Thank heavens for school

The girls both woke up about 45 minutes early and crawled in the bed with me this morning. For some reason I thought I might get to sleep until the alarm went off but of course that didn't happen. They poked and bugged each other. I then heard Peyton say, "Landree, you should treat others like you would like to be treated." Landree's response, "Ok, I'm going to treat you like a donkey."

Well people as you can imagine it just went down downhill from there. I got Peyton out the door and to school and Landree is now "illegally" playing Peyton's DS. It's a short moment of peace and quiet and I'm going to take it. It's days like these that I am thankful that I have the opportunity to send at least one of them to school.

Blog Back from Hiatus- Kid pics of course

I haven't posted on this blog in quite awhile. I've kept up with Facebook but the blog seemed too overwhelming. I survived the hottest summer in San Antonio history with the worst 24 hour a day morning sickness of my life. We did find out that we are having a baby boy in December so there is a level of excitement in this house.

So today is Peyton's First Day of First Grade. We started the day off with Chocolate Chip Pancakes and Bacon. Yes I know that is not the best of breakfasts but I only make it on the first day of school and on her birthday and every other day she has normal much less sugary meals- unless Daddy makes it. Now any of you who knows me as a mom knows I have some control issues. I am trying to work on that and let Peyton pick her own outfit for the first day of school. She even picked her own shoes and hairstyle and bow. While it is a cute dress and I even bought it, I would have probably picked something a little more practical for the first day. But she didn't want to wear what Brian and I picked out or any of the rest of our fashion suggestions so we just let her run with it. She was very excited but you can tell here she is nervous by how she's grasping her hands.

And since I failed to post pictures of all of her lost teeth, here are two close-ups. She has lost 6 teeth (4 of those this summer) and only 2 have come in. She pulled two out within ten minutes while waiting in the car at HEB one Sunday a few weeks ago.

Landree wanted music for her ride to school. She has had a few crying spells around not wanting her sister to go back to school
We started our walk to school and I asked her to stop and look back so I could take her picture. Her response was, "Really Mom."

Grandma- I put this picture up for you. she looks just like Brian when he gets uneasy and starts licking his lips.

She finally gave it up when I told her we weren't moving until she cooperated
Are you noticing all the drought ridden grass. We've had 25-26 inches of rain since September 2007 and are on water restrictions.

Normally when you visit school, they scan your driver's license and print out a sticker with your picture and name and where you are cleared to visit- to have full access to the school as a parent, you have to have a background check. Normally they wave this procedure for the first day of school. Well they must have been told that security was more important this year because they decided to make all the parents sign in today and failed to warn us. So when we came around the corner, this is what we sawWe got closer and realized there was not just one line but there was also a second line on the other side of the building. We knew we would be there awhile. And this was about 25 minutes before the first bell rang so needless to say the line just got much longer behind us. You gotta know that last week there were 1191 students enrolled so it's a lot of parents.

I did try to get her to go to the flowers and pose for a picture but the sun was in her eyes and she didn't cooperate. In the background you can see one of the playgrounds and the canopies the PTA put over a some of the play equipment last year. Since today is supposed to be our 55th day over 100 degrees this summer and there is no relief in sight, I'm sure thankful they are there for this school year. After over 30 minutes in line we finally got into the building. She saw her Kindergarten teacher in the hallway and got to say hi to her and then we were off to her room.

Luckily we had met her teacher and had gotten all her school supplies put away last Friday night at Open House. She is very excited that she now has a desk and not just a table. We got her settled, gave her a kiss and a hug, took a picture, and left our baby in the hands of a stranger. Yes I know I was that stranger to other parents for many years but it still doesn't make me feel better today.

We made the walk back home, kissed Brian bye, and I'm now trying to get things accomplished with Landree in my lap. She's a little extra clingy so I might have to spend extra time snuggling today- oh the horror-hehe.

Here we go again

So I thought that my next blog post would be chronicling some part of my pregnancy. Well I was wrong. Tonight we did a shrimp boil for Father's Day and we had a complication. Peyton refused to eat anything because it was too spicy and Landree ate hers and Peytons because it was so good. We noticed Landree's face turning red but we weren't alarmed because she sometimes turns red when she deals with spices because her skin is so sensitive. Well it got worse and started spreading so I pulled her out and washed her down. Then the hives popped up and I gave her benadryl. She started complaining that her face was getting bigger but we didn't notice a difference. She did start coughing and that was when I made sure the epi-pens were out of the package and waiting. Luckily the benadryl worked.

