HAPPY BIRTHDAY MORTON!!

We drove to Fort Worth for my cousin's little boy's birthday a few weekends ago and had so much fun.  There was a full agenda of awesome activities for the girls.  We got in late Friday night and were up bright and early so the girls could go to the Gaylord Texan and go to breakfast with Nana and Aunt Liz.  My mom had planned on a grandparents weekend stay at the Gaylord but ended up just taking the girls for most of Saturday and spoiling them rotten!!

The day started with breakfast with Charlie Brown....

Mmmmm!!  If I'd known there was a chocolate fountain I may have begged to go!!

After breakfast is when the spoiling began.  I don't think London left one stone unturned.  She decorated gingerbread men...

did the Elf Yourself adventure which was her favorite.  After Matt and I met up with her later that day she went through again....

As if that wasn't enough the whole birthday gang met up to go through ICE.  I've been once before but the Charlie Brown theme was so cute and we all had a blast!!

The whole gang!!

The kiddo's...Kinley, Morton, & London

inside ICE!

"Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!!"

After walking through ICE we got hot chocolate and pics with Snoopy.  Kinley wasn't too interested but London and Morton loved him!!

London, Morton & Gentry

We ended the night back at my cousin's house and had birthday hot dogs and cake.  Morton loves the Mickey Mouse hot dog song so his party was planned around it!!  My cousin had me make his birthday shirt (see above pic)!!  Morton looked so adorable as usual!!

We had a great time in Fort Worth, and were sad to leave.  But, knowing that the family would meet up at the ranch in just a few days gave us something to look forward to!

TURKEY LURKEY!!

As promised here are the turkey shirts I did for the girls.  I hate how gingham looks in pictures.  It always has a funky glare to it.  But in person the gingham is so cute and I LOVE how they turned out.

I think my neighbor is going to have me do one for her little girl too.  London has her 'THANKFUL' party at school on Friday so I'm going to have the girls wear them Friday!!  I want to make a pair of ribbon jeans to match but with Matt being out of town the next 2 days I'm not sure if I will get them done.

Today the girls wore their turkey initial shirts.  I love these too and have made one for all the kids to wear at Thanksgiving!

Kinley got her stitches out today and did great.  She didn't even cry.  I was expecting to have to hold her down while they took them out but she sat right on my lap and let the Dr. take them out without a problem!! 

This weekend we cleaned out the playroom and took a big load to Goodwill.  It felt good to get rid of stuff that was just taking up space.   Sunday we stayed home from church.  We didn't think it was a good idea to put Kinley in the nursery with her stitches and I had a sore throat and no voice Saturday night.  Sunday afternoon we went to the museum and walked through the butterfly center.  London loves this place and even had a few butterflies land on her head!!

This butterfly looks fake but I promise this pic is straight off Matt's phone.  London loved when the butterfly landed on her head!!

Kinley got to get up close with one too!!

CATCHING UP.....

OK, I probably won't win mother of the year.....

Here is what happened....

Kinley and I were playing upstairs and I had a shirt being appliqued so I was periodically checking on it to make sure all was well in the sewing world known as the craft room.  Kinley snuck her sneaky little self downstairs and I was on my way down the stairs to bring her back up when I saw her starting to stand up on the very bottom step.  I looked at her with that motherly look and said "what are you doing?"  She lost her balance and toppled backwards and on the way down twisted and she hit her head on the stair post.

I grabbed her and her head was not just trickling a little blood but gushing blood out of her forehead.  I somehow managed to get my phone, insurance cards, the diaper bag, my keys, shoes on, back door closed and locked, sewing machine off (because that was real important....right? )  Random act of panic, I think so!

I had Matt on the phone and Kinley in the car and out of the driveway in less than 5 minutes.  I swear, I moved so fast I have no idea what order I did anything.  All I remember was thinking OH MY GOD,  I HAVE TO GET HER TO THE ER!

It was THAT MOMENT, when I had to rush my baby to the hospital.  Her face was covered in dried blood and all I could think was how can I keep pressure on her head and drive at the same time.  Well, I couldn't.  I just drove fast and put on her favorite songs and kept talking to her to keep her awake.  I think I looked back at her more that I looked at the road.  Thank You GOD for keeping us safe and getting us to the ER!

