JBJ... Boykin

Mama and baby

Little hands...

Daddy and baby

Angelic...

What up?!

You so silly....

The Boykin Family

Whoop!

Couple of Floridian Aggies!

My 1st attempt at professional baby pictures...

I agree, Jack... goodnight.

I made it!

Uggg.... I hate flying. But the flight last night was ok. It was the first time I have flown in a LONG time without taking Dramamine. And I was fine. AWESOME!!

My flight was delayed an hour but I signed up for the fun "alerts" so the lady called me at 4pm and told me about the fun extra hour I would have to hang out at the airport if I arrived in time for the original scheduled departure. I decided to hang out at home instead. I was finishing packing up when I realized I left my headphones at school. So I closed the suitcase... decided whatever I was taking... was what I was taking.. and we hopped in the car.

School is kinda weird at night. I love all the hustle and bustle when the kids are there and it was weird to be so empty. I grabbed my headphones we headed for the airport. The lady called again to say that the gate had changed and I couldn't tell if the terminal had changed too... so I called Mom and she looked it up online. Alright, got the terminal right and we are good to go.

Got to the airport about an hour and 15 mins before the delayed flight was supposed to leave. And all the counters were closed. LUCKILY I wasn't checking a bag and I had already checked in online. Still it would have been nice to check in once I got there. Put my mind at ease. So I walked the terminal looking for warm bodies and I found baggage claim. Oh well..

Got through security with my home computer printed ticket and made my way to the gate. Once again... looking for warm bodies. Got to the gate... the flight wasn't on the TV behind the counter. But the guy behind the counter said I was in the right place. I told him I needed to check in and he kinda dismissed me and said I didn't need to. Ugg... just look at my piece of paper dude. I really want to get on this flight. I held my paper to him and he glanced at it. Said I was fine. I am thinking I will hold him to that.

I went in search of Dramamine. No go. No place open and really no place in sight that would sell some. Gonna have to rough it. fine.

The plane is boarding.. group 3 is called... and I hand the man my piece of paper. I inhale. He pauses... says let me see your bag... gives me a red tag to valet my bag and sends me to the tiniest plane on earth. I exhale. whew...

I find my single seat and again have to remind myself to breathe. I am a very short person.... and I have to duck to sit down. They close the door and I call Kevo one last time to tell him I love him and thank him again for sending me to see the Boykins. Call the Boykins and let them know AAeagle let me on and we are about to take off.. I'd see them in a little over an hour and a half.

Take off and landing are the worst. But some how my stomach handles it. I get my ipod out and start watching 27 Dresses. A little more than half way through the captain comes on and tells us we are about to land. Again, my stomach starts to churn. This is the part when I grab Kev's hand and squeeze. But I couldn't do that this flight. Kev is back in Texas and at 26 it's time for me to be a big girl. So I held my own hand. I could feel each wheel touch the ground. But... I survived. :)

Whipped the cell out to call Jordana and let her know it's time to come get me. She's feeding the lima bean and will be on her way soon. Call Kev and let him know his wife is finally a grown up. She flew alone. He's proud and tells me he loves me too.

My bag is waiting for me at the door to the "terminal"... We arrived at gate 1 of... 3? :) I walk outside and here comes the Tahoe. YAY!! Jordana and I get some catch up time on the 5 min drive back to their ocean side home. I can't believe how skinny she is already.. actually I can. It's Jordan. I walk in the door and there he is, in his Daddy's arms. The new love in my life... Jackson Stanley Boykin.

Will post pictures soon. I'm so lucky to be here. Lucky to have such an awesome husband and great friends who don't mind a revolving door to their home. I miss Kevie though. We stayed up 'till 2am playing with the sleeping baby. There is talk of going to the beach tomorrow... we'll see.

No... I'm the lucky one.

