HOME OWNER

So, I have always had this ideal notion that I would find my prince charming, we would get married and then buy our first home...together!! Period. Thats how it was supposed to be. Unfortunately, here I am a few years past 20 *ahem* and still no sign of my prince. So hard as it was to let go of my ideal notion of the way things were supposed to happen I took the plunge and have joined the ranks of the HOME OWNER club. ALL. BY. MYSELF. It's exciting and completely terrifying all at the same time. :)

happenings...

So I really have become a slacker with this whole blog thingy. How about a post week wrap up? Now that I have you all on the edges of your seat :) here we go. Monday I had a doctors appt. because I was out of refills on my blood pressure med. and I hadn't seen my doc in a while so she forced me to come in. I love her shes great but I hate going to the doctor. uugghh!! And because she loves me so much she decided that she wanted some blood work done and sent me over to the lab where I had to wait for an hour to be tortured. Fun stuff!! We got some snow on Thursday which I loved up until it started to melt and become dirty mushy slop then I was over it. I got an email from my brother who is currently deployed. That totally made my day...such a sweet guy that one. Took Hailey to see The Nutcracker on Sunday and then took some family pictures for my besties. Then woke up today with a huge knot on the left side of my neck. It's pretty painful to the touch and all swollen. I'm thinking its my lymph nodes. I have had a bad ear ache all week and a scratchy throat so I'm assuming its all connected. Either that or I have a tumor or something. Who knows but I have a dr. appt. to go over the lab results on the 14th so if it's still there I'll get her to check it out. And now I leave you with a few snaps I got of the Gills this weekend.

SLACKIN....

So I have been slacking on posting here...sorry to my one reader!! (hi mom) (: I have had alot going on right now with trying to buy a house and the holiday coming up making me a little emotional and such. Anyways just wanted to say I hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving internets!!

Dear Glory,

Glory I miss you sweet girl!! It's been way to long since nanny bug has seen you and your pretty mommy and funny daddy!! I hope I get to remedy that real soon. I'm missing all of you very much!! Be on the look out next week for a package from me. Your mom posted on facebook that you declared that you were going to marry Santa and I think you are just absolutely brilliant funny girl!!! Love you to pieces!!

~ Bug

YOWZA!!!!

7 more days people!! S-E-V-E-N!!! I CAN HARDLY STAND IT!!!!

LOCKS OF LOVE

Hailey has been asking to get her hair cut for a while now. So I agreed that after Halloween she could cut it hoping that by then she would have forgotten about it or changed her mind. No such luck. So yesterday I took her to the salon looking like a little girl and left with a young lady. *sniffs* She wanted a swing cut bob and it is totally cute but that first cut had me freaking out!! She cut a little over 10 inches off and is excited to be able to donate that to locks of love!! Here are some pics. There not that great because they are cell phone pics.


BEFORE


AFTER

FINALLY

SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG BUT HERE ARE THE PICS FROM MY BIRTHDAY WEEKEND THAT I PROMISED TO POST.

HALLOWEEN '09

Don't do it....

So, I went and saw Paranormal Activity last night with Renee and Scotter. Very stupid stupid stupid thing to do!!!! It's one of those movies that's not all that scary while your watching it. It had its parts where I jumped and such but its one that once you leave it stays with you. You can't quit thinking about it and its totally creeping me out. Scott posted on facebook that him and Renee are now on the buddy system. ha!ha! So I'm glad I'm not the only one freaked out. Anyways, so if your thinking about going see it...DON'T!!! You can thank me later!!

p.s. my bday trip to San Antonio post and pics from this weekend are coming just haven't had time to do it yet.

mini photo shoots, pumpkins and my baby is 5

This weekend my Aunt Louise had to go out of town so I had both girls. It was way to pretty on Saturday to be inside so I grabbed my camera loaded up the girls and headed out. Here's a few snaps I got.

Hailey was all about being my little model but Lauren...she was more interested in terrorizing the poor ducks!! :)

Later, we went to the pumpkin patch to pick up some pumpkins with Aunt Patty and I took a few pics of the girls with all the pumpkins. Or tried I should say...Lauren still wasn't feeling it!!

The guy there told us that they used to plant peanuts in this one field and then they stopped and started planting pumpkins there instead and this weird crazy thing grew out of there!!!! It's a pumpkin with these weird peanut shells growing all around it. CRAZY!! I wanted to buy it to see if there was peanuts inside of it but they weren't selling it. Weird right??

