Christmas in Review-(more pics to follow...)

The title also just happens to be the title of My Lil' Girl's Christmas program at school this year that kicked off our Christmas season's festivities. Every year the K-8 program has a new theme and this year's had a little modern twist with dancing and rapping kiddos. But every year the children in Kindergarten are Angels and they are the highlight of the performance. I was told that it is an honor to be an Angel and that the Christmas program is very important. I did not realize how much so until I spoke with one of the parents who has an older kid as well. They ate $1200 to reschedule their Disney trip so that their child would not miss being an Angel, they were going to arrive an hour early so they could get in line to get an okay seat since the front rows were auctioned off at the Parish Festival for thousands of dollars, and in order to have one good parking spot for when they leave with the kids they were going to park one vehicle in the parking lot during the day because it will be impossible to find one for the second performance which we were in also. WOW! Especially the eating of $1200, but then again, who schedules a trip on December 18th anyways?? This is not their first go around with a kid in this school.

Anyways, Nana and Papa got in line an hour early and I showed at my designated time of 20 minutes till 8pm so that I could dress the cutest Angel ever! BTW we had a dance Christmas program / party at 6:15pm - 7:00pm. No rushing; not at all. Detect any sarcasm? :-\

Anyways here she is with her teacher...and further below is one of her dance performances taken by not very good video.

December 20th. The work Christmas Par-Tay. I work with crazy people. Yes, they are certifiable I think. A lot of people dread the work Christmas party but I actually really enjoyed this one. Maybe the best one I have been to, yet. This firm that I have worked at for 6.5 months is, in my opinion, the best in town. From quality of work, to the value of friends, family, and co-workers. They believe work hard, but have a good time, too. Here is the "eldest" partner, and managing partner at their best. Who said accountants have no personality?

On the 21st I had the annual Christmas get together with two friends that I have had since Kindergarten. It was great! It is always. We should get together more often instead of just for Christmas and the kids' birthday parties. After all, we do live in the same general area. The kids had a great time "hunting" outside and playing with their new toys while the adults had a good time just being adults.

On the 24th we had Christmas with my Dad's side of the family. It was a quiet and calm gathering. A lot has happened with this side of the family this year and I think everyone was just happy and thankful to be with each other.

CHRISTMAS DAY!!! Wow, what a whirl wind. First off we obviously had Christmas at home first thing. Santa brought lots of gifts again and My Lil' Girl could not have been more excited. This year she had such extreme expressions of amazement. Oh to be a kid again!

Lunch time was spent with her Grandma and Grandpa R, and cousins. The day was wrapped up with a dinner at Granny's house where she received a beautiful afghan that Granny made. Since Granny is 86, this is a really COOL thing. At least in my opinion and hers. She loves it.

Heehee...Really?

Kids...I love bursting their bubbles when they are saying something they think is funny, but then realize what it really means. Kinda like this...

This a.m. while getting ready for school, My Lil Girl is happily singing a little diddy she picked up in Christmas vacation daycare. It goes like this:

Mickey Mouse

Peed on a House.

What color is it?

Mommy: "Serioulsy? Mickey Mouse went tee tee on a house?"

My Lil' Girl: With a look of confusion, "No he didn't."

Mommy: "Isn't 'peed' and 'teetee' the same thing?"

My Lil' Girl: With hesitation, "Umm, no. Yes. But it is about the color."

She continued to think about what I said, with a sad expression quit singing it, and relunctantly moved on to something else.

On another similar note...coworker's kid says, "How you spell 'I cup'?"

Mother, "I-C-U-P."

Little girl giggles.

Sooooooooo Ready For The Holidays!!!

Today at work I have broken the following:

1. My dual monitors that I cannot work without. Current Secondary was once Primary and will not go back to Primary. Instead, it shuts down. It will compromise by being extended but only with cruddy resolution.

2. My chair. Since my back has been hurting me recently I have upped the back of my chair to provide more support. Today it decided to fall down on the job. I lift, it slides back.

