That's What She Said

A Weekend at Home

2011-10-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

I love fall. So many fun things to do. Football, fairs, Halloween and the CAF Airsho. I showed Sid one of the WW2 planes flying around town Friday. The following conversation went like this:
Sid: Mom what's World War 2?
Me: A long time ago all the countries in the world got in a fight and went to war. It was a really sad time. A lot of people died.
Sid: That's because my dad wasn't going to give up.
Me: What?
Sid: My dad doesn't quit.
Me: World War 2 was many many years ago. Before your dad was born but your dad did fight in a war. It was called the Cold War.
Sid: Did he have to wear long sleeves?
Me: Yes.... They did wear long sleeves in the Cold War.
Probably our last parent child history lesson for a while.

Today I made hamburgers for lunch. While I was cooking Sid grabbed her notebook and pen and started "writing" a story about me to pass the time.
Sid: Mom in my story you have to clean all the house and then wash the clothes.
Me: I'm not sure I like that. Why do I have to clean all the house?
Sid: Mom it's in the script.......
Ah my little diva.

After lunch I couldn't find Sid in her room. I tracked her down in the entry sitting in her carseat.
Me: Oh there you are.
Sid: Yeah me and Star are just sitting here relaxing listening to music and staring at each other.
Me: Okay have fun with that.
Sid: Hey Mom I need to tell you something.
Me: What is it?
Sid: I'm in a really comfy spot right now. Would you get me a drink of water so I don't lose it?
Diva... The hat really says it all.

36 Bleh.....

2011-06-16T07:01:00.000-07:00

I hit the big 3-6 this week. I've been thinking of this birthday as the start of the last half of my life. When I tell people this they ask "Are you only going to live to 70?" I don't think that exactly. I just can't deny I'm getting old, my mindset is changing and things are starting to break down. For example.... my birthday started when I woke up for no reason at 5am. I fear this may be the beginning of a new era of early rising biorhythms. When I got out of bed the bottom of my feet hurt when I walked. Gout? Arthritis? I tried to "walk it off" but gave up after about 10 steps when I realized I looked like some sort of zombie puppet. I then made some tea with milk to help ward off osteoporosis and sat in our recliner. Yes we own a recliner. It's fabulous! As I sat in the recliner I randomly began to think that we should buy some coasters, that I should be asking for lots of free condiments when we get fast food so I don't have to buy it at the store and that I really need to start moisturizing every day. Yep I'm old.

Food for Thought

2011-01-09T18:52:00.000-08:00

Going to buy groceries is one of my least favorite things to do. I will put it off until we have eaten all the food in our house.

Last weekend when Sid came home from visiting her grandparents she opened the fridge and was surprised to see that there was actually food in it. Her response was, "Mom where did all this food come from!? Is it MAGIC?" Even the 4 year old knows it's more likely that magic filled the frige than I went to the store.

I've been trying to do better about feeding our family. More home cooked meals and fewer drive-thru meals. I've been shopping at the HEB in Midland to motivate myself.

Damon is not a fan of this. Everything we need should be purchased in Odessa according to him because Odessa > Midland. Maybe that's true about schools and it's definitely true regarding hospitals but Midland's HEB is just better. The produce department is huge and in the 3 times we've been to the store I still haven't seen everything they have to offer.

So we'll be making the 15 minute drive to Midland for groceries for the time being because Damon likes to eat and Sidney needs to learn where food comes from - the magical Midland HEB!

Decorating a Big Girl Room

2011-01-08T17:26:00.001-08:00

Now that we are settled into our apartment routine it's time to pretty the place up!

I've been mulling over what to do with Sid's room. I want to transition it from baby to big girl but still keep her personality a part of everything.

This painting is one of the things we kept from her old room. I love that it's 1.) educational 2.) girly and 3.) colorful. I used it as one of our inspirational jump off pieces.

Santa brought Sidney this Barbie palace. His elves worked for 2 1/2 hours putting it together! Installing a 3 story elevator in a dollhouse is more complicated than you might imagine. After so much bonding time with this peice of plastic (not to mention that it dominates a large portion of her room) I felt we needed to incorporate it as another inspiration piece.Here are some of the items we have purchased so far:

I love that I can throw this quilt in the washing machine. It is also reversible to a solid if Sid gets tired of the dots. The quality is great. I think this is a blanket she could have through college.Sidney is a Hello Kitty fanatic. This throw pillow was pretty much a no brainer. When we found it at Target she insisted on carrying it until we got to the check out and then I had to persuade her to let the cashier have it to scan. It's a perfect match to the pinks in the quilt!We were in need of toy storage so that we could walk through Sid's room without stumbling over horses, Barbies and tea sets. Damon and I put this together twice since I can't read instructions. It's pretty and has safety latches so she won't get her fingers smashed. It's in front of her window where it can also double as a window seat.We ordered 5 of these panels for Sid's window. They give her room a pretty pink glow when the sun shines through them.

This is the bedskirt that coordinates with her quilt. We also picked up a pink zebra body pillow to put behind the quilt shams.

There are still quite a few things to pick up before her room is complete. We need a good lamp for reading and a wall clock. Some of the things we're considering adding to the pink madness:

I found this clock on etsy. They will personalize it with your child's name. With all the pink in her room we need some purple to balance things out.

I found this mobile on etsy also. They will customize the butterflies to coordinate with your child's room. It also looks really cool when it spins. It's as though you have a globe of fluttering butterflies above your bed.

I discovered PBTeen when I was looking for quilts. I love this site! Very fun and funky. I like all of these lamps. Going to be tough to narrow it down to one!

I had seen some vinyl wall quotes at Target but none of them seemed to fit Sidney. I was blown away by how many online options there were. Here are a few of my favorites:

Sweet Pea

Practically Perfect

Fairytale

Pixie Dust

Spirit of the Sun

Monsters

How to Introduce Little Girls to Star Wars

2011-01-03T18:51:00.000-08:00

Damon usually reads Sidney her nightly bedtime story. Her favorite book of the past few weeks is a charming yarn called Barbie and a Fashion Fairytale. It isn't great literature. I know this because the pages are covered in glitter. It's really an infomercial for Barbie products disguised as a learn to read tool. But night after night after night it's her book of choice. Tonight as I passed by her door I heard Damon reading the story but with a slight twist:

Damon: "The gunship roared over the Eiffel Tower. The Clone Troopers were in desperate need of a fashion make-over. There was only one place they could achieve their objective - the city of Paris. They had worn their battle armor for 3 missions and it was time for a change. They needed Barbies help to add a little flair..."

HaHaHa! Here is a fun Star Wars PSA.

An Eye Full

2011-01-02T14:02:00.000-08:00

I've been a Dior mascara fan for a few years now. It's a splurge purchase ($25+) so I try to make that little tube of black gunk last as long as possible. Today I picked up Dior Extase to help ring in 2011. It promises to transform my lashes in a single stroke. We shall see!

Christmas - Another One Flies By

2010-12-31T06:40:00.000-08:00

The entire month of December has been a blur for me. I hadn't realized how Sid being in school was going to affect our typical Christmas happenings. Between her school pageant, teachers gifts, ballet practice, my work and the regular seasonal stuff there was a lot going on. The good news is that we got most of it done and I'll be better prepared for next year.

Some of the highlights:

Damon and I were invited to a Christmas party at Venezia's in Midland. The food was amazing! It was especially fun to hang out with grownups for an evening.

Sid had a lot of fun with her school Christmas program. This year she sang with the other kids in preK and next year she will get a speaking part. I was very impressed with how all the kids did. The teachers did an amazing job getting them ready.

Damon and I got to sit in on one of Sidney's ballet/tap practices. She is starting to get the hang of it. Her first recital is in May and I think her teacher has her work cut out for her with this group of dancers. Lots of personalities and a few divas!

