Hmmm...

Sheesh...how has it been a week since I updated here?  Is your life crazy or is it just us?  I guess crazy isn't the best word.  We just have too much to do and not enough time to do it all.  Not complaining...just saying. 

Thanksgiving was delicious.  I ate way too much.  Ryder ate nothing. Well I take that back.  He ate some cookies.  No healthy foods for him.  He doesn't care...he'll starve before he caves in.  I ended up making pumpkin spice cake crumb balls.  Bobby Flay's recipe for Pumpkin Bread Pudding sounded wonderful...but too complicated for this mediocre cook. 

Black Friday = Me + Kohls @ 3a.m.  Crazy, I know.  But its so worth it to fight the crowds one day a year if for no other reason than to have fun stories to tell.  Kohls, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond all before 6:15 a.m. The mall by 7 a.m.  Lunch, rest, different mall until 9:30 P.M. Still not finished, but I've made a dent.

Sunday, after having to have my car towed from the park for the SECOND time, due to a lost key...Matt and I had a long talk.  My organization skills are terrible.  I've spent this week trying to take control of my schedule, duties, etc... In turn, that is really why I haven't updated in awhile.  With everything I have to do just to keep ahead or in the ballgame...I hardly have time to sit down at the computer.  This time the key loss was actually not my fault at all...someone snatched my bag from right behind me....but it was just a wake up call for me to pay attention to my surroundings and take control of everything that seems to spin out of control at times. 

We are all decorated for Christmas. I picked up RR's keepsake ornaments today.  I get them one each year and hopefully find one that fits their current likes.  Ryder LOVES Mickey Mouse & Pluto right now and I found the perfect ornament!   

 

I had a harder time finding one for Rustin, but I loved this 1...they have them up through 3 I think.
 

Love y'all!!  Night!

Tomorrow's Dessert

Alright...I'm googling again!  I have to bring a Dessert to Matt's family Thanksgiving tomorrow and it can't be pumpkin pie.  I've totally procrastinated and have no leads after endless googling...any ideas??

This Week

Went to a Wedding.  Matt's Best Friend was in town.  They took both of our Dad's to the Cowboy Game.  Put up the Christmas Tree.  Hit four stores with two toddlers in one hour looking for stockings.  Did some more decorating.  Baked cookies.  Tried to catch up on email and blogs.  Cleaned the Bathrooms.  Folded some laundry.  Realized Rustin is talking.  Really talking.  He says fun things like "What's That?" and "Tunk You (Thank You)".  He tells us all of our name's, including is own and Elmo's.  Thought to myself that I want to remember some of the cute Ryderisms right now like:  Micker (Mixer), Wakkle (Waffle), Chawlie (Charlie), and Funny Powder (Strawberry Nestle Quick). 
Its only Tuesday...here is to a crazy week!  I ♥ Thanksgiving though....everything about it...family, food, the parade, black Friday ads...bring it on!

November 18, 1999

Bonfire Season.  It was the most wonderful time of the year.   Its been eleven years but in many ways it feels like last night.  I can still hear the eery sound of sirens going up and down the road as I slept.  I never fully awoke to find out their cause...it was in my dream.  Morning would bring answers.  I felt disbelief...until I saw it with my own eyes.  I felt shock, I felt sadness, my stomach was unsettled.  A tradition forever scarred by an accident who cost the lives of 12.  Twelve.  A number so significant to our school...God shows himself.    We cried for those we lost and gave thanks for the lives of those saved.  Please remember our fallen Aggies and their families today...November 18, 1999...a day that will always be remembered.

One Shoe

Mom,

When we take the long trek from the car, up the steps, through the long hallway and to my classroom on Monday....you might want to look down and make sure I am wearing both of my shoes before sending me off to paint and eat yummy snacks like these. Thanks- Ryder

I had a Mom of the Year moment today.  I sent Ryder to preschool in one shoe. To put the topper on the cake, my phone didn't ring when they called to tell me. I didn't realize he just had one shoe until I arrived at pick-up. Thankfully they had spare shoes in his size just laying around the church. Who would've known?  I felt embarassed, sad for Ryder (although I'm sure he didn't care), scattered....and now its kind of funny to me.  Just had to share.

MIA

We've been MIA from the Blog which typically means we've been really busy.  Yes we've been doing all kinds of things like....

....riding on Daddy's Shoulders and Cheering on those Aggies.

We went for a play-date in Dallas with this silly, sweet girl...cousin Anna

She really does love her Ryder.

We've been practicing climbing even though we still can't walk.

We've been showing off that new haircut and flashing this smile A lot.

We welcomed Mr. Charlie into our house.  He doesn't replace our little Dix but he sure does distract us from thinking of her all the time.

We've played King of the Mountain.

We've been getting crafty and making things like these Name Place Settings for Ryder's Preschool Thanksgiving Feast next week.

It is definitely a busy season.  Just when I feel like things aren't ever going to slow down, I take a deep breathe and remind myself to be thankful for all of the blessings that keep us so busy this time of the year.  Hope you're all having an amazing week!

Trick or Treating

I learned a few things last night.  Trick or Treating Country Style is a lot different than in town. 
For starters, most people (in fact everyone except for us) didn't walk door to door.  Instead, they rode on flatbed trailers hooked to tractors and lined with hay bales.  Yep our wagon was pretty lame. 

You can go through A LOT of candy.  When trick-or-treaters come by the flatbed trailer-full, you end up giving it away pretty fast.

It is really dark when the sun goes down.  Next year we'll be armed with flashlights and glow-sticks.

No matter how many weeks you spend trying to make your 3-year old understand the Trick or Treat process and the good manners that should be used while going house to house bad things can still happen.  Like:  Incessant Doorbell Ringing, inviting yourself into a strangers house, barging the door to see a cute dog, grabbing a big handful of candy out of a neighbors bowl, and to top it all off  politely telling an older gentleman that you need a sucker rather than the chocolate you were given.  All courtesy of our Ryder.  I love that boy, but Seriously. 

Ryder with his Cousin Anna who hit the Country with us.

Running to the Door with our Neighbor's little boy.

Proof of his Doorbell Ringing...I was taking this picture and then realized what he was doing.

We were home bathed and in bed by 8:30 last night...Matt was still making the teenage boys squeal like girls until a little after 9:00.  He waits for this night all year!

Hope y'all all had a fun and safe Halloween!