Christmas Day 2010

We spent Christmas morning as we usually do.  Brooke & Lexy woke us up about 8am and we all headed out to see what Santa left.  After looking at their gifts from Santa and their stockings, we took turns opening the other presents.  After everything was open Daddy started taking things out of packages and putting them together while Mommy made breakfast for everyone.  Our tradition is that we each choose what we like best for breakfast and we have a little of everything, this year it was blueberry muffins, sausage, hashbrowns, pancakes and bacon.  After breakfast Grandpa Tom and Mammaw came over with great presents and they got to have the tour of gifts from the girls :-)

This year Lexy asked Santa for and received a Squinkies playhouse and Brooke wanted makeup.  For their big gifts from us, Brooke asked for a TV for her room and Lexy asked for Pembo (a talking/walking penguin)...they received those and many more!

Mother's Day

For Mother's Day this year, we went up to Golden Corral to meet Grammy & Papa and Mammaw and Grandpa Tom for dinner. Mike and the girls got me the set of dishes I'd been asking for, Lexy brought me two plants home from school and Brooke made me a Happy Mother's Day ribbon out of duct tape for the day! We got both Grammy and Mammaw a little something for their yards.

The busy life and Focus Friday

This week has been full. I had my first day at work on Tuesday evening...oh my was I sore the next day! I'm just not used to standing on my feel for 5.5 hours! On Wednesday evening Lexy had a soccer game. It's amazing how good these little 4 & 5 year olds have gotten! Lexy had a big cheering section with Mike & I, Robin & Kenzie, Papa & Grammy and Mammaw & Tom. Lexy didn't make a goal at this game but at the last game she did!!!

Also on Wednesday, my brother & sister-in-law found out by ultrasound that instead of being due in March (like they were told by blood test) they were instead due to have their baby TODAY (Friday, Oct. 2). Talk about a HUGE shock! So I spent yesterday going thru all my baby stuff and taking what I have for a boy to them. I can't wait to meet my new little nephew!!

There was a football game last night but because of volleyball conflicts the girls weren't able to cheer but Brooke and a couple of the other girls (that don't play volleyball) went to the game to cheer from the stands. This video is from the last game that the girls did cheer at...

FOCUS FRIDAY

Last weeks goals...

1.) Continue to walk and organize the house. Sell as many things that are listed on Craigslist as I possibly can to get them out of here!! We only got to walk on Monday but hopefully we'll be back to it next week. I have sold several of my items on Craigslist, starting to see some progress on getting the basement cleaned out!

2.) Try to get a rountine down for working without feeling guilty. On the evenings I work I won't have much time at all with the girls and none with Mike and I won't be here to fix dinner. Tuesday was the only night I worked this week so it wasn't too bad. I made pasta salad for dinner before I left and all went well while I was gone. This week will be a little more crazy as I work Sat. morning and Lexy has her last soccer game and then I work Monday, Tues. (Brooke has a football game to cheer at) and Friday evenings...and Mike is on call for his job this week!

3.) Buy my mom's b-day present. The girls did this. Happy Birthday Mom, sorry you have to work today!

4.) idk...I knew something would come up and it happened to be going thru all my baby stuff for my brother and sister-in-law!

This weeks goals...

1.) Continue to walk, organize and clear out the Craigslist stuff from the basement.

2.) Make some quick freezer breakfasts for weekday mornings.

3.) Not get stressed out over working and missing so much this week. Enjoy the time I do have with my family.

4.) Plan to go to the BIG craft fair next weekend.

1st day down

I went to pick Lexy up from school...as she walked out of the school she looked a little worried but as soon as she saw me she got the biggest smile and ran to me for a hug. I asked how her day was and she said "I loved it, it was GREAT!" She said her favorite part was nap time (although she didn't sleep) but she did get to take her pillow/tiger out of her bag to lay with. She said her least favorite part was doing the work lol!

Brooke said she had a good day too. She got to see all her friends, she really liked all her teachers (she was worried about a few of them), she gets to go swimming for PE for the rest of the week and there was a new boy that was cute...so all is good :-)

After looking at and signing about a million papers from school for both girls, Mike and I went to pick up the van and many dollars later we have a new water pump and no squeak...yay!

I had made one of Brooke and Lexy's favorite dinners, spaghetti for tonight and a 1st day of school cake...

We decided to invite Grandpa Tom over for dinner and cake since we forgot his birthday over the weekend (sorry!) and we knew that he was on his own for the next couple of weeks while Mammaw is away...

Memorial weekend fun

We had a lot of family fun this Memorial weekend! Saturday we did a little shopping and then went to a family fun center called Power Play. We played mini golf and arcade games and then ate at their pizza buffet for dinner.


