Facebook=Grown Up Show and Tell

Did y'all ever go with your parents to work when you were a kid?

I know that experience for my sisters and I was always an adventure.

And always embarrassing.  

Dad always had pictures of us on his desk that were at least 5-7 years old.  

So naturally our hair styles were awful and we had gap toothed grins.

But he was so proud.  

Often there were newspaper clippings, mostly of Kathryn, who was our softball star.

There is still a newspaper clipping of Kat on my grandparents fridge.  

Some things never change.

My dad displayed those photos with a huge smile on his face.

No doubt that he had a story for each picture and that he told that story to every person he met.

Bless them for having to listen... multiple times I'm sure....

Going to see those photos at the office and going to see him at the office was just another way he could participate in grown up show and tell.

It was always like being on parade.... and so embarrassing.

We always took a lap (or two) around the cubicle jungle to meet all his buddies.

They knew our life story.

We knew they worked with Dad and looked like nerds.

Now when we go to visit Dad at work there are photos of us, the kids, and our spouses (or soon to be spouses)...

Things change, but those photos remain.

Sometimes the old photos are still there... but we have new additions as well!

 

And thank goodness for the invention of Facebook.

Photo sharing at its finest.  

I can email a photo to Dad and he can print it out immediately for display.

I don't worry so much that those folks are seeing my gap toothed grin anymore.  

Thankfully, I haven't lost a tooth in a while.

I have also learned that hairstyles aren't such a huge issue.

But then again, I don't have giant 80s bangs anymore.  

I'm sure a good bit of Dad's colleagues have a Facebook and they see plenty of us that way.

Less pressure for the parade around his office that way...

Did I mention that it was embarrassing?

Baby not feel good.

Can someone tell me WHY they make kids wait to get the suckers/stickers/treat at the dr's office until AFTER the appointments!?

I went to steal one, just to see what she would do if I gave it to her.

She spent most of our dr's visit screaming.

I knew she was sick, but I didn't know it was THAT bad.

This was her mugshot after leaving the dr on Monday afternoon. 

Official diagnosis:  ear infection right ear.

Her oxygen levels were super low and her blood pressure was crazy high.

We coudn't decide if her stats were all crazy because she was sick....

Or because she was upset and crying like a fool.

Dr. Nguyen wanted us to check back in on Tuesday just to be sure.

We picked up the antibiotics and went home to nurse sick girl. 

PS--I'm a crappy nurse. 

I have no patience and I don't like needy people.

This was Tuesday at the dr's office.

She wanted to color and I had no child safe color tools.

Red pen it is.

Note to self, put crayons in diaper bag.

Official diagnosis:  bronchitis and potential to develop asthma eventually.

She still had low oxygen levels, but her blood pressure was better.

We did an in office breathing treatment and her oxygen levels got better.

They sent us home with breathing treatments and steroids.

Don't forget we still have the antibiotic for the ear infection....

OH!

She also has WRETCHED diaper rash because she's getting teeth.

On top of all the other business we have butt issues.

So we also got some burn cream for that.

I decided that I would just let her wander around the doctor's office diaperless to let her booty air.

I buttoned her onesie up over her shoulder so it wouldn't get dirty.

Mom of the year!

Aaaaaaannnnnnnnddddddddd..........

when we were leaving the doctor's office I left the paper with the prescriptions in the room we were in.

So I got alllllllllllllll the way to the car without, realized that I left them, and then had to go back inside.

Freaking awesome.

$43 later, we have meds for baby who is sick.

Yes, this is what she's doing while she is sick.

She acts just fine.

This is why she gets so sick and we have no idea!

And when you ask Hayes how Baby is doing, he replies...

"Baby sick.  Baby not feel good.  She go to the doctor."

My baby is all gone

He is.  

He's all gone.  

Occasionally I catch a glimpse of him in a picture I snap.  

Like this one.  

See those chubby fingers and that fat little boy hand?

Those are things that are left from my baby boy.

But there isn't much left these days.

After all, he's almost three.

**gulp**

Three.  

Golly gee.

Is this real?

How is this possible?

When did my baby get to be almost three?

My sweet boy that arrived 22 days earlier than I had him scheduled into my busy life...

