I Want Mashed Potatoes

Hello and Merry Christmas! We have had such a great December, full of fun activities and good family time.

My blog story is about Mashed Potatoes.

Every night Elle wants French Fries for dinner. Always! Well last week I baked some french fries and said "Elle, we are having french fries tonight!" She looked at me and said, "I want mashed potatoes." What? I didn't have mashed potatoes and tried to tell her that, and she just kept saying, "Well, I want mashed potatoes." So, I threw the french fries in a bowl and added some milk and mashed it like crazy. She did like it!

So, last night before dinner I told Elle that we were having mashed potatoes and she was going to make them. She and Emme had a blast making them and they turned out great!

This morning, Margarita (our maid) was here and she asked me if I was going to cook for Christmas. I said, "No, I don't really cook alot," Elle quickly jumped in and said, "Remember, I made mashed potatoes." She just loves rubbing it in my nose ;))

Have a great Christmas!!!

Santa Claus at Southlake

The North Pole Express Santa

Elle and Emme before school. Elle is really into long dresses and I found this one. I plan to blog in January about the 5 long dresses, more to come!

The North Pole Express, Santa was coming down the aisle!

Elle hugging Santa. Her wish list has remained the same with each visit to Santa. Princesses, Mermaids and Barbies

It's rare when Emme is this happy to take a picture with Mommy!

Christmas Party at School today. Some of Elle's friends.

Emme's friends

THe Smouse's took Elle and Hadley to ICE. They had so much fun!

Elle during her CHristmas Program at School

Emme singing during her program

My Favorite Things

I had a great weekend full of friend and family time. I am so thankful for the "place" that the Lord has chosen for me. When your weekend contains your child's best friends party, a family party and then your closest friends over at your own home for dinner....you've got a good thing SO, I lift up all of the good things to the Lord and thank Him.

My Favorite Things

• When I go to get Emme out of bed in the morning and she is pretending to sleep. I know this because she has a huge grin on her face
• When Elle sings No One Like You and Blessed Be the Name. It is so cute
• When Joe starts a bath for me... and I am the only one who takes it, no kids barging in and jumping in with me
• Emme's laugh
• When I talk to Elle on the phone and she says "Hi Mommy"
• When Elle puts her arm around me in the middle of the night
• When I go to 7 Salsas with Joe
• When Emme gets hurt, she reenacts the entire scene so I understand exactly what happens
• When Emme rambles a really long sentence/story and then asks "Ok?"
• When Elle and Emme hug each other -- can this please last forever!
• When I first get to work and sit down at my desk. I am alone and the world is all at peace for at least 15 minutes!
• Checking the mail for Holiday Photo cards

Mom-O and Papa Joe Sweet Emme

Elle - Getting so old!

Poppy!

Nana and Mimi

The Straw that Broke The Camels Back

I use this phrase alot, because I got my endearing explosive behavior from my dad.

It seems that I bottle everything up, stewing about it on my way into work or in the shower, and then something small happens and BAM "Angry Sara" (as I like to call her) comes to life.

I looked up the meaning of this phrase: The idiom the straw that broke the camel's back is from an Arab proverb about how a camel wearing shoes is loaded beyond its capacity to move[citation needed]. This is a reference to any process by which cataclysmic failure (a broken back) is achieved by a seemingly inconsequential addition (a single straw).

Well, I will say this blog post has a happy ending. I did something this morning that I don't think I have done in the history of Joe and my 7 year marriage. I actually talked to Joe like a civil human being telling him what was on my mind and why I have been feeling frustrated

You see, on Monday night, my "straw" was that I couldn't find the mail key and got mad at Joe when he answered my question of "have you seen the mail key" -- and he simply said "no".

Well after a bit of an attack I told him we would just talk about it later. This morning I called Joe and told him what was on my mind. I told him I needed a few days to think about the actual "root cause" of my bad mood. I told him that my love tank was just not full. Refer to the 5 Love Languages book for more meaning. Even though Joe and I were together all last week, we never had time to just chill by ourselves, and that is what makes me the happiest. When Joe and I are just hanging out talking and just being together. I also told him that I hadn't been working out (refer to my blog post on Monday) and that it is hard when he travels.