On Sunday we had a picnic at the lake with Mammaw and Grandpa Tom. Lexy got to go fishing for the first time and she was SO excited when she caught a fish! But she was quick to tell us that we would just look at the fish and then put him back in the water...because he was her friend!






Sunday evening Brooke and I joined Robin, Molly, Shilah, Sierra and Sahara at the drive-in to watch Hannah Montana and Race to Witch Mountain. Brooke and I didn't get home until almost 1 am and I forgot how cold it gets after dark! Mike and Lexy stayed home and watched Tinker Bell and played :-)

Monday we spent the day in our jammies just being together.

Mother's Day

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day! Mine was great even after starting out not so great...we were to leave at 8 am to meet everyone for breakfast at 9 am...problem was I didn't wake up until 8 am! After a very hurried session of getting myself and Lexy ready (Daddy and Brooke got themselves ready) we were out the door at 8:20!

We met Mammaw (my mom) and Grandpa Tom and Grammy and Papa (my dad) for breakfast at Golden Corral.

Brooke with Mammaw and G-pa Tom

Lexy with Grammy & Papa
Brooke & Lexy with Grammy

Brooke & Lexy with Mammaw

Brooke & Lexy with Mommy (me!)

I got a "mom" bracelet and a candy bar from Brooke, a painted brick for my garden from Lexy and a shirt, purse and a promise for a new backyard swing from Mike! What a wonderful day!

Our Saturday

Today Lexy asked several times "where are we going today?"...poor thing her mind is now set on spring break fun time! She even had a hard time going to sleep tonight, I think it was from lack of being totally worn out and exhausted at the end of the day, so I laid down with her for some cuddles before she went to sleep.

I spent today working on spring cleaning our master bedroom. It's not quite done yet but I made a huge dent in the decluttering, organizing, cleaning, beautifying in there! I'll post pictures later this week.

Mike spent the day napping, fixing lunch and getting dinner, and helping me with the bedroom (I let him have the nasty task of taking all the "stuff" that belongs elsewhere to their homes.

Brooke & Kenzie spent today working on planning their birthday parties (both in May). They made signs and lists and giggled and talked all day. At the end of the day Brooke came out to show us a new duct tape purse that she made...

She said she wanted to make a purse that looks like a skirt, I think she did great! The handles are clear plastic that I bought a few years back to use on Brooke's "purse" b-day cake that I made.

Thank you Maamaw & Grandpa Tom for coming by this morning to bring Brooke some new duct tape and Lexy some dinosaurs and mats!

Christmas Day

Another GREAT day! Reasons I loved the day...

*The girls didn't get up until 8am
*We leisurely opened our presents
*Everyone was grateful for what they received
*We continued our tradition by sharing a wonderful Christmas breakfast
*Mamaw & Grandpa Tom visited (and brought presents!)
*We visited with Norma, Willie, Crissy and Raylee
*We ordered pizza for dinner 'cause Mama didn't want to cook after hearing that the local convenience store was open and taking orders for pizza!
*Everyone is happy and healthy!

Here's a scrapbook of our day...

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

The only down side to the day was when daddy spent WAY too many hours putting the toy below together to only find out that it just wasn't easy or sturdy enough for Lexy to play with. She told us "I'm not disappointed, we can just take it back and get something better"...what a girl!

Weekend fun

We weren't able to go to Papa & Grammy's this weekend, Grammy was still sick and Papa fell on the ice and hurt his shoulder...get better Papa & Grammy!!! So instead we went up shopping with the crazy people on Sat. (I can't believe Mike went for this!) and then went to K&M Bar-Be-Q for dinner (YUMMY!!!). We did come home with a new addition to the family...

His name is "T" or "Rexy" and he is the love of Lexy's life! Lexy must have felt that he had some halitosis as she got an old toothbrush and went to work...And then the next morning "T" demanded his own bowl of cereal. Mike says "that 3rd kid sure isn't as pretty as the first two!!"

The girls and I had to get out this morning for a follow up appt. for Lexy (dr.) so we went to one of the junk stores that the girls enjoy and then out to lunch. After that we came home and made one of papa & grammy's and mamaw & grandpa Tom's gifts (I'll post picture and how to's after Christmas) and we wrapped Mike's presents. Brooke and I also went online and found a solution for her jewelry in her new room...pictures of that to come after we get it all done!!

I'm getting a little worried that we may not get to make the trip up to Papa & Grammy's house for Christmas Eve since they are calling for sleet, freezing rain & snow on Tues/Wed. but hopefully the forecast will change before then!

