Millie Bug & Brother

1st Day of Kindergarten Eve

2011-08-23T00:53:00.003-05:00

Boy oh boy, there's no turning back now. Tomorrow my baby will march off to be a Wild Thing in Mrs. Breehne's kindergarten class.
Yesterday, I experienced my first breakdown. We were picking out her pjs for bed before her first day, and I insisted she wear the pink little nightgown her daddy has always loved to see her in. It used to be a full-length gown, now it's a nightshirt. But when Millie was tiny and her gowns would bunch up, she would wiggle until it settled back down into place. Couldn't help but let a few tears escape. Luckily, Daddy was there to comfort me, and of course, Millie jumped into my arms and told me she'd always be my little girl.
Her clothes are picked out and pressed, shoes polished, papers signed, diabetes kit packed. Jitter glitter ready to go.
Today will be a "girlie day" with lunch and manis and pedis and then hopefully off to an early slumber.
Dear Millie, You are the daughter I always dreamed of. I pray your first day is fabulous and that you will always strive to be your very best, not for me, for Him. Love you, sweet baby girl! Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!
Now let's get ready for a "Wild" year!

Opening Ceremonies

2011-04-04T00:27:00.001-05:00

April 2011

Mr. Freeze

2011-03-27T00:19:00.000-05:00

Our spring break trip to Six Flags was a frigid one. Cold front. With no warm clothes except for the one pair of jeans and a hoodie I always pack in case of emergency. EMERGENCY! So we made a run to the Old Navy sale rack. But still not enough clothes. We froze our tails off. We were able to make it through, but it wasn't pretty. Kind of hard to believe sitting in the 110s of the summer (Blog has been back-dated.) that it was in the 40s that Sunday.

Fort Worth Zoo

2011-03-26T00:12:00.000-05:00

A Little Spring Break Kickoff Trip ... The idea was to catch the weather just right before the heat of the summer. Little did we know what the next day would hold.
With that said, we loved the Fort Worth Zoo. And it was nice driving the kids around TCU, my almost alma mater.

She's my American Girl

2011-03-25T00:06:00.000-05:00

Millie's First American Girl Doll

Things I've Relished In Lately

2011-03-24T01:52:00.002-05:00

* Abe's super cheesy smiles.
* Abe's hysterical laughs ... can't really describe it, but it's hysterics up many notches.
* Millie's dance moves -- in the hallway waiting area at dance, in the living room.
* Millie's conversations -- her vocabulary's out of this world, and her speech sounds so sweet. You can definitely tell she's becoming a young lady.
* The weather. Daddy grilled burgers for us last night, and we ate them in the back yard.
* The idea of moving to Texas -- bigger yard, bigger house, better jobs, better schools, more opportunities. I've mentally made a pros and cons list, and so far, there's not a single con on it. And if you know me, I'm looking hard for that negative ... It's just not there.
* So many friends are having babies. Today, two sweet friends were blessed with adopted babies. What blessings!
* Thinking about how far we've come from a year ago. Diagnosis Day is fast approaching. I want to make good memories and celebrate that day, so Millie will always think about the positive things in her life, know how brave she is and celebrate her good health!
* Humphrey Yogurts from Counter Culture
* Morning walks
* Finding out that a sweet smocked outfit I picked up at a local high-end consignment shop was made (smocked) by one of Millie's preschool staff member's moms and passed down through her family and the preschool family and finally to Little Millie. It gave her chills and me chills to think that dress has wandered around Shreveport for 15 years and basically ended up where it began.
So honored.
* The peace that comes from knowing your children are right where God wants them. Both have been blessed with terrific schools. I love each one and have thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at both and watching how each has impacted my children's lives. Amazing to find the complete package for each child.
* S-L-O-W-L-Y but surely going through every nook and cranny of this place. I'm no where near finished, but it will feel so good to get rid of what is amounting to a storage room full of junk. I'm not taking crap to a new house!!!!
* Learning how to say a big-fat "NO!"
* The thought of getting my hair done in Dallas by my old hairdresser! I miss her!
* Scouting Dallas and praying for God's will. Pray that we'll be still long enough to listen. A move has been on our hearts for more than two years now, and patience is running low. But we can't help but feel God nudging us. Pray we'll follow his lead ... wherever that may be.

First T-ball Practice

2011-03-19T23:56:00.000-05:00

Shreveport Little League Wee Ball 2011
The Thunder

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T08:59:00.005-05:00

Boy, oh, boy am I lucky to be her momma! She has a whole day of fun planned for her at school. I'm looking forward to hearing all about the trap The Rainbows set for that pesky little leprechaun. Abe and I are going to party at a local bookstore this morning. Hopefully, the evening will include a hearty Irish meal. Afterall, we are Irish -- descendents of the O'Roberts, who according to my late great-Uncle Bob were thieves (shhhhh!) before leaving Ireland! So kiss us and watch your pot o' gold!

Play Ball!

2011-03-15T10:45:00.002-05:00

My little guy is registered for wee ball! Can you believe it's that time already? I'll admit I've dreamed about it for a long time. Pregnant, I dreamed of a little dark-haired boy in a too big ball hat and jersey. At the time, I thought if they went with first names on their little jerseys, his would say "Eli." How cute would it be to say, "Hit the ball, Eli" "Run, Eli!" "Yay, Eli!"? Ha, Brother has been many things, but he is finally "Abram" and will most likely be "Abe" on the ball field.
Daddy's got a lot of work ahead of him this spring. He was so excited, though. He went straight to Academy and bought a tee and balls and bat. We left the glove for The Special Visit with Brother. Every little boy should be with his daddy to pick out his first ball glove.
Looking forward to the season!

Timeless Traditions

2011-03-15T10:23:00.006-05:00

At the end of February, my sweet mother-in-law, Millie's Becca, treated us with two tickets to "Timeless Traditions." We awoke early that Saturday morning in our finest, well Millie was in her finest -- her red Crewcuts dress, cardi and new saddle shoes. Annabelle came along with us. Grandma Vicky and Aunt Joann gave her to Amelia when she was a baby, and we finally opened her the night before the big event.
Our adventure began at the old Dixie Theatre in Ruston. Even though I spent one too many years in college, I never went inside the Dixie. So it was certainly a treat to get to go inside the historic building. Inside, we registered to win an American Girl Doll. Millie does not have one of these. With each passing birthday and Christmas, Daddy and I debate on whether she is ready to care for one. It may be time. It astonished me that some of the children attending had as many as 5! We chose seats in the middle of the theater so we could see the movie "Chrissa Stands Strong." It was an American Girl movie. It was so cute and had such a great message. It was funny to me that the mom in the movie used to play the child in the movies I watched as a child. Guess we all have to grow up sometime.
After the movie, they held the drawing for the doll. Millie did not win. And when I looked down at her, her eyes started welling up. Oh no ... meltdown! The last time Millie entered a contest, she won a bike! So the lesson that we can't win everything hadn't presented itself yet.
We took a quick trip to the potty to recover. And I think somewhere in there I promised an American Girl doll. Yikes!
Regrouped, we walked from the theater to the James house, a beautiful old white house on the main street there in Ruston. The girls were divided into groups -- etiquette class, refreshments and photo. We had the class first. There were about four beauty queens there explaining what it means to be a lady. After that, we had refreshments. Luckily, we ran into the Brashers. They are such beautiful women. And I had the pleasure of seeing their girls/sisters and meeting their new adopted daughter/sister on her birthday! I was so excited. Both are just precious!
Millie enjoyed a tea sandwich, M&Ms, a petit four and water. We enjoyed our snacks on the lawn of the house. It was beautiful but very windy. I was able to take a few pics of Millie outside. Then we made our way into the big house once again for Millie's photo. After her photo, we toured the house. Millie was very intrigued by the organ and the painted portraits. She wanted to know who the people were. After a few more pics, we began our walk back to the theater and then home.
It was such an enjoyable little tea and movie. It felt so good to spend time with Millie alone. She's such a joy! We loved the Timeless Traditions event and can't wait for next year! Thank you, Becca! You will most definitely have to come with us next time!

'Imperfect Mom Tired of Braggers'

2011-03-14T23:24:00.004-05:00

Talk about an attention-grabber. Ha. This (from CNN.com) made me chuckle at myself and other moms I know. I had to share.
I so can relate with the slamming the door to potty statement. I haven't read her blog before. I checked it out. The first post I encountered was a bit liberal for my taste. But I like what she had to say in her CNN article.

Have I Told You Lately ...

2011-03-10T23:21:00.001-06:00

that I want to move?
Well, I do.

What Dreams are Made Of

2011-03-07T14:57:00.005-06:00

In my mom's culture, signs are prevalent as are old wives' tales. Have you ever heard of Evil Eye? Silly, I know.
Ultimately, though, our faith is in God alone. And I'm pretty sure HE sent me a sign in a dream this afternoon.
A few months ago, my mom approached me about helping find my grandfather's family. I worked at one time as a librarian in the local genealogy hub. So, I thought this would be easy and fun -- like solving a mystery.
Well, unfortunately, there's little to go on ... except this information shared by momma.
At 15 months, my grandfather's mother (my great-grandmother) died giving birth to a little girl, Maria Angelina. It was a choice between her or her baby girl, and she chose herself. Only six months later, the baby girl would pass away, too. My great-grandfather, being a single working dad now, sent my grandfather to live with family, particularly plenty of aunts. My grandfather returned to Mexico where he met and married another woman and had children with her. One day, they came back for my grandfather. Papaw was very ready to rejoin his family only he overheard his stepmother say she did not want him. So when his father later approached him about coming to live with him, my grandfather said no, that he wanted to stay with extended family. It was not until he was an adult that papaw reunited with his half-brothers and sisters. He never knew much of anything about his mother. On his birthday, Oct. 4 1989, one of the aunts who had helped raise him decided she would give him papers about his family she had held on to and kept from him for many years -- birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc. My grandfather was never able to look at the information. He died the next day, Oct. 5, 1989, of a massive heart attack.
My grandmother would later put away the papers for safe keeping. Unfortunately, age has set in and a couple of moves later, and Grandma can't remember what she did with the papers. My aunt did find something behind a photograph.
Recently, she and my mom have taken up the challenge of finding my grandfather's family. Not sure why the urge to pursue now, but of course I want to help. I guess age and the realization of our own immortality drives us. For me, Millie's diabetes spurs me. What if she or another member of the family needed something medically? Or maybe there are cousins who need us?
So mom and I have been discussing, and I have begun researching. It's been on my mind.
But today, my Papaw paid me a visit.
I was having what used to be a typical dream for me as a sorority rush advisor -- a sorority recruitment dream. You know where you plan an event and you're not ready. Anyway, I was in a room full of sorority sisters and then I turned around, and all of a sudden I was outside with all of my family. I mean everyone. My mom kept saying an announcement would be made soon! I was for sure it was that my cousins were expecting again. All of a sudden, a bus headed over a hill toward us. I could tell by shadows, it was full of people. Immediately, I began sobbing. I turned over my shoulder. And there he was. My grandfather. He stood there silently looking out over the land. I walked over to him and hugged him so tight. He never said anything but hugged me back. Amazing how you can feel and smell and touch someone in a dream. I turned and told my family, "It's papaw's family." We all ran to the bus to meet them. Everyone, except papaw. I startled awake, crying. I cried trying to figure out what had just transcribed in my sleep. And once I composed myself, I called my mom to tell her.
She got the same out of my dream. My papaw had come to tell us he wants us to pursue our search for his mother's family, and he will guide us to them. Eventually, we will find someone. Mom thinks he did not come with us because he knows who they are already. He's in heaven, probably even with some of them. He knows who they are. I thought that was such a lovely sentiment.
Mom encouraged me to compose myself. She knows this is a "sign" God sent to let us know this is something that would certainly please my grandfather. And yes, I cried because of this revelation. But also because I have so very few dreams with my grandfather in them. I was so grateful to see and touch him.
What a precious gift!

