back to the grind. . . .

. . . and the gym. . . and the post office. . . and the grocery store, not to mention the trip I took to 'radiology' this morning to get another x-ray of my sinuses! Yes, it's back to school for Kristen and it's back to getting up at 6am each morning for me. Not something I've been looking forward to. We've really enjoyed these past two weeks off for Christmas break, and I was so not ready to start getting back in to our early morning routine, but we don't have much choice in the matter.

It was cold and wet when we set out for school this morning. The rain has stopped but it's still very cold today. I have a wood fire burning this afternoon. Kristen is home from school as I type this, and I have a yummy butternut squash soup cooking on the stove.

I'm still having problems with my sinuses. Despite a month on stronger antibiotics I still feel all stuffed up in my head and ears. I hope the Dr refers me to an ENT after seeing the new x-rays. If she doesn't, I'm going to ask her to refer me anyway. I wake up just about every morning with a sinus headache and I still keep losing my sense of taste and smell. I'll keep you posted on this in later blog posts.

Not much else to write about today, so I'll make this short. I do hope to start blogging more again now that the new year is here. It's just a matter of organizing my days and catching up with laundry and housework first.

2009

Happy New Year to all of our family and friends and may 2009 be your happiest year ever!

Jason's dad flew in from Amarillo on Tuesday, we've had a nice few lazy days just hanging out and catching up. He will be leaving later today. I'm gonna take the tree down today and get some laundry done but hope to be back later to blog more.

Christmas Pics!

Thought I'd share a few pictures from Christmas (just in case my sis pops in to 'read' me) :-) First off 'thank you' to Auntie Debbie, Uncle Glen and Charlotte for the pajamas - Kristen LOVED them.

One of the gifts from Grandma and Papa that Kristen opened on Christmas Eve - a huge Wolf, Kristen has named 'Mighty-Ana' (a pokemon name I think).

Kristen hangs her 'Pooh' stocking on Christmas Eve before we leave Uncle Mike's house.

We built a snowman on Christmas day :-)


I'll post more next time Nenna!

it's over

Christmas 2008, it's been and gone already! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas time. Christmas wasn't at home for us this year. We drove to New Mexico to see Jason's family. It was Wayyyyyyyy too much driving for my liking, but it was great to see everyone and spend 2 special days with them all. They actually had snow, so Kristen was delighted to see that, and she got to build a snowman on Christmas day too (more pics coming soon).

I hope to blog a little more later this week, but for now I just wanted to post a quick picture and say hello.

Boo meets Pikachu

I'm not sure if I mentioned that we got Kristen a hamster for her birthday? It's tiny dwarf hamster and she's so cute - Kristen loves her. She named her Pikachu! We have a little play pen that she can go in while we're cleaning her cage, and yesterday we bought a hamster ball. Boo has obviously been curious when he's in Kristen's room and sees the little thing in her cage. I thought he would try to chase the ball when we let him in the room, but as you can see he was very hesitant to do that. I was surprised at how calm he acted.

I hope this played ok. I never did find out how to compress the file!

just a little update

I thought I would be good and come on here and make another post before leaving it too long, and already I see that it's been over a week! How do the days go so fast? Things are getting busy around here trying to get all ready for Christmas. We aren't spending it at home this year but will be driving to New Mexico to spend Christmas Eve and Day with Jason's Uncle (his mom's brother) and family (his mom is driving with us too). Jason's grandma and hubby with his two older sons will join us there too. Jason's other uncle (also his mom's brother) and his wife and family who live in north Texas can't make it this year.

We have decided again not to exchange gifts with the adults but just the kids. The kids actually are just Kristen, and Jason's cousin who is a teenager. I don't mind not receiving gifts. We are so blessed that we really want for nothing these days (and we usually buy what we want when we want!) It makes for a really stress free holiday too, because I don't have to wrack my brain and think what should I get people who I haven't seen all year and I really have no idea what they like! And this way we can all focus on the true meaning of Christmas, and enjoy spending time with the family. Of course it will still be wonderful for Kristen cos she gets to open lots of gifts from family members and Santa.

Jason's uncle lives up in the mountains in NM, his aunt called the other day and said they had 4 inches of snow. Not sure if it will still be on the ground when we get there but if it is Kristen will absolutely love it. She hasn't seen snow since we left Maryland 4 years ago, and she was only 3 at the time. I love living in Texas but I do miss the snow at this time of year.

So, although I have no presents to buy other than for Kristen I am busy mailing out cards, wrapping gifts for Kristen, keeping on top of housework, and this afternoon I shall make white chocolate chex mix and original chex mix. Remember I made some of that last year too - here's the picture I posted back then. This is super yummy and very addictive once you start eating it (as is the choc mix too I might add).

So are you all ready for the holidays?

Yes, this is for you Nenna!

I know I've been a bad blogger lately but when my sis told me today that she still checks my blog every day to see if I've posted. . . . well I must admit a little guilt feeling crept over me, and so here I am adding a quick post, and yes it's just for you Nenna (and anyone else popping in to see if I'm still in existence! :-)

There's a lot been happening around here but I just haven't had the energy to post about it. I was doing so well going to the gym nearly every day (which is kinda what kept me off here so much) but that all came to a stand still last week when, yet again I got sick with a sinus infection. Long story short I was laid up in bed two days this week with an ear infection too. I had another x-ray done on Monday and got more antibiotics from the doc, and the diagnosis is I STILL have chronic sinusitis (despite the 30 days of antibiotics I took in October) and I have been put on another stronger dose for another 30 days! I'm feeling much better today, but what still annoys me is that I can hardly hear out of my right ear. It's so stuffed up and makes me feel like I can't keep my balance very well, so I walk around really slowly (like an old woman!).

Kristen's birthday has been and gone! My little baby is now 8 years old. Thought I'd share some pics with you all (I know that's what you like to see Nenna). Ok first off, I couldn't resist showing this first......

our little princess at her very first birthday

making sure her crown doesn't fall off before the party starts!

We had a small party at home this year with some close friends . . . .

The party was on Saturday, but Kristen's actual birthday was the following Tuesday. She was off school all that week (for Thanksgiving) so every day was a fun day! She requested pizza for dinner and an ice cream cake . . so that's what we had (just me, her and Daddy) :-)

For a birthday treat I took her to Build-A-Bear! She didn't want a dog, or a cat or a rabbit - this time she wanted a Texas Longhorn!

My girl is so goofy (wonder where she gets it from!)