Restaurant Critique #1: Seafood Favorites

Now that Chris and I live in Houston and are able to not only go out to eat more often but also have such a wide array of options available to us, I have decided to start posting about some of my favorites and compare them to each other! I am going to start with my favorite type of food... SEAFOOD!

This will be a comparison of 3 of the best "Upscale Seafood" restaurants available to us The Woodlands/ Houston metro area.

PAPPADEAUX SEAFOOD KITCHEN

My first experience...

I have always LOVED Pappadeaux ever since I ate there as a sophomore in High School in Austin, TX. I was on a trip to State Solo and Ensemble contest in San Marcos, TX and this was a meal our band director and band boosters provided to this students who were performing at this contest. I loved seafood but had never ate there until this trip. My band directors both seemed to know this restaurant well and ordered several appetizers to share while we waited for our order. One of these appetizers was fried alligator! It was amazing and I have been hooked on these little bites ever since. (In fact, I occasionally swing by Pappadeaux on my way home from work to get an order of these to go!)

Main Dish Menu Options/ Choices
Pappadeaux menu is a mix between traditional and Cajun style cooking. They have platters available as well as fresh catches and even a live lobster tank as you walk in. I personally have never ordered and chosen a live lobster from their tank (They are VERY EXPENSIVE... $100/ per lobster) but I have always wanted to. I usually get the Fried Seafood platter which has, shrimp, catfish, stuffed shrimp, stuffed crab and oysters (All FRIED of course). This is always good and makes for a wonderful lunch the following day. This platter is $27.95 and it comes with Pappadeaux's sourdough and rye breads.

Appetizers/ Salads
As mentioned above their Fried Alligator is literally "to die for" and I order it pretty much EVERY time I eat there. I have also ordered their Fried Oysters, Oysters Rockefeller (These are loaded with bacon, shrimp and cheese and then fried) as well as Oysters on the Half Shell. I have not found a better restaurant for Oysters on the Half Shell (If this is your thing!!) They do NOT offer salads as a part of the entree' but you can order one on the side for a charge of $3.95.

Presentation

The presentation of Pappadeaux's food is very classy yet down to home. Most of their dishes are southern in nature and they serve these dishes like so. They present them on a bed of rice (or french fries for the fried foods) and usually come with 2 sides each.

Restaurant Decor

The decor of Pappadeaux is very professional and each table is covered in both black and white tablecloths. The building itself usually has lots of windows and very open throughout the seating area. The bar area is towards the front of the building but never a distraction to the average family seeking a non-alcoholic dinner or evening. The servers all wear white shirts and ties and they serve you as if you were in a very fancy French or Italian restaurant. They unfold your napkin and follow other high class etiquette rules you would not find at your family Red Lobster!

LANDRY'S SEAFOOD

My first experience ...

I have not eaten at Landry's as much as Pappadeaux but I have had my fair share of Landry's. The first time I ate there was my junior year of High School on a DECA field trip to Corpus Christi, TX. We were staying on the beach and our hotel was a short walk away from my hotel room. My sponsor, Mr. Froman, had grown up in south Texas and had ate at Landry's numerous times. I loved my first experience so much, I went back about 3 more times in our remaining 6 day trip.

Main Dish Menu Options/ Choices

Landry's menu is not a broad a Pappadeaux but they seem to be experts in the shrimp area of the seafood menu. They had about 12 different ways you could order and eat shrimp. They had 3 different shrimp platters and featured side dishes like shrimp loaded mashed potatoes and shrimp stuffed mushrooms. Each time I have eaten there I have gotten a featured shrimp dish or platter. Since Chris and I have moved to Houston we have had the opportunity to eat at Landry's and this last time I went I ordered the Fried Seafood platter, just to get an accurate comparison to my current favorite of Pappadeaux. The seasonings and means of frying seemed a little classier than that of Pappadeaux. The waiter told me they used Peanut oil in their frying and lots of spices. I liked the overall taste of most of the dishes on the platter better than Pappadeaux. This Seafood Platter was $24.95 but it came with a salad.

Appetizers/ Salads

The appetizers served at Landry's are typical southern seafood favorites but they are given a little extra "twist" to make them unique to Landry's. For example, the last time Chris and I went to Landry's we ordered the Crab Stuffed Avocados. These were large half avocados that were stuffed with Crab meat and a seafood "dressing" and then topped with Chipolte Ranch Sauce. They will incredible. We both wanted to order another order of them almost immediately. Other appetizers on their menu include: Craw fish and Shrimp Bisque soup, Crab stuffed Mushrooms and a Blue Cheese and Shrimp Fondue. Unlike Pappadeaux, Landry's includes a salad with each meal. This salad is served much like the family size salads at "Olive Garden". It is a basic tossed salad with all the fixins' served in a large family style bowl. They serve this with their made/ created from scratch "Honey Mustard Raspberry Vinaigrette". This sounded a little weird to me but it was AWESOME!

Presentation

Landry's seemed to present it's menu and food in a little bit more of an upscale fashion when compared to Pappadeaux. Each main dish comes with 2 delectable sides as well as homemade bread and "seafood inspired" butter. (I personally do not like butter so I don't know what it taste like but Chris gave it two thumbs up!)

Restaurant Decor

The restaurant decor of Landry's is also a little bit more upscale than that of Pappadeaux. They too have white and black overlapping table clothes but they also have wine glasses and cruise style folded napkins at your table as you arrive. This sorta sets a precedent for fine dining even before you order anything. The waiters are finely dressed in all black attire with ties. The dishes are served much like you would see them on a Food Network/ Iron Chef style of cooking show or presentation. These dishes often come with the added mint or drizzle of sauce on top of the dish which also eludes to a higher class of dining.

BABIN'S SEAFOOD HOUSE

My first experience...

I first learned about Babin's from a billboard sign advertising 1/2 price Crawfish during Happy Hour on my way home from work one afternoon. I saw it was in The Woodlands so I told Chris we should try it out. We tried it out on a Friday evening in November and we have loved it ever since. It is a cross between the Southern/ Cajun style of Pappadeaux and the upscale and high class of Landry's. Babin's is a seafood restaurant straight out of the bayou of Louisiana and New Orleans and their food and style speak of their heritage. Chris, Natalie and I were experiencing this restaurant together and we made sure to try most everything we could this first time around.

Main Dish Menu Options/ Choices

The main dishes at Babin's are much like the previous two establishments but a little bit more Cajun or Mardi Gras style. They feature an entire portion of their menu that is labeled Mardi Gras features year round. They also feature a blackboard at the front of their dining room that has a list of the fresh fish flown in from various places around the world. Chris has order a fish called Golden Tile which comes from the southern Pacific rim. This was a very delicate fish that was NOT overwhelming in "fishy-ness". It came served with crab and lobster sauce and roumalade over the top and that right there sent this dish "OVER THE TOP"!! It was by far the best fish Chris and I had EVER HAD in our lives! This blackboard of fresh fish changes from week to week and even day to day. This last time we went they had a Red Snapper flown in that morning from Hawaii and a Butter Fish flown in from Tahiti. We did not try either of these but they sounded excellent. Most of their fresh fish options range in price from $25-35 but their main menu choices are very fair priced at $20-25 each. I ordered the Crawfish Etoufee last time and it was BY FAR the BEST I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE! It was priced at only $17.95 and it included a salad.

Appetizers/ Salads
The appetizer selection at Babin's is one of the best I have ever seen at a seafood restaurant. They have a wide selection of soups and bisque's available as well as other items such as crab stuffed mushrooms, shrimp cocktail and even stuffed jalapenos with shrimp, crab and cheese called "String Rays". Each time Chris and I have ate at Babin's we have ordered the boudin balls stuffed with crab and cheese. These are unbelievably amazing and I think I could order these just as an entree as itself. Natalie even liked them. The salads at Babin's are a wedge style salad with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cheese bacon, homemade croutons and house salad dressing. It is served with homemade bread and creamy butter sauce. These salads come with each entree and fantastic and worth the money even if they were not included! Babin's also has a wonderful dessert tray which features New Orleans style Beingets. These are AMAZING!

Presentation
The dishes at Babin's remind me of Emeril's style of cooking and emphasize on New Orleans style presentations with lots of roumalade and other Cajun sauces and spices. The servers wear black and white with Purple, yellow and green accents and Mardi Gras beads.

