The Christmas Story

It was the annual Christmas Pageant at the St. Thomas Aquinas Child Development Center this year and it was the story of the birth of Jesus.  Lauren and her class were the shining star of Bethlehem.  At the end of the pageant they all sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".  No wonder she has been wanting this song on repeat in the car.  She had a great time and afterwards she got to take lots of pictures wit her classmates which she enjoyed so much.  She gave each of them a big Christmas hug. 

Christmas in Austin

We went to Austin for our Goddaughters second birthday.  Goodness is she already two already!  After the big party we went with the Figgs to the big Christmas tree in Austin to let the kiddos run around and look at the lights.  Parking was a nightmare but we parked in an electric car spot and then we walked through the dark but we made it was a blast.  We all stood under the tree and turned in circles to get dizzy.  The little girls played ring around the rosie.  Once we were all cold enough it was time to head back to the cars.  Joey, Emmie, and Lauren had races  back to the car.  It only took about five minutes for Lauren to crash one the way home.  Good thing I put her in her pajamas because all I had to do was carry her from the truck to her bed.

Oridinary Sunday

It was a typical Sunday morning nothing really going on.  Mom had come over to have Sunday lunch with us.  We were going to cook Jeff's favorite meal deer steak and brown gravy with rice.  Sorry Mom next time you get to have milk gravy.  I decided to flour the steak like Grandma used to in a paper sack and it was so much easier and so less messy than doing it by hand.  I guess Grandma knew what she was doing all along.  

While Mom and I were cooking Jeff and Lauren got to put together the Gingerbread house this year.  I bought a pre-assembled one this year since last year it turned out more like a lean-to instead of a house.  So much easier and all they had to do was decorate.  I think this was the first time that has ever iced anything.


After lunch and nap time it was time to head outside and put up the 
the Christmas lights and candy canes. Lauren excited to head outside and get some fresh air.  The weather was so nice and the perfect day.

Conversations with Lauren

With it being Christmas Lauren has come up with alot of questions lately that I guess one would have if they don't know a whole lot about the world.  The first came when we went to see Santa for the first time this year.  She was very eager to tell him what she wanted and she had said that it was something special.  So we waited in line and she she sat beside him not on his lap though, a big improvement from last year.  When she opened her mouth she asked for a bunny, not a stuffed bunny, but a real live bunny.  On the way home I had to explain to her that Santa doesn't bring real animals because they cannot be carried in his bag with all of the presents or they would get hurt.

Lately we have been listening to the Disney Christmas CD in the car and learning Christmas carols.  Right now her favorite is "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and we have it set on repeat (at least we have moved on from "Yankee Doodle").  In this particular song children are singing and she asked if it was the elves singing.  Since we have "Abby the Elf" visiting daily she is fascinated by elves.  I told her it could be elves and it could be children because they do sound alike when they sing.

Last night Lauren wrote her letter to Santa and it included a whistle, a ball, and a "stuffed" dog since you know from the bunny request no live animals come from Santa.  She had to make sure and read her list to Abby so she could tell Santa what she wanted.  Then we placed it under the tree for Abby to pick up and take with her to the North Pole.

Today on the way to school out of the blue she asked if there is a fire in the fireplace do elves go out of the house through the fireplace.  Then she asked if Santa comes in through the chimney if there is a fire.  I explain that when there is a fire elves and Santa don't come through the fireplace.  This really confused her because she is concerned about having a fire at night because Santa can't come and Abby the Elf can't go see Santa everynight.  She is really thinking about the details of Abby and Santa coming in our house.  She was definetly put at ease to know that everynight Mommy or Daddy puts out the fire so they can come and go as needed. 

My Sweet Ballerina

Lauren has been asking for sometime now to take dance lessons.  Angelina Ballerina is one of her favorite shows to watch, she twirls around the house and most importantly she must wear her tap shoes and dress up like a ballerina to play the part.  So since she had turned four and she couldn't stop talking about it Jeff and I decided it was time for her to take lessons.  I picked her up one Monday and asked her if she would like to go see a place where girls go to dance class.  Her response was, "Please! Please! Pretty Please!"  So we drove to Suzanne's and signed her up on the spot.  She was shy at first but then she saw the ballet shoes and the leotards.  She tried them one and it brought back so many memories of when I was little and how I always felt so special when I got new ballet and tap shoes.  The smell of the dance studio was also lingering and all I could think of was Ms. Margaret.  Next it was time to try on leotards and oh my!  Leotards are not just the basic black with tights anymore.  Now you have the option to choose between black and pink, skirt or no skit, and tutu or no tutu.  Not to mention all the accessories one can have...hair bows, shoe bags, jackets, and leg warmers.  She settles on pink tights with a pink leotard that has a tutu and ruffles around the arms.  By the time we left she was the happiest girl in the world.


