Walking fa...

I don't understand what happens to your body as you get older.....The older I get, the more I fart. Mother would say, "Now, Lisa. Don't say that!" But it is the truth. I am not "breaking wind" as Mother called it. I am actually shooting bb's as I walk down the hall to make my morning coffee. I have this fear that one of Brianna's friends will be in the kitchen or in her room and hear me as I triumphantly march to the kitchen. I am constantly looking over my shoulder to make sure no one is around to hear! The worst part of this bodily function is that it is now hitting me everyday at 3:20. Thank you body for waiting till the bell rings and the children are gone. I only have to be careful when I am on duty. I carefully position myself away from others because I CAN NOT control it. It rolls out like a precisioned drumroll. I am sorry if I have offended anyone by my comments (that would be Cheri or Cari because you are my only 2 followers) but I had to get this off my chest!!!!!

Round Top Antique Weekend

When we moved here 27 years ago, Round Top Antique Fair was a small gathering of antique dealers plus home-made goodies. You could always find something that you collected or an item that you thought you needed. Memories of dragging my children there are NOT good memories, but memories of browsing with Cheri are at the top of my all time favorites.
Gradually over the years, the Antique weekend has grown tremendously. I'm talking it will take you days to check everything out now. We have narrowed our search to Warrington where we can find all kinds of treasures. Over the past several years some of my favorite memories are:
1. The year Cheri and I made fun of all the women wearing enormous cowboy hats only to find out Bonnie had purchased one and wore it around the premises.
2. The year Cheri and I got out of our car only to witness a women carrying a dog in a dog carrier on her belly. The dog's legs were dangling out of the front with its little head poking out of the top. I thought we were going to wet on ourselves laughing so hard.
3. The year Cheri and I pretended we were wealthy and lounged around on very expensive bedding.....I really believe the woman thought Cheri was going to buy two of the $400.00 pillows.
4. The year Cheri, Cari, Bonnie, Brianna and I shopped until I thought we were going to drop. The girls found colorful can-cans that they tried on and took pictures. I think this was also the year we bargained with some strange guy for Coach purses.....I don't know if we got a good deal or not.
5. The year Bonnie, Brianna and I shopped all day and at the end bought these gigantic corn dogs and curly fries. yummmmmmmmmmmm they were good!
6. The year Cheri drove down 3 hours on the last Sunday and all the shops were closing......now we made a mad dash at any store that was opened.
7. This past week-end shopping with Cheri, Bonnie and Brianna. We found all kinds of bargains. Bonnie thought she found a dog for $3.00 but it was $300.00.
I know there are more, but my brain is frazzled from laughing so hard this weekend. Cheri and I went to Wal-Mart and purchased clear masks that have dramatic eyes and lips painted on them. Of course, Cheri had to put hers on outside of Wal-Mart and preceded to wear it as I drove home. There is just something about her that makes me laugh.........I almost had a heart attack because I couldn't breath I was laughing so hard.
These are memories I cherish. Memories that make me smile when I have had a hard day. Memories that make me want to spend more time with my family.

October 28

Have you ever seen the commercial of the Koolaide pitcher breaking through the kids house? Well, that is exactly what I looked like....big and round. I believe I even gained weight in my ear lobes. I was humongous! Miss Brianna was happy to be where she was and didn't want to come out. She was sunny side up which meant she was upside down. Poor nurse had to keep her hands in me waiting and watching her crown then go back. Midnight comes and I get a new nurse. Lucky her. She continues to sit there, hands between my legs watching and waiting. Finally around 2 in the morning, Brianna Jo arrives. I am blessed with another baby girl, ten fingers and ten toes. She is perfect. Don brings Byron and Bonnie to meet their new sister. We get our picture in the paper because she broke the record for the doctor who delivered her. The most deliveries from one doctor in a 24 hour period. Small town LaGrange and only one doctor that delivers babies. They give me a shot for Chicken Pox for some reason. After I get home, I start breaking out with red dots all over. Cheri was on her way and this was before we all had cell phones and there was no way I could get in touch with her. She was 5 months pregnant and I was afraid that I would infect her. It was horrible. She arrived after a three hour drive and we were afraid to let her in. She was a trooper and wanted to see that new baby. I tried to stay in the other room while she held Miss Brianna. Brianna would watch Cari as she would move around the room. She was actually following her with her eyes. It was precious.
My nest has now grown to three and I am as happy as I can be. Life is good.