So here is what we had for supper
Shrimp
Red Potatoes
Corn on the Cob all boiled in a pot of Zatarain Boil. I then added some of her safe butter to the potatoes and corn.

I rechecked all packages and Brian knows we didn't have any cross-contamination since he cooked it all. So it's looking like we might have a new allergy. Shrimp of course is the obvious suspect. It could be a random spice but I'm really hoping not because food companies are not required to list individual spices. Our allergist had us wait until she was 3 to try shellfish and fish and so far she has been okay. This was her 3rd or 4th exposure. But I also know it can be the 1000th exposure before someone shows a reaction too. I'll call the allergist in the morning and see where we go from here. We have an appointment the last week of July so I'm sure we'll just wait until then.

Here is the only clear picture I could get of her tonight. I had to use a flash because neither one of us could seem to stay still so the color in the picture isn't quite as red as it was in person and this was before the hives started. I like to take pictures as we go along in a reaction so I have a better perspective because sometimes in the moment they seem worse than what they really are.
Ignore the tongue

Announcement with a TMI Warning

Okay so a couple of days after my last post, Brian and I found out we were expecting a new addition to the family. It was a very unexpected development in the Craft house especially having been told at one point by doctors that we may never have children. I just hadn't been feeling well for over a month and had even told took a few tests over the Easter Holiday. Of course they were negative but I just couldn't shake the exhaustion and nausea. I even told a few friends if I didn't know better, I would swear I was pregnant. Well I obviously didn't know better because I was pregnant. About a week after I found out I started my normal 24 hour a day morning sickness. I didn't plan to tell the girls until I was out of my first trimester. We didn't with Peyton when I was pregnant with Landree and I just wanted to protect them as long as I could. Well that only lasted until I started puking and Peyton decided I had the Swine Flu and of course Peyton is a worry wart like her momma and decided I needed to go to the hospital. So after we saw the heartbeat on ultrasound, we went ahead and told the girls. They are excited and all on board now. Landree named it Baby Bob- no we don't know the gender- and everyone else has picked up on the name. The girls kiss and hug Baby Bob every night and Landree asks every day if the baby is big enough to come out yet. December will be a long way away for poor Landree.

Yesterday we went for another doctor's appointment and she asked if we minded waiting to see if the ultrasound tech could get hearttones. I wanted to say Lady, I would sit here all day for a chance to get a glimpse of Baby Bob. She said that since I was past 10 weeks (I'm 11) if we got a heartbeat then we had a pretty safe and secure pregnancy. Well we saw a heartbeat so I feel a little more secure and was able to breath a little better.

Unfortunately I am in the First Trimester slump still. I am exhausted and puking a lot. Okay so here is where the TMI starts and I'm warning you if you read the blog for the next year or so you will be getting TMI about me and the baby I'm sure. I somewhat thought I was coming out of it towards the end of last week but I was wrong. Sunday night I had really bad heartburn and Brian remembered I used to make and drink a glass of chocolate milk before I went to bed when I was pregnant with Peyton so I tried it. At 3:30 that morning, I woke up puking. Ugh- who does that and it was certainly a first for me. Yesterday evening I somehow puked some through my nose and then had to deal with a nosebleed for awhile. Note to self- stomach acid is not meant to go through the delicate passages of your nasal cavity. See I warned you- TMI. My prayer is that this follows the girls and my puking rally will be done by 14-15 weeks.

We do plan to find out the gender if we can but that won't be until sometime in August probably. The girls are going back and forth whether they want a boy or a girl. Brian of course would love a son but also says he knows what to do with girls so that might be easier. I really don't care. I would love for Brian to get to experience having a son but then again he is such a great Daddy to our girls that I would love to see that big ol' man wrapped around another baby girl finger.

So I hope that explains my absence for the last month or more. I have been tired but I also didn't want to put it all over the internet either if something went wrong. Some of our friends know but a lot didn't until yesterday. So if you're just finding out here, don't be upset with us because we really weren't telling everyone yet- pretty much just family and those that might have to deal with my puking.

UGH!!!

