Sunday!

Sunday we woke up knowing we were heading home that day.

I got up and fed the children while Michael got dressed and started putting our stuff back in the car. They just did cheerios and fresh orange slices. Then I dressed the kids and got dressed myself, and we all made it to church in time for Bible class!

Gabriel looked really apprehensive and tried to fight his way back into my arms, but Emerald ran into her class and didn't look back! Amber couldn't make it to Bible class, so I took notes for her--we were discussing Hebrews chapter....13, I think. I would have to check the notes, lol.

Service went well--Emerald kept telling me she was hungry, probably because she didn't eat good breakfast, but Gabriel fell right asleep. The problem was, he had the rankest gas, and he kept shifting and tooting all through service. Michael blamed me. -sigh-

I really love going to church, but my church is by far my favorite. I know most of the people there, and it's just so happy and fun!

After church, we all but ran to the car and drove to the only restaurant in Argyle--a little Mexican food place called Papi's to have lunch with Dad's parents. The waiter was so smiley and had a fun accent, but he was probably so nice because he was going to grat the heck out of us.

I got tilapia tacos on corn tortillas that were pretty good--I had never had them before, and they really weren't bad. They were grilled and had lettuce and cheese and lime juice and maybe pico on them?? I thought they would be really good if they had cabbage instead of lettuce, and no tomatoes. The charro beans were so delicious, they remind me of going to Mi Ranchito's when we were little--they had an appetizer with every meal of Charro Bean soup, which was so good that's usually all me and Amber ate. It also "had" (read--I stole from Emerald's plate) rice covered in queso, which made me and Amber freak out for Panchos. We like Mexican food a lot in my family.

Michael got nachos, but did not take his lactose pill -sad- he liked it until he started feeling terrible!! Luckily, I packed all the preventative pills and symptom fixer pills, so he started feeling better on the ride home. Emerald got taquitos with cheesy dip and Gabriel got quesadillas, but they split both meals.

Emerald was super friendly and chatty--she sat right next to Pat and talked to her about everything. Afterwards, she turned to me and told me that Grandma Pat said she could have ice cream (the naughty little fibber!!). Mostly she liked looking at the horse shaped pinata over her head.

Gabriel was quiet and well behaved for most of the meal--the best part was when Pawpaw was talking and Gabriel was watching him....Gabe just started laughing very loudly, when got everyone else laughing. I think he thought Pawpaw was telling a joke or something!!

The car ride home was pretty uneventful. I was a lot more restless than on the ride down, but that's probably because I wasn't ready to go home. I don't spend enough time with my family as it is. But overall, not awful. I just drank too much tea and most of the ride was uncomfortable, anyway. We didn't get home too late and I was able to put away all the gifts and luggage, since I worked so very very hard to get it clean before we left.

As it is, these two posts have kept me from cleaning up the house again, but I should probably get to it -sigh-Maybe soon I will write the final post about Christmas--with Rhonda's side of the family :)

~Andie~

Emerald at Papi's :)

Saturday Afternoon

Slowly but surely, I am making it!

Amber and Jud were not at Christmas morning, so we decided to do the big dinner instead of big lunch. For lunch, we did sandwiches. As I said, Michael hadn't eaten in almost a full day, so I made a huge roast beef sandwich for him and chips and queso, then I took the kids to eat. Gabriel--and who knew?--LOVES eating cherry tomatoes. I was thinking that might be a good addition to his lunches or whatever because they are pretty cheap and good for him.

By the afternoon, we were pooped, so Gabriel and I went upstairs and took a nap. Emerald was too wired to sleep, so I held off for her. It was nice getting to snuggle Gabriel and get some rest--the holidays always take a lot out of me.

Post-nap, we put on Toy Story 3 for the kids to watch--they really enjoyed that, and it gave us a bit of time to rest and relax and breathe.

This past June, my Great Grandmother--Barbara, my Papa's mother--passed away. We were all really close to her, she was a wonderful woman. Well, this was the first time that I saw my family since July (sad--I want to see them more), so this was the first chance that we had to go through the things that Grandma left us. That's why the candy dish that morning had made me cry--it was marked "From Mom and Grandma". I was confused--I never call Granny "Grandma"...I call her Granny, so I looked at Mom and she told me it was from Grandma Hill. When I opened it, it was a pretty little clear crystal candy dish with a little butterfly on top....Grandma loved butterflies and had them all over her house. I got a little emotional seeing it....Mom picked it out for me because it is going to be hard for the kids to smash, lol.

My Grandmother collected dolls for as long as I knew her, since Papa was little as far as I can gather, so she left a lot of dolls for all of us. Granny got all the ones intended for this side of the family, and so she laid them all out on the table, as well as some vases and ceramic lady heads, and (going in age order), we picked two each. At least 6 of us were crying. Because there were so many, I ended up getting three the first time for me (two were a set), then one for each of my kids, then one extra one, plus a dress that Grandma had sewn herself. I am going to print that pretty copy of her from Amber's wedding and put it and the dress in a shadow box, I think.

I will take good care of them and eventually give them, plus the miniature ceramic lady heads and book collection when she was still alive.

