Memories

Lately Patyon has been cracking me up.  I wanted to write down some of the funny things that she has been saying and doing so I won't forget.

First up....babies.   This story has a back story so please bear with me.  Ever since Payton was little one of her favorite things she would like me to tell her about was when she was a baby and when she was born.  The story I tell goes along the lines of in April mommy and daddy found out they would be having a baby.  In August we found out it would be a little girl.  Then how she grew in my tummy and how in December we went to the hospital and the doctor gave mommy and daddy the most beautiful little girl in the whole entire world.  As she got older she started to ask follow-up questions to my story.  Specifically, how she got out of my tummy.  I was not going to, and I don't know if I even could, tell her how babies are really born.  Therefore, I used the generic it was magical (which it was) and the doctor just knows how to get babies out of mommy's tummy.  I know, total cop out.

Flash forward to the present day, and Payton is obsessed with having a baby brother or sister.  She wants me to go to the doctor and order one.  The other day she wanted to play doctor where I was the doctor and she was the mommy.  She gave me her stuffed animal, the baby, and she was going to ask me (the doctor) if she could have a baby.  She walked up and said, "I would like a baby sister."  I said, "Okay."  As I started to hand her the new baby, she yelled, "No, Mommy.  You forgot to ask if I went to college."  Apparently, I may have mentioned to Payton that before she could have a baby, or get married, she has to go to college first.  I almost died because I totally forgot that I had told her that.


Next up.... the dentist.  As I have mentioned before every night before Payton goes to bed we all play night, night games.  They have evolved.  Right now we play, school, dentist, and zippies.  School is pretty self explanatory.  I am always the teacher and Derek and Payton are brother and sister and they are always new with made up names.  Dentist consist of me being the dentist and Payton and Derek bring in their kids.  Based on the kids age, I check their teeth and tell them to come back again.  Payton then gets a turn.  I asked her how old she was.  She said thirteen.  I said, "Oh, you are a teenager?"  She just giggled.  I then asked her if she had a boyfriend.  More giggling.  Derek then looked at me and said "Don't talk about that."  He was seriously freaked about the idea of Payton being a teenager into boys.

Phineas and Ferb.  I don't know if you have ever watched this show, but it is greatness.  I even love it.  The whole premise is based on two step-brothers, Phineas and Ferb, doing different things during the summer and their older sister Candance trying to bust them.  There is also Perry the platypus and an evil doctor.  Payton is currently obsessed with the show, and I don't mind watching it.  However, Candance, the teenage sister, is always on the phone to her friend Stacy or her boyfriend Jeremy. Therefore, Payton will get my phone and I hear her pretending to be Candance telling Stacy how she has to bust her brothers.  It is hilarious.  


I know that there are a ton more, but for some reason I am drawing a blank.  She has such an imagination and is always cracking me up. I know as soon as I post this I will think of other things.  However, I have to head out to Payton's big Halloween parade at her school.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween.

Pumpkin Patch and Birthdays

Well this weekend we finally made it to the pumpkin patch.  Unlike my dear friend Ashley, whose trip there was blazing hot, our weather was really chilly.  We went there on Saturday morning and it was 40 outside.  Burrrr.......  Payton was sporting a really cute pumpkin t-shirt, but since it was so cold, she was also sporting a Disney Cruise Line sweatshirt.   Of course her favorite part of the pumpkin patch was the fort with the slides.

Here are some of the pictures I managed to get her to take.

Of course looking at these pictures reminds me of the first time she went.  She was only ten months old!!!  Look at how little she was.

I also have to laugh because in both times the pictures I took with Payton I am looking directly into the sun.

I like to think I am winking at the camera.



What else.....oh, Derek and I already purchased each other birthday presents this year.  Our birthdays are only fourteen days apart.  We usually don't get each other anything because we are usually planning a trip.   This year we decided to break the tradition.  We both spent around $250.00 on each other.  They are even matching (sort-of).  We didn't plan it that way it just kind of happened.  So what are these awesome gifts?  They are car batteries!!!  Yep folks, don't be jealous.  Both our car batteries decided to die within a two week period.  I like to think the batteries were soul mates and couldn't live without each other.  It is better than thinking that the batteries had an evil plan of making us shell out a bunch of money within a two week period.  So how is that for romance?  In all seriousness, it kind of sucked. Not just the money part, but having to deal with it.  You know, the whole battery dies at the grocery store so you have to get a jump from a complete stranger and then waste your entire weekend afternoon at auto store.  Good times.


