Parties & Shopping

I feel like I've fallen short with my blogging this week.  Nothing REALLY interesting or entertaining to write about, but since this blog is mainly for my memory, I'm just going to write about what we've been up to so far this week. 

Monday night, Nikki, had an ornament exchange party.  My mom went with me.   There was a huge turnout, lots of extremely cute ornaments & loads of fun!  Also, the same night, my mom & I were invited to a CAbi party.  I managed to make both parties, but didn't get home until about 10:00.  Mom bought my Christmas present from CAbi which I am excited about and I also ended up buying two other things from CAbi that I had really been wanting off the rack for 1/2 price.  woot. 

Tuesday I took the day off from work.  I had only bought a couple of Christmas presents online up until Tuesday.  I knew I would not be able to accomplish a whole lot if I took Mallory with me, so she spent the day with her daddy & grandaddy & I spent the entire day checking off my shopping list.  I plan on doing this every year from now on.  With it being a Tuesday, the stores were not crowded & I didn't feel guilty for leaving Mallory behind on the weekend or feel guilty for dragging her along knowing that it's no fun for her to be in a shopping cart or stroller all day long.  I was home by 5:00, got my Christmas cards out & MOST of all the presents wrapped.  Yay for productivity!

Wednesday was back to work, but we did get off early for our work Christmas party.  It was at Mike's Farm.  Mallory was in the worst mood ever.  From the time I picked her up, she whined & could not be satisfied.  When we got to Mike's Farm, she would not sit in her high chair, would not be still in our laps, would not eat a bite of any food, would not go to anyone else who tried to show her any attention & was still whining nonstop.  I'm sure it was excellent birth control for my co-workers' teenage children who attended.  Needless to say, we were the first ones to leave & skipped out on the hayride.  I was thinking she had to be not feeling well because that's not her norm, but today she seems to be fine.  I guess we just all have bad days, toddlers included! 

Today seemed to be a loooong workday.  But right after work, I met my friends Trish & Megan for an early dinner at my favorite Mexican restuarant.  We exchanged Christmas gifts and enjoyed some girl time for a little bit.  They are both so sweet & give the most thoughtful gifts.  I wish I could think of gifts like they do!  Trish got Megan & I handmade camera strap covers because we both have new cameras.  Now we can carry them around in style & comfort!  Megan gave me a pair of stud earrings like I have been wanting & a sweet friends Christmas ornament.  I love everything they gave me & had a great time with them.  I brought home supper for Patrick & Mallory.  Mallory really enjoyed the steak from my fajitas.  I'm happy that I've found something else she likes to eat since she is so picky about her food these days. 

One of the best things about this week is that I came home to a clean house today!!  I kept asking Patrick, who came & cleaned & he says he did it.  He hasn't been able to work much this week due to the weather so he helped out around the house.  That means soooo much to me & I love him so much for the little things like that!

Weekend Wrap-Up

This was actually last weekend, but I never posted about it so I am going to include it in this weekend.  Last Sunday, Mallory went to her first parade!  & although I wasn't too excited about it (because of the freezing weather) Mallory really enjoyed it.

Here she is with her Grandma

She really seemed to like the firetrucks!

She didn't seem to mind the cold weather at all.  I was a much bigger baby about it!

I just loved her little outfit :)  Right now the only jeans that fit her really good are the Gap skinny jean & I'm obsessed.  She has the same pair in three different colors.  This is the same outfit as our Christmas card photo.

Granny Pat & Mallory looking at the parade coming down the road

Now onto this weekend.  On Friday, my uncle and aunt came home from Georgia & stayed the weekend with my parents.  We had a big family dinner with them on Friday night.  I didn't get any pictures.  Mallory is at this stage where she hardly lets anyone hold her & I hate it because my family from Georgia rarely get to see her & they wanted to love on her so bad but she wouldn't let them :(

This is Saturday morning bed head.  This is what Mallory's hair looks like most every morning.  It is a time, ha!

Saturday at lunch, we had our annual Andrews' Family Christmas party.  We are a HUGE family (my grandaddy had 10 brothers & sisters!). 

Mallory had a good time playing with her cousin Tyler Kate.  They really liked hugging & trying to steal each others paci!

