Team Francks

midweek musings...

1.  This blog may never again be updated on a regular basis... or so it feels these days. Hopefully not... but time is not on my side right now.

2.  defender of truth and righteousness... and a hanger for good luck.

3. sometimes I can't believe I have two kids.  I feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world.

4. Baby Jack officially has a nickname... we call him Jack Jack after the baby on The Incredibles... and Buddy thinks that's his real name... Jack Jack... but then again Buddy thinks his real name is Buddy... we definitely have some issues to straighten out before he starts school.

5.  I'm way in to politics these day... and Mitt Romney is my guy.  I texted my friend Andrea the other day (also a huge Mitt fan) and asked her if I was too old for a poster of him on my bedroom wall.  I {heart} Mitt. 

6.  I kept hearing all this buzz on Facebook about Downton Abbey... I had no clue what people were talking about... So I asked my sister Emma who is usually up on all things cool and British... and of course she was in the loop.  So I found it on Netflix.  And I got hooked.  Way hooked.  And then I finished season 1 and NEEDED season 2.  Which is not on netflix.  So I bought it on Amazon... and apparently when you buy it on amazon they also give you the video links for free.  So I watched all of season 2 before the DVD's even got here.  Sigh.  Love.

Disclaimer: There is a part at very beginning of Season 1 that I didn't like at all and felt was inappropriate.  I don't know if PBS was trying to be diverse or what... I'm hoping they got a lot of mail about that scene and that they cleaned up their act.  Come on PBS!

And now I have to wait (with rest of the world) until Season 3 comes out next January.  JANUARY!!!  That feels like a million years away.

7.  I started back to work last week... why does maternity leave go by so fast and why is it never the vacation I'm hoping it will be?

Joey drew this for me and texted it to me on my first day back to work.  I thought it was so sweet.  I'm a sucker for notes from my husband.

8.  I had a scrapbook garage sale at my house... it was a sad day... but i need the space.  My funniest customer of the day was this 70 year old guy... he was a retired military man... and current scrapbooker... and he bought a bunch of stuff.  So funny.

*this is just a small peak at what I had... there's a ton more stuff.  a ton.

9. Liberty emailed me this gem the other day.  Look at my hair.  And my dress.  And the turtleneck under the dress.  I loved that dress.  And now I'm thinking WHY???  BYU days circa 1995.  Enjoy.

 

10.  And with that we come to the end of my musings.  I'm actually in Utah right now for a little bit.  While my mom was staying with me she got worried me trying to juggle a new baby, a job and no husband.  My husband agreed with her... so I'm Utah so she can help me out.  It's been lovely and I'm so grateful for all she's done for me.

The downside is its RSV season and Utah is cold... six inches of snow cold... and my pediatrician gave me strict instructions not to take the baby out anywhere... so alas... no visiting friends this trip :(

Hopefully it won't be another month before I'm back with another blog post... one can hope. 

xoxo

January Highlights

It's already half way through February and January feels like such a blur... just recording a few highlights before I forgot the details!

1.  On New Year's Day we had our 2nd annual special New Year's dinner... everybody gets to make a favorite item and then we eat with candles and a fancy drink. This year Joey picked pigs in a blanket... I picked taquitos and potato skins... Buddy picked French Fries and then we had our new favorite slush. Not healthy at all... but so fun.  I love traditions!

2.  We made a couple New Years Resolutions for our family... Family Home Evenings every week (we've tried but its been hit and miss... looking for 100%!), Francks Family Field Trips once a month and doing more service.  My personal goals are to get back to regular scripture reading and sticking to a better routine.

3. On January 1st Buddy started Primary (the big kid sunday school class at church)... I may have gone into the bathroom stall and cried after I dropped him off. :(

4. Busy busy getting ready for baby...washing clothes, installing car seats and setting up beds.

 

5. A sweet baby shower hosted by church friends... they went to so much work and it was so sweet and so much fun.

 

6.  Mr. Jack was born... obviously the biggest highlight of the month. 

7.  My mom came to help... she cooked, cleaned, organized, took the baby at nights, ran errands, took care of me, wrestled with Buddy, helped me with big projects, made me my favorite treats... she's an amazing mom and grandma and I'm so grateful for her help.  I hope to be as good as mom as she is some day. 

