Thanksgiving 2011

Hello from the land of the sick and deaf! 

YEA!!! I'm going on 3 days now with my ears being completely clogged and all I hear is muffles. I've taken everything known to man and NOTHING will help me... and wouldn't ya know its the weekend.... I'm about to the point of going to the Doctors for this junk... but I'll have to wait till Monday. Madelynn woke up this morning with a sore throat... AGAIN! Doesn't matter how hard I try to keep all of us from spreading germs, its gonna happen anyways!! I'm about ready to take them in too. 

Weren't ya'll just thrilled with my pics from my last post?!?! 

I tried to fix it about a billion times, but obviously it was not successful.... so hope you had fun imaging what those pics looked like.

Well, Happy few days after Thanksgiving!!! We had a wonderful day. My in-laws came down and we enjoyed Thanksgiving with them and the other in-laws that live here in NM.

Nat got called out that evening, but I was glad that we got to have him around majority of the day. 

The kids had fun playing outside with their cousins.

BOOGER!!!

Stetson -I like to do everything the hardest way possible- Rose

Paw Paw playing with the girls

Nat and his brother, Jim.

After we ate, we went back out to try and get a family pic.

and play some more...

The next day, after everyone left and the kids got a GOOD nap, we got out our Christmas stuff.

 and of course, watched ELF!

 I would be lying if I said we didn't lock this crazy guy up with snacks for the process

He got into a candle... can you tell??

HA! this is our new tradition..... a husband that makes breakfast for dinner when his wife is too lazy to cook. I really am a bad wife!! and he's such a great husband. In all reality I really didn't feel up to cooking so his face is a little dramatic. ;)

We agreed that we did not need to put any of our pretty glass bulbs on the tree this year per Stetson James.... and I really like just the few "special" ornaments that are on it. So far, 24 hours in and the tree is still standing. 

Course, we had to have some hot cocoa and Christmas music to get in the Christmas spirit! 

You're not alone.

Don't worry... you're not the only one who's been neglected. 

I suck as a mom. 

suck as a wife.

suck as a blogger.

suck as a picture taking, memory making mom.

But don't worry... its not gonna be one of those posts. 

Ya know, the depressing, woe is me type of posts.

Just being HONEST with you.... I feel like I've been bad at life in general! I seem to get that way when I don't have my partner around. I love my husband dearly, and I could never EVER thank him enough for all he does for us. (All you ladies out there know what I'm sayin?!?!) Honestly, all he does for me/us is overwhelming... and honestly I sometimes can't handle all that has to happen for him to be such an amazing man. He works a lot of hours. Its the way the job goes. So... basically what I'm getting at is I turn into a CRAZY lady when were in these low points of the job when daddy is workin alot.

So thats where I've been... CrAzY and husbandless (SHOUT OUT TO ALL YOU SINGLE PARENTS OUT THERE) 

The cherry on top?? We've ALL been sick for almost a month now! Its going round and round and round and mama finally got it.... and I am a miserable wreck! I always get colds in my eyes.... so my eyes have been non stop faucets!! The girls just look at me so confused as to why momma's crying. 

Anyways... I can't even believe that thanksgiving is like 2 seconds away... and Christmas is like 6 seconds away!! Its insane that were already almost through November. I'm WAY looking forward to Thanksgiving.... baking and eating and family! My in-laws are coming down and I cannot wait!!!! 

I suppose I shall do a little update. 

Madelynn had a good little fall... or rather face plant the other day. She's definitely not very clumsy and she really doesn't get hurt very often so this was kinda a BIG deal. She was jumping off a basket and the basket flew out from under her causing to "lose her step" so to speak and she just face planted. It was pretty traumatic. She had a bloody nose and a bloody lip. Her nose swelled up pretty good and it was RED! 

This is a day later, see the yucky bruise on the bridge of her nose?? 

The other morning I needed to go to town early and was greeted by a mucky, foggy, depressing morning! I actually found it to be quite pleasant. So I had to get a pic! 

oh... and guess what. We have a pregnancy in our house... and guess what. Its NOT me!! Its our dad gum dog! We have a male dog. We have a female dog. Not for any particular reason other than we just liked the 2 of them. 

We had every intention of getting them fixed... but the Vet that we took them to here in Lovington closed down... and I just never sought out a new vet. Stupid... I know. But, since we are kinda, sorta BIG on unplanned pregnancy, this should come as not shock to you. We partially wanted them to have puppies at some point in life simply because we wouldnt mind having more dogs out here! 

So, Nat spoils her...and I would be lying if I said I haven't been sneaking her table scraps here and there and babying her. I just can't help it. I feel such sympathy for her. I feel like we got a  connection of childbearing goin on.  

