summer so close we can smell it

It would seem to the rest of the world that summer is already here. but us Texans know better- its gonna get a lot hotter and a lot brighter, and i don't know about yall, but we can hardly wait! every morning "how many more days of school, mom?" Award ceremonies have been scheduled, summer vacations have been booked, sunscreens been purchased, along with new flip flops.

It has been a really busy past few weeks for us.

This is my moms dog Lannie, and while mom was on her way to Kansas to take care of Jennifer's kids while they went on vacation, Lannie lost use of her back legs. She had been having so much trouble for most of this year, and last week, her legs really gave out, despite the large doses of medicicine that she was taking. My family took her to the emergency clinic, where the doctor, and I (and mom, via cell phone) decided that the best thing for her was to be put to sleep. Aaron stayed with her, and the kids and I stayed in the waiting room. It was a really hard evening, but we made it through. Lannie was a great dog, who lived a long happy life (15 years- can you beleive that!) and she will be missed, but seen again- we believe that.







Aaron has been out of school most of this month- he returns this Wednesday. We have had some great times with him being home.

my amazing husband

Aaron surprised me with an early mother's day/ anniversary gift yesterday morning! A camcorder!!!!! I had been wanting one for a while, and then even more so after our trip to Kansas in March, after watching old home movies that Jennifer had taken!! I am very thankful and excited. He is the most thoughtful husband ever. I haven't had time to play with it yet, but this weekend, I am sure we will break it in and start filming! Time flies, and it great to have those visual memories! THANK YOU BABE!

Monday night Aaron and I went out with our bible study group to Main Event in Grapevine! It was an awesome time together! We first bowled, (Aaron is a really good bowler- like really good!) and then we played Laser Tag! It was so much fun! There were about 12 of us total, and it was guys against girls and boy some of these bible study women were super competitive!! At the end everyone compared scores, and mine was like 28- versus every body else who had scored like 1300 or more! So either I am just a pacifist, or something was wrong with my gun! Aaron thinks it was a gun defect (thanks babe)!

Anyway, we are at the end of our week and I am looking forward to a little R and R this weekend! Next week is TAKS for the kids, so we will need a relaxing weekend! This is Aaron's last weekend at Home Depot! Cannot wait till that is OVER! Starting Monday he will be home a lot more! Have a great weekend everybody!

catchin up

We just had a pretty busy weekend. I am just now having a chance to post. Friday night me and the kids had fun renting movies and picking up chicken strips- I know that all sounds really Southern- but we love our chicken strips and gravy and fried okra!! Mmmm mmm- my family can really put away some chicken. And I have to brag on this new "Family Video" place that we have found- it just opened right by our house! This Friday was the second Friday we have gone! They have an awesome game rental (great for Sid- only $1) and free kid movies- great for Zoe and New Releases are like $2.49!! We got out of there on Friday with 4 movies and 2 video games for $1.97, when we signed up for membership we recieved all these 50% off coupons!! So that was awesome.

Saturday Lacey and I went to see "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"! That movie was hilarious! I know it is not the deep thinker type movie like Schindlers List or even Crash, but it was just like mind numbingly silly! Just what a couple of hard working mommies need every once in a while! And well, me and Lacey just really like these kind of movies. We saw "Knocked Up" for Lacey's birthday last year, and laughed so hard. Just too funny! If you are offended easily- maybe don't go though! Not offensive like Borat or Saw, but, ya know- silly, i dont know how else to describe it. It is just really funny!!

Sunday, my wonderful husband went to church with us, and the kids sat in big church with us, and the whole day was really relaxing and awesome. Lots of trampoline jumpin and coupon cuttin, and then we baked and went to bible study!!

