This One's for you, Mom!!

This post is entirely about my mom. She quietly works behind the scenes in this family, always wanting my brother & I to be happy. She never wants to be a burden! She's also busy working behind the scenes at charity events in her area, making things look absolutely beautiful, and once again, wanting everyone to be happy. It makes her happy to make people happy! That's one reason why she helps friends and family decorate their homes for Christmas.So, I as I'm typing I'm thinking about all the things that my mom has taught me. Here it goes...

#1....She taught me how to cook

My mom is an awesome cook! She can decorate cakes, make things without a recipe and improvise like nobody's business. I was sorting my recipe box the other day, and boy did she give me alot of recipes! I've become a better cook over the years (just ask Trey) and I'm not afraid to improvise!

#2....She taught me how to sew.
Yes, for those of you who didn't know me in my younger days, I could sew a stitch or two. Not that I LIKED it by any means, right mom!! My mom is an amazing seamstress. She can make anything with or without a pattern and can merge several patterns into something beautiful. In fact, she once told me that she had a dream about an outfit that I needed to sew for 4-H. It placed at State!!!

#3....My mom has the patience of Job!

I don't know how or why, but she does! I think that comes from raising my brother. Surely, not me as I'm the golden child and practically perfect in every way. Oh wait....that's Mary Poppins! Back to Job, er Mom. When I was frantic, she was calm, when I was angry, she was rational, when I am upset she is comforting. Definitely a virtue!Nana with the cutest baby in the world, my nephew Lawson

#4....Mom taught me to go for it!
No matter what the obstacle in front of me or the experience available, Mom always, always encouraged me and EXPECTED me to go for it! Whether school events, 4-H competitions, scholarships or starting grad school, my mom was and always will be my biggest cheerleader!

#5...Mom taught me how to stuff a dishwasher!
I think that is self explanatory, but definitely a skill that every mom strives to succeed at.

#6....My mom has got STYLE!
I hate to shop, but I don't mind going if I go with my mom. She can pick out the cutest outfits and find the best deals. She can come to my closet and make something old look new. On the occasion that I do this on my own, I'm shocked and amazed and must tell her immediately! I'm learning!

#7...My mom taught me how to be a mom!
There is no bigger or better job in the world than being a mom. And I had one of the best examples to learn from! I especially need to work on that Job patience thing!

#8...The MOST important....My mom taught me about Jesus!!
It was her love of the Lord that introduced me to Sunday School, VBS and exploring my purpose as a child of God. She is still learning and searching and striving to be a servant of the Lord and I'm inspired by her devotion!
So yeah, that's my Mom. She doesn't like to take pictures (I don't know WHY...she's gorgeous!) so these are the few I have saved on my computer. I guess I've learned one other side thing....take more pictures of Mom and don't listen to her tell me no!

I love you mom!!

Signed,
Your adoring, loving, perfect daughter
=)




P.S. Dad, there's a post coming about you, so don't worry!

I've been off.....facebooking!

Trey told me that I really need to get back to blogging. He likes reading these better than looking at Facebook. And since I put this blog address on my Christmas cards, I really should update. So here goes a very concise recap of all that we have done since school started in August...yeah, it's been that long!!!

Let's start with FOOTBALL! That is what we all did from August until November. Mac started playing middle school football and he and the team did very well. He played running back, tight end and defensive end. He made 10 touchdowns and extra points!!! It was so much fun cheering for him and watching him get better and better every week. He's 13 now and is 6 feet tall and still growing.Mac also has a girlfriend, Kendra!

Weston had games every Saturday. He played guard and tackle and did a great job. He got lots of QB sacks and lots of defensive stops. We are helping him find his inner Randy White and make him more aggressive. He's 10 and 5'2" and growing.Walker was the water boy for all of the games. He did a great job getting everything in his sight wet! At times he managed to actually get water to the players, but not very often. The highlight of his time on the sidelines was watching Mac run 30 yards for a TD and Walker ran all the way down the sidelines with him with his hands in the air signaling TD! It was priceless!

In between the boys football games, we made a couple of Aggie games, one in Dallas at Cowboy Stadium against Arkansas and one in CStat. We love cheering the Aggies on and are very excited to have bragging rights for the next year! While in College Station, we picked up Trey's replacement Aggie Ring. He lost it several years ago in the pasture. He is so proud to have it back. He and his sisters think that his ring is lucky....the Ags started winning after he got the ring!!!Wes & Mac in Cowboy Stadium

While we were in Dallas, we got to meet the latest Aggie addition to our family. Lawson Pollard was born in August. He belongs to my brother, Jody & sister-in-law Leanna.

