One More Christmas Post!

We had SUCH a fantastic Christmas! TJ and I were so excited to help Santa this year! We let Elleah stay up a little late and went to look at the Christmas lights around town. She is so funny because she would see a house with lots of lights and then yell "OH WOW." Saying Oh Wow is like her thing these days! The great part is that she knows WHEN to use it. Just like she knows when to use Uh Oh! lol. So I baked some cinnamon roll cookies for Santa this year. I figured he might get tired of sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies. I found this awesome recipe in a book (I will send it to anyone that wants to try them out) and even though mine did not quite LOOK like the pic, they were yummy!! ;-) After Elleah went to bed, we set up all her presents in front of the Christmas Tree.......

She got a table and chairs set, a small basketball goal that talks to her and encourages her when she is playing with it, and a bunch of other toys! She had a blast unwrapping the presents. She would tear the paper off, yell "Oh Wow," and then go to the next box...rip the paper off, yell "oh wow", and go on to do it again! It was so funny....

Mom and dad were at Mike's house so we got on Skype and opened all our presents together! We took turns so that everybody got to watch each other open! Everybody wanted to watch Elleah unwrap so this worked out good....

Teal opening her iPad that Mike got her!

Elleah got pretty upset when all the presents were gone. She was having so much fun and did not realize that eventually, the presents are gone. But we let her unwrap ours too, and since unwrapping was the "FUN" part, she was happy. My living room was trashed!! It took us forever to get it all out of the house. I know my trash man is going to be ticked on Tuesday when he gets here. It is especially bad because we forgot about trash day last Tuesday... so we have two weeks worth of trash, plus all the Christmas trash...lol... I almost wish I could hide behind a tree and listen to his naughty words when he gets here! I took a pic, but I am not sure I should post it... it is shameful! 

After a crazy morning of playing and cleaning, my two crazies decided they needed a nap. They napped like this for THREE hours....

Almost my whole family went up to my brother's house in Atlanta. It just so happens that Christmas fell on the same weekend that the Falcons and Saints play Monday night football in Atlanta. TJ and I were trying to go and wanted to sooo bad. But since TJ was on "duty" this weekend, we could not really leave town. I did not want to go without him. For one, I would miss him. Two, it is tiring travelling alone with Elleah. Three, I have been flat out exhausted.... if he did not go, I would have nobody to do the driving...lol! Anywho, we skyped a bit and said hey to everyone. I was feeling super sad that I could not be there. Then to add insult to injury, they start sending me pics of it SNOWING there... 

Snowing at Mike's house

Yeah..... lets not talk about that any more. I have to say though.... being with TJ and Elleah was the BEST. Elleah is learning so many new things and watching her is something I could do ALL DAY. Beats watching it snow any day!! :-) I hope everybody had an awesome Christmas as well. 

My Merry Christmas Blog

Blogging while Elleah takes her Merry Christmas NAP....


So, I do not do Christmas cards. I always TRY to, but it never happens. For some reason, I underestimate the amount of time they take and always attempt to do them after it is too late!!! I will make up for it though, because this year I got so many Christmas cards, more than I ever have, and at some point I turned to TJ and said "It is so nice that all these people think of us, especially around the holidays." Thank you so much for all the LOVE you guys have sent our way! We think of you guys too and are so happy we have friends and family like you all. 

In the spirit of "thank yous"....

I have always considered myself to be someone that is "very close" to the people in my family. But I think that until I had Elleah, I took that for granted. I just kept to myself and barely kept in touch with anyone except my mom and dad and brother. I admit, the fact that most of the people I love so much are on facebook makes it easier to keep in touch these days, but it is more than that. I realized that these people were always there, they always loved me, and that once facebook disappears, they will still BE there and love me. Having Elleah has made me more aware of this. Because it is not about ME anymore, right? It is so important to me that Elleah be surrounded by people that love her for the simple fact that she EXISTS. I know who these people are. I truly believe that THEY know who they are too. They are the people I post pictures for, the people I update my status for, and the people I TAKE videos for. I wish that I could do more! The holidays make me wish I could do more! And one day I hopefully will.... but until then.... please know that I know you are all here for me and my family. I know you love us and especially our princess. 0:-) I hope that you know the same things about me.... that I love you, I am here for you, I appreciate you, and I am so THANKFUL for you!! 