We got to see my good friend Sara and her family. We met at Rosa's for dinner and then got hot chocolate at Star Bright Village. I miss them tons and I'm so glad that they will be moving closer to us.

We had dinner at Shirrie's a few days before Christmas. She is such a great cook! We hadn't seen Mark and his family in years. It was good to catch up with them and Damon loved having someone to talk tech with. Sid had a blast playing with all the kids after she got over being shy. When we left she kept asking when we could go back to play.

We went to Kermit for Christmas Eve/Day. It was wonderful to spend time with Damon's parents, grandma, aunts and uncles. Santa brought Sid a new doll and 2 horses for the doll to ride. She named the doll "Chocolate Diamond" and the horses "Barbie and a Christmas Carol" and "Barbie Cowgirl." Santa also brought her a new Barbie dollhouse. She loves the Barbie! Her toy box is overflowing with all the new loot.

Life is returning to normal around our house. Of course we're already starting to gear up for our next holiday - Valentines! My favorite!

And Now For Something Completely Different

2010-11-19T17:08:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had one of those months where you decide to sell your house, get rid of half of your possessions and move into an apartment? I have! It was crazy. But a good crazy - in a "clean out all the junk you've collected in your life and start fresh" kind of way.

Our life consisted of garage sales and maximizing the space in our dumpster for about 5 weeks. We gave a lot away. Deciding which of our things were priceless and irreplaceable was the hard part. It's amazing how much lighter I feel now. Holding onto things just because they belonged to someone else had created a crushing amount of sentiment. I didn't realize how much pressure it was until I got out from under it. So the moral of my story is - the things you possess may come to possess you.

As for the apartment, we're still getting settled. Our living room furniture currently consists of a plastic storage tub and camp chairs. We're working on changing that but after getting rid of so much clutter we're being picky about what we bring into our home. In fact maybe a little overly picky. It took me 4 hours at Target to pick out a rug for our bathroom. Yes, 4 hrs of my life were spent agonizing about the color of a floor mat to put around our toilet. After working so hard to get rid of stuff, bringing more stuff into our lives seems a bit counterproductive. I won't even tell you how much time went into picking out the sofa...

My Mom

2010-09-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow will be 9 years since my mom passed away. Really miss her. She was a lovely person and a great mom.

Three Things...

2010-08-27T15:15:00.000-07:00

...that made me happy today:
1. Damon made breakfast for the family.
2. I got several hugs from my patients just because.
3. I had a good talk with my boss. I was able to share some things that had been frustrating me and now feel much better about work.

Two Things...

2010-08-26T14:28:00.000-07:00

...that made me happy today:
1. Having my little girl run up to me and jump in my arms when I picked her up from school.
2. Finding out that mystery spot on my arm wasn't cancer.
*Smile*

First Day of Pre-K

2010-08-23T15:30:00.001-07:00

Sid was so excited to go to school! No tears from her but a little bashful when we dropped her off. She gave Damon such a tight hug around the neck he was afraid she bruised his thyroid. I got a little misty eyed but mostly had butterflies in my stomach for being nervous that she have a good first day. Damon went up to spy on her during chapel and said she was smiling and happy. So far so good! 13 more of these to go.

Football! Football! Football!

2010-08-18T20:09:00.001-07:00

Found these on one of my favorite Texas Tech sites: DoubleTNation.

Guess Who's Back in the House...

2010-08-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

MAX!!! He's back in the house but on probation. So far so good!

Sidney and the puppies.

Sidney showing how to put a dog in a headlock. Poor Star! Such a good sport!

New Heights

2010-08-02T20:45:00.001-07:00

This year we spent our summer vacation in the Colorado mountains. Beautiful views, cool temperatures, trees and streams. A recipe for a great time except for the altitude. Damon is not a fan of heights and this trip happened to be full of them. He is such a trooper though and tagged along with Sidney and me on the Pike's Peak Cog and most of the Seven Falls climb. Here is a pic of Damon and Sid on top of Pike's Peak. You can just see New Mexico in the distance. Damon is smiling because his eyes are closed.

I asked Damon to take a picture of Sid and me on the edge. When we got to the spot I looked up and saw Damon on his hands and knees with his arm covering his face and bracing the camera for the picture. An old man next to him was about to call the EMT's for help. As we were coming back down on the cog Damon said, "When the conductor said we could see Kansas...that was one of the worst moments of my life!"

Here is Damon half way up Seven Falls. It is 224 steps to get to the top and gorgeous waterfalls all the way.

This is how much further we had to climb to get to the top.

Damon decided to wait at the bottom.

He was very brave the whole trip but he's insisting that next year our family vacation be to someplace less vertical.

Inspiration

2010-07-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

This past week we found out our puppy Max has a new favorite food - poop. I was informed of this during a department meeting by Damon. Our conversation went like this:

Damon: "Did you know Max eats poop?!"
Rochelle: "No I did not know that."
Damon: "He eats poop!"
Rochelle: "Well did you give him some dog food? Maybe he's hungry."
Damon: "No."
Rochelle: "Did you scoop the yard?"
Damon: "No. He can never some inside the house again!"
Rochelle: "You know I'm in a meeting...at work..."
Damon: "He eats poop!"

When I got home Sidney showed me how she had captured this conversation in drawing:

This is a sign that says: "No poop eating dogs in our house!" You'll notice the use of brown watercolors to highlight the poop as well as the giant "X" to show poop-eating will not be tolerated. Picasso couldn't have done it better!

The Summer I Impersonated a Blonde

2010-07-08T20:10:00.000-07:00

In honor of my 35th birthday I decided to mix things up a little - starting with my hair. The reactions have been mixed. One of my patients asked me, "Who talked you into doing that to your hair?" Several people have not recognised me. This list includes Aunt Shirrie - who also happens to be my hair dresser. My best friend Denise told me I looked younger. One kind soul told me I looked thinner. I've noticed that I catch myself smiling more and just feeling happier in general. It's been a fun change. But I think my blonde days are numbered. My roots are calling me back to my brunette self. And you can't forget your roots - especially when they keep staring you down every time you peek in a mirror.

After 3 Weeks of E-mealz

2010-07-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

We took a little time off from the plan to go on a trip to Austin and honestly because we were too lazy to go to the grocery store for a few days. We're now back on the E-mealz wagon and I'm glad. We eat more veggies when I cook for us at home. I also think the food tastes better than our usual diet of fast food. Our big $ savings are going to pay off a few speeding tickets but such is the journey of life - especially when you like to live 13 miles over the speed limit.

Week 1 of E-Mealz

2010-06-19T06:31:00.000-07:00

Dave Ramsey's radio program frequently advertises E-Mealz.com. After 4 years of listening (being brain-washed) to these commercials I decided to try it for our family. In the past I have added up how much our family of 3 spends on food during a month and the amount is often more than our mortgage. We Jackson's like to eat!

We purchased the Walmart Family of 4 Plan because I thought it would have the best savings. There are several plans to choose from but you can only change your plan once every 3 months. Currently they do not have a plan for HEB which is my grocery store of choice. They do offer an "Any Store" option but it does not include a $ estimate for you to track your savings.

E-mealz promotes their program as $5/month but you must purchase it 3 months at a time. I thought this was a little sneaky on their part but not having to think about what to make for dinner for 3 months won me over. Hopefully, now that I've already paid for the plans I will stick with the program and our bank account will thank us.

Damon and I decided to split the work so he buys our weeks worth of groceries and I cook the meals. I think I got the better end of this deal and he thinks he got the better end. It's a win/win!

I didn't think we would like some of the recipes and I was already planning to call in Pizza Hut as backup. However, everything was surprisingly tasty and we were able to stretch all of our meals to cover lunch the following day. When they say the meal will feed 4 I think they mean 4 grown men that have just finished a hard days work in the fields.

