Happy Halloween!

Introducing our little Trick-Or-Treater...

Abby as Alice in Wonderland

Forget the camera, Mommy...let's GO!

I'm still waiting....

Daddy to the rescue!

"Trick or treat!"

(yes, she really did say it...and thank you too)

Come on, Mommy! This is fun!

Check out the goodies!

Finally....YUM!!!

Fossil Rim

On Monday, Perry and I took the girls on a little family day trip to Fossil Rim. It's a 1700-acre drive-through wildlife preserve about 2 hours southwest of Dallas in Glen Rose, Texas. The beauty of God's creation was truly magnificent...especially the smiling faces of my children.

Our self-appointed tour guide...

helped us do a lot of this...

while enjoying some of these...

Abby wanted to take

this new friend home with her

I, on the other hand, was

totally mesmerized by this one...

He was definitely the highlight of my day!

This is technically a terrible photo, but the

expression on Emily's face is priceless!

Abby is still talking about the silly "raffe" that put his head on our car! I hope we can take another trip to Fossil Rim in the spring. Don't you want to join us?

Long time, no blogging

Have you missed me? I know it's been over a week since I added any new entries, but I've been SOOOOO busy! The weekend after my last entry, Emily had a band competition. They performed very well and advanced to the area competition which was held this past weekend. More about that later.

Then on Monday, my baby finally got home! I was so glad to see her...and Mom and Aunt Shirley too. They spent the week with us and we managed to go shopping every single day they were here. How in the world do us women never seem to tire of shopping? Ha, ha!! We always have such a wonderful time when they visit. I just hope they never tire of visiting Texas. Thanks again, Mom and Aunt Shirley, for bringing my baby home and visiting with us!

Last week's football game was held on Thursday night. We lost a very valiant battle to Plano West. Final score was 38 - 31. This was by far the best game the Broncos have played all season so it was really fun to watch.

On Saturday, Mom and Aunt Shirley went home and Perry, Abby, and I went to watch Emily perform in the UIL Area Band Competition. They looked great on the field, but sadly they did not advance to the state competition. They really had some TOUGH competitors!

Sunday was spent running errands we've not had time for lately.

Today (Monday), Perry and I took the girls to Fossil Rim. We had such a GREAT time! I'll post about it tomorrow and share some pictures!

Sunday Morning Scripture

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
they will sing before the Lord, for he comes!
Psalm 96:11-13

I Miss Her!

It's Friday and I can't hold it in any longer. I miss my baby! When I'm home, I try to pretend that she's just taking a nap. When I'm away from home (I've done a lot of shopping this week), I try to pretend that she's home with Daddy or Emily.
However, pretending is just not working any more. I can't pretend she's not 692 miles away! That's just entirely TOO far! By the way, I can't even talk to her because I don't want her to realize she's missing me and get sad. It's just too much for this mommy's heart.

I miss hearing "I wuv you so mush, Mommy!" I miss those little arms wrapping around me for a hug. I miss snuggling with her and seeing her asleep in my bed. I miss that cute smile. I miss hearing her "toddler talk." I miss her excited laughter when she's playing with the dog.

On the other hand, I haven't missed picking up 5, 482 toys every day!

As I said, it's Friday. She will be home on Monday. Yes, I'm already counting the hours! Meanwhile, she's having a great time with MeMe. She even got to go to a zoo yesterday where she could actually pet the animals. MeMe said she loved it! So far, she has only asked for me once and was quickly and easily distracted. I guess that speaks pretty highly of MeMe's grandmothering skills!

Have fun with her now, Mom. I don't know if I can go through this separation again any time soon.

P.S. Emily has been enjoying this week as a thoroughly spoiled only child again! Ha, ha!

Reminiscing...

This past weekend the Andalusia High School Class of 1989 celebrated their 20th class reunion. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend due to Emily's hectic band schedule. My dear friend Shannon recently emailed me a couple of pictures that were taken way back when we were juniors and seniors. They are hilarious to say the least!