I am sure my next post will be the Halloween post.  I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday.

The S word and another Domestic Fail

I guess we should be happy that we have gone this long without Payton dropping a cuss word, but on Friday it happened.  I kind of felt bad for her because she was super tired because she didn't take a nap at school.  It was around 8:00 in the evening and I told Payton it was time for her medicine and off to bed.  She jumped down from the sofa and said Sh*t.  I was taken back because I wasn't sure what I heard.  I asked her what she said and she dropped it again.  Long story short, I told her that was not an appropriate word and she shouldn't say it.  She  started crying.  Derek came in and asked what she said.  I told him (mouthed it) and he tried to get her attention, which only resulted in more crying uncontrollably.  I felt so bad for her because she was so upset and I guess she thought she was in major trouble.  I just told her that it was okay.  That she didn't know it was not an appropriate word and now she knows.  However, I will say it is kind of funny to hear the S bomb from such a little girl.

In other news, I am finally feeling better.  The only bad thing left from my sickness is the "coke nose."  Because I was blowing my nose 24/7 (and yes, I use good tissue with lotion in it) my nose is completely chapped.  It is red and raw and looks oh so lovely.

We were supposed to meet our good friends Jaime and Mat this weekend for dinner, but our Saturday got out of whack and Payton didn't wake up from her nap until around 6:00 on Saturday night.  Given the lack of nap on Friday there was no way I was waking her up.  Sorry Jaime & Mat.

Speaking of naps, Payton's nap pattern has been totally out of whack.  I know that some kids by this time have grown out of naps, and I think Payton is starting to as well. She can go two or three days without a nap and is perfectly fine.  It also makes putting her down in the evening a snap.  She is out before the light it out.  However, once we get to about day three without a good nap then she is a terror to be around.  When I picked her up from my mom's on Friday we were home less than an hour and there were already three major melt downs.  I am talking about crying, tears, yelling, and telling me Mommy doesn't like her because Mommy couldn't do the exact thing she wanted to do at that exact time.    It was FUN....let me tell you.


Hmmmm...... what else.  Oh, I tried to be  Holly Homemaker this weekend and make this from Williams-Sonoma.

It is a gingerbread Halloween House.  Let me tell you it was awful.  You have to make the royal icing with the packets contained in the box.

In the end is is supposed to look like the picture above.  First of all my royal icing sucked.  I followed the directions.  I even slowly mixed the stuff for eight minutes on low.  Since the royal icing was not the right texture, it wouldn't stick on the gingerbread.  It was a awful.  Therefore, I just opened the packets of candy corn and let Payton go to town.  She was happy.  That was literally the most expensive candy corn I have ever purchased.  Also, I hate candy corn.  Just FYI.


This weekend was pretty relaxing.  I even managed to take a nap on Saturday and it felt wonderful  Tech beat TCU and the Cowboys won so Derek was happy.

I am now putting the final touches on our plans for the big ski trip at the end of November.

Stages of Sickness

Well, I couldn't avoid the sickness.  By Monday afternoon my throat was on fire.  It hurt to swallow.  I was really  feeling bad.  I went to the minute clinic Monday afternoon and was loaded up with antibiotics and steroids.  On Tuesday I still felt bad and left work after lunch to rest.  However, by Wednesday I was even worse and stayed home all together.  I did something that I haven't done since I had the flu back in 2002.  I stayed in bed all day.  It would have been glorious if not for the fact I felt like total crap.  Then last night about 3:00 a.m. something wonderful happened.  I woke up and I was able to breath through my nose.  I know something as little as that is something that we take for granted; however, when you have been denied that simple little pleasure it was wonderful to have it back.   Now I am still not a 100%, but I feel like I am at least getting better.  I have noticed a pattern every time I get this sickness which I referred to as simply the crud.  I call it that because it is always a sinus infection/ upper respiratory infection.  Therefore, I know you would like to know this, I will tell you how the crud effects me.