3. My time keeping software uninstalls itself. How? I have no clue.

Doesn't all of this just translate loud and clear in to

"IT IS TIME TO START CHRISTMAS VACATION!!!! GO HOME!!!!"

This Bad Economy Thing SUCKS!!!

I feel compelled to write this because of what someone said to me the other day and how it makes me feel about an event that happened at 9a.m. this morning that changed someone's life.

The person said that they like the struggling economy and hopes it continues. Why? Because they are benefiting from it. Their property taxes will probably go down, their insurance is going down, and they can buy investments, vehicles, tvs, etc. cheaper. They are not just saving money, but making money as well. Well Yippie for you.

What should be thought about is not how it benefits you, but how the bad economy is hurting everyone in society. I guess I find the thought selfish, insensitive, and ridiculous! I do not think this way at all even though my industry is stable. Actually, we are in need of more people like me; especially in my geographical area. Salaries are going up to draw in people from elsewhere. But I still do not feel that way. I do not like hearing about people losing their jobs, not having money, and not being able to support their family. I especially do not like it when it is my DAD that got laid off today because the company is not able to make budget because all their customers are making cut backs, too.

It sucks. No other way to put it. After years of hard work, dedication, and professional success, it is all gone. The even sadder thing is that he knew it was coming and there was no severence package because he was contract. He sat in the same office with the same extension for as long as I can remember-different companies. He just happen to be the oldest, and probably most experienced person in his department which equates to the highest paid. He had survived 3 previous recent layoffs so it definately was not work inabilities.

Maybe he can go to the steps of the Capitol and ask for a bailout (a whole other gripe of mine). But in the meantime, he will draw unemployment until he finds a new job (which he is actively doing already) and watch his retirement funds take hits. I cannot wait till the previously mentioned person bi+ches about their taxes supporting people collecting unemployment.

What are the odds???

Apparently I am "that person." You know the one that is the .000000001% chance of it happening to you. But, unfortunately, it never is something that I am wanting to happen. For example being late for work due to side effect of drug.

Last night my back was hurting very badly to the point I almost could not walk. So I took some drugs. Skelaxin to be exact. This morning BWR woke me up at 8:30a.m. I was... how do you put it?... "OUT OF IT!" I did not know what day of the week it was. So when I finally made it to work I looked up Skelaxin on the Internet. Here is what the Dr had to say at http://www.skelaxin.com/:

There are benefits to taking SKELAXIN®, such as:
1. Prompt relief—it begins working in your body within 1 hour of taking it
2. Improved range of motion and no interference with posture and balance
3. Minimal sedation with only a small chance of feeling groggy, woozy, or extremely sleepy
4. No adverse cardiovascular effects
5. No withdrawal symptoms or risk of dependence, since it is not habit forming

Here is what I would have wrote:
1. Prompt relief--out like a light in about 15 minutes of swallowing
2. No interference with posture and balance--because one will not require those fundamental needs to support one's body because one will assume the dead position
3. Minimal sedation with only a small chance of feeling groggy, woozy, or extremely sleepy. If the small chance does occur, then a comatose state will exist.
4. No adverse cardiovascular effect--the heart and lungs will be the only normal functioning organs
5. Not habit forming because once someone wakes you up, you argue with them about what day of the week it is, and then you lose that argument-you will not want to take it again.

Christmas Awe

This year I have been a bit delayed in putting up Christmas decorations and My Lil' Girl has not been too happy about this. So to pacify her we went and saw other people's lights. This was going good until...Saturday. There was no more waiting. What little patience a little girl has at the ripe old age of 5, was gone.

So I got up on the ladder (not the roof this year though) and hung lights. I would have made it to the Christmas tree inside if some people would not have offered to trim my trees for a very reasonable rate. And they looked like they needed the money, so I said sure. (Probably live in Country Club).