^^To my friends that have kept in touch - to my friends that after a month or two, we can still talk and catch up because we love each other so much - to my family that I have become closer with - to my family that I was ALWAYS close with - to my family that has been SO MUCH MORE to me - to my husband, so amazing - to my brother, taking the TIME -  to my parents, for everything - to Elleah, being my LIFE and making sure that my life had an amazing purpose


~Katie

****MERRY CHRISTMAS****

Story Time: I don't do Spooky!!

It is time to tell a story that needs to be told. I have told this story to several people, and you may be one of those people. But I am going to tell it again because last night I had a dream about it. I was laughing to myself remember the details of what was going through my mind the night I thought my brother's house was haunted!!!!!


So let me set the scene... my brother was moving into his new house this particular weekend. It is a "3" story house with a basement, a main floor, and a top floor. The basement has a back door that leads out on to a patio, above the patio is a deck that leads into the kitchen of the main floor. On the main floor there is one bedroom, the other three bedrooms, including the master bedroom, are on the top floor. Ok, now that I have the details out of the way, here we go....


Elleah and I, along with my mom and dad, had traveled up to Atlanta to help Mike and Teal out with the house. The first night there, mom and dad took Elleah upstairs with them to go to bed. Mom likes having Elleah close whenever she gets a chance to be around her. Mike, Teal, and I stayed up until almost 1am just talking and laughing. When we finally decided to go to bed, I went in the only bedroom on the main floor. I chose this room so that I did not have to carry my luggage up the stairs....lol.... stupid stupid stuuupid! So there I was, the only person on the main floor, trying to get to sleep on my air mattress (since no furniture had been moved in yet) and thats when I heard it... a loud alarm. I did not know what it was, but I DID know that I was NOT going out there alone to see what it was. I texted my brother (yes, I TEXTED him, it is how we roll) and told him I heard an alarm. He said he would come down, so I cracked my door until I saw him coming down the stairs. Teal was scrunched up behind him (like any other girl with a 6'6 boyfriend would do). I got in behind him too (like any other girl with a 6'6 brother would do) and Teal and I reluctantly followed him to where we heard the noise coming from.... the BASEMENT. I started thanking God that I do not watch scary movies, cause then all kinds of scenarios would have been playing in my head. Anywho, We looked down the stairwell toward the basement door and it was OPEN. When we got down there, we saw that the door that leads from the basement to the patio was OPEN!! AAHHH. At this point, even Mike was freaking out a bit. He walked all over the basement (the basement is unfinished) with a flashlight looking for a boogie man (if you know Mike, this is extra hilarious)! It dawned on me that Mike was using that flashlight before we even got into the basement, why did we not just turn on the lights in the living room ? Anywho... it also dawned on me that the alarm to the house had NOT BEEN ACTIVATED YET!!!!! wth? So after a full basement investigation (and let me tell you.... it was a full CSI investigation.. looking for footprints and stuff), we all returned to the main floor where Teal had Mike check all the closets, bathrooms, and pantries for anything spooky! With nothing found, we all returned to bed.


So here I am, laying down, with my eyes wide open listening for any sound that might indicate that I might not be, ya know, "ALONE"! You all know that feeling!! Right then, my phone, that was laying on my air mattress next to me, vibrated. I swear I came two feet off that bed (how you are picturing it, that is probably what it really did look like).When I realized it was my phone, I saw that it was a text message from Teal. She told me to come upstairs and sleep in their room. She was just as scared for me as I was... being all alone down there. So I made a run for it...  and I mean I RAN up those stairs. Teal was at the top waiting on me and we bolted into the bedroom, Mike was pretty much back to sleep on his little pallet. I made a pallet on the other side of the room, grabbed a dog (I believe it was Levi) and tried going back to sleep. 


