The Matthews Family

Thursday, September 9, 2010

My Birthday- March

So, my birthday was March 26 and I turned 26! I, of course, got to spend the day with Wes! Then, Jud brought a single red rose and a birthday cake home for me!! Yes, I'm 26 and I still love Scooby Doo!!

Then, he and Wesley took me to dinner at my favorite local restaurant, Margarita's! Here is Wes on the way to the restaurant! My parents, sister-in-law, Jamye, her husband (Michael), and their beautiful little girl, Gracie, all met us there for a wonderful dinner!

And, yes, my family made sure to let them know that it was my birthday, so I had to where the sombrero!

All in all, it was a really wonderful day! I am so blessed to have a wonderful family!!

A new friend for Wesley!- March

It was around the end of March that I started baby-sitting another child, Aidan. He turned 2 December, so he was a good bit bigger than Wesley. But, they really did enjoy each others company! This is Aidan and Wesley watching cartoons together

He takes after his Mom!- March

This was also back in March. This is what happens when I get out of my seat! I came back into the living room and he had climbed up into my seat with his laptop! I think he had been watching his Momma a little too much! He uses both hands on the laptop, just like I do!

As I was standing there taking pictures, he picked up one of my books that I had sitting there! He actually looks like was reading it!

This was just one of those moments that I want to remember!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Riding 4-wheelers with Dad!- March

There is not much to say to go along with these few pictures. Jud decided to take the 4-wheeler out around ours and his Dad's yards. Wesley decided he wanted to get on it with his Daddy and Jud let him. They had lots of fun!!

He really liked riding the 4-wheeler with Daddy!!

Friday, September 3, 2010

Father and Son TeeBall!- March

Jud came home about half-way through March with a gift from a friend of his for Wesley. One of Jud's friends gave Jud a TeeBall set for Wesley! So, Jud set it up and they went out and played that night for a while!

They went out again in the morning and had a blast together!!

I really do love my guys and I am so thankful for the two of them! And, I love to see the love between the two of them!

A March Trip to the Caldwell Zoo- March

So, back in March, Jud happened to get a Saturday off, so we decided to take Wesley to the zoo in Tyler. We had a wonderful time around the zoo, then met up with one of Jud's best friends from high school and his girlfriend for dinner and a visit to their house afterwards! Here is Jud and Wesley after we first entered the zoo!

And, this little fox was the cutest little animal and was very interested in all of the people!

One of the beautiful white tigers! This female's stripes are very, very light!

Jud was pointing out the turtles to Wesley.

Wesley was already seeing the Alligators (one of his favorites, thanks to Gator 911!).

Here was one of the alligators.

And, the other one, hiding by the tree.

Wesley getting pulled around in style!!

One of the elephants.

Wesley and I checking out the elephants.

The rhino rolling in the mud.

And, here is our little guide!

Here is our little man playing in the truck at the zoo.

Here is our cool man trying on sunglasses in the gift shop.

And, here is Wesley and Jud with Jud's friend, Justin!

All in all, we had a really great day and lots of fun visiting with friends!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

February 2010

It was this month that I started baby-sitting a couple of kids in my home. It started out just Wesley and Dakota, and they became buddies pretty quick! Here they are sharing french fries!

Here is Wesley with his big goose egg on his head! I don't remember how he did this now, but this was one of the first big accidents that he has had.

This was another day, when Wes and Dakota climbed up together to watch cartoons!

And, this is what I found when I checked on Wes and Dakota about 15 minutes later!

Here is our little gamer getting ready to play XBOX with his Daddy! (He doesn't really play, but he thinks he's playing. Jud took the battery out of "Wesley's" controller!

And, this was one night, close to bedtime. Wesley climbed up and curled up beside me. The next thing I know, he's fast asleep.

This was one more month of huge blessings! I'm really loving to get to watch our little man grow up. He's just growing up way too fast for me!!

My 101 in 1001

My 101 in 1001

Start Date: 08/24/09
End Date: 05/21/12

Jud (My Husband)

1. Go on a date just Jud and I once a month. (0/33)
2. Identify and utilize the "Love Languages."
3. Play a full 18 holes of golf with Jud.
4. Complete the Love Dare. (0/40)
5. Kiss my husband in the pouring rain.
6. Have Jud teach me to play Texas Hold 'Em to where I understand and can play.
7. Put $5 back every time Jud plays golf.
8. Put two days a year aside to do what Jud wants to do and nothing but. (One of these days being his birthday.) (0/6)

Friends & Family
9. Go on a date with my two guys once a month. (0/33)
10. Reconnect with some old friends that I seldomly or never talk to.
11. Send out birthday cards to friends and family.
12. Get Wesley out of the house for little fieldtrips one day a week. (0/143)
13. Make a bedtime CD for Wesley.
14. Make a "Real" bedtime routine for Wesley & follow it every night for two months. (0/60)
15. Send surprise packages to at least three people that I'm close to. (0/3)
16. Get a picture of Wesley on my Great-Grandfather's old porch. (11/26/2009)
17. Send a letter to at least one friend or family member a month. (0/33)
18. Teach Wesley his colors, numbers 1-10, shapes, alphabet, and animals. (0/5)
19. Private.
20. Cook and have friends and/or family over at least every other month.
21. Plan a playdate for Wes & his cousins (or other pals) at least every other month. (0/16)

