Last Post 2007

Really, I'm not going to post anything else on my blog until next year! Gosh, that "joke" is so old. Happy New Year's Eve! I'm sure we will do some "partying" until AT LEAST 9:00 tonight. HA! I don't think that I've actually "rung in the new year" in quite a few years. If I do stay up till midnight it would be to watch the ball drop on TV....and that just isn't that exciting anymore. I always think to myself when I see that huge partying crowd in New York, "Man, if I was there I would be cold, claustrophobic, and sooooo ready for bed!" Anyway, that's just me....I'd rather celebrate with some close friends and family with some good food and a couple of good board games, inside. Rather than outside with some drunk strangers.

David's family left early this morning to back to Tyler and the real world. We had so much fun while they all were here. I was so glad that Andy and Jason got to come. We celebrated Pa Pa's b-day on Saturday and Sunday, I went with the boys to my first movie since the move to San Antonio and saw I AM LEGEND with Will Smith. I loved this movie and can't wait to see it again! Lot's of people, I heard, thought it wasn't good....but this is just the kind of movie that I like. I recommend it if you want to be scared and on the edge of your seat...but not in a cheesy way like The Grudge or The Ring or something.

I also want to thank my mother-in-law for this weekend...and for some of my favorite things.... hashbrown casserole... kittens... a night out without a kid.... Macaroni Grill... Nicole Nordeman... and some real help in the kitchen! Happy 2008!

Card Problems

Merry Christmas to everyone! First let me tell you about my card problems.... the first card problem was resolved but it just adds to the other problems so I had to share. About a week and a half ago, Avery was "playing" with my check card and "lost" it....(I know, irresponsibility). I was without it for two days and without cash....no Christmas shopping was done during that time...or anything bought for that matter. Second, I was very excited and happy that I dropped Kelli's b-day card in the mail in time for her to get it on her birth DAY....but on her birth DAY I got it back because of no postage...I forgot to put a stamp on it....(I know, absent minded). Sorry K....I sent it with your present with my parents! And the third card problem is the biggest. I ordered Christmas cards off the internet, late, but in time for them to be delivered to me and then mailed to everyone in time for Christmas. I also paid for next day delivery. Well, it's the day after Christmas and I still haven't received my cards! (I know, bad luck). If and when I get them, I will have to decide if it's worth mailing them out. So if you get a really really late x-mas card from us or don't get one at all....you now know why!

Our first San Antonio Christmas was great...but it's not over...David's parents and brothers are coming this weekend and we are having Christmas again. Avery couldn't be anymore excited! My parents came down on Sunday and just left yesterday. We introduced them to Macaroni Grill on "Christmas Adam" and on Christmas Eve, we went to the Oak Hills Christmas Eve service which was crowded yet beautiful.

Of course I have lots and lots of pics, but I need to get those organized. Here are some pics with both times that Avery got to see Santa...

Watch out Santa, you are showing her panties!

TT - Happy B-day Kelli

• Happy Birthday to my friend Kelli! On this "Thankful Thursday" I am thankful for my best friend, Kelli...my one and only "big sis"!
• Wake up, wake up Kelli it's the 20th of the month,
• But by the time you read this, it'll be time for lunch.
• Today is your day, no time to waste,
• I'm sure there are presents to open and cake to taste.
• The big 3-0 has come and gone,
• But I bet there is more excitement when you are 31!
• It's Thursday, Brian is off, it's time to go shop,
• Put away that vacuum, broom and mop.
• This is the day to celebrate YOU,
• So have a fun day with all that you do.
• I thank God for you...and of course 31 years ago,
• You mean so much to me..more than you'll ever know!
• Happy Birthday, my friend, I love you!

Third & Final Miscellaneous (for now)

Tea Pitcher Vase...

At David's arrival home from the ever so visited deer lease, he brought me these beautiful flowers... full of gerber daisies (my favorite). The only problem...we didn't have a vase. None were packed in our move. Moving into this apartment was supposed to be a temporary move...so we didn't want to pack and unpack everything that we own. So, the tea pitcher worked nicely. Thanks, Babe...I love my flowers and I love you! My fireman, you can't put out THIS fire!

Another "temporary" Decision....

Because of the apartment situation we were not able to bring one of the most precious things to me. Sushi, our Siamese male, is temporarily staying at my parents'. I have been missing him so much lately, and Avery has been too. David has forgotten about him. That's OK, because Sushi doesn't like David anyway! We actually have had Sushi longer than Avery! I can't wait until Sushi can be part of our family again.

