Seariously...

My existence has been a whirl-wind lately....work, work work....now if you do not know I am spoiled by my current work environment...good folks, great schedule, so clearly this screams (insert monkey wrench HERE) The cook at the school walked out, over silly reasons, and probably for the best in all honesty. However, this has left myself and Jennifer my other B Team co-hort, to pick up the slack and not to toot our own horn but we are doing a damn good job at it, and it is cooking not rocket science right. So this in and of itself is not bad, but what is killing me is working 5 days a week up from my normal full week of 3. Before you stone me for calling this a work week...my other 2 days are spent cleaning, shopping for food, and getting the kids whatever it is they might need, and pick up dog mess and do the lawn....so bon bons and TV time is not really happening. My house is on the verge of being declared a disaster zone....which if it comes with some sort of funding for a cleaning crew the bring it on. And cooking all morning really does not lend itself to wanting to cook at night at my own home...so we are surviving on what numerous folks would consider junk but hey its food. So if you want a job as a cook drop me a line...I'll hook you up.

We had rain last weekend which we really needed but it tossed another money wrench into plans...soccer ones...we arrive at the fields to dark skys and once parked in a front row spot which you can NEVER get....the games are called and MASS EXIT OS occurs and about 1000 cars must file out of one lane....we are talking 10-12 soccer fields, and 6 Baseball fields worth of kids and parents....it took 1 hour & 15 mins to get out...his game is only 50 mins...yea for the DVD player and snacks...but no juice b/c it was a down pour outside the entire time, and I was not about to add to my problems. Look out the rear window...thats alot of cars

However my mom and dad came b/c my dad had a band gig at a mall and so we went and saw that and enjoyed Great American Cookie Company Cookies...soooo good, and dad wasn't half bad either!! Go Bepaw!So we arrive home and the boys ....Duke included, built a track Lego display on the pool table....complete with grandstands, concession stand, and entrance booth ticketer, and a ton of cars and trucks and have since added houses pools, gardens, hot tubs, garages. I am just glad it is no longer on the kitchen table. look close this is a star studded event...sponge bob, yoda, jedi, spiderman, mr. crabs...this was the place to bethats a big burger dude... Duke insisted ALL people had to have hair or hats b/c he despises the Lego point on their heads
And our butterflies hatched and we released them into the world....this was really cool to watch and the kids LOVED it. Top it off with football and soccer and I am seriously ready for summer and a break.Macy with Coach Gary doing calls with the players at the end of practice....seriously so cute and I think she has a crush on him...just a little. She manages to get dirty at practice from Dukes pig pen gene I assume, and I told her she needed to stay clean, b/c Gary doesn't want to pick up a dirty little girl, and she agreed...so last night she was desperately whipping her face and hands clean on her shirt so he would pick her up to do the calls. I really want to get a video of it ...maybe Thursday.

Reid had his poetry picnic today at school and he performed Lazy Jane by Shel Silverstein...one of my favorites

Madagascar tribute

It cracks me up when Dale quotes this part of the movie....there is a whole song too




the song



here is a couple clips from the Penguins of Madagascar...our families fav cartoon

go-daddy-o

Not to brag but my dad is a pretty stellar trumpet player. Maybe I am so proud since I have zero musical talent and he has tons...but none the less he is a busy man involved in several music groups one is Harry and the Hightones, The Sentimental Journey Orchestra, The Symphony of the Hills and the Church Choir, as well as gives trumpet lessons to a few lucky hill country students...and is an awesome Bepaw too! Here are a couple links to a couple groups.

Harry and the Hightones...they play at Sam's Burger joint in SA frequently.



The Sentimental Journey Orchestra....plays all over for events, and weddings and such.

I had another picture of him playing his trumpet at one of the playoff Spurs games with the Church Choir singing but it will not load....oh well... it's enough I get to brag on my daddy right! So keep playing and GO- DADDY -O!

watch this

http://gizmodo.com/5231112/best-video-ive-seen-today-will-make-you-smile

A super cool video check it out

photo catchup

Just about each weekend we are occupied with fields for soccer and football....as mother nature allows so here are the kids in action

Reid after the ball

Dale ready to put a hurt on someone..... his motto is borrowed from Yoda "Judge me by my size do you?"
He looks a little bobble head-ish but hes tough

Macy and the other cheerleaders

Macy and a cheer buddy.

When we are not at the fields the boys are usually begging to go to the land and shoot the BB gun they got for Easter....yea yea I know Christ's resurection and weapons do not really mesh but we also got some painted lady catipillars that are turning into butterflies in our kitchen and that is more Easterish...so a little ying and a little yang.

the cocoons

We are also wrapping up Fiesta here in San Antonio, and although you will not catch me at any of the major events....we did decorate some shoes for "show your shoes" day at Macys preschool. She loved the shoes ....but sadly the bells did not last long after being tugged.

We also were able to enjoy lunch with Uncle Troy and Aunt Carolyn last weekend and it was really great to see them...here we are at Rudys

And Dale with Uncle Troy, he was so bummed the game was cancelled, he wanted Troy to see him play so badly, but there will be other games I am sure.

Dale met Earl Campbell at the UT Coop in San Antonio a few weeks ago and got a ball signed. A freind today said they saw Dale on TV in the news blip about Earl.... so I went searching and found it.

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=675587@video.woai.com&navCatId=16

It is at the end the only kid taking the signed ball from Earl.

HUGE DIFFERANCE

Its gone....well not all of it but a whole bunch of it. I chopped off my hair today... I took off 6-7 inches which is not enough to donate sadly but I love the cut. My hair and I have a TON of it on a good day with lots of work I liked it, on a bad day is was bad 80's rocker hair....frizzy, wavy, out of control. It got to the point that all I did was put it up pretty much daily...which yes is easy but also boring and containing zero style...I do not consider a giant clipie on the top of my head a style. So I made the appointment and did it. Poor Cindy got her arm work out for the day too with all the hair on my head. But after all was said and done she whipped my hair into shape and submission. Now I love it today, and hope I can repeat the style she did...I think I can and if nothing else I will be cooler this summer, and save a boat load on conditioner, and shampoo. It looked like she slayed a medium sized animal with all the hair on the floor at my chair....yikes. It is lighter and currently bouncin and behavin...so heres to a few good hair days.

