Big News!!!! Dallas here we come...

Ok, I know it has been 3 months since I have blogged but our lives have been CRAZY busy! After much praying and weighing all of our options we have decide to move back to DFW...WOOHOO!!! We are so excited! We finally made the decision about 3 weeks ago. We are moving next week because we have to get settled somewhere before Payton starts kindergarten. Where... you might ask, we don't know yet. That has been an ongoing adventure trying to find the right house in the right neighborhood, in the "best" school district and in a very short period of time!

We do love Austin but there is just no place like home, family and good friends. We will miss Lake Hills Church the most! !

Another reason I haven't blogged is because Ashly and I got a Facebook account and it has been very addicting in my spare time (what little I have). Look us up on FB at "Nicole N Ashly Watkins"!

So, that is the big news going on in our lives! Please keep us in your prayers over the next few weeks as we continue to look for the right home for our family.

Until next time (hopefully not 3 months later)...

Ashly took the girls to get their ears pierced!

I have been trying to get Payton to pierce her ears for a couple of years now. She has come close a few times but always chickens out! Well, not with Daddy she didn't. Ashly takes care of the girls every Friday while he works from home (lucky Daddy). On Friday, April 3rd he decided to take the girls to get their ears pierced and take pictures with the Easter Bunny at the mall! I'm so jealous! I wanted to be there to see them get their ears pierced but they definitely had a Daddy-Daughter bonding day and I wouldn't take that away for nothing!

This is Payton before the ears pierced. Ashly said she was fidgeting so much that it was very obvious that she was nervous. She kept asking if it was going to hurt. Payton is our cautious little one (like her mother)!


Ashly said as soon as they punched the gun it scared her a little bit. Just when she was about to start crying, Ashly said "Baby, it's over, you did it!" This picture was the teary-eyed smile he got right after that! She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.


Presley on the other hand was the exact opposite. She was ready to do it, not scared one bit and laughed before, during and after the whole thing! She is so care free and always smiling about something!

We've Been Crazy Busy...

I realize that I haven't blogged in awhile! I have so many cute pictures and stories to post. The girls got their ears pierced, Easter, trip to San Antonio and we went to South Padre Island last weekend! Hopefully I will have some down time this weekend to post some cute stuff. I have been so busy at work by the time I get home, workout, cook dinner, get the girls bathed and in bed...I AM DONE! Don't get me wrong, I still need to watch my shows (American Idol, The Biggest Loser, and Grey's Anatomy) in between all the busyness!

Speaking of Grey's Anatomy, I cried uncontrollably last night during the show! The Cancer thing brought back horrible memories and the Daddy holding the precious terminally ill little girl! I just couldn't imagine and I couldn't control myself! It made me stop and thank God again for such healthy little girls. It also made me realize that having two little girls that are healthy and happy (not suffering in any way) is the most priceless gift that God could ever give Ashly and I! We are sooooo blessed in every way!

I will try and update my blog this weekend...until next time!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!!

No picture...just wishing Ashly a Happy 32nd Birthday today! We are getting old!

Boots and Hats Festival at Lake Hills Church

The day after we returned home from California, our church had a little festival. Ashly, BJ and I took the girls and they had so much fun. There was a chili cook-off, a pie eating contest, bouce houses, petting zoo, cake walk, and homemade ice cream. We did it all!

Frank and Wendy's Wedding

Ashly and I went to California on March 26th to attend the wedding of two of our closest friends, Frank and Wendy. It was a short trip but we had so much fun.

We met Wendy and Frank for the first time on our trip to Mexico (April 2006). They have been to Texas three times to visit us and we have been to California three times to see them. We talk to one of them at least once week.


As soon as we landed at the airport in LA we dropped Ashly off at Wendy and Frank's apartment and Wendy, her family, bridesmaids and I went to the nails salon to get manicures and pedicures!


Wendy and I at the rehearsal dinner.


While we were at the nail salon, Ashly was helping out by putting the finishing touches on the name cards for the reception tables.


This is Frank and Wendy the night before the wedding. We were all hanging out at the restaurant in the hotel lobby.