It was not 15 minutes later when Teal and I heared foot steps. We thought we heard the stairs cracking and doors opening. Just then, the lights outside the window flipped on and then off again and Teal and I shot up and stared at each other. We tried getting Mike up again, but being Mike, he was not getting up again. After pondering our options, Teal and I decided we were going out there ourselves (with both dogs and "weapons"). As soon as we opened the door, we AGAIN came unglued because there was someone standing in the hallway!!! It was my MOM AND DAD... and Elleah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahaha. 


So here is what happened. The noise, the door, the basement... that was all legit. But after I moved into Mike's room, mom woke up with Elleah and had brought her down to me. I was not there in my room of course. So she went and got my dad and they started  a manhunt in search for Katie. They even looked outside (which is why that light came on and then off). At one point, they considered that I might have gone AWOL!! lol. They did not think in a million years that Mike, Teal, Levi, Major, and myself had all piled up in one room to try and ward off the ghosts! We all sat in Mike's room... its like 4am by now... and told the story to mom and dad. Elleah ended up staying up the rest of the night. Which is just as well because I was NOT trying to sleep. I spent the next couple of nights in Mike and Teal's room, then I bravely went back to my own room on the main floor.


That is the memory I have of my first meeting with that house. In my trips since, I have slept UPSTAIRS. Why risk it, right? ;-) And an update - no further instances like this have happened since!! 


PS- Elleah has never ever again been given Tea or any other caffeinated drink past 4pm. Mom gave her a ton of tea at dinner that night and we are pretty sure that is the reason she did not want to sleep.


PSS- The first night I was back downstairs alone, another alarm went off. It was the refrigerator alarm!!!!!! Geez. 


PSSS- We found the light switch in the basement. It WORKS. Place lights up like "Shea Stadium" as Mike was quoted saying!!! hahaha.  


PSSSS- I love those two crazy kids and I really miss them! I would love to go and see them soon.... even with their haunted house! lol ;-)


PSSSSS- Nothing really... just wanted to get a PSSSSS in there! :-)




I do believe in ghosts, but I am seriously not trying to personally meet one!!! 

Status update!

I cannot be the only one who has those kind of days where you are constantly wanting to update your facebook status with all your random thoughts and ideas!! Right? I sometimes have those days, but I resist posting too much in fear that I will be.... ya know... one of THOSE people. The kind of people that have nothing better to do but post 34985934876340 times a day and bore everybody. Well I started out that way yesterday.


I was getting breakfast ready for Elleah and it popped into my head that I should post on facebook that I was getting Elleah's breakfast ready! WTH?! That is when I knew I was going to have "one of those days." So I resisted the urge to post and every time I thought of something I wanted to post, I wrote in my Notes app instead. I decided to post them here, that way if you want to read what I WOULD HAVE posted, you can. If not, then I am still NOT "one of those people." Win-win if you think about it. So Here are my "status updates" from yesterday! 


8:35 - Getting Elleah's breakfast ready! Does not take much this morning... pop tarts are on the menu!


9:02 - Elleah just pointed at the TV and yelled "BOOOOO." I am assuming she meant "BOOTS" since that is who was on TV.


9:31 - to go, or NOT to go, to Jax?!


9:33 - FYI - I had the BEST philly cheesesteak sandwich that I think I EVER had last night. 


10:25 - Loading up to head to Jax!


10:32 - My heated seats on high.... a bit much!!!! owwie!


12:10 - Home sweet home! 


12.26 - Just burnt my finger cooking a grilled cheese for Elleah... I yelled a very naughty word!! It's ok tho, I hear yelling naughty words helps with the pain!! 0:-) (this one actually made it to facebook)


1:46 - I laid Elleah down for her nap 45 minutes ago and I STILL hear her playing in there!


2:10 - Elleah is quiet! I peeked in... she is passed out on top of her Magnadoodle!


2:27 - Just burnt my finger on my hot glue gun! WTH???? 


2:28 - Yes, I yelled another naughty word! 


4:30 - I am hungry!


4:31 - Oh.. and white crayons are pointless!! 