The next morning the first thing out of Lauren's mouth was, "Is it time for dance class yet?"  Her teacher at school said dance class was all she talked about and was so super excited.  On our way to the studio she was giddy with joy and excited to because she was going to get to be a "real" ballerina.  She jumped out of the car and even posed to take a picture before we went in.

We waited in the parents viewing room for her class to start. One by one other little girls started to come in. The first girl's name was Lauren so that was fun for her and made her feel a bit let shy. At the minutes rolled by and it was time for her class to start Lauren became more excited and nervous all in one. She wanted to burst with energy but was hesitant because she didn't know anyone. Then out of the blue we hear, "Lauren! Lauren!" It was Tori from her school. Lauren's face soon had the biggest smile and she was screaming with excitement. They gave each other biggest hug, ran into dance class, and were inseparable until we put them in the cars to go home. They danced with little wands and pointed their toes. Pilates were next with some turns. Time for a change and the ballet shoes came off and the tap shoes were put on. I thought Lauren in the house was loud but 12 little girls with tap shoes is loud. At the end they got there lollipops had not intention of leaving. We had to tear Lauren and Tori apart. It was a moment that I will never forget.

Don't wake me up!

After a summer of 100+ weather into September winter has finally come.  The past two mornings have been in the 40s and no one wants to get out of bed.  Snickers trys to snuggle with anyone that will let her to keep warm.  This morning I woke up to find Snickers in the laundry basket.  One would think that she would like the bed that I make her every night and tuck her in.  I guess it was comfy.  After I woke up lazy bones Lauren she walked into our bedroom.  I guess she found the laundry basket comfy as well.  Gotta love mornings like this!

Jell-O

What is this?  Nanny making Lauren one of her favorite treats, Jell-O!  Nanny has always made Lauren her own dessert just for them to eat.  Each time Lauren has to sit in Nanny's lap and eat a whole bowl.  Sometimes she shares and sometimes she doesn't.  It is something special that they share.

Christmas Fun!

Well is was December 3, 2011 and we all know what that is...Grand's Birthday...the most wonderful Mom a girl could have.  We decided to have some fun and go to Coufal-Prater tractor company for some Christmas fun.  Lauren wanted to bring the neighbor Elliott along because today he was her "best friend."

At first Lauren didn't want to sit in Santa's lap but I told her that she had to tell him what she wanted for Christmas and she was ready to go.  All she wanted was a "real" bunny. 

The two had a blast on the John Deere tractors...the bulldozers were the big hit!

Then they got to sit on real tractors and that was super cool!  

After that we loaded up to go the the Presidential Library for crafts.  They had Christmas performances by 

a dance company and Lauren was hooked.  She wants to be a ballerina like Angelina!

When Lauren was a baby I couldn't wait for her to grow up so I could do all sorts of fun stuff with her and now I am getting to do it.  So much fun and just her expressions and excitement about everything just makes me so thankful.  She is the sunshine to my days.

Father's Day 2011

Well Father's Day weekend came along and Jeff got his wish...fried deer steak with brown gravy and rice.
Nick and I slaved in the kitchen, you know he likes to cook, to make a wonderful meal on Saturday
night. I also was going to make chocolate pudding stuffed chocolate cupcakes with chocolate ganache
and homemade vanilla icecream which I had a few problems with. I made the pudding twice
since the first time I use corn syrup instead of corn startch. The ganache had to be made twice
too because I overcooked it the first time and it broke. The pudding ended up not in the cupcakes
because it was too hot and didn't cool fast enough. The icecream had to wait another day because
the container did not freeze enought and the liquid wasn't cool either. Oh well that's okay we had
fun and I received alot of hazing for it.
  I think the best part of the whole day was though holding my sweet nephew, Dillon, he is just
so adorable and I love that baby smell. The laughs so much and I love to have him fall asleep in my
arms. I even got to put him in a pink pull up because we had a diaper shortage crisis. Let's just say
he loves pears but green beans are another story.
  On Sunday morning Lauren and I were both sick along with Grand and Nick. I really think it was a bug
and Jeff was so great. He didn't complain once while he washed Lauren's sheets and let me sleep all
day. He took Lauren out a few times to the store and played outside in the 100F weather. He
really is an awesome Daddy! Thanks so much honey I love you!

Best of Friends

These two three year olds think they are being super silly as I walk around the house looking for them so they can start cleaning up all the toys they have taken out.  Where do I find them in the corner of the kitchen sitting on the floor looking at me giggling.  What I would do to be three again!  Not a care in the world!  Love it!

Valentines!

