Girls Just Want to shop!

Last night at dinner the girls began scheming on how they could best wrap Dad around their fingers on Saturday.  They decided they wanted Dad to take them shopping.  (Notice that they asked Dad because Mom has tighter purse strings than Dad!  Mom will not let them buy the little trinket junk that Dad lets them!)  They planned the day, and it went like this...

First, we want to eat breakfast at Panera Bread.  (Sounds a little healthy, but not with this bunch.  They only eat the really chocolaty stuff!)

Then it was over to Target!  I think Dad actually decided to stop here to get Mom some new earphones, since the kids have managed to lose her good ones!  In typical girl style, they made sure they got something at the stop!  I think Dad might have confined them to the $1 racks, but they still raked in some loot!

Next stop was the Eastdale Mall.  The girls rode everything that was ridable in the mall.  I did not even know that the mall had some of these rides!  I always go to the carousel and leave!

The girls even talked Dad into a trip through Build-A-Bear.  Yes, they are spoiled little girls!  Dad falls for them every time.  I think he might have a few guilt issues in the mix also!

Next stop was Claire's.  The shop that sends Mom over the edge.  I have never seen so much "junk" in one store, and my girls love it!

Finally, the girls were ready to eat lunch at their favorite mall eatery!  

Then, Mom met the girls at the movie theater to go see Hotel for Dogs.  Dad had to head out "hunting" for the afternoon!

Killing Time

I received an e-mail on Friday that all basketball games for Saturday morning had been cancelled.  My first thought was - Oh, man!  I should have pushed harder to convince Tyler to play in the tennis tournament in Auburn this weekend when a tennis friend called on Monday night to try to persuade me to "let's work out a mutual deal to get the boys to the tournament". Tyler just did not want to miss a basketball game, so I definitely did not want to push things and complicate my life!  

Actually, JM had set up plans for he and Tyler to go hunting this afternoon with the same friends from a few weeks ago.  This time he was taking Tyler out of school by 11 am, so they could have a full afternoon of "hunting".  I think that I agree with JM's PA who calls it "killing time" since JM and his accomplice at the event never seem to come home with the killed prey!  They do always have a good time, and Tyler and Dad needed the quality time together.  Tyler ended up sleeping over with the new friends, and he had a great time.  His ability to make friends so fast gave JM and I reassurance for the future!

The boys all ended up going back out on Saturday afternoon.  They came home with a few stories about actually seeing 2 deer.  Tyler apparently shot at them, but missed.  He makes the story sound much better when he tells it with all the details, but the bottom line is the title of my story "killing time". (JM's editorial comment - they were both 200 yard shots!)

3 wins for the Vermillion's

I really enjoyed watching my kiddos play basketball today.  Lauren scored a goal for her team, and as far as she is concerned they won.  Pretty nice that they do not actually keep score at their level.  Corynne's team actually did win a very close game.  This was their first week to have actual refs which made a huge difference in their game!  Oh, Corynne scored 2 baskets for her team.  Tyler's team pulled another victory this week.  He is a strong player for their team.  He scored 14 points this week.  I overheard a few parents (for the other team) who were sitting behind me yell to their kids, "Don't let #45 (Tyler) get the ball, he scores everytime!!!"  I never turned around to look behind me, but I was laughing inside!  I just continued to cheer for my team without prejudge toward my son.  I was proud of him b/c what I saw was a kid benched the first period (b/c Mom kept him from practice this week - but that is another issue for another time), a kid who cheered on his teammates from the bench when they were down, a kid who came in the 2nd period and helped his team catch up, a kid who sat out another period later on because that was his rotation (remember Upward plays with different rules), a kid that returned to the game and pulled his team ahead, and finally a kid  who fed the ball to his teammates so they could get points on the board when he had the open shot.  He has come so far in the last few years from the kid who was all about himself and never gave the ball up to a teammate.  That kid was hard to watch play a team sport!  I was so proud at the end of the game to turn to a grandmother sitting beside me (of the opposite team who let me know many times who she was routing for)  "#45 is my son and didn't he play a great game!"  

Watching the games!

