Go Rangers!

In light of the Rangers making history tonight and winning their first ever play-off series, I thought it might be time to post some pictures of the fun we had at one of their games just a week and a half ago.

Marcus got some tickets for his 33rd birthday and the two of us went with Connor while James hung out at his grandparents house watching all the action on tv with his Boppa. Connor may have wished he was somewhere else when the Rangers hit a few home runs and fireworks went off in the stadium (he sat with his hands over his ears for a solid half-hour afterwards) but all in all he had a GREAT time. I think he enjoyed it almost as much as his dad!

This Is What Happened

While I was taking my shower this morning. James dumped an entire bag of flour all over my living room floor and sofa. When I asked him what happened, he just laughed... with a mouth full of goldfish crackers and pretzles. I should have known better than to leave this little guy alone. And yes, those were clean clothes on the loveseat.

Just Because I Feel Like It

I'm writing this post just because I feel like it. I don't have anything too exciting to share, just haven't been on here for a while.

I feel like Connor starting school 5 days a week (only 3 1/2 hours in the mornings, though) has shot our life in a whole new direction, and I AM LOVING IT!

It is amazing what a difference it makes to HAVE to wake up at a certain time and get the day going every morning. I used to cringe every time my alarm went off in college (including while I was in classes after being married and having Connor). I would dream of the day I could just be a stay at home mom and rid my life of that awful morning alarm. Well, after a few years of just waking up whenever the kids did, and then slowly getting breakfast, getting dressed probably no earlier than lunch time, and basically spending the morning lounging around trying to pick away at a few random house chores between playing with the little guys, being forced to wake up, get ready, and get out of the door by 7:10 has been heaven sent. Sounds crazy, right? I know, but it's true. I'm starting to believe there really is something to the whole "early to bed, early to rise" thing.

Well, that's it for my random posting for now. It's just past 6:00 and I need to hurry and get dinner on the table. I think the little guys are getting hungry.

First Week of School

Last Monday Connor started Pre-Kindergarten. He was SO excited (and I'm not gonna lie, I was too)! He has LOVED going each morning this week and is a little bummed that it's the weekend now and can't go back for two days.

Here's a few pictures of the little guy on his first few days of school..


Yeah, this is how he chose to pose for his "first day of school" photo.


I tried for a better shot but he was far too distracted looking at all the other kids in the hallway.


He RAN once he saw the playground.


I was able to get a better picture of him leaving for his second day of school... now that some of the excitement had died down.

Maybe it is just because it is only Pre-K, but I haven't had any of the feelings of "my baby isn't such a baby anymore" or "I'm so sad I don't get to have him home all day"... I think I have loved him going to school just as much as he has loved going! NOT because I don't want him here with me, but because I truly truly know he is ready for the experience and I know he is beyond excited about it. I am just so happy for him and it is so much fun seeing him doing new things that build his self-esteem.

Here's to hoping the entire school year is as good as this first week!

I Can Hardly Believe It's August...

This month means a lot of different things for our family.

-August is the last month of Marcus' CRAZY summer schedule! He has worked full time (6 days a week) doing summer sales, gone to school, applied to Medical Schools, studied for and taken the MCAT, and job shadowed a general physician a few days a week. We haven't seen him nearly as much as we would have liked to and are SO EXCITED for that to change on September 1!

-Connor starts Pre-Kindergarten this month... in 20 days to be exact. He will be going 4 mornings a week and although I am looking forward to it, I am also wondering if I am really ready for it. Where did the time go?

-Marcus gets his MCAT results the week of the 16th. He feels like he did a good job, but it's incredibly hard to really guage. We're nervous, and excited, and it drives me crazy to think about it so let's move on...

I guess those really are the only things going on this month. It seems like there was a lot more, but I guess a few big things together can feel a bit bigger than maybe they really are. I am REALLY looking forward to starting a new schedule this September. It will still be busy, but Marcus will be home every evening (well, for the most part) and we will be able to feel like our life is slightly more normal. I can hardly wait!

I Think It's About Time

I update this blog... man oh man I just keep getting farther and farther behind!

