The Happiest Husband on the Planet

So we went out Christmas shopping today but we made the mistake of stopping off at Circuit City. Only 3 days left until the doors are closed for good. As we are parking the car Jesse says to me "I don't know why we're here. We're not going to by one anyway". "Yes, dear" I said.

We walk in the store and immediately to the T.V. he's being eying for months. He's one of those types that thoroughly researches every purchase, especially electronics. Then he searches until he finds the best possible deal on exactly what he wants. Today was his lucky day because it was there for the price he was willing to give.

This is what we got.



Samsung LN46A650 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with RED Touch of Color

Did I mention he is the happiest man on the planet?

I'm finally done!

With this semester anyway. This had to be the longest semester ever. And to have a final on Friday of finals week at the latest time a final could be scheduled is just ridiculous.
So now my house is clean and I have a stack of books I plan to read before starting next semester (which is my last as an undergrad!!). I plan to read Dracula, Heart of Darkness, The Invisible Man, and we'll see if I get to anything else.
The best part of my first official day off was this morning when I asked my husband what the plan for the day was and his reply was "Go shopping". I about fell over because those words have never been uttered by this wonderful man. So my day is officially off to a beautiful start. Wish me well fighting the other crazies out shopping right before Christmas.

Happy 51st Birthday, Dear Old Dad

Dad when he was just a wee little baby boy


Wasn't he the cutest little cowboy


Just a little history about my dad. I didn't actually get him till I was 8 years old. It took us a little while to find the right one. He's one of those rare men that can love another's like his own. I feel so blessed everytime I think about what a great gift he has been to my mom, myself and my three sisters. He always tells people he's as close to perfect as he can get without just being translated straight to Heaven and I think he's right. I love my Daddy!! I wish I could just give you a big hug right now.

P.S. Your B-day card is on the way. Katie picked it out and that will be very obvious when you open it. It was from the heart.

Sid's New Do

Sydney cut her hair off even shorter yesterday. I wasn't guite sure at first but I've decided she can pull it off. She is too dang cute.

Bragging rights

I often wonder how I could get this incredible daughter who is not afraid of standing in front of people and performing. I was sooooo terrified of anything like that as a kid and still am as an adult. And I have been blessed with this daughter who sings and performs in front of hundreds of people and doesn't even seem fazed by the experience. Today she auditioned for the solo in "I'll Be Home for Christmas" that will be performed with her choir. She made it to the final four and will have another opportunity tomorrow to try out again. I hope she gets the part she wants but honestly the most impressive part for me is that she is willing to try. I would never have had the courage to do that when I was her age and wouldn't do it now.

PS She didn't get the part. It went to the 8th grader. But she wasn't too sad. She'll try again next time.

Poor cat

I think Jesse's little brother hates cats. Last year for Christmas he gave Katie a whole bag of cat outfits. I didn't even know they made such a thing. Sure, dogs have clothes, but cats? Our poor cat has been dressed like an angel, a "rock star" and right now she gets to wear a Santa suit. I don't know how Katie gets these outfits on, but it usually ends with a few tears and scratches. The sad thing is when the cat gets outside in one of these get-ups. You know she has to feel utterly humiliated roaming the neighborhood all dressed up. Poor cat!!





The crazy thing is this cat somehow gets herself out of these clothes. They are very difficult to get on, but she can squeeze out in no time.

Santa visits the Ward

We had our ward Christmas party on Saturday. I think it turned out really well. At the time I felt like everything was falling apart, but we had a huge turn out and everyone seemed to be having fun. I'm just glad it's over and I don't have to think about another activity for a few months.

Katie wasn't real sure about sitting in Santa's lap. And what's wit the face? It's always messy. I give up!

I Love Christmas

I love everything about Christmas. I am so glad it is finally time to decorate, listen to Christmas music, and bake all the wonderful goodies that go with Christmas. Today Katie and I got busy decorating our tree and setting up the rest of the house. It is crazy that we kill ourselves to redecorate the house knowing we have to redecorate again in one month. But I love it!! I even got everything out of the attic by myself and that was a little scary. I just couldn't wait any longer.

I told Katie she could set up the Nativity Scene for me. I came back to see what she had done and this is what I found.

What do you think they could be looking at in there? I couldn't figure it out.

The kid loves her animals. That is probably why they are the only one ranked high enough to surround the baby Jesus.



Here's our tree


One of my favorite things is when we get Christmas ornaments or decorations as gifts from the previous year and then when we take everything out it's like we just got new gifts all over again because we haven't seen them for a year. This year, my new favorite ornament has to be the glass green pickle Jesse's sister Laura gave him last Christmas. I think I need to have a "where's the pickle" contest and give prizes to those who spot the pickle when they come over. It's too cute.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,
1. I want a kitchen.
2. A fake, white horse.
3. A Christmas tree in my bedroom.
4. A Christmas plate.
5. A horse fan.
6. A Hannah Montana fan.
7. A new horse set.
8. A t.v. in my bedroom.
9. A trash can for my bedroom because I threw mine away.