Junior Prom - Spring 1988

Rick, Shannon, Me, and Eddie

Don't you just love my triangle hair? Must have been an odd angle

or a shadow. I certainly don't remember it looking like that!

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Graduation Day - Spring 1989

Monica, Stacy, Me, Karen Suzanne, Shannon, and Rick

Weekend Recap

It sure was a BUSY weekend around our house and my poor muscles letting me know they are not happy about it this morning!

On Friday, we had Perry's sister, neice, and his neice's two children come for a visit. They got here about 3pm and immediately the house began buzzing. They girls were so excited to see them! That night, we all went to see Emily perform at the football game against the Allen Eagles. It definitely was not a good night for the Broncos though. We lost 42 - 0. As usual, it was about midnight before Emily got home and we all finally went to bed.

Saturday brought more excitement. Our subdivision was having a community-wide yard sale. Deb and I thought it would be fun to go check it out. Bright and early at 7:30, we were getting in the car. We cruised around and picked up a few things, but mostly it was a wash. Emily had a band competition that day and she was already gone by the time we got home at 8:40. Then we started preparing for her big surprise! Earlier in the week, Perry and I had ordered new bedding for her and bought her new mattresses. The mattresses were being delivered that morning and we were setting up all the new stuff to surprise Emily when she got home. We rushed all morning to get things ready and then get ourselves ready to go see her perform in the competition. Unfortunately, we were not able to find the stadium where it was being held and missed the first show. I finally managed to talk to another color guard member's mom and asked her to call me if they made it to the next round and we would attend that performance instead. She agreed so then we all went shopping for the next few hours. At 7:15pm, we arrived at the stadium, watched her perform, and then sought her out to say "hello" before leaving. The band and color guard had done VERY well in the competition. The color guard placed 6th out of 28 teams in the first round! They were so excited! They had to stay through the final round before the judges announced the results. We all left and went to a local mexican restaurant in search of FOOD! We were all starving! Afterwards, we went home and waited for Emily to get there. Again it was about midnight before she got home. Everyone except Tanner managed to stay awake to see her face when she saw her new bedroom. She loved it, but was sooooo tired that I think it somewhat diminished her reaction. Nonetheless, I know she loved it and was very surprised.

Sunday...finally we all get to spend some time with Emily! The adults arranged a surprise trip to Six Flags for the kids. They didn't know where we were going until we got there and their excitement was deafening! We all had such a great day!!! This was Abby's first trip to Six Flags and she loved it! She wasn't scared of anything...as usual...and couldn't wait for the next ride. She is definitely a LOT less fearful than her big sister was at this age. The park closed at 7pm much to the dismay of everyone. A crock pot of BBQ Stew was awaiting us when we arrived home and we were all thankful I had had enough forethought to plan dinner before we left that morning. We all ate dinner, got showers, and started packing. Abby was going back to Alabama with them to spend the week with MeMe. Aunt Shirley and MeMe will be bringing her home next Monday when they come to see Emily perform at a football game. Anyway, by the time we all got the suitcases packed and everything together to send for Abby, it was almost midnight before we went to bed.

This morning, the alarm clock sounds at 5am. Ugh...it's morning already??? Perry gets his shower and then wakes up Deb and Destiny so they can start getting ready. At 6:15am, The four of them AND MY BABY depart. I missed her immediately! It's going to be such a long week without her! Perry and I come inside and talk for a few minutes before he has to leave for work. I decided to go lay back down in the bed and wait until it's time for Emily to get up for school. After I dropped her off at 8:30, I came back home to a completely empty house. It seems so strange. It's now 10:30 and I think I'm going to go get a shower and do SOMETHING. Just sitting her listening to my sore muscles complain is depressing.

P.S. I'll post pictures of our Six Flags adventure when Destiny emails them to me.

