Christmas fun

So much to report! Baby and I hit the road for a visit to Grams and Big Ben's. Although it was a different sort of Christmas than I would really wish for, it was a good time. In addition to actual Christmas, we also made a trip to Fiesta TX and to the zoo! Baby continues to be the cutest thing you (well, at least for me) ever did see, and I'm doing amazingly well (thanks to all of you praying for me). Hubby and I have had several nice long chats, and both of our gifts arrived in time for Christmas. And let us not forget the reason for the season! Thank you God for sending your son so that we may have life. So, now it is photo time...hmmm...which ones of the hundred million I took should I share?! Guess these will have to do:

Daddy sent a DVD of him reading a story to Baby. She obviously loves it.



























Christmas Eve European Baby The table was one of Baby's gifts

Pa-fier

Pa-fier, pa-fier? Peas? Peas? I can NOT seem to get rid of the pacifier! And now Baby is calling it by name! I'm not quite sure where she learned that, since I try really hard to never talk about it. Mmm. So, for a few days I caved in wondering to myself why exactly was it that I don't like to use it, again? Until it became clear...she tosses it during the night and cries until she gets it back! So, tonight, back to business as usual. Which was hard since she was asking so sweetly. I need to learn some rewards for her. Most of the time she is such a good little girl, and I want to reward her, but it seems like I usually give her a yummy treat. I would like to do something other than food! Let me know if you have any big ideas. I've recently decided (again)that my writing isn't really all that interesting, so that's all for tonight folks.

What was I thinking?!?!

An event at Fair Park? Other than the fair? Let me tell you, readers...BAD, bad idea. The ONLY thing that made it even part way safe was that I invited a couple to come with me. So, me, Baby, my preggos friend, and her hubby (token body guard male) drove straight into culture shock to go to the city's tree lighting event. Advertised as great family fun. Stories and photos with Santa, puppet show, arts/crafts, symphony concert, tree lighting (with military tribute). All free! Sounds like a lovely Christmas event, huh? So, sparing the details, the next day in the paper I read about a SHOOTING at the Kwanzaa event in Fair Park!!!!! Holy smokes. What was I thinking?!?! Never again.

Let's see...what else. Yesterday was Hubby's b-day. I missed his call b/c I was at church. I got so hot the other day trying to get fuel for my car I thought I was going to have to take off my sweater. Instead I just rolled down the windows and turned up the a/c (and this was on one of those rare cold days). All the spouts were full, and every time I tried to maneuver to one the turn would be too sharp or a pole was in the way (or some other random thing) that I was just this moron driving a sedan blocking everyone. This one gal took pity on me and waved me in front of her (perfectly parked and waiting) car. So nice. I graciously took the spot and realized the tank was on the OTHER side of the car. At which point I got so flustered (and hot) (no room to turn around) that I just drove off. Makes my heart race just thinking about it!

Today I plan on baking some cookies. Brrr...baby it's cold!

Regular update

Well, let's see, where did we leave off? Oh yes, decorating for Christmas. I have a few more decorations now...check it out to the left. Ha ha! Phunny, huh? MIL gave that to the dog. Of course Maddie would never be allowed to eat any cookies with her special restrictive diet and all, but it sure is cute.

Oh, and it turns out I'm famous. Only I already pretty much forgot about it. My 15 minutes of fame has turned out to be closer to 15 seconds, but I suppose that is OK. I participated in a press conference at my local YMCA regarding a benefit from the Department of Defense. The DOD is paying for Y memberships (some strings attached) for deployed guard families. And apparently I'm the only one participating in the program. So, I got called in by the y to basically just be present and snap a few photos with the Y pres and a local congress man. I've been told I was on the Telly, but can you believe I didn't see it?! Ah, too bad. I was also quoted in the paper, and I have 3 copies of it, so I CAN prove my fame if I have to. Photo here is of Baby dressed for the press conference.

Ah, and next...the annual 6 pack Christmas party. 9th year. Fun, fun for everyone! I love my ladies. And I came away with a snazzy pair of knee high slippers. Seriously. They look sorta crazy, but they are real fun and warm.

Moving on to Disney World! Sans Baby. I'll have to return when Baby is a bit older. What a cush job I have. Our annual conference was at a DW resort. I DID actually attend the conference, but we also made some time to check out Magic Kingdom. I do enjoy a theme park, friends. I must say, the rollee coasters didn't make my stomach drop, but it was fun all the same. I rode the tea cups, sang It's a Small World, and devoured ice cream. Who says you need to bring the kid to have fun?!

