Three Christmases

Well, all of our Christmas celebrations are over. The kids cashed in with tons of great gifts, and I didn't do so badly either! Marc got his 2 framed Houston jerseys and seemed happy with them. After many trials and tribulations, Luke's trampoline was put together and has been enjoyed by all the cousins and even mommy! (Check Amy's blog eventually for a possible photo of me in action!) The Ohio clan arrived Friday night and tomorrow we take off to Brenda's for a few more days of family time. Today well all went to Austin to the Arboretum, and it turned out to be a gorgeous day for some outdoor shopping! We ate at Cheesecake Factory, and I got to spend my big Sephora gift card -and my best purchase was Smurfette brand glitter eye liner. Fabulous. We hung out at the fountains there, that someone had filled with bubbles, and grandpa let Mia slip a bit and she went face first into the bubbles! 

Marc is away at a tournament so we won't be seeing him all week, but we'll enjoy these last few days with the rest of the fam.

Photos will come over the weekend... until then, happy new year everyone!! 

My 12 favorite things about Christmas this year

12. Listening to Luke singing Christmas carols (even in the shower!)

11. Plugging in my new skinny, prelit tree every night

10. Picking out the perfect ornament for each of my kids

9. Starbucks eggnog lattes

8. Shopping shopping shopping!!

7. Two weeks off of school

6. Falalala Lifetime - Christmas movies all the time!

5. Making cut out cookies with Luke... and eating them too

4. Helping the kids make their Christmas lists, making sure to guide Luke to pick the things I already bought!

3. Getting cards with photos of everyone's kids, especially since I haven't sent any out yet!

2. Waiting to see if Marc is as excited about his gift from us as we are to give it to him!

1. Impatiently and anxiously awaiting time with family, especially my nephew Jacob and niece Jenna that we haven't seen in a year! Can't believe I haven't seen those two in so long.

updates

seems like several things have happened the past few days and need to blog it all before i forget! it's late, i'm tired, so sorry but no photos added tonight.

1. yesterday was party day at school. luke and i got to wear pjs all day and watch polar express, so that made it even more relaxing! got some great gifts from students this year including a dillard's gift card which i may use to buy a fabulous mascara that vibrates! what will they think of next??

2. mia had her party at school and stayed healthy through this one!

3. the kids and i went to killeen high school to watch marc's game. this is the school where a few years ago HUGE fights broke out and it was scary. it's not the team's fault, just the fans who get worked up with two killeen schools play each other. anyhow, the game was great, but they ended up losing at the very end, not that i saw the end. with only seconds to go, someone threw a full bottle of gatorade from the upper level that bounced off the rafters and hit my shoulder and luke's head. he was crying so hard and i knew it hurt because my shoulder hurt! if looks could kill, the kid (age 18ish) would be dead after i stared him down. i've never come close to being in a fight, but i was ready to run up those stairs after him. i call it my  "mom rage" that came out. i think the cops got him, but they couldn't prove who did it so they took the 3 guilty looking ones out. you just don't mess with my kids. and luke had a nice lump on his head as a souvenir. 

4. today marc and i went to april-dawn's wedding. she was my roommate about 10 years ago and played piano at our wedding. we didn't head to the reception because we really didn't know anyone else, but it was great to be there and see her so happy.

5. we had a family dinner out tonight. may not seem like much, but with our busy lives and 2 little kids, we haven't been out anywhere that requires a waitress in months! we've been wanting to go to cracker barrel since it opened a few months ago, and it was worth the wait. i think we all agreed that it may have been our best meal in a long time - plates were scraped clean, we were eating off everyone else's plates, and the kids were so well behaved! and all for $24. not bad.

oh, and if you're checking your mailbox for a card from us, stop looking... i just didn't get with the program this year and cards are not headed your way. doesn't mean i don't love and miss you all though! 

Fa la la la humbug

What a day. It seems like everyone at work today was a scrooge, making the rest of us who thought we were happy feel like scrooges too. I thought it was tis the season to be jolly... anyone else finding a lack of "jollyness" out there this year? Everyone seems so grumpy and moody. Last night was my school party and I wasn't able to go since Marc is out of town and I had no sitter. I was upset till I found out there were rude comments still being said today over the staff gift exchange, of who didn't get what they wanted. Come on people, they were $10 gifts. Who really cares what you left with? So now I'm pretty glad I stayed home in my PJs making goodie bags with the kids. I, for some crazy reason, agreed to make them for Luke's class, Mia's class, and my class... so now Luke knows that 13+18+20=51 since that's how many we made last night.  My kids at school today were crazy, and I'm starting to buy into the "full moon effect" on kids... has anyone else checked out the moon last night and today? So cool. I even saw a man stopped by my house snapping a quick photo. Go out and see it tonight if you haven't yet. 