Personal Improvement
22. Read the whole Bible in one year (spread out over the year). (4/365)
23. Stay off the computer for one day a week. (0/143)
24. Memorize 1 Bible verse a week. (0/143)
25. Get up every weekday by 8 AM for two months. (4/40)
26. When I get wound up, work on not raising my voice.
27. Find a home church.
28. Girl time once a month either to myself or with others. (0/33)

Home

29. Get Wesley's room the way I want it, including or excluding, but not limited to painting and full cleaning. (08/31/09)
30. Same with Living Room.
31. Same with Kitchen.
32. Same with our Bedroom.
33. Same with the Hallway.
34. Same with the Bathroom.
35. Make a clothes washing schedule and follow it. (0/143)
36. Catalog all of my books.
37. Catalog all of our movies.
38. Set up a house cleaning schedule and follow it for 2 months. (0/8)
39. Get all VHS videos converted to DVD.
40. Go through everything in the shed & get rid of anything that's no longer needed.
41. Wash and clean out my car once a month. (Weather permitting)
42. Bathe Summer once a month & take her to get bathed and nails cut once a month. (0/33) (0/33)
43. Choose and print pictures for the picture carousel.
44. Choose and print pictures for the wood album.
45. Fill our Wedding Album.
46. Make our bed every day for 2 months within one hour of getting up. (0/60)
47. Do dishes and clean up the kitchen right after dinner every night for two months. (0/60)
48. Talk Jud into finishing the cabinet doors.
49. Work with Jud to build flower beds in our yard. (0/2)

Cooking
50. Try 25 new recipes. (0/25)
51. Organize a favorites recipe notebook.
52. Cook 572 meals over the 1001 days. (0/572)
53. Fix one recipe that requires one or more spices from my spice rack.
54. When I get my Trifle bowl, make the Chocolate Banana Cream Trifle. (09/01/09)

Health
55. Go walking or biking five days a week. (Can be exchanged for an inside exercise activity due to weather.) (4/715)
56. Do WII Fit two days a week. (0/286)
57. Track my weight twice a week. (Sundays & Thursdays, when possible) (0/286)
58. Cut down to one soda a day for a month. (0/30)
59. Fit comfortably in a size 12 again.
60. Brush AND use mouthwash twice a day. (4/1001)
61. No fast food for two weeks straight. (0/14)

Photography
62. Take one picture a day that has nothing to do with the list. (4/1001)
63. Complete the 100 Snapshots List. (0/100)
64. Catch up on backing up my pictures on my external hard drive & keep them caught up every month.
65. Have 1 picture taken of Wesley and I together every month and 1 family picture once a month. (0/33) (0/33)
66. Decide on & order Business cards.
67. Scan all of our hard copy pictures to my laptop & external hard drive.
68. Find all of the historical markers in Shelby county & take pictures.

Crafts
69. Put together our Wedding Scrapbook.
70. Put together a scrapbook for Wesley's first year.
71. Make a scrapbook for the 1001 Days.
72. Make a scrapbook for our trip to Las Vegas.
73. Make a scrapbook for our Honeymoon.
74. Create a family tree of my side of the family.
75. Create a family tree of Jud's side of the family and, then, combine the two.
76. Learn how to decorate cakes & make a birthday cake for Wesley.

Fun
77. Read the 15 books that I own, but have not read. (0/15)
78. Reread each of the series to the above books.
79. Read 15 of Times Magazines Top 100 Books. (0/15)
80. Participate in the Club Championship at least once. (0/1)
81. Find 101 quotes that I like. (0/101)
82. Write a book.
83. Go to the horse races in Shreveport and bet on a horse.
84. Start & Complete a 1000 piece puzzle.
85. Pet a dolphin.
86. Watch 26 movies that I've never seen from A-Z. (0/26)
87. Read at least 10 books in my collection, excluding any mentioned elsewhere in the list. (0/12)
88. Read all of Jane Austen's novels. (0/6)

Travel
89. Take a family trip on the train from Rusk to Palestine and back.
90. Go to a ghost town.
91. Go to a Civil War Reenactment.
92. Go to Galveston.
93. Take Wesley to his first Astros game.
94. A-Z Challenge.

Blog
95. Get 15 followers on my blog. (2/15)
96. Comment on 1 blog that I follow each week. (1/143)
97. Catch up on Wesley's posts. (15/15) (08/26/09)
98. Post at least 1 blog a week. (1/143)

List
99. Document the meeting of each goal with a picture. (When Possible.)
100. Blog about the completion of each goal. (1/101)
101. Celebrate the end of the 1001 days with a girl's night out with Morgan.

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