This was Wendy's mother lacing up the back of her wedding dress right before the wedding!

After two nights in beautiful California, we returned home to our sweet little girls. BeBe was so kind to drive down to Austin and watch the girls while we were gone!

Hanging Out and Having Fun...

Like I said, we didn't have any plans this week except to relax and have fun. We went swimming a bunch, went to the park, watched movies and napped!!!



Payton decided she wanted to really annoy her sister right after Presley woke up from her nap. She was tickling her and spanking her on her bottom...basically driving her crazy. Can you tell by the look on her face?

Spring Break 2009

One of the many blessings of working at a school is the time off you get through out the year. Spring Break is here...Yeah!!!!

BeBe, PawPaw (Bj and Lloyd) and Corbin drove down to visit on Saturday. Saturday night we had dinner with the Jennings Family. John and Judy Jennings live in Wimberley and Carter Jennnings lives in Bastrop so we met in the middle at the Nutty Brown Cafe. Carter and Ashly have been best friends since junior high. The kids love the Nutty Brown Cafe because there is a talking parrot named Cheeto! They definitely get a kick out of Cheeto mocking how they laughed! I would have loved to show you pictures but I keep forgetting to take my camera...great mom, huh!

Sunday night Ashly and I went to the famous South By Southwest Music and Film Festival in downtown Austin. Lets just say there are some very interesting people in Austin! We had a good time though.

Monday we took the kiddos to the IMAX theater downtown and saw "Under the Sea 3-D" show. It was awesome! Once again, I forgot my camera..I know, I know! During the whole show you could see a bunch of little hands all over the theater trying to grab the fish on the big screen. It felt like we were right there in the ocean swimming with them. The best part was when Payton was standing up trying to grab a fish and the fish snapped it's jaws trying to eat another little fish and she jumped back so fast and sat back down in her chair. It was so funny, I thought BJ and I were going to pee in our pants.

BeBe, PawPaw and Corbin went home this morning. We were sad to see them go! We are looking forward to a relaxing week with no big plans and BEAUTIFUL weather! Until next time...

GRANDAD WON!!!!

My grandad (Buddy Byrd) won a very big award at the annual TASBO (Texas Association of School Business Officials) conference in San Antonio last week. He was among ten other nominees for the "TASBO Commitment of Excellence Award", one of the highest awards you can receive in TASBO.

Grandad was the President of TASBO in 1989 when he was the Assistant Superintendent of Highland Park School District.

WooHoo Grandad!!!!!...WE ARE SO HAPPY AND PROUD OF YOU! Congratulations, you deserve it!

Flashback To The 80's...

Ashly and I went to my friend Val's birthday party. It was an 80's party in downtown Austin. Ashly was Billy Idol and I felt like I walked straight out of the 80's with my awful Z-Cavaricci acid-washed jacket, suede fringe skirt and permed hair (not a real perm of course). My hair dresser decided he wanted to put my hair in perm rods all day to get the full affect. While Christopher (my hair dresser) was styling my hair we were jamming to "Rock The Cradle of Love", "White Wedding" and "Putting On The Ritz"! We had to get in the mood, ya know!

We had so much fun that night. Since we spent our Valentine's night at a birthday party we decided to treat ourselves to a nice hotel room downtown afterwards! It was one of the most fun nights we have had since we have moved here!

Ashly's Valentine's Gift To the Girls...

Ashly surprised the girls with a James Avery heart necklace and chocolates. He knows how to win over a girl's heart...chocolate and jewelry, works every time!!!!

Watkins Family Update...

Things have been steadily busy since we returned home from Christmas break. I haven't been able to blog as often because I haven't had the extra down time at work as I did before. I was promoted to the "Special Education Specialist" which basically means I conduct all of the ARD (IEP) meetings and manage the special education department on campus. It is alot more work and a little more stressful because I'm dealing with legal paperwork but I definitely enjoy it. Plus, the pay increase is always nice.

