Saturday, November 12, 2016

Scaring the Neighborhood!! Halloween 2016


Here we are, scaring the neighborhood!  Even Dad dressed up this year:)
This is Halloween,
This is Halloween,
Halloween,
Halloween, 
Everybody Scream!!!!!!


 Jackson as Kylo Ren

Kylie as Harley Quinn 

 Carter as Darth Vader

Me as Jack Skellington!

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

ZO, ZO, ZOEY!!!!

We picked up our furbaby on Saturday after a 5 hour drive to KNJ Boxers in Honey Grove, TX. We brought Gunner along to see his family too!  

Zoey is 8 weeks old, born on July 11th.  She is Gunner's half-sister, born to the same mom, Brandy. They are both brindle pups, with slight differences in their coloring.  Gunner is more dark than light and has completely white front legs and collar.  They both have silly, pointed heads and white back feet.  Both equally beautiful to us!!!

We have never had two dogs before, so this is all new to us! So far so good... Gunner seems to be enjoying his baby sister.  They aren't full of love just yet, but they are having fun playing chase, wrestle, and tug-of-war.  Zoey likes to instigate the rough play, but quickly realizes she is the underdog and finds a place to hide from Godzilla aka Gunner.

I am really looking forward to watching the two of them bond!  Double trouble for us! She fits right in to our crazy household!

Picking Zoey Up in Honey Grove!

Sitting in Dad's lap during our pit-stop.

First Photo Shoot!

Sleepy Heads:)

Life is Rufffff!

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Missing you...

I had a dream that we were in the bleachers watching some event... not really sure what all was going on. It didn't really matter.  I looked at you and told you how much I missed you.  You gave me a big hug and told me everything was going to be okay.  
I love you dad.  Miss you terribly.




Sunday, August 21, 2016

ROOOOOAAAARRRR.... THAT'S DINOSAUR FOR HAPPY 5TH CARTER!

Happy Birthday Carter James!!!
Not only was it his 5th birthday, it was also his first day of school.  It was actually the 2nd day of school, but the poor little dude had pink eye and missed his first day.


Hard to believe he is five years old.  It really is a measure of how fast time has gone. He has really grown in the last 6 months. He is starting to lean up and lose his baby chubs. Don't get me wrong, though, he still LOVES being the baby.  He can play that card all day long.  


Another great cake production by Grandma Debbie!  She is getting very creative. 
Doritos for the back plates:) Awesome.



Lots of Star Wars toys for this birthday! 
Darth Vader in the house:)

FACTS ABOUT CARTER AT FIVE YEARS:
  • FAVORITE FOOD - Waffles, Pizza, Cheeseburgers. Not a single veggie. Not one.
  • FAVORITE DRINK - Juice 
  • FAVORITE TOYS - Cars, Transformers. PlayStation, Legos, pretty much anything Jackson plays with.
  • WEIGHT - 48 pounds.
  • HEIGHT - 43.5"
  • SHOE SIZE - 12
  • SPORT - Soccer
  • BEST BUDDY - Cade Cherry

Thursday, August 18, 2016


Kinder, 2nd Grade, and 6th Grade here we come!
It's going to be a great year.  The kids were excited to get back to school!

 Carter - Kinder - Bannockburn Christian Academy
Age: 4/5 (turned 5 on his 2nd day of school)
 Kylie - 6th Grade - Regents
Age: 11
 Jackson - 2nd Grade - Regents
Age: 7
Jackson and Mrs. Walter

Saturday, August 13, 2016

I'll Fly Away

And in just four weeks after the diagnosis, my dad is gone. During those four weeks, each day was worse than the one before. He wanted to fight, he really did, but at some point the fatigue and pain became so overwhelming he had to choose comfort.  We all agreed it was the best choice. Through it, he had so many painful days, full of confusion and frustration.

But... he also had LOVE.  So much LOVE.  During the past month, he has never been alone. Either he was with my mom, my sister or me the entire time.  He wanted it that way.  It was no time to be alone. He wanted his family to be together, and we were.  We talked more than we have in a really long time, and more importantly, we laughed more than we had in a long time.

In the end, we all told him over and over how much we loved him and how proud we were of him.  I promised I would take care of his grandbabies and be the best mom I could be.  I would protect them and not take any chances.  He would always say, "I love you sugar. Don't take any chances." He was always so overprotective of his family, especially my mom and his girls.

On his last days, we played songs, and on one of his last days where he was awake, music was the one thing that would calm him down.  "I'll Fly Away" was always one of his favorites.  When we turned it on, his eyes opened up and he began to sing the words to the chorus.  What a glorious memory!  I'll never forget it.  We sang quite a few songs that day,,,songs about Heaven, about our walk with the Lord, and about the God's promises.

And now my hope lies in the true promise of Heaven. He has made his flight to be with our Heavenly Father.

Love you daddy,
Sugar

http://www.npwelch.com/obituary/william-roy-mahurin/


Sunday, August 7, 2016

How to prepare...

I am sitting in The Christopher House with my dad. This house is a non-profit facility for Hospice patients. My how things have changed over the last few weeks.

My dad kept feeling that something wasn't right.  Every day it seemed like something new was bothering him. He landed in the Emergency Room a few times, sent home both times with no information, then back in the hospital, only to find out he had blood clots in his lungs. Not just blood clots... blood clots as a result of Lung Cancer.  Not just Lung Cancer, but Type 4 Metastatic that had spread to his liver. No cure. No surgery.