Crazy Catch-up

Our youngest Macy turned 4 ...and had 4 celebrations. One in Maui, One at school, One at a friends house, and One with our family that played out over the weekend. She wanted to see Monsters V Aliens....so we did on Saturday after football practice and Reids soccer game. Then on Sunday we met up with Uncle Scott, Aunt Tanya, and Sammy, Grandma, and Bepaw for lunch at Chuck E Cheese...Macys pick, and then home for cake, ice cream and gifts. Truly hard to accept that she is 4. Really seems like it was just not that long ago. However so nice to have kids that are getting to the age of some Independence. The boys make their own breakfasts, pack their bags, put away their laundry, clean up after themselves...but at the same time will still let me love on them, and are still 100% honest with me....those years are numbered.

Duke is hanging on and hanging in with work. We are very aware that changes may be headed our way but we will roll with the waves, and will come out on top. He also had a colonoscopy this week. Not something he wants but I am so proud that he is being proactive against whatever may lurk in the dark corners of his innards. Since his father lost his battle 11 years ago on the 15th of April, he has made it a point to not carry on his dads stoic nature about doctors. So the procedure was a success and instead of follow up in 3 years it is now 5...that is great news.

I on the other hand will be the individual who may cut out my own kidneys to sell on the black market and put myself in a tub of ice....and then the black market would find out how crappy they are and give them back. I have more stone and am a little frustrated at how the system works. Last week I called to schedule a xray, done then an appt for reading said xray...it was inconclusive and an IVP ordered, done, now appt to read IVP xray films...this Friday...that is 2 weeks of discomfort... and they cannot squeeze me in at all before Friday???? What, but are willing to dole out pain meds ....I want answers not meds....maybe if I did not have 3 kids to watch I could vombi-fi myself or maybe if I could actually SLEEP when on them rather than having my mind race for 4 hours...but then again kids , so no day use clearly....this is not a solution in my book. Thankfully, I am just now getting to the pain point rather than the discomfort and really annoying pinching backache. Ahhh whatever....maybe I can just have pvc pipe put in place of my ureter....

The kids are great, Macy is cheering for the Jr. Rattlers and is so cute when she does it....pics soon, Dale is a mean green corner back for the Jr. Rattlers, his motto is nobody catches the ball on my side of the field...not even me.....and Reid is playing soccer for the Cyclones at the YMCA and oddly enough with a child of a fellow Tivy Grad....Doug Copeland....small world. Their team is not a huge force to be contended with but the kids have fun and Reid plays his heart out and plays very well. This last game he wanted to be goalie..he said "MOM I do not want them to score, and the other kids don't stop the ball...I won't score but neither will they" I love that kid...but very similar to dales motto, Duke has ingrained in their minds you'll never loose it the other team never scores....nothing like stiff competition at age 4-6-and 8.... Grades came out and Dale again got all A's...yea for daddys brains, and Reid is doing wonderful as well with all +'s and only needs to work on slowing down....so all is pretty well in the world of Danielville....with a few exceptions....but that is life, and all in all life is pretty good. Pics will come soon

Aloha

So we went to Maui for the kids spring break, and had a wonderful time. We planned only a few excursions we went whale watching, snorkling in Molokini Crater, and a Luau, we also went exploring on volcanic rocks over the ocean, and found a cool rock beach, and made the drive up haleakala. Beyond that our time was at the pool and beach which is where the kids had the most fun ...so next time we can go to quality inn in Corpus.

The whales were amazing Grey Whales travel from Alaska to Hawaii to in Nov birth their calves, they want the warm water for the babies and return in April ...hard to put into words .... mammals the size of busses jumping out of the water. The calves gaining 5 lbs per hour, and consuming 150 gallons of milk a day....and the moms do not eat the entire trip...yikes but so poetic to see. I think I could be happy as a whale in my next life....hefty size is a good thing, you travel, swim, all who see you stop and stare and have very few predators...pretty good.

While we were there Maui was having very non hawaiian weather.... it was a little cloudy, rainy and windy, which made 74 feel chilly, and the ocean VERY choppy and rough, so when we went out to Molikini to snorkle and it was calm it was very appreciated....but the ocean was a chilly 71 and with the wind added to wet it was COLD. Dale and Reid both tried it, hind sight we should have practiced in the pool but they both did ok....Reid got the hang of it quickly but did not last long in the cold water even with the wet suit on ....Macy got in and directly got out, and Dale did great when he had his mission to get back to the boat and get out of the cold water...but strangly this was his favorite part of the trip...but I would have sworn we were torturing him.

Whale watching was very cool and you can see them from shore, but to be on the water with them is very neat. The Drive up haleakala was long and a little rough....only 40 miles but it takes 2+ hours and it is VERY curvy with a switchbacks and no end in sight. Dale got a little car sick, probally the back seat with a DS is not a good idea on curvy roads. So the top was a sight for sore eyes but it was very misty and erie and cold at 12,000 feet up. The excursions on the rocks were fun and we all had a good time making wishes... you stack up rocks like a snowman kinda and they have a name but I could not recall it but we called them wishes and for every one you made you could make a wish, the views were amazing but made me a little nervous with the kids so close to the edge of a 400 foot cliff into crashing waves and jagged rocks.

We also celebrated macys birthday there as we were with Mamma Sam who will not be able to come to her birthday here. The kids really enjoyed seeing her and spending time with her. You might think that with the wind and such the pool was not a daily event...you would be wrong....one day I was in pants and a sweatshirt watching the kids swim...nuts but they loved it. I am glad that some great memories were made. Duke and I talked about how his grandparents saved their whole life and took a trip to Hawaii....and my kids have been twice , Macy 3 times and all under the age of 9 which is not a bad thing I just hope they appreciate it.

There are soo many pictures so below is a slideshow of them all

Buggy

Dale had his 2nd grade play right before spring break. He was one of the handful of assigned parts, an army ant, the other children were able to choose their insect .... he did a great job, said his lines clearly and was quite proud of himself. He wanted the camo..for Army, but black b/c ants are black...he liked his extra arms.

PE Showcase

Reid

Every 2 years the schools do an expo of skills they learn in PE so the boys participated and here was what they did. Reid was pretty shy and reserved but we were impressed he knew what to do since he had no idea even right before he did it. Dale loved the juggling and wants his own scarves.



