I'm going to brag...

I'm just going to go ahead and give myself a round of applause..... I'm taking a full load of classes this semester and have seriously, seriously been questioning myself on this decision.

Just moved, still trying to get things in order around here, working full time, Georgia and her activities and lets throw in a full course load of school. GREAT IDEA MEL!

Just when I feel completely overwhelmed and like I'm failing miserably in school I receive some test grades..... So the results are in and I'm making all "A's" in school. I cannot tell you what a relief this is and how excited I am.

That is my exciting news for the day.

In other news, poor Georgia has been sick. Hoping she gets back to normal fast!

The Move!

Moving is complete! Apparently when people tell me I CAN'T do something, it insites me to do just that! I closed on my house December 30 and was suppose to be out of my apartment on January 13- which was a close call! I had them on stand by just in case I was not able to move everything out on time, and this is why....

I knew going into to this there would be some renovations to be done...we started on New Years Eve and went in to rip up all the flooring, baseboards and woodwork. The master bedroom floor was unlevel (which we knew) but we thought it would be a fast fix....not so much when there is a layer of concrete under the carpet we ripped up! We had to break up all the concrete and throw it out in order to get to the plywood in order to level the floor. Nightmare. It was about a 4 day process but we were able to get the floor level and better than ever!

Painting- oh painting. I thought I would save some $$$$ by painting the place myself. It was this horrible pea green color everywhere...disgusting! I think (and hope) that color is now gone for good- I still have some painting to do and some touch up, but for the most part I can check that off my list!

Next was the flooring- I think I had 5 million companies come over to give samples and had quotes all the way up to $21,000! (Are you kidding me?!?!) Needless to say I DID NOT pay that much! I finally chose the floor I wanted and the contractor to do it and 6 days later the flooring and all molding were in!

Now for the move- moving all your stuff down 10 stories in an elevator is not fun at all. I really felt bad for the moving guys but in the end I did get out on time. It was crazy and hectic but it happened.

Sheetrock repair- there were several places that needed sheetrock repair, especially once my BIL ripped some down to run the electricity through the walls (LONG story...) so the sheetrock guy was out yesterday and finished today- now I can finish my painting!

I also ran some electrical wire in a couple other areas that did not have lights...still need to complete that project.

As far as this week is concerned I am d.o.n.e. Everything is [mostly] unpacked and I just want to clean everything now that I won't have contractors in and out every day. My plan is to finish painting this weekend....maybe then I'll be finished??

Almost that time....

So the list of presents keeps growing for Georgia... Why do all the stores have to have these gimmicks? Buy one get one half off of all Barbie AND Princess items? Seriously? And they are everywhere! Target and Toys R Us both had the same deal.

Georgia wanted that elusive Barbie Case which was found at Target and by golly if I'm going to pay $50 for some silly Barbie case I was definitely going to pick out at least a $30 Barbie toy to receive my "buy one get one 1/2 off"

Well that was all great...except Target was sold out of the Barbie case but they had the "exclusively to Target" Barbie Perfect Christmas set. You know Georgia loves that movie....and you know I'm a sucker. I really DID debate on it... I mean what is the point of opening a CHRISTMAS toy on CHRISTMAS?? Right? That thing was $50 as well and while our little Elf on the shelf, "Elfie" is a more generous elf and has been known to bring Georgia entire new wardrobes in his down time. (okay really it was just 5 new outfits and 2 new pairs of boots.....but she needed the new boots anyway and it was more fun to say the elf brought her magical new clothes from the North Pole!) and he just might have wanted Georgia to get out of the bath tub without a struggle and provided [insert gasp here] Brand New From the North Pole Christmas Pajamas and maybe he did dress her Bitty Doll in a matching pair all while she was in the bath tub. So what. He is not springing for the $50 Barbie gift set to give her prior to Christmas morning. That would be going overboard. I don't care if he has confused Chahnakuh with Christmas or not.

I digress...so I ended up with the Perfect Christmas gift set along with some crummy Barbie toy that was totally not needed but cute- Hair Salon Barbie or something. My grandparents are both Barbers so kinda goes with the family theme right?

Off to Toys R Us where lo' and behold they are having the SAME deal- Buy one get one half off on Barbies and here's the kicker.... you get a FREE roller Barbie suitcase if you spend $100! Do you even know how much Barbie crap you have to purchase to hit $100? Especially when they are buy one get one half off? Let me give you the run down on G's list- Barbie Princess Charm School Barbie Case, Barbie and Ken Ice Dancers, Barbie Cheerleader, Barbie Cheerleader Pom Poms, Barbie Cheer Leader Cheer Outfit, Barbie Princess Charm School Delancey Doll, Barbie Princess Charm School Nikolas Doll...and now for the free suitcase!

