Stepmom Stories

So Saturday was the first meeting of my stepmom small group, and it was FABULOUS!  We are reading an amazing book (see image), and I think the other moms in the group are going to be my friends for life!  I learned that although being a stepmom is difficult at times, I am truly blessed because my extended blended family is pretty normal (which as it turns out, is abnormal in the blended family world...)  Everyone is civil, and we are all on the same page for the most part.  I left the meeting on cloud nine with great optimism for the future...

And then Satan decided to test me.

Kennedy had two birthday parties to go to this weekend.  One overlapped with the small group, so Scott and Harrison took her, but she made it pretty clear to them that they were not welcome at the party.  So, I got there as quickly as I could to relieve the boys from a "girls only" party (even though there were several other dads and a couple other brothers there...)  I made some great conversation with some really nice women, until they asked who's mom I was.  I answered that I was Kennedy's stepmom, and everything changed.  It's amazing what those four small letters can do!  All of a sudden, it was like a "mommy club" had formed, and I was not invited, because since I didn't give birth to her, I was not worthy of their conversation.  I was really confused, and kind of hurt, but then Kennedy came over and gave me a hug and a kiss, and everything was all better.  I didn't need to be part of a mommy club to know that she loved me.  I shouldn't doubt myself because of four silly little letters in a word!

But he continues...

I'd like to say that I wasn't a difficult teenager, that my mom and I had a good relationship through everything, but that's probably not true.  At least we had a million childhood memories to think about and share when the relationship got rocky.  But what happens when you enter someone's life right before those teen years?  When you cherish the 10 days a month you get to spend with them... but the 10 becomes 6 because she has something better to do, and the 6 becomes 2 because she rarely comes out of her room?  When your heart breaks because you're at the same event, but your presence isn't acknowledged (not even a smile, wave, or hello...)?  What do you do then?  I know, I'm just the stepmom, she doesn't have to love me...but she used to...or at least I thought she did!  All I can do is look at the wonderful relationship I have with my mom, and hope and pray that eventually we might end up close again...I miss that.

Being a stepmom isn't easy!  I have learned to put four other people before myself daily.  Satan continually tries to drag me down, but I have a great support system in my faith, my family, and my friends.  If I could do it all over again, I would... I am one lucky lady!  My life isn't perfect...but it's perfect for me!

Winter Wonderland

Yes, I live in Austin.  Yes, it is February.  Yes, it did snow!  And yes, I have proof:

Texas vs. Nebraska take 2

UT offers discounted basketball tickets to groups of 10 or more...and since Santa Claus loves a discount, he included some when he was stuffing stockings this year!  So, on February 13, our family joined the Guerrero family for some Longhorn basketball.

If you've ever read the book Flat Stanley, this is Austin's take!  A popular country DJ, Bama Brown, has turned himself into "Flat Bama."  We thought he would like his beautiful multi-colored striped pants made by Kennedy, and the fact that we waited and took his picture with the Texas Pom instead of the actual basketball players!

I have never been at a school where I have felt comfortable around the principal, much less spent time with their family outside of school, so this is such a great change!  She always talks about how CD Fulkes faculty is a family, and I really do think I am blessed to have two wonderful families!

Sunny California

So much for my New Year's resolution of keeping up with my blog!  There seriously needs to be more hours in the day, so that I can get done what I WANT to get done, instead of feeling like i can't even get done what I NEED to get done!

So, Scott and my Christmas presents to each other was a trip to the National Championship game.  Although the results didn't turn out the way we had hoped, the trip (and the weather) was still spectacular!

We arrived in LA late Tuesday night, so the festivities started on Wednesday.  We went to Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and did all the fun touristy things like the Chinese Theatre and Rodeo Drive.  I learned that even though I don't have Bette Davis eyes, I DO have Bette Davis hands! :-)

Thursday was devoted to the game.  We arrived at the stadium early, but were still concerned about parking.  Luckily Aubrey had his cane, and we had a handicapped parking sticker, so we parked like rock stars!  We tailgated with 10, 000 of our closest friends under a bright sunny skies and prepared for the game of our lives.  The heartache and what ifs still linger, but we still had an awesome time.

Friday was our day of culture!  We went to the Getty estate and museum.  I have never seen so many items from Greek antiquity in one place before (but then again, I've never been to Greece, so...).  The wine, food, and view were spectacular...and the company wasn't too bad, either! ;-)  On Saturday, we walked along a couple of beaches before heading back home.

Although I wish the results of the game had been different, it was nice to get off work a few extra days, especially to go somewhere with such BEAUTIFUL weather!  I could really get used to this "honeymoon" in California every six months....