Dale

Interviews

Interview with the Kids

1. What is something Mommy always says to you? "
Don't Color on stuff" Macy
"Who's the best 6 yr old in the whole wide world and I say ME...and you say you got it!" Reid
"Dale yes you can go outside" Dale

2. What makes Mommy happy?
" coloring only on paper" M
"seeing your friend's" R
" when you had us" D

3. What makes Mommy sad?
"coloring on walls, making faces" M
"if like a dog dies" R
"when you ask us to clean the playroom and we don't clean it" D

4. What does your Mommy do that makes you laugh?
"tickle me" M
"say a funny word I don't know and its super funny" R
"nothing" D

5. What was your Mommy like as a child?
"like a little girl named Macy" M
"I don't know" R
"weren't you like Macy b/c Grandma always calls Macy Susan" D

6. How old is your Mommy?
" 7" M
"33" R
"I don't want to get this wrong, D

7. How tall is your Mommy?
" 6 inches"
"i have no idea like 25...don't you know" R
"64" D

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
"work” M
"make dinner" R
have fun with friend's" D

9. What does your Mommy do when you're not around?
"work" M
"go get groceries" R
" you do chores" D

10. If your Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
"riding motorcycles and 4 wheelers" M
"by eating the most apples 100 of them" R
"Being nice" D

11. What is your Mommy really good at?
" sewing" M
"cooking R
"Cooking D

12. What is your Mommy not very good at?
"sewing" M
"riding a dirt bike" R
"downloading good songs for my ipod" D

13. What does your Mommy do for a job?
"work, help miss Lisa " M
teacher" R
Teach" D

14.What is your Mommy’s favorite food?
"peas" M
"peas" R
"Crablegs" D

15.What makes you proud of your Mommy?
"fixing my baby blanket" M
"letting me play outside" R
"Letting me go outside" D

16. If your Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
" spongbob" M
"pluto" R
"Hannah Montanna" D

17. What do you and your Mommy do together?
"ride stuff, shop" M
"ride bikes" R
" do chores" D

18. How are you and your Mommy the same?
"bc we love each other" M
"were not" R
"were nice" D

19. How are you and your Mommy different?
"your big and I'm small” M
"hair, voice" R
"boy and girl" D

20. How do you know your Mommy loves you?
"because you love me"M
"b/c you've said it almost 100 times" R
"Bc you say it all the time" D

21. Where is your Mommy’s favorite store?
“Walgreens” M
" HEB" R
"walmart" D

Daddy Interviews:

1. What is something Daddy always says to you?
" hi monkey" M
"I love you" R
"Hookem Horns" D

2. What makes Daddy happy?
" that I keep my pant dry" M
"going jeeping with me and dale" R
"Texas winning a football game" D

3. What makes Daddy sad?
"when I don't listen" M
"when annie our dog dies" R
"Texas loosing a football game" D

4. What does your Daddy do that makes you laugh?
"when he tickles me, when I jump on him" M
"be funny" R
" tickles me" D

5. What was your Daddy like as a child?
"played with animals" M
"a lawn mower" R
" a dallas cowboy fan" D

6. How old is your Daddy?
" 7" M
"77...are me right?" R
"38" D

7. How tall is your Daddy?
" 6 inches" M
"72 inches" R
"72" D

8. What is his favorite thing to do?
"make houses and rock climbing” M
"go jeeping" R
"go to a Texas football game" D

9. What does your Daddy do when you're not around?
"work" M
"go ride his bike" R
"work" D

10. If your Daddy becomes famous, what will it be for?
"i dunno " M
"for eating 100 peas" R
"Going to the most UT football games" D


11. What is your Daddy really good at?
"fixing stuff ” M
"jeeping" R
"Jeeping"D

12. What is your Daddy not very good at?
"cooking" M
"riding the 50cc dirt bike on ramps" R
"cooking" D

13. What does your Daddy do for a job?
"fix houses" M
"builds" R
"Build Houses" D

14.What is your Daddy’s favorite food?
" peas" M
"peas" R
"Hamburgers" D

15.What makes you proud of your Daddy?
"that you play with me" M
"I'm not sure" R
"he plays video games with me" D

16. If your Daddy were a cartoon character, who would he be?
"patrick" M
"goofy" R
"johnny test" D

17. What do you and your Daddy do together?
"play stuff" M
"go jeeping, ride 4 wheelers" R
"watch football" D

18. How are you and your Daddy the same?
"we both have eyes, arms, head, legs, clothes, tummys,& bottoms " M
"both go jeeping" R
"We watch and love football...not OU" D

19. How are you and your Daddy different?
"because hes older than me” M
"hair and voice" R
" I like cheese" D

20. How do you know your Daddy loves you?
"he shows me" M
"he says it alot" R
"He just shows me"

21. Where is your Daddy’s favorite store?
“Bevo store” M
"Barnes and noble the magazine store" R
"the Coop, it has a picture on the door from a game we lost" D

and another funny...they are playing cops and robbers and macy just said she is allergic to policemen but she is a police man and just hand copped Dale and Reid

The almost daily fab 5

In uncertain times I find it best to try and remain positive. Realizing what you do have is worth tons.

1. For Flexible areas
2. My family's normalcy
3. For a great and generous extended family
4. A solid foundation to my marriage
5. As much as I dislike cleaning... thankful I have a home and clothes to clean
6. Mindless TV

Happy Valentines

Valentines is a weird day...you are expected to display a show of love but why on only one day....it should be a daily thing right. anyhow we celebrated it mildly I got the kids a movie Spaceballs, a Monster truck wii game and Macy a fur real baby animal, and Macy gave me Baby Bevo...this piece of wood that looks kinda like the longhorn shape she found at football practice....Dale had his first day of football practice this morning and besides being out of shape a little he did great. He moves up a level so it will be tough, but I am sure he'll do great. Duke, let a friend borrow the trailer that lives at the land and took Reid there to ride 4 wheelers and he "caught 19 airs," and the friend just finished so they went back for round 2 on the 4 wheelers and Macy went as well. So it is pretty quiet, and I have a fire going, Spaceballs playing....a good Saturday afternoon in my book. Funny gave Dale the movie and he said Daddy said this was inappropriate for me...I said its rated PG...and he said he did not think so, and I proved it on the box...well now I agree with duke there is TONS of language...glad the little ones are not here to hear it, and I trust Dale to not repeat it...he just came and said MOM told you there is tons of bad words....chock another one up to mother of the year.

Today's fab 5
1. For the warm clothes I made everyone where this morning and stadium blanket I had at practice this b/c it was COLD and WINDY
2. Watching Duke build one on one relationships with the kids, football with Dale, Four wheelers with Reid, and taking Macy on a walk this morning.
3. Yummy Steaks for dinner.
4. Extra cupcakes for my kiddos to enjoy today.
5. Fires in the fireplace....one of my favorite things

Daily fab 5 2-11-09

1. Hearing my husband read stories to the kids with voices and all

2. Making the cupcakes for valentines and they all turned out super cute

3. Having my kid screw up and be totally fearful of the consequences he new would follow, being able to tell him I love him afterward.

