Christmas 2010

Opening a present on Christmas Eve - Toy Story movies.



Cookies for Santa!






Our tree, and Santa's presents for Hadley.





"Tanta came!!"







Opening presents.




Merry Christmas from our family!

Christmas Eve 2010

We are enjoying a fun Christmas at home, just the three of us. So far we have made pumpkin bread, chex mix, Christmas cookies, and white chocolate covered pretzels. Yum! We have watched lots of movies (mostly Hadley's picks) including Stuart Little 1 & 2, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Veggie Tales, and Toy Story (1 & 2). I think Hadley is excited about Santa coming tonight. Hopefully he won't fall off his big boy bed and roll under the bed like he did last night! We are excited to see his face tomorrow morning when he sees what Santa brought him!

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a great time in Abilene for Thanksgiving this year. We were there with Tim, Dina, Bailey, Emma, and Seaver; Nanny & Papo; Mema, Poppa, & Aunt Jackie. I am so glad we were able to go for the day and spend time with family. We have so much to be thankful for!

2 Years Old!!

Dear Hadley,

Can it really be possible that you are already 2 years old? Where has the time gone? You are growing up so quickly and learning new things every day it seems. Sometimes I wish I could keep you little forever, but then I realize I would miss out on all the fun and exciting things you are yet to do. So I will just cherish all the snuggles you give me and love every minute I get to spend with you watching you grow.

I can't even begin to list all the things you are saying now because you pretty much repeat anything we say. Sometimes we have a hard time understanding what you are saying but usually we can figure it out eventually. A couple of my favorites lately are when you tell us how old you are and when you tell us the different animal sounds. But my absolute favorite thing is when you say I love you...melts my heart. You are also singing a lot lately, especially the ABC's, which is also super cute.

There are so many funny things you do, and I wish I were better at writing them all down so I won't forget them. Thank you, sweet boy, for totally changing my life and for brightening every single day. If it's possible I think I love you a little bit more every day.

Hugs & kisses,
Mommy

A Quick Update

Once again, it's been a long while since my last update (are you really surprised?). Here's the latest (via facebook) from the last several months starting sometime in August:

My child + Elmo = pure joy

Another interview tomorrow for Eric (yea!)...this time at Sam Rayburn HS in the town of Ivanhoe (Go ahead and mapquest it...I had to!).

It's official...Hadley can climb up into his highchair and buckle himself in. Now if he could just fix his own meals first! :-)

We're about to move to a brand new bldg at work & all anyone here can do is complain (today it's the bathrooms at new bldg). Seriously?! Be glad you have a job!

Another first for Hadley occurred tonight - his first black eye. All boy!

Hadley's latest favorite Sesame Street character: Gogo. (That's Grover if you don't speak Hadley.)

Learned tonight that Hadley loves PB&J sandwiches. Who knew!?!

I love being a mom. I love knowing that, sometimes, I am the only one who can comfort Hadley the way he wants and needs.

More job disappointment for Eric. Good grief...will it ever stop!?!

What are we going to do this weekend???

Hadley is watching "mamo" (aka "nemo").

It's after 5:00...I guess we should get Hadley up from his nap. (Tired boy!)

‎9:00 on a Saturday night...think I'll go to bed. That's right - that's the exciting life we lead around here!

Today has been such a fun day with my silly little talkative boy!

Hadley is so much fun to play with right now, is hilarious without even trying, & is starting to carry on little conversations with us. I love it!!

Hadley's newest love: Mega Blocks.

People the NEW building is (almost) done. NO! They can't add doors, move built in cabinets, make your office bigger, or change rr from his to hers. Get over it!

Two good things about today: 1.It's Friday. 2.It's haircut day.

Sweet Hadley, thank you so much for waking up at 5:20 this Saturday morning. It was great to be up that early on the weekend. Love, A Very Sleepy Mommy

This time of year makes me miss teaching.

So glad I still have a few years before I send my baby to school.

Super frustrated about the job situation for Eric.

Hadley has a terrible habit of swallowing food (usually noodles of any type) without chewing them. Result: choking / gagging on said food. Any advise?

