Happy 89th Birthday, Pappaw!!

I can't believe that I forgot to put this in here last week!! Well, I guess I know where my mind was...my hubby leaving me the next week. But while we were down in Many for Memorial Day Weekend, we threw Pappaw his birthday party on Sunday, one day early. He's lived with Jeff's parents for the last 3 years until the last month or two. He took a turn for the worse pretty quickly when he got pneumonia and hasn't been the same since. He's now in a nursing home in Many (his home-town for over 20 years). Almost everyone in the family was there...all but Jeff. It was so great to have so many generations of Trohas there together. Pappaw had 5 pieces of cake and 3 scoops of ice cream! Guess he was hungry. I'm so blessed to have known Pappaw for 17 years now. I always loved it when he would call me his doll...quite the charmer ~ when he wants to be. :) We miss you Dottie!

What a sharp-looking Pappaw!

Me and the girls with Pappaw

Tracie & Aunt Debra

Aunt Deb, Uncle Gary, Dad, Colin & Pappaw

Izzy & Kendall

What a great family pic of Renee, Gabe & Izzy (on the 3rd try LOL)

Uncle Joe & Jason

Megan, Uncle Joe & Aunt Carole

Pappaw with all the kids

Pappaw with all the grandkids...except Jeff

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

So that we could spend more time together on Sunday, we decided to go to Many for the weekend.  Otherwise, Jeff would have to leave at the crack of dawn from Arlington to get to Alec when he needed to.  So when Jeff got home from the hospital Friday morning after working Thursday night we took off.  

Dad got a riding lawn mower down there and wanted to see if the girls wanted to help.  Kendall had no part in it as soon as he turned it on.  It's funny but she has a thing with loud sounds.  Once he came around to the front of the house, Avery couldn't get on it quick enough.  She had so much fun driving that lawn mower.  Once Kendall saw her, then she decided she would love to do that too but with Daddy (way to get brownie points, K).  

Paps & Avery

Daddy with his girls on the lawn mower

Avery especially loves going to Many now.  Daddy has started letting her drive when we are there.  Yes, I mean holding the steering wheel.  Being that we're out in the country on a dirt/gravel road, there are actually some perks to it...especially if you're Avery.  Kendall cracked me up while down there.  She and Avery have started this silly dialogue where they'll call each other pussy cat.  Kendall started passing that on to all of us and now says "bye bye pussy cat" and pretends to go bye-bye.  Yes, so cute but I bet you can guess where this is going. Kendall put a little spin on it this weekend.  Mom and I were sitting there and Kendall looked at Mom and said, "bye-bye poosy."  I about fell off the couch and tried not to laugh to hard.  Then you're in the mind battle, do I say something or ignore it??  I went down the middle of the road and told her that it's pussy CAT...don't forget the CAT.  LOL

Saturday I had my emotional breakdown.  It really hit me that he was leaving on the next day.  I was just so scared that not having him at home during the week would make me such a mean/fussy mom.  I was so worried about taking it out on the girls.  Of course, he knew exactly how to calm me down.  But I can't remember the last time I cried so much that I had a headache and had to throw away my contacts!!  Needless to say, I only had a few tears left on Sunday...seriously just a few.   But we'll be seeing each other on Friday.  The drive home went really well with me, the girls and Jake.  So my weeks will begin the same this month...counting the days down until Friday.

Avery taking a picture of Grammy & Kendall

Avery getting a GREAT picture of Kendall!!