But the best part of the weekend was Sunday when we went to a friend's Christmas play at church. It was really good. Little Hictoria has some hip hop dancing talent. But what was best was seeing the look of awe and amazement on My Lil' Girl's face as Santa Clause (St. Nick) so softly narrated the story. Each time he came out to take his seat with the light shining down on him, her eyes grew bigger, her mouth dropped, and then a smile grew slowly. It was so sweet and innocent. Then she looked up at and with pure joy and happiness. I will never forget that face; beautiful!

B-Ball...

I am going to the Spurs game tonight...woohoo!!! Gotta love nice, people that share their season tix!

I am going to stalk Eva if I see her. heehee

I cannot tell a lie...

I forgot to mention that on Thursday I took My Lil' Girl to go see Santa. It was the last attempt to see if she wished for anything else other than the cupcake maker and the you are not getting a DS.

On the way over to see Santa I asked her, so what are you going to tell him when he asks you if you have been good? (BTW, she has on her shirt that says "Santa, I can explain...") Anyways, she looks at me sadly, starts crying, and says, "MOMMY I DON'T WANT TO LIE TO SANTA!"

So of course Mommy takes FULL ADVANTAGE of this to teach a quick behavior lesson while praying that the visit goes well. It did, but I was a little nervous. After all she did have that shirt on and of course the first thing Santa does is reads it out loud and asks her, "Now what is it you have to explain Little Girl?"

Happy Birthday Icey

Today is Icey's 35th B-day!!!! Wooohoo!! Happy, Happy Birthday!

And in celebration of her birthday I am eating, right now, a piece of YUUUUUUUUUM-E Tres Leche Cake. I love the stuff! So thank you for turning 35 today. :)

A little about Icey: She is a former co-worker who is HILARIOUS, smart, quick witted, a great Mother, driven, a true friend, and has one of the most positive outlooks on life no matter what is thrown her way. I love chatting with her; I always feel uplifted afterwards.

So here is to a fantastic 35th with many fabulous more to come!!! And if anyone (besides her) is reading this, go wish her a happy birthday here.

16 sleeps left

Oh my! I never thought I would say this. I really never did. After all I feel that girls are much easier to shop for than boys. But... I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO GET MY LIL' GIRL FOR CHRISTMAS.

Of course I have asked her. Several times even to see if I can get more answers or different ideas. So far at the top of her list is this cupcake baking and decorating gig. Done. Nana got it. A whopping $20.

Last night she told me, "I want Mommy for Christmas, the cupcake thing, and curtains for her room."

Awww how sweet, but kid you are not helping me any!!! BTW the curtains just need to be hung again. Yes, again. Some little child was jumping on her bed when she knows better, lost her balance, and pulled the whole entire rod down. Left two very LARGE holes in the wall because previous grouchy lady who owned the house anchored them instead of finding the studs.

Other "toys" that have been randomly said a DS and her own laptop. Well she has a Leapster which is essentially the same thing, more for her age level, and a heck of a lot cheaper than a DS or a Wii. Now the laptop...well she is just upset that Mean Old Mommy will not let her play with her precious work laptop. So she says she wants her own so she can go on the Internet and email. Really??? email... And let us think about this. If I am keeping you from my "work" laptop, maybe, just maybe Mommy would like to have her own laptop first. :)

Therefore, so far, I have purchased odds and ends (a board game, a barbie head for her to do hair on-and I only got these because they were $5 cheap at HEB), and stocking stuffers, but there is no BIG present from the S-Man, yet.

I do not know what to get. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

o' twismas lights, o' twismas lights. how lovely are your twinkle...

I heart Christmas Lights! I always have. I guess its because as a little girl it was one of our family traditions to scoot around town and look at all the lights that had been put up. I do it with My Lil' Girl, too.

Saturday evening we went to the big town of Cuero with a friend and her little girl who is 3. The town decorates their entire park with a gazillion lights that have been donated by businesses, organizations, and local families. It was amazing and quite impressive for a town of 6-7 thousand people. The girls, LOVED it! And us Mommies loved seeing their little faces "light up" with wide eyes and big smiles, and hearing their "interpretations" of what the lights depicted. We giggled a lot!

