Happy Halloween!

Enjoy your treats (or tricks - depending).
Stay safe & have fun!

I just LOVE Halloween!

"Wrenched ankle foot"

Two weeks ago, the Red Hots (my soccer team) had a fantastic game. We played well, we had fun, we even won 4-2! That's probably why it was so much fun! :) Anyway, the only downer from that game was that I suffered a bit of an injury.

A member of the other team and I went for the ball at the same time. Right when my foot connected with the ball, her foot accidentally connected with mine. I got a hard kick on the inside of my right foot. It hurt, but I kept playing. I kept thinking, "Hmm, that's weird. My foot hurts when I step a certain way." I went out for a bit, but then went back in. I had an ankle brace on from when I rolled it a couple weeks before. I think that helped a bit. It seemed to hurt worse as the night wore on.

I got home from my game, limping a bit. I took my socks, shin guards, and cleats off and noticed it was swollen and bruising. I usually have a pretty high pain tolerance, but it was hurting! I iced it, took some Ibuprofen before going to bed, but when I woke up the next morning and it was still hurting, I made an appointment to see my doctor friend, totally expecting just to "rule out" the possibility of anything worse than a bruise. Turns out... I actually fractured it!

(my navicular bone)

For your referencing pleasure...

And now, I get to wear a very fashionable "boot."

I'm in the "boot" for at least three weeks. I'll be going back in for another x-ray at that point. But, it may take six weeks to heal. I don't really know how long I'll get to be so stylish. Needless to say, I'm out for the rest of the soccer season. Rats!


Funny side note that's relative...

Nate found this card on the floor, just days after my little "incident." He thought the kids had gotten it out for me. But, no, it was just lying there, randomly...mockingly.
I'm hoping to get $200 when I get my boot off for good. But, I guess it depends on if I buzz or not during the process. Who gets to be the banker?

"Columbius Day"

Oh wait, wait, that's "Columbus Day." We know, we know. Julia must have liked the sound of "Columbius Day" better though. She was saying that the whole day. I loved it.

What's a family to do on a day off? Well, Nate didn't have the day off, so he worked. The kids and I enjoyed just being together.

Julia's idea of fun on a day off from school?

Making a diorama, of course!

{A Halloween diorama...complete with Jack-O-Lanterns, a ghost, and the "usual" eyeballs}

Liliana had fun making playdoh flowers.

Simon really enjoyed the watermelon we had (he liked stacking it up, unstacking it, then taking bites out of each one before putting them back on the cutting board).

And, to answer your questioning look...
Yes, watermelons are very good for Columbus Day...in Texas.

"Holy way behind on my blogging, Batman!"

I know, I know, it's been "forever" since I've posted something. I'm working on a few, so please be patient with me (I'm not, but I guess I expect more from you) and get those fingers ready for comment typing!

Julia's mad skills...

From her most recent soccer game...


GOOOOOAAAAAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Check her ball-handling too...

The birthday festivities

In our household, we often stretch out birthdays for as long as possible. Lili's was no different. Since Nate has been working some long hours lately, he wanted to make sure he could take Lili out on her new present right when she got it. So, we gave it to her over the weekend.

Part One - helmet, knee pads, elbow pads
Part Two - her very own bike (and it's blue - her fave color)!

She loved it! They went for a ride right away. She's a natural!

The night before her birthday, we had dinner at the Andrews' house.
They had a gift for her too! (A cute monkey holding a cuddly blanket). She loved it!
(Thank you!) She, of course gave her monkey a name.

Introducing, "Funky Monkey..."

On her actual birthday, it was "walk to school day" for Julia. So, we all got up early and walked to school. They all loved it!

Once we returned from our walk, Lili got ready for the day...she had to wear the birthday shirt she and Julia have gotten to wear for the past few years. Julia wore it for the last time when she turned five. I think this is its last year for Lil too...

The day before her birthday, Liliana and I talked about her "favorite things." One of those "things" was her friend Emily. So, we, of course, had to have her over on the morning of Lili's birthday to play! They had the best time (as always)! She was excited Emily brought her a present (little animals - an instant hit in our house, and her very own case of Tic Tacs -- I think she and Emily ate most of them that very day). :)

I had arranged to take Lili out to a special one-on-one lunch. (Thanks to Lori, who watched Simon!) She chose the Rainforest Cafe. We loved every second! She ate every bite of her "python pasta" and they even brought her a little sundae and sang to her. It was delightful, just being the two of us.

After lunch, we went to the Build-a-Bear Workshop. She picked out a cute puppy, helped stuff her, "wash" her, and dress her. They gave her a sticker with her name on it (which also read, "I'm 4!"), had her ring a bell, sang to her and everything. It was really cute.

