A Thursday Thirteen

So much, but to tired. Here are some pictures to end our week. Can you tell this guy has an ear infection?

Part of the dance move...can you tell the mid section of our tree went out tonight?
Tonights medications for the kids.A good smile from Parker...

Parker playing in daddy's hat.

Emaline happy to see daddy.
Tired eyes. Can you tell she has an ear infection? Yep, that one is new today. We were back at the doctor today after a night like we have never seen before. Above are some famous dance moves...



I just thought I would include a picture that might show you how things were really going around the house.

Thanks Ms. Kim for these fabuloso drinks for Parker. I don't even want to open them!

Enjoying the holiday decorations.

Have fun! And hopefully getting out any energy that may be left!

My pediatrican loves me...

Seriously. Stacey took Parker up there on Friday because his drainage had turned colors and the cough had gotten worse and Triaminic wasn't cutting it. They thought he had a sinus infection, put him on antibiotic, and an antihistimine. So about Saturday...Emaline started with a cough...Sunday it came and went. Monday it came, and today...it rocked the house. They fit us in. I had both kids (of course) this always happens to me. I just thought they would listen to her chest and send us on to the pharmacy for MORE antibiotic. On the way to the doctors office, Parker was playing with this Hickory Dock Clock from preschool and all of a sudden began to complain about his ear. What? I am thinking paper cut. No biggie. We get into the exam room...Emaline weighed 24 pounds by the way, and the dr. began to check out our baby girl. Parker began to throw a fit. I tell the dr. that he is fine, I just think he got a paper cut while playing in the car. So she humors him and checks his ears....first ear...looking good big guy...second ear...YIKES! INFECTION! Excuse me...aren't we on medicine already....don't we have tubes...we aren't even here for him! My copay just doubled! At his moment I had 2 children on my hips, both crying snot everywhere. The dr. gave them popsicles. Emaline hasn't even had one before, but that wasn't stopping me at that moment. Parker had a sucker in one hand, and the popsicle in the other. Back to the original reason we are there....Emaline. I begin to tell the doctor that she has been SCREAMING her head off every time she gets in the car seat...like deafening. Emaline hasn't really been herself...and all this drainage stuff with the nasty cough. Time to check her urine...seriously? Can you see I have both kids on my hips clinging to me with dear life with SNOT everywhere and a sucker stuck to my shirt? The doctor LOVES my child (of course) and takes Parker out of the room while the violate my daughter. Tests come back good! YIPPEE SKIPPEE no infection for her. Must be a virus thing. Back to my really sick boy...sinus then ear infection. A shot. Now the nurses take Emaline out of the room so I can love on my other sick one. I think he had cried for an hour straight at this point. They hold down his legs and give him 2 shots... they are taking him off the first antibiotic and putting him on another. Then they tell me I have to wait 20 minutes before I can leave the office (which I know is standard), but come on...have you heard my kids the past hour? I only have 2 hips, and they are currently aching. I actually looked at the doctor and asked her if she could prescribe something for me, something strong. I had had enough. We only watched 10 minutes of Little Mermaid in the waiting room, and then got out of there. Parker fell asleep on the way home with the sucker in his mouth...rough day.

Toilet Paper Fun

Do I need to type anything???

Parker didn't find the toilet paper until he was 1!

Happy Thanksgiving...A pie disaster...and some pictures

Wanna feel good about your cooking....

Yesterday, Parker and I gathered all of our supplies and began to make my FAMOUS caramel pie. Okay, this pie isn't so famous, but I love(d) it. We carefully cut out leaves and acorns to adorn the outter crust of our pie. It was a great memory of me Parker working together. Parker went down for his nap, so I began to make the caramel part of the pie. I poured in the 2 cups of sugar into the heavy skillet for it to brown and melt. Brown it got. Let's just say that I burned it. During this time Emaline woke up...so if you get distracted a minute or two...You get burned sugar.

Pie number 3 and 4: yes 3 and 4...the recipe actually makes 2 pies. I am very careful browning my sugar this time. SO careful. Perfect. Just the way it should be. I continue on. I add in my flour...and the egg. Did you know that scrambled egg doesn't go well with pie? So, I think I have that under control and continue on with my recipe (I really should have stopped here, but thought no one would notice the scrambled egg pieces because the caramel was SO good). I was so distracted by the egg, that I read the recipe wrong and put a full cup of butter in the skillet. Well, it should have only been a fourth of a cup. So I quickly began to scoop the butter of the skillet. DISASTER! Stacey gets home during this part. I explain the egg thing. He tells me I can't serve it.

I need to go to a photo shoot, so I leave the mess. I call KQ and explain that I was planning on surprising her with my FAMOUS caramel pie for her Thanksgiving only for it become a very buttery scrambled egg mess, so I hope that she has dessert. Not sure why she wouldn't because she didn't know my pie was coming.

We eat dinner at home and Stacey takes me out for HOT caramel apple cider. My favorite. I tell him we need to stop by the store and get a bag of sugar, because I AM going to make my famous caramel pie.