One meal involved cooking a lot of pork chops in the crock pot. I like the ease of crock pot cooking and this meal was probably the best tasting of the bunch but the clean up is a pain. Yes, I know I need to buy some crock pot liners but when I only use it once every 6 months it hasn't been something I think about.

To purchase all the ingredients for the Walmart shopping list we spent about $75. This amount did not include staples. Lemon juice, mayo and capers are some of the listed staples. Capers?! I would like to meet someone in West Texas that has a ready supply of capers hanging out in their pantry.

Damon went shopping on a Saturday and said he will never go back to Walmart on a weekend again. Hehe! So I switched us to the Any Store Plan after our 3rd day. Hello again HEB! The Walmart dinners were also heavy on starches and cheese which is probably why they tasted so good. The Any Store Plan had more veggies and fresher ingredients. We'll start it tomorrow night.

After our first week of E-mealz we probably saved $150 but our food budget was admittedly out of control. This program has de-stressed dinner for me since I can now just go on auto-pilot after putting in my hard day in the fields. A person that is organized and disciplined could probably do this all on their own but that person isn't me. So far E-mealz has been great for us.

Puppy Love

2010-05-04T05:24:00.001-07:00

My life seems to have gone to the dogs the past few weeks. Between groomers, vets, shots, and picking the "right" dog food these 2 pups have kept me on the go.

Sid loves playing with Max and Star. She also enjoys helping me "scoop" the yard. I'm sure our neighbors are tired of her yelling, "MOM THERE'S SOME POOP OVER HERE!" Yesterday she told me, "Mom you're good at this. You're a magical mom!" There's really not much "magical" about carrying a HEB grocery bag full of processed dog food to the dumpster, but I appreciate the encouragement. She's been extra encouraging since she stepped in some that I missed. Imagine crying and gagging at the same time. Poor girl did not inherit my nursing nose.

I've been taking them for lots of walks which has been good for meeting more of our neighbors. I've also been watching re-runs of The Dog Whisperer. There are some crazy pet owners out there that I'm in danger of turning into. I asked Damon to get me a therapist if I start referring to Star as my "doggy soul mate."

For Our 77th Anniversary

2010-04-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

Damon enjoys teasing me that he measures our marriage in dog years. This year our 11th anniversary went to the dogs. Literally! My friend Sara and her kiddos went to the Odessa Humane Society with us to pick out the perfect pups. We found 2 sweet dogs. Max a 3 month old shepard mix and Star a 1 year old labradoodle. We're hoping that they will be best friends!

Spring Cleaning Phase 1

2010-03-14T17:40:00.000-07:00

The Spring Clean bug has bitten! We've been busy this weekend tackling projects we've been putting off for a while.

Damon was able to get all the dead shrubs dug out of the front flower beds. This involved the help of our neighbor, his bulldog, and a winch. Surprisingly there were no injuries or accessory property damage.

I schredded 4 years worth of credit card applications and financial documents I'd been stockpiling. It equalled out to 2 large garbage bags of confetti. Our poor schredder overheated several times during the process but at least lasted until the job was done.

To celebrate we went on a picnic to the UTPB duck pond Saturday. The weather was perfect and the geese kept their distance. I'm twice their size but those aggressive geese freak me out.

The dishes are washed and the laundry is almost done. The week is off to a clean start.

My Thoughts on Oscar

2010-03-09T11:50:00.000-08:00

I love to watch the Oscars. The gowns, the celebrities, the suspense and even the cheesy acceptance speeches. This years Oscars were good but there are definitely things that I would like to see improved.

1.) No more Kathy Ireland! She was too tall for the people they had her interview. And way too intense for the type of fluff questions that nervous stars flying without a script expect.
2.) More Neil Patrick Harris! I just like him. If they thought he was good enough for the opener why not the whole show? And are those big musical numbers really necessary? The best original songs and scores should be more than enough music for the evening.
3.) The hanging lamp shade backdrop while unusual just didn't seem in keeping with the glitz and glamour of the show. Maybe if the theme of the evening was modern suburban living room...
4.) Cut back on the obvious movie plugs. While I do enjoy the Twilight series, Bella and Jacob didn't deserve to be presenters. Ditto for Hannah Montana. It would be nice to limit presenters to stars that have won Oscars in the past or at least been affiliated with best picture calibur productions. The importance of the award seems diminshed by having teeny-boppers pass them out.
5.) I like that they have the best actor/actress peers talk about the nominees prior to the award. I wish that they had asked Renee Zellweger to talk about Colin Firth. He deserved more than Julianne Moore's "I only knew him for 3 days."
6.) After having done this for decades I'm sure this was not the first year that someone has won back to back awards. Having to wait for Kathryn Bigelow to make the journey from back stage for the best picture Oscar was awkward. My favorite part of the show is seeing the surprise on their faces when they're announced and then the hugs from the people around them. Getting a peak at James Cameron's face when she was announced right in front of him would have been interesting too. He seemed gracious when the camera eventually panned around to him. Having the highest grossing movie of all time isn't a bad consolation prize.

Overall, it was a fun show. The people I was cheering for won. Plus, I got lots of good makeup/hair ideas (thank you HDTV for not hiding flaws) as well as some do's/don'ts for the next formal gown I have to buy. Here's to next years big night!

Another Car Conversation

2010-02-12T18:42:00.000-08:00

In honor of this years extra long winter.....

Sidney: "Mom, where does the sun come from?"
Me: "That's a great question. Where do you think the sun comes from?"
Sidney: "Probably Los Angeles."

Well the sun is a star and obviously LA is full of movie stars.... I see a trip to the planetarium in our future and a little less Access Hollywood.

Just Like Brett Favre...

2010-02-10T19:09:00.000-08:00

Damon and I are the Brett Favre of home owners. Our pattern goes something like this:

Me or D: "Hey lets sell our house."
Me or D: "That's a great idea! Call a realtor."
***We meet with said realtor****
Me or D: "Hmmm maybe we should just fix it up and stay."
Me or D: "Yeah let's keep the house."
***We begin a small renovation project like removing wallpaper or changing a light fixture***
Me or D: "Hey let's sell our house."
***And so the cycle continues***

At our current rate we will eventually meet with every realtor in Odessa before Sidney starts kindergarten. I'm not sure why we're such wafflers about the house. Maybe it's because we know that we'll still have to work on the next house we buy. Maybe it's because we don't want to admit defeat but we don't want to live through the construction mess. Maybe it's because we enjoy inviting realtor's over to our home only to tease them with a commission. Ha!

We're currently in the project phase of our sequence. The master bathroom is due to get gutted over next weekend. I think this may be the project where we have to commit or get off the potty - literally!

My Little Obsession

2010-02-03T16:24:00.000-08:00

I have to confess I am crazy about Texas Tech football. I read the blogs. I post on the message boards. Any news about the Leach firing, the hiring of Coach Tuberville, national signing day - I gobble it up. I love it all!

Many of the Tech fans got their feathers ruffled over the loss of Pirate Leach. He did keep things entertaining but perhaps not always in an positive way. Honestly, he was never going to lead Tech out of the shadow of UT and OU. It was time for him and the university to part ways, but it could have been handled in a more graceful manner.

The hiring of Coach Tuberville has the potential for greatness. He has brought onboard an amazing OC in Neal Brown and James Willis as DC is going to be incredible. With the addition of todays new defensive recruits the future is looking very bright for Tech as the program moves towards a balance of offensive fireworks and defensive dominance.

The next big hurdle is the selection of starting quarterback. Taylor Potts has the skills but lacks charasmatic leadership. Steven Sheffield has proven he can spark the team and the fans while also making the tough plays. I only question his durability. Is Sticks Sheffield tough enough to make it through the entire season? Both QB's have a chance under the new leadership, and I'm curious to see who Brown selects for the position.

The season starts September 4th with a home opener against SMU. With the Craig James fiasco of last year this game should be a fun one to watch. Get your guns up! Wreck 'em!

