Thanksgiving gave us a stomach bug

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. We decided to go to my parent's house to be with family and friends instead of staying home or going to Mississippi. Me and the kids left early Saturday morning to head to San Antonio to be with Leslie, Ainsley, Britton and Cambrie. We had lots of fun even though the weather was terrible. It was too cold and rainy to really go outside much less anywhere. Leslie's neighbor, Kris, gave all the kids a haircut and Sidney and Cambrie played some Twister. We got a little stir crazy but the kids had so much fun playing with each other and me and Leslie got to catch up too. We also went and saw the new Catching Fire movie from Hunger Games. It was really good and lots of fun getting away from the kids, eating Thai food and seeing an adult movie!
Before I left San Antonio, me and the kids met Lisa and Anna at Chick-Fil-A for a few hours. It was wonderful getting to see them and chat and so priceless to see the girls' faces after not seeing each other for so long! I sure do miss my SA friends but love getting to see them and stay connected as best we can!
Me and the kids finally get to CS on Monday afternoon and go to dinner with my parents and Aunt Jennie. Poor Georgia started not feeling well at dinner and it all just went downhill from there.
She threw up seconds after walking out of Los Cucos and it continued almost every hour through the night. She was a rockstar...if you can be a rockstar while puking...she would get out of bed (sharing a room with Emmaline because she chose to) get to the toilet, throw up, pull a few sheets of toilet paper off and wipe her mouth and flush it all down. I was so impressed and so tired..I tried to get up each time she did but she just was so matter of fact about it all. There were no tears and she would just walk back to bed and go to sleep. The next day she seemed to feel better, weak but better. We didn't let her eat much except some crackers and Gatorade. By the end of the day she was fine if not a little tired.
While she was in bed that day, we took Aunt Jennie to lunch at Coco Loco, me and my dad's personal favorite. Now Hayes was not wanting to eat a thing, he just wanted gum and Lemonade. We forced him to eat some tortillas and queso and chicken strips. And during his nap a little later, he threw up everywhere in the bed..and on me..since I was napping with him! Oh fun. I will say he was not as "rockstarish" as Georgia about it. But it seemed after that, he was fine. He slept for a long nap and woke up..we wouldn't let him eat and gave him Gatorade and he only threw up once more a few hours later. He was great the next day.
Well wouldn't you know, Natalie, Preston and Rachel were set to come over that night to hang out. I had to tell her what had been going on. They still came over. Within an hour or so of them being there I started to feel sick. I was not a rockstar either and was in the fetal position trying to sleep it off. It was ugly and what was uglier was that it just kept hitting people. Poor Preston, my mom, I think Sidney got a little of it, my dad, Daniel, my brother (though he never he made it to the house), Brett and he passed to his family. I also talked to Leslie and her daughter was sick too. Ugh.. It sure made Thanksgiving dinner not so important or appetizing. I did eat but not much, which is so unlike me. The good news....the bug only lasted 12 hours..the bad news is it was rough. The other bad (so sad) news was that we had to watch Bama then the Aggies, on the same day, lose their games. Bummer for real. One night we took the kids to look at Christmas lights. We thought about Santa's Wonderland but didn't want to fight the traffic so we did good ol' Central Park. The lights seem to be the same as they have for years and the kids loved the little houses they have and the big Christmas tree to spin under!
One of the last days I was there me and the older girls went to dinner with Autumn and Campbell..just a girls' night. It was fun and good to see them. I also took the girls to the mall one afternoon and we got a little carried away in Claire's..Emmaline had to get her ears repierced...(they fell out on the way to SA and it was semi-traumatic)..and we bought lotions and body sprays and fake glasses and rings. OH MY! It was fun and I have now gotten a dose of what shopping with my girls will be like in years to come! - fun but expensive and a little sassy with lots of opinions!
We did manage to squeeze in a quick photoshoot for our Christmas cards. Natalie took the ones of our family in my parent's back yard and I am glad she got us all looking at the camera. We spent lots of time at the park since the weather was so nice! My mom found me a bike at a garage sale so that I can ride around with the kids. It had been a long time since I rode one and I was a bit shaky! We decided to take Ally, my parents' yellow lab, back with us so we could have a fun playmate and dog that likes to fetch. The kids will really enjoy her and I think she will like the attention and the pool!

