Happy Holidays

Cant believe I am actually saying that. We put up our tree last night and the girls and I decorated it today. Tonight we put lights up outside. Kinda look tacky, but it made them smile!! I wrapped my first Christmas gift tonight and there are plenty more to come. Love this time of year. I love shopping for people and love seeing them open the gifts. The girls are all about Santa this year and think that everything is coming from him. I "call" him daily with an updated list from them. I think its cute, but in some way feel bad. I always said that I would never let my kids believe in Santa...and here I am, calling him!!! Tomorrow is Hana's 5th birthday. Man time flies.

Turkey Day

Lots of food was made and eaten today! It was just the 5 of us and Matthew so I just made a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey, a ham that turned out to be too large, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn pudding, home-made cran sauce, moms sweet potato casserole, and I think that is it. Oh, pecan pie and pumpkin cheesecake, both of which are still sitting in the fridge, untouched! After eating and resting for a while, we took Bubba to the dog park. It was good for him to run around plus they have a playground there for the kids so they got to put their energy to good use! The rest of the day, we just played and hung out. Now, to the real reason for this holiday...with all our days filled with what we need, want, dont have, dont look like...its nice to have one day that is focused on what we do have and what we can be thankful for...for me, my family. I know I complain a lot about the girls and the house and how hard it is with Bryan working so much, I am blessed to have kids, to have a house, and to have a husband who is able to work. We should have more days like this, to focus on our blessings. I hope everyone had a good day too and hopefully you all have many blessing to be able to count. Christmas is just around the corner now!!!

frustrated...

My first two kids I am finding out were a little out of the ordinary, developement wise. The fact that Hana said "trick or treat" when she was 11 months old and counted to 3 before her 1st birthday I guess is not normal!!! So, when Chloe didnt start talking at 1, it worried me. Everyone told me to wait, she is fine and she will talk. Well, 18 months and all she sais is "uh oh" and "Bubba" started to worry me. I know she can hear because I will tell her to do something in detail and she will do it. I have a friend who has a boy who is 3 with the same problems. Everyone told her to wait, it will come. He never started talking. So, he is in therapy once a week to work on his speech. She told me her only regret was not doing it earlier. I told the pediatrician and she gave me a number to call. I guess in the state of Florida, there is a early developement program that helps kids out from ages 1-5. They do a bunch of tests to find out what areas need to be worked on. I guess it wont hurt to call and find out. If insurance doesnt cover it, the state will, so I have nothing to lose. I just think maybe I am worrying too much, but like I said, nothing to lose.

And his name is.....

Bubba. Yep, thats right, Bubba. I know, kinda silly but the girls like it and its the only thing Chloe can say. She called him pup pup when we first got him, so it turned into Bubba. He is good. Typical puppy. I feel like I have a new baby. Up every couple hours at night to let him out. He is finally staying in his crate with minimal crying. The girls adore him, maybe a little too much that they never leave him alone. So, if we can just get through these first few months and this puppy training stage, I think he is finally the keeper. As far as other things go, same old thing. The girls have been sick on and off. They all got colds and then got better, and then all got it again. This weather being in the 70's really throws you off!!! So, I have picked up a little bug too, just a sore throat, but with 3 girls that love to have books read to them all the time, kinda gets to you. I have been drinking a lot of herbal tea!! Oh, about that, I have discovered a great new indulgence. I love chai tea...I only drink herbal teas...chai is usually made with black tea, so I dont drink it (tear). well, being that its cooling off, I love to have something warm to drink in the mornings, and since I dont drink coffee anymore either (another tear), I am stuck with my regular herbals. Well, not anymore. For the winter, Celestial Seasonings comes out with new flavors....one which is gingerbread something or other. Anyway, it basically has the same spices in it as chai, but is all herbal!!! And, coffeemate (I think) has a new creamer- vanilla chai spice- so, you mix the two and its the best chai latte you have ever had....great cold too! Just thought I would share that with ya'll. Alright, cant believe I have actually had the time to ramble on here. Hope everyone is doing well. Love and miss you all. Cant believe Hana will be 5 in 2 weeks. Man, time flies!!!

names please

we need some suggestions on naming our new puppy. keep in mind he is a hunting dog, so no fancy names!! thanks!

Its just the begining

As some of you know, I swore we would never have another dog again. We have had too many and had too many problems with all of them. Well, we had one that Bryan loved and never lets me forget the day I gave him away...he named his company after him. It was his pride and joy. So, supposedly he has an office...I say supposedly because no one knows where it is, I have never seen it, and I think it is a made up place in order to get a "watch dog". Yep, thats right, he needs a watch dog. One that is going to sleep at our house and I am going to train and raise...but he needs it for his "office". I gave in and found a dog at the same place in georgia where he got Boone, his beloved. A bluetick coonhound, really cute, but still a puppy and lots of work. Anyway, today was the day he was to go and pick him up. I got a call at 9am that his truck broke down. Long day, he had to figure out what to do and where to go. He ended up getting a rental car and we have to drive up there to pick up the truck and drop off the car, 3 hours away, just for a dog. He better be worth it. Needless to say, it is almost 8pm, and when he should have been home by 2am, he is still not here. Longer trip than expected. Like I said, this dog better be worth it. By the way, anyone know how to cook a turkey???

So, I sent some of you a mild pic of Maddies face...it looked worse the next couple days and her eye hurt when she yawned, she told me! Oh the bumps and bruises of being a child. On a lighter note, halloween was last week, if anyone remembers. I of course forgot my camera when we went out and by the time we got back home, it was way too late. I will dress the girls up this week to take pics, I guess. Anyway, we went to the halloween party at church. every year they have what is called "Trunk-or-treat" where everyone decorates the cars and you go around to the trunks to get candy. It is a lot of fun for the kids, they have a big inflateable slide/jumping gym thing, food, and plus it gives the parents a peace of mind knowing that the candy given out is safe. The girls were adorable. Hana was Jojo from "Jojo's circus". For those of you without kids, that is a clown from a show on Disney!!! Maddie had to be a princess and her favorite right now is Ariel, so she went as her (The Little Mermaid)...matching crown and shoes, of course. And, Chloe was "Boo" from "Monsters, Inc". She loved it. She thought it was the best thing in the world. And, she caught on pretty quick, realizing fast that if you smile and put out your bucket, they will give you candy...and if you smile again and wait some more, they will give you more. After she went to all the cars, she sat down in a chair, picked out a lollipop, unwrapped it and sat eating it the rest of the night. As for the other girls, they had a couple licks of a lollipop, and that was it. They didnt even ask for more, and havent since. Good thing cause I think daddy ate all the good stuff! Wednesday the girls and I went down to West Palm to visit with the grandparents. It has been a while since we have been there and things have changed a lot since we moved. I was able to see the doctor I worked for and get a neck adjustement, much needed! We saw grandma Nutsy and Uncle Monkey! Slept at GP and grandmas house with aunt Sydnie....the girls had so much fun visiting everyone. I met up with a good friend of mine which was much needed. Last time we saw each other was before Chloe was born so it was great to catch up and spend time together. We came home Friday, and Saturday we went out on the boat. It was a little cold and windy, but Hana went on the tube with me...till the waves got sooooo big and we thought they would nock us out! Then Bryan and Matt just wakeboarded the rest of the time. I hope everyone else is doing well. Holidays are coming...cant beleive it...too soon!