Happy Christmas!

Our Christmas card  - our family completed! I got them blown up and on the walls so Millie really feels like a part of us. (I know, she doesn't know any better now, but she will eventually)

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Baby's been sick, but she loves getting into stuff.

Grace with Santa at our city's street fair.

Millie and me.

November update

Well it's only been a month since I've updated. Things are busy here. Or they're coming off of being busy. Millie is now 6 months old and is almost crawling. Gracie full of first grade attitude. We're off for the week, so that's a nice break. Grace spent the weekend with Mawmaw, so that was nice. Craftwise, sewingwise, the only thing I've done is make a baby sling for my cousin's baby shower. I have a blanket started for her, but I haven't gotten to finish it yet. Millie is totally awesome and I love holding her, but it limits what I can do with my hands - and I'm sure she'd love to get her hands on yarn. 

Since there will be no more babies, I've turned my attention to sprucing up the house a bit. I'm starting with the bathroom because it's small and I can probably get it at least painted this week. I'm going for a darkish gray on the cabinets and a light gray on the walls because the tile is a greengray and pink. I can't do anything about that, but I can paint walls and cabinets. I'm going to make a curtain for the faux window thing in there. I'm going to try to find a frame for the mirror to make it look better. Wait for the dog to die to replace the bath mat. Replace the ugly cheap faucet with something prettier. Not sure what - I'm really bad at decorating, so I'm doing one thing at a time to see what goes. I have big plans for the kitchen - all summer vegetable colors. Yum! It'll be a while, money and time being what it is.

Pre-family pictures pictures

We went to take Halloween pictures for our family pictures this year. This is our pre-game pictures ;) Millie didn't do well, so these are the ones of her and Gracie.

Soccer

Beach weekend

Nephew

Beach baby

Sisters chillaxing

my mom, dad and miillie

When I was little, my extended family used to rent a beach cabin on Crystal Beach and go up for a week. A few years ago, my uncle was dying of cancer and we did it again and it was very nice and made some good memories. After he died, we did it again to spread his ashes there. Now it's a special tradition in our family to do it every September. It's nice to spend time together watching football, shooting the shit and letting the new cousins play together. It's fun. Several generations together.

Conflicted

It's a first world problem, so I'm not take this too seriously. Grace went to a one-morning cheerleader clinic last week. They are having the opportunity to cheer on the sidelines tonight. They have the option of wearing whatever cheer uniform they have or the camp t-shirt.  Grace has been wanting a uniform for a long time, but we've (I've) resisted because it's silly. And expensive. And I didn't want to be one of "those" parents, which are famous within my district. BUT. I don't want her to be the only one down there with the t-shirt on. And she didn't have and shorts or capris to wear with it, etc, etc. So I spent my whole afternoon yesterday seeking out and acquiring a uniform, tank top to go under it and some shoes. She's thrilled - not smug or bratty - just thrilled. I'm the best momma ever - which I should be after getting soaking wet visiting 4 different stores just to get the uniform. I consulted my husband, who is a hard-ass as far as she is concerned, and he encouraged me to do it, so she has good memories of us during this time in her life, as we spend a lot of time getting onto her for one thing or another - just her age, really - but there's a lot of correction involved. So someone else's kid may be the only one down there with just the t-shirt. BUT I know she'll wear the uniform every Friday to school until it's too small, which should be in a few years. Anyway, I'm going to take her to the game tonight to watch her cheer. Her and Millie, by myself and they don't cheer until the 3rd quarter. Lord, help me! And Gracie and Millie and I have to go today and find something spirity for Millie to wear, since she's going too. It's just ridiculous. You know what else is ridiculous? I saw a baby A&M cheerleader (not authentic, since A&M doesn't have cheerleaders) for $5 that I'm going back to get today. I have to. It's too cute. It doesn't matter that she'll never wear it anywhere near a game. She's going to have it :)

Lord, help me. Hopefully I'll update later with some pics of this awesome sight. The whole family -minus Scott, since he's working - is going to the beach this weekend. We can't go until Sat afternoon because of soccer, but I can't wait. Though, I'll be grading papers that I didn't get to grade yesterday afternoon. Maybe someone will hold my baby for me. Worth it? Probably. I need to chill. :)      

Labor Day

Since Scott's parents have moved to Houston, we planned to spend Labor Day with them at the Children's Museum, via Gracie. We had a nice lunch and went to the museum. It was a lot of fun. There was so much to do - much more than I had patience and energy for. Millie was good. Grace was interested in all of the exhibits and things to do. 

