2011

What does 2011 have in store for you?
I can't wait to get this year started. There is going to be a lot of changing going on around here. I'm not talking dropping a few pounds changing, I'm talkin' BIG changes. First of all my dad will be retiring after working for EVER! My father in law will be retiring as well. Woo Hoo, two more people who can help with picking up and dropping off the kids. (Just kidding guys ... or am I?)
Our family will grow with the addition of Amanda and Chris' new baby due in June, my bestest friend Nikki and her husband Greg will become new parents in July (I will be making my trip to Georgia) and my baby Layla will be starting Kindergarten.
So much is going to happen, I trust that God will keep us all safe and sound.
I am getting ready to embark on something so exciting and I can't wait to share it with you however I need to get all my ducks in a row before I share.
What does this year hold for you? Are you glad to see 2010 go?
Here's wishing all of you a Happy New Year!

Christmas Night

Christmas Night Continued ...

Christmas at Aunt Rosie's Enchiladas YUM!!

Christmas Morning ... ours began around 6:30am!

Magic Reindeer Food on Christmas Eve

Hot Cocoa !

Cookie Day!

Mom and Dad

This is my most favorite picture of Mom and Dad, they are so groovy!




Today, 43 years ago my mom and dad got married. They had an awesome Christmas wedding. Her attendants wore red and carried red poinsettias and my mom rocked the Priscilla Presley look-a-like wedding dress. Here's to you Mom and Dad, thanks for showing me how to live with someone and give all to them. Thanks for being pretty cool even though we never said you were. I still can't believe you guys drove past Woodstock and didn't know what was going on!! Love you soooo much.

Breakfast With Santa!

While we wait for Belle to come home from Austin, Layla and I have had quite an eventful weekend. Saturday afternoon we as a family went to Layla's friend, Kyndall's, birthday party. We had a great time and she played with her little group of friends while me and Daddy snacked on some delicious deer sausage and laughed with some of the other parents there.
Sunday we woke up and got all "spruced up" to have brunch with some of the same friends she played with the day before but this time we were celebrating her friend, Holli's birthday. Those sweet girls were so excited to see each other again (they could probably get use to seeing each other all the time) and they were all in their Christmas best. We met at the Aquarium in Kemah and the girls just loved seeing all of the fish!
Then ... he showed up. Santa Clause came walking around the corner and you would have thought Elvis was in the building. Let me just tell you this guy was great. Layla looked at me and said, "Mom, look at his beard!!!" then proceeded to be very shy and wanted to just observe from a far. He was absolutely wonderful. I have never been around such a patient "Santa" and he even kissed the birthday girl on the cheek for pictures.
Layla came home to tell Daddy that she saw the real Santa and she was so excited. I hope she treasures that morning for a long time.
If you have a little girl, try getting all dressed up and take her to the closest tea room or nice restaurant, they like getting all dressed up and they love watching you in that type of setting. I think it is so important to share those times with them. Also, thank you Larissa for hosting such a cool "girl party"!

Christmas Holiday

Today is the first day of my official Christmas vacation. I can already feel my spirits lifting and my mind is planning our cookie baking day, however I really want to lay on my couch and watch mindless Christmas cartoons with the kids. Belle has one more half day tomorrow and then she is free!
I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas! I will probably take a break from blogging until Christmas is over ... UNLESS something extraordinary happens.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Star

