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!