V-day Getaway

Brandon sure outdid himself this year.

The girls were out of school last Monday-Thursday because of a major deep south snow storm. And I'm serious here. It was an 8 inch or better snow storm. See?

So fun!

So Thursday morning, when the main roads were clear enough, I headed on the 2.5 hour drive to meet mom and dad. Baylee had requested a Valentine's Day date with my dad to Cheesecake Factory and he was not about to disappoint! They were going to be in Oklahoma from Thursday-Monday and boy was Brandon glad!

You see, my sweet man had been a sneaky snake for awhile. He had been secretly planning a getaway with our friends. I thought we were going to have a quiet Valentine's Day weekend home alone, but he had other plans in mind.

Saturday morning I woke up and was instructed not to go into the living room until he gave the all clear. I fell asleep for a bit and when I woke up I heard some rustling around. I tried to imagine what was going on, but I wasn't expecting what I saw.

A suitcase, toiletries, and snacks only means one thing in our house....ROADTRIP!!!

We were headed out of town, out of state for that matter. I asked a million questions, but he gave no answers. It was all his little secret. Before we left town we managed to swing by our friend's house and pick them up. They were going with us! Woo-hoo!! There was so much behind the scenes planning going on I don't know how my "I can't keep secrets" husband pulled it off. But he did and we had a weekend to remember.

Gus's Fried Chicken.... Two movies at the theater.... Paulette's Restaurant.... shopping.... shopping... shopping... introducing our friends to Carrabba's... laughter... and sweet memories made.

I hate to admit it, but my man did a lot better than the bag of peanut M&Ms I had for him! ;)

Candy Land

I just spent the last hour and a half jumping from website to website looking for candy birthday party ideas. Yes, my dear friends, WE HAVE A THEME!!!

Actually, Baylee thought of this wonderful theme months ago. We were headed to Wednesday night church one October evening when out of the blue the girls started talking about their next party. I told them they could talk about it all they wanted, but no decisions would be made until January. Because don't most people start planning months in advance?! ;)

Anyway, they were bouncing from idea to idea and I was trying to hold in my laughter. They wanted a "trick rider" cake. You know the people who do tricks on the back of horses? Yeah, that's what they wanted. And then it happened. Baylee simply said, "How about a candy party?".

And I was hooked. It was as if she threw the line out with the most delicious looking bait she could find and I bit right on it. There was no turning me back. Everything started turning into bright colors and visions of gumdrops danced in my head.

Surprisingly, Caylee loved the idea too. And when both girls were on board I was free to give my approval. Oh, it's going to be FUN!! But from what I've seen online, I probably should have started planning in October.

I can't wait! :)

3 hour blackout

There's nothing like the silence of a house to be your alarm clock. Just as my alarm was about to go off, my fan stopped blowing. And then I knew we were in for trouble. Our power was OUT!

Now, I've been known to say a time or two how much fun I think it would be to be powerless for a day or so. Be creative with food, play games by candlelight, bundle up all in one room, etc... But not when it's 11 degrees outside! That's just plain dangerous!

So this morning the girls and I got ready with only the glow of the candles as our light. It was kind of fun. They were in an exceptionally good mood (seeing as this was all new) and we found ourselves ready in record time. I mean, how much can you really do in the dark?! Since cooking breakfast wasn't an option and I refused to ope the refrigerator for milk, it was off to McDonald's before school. Wow! What a treat!! And a fantastic way to start our Friday!

It wasn't until we loaded up in the van and I looked in the rearview mirror did I notice how kind of pitiful we all looked. At first I was sad I forgot my camera - you know, got to document all of life's adventures! But when I saw what we looked like in daylight I realized we were better off not having this in the history books of our lives. ;)

Ear loaf

See this simple hair cut? Yes, it's cute and Baylee looks crazy old, but it sparked one hilarious conversation the other day.

You see, Bran took the girls for a much needed hair cut last week. And this cut requires a little bit of work for it to look it's best. Nothing major, just blown dry and a little help from the flat iron. So the other night I grabbed the straightener to smooth some hair around Bay's face. I'm sure she could feel the heat of it when I heard her say, "Mom, be careful. You're going to burn my ear loaf". Huh?! Her what?! Bless Baylee's heart she's apparently been calling her earlobe an ear loaf all of these years. And I'm just now catching on! Needless to say we had ourselves a good laugh that evening! :)

To my sister

Hey, Brenna -

Remember when I was just a wee tot and I pestered you all day. I was that annoying little sister and wouldn't leave you alone? And just when you thought the coast was clear and we were out of mom and dad's sight, you turned around and slapped me? Too bad your slap was a good one, dad heard it from across the house. And we both got spankings.