In other news... Marc is still out of town at a tournament. I feel bad for him, missing 2 days of school, only playing one game a day, getting a good night's sleep in a hotel, spending most of today shopping at a nice mall in Dallas area. The kids and I have to clean the house and cook tonight since I'm hosting my third grade teacher party tomorrow night. We voted on a soup and hot drink party, trying to force ourselves into the holiday/cold weather spirit. 

Well, not much else to say. I should have some photos to post after this weekend. You aren't missing much - right now both my kids are a mess from dinner, and Mia is burping while Luke is repeatedly saying "fart fart fart" while eating. **Sigh** When did Luke become such a boy???? 

Back to work

Well, back to work tomorrow morning. Thankfully the break seemed long for once. It's sad though that I'm still on Thanksgiving break, and I'm already counting down to Christmas break.
Here's my week in review:
1. Went on Wednesday to Marc's game- first one I could go to and their first win.
2. Spent Thanksgiving in Bryan with Marc's family -ate a lot, read a lot. Good times.
3. Brenda's family was at my house when we returned Thursday night and stayed till Saturday morning. She and I spent about 6 hours out Friday morning, WITHOUT KIDS!!, shopping and going to the Sami Show. I spent way too much money, but it was all worth it!
4. Saw Twilight Friday night with Brenda -now waiting for the second one to come out.
5. Marc went to Houston to a game Saturday with his dad so the kids and I hung out all day together, and had a really good and relaxing day. Luke and I watched Iron Man last night together too.
6. At the TAG convention, I got 2 caterpillars to grow to butterflies. They turned to chrysallis', and the first one hatched (is that what it's called??) Friday and the other one came out this afternoon. So we have 2 butterflies, and we'll probably let them go tomorrow. In all the times I caught caterpillars at home and put them in jars with sticks, I never did successfully grow a butterfly, so I was as excited about it as Luke.

As I prepare to head back to work tomorrow, I leave you all with this thought - 15 school days until a 2 week break! :)

My tribute to Grandma Davis

Every year around the holidays, I get homesick, especially since I haven't been to Ohio for a while this time of year. I know all my relatives think I'm crazy, but I really miss the snow and cold weather. I have a hard time getting into the holiday spirit here when it's 75 degrees still, and some days are just a little sad for me. I miss my Ohio Thanksgivings, with all the gravy, mashed potatoes, and playing games around the table. This year I've been thinking about Grandma Davis quite a bit as I look forward to Thanksgiving, as she is known for her perfect spread of everything from turkey to jello molds to the tray of olives and carrots that I always passed by. After all, who wants to fill up on carrots when there's all the other great foods you only get once or twice a year? And I especially remember going back into the fridge a few hours later and snagging a huge piece of cold white turkey. So in honor of Grandma's Thanksgivings which I will not be a part of again this year, I made banana bread, her cheeseball, and drank some eggnog. I always thought grandma had homemade eggnog just because she put it in a bowl and added whipped cream and nutmeg. Thanks for all the great memories of the holiday Grandma, and I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving! We will be at Marc's family's house for an equally wonderful meal, especially when you add in the Oreo turkeys Luke and I made tonight to take!  

7 school days and counting...

...till a much needed 5 day weekend from work! can't wait till thanksgiving break. this past weekend went way too quickly, but doesn't it always? i had a good time at the TAG conference in dallas. had dinner at cheesecake factory (but wasn't hungry enough for cheesecake! can you believe it??), got a bed all to myself, then went to several good workshops and one not so good (an old lady reading poetry. really??) i came home to mia with a goopy eye so we went to the dr. saturday and sure enough, pink eye! but she will be fine for daycare tomorrow. marc's first real game is tuesday but i think we'll have to skip it since it's in waco. different now that luke doesn't get to nap the next day - have to be more picky which tuesday night games we go to! off to get the kids ready for another week!