It is very seldom that Mallory lets Uncle Joey get some love.  I guess she was feeling generous for a second :)

Mallory with cousin Matt's wife, Stacie

Ashley with one of my very favorite family members, Bonnie.

Getting in one last hug before it was time to go!

Saturday night, I went to Trish's Ornament Exchange Party.  This is her 4th year having it & it has turned into quite the event!  We always have a great time with some great food.  Another plus, is seeing her gorgeous house decorated so beautifully for Christmas!

Here is her MASSIVE tree.  I love it! 

Her cute decorations.  Every time I ask her where she gets something her reply is, "The Dollar Store."  Somehow, I don't have her eye or her luck when it comes to decorating on a dime, haha.

After church today, we had a Christmas party with Granny Pat's side of the family.  We always have a good time & play lots of games.  This is a terrible picture, but here is everyone playing one of the games.  Patrick's moms cousins boyfriend (did you follow all that?) says he is a 'semi-pro' at photography & gave me some good tips today with my camera.  (Which were not put to use with this picture, haha)    

Mallory ended up taking a nap through most of this party but here are some of her little cousins that were there, Evan & Lila.  They are so cute & so well behaved!

& lastly here is my little mean girl right before bedtime!  Good night yall!!

Also, I am thinking it is time for the paci TO GO!  It has become such a chore to keep up with it & now that Mallory is talking so much, she talks around the paci which just isn't cool.  I'm thinking we are going to try to go cold turkey with it next weekend.  Do the 2 people who read my blog have any suggestions or tips for losing the paci for good?  TIA! 

Did I Hit the Lock Button or Not??

Ughhh....bad afternoon!

When I was leaving work I realized that I needed to stop & get gas.  I HATE getting gas.  I mean, I can't even describe how bad I hate it.  The temp being in the 30's just makes it that much worse because I also hate weather below 50 degrees.  The husband swears that I get him to go somewhere with me every single time my car is on E, just so that I don't have to stop & do it myself.  That might be somewhat true.

Anyway, I pull into the ol Kangaroo station, get out my debit card & stop to think if I need anything else.  I think to myself that I do not, because right after I start pumping I am getting right back in the car because of the freezing cold.  I had just started pumping my gas and was about to get back in the car when all of a sudden I hear a beep & the doors lock.  Ugh, no phone & NO KEYS.

Apparently, I hit my lock button once (I do not know why or even remember doing it!) & if the lock button is hit once there is some kind of delay & then the doors lock.  I usually hit the button twice when I get out when I am locking the doors intentionally. 

The part that tore my nerves up the worst was not having my phone.  I felt absolutely helpless without my phone.  I went up to a man, explained what had happened & asked if I could use his cell phone.  He gave me his blackberry & I felt just like Carrie in the Sex & the City movie.  I don't know if it was my nerves or if I'm just not used to blackberries anymore since I am a Droid user now, but I gave it right back to him & said "I don't know how to dial this thing."  He dialed Patrick's number for me & while Patrick was getting ready for a funeral, I explained to him what had happened.  He said he would come right away.    

So I go inside the Kangaroo to hang out (at least it was warm in there) & waited about 15 minutes when I see a police officer drive up to get gas.  THANK GOD!  I ran out to him & explained what had happened & he reluctantly agreed to help me after he finished pumping his gas & going in the store & then moving his car.  Yes....I am impatient, but it was COLD!  It didn't take him long to get it unlocked once he started working on it & in the meantime Patrick's cousin Ashley pulled up & a co-worker of mine.  The co-worker does not speak English well but he let me use his phone to call Patrick & tell him that he could go back home & both Ashley and him stayed with me until the police officer got my car unlocked.

That is the first time I have pulled that stunt in a VERY long time & I hope it's the last.  I do not have a spare key, but I will now be getting one made for sure.  I am just thankful that Mallory was not with me, she was safe & sound with my parents.  It is no fun to be stranded at a ghetto gas station!   

Christmas Card 2010

Peppermint Dots Christmas Card

Make a statement with custom Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Finally!!!  Here is the finished product & I am completely thrilled with it thanks to Natalie & Ashley.  Because they are awesome, they saved my Christmas card.  Enjoy!   

The Christmas Card of 2010 Fiasco

I came up with the bright idea of having our Christmas card pics taken by a girl who takes the pictures, designs your Christmas card for you & puts it all together for one very affordable price.  Seemed like a win-win situation for me since I am incredibly indecisive & crunched for time. 