The next few days he actually seemed to rally a bit.  He got fluids, some pain meds, and actually started eating pretty well.  We're actually feeling optimistic.  His oncologist said he was a great candidate for chemo, and not the dreaded chemo that makes you crazy sick and lose your hair. He said he would do fine and have hardly any side effects.  It seemed like everything moved in slow motion though. Doctors, more doctors, chemo teach, and finally he gets the port for his chemo.  Port on Monday, start chemo the following Thursday.

Not so fast. Sunday after the placed my dad woke up extremely agitated and confused.  He was in so much pain in his side and back.  He was hot and cold.  He wanted to walk, but yet it hurt to walk. For 72 hours this goes on.  He doesn't sleep and he hardly eats.  He is weak, exhausted and confused.

We head back to the oncologist who then says he is is in no shape for chemo at this point. How in the world did we get here so fast? We tell him we are no longer able to care for him alone and we need help.  He has to decide... does he want to be comfortable and out of pain, or stay the course and see if he can rally enough to maybe get treatment.  He chooses comfort and rest and we agree.  It's not a choice to give up, but a choice to avoid as much suffering as possible.

Each day he slips away more and more from us.  I am anxious for him to be free of this pain and suffering, however, I know what that freedom means.  It means he is free from this body, the one who has is failing.  Free from my sight, but never free from my heart.

I am thankful for this time, even if I just sit and listen to him snoring.  Someday, all too soon, I will miss that snore.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Jackson Turns 7 and One Crazy Summer so far...

Well, I guess it really is July already. Dang. I guess this summer has been so crazy that the time has flown by without much notice.  It finally got Texas HOT here.  It's so funny how we complain about the heat like we've never experienced it before.  I told Adam I think it's because we forget just how freakin' hot and steamy it gets here.

We celebrated big man's birthday on Memorial Day Weekend. In lieu of a friend party (yessss!) he decided he wanted to go to San Antonio to Fiesta TX for the weekend.  We got a room and hit the park for two days! It was a blast.  We're kicking ourselves for not buying the dining plan they offered.  I thought there was no way we'd spend that much money on food.  Hilarious.  You're dying of thirst and they know it.  That'll be $8.00 for a drink, please!  Oh, you're hungry too?  That'll be $10 for that pretzel. Ha! Thank goodness it's healthy, fresh food though (insert smirk here).

Kylie is the dare-devil, so her and Adam got a fast-pass to ride all the stupid, I mean, fun roller-coasters that twisty,turney, upside-downy.  Nope. Not this one.  I'm fine right here with my two little guys. We rocked those kiddie rides though.  And it was fun, so whatever.  The rides with heights I don't mind.  Goes fast, I don't mind.  Goes upside down... I'm out. 








We went home on his actual birthday and he had a surprise waiting for him in the yard!!!


To finish the celebration, we had a swimming party at Grandma and Big Pa's house! Camo party, and of course a sweet camo cake made by Grandma Debbie.



Happy Birthday Big Guy! You have my heart forever and ever!!!

Monday, May 2, 2016

Spring Sports Spectacular!


Another round of Spring sports are in the books!
Jackson played lacrosse for his very first season with the Regents 1st grade team and improved so much over the past few months. His coaches are legit lacrosse coaches and dads, too.  It is such a fun sport to watch! I hope he decides to give it a go again next year. This kid has much potential. 
Go Knights!

 He chose #12... always the 12th man:)

Carter played his second season with Team Brazil! He's still not too sure what he thinks about it yet. He actually likes practices more than games, which seems kinda strange to me. When he was feeling good and wanting to play, he was a rockstar. He's quick and he's tough! I can see him becoming quite the athlete if he sticks with it!



Thursday, April 21, 2016

Family Project 2016

This makes our 6th family project at Regents! Although coming up with the idea is always quite stressful, I love being able to work on a project as a family.  And just think, we still have 7 more of these to do! Ahhhh!!!!  This year we made a bowl out of clay hand prints. It turned out so pretty and it's definitely a memorable keepsake!

 Everyone gets a turn tracing and cutting out each hand.


 I promise I didn't stab him with the stick:)
 Here are all our hands ready to dry!
I am so thankful Kylie loves to help!
Voila! Our finished product!

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Hop to it! Easter 2016



 Easter Program... Bowtie Babe!
 Not too big to hunt eggs!
 Got some loot!
 My big girl checking out her Easter goodies!
 Funny glasses:)
 My three loves!
 So many eggs to find!
Huge chocolate bunny coma

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

When God closes a door...

Today I finally got the call I've been waiting for months to receive.  After an assessment and discussion among a committee of faithful teachers and administration, it was decided our little Carter man needs to wait another year before he starts Kinder at Regents.
I have been deliberating about this for months and months with no resolution, just waiting to have some sort of answer as to what we should do for our sweet boy. I am thankful for a God who closes doors for us, so we know it's not yet time to go through them.
I know there are many parents out there who think it's crazy to even consider sending him on since his birthday isn't until August 17th, but there was no clear indication to me that he couldn't do it, so I couldn't make the call on my own.
Could he survive? Absolutely.
Could he THRIVE?  Now, there is the question... the doubt.
I am at peace and feel very blessed to have friends and teachers who love our family very much.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't relieved to know I have one more year before I drop him off at the threshold of the school he'll be at for 12 more years.  The start of my baby turning into a big boy.  I'm not ready, and I'm pretty sure he's not ready either.  He loves being the baby.  He loves being the youngest, and mama's little man. This mama's heart needs another year.

Lastly, I am so excited for him! He is going to be such an amazing man, I just know it. He has a HUGE heart and he LOVES fiercely.  Almost every night when we are snuggling in my bed he'll put his arm around me and touch his nose to mine and say, "I'll never stop loving you mommy,"

I'll NEVER, EVER stop loving you buddy:)