Spring Break 92

I have a secret. No one knows but Don. We decide to go skiing with the Poes. I have to eat crackers the whole way there. Cheri is becoming suspicious. She wants to know what's wrong with me. Eventually I tell her the good news.......I'm pregnant.....due end of October. Being pregnant doesn't stop me from skiing. I love to ski even though I have only been a couple of times. It is the freedom of flying down that mountain with the sun shining on my face. The swishing and swashing as I try to keep my skis parallel. I want to excell. I want to be the best. Well, not this year. Over the past year, I have put on about 40 extra pounds and let me tell you. It is hard to get up once you fall when you weigh more and don't have any stomach muscles. I think I spent most of the time on my butt laughing because I couldn't get up.

1991

The years are flying by. After Bonnie's 3rd birthday, Easter arrives with Mamaw and the Poes coming to La Grange. I believe this was the visit when the Bugman had put out sticky pads to help catch a field mouse that had gotten into our house. Cheri and Danny were sleeping in the living room when they heard a noise. Danny gets up to investigate and finds the mouse stuck to the pad. (I'm already laughing) Well, he proceeds to pick the pad up when the pad with the mouse sticks to his hand. He was outside beating the pad against the house trying to get the pad with the mouse off of his hand. Too funny!!!!
We spend summer doing what we know best....spending time at the beach. In August, we had a suprise 50th birthday party for Terry. This was the year of Laura Ashley jumpsuits that Cheri and I wore proudly. I wish they would come back into style because they were very comfortable!
In September, Byron enters 1st grade. This is the "Halloween" year I will never forget. I proudly paraded by darlings up to the Sacred Heart Festival all dressed up in their Halloween costumes. All the kids were playing games and running around when all of a sudden Byron comes running up to me screaming and yelling. I tried to pick up my screaming child and that just made everything worse. He grabbed at his back saying something was there. I carefully examined him and sticking out of his clown costume was a stick that was stuck in his back. Immediately I gave Bonnie to a friend and took Byron to the emergency room, all while he was kicking and screaming. (I just knew everyone thought that he was just mad because I was taking him away from the festival.) The doctor pulled out the stick that was in him about an inch. I kept that stick for a long time. Not sure if I still have it now.
That Christmas, Byron got to sing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!" He was adorable and Bonnie is absolutely beautiful. I am a very lucky mom.

Losing Byron

As I look back over these past 24 years with Byron, I realize we lost him three times. The first time was the summer he was six. Our family had a get together in New Braunsfel at Schlitterbaun. Everyone was having a wonderful time when I realized Byron was nowhere to be found. The panic that runs through your body is like an electrifying shock. Questions and horror thoughts run through your brain. Where was my precious little boy? Did he drown? Did someone take him? After several agonizing minutes, Don found him at the wading pool. He knew where he was, we just didn't. At that moment, there was no anger only relief. Relief that we had found our little boy safe and sound. Hugs and kisses were all that was needed.
The second time I lost Byron was when he was 12 years old. We stopped at a mall in Waco on our way home from Christmas in Anson. Byron was sporting his new watch and new cap he had received as gifts. We entered the mall at a Bealls and of course the girls and I needed to go to the bathroom. Byron said he was going to the sporting section and I told him not to leave that area. Well, when we fininshed our business, I began to look for Byron in Bealls. After several minutes of frustration, I started to panic. After checking the dressing room in the boys section, I went to the counter and asked the lady if she could call for him on the speaker. Byron never showed up. I was already in tears. I grabbed my girls hands and started walking through the mall. People were everywhere. Anyone could have taken my little boy. I couldn't imagine what I was going to tell Don. He would never forgive me. Luckily I found a mall cop and began explaining to him that my son was lost. When he asked for a description, I began to describe Byron to a T. What he was wearing. What he looked like. That he was this tall....which was as tall as I was. That's when I noticed that he was not taking this nearly as serious as I was. He said he would help look and I slowly made my way back to Bealls and sat in front of the store on some benches. I clung onto the girls with tears running down my cheeks when all of a sudden Byron comes walking out of Bealls. I literally ran to him, hugging his neck relieved that he was safe and sound. He had gone to a sporting store and had stayed there like I had instructed until he waited long enough and came back to Bealls. Once again, he knew where he was, I didn't.
The third time we lost Byron was two years ago on March 14. He knew where he was, we didn't. He called one night saying he needed to talk and would be there early in the morning, not to wait up, we could talk when Don and I were awake. Early the next morning after a restless night of sleep, I crawled out of bed to go wake Byron so we could talk. He began explaining that he was addicted to drugs and needed help. My world stopped as I listened in disbelief. Don and I sat down with him as he explained to us the horror story of his last couple of years. The spiraling effect that a drug had on him. He was out of control and needed our help. With open arms we hugged him and loved him and told him we would find the help he needed. He was lost, but he knew where he was, we didn't.

