Memaw and Pepaw come to Texas

My parents came to visit us the day after Elisabeth's birthday and left this past Tuesday.  They were the first ones to visit us in our new home!  The girls were most excited to show off their rooms and our house. Since my sister and her husband are also stationed in San Antonio, we had an early Thanksgiving together.  We haven't had a Thanksgiving with all of us in 6 years.  My mom was on cloud nine.  Evan grilled our turkey and it was THE BEST TURKEY THAT HAD EVER BEEN EATEN!!!!  Not kidding, we are grilling our turkey every year from now on.  And! It only took 2.5 hours.  

 What I enjoy about my parents visiting (and Evan's parents as well) is that there is a lot of time hanging around the house and playing with my kids.  Yes, we go places (and I'll tell you more about that tomorrow in  another post) but there is a lot of reconnecting time--something the girls and our parents need since we aren't around each other a lot anymore.

My parents bought the girls this awesome race car track (from QVC, of course) that was a huge hit. Julia can not wait to show Ethan it when he comes in December.

 The weather was lovely the entire time they were here.  It was chilly in the mornings and warmed up nicely by the late afternoon.  It even rained, which my parents had never seen in their previous visits to my sister's house (Terra and John have been stationed here for over 2 years).

 Since they were here the day after her birthday, my parents took Elisabeth to a Build-A-Bear equivalent at the mall and let her and Julia pick out a stuffed animal to make and dress.  Elisabeth has been asking for one for a couple of years now and it was a perfect gift to come from my parents because they love that kind of thing.

 Elisabeth picked a bunny that was like her friend Mabel's.

 Julia picked a sheep and declared it a boy.  A boy sheep who played soccer.

 One of my favorite moments during their visit was when my dad and Julia were playing outside (Julia claimed Pepaw as her own personal playmate and drug him outside to play as much as possible); they were sitting on chairs facing each other.  I hurried and grabbed my camera and took some pictures through my kitchen window.

 It turns out they were telling each other stories about magic beans and Jack and the Beanstalk.  It was so sweet and cute.  Julia was belly laughing and adding things of her own to the stories.  It as a very sweet moment.

It was a nice visit.  The next time they come to visit, they will be here to meet the newest member of our family...how weird is that?!

Flowers just for you!

I realize that a lot of you are seeing snow today.  I thought you might want to see what's blooming down here in San Antonio.  Don't hate! You all had a gorgeous, fall colored autumn and I had tons of jealousy about that!

 My parents left yesterday, so today was a hanging out around the house kind of day.  My poor Julia is such a beast when her routine is messed up.  Don't get me wrong, she super loved having her Memaw and Pepaw around to comply with her every wish and whim, but she is a routine oriented child and she was melting down a bit by those last two days of their visit.  She slept for 2.5 hours today for her nap. So, even though I had a couple of errands I needed to run, we just stayed home today.  I did laundry and she watched tv and trashed the living room playing house.

 The last 3 days have been cloudy here!  Dude, it is never cloudy here.  It's even rained sporadically and today never went above the 60s in temperature.  It was awesome. Of course, this weekend it's supposed to creep back up to the 80s, so I'll take this chilly weather for as long as it will stay.  And, even though I am not a fan of the heat and humidity, it is super nice to still let the girls play outside almost every day. Yesterday they played outside from after we dropped my parents off at the airport until supper time at 6:30. Just swinging and riding bikes and jumping rope.  I guess Texas does have a few advantages.

 Friday is Veteran's Day and Evan and Elisabeth both have the day off!!!!  We're going to hang out and go see a movie in the theater (Puss in Boots, which Ebeth has been begging to see).  We don't see movies in the theaters often, which my mom finds appalling.  Growing up, we'd go see a movie almost every weekend (and my parents pretty much still do), but, honestly, I can think of better ways to spend our time and money. I'd much rather go to a museum or try out a new hiking trail at a park we haven't been to yet or go visit some bookstore I haven't had the pleasure of meeting. So, going to the theater is a big deal for my kids and I like that.  

