Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New dog....let me name it for you.

Nanna and PaPa have a new puppy, would love to tell you what kind he is...but all I can say is that he is small and furry. Perfect size for a little two year old! His name is Mikey, but Little likes to call him Mickey....she'll get it right, or maybe not. She doesn't care.



Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Taming Alligators!!

In case you haven't talked to me prior to Christmas....we had about seven different family gatherings during the month of December. One of our stops was at Uncle Brad and Aunt Ann's house and they have a large stuffed alligator in their living room. Well, this is just too much fun to pass up!!! Little did tame the wild beast, but not before it almost ate her!! She and her cousins had loads of fun. They aren't supposed to play on the alligator, but since Rileigh was doing it....well, you know how that goes.







Monday, December 29, 2008

Reindeer Food

I told Malc that before we left for the house Christmas Eve, we had to feed the reindeer. He scrutinized the bag and threatened if oatmeal (or whatever plant it comes from), starts growing in the front yard...well, you get the idea. I insisted that it would, it is processed oats, surely it can't grow, right? and besides, it is a photo-op and you can't pass that up!!!!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Book Talk

I stayed up WAY past my bedtime last night...why??? b/c my latest book was just TOOO good to put down. Stone Cold is the third in the Camel Club trilogy. The book wrapped up some lose ends that had been around since book one and two, but it still left you wondering what would happen at the end and definately what is coming up next.....everything wasn't tied up nice and neatly. But not so much that it frustrated you. He left you enough details that you start to wonder how he will continue the lives of the characters. It is heartbreaking when a member of the Camel Club dies! Through all hree of the books, they get into some tricky situations, but always come out with just a few bumps and bruises...but to have one DIE!! It was definately a shocker, but crucial to the end of the book. Our main character, Oliver Stone (no, not the producer), gets his revenge.

This one comes HIGHLY recommended.

I will start my new book tonight. It isn't my norm, but I figured John Gray knows his stuff and I'm curious to see what he has to say about men, women and stress. The full title of the book is: Why Mars and Venus Collide, Improving relationships by understanding how men and women cope differently with stress. I'll keep you posted on how it is. Wondering what he is going to tell me that most women don't already know!! ha, ha

Friday, December 19, 2008

Birthday fun

We had a birthday party this past weekend at J&R Gymnastics....this place ROCKS and is a GREAT place b/c the kids are oh so happy!!! And they run and run and run.
Trampoline fun.
Jumpy house thing....

On the "cat walk" going to the pit that has all of these blue foam blocks.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

She calls this her happy face


No, seriously, if you show this to her, she says it is her happy face! YIKES, hate to see her sad face!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Let the holidays begin....

My husband's family is VERY large....and we have LOTS of family gatherings to attend and this past weekend marked the beginning of the Christmas rotations. This party was at the bowing alley and Little did VERY well with staying off the lanes and ate A LOT, but mostly crackers. The only thing I had to do was go behind her and take out the crackers that had bites out of them (she did a lot of sampling), and one pie had her finger prints ALL over it. The FUNNIEST thing (wish I had a picture) was when she walked up to Malc and me with a huge piece of chocolate cake and an equally huge smile on her face...as if she was going to eat that when she didn't eat ANY of her dinner, not even mac & cheese or mashed potatoes...we were definately not her favorite parents at that moment in time. She got over it. Here are some pictures of her writing on the chalk boards.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

New Deer

Little LOVES the Christmas lights. When we leave in the morning, she wants the lights on, when we get home, first thing she does, is turn on the tree.....driving through the neighborhood, through town....get the idea? Well, I had to get some of the moving, lighted deer and boy does she love them. She likes to give them "nice pets" and hugs!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Cookie Capers

My friend and I decided to have our two kids and some friends come over to one of our houses to decorate cookies and make Christmas ornaments. We had a blast and so did the kids!! Full of sugar, but had a good time. We decorated cookies, made two different ornaments and even got to play "ring around the rosie!"
I think we are fortunate that ANY of the cookies made it home with any sort of decorations!