20 minutes later we were sitting in the ER looking like this...

The numbing medicine was on and we were in for a LONG wait before the stitches were put in.  ER waits are the worst.  It didn't seem that busy but we waited over an hour before the NP came back in and did the stitches.  8 stitches to be exact.

Here she is after the stitches.  That tear falling from her eye just says it all.

Today the wound looks really good.  Well, as good as a wound closed with 8 stitches can be.  I think the NP did a great job and I am praying with all my might that it won't scar too bad.  

Kinley has been a trooper too.  We had a gauze pad taped over the area all day Tuesday and most of Wednesday and she never even tried to poke or pull at it.  Her Dr. called Wednesday and told me I could leave the gauze off and to come back on Monday to get the stitches out.  I'm not looking forward to having to hold her down again but I will be glad to have her stitches out.  

On a better note, Kinley is doing amazing with potty training.  Actually I think she is done with the training part and can be considered TRAINED!!!  I still put her in a diaper at night but the past few mornings she has been dry.  I'm not sure when I'll brave putting her in panties all night but it will be soon enough.  Just not too soon...I don't like washing sheets every night.

And in the sewing world, the one that was in full motion when Kinley hit her head, I am working on making all the little cousins matching shirts for Thanksgiving!!

Here is Kinley showing her shirt off before her big fall.  Yes, that is what she wore to the ER and YES, I was able to get ALL the blood stains off the shirt.

Speaking of cousins.  My cousin came down last week and I appliqued some shirts for her little boy.  It was so fun to have her down and to let our kids play.  Here are some pics from our cousin sleepover....

A few of the shirts I did for Morton.  The pie one is my favorite.  It's a Planet Applique. design. I love the plaid and we used chenille for the whipped cream topping.  SUPER CUTE!  I want to make a chocolate pie one for my girls!!

Morton and Kinley are both potty training too so we spent alot of time here.....

Morton was cheering for Kinley (Kinnee is what he calls her)!!!  They did great and NO accidents!

Before we said goodbye, we took the kids to the park to run off some energy.  They had such a great time.  I wish I could post all the pics but here are a few of my favorites!!

That's about all....I think!   I'm finishing up London's turkey shirt and then headed to bed.  I'll post pics when I have both girls wearing their shirts.

Good night!!

30 DAY BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 27-30!!

First off I want to thank Katie at Katie's Journey for hosting this blog challenge.  It has been great and has made me look at myself and my life in so many ways.  It has been fun peeking in on all the others that joined in too.  

Here are the last few topics of the challenge....

DAY 27:  PETS

We only have one pet.  A dog....Paris.  She is a Jack Russell Terrier and has finally slowed down even though she is only 7.  She isn't much of a people dog unless you are throwing her ball to her.  Most of her day is spent sleeping upside down with her legs straight up in the air and head turned sideways hanging off a chair in our front room.  I really think my husband named her after Paris Hilton !!  Anyways, here she is....

DAY 28:  SOMETHING THAT STRESSES YOU OUT

Probably the thing that stresses me out the most is money.  It seems that there is usually more month than paycheck.  

Another thing that stresses me out is the thought of going back to work.  Matt doesn't really want me to and to be honest I don't want to HAVE to work but I know it would help.  

DAY 29:  3 WISHES

I WISH.....

Matt didn't go back to work EVERY night

We were debt free

Our house would sell FAST and for a GREAT price

DAY 30:  A PICTURE

This is the big table at the ranch.  It will soon be filled with warm bodies laughing and catching up on life.  The best home cooked meal will be served and bellies will get heavy but not too heavy because another table will be full of desserts begging to be eaten.  Thanksgiving at the ranch..... I can't wait!!

30 DAY BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 26

A PICTURE OF YOUR FAMILY...