I keep hearing my friends talk about how they are going to try to spend less time on the computer every day. I feel like I need to set a goal to spend more time online everyday. Dorky, I know, but I feel so disconnected when I'm only on the computer 10-15 minutes a day like I have been lately.

Anyway, to start things off, here's a quick update on everyone:

Marcus did get his applications in to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service and the Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service. He applied to a total of six schools (but may be adding three more as he's been told that he applied to way too little). He has currently been invited by three of those schools to fill out their secondary application and he is thrilled about that. He takes the MCAT this Friday and we definitely have our fingers crossed that he will do well on it.

I have it way too easy. I get to spend every day playing with our boys, swimming, meeting friends for play dates, etc. We are having a fun summer!

Connor is OBSESSED with Toy Story 3 since he saw it a few weeks ago. He loves playing with his trains lately and giving rides to his mini Buzz, Woody, Bulls Eye, and Slinky Dog actions figures.

James is talking up a storm and looks less and less like a baby every day. He is totally a typical little boy. He loves fighting, looking at bugs, and collecting sticks... random, I know.

I'll try to sit down sometime soon and do a major catch-up with all the photo's sitting on my camera! Stay tuned!

Here We Are...

One week from tomorrow Marcus will submit his first round of applications to Medical Schools. I can hardly believe we are FINALLY at this point.

It was exactly 2 years ago that Marcus decided he was going to follow his heart and pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. It was an overwhelming thought in the begining. There was so much he needed to do to prepare, and we really had no idea how or when he was going to do it all. We made one plan after another.. taking the whole thing a step at a time. Our original timeline planned for Marcus to apply for the first time in 2011, one year from now. But here we are in 2010, all ready to go, and we couldn't be more thrilled!

We have recieved an unbelievable amount of encouragement and support. We have been immensly blessed all along our way, although we haven't always recognized the blessings as they came. Marcus has stumbled upon opportunities we didn't even know existed and I have watched as he has changed and grown.. as his confidence, passion, and dedication has increased.

Of course there has been plenty of discouragement and temptation to give up and pursue other careers that seemed a little more easily attainable (not to mention less expensive). And I'll admit, we have given a lot of those options serious consideration along the way. But in the end, everytime, Medical School remained the ultimate dream and we have grown stronger and stronger in our commitment to obtain admission.

And now... here we are!

We realize we may still be here a year from now.. applying again because the first year of applications didn't prove to be successful. But that's ok. It's just nice to enter a new phase.. make it to a new step.. get a little closer to the goal.

Good luck Marcus! And congratulations on making it this far!

New Photo's

I figured it was about time for new photo's of the boys. My awesome cousin Katie who took our pictures last year lives in Utah, a bit too far away to hurry on over and take them for us, so I gave it a try myself. With boys this cute I was able to get a few good ones, despite my poor photography skills. Enjoy!

A Belated Anniversary Report

Ok, I'm obviously playing a little bit of catch-up here, between the post about our crazy Texas winter and now one about our 5th anniversary, which we celebrated back in February. Bear with me!

Each year Marcus and I have gone away without the kids for a weekend to celebrate our anniversary. This year was a bit different, though, with his super-packed schedule and our poor-student status. As pathetic as it may sound, we celebrated this year when Marcus got home from work on Saturday by taking our kids to the Cheesecake Factory (ok, going to the cheesecake factory is never pathetic, it's divine :). As simple as it was, we had a lot of fun.

Connor was in total awe at the cases full of dessert. Let me tell you, that kid LOVES him some cake, and you would have thought he had died and gone to heaven when he saw it all for the first time. Here's a few messy pictures from the evening:







So, our 5th anniversary ended up being a good one. I don't think either one of us would have imagined our life would be what it is five years into our marriage, but we really wouldn't have it any other way. We have been blessed with two wonderful little boys, a great home, and employment that allows Marcus to help provide for our needs and have the time to do what he needs to do to be able to pursue his dream of applying to Medical Schools. Hopefully next year, though, we can resume the tradition of getting away without the kids!

Back Seat Singer

Seriously, why don't I ever think to take my flip camera with me in the car to get Connor on video singing at the top of his lungs whenever a song comes on the radio that he likes. Because I am not looking at him he thinks that I cannot hear him. This morning's favorite was "Hey Soul Sister"... I nearly died smiling.