Birthday Shopping Spree...

Thanks to Mom and Dad and Kelli for sending me gift cards to Target for my birthday. While Avery was in MDO, I totally took advantage of my free time and spent every last cent on those cards. Yea for shopping sprees.....that was FUN!

Call 911...

Congrats to my husband for getting his certificate in the mail stating that he's an EMT again. In Palestine, he was an EMT, but here in SA, fire fighters have to be EMS certified again so that they can run calls on the ambulance too. It's not particularly what David wants to do, but he is required to do that as well as fight fires for a certain amount of years. Now, I feel even more safe! :)

One week....

ONE MORE WEEK TILL CHRISTMAS!!

Hand-made Socks...

These are our stockings that I made for our little family. What's neat is, I made all 3 of them before our family was complete....I was pregnant with Avery.

Christmas Sweatshirt...

And I just had to attempt to make a cute little Christmas shirt for Avery this year. Yes, there is Dorito cheese remnant on it because I forgot to take a pic of it before now....and Avery wore it to MDO today! ;) It's kind of cheesy (not the Dorito cheese) but the idea, but Avery is so proud and loves to hear the little jingle bells when she moves.

Miscellaneous Continued

Cards...

Thanks to everyone that sent a birthday card or e-card to me for my b-day! They really meant alot. And Kelli....yours meant alot to my daughter so much that I had to hide it. For hours she was opening that thing...everytime she opened it, it was like it was the first time! (The card was one of those that when you opened it, it sang "Happy Birthday" to you until you shut it again!

Live-in Nanny...

Maybe it is the right time to have another baby....Avery could be responsible for all the diaper changes. Here she is changing Baby Tad's diaper...she doesn't know I'm taking pics.

More from the Not-so Average Tot....

Ok, I promise I am not teaching this child Spanish, but she seems to be grasping it faster than I ever did somehow. I said to her "Let's go" as we were going from the bedroom to the kitchen for some cereal. She said, "OK, vamonos."

The other day, we were driving down the road and we passed a grocery store (not the one that we go to) and Avery said, "There's HEB." I thought to myself, how did she know that, but I guess she read the sign. SHE CAN READ! She amazes me.

Abstract Art...

Avery likes to get into the our desk which has all sorts of goodies....here is what she left for me the other day...

Little Photographer...

I shouldn't have left my camera out, but I did. I thought it was rather quiet in our bedroom knowing that Avery was in there by herself. The little thing, figured out how to turn my camera on and take a pic...here is her best work...

Almost got some good shots of herself!

This is the pic I took 2 seconds after taking the camera away from her (notice the hands on the hips)...

And then I told her to smile! This is the FAKEST smile!.....

Believers' Cartoon...

Thought this one was appropriate for December.....what a better month to go into debt during the Season of Giving! Let us not worry about tomorrow.....

Miscellaneous

Birthday...

I'm 30 today! I can't believe the big 3-0 has finally come. Today, Wednesday, although it's my b-day, it feels like just any old other day. I tried to get Avery to understand it was Mommy's b-day, but she just wondered where the birthday cake was! HA! So, what's a b-day without your favorite birthday cake? Even though it is cold and wet today, Avery and I bundled up and headed to Wal-mart for some stuff to make cup cakes. After we got home, and after I put on my flannel pajama pants, I realized that our muffin pan didn't get packed somehow in the move. Soooo, back in the car to HEB to buy a muffin pan to make those b-day cup cakes....with the pj pants, no make-up and Avery with no shoes...I carried her. The cup cakes were delicious (yellow with choc. icing of course and Christmas sprinkles) and a real b-day treat! And here is the after math..... (the after math of a cup cake plus a 2 year old!)...

I know...could be A LOT worse!

Quarter-life Crisis...

I think my husband is going thru a quarter-life crisis, since he has sheared off his leg and arm hair! HE says its because of Rescue Week at the fire academy and he doesn't want his hair pulled! Whatever the reason, it's still strange it hear the sound of the shears buzzing in the bathroom and know what's being shaved. HA! Love you, Babe! (Sorry, no pics)

Excerpts From a Not-so-Average Tot...

Remember how Avery all the sudden started counting backwards one day...well now she is counting like this.... "Uno, dos, tres"! Is it because she lives in San Antonio? I never taught her to count in Spanish...guess some one's teaching her...maybe it's Dora....she can count all the way to Cinco (Five)!

