11 Months...and 1st Christmas!

Christmas '09 is fin-a-ta and what little Christmas decor I had put up is now down. (Note to self - must be very Griswald-like next year to make up for lack of decor this year.)

Sophie-Bophie...11 Months

Sophie turned 11 months just 5 days before Christmas and boy....is she ever getting big. I think she's gained 5 pounds over the holiday break so far. We love this tiny morsel of heaven so much. She's taken 4 or 5 steps, still only has two teeth, likes to say "da-da" "mama" "baba" and "ho ho ho"! Her version of course.

Sissy....

Sissy on Big Bikey....

Sissy playing Mary in our 2nd Annual (at home) Christmas play...

Sophie enjoying her Santa gifts...

Joyful day. Precious moments.

As Good as It Gets!

It's almost Christmas Eve.... Let the celebration begin....
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

(Lovin' this pic, Donna...thanks!)

Room With A View....

Our view of Cedar Creek Lake across the street....

Construction Already....

Whew. We're in. We've left the Shack, no tears there. We made the best decision ever and hired movers to move us (Yes! Worth it, definitely!) And three days of utter, plain chaos have finally settled down a bit.....enough for me to sit and blog, I guess.

I'm enjoying our new home, I really am. I forgot about how much I love to cook on gas stoves, and I love having a driveway again! (It's the small things...; ) I love looking at the lake during the day. I love being able to walk out my front door and go for a long walk with the girls.....I love having a little bit more room, but not too much. I do love small homes. I love the fact that we're already doing construction on this home, turning a once large sunroom into a den & 3rd bedroom. There's something appealing about taking an older home and making it shine again. But I don't love moving. In fact, if I have to chain myself to this house....I'm not moving again for a long, long, long, long time. Boog and the girls can go...I'll stay.

With all this moving hoopla, one could forget there's Christmas right around the corner. I did my first and final bit of shopping the other day......it amazed me to see the deer in the headlights look of all the shoppers, trying to grab the last gift or two. I can't tell you how many times I overheard, "But my kids don't really need anything..." while shopping. They're right. Mine don't either.

But I like the memories.

Have a VERY MERRYand BLESSED CHRISTMAS ALL!

Snuggly Christmas Movies

You either are a repeat movie watcher or you aren't. As I've said before, my sister and I are polar opposites on many things. This is no exception. When I told her a while back that Boog and I have certain movies we watch over and over again, she had a certain dead-pan, you do whatttt? look seep over her. As if the thought of sitting there, watching the same movie you've already watched a hundred times was.....ludicrous. I find it quite..... lovely. : )

Speaking of lovely, there are several lovely movies that are absolute must-re-see's during the Christmas season. I don't know why, but they are just about as cozy feeling as a cup of apple cider, or pumpkin bread bakin' in the oven, or.....those fruffy socks you only wear with your pj's.

Here's a few of my Christmas movie must-re-see's.

The Family Man. Cute kids...Christmas time....snow....family stuff. Love it!

Sleepless in Seattle. LOVE that kid, Jonah. Love the house on the Seattle water.

You've Got Mail. Guess I'm a fan of you know who and you know who. Love Meg's hair.

Christmas Vacation. This one tickles my funny bone so much! "The blessing??" anyone?

Nothin' Says Lovin'....

The Rejects...(photos, I mean)

......Like desperately trying to get your children to behave, pose, and maybe even smile a bit for the all-perfect Christmas pictures. Oh, and add in arguing with your spouse to boot over who takes better pictures. Now THAT's a Christmas to remember! : )

Out of 40 takes, I got one good one. Be waiting for that in your mailboxes. Merry Christmas!

A Really Good Day....

No funny title here, just a note on a really good day I had this weekend. It's fun to have all your cups filled in one day - your friend cup, your family cup, your hubby cup......that doesn't happen that often. Just ask Boog. When any one of those cups get low, I can get grouchy. I need friend time, I need family time (lots of it), and I need hubby/date time (at least every now and then!).

My friend cup: First Monday - Canton. We froze our patooties off, but we made the best of the four hour shopping experience. A couple of Christmas presents checked off our list....several more to go for me. Kim, I'll do Canton with you again anyday!

Trying to find a heater to stand by....