As expected, that got everyone pretty emotional, so we moved on from that to cooking dinner. Michael took Emerald upstairs and I helped downstairs with the food.

Now, since almost everyone has diabetes or blood pressure problems, you would think that our diets would suffer, but everything was still quite fabulous. We had fried wild turkey for an appetizer, then ham and roast, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes that were made with fresh grated nutmeg (incredible), sweet potato casserole, rolls, salad, homemade creamed spinach with mushrooms and cheese then baked (also really good), gravy....it was sooooo good. My Uncle Ted is a fabulous cook, and he was telling me about how if an adult consumes an entire nutmeg, it has hallucinogenic effects. Which...is kinda cool, really. There were also lemon bars, and fresh brownies, and a birthday cake for Jesus (Emerald asked for it, lol), and pumpkin and pecan and apple pies.

Since we had church the next day, we all took baths in that well water that makes you feel like you aren't getting all the soap off your body (darned hard Lubbock water!) and turned in early =)

~Andie~

Saturday Morning--Third Christmas

I guess it really is time to finish these Christmas posts, seeing as it is almost New Years.

Before I even start, please forgive me if I don't remember exactly everything that everyone got. Michael and Emerald were across the room where I couldn't even see them, and with all the chaos I lost track of even what I was opening for me and Gabriel. BUT I will do my best and see what I come up with :)

Christmas morning started late for my family this year--out of respect for Michael, they bumped it back to 6 a.m. At Granny's and Pat's, usually we get up at 4.30 or 5 to do presents, but Michael is not a big fan of that, lol.

Gabriel did NOT want to get up. Emerald was excited and sunny and wanting to run down the stairs, but Gabriel was clinging to me and fussing a lot. Which is actually pretty backwards for them--normally, Gabriel is our early morning riser. But neither of them had slept well the night before, so he was especially cranky.

I sat up camp on the leather sofa next to Granny's tree, where Gabriel and I were partially obscured, and Michael nabbed a chair right in the center of the room with Emerald.

There seemed to have been a little confusion at Santa's workshop, because my kids got a big pile of presents from him, lol. Emerald got a big Snoopy stuffed animal with a little portable radio with it, plus a Santa Paws (Buddy) DVD, and a Disney Princess portable game thing. In her stocking, she got a cute puppy with a pink bandanna around her neck named Skye, plus Disney Princess play dough that smells berry-ish, a Santa Pez dispenser, and I think a coloring book.

Gabriel was really crabby throughout opening presents, so he sat in the corner and ate a banana and watched me open presents. Santa brought him Toy Story 3, a walking, roaring Rex toy, a big Tonka dump truck, and a giant Smurf with two finger puppet smurfs. In his stocking, he got a handmade ornament, a stuffed puppy dog, four hot wheels, and a blue race car that had candy inside it.

Then the real havoc began--present time :)

As far as I can remember, Gabriel got a Chuck portable fire station toy, a V-Tech giraffe ride on video game thing that I really need to set up, a Little People fire truck that makes fire truck noises, a giraffe that sings the ABC's, a pair of pajamas, and a How to Train Your Dinosaur dinosaur plush.

Emerald got Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land, a Caucasian family doll house (story behind that, I'll write about that later!), a Strawberry short cake doll with all these hair accessories, three my little ponies, a pink laptop, a Fur Real polar bear that groans and wiggles, a Disney princess sleeping bag, push light, night light, and decorations for her walls, and a gigantic gingerbread man coloring book.

*Note: I am really thinking I should have written this a few days ago, when I remembered everything and hadn't unpacked it all!!*

Michael got a Fry Daddy, a charge pad, and a gift card to Chipotle.

I got a big beautiful picture for my living room, new silverware, a new blender, a Rachael Ray cookbook, a beautiful heart necklace, and a crystal candy dish that made me cry. More on that later.

After we opened all the presents, I had Michael pack them in the car except for the stocking and Santa presents--it keeps things from getting to spread out. While he did that, I set the kids up playing with their cousins and aunts and uncles and went and helped Mom and Granny make breakfast. Well, I sorta helped. Mom is so used to cooking for a crowd that she was able to whip up sausage patties and bacon and eggs before I even finished getting out the English muffins, bagels, and cereal and make the orange juice. It was nice to have a real breakfast--usually, mine consists of unsweetened, milk-less hot tea and toast with jam.

After cleaning up breakfast, I notice Michael looking quite miserable and I realize that he was so worried about not keeping an eye on the kids that he hadn't eaten since McDonald's at lunch the day before.

-siiiiigh-

Next post should be Lunch through dinner Saturday night!

~Andie~

Christmas Eve at Gigi and Papa's

Friday morning, we left to go to my grandparent's house for Christmas. Friday was Christmas Eve--we only got the three days off to be with my side of the family.

Scoggin-Dickey was really nice--our jeep is not in the greatest condition, and was in the shop as it was when we needed to leave (as if it would have made it all the way six hours away in the condition its in anyway)--so they let us borrow a rental traverse. Normally, you have to work there for 8-10 years before they let you borrow a car :) I am pleased Michael works there.

Before we left, Michael brought home Josie's carne asada and cheese breakfast burritos.

