Not sure what to title this post

For the most part, this blog has been about my life raising a precious baby boy. Lots of pictures and posts of many happy times...BUT today I just need to, I guess, share some pretty personal stuff with the four of you who read this blog.

My freshman year in high school, I started dating a guy named Brandon. He was a cutie and I just fell head over heels very quickly. We dated for two years and he became a part of our family. My parents weren't to thrilled about us dating at first, but grew to love him. Our relationship had many bumps in the road: an ex girlfriend who wasn't the least bit thrilled that a freshman had taken her man, he cheated several times, he and I were both very jealous and fought quite a bit, my friends didn't approve at first..the list could go on and on. I loved him and he loved me and truly I thought we would get married. His life at home was troubled a bit and I think he found peace with my family. The summer before my senior year, I met a guy and suddenly broke up with B. He was devastated. A few weeks after the breakup, my family went to Gulf Shores, AL for vacation. The night before we left, B's b-day, he came over to see me and wanted to talk about getting back together. That was the last time I saw his precious face. The night we returned from GS, he was tragically killed in a car accident. My world stopped. I felt like I had been run over by an eighteen wheeler..it sucked the life out of me. To be so young and have something of that magnitude happen to you is just not easy to overcome.
I feel very strongly that God is the reason I broke up with B several weeks before this happened. It gave me a small space of time to distance myself from him.

I have a wonderful family and had a beautiful group of girls who swooped in and really helped me with the whole healing process. It changed me, luckily I turned to the Lord and he just carried me through all of the tough years of continued healing that followed. Brandon will always have a small piece of my heart and I am still saddened that his life was cut short.

After my senior year of high school, I spent the first year of college close to home and then just had to get as far away as I could. So, I moved eight hours from home to Lubbock, TX and spent the remainder of my college days at Texas Tech. I never dated anyone seriously until I met my husband Bryan. Six years later after all of that heartache, God answered all of my prayers. Isn't He amazing?? And He even threw in a beautiful little boy named Brooks!!

The main reason for writing this post was just to share a small piece of my 30 year journey through life with you. One of the things I really love about blogging is that it is such a great outlet for women to express their thoughts and feelings. I haven't written a lot about my faith or the deep love that I have for Jesus Christ on our blog. I feel so blessed to have been born into a family who loves the Lord and raised me in the church. I just can't imagine going through something like this and not having Him to turn to. Thanks for reading and letting me share a small piece of me.

Haggard Family Reunion

Last weekend, Brooks and I went back to my parents to attend the Haggard Family Reunion. This is my mom's side of the family and we haven't gotten together in about ten years. There were around 75 people there and I hate to say that I had no idea who half of them were. I spent the afternoon chasing a 2 year old around and didn't get to do much visiting. We had fried catfish, french fries, hushpuppies, coleslaw, and several yummy deserts. (If you don't know what catfish or hushpuppies are, it is a southern thing and you are missing out if you haven't tried them!!) Speaking of..the first pic is of an Italian Cream Cake that was to die for!! Why must deserts be fattening..couldn't there just be something that is absolutely yummy with zero calories or fat grams????

Sinful...

Two remaining Haggard brothers: My Uncle Rudy and the sweetest man I know "my Papa" George Haggard (red shirt).

My mom's brother Mitchell and his daughter Lacey
My mom's other brother Dale and his nieces: myself, Lacey, and Tonya
My family..you can't see Brooks, he's hiding behind my Papa



The fish fryers..our cousin Munsey, my dad, and uncle Dale..sorry it's so dark
My grandparents, Aunt Thelma & Uncle Rudy, Aunt Snooks

Playing golf in the back of Poppa's truck

Brooks was so tired after playing at Baba and Poppa's Friday and then the reunion on Saturday that he slept the entire way home...over 3 hours!!

Proof to why he's worn out when we leave "the country":

He wakes up at the crack of dawn and plays outside the entire time we are there...

Playing with mine and T's childhood desk

Filthy after playing in the toolbox on Poppa's truck

"Resting" after playing in the shop

Trip to Little Rock

B went to Phoenix the first week in April, so Brooks, Jax, and I went on a road trip. We took B to the airport Monday morning and headed to my parents. Brooks' interpretation,

"dada work hairp"=daddy work airplane. So cute!! I dropped Brooks off with mom and headed to spend a few days with JLeah.

Lunch at Trio's while R was at school
Fun goodie basket from J
H & J's Francesca's purchases..if you do not know about this store, please check out their website. Very cute and trendy stuff for not so much!! They have locations in Dallas, San Antonio, and Little Rock and I'm sure many other cities.
Fun boxes to hold Brooks' artwork from church and Mother's Day Out and a super cute Texas towel for the kitchen. I want to get a Texas and Washington pillow for our home.
Home of the best red velvet cupcake that have ever crossed these lips.
What a precious family..I love them!!