Restaurant Decor
Babin's presents itself as a New Orleans Style Kitchen which focuses on Mardi Gras and the celebration of amazing fresh fish and seafood on a daily basis. The restaurant is decorated with large fish decor and New Orleans decorations and Mardi Gras colors EVERYWHERE! They have a beautiful fountain with fresh water and rock background as well as a lovely sitting area with patio tables to sit at while you wait for your table.

Overall Rating System
I am going to rate these 3 restaurants on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being set as the best and highest points possible. I elaborated on 5 topics above but I am going to only have 3 categories in this final round of judging: Menu Options/ Taste, Presentation and Overall Experience and Overall Value. This is allow for a 15 point possible total score.

Pappadeaux
Menu Options/ Taste- 4.5
Presentation/ Overall Experience- 5
Overall Value- 3.5
Total- 13
Landry's
Menu Options/ Taste- 4.5
Presentation/ Overall Experience- 4.5

Overall Value- 4

Total- 13

Babin's
Menu Options/ Taste- 5
Presentation/ Overall Experience- 4
Overall Value- 5
Total- 14

We have a new winner Ladies and Gentlemen... BABIN'S SEAFOOD HOUSE!

This will be my new, birthday, anniversary, special occasion or just any ol' Friday night eating joint!

Man I love living in HOUSTON!!!!

Even in a blog such as this... God is good... ALL THE TIME! If it weren't for Him we would not even be down here right now! Must we NEVER forget...

God is Good... ALL THE TIME!

Post- TMEA Thoughts

TMEA was AWESOME and I am very glad I was able to attend and gather all of this knowledge about teaching elementary music. I have taught elementary music for 7 years but I also taught band during those 7 years and anytime I attended a professional development conference or clinic, I would gear my time towards the band clinics instead of elementary clinics. This year, since I am ONLY teaching elementary, I only attended elementary clinics. Wow... I have not been teaching the correct way. I have been doing great things but man, I could do SO MUCH MORE!

I attended an awesome seminar on using Mallets (Xylophone, Glockenspiel, etc) in the classroom with Artie Alameda. She is amazing and I learned alot on not only how to use them more often but some great tricks while using them. I have used them in the past but thanks to this session, beginning next year, I will be able to use them on a more frequent basis.

I also attended sessions on teaching recorder and building a recorder program in your school. I actually have never taught recorder so this was a HUGE help to me and this upcoming rest of the school year. My kids just ordered recorders and they should be here in a few weeks and we will begin working on them at that point. Until then, I am going to use and study the information attained in these 3 sessions and try to get a game plan for what we will be doing for the rest of the year on recorders.

I also spent a good amount of time at the 2 exhibit halls. The last time I attended TMEA, there was only 1 Exhibit hall and it was massive! This year, I noticed they had 2 Exhibit halls. The main one, which seemed larger than EVER, and then another one across the convention center which was about the same size as the Exhibit hall at OMEA in Tulsa. I was nice to be able to roam around and see all the wonderful sights and items that are available for music lovers. In fact I found some very interesting things. First, I found a toilet seat that was shaped like a guitar. This also had matching toilet paper to go with it. This company also had a toilet seat that looked like a piano. These were really neat so I inquired about the cost of each. They ended up being $200. One of these days when I not only win the lottery but also have a 6 bathroom house, I will purchase one of these for my "MUSIC BATHROOM"!!

I also saw a company selling brass and woodwind instruments that were painted and colored very odd colors. I even saw a trumpet that had the US flag painted on it! The best of this booth was the hot pink saxophone. Now these might have looked cool but trust me... the sounded TERRIBLE! But I did take a picture of the hot pink sax for my sister, Allison. I know if she ever picked up playing the saxophone, I would have to get her this one!

Throughout the 2 exhibit halls there were not only music vendors but also just crafty vendors like at a craft show event. I found one who was basically just a T-shirt vendor but she had made shirts for music teachers. This was awesome and I got a few of these shirts to were around school and other places. One of them said "Music Rocks" and another said "Music Teacher". I will wear these with pride!


The last booth I saw in the small exhibit hall was a lady from California selling T-shirts and crafty items as well with a music motto. At the back of her booth was a rack of hot pink shirts that focused on Grandma sayings and shirts. I found a blue onesie that said "Gigi's Boy". Of course, I HAD to get this for Luke. It is so hard to find stuff with "Gigi" on it! It seemed odd to find something like this at TMEA but hey, I will take what I can get. I also purchased a "koozie" for your coke cans from this same vendor which read "This Sax Player ROCKS". I thought this was pretty neat!









I was also able to see friends from College and even High School while there. I was able to reconnect with some long-time friends from college who are also music teachers/ band directors. I also was able to hear 2 friends of mine from the OU saxophone studio back in the day perform with their Saxophone Quartet on the last day I was there. They were AMAZING  and I would love to be able to hear them again!

Overall, TMEA was AMAZING! Exactly what I expected and more. I am so lucky and privileged to be able to go and I am taking SO MUCH back with me! I cannot wait til' next year!

God is Good...ALL THE TIME !

Family of Three Again, but not for long... SOON there will be FOUR!

Last weekend I took Natalie to Arp to my mom and dad's house to spend the week with them while I went to TMEA and Chris had several baseball games. Natalie had spent a week with my parents before while Jackie was having surgery and she has been on an extended vacation with them but for whatever reason, this time it felt like much more than a week.

We met my mom and dad at Buffalo today for lunch and Chris and I made sure we were the first ones there. In fact we left so early, we got there about 40 minutes early and went and got some Fried Pies from "The Original Fried Pie Shoppe". We made it to Dickey's BBQ and went to the restroom. We then stood right by the door of Dickey's waiting for Gigi, Poppy and Natalie Grace to arrive. As soon as they did, I began to tear up and cry looking at how much my little girl had grown and changed!

As Gigi and Natalie entered the Dickey's door, Natalie looked at me and Chris and then smiled as big as I have EVER seen her smile and jumped in my arms. She hugged me so VERY VERY tight and without asking her she said "I love you, mommy!" Wow... the tears just kept rolling off my face! Then she asked for daddy and went to him and did the SAME thing! Its the small things in life, really!

All the way home from Buffalo, Natalie was singing and saying "I love you Mommy! I love you Daddy!" When she got home she ran and gave Abbey and Oxford a hug and kiss and then ran to Grandpa and Gigi and gave them hugs. Shortly there after she went potty and then ran upstairs to say hello to all the rest of her babies and friends she had missed all week. Now she is just laying on the couch and singing songs.

It is such a blessing to live so close to both Chris and my parents. This is such an amazing blessing for Natalie as well. She gets to spend 3 days a week with Gigi Jackie at home  and Grandpa at night and then able to go and visit her Gigi Shirley and Poppy for extended times like this past week. I know she doesn't realize it now, but this is something really special and not all children have this opportunity!

Thank you so much to my mom and dad for taking care of her this past week! She loves you and has learned so much in just one week! You guys are amazing and we thank you so much!

As always... GOD IS GOOD... ALL THE TIME!

Pre-TMEA thoughts

Tomorrow I leave for San Antonio for the annual Texas Music Educators Association clinic and conference. This is one the best of it's kind in the nation and highly effective in helping music educators, young and old alike, learn amazing techniques that they can take back to their classroom and use.

I first arrived at this conference in 1999 when I was in the ATSSB All-State Band. Although most of my time was spent in rehearsals for the All-State Band, I did have some free-time each of the 3 days I was there to venture my way down to the San Antonio Convention Center and see the amazing exhibits and excitement just booming from the building. I already knew I wanted to teach band at this point in my life but this just sealed the deal and was icing on the cake. I also attended this conference in 2001 when I was selected for the ATSSB All-State Band a 2nd time.

When I arrived at OU and the spring semester of my freshman year arrived I was anxious to be able to go to TMEA as a college student and attend sessions specifically geared towards upcoming music educators. Unfortunately, OU encouraged and in some cases required all music ed college students to attend the Oklahoma Music Educators Association Convention instead. I attended OMEA all 4 years while was in college but during my sophomore and junior years at OU I applied to be a housing chaperon for the ATSSB All-State Band. This allowed me to go to San Antonio for TMEA and attend numerous clinics for college students. It was fabulous being able to go to clinics about teaching music and band. This really "lit my fire" and pushed me to get my degree faster. In fact in part of TMEA I was able to turn a 5 year degree plan into 4 years.