Now it is back to the real world, which involves getting my Christmas cards out. I have been working on them since Thanksgiving. I imagine I'll get them sent before Christmas, but it sure has turned into a project. Let's see. Baby has learned a new trick. She has discovered that she can pick her nose. Gross. Most of the time her nose is like a leaky faucet, but for some reason it isn't dripping now. Which I guess has prompted her to pick it. Ew. We're working on learning proper hygiene. Baby is real sweet, despite the new boy habit. Speaking of boy, Momma scooped the yard today (typical boy job), and Baby helped. She really wanted to hold the shovel with me. It was cute. Although it did take longer to get the job complete. It was so warm out today. Another great reason to love this state! Warm in December. So we spent some time in the yard (other than scooping). Baby really enjoys the trampoline. She just shrieks and laughs. She says...ashes? Her request for Ring around the rosy...she likes the fall down part especially. We also made a grocery store run (does anyone get outta the store for under 100 bucks? seriously! and it's just us two!), where Baby opened up not one but two items to eat in the store. I felt a little better about it when I saw another mom with open boxes in her cart.

Oh, so update on the Hubby. We talked this morning for awhile. He is getting mail from home and is always excited about it. He already got his Christmas present from me, and he opened it! I got one from him today, and so far (for like the past 5 hours) I'm managed to restrain myself from opening. Mmm. So, he is really over there in The Iraq doing his whole convoy support mission thing. Guess this is really happening. Oh, I'll post a pic soon with the chain. The chain says 261 days left, and it is noticeably smaller!

Well kids, I guess I'll call it a post. Gotta go work on those Christmas cards!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I've done a little decorating for Christmas! I have my Spode dishes in the cabinet, an international garland hung, and my tree up! Check out the tree to the left. Seriously. It's my tree. It's paper. It took about 10 minutes to put up, and the clean up will probably be even less. At first I was sad when I decided not to decorate for Christmas, but then I decided to be OK with it. It's actually sorta a relief. I don't have to get all worked up about crawling into the yucky attic, cleaning up the grim that comes down with the decorations, keeping Baby outta the boxes, and putting it all back where it came from. I guess that might sound a little scrooge like, but it has taken a weight off of me, and I feel good about it. I'll just light my yummy candles, turn on the Christmas tunes, drink my hot cocoa and be relaxed. Ah. What a stress free holiday. I even have most of my shopping done.

Today has been a pretty good day except I missed 2 calls from The Iraq. That's a bummer. The evening has been full of activity. We went to Baby's gym today b/c we have a conflict with her normal class. It seems that I will be in a press conference then. I'll tell ya all about it later. After gym we went out as our Wednesday tradition continues for Mexican food. Baby is a good Texan and loves her tex-mex! We walked over to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony afterward, and it was full of Christmas cheer. A children's choir was singing and you could take photos with Santa and a real live reindeer. We skipped out on the photo, even though I had brought a darling little dress for Baby. We had had a long day, there was a line, it was cold, and Baby didn't care. Why teach a pig to sing? I figure we'll have another opportunity.

A fun package was waiting for us when we got home. I'm currently all snugly and warm in my new OIF hoodie. And I got a cool beaded bracelet too. Ladies, I would never suggest that I'm enjoying this time away from Hubby, but I tell you what...I've been spoiled rotten by all the things he sends me! They are just all things, though, which doesn't replace the real deal. But they are all very special things that make me think of him every time I see them.

smoke detectors

Why is it that without fail, when the battery dies in the smoke detectors it happens in the middle of the night? Why? Can anyone tell me? Another question...why is that they chirp once, then lay quietly while you take everything down before alerting you to the correct one? So, there I was at about 4 AM taking every smoke detector off the wall thinking it was the culprit. I even took the carbon monoxide one down plus the one in Baby's room before I found the right one. They are are still on the desk in the family room. One is busted open with a dead battery tossed to the side. Guess I'll have to get around to putting them all back where they belong, huh? And I guess that whole "change the batteries" during time change thing is a pretty good idea. I might get better rest that way.
Ah, so it is already back to the grind from Thanksgiving. T-giving was very enjoyable. Baby and I spent some time with family, and Baby was very good in the car. I think it had something to do with the pacifier. And the wheels on the bus song, which is still her current favorite.
So, I am fabulous and sent Baby to school yesterday while I enjoyed a day "off". The day was mostly spent getting a few Christmas things together to send to The Iraq. Yes, folks, the day has finally come. Hubby is indeed in The Iraq. It sounds altogether quite silly. I'm sure it is quite safe. We got to speak yesterday, and he mentioned something about concrete walls and living quarters similar to shipping containers. Sounded a shade worse than jail, but concrete walls sound safe to me. Now, the question is, will he always be within the concrete walls? I prefer to live my delusional life in my head and answer yes to that.