Love,

Katie Bell

Home

Sydney holding baby William


Sydney and Katie


Jack with Caleb

We got home today about 4:30 this afternoon. It was so fun to go home and see everyone but I am glad to be back home. We went to Monahans for Thanksgiving. We had a nice group at my parent's home. This included Jesse's Mom and Dad and sister Amy, my sister Kisha with her 2 kids and husband, my sister Lindsey and her husband, my Uncle Kenny, Aunt Amy and their daughter, and my Aunt Robin, Uncle Richard and their son. We cooked all day and feasted around 3:00. I got to do all but one of the pies. As usual, I went a little overboard and made way too many. We had sweet potato, pumpkin, key lime, banana cream, and an apple pie. Kisha made the pecan pie and mom of course made her famous pumpkin rolls. The pies and dessert are the only part of Thanksgiving that I really love, so we'll just leave it at that. Everything was wonderful and we all overate. I love getting to spend time with my family and especially loved finally meeting the newest member of our family, little William. He's a real cutie. I hope everyone else had a nice holiday.

Goodbye Deann

We had a little "going away" get together for Deann last night. I am so sad to see her go. I think it will be for good this time because they sold the house. They will have no reason to come back to Burleson. Deann is one of the most genuine people I know and I am going to miss her beautiful smile and positive, uplifting spirit. She is the kind of person you just want to be good around.
She will be sorely missed. We wish them well in Arkansas.




Stand up nice and straight, Barb!!! You are hilarious.

Jack and Jesse go to San Antonio/Austin

The fourth grade at Jack's school take a field trip to San Antonio and Austin every year. They study Texas history in the fourth grade so the school takes them to historical Texas sites. It is lucky to live close enough to Austin and San Antonio to make such a fun trip. Jesse went with Jack because I have therapy on Wednesdays and can't miss. Here are some of the things they did and saw.


Jack and Jesse at a restaurant on the Riverwalk.





Jack at the Alamo





The State Capitol in Austin

Pilgrim Katie

Katie had her Thanksgiving Party today and award ceremony. She was a pilgrim as you can see in the pictures.






She also received two awards in the award ceremony. She got a Citizenship Award and a Writing and Phonics Award. She was the only one to receive the citizenship award and one of three to receive the writing and phonics. Yeah, Katie.

Perplexed

One of the funnest things about being a parent is trying to interpret the mind of my child. Today, for instance, Katie and I were driving around running errands. She is always so cute in back seat finding letters she knows on the signs and making up rhyming words. She is becoming very aware of the signs around town and has lots of questions as to their meanings. Today was little odd though. She didn't understand why there are "no stranger" signs all over the place, especially in Burleson. Why don't we want strangers in our town anyway, she asked. I asked what she was talking about, there are no signs of that nature. Yes, she tells me, they have strangers on them and the back says "strangers, go away". Hmmm, I think. What could she possibly mean by this. Then it hits me. Maybe all of you are a little quicker than I am, but I had to think for a good five minutes before I realized what she could mean. The sad thing is, for all I know her daddy could have been the one to tell her that that was what those signs mean. I can't wait to probe him.











Anyway, this is what she was talking about.

Tile project

Now that soccer's officially ended we can get back to the home projects. When we moved into this house 2 1/2 years ago we said we would be pulling the carpet out of the bathroom right away. Yeah, that didn't happen. But Jesse woke up this morning with the home improvement bug and who am I to argue with his impulses. This is the beginning.

Great Dad/Son project.

Jack got a good one of Jesse painting sealant on the concrete floor. It's even better since the sealant is hot pink!!!

And now the tiles are being laid. Jesse is actually quite good at laying tile. I am so happy he wanted to try the diamond layout. It's more work but the finished product looks so much nicer. What a sweet husband I have.


Almost done. The cutting and cementing is done. Now we have to grout.

Holly is loved

Poor Jack and Katie really do want their own baby. I just don't think a baby could survive the two of them fighting over it the way they do Holly. We have been getting Holly and Lindsey Friday nights and keeping them part of Saturday while Kisha works and Kyle goes to school. One thing I know for sure, besides that I adore my little nieces and am so glad they come to stay with us, I really don't want to have any more babies. Man, they're a lot of work. There's a reason we have babies in our twenties. They are so much easier to keep up with when you are young.

Jack and Tyson Go Nuts with the Camera

Whew, that's finally done!

Last night I took Katie to Kisha's house and I drove up to Justin to stay with my baby sister because I was scheduled to take the GRE in Denton at 7:30 am. I was so happy to be closer to the test site because that meant I wouldn't have to leave at 6:00 am to try and beat traffic. I anticipated a wonderful nights sleep but of course that didn't happen. At 10:30 pm I turned the t.v. off because I was so tired I couldn't keep my eyes open and then proceeded to toss and turn for the next few hours. I hate when that happens. I practiced the Pythagorean theorem in my head at least 20 times, worked out all the glitches for the upcoming ward activity, thought through therapy for the next 3 sessions, reviewed what we discussed in Statistics class that day, and imagined what I wanted to make for Thanksgiving dinner. I then remembered all the people I was supposed to have called and forgot to and stressed about how to get my Christmas decorations up if we were going out of town for Thanksgiving and classes don't end until December 19. So much for a good night's sleep.
But I got my test taken today and I think I did well enough that I won't have to take it again. I am so relieved that at least that one thing is behind me and won't cause me anymore sleepless nights. I will start conquering the rest tomorrow. Tonight I'm watching T.V. in my jammies and eating cereal for dinner!!

Spelunking light from Silver and Papa.

Jack's Birthday

Frogs from Dad.

Jack turns 10!!

My sweet little boy is growing up so fast. He turned 10 on Saturday and asked for a birthday party this year. We had the party at Going Apes and it was so nice. I have never paid a place to do a party before, but wow, it was so much easier. Jesse had to do most of the party by himself because I was speaking at Stake Conference. They made it very painless. I got there in time for cake and presents and didn't have to do a thing.