So the pig flu- oh excuse me they now want you to call it H1N1- has hit the school district 2-3 miles down the road. They are closing Comal and New Braunfels school districts until May 11th and this is State Testing week. They have to be concerned if they are shutting down in the middle of state testing. You know it is only a matter of days before we get a case in our school district. So several years ago I got freaked out of the bird flu. I calmed myself down and worked through it. I haven't been too concerned about this pig flu. It really has kind of come out of no where- I had no time to get myself prepared. Yah I know that it has not killed anyone in the states but it is in Mexico and I am awfully close to Mexico. I got concerned enough yesterday that I bought 3 weeks of groceries. I'm trying to decide if the girls are going to gymnastics and dance tomorrow because half the kids go to Comal school district. Sigh.... how do I balance keeping my kid's safe and not being an alarmist?

I am going to stock up on Diet Dr. Pepper first thing in the morning. There is no way I am spending a week plus in this house without caffeine.

2 Years Ago Today

We became Texans. Okay maybe not Texans but residents of Texas. We signed the contracts on our house, the movers delivered all but one missing box, had new furniture delivered, and started our new adventure. We didn't know what to expect and were hopeful we had made the right decision. Peyton entertained the movers with an array of dress-up clothes since it was the first box they found. Landree was a new walker and loved running up and down the foyer surprising Brian since she didn't walk before he left a month before. We almost doubled our house size and didn't think we would ever fill it up.

Now two years later, we know that moving here was one of the best decisions we have made for our family. The girls are doing great and we have some how figured out how to fill this house- not always with what I want. Peyton's school is better than we could ever have imagined. We have great friends and a wonderful church family.

Here are the girls just a week after we moved. They have changed and matured so much in that time.

Landree saw it and asked why we had pulled all her teeth. I guess she didn't realize she wasn't born with them.

Sugarlips is Six Today

Six years ago today, I was sitting in Little Rock with a one month, one day old child eagerly awaiting the call that my new niece Jaycee Marie had been born. Instead I got the call the God had blessed us with a boy. Gosh doggit I was already in turmoil that I was not there and now the whole family was in an uproar and I wasn't in the middle of it. My wonderful In-laws went by and took a picture for me so I could at least see him. He was so tiny and looked like a wrinkly little old man. Of course there was no name for him and my husband takes great joy in telling people that he gave them the name Jayce. I have always used his full name, Jayce Carter and he has grown into it. When he's being ornery I call him Sugarlips- don't ask me where that started, I have no idea but for now he allows me to call him that. The world has not been the same since he came into it and he's only 6. He's so stinkin' cute with stinkin' being the key word there. Here is Jayce Carter in all his glory riding my 70 y/0+ uncle's back last summer, living up to the double name.

Dance Pictures

Peyton had pictures for her dance recital tonight. Daddy wasn't home so I took quick pictures before we went. She started doing poses

I have no idea where that one came from.

I finally got a good one from her

She did great!

Landree did great during gymnastics today. The trampoline built into the floor was her favorite part. Afterwards, the coach told me that she thought Landree was a good fit for gymnastics. She also asked me if she smiled all the time or was she that excited about class. I hated to tell her that she is usually that happy. She did ask if Landree was fearless. Sigh, Yes she is fearless. The coach said she never hesitated when she asked her to do anything like some first timers do. She also said she was persistent and just kept doing everything over and over again. I told her that she was quite a climber and into everything. The coach told me that children like that were usually great at gymnastics and the structure and focus of gymnastics would help. We'll see.

One discovery I made today is that Landree is built very differently than Peyton was at three. I some what knew it but having her in Peyton's old leotard just proved it. It's a little snug in the bottom and hopefully she'll fit into the one Peyton wore the next year- if I can find it. Here were a few shots before we left this morning.

Pray for Me

So those of you who have been reading since 2007 may remember Peyton's First Gymnastics class here in San Antonio. If you have forgotten or never read it, here is the link
http://thecraftsblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/first-day-of-school-and-gymnastics.html

That is a day that I will probably never forget as long as I live. I think I was so surprised because Peyton is usually pretty agreeable and usually does what she is told. Then there is her sister, Landree. We all know Landree dances to a different drummer and believes rules are not something that applies to her.