The night we got into the fight was the night before he left for an out of town trip. I figured out that I am not so much bothered by him being gone as I am about the anticipation of him leaving. Those that have husbands travel can relate to those emotions. I just want him to try to do everything he can before he leaves so it doesn't leave me with all of the stuff do to and take care of the kids. Anyway, we worked through it.... without yelling or getting defensive... what a concept... a communication breakthrough!

Just by getting those frustrations out with out getting so worked up makes me feel like a different person! Here is a favorite picture of us. I love Joe so much deeper than I ever thought I could love anyone.

In My Fat Pants

I looked really cute in my skirt and tall boots this morning and then about 20 minutes later couldn't breath... ahh, back to the closet for my handy dandy fat pants! New York and Co makes these great pants that have no buttons or zippers, just the good ole elastic waste band. I am super comfy... but also super reminded to get back on the diet!

When I go to my mom's house (a.k.a. The Buttertons) I eat awful and am off the routine!

Anyway, Thanksgiving was an awesome time, man, it was a great year! I got to see my Tommy (who should be home soon) and my sister and Brian and my cousins and we all hung out and had fun catching up. One night we hung out at a local joint in Walden and I played some of my favorite tunes on the juke box. So, to get this officially in writing, here are my All-time 5 favorite songs (not any order):
1. Just Like Heaven - The Cure
2. Patience - Guns and Roses
3. I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
4. Yellow Ledbetter - Pearl Jam
5. Free Bird - Lynard Skynard

Anyway, fun times! Here are all of my pictures. When we got back we went to Holiday in the Park with our Park Buddies, the Panno's!

Now, as Elle put it this morning when I dropped her off to school... I said "Have fun, go and play now" she looked at me and said, "We don't play, we work." Sorta sad. Back to work for me too... even sadder.

Tommy - 5 lbs now!

Remember me? It seems silly, but I think he did remember me. He looked at me when I would talk and he loved when I played with his feet. Check out his online photo blog http://www.babyjellybeans.com/web/do/site/home?ID=455511

My life long friends! Blythe is finally having a girl -- get ready!

Big Sisters and Little Sisters! I am so glad my girls have each other, just like I have Ann

Nana and all of the great grand children. Madison is holding a picture of Tommy. He was sure there in spirit!

My cousin's little girl Maddie!

Joe and Emme at Holiday in the Park. The girls went down the snow hill about 12 times!

Singing Jingle Bells for the 10th time!

Ok, so I know we think about this normally being said abotu Christmas, and I actually think Christmas is the best holiday.... but this year, this Thanksgiving week is panning out to be very memorable. The older I get the more I appreciate family and friends. I am just so lucky and this time of year can really remind you how much you do have.

We got down to Conroe on Friday and went to dinner at the Caddy Shack and the weekend was off to a great start. Saturday, I saw Tommy at the hpsotial. I held him, tickled his feet and sang to him. He was so alert looking at me and it just melted my heart and I didn't want to put him back in his incubator... I just wanted him to go home with us. So, that has been one disappointment of the week, we did think he would make it home but he has to be at a certain time window to finish his bottles and he is just not quite there. He is almost 5 lbs though and I have a great picture with him, but can't seem to get my pictures uploaded to my parents computer.

Saturday also was a special time with my girlfriends. Blythe, our first mom of the group already has 3 boys and is pregnant with a GIRL! So, we threw her an "all things girl" shower. I am so excited for her to be a mom of a girl. Again, I have great photos, but can't download right now.

While my mom and I were having a girls day, Poppy and Joe took my girls to the Texas Renaissance Festival. They had so much fun. They took my Nana's camera, so here are some pictures.

New & Old Memories

This past weekend was great! We celebrated Carlee Jo's First Birthday. It was a pink poodle theme and it was decorated so cute... of course... everything Jenni touches is creative. It was fun to spend the day out in Granbury. Here are the cousins walking through the Pecan Trees. I am so glad they all have so much fun together!

