Sea World

My Baby turned Seven on Monday yall!! SEVEN!!!! I cannot believe that she is that old. She is such a joy and such a special part of our family! We gave her the option of a party with all her friends, sea world, or toy story on ice...she had a really hard time with this...but chose Sea World! I am so glad she did! It was such an amazing trip....I am seriously trying to figure out if it is too late for me to become a marine biologist and train whales! I told Steve today I wish we lived at Sea World...it was a great trip! I really do want to live there....

They have a sesame street show and then all of the sesame street characters wander around and you can take pictures with them...except Elmo...you have to pay to get your pic with him! Kaitlin ate it up!!

  

Here's Allie and Steve before the Shamu show

 

 Me and Super K waiting for Shamu!!

 In the middle of everything they have a HUGE Splash pad for the kids to play in...so when it got hot we took a break from all the shows and played!

Here we are after lunch...with ole what's her name from sesame street...Allie wore the crown all day in honor of her birth....obviously!!

The last show of the night is called Shamu rocks and it's all set to music and very high energy...as you can see my girls energy levels were starting to fade a bit.....but they made it through and had an awesome time!!

HOORAY FOR SEA WORLD!!!!! 

(I still wish I lived there ;)

Just For The Run of It!!!

I was tasked with putting on a 5k for Allie's school for one of their fundraisers this year! Don't tell anyone...but it was actually pretty fun and I enjoyed doing it. We named it Just For The RUN Of It....We Run For The FUN Of It!!! I think it was a great success and the community was so supportive. I also have to give my brother...Chris Moncivais a HUGE Shout out for his help! He came all the way to Brownwood and was basically did whatever I needed him to...he's the best! I also need to thank my good husband and my children for being so patient with me and helping me through all of this! They were the best! 

Here are some of the runners lining up getting ready to run!

We were struggling with finding a runner fast enough and willing to come be our lead runner for our kids race so chris stepped up and with his 6 minute mile lead the kiddos.....

 

Allie ran the mile kids run and finished in 8 minutes and 30 seconds....heck ya!!!

 

 

Toph finished up and  ran the 5K and came in third place overall and first in his age group!! Woo hoo!!!

 

Here come the 5kers!!!

 

My Funny, Funky, Freaky, Finicky, Fibroid Friend

HEADS UP!!!! THIS POST CONTAINS GRAPHIC PICTURES OF MY FIBROID BEFORE IT WAS REMOVED!!!

I recently had my final post op visit with my doctor and he gave me the all clear! I am well. During my surgery I asked them to take pictures of my fibroid to curb my morbid curiosity...and now I will curb yours:









I hope you are not too grossed out and will still read my blog....it's actually much prettier than I thought it would be! I was expecting something all brown and crusty and rotten looking...don't ask me why...it's much better than the image I had in my head! Anyways...so glad to have gotten that out of me!

Post Op

So...I have been MIA lately...but I have been busy and I have been having a great time....I just haven't had time to share my good times with the blogging world! On March 8, I had to have a total hysterectomy  and fibroidal removal (I just made that last part up...sounded real eh?) First, I have the most amazing family from my hubs and my girlies all the way down to my littlest nieces and nephews. I am truly blessed to be part of and to have married into such a wonderful family. I was eerily calm before everything and then we got to the hospital that morning and I was terrified. It was literally all I could do to keep tears from streaming down my face. I know that pre-op calm I felt that gave me the courage to get to that hospital in the first place was a result of the many many prayers that had been said on my behalf! After that though...I needed and was blessed with some modern drugs to help get me the rest of the way there...my nurse called it my iv margarita! I was and am still a huge fan of the ole iv margarita! It made me so relaxed and actually put me right to sleep...I don't remember the anesthesiologist, or counting back from 10...I was gone way before that. I do remember noticing that the trashcan was full..which I thought was weird since it was 6 in the morning. Or I remember seeing my Dr. Dr. Dan in the hall drinking a diet coke. I remember getting the courage to ask the nurse to take a picture of my fibroid, I remember talking so much that they told me to stop and try to rest...and then I remember waking up. Actually, it was more like trying to wake up...whatever they used to put me under was working good! I think it took me about 40 minutes to even start to wake a bit. It seems I am a bit of a light weight! I also remember noticing and being a bit surprised at how sore I was when I woke up...I thought they controlled that stuff. I guess they want to hear from you how the pain is so they know how much pain meds to give you? I would have been fine with sending another margarita through the ole iv...but I was not that lucky. The first day was ok...my pain was managed well and I was blessed with great nurses taking care of me. It's all a little cloudy...but I do remember seeing the picture of my gigantic fibroid! I am getting a copy next week and will post it...so beware the blog if you're a lightweight like me! 

I felt so weird after surgery I wanted to see how I looked...so I asked Steve to take my picture...here I is:

Pretty rough huh? I mean they could have at least finished buttoning my gown down my shoulder....

Anywho....