Photos and comments from the night:

The Entrance

Look Mom. Its a Pickle--> AKA a Chili Pepper

A Fan AKA a Ferris Wheel

Horses and Ice Skating - FUN!


The next ones were the adults' favorites. They were across a lake.
"Sassy" (The Dragon)

Happy Friday - This just cracks me up (not for small eyes)

Thank you for purchasing 'Bubba & Cooter's Book of Sure-fire Pick-up Lines' brought to you by Bubba & Cooter, straight outta Ashmore . Enjoy!

1) Did you fart? cuz you blew me away.

2) Are yer parents retarded? cuz ya sure are special.

3) My Love fer you is like diarrhea I can't hold it in.

4) Do you have a library card? cuz I'd like to check you out

5) Is there a mirror in yer pants? cuz I can see myself in em.

6) If you was a tree & I was a Squirrel, I'd store my nuts in yer hole.

7) You might not be the best lookin girl here, but beauty's only a light switch away.

8) Man - 'Fat Penguin!' Woman - 'WHAT?' Man - 'I just wanted to say something that would break the ice.'

9) I know I'm not no Fred Flintstone, but I bet I can make yer bed-rock.

10) I can't find my puppy, can you help me find him? I think he went inta this cheap motel room...

11) Yer eyes are as blue as window cleaner.

12) If yer gunna regret this in the morn in, we kin sleep til afternoon.

AND.. the best for last!

13) Yer face reminds me of a wrench, every time I think of it, my nuts tighten up.

Maybe I can be lucky enough one day to have one of the above lovely phrases be said to me by one of these hunky men...YUCK!

Not only aches and sniffles...

So after feeling like crap since Sunday I went to the doctor to get some meds. But instead of concentrating on the illness, the Dr. wanted to concentrate on my through the roof blood pressure. 132/101. YIKES! NOT GOOD AT ALL!!

I bought a new blood pressure cuff thingy so that I can monitor my blood pressure over the next 7 days and report back to him. Let's hope that it goes down after I get well. But since heredity has a play in this, it probably wont. :( Both my mom and her mom have high blood pressure so I guess I am destined to have it as well.

In addition to getting my bp under control, I need to get my weight under control as well. Especially since I will be in a wedding in Sept. 09. Don't want the bride and groom to have icky pictures to look at forever. :) So as a result, I am going OCD on a health kick and if I do not stick to it, I need everyone to kick my butt to get me back in to gear. Got it?

Seeing Stars - A Celestial Event

So last night as I peeled my body out of my car to go in to Walgreen's to get some seriously needed cold/flu medicine, I looked up at the sky and noticed the moon shining bright with two stars hanging out with it. I stopped for a few seconds to take it in because it was truly a very pretty site. I even noted how one star was much brighter than the other.

Well today I learn that what I was seeing was actually a very rare view of Venus and Jupiter! Apparently, Venus and Jupiter are at their closest to the moon and the brightest star I was seeing was Venus, the least brightest was Jupiter. Here is an excerpt from an article I just read:

"The three celestial objects come together from time to time, but often they are too close to the sun or unite at a time when they are less visible.

The next time the three will be as close and visible as this week will be Nov 18, 2052, according to Jack Horkheimer, director of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium."

How cool is that?!? I saw it! I wish I would have taken a picture. Supposedly (from another article) the three of them will be viewable tonight, but not as brightly or in such close proximity of each other. So to those of you reading this, if you are outside tonight, take time to stop what you are doing and take a look.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!

So I got The Call yesterday. The Call from one of my most closest and most dearest friends. All I had to say was "Are you engaged?"

"Yes." That simple little word that changed her life a few hours before that she describes in her blog here.

I have had this feeling that it was coming, just did not know when. But when I heard her Grey's Anatomy ring tone I just thought to myself, "This is it!"

So congratulations cjh!!! I am so ecstatic, excited, happy, and already becoming impatient for The Day. It is going to be perfect!