The Lucky Swimsuit

2011-03-07T02:54:00.004-06:00

Is nowhere to be found. My guess is it was tossed in the garbage. After swim, it goes in a plastic shopping bag in the laundry room. And Daddy must have mistaken it for a bag of garbage. It was yellow. It had a tutu. It was precious. And it was lucky!
I promised a replacement, so we returned to Old Navy. No yellows. Only Easter egg pink. We bought that one in the meantime.
But looky, looky what I've found here (WWW.JANIEANDJACK.COM)!

How convenient. New rules for advanced swimmers say that have to wear goggles and in some cases swim caps. Millie isn't advanced yet. Although, she did recently just graduate from preschool beginner. But these are too presh to pass up!

Civilization Fair

2011-03-06T23:09:00.003-06:00

On Friday, Eric, Millie and I had the opportunity to visit Brother's school for civilization fair. Each grade of lower school is assigned a civilization to study for six to nine weeks. In the curriculum, the students are immersed in the culture -- art, science, social studies, music, etc.
We thought Abe was performing. Turned out he didn't but did parade in his costume. PS3 studied Africa, so he wore a colorful tunic and cylindrical shaped hat he had decorated with shapes. So cute. His had trouble staying on. Even cuter!!!
(Funny aside: We hadn't received any notes about the performance other than there was going to be a fair. When I asked Abe if he was singing. He said, "No." When I asked if he needed anything for a costume. He told me he needed tights. Good thing I didn't listen!!!)
We watched the fair and were able to sit by the Parents Association president who helpfully narrated us through our first fair! It was very enjoyable. I think the vikings were our favorite, only because of Eric the Red!! Millie was very excited to read her daddy's name in the program. Afterward, we were able to visit Abe's classroom and see all the fun projects he had been working on. He and his classmates showed us the "savannah" they had been growing and all the fun artwork.
It was a another great event at that little school. We fall more and more in love each time we're there! When it was time to leave, Abe had the option of coming home with us. But guess what! He wanted to stay! Couldn't tear him away. And well, that's just comforting to a momma. Congrats on your first civilization fair, Abe!

Easy, Cheesy

2011-03-06T22:53:00.003-06:00

Lucky me! On my day to volunteer at Millie's preschool I was copying some little leprechauns, when lo and behold one of the teachers walked in with the "recipe of the week" -- broccolli soup. On that particular day, it didn't sound so appealing because, well, it was HOT. Turns out, Mother Nature was only teasing us with warm weather. Today was a bit chilly. So thankfully, I had asked for the copy of the recipe. I think the note at the top of the recipe sealed the deal: "You can't 'goof' up this recipe!"
And I didn't!
Here it is:
Broccoli Cheese Soup
1 stick of butter
1 onion, chopped
1 cup of chicken broth (I used 99% fat free, no added MSG)
1/4 lb. Velveeta cheese (2%)
1 jar jalapeno Cheez Whiz (could not find jalapeno; so sad)
3 cans cream of mushroom soup (used the fat free)
1 cup of milk (2%; next time I'll try with our regular skim)
1 large bag of frozen chopped broccoli (steam in a bag, baby!)
Cook broccoli according to package directions. Saute onions in butter. Add broth and cheese and heat until blended. Add soup, milk and cooked broccoli. Simmer.

It made a pretty big pot. Next time, I might try olive oil instead of butter. But then again, it might be the butter that really sends this over the edge. The soup was so yummy! I boiled some boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut them up and then poured the soup over it. I didn't do so well at counting the carb as I made, but there is some. Now I know what you're thinking -- Velveeta and Cheez Whiz -- this thing has to taste like plastic. But no, sir, it does not! Try it. Tastes good alone, will taste good over some brown rice, which may be a side to some turkey meatloaf tomorrow night.
Talk about the right place at the right time! Lucky little leprechauns!

Krewe of Highland

2011-03-06T22:11:00.003-06:00

Is it weird to want to cry at a parade? Today, I certainly wanted to. It was more of a celebratory urge. This time last year we were unknowingly in the midst of the beginning of our journey with type 1 diabetes. My little Millie was rather sick with UTI No. Who Knows. Yet, she wanted some kind of fun in what was probably one of the darkest times in her little life. She championed through the parade last year. By the end, she was crying and thirsty, ready for home.
This year was so different! She had been looking forward to the parade all week. And she had a blast, smiling, dancing around, waving for beads, sitting on her daddy's shoulders. The weather was beautiful -- sunny and clear -- a little cold but once you got to moving around for those throws, it was easy to get sweaty. The children loved seeing their librarian Doctor Spaghetti. She threw ... You guessed it! Spaghetti! Unfortunately, we didn't catch it. Wink, wink! Abe looked so tiny amid the crowd, but he waved his little hands like no other! On our way home, we ran into Little Pumpkin Grace and her mommy, daddy and brother! It was great to see friends. We love this little family friendly parade. Next year, we will either walk to it from our house or ride in with our own float! Maybe a JDRF float? Now that would be fun ... a bunch of diabetic children throwing healthy snacks!
All in all, a grand day honoring traditions, celebrating culture, spending time with family and praising victories. This one is hers!

Swelling

2011-02-24T01:53:00.002-06:00

... with pride.
I mean I really admire them. Really, truly.
Amelia, well, her bravery, wisdom and sense of humor.
Abe his love, tenacity, spirit.

Excerpt from my devotional this evening ...

Scripture: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)
Reading:
"To My Child"
from a "Gift from God: Meditations for New Mothers"
"When did I lose that self-delight? What happened to my awareness that every day I can do some things I have never been able to do before? What made me content to stop trying out yesterday's impossibilities to see if they could be done today? Does being grown up mean being content with 'what is' when we could be striving for 'what could be'? Inspire me, Child, to stretch my world as you stretch yours."

Sweet Somethings

2011-02-21T23:13:00.003-06:00

Abe just looked at me and whispered, "Mommy, can I play with your hair? ... Because I love you." He's been so loving lately.
For those of you who really know our Brother, you know his personality is INTENSE. I've really tried to encourage him to calm down and be more gentle.
He's working really hard, bless his heart. We even have a sticker chart now to mark each day of school he does not get time out. However, he is VERY cunning. Last Friday I asked if he got timeout to which he replied, "No, just a rest. I had to take a rest, mommy." Suspicious, I asked, "Why, Abe, why?" "Because I was sweaty, mom!" Rest=timeout.
Tonight in Target he went over to some earrings and said, "Mom, aren't these so gorgeous?" Surprised at the use of the word "gorgeous" I looked him in the eye and said, "Yes, Abe, they certainly are." And he walked right over to me, hugged my leg, and told me he loved me. Random. But it melted my heart. I just wanted to scoop him up and kiss his sweet cheeks ... the ones he's been super cheesing with in photographs lately. Sweet, sweet boy.

Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?

2011-02-19T04:30:00.001-06:00

Bridger's 1!
We celebrated Saturday at his house in Simsboro. It was great to go home. The weather and our busy schedule had kept us bound to Shreveport pretty much since Christmas, so it was good to be surrounded by family and friends celebrating Bridger's first birthday.
Aunt Amanda and Uncle Daniel rented a "jumper" for the day. And even Papaw, Mimi, Mrs. Sue and Mrs. Debbie got in on the fun. Quite frankly, it's a feat to get my daddy to a birthday party much less to participate in the reindeer games. But boy did he ever!!!!
After the party, my parents took the children on to their home for the evening. I joined them later. It was nice to be relieved of parental duties for a night.

A Date to Play

2011-02-17T04:15:00.001-06:00

The weather has finally started looking up. And the children were itching to get outside, so I promised them good behavior would be rewarded with a trip to the park and a Geauxsicle (a locally owned popsicle shop) today. They held up their end of the bargain. And as an even more special treat, Aunt Amanda, Uncle Daniel and Bridger came to town. So we were able to throw lunch in there and have our sweet nephew/cousin join us at the park.

Millie's Hot Shots!

2011-02-14T18:06:00.002-06:00

Not 5 minutes ago we received a package from JDRF. Congratulations to Millie's Hot Shots! We placed fourth in the family team division! Awesome! Our first year, and we had such a tremendous response. Thank you, friends, family, Sigma Kappa sisters and complete strangers for time, money, commitment and prayers for our cause ... our Millie. We love you!

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T17:38:00.005-06:00

I must say I think this is one of my favorite Valentine's Days yet! Was able to help Millie Bug and Brother get all their class projects done and enjoy making the day special for them, too!
Millie keeps saying she has had such a great day.
We started celebrating yesterday with a yummy lunch. Then we did a little grocery shopping, and for my Valentine's Day gift, Daddy made me a pork loin with cranberry sauce and rosemary/garlic roasted potatoes. It was so yummy, especially with that glass of wine! He and I watched the Grammys together while the kids watched their own little movie. Before hitting the hay, I read our entire library of Valentine's themed books to the kiddos. This morning, they dressed in their loveliest attire and ran to the living room to open their treats: Buckets of Love filled with a placemat to color, a whimsical cartooned place setting, a small box of chocolates, and a book (Millie, Junie B.; Abe, a puppy book he flipped over at Barnes & Noble). In their mail boxes were sweet valentines from Cupid (Grandaddy and Becca). They were in awe of their $5 bills!
After a breakfast of pancakes, strawberries and whipped cream, both were off to school. Daddy went with Millie for chapel this morning. She was the leader today!
She enjoyed making and giving her classmates and teacher valentines!
I went to Abe's party. He such a silly boy. As I was finishing up mailboxes, I heard him lead his friends in a theme song to a boy band show on Nickelodeon. Yes, leading. He started it off, and his friends joined him. "Yeah, yeah, listen to your heart now." So glad we don't have cable! See how impressionable just a few minutes of TV at Mimi's is!!!
He had a great party. And he was the leader in his class today, too! They made sweet cards with handprints for mommies and daddies, enjoyed specialty doughnuts from Krispy Creme, and then played outdoors!!!!! It's been a while since they've been able to do that. Both kids came home with some of the most precious valentines -- some even handmade! So sweet!
Abe came home at 1:30 and has been asleep ever since.
Millie's still going full blast.
We'll end this special day with bedtime story time at the library!
Love, love my valentines!

