Happy Birthday, Monica!

One of my best friends celebrated her birthday this weekend. Too bad we forgot the camera and had to rely on the cell phone for pictures. We had two desserts to commemorate the event and couldn't decide which one was better.... Lots of laughs and some real estate shopping afterwards made for a memorable evening!

Spiderwick

Carson and Laiken have been reading the Spiderwick books and could not wait until the movie came out. Last week was a little crazy, so it was Sunday before we made it to the theater. I had not read the books, but I really liked the movie. It was VERY intense and I noticed Laiken and Carson were kind of huddled together at one point. I leaned over and said, "Were the books this scary?" They both looked at me with wide eyes and shook their heads. Neither of them woke me up with a bad dream that night, so I guess they're getting old enough to handle it. But, I must say the image of that big scary goblin thing was in my mind for the rest of the day!

It's Cookie Time Again!

I volunteered to be the cookie mom for Laiken's Girl Scout troop this year. There are 12 girls in the troop and they sold almost 1800 boxes. With help from family, Laiken sold over 300 boxes. The troop also put in an order for about 200 more boxes to sell at booth sales. This is what 167 cases of Girl Scout cookies looked like in our garage:

Didn't get to order yours, yet? Let me know...I can hook you up!

3-Peat

On Friday, the kids' school had elections for Junior Student Council and Carson was elected as his class representative. This is the 3rd year in a row that he has been able to serve on StuCo. He was very excited and we were proud of him for doing such a great job on his posters and his speech. He is so happy that he will be getting to go to the meetings with Laiken and we are happy that he will be learning some more leadership skills.

I Feel Pretty...

I remember the days when Carson was 2 and Laiken was 4 and Carson idolized his big sister. He played with Polly Pocket and Barbies and would dress up in her Disney princess clothes and clomp around the house in her high heels. She was his best friend and he wanted to do anything that she was doing. By about 3 1/2, Carson had outgrown some of that and had moved on to cowboys, pirates, and Star Wars.

Nolan likes Laiken, but having a big brother has kept him from blurring the gender lines quite so much. Tonight, though, after seeing Laiken with some curlers in her hair, he insisted on having a few himself. He wanted me to put them all over his head, but we finally agreed that four was enough. Ten minutes later, we took the curlers out so he could go to bed and his naturally curly hair had already formed little ringlets! I know what you're thinking...if his hair is long enough to wrap around a curler, he probably needs a haircut. I know, I know....but I am really kind of enjoying his crazy little head of hair and all those curls. I'm afraid that if I take him in for a trim, the stylist will cut off too much and then it would change his whole little baby look.

Saturday Skating

We started our rainy Saturday morning at a skating party to celebrate Adrienne's 10th birthday. I can't believe these girls are all turning 10! The girls had a great time and were completely worn out by the time the session was over.

School Dance

While Farrel and Carson were at a basketball game, Laiken, Nolan, and I made our way to the school dance on Friday night. Laiken and her friends danced the night away while Nolan enjoyed some snacks in the cafeteria away from the loud music.

Happy Valentine's Day

Today marks the 20th year I have spent with my Valentine. The first few years, he was my high school sweetheart and then, eventually, my husband. Farrel and I have very different personalities. He is laid-back and rarely worries about things that he can't change. When he has the kids for the day, they might or might not eat on a regular schedule, whether or not they brush their teeth will always be a gamble, and you can bet that bedtime will be at least an hour later than it would have been if I had been home. Farrel knows everybody and is as comfortable talking to a city or school official as he is our next door neighbor. He is one of the hardest working people I know. He encourages me to make time for myself and will gladly adjust his schedule so that I can have time to recharge. He loves my parents, my brother, and my extended family and has never complained about attending a family event. He was happy when I chose to give up my career in order to be a stay-at-home mom. He also encouraged me to finish my Ph.D., knowing that someday I would go back to the work I loved so much. He kept me sane when I was expecting Nolan and raising my other two precious kids while the project of my life, my dissertation, mocked me with deadlines. More than once, he told me he knew I would finish, even when I had serious doubts about my own abilities. He is a genuinely kind person who, after all this time, still likes me--not just loves me because I am his wife and that is what he is supposed to do--he really likes me and for that and so much more, I love him.

Farrel has never forgotten a Valentine's Day. When we were young, it was cards and flowers and little pieces of jewelry that I still have in a keepsake box. After we got married, he would make plans for restaurants or send beautiful bouquets to work. Always, I would get hand-written notes in elaborate cards telling me how much I mean to him. We spent 7 years married without children and then added our 3 little Valentines to our family. We don't get to take little get-aways any more like we used to, but Farrel still remembers to make the effort. Today, it was lunch at Petra while Nolan was at preschool. We laughed and caught up and remembered why we have chosen to spend the last 20 Valentine's Days together. Much love to you, my sweetheart, and to my little sweeties, too. Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!

It Fits

Laiken and I had some fun this weekend going through some of the things packed away in my cedar chest. She particularly liked modeling my old twirling competition costumes. When I was in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades, my activity of choice was baton twirling. I don't even know if anyone still teaches baton or takes baton lessons, but when I was little, it was a pretty big deal. There were competitions all over the place and my mom handmade all of these elaborate costumes for me to wear. She added each bead and rhinestone by hand and that was before the invention of the Bedazzler, so completing a costume was extremely time-consuming. Looking back, I can't believe that my mom was the same age that I am now when she was making those costumes. I couldn't even begin to construct something like that. I think it had probably been at least 10 years since I had even looked at those costumes and it was so strange to realize that they now fit my daughter. It was a very surreal experience.

