P Family Thanksgiving

We had originally taken pictures to be our Christmas card but there were about 20 people trying to get attention of us individually, therefore in every shot we are all looking different directions! This was the best one with just Olivia looking away but I don't know how to crop so probably not going to happen.

Also, wanted to include one of Trent's oldest sister, Tamara and her family just because they are all so dang precious. I did not get any entire group shots on my camara, those were done by the professional lady for Meme and G's Christmas card

About Olivia:
Well we had our One Year Well Check and the girl is 30 inches long but still underweight. She is about 15 lbs. They did lab work that day because the Pediatrician thought she might have a metabolic condition that was keeping her from gaining despite her large appetite! The girl can put away some food but you just don't see it on her! Anyway, the bloodwork came back normal. She then referred us to an Endocrinologist. The nurse is the middle person trying to get us in for an appointment but apparently its a long process. We will not even know if we will have an appt. until mid December and it probably won't be until after the first of the year. All of this makes me think it can't be that serious since there is not much of a rush. She is still teething. She only has her bottom two and now an upper. I have always heard that the later teeth come in typicallly the better they are for a lifetime! It held true for me, I have still never had a cavity!

Catch Up:
Well last Sunday we had Thanksgiving and family pictures out at Trent's parents house. We had a wonderful time and incredible meal. We were all color coordinated in fall colors for our pictures and all the kids in outfits that Meme got them. I will have to post some when I get more time. They are still on the card in the camara. It was so nice to just hang out there. We don't do that much now that we live here because we see them so much at church, to meet for dinner, and things. So nice just visiting and sitting by the fire!

Speaking of fire, the next day my father-in-law came out and fixed the pipes so that I can enjoy new gas logs in my home!!!! We spent that whole day getting things down from the attic to decorate for Christmas. Of course there were lots of kid interruptions and after jacking with the stand and finally bending out every branch that evening, I came to the realization that this was our OLD tree!!!! My parents got us a new one last year as a Christmas present to me. So up went this one and down came the new one which went up SO much easier! I decorated that evening while Ty watched a movie and Olivia played and Trent reffed.

That was a night I never never want to forget. Olivia went to bed at her usual 8:30 and Ty just stood in awe for a long time and kept saying, wow! I saw the tree shake a few times so I showed him how to touch with a single finger and oh so softly. His little short body next to it with that sweet voice getting excited about , "Santa", "Choo-Choo," and "My Hand!!" He loved looking at each ornament. That made it all worth it. We sat in silence and just the light of the tree for two whole hours talking about Jesus' Birthday. I taught him, "Away In A Manger," which he caught on to rather quickly, and hearing his little voice sing it just brought tears to my eyes. He sings it all the time now. I peaked in on him at school yesterday and he was singing it as he built with blocks. That child is so precious to me.

That Tuesday evening, after taking care of a ticket I got the previous week :( ...... we were on to Arlington to spend Thanksgiving with my family. Man do I miss Fort Worth. I just love that town and have SOSOSOOOOOO many fun memories there. My friend Jay was home from Floriday and we got together with our other (highschool) friends Heather-her family, Holly and Casey, and Thea. I got lots of baby holding and enjoyed a great meal at one of our old stomping grounds, Razoos. We used to go to the one in Sundance Square all the time before they were all over the place like they are now. I also got to see Linnea at her house the day before and spent an evening at Holly's planning for her new little girl to arrive in the spring!!!!

We also took Ty to see "Happy Feet." Cute but some scary parts with a sea lion and killer whales. Today's animation is just far too real. He loved it despit hiding his head in my chest during those scenes, telling me "Its okay mommy, I keep you safe. Don't worry Mommy." Too dang sweet. We also took him to the carosel afterward where he rode with Daddy. He loved being special to go on an outing with us and without sister.

My mom had her whole house decked out with pumpkins and corn stalks on the back porch along with scarecrows and hay bales. We spent a lot of time out there since the weather was so beautiful. Ty got lots of sandbox time and swinging on the horse tire swing. My aunt Mimi also bought him a ridiculous amount of Thomas trains and tracks which he had a ball with. That is the kind of birthday he is going to have in two weeks! We had a wonderful time with friends and family. Trent was miserable with allergies, but other than that a fun time was had by all.