Conversations with a toddler

Abby is watching Snow White while I'm putting away dishes in the kitchen

ABBY: (in an almost-crying voice) Mommy, I cared (scared)!
ME: Do you want Mommy to get you a different movie?
ABBY: No, I wike (like) it.
ME: Ummm...okay.

~~~~~

Upon arriving home after going through McDonald's to pick Abby up a cheeseburger, I open the wrapper to find the burger is very hot. So, I cut it in half and, while it's cooling, I make a quick run to the bathroom. While I'm washing my hands, I realize that it is VERY quiet. That is usually NOT a good sign. I hurry into the kitchen to find Abby sitting on the floor with half of the cheeseburger devoured.

ME: Abby, were you hungry?
ABBY: Uh-huh. I hongee (hungry), hongee, hongee, Mommy!

I take the cheeseburger, put it on a plate, and put it on the table. Abby gets in the chair and starts gobbling it down again.

Me: Abby, are you still hungry?
ABBY: Uh-huh. I hongee, hongee, hongee, Mommy!

I kept asking her the same question over and over for my pure amusement and she never failed to deliver the same answer like a miniature tape recorder on playback.

Finally, she finished. I couldn't help it...I had to ask again.

ME: Abby, are you still hungry?
ABBY: No, Mommy, I not hongee, hongee, hongee anymore.

I then roll on the floor laughing!

~~~~~

I left Abby at the table today with her lunch while I began picking up toys. In a couple of minutes, I hear singing.

ME: Abby, you need to eat your lunch.

Quiet for a moment...then singing again.

ME: Abby, you need to eat your lunch.
ABBY: Mommy, I ready (already) eating my wunch (lunch)!
Me: OK, you need to finish your lunch.
ABBY: OK.

Apparantly I need to clarify "finish" the lunch not just eat it.

~~~~~

While talking on the phone one day, I finish my glass of Coke and walk into the kitchen to put the glass in the sink. Distracted, I only put the glass NEXT to the sink not in it. Abby is sitting in the kitchen playing with some toys and watching me. After placing the glass next to the sink, I walk over to the doorway and pause while still talking. Abby watches me for a moment and then looks up at the glass on the counter then looks back at me again. She then gets up and walks over to me and begins pushing on my legs.

ABBY: Mommy, you go sit puter (computer)!
ME: Abby, why do you want me to go sit at the computer?
ABBY: (pause...glance at the glass) 'Tause (because) I want you dink (drink).

Ugh...I then realize I sat the glass next to the sink rather than in it. She knows she can now reach things if they aren't pushed too far back so she was planning her next move. She was just too innocent for her own good and told me her true intentions! Ha, ha! Oh, and boy was she ever mad when I went back and put the glass IN the sink.

~~~~~

OK...be forewarned that this one is a little TOO personal, but it is so funny, I just had to share it.

Our bathroom has an open door policy when it's just Abby and me at home. With such a policy, it is quite common for her to follow me in there. Our bathroom also has a little potty chair in there for Abby's curiosity. Maybe sometime soon we'll get around to actually potty training her. Anyway, one day I was having a little tinkle and Abby came in.

ABBY: Mommy, I go potty too.
ME: OK...let's pull off your diaper. Now sit on your potty and make some tee-tee go in there.

Abby sits down and stares between her legs into her potty chair bowl for a few seconds then looks up at me with a frustrated expression.

ABBY: It dist (just) not working!

The Homecoming Date

Two Tickets To The Homecoming Dance...$30.00

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Homecoming Mum...$30.00

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New Tie To Match Her Dress...$18.00

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Corsage...$14.00

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Dinner For Two At Olive Garden...$34.00

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Date To The Homecoming Dance With

The Prettiest Girl In The Ninth Grade...PRICELESS!

The Homecoming Date - part 2

she's ready and waiting...

the exchange of the corsage and boutonniere


J.T. got off easy...no pins!

So pretty!

Emily had to have help by

Jill, J.T.'s mom, pinning the boutonniere