In a few hours it will be Twenty Ten

Wow....I can't believe this will be my last post for 2009!

This year has mostly been good to our family ... I am so thankful for these four people!

I love the fun times we have had.

Here we are the other night taking pics with our new tripod...which I love.

Santa knows me so well!! As you can see I am really comfy...no makeup.

The kiddos are loving on me! They have mostly been playing with dad since my surgery! I am glad to have them playing with me again. I missed being their primary care giver and provider. Dad did a wonderful job as always!

In PJ's again...we really do have clothes....

Layla reading about research papers...gotta start her early!

Just a bunch of silliness going on here.

My two favorite guys!

Happy New Year!

I am so excited to have some really great friends over tonight to ring in the new year. Santa brought them a fondue pot and so we are fondue~ing it tonight! WHOOPP...I love fondue!

Since we have been hibernating it will be fun to be around friends again!

Tis the Season

To be jolly

fa la la la la

La la laa laaaa!

Things to note in above pics:

• I was smiling...THANK you pain~happy pills!
• I didn't dress up...comfort was my main goal.
• Lulu the cat was the hit of the day, my Grandma wouldn't let anyone else touch her.
• MeMaw was very unsteady in the 1st picture posted. See the girls holding her up...well, she almost fell...nearly pulling my pants down. She was grabbing for something and my pants were it! Seriously, she was balancing herself on the wrong person. I would have fallen on top of her.
• My mom and Gary are almost touching in the bottom pic...shocker!! Hayden was happy about that! Layla? I'm not sure why she didn't smile.in.any.picture.
• Hayden tried to ride on the 'ride on' toy before it was out of the box.

And Jolly we were!

White Christmas

Can you believe it snowed in Texas?

We had the 1st White Christmas I can EVER remember!

It was a Christmas miracle!

Since I was under the weather it was just our little family on Christmas Day, BUT there was plenty of action. I vegged out and Dad and the kids had fun playing and building a snow man.

We invited our families over on Saturday after Christmas and had a great time celebrating. I will post some fun pics of us all together soon. I took so many pictures I haven't even looked at them yet. I was the designated photographer...that is really all the effort I could put forth.

I am starting to feel better, each day the pain lessens.

Thanks for all your prayers :))

Christmas Day adventures

The kids got the jeep they asked for; I was happy with chocolate & my new shades!

Gary got another pearl snap shirt and the puppies got candy cane rawhide bones.

We had a nice relaxing day.

Daddy and the kids played in the snow...yep we had snow on Christmas Eve that didn't melt, so they played all afternoon on Christmas day in the snow!

A Christmas to remember :))

Pictures to come

We had a wonderful day today celebrating Christmas with our families.

I haven't done much of anything since Wednesday. Wednesday was a rough day for me and what I was hoping to be a minor surgical procedure went as planned, but I was in much more pain than expected. I finally got my pain meds figured out and each day gets better and better. With that being said, there was no way I could have had a house full of people two days after surgery. OUCH...and thankfully everyone was very understanding.

Soooo,

We ended up putting off the family celebration until today. Since I am still on meds, I did a lot of sitting around taking pics. I am to sleepy to post them tonight, but hopefully tomorrow I will download and post some of the fun pics of the family celebration from today.

Let me just say ~ ~ Gary did ALL the cooking, cleaning and hosting.

He is AMAZING and I am truly the luckiest woman alive!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Saturday!

From our family to your family

Our Virtual Christmas card

2009

"Today in the town of David
a Savior has been born to you:
he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

"She shall bring forth a son,
and thou shall call His name Jesus;
for He shall save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

A fun {restful} Christmas Eve

Since my surgery on Wednesday morning this is all I have been doing. I did manage to move to the couch today, so that was a change of scenery for me! And I am blogging right now, so that is also a big step! I am however under the influence of pain killers, so if I don't make sense {moreso than normal} ..you know why.

I did take some pics of the family in the snow! We got four inches or so. Imagine my surpise when Layla came into the bed room and told me it was snowing. I really thought the drugs make me nuts! I CAN'T believe that we got so much snow...it is a Christmas miracle!!!

Snow ball fight!!

Somehow this looks alittle unfair...the short guy needs some help!

Layla and Hayden in their new Christmas Eve PJ's. This is a HUGE tradition in our family!!

I took this photo right before Layla went to bed. She is writing a letter to Santa to leave with cookies and milk. Gary helped her bake and decorate these today...such a great daddy!

Merry Christmas!!

Tasty Treats

Layla & I made and decorated these tasty CHRISTmas treats for our family & our neighbors.