Or what about James Knott? Yeah, you were probably jealous when he gave ME the orange Tootsie Roll Pop at Chouteau instead of you. I think he only hung around you so he could really be around me - even though I was only 6.

Oh, I know! Remember when we went to Washington, D.C. the first time and you HATED having to share a room with your 13 year old sister? Yeah, as a 23 year old you were too cool for that.

And remember on that same trip when you watched me give money to the Hare Krishna's? And then told me I had given money to some cult? And then I cried? But being the nice sister you were you gave me a dollar to make me feel better? I mean, without that dollar I couldn't have bought that souvenir patriotic flag shirt to wear at the capitol on the 4th!

Remember our matching Coca-Cola gowns? We were cute.

Remember when we drove cross country to visit the Welch clan and you and Benny sang "Head to Toe" loud and proud while touching my head and toes at every mention of the words? I still hate that song.

Remember when you moved to Baltimore and for graduation you flew me up to stay with you?

Remember we recreated our Washington, D.C. trip and liked each other that time? And we went to Ford's theater and thought we were going to get kicked out because we kept reenacting the sound of the gunshot?

Remember when you taught me how to make muenster chicken and revealed to me that mom had been making it out to be more difficult than it really is? And we laughed until we cried because she had tricked us all of those years?

Remember when you found that pregnancy test in my car? That was a shocker, huh?

Remember when we turned a corner and stopped being sisters and started being best friends?

Oh, Sister, I love you. I could play the "Remember when" game all day long. I wish you were still here so we could celebrate your 37th birthday. I would cook that easy-peasy muenster chicken for you and I'd have your favorite cinnamon streusel cake ready for dessert. Today, when I feel myself getting sad and the tears well up in my eyes, I'll think of all the wonderful memories and I'll hold them extra close to my heart. I love you, dear Sister.

~ Cari

October Rocktober!

Wow! November 3 already?! (Ironically, when I went to type November, I typed out September. :/ Hmmm.... What does that say?) Where oh where did this year go?! October flew by before I could even get the Halloween decorations out. But I didn't forget to make those memories and carry on some traditions!! Let's take a quick look at some October highlights...

Grandparent's Day! 10/1/09

Molly turned 2! 10/12/09

Caylee got glasses! 10/13/09

Picture Day! 10/14/09

Baylee's last doctor appointment with Dr. Matthias for three months! 10/14/09

(This picture was taken in September when all casts/splints were removed. She got the official "all clear" on October 14.)

80's Cake (only a highlight b/c I had to start all over and was up until 4 a.m. Ugh!) 10/17/09

Halloween cookies! 10/26/09

Baylee was proud of her cheerleader ghost with a bra. Oh, that girl! ;)

Fall festival at the school! 10/30/09

Pumpkin carving! 10/30/09

And the fiasco....

Nothing Brandon couldn't fix though!

Halloween night!!!! 10/31/09

Halloween was so HUGE this year, it's going to require it's own post. So fun.

And somehow in the middle of that crazy October month.....

*Baylee was sick.

*Caylee was sick.

*I was sick.

*I started my three month jury duty service.

*I went to a Women's conference.

*I began a three year term on our church's Women's Ministry team.

*Brandon and I celebrated a decade together!

*And more!

Wow!! No wonder I'm tired! ;) What a great month!

Oh, and I might've forgotten to put out Halloween decorations, but I proudly have my Pilgrims, Indians, and cornucopia on my entry table already! Woo-hoo! :)

Growing up

Sometimes it takes my breath away when I think about how old my girls are. Eight. Really? Can they really be that old? Weren't they just toddling around in their onesies yesterday? Didn't Baylee have that wild hair only a week ago? Wasn't it just last month when Caylee stuttered at the beginning of every sentence? I am amazed at how time as FLOWN by. They are almost half way through third grade. And then after that, they'll only have one year left of elementary school.

WHAT?!! And that's where I begin to tear up.

See, there are those moments in the day when I see glimpses of my "babies". You know, when Baylee refers to a magazine as a "mazagine". Or when one of them will ask for "chatchige" pizza. Or when it's time to add extra "washmellows" to the hot chocolate. It's those precious moments I'm holding on to, because I know the age of innocence is near.

Before long we will be talking about boys, dealing with girlfriend drama, shopping for make-up, and having "the talk". Oh, my heart aches when I think about those times. I didn't realize just how fast our itty-bitty babies would grow up.