I changed my background to reflect what Tyler and JM say is the most important thing going on today!  Go Ravens!  I can say that the Ravens are probably the only team I feel any remote connection to (other than the Dallas Cowboys).  I think getting to go see them play 5 years ago really made an impact and getting to play around on the turf while no one else was there!  To Rick, April, Robin, Gary, and JM ----Thanks again for the FUN and MEMORIES!

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Another Busy Week

This week has flown by so fast.  We have been very busy - as always.  This week Corynne's class went on a field trip to Golden Flake Factory in B'ham.  They had a great time seeing all the chips being made and sampling quite a few varieties!  They also came home with 6 or so bags of chips.  Yummy!  While Corynne's class was on the field trip, I helped with the annual Kindergarten/First Grade Open House for their school.  The Open House turned out very nice, and I think everyone had plenty of tasty treats while they were talking!  (The food was my responsibility.  Is anyone surprised that I volunteered for that area!)  

JM was gone to a "learn a new method meeting" Thursday-Saturday.  Even though he is not around much during the week, he does usually take the big kids to school at least 3 mornings a week.  Such a little thing, but it does help me get in an early morning workout and get the day organized.  Earlier this week, he had quite a few meetings at the hospital early in the morning and late at night so that kept him away from us even more.  

By Friday, we were really missing him, and I was exhausted!  Good thing it was Chick-fil-A supports your school night!   I really enjoy this easy "fundraiser".  All I have to do is take my kids to eat supper at the right location!  The kids love it also because their friends are there.  Everyone has a good friend to play with and I have plenty of moms to chat with while they play!  Friday night entertainment...DONE!

Saturday was another day of basketball games.  Of course, the games were so spread out that it consumed our whole day (8:30-4:15).  Lauren's team played hard, but lost.  Corynne's team played hard, but lost.  Tyler's team battled until the very end, but lost.  Everyone lost, but everyone was happy because they played hard and did their best.  Wow!  Maybe they are catching on to this sportsmanship thing?!?  Only time will tell.  Oh, I have to brag a little - Corynne scored 8 points and Tyler scored 16 of the 28 points for his team.  

JM got back at 7:30pm.  The kids were excited to see him.  Corynne - in typical Corynne style - did not even realize JM was out of town.  She thought he was just at work, coming home late and leaving early.  Everyone just laughed because so many times that is the case over a weeks time!  Oh, the life of a trauma wife!  Only a few can really understand!

I've been tagged!

I was tagged by Susan and these are the instructions she gave:

1. Go to your photo folders and open the 4th folder.

2. Choose the 4th photo.

3. Explain the photo.

4. Tag 4 other people!

JM moved all my pictures from my old computer that would not turn on (and stay on) anymore this weekend, so I now have all my pics since I went digital on one computer.  My 4th folder was actually a bunch of pics with my brother-in-law & his girlfriend at the time when they came to Temple to visit us for the first time.  I figured that I had better avoid posting those pictures (although I do keep them because they are a part of our history).  So I went to the 1st picture which did not have them in it!   This picture is from July 2004.  We had just moved back to Texas from Maryland.  We hosted a party for all our family to come up, see our new house and celebrate JM completing his residency/fellowship.  Tyler is shooting blow darts at a target that Mimi brought for him.  John Mark can not wait to get his turn.   Our 3rd child Lauren is standing behind Tyler.  Wow!  They have all changed so much.  JM (and myself to be fair) have aged.  Tyler has definately grown into his weight since 2004!  Lauren is now a lean, mean Kindergarten machine!

Now I tag: EA (Bostic Family), Ronda (Life in a Southern Town), Angie (Mommy to AJ2), and I guess I need to follow more blogs because everyone else has already been tagged!

Ready for school?

I thought we had a wonderful, relaxing, restful weekend.  So how did my son fall sound asleep on a fifteen minute journey across town?  I think he should listen to his crazy parents when they say that 8:30 bed time is really NOT a punishment!

Those that actually go to sleep when told (and are under the age of 20) look like this in the morning...

Surprise! My hubby is awesome!

JM surprised me last night.  He requested a date night early in the week, but his attempt to get a babysitter did not work out.  (Sweet Ms. Jan from his office, who the kids absolutely LOVE to have as a sitter, was having surgery on Friday.)   I followed up with my teenage babysitter.  DONE...I am saying that fewer and fewer times because Katelyn, another kid favorite babysitter, is growing up!  She is a SENIOR this year.  She is going to AU next year, so maybe we will be able to still call her a few times a year!

