The Roberts Family

July

2009-07-11T20:41:00.006-05:00

4th of July at School

Art at the Park

Wiped out from swimming all day!

Happy girl!

We finally bit the bullet and decided it was time for Katey to give up her Poppys (pacifer). She's been using them only at night for about a year and a half, but summer seemed like a good time to try to break her beloved habit. About a week ago we started telling her that the Poppy Fairy was going to come and take her Poppys and turn her into a REAL "big girl"! Thursday night was our first night without the poppys and she fell asleep fine but woke up at 11pm SCREAMING and didnt fall back asleep till 130am after several trips back and forth to Mommy and Daddys room. Night 2 was MUCH more successful. She fell asleep about 930 and slept peacefully until 915am! We are so proud of her!

Painting her "Poppy" box!

Filling up the box...hope we didnt miss any!

everything needs a few princess stickers!

Putting the box outside and waving goodbye!

HELLO kitty!

Spring Photos

2009-06-09T05:12:00.001-05:00

Easter 2009

2009-04-11T21:34:00.000-05:00

Katey's first circus

2009-04-11T21:06:00.001-05:00

Katey's prayers

2009-02-05T09:56:00.001-06:00

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Practicing letter sounds

2009-02-05T09:49:00.000-06:00

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Christmas 2009

2009-01-28T06:41:00.003-06:00

Yay! Santa!

Wii Bowling: Potts/Roberts Style!

Katey on the Wii Fit

Pez Heaven!

Family Portraits '08

2008-11-23T19:32:00.002-06:00

5 year Anniversary photos

2008-11-23T17:39:00.002-06:00

PSHS Homecoming

2008-11-17T18:02:00.002-06:00

A Party fit for a Princess!

2008-11-17T18:01:00.001-06:00

Halloween 2008

2008-11-17T17:52:00.000-06:00

Katey's first scooter!

2008-11-17T17:49:00.001-06:00

3 year old pictures!

2008-10-13T20:16:00.001-05:00

Yes, she is watching Snow White too!

2008-09-17T20:32:00.017-05:00

Peter Piper Pizza with Daniel

2008-09-17T20:32:00.015-05:00

Fun at the park

2008-09-17T20:32:00.012-05:00

10 months too late

2008-09-17T20:32:00.009-05:00

Remember the zebra costume we couldnt get her to wear last year for halloween? I threw it in with the dress up stuff and its been making a regular appearance :)

Checking out her tail!

Our big jumper

2008-09-17T20:32:00.005-05:00

Whirling, Twirling Snow White

2008-09-17T20:32:00.003-05:00

I'm almost 3!

2008-09-02T20:41:00.003-05:00

Dinosaurs ALIVE!

2008-09-02T20:26:00.002-05:00

Tanning with Travis

2008-09-02T20:14:00.002-05:00

"You're not the Princess, I'm the Princess!"

2008-09-02T20:10:00.001-05:00

Convocation '08

2008-08-20T20:58:00.003-05:00

3 peas in a pod!

3 peas in a pod becomes the "Fab Four"

Convocation #5...Wow! I can't believe this is my 5th year teaching!

New dog bed...or not!

2008-08-20T20:51:00.002-05:00

can you believe she is only 10 months old?

Sick-o

2008-08-20T20:44:00.002-05:00

We have had quite the frustrating week. Katey has been throwing up all night long since Saturday (4 nights in a row). Mommy and Daddy are exhausted and more than a little frustrated being consumed with a feeling of hopelessness and what seems like to sleep in sight. We did take her to her pediatric urologist today. They catheterized her to make sure something wasnt up with her kidney reflux. All is as well with the kidneys as it should be, so we have to let this tummy issue run its course. She is very lovey right now, and just wants someone to hold her or lay with her, needless to say we may have to break her new habit of sleeping in our bed, but when you are only sleeping 2 hours a night, all good habits go out the window for a few moments of peace.

Our own Picasso

2008-08-20T20:38:00.002-05:00

"The ducks are hungry, Daddy..."

2008-08-20T20:33:00.003-05:00

Chuck E Cheese

2008-08-20T20:28:00.002-05:00

Last day of school

2008-08-20T20:21:00.001-05:00

Katey skates!

2008-05-03T07:21:00.003-05:00

Our 5th graders had their annual skating party last night. I usually take Katey because my kids always ask about her, and this year they actually had skates small enough to fit her. She was a little hesitant at first until I told her she couldnt go out on the floor with the big kids without skates. Once she had them on, there was no stopping her. She skated for almost an hour, and was wiped out when I finally made her leave!

Go STARS!

2008-05-03T06:55:00.003-05:00

?!?!Double take on the title?!?! I substituted my Hoops jersey for a Dallas Stars shirt, and headed off to the first home game of round 2 of the playoffs. I was lucky enough to get to take one of my students who is a HUGE Stars fan, and could tell me all the rules and all about the players! We had so much fun, and it was an extra bonus that they WON in overtime!

Just another reason why daddys are so fun!

2008-05-03T06:42:00.002-05:00

I came home from my soccer game last Sunday, and to my dismay, we hadan enormous "fort" that had taken over our living room. Using all 8 of my dining room chairs, and every blanket in the house, Gar and Kate had created a special haven of their own! She loved in, and now wants to build it EVERY day :)

Life goes on...

2008-04-20T18:22:00.003-05:00

My friend, Lindsay, took some amazing photos of me today out in the soccer goal. This is a great time in my life to pause and reflect on the things that keep me going on a daily basis, and soccer is definitely at the top. She was able to capture so many different emotions, and I love every shot!

