Catching up....again.

So I am in between projects at work and wanted to take a quick break – I started perusing my favourites and came across my blog. My poor, neglected blog. I started reading some older posts and couldn’t stop. I found myself at the beginning; feeling so pleased with myself that I had documented much more than I thought I had. I have when Gray started crawling; when Gates started talking; Cam’s surf trips; my Nana’s passing; and, for timing sake, a very special moment – my Mimi’s 91st birthday celebration at my house. I instantly got the bug to start blogging again. Quite certain no one reads this and that is simply OK by me.

I remember this time last year I printed all my blog entries and put them in the mail for my Mimi. Although a bright and with it lady – she was technically challenged. Or should I say, couldn’t be bothered by silly things like computers. But I wanted to share with her my thoughts, experiences, etc of being a mom. She was pleased as could be with receiving such a package in the mail. In fact, I bet I have a thank you card (hand written, of course) someone packed away. What a special memory.

That sweet lady – my magnificent Mimi – passed through the gates of Heaven on July 6, 2013. While she had become quite frail since breaking her hip in March – I had no idea her time was up. I visited with her on Tuesday, July 2 (coincidentally my mom’s birthday) and we shared a couple laughs and some tears, too. She was still so with it – but I could tell depressed, too. She was living in the Buckingham, uprooted from #18 Stillforest – where she has spent the last 60+ years of her life – 30 of those as a widow. To say she was independent would be the understatement of the year.

In her passing, I am realizing how incredibly blessed I was to have her as a grandmother. Don’t get me wrong- I appreciated her while she was alive, but to see the numbers of people that showed up to pay their respects and share in their sorrow for our (gigantic) loss was amazing. (So many members of Cam’s family came to the services – melted my heart and brought a tear to my eye. Felt like we were one big family – all there to support one another). She would have been 93 next month. I can’t cry too much – she lived a long, beautiful life full of blessings. She got to know my husband and meet my two children. She was proud of me. And she knew how much I loved her. I am not over her death – I am still so very heartbroken, but she has inspired me to live my life full of class, consistently seeking wisdom, and with full appreciation of what God has gifted me with.

Moving on (although I could talk about her forever – in fact, I am not sure I have experienced this level of sadness since losing my mom)…my family. We are all doing great. Cameron had his annual surf trip in April and we were just fine! I couldn’t believe how effortlessly we sailed through his 8 day departure. He was missed – but the work was more enjoyable and things seemed easier.

I am still working as a consultant on a project out at BP. I find myself balancing the work/mommy life quite well – although at times I wonder how much longer I can do it. But we just keep forging on. Cameron is still happy at Charter Title, even though he thinks of returning to brokerage. We will see where the road takes us. The housing market is crazy right now – which comes at a time when we will need to be moving. Gates is 4 (!!!) and even though we will be holding him back from starting kindergarten until he is 6 – we still need to find a (semi) permanent place to land for the next 18 years. We are looking in spring branch – and hope to find something in our price range and with a little room to spread out a bit. This is bittersweet as we have absolutely loved our time on Wynnwood. We have grown as a family, figuratively and literally, and made some really special memories. We love our neighbours and the life we have created for us there. But for our future, we need something else. Really, for the boys’ futures.

Gray is 20 months old and an absolute fire cracker. He looks just like me when I was a little girl. And I imagine our personalities are a lot alike too. He is really starting to talk – putting two words together (eat now, bye momma, etc). He loves his brother, he loves his dad, and he really loves his dogs! Baxter is his favourite. I am not sure what it is that peaks his interest so, but he will follow Baxter all over the house. It is too funny.

Gates is a sweet big brother- he is finally starting to come around. I think the more Gray plays with him and interact, the more Gates enjoys him. Gates still has a heart of gold – it is crazy how sweet he is and how tender. Always wanting to make sure I know he loves me, and he is taking care of me. I hope he is like that all of his life – but I also hope he toughens up a little so the world isn’t so big and scary to him.

As far as our family stuff – we took a fabulous little road tip to Port Aransas for an extended July 4th weekend (July 3 – 7) with several other families. We stayed in a great house with the Porters (Morgan, Kim, Peyton, Beau, and MJ). Tracy and her family rented a house with another family. And The Crossleys shared a house with the Elkins. It was seriously the most fun we have had as a family! It made me realize how quickly the boys are growing up and that as they do, we have more freedom with what we are able to do. We had a piñata, popped fireworks; Cam had a great shrimp boil. We spent time on the beach, time by the pool, and time together. It was great.

