Thanksgiving

We had such a great Thanksgiving! For the first time in sooo long, I haven't made a turkey! I love cooking...so it was a little sad for me. I did, however, make pumpkin spice muffins with cream cheese icing. YUMMY!!

We started off in Vernon and then off to Lubbock on Thursday. My mom, sisters & I went off to Black Friday deals at 3:30am Friday morning! It's a tradition and I LOVE it! I didn't get much...just dvds and some porch lights.

Cole and Natalie got to spend a lot of time with grandma & grandpa and they had such a good time! And it was great to see MY grandma, aunts & uncles & cousins. We were missing Amber, Mike & Taylor! :( Hopefully we'll see you soon!

Running Again!

I've gotten sooo tired of starting to work out and then stopping because its hard to bring a DVD and workout when traveling (which me & the kids do often). Soooo...I've decided to start running again! I avoided it for a while, but now I'm back in! My goal is a 1/2 marathon which will be April 11th in Dallas, "The Big D". My sister is running and maybe my mom! I'm trying to get some Childress girls in also!!!

If you're reading this and thinking...NO WAY could I run a 1/2 marathon (13 miles), YES YOU CAN! My mom had never run in her whole life...well...maybe a little here & there. She just finished a 1/2 marathon earlier this month! It took her about 7 months to get up to it. It is possible.

Right Now I'm working up to a 5k. I'm following a program called "The Couch to 5k". It involves walking and jogging for 25-30minutes 3 times a week. By the end you are running a 5k in 30 minutes (or quicker). today I did 2.3 miles in 25 minutes. Not great...but my best time all year (that involved walking...fyi!)

And...my motivation? Sarah Palin. She's one smokin' hot momma who always finds time to run!

Not to mention I love her politics. But that's another blog...haha!

Getting ready for Christmas!

Look what we've been up to!

Trying on Christmas Clothes!

(yes...that's the painted paneling...now awaiting new plug covers and baseboards & crown moulding!)

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CHEESE! After we plugged in the tree (Sunday)

For Suzanne: She was LOVING on her "kiki"!

I am SOOO excited about this Christmas season! I think the kids will have a BLAST! They each have a little tree in their room with lights. We've been singing, "Happy Birthday Jesus" and today we are putting up the Nativity set. One of my FAVORITE memories growing up was putting out the nativity set at my Grandma & Grandpa Schwertner's house. Grandma would let one of us put baby Jesus in the cradle. Usually it was the youngest...or the one who begged the hardest (I was the oldest but begged ;)) Sooo...this is Cole's 3rd Christmas of us doing that!!!

New Moon

Yes, I'm a Twilight saga fanatic. I mean...I tend to be a bit obsessed. I read Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse in the fall of 2007. It is my favorite book saga of everything I've read. (if you know me...you know I read...A LOT). New Moon was the HARDEST book to read! The emotion is so real and true...and RAW!

Anyway...the movie. We've had our tickets for over a month now. We got to Tinseltown in Lubbock at 8:00pm and waited (inside the lobby) until about 11:30. We were then allowed into the theatre. It was great! I cried eVERY TIME Bella screamed in her sleep. I'm not sure why...the agony/pain was just too much for me.

New Moon facts that I think are cool:

~This movie was filmed in a "warmer" color than Twilight to symbolize the "warmth" that Jacob brings into Bella's life...as opposed to the "cold" that Edwards brings.

~Originally the "Jacob jumping in the window" scene was left out...but Chris Weitz (director) added it because it was too necessary!

~Supposedly...this is the movie Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart fell in love while acting...

~Taylor Lautner almost didn't get to play Jacob. They almost used the man who played Sam. He had to "prove himself". (I'm soooo glad they kept him as Jacob!)

~Rob Pattinson thinks that Edward is much more depressed than Stepehenie Meyer lets on in the book.

~Stephenie Meyer wrote Edward's version of Twilight, "Midnight Sun". (it's only 1/2 done and you can read it on her website). When asked if she would do that for New Moon (write Edward's version), she said no...it would be too depressing & painful to do. WOW!

I can't wait to watch the movie again and buy the DVD! I will be at Walmart at midnight when they release it on DVD!!!

A week away!

Justin and I decided that we wanted our paneling PAINTED! On a whim we called a local painter. We agreed he would start Thursday. Since he would be painting our living room, entry way, and hallway...we decided that it would be best if the kids were NOT there to mess it up. We packed up and went to Lubbock Wednesday! I thought we would only be there until Friday. Turns out...the painting took until Saturday and it was very smelly. My parents were traveling to Austin and then San Antonio for the Rock & Roll Marathon & 1/2 marathon. They took us along with them!!!

Friday around 4pm we headed to Austin with my parents and sister. Luckily they have a big enough vehicle (Chevy Traverse....awesome!) We got to Austin around 10:30pm (i think?). The next morning my parents & sister went to San Antonio with my other sister, Jessica and her boyfriend Matt. The kids & I stayed with my Aunt Suzanne in Austin. It's always so nice to stay with her because we chat the day away and she loves my kiddos...and they love her! We played with the kitties and were spoiled by Suzanne :). We also got to meet the lady who did the mortgages on BOTH of our houses & several of our friends/family...Carrie. She is EXACTLY how I imagined her...meaning SUPER sweet & beautiful! I'm soooo glad we got to meet up with her!

Sunday, Jessica ran the Marathon (26.6 miles) and my Mom ran the 1/2 marathon (13.2 miles). I was soooo impressed! Jessica did say she would never want anyone to run a marathon...i guess that means it's no fun? Care to elaborate? They both did awesome and I'm soooo proud of them! Several friends of mine also participated in both events...WAY TO GO!!!