Joe and I celebrated 7 years yesterday! Sunday night we went out to eat and had a wonderful time remembering all of the fun memories we have made these past years. We have been fortunate to be able to take great trips and of course the highlight are the days Elle and Emme were born. Here are some pictures of our first year of marriage. Alot has changed, but it is great to say that we have had so much fun!

Here is our Christmas Card in 2002, we had been married just one year and we already had our hands full!

Here is our official 1 year anniversary. We opened the topper to our wedding cake and enjoyed a bite!

One our favorite memories to talk about is meeting our Home Team. 2 months after we were married we visited the Mathis Home Team and instantly formed connections with the couples in the group. 6 years later we are still meet every other week and fun events like our annual Christmas Party.... here is our first Christmas Party!

I thank the Lord everyday for Joe. It just goes to show you that God has everything planned and if you trust in Him, His plan WILL be reveled and it will be more than you ever asked for!


Update on my sweet Tommy! 4 lbs 3 oz. Today he will have a swallow study to determine the cause of him not being able to completely finish bottles. When he takes 8 bottles, he can come home. Right now, he is at 4. Please be in prayer, we would love to have him home for Thanksgiving!

Too Much Fun, Not Enough Time

Wow... this is why weekends were created! What a fun one! Probably one of the best this year.
Friday night was so fun. We had a pre party at our house and then went trick or treating. Our neighborhood ROCKS. All of the homes were decorated and kids were everywhere. We had a post block party too and that was a great time. The kitty kats were sure cute!

We went to a Nascar race on Saturday. We stayed all day and watched the race from a condo on the property. It was so nice. Joe and I came home and got our pj's on and watched a movie and fell asleep on the couch. No kids and a good night sleep can make the make the best date night!

Halloween Hoopla!

On blogs everywhere and on facebook too, I imagine there will be a quite a few pictures of everyone's kids dressed up in costumes. So, since my girls have 2 costumes, I decided to post early this morning because I am still in a great mood from dropping them off.

Their school went ALL out! All of the kids were dressed up and so were the teachers and you would have thought it was Christmas morning when I woke up the girls to put on their princess dresses. I did their hair and makeup! They have a school party at lunch and Joe and I are going.

Elle is Sleeping Beauty and Emme is Cinderella

I Love Halloween

I love Halloween, always have. I can remember alot of my costumes growing up - especially a bride costume my mom made one year, it was so pretty. The girls are loving this time of year too. They are so excited that Halloween is Friday and we have big plans within the neighborhood.

I have an awesome husband. Each year, we go to our Home Team Halloween party and I had the idea for Joe to go as Richard Simmons and he did. He was acting like him all night and really was making everyone laugh. He got the best dressed award for males... I was Olivia Newton John and it was fun to dress like her too. Here is our group photo... notice Rachelle in my cheerleading outfit from SHS....I didn't even attempt to try it on, probably wouldn't go over my thigh!

Elle and Emme playing with the wigs.

The Green Giants had a great game this past weekend They are really getting the hang of it and I was so proud of all of them!

With my new flexible schedule at work, I am able to take the kids each morning to school. It turned really cold yesterday and here are the girls playing before we were going to school. Don't they look like they are about to go rob a bank? Each morning we listen to Praise Songs and it just makes me so happy because they are both learning the words. Music is so important to me and I just love sharing that with them.

Our sweet Tommy may go home in 1 week! I just can't even believe the miracle he is. Thank you to all that have kept him in your prayers. I can't wait to meet his angel one day. Here is a picture of Mimi T and Tommy.

Up, Up and Away!

Well, not really. But, we sure did have fun! This past weekend was the Coppell Oaktober Fest. It was all free, but very crowded. We (us and the Smouse's) took turns waiting in line for the Hot Air Balloon Ride. 2 hours in line and it was our turn! It was fun, only lasted a few minutes and we didn't go super high, but it was high enough for me!

Also, here is the latest Tommy update:

From Brian: He’s looking better every day. Last night he weighed 3 lbs, 8.5 oz. Another ounce and a half, he will be double his birth weight. He still has the feeding tube but they have started the process of making him take bottle feedings. He’s learning fast. The nasal canula (the lightweight clear hose in his nostrils) gives him oxygen while he’s feeding, but he hasn’t needed the oxygen assistance otherwise.