Early Thanksgiving meal

My in-laws arrived a week before Thanksgiving so we celebrated a week early this year. I had a really wonderful day preparing all of the food. In the past is seemed like such a challenge to face shopping, preparing and cooking all of Thanksgiving but this year was different. Everyone left the house to enjoy the beautiful day outdoors at the Arboretum and I had the house to myself. It was like heaven to be able to cook at a leisurely pace with no interruptions. I would prepare a casserole then watch a show or check e-mail then wash a few dishes then prepare another casserole. It was GREAT! I had everything ready by my set time of 5pm.

We had stuffing, sweet potato casserole, broccoli casserole, rolls, gravy, turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. And chocolate creme pie, key lime pie, pumpkin pie and assorted ice creams for dessert. Some of the things were from scratch (potatoes, broccolli and sweet potatoe casserole, gravy) and others were not. I was not much of an over-achiever this year. I did pick herbs from my garden to surround the turkey on the platter though!

Logan enjoyed his chocolate creme pie but Lucas decided that Fruit Loops were a good dessert for him. Actually, he didn't eat the dinner so this was our compromise.

Saturday fun with Mom

E had a full day financial seminar to attend recently on a Saturday (this is what he does for fun...seriously he really loves that kind of stuff). There were so many fun things going on this day I decided to take the kids by myself. We packed our lunch and headed out the door to go to the Lowe's grow and build project. I have never taken Logan before. It has always been a Daddy/Son project but I think I was a suitable replacement. We only messed up once by putting the longer nails in the wrong spot. Thankfully, I was able to easily pull them out and the project was finished successfully and no black thumbnails were had.

Then we ran an errand and headed over to the Community Parade. We have gone for the past 2 years. We got our normal spot and set up camp. It was so much fun and such a beautiful day. We ate our picnic lunch while children threw candy to Logan and Lucas. It lasted for 1 1/2 hours. The kids favorite was the marching bands. They loved to name the different instruments as they passed by. Oh yeah, Lucas like the fire trucks as well. We saw Nastia (the Olympic gold medalist) in the parade.

As if that wasn't enough we headed to the mall to try to get the free $10 gift card from the stonebriar mall club e-mail I received. The line was ridiculously long by the time we got there so we had a snack in the food court. Santa was in line right in front of us getting his sandwich and then eating in the food court. I am not sure why he wouldn't want to go somewhere a little more quiet and private. It was just funny to see him all dressed up but acting like a regular person. We went into a few stores but the mall was crowded and all of our patience were growing thin.

I couldn't take trying to wait in the line so we headed to the Edible Arrangement store on Preston to get our free chocolate covered fruit. It was a beautiful box with 6 pieces of fruit covered in delicious chocolate. There were strawberries, banana, apples and orange. I don't know what the retail value was but it was a really nice freebie. (I got the coupon by becoming a fan of them on facebook) They even gave the boys balloons and they had a free large calendar with coupon codes for each month of 2010.

We headed home, Logan went next door to play and by the time he came home Daddy was getting back. We had a fun day together!

The Diaper game?

Doesn't this look like a good time. Recently, I heard the boys giggling upstairs together. That is not too uncommon but then I heard "DIAPER" being screamed over and over again followed by giggles. This is what I found.

The boys were playing a really fun game where they screamed "DIAPER" and then threw a handful of diapers in the air and watched them scatter all over the room. Lucas was apparently going to change Logan's diaper but then they realized Logan couldn't get out of the buckle. It was a pretty hilarious scene to find. And yes, Lucas is naked. He is naked 80% of the day. I am not sure how to keep clothes on the child.

I don't even know why I even have a changing pad or this many diapers in Lucas' room. He has been potty trained for 6 months already but I have kept him in a diaper at night. Change is in order! Anyone need a changing table or size 4 diapers that haven't been used...just thrown around the room?

Some Halloween Pics

I know this is late but I am now in catch-up mode. E has just left for China and I have my evenings free for the week. I will be putting my kids in bed at 6:30 every night!

