It was a very Merry Christmas!

We went back home for Christmas this year, which was a wonderful choice. It may be hard to make the 6 hour drive, but its worth it to spend the holidays with our crazy, loud, fun families. I just wish I wouldn't have been sick. :(

We drove in on Saturday, stopped by Aggie's and spent a few hours there. Then we drove out to Picayune. On Sunday, we went to the French Quarter with Mikey's parents, Christian, Kelli & Kinleigh. We had hot chocolate & beignets at Cafe du Monde, then we headed over to Fulton Street to see the lights. We had dinner and the kids got to see it snow on Fulton. The snow is scheduled to start every hour on the hour. The kids enjoyed it.

On Christmas Eve we went to my mom's.

Headed back to Picayune around 1am.

Had Christmas meal with the Gioia's, then around 5 we headed to mom's for dinner.

Slept by mom's and hit the road around 11 to head home.

Our 1st Thanksgiving at Home

I cooked the following for our first Thanksgiving dinner... Turkey (first time ever attempting to cook a turkey)! Rice & Gravy Green Bean Casserole Sweet Potato Casserole Crescent Rolls Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, Apple Pie & Autumn Cookies for dessert choices. We ended up eating at noon, then Phoebe wanted to decorate for Christmas, so we spent the next few hours doing that. :) It was a nice Thanksgiving, but I think I prefer the crazy chaos and loud sounds of laughter when we're with the family back home. I don't think we'll be skipping again. But at least we made it through this year. :)

She makes it all better :)

I finally started my vacation from work today and I've been stuck in bed the past 2 hours with a migraine. I just sat up and found this note on my nightstand. This kid does my heart good. Needless to say, I'm going to push through this and go hang out with my girl some more.

We went to see Rise of the Guardians this morning. Such a great movie!

Jack watching Dog with a Blog

Watch "Jack watching dog with a blog" on YouTube

Hang in there Mrs. Laura

I found out yesterday that Mrs. Laura at Rowland Ballard was beginning radiation for brain cancer. She won her fight about 2 years ago with breast cancer, so we are sure she'll stomp out this cancer too! She's a great person and my thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.

We learned this past weekend the devastating news that Laura Brown was diagnosed with brain cancer. Laura is an incredible person and has been a part of the Rowland/Ballard family for many years. All 3 of her children participated in our programs and she has served as our Kingwood office manager for the past several years. As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for Laura, her husband Larry, her daughters Jill and Ryan, and her extended family. Laura has been a fixture at our Kingwood location and all the kids, parents, and staff love her. Laura is a fighter and has vowed to fight the cancer as long as possible. She begins radiation treatment today. This is her second battle with cancer as she was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago. Laura is a wonderful person with a deep sense of family and faith. We have set up a donation opportunity at our front desk to help offset some of the random expenses as she undergoes radiation treatment. You can write a check (made out to Laura Brown) or you can donate cash. Please keep Laura and the family in your prayers. Sincerely, David Ballard

RIP Melissa "Missy" Wells 10/21/1976 - 11/1/2012

I found out yesterday that a friend from school lost her battle with stomach cancer. From what I've read, she was a fighter. My heart goes out to her family. She leaves behind a husband and 3 boys. I can't begin to imagine what they're feeling. Watch over them Missy, and rest in peace. Melissa Wells "Missy" Walle Obituary Guest Book A loving mother and wife she passed away at her home in Gonzales on Thursday, November 1, 2012 after a brief, but courageous battle with cancer. She was 36 and native of St. Bernard Parish. She is survived by her husband, Ryan Walle; her three beloved sons, Kaleb, Derek, and Corey; father, Jeff Wells and his wife Tina; mother, Juanita Wells; brothers, Charles J. Wells, Jr., Mark, Luke, and Matthew Voebel; grandmother, Nina Selvage; and numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, a niece, and a nephew. She served as a den leader for Cub Scouts, and spent her time loving and taking care of her three boys. Visiting will be at Ourso Funeral Home, Gonzales on Friday, November 2 from 5 pm to 9 pm and will resume on Saturday from 9 am until religious services at 11 am. Burial to follow in Hope Haven Cemetery, Gonzales. Please visit our memorial at www.oursofh.com to offer your condolences. Guest Book for Melissa Walle – Online Guest Book by The Advocate and Legacy.com.