Kevin and I had our first Intern meeting tonight for our full teacher certification. Meetings are once a month... but next months meeting is next week. Can't believe it's September already. I can tell Kev is getting/already is overwhelmed. He has to be at school at 6:45 in the morning for 7th grade football practice and has 8th grade football after school gets out at 4pm. He hasn't made it home before 6pm yet. My overwhelming-ness :) I am sure will come in the 2nd week of school because I will begin Spirit team meeting and in the 3rd week... Speech Club. So soon enough I will be right there with him. But for the time being we are supporting each other. Listening to one another try our hardest to think through our day.. talk about what we could do different... what went well. I think this job change is really going to strengthen our marriage.

Tonight, we were in the kitchen heating up frozen dinners, because neither of us have the energy to cook right this moment. And Kevin looked over a Murphy and told our dog "I am so lucky to have you and your mama to come home to."

He came over and gave me a hug and I told him I was just as lucky if not more. And then Murphy started barking at us for hugging... when he does that we call him "Dad"... We've tried to include him in our hugs... it doesn't help... if anyone gets attention... he thinks it should be him. He's not spoiled AT ALL!

Thank you for all the words of encouragement. Keep'em coming! It really helps!

LOVE YOU!

Let the Good Outweigh the bad...

My mom is so wise. I have to keep telling myself to let the good outweigh the bad. And it does. I've had her words in my head for the past 2 days. I had a fantastic first and 2nd day. I am so excited by my students. They are eager to please and I feel so lucky. Granted... they will come out of their shells soon enough. But if the entire semester continues like these past 2 days.. I can totally handle this.

FINGERS CROSSED!!

Thanks for all the prayers. Kev and I need every one of them!!

My room

View of my classroom from the door...

My Dream Wall.. My spin on "Rome wasn't built in a day" using the Eiffel Tower.

I am the spirit team advisor... so I thought my room should have Spirit. :)

View from my desk...

what I see from the podium...

I am so excited.. and so anxious. I hope I sleep tonight!

Pinky Promise??

Check out this article about the Chinese gymnasts. At the very least, I thought it was entertaining...

I'm not the only one!

What's my name again?

We had job-a-like training today... very helpful! It was nice to get to talk to some of the other teachers who teach the same subjects I teach... even the same level.. Although it was fun to meet the HS teachers... and great to see you, Jess. (Be sure to keep Caleb away from Kelsey Grammar) :)

Anyway... we walk into the room and sit down... now there are about 25 of us.... FOR THE WHOLE DISTRICT teaching Speech... I seriously can't believe I got a job in the Speech subject area... ANYWAY... we take our seats (in a choir room I once had a class in when I went to MHS... freaky) and the lady running the show says "Alicia Lawyer isn't in here, is she?"

Now... MY entire life, hardly anyone gets my name right on the first try... I've been called everything under the sun... Most common, before I got married was Allison Co-ah-dee. I have learned to accept this and just answer... but I haven't had anyone mess up my married name to the point that it sounded like a completely different word... so I wasn't sure if she was calling me. And if she did mean me, why was she posing the question in the negative... was I not supposed to be there? Had I missed something and already gotten a reputation for not showing up? God, I hope not.

Then she said it again, "Alicia Lawyer, no?" ... I thought it best to clarify.

"Do you mean Alyssa Lawther?" She didn't answer, just smiled and showed me the form... yes, she meant me. It was a signed form stating that I was indeed showing up... for even EXTRA activities and getting credit for them. I am still bothered by how she asked the question, but I think I am overreacting.

I was still contemplating this when Jess leaned over and laughed, "Did she just call you Alicia Lawyer?"

I kinda shrugged and we both giggled.

I really hope I do better pronouncing students names on Monday... I know I won't get them all right.. I hope to be some what close.

Nokia Theater

We had Convocation today and the singing went very well. Kev and Jessi, as well as a lot of my fellow teachers told me they saw my face on the big screen today. We will be watching our performance at the Fine Arts Meeting tomorrow... so I'm looking forward to that.