There is a tradition that runs deep in my family. It's not one that my immediate family practices but it is one that I have grown up with. Ever since I can remember my dad has made sure that we all have a turn putting the star on the tree. There are lots of pictures faded with time showing Michelle with a "bowl" hair cut and terry cloth jumpsuit reaching for the top of the tree while in Dad's arms. There is a picture of me giggling while wearing shorts and flip flops (Christmas in south Texas) placing the star on the tree while Dad is bending the top limb so it would be easier to reach. Finally, a picture of Amanda smiling with just a shirt and diapers with a kool-aid mustache (third child syndrome) looking at the camera while holding the star, her grip is strong and it was probably a struggle to get her to let go.
We continue this tradition with the grand kids. Yesterday Jackson was given the honor of putting the star on the tree while in my dad's arms. He was so excited with the loud applause that followed his effort. I know this sounds silly to some but you have to know the story behind this star.
About 40 yrs ago my mom and dad were in Virginia because of the military. They bought a tree for Christmas and decorated it with their meager collection of ornaments and while it was beautiful it was missing a star. They didn't have any money to buy a star so my dad cut one out of cardboard and wrapped it in foil. Ever since that Christmas we have used the same star. Mom tried one year to put an angel on the top of our tree and we had a hissy! That star is so special to us and represents such a wonderful image and memories we hold in our hearts. Mom doesn't even try anymore and she loves it as much as we do. It's been re-wrapped a couple of times but it is the same cardboard and it is so neat to hold it in my hands and think that something so simple could last for so long.
What is your favorite tradition?

It's that time of Year!

One time when I was a little girl I went over to my friend's house a few days after Thanksgiving. I walked into her house and *pow* her Christmas tree was up and decorated! I thought, "how cool!" We always had to wait until mid December because we bought real Christmas trees and Mom didn't want to burn the house down before Christmas with a dry, real, Christmas tree.

When I finally had my own Christmas tree to decorate with my husband we have always used artificial trees (you can buy a candle that smells like a real tree) and we have always put it up the day after Thanksgiving. Usually that Friday starts with me and the girls going to the Christmas Cottage in Kemah and picking out one ornament a piece. This is really hard for me because I want several but I can't buy five when I told the girls "ONLY ONE" and I really want to get out of there without breaking five million things. This year the wonderful owners of the Cottage were handing out hot apple cider, it was especially good because it was freezing.

Anyway, after we decorate our tree we just go from house to house in our family and "light that fire" so to speak. Aunt Rosie's tree got put up in record time and my mom's tree was quickly decorated as well. Grandma's next but we have to wait, I think she wants a real tree this year. I wonder what the girls will think when they can't bend a limb to make an ornament fit?

FINALLY!!

It is a sad day when I have to go to different house to update my blog. I'm sooo sorry that I have fallen behind with all of my news, we have had a really hard time with Verizon. I'm trying to find love in my heart for Verizon, I just can't right now.
Well, the Christmas season has hit the Rutledge family. Today my daughters and I will be attending a Christmas Tea, this will be Layla's first time to go with us. My sister, Michelle, always has such a festive spread so I am so excited.
Tomorrow is the 2nd Annual Christmas on the Hill parade and Layla will be in it. I am actually on my way now to purchase Christmas candy, red pants, white shirt and hats and gloves. It's supposed to be a cold one tomorrow.
Well, that's all for now, hopefully we will have our issues resolved soon so that I can keep everyone updated. Until then, Merry Christmas!

Holiday Season 2010

This morning I decided to make a "Holiday Season" calendar. The girls and I wrote down some important dates like, Thanksgiving and the day after when we go to the Christmas store in Kemah. I let the girls pick out their favorite ornament for the year (I got that idea from my good friend Jana). Also, we wrote down the 2nd Annual Mont Belvieu Christmas parade that Layla will be in. Her little dance class will be on a float with red noses and jingle bells. And ... I will attempt to host a Christmas Cookie Exchange, consider this your invitation (heh, heh) I plan on making flyers and sending the girls up and down our street to put them in mail boxes along with inviting some ladies from my church and other family members. I think it will be a come and go thing with Harry Conick Jr. jazzy Christmas music in the background and hot apple cider. We'll see how that goes.
In the mean time I'm trying to find "DISCOUNT" tickets to the Houston Ballet's Nutcracker. I really want to take the girls but $56 a pop will break me!!! Oh well, I'll worry about that later. My mother is heading to South Texas this Thursday to pick up Nana. We are so excited because she will be here for a whole week before Thanksgiving and we love that! Oh! be looking out for my famous Hominy dish I make every Thanksgiving ( I know you are probably thinking, "YUK" but it's really good).