I know you are now wondering why in the world I have asked for prayer. Well this morning at 9 AM, Landree is going to her first Gymnastics class. My fear is she will either not listen and just do what she wants or she's going to get stubborn, tell me, "I don't want to," and stick her thumb in her mouth. My hope is she will love it and I'll get to sit in the parent section and breath a sigh of relief.

I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm Back

Sorry for not posting on my blog in the last month or so. My laptop has been dying a slow and painful death for a while now. I have tried several times in the last few weeks to upload pictures but it wouldn't work. Last week my laptop finally coughed the last breath. Today I got a new one and hope to have all the kinks out and back to posting in a few days. Thanks to those who have emailed me to check on us- we are all still alive and kicking.

Really?

February in South Texas.

13 Years Ago Today

Brian and I met. My sorority and Brian's Fraternity had a Mardi Gras Exchange and the rest is history. Not really because we both went out with other people first and we didn't start dating for a couple of months. I have a picture of that night but it is in the armoire next to Landree's room and she is way too restless tonight for me to find it and scan it up there. I do not bother sleeping babies, especially that child. I'll have to get it tomorrow and put it on here. We even have a shirt from that night and we joke that not every married couple has a picture from the night they met and a t-shirt to commerate the event.

Trust me we didn't know that 13 years from the day we would be laughing in San Antonio during supper with our oldest daughter who is complaining about the prospect of having to eat Enchalupaladas (she confused enchiladas and chalupas) at school this week if I forget to remind her to order a yogurt plate on Wednesday, again; and the youngest daughter who loves spaghetti so much that she picked up her bowl to lick the remaining sauce out of it.

Days 35 & 36

Day 35

Today was the 100th day of school and Western Wear Day. The San Antonio Rodeo lasts for 3 weeks or so and every Wednesday the kids get to wear Western clothes.

Day 36

They were headed to the Daddy/Daughter Dinner. Peyton informed me that she wanted to wear her Christmas Dress and asked me if Daddy was wearing nice clothes or blue jeans. She then called and left him a message asking him if he would change clothes when he got home. I talked her down to a sundress and sandals- gotta love San Antonio in the winter. She disagreed with Daddy's choice of clothes and picked something new for him. He didn't shave but did put on cologne. They had pizza, cake and played bingo. She was thrilled. Landree and I went to McDonalds and got her new favorite- Apple Pie- Egg, Milk, and Peanut Free

Project 365

Okay so I've been doing Project 365 and realized I haven't put any on the blog. Basically Project 365 is where you take a picture every day of Year 2009- hence 365 pictures. I've been taking pictures and starting to scrapbook them. I doubt I'll go back and post the first 30 on here but I am going to start with day 31.

Day 31: Best Friends

Brian was working on weeding the backyard and the girls were oustide playing so I of course followed them around with a camera. I was so excited when I pulled this picture of the camera. She still misses Buddy but she does LOVE her Charlie Bear.

Day 32: Fire Hydrant

Charlie decided to use the girl's mailbox in the playroom as a Fire Hydrant. Of course everyone thinks it is hilarious. Everyone who didn't have to clean it up that is.

Day 33: I sthick

Landree is sick and keeps telling me that. She looks so pitiful but even with the red cheeks, didn't have much of a fever.

Day 34: Momma Chicken

Peyton was supposed to be a chicken for tonight's Kindergarten performance. The recommendation was to take a yellow shirt and put feathers on it. Well I started looking a week and a half ago and no yellow feathers. After seeing her costume, Peyton declared, "Mom, we should have just bought one from school." Not an option ungrateful. Then she exclaimed, "I'm going to have a heart attack because now I'm the Momma Chicken because I'm white not yellow like the baby chicks." Yeah whatever, just hold still so I don't stick you with a pin.

I know it's one picture but I can't stick to that on a special day. Here are the felt/sandal chicken feet.

Here is Daddy Chicken cleaning off her face one more time before walking to school

Here they are leaving me because I woke up with an eye almost swollen shut and a fat lip and covered in hives for the second day in a row (I'm all medicated up and no I have no idea what caused it). Daddy has camera in hand and I'm ready for them to get back so I can see it.