Now OMEA was not near what TMEA is. They really did try and as the years passed and I attended OMEA more and more, it began to get better and attract better clinicians and exhibitors but they were still only about 10% of what TMEA is. Often times, OMEA would bring in clinicians that would be local and good but didn't bring the "draw" that TMEA did.

I am so excited to be able to go to TMEA this year. I have several clinics about teaching elementary music I am planning on attending. I am excited about these because while I Was teaching at Grove and going to OMEA I would always attend the band clinics. It has been years since I have attended an elementary music clinic. I am excited to get new material and new ideas to use in my classroom. I am hoping I can go to TMEA and reclaim the passion and fire I used have in years passed. Even though I am teaching elementary music and would prefer to be teaching band right now, I do still have a passion for teaching in general and I have let this passion and fire dwindle a little in my frustrations of this year. I hope and pray TMEA can relight this fire and get me closer to where I need to be.

I will follow-up with a post-TMEA thoughts blog next week.

God is good... ALL THE TIME!

Prenatal Visit #5

Monday, February 6, 2012

"It's still a BOY"
Today I went in for my mid-point check and ultrasound with Dr. Markos. I had to go by myself due to Chris having to be at baseball practice but it all went fine. I first began with the 20 week (I was actually 21 weeks) ultrasound to check the development of my little angel. The US tech was so nice and pointed out SO MANY THINGS! She showed me his brain and other parts of his anatomy such as his kidneys, lungs, heart and other vital organs. With Natalie we had a scare at the mid-point ultrasound with her heart chambers not being visible and so I double and triple checked with the tech to find all four chambers and she found all four and even showed me all four specifically. His heart rate was 137 and strong! It was fascinating to she his heart beat as I watched him move around inside of me. Most of the organ pictures are common to see at the 20 week ultrasound but this tech also showed me the umbilical cord, the bladder and elbow.

She also did a double check for me of the sex of the baby... IT IS STILL A BOY! I got a little worried about 10 minutes before going into the room thinking "Oh no, I have already bought so many things in blue and gotten so excited... what if it is a girl?" Nope... he is still a "HE". In fact, we did not get any good still pictures of him EXCEPT FOR THE GENDER PICTURE!

He was not laying on his back like most babies do for an ultrasound. He was actually laying on his stomach so most of the pictures we did get are not very good or descriptive. As mentioned about the best picture is of the gender identification. We also got a great picture of his spine which we didn't really see well with Natalie. She tried and tried to get a good picture of his face but he was not cooperating. I don't think he liked all of the poking she was doing! At several times through this appointment, she would start laughing and say "Did you feel that? Wow... he is getting mad". I guess he just did not want to be bothered.

He is measuring about 1 week ahead of schedule but Dr. Markos did not change the exact due date since it was not at least 2 weeks ahead of time. On every measurement the tech took except one, he was exactly 1 week early. When she took a measurement of the femur (leg) she said he was measuring nearly 25 weeks. I was a little dumbfounded as to why and her response was simple..."Oh that just means he will be long and tall". I will take that! He is weighing in at 1 pound exactly and all looks fabulous.

 

I didn't have a long appointment with Dr. Markos at all. In fact, the doctor part of this visit was only about 10 minutes from start to finish. I gained 4.5 pounds this month but the doctor said since last month I didn't gain any, it was OK and encouraged to gain 4 or more this time around. I was a little discouraged with that much of a gain but I can just see the scale rising and since I had lost all of that weight just months before finding out I was pregnant, I just dread having to diet and get it all off again. My blood pressure was fine at 120/78 and everything looked great. I go back in 1 month for a 25 check-up!

I just look at the pictures that I do have of my little Luke and even though I didn't really get any that were traditional looking or definite, it is still apparent that HE IS IN THERE and ALIVE AND WELL! It makes me cry to think that there are people and even worse doctors out there that will see these pictures and know this little person is growing and developing inside someone and then kill it. How can people do this and still hold their heads high? I am just dumbfounded! God's Holy Word states:

"Truly children are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward" (Psalm 127:3).
We must pray for these people who take not only this scripture and cancel it out of their minds but do the same with the precious life inside of them.

I am so incredibly grateful to The Lord for His continued blessings to me and my family and for my precious little Luke! I cannot wait for him to get here (Actually, I know that the short 19 weeks that remain before he does arrive, are NOT ENOUGH time) and I will love him more than anything. Luke is a gift from God and I thank God for him!

As always... God is Good... ALL THE TIME!

School Cafeteria: Then and Now

As a school teacher I get the joy of watching kids eat each day. Of course, I have a toddler myself and I know how messy and picky they can be. When I was growing up, the school cafeteria had a monthly menu set up with various options and choices each day. These included main dishes such as spaghetti, baked chicken, fish sticks and other "some-what" nutritious items. These had side dishes of green beans, corn, salad and fruit. This came with white milk. It wasn't until I got into high school that the cafeteria started to offer chocolate milk too.

When I worked at Grove School in Oklahoma, they pretty much followed the same guidelines as above. They had an AMAZING cafeteria staff and cooks that were constantly focusing on student nutrition as well as great food and choices. Their menu was so good that even the teachers ate the cafeteria trays most days. This is VERY uncommon... but not for Grove.

Now I work at an inner-city type of a school and the cafeteria and its' menu/ choices are VERY different. Approximately 97% of our students are on free and reduced lunch and breakfast is free to ALL students. I have daily breakfast cafeteria duty and I see what is served and what the students take as their breakfast option. The healthiest item that my cafeteria serves for breakfast is a breakfast burrito with sausage and cheese. This is usually only served one day a week and occasionally as "left-overs" from a previous day. Here is a list of other options available to these K-5th graders for breakfast:

1. French Toast Sticks with syrup

2. Waffles with Syrup

3. Powdered and glazed doughnuts

4. Sausage/ Chicken biscuit sandwiches

5. Kolaches with Syrup

6. "Pancake on a stick with sausage" (It is really just a corn-dog!) served with SYRUP

7. Chex-mix (Seriously... for breakfast)

8. Yogurt and animal crackers

How can I forget...

9. POP-Tarts

These are all served with milk, juice and/or fruit. Now they have 4 milk choices for the students. Fat Free White Milk, Fat Free Chocolate Milk, Strawberry Milk and now serving "Fate Free Vanilla Milk". This new Vanilla milk is still "Fat Free" but it has 88 grams of sugar in a 6 oz bottle. It's 2nd ingredient is HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP. The kids this morning were literally fighting over it as they approached the line. This is just the breakfast options and menu... I have even mentioned the lunch line!

I just look at this and then look at our children and ponder why people are so worried about the obesity rates in the US. Some of our students are very heavy for their age and even larger than some of the teachers at my school. Now-a-days students are not as excited about PE as they used to be either. When I first began teaching 7 years ago, kids would have paid me money to let them go to PE instead of music. Now kids would rather come to music (Hey... That is fine with me:) ) or go to computers and play video games!

All of this is just to say I am worried about my kids and the environment they will be brought up in. I am working hard as mother of a 2 1/2 to get her to eat more healthy meals. Just 6 months ago, Natalie wanted to only eat Macaroni and Cheese. Now she eats what we eat at the dinner table which is usually a main meat dish with various "healthy" sides. We try to only allow candy and/ or cookies when she sits on the potty or for good behavior. Hopefully this training while she is young will help her overall life eating habits. Sometimes, I just get a little nervous for my precious children.

God is Good... All the Time

 

7 Years and Counting

It was September 2004 and I was leading a 3rd-6th grade Children's Choir at Bethel Baptist Church in Norman, OK. I was a senior in college and I had been serving as a music intern at Bethel for about 16 months. I worked alongside the minster of music, Jerry Billingsley, as well as his secretary and other staff members of the church during daily duties but I had decided it was time to actually teach some music. Bro. Jerry asked me to teach and lead the 3rd-6th grade children's choir on Sunday evenings and I took the volunteer teaching position. It was a great opportunity for me to be able to get out and teach on a regular basis. Up to this point in my college classes, I had only done a little teaching on my own within a classroom setting but most had just been observations of other teachers in the area.

