Getting ready for Halloween



Disturbing but funny



our little devil

Yesterday Mootzie and I had to make a quick trip to Target for a few things.  The $1 section is in front of the store.  There were several Halloween headbands.  I managed to get each of them on Emrie's head just long enough to snap a picture...Brian thinks the one with devil horns is the most appropriate but I personally think she'd make a pretty cute kitty. 

Meow

The MAN cup

I can always tell when we're out of coffee cups because Brian will be using my this HUGE coffee mug.  It's at least double the size of a traditional coffee mug.  It actually says Germany but Brian like the idea of taking the picture so that it said "man."  He calls it his big man cup.  Really?!

Time to clean out his jeep and find the rest of my coffee mugs!

My house is HAUNTED!!!

This morning Brian left to take Emrie to Big School and I was at home alone.  I was in Emrie's room picking up some of her toys when I heard a strange buzzing noise.  I couldn't figure out what it was or where it was coming from.  I walked out into the hallway and realized it was coming from Aiden's room.  Aiden has not been at our house since Monday morning.  I walked in and the noise grew louder.  It sounded like the noise the wheels on a motorized truck will make when it's running.  I looked around and found the source of the sound sitting on his bookshelf.  It was a toy handsaw that's part of a work bench he has...the saw spins which is what was making the noise.  I picked it up, pushed the off button and set it back down.  I was trying to figure out why it would have just started for no reason but just let it go and shut the door.  I walked into Emrie's room and again started picking up toys.  Within seconds, the noise started again!!!  I walked back into Aiden's room and the saw was back on!!!  I turned if off and set it up on a higher shelf and very firmly said "STOP PLAYING WITH THIS."  It didn't turn on again (that I know of).  When I left the house everything that was supposed to be off was off.  I called Brian to tell him what happened.  He really didn't have any explanation other than maybe Aiden left it on.  Really?  It's been on for two days straight?  I think I would have noticed that AND how do you explain it turning itself back on after I turned it off?  I'm starting to get a little worried.  Initially, when little weird things would happen, I thought it was funny.  Now I'm not so sure.  Just in case, my friend Melissa is bringing some holy water over this evening.  Better safe than sorry. 

Emrie is ready to go

Friday is my dad's day to keep Emrie for me.  She truly likes hanging out with her Mufasa.  Yesterday, as I was about to leave, Emrie came running up to me saying "bye bye, bye bye, bye bye."  To which I said "Yes.  Mommy has to go bye bye."  Well, she pulled out all the stops.  She gave me that I really wanna go to face and actually shed a few tears.  I thought I'd trick her by saying "You cant go bye bye because you don't have your hat.  You need your hat to go bye bye."  Would you believe that little smarty grabbed her pink hat, stuck it on her head and walked to the door.  Now what?  She had her hat...she was ready to go.  Luckily, my dad was one step ahead of her.  He scooped her up and they both waved bye bye from the front yard as I drove down the street. 

It's mornings like this that I wish I was a stay-at-home mom.  I would love to spend all day with my baby. 

One little note goes a long way

Yesterday I was rushing from place to place to place to place.  It seems like I never had time to catch my breath.  Meetings...work...meetings...kids...work...meetings....  Then as I was rushing to the bathroom, I was stopped dead in my tracks by a little green sticky note stuck to the bathroom door.  I read it and smiled.  That one little note changed my attitude the rest of the day.  In a world where bigger is better, it's amazing to me that something so small could have such a big impact.  I think I'm going to start strategically placing my own sticky notes for others to find.  Spread the love!!!

What a night!

