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There is a crisis in America right now.  And I'm confident that Mr. Obama…after he gives everyone their house back and gets everyone a job and helps clean-up corporate America and allow for all children to have good healthcare…can help me.  For months last year, all you heard about was rising gas prices and the toll it had on the American family.  Well, I'm here today to tell you about the rising cost of hair care.  Our economy stinks, but no one is addressing the growing crisis of people who are prematurely graying and can't afford to get a color and cut.  $100 – $200 for a good style?  Come on!  Something needs to be done…otherwise we will all be looking like skunks here pretty soon.  And so help me…I do not want to be a skunk.

1.  Since hearing the news of their purchase, I have been itchin' to go see the new residence of George and Laura Bush in North Dallas.  When I read on Friday that the City Council would be voting next week to put a gate at the street to limit access (to keep weirdos like me out), I knew I needed to act quick.  So we headed down to Daria Place and took some pictures.  I wanted to get out and have a family portrait on the lawn, but there were policemen there for security, and well…it seemed like a good idea right up until we drove by…and then it seemed a little over the top! :)  It's a beautiful home.  Although the area that it's in has a pretentious reputation, the house itself and surrounding homes are modest by Preston Hollow standards.  The home itself is ranch style…on a gorgeous lot and tucked away in a culdesac off of main thoroughfares.  I loved it.  We drove by twice just to get a better look (and btw, we weren't the only ones doing that – there was a stream of three or four other cars doing the same thing!).

 

 

 

2.  We headed to California Pizza Kitchen because…

a) we don't even have to look at the menu – we always order two pizzas and their barbq chicken salad to share

b) we had a gift card!

 

 

 

3.  We ran in to Castle Gap Jewelry – because it brought back memories of shopping their as a teenager for gifts and silver jewelry.

 

4.  Then we got on the highway headed for our next destination and realized we had this combination:

 

AND

 

4.  So we got off as soon as we could for gas and realized we were right near our old stomping grounds.  So we took a detour and showed Jacob where we lived in Valley Ranch when we brought him home from the hospital as a newborn.  This was our apartment balcony.

 

5.  And since you can practically see it from the apartment building parking lot, we drove by the Dallas Cowboys headquarters (where NO ONE is right now since we stunk it up and didn't have a post season).

 

6.  And we happened to drive right by this beauty of a street sign, and I made Derek turn the car around and take my picture.

 

7.  And then we made it to The Dump…which despite it's name has some great furniture.  I went in looking for a bookcase for my bedroom, but found a small chair for my piano room.

 

8.  Then to reward all 4 of my boys for being very patient with my antics and forced marches, I took them all to what Jacob and Caleb describe as a "boy's heaven"…Outdoor World in Grapevine!

 

 

 

TWO HOURS later, we were hungry and one of us was crying (I promise it wasn't me), so we stopped at a Wendy's and all went home happy and tired and ready for bed.

The End.

Because they gave him the outfit. You give him an outfit, you get your own blog post. That’s just how it works around here.

Random blatherings about the goings on of my week…

1.  I am a living testament to the fact that 28 days of doing something does NOT make a habit.  I blogged for one whole month, every day, and as soon as it was over I fell off the proverbial band wagon.  3 days missed this week.  It just goes to show that it's hopeless…don't even try to work on those resolutions you just made. 🙂 🙂

2.  Strep throat is miserable, and so is PMS, and so are post-holiday blues.  You can guess which were me this week, and which were Caleb. 

3.  I let Caleb play outside last night on his scooter.  He had been on his antibiotics (for PMS) for over 24 hours.  As soon as he got out there, he decided to have a WWF match with the sidewalk, and the sidewalk won.  Pictures forthcoming – it's not pretty.

4.  I got a gift card to William-Sonoma for Christmas from my dad and Christy – guess what I bought?!  The Bialetti Hot Chocolate Machine!  The beverage that comes out of that machine is the perfect temperature and the perfect creaminess.  No need for marshamallows because you have a sweet froth at the top.  LOVE it!  It's a ridiculous luxury…but oh so tasty!

5.  Every night this week Derek and I have been up late and then up again with a child in the middle of the night/wee hours of the morning.  It's become a running joke now…but it's not funny. 🙂

6.  I've been studying women in the scriptures in preparation for a program for Girls Camp and it's been uplifting and inspiring. 

7.  I love to take pictures of Samuel in the bath.  That kid has been so HAPPY this week – all smiles, laughter and hugs…so FUN.  Love that.

   

 

I got a little carried away with my new label maker…

Derek turned another 30-something last Saturday.  He said all he really needed or wanted was his Utes to go 13-0 and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, which triumphantly they did.  Those good ol' Utes saved me a trip to the mall, I tell ya!  Woo Hoo!

We celebrated with cards from loved ones and a cake…white cake with white icing and coconut.  The man has consistently asked for the same cake for 10 years (longer probably, but I was not the designated cake maker before then). 

