What a Dad!

I love the fact that as Emma gets older and her idea of fun changes, her Daddy adapts. Aren't they sweet??

Oh No She Didn't

As I mentioned before, you will probably hear me whining a bunch about Emma going to middle school. She comes home yesterday, first day back after Spring Break, with MIDDLE SCHOOL REGISTRATION FORMS. The counselor from Goodson went to talk with them and sent them home with forms. This is really happening, isn't it?

Fun at the Rodeo

My mom and I took Emma, the boys, Ashlea, and Emma's friend Carlie to see Taylor Swift at the rodeo on Friday. This was definitely the highlight of Spring Break. The kids had so much fun. We cashed in a small 401K (just kidding!) and took them to the carnival and livestock show for the day. They rode a ton of rides, got airbrushed tattoos, saw pig races, rode mechanical bulls, and had so much fun. Emma's friend Brianna was sitting in the section next to us, so that was fun for her and Carlie to hang with a friend from school. We got in to see the whole rodeo (my promise to Dylan who could care less about Taylor Swift!) Nicholas has a HUGE crush on Taylor Swift, so it was adorable to see his face light up while she sang. He was so excited. He said he won't do anything bad to her so she won't have to write a song about him!! It was fun to see the girls sing every word to every song and have a blast. Thanks so much to the greatest Nana ever for getting tickets....they were not easy to come by! Everyone is sad Spring Break is over, but I told them that just means summer is that much closer. And middle school for Emma :(

Aren't They Cute???

A Tale of Two Pudges

Big news in the Conde household yesterday. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez signed a deal to become an Astro. For those of you that don't know, we call Nicholas "Pudge". He is a catcher, and Ivan Rodriguez is his favorite catcher. He is SO excited to have him come play for the Astros. Can't wait until the MLB starts!!!!!

Getting Robbed by Santa

The boys played in a tournament this weekend in Cy-Fair, where we play league ball. Unfortunately, we got put in a tough pool on Saturday and didn't fare well for today. However, they got to play 2 games today and had some fun. Anyhow, we have an umpire out in Cy-Fair that looks like Santa Claus. Long, white beard and a jelly belly. He is a notoriously bad umpire. Nicholas, on 2 different occasions, tagged a kid coming home. Santa, called it wrong twice, much to my dismay. I hate it when the umps make bad calls after the kids make great plays. Both should have been outs, and he called them safe prior to the play even finishing out. So, Nicholas says he was robbed by Santa this weekend.....

The Buck Stops Here

This is an excerpt from a book called The Traveler's Gift that I am anxious to read. A friend sent this to me, and I was extremely touched by these words.


From this moment forward, I will accept responsibility for my past. I understand that the beginning of wisdom is to accept the responsibility for my own problems and that by accepting responsibility for my past, I free myself to move into a bigger, brighter future of my own choosing.
Never again will I blame anyone else for my present situation. Neither my education or lack of one, my genetics or the circumstantial ebb and flow of everyday life will affect my future in a negative way. If I allow myself to blame these uncontrollable forces for my lack of success, I will be forever caught in a web of the past. I will look forward. I will not let my history control my destiny.
The buck stops here. I accept responsibility for my past. I am responsible for my success.
I am where I am today-mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially-because of decisions I have made. My decisions have always been governed by my thinking. Therefore, I am where I am today-because of how I think . Today I will begin the process of changing where I am-mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, financially-by changing the way I think.
My thoughts will be constructive, never destructive. My mind will live in the solutions of the future. It will not dwell in the past. I will seek the association of those who are working and striving to bring about positive changes in the world. I will never seek comfort by associating with those who have decided to become comfortable.
When faced with the opportunity to make a decision, I will make one. The rise & fall of my emotional tide will not deter me from my course. When I make a decision, I will stand behind it. My energy will go into making the decision, I will waste none on second thoughts. My life will not be an apology. It will be a statement.
The buck stops here. I control my thoughts. I control my emotions.
In the future when I am tempted to ask the question "Why me?" I will immediately counter with the answer "Why not me?". Challenges are gifts, opportunities to learn. "Problems" are the common thread running through the lives of great men and women. In times of adversity, I will not have a problem to deal with; I will have a choice to make. My thoughts will be clear. I will make the right choice. Adversity is preparation for greatness. I will accept this preparation. Why me? Why not me? I will be prepared for something great!I accept responsibility for my past. I control my thoughts. I control my emotions. I am responsible for my success.
The buck stops here.

I Feel Old!!!

You will no doubt hear me complaining for the next few months about sending Emma to middle school. It makes me feel so OLD! She keeps telling me how much younger I am than all of her friends' mothers (true that) - what a sweet child :) However, sitting up at Goodson Middle School last night for electives night, I couldn't help but feel that time is passing too quickly. I am watching Emma grow into her own, and I couldn't be prouder of her. But, it seems like just yesterday she was a chubby cheeked smart little baby pointing at everything saying "that". Enjoy every minute of your babies......it goes by so fast.