Pie number 5 and 6: Going perfect. Browned sugar, eggs and milk, butter, doing great. I finally get to the meringue part of the pie. YES! It was a truly beautiful pie. I slip it into the fridge at about 1:00 am this THanksgiving morning. It was time to leave today and I go to get the pie....my beautiful meringue...I noticed was sailing. It was sailing through the caramel. Floating. WHAT!? Not sure what happened, other than I was tired and maybe didn't let the pie thicken enough. I actually tried to drain the pie. That didn't work. So...what did I take for Thanksgiving? Kellogg's chocolate rice krispie treats! Thanks Ryan! I think I shall always keep a box in the pantry.

Next year, I think I should bring brown and serve rolls! No more caramel pie for me. I think I will actually return the cook book and not even copy the recipe. A thanksgiving disaster. Feel better about your cooking? Enjoy the pictures!

I really missed you Cagle cousins. This is the first year EVER I have not been in Paris during Thanksgiving. It wasn't the same. I love you!

13 reasons I am behind on Blogging

I bet this number could be raised to ....well, in the hundreds. First...I am behind...because I started out behind. As soon as I got off the airplane from Cabo, we went to get the kids from MIL and FIL's house and then went straight to my moms. I feel as if my feet haven't hit the floor yet. Here are some Cabo pictures...

I even played golf! Yes, this was the first time I actually played. I didn't want to miss out on the scenery, the experience, and the time with Stacey. I only truly embarrassed myself a couple of times, but did learn I hit better out of sand traps than I do from the tee box. This picture of Stacey is one of my favorites from the trip.

The above picture is of Stacey (in the hat) body surfing. He had such a great time. The red flag was up trying to persuade you NOT to get into the water...but we did anyway. This might have been one of the waves I actually said a prayer for him to come back up. He got taken under a few times.

You should have to have a license to put on sun screen! If you know me AT ALL, from what ever point in my life, you know that I can NOT put on sunscreen!!!! I have a problem. I never get full coverage. I always leave hand prints places or streaks in odd places. Here is a wierd place. Do you see it? The freakish red spot on my arm. If only it stopped there! I looked so bad, that my sunburn actually determined what dress I would wear to dinner. I even had the spray kind of sunscreen. I think I should invest in a bodysuit thing for my kids. They will never be FULLY protected with me around.

2. Beauty.I had never seen such a thing. You don't even have to rent these by the hour. Just first come first serve. I actually only saw people on them a couple of times. I did think they were pretty. This has nothing to do with me being behind, only that I would like to be back there again. By the way, this bed is located right in front of the kiddy pool. Interesting.

3. I still have a suitcase to unpack from the trip.

4. Preschool this week was wild. We had a feast on Tuesday, which was so much fun. Daddy, Buddy, and Nana all came to Parker's feast to eat with him. Sorry Stacey that you got the kiddy plate! Thank you Nana for taking time out of your busy week to come to lunch.

5. Visitation was also Tuesday night for my stepdad. Many of my mom's friends came, and some Paris people came who knew Tony. A special person that came to me...was Kathy Stockdale. Kathy has 2 girls, Kara and Kristen. I fall between them. Growing up, I spent summers in Denton going to daycamp at my grandmother's church in Denton. The Stockdales are from Denton. I knew Kara and Kristen from then. A few years ago, when I transferred to the BSF in Denton, Kathy was the assistant Teaching Leader (I think that was her title), and Kristen was in my group!! How fun! Such a sweet family. Kristen got married during my time at BSF...and has had a baby just a few months before Emaline was born. I have kept up through emails with Kristen, but I thought it was nice for Kathy to come to the visitation (and Funeral!). I think she was there for my grandmother, but as far as I am concerned, she was there for me.

6. The funeral was on Wednesday. My mom did great! The boys did great! Jason (my stepbrother) spoke at the funeral and made it through. Have you ever heard cajun music at a funeral??? I hadn't, but it made the day special, and so unique to Tony.

7. GO EMMITT! After the funeral, my house packed up and headed to moms. We watched the finale on pins and needles, hoping our Cowboy would pull through, and he did!

8. Thursday morning around 3 am...it hit. A bug that Parker refers to as 'mommy has a bug on her face.' I thought it was from all the stress. I seem to internalize my stress (and have forever) so it always takes a toll on my body. I felt better around preschool time...so went on trucking on. Around lunch time, my body started hurting, and chills came. I couldn't wait to get come. About 5:00 I decided to take my temperature...101.0!!!! So, I apologize to my ladybug class...if you have a bug on your face too! Stacey came home, and was my knight in shining armor. He took the kids, I went straight to bed and the next thing I knew it was 4:00am. I slept again until 8:30am. Thank you Stacey for staying home this morning until I woke up so that I could rest. I feel better...but wow! I haven't been sick in a long time.

9. Emaline has a new trick! It is called, Look Mommy I can play in the toilet.

10. Laundry.

11. Stacey talked Parker into not sleeping with his beese last night! WAY TO GO HUN! WAY TO GO PARKER! He did it. We have been discussing this for a while, due to the rash around Parker's mouth and the fact he is getting close to 3 years old!!! ANd the head injury...I cannot comment due to CPS. You just can't find good sitters any more!