Oh, and just think...if you would not have let him have it back in the beginning because he was thinking like a little boy, then he would not have been able to do such a cool proposal and snag such a wonderful gal. Make sure he tells you thank-you. ;)

Black Friday Hang Over

Sitting at a desk behind a laptop all day long does not make good physical fitness for all day shopping. Especially when you have had minimal sleep. My feet and legs ached. Then I did not even sleep well last night and woke up with a migraine this morning. Geez. All this for a savings of approximately $500. I guess it was worth it on my tiny check book. After all it was better than the retail prices totalling $750.

A friend and I braved the crowds at a late 6 o'clock in the morning to save lots of money on those necessary purchases and play "Marco, Polo" in Kohl's. Both of us ended up purchasing more for ourselves than for those on our Christmas lists. Sorry friends and family, but we felt it was imperative that we have these items. Seriously, when else could we get these items any cheaper?

My day ended at approximately 5pm or so. Then My Lil' Girl and I hit the movies at 7:45 to watch Madagascar II. Good flick. The kiddo loved it. I crashed by 10:30, which is really early for me, then said hello to today at 7!

Today, we rest.

Is That A Puggle In Your Ear???

2 posts in 1 day. Feel special?

As I mentioned before, Uncle Chad and I came across a dog breed called a Puggle while we were in Houston for the Madonna Concert and it is the cutest darn dog! Here are a couple of photos from our experience with this cutie!!!

BTW in case you forgot - it is a cross between a Pug and Beagle. Who would have thought?!? I know I did not.

Not Falling Off the Wagon - I promise

I know I have not posted since the 17th. "Terrible" as my Granny would say. Or what Emma now says when she sees Tech football on TV after this past weekend's game in Norman, OK. TERRIBLE!

I have been working out of town during the week with no time in the evenings, and then just crazy busy this past weekend with a soccer tournament and end of season party, along with trying to get ready for Thanksgiving at my house.

Thanksgiving prepping was going pretty good until yesterday when The Mother called to tell me she put Mr. Turkey in my fridge. I did not know I was doing the turkey. I do not know if I know how to do the turkey. Why am I inheriting this responsibility already? If I remember correctly, it has only been over the last few years The Mother inherited it from Granny. And probably if Granny had her way, she would still be doing it or making us go out to eat Thanksgiving dinner. I should have several more years before I should have to do this, right?

I think actually my biggest question (other than seasoning this lil' guy) is how do I bake everything and Mr. Turkey, too? I only have ONE oven! I guess I will just have to figure it out. Like make the pies and other reheatable items tonight after I get back in town from dropping Granny off with The Uncle in Bastrop. I think I have a long night ahead of me.

BTW, I am also in denial that Mr. Turkey is in my fridge. When I opened it last night, I did it quickly while focused on only the item I needed to get or put in. I think he is on the bottom in the back. I do not know how big or small he is, or whether he is already cooked. They come like that, right? Geez, this oughta be an experience. Wish me Luck!

Dinner at Benihana-$135; Seacret Facial Products-$400; Madonna in Concert--PRICELESS!!!

What a phenomenal weekend! I scooted out of Hictoria on Saturday around lunchish to go pick up my best friend from college, Uncle Chad, at Hobby. It has been a long 3 years since I saw him when My Lil' Girl and I fled to Dallas when Hurricane Rita was supposedly barreling for us in Houston. It was an exciting reunion that I have been patiently waiting for since around April when he shocked me with the news of being able to hook us up with some great Madonna seats at Minute Maid for her Sticky and Sweet Tour.

After I picked him up at the airport we cruised on over to Sugarland to meet The Parents and My Lil' Girl for dinner. I figured it would be a perfect opportunity for them to see each other again since she has grown so much since he saw her last. After all she was only 2 years and 3 months old when we were in Dallas. A lot changes in a kid from then to 5 years and 4 months! And while waiting, we just happened to go to a pet store (because Uncle Chad has been having the doggie cravings) and he fell in love with the cutest PUGGLE - pug and beagle mix. Adorable! But not $800 adorable. Can we say ADOPTION?

