What is Wrong With Me?

The last couple of days have been a complete blur for me. It all started on Monday evening around 6pm. I started having weird pains on my right side. I didn't think much of it until that night when I couldn't sleep b/c the pain was so severe. So that morning Ben took me to the minor emergency clinic (while my amazing friends watched the boys, Thanks!!), and they said I need to go to the ER and get a CAT scan b/c they think it might be an appendicitis. So we rush over to Baylor (amazing hospital by the way) and they got me going on some drugs right away. Then I had to drink this nasty stuff so my organs will "glow" when they do the CAT scan. So I get the CAT scan and they had to inject some iodine in me (which was really weird feeling, it just felt like my chest and stomach were really warm and then it felt like I was peeing on myself). The tests came back normal. Great, no surgery needed, but now we have to figure out whats wrong with me. They did an ultra sound, normal. Pelvic exam, normal. So, they load me up with lots of pain killers and send me home. Let me tell you how bad the pain is: can't walk, can't breathe, can't cough, can't lay down, can't sit up, you get the picture. The next day I had to go to my regular family Dr. who was in contact with the ER Dr. They just said to go home and rest. So I did. I slept and slept and slept. Now today, I feel fine. My pain level is at 2, where as before it was a good 9.5-10. So progress has been made! I am on a clear liquid diet. Let me just tell you how hungry I am! I am hoping I can eat me some grub tonight.

I want to thank everyone for all the prayers, without them, who know what could have happened! Also thanks to all the family and friends who have called and watched my boys, that was a huge blessing! Thank you!

Caden's 5th Birthday...A.R.M.Y style

Wow! It has been a very long time since I have posted anything. It has been one of those weeks. I was getting ready for Caden's b-day, my parents were coming, and I got a new church calling...YW President (needless to say, I feel a bit overwhelmed). So with all of that, things have calmed down, and there are lots of pictures! Caden's birthday party was on Saturday, April 12 (his real b-day is on the 11th) and we had it at Chuck E. Cheese. Let me tell you how great it is to have a party somewhere other than your home. There is no cleaning before, planning games, cleaning up after, etc... and you end up spending about the same! I'm becoming a fan! Although you all know how much I love to plan a party!! Anyway, here are some pictures of our weekend.
This is the cake I made. It took me FOUR hours to make the thing. I am happy the way it turned out though! Can you guess what the tire treads are??? Bubble tape painted black. The "gun" or "missile" is a pretzel rod covered in chocolate. The dirt is frosting with crushed Nilla wafers and brown sugar. I think I am enjoying making cute cakes like this...if anyone needs a cake, I'll make it for you!!!

Caden and his best bud, Evan.
Caden blowing out his candles. While this was happening, Noah was at some other kids table blowing out his candles. Oops. All of a sudden I see all the parents looking over at the other table laughing hysterically and I look over and see him doing his mischief and the other table is just staring at Noah. I'm sure they just wanted to strangle me!
Caden and Noah with Chuck E.
Of course all the Dad's had to have their own little cup of tokens so they could play their own games. This is Ben and his dad, Ed, playing some gun game.
Caden with his friend, Hannah (her parents are our good friends from Lewisville, Kelly and Alma)
Poppi and Noah, dressed as Spiderman. A few minutes after this picture, we were outside saying goodbye to Ben's family and Noah was running around in his little outfit and ran smack in the middle of a pillar in the front of our house. He split is lip open and scrapped his chin up pretty bad. Not too mention he got some big bruise on his cheek while at Chuck E. Cheese. He's not looking so good right now...
After his birthday party, he had a soccer game to play in. He scored 2 goals: one for Mimi and one for Poppi. He did a great job! Go Caden!
The Thunder Dragons!!! Caden, Ayden, Caden, Evan, Cason. Are they not the cutest??

Update on the Potty Training...Noah did it in one and a half days! Was he ready or what? The other day we were on our way to preschool and when we were half way there and yells:
Noah:"Mom, It's Gonna Blow!"
Me: "What? What's gonna blow?"
N: "Me! I gotta go! I gotta go pee!!"