But wait! They are out of the free suitcase! What to do? Take the chance and loose out on that dang Barbie Case or bite the bullet and purchase the items, run to another Toys R Us and make the manager grant me the offer and receive the suit case there?

Wow...this is what life has come to. (I can't lie y'all know I live for this stuff!) I purchased the Barbie massacre of items and ran to the next store in search of the suitcase...okay really? I did not at this point even know what the suitcase looked like but I had a feeling....and of course it's adorable.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

We have been soooo busy the past couple of weeks welcoming December into our lives. Hectic but so much fun! Here's a quick catch up on all of the fun, fun, fun we have been having!

Last weekend we took Georgia to Arcodoro on Friday night. Scott and I had brunch there a couple weeks prior and realized they let kids make their own pizzas! So it was a Pizza Making event for Georgia. They brought out an apron for her to put on and called her "Chef Georgia". She had a blast making her own dinner- it also enticed her to eat more of it!

That Saturday we woke up SUPER early and went to Breakfast with Santa at the Aquarium. Georgia actually went and sat in Santa's lap! This is the first time she has done this since she was 6 months old. Every year we wait and wait and wait in the longest line ever only to arrive at the front of the line and she won't do it. So I was super happy to finally have another pic to add to the collection! Upstairs Santa and an Elf were swimming in the aqaurium with the fish and we had a delishious breakfast with my Mom, Emery and Memaw.

That afternoon we ran to a baby shower of a old friend of mine and then back to Houston where we met Grandaddy and Mary for Ice Skating in Discovery Green. Some of Georgia's friends showed up and we all had so much fun. It starting to rain while we were skating but we stayed out on the ice and had a blast.

There was a music event going on that eveing at Hickory Hollow (a little BBQ place by our house) that was part of the "Misletoe Madness". Everyone met there for dinner and while we were eating one of the younger girls, Delaney, became curious of the band. I looked up and saw her up on stage- her mom, Allison went to pull her off and she was determined not to leave! The band graciously stopped and invited all the kids to come on stage to sing some Christmas songs. Of course Georgia, Lilly and Delaney were the only ones that took them up on their offer! They stole the show and sang with the band- it was so funny!

Sunday rolled around and I realized Cirque Du Soleil was in town. I have been wanting to take Georgia to see this but was not sure if she would be interested the entire show or would become bored. Scott has been wanting to see a show as well so we packed up and ran downtown to try to buy tickets right before showtime. It was pouring down rain and poor Scott raced through and became drenched hopping out to go purchase the tickets but we were lucky and ended up with amazing seats! Georgia was completely in awe and captivated the ENTIRE show! She loved it!

Fast forward through the week and we are at this past Friday, (December 9). My mom found out about Santa's Winter Wonderland in College Station and made a plan for us to all go Friday night. We all got off work, and Georgia from school, and made the drive. On the way there, I kept thinking, "This better be good...." and it was! So completely worth the drive! Since we arrived a little before the other car load meeting us there we parked and walked around the Santa's Old Tyme Village first. As we walked in they started to blow snow flurries over the door and Georgia was enchanted! We couldn't believe it! She danced and laughed in the snow- it was one of those magical moments there is no way you could re-create. The look on her face was priceless- I will always remember it! Once you enter in they have bands playing and old Christmas movies streaming on the wall. Hot chocolate, Funnel Cakes, Fudge- any delectable delight you could dream of! You can wait in line to meet Santa and a reindeer, go to the petting zoo, pony rides, hang out at the campfire or meet Frosty the Snowman. Once the rest of our group arrived we piled into Scott's car and drove through the maze of Christmas lights- it was pretty amazing! Then we were on our way home with 3 very tired kiddos (Noah, Eli & Georgia) that passed out before we hit the freeway.

Saturday morning found us being lazy...in the afternoon my Dad and Mary came by to pick up Georgia for a couple of hours while I ran out and finished Christmas shopping. Let me just tell you- this is the first year Georgia has really specifically asked for something continuously since Day 1 when I said, "What do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas this year?" Her reply, "A Barbie Case." It has been a month of me trying to deciper what a Barbie Case is and many trips to the store holding up suitcases to backpacks asking her if that was what she was talking about. FINALLY last week we saw it at Target! She pointed it out to me and I was soo relieved...I would have never guess this is what it was. I went back to the Target to buy it and it was gone! Luckily, my next stop was the Mad House of Toys R Us, but they had it in stock and I scored a Barbie suitcase with my purchase! Let's just say it might look like Barbie threw up in my house Christmas morning. The feeling I have from buying her this thing though is a crazy high...I want to scream from the rooftops "Hey! I FOUND THE BARBIE CASE!" haha- so silly, but it's fun!