The Pollard cousins...Hudson, Weston, Lawson, Walker & Mac

September brought reunions for Trey & I. We celebrated 21 and 20 year class reunions, and I actually celebrated the BHS all school reunion with classes from 1930 to the 1990s.

Some my classmates from 1991

The boys also got to meet author John Erickson. He's the man who writes all of the Hank the Cowdog books.

In October we celebrated my Dad's marriage to Mary. It was a great party! We got to see lots of people we haven't seen since our wedding 15 years ago. We are very happy for Dad and Mary!

November was the annual Hedgpeth Fall Family Gathering. This year we went to Mo Ranch in Hunt, TX. It was beautiful, and we had lots of fun with all the cousins!!!

All the cousins 18 and younger in order

Me & Kiki

We also went to San Antonio for Bum Phillip's book signing. That was a great day with our friends the Phillips and the Englands. The boys got to meet Dan Pastorini, QB for the Oilers, and Tommy Maxwell, Super Bowl Champ. We all meet Moe Bandy, and Trey & I enjoyed dancing to his great music.Mac and Dan Pastorini

Weston wearing Tommy Maxwell's Super Bowl ring

Moe meets the Wimberlys

We are now in full swing basketball season with Mac. He and his team have only lost one game and have won a tournament in Victoria. They are BEASTS!!!! These boys are so naturally talented and play so well together. I can't wait to see what they have in store for us as they get older! Maybe a state championship is in the works!!! Weston and Walker will start their basketball seasons in February. That will be fun!

CHAMPIONS!!!

The other activity the 3 BIGGEST boys have done is hunt. Trey, Mac and Weston have each killed a nice buck this year. They say now they are going to get some doe and some hogs. Fill up the freezer guys!!!
Christmas was wonderful! We celebrated with our families on two different days and ate, drank and were merry! The boys cashed in on their good grades and good behavior with lots of gifts from Santa and us.
I should be better at making blog posts in 2011. I really do like looking back at all of the pictures and stories I've written from this year. Happy New Year to you all!!!

July?!?! Where are you Going???

So yeah, same to you June!! You sped through like a bat out of Goliad Elementary. And that is a true statement because we do have bats at our school. Stinky things!!!

What have you been up to? Oh that's right. I already know since you have done a much better job blogging than I have. And taking pictures, too. I'm a bad summer mom this summer. Actually my summer just started last Friday. I've been a working fool. I moved my office to the other building. It is very nice with a whole wall of floor length windows. I plan on just using the sunlight and lamps to light the office and give it a warm relaxing feeling.

The big boys have been to camp, camp and camp. Mac started it off with Aggie Football camp the Sunday we got out of school. Dat Nyguen was his linebacker coach....awesome!!! He had a great time there with his buddy Colby, too. Weston went to Camp Laly that week. He had a great time with Lacy, Bo and Sam. Walker stayed at home.
The next week the big boys went to fishing camp for a whole week. We sure missed them. They caught their weight in fish and had fun. Walker went to VBS.
The next week all 3 boys and I went to Fiesta Texas with the 4-H group. That was fun and hot!!!! I had a great time with the guys. Mac is finally riding roller coasters. Weston.....not so much. Who are these kids? Don't they know their mama and daddy are HUGE roller coaster fans!!!! I told Weston (again) that I have not taking him all the way to Florida so that he can hold my bags while I ride roller coasters at Disney World. He better get with the program!!!

In between all these camps, the boys have also been doing the summer athletic camps at school. Basketball camp and strength and conditioning. I'm really glad they started they strength camp. It is great to get the boys out of the house doing something good for them.

Trey and I are starting a 24 day challenge with AdvoCare. We are promising each other to make healthy eating choices and exercise. There are nutrition products involved as well. One of my favorites is Spark which is an energy drink. LOVE IT!!! I'll let you know how we do. AND I know we are going to do great. GO AWAY ALL YOU AWFUL POUNDS!!!!

So next week the boys have football camp here and more strength and conditioning. Walker and I will go walk at the new Events Center indoor walking track. That's right.....GISD has a wonderful facility complete with an indoor walking air conditioned track. Saaaweet!!

Oh, and I started Zumba the other day. FUN!!! However, I got a quick dose of reality. I thought I had moves. I thought I could rotate my hips and tap my feet in time with music. I see myself doing that on Dancing with the Stars!!! But like I said, reality set in! I really can't do those things. But I sure can sweat! It's all good!!!

Check in later for some more updates......and maybe some pictures.

KW

It feels like 15 Minutes...

with my head under water!

This is the line Trey jokingly (better be) uses to describe how many years we have been married. HAWHAWHAW!!!