4. My husbands 100% support

5. A clean kitchen, and house, and my kids helping to make it happen...willingly

sick-o reid-o

Reid has strep throat...so he is stuck inside and has cabin fever like crazy. He is at the end of the 24 hr contagiousness but I figure keeping him in the remaining 4 hours of the night is a good think and he disagrees. We did make it to Hobby Lobby today and I bought these Magic Nuudles they look like packing peanuts but are made from corn starch and you get them wet and they stick togeather....really cool, so that helped a bit to have something new to play with.

However taking an extra child shopping is SO much harder when you are not used to it.. Macy is accustomed to shopping on Mondays and Fridays really does not beg for items....throw fits and continue to beg....Reid today did and I about shoved him in the HEBuddy machine myself. He felt as though he deserved treats....which I do allow them to pick a special snack and he chose oranges but that was not good enough once he saw gum....I did not cave and the message was hammered home that begging me gets you NADA.

Macy went to the plastic seurgon this week to have the lip checked and he seems to think it is a little puckerish at the scar, and uneven...and wants to fix it... his portion will be 350 ish but then there is the surgery center, and anesthisa guy...and I am torn .I think the longer I wait for it to heal more then we have to start the clock all over...but I'm scared This is a very bizzare notion but she is perfect in looks and personality my perfect package and I just do not want to damage that as she grows older with a scar that I could fix and make less noticable for her to not be self-doubting of later, we all have so many quirks, and goofyness as teens to knowingly leave something that can add to that almost seems mean....but on the other side maybe it would not be that bad???

We to the Kidney Stone Dr. and I have too much calcium and oxalate in my system so I am on a boring diet kinda to help lower them so if you have any yummy low oxalate recipes lemme know

I have a new to me bedroom set...it is a dark cherry 4 poster bed, sides, and armoire...and I love it. My old one was a gift from my wonderful mother in law, it was bed,sides,makeup,hutch,armoire,hope chest, and lounger....very ornate and beautiful but no longer what I wanted.... 12 years ago she was downsizing from the ranch to westlake and there was not room for a 4th set, I was going to my first solo appartmant and was engaged to Duke, so I got a great gift and 12 years ago when that happened and we loaded it up, drove to westlake with it on the trailer, and I was asked do you what that or the one upstairs...truly I wanted the upstairs one BUT knew Duke was not in the mood to move it all again...and it was a HUGE gift and did not want to be picky or seem rude so I said that the one we had packed was great....so 12 years later we swapped it for one of the ones that was upstairs then and now was in the bottom of her Austin condo to have A bed when we came to Austin. Huge thanks to Troy for all his help in making it happen b/c without him it would not have....he came to get a washer and dryer and boxes and ended up moving bedrooms too...

And to steal something from a friend here are 5 things I am thankful for today
1. Reid and Macy picked Crab legs for dinner at the store today...I LOVE King Crab Legs
2. My Rosie came today to clean the house and it is gorgeous
3. My Husbands job that keeps use comfortable
4. That my children are each others best freinds and play great togeather...most of the time
5. I paid the bills and still have money in the bank

Mail Order Plants

Ok I just ordered my yard plants online.....must say I am a skeptic but they are guaranteed....anyone ever done this? I am afraid I am going to get a bunch of twigs hope not. If it works it will be much cheaper than lowes or homey d would be...
In other news there is not much to tell, both boys got great report cards Dale all A's and Reid all +'s which is the best he can do so I am excited for that, and both behave and are assets to the class which is wonderful. Macy is doing great too...I have noticed she colors more than both of the boys ever did...and does it well in the lines and all...very good control and dexterity for her age. Dogs are good, Duke is good, I am kidney stone free for the time and am good so I guess will go with no news is good news.

Creativity challange.....Dale is in his school play that in in March and I have to make him an ant costume....so if anyone has ideas....I was going to do bike helmet with pipe cleaner anteanas, black sweats with foam attached to the calfs to look like their pokey legs and black hose stuffed sewn to the waist for the other 2 with fishing line to link them to his arms for a little movement..gotta figure out the segmentation for the body bulge and butt buldge....I want it light but round???? hhhhmmm

oh well hope all is well in your worlds and have a great week.

ski videos and pics

Dale met Ian Harris a redshirt tight end for the Horns at the Airport....it made his entire trip! At the Denver Childrens Museum killing time, we left early to miss the snow storm rolling in

Dale playing fireman

Bepaw and Uncle Brads Mullet....this thing is SOOO ugly....and sadly people were envious of it

Dale Sking

Snow tossing...Dukes new game

Macy


Both Boys


Macy again

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Vacation and Surgery

In a matter of 3 weeks we have been very busy....on top of the regular holiday business.

