Some of My Favorite Christmas Memories 2010

I am going to post pics and such, but I wanted to record some of my favorite memories from this Christmas.

• Riley was so fun this year.  He is really into opening gifts and his face lights up when he sees something he asked for.
• Riley got to see Santa two times this year at house parties in intimate settings and he loved him.  It was so cute the way he interacted with him and asked him questions about why he arrived at the parties in a Ford truck as opposed to a sleigh. 
• I LOVE the fact that Riley knows scripture and Bible stories.  He knows more than some adults I gurantee and that touches my heart.  He actually listened at the Christmas Eve service and was asking some intriguing questions about King Herrod and the birth of Christ.
• Riley and Bentley both rocked out at the Christmas Eve service.  They both love music so much and it was awesome to see them dancing and singing the music at church.
• Bentley went crazy when she opened Beauty and The Beast and her pillow pet.  We could have just given her those 2 things and she would have been content.
• Anytime Bentley hears the words Santa Clause mentioned, she says Ho Ho Ho.  So cute!  She didn't want to sit on his lap or touch him, but she did enjoy him from the back of the room. 
• Bentley is such a DIVA.  She loved wearing her Christmas tutu this year and getting dressed up.  She opened her first gift at Nana's and it was a dress that had some tulle ruffles and she thought it was a ballet dress, so right there, she starts taking her clothes off to put it on. (as we speak, she is having me this dress on her)
• Bentley does "ballet" all the time.  She twirls around and makes the cutest faces while doing it.
• Memaw gave her a dog that she really wanted that walks itself and I kept pushing to name him Max and she told me no Mommy, his name is "BOSS."

They were both a joy this year!  I am so blessed to have such sweet and good kiddos!!!

CCPS Christmas Program

Last night was our Christmas Program at the school.  This was my first year to attend as a teacher. It is kind of hard to have 2 children in the program as well as the 13 children that I have in my class, but it worked out.  Daddy, Memaw and Elyse went to Bentley and Riley's classrooms after the program was over and had cookies and lemonade with their classes.  I enjoyed visiting with all of the kids and their parents in my classroom.  As for the performance, Riley was AWESOME.  He sang his little heart out and he is so animated.  Miss Nikki, his music teacher, told me yesterday that he blows her mind with all of the words and how quickly he picks everything up.  He has been rehearsing for days for this program.  You would think he had the lead in a broadway musical.  All of his hard work paid off and Casey and I are so proud of him!!!  He is such a good kid.  Now, there is Bentley.....well, she looked like a million bucks, but she did not want to be on that stage at all.  She clung to her teacher, Ms. Sharry the whole time.  She would alternate her finger from her mouth to her nose (just a habit, not picking it).  Oh well, there is always next year Sweet BB girl.  By the way, I have to give kuddos to both of the kids teacher.....they are all four wonderful, but Ms. Sharry and Ms. Alba go above and beyond to Bentley.   Casey was telling me last night that he could really just see the love they have for her.  I know she can be a bit particular and it warms my heart to know that she is so loved when she is in their care.  It also shows....she ADORES them both.  Thanks CCPS for loving my kiddos!!!

Here are some pics.  I will post video later.

This is Ms. Lori (AKA Lois) my lead teacher

Ms. Sharry carry your Highness on the stage

And here is all she did!!

Riley's group sang "We Three Kings" and he knew EVERY word

In Bentley's class having lemonade and cookies

Daddy and Bentley

My little Showstopper Riley!

Waiting for his cookie!

Happy Birthday Jesus

Today at preschool, Riley and Bentley had their Happy Birthday to Jesus parties.  They have been looking forward to these parties all weekend.  Bentley told me this morning she wanted to look pretty for the party (so cute).  Riley was also very pumped because he was bringing the goldfish.  Here are some pics and video of them at the party. 

Bentley singing Happy birthday to Jesus (I think she thought she had to bow her head?)

Riley singing Happy birthday to Jesus

Riley cheesing it up!

Icing his cookie

Bentley getting ready to eat her icing

Mom and Bentley

Santa Clause and his Early Appearance

Last Friday night, we were invited to a party and Mr. Santa made an early appearance.  He was getting out of a white Ford pickup when we pulled up (he was 20 minutes early), and Riley spied him.  He started asking me where his sleigh was and his reindeer.  Already so darn inquistive about that situation at 4 years old.  I had been talking a big game about Santa all week long in hopes that Miss Bentley would enjoy St. Nick.  She was excited at first, but ONLY if he was at least 15 feet from her.  She stood in the back of the crowd saying "Hi Santa."  Riley ran right up with his friends Anna and Cole.  Santa read Twas the Night Before Christmas for the kids and they all really enjoyed it.  It was a great experience, much better than the mall scene.  There was tons of good food and great company.  We all had our picture made with Santa, well, as close as Bentley would let me get her :)

Me and Melissa

Guess what I want for Christmas...