All jokes aside, today is our 15th wedding anniversary. At this time 15 years ago we were dancing the night away and enjoying the celebration with family and friends from near and far. Lots of things have changed in 15 years, but in many ways it does indeed feel like 15 minutes ago we were walking back down the aisle as husband and wife in our gown and tux. Never did I imagine these wonderful blessings from God: having three sons (and no daughters), living in Goliad and developing new friendships in our great town. Life seems to move faster and faster the older we get.

Happy anniversary honey! I love you more today than when I said "I do." Thanks for putting up with me and my constant need for more, my lack of good housekeeping, and my overflowing closet.

Here's to 15 more happy healthy hopeful years together and more!

Finally

Yes, finally! Saturday was the culmination of 4 1/2 years of hard work, dedication, sacrifice and prayers. Graduation Day!!! Even though bad weather caused a delay and change of location, I walked that stage. It felt so good to officially be done. I was also surprised to be honored as the Outstanding Graduate Student for the spring semester in the Department of Education & Human Development. This was voted on by the faculty. What an honor! Friday evening Trey and I enjoyed a reception for all outstanding student honorees at the university President's home. What a great way to end my graduate work.

Saturday night we hosted a joint birthday/graduation party for Walker and I. Graduation was over by 6:00, exactly when the party started. In true form, I showed up late to my own party. What else is new!! Ha! It was a great party. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and that's what I enjoyed the most.

Thank you, thank you thank you Michelle for helping me decorate. The hall looked so beautiful and I couldn't have done it without you!!! You're always there!!! You are one of my biggest cheerleaders!!

Mom, thanks for everything. You are the hostess with the mostest and the best mom in the world. You make everything happen!!!

Thank you to my brother, sister in laws and in-laws for helping before and during the party. Your hard work helped the party move smoothly and make it fun for everyone.

Thanks, Dad and Mary for the great music and taking pictures. I have special memories to look at and cherish always!!

Debbie, thanks for going back to school with me. It was such a good feeling to know I could start this journey with you, and we could help each other whenever we needed it. Doing this together was a real blessing!

Finally thank you friends and family for cheering me on to get this done. Trey, the boys and Mirna sacrificed alot to allow me to get my master's degree. When I started this journey Walker had just turned one and Trey's mom had just passed away. To think back now to that time, I don't know how we managed another change to our lives. What a long time for all of us to get this degree!!! Lots of night classes, studying, writing papers and test taking. I think the boys understand the hard work it takes to reach a goal. I know they are glad it's over!!!!

I love you Trey, Mac, Weston, Walker and Mirna. Thanks just aren't enough.

Waiting my turn to be hooded.

The dean making me laugh.

Shaking hands with President Hudson.

Officially done!
Pure happiness!

Our family. We did this together!
Virginia, me, Michelle and Vicki

My beautiful Mom, Mimi, Auntie & Lisa
I love these women!!

My Daddy & Me!!! Love you

Kim & Debbie
These were my mentors when I started
teaching in Goliad. Great teachers
and great friends!

Kim, Lana, me, Wendy & Ronda

Good friends I've known since I met Trey

Yes, I realize it. This cake is huge.
But it is SO CUTE!!!!!

WhoooooHoooo!!!!! I'm DONE!!!!!

Happy Birthday Walker

Our baby boy turned six on Friday. I can't believe he is growing up so fast. He had a blast with his cousins at Chuck E Cheese. This boy was wide-eyed the entire time. He liked all of the special treatment from the cheese man himself. At one point Walker told my mom and Mirna, "I just can't believe I'm six years old!"

Walker, you are such a joy and a blessing to our family. Not a day goes by that you don't make us smile or laugh. You are so smart. You can read so well already and you love learning new things. Your favorite things to do are play with trucks, video games, watch cartoons (Sponge Bob and Phineas & Ferb especially) and you are very bossy! You try real hard to keep us all in line. All of these things are great about you and we wouldn't change a thing. Happy birthday my baby!! I love you sooooo much!

Opening a perfect present from JoJo, Aunt Lee and Hudson

Proud boy

Walker & Mom showing off their medals

Oh, and he has no front teeth!

Dancing with Chuck

The birthday champ

Looking nervously at Chuck E. Wonder what he's thinking?

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Boy!

Saturday we had a joint birthday/graduation party. During the party he told Mirna, "Wow, I'm having another birthday party! That must mean now I'm seven!" hahahahhahaha!!!!!!

The other great moment from the party Saturday was Walker showing off he guitar (broom) playing and singing. My dad provided the music and Walker definitely provided the entertainment. He loves performing. Maybe one day he'll take it on the road.

Jammin' with the broom guitar.

Checking over the music with Uncle JoJo

Hey PawPaw, what ya doin?