The other night I walked into the living room from cleaning up the kitchen and saw this!! Seriously, how cute is that?? Love it!!

On Saturday, my little Ryleigh turned 5!! I know you guys are probably rolling your eyes and thinking oh my goodness this goofy girl is blogging about her dogs birthday but she is family and is the coolest dog around!! I know you will think I am biased but no really she is AWESOME!! Happy birthday Ryleigh girl!!

How's your heart...

You can't really see it all that well in this crappy cell phone pic...but on Tuesday in my building bridges group our leader gave us those little ceramic hearts. We are supposed to carry them around with us all week and when we see them we are supposed to stop and ask ourselves...how is your heart? That night in class we were all asked to share what our feeling was at that moment. Mine was angry. I shared that when mom (my grandma...we were supposed to call her ma-mom and our grandpa was pa-pop but she was always just mom and he was just pop :) anyways I shared that when we lost her I guess I did a little bargaining with God. She had lived her life and was hurting and ready to go. So, he could take her but and it was a big BUT...He would let Jeff live. He would let him see his 35th birthday plus some and Jeff would be here to see his girls grow up. But, He didn't. He took Jeff too. This broke me. And so as I confessed to these almost strangers that I was angry and not only was I angry but I was angry with God. There was a lady in my group that told me I shouldn't be. I tried my best to prepare myself for the worst while still clinging to my belief that my God was big enough to heal him. I remember calling the morning that Jeff passed away, the morning that we were all expecting it to happen. And when they told me that his numbers were still looking okay I let myself believe that God was really going to do it, He was going to perform this miracle I had been begging for. Only for an hour to pass before getting the call that Jeff was gone. I felt so let down, so dumb for believing, I felt abandoned!! I felt and still feel angry. So since Tuesday I have been struggling with my questions, my doubts, my anger and wondering if the lady from my group was right. And the story of Jacob from Genesis where he wrestles with God came to mind. I feel like that's kind of where I am at right now. I'm wrestling with God. But for those of you not familiar with the story or how it ends...Jacob leaves a changed man. Not only is he left with a limp but even his name changes. You see in old testament days a persons name was linked to his character. In Genesis 32:28 it says "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." So through his wrestling with God Jacob was so radically changed that even his very name changed. So maybe in my struggles to understand and accept and deal with all the feelings that come with this loss God is using that to strengthen my faith. Maybe at this very moment, despite my anger, he is nurturing a relationship with Him that will be unshakable.

Dear Mother Nature

You really should make up your mind on what you want to do. I mean honestly how long do you plan on keeping this crap up? You can't make it a nice crisp lovely 50 degree perfect fall weather all weekend to only randomly make it a hot 100 degree not fall at all weather three days later!! It's unacceptable!! I mean I know this is Texas and all and we have that on going joke about how if you don't like the weather here just wait a minute. But, seriously I'm over it!!

I wrote this yesterday and didn't post it and today when i was looking at the 10 day weather forecast I noticed that the highest it will be for the next 10 days is 78 and that's today. It gradually gets lower each day and then next weekend, my birthday weekend, the highs are in the 50's again. ahhh perfect!! I think she was scared of me!! :)

I love cold weather!!! LOVE IT!!

p.s. My brother ships out today for his second tour so all my praying people add him to your list!! And Brother if you read this...i miss you terribly!! Be safe!! Love your guts!!

WEEKEND WRAP UP...

Summer and I decided that we would spend the entire weekend together and do some fun stuff with the kiddos. We all could use a little fun right about now so Friday after work I came home and packed up me and Hailey's things and headed for our weekend of fun. Friday night was spent putting up all of Sum's Halloween decorations. Last week sometime I dug out my fall decorations and put them out and Hailey wasn't so impressed. She wanted the scary stuff but Nanny don't do Halloween type things just pumpkins and fall type stuff. So she was excited to help Summer with all her spooky stuff. After we finished that we got the chil'rens in their pj's, made them a big pallet, popped them some popcorn and put in a movie for them. We went to check on them 30 minutes later and they were both out for the count!! Awesome!! The next morning we started our day with Jack-o-waffles.
is she throwing gang signs??

Peyton was not impressed....ha!ha!

