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!

It was a fabulous trip...

Well it has been a week since we returned from trip to Washington D.C. and we had a great time! From the moment we landed we hit the ground running okay really walking rather fast the first two miles and then we slowed down from there. We went to the Mall to go to John Stewart's Rally to Sanity and/or Fear. Well we ended up going to the Lincoln Memorial and it was at the Capitol. Well was can say we were at the Mall and saw lots of people caring lots of signs.

The bus ride to Mount Vernon was so beautiful and we had some good girl talk. I think I could go there every time I go to D.C. The house is just beautiful and to walk up the stairs and put your hands where George Washing, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin once stood is a pretty amazing feeling. Just think how much history is in that house it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. The master bedroom is so very peaceful all in white with a colorful rugs, white cotton curtains, and a sitting desk.

As for the food I think we did a great job of finding some wonderful places except for the Italian in Old Town Alexandria. I feel in love with Greek food at Zorba's and Mourayo and reaffirmed my love for French Onion Soup at Bistrot Du Coin. The shrimp and grits at Georgia Brown's was a great choice and so was the cheese samplers at Clyde's. And who could forget the lemon raspberry and coconut cupcakes from Hello Cupcake!

After all the walking and seeing the monuments I know that I can't wait to take Jeff and Lauren. To stand inside the Lincoln Memorial, by the Washington Monument, walk along the Wall, and stand in the center of the Capitol is something you have to experience and can never explain. To see the Declaration of Independence makes you realize how truly blessed we are to live in the United States of America.

To end our fabulous trip we stopped for manicures and pedicures and an added foot and leg massage. Great idea Beckie! Afterwards we head to a great dinner and then dessert in the hotel room were we could sit and relax. One last day of sleeping in our cozy beds and then we headed home to our wonderful families.

Reduce!!!

So I remember in the third grade in Ms. Carson's class reading the Weekly Reader about Earth Day and the importance of recycling. Back then no one paid importance to it. We only recycled aluminum cans for money not to be green. Now everyone is recycling, we even do it at home. Lauren loves to take out the recycling and I constantly badger Jeff to do it as well. Even huge corporations are taking a stance on it not only for the environment but to help their bottom dollar too. The recently remodeled Washington Hilton is one of the premiere places in D.C. to have a conference and one of the the things they mention is the large amount of "facilities" for use. So being curious I checked them out also because of need. Well I walked in one of the stalls and saw the toilet has a green button and a white button on the "magic" toilets as Lauren calls them, okay self flushing. So here is where it gets cool. For a small amount you can manually put the green button for a slow watering saving flush and if you have a large amount you can push for a regular powerful flush. If you opt not to touch the buttons the sensor times how long you sit. If you have short sit you get a green flush for a long flush you get a regular flush. How ingenious is the this. You know if I am sharing this on my blog I thought it was pretty darn cool! Can I get one of these for my house?

Well birthday number 3 has come and gone. Sunday was dinner with Nanny, PawPaw, and Grand. We had homemade chicken and dumplings with a strawberry cake and cream cheese icing. Gifts included all things Tinkerbell...two shirts, stamps, hair clips, and movies. She even got a Tinkerbell card in the mail! Monday was a trip to the Cameron Park Zoo with Papa J and Big Mama. So much fun and the weather was perfect. We saw lots of animals and had lots of fun feeding the fish. For her gift she got a tea set and then had to come home and have a tea party with Elliott. Tuesday was pink cupcakes with pink frosting and sprinkles at school with all of her friends. She was so excited to take them to school and show them her birthday shirt too. They sang Happy Birthday three times for being three years old. Tonight as I was laying down with her she started crying and was sad. She was upset because her Birthday was over and she wanted more cupcakes! She thinks everyday should be her Birthday!

Washington D.C. here we come!!!

Tomorrow my best friend Beckie and I are headed to Washington D.C. I have a conference for the National Council of University Research Administrators so Beckie is coming with me to enjoy the beautiful city. We have never taken this long of a girls trip so it is going to be so much fun. No husbands, no kiddos, no work, no daily chores we have to worry about. We are actually going to have some one make our beds and clean our bathroom everyday...it is going to be paradise. Of course by day two I will be missing Jeff and Lauren so much and wishing I was home! Can't wait to walk on the Mall and see the Capital, it is an amazing site. Mount Vernon and Arlington Cemetery will be great too. Okay let's not forget the real purpose I am going. I will learn a lot of information on cost transfers, effort reporting, and cost sharing. But in between those sessions there is fun to be had!

Tink!

So this was the first year that Lauren actually knew that there was something different about today. It was her Halloween celebration at school. She kept asking me this morning if it was "Halloween Day". So that meant one thing she finally got to wear her Tinkerbell costume to school. She has broken it in a few times so she was quite excited to wear it to school and show all of her friends. Mom and I fixed the wings so they would stay on and she loved the wand...let's hope no one got a black eye as school today. Jeff and I went up to her class party and she was having so much fun. So great to see her playing with all of her friends!