We are having wonderful weather here in Texas, and loving every minute of it!! That was our weekend in a nutshell!!

my family

Missing: The Best Volumizer Ever

I am super upset! I am having a hair styling product meltdown, and I do not know what to do.This product is apparently discontinued cause no one has it and it was the only thing in the world keeping my hair form looking like the Bride of Frankenstein, seriously! And I have tried other "Volumizing" products- nothing works on my hair like this stuff!! So, last night while my sweet dad babysat, this mama rushed around town, like everyone else, buying those last few gifts, getting some tissue paper and gift bags, that sort of thing- oh and yes, since I have a few minutes I will swing out of my way to NE Mall to pick up my favorite, pricey hair styling product- Nexxus Headress Volumizing Leave In Conditioner- with a name like that I mean come on- what can't it do, right? So I call Ulta, which is the out of the way store, and I check with Mandy, who answers the phone and she says "yes, we have a whole shelf of it" But, when I get there, we do not have a whole shelf of it! We have a whole shelf of the Weightless Leave In Conditioner, not at all the stuff I need!! My hair is plenty thin, fine and weightless, I need VOLUME, thick bouncy heavy volume. So I rationally get in my car and drive 30 minutes away from the direction of my home to go to the Southlake Ulta store, which surely has it, cause people in Southlake really need volume, right ;)- it would be a major seller there, one would think. 30 Minutes later.......... no way- they too, are out and only have the weightless stuff. So I buy the weightless stuff, cause I hate leaving empty handed, and I have no idea what else to get and everything is so expensive. I hate it when you can' t find that one thing that you are looking for!!

I called several other locations today, and several other hair product suppliers, and no one has this product! I finally looked online and found a few places to buy it online, but its a little more expensive and to pay for shipping, when I use to be able to get it right down the street!!

What is a mama to do! I will be on the look out for a new volumizing hair product, but this one was so perfect, it will not be easy. If anyone has seen this product anywhere- please let me know!

Bring on the Hustle and Bustle, Dash and Flee, Complete Blitz Hysteria!!

Also known as "Only 6 days til Christmas!" Just the sheer mention that there is "less than a week" sends some parents through the roof with panic!! Me being one of those people!! I think the "scamper here and scramble there" attitude is completely contagious! I keep running into people who share this state of sheer insanity:

"I still have 5 more gifts to get"

"I haven't wrapped anything yet- and do I even have tape?"

"None of my Amazon.com stuff has arrived yet"

"I forgot to buy for the maintenance guys!"

"We are going to have a houseful of people, and the master toilet is iffy!"

I have heard it all!! Actually, all of that was muttered by me, as my co-worker Lisa and I began making hurried lists of things we need to accomplish this week before the BIG DAY! And I have one day less than most- cause we have our HUGE celebration on Christmas Eve! Meal at Noon, Presents and appropriate present opening mania at 3, then off to church for the candle light service by 5, or 6 or 7- luckily our church has 3 to choose from!! I actually thought I had most everything under wraps, until we started making those darn lists, and this mama had a mini panic attack! It looks like a lot more when written out right in front of you. How did I get so behind? I have no idea!! Here is my to do list:

1. 
   
   Make shopping list for Christmas Eve meal


2. 
   
   Wrap presents


3. 
   
   Pick up tape at Target


4. 
   
   .....then wrap presents


5. 
   
   do I have any to/from labels?


6. 
   
   Buy the last 5 gifts, and if I forgot someone- so be it


7. 
   
   Stop agonizing over whether the kids have equal amounts of gifts


8. 
   
   ...buy one more small thing for Sid- sorry Aaron


9. 
   
   Take back small thing for Sid- Aaron and the Budget- do I want to live off Ramon Noodles alone?


10. 
    
    Buy Ramon Noodles
    
11. 
    
    Do laundry


12. 
    
    Get 24 Little Debbie snack wreaths together for Zoe's Christmas Party


13. 
    
    Get 22 Little Debbie Christmas cakes for Sid's Christmas Party


14. 
    
    Eat remaining Christmas cakes for lunch- I think I read something about stress and sugar- It's suppose to help.....


15. 
    
    Make "Master Cooking Plan" for Christmas Eve Morning


16. 
    
    Walk Bailey


17. 
    
    Get excited about Jennifer and Kelly coming into town!!


18. 
    
    Imagine my kids and nieces running and laughing in the backyard- what fun!!


19. 
    
    Pick up Bailey "leavings" in the backyard


20. 
    
    Sugar is not good for stress, I was wrong- maybe caffeine will help


21. 
    
    Buy something for Aaron- hmmmm......silence from Aaron and Budget


22. 
    