As the months pasted the choir began to grow and more and more kids were coming. We had a blast learning songs about God and learning new instruments such as the Boomwhackers. Around November of 2004, I went to Jerry and asked him if he could find anyone else to come and help me on Sunday evenings. He smiled real big and said "Why surely!" Of course at this time, I had no idea what he was talking about and just went on with my business. He and his wife had known both Chris and I for a long time and had pondered about trying to get us together. Who would have known it would have all happened in a Children's Choir!

About 2 weeks later a young man by the name of Chris Davis showed up one Sunday evening saying he was there to help me with Children's Choir. I shook his hand and gave him a few jobs to do during the rehearsal such as taking roll and basically being the "bouncer" of the group. He, the kids and I had a blast and then him and I started hanging out and sitting together during Sunday evening church too.

I also taught 4th grade Sunday School during Sunday mornings and he was in the Singles class so we did not really sit together on Sunday mornings but we did on Sunday evenings. One Sunday morning he come up and asked me to go out to eat with him and his Single friends at On the Border. I accepted and we had a great time but no real connection so to speak, mainly because we were with a large group. Finally on January 24th, my mom's birthday, Chris asked me if I would like to go out to eat that following Friday. He had called me on the phone and offered this date and I did accept. This was about 10 minutes before I had to be at an SAI Music Sorority meeting with all my friends. I remember RUNNING into that meeting and telling my friend Ashley and others about what had happened. In fact, I was late and bursted into the room yelling "He asked me out". The 10-12 girls in there started laughing and for the next 5 minutes we were talking about Chris and I. (Kinda embarrassing now but back then, my world had stopped!)

The big night had come and Chris came to my door, dressed up nicer than he did on Sunday mornings, to pick me up. I will NEVER forget how nice his car was, all clean and neat. We went to eat at Charleston's Restaurant first. He was so gentleman like and asked me what I wanted and then ordered it for me. We sat and talked for what seemed like just 20 minutes and was actually 2 hours. Then we went to see "Meet the Faulkers" movie. (FYI... This is NOT a good 1st date movie!!! There were several parts in there that made me blush in embarrassment). About 1 hour into the movie, he leaned over and asked "Would you mind if I held your hand?" I thought that was so sweet and thoughtful... most men would have just grabbed it! The movie ended and he took me back to my apartment where my roommate, Ashley, anxiously waited looking out the upstairs window for my return to hear the stories about the date. We said our goodbyes and then he asked to give me a kiss. It was sweet and simple. I came into the apartment and I shut the door and I just knew... this was for real. I spent the next 3 hours (Literally) talking to Ashley about our date. She told me I was smiling the whole time. I don't think I slept a wink that night!

The rest, as they say, is HISTORY! We will be married for 6 years in March and it has been a whirlwind of 6 years. We have 1 daughter, Natalie Grace, who is the most perfect gift from God and now we have another gift on the way.... David Luke will grace our presence in early June. It is amazing how things turn out! I knew that night that he was for real and that we would be together for years to come but didn't see all this coming! While it seems like only yesterday, 7 years have pasted and it has been an amazing 7 years. I cant wait to see what the next 7, 17, 27, 37, 47 years have to offer!

I love you Chris and I am so glad you asked me out!

As always, God is Good... ALL THE TIME!

Even in the Valley

It has been my motto on this blog "God is good... All the time". I believe this and I "preach" this in all I do. If you have read any of my past blogs, you know that my family and I have been through A LOT! From unemployment in Shawnee to unemployment in Houston to "house-less" at the current time. We have had a long and bumpy ride. Of course we are trying to keep our eyes not on the road (Or rollercoaster) itself but the end of the road.

Right now is the start of what is going to be a very trying few months. This week is the start of baseball season for Chris and his caoching position. I have worked alongside some of the best coaches I have ever known and I know the time committment it takes. This is of course on top of his already exisiting math teacher position and we are approaching testing season. I look at his baseball schedule and I am just dumbfounded on how he is going to do all of that and still be able to stand up, let alone teach Algebra to 9th graders. I ask for you to pray for him in these next 3 months. He will have alot on his plate and will need alot of strenghth and encouragement whenever and wherever possible.

That is just his side of the coin. I obviously do not have the job constraints that he does but I will be pulling double duty on the home front for a while. I keep telling myself, millions of young women do this EVERY DAY! I can do this for 3 months. In preperation of this time we will have together of just me and my Natalie Grace, I have enrolled her in Kindermusik here in The Woodlands. We start on Monday. I cannot wait!

The other major concern of our right now is our house in Shawnee to sell. It has been on the market for over 7 months now and we have not had a single inquirey. We understand teh slow market and the economy but we are ready to move on with our lives and officailly start this "Next chapter" of our lives here in Houston. We are really at a stand still right now as we are living with Chris' parents currently. This prohibits us from knowing what our overall goal and plan is becasue we dont even know where exactly we will live. Oh and in case you didnt know, we have ANOTHER little one on the way. David Luke Davis will bless us with his presence sometime in mid-June. It is so hard for me to prepare for my new little man without my own house and home.

I have worried and as my husband has told me "been parynoid" about the sell of our house for way too long. I call our realtor on Monday and found out that while it had not been shown in over 3 months and it basically just sat there empty, as I was speaking to her it was being shown and had been shown earlier Monday. My two realtors are setting up an open house on this Sunday, January 22nd from 2-4 and we covet your prayers not only for an interested buyer but just people at all.

This leads me to the purpose of this blog post. At our January Bible Conference at our church, I heard some great mesages and amazing singing. Before one of the highlighted groups got up to sing their lead singer told a story of faith and trust and mentioned this phrase
"If you worry... Why pray? But if you pray... Why worry?"

This statement is so very true. Hard to actually do... But so very true. I have worried and stressed and basically been an emotional wreck waiting for our house to sell. Yes, I have prayed about it but I have also worried. I just have to give to God and let him take it from me. In Phillipians 4:19 the Bible says
"For my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
This performer took this phrase and led into a song called "Even in the Valley". The words of this song are not only true but spoke to my heart in my time of "Valley".
Even in the valley God is good
Even in the valley, He is faithful and true
He carries his children through like he said he would
Even in the valley God is good
No matter what your "Valley" is God will carry you through this valley to the next mountain peak!

Even in the Valley... God is Good... (All the time!)

Prenatal Visit #4

Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Gender Check

Today I went into my doctor's office for my fourth prenatal check-up. I was 17 weeks and 1 day. This check-up was extra special because it was during this check-up that we were able to do an ultrasound gender check to see if our little angel was going to be a girl or a boy. Chris was able to get off of work a little early and come and meet me at the doctor's office in The Woodlands.

When we arrived we had to wait about 20 minutes before they called us back for the ultrasound. When we did get to go back the nice tech told us "Since this is a gender check, by law we are only able to look for the sex of the baby and we will not be able to look at any other part of the baby or take any other measurements." I was so anxious to find the sex, I barely understood what she said and meant. She put the goop stuff on my stomach and then looked and almost immediately found the baby and his private parts. Yes... That is right, IT'S A BOY! She took about 3 pictures and then turned off the machine. We were in the room for less than 5 minutes. I immediately went back to the waiting room and called my family while Chris did the same with his family.

After another 10 minute wait, it was time to go back and see my OB for the monthly check-up. The nurse first checked my weight to find that I have NOT GAINED ANY weight since my last check-up. I was thrilled since between #2-3 I gained 6 pounds and THIS TIME IT WAS DURING THE HOLIDAYS! I was very proud! She then took my blood pressure and as usual it was a great number of 120/70. She also used the Doppler to find Luke's heartbeat which was 152 bpm. She asked me a lot of questions about how I was feeling as well as other things but the strangest question she asked was rather or not I wanted to have my tubes tied after the C-section procedure. I was so happy about it being a boy, I quickly responded laughingly "Sure." But Chris sat across the room and said "Oh no, we will wait". It was clear at that time that he still wants MORE THAN TWO! The nurse informed me that I have until the morning of the scheduled C-Section to make up my mind. Although it was kinda weird to think about this being the end to my family! I will only be 29 at the time of Luke's delivery.