He's Here

We are now a Pug Family. We picked up Charlie this morning. I have a lot to tell you about meeting him last night and picking him up today but I don't have time. I was at a Baby Shower this afternoon and tonight have to go help set up the church for our 25th Anniversary Lunch tomorrow. Here are a few quick pics from today

We are adding to the Family

No don't get too excited. We are starting the process of getting a new dog. Since we lost our Buddy http://thecraftsblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/budman.html, it has been a little lonely at our house. Poor Landree is still missing him and asks for him daily. On Friday, we are going to meet two dogs in the pug rescue out of Austin. The first one is a Chug- okay not really, she's half pug, half chihuahua. I sent her link to Brian as a joke that Peyton would love her. He responded with we could always get two. She's four months old and they think she will only get 10 pounds. I told him she might not make it in our house with Landree. He thinks she would so we're going to meet her.


The other dog we're going to meet is a 2 1/2 year old Pug named Charlie Chaplin. He was rescued from a puppy mill where he lived in a wire cage. He is so handsome and kind of reminds me of a Baxter (our English Bulldog).


We told the girls about it tonight and of course they are excited. We have explained that they might not be right for our family and we will keep looking if they don't work out and that Brian and I make the decision not them. Yeah right, they also know we can be suckers too. So we're driving up to Austin Friday afternoon and then we'll come home and make our decision.

Oh and Momma, if you're reading this from Wisconsin, Melanie got a Great Dane Puppy. Yeah, I'm being 8 again and ratting her out. I told her she should name it Horse because that is what's she's going to be feeding.

My Husband Rocks

There is a group of blogs that do My Husband Rocks every Friday. I can tell you now that I won't remember to do it every Friday but this questionnaire caught my eye.

1. Where did you meet?
At a ZTA/TKE exchange in college. He was a little intoxicated and kept hitting on one of the new pledges in my sorority. I went into rescue her and ended up dancing with him. It took another 2 months before we started dating.

2. How long did you date b/f you were married?
2½ years

3. What does he do that surprises you?
DVRs all the kid shows (Suite Life of Zach and Cody, Hannah Montana, Raven, etc…) and watches them with Peyton and will go to any Kid’s Movie without complaint

4. What is your favorite quality of his?
How loyal his to anyone who means something to him

5. What is your favorite feature of his?
When I first met him- That face with the Craft S**t Eating Grin- that is what his sister calls it
After almost 13 years- His Chest because when my world seems to falls apart, my head fits there perfectly

6. Does he have a nickname for you?

Not really, he calls me Baby when he needs something or apologizing and DammitErica when he’s aggravated

7. What is his favorite food?
He loves a good steak with French Fries and wash it down with a big piece of Chocolate Cake

8. What is his favorite sport?
Is fishing or hunting a sport? Football

9. When and where was your first kiss?
April 13, 1996- At my apartment- our second date- Yeah I’m a dork because I know the date

10. What do you like to do together?
Being on a private sailboat in the Caribbean- okay so we’ve only done it once but loved it. We love having snack night and watching a movie, sans kids

11. Do you have any children?
Two girlies

12. Does he have a hidden talent?
He is hilarious and once he gets going, it’s really hard to stop him

13. Who said "I love you" first?
I did

14. What is his favorite type of music?
Country- mainly Hank William’s Jr

15. What do you admire most about him?
How hard he works and the fact that his whole world centers around the three girls in this house.
16. Do you think he will read this?
Only if someone tells him he should- he doesn’t read the blog

It has hit

Peyton has the flu with a 104 degree temperature. She's the only one in the house that got the flu shot/mist so pray for the rest of us. Since yesterday afternoon we have watched 5 different Beethoven movies- there's been a marathon on Disney. If any more of us go down, it could be a LONG week. I'm getting off my butt now to clean the house so that if I go down at least we won't be living in a pig stye.

First day with a Trainer

Okay so as everyone can see from pictures on this blog, my butt has gotten too big and way out of hand. Brian and Haley have been trying to "convince" in the most loving of ways that I needed to start exercising. The thing is, I HATE EXERCISING. Oh everyone says just find something you like and you'll love it. NO- I don't. I like nothing about sweating, sucking wind, and my head feeling like it's going to explode. Nope don't like it.