bloggedy blah blah blah

have nothing much to say, just bored and felt like blogging. so here are my random thoughts...
1. i leave tomorrow after school for my tag workshop in dallas. i get to go with my friend ginny - luke's teacher- and we are getting a hotel and then coming back friday evening. i know it's a short trip but it's 24 hours to only think about me and to get a good night's sleep! oh, and i'll probably learn something about teaching too.
2. christmas shopping is more than halfway done! woohoo!
3. basketball season officially started last night with a scrimmage. the team played well so maybe it'll be a better season than expected. now mia is going to be a challenge at the games though!
4. mia update - her favorite words are "nack" (snack), "emo emo emo" (elmo), and "mama mama mama" repeated. she talks a lot, but also cries a lot these days!
5. luke update - had a test today on word wall words and knew them all. brought home a turkey family project- make a disguise for the turkey so noone will eat him. after spending an hour turning him into an elaborate snowman complete with real buttons and stick arms, luke scribbled his whole face blue because he couldn't find any other crayons.
6. i've been on facebook a lot lately and this past week got back in touch with several high school friends and a college roommate. neat to see where everyone is, what they are up to, and how much they have/haven't changed.

Halloween

Despite a rough start to the day, trick or treating did happen for the Minatreas. However, Mia's school party didn't as she'd had well, let's just say many dirty diapers,  on her costume and change of clothes, then threw up on her plate of party food and her last bit of clean clothes. So we brought her home early. She perked up and went out begging for candy and she had a great time. Luke was so cooperative with photos and everything, and he did great too! 

I was so proud of the kids -they both came home from school with a certificate! Mia won first place in the costume contest in the morning, and Luke was one of 4 kids chosen to go to the library for a reading celebration for the first 9 weeks. I didn't know he was going, and was so glad to see him get chosen for his reading skills!

They look so tiny!!

It was hard to get a good photo of Luke's sword -he had it all over the place, not sure how he wanted to hold it for pics!

This was at the party, minutes before she got sick on those clothes and everything else in sight! 

To tide you over till Halloween pics are uploaded...

I am way too tired to upload Friday's photos, so here are a few from the past week just so I can't get picked at by a certain aunt for not blogging!
Friday we had 50s day - so this is my grade level and Jeff Ball (2nd grade teacher)

Big moment for Luke- he never liked tattoos, face painting, or even bandaids, and finally he wanted his face painted the other day at school!

What I never thought I'd do...

About a week ago, I received an email that asked a bunch of questions about me. One was "What is one thing you have done that you never thought you'd do?" I wasn't sure at the time what I would have answered, but now I know what I would answer even 20 years from now if asked the same question. Sunday night, I was able to be in the delivery room with my friend/aide while she had her baby, and I got the cut the cord! It was definitely one of the most amazing moments of my life.

The past few weeks have been so busy and tiring, so let me recap:

Our grade level aide Michelle has had a rough pregnancy, and finally, the month baby was due, her husband was deployed to California with the army and wasn't here to help her. So my grade level all pitched in and helped with the 3 false alarm trips to the hospital, watching her 3 year old during those trips, and being on call 24/7. Saturday she was finally admitted and induced. I was out of town, so when I returned I decided to relieve Camill since she'd been at the hospital forever and still no baby. By the time I got on Ft. Hood, I got a call that baby was coming. I literally ran into the hospital, and the nurse was waiting for me in the hall, and within 15 minutes, baby Robbie was here and I was crying and cutting the cord! It was just amazing. He is the sweetest little baby, with a head of dark hair and the tiniest little head! And he has a stork bite between his eyes that looks like the UT longhorn symbol! I brought mommy and baby home Monday night and they are doing great.

Besides having baby duty the past week, I had my pdas - formal observation -and it went really well. Glad it's done!

We went to Brenda's this past weekend for Payton's birthday and Luke woke up so sick Saturday. He missed the build a bear event, but later that night felt well enough so Brenda and I took him back to make his monkey that evening. (FYI - took him in Monday and he has double ear infections. He was so miserable Sunday night and Monday morning! But he's doing great now, just missed one day of school with daddy)

Enjoy some photos - a little baby, a little birthday, a little hanging out... a little bit of everything from the past weeks! (in no particular order)

Build a Bear, trip #1 with Carsyn, Payton, and Mia. Carsyn and Mia both named their animals Bella and we didn't realize it till on the way home! Payton named her longhorn Brown. We also made Luke a get well puppy, and named him Buddy.

