It's just what I picked out....from Target!!

Mad and Mac had a wonderful Christmas despite a few little set backs. We had asked Santa (practically begged) for bunk beds for Christmas and since Santa is so well prepared and diligent he had them ordered and ready to be delivered on December 15th. Well, the helper elves at Mathis Brothers decided that on THE delivery date they would actually take out the furniture to take a peak at it to make sure there were no flaws or defect. Should have known then that things were headed downhill...The helper elves called and informed me that the chest was damaged and they would happily sticky tape it together and deliver it to me and then bring the undamaged one at a later date. NO WAY, NO HOW...It's been a little bit of a Nightmare Before Christmas dealing with them anyway so I was VERY afraid that once I took delivery of anything that we'd be stuck with it for all of eternity...and anyone who knows GE knows that ALL furniture should last an eternity...no need to replace it...EVER...so I'm not taking my chances and decided to take the next delivery of the furniture from overseas...IN FEBRUARY!!! Not so Christmasy then...but we're doing it anyway...and no, they were not so impressed with my picture of a bunk bed that I wrapped and put under the tree for them....So, now my pre-planning has gotten blown to smoke and I'm having to schlep around with all the other idiot shoppers a week before Christmas and find something to "help" Santa out and deliver it to my children....

ding....in my head...the perfect thing....Hummer thingy from Bass Pro Shop for Mad and this fabulous Disney Princess cash register for Mac...(You have to start those girls out early in the training of how to properly slide a credit card through the machine)...GE and I took great care in lying everything out for them the next morning...took the requisite bite of cookie, poured out the warm milk and packed the stockings full....

No, she's not forcing a smile...for real

Yummy Santa Christmas Cookie

Taking his time ripping off the paper

Christmas morning dawned and the kids were so excited...for a split second...then they were both pretty peeved that Santa didn't leave them a sip of milk and he left most of his cookie!! How RUDE!! Are you kidding me?? They noticed?? I guess I should be happy that they find it polite to finish off their plate at someone's home as to not hurt their feelings..but I think they missed the point... Mad ran straight to his Hummer and immediately wanted it open while saying "vroom, vroom" and Mac ran to her shiny cash register and said, "It's just what I picked out....from Target!!!" Oh, that child....maybe she does spend a wee bit too much time at Target..can't say that I blame her...

She's saying the "R" in Target right now

No, We're Not Stalkers...it just seems that way...

I hope Pat Green never takes a look at his ticket sales log. If he did, he would truly think that GE and I are stalkers. If that guy is within 4 hours of us, we're taking a road trip and jamming out to some Texas music!! Makes me feel closer to home I guess..We just can't help ourselves. BUT...this time we brought others to witness the music not the stalker tendencies....

Before the festivities

A Little Bit into the Festivities

A Lot a Bit into the Festivities

We went to Billy Bob's in Fort Worth to celebrate my sister's 33rd birthday...yes, she's a beautiful 33 and never has anyone made it look so young. We danced and drank and ate and whooped it up like we were teens...of course, the next day we all felt our age as we meandered our way back over to Nana's house to celebrate a little Christmas cheer...the kids really didn't care how great Pat Green sings or how late we stayed out...they just needed a little present greed from family....

The greed was great and the presents even better. Mad and Mac felt like Santa was at every one's house we visited this year. They've loved every minute of it. We had a great time celebrating Pat Green and Christmas greed!!

Before the present madness!!

A Day of Firsts

Just when I thought we were getting closer and closer to the end of "firsts", Mac had a whole day of firsts today. This morning she wanted so badly for her hair to match her Dora doll so I did the best I could and put those 3 strands into piggies....She was so excited...she kept looking and looking in the mirror at herself and had a HUGE grin the whole time....

THEN...we put on our ballet gear and headed out to our first day of ballet. She has been showing us for months her ballet poses so we decided it was time for her to put her talents to great use. She was all smiles once again right before entering the dance class and as I watched through the peep-hole (yes, I hung on to every minute of it, eyes squinted up and all) she never lost her smile. She truly LOVED it. I would love to tell you that she was the epitome of grace and beauty but we may need a few more classes before we can truthfully say that but she was definitely a beauty as she danced across the floor.

