Wow

Stop this roller coaster I am on. I love how in October I said I was going to pay more attention to he blog. Yea so that didn't happen and I won't say that again. We have had the best and worst year. We have had lots of peaks and valleys but are back on top and hope to stay there. Aaron is still traveling back and forth to Calgary for work but comes home and stays for a few days to a week at a time. Soon (not sure when) he will be back in Houston for good. The company has made the announcement that he is coming back, I know I saw the letter. ;)
Ashley had a great first semester in 10th grade. She made a 90 for her 3rd six weeks in Geometry and an 81 in Chemistry, smart girl. She has showed quit a bit of interest in being a chef and going to culinary school. She can do whatever she wants and has the smarts to make it happen. She has been fighting a battle of her own but she is a strong, wonderful girl that has the 100% support of her family and we are determined to not give up.
Preston and Lily are tornadoes taking on every corner of their tiny world. The are both completely potty trained, except at night. Lily has been trained since September and was super easy. Preston has gone back and forth from underwear to diapers for months until New Year's we figured we were confusing him and decided to totally do diapers during the day. We have had a few accidents but mostly........ success!
3 is well............ good and bad. They are very determined and difficult at times but then they are sweet as can be. Because of this we now have "house rules" all painted on canvas hanging on the wall so they can see. We don't do warnings for rules that are posted, we have gone through them, they know what they are and know they will sit in time out if they are broken. Mainly it's to keep the peace: no hitting, be nice, use your inside voice, no climbing, use your words (the whining is driving me nuts) Things are easier at 3 but then comes the independent Lily wanting to buckle her own car seat and will NOT let you shut the door because SHE CAN DO IT. All while your already running 10 mins late. They are still in preschool on Tuesdays and Thursday's and this is when I run errands, eat lunch with my friends, get my nails did or just come home and enjoy the silence.

Speaking of being late........ we have started the year off by trying to turn things around when we moved back from Canada I knew I was giving up my simple life there but had no idea how busy and chaotic my world here would be. So I am trying to get back to that. I know I am late to almost every single thing I go to and it's mainly because I think I have more time than I do. Instead of getting in the car I think I have time to check my email or clean up real quick or heaven forbid, go to the bathroom.

So that's the family, what about Staci you ask? Well I am still Associate Director of Cypress Calling Ministries, the non profit ministry I founded with my BFF and a few other girl friends back in March 2008. I took a back seat role on the board while in Canada and still attended board meetings by Skype but now I am back. My role as Associate Director is to maintain the database, website, outreach, newsletter, volunteer coordinator, advertising, and make sure the donation checks are deposited into our account. This ministry is very dear to my heart because mentoring to teen mom's is something I always saw myself doing. Being a mom at 16 changed me and helped grow into the person I am today. I am so happy to share that with others who have lost hope. We run exclusively on monetary and item donations from the public. We are a volunteer based group and I am so proud of how far we have come. We have showered over 100 girls with our baby showers and our support group is up to 13 girls.
I also started my own business in June 2010 with the official launch in September. Lily Lou Designs (Lily being form Lily's name and Lou being from Ashley's middle name, Louise) an embroidery and appliqueing company that was initially a hobby. One thing led to another and I got a DBA, tax id and a bank account. Now that I am all legit the orders started to roll in. Boy did they roll in. I did not prepare myself for how busy I was at Christmas but I am grateful to be doing something I love. Now it's Valentines and Rodeo season.
Aaron and I with our friends Jenn and Kevin started a wine group. We meet once a month and taste wine from different regions. Who wouldn't want to do that. Every month we get a baby sitter and hang out with adults, I look forward to this.
Well that's our life as we start the new year. here's to 2011 and I hope it brings you lots of happiness.

Follow up Friday

Thank you to everyone who has participated over the last few months. I have really enjoyed opening up my mind and heart to answer your questions. 

The Mommy Diaries asked: What is your dream job? 

ANSWER: As most stay at home moms would say I am doing my dream job. Once the kids are in school I would love to open my own business. I am not sure if I want to pursue insurance since I was an agent before I had the twins I feel like I know so much about that field. I have thought about a day care as scrap booking store, Northwest Houston is in desperate need for one of these. Who knows maybe Cypress Calling will grow so big and we will have to hire staff to maintain the ministry. I already love to volunteer so to get paid for it would be a dream! 

Robyn asked: Did the preserves arrive yet? There is a funny story to go with it! Enjoy your summer out and about. That is what we do!

ANSWER: No but I can't wait until they do. I will surely let you know. Thanks so much!  

Joe asked: Since it's gonna be a while, you deserve a coupla questions: 

If you could change one thing about your looks, what would it be? (I think you're lovely just as you are, by the way:) 

ANSWER: For sure my momma fat on my belly. I wish my stomach was flat. 

If you had to be on a reality tv show, which one would it be and why?

ANSWER: Well it wouldn't be American Idol.......... I can't sing at all! I loved that show Secret Millionaire that aired last year on Fox. It only lasted a few shows but we really enjoyed it. It was about these super rich people who go and live in a different side of town than they are used to. After a week and getting to know people in the community they pick a family to award $10,000 to. I would love to do that. 

What is one food you refuse to eat? 

ANSWER: Hmmmm well I never met a food I didn't like. I will usually try everything but if I don't like it I won't eat it again. One I can think of right now is liver and onions, been there, tried it and don't like it at all! 

Annie asked:What kind of plans do you have for summer?

ANSWER: We have Aaron's mom, grandmother and his mom's best friend coming up to visit on June 10th for a week. Then we have my aunt, uncle and cousin coming on July 11th for 2 weeks. Me and the kids will fly to Texas with them on July 24th then Aaron will come down and meet us in Texas. We will go to Louisiana to visit his family then head back home. We are so excited to have people come to visit. The summer is really the best time here. 

Do you have any vacation travel outside of United States or Canada? 

ANSWER: I didn't tell you we are going to visit you in Puerto Rico........ just kidding.  No we figure if we are going to get on a plane we should head south to visit our family. 

What kind of food the kids enjoy?

ANSWER: All kinds. They love fruit but I try not to give them too much because it gives them major dirty diapers. Lily doesn't like bananas or potatoes. 

Do you prepare different snacks for the kids?

ANSWER: They eat an afternoon snack everyday after nap time, around 3. I try to make it healthy and not too much sugar. A few of their snacks are freeze dried fruit crisps, graham crackers with peanut butter, dried cranberries, cheese, goldfish crackers. I need to try and find some sort of veggies snacks. 

Cypress Calling Ministries

Before leaving for Canada some girlfriends and I started a ministry called Cypress Calling. Cypress Calling helps pregnant women who are in need of strength, counseling or prayer. Since starting Cypress Calling the ministry has really taken off. This past weekend there was a planning retreat to lay out the future of Cypress Calling for the next few years. I am honored to have been chosen to be the creative coordinator for Cypress Calling. I will be in charge of scrapbooking, tag making and documenting all the activities, as well as keeping up with the Cypress Calling Chronicles blog. I was fortunate enough to attend a Cypress Calling baby shower while I was in Texas in October. I can not tell you how awesome it is to give a basket full of baby items to a pregnant mother in need. It was so rewarding.