Snow Day No. 3: Feb. 9

2011-02-10T19:57:00.007-06:00

A snow day with NO snow! These days with no school and yucky weather are taxing on the Weight Watchers plan. I've eaten enough of these things to make me WANT to go to the gym tomorrow! Funfetti and strawberries and cream frosting with red sprinkles.

A fun dinner table to cheer the kids up!
(featuring my new cupcake stand courtesy of a Target gift card from Santa)

Look who had great chapel manners Tuesday!
I'm proud of this little girl for so many reasons!

Pajama Jeans

2011-02-10T10:30:00.001-06:00

Um. I invented those things. It's called wearing your maternity jeans 1-plus years postpartum. The look of jeans with stretch. Oh so comfy!

No-Sew Apron

2011-02-08T22:53:00.002-06:00

I've been meaning to make little dishtowel aprons for Millie and her cousins. I've had the towels in my craft bin for a while now. When we were snowed in this weekend, I craved crafting. I was definitely short on supplies, so my ultimate design was limited by what I had on hand. I'm not really a zebra-print kind of gal, but given the circumstances, I think it turned out cute. It's way big for Millie. She has to double the tie around her waist. Truth be known, it's a perfect fit for me. Haha. But Millie's it is!
I had originally planned for this to be a little practice-sewing project, but my machine's at mom's and Millie's bobbin is well I don't exactly know, and that's the problem.
Anyway, a dishtowel, some ribbon, fabric glue and a few embellishments later, Millie has another apron for her collection, and the crafting was temporarily out of my system. Temporarily.

Special Delivery

2011-02-08T22:50:00.003-06:00

Could not resist making a mail slot for Millie's desk while she was at school today.

Snow Day No. 2

2011-02-08T22:39:00.002-06:00

And schools have been cancelled in anticipation of another tomorrow!

So About This Cupid Thing ...

2011-02-04T04:08:00.002-06:00

Yeah, I kind of got out of control buying for the kids this afternoon. And well, then I got to thinking, if they have buckets, they need to be filled. And if they have to be filled, who's gonna do it? The Valentine's fairy? Romeo? Yes, out. of. control. Traditionally, our valentines to the kids have been a box of candy, a book and a Barbie or some other, as Brother would say, "manly" toy. And they've come from us, mommy and daddy.
That box of candy, it's special. It's tradition -- one my Daddy started with me and mom years ago. He is a pharmacist. When I was little, he worked in a real pharmacy in a small town, like he walked to work, people. You know, the pharmacy wasn't one of those chain things either. There were real people behind the counter who knew you and your daddy and your daddy's daddy, who really cared about your well-being. No windows, no microphones, no 'tudes. Honeycutt Drugstore had a little gift shop in the front. On Valentine's Day, Daddy walked home from work like he did every day, but on Valentine's day he always had a large heart-shaped box of Russell Stover chocolates for us ... Always. And opening that box and savoring every morsel was the highlight of our evening. I remember that ... vividly. And how loved I felt. And well, that deserves to be passed on from me ... not Cupid. Love you, Daddy!

V is for Valentine's

2011-02-04T01:59:00.011-06:00

Be still my heart. Valentine's Day with the kiddos just may get my heart a pumpin' again, just what I need to awake from this winter hibernation.
I'm co-room mother for Brother's class. His little party will be short and sweet. I made these cute little cards as invitations to parents. He and his classmates will have heart-shaped doughnuts and juice, do a craft and exchange valentines cards. There will also be a story time. I'm in charge of the doughnuts and juice boxes. I'm looking for a way to jazz up the boxes. I'm considering using these or something similar.
Since the party and attention spans are so short, I'll be providing their "mailboxes" for their valentines. Paper plate holders! Remember these?

Brother has chosen Toy Story 3 valentines with tattoos.
It should be a fancy little simple soiree for the PS3-3-dayers! I plan to dress him in his red tie and vest, jeans and sneakers. What a handsome little valentine he will be!
As for Millie Bug, well she's been busy planning her own little valentine love fest, complete with name "badges," papercut hearts and a list of trinkets to fill her classmates' buckets. She, like me, prefers lists. So here's her little list:
1. These paper treat bags.
2. Decorated felt bookmarks.
3. The name badges.
4. The paper hearts.
5. Hello Kitty valentines cards with pencils.
6. These adorable lollipops with mustaches and lips. I think the rainbows will get a kick outta those.
7. Some sugary goodness yet to be determined.
She's steadily been working on our Valentine's Day tree at home. We wanted some cookie cutter ornaments but didn't have the money for them. When she realized there were heart ornaments in the treasure chest at school, she has taken great care to use her earned trips to the chest to pick out more heart-shaped ornaments for our tree. Such a sweetheart my girl!
I can't wait to dress her in her new red silk dress from Crewcuts and white cardigan. I'm on the lookout for a showstopper hairpiece. Almost makes me want to revive the photo booth!
For the teachers, more sugary sweetness. I picked up these cute "chalkboard" mugs at Wal-Mart. They are filled with pink, heart-shaped marshmallows. I think I may replace them with homemade marshmallows. And each will be accompanied with a classic valentine (You can buy some here.) mounted on a delicate doily and kissed with a magnet.

On a side note, I've repeatedly raided Target's $1 aisle. Is that place heaven, or what? I've picked up lots of goodies for the kids' visit from Cupid. Yeah, I just made that up. I needed something/one to blame all the frivolous spending on. So new tradition: The children will be visited by Cupid this year and every year from here on out. Maybe.
All this planning, and I still need to work on valentines for my own honey. Ideas, anyone?

Snow Day Prep

2011-02-04T01:50:00.003-06:00

We received notice earlier this evening that school is cancelled in anticipation of Snow! Snow Day No. 2 (Feb. 4, 2011)! The children are beside themselves. To prepare, I loaded up on lots of Valentine's goodies to keep us busy: decorations, playthings, cards. Both Millie Bug and Brother are snuggled up together on their bottom bunk hopefully dreaming of making snow angels. This was after they peeked out the window numerous times and until Daddy finally opened the front door so we could all admire the snow falling. The night was so quiet; the snow so pristine. Nothing like it except Christmas morning -- quiet, pristine and perfect. Milk and cookies for snacks and then off to bed. A busy morning in the snow awaits!

'Eat, Pray, Love' All the Way to France

2011-02-02T00:05:00.006-06:00

Maybe it's a case of the winter blahs. I'm tired of being cooped up. And it's quite stifling. But every year about this time, I feel the urge to pack up my kids and hubby and go. Take that leap of faith. Explore the world. Not just visit, LIVE!
Two sources have been quite the inspiration. Design Mom, Gabrielle Blair, has packed up her crew and moved to France. I have followed her journey here. Can you imagine what those children will get to experience? And she makes it look so easy.
And then this weekend, my husband brought home the "Eat, Pray, Love" DVD. I'm sorely behind on my reading. DVD have become the CliffsNotes of my adulthood. Blasphemy. But whatevs. It's that or nothing. Anyway, I LOVED the movie. It stirred some yearning within. I so LONG to break free and LIVE. Just me and my family, taking a leap of faith, packing up and heading wherever the hell we want to. What's stopping us? We're young, the kids are young, we have nothing really tying us down to where we currently live. It's been obvious for a while that we are outgrowing our home. Eventually, we're going to have to make a move, but where? Not here. Not back home.
So lots of prayers needed here. I feel change on the horizon. It could be something earth-shattering, or it might just be spring. Ha. Thank God for seasons of change.

Visit brasherchinaadoption.org!

2011-01-18T00:58:00.005-06:00

Don't laugh ... but when I was younger, I wanted to have 10 biological children and 10 adopted children. And as I grew older, it became 5 and 5. And today, I'm just leaving it all up to God. Adoption's still on my heart.

Three sorority sisters' and a childhood friend of mine's families are currently in the midst of the blessing of adoption. It has been so touching to follow their journeys to their children. Simply beautiful. Each journey is unique and God-written for sure. They are being called to Ethiopia, China, Columbia and right here in the United States.

Yesterday was Gotcha Day for the Brashers. As soon as I saw the picture of sweet Kenley with her new sister Tatum (who was also adopted from China) and their dad with Barbies, I cried uncontrollably.

God is amazing. His love and the gift of family, so pure, so true is ... well, see for yourself. The love for that child is palpable. Please visit their site and pray as their journey continues.

Christmas Card Brainstorm

2010-11-15T01:56:00.003-06:00

If all goes as planned, think mustaches on sticks and a DIY photo booth. Throw in a Walmart dress, black-sequined beret, a necktie and sneakers. Random ideas have been running through my head. Time is nigh to zero in and edit my vision.
Inspiration is coming from everywhere. A blog post here, a craft (mustaches on sticks) at the recent Villain Cotillion, a Crew Cuts catalog there. Lots of things must happen for this to work ... like the stars are gonna have to align for this one.

P.S. The Fair! A missed opportunity for a family photo shoot. For some time now, I have been thinking of incorporating some Polaroid-type carnival shots in the kids' room with plenty of aquas and yellows. Didn't think about a photo shoot there until the last day of the state fair here. DARN! One of my favorite personal photographers, Britney Smith, certainly did an editorial shoot there, and the pics looked amazing. So next year, yes, a state fair shoot is a must!

Cause for Hyperventilation

2010-11-15T01:10:00.002-06:00

No. 1: About a week ago (that would be Nov. 8ish) I saw a house completely decorated for Christmas.
No. 2: I was behind a lady in line at Walmart with a TYPED grocery list.
And all of a sudden I can't breathe.

Bake Sale Update

2010-11-14T01:24:00.002-06:00

An hour into the Santa's Workshop Sweet Shoppe sale and my cake was nowhere to be found! I hope whoever bought it is enjoying it with a tall glass of milk! It looked like the cakes were going for $18 and up, $20-25 for cakes of comparable size. The thought of my cake going for anything makes me happy. So glad I was able to help my baby girl's preschool make money to benefit her and her friends!
The workshop was so much fun! I even had a blast helping take out the trash!

Bake Sale

2010-11-12T09:32:00.005-06:00

My first bake sale. Call me crazy, but I'm excited. I signed up the first day of school at Millie's preschool to bring a "homemade" goodie for the sale. I pretty much had in mind from the get-go what I would bring. But as the deadline approached and they sent home a recipe card for tagging, it all of a sudden became real. I HAD to deliver! So the recipe: New Orleans Double Chocolate Praline Fudge Cake. I think I've posted about it before. A daily serving of calories in one slice. Does that ring a bell? The baking went extremely well. I premeasured and mapped out a strategy based on what has worked/not worked in the past. Perfectly toasted pecans. Check. Even cake layers. Check. A smooth ganache. Check. Now, the pralines didn't run off the sides of the cake like I had hoped.