I made fudge, cupcakes, sugar cookies and rice crispy treats.

I love giving yummy treats for holiday gifts, and a double bonus is that it is really fun!!

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

Happy in their new home

I love my grandparents!

It makes my heart happy to know that they are safe in a nice assisted living home.

It makes me even happier that they love it!

Thinking back a couple of years ago...it seemed so hard to convince my mother in law that an assisted living was best for her. I would probably be the same way. No one wants their kids to tell them that they need help and can't take care of themselves on their own. Well, my dad had to do that when it came to my grandparents.

(((It is weird for us {gary & i} to be taking care of his mom in the way my parents are taking care of my grandparents. Don't kids usually do that at age 50ish? Well, Gary was born when his mom was 36 years old. So we are going through the same things as my parents.)))

Back on topic...The kids and I visited my grandparents the other day! Grandpa&Grandma seem happy...they are eating 3 nice & healthy meals a day. You know it is always about the food for me...HA! They have tons of activities they can participate in...AND they are closer to me so I can go visit more often.

So all around in my opinion it is FABULOUS!!

They are safe and I don't have to worry about them all alone in their big home with no help if one of them falls or something bad happens. 'Cause I'm a worrier like that.

Since they live close, and so my parents are going to pick them up and bring them over to my house for our Christmas Day celebration. Usually, Gary's fam and my fam come over to our house on Christmas for a huge, LOUD adventure.

My Grandparents have never attended because they lived so far away. Yay! Oh, and double plus...they get along great with Gary's mom!

The kids are REALLY the only reason we convinced them to move. Teehee!

See how happy Grandpa looks?!!

CHRISTmas Light Driving

One of my favorite CHRISTmas traditions is to...

load up in the car and drive around aimlessly looking at all the decorations people use to celebrate the season. We saw a ton of ugly stuff....wow....people really go all out to make their homes look crazy. We also saw some cool stuff...of course I would like the Texas lights. {wouldn't want it in my yard, but it was okay to look at}

In between bites of sugar cookie, Layla reported that she really likes colored lights, but doesn't want to hurt our feelings. She likes them, we don't. I let her know that honesty was good, but don't expect colored lights on our home anytime soon.

Hayden also munched on freshly baked sugar cookies, and then babbled as loud as he could. He loves to make noises with his lower lip...you know hum and then play with your lower lip. It makes for a silly, comical sound. He has turned into quite the funny little guy. He had all four of us cracking up like crazy at his silly~ness.

Not the best picture, but here is my favorite house we saw last night!

Oh...that is our house...HA! Silly me ;)

Do you decorate the outside of your house?

Do you go Christmas light driving?

Silent Sunday ~ A visit w/ Santa

Happy Birthday to my Dad!

*****UPDATED*****

My cousin and his wife had their baby boy Landon today. My dad's great nephew was born today on his 59th birthday!! I think that is so awesome!

*****

My awesome daddy turns 59 today!

Hayden & DeDe...best buds!

OMG...OMG...OMG

Check this out!!!

I soooo want to do this!!!

MASTERCHEF

Click above to go to the website

GORDON RAMSAY AND THE PRODUCERS OF THE BIGGEST LOSER ARE NOW CASTING AMATEUR CHEFS FOR A NEW INSPIRATIONAL COOKING SHOW!

Can you cook well despite never having been formally trained? We are currently searching for budding chefs from all walks of life - amateur chefs, passionate foodies, the ultimate dinner party host/hostesses...

Now one of the world's most acclaimed chefs, GORDON RAMSAY, is giving you the opportunity to become a MasterChef!

MasterChef is a show that celebrates great people who make great food. The show will give contestants the opportunity to develop their cooking skills while being encouraged, mentored and celebrated by the industry's best!

If you are passionate about cooking and ready to change your life then audition for MasterChef and attend an open call!

We will NOT be considering professional chefs who work in professional kitchens!
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and either a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident with the unrestricted ability to work in the U.S.

I think this would be so stinkin' cool!

I'll be busy on Sunday January 10th!!

DALLAS CASTING CALL INFORMATION

Sunday, January 10, 2010

12PM-5PM

Sur la Table

4527 Travis St.

Dallas, TX 75205

*Casting Call applicants must bring a prepared dish.

Lasagna & other stuff too

I tore this recipe out of a magazine at the doctors office the other day. I have been looking for something quick and easy to make during this busy time of year. AND...I'm counting WW points, so I used the recipe builder to create this recipe. I changed it around a tad so it would be somewhat low in points.

