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32 posts from November 2008

November 30, 2008

Recuperating from the Feast.

Thanksgiving weekend was great and our trip to Texas was such a fun break!  We arrived on Tuesday late afternoon and after many knocks at the door, I finally just gave up and walked inside the house.  (I'm not sure why my mom had her front door unlocked!)  This is why they didn't hear us knocking or ringing the doorbell:

 

My mom, stepdad, and brother had been busy trying to setup the tent out back.  Lemme just say that it came in handy all weekend long!  The kids loved going out there and running around and playing silly games!  It was perfect weather most of the time we were there so they certainly took advantage of being able to play outside.

My mom had prepared a wonderfully delicous meal for us (shame on us for having eaten a late lunch at Whataburger earlier!) and it really hit the spot.  Homemade chalupas, spanish rice, and a big 'ol heaping bowl of homemade guacamole with chips!  Ok, seriously, why did I EVER leave my mom's place??

On Wednesday, my mom, W and I enjoyed a short walk to the local shopping center near my mom's house.  We had some laughs on the way back as W was carrying one of the store bags like a purse, over his shoulder with his hand resting against the back of his head so the bag wouldn't slip off.  It was freakin' hilarious to see him walking like that and my mom and I just giggled the whole way back home!

Later that afternoon my mom needed to pick up a few last minute things for our feast so she and I headed out (just the two of us) for some errands.  She took this opportunity to introduce me to Sam Moon, which I must tell you, has been a life-altering experience for me!  I had no idea that there could ever be so many purses housed in one room!  You shoulda seen this store....I didn't know whether to dig in or just walk away from the overwhelming supply of goods!  I can't wait to have the opportunity to go back to that store sometime soon, but fear I'll need an entire weekend devoted to sifting through all of the fabulous inventory!  I did manage to pick up a fabulous new handbag and two snazzy hats that will come in handy this winter, all for about fifty bucks!  Afterwards, we headed for Costco and Walmart and my mom treated me to some Chick-fil-A, which I never refuse. 

Thanksgiving morning, I got to sleep in late and enjoy some yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast as I watched my mom put the finishing touches on her can't-be-beat Thanksgiving feast!

 

Joe had gone into Austin to pick up my brother, CJ and his girlfriend, Cassie, and they all made it back just after 1 p.m.  And then, it was time....

 

 

N said grace quite beautifully and the feast was awesome of course!  We were all stuffed and migrated over to the dessert area (a.k.a., living room) and plopped down for some football time.  We nibbled off and on for the rest of the day and even managed to find some time to play a bit of the $100,000 Pyramid DVD game my mom and I had picked up the day before at the store.

The rest of the visit is a bit of a blur, as it involved some great down home Texas barbecue and lots of eating and laughter.  N & W definitely enjoyed their time at Grammy's since they got to do just about everything they wanted and more.

   
N & W enjoying some fishing.


N watching Wall-E. 


W loves to shell pecans. 

 
...and eat popcorn!

D and I are hosting the family here for Christmas and I am so excited! I hope I can be half a good of a host as my mom and Joe were for us! 

 

November 27, 2008

Giving Thanks: Three Days Worth!

 

So the drive down to Texas on Tuesday had me so NOT wanting to blog, but I DID at least think about it.  So here are my blessings that I've thought of over the past few days:

  • Tuesday - Texas.  So thankful for the great lone star state.  Ah, it felt so good to cross the Red River and finally be in my home state.  The peeps are amazing here, the food is to DIE for, and the culture and hospitality?  Well, you just can't find it any. place. else!  Texas.  It really IS a whole 'nuther country!
  • Wednesday - Family.  I am LOVING the visit at my mom's place.  I love being surrounded by my family and just chillin' out in front of the TV.  Tonight we played the $100,000 Pyramid game on DVD and laughed out loud so hard so many times that my stomach hurt!  I love that my mom's always got something brewing in the kitchen when family's around and that we can just sit and talk and laugh and enjoy each other's company.  Praise God for the blessing of my family!
  • Thursday - Thanksgiving.  Today I'm totally thankful for Thanksgiving.  Turkey, ham, delicious sides, football on tv, and hanging out with my outlandish family....what more could a girl want?  I am so grateful to spend this Thanksgiving with my family. 

 

November 24, 2008

Giving Thanks: Clean Bathrooms.

 

I never like to leave town with my house in disorder.  In fact, quite the opposite is true.  Today I prepared for our Thanksgiving trip to Texas by packing snacks for the road, the kids clothes suitcases, the kids toys suitcase, and - oh yeah - cleaning the house!