We ate at Benihana and the food and atmosphere was great. Of course My Lil' Girl loved the Master Chef fling knives and shakers all over the place as he tosses shrimp tails and eggs in the air to catch them in his pocket or atop his tall, fluffy, red hat. Her eyes were HUGE with amazement while watching his skills and ability to make fried rice in to a heart with an arrow that beats then breaks, as well as talking Mickey Mouse and the zucchini/onion smoking choo choo train. And most definitely we cannot forget about the chopsticks. Oh she tried with all her little might to use those things. But as usual, she thinks outside the box and comes up with her childlike crafty way to use them by taking only one stick to stab her chicken. Easy eatin' that way.

After dinner, Uncle Chad and I did a little shopping and checked in to our hotel. Yay for hotel screw ups! We go two sweet rooms instead of one with double beds! We sipped wine and chatted till the wee hours of the night. Time just flew as we reminisced about friends and fun in college, and what has been going on since then. It was great! It was relaxing.

Sunday morning we woke up and went next door to the free breakfast. Yes, I said free breakfast next door. We stayed at a Marriott Courtyard that was 20 ft from the Marriott Residence Inn. Our breakfast was $9.95 per person for a make your own Texas waffle, fruit, cereal, muffins..., and an omelet cooker guy. Free breakfast was make your own Texas waffle, fruit, cereal, an assortment of muffins and donuts, scrabbled eggs, bell pepper and potatoes, sausage, french toast or biscuits and gravy. Hmm...lets see. I will take one walk next door for one FREE breakfast.

The rest of the day before the concert we cruised around the Montrose area, and went to the Galleria where Uncle Chad met Eli who talked him into buying about $400 bucks of sea salt scrub, hand and foot lotions, nail buffing kits, and eye gel. Oh, Uncle Chad is going to have a face, hands, and feet as soft as a baby's butt. At least they better be with that price tag. Oh, and he best lose that luggage under his eyes! ;) Maybe we should have taken before and after shots! And your welcome, Uncle Chad. If I would not have been suckered in to the "would you like to try one" line none of this would have happened. I still say he should have given you a better discount since the thing he gave me that I bit in to was soap and not rock candy like it looked like on the pretty plate. Who serves candy looking soap on a plate to people who have no idea what they are getting? And who says, it happens all the time but yet still presents it in the same? (see I was not the only one).

CONCERT TIME!!! Uncle Chad and I grabbed a yummy burger and drinks across the park at Home Plate Bar & Grill. Quite possibly the longest women's line I have ever been in at a bar. Made for a good night's start of people watching as women began to trickle in to the boy's bathroom. I giggled each time a boy would take a step back, while halfway through the door, to take a second peek at the sign outside. heehee.

I have been in Minute Maid several times for baseball games, but this was a different experience all together. Surreal. It was odd that there was not a field with bases, but in their place a massive stage and catwalk, with enormous M's on each side, and lights and speakers galore. I was captivated by it all. Especially since we had floor seats and I was down on the field. I stood where I think home plate is, touched the gravel, and the grass which was exposed in several areas. I got to take it all in for about 2 hours. She was fashionable late. But so worth the wait!

I do not think that I can actually fully explain experiencing Madonna with Chad. There was a flood of emotion and thoughts going through my head. As usual I was trying to take shots and video clips of everything so that I can remember as much as possible from this once in a life time event for me. My words of choice will be exciting, crazy, exhilarating, fabulous. We watched the various decades of people and their dress, enjoyed DJ Inferno before the start, sang, laughed, and danced nonstop. Madonna wore her typical clothing, danced effortlessly, had worldly messages in parts of her songs and video, took on a Spanish/Latin theme, and just rocked it out. Hands down the best concert I have been to see and would see again and again. Thanks Uncle Chad, I LOVE YOU!!!!

THE END

What to Look For in A Man and other tidbits...

Ran across this today...

Essential skills of a competent man

Possible or impossible?

I have also been playing with some of the blog options. Here is my attempt to put a video clip of last weekend's soccer game. Even though we do not score here, we did win.