Day 1:  Inching throat, headache, and gums hurting.  (Sinus pressure)
Day 2:  Head about to explode because sinus stuff feels like a rock in my head.  Ears hurt.
Day 3:  The tomato day as I refer to it.  The sinus stuff is starting to give way a little; however, not enough.  I feel like I want to stick my head in a juicer to squeeze every thing out.  Eyes watering, nose dripping, head hurting and lack of sleep.  Fever off and on.
Day 4:  The gates have broken lose and I am now blowing my nose every two minutes, coughing, and sneezing.  However, I am actually starting to feel better because the crud is leaving my head.


I know you all really wanted me to break down my sickness, but I thought I would give you a little insight into my last few days.

The good news is that Payton is a 100% better, and Derek started his up swing right when I started going downhill.

In fact after gymnastics today, she went with my mom to get her nails and toes painted.  My mom said she could not talk her out of the orange color; however, she did get a ghost on her toe and a spider on her fingernail.

My mom said she also got a kick out of the messaging chair.

How can someone that cute be a carrier monkey for so many germs?  I try not to love on her too much when she is sick because I know I will get it, but I guess that is just part of being a mom.  When a sick little girl needs cuddles there is no way I am going to refuse.

Other than trying to get better not a lot has been going on at the Cargills.  We still haven't made it to the pumpkin patch.  Not sure when that is going to happen.  This weekend is Tech at TCU.  I think we may try to make it out there this Sunday.

Pinkalicious

This weekend was the big play at the Dallas Children's Theater.   Since the play was by North Park Mall, we stopped first to have lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.

Once we arrived at the theater, there was a lot of PINK everywhere.  Of course they had this for all the parents to get a great photo of their child.

They also had items to purchase.  We purchased the gold crown and wand.  They also had intermission. I really don't think they play needed one.  It wasn't very long, but I guess they needed it so you could walk out and purchase Sprinkle Cupcakes.  We didn't venture out to the lobby to the cupcakes, so instead we took more pictures.

Derek was planning on going, but he started feeling under the weather on Wednesday.  I knew it was bad when he wanted to go to the doctor on Thursday.  Payton also went to the doctor on Friday because of the running nose and cough.  Her right ear was "red" so she is now on antibiotics.  So if anyone is keeping score, both Derek and Payton are now under the weather and taking antibiotics.  I am trying to use positive thinking to stay well, but this morning, and as I am typing this, my throat is starting to hurt.  I am currently sipping hot, honey tea in hopes that will make it go away.   Positive thoughts.

I am not really disappointed that Derek didn't make it.  Although any family time is great, this was really a female crowd.  There were only a handful of dads in the audience, and sometimes some Mommy/ Daughter bonding over Pinkalicious is just what is needed on a cold, rainy day that is too wet to go outside.

Payton really enjoyed the show.  I liked it as well.  It was really entertaining.  My only "complaint" is that you really didn't need an intermission.  The audience members are young, but you could have pushed through and gotten everyone out sooner.  I guess that is not really a complaint, but more of a recommendation.

Here is Payton modeling her gear from the show.

Yes, this was the best picture I could get.  Also, I was really pleased with the production and Payton loved it.  We will definitely try to make it out there to more shows.


Now I must go back to work and think positive, healthy thoughts that I don't get sick!!!!

Happy Columbus Day or Fair Day

Today is an official holiday for the state and federal government.  However, I do not work for the state or federal government therefore I am at work.  In the Dallas area this is also known as Fair Day.  The schools are closed so the kids can enjoy the Texas State Fair.   I can say that I have never been to the Texas State Fair, and I don't know if I really have a desire to go.  Maybe when Payton is older we will venture out there, but I can't really say it is something that I really want to do.