Rewind Dec 8th, 2 days post Disney, I had to go have x-rays done of my kidneys.... I did and it was quick and easy I assumed I was done....do you hear Murphy laughing???
Get a call Dr wants to see me, schedule appointment for the 15th? and go . He says you hurt....NOPE feel good actually....well you have a lot of blood in your urine and come look at this....You have 3 kidney stones to pass, 2 on the left and one one the right....here is some pain meds and wish you good pee's....not in those words but the synopsis is accurate. So I have mild pain that week....on the 19th we did the kids class parties, and sing along that Bepaw came and played in the parent school band which was very cool of him to do. Sunday the 21st I started to hurt, and the 22nd all day was AWFUL, and sadly Mama Sam and Troy came into town that night and I was in bed, Tuesday I felt pretty good, as well as Wednesday, and Thursday, Friday and Saturday....not wanting to run a marathon but could be upright and speak and cover what I was feeling to an extent. Sunday hit and again pains, and Monday was again Awful, went to have more xrays on tuesday still in pain, and called my mom and finally caved and asked her to come get the kids, who were at daycare....It was too painful. So they pack up and head to San Antonio, and I get the xrays and head to the dr....feeling better as the pain had eased, just a back ache. I see the dr and had felt like all the pain was deep pelvic so the stones were low and in a day would pass. He says come see this....there is a huge stone up HIGH on the left....I was crushed, "we need to operate on it , you cannot pass it's too big, and if we do not you could very likely end up in the Er in Colorado" ....which we were headed to on Friday...this is Tuesday! Sound FUN. So we set up surgery on Wed....the 31...happy new year. I go in feeling pretty good, just a major back ache, no pain meds as I could not have anything to eat or drink, but I was ok. Surgery went well... he saw the stone....to big to basket, he shot it with the laser and basket ed out the pieces and placed a stint in to help flow with the swelling. I head home and not 2 mins in the drive I and in tears and monstrous pain...cannot speak, writhing in pain...this continues all the drive home.....5 pm...holiday traffic, across town....NOT FUN. Duke went and filled all the rx's, I tried to lay on the couch as some took effect. Next day I actually felt fair...minus the feeling to pee all the time from the stint, but felt ok even went to the store...fast forward 2 hours and back in pain....huge pain...I took a bath...nothing...tears to duke to call the dr and see what else I can take safely. The Dr tells duke to remove the stint. In my first stone surgery prep it was seen that I have 3 kidneys 2 on the left and one on the right....the 2 on the left are small and make one regular size, the other is small but normal....so the ones on the left are smaller....ureters are smaller too....and to be even more circus like the kidneys each have a ureter that join together to make a Y and travel to the bladder. I my past I did not tolerate the stint which is just a tube from the kidney to the bladder, my urters spasmed and landed me in the hospital overnight. So my Dr was aware of this potential and this is why he allowed Duke to remove it, 2 days early....and it is easy to remove but gross and we all can appreciate medically trained staff in these situations...which my husband is not...but he was awesome and out it was....relief for an hour....and then BIG PAIN...my mom showed up with the kids as she was to drive to Austin and fly with the babies to Colorado the next morning 6 am...and so were we. Duke caught her outside and said we can't go like this....so they convince me to go the ER...and my DR sends us to a hospital 30 mins across town, yet there is one less than a mile away...never again, I will go to my own and they can accomodate me, besides it being VERY crowded we were also one of the few with insurance coverage...we arrived at 5....were there until 2 am....they did xrays...nothing, small clot to pass, why the pain....no clue, the dr even looked at my back to see where the stint was....NOT there....it is placed inside the "tank" so he was not really knowledgable but did dose out pain meds....shots of torodol...nothing...morphin...I was numb but still felt it, I did not tell the Dr out of fear they would keep me overnight and since the pain came and eventually went I felt ok to go so we went and headed home packed the last of the stuff and had a no kidding 30 min nap and went to the airport for a 6 am flight. Mom changed her flight to go with us which was a huge help, the pain came back on the plane but stopped, came back after breakfast with everyone, and again while getting skis and groceries. I skied Saturday and hurt only a bit....it was a one pain killer pain so I was ok...I figured if I needed 2 I had no business skiing....I did end early and watched macy/ reid ski, felt good that night and good the next morning and lunch hit and I hurt, so I skied one more run and went down and played with Macy and this episode lasted all night and I finally took and Oxycontin and had crazy dreams about BIG feet and people skiing on stilts, rested on Monday and took the kids swimming and stuff....felt ok. and that morning I spoke with my Aunt a nurse and said with all the pain killers I numb me but the pain and spasm sensation is still there .....I thought about AZO.... a bladder infection med that alleviates pain and urgency with that and maybe it would relax my ureters too....I took one and maybe it helped....I took more at dinnertime but had no food in my stomach and threw it up....SOOOO GROSS...but I had a numbness in my nose and throat...not totally numb but a little bit....So the next day, I ate and then after breakfast tuesday took another....felt awesome all day, good that night...and since then have been ok and not on any pain killers since monday....which is nice.....so that was my Christmas, New Years and Vacation from the medicinal point and here is some from a family point.

Macy SINGING Frosty the Snowman....with boo bood lip

We saw Santa, Macy wants a barbie, Reid grabbed a candy cane and ran, and Dale said that Mr Juan not santa....his days are numbered.
We went bowling with Troy and Mama Sam and discovered that Mama Sam has untapped bowling potential. I was Tim Duncan twinkie b/c I used the largest bowling shoes the rink had...sz 18, only used by Timmy and ME....the laces would not even tighten around my foot so I put my shoe in it and bowled looking like ronald mcdonald....but we had fun. we also made one of the ugliest gingerbread houses in the history of gingerbread houses....but the kids had fun and the time with Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Troy was great

We had an awesome christmas with the Troy Daniels and Mama Sam, Dollhouse, Wii's, Ds's, jeep doors, Blackberrys, Lawn Mowers, Paintings....we are truly blessed
We also went and drove thru Santa's Village for our Christmas light fix with Grandma and Bepaw.

I did manage to get all my christmas stuff put away the day after Christmas...and good thing since life happened to toss me a curve ball.

We met up with 14 others to ski in Colorado....really great to do that, my kids LOVED spending time with Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and having all these new people to receive attention from.

My ski'n family

The whole crew...minus the few non skiers and ski schoolers Snow slide fun
We celebrated Reids 6th Birthday with a yummy cake and gifts and balloons during the UT game and UT won so that was a nice gift too....

My boys can SKI....Dale is a little machine and does awesome, and Reid too....when you ski with them it is like playing chase.....you simply try to catch them...since they do not need rest breaks they just go...but it was fun AND Macy was up on ski's...and she loved it, we did a few runs as a family on the bunny hill which was neat for me.

Macy on the chair lift with DaddyMy little unicorn....their helmet heads were a hit....it all began b/c I owned a blue helmet that Dale and Reid wore and Macy refused since it was Blue....so I purchased the cover for less than the helmet rental...and got ones for Dale and Reid and I tell you it was a piece of cake to pick them out on the mountain.The Happy Puffer Fish An all skied out crew....called it a day to go play in the snow.

Macy's iniation to the ER

Macy today with Lula...her cat she prepared for a party

So Macy had never needed to visit the ER. Both Reid and Dale visited too many times, for a marble statue dropped on a foot...Dale 2 yrs old, Hernia...Reid 9 mos, for head bangs, strep, flu, also undergone surgeries for tonsils, hernia, 2 sets of tubes...the list goes on. Macy however managed to miss out on all the trips...shear luck. Well her luck ran out on Saturday night in Kerrville. We went down to visit Grandma and Bepaw and Lucky their dog and celebrate Grandmas Bday. Scott and Tanya and Sammy joined and brought their dog Shelby. The dogs get along great, and the afternoon was uneventful. We had a yummy dinner and when it was done were sitting and chatting at the table. Shelby came and sat by Macy and I's chairs, tail wagging as we petted her...and the next second something set her off and she bit Macy. So I picked up Macy and rushed to the kitchen got ice, Mom got a rag, Duke got my purse and Dad led us to the ER. About 3 hours later we emerged with a glued Macy, and a Bozo bear from the ER. Glue should flake off in 5-7 days. We returned to Grandmas house and Scott and Tanya were mortified, in tears, very upset that their dog had done this, not understanding why since there was no threat, force or food involved. So we all head to bed with Shelby literally in the dog house. Macy appeared to have no issue with Grandmas dog, or Shelby for that matter, however, that contact was only through the patio door, had a sore swollen lip on Sunday but I am grateful it was no worse. The police/ animal control had to be notified since it involved an animal, so one visited us in the ER, we obviously chose not to press charges since I KNOW Scott would have traded places with Macy in a heartbeat, and honestly Shit happens...and it stinks...but it still happens. Sunday, we came home and I took her to the Urgent Care clinic since one side of the cut had cracked open and was bleeding and it looked icky...but I am no judge of dermabond since in all our mishaps we have never used it, but I would like the minimal scar possible, and what to know all is ok. They look at it and said it does not look infected, but she needs to be on antibiotics so we get those and head home. After the bath last night it looks much better, its sore and hard to wipe a runny nose but looks pretty good. Sunday morning I did notice that it was more than a nip...Shelby had actually had a pretty open jaw in the bite. There was scratches and a bruise under Macy's chin...added with the scrapes from her teeth down the side of her nose, we saw at the ER....and only broke the skin at the lip...huge blessing. So Scott and Tanya are talking of getting rid of Shelby, which is heart wrenching, but I conquer since it is not the first attempt to bite, but her first success, and they have a 6 mo old, that you would like to believe she would never harm, but who's to know when Sammy falls on her when he is learning to walk or crawl, or takes her favorite toy. They have neighbors/ friends with little kids and God forbid it happen at Sammy's 1st or 2nd bday party with all the little kids and chaos, and them have had the knowledge of the liability....none the less heart wrenching, since Shelby has a good heart, Scott and Tanya adopted her from a rescue, so she had it hard as a puppy and a bad past is something that is hard if not impossible to train out, but think w/o kids she would be great. Duke and I were talking last night about how awful to be in their situation. But truly No hard feelings, no blame or judgement from us...simply empathy.