I waited a tad too long before pouring, so it's a tad clumpy. But pralines are pralines. So hopefully what they lack in looks they'll make up in taste.
I think the most challenging part of this whole project was the packaging. I definitely wanted to take freshness and presentation into account. I thought about a domed cake plate with a cute liner and ribbon around the base, but budget became an issue. So I decided on a box. With a window! Who knew? Now, potential buyers could take a peek inside! Now I needed to jazz it up. Decisions, decisions. Plates , cute plates, that fit the box were hard to find. But I finally found one at Hobby Lobby. I definitely wanted to throw some grosgrain ... stitched red ... into the mix, and I found some cute felt gingerbread kid stickers and Christmas labels for embellishments. So on top of striving for an awesome cake, I hoped something would come together for an enticing package. So about five hours after start time, here's my entry for the bake sale. At the finish, the cake looked pretty plain all alone in the box. Luckily, I had a green sheet of scrapbook paper in my scrap box that made a perfect Christmas backdrop for my cake. So it's done!
(Please ignore that the cake itself is not centered on the plate. That bugs me.)
The entry was safely delivered to school this morning, but not without some adjustments in the car and not without a psych out by my husband, who returned home with a tale that it had been dropped by the sweet lady in carpool. Urgh! Of course, I'm thinking about my little cake, my labor of love, hoping it makes it through tomorrow in one piece. Praline has a tendency to crack, ganache to melt. Hopefully, I won't show up tomorrow to a puddle of chocolate. Hopefully, above all else, my cake won't be there at all. If I get there, and it's all alone in the corner with no owner, I might just melt myself. Or have to secretly con a friend to bid. Too bad my mom won't be able to make it!

Commander in Chic

2010-11-12T09:23:00.002-06:00

Found a hot new nail color. Now, don't get me wrong -- I'm not really a nail person. Unless you count biting, and actually I gave up that habit years ago. Gross. Thank goodness. But I do enjoy an occasional manicure. And by occasional I mean like Mother's Day every other year and my wedding day. Ha. No, maybe not that bad. But anyway, it takes a lot to make me WANT to pursue a polish to own. Kind of like getting me to a movie at the theater. It's gotta look good ... really good. Anyway, I wanted a taupe and looked for a Sonia Koshak and Essie but came across a Sally Hansen of all things: Commander in Chic. It had a little more purple in it than I had hoped, but it turns out, I love it! And so I'm recommending it! Commander in Chic. Get it!

Back-Blogging ... Again ... But Not Quite Yet

2010-11-12T09:17:00.003-06:00

Ha! Yes, I should be at it again soon, all two of my readers. I finally have a digital cam up and running, so pics and copy should ensue ... slowly but surely. I have a bag full of disposable cameras to develop, so it may take a while, but our summer and early fall were too fabulous not to document. Several biggies: Our Walk! Our friends and family are amazing! Preschool for both kiddos, birthdays for both, Halloween ... the list goes on. So stay tuned for bits and pieces of back-blogging (Is that a word?). Maybe it will be a special feature each week or something. Lord knows, it won't be the last time I have to back track.
Anyway, just a note to say we are alive and kickin' and are blessed beyond measure!

Lalaloopsy

2010-10-14T13:02:00.003-05:00

Have you seen these dollies yet? So precious! I found them one day perusing the aisles of Target. They immediately caught my eye. At the time, they were known as Bitty Button dolls. Upon further inspection, though, the dolls were almost creepy. I moved on. But still I came back to the doll. Something about the concept struck a chord. "Sew Magical! Sew Cute!" These dolls have that made-by-hand, nostalgic look about them, and I think that's what attracts me to them. The back story to the dolls is that they were handsewn from scraps of fabric and magically came to life. There are several dolls in the collection, each with her own personality and pet. I originally wanted Bea with her owlie as a back-to-school gift for Amelia but decided to wait. Birthday and Christmas were just around the corner. Big mistake. My next trip, they were gone. Walmart, gone. Toys R Us, gone. Online, gone. And then on a trip a couple of weeks ago I saw Bea ... just one ... at Target and again passed. Surely, more would be in soon.
Amelia had been saving up her money that her grandparents give her. And after seeing commercials for the newly monikered "Lalaloopsy" dolls, she determined that she wanted to spend her savings on Crumbs Sugar Cookie with her little mouse. I was so excited for her. And proud: the thought of her saving her money and earning something she wanted. So after school the next day, we went to Target ... still not a single doll. So I thought we'd try Walmart. I was almost nervous for her. I really wanted her to be happy. I spotted the doll almost immediately but didn't say anything. I watched her from the end of the aisle as she carefully inspected each row until finally, she spotted it! And not just any doll, Crumb Sugar Cookie. She squealed with delight. I grabbed her package for her, and we headed hand in hand to the checkout. On the way, she obliged a few photos. The joy on her face was palpable. Almost every sweet lady we passed, stopped to admire her and her soon-to-be new doll.
We had to wait to open the doll later in the afternoon. But the unveiling was an event in itself. We carefully peeled away the packaging, and finally, the doll was hers. Brother even took to the doll. She's such a cute doll, all the sweetness of a rag doll without the rags, which is good. She'll stay clean. Her head is even floppy. But she sits up well. And between her and floppy old Woody doll, my kids are in bliss. They've lugged their dollies to carpool, the library and a restaurant or two.
It may sound silly to fawn over something as silly as a doll, but the experience with my daughter was so heartwarming. So when I look at the doll, I'll remember the joy. And that ... makes this doll a treasure!

Birthday Girl: halloween treat: chocolate pumpkin cake

2010-10-11T01:05:00.000-05:00

Birthday Girl: halloween treat: chocolate pumpkin cake

Empty Formula Cans

2010-08-17T10:58:00.002-05:00

Rinse, Recycle, Re-use!
1. Desperately needed a way to organize Millie's headbands before school started. What to do, what to do? Enter my nephews empty formula cans! Cover them with decorative fabric or paper and voila: headband holder!
2. Collection Buckets -- In addition to the ones we get from the JDRF, we can make our own creative cans to collect donations. Sweet!
3. Pencil, Pen, Marker Holders -- Perfect solution to organizing back-to-school supplies. Again, fabric and paper!
Wish I had pics to show. I've killed my third digital and Mother's Day gift from my generous mother. She watched as it fell and hit her ceramic tile. So sorry, mama! So pics will be few and far between on the blog. I'm temporarily back to disposables. That's right! Had to sheepishly pull one out at Brother's Pre-K open house! Click and wind, click and wind! But I refused to let that moment go undocumented. Anyway, what did we do before digital cameras? I'm finding out ... again!

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes

2010-08-17T10:34:00.002-05:00

Getting so excited about our walk. The enormity of its significance really hits me sometimes. I mean it's not just a walk. It's a commitment to save lives. Lives like that of my beautiful daughter. And I'm not sure how it will affect me to see so many people uniting to support her in one place. Those two miles will be emotional ones!
No need for athletes, we want HEARTS!
Tomorrow's a big day. We go for a family team dinner. Several diabetics in one place for dinner. Ought to be an enlightening experience. I wonder what my Millie will think to see others her age checking their blood and getting an insulin shot just before a meal, just like she does. Just trying to picture it!

Back-to-School Wardrobes

2010-08-17T10:12:00.003-05:00

There are just some things in life I try to avoid. I know my inclinations do develop slight obsessions and that usually involves money, lots of money I'd rather be saving for practical things like say a new house with ... wait for it ... storage!!! (Remember Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover"? Car is paid off!)
But I also like to get things out of my system, so I rationalized a trip to Hock Your Smocks, an upscale consignment shop in Shreveport: back-to-school clothes.
I walked in and racked up! Plenty of smocked dresses for Millie. Plenty of Jon-Jons for Brother.
This was on top of scoring a steal at a Three Little Monkeys liquidation. My sorority sister owns her own childrens' clothing boutique. She decided to go wholesale, so she cleared out her merchandise. I was able to get $500-plus dollars worth of clothing for $100. Pants for $1. Cord longalls for $10? Seriously! I can't say I didn't feel a little guilty. I knew full well I was getting a "steal." But very grateful because my children will have nice wardrobes for school.
Finally, family friends. A good friend of Eric's that he works with has a little girl a few years older than Millie. Sweet Jennifer and her daughter sent Millie a pile of clothes, cute clothes! Sweet smocks and adorable jumpers!
It's funny how your view changes about hand-me-downs once you become a parent. I'm so glad I let go of my hang-up. Because now my kids will look smart for school.
But now I have consignment obsession, and I've shared it with my sister.
(BTW, as much as I'm elated with my stockpile of Jon-Jons, I did overlook one MINOR detail. Brother is a freshman pottier. Meaning we're lucky if he can get his pants down in time. Meaning fastening his own buttons are a no-go. And all that translates into no Jon-Jons at Pre-K. Darn! And I thought I was doing so good.)

Day 3: Happy Fourth of July!

2010-08-17T10:05:00.004-05:00

Like a month-plus later! Ha. But this day was just as grand as the others!
Family pictures, fun and food! My family loves to grill!
Check out these Roberts grandbabies!

Later that night, Daddy bought way too many fireworks, and he and Uncle Rusty popped them for the kids. Millie Bug and Brother were so funny! They hate the noise. So THE WHOLE TIME, they watched with their ears covered!!!
It was one of those nights when you just didn't want to get down to the last firecracker. Soon, it would be back to the old stomp and grind ... away from family.

Day 2

2010-08-17T09:57:00.003-05:00

On Day 2 of our 4th weekend, we slept late, of course! Then we went for lunch at Portico. I had the best mahi, mahi grilled sandwich. Why have I never visited this place until now!? After that, it looked like a storm was moving in, but I had promised to take Millie to a cute little girly boutique on Louisville. She desperately wanted a "satchel" and "journal" a la American Girl Kit. So we went. It was so nice to shop with my girl along (Daddy and Abe stayed in the car. No complaints. Thanks, guys!) Millie emerged with the cutest pink ballet messenger satchel and a diary ... with a lock. To keep Brother out of course! She was so cute!
Afterward, Mommy and Daddy jaunted across the street for some adult beverages. A friend had introduced my sister to a fabulous peach margarita! Boy, is it the best ever!
Then we went back to mom and dad's for more family time.
Have I told you I love my brothers and sister? And my mom and dad?
My dad loves that we miss being home so much! Nothing makes him happier than to have us all together. We don't have to do anything, just be. And it's so comforting.

One Spectacular Weekend: Day 1

2010-07-05T02:37:00.003-05:00

Wow! I just don't want this weekend to end. It was a great one ... from beginning to end. I'm so glad my husband could travel with me and the children as we spent hours and hours celebrating our country's independence with friends and family.