colonoscopy

Well, I don't know if that is how you spell colonoscopy, but it will have to work. I remember Cheri calling me one night crying hysterically, "I can't drink anymore! I am going to die! I can't take it anymore!" All of this was happening during a time in her life that she was not very happy and needless to say, I thought she was trying to kill herself. "Cheri, put it down. You don't have to drink anything. Everything is going to be all right!" After several minutes of her crying and mumbling, it finaly came out that she was drinking this horrible mixture to prepare herself for a colonoscopy. I was relieved, but this memory lingered yesterday as I sat down to start drinking my concoction. Fortunately, I mixed my powder with a large container of gatoraide, so I happily drank it down. The only bad feeling was being so bloated. I will skip all the details and get down to the morning of the procedure. My fear was that I was not cleaned out. I had several nightmares before of exploding on the doctor and that fear was still there. I laid in this room that was separated by other rooms with just curtains. I could hear others talking, talking about previous experiences and gossiping. There was one couple that was gossiping about one of the doctors and how many times his wife had been married before. I don't know why they were talking about her but it was quite interesting. Later they came in and wheeled me back into the surgery room, then they gave me a dose of happy juice and the next thing I knew I was back in a room. Now remember these are rooms seperated by curtains. I immediately began expelling gas and luckily it wasn't too loud. BUT the guy next to me sounded like a machine gun. I had to lay there by myself laughing. Well, everything was okay and I made it back home to sleep for another hour or two. A colonoscopy is one of the added benefits of turning 50. I can't wait to see what else is in store.

Supper

Well, I cooked supper for the first time in a long time. Roast, green bean casserole and rolls. Yummy it was so good. I really don't know why I don't cook anymore. It is so easy just to throw a frozen meal in the microwave. Everyone seemed to enjoy, even Bo got some fresh scraps. Usually we will eat cereal or a sandwich. I never took the time as I was growing old to try new recipes and venture out on trying something new. It baffles me that Byron went into culinary because there was never an emphasis made on cooking at our house, at least not from me. Don enjoys throwing things together and it always comes out tasting really good, but he hasn't cook for years. I hope my daughters learn to cook by osmosis. I still have a year and a half to teach Brianna, so I think I am going to make a goal: Cook one new meal each week. I wonder if I can accomplish this meager task? Only time will tell.

Chicken Pox

Poor Bonnie. One her 3rd birthday she had chicken pox. Luckily, children nowdays don't get chicken pox. Bonnie was covered from head to toe with little sores that itched. I tried everything from campho to bath soaks to help her stop itching. She was a trooper and we managed to have her party a few days later with the neighbor kids. I have always believed in having some type of pary when the kids were little to celebrate their birth. That included cake, matching plates and napkins, little hats, balloons, and favors. This year I had a Minnie Mouse cake with all the matching trimmings.
Bonnie is such a precious little girl. Her hair is now getting longer and it curls in the back. She has those enormous brown eyes and the sweetest little button nose. Byron is a very handsome young boy that is enjoying Pre-K at Sacred Heart.