I don't know about you but I certainly loathe coming back home from vacation to a house in disarray.  And, for this reason, I make sure I leave the house completely clean and orderly before going away.  Today I'm completely thankful for my shiny & clean bathrooms!  There's nuthin' like a sparkling bathroom with fresh scents lingering all about.

Now I'm so excited about my clean house that I can hardly wait to return home from our holiday travels!

 

November 23, 2008

Giving Thanks: My mom.

 

Happy Birthday to my hero, my Mom!  I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful role model to learn from.  She's the most loving mother and grandmother that I've ever known! 

Thank you for always being a confident and motivated person and teaching me that I can be good at anything I want.  Thank you for your undying faith and support.  Thank you for still letting me jump in your lap and have you hold me as if I was a baby.  Thank you for holding my babies so lovingly and tenderly.  Thank you for never meddling.  Thank you for being one of the most generous and giving persons ever.  Thank you for the food!  Thank you for making me feel like I'm on vacation whenever you come visit on your vacation.  And, thank you for carrying me in your womb for nine months and bringing me into this world.  I love you! 

 
Here she is, just being a Grammy! 

 

November 22, 2008

Giving Thanks: Comfy shoes.

 

After a long day at an event promoting the hippest cell phone service for kids and teens, I am very thankful for my comfy shoes!  The ones I stood in today for nearly six hours were certainy NOT comfy.  Only when I realized how un-comfy they were, did I actually become thankful for the pairs I have that are. 

Why must it be a rule that the cutest shoes are the most painful? 

 

November 21, 2008

Five Things: Thanksgiving Favorites.

I am so looking forward to spending Thanksgiving at my mom's next week.  Here are my top five faves of a Thanksgiving meal:

  • Stuffing - Mmmm....I love a good stuffing and it's got to be loaded with cranberry sauce.
  • Plain green beans - I'm not a big fan of the traditional green bean casserole but I do love plain green beans with just a little salt and pepper!
  • Ham - I'm a fan of ham.  I could actually stand to skip the turkey and just do ham.
  • Dinner Rolls - with lots of butter of course!
  • Pumpkin pie - I do love me some pumpkin pie (though I could do without the crust).  And, I like to load it up with LOTS of whipped topping! 

 

Giving Thanks: Hugs & Kisses.

 

Thankful for hugs and kisses from my little kiddos today.  I missed seeing them tonight before bedtime because I was working at an event, but I can't wait to see their smiling faces tomorrow morning.

Happy weekend, everyone! 

 

November 20, 2008

Giving Thanks: Two Days Worth!

 

Yesterday was such a busy day for me but I must let you know that I DID indeed remember to give thanks (although time ran out for me and blogging was not a priority yesterday).  I was so very thankful for the B-E-A-UTIFUL day we had!  Full of sunshine and not too chilly out.  I almost forgot I was in Kansas.  Well, okay, not really, but I thought about it!  I could almost stand this bitterly cold air outside (like it is today) all winter long if God would just throw in a nice sunny, 60 degree day in the mix every few days.  Wouldn't that be nice?

Okay, on to today.  I thought I'd let N share with you something that he is thankful for.  I saw this on a bulletin board outside his classroom door and thought it was perfect for today's installment of Giving Thanks.

 

To read about the story of how and why Clementine joined our family, click here.  And, see how cute she is?? 

 

November 18, 2008

Giving Thanks: The Internet.

 

I love the Internet.  But you know that already.  I can't imagine being without it and can hardly remember a time in my life where it didn't exist, though I'm sure there is such a time.  Today after running into a business acquaintance while I was out on an errand, I totally knew this is what I'd be thankful for today.  She recently moved and is currently without Internet AND cable TV!

Yeah, after talking with her for a brief moment, I counted my blessings and the Internet was one of them! 

 

Countdown to Texas Travels.

I'm so excited that we'll be heading down to {a hopefully warmer} Texas exactly one week from today.   I have such fond memories of celebrating Thanksgiving in my mother's home and am thrilled to see her new crib in Dallas for the first time ever. 

The kids are of course getting excited too.  This afternoon during lunch I mentioned to them that we were just one week away from going to Texas.  N's response was "wahoo!" and W was like, "whyeee?"  I started in with one of our favorite Funky Mama tracks and sang, "where are we goin'?" and then he got it!  He emphatically replied, "Grammy house!"

On my one week away to-do list for today is to compile lists of all that we'll need to be taking with us next week then starting little piles of said junk so I'm not hunting around looking for stuff on Monday night.  Not bad.....I can handle making lists.

If any of you are travelling or hosting out-of-towners, I pray for safe travels and happy returns after the holiday for you and yours!  

 


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