Last night was a blur!  As soon as the 5 o'clock whistle sounded I was out the door and on my way to pick Emrie up from Brazos Valley Kidz Academy or as we call in BIG SCHOOL in downtown Bryan.  By the time I grabbed her and got her loaded into the car it was 5:30pm and ZOOM we were off.  This time we, me and mini-me (that's what Roger WWW Garrett calls Emrie), were headed all the way across town to the thriving metropolis of College Station to pick up her big brother, Aiden.  We made it in about 20 minutes.  Not too bad considering traffic was terrible!  Once Aiden was strapped in we headed towards our church, Parkway Baptist, for AWANA...it's on Southwest Parkway in case you were wondering.  Oh and I almost forgot, we made one quick detour through a nearby apartment complex to pick up Nicholas - one of Aiden's friends who wanted to check out AWANA.  By 6:10 I had them both signed in at church and Emrie and I were back out the door.  We made a pit stop at KFC for some Original Recipe nuggets.  They're Emrie's favorite and since our next stop was the grocery store I figured it would be best to make sure both of us had a full tummy before going in.  My plan worked like a charm.  Emrie was satisfied to ride in the shopping cart and I managed to not stuff the cart with a bunch of goodies that weren't on the list. 

FYI...I'm a list making fool.  I used to make a list of places to go and things to get and an estimated time to get each of them done.  It sounds insane, I know, but boy was I efficient.  That was obviously pre-mini-me.  But I digress...

After bath time

Breakfast

Emrie and I finished up the grocery shopping just in time to head back up to church to pick up Aiden and Nicholas.  They had a great time by the way and I think Nicholas is going to be a regular at AWANA.  After I got them both dropped off at their respective homes, Emrie and I headed back towards Bryan to Chateau Alexander.  Emrie fell asleep on the way home which was a blessing because it allowed me to unload all the groceries uninterrupted.  I slipped her into her bed, unloaded the groceries, fed the doggies, washed dishes, took out the garbage (Thursday is trash day), packed my lunch for today and finally at around 10pm got to sit down.  SHEESH!  I was exhausted but I wanted to page through my new White House Black Market catalog - MISTAKE.  That kept me up another 30 minutes.  So, by the time I showered and got dressed for bed it was about 11pm.  I must have fallen asleep immediately because the next thing I remember was Emrie coughing...and coughing...and coughing...and coughing.  It was 2am.  So, once again, she ended up in bed with me.  The last time I looked at the clock it was 4:30am.  At 5:30am, I felt something grab my nose and give it rough twist.  That was followed by a big wet kiss in the vicinity of my mouth...I'm pretty sure the wet part was snot.  That's right Emrie was up at 5:30am!  I know I must have slept some but it sure doesn't feel like it. 

I was stumbling around the house like the walking dead this morning but Emrie was little Miss Sunshine.  As you can tell from the pictures, she was in a great mood.  Well rested, no doubt.  She enjoyed her morning bath and she even shared her breakfast with Judy. 

Where was Brian during all this...he was out of town for work.  He should be home tonight.  Let me rephrase that...HE BETTER BE HOME TONIGHT!

Ziegfest 2012

Charlie Robison

Lead singer from Rosehill

Ziegfest 2012 was Saturday night out at Lake Bryan.  The weather was perfect and the music was funderful (that's my new word for fun and wonderful).  The KORA gang welcomed several great Texas Country artists to the stage.  Have a look at the pictures...perhaps you recognize a few of them. 

KORA gang and Shooter Jennings

Turnpike Troubadors


 






Fabulous Friday Night

My parents kept Emrie Friday night so Brian and I had an evening to ourselves.  What to do?  What to do?  We tossed around a lot of ideas...a movie at the theater, dancing, dinner...all three?  We finally agreed on a laid back evening complete with delux pedicures (yes, Brian too), a rental - The Lucky One, light sale shopping at Old Navy for Emrie and Aiden and then take out from Freebirds. Brian actually LOVED the pedi.  I liked the movie.  It was a total chick flick.  I think Brian liked it too but he'd probably never admit it.  Hey!  He had just conceded to a pedicure.  His manliness can only be pushed so far.  The burritos were outstanding as usual.  All in all, it was a fun night until he stepped on my foot when we got home and chipped one of my freshly painted toenails!  Oh well...you can't have it all. 

We watched a couple other movies over the weekend.  In case you're thinking about renting these, here's Brandie's movie review. 

The Lucky One - I suckered Brian into this one by telling him it was about a Marine which it was but it was also a dramatic love story.  I had read the book so I knew the storyline.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars. 