Sunday, December 14, 2008

My Little Reader

I am SOOOO proud of my daughter. She comes into the kitchen with her book and sits on the floor and starts reading. This isn't that unusual....but this time, she is pretty close to what the book says. This is a video clip of it and to say I am proud is a HUGE understatement.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Christmas Cards

Did you get the Christmas card I sent you????
You say no, I don't understand....oh, wait, I didn't send Christmas cards this year......so sorry. I am the person who usually sends them out the Monday after Thanksgiving...and this year, well, it has gotten away from me and I have made the executive decision that we aren't sending them. I am going to try (notice the verb) to send out a Christmas email (and yes, I know that isn't even remotely as good, nor the same). To add to this dilemma, I like to use my Cowboy Santa picture and as I've said...it isn't a good picture (yes, I will eventually post this, too). So, please don't be offended that I didn't send you are card. I didn't leave you out, no one got one this year! But, I will be back on track next year and send you one then!

Have a fantastic day!! HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

New Family Photo

Have you seen the new picture? Well, take a gander to the right and you'll see it. We did take the yearly one with Cowboy Santa...but not real happy with that one, so we are using this one instead. When I get it scanned, I'll post it and you'll see why it didn't make the Christmas card, nor the blog.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Bedtime Update

Wow, how things can change within the course of a few weeks!!
Typical night at our house (after bath and such),
"Are you tired?"
"Yes, I tired Momma."
"Time for bed."
"Ok, Momma." and she pads off to bed!!

It is FANTASTIC. Sometimes there is a little bit of crying, but gone are the nights of screaming and falling asleep on the floor! It is almost too good to be true!

But, she is still my little girl b/c she wants to be rocked and held. This is actually new b/c she isn't much of a cuddler. I think she is getting it from the sitter b/c now there is an infant at the sitters, so she sees the baby being held and rocked!

Oh, they do grow up SO very quickly.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Book Talk

I think I've just finished one of the best books I've read in awhile. This is one that would make for a GREAT movie, Wishing You Well by David Baldacci. This is a heart-warming tale of two children that have to go to live with their great-grandmother in the mountains of Virginia. As the story unfolded, I was reminded of my paternal family and how they labored in the cotton fields and the hard life they lived. The story really makes you take stock of your family (past and current) and what is important in life. This is not Baldacci's regular genre and he talks about this and how writing this inspired him to research more about his family or maybe it was the other way around! I recommend this book, especially at this time of the year and because times are tough, but in no way tough compared to what this family endures. God Bless and happy reading! :-)

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

It's SANTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We took pictures this weekend with Santa (not the family one, that is this weekend)....She didn't know what to think of him...check out the progression of the photos. As you can see in the beginning, she's not really sure about him (add to the fact that she literally just woke up within five minutes of this)...but by the end, she has a friend for life!!! Gotta love Gwen & Rob!!!

BRRRR......cold.....

Ok, it was down-right FREEZING this morning, although it was only in the low 40's....but if you know me, you know that anything below 80 is FREEZING to me!!!

Last night, I was all snuggled in bed, reading my newest book (more to come later in the week) and the weather caught my attention...the weather dude mentioned freezing temperatures. What, are you kidding me?? My plants!!! YIKES.....so I clammer out of bed, throw on the house shoes (which have seen their better days, yet they continue to keep my piggies warm), and grab the closest jacket I can find....grab the plant sheets and venture out into the cold night air to cover up all my darling little plants...hey, I could have froze to death trying to save their little tender lives....alas, I made it and the temperature didn't even get to mid-30 last night. What does that weather man know???

I have friends that grew up in Canada, and parts of the northeastern US, and think this weather is great. I think they are CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Give me sunshine and 100 degree weather any day of the week!

That's about it.....can't wait until Thursday, because true to Texas weather, it will be back into the 80's!! You know what they say, "If you don't like the weather in Texas, wait five minutes b/c it will change!"

Saturday, November 29, 2008

And then God said....

"Let there be light!"


I am SOOOO excited....my house has Christmas lights and it isn't even December yet!!! WOW!!! It is a good thing that I'm sitting down! ha, ha

Last year, I BEGGED my husband to hang lights for me.......I even found a man that loves Christmas SOOO much that he hangs lights for $40!!! Yes, $40....I still have his name and number if you need his services.....anyway, when I mentioned this to my husband, you'd think that I suggested he cut off one of his favorite body parts.....so, to have lights up and working this early in the season is short of a miracle!!!

I have also put up the tree and have most of the decorations situated around the house.....I'll finish that up tomorrow. I am also hoping to get some gifts wrapped...since most have been bought and I didn't even have to go shopping at midnight or worse, 4 a.m.!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

HAPPY TURKEY DAY

I hope you are all eating to your heart's content and enjoying every moment of it.....I also hope the Aggies win...but I won't hold my breath on THAT one!