We keep toying with the idea of a family vacation to Central America in 2014. I think Trish is on board, so we just need to nail down some dates and book our flights. Speaking of Trish – we are closer than ever. We hardly go more than 2 weeks without seeing her – she makes so much effort to get to Houston to see her nephews and us. We all have so much fun together. I am constantly feeling like we are making such wonderful memories for the boys and building the foundation of how special family is.

(taken in NYC In March)

I am ready for the fall and the cooler temps but I know I have some of the worst Houston heat still in front of me. August will be brutal but time is flying by so I know October will be here before we know it. I am already thinking of the boys Halloween costumes (of course) and preparing for another Christmas (probably our last) in our Wynnwood house.

Speaking of celebrations at our house. We had a successful 4th birthday party for Gates in June at the house. We rented a water slide and planned a surf/luau party. It was a total success, probably one of the best yet. Everyone had a great time and some special memories were made.

In March we had a crawfish boil at the house for Cam’s 36th birthday. That was also a lot of fun – a day filled with special friends and lots of laughs.

As far as Cam & I – we are in a really good place. Not that we ever haven’t been but we have been constantly evolving and adapting to change since we met. We are finally in a settling down phase. Accepting where our lives are now and now focusing on adjusting to all that it is….if that makes sense. We have been a bit reactive and now we can be proactive – or just …. Settled. We have a good group of baby sitters which allows us to do more together. We stay busy but continue to make time for each other. I am reminded how lucky I am to have found him – but I don’t (often) need the reminder. I know I am. He is an excellent dad and a husband – two things he hadn’t really planned on being. God has a plan for us.

The anniversary of my mom’s death is right around the corner. I can’t believe it will be 5 years – still hurts like yesterday at times. And then there are times I feel like my life is so much bigger than the loss of her. Hard to explain. But I still miss her. And wish she could see me as a mom. I think that is a huge thing for a mom – to think of your children as parents. Because you also realize that they understand, at that time in their lives, all the sacrifices you have made for them. I never got to say thank you to my mom. But I know she knew I appreciated her. I hope so. I can’t help but to think she would still be here if I had said it a few more times – or if she had a greater purpose. But maybe that’s it- her greater purpose was to be by God’s side.

My dad and Anne– (the wonderful woman he met the year after my mom died) are doing well!  I think she saved his life …in fact, I am certain of it. And he is happy – so what more can I ask for? I believe they have plans to marry – which I am completely accepting of. I am happy to think of a future with Anne…and the memories she can provide to Gates & Gray. Fingers crossed these aren’t just big dreams and could actually transpire into reality.

And Cam’s family – well they are just great. Joe is such a special father in law to me – I lucked out. And such a special granddad to G & G. And Sissy is the most fun grandmother ever. She knows how to really talk to the kids and play with them. She makes everything fun – I could learn a lot by watching her. Our relationship is so special and has turned into something natural and honest and loving. I know that she is there for me, in the drop of a dime.  it means a lot to have the support that i do in my in-laws.  I feel so lucky.  And Lisa & Colby are doing great, too. We don't see them as much as we woud like to, but it is always fun when we do.  And the boys love spending time with them.

 

The above pics were taken at the ranch in May...one of our most favorite places to be. 
I am glad i got this update done - hopefully i dont wait a year before blogging again.
This is so good for my soul (and my memory)!

Catching up

I hate that when things get crazy – my blog/journal is one of the things that suffers. I enjoy so much reading past entries; reliving fun memories; reading about situations/feelings I have worked through. For the first 1.5 years of Gates’ life, I documented his changes on a sheet titled ‘the things I love the most about you’. I cry almost every time I go back and read that. And looking at him now, I am so amazed he was ever that tiny, helpless, quiet, shy, etc. he is such a big boy now. So independent. He has his own little thoughts. The other night, as I was tucking him to bed, he told me he was scared. And it dawned on me then that he is no longer that totally innocent little being. He has fears. His fears are likely very silly or outrageous. Scared of monsters; scared of crocodiles (he has told me this before and I can’t assure him enough that there will be no crocs in our house). But the bottom line is – he feels fear. And that touches me in my heart.