It's so cool to be backstage at Nokia Theater. We had some down time between rehearsal and performance... so I walked around. I can't believe I didn't bring my REAL camera... all I had was my cellphone. I had no idea that backstage was decorated. The walls are covered in hand painted album covers of artists that have performed at Nokia Theater and are signed by the artist and crew. The paintings are at least 4 ft by 4 ft. The detail is amazing. I took some pictures of my favorite artist... and some I just thought looked REALLY cool.

I love Jason Mraz!

This one had the most signatures. GO Kelly!

I'm not a HUGE fan of her music, that said, I HAVE been caught listening to some of her songs. But I really thought the detail on the painting was AMAZING!

I can't get his new song out of my head. I like the beat... and I love Beautiful Soul.

I walked the same hallway as Aretha?????

I LOVE LOVE LOVE David Gray! His music is so much fun to listen to and relax.

I want you to want me....

This is a picture of the artist's signature. I'm not sure who he/she is... but this person is SOOO talented. I wonder if their work is available for purchase.

So cool. And I was honored to share the stage with my fellow fine arts teachers. I can't take much credit for how great it sounded... I sang pretty quietly. If we had more than 2 rehearsals, I would have felt better about it.. but I haven't really read music in 9 years... so I was VERY rusty. The teacher who was next to me is also a Speech/Drama teacher and we wanted to put together a dramatic dance instead of sing. :) But thank you for all the compliments! It felt really good to perform again.

Information Overload

I am loving my school. My room is pretty much done. I still have to go to the library and make a poster of my rules and stuff... but other than that... Looking good. I will post pictures soon. We have convocation tomorrow and I get to sing. Don't tell Mr. Ice but I have fallen out of practice with actual choir singing. The fine arts department performs for convocation so I won't be alone singing up there. Which is nice... but uh, I just realized I don't have a black folder. I need one to perform... I think there will be some there... fingers crossed.

Those of you going tomorrow... please CLAP for me. Loud and proud!! :)

I have been to so much training the past 2 weeks that I am really worried I am going to forget stuff. Not just procedures, but things that have to be done.. turned in... stuff like that. My mentor is right across the hall and she is FANTASTIC! She never seems to tire from my endless questions and I am so comfortable with her. The whole school is VERY supportive. I don't think I could be in a better place for me right now. All along I have felt this is where I need to be. I walk in the doors and I get a sense of calm and a feeling of home. It's really weird!

Jessi.. I hope that is enough of an update for now! :) Email me and let me know how your week is going!

OH.. and HI MAMA!!! I'm glad you enjoy the music. I was very excited to find the jukebox function! I did have a good day at school today. (I sound 4 years old) :) I LOVE YOU 2!!

to bed I said...

Denton's Old West

Kev and I had breakfast out in Denton at one of our favorite spots with 2 of our favorite people this morning. Katie and Ben live in Denton and Old West is my go to spot when I come up to visit them. The place is so mom 'n pop and we love it that way. The owner came over to our table to say Hi and we got to talking about how we came from Arlington to eat there. She said they are opening a new Old West in Grapevine with plans to open one in Arlington as soon as they find a suitable location!! I'm so excited! And Kate is excited cuz we can have Old West when she visits me too!! I know its silly to be this excited about a restaurant.. but it embodies EVERYTHING that I love about Denton... family, local flair, chill atmosphere, great prices and EVEN better food.


In other news...

Jordan posted pictures of Baby Jack on facebook and I stole my favorites. Below is Jackson sleeping on his Mama...


And her "little Lima Bean" asleep in his swing. He is the most precious thing. I have his picture saved on my cell phone as my background and show it to everyone. :) I can't help it. I have to brag!


Alright.. Olympics are wrapped for the night as I should be...

