Feb 10, 2009

Bella Vista Rocks!

This is the post where I get to be one of those obnoxious friends who lures you to her house with promises of a game night or treats, or something equally innocuous but . . . upon entering, you discover her ulterior motive as you spy the slide projector and screen all assembled and cued up to elucidate every in and out of her summer vacation (ok, winter in my case). So sit back, pull up a chair, please suppress your yawns, and you're welcome to pop some popcorn for what will most certainly be a thrill-a-minute ride. (Ha, ha, . . . Suckers!) :)


I mentioned in my catch-up post that Chris and I enjoyed a wonderful little getaway to Bella Vista, Arkansas courtesy of Chris's parents. This is what we enjoyed . . .

Our little condo had a mini-kitchen where we actually cooked a few healthy meals.


The adjacent living room where we did a lot of vegging and napping. (you're jealous of the carefree lifestyle, aren't you? I know I am.)


Bella Vista was surprisingly beautiful! It was cold and brown, but beautiful considering we went in the dead of winter. We went on a nature trail hike and found these beautiful sights . . .
(Chris says I look like I'm photoshopped into this picture. Was I really there? Oh, You don't know!)

We got some raucous teeny-boppers to take this picture for us. They then proceeded to climb over the fence into the forbidden area and torture this poor waterfall with their cacophony of teenage-ness. Tsk, tsk!


A local reservoir . . . Isn't it quaint with all of the cute little houses? Nice place for a summer home eh? We're looking into that little white one in the middle with our vast amounts of wealth. We'll be sure to show you lots of slides of it when we get it. You're so fortunate to be our friends aren't you?


On our nature trail hike there were some wild rock formations just beggin' to be climbed on (and sat upon) . . . and we obnoxiously obliged . . . and took pictures of our helpfulness.



All in all, Bella Vista was a nice place and a wonderful opportunity to relax and let our hair down a little bit . . .


Obviously some of us let our hair down more than others . . .


So (will someone please turn up the lights?) do you feel enlightened yet? Do you wish you had been there? Well, if you're lucky I'll send you a t-shirt . . . but I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. It's an unhealthy practice.

Feb 9, 2009

Who knew?

. . . that Elmo was such a trouble maker . . . Who knew that this sweet, furry little monster is sadistically out to get my 8 year old daughter?

Zoe was bestowed an Elmo Live for Christmas. He's adorable! He sings, he dances, he tells jokes, plays games, hugs and blows kisses with a cute little reminder that "Elmo loves you! Mmm Hmm. Kiss-kiss!" Zoe is so smitten! She plays with him almost all day and never seems to get tired of him.

Kolbi, however, seems to be the target for Elmo's darker side. . . Kolbi and Zoe now share a room, so it stands to reason that they would both have their toys stored there at night. Elmo's fiendish campaign started not too long after Christmas . . . Kolbi ~ who had supposedly been sleeping for the last half-hour~ crept quietly out of their room and over to where Chris and I were watching a show. "Mom, Elmo is staring at me." She says sheepishly. Being the ever-loving-and-understanding parent that I am, I tell her to turn him around and go back to bed. "But Mom, he creeps me out!" With a flourish and a sigh, I promptly get up, and move Elmo out of the room and into the hallway. She's satisfied and gratefully returns to her bed.

The next night, I find out that the sadistic little son-of-a-monster, Elmo, has the patience of Job when pursuing his prey. Kolbi again asks me to move Elmo out of the room for the night. But she has a special request that I not put him in the hallway, because when she got up to go to the bathroom this morning, Elmo was waiting for her with evil-intent shining up at her from those beady eyes. She was so scared she decided to hold it until the sun came up. Poor thing . . . her eyeballs were swimming when the rooster finally crowed!

For some weeks, Kolbi would remind me every night to please remove Elmo and keep him out of the hallway. I've obliged~ to keep the peace~ even when Zoe caught on that her precious Elmo was being banished every night and pitched an ever-loving fit. So, every night I've been condemning poor Elmo to face the wall (where his malicious eyes cannot find Kolbi), and around the corner (so he can't lie in wait for her to unsuspectingly need to tinkle and pounce on her). All the time thinking it's silly and not taking her very seriously.