Last home game for Johnny Football??

It was a huge weekend in college football for our teams. The Aggies were hosting the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Alabama was playing those LSU tigers. While my family was going to be in Tuscaloosa for the Bama game, I was heading to CS for a special wedding shower for one of my oldest friends, Christian and her fiancé Brenton. I talked to my dad a few times the week prior and just mentioned that hey, if he happened to come across a few tickets I wouldn't be opposed to going to the game. You see, it was the LAST home game of the season. It was probably the last home game of our Heisman winner and quarterback Johnny Manziel and it was the LAST game in the old Kyle Field..before all the demolition begins for the building of the new and amazing stadium. So everything I remember from my college days would be gone after this night..and I have already seen video of the demolished student section...it's gone.


So when my dad called and told me he had found 2 tickets to the game and if I was interested I was so excited and said YES...I thought I may be able to talk Daniel into coming in town, but he just had too much to do with work and play. I asked Carrie if she would go with me. She said yes and we were set! I was able to get in town earlier Friday than usual since E was staying with Daniel.
Our Friday evening started with a fun visit at my parents from Natalie and little Preston. He is so cute and happy! We loved getting to watch them 'play' together and actually interact. They would just stare and Sidney really wanted to pull his hair! Me and Natalie caught up and enjoyed watching those babies play together. It is crazy that they are so big and mobile now! After Nat and PT left I had to go grocery shopping for the shower the next morning. So at 10:30pm I hit the Kroger then head over to Autumn's house to drop a bunch of tables and chairs off. We talk and I wished I had more time to hang out.
Knowing that the next day would be crazy, I head home to start cooking. I was in charge of the quiche, casserole and other meaty items for the shower. I only got a little into cooking before I realized I was too tired, still needed to shower and didn't have the energy after driving all day...so I slept!

6:30am rolls around and I'm up and at 'em cooking, mixing, baking 5 different dishes. I rush through the morning and head over to Autumn's house to have fun at the wedding shower. Grandma was coming to my parents to help with the kids and so Mom could bring Georgia to the shower for a little while. The turn out was great for the shower, we played games, ate lots of food and it was so good to see Christian and meet her fiancé, Brenton. Georgia and my mom came and she was so cute and sweet walking in and saying hi to a room full of people. I was so proud of her and she was so excited to see Tristin and get to go upstairs and play with her!
It rained all morning and was chilly and dreary...I thought, go figure for the one game we get to go to...BUT after a little while it was perfect weather for football...just the right mix of cold and warm..sun and a breeze! So thankful for this fun day, getting to spend it with my best friend and that the kids were having fun!
We ended our Saturday night at Carney's Pub. We had a few friends join us and me, Pauline and Carrie had fun rehashing old stories! We watched the Tide roll over LSU and we may have drove through Taco Cabana that night too.
So it was a great night for the Aggies...Johnny Manziel made a small case for his Heisman trophy and Kyle field never looked so good! We even got to see the Fighting Texas Aggie Band do the 4-way cross through...and it was awesome as usual! What a fun way to end the season at home for us!
Thanks Dad and Mom!!

Daddy/Daughter weekend

Emmaline has had a big year of firsts and growth and change. She spent a daddy/daughter weekend with Daniel while me and the littles went to College Station. While we were away they did all sorts of fun things and it makes me think I need to leave more often!
I wanted Daniel to decide with Emmaline when the right time for her to get her ears pierced was. My dad did it with me and I think it's an appropriate thing for a father to do with his daughter...let's be honest..moms and daughters have plenty of others 'things' to experience together. So as soon as her soccer game was over, they headed to the mall, which that in and of itself is a miracle for Daniel since he hates the mall. Not only did they get her ears pierced and pick out 2 new pairs, but they went to Bath and Body Works and she got some body spray and lip gloss...yes, he completely spoiled her. She was so excited and said, 'it didn't hurt at all..not even a pinch!'
Oh and she scored in her soccer game so that is just icing on the cake!