Who found all the eggs?

My memory of Easter '90 was we went to Anson to visit Mamaw. Cheri and her kids were there and of course we had a wonderful time until it was time to hunt eggs. Someone invited the neighbor's grandson and let me tell you, he was a pro at hunting eggs. His basket overflowed while my little darlings only had a few. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy. Is that being selfish or what?
A few months later it was Byron's 5th birhtday. This was the first time that I had a party with just boys and I decided that would be the last time. I was not prepared for the madness and mayhem that six little boys could cause. One of them whined the entire time because he never got his way and two others were the biggest bullies I had ever seen. I needed help and the only thing on my side was the clock slowly ticking away till the end of the party.

Tired

Have you ever been just plum tuckered out? Tired of washing clothes? Tired of folding clothes? Tired of putting clothes up? Tired of going to the grocery store? Tired of putting all the groceries up? Tired of trying to think of what to cook for supper? Tired of feeding and cleaning up after your dogs? Tired of sweeping and mopping? Tired of vacuuming?
I am tired of it all! I think that I am going to go on a strike and see if anyone cares. BUT then I look at my beautiful son and daughter who are home and I realize that I love them with all my heart and I want them to be happy. I want them healthy and taken care of. That is my job. No one ever said that being a mom was going to be easy. I am thankful that I have them in my life. They are the reason that I get up in the mornings and go to work. They are the reasons I clean and shop.
I have never been a complainer and I don't want to start now. We were taught not to complain because we had a brother who had polio and couldn't walk. "Just be lucky you can get up whenever you want," my mother would say. "Be thankful that you have legs to move around on."
Whenever I get down in the dump, I remember things my mother taught me. I want to pass this on to my children: Don't give up. Keep going. Be thankful for what you have. Remember the starving children in Africa. Get up out of bed before your daddy gets home. Look on the bright side. Say please and thank you. Go to church. Clean up after yourself. Be happy. Put a smile on your face. Wear clean undies.
Cheri, you may have to help me remember more of the one liners mother would always say. I don't want to forget. I miss her terribly. I think of her often. I would love to get some of her wonderful wisdom that I use to laugh at. She loved to clean! I remember once when she said she LOVED to vacumm. I thought Cheri and I were going to wet our pants laughing so hard. Who loves to vacuum?

Bonnie's 2nd birthday

Summer is over, Halloween comes and goes. After our trip to Anson in November to celebrate Christmas, the Hayes' come to LaGrange in December. On February 28, we have a birthday party for Miss BonBon. Her hair is getting a little longer and she has these enormous brown eyes. When she smiles, she reminds me of her cousin, Hillary. I have a party for her and some of the neighbor friends, then the Mamaw and Poes come to help celebrate. We are a very happy family! Byron is an adorable 4 1/2 year old. He is doing well in Pre-K 4 and is making friends.
In March, we make a trip to the valley to see the new baby, Angela. She is precious with a reddish tint to her hair. Mike takes us all fishing in a fishing boat. The kids were on cloud 9. They had never been in a boat before. I think Byron was born to be a fisherman because he couldn't get enough. Later we spent time on the beach digging in the sand making sand castles.
That Easter, we went to Anson. At one point the Easter Bunny came and the kids went crazy looking for eggs in Mamaw's big backyard.

A memory I forgot to add

This is for all the new mothers. How did I forget to add this earlier? Everyone says to let your baby cry and they will go to sleep. LISTEN to them. I didn't. I couldn't stand to hear Byron cry. If there was peep from him, I was in his room. BIG mistake. He trained me very well. I would rock him until he fell asleep then I would gently lay him in his bed. The moment I let go, he would wake up and scream. There were nights that I would literally crawl out of the room so he wouldn't know I was leaving. Yes, you heard me. Crawl...on all four, like a dog. I was an idiot. But I didn't want him to cry.
Needless to say, I learned my lesson and Bonnie was a much easier baby to get to bed. I realized a little crying put them to sleep.