Last night, the Hubs and I were in our room talking, when we hear a whisper of a knock on our door. It's Kolbi. Apparently, she got up to go to the bathroom and on her way back, she spied Elmo in his appointed corner (or rather she saw his hand as it was the only part of him that was remotely visible). "He moved Mom!" She tells me. "Honey," I placate, "Elmo's turned off, he can't move." "No Mom!" She insists, "I think I saw his hand move! It scared me! Could you walk with me back to my room?" Chris and I share an amused look and I escort her back to her bed.

"This has got to stop," I'm thinking and sit her down for a little talk. "You do realize that Elmo's not real, don't you?" I ask.

"Yes," She replies. "But he still scares me."

"Even during the day when Zoe's playing with him?"

"Yeah, a little." She sheepishly replies.

"Why?!" I ask, bewildered.

"I don't know Mom, he's just creepy!"

I tell her to visualize (every time thoughts of him start to scare her) her picking Elmo up, turning him upside down and flipping the switch on his left foot to the off position. "When he's off, he can't move" I emphasize. "He becomes like a furry, red little piece of furniture. But please don't sit on him. Zoe would never forgive you for crushing her best friend." She giggles, the mood's lightened. "Besides Kolbi . . ." I remind her " . . . Elmo loves you! Mmm hmmm! Kiss-kiss!"

Jan 24, 2009

Bear with me . . .


Please "Bear" with me . . . . I really am trying to do a new post, but life is kicking my booty and blogger is being a 2 year old.

Dec 24, 2008

Heard in the Trenches (in French, Ooh La la!)


Kolbi has been begging for braids for days now but I have declined repeatedly for reasons of sanity. Finally I relented today. I asked her if she wanted french braids or regular. Since she couldn't understand the difference I created a french braid for her on one side of her head. As I'm weaving her hair, she's says, "Ow! . . . Ow! . . . Mom! I'm serious . . .Ow! . . . these must be for French girls only . . . Ow! . . . Cause these are killing me!"

Dec 16, 2008

Wanna buy a home???





If you know anyone in the market for a lovely home in DFW, have them check out our house for sale blog

Dec 14, 2008

HE DID IT!!!!!!!!!

He finally did it. . . .

After:
  • 3 years
  • one big mortgage, and a house that we'll be lucky to sell for a decent price (but it will happen)
  • one new monkey added to the brood (Zoe was born here)
  • 47 . . . .oh, wait . . . make that 49 new tics (those are mine)
  • a half-a-head of gray hair (those are his)
  • a mountain of school loan debt (acceptable for pursuing a degree right)
  • a slew of priceless new friendships and connections (yes, that includes you!)
  • 3 fabulous summers enjoying the amenity center pools
  • loads of blood, sweat, tears, and mental anguish
  • more knowledge than can be learned by the average person (that's Chris's)
  • and an infinite number of incredible memories . . .
HE DID IT!!!!! Chris walked the big walk . . . wore the fancy gown . . . took the many pictures . . . posed with the fake diploma . . . said the Chiropractic oath . . . and officially GRADUATED from Parker College of Chiropractic!!!! Can I get a Woot! Woot?!

Check it out . . .
The happy graduate!

just a few of his Peeps
________________________________________

Chris's support system:
The very proud wee-fay

We are a happy fam-i-lee.

The 'Rents. Larry and Denise

The in-laws: Shirleen and Gary

Mark, Bronwyn (Chris's sister) and Mr. Bennett from OKC

Two of Chris's favorite patients - Mike and Zachary Ogden
_________________________________________

Just a few adorable monkey pics. . .


Corey ~ The monkies' 2nd favorite DC.

The adorable Mr. Bennett (Cousin love!)

Nov 21, 2008

Sick-kid-pity-party


I'm throwing an I have sick kiddos pity-party today! Anyone want to come? If you supply the cheese, there's plenty of Whine around here to go with it! Unfortunately (and I know this will come as a GREAT shock to some) I have zippo patience for the extra whining, "Mom-mee, I neeeed you!s" and the hanging on my leg. Although, I do appreciate that both of my kiddos actually requested to take a nap yesterday. Um, Heck yea!! Okay. I'm through whining now. Go about your business.