He found out that he has polyps back after having sinus surgery last spring so looks like he might be having another one before long. Also, my lasik has been postponed until the first of January because I still have a dryness problem. The dates in December did not work out with our traveling schedule but I did get some temporary contacts to wear on our carribean cruise!!! Thankgoodness............I am ABOUT SICK OF GLASSES!!!!!

Well that is my novel for now. No more griping about updating! I will be busy finishing decorating for Christmas and a lot is going on in the next couple of weeks so it will probably be after Ty's birthday on the 9th before I update again. Just a fore-warning! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving reflecting on God's greatness. Every year I am more amazed of His bountiful blessings and the joy He brings to my life. God is SO good.

Olivia Lane's First Birthday

This was one year ago Saturday, November 11th when this precious girl entered our lives. She was born at 11:52 A.M. weighing 7 lbs. 9 oz. and measuring 21 inches long. She was and still is just perfect! We celebrated this past Saturday with some family and it was such a good day. She had her picture taken that morning and cupcake and milk that evening. Below are some pictures of the festivities.






This is one pooped little birthday girl. She got a little umbrella stroller for her doll and enjoyed pushing that around for awhile but not real interested in opening her gifts other than that. She had a bath and then we watched the video from the day she was born, as well as Ty's first birthday and up until Olivia was born. Man did that bring tears to my eyes! He has changed so much too and it all just went by too fast. They are as different as night and day! We feel so blessed to have enjoyed this past year with Liv and the almost three with Ty. God has shown us so much through their lives and melted our hearts in the process. She has her one year check up this Friday and I will post her new stats after that.

Is it just me or.............

1. Does anyone else have a toddler who basically eats the toothpaste before the teeth get brushed? I have to reapply so much its ridiculous and he just doesn't "get it" when I say don't eat it!

2. Has anyone else ever forgotten the very first thing on their grocery list!!!???!!! Trent wrote in an item at the top and I guess I overlooked it b/c it wasn't in my handwriting. I felt terrible. I also forgot the most important thing, cake mix for Olivia's cupcakes Saturday!!!! Its my daughter's first birthday, what kind of a mother am I? Also still have to go to Party City to get the plates, napkins, decor items but I am saving that for when my parents are here Friday to keep the kiddoes for me.

3. Does anyone other than me require at LEAST two cups of coffee before being able to start housework? I can do things like get my children milk and take Ty to the bathroom in sort of a half-eyed stupor but when it comes to being productive I have to have a stimulant. Sad isn't it.

4. Does anyone else have their quiet time, devo time, on the toilet with a closed door? It seems to be the only place I can get un-interrupted time to myself after Trent is home and kids are in bed. My friend Courtney gave me the idea two years ago. It has been especially helpful since my daughter was born. Its only about 10-15 minutes but it has really helped me! I think I have written about it before but "Keep It Simple, For Moms on the Go" is great and I reccommend it to EVERYONE! Thanks to Ruth Williams I enjoy it daily!

5. Am I the only one who gets giddy with excitement about circulars or catelogs in the mail? I love stacking them up and then looking at them while in a warm tub about once a month. I do a lot of shopping that way b/c I don't go many places to buy things other than Wally World.

6. I also get a weird excitement from re-filling things. For instance, when we have been out of things and I finally get them at the store and go around putting toilet paper in the cabinets, re-stocking the changing table with diapers, more coffee grounds in my canister (my favorite), paper towels on the holder, etc. There is a weird satisfaction in that. Also a feeling of being blessed to be able to do that when there are many in the world that consider all of those items a luxury.

7. Does anyone else keep the change they find in pockets while doing laundry and keep them in a jar above the dryer and when its full move them to the change purse in the car for the Sonic fund?

