Christmas

I know Christmas is about the birth of our Savior! And I am so thankful for the holiday to celebrate that openly.... however, with small kids, Santa is just soooo much fun! I can't imagine not allowing my kids not to know about Santa because it takes away from the real holiday. Studies show, memories are one of the most sacred things you can give your children, and holiday's and vacations are the best way to create them. I know all my memories are mainly from Christmas and Easter, and Christmas because of Santa.

I was told by a friend about this website that you can set up an email to be sent from Santa for your kids. Emily and Blaine loved it and seeing the look on their face was priceless. You can set it up however you want -- talk about walking a straight line if Santa sent you an email with all the details of your naughty adventures! Instant obedience! (notice Blaine's face)

Things I love?

1. My Savior Jesus - Happy Birthday
2. Santa
3. Portablenorthpole.tv for helping us create this memory!

State Fair 2010

We've lived in North Texas for almost 5 years now, and going to the State Fair was on our goal list since. We finally made it happen this year. We took the train from Ft. Worth to Dallas, and the kids loved that almost as much as the fair. We decided that is the only way to travel to Dallas - no traffic!!!
Then the fair - we had fun, but it was so expensive. We actually prefer the Tri-State fair in the panhandle. $53 to walk in and most of the exhibits you had to pay for. The free ones were looking at cars! Rides were 10 tickets each on average. It was a mini vacation. I have to look at it that way - and not the fact that I could have a new dishwasher in my kitchen right now! The food was great. I could feel my arteries just walking by some of the booths. Fried pina coladas, fried beer, fried cheesecake (my fav), funnel cakes (Blaine's favorite), Cotton Candy (Emily's fav), Fletchers Corn Dogs, and Fried Frito Pies.... fried goodness heaven! I think I actually heard angels singing at one point.
But above all this, the greatest thing about the fair --- the people who dance to all the music at the rides..... people watching at the fair was the best!!!!!

Things I love:
1. Train rides to avoid traffic, and seeing celebrities on the rail!
2. Delight in the kids faces
3. Fried food goodness

No words, purest of love

Put me in coach!

We've started "laid back" fall baseball. Already encountered the crazy parents, and tempers flaring. I'm sure I'm the stuck up mom who doesn't interact with the other moms at practices and games. But I've heard enough that its best if I just keep my distance. The picture I wanted to post I don't have! It's the look on his face the first time he ran to the car after practice. If he could have been glowing he would have been. Hence, the reason we are doing this!!! So I will endure......

Emily Grace turns 8

Fashion party - that is what Emily wanted. How do you pull that off? Emily planned and told me what was needed and how she wanted it to go down. Easy enough! The girls had a great time. The whole birthday weekend started out with a surprise visit from cousins Peyton and Caitie!

4th Annual

Create a digital scrapbook

This year marks the 4th year we gather and have a family reunion. This isn't your average family or reunion! This year marks the first year Jamie and I lost our chilie champ reign. We came in runner up but in my opinion that's just the first loser!! Enjoy your victory Oakies!!! It will be your only year! We played Ladder Ball, played pool, sang, lied, ate so much food, laughed so hard I thought I was going to have to change my pants! Here is some of the pictures I was allowed to put on my blog...... the rest will remain in the blackmail vault!

Things I love;

1. Labor Day weekend
2. Good times with Family we never get to see until this weekend
3. A day of rest on Monday to re-coop!

A new start

My precious little girl is a 2nd grader. I could not be more proud of her! I don't know what I have done to deserve such a precious little gift, but I know I am blessed. Surprisingly she wanted her hair rolled in the dreaded foam rollers the night before so she could don some curls to school!! She was super excited the night before.
Then reality sets in.....
Morning of, she begins to say she is nervous. Talk, pray, she's fine......
Leaving her at the classroom door, she begins to break down, which in turn causes mom to break down. I turn and bolt ( sunglasses on, to hide my emotional state) to the nearest exit. Crying the whole way home, I turned to check on Blaine.... and he is crying. When I asked why? "I'm going to miss her so much!" We were a sight to be seen!!! I had great intentions on blogging about this - all day - but never could get the courage up to do so.
Some days I wish I could be one of those moms who look forward to school. But for today - I just missed that little ray of sunshine that was my constant all summer!
Here's praying for a great year - for all my friends, family, the teacher but most of all my little world, my family to have wonderful year.

