Yesterday we took Trever to Marc Bailey (http://www.marcbailey.com/) to have his SENIOR PICTURES made! I was sitting there watching him and it brought back the first time I met the little boy. Leven introduced us and the first thing Trever said was, "Hey, you wanna check out my new hearing aids?" He was so cute and could seriously talk to anyone about ANYTHING! (so much like Taydem) After getting married to Leven, I quickly learned that I had to become a responsible adult sooner than I had expected. I was now the mom to a little 11 year old boy!! Not going to lie, being a step parent is by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I thank the lord every night that Trever was such a good kid. I know things would have been different if he lived full time with his mom, but that wasn't the case. He was now living with me and I was helping raise him. Between his mom, Leven and myself, I think we have done a pretty good job! Super proud of him and I have enjoyed watching him grow into a young man. Don't get me wrong, there have been times where I wanted to strangle him (not really, but you get the point). But over all, he's been fun! Let this SENIOR YEAR begin. Here is a pic of him posing yesterday.  Can't wait to see the final pictures!

This past weekend was so relaxing. We had no plans but to really just lay around the house. Friday and Saturday night was spent playing Monopoly. We love this game and it gets to be pretty competitive.

Saturday afternoon I took Taydem over to a new splash park that was built by our house. We heard it had opened and we needed to get out of the house for a little bit.  She loved it. I think we were three for almost 2 hours. Who knew that water shooting up out of the ground could be so much fun.  We didn't get there until close to 6:00 which was the perfect time because it wasn't very crowded and wasn't too HOT. I think I've decided to have her 5th birthday party there.  Something new for the kiddos to go crazy at!

Last night we headed out to Mom and Dad's for chicken spaghetti, banana pudding and homemade icecream! I think we all left feeling as if we could throw up (in a good way) because we stuffed ourselves! The kids swam and we got a laugh out of watching the Texas Ranger's baseball game. A huge bolt of lightning crashed in the stadium and all the players took off running. It sounded like a gun shot from the TV. But my brothers got a kick out of it and kept rewinding the DVR so they could watch each player, coach, umpire and people in the stands as they react to the strike!  click on the link below to watch it:
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/texas-thunder-lightning-strike-sends-rangers-twins-scurrying-031552572--mlb.html

My new favorite jean are Miss Me jeans. I started buying them about a year ago and I can't stop! Check out my newest pair!

I hated that we celebrated the 4th on a WEDNESDAY! I am so off today.

We spent most of our day yesterday out on the lake.  Lake Cherokee puts on "Sink the Island" every 4th of July. I believe it was the 15th annual.  They always have volleyball, a live band, and the incredible fried catfish! Yesterday had to be one of the hottest days so far of the summer. I was drained by the time we got home and I'm worn out today as well. Good times with our family and friends.

This weekend we have NOTHING planned! Can't believe it. Happy Thursday friends!

Beaumont HEAT

This past weekend we made a quick trip to Beaumont for another one of Trever's baseball tournaments. His team played two games on Saturday and two games on Sunday. Talk about miserable....it rained all day Saturday which put the games behind just a little bit. But once the rain was out, the humidity was ridiculous.  I swear we could hardly breath. And I thought North East Texas air was bad. Taydem and I only watched the first game on Saturday (bc she was getting restless) then we headed to the hotel to get checked in and take a shower.  That night we went to eat at Joe's Crab Shack and later met up with my sweet friend Amanda.  Amanda and I met in college while both working at Texas Roadhouse. It was one of those instant friendships. We later took a trip to Florida with a bunch of our friends and had a blast! She graduated and I stayed for one more year to finish my education program. Since then she has been in numerous broadway shows!That has always been a dream of hers and she is living it up.  Singing, dancing, acting...she can do it all! Very talented woman....Super proud of her and I can't wait to see her on stage again. She is also an outstanding writer, always has been. Follow her blog....http://www.amandalavergne.com/
I loved my visit with her...it had been way to long. ONE DAY, I will get up to New York to see her!

Here are some baseball shots I took of Trever

In THE HOLE!

Last Thursday and Friday my company played in the annual API Golf Tournament. This is a huge tournament with tons of oil and gas vendors/companies and our company sets up a tent every year and cooks ribs, quail, sausage, pork chops, tamales, chicken, etc. Well this year they wanted me to PLAY on BOTH days. I was only going to play on Thursday but a guy couldn't make it on Friday so they asked me to play again. Golf is one sport that I really suck at. Our tee time for both days was 7:00 AM! That is really early to be playing a sport I don't care much about. But I was a sport about it and had a good time. Towards the end of both days I pretty much gave up. I hit the ball straight, but it goes seriously like 50 feet in front of me. Needless to say, I dropped by ball with someone else every time. I couldn't complain at all. Getting out of the office anyday is a plus. 