 I just watched the movie "Never Let Me Go" based off the book of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro.  I read the book earlier this year and have had the movie dvr-ed for a while now. I have to say, the movie did a decent job in trying to create what the book was. I am by no means a Kiera Knightly fan, but she did a great job with her role as Ruth.  I also about drove myself batty trying to figure out who was playing the grown version of Tommy and had to wikipedia it--turns out it was the guy who played Eduardo in "Social Network".  If you have read the book (Rachel, I am staring at you...) then I'd definitely recommend the movie.

Well, it is time for some dinner making.  Hope you enjoyed the gorgeous flowers I stumbled upon this weekend.  :)

Settled.

My parents are coming to visit us today!  They are flying in and staying at our house until Tuesday.  The girls are beyond excited. They're our first house guests and the girls are dying to show off their rooms.  I won't lie, I'm dying to show off our house too.  I love our house.

Part of the reason that I love our house so much is that it feels like home.  We've settled into a routine and our life here in Texas and it makes such a difference in our moods. We still have to finish the nursery and the guest room is going to be rearranged now that Evan has my dad coming to help out, but otherwise, everything is where it's supposed to be.

Eating lunch with Elisabeth at school (isn't Julia's face lovely?):

 I am 25 weeks pregnant.  I told Evan that I feel like it's flying by, but also like I've been pregnant forever.  It's weird how it can feel like both things at once.  Of course, we found out I was pregnant pretty early in the pregnancy.  I wasn't even 4 weeks along.  It's really going to hit me that we're adding another person to our family after the holidays when it'll just be a little over a month before #3 makes her debut.

 Julia has finally decided to show an interest in clothing and unclothing herself.  I swear, that girl has her own time clock about when she should meet milestones.  She has shown zero interest in figuring out how to be independent in the clothing area, but in the last couple of weeks, she has started stripping and reclothing herself willy-nilly.  She also has been shoeing herself.  I told Evan that I don't know why we try to push her to do things before she's ready--she's never, ever complied.  She crawled when she wanted to, walked when she wanted to, weaned herself when she wanted to, talked when she wanted to.  Why are we surprised that she took her time potty training herself and has yet to want to poop in the toilet?  It's aggravating to no end, but it totally goes with her personality.  Her stubborn, ornery, sweet, unique personality.

 One thing that she has super excelled at is her gross motor skills.  That girl can ride a bike!  She was getting too big for her tricycle, so we found Ebeth's old training wheel bike.  It took Elisabeth weeks to get the hang of riding a bike; it took Julia 4 times going up and down the sidewalk before she told Evan she could do it by herself.

Just look at her go!

Nine.

My Elisabeth is nine today.  I know this because she ran into our room this morning at 6:30 and jumped on our bed and declared it while we sleepily wished her a happy birthday.

It is both hard to believe that is was 9 years ago that I delivered a beautiful baby girl that the hospital staff kept telling me I'd get to take home with me.  I'd bounce back and forth between awe and terror that this tiny, tiny baby was now my responsibility.  I kept petting her pitch black hair as she laid snuggled against my side and practiced feeling like a mommy.

                                     

Now that little baby who was 7lbs and 18.5 inches long  is 9 years old and 4'8".  She earns reading awards in 3rd grade and loves to read Harry Potter together at night before bed.  That little baby, who was so ready to be in her own crib at 3 months is now in a full sized bed that she just got yesterday and said feels like she's in her own hotel room.  My sweet little baby who cried like a lamb now tells me often how she just can't wait to be a grown up.

She's still that same little baby, but I can also see parts of that grown-up that she is longing to be.

 
 Happy birthday, my sweet Ebethers.  You are so very loved.

All Hallows Eve

Ah, Halloween.  My favorite holiday.

This year, I had an awesome house to decorate.  I had 2 kids with cool outfits.  I had a neighborhood that was all about being out on their front porches and participating in the trick-or-treating.  It was a great day.

This year, Julia dressed as her Pink Baby doll (dress made by her Nina, complete with matching hair bows) and Elisabeth was Hermione from Harry Potter.

 Hermione with her Crookshanks.

 Evan holding his Pink Baby holding her Pink Baby.

 Julia was all kinds of excited to go trick-or-treating.  I didn't even have to walk up to the door with her.  She ran to every front door and was the first one to ring the doorbell.

In our neighborhood, we have these beautiful, white historic houses that the higher ranking officers live in across the street from our house.  They have these gorgeous wrap-around porches and most all of the people living in the houses were sitting on their front porches waiting for the kids to come.  It was so nice.  A few of them even were dressed up.