Halloween day at the Arboretum. The boys were trick or treating at the storybook houses on this beautiful day.
Best attempt at a group shot

Me handing out pretzels to my own kids at the Trunk or Treat

Lucas riding his first pony. Logan was too cranky that evening to try it.

Dr. Logan at the CR Fall Festival

The boys with a group of kids at the Trunk or Treat hosted by our neighborhood mom's group.

Batman Lucas

Pumpkin cake pop at a friend's neighborhood Halloween party.

Thanks for the invite!

We had too many opportunities for candy and treats in the month of October! We went to the Trunk or Treat in our neighborhood (no candy for that one) We took the kids to Scare in the Square to trick or treat, also at the Arboretum and then the real Halloween night. I think Lucas was so over trick or treating when the night finally came. He walked up to a few houses and wanted to ride in the stroller the rest of the time. Logan got to wear four different costumes. He was Batman, a doctor, a monkey and what he calls "Star Wars". Lucas was Elmo, a mailman and Batman. We even have a few costumes left over to use next year that I found after Halloween. We have a full dress up trunk now.

Lucas' tubes fell out

Unfortunately, Lucas was up during the night one night this week. He wasn't eating and finally developed a fever. I took him to the pedi and what do you know....he has his first ear infection in two years. His tubes have fallen out and are stuck in his ear wax. Hopefully, this time around we won't need tubes again.

When we arrived at the doctor's office, Logan runs past the other moms in line to the front window. He announces to all of the office staff very loudly and sympathetically "My brother needs to see the doctor. He is VERY sick!" Everyone in the office is laughing at how dramatic Logan is about it and once again is speaking to strangers.

In the exam room with our pedi, Logan says "Sometimes, Doctors help get babies out of Mommy's bottoms." I am totally embarrassed now. Then Logan proceeds to ask our pedi "But how does a baby come OUT of mommies bottoms?" The doctor kind of chuckles and looks at me and says..."I think I will let your mommy answer that question."

This birthin' babies thing seems to be a running conversation in my house! I guess it might be getting time for a Discovery channel show. Maybe then he will get it! Just kidding.

"How does your baby come out?"

Logan and I ran to Target for a few items tonight. When we were checking out, there was a very pregnant woman behind us in line. In Logan's usual fashion of speaking to all strangers he noticed her and said to her "You have a baby in your tummy."

She smiled and replied "Yes."

Then he asked her very loudly so that several customers and the cashier could also hear him..."How does your baby come out?"

She looked a little embarrassed and smiled again but did not give an answer.

The other customers were chiming in and saying things like "that is a complicated answer" and "Mom, might have some explaining to do." The cashier said he wished he had that conversation video taped because he thought it was hilarious.

I told him "Babies just come out of mommy's tummys at the hospital". He was frustrated by my response and asked again "But, How does the baby get out of her stomach"?!?

I was trying to distract him and tell him that he used to be in my tummy when he was a tiny baby and scoot him along so we could get out of the store without any more questions or explanations with an audience.

I felt a little guilty that I never answered his question so when we got to the car I told him that babies come out of mommy's bottoms. He said that he thought that babies come out of mommy's mouths. I told him that when a baby gets big enough the mommy's tummy squeezes the baby out and it comes out of her bottom. He wanted to know if the baby gets stuck in her bottom. I told him sometimes they do and then the doctor has to help get the baby out.

Logan seemed to be alright with my answer and hopefully we won't have to have this conversation again any time soon. The 4 year old year seems to be the year of many questions!

Pedi visit for Logan

Sunday I noticed a bite on Logan’s wrist and thought maybe he had gotten a spider bite. He did not complain about it and a few days later a little boil like infection was on his hand. My neighbor and I looked in his mouth and she noticed a white patch of infection on his left tonsil area. I have been monitoring it and wondering if I needed to take Logan to the doctor. I hate taking my kids to the pediatrician when it is for something silly….like the time I took Logan as a newborn and all he had was ear wax. I also hate feeling like we are exposing ourselves to all of the germies that are going around town while we are there. We must have used hand sanitizer at least 4 times during our visit.