The Greatness of 2nd Place

FIRST things FIRST.. do these girls LOOK 16 to you? I honestly believe that the Chinese age better than any of us... but not this well. I don't care if they aren't 16 or older. They were fantastic. I'll give them that. But what bothers me is that it is ILLEGAL to compete in Olympic gymnastics if you are under 16. So... instead of putting together the best team possible with girls of appropriate age... China selects these girls and their passport is all that is needed to authenticate their age. It's cheating and it makes me angry. I'll give the veteran (on the far right) at least 16. BUT IF THATS HOW OLD THE VET IS... how can they expect us to believe the rest are even close. I believe these girls deserved the gold medal for their performances... but shame on the people that set this in motion! I wonder if the girls have any idea... I hope not or thats just breeding dishonesty.

Alright.. on to America!


I want everyone to look closely at the picture above. WHO looks like they are FAKING happiness with a silver medal? I think... it's the only one who couldn't smile big enough to show her teeth.... because she was on the verge of tears.. and not happy tears. It upsets me when people don't see the greatness of 2nd place. Only one team in the entire WORLD did better than you that day. I think that is amazing!

I know that Alicia Scaramone blames herself and the mistakes she made for putting them in 2nd place and she sees that as a bad thing. SHE FELL TWICE and THEY STILL WON A SILVER MEDAL. With injuries...

The announcers say that she is the emotional rock of the team. I have not seen anything out of her that I would describe as a ROCK. She is rattled VERY easily. She's the veteran and she should of understood that she HAD to shake it off.

I feel bad for her, because she won a SILVER medal and she didn't enjoy 1 minute of it. I hope she gets over it soon, so she can savor some of this.

I am so proud of the girls and how they handled everything. THEY ALL MADE MISTAKES. Even God's gift to gymnastics (I think she really is) Shawn Johnson stepped out of bounds. But they were able to see the greatness in 2nd place.

I encourage you to do the same.

*jumping off soap box*... now! :)

More pictures!

Brad posted pictures on facebook and I stole them. :) They are both beaming. He says they can't take their eyes off of Baby Jack. I can only imagine!!

CONGRATULATIONS BOYKINS!!! HE'S BEAUTIFUL!

Baby Jack!!!

I'm an AUNT! Jordan and Brad welcomed their first child last night! Jackson Boykin was born on 8-8-08, just like his mother wanted. I told her she was so lucky to have a boy who listens. I talked to Brad yesterday and he said baby and mama are both doing great and she was feeding Jack when I talked to him. He is 6lbs 14oz and 19 1/2" of LOVE! Jordan sent me the above picture with her cellphone.

Isn't he the most precious thing. He's Gorgeous! YAY BABY JACK! I can't wait to hold you!

The Ocho

Baby Jack is just itching to meet everyone!!

Jordan texted me this morning. She's been having contractions since 3am. I talked to Brad and he said they were at the hospital. He told me that they have her hooked to all sorts of machines. It's still early so if the contractions don't progress they may send her home. So we'll see... But Baby Jack could be born on the date she always wanted him to be... 8.8.08... the Ocho.

Seems she's giving birth to a boy who listens. Aunt Lyss is SO proud!

Boykin Bound!

We booked my flight to Florida today!! YAY Boykins... ready or not.. here I come.. well, they got time.. I'll be there Labor Day weekend. I talked to Jordana today and she is dilated 1 centimeter ... almost 2 and 80% effaced. I really don't know exactly what that means, but I've seen enough Grey's Anatomy to know that is a good thing.

Baby Jack is 5 days away!! I'm so SAD that I won't get to be there for his birth. Jordan's hospital gives the Moms 2 b while in labor, lavender massages... I was so hoping to get in on that! :) Seriously though, I wish so much that school didn't start for me on the 12th. Baby Jack will barely have taken his first breaths as Jordan and Brad become 1st time parents and I'll be in seminars.. in Texas. BOO. BUT... I am so ecstatic to get to go meet him a few days shy of his 3rd week in this world. Just in time for pictures!!