Daddy-Daughter Dance

This was the fifth year that Laiken has attended the Daddy-Daughter dance with Farrel. I was a little surprised when she wanted to go again this year since, technically, she was too old for the event. Luckily, she had a whole group of fourth grade friends who weren't ready to give up this special night, either. My hope is that she always wants to go to a dance with her dad! It would save us a lot of worrying!!

As soon as we got all the girls off with their daddies, the moms got to enjoy some grown-up girl time with a great dinner and lots of laughs at Cristina's.

Honors from the City Council

Carson and his fellow second graders were recently honored at a city council meeting for artwork that they completed in their classes. The art depicted historical homes around McKinney. We have the most amazing art teacher who continually works to make sure that the kids' creations are seen and admired by others. The kids felt so special receiving their plaque and seeing their artwork hanging in City Hall.

Hannah Montana

On Sunday afternoon, Monica and I stood in line for an hour with Laiken, Kaitlin, Alli, and Alessia hoping to get good seats in the theater for the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus movie. It was a crazy experience. There were people there who had gotten in line an hour and 40 minutes early. After paying $16 a ticket just to see the movie, I felt like someone should have sent a car to pick us all up and then escort us to our seats! We managed to get great seats, the girls had a really good time, and I got to laugh at Monica's insightful commentary regarding the Jonas brothers.

I'm It!

I've been Meme tagged. Thanks, Stephanie--I know what you are thinking--if you have to put yourself out there, so does everyone else!! :-) I'm not supposed to overthink my answers--very hard for me!--but, here goes:

Complete the phrase with the 1st thought in your head:

I know.... who I am.

I believe... in God.

I fought....for what I thought was right.

I am angered....when people act like hypocrites.

I love....my family.

I need.... periodic vacations and changes of scenery.

I take....my responsibilities seriously.

I hear.... all of my kids talking at once.

I drink....iced tea on my way to pick the kids up from school. It's my caffeine boost for the afternoon!

I hate.... when I don't have enough time to do everything that needs to be done.

I use.... schedules, lists, and day planners!

I want .... my kids to grow up and be happy, productive adults who make the world just a little better.

I like.... when people make amends.

I feel.... stressed when I don't know what the plan is!

I wear .... comfy clothes.

I left.... home when I was 18 and moved to Okinawa right after getting married to Farrel. Crazy, I know! I can't believe that my parents didn't tie me up and keep me from getting married at that age.

I do.... too many things at once.

I hope.... for a better world for my kids.

I dream.... almost every night and sometimes even remember the details.

I drive.... an environment killer. My daughter is insisting that we buy a hybrid.

I listen....to my kids' stories after school.

I type ....much better than I did in high school. Typing was the only class that I almost made a C in!

I am ... getting a little calmer as I get older.

I wish .... I had a bigger house and a pool in the backyard!! Come on, I love my life, but it's Texas! Doesn't everyone want a pool???

I regret.... Wow! Probably too many to list. Biggest regret...not staying in California for a year after Farrel got out of the military to see if he would have loved the civilian job he had been offered there. We loved California but we LOVE Texas and thought we needed to hurry and get back home. We were so young--we should have stayed for one more year. Now, we don't know what we might have missed.

I care....about the details.

I should.... take more time for myself.

I am.... more outgoing than I used to be.

I said.... Please stop talking so loudly.

I wonder.... what college my kids will choose (and which college will choose my kids!)

I changed.... after I had kids.

I cry.... less now than I used to--Usually only at sad movies or when I think of how much the kids have grown.

I lose....my cell phone in my purse all the time!! Maybe I need a more organized purse.

I leave....little notes in my kids' lunchboxes.

More than you want to know about me?? Probably!
O.k., I tag Christy and Amye. Let's see what they have to say!

It's Nolan's Turn

For the last couple of years, our church has been using one of the bulletin boards in the children's hallway to spotlight the two year olds in our congregation. They started this after Laiken and Carson were already past that age, so Nolan is the first of my kiddos to be on the board. His display will be up for the month of February. I can't believe that he is old enough to be on the 2 year old board! It was very strange to see this collage of pictures, showing him as a tiny baby in our arms all the way to the "big boy" he has become, smiling and laughing and full of life and joy. My sweet, sweet little boy.

Learning to Serve

Every year, our church hosts a Valentine Banquet for our congregation's senior citizens. The gym is decorated for the night and includes candlelight, plenty of red and white decorations, and a lighted archway. The 3rd-5th graders are responsible for greeting the adults, helping them find a seat, taking their drink orders, serving their dinners, and talking with seniors as they enjoy their meals. It is a wonderful event and the perfect opportunity for the kids to give back to the Christian men and women who serve as role models and mentors. Laiken was honored to have been a part of this special night.

Playing Basketball

Carson's basketball season is in full swing. They played their 3rd game today and won 13-10! Carson made a basket and has become a much better ball handler since last season. He seems to have a natural ability for just about any sport he plays. He has his mind on football for the fall and I am desperately trying to divert his attention to other things.