2008-04-14T19:33:00.000-05:00

Prayers for Katey

2008-03-30T18:13:00.002-05:00

We are once again requesting prayers from our friends and family. Katey was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection 2 weeks ago. We have done the full round of antibiotics, but due to her young age, our pediatrician has called for more tests. Tomorrow, March 31st, at 10:45am Katey will be sedated and run through a gammet of tests on her kidneys. A UTI in a toddler can cause kidney scarring or damage and can also mean that she is suffering from enlarged kidneys or kidney reflux. She will have to be sedated for 1.5-2 hours, and one of us will be allowed in the room with her at all time.
We are hopeful that this infection was just a fluke, but believe that her doctor is seeking the best for her. Your prayers are very appreciated, and we will update everyone tomorrow afternoon.
Love, Gar, Lace, & Kate

FCD vs CAP

2008-03-26T06:34:00.003-05:00

With the refs trying to abandon the game in the 37 minute after having one of the tossed on their rear by the opposing team, it was sure to be an interesting game. This was the last of the pre-season matches and everyone is gearing up for Sunday's Home Opener!

Even "Baby Rhine" made his debut! So cute!

2008-03-25T07:03:00.001-05:00

Beckham MANIA!

2008-03-17T21:17:00.004-05:00

Beckham made a huge presence at PHP this weekend. I will have to say that it was surreal to be so close. We, of course, took tons of pictures, and had a great time just watching the game in a rarely packed stadium. Watching the 50,000 camera flashes go off in the opposite stands every time he touched the ball was cool, but hearing the shreaking screams when he took his shirt off made the night complete.

And here's some of our boys...

Gosh it feels good to be back in the stadium. I hate offseason!

Look Mom, I set the table...

2008-03-17T21:13:00.002-05:00

Apparently we now eat at the entry table, but she was so proud of herself so we'll go with it!

Hi Dad!

2008-03-17T21:10:00.002-05:00

My NEW "things about me"

2008-03-13T22:12:00.003-05:00

100 Things about me..................
1. My daughter is my survival tool.
2. I love my job!
3.My husband is the best dad I have ever met..besides mine of course!
4. My mom and dad are my heroes
5. I chew the inside of my lip when I am nervous or bored.
6. The kids in my class inspire me to be a better person.
7. I only have half my stomach.
8. I had my gallbladder removed while I was 19 weeks pregnant.
9. Red and blue are my favorite colors.
10. Clint Dempsey reminds me that anything is possible if you are willing to work hard enough.
11. I love to play and watch soccer...Fulham and FC Dallas of course!
12. I work with my "twin" and love it!
13. BJ and I have been best friends since 9th grade and I treasure her more and more the older we get!
14. I make a million lists and always start a new one before I finish the old one.
15. I am a closet Kidd Kraddick in the morning fan!!
16.I love to take naps with Katey!
17. I think I am getting old because I really just need some "peace and quiet"
18. I would get married again in a heart beat! My wedding was amazing!
19. I would only move out of Texas if I could take my parents with me!
20. My mom and my best friend both inspire me to be a better teacher every day!
21. I have a Coke first thing in the morning, no matter what!
22. I am horrible with remembering birthdays.
23. I love to have a french manicure on my toes!
24. I have green eyes.
25. We have friends currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan
26. I am a closet Nick Lachey fan.
27. My first car was a 1990 Ford Explorer with a Nike sticker on the back...we called it swoosh!28. I went to State my Jr year in highschool for tennis!
29. I was a national tennis player in high school.
30. I had surgery on my shoulder when I was 14.
31. I got "Player of the Year "for the Dallas Tennis Association when I was 17.
32. I eat sushi...not just California Rolls.
33. I am habitually late.
34. I love to take pictures of my family.
35. Katey's very first cry was the best noise I have ever heard.
36. I love laying in bed, watching movies, during rainstorms.
37. I am a passionate and emotional person. Once I am attached, its permanent.
38. I am impatient....red lights drive me crazy.
39. I am a perfectionist, I have to have things done my way..afterall, doing it yourself is the only way to make sure it gets done right.
40. I take pride in my work, and like to hear that I have done a good job.
41. I like it when my husband notices that I cleaned the house
42. I like coming home when my husband has already cleaned the house.
43.My favorite meal is my husbands spaghetti.
44. I love to wash my hair, but I hate drying it!
45. I love new balance running shoes and havent bought a different brand in 9 years.
46. I sneeze many times a day especially when I am cold.
47. I forget to return phone calls.
48. I love the smell of my husbands deoderant.
49. My kids at school make me smile, some days they teach me more than I teach them!
50. I was a nanny in college
51. I waited tables at 3 different restaurants.
52. I worked at a bar just because Gar liked to go there.
53. I am 28, but still look younger which is not always a blessing.
54. My nickname is Lace or Lacylu
55. I started playing soccer at age 21.
56. I LOVE Flip flops and wish I never ever had to wear socks.
57. I broke my wrist twice playing tennis--ok once playing tennis and the second time because I begged to have my cast off early to play in a basketball game.
58. I take a bath almost every night in the winter.
59.I knew I was going to marry Garland the first night we were out together.
60. I love McDonald's french fries.
61. I wish I could live forever.
62. I used to be able to run 8 miles.
63. My husband served 8 years in the ARMY and seeing his dog tags still makes me smile.
64. My daughter has been sleeping through the night since she was 7 weeks old!
65. I would love to go to the beach.
66. Playing soccer is an escape from the real world.
67. I can't cook to save my life.
68.I love my pillow and will wake Gar up if he has stolen it.
69. I hate watching the news, it is too depressing.
70. I watch a TON of mindless tv.
71. I miss playing soccer with Kavik and I still find myself calling for her.
72. I check on my daughter every night after she is asleep.
73. I can't sleep without hearing Katey's music in the monitor.
74. I love that my sister is now also a teacher.
75. I still love to watch MTV, especially the Real World/ Road Rules challenge.
76. My mom made me want to be a teacher
77. I am still a Daddy's girl!
78. I cant sleep if it's hot in my room.
79. I am allergic to dust.
80. I have the sweetest niece, arieana, and nephews, darion and braedyn... I love hearing their voices on the phone.
81. I love watching "The biggest Loser"
82. I used to go play BINGO!
83. My classroom is decorated in red,white, and blue as a tribute to Garland's ARMY days!
84. My middle name is LuAnne, after my Aunt.
85. Katey's middle name is after a Bob Dylan song.
86. I wish I went to Church more.
87. I have 2 tattoos, a butterfly and my husbands initials
88. I have to call my husband at least 4 times a day when I am at work.
89. I am a Christian, and believe that prayers solves everything.
90. I hate shaving my legs but I do it everyday.
91. I still sleep with my baby blanket under my bed!
92. My favorite restaurant is Japon
93. I had braces twice.
94. I love going swimming in the summer!
95. I hate yard work.
96. My daughter is finally becoming a "mini me" and I love it.
97. I hate to fold clothes.
98. I love warm weather..like 70's or low 80's
99. I tell Gar and Katey I love them at least 15 times a day.
100. I hope one day to look back and know that I made a difference!