Anyone that knew me as a kid knows that I have never been a sport's kid, didn't have the coordination for it or competitive streak. However, many people don't realize I was an outdoors kid and the Mud Pie Queen of the trailer park I grew up in and I have even eaten dirt on saltines. We just had to be within Momma's shouting range and we lived outside and you know living in Louisiana I must have sweat. So this isn't a girly I don't like to sweat thing. I don't like to be too cold either, I like comfortable in particular central heat and air.

Well I have a two story house with 16 stairs- My Mother-in-Law counted them for me. One day Landree fell asleep in the car on the way home. People, I didn't think I was going to be able to get her up the stairs without a rest. Now granted she is 37 pounds but still not being able to carry my own child up the stairs disturbed me. Then I went to a meeting where I probably outweighed every woman there by at least 50 pounds. So I decided I might need to do something. Haley had been telling me about this wonderful neighbor of hers who did personal training in her home for like the last year- yes I said 1 full year. I mentioned it to Haley that I might want her number. Of course my wonderful friend got excited and bought me two sessions with her. Well crap, I was committed now. So through email, I set up my first appointment with Katie.

I was nervous and Brian kept calling to check on me that morning and Haley was working from home that day and I was supposed to go by and see her on my way out. I got to Katie's house on a Monday morning not knowing what to expect. This cute face met me

Doesn't she look all nice and sweet? And you're thinking at this point I'm going to say yah, she only looks that way. I'm not, she really is nice and sweet but good heavens that day I thought she might kill me. She first put me on a treadmill and immediately put the incline on 3 and told me that 3 is the new 0- yeah right. When you haven't even been doing 0- 3 is a lot. Then she put the speed down and started bumping up incline- hello, I have been known to fall walking on a flat surface an incline of 5-7 is a bit much. Well I survived that and then had to do squats on the wall with an exercise ball behind me- well let's just say that my coordination issues came in and I fell. But Katie was right there encouraging all the way.

The session is a bit of a blur- I did 12 stations but I will never forget one of the stations. She has this pair of yellow spin bikes. I'm thinking- I've got this. During one of my workout stints in college I rode the fool out of a stationary bike. This was my worst ASSumption of them all with ass being the key word here. The only thing a spin bike has in common with a stationary bike is two pedals and wheels. I won't even say a seat because a spin bike does not have a seat. Oh don't get me wrong- it is billed as a seat but I would be willing to bet it isn't half as big as the seat on the Disney kid's bike I have out in the garage. I kept telling Katie I thought something was wrong with the seat but I soon learned no that it was just my fat butt. It was so bad that Katie had to help me get my feet into the shoe holder on the pedal. People I did not think I was going to make it on that blasted bike and I only had to do 3 minutes. I got to thinking I had to be about done when Katie told me okay you got about a minute and a half left- Are you freaking kidding me?

That session I did all kinds of weights, treadmill, bike, stairs, you name it. Then at the end she put me lying down on the same exercise ball I had fallen with doing squats and told me we were going to do crunches. Lord have mercy I could barely balance laying on this ball let alone try to lift my head up. I thought come on abs where ever you are, don't fail me now. Well the abs informed me I hadn't used them is so damn long that I was on my own. I got all panicky and maybe got two off before I slipped off. Katie took pity on me and sent me on my way with orders to drink lots of water.

I wondered if I would be able to get myself into my Suburban. Thank heavens it has running bars but my legs were awfully shaky. I went by Haley's and mentioned the bike and she felt my pain and told me I might not walk normal for a week so that made me feel a little better. I stopped by McDonalds on the way home and got a salad because I wasn't sure if I was capable of fixing my own meal. The next night I had weight watchers. I sat next to Haley and remember making the mistake of trying to cross my legs. The next day I really wasn't sure I was going to be able to get on and off the potty. Wednesday night Brian had to pull me out of the chair to go to bed.

I still got up the next day and went to see Katie and I have been going ever since. I haven't noticed a huge weight difference but my body is definitely shifting things around and I am sooo much stronger. I haven't seen 3 pound weights since that first week or two, last week I did an entire 1 hour session on that bike I thought I was going to die doing 3 minutes on a 2 months ago, and now I can sit on that exercise ball, have Katie throw me a medicine ball, lay down back, put the ball over my head, sit back up and throw it back to her. I started having really bad back trouble that I normally have to go see a chiropractor to get fixed. I pretty much don't stand up straight for the first hour I'm up. Then one day after I had bent over I realized that I could use my butt and thigh muscles to stand back up. Since that day, I have had very little back pain- whatta ya know- 3 months of physical therapy didn't even teach me that. Do I like exercise now- NO, but I do like how I feel after I've gotten it done.