Mannequin...

Does anyone else notice something strange about this mannequin at JC Penny's....I just had to take a pic!

I mean the sweater is cute and all, but that girl just doesn't look right!

Brunette...

Last week I went dark again....my hair. I just needed a change. And no, I'm not going through a quarter life crisis, because I go from blonde to brown, brown to blonde frequently. Those of you that are fans of the blonde....don't worry, that is my favorite too, and it will be back around Spring!

Queen for the Moment...

As I was getting ready in the bathroom, Avery came in my room and announced that she was the Queen.....

What a happy queen! Guess the rug turned into a beautiful flowing robe, only in a child's imagination.

Elfed...

I just had to copy Stacey and Jessica...it was too cute not to! The Ellis family was elfed....take a look here... http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1281613156

SAHM - Chuck E Cheese

I'm getting a lot of responses about my $6 tree. I guess I misinformed everyone...I meant that the decorations were $6 from the Dollar Tree. The actual tree...we already had and yes I'm sure it was at least $30. Sorry if you thought that that whole tree was $6!

This post about me and Avery's SAHM experience actually happened last Monday...I just never got around to posting it. Since the Winter Festival was so lame and Avery really didn't get to do anything but sit in a stroller and get wet, I thought that Avery and I could do something fun that Monday. I remember Chuck E Cheese as a kid but not much....must have been when I was really young or maybe I just went a couple of times. Anyway, this trip to Chuck E Cheese was Avery's first and the first time she has even heard of him. Here is Avery meeting CEC. He was moving and singing so she really didn't know what to do or think. (That was kinda scary). Not long after her experience with CEC she got into all the fun stuff.

Dancing on the video in front of the blue screen. That was another thing she couldn't quite figure out.

Riding on the yellow truck that really moved back and forth like two inches....she how she is thinking "when is it going to start moving?"

We dared to eat lunch there, which will never happen again.....yuck.....I felt like I needed to eat fruit and a big salad while driving home!

One of Avery's favorites is climbing in the play thing....and of course sliding!!

This is the "game" that she kept going back to...like 3 or 4 times. Talking to CEC on the phone. Just simply amazing!

$6 Tree

I know, I know, the bow at the top is a little much and kinda overwhelming the little tree, but I made the bow before I decorated the tree. It was my first bow to make actually and this tree is the first Ellis family tree that I have really thought about, taken time, and mindfully decorated. Try to beat this finished look....with $6 to Dollar Tree. Avery and I decided we needed a beautiful tree since all of our family is coming here for Christmas...3 separate times. So, Avery helped pick out the decorations at the Dollar Tree and of course I, and David, were very pleased with the total being six bucks! I couldn't decide on silver or gold, so I did both....which looks great together...but only at Christmas time! And I needed an accent color so I opted for red...the ribbon and the berrys. It's still a tiny little tree, but it has already brought warmth to our little apartment. David helped put the balls on while leaving the "handmade" bows up to me. I tried to teach him but he didn't want to learn how to make a bow...he would rather just hang something! And of course a pic of the big Christmas helper...... "And I helped" she would say!

Tuesday

Thanks for my new purple raincoat, Grandpa and Grandma!

And thanks for sending my purple stroller...I've missed it. I sure have been having fun!!

A Not-So-Winter Festival

Yesterday we went to the Stone Oak Winter Festival. David had plans to go to the deer lease again but decided to go with us to the fest and then leave from there. It was short sleeve weather when we left, but after we got there and were strolling around, it started misting and the wind picked up. Also, Avery had to go tee tee and there were only port-a-pottys (GROSS!) David took off to the deer lease so that left me with holding Avery because she was cold and getting wet, while I was trying to push the stroller with one hand(not umbrella stroller). Plus I didn't know what I was going to do with the stroller with all our stuff in it while I was in the port-a-potty with Avery. So our festival outing lasted about an hour. Avery did get to take a pic with Blue which was very exciting...she kept giving him high fives....

Daddy was just "thrilled" to see Blue as well!