The poor guy has never had much of a birthday celebration…the post-holiday birthdays are nothing but an invitation for a let-down.  And now that Samuel has one and he has a mother who refuses to allow anyone to overlook his very memorable and important day of birth, we are so worn out and glossy eyed come January 3rd that Derek only gets a slap on the hiney and a "have a good year" high five.

But we do take pictures! 

  

watching the game on Friday night!

 

Samuel helping me make the cake

   

Samuel is trying to prematurely blow the candles out (he thinks he's an expert now).

Boy was I grumpy last night…not ready to relinquish my kids to the school again, not wanting our holiday fun to be over quite yet, not ready for alarm clocks, and schedules and to-do's.  But…such is life, and it has proved to be a decent day despite a lack of sleep last night (Jacob had some anxiety and couldn't sleep) and 30-degree temps and rain (why isn't it snowing, I ask?!):

– had a check-up for Samuel, and would you believe he didn't even cry for his blood work and shots?

– ran in to Costco to make a return and ran into a friend!

– went to Anthropologie, one of my favorite stores ever

– paid a visit to Frances, who turns 92 years old today…she was lucid and happy to see us, and it was a lovely visit

It's a good day…

Although I have LOVED every minute of the holidays this year…hosting, wrapping, parties, gifts, food, friends, fun, sweets, treats, family, etc. there are two experiences I want to remember forever.  And wouldn't you know it…they involve service, which is where the really important moments often happen - when doing for others.

1.  Last Tuesday we went to the place where my friend, Frances, lives(d).  Her phone had been disconnected, so I wasn't sure on her status.  We were told that she had been moved just recently to hospice care.  We were disappointed to not get to see her, but had come armed with truffles and smiles to share with the other residents.  We made our rounds thru the lobby visiting with residents who sit and socialize there.  Jacob played the piano for them (he wouldn't do it when we asked him, but couldn't turn down a sweet woman who asked him).  And Caleb stood by my side as we visited with each person individually.  Samuel just ran laps around the lobby, which delighted everyone.  Caleb told me tonight that THIS was his favorite memory of the holidays.  "It made me happy", he said. 

2.  On Friday night, we took the two oldest boys to the Samaritan Inn, our local shelter for the homeless or displaced.  It is not a drop in for the night, leave the next day kind of place (although I'm sure they sometimes make exceptions).  It is a well-run facility that requires paperwork and chores and curfews, etc.  There are all kinds of counseling/assistance services to help get people back on their feet, and they even have a transitional apartment building across the street, for those who have income but need supplemental help.  It's a neat, neat place.  Derek, the boys, and I served dinner.  Each of us was busy doing our own jobs.  I was helping with burgers and fixin's.  Derek was doing dishes.  Caleb had napkin/dessert duty.  Jacob was serving fruit salad into bowls and handing them out.  I had tears in my eyes as I watched these two good boys giving it their all, working hard, but enjoying themselves in the process.  They were polite and kind and attentive.  The residents were wonderful to us, and so warm.  We met lots of neat people who are working hard and trying to get back on their own.  It was impressive to see.  We hope to go back every other month this year.  As we were walking out, both boys said they didn't realize that it would "feel this good".  It really did feel good.  And I think we'll all remember it for a long time.  

 

 

We dropped by the grounds of the Dallas Temple, where Derek and I got married, while out that way last week.

We celebrated Samuel's birthday on Thursday with a small family party.  I realized this year that we will ALWAYS be tired on his b'day since we'll always be up late the night before (especially if hosting).  I hope the poor kid won't feel cheated along the way. 🙂

He loves Curious George and because I do too, I've always wanted to do a CG party for one of the kids.  Derek was cake-man extraordinaire once again…wow-ing us all with his cake skills.  Samuel got lots of fun things…a dump truck from Mark and Anne, a remote control train (just his size and ability) from us and a boat for the bathtub, and a really-annoying-but-fun-for-the-kids monkey that pretends to eat a banana and cry from my Dad and Christy.

Thanks to Mark and Anne, and Nana and Pops for attending.  Samuel looked bigger all of the sudden yesterday and was opening gifts and playing with toys just like a "big boy".  I'm sad to lose the "baby" stuff, but it's been fun to watch him mature seemingly overnight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"AAAAAYYYYY" – interpreted "yeah!" while watching football (which he'll also probably ALWAYS do on his birthday…thus, the t-shirt)

Thank you to everyone who rang in the new year with us.  We hosted a family party at our house with kids in pjs, lots of food, Scattergories for the adults, and lots and lots of fun!  We celebrated East Coast Style by counting down at 11 and teaching the kids some of the New Year’s traditions from around the world.  Some people stayed past 12 though and we counted down again!

I always wake up the morning after these things and think to myself “I am such a dork”!  I need to talk less and listen more.  I talk WAAAAYYY too much at parties.  Actually, I probably talk WAAYYYY too much PERIOD!  I’m so goofy when I get around good friends, and allow myself to be a little too much like…well, like myself!  And I’m way too competitive when it comes to games…honestly, did I really need to argue for 10 minutes about why the Pied Piper and Ann Landers should be considered historical figures!?!  Come on, Meredith!  🙂

But it was fun and I love these great people that celebrated with us.

Happy New Year!