One house in particular, the girls went to walk to the porch and noticed the front door was wide open.  It was pitch black inside.  Elisabeth decided that they should just knock on the open door.  As the girls started to walk up the sidewalk, the Imperial March from Star Wars started playing.  A double bladed, red light saber was seen coming closer from the depths of the dark hallway inside.  All of a sudden, Darth Maul appeared at the door with a bucket of candy.  Both girls stared at him in complete and utter awe.  When he took one finger and crooked it at the girls to come to the porch, Julia turned tail and booked it back for me as fast as her stubby little three year old legs could take her.  Elisabeth, however, walked right up to Darth Maul and said, "Trick or Treat."  Julia, holding my hand, also finally made her way to Darth Maul.  He gave her candy and she said in the smallest voice, "Thank you."  She was visibly shaking.  As the girls got to the street, they turned to watch Darth Maul slowly back up into the dark hallway of the house.  Then, in a small whisper, Julia said, "That was so cool."

   

 It was a good night.  We were out for maybe an hour and the girls got to see their neighborhood friends all dressed up.  And, oh my goodness, the haul of candy they brought home is the most ever.

The girls have already started talking about what they will be for Halloween next year (because they are my children and love to plan their costumes early). I love it!

I am an organizing machine.

This week, I have been focusing on finishing up the last bits of organizing and sorting that need to be done after moving into this house.  I am a bit slower than I was when we moved to Colorado due to being pregnant and all, but I finally organized all of the girls' clothes in the basement.  We have sooooo many tubs of clothes.  And, since it looks like this baby I am growing in my belly is also a girl, I wanted the clothes to be sorted and ready for each girl as they grow into and out of sizes.  I also have a whole area in the basement dedicated to a future garage sale.  And, I have been trying to get the tubs of holiday and house decorations and random things I've kept put together as well.  Needless to say, I may  be already nesting.

 My parents are coming to visit us next week!  Our first visitors in our new house!!!!!  It has been a great motivator to get the rest of the things on the walls and get the crap out of the guest room that we hadn't gotten around to yet.  The girls are so excited.  We are going to have an early Thanksgiving meal with my sister and her husband while our parents are in town.  We haven't had a Thanksgiving together since 2004.  I'm sure you can imagine how happy my mom is about getting to see us all together.  My sister came over for dinner the other night and we made up the menu. Turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, corn, ham, pies, cobblers...a super traditional Thanksgiving like what we would eat when we were little.

After my parents' visit, our dear friends Kim, Chris, and their daughter Kayleigh are coming to see us the week of Thanksgiving.  We're going to order Chinese take-out on Thanksgiving day.  It was their idea to not make a huge meal.  I heart them.

 The weather here has been gorgeous lately.  Highs in the low 80s and high 70s.  The girls are constantly outside playing and digging and riding bikes.  That is one nice thing about living in Texas--the weather allows for a much longer amount of the year that the girls can be outdoors.  I've been trying to get the front of our house looking nice.  I've decorated for Halloween and am tackling the flower beds that have been sorely neglected.  But, there are some rose bushes that are fighting to grow and one of them actually decided to bloom!  See:

 There is a nursery near our house and I think I am going to pay them a visit and see what I can plant that will grow at this time of year.  There is also an old tree stump that had tons of weeds and vines growing around it.  It looked like a garbage pile.  I went and attacked it a couple of weeks ago and found that the tree is trying to grow back.  It's just a baby, but I've decided to leave it and see how it does.  I also have tons of wild Purple Queen growing everywhere around my house.  I love it.  The butterflies love it.  I'll have to take some pictures and show you.  The purple flowers are so delicate and beautiful.  I can not wait until spring so I can plant away to my heart's content in the garden.

I plan on taking some pictures soon of our house and giving you all a virtual tour.  Hopefully by next week, it will be picture worthy.  I did want to show you this though:

It's the play area we created by the living room. Julia is not one to let me leave her sight, so I knew that putting all of her toys in her room or making a play room upstairs would just be a waste of time since I spend most of my time in the kitchen and living room area.  But, we created a nook in the corner between the living room and dining area for her enjoyment.  She actually loves it.  I want to get a rug to lay in the middle, because she usually brings the toys she wants to play with to the living room because there is a rug there.

