Martha Stewart on Steroids...

So I decided I wanted my entire family to come to my house for Christmas. Okay, not my entire family but the family that was, at least for now, speaking to each other. Anyway, I wanted it to be perfect. Not having a real dining room table, I put together the redneck version of two 8' tables put together to make one big one and threw in some nice metal folding chairs to complete the look. It actually didn't look that bad. I had two matching table cloths and a runner with a nice centerpiece and some candles. I had gold charger plates and white plates with poinsettias on them. I even had matching crystal glasses for us all to drink out of. When it got time for us to eat, I looked on the counter and there was one glass that hadn't been claimed yet. I inquired as to who was trying to drink out of a Dickie's cup instead of my fine crystal and my cousin Joey said, in a quivering voice, that it was him and then he started apologizing profusely. It was then that I decided I was taking myself way too seriously. We just aren't usually a "sit down at a real table with matching plates" kind of family. That's okay. The important thing was that we were all together and got to chow down on some kick ass food(if I do say so myself).
Eli decided to take a nap during dinner which was a good thing. He is demanding more and more attention and is getting pickier in his eating by the minute too. We will hand him something in his high chair for him to eat and he will look us straight in the eye, and with all seriousness, drop it on the floor for the dog. He is starting to exert a little stubborness. It's basically a toss up on who he got that from. His father and I are equally stubborn but I am a little more vocal about it and Eli is not silent about his demands. Can't wait and see what happens next.
So all of the Christmas stuff is put away and Charles and I are preparing for a New Years diet. The last time we seriously dieted we lost about 45 lbs each. Wish us luck! I will keep you posted.
ttfn

Mutant Rats

So the other day, charles kept hearing rustling noises coming from our garage. We had some rat poison left over for when we lived in an old house in Richardson so he opened it up and put it in the garage by our bicycles that we havent ridden since the 1st Bush administration. Anyway, he goes out there today to check on it and....not only did the rats eat the poison, they took off with the entire friggin box! That's right ladies and germs, the box that had the poison it it disappeared. These are some very industrious rats. Maybe they took it to where the missing socks go that always seem to disappear in the dryer. Or maybe they are with that earring that I dropped and, when I bent down to pick it up, had somehow bounced into another dimension or something. After Christmas, we are going to clean out the garage and see if we find the box and, hopefully, some rat carcasses. I will keep you posted.
ttfn
p.s. stay tuned for a pic of Eli with Santa. It was sketchy there for a minute but he did great! It was even past him bedtim and everything.

How random am I????

So one of the women in my mom's group told me how she was on My Space and found Kevin Smith on there and was now officially one of his friends. For those of you who don't know who he is, shame on you! He is responsible for Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy and Dogma among others. I love Jay and Silent Bob. Fans of his will know who I am talking about, Snootches!
Anyway, I did a search and I think I found him. It was supposedly "the real kevin smith". We'll see. Of course, if he isn't Kevin Smith, he could be a serial killer who stalks bored housewives over the internet. Or he could be the real deal and we can become best buds and he will invite me and my family out to LA and support us for the rest of our lives in the style to which I can become accumstomed to if given the chance. I would actually settle for a happy medium. I'm not sure if I am willing to move to La La Land. California has earthquakes, floods, fires and, worst of all, Ryan Seacrest! Scary!
I will keep you posted.
TTFN

Headphones are a great pacifier!

The greatest gift we can get ourselves and give to Eli this holiday season? Headphones and a mobile DVD player!

Eli with daddy at Merry Main Street

Eli loves his daddy!

Busy Weekend...Part 3

So Sunday, we went with another couple and their three kids to Greenville to cut down a Christmas tree. This is our first year with a real tree and I am hoping to start a tradition. We get in their car and they have wireless headphones and a dvd player. I put the headphones on Eli thinking he would immediately pull them off but he was mesmorized. I think we have struck gold and found the secret to keeping him quiet and entertained.
We get to the farm and ride a hayride out to the field. My original goal was to get at least an 8' tree. I ended up with something like 0 1/2 or 11'!!!! They were just so big and beautiful I couldn't help it. I also bought 10' of garland to go on our fireplace. I chose 10' just because I didn't know how much I needed. We also had to buy a tree stand too. So we spent enough money to almost successfully give Charles and heart attack and then headed home. See attached pic for Eli's choice of tree.
ttfn
p.s. It is now Thursday and we have only succeeded in putting the lights on the tree. I usually have everything up by the weekend after Thanksgiving! I am so ashamed!

Pic from Cleburne

Here is Eli waiting for the parade to come by. If only life could be this easy

Busy Weekend...Part 2

So we spent Friday night at my friend Diana's house after the parade. Her husband was out of town and her son, who is 3 weeks younger than Eli, was at his grandma's house. Eli loved playing with all of his toys. He also liked slamming the walker down on her hardwood floors. Sorry Di. Mr. Destructo was on the move and couldn't be stopped. Thanks for the great breakfast!
After we left, we decided, since we were far away from home anyway, that we would check out the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine. I had heard it was fabulous and we weren't too far away. I figure it would be cheap because all we wanted to do really was look around. We get there and self parking is $8. We pay that and the garage is about 3 blocks from the hotel. We go inside and walk around and it is pretty impressive. They have this giant atrium in the middle and one wall looks like the Alamo and there is even a little mini riverwalk as well. Charles decides that he is hungry so I suggest we find something to eat there. He says that it will be too expensive and I said "Look. There is a place called "The Riverwalk Cafe". Anything with the word cafe in it can't be too expensive, right?" So we make our way down there and I go to the hostess stand to look for a menu. That way we can see how much stuff costs before we committ to eating there. The last thing you want is to already be seating and then realize you can't afford to eat there. Well, it turns out that they don't have a menu. It's all you can eat. So I have to ask the question that I didn't want to have to ask and that was "How much is it?". It turns out the price per person is $21!!!! If this were Vegas, I would be tempted. They have shrimp and crab claws and lobsters on their buffets but I couldn't even see this buffet and I didnn't think I was $21 worth of hungry. So we retreated and left the resort. For $8 I expected my car to be started and the heater running for me when I got back to it but, alas, I was once again in the cheapskate area. Oh well.
Saturday night we went to this nightmare called "Merry Main Street Christmas" in Frisco. It was nuts! They had horse drawn carriege rides right through the area where people were walking. There were often shouts of "Coming through" and "Watch your step" and "Move it" mingled with Christmas carols. It was cold and crowded and Eli was mad he couldn't get down and walk around. We did what any other American family would do, we escaped to the mall. There Eli was able to frolick in the indoor playground. Good times!
ttfn
p.s. This is a pic from the resort.

Busy Weekend...Part 1

So Friday night we went to a parade in Cleburne, Texas. It's about an hour and a half drive and Eli did fairly well. We really need a portable dvd player or some tranquilizers or something. He gets antsy. We also went to this place called Hulen Park to look at Christmas lights. I don't know what Eli liked more, the lights or running around like a maniac. Anyway, fun was had by all.
ttfn