Getting Cowboy'd Up

For an early birthday present/any excuse to go do something fun event this past Saturday night, my dad took Jacob, me and E to The Mesquite Rodeo.

We had a blast. We got to sit up in the suites (which is the only way to go to *most* events, in my humble opinion.) Jacob and I rode the chuck wagon around the arena before the rodeo started. We had tasty bbq & free drinks, lol! We got to come and go throughout the arena at our whim, thanks to the trusty, red wristbands on our wrists! Jacob highly enjoyed the face painting part of the night- he got a Batman face mask & a Superman "tat". I really loved being up on the cat walk by the cowboys and the animals during the bull riding part of the evening. *That* was awesome.

My favorite part, though was seeing my little boy all "cowboy'd up" as he put it. It was very cute & super special to me- my family owned a 'country/western wear' store up until I was 13/14 years old. I grew up learning how to fit a pair of boots, what 13MWZ's are, and how to take proper care of a cowboy hat. So, watching my off-spring soak up and absorb a little of that culture made me a happy mama, indeed.

If you get a chance, get on out to the rodeo- it's on until the middle of August! But there's always something happening at the arena other times of the year!

The Triumph. The Tragedy. The Broken Ankle.

Well.

So....

It's been an interesting week around here. (putting it mildly)

Wednesday night, I was on my way into church to pick up the short one from choir when my cell phone rang. It was my dear hubby's ring tone, so I assumed it would be him on the other end.

Nope.

It was my brother-in-law.

Not what I was expecting.

My lovely Bro had some news. He was driving E's car & he was behind the ambulance that was taking E to the hospital. (this would be the moment I stopped walking and did my best statue impersonation)

Let me back up for a moment, that morning, E and I had a convo about our plans that evening. I was on short one detail. E was going to play racquetball with his big brother.

Can you see where this is going?

E broke his ankle playing racquetball.
Good. Grief.
(When I inquired of E later how this happened, he said that he was playing extra-sucky & thought he could make up for the sucktitude by playing extra physical and with more energy. Yeah. My response was probably less than supportive.)

Isn't it cute? E's first broken bone. First IV. First hospital visit. First surgery. My baby is growing up! (Yes, I did just call my husband 'my baby'. Deal.)

He had to have surgery. A couple of pins, steel rod, staples, wire, duct tape and a Jedi Mind Trick were involved with putting that ankle back together. I was more nervous about the surgery than E was. I've had surgery a couple of times, shall we say. And I knew what was to come. But, what I didn't know was how nerve-wracking it would be to have a loved one wheeled away from me. I pretty much, in every way, hated it.

The surgery was super fast- and our surgeon was amazing. He was knowledgeable and really put me at ease. (and thought I was a nurse. I'm not. but, still. that was cool.)

E's on crutches this week and part of next. I'm driving him everywhere his sweet heart desires. He's a bit more than giddy to have me playing chauffeur. Next week he gets his staples out and a walking boot... and hopefully starts driving again!

I'm in every way tempted to post a picture of E in the hospital, but I was informed that any posted pictures would NOT be to the amusement of my beloved.

So, I'll leave you with this one!

Counting the 2012 Blessings

This will be the post where I count down (with pictures!) some of the biggest blessings of 2012. 

(my deep apology for all the pictures.... yes, I know it adds to the loading time. But, I love pictures- my favorite way to tell a story.)

1)Another amazing year of being a mommy. But not just any ol' mommy.

This little boy's mommy.

My baby turned 4 in 2012. 

I love this kid with all my heart and then more. 

2) Another year with Grandmother Winnie.

The older I get, the more I appreciate how crazy lucky/fortunate/blessed I am to have had 3 of my 4 grandparents when I turned 30.... 

I just have 2 grandparents now.... and that makes the time with them all the more sweet.

Grandmother Winnie with 7 of her 8 great-grandchildren. 

I love this picture.

3) The 20 years I had with my fur-baby... 

Chester was my first 'baby' and my best bud.

4) The Rangers game with 2 of the 3 most important guys in my life.

E

and my Daddy.

5) Living the dream of taking Jacob to Disney World with my parents.

So amazing. 

(Mother, I had to use a picture with you in it. How else will people know that you're real?)

The greatest day of his 4 & 1/2 years, thus far.

Making memories... and taking pictures.

