"Why do I have to be so awesome?"

Got the wreath finished and hung up. Andy was uber amazed by my obvious talents, he kept complimenting me on the wreath and how the house looked. I took a note from our little friend Mikey's book and said "I know. Why do I have to be so awesome"... Andy laughed. He didn't know where that came from until I told him... then it was even more funny. Ever since Carey (Mikey's Mom) told me about it last week, I keep thinking it in my head and laughing... like when I get 100 things done real quickly and before the baby wakes up.. I think in my head "wow, why do I have to be so amazing" or when I cook a good dinner without reading all of the recipe instructions and think to myself "gah, why do I have so much talent?" or "ugh. how did my family get so lucky?". Slowly... I'm gaining the confidence of a 4yo boy. It's working. Thanks Mikey.

Thelma Fud

We're finally getting cooler weather here, so Kelli has been huddled up in blankets and Syd's old hats. She looks so cute. And who knew it'd make her so happy to be snugglied? She gets a HUGE smile on her face when you snuggle her up in the car. Cute.

The Hungry Hungry Catepillar

we caught a "friend" outside. Sydney named 'her' "Frosty" the catepillar.

Her and Seth made a home for Frosty in Goldie's old fish tank, then went to play Wii while I dusted.

After dusting, I came in to find them doing this. AHEM!! Make room for Jesus, you two!

Surprisssssssse!!!

Practice Thanksgiving @ Mom's

Always nice to be close to my Mom's, so we can have random evenings together (like her "practice Thanksgiving". leave it to Mom to have a "practice Thanksgiving". seriously). And, off course she had all her old lady magazines on the kitchen table for me to mosey through as Dad cut the turkey.

Harriet Carter! Only way you can order a rolling snow plow and hair cutting "umbrella" on the same page. You know its an old lady catalog when there isnt even a catagory for anything. It's just 65 pages of random crap that only people born before 1949 need.

Oooh! Like plastic underwear, hair funnels, squirrel traps and Bible tabs!
I get a big kick out of thumbing through these things. I just picture women in retirement homes in their rocking chairs, hair in rollers, marking each page and calling in their orders. Cute.
I confess, though, I saw the Santa Suit Shower Curtain and kinda wished I had a shower to buy that for... it was really "special looking".

The missing item in this picture is their annoying brown poodle, Rusty, wagging his knob (tail) at my Dad's foot just waiting for anything... even just turkey sweat to hit the floor.

My mom had these up in the guest room... left: Kelli and right: Sydney.

Sydney got time out because her cousin Maddie called to say Happy Birthday to her and Sydney didn't want to talk to her on the phone. She wouldn't talk ... which upset Andy & I. I dont know what she was really in trouble for: being rude? or embarrassing us? Either way, I had a talk with her afterwards and she explained that she does that because she gets nervous if you dont "warn" her because then she doesnt know what to say on the phone. It was an eye-opener because that translated into a very similar phone-fear that I have!! Ha. So I forgave her.

Crafty Cathy!

We need a big wreath for our living room, but the sizes I looked at that we need are like $100 plus! So I decided to make my own this year, despite being craft-retarded. It's nothing fancy, and I'm winging it. I didnt even look it up on HOW to make it. I'm just assuming this goes here and that goes like this. I hope I'm right!

To have an idea of size.

Still unfinished, I have alot to add and have since "fluffed" it with more gold leaves and cranberries etc, but still have a ton leftover. Hopefully the end product looks okay! I have a "V" and "T" that I may glue on there if I can (per Andy's request) with sparkly gold spray paint. We shall see!

I Have a "Distinguished Gum Line"

I had to go back to the dentist yesterday to go over our "plan" to fix my mouth. I actually did not have any cavities, but it's been years since I've had the crowns put in and those need to be replaced, some are chipping and due to my amazing issues with Celiac, the bone is actually wearing away on the front, top... so I'll need a few veneers. So this appointment was just to sit down and "go over the anatomy" and "answer any questions" etc. I'm like... just tell me what I need done. We spent 2 hours looking at pictures and "discussing". It was so funny because they'd show me a picture of my bottom front teeth and both go "oh wow! that is a GOOD looking bone structure. And you have such slender, tall teeth. very nice"... like they were talking to a 5 year old who tied their shoe really well that day. It was so funny. They just kept "complementing" the funniest things, like how the top of my molars are shaped, how "distinguished" my gums are, how big my jaw muscles are. Hilarious. But if you look below... (and I'm warning you... put your breakfast down) you wonder how sick these people really are! Do you not see these pictures? And you're going on and on about how amazing, distinguished, slender and pretty, perfect... etc my teeth are? Weirdos.

I think dentists (just like gastroenterologists) have sick fetishes or something.

She Turned 4 on November 18 2009

Off course she got princess pancakse (and yes my stockings are already hung. shut up)

She only got 3-4 gifts this year (bc her birthday is so close to Christmas, but this scooter thing was the big gift). I had it waiting at the bottom of the stairs for her with balloons tied to it. She was in hysterics over it. Especially because I found a bright pink one.

Memaw & Papa came over for pancakes and coffee. She opened a present from them (new tea party set equipped with "gluten free crumpets!)