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

I love Christmas! I love the music, I love the "holiday spirit," I love how I'm done shopping before the month of November, so all I have to do is relax while everyone else is frantically trying to get the perfect gift! Oh, and the time off from school isn't bad either! This year, it wasn't much of a break, though...I spent my time working at Sweet Serendipity, the family candy store. It got crazy at times, but it was fun to have that "girl bonding" time with the Adam ladies. Christmas is so much more fun with children! The joy that sparkles in their eyes as they open something they really wanted...the pride of picking out your gift ALL BY THEMSELVES...what an amazing day! But Christmas wouldn't be Christmas if it wasn't for the spiritual aspect of it... Christmas Eve service at Celebration wasn't what I'm used to on Christmas Eve, but it was beautiful! Pastor Joe's sermon was unbelievably moving, as usual, so I was ok that it was 2pm, not 11pm, and the candlelight singing wasn't to "Silent Night." Being away from my parents on Christmas was strange too, it was my first year to not celebrate with them, but they seemed to have a great day too! Besides, we get to see them in a few days for New Year's! They always throw the best parties...and we do nothing but play board games all night long! I'm so excited that halfway through my break, my vacation can finally begin! In the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us, everyone!"

Our faculty Christmas party was a BLAST! I have some truly wonderful colleagues that I'm so glad I can also call my friends...

Totally worth the $20 photo and the hour and a half in line!

Lucky kids...Santa comes to TWO houses! :-)

Sibling football rivalry...even on Christmas morning!

What I'm Thankful For...

November was a pretty busy month! Kaitlin is officially a teenager, we partied in Waco for the Baylor game, and I hosted my very first Thanksgiving. It was FABULOUS! My mom came early to help me cook, and the kids were a big help as well! Don, Bev, and Grandma Lentz came to dinner, and it was great spending quality time with our extended family. We stayed away from the malls on Black Friday and instead had our first annual holiday kickball game. What a DISASTER! ;-) The first field we came to was COVERED in fire ants, so we went to the local school. Harrison and Kaitlin were the team captains, but they had some pretty slim pickens for teammates! Scott was probably the best player of the lot, but he ran around the field so much, he was quickly winded and pulled a muscle. Needless to say, the game ended in two innings. We learned that we need to be in much better shape for next year's competition! I'm so thankful for my wonderful family! I have been truly blessed!

We love the Nabors, despite the fact they're Baylor Bears! I'm so proud of my Daddy for wearing orange, even though he went to Baylor, too!

Posing in front of the coolest car EVER!

Posing during our tour of Inner Space Caverns. Despite what you think, it's hot and humid down there!

Talking to Mark on the cell phone, yet continuing to help with Thanksgiving dinner!

Mom bought us all new aprons for our day(s) of cooking! Aren't we festive?! :-)

Happy Halloween!!!

Halloween was another one of those whirlwind weekends in October. We had the kids, and also had a wedding to attend in Dallas, so we loaded everyone up and headed to my parents' house. That weekend really tested me as a stepmom, because Kaitlin really didn't want to go, and was pulling every card she could think of to try and get out of it. She finally got in the spirit of things, and I think things between us are heading back to normal (or at least I hope they are!)...but who can tell with a teenager!

Any adventure with my parents wouldn't be complete without Mark taking at least one silly picture! He was helping Kennedy with her pumpkin and decided he needed to pose with a power tool. As you can see from her face, Kennedy is less than impressed!

The pumpkins with their carvers...then at night all lit up!

Scott and I weren't able to take the kids trick-or-treating, but my parents eagerly stepped in to do that job! The kids looked FANTASTIC - Kaitlin as an 80's rocker, Harrison a baseball player, and Kennedy "Jasmine," or an Arabian princess...most people thought she was a gypsy, but who cares?! She was adorable!

The wedding was a blast, it was so good to see everyone! It was hard explaining to Scott how I fit in with this group of people, though. I was the only public school girl in the mix, and was only friends with everyone because I had gone to preschool with Lauren, and we had been randomly running into each other ever since, keeping the friendship alive! The funniest part about the wedding was that when Lauren first introduced me to Karen (the bride), we HATED each other! I guess it's because we both have strong personalities... who knows! But, I'm so glad that quickly changed, and am grateful for the opportunity Lauren gave me to enter in her social circle and make friends I will cherish forever!

The Longhorns and their Ladies ;-)

The weekend flew by, and after church and a trip to the park, we were back on the road, ready to face whatever the next month had in store for us...