I tend to worry about things a little more than some and my mother was not helping my worrying either. I kept thinking about MRSA (the infection that is resistant to almost all drugs) or an abscess that was going to involve surgery or a case of hand, foot and mouth disease.

This morning Logan was feeling and acting fine but this thing that looked like it was filled with puss in the back of his throat looked bigger. I took the kids and got Logan checked out. The fill-in pedi was very nice and Logan was diggin’ that she was a woman. She looked in his throat and said it was a pus pocket. It can be very common, food can get trapped around the tonsils and white blood cells attack it and you can just scrape it off. If it happens again just leave it alone or have Logan gargle with mouth wash. So, she proceeds to tell me to hold him down while she scrapes the pus loose. He is gagging and sputtering but being very brave and then she says “O.K., I got it and he just swallowed it.” GROSS! She went ahead and tested the swab for Strep but it was negative.

I feel like such an idiot for taking him now. But, I have never heard of such a thing before! Check your kid’s throat, maybe you can find one of these wonderful surprises as well.

Fall Fun at the Arboretum

On Tuesday, Logan, Lucas and I had a wonderful day out together. We started the morning with free chicken minis from our local Chick fil A. We headed down towards Dallas to spend the day at the Arboretum for Tiny tots Tuesdays. It was a beautiful day and I really enjoyed every moment of my time with my sons.

Logan on the big pumpkins that line the walkways throughout the Arboretum

Logan amongst the thousands of pumpkins



Both boys in the pumpkin house

Logan's first time getting his face painted. I was hoping for a Puff the Magic Dragon face but he ended up with a scary dragon face.

Lucas was a tiger

Logan doing one of two crafts that we participated in. This one he colored the rooster and then glued feathers on his tail. The other one was coloring a bandanna.
This was the hay bale maze.
Lucas enjoyed the petting zoo.
We found many monarch butterflies throughout the Arboretum this time of year. I recently read in a magazine that the fourth generation of butterflies for the year are on their way back to Mexico for winter hibernation. We usually see them in Texas in October as they are stopping for a drink of nectar to help them fly all the way back to Mexico.

Pics of the really great visit

Dressed up at the children's museum
Lucas enjoyed milking a cow

The carved pumpkins on display at the State Fair. Children were starting to get sleepy by this point.

Feeding the goats

A newborn baby goat. We saw it being delivered. (I will spare you those pics)

Swimming at Lifetime

Dinner at Dickey's afterwards

Three cuties in the bath together. (water conservation)

At the bounce house

We were fun moms one day and baked sugar cookies for the kids to decorate for Halloween

This picture was taken for my mom. Every time Amanda comes to my parents house my mom has to take a picture of us in front of the fireplace. The two of us went out with my neighbor without kids and had a great evening.

Play dough time!

Really great visit!

I met Amanda (back then called Mandy) when I was in 4th grade. My family had moved from the only home I knew to a different town and a new house. Amanda and I were friends as children spending weekends together, swimming, playing and being kids. She went on several vacations with my family because I begged my parents. They knew I would be more tolerable to be around with my best friend with me. We experienced many firsts together and knew everything about each other.

Amanda and I grew up, went off to college and did not see each other very much. We became re-acquainted when I was getting married. Amanda and I have been great friends ever since through our highs and lows. She is a wonderful, giving person who is always optimistic and outspoken. We have seen each other a few times since high school for a quick lunch or visit.

Amanda and her adorable twin girls came and stayed with us for 11 days. It was like old times again. We still have much in common, helped each other in the kitchen, ran errands together and took the kids all over town. I really enjoyed the company and their visit.

The six of us started out the visit going to the Dallas Museum of Science to visit the children's museum. I did not realize that it would be fenced into the whole Texas State Fair. We paid $10 to park but a nice lady at the front gate gave us 3 free admission tickets to the Fair. The other 3 kids were free and then we paid $1 per person over 3 at the museum. While it was raining, we visited the museum. After the rain let up, we walked around the State Fair. A nice grandma type lady gave each child a stuffed animal that they had won on games. The highlight of the trip was watching a baby goat being born at the children's barn.