8. For Christmas Joey surprised me with Pink sparkly Toms... its one of those things that I really really wanted but would never have bought for myself.  It was a huge surprise and so thoughtful.  When I got them they were too small... Joey bought them in the right size but maybe their sizing is a bit off?  So I had to send them back... and I've been waiting and waiting and waiting... And finally they came and they are so so fun!  Yay for pink sparkly shoes! 

 

9. The third week of January we were having 70+ degree weather... so after picking up Buddy from preschool we stopped by the park for a minute... the weather was so absolutely beautiful.

10.  Mr. Jack's 2 week appointment... jaundice is looking better and he's tall tall tall... 97% for his age.

We wrapped up the month playing with lots of cars, the boys going to Chuck E. Cheese (using our gifts of time from Christmas), watching lots of Fox News and the presidential debates, cheering for Mitt, eating too many of my mom's caramels, staying inside (me and Jack) and being so grateful for a new year with so many blessings!

Seven on Sunday

1. Two weeks ago my bff Liberty came to visit all the way from Chicago... we've talked forever about her coming to visit (I was at her house in 2006)... but she's busy, I'm busy and the timing just never worked out.

But she had an opportunity to use some stand by tickets that were going to expire at the end of the year... so it was now or never. 

We had so much fun... the five days flew by... and we were both exhausted by the time she left.

Did I mention that my three year old LOVED her... LOVED... he called her "Bibby" (Libby)...

Highlights of her trip:

Lunch at Olive Garden

seeing Breaking Dawn

Girlfriends Christmas Party

Mexican food from "The Bus"

Canton

Seeing Santa

Baking Cookies

Special Christmas Dinner, First Presidency Christmas Devotional and seeing the lights

and other fun fun adventures!

I'm sooo happy that she got to come!  We had the best time!  Thanks for coming Bibby!

 

2.  While Liberty was here I hosted my annual Girlfriends Christmas Party...really it deserves its own post... but for lack of time I'm putting it in this post.

I thought this year was a lot of fun... I changed up the guest list a teeny tiny bit and I thought it was just a really great mix of women.

In the past I've cooked dinner for everyone... one year we went out to dinner and then came back to my house.  This year we did appetizers and dessert.  I think it turned out well.  I don't know if it was too much work for the guests to bring food and 12 gifts... but at 8.5 months pregnant its what I could manage this year...

Everyone had such great ideas for their gifts and it was just so fun to be together.  It's one of my favorite traditions. 

3.  My little on graduated from Nursery today and will move on to Primary the week after Christmas... We had a little diploma ceremony (we have a GREAT nursery leader!)... sniff sniff.  Where did the time go?  It feels like he just started Nursery!  I've so loved working with him in Nursery the last year!

 

(my attempt at blurring out other peoples kids!)

4.  Last night was our Church Christmas party... it was so much fun.  They did such a great job!  Probably the best one in the last few years... which is sad to say since I helped plan last years... but I can admit defeat... this one beat ours hands down!

5.  baby Jesus ended up in the tub with Buddy's 5,000 other toys... even the Holy Family is not safe from my three year old.

6.  I looooooooooooooooooooooove online shopping.  I love that I hit a little button and boxes show up on my porch.  Love love love!  Amazon has been my best friend for Christmas shopping this year... I may never visit another retail store again....  well, until Wednesday when I have to do grocery shopping.   I have one more gift to buy and I am DONE shopping for the year.  Hallelujah!

7.  This week I was missing eye drops, prenatal vitamins, lotion and tweezers... couldn't find them anywhere.... until I saw Buddy playing with his "treasures" and low and behold there were my missing items.  Next time its the first place I'll look.  Hopefully he'll understand our talk on "leaving mama's stuff alone". :)

 

And with that the weekend is over... back to work and real life! Have a great Monday!