My dear DCH,

2008-03-13T21:52:00.003-05:00

I will never be able to truly express to you all that you mean to me. I truly feel as though we are connected as so much more than just friends. The kids confuse us and I think its fun. We laugh at the same jokes and generally have the same sense of humor. You seem to know what I am thinkng before I even have to say it. I have always treasured our friendship, and do, now, more than ever. I cannot explain to you how blessed I feel to have an ever present reminder of God's love for me in your friendship. I know that you think I am "strong", but it is you who keeps me going. I love the verses you give me, and treasure our emotional talks. I know that I can be completely open with you without being fearful of judgment or criticism. I love that you are always watching out for me, and value you as if you were my own sister. When people ask how I make it through work, etc, I am proud to attribute that to you. I couldn't do this without you, and I hope that God lays my true feelings on your heart. Thank you, DCH, for being an amazing part of my every day life.

2008-03-13T21:14:00.006-05:00

"The God of all grace, who has called you through Christ Jesus to his eternal glory, after you have suffered for a short time, will Himself make you perfect, firm, and strong." 1 Peter 5:10

I received a card in the mail last night that struck the depths of my soul. It was from a friend of mine that I will always consider a best friend no matter how far a part we may be. At one time in my life, she held all the truths of my heart. Going into college, we grew apart in distance, but clearly not in heart. She was always one of those people that I looked up to, admired in every way, and truly treasured every moment we had together. She has a genuine heart for the Lord, and always inspired me to grow in my relationship with God. She stood by me when I experienced the greatest loss of my life, and believe that she will always know the words of my soul before I even speak them. Instead of exchanging silly "best friend" charms, we exchanged a simple charm with the others initial. This would mean so much more over time then it meant at the moment. Over the years, we went to different schools and drifted apart. We checked in on each other randomly, participated in each others weddings, and exchanged Christmas cards every year. But yesterday as I opened that card, all of those powerful connections came flooding in. She has always inspired me to be a better person, and this was no different. I have always known that she cared deeply for me, and hoped that she knew that I felt the same way. She expressed her concern, but gave me two verses to hold on to. She stated that she would be wearing her "Livestrong" bracelet in my honor. This was especially meaningful since I have begun wearing one of my own again as well as swapping out my traditional goalie jersey for a "Livestrong" version. I will never be able to tell this person in words what she truly means to me, and am solely relying on God to take care of this.
Dear friend, I have been truly blessed by your love and thoughtfulness for so many years, and to you, I will always be eternally grateful.

Little Mommy

2008-03-08T09:29:00.000-06:00

amazed...

2008-02-27T22:03:00.003-06:00

these kids amaze me daily.... I am blessed every day to have a job that I love and a home away from home where I feel needed...

Paint-a-palooza

2008-01-26T07:50:00.000-06:00

I started these massive projects about 2 weeks ago, and all are finally finished. I was warned ahead of time that painting can be addicting and it really was. Once one room was finished, I couldnt wait to start the next. Each took the same 3 day rotation for the most part Day 1: tape Day 2: paint Day 3: cut-in & trim. this was true for every room except the master where I had to do the texturing on the chocolate wall on day 1 also. They turned out awesome, and our how looks like a new home :) check out our new rooms:

Our half bath downstairs...

Our new office...

Our new master bedroom...

Our new master bathroom...

SURPRISE!!!!

2008-01-25T20:34:00.000-06:00

I have anxiously waited 2 weeks to put up this post because I didnt have any pictures to go along with it, but they are here now!!!

Gar pulled off the surprise of my life for my birthday this year! I never saw it coming. My birthday is usually pretty calm and often gets blown over since it is so close to Christmas. Which is fine with me since by the time the holidays are over and the decorations are all put away I am exhausted anyway....