I went back and forth on booking the flight because of the price... DO YOU BELIEVE that it is just as expensive to fly to Canada as it is to fly to Fort Walton Beach? And the flight is on the SMALLEST plane in the world! I asked Jordan if she wanted to move to Canada... she said it's too cold. Gotta say though, I love my husband. He knows how important it is to me to go to Florida... and we can't afford for us both to go, though he'd love to go visit our friends... we can't really afford for me to go... but he says we'll make do. He's amazing. I almost didn't book it but Kev did it for me, looked at me and said... "You're going." SERIOUSLY! In case you've never seen it... this is me.. on cloud 9. Such a happy place!

Oh... AND thank you Jalei! I love the new layout. I would have forever been frustrated if I hadn't had the brilliant idea to actually ask how to get a cool one. It's amazing what a simple question can do.

Until next time...

Ember and ALT are engaged!

My cousin, my little sister is engaged. And I am tearing up with joy as I write this. As I think about all our years together, words can not express all I feel about this girl and Josh, the love of her life. My mind is going over all the years that she looked up to me and came to me when she needed advice. I remember one time at Oakridge, one of our teachers told me that Ember was looking for me. The school was so close-knit that I was actually able to pull her out of her class so she could talk to me. There were 2 boys who wanted to ask her out and she didn't know who to say yes to. I can still see her face as we talked it over and she picked the boy who became her first (I think) boyfriend.

We got older and we continued to be super close. She is the type of person that you don't need to hold back with. She speaks her mind and expects NOTHING less from you. We cheered together... roomed together at camp and eventually lived together. AND I LOVED IT ALL!

We have MANY songs.. but the one that we consider our song is called "Friend to me" by Garth Brooks... its perfect... "You can be so stubborn. There's times I think you just like to fight... and I hope and pray I live to see the day when you say I might be right... and there are times I'd rather kill you, than listen to your honesty... but you've always been a friend to me. You've always been... time and again... the one to take my hand and show to me that it's okay to be just the way I am... with no apologies.... Yes, you've always been a friend to me."

I can't believe she's old enough to get married. Sometimes when I look at her, I see the little girl who used to sit on skateboards and ride them down her parents driveway with me and her brothers. We actually played Cowboys and Indians. I see the little girl dressed in white lace for her tea party. I see us running together from the lake to the condo. Staying up late talking... staying with me in my dorm in college and then later in life at my apartment. Driving down to Austin so she and her friends could go without parental supervision. Watching EVERY movie Josh Hartnett ever starred in when she got sick with Mono.. including BLOW DRY! Driving with her when she only had her permit (me being 2 1/2 years older made that legal!) Taking her to a high school party and immediately leaving because I didn't want her around alcohol anymore than she wanted to be around it. Watching her cheer in the SAC at Oakridge and run the pep rallies... taking pictures of her and her date for Proms, Homecoming, and school dances... Graduation (I cried at both her high school and college ones) helping her settle into her dorm at Baylor and then spending the night at her dorm at TCU. Watching her stumble with relationships and waiting in the wings for whatever she needed knowing that she would find her way. I had all the faith in the world that he was out there for her. And then... she met Josh.

When Ember met Josh... I knew he was the one for her. She knew it, he knew it... we all knew it. Everyone who knows them together... knows it. They just mesh so well. And he treats her like the princess she is. And the mutual love and respect that they share is out of a fairytale. If there is anyone in the world good enough for my Embo Jo... it's ALT.

We are all so lucky to be adding such a great man to our family.

CONGRATULATIONS EMBER AND JOSH!

I LOVE YOU BOTH.

My Gpa's 80th Bday Party

My Grandpa's 80th Birthday Party went off without a hitch. I want to thank everyone so much for all they did to make it happen in such a big way.

Thank you Grandma and April for being the "cooks" with me. We couldn't have pulled it off without each other!

Thank you Ember for all the hours you put in the kitchen cooking appetizers and making the fantastic cake!

Thank you Ashley for helping in the kitchen, I know Gma and Ember had the best time with you.

Thank you to Twigs Floral of Mansfield for making the GORGEOUS centerpieces and decor.

A special Thank you to Donna and the Chisom Trail staff for catering and serving the party. My Grandma was the most relaxed I have ever seen her at a party knowing that you guys were in the kitchen doing it "as well I would do it" (her words).