4:44 - About to take Elleah to play outside. The weather is actually PERFECT!


5:43 - Chance just got here! He and Elleah are having a "convo." I am standing right here, but I have no idea what they are talking about!


7:17 - Chance just left! 


7:21 - Heading to a late dinner with friends!


9:02 - Stuffed and sleepy!


9:32 - I - AM - AwwwwwSome! 


You can thank me now for not posting all of this on facebook! hahaha. I think I got that "day" out of my system! maybe! ;-)

Oh Christmas Tree.....

Last year, Elleah was only 4 1/2 months old when Christmas rolled around! We sat her in her bumbo, let her grab at the presents, took pics, and then opened them for her. She would smile and shake the toy that we gave her and all was calm and happy!!


THIS YEAR.....
We have not even made it to Christmas and my 16 month old is wreaking havoc around the Christmas tree. At this point in her life, she as learned that inside those wrapped packages are something that not only does she WANT, but NEEDS (apparently). She thinks that she was put on this earth to unwrap those presents! And while that is kinda true, she does not think she needs to wait. Every time we are watching a Christmas show, and the presents come out, she runs to the tree and pokes the presents. Yes, she pokes them! She is also pretty sure that the balls on the Christmas tree are edible. I don't know, maybe she dreams of glittery apples. I know personally, I would kill for a glittery apple. But ya know, life is not fair sometimes. 


I kinda want to know what is running through that child's head. When I say "No Elleah, do not touch the tree," she says, "No No No," and then touches the tree. When I say, "No Elleah, do not touch the presents," she says "No No No," and then touches the presents. When she is able to sneak about 3 bows off 3 poor unsuspecting presents, she lines them up on a present that already has bows, runs away, and laughs. I am pretty sure she thinks that she is getting away with something. And maybe she is. But sometimes you just have to sit back and WATCH. 


Aside from the Christmas tree, it is worth mentioning that she has found where I stash the Christmas cookies. Oh no, she is NOT afraid to go get them. She pushes a dining chair across the floor until she runs into the counter, climbs on the chair, and OPENS the lid (a plastic little cover) to the tray I have the cookies on. She then gently sets the cookie on the chair, starts climbing down, and by the time she gets down, Austin has eaten the cookie and she starts ALL OVER AGAIN! 


I, of course, wouldn't have it any other way... but she cracks me up....


........And it is only December 13th!!! 

YEAR 1.....

 YEAR 2....

FIRSTS

With the holidays coming up, I keep thinking how Elleah is about to experience all of her SECONDS. This is her SECOND Thanksgiving, her SECOND Christmas, and her SECOND year of life. It is so exciting, but also kinda sad because it reminds me that her FIRSTs are over (most of them anyway)! So I thought I would reflect on a few of Elleah's firsts...

08-13-09
Elleah's first breaths!

08-13-09
Elleah's first bath!

09-26-09
Elleah's first trip to the beach!

10-29-09
Elleah's first trip to Texas!

11-19-09
Elleah's first football game

11-26-09
Elleah's first Thanksgiving

Elleah's first Christmas

02-14-10
Elleah's first Valentine's Day

03-13-10
Elleah's first baseball game

Elleah's first trip to the zoo!

04-12-10
Elleah's first Easter

05-22-10
Elleah's first camping trip!

07-04-10
Elleah's first 4th of July!

08-01-10
Elleah's first birthday party!

I know that because Elleah is so special and so perfect, that all her SECONDS will be just as wonderful.... and her THIRDS and FOURTHS.... etc....

This little walk down memory lane has me tearing up a little. She has just added SO much amazingness to my life!! These are not just Elleah's firsts, but mine as well..... and I will ALWAYS cherish them!

(just a note.... this blog was started on NOV 17th)

Do you ever get tired of it?

Please do not be mean to other people!
Please do not be too quick to judge others!
Please do not say nasty things!
Please do not talk about things that are none of your business!
Please do not talk crap!
Please do not pick fights!
Please do not tell anyone you do not have time for them!
Please do not assume you know someone!
Please do not be negative just for the sake of being negative!
Please do not be negative!
Please do not jump to conclusions!
Please do not retaliate against someone!
Please do not laugh at others!
Please do not make fun of other people!