 

Seven on Sunday

I can't believe its been forever since I posted... seriously... i write blog posts in my head all the time... why is it so hard to get them published for all of cyber world to read???

1.  We had a fun Thanksgiving... for the last five years we've spent it with the same group of friends... but they ditched us this year and went and had Thanksgiving with family... haha... Thankfully we have such a great church family here and received several invitations...  the food was great... the friends were great... the whole day was great!

I also had a four day weekend... Joey had a four day weekend... it was glorious!

2.  We started Potty Training... it's going ok... not stellar... but ok...  I think little buns in big boy underwear are sooo cute!! :)

3.  One of our very dearest friends was sealed in the Dallas Temple over the weekend.  It was such a beautiful day.  Its been many many years coming and I'm so glad that I got to be part of their special day.

 

4.  Buddy had his three year old check up this week... the doctor says on the height chart he's the same height as a 4.5 half year old.  crazy. he just turned three a month ago in case you're doing the math.

Everything looks good.  We need to work on his pronunciation of words... but other than that he's right on track with everything.  And despite three year old tantrums we think he's the best boy around!

5.  I've got to start slowing down.  Seriously.  In the last week I've gone to Dallas twice, hosted a playdate, a Thanksgiving craft day with a few of Buddy's little friends from our community playgroup and hosted an Uppercase Living/Scentsy Party complete with a clean house and treats for all events.

In the next week I'm hosting a baby shower, company (yay!) and a Christmas Party. 

Which normally is fine... and just part of life...  but I'm almost eight months pregnant... and when I start doing too much I start having contractions.  And I need this baby to stay put.  So I really really need to slow down.  And my husband is constantly lecturing me about slowing down... so yeah, I've got to start slowing down.... after my Christmas party of course.

 

our unfinished turkey craft...

6.  Speaking of baby... six weeks.. yikes.. six weeks... so so much to do to get ready.

And we haven't agreed on a name.  I have the name I want.  Joey has the name he wants.  And we're no where near a compromise.  Maybe he'll just be named Little Man #2.

7.  We're struggling.  Me and little man.  Part of its that his daddy is gone all week... part of its that he's three... part of it is everything else (potty training, no binky, full moon, conflict in the middle east, etc, etc).

He has tantrums.  I'm tired and frazzled.  He throws fits. I'm tired and frazzled.  We're learning and growing together.  Please tell me I'm not the only one.  Because right now I'm not feeling like Mother of the Year.

P.S. a peppermint shake from Chick-fil-a does on a mommy/buddy date night does help ease some of the struggles.. it really really does...

 

And now its back to work and real life... booo... Have a great week!

monday musings...

1.  this is not a real post.  the real posts are sitting in my draft folder waiting for pictures.  it's been a long couple of weeks... and putting pictures with posts is turning out to be way harder than it should be.

I just feel bad that you have to keep looking at the pumpkin bread.

2.  This post will not have any pictures.  Otherwise it would never ever get posted.

3.  It rained all day yesterday.  That makes my heart so happy.

3.  We've been knocked down by a horrible nasty flu.  On Thursday I had to go to Labor and Delivery because I was having contractions and it had been over 13 hours since I'd been able to keep anything down.  Including water.  And just in case you're wondering... its way too early for me to be having contractions.  I called the nurse to find out what I should do since I couldn't keep water down and she said to get myself to the hospital and get monitored and get an IV.  So I did.

which is harder to arrange when your husband lives out of town.  But I have a great neighbor.  So we managed.  And then my husband showed up at the hospital, we got discharged about 1am and then he headed back to work bright and early the next morning.  what a guy.  I'm feeling mostly better today... so here's hoping we can get back to real life soon.

4.  Buddy then got the same nasty flu over the weekend.  poor little thing.  and I won't even go in to the gross things I've had to deal with this weekend.  But its been hard on my recovering system.  He's still having a rough go of it. 

