Christmas

OMG...I just typed a huge long post and accidentally deleted it...urghhhh...

Long story short...my parents got stranded here in a blizzard...locked keys in car...took 6 hours to make a 2 hour drive...spent Christmas night in a hotel in Wichita Falls...never got to see my sister...had to plow their driveway with a tractor.

Now...for OUR Christmas...Santa got the kids WAY too much...but they seem to like it! Cole got a John Deere Gator. He likes it! If the snow & ice will ever melt, we'll have a lot of fun with it! Natalie got a lot of dolls and other girlie things. They also got Pottery Barn Chairs from their Mimi & Papa. I don't have many good pics because I let my parents take the pictures...and they forgot to download them to my computer...

Christmas is almost here!!!

We are ready for Christmas at the Pierce house! Santa's #1 elf got all the presents wrapped already! (so I heard) The Christmas ornament balls have all been taken off and eaten/broken several times now, the Christmas books have bent pages from thorough reading, and the "magic" that "Buddy the Elf" was making is starting to fade. Cole was pretty good about being a good boy for about one week. One day Buddy didn't even leave him a piece of candy. Cole didn't care.

It's been a busy few weeks! Friday, 12/10 Justin's regional team had a Christmas party in Amarillo at Greg Ammons' house. It was a BEAUTIFUL home! We had a great time & got to see Allen & Melanie, our friends from Vernon. We even got to stay the night because my mom stayed with Cole and Natalie! They had a GREAT time with their Grandma (or "Ma Maw").

Friday, when we got back, we had Justin's store Christmas party. The store catered it and we all brought desserts. It was fun...and we already have great ideas for next year! Santa came to the party also!!! The place we had it at was all decorated for Christmas and there was a perfect scene & chair for Santa. Cole took one look at santa and ran away. My mom used grandma magic on him to get him to go. He was ok in line, but when it was his turn...he frowned & backed up to him...WOULD NOT LOOK AT SANTA! We got some pictures. I'm just glad he didn't scream like last year. Natalie was good too! She just looked at him. Later, Cole decided he wanted to sit on Santa's lap again. This time he told him he wanted choo choos. haha!

On Thursday, 12/17, we had the Manager's Christmas party at our house. It took a lot of work and cooking on my part, but it was a success! I was actually not feeling well the night before, or the day of (dehydration), so Justin cleaned the house. I rolled out of bed at 3pm. Our menu was: Pork Tenderloin (United made this...yummy) with Raspberry Chipotle sauce, Green Been Bundles, Twice Baked Potatoes, Raspberry Vinaigarette Salad, and Mini Cheesecakes. It really was a gormet dinner. We fit 20+ people in our house and it wasn't too bad!

Natalie and Cole are having so much fun these days! They are really in to chasing eachother around the house. Natalie can run now....so it's a little dangerous..but funny! She can also say Santa...."Danta" and runs to point at him all the time. She just started saying "Thank you" when people hand her things...I don't have to remind her anymore. Today...she fed her kitty macaroni while she was eating. Today Cole cracked me up, "Mommy, I go take nap, then Ma Maw come. That be cool?" I had told him that TOMORROW Grandma would come see him. Yesterday we went and drew signs on our driveway for Santa to see. "Cole and Natalie have been GOOD", and "THIS WAY SANTA!" with arrows leading to our door. haha....they had fun!

Tomorrow my parents are coming...I'm soooo looking forward to giving them their gifts! My mom is also going to help us make cookies for Santa! Thursday we have Christmas Eve mass at 8pm and then the traditional reading the Luke Nativity scene and read the Night Before Christmas. Friday morning we will open presents and then head to Vernon for Christmas with Justin's parents. I'm looking forward to it all!

We have been so blessed this year! Merry Christmas! I'll leave you with the lyrics to one of my favorite kids Christmas Songs!


Happy Birthday Jesus
I'm So Glad Its Christmas
All The Tinsel And Lights
And The Presents Are Nice
But The Real Gift Is You.

Happy Birthday Jesus
I'm So Glad Its Christmas
All The Carols And Bells
Make The Holiday Swell
And it's All About You
Happy Birthday Jesus
Jesus I Love You!

Running update

Just thought I'd give an update on my running adventures! I start my 1/2 marathon training TODAY! I will be running 4-5 days a week and cross training/strength/stretching 2 days a week! I'm soooo excited! I need a challenge and a goal...and this is it! I've been doing 3 miles through various routes here in town. I've been scared of the hills behind my house... I ran it once in May and quit halfway up the first hill. Just QUIT! Saturday, I took my dog and we went to attach the hills. It was FUN! Maverick took my mind off the hills and I loved the view. I'm looking forward to more runs out in the country with Maverick! He needs to get in shape too!! Did I mention that I'm running the Rock and Roll Dallas Marathon? I'm VERY excited!!

Have you heard about Ryan Hall? His story is AMAZING!

"My parents were strong Christians," he continues. "I definitely believed, but I wasn't really strongly pursuing my faith. I was playing baseball, basketball, football--I was into, like, the cool crowd at school. And then one day traveling down the mountain to a basketball game, I got this random--I describe it as a vision, but you could call it an idea, whatever--this thing pops into my mind where I am looking out at Big Bear Lake, and I think, well, it would be a great thing for me to try and run around that."