THEN...we headed for Mad's monthly haircut and Mac's monthly fingernail painting adventure when I just said "go for it." Cut her some bangs!! I know...big move....but you know, bangs are really "in" right now...ha...like she cares....She looked super sweet and Mad was a trooper today just following along in his sister's day. I love them both to pieces for caring so much about the other....

Flim-Flam-Flop

Hiding from the camera...

Tiny grapefruit...cute smile...

Small grapefruit...

As most of you know, little boys are just full of piss & vinegar....Everything Mad does is with a kick, punch, jump, hop or skip. Nothing calm...nothing with a smooth saunter...just a lot of FLIM FLAM POW.....(that's him talking) It seems these days that we can't get from point "A" to point "B" without doing some samurai double flip with a twist and a half gainer. So, while performing his head standing maneuvers on the ceramic tile tonight he did a FLIM-FLAM-FLOP. But he sure does look cute even though his lip is the size of a grapefruit.... Just where did I fail in teaching him that doing any kind of gymnastic stunts on the tile was a great idea????

Wusthoftastic

Like little soldiers lined up for duty...

The magnificent set...

I have a new love.....well, an old love that ignited a new flame....GE got me some new knives....After 10 years of marriage and 10 years of less than fantastic knives for me to hone my culinary skills, I finally got a set of Wusthof knives.... He better watch out...The fires and flames that will be sparking out of my kitchen now will set his heart a burnin'..... (well, he's kinda 40ish so he has heart burn anyway....but you know what I mean)

It's all about the facial expressions....

She thinks if she looks down that I won't take a pic! WRONG!

Or cover her eyes...WRONG!!

Or look away...

Maybe he gets it from his Daddy...

Or from his cousin Sam...(he looks just like Sam here)

The kids were so excited last night to have both Momma and Daddy home... They truly think it's the best thing going...unfortunately for GE and I, we know that will change soon enough and we'll become the two most idiotic people in the world. but for now...we'll just relish the thought of our kids enjoying our company...

We got down in the floor to play with them..cars of course for Mad and some sort of princess/dancing thing for Mac...by the way..we'll be starting ballet classes for her very shortly..She will even have a recital in May...wahoo...the next thing I knew, large amounts of kitchen utensils were out and we were stirring up "birthday cakes" for Jesus and GE and just about anyone with a birthday in the next 6 months....as I was trying to get all of this fun on film I couldn't help but notice Mac's lovely aversion to the camera and Mad's all out willingness to take a pic!! Funny how their personalities and whims change with the passing of time.

Turkey, Turkey, Turkey Day!!

My YUMMY turkey is done!!

Getting settled in for a long winter's night!

Or maybe some clowning around with my family!

Playing before the feast!!

Higher Grampa, Higher!!

Wahoo!! I made my first turkey and it actually turned out FANTASTIC...I want to even say perfect but I'll hold back...although it was on the edge of perfection. We spent the whole day feasting, sleeping, feasting, playing, feasting and then when we all got tired of that we had dessert compliments of my sister-in-law....which were also very close to the edge of perfection!! We went around the table and asked Mad and Mac and their cousin what they were most thankful for today and a person has got to love the innocence of children. Mad declared that "cars" were to be thanked, Mac proclaimed that she was most thankful for "babies" and little Lo was absolutely appreciative of "Tinkerbell". As a matter of fact, pretty much any question we posed to Miss Lo this lovely holiday was answered in kind with "Tinkerbell". I think maybe some of her cousin's OCD was rubbing off on her. Mad spent most of his day trying not to step on the grout lines while walking through the house....I know...therapist on speed dial if it gets too obsessive. Mac spent her day trying very hard to boss both Mad & Lo around. She succeeded most of the day which made it an extra special turkey day for her.

We watched some great football and then some hired field laborers, I mean our hubbies, doing lots and lots of work outside....yea, we're all still shocked by the fact that they did physical labor too.. Who knew they had it in them???

True Love

Yes, we do let giraffes in the house...

Dog pile on sissy!!!

And a cute pose!