Needless to say, now whenever he has to go potty really bad, he yells, "It's gonna blow!"
Anyway, he's done really well, the #2 thing is just getting underway. His excuses have been:
1. Mom, it just too hard
2. Mom, its just too big, it won't come out or,
3. I'll find him in his room trying to put a diaper on himself, which was quite amusing to watch.
So, for those of you who have two kids, and ready to potty train the second, it's MUCH easier than the first. Now, for Jamie who has twins...good luck!!

Do You Want To Make Pie?

I finally have a few minutes to share a blog...there is much to blog, so I will scatter them throughout the week:-) I serve in Young Womens at my church and it was "Pie Night" last night and all the leaders have to bring a pie. So, I made one up since I don't have very many pie recipes. I hope you enjoy it, the girls seemed to like it. (I was going to post a picture of the inside of the pie, but it was gone...I thought I would have gotten some leftovers, oh well, use your imagination!) Grasshopper Pie:
Crust:
1 Oreo pie crust

Ganache:
1 c. heavy whipping cream
1 c. semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 tsp. vanilla (opt.)

Place chocolate chips in a bowl. Set aside. Heat whipping cream in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil. Immediately pour the cream on top of the chocolate chips, allow to stand for 3-5 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth and creamy. Pour about 1/2 cup - 1 cup (or more if you would like) of ganache on bottom of pie crust. Refrigerate until firm. (Keep the remainder in the fridge and you can make truffles out of the rest: roll into a ball and coat with powdered sugar or cocoa or chocolate covered strawberries, or just eat it out of the bowl like my children)

Ice Cream Part:
2 pints of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Take it out of the freezer and let it get soft. Put it in a bowl and get it smooth and put on top of the ganache. Freeze it for at least 4 hours.

Toppings:
Whipped cream:
1 c. heavy whipped cream
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Whip cream until almost stiff. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until cream holds its peaks. Put in a pastry bag and pipe stars around the pie. Put crushed mint OREOS in the center. Voila!
This is a picture of what I found...Noah with his little chair digging into the remainder of the ganache. Yes, we are potty training, you are lucky you don't see whats really under the shirt! Needless to say, between him and Caden, I didn't have enough to make truffles.

Potty Training In Progress...

Sorry I haven't posted anything in awhile. We have been potty training. Let me tell you how much I hate potty training. Caden seems to think that he should get just as much juice and treats and prizes as Noah does. (Not to mention all the unnecessary sugar that these boys are getting, total sugar rush!) Everytime Caden goes potty, he thinks he should get the potty dance and everything else! Whats up with that? Noah is peeing in every and all rooms of the house. My bathroom isn't smelling so great, and I have to take him to the bathroom like every 10 minutes. For those of you who haven't had to potty train yet...your in for a treat! However, Noah is so ready for it...lately he has been ripping off his diaper when anything gets in there, let me tell you what a mess that has been;) He also asks me all the time to go potty and runs to the potty to go. It's time. We bought all the prizes, treats and juice yesterday and have been in training. We've had some success. I still hate being stuck at home and not leaving the house. Oh well. Not having to change diapers is keeping me going! I am seeing the light! Anyway...If you have some suggestions that worked for you, especially with going #2, let me know! I'll post some other things later, especially with which logo I will be picking! Thanks for voting!

Logo!

My amazing roommate from college has been designing my business logo. She has come up with several to choose from. They are all so amazing I can't decide which one I like the best! So, click on the link and leave me a comment and let me know your top 3 favorite, or if you are dead set on one, one is good too! I am so excited! As soon as I choose, then she will do my business cards, stationary, etc! Kellie, you are amazing! Thank you so much for doing this for me! Also, if any of you need some amazing photographs or a new logo yourself, contact Kellie here.

To look at the logos, click here: (don't forget to leave a comment!!)
Elements Photography

Our Annual Easter Trip...

It seems like the last few years we end up in Austin for Easter. So, I'm thinking that this might be our new family tradition. If you ever want to come...we would love it! Last year we were with my cousin, Jennie and her family . This year we went with my parents. We had so much fun! We got there on Friday and spent the day stuffing ourselves and then shopping. Let me tell you how wonderful the outlet shopping in Austin are...you never leave empty handed!

The next day we went to McKinney Falls and did a 3 mile hike. Yes, with the 5 year old and a 2 1/2 year old! They burnt off LOTS of energy! Here are some pictures from the day!Getting ready for the big hike! Yes, Noah is wearing a Pirates "hat" with the "beads" hanging from it.