I just wanted to give you a list of what I'm thankful for this year:
1. God and the freedom to worship Him
2. A loving husband
3. A beautiful and wonderful daughter
4. A terrific family (both immediate, extended, and in-laws)
5. A great country to live in
6. Our armed forces that guard us here and across the sea
7. My health and the health of my family (we are a healthy and active bunch)
8. Employment
9. A beautiful house to live in
10. All of my wonderful and supportive friends

I pray that everyone has a wonderful day and enjoys the time with their family and friends.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Book Talk

Wow, I finished my first Danielle Steele book in decades....probably only off by a few years! It took me this long b/c it was difficult to get into and get wrapped up in the story. Why? Because it is so Danielle Steel predicatable! Yes, it is nice to read about the neat and extravagent places, blah blah, blah....but EVERY book of hers is like this, so let's have something new! Alas, this book wasn't to be the winner.



Recommend it? Only if you'd like to put your imind on hold while you read it. As you read about the main character, you want to reach in and strangle her for stupid guy decisions...and then the ending is so fairy-tale-ish....her editor should be shot; aside from the fact that you could see it coming for the majority of the book!



On to the next book...the only reason I haven't cracked the spine is because CSI (THE BEST SHOW EVER!) is on and I'm enjoying actually kicking on the couch watching television! I'll give you more details later....happy day!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Diaper Cake

I've seen them, and always said, "I could do that!" And I did. I co-hosted a baby shower this weekend for a good friend and my hubby and I made a diaper cake for the center-piece. I must say, for my first try at it, it turned out pretty darn cute!!! Now then, I'm not going into business or anything, but not bad!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Diapers, diapers, diapers

As a new parent, you know that you will change a lot of diapers, but you really don't KNOW how many diapers and then you add in the COST of the darn things......well, two years later, we are sorta potty training...but all it really consists of is sitting on the toilet, putting one square in the toilet and flushing the toilet while saying, "Bye-bye.".....so, I have talked to numerous folks and have decided to embark on a new journey! We are going cloth!! Yes, I said cloth.....they are in the wash right now and I have a special little bag to carry them to the sitter's house and a different special bag to bring them home in at night! I'm SO excited and they are actually VERY pretty, too. I bought them from my new friend Andrea Lynch and she'd be more than happy to make some for your child, too.

She also makes this WONDERFUL portable chalk board, this

opens up into this:

Our Little loves her chalk board!!!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Food for all

What can $30 buy you at the grocery store? Not much. But, if you go to Angel Food Minstries, you'd be AMAZED at what you'd get....let me show you:
What is all this*:

1.5 lb. Choice Cut Beef Roast
2 lb. Breaded Chicken
Tenders
2 lb. IQF Chicken Breast
1.5 lb. Pork Chops (4 x 6 oz.)
1 lb. 80/20 Lean Beef
Patties (4 x 4 oz.)
28 oz. Salisbury Steak EntreƩ
1 lb. All Meat Hot Dogs
1 lb. Carrots
1 lb. Green Beans
1 lb. Rice
24 oz. Steak-Cut Fries
32 oz. 2% Reduced Fat Shelf
Stable Milk
7.5 oz. Mac and Cheese
14 oz. Chicken Broth
7 oz. Corn Muffin Mix
Dozen Eggs
Dessert Item
*Word of note, the picture is of the food for November, but the November menu isn't posted anymore, this is the December menu....but you get the idea.
Local churches participate in the program and ANYONE can purchase items from them. This is the second month we have done this and the food isn't bad. The meat isn't Granzin's, but it is good. I don't know for sure how much we are saving...but I do know I am taking a lot less trips to HEB. I'm not a fan of hot dogs...but for one meal, we can eat them and my husband and child LOVE them...so we do it. I'm trying to be more frugal and use more stuff that is in my pantry and that means being creative with some of our meals. I highly recommend you take a look and try it out. Who doesn't need to save money?
If you know someone who is elderly, they have pre-made meals for a GREAT price!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Who's the smartest looking one in class?

She just cracks me up when she wears these. We had to knock out the lenses b/c one broke...but she still finds them very useful!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Sunday Funnies


Saturday, November 15, 2008

One, Two, Three, GOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Little doesn't play with dolls very much, but on this day, she and her ballerina doll were playing on the slide:

First the ballerina climbs up,

Then slides down,

And then it's Little's turn. It is good she can share with friends!








Friday, November 14, 2008

This is why I'm late to work.....

My little diva decided to get into my jewelry and show it off.....I thought I'd never get it off of her and get us both ready for the day!!