MawMaw & PawPaw's Surprise Visit

I wrote out a to-do list while doodling with Phoebe 2 weeks ago, well she added "let MawMaw & PawPaw come over" to the list. I sent it to MawMaw & PawPaw and they wanted to help mark that item off her list. :) So they came in last night. They pulled up blaring the music and PawPaw was hanging his head out the window while dancing and wearing crazy eye glasses. We were cracking up. The video isn't great quality, but still worth watching! See below. Phoebe was thrilled that MawMaw & PawPaw got to make it to her soccer game Saturday. After the game we headed to Sharky's for lunch, then home and we all worked out in the yard, MawMaw brought some plastic pumpkin buckets and we hung them in the trees out front for decoration. Came out super cute! Phoebe was so excited! It was a wonderful visit and we hated to see them go. Hopefully we'll get to see them when we go in for Brittanie & Chris' wedding.

Optimist Creed

Now if I could just reprogram myself to think/act this way, that would be great! :)

Phoebe singing Teenage Dream

Watch "Karaoke Time with Phoebe" on YouTube

MawMaw Jeannie gave Phoebe a karaoke machine when we went in for Brittanie's bridal shower September 17, 2012. We got home and realized it didn't have a power cord, and of course it was a 2 pin odd connection. We had to order a replacement through singingmachine.com, the maker of the karaoke machine. Well it finally arrived in the mail today and she was super excited and ready to sing. Here's her first song on her machine. Listen to the excitement in the voice at the very end. Made my heart smile! :)

Phoebe's 1st week away from mom & dad

Phoebe drove to Louisiana with Nanny & Uncle Ruby for Maddi's 3rd birthday party. Then MawMaw Tess & PawPaw came and picked her up on Sunday. She spent the week with them and they all drove back to Texas on Friday. They went to Story land at City Park and they went with Kinleigh and Aunt Kelli to Chuck e Cheese. Phoebe called us every night. MawMaw and PawPaw did great with sending us pictures everyday.

Still have lots to add about this trip!

RIP Mr. Walter

Walter Henry Grashoff, III (August 8, 1942 - September 4, 2012)

Bossier City, LA - Walter Henry Grashoff, III, passed away Tuesday September 4, 2012 at the age of 70. Walter was a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and a graduate of the University of New Orleans. He was a resident of Chalmette, Louisiana for 30 years prior to moving to Bossier City where he was a parishioner of Mary Queen of Peace Church and a member of the choir. He was preceded in death by his parents Walter Henry Grashoff Jr. and Helen Johnston Grashoff. He is survived by his sister, Jane R Grashoff. Walter was a wonderful husband to Gaynell Bascle Grashoff for 43 years and a devoted father to Kristine Grashoff Mayers and son-in-law, Eddie Mayers; Stacy Grashoff Robbins and son-in-law, Paul Robbins; Stephen Michael Grashoff and daughter-in-law, Erin Cosse Grashoff. He was a proud grandparent to Kailie Krystine Robbins, Gage Michael Grashoff and Dane Cole Grashoff. Visitation in Bossier City will take place Thursday, September 6, 2012 at Mary Queen of Peace at 9:00 a.m. with mass immediately following. Pallbearers will be David Jagot, Brian Jagot, Dean Jagot, Don Jagot, Bob Foley and Ray Duet. Visitation in New Orleans will take place Friday, September 7, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 at Schoen’s Funeral Home with a brief prayer service immediately following. Interment will be at Lake Lawn Park Cemetery & Mausoleum’s Alcove of Blessings. We sincerely appreciate the doctors and staff of Willis-Knighton Pierremont for their devoted and attentive care over the last few years. Special thanks to Fr. Joseph Ampatt for his love, friendship and prayers.

Hummingbird Pictures

Pictures I took of the hummingbird by our kitchen window. 9/2/12

--Click on the hummingbird image to see all pictures.

Hummingbirds

Then I captured a few seconds on video of the chirping like sound that they make. 

Chuck E Cheese with Maddi

Phoebe lost her 8th tooth!

We worked on wiggling this tooth for 45 minutes last night and she decided to let it fall out on its own. This morning it was super loose so she wiggled again then decided to stop and again said she wanted it to fall out on its own. I turned off the video camera and I hear "Mom!", she runs over with her tooth in her hand! It fell out on its own as she was playing on the sofa with Daddy & Jack. :)

Chili, Chili Baby! (Phoebe learned at camp)

She had us cracking up. She learned this at the Y.
Hey Phoebe show us what you got “I can’t” Why not? “I just can’t” Why not? Because my back hurts My shirt’s too tight And my booty shakes from the left to the right From the left to the right

Phoebe can swim!

Phoebe took private swim lessons for 2 years but didn't get in the water enough outside of swim lessons to really get comfortable. This year we decided to sign her up for summer camp at the YMCA and have her take swim lessons 4 days a week. They also had water day 3 days a week so she was getting in the water a lot. Well 4 weeks later, she swam on her own, no floaties, no bubble belt, no kick board, no noodle. 