Sneaky Sidney

2010-02-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

Sidney had been quietly playing in her room (which should have been my first clue) when I heard the bathroom sink come on. I went to check on her and found her in the hallway between the bathroom and her bedroom holding a drawer from her jewelry box full of water.

Me: "Sidney what are you doing with that?"
Sidney: "Oh... I'm going to water your plants." (She was completely and convincingly straight faced. We are so in trouble when she becomes a teenager!)

At this point I noticed the trail of water leading from the bathroom sink to the play kitchen in her bedroom. She had been slowly filling her play sink with water - one little jewelry box drawer at a time. Unfortunately, the water was also forming a small lake in the carpet around her kitchen.

Me: "Sidney! Why did you do this?!?"
Sidney: "It's just part of my evil plan..."

Yes, we are so in trouble!

Fluke

2010-01-29T19:28:00.000-08:00

Sidney and I have some of our best conversations in the car on the way home from the babysitters. Here's one from this past week:

Sidney - "Mom what's a fluke?"
Me - "A fluke? I think a fluke is something that shouldn't happen but does. Can you think of something that's a fluke?"
Sidney - "Well at night when I go to sleep my cat comes alive. That's a fluke."
Me - "Uh yeah...."

Seriously, is there an appropriate "parent response" to that?

Christmas in Re-wind

2010-01-02T07:22:00.000-08:00

This year's Christmas holiday was spent with my immediate family. My dad, step-mom "Nana Anna," brother Landon, and step-sister Sarah all traveled to beautiful West Texas. This was our first year to be together for Christmas. I was nervous about us all being in my little house with only one working bathroom but everything went so well I don't know why I was worried.My folks flew in on the Tuesday before Christmas and the siblings arrived on Wednesday. When Landon and Sarah got into town, Damon and my Dad (sporting his workout cardigan) thought it would be fun if we went on a walk around UTPB. Normally this is one of the neater things to do in Odessa but the weather was not cooperating. 17 degree wind chill with drizzling rain does not make for a pleasant stroll. So we cut the walk short and went out for dinner at Ajuua's. Because what goes better with exercise than a platter of Mexican food covered with cheese? This was our first time to eat at Ajuua's new building. The staff was still working through the kinks of being in a different location so the service was not the best. We did have fun checking out all the hostesses bump-its and making every waiter that came to our table take our picture. I'm looking forward to going back to Ajuua's after they've gotten a bit more settled.

Damon and Landon made a quick trip to the store for Rock Band. It was fun to watch Landon sing and dad play the drums. It was more fun for dad after we callibrated the drums so they were actually on beat with the music.Christmas Eve morning we enjoyed a light snow. Just enough to make everything look like it was sprinkled with powdered sugar.The rest of the day was full of cooking and craft projects. Sidney painted ornaments for the Christmas tree and decorated the gingerbread house with some help from Uncle Landon and Aunt Sarah. Nana-Anna and I cooked up a storm of Christmas goodies. We whipped up chocolate chip cookies, graham cracker toffee, and pumpkin muffins. Mmmmmmm! Before Sidney went to bed we put out milk and cookies for Santa. We also placed some paper down on the hearth so we could get Santa's footprints like my Grandpa used to have us do. Damon kept running to window saying, "Maybe we can catch Santa flying by!" To which Sidney replied, "What kind of trap are we going to use to catch him?" Ha!Santa came to our house and enjoyed his milk and cookies. He left Sidney a stocking full of goodies and new dress-up clothes. Damon's mom and dad came over for present opening and Christmas lunch. Phyllis made a turkey and her delicious dressing! I was in charge of the ham which turned out surprisingly well.

Sidney opened presents for almost an hour straight. Yes it's good to be the only child! Her gifts included lots of new books to read, make-up, clothes, Barbie and the 3 Musketeers, and a cool new vanity to give herself and brave volunteers makeovers!Anna, Sarah and I went to the movies and watched Sherlock Holmes. We visited Walgreen's on the way home and almost bought bump-its before we came back to our senses.

Overall the week was a lot of fun and went by too quickly. I'm already looking forward to future family gatherings for this year!

I'm not Crazy I'm just a Vegetarian

2009-11-15T08:45:00.000-08:00

Walking the path of the greens eater is a tough transition after 3 decades of being a carnivore. I still crave steaks and cheeseburgers. A lot! But I want to be healthy and thin and my previous diet plan was letting me down on achieving those goals. So time for a change.

I just finished reading Eat to Live. Lots of good information packed into that book with plenty of references for the skeptics. For me, seeing is believing and after 12 years of working with cardiac patients and diabetics I've witnessed the importance of diet over exercise and medications. I've been sampling the diet as I worked my way through the book. There were several things that I thought I was doing right but were actually keeping me from moving forward. For example: heaps of olive oil when cooking, large portions of lean meats, and fruit juice. So far by just dabbling with my diet I've lost 8 lbs. I'm not quite down a size in my clothes but I'm getting there.

I'm doing this not because I feel bad for animals but because I want to be the best version of me. If eating vegetables can make that happen, I'm willing to make the HEB produce section my best friend.

Here is a sample of what I eat during the day:

Breakfast: Salad - 2 handfuls of baby spinach
6 baby carrots
4 grape tomatoes
1/4 red bell pepper
1 handful of walnuts
I like this because I can eat it in the car on the way to work.

Lunch: Foot Long Veggie Delight on Wheat from Subway with spicy mustard and hold the cheese
This is a ton of food but only 500 calories.

Dinner: Baked Sweet Potato Plain
Baby Spinach Salad Topped with Canned Black Beans (Ranch Style is my favorite), 2tsp of Light Oil and Vinegar Dressing, and Chopped Green Onions.
I love how this looks on a plate with all the colors. Even Damon the die hard meat eater likes this meal.

I still eat some meat/fish a few times a week but it's more of a side dish buried under all the vegetables. Several of my co-workers have enjoyed telling me how weird eating all veggies is and how I'm going to be unhealthy and lose all my hair? Hopefully seeing will be believing for them too. Going against the norm is crazy to most people but when the norm is being overweight and sluggish I'm willing to be crazy. Crazy for fruit and vegetables that is.

Guns Up Baby!

2009-10-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

Not my best camera work but this is my favorite Sid vid!

Likes

2009-10-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

Last year when we went to Durango, CO Sidney brought home a toy cat named Chloe as a souvenir. Chloe is very opinionated. Sunday night Sidney was telling me all the things that Chloe hates. Chloe apparently hates "football," "zucchini," "water," "dogs," and "typing" - in no particular order. I told Sidney that we shouldn't focus so much on what Chloe hates. We should talk about the things that Chloe likes. I asked Sidney, "Can you name some things that Chloe's likes?" Her response was, "Chloe likes hating." Gotta love that 3 year old comedic timing.

Thoughtful Moments

2009-10-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

Today has been spent lounging around the house and just randomly reflecting on life. So far I've realized that... I'm a much better house keeper when we have people coming to visit. Chips and salsa can be just as good at home as at a restaurant. I overly enjoy making lists. I just finished a great one for grocery shopping complete with an aisle by aisle plan of attack. I spend way too much time on Facebook. Curse you Bejeweled Blitz and you're mesmerizing sparkling gem stones! I really dislike fixing my hair. The blow dryer is not my friend. And do people really care what my hair looks like? I think not. Louis Lamour books are a fun fast read unless you're an Apache. I need a cell phone cover that repels face prints. Rubbing my Blackberry on my pants all day is getting old. That pretty much sums up my day of randomly wandering brain waves.

FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-31T20:01:00.000-07:00

After 3 tries we finally paid off our consumer debt. Our 2 previous attempts ended after we bought new cars and then had to get loans to repair the roof and air conditioner.