It all started with a taco dinner Friday evening to honor Sweet Caroline, my cousin's daughter. My cousin Q lives in North Carolina with his wife and 6-month-old daughter. This was the first time our family has gotten to see her since she was born. Caroline is quite honestly the most beautiful baby I've ever seen. Stunning.

We enjoyed homemade authentic tacos with all the fixings including freshly canned hot sauce. Daddy can drink that stuff out of the jar. It was fun visiting with everyone. I have some beautiful aunts and incredibly gifted cousins. There were so many kiddos! With the races, the conversation, kids playing and newborns crying, it was a circus. But it was just music to my ears. I'm sure my Grandma Vicky got a kick out of the full house. Sad thing is not everyone could make it. They were missed!

A Cub Reporter and an Itty Bitty Scientist

2010-06-28T11:38:00.003-05:00

Millie Bug and I were able to enjoy a "girlie day." It included a free movie, "Kit Kittridge," and the Itty Bitty Scientist program at Sci-Port.

Awaiting the movie

The theater shows these movies as part of its Family Film Fest. And it's such a great deal! We loved the movie based on the American Girl doll. It was the perfect mother-daughter film. Millie walked out wanting her own typewriter and reporter's notebook. That's something I definitely can handle!

After the movie, we went straight to the science center. It, too, was a great program. Check out Millie's project!

Summer Reading Kickoff Luau

2010-06-28T11:28:00.004-05:00

The children had so much fun at the luau. We were able to put together our costumes with dress-up items from home and a few Dollar Tree finds. I worked the necklace booth, and Ienjoyed meeting the neighborhood children and seeing how creative they all were. Not sure what the children's favorite part was ... maybe limbo and free dance with Dr. Spaghetti afterward!

Eye of the Tiger

2010-06-28T11:19:00.003-05:00

Intensity.

Tennis Lessons 2010

The Pool

2010-06-28T11:01:00.004-05:00

On a stop to pay for tennis lessons on our way to the city spray ground, we realized the rec pool was actually open this year. Upon further investigation, Daddy found out it was being run by Rock Solid. Yay! So, we decided to cool down on this hot first day of June. It was such an enjoyable experience. The pool was very clean, not crowded, the manager enforced the rules, and the teenage lifeguards were professional and courteous. This is great exercise for the family, and we've taken advantage of every chance we get to go. It's been a scorcher of a summer so far.

Going to Grandma's

2010-06-28T10:49:00.005-05:00

When I was little, I couldn't wait for summer because that meant Grandma's. Forget weekend trips, my sister and I would stay weeks if we wanted. Grandma Vicky and Papaw Frank had few rules. And it looks like it's pretty much the same for my children with their Mimi.

Art
Brother had to improvise a bit.

Cooking
This makes me nervous, but it's cute all the same. Brother's wearing the hat Papaw and Mimi picked up for him on their trip to a Texas Rangers' game. He would not take it off. Also, notice those awesome pancake portion sizes. Watching those carbs for Millie Bug. Thanks, Mimi!

Science

Somehow, Millie Bug managed to get Papaw's binoculars.
She loves this kind of stuff, and I'm sure it was followed with a "field journal" entry.

Trooper

2010-06-28T10:44:00.002-05:00

Brother had his first dental appointment back in May. Great report! I think that was the most still I've ever seen him.

'Food Inc.'

2010-06-14T21:39:00.002-05:00

Have you seen it? You should. Enlightening.

Cruisin'

2010-06-14T11:47:00.004-05:00

Exercise is a key component of Millie's diabetes regimen. She and Brother stay very active, but I'm really wanting to get creative with the exercise. I certainly don't want them to get bored and turned off. As Millie says, "Variety is the spice of life, Mom." And it is a healthy, long-term lifestyle we hope to develop.

So, biking is a given for any child when it comes to exercise. And I'm eyeing these sweet cruisers for Millie and myself.

River City Cycling on Youree has a Trek sign posted. Might have to check them out after vacation! I anticipate us having to save up our allowance for these babies, though.

I can so see us enjoying late afternoon (when it's not so hot) rides with bells and baskets, of course! Trips to the library seem even more enchanting with these.

Cotton candy sweet, don't you think?

Millie's Hot "Shots"

2010-06-13T23:06:00.005-05:00

In September, we will walk to raise funds for diabetes research. We are looking forward to the walk and gathering up our closest friends and family to participate with us. Please consider joining us by going to the jdrf.org. Here's our link.There is no cost to do so, only a committment to raise funds. You can set a goal for as little or as much as you would like.
I think I am most looking forward to the opportunity for Millie to meet other children with diabetes. I like that we're spreading the word ... together.
I plan to design a T-shirt, too, for our team, so after you sign up, be on the lookout for those as well.

Exciting Week Ahead

2010-05-30T12:14:00.004-05:00

Opening Day 2009 Goodies

THE Cobbler

Lots to look forward to this week.
1. Tennis Lessons -- Millie will start on Tuesday. So excited!
2. Summer Reading Club Kickoff -- Millie and Abe have been members each year since they were born. Millie signed up for her library card at birth and started attending story time at 4 months. Brother started attending earlier as a tag-a-long to his big sister's toddler time. Needless to say, they love the library. I have volunteered to help with registration while Daddy will supervise them at the luau kickoff. We're getting our costumes ready and can't wait. Dr. Spaghetti and staff have worked really hard to make this summer's reading club better than ever.
Can't wait to see what the kiddos read this summer. We really like to bring our stories to life with costumes and props, food and crafts. I've thought about starting them a little book club. Wouldn't that be fun??? Each child reads the same book at home and then we come together for a playdate centered around the story. We'll see what we can cook up.
3. Farmers' Market Opening -- I heart fresh veggies. Last year, I was so excited, I brought a new sundress just for the opening, woke up bright and early and shopped till my heart's desire. Some of the items I picked up were the jalepeno cheese bread, jelly, blueberries, blackberries, squash, honey. My. Mouth. Is. Watering. I made my first cobbler from a Williams-Sonoma recipe -- mixed berry. So yummy. Hope that with a little tinkering of the recipe, I can make something Millie Bug can eat. This year, the managers of the market promise an even bigger and better shopping experience, so I'm counting down the minutes.
Inspired by a community garden I've seen recently, I've really wanted to plant my own garden in the back yard. I know absolutely nothing about gardening. Ha. But you've got to start somewhere. I'm pretty sure we have too many squirrels and other critters to be a successful gardener, but the library has this cute kid-friendly container gardening book I may pick up. Maybe I should start small and work my way up.
4. Beach Vacation in a Few -- Already started packing!!!

Ice Cream Sundays

2010-05-26T01:41:00.002-05:00

Millie loves ice cream.
(Thank you, Sweet P's Mommy for the recipe! I think it calls for an ice cream social soon ... for the kids, of course, ... wink, wink!)
As with any diet, her diet is more about portion control than deprivation. She can still eat what she likes, just not as much and at certain times. If there is any blessing associated with diabetes, it's that if you are vigilant and responsible, you can learn to eat healthy for a lifetime. Through this blog and Facebook, so many have shared their stories of friends and family members with diabetes. Some say they are healthier than most, that their A1Cs are better than most, that their eyesight is better than most. Point: We have no idea what bad food can do to any of our bodies. A silent killer, indeed.
Anyway, we've enjoyed trying new things. But sometimes, convenience is key. So often we have to snack, and it's just easy to have food already nice and portioned for us. When it comes to ice cream, it's so easy to fudge when you have to dip into that creamy gallon of Blue Bell. My first thought was let's look for something with Splenda or low-, no-sugar. But then I came across the little party ice creams -- the single-serves. Perfect! 12 grams of carbs. I added a little squirt of whipped cream (less than 4 grams of carbs, so it's "free") and a few drops of chocolate syrup, and VOILA!!! my baby has an ice cream sundae on Sunday. And the entire family enjoyed one on the front porch in the already sweltering Louisiana heat.
Now, that brings us to our next obstacle: How do we deal with the ice cream truck? Yes, they're creepy to begin with, but what child doesn't love hearing that music, frantically dumping their piggy bank and dashing out to catch the truck with the frozen treats?
Well, yesterday, we "got to that bridge." And I wasn't ready "to cross it." So instead of saying "No, you can't eat anything on there, baby." I just took my time and the truck had driven off before she could gather her allowance.
Later, I gave some thought to how I would handle the situation next time. Sometimes the chase is all the fun, so I think we'll play that part up. As for the sweets, allow her to get what she wants. It may mean she may not be able to eat the entire treat or at that particular time, but I'm sure it's manageable.
Summer and ice cream just go hand-in-hand. And I can remember moving to a "big city" and hearing and seeing an ice cream truck for the first time, and well, it was magical. My parents always made it such an exciting treat for us kids, so there's no way I'm depriving my baby girl of this summertime experience.
So here's to sweet sundaes on sweltering summer Sundays! Say that fast 10 times!

A Girl and her Guitar

2010-05-26T00:13:00.002-05:00

Sparkling Jewel

2010-05-25T23:58:00.004-05:00

Power & Grace School of the Performing Arts Recital 2010: "Masquerade"

"Sparkling Jewels"

2 p.m. May 15 The Strand Theatre

I reluctantly volunteered to serve as a backstage mother. It was just too much of a risk sending Millie backstage with all those snacks and too much of a hassle to explain glucagon to an unwitting, already frazzled mother. Little did I know, one of the residents who had assisted Dr. McVie the day he first administered Millie's first insulin shot was also a P&G backstage mom! Love how God watches out for us that way. Millie did great with her schedule and snacks backstage. Although, it was difficult to watch her dance from the wings, I'm thinking she did more dancing backstage than on stage. But she had a great time.

She was chosen to present flowers to the dance teachers at the end of the recital. She was so happy to present Miss Kourtney, her teacher from last year, her flowers.

We were all so proud of her. Afterward, she was showered with flowers and gifts, and we went out for her favorite: tacos. Her magical evening was capped with her first overnight visit with Mimi without me since being diagnosed. Everyone did great! Lots of planning ahead, but we made it!

Served my time as backstage mom.

'WELCOME TO HOLLAND'

2010-05-24T12:50:00.007-05:00

Found this on the Internet today. Thought I'd share.

"Welcome to Holland"
by Emily Perl Kingsley

"I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
"When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
"After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
"But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
"So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
"It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
"But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
"And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
"But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland."

When Life Hands You Lemons ...

2010-05-23T22:22:00.003-05:00

Make Lemonade!!!

And that's what we're gonna do. Millie's summertime dream of her very own lemonade stand is going to come true this summer. ... And we hope it will be grand. Of course, it will be diabetic friendly lemonade. All proceeds will benefit the juvenile diabetes research foundation, even though Millie did try to finagle a treehouse.