So... want a puppy??? They'll be cute and great dogs!!! ;)

Lion King. Ever seen it?? I have approximately 84 times in the 2 weeks that we've had it. Woo Hoo!! When we got it I was all sorts of excited, and I actually enjoyed watching it with them, as that was one of our faves  growing up. Its kinda spun outta control and we are saying NO to the Lion King a little more through out the day. I got the girls these little Simba and Nala kissing stuffed animals and they're all 4 inseparable. Its pretty cute, actually. Madelynn treats her Nala like a baby.... So much so that Nala often goes in M's tummy to "grow" :) 

She's a sweet caring little girl and it made me smile to walk in her room and see this.

Speaking of Madelynn... she had a Thanksgiving lunch today at school that all families were invited to. She was soooo excited that mama, daddy, bubba and sis were coming to eat lunch with her. We had a sweet time as a family... and it was pretty much the first meal we've eaten all together in a month!! Never take those times for granted!!

 *SNOT*

 We made silly faces to make the long line a little more bearable.

There you have it. The life of a CrAzY husband-less lady. 

Here's to hopin for a nice quiet Thanksgiving with family!! 

HI everyone!!!

Guess Its time for a little update huh??

Madelynn- She is just deeply in love with life. She reminds me of her daddy. Always so happy with life. Wakes up with a smile on her face, ready to conquer the world. So very outgoing and full of life!!!!!! When she was little, I just knew that she would be quiet and shy like me. I often laugh at myself for thinking that! I hope that she NEVER changes!!!!!! If we are in public, she talks to anyone and everyone we walk by. First it starts out with her asking me "Whats his/her name" and after telling her, I don't know, ask him/her... she starts a full blown conversation with that person. She cracks me up.... again, just like her daddy!!

She is still going stronger than strong at school. Wow!! I pray that she still has this desire to learn as she gets older. She wakes up every day asking if its a school day, and is bummed when its not! It is definitely a good thing for her! I enjoy all her artwork/paperwork she comes home with and it tears my heart up to part with it, but I know I just can't keep it all!!! She gets sent home with a green apple every day (green, yellow, red, black) for behavior. Makes me so proud!!

She is kinda really obsessed with MARRIAGE right now. I always watch those movies like The wedding planner where they have those scenes of the little girls playing Wedding.... and I'm like really?!?! No way!!! I'm just not into weddings. Turns out my 3 year old just might be like one of those girls that starts planning their wedding so young!! She loves to look at Nat and my wedding pictures and loves to put on her poofy dresses and pick flowers to be "marry." She makes me laugh. Her daddy on the other hand, might not think this is so funny. :)

She finally learned to petal today and she is sooo proud of herself, as are we!! I feel like we have worked with her so much, to no avail... and kinda gave up on the idea till she got a little older. It was a pretty exciting day in our house!!

(video to come!!!)

Miss P... oh that girl. She is something else! She continues to become her own little self, and I love it. Her and Madelynn have clicked. They get closer and closer every day. Payton calls Madelynn "sis" and I am so so SO glad they are so close and have each other. I've found myself realizing what a true blessing it is for them to have such a friend in each other. I could take away every toy in our house and I don't think any of my kids would care!!!

She almost knows all her colors and she loves to sing songs. Her all time favorite (lord help me if I have to sing this song another month!!!!!) is "The wheels on the bus" Cept, she picks what on the bus says what.... so the usual "door on the bus goes open and shut" isn't right. Its the "Payton on the bus ..................." and she says things like the wall, every family member, every pet, every object in her room.... and so on and so on. I've gotten to where we limit how many things are actually on the bus. She gets soo shy when she starts to sing and I wanna listen to her. 

She is my little cuddle bug! Every morning, unlike her sister who wakes up with a smile on her face, ready to go climb mt. Everest, she wakes up a lil more like here mama.... a grouch who needs some serious alone time before "waking up" Sooo every morning she says "sit me muh buhley??" and so we get a cup of milk and her and I sit in my chair with her blankie... both sulking that its morning and we must get up and start our day. :) 

I feel like I can say she is officially 100% potty trained. She has been for awhile... but you know that time where they're potty trained, but not quite to the point where you trust them 100% to tell you they need to go potty... but not quite to the point where you can let your "potty guard" down and relax a little about accidents. She did have a little relapse, but it didn't last too long, and we are definitely out of that stage!! Not quite to the panties at night, but we are working on that!!! 

She is still 24 measly little lbs. and I adore her with all my heart!