The little guy who was determined to get here before I was ready...

The one who was a 'premie' weighing in at 7 lbs. and 12 oz... that one?

He's halfway to high school these days.

Telling me what to do and where to go and what he wants to eat.

He even orders his own food at the restaurants lately.

Granted he's usually yelling at the drive thru mic or the lady at Chick fil A, but still.

He's all sorts of independent these days.

He goes potty without being told.

And he doesn't need my help to eat anything anymore.

He can color and talk and tell you all about his day at school.

He is well on his way to prom king with the list of friends he's acquired.

I think the worst part of being a mommy to an almost three year old is letting him get a hair cut.

Those haircuts just remind me that the baby is slowly fading away.

Every trim is just a reminder that he's not a little one anymore.

Mind you, he'll always be MY little one, but he's not so little lately.

I'm a little bit sad to watch my baby go.

My week is over????

The break is over.  Saddddsssssss.

Let's recap Thanksgiving break shall we...

Monday--The day I broke my phone and I couldn't even blame it on my toddlers.  Just me.  I dropped it about 3 feet ish from the couch to the floor.  Death to my iPhone.  Thankful for insurance.  I figured I wouldn't get it until Saturday or so, being that it was a holiday week.  I was thrilled to see it at the house on Tuesday!

Tuesday--We went to see my sister at Cow Headquarters.  Hayes got an ice cream treat after his lunch.  And he ate sprinkles off the floor.  Awesome.  Elizabeth disturbed a whole entire business meeting with her squeaky shoes.  We had a BLAST.  :)

Wednesday--Daryk went to coach wrestling all day long.  Typical.  I had brunch with my sister and my friends at the house.  We had a blast and talked about all sorts of girly things.  Plus, Leigh Anne learned how to make gravy.  I ran errands for a bit with the kiddos and then went to pick up our Thanksgiving Day ham.  I got to stop by Marcy's gender reveal party, witness a hilarious joke, and find out she's having a boy.  Yay for baby Beckett James.

Thursday--Thanksgiving.  I ran a 13.1 race in Atl.  And then I died.  Well, almost.  I literally ran 6 miles straight without stopping.  I ran/walked/jogged the last half of it.  I took a shower after I got to mom's house to get the kids.  Trust me, I needed the shower.  I took a nap and then got up to assemble the family dinner.  We had a GREAT time and I really enjoyed having the family at our house.

Friday--We stayed home.  It was glorious.

Saturday--Went to the mall and got to see Zoe at Chick fil A!  YAY!  The kids played and then we all came home to take a nap.  Also glorious.

Day Two. Post Half. I'm functional.

Well, today is day two after running the 13.1 miles on Thanksgiving Day. 
I think running that far gave me a new meaning to Black Friday, as I could BARELY walk yesterday.  Going to the potty, forget it. 
I could barely walk from the bed to the couch. 
And steps, fuuugetttaboutit. 
Not happening. 
Have you ever tried to explain to sweet babies that you can no longer pick them up and walk, because you can barely walk yourself? 
Carrying a 26 or 37 lb toddler isn't on the agenda since I can't move....

Yesterday Elizabeth scared herself to death because she climbed up about 3-4 steps and then fell down them towards the gate. 
I was downstairs wallowing on the couch and Daryk had just gone upstairs, thus the gate being open was his fault (just remember that) and NOT mine. 
She was trying to climb to get the nail polish basket, which my sweet baby sister left downstairs again, after using for the SECOND time this week. 
PS--she's not allowed to paint her nails at my house EVER again after this week)
Elizabeth fell, scared us both, I almost died trying to jump/hobble to her rescue. 
And Daryk wanted it to be my fault, I could tell.
No verbal cues necessary... it was the death/guilt stare and I just knew it. 
Clearly not my fault.  Maybe Daryk's and Leigh's fault... again, nail polish basket.

Also, today I'm better.
I can walk a little bit faster and the stairs aren't impassable anymore.
I just got the last of the DVD binge from Amazon today.
I ordered about 10 ish Christmas DVDs week before last.
What?!  We didn't have enough Christmas movies.
One cannot survive on Elf and Charlie Brown alone!