My hubby cup: Filled. Our last date was back around August, I think, so this was way overdue! We ate, saw "The Blind Side" (which I greatly recommend!), and got home at 2am. We realized our oldness as the movie was over, and both of our knees were aching from sitting there for two hours. Achy knees and all, I'm still glad to be doin' life with this man. He's good stuff.

On the Border....Better than I Remembered

All in all, it was a good day. A good weekend. I'm ready for more days like that already!

Booty, Booty, Booty....

I giggle when I say that word. I know....immature. I think it's funny though. So I couldn't help but grab this photo opportunity when it arose (my hubs is gonna kill me.....no, he is really gonna kill me).

The Tale of Two Booties...

How could a bundle of fat cells ever be more cute? Only in a mother's/wife's eyes.....sigh.

It's been a while since I've blogged. It's been so bad that even my husband mentioned, "So when ya gonna blog again?" (I think it's the only time he really gets to see what's inside of that head of mine!). I could say the proverbial "We've been soooo busy" But I ain't gonna lie - we're no busier than usual. In fact, most of my days are very routine.....get home from work, play with kids, cook dinner, bath, bed for them....read, then bed for me. Simple.

BUT. It has been a little stressed seeing how we're about to close and say adios to our shack in 17 days and close on our next hacienda in 20. Moving during Christmas is not appealing. But, looking forward to putting 2009 - the year of hairbrained, split-second decision making, moving 2 times, not knowing where we're gonna live, changing jobs, having a baby year - putting THAT behind me and onto 2010 seems sooooo appealing! I'm actually looking forward to New Year's for once!
(I do not like moving. I do not like moving. I do not like moving.
Note to self - repeat three times, wash, and rinse.)

One not so hairbrained item this year is my sweet Sophie turning 10 months a few days ago! 10 months....she only has two teeth, she sleeps 10-12 hours a night, and other than the fact that she hates her carseat and can't have her diaper changed without the use of all my limbs holding her down, she's a doll. Just a doll. We laugh at this poor baby constantly!

Love those eyes.... dirty face, but great eyes!

I hope your Christmas season is full of memory making days. I know mine will be......

Girlfriends....Sweet Girlfriends!

2nd Annual Highschool Girlfriends Reunion - Caddo Lake Style!

Last month, I traveled down to meet 5 of my 7 bestest, bestest girlfriends from highschool for our 2nd annual girlfriend getaway. Location? Caddo Lake. Thanks to one of my friends, we were frequent visitors of this boggy, foggy getaway when we were younger. Many memories were made there of us girls, eating chips and queso, in our PJs, doing what girls do - talking, dramatizing, whatever it was! Flashforward 15 years later and what are we doing? Getting together, in our PJs, doing what girls do!

I love these girls-now-women who have and always will be some of the best friends I'll ever have. Getting together with them is like cuddling with an old sweatshirt -comfortable, easy, you know them inside and out, they know you inside and out, and you love them for it. I wish all friendships were this easy. But I guess that's why they say good friends are hard to find.....

I'm looking forward to next year and the many years to come.......

Goofballs. Capitol G.

Ephesians 3:17-19

Sometimes I feel like I'm trying so hard to be a mom - cook, clean, bathe, provide, etc. - that I've forgotten.....or haven't put much time into doing what a mom really needs to be doing for her children. I came across this verse that pretty much summed up what I hope for my girls.

".....I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love, and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

I have a feeling that the rooted and firmly established in love part will come easy. They are loved.....they are firm in that love. It's the comprehend and know part that is tough. And the filled part will hopefully come as a result of the know. And that's my job. Mine and Boog's. To show Him to them through our lives....our actions....our words....His Word. That's a tough, but worthy, assignment. But really. What more could we hope for our children, except to be filled with His fullness throughout their lives?

Now I've got to commit this verse to memory!

Egyptian Princess Meets Fruit of the Loom

Grace and her cousin, Ella

Can this get any cuter? Halloween 2009 was alot of fun for those of us that weren't chicken pox'in it with Sophie. Thanks, Mimi, for these precious costumes! I'm looking forward to next year when BOTH my girls can make it out!

Halloween 2009

Hooray! We're in Escrow!