Holiday Expo

Today was our first Holiday Expo at First Baptist. Hats off to my sister, Michelle that brought all of it together. You are FANTABULOUS! We had a great time and I think the ladies of First Baptist really enjoyed themselves.
When I got home, the kitchen and living room were clean. I can't express how much I love my husband... I moved my Nana's old kitchen table into my front room to set my sewing machine onto. I don't know what it is about the holiday season that makes me want to jam out with some Pandora and sew stuff for my girls.
Oh well, I will share some of the things I plan to sew for the girls with you and holiday recipes too.

My Little Patriot

Yesterday I, like many Americans, headed to the voter's booths. I was planning to stop by after school and I had Layla with me. I told her that we were going to do something very special and used other interesting words like that to help explain the voting process.
The drive from Baytown to Mont Belvieu is about 20 minutes, just enough time for a tuckered out 4 year old to get comfortable and fall asleep in the car. I knew this would happen and after thinking that it would probably be frowned upon if I left her in the car in front of the court house (windows cracked of course) I got her out and carried her to the polls.
Layla has very "generous" tonsils, poor baby, so she snores ... God love her, she can't help it. Anyway, there I was holding this child that is very LONG and not only did she fall asleep, but she fell asleep with Barbie sunglasses on and she is SNORING loudly.
Well, this nice lady that was there assisting people in the court house, comes over to me and asks if she could hold Layla while I voted. "Sure!" I say and soon after I finish my duty as an American, grab Layla and head out.
If you will recall, I said I had tried to explain to Layla using interesting words what the voting process was, I must have done a bang-up job because when she woke up and realized she had missed the whole thing, she started to cry.
I couldn't settle this girl down. All she kept saying was, "I wanted to help you vote Mommy!"
My sweet little patriot.

It's Over!

AAAAhhhhhhh! I took a nap! I'm not ashamed to say it either. I slept in my room with the door closed and didn't even care what the kids (my kids) were doing. I had an hour of pure bliss.
Last night was my 8yr. old's first time to host a slumber party. It was lots of fun. We had good food and good friends and usually when you combine those two things you really can't go wrong.
Check out the slide show I put together, but remember to scroll down to the bottom of the page to pause the music.
Enjoy!

Tuesday

Well, today is Tuesday and I just got up from a 7 min power nap. Thank you God, for phones with alarms and timers. We are getting ready to go to Belle's swim class and then off to Manda's house to pow wow with both sisters about the Holiday Expo that we will be setting up at our church November 6.
This weekend is the SLUMBER PARTY, then Fall Festival at Belle's school followed by a trip to the pumpkin patch on Main in Baytown that we always go to. I should be good and tired by Sunday and then I will gear up for the last week in October. Can you even believe that?! By the way you should check out my sister's blog, Sugar Chic. The cookies are adorable!!! Check it out if you want to order some before Halloween. She will be taking holiday orders as well.

Frito Pie

It's been one of those months I think, and the month isn't even half way over. All last week I felt like a mac truck took aim at me and ran me over. Seriously, I think I'm getting too old for my job. Anyway, I left Friday afternoon with my daughters and my mother to "fetch" my Nana. It was a good visit however that doesn't excuse the 5 hrs there and 5 hrs. back road trip.
Oh well, I just got finished painting my girl's feet for a Halloween t-shirt and now they are feasting on a dinner that I have slaved over... Frito Pie! If said with the right amount of enthusiasm I can get the girls so excited about this dinner they will want seconds. (*snicker*)
Here's to all you women out there that have had a "Frito Pie" night. Hang in there because I'm sure things will start looking up soon.

What Am I Thinking?