Disney 2008

Just got home from a great trip...and not in any attempt to bore my few if any readers this one is more for me for historical documentation. Saturday we flew to Orlando uneventfully...which is how I like to travel and I did get my Dunkin fix at the only SA Dunkin Donuts...for those of you with them near go get a half hot chocolate/half white chocolate.....HEAVEN in a cup. So we are greeted by Mama Sam, and end at the Grande Vista Marriott....in our 2 2bed condos, and have 4 king beds, 4 pull out sofas, 4 baths, 4 kitchens...and there are 6 of us so space was not an issue. We ended the day in true Mama Sam form and had a few gifts and toys for all....mine was this UT blanket poncho...that came in VERY handy in the parks. So Sunday we went to Hollywood Studios and immediately rode Tower of Terror and Rock and Roll Roller coaster, met up with Paul and Brandy on the Toy Story ride then tackled the Star Wars ride and some play time in the bugs life play area before lunch at Sci Fi drive in....an then the rain came down HARD....we made it back to rock and roll roller coaster and rode it one last time and called it and left to go to the Hoop Dee Doo review....which was some amazing food and fun. Monday we went to Magic Kingdom, meet up with Paul, Brandy, Jake, Mia and Pauls folks and grandma and rode roller coaster after roller coaster... Macy was picked as a cotton candy taster for the day and scored them 2 bags of cotton candy to nosh on, the best was when jake borrowed Reids boots to ride Space Mountain...Reid wears a size 12 and Jake is a 10....he was walking like a clown a bit but it was successful and he rode the ride and loved it. Tuesday we went back to Magic Kingdom Park and Macy was made into a princess at the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique....so cute. She was in awe that she was where the princesses get their hair done in the mornings... she loved getting the makeup, nails, and hair all dolled up and the fairy dust was so sweet...but it is still stuck to her scalp after 2 washings and 2 swims. She also wore her princess overalls with the tutu...very sweet and worked well since it was 40 degrees. That night we did the Very Merry Christmas Party and it was COLD but felt very christmassy....this is where the blanket came in handy and kept the kids warm. Wednesday we went to Epcot and rode all the coasters there and reids favorite was test track...go figure driving cars. Duke and I did the Disney Dive Quest and went and swam/scuba dove in the aquarium.....SO FUN..... we got to see the kids which was cool and got to interact with the diners in the restaurant windows....and we saw some cool 250 lb groupers, sharks, and turtles, and rays...and all sorts of fish but the windows were the coolest...we got out and said weve seen fish ...but never windows...very cool and all the costs go to conservation funding, and also got a behind the scenes tour of the facilities, a DVD of the dive, a tshirt....super cool. Thursday we went to Animal Kingdom for Mama Sams 60th, both boys rode Everest, had an awesome lunch at Tusker House, enjoyed the safari and headed to downtown Disney to shop and eat at Wolfgang Pucks place..Portabella Yacht Club. Finally on Friday on Dales Bday we went to Universal and ate with Spider man, Things 1 and 2, and The Cat and the Hat....rode every possible ride and played for over an hour at the ball house and rode the Woody Roller coaster 5 times...as per Macys demands....and finished the day at Bubba Gumps for a great dinner. So I think all of the food we ate might have been walked off but probably not. None the less a fabulous time and highlight have to be Macy watching the parade and truly thinking those were the real princesses....and she waved and waved....so stinking cute to have that imagination. Reid wanting so bad to be big and tough and riding all the rides and liking them but really wanted to go to the hotel and swim, Dale riding every coaster and loving every one....daredevil....and Duke and I able to watch they enjoy.... a GREAT trip

Merry Christmas for ALL

Daniel Family Elf Disco

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Basketball Halftime Creighton University Omaha NE * © Human Slinky