After that, Dr. Markos came in and did some other measurements and told me all was going well and I looked good. He then spent a few minutes recommending pediatricians for not only Luke but Natalie as well. At the end of the visit he sent me to the lab to do some mandatory blood work for the 16-20 week check-up. They tested for spinabifida, age related sickness and a few other things. He told me if there was a abnormality, he would call me. It is Saturday and I have yet to receive a call... NO NEWS is GOOD NEWS!

I go back on February 13 for my 21 week (Mid-point) check up and it is at this time that they will perform the mid-point ultrasound where they check the measurement of Luke's head, internal organs and heart. This should give us an updated or confirmation of our official due date. At this time the due date is still June 19 but Dr. Markos will take Luke on the 12th.

That means we now have less than 5 months to get ready for this true life-changing event. We have lots and LOTS of pink but no blue. Me and my family will take care of this!!! In fact, that very day my mom left work early and went and purchased Luke his first outfit!

This was a the best check-up yet! I have been ALL SMILES since then! As always...

GOD IS GOOD... ALL THE TIME!

Good vs. Bad

So this weekend I have been reminded (very blatantly) of some of my faults as a person, wife and mother. As the tension is getting high in my family's current situation and with baseball season quickly approaching and the time commitment Chris will have to put into it, I wanted to prepare myself and our family but laying some ground work and getting things straight and ready. It all started with a question of how I could be a better wife. This led to the discussion of my life and my many faults and how I could improve on these traits and/or habits. There are many traits and habits that have been brought to my attention but none as important as the comment and statement of "You are not a good mother". This has been told to me on various occasions and I would usually think about it and then just tell myself "I am a good mother". But this time it cut a little deeper.

It was brought to my attention that a member in my family has told my husband that I think of Natalie as just a doll that I like to dress up and show off to people but not a real person. This family member said that I don't discipline her the way I should and often just "fluff" off the important topics that come up in Natalie's life. They continued to say that I am not bringing her up biblically and this is because I am not a biblical wife and these leads to my mothering skills.

Now this person may be completely right and perfectly on target for all I know. I personally am just not sure at this time. This overall topic has been brought up before and I thought about it and then went one with my current way of parenting and never thought twice. It became more noticeable when Chris and I announced we were pregnant and some family members were so shocked they didn't even acknowledge what was really going on. This was a little depressing and I still ponder and think about this daily.

I try and have always tried to be the best mother I can possibly be to Natalie Grace. Since her birth I have always worked and I have had a career in teaching. For the first 7 weeks of her life, I stayed home with her and gave her my all. In fact, I was so anxious and nervous about being a mother and taking care of her by myself, I was sick and fragile for about 1 month. Shortly after I returned to work, Chris was laid off of his job and he began staying at home with Natalie. This has been the biggest blessing of his and her life. He ended up spending the next 22 months with Natalie at home. They have a bond that will live on forever. It is for this reason that I think some people forget about me also being there and therefor don't see all I do as a mother and all I do for Natalie.

My typical day of spending time with Natalie begins when I get home from work at 3:30pm. I try to spend as much time with her as I can before I start to make dinner. We usually play with dolls and "babies" or we watch Natalie on my iPhone. She likes to help me cook dinner sometimes and she will sit on the counter and stir the dish or help me put it in the pan or bowl. Other times she will watch a DVD on her portable DVD player. Either way, we spend the afternoon and early evening hours together doing whatever she desires. We also try to eat dinner together at the table as often as possible. When we are not at the table we are eating together at a restaurant. By this time Chris has made it home from work and he now has time with Natalie. It is during this time that I try to get her stuff ready for the following day at MDO or Gigi's house. It is also during this time that I work on daily household needs and cleaning issues that most women do in the evenings.

Chris and I usually take turns on who will give her a bath and who will read her a bedtime story. We try to alternate to where whomever gives her the bath, the other will read the bedtime story and tuck her in. This is a wonderful system that allows BOTH of us to be a part of her bedtime routine.

During the weekend we try to have a family night or family day when we can where we go out to eat or do a special activity together. There are sometimes where I will take Natalie with me to do errands such as go to the grocery store or the mall. This has also been brought up as a detriment to Natalie and her overall well-being. Again, this is my first time to be a mother but I feel as if LOTS of moms out there do this same thing with their kids as needed.

Now just like with any parent of a toddler or two-year-old, there are times where I have to discipline her and help her improve her behavior. We BOTH have tried to keep a firm grip on her tantrums and try to keep them at bay whenever possible. Again, I am sure ALL parents who have had a 2 year old know this feeling. Sometimes, it gets frustrating and I will admit, I have lost my cool with her on occasions. However, I also come back and make sure she understands I am only frustrated with her behavior and I am trying to help her. I guess this has come off as not being a good mother as well.



I feel so blessed to be Natalie's mother but now I feel as if I have not been doing a good job. I am praying and seeking God and his grace and mercy in this area of my life but I know he gave her to me for a reason and I want to make sure I am fulfilling this reason by being the best mother I can be for Natalie Grace and David Luke.

Thank you Lord, for your continued blessings and please help me to turn to You and Your words to help me be a better mother for my 2 children.

God is Good... All the Time!

All It Takes is One

I have been struggling lately with not only my job but more importantly my attitude about my job. The school, location and actual work of the job are fine and very doable. In fact this is the easiest and least time consuming job I have ever had. There are no band contests and tryouts on Saturdays or late in the evenings. There are not after-school rehearsals or sectionals. I basically just have to be at school from 7am to 3pm. I don't like having to get up so early to commute and get there before the HORRIFIC Houston traffic but the hours are GREAT. We don't have lots of meetings after school and as of right now, I don't have any real after-school activities and this allows me to get home and be with my family!

The part I DON'T like about this job is the overall teaching position. I have taught elementary music my whole career it has just been in the background of my band teaching jobs. I have ALWAYS had band in the forefront of my find and during my previous two positions, BAND has been the important part of the job. When I attend conventions and workshops, they are not about elementary music but rather band. As most of you know my career goal and dream has been to teach band at the collegiate level someday. Of course, I have only taught in an extremely small school and then 5 years of middle school band. I will never be able to get a collegiate band directing job with just these two experiences on the resume. I knew this and I had hoped to get a band directing job in Houston once we moved. GOD HAD OTHER PLANS! As I mentioned above, everything besides the "elementary" part of my job is PERFECT. I just don't like to get up and go to work. I have NEVER felt like this in my career. It makes me sad.

So I wrote a post last week about my struggles with continuing to teach or to get out of the education field for a few years to be at home with Natalie and the new baby. I am still thinking and more important praying about this and seeking God's face in this area of my life but today I was reminded of God's grace and love.

This week has already been crazy in my classes and I feel as if we have not accomplished anything and we have been back tracking (Sound like January to any other teachers? Hahaha!!). In some cases I have 40+ kids at a time in my class trying to play instruments together to sound like something other than complete chaos or tyring to NOT BREAK the instruments. I went home yesterday just wondering if it is my teaching, these kids and school/ situation or what. I was very depressed thinking about it.

I woke up this morning to check my facebook and I had received a message from a past student of mine from Grove. She is now in high school and playing in band. She had ALWAYS been a wonderful musician and student and I knew she was going to well in band and school/ life in general. She was just THAT TYPE of kid. She told me she was going to "Brag" about her accomplishments in High School band. She went on for a while in this message telling me specific examples of her chair placements, All-Region auditions and other accomplishments from this school year. I smiled the whole time I read this message until I saw the sentence "All of this is because you taught me very well and all of this bragging is just to say Thank You." and then came the tears. This is a high school freshman who took the time to write me the message and thank me for my time I placed in her and her education! All at a moment of struggle and strife in my life and my teaching career and job. I sat there reading it in my car before I started the commute just balling my eyes out.

God showed me His grace and mercy through this 9th grade student and her message. I may not feel like I am making an impact or a difference in the lives of my students at this school right now and wonder why even keep going but I have to know all it takes is just one student's life to change to know I AM making a difference. This message is the fuel I needed to keep going. Thank you dear 9th grade student from Oklahoma.
This student has really touched me not just today but also many other times since leaving Grove and numerous times while at Grove. I thank God for allowing me to be the band director and teacher of this student. She will forever have a place in my heart.