After she got out of the pool, she said "I love myself, I can't believe I can swim! I love the way that God made me!" :) Then she began jumping up and down saying "I can pass the swim test now!". Which is at the YMCA. We are so very proud of our girl. Great job Phoebe!

RIP Dolly Mae

We will miss you Dolly, you were part of our family for the past 13 years and you were such a good dog. At least you'll see your mom Cleo and sister Daisy Mae in doggy heaven, along with China, Taz, Abbie & Shadow. RIP Dolly, we love you.

Why don't friends with kids have time?

This article was posted by a friend of mine on Facebook. I am not a stay at home mom, but I can still relate to everything in the response. I work full time and do all of these things in addition, so you can imagine my availability. Granted, Phoebe is growing up and becoming more independent, but I still want to spend every available minute with her before she gets to that age where she doesn't want to hang out with me. =( So I don't get on Facebook or on the computer at home except maybe once or twice a week. Right now I'm posting this before she wakes up. I do feel so out of touch with everyone, but I feel so in touch with my daughter, which is the most important to me. So hopefully my friends and family understand. We'll be in touch again one day. :)

Tennessee Vacation - June 20-23, 2012

We flew in to Nashville on Wednesday, June 20th. We had to get up at 4am and leave the house for 5am to catch a 7am flight. We arrived on time in Nashville at 9:06am. When we got to the baggage claim, Mikey spotted my dad outside, me and Phoebe went out by them and Mikey stayed to collect the baggage. Well he was taking a while so I went back in to check on him, he's still standing there waiting for the luggage. There are only a few bags left on the belt, none of them ours. Then the worker turned off the lights and power to the carousel, which meant there were no bags left to be claimed. No one offered assistance, we stood there, looking lost. I finally decided to ask the United Airlines lady who was a foot away, "what do we do if our luggage isn't here?". She didn't even look at me then said "I'll need your baggage receipt" and she walked away, continuing to work. She may experience this chaos everyday, but we haven't flown in a few years where we had to check luggage. So she could've acted a bit sympathetic to our situation, geesh. I follow her around until she finally asks me for the baggage receipt. She types something on the computer then tells me our luggage wasn't placed on our plane and it would arrive on the next one, which was due to arrive in 2 hours, at 11:30. We had the option to come back and pick it up or have it delivered. We chose to have it delivered, which would be within 2 hours of the plan arriving, so within the next 4 hours. My cameras were in the luggage, so no pictures could be taken. We headed to my dad's house, but stopped at Cracker Barrel to grab a bite to eat on the way. We hung around the house and the luggage finally arrived around 3 or 4. Phoebe learned to play pool and ping pong. She loved both. And I was introduced to Arizona Diet Green Tea, which I now drink everyday. :) We went to Rock City and Ruby Falls on Thursday, went to the mall to walk around & ate at Rainforest Cafe, which was great, on Friday! Then we flew home on Saturday. Talking to Phoebe - asking her which part of vacation was her favorite. Here is her response: The airplane (I really loved flying on the airplane) & getting to see Granddad and Granny Liz. Her next favorite part was when she got to get rocks from Rock City. I listed the things we did and she put them in order of which was her favorite. 1-Playing pool & ping pong 2-Eating at Rainforest Cafe 3-Rock City 4-Ruby Falls - she liked when the tour guide clapped her hands & turned on the lights 5-Seeing the mountains during the drive to Chattanooga 6-Going to the mall She got to meet Jellybean, their Cockerspaniel rescue dog. Phoebe was really impressed on how she could go and find the treat Granddad hid. They had Jellybean stay upstairs by the back door, which means she couldn't see which part of the house they were going to. They hid the treat downstairs in the basement. They came back up and told Jellybean to go find the treat, she took off on a hunt, she didn't find it right away and she thought about giving up, but they told her to keep looking, and she sure did find it! Amazing dog. :)

Tennessee Vacation Pictures

Phoebe found her lost tooth!

Daddy was upstairs playing his game, me & Phoebe went in the bathroom, I was in the shower and Phoebe was playing / dancing, then she spun around on the floor and noticed something that looked like a tooth on the floor, in the corner by the bathtub. She picked it up and sure enough, it was the tooth she thought must have fallen down the drain. So she is super excited that she gets to keep her tooth. She is thinking about leaving it for the tooth fairy, in case she needs it. :) But for now it's in a small zip loc bag which has "Phoebe's tooth" written on it. Everyday she says "I can't believe I get to keep my tooth!". :)