Ice Storms and Christmas 2013

Icemaggedon as everyone was calling it.  lol  Dec 6th a major ice storm came into the entire DFW Metroplex and beyond.  I worked that Thursday so I decided to stay the night with my friend from work, Jill, as she only lived 15 min from the hospital.  However I did not prepare for this, but she came through for me like nothing else!  We were a part of the small crew that did not call in on Friday due to the storm.  It was pretty crazy.  And I still had to drive home in it that Friday night.  But all went well, and we all survived it.  The 'snow', as I called it cuz on the grass it did resemble snow, although it was really ice, stayed around for about a week!  It was so awesome!!!  Just wanted to share a few pics with you!

Our front yard on the first day 

Icicles hung from Emery's playhouse as well as from bushes, trees,

 the house and light fixtures! 

Our waterfall kept running, building up ice along each side and the pond was frozen!! 

The day after.... some play time in the snowy backyard! 

This was 3 days later, heading out of our neighborhood 

And 5 days later, still, covered in white!  Yes, it was my last chance to RUN in the snow before going back to work!!  We did about a 2 1/2 mile run.  When I came upon ice patches, I would run on the grass and push (or slide her, lol) across the ice on the path beside me.  

I had it all figured out! 

Playtime in the snow!!!

IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!!! 

At first she was scared, but she quickly came to love Santa!!  :)

My sister-in-law in Seattle sent her this Little People Manger set early so she could play and learn the story of Christmas!  She loved it!!

 

The 3 of us decorating the Christmas tree

First time in many many years, we did house lights.  Sean did an amazing job!!! 

This was the night of the candlelight service at church.  My sweet little bug!!

Christmas Day was a very quiet and relaxing day for us.  Being that it was our second Christmas year away from home, it was not a exciting as last year.  Last year was fun because we got to celebrate with this new family (me, Sean and Emery) alone, starting traditions, and not having to go anywhere.  This year, however, was a little more solemn, at least for me, as I have been very homesick and have not looked forward to this Christmas.  Which really is very sad because it is still about family, our family, and Emery and giving her a wonderful day.  And so we did!  It was not all a loss. ;-)

Christmas morning I woke up at 6:30 am to make some homemade cinnamon rolls!  Sean woke up around 7:30 and, of course, this is the one day Emery decided to sleep in until 8:30!  But we had a nice morning with coffee just me and Sean.  She woke up and was unaware that this day was unlike any other.  We had prepped her to get all pumped up by saying "tomorrow is Christmas!  you get to open all your presents!".  But by morning, she was unaware still.  So we finally had cinnamon rolls (little did I know it was such a labor of love!  But oooooh so good and worth it!!!) and then finally got to it.

The first present was only clothes, so she was happy but not quite moved until she opened her second which was a toy.  All she wanted was to open it and play with it.  But we encouraged her to open more.  Long story short.... she tired out only after a few presents and was even crying that she didn't want to do anymore.  lol  She just wanted to play and so she did.  We gave up. lol  Our plan was to make a big breakfast, but between cinnamon rolls and coffee and other snacks we had no room for all that goes into a big breakfast.  However, I did end up making a smaller version around 1:00pm and Devin was awake by then and got to enjoy as well.  After 'brunch', Emery went down for a nap.  I rested some while the boys had some brother time watching football.  Then I was back to cooking.  That night she woke up to dinner being served... ham, my mom's traditional sweet potatoes (for me!), Sean's mom's sweet potato balls (for the boys!), garlic mashed potatoes, salad and rolls.  Emery finally finished opening her gifts (it literally took all day!) after dinner.  It was a quiet and relaxing day.  Nothing spectacular.  But, no doubt, still full of wonderful memories with our little "Boo"!

All the lights on, candles lit and fire a-glowing in the quiet of Christmas morn'!

Emery helped me finish up the cinnamon rolls!

Showing off her new outfit and boots! 

She got a new kitchen! She cooks for us and makes us coffee every day! 

And she got a computer from her uncle and auntie in North Calif 

November... and some of Emery's new likes, dislikes, attitudes and gratitudes!