I am ready to decorate NOW. 
Going to wait for the kids to go to sleep tonight and then get it done!

Debating this photo for the Christmas cards?  Thoughts anyone?
Anyone?
.:crickets:.

Ok good. 

The Joy of Christmas

Momma brought me to The Fox to see Martina! Be jealous!

Atl Half

I finished. I didn't die. The end. Here are my pics, more about the race later!

So it happened....

Last night marked the 2nd time ever in our marriage that Daryk cleaned the shower.  

Write it down folks. 

 2nd time in a whopping (almost) 4 years. 

 Mind you, he cleans everything else.  

He does the dishes and cleans the kitchen almost every.single.night.  

He vacuums the floors all the time and he helps fold the laundry too.  

So thankful for all that help, trust me.  

But there's just something about scrubbing toilets, tubs, and sinks that wears on you.  

I warned him a few nights ago that his time was coming. 

He tried to worm out of it saying that he'd just cleaned the kitchen, blah, blah blah....

He asked me if I'd ever used the lawnmower...

I replied, "We pay someone to cut the grass, nice try."

He finally scrubbed the shower and I will say it looks really nice this morning.

Wonder what I can con him into next...

Just in case you wanted to laugh out loud this morning....

Go read this blog.

I snorted a few times.

You know it is good if I snort.

Thankful

Days like today I love my job.

I was stirred from sleep by the sounds of birds fussing outside.

Shortly after that I heard a little boy calling, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy"...

He requested the usual berry milk and I quickly ran to get it for him!

It is SO cold in the house in the mornings!

He snuggled between me and Daddy in the bed for a little while and watched Mickey.

When he grew restless we woke baby sister up and headed downstairs.

Breakfast for Hayes was cereal and Elizabeth had a waffle.

Now we're watching Frosty the Snowman (for the 9th time--thanks Dad!)...

And I'm enjoying my cafe mocha coffee.

I love all my jobs.

I love the one that pays the bills.

And I love the one that lets me play house all week with my babes.

Second Child Syndrome

Top ten reasons I know Elizabeth isn't my first child...

10.  I went to the mall with her on a Friday evening.  At 6 p.m.  By myself during the holiday season.  This has got to be close to legal insanity??
9.  We took her to dinner on a Saturday night at 7 p.m.  And we weren't worried about bedtime at all.
8.  She didn't get a bath all weekend and she didn't die, nor did she smell too bad.
7.  I rejoiced about her allowing me to fix her hair in a sprout, with a bow!  Why do I care?
6.  We let her eat whatever she wants to eat, which is pretty much everything.
5.  She walks around with a snotty nose most of the time and wants to wipe it herself.
4.  She eats stuff off the floor; maybe a little too often.
3.  She is allowed to drink out of a straw and our grown up carbonated drinks.
2.  Her vocabulary is astounding and we have her big brother to thank for that!
1.  When she sleeps in until 9 a.m. on Sunday morning, we sleep in too!  I don't freak out and check on her... I just enjoy the quiet...

Post 'sprout and bow' hair.

It is like a super awesome mohawk.

Bow and sprout.  

I AM SO EXCITED!

Crap balls. I forgot yesterday.

Welp, call me a slacker.  I totally forgot I was supposed to write a blog yesterday.
Oops.
Lemme just fill you in about our weekend!
Friday we decided that Hayes could go with my parents to the deer woods and play with his cousin Lucas.  Dad came to get him after school on Friday and I sent him on his way.  Dad and Sheila decided not to go to the deer woods and just hang by the lake instead.  Lucky Hayes--either way.  Saturday he got to play hard with Lucas and then they went to the B'ham Zoo.  I've heard all about the monkeys, alligators in green water, and elephants he saw.  He was thrilled to see his cousin and go visit with his grandparents.  I was thrilled to know that he missed me and asked for me on Saturday night!  .:Made my heart swell:.

Friday night I took Elizabeth to the mall for dinner and some girl time.  We played, well, she played on the Germ Village (as my mom says) Playground and had a GREAT time.  She ran around for a good little while before I loaded her up into the one kid stroller and we went shopping for Christmas gifts.  I got a few gifts for teachers and various family members before we left the mall.  We saw BeBe and Jack one more time before we left and she had a meltdown.  It was fun!