Then the kids did a little coloring and other such things before we got them dressed for the day. Before long it was time for lunch.
Parker decided she was going to finish her brothers lunch :)

After lunch we started our crafts.First we made these little bats. They came out pretty darn cute if I say so myself.

Then it was on to face painting. Peyton was up first and he wanted to be spider man.

Hailey chose a cat...

This is our buddy Jake's little boy Dakota and he picked a devil....

and even Jake himself wanted to get painted up. :) What a trooper!!

Any guesses at what he picked?? :)

Summer and I have decided to quit our jobs and become professional face painters!! ha!ha! Just kidding but it was tons of fun and I'm sure the kids will be begging us to do it all the time now. After face painting us grown ups decided it was time to send the little people outside so we could catch our breath. So they went out in the back yard and rode scooters and played while we all visited for a bit.

Later while the kids were still out back Summer and I sneaked to the front and hid some paper pumpkins all over the front yard. Think Easter egg hunt except for pumpkins. There were 3 special pumpkins that were colored black that were worth $ for the one who found them. They had a blast and were begging us to hide them again.

That night we made homemade pizza. The kids both made their very own and they thought it was the coolest thing ever. They all came out tasting pretty dang good as well.

The grown ups pizza....yum!!

we also had EYEBALLS...(deviled eggs)

& BUG PUNCH!!

Then we got the chil'rens cleaned up and into their pj's for story time.

I read them a story that I made up which I won't post here because it's kind of long. But, it had a pumpkin in it named Jack-o and the end of the story led them on a treasure hunt with clues that I made up and that Summer and I hid the night before.

Clue 1.

Now I lay me down to sleep

That Jack-o's treasure is hidden deep.

To find the next clue you have to creep

To the place where little Peyton boy sleeps.

Look real good but don't make a mess

It's in the place where his head rest.

Clue 2.

On a hot summer day it sure would be nice

To stick your whole head in this cool device.

Your next clue is hidden behind this closed door

You might need a coat for a chill is in store.

Surely this riddle has not led you afar

It's in the same place you'd find an ice cream bar.

Clue 3.

After that chill come take a seat

Next to the place that warms your feet.

It's made of bricks and has a ledge

But doesn't use wood it's gas instead.

Still need a clue to get it right

It's how Santa comes in each Christmas eve night.

Clue 4.

All of that soot might have got you dirty

But it's okay were in a hurry.

When your clothes need washing you put them in here

They are good as new when they re-appear.

All it takes is just a little soap

Then turn the knob this ain't no joke.

Just lift the lid and there you will find

The very next clue it's number five.

Clue 5.

You have to buckle up when you're in one of these

Or a ticket you get even if you say please.

It's got four wheels and a spare in the rear

Hailey sat in the back of it on the way here.

They make them in all colors even brown like mud

The one you want to find is the same color as blood.

Clue 6.

You go here when its time to eat

And clean your plates before leaving your seats.

It's made of wood and has four chairs

When you sit here you should say your prayers.

In order to find the clue you seek

Get on the floor and take a peek.

Clue 7.

She's a daddy's girl that's no lie

Cute as a button, cute as pie.

Can melt any heart with one little grin

Even a witch, a ghost or scary goblin.

It's Peyton's sister were talking about

Of that you should have no doubt.

Find the place she hangs her clothes

Hurry as fast as the wind blows.

Clue 8.

You've been here once but must go back

There's another spot you must check.

Once your clothes are clean as new

You move them here to dry them too.

Open the door and there you'll find

Another clue it's number nine.

Clue 9.

Almost done just one more clue

But don't be sad, don't be blue.

Follow your stomach to find your next clue

It's where you'd go to get a snack or two.

Clue 10.

A rubber duck or a toy sailboat

Add some bubbles and take a soak.

Wash your hair and stinky feet

Feeling clean just can't be beat.

When you get here the hunt is through.

Jack-o's treasure is waiting for you.

There treasure was just little things I picked up from the dollar store. Bubbles, glow sticks, silly putty stuff and a little candy. It was so much fun to watch them run around finding the clues. I think Summer, Will and I had just as much fun watching them as they had doing it. It was a blast!!! Then after they looked through their treasure we decorated cookies and had cookies and milk before brushing teeth and getting tucked in bed. It was a totally fun filled weekend that's for sure!!How was your weekend...what did you guys do??