Last September we buckled down (the reluctant spouse got on board!) and started attacking our $40,000 of debt. Now one year later we're done! The last thing we paid off was Damon's pickup. So long Ford credit!

I have been so focused on making the debt disappear that I didn't plan for what we would do after it was gone. I feel a little lost. There are so many things that we want to see, do, or buy it's overwhelming. I need a plan! Our new challenge is definitely learning to save. We've never had that option before, and I think it may be as challenging as getting to where we are now.

We are splurging a little this week on a new TV. Our current TV has a wavy image that has been driving Damon crazy. It will be awesome to write a check for something fun instead of a bill!

We've been debating selling our house and moving into an apartment where we wouldn't have to worry about maintenance. That appeals to me. Escaping a renovation sounds like a good idea. We've also thought about buying another home, but I know that we'll still have maintenance issues. Today we are leaning toward staying put and getting our fixer-upper repaired. No telling what we'll decide tomorrow. The good news is that we don't have to decide anything right away.

Denver City Saturday

2009-08-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

Take That Rosacea!

2009-07-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

For several years I've been trying to find some way to cope with my rosacea. I've tried antibiotics, prescription creams, ointments, and over the counter cleansers. Nothing worked. After my allergic reaction in March I was through with dermatologists and decided I would just have to deal with having the complexion of a tomato. I randomly picked up this kit at the grocery store of all places because I'm drawn like a moth to a flame to any product that says "controls rosacea." This stuff is amazing! My complexion looks great, and I am so happy with the results. There is a price to beauty though. One of its ingredients is sulphur, and the odor is very strong. I feel great, look great, but smell like a box of lit matches. So sorry family, friends, and co-workers that you have to be around the smell. I'm hopeful that the company will develop a more aromatic version in the future. For now I'm not giving this stuff up for anything!

July 4th Weekend

2009-07-06T15:34:00.001-07:00

Gigi's 80th Birthday

2009-06-21T11:56:00.001-07:00

Birthday Weekend

2009-06-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we went to Dallas/Fort Worth to celebrate my birthday. We stayed with my best friend Denise and her family. On Friday we went to the Dallas World Aquarium with the kids. It was an amazing place, and I hope that we will get to go back again soon. On Saturday the guys watched the kids (this included a trip to the new Cowboys stadium) while Denise and I did some power shopping. We had ladies lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. Yum!!! It was a great way to spend my birthday. Thanks Denise for making the weekend so memorable and fun!!!

Daddy Time!

2009-06-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

Graduation!

2009-05-16T16:07:00.001-07:00

I am now an RN, BSN! Woohoo! Guns up Red Raiders!

Lubbock

2009-05-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

Sixteen years ago I started working to get a college education. The first part of this journey started in Lubbock, TX and on Saturday it will end in Lubbock, TX. A lot has happened in the past years. I've learned a lot about work, having a family, and finding balance with the two. Deciding to finish my degree was part of finding that balance. I needed it to enhance my resume as a professional, and I needed it as an example for my daughter. It's important to finish what you start which is ultimately what getting a degree demonstrates. I know that my mom wanted this for me. I wish that she could be there to watch me walk the stage and get my diploma. I can remember going to my dad's graduation and I hope that Sidney will remember going to mine. I really did it!

So Sew

2009-05-03T13:06:00.000-07:00

Now that the school part of my life has come to an end (until I decide I need a Masters degree that is) I find myself with an abundance of free time. During Sid's nap today I dusted off the Wii and worked on my tennis game and solo guitar skills. That was fun for about 30 minutes. Then I wandered around the house looking for something to distract myself with and re-discovered my sewing machine. I used to make lap quilts for gifts once upon a time and have several projects that have been collecting dust for the past 3 years. I picked back up working on the baby blanket I started for Sidney when I was pregnant. It's pink and green with rose buds. Super girly. I've almost finished piecing the border but I have to pace myself or I start getting sloppy. I'm also looking for a knitting teacher to expand my sewing repertoire. I like my sewing machine but knitting needles are much more portable.

Remembering

2009-04-26T15:36:00.000-07:00

Green Thumb

2009-04-15T18:36:00.001-07:00

This year we're experimenting with a vegetable garden. We've tried tomatoes and herbs in the past but this year we're going to branch out into peas, carrots, squash, and cucumbers. We started a few seeds in little pots last month. Then once they got started we transplanted them into our little veggie bed. So far our transplants are not doing so well. We also planted some seeds so hopefully they'll take off now that it's warmed up out side. Here are some pics of the finished effort:
Sheba getting right in the middle of things.

This picture reminds me of my grandma watering her yard. Lots of good memories of her working in her flower beds. Probably because she never made me help spread the cow manure.

Sid lovin' her garden. She even hugged it right before I took this pic. Hopefully the work will pay off and we'll have some fresh veggies to snack on this summer. If not, there's always the HEB produce section.

Digging up the Past

2009-04-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

After my grandparents passed away last year, my family decided that it would be nice to move my mom and aunt to the same plot. So for the past several months my uncle has been working to get all the legal details in order to make the move. It required a judge's seal of approval and lots of patience but they finally moved my mom this week. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I like that they are all together. I like that i can see my grandparents, aunt, and mom at the same time. It's just odd. Kind of like re-arranging the furniture, but with bodies. I'm going to see it in a few weeks. She's still dead, but I keep thinking that she's happier now. I hope so anyway.

Gorgeous!

2009-04-05T09:10:00.001-07:00

Spring Break in Robert Lee

2009-03-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Due to my work schedule we weren't able to take a week long trip this year. However, our friends the Tillman's graciously invited us to spend a day at their house in the country. We had so much fun playing with the kids and exploring their property. My favorite part of the day was when we were feeding their neighbors longhorn cows and Sidney started yelling, "Guns up Red Raiders!" to the longhorns. I was so proud!

A Little Nip and Tuck

2009-03-18T18:36:00.000-07:00

It was time for a blog face-lift. Jennisa, thank you so much for putting this together!!! Definitely was worth the wait!

The Reign of Disney Princesses May be Over

2009-03-15T19:55:00.000-07:00

This is what can happen to your daughter when she spends the day alone with her dad. . .

Unpleasant Surprises

2009-03-14T07:56:00.000-07:00

Last week I found out that I'm allergic to sulfa drugs. I have had rosacea for 7 years and my dermatologist thought it was time to try out a new antibiotic - Septra. He told me a few of the side effects, but I only half listened. I'd never had an allergy and didn't expect to have any problems.

On Tuesday, approximately 10 days after I started the medication, I developed a light red rash to the front of my thighs. I thought it was a heat rash at first because I had been exercising. I took a dose of Septra that night and about an hour later I realized that the rash was probably related to the new antibiotic.

The next morning the rash had spread to my stomach. I called in at work and started taking benadryl. I then called my doctor and left a message that I was having a reaction to the medicine he had prescribed. The receptionist told me they were very busy and she would have the office nurse call me back. In the meantime I started researching sulfa drugs and what type of reactions other people had experienced. There were lots of nasty rash pictures that didn't look like mine so I wasn't worried. I figured it would take some time for my body to get the drug out of my system.

At 1pm I still had not heard from the doctors office so I called again to follow up. The receptionist told me they were still very busy, and the nurse would call me soon. I wasn't too worried. I kept taking the benadryl and trying not to scratch. The rash was starting to become a darker red and reminded me of measles. This is what my leg looked like:

The office nurse called back at 6:15pm. I didn't get to the phone in time to answer and it switched to voice mail. I called her back immediately, but I got the office answering system. I left a message asking her to call me back and then listened to her message. On my voicemail she said to call back the next day (Thursday) after 3pm if I was still having problems. I noticed that the rash had spread to my arms at this point. I kept thinking my body just needed more time. It wasn't 24 hours since I last took the medication, and I anticipated feeling better in the morning.

