Dirty Laundry

I'm way behind. We'll just pretend I wrote these on time and you can enjoy several posts for the next couple of days while I catch up =)

One day, when Laurel brought Oliver and Rachel home from preschool, we were standing upstairs chatting. Suddenly, we realized that we couldn't hear them anymore. Not a sound. That is never good as far as these two are concerned, so we quickly ran outside to see if they were playing in the snow. No sign of them. We ran back inside and began calling again. Still not a sound. Suddenly I heard giggling from downstairs. I found them in the laundry room.

This is after they lifted their heads up. When I first found them, they were completely inside the hampers. I had no idea they could fit in there. What little sillies.

Merry Christmas!

These will soon be in the mail. That's right, it's Christmas Eve and I haven't mailed my Christmas cards. I have no excuse for that... but at least I did them. I can't say as much last year. Enjoy =)

If you need a new holdiay joke...

"Why did the reindeer cross the road? 'Cuz it was afraid of the doggie."

You can just tell Oliver thanks for that one next time you see him.

Dear Oliver,

Please note that paper crimpers are made to be used for the express purpose of crimping paper. Use with any other objects or materials will result in less than satisfactory results. Cranberry bread will become stuck in the rubber rollers. Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal will be smashed to oblivion. Your creativity and experimentation, while notable, is causing your mother a lot of unnecessary clean up. Your attention to this matter is appreciated. Failure to use good judgement in the future may result in the permanent confiscation of craft materials.

Much Love, The Management

Putting up the trimmings

I've been reluctant to put up Christmas decorations this year. It is so much effort and we've all been so sick this year! I don't know what is going on. We are usually NEVER sick with anything that would require a doctors visit, but right now Savannah is recovering from her 3rd bout with strep and Tyler is on an antibiotic for some unknown yucky infection (maybe walking pneumonia). Anyway, Sunday we finally gave it a try because this Friday the girls are having a Christmas party and they thought it would be silly to not have a tree. I only took a couple of noteworthy pictures.

Tucker found the bubble wrap memorizing.

Oliver loved pretending that the Christmas tree box was a coffin.

Tyler got some really gorgeous glass balls from Restoration Hardware in January during their after-Christmas sale. They look great, but we've decided we've outgrown our Charlie Brown Christmas tree. We'll look for something else during the sales in January next year.

Our angel baby

Saturday was our Christmas party at church. The kids were going to sing two songs as part of the evening entertainment. When we went earlier in the day to get everything set up, Tyler put Tucker in the manger for a couple of minutes. He looked so adorable in there and sat so still that Tyler decided he should do it again for the program. I wasn't so sure, but agreed to it if he would put him in the manger and be ready to take him down if he made a peep.
It was so precious. Tyler draped the blanket on his head because he knows (from wearing Tyler's hats) that you don't move if you have something on your head so it won't fall off.

He just sat there, with his giant eyes, looking at the audience. Luckily it distracted the crowd from listening to our horrible performance.

Don't you love the angels?

Somehow we got really off on the rhythm of one of the songs. I didn't know what to do. I tried singing REALLY loudly to try and get them back on pace, but to no avail. Afterward, everyone talked of nothing but Tucker, so I think he saved us.


I always love to have all of the kids dress up for the Nativity. I think they enjoyed it a lot, as well since most of them didn't want to give the costumes back.

Savannah and Emmaline both had solos. They did really great.

Of course the night wouldn't be complete without sitting on Santa's lap.

Quotes of the day.

Oliver (of course!):
"Mama, when I grow up I'm just going to be a Daddy." (pause) "A Daddy who shoots deer with a gun."

When Tyler dropped Oliver off at preschool they had the question for their morning calendar, "What do Mom's do best? Love you?" (weird question, we know)

Oliver said, "Just a second. I want to tell you something."
Teacher: "Yes, Oliver."
Oliver (with much drama): "One time, when my Mom and I were at a store, we were looking at a sunset."

Blast from the past

This was a post that I tried to publish months ago. Then, the picture I wanted to use with it disappeared! Today I found it again, so- here it is...

Yesterday Savannah had a soccer game at Cottonwood Elementary. Since Ollie had to go to the bathroom, I took some time walking the halls, reflecting. It's only been a little over 4 years since I worked there, but it feels like forever! I was thinking about how much my life has changed since then and I thought about a picture I found a couple of weeks ago.

When I first saw this picture, it made me cry. My focus was obviously so consumed with Joey (as it should have been... I was at work) and how Savannah seems to be "fending for herself." Granted, this was a field trip that I let her tag along- but I think I sometimes carried my work over into the rest of my life too much. Tyler and I have always talked about me going back to work when Tucker gets in first grade- both for the monetary benefit and my emotional sanity. I'm wondering what I'll do that I can leave at work. I love child psychology. It's fascinating, it's rewarding- and it's emotionally draining. I think in some ways I was much better at it before I had kids although I understand it much more since then. Just something I've been thinking about.
And by the way... doesn't Oliver look just like Savannah?! When I had Emmaline, LaVar said, "Doesn't it make you want to have a dozen more, just to see what they will turn out like?" (because the first two looked so different.) But the older they get, the more I think all my kids looks identical!

A Dallas Thanksgiving

We had a whirlwind of a vacation to Dallas for Thanksgiving! By Tuesday night, it became apparent that Tyler would not be able to join us for the holiday. We took a quick look at flights and decided a trip for the rest of the family to join him was the best solution! As a side note- 15 minutes after I made the reservations, Savannah threw up. I guess it was due to the antibiotic she was taking for strep throat since none of the rest of us got sick- whew! Anyway, Neal and Leslie (more pictures here as well) were kind enough to add 6 extra places for us. We spent most of Thursday on the plane, and arrived at their home at about 6 p.m. It was really fun (for us) because much of my extended family had somehow found themselves there as well... so sorry Leslie, but it was wonderful! The kids had a great time connecting to cousins.

We celebrated Jackson's birthday on Saturday with a trip to Benihana.

(I know- my eyes are closed. I couldn't see without my glasses anyway!)

Then off to the Galleria for ice skating.

Oliver with Uncle Shelby.

The kids loved MoMo.

Did you know Tucker has sprouted his curls?

Although I'm not usually much for spontaneity as it applies to anything last minute, this turned out really well. Made me kind of re-think all the planning I usually do (baby steps... be a satisficer).

Quotes of the day.

Oliver:
"Mama, I think my stomach headache is going away."
To Tyler's employee's working on his room downstairs, "Talking is not working!" (He thinks they're not getting that place done quickly enough.)

This isn't an exact quote, but the other day, at dinner, Savannah started talking and Tucker suddenly leaned over and looked at her as if to try to understand her better. We tried to take a picture, but this was the best we got.


I don't know exactly how things work upstairs, but I'm pretty sure, if he got a chance, he would have told God, "Tyler and Charlotte look like okay parents. But those kids, man I want to get down there and be part of that action." It's so funny to see how he looks at the "big kids" with so much adoration.