Blog Update Part 2

Pictures: Mason with the castle bouncer (Carter is inside); Me, Jennie, and Lorie with 3 of the 6 kids, Carter, Presley, and Eli; Mason and Carter with Gigi, Grandad, and Tigger all snuggled up for Polar Express movie night.

Blog Update

Dec. 14-22 Mason had asthma all every day and fever in the afternoon/evenings - missed the last 4 days of the school semester, including his party and Polar Express day.
Dec. 21 Mason's cardiologist visit - not great news - his heart is more enlarged and Dr. Kimberling is looking for a surgeon to contact about a possible repair surgery - we'll discuss it in a month.
Dec. 22 We had Christmas in Tulsa with Gigi and Grandad - Mason got the pirate ship he asked (begged) for and several rocket/space toys - Carter got the castle bouncer - Mason was thrilled with his gifts until he saw the castle bouncer, which is when he asked, "Why did I just get space stuff? Did I do something bad?" - Kids!!
Dec. 23 We left Dad at home alone and traveled with Gigi and Grandad to the Texas Panhandle - Stopped off in White Deer to see Uncle Bryan, Aunt Kandy, Chris, Lorie, Kezi, Sam, and Eli, as well as Brandon and his precious baby girl Presley, oh, and David and Jennie - Six kids/babies who had a ball playing together - Carter made fast friends with his little 'cousins' Eli and Sam - You've never seen so many sippie cups in one room!
Dec. 24 I went to the Christmas Eve service at FBC Borger, the church where I grew up - the most surreal experience I've had in awhile - It was a scene straight from a recurring dream I have - It was a nice service and fun to see people I haven't seen in years (decades), but I'm still not sure I was actually there.
Dec. 25 Christmas morning at Gigi and Grandad's house - I had laid out stockings and one gift per child by the fireplace - Mason bursts through the dining room's double doors (where the Christmas tree is) and then, a few seconds later, opens the second set of doors to find me in the kitchen - "Well," he says matter-of-factly, "I guess I was on the naughty list because Santa didn't bring me anything." - He obviously didn't notice the fireplace on his way to the tree. We don't claim the gifts are from Santa, and we certainly don't hold the 'naughty list' over his head - I guess he's thinking of the Polar Express movie.
Dec. 26 After a morning of listening to Mason's "I'm bored" chant, we got in the car and went to Amarillo to see Gran Hanna - Becky went with us, and of course we shopped a little along the way - My prize purchase was the coat I got 60% off (Did I mention that I forgot to pack any warm things for myself, including a coat? I had to buy tennis shoes at Walmart and a few sweaters at Kohl's just to be able to dress myself the rest of the week.)

Happy Half Birthday To You

Mason is officially 5 1/2 today. I only know that because his teacher celebrates half birthdays for kids with summer birthdays.

Notice the look on Carter's face in his 'beauty shop' picture (and the football hold he uses with his baby).

Ick

The pictures are from yesterday afternoon when we ventured outside for a few minutes. Today the ice is melting, and it has rained all day. So it's muddy and icky outside. The trees are all bent, broken, and gnarled. But we still have electricity, so I'm not complaining. Two thirds of the of the area is is the dark (and cold) so I'd say we lucked out.

Winter Wonderland - Sort Of

Lots of rain + 25 degrees = ice on roads, tree limbs, and power lines

The sound of tree limbs cracking under pressure is so bizarre - kind of scary. 100,000 houses in the area without power. No school today for any district in the area, except Mason's school. They take off every Monday after a four day weekend (making it a 5 day weekend), but they don't close when the roads are a solid sheet of ice and everyone else is out for a snow day? Well, I'm not getting out to take him to school - I've declared it a pajama day. Picture note: The trees are usually behind the fence, not in our backyard.

God'sGreenEarth

I've had a blog about everyday ways to improve the environment for about three weeks, and it's made me realize how out of the loop I am with technology. I just figured out a few months ago what a blog is, and I thought I was very hip. Ha! I don't understand the real blog world at all. I the terms they use in the FAQs are Greek to me - my simple little questions aren't even on the map. My questions are right up there with "How do you turn on the computer?" It has been an interesting challenge, though, and I think I'm learning as I go. The address is

www.godsgreenearth.wordpress.com

My last entry was about cutting down on junk mail - including my particularly devious plan to give credit card companies a taste of their own medicine. We'll see if it catches on!

Toddler Training

Our family is moving from 'make the baby happy' phase to 'teach the toddler' phase, which is a transition that involves tears for everyone. Carter had a blissfully happy week without his binky when he moved to a big boy bed a couple of months ago, but then he remembered his old friend and gets more attached to it every day. He wants 'bink and Boo,' his bear, with him 24/7. So we're working on keeping the bink in the bedroom and Boo at home (except they're both allowed at Sunday school - for the sanity of the nursery workers). He's not happy about it, but I think we're making progress (maybe).

Sidenote: We added to the curb appeal of our house yesterday by accident. We had a handyman come fix the handrail and move the beam to better support the roof. But when he took out a portion of the handrail, we decided the house looked better without it. So instead of fixing it, he hauled it off, and I love the new look! Our front porch is so much bigger. All these years I've wished the porch was big enough to put a bench so I could sit and watch the kids play in the front. Now that we're planning to sell the house, I finally have the space for a bench.

Mom's Day Out

I helped host a bridal shower Saturday at the Tivoli Inn Tea Room. We had so much fun, and the food was delicious! As I was putting some of the presents back in the box to load in the car, it occurred to me that my old dishes and towels used to be new in a box, too. One day, many years ago, I had a bridal shower and people brought me presents. It's hard to believe now. I think I need another shower - do they do 12-year-wedding-anniversary showers? Probably not.



Shower highlights: The gorgeous paisley bowl and platter (that I may have to give myself for Christmas) and the set of Candlewick dishes from the 50's that the groom's grandmother gave the bride.