I had a terribly bad night. I couldn't get comfortable, and the rash was starting to become very painful. I took some Tylenol but only managed to get 4 hours of sleep.

Thursday morning the rash had spread up to my neck and down to my ankles. I was starting to get worried that I might have Stevens Johnson Syndrome. I called in again to work and called my doctor as soon as his office opened. My worry was starting to turn into fear that this might not get better. The receptionist I had spoken with the previous day told me that the doctor had left town that morning and wouldn't be back until next Wednesday. WHAT!!!!! I was starting to get angry. I told her that I was worse today and I was very frustrated that I wasn't able to see my doctor. She then became snippy with me that their nurse was busy and I didn't understand what it was like in their office. At this point I was on the verge of crying and told her that I was a nurse too and that I wouldn't have called unless it was serious. I told her that I was going to the ER and that I was very disappointed with my doctor and his staff.

So, at this point I felt horrible, I looked horrible, and I was crying. To top it all off I had to go to my hospitals ER where I would most likely see people I work with, and I was going to have to be bra-less. I've never been one of those free spirit, bra burner gals. This was easily one of the worst days of my life. Damon came home from work to drive me and we fortunately hit the ER during a lull. We were one of 5 people in the ER and only waited an hour before they called us to the back. The nurse practitioner that saw me was a guy I had worked with on 4Central. He didn't recognise me at first, but he eventually realized who I was. By this time the rash covered me from the bottom of my feet to the top of my head. The worst part was my itchy ears. It almost seemed like I could hear the itchiness. The NP told me that he didn't think it was SJS but stressed the warning signs to look for, ordered me steroid shot as well as a benadryl one and sent me home with a prescription for a medrol dose pack.

During my time in the ER, the dermatologists office nurse called to check on me. I thought it was nice that they finally wanted to know how I was and what the ER was doing to take care of me. She asked me to call her back and let her know what medicines they gave me. Since I don't plan on continuing with that doctor anymore I haven't gotten around to making that phone call.

I missed work again on Friday. The medrol helped with the itchy part of my reaction but it made me feel jumpy and restless. I spent the weekend resting in bed and by Monday the rash had faded enough I was able to go to work. I felt weak for the first few days. On Wednesday I was finally back to myself. Overall it took me 8 days to get over my allergic reaction, and I missed 3 days of work. To do it over again I would have had Damon take me to the doctors office at the onset and intimidate the office staff to take care of me. I definitely wish I had skipped all the wasted phone calls. Fortunately it's just a bad memory now. Sulfa drugs are not my friend. I can promise you that I won't be taking them again.

Three Years Old!

2009-03-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

We had a princess party this past weekend to celebrate Sidney's 3rd birthday. She had a great time and got lots of great new toys. Here are a few pics of the day:

Jaime and Sidney being so excited!

Grandma, Papa, Jaime, and Sidney - group hug!

The in-laws - Papa, Grandma, and Gigi

The table decorations. It's amazing how much stuff you can find with Disney princesses on it.

Our little family!

Blowing out the candles.

Sweet cousins!

Thanks Meredith, Scott, and Sophie for the super cute dress!

Nothing like some balloon volleyball to burn off all those cupcakes!

Conversations With a 2 Year Old

2009-02-22T07:17:00.000-08:00

This is Sidney's last week as a 2 year old. Her perspective on what's happening around her and her imagination when she plays keep a smile on my face. Here are some of my favorite moments from this year:

On a recent trip home from the babysitters...

Sidney: "Momma, I don't like dragons. I like snakes!"

Me: "Oh really. You like snakes?"

Sidney: (condescending) "Mom, people love snakes."

Me: "I'm not so sure about that."

Sidney: (again condescending) "Momma, snakes are our friends."

This was followed by a 5 minute brainwash session about how snakes are not nice and if we see one we don't talk to it or try to touch it. Thank you Dora and Diego.

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After an hour at the grocery store the novelty of riding around in a shopping cart is pretty much over. That's when it's time to make your own fun...

Sidney: "Mom there some farm animals over there" (points to next aisle over)

Me: "I don't think there are farm animals in the grocery store" (not alive ones anyway)

Sidney: "I need to warn the farm animals."

Me: "What are you going to warn them about?"

Sidney: "I need to warn them about dragons! (yelling) Farm animals watch out for the dragons!!! Farm animals you need to look out for those dragons!!!"

I'm sure you can imagine the reaction that got at HEB.

*********************************************************************************

And just yesterday...

Sidney: "Momma you need to go to the cat hospital! (makes me lay down on a blanket next a line of her animals) Now hold still (pronounced "steeeeeeeeee-yal." Yes we're doing our part to pass Texas twang on to the next generation!). All of these cats are doctors. (Points to her stuffed animals and picks up her current favorite). This is Dr. Uy cat." (Dr. Uy is our family doctor. His name is pronounced - Wii)

Dr. Uy cat: "Meow Meow."

Sidney: "He's going to fix your boo-boos." (This is accomplished by Dr. Uy cat licking my face.)

Fortunately I didn't have to get a shot. I hear that cat doctors are clumsy with needles.

******************************************************************************

I tried to explain birthday spankings to Sidney and that she needed to practice getting them. Her opinion of that was...

Sidney: "No birthday spankings! Birthday spankings are not nice to peoples hineys!"

Ped Egg: The musical!

2009-02-11T16:30:00.000-08:00

Yes, I own a Ped Egg. It was an impulse purchase as I was checking out at HEB last Sunday. I also picked up some Green Bags so we can save hundreds of dollars on our fresh fruits and vegetables. Anyway, back to the Ped Egg. It's basically a cheese grater for your feet. But to my surprise it really works! I wish the act of emptying it was a little more glamorous, but I don't think there's much that can be done to make foot shavings chic. Overall, it's not as fun as getting a pedicure, but it's definitely a cost effective option albeit more labor intensive. And who wouldn't want to save a few dollars now adays.

Funny Girl

2009-01-29T14:50:00.000-08:00

This week has been full of some great Sidney commentary. Here are some of my favorites:

During Miss Hawaii's talent performance - "Mom that's a lot of shaking." Aloha!
I was laying on the couch reading a book and she came by very seriously and whispered, "Mom watch out for dragons!" Thanks for the heads up Sid!
I had made some paper dolls for her, and I told her we should give them names. The first one she named "Chloe." The second one she named "Dandy." Not sure where that came from, but it's her new favorite name. For the third one, she couldn't think of a name so she combined the first two and came up with "Clowndy." The new Brangelina!
We were naming her stuffed animals and she wanted to name 2 of her puppies "Perrito." I explained that we should give them different names so that we can tell them apart. She said, "Okay. This one is Perrito and this one is Dingy Perrito." Not only a name but an identity.
We've been working on brushing her teeth before we go too bed. I think that she's getting the idea because last night when I was brushing my teeth she yelled at me from her bedroom, "Be sure and get the ones at the back!" Colgate smiles all around.

Coffee Talk With Kay and John

2009-01-27T11:40:00.000-08:00

I've decided that it's time to start letting my state senators know what's on my mind. Thanks to email I can do this from the comfort of my desk with a cup of coffee in hand. Granted it's a one way conversation, but it's not their place to agree or disagree just to listen to the voice of a Texan they represent. If you'd like to let a Texas senator know what you're thinking, Kay and John are only an email away!

How many episodes of Survivor Man should you watch to prepare for the breakdown of civilization?

2009-01-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

More than two. Hehe! As a girl who has a tough time camping in an RV that has electric and water hookups, I'm not sure that I would be able to scrape by with my own hands, a hatchet, and some flint. I suppose that the will to survive would probably be stronger than my need for a memory-foam mattress. Hopefully, all the doomsday 2012 business is just silliness, but just in case I'll be doing my Discovery Channel homework.