After 4 days on the market, the "shack" has a contract. : ) It's listed here , and I gotta say, it's the cutest little shack for the price! I know, I know.....the Ferrell family is crazy. But this will hopefully be our final move for a looooonnng time. The next time we move, it'll hopefully be to build on our land and live there forever until we die. So....it's time for a Dear John letter. Goodbye, Shack! It's been fun!

Dear Shack,
It's not you, it's us. You're awesome. You've come such a long way! You're a great home, but it's just not working out. We need space. An extra bedroom....an extra bathroom. We wish you the best in the future, and hope you can find someone that makes you happy. We had fun while it lasted....

Love, The Ferrell Family

BTW. More to come on our next home. If all goes perfect, we should be in before Christmas. BUT...in real estate, anything can happen!

So We're Building....

Thar She Stands

A well house. The lifesource liquid that flows 540ft down below on our land will be quite, er, safe this winter now that it has a warm house to call its own. I'm quite jealous. At least we have a subject to test out paint colors and such.....

Boog & I have decided to put off building for a few more years in order to continue saving. I had Boog take pictures of our land in the fall, leaves all brown and crispy, to remind us that patience is a virtue. We've gotten this far, we can wait some more. So for now, we'll have to enjoy it with good ol'fashioned weenie roasts, camp-outs, s'mores, and all that comes with nature. Anyone want to come?

The Road

The House Spot

Grace, at Mimi & Papa's Just Down the Road

What a Sunset!

So That I Remember Her Sweet Side....

Her Favorite Thing to Do with Socks

Sometimes a momma has to remind herself that her little devil, er, darling is still a sweetie-pie underneath all that crying and fussing. Poor little Sophie. Darn the chicken pox. It seems to make my child turn into a crying, fussing, not-gonna-have-it baby around 5 o'clock. Other than take her outside, I have no other weapons. None. I'm down for the count, and she knows it.

So, to remind myself of her cute-ness, I will share her favorite things she "used" to do, pre-chicken pox era. Hopefully, it will all be over with by the end of this week!

Pretty in Pink

Not Gonna Sit Still!

Gonna Get It, Momma!

My GIRLS!

When the Chicken's Away, the Pox Will Play!

Photo Courtesy of Mark Sangenito

Yes....yes.....we've got the pox. The chicken pox, that is. Well, I don't have it, but poor Miss Sophie does. After 3 days of battling a fever, 2 doctor trips with me being FOR SURE she had the swine flu, low and behold, the bumps appeared today. Halloween. I was so excited to tote Miss Cutie around with her sister for her first ever Halloween bash.......instead, we toted at home. Grace, of course, is still tricking as we speak - courtesy of good'ole dad.

Speaking of the girls, I desperately need to give a friend, Mark Sangenito, a plug for a photo shoot he did with my girls a few weeks ago. It was his first "baby" photo session, and I think he did a great job! He was sweating by shot #3, so really, he should charge me for letting him come and work out. P90Xbaby-style!

I should photo-shop in red dots all over her body......

Work.....A Short Essay.

Work. Smirk. Turk. Girk.

If it weren't for these ladies....I think I'd go berserk.

God Bless My Fellow Teachers Who Keep Me Laughing.

Got a Little Recipe for Ya, Ags!

(If you don't know that line, then you don't authentically bleed maroon. I'm sorry.)

My Farmboy Hash

This picture doesn't do this dish justice because it was taken "pre-45 minute simmer". So it just looks fresh and crispy right now. But ohhhh about 45 minutes of simmering-beauty later, you've got a simple dinner to warm any good'ole cornfed boy's belly. Simple and easy.

Instructions: Get a BIG skillet (12 inches at least) and put in the following:

one small bag of baby carrots, the fat ones

4-5 small potatoes, unpeeled (yea!), chopped into 1 inch chunks

1 yellow onion, chopped into 1 inch chunks

1 lb. sausage (I use Eckridge because it's extra fatty & juicy)

1 head of cabbage, chopped, piled high on top of everything

salt/pepper to taste

THAT'S IT! Let that baby simmer on med/low for at least 45 minutes or until everything is smushy and cooked down. It tastes great with sweet cornbread mixed in with it when served.

I hope you are having a great Fall!

Oh No He Didn't.....

Oh the Things to Come!

I believe he did. A little boy asked my daughter for a date. Well, not really a date per say, but it did have the whole 'arm-hooking/walking side by side' thing going on.

In kindergarten, that's a date.