Cheri and Lisa take the kids to San Antonio

What a wonderful memory! We stayed at a hotel that had an enormous baby pool. The kids were in heaven. We could have stayed there all day and they would have been satisfied.
We loaded them up and took them to the San Antonio Zoo. Once again I think Hillary tried to carry Bonnie the entire time. I remember that we went to some caves but I don't remember the name. I just know I was terrified that Byron was going to fall over the edge. By the end of the day, Byron was dirty all over and Cari did not have a spot on her. I was baffled.

Dove hunting

Byron got to go dove hunting for the first time. We went to the valley and I think Don and Mike used Byron as a bird dog. He was covered from head to toe in dirt. They had a four-wheeler and the kids had a blast. By now Laura's hair is to her shoulder and Bonnie's hair is about 1 inch long. I think this is going to be an ongoing problem for me.
We swam in PaPa and CeCe's pool. Don would literally throw Byron into the air about 10 feet. He would come up out of the water all smiles ready for more.
I forgot to mention that Byron started Pre-K at Sacred Heart. He had a lot of questions about why they made all those signs when they prayed.

Byron turns 4

I didn't even attempt to make a birthday cake. I bought one and it was adorable. It was a Mickey Mouse and boy did that red and black get everywhere. I had a party for Byron at Mr. Gattis and the Dawsons, Starks, Jandts, and Hajovskys were all there. Everyone loved Byron. He had a smile that would melt your heart.
I took the kids to Brenham's Mayfest to watch the parade. Byron got to ride his first horse at the carnival. It is amazing how big he has grown. Bonnie rode the carousal and never smiled. She wasn't too excited about that.
That summer we played and played. One thing that I will never forget is our trip to Shlitterbaun. Bonnie had a swimming suit that had a duck on the front and a duck tail on the rear end. It was so cute to see her waddling around. Byron is our swimmer with no fear of the water, so we had to keep an eye on him at ALL times.

Bonnie's 1st birthday

Mamaw came to visit to help celebrate Bonnie's 1st birthday. I attempted to make a cake with a carousal. Debbie tried to help because she could make great cakes. Well, it tasted good.
That weekend the Hayes' and Mike, Mona and Laura came to help celebrate again. Plus Granny was there to share with her birthday. Byron entertained everyone while the little girls played on the Little Tyke slide Bonnie received. Well, now Laura has as much hair as Byron. Bonnie still has the brown crown. By the way, Little Tykes makes the best toys! They lasted forever. We still have a doll house stuck in the back room. Saving it I guess.
A month later Easter came and the weather was bad so we had to hunt eggs in the house. This was the first year that we didn't spend Easter with Cheri. So sad:(

Santa comes to Anson

This Christmas all the kids were in for a real treat. Santa came and they got to sit in his lap so they could tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Remember we went to Anson for Christmas in November. Everyone got a chance to sit on Santa's lap even Barbara. Marc brought his guitar and we all sang songs. I think this was the Christmas Cheri was sick. I missed her silly shenanigans. She tried to participate but just felt too bad:( Byron got a set of boxing gloves that he proudly wore around the house boxing on everyone. Hillary carried Bonnie around the entire time. She was a little mother then.
We celebrated Christmas at our house then headed to the valley to be with the Hayes'. It was always embarrasing at all the presents that were under the tree. It looked like 25 people were going to be there. Tobey would cook turkey and make his delicious dressing. I never learned to cook quite like Tobey.

Bonnie meets Laura

When Bonnie was almost 3 months, her cousin, Laura, came to visit. Laura was born a few days after Bonnie and they have grown up to be great friends. I was so surprised when they came into our house. Laura had a head full of dark curly hair and there was my beautiful Bonnie without much hair at all. They would meet up again in a few months because a hurricane was headed to the Gulf. By that time they were sitting and crawling everywhere. Byron was right there in the middle of them trying to entertain both girls. He loved to be in the spot-light.
On May 2, 1988, we celebrated Byron's 3rd birthday. The Hajovskys and the Jandts came to eat cake and ice cream. Later that month we took a trip to San Antonio and rode the boat down the river. Byron was extremely excited!
I turned 30 in June and Don actually bought me a cake to celebrate. Surprise! Surprise! (I sound like Gomer Pyle)
That summer we spent time in the valley and in Anson visiting Mamaw and Terry. Cheri was there with her crew so we ended up having a blast.