Being a vet

She's gotten to where she won't look at the camera, which is really annoying.

Milestone

Snaggletooth! She worried the tooth all day Saturday and it finally fell out Sunday morning. 

School's started

The blessing of the children

1st day of school Miss Drama Queen

Daddy told her to stop batting her eyes at the camera.

Everyone's unhappy but me! I can't wait to go to work!

Millie

Sleeping baby

Summer is Over!

So sayeth our convocation speaker. I'm glad to be going back to work Monday. Actually we've been working for 2 weeks getting ready. Amelia is doing well. I'll try to post pics later on. Gracie is looking forward to 1st grade. We went to Open House Thursday. It was all on the same night for the entire district, which I thought was bunk. Her teacher has sparkly purple eye lashes. Yes, that kind of teacher. I was annoyed, but Gracie worked with her some last year and she likes her, so hopefully it'll be great. I got lucky and will be teaching 2 pre-AP classes and the different kind of student that will be. I'm excited. There were about 12 that came to open house and they were all nice. I think it will be a good year, but I may just be optimistic ;) My outside duties are fine and I'm sure I'll find a good lunch group. I'm looking forward to it. I signed Gracie and me up for riding the yellow dogs to away games. I thought it would be a good bonding experience for us. I like seeing the kids in a different setting, they like it, and Grace gets a kick out of being around the big kids.

 We had a windfall in the form of a refund check from our mortgage insurance. Scott wanted to use it to replace our computers, which are old and don't hold a charge. I opted for a little red Acer netbook and I plan to get a new battery for my old laptop. It's still ok and has everything I like on it now. Anyway, we spent less than half of it then put the rest in savings. I feel good about having it for the next major car repair or whatever. The netbook is fun to take around. Much more portable. But the screen is smaller and I have to up the zoom to read comfortably on it.
I bought an epon for the "new fall color" and cut at a local salon for $65, which is cheaper than my usual girl usually charges for the works. It was such a waste. Evidently the new fall color is my natural hair color and the cut was just a trim of my original. Trifling.

Big plans

I have a week left until I have to go back to inservice. We have 2 full weeks of inservice. What to do, what to do? We're starting off with 2 workdays. I like to sit in meetings a while first to let things percolate before I start planning. Oh well. I'll move desks around and put up posters and set up my aquarium and go visiting. I'll be glad to be back, for sure.
Sunday we had a congregation party at someone's house. Gracie said it was  her best Sunday ever. Of course, I didn't take any pictures. People loved to see Gracie and loved to see Amelia and we got to sit and visit awhile.
Tuesday there is a book signing in Houston I'm going to with a friend. Since Scott's parents now live in Houston, we're going to drop the girls off with them and pick them up after we're done. Hopefully I'll be able to go out with another friend on Wednesday. Then just getting ready, cleaning out closets etc. I need to get started on a shower gift for later this month. Maybe today. I got the fabric washed and everything, I just have to make the placemats and coasters. Not hard, just have to buckle down and do it.      

Birthday party

We had Gracie's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. It was really easy. They had all the accoutremount (?) needed for a birthday party. We just showed up with a cake and goody bags. One person from her class showed up and one person from church. The rest were cousins. It was nice to see everyone and I think they had a good time. My little girl is 6. Not so little anymore.

Gracie's actual birthday breakfast. IHOP sent her a free breakfast coupon, so we went to town. We did IHOP and Casa Ole in one day. 

Cheapy cake with our own ponies. 

Amelia and Colt. Amelia is 6 weeks older than he is.  

   

Vacation part 2

While in Waco, we went to the Dr. Pepper museum, which was totally overrated. Not much to it. We also went to the Mammoth Site, which was very educational. Amelia and her sling went everywhere!