In this pic, Avery is giving her toy that we brought to the Toys for Tots. I was afraid that she wasn't going to give it up, but she was such a big girl and everyone thought she was such a doll. There wasn't much to do there for little Avery except for one bouncy thing, but the line was ridiculous. The line was even longer to play in the real live snow (which was all packed down and brown by the time we got there) and even longer to see Santa! We DID stand in line to go down the huge slide...but when it was me and Avery's turn the "conductor" of the slide said that Avery was too short. I asked if I could go with her and he said, "only one at a time". So Avery didn't ride or slide or bounce on anything this trip. There was a little game that enticed us though.... The sign said "Prize Everytime" and all that was there was a kiddy pool full of different colored rubber ducks and frogs...how easy for Avery! As soon as it was David and Avery's turn, Avery was reaching in for her frog and the lady said to David "Two dollars!" OK....too bad there wasn't a sign with the "Prize Everytime" sign that said "$2 per duck/frog". Hmmm...oh well, fun and games for Avery at least...don't really know what the "game" was because after she picked up a frog she went into the little covered area and picked out what she wanted to get for the $2! Still haven't figured out what the purpose of the little kiddy pool was for.

HA! This pic cracks me up...I notice, after I have written everything, the fine detail. As you can see Daddy and Avery are picking out the "prize". Can you guess what it is yet? You can see the "Prize Everytime" sign...and if you look real close you can see the lady in yellow actually holding up her fingers stating that she needs $2 from the lady in blue while at the same time her child also in blue is bending over picking out his duck/frog!!

And here is what Avery chose.....first swing after we got home was at the Christmas tree....

"Maid" to Love

Today was house cleaning day...and we sooo needed it. I didn't forget about my Thankful Thursday, I just didn't have time to blog. I learned something so neat in bible study yesterday that I will treasure for a life time....well, as long as I am cleaning my own house! A woman in bible study said that she has been doing this for years and actually some of yall might have already heard this before....but anyway it was new to me, but what a difference it made in my house cleaning day. She said since cleaning is such a chore and most of us dread doing it, we might as well make the best out of it by giving glory to God. She said, the whole time you are cleaning, as you go around to each room, and to each thing, thank God for that "thing" and send up thanks and praises to him for blessing you and your family for that thing. Like today, I thanked Him for each thing I was cleaning and spoke why I was so thankful. Today I was thankful for my fridge... I said "Thank you for this fridge even though it is not new and big...it keeps my food cold for my family so that we can have plenty, good and fresh food to eat whenever we get hungry, days and even weeks from now." Today I was thankful for my carpet...I said "Thank you for this carpet even though I wish to have a house filled with hard wood floors....this carpet is so soft on my baby's delicate feet and it is warm to walk on bare foot when it is cold outside." Today I was thankful for Avery's training potty...I said "Thank you for this little potty even though it gets nasty and I have to empty it frequently...it gives my little toddler security while she is learning to do big girl things....I'm thankful that I am washing it instead of changing diapers." And today I was thankful for the trash can....I said "Thank you for this garbage can even though it stinks....I'm so grateful that I can just simply throw away my trash and garbage and get rid of it and never have to deal with it again."Being thankful for the trash can reminded me of some of the promises that God has made to us! As far as the east is from the west. Cleaning house this way, made it where it wasn't just work but it turned into worship and also serving for my family. I wanted to share with all you, others that don't have a maid yet! Maybe some day I will be thankful for a maid....but I will still go around and be glad and thankful for everything that I am blessed with.

While vacuuming (which is the very last thing I do) the vacuum started smoking and smelling really really bad. I truly believe the enemy will try even harder when there is worship and praise music going on through out your house. (By the way, Avery just loves it when I put praise music on...she sings and dances).....hey! that's another thing the enemy didn't like today! Anyway, what Satan didn't realize that even though the cleaning stopped....the praising sure didn't....AND that I have candles for the smell...AND I have a handy dandy husband who will get home later and fix the vacuum!

Our Little Christmas Tree

I didn't wake up with the Christmas spirit but shortly got into it. We did however wake up in our pajamas which lasted all day. Avery and I started to put up the Christmas tree around noon today in our PJs. I always forget just how long it actually takes to put that little thing up...especially with a two year old. Avery helped so much....................

Not too long after we were making some progress, Avery decided she was bored with spreading out the limbs for Mommy.......

HA! I finally got the tree up, undecorated....it's our little family's little tree...it's only 6 ft, skinny and bare but it will do. It has added so much already and it will light up our little apartment. We are really going to enjoy our first San Antonio Christmas! I even got out Avery's tiny tree for her room, but she was so busy with all the other Christmas things...like wearing the big socks (stockings)! Let the holidays continue. Season's greetings everyone....the season IS here.