All of this to say... When the going gets tough or you feel you just cant go on, HOLD ON!
"Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord". God will come and rescue you... you just have to be patient and keep the Faith!

God is Good... All the Time!

Interesting Cravings

Tonight for our weekly family night Chris took me to "Sweet Tomatoes" in The Woodlands for dinner. I had been wanting to go there and I have also been craving salads and fruits lately. I told Chris this while we were eating and he asked me what other food items I had been craving for this pregnancy. I was a little baffled... I don't really know any others I have been craving.

In all reality, I have not really even felt pregnant most of the time this go around. I have not had any nausea or morning sickness, I have not had any other physical problems and for the most part I have not had any REAL cravings. Now just like all females, I have wanted some sweets now and then but that is not the pregnancy hormones talking... that is the FEMALE hormones! And most of those have been just desires and I have not really wanted them so much I HAVE to HAVE them or go out and get them.

During the Christmas break I was talking to my brother and sister in-law and we were discussing Jamba Juice and I would say that was my very first craving of this pregnancy. I did take time that night to look up a Jamba Juice location near us or an Orange Julius. I actually like Orange Julius more than Jamba Juice but unfortunately, they are only in Kansas and northern states. I didn't find a Jamba Juice in Conroe or The Woodlands so I just let that craving go away with some orange juice at home. Little did I find out there is one just 5 miles from my house inside of Market Street in The Woodlands. (Oh yeah... I will be going there soon!)

The other craving I have had has really just been for salad. During the entire month of December I took salads made by Kroger or Walmart in my lunch every day at school. I dont know if I  was craving the vegetables or the cheese and other fixing's or the salad dressing or what. I also really wanted a salad bar alot. In fact, when I went home to my parents house over the break I actually asked them to go to Jason's Deli just so I could get my Salad bar fix.

I know since I am only 17 weeks along I will surely have more cravings before it is all said and done but I thought I should at least keep track of the few ones I have had up to this point. I have read online that if you are craving fruits and veggies (Which OBVIOUSLY I have), that means it is a girl since girls lead a healthier lifestyle than men. I guess I will just have to wait until Wednesday to get the TRUE RESULTS of our little bundle of joy! I CANNOT WAIT!

As always...

GOD IS GOOD... ALL THE TIME!

His Hands

So today I got to stay home with Natalie Grace. Her fill-in babysitter while Jackie is recovering had a family member pass and she and her family traveled to funeral today. Even though we just came back from a 17 day vacation from school, it was nice to be able to stay home and spend some time with my little girl. Soon she will have to share this time with the new little baby and I know both her and I will miss these days.

Since returning to school and even while on Christmas break I have been pondering and praying about not only a healthy delivery (or surgery in my case) of this new bundle of joy but also for the following school year. Never in my life have I EVER thought about being a stay at home mom. I have ALWAYS wanted to work and even with Natalie after about 6-7 weeks, I wanted to get back to what I loved to do. I actually missed my job at that time. Even though I will never forget the day I had to leave Natalie for the first time and how hard I cried (I left her with my Grandmother who came in from Wichita for a week to take care of her- I will FOREVER be grateful for that), I still wanted to get back into my "routine". For my entire 6 year teaching career I have always loved my job and what I did despite not being able to spend that quality time with my family.

In hind-sight, Chris being laid off from his job when Natalie was only 2 months old was a true blessing from God. During the 22 he was without a job, I would have never admitted this and probably laughed at those who told this to me. However, during this time Chris was able to spend that quality time with Natalie that many kids never get from their parents. Though many times we were not only living "paycheck to paycheck" but also loan to loan. It was a very difficult time financially for us but in the end we made it through and Natalie was brought up by her dad and not a worker at the daycare.

Before Natalie was born I was asked by many if I was going to quit teaching and stay home with her. My response was always "No!!!" In fact I would get a little upset the more times I got asked that question. I thought "Why do these people think I should stay home? I am a working woman! I need to work and continue to focus on my career even with a child. I have goals to achieve!" At this time in my pregnancy, no one has asked me this question... except me.

I have mentioned in other posts about my job and the lack of passion I have for it. I think this has a lot to do with my feelings right now but I just keep going back to the fact that if I work... my kids will have to go to daycare all day. And this time around I am not talking about the small town family oriented daycare like there was in Shawnee. Oh no! I am talking about the franchised- not owned by a family, workers just there to pay the bills, type of a daycare. Every time I think about this, I just break down and cry. Part of these tears come from my frustration of my job and its situation but most of these tears come from thinking about how this new little baby will not get that time with it's parents as a baby like Natalie did.

I am just so scared that with the economy we are in right now and the education crisis that not only Texas but the entire nation is facing once I leave, I will NEVER be able to get back into the education field. I am sure I am over-exaggerating but that is the way I feel. This whole school year I have felt like me teaching in elementary and not band will make me an outcast in the future for band jobs. If I have these feelings while I am still teaching, how are my feelings going to be when I am NOT teaching?

Those of you that know me well know I have always had a "one-track mind" when it comes to my career. These past 6 months God has really taken off my blinders and got me thinking about my career and more importantly...MY FAMILY. Sometimes I wonder why God does what he does and why he does certain things at certain times. I am sure we have all pondered these questions at some point in our lives but unfortunately these questions will have to go unanswered until Christ returns or brings me home to be with him. As I have mentioned before, my dad's and grandpa's favorite saying is "It' a FAITH issue, Kellie". I know and I am leaning on Him for the answer right now!

Right now I am not sure what I am going to do about my job and my career and how I am going to take care of Natalie and this new baby.  I am trying now more than EVER to take off my blinders and let the Holy Spirit speak to me like only He can. I covet your prayers for me and my family as we ponder this situation and how it will effect our family not only in the next year but the next 10 years. Either way... I know God is in CONTROL and HE HAS A PLAN... I just have to look to Him!
As I am writing this post I am listening to some of favorite encouragement songs of Faith on my itunes. Just a minute ago the song "My Life is in Your Hands" by Kathy Troccoli came on. I just stopped, listened and prayed to God. Sometimes the simplest words can really speak to you.

My life is in Your hands
My heart is in Your keeping
I'm never without love
Not when my future is with You

My life is in Your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause Your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in Your hands

If your life is not in His hands today, take a minute to pray to God and ask him to forgive you of your sins and come and live in your heart. You will be ETERNALLY blessed and grateful.

God is Good... All the Time!

"You Gotta Be a BIG Girl"

So lately I have been trying to help Natalie get ready for this life changing event that is coming her way in less than 6 months by trying to get her to "be a BIG girl" Of course, she has NO IDEA was is going to happen when Davis #2 pops into her world. She has been acting like a mommy and playing with her babies for a while now and thanks to my mom and dad she now has a stroller and pack-n-play/bed for her babies as well. She loves holding and rocking them and she was constantly come up to Chris and I and "Shhhh" us and say "Elmo is sleeping" or she will run down the hall and yell "Oh no, Elmo crying". I guess it is just natural instincts for little girls to play with dolls and play "mommy" with their babies.

We have been telling Natalie about her brother/sister and she will kiss the baby every night when she goes to bed. She has also learned the boy and girl names we have chosen and she will ask "Where is ______" occasionally. She will also say "I love you baby" as she goes to sleep. It is really sweet.

As mentioned above, in my preparations to get her ready to be a BIG SISTER and Big Girl... I have been talking to her more like a little human and not a toddler. We have transferred her over to a twin sized bed in preparation for the baby needing the crib and she seems to like it. The past few night she has been a little scared of her bed for some reason. Tonight, for example, she asked to go to sleep and then when she got in her bed she got scared and began to whine. Chris tried to get her to go down but she would not even lay down. I took over and went in there and talked to her about being a big girl and getting ready to be a big sister. "Natalie, a big girl and a big sissy cannot cry in their bed or then the baby will cry too. You have to be a big girl and you cannot cry." She said "Ok Mommy. No cry" I then told her that we were supposed to go to the Houston Zoo tomorrow and we will only take her if she is a Big Girl. Her response was "Yeah... Natalie a big girl now." She curled up with her 18 stuffed animals (No kidding) and layed her head on her pillow. She closed her eyes and said "Go night mommy. I wake up then milk and the Zoo!!" (I love how she just HAD to get that glass of milk in BEFORE the zoo!) I kissed her and then left. She has been quite and not made a noise since then!