Saturday morning we played around the house until 9 and then got ready to go see Daddy at the ALX Duals.  I dressed her in her best red and black for the big match!  We got to watch about 2 hours of wrestling before I had to head home to get ready for my basketball games.  I met my sitters at the house and left baby girl with them.  I drove to Cambodia, on the other side of the county, for THREE everloving basketball games.  Longest.games.ever.  Girls won, boys won, 9th boys lost.  Long day!  I got home around 6:30 and debated with Daryk about dinner plans.  We decided to go to Gumbeaux.  Unfortunately they were PACKED and we ended up at The Pub instead.  Elizabeth was a trooper and ate like a champ, nothing new! 

Today our little girl slept until after daylight and we enjoyed sleeping in too!  We served at church in the last service and then went to Kohl's and Target to shop.  Elizabeth passed out on the way home from shopping and we all took a nap.  Daryk and I went exploring behind the house and we can't wait to show the kids!  Dad and Sheila delivered Hayes around 5 p.m. and we got baby girl up to see her brother.  Her hair was CRAZY when she woke up and we all got a good laugh. 

Grocery store run, chicken quesadillas for dinner, and then bathtime for the babes.  Everyone was in bed by 7:15 and we folded laundry.  Aren't we a load of fun!?

It was a feast!

Blurry, but at least he's looking AT the phone camera and sorta smiling. 

Smiling like his father... that awful fake 'cheese' smile.

He was sooooo concerned with his feather hat.

Again, fake smile.

I'll take it, if its the best I can get. 

This kid loved his frosting and the pumpkins that went with it.

He's related to Aunt Kitty, has a DEEP love for the candy corn.

It was the best day to just go see him at school.

He was so excited to see me and I was thrilled just to get to spend a chunk of my morning with him!

Days like that make me sad that I can't be a stay at home mom, except I would hate it every other day.

Victory, you are so sweet!

This is a TEENY TINY clip.

But take note, that it is officially IN her hair.

Small victories people.

I'll take it!

I'm going to buy her a whole pack of them today.

Ipsy Bag

It CAME!

And it was wrapped in PINK bubble wrap!

I got my very frist IPSY bag last night, and I couldn't be MORE excited!

I never thought I'd be one to like cosmetics, much less enjoy them and want to try new ones...

Alas, here I find myself with a new supply and a new bag coming every month!

Yippee!

It is the November bag and I got a few noteworthy prodcuts!

L-R

The Balm  eyeshadow,  Bare Minerals Moxie lipgloss, Nailtini polish, and they're Real! mascara.

Also got a Starlet Intense eyeliner pencil.

I'm excited to try them all!

I especially LOVE the lipgloss, who doesn't love lipgloss?

I wore the lipgloss this morning and I am in love with the color and the shine.

It doesn't have a nasty waxy weird  taste either.

And the sparkly nail polish.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE nail polish.

Stressful Days

Possibly the most exhausting day of my whole entire school year.  Meeting before school, school day, running errands during planning, finish teaching.... Then I ran to get the kids, swung into a drive thru to get them dinner, and dropped them off with Papa.  Back at the school at 5 p.m. and I had NHS induction and then went to visit hubs at wrestling practice for a few before rushing to KRGR to go get a few last minute things for Hayes' feast tomorrow!  Thankfully, Daryk was able to get the babies and I went home to get things ready for tomorrow.  Babies came home and we played for about 20 minutes and then off to bed they went.  Not a peep was heard from them!  They must have been TIRED! 

Seriously a CRAZY hectic day.  At the end, I'm thankful to be DONE with it and have walked away in one piece.  :) 

Blogging in Place

My favorite place to blog is, um, well... wherever I can squeeze time into my life to actually blog. 

I write at my desk at school. 

I write at my table at home. 

I often write in the car, while someone else is driving, and I'm pretty sure I've gotten good at that too. 

I love blogging from my couch while I'm watching TV. 

 I love blogging.

I was discussing with one of my favorite people, Pam, about blogging this weekend.

We discussed how some people use their blogs to make a living.

Would love to.

But I'm pretty sure nobody would want to read what I have to say that often....

Avery's Blog

I found this blog more than a few months ago.  