1 + 1 = chaos

A 2 1/2 year old and a new baby don't mix very well.  Byron was busy wanting to play and be entertained while Bonnie needed to be held and rocked.  Many days I sat with both of them in my lap reading stories or watching cartoons.
One afternoon I let Byron go outside in the back yard with our dog.  Somehow he managed to try to lift the dog over the fence and the poor dog strangled.  I know this is a morbid story, but this is life.  My neighbor called me and of course I panicked. (Why do we add a k on panic?)   Byron really didn't understand what had happened and I was devastated at the loss of our dog.  A little while later Don comes home to find me crying in the living room and I begin to explain that Byron hung.......Needless to say, Don freaked out thinking that it was Bonnie.  It was a hard lesson learned, but at least my children were okay.
Easter came and I proudly bundled up my kids and headed to Hamilton.  I love spending time with Cheri, so any chance I got, I would head in her direction.  We always had fun coloring and hiding the Easter eggs.  Of course I had them dressed to a T for Easter Sunday.
Bonnie was a beautiful baby.  I loved dressing her up in all the ruffles and frills.  She needed socks and a headband to match her outfits.  She had these enormous brown eyes and a cute little button nose.  Byron loved her and tried his best to hold her whenever he got a chance.  He was a very protective big brother. 
It was so strange to see how Bonnie hung onto her dolls.  She would hold them and love them.  It was a natural occurance.  Byron's first word was "ball" and he loved trucks and cars.  I have always been amazed at the difference between my son and daughter starting at birth.  Byron had these big feet and hands while Bonnie's feet and hands looked just like a little girls should.

Bonnie arrives

On February 28, 1988, Bonnie Lavon Hayes arrived at 4:35 PM. She was a beautiful little girl whom I did have a place in my heart. Where did that love come from? It was automatic. It was there the moment I laid my eyes on her. I was so worried that I couldn't love another baby as much as I loved Byron, but the love was there. Exploding. Don and Byron were there to welcome you into this crazy world. Byron hovered over you. I don't think he could even get enough of you. We were so excited to bring home a baby girl. Mamaw came to stay for a week to help out. PaPa, CeCe and Granny came to welcome you. You were extra special to Granny because you shared the same birthday:) Cheri and all her family came to see how beautiful you were. We were such proud parents. Big brother, Byron, loved you way too much. Sometimes I worried that he was going to lay on you.

Byron turns 2

Guess where we celebrated your birthday? Yep....we made it to regionals again in track, so I loaded up your birthday goodies and we once again celebrated in Kingsville. That was the year the girls got 3rd in the 200m relay. What a wonderful accomplishment for them. They deserved it after all the hard work.
That summer the Poes met us down in the valley. We went to the Brownsville zoo where your ADD kicked in. You couldn't stay at one spot because you were off running to the next animal. This is also where I remember the difference between you and Cari. We bought you some ice cream and you had it all over you. Your face, your hands, your legs and your feet. Cari stood there ever so politely licking her ice cream without getting a drop on her ANYWHERE!
That summer I found out that I was pregnant. I was so excited, but I didn't know how I could love another baby as much as I loved you.
School started up and before you knew it, it was Halloween then Thanksgiving. We went to Anson to celebrate Christmas. You were adorable. You wore a plaid outfit with suspenders that had a little hat. Everyone was there and once again we sang our songs including "Roo Too Too".
The Hayes' came to La Grange in December to celebrate Christmas with you.