Anyway, I just assumed that we would have our "regular" date night -dinner that is not so fancy and but cost effective and a movie with plenty of time to talk!  WRONG!!!  JM had scheduled a couples massage and dinner at the Renaissance Hotel downtown.  I was shocked.  We have never done anything like that before.  Needless to say, a massage for JM is WAY OUT OF CHARACTER!  THIS WAS HIS FIRST!   I was in massage heaven!  There is nothing more relaxing to me than lying on that table!  I think JM was tense the whole time worried when the therapist was going to touch his feet, but he did have a good time.  After the massage, we went downstairs to their fancy restaurant for dinner.  It was an amazing meal- very Top Chef style- but we did not leave hungry!  Quite the opposite - stuffed!  It was a wonderful night, and he made me feel very special!  

To top everything last night, he is even off work today and cleaning up his "stacks" around the house.  He tries to do this for my sanity at least once a year.  He accumulates more stacks of junk!  I think he is up to something!  BUT I will take all the sweetness at face value!  

Friday afternoon movie time!

This is probably as up to date as you will ever see in our lives!  A bought the new American Girl movie Crissa, popped popcorn, and now I have an afternoon of peace. Okay...probably only a litttle over an hour, but that should do!  I need to get dressed for my date!  Yes, John Mark and I are going out tonight! Yeah!!!

On the court...

The kids had basketball games today.  Corynne and Lauren played at the same time which is nice for using time effeceintly while Dad is on call.  But it is hard to watch 2 games at the same time, especially with the cheer squad between you and the games!  Corynne played a great game of defense for her team.  Lauren made her first GOAL in a game.  I was so excited for her that I came out of my seat.  (This does not happen much during the girls games, but it happens often while watching Tyler play.)  

We had time for lunch with Dad between the girls games and Tyler's game.  Tyler's team played a very close game.  They were down 6 points going into the second half.  It was a nail biter to the very last second.  They won 34-33 with Tyler scoring the winning shot with seconds left on the clock.  Tyler scored 22 points total for the game.  Way to go Skyhawks!

On the road again.

Corynne and I got up early this morning to drive to B'ham for a follow-up appointment for her new tubes.  We had to leave at 6 am this morning.  I am still tired from the last two weeks of driving, and my bottom almost refused to settle into the Suburban this morning.  Corynne got an OK report.  Her hearing to back to "normal", but her permanent tube is already slipping out.  One of the two prongs that is suppose to hold the tube in place permanently is out.  Hopefully the 2nd one will do its job.  We have to go back in 6 months (instead of a year) to make sure everything is okay.  

After the appointment, Corynne and I enjoyed a day of shopping in B'ham.  We ended with lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.  It was her choice.  She and Dad had been there a few months ago after a doctor's appointment and she loved it!  She commented many times about how nice it was to have Mom all to herself!  We had a fun girl day!

I'm back!

The Vermillion caravan finally rolled back into town this afternoon. I have a lot of great photos and stories to share with you, but it will have to wait until Saturday afternoon!  I have to get the car unloaded, the bags unpacked, the laundry going, the kids to bed, the mail sorted, etc, etc, etc.  Check back with us next week for a full account of our journey to Texas and New Mexico!

A Diary of our Christmas Adventures!

Friday, December 19th -  All I have to say is Chevy Chase has nothing on our Christmas Vacation.  I felt like we were moving across country as I began to bring bags, boxes, XL ziploc bags and crates out to the car for JMV to load.  Then there was to new "hitch trailer" with the ice chest and another crate.  We should be good until we have to add JM to the car with us in Amarillo!    We were suppose to leave at noon today, but of course we did not pull out of Montgomery until almost 1:30.  Did i mention, I am ALREADY tired!  Needless to say, my plan to drive all the way to OKC was trashed by 9 pm.   I decided for the safety of everyone in the car, I had to STOP.  Thank goodness for technology on the road!  I was able to find a hotel room in Little Rock before we got there.  There is nothing worst than going from hotel to hotel looking for a room.  I remember doing just that years ago while traveling back to AL from TX. 