Looking Forward to the Weekend

This weekend I am going to get to see my best friend from college Uncle Chad. I have not seen him in 3 very long years! So many things have happened and changed. I cannot wait to catch up with him and he see My Lil' Girl. (Hopefully she minds her manners).

BTW, the pic over there ---> from college the way we were. And are you standing on something??? I do not remember you being that tall!!! lol But I do remember the Golden Ducks on the wall in the background. Oh what fun those were ;)

OH - Realization

So Friday evening an acquaintance of mine who I have known since I was 15 or slightly younger (and is 10 years my elder) called me up and asked what Squirt and I were doing Saturday night. I told him nothing, and he asked me if we would wanna grab a bite to eat? "Sure," I said.

He and I were midway through the salad bar when My Lil' Girl came up and said, "Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom reeeeeeeeeeeeally bad."

So, I put my plate down and took her to do her thing, finished, and went back to the end of the long, slow line at the salad bar.

Well, when we went back to the table, The Acquaintance was waiting. Meaning did not touch his salad at all. I swear he had to have been sitting there a good 5 or so minutes. It was then when I first thought "I think this is a date."

He did not let me pay. He lingered at my car. He called the next day. My initial thought I think has been validated.

What do you think? And what is wrong with me? Why did I not know this at first? Has this happened to others or am I just that naive?

Forget the Lemonade Stand - The Money is in Sticks

This post takes a little bit of a detour from the previous one - The Things Kids Say. How about - What My Lil' Girl Does: Cute, Smart, or What the Hell Were You Thinking??

A few months ago my Granny and I were trying to teach My Lil' Girl how to earn money. Granny told her for every stick you pick up off the yard, I will give you a quarter.

My Lil Girl ran around picking up sticks and breaking them in half before she turned them in to Granny. - Smart

The Things Kids Say

I almost always share the jaw dropping things that come out of my Lil' Girl's mouth with one of my best friends from my childhood, CJH. She told me I needed to write all this good stuff down so when My Lil' Girl grows up, I can share with her all the funny and shocking things she said as a child that she will not remember. So therefore, another reason I wanted to start this blog before I forget it all. In fact I might have to call upon CJH to help me remember! (hint, hint) ;-)

Because of the election over the last few days she has said/done this:

• On Monday: "You have to vote for the guy with the white hair." (as she points to Biden; she was talking about McCain)


• On Tuesday: "I voted for John McCain [at school] because he is a soldier and soldiers protect us." (awwww)

Last night at dinner with The Dad and Grandpa, she appears to be very hungry and is trying to concentrate on gobbling up everything in sight. The Dad is trying to stimulate conversation with The Grandpa, who she does not get to see much, and she tells him with calm polite matter-of-factness:

• "Dad, please don't talk to me." The Grandpa and I find it hilarious; The Dad - not so much!

On the drive to school this morning:

• "Mommy, when I grow up I do not want to have a baby." [which I say, 'okay but why not.'] I do not want to have it come out. [In a whole nanosecond I am thinking OMG - why did I ask; how does she think it comes out; do I ask her why not or just say 'OK'?? So I go ahead and say 'Really? How do you think it comes out?'] "They dig and dig it out of your tummy and I do not want that" as she makes shoveling motions and has a look of struggling to perform hard physical labor (not that labor :-\) on her face.

I admit...

I am not one to follow politics, and I have not voted more than voted. But today I definitely will and I hope everyone else will too!!!

What a Weekend!

To kick off the weekend, Friday night we enjoyed some good trick-or-treating in the neighborhood and out at Granny's. We had lots of fun-even the dog! My Lil' Girl has had her heart set on being the Little Mermaid all year and in the beginning of September I adopted a Shih Tzu Poodle Mix from the Dorothy O'Connor Pet Adoption Center. As a result, I thought it would be fun to dress up the dog too! The task of finding the dog costume was a long journey. I tried to find Flounder but ended up with Sebastian, who everyone just loved! But I did run across a trick-or-treat bag fish style and was able to incorporate all three characters. Maybe I should have dressed up as Ursula; especially since her favorite part of the movie is when she steals Ariel's voice.