Byron's 2nd year

In September, we went to Aunt Wilma's in Briggs. You were the only little one, so you were a hit. They all loved you and thought you were adorable. In October, we went to LaPort to visit Larry and Sputter. They had these awful masks that they wore. We went to Target and they wore them there. It was hilarious. If someone did that today, they would be tazered and thrown in jail. Your second Halloween was basically just walking around the block. I think you had some cheap Cookie Monster outfit.
Christmas was always a holiday that I loved. We celebrated Christmas with my family in November so everyone could make it. Between Barb's 4 boys, Larry's 2 kids, Richie's 2 kids, and Cheri's 3 kids plus you, there were plenty of people to play with. Jeff was the oldest and you were the youngest at the time. I think there is 25 years between you. We would all sit around and sing Christmas carols and "Roo Too Too", a song Larry and Richie wrote. It is a classic still today. I have several pictures of you, Cari and Haley playing and singing on the tire in Mamaw's backyard. They were a year older, but you were as big as they were.
The Hayes' came to La Grange to celebrate Christmas. Aunt Lib was there. That may have been one of the last times she came to a family get-together. PaPa and CeCe spoiled you rotten with all kinds of toys. Granny always wanted to make sure you got a book or something educational. (Ex-teacher)
Easter was spent here in La Grange with the Poes. We took pictures in the bluebonnets. You loved your cousin, Derek. You followed him where ever he went.

Byron's first year

Wow! You were strong and you grew so fast! By age of 6 months you were the same size as Cari, your cousin, who was a year older. By 9 months you were taking your first steps. You had beautiful complexion and big brown eyes and long lashes. We were the typical first time parents and constantly played with you. Your dad use to roll you down the hallway in your walker. You would burst out in laughter with your dimples showing. At one point, you would pretend you were a dog and would crawl after a ball we would toss for you. Needless to say, you were very entertaining:)
Your first birthday landed on the weekend I was going to Kingsville for the regional track meet. All the track girls loved you and were delighted to help celebrate your 1st birthday. That summer your dad built a large sandbox in the backyard. Tiffany and Jeana would come over daily to play with you. We spent the summer visiting the Poes in Hamilton, Mamaw and Terry in Anson, and the Hayes' in the valley. Mamaw had a large tire that she had filled with sand that was one of your favorite places to play. At the Poes, you would jump on their trampoline and ride their big wheels. PaPa and CeCe had a pool where they lived and you were a fish. You loved the water and you were never afraid. We went to South Padre Island and let you play in the sand. You were as brown as a berry by the end of summer.
This was the summer, Derek and Hillary came running into Mamaw's house saying, "Byron is cussing!!!!" Much to my suprise, we all jumped up and ran outside. There my baby sat with a small shovel in his hand saying, "F--k it. F--k it." I was in shock! I assured my mother that I didn't cuss and he must have heard if from his dad!!! Well, later that afternoon we headed to Abilene to get a little shopping in. At first I had Byron strapped to my hand with a new gadget that was suppose to keep your child close to you so you wouldn't lose them. That contraption stretched clear across the store and no one could get around us nor could I get Byron. It was a disaster. Holding hands works a lot better. As we were getting ready to leave, I let go of your hand so you could walk with Derek. You took off running down the middle of the mall yelling, 'F--k it. F--k it!" I promise I don't know where you heard that, but you sure did enjoy yelling it.

The beginning.......

Well, I have always wanted to write about my children and I thought, "Heck, why not try to blog!" After reading some other blogs, I thought I might as well try.