About 3 months after I found it I read that Avery had left us to go be with Jesus.  

I called Daryk at school and wept with him on the phone because I was so upset about that loss.  

My baby girl was just a few months older than Avery and I couldn't even imagine the heartache.  These parents are truly remarkable and certainly my heroes.  

My favorite blog entry is where Avery and her mom are dancing to my most favorite Pat Green song. 

Winning!

I crossed about half of my Christmas list off the paper today!  I'm totally feeling accomplished and really excited about the whole holiday season.  I have a few more things to get for the family and the kiddos.  The last thing I'll get done is the opening of savings accounts for the kids.  I know, not very exciting, but college is pricey and we are planning ahead.  Besides, they would rather play with toilet paper rolls, fly swatters, and empty vitamin bottles.  Why bother with toys?  I get to host Thanksgiving at our new home this year and I cannot WAIT to see my entire family here!  I'm working on a menu and trying to figure out what would be best for us all to bring.  The kids will be thrilled to have the whole family here too. 

I am ready to PAINT this house.  Any volunteers to help?  No?

Apple Festival

It was the best trip ever.

We all had a ride down the giant slide.

Hayes wasn't scared at all!

He went down with Ellie once and then down by himself the 2nd time!

I was a little bit scared myself, but it was SUPER fun!

 I love this picture of Hayes.  

Ellie wanted to have a cute picture with him...
Hayes clearly didn't get that memo.

 And this picture.

It takes my breath away.

I love this woman with all my heart.

She loves my babies and cares for them like no other.

I can't possibly put into words how much I cherish her relationship with my family.

She is just precious.

 Hayes jumped on this giant balloon thingy.

He wasn't a huge fan.

 She was thrilled with the giant concrete pipes.

Fascinated.

Have I mentioned that this was the 3rd outfit she'd worn that day?

Two different poop explosions (both ON Ellie) and that was the LAST clean outfit we had.

Got a cute pic of these girls...

 He's a local celebrity riding with the cows....

 Little chick played in the toddler zone for a good long while.

Tires, pipes, etc...awesome.

 My baby girl LOVES Ethan!  

He is her favorite person every afternoon when he jumps off that school bus!

 Her turn to ride the cow.

She didn't really ride... she just got a picture made in the cow.

Appropriately named Bessie.

Every cow should be named Bessie, right?

 These boys went for a ride on that cart.

Daryk said it was harder than it looked.

I think he's just being a wimp.

It was seriously the best trip ever.

Mom in law went too!

She almost ran over me TWICE while we were touring the grounds

I got to eat a funnel cake and a fried Oreo.

I really enjoyed being able to spend time with everyone at the festival.

Big Change

I wish I could grant myself the motivation to get out of bed/off the couch/up on Saturday's to WORK OUT.

I'd much rather sleep.  Or watch TV.  Or... sleep?

I just paid money to join the gym. 

I'm planning to go this weekend.

I will go tomorrow.

I love the gym.

It makes me happy.

I've got about 20 lbs I want to lose before the wedding!

Jew and Kitty get married next May and I don't want to be flabby.

I want to to be hot.

I'm back to pre babies weight.

I just need to get to what I call Skinny Carrie weight.

Skinny Carrie with big Alabama hair.

I was channeling Texas in 2007-2008.

I love it.

I miss it.

I think I'll go back.

Don't tell my sisters I posted this, ok?

Seriously.

Huge hair.

Charleston for Thanksgiving.

My favorite city.

Exploring the World... or not.

I would be an airline pilot.
Apparently there aren't too many of us girls out there doing that.

Less than 3% of commercial pilots are female. 

 

I could experience a different life.

You could be anyone you wanted to be.

That might NOT be a good thing....

 

Each city or place would bring you new adventures.

 

Argentina

Who wouldn't love to fly aroud the world and see different places?

 

Austrailia
You could travel and visit amazing countries.

 

Italy

I would love to go here.

And here.

I just like to explore.

My teacher salary doesn't afford too much of that exploring.

Being a pilot would enable a salary that pays for it and a way to get there. 

 

But alas, I'm a teacher and I love it.

I also love that other job.

The Mom Job.

And it is way more important than anything else.