Now if this would only work with potty-training!!!!!!!

(Side note- Please pray for me on this front. She is ready but practically afraid of the toilet)

I love my Big Girl and Big Sister! I think with a few more months, she will be ready! As always...

God is Good... ALL THE TIME!

The Davis Family Christmas Traditions

During the Christmas weekend with Chris' family, I was able to recall the traditions me and my family shared during the Christmas holidays as well as listen to the traditions of my in-laws. This led me to start thinking about the traditions I was to create with my family. What better time to start these traditions than now! I have thought of a few that I would like to do with my kids and I hope to begin these Christmas 2012.

The Davis Family Christmas Tradition #1

Happy Birthday Jesus

I actually started this tradition during Christmas 2010. I would like to always be able to take time on Christmas day to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas; Jesus' birth. I think especially with young children, what better way to celebrate this than with a cupcake/ cake for Jesus. In 2010 we used a small cupcake and lit 1 candle in the middle of it. We all sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and then Natalie ate a little of the cupcake. In 2011 this tradition became even more special since Natalie and I had been practicing "Happy Birthday" during our singing time in the bathtub and Natalie was able to sing along with us. While I was video-taping this event, a little tear rolled down my cheek as I saw my little girl grow up. After the singing, Natalie blew out the candle by herself and then licked all of the icing off of the cupcake (She didn't really want the cake part but just the icing... I guess she really is MY kid!) Uncle John brought to my attention about needing 2 or 3 cupcakes in the near future so I think I will start using a cake when that time comes! (Thanks for the heads-up though John!)

The Davis Family Christmas Tradition #2

The Reading of the Christmas Story and prayer

I am sure this was a tradition of alot of Christian families but I want to keep this in my family. I have found a small kids book with the Christmas Story in it and I plan on using it in addition to the Bible when my children are of reading age. This past year my dad also gave Natalie a recordable story-book featuring the "True Meaning of Christmas" in which he reads the story to her. I hope this will continue to mechanically work for the next 20 years too! I love that. I hope to be able to pray with my kids and have them pray as well after we read the story of the birth of Jesus. I read from the Gospel of Luke to Natalie on Christmas night when I put her to bed and then the Story-book from Poppy as well so this tradition was started in 2011.

The Davis Family Christmas Tradition #3

Christmas Crafts

Even though I am NOT the art teacher and I am NOT very crafty... I would like to start making a small craft with my kids on Christmas Eve. This would include but not limited to: creating a Reindeer or Nativity Scene on a plate or some other craft supply or creating an ornament for the Christmas tree. I had hoped to start this tradition this year but it will just have to wait until 2012.

The Davis Family Christmas Tradition #4

Christmas Eve PJs

Again, another tradition I am sure LOTS of families do. I never really did this with my family but since we were almost always traveling to the Grandparents house on the 23rd or so, it was not very feasible. I would like to be able to dress my kiddos in matching PJs on Christmas Eve and then have them wake up on Christmas morning to open their gifts together! I would also like for Chris and I to wear PJs during this process. I think with the newest addition to our family in 2012, we should be able to pull this one off next year!

Overall, I wish to be able to have traditions that will bring to my kids attention the true meaning of Christmas: The birth of Jesus Christ. This year on our Christmas card we wrote:

"We are keeping CHRIST in "Christmas" and we hope you do too"

I want this to be my family's Christmas motto and I hope I can instill this into my children at a very young age.

Merry Christmas to all and until next year...

God is GOOD... ALL the time!

Merry Christmas 2011

The Greatest Gift This Season: FAMILY
Natalie, Chris and I were able to spend Christmas with both of our families. This was the first time since Chris and I were married that we were able to get to be with both families at Christmas time. We still we unable to be with both on Christmas Day but within the week of Christmas is still a major improvement for us. In years past we have only been able to be at one of their houses on Christmas and Thanksgiving (Alternating between his family and mine). But now since we live so close to each side, we were able to spend alot of time with each during both holidays.


We spent Christmas with my parents in Arp, TX the weekend preceding Christmas. This was great because we were able to get together and celebrate Jesus' birth without the major headache of a Christmas "dinner". We celebrated a true "Texans" way with Mexican food all around. We made Chicken Enchiladas, Queso, and specialty rice. It was as my sister would say... "Yumsters!". We also had our annual "Bake-off" which featured bars this year. Allison made a fancy chocolate bar called "Cant Leave Them Alone Bars" while Chris made a very tasty bar featuring Pecans called "Pecan Goodie Bars". I went with a traditional Blondie that satisfied my non-chocolate taste but didn't win over the judges. In the end, Allison came home with this years Award and will have bragging rights for the next year. I am thinking next year I will have to play the chocolate card just to try to win it!

We were able to see all of Chris' immediate family over Christmas weekend and celebrate Jesus' birth with them over a somewhat traditional Christmas meal. Last year we fried a turkey for Thanksgiving with the Davis family and this year we decided to try a "TUR-DUCK-EN". Chris and I had ate this before last Christmas with my family and we LOVED it! It was so tasty and delicious. Chris had found a place down here that specialized in stuffed meat and decided to get one for the Davis Christmas Dinner. We were all so very excited about it. In fact, Chris was so excited about it that while basting it on Christmas Eve afternoon, he dropped some of the juices on his foot and burnt it! Poor Guy! With this Tur-duck-en we had a variety (a very LARGE variety) of side dishes including; Green Bean Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Leeanna's Famous Mac and Cheese (It may not have been famous before but... IT IS NOW! It was "Yumsters") as well as about 5 other side dishes. Our poor refrigerator was FULL with leftovers after this ARMY-SIZED meal! Overall it was a wonderful meal.

While together with Chris' family we played card games including Skip-Bo. This was a game I used to play with my grandma which made me think of her and miss her and all of my extended family alot. This led me to start thinking about Christmas' past and all of the "traditions" we had. We spent a great deal of time on Christmas day sharing "traditions" with each other. It was so interesting to hear all of the family traditions every had. For example, one of Chris' family's traditions is putting together a puzzle at Christmas time. This year they were able to put together a LSU puzzle and Natalie actually got to help! Leeanna and I pretty much had the same Holiday traditions and festivities which included traveling to see our family! This discussion led me to think about the traditions I was to create with MY OWN family! And now that we are going to be a family of 4, I think I can begin most of these Christmas 2012. These will be highlighted and detailed in one of my following posts.

I am so grateful to have such wonderful family members and I will be forever grateful for their love for me and my family. Thank you Mom and Dad for a great Christmas in Arp. We loved EVERY minute. Thank you also Allison for finding time to come and spend that weekend with us. It would not have been the same without you! Thank you Dan and Jackie for your continuous support for Chris and I, not only in the form of a roof over our heads but in so many other ways as well. Thank you D'Ann, John and Leeanna for also coming and spending the Christmas holiday with us. We loved spending that time with y'all!

Another Christmas in the books. Just think... next year we will be a family of FOUR!

God is good... ALL THE TIME!

Prenatal Visit #3

Wednesday, December 14, 2011
The Heartbeat

Today I went in for my 3 month prenatal visit. I was 13 weeks and 1 day. Things are still looking great and I was "right where I need to be" in the words of my doctor. He checked to make sure all was well and the due date was the same (I am not sure how he can still judge this but... he did). I am still due June 19, 2012 and he will take him/her on June 10-12.

I seemed to have gained a little more weight than I would have liked to but the doctor didn't seem to be too worried about it. I was the one that brought it up and his response, much like that of my husband, was "You're pregnant". You see I had worked long and hard (over a year) to lose the 65 pounds I had lost right before I found out I was pregnant. Since the beginning of this school year I had dwindled off my very strict diet little by little but as soon as I found out I was pregnant, I began to eat like a normal person again and I think my body has just now caught up to my eating change. I have not really been eating for two yet but I have not been sick this time around either (I am not complaining about this!!!!) Overall I have gained about 6 pounds in my 13 weeks of pregnancy. That is a lot to me and I just look at the scale and begin to get depressed thinking about how hard I worked to get down to a good weight and now watching those numbers get higher and higher each week/ month/ doctor visit. In spite of the holiday food craves coming, I have been pretty good this past week in eating healthy. I have tried to stay away from sweets and only eat fruits and vegetables as often as I can. Hopefully next time (only 10 days after the holidays are over!!!!) I will not have gained so much!