I was asked to join a book club with a girl I work with and adore. Her name is Val and she has become a great friend here. The book club meets once a month. This brings me to the topic of last months book that I HIGHLY recommend. The title of the book is, "Same Kind of Different As Me" by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. I can't tell you enough how much I enjoyed this book. Go to the book's website and check it out...
www.samekindofdifferentasme.com

I have also started attending a group called "Mom To Mom". It is a Biblically-based parenting program offered through our church. We meet every Wednesday night. While I'm there, Ashly and the girls have a date night together. So, it works out well. I really have enjoyed meeting new people, especially moms that are on the same page as me. Most of the mothers there have the same priorities and goals for their kids as I do. Plus, it is important to surround yourself by positive and encouraging people.
You can check it out at...
www.momtomom.org

Ashly is working at Texas Country Bank and loves it. He is a mortgage banker and doing really well. He has met some really neat people in the process. When I describe his bank to people, I tell them that it reminds me of a small town bank where they know everybody by their first name when they walk through the door.

Ashly has also started going to a Bible study group at our church on Tuesday mornings. He has met some really good people there as well.

The girls are doing GREAT and growing so fast. They LOVE their little preschool, Kids R Kids. They have wonderful teachers and are learning more here then they have ever learned. They only go four days a week because they get to stay home with Daddy on Fridays (Ashly works from the house on Fridays).

Their favorite movie right now is Annie. They both know all the songs and harmonize pretty well together..."the sun will come out tomorrow..."! I can't thank God enough for them. They are so sweet and keep Ashly and I smiling everyday! What a gift!!!!

Luckily, our weekends have been pretty low key just getting stuff done around the apartment and enjoying each other. We have a big weekend planned next weekend. BJ, Lloyd, Corbin and Uncle Bubba are coming down to Austin to visit. We can't wait, we love having family here.

Thanks for reading our family blog, until next time...

A Parade of Champions

I took the girls to the Lake Travis High School "Parade of Champions" on Sunday, January, 11th. Their football team won the State Championship (4-A), their cheerleaders won the NCA National Championship (held in Dallas) and their Volleyball team are the State Semi-Finalists. Lake Travis ISD is one of the better school districts in the Austin area academically also. Needless to say, this is the school district that I want the girls to be at. So, say a prayer that this is where we will find a home (house) soon!

The LT quarterback, Garrett Gilbert that has already signed on with UT!

Look at that championship ring...WOW!

Olivia's Birthday Party!

On January 10, Ashly took Payton to her second big birthday party here in Austin. It was her little friend, Olivia from her pre-school class. It was at a ranch and there was pony rides and a petting zoo. Despite the very cold weather that blew in that morning, Ashly said that Payton had a blast.

Our New Years Trip To LA...

After our extremely busy Christmas holiday, Ashly and I were able to break away for a little "Mommy and Daddy" time! It was a much needed short vacation! We went to LA to visit our very good friends, Wendy and Frank!

Our plane left DFW on Wednesday, December 31st at 6:15 a.m. Luckily, once we got there, we had all day to rest while Wendy and Frank were at work. As soon as Wendy and Frank got off work the New Years Eve festivities began. We went over to their friend Malanie's place and cooked out for dinner. Then we went to a party in the Hollywood Hills. The party was fun but we didn't want to be on the streets too late so we took our little group (of about 10) and went back to Wendy and Frank's place and finished the night off there!

Ashly and I on New Years Eve!

A Close-Up!










The great thing about this trip to LA is that we didn't do a whole lot. We hardly spent any money and we relaxed for three days. The second night, we went to dinner with Wendy, Frank and their good friends, Peter and Kelly (from New York). What a neat couple. After dinner the guys played pool while the girls just hung out. It was fun.

Frank, Wendy, Ashly and I waiting on Peter and Kelly before dinner.

We were having so much fun spending time together!







On Friday I got to meet Wendy's mother and little sister. We met them in Long Beach and had lunch. That was neat because it was a city that I had not seen in California yet. It is a very cute city!