My recovery went so well...I had my Ma and Mary here for 2 weeks to take care of my kids so I could just rest! It was awesome and helped me get better so much faster! I am so blessed to have had this surgery and to have come through it with no problems. Here's the proof:

SOCCER!!!!

It's soccer season!! I love watching my Allie play soccer...she's still learning and getting better all the time...but she has such an awesome attitude and has fun no matter what happens! She is on a new team this year....the Phoenix something or other...here's to a good season of soccer!!

 Here she is dribbling the ball

 

 Still dribbling, but turning too

Standing

Still standing..but look at that sky

doing some drills...notice Super Kate with a stolen ball..she's fixin to rush the field

Where Have I Been.....

......no, no....where have you been?? I have been here, working away, mommying, cleaning, pre-oping, 5king, treveling, e.r.-going...I have been here....I just haven't been here...you know? I have been busy....let's start where I last remember, and where I want to start (it is my blog) last Thursday. So, last Thursday was busy....busy busy busy. I was PTOing all morning and most of the afternoon. Then, I was mommying most of the evening until the kids went to bed, and then I was cleaning. Why was I cleaning you ask? Well...I didn't clean all day...and MY MOM was coming in just a few short hours!!! So, I clean for my ma.....like she taught me to when I was little. So, I get my house clean, my mom and Frederick come and we are all happy and sleepy...so we say hello and goodnight...and go to bed....in my very clean home mind you.
 
Then comes Friday...we are still happy and helloing and sending Allie off to school only to be picked up an hour and a half later...she had a spelling test (110%...just saying) that morning. While Allie is at school, Frederick decides to go see Stephen at the clinic....because he felt sick. So Stephen gets Frederick all fixed up. In the mean time, we are off to get Allie. I go into the office and wait and wait...it took longer than normal. After a few minutes...she comes walking into the office with her teacher holding her face....with a look that tells me she's trying not to cry. Turns out she fell in PE and busted her lip open...it was puffy and bloody and she was sad. So....we did what always makes us feel better...WE GOT DONUTS!!! Woot! Woot! Then we meet up with Froderick and head to college station to see some holy cross baseball!! The drive was uneventful, but once we landed in college station....the fun began! We dropped Fred off at the hotel...he's sick remember..and go to target....where Kaitlin threw up in the palm of my hand. After this, we opt not to go to the game, but go to Arby's go back to the hotel and fight with the clerk there to get a crib for Super (barfy) Kate. Once, this is done, Steve makes it to town and then we retire for the evening.

On to Saturday....where we end up in the ER with ole Super Kate! Here's the scoop...we (Kate and I) were walking down the hall of the hotel. I had my arms full and was holding Kaitlin's hand and she went limp...and was hanging there. I tried to put her down and she wouldn't put her feet down, we tried this a couple times, before I gave up and let go...a couple hours later, after watching Kaitlin not use her arm at all...we take her to the ER. One dislocated elbow, popped back into place, and we are at the baseball game. We take the girls to the playground at the stadium to play, and Kaitlin throws up on the playground....so, mom and I take the girls and go home.

Some days...my kids totally give me a ruuuunnnn for my money!!

Tonight I think I'll Blog About....

I have been thinking a lot about my spiritual self lately...trying to get myself to think and live on higher, more spiritual plane...if that makes sense at all. I am very good at being complacent, at not doing anything bad, but not trying or pushing too hard to move forward. This is a dangerous place to be, I have realized. You know how they always say you are either moving toward the Lord or you are moving away, but you are never standing still. I am now a firm believer in that...if you're not going one way...you are going another. I feel like by not working hard on my relationship with the Lord, that I was moving away from Him, but slowly without even realizing what was happening...until one day....BAM!!! I realized that I was letting the world in more than I was letting my Savior in....and that is a scary realization to come to. I love the Lord, and I had forgotten Him...or taken Him for granted is more like it. Life's to hard to go through without the Lord to support us and carry us through. I know that the Lord died for me, for all of us. I know that He knows me personally, and is aware of me and my feelings and troubles. I know that He has a perfect love for me...even with all of my flaws. I am so blessed to know who I am...that I am a daughter of God, and that he loves me. I am grateful for a family that loves me and supports me with a Christ-like love. I am grateful to be a mother...that the Lord has trusted me with my two girls who are so precious. I am grateful for a husband who loves the Lord and loves me more than I deserve. I am so blessed in my life. I love my Savior.

To Maary on her Birthday

Today is mother-in-law Mary Lemons' birthday....to her I'd like to say happy birthday with 5 simple words:

MADAME

 

 HOW DO YOU

 

DO???

Nuff said....Love ya Maary!!

Peek a....

BOO!!!

We Love YOU!!! 

Happy Valentines!!!