Bentley loved following Anna around that night!

Love this pic!!! 

Don't leave me here mom

Riley and Santa

Family pic....Bentley was not about to take her eyes off Santa

Riley and his girlfriend Anna :)

Attempt at Christmas Pics

I really wanted some nice family pictures this year for Christmas.  I am still not really ready to pay someone to take our pictures because Bentley is so difficult to photograph.  First of all, her patience is only good for about 15 minutes and secondly, she really doesn't like to take pictures with Riley.  She did ok this summer for she and Riley's pictures, but I just didn't want to spend money on the four of us taking pics and none of them come out.  So I had Elyse just snap some pictures of us.  Don't worry, you all will get a formal Christmas card with some pics on it (still not great, but not too horrible), but these 2 photos really sum up our photo shoot.

Such a nice family photo....but wait, we have 2 children...where is ???

BENTLEY

Hello Mind, Where Have You Gone??

I really believe that I am losing my mind and yesterday just confirms it!  Yesterday, the kids and I were out and about and I noticed my drivers liscense was not in my wallet.  I remembered that on Sunday, the cashier at Kohl's had me take it out and apparently, she forgot to return it.  I was frustrated because it is such a pain to load and unload the kids with my foot in the shape that it is and I really did not feel like going back to Kohl's.  After naptime, I loaded the kids up and we headed to Kohl's.  We go to Customer Service and I ask the woman to check for my ID.  Meanwhile, the kids are playing in the water fountains like they were the fountains in Kemah - Riley was soaking wet.  Upon searching one drawer, the woman says that she cannot find my ID and so I ask to see the manager.  He comes out and takes a gander around (in 2 drawers this time) and says he is sorry, but it is not here.  I VERY RARELY am "bitchy," but I was so irritated.  I start to tell him (in a not nice way) that I recently waited over 4 hours for that ID and that his associate had me take it out of my wallet and she failed to return it, so what was he going to do for me!  He could tell he had a live one on his hands so he offers to go look in all of the drawers at the registers.   While we are going from register to register, Riley is playing football with the stuffed Grinches at the register and Bentley is going through the breakable candles.  As we get to the last register and I am getting ready to tell him what I really think, I look down and guess what is in my purse.  Yep, my ID!  I tell him in a tad nicer tone that I will have to go online and replace it and I gather all of the grinches off the ground and we leave. I was so embarrassed that I never even checked the other side of my wallet and then the one time I am bitchy, I am wrong!!  Not sure if God was telling me not to act that way or what, but it was a fun 30 minute exercise for me and the kids!

Foot

I went into the Dr. last Thursday and I got another good report.  The incision is healing very well.  The bottom part is doing great, but the top is healing a bit slower, so I have to keep in wrapped and slowly start to transition into a running shoe around the house.  She discharged me (YAY!) and pretty much just told me to take it easy and add more and more pressure a little at a time. If it hurts, then get off of it.  I was pleased.  And there are no gross pictures (Elyse has not been over to take them!)

Preschool Thanksgiving Feast 2010

Riley had his Thanksgiving Feast at his school last Wednesday.  Copperfield really has a nice Thanksgiving feast and program.  It is only for the 3 and 4 year old classes and the kids come in and sing 2 Thanksgiving Day songs and then they say their prayer.  A yummy turkey, ham, dressing and the whole nine yards dinner is served.  Memaw and Elyse joined us this year (Daddy had to work).  Riley is turning into such a ham!!!  He was in "Rock Star Riley" (his Indian name) mode.  He was making funny faces and singing as loud as he could.  It was awesome. 

The kids coming into the room getting ready to sing

There are pilgrims and Indians

He takes his prayer seriously

Update on Foot

It has been 2 weeks ago today since I had surgery.  It has been a very LONG two weeks of recovery, but I am getting better and better.  Last week, I went in for a re-bandage and they told me that if I were to keep being a good patient, then they would take my stitches out this week.  Thanks to many folks, including Casey, Mom, Elyse, and Tricia, I was able to accomplish this task.  It takes a lot to take care of 2 small ones and run a household but with the help of these folks and many others who have brought dinner and helped get the kids to and from school, we did it!! 

When I saw the Dr. yesterday, she removed the stitches (there were 10 of them).  She also went over with me how big the tumor was (bigger than she initially thought) and admitted that upon her researching soft cell sarcoma, that it is "bad news."  Praise God I am only having to face healing from foot surgery and not battling cancer.  I am so thankful for His intervention and healing in this matter.  She said everything is looking good. I cannot put weight on it for another week, so I am still sporting the hottest Franken Foot shoe. She has a pad on it and she has it wrapped. The bandages were so kind to me and left me with fungus between my toes (athletes foot) and my little toe is basically morphing into the toe next to it.  But like I said, much better than facing cancer.