Little did I know that this year, Gar had something up his sleeve. Earlier in the week, He told me we had dinner plans that weekend at one of my favorite seafood places with our friends. I received a message about an hour before we were supposed to leave that Richard wanted us to come by their house to show off the super huge new tv that they got for Christmas (It really was supposed to be delivered that day, so this didnt throw me off in the least) I had talked to almost everyone there earlier in the day or the day before and all told me what there plans were for the weekend, etc no big deal...Debbie was going bowling, my mom had a speech tournament, zach was going out, dan was working, and the rest were already on the list for dinner. Had I been suspicous, the only thing that might have helped me was that BJ blew us off for our traditional Saturday morning breakfast. Katey & I & BJ meet for breakfast almost every Sat. morning and have for a few months now, and she didnt ever call to confirm this week, but she had been really busy so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Little did I know, she didnt think she could keep the secret if she had to lit to my face (stinker!!!)

Gar swung by the house on his way home from "work" ( he had taken a half day to go decorate, get the food/cake, and set-up) to change and pick us up. I was starving and was gripeing the whole way there about how I just wanted to run in and check out the tv, and for Gar not to "play" with it now, and we could come back to "play" with it after dinner. I say it like that b/c I was definitely snottier than I would have been had I known we were going to my birthday party.
We walked right in, and nothing was out of place that would give anything away, and as soon as I bent down to pet the dog, the huge commotion of yelling and party horns came from behind. I seriously thought I had been shot. It scared me to death. And I turned around to see all of my favorite people waiting to celebrate my birthday with me. Of course, for the first hour I was going around clearing up all the false stories I had been told all week :) It was so much fun... Katey's trying to say "cheese" Uncle Dan & Katey Gotta love that laugh!My love
BJ & Lacy
Rekha & Lacy & Laura
My Dad & I

Katey & I trying to blow out Gar's trick candles that almost caught our hair on fire :)

The Sickies!

2008-01-25T20:27:00.001-06:00

Katey was sick last week from tues through friday with a 101 fever. She had no other symptoms, so we had no clue what was going on. She test neg. for strep and the flu but couldnt shake the fever. Koda was already scheduled to get "fixed" on thursday so I had quite a weekend with the "sickies." They have become quite good friends as long as Koda doesnt get out of control. Koda was still woosy most of the night on thursday, and Kate took full advantage of crawling all over her for once...

"Little People" Town

2008-01-25T20:23:00.001-06:00

Katey got several of the places from the "Little People" collection for Christmas and she loves to line them up on the coffee table and sit right in the middle. She loves to pretend and has quite the imagination!

Santa Mania

2007-12-25T14:21:00.002-06:00

Katey really got into the spirit this year! She still doesnt really know who Santa is or why all of these presents showed up over night, but she had a blast tearing off the paper and pulling all the stuff out of all the stockings! The funniest part was watching her try to shove everything in her new hideout!

Merry Christmas!

Jingle Bells-Katey Style

2007-12-25T14:21:00.001-06:00

Christmas Eve on Main St

2007-12-25T14:04:00.000-06:00

We took a family trip over to see all the singing lights on Main St, and we even had a chance to snap some new family photos.

As you can see, Katey wasnt having anything to do with it!

Cookies for Santa

2007-12-25T13:46:00.001-06:00

We pulled out all the stops this year for our family traditions, complete with cookies for Santa on her very own plate!

move over Martha Stewart...

2007-12-25T13:04:00.000-06:00

I was a cooking fool this weekend, and I had such a blast! I am determined to learn how to cook family meals, and I think I made a good start! check out my first attempt at a real cake...

Santa must have heard that my new years resolution was learning to cook because he loaded me down with tons of goodies to get me ready!

flashcard fun

2007-12-25T12:53:00.000-06:00

Katey has a vocabulary to die for. She loves learning to words, and is always interested in new things. Here's some more fun with daddy...

Gar's girls!

2007-12-25T12:44:00.000-06:00

Katey's baby swing

2007-12-25T12:35:00.000-06:00

Our baby swing was returned to us this week. I didnt think much of storing it since Katey really didnt like it, and was only in it a handful of times. She had a totally different reaction this time. She wanted to get in it, buckle herself in, and put the toy bar across her lap. She kept repeating "Katey's swing." I honestly didnt even think she would remember it. Now every time we go into the garage, we have to make time for her to sit in the baby swing. Thank goodness it is resting on the ground because I am sure she is above the weight limit!

night night daddy

2007-12-25T12:21:00.000-06:00

Katey's night-night routine is one of our favorite parts of the day. Hugs and kisses & lots of "I love yous" all around. Always a special treat for anyone visiting!

and a big cheesy smile just for you!

sitting pretty...

2007-12-25T12:16:00.000-06:00

guarding her new domain! What a pretty puppy!

We love the park!

2007-12-25T12:03:00.000-06:00

The weather has been beautiful lately, so we have been meeting with my kiddos after work to get some outdoor play time in. I love this time of year!

the 40lb lap dog

2007-12-25T11:54:00.000-06:00

Koda is very affectionate and loves all the attention she can get. She loves to sleep at the end of the bed, but for some reason she hates the alarm clock and tries to sit on your head until you get up. Not much of a chance for the snooze button any more.

He's here, He's here!