Stetson- Oh my dear sweet son. I seriously don't know how people have more than 1 son. Holy Guacamole!!!!!!!!!!!! That kid keeps me on my feet more than the girls ever do/did. He is into EVERYTHING. Wow... seriously can't even imagine having 2 of him.  He is 180% BOY!!! He climbs and climbs and CLIMBS to the tops of the world. He flips off couches, climbs up to the top bunk, falls off beds, climbs in and out of the bathtub... with and without clothes on. Walks outside, and is obsesses with the outside like nothing I've ever seen. Cries and cries to go outside. Gets into the trash all the time

 I have found myself feeling a bit like I'm drowning. Like I am treading water all day long with feelings of exhaustion, shortness towards my kids, and once bed time comes I immediately crawl in my bed with a feeling that I have never known. Wondering why I feel like this, I've decided that part of it being just life catching up with me, and the fact that life is somewhat normal now and I'm not running off the adrenaline of a newborn like I have in the past. Make sense?? That and that this kid, this adorable little boy leaves me NO time to myself. Leaves me NO time to sit down for more than 2 seconds. No quality time is spent with each child cuz I am always on my feet with this kid. I often feel like I am neglecting my girls cuz of this little boy. 

Whew! wears me out just thinking about it!!! But I love him, and I wouldn't trade the little turkey head for nothin!!!!! Payton might not ever learn her shapes/colors/letters/numbers till 1st grade, but by golly.... I love the little dude. ;)

Me-Well, I just gave you a little insight to my life... and why my blogging is so sporadic. The demands of 3 small kids is great!! Sometimes overwhelming, but my goal is to just get through the day! 3 kids fed 3 meals a day is my goal! I don't care if they're dressed (unless its too cold to be neked) I don't care if there hair is brushed.... as long as we can survive the day! 

I have gotten a little break here lately... if you can call a root canal a break ;) I indeed call it a break. Laying in that chair for an hour  was nice!!! I've had this tooth  ache for a couple of months now, and had many a trips to the dentist and we are finally at the end stages for this dang tooth and I am soooooooo relieved to not be in pain anymore!!!!!!!!!!! A few more weeks till the permanent cap is on

and I am a free lady! It will be very hard to adjust to allowing myself to chew on that side again. Not doing it for months has become quite habitual! I know the left side of my mouth will be relieved to not have to do all the work. 

My MIL came down for a few days when I had the 1st part of my RC done, just to help with the kids if I needed some time to feel better and as usual, when she comes, I try to cram in as much "mama time" as I can!! I spent a lot of time at the salon, getting my hair cut and colored. It was nice to have a little pampering in the tooth department, as well as at the salon!! 

Hope that I can fit a lil more blogging into my life. I sure do miss writing!!

Honestly??

I think Halloween is basically the most ridiculous holiday known to man. Why is it even classified as a holiday?? Sorry, but I just don't get off on "celebrating" a day of scary/satanic things. I had no clue the huge deal halloween is to people until this year. All the "I love Halloween" business going on on FB and other blogs I'm just like totally baffled as to why anyone would love such a day.... but I suppose as I have my opinion on the matter, so does everyone else.

Now that I've lost all the halloween lovers, I digress.

Growing up we always went to Chuck E Cheese on this particular day each year. Although my parents didn't want us participating halloween festivities, they still wanted to make it fun for us... and they did! I never had a problem not dressing up and going trick or treating. This was definitely a tradition that I wanted to pass onto my family. When my kids get older and wanna do their own (sane/safe/logical) thing for halloween, so be it!

So anyways... sorry bout that intro. Just had to get it off my chest before I continued. For halloween we got the kids dressed up in a few things we had layin around the house and we took them (since we don't have a chuck e cheese.... or for that matter, anything fun for kids around here) to the safe stops here in Lovington. Thought it would be a fun, safe, not scary thing that they would enjoy. It was fun. They enjoyed getting to go around and get candy.

For starters, we had a pirate. a pumpkin, and of course, a Princess. I find all 3 costumes to be rather fitting for their personalities. 

Payton the people watcher. ;)

checkin out all her goodies.

Ya... see that runny nose??I got a buncha snotty hackin kids in my house this week!

In between me getting a root canal done, and getting home and getting the kids ready, I had this bright idea to go to Lubbock and go to Chuck E. Cheese....  After going back and forth, We decided we would stick with the safe stop idea and maybe go after that. 

We went.... and by the time we got there, it was 30 mins till closing time.... so thanks to the good 'ol Yelp app (if you dont have it, GET IT!!!) we found another place called Caboose that had a game room and a fun area for kids.... and for us crazy people who drive an hour and a half from home a couple hours before bed time to have FUN.... it was open till 11. It was perfect and the kids did great... and we all had a great time and I wouldn't have changed the crazy, random trip for nothin!