3 seconds later we were playing tea party! Memaw & Papa appear too excited about this. Suckers.

How can you say "no" though? I mean, (1) it's her birthday. if you said no that's a major burn and (2) with that cute little voice? especially saying all squeaky "hm? wanna have some tea with me? hm? its gluten free too! yep" (3) lastly, she had it all set out and handed to them before they could even open their mouths. So that answered that. See the look on my Dad's face? Either he's totally bummed he got suckered into tea party or he's just impressed with Sydney's skills in getting her way without arguing. Just being plain charming. I bet he's thinking she could sell some insurance for him in a heartbeat.

we made GF cupcakes and took them to the park to share with her friends!

her friend Mikey's birthday is on the 19th, so they shared a celebration!

Mikey & Saylor are thrashers... totally narley.

I mean seriously? They are 4 years old here... can you imagine the massive crushes girls will have in 10 years? I mean, JUST imagine it. And they will be clueless because they'll just be into their skateboards and cheetos. Just like when they were 4. Men.

Sydney plays coy around Mikey in person, but he's all she talks about at home. We have a stack of cards for him at home that I don't know what to do with. And the other day he brought HER a picture he made her, and she's like "no. I don't want it"... ha!! as if she doesn't spend her days drawing for him! (And Harper too).

This outfit is brought to you by Sydney Eye. I tried to encourage the jean skirt, but she need as much pink in there as possible and her pink tights were dirty.

Three musketeers... at some point, I think that is what they will call themselves in the political arena. Between all of them, and their fiery personalities... they'd make a good political team (or theatrical performance team, maybe?).

We checked the mail on the way home and saw a package from California!!! "is that from Lindsay!??"

the video is way better, but for some reason I can't upload videos on blogger. see: facebook!

This concludes our 4th birthday. My little lady eating her birthday dinner in her birthday suit.

The Exact Minute She Turned 4

I actually got to her room at 3:30 am (early) so I just stared at her for a few minutes. 4 years ago at that moment, we were watching her heartrate drop on the monitor. Within almost 2 minutes, they had me wheeled into OR and ripped open, and she was screaming for the entire 3rd floor to hear! (Obviously healthy & alive!)

3:34am

Ugh!!! WHYYYYYYY do I get so emotional!!!! Look at these little hands. Her hands are 4 years old now.

Dagny

Oy! I had to erase everything I wrote because it just got too long and sad. Bottom line, after three years of escalating behavioral (Chow-breed related we suspect) issues around our kids and instability of our family schedule, we had to give Dagny up. It was one of the hardest things I had to do. Andy was out of town at the time, and I didn't call him because I knew he was doing important stuff up in Dallas and honestly was afraid to distract him while he needed to focus on such vital business issues for the company right now. I actually thought I was doing a 'good' thing by bearing the weight of this myself, and it was hard. We'll miss her alot, as much of a pain she was. As I left, there was a couple inquiring about her, so I'd like to think she already has a new home.

Back at the Lake!

After a looooong, long, long week... we got back to the lake. I hosted an MNI at my house Friday night, as well as my friend Jen and her two young kids from Houston stayed at the house. Saturday morning, after 4 hours of sleep, I got up and took the kids to Fiesta Gardens for the Step Out diabetes walk, had lunch with the family afterwards (not to mention I went to a different Magnolia Cafe than my parents and sisters, got a table and drinks with both kids - and the restaurant was packed!... found out they went to the one on W. 6th... had to pack them up and load them into the car and drive over there and do the same all over again AAAAAAH!), then drove home & packed the car & dog, showered etc and made the 1hr trek to the lake. I was exhausted! In dire need of r&r.

So we finally know more about that property across from us! We always thought maybe it was a nice older veteran or something that kept the place up nice. Turned out to be President Johnson's old place!

Sydney is in love with little Cody. She is a little overbearing and "intrusive"... but it's all love.

She found the Santa hat and got in character.

Cody & Kelli enjoyed some quiet time on the back porch.

We found a good place to eat up the road, which happens to be the house Texas Chainsaw Massacre was filmed (and also serves great stuffed pork!) Yum! The staircase was familiar, and eery!

Sunday we drove out to Llano, which is about 25 minute NW of our lake house. It's an old town and very quaint but everything is closed on Sunday!

Except this place, which was one of those places that used to be an old blacksmith or bank or something. Wasn't a horrible lunch but Kelli was fussy the hole time and I was so tired!

Got back for some jet ski time. Syd wanted to fish.

Keith on the jet ski (I love stating the obvious)

This is Sydney casting. Note: I am taking this picture from far away? Take a gander at why.

She is drawing the trees in our yard.

I didn't want to leave so early, but Kelli was in a good mood and I hopped on that and put them in the car for the 45 minute-ish drive home. This is the bridge we take out of town (which you see to the east of our pier.)

Sydney was yelling "there's our house! bye house!"

Kelli sucked a bottle down once we got home. I was slightly offended she didn't want to nurse, but I took the chance to unload the car, bathe Sydney and make dinner. Ugh... this week won't be any better in the way of busy-ness. I need some serious B vitamins!