Our family is working hard brainstorming on the sugary sweet details. So continue to stay tuned. We're very excited. And hope you will join us to raise awareness and funds for an organization that has already helped us so much as we've embarked on our diabetic journey.

Yay!

2010-05-23T22:01:00.004-05:00

Way to go Bret Michaels! He won "Celebrity Apprentice" and therefore money for the American Diabetes Association! The thought that that money could help my daughter or others with diabetes is ... well ... indescribable.
Please visit here and here.

And Yet so Normal

2010-05-23T15:58:00.002-05:00

Flying kites Saturday afternoon ... after daddy fixed us all breakfast in bed!!!

Let it Go

2010-05-21T18:54:00.005-05:00

I cried for two hours on the phone to my mom, mostly out of pure exhaustion. And then another two to my sister.
I try my hardest to stay positive in front of the children. Millie is so loving and sensitive. If I sniff, she asks me if I'm OK, often keeping her eye on me to make sure my sniffles don't become sobs. But last night I had reached my limit. I waited until dinner was served, excused myself and tiptoed to the office to release. It included a few punches to the mound of laundry yet to be folded and a few muffled screams from my gut.
Most of the time, I am hopeful about Millie's diabetes, but sometimes, I let my thoughts wander to the "what ifs" and the "whys" and the "hows." This may have been prompted as I worked on an end-of-the-year gift for her teacher, sifting through photos just weeks and months before she possibly became ill. I want so bad to go back to those care-free days, to erase the very point at which her cells became attacked. It's difficult to look at pictures and wonder, "Was she sick here?" Or to see something that should have signaled to us that she was sick and wonder, "Why didn't we catch that?" The signs were there, "Why didn't we see the big picture?"
And I get angry. I hate that nothing in her life from here forward will come easy for her. That everything ... dance, tennis, school, piano, sleepovers, trips to grandmas, vacations, birthday parties, receptions, meals ... will be a challenge for her. And I never dreamed of that for her. I had so many expectations, so many hopes ... for a perfectly healthy, happy life.
To which my mom replied, "Let it go. Let it go, Cori." (The second ever so lovingly yet stern.)
To which my sister replied, let it go.
To which my husband replied, let it go.
If I was the tattoo-acquiring type, I'd probably get that etched on my inner wrist, to look down and remind myself. Or for a loose translation, let The Beatles' "Let it Be" play in my head.
She will FIGHT. She will EARN her praises. She will be STRONG, a stronger person, and will be BETTER for it.
For those who have witnessed her taking her thrice-daily shots, who have seen her count her carbs, who have watched her prep her shot, they are amazed. It is obvious God has amazing things in store for her.
Life is not perfect. It is not fair. I thought I learned that a long time ago.

Stay Tuned

2010-05-18T23:16:00.002-05:00

Keep your eyes and ears open for our summer project we hope will raise awareness for juvenile diabetes!
And best wishes to Bret Michaels, who will compete in the finale of "Celebrity Apprentice." Can't say that I've watched, but I do wish him the best as he continues his efforts to Stop Diabetes.

A Little Piece of Heaven

2010-05-18T23:02:00.003-05:00

My (Millie's) Bella Bit arrived in the mail today. It will pair perfectly with her MJ Cher dress. Can't wait to see it on her. Thank you Katie, photographer, crafter, mommy extraordinaire! Check out her etsy site for more creative pretties.

Questions I Fielded Today

2010-04-20T22:35:00.001-05:00

Mom, when I get better can I go eat at Cici's?

When I'm 5 will I still be diabetic?

Diabetes

2010-04-18T20:49:00.002-05:00

By Millie Bug
April 18, 2010

I tee-tee on a stick. I check my blood. And I check insulin. And I eat the right food when my momma says, and I have a bear that has diabetes. If my momma tells me something I should have eaten, you should too when you are sick or hurt, you should do that, too. My mom and dad, they love me. I go the doctor. I have a meter that can suck up my blood. And if it’s high, you have to take insulin.
I have a dance recital.
And don’t forget I love my momma so much, and I love her much, much more than a world, than the universe.My momma lets me go to the park. I swing on the swing sets. I slide down the slide, and I climb up the monkey bars. And I climb the steps on the playground board, and I get to go on the merry-go-round on the boardwalk.
The End

A First: I shot up my daughter with insulin in the restroom of IHOP. I felt like a junkie.

2010-04-18T01:12:00.003-05:00

I'm sitting here listening to make sure my baby is breathing. Just like I did when she was a newborn. I'm scared to go to sleep, too afraid. All I really want to do is cry, just cry and scream. I'm angry, scared, guilty.
Gone are her chubby baby thighs, cheeks and pudgy fingers. Boney, knobby joints and gaunt stares are left in return.
My 4-year-old baby deals with such adult things as insulin, carbohydrates and ketones now and forever. Oh how I long to hear her just sing her alphabet or watch her eat with abandon.
She wants juice, ice cream, corndogs. All the things that complete a childhood. And for her it seems that childhood is over. We've said goodbye to so many things this week.
And sometimes I know we are so gonna conquer diabetes and others times, I feel completely defeated already ... Day 3 of a lifetime ... and we're exhausted.
I can distinctly recall thinking, man, are we blessed. Life can't get any better, knowing full well our trials will come and just not knowing in what form.
Our trial is Type 1 diabetes ... wreaking havoc silently within my Millie Bug's body.
Even in dispair, I know our God is mighty. I know He promises brighter days! I know He will give us strength to edure. And I know He has a beautiful and perfect plan for Millie. He has chosen Eric and I for her. And I hope we prove worthy. We are so blessed. He has shown my baby mercy already in that He allowed us to discover her illness early and begin treatment before the usual trip to the ICU that is so common with pediatric diabetes patients.
He is revealing Himself to us in so many ways. He is amazing. And He made her amazing. I'm so honored to witness her play out the story He has written for her.
So far it is beautiful and perfect in every way.

Enjoying the Small Things

2010-03-24T19:43:00.005-05:00

Please take a moment to click on and read Kelle Hampton's raw recount of the birth of her second daughter Nella Cordelia, who has Down syndrome.

Her story is very touching. And although different, I can totally relate -- coming to grips with the reality that her life, her daughter's life are anything but perfect. I experience the same heartbreak and fear as we journey into Millie's probable diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. Sometimes the fear is paralyzing and overwhelming. I have no time to take a breath as I watch the overwhelming wave of reality engulf and sting me to my very core.

I have yet to share the details of Millie's story for fear it acknowledges the truth. I'm just not there yet. But Kelle is, and she's very elloquent at doing so. I pray her story touches you as it has me.

2010-02-24T16:23:00.002-06:00

Millie Bug (2/23): "Look, Daddy, I see the sun behind the clouds."
Indeed.

Squeals of Delight

2010-01-10T00:59:00.003-06:00

Family Movie Night: "Cinderella" (for the first time)

No Way!

2010-01-09T15:27:00.002-06:00

Found my cell after 6 months and only a couple of days of acknowledging so in writing. No way! Amelia spotted it. It had fallen between my headboard and my mattress -- a place I've looked 1,000 times. I promise. Hope is a good thing.

What I'm Reading Now: Month No. 1

2010-01-08T09:36:00.003-06:00

I RESOLVE TO READ ONE BOOK A MONTH.
USUALLY MY READING IS LIMITED TO QUICK READS (MAGAZINES). HECK, I'VE BEEN READING THE TWILIGHT SERIES FOR TWO YEARS. I'M ON PAGE 50 OF BOOK 1. SURELY, I CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS. SO A GOAL. PLEASURE READING FOR ME. AN ESCAPE FOR ME.

SO I HAVE THIS RESOLUTION, AND WHAT DO I CHOOSE FOR "PLEASURE" READING? WHY, THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER BY DAVE RAMSEY, OF COURSE. NO, NO, NO. IT REALLY IS GREAT. THE FIRST CHAPTER DESCRIBED US TO A "T." AND HIS ADVICE IS BASED ON EXPERIENCE, SOUND FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES, AND GET THIS -- THE BIBLE. I'M HALFWAY THROUGH, AND I CAN'T PUT IT DOWN!

HERE ARE SOME OF HIS MANTRAS:
* "IF YOU WILL LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE, LATER YOU CAN LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE."
* "IT IS HUMAN NATURE TO WANT IT AND WANT IT NOW; IT IS ALSO A SIGN OF IMMATURITY."
* "DON'T EVEN CONSIDER KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES. THEY'RE BROKE! AND THEY CAN'T DO MATH!"

I'LL ADMIT, I'M IN A DENIAL ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, INCLUDING MY FINANCIAL FITNESS. SO READING SOME OF THIS WAS HARD. BUT COMFORTING AT THE SAME TIME.
SO THIS WHOLE BOOK OF THE MONTH THING HAS LED TO ANOTHER GOAL FOR 2010: FINANCIAL FREEDOM GOD'S WAY!

FUNNY HOW HE REVEALS HIMSELF SOMETIMES. AND WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT BUT NEED IT THE MOST.

These are a few of my favorite things ...

2010-01-08T09:16:00.004-06:00

Well, two anyway.
Sorry. No Pics. Again. 2 USBs Lost. Gone. 2009 was The Year of the Lost. Because I also lost my cell with many "first" pics of my children. Like the first time Abe sat in a grocery cart. Can't dwell on it, or I will cry. But barring it was flushed down the toilet, tossed in the trash, or thrown out with Goodwill, it will turn up one day. Ahh, hope.

Anyway, on to two of my favorite things: No. 1: School Aids, spectacular teachers' supply store on Youree. I could spend hours in there. The workbooks, the puzzles, the books! Almost makes me want to home school. Coupons can often be found in Red River Moms magazine. Grab them; you'll need them.

And favorite thing No. 2: Old Farmer's Almanac General Store in the Boardwalk. They sell the old-fashioned lemon drops my dad used to sell in his pharmacy years ago. They have cute paper doll books, knick-knacks, cooking utensils (an awesome cast-iron griddle). This fall/winter I eyed their Halloween and Christmas garlands. A little pricey when I can make them myself. But so beautiful to look at. I could go on and on about how charming this mercantile is. Probably a little more fancy than the Olsens' or the Godseys', but still full of nostalgia nonetheless. Oh, and I googled them and found some online coupons, and I'm sure the Boardwalk coupon book has some kind of offer from them.

P.S. Even if I had USB cords to download my pics, you wouldn't see any pics from the inside of this store as they ban photos. So, I guess they want you to see it for yourself to believe it???? P.S.S. This store is not stroller-friendly. There is no room to maneuver. But if you insist, like I did during Christmas, there's a nice worker there with an amazing foreign accent (wink, wink) who will be more than happy to clear a path for you.
There you have it -- two of my favorite things.

Footed Pajama Day!