12. Nap time. Maybe since there is no beese...Parker doesn't think he needs to sleep. As I type, I hear shakers and tamborines going off in his room. I may give in.

13. My sweet baby girl is 10 month olds! Double digits!!! A riot this girl! She will eat anything you put in front of her. She is IN love with her daddy! I attempted to crop and enhance the above picture, but my Photoshop is not my friend right now, which is NOT good considering the number of photo sessions I have this week! Yikes!!

LOVE THIS GIRL! And her brother too, but he is truly being a stinker when my camera comes around!

Cabo...

Yep, that is where I have been! Jealous? We have been at the BEAUTIFUL Hilton in Cabo since Thursday, where the sun shines there 360 days a year. It was a perfect trip...except I called to check in today with my mom and found out...
my step dad had passed away yesterday morning. Cancer. Quicker than the doctors thought.

Mom didn't want me to worry about her... So, I just found out this morning. I had tried to call her through out my trip, but couldn't get a hold of her. Isn't it funny how you have that feeling sometimes? I had that feeling during my trip. I said prayers for her daily, even a couple a day when my thoughts landed on her. Please say a prayer for my mom, and step brothers.

When it rains it pours! I won't go into all the details, but it kind of stinks when someone else claims your luggage in customs as their own, and almost gets home with it. And sweet friend... you know who you are....I love you. I am praying for you. Consider yourself hugged until I can get my arms around you. Call me when you are ready.


Cabo pictures to come, but I thought these were more important.

13 Things about Halloween Day I may like to forget

1. Couldn't find the chaps we had borrowed from cousin Cole that Mammy made. So we went to preschool without them.

2. My coteacher called and was sick and would NOT be coming to school. Great, a sub.

3. My kids were CRAZY! I remember when I taught school, that holiday days were always crazy, but nothing like 12 2 year olds.

4. Tackling 2 year olds. Enough said.

5. I was dressed like a ladybug. The kids wouldn't even look at me, they only looked at my antennae!

6. I changed all the diapers this wonderful day in my class at preschool. I thought I would be nice to my sub. Luckily, no bowels moved this day. Changing an elephants diaper was tricky!

7. My class joined Parker's class in watching a video before the class party started. During this time, Parker came to give me a hug, when I realize that Parker's jeans were wet. He had wet through his diaper. No biggie. It happens. I took him to go change into shorts...all I had in his backpack. I hadn't changed seasons with the back up clothes.

8. On the way back to class, he trips and falls.

9. We open the door to Parker's class, and he decides he wants to put the door stopper thing down, and I tell him no. I shut the door. Behind me, he reopens the door, only to have one of his fellow classmates shut the door, on his FINGERS! I couldn't even get onto him for reopening the door, he was crying his head off.

10. The party was fine. Actually, it was great for a preschool class party. My sub was wonderful.

11. When Parker and I were walking to the car after preschool, he trips and falls n the parking lot. Remember he has on shorts. He tears his knee open. Perfect!

12. We get home and Parker goes right to sleep- he slept for 2.5 hours. It had been a rough day. We rush to eat dinner, and get out trick or treating.

13. Today as I took a different route away from my house, I noticed that our fence has been tagged. I think that is how you would describe it. Thank goodness it is only side walk chalk, but still, we were vandalized, our mailbox too! We weren't the only ones. It still upset me. So, bring on the rain please so that it can be washed away.

I don't even want to post my pictures right now because I am almost certain it won't upload correctly. I think it is getting harder to post pictures. Don't want to get frustrated, so maybe pictures tomorrow!

By the way, Parker did love trick or treating. He loved passing out candy better than ringing doorbells and waiting to see if he would turn and run away from the door depending on what the person answering the door was wearing. Seriously. Please look out your peep hole people and take off the scary mask when a 3 foot cowboy is at your door!

Trunk or Treat at church was a hit, however, not really for my super cowboy. In fact, this Halloween really hasn't been that great for this guy. Last week we had a class party, so I was sewing his costume of SUPER PARKER, which he had said all along he wanted to be...with a blue cape. I finished the cape during Parker's nap, and when he woke up he informed me that he wanted a red one. He threw a huge fit. So we had to compromise. We ditched the Parker Man costume, and made him a super COWBOY! He seemed okay with it. Last Sunday, Stacey and Parker went to the ranch with FIL and were to meet me at the Trunk or Treat. Well. Parker slept in the car and woke up on the wrong side of the car seat. He didn't want to put on his costume, he didn't want to Trunk or Treat. The sucker made him happy. Things went from kind of bad to worse with my next post. Just wait.
Emaline was Parker's lion. She wore it well. I will continue to look for his picture in it. She was such a doll. She is holding Elmo because it makes her happy. She loves him. Next to Emaline is Emily! They were born one day apart to Stephen and Stephanie Bailey. It has been so fun to watch them meet different milestones along the way. Stephanie made Emily's costume, and she matched her older sister Rainey. Stephanie and Stephen were sea weed. So creative.
Trick or Treat post to come.