2007-12-13T18:29:00.000-06:00

Today, our family welcomed a new addition to the world. Zachary Nicholas Miller was born weighing in at a healthy 10lbs 4oz. Being more than a week overdue, Mommy Amo was induced yesterday morning. We are so excited, and of course, can't wait to see pictures. Daddy Nick says that Mommy and baby are both doing well! So fun to have a new baby so close to Christmas! Congrats Amo, Nick, and Zachary. We love you!

meet Koda...

2007-12-03T20:54:00.000-06:00

We couldnt live another day without a furbaby. The pain of losing Kavik was just too much. We have adopted a 5 month old german shepard puppy. The lady that had her was wonderful to her, and she came potty trained & crate trained. She is very loving and has a personality much like Kavik's. She & Katey get along great, and she already loves to lay on our bed and take naps! We are in love! Katey & Koda are currently sharing a crate since Katey also thinks it is her new bed :) Ok not really, but it was pretty cute! Here are a few photos of our new addition...

It's cold out there...

2007-12-03T20:33:00.000-06:00

I love this time of year! I love the lights and decorations. I love sitting in a warm house, watching tv or reading by the glow of Christmas lights. Our packages have been mailed, and we're working on Christmas cards! So fun!

Remembering Kavik

2007-12-03T20:09:00.000-06:00

The last few days have been extremely long one, full of tears, and loving memories. Kavik's absence was not something we were prepared for nor is it something we will get used to anytime soon. The house seems oddly cold and unfamiliar. We will need to get a dog/puppy soon-not to replace her, but to ease the sadness and emptiness. We dont want to be home, and the pain of having Katey call for her is almost too much to bare. We chose to have her cremated and returned to us. I think this was one of the hardest things to do. Within minutes of losing her, we were asked to choose what would be done with her. I have never lost a pet before, and didnt expect to have to make a decision like this, especially after just sitting with her as she passed. We made a garden stone with her name and pictures on it. The night we lost her, she had just buried her favorite ball. We left the ball in the ground and covered it with the stone.
This will be her place.
We will always think of her when we play ball at the park and bubbles in the yard. We will remember her silly singing and they way she greeted us at the door. I wish everyone could experience the feelings I felt for Kavik at sometime in their life. There is a difference between having a pet and having a Kavik. I never felt alone or scared when Garland worked nights, I never worried about having to defend myself should an intruder enter our home. No matter what my day was like, I knew she was at home waiting to give me kisses. I miss her messy drinking and loud pacing, and even the way she smelled. I would give anything to have one more hour with her, to give her all of her favorite things one last time. We will remember her always.

Saying goodbye to Kavik

2007-11-28T06:18:00.000-06:00

Dear family and friends,
we have had to say goodbye to our sweet Kavik. Last night, she was finally presented with a battle that her body just couldnt win for her. Some time during or after her dinner meal she swallowed a large bubble of air. This caused her stomach to BLOAT or wrap around itself. It was a short while before we even knew something was wrong, but once it became apparent, things went drastically downhill fast. Around 10pm, we were told that a very evasive surgery would be necessary to save her life, and even then would she only have a 50% chance of recovering. Kavik is 10 years old, and battled many health problems for the past several years. We were never in denial about her bodies weakness, however, after spending a few last minutes with her before making our decision, we felt in our hearts that we had to give her the chance to fight. The doctor told us that it would be a few hours, and that she would call us when the surgery was complete. Less than an hour into the surgery, we received word from the operating room that all was not as it seemed on the x-ray. Kavik's stomach had completely wrapped around itself, cutting off the blood supply and compromising the integrity of her stomach wall. We were told that the damage was too great for her successful recovery. We, once again, were faced with the same decision. This time, we could not let her go on suffering for our benefit. We returned to the ER to spend a last few minutes saying goodbye. She passed in my arms with sweet nothings whispered in her ear, she deserved nothing less for the years of loyalty and love she has given our family.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers as we continue to say goodbye,
Lacy, Garland, & Katey

Camp '07

2007-11-25T17:49:00.000-06:00

Camp has come and gone for the year. It was a blast and went the best by far! The new camp is gorgeous, and went so smoothly after all the chinks from last year had been ironed out. Here's a few fun photos of our trip...

Happy Birthday, Katey!

2007-11-05T20:19:00.000-06:00

Phew! I think every muscle in my body sighed the same sigh of relief as I crawled into bed last night. Katey's birthday weekend turned into just that- a weekend of celebrating. I took Friday off because we were having some furniture delivered and I had already planned to take a day off just for us to spend together. While waiting for the new dining set to arrive, (Our Mat&Cindy table) Katey and I were in charge on putting together her birthday toys and the new desk. Things take a lot longer when you have a toddler who keeps running off with your tools and climbing on your materials, but we made it.

Friday evening rolled around and our company started arriving for what was supposed to be our "FC Dallas watching party" for the 2nd leg of the playoffs, but due to the fact that the game went horribly down hill very quickly, I changed the name to "Katey's pre-party"- which was much happier :) We watched the game until the very end even though we knew how it was going to end far before it was actually over. Daniel and Katey had such a good time laying on the couch watching "Peter Pan" together.

Saturday, Kate and I finished putting together the desk and cleaned house. Her guests arrived around 4:30 and she went non-stop until the last person left. She had a blast playing with the kids in the yard. They bounced, chased a butterfly, popped all the balloons, threw balls all over the yard, and just had a blast "being kids". Katey's cupcake cake was a big hit, and this year she even figured out how to blow on the candle!