I never thought in a million years I would enjoy taking as many silly pictures of my three favorite people. I guess with the weather getting chilly outside, my "animals" have gotten a little warm and wild inside. Mad was about ready to bet his most favorite car today that it was snowing. So, since the yucky weather kept us inside we had a little fun of our own.

Because you all know I love a good card!!

Hey...here's a link to one of the blogs that I really enjoy reading. Mad, Mac and I are going to make a few cards and send out!!

The Call of the Wild...

Welcome to the great outdoors...indoors!!

LOVED riding this 4-wheeler!


Driving a boat!

Driving Mommy to the mall!!

She actually told him what she wanted..and what Maddox wanted too..

I knew that I loved my children more than life itself and all the Tex-Mex in Texas but I just didn't realize how deep that love went until yesterday. We all got up and had our usual Saturday morning pancake breakfast and GE suggests we all go somewhere together as a family.. "What?" I say... I thought Saturday mornings are for you guys to bond... But, no, he thought it would be a great "event" for all of us to head out... So, we did....

As we're heading north I am racking my brain trying to figure out where he's taking us... We then get off the highway and the next thing I know I'm staring the Bass Pro Shop in the face.. I held back my screams as to not scare the children but believe me, I was cussing on the inside.. I'm a girly girl...No place like Bass Pro Shop has EVER appealed to me... I don't want to go there.. Kicking and screaming, I mean with a happy face, I go in with the family and I have to say that it was a GREAT experience for us.... Not that I'll ever go back without a big nudge.. but we truly had a great time.... The kids were absolutely thrilled with everything that the Bass Pro Shop had to offer... They have everything you ever wanted for doing yucky outdoor campy things...Santa was even there picking out a new rifle... just kidding...he was taking great (free!) pics with all the kids and camouflaged adults. What made the whole day complete was that we were all together and I know exactly where to go if I ever decide to get out of the comforts of a hotel when camping!!

Something has changed...and not just the weather!

I don't know what it is...I don't know how to explain it...but things around here have just changed. My kids have become two of the most enjoyable people I know. I've prepared to take on the "threes" with gusto. I've geared up to say absolutely "no" to every ridiculous request. I've even gone so far as to look up reputable therapists and have them on speed dial so when I'm nearing the edge I can just press one single button. BUT...everything has changed. Mad and Mac are so funny...so enchanting....and even down right rational most times.... I'm loving the three's (ok..don't quote me on that...I'm only two weeks in)

I can't believe I'm saying that two 3-year olds are rational....Especially since my morning began with my daughter saying to me "Mommy please don't put a pony in your hair today!" with as much passion in her voice as any actor has while accepting an Oscar (It truly was an award winning moment). I must have had a great day today...which I did....I enjoyed my job thoroughly today and got to come home and play with Mad and Mac. GE and I laugh out loud every single day at something that's said by one of them either to us or to each other. Their "adult" conversations are hilarious. It really makes me know that they are truly listening to what is being said to them and to anyone else in the vicinity.

I'm enjoying every minute of it....

ps...we're 6 days into the no paci land and I think we've kicked our habit!! Wahoo!!

We Like to Move It, Move It!!

Getting ready for our 1st movie!! Still loving it!!
Yummy popcorn!

A little too loud...

Today we ventured out into the wild side known as Madagascar 2...We LOVED our escape. The most thrilling part was that I didn't have to pay $7.00 each for Mad & Mac to get in!! Wahoo... I told the lady that they had just turned three 2 weeks ago and she was more than happy to send us in with only one ticket, two happy kids and a thrilled momma.. Well, thrilled until I hit the concession stand and I had to run over to the kidney donor place to donate a kidney really quick so I could pay for our wonderful concessions....

But, I have to say that we have a winner!!! We had an absolutely fantastic time. The kids really enjoyed the movie. About an hour in, Mac asked if it was time to go and that was the only complaining or even request to get out of their seats... Mac did mention that she'll probably have to bring her mowing "earphones" the next time to muffle the noise a little. I'm feeling pretty lucky right now. Might need to head on over to the casino and double down on something.

I think we've found something that all of us, excluding GE, really enjoy doing. Can't wait for the next "G" movie to come out!