Sunday, December 27, 2009

Christmas 2009

The pictures are all out of order because I'm annoyed the Colts just threw away a perfect season and I'm pouting. lol

I was a bad Mommy and didn't take pictures of every gift - they had too many and the video camera was on so ....yeah - I was lazy. lol

Descriptions Under Pictures:

What? We gave Mommy a decent annual pajama photo after only 10 pictures and no one cried?

Too cute for words!

Kris and I at the movies on Christmas Eve. We took the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks.

I had wrapped box, in wrapped box, in wrapped box over and over for their final presents (Bella a iPod Touch and Ava a new bike. Here they are working on Isabella's gift.

She thought she had went to all that trouble for a pair of shoes! lol

Finally!

Ava on her bike. I wrapped the little bag that goes on front and the water bottle and then had the bike hid in my trunk for about 3 weeks.

Ava working on her last present.

Activity Center

Voice operated password journal.

Ava with her Dora twin brother and sister.

Isabella with Wizards of Waverly Place Hair stuff.

Ava with her Barbie bath.

Ava HATES and hates is putting it mildly for anyone to brush her hair so I thought this might encourage her to not fight it so much. Tinker Belle hair cair.

Wizards of Waverly Place magic spell wand.

Littlest Pet Shop

Ava with a new petshop. We only have about 200 already....

The girls checking out their gift from Santa - 2 short haired hamsters. Yes, I have lost my mind. They named them Ferb (Isabella) and Chumpy (Ava - that is her nickname Isabella gave her as a baby).

Ohhh, clothes - yeah! lol But, Isabella is always giving me the peace sign when I take her picture.


Ava playing dress up at our friends house on Christmas day.
The girls had a great Christmas this year and got way too much stuff as usual but I did good and bought them stuff they would *hopefully* play with vs just buying stuff to open.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Slacker

I will post pictures of Christmas - I've had bronchitis and pneumonia for a week now and still feel yucky. I have a good excuse this time...not just laziness.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Funeral

Ava and I are heading down south to Mitchell to be with my BFF whose Grandmother died unexpectedly on Saturday. My heart breaks for Stephaney. Her Grandmother was like a mother to her and Steph adored her and her Grandma taught her so much. Please pray for their family during this time.

Steve will remain home with Isabella and get her off to school Monday and be home with her all Monday night. Tuesday he doesn't work until late morning so he'll be able to get her ready on on the bus. I don't know the arrangements for visitation or the funeral yet so I'm not sure if I'll be home in time to take Bella to piano this week or we just miss or I ask someone else to fill in taking/picking her up. My head can't think that far ahead yet. Will know more today.

I have to come back Tuesday late afternoon/ early evening because Isabella has a music program and art show at school at 7:00 pm..

My mind is mush....but all will be ok. This will be the first time in almost 8 years of Isabella's life Steve has had complete responsibility for her. He's never had either kid for 24 hours alone. Too bad its not Ava he's stuck with. I'd like for him to enjoy some of my crazy. lol

Friday, December 11, 2009

I stand corrected

We were present at a "dairy farm" not a milk farm.

I can't help I'm a city girl......hahahhahha

Thursday, December 10, 2009

The Farm

I'm a city girl these days - have been for about 20 years. Grew up in small, rural town - no stop lights when I was even growing up. I'm use to the convenience of having several choices in grocery stores within a couple miles of my house. I'm use to not having to go to WalMart (I despise the place), I like having 2 different Targets I get to chose to frequent, I like I'm 15 minutes from 3 major malls. But....I love driving out to a small little town my mom grew up in (can't even get ATT cell service there). I love bringing my girls from the fast paced life we lead here with the hustle and bustle of being on the go with church, the gym, friends, music lessons, school - the list goes on and on.

We use to only visit this side of the family twice a year. Every Memorial Day we'd go to visit and then we'd all meet in Knoxville at one of my aunt and uncles. For years after I graduated high school I didn't go. I was too cool for all that mess. No cable TV, no internet, playing corn hole outside - the list goes on and on. I'm so thankful - I *am* cool enough to appreciate family now.

In April we found out my Uncle - the pillar of our family - was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. He is a good, God fearing man. A great leader, loyal to his family, friends, faithful husband, great uncle. Just the best guy around. This diagnosis shook the family the pieces. We couldn't stop thinking about it. We decided to start getting together once a month to visit. The entire family (aunts and uncles) meet once a month and eat and play cards for about 48 hours. Its the best time - seriously.

I love my aunts to pieces - during my struggle with all my miscarriages - my aunts embraced me, wrapped their arms around me, studied scripture with me and helped me understand what was going on. Had I been still too cool for them - I would have missed out on it.

I'm sure Steve has a hard time believing that when I visit in Lawshe - I love serving the men of my family. Lightening would strike me immediately if I ever served Steve a meal poor guy. Sorry Steve!!!

So, on our most recent visit (the day after Thanksgiving while all you other nuts were up at the crack of dawn getting those fabulous deals) - the girls and I were with family. We met up with my aunts and uncles and had dinner then went to a farm. A real farm. I guess its a cow farm or a milk farm. I don't know proper terms. The cows could sense I wasn't a big fan of theirs and they snorted and snotted to let me know they got my vibe. After watching them get milked we went into the barn next door and got to see some baby calfs.

Now, I could have done without this part because my hair sucked in and sealed the smell of all the cow poop in the barn. No one else got to experience this part - but me. I took one for the team that night!!!

So, here are pictures of my fearless city girl Ava meeting some new friends.










Sunday, December 6, 2009

Thanksgiving 2009

Annual torture of taking picture on Thanksgiving morning. ---no making fun of Ava's outfit - she's a high fashion girl.
This was what Ava ate the entire meal - almost 2 1/2 hours at Maggiano's some of the best food around and she ate bread - the entire meal. She didn't complain so I can't complain I guess.

Family photos..




Next post will be of our trip over to Lawshe, Ohio visiting my uncle.



Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Who Knew?

Who knew you could have almost daily/weekly struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome 11 years after an attack and how it can change you.

I went back to my Psych Nurse Practictioner and she got out her little handy dandy notebook and read word for word to me. I was glad to have an answer for how I was feeling but down right pissed off no one bothered to address it before. Some of the comments were isolation - I stay isolated or like to stay isolated. Unwillingness to accept love - that one took a long time to break through with but I still have the comments I make of feeling i'm not worthy of the love from the people around me. She said that even when Steve works nights it triggers it. Nice - huh? Being married to a chef who works nights - but Im on the right med so I should be gold to go.

End of story - she tweaked meds just a bit. Will start weaning in 6 months after the holidays of a med that my family Dr. put me on that probably isn't doing anything but she's pleased with how things are going!