Sunday, we all got up early because of the time change and decided to continue our celebration with breakfast at IHOP! Once the sun was up, we put together her COOL big wheel

and headed out for a stroll down the block. After nap, we met up with Garland to cheer on his team in the playoffs

and then over to the Callahans for BBQ and swinging.

We were all pretty tired when we were finally home for the night, but not too tired for some of Katey's homemade spaghetti in her new kitchen!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Katey! Who knew 2 could be so fun!

Turning 2...

2007-10-26T17:20:00.000-05:00

It is so hard to believe that my little girl is already turning 2. The bigger she gets, the faster the time goes by. It truly amazes me how much being a mother has changed me as a person, in general, but especially as a teacher. Some ways are small while others are enormous. I was sitting in parent/teacher conferences today wondering what Katey's teachers will have to say about her. We get to discuss all kinds of things in conferences from test scores, to personality traits, work habits to social interactions. I can't help but wonder what I will hear about her.
I used to think parents wanted to hear that everything at school was fine and dandy, but I quickly realized as a parent, that I want to know if my child is ahead or behind and ways to help her either way. How is my child being helped if she is struggling, and how is she being challenged if she is ahead? Is my child a leader or a follower? Does she set a good example? Does she seek out help when needed? Do her test scores display an accurate picture of her classroom performance? I used to sugar coat things and paint a picture that everything was perfect which wasnt always the case. But since becoming a parent, I have learned that sometimes you have to give/receive the hard news too, and find out what is BEST for your child even though it might not be what you want to hear. I have tried to become a teacher that I would want Katey to have, and I think it has allowed me to grow and develop into someone I can be proud of. Anyways, in a few short days we will have a 2 year old on our hand, although she has been displaying "terrible 2" behavior on and off now for a few weeks. She continues to amaze us with what she knows, and what she picks up on even after only being showed once or twice. It is true what they say about children having minds like sponges. It is an incredible journey. Here are a few beautiful pictures taken by Maria. Check out her photos of her beautiful children at www.myheartsmoments.blogspot.com Thanks Maria!!!

FCD's Juan Toja Wig Night

2007-10-11T22:17:00.000-05:00

...even the players got into it at practice this week!
can you spot the real juan toja?

PSHS Homecoming Parade

2007-10-11T22:14:00.000-05:00

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GO HOOPS!

2007-10-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

It was a disappointing September for fans and players of FC Dallas. October is already showing some promise with the return of Kenny Cooper on Wednesday. Here's a pep rally from our little Hoops fan!

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little goalie

2007-09-28T20:27:00.000-05:00

Kate loves to go through Gar's soccer bag and put on his goalie gloves. Too funny!

Putting words together

2007-09-28T20:23:00.000-05:00

Katey was showing off tonight before bedtime and we caught a bit on tape!

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Balloon Festival

2007-09-28T20:17:00.000-05:00

We headed out bright and early last Sunday to catch to 7am lift off for the Plano Balloon Fest. Katey loved the HUGE balloons even though she wasnt quite awake yet :)

Fun with the hose!

2007-09-28T19:56:00.000-05:00

Another new bed

2007-09-12T21:18:00.000-05:00

After trying the toddler bed for the past 2.5 months, and having very few nights without being joined by our little one in the middle of the night, we bought her a bigger bed. I was really struggling to find out why she wouldnt sleep through the night, and last tuesday she was up like 6 times. I finally got her back to bed when her music went off (go figure!) so I ran back into to turn it back on to see my sweet girl asleep while falling out of her bed, and it hit me! She has always been a very active sleeper and is all over the place all night, so my best guess is that if she gets anywhere near the opening of the toddler bed, she would drop to the floor and wake up. So, I went to a cheapie mattress store and bought her a full-size bed with a rail, and for over a week now, she has been sleeping like a baby again ( I think I just jinxed myself) Yea for even bigger big girl beds!

And just a cute pic for fun!

Right of passage?

2007-09-12T20:35:00.000-05:00

Well I finally submitted to the pain and made an appt with an orthopedic surgeon for the pain in my knee. Last May I took a pretty hard sliding tackle into an opposing player, and my knee hasnt been the same since. I took the summer off thinking it was just a bone bruise and needed time to heal, but it has slowly gotten worse and now is very painful, and often wakes me up at night. The past few weeks have been really painful and after walking in heels all day at work, I was having excruciating pain when I tried to get down on the floor with Kate. This is where I drew the line. I called up the great Docs at Plano Orthropedic and Sports Med and awaited my appt last friday. The office gave me creepy memories of my shoulder surgery in '94. This place is really cool though, they have 11 surgeons on staff with each one having at least 2 physicians assistants. The office is fully equipped with X-ray machines, MRI machines, and all the physical therapy equipment one could dream of. I got right in, and after a few short questions about the actual incident where the injury occured, I was taken in for X-rays. While waiting for the results, one of the PAs came in and took all these measurements on my knee to determine what range of motion I still had (Hince all the cool pen marks on knee in the photo) To cut this short, I have damage to my patella tendon ( between the 3 marks on the lower part of my knee in the photo) and I have a bone bruise on the top of my knee cap (where the red mark is). The tendon is so swollen right now that it is constricting the movement of my kneecap which is what is causing the majority of my pain. I have 105 degrees of range of motion where 170 is ideal for an athlete my age. The diagnosis on my PT paperwork says "moderate/significant patella damage" So, they put me in a "Patella Stabilizer" brace, 30 days of some perscription anti-inflammatory, and 4 weeks of PT. And all of this comes down to my surgery eval. I go back on Oct 4th, and if at that time, I have re-gained ANY range of motion, I get to determine my surgery date, and if there is no gain then surgery will be sooner than later. Ideally, I want to make it to Thanksgiving Break, but this requires me to make it through camp with my 5th graders on my gimpy knee. So, right now it is "wait and see"