Things I love?
a. Dark sunglasses
b. great friends who understand
c. the closeness, genuine love of my family

Individuality

I remember the days when Blaine had his own mind and opinion! I am just wondering if any other parents have this issue with the little brothers/sisters. At restaurant, when asked what Blaine wants his response "whatever Emily is having". He did AWESOME at swim lessons. After day one arm floaties were history!! Last day was fun day - but he didn't enjoy it because Emily stayed with Nanny and Papa instead of being there with him!!!! After only one time jumping from the diving board, he was done. Only a year ago, he was his own little person, now he is mini Emily! It very frustrating!!!

Things I love -
a. Blaine's ability to swim without arm floaties!!!
b. being your own person!
c. that he loves his sister so much he wants to be her, even if it does drive me insane!

Toe-t-ally Painted

Trying to get this off the ground... scary! I would like to start booking appointments, and see how busy I get and then I will decide on renting a booth or doing something else... that would involve a travel trailer.... not sure - does that sound too creepy?? Picture super cute paint job?! Any ideas would be great. I didn't major in marketing!

I guarantee all my work. All nails should last 3-4 weeks. I will be happy to fix anything within 10 days as long as it wasn't messed up due to improper care. If poor care was the cause, a $2 per toe charge will be applied.

If your interested, I will email you some of my work. I am also available for parties. Please pass the word around.

Here is something I've done just because we're rooting for our team!!!

Call me for an appointment

Blaine

So I am late downloading Blaine's graduation pics from preschool. Story of my summer. For some reason I've become the procrastinator over everything this summer. Guess just enjoying summer!
On the morning of his birthday, he woke up early - big surprise!! He tapped me and I rolled over and he had the biggest grin on his face!! Here is what followed....

Mom - Happy Birthday!!!!
Blaine - Thanks but Im not 5 yet.
Mom - Yes you are. Today is your birthday. You're 5 years old TODAY
Blaine - (after examining himself) But I'm not any bigger!!!

Summmmaa Time

Summer finally arrived after a long school year. I am not sure who was more ready - Emily or me! Here are some of the Adventures of the Kapka Klan. With school just around the corner we better relish these next couple of weeks!!!

Happenings.....
1. Blaine rides his bike with OUT training wheels.
2. Jamie has become a jet set traveler for work... which means a Jamicia trip will be planned!
3. A little movie that opened June 30th just added fuel to the fire to my addiction
4. Emily is the best big sister/daughter there is!! And she has finally decided to start Dance class in the fall. Anyone who knows how shy she is - this is a huge thing for us!

Things I love....
1. Mornings with no where to go to enjoy coffee on my patio
2. Free pools!
3. the heat that comes with summer

PiNk

Last Thursday we endured our first broken bone. Emily jumped out of her swing and fractured her ... elbow/!?!? She has done great and really hasn't complained! She got her cast on Tuesday. Today she walked out of Mary Martin Elementary with this special surprise from her daddy. It surprised me to, because I had not been let in on the secret.
All the girls, little and adults, kept saying how sweet. Then Emily looked at me and said "Now I know why you married him!" And it truth, that is what won me over - I'd never had a boyfriend send me flowers, and he sent them to me every Friday.

Some things just have to be shared! We are all super lucky to have him take care of us!

IBK

So these are the average days of a boy! Blaine will be 5 this July, which he is obsessed with! Starting school in the fall. I'm torn about how I feel about that. On one hand I have been a full time stay at home mom for the past almost 8 years. So I am looking forward to having a day filled with something other then scraped knees, Spongebob, and toys galore under my feet. On the other - he is my baby!! What am I going to do with out him home. He fills my days with joy and so much laughter some days and tears others. I can only imagine God's roaring laugh when Blaine explains to me why he doesn't want to wear shorts because his little friend always finds a way out!! Why am I having this conversation? Or when he say he needs the directions for something, but pronounces it without the D!!! And Emily then tells him he doesn't need the irections.... Conversations like these were why I was so worried about having a son. How would I relate to him? But I have to say, he is one of the lights of my world!! God knew I needed him as much as I needed Jamie or Emily! They just complete me!
Days filled with bike rides, hot wheel cars under my feet, my basketball/football/soccer/baseball player are soon to be those I cherish.... Just a new chapter in my life and his about to begin! Look at Mary Martin Elementary..... all I can say is good luck and don't call me unless there is blood involved!!!!