When I say goodnight to him – I always hug him so tightly and I am sure to tell him how much I love him and how proud we are of him. I have said many times (probably in this blog) that one (of many things) that my mother did right was to tell me sister and I (often) how proud she was of us. She never made me feel like she expected more. Maybe she should have at times (school grades, etc) but for the most part – she made it very clear that if I was giving it my all, then that was all she could ask of me. I want Gates to feel our pride every day. As a parent, what am I if I am not proud/supportive of my children?

Speaking of – people have told me several times lately that my mother would be so proud of me. And I know there is so much truth to that statement but every time I am told that, I get a tear in my eye. I know my mother was proud of me. But she would really be proud of both my sister and I now. When I think of the person I was when she died (4.5 short years ago) and the person I am now – there is little comparison. I feel like a woman now. I feel grown up. A part of that I can attribute to the fact that I have a family now. My mom and I were so close and I was very needy with her. When she passed, I was broken.

Now let me talk about Gray for a second. That child. Oh my gosh. He could not be any cuter. I think Cameron would agree with me (and maybe be embarrassed that I am announcing this) that we had fears about having another baby because how on earth were we going to love him as much as we love Gates. Well, God quickly erased that fear. Gray is the funniest, sweetest, most charming baby I have ever been around. He has this smile that can light up the world. He smiles with his ENTIRE face. Every one says he looks like me and I LOVE that. I see it, too. He is feisty….so feisty. And boy can he eat. He is going to be beating up on his brother in no time. And Gates is so tender, maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Maybe he can toughen him up a little. I can’t wait for the day (next year or 25 years from now) that Gates realizes that the best gift we ever gave him is his brother…. It’s inevitable – Cam &I will get old and die one day. And when that happens – G&G will have each other. And that will get them through it. I know this from experience.

This was all over the place. But I will blog next week about the holidays and some goals I have for our family in 2013.

A picture says a thousand words.

I really don’t know what it is…perhaps it’s just this time of year for me – but I find myself appreciating things more than I normally do.
I am SOAKING up every second I can with my sweet boys. I really can’t believe Gray is already so big and capable. And Gates, I am amazed at how smart he is and how independent he wants to be. I looked at him the other day and really had to rub my eyes and look again. It was as if he turned into a grown boy right before my eyes. It’s totally amazing. The things I love about him now are more rational….if that makes any sense at all. I love the way he thinks, talks, laughs, tries, wants, needs, etc. He is all boy. I love his fascination with trucks, cars, tools, and daddy. He is so much fun!

And with Gray, the things I love are so silly. He is so aware. Totally aware of who is around him, watching him, etc. He wants to be involved at all times. And if we look away, he screams. I am not kidding, y’all. He screams this ear-piercing scream. And sometimes, if it was appropriate, I would want to do the same when no one is paying attention to me. Ha! And he is always smiling. Even through his screams, there is this sweet smile that says “I know I’m cute, you have to love me.” He is a doll.

Cam and I are really trying to enforce the fact that Gates should play with Gray, because, right now, Gates doesn’t really want much to do with Gray. It makes me a bit sad but I keep telling myself, this is just a phase. I know there will be lots of fights, arguments, yelling, etc. But at the end of the day, I want them to be each other’s best friend. Like I have said before….there is no one on this earth like my sister. I have a handful of REALLY best friends….but my sister, well; she is the coolest of them all.

Speaking of…last weekend we went to the ranch for just a night. It is so hot that it makes the ranch not nearly as fun as it is in the cooler months. But Gates gets so excited to go, that we try to go every couple of months. The kid can’t handle how excited he gets … he LOVES it there. And to me, I just think about the memories we are making for him. I love it. So anyway – Aunt Trishy came for the night, too. It was so much fun to have her there. She got to play with Gates outside, they went on a hike, we went driving around, and did lots of ranch things. And she helped so much with Gray. That baby just loves her and is naturally drawn to her. And then, after the kids went down, she got to just relax with us. It was sweet – Trish told me that Cam told her “I really like when you are around because Katy is always so happy!” I love that he recognizes that and I really love that he told her that. It was a fun night!

This past weekend we didn’t do much, but we did have one really fun dinner. Saturday night we went to dinner with Cam’s parents and sis and brother in law. It was so casual and laid back but still so much fun! Frances is such a fun grandmother. The way she interacts with Gates is so perfect, sweet, and special. And Gray sat by Cam’s dad and pulled on his sleeve the entire dinner; just wanting granddad to look at him. It was hilarious. We all had a really nice time.