The Old Grind

2009-01-11T13:09:00.000-08:00

Alas, Christmas break ends tomorrow. The past 6 weeks have really flown by. However, we were able to cram a lot of good family time into them. I'm excited that graduation is getting so close, but I know that my next batch of classes are going to create a lot of brain strain. Damon's classes will be starting this week as well, and I'm curious to see how we're going to be able to juggle our jobs, classes, and toddler. Thankfully, it's only for a few months. I can do it.

Uncle Landon Visits Odessa!

2009-01-07T18:09:00.001-08:00

My brother Landon was able to work Odessa into his tour of Texas. I'm so glad that he came to see us! Just wish it could have been a longer visit. He's promised to come back for my graduation so hopefully we'll be seeing him again in May.

New Years Port A Trip

2009-01-04T15:29:00.001-08:00

Damon and I spent New Years in Port Aransas with my cousins and their friends. It was a great location. Meredith found a wonderful house that was close to the beach. Devon made sure all the meals were delicious. We played games and watched a few bowl games. The Cotton Bowl was a big disappointment. Better luck next year Red Raiders! The weather was cool most of the trip. One morning everything was covered in fog. We didn't have to worry about sunburns. I'm already looking forward to going back with Sidney. Pelicans are funny looking birds but are so graceful in the air. While the guys were fishing we saw a pelican get hooked while trying to steal someone's fish. Sneaky bird! The poor pelican survived the episode, but it moped for a bit with it's beak hidden in the water before flying away.

I told Damon that if I could be a bird I wouldn't mind being a pelican. His response was, "Pelicans go blind and die." So I guess I won't be a pelican after all.

Here's Meredith our fabulous trip coordinator.
Marta and Kyle being silly. Sidney really liked Kyle. I asked if she made any friends while she was at Aunt Pami's house and her response was, "Yes! Darby. Kyle is my friend. A chiuaua lives in his car!" She had a great time playing with Aunt Pami and Haylie. She's still warming up to Sutton. Hopefully her dislike of boys will last until she's 18. The trip was such a great way to start the year. I didn't make any resolutions. I pretty much have my goals set out. This time next year I will have my BSN and will be working on becoming fluent in Spanish. 2009 is going to be fun!

Kermit Christmas

2008-12-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

We spent this Christmas with Damon's family in Kermit. We got to see lots of family and Sidney had a great time playing with all her boy cousins. She made out like a bandit with the gifts!

You're never too young to play 42! My sassy girl!

My mom-in-law and grandma-in-law.

Christmas morning was a surprise for Sidney. This horse was her favorite gift. It walks when you tap it on the nose. Thunk!

She now has a new kitchen and a Cinderella castle! Thanks Santa!

Look at that smile!

Sweet Daddy playing Barbies!

It was a great Christmas. I ate way too much and got to spend a lot of time with some great people. Couldn't ask for more!

Hope your Christmas was this memorable!

2008-12-26T15:43:00.000-08:00

I'm totally learning this song for next year!

Thundercats Hoooooooooo!

2008-12-22T18:24:00.000-08:00

All I can say is "Snarf!"

Christmas Happenings

2008-12-18T17:23:00.001-08:00

This month is flying along! Sidney is enjoying all the Christmas decorations. Every now and then I catch her "fixing" the ornaments but mostly she's been good about leaving the tree alone. Here she is modeling her Christmas princess dress that Kevin and Collin gave her. Their mommy has excellent taste!

This year Sidney asked for a Christmas tree in her room that was purple. It actually turned out pretty cute. I'm tempted to leave it up because it makes a nice night light.

We went to the Christmas parade with some of the nurses I work with. Quinn (he works in Cardiac Rehab with me) and his two boys Collin and Kevin. Quinn is from Kermit and went to school with Damon.

Erwin and his son Gio.

The kids faces in this picture crack me up. Sidney has a bit of a shy streak.

Boot Scoot and Boogie!

2008-12-09T20:01:00.000-08:00

My first semester at Texas Tech has come to an end. I started with a lot of doubts about myself and what I was capable of. The past few months have had plenty of challenges and frustrations. But there have also been some highs. An instructor asked for permission to use one of my papers as an example for her future students. Woohoo! And I made a 4.0! Damon says that I was the only one that doubted I would do well. So all my worries and fears were for nothing. I'm half way to my goal of graduating in May. To celebrate this milestone I'm treating myself to a pair of cowboy boots. Yee-haw!

The Christmas break is giving me some time to read for fun. I finally finished The Shack. It was a great book. I cried - a lot. The authors perspective on relationships was interesting and very thought provoking. I just started reading another book called Scratch Beginnings. So far it's convinced me that I am very blessed to have the opportunities that I have. I'm a little envious of the freedom of responsibilities that the author describes, but it's really nice having a private bathroom - with a door!

It's Official!

2008-12-08T16:45:00.000-08:00

After a bad take off on his motorcycle last Wednesday (which ended with him rolling on the ground after his bike), Damon has now crashed every vehicle we own. Our insurance agent probably won't be sending us a Christmas card this year.

It's a Happy Hutto Thanksgiving!

2008-11-30T15:25:00.000-08:00

It was fun while it lasted

2008-11-22T20:06:00.001-08:00

The Red Raiders record of 10-1 is nothing to sneeze about. Just wish the OU game hadn't been such an embarassing loss. Go OSU!

Signs That We May Be Watching Too Much Football...

2008-11-20T15:42:00.000-08:00

*Yesterday on the way home from the babysitters Sidney said, "Tony Romo is my dad." Close but not quite. hehe!

*Everytime Damon picks up the TV remote Sidney starts yelling, "Daddy no more football!!! Please!!!!"

*Sidney will randomly start chanting "Mojo! Mojo!" This is always fun when we're in public.

*She also knows which college teams to cheer for. "Guns up for Mommy and go Longhorns for Dad!" I think she yells a little louder for the Red Raiders though.

Down with the Okies!

2008-11-08T20:19:00.001-08:00

The Red Raiders do it again! Will Herrell get the Heisman? It's looking good right now!
Guns up baby!!!

Heart Walk 2008

2008-11-08T10:05:00.000-08:00

This was my first year to participate in the AHA Heart Walk. Our team raised the most money! It was a neat experience getting to walk with family, friends, and co-workers. the weather was pretty cold when we started but it turned into a really nice morning.

Quote of the Day

2008-11-07T16:33:00.000-08:00

Sidney: "Santa Clause is my favorite. He has a beard like my dad."

Pooper Scooper Barbie

2008-11-06T16:52:00.001-08:00

This past weekend Sidney got her first Barbie. It seemed like the perfect Barbie for her because it came with a puppy - "Tanner." Perhaps we should have read the information on the packaging a little more closely. This toy teaches about the responsibility of maintaining a pet while throwing in a little recycling lesson just for kicks. Tanner eats his "food" which is then pooped out, scooped, and then gets eaten again. Truly hours of scooping fun to be enjoyed!

And I'm Proud to be an American....

2008-11-04T08:22:00.000-08:00

I voted! How about you?

The Big Game!

2008-11-01T22:03:00.000-07:00

It feels great to be a Red Raider when they knock the wind out of the No-Horns! Guns up!!!

Trick or Treat

2008-10-30T18:34:00.001-07:00

Change - It's a Comin'

2008-10-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

This article pretty much summed up my feelings about the election.

Quick Trip

2008-10-19T15:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend Sidney and I traveled to the Dallas area to visit my friend Denise. We were short on time but definitely made the most of it. I'm exhausted! Saturday we took the girls to a pumpkin patch and then got in a little retail therapy after that. The kids had a great time playing. Thanks Tim and Denise! It was a blast!

Spooky!

2008-10-11T18:22:00.001-07:00

Halloween is almost here!

Cupcake

2008-10-11T18:12:00.001-07:00

This Plus this
Equals this

Confession

2008-10-10T15:27:00.000-07:00

I'm way too excited about this. . .