This weekend we are heading to Beaumont to watch Trever's select baseball team play at Lamar University. AND....my sweet, talented, beautiful, broadway sensation friend AMANDA is actually in town. I couldn't believe it when I texted her. She lives in New York, but her hometown is only about 15 minutes from the Beaumont area. I have not seen her in about 7 years. Super pumped about this visit.

This is my niece Austyn and my nephews Ashby and Aidan. If this isn't precious, I don't know what is!!!

We had a cookout at some friends house this past Saturday. The birthday kiddos....my SIL in Chrissy and my sexy hubby!

Another Vegas pic!

Vegas...well what else can I say! It was one of the best trips we've ever taken with our friends. We had a ball. Of course right now I'm still trying to catch up on sleep and getting use to the time zone difference. There's so much to do and see in this town and believe me, we didn't even come close to seeing even half of it. Leven's sister suprised him on Saturday by flying to Vegas for just the night. When I say just for the night, that means we pulled an all nighter. She didn't even get a room because her flight was leaving at 7:30 Sunday morning. He was so suprised. Leven and I put her in the cab around 4:45 am and we got to our room a little after that. We enjoyed the pool, ate good, and I even came home a WINNER!!! I know how to play Black Jack, but now I really know how to play. I came home with about $700 more than I came with! Leven on the other hand, well, let's not even go there! Today is Leven's actual birthday. So happy 40th to my best friend, lover, soul mate, and the man that still makes me laugh every day.

This was the night we went "downtown" to the old Vegas strip. We had the best time down there. We sat at one black jack table from 8:00-1:00! I won $200 that night and Leven won $500.

Out to eat with my sister and her hubby at N9NE Steakhouse at The Palms! Dinner was wonderful

Our first night being in Vegas!

Leven and Terri!

After we ate that night we headed up to the Ghost Bar lounge. It was outside at the very top of this hotel. The view was stunning!

I have so many pictures of Vegas, but it would take me all day to put them on this blog. So I gave you just a sample.

My parents are on their way to Omaha, Nebraska right now. My dad has ALWAYS wanted to go to the baseball college world series so.....they are! Too bad there's no Texas teams playing in it this year. So while they are gone for a week we are having to tend to the garden and water all her flowers. My Meme just called me and told me I needed to get out to her house and get these tomatoes and cucumbers picked! haha.

While we were in Vegas Taydem spent the night with them and then her Grans (Leven's mom) came and got her and took her on to our house for a day until we got back. Taydem is worn out just like we are! ha....She has not wanted to get up for school these past two mornings. We thank our parents so much for watching her. She has had two swimming lessons so far! Thank goodness. I think after a few more she will be ready to swim without her floaties.

she finally got brave and jumped off the diving board!

Swimming lessons with Kaitlyn

oh so sassy!

Las Vegas= 3 days! Yea-uh

Instagram pics: (I forgot to do Day 8..oops!)

Sweet niece spent most of Saturday with me

Shopped on Saturday and Sunday for Vegas!



This past weekend I was asked to sing in a wedding for a very sweet and loving couple.  This was my first time to be asked to sing in a wedding that I didn't know the couple (does this make me a professional, ha?) In the past I have sang in friends and family weddings, but was never paid for it! This time I got some $$$! Our Friday night was spent at the rehearsal and dinner following the rehearsal. I asked Leven to go with me since I didn't know anyone. Of course I was nervous as heck. As many times as I have sang in front of people I still get nervous and sweat like a pic (do pigs sweat?). This was the first time to sing while the bride was entering! Holy Cow. I did not want to mess this up. I guess I sang all the words correctly. I was too wrapped up in the moment watching her walk down the aisle. So sweet.

After the wedding my sister and I headed to the mall to do a little shopping for our Vegas trip. None of us know what we are exactly doing or going while we are out there so it's hard to figure out what to pack. So we just assume---pack it all! I bought several things on Saturday and then turned around and bought more on Sunday in Shreveport! I think I'm ready now. I better be at least.

Still working out!

Trever is working (a lot) right now. I think he's loving this money he's making. This next check should be a good one. We are going to open him a savings account ASAP so he won't spend it all this summer. The boy is almost 18!

Leven gets his stitches out tomorrow! He has been waiting on this day for the past 2 weeks.

Taydem has a dentist appointment this afternoon and then we will head over to the school board meeting where Trever's baseball team is being recognized. Trever made 2nd team all district (Utility Player) and also the All-Academic team.

My sweet friend Suzy sent this to me last Friday. Their back yard is amazing! This is just a small snipit!