My New Shoe

I'm sporting a new look these days.  Let me give a little background.  DH decided to let me pick out my own Christmas gift, so in my card was cold hard cash, a punch card for ice cream (my fav.) and a babysitter for a date night.

It was Thursday evening, I got all cuted up (boots, jeans, cute little sweater, even earrings), the babysitter arrived and we were out the door (FAST).  We took a lovely stroll thru the town square and looked in on a few shops that I thought might have what I wanted... but alas nope, and continued walking to a lovely Mexican food place.  The food was great, but my company (my sweet DH) was wonderful.  It is so nice to talk to your spouse and anything and everything and not be interupted by "mommy come check it out, this is so cool".  Once done we headed for another store, and that is when it happened!

I'm sporting the boot on the right (the low ankle walker).  Thanks to my apparent inability to talk, walk, and be annoyed with some junior high school kid infront of my too busy playing with his darn cell phone instead of getting out of the way... I failed to notice the slight elevation change of the sidewalk under my left foot.  And down I went.  My ankle rolled, made a horrible sound, and I soon found myself in severe pain.  But being the woman of steal that I am... I composed myself and walked around for another hour or so.  Some of you are thinking 'why didn't you just go home', NOPE, we had a real life sitter and I was not going to ruin my night just because I hurt myself.  (Oh sidenote: if DH weren't holding my hand I probably would have done more damage that would have included my knees... I'm sure of it... along with the nearly 3-4 times I almost fell afterwards due to the lack of ligament and muscle controll from the first fall).

So what was the diagonsis?  A severe sprain.  I get to wear this lovely  boot for 2 weeks full time, and then for another few weeks if I expect to up and walking around for a long period of time.

On a happier note, other than that the date was fun, food was good, and the movie (Casino Royale) was pretty cool.

I did think of getting new boots with my money... but this is not at all what I had in mind.

Scrapbooking

My mom came up with an idea at the end of summer to put together a scrapbook for my grandmother.  It would take some orchestration... but we would need to contact all the family and get them send us pictures, scan all that in, then build a mamoth of a scrapbook for my grandmother.  It is only later that we realized that to get our family members to send stuff was going to be like pulling teeth with some of them.  But alas we put many finishing touches on the book yesterday, with only a few details still left to be finished.  Why is this momentous... besides the fact that it is to be given on Saturday... many of the pictures we received was the first time either mom or I had seen them.

Over the last several months I have gotten to see pictures of many of my family that had passed away when I was very young.  I can hardly remember them from my past, but these pictures spoke volumes on their character and personality.  Not to mention seeing where everyone got certain features from.  To see yourself in others when they were younger (nearer your own age) was really fun.  Of course to see the fashion, and hairstyles was pretty funny as well... and to some degree sad too.  To see ladies at the Grand Canyon dressed in lovely dresses, pearls, and purses... something you think was just made up for the movies, but that is really how things were.

I can't wait till my kids are able to see some of the pictures and learn about some of my memories.  It really is a window into the soul.

Wal Mart and Christmas Ads

Here's the scene:

Mom in kitchen finishing up wrapping.  Daughter enters holding a construction paper list, and annouces she needs to mail her list to Santa.  Mom is exasberated, and says it's too late and the south pole isn't taking more lists (obviously mom is done shopping) reminding the child she already mailed a list to Santa.  The girl insists that this list if for her stocking and she needs to send it off.

Next on the screen... WAL MART.

Cut to last scene:  There is a fireplace a glow, mom in her chair and daughter opens a present and turns to mom "See mom I told you."

Great... great message... what a spoiled little brat... and, um, MOM??? Seriously?!

So that's it for me... no more Wal Mart till after Christmas... I will pay a little more at the other grocery store to not support that crap!

Bulbs... bulbs... and more bulbs!

What do you do with a little money burnin' a hole in your pocket? BUY 160 TULIP BULBS! That's right, come spring I will have tulips coming out of every flower bed and pot in my yard!!! I spent a little more than an hour triming up my rose bushes, and clearing out the lantana, and trimming my chamillia in preparation of the bulbs.

As soon as it stops raining I will be out there with my little bulb planter, 3 boys counting and helping, and a bucket 'o' bulbs! Oh the glorious flowers that will proclaim that Spring has SPRUNG!

Homeschool Group

We met with Fr. John this morning to discuss the formation of a homeschooling group that will be centered at the church, and he approved it with flying colors. To be honest, I was surprised with his enthusiasm... but I'll take it.

So now we are moving forward, getting the info put in the bulletin... and notifying the ladies that we know of the upcoming kick off.

That is one huge weight lifted off my shoulders now!

An ICEY Anniversary

DH did an exceptional job planning our 6 wedding anniversary.  We had a yummy meal at Bucca's, then headed over to the Gaylord to see the ICE exhibit.

Let me set the scene.  The five of us dressed in gold and black eskimo parka's, a large exhibit with a temperature of 9 degrees (CHILLY), and some of the neatest ice sculptures I have ever seen.  There was clear ice, blue ice, frosted ice, colored ice... an ice toy shop, an ice winter scene complete with an ice horse drawn ice sled, and icey river with polar bears and penguins... an ice church with stained glass and an ice Nativity Scene that was just magnificent.  AND the most awesomest part... a huge ICE SLIDE!  Man, it so much fun to slide down it... makes you feel like a kid again!

Good work DH!!!

So COOL

Background:  We came to Texas from La. because my dad got hired on at General Dynamics many moons ago... and that is when my love affair with fighter planes started.  Fastforward 18 years, my dad is back working for Lockheed Martin... and his team works on the JSF (computer top secret stuff that he would have to kill us if he told us kind of thing).

Today was the big day, early this morning we got up and got dressed.  We loaded up in the car with cereal and headed off to town.  The fog was incredible, I don't think I had ever seen it that thick before... and it worried me.  Would we actually get to see anything, would they postpone it to another day (again...)?  Take off was supposed to be at 9:00, but was push back... pushed back... pushed back, then lunch time came so we left and returned for the coolest thing... THE FIRST FLIGHT EVER OF THE JSF.  The roar of the jets were awesome.  It really is something to see.  After it took off, we jumped back in the car and raced of to the next viewing sight.  We jumped the curb, and within 10 minutes we were watching it fly over us and then down to the runways for a picture perfect landing.

And the best part was I got to share the experience with my children, and my parents!  My dad was there, all the stress and frustrations of the last few months at his work... and he got to watch his work take flight!

It was AMAZING!!!!  I can't wait to see it in person... a perk of knowing an employee :-).