Just for Fun

2008-09-24T15:02:00.000-07:00

Disney Princesses Take over America

2008-09-21T19:04:00.000-07:00

I just watched a video of Matt Damon comparing Sara Palin to a Disney Princess. He was trying to be insulting, but I think he missed the fact that America loves Disney Princesses. I mean would it really be that bad if a Disney Princess ran the country? Maybe not Snow White - the vibrato in her singing voice is terribly irritating. But a smile and a friendly "Hello!" might be just what the Middle East needs right now. The secret service would probably have trouble with the influx of rodents making fabulous, froofy dresses, but the 2009 Inaugural Ball would be magical! If I had to pick just one princess for President, I would probably go with Cinderella. She knows how to clean house, and I think that's what our government needs right now - a thorough scrub down. Cinderella's seen the tough life of the lower classes, but she still believes that everyone can have their dreams come true. So, Cinderella for President! Magical pumpkin coaches for all Americans!

Mushy Brains

2008-09-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

Last night we watched Resident Evil 3. It wasn't a great movie, but it did get me to thinking, "How prepared are we for an invasion of zombies?" After a quick inventory, I came up with a list of weaknesses in our homes defense. First, our house is full of picture windows. They are just simple single pane glass, not even storm windows. A zombie wouldn't bat an eye - assuming he still had one intact - before busting on through! Second, we don't own a gun or crossbow. I'm assuming that we would need thousands of rounds of ammunition to defend ourselves. Maybe firearms and projectiles aren't the best way to go. Perhaps a machete would be a more appropriate weapon or possibly an axe? Although, using that style of weapon would bring us into closer proximity to the zombies chompers. Pretty much when the undead decide to come over for a Jackson buffet, there's absolutely nothing here to stop them. That being said, don't be surprised if you see us among the ranks of eternally hungry brain-eaters ravaging your neighborhood. After all if you can't beat 'em join 'em! It's better to be the eater than the eaten - if your stomach's strong enough. Plus, it's more fun to be on the winning side! Don't blame us for jumping on the zombie bandwagon. argggggggggghhghghg......

Sara's Getting Married!

2008-09-14T20:03:00.001-07:00

My friend Sara is getting married this week so we took some casual bridal pics today to celebrate. She looked great even with the West Texas wind! We had so much fun. Best wishes Sara and Jerry!

Meredith's Birthday

2008-09-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a little song for you Mere!

Friday Night Football

2008-09-07T11:39:00.001-07:00

My friend Sara and I went to the first Permian home game last Friday. We had awesome seats on the 50 yard line - thanks Damon! Permian blew San Angelo away by 40 points. It was great fun! I didn't get a lot of pictures because we were so busy gabbing and cheering.

I love that lady's face behind us. People get so into the game!

Baby Brainwashing

2008-09-04T17:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry the picture is so dark. Makes it hard to see the look of pain on Damon's face. Ha!

Cheesy

2008-08-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

One of my instructors had us read the book Who Moved My Cheese? Damon's aunt Madelin had given it to us when Damon was laid off in 2001 and it was good to read it again. My favorite part of the book is when it asks "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" Personally I'm very reigned in by my fears, especially fear of the unknown and fear of failure. Being back in school has brought both of those fears front and center. I feel like I've been smacked on the forehead but I'm starting to realize that 1.) I like being a nurse and 2.) I like learning more about what I do. Surprise, surprise!

Reality Check

2008-08-30T19:27:00.000-07:00

For some reason I thought that working fulltime, having a 2 year old, and going back to school wouldn't interfere with life as usual. WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!!!!

My classes started last Tuesday and the past 5 days have kicked my butt. The program had me hitting the ground running and since I haven't had to strain my brain for the past 10 years it's been a far from graceful beginning. One of my professors seems like she genuinely wants us to be better nurses through this program. Another of my professors leaves me with the impression that she doesn't like students. Eeeep!

I'm trying to stay focused on the prize and my successes. This weeks victories include: reading over 150 pages of nursing literature and turning in my assignments on time. Damon has gone above and beyond! He's been so helpful, especially when I've wanted to take a hammer to my computer and the Texas Tech IT staff. Thanks Babe!

Make Over - Toddler Style

2008-08-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't enjoy a new look?

I call this look "Purple People Eater."

Midnight in Odessa

2008-08-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

I recently got hooked on Stephanie Meyers Twilight book series. It's a teenage vampire love story written by a Mormon house wife. Sounds silly I know but it's been a fun escape from reality. My awesome friend Sara went with me to the midnight book release party at Hastings. The party was a bit on the lame side (no food!) but we did get to see a few interesting goth people.

Hanging out with the Dennis Gang

2008-08-17T17:20:00.001-07:00

Last weekend Sidney and I got to spend the day in Kermit with Zane and Kim's family. It was so great to get to see them! The boys have gotten so big and Chad will be starting ACU in just a few days!

Sidney and Trey-lor

Sidney and Great-Aunt Kim

Sidney and Chad

Guns Up Red Raiders!

2008-07-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

I received my acceptance letter today for the RN to BSN program! I have orientation on Aug. 20th and on-line classes begin Aug. 26th. Woohoo!!!!!!

Chocolate!

2008-07-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

I've recently discovered a new chocolate icing recipe. It's easy and super yummy!

Throw 4 squares of bakers chocolate (I used semi-sweet) & 1 1/2 cups Coolwhip in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for a minute and then stir! It looks a little wierd at first so don't freak out. Just keep stirring and enjoy! It made enough for me to cover 2 dozen cupcakes.

Playing at the Duck Pond

2008-07-07T18:51:00.001-07:00

Cousins

2008-07-05T17:11:00.001-07:00

I finally figured out how to use my new scanner! Here are some Massie cousins pics from over 2 decades ago.

Here we are all grown up!

July 4th Fun!

2008-07-04T22:35:00.001-07:00

This year we spent the 4th in Kermit. Several distant cousins where able to join us and that made the day very memorable. There was so much food and lots of laughter! Essential ingredients for a good holiday. Damon and Oscar manned the grill for hamburgers. We ended the day by catching the firework show at the park. Wow I'm tired!

Yes I'm a Princess

2008-07-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

Aunt Jeanie and Haylie gave Sidney her first dress up Princess dress. Huge hit! Her favorite thing to do is run around the house making silly poses and yelling "I'm a Princess!" Too cute is she! Ballet lessons will be here soon.

Vacation - Tuttle Style

2008-06-29T19:21:00.000-07:00

This year we went on vacation with the Tuttle's. We drove to Durango, Colorado and got to spend the week in the mountains. It was a new experience for us to go camping. The campgrounds we stayed at were really nice and we met some neat people along the way. Our camp site in Durango was right on the creek. Living in Odessa it's easy to forget that there are things like creeks. It was awesome! We went white water rafting on the Animas River. Sidney loved it! It was my first time to go and our guide made sure we had a memorable time. He hit every patch of rough water on the river and everyone got soaked. Note for future raft trips - don't wear jeans! Damon and Uncle Charlie got to check out several brew pubs. Carver's was the best of the bunch. They make their own root beer and it is just amazing! We took a day trip to Mesa Verde. I am so proud of Damon for overcoming his fear of heights to take the Cliff Palace tour. There were several spots where the trail was only a foot wide with a good drop off the side. It's a place that I had been to growing up and I'm glad that I was able to go back with Damon and Sid. On the way home we stopped in Las Vegas, New Mexico and met our cousin Matt for dinner at Charlie's Spic & Span. Yummy! The food was great the entire trip. Thanks Uncle Charlie and Aunt Jeanie for letting us tag along with ya'll! This picture reminded us of the picture Gigi painted for Damon last Christmas.

Haylie and Sidney playing at the playground in Las Vegas, NM.

The bridge across the Rio Grande Gorge outside Taos,NM.

Lightner Creek in Durango,CO.