Let's see what else.......... This weekend Derek ventured down to Austin to participate in the Tough Mudder.  It is basically a twelve mile race through the mud and other military style obstacles.  He said it was fun; however, he has a massive bruise on his left upper arm.  It seriously looks as though he has been in a car wreck.  While Derek was in Austin, I headed to North Park Mall for some major shopping.  My mom purchased my birthday presents while we were there.  Two new pair of boots!!!!  I have been needing some new boots for awhile, and when Daon blogged about her new pair, I got motivated.

 The black boots have more of a suede finish to them on the top.

 
The brown ones are so pretty, I promise.  This picture is not doing them justice.


I also went by Ann Taylor Loft and found this amazing jacket.  I have decided that I need more color in my closet.  For some reason, I tend to stick with blacks and dark colors.  I have a black leather jacket, the gray wool coat  (my business coat) for really cold days, and a white suede jacket lined with fur that I got when we got married.  However, I saw this and thought I would go outside the box and give it a try.

It is a wool pea coat and it is so soft and warm.

I also stopped at Tiffany & Co. because........ why not?  No, I didn't purchase anything.  We haven't won the lottery, but I did find something that I loved.  So, Derek if you are reading this and we win the lottery and on our ten year anniversary if you want to purchase me this I would have no objections.

It is only $13,000.00.  Who needs to pay for things like a house or car or save for retirement when I could be sporting this?


Other than shopping, I also really enjoyed this weekend because of the weather.  I love the smell of a home the first time you turn the heater on in the winter.  I realize it is all the dust burning off, but still I love it.  The only major disappointment of this weekend was the Texas Rangers.  They were in first place from game four until the last game of the season.  What happened???  Don't they know that the Cowboys are awful and we need them to do well to keep our minds off that very fact?  The only good news is that we will get a refund on the play-off tickets.  Since Derek is a season ticket holder, he gets the first bite at play-off tickets.  However, you have to pay for every home game and you  pay assuming every series will go to seven games and there will be the maximum number of home games played for each series.  Although, I am highly upset in the Rangers, I can now put money towards the above ring.  At this rate, it will be more like our 20th anniversary.


Here is the funny of the day.  I totally forgot that Jackson got a set of fake mustaches for his birthday.

Happy Columbus Day or Fair Day or Monday.........................

Well, Hello Mr. Fireman......

This weekend we traveled to Amarillo for Jackson's fourth birthday party.  The party started off at the downtown fire station.  Let me just say this, firefighters are hot.  They are all in shape, obviously because of their job, and super friendly.  Yes, I know I am married, and very happy, but Hello, they were very nice on the eyes.  I am all for a party were the "host" of the party are nice looking and doesn't involve a bounce house.  Speaking of cute firefighters, check out the cutest one of all, Mr. Jackson himself.

Jackson was seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen.  And here are all the cousins.

Look at how tall Addison is.    

Speaking of cousins, Payton and Addison were stuck together like glue.  I kind of feel bad because I don't think that Granny and Pop got a lot of time to see Payton.  She was too busy running around with Addison and Jackson.

After the fire station we went back to Granny's house for ice cream and cake.    The one thing that we have started doing when we drive to Amarillo is to take off work on Friday and drive down.  We got there around five on Friday and let Payton go crazy with her cousins.  Payton was awesome on the drive.  She never fell asleep, but she did great.

We also have started leaving on Saturday night, and stopping half way to stay the night.  That way our entire Sunday is not spent on the road.  We arrived home Sunday around noon.  This is Payton on Saturday evening around 6:30 p.m. right when we passed the city limit sign leaving Amarillo.

Do you think girlfriend was tired?  She did nothing but play from the time we arrived to the time we left, and there were no naps.  Payton slept until we woke her up in Childress.  We needed to stop to eat.  We decided we didn't want fast food so we stopped at K-Bob's Steakhouse.   It was great for people watching.  There may be more places to eat in Childress, but I have a feeling this was the only steakhouse, and we were there on Saturday night "date night."  I seriously do not know how anyone can live in such a small town.  I mean you are two hours away from the "big" cities of Amarillo or Wichita Falls.


We had a great time, and I am so glad we got the chance to make it up there.  I am hoping that Jackson still has a love for firefighters so that we can have the party there again next year.