I am so tired of people being mean and negative!! I would like to think that 90% of the people in this world are good hearted, well meaning people. Please remember that not all people "do it" like you would, or "say" things the way you would. It does not mean they wish badly for you! It does not mean they are stupid or inconsiderate either.... It just means they are different than you! Do not get me wrong... I know there are people out there that get their kicks out of making others miserable! But please do not be one of those people!!!!!  

My Christmas List!

Most of you saw the picture I posted of Elleah visiting Santa this past week. She did not have very much fun... poor thing was terrified! It is a shame too because she did not get to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas. I may have once felt the same way about Santa.... but now I would give anything to be able to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what I want for Christmas! This is what I would tell him....


(Feel free to sing along... it is encouraged actually) 


I want 12 million dollars (hey....go big, right?)
11 hours of silence
10 lbs off my behind
9 precooked meals
8 bubble baths
7 dusted shelves
6 clean loads of laundry
5 golden rings (why not!)
4 mopped floors
3 glasses of wine
2 clean bathrooms
And a lifetime of hugs and kisses from E! 


So if Santa likes to read blogs... I hope he reads this one! 


As for Elleah... I guess when Santa calls me, I will have to tell Santa what she wants! I am thinking she would want....


12 empty boxes
11 new reasons to say UH OH
10 episodes of Dora
9 packs of fruit snacks
8 Beyonce songs to dance to
7 news ways to annoy Gracie
6 new ways to scare Austin
5 tupperware dishes
4 things she is not supposed to touch
3 pillows to stack
2 pots and pans
And to never again have to see Santa.....

RRUUUUNNN little deer.... RUNNN

Its been awhile... Thanksgiving vacation in Texas took up a big chuck of my time. But it was a great trip! I did quite a few things I have NEVER done before... some I may do again, some I definitely will NOT ever do again! For starters... I made my own sausage! No, I did not kill a pig! I bought a boston butt pork roast, cut it up in chunks, GRINDED it, and then seasoned it. hahahahaha. I know, not a "katie" thing, but it was kinda fun! The best part... I got to play with a FoodSaver for like 2 whole hours. If you have not used one of those, do it. For some reason, that little machine is AwEsOmE! I packaged 16 bags of homemade pork sausage and brought it home with me! Yes I did!
I also did another little project that I never thought I would do (at least not WELL). I made 4 homemade pie crusts. Now, I love to cook, but I have always turned toward the Sandra Lee way of things and purchased my pie crusts frozen! It seriously is the way to go. But I had fun making these as well. I got flour EVERYWHERE and learned that an apron really does have a purpose. 
Finally, I did something I swore I would never do..... I woke up at 5 o'clock in the morning on PURPOSE!! Ok not just that... I went hunting with TJ. Can you believe that??? I went out there in my furry boots, my black leggings, and TJ's mom's camo jacket! hahahaha. I climbed a ladder into a TREE and sat there with my husband who was holding a loaded gun and drinking coffee! I doubt I ever go again... not really for MY sake, but for TJ's. Most of you know me.... I talk too much! haha. Guess what? Talking while hunting is not kosher - who knew?!? And who knew that THAT would be the moment you find 8935789573498573 things to talk about!!??! I did have fun using two fingers to point at my eyes, and then point at the trees like I "heard something." Oh and then... I had to potty! Um.... there was no way I was pottying in the woods! NO FREAKIN WAY! So I climbed down out of the tree by MYSELF and ran (literally) all the way back to the house! I pottied. I could not go back out there, so my day of hunting was done! It was a LONG 45 minutes! And really, it is just as well I do not go... because should I ever see a deer while I am out there, I would start yelling "RRUUUUNNN little deer.... RUNNN." 
Got to see family and eat tons of great food...... I always sleep great there..... and did a little Christmas gifting! So that trip = Success! 

Enjoying her new bean bag!!