Well, I need to go finish up some peanut butter fudge and make the girls some hot cocoa since they've been begging for it!

Brooke as "Maeve Donovan"

For our family fun this weekend we attended Brooke's acting debut. Papa & Grammy joined us for Friday nights performance and Mamaw & Tom joined us on Saturday. I can't believe how good (and funny!) the play was...I would have never guessed these were 12/13 yr. olds if I didn't know!


Enjoy a little piece of the fun (Brooke is in blue)...

Lexy started feeling ill last night and got worse today so she and Mike had to miss the performance tonight. Here's a picture of us last night!

And Brooke with Papa & Grammy...
And with Mamaw & Grandpa Tom...

Brooke just got home from the cast party (at 11:30pm) and she said that she had a great time...but she's really sad for it to be all over!

The Weekend, The Tree and Mrs. Claus's Visit

On Sat. Mike was invited by Mamaw and Tom to a wresting event so while he went to dinner & the event the girls (and Kenzie) and I had some "Mommy & Me time". We went to Zonkers and spent 3 hours riding rides, playing in the tubes and eating a not-so-healthy dinner. It was snowing pretty hard on our drive home but it didn't stick much to Lexy's dismay!

We got the Christmas Tree put up yesterday!! Brooke and Lexy had a good time putting on all the ornaments...


This morning, as per tradition in our home on Dec. 1st, Mrs. Claus left a note, ornaments and a small gift for the girls. She and the elves will leave small gifts/activities and notes throughout the season!

Brooke received a set of small "fashion" ornaments (a purse, cell phone, laptop & skirt) and two pair of knee socks that were pink and brown with monkeys. Lexy received a penguin ornament and knee socks that are navy/lt. blue with frogs.

Mike got some of our outside lights put up yesterday and hopes to finish up in the next couple of days, I'll post pictures of that when it's done. My project for this week is to organize my gift area downstairs and to get some of the wrapping done (so I don't put it off until the last minute).

Our weekend and more

We prepared for family fun on Friday by renting 5 movies and loading up on snacks and keep-the-tummy warm meals. On Saturday we stayed in our jammies all day watching our movies, snacking and staying warm and cozy!

On Sunday I went with mom (mamaw) to do some Christmas shopping without the girls. Oh how I forgot what a shopping day with her was like!! Seven hours later we returned home and I was SO wore out!!!

In other news...

Brooke woke up at about 4am this morning running fever after complaining of a tummy ache yesterday evening. She'll be going to the doctor today to hopefully get meds (probably strep throat as she is SO prone to that). We want her to get well really quick - she has play practice tomorrow night!

Pray that the rest of us don't get the sickies!!!!

Our Saturday!

We had a very eventful Saturday (family fun day) this week! It started Sat. morning at 9am at the Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome at Arrowhead Stadium. We were there to help raise awareness/funds for our friends with Down Syndrome, PJ & Maggie. They are both so cute and dear to us! The girls loved that Radio Disney was there and there was even Chiefs players there to give autographs (Brooke has no idea who that is signing her shirt but he sure is BIG!).

After the Buddy walk we went to US Toys (a big toy store) to just look around and kill some time. Who knew we would see so much excitement there. About two minutes after we left one of the rooms all the shelving fell down (on people) in that room...the sounds of the crashing shelving and halloween merchandise as well as all the screaming was deafening. Fortunately there was only one woman that was hurt...still not sure how there was no injuries to all the children milling around! Needless to say that gave us all a shock and we were speechless for quite some time.


After changing clothes in Burger King (not as comfortable or easy as you would think) we went to my nephew, Billy's wedding. Billy is only 9 years younger than me...it was so weird seeing him get married. The wedding & reception were wonderful and Lili was such a beautiful bride!!

The gorgeous bride and groom...

The groom's mom & dad (my brother)...

Our family at the wedding...

My beautiful niece, Amanda & her hubby...Maamaw & Grandpa Tom at the wedding...

My Birthday

Yesterday I celebrated my 35th birthday...what a wonderful day! My mom took me to breakfast and shopping and then Dad and Karen went to dinner with us and came back for presents and cake. When I woke Lexy up yesterday morning, before she even opened her eyes, she said "It's your birthday day Mommy!!!!" it just made me smile! Lexy also was in tears b/c she didn't want to go to school b/c she had told her teacher she would be at my birthday party :-)

Mike and Brooke had spent about 2 1/2 hrs at Wal-Mart the night before finding just the right gifts (and for those of you that know Brooke that can take hours!) and getting the german chocolate cake and ice cream that I asked for. They did such a great job and I feel SO blessed that I have a family that cares so much. Here's some pics of last night...