Rounding out our weekend....Sunday we woke up and took Winston to the dog park. Scott took him for the first time Saturday and he loved it. Georgia was excited and she and Winston had so much fun playing with the other dogs and meeting everyone. The afternoon was spent running errands which included another trip to Toys R Us and Winston became the owner of a new pet bed from Petco.

Excited for next weekend's plans...hoping for some more Ice Skating and maybe a trip down to Moody Garden's Festival of Lights! I will try to come back and post pics of our adventures a little bit later!

Georgia, Georgia

I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with that Thankfulness stuff...Like the idea, no time to keep up. I may not have 30 days of Thankfulness but here's another one...

Georgia and I were driving to have dinner last night. On our way we hit a serious pothole in the road- hard. The kind of bump that makes you think your tires may have just popped. I freak out and say shout out "Oh no!". It was loud when we hit it and it took me by surprise.

Georgia- "What happened?"

Me- "We hit a pot hole in the road"
Georgia- "Why are you upset?"

Me- "Because our tires could have popped!"

Georgia- laughs

Me- "What?"

Georgia- "I think that is so funny. That noise makes me laugh every time!" laughing hysterically at this point.

So I start to laugh. I realize it's only a pot hole. My tires did not pop (although I stand by my first assesment that they could have and what do we pay taxes for after all if it's not for Houston to fix the pot holes!!!!). Georgia keeps going on and on about how funny it was, and the noise. "It's always SO funny mommy!" squealing in the back seat. Her 4 year old giggles are contagious and nothing can put me in a better mood faster than that.

I'm so thankful for her in my life- you have no idea. Looking at life through her perspective is the best thing I do every single day. I'm so glad she is there to start laughing at something like pot holes in the road and remind me not to take life so seriously.

We arrive at the restaurant and pile out of the car giggling and laughing and I had the best dinner with her. Full of Knock, Knock jokes that make absolutely no sense.....

Georgia- "Knock, Knock"

Me- "Who's there?"
Georgia- "Mashed Potatoes"

Me- "Mashed Potatoes Who?"

Georgia- "Mashed Potatoes Jello!!!!!! Bhahahahahahahaha!"

Me- "Hahahahaha"

Can you tell we were at Luby's? Georgia trying to act older than her age and start off conversations, "So, Mommy, how was work today?". I think I ask her that every day when I pick her up from school and she has been reversing the question on me for some time now, although I find it funny hearing her ask me the questions.

When I picked Georgia up from school yesterday she had a birthday invitation from a friend in her cubby. She opened it and said it was for Natalie's 5th birthday party. She asked when her 5th birthday would be, my response was to tell her she knew the date. "Oh yeah, May 25th" (she recently was tested at school and when asked when her birthday was she gave the answer May 25 although I knew she knew her birthday was May 24) "Georgia, your birthday is not on May 25th, it's May 24th- you know that" her response, "Yes Mommy, last year was my fourth birthday on May 24, but this year will be my 5th birthday on May 25!" If you ask me, I think that is a genius response- haha! Now that I know how she processed her birthday I have to give her credit at the same time I was able to explain to her how her birthday works and I think she understands now. I guess last year I may or may not have made a HUGE deal about my own birthday since I was turning 26 on the 26th...she may have taken that to heart!

Thanks....

I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with this....

Day #2- I am thankful for my family- without them I have no idea where I would be today.

Day #3- I am thankful for the opportunity to work, go to school and be a mother all in one.

Inspections on the house were yesterday. Some issues came up that I expected to, but they will be an easier fix than anticipated which is exciting. So weird to think I am going to own a home in less than a month. So much to do once I actually get in there. Every time I go by the house I come up with another list of things I want to do with it. We will see how far my budget goes....

Being Thankful....

In the spirit of Thanksgiving (and seeing the posts on facebook) I've decided to do my own 24 days of Thankfulness up until Thanksgiving....

Day #1

I am thankful for the #1 person in my life- Georgia. She is the funniest, most amazing person I have ever met and I love, love, love every day that I experience with her.

Today I went to her school for a parent/ teacher conference to receive the results of Georgia's placement testing. She did so well on her test and placed above average or average in every section but one...."Body Concepts" The test administer asked her "What do you do with your....." then filled in the blank with the following:

"Eyes?" Georgia's answer- "Move them." hmmm seems like a decent answer to me but they were looking for something along the lines of see with them.

"Legs?"Georgia- "Move them back and forth"

"Hands?" Georgia- "I move them too!"

"Mouth?" Georgia- "Put lipstick on it." ummm what?!? Hahahaha

"Nose?" Georgia- "Move it"

She scored a whopping 0 our to 10 points on that one!