Sunday, my dad dropped by to say hello and to drop off some pictures from my childhood. When he moved from my childhood house (the only house I ever lived in) he packed everything without help from my sis & me. What a task – to pack a lifetime of memories of a family of 4, all by yourself. But, truth be told, my heart wouldn’t have been able to handle it. The pictures he dropped off brought such a smile to my face (and perhaps a tear to my eye). I had so many thoughts while looking through just a handful of them. Here are some thoughts I had:

1. We had so much fun, as kids.

2. We spent A LOT of time at the beach

3. We spent a lot of time with Doug & Joanie (my parents good friends)

4. Man, I have known Coco & Bree a LONG time

5. My mom was absolutely beautiful

6. My sister has always had such pretty hair – and she has always been so pretty. Even as a newborn….

7. I, on the other hand, was a funny looking baby. Ha ha

That’s all for now….Happy Monday…

Happy 4th!

Here is a pic of Gates taken at the local park - He is all BOY, totally obsessed with fire trucks, monster trucks, construction trucks, etc. 
He is wearing a 4th of July headband/hat thing that he made in school.
Why is he SO adorable?  I can't handle it.

We had a really nice (rainy) weekend. I made it out Friday night to spend some time with some special friends. I won’t go into great detail but I met one of the girls (Christi) years ago through a mutual friend and we just hit it off. We have kept in touch through the years and through our life changes, etc. I got the news over Christmas of last year that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It sat very heavy on my heart. She is a mom to two, a step-mom to one, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a best friend, etc. So -she went through SIX rounds of chemo and a double mastectomy and is now cancer free. What an amazing woman. So, I got to see her for a bit Friday night and then spend time with some other friends. It was good.



Saturday I had a bridal shower to attend for a friend I just don’t see (or talk to) near enough. I also go to catch up with some other friends at the shower – that was a real treat. The rest of the weekend was pretty uneventful. We were supposed to have dinner at a friend’s house on Saturday but that got foiled due to the rain. BOOOOO. But the rain was certainly welcomed!


Gray is OFFICIALLY ON THE MOVE! He started crawling on Saturday morning and hasn’t stopped since. Yall, he will be 8 months old tomorrow. Gates didn’t start crawling until he was 1.5 years old. Just kidding – but really, he was so laid back, he didn’t care about getting anywhere. Gray HAS to be the center of attention at all times….does it sound like anyone else we know? ;)


And Gates is almost officially potty trained. How these two things have happened right before our eyes with so little effort from us is amazing! I am so scared to blink – they will be off in school or getting married. SLOW DOWN!


Today is my momma’s birthday. Oh how I wish she were here. There is NO doubt in my mind that her only birthday wish would be to spend time with her family. That’s just the way she was – very simple. Didn’t want much. And she would be OVER the moon about my two little boys….simply over the moon. So happy birthday, Momma. I love you so much – I have to believe you knew / know that. You have been the biggest influence in my life. If only you were here for me to tell you that.


Happy Monday!

a little of this & that

I really can not believe more people are not concerned about this extreme heat. I mean – if every summer gets hotter and hotter – what are we going to do? Texas will become uninhabitable. It is crazy. And it isn’t even the hottest time of the summer yet! I can’t handle it. Every summer I become very dramatic (can you tell) about this. And how I don’t think my ac works as good as it should. And how I think they should stop making (maybe they have) SUVs without ac vents in the roof – that’s just stupid for families with rear facing car seats. I hate to put Gray in the car if it hasn’t had time to cool down for fear that he doesn’t feel any of the air blowing back there. Ugh….drives me nuts.
Anyway – last weekend was tons of fun. Friday night we didn’t do much of anything (I can’t even remember) and Saturday I woke up and hit the road with Natalie to Galveston. Get us together and we are hi-larious. We were headed there for Colleen’s mom’s birthday – but neither one of us knew exactly where we were going. How have we made it this far? Ha! But the drive was so enjoyable. We have been friends forever (literally – we have been the best of friends since 1989. Is that scary or what?) and our lives have taken such similar paths. We have kids the same age and can relate so much to what the other one is going through. So it is so rare that we have the time away from all the chaos to just chat. And we like to do that….chat.  We finally made it to Galveston and had such a special time celebrating a very special woman in our lives – Glenda! It was so much fun. Sunday we woke up and headed home and had plenty of time to spend with our families before the week started again. To my surprise, when I got home the entire house was clean and the kids were fed and happy! It was such a nice break.