I have officially begun my 2nd trimester and I am feeling GREAT (Thus far). Compared to Natalie Grace and her pregnancy, I barely even know I am pregnant half the time. I have only gotten morning sickness a few times in my 1st trimester and I have not been too weak or mental exhausted like last time. I have been tired but I blame that more on the fact I have to get up at 5am each and every day for school not my pregnancy. I am hoping this lack of sickness and problems means it is a boy!!!

Most important from this doctor's visit was the location and hearing of the heartbeat. The doctor was able to locate the baby and find it's heartbeat rather quickly and I got to hear that precious "pitter-patter" of yet another miracle and blessing from Above. It is amazing how faint and small that sound is yet so powerful. I am amazed after hearing that how people can end this life of such a blessing just because it is not a good time for them. That makes me so sad. I am so very grateful and blessed God has chosen me to be this little boy/ girl's mother and I cannot wait for June 19 to get here!

Thank you Lord for Your continued blessings.

I go in for a "gender check" on January 11 and as long as the baby cooperates, I will know if I have my little boy or not! THINK BLUE please!!!! Either way... it is a dream come true and a true blessing from God!

God is Good... All the Time!

Different? or Polar Opposites?

So today at school I am trying to run through my Christmas musical and all chaos broke out. Basically everything I had worked on and taught my kids was over-ruled by my team and leader and thrown out the window. I am trying to work on a very structured and professional concert and somehow it got turned into the "Redneck Show" from down the street. I tried to lay out my instruments in a very structured and professional way and they decided to throw my instruments in large containers (pickle buckets) and call it good. This made the students have to adjust to this change and then more chaos broke out.

Earlier this week I was told I can not take roll of which kids are there and which kids are not. In the past I have always done a head count at least to see who has shown up the concert. I do understand that I am teaching in a MUCH different environment that I am used to and I have the adjust to that myself but they are just so flippant about it all. I was told "too many parents work and cannot get their kids up here". I tried to make it a commitment thing and again, they "nixed" that and I am left with whoever shows up. I just don't know how I am supposed to conduct an even half-way decent concert and performance if I cant do it my way or I have to just "half-butt" it as I like to call it. That is so not me at all and I hate it. My name is going to be all over this show and it will be a reflection of me not just the school or music department.

While I was working at my previous position I was talking to my principal and administration about the thoughts and plans for Chris and I to move to Houston and be closer to family. I shared with them my dream of becoming a college band director and teaching at the collegiate level someday. We talked for a while about dreams and aspirations and actual turn -outs and my principal gave great insight to me which I ponder about all the time. She said "You know, sometimes WE have plans and everything is planned out but what about God's plan. Your plan and God's plan may not be the same. You need to brace yourself." I took that statement with me but still thinking I would get there one day. After a day like today and the school year and position I am in right now, I wonder if she is right. Alot is going on in my life right now and I just don't see that dream of mine coming into play anytime soon. Yet at the same time, I don't even see me wanting to teach anymore after a day like today. I am beginning to wonder if not only mine and God's plans were the same but are POLAR OPPOSITES! Maybe I am not even on the same road as He is.

I am really struggling with my job right now and trying to make through each day. I have prayed and prayed for a better attitude and outlook on the whole ordeal and I feel better but then as soon as I get a decent vibe, I am right back where I began. I have ALWAYS loved teaching and loved being with the kids. Even when I was at my very first job, which was also not what I thought it was going to be, I still liked teaching band and enjoyed making a difference in the kids lives. Right now, I feel as if this is just a job and paying my bills. I don't have that passion I used to have. This really scares me. Just another moment of "You don't know what you got until it's gone."

My motto for most of my posts is "God is good... All the Time". I do believe this and I that is why I make a point to put it in my posts. I know God is going to take care of me and my job situation and struggles. I just have to give it to him. Of course, we all know, that is the hardest thing to do. I covet your prayers for me and my job! But yet again...

God is Good... All the time!

Thanksgiving Week 2011: Day #5

Friday, November 25, 2011

Black Friday 2011
Today and I grateful for many things but I am most grateful that I made it out alive of the Black Friday Sales. My family and I went to several Midnight deals and got some incredible steals. We began with Toys R Us who opened at 9pm on Thanksgiving night. We noticed the parking lot was full but failed to see the 1/3 mile+ line wrapped around the back of the store. At 9pm the security officer told us that they are going to only let 15 people in at a time every 10 minutes. We thought that was crazy but we decided to get into line anyway. Well the officer did not lie to us or over-exaggerate... they really only let 15 people in at a time every 10 minutes!!! This was very frustrating since we only moved about 50 yards or so between 9 and 9:35pm. We gave up and tried Walmart.

Wow... this was an experience I will NEVER forget. We got there about 10 minutes before the 10pm toys and other deals were revealed. We got into the ticket line for a few large items I was purchasing for my family and in-laws (Cannot reveal the items since these people read my blog!!!!) As I was getting into my line a few people decided to try to take 1 of the 12 volt Convertible Cars before the 10pm time slot. All of the sudden a Walmart associate comes running screaming "It is not 10 yet". She then calls security. I lean over the isle to see about 10-20 ADULTS fighting over a Barbie Car. One guy jumped on top of the 5 remaining cars and yells if I can take one, then no one can. Tyler Police Officers came running and then shoving and pushing began. All in all, one person was arrested and there was a lot of blood on the floor. All for a Barbie Car!!! Sorry Natalie Grace, you do NOT get one of those.

I had my mom wait in the line for my sister's gift and Allison wait in line for my mom's gift. Mom's line had a ticket and so we knew we would get that item because we were #27 out of 81 people. Allison's line did not have tickets and an associate in Electronics told her "Just stand over there and form a line and at midnight we will bring them out". Well thanks lady, we knew that. Allison was the fourth person in this line. Dad and I kept going and getting all the other stuff on our lists and checking on mom and Allison. Dad and I noticed that the electronics was a little crazy as midnight approached so we left mom in line with her ticket and came to help Allison. I got there about 11:40 and the manager told us to get in line for the Electronics cashier and then tell what you want and he will give it to us. Ummm... No sir. I got up there and told him we had been in line for 2+ hours and just getting in the already 10 people deep electronic line would not work. People on the other side of electronics were in line for Ipods and they started cursing at the manager and yelling and more fights broke out. Eventually, they had the electronic cashier line wait so my line and the Ipod line could get our items! As I was leaving a large family said "I hope you are happy with your item!" I turned around and said "You bet I am! Merry Christmas!" What an adrenaline rush!! I am sorry they had to wait for us but we had been in line for 2+ hours! I got my item so all is well!

We got almost EVERYTHING I went for at Walmart and my family and in-laws will appreciate my efforts when they get their gifts!!!! At about 12:30am we left Walmart and went to Macy's. Mom and Allison got a few items there and I got another gift. I then tried to go back to Toys R Us for my small toys for Natalie. But of course, all the rest of Tyler was there at 9pm and got all of my items. I was able to get one toy for Natalie but all of the others were sold out already. Finally, my dad took me to Best Buy to try to get items for my brother and sister in-laws. It was about 1am and there was still a line outside of Best Buy so I will have to get their gifts later!

We came home about 2am and went to sleep. We left the house about 10am and got back at it today. We only lasted about 3 hours before we came home for someones nap... And I DON'T mean Natalie! Yeah... I had to take a nap too!

Overall, I got all of the gifts I wanted to get and more. I have such a giving spirit this year and I cannot wait to continue this feeling throughout the holiday season. Without the grace of God and His continued blessings on me and my family, I would not have this opportunity. As I mentioned in previous posts, I am incredibly lucky to have the ability to give back this year and I thank God for this ability.

This Thanksgiving week I have taken time to be thankful and grateful for God's blessings but I could take the rest of the year and the days until next Thanksgiving to count all of my blessings ONE BY ONE!

God is good... ALL THE TIME!!!!