The nurse on call last night made me take him to the hospital to be monitored for dehydration... we're not really ER kind of people... so we've definitely had our share for the next couple of years.

5.  Juggling work while you have  a sick child is really really hard.  I give huge props to real single moms.  It is not fun.  At all.

6.  We've had Panera soup for the past four days.  You can buy it in a quart and it comes with a loaf of bread.  They have a drive thru so I don't even have to get out of the car.  Its been heavenly to our sickly home.  Blessings be upon the Panera soup. 

7.   We've watched so so many episodes of Ni Hao Kai Lan in the last week.  So so so many episodes.  I don't think there are words adequate enough to express how tired I am of Kai Lan.  But the sick child loves Kai Lan.  And keeps requesting it.  Over. And over. And over.  Heaven help me.

8.  I hate the new facebook format.  Just in case you were wondering. 

9.  General Conference was absolutely wonderful.  As always.  I so love it.

10.  I now have a three year old.  sniff sniff.  But due to sickness our birthday festivities have been postponed until next week.  You can do that when they're little and they don't know their days or weeks.   Birthday palooza coming soon. 

Here's hoping to a better week!

Ten on Tuesday

1. I'm having major jealousy pangs for those who are getting Fall weather.  Major pangs.  I love Fall so much.  And at this point is just so far away.

2.  As I write this its still incredibly hot.  I promise one of these days I will stop whining about the weather... but today is not that day.

But... there is rumor that rain is on the horizon.  And if it actually happens it will be a Christmas miracle.  I'm really really hoping and praying for that Christmas miracle. We need rain so very badly.

3.  Last week our dear friends (here in Texas) little sister was killed while serving a mission for our Church.  I've been really really sad about it all week.

There was a facebook group created for this sweet girl... reading through the comments and memories that people posted I was so so impressed with the things that were said about her.  About her sweet fun personality... the integrity that she had... and her love of the Lord.  It's such a tribute to her and to her family the amazing person she'd become in her short 22 years here on the earth.

She's inspired me to want to be better. 

 4.  We just barely got back (yesterday) from vacation.  I'll write more about it later.  But it was just so wonderful.  I'm so grateful for those experiences and opportunities that create wonderful family memories. 

5.  And the stress of real life/post vacation is hitting.  My house is a wreck. I have piles of laundry in the hall.   Piles of mail sitting on my table. Bills begging to be paid.  Suitcases that look like they threw up all over the dining room.  And I had to go back to work yesterday.  I like vacation life so much better.  

6.  Our life is full of changes this week.  Friday will be Joey's last day with this job.  6.5 years.  Kind of an end to an era for our little family.  Change is always hard for me.  It shouldn't be.  But it is.

7.  Joey's also moving this weekend. Starting his new job and moving in to his new place.  And the reality of it is starting to hit me.

This morning Joey and Buddy were singing in the shower together.  And I got emotional when I heard them.  They are the best of friends.  My little man adores his daddy.  And I just worry about how all this is going to effect Buddy.  His daddy is not going to be part of our every day routine any more.  And its going to be hard on all of us.

I know it won't be forever... and I know women live without their husbands every day... and kids survive without their dads... but right now my heart is breaking a little bit.

8.  And in the midst of the madness that is life right now I thought it would be fun to throw Joey a graduation party this weekend.  A month ago when I planned it, it sounded like a great idea.  This week, not so much.

But the invitations have been sent out.  The food has been ordered.  So we're having a party.  Wish me luck!

9. Big BYU/Utah football game also going on this weekend.  Same night as the party.  And yes, it will be on while we eat and mingle. 

10.  And with that I'm off to tackle the laundry and wean my child of his binky.  for good this time.

 Happy Tuesday! 

Ten on Tuesday

Thank you for all the sweet wishes... we're very very very excited!!  Thank you!

It's been a very busy couple of weeks around these parts... let's get started!

1.  Last week we celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary.  14!  That's a lot of years!  We celebrated our anniversary by taking little man to Chuck E. Cheese... because really nothing says romance like Chuck E. Cheese.