 

Saturday, December 20th - Well, today we have a lot of driving ahead of us since I quit early yesterday!  We did get up, exercise (yes-Aaron I did), eat breakfast, load the car again and leave Little Rock by 9:30 am.  I think that was pretty good for a mom and 4 little kids!

We arrived in Amarillo at 7 pm.  Just  in time for dinner at The Crossnoes' new house with The Langleys.  Thank you to our great Amarillo friends for opening their homes and calendars for us this weekend!  The kids enjoyed playing with Will, Alyssa, Autumn and Cole on Saturday night.  They really needed to "break loose" for a while!  

We checked into our hotel room late tonight.  We planned on sleeping late tomorrow morning!  We will see how that works for a 2 year old who does not understand!

Sunday, December 21 - The kids let me sleep a little later this morning.  We were up by 8 am!  The kids already have the "hotel routine" down now.  I get breakfast started for them and an appropriate TV station for Lyndsey.   Then I get to go exercise for 40 minutes (Aaron, that is day #2).  While I exercise, they finish breakfast and start showers.  They did it!

We were very shocked by the frigid temperatures this morning.  It was in the teens.  We were very fortunate that the wind was not blowing!  We met The Langleys after church for lunch at Chili's.  

Then Alyssa took us to meet her horses.  The last time we were in Amarillo, she was waiting for her first horse to arrive.  Now, she has 2 going on 3!  The kids had a great time out at the horse barn.   Lauren and Lyndsey first rode Moe, the Jeruselm donkey.  Moe was so kind and gentle.

She let the girls sit on her forever.  Tyler tried to take a ride.  He mounted Moe a couple of times,  but the second time he was tossed to the ground.  We all got a good laugh!

After riding Moe, the girls were ready for pony rides.  Alyssa and her friend from the stables, saddled up Jedi.   I really did not think that Lyndsey would ride, but she asked for her turn after Corynne and Lauren.  She is a big girl in a little girl body!  Lynsdey commented, "horsey go fast."  I think she wanted the horse to go faster!

Monday, December 22 -

 This morning we woke up and continued our normal "hotel routine"  followed by check-out!  It is FREEZING today.  I had a hard time reloading the suburban and my hands not becoming numb!  ( I called JM yesterday because I realized I had forgot my gloves!)  We delivered a few Christmas gifts, went by B& N for Tyler a new book to read, and made it to the airport to pick up JM.  We are now officially on our way to Red River, NM.  I am so glad that JM is here to drive the last leg of this vacation!

We arrived safely to our rental house late tonight.  We got everything unpacked and kids setttled.  My Mom and Dad arrived about an hour before us.  It was great to see them.  The kids were so excited.

Tuesday, December 23 -  This morning the kids were itching to get out in the snow.  We all bundled up and walked over to the "slopes".  It took us quite a while to get lift passes and

 equipment for everyone.  Our skiers this year are JM, Tyler,

 Corynne and Lauren.  Lauren is the most excited since this

 is her first year.  Corynne is the most nervous.  Tyler is

 the most detail oriented - "how many days do I HAVE to do the ski school thing.  I already know how to ski."  JM is out of patience and ready to hit the slopes alone!  

The kids are now ready for ski school in a few hours!

Grammy is the cook for this holiday season.  She had a hot

meal waiting on us when we returned.  The kids fueled up and we headed back to the slopes for afternoon ski school.  I will show pictures later!

Tonight we "decorated" for  

Christmas.  I brought a small (2 ft.) tree with us.  It actually had a set of lights in it from years ago.  I think it might have been my tree from college!  The kids had decorated foam ornaments one morning in Amarillo that we added to our tree.   Then we had a Candy cane hunt, read the Legend of the Candy Cane, and used the candy canes to decorate our tree.  It was a lot of fun.  

Thank you to Corynne's teacher, Mrs. Baldwin for the great idea!

Wednesday, December 24th - Wow!  I can not believe it is Christmas Eve.  The kids woke up excited to get back to ski school this morning.   While the skiers headed to  the slopes, I took some time for a morning workout and laundry.  While we brought a ton of stuff, I was counting on the washer/dryer in the house to give us enough clothing to last for 2 weeks!  I did make it to the slopes in time to see the end of ski school.   I brought Lauren and Corynne back to the house while JM and Tyler skied the harder slopes a couple of times. 