8. Am I the only one who is obsesssed with keeping their children's clothing from being ruined by stains? Yes I understand they are in fact children but I guess I hold the people who are with them while eating responsible. For instance, if a toddler is going to eat carrots, take her sweater off just leave her shirt on and put a bib on! Is that too much to ask? I am nervous every time I hand out RED kool-aid to my three year olds at snack, at least they have sippy cups. However, there are a lot of their moms who send red and purple drinks in their lunch that are not in a sippy cup or have a straw. EVERY day there is a child who stains their clothing with it. I have used my own Tide To Go on more than one occassion and a child came back in the same shirt the other day with a stain that did not come out. I will not give Ty spagetti with a shirt on! Yes, he is almost three in less than a month! Other people whom he has been left with will and then I am left with the 45 minute stand at the washer doing pre-treatment to stains, some of which will never come out and its not like we can replace every item.

9. Does anyone else have a toddler that despite taking them to the restroom before every meal inevitably will have to go once all trapped in their booster chair? Usually its right after my first bite of the meal.

10. Anyone else LOVE the smell of bleach and lyesol? Maybe its just the knowing that things are clean. Especially on the kitchen sink every night. That is the one thing I have definately stuck to from The Fly Lady!

11. Does anyone else hang shirts in the closet sorted by long and short sleeve and then by color. T-shirts of course are a whole separate category. I do the same with shorts, skirts, jeans, capris, and pants. Also divided up into Winter and Summer in halves of the closet. I could write a book on the drawers!

12. Anyone else despise wire hangers other than me and Mommy Dearest? Other than the marks they leave on clothing, they are always in a tangled mess!

13. Anyone else pump up the volume on their stereo system occassionally to get down with the fam? Thanks to Trent, Ty could fit right in at a club at only three years old! The boy has got some moves and sister already shakes it and nods! Its hysterical but we have a great time. Probably something not right about seeing a toddler and one year old jamming to "I'm Bringing Sexy Back!"

Can you tell my life revolves around my children and cleaning by my list? I just thought about that! We had a guest speaker in Ladies Class yesterday and Kerri and I were commenting on her big words and how being out of that professional environment for awhile made it a little refreshing! To think I used to live by my planner, dress professionally every day, and do laundry once a week makes me laugh now! My how my life has changed. I realized I have a lot of black clothes from that time in my life and am well equipped for Sunday morning until things go out of style, I am verging on that since I have been out of the workplace now for a little over three years! Haven't had a design job in 5! Pure craziness. Haven't done a Thursday Thirteen in quite a while so I thought I would take a break while waiting for the dryer to cut off and make for some good entertainment.

More Pics

First, Pop and Cita and Ty carving a pumpkin Sunday night. Next: Jarrod and Ella Martin, Denise and Olivia. Third pic, DD and Grandmom! Our great grandparents, Phillips! They were our first stop for the night.

Halloween Festivities!

Above left, our very close and special friends, The Galbraith boys! Above right, our cousin Hunter. Left, Ty, Hampton, Liv, and Heath!

Treat Night

Well this is only allowing me to upload a few pictures at a time so I guess I will try to post the others if I get time later. The night went well. Ty had a good long nap that afternoon in the car with Pop while mom, Liv, and I scoped out our new bigger improved Target. We were in there a long time! Little girl refused to take an afternoon nap which made for a zombie puppy dog at treat night but she did not fuss at all! People would ask Ty, "Are you a fireman?" and he would answer, "Yes, and this is my dog!" He was really sweet with her. Ty loved having Pop and Cita be there to take him around. He was super sad when we came home from school yesterday and they were not at his house. He has been asking for them ever since and why they left! They will be back in a week though to celebrate Olivia's first birthday! Its on the 11th, a week from Saturday.

Its almost like the day after Christmas or something, I am taking down all my Halloween decor today and am sad about it! My mother-in-law has had all of her Christmas up for a few weeks now, even the stockings are hung! I can see why though, its her absolute favorite thing and a month is just not long enough to enjoy it. I however enjoy the fall so much that I stretch it out as long as possible. Now I will concentrate on Thanksgiving. Our Christmas will probably go up a little early this year b/c we will be at my parents this year. Our tradition has been to put the tree up Thanksgiving night but I don't want to come back the week after Thanksgiving and have all that to do and it be up less than a month!