The little one begs all day, every day to go to Chuck E. Cheese.  So we went.  And I survived.  Barely.

Here's the official anniversary picture... and yes, its a picture of a picture because I didn't want take the time to scan it.  Best token spent all day.

2.  Speaking of last weekend.  Joey officially graduated with his Master's Degree.  Wahoo.  We were all set to attend his graduation in Colorado Springs.  But then I was on bed rest and didn't get cleared to travel.  So we celebrated by going to Chuck E. Cheese.  Oh, wait... that was our anniversary.  So technically we haven't done anything for his graduation yet... but we are having a big graduation party for him in a few weeks.

Here are is "unofficial" graduation pictures... notice how dead and gross our lawn is.  Notice how awesome he looks in his cap and gown.  proud of him.  and so glad its over.  

 

3.  Two weeks ago my uncle passed away.  My dad's brother and first sibling to pass away.  We knew it was coming.  He's had cancer for a long time.  But it was still sad.  Loss is always sad.  But the good to come out of it was I got to see my family. So so fun.  They did the marathon drive from Utah to Mississippi and back to Utah in about four days with a quick quick stop in Texas.

In the short 24 hours they were in Texas we ate good Mexican food from The Bus, a tour of my little historic town, a stop at the old train depot, a trip to Eisenhower's head and a trip to the beach.  It was way way too short and so much fun. 

 

4. I've mentioned briefly that Joey was being laid off.  So we've hustled and sent out a gazillion resumes.  And interviewed.  And received rejection notices. 

Two weeks ago he had a phone interview.  And then they called back and wanted to meet him in person so he drove to Ft Worth (1.5 hours from us) and interviewed with them again.  We got the call a couple of days ago that he got the job.  We're super super excited.

The pro is that we get to stay here in this area (which is what we wanted!)... the con is that Joey will live in Ft Worth during the week and come home on the weekends.  They're building a new building closer to us... so it won't be this yucky all the time... but for awhile.

The irony is that its with a TV station.  He was looking to get out of TV... but he's super excited about this job and the people he's going to be working with and its DFW (which is a HUGE market!)... anyway... so after 6+ years we're leaving this job and starting a new adventure. 

 

5.  This last weekend we found out that Joey passed his comprehensive exams for his  Master's degree.  Hoooray!!  The testing is expensive and time consuming (four days of testing) and I'm soooo glad that he passed and he doesn't have to take them again!  Plus that means he's officially, officially graduated. 

6.  I know I've whined about the weather.  But seriously people.  It is so so so hot.  I know its this hot in Vegas and AZ... but I do not live in AZ and Vegas.  And no rain.  We've had NO rain.  My little town has shrivled up and died. 

 

 

 7.  And just in time for 112 degree days our swimming pool closed has closed for the season. I think they should take a poll before they decide those things.

 

8. A few months ago in attempts to be a fun mama I made a sensory bucket... I got the idea online somewhere.  Little toys mixed in with a bunch of beans.  I thought it would be fabulous... but really I hate it.  Buddy loves making a mess with the beans every.single.day.  But I do not love picking/sweeping them up every.single.day.  So I'm done.  And I had decided that one night when he went to bed that it would magically disappear.  

But he saved me the effort.  I took a shower and came out and he had dumped the entire bucket.   I didn't even try to save it.  I just vacuumed it all up.  And that was the end of our sensory bucket experience.  Never again.

9.  A friend that we met a couple of months ago invited us to go to the fire station.  I've never been and thought it sounded fun.  Our friend was taking treats to the firemen to thank them for helping put out all the fires we've had recently.  So we made treats and thank you cards and got to hang out with the fire guys for a few minutes.  We weren't there very long but all the guys were super sweet and made this little boy very very happy!

1o.  And now one of these days very soon I need to do a blog catch up for March, April, May, June and July.  Yikes!