2010-01-07T12:56:00.003-06:00

Luckily, Mimi thought ahead and outfitted the kiddos with new sets of zip-up footed pajamas. Just in time for the record-breaking weather we're having here. Some kind of Arctic something or other. Foreign words. No matter. All we know is it's cold. Colder than we're used to.
Really makes us rethink the cute, quaint, older home built off the ground thing.
Anyway, we're pretty excited around here. No school!!!! A real snow day, minus the snow. But that doesn't mean we can't cozy up. Today will include playing board games, listening to our new science CD by They Might be Giants (no joke!), eating chicken and dumplings (Thank you, Sweet P's mommy, for the fb status update and thus the craving!), craft projects and maybe a little pleasure reading for me or even EXERCISE.
Believe it or not, I'm aching for a run. I need it. Fattening up for the winter is for bears or something. But you would think I was prepping for hibernation. The bike might have to do. Anyway, it's footed pajama day! And pretty much anything goes AS LONG AS YOU KEEP THOSE TOOTSIES TOASTY!

What a Beaut!

2010-01-06T21:24:00.003-06:00

Isn't she cute? Sad thing is, she's still in the box. My Christmas present. Can't wait to learn how to turn her on.

Funny

2010-01-06T10:48:00.004-06:00

The lone set of toys after the kids picked up before bed. Funny to see that in the middle of the floor all alone. Wonder what Millie Bug and Brother were playing. Tickles me to imagine. Psychiatrist? Haha. Nah.

Secrets to Successful or not so Successful Parenting: What You Need to Get By

2010-01-05T02:51:00.004-06:00

I've mentioned before my little brother and my sister-in-law are new parents. My cousin also had his first child, Caroline Victoria, in December. And my sister is due with a baby boy in February. Babies, babies everywhere. I'm trying my best not to catch the fever, so to avoid it at all costs, I try to share what I know, not experience it. I was excited to venture to help my sister register for her baby needs just this past weekend. Sometimes I look at my preschooler and toddler and marvel at how they got this far. What helped me survive in those early weeks and months? The following is a newborn survival kit of sorts Daddy and I couldn't live without at the time. 1. Pampers Swaddlers 2. Cloth Diapers -- Seems silly, but it pained me to use my monogrammed burp cloths, especially when administering meds. 3. Mylicon -- I had gassy babies. I had myself to blame. Shame on me, spicy-food-eating-nursing mother that I was. 4. Sassy Disposable Changing Pads -- These can be hard to find. Toys R Us was usually a sure bet. These are great for that early tar poo and any time anything leaked out of the diaper. I could lay these over the changing pad and prevent a mess or cover those nasty ones in public restrooms when desparate. 5. Diaper Duck Trash Bag Dispenser by Munchkin -- These are ideal while on the go. They now have simpler, less conspicuous versions, but the ducky is a great way to occupy wiggly children while diaper-changing. If you have to change in the car or there's no garbage, they hold those stinky remnants until a can presents itself. They're also great for holding vomited or pooped on clothes until you can get home to put them in the wash. 6. Gerber Nursing Pads -- These are thinner and are less visible through the shirt than most nursing pads I tried. They hold a lot considering they're so thin. 7. Boppy -- Great for nursing. Great for post-pregnancy tummy support. Great for tummy time. Great for playtime. Great. Surviving with Two: 1. Bumbo -- I didn't even think about using one when I had Millie Bug. Just didn't see any need in it, but I found it invaluable with a second child. When I had Millie, she was still in the highchair. This helped the baby build up his muscles. I could feed him in it, travel with it. Brother never really cared for tummy time, so I would sit him in it place his toys around him for play. It was also good so he could "play" with his sister and cousins. He would see them up and having a great time, and it helped him feel a part of things. 2. Baby Trend Sit and Stand LX Stroller -- Millie still needs to be secured while traveling, especially when shopping. This allows the baby to be seated and gives her the option to sit or stand. It's fairly light and oh so convenient.
New items are always coming out. It's kinda hard to keep up with it all. And it's certainly overwhelming for a new mom.
What could you mommies not live without?

Hair Pretties

2010-01-05T02:04:00.006-06:00

Trying to get creative with the "'dos"

Having a daughter with long, curly hair is a brave and selfish thing to do as a mother. It's a fulfillment of many a dream I had while carrying my Millie Bug. You know the ones in which you imagine what your child will look like. And the daughter in my dream was barefoot, in a muslin white bishop, with dark brown, curly hair streaming halfway down her body, a large white bow and chocolate almond-shaped eyes to melt her Daddy's heart.
What was omitted from the dreams were the tangles, the cries, the difficulty of finding strong enough headbands that don't cause headaches, and the time it takes to wash, comb and dry those locks. I'm not near as adept at ponytails, parts and braids as my mom was with me. But I try.
I've recently attempted my hand at some hair pretties. Somehow I put together a silk hydrangea headpiece for a recent photo shoot -- flower hanging by a thread (figuratively) to a ribbon headband. I made Millie two sunflower clippies for her coronation as Sun Flower, Indian princess, for her Thanksgiving feast at school.

"Feast" your eyes one these!

And just before the Christmas holidays, I conquered my first hair bow. It wasn't pretty ... the process, not the bow. I mean it took me two hours, and just when I was about to cry and throw away the ribbon in frustration, it happened ... the bow. Don't know how. Don't know why. It just came to be. And I was proud. I hot-glued the clip to it and singed the ends and everything.
Hot Dog!

And ooh-la-la!

Snow Day

2010-01-05T01:35:00.004-06:00

Well, kind of. A Louisiana snow day. And boy did it make returning to school after the holiday season pretty difficult. I tried to convince Millie Bug to stay home and snuggle with me, but that school-lovin' priss cried because she wanted to go to school ... even as I was checking the news on television and Internet, sure I had missed the announcement that schools were closed for the day.
Alas, they were not. So I shuffled my snow bunny off to pre-K and met Daddy at the doc where we were told Brother has the ... FLU!!! Bless his heart!!! He's been so lethargic and clingy but today, while the "blizzard" raged outdoors, he lifted his feeble little voice to join Barney for some lovin' and huggin' in his closing theme song before returning right back to his fever-induced sleep.
I made a yummy, hearty, warm white bean chili and a fruit salad and fresh tea to soothe our appetites as we hunkered down for the cold weather. Now, I'm up because after being up all night last night with a feverish baby, I could no longer stay awake and took a 9 p.m. nap. Not smart normally, but seeing as I'll be up throughout the night again with Brother, it was probably a good idea to recharge before the graveyard shift.
Winter has set in.
And although the snow was exciting for us Southerners, I prefered to think about the snow from early December. Bundle up! Baby, it's cold outside!

All boy. Enjoying is first play in the snow.

Yep. That's a real snowflake!

Warming up with some hot cocoa with marshmellows.

Fell fast asleep ... with a chocolate mustache ... before a second romp.

Hold on, Wait a Minute

2010-01-03T01:42:00.003-06:00

In all the hustle and bustle at our family Christmas in West Monroe, I misplaced my camera USB. If you could see my parents' office and all the plugged-in devices, you would so understand. We're def. WIRED!!! I have so many memorable moments to share with you!
Daddy and I are finally getting into a groove with our Christmas Day travels, and they are so much more enjoyable for all of us, I think.
This year has been so tough on us financially, and I think that has definitely allowed us to focus on the simple beauties of our everyday lives. God has certainly en"rich"ed our lives in ways unimaginable to us before.
He loves us so much more than we deserve and has always provided. Always.
Blessings for a prosperous new year!

Can't Sleep

2009-12-02T02:14:00.003-06:00

It's past 2 a.m., and I can't sleep. Ugh!!! A million things running through my mind.
1. Hope mom is sleeping soundly in her hospital room ... without any interuptions. Imagining what that must feel like. And being ashamed for thinking that way.
2. Where did these 10 pounds come from?
3. If I were an Elf not so on the Shelf where would I like to "BE"?
4. What will Millie Bug wear to school tomorrow? And why didn't I lay it out earlier like I do every night?
5. Why are my kids in bed with me?
6. Is it time for a Tony's World Famous Egg Nog daquiri again? That should really be a daily thing. That might explain one or two of those 10 pounds.
7. I'm gonna feel lousy in the morning.
8. How cute it is when Brother does something he shouldn't and then says, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." New tonight: "It was an accident." Hardly.
9. How am I going to work up the courage to authorize massive haircuts next week?
10. Bound and determined to get the Christmas shopping done this week to enjoy the month.
11. What is the perfect project for the needy to involve the children in this Christmas?
12. Looking forward to reuniting with my Louisiana Tech Orientation staff this weekend. Has it really been 10 years?
13. I want to hear my husband singing along to Christmas music.
14. I'm in agreement with him that the Sufjan Stevens Christmas box set is yes, one of our best purchases ever.
15. Really grateful to the Fritter's mommy for sharing her MOPs re-investing in friendships story.
16. Laugh because I remember I told Eric that I wanted 10 kids of my own, 10 adopted. That number went to 5 biological after we married. I have two, one of each. And God gets the last laugh.
17. How much I enjoyed crafting Millie Bug two sunflower barrettes for her braids at midnight after she let it slip that evening that her given Indian name for her Thanksgiving feast at school the next day would be "Sun Flower."
18. How much I enjoyed room mothering for that feast.
19. Need to balance the checkbook.
20. How amateurish I've been about couponing. It's time to get my game face on.
21. How am I gonna arrange my sister's due date so I can run that 1/2 marathon.
22. I will read the Twilight series. If no reason other than to prove to myself that I still remember how to read ... something other than juvenile picture books and primers.
23. Where art thou "What Not to Wear"?
Sweet Dreams.

Octoberfest!

2009-11-18T22:32:00.018-06:00

31 Days of Frivolity
Getting ready for Trunk-or-Treating at BUMC's Block Party!!! Thank you, Miss Angie, for always being such a great hostess!!!

Brother finally got the hang of it. First year out of the stroller. And Costume #1 for 2009.

Playing Batman!

Treats from Mimi and Papaw

Dance demo and wear-your-costume to class all in one night!!!

If you give a man a pumpkin ...

The Pumpkin Shine is a tradition. We usually go before the "shine" and in costume in order to make another event later that evening. You'll notice Brother in Costume #2. Max's wolf costume was still at the seamstress. Such a darling event!

Headed to the FBC Minden Fall Festival, another tradition. We always have a good time. Love the way this church family loves my kids. And my apologies to Millie Bug for the last photo. It's not very lady-like, but it sure is funny! Bless her heart! We forgot bloomers for Wonder Woman!

Millie Bug and Brother managed a trip to the dentist right at Halloween!!! Perfect checkup at that! Little did we know we'd be driving home from the appointment as the tornadoes were striking downtown.

We tackled Sci-Port's Halloween Festival. The children always have such a ball at that place.