We got home early one day and had supper and we still had time to play!  That doesn't happen very much so what could we do?  The weather outside was cold and Valentine's Day was coming up.  So we decided to invite Elliott over to make Valentines!  Lauren and I tried to remember all the names of her friends at school.  We got all the boys...Samuel, David, Kyle, and Nathan.  Then it was on to the girls, but we kept forgetting some one.  Then we remembered it was Lily.  How could we forget little blue eye blond hair Lily.  So we were done with friends and on to family!  We got out doilies, puff balls, jewels, markers, and glue.  They had a blast!  Lauren of course wanted all of the pink puff balls and then Elliott wanted them so we compromised and shared.  So much fun we will definitely have to do this next year!

Chicken Nuggets

Lauren's favorite lunch meal is chicken nuggets with frozen peas, a cheese stick, and a banana.  So being a good Mom I buy the Tyson all breast meat chicken nuggets thinking that she is getting a good nutritious lunch.  Then one Saturday we had that meal together.  One bite of a chicken nugget and I felt like I was eating a warm sponge with juice and no flavor.  Yuck!  How could I be feeding to my child!  So I go look at what is in these things and I cannot pronounce half of the words.  So I think what I am going to do?  Then I look for a recipe for homemade chicken nuggets and get out the food processor.

First I chopped five chicken breasts in the good old food processor.  Easier than I thought it would be.  Then I chopped an onion and then the corn flakes as well.

To the chicken I add the onion, two eggs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and parsely.  Then I get my hands dirty and mix it all together.

Then I scoop out the nuggets...cookie scoop has more than one use.

Then I roll them in cornflakes and make a nugget.  Twenty minutes later in the oven and we have chicken nuggets.  They are really good and actually taste like chicken.  Also there is texture and no spongy juice glob.  Jeff likes them.  I like them.  Lauren likes them except for the parsley so next time I will need to chop it a little more finely.  All in all great chicken nuggets without all the words I cannot pronounce.  And you know what it cost less than the premade ones.  That is one Sunday afternoon I will have to repeat and maybe have Lou join in on the fun!

Snow Day!

Well is was officially declared a snow day today in College Station! At 6:45am as I am planning on sleeping in Jeff and Lauren are telling me wake up wake up there's snow! So we all bundle up and head outside. The neighbors had already may snow angels and it was still coming down! Lauren didn't know what to think at first but then she realized it was like snowcones outside! So we ate lots of snow until we got cold and then she was ready to go in, not until I threw a few snowballs at Jeff though. It was fun and just glad we got the day off today! Jeff made us breakfast for lunch and then I had a long bath with a book followed by sitting in front of a warm fire. Lauren napped and Jeff played video games. What a great lazy day!

We're Going on a Bear Hunt!

So I dared to get out this morning at 5am when it was 25F with a wind chill of 9F to go to the gym for a great workout.  When I was leaving the gym and driving down Longmire I noticed that the roads were extraordinarily dark.  I thought were the street lights burned out but then I realized that we had no electricity.  So I continued home thinking this is what it must be like to live in the country and how creepy it could be.  Jeff met me at the door and said we had no electricity.  So I start lighting candles around the house, gathering flashlights, and thinking I am definitely getting to work late this morning.  About that time our little Lauren walks out of her room with a grin on her face.  She tells me to turn on the lights and I try to explain to her that we have no power.  She runs to turn on the bathroom light to prove how wrong I am, but soon realizes that it is broken in her words.  What does that mean?  It means it is time to get out her ladybug flashlight that Grand got her for Christmas.  So now it is a game to go investigate the rest of the house and go on a bear hunt in the dark with her flashlight.  We didn't find any bears but we did fine a two doggies who wanted to be left alone in their warm blankets, and a waffle in the freezer that needed peanut butter.  A fun morning then came to an end when we discovered that we would be having rolling brown outs all day and the lights eventually came back on.  So we hurriedly got ready and jumped in the car to head to school.  As we were backing out of the driveway the electricity when out again and we couldn't shut the garage door.  So back into the garage and back into the house.  Then five minutes later we were on our way to school again!

Diana and Maricella

These are the two other ladies in Lauren's life that she loves so so very much.  Ms. Diana makes her hair so pretty everyday.  Mrs. Maricella gets to great Lauren every morning when we walk in the door.  I couldn't ask for two better people to watch her and teach her new things every day!

Pigs in a Blanket

So it was Christmas Eve and Mimi and Paw Paw Rex where already in town so it was time to have fun!  I was trying to think of some things for Lauren and I to do so Pigs in a Blanket sounded great for breakfast that morning.  We are all sitting in the living room being lazy when I asked Lauren if she was ready to go make Pigs in a Blanket.  Next thing I know she is running to her room.  Okay are you still sleepy?  When she comes back she has brought Piglet and Wilbur with two of her blankets ready to play Pigs in a Blanket.  Too cute!  So we wrapped them up, rocked them, and played.  We all could not stop laughing and Lauren kept giving us the what are you laughing at look.  Then we went on to the real excitement of cooking Pigs in a Blanket for breakfast, yummy!