Sheri Lu

 

Today is my mother, Sheri Lu's birthday!! I'm pretty sure is turning 32 or something close to that! I am lucky to be her daughter and to have her as an example to follow. She always:
Makes her bed---I mean everyday!!
Gets up earlier than the sun
Makes the best brownies...they never taste quite right unless made by her
Takes me to Johnny Carinos and eats lots and lots of bread and just a little salad with me
Has time to play with my kids
Stays up late playing card games when we all get together
Makes it seem like everything I do is interesting and important....even when it's not
Wears really cool jewelry...the cool stuff I wish I could wear, but don't know how
Stays super fit and skinny
Tells really funny, super witty jokes;)
Does everything she does 110%...she does her best at everything she does....seriously....everything
Enjoys long road trips...with excellent music and me and Allie for company

 As you can see, I have a lot to live up to! I love you mom and hope your day is awesome!

P.S. Photos courtesy of Allison Gwen Lemons

Good Morning!!

Lot's of the time Super Kate wakes up and just starts screaming to get our attention. It's probably one of the few down sides to being super. As soon as you walk in she stops and gets her blankie asks for her paci...which she has thrown out of the crib...and is just fine. Personally, I don't see the need for all the screaming, obviously we don't see eye to eye here. Which is probably just a hint of what's to come for me. But there is the rare occasion when she wakes up and is so sweet and pleasant....behold...the proof!!

Sometimes she's just so dang cute!!

Jump Rope For Heart

So this morning, Allie bug jumped her little heart out at school for jump rope for heart....don't kill me, but I was so excited watching her, that I didn't take any pictures....sorry;( But I do have Allie right here with me and thought that I would interview her about her jump roping:

me: Allie, how long have you been jump roping?
Allie: ...a year I guess

me: what do like the most about jump roping?
Allie: umm....I do it really good

me: what color is your favorite jump rope?
Allie: the maroon one

me: what do you wish you could do better at jump roping?
Allie: uhhh...huh....I don't know

me: Is this because you are so good at jump roping?
Allie: I guess

me: when you grow up, do you think you'll still jump rope?
Allie: Probably

me: what was your favorite part of jump rope for heart?
Allie: everything

me: do you think you will [participate in jump rope for heart again?
Allie: yes

me: if you could jump rope with anyone in the whole wide world who would it be?
Allie: Peyton

me: Who is Peyton?
Allie: My bestest friend

me: if you could give one piece advice on learning to jump rope what would it be?
Allie: keep working on it....you're doing good!

There you have it people!! Allie herself on jump roping! Steve, Kaitlin and I were soo proud of and impressed with our Allie! She has worked so hard on jump roping this year and has really really come a long way.

Hi! I'm Erin Kaye Moncivais Lemons, And I Like To Eat!

HI! MY NAME IS ERIN KAYE MONCIVAIS LEMONS AND I AM AN EATER!! I LIKE TO EAT SPAGHETTI, PIZZA, NOT BEANS, PASTAS, CHICKEN POT PIE, NOT BROCCOLI, ALL MANNER OF COOKIES, CAKES, BROWNIES, CANDIES, CHOCOLATE, PRETZELS, ESPECIALLY PRETZELS COVERED IN CHOCOLATE, NOT BANANAS, ANYTHING FRIED, IS PIZZA ALREADY ON HERE?, NOT ICE CREAM SO MUCH...BUT IF I HAD TOO...I COULD. ANYWAYS I JUST THOUGHT THAT I SHOULD ADMIT TO ALL THAT I LIKE TO EAT!!! THAT'S ALL.

Super Kate

So, very few of you know or have seen my Kaitlin in action....I think she may be a super hero...ya know with super powers so all sorts of crazy things happen as she morphs from Super Kate to regular Kate. I can't always explain the craziness...but I'm sure her super powers have something to do with it! First of all, I am sure that her powers must come from her blankie and her paci...because she is always needing them to reboost her energies and sanities. I also think that being a super baby must be very draining and only candy can refuel the super part of her, because it seems she is always in need of candy as well. I am also pretty sure that her super powers cause her to only need a power nap of approximately 24 minutes to make it through the day. There are also other things that Super Kate does that I am sure regular Kate would never think of doing...climbing on top of the coffee table, climbing in and out of the kitchen cabinets, getting in the tub fully clothed, eating anything and everything that stands in her way. Come to think of it, Super Kate is a little on the super daring, fearless side. Behold the proof that she is no regular Kate but actually Super Kate:

She likes to go in her room and shut the door so she can play in private....I'm sure she's really practicing flying or something super like that

 

Look at this face....it's the face that says....I just climbed up here and there's nothing you can do about it because as soon as you help me down....I'll put my super self back up there!!

 

Look at how she prefers to sit on Steve while watching TV...looks like someone's been flying around her room with the door shut a little too much she's beginning to blow her cover!

 

Here she goes into what I can only assume is her super baby super secret lair 

We have found that stickers weaken her Super powers a bit...so we cover her with them as often as we can...don't worry she thinks it's beautiful! 

As you can tell by the evidence I have provided you with...I have a super hero for a baby who will hereafter only be known as Super Kate...don't be jealous just because I produced a super hero. And please pray we never run out of stickers;)

P.S. I think she may have learned it from her big sister? No? Well...you decide for yourself!

 I think this picture is soo funny...look at Super Kate here----food in each hand and going a little cross-eyed looking at Allie's hand...these girls light up my world!!!