But a little boy did ask Grace to "escort" him during his peewee football homecoming ceremony. She'd known him since they were babies, so after much disapproving at first, I allowed this "escort-ship" to happen. Grace was excited, thinking she was "homemade queen" - her words. In fact, as we drove up and she saw the crowds in the stand, she said....."That's not enough people to watch me!". She isn't big on attention, can't you tell?

She did look pretty though. Pretty as a "homemade queen".

These past two months have been super busy for the Ferrell family. So much so, that I owe several people apologies for not getting done what I said I was going to get done, and I owe a special friend....you know who you are....an apology for the likes of this one down below who purposely showed her ROTTEN side at a post-church lunch the other day. Keri, I hope your floors and Bri's room are okay - we left in a such a hurry because of ......

THIS ONE.

This is ALL I see of her these days...she's comin' and a goin' everywhichway!

Nine Months Old Tomorrow. Where did the time go?

The Good Stuff

So tonight....we just popped a frozen pizza in the oven (I made a salad to boot, so I did try to make it somewhat healthy), we're settling down into the night, enjoying the end of our 3-day weekend, we've visited family, gone to nieces' volleyball game.....all is good.

"I love you," says the hubs, as he leans in to kiss me on the cheek.
"Love y......"
Toot!.....goes the baby on the floor.
We laugh at the moment. And I, secretly, try to memorex those few seconds....a kiss spoiled by a 8 month old's innocent toot.....knowing that THAT stuff is the good stuff.

That little girl, above, messy.....nasty......drooly......trying to stuff fistfulls of those little airpuff thingys into her tiny mouth. She's the good stuff. And I can't forget big sister, who never fails to impress my with her sister skills. She's the good stuff. And how life is getting a little messy right now for us....living in tight quarters (love the shack, babe, but it's tight!)....trying to figure out what's the "next move" for the Ferrell clan (to build, to buy, to wait.....oh my!)......

It's all good. I love it.

Hello?? Is anyone out there?

It's been so long since I've blogged, I thought I'd at least ask. :)

Remind you, school has started....hence the no bloggy. Then Grace, playing a Barbie computer game, innocently clicked "yes" to a mad virus attack on our home computer. No bueno. My laptop is at the school, and requires way to much arm space to carry home each night.......so no blog unless the daddy brings his laptop home. Which was tonight. : ) He loves me hogging it.

I must, must start off by sharing a few pics of my 8 month old. Yes, 8 months! My sweet Sophers. We just love her. Every afternoon, Grace and I race to her "school" to rescue her and then resign to sit on my bed for the next 45 minutes and just hug, love, and laugh at her. She eats it up. She crawls now.....pretty fast, too. She doesn't babble much, but when she does, it's usually after I've just put a large amount of food in her mouth. She's a bit stubborn (like her momma), but we think we'll keep her. She's just so darn cute!

8 months!

Grace loves kindergarten. Someone told me that she'd just be "exhausted" after a day at school, but nope. Not mine. She's running on 100% before, I'm sure during, AND after school. No down time for me! Just the other weekend, I spent......oh maybe 10 minutes? with her sitting down, showing her the "one bunny ear" method to tying shoes. I was for sure this session wouldn't amount to much, but low and behold, not two days later was she tying her own shoes - in record time, no doubt. I was amazed. I'm a teacher......I should know better than to put limits on one's abilities!

Here's a few pics from her first "parade". The primary school's "Patriot Day" parade....she barely even looked at us when she walked by!

"Can you spot Grace?"

And finally, we've had our first cold snap here in East Texas. I, of course, dressed Grace in shorts that day. Fitting. : ) When I got home after work, I quickly put on my flannel pajamas and thought of the nice Fall weather to come. I heart FALL! It makes me want to cook.....stews, soups, cornbread. The good stuff.

Seeing how I have exactly 30 minutes (Sophie's late day naptime) to make dinner each night for my starving "lunchtime at 11am" daughter and starving "I'm playing quarterback with kids twice my size" hubs, I have to plan ahead or cook something quick. This soup recipe is a favorite, borrowed from my college roomate, Holly, and it makes you feel like you cooked. : ) It's on rotation at our house quite a bit in the Fall and Winter.