Who are you?

Well on November 30, 2010 Dillion Nicholas Palmos arrived in the world.  He is so precious I could just eat him up.  We went to visit that weekend and it felt so good to hold a tiny baby again.  Lauren didn't know what to think.  She was actually more interested in playing tug a war with Mizzy the Boxer.  We didn't get to see the Palmos family again until it was Christmas.  Lauren was still a bit hestiant and as you can tell from the picture Dillon didn't know what to think of Lauren.  Fun was had by all and lots of presents were opened.  The greatest present this Christmas was the new addition of Dillon.

Mommy what's that smell?

So this morning before heading to daycare Lauren I stop by the McDonald's on Rock Praire to get me a Diet Coke, yum!  I rolled down the window to order and just left it open while we pulled around.  Lately Lauren has been interested in smells and she asks me what that smell was.  So I take a deep breath and instantly my eyes well up with tears.  It's not the smell of french fries or a Big Mac but the smell of when you walk into a hospital room.  Instantly I turned to left and saw The Med and remember how Grandma spent her last days there.  I will never forget walking to Grandma's room the last time I saw her and sat with her.  I read her the newspaper and told her how Lauren and Jeff was doing.  I held her hand and said the Our Father with her and hugged and kissed her forehead several times.  I thanked her for all that she had ever done for me and how she loved all of us unconditionally.  How I could just stop by her house when I was having a bad day to have a Dr. Pepper, talk and file our nails.  I loved how she read the newspaper everyday, ate a salad, and did her crossword puzzles.  Her wall of photos to remember everyone and tell memories of them.  How she smoked Kent ultra light 100s and loved her Diet Coke and beer.  She loved to feed the birds and squirrels everyday and loved to watch them as much as Sara and Lucky did.  How she could grow any plant.  Her secret was to water them with ice cubes so they could soak up the water instead of the water going through.  I love her so much and miss her so very much.  I will always have my memories and will never forget her.  I love you Grandma!

It's Froggy

I started off the morning wondering why my alarm clock did not go off when I know I made sure that I set it properly last night.  I was getting to sleep an extra hour and a half since I wasn't going to the gym so I definetly made sure it was set correct.  Upon further examination I noticed a little someone turned the volume all the way down.  Lauren does not like the crickets to wake her up in the morning if by chance she so happens to sneek her way into our bed in the middle of the night.  Good news, Lauren stayed in her bed last night.  Bad news, we woke up thirty minutes late and I realized she was preparing to sneak in our bed.  That brain is already thinking of ways to outsmart Mommy and Daddy.  So the morning was now to be in super fast mode, quick shower, blow dry my hair I didn't have time for the flat iron, dress my self, try to explain to Lauren that Daddy's iPod he has lost for the past three months is not a toy so she stops crying and planning to eat breakfast in the car. Let's not forget Lambie or her Lovie and have meltdown like we did yesterday.  My only saving grace was that it was LunchBox Break today and I didn't have to pack a lunch, but then I remembered I had to pack my lunch for a brown bag birthday party.  So as I am trying to pack my lunch, eat my breakfast wait no breakfast today I can eat my yogurt at work, grab Jeff's medicine to call the doctor, remember my cell phone, and getting our jackets on Lauren is yelling at me the door pointing outside.  "Mommy it's froggy!  Mommy it's froggy!  Froggy!"  I am thinking what is a frog doing in the garage I don't have time to deal with this we just got the lizard out of the house last month!  So I run to the door and start searching for a frog.  I ask if it is under the car because I don't see it and the last thing I need to do is get under the car when I just lent rolled my pants to get rid of the dog hair.  I ask Lauren and she just keeps pointing outside and saying, "It's froggy!"  So I look outside and put two and two together I realize there is no frog, but FOG outside. Well that was a relief because I really didn't feel like having frog pee on my hands this morning.  We make it to school and I to work.  The rat race will begin tomorrow again and I have learned the lesson to check the volume on my alarm clock.

Aaaaaahhhhhhhh! Jazz Hands!

So this past weekend we went to Dallas to visit some family!  Lauren loves highway 75 just past downtown Dallas because of all the bridges we go under.  So when we see one we get ready, set, go and aaaahhh with jazz hands as we go under the bridge.  Jeff thought we were crazy the first few times, but then he was even doing jazz hands.  Anything to make the time go faster after three hours in the car with a three year old!  Gotta love it!