Introducing, "Cinderella," the pup. And yes, that is her favorite princess.

Once our date was over, we had to get back for school pick-up. We picked up Curren & Emily too and then headed over to their house, and (of course) the kids played and played (except for the still-sleeping Simon). We stayed for dinner (thank you again, Lori) and then Nate called saying he was coming home in time to celebrate. He picked up cupcakes and we all headed back home for presents, singing "Happy Birthday to You," and cupcake-eating. Lili loved getting gifts in the mail from her grandparents! Julia was so excited for Lili to open the gifts from her
(a LPS skunk & a baby FurBerry)!
"Pucker up those sweet little lips, Lil! It's time to blow out your candle!"
Mmmmm, frosting!
It was a very happy 4th birthday, indeed.


I especially consider it a success when, on the next day, she cried because she wanted to go back to the Rainforest Cafe for lunch. Awww, I wish we could've too!

Happy birthday Liliana!

My "baby" girl is 4!

I'm having a hard time believing that!

On that October day, in 2004, I remember...

-waking at 4am with contractions and thinking, "Is this really "it" this time?"
-I woke Nate up and told him I didn't think he'd be going to work that morning.
-I ate something, took a shower, woke my Mom (who was there visiting), so Nate and I could go on a walk (Julia was still sleeping).
-I got "serious" very quickly. Nate called his Mom (who stayed with Julia so Nate, my Mom and I could go to the hospital). I had a hard time pulling myself away from leaning over the love seat (while Nate rubbed my back through my contractions) long enough to go get in the car to get to the hospital.
-I was in transition in the car, on the way to the hospital.
-I got to my room, changed into the gown and was ready to push!
-After checking me, the nurse called another nurse in to check me too (I don't think she believed I was already a 10)!
-I had to "wait" for my doctor.
-I was holding my new baby girl within 45 minutes of arriving at the hospital.
-I was shocked when they said she weighed 9 lbs 12 oz!
-She was also tall (22 inches).
-I could see her little "swirl" right at her hairline from the first moment. She didn't have much hair, but the fuzz was so blond! That swirl is a cowlick now! :)
-Grandma Wright and Julia came to the hospital right away. I was so overcome with emotion when I saw my "baby" holding my baby...her little sister. Julia was so excited when Liliana was "holding [her] finger so tight!"
-It was a perfect birth experience. It's so fitting to our sweet Liliana...the peace maker.

Happy birthday my sweet Lils!You make our hearts so happy!


Thank you for keeping us smiling, our little "ham bone."

Update on Simon

Yes...already! I know I just had a long post on Simon, but he is that age where things happen to change rather quickly!

He has been talking a lot lately! He'll copy what we say, and test out a variety of words he hears. It's just darling! He's been doing that so much in the last several days, that I just had to share...

Today he said, "apple" clear as a bell.
He also tried his hand at saying "belly button" - so cute!
(he definitely had the right amount of syllables anyway!)
Just the other day, he said, "I go down"
when I was holding him and he wanted me to put him down.
He says something that sounds a lot like "outside" when he wants to go out.
He also says, "booh" for book and "bah" for ball. Yes, they are different and you can tell.

Last night, Nate and I had a good laugh because I said, in a whisper, "Dag nabbit." I don't even remember why...maybe I dropped something? Anyway, that's not the point. Simon, who was lying next to me on the couch, then said (also in a whisper), "da nabbeh." It was so funny! I still chuckle when I think about it. Nate said, if it had been him, I probably would have gotten on to him. I'm sure I would've thought it was still funny! I guess it would depend on what it was he repeated!


What is my favorite? I love hearing anything he has to say, but who wouldn't love to hear their child say
"luh you"?
(it just melts me...like "buttah")

Hello October!

Woo-hoo! I just LOVE the month of October!
It's officially here. I'm hoping for Fall weather to become a daily occurrence. I love the crispness associated with Autumn weather. Today might deliver, at least this morning feels like it, and maybe tonight. We'll see about the in-between time.

This month is a busy, but fun, one. We have three birthdays in our house! I feel like, from this point out to about January, time just flies! Birthday. Birthday. Birthday. Halloween. Thanksgiving. Christmas. New Year's...
(mix in a few other family members' & friends' birthdays & visits to/with family)
You see what I mean!

With that in mind, I'm trying to soak up every second and just revel in it. Sure, we'll be rushing around to this, that and the other from time to time, but I want to live in each moment and relish in the sweetness that comes in everyday interactions with my children, my darling Nate, and our dear friends and family.

Of course, the "sweetness" that comes in late October is nice too. ;)