Thank you to Rent-a-Frog Valet for treating our guest with such respect. A lot of the guest were young at heart, but not in years and needed your extra attention. Thank you for going above and beyond!

Thank you to Ducky-Bob's Rentals for setting up the tables and hauling them away. It was nice not to worry about that.

Thank you to Justin and Winestyle's on Hulen for providing the wine.. everyone loved your selections.

Thank you to my Gorgeous Kevin for putting up with me and helping with all that you did. The pool area wouldn't be "perfect" with out you. Thanks babe also for bar tending all night and keeping an eye on things. Everyone raved about how great you were. I of course... beamed!

Thank you Kenny for helping with the patio "fiasco" and all that you did to get the house ready for the party and clean up afterwards. I am sure you kept your wife "sane" as well. :) We couldn't do it without you guys!

Thank you family for making the party the most fun and helping with the take down. You all made our lives SO much easier.

And finally, thank you for all the praise and appreciation. It means a lot to me that you noticed all the work that went into throwing a party like this and it made me smile that so many of you came to me and told me how much fun you were having! That was our MAIN goal!

If I forgot anyone... call me and yell at me... I don't want to forget to thank anybody!

My days as caregiver are coming to an end and I am really sad about that. I am excited about the new phase of my life that I am starting... but sad that I won't be able to see Gma and Gpa everyday. To help them.. has been so rewarding and it is always nice to be appreciated. :)

And now... to the pictures....

My Grandfather in his favorite chair.

My Aunt Betty brought her towel but never made it down to the pool.

My hot hubby serving up champagne, wine and beer. THANK YOU BABE!!

The hor d'erves table

The coffee station

We had 3 tables set up inside.

A guest book for everyone to sign in.

Hartsel LOVES to greet people

Alt and Uncle Jay

Close up of the scrumptious cake that Gma, Ember, April and Ashley made.

The cake table

Centerpiece by Twigs Floral of Mansfield

Aunt Betty framed the invitation... and I found the perfect place for it.

We had 6 tables outside as well as a 2nd buffet and drink table.

The path to the pool... it was a pool party after all.

My bro, Jeff and his GF Christa eating some appetizers.

All the people who came to celebrate.. my Gpa is seriously LOVED!

Milton and Joanne Shaw

Grandma and Linda

My Mom and Jeanette

Gpa and Spanky enjoying the party.

Look at all that food!

Two sisters and baby.... Baby Allen due in Feb!!

Ember Jo and Stevie Leigh

Joshua mocking my insane picture taking!

My cousin Thomas turned 17 the day after the party... here he is with the man he was named after....

Stevie and Gpa

Emily and Alt

Ember Jo about to jump in!

Where ever Josh is... kids are sure to follow... they just flock to him.. he's cool like that!

The new Mama Rev. Sarah Allen... so many titles now!

Should she not be a model??
THE GORGEOUS STEVIE!

Gpa hanging out on the new patio furniture

My cousin Makenzie was such a HUGE help getting things ready for the party! THANK YOU SO MUCH KENZIE!

Ember and Stevie

Love that everyone is mingling!

Mom and Gma and Gpa's next door neighbor, Linda wore the same shirt...

The Buffet is open!

Gpa cutting his cake.

We all wrote letters to Gpa and some of us were able to read them to him... I cried through the whole thing. It's a lot easier than it looks.

Kenny and Gpa

Josh and Gpa

Stevie and Gpa

Jeff and Gpa

Sarah (baby Allen) and Gpa

Ember and Gpa

Gma and Gpa stealing a kiss.

When it was all said and done... the party planners... WENT SWIMMING!! We stayed down at the pool until 1 in the morning... Gma and Gpa included!

Mom and Gpa right before she put her suit on!

I had the best time. I love my family more than words can say. I am so blessed to be a part of the Demarest Family and believe me... I KNOW IT!

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE NIGHT SO MEMORABLE!
LOVE YOU ALL!!