On Saturday we woke up at Granny's, had a great breakfast, watched Diamond (The Dog) be hesitantly brave at her first attempt at herding cows, and then were off to the My Lil' Girl's soccer game. They have had a really good season and its been so interesting to watch the girls' skills develop. It's amazing how these little, often times awkward, bodies hustle to get in to the mix, steal the ball, turn it around, dribble down the field, and score! My Lil' Girl tends to be more of a defensive player and also loves to kick the ball in to play. She has quite a powerful little kick which allowed her to score her first goal of the season this weekend. It was quite impressive. She was kicking it in (meaning starting off play from out of bounds), aimed for the goal where some of her team mates were waiting for the pass, and the ball just went by them all and straight in to the net! She was sooo very excited and gave her traditional celebratory Thumbs Up!

How about...GUNS UP!!! WHAT AN AMAZING GAME!!! We watched on the edge of our seats the entire time just as I did when I was actually there for the win in 2004. My Lil' Girl was so in to the game she decided for next Halloween she is going to be the Masked Rider and when she goes to Texas Tech she will be the one who rides across the field at the start of the game.

Oh and during the first quarter, I pulled out her fourth tooth to lose. Now she can honestly say all she wants for Christmas is her two front teeth!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

I LOOOOOOOOOOVE HALLOWEEN. It is probably because my birthday party was always a Halloween party. And besides, who doesn't like to dress up like something scary or crazy, eat some cake, open presents, and then go around town on a hay ride with all your friends to trick-or-treat for candy and those YUMMY popcorn balls at the Skloss' house??? It was always awesome. Even when Dad stopped at the "one house" with the town's crazy man who stood in front of a black light wearing a tutu with your mom standing at the end of the trailer hysterically waving and yelling "GO, GO, GO" only to almost fall off when he hit the gas. =)

BIRTHDAY PRESENTS!!!!

Every year my Daddy sends me flowers for my birthday. Well this year, my mom talked him in to getting me an actual plant. That I have to care for. Whose life is dependent on me-the person who these days can kill an ivy or aloe vera plant. And it did not come with care instructions! Shouldn't that be mandatory from the florist?

After doing a little bit of research, I have decided that it is a Bromeliad. It is very, very pretty!!! And apparently care instructions differ from site to site. My favorite and most intimidating read was:

"Bromeliads only bloom once in their lifetime. If you want to repeat the process you must grow the pups for one year each. After a year of growth you can place some old fruit near the roots to promote blooming."

Reminded me of Dennis the Menace and Mr. Wilson's rare and unique plant that only bloomed once in its lifetime or every 100 years for about 5 seconds and then died! No pressure to keep this little guy alive. No pressure at all. Buuuuuuut, it did say that you can put fruit around its "pups" to try to stimulate blooming again. First of all don't know what these "pups" are or where they come from, but second, how do you think my coworkers would like rotting fruit at the office?

Let's hope sustaining its life goes well!!!

My Lil' Girl was also very excited about Mommy's birthday. She made a special gift that she hid in her room and I was not allowed to go in there at all. I have never seen her pop up out of bed so fast in the morning to make sure her surprise was still safely hidden. It also showed me that she can get up without a fuss and a higher expectation has now been set!

But I think the best thing of all is that My Lil' Girl said to me, "Mommy I want to stay home and celebrate every minute of your birthday with you." Aawwwwwwwwwww...just melted my heart. But then I thought, are you really using it as an excuse to get out of going to school??? Oh, My Lil' Girl!!!

Better Late Then Never...

Today is my birthday and those who know me well know that I am turning 28 - again. It is my 5th extra time doing so :) Well with this birthday I decided that the gift I am giving myself is something that I have been meaning to do for years. A "paper trail" of my life and all that I experience so that I can share it with my friends and family, and I can reflect back on my life years on down the road and remember all those joyous times or even learn from my mistakes. Or maybe better yet, my child can learn from my mistakes!

So here goes it! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!