 

Uncle Michael and Jacqline arrived after lunch today.  We were so excited that they got to join us for Christmas again this year.

We found out just days ago that Michael proposed to Jacqline!  We are so glad that she will be a part of our family.  We love her already!

Tonight we went to a Cowboy Christmas Eve service down at the Community Hall.  It was oustide, so it was COLD.

They had fires to try to keep us warm, so it was SMOKEY.  The had hot chocolate, cider, cookies, and caroling.  It was an experience we will not forget!  Actually we smelled the smoke on our coats for days!!!!  Oh well, we tried to continue the annual "go to a Christmas Eve service together" tradition.  Don't we get points for that!

After we got back, we set out cookies and milk for Santa.  We left our Santa hats out for him this year since our stockings are hanging on the mantle in Alabama!  I think Santa will understand and figure out who's is who's since we left them in age order!

A Diary of our Christmas Adventures! -2

Christmas Morning 2008 -  Santa found us way up here in the mountains!  The kids were very excited to get upstairs to see what Santa brought them.  (Actually, 2 girls somehow forgot that they were suppose to stay in their room until everyone was ready.  They got an early peek.  I can not blame them since they are related to ME!)  Santa got everything just right again this year!  Tyler got a Wii-Fit and Madden 09.  Corynne got the Samantha  AG doll.  (Good thing Santa can make them, since they are on backorder until May!)  Lauren asked for and received the Ruthie AG doll, Kit's best friend.  Lyndsey got a bounce-n-ride horse.  I don't think even Santa realized how much see would love this horse!

We enjoyed a slow day around the house.  It was so neat to have a "white Christmas".  Mom cooked a mexican feast for Christmas dinner.  This has been our tradition for years since the kids and Uncle Michael really do not like the traditional dressing, turkey, etc.  The kids did get out and play a little while in the snow today, but no skiing until tomorrow.  

Late this afternoon, we all went tubing down the hill.  It was a 45 minute tubing session, but truly 20 minutes is long enough to pull that tube (and kid in tow at times)  up the hill!  The kids had a blast.  Uncle Michael even got in on the action.  

After tubing, everyone except Grammy, Mom and Lyndsey went over to a lodge to see the movie Fred Clause.  I think they all had a good time even though the picture was below average, they sat at tables, and they were cold the entire time!

Friday, December 26 - When we first arrived, JM and I set up a snowmobile tour for Grammy, Papa, Uncle Michael and Jacqline for today.  Little did we know that it would be below zero and snowing.    They went on because it was nonrefundable!  They froze to death (almost), destroyed a couple of snowmobiles (not theirs), fell into snow waist deep, and arrived back not too happy but alive!  Oh well, it will be an experience they will NEVER forget!  

JM and the kids enjoyed a morning on the slopes.  It was snowing hard all morning and visibility was so bad that they closed the lifts to half of the mountain.  Ski school remained open, and JM still got to ski a little on the lower slopes. 

Lyndsey decided she wanted to try skiing.  She may be little, but she will never be left behind!  Maybe next year she will get her own ski boots that fit into the skis!

Saturday, December 27 - Today is our last day of skiing.  Tyler ended up with a private lesson today and yesterday.  He was excited that he got to go up to the top of the mountain with an instructor.  They spent the entire lesson working their way down.  He did great!  Corynne graduated to the yellow slope today (after Dad insisted that the instructors promote her)!  She did great.  She and one other kid spent the lesson on the yellow slope today.  Lauren has mastered the bunny slope, turns, and getting on and off the chairs by herself.  After ski school, Dad skied with everyone on the yellow slope.  The girls repeated the blue slope over and over while Dad and Tyler skied the mountain one last time.  Everyone was sad to turn in their skis, but it was great to end on a bright, injury free note!

Red River was good to us again this year.  We look forward to coming back again soon!

The Diary of our Christmas Vacation - 3

Sunday, December 28 - We cleaned up the house, packed up the cars, and checked out by 9:30 am.  This is quite an accomplishment for such a group of people.  We began our decent down the mountain and back to TX.  We had no problems.  The roads had been freshly cleared and there were very few icy patches, but that did not make my parents more at ease!