So, I got out of the office with my gear, and called Gar who informed me that knee surgery was a right of passage for all soccer players, and that I was so lucky becuase I would get to say that the scars on my knee were from soccer. And that its not fair because he's been playing soccer his whole life, and I'm the one who gets to have knee surgery. **Insert photo of Lacy's head exploding** My first thought was... he has to be joking! (nope!) and second thought...I think I have enough scars that I dont need to go around bragging about them!

So I am hanging up my cleats a little longer...
Wish me luck, and I will keep you updated!

So...where did he go??

2007-09-06T20:23:00.000-05:00

I was waiting to answer this question till I finished getting the photos. Gar and Dan traveled to Seattle to watch FC Dallas take on the Seattle Sounders. This was such a cool opportunity since the teams are not in the same league. We are FCD ticket holders and Amo & Nick are Sounders ticket holders, so it gave them a good chance to get good razzing in. And gave me a chance to catch a few glimpses of Amo's super cute baby bump. So, where did he go???
He went here....

to watch the closed practice at Qwest field on Monday
And he went here...

And here... with Nick harrassing my favorite TOJA!

And here's one of Amo and the super cute bump!

***Note: If you click on any of the word "HERE" it should take you to the websites that posted the pictures! How cool to be up on 3 different websites in 24 hours, and no that does not include his wife's silly blog! I am not that vain...yet!

Talking to Daddy!

2007-09-03T20:30:00.000-05:00

22 months

2007-09-03T20:06:00.000-05:00

GattiTown

2007-09-03T19:58:00.000-05:00

Backpack, Backpack

2007-09-03T19:47:00.000-05:00

Toddler...

2007-09-03T12:49:00.000-05:00

...what a strange word to describe such an intense stage of life. For weeks now, Kate has been coming into our room at random times throughout the night and we are not sure why. We take her back to bed and she falls back asleep anywhere from 5 minutes to 3 hours as was the case last night. She is going through so many things right now that I just don't think her little body can keep up with her, and I am not doing such a great job of keeping up with her myself. Besides not sleeping through the night for a month now, she is biting (but only bites me) which leads to timeout and both of us in tears, trying to use the potty but accidents are very traumatic, becoming pickier and pickier with her food and has to have big girl utensils and dinnerware. The new daycare is still in the transitional stage but she seems to be getting adjusted quickly (this change really seemed to be more difficult on me than her). I love this little girl more than anything, but my level of frustration has reached a point to where it makes me physically ill and brings tears to my eyes. I read so many book when I was pregnant and when she was a newborn, and I dont remember ever being at such a loss for what to do with her. I own every toddler book I can get my hands on, have read every parenting magazine and website till I was dizzy and I still cant figure out how to help her. I truly believe that this may in fact be the real problem. She is trying so hard to figure all of these things out and how the world works when you sleep in a real bed and I want so badly to just do it for her and make all our lives easier when I really just have to sit on the sidelines and guide her through it. Unfortuately, that has made for a really tired and emotionally drained mama. And all of this is compounded by the first week of school and Gar being out of town. God, I really dont do well when he is away. It shows me just how much more I should appreciate him and all the help I get with Kate. I guess that each new stage in her life will come and go with its own ups and downs, but this has certainly been the most challenging so far. I just wish she hadnt decided to go through all the toddler milestones at once. Hopefully we are close to the hump and will be getting more sleep soon!

The gang's all here!

2007-08-30T20:02:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of our awesome team...or as I like to call it "Neil and the girls!"

I am so excited to be sharing my extra duties this year with one of my favorite girls in the building! Debbie rocks, and besides the fact that the kids already get us confused for one another, we make a great pair! Love you Deberella!

Ok! OK! The hair has been dark long enough, and is going back as soon as I can get an appointment! Thank goodness!

Ouch!

2007-08-26T15:40:00.000-05:00

This is what happens when you are driving along on the tollway and the chick behind you turns around to check on her kid and doesnt realize that the traffic in front of her has stopped! Poor Gar! He didnt even see it coming! He is pretty sore today with a knot of his head from where he hit the seat belt connector. We wont know anything about the car until tomorrow, so we will either be in the market for something new or at least in a rental for a few weeks while it gets repaired. Thank goodness everyone is okay!

my family and teaching...

2007-08-26T15:14:00.001-05:00

As I was talking to Mat this afternoon a few thoughts about my family stumbled out of my mouth that I thought I would share with you...