Millie eating the World Famous Rice Krispies treats made by the one and only Queen of Halloween herself Aunt Beth! They were so good! Aunt Beth and Uncle Ricky had us over at their house Halloween night. Hands down, a hoot! Aunt Beth had every nook and cranny of her house decorated. My favorite spot was the "Sleepy Hollow" corner. The deck was "decked" out complete with a cauldron and spooky gate. We were treated to the Krispy treats, a snack tray, and "witch's brew." Totally worth the whole Candy Corn witch get-up I donned. I was duped into thinking I had to dress up to get my share of Rice Krispies treats! Whatever. It was worth it!!!

Sweet P's parents (Check out his blog to the right.) hosted a Halloween carnival at their home. It was so much fun! There were games, smores and plenty of goodies to eat, including some really awesome candied apples Mrs. Amanda made. Yummy!!

Our Motley Crew Halloween Night at Grandaddy and Becca's

Marlie and Me -- Millie loves lovin' on her baby cousin. These girls have to stick together. My sister is expecting a boy in February. Can't wait!!

Um. Not so sure what this is about. We started going to Monday night story time at the library because Millie is in school during the preschool hours during the week. Brother still goes to the baby and toddler class. His attention span isn't quite where it needs to be to attend preschool hour without disturbing the other children. Although, I will admit, he does behave better than most. In fact, he didn't move a muscle or make a peep during a recent viewing of "The Nutcracker." More on that later. But I was proud. Anyway, the kids get to wear their pjs to this story hour, and Dr. Spaghetti's their librarian.

Actually, these were taken early November. They're of the rising Ouachita River. It's the highest I've ever seen it. My dad, who owns a nuclear pharmacy downtown Monroe, took us on a little field trip. Funny thing is, I remember my daddy dangling my sister and I over the docks a la Michael Jackson when we were little. But he's a good daddy. The best, in fact, so no need to worry. We turned out just fine.

Driving Miss Daisy

God is Good, God is Great

2009-11-15T00:04:00.003-06:00

Remember fighting with your brother or sister over who would say the blessing at dinner? (ha. ironic.)That time has arrived at the Anderson Dinner Table. Couldn't help but document brother as he leads the family on this particular night with the most sincere of sing-song mumbles of praise and thanksgiving. Amen.

Pumpkins in a Pumpkin Patch

2009-11-14T23:39:00.005-06:00

Correspondence from The Great Pumpkin

2009-10-23T21:31:00.005-05:00

Blue Dog

2009-10-22T08:42:00.004-05:00

Millie Bug and Brother enjoyed meeting Blue Dog artist Mr. George Rodrigue at his Barnes & Noble book signing. Millie had so many questions but was too shy to ask them once she reached the table. Mr. Rodrigue seemed to get a kick out of them both.

Out with the Old

2009-10-21T00:49:00.003-05:00

I'm of the sentimental variety. You know one of those "you never know when this is gonna come back in style/you never know when you're gonna need this for a costume" kind of gals. Hey, trust me. It will save you one day from kicking yourself in the rear as you trapse to Goodwill for that exact special something you unloaded 10 years ago. I'm telling ya. Anyway, I want to save everything my children ever touch. If you went in their room and pointed at something, I could probably tell you who gave it to them when. But these a kiddos are a growin' and a changin' and so must their room. So I'm having to hesitantly PURGE to prepare their room for sleep, learning and playing. A challenge. For two. One girl, one boy. One room.

I went against my better judgement and agreed on an Ikea bunk bed. So far, so good on the accident front. And it's working on freeing up space in our bed. As in mine and Daddy's bed. Storage is a must. And thus, two new, sturdy toy boxes. Perfect for storage, right?!

School Daze

2009-10-21T00:13:00.003-05:00

Pre-K. Hum. This ain't your mamma's Pre-K. Seriously. Call it college prep for 3- and 4-year-olds. We've been bustling with projects and special events since the beginning of school. It's a whirlwind but oh so fun watching my little girl's horizons broaden, however hesitant I am that this thing called "school" is upon us. Two weeks ago, she began Spanish and computer classes. A week ago, our homework was a bug collection (I didn't do my first until 11th grade gifted AP biology.) and today was the third of Show and Tell Secret Sacks since school began. Millie Bug's assigned letter this week was "Z," and she's getting pretty picky about what she's willing to take. So we decided to have a little fun with this one.

Her clues:

1. It's green.

2. You can grow it in a garden.

3. And it's oh so yummy to eat.

Give up?

It's a zucchini!!!

Bahhahahahahaha!

Working on our independent lesson at home

Remember these? Weekly Reader book orders?

Out of control!!!

The cutest thing? Her blue jeans and silver sparkle belt her Becca bought her. She loves to wear them on Fridays with her red school spirit shirt, pink sneakers and red polka-dot ribbons. I can't post pics because the school's name is plastered all over. But trust me. It's sweet as pie!

This school business brings back fond memories of my early school years. I went to an old "country" school in LaSalle Parish. It was built up off the ground and everything you'd imagine a little red school house to be ... only it was white. I remember the day my daddy took me to roundup. I had on a white sundress with stars on it that tied at the shoulders and matching bloomers. I was so proud of those bloomers!!! I remember taking a sight test (one of those where you had to peep into a projector-looking thing) and being asked where the red dot was. My choices of answers were either "on" or "off" the table. I remember replying, "It's on the bacon." (There was a plate of bacon "on" the table in the picture.) That whole test may be a thing of the past as am I, but it goes to show you it's all in the details. I remember so much from those days it's unreal. I could go on and on. My sister says there's something wrong with her because she has no recollection of kindergarten. But she was there. I remember!

Introducing ...

2009-10-20T23:54:00.003-05:00

MY NIECE!!! MARLIE ANNE!

ISN'T SHE CUTE! AND DARK!?!

I LOVE HER.

AND MY BABY BROTHER AND SIS-IN-LAW ARE THE CUTEST LIL PARENTS EVER.

Are You Concerned?

2009-10-20T23:50:00.001-05:00

You should be.

At the Car Wash

2009-10-20T23:47:00.003-05:00

Forgot how fascinating this could be.

My Halloween Rag Wreath

2009-10-20T23:32:00.002-05:00

I was at home.
Alone.
And needed a project.
I wanted a Halloween wreath.
I didn't want to pay for one.
This is the result.
Luckily, I had orange and black scraps. And a wire hanger.
Surprising. I make my husband throw these away.
This is my first attempt at a rag wreath. I think it turned out lovely. Just what the doctor ordered on a lonely, quiet afternoon.

Step 1

Step 2

Voila!

This is before I trimmed it up a bit. I thought about and attempted at adding some Halloween trinkets to jazz it up but decided it was better simple. This year at least. Simple and sweet. The price tag? $0. Even sweeter! Bring on the candy corn!!!

Cherub

2009-10-20T23:29:00.003-05:00

An Open Letter to Aunt Beth

2009-10-08T21:42:00.004-05:00

Dearest Aunt Beth,

You have given meaning to my Halloween. You put the "treat" in trick-or-treat. You do Rice Krispies treats better than Kellogg's themselves. Or Snap! Crackle! and Pop! for that matter. Often, your perfection with this confection is a topic of discussion at our home ... year-round. Just what makes it so perfect? Butter? Portion? Consistency? Creaminess? Whatever the secret, it's unmatched. I've tried ... and tried. Whatever the recipe, it's divine! Hide-my-square-from-the-rest-of-the-family-and-wait-till-everyone-is-asleep-and-pull-out-my-treat-and-poor-a-tall-glass-of-ice-cold-milk-and-savor-every-morsel-in-peace kind of good! I know what I must do to receive my share. So, all ghosts and goblins BEWARE! And move out of my way! To Aunt Beth's house we'll go Halloween Day!

* Have you read All You, a magazine? I first picked it up when I worked at the library. It's definitely worth the time and the $2.49 -- great coupons, tips and RECIPES!!! I pick my copy up at Wal-Mart.
* I'm on the hunt for the ultimate pumpkin pie. None of that cheesecake mess. I just want a creamy pumpkin pie. Recipes, anyone?
* And apples. Don't want to overkill since the kids eat them all the time, but I would like a good apple something. I like the word "dumpling," so I may give that a try. Thought about caramel apples. Is there such a thing as healthy caramel for the kids? (smile. i try.) But I may stick with my great-grandmother's baked apple recipe. Yummy and comforting.

Have a Heart

2009-09-26T15:13:00.004-05:00

Daddy and I participated this morning in the American Heart Association Heart Walk.

Can't tell you the flooding of emotions that poored over me as I filled out my tribute tag. The lady at the table must have sensed my levee was about to break. She gently patted my sticker to my back and said, "These are love pats."

Today, I ran 3.1 miles because my papaw and my aunt, who have loved/love me with all their heart, couldn't. It was an honor.

Birthday Season

2009-09-26T14:18:00.009-05:00

Workin' up that courage to blow his candle out

It's birthday season around here. It started with Brother's late August. We celebrated with an "'A' is for alligator party" at Gators and Friends. I had fun with that one -- designing the invites, creating a birthday garland, baking funfetti cupcakes with picks (and even some egg-free chocolate cupcakes), and making fans. My baby boy is 2! And he is all boy!
I'd like to share later on some of the details, but I will give a tip for all you party-planning moms. Start at the Dollar Tree! They really have some great finds! I went to all the trouble designing and printing invitations on my own because I couldn't find anything online I really liked. Well, a fiasco with Kinko's and a trip to Office Max later, I visited the Dollar Tree only to find packages of 8 adorable gator invites. Yeah, I was sick!!!! Brother had a great time at his party. I love to hear him sing "Happy Birthday"!
Daddy turned the big 3-2 a couple of days before Millie Bug's birthday! We celebrated with dinner at Houston's in Dallas. Yummo! He had his usual prime rib and wanted to make sure I photographed AND blogged the dinner plate.

As mentioned before, we celebrated Amelia's birthday at Six Flags. She was in Heaven.

Wonder Woman!

Making sure to walk fast enough to get the cape to flow
(Thank you Grandaddy and Becca!)

Getting shy during "Happy Birthday"

Savoring a Sprinkles cupcake

Mommy's turn next. 29 again!!!!????

4 Years, 6 Flags with Sprinkles on Top

2009-09-18T00:23:00.003-05:00

My Millie Bug will turn 4 Sunday. I watched her tonight as she sipped from her cup, and she still spreads her toes out as she drinks, just like she did as she nursed as a baby. She loves to give impromtu speeches and concerts, and she's amazed by actual sporks and her pet frogs. And she loves knock-knock jokes, playing tricks on her mommy and pretending to write in cursive. And she loves sweets and fashion. And well, she's the little girl I always dreamed of having. And so for her birthday, when Daddy and I repeatedly asked where she would like to have her party, she certainly replied "Six Flags." So, we're makin' it happen, folks. How magical is that? "Rollerposters" and all. And we'll celebrate with "delectable" cupcakes and ice-cold milk from Sprinkles.
Can't wait to watch her face light up! I'm sure I'll study it and lock it away in my memory just like I did 4 years ago when she entered my life.