Girlie Giggles

So Peyton has learned how to spell and we're sunk. The other night my beloved husband looked over at me and said, "For some reason I have G-A-S." In turn Peyton who was sitting in his lap pipes up immediately, "You have gas, I'm moving." Then a few days later, I was brushing her teeth and I told Brian to look at one of her new ones and asked, "Does that tooth look, Y-E-L-L-O-W?" Peyton then hollers, "Do I have Yellow Teeth?" So we're just about at the end of spelling. Haley tells me I have a few years of pig latin left.

Tonight I started singing Jingle Bells- yes I know it is past time but it was the only thing I could think of to get a Hannah Montana song out of my mind and you know that stuff will rot your brain. I then realized Landree was singing with me but a slightly different version. She was singing, "Tinker Bell, Tinker Bell, Tinker all the way..."

Keep Landree in your thoughts tomorrow. She's going to Mother's Day Out in panties. So far this week we have made it with only one accident a day and luckily those have been at home.

Thanksgiving 2008

So yes I know how pitiful it is that it is now 2009 and I am just now giving you my Thanksgiving post. I'm going with the better late than never stance.

I'll actually start the week before Thanksgiving. Peyton's class was set to have a big Pow Wow on the Friday before Thanksgiving and we were asked to send in a large white t-shirt. Well the mom that was in charge of transforming these shirts into Indian garb bailed out at the last moment and I stepped in. I then spent 3 VERY LATE nights doing the following, dying 24 shirts in tea, cutting fringe on the sleeves and bottom, and putting pony beads on the fringe. My fingers were not functioning well by the end of it. Luckily two other moms did the painting on the front. I then remembered after I left a meeting at church at 10PM that I still I had to send Landree's Class snack for Thanksgiving so I made these little darlings from Cocoa Krispies and Fruit Loops.

The next night I stayed up again WAAAYYY too late to make this shirt for Silent Auction the next day during the Renaissance Fair.

It was the logo of the new high school, Johnson Jaguars. This week is one of the weeks I decided to make my New Year's Goals of not procrastinating and telling people outside my house No more often.

We finally made it to Friday the day of the big PowWow. I went up that morning and helped Peyton's class move from room to room, making Native American crafts. Later in the day Brian and I went back to help Peyton's class get ready. We got to watch them some on the playground which is always fun. She was Howling Wolf which we felt was completely appropriate for our loud mouth.

Here is was 8 classrooms of Kindergartners look like- 176 kids

They sang 10-12 songs with our favorite being one where the turkey didn't get away and did end up on the table. It was a great day and Peyton had a lot of fun.

I like standing behind one of my kids, you can't see how big my butt is these days.

Mom came down on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and we were so thankful she was here because the next day when Buddy died it was great to have her here to help with the girls. I made my first turkey by myself. I brined and cooked it using Alton Brown's method and I was so proud, I felt I had to take a picture

We also had the Craft Family Sweet Potato Casserole which might as well be dessert, the Pioneer Woman's Garlic Mashed Potato w/roasted garlic- yum, green beans with carrots and garlic- yes we like garlic, and rolls. Then chocolate and apple pie (I cheated and got a Mrs. Smiths). I made Landree her own mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, and soy chocolate pie. It's nice to know I can cook an entire full meal by myself. It was a really nice and relaxing day.

Mom and I went to the Friday sales but not too early. There really wasn't much we wanted to get. That weekend we got out all of our Christmas decorations and bless her heart, Landree had broken 4 ornaments in less than hour. Mom also helped me break out my new sewing machine. While we were in Hancocks I found an Abby Cadabby flannel print and mom helped me pick out a pattern to make pj bottoms. As you can see, I had lots of help

Mom had several ornament projects to make with the girls. Peyton had a great time making hers and Landree needed lots of Nana help

We got the snowman out front blown up and the girls decided to do their normal head turn- Those are Landree's new PJ pants, she put them on as soon as I finished them.

Then they got their giggle boxes turned on and you can see Landree practically bursting with energy in this series of pictures. You can always click on a picture to make it bigger.

Here are the girls having survived Thanksgiving