Fun Times in LaGrange

I thought I might share some of the fun pictures we took of our new "friend"! These masks only cost a dollar, but they were worth a million dollars in laugh!

My niece Bonnie even joined the fun!

Lisa wore her mask proudly...even though she was embarrassed when I wore the mask around the WalMart parking lot and waved at all the customers!

Dillan and the little 'uns

Just wanted to share a few pictures of Dillan and his two nephews and two nieces! I was so glad he went to Austin with me the day Tristin was born! He was so excited about our newest addition!

How Could I Resist?

For some reason I have ballooned! That's right...it's like someone just blew me up! It's really irritating. I think I must have gained about 10 pounds since last year. Every time I decide to lose it, someone tempts me. Yes...THEY tempt me. Today, Darby, our wonderful volunteer prepared delicious nachos...complete with chips, salsa, shredded cheese, velveeta cheese dip, and chili. Oh, don't let me forget the desserts...cakes and cookies. How could I resist?
Last night, Donald and I went to eat at Ortegas. We ordered my fav...quesadillas...we usually share an order, but last night I was on the phone when he ordered.....low and behold, he ordered me a full order! How could I resist?
On Monday, we surprised Jennifer with food for boss's day.....we had desserts and salads. I tried to stick with the salads but the desserts were so enticing...how could I resist? That night, Donald worked until dark, so I made one of our favorite quick meals... grilled scrambled egg sandwiches on oat bread....yummy! How could I resist?
Sunday I had Mexican food again....quesadillas of course....chips and dips....I salivate just thinking of it....How could I resist?
Saturday we got up early to go garage sale shopping! We had our coffee and English muffins, which was healthy enough. But all that shopping made us hungry so we drove out to Kool Beans and ordered my usual...low fat sugar free vanilla latte and chowed down on French toast and apple scones...How could I resist?
The week before we celebrated Teresa's last treatment for her breast cancer (yea!) and we feasted on every type of pink food and pink dessert known to man (and woman of course). It was a beautiful spread for a beautiful woman....How could I resist?
The week Tristin was born I went to stay with Cari....I made a chicken pot pie that was to die for. I'm afraid to make it here...I'm afraid I will eat the whole pie! I also made several other dishes for her to freeze and eat later....we had chicken and spaghetti and a chocolate cake from Kevin's mom...delish...and of course I couldn't leave without making cookies for the new family and their neighbors.....How could I resist?
Oh, the lists of food goes on and on.....and I realize now that there must be a little devil sitting on my shoulder saying "How can YOU resist?" After seeing all the good food I've been eating, I think I understand why I've gained weight! Well, I'm getting control of myself. Tomorrow I'm starting my new diet/way of eating......I've got to or I'll be buying an entire wardrobe! So I'll be making better food choices....no Cokes or Dr. Peppers....no sweets....no chips and dips....no quesadillas (that's gonna be hard)....but I've got to do it! How can I resist??????

Life

Life....confusing as it is...it is what it is! Days come and go...some are good, some are bad, but all in all they combine together to make what we call LIFE. I always thought my life would be perfect. That was my dream. I wanted my children's lives to be perfect...that was my dream. But the older I became, the more I realized there is no perfect life. Things happen...sicknesses, heartbreak, happiness, sorrow, death, births, divorce, marriage....life. My life is not and will not be perfect. It is what it is. My children's lives will not be perfect. As much as I want their lives to be without sorrow or pain....I know I cannot prevent tears any more than I can prevent smiles! I can't....tears happen...they come and go like thieves in the darkest night. We become disappointed. We lose faith in those we love. People who some think are perfect, fall from their high pedestals like autumn leaves falling from trees in a forest. We are then raked away and put into a compost pile to rot away, by the self righteous. We wander from what we know is right, and once we return, we find that we are not always wanted. We are shunned....Those who have stayed high on their pedestals look down on us and shake their heads and fingers as if we are murderers. "I told you so!" they exclaim as they look down their self-righteous noses at those of us who have fallen. "Tssk, tssk, tssk...." they whisper as they shake their heads and look the other way. We are not perfect....I am not perfect...That is what my Lord came for. He came to be perfect. He came to take my sin and my debt....He nailed it to the cross and He died for me. He died so that when I (we) mess up, we can have His grace....He knew I would fall from that pedestal....He knew I would be raked away by some...raked away to rot...in their eyes. I pray we can all love each other....accept each other....forgive each other....this is what life is.....loving and forgiving......knowing we aren't perfect. I pray I don't look down on others. Life....It's hard, but so worth it. So worth all the happy times....holding a new grandson and smelling his sweet breath....seeing your granddaughter and watching her run to you as fast as she can to give you a hug...catching a granddaughter's shy smile and hugging her...flashing the "I love you" sign to a grandson as you see him in the hall at school.....seeing your son walk down the hall to ask you for a favor......giving advice to your daughters on the phone about raising children.......gabbing for hours to your sister and brothers about the old days....taking your husbands hand in yours and knowing he knows how you feel.....angry words shared with a loved one....all of this is what life is about.....good or bad....we take it one day at a time....This is what life is!

Tristin Hunter....October 1, 2009

He's here! Tristin arrived about 5:00 p.m.! Cari called me this morning about 6:15 as we were walking. I've been taking my phone with me on my morning walks...just in case...and sure enough, we heard the phone as we were chatting along in the dark...we looked at each other and shouted, "Cari!". We knew it had to be time. She was on her way to the hospital so we cut our walk about 30 minutes short and headed back to the casa. I started calling and texting everyone I could think of to let them know of her condition and that I would not be at school! I told Dillan I wanted to make sure they were going to keep her, but I promised him I would pick him up by 10:00. That seemed to satisfy him and it gave me time to get things together and to gather my senses!!!! We left about 10:15 and drove with my flashers on all the way...what fun! Luckily I didn't see a cop! Once we got there, she had dilated to a four and had been given an epidural. Dillan and I went to eat at one of his favorite spots...Steak and Shake...and by the time we got back, Cari decided she would try to nap. I left Dillan to nap with her...and I went to Walgreen's to get Chapstick for Cari and snacks for Kevin. Once I returned, we watched HGTV and the fetal monitor....by 4:00 the contractions were regular and I "suggested" to the nurse that they check her. She seemed shocked that no one had checked her since noon, and sure enough...a mother's instinct was true...Cari had dilated all the way and was ready to push! They hurried us out of the room. While Cari pushed, a crowd gathered....grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends! Trisitn Hunter was born about 5:10 and they finally let us in to see him about 7:00. He was beautiful! And just as soon as I saw him...I fell in love again! At first, I thought he looked like Kevin, but then I realized he really looked like Kevin's dad, Eugene! He is definitely an Ulrich! We are so blessed to have this little fella join our family. He is just as perfect as the others! We took lots of pictures and held him and ooohed and ahhhed over him like he was the only baby in the world! I got to change his dirty diaper and by then, the little munchkin was hungry again. We left him in good hands...Cari was ready to nurse him again and Kevin was standing guard like any proud papa would! Congratulations Cari and Kevin! You did a great job!