6) Another magical Christmas season for my son.

7)Saying 'yes' to marrying E.

2012 was a wonderful year.

I'm looking forward to an amazing 2013!

What I Love Wednesday

So, I kinda dropped the ball on this one. Whoops. And, I will say, in my defense... it's been that kinda week/summer. Lot's of stuff going on in my world. Lot's of stuff going on in my heart. Still trying to sort it all out into some kind of cogent pattern I hope I can share with yall. I've seen God's finger prints time and again over the stained glass of my heart & life.... and this season is no different. It's simply... different.

Anyway.

Here's a short, What I Love Wednesday. Enjoy. And remember to look around and truly see the things in your life that you truly love- be they big or small.

1) Late Night Dance Parties. (aka: watching my boy find his groove & his soul)

2) A "Peet-stop" (if you've seen Cars. You know you what I'm talking about)

3) When my son says he wants me to take a picture of him making a silly face. :-) Any time.

4) These 2.

5) 3 Generations of Steeler Nation. Oh, the Pride. That's my Daddy, Jacob & me.

6) There are still a few more years when my son still likes and wants to take pictures with his mommy. And hanging with his mommy is one of his favorite things to do in this world.

Happy Wednesday! 


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

She Knew What She Wants...

And she wanted to go to the Fair and see the Bangles.

And a very sweet guy took her. Hee! God Bless my sweet 80's childhood and God Bless sweet E, who doesn't mock (too much).

The Bangles were great. Check it off my bucket-list, thank you very much. And the crowd. Oh, bless my heart- the crowd. The women, my age- who were little girls when the Bangles were at the top of their popularity... the women who were a weee bit older.... and the little girls in the audience who weren't even born. Oh, my.

I have rarely felt so young and so old at the same time. (and I think that's the first of many, many times in the future.)

me and E... and Big Tex

waiting on the Bangles. one of us is way more excited than the other.

(this has nothing to do with the Bangles. It's the Fried S'more.... my fav Fair food. And deserving of a yearly picture.)

The Bangles!!!

To Recap

It's been an eventful spring, summer and fall around Bloggergirl Inc. And, while I try to keep things light and upbeat around here- as we all know, sometimes life gets in my way

We shall start with the bad news, my Grandma passed away in July. I am still grieving. I have been blessed and spoiled by being 30 and (as of July) still having 3 of my grandparents. And I was keenly aware of that. Those were some of the hardest days of my life, thus far. And... that's saying something. My Grandma was human. She was flawed. But Eleanor Pentino knew how to LOVE. And she taught her family how to love. We're all still trying to grapple with her last few months of life (they sucked). Trying to focus on the greater-than 80 years prior to those months. And, trying to figure out what life without her means now.

For me- it means, back to school. Yea. Lot's of time in the kitchen as well. I am on a mission to immerse myself in my Grandma's recipe's. Cooking. It's how I cope. There's something therapeutic in chopping and stirring and tasting and standing over a hot stove. Hitting the Italian Rosseta Stone lessons harder. I am determined to go to Rome & go to Mass for my Grandma... she wanted to go but didn't get to. And I want to go to the homeland. And teaching the little dude all of these things- and more.

Some good news? (please, oh please? you say) I have been keeping company with another J as of late. How do you like that turn of phrase? For the purposes of this blog, we shall call him "E". Just because having to "J"'s is waaaaay too confusing. I suppose I could call Jacob "little J" and the other, "big J".... but that's a little silly. And there is logic to my "E"- last name. :-)

Let's see, a little about E. He likes sushi. Me. Books. He's wicked funny. Darned handsome. Will read anything... no really, I mean it (I have the saved, emailed news articles to prove it... wait is that weird?... hmmm). And I think I've got him convinced that taking your intrepid Bloggergirl to the Great State Fair of Texas to see the Bangles (yea!) is a great idea.
He'll be thrilled, he got props on my blog.

Somewhat off the wall question that will make sense in a moment- are there any scifi cool kid geeks out there? Yes? Great. Are you reading Jim Butcher's Dresden Files? No? Then get thee to the book store or to the internet book supplier of your choice and start reading. Just sayin'.

Okay people- happy Wednesday.
Oh, before I forget! I joined twitter! Join me there!
And come back tomorrow to here my rant about facebook, twitter & my newest bit of crack, pinterest!
Peace out!