Stopping for a break. We found picnic benches and had some lunch and then had an Easter Egg Hunt. We fill most of the eggs with candy and then some others with a paper that says "prize!!" and with that egg, they get a prize. Well, they refused to pick up the empty ones because there was nothing in them. What's the point??


On Sunday, we went to see the capitol. What a beautiful building! The boys seem to have a problem with taking pictures. Caden does some fake smile and can't hold still and Noah just does his own thing. So these were the best we could do. Maybe one day I can get some good pictures out of them...until then, this will have to do!!







While we were walking around, a police officer came up to us and asked if the boys wanted to play in the cop car!! How cool is that? so the boys had a fun time playing around in there and pushing buttons. Too bad there were no bars in the back, we could have locked them up!

Tag, I'm It!

I got tagged by my friend Kandice...so if you want to know more about me and Ben, continue reading!!

How did you meet your spouse?
My older brother, Eric, and Ben were next door neighbors at Ricks. Eric told me that Ben is serving his mission in Paris, France and that I should start writing him. So I did, and we wrote each other for 2 years before we finally met. We met on our first date...

Where did you go on your first date?
I lived in Houston and Ben lived in Dallas and Ben and his mom were driving to Houston to see a friends mission return. So Ben and I met up and decided we would go to dinner and a movie. Well he called me that day and told me that his mom wanted to come. I didn't want to feel awkward so I made my mom come with me. All four of us went to Outback Steakhouse, and it we had fun, not at all awkward. Then we ditched the mom's and we went to a movie.

How long have you been together?
Married for 8 years on May 5, but "dated" for over a year and friends 2 years before that. So I guess 11 years or so.

Who eats more?
Depends on what we are eating. If it is "Ben friendly", then Ben does. If not "Ben friendly" then me.

Who said I love you first?
Ben did, and I said thank you back.

Who is taller?
He is

Who sings better?
Ben does. I am completely tone deaf!

Who is smarter?
It depends on the issue.

Who does the laundry?
Unfortunately, I do. But if it gets out of control, then he helps me.

Who does the dishes?
Both of us.
.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
If we are laying in the bed, I do.

Who pays the bills?
Ben

Who mows the lawn?
Ben does. I help weed though!

Who cooks dinner?
I do. Ben can only make crepes and chocolate mousse.

Who drives when you are together?
Mostly Ben, sometimes I do.

Who is more stubborn?
That would be me.

Who is the first to admit when they're wrong?
Ben is...I am very, very stubborn.

Who's parents do you see the most?
It's a toss up. Sometimes mine, sometimes Ben's.

Who kissed who first?
We kissed each other.

Who proposed?
Ben did. I went to Dallas to meet his family and he planned the whole thing. He took me out to dinner at Reunion Tower (it is the big ball of lights you see in the Dallas skyline and it rotates so you see it all). He proposed after dinner and after we went on a white horse carriage ride through downtown Dallas. So romantic.

Who is more sensitive?
I am.

Who has more friends?
We both have tons of friends.

Who has more siblings?
Ben does. He has 5 brothers, I have 3 brothers (notice how there are no sisters, and also notice that I have 2 boys. Do you foresee any girls in the works???)

Who wears the pants?
We both do on certain things.

I tag: All my family members with a blog...yes, that means YOU!

More Projects...

I was looking at my favorite blog: tipjunkie and I saw this fun project (except I made these):of course I was in love because they are so adorable! It came from a fabulous blog called: tayloredexpressions. Click on it and you can see her cute bottles. Anyway, I made them for a friend for her birthday, and I was so excited to share! The bottles and box are the Starbucks Frap bottle you buy at the grocery store and then just fill them up with lots of yummy candy. I did Easter candy and picked out only the colors that worked with the paper! Really fun and easy to make.
This second project was really fun. My client had these plant stands, which I'm sure most people have:
It stuck out like a sore thumb in her room, so I took them and put a dark brown glaze to them and this is how they turned out:
You can do this to anything that is plaster like...think fireplace, planters, etc...