Okay, I am about to enter the esteemed sisterhood of the slumber parties. I have never hosted one and I have agreed to a Halloween slumber party for my third grader. *GULP* I know that all the women reading this are shaking their heads saying "tsk, tsk" and maybe even some of you are adding me to your weekly prayer list. I know I just dug my self a really big hole but it has to happen sooner or later right? RIGHT?
Luckily I have recruited both of my sisters to help me that night and hopefully we will make it out alive. I am really excited too because we get to make fun crafts and eat really bad-for-you food all night long. At least their won't be any bra freezing or anything... well, I wouldn't say my sisters are safe from me. heh heh!

Remembering

A year ago around this time we said goodbye to my grandpa. It doesn't feel that long ago right now. I miss him and above all, I wish my girls could hear some of the stories he used to tell me and my sisters when we were their age. I think of him and wonder if my girls look at their grandpa and pawpaw the same way I looked at my grandpa. Do they know to cherish every little bit of advice they hear? Do they know that sometimes just sitting and being in the same room is enough? There are so many things I want them to appreciate now while they can. I take comfort in knowing that the older they get the more they will appreciate the stories of Little Grandpa because he wasn't just someone in a photo, they do remember bits and pieces of him. I pray that as they do mature they make every moment count with their grandfathers, the way I did with mine. I love you Granpa and I bet the bucks are huge and the catfish are biting in heaven.

My Birthday Surprise

My husband is so sweet! It all started with a planned trip to Uvalde, no kids, adults only trip to the ranch. Well, seeing as how we only had two days and it takes at least one full day to get there and get settled Anthony and my sneaky brother in law, Trent decided to change plans and take me and my sister, Michelle to a bed and breakfast instead. I was so excited because Anthony didn't tell me where we were going. I had to ask him what I should pack, how I should pack and for how long. He answered me with, "Wear something you wouldn't mind people seeing you in." and, "I don't know."
It was absolutely wonderful. We had a great dinner and a full day of shopping. What more can a girl ask for? Thank you sweetie for making this birthday unforgettable!

Layla's First Day of her Last Year!

That's a weird title, I know but what it means is that this year is Layla's last year of Wee School. Don't get me wrong, I am totally excited that both girls will be in public school, and we will have a blast going through all the schools that Belle has already gone through, it will just feel like something is definitely missing at Wee School for me. I always found joy in watching her carry her little lunch kit to the lunch room, she didn't seem big enough to do it but she did it! I loved sneaking a peek at her when she would play on the playground with her little friends or watch her sleep during my break and her nap time. This year she is in the class right next to mine and I get to see her a lot! However, I think it's bitter sweet and I am planning on enjoying as much of her last year as I can.

This blows my mind!

The First Day of Third Grade!

When does time fly? It seems like just yesterday we were walking Belle in to the Kindergarten Center.

Mmmmhhhmmmm!

That's right, the graphic novel, Exile will come out in September. I can't wait and I have be reading "Outlander" again just so everything is fresh.

The Ranch

We (me, Belle and Layla) just got back from a five day trip to my sister and brother in law's ranch outside of Uvalde. It was so much fun, I got to take my father in law's HUGE crew cab Dodge and truth be told, I don't think that truck had been used to it's full potential until I got it. Sorry Grandpa.
Anyway, our first day there was spent in Camp Wood at a parade celebrating "Founder's Day". Roasted corn, samples of homemade jellies and jams, carnival games, it was fun. When it got too hot we just jumped in the creek. The kids had so much fun swimming with fish and riding down rapids. The scenery was just gorgeous.
At night the stars were SO bright and we saw several shooting stars too. I can't wait to go back, you really feel like you are going to your own little piece of the world that you don't have to share with anybody. We got to see Axis Deer and bunnies and thank God, no mountain lions *gulp*!
(Deep Breath) well, now it's time to start getting serious about school. I still have a pair of shoes, backpack and lunch kit to buy for Layla plus a load of school supplies for Belle. Why can't kids stay in the same size for more than six months???