Friday night Wendy, Frank, Peter, Kelly, Melanie, Ashly and I all went to this really cool club/bar called the Crown Bar in West Hollywood. We had so much fun hanging out, dancing and taking silly pictures! They had a great DJ that played fun music!




Our sweet friends, Frank and Wendy! Can you believe we met them in April 2006 in Cancun, Mexico? We are the closest of friends. They have visited us 3 times in Texas and we have been to California two times to see them...crazy huh?

Frank, Ashly and Peter posing for the camera!

Me and my Sweetie!

Wendy and I posing for the camera!

Kelly, Wendy, Melanie and I having fun at The Crown Bar!





Saturday we were sad to say goodbye to Wendy and Frank but very excited to get home and see our girls. Ashly and I had such an amazing New Years this year. I am believing that 2009 will be our BEST year ever. Anything will be better than 2008! Thank you Jesus for a new year!!!!!

Christmas Day...

Santa was very good to the girls. They got their dream Barbie house they had been asking for since October! Their eyes lit up when they saw it. It came with furniture and everything.

The beautiful and rather large Barbie house!

Payton and Presley admiring their new Barbie house from Santa!




Santa (Ashly) was extremely good to me too. He spoiled me this year! I got A Tiffany & Co. necklace, iPod Nano, a gift certificate for MAC makeup and a few more smaller things. Man, I must have been a good girl this year ;)!!!!

Mommy opening up her beautiful Tiffany's necklace from Daddy, I mean Santa :)!


My mom came over and ate breakfast with us and got to see everything the girls got from Santa, Ashly and I.


The girls about to open their gifts from Mommy and Daddy!





That afternoon we headed over to Kerri (my step sister) and Mike's house in Argyle. We had Christmas with the following family members...
-Debbie (Rah-Rah)
-Kerri, Mike, Hayden and Grayson
-Micheal (my step brother from California), Taylor, Kassey, Jamie, and Jacob
-Me, Ashly, Payton and Presley
-Michelle (Mike's sister)


Payton and Presley watching Aunt Kerri decorate Jesus' birthday cake!

Daddy and the girls getting ready to open more presents!

These are all of Dad and Debbie's grand kids...Jamie and Grayson in this picture and Presley, Payton, Taylor, Kassy, Hayden and Jacob in the picture below!












We decided to head up to Oklahoma to let the girls say goodbye to Nanny. Since Nanny's house was a little too packed with family we decided to get a hotel room for the night!

WOW! What a busy Christmas!

Nanny passed away on December 27th in the hospital with BJ and Uncle Bubba by her side. Her little body finally got tired of fighting. She is in a much better place now. Nanny received the best Christmas gift of all!

Our Busy Christmas Eve...

Our Christmas Eve was a very crazy one. We received a phone call on Wednesday(December 24th) morning from Uncle Bubba (BJ's brother) and he said that the doctor's speculated that Nanny would pass sometime in the next 24 hours. Along with BJ and Lloyd, Ashly and I (in separate cars) drove up to Oklahoma in hopes to see Nanny one last time. We dropped the girls off at Mommom and Grandad's so we could focus on spending time with Nanny at the hospital. Luckily she opened her eyes one last time while we were at the hospital. Even though our day was a little hectic going back and forth from Texas to Oklahoma. It was worth every minute we spent with Nanny.

We drove back to Irving to spend Christmas Eve at Mommom and Grandad's house. We ate our annual enchilada dinner! The following family members were there...
Mommom and Grandad
Mom
Uncle Billy and Aunt Alane
Aunt Alicia
Ashly and I
Payton and Presley

My brother and Shelly went to Big Lake to spend Christmas with her family...the joys of be married! You have to compromise and alternate holidays!!!


Presley waiting to open her presents at Mommom and Grandad's house!

Payton opening her new Barbie clothes from Aunt Alicia!

...opening more presents!









The girls spread out their reindeer food on the front porch. They made it at their school. It was a combination of oatmeal and glitter..."On Christmas Eve sprinkle over your lawn. The glitter will shine in the moonlight and lead Santa to your house before dawn. The smell of the oats will guide the reindeer directly to your rooftop."