Life in the Middle Age Lane

December sucks for birthday, receiving birthday gifts in Christmas wrapping, getting only one gift, no one able to make your parties because family is in or company parties.  BUT on the upside,  you realize quickly who your true friends are because they actually make the time for you. Like the lovely couple you see here.  They were determined to celebrate my day.  I chose to have dinner and drinks at Hotel Zaza followed by an evening meandering through the Houston zoo admiring the Christmas lights. John ordered the tickets online so there was no waiting in line to get in.  Note to self, do not go on Saturdays, it was packed!! The line was all the way to the train station!! (for those without tickets) We actually had 2 extra tickets and I passed them on to a young couple waiting in line.  They just looked at me like "are you serious?"  I think I made their night,  they also received free carrousel ride tickets. My husband just had to ...

This past year had been a very somber and difficult year.  I said goodbye to five beautiful ladies this year,  ran my second 5K,  joined Crossfit in February,  and packed up my youngest for college. Some of the things I did for the first time this year was to tailgate at a college football game. Attended our first marriage retreat, which sounds nicer then it was, but it's a good healthy check up for our 20 year relationship.  Realized I need to get more organized at home because the only person I would be helping is me.  And God knows, I need the help.  Definitely a retrospective year. The blessings this past year felt over shadowed by the obstacles we encountered but looking back those blessings are enormous......see for yourself. . My goddaughter's son Lucas.  He is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. Friends have been constant and I have felt loved all year long.. I forget to count that blessing at times. Friends from Pen...

Treborway Home In Texas, our neighbors become our families.  More so on Treborway Drive.  John and I moved into this neighborhood not because we bought the house for the asking price, in fact we bought it cheaper than what another family had offered because it was important to the previous owner that his neighbors would like us. They wanted a nice family to move in but instead they got us.   Emilio was 7 and Shelby was 2 when we moved here, John and I were getting married in August and we moved in, in May 1997. 2000 A special thanks to my old boss, Mike ,for finding us this house and the Treborway family that went along with it. The first two nights on Treborway, Shelby would cry that she wanted to go home and we had to explain to her that this was now our home, and it was, for 10 wonderful years.  Not just any 10 years, but the years that matter.  The years that are filled with raising children, working on the yard, and adding the glue that ma...

1992 Emilio loved trains and vacuums when he was little.  Mostly trains and then vacuums and phones at about age 3.  He was quirky and funny back then and now witty, kind and adorable  But that's just a mom's honest opinion.  I recently had time on my hands and decided to scan some old pictures to begin blogging about the past holidays when the kids where little.  There was so much we did when they were little that I don't ever want to forget those happy days. 1993 We had to have a train around the tree and every night we would turn it on for him before going to bed. 1993 1994 Emilio is a wonderful big brother.  I know that when Shelby was born he was excited and did not know what to expect. Actually none of us did! He now had to share my love and attention.  He never complained, or treated Shelby with anything but love, kindness and compassion. I am so proud of the relationship these two have.  Despite the ...

1989 As long as I can remember we always celebrated Christmas as a family. Except for the times when my brothers were in the military, of course.  My family consisted of my two brothers.   Ignore the bowl haircut (WTF was I thinking?!?!?!) Oh and as my children refer to them my "bullet proof glasses".  I couldn't argue with that title. In this picture I was about 8 weeks pregnant with Emilio and I remember feeling so sick this Christmas, constantly nauseous. The first baby in our family was Andrea, my baby brothers daughter.   The original princess before Shelby.  And what a princess she was!!! This year will be a very difficult for Andrea and her brother, Junior.  Their mom lost her battle with Lupus earlier this year.   As with all families who will experience the holidays without a loved one for the first time,  I am thinking of you.  My prayers are with you and so is my love. 1990 Junior, Raul, and Tabby Emi...

It's that time of year when the god-awful question is asked of me, "what do you want for birthday/Christmas?"  My thoughts read like a handyman's wet dream.  Paint the bedroom into a peaceful hue that welcomes me at the end of a hard day, a chandelier in the kitchen to replace the one over the island, and new outdoor curtains for the backyard.  Oh, and would love to get the tub in our bathroom fixed and make our front courtyard super festive for the holidays.  All things that I normally would do myself but would love for someone to take charge and do for me.   Of course this is not what my family wants to hear.  So I am scouring the internet trying to find something that I want for my birthday.  As much as I pester my husband about a back rub, I should ask for a gift certificate for a massage. Sounds good, right?  John can work magic with those fingers......on a computer keyboard but not on a person unless thumb wars counts. I googled what ...

I had not realized it's been almost two months since I last blogged.  For my loyal reader, you know who you three are, I apologize.  Ha, ha.   The adjustment of having a "true" empty nest has passed. John and I are enjoying each other and our time.  We have done the annual Key West trip for Fantasy fest in October. The hat kept falling off and was slightly uncomfortable but still had a fun time on Duval street.  As usual our hosts were amazing and had full staff on the yacht.  Nice to have friends with big toys. Halloween was a blast, I dressed as a zombie housewife to give out candy.  We had a great time and John was a good sport by not giving out all the candy in the first five minutes as he loves to do. I had time in the busy month of October to decorate a wreath, which turned out spooktacular! Well, Christmas decorating is calling me or is that the Texans football game.  More later on my retreat with my best frien...