We were hoping to go to the Dallas Arboretum but the weather did not cooperate with those plans. We went to community functions that had activities, coupons and freebies for the kids. We played at an indoor bounce house and play areas at local Chick fil-As and the mall. All of us went swimming at our gym's indoor pool. We ate out as a group at Dickey's and Pei Wei and the kids were very well behaved. Amanda and I had a great time out by ourselves in the evenings walking, shopping, exercising and relaxing at the gym and dinner/drink out all without the kids. I have to thank my husband for all of the night time babysitting he provided!

For the most part the kids got along really well. There were a few moments where sharing was an issue but that is to be expected of 1 and 2 year olds. Lucas won the award for the most time outs and had some problems with random pushing people down. You have to appreciate his honesty. He always told you what he did when someone started crying. "I pushed the baby down."

It was such a great time, no one got sick or terribly hurt and I am so sad it is over. I hope we can get a chance to see each other again before they move to Alaska. I am going to start saving for my trip to visit them in Alaska right now.

Wedding Week

Taken by Logan

Taken by Logan

(taken by Logan)

We are back from our wonderful week at the beach. I was so concerned that there would be awful weather or worse...a hurricane during the week of my brother's wedding. The weather was wonderful. We stayed in an amazing three story house on the ocean. It had a pool that we had heated, a baby pool, a hot tub, beautiful views, decks on the back of the house, a game room with a pool table, two kitchens, 10 bed rooms, surround sound system, and 3 kayaks left over from the previous tenants. The ocean was perfect most of the week. It was warm with no jelly fish or seaweed. Everyone spent much of the week alternating between the beach and the pool and hot tub. There were live jam sessions with acoustic guitars, volley ball games, corn hole tournaments, surfing, boogie boarding , kayaking, body surfing, making sand castles and just relaxing.

All of Matt and Shelley's friends were very nice and so sweet to my children. E had to leave for part of the week for a business trip to Vegas so he missed the most perfect beach days. I don't even have any idea how much alcohol was consumed during the week. There was a keg, cases of beer, bottles of champagne, cases of wine and bottles of liqueur a-plenty! It was a full time job keeping up with taking out the trash for 20+ people all week.

My mom and dad had the wedding catered with Barbecue pork and chicken with all of the fixings. One of Matt and Shelley's friends has a cupcake business and provided them as a wedding gift for them. They were delicious. She made lemon pistachio, Oreo cookie, red velvet and coconut cupcakes. There was also a friend of theirs staying at the house that is a professional photographer. He took lots of candid shots, gave several of us disposable cameras to capture moments from our points of view and even brought his lighting kits and took several group pictures of us all. I can't wait to see his professional pics.

Happy Anniversary my love!

What a wonderful husband I have (minus the Mother's Day episode). He is a great dad, provider, achiever, loving husband and my best friend. It has been 8 long years he has had to deal with me and all of my ups and downs. He has been my stable rock through it all. I can hardly believe he still wants to be with me. He is so patient, even tempered, intelligent and easy going. I think he helps balance out my impatient, ill-tempered and uptight traits. I love him and 8 years ago we had the best time of our lives in the Virgin Islands together.

We celebrated our Anniversary by going to the Melting Pot. I couldn't find a sitter and all other friends had previous engagements so we took the kids with us. We sat at the bar for happy hour (5-6:30pm) and ordered $6 martinis, ($10.50 for 3 people) swiss cheese fondue, mushroom salad and of course, also 50% off for happy hour, chocolate fondue. We paid with our $50 gift card and had a cheap out-of-pocket night out. The kids were great...but I did threaten that we would not order the chocolate fondue if they did not have "good restaurant behaviour". They thought it was great fun to dip bananas and cake into delicious chocolate.

August at the Arboretum pics