We made it to Amarillo with a few minutes to spare. (JM flight was scheduled for 6 pm.)  We stopped by Cadilac Ranch on the west side of Amarillo.  The kids had fun spray painting the already totally graffitied cars!   All the kids asked was "why did the man bury the cars like this?" Nether JM or I remember the story so we will have to look it up for them soon, or at least before I scrapbook this.  (OK - that gives me at least a year or two.)

We dropped JM off by 4:30 at the airport.  He quickly learned that his flight had been delayed, he was going to miss his connection in Dallas, and he had to scramble for an earlier flight.  He worked it all out, but the luggage arrived to Montgomery a few days later!

I continued on my journey to Eastland after dropping JM off.  JM and I had discussed the possibility of me driving on to Eastland tonight so the kids could get some alone time with their Mimi and Uncle Matthew (who they have not seen in years).  JM called ahead for me.  Much to the kids disappointment, Mimi called an hour later and told us that she did not want us to come this evening.  Thank goodness my parents did not close their door to us for the night.  The kids were very disappointed.  They really wanted to see Mimi before their cousins got there the next day even if it was only for a few hours before she had to take Matthew to the airport.  

Monday, December 29 -  The kids and I enjoyed a nice morning on Grammy's farm.  They always enjoy the cats, cows, and 4 wheelers.  My mom treated me to a trip into town for a massage.  It was wonderful and released a lot of stress and tension from my old body!

By 5:35 pm, Mimi called and said that she was ready for us to come over.  We packed up AGAIN, and moved over to Mimi's house.  The kids enjoyed seeing everyone, opened gifts from Mimi, and played with their cousins.  Lyndsey continued to battle a respiratory bug, and Lauren broke out in a rash from head to toe after bathing with Mimi's foam soap!  Other than that, the night was pretty eventless.  The kids made the most of the cards they were dealt!  

Tuesday, December 30 - This morning I was determined to get out and go for a jog/walk at the track across from Mimi's house.  I was drownding in the silence created by my mother-in-law.  I managed 2.5 miles this morning in 30 minutes.  The exercise did help me feel a lot better physically, emotionally, and spiritually (thanks to my trusty ipod full of great music).  Mimi decided that I should watch the kids for a little while so she could go get her hair done.  I guess she could not find the time while her son was here last week, but while her grandchildren are here playing without her is the perfect time.  It did give me a chance to get a good pic of the cousins together to surprise her with later.

Tyler was counting the hours all day because he knew Preston (a 2nd cousin from AL) would be in Eastland this evening.  As I have said before, he really looks up to Preston and loves to spend time with him.  It helps that they do share a few things in common!  Corynne was also excited because Preston comes with sisters that are her age!

Our Eastland visit was completed with a dinner and visitation with Uncle Terry and Aunt Sheryl, Uncle Tommy and Aunt Kelly, and Aunt Rebecca and all their kids.  Mimi even let Preston sleep over with Tyler tonight.  The boys had a great time.

New Years Eve -  The kids and I got up this morning and loaded the car for the next to the last time.  (Is it obvious that I am tired of dragging around all this junk?!?!)  We dropped Preston off at the hotel with his mother on our way out of town.   We have a long drive ahead of us today.  We are going all the way to Pearl, MS.

We pulled into Pearl at 7 pm.  We decided to go see the movie Marley & Me.  Tyler had read the book last week and had been asking to go to the movie ever since.  No problem.  There is a 7:25 showing and it is rated PG.  Well, it should have been rated PG-13 for all the language and sexual content!  I guess that is what I get for not reading about it first!  We checked into the hotel and got Lyndsey asleep.  We watched the ball drop twice (at 11pm and 12pm) and Rodney Dangerfield jump the volcano in Las Vegas (very anti-climatic)!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

January 1 -  We met my friend, Susan, for breakfast this morning at Cracker Barrel.  It was very sweet of her to take a little time away from her family to eat with us.  I enjoyed our visit despite my crazy kids!

We arrived in Montgomery by 4:30 this afternoon.  JM was already home to greet us.  We sure missed him.  IT IS GREAT TO BE HOME!