Mia putting the heart in Luke's puppy

Trip #2, with Luke making his monkey, which he named Luke!

Holding Robbie for the first time... and the photo was taken by his 3 year old sister!

Big sister Gwen with baby Robbie at the hospital

Paging Dr. Jill... You are needed in Delivery!

Last Thursday, Michelle invited the third grade teachers over and made us fried tacos (so good!) to thank us for all our help. It was actually cool out, so everyone showed up in their hoodies. 

Playing at Michelle's - (standing) Allyse, Tiffany's daughter and "Lute's" buddy from school (she calls him that all the time! She is also in kinder, but a different class); Gwen and Luke

Learning to multi-task at an early age -driving while on the cell phone. Later she also added drinking to the tasks! 

Just hanging out in Michelle's yard

Sweet Berry Farms

Last Saturday was our family outing to Sweet Berry Farms, a strawberry/pumpkin patch about an hour from our house. We had never been there, but I found it online last year and wanted to check it out. The weather was beautiful, although it was over 90 so we ended up sunburned unexpectedly, but there was a breeze and thankfully I was over my allergy problems or that could have made me miserable. We started at the hayfield maze, opting for the child one, not the one in the shape of TX that someone said took them 4 hours! We spent about 20 minutes in it, with Luke leading the way and Mia hitching a ride on daddy's shoulders while carrying a long, green stem. Luke was so proud when he led us out of the maze! Next we headed to the hayride. We rode on a short hayride that took us to a large field of flowers. For $1 you could get a cup to fill with fresh cut flowers. I don't know right now what kind they are but sure someone out there can tell me from the photos. Some kind of gerber daisy maybe? Again, Luke was leading the way, picking out flowers for me to cut, and not even freaking out at all the bees around us. At this point, you could also pay $2 for Okra, but seeing as we don't like it, we skipped it. But somehow Mia ended up with a large, stolen piece of Okra when we climbed back on the hayride! This part of the hayride took us through trees and fields where we went right by goats and donkeys. I was sitting right behind the tractor, so by the end my legs were black from dirt! We took a short break and shared a homemade strawberry lemonade and then it was time for Luke to ride the horse. I really thought that after we paid for the ticket, he'd get up there and refuse to ride, but he surprised us by getting right on Puddin, the beautiful brown horse. He later said the horse ride was his favorite part of the day. Before leaving, we tried to take lots of photos on the hay and pumpkins. Luke was all about the photo opportunities but Mia was either too preoccupied or too tired to "pose" with Luke and the pumpkins. Before leaving, we bought some little gourds and some homemade strawberry ice cream.

We were tired, sunburned, and so dusty and dirty, but everyone seemed to have fun, even Marc. I loved seeing the kids, especially Luke, experience new things like the hayride and horse ride, and just them being happy little kids. We get so busy and tired at the beginning of the school year and all week long, so I am glad we made this day all about them. Now, I have to convince Marc to go back in the spring to pick strawberries! Not sure that I'll make jam like mom always did, but it would still be fun to go strawberry picking again!

There are way too many pictures for me to comment on them all, but they are pretty self explanatory!


This is the kiddie maze through the hay field

This picture just makes me laugh! Luke was too funny, chillin on the haystacks while Mia wanted nothing to do with photos!

Flower field where we cut our cup of flowers

Dress Rehearsal

Mia's costume came in the mail yesterday so we tried it on her. Seeing hers on, Luke finally decided to put his on. He's been weird about not wanting to try it on. They were too funny, because they sat and played in their costumes for the next 2 hours. I had to be sneaky about taking photos because Luke would have hid if he'd seen me doing them! Mia will have black antennae and tights added to her costume, and Luke has a sword. 

On another note, I am so glad it's Friday. The past 2 weeks have been exhausting with being sick, but I am now on steroids and antibiotics and allergy meds, so I am feeling so much better! The only problem is that the steroids make me wired- I was up so late last night! I even had energy to finally go work out again after work today. We have had such a lack of family time lately, and since we're nearing basketball season, I decided we needed a day out. Tomorrow, weather permitting, we are going to Marble Falls to a pumpkin farm. I will take lots of photos and post about it when we get home.

For some reason, the kids were pulling themselves around the house on their bellies using their arms. They are too silly together!

Miss Independent - wouldn't let anyone feed her yogurt

Dress Rehearsal for Halloween