Weekend plans: play legos, laundry, watch elmo, grocery shopping, color, clean house, build block towers, cook a couple meals, play in the sprinkler...

My baby boy is growing up. *sniff*sniff*

Frustrated. It's September for goodness sake. C'mon.

Sitting in my recliner; watching tv; looking at the mess of toys in my living room; thinking of everything I need to do; thinking I'm not gonna do any of it.

Friday before a 3-day weekend...c'mon 4:00.

Long weekend - yippee!

Saw a fancy red sports car w/a middle-aged couple broke down on roadsode; funny dialogue / role playing then took place by this couple.

Watching some Texas Tech football!

Lazy day

Tomorrow we (the grown-ups in this house) start back on WW. Maybe we can motivate each other because we have got to do this.

Commonly heard @ our house: no no, sit on your bottom, wild wild elmo, pooh, mine, go mama, night night, uh oh, seat, papa mimi, daddy silly, shoo bug...

My sweet baby is snotty and congested tonight. Yuck! The only good thing about that is he is extra cuddly as a result.

Allergies have attacked everyone in this house. When will the noses stop running, the eyes stop watering, and the stuffiness stop stuffing? Bring on the Zyrtec!

Remembering...9 years ago I was teaching Geometry in Weatherford & we spent all day watching the events play out, starting right after the first plane hit.

I love, love, love to see the pure joy on Hadley's face when he laughs. Not much better.

Today is my Friday! Wooty hooty hoo!

Headed north...

Happy Birthday to my favorite sister and one of my favorite brothers. Happy Birthday Kim and Tim!

At the KC airport with Kim waiting on Stacy's flight. Ready for a fun girl's weekend.

Sure do miss my sweet Hadley!

Small glitch in girl's weekend (involving an 18-wheeler, another car, & us)...what a pain (literally). Now time to forget about that & watch some Tech football.

Headed home...ready to see my boys.

Driving south (toward Texas!) Listening to the Cowboys game. Not a bad Sunday afternoon.

Home again, home again, jiggity jog!

Biggest Loser tonight! Yeah!

These numbers are making my head hurt. (And I don't say that very often about numbers.)

Yeah for Friday tomorrow, and JBF sale this weekend in Sherman.

I'm in the mood for high school football.

Rainy Friday night; working puzzles, reading books, & coloring.

Cut Hadley's hair again tonight, which is no fun at all these days since we introduced the clippers and started buzzing it all off!. But it sure is cute when we're done (if you can overlook the spots we missed).

What a nerd I am! Super excited about my new 10-key printing calculator I just got at work!

And now it's October...and still nothing.

What a great day to be outside. Park this morning, home w/windows open now, and probably back outisde after nap time. Wish it would stay this way!

So not looking forward to going to work tomorrow.

Per Hadley, my new status is "Elmo".

Can we have a do-over on this morning?

Computer crashed today at work. Nice.

Not even 9:00 and I am in bed. Nothing wrong with that.

Going to the pumpkin patch tomorrow.

Pumpkin patch today...maybe not the best idea because someone was not very cooperative or happy. Perhaps getting up at 5:30 this morning had something to do with that (?).

Hadley is so funny about taking medicine. We all take a "turn" before him. But this morning I was already gone so the puppy took my turn for me. Silly boy!

Explaining the difference between "poo poo" and "poot / fart"...something I never thought about doing until I had a toddler. Fun times!

Please pray for Dina (my sister in law) and her family tonight.

Update: Dina's dad passed away around 1:30 this morning. Please remember her whole family right now.

Praying for my sweet sister in law, Dina, today.

Going to the Peanut Festival in Whitesboro today.

How many times is too many in a day to tell your toddler "no"? I feel like I was "mean mommy" all day today.

Headed to Abilene for a couple days.

Home!

Sitting at a complete stop on the hwy for 10 minutes now (and counting); thanks so much foggy skies for starting out my morning like this.

Not sure how much more of this stress I can handle

Follow up dr visit = 5 minutes w/dr (yes I timed it) = $50 copay = 100% irritated Mandi. Really doc is your time that much more valuable than mine?