COOL HALF TIME SHOW

Murphy ....take a HIKE

We had a "We Just CANNOT have nice things" moments the other day....enough time has passed and I am less delicate and can annotate it here. Ok you must rewind a bit....I have 3 great kids, we have a playroom that is truly the kids domain...the other night (Monday) all 3 were playing and doing great. Dale comes down and says Mom I need to show you something....come on..... so I walk upstairs to see a broken play table...leg snapped in half....Reid appears blotchy faced and sobbing, Macy is sobbing also, as this is HER table....she then begins with the "where will I have birthday parties? where will my babies eat? I am so sad? sob sob....Reid is too upset to even speak. I scream... and part of that scream is WHAT HAPPENED? Turns out Reid was trying to ride the table leg like a horse....WHAT?? GO TO BED REID! Duke appears and we take the critical condition table to the garage where we work with JB Weld, Gorilla Glue, Duct Tape....managing to glue the leg....albeit shaky prognosis is stable...but only time will tell. I return upstairs and I calmly discuss with him how we have TALKED and TALKED about NOT BEING ON THE TABLE, using it right, respecting others things..... he says "I feel sad for Macy" with my reply "good you should, because she is sad" to which he says "Can I not be in trouble anymore...in sobs" A day passes and all the efforts manage to hold the leg on. So that night Duke brings the table in, puts it in the pool table room, we decide to give it back the following day after school. The table is from IKEA...not pricey and really stable...but this is principal and Reid broke the other table when he was 2... by standing on it. OK so the next morning arrives, we are eating, all is well...right. Well it just happened to be Reids day to shop at the book fair at his school, I let Dale get a book, so I was going to allow Reid to do so as well....UNTIL...as I am looking for the money for the book....he instinctively walks to the healing table, flips it on its side, steps on the broken leg and leans on the table....CRACK....In rode the wicked witch of the east on her broom....I LOST IT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING! YOU JUST BROKE IT AGAIN! His response " I forgot" forgot what the fact your not a rodeo rider, the fact that tables do not bend, that you are not rock climbing????WHAT....so I decided NO BOOKS FOR YOU...tears....Reid tell me WHY you do not get books "Because I broke Macys table.....again" They walk out the door and Dale hits my seasonal duck with his backpack....NOSE dive...dead.... severed/shattered beak, he says sorry and it was accidental but none the less....MINE....I return to the kitchen to try and find composure and walk past the back door and do a double take....is that????NO?? MY TURKEY! Ok I LOVE to decorate for the holidays...not with a bunch of stuff...and not expensive stuff and honestly lots of my items are gifts from friends....this one was one of those items...a little turkey that waddled, and danced, and sang The turkey and the straw....not priceless but MINE. He is OUTSIDE on the deck....covered in sand....reappear the witch and broom to go get my molting turkey...try and shake him clean...no luck and into the broken item infirmary that is my garage and is pretty full of kid carnage already. Macy apparently thought he was cute too...and wanted to play with it...WITH OUT MY PERMISSION. I was at a LOSS for words...now I had plenty but withheld them as to not teach my kids all I know of the art of curse words, and I intentionally distanced myself b/c I could have punched a hole in a wall and not felt it, I was HOT..and I am not stupid to discipline in anger is not effective...more like I'm pissed and your gonna pay. So we head to school in silence...Macy says "mommy?" Seeing as there in NO blood or danger to her, my reply is "Macy mommy is done, please be quiet!" So that evening we had a heart to heart big time. I am now going to with out warning give discipline and dole out consequences when I see any misuse of toys, disrespect, use of my things with out permission. The table went in toady's trash...I hope Macy does not see it as the tears will begin, the Duck now has a bright orange playdough/ gorilla glued beak...I need to paint to see if it will do....and the Turkey is healing, cleaned the battery areas and he is still dumping sand when it trys to dance. AGGGGHHHHH WE JUST CANNOT HAVE NICE THINGS....and my secret pal gave me a new yard flag....well of course I hung it and Reid noticed it right off...saying MOMMY where did you get that....I snapped "DON'T touch it its mine, my secret pal gave it to me and it is special"...."ok mom,I just think its cute"...."thanks Reid." so to end in song......Momma said they'll be days like this....days like this, momma said, momma said, MOMMA said! Did momma end all those days with a big ole drink....maybe that was my problem, I had to end with football practice.... And yes I do wish everything was made like Rubbermaid.... pop it back into place, hose it, dry it, and good as new.....aaahhh

Ok so for my million dollar question.....Do I buy another table? Out of principal I say NO...but she really loved the table...used everyday....honestly I am torn and seeking advice on this issue...tell me what you think.

So on the football side....Dales team lost, it was sad, they just did not play like themselves, and about 3 thousand penalties for offsides...Dale did have an amazing tackle and made the runner fumble the ball and we recovered...but a loss and that season ended. One of his coaches wants to start another league taking a few players just for fun, much less intense, less practice, and Dale wants to play. Actually Dale said I do not want to play anymore football until I play for the Longhorns....I informed him that he has to play and practice and be the best to be picked to play for the Longhorns...then I want to play was his response. Reid's team won and are now in the state quarter finals, but it is a bitter sweet as he is not on the "dream team" that gets to play, so we go to watch Reid stand for the most part...which he mastered at about 9 mos old so he is really good at that. He did say yesterday that football is fun but the part when you watch is not....and in the games when you just want to go try and help....it is hard when they will not let you......out of the mouth of babes. But he still wants to go, so we go, and support his teammates, and he gets a few concession plays when we get WAY up. Not that everything needs to be fair and equal as I am well aware life is not....but had hoped for a little less cut throat at age 5-6 first time ever playing the game....I digress, live and learn, and if you are putting your kid in flag football next year for the first time....I can give you some good questions to ask first!

Forgive me Amy for I have sinned

Ok so this morning begins and Reid is sick....upset stomach....he proves it with a trip to the toilet and I say ok you can stay home. So we make the necessary calls and are home bound. He did have "issues" a few times but other than that; this kid is FINE...he and Macy are all over the place...jumping off couches, making forts, hid and seek....he is so going to school tomorrow. Anyhow since he was sick I had to cancel an appointment....turns out a very very necessary appointment. I also had to run up to the Elementary school and make copies of the Newsletter and deliver them....I cannot do this with kids as they are clearly not needed in the copy room, and one is sick....so I had Duke man the kids and I went during his lunch.....since I had a minute to have my brain reload, I remembered we needed Benedryl, duck tape and flash cards....to drug the kids, tape them down, and then force feed them education...no no no....not related just needed....so I also made a run to Walgreens....walking to the Benedryl I see a product, "HEY I can use that, save time and money....how smart am I...smart purchase definitely" so I walk out of the store one item heavier, and patting myself on the back. Get home thank Duke, and I think this is going to be a productive day after all. We go get Dale from school, return and the kids are eating snack and watching TV....perfect time... so I head upstairs, open my product and then the fun begins. My product that is saving me time, and money is wax....Amy is my fantastic anestitition ...she is American, clean, funny, reliable, her room smells like lavender and has relaxing music...granted I do pay her quite nice, and have to have an appointment, but today I decide I can for-go the scent and music and do it myself. JUST eyebrows folks....anything else is sooo left to professionals....trust me I have tried and it was awful, I felt like a cat that had tape all over its feet dancing around, and on top of it I was fixing to be put in a tub of water by an alternate internal personality and there was lots of self conflict....I was that cat, it was BAD... But this time I think I can do this, I have before...no biggie, I even got the sensitive skin kind, that can be used cold, and is water soluble...I think win win win. SO I open the tub of wax...smells good, a fake chocolate....I pull some out and put it on my brow, add the paper, smush it and rip....Yes it hurt, but worth it right...NO the stuff did not work, so I try again, and it was a bit harder to pull off the second time...but marginal success and I clean it up with tweezers.....begin brow 2... apply goop, paper, smush HARD, yank....nothing, clearly 2nd time is necessary...appy goop, paper, smush hard over and over....and yank....it worked! a little too well and yanked off half my brow...I hear the kids yelling...have to go be a mom...they are wrestling in the living room, have a ring and all...a few re directions and back to the task at hand....Almost BALD- EYE Brow....so I clean up with tweezers since the wax did not even get the hair I wanted, and we are NOT trying again, and then have to over pluck the first brow to make this look intentional.... we are going for the thin brow this month...and I still have to color in the other one b/c there is a NICE bald spot....so lessons learned
Do not try this on a day when you have been a MOM all day
Apparently the music and scent is necessary...wrestling and fake chocolate smell does not cut it.
11 for the crappy wax, and now more for an eyeliner pencil....I am not saving any money here
RED just plucked chicken eyes are not attractive....at least I have the junk Amy sold me to help with that, and I will NOT miss my appointment next month....I do not care who is sick...I will be sicker if I do this AGAIN. So my self inflicted beauty confession punishment....say 3 Hail Amy's and buy a good eye pencil!