Things I love ....
1. How much I love being a mom to a boy
2. Jessica, not mommy, filled days ahead
3. Ivan Blaine Kapka

Heavy Heart today

I never knew this little boy. But my heart is breaking for him today, rejoicing only in the fact that he is in a better place. For those of you not from this area, he was a special needs boy that was left to die in an overgrown area near a lake in North Texas. He was 28 pounds. He had a feeding tube. He couldn't walk, talk or hear. He was the size of a 3 year old. He was left by his mother and father (who is a Marine) to be cared for by his grandmother. I GUESS it became too overwhelming for her to care for him so she abandoned him! For 3 days he lay waiting to die -

Is this what our society has come to? A selfish father and mother not wanting him - and a grandmother who felt like she was being "punished by her daughter to care for the special needs boy!" Another account I heard what a man saying he was so retarded he didn't really know he was left there to die "probably" didn't even feel anything! Our world has become so evil that I can't even fathom what thoughts go through these peoples head! It sad that his father is a Marine - how can he hold such a honorable title?? If this is how he treats his son, I surely don't want the same character fighting for my freedom!! I can only pray for the parents and family of this boy because if I think on my own, it isn't a very "Godly". Thank GOD He will have revenge in store for them. And that they will stand before His judgement someday.....

R.I.P Gerren Isgrigg

Things I love.....

a. A Savior who is holding that little boy tight now
b. A Savior who is holding that little boy tight now
c. A Savior who is holding that little boy tight now

Love / Hate reality

Gone are the days of the two piece bathing suit for this momma!!! All tankinis and dare I say .... a one piece.....
Good news is that I found a really cute - camouflaging suit yesterday that I loved at the first store I went to - without intending on looking for a suit yet!! The bad news... my Butt?!?!?! If that is what you want to call it, more like Continent. Yes US Jess Butt! I've been so anti-work out since the whole craze of "training for a marathon" became the "in" thing!!!! Sorry to all my friends who do --- which are ALL of you pretty much! But I wasn't jumping on that bandwagon. But I should have stuck with something! Mr and Mrs Lunge and Squat was kicking my butt this morning, laughing the whole time! How can you HATE something you need so much?

Needless to say I am back at my normal routine of exercise and eating right so I can walk out in public in my new suit!!!

Things I love?

a. NOT US Jess Butt
b. my new suit, if I get to wear it!
c. wine, which I will miss!

Any cold wet thing..

To call myself obssessed with the Twilight Series would be an understatement. When I tell a girlfriend who hasn't read the books to read them, this is my husbands next words "let me warn your husband first."
He loves me so that he went with me to the opening night of New Moon, and endured the craziness, which was more then even I expected! I was all pumped up to go at midnight this past Friday to join all the high school girls to purchase the DVD. But I got really sick, and didn't make it. Still wasn't up for a trip to Walmart the next day, so Jamie got up and went and got it for me!!!
He makes fun of me, but I love how he takes care of me in all areas...
This weekend was the perfect weekend for this movie to come out! Cold, wet.. perfect vampire watching weather....

~Thanks Babe~

Things I love??

1. James Wesley - for making me a happy gagger
2. Flat screen in my bedroom with any Twilight movie playing
3. some vampires on that flat screen

morning coffee

There are mornings I actually hear my regular coffee company to talk to me! Today was one of those days. This morning God put this verse in my heart.

Let us not love with words or tongue, but with action and in truth 1 John 3:18

I am pretty withdrawn from this - I say alot and then being the selfish person I am, don't always show.... so today I will show through my actions!!

My dear family -- I love you the most(est)!!! As this day looks to be crazy with busyness.. I will vow to show you I love you!!!

Happy Valentines Day!

15 years ago this month, I met Jamie. 14 years ago on this day he asked me to marry him. There aren't many people who can put up with me! He knows all my little quirks, and still likes me!!! That right there is amazing!!!! He is my calm when I am storming, and my comfort when I am hurting. He is my best friend!

Things I love:

1. James Wesley
2. That he doesn't need a "special day" to show me how much he loves me
3. Gods awesome plan that included him in my life!! I don't know what I did to get so lucky!

Snow Day!!! In Weatherford???

Things I love:

a. 2 snow days in Weatherford!
b. neighbors with 4 wheelers!
c. hot chocolate and electric blankets when all is said and done!