Another good weekend in our books.  (yes, I know it's Tuesday!) Monday was...it was probably the busiest work day I've had in a LONG TIME!  I knew that I needed to leave work early because I was getting to go to the Ranger's game in Arlington.  So, I had to bust tail up until I left.  And that's what I did! We are extremely busy right now.  Which is always a good thing.  But can be stressfull. The clock said 3:30 and I was out da door! Dustin and Molly got 12 tickets to sit in the Coca-Cola suite and Leven couldn't go because of volleyball so he told me that I should go.  Mom and Dad also went, my nephews and Carl (cousin Chelsea's hubby).  It was a good time and I'm feeling it today.  I got in bed at 2:00 am! When my alarm went off this morning I thought I just woke up from a nap.  Crazy feeling. 

Trever NEVER posts pictures! I hate it because we don't ever get to see him.  So a picture here and there would be nice.  So finally this past weekend, we saw some pictures of him with his friends.  FINALLY!

On Saturday, Leven and I got a small date (time with no kids) and took advantage and went to the Carthage/Gilmer football game. We only spent about 3 hours kidless, but it was nice. 

Saturday before we left for the football game, Taydem and I painted a couple of pumpkins Tatum Eagle Green! I try and find things like this to do with her as much as I can.  I know she enjoys stuff like this. 

 

Zombie

This week has been a week for me.  Since starting my safety meetings back up, I have seen the sun rise 3 times this week.  Tuesday morning I left the house at 4:10 AM!! Yes, AM! This morning I left at 4:40 and Monday I didn't get home from work until almost 10:00 PM.  It's been rough and I'm walking around like a Zombie. 

 

I'm singing in my cousin's wedding in a couple of weeks along with her brother-in-law who will be playing the guitar as I sing.  They came over again last night to get another practice in.  I think we got it down pretty solid.  I can't wait to see my cousin as a bride!

 

Leven had his first district volleyball game on Tuesday night against Tatum.  It's so hard when we play Tatum, because I wanna cheer for both teams.  So I wore my Carthage gear and sat on Tatum's side.  Carthage killed Tatum! It's so frustrating really, because I wanna see Tatum do better, because they have excellent athletes.  But I honestly think the coach needs to move on or maybe just coach junior high.  I feel she's just not in it anymore.  She came to Tatum when Danin was a senior.  So it's been awhile and the volleyball program was better when we were in school.  Leven's team was on a whole different level! My dream-----for Leven to coach at Tatum and one day coach our Taydem!

 

Yesterday across the state of TEXAS, schools gathered around their flagpole (See You at the Pole) for a moment of prayer.  I wanted to make sure I took Taydem this year.  The Primary school had the least amount of kids/parents there.  But the other schools had a wonderful turnout.  I did this when I was in school as well! Keep it going TEXAS!

FALL--ing into Fall

I always have tons more pictures to share after the weekend.  Busy busy.

 

Friday night we headed to the first home Tatum Eagle football game.  My parents have sat in the reserve seating section since we were very small kids.  They have the same seats after all these years.  So now the next generation sits there.  When us Anthony's all make it to the game, it looks like a zoo I'm sure.  There's usually 9-10 kiddos piled up on Mom and Dad and cheering loud, blowing horns....you get the picture.  It gets a little crazy! I'm sure the people up behind us think "oh no, the Anthony's are here!"

But we do have spirit!! And we cheer loud! And we have on our GREEN!

Taydem, Tenlee and myself bounce back and forth with our colors.
 Red and green, red and green!

Danin and I took the girls to Ellis Pottery on Saturday.  She and I both needed some more fall décor and Danin had told me about all the pumpkins EVERYWHERE! I have a porch now (!!!) and wanted to decorate it a little. Leven was at a volleyball tournament all day Saturday that he was hosting in Carthage.  I wanted to put my fall stuff out that day and needed his help getting my one big tub down from the attic.  But Mrs. Impatient couldn't wait for him to get home.  So I climbed up in the attic, opened the tub and carried one item down at a time and handed it off to Taydem. Obviously, the tub was too big for me to hand off to Taydem.  It took us a little longer, but we got it done.  The next few weekends are going to be busy for us and I wanted to get it decorated now.

 

 

 I forgot to take a picture of the front porch.  I will do that sometime this week and post.

 

Today I drive almost 3 hours to Franklin, do an inspection at their facility and then give a training over SPCC and Storm Water plans.  It usually takes about 40 mins for the training, and then turn around and drive home.  I do these trainings for this one company once a year.  This is my 3rd year doing them.  The first year I was so dang nervous to get up and speak in front of a room full of men.  I'm a little better now!

 

Make it a great week!

~DB~

 

Started my morning off right with my shake.  So far it's 9:30 and I haven't even thought about eating.  Usually by now I'm wanting to put something in my mouth.  Love these shakes.

 

I also have my green on.  Tatum is finally having a home football game after 4 weeks! Taydem is cheering at the very beginning (mini cheer campers) and she has been waiting for Friday all week. 

 

Leven plays White Oak at 4:30 today.  I hate Friday volleyball games because I always miss them.  But I'm going to try and leave a little bit earlier this afternoon so I can make this game.  This will be a good one!