Thoughts on Thursday

1.  I'm so far behind on blogging I don't even know where to begin to catch up.

2.  We haven't had rain in so so so long.  This is one of the hottest, driest summers on record.  I'm sure they always say that... but it really seems to be true this time.  I usually don't mind the heat so much... but its really really really hot this Summer.

3.  My husband found out he's losing his job in two weeks.  We kind of knew it was coming... and then we didn't hear anything so we were hoping it was going away... but no such luck.  Sigh.

4.  I know there are bigger problems in the world... but this feels pretty overwhelming to us right now.

5.  He's applied at Walmart, Target and Best Buy.  Glad that Masters Degree is coming in handy.  Yes, I'm being sarcastic (and a tiny bit bitter).

6. Fresh fruits and veggies from road side stands are one of the great joys of Summer.  Love.

7.  We've been trying to craft more these days... mostly we just get paint every where...but we call it crafting just the same.

8.  Our energy bill tripled this month.  Seriously.  Did I mention the heat?

9.  Popcorn and Orange Fanta sounds good for dinner tonight... unfortunately I'm guessing the other members in the family might not agree :)

10.  A friend made this recipe for us and it was really really good... something about brown sugar and bacon always makes beans taste good.  I love well loved cookbooks. 

I took a picture of her cookbook... Yes, I was being lazy.... it was way easier than writing the recipe down :)

p.s. here's a link to the recipe if you want to print it instead of my awesome iPhone pictures.

 
TTYL!

Five on Friday

1.  My mind is swirling with all the fun Summer things I want to do... and yet here we are half way through summer and no Summer List created.  :(

I always meant to follow up with a blog post about how much we loved our Summer List and pictures of all the fun things we did... and yet Summer 2010 is long gone... but just know we LOVED our Summer list and had every intention of doing it again this Summer.

2.  Joey's family has come and gone... we had lots of fun... so glad they came.  And one of these days when I get my pictures loaded on my computer I'll do a post of all our Summer visitors.  We love it when family comes to visit!

3.  We eat corn on the cob almost every evening for dinner...  we love it so much!!  I keep it stocked the fridge... its one of our favorite summer treats. 

4.  The other day I had the weirdest experience... we went to the park and there was a homeless woman there... and it was so so so miserably hot... she was in long sleeves with lots of bags and I felt so bad for her.  On our way out I left a few dollars on the top of one of bags... not much... but maybe enough where she could buy a Sonic limeade... something to make the hot miserable Texas summer a little less miserable.

I'd walked a few feet away and next thing I know she's running after me... screaming at the tops of her lungs... yelling at me not to litter on her.  And then she threw the money at me.  I was so stunned.  I didn't know what to say.  I hadn't meant to offend her.  Obviously she was mentally ill... but still... I just wanted her to be able to buy a drink.

So then I got in the car... and I cried.  I don't know why it upset me so much... I don't know why it hurt my feelings... I don't know why I let it embarrass me... but it did.  So lame. 

5.  One of the parks in the town next to us has the coolest splash pad... and its free... so we've been taking lots of advantage of it... its one of the highlights of our Summer.  And if we had a Summer list this year.. the splash pad would definitely be on it!

Five on Friday

 1.  We are Hotel Francks these days and loving it... but it doesn't leave a whole lot of time for blogging.  My mom and sister were just here... and we had the BEST time... put them on a plane and now my MIL flies in today... Joey's brother and his family gets here next week... busy busy but we absolutely love having family come visit!

2.   It is hot hot hot here... I don't remember it being so hot, so early in the year... I'm sure it has... but maybe I've been in denial... but it's so hot.  My poor little flowers are having a really hard time surviving.

 3.  I had an afternoon off the other day and Buddy and I were headed to the Pool... but it was too hot to even go to the Pool... so I did a U-turn and we ended up in a much cool movie theater to see Kung-Fu Panda 2. 

Apparently iPhone pictures don't take too well in the dark... sad but true.

4.  Buddy started swimming lessons... here he's showing off his mad swimming skills... cutest tadpole in his class!

5.  I want a nap so bad today on this hot Friday... anyone else?

Happy Friday!!