Political Revelation

Ok so I am apart of History in the making, Barack will be our new president. I hope he and the congress and senate will make sound decisions for our nation. I must say it does scare me that the democratic party has majority control, so much for checks and balances. I also want to voice my frustration with the notion that so many voted for Barack simply for the "different, cool, history making" reason. In my mind with America being the melting pot that it is race/ gender, should have no bearing...if you are the best then so be it, but as long as there are racial differences there will be racism. I do find it a testimant to how far we have come as a nation, to elect an African American to lead our nation. That is outstanding, I just do not think he was the right individual, and so many were too eager to be the ones make this election be historical....not in any comparison but Hitler made histoy as well. I am not saying that McCain and Palin were the all knowing/ fixing pair either, I questioned his judegments and her on NUMEROUS occasions, just the lesser of an evil in my mind, however IF he had been elected with the democratic majority in Congress and Senate he would have been powerless as well . I will support him as our leader, and do find a little solice with the fact that he did win the majority vote of the nation and not simply the antiquated electorial college votes.....don't get me started on that..... maybe we should make candidates in future elections wear masks and supplied uniforms to limit the amout of superficial judgments avaliable to the public, and force Americans to hear the issues and judge on that alone... but then where would SNL get material.... on a lighter note here is a funny story I had emailed to me...

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and was very much in favor of the redis tribution of wealth.She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican , a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs. The self- professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indic ated so to her father.He responded by asking how she was doing in school.Taken aback , she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn' t even have time for a boyfriend, and didn' t really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.Her father listened and then asked , "How is you friend Audrey doing ?"She replied, " Audrey is barely getting by. She takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. But she is so popular on campus, college for her is a blast . She's always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn 't even show up for classes because she' s too hung over." Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don' t you go to the Dean' s office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA. The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion , angrily fired back, " That wouldn't be fair! I have worked reall y hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree.She played while I worked my tail off!"The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, " Welcome to the Republican Party ."

Elementary Rocks the vote

Dale and Reid had a mock election at school today and Dale voted for John McCain.....and Reid voted for the one that started with a "B"....why I asked, thinking they gave some background info and this affected his vote? Nope it was "Becasue Cody's last name starts with a B and I like Cody." So even the elementary crowd is torn durring this election.

It's Monday ALLREADY

Wow that was a fast weekend, I do not think I stopped once. Friday we went a-treatin'. Dale as a scary skeleton...but still with a smile, Reid as a goofy skeleton, and Macy as a fairy, and me as Ugly Betty. It was funny b/c most of my neighbors did not even recognize me and one said...who is that walking with Macy, only to recognize me after I spoke. I guess that should be a compliment that they think I look nothing like Ugly Betty. Macy caught on quick that everyone thought she was so cute....she kept saying "everyone thinks I am so cute...right mom" Her ego barely fit into the door opening to knock on the door. Reid wanted to come home as soon as his bag was full and heavy....so I left Duke to tote Macy and Dale around and Reid and I went home to dish out candy and watch a Halloween movie on the projector we set up out front. We now have a HUGE basket FULL of candy up on the fridge so it cannot be consumed with out assistance. Our neighbors also had a party so we went and had a good time there too.

Saturday morning 6 am Macy and I are up getting ready for her competition...downtown by 7:30 am, I delivered her to her coach and then another cheer mom and I got lost in 5 block radius and found every one way street in that 5 block radius while trying to help move one of the coaches cars from a metered parking to a lot...ultimately successful but a little adventure non the less. So the competitors go in at 8, we are not allowed in until 9, but with the car adventure it was 8:30 before I was even ready to go in, so I hung out for 30 mins, we get in and sit , individuals go first, then the mascots....which is Macy's group. There were about 18 mascot groups and they were the last ones...she performed at 11:30...ok long morning but I am in the mind set I will be done soon....WRONG her coach walks by with the girls and we all gush about how great they did...we are so proud of they efforts..yadda yadda. She then says we are going to eat their lunch and then I will bring them back to you...they eat come back and she then says they cannot leave the auditorium, they have to stay until the end....this would have been good info to know, as I had NO lunch, and the concession was OUTRAGEOUS. 3 for water, 2.50 for a granola bar, and 2.50 bag of chips...no thanks I'll starve, than pay 8 bucks for a snack....but thankfully Macy's tiny appetite came in handy as she did not eat all of her lunch, and wanted to SAVE it... so I had 1 piece of bread, a piece of turkey, her leftover chips and a cookie ....and I only paid 5 to feed her...and me. So I contemplate leaving only to realize her poms, warm ups and pillow are in the team section and off limits to me...dang, we manage to get her stuff, and she does not want to leave, so I have her lay down for a little bit...as soon as she stopped moving she was OUT ...2 1/2 hours later she wakes up and we hung out, my plan was that as soon as she melted down we would go...but she never melted, so we watched all the girls compete, and I played more brain age/ sudoku on the DS than should be allowed. Finally we have the awards and they get little medals for competing, she did not win but we made it out by 6:30, home by 7...over 12 hours of cheer fun. I was wiped out from a day of doing nothing and was in and out during the UT game that night and it was kinda nice to be incoherent during the end of that emotional game. So Sunday we enjoy the extra hour of sleep....at least I did, and then we headed to Dales football game, they played great and won...so we are off to playoffs...YYYYYEEEEeeeaaaaa. so more late nights, dinner at 4, practice 3 nights a week and rushing in general but there is a light ...unsure if it is daylight or a the train light...guess we will find out soon.

Also another funny Macy story....we went to vote on Friday morning, I am holding Macy and a man joins the line behind us and she yells out YEA ORANGE..... YEA WHITE....YEA LONGHORNS ....FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT....he had on a longhorn shirt and numerous people smiled and laughed. However the game result on Saturday was less that desired and left Duke a little delicate.