So Emery surprises us sometimes (a lot actually).  And last night was no exception.  It was going to be a freezing 24 deg during the night.  So I put her in a fleece footsie onsie for the first time this fall.  She wasn't sure she liked it just yet since now she has such a big opinion on things than she did a year ago! lol  But she wore it to bed.  We always check on her before we go to bed and thank God we did!  Sean waved me to come in there.  And there she was, all snuggly under her blanket with one naked arm hanging out and propped up by her head..... with the onsie in a heap on the floor beside her!! haha   She was going to be one frozen kitten by morning had we not checked on her!!!  Silly girl!!

She is also getting wittier and quicker with every passing day.  The other morning Sean passed a little gas (I'm sure I'm being kind), and Emery says "what was that dad?!"  And he says "that was a duck!"  Later that day, it was Emery's turn.  Sean says "did you toot?!"  And Emery says "no dad, that was a duck!"   We both laughed so hard that she had remembered and then used it back on him!!!!  She still says that to us!!  She cracks us up constantly!  One day we were at my friends house and she was precariously perched on a low window sill, holding on to the table. She says "look mom!"  I said "Be Careful" and she quickly responds "mom dont say that. I am!!"  eesh!  lol

Then there's the mouthy side!  haha   Of course she is getting good at working us both.  We were out at a restaurant and she kept asking for something.  I told her No then Sean told her No, but she persisted.  Finally after Sean told her no again, she looked at me and asked me again.  Sean immediately stopped her and said "Emery I told you no!" and she looked straight at him and said "Daddy, I talking to mommy."   Whaaaaaaat!!???????  We couldn't believe she just said that!  Another night, we were at home and the same scenario was happening.  Except she kept asking Sean and he kept saying no.  Finally she responds by saying "FINE, I'll ask mommy!".   We both looked at each other and mouthed the word "FINE" in awe!   Where does she get this stuff!!!  It's crazy to us!  Just goes to show how much they pick up from us and kids they are around and they put it all together. We are in awe everyday how she is coming up with new big words and using them appropriately.  It amazes me!

So a few of her favorite things lately......

*  She LOVES and is obsessed with wearing dresses lately!  And since it is winter and all she has is summer dresses, I put them on right over her clothes (don't worry I don't let her go out like this. lol)   Some are simple summer dresses and some are big super frilly special dresses.  She loved her Christmas dress this year!   She even made my neighbor, who watched her one night while we went out on a date, put on a dress.  lol
*  Along with the dresses, comes the obsession with her new dress shoes.  I didn't think I had any for her for Christmas and God Bless whoever handed her down these beautiful, near new, black dress shoes.  And they fit!!!  What a blessing!!  But now she wants to wear them ALL the time!
*  SHE decides what shoes she is going to wear.  Sometimes I have to put my foot down when it's 29 degrees outside with a wind chill of 20 and she wants to wear her pink mary jane "slippers", as she calls them, with no socks.  But usually I'm ok with her choices.  She still loves her cowgirl boots!!  But maybe I'll buy her brown ones next time as pink doesn't always go with her outfits!  lol
*  Her favorite movies are Monsters, Inc, Cars, Bubble Guppies (still and probably forever!) and Sophia the First.  Actually the most recent and definitely most watched in a 4 day period is Enchanted!  Which I am really excited about since I can enjoy it too!!

November in Pictures!

 Emery was invited to her friend Ari's princess dress up birthday party.  It was so cute!!  They painted their nails, dressed them up, did there hair and makeup and then had a full tea!  She had so much fun!

 

Just another  cold winter day in Texas!!  But style for this one is not out!!

 My good friend Meagen had her baby, Grayson, and Emery got to hold and love on him.  She was in heaven!! She kept saying "Aw, he's so cute!" and rubbing and kissing his head.  Get practice girl!!!

One little picture of Thanksgiving dinner with our Friemily!!

We took Emery to Carvel Ice Cream (as on TV! lol) She loved it!!  She is an ice cream lover to say the least, just like her mommy! 

A day in the park  

An another one of mommy's cold runs in the park!!  She is such a trooper!!

October Fun Times!

October 2-9, 2013

While the cat is away the mice will play!!  And so we did!  Sean was off to Fresno for a week to turn over our house.  I decided it was time to go visit my long time friend, Jennifer, in Houston.  This would be my first trip in Texas, and by myself no less AND my first trip ever out of town with Emery by myself.  I was so excited!  But first things first.... I needed to tire Miss Emery out for the drive.  So my friend Meagen and I took the kids to the trampoline park!