RANGERS!!

Really Rangers? Take Cliff Lee out of the game!

Well this is not pretty at all.

Why am I still watching this?

Today I am remembering my sweet friend Anita. Can't believe it's been 15 years.

Are.you.kidding.me??

Um, Rangers, do the words "World Series" mean anything to you??

Go AHS Eagles!!

Headed to Zoo Boo with my little cowboy.

Can NOT believe my brother is at the game tonight. (Can you say "jealous"?) Have a great time Sam!

Today I am thankful for Diet Coke (even though Sonic gave me a Dr Pepper this morning instead).

Today I am thankful for the freedoms and rights we have in this country.

Today I am thankful for change (especially quarters). :-)

Today I am thankful for heaters, sticky notes, and Chick-fil-A.

Today I am thankful for possibilities.

Today I am thankful for naps (and hopeful for one today).

Very frustrated at my mommying tonight.

This morning I am thankful that, because of the time change, it is light when I leave the house.

Today Hadley is thankful for Elmo, fruit loops, crayons, blocks, puppies, choo choos, and marshmallows.

Today I am thankful for Bailey, Jordan (Happy Birthday!), Emma, Hunter, Isabel, & Seaver - my terrific nieces and nephews.

Today I am thankful for veterans, especially my Poppa (Jack Hancock) who will be 96 tomorrow. Love you Poppa.

Favorites, Habits, & Cute Things

The latest favorites, habits, & cute things:

-All things Elmo...This is an ongoing love that includes books, toys, movies (especially Elmo's World: Wild, Wild West), etc.

-Grover...Known as "GoGo" around here.

-Winnie the Pooh...This is a fairly new favorite, and Hadley knows all the characters and what they say/do (i.e. Tigger-boing, boing, boing).

-Choo Choos...This includes any and all choo choos. He likes to see them, ride them, and make the proper noises ("chugga chugga choo choo" and "all aboard").

-Coloring...Also not really a new thing, but we only color Elmo, Pooh, or ChooChoos.

-Food favorites are corn dogs, noodles, peas, ketchup, ranch dressing, black olives, popcorn, marshmallows, and almost any breakfast food (pancakes, eggs, donuts, cinnamon rolls).

-Animal noises...Currently Hadley can tell you what sound many animals make including puppies, cows, kittens, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, fish, turtles, owls, dinosaurs, birds, chickens, roosters, lions, snakes.

-Body parts...A favorite thing is to point out body parts on, not only himself, but on everyone else as well.

-Poo Poo...Yes, I said poo poo. The latest trend is to inform us when he needs to go, leave the room (or go into the corner or behind a chair), then come back and point out where (in his diaper) the poo poo is. While not really the most exciting thing for many people, I see this as a very good and exciting thing as we start thinking more and more about potty training.

-Ride...Hadley loves to go for a "ride" with daddy, which is basically backing the pickup out of the driveway, going down our little road, and then pulling back into the driveway. Of course, Hadley likes it because daddy lets him sit on the middle console in the front. Good times!

-Night Night...Often Hadley "pretends" to go night night in the corner of his room. We find him there, being super quiet, just waiting for us to find him (all while he pretends to snore as well!).

-Go..."Go daddy, go mama!"

-Telephone...Pretending to talk on the phone & carrying on a little conversation.

-Singing & whispering to himself...Most often this takes place in his bed first thing in the morning. Super cute to just listen to him when he doesn't know it!

Water

This is what we did tonight. Fun!!

Summer Fun

We found a fun way to spend Saturday mornings this summer, to beat the heat. Wanna' join us?

Happy Birthday PaPa!

This past weekend we went to Quanah to surprise PaPa Max for his 60th birthday. Hadley & PaPa are buddies (as you can see in the pictures!).



Trying out PaPa's new toy




...and there they go.

Blog Slacker

Yes, I know, I have been terrible at this blogging thin lately. Sorry (to the 3 or 4 of you who still read this).

My dear friend, Robin, took some picture in June so I thought I would share a few of my favorites. Enjoy!