Rhett striking a pose with his purple cupcake. He is a sweet sweet boy. :)

Monday afternoon we took R to his swim lesson at their gym. J and I exercised for 30 minutes during his lesson. That night we had dinner at Macaroni Grill and went to see The Other Boleyn Girl..great girls night out. Tuesday, we took R to school and power shopped for several hours before a quick lunch and picking him up. It was a fun morning. That night Lane and J got a babysitter and we went to dinner at Bonefish Grill. I had crab cakes and a raspberry martini that was fabulous. After dinner, we grabbed a coffee at Starbucks and hit the Container Store. I could have spent so much money there..it is the greatest. Wednesday, we had an early lunch and then I headed back to my parents. I'm not ever sure that Brooks knew I had been gone for two days. He has so much fun "in the country" with my parents. Thanks sweet J for a super fun visit..funny to think that the distance between us now is only a 4 hour drive as opposed to a 4 hour plane flight!! Can't wait until our beach trip.

Thanks mom and dad for keeping Brooks and allowing me some time away!!

I am mommy...

This has been a pretty low key weekend filled with horrible storms. We have spent lots of time inside, so I decided to pull out the play-doh. Brooks hasn't experienced this yet, and just loved it. We used cookie cutters to make stars, horses, and teddy bears. He really was fascinated and didn't want to put it away. I look forward to more spring showers and days with play-doh!!

*The highlight of the weekend for me was when he called me "mommy" for the first time. My heart melted. I have been mama for over a year and absolutely love my new title.

He makes me smile everyday!!

Hail in our back flowerbeds..some were golf ball size.

Easter In San Antonio

Last Wednesday, Mom, my aunt Nella, Brooks, and I left for San Antonio to spend a few days and celebrate Easter with Tonya(my sister) and Dane. Wednesday was also Dane's birthday, so we celebrated that night at his mom's house. She served chicken picatta and several yummy sides. Thursday was Tonya's birthday..we started off the day with a little shopping and lunch at their fav pizza joint, Florio's. That night, we had a celebration dinner at their house: burgers, hashbrown casserole, and baked beans. Friday, Bryan and my dad flew in and we met them for lunch at Soluna..a great Mexican restaurant. My friend Jamie and her husband Lane were also vacationing in SA that week, and they met us for lunch at Soluna. Seems like all we did on this trip was eat!! On Saturday, the guys golfed and the girls did a little retail therapy. Anthropologie is my most favorite store in the world and they have some really cute stuff for spring that I just had to check out. After a fun day, we had dinner at another yummy Italian restaurant.

Sunday morning we attended a beautiful service at my sister's church. Then went back to her house for a quick egg hunt and yummy lunch. We had ham, green bean casserole, green rice (broccoli and rice casserole)my family has called it this for year's, spinach salad, and rolls. Then got on the road for our 5 1/2 drive home.

*There were no family pics of us on Easter b/c Brooks had an upset tummy while in the nursery at church and dirtied his britches. Yes, I'm sure it was a funny sight to see me walking out of the church with my 2 year old in his diaper with his pants rolled up in my hands. As Jamie said tonight during our weekly conversation, "the most random things happen to you H!!!"

Thanks for a great weekend T & D, you are the best.

Birthday boy and girl
Dane's b-day dinner at his mom's
Fav lil' pizza joint
"Aunt T"
My mouth is watering
My 1st child, Jaxon..the squirrels in T's backyard drove him insane. I'm sure their neighbors were ready for us to go home.
Trying a lime for the first time
He liked it
Jamie and I
The fam

Another dinner..I think I gained 20pds
Look Mom, I'm a pro at this

"What's inside? Marshmallows..my favorite!!"

"Dad, this is way to easy."

Finishing up the hunt

New additions to the backyard

Brooks 2nd b-day present
Daddy's new grill
First gourmet meal..we eat like royalty


The backyard play set is finally here after 5 million trips to Lowe's. We've been trying to buy this since February and nearly 2 months later it's here. It was well worth the wait and Brooks loves it.
Alerting all media..Bryan put together his brand new grill without any assistance. For those of you who don't know him, he would much rather pay someone to put "stuff" together. Our friends laugh at us b/c each time we move I am the one who sets up our computer, dvd's, etc. Way to go honey, I'm so proud of you!!

Bryan's family

Bryan and his sister, Linsey
Adorable Easter basket they brought to Brooks..we don't give him much candy, so I ate a good portion of it!
B attempting to blow bubbles
So sweet!!

Bryan's mom and sister came to visit for a few days the weekend before Easter. It was a pretty low key weekend with lots of time spent outdoors. We planted some flowers and rose bushes in the backyard, you can see some of it in the last pic. Brooks had a lot of fun with his grandma and aunt.

My son would live outdoors if we'd let him. He calls is "side side" and his eyes sparkle whenever the word in mentioned. Those of you who have boys, are they the same way?