I started reading Fifty Shades of Grey. That’s all I will say about that -  ill keep you posted as I make my way through it.

And Gates started swim lessons on Tuesday! I was so nervous about this. I hated swim lessons when I was growing up. I remember vividly throwing a big fit about having to go and my parents making me (now I understand the importance, of course). And I remember my mom buying me a cabbage patch doll when I had finally completed the course. Oh man, I was more excited to be done with the lessons than I was about the Cabbage Patch. Cam’s mom is great- she offered to handle all the swim lesson logistics so she takes Gates on Tuesdays and Thursday for the lesson at 1030 and then he spends the rest of the afternoon with her. Doesn’t get much sweeter, right? She said he did great on Tuesday – after some apprehension. I was happy to hear he warmed up to the teacher and didn’t throw a fuss about going back this morning. My big boy is growing up so fast.
Gray is great! Getting so big. He is sitting up on his own and eating everything we put in front of him. I know he is just weeks away from crawling. Still no teeth but it will happen soon. He has always been a big drooler so it is hard to tell…
Ill wrap this up for now. Cam is somewhere in the Gulf now – fishing with a childhood friend. He is staying the night on the boat – just floating out there. Creepy, right? But I guess people do it. 

This weekend I am heading out on the town with some friends on Friday night – leaving Cam at home with the kiddos. And Saturday we are heading to one of my best friend’s house for an early dinner and family fun! Should be a nice weekend.

Sunday will be spent remembering my Nana – who passed away a year ago. And Monday I will be celebrating my sweet momma’s birthday…oh how I still miss her so much. Sometimes I wonder if it hurts more now than it did back then. The numbness wears off and it becomes so real.

Back at it and I can’t believe it. It has been so long since I have been active and consistent on this blog that I have completely forgotten how to do this. But, after taking a minute to read back through past blog entries, I am reminded why I wanted to do this in the first place. I am quiet confident that I do not have even one reader left, which is fine with me….all the same, I am doing this for my own journaling and ‘entertainment’.


The start of 2012 was neither rocky nor smooth….rather uneventful, really – and hot! Like I said in my last post, I simply feel like we never had a winter. Gray has continued to be a happy, smiley baby. When we lock eyes and he smiles at me – I have a hard time remembering how difficult things were. I think that’s part of being a mom, right? We have short term memory loss when it comes to things like that. I will say that overall, he is a more high maintenance baby than Gates ever was. I don’t remember Gates doing much of anything….ever. I think he was a very laid back baby and also a bit slow…. This may or may not have anything to do with the fact that he was born almost a month early.

Speaking of Gates – we just celebrated his THIRD birthday! Where does the time go? I have been a weepy weepy mommy over this and I can’t seem to figure out why. I guess I am just realizing that time really does FLY. And I already have a list of things I wish I had done. I don’t want to be that mom that focuses on everything I didn’t do – but its hard not to when we are living in the days of social media (Pinterest, Facebook, etc). I never did send the perfect birth announcement and I never did make the perfect 1st year photo album, etc. But what I have done is cherish almost every single minute with my sweet babies. I don’t think a day has gone by that Cameron and I don’t say to each other at least once “gosh, we have some sweet boys, don’t we?”

And I think Cam has really bonded with Gray….even though he is still so young. It is sweet to watch them interact and how excited Cam is to see Gray and vice versa.

I have gone back to the working world! That has been a big adjustment, as well. I did miss working, so much – but I should have really appreciated my time home even more than I did. I miss my slow moving afternoons with Gray – and picking Gates up early from school and heading to get frozen yogurt. Now, it’s a mad rush out the door in the morning and a mad rush to stay on ‘schedule’ at night to make sure everything gets done. I live for the weekends when I can drink my morning coffee and Gates can stay in his PJs for as long as he wants to.

That’s about it for now. This was a catch up post and I will start blogging weekly again....about the day-to-day excitement around the Franz household.

This weekend – me and Nat hit the road for Galveston! It is Colleen’s mom’s 60th birthday bash and Nat and I have a room with our names on it! So we get to the leave the kids and hubbies behind while we beach bum it up for a night and probably enjoy an adult beverage or two (or 10). Can’t wait!