1 large can cooked chicken, drained
1 can cream corn
1 can Campbell's soup tomato juice
1 can veg all
1 can chicken broth
onion powder, salt, pepper
simmer on medium/low for 20-30 minutes
mix w/a side of sweet cornbread

I hope I blog again soon......Happy Fall Ya'll!

Perspective.

Make that PERSPECTIVE. All caps. And this week, I got some.

A few weeks ago, I heard of an old friend from my hometown being diagnosed with cancer. He's a year younger than me......I'll go ahead and admit that I haven't talked to him in ages, but he was (ahem!) my first "boyfriend" I think I remember having......many, many moons ago. I was shocked when I heard the news. It's too early for that. Too early for news like that.

However, thanks to Caringbridge.net, he has started journaling his experience at MD Anderson (where my mom took her treatment), and wow....if his first few journal entries didn't give me a whole new lease on my own life, then I think I might have my own disease to worry about - coldheartedness!

He journaled about having the "Why Me, God?" thoughts at first. But then, quickly realized that "he has a wonderful wife who will be there with him everyday, a healthy body to fight off this disease, and great family & friends to help him through it....so why NOT him?"

I could barely read it. I've always told Boog that if the dreaded C ever came my way, then to go ahead and make plans to re-marry because I just am not a fighter. But this......this attitude of what even sounds a bit thankful, or grateful, for the opportunity to show what God can do in a situation that sucks (for lack of a better word!) .......it floored me. Of course, the shame came over me because for so many reasons, I feel I would be having the "Why me's?" in that situation. At least I think I would.

However, I look forward to reading his & his wife's posts each day because, not only am I ready & hopeful to seeing his recovery journaled, but I feel my spirit of thankfulness for my own blessings grow ten-fold each time.

Gosh......God ALREADY has gotten the glory. Cancer, you lost that one.

This is Rare.

I have nothing to say. Nothing to blog. No photos to upload. No memory to recap. My life lately has been a total regimen of something like this:

work, sick baby, thinking about working out, not working out, work, sick baby, thinking about going shopping, not going shopping, work, sick baby, hoping to go to church, not getting to go to church, work, sick baby, travel, travel, see my sis, have everyone think I'm her (again!), have some laughs, travel home, date night w/ hubs (which is laughable....after dinner we went to Tar-Jay.....how romantic!) rest tonight, hopefully.

But then again, I have a sick baby who likes to get up at 4am and play.

I'll post more when I actually have something to post.

One funny before I leave. Last night, as I was falling asleep, I was staring at my cutie-patootie husband and noticed a skin-thing on his eyelid that I've never noticed before. When I mentioned this to him, his response?
" Don't look at the fine print now....you've already signed for me."

haha..... laughter solves everything.

The Longest Week Ever!

I didn't know what else to title this post, except for what I really am feeling - this has been the longest week ever. I started back to work, but honestly? Once you get back into the routine of working, it almost feels like you never left. (Darn those summers off for making you believe you have left...if just for a moment.)

I know why. It's because I've never had to be this "on top of it". I've got a baby that I need to make sure has enough formula, food, diapers, extra change of clothes, and wipes everyday for her "school". I've got a kindergartner that I need to make sure has clothes picked out a night, lunch packed by morning, backpack ready WITH her red homework folder in it, shoes on, teeth brushed....all of that ready to leave the house by 7:20 am. I teach all day. Come home....play with the girls. Try to have somewhat of a dinner cooked for the family.....bath, bed....do it all over again the next day.

: ) I'm smiling though. (I really am!) Because everyday this week, I've had probably THE cutest kindergartner ever come bouncing over to me (she gets to walk over from her school to mine at the end of each day) with huge smiles and it reminds me just how precious she is. And everytime I read one of Kelly's Korner's "Please Pray" posts, I almost ball at each heart breaking story of sick children, tragic accidents, you name it. Immediately, I go into my sleeping girls' bedroom and lay my hand on each one, thank God for their health and just for the opportunity to get to do all those crazy, hairy, tiny-detailed things.........

Also, God has given me one thing this week that eases my mind a bit. He has blessed me with a great class this year.....truly great. The kids are darling. I've never had such an innocent group of 9 year olds. They hang onto my every word, and even if they are pretending, they pretend well. So this teaching year should be a good one.

Grace's first day of Kindergarten

Sophie Hearts Bathtime!