Project Bathroom

You may be wondering why I have all of a sudden been doing all these projects to my house...well in about 1 1/2 weeks, the ladies at my church are coming over to my house so I can give them tips on decorating. No pressure!! There are so many things that I need to get done! At least I have a reason to do the things I've been meaning to do! Like the boys bathroom. It is pretty much the last room to be painted. And let me tell you how badly it needed it...well, let's just say that boys like to wipe "things" next to the toilet...enough said! It needed a fresh coat of EGGSHELL paint rather than the flat paint cheap builders use! So, without further ado...the before and after pictures of the bathroom!
Before: boring bathroom
Before
After! It's my new favorite room in the house. I might just use this bathroom instead of my own! We will see!
Now, the shelf may look too high, the picture just made it look that way. We had to have Ben test out how high it should be so no one will hit their head on it when they stand up. So no worries anyone! Your head is safe!
Now, the next project is for my Dad to come up and put in some nice tile instead of the awful vinyl that is there! Hope your up to it Dad!!

It Snowed!! In March!! In Texas!!

Yesterday was quite the day! The weather people say its going to snow, but it usually just "passes" and we get nothing. Not yesterday! It rained and sleeted most of the day. I was luckily at my clients house most of the day decorating and my kids were at preschool. Then halfway through my decorating, I get a phone call, "Hi Summer, this is ____ from the school, just letting you know Noah has a 102.6 temp and not feeling so good, we need you to come pick him up." So, at the peak of the rain/sleet/snow stuff, I had to leave and pick up my poor baby. A few hours later, the picture below will tell all...

Lots and lots of snow!!! Noah, even though he was sick and miraculously felt better when it started to snow and had no more temp. They had to go outside and run, Caden was practicing his karate.
Say "SNOW"!!!
These pictures are after it snowed. We got about 2.5 inches and other areas a few miles away got around 6-10 inches. Crazy Texas weather. Yesterday it was 65 or 68 degrees and we were in shorts. The boys played long enough so I could take these pic's and then went inside. Too cold for me! The best part about Texas is even though there was only 2.5 inches, everything closed early...work, school, stores...everything! And even though the next morning the sun was out and all is melting, schools were either closed or delayed!
Oh, and yes, Noah is still sick. We get to stay indoors all day today. Not fun. But its ok, Ben was about to drive to work to notice he has a flat tire. I can't go anywhere anyway. What luck!

Easter Eggs!

I wanted to share these cute Easter Eggs I have been working on forever! I finally finished them tonight and oh how happy I am! Sorry, I am not the best at taking pictures, so just imagine how cute they are in person! First I bought 6 paper mache eggs from Hobby Lobby. Then painted them gold. Get some crackle paint and follow the directions on how to crackle (the kind I used, 15 minutes was the perfect amount of time to get "sticky"). When the crackle is "sticky" paint the egg a buttercream paint color on the egg, let it dry. Stencil the letters in black, add metallic gold dots and add some fun black boa trim on the bottom.
Some pointers...Do not do half the egg, let it dry, then do the bottom half. It will come out looking like two different halves. Trust me, I have painted and repainted a million different times!!! Just prop the egg on some sort of really small bowl (or cut a paper towel tube and let the egg rest on that) and paint the eggs that way and put your finger on the top to hold it in place. Also, trying to stencil the letters on is not so fun, tape was my friend. After I figured out the trick, it was pretty easy to do...I think it was totally worth the effort!

Carpoolers

Carpoolers...my new favorite show. If you haven't seen it, it is a must! I am not one to laugh out loud when I watch a sitcom...but I laugh hysterically at this one! It is on ABC at I believe 8pm Central (I have a DVR so I watch it when it is over so I get no commercials!!). Marmaduke is my absolute favorite character (check out his blog on my list, its called Marmaland). Anyway, I hope you all will watch it, it is a new one tomorrow night, so get those DVR's recording! You can click HERE and watch some of the episodes! Hope you enjoy!

I WON, I WON, I WON!!!!

See these amazing plates??? Well thanks to Pippin Party I won them! I am so excited! Thank You! This evening I remembered that they were picking the winner today, so I checked their blog, and lo and behold, I saw my name. I seriously was jumping up and down! I never win things...maybe the streak has been broken. I better go and get a lotto ticket! These will be used every single birthday for our family and friends! Thanks again!