That same day we got to spend the afternoon with my cousin Alyssa. She is 18 (can NOT believe this!) and will be moving to Lubbock in August to attend Texas Tech! I'm soooo excited for her! She is BEAUTIFUL and SMART...and has the BEST personality. I can't wait to see what great things she does!!

We got back to Lubbock Sunday night around 11:45 or midnight...then we woke up and came home this morning. Both kids are congested and coughing...I'm hoping it's just allergies and the changes in altitudes...we shall see!!

Natalie is walking everywhere these days! She's not afraid one bit and it's adorable! And...Suzanne...she's been a princess today...sorry she was so gripey after her naps at your place!!!

Natalie Walking FOR REAL!

Natalie just started walking for real on her own! Not just a few steps!! Such a big girl!!!

Natalie's 1st Birthday Party!

Saturday, November 7th we had Natalie's 1st birthday party! It was such a blast! I made chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes with pink icing and Mimi brought two cakes, (a big one and Natalie's little one!). We served hotdogs and my seven layer dip with chips.

Of course she HAD to wear her cute pink tutu & birthday shirt...but she ALSO wore her new pink princess necklace! hehe...it was ADORABLE!

Both sets of grandparents came, her Great Aunt & Uncle from Iowa park, 3 aunts, 1 uncle and 3 cousins...and also our neighbors!

She got lots of fun toys, but she is IN LOVE with two specific toys. Her princess riding toy from Grandma & Grandpa and her tea set from Auntie Jess!!!

At cake time she wanted to dig in and got MAD when i made her take her tutu off. THEN she got mad again when I grabbed her hand before she grabbed the candle. She soon realized how yummy the cake was and ate almost HALF of it! haha! She then had the best time opening her presents and "AHHHH"ing over them & playing! She's having to share her cars & airplane with Big Bubba Cole...he keeps saying, "These Cole's toys..." oh well..she shares nice!

Nat's Doc visit and friends :)

Today was Natalie's 12 month well visit. She is growing!

Weight: 20.1 pounds

Height: 30 inches

Head: 17.5 inches

She had 3 shots & screamed!! Actually...she screamed the whole time. She's afraid of doctors and nurses ever since her last doctor's visit in Lubbock. She had a flu swab, strep test, and finger prick to fill a vile of blood. In fact, I'm scared of doctors now too. :) Other than the screaming, she was perfect!

Yesterday, we got to play with some friends while their Mommy went to get her hair done! These sweet girls are 2 and 7 months. The oldest is one of Cole's favorites because she LOVES Thomas the Train! The youngest is soooo teeny tiny! I was afraid Natalie would be jealous...but she just LOVED her! She wanted to give her a bottle, toys, and be touching her at all times! Cole even loved on her! It was a lot of fun! I always love to see my kiddos interact with others their age! The cute thing is...if we are all still in Childress for a while...they will all be in the same grades! The older kiddos watched Thomas the Train and Mickey Mouse, while the younger two played with toys in the sunroom! fun times

My baby is ONE!

Happy Birthday Natalie Ann!!!

I can NOT believe my tiny baby is ONE! This year has flown! It's been soooo special to be able to spend so much time with her!! We woke up this morning and sang Happy Birthday to her...she was still asleep and cried and cried (she's not a morning girl). Then she realized we were spoiling her and she was happy! :) After that, I decided to work out while Justin took Natalie and Cole for donuts. The sweet ladies at Childress Bakery gave her a free "birthday donut"! We are having her party on Saturday, so today is just the family. I think I'll have to get her a little birthday present for today and save the big ones for Saturday.

Natalie facts:

• She can walk! Last night she started taking off on her own and walking short distances without us prompting her! (still not everywhere...but this is much more than before!)
• She says LOTS of words! mama, dada, bubba, baby, more, dog, kitty, night night, wawa (water), Ice wawa, apple juice (strange...huh?), bye bye, what's this/that?, shoe, duck, brush, hi, choo choo, tractor, pee pee, poo poo
• She blows kisses
• gives high five
• hugs her babies & gives them kisses (only when she's in the mood...other time she throws them! lol)
• She is a MOMMY'S girl when I'm around...if it's just her & daddy...she's all about daddy!
• She does NOT sleep all night...maybe twice a week she does.
• She still gets mommy's milk 2-3 times a day...if she will get over this cold I will work on weaning...
• She is a piggy! Eats a TON!!!
• LOVES chocolate (oops)
• She still wants to do everything Bubba does!
• Makes a truck sound when playing with trucks
• Can find a choo choo ANYWHERE (wonder where she learned that?)
• Likes to have saline squirted in her nose...it's pretty funny!
• Has gone pee pee on the potty a few times :)
• She is sooo tiny compared to Cole! She is wearing 12 month clothes. Cole was already in 24 month clothes at one...haha.
• In the morning I say, "Go get Bubba" and she crawls to his door and pounds on it, saying, "BU BA" haha! When I ask if she's hungry she nods her head and points to the kitchen and then starts crying...haha!

I guess that's all I can think of...but she's the most beautiful little one year old I've every seen! (and her brother was the most HANDSOME! LOL)

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did NOT make a fool of myself today in Aerobics class today. No...I didn't almost fall over doing Yoga poses and then laugh out of pure frustration!

I also didn't watch a scary movie Halloween night and leave all lights in my room on. Bedause that would mean every time I closed my eyes I would see a scary lady with Rabies (I watched Quarantine...I mean...I DIDn'T watch it!)

I didn't spend too much money on my daughter's first birthday photo shoot.

Oh...theres so many things I didn't do this week...that I'm just quitting at that! LOL