Until she cancelled. 

Pictures were supposed to be yesterday morning at 9:30 am & I got the email that she wasn't coming due to the weather (a few snow flurries!) around 6:30 am.  I emailed her back right away & asked if there was another location we could go to that would work & her only solution was one day this week during daylight hours (completely out of the question with my work this week), or next weekend.  Well, it takes her a week to do the Christmas cards so I felt like that would be cutting things a little too close. 

My solution:  find a way to get a halfway decent picture ourselves.  After all, that was the whole purpose of me getting a nice camera for my birthday.  (I can't even begin to tell you how many time I heard that from my husband yesterday). 

After FREEZING our butts off at the parade (that the inlaws insisted we attend) & Mallory taking a nap that had to be cut short, we had about 30 minutes of daylight to get a picture. 

The credit for these photog skills: Miss A Manning. 

The location:  my dad's cow pasture. 

The weather:  STILL FREEZING.   

It's no secret that our little Miss Mallory is no day in the park to photograph.  You are lucky if you can get her to make eye contact with the camera.  A smile is asking entirely too much.  This is what we came up with & I'm pleased considering...

This was my favorite pic of the day for Patrick & I.  However, you can tell someone is not a happy camper!

Christmas card winner!

Good of P & Mal.  Me....not so much.

Please note these pictures are completely unedited because I have no idea how to edit & these are uploaded from my Kodak gallery (not high res) because the originals are on my SD card which was left in my parent's computer last night.  I've really got it together, huh?!

Ho, Ho, Ho

We've had a busy day!  Last year, Mallory was too young to talk or recognize Santa.  This year is a different story.  The past few weeks, we've been reading lots of books about Santa & I point him out anytime he comes on TV or we see a picture.  Now Mallory recognizes him & knows he says HO, HO, HO.  She gets excited when she sees him so I was anxious to see how she would be when we went to visit.  We decided to go to New Bern for Breakfast with Santa.  It was great!

Mallory really took a liking to Ms. Claus

Ms. Claus reading Mallory a story

We met Nikki, her mom & little Jack there.  Here is precious little Jack.

They had different little activities set up for all the kids.  Here is Mallory decorating a cookie.  She loved this!

How cute is Jack?!  He was patiently waiting to sit in Santa's lap.

This picture cracks me up.  When Mallory first spotted Santa, her eyes got big & her mouth dropped open.  She pointed to him & said "Santaaaaa!"  She acted like she could not wait to get to him.  When it was our turn, she took off towards him.  & then stopped quickly.  She wanted to get up there but not too close.  I had to end up getting up there with her & being in the picture.  I'll have to scan it in, but just picture Santa holding her with me beside Santa & Mallory reaching for me, ha!

Mallory got to pick out a homemade Christmas ornament.  She picked this cute little penguin.

Next, we decided to go see another Santa.  My grandma wanted us to go with her to see a local Santa that was visiting today so we did.  They had a little activity where kids could make their own ornament.  Because, it involved coloring, it was a hit with Mallory.

One of Mallory's little friends was there too...the beautiful little Miss Ella

You can see how this Santa pic turned out. About the same, haha!

Once again, I had to get in the picture to "protect" Mallory from Santa, ha.

Mallory looking at some of the animals they had.

This evening we went to a dear family friend's 80th birthday party.  He had the exact same cake that we had for my dad's 65th party the beginning of October.  I wish I had blogged about his party, I'm trying to do better!

 Despite having only about a 30 minute nap all day, Mallory did great at the party!  We left the party a little after 6 and she was OUT by 6:30 for the night.

& it's so crazy, but we have had snow tonight!!  Up until a few days ago we've had weather in the 70's everyday.  That figures since we have family outdoor pictures being made tomorrow morning.  We are going to FREEZE!

Busy, Busy

I'm never the person on Facebook saying "So glad it's finally Friday!"  Instead, my status should read something like "How is it Friday already...where did this year week go??!!" 

It's the busiest time of year....at work, at home, at church, everywhere.  My weekend is already jam packed & not to mention I have done very little Christmas shopping.  If you are reading this & you're on my list, I am gladly taking suggestions for what you would like! 

Mucho Gracias :-)