Today is story time at the library and Julia said she might go and sit with the kids on the circle rug instead of sitting on my lap or by my feet.  I'm starting to lose my lap, so hopefully she works up the gumption to sit closer to her peers.  It's still so amazing to me how completely opposite of each other my girls are.  Elisabeth would have been right up front answering questions and telling the other kids her name.  Julia won't let go of my hand and rarely smiles.  Makes me wonder what this third kid we're having is going to be like.  Will she be a mixture of the two girls?  Will she be the opposite of both of them?  I am only 5 months along, but I am dying to meet this little person I am growing.

When Evan leaves, things fall apart.

I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but when your spouse leaves for an extended period of time, things that normally would never happen, happen. It's true. Last week, Evan was gone to Virginia (the state) for a class. He left Sunday morning and things were going smoothly until late Tuesday afternoon.  That's when Elisabeth asked if she could go play at a friend's house down our street.  I said sure.  About 20 minutes later, I hear her come in and take off her shoes.  As she's headed toward the living room, I ask her if her friend had to stop playing.  "No. I came home because I fell out of a tree."

Elisabeth and the friend were playing in the girl's tree house (it's actually more of a platform).  They were trying to decide what to play when a bird in the tree flew towards Elisabeth, she panicked, and she fell backwards out of the tree.  It was a good 9ft drop.  The friend asked if she was ok and Elisabeth told her she needed to go home.  When she fell, she fell on her right side, hurting her leg and she hopped all the way home.  Mind you, Elisabeth did not tell me all of this when she walked in the door.  She wasn't crying or freaking out; she's just weird and has a high pain tolerance.

Well, I asked her how her leg felt and she said sore.  She couldn't put any weight on the right leg and after half an hour (and calling Evan and Kyle for advice) I decided to take her to the emergency room around 6:00PM.  At 10:30PM, we finally got to go home.  Elisabeth was examined and had x-rays done.  Nothing was broken, but she definitely had some trauma to the leg after such a big fall.  They gave her some crutches and told me to give her tylenol and sent us home saying to make a follow-up appointment with her pediatrician on Friday.

Well, Ebeth, who obviously is not a complainer about pain, was coming home crying after school about how much her foot hurt.  The ER doctor said she'd probably slowly start to use her foot by the weekend, but by Thursday night, there was no improvement and I was worried that we were making her worse.  When we went to the pediatrician on Friday, the doctor asked if Elisabeth had been given crutch training.  I said no. She was not pleased.  Turns out, Elisabeth needed to be taught how to put some weight on her bad foot with the crutches in order to allow her to slowly start using it more.  She also learned how to properly go up and down the stairs (I had been telling her the opposite of what she should have been doing, but since I've never used crutches, I had no idea) and she learned some foot stretches to help her muscles.  By Sunday, she was walking around crutch free!  I am so glad we went back or the follow up appointment.

Also, while Evan was gone, the girls had a dentist appointment.  This was Julia's first trip to the dentist.  She was nervous.

But, thanks to my sister, who suggested the dentist to us, the staff and dentist were fabulous with her and she was a super patient.  They gave her cool sunglasses so the light wouldn't bother her.  They also had Toy Story 2 playing so she'd have something to distract her.  She was told her teeth were clean and perfect.

 Ebeth was also told her teeth were fabulous except for one cavity that she is having filled this week.  Elisabeth LOVES the dentist, which is why she insisted on keeping the appointment even though it was the day after she fell out of the tree.

 Besides endless doctor appointments (cause I had my own baby doctor appt too), my car's brakes decided to take a dump, causing me to have to take them to Just Brakes.  Don't worry, it wasn't just that pads needed replaced, but that my right back caliber needed to be rebuilt.  I was carless most of Thursday and part of the morning Friday.  It was awesome.

But, Evan came home late Friday night and now all is right with the world.  Elisabeth's leg is better, my car is fixed and Julia has outgrown her tricycle and is now on a training wheel bike!

 She is super proud of herself.

Now that my week from hell is over, I can focus on the important things...like Halloween and Elisabeth's 9th birthday next week and the fact that my parents are coming in a week from Thursday!