When I got home last night, it felt a little odd down there, so I took a gander and whoa.....it was bleeding. Thank goodness Miss Wanna-Be-A-Surgeon was there to help. Elyse took the bandage off and we cleaned it all up and put new steri strips on and re-wrapped it. She did a great job. I still have a ways to go, but I am on my way. Here are pics from my foot surgery journey.

Week one (hard to see I know)

Last night's debacle

GOD IS GREAT!

God answers prayers and I am living proof!!!

The tumor is benign.  Thank you Jesus for looking after me :)  I love you!!!

Mommie's Hulk and Little Bug

Riley and Bentley had a great, action packed Halloween.  Saturday, Daddy braved Dewberry Farms and brought the kids by himself.  They had a blast.  Sunday, Memaw and Elyse took them to the Fall Festival at our church and they trick or treated there and played in the infatables and such.  Once they got home, we went to Rick and Tricia's neighborhood for some more trick or treating.  I went, but I stayed in a wheel chair with my foot elevated and Tricia took them around with her kids and her neighbors.  They loved it and had a great time.  Here are some pics of them.  With Mommy being out of commission, we don't have a lot of pics.

Riley looks like Mr. Universe

This is Riley doing karate and Bentley copying him

Ready, set, Trick or Treat!

Foot Surgery

I have had some foot pain for a long time now.  I have been to several podiatrists have had quite a few diagnoses and tried many treatments.  After many failed attempts at getting a resolution, my dr finally did an MRI a week and a half ago.  She immediately called with the results.  I had a tumor in the ball of my foot.  (No wonder none of the treatments worked!)  She scheduled surgery for removal of the tumor last Friday.  The surgery went well and I am at home resting.  It is very difficult to stay off your feet and keep your foot elevated and such with kiddos running around and well, life going on.  Casey has done a great job of helping and so has mom and Tricia and friends and family.  I am very fortunate to have so many loved ones around me.  Thanks to all of you who prayed for the surgery, I appreciate it so much.  God is good!!!

WOW

It has almost been a month since I have posted.  Needless to say October has been CRAZY.  Soccer has been occupying our Wednesdays and Saturdays.  Riley has been doing very good.  He loves to play and is always asking to go kick the ball around with Casey in the backyard.  He has had several spectators come support him at this games and we really appreciate it.  He is also doing GREAT at school.  He is learning to write his numbers and letters and his teacher brags on him all the time.  He is a very smart little guy. 

Bentley is doing great too.  She has been in panties since the middle-end of September and has done good.  She is practically ready for panties at nap time.  She keeps her pull up dry and wakes up to go potty even at school.  I am really proud of her too.  She is also doing very good in school.  She loves her teachers and she is learning so much!!!  It is crazy how quickly they grow and learn and such.  She is very busy these days too.  She and Riley argue a lot and if one gets something, you better believe the other one is gonna have to get something too!!!

I have been super busy this month too.  I have joined MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) this year and we meet about twice a month.  It is a really nice time to fellowship with other moms and talking with them about the challenges we all face.  We have guest speakers and good food and crafts.  I am also really enjoying working at the preschool.  My students are great - it really touches your heart to know you are making a difference in a childs life.  Bentley's Bows is also booming!!!!!  Football season and school starting has really increased sales.  I have also done 1 show and I have one this weekend.  I love making all of the stuff....I hope and pray my business continues to grow. 

Here are Riley's soccer pictures and both of their school pictures.  Riley's turned out AWESOME.  Bentley's turned out good seeing as though she was throwing a fit 2 minutes before the picture was taken!

GREAT DAY!

Yesterday was Riley's first soccer game and he did GREAT.  Casey and I were so proud of him.  He was aggressive with the ball and wasn't scared.  He played very well and listened to the coaches and he scored 2 goals (Casey told me 3, but I only saw 2, so I will go with that).  He was so exited and on cloud 9 after the game.  He told me that he wanted to score 16 goals, but that he was happy with 2.  The whole team did great.  Anna and Bruno, his friends and teammates also did very well.  Memaw and Elyse came out to support his efforts and kuddos to them because it was smokin' hot!!!  Here are some pics (it was very hard to take pics, video, and watch Bentley):

The Yellow Team (we are still voting on a team name)

Riley, Anna and Sydney

He is doing the dog sounds from "who let the dogs out"

My handsome little man!!!

This pic is far away, but he had just scored a goal!

Ready to go!!

Saturday was also Bentley's 3rd day in big girl panties.  She wore them all day and had NO ACCIDENTS!!!  YAY!  Now, it is still a work in progress as we went to the bathroom 4 times at Riley's 1 hour game, but we are at least getting somewhere.  She also went at church today and held her teetee all the way home from the restaurant at lunch.  She is doing so great and I am so proud of her!!!!

God has really blessed me with 2 great kiddos and I love it :)