Almost everyone of my moms side of the family teaches something. It truly runs in their blood. I have never seen my aunts teach, and never got to see my grandparents in their classrooms, but by watching my mom, I have to know that they are incredible too. Tomorrow, my sister will embark on a journey that is like a tradition in our family. She will stand up in front of a classroom and make a difference. Sounds cheesy right! You wouldnt think so if you could watch my mom with her kids. Outside of school, she is our Mom and Katey's Mimi, my Dad's wife, a sister, a friend, etc, but once she steps in front of those kids something inside her transforms and she becomes someone that all teachers aspire to be. It's no wonder both of her girls ended up in front of a classroom. I think she is probably on cloud 9 today as all three of us get geared up to kick off another year tomorrow. Every year I try to figure out at least one more way to beome closer to the teacher that she is. I wonder what it will be this year. It also drove me to the thought of Katey in her classroom as a teacher on the first day of school! (Oh a mother can dream!) Thanks Mom, for showing me how amazing it can be to make a difference every day.
Chrissy, good luck tomorrow! I am sure they will love you, andf if they dont, you can always give them detention until they figure it out! :)

Convocation 07

2007-08-25T07:22:00.000-05:00

Convocation is a special time of year for every teacher in our district. For one morning during our inservice week every teacher and staff memeber in the district meets at Prestonwood to focus on the year ahead. It is so neat to see the place lined by the different colors of school shirts. The best way to describe it would be a HUGE pep rally for the teachers. So fun!

Here is an old picture from my first convocation (4 years ago!)

And here's one from this year! (Chrissy's first convocation!)

Watch out Plano, the Potts teachers are out in full force!

2007-08-25T07:20:00.000-05:00

Here are just a few pictures of Katey's summer fun at Mimi & PJ's

My littlest Eagle!

2007-08-23T20:27:00.000-05:00

This year they even ordered school shirts for the little Andrews Eagles that we love!

Wow! Watch her go!

2007-08-16T21:12:00.001-05:00

We bought this awesome suit for her, and within days she was swimming on her own. We can by no means take credit for this, but is still really cool!

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When play imitates real life...

2007-08-16T21:08:00.000-05:00

A few posts ago I showed you Katey's toddler bed and my place on the floor laying next to her bed...well, she had to do the same with her baby! what a girl!

Congratulations are in order!

2007-08-16T13:30:00.000-05:00

Chrissy is officially Ms. Potts. Chrissy started her new teacher inservice yesterday, and we are welcoming her into the wonderful world of teaching. 9th grade Biology watch out! Not only is she in the same district as my mom and I, but she is in the same cluster! Which means...my kids will eventually be her kids and then they will eventually be my moms kids. How freakin cool!
Chrissy, we love you so much and are so proud of you!

Happy Anniversary!

2007-08-15T13:43:00.000-05:00

Here's to 4 years and counting...

True love stories never have endings. ~Richard Bach

No more teeth!!

2007-08-15T13:38:00.000-05:00

Katey had a check up today because she has been running a slight fever and eating funny with displays of unusual random acts of crankiness. Other than the fever, I thought she was just behaving like a typical toddler who is approaching that 2 stage, but much to my surprise...after giving Kate a good once over, the Dr informed me that Kate's last incisor has just broken through and we won't be having anymore teething issues until her 3 year molars. Hallelujah!

Not so long ago...

2007-08-15T07:28:00.001-05:00

Not so long ago... this little wonder on mine, couldnt walk and couldnt talk and slept all the time.
In such a few short months and the blink of an eye, she grew into a toddler. My sweet little girl gets bigger and bigger every day. She is asserting her independence with phrases such as "I do" and "I know." As if the toddler bed wasnt a big enough emotional tug, when she awoke from her nap yesterday, there were no sounds of playing or talking to herself, she simply opened her door and began to look for us. While running rampid through the toystore with Gar and I in tow, she fell in one of the aisles only to pop right up and pronounce "I alright." This helpless little baby of mine is growing way to fast. She gives hugs and kisses goodnight and tells you she loves you. I think I secretly wanted "love you" more than I wanted her to say momma. As much as I would like to think that we created such a wonder on our own, I am humbled to see in her that God took the parts of me and the parts of Gar that He knew would make the perfect child for us. (Gee, I hope He saved some good ones for the next one!) I do, however, get little glimpses of the baby still inside her. She took a nap on me a couple of days ago, she didnt want to lay in her bed and she eventually crawled up in my lap and crashed out. Time stood still and I could have layed with her forever. I am learning to savor these special moments because I know that one day I will turn around and she will be heading off to school with her friends. I never knew that being a parents could be so amazing!

In other news, the summer is winding down and I go back to work on Monday. We have made some last minute changes with Katey's daycare and she will be going to a place that is 2 blocks away from me at work. Since she started care at 9 weeks old, she has always been at least a 25minute drive, one way, out of the way, of my work because I thought that was the best place for her, but this year, we are trying something new. I wont be wasting any of my time with her sitting in the car, and I could even drop in on her at lunch if I needed to. Look for updates on her adventure next week!

Vacations are SO nice!

2007-08-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Katey and I had the best time on our trip to Utah! Katey was a dream on the plane, and even slept the whole flight back on Mommy! She immediately figured out how to crawl out of the pack n play once we got there, so she got to spend the whole weekend sleeping with me! I have to admit, I really enjoyed having her next to me all night long. I am one of those parents who misses their child as soon as the door closes for her to go to sleep. Connor and Katey got along like they were seperated at birth. They were so sweet to each other and were even hugging and kissing each other goodnight! I guess they just knew they were meant to be best friends too! We did all sorts of fun kids stuff, and just really enjoyed hanging out and relaxing. Mat and Cindy have the coolest house, too! Growing up in Texas, I had no idea how cool finished basements can be even though Gar kept telling me! They have a whole other house under their house! Katey and I stayed downstairs which was awesome since the kids were still on different sleep schedules! We had so much fun, and wish we could play with the Doebs every day!

Katey Roberts & Connor Doebler!

2007-08-09T08:54:00.000-05:00