    Shop for Resident Holiday party


23. 
    
    Go to Resident Holiday Party


24. 
    
    Realize that the baked apple recipe I was going to make requires a really expensive pampered chef kitchen tool:(


25. 
    
    Buy firewood


26. 
    
    Clean that gunk out of the microwave that keeps catching fire


27. 
    
    Have we watched "It's a wonderful Life" yet?


28. 
    
    Yes 3 times, Aaron reminds me


29. 
    
    All of us together?


30. 
    
    Yes, and "White Christmas"


31. 
    
    Caffeine and stress also do not mix


32. 
    
    Buy Volumizing leave in conditioner!! My hair....ugh!


33. 
    
    Now my car needs the oil changed


34. 
    
    And my car registration expired in November


35. 
    
    I found a new baked apple recipe that requires no fancy kitchen tools whatsoever!


36. 
    
    Vow to simplify Christmas next year- and start my shopping earlier


37. 
    
    Remember the reason for the season is JESUS


38. 
    
    Relax and enjoy this wonderful time of year with my AMAZING family
    

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

May yours be Merry and Bright and Stress Free........

I really do love this time of year!!

Surprise For Sidney!

We surprised our boy today for his 10th birthday!! And boy was he surprised!! He was a bit disappointed most of the day, thinking not much was happening, and it was really hard for me, cause even though I knew big things were coming, it hurt to see him disappointed. He left the house at 11:30, and returned at 2 PM! We had 32 balloons all over the place! A lovely Mario cake, with trick candles, a bounce house, presents, a pinata, ice cream, a big "Happy Birthday Banner" and all of his family and friends (about 30 people)! His face when he walked in and realized what was going on when we all yelled "SURPRISE" was priceless!! I love my Sidney Bear! Here are a few of my favorite pics!

I've gone to the dark side.......well, just my hair

This is a picture from our Grand Peaks Christmas Party last night. Everybody went on and on about my newly chocolate locks, and Lisa's new blond do! I love it, and Aaron does too. Here are a few more pictures from the work party. We had the president of the Company from Denver pay us a visit, and we had food and drinks at the corporate office, and then we all walked over to a comedy club for a private show, then we walked to see the big Christmas tree in downtown Fort Worth. It was pretty, and really cold too. We had fun. Lisa planned the whole party and really did a great job!

Great Day For Soup

I made the most delicious soupt today in the crock pot!! And boy, was it a great day for it! We are having super cold weather here in Texas, and rain too. I put the soup on this morning to cook, and then took the kids to school, the Aaron and I rushed out the door to finish some Christmas shopping, and when we got home the house was smelling soooo good! Bailey was going nuts! Aaron took a much needed nap, after pulling an all nighter on Sunday before his final final. So he went and got in bed, Bailey and I cleaned the house and did laundry!! (The washer still works).


My dad came over for dinner, and we all ate the soup with french bread (every last drop- should've made more). It was a huge hit! Even my picky kids (who arent actually picky, they just try to be sometimes) loved it! I encourage you to try it, it is sooo easy, and your house will smell so good on a cold winter day!! And your husband and kids will love you for making their belly's happy:)




Winter's Best Bean Soup (I halfed the recipe when I made it, but now I wish I made more)

6 ocunces of bacon, diced

10 cups chicken broth

3 cans (15 ounces each) Great Northern Beans (drained)

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatos, undrained

1 large onion, chopped

1 pkg (10 ounces) frozen sliced or diced carrots

2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic

1 tsp dried rosemary

1 tsp black pepper

Step 1. Cook bacon until just cooked, drain and transfer to slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients, give one or two good stirs.

Step 2. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or until beans are tender.

Serve with french bread, or italian bread with olive oil.

Enjoy!

Brigitte's and Pam's Birthday

Our families have a ton of birthday's this month!! Brigitte's and Pam's are just the start!!(Sid, Drake, McKenzie and Carol, make 6 December B-days) Kyle planned the party for them, and surprised Brigitte! It was great!! Great food, family and friends!! Great pictures too!

Aaron and I are smiling at two differnt cameras!! How confusing this must be for famous couples on the red carpet!!