Within a few days, him and his dad ran the FIFTEEN miles around that lake. He was only 13...they only stopped ONCE! He then dedicated his LIFE to running...and his faith in God. I recommend reading the story. He's a humble, yet dedicated young man! You can read the whole article here.

Are you talking to me?

My kids say the cutest things!! Before I start my list, I thought I'd clarify that Natalie's "talking" is probably not understood by most people. I'm with her 24/7...so I understand it. haha...and who knows...maybe I'm ASSuming she's saying things...but I really thing she is!

Cole:

• "Grandma need be nice" this was AFTER a nap...he was scared of my mom...only thing we could come up with is he had a bad dream. After about 10 minutes...he was in love with grandma again.
• "oops...Cole toot!" (needs no explanation)
• "I ove you too Mommy" (or Nini, or daddy, or baby, etc)
• "Cole want Apple" This can actually mean, "Cole want waffle" if he says it after he is asked "What do you want for breakfast?"
• "Cole not a baby, Cole BOY!!" This is usually after he pees his pants and I ask if he's a baby.
• "Cole a dough boy"...not sure why or where this came from...
• "tootles" This has always been Mickey Mouse. On the disney show they say, "OH TOOTLES!" so...it was one of his first words. haha...
• "atties" Batteries. you may think...why would a 2 year old say batteries? WELL...what do choo choos run on? Batteries. At United there is a big energizer battery on top of the display. Cole always finds it and says, "OOOOH...BIG Attie!"
• "Papa eel" translation-Papa wheel...or a Semi Truck. Justin's dad, "papa" drives a semi...therefore ALL semi's are "Papa Wheels".
• "NO!" This is his favorite word these days!

Natalie:

• "Nack" This is "snack". It means goldfish or puffs. She points at the cabinet.
• "awa" This is water. She may point at the fridge OR to the bathtub...ha.
• "na na" Naked. She does this when we are changing her clothes. She rubs her tummy and says it. very cute! (or when taking a bath)
• "Anta" Santa! I didn't believe justin at first when he told me she said it...but she knows who santa is!
• "pee pee" Today I was blowdrying my hair in the bathroom. I saw her by the toilet. Then I saw Cole's potty seat on the closed toilet. She said, "PEE PEE!!" So I put her on the toilet to go....she didn't. Oh well...
• "baby" She LOVES dolls! Anytime she sees one, she must hold it and says "baby". This is why santa is getting her 2 :)
• "choo choo" This either means a train (we have a lot around here) or a movie. She thinks ALL movies are choo choo movies. haha...

Books

I've been a crazed reader lately!!! I re-read the Twilight Saga before I saw New Moon. Then I moved onto my book club pick, "Sheet Music". VERY good book!!! I highly recommend it to couples on the verge of marriage...possibly even young women. It really emphasizes saving yourself for your husband. Anyway...every married woman & man would learn A LOT from it!!

December's book club book is "The Christmas List" by Richart Paul Evans. You should read it! It is about a man who wakes up to read his obituary in the newspaper....pretty much saying how mean of a person he is. He wasn't dead though. It follows him as he goes on after the obituary...kind of Scrooge like? Anyway...AWESOME! I cried! Finished it in 24 hours...hahaha!

Yesterday I finished, "The Last Summer (of you and me)" by Anne Brashares. She also wrote The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. ANYWAY...It's a story about sisters and a friend that meet every summer at Fire Island NY. It's about sisters...love...friendship. It took a while to get into it...but I hated to put it down & hurried to finish it. I really liked it!! (read it in 24 hours too...I'm crazy!)

Next up: Some book that I got at B&N on sale...forgot the name and it's in my nightstand, Sarah Palin's book, and I hope to get some Jane Austin books for Christmas (hint hint). I watched "Lost in Austin" and I think it's about time I read Pride & Prejudice. I don't know why I've boycotted it for so long....seems like a good story! Happy Reading!

5 Things I LOVE & 5 Things that irritate me!

What a silly thing to blog about!

5 things I LOVE:
1. Family...Justin, Cole & Natalie...need I say more? I absolutely love these guys!
2. My house decorated for Christmas. My last house was a "Fall" house. This house is DEFINITELY a winter/Christmas house! What season is your house?
3. Baking. I love to bake all sorts of yummy things...especially chocolate things. If you come across a good recipe...send it my way!
4. Running. Yes, I'm baaaack! I love a good run!
5. My new running tights. Champion C9 cold weather tights. they are AMAZING!

5 things that IRRITATE me!
1. Liberals (sorry...but you do...that doesn't mean I don't love some of you crazy liberals!)
2. People who have to "one up" their child(ren) to mine all the time. COME ON! Your kid(s) are beautiful and wonderful...and so are mine! It's a tie...they are all great! No comparing needed!
3. Me when I'm in a bad mood. I say things I don't mean to and immediately try to take back my words. SIGH...I'm sorry if you've ever been on the receiving end of this!
4. Really cold days when I need to run. This gets me off schedule....not a good thing!
5. Walmart. Don't get me wrong...I do buy things there when necessary. But it's the thorn in a United Manager's side...especially in a small town. Therefore...it's a thorn in my side. Just a reminder...United's prices are either the same price OR cheaper! ha!

Ahhh....I feel so much better!!!!! Tonight is book club! We are having an ornament exchange! Can't WAIT! Childress girl nights are THE BEST!