Ricotta cheese in traditional lasagna always blows WW points out of the water. If you want I'm sure you can get the original recipe at CampbellsKitchen.com.

Here is my version:

Lazy Lady Lasagna

1 can of 98 % fat free cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup of milk
1 lb ground beef
2 cups spaghetti sauce (I used red, but you could use white)
6 lasagna noodles
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese


heat oven to 400 degrees.
stir soup and milk in a bowl until smooth.
cook beef in skillet until brown.
stir often to crumble meat, drain. stir in spaghetti sauce.
layer 1/2 beef mixture, 3 noodles and 1 cup soup mixture in a 2 quart baking dish.
top with 3 more noodles and beef mix, and soup mix.
sprinkle with cheese and cover.
bake 30 minutes and then uncover dish.
heat broiler.
broil for 2 minutes our until cheese is brown.
let stand 10 minutes.

I cut the lasagna into 9 pieces and it is 6 points per piece.

Since I brought up Weight Watchers I will let you know that I have been doing it since November 4th. I lost 7 pounds over the first 2 weeks, and haven't lost a thing since. I haven't gained and have lost a few inches, but BLAH! I keep telling myself I'm doing good since it is the holiday season. But I want to lose more...now! I have zero patience! HA!

If I would run more, like I said I was going to do I'd probably drop more weight.

But I need more time!!!!

♥

Hey...Will you pray for me next Wednesday?

I'm having a minor surgery and I'm a little nervous about it. It is just a quick 45 minute procedure, but I am still freaked out about it.

You know, I'm a drama queen normally, so this is stressing me than normal!

Thanks!

I'm hoping for a quick recovery and that I don't make too much of a mess of CHRISTmas.

It probably isn't ideal timing for surgery, but you do what you gotta do!

♥

Now you know why I want quick and easy recipes.

Since we like it so much Tuesday night---I'm gonna make up another batch for Gary to throw in the oven next week.

CHRISTmas Party!

Gary has been traveling so much, and I was so happy that he was able to take the day off yesterday to go with us to Layla's Preschool CHRISTmas party and pageant.

After the presentation Hayden and Gary headed home, and Layla and I had a ton of fun doing all the 'party activities.' I was so thankful to NOT have to chase Hayden around the classroom. I got to spend quality time with Layla, her classmates, teachers, and other mommies. It was priceless!!!

Layla and Emma Kate waiting patiently for birthday cake.

The cake looked so good!! I almost snuck a bite, but am trying really hard to be good!

We decorated Christmas cookies, a tree and a gingerbread man.

Layla and her classmates made reindeer food...Layla is sprinkling glitter in the bowl.

Here is the book Layla got while participating in the book exchange.

Here is a fun picture of the moms helping the kiddos decorate gingerbread houses.

LK with icing on her chin!

What party would be complete without PIZZA?

I had so much fun, maybe more than Layla...teehee...NAhhhh!

We are very thankful for her preschool!

Big Shoes ~ WW

Campfire in the Country

My cousin Kyle {KP} who might as well be my brother, turned 25 on Saturday.

Gary had just flown home from a week long trip;

decided he was up to traveling to the country for a Birthday visit!

We had tons of fun.

We ate Papa Rollos Pizza...the best pizza EVvA!

We had a BIG fire and made smores.

The next morning when we woke up we saw deer!

It was a super fun visit.

When we got to Donny Ray & Auntie's LK and HC got to open their Christmas gifts.

Layla got the cutest glitter covered jeans, a pair of boots, and a kitty cat necklace. She still hasn't taken the necklace off.

Hayden got a dump truck named Chuck, and he is super happy.

He pushes it all around the house. I think the truck drives itself!! HA!

Thanks Donny Ray & Auntie for the fun gifts!

This is a picture of Auntie and Layla bonding around the campfire. They were having a ball...laughing like crazy!

The handsome birthday boy and his beautiful girl friend, Gabi.

Although he looks a bit blah in this pic...LOL!

The boys minus Hayden; he was in bed.

Smores face!

Cuddling my sweet girl... I love her so much!

Check out the deer show we woke up too...

The picture is so bad b/c I was taking pics through the window. If I opened the door they would have bolted.

Deer, I was awestruck!

Can you imagine waking up to this every day?? WOW!

I just had to post this sleepy face picture of the kiddos.

They are in front of Auntie's Christmas tree. I love fresh sleepy faces!!

*

******

*

Thanks for having us to your home in the country;

& Happy Birthday Cousin!