This was taken last year at Thanksgiving.  We spend the long holiday weekend at the ranch and have a blast.  The men hunt and the women just relax and enjoy being out in the middle of nowhere and admire what God has given us.  As for Pepper....I'll just say she isn't too fond of the ranch :)

From L - R

Pepper, the family dog that is 16 and probably will never die

Liz, my baby sister

Dad

Mom holding Kinley

Me

London

Matt, my hubby with his scruffy ranch beard....I hate it

Cody

Kelsey..... the newest member (Cody's wife)

30 DAY BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 25: PUT YOUR IPOD ON SHUFFLE, FIRST 10 SONGS

I have an IPod but don't use it much.  Usually I just play music off my computer.   Here are the top 10 songs from my computer

1. Everybody ------- Ingrid Michaelson
2. Edwards Lullaby ------- Twilight
3. Friday I'm in Love ------- The Cure
4. In the Summertime -------- Mungo Jerry
5. The Bird and the Worm ----- Owl City
6. Just Say Yes ------- Snow Patrol
7. Never Know ------ Jack Johnson
8. Maybe ----- Ingrid Michaelson
9. Daughter ------ Loudon Wainwright III
10. Beauty in the World ----- Macy Gray

Oh, and today is going to be great!!!!  I'm going to check out the Christmas Market at church and then volunteer at London's school.  THEN........my cousin and her little boy are coming in from Fort Worth and spending the night.  I can't wait for our kids to play and to get to spend time with my cousin.  We grew up together and I think of her more as a sister than a cousin.  I wish so much we lived close so our kids could grow up knowing each other like the two of us did.  We have lots of sewing and applique projects to work on too!!  We are both potty training the babies right now so it should be fun having 2 potty trainers running around too.  I can't wait!!!

Oh, and on the potty training topic......Kinley has been doing great.  She has gone 3 days with no daytime accidents but still wakes up wet.....except last night she stayed dry all night!!  I can deal with a diaper at night but PRAISE THE LORD we just might be done with diapers during the day.  She is also starting to communicate more that she has to go and usually I can trust her if I ask her "do you need to sit on the potty?" and she answers yes or no!!!  YAY for potty training.  I never in my life thought I would be potty training a 20 month old.

HAPPY THURSDAY and yay for Friday tomorrow!!!

30 DAY BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 24: SOMETHING YOU'VE LEARNED

This is short and sweet......

I have learned to be content with today.

 

30 DAY BLOG CHALLENGE CATCH UP: DAY 20-23

OK, I'm playing catch up for my 30 day blog challenge.  You can link up HERE or click the button below!

DAY 20: NICKNAMES

My family has multiple nicknames for everyone.  

When I was a baby I had peach fuzz for hair so I was called Fez which led to Fezlette.  Also I am still called Heezy by one of my aunts.  I have no idea where that one came from.  My sister called me sister last year as a joke but it has kind of stuck.  She always drags it out too....siiisssssturrrrrr!!  Of course my kids call me Mom, Mommy, Mama.  That's about all.  There are a few more but I'm not telling.  ha ha!!

DAY 21: PICTURE OF YOURSELF

I usually try to avoid the camera but here are a few shots that I approve of.  :)  Looking through all my pictures I realize I really don't have that many pics of myself.  Any picture with me in it is usually one of the girls and I am just there to be the baby holder or lap to sit on.  I am usually the one with the camera so I don't make it a point to get in pictures.  I noticed that I have no recent pics of just Matt and I. 

DAY 22:  FAVORITE CITY

Hmmm, this is a hard one.  I can't narrow it down to one so here are my favorite cities...

1.  Fort Worth, Texas

2.  Fort Collins, Colorado

3.  Keystone, Colorado

4.  any city with a beach

DAY 23:  FAVORITE VACATION 

I'd have to say my favorite vacation would be going skiing.  I LOVE going skiing.  Everything about it.  The great workout and then coming in to a cup of hot chocolate.  Watching the mountains at night.  Clomping around in ski boots.  And passing out at the end of the day because I am so exhausted from skiing all day.  

I grew up going skiing every year and haven't been back in about 3 years.  I hope to start the tradition back and be able to take my kids to the mountains one day.  

London coming in from ski school -- 3 years old