 

Tomorrow Leven is hosting a junior high tournament at Carthage all day.  I have a baby shower tomorrow morning and then NOTHING after that! What to do...what to do.

TGIF!

It's going to take awhile before we get the house "complete."  I'm not even sure what "complete" actually is.  But each week I'm trying to do something else. If I had all the money in the world, then it would already be complete! And now FALL is here, I'm wanting to buy more fall stuff to add to my collection.  Really the past two years I haven't decorated for the seasons.  When we were selling our house, we were advised not to decorate a lot.  And then last year we were in the apartment and all my decorations were put away in storage.  So I'm liking this right not! The picture below is a wall in our bedroom. I loved reading all the messages from all our family and friends the night we got married!

 Our grass is getting there! Something else I want to add to the front porch are some big planters to go on each side of our front door.  I'm looking now and pricing. 

 I'm still working out as much as possible.  I love it and I don't want to stop and have to start over again.  Even if I'm walking 20 mins, that's better than doing nothing at all.  Last night I did another video and felt so good while doing it.  Afterwards, I pushed Tenlee in the stroller around our neighborhood and even ran a bit! Tenlee loves it! I swear we were totally blessed with great children.  Tenlee is probably the most laid back "chill" toddler you will ever meet. 

www.beachbodycoach.com/devinbarker

 

Last Friday night a few of my friends and myself went out to eat to celebrate one of our good friend's birthday!  I haven't laughed that much in a really long time and the food was so delish! Such a good time together!

 I left poor Leven home with the girls when he wasn't feeling good.  Taydem is the best babysitter ever! Leven felt horrible all weekend and finally took himself to the doctor today.  His blood pressure was up quiet a bit so he's supposed to watch it all week.  But thankful NO STREP! That's what we were thinking it could be because his throat has been killing him.   

The birthday girl!

Saturday Taydem had two softball games.  The weather was by far the best thing about those games! I'm not going to complain right now, especially at her age, but I'm not sure she's even getting anything out of playing this fall.  She's one of the youngest on her team, so I feel as though they let all the older girls get first shot in the infield.  Everybody knows at their age, the out field NEVER sees a ball hit to them.  So they have Taydem just "standing" out in right field.  She is so bored but hasn't said anything to me about it yet.  I wish they would at least let her play in the infield one of the two games.  Also with this league (and their age) they usually get to hit once, MAYBE twice.  So again, she's not getting anything out of batting either. 

ok, rant over!

 

Yesterday the girls and I went to church and left Leven home in bed.  We had errands to run while in Longview afterwards, so it was good to not have him to drag along!!

Tenlee fell asleep right when I pulled into the parking lot of Walmart.  So as I carried her in and put her in the grocery cart she was still bobbing her head.  Taydem and I were cracking up.  I quickly took a picture of her passed out.

 

I wish I was sleeping right now! Happy Monday!

 

May the Lord........

 

I bought myself a new daily devotional last week.  I have my Jesus Calling book here with me at the office but I wanted something for my quiet time at home.  I'm such a night owl so I wanted to start using a few minutes each night with God.  I LOVE having a porch now and this would be the perfect place for myself once the girls hit the bed. 

 Tonight Leven's team plays Hallsville.  When we were at Pine Tree, Hallsville was our rivals so a part of us still wants to beat Hallsville badly when we play them, even at Carthage.  Taydem made these bracelets for all the Varsity girls and handed them out to them yesterday at their practice.  She made 15 of these things!

 My dad had this seesaw made for the kiddos.  He bought the seats in Tennessee the last time they were there and then some guys close to Tatum that are really good welders made the other part. The build a lot of custom smokers. Dad brought them a picture and they did their thing! Love it.

Leven had practice yesterday, so the girls and I tagged along.  While practice was going on, I took advantage of their weight room.  We also took a trip to Walmart to kill some time.  I made one of my Shakeology shakes Monday morning and Tenlee loved it.  She was cracking me up.  She's so dang cute!

 

 

Trucking along

The Oil and Gas Industry has really hurt a lot of folks in the past 6 months.  But very thankful my company is still trucking along. This week has been so busy for us and it's hard to believe it's Thursday already.

Tuesday night during Leven's volleyball game, one of his player's lost her dad to a motorcycle wreck.  The wreck happened during the last game.  So terribly sad.  Leven stayed up at the hospital with her until about 11:00 that night.  I can't even imagine losing one of my parents at the young of an age.  And then yesterday another one of his player's lost her grandfather who was only 64.  So he didn't have practice yesterday.  They talked  A LOT and went over film.  So I'm hoping he's had a better day today along with his team. 

My brother and SIL are having an adult only pool party on Saturday.  I'm so looking forward to this.  It's good to have adult conversations and relax time every now and then with no kids around. Should be a good time.

We have softball practice tonight! I actually look forward to these practices.  The Tatum ball park has a huge walk path that makes a circle with some good hills.  So myself and a couple other moms usually walk while practice is going on.  Monday we got 3 miles in! BAM.  And Tenlee gets pushed around and around.

I'm trying my hardest to keep being active and I drink my shakes every morning.  Love my shakes!