Emery had sooooo much fun!!  I couldn't keep up with her!

yes I did!!  And I was so sore the next day!! lol

Well we left for Houston after an hour at the park.  I had lunch packed for us both and we ate in the car.  After about an hour, Emery was fast asleep!  My planned worked!!!  She slept for about 3 1/2 hours with only about 45 min to spare in our long journey.

Emery taking pictures of me from the back while I was driving!

On Saturday we drove with Jennifer to the Woodlands Mall.  The Woodlands is a very nice, upscale town.  We had a great time at the mall.  And of course Emery had fun posing for the camera!

Me and Jenn!  Friends for 25 years!  It was SO great meeting her new family and spending time with her kids.  They are such an amazing bunch!!!

Along the river at the mall

Our last morning, after Jenn went to work and tried to tire Emery out again on their trampoline.  While not quite as successful it still helped. :)

Emery and Sophia sharing breakfast on our last day.  We had such a wonderful time with them.  And it was a tremendous blessing for me to take a trip and get out of dodge for awhile.  Very rejuvenating!

I finally took Emery to a pumpkin patch (yes, this is still October although I'm writing this in dec!)  We took a few cute pics and then she was daring enough to go on her first ever blow up slide!  Of course I had to go with her the first couple of times.  And of course I didn't mind... its the whole reason I had a kid was so I could still act like a kid without people looking at me weird!  hahahaha   Then she was off on her own!!  There were two other kids there too and they all played together.  It was so much fun!

My little daredevil!

I took Emery to Bahama Bucks.  Not just a stand on the side of the road, but a whole shop that is all sno cones!!  So yummy!

She even got her own!  Happy girl!!!

Gettin my dirty Run on!!!

I have the opportunity to participate in a just a few fun things in the last few months.  In May, I ran the Urban Dash 5k in Dallas.  And it was pretty fun.  But in September I ran my third half marathon (my first in Texas!) with some very fun new friends!  I met a few of them at the last aerobics class (and only one I did last year) at the NRH campus in May.  So in September when they started up again, I was excited to get going!  I met some really great friends.  I found out they were running the Plano Balloon Festival Half and I wanted in!!  Except I only had three weeks to train for it.  But that's never stopped me before!  haha   In fact I think I'm becoming known for short train times.  I had been running, so it wasn't from the couch to 13.1 miles.  Overall I ran a faster time than my last half.  Or at least I would have had my knee not about exploded on me at mile 9.  The exciting thing though is that I actually RAN the first 9 miles!!!  Without stopping!  I could barely walk the last 4 but, darn it, I finished!  I plan to train for my next half the right way so as to not hurt anything and run the entire 13.1! 

Jill, Kendra, Tana, Jocelyn, Dian and me!

At the finish line! (ran for the picture...lol!)

So I rested my knee for the next two weeks, icing it, stretching and strengthening.  After only a few days with it taped, I had no more pain (and none since!).  At my workout class, I finally met someone who was willing to get dirty with me!!  So on October 19th, Jill and I along with her friend, Amber and husband, ran the Halloween Hustle Mud Run 5k!  I have been wanting to do one for a very long time.  And I'm telling you it was the most fun thing I have EVER done!!!  This company does 4 mud runs a year and I want to do them all!!!  We had the best time!!  It was fuh-reezing that morning, so swimming in the cold creeks and ponds was not exciting me, but it actually wasn't that bad.  I warmed up fast. 

Before the start... I was freezing!  I have a towel wrapped around my head!  brrr (that's Jill!)

The Start Line!!

 
These "spools" were pretty tricky to climb over and under.  I was proud of myself!!  hehe

 

This was the second to the last obstacle and I was VERY nervous!  It was the only thing that scared me!  We had to climb up the back of that structure (no ladder and no safety ropes!) 25 feet or so!  And then fly through the air on the zipline and drop off before an abrupt stop in the middle of the pond.  It was a 20 foot drop!!  Let me tell you, I don't like high dives!!!!  I had so much water in my sinuses!!!  And yet, still, SO fun!!

This is where you actually, finally, got really dirty!  The last mud crawl!

Amber, Jill and me!

 The toughest girls around!!!!