Friday afternoon she and Daniel went to play golf at the club and ran into her friend Hadleigh and her dad and brother...so they played (or drove the carts) then had dinner at the club with them and Sam and Juliette joined in too. I guess Hunter was feeling nice and took Emmaline to spend the night with them. Daniel had a work function the next morning and then picked up Emmaline for breakfast.

Daniel did say Emmaline got a little bored being the 'only child' on Saturday and Sunday...eventhough they camped out in a tent in the living room, made cookies, watched movies, went to the movie theatre and he even bought her some things at Bass Pro. Daniel also set up BB gun stations where she went around the backyard and shot full Dr. Pepper cans that he had shook up...then they exploded everywhere. All in all, it was a fun and truly memorable weekend for them. And now I know I can leave my babies and feel fine knowing they are being spoiled and cared for!

Sidney Rose is 9 months old!

That seems so old....and doesn't seem like we should be here all ready. Sidney's smile lights up any room and people stop and ogle over her everywhere we go. We are in love and it is sweet to see Daniel kissing on her..like I said..this girl has him smitten! I think he finally realizes these little ones are easier than the older ones! HA!
Her big sisters can't keep their hands off and are constantly stealing kisses and hugs. I don't blame them really and think they are probably just imitating me mostly. Even HB is sweet with her and brings her toys or rubs her head. It's interesting to start seeing what each of their roles are in our little family. I would say Sidney is going to be the baby, the princess and be doted on always. Hayes and Georgia will have a love/hate relationship and be very competitive. Emmaline is the 'mommy' and dotes on each of them. Georgia is the 'boss' and tries to run the show. And I think Hayes will be protective over Sidney. We shall see as time passes, I suppose.
So Sidney at 9 months: This has been a big month of change for her!

*She just started pulling up on things/furniture/toys/chairs. She is busy practicing all the time now, up..down..up..down and she will let go and stand for a few seconds too! She is so proud of herself and just smiles or waves her arms!
*Sidney finally is cutting her first 2 teeth..the bottom middles ones and they are barely poking through but there!. She doesn't seem to be as uncomfortable as she was so that is good.

*She is crawling from room to room and is getting more sure of herself each day.
*She wears 9-2T clothes, size 3 shoes, and size 3 diapers. She will wear bows or headbands but is starting to yank them off if she pays attention to me putting them on her.
*Sidney is eating a lot more this month too. She has tried small bites of chicken, turkey, celery, grapes, oranges, noodles, bread, potatoes (French fries too), beans, etc...we are slowly moving away from baby food and she is self feeding mostly.
*Sidney is so easy to nurse...4 times a day and less than 10 minutes each time. She is so squirmy and busy so isn't too interested unless it's in the morning. It really helps to nurse her without anyone else around which is almost never..we hope to make it til she is on whole milk, but will just see how it goes in the coming months.
*She sleeps wonderfully...with the time change she is usually sleepy by 7:30 and wakes up around 7am...but is fine until I go in and get her. She usually goes to sleep without any crying..as long as she has her Taggie blanket and her Wubanub paci (ones with the small animal on the end). She will nap 2 times if we are home which is rare..so she will catnap in the car when she can and will take a great nap whenever she can. It will last 2-4 hours.
*Sidney is babbling a lot and will say Dada, Mama, baba, wawa...She doesn't necessarily say them to us, but is talking and squealing a lot.
*She is very happy and really adorable. She has started scrunching her nose up when she smiles and it looks like she smells something funny. I hope it's just a phase. Her hair is growing really nicely and is very blonde and her eyes are so blue and almost lighter near the center.

Sidney,
You are cuddly, soft and sweet and really do complete this family. Your happy personality along with your giggles and laughter are the best. You are ticklish and starting to clap and wave at us! We love the new games we can play with you! I'm so thankful for you and love your dimpled elbows, knuckles and thighs. You light up our lives and we love singing sweet songs to you! Your voice is so sweet and we can't wait to hear you sing along with us! We love you!