Anways, we left about 9.30. We both hate long car rides, but the kids had really good travel bags packed (if I do say so myself)--they slept about half the way and played with quiet toys the rest of the time. We stopped at Sonic and got drinks for the road, plus sliced apples for the kids. At lunch time, we stopped and got McDonald's, but I didn't eat...McDonald's is gross.

I read aloud to Michael from "Wizard and Glass" by Stephen King, and we listened to A ChrisSims Carol on War Rocket Ajax (I just had to google that podcast name, lol). It was pretty funny--I am a big fan of Matt Fraction, who was on the episode. Very easy ride--we got to Granny and Papa's about 4.30 or so...can't remember exactly.

The whole ride, Emerald talked about how she was going to go see and ride the horses...but it was cold and rainy and drizzly, not good weather to be go harassing the poor horses at Papa's house.

Jarrod, Julia, Andrew, Mom, and Dad were all ready there, as well as Uncle Robbie and Aunt Alice and Aunt Cindy and Uncle Ted and all the cousins. Amber and Jud were taking Grayson to Abilene for Christmas morning, and Royce and Stella had to work so they kept Brian and Dominic in Tyler.

For dinner, we did Taco Soup, plus lots of snacky food--homemade venison summer sausage with cheddar and jalopenos; homemade vension peppercorn sausage; cheese cubes; veggies--tomatoes, olives, carrots, celery, cauliflower; queso; and chips and crackers of all sorts.

It was really nice to catch up with my family--I don't get to see them anywhere enough, and I missed Thanksgiving this year. And the kids just loved playing with their cousins. We had to worry a lot about them on the stairs--I didn't want either of them upstairs without someone keeping an eye on them, and Gabriel can't get down the stairs as well as I would like.

We turned in early, since Michael and I were exhausted, but the kids slept horribly. But everyone in my family are early risers, so we knew Christmas the next morning would start no later than 6 a.m.....but that's another post :)

~Andie~

Thursday: 1st Christmas

I have a bit of "free" (read, neglecting what I SHOULD be doing) time on my hands, so I figured I would start the Christmas posts!

Friday through Sunday, we were with my family in DFW, so Thursday before we left we had Christmas with Michael's parents and brother.

So, Thursday, the kids and I got up and cleaned the bedrooms--packed bags, separated laundry, and picked up things from the floor. Their toys got put into three piles--keep, trash, and donate. There is still too much stuff for their little rooms to handle, but at least it is better.

After Michael got off of work, we headed over there and had queso for dinner--a personal favorite of both Michael and Emerald. The kids wore the new Christmas outfits that I got them for super cheap at wal-mart. I like the outfits because they are toasty warm and casual fun :)

Don't they look so sweet?? Gabriel looks so handsome in blue :)

Anyways, while Ken and Rhonda distracted the kids, "Santa" came and tediously set up an Tinkerbell and Friends Adventure Hut for Emerald and Imaginarium wooden blocks for Gabriel. As hoped (and expected, because Michael is really great at picking out stuff for the kids), Emerald and Gabriel loved them.

Then we opened the rest of the presents from everyone. Presents as follows (as best I can remember off the top of my head--forgive me if I forget something!!):

Gabriel got a Little People's wheelies car ramp thing that is as tall as he is; two cute new outfits--one yellow sports shirt and lounge pants, and one toy story shirt and jeans; a green John Deer tractor that you push a button and it shakes and makes noise and drives away; a barrel of monkeys he doesn't have to share with Emerald; a inflatable punching bag (which he will love when I actually get around to blowing it up); a pickup truck that supports the armed forces; and plastic quiet time cars. Rhonda also bought him a new Mickey Mouse ornament for the Christmas tree. 

Emerald got a book reader and 7 books--Dora, 3 Toy Storys, Finding Nemo, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and....one other that I am not remembering. She loves this toy--she had it read to her all the way down to my grandparents house. She also got a bumblebee pillow/stuffed animal that we named Marty Bumble after an episode of Veggie Tales; an inflatable punching bag and a barrel of monkeys she doesn't have to share with Gabriel; and two new outfits--one jeans and pink sweater, and one red lounge outfit. Rhonda also bought her a new Cinderella ornament for the Christmas tree. 

Andie (I) got a blue snowman sweater, a two-tone pink hoodie sweater, a new purse with my name on it, a giftcard to Barnes and Noble and a giftcard to Olive Garden; a Coffee Mate Ice Tea maker; a sweet cinnamon pumpkin candle, cocoa dusted truffles; and Caribbean Escape hand soap. 

Michael got a new pair of work shoes, three new button up shirts, two new work belts, and giftcards to Game Stop, Barnes and Noble, Sonic, and Burger King. 

I THINK that is all...I should have written it Thursday night, but we came home and put the kids to bed before I put everything away and loaded up the car to leave early the next day.

Ken got the kids a gift for Glo and Pawpaw Wearden's house--a copy of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" that has a recording of Ken reading the story aloud. Emerald was very interested, but it was hard to get Gabriel to sit still at all.

Tune in next time when I regale you with the stories of Wearden Christmas--Friday through Sunday :)

~Andie~