It all started March 14, 1975...........oh yeah, that was a long time ago. Back in the age of bell bottoms and hip huggers. After our Jr./Sr. banquet we drove around our small town of Anson looking for something to do. There was a new guy in town sitting so proudly in his new yellow Camero. We decided to stop and ask him if he had a newspaper because we needed to know what was showing in Abilene so we could tell our parents that we had been to the movies. Well, drool drool..........he was the best looking guy I had seen in this neck of the woods. His name was Don Hayes and his younger brother was going to school in Anson while living with his granny. His parents were still in Mexico and he (Mike, the younger brother) wanted to play football. Don was going to school at the big ole college of Cisco. Somehow I ended up in his new shiny car and we drove the drag from one end of town to the other, several times. As the story goes, we ended up getting married May 20, 1979. I turned 20 a week later. Dang I was young! I would cringe if one of my kids decided to get married that young!
We continued going to school and I ended up going to ACU, McMurry, then off to San Angelo where I graduated at ASU. I was lucky to get a coaching job in La Grange, TX. (Home of the Best Little Whorehouse) We actually watched the movie in the La Grange theatre. After 4 years of coaching, I had my first child, Byron Austin Hayes.
Byron was born 5 months after my dad died from leukemia. I was able to tell my dad that I was going to name my child, Byron, if it was a boy. It took me about 5 years to forgive my daddy from dieing on me. He was the best dad in the world and the best Papaw. I was so angry that my child was going to miss out on the chance to know his Papaw. (Future: Byron body style is exactly like my dad's) I was angry that he would never get to play "rummady rummady rummady buck. How many horns do I have stuck up?" with his Papaw. He wouldn't get to go fishing or hunting with him. He would never get to experience the unending love he had for his grandchildren. He wouldn't be there for Byron to sit in his lap while they played 42. My dad wouldn't be there to watch the Little League games, the football games or just watch him grow into a man. My dad wouldn't be there for me to ask questions about life. I miss my dad:(
Plus in January, Don was in a horrible accident. A pipe blew up in his hands and hit his arm, head and stomach. Don went through major surgeries and endless rehabilitation. I am surprised that I made it through the pregnancy without any major problems to my unborn child.
Well, Byron blessed us on May 2, 1985. (This was regional weekend for the girls track...I was upset that I was unable to be there with them) Mother and I had gone to Brenham to look for baby announcements. We were in a baby store when all of a sudden there was water everywhere. I looked at Mother and she looked at me. Luckily the owner of the store came over and said, "Honey, I think your water broke." Well, I waddled to the restroom and couldn't believe what I was experiencing. I was so embarrassed. We headed back to La Grange so we could find your daddy and tell him that you were on your way. Remember this is before cell phones, so we had some trouble locating him, but he did finally show up. Our friends, the Ptaceks, came to the hospital before you were born. Ed, a vetinarian, showed up with a calf puller. I didn't find the humor in that at all.
I will never forget Cheri and Mother trying to poke their heads into the delivery room before you were born so they could help me out. I was thrilled that they were there to welcome our new baby. After an epidural, I was able to bring my boy into the world. I didn't know that my legs would be like jello and I had no control over them. Plus I didn't know they would come in, press on my belly and it would hurt like h---
Bringing Byron home was terrifying! I was so afraid that someone might hurt him or step on him while he was laying a blanket on the floor. Mother, Cheri, Barbara and James, Larry and Sputter, and Don's parents came. That was the weekend Don told Sputter to be careful when she met his dad, Tobey. "Make sure you call him Tobey not Tubby" Don told her because his dad was a "big" man. Well............guess what Sputter called Tobey? You guessed it....Tubby.
At first, Byron was long and skinny and sort of looked like Popeye. It didn't take him long to start gaining weight. He was ADORABLE! He had dark hair and dark eyes. Big feet and big hands. He was a beauty and I couldn't stop looking at him. I have hours of tape of him just laying there. We borrowed Larry and Sputter's video camera. We didn't have one or the money to go out and get one. They were gigantic and cost a lot of money back then, around $300.00.
After several weeks, I realized that this breast feeding was for the birds. It hurt plus he ate ALL the time. I continued for 3 months and then it was time to go back to work. I don't think Byron ever got on my work schedule:( He cried and had colic. I remember walking him around the block at night trying to get him to stop crying. He liked the swing, but you have to remember that this was back in the day when you cranked the swing, it woke up the whole neighborhood. His little arms would go a flying when I would need to crank it up. Why didn't I invent the swing that started quietly and without a top so you can get them in and out easier???
Three months hit and I fell in love again. He started laughing and giggling. His eyes would twinkle and my heart would melt. He was full of sugar. You could find good sugar on him anywhere. He was always in the 95% growth range which meant he was growing fast.