What to Expect When You're Expecting - The movie is about just that...and several women all going through the trials of pregnancy at the same time.  This one was pretty funny although having suffered through IUI's and IVF's some of it dredged up old infertile memories for me.  Brian laughed throughout most of it.  I did too but intermittently there were some tears.  I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 too. 

Man on a Ledge - Now this one we both really liked.  It's about a cop who has been falsely accused of stealing a diamond.  And he basically goes out on a ledge to prove he's innocent.  I give this one 5 out of 5.   

Emrie and Her Daddy!

Yesterday when Brian picked Emrie up from Big School he had to sign the much dreaded Incident Report.  Apparently, Emrie had bit a little boy in her class!  I talked to her teacher and she said that she saw Emrie going for his arm but she couldn't get there quick enough to stop her.  The funny part is that her teacher said she didn't even have to scold her...Emrie went straight to her time out spot and just sat there.  Brian and I both laughed.  The way we figure it, she must spend a lot of time in that spot to know to go without anyone saying anything!  Ahhhh...Mootzie!

Last night she was in such a snuggly mood.  Normally, in the morning she's a Daddy's Girl but in the evening it's Mommy Time.  Not last night.  Last night she was all over Brian...hugging him and snuggling with him.  I personally think she's practicing for when she's old enough to go to the mall!  The conversation will go like this...

"Daddy...can I have some money?"
"Sure baby girl."

We're working on it...

Emrie loves her new chair!  That is her spot.  When she's eating a snack...she sits in her chair.  When she's watching TV...she sits in her chair.  When she's reading a book...she sits in her chair.  Lately though she's been standing in her chair.  Sometimes I think she does it just so I'll say something to her.  I'll tell her to sit down and she does but then the minute my back is turned she stands up again.  What a little toot!  I am totally in love with my headstrong little Emrie!  Right now we're working on SIT ALL THE WAY DOWN!

Sit Down!



Sit all the way DOWN!



Finally sitting down!



Yummmm....banana!



Sometimes a picture simply says it all



Cry baby!

Yesterday, Emrie was exhausted when I picked her up from Big School.  I should have known better than to take her to the radio station with me but I had some commercials that started at 6am this morning so I had no choice.  I thought I'd bribe her with a chocolate shake from McDonalds.  You know, give her something to do while I was working.  Well, she loved the shake but that only lasted about 10 minutes and then she was in full cry baby mode.  Every time, I'd turn the microphone on and start talking, she'd start crying.  Bless her little heart - she was so tired!  Our engineer, Lance, has a two-year-old so he offered to play with her for a few minutes so I could finish up BUT Emrie was having none of that!  She was screaming so loud I could hear her in the sound proof studio!  I could only take if for about two minutes before I decided to pack it up and call it a day.

When we got home, Emrie ate her dinner and then crawled into her spot on the couch.  She likes to sit in the corner of the couch with a blanket around her.  I handed her her milk and her baby and all was right with the world.  As you can tell from the picture, she and her baby were very happy.  Go ahead and say it...AWWWW.

Our Big Labor Day...a day early

We celebrated Labor Day a day early because I (along with many of you) had to work on Monday.  So Sunday our friends, Robert and Katherine, had a Big Labor Day celebration at their house.  It was a beautiful day and they have the best swimming pool! 

Note to self:  My next house will have a swimming pool. 

Aunt Heather and Uncle Ryan were there and Bob and Debbie came too.  The kids had a blast in the pool and the adults canned jalapenos and then had a blast in the pool.  Luckily, I have a baby so I got a reprieve from having to do too much work with the actual jalapenos.  Instead, I chopped onions and cleaned the canning jars.   Brian and Ryan did most of the actual cooking - it was a smelly job but somebody had to do it.  And, it's so worth it!  We ended up with about 60 jars of bread -n- butter jalapenos.  Can you say Merry Christmas?  That's right...you're all getting jalapenos : )

Emrie really enjoyed playing in the water.  She was in and out of the pool non-stop for about 3 hours.  And, Katherine worked with her on holding her breath.  In fact, Emrie got dunked not once, not twice but three times and she did so well.  She held her breath and never cried.  She's such a big girl.  I predict she'll be swimming all by herself next summer. 

As you can tell...cooking jalapenos is serious business.