The Polar Express

Gran & Big Daddy w/ all the grand kids

Teagan waving good bye to Santa

Kaylan, Mommy, Teagan

They had so much fun!
Luke, Teagan, Dade, Audrey & Kaylan

What an unforgettable trip to Palestine! Kaylan asks about riding on the train again DAILY! Such a special memory that we will all treasure for years to come.

Where there's smoke...

After trying to get Teagan to go to bed for about 45 minutes, I told her to get in my bed and "don't you dare get up again!!" She said she wanted the lamp on... turn on lamp, tuck in child, collapse on the couch. So I'm just lying there watching Nightline, and I kept smelling something like burning hair. Not thinking much about it, I watch tv for a few more minutes. Get up, check on Kaylan, walk in the bedroom and there is smoke pouring from the top of the lamp.. apparently TayTay thought it would be cool to stuff my garment (that I got after my surgery) in the top of the lamp on top of the lightbulb. I had no idea that a lightbulb could get so hot.. I sent up a quick "THANK YOU, JESUS!" and ran the garment to the bathroom sink.

And here is a picture of Keek wearing her favorite hat... precious~

On a wintery December afternoon....

two girls asked their mother to bake cookies to decorate. Mom had spent the last hour scrubbing the kitchen, but thought, SURE!
TeaganKaylan

We had so much fun!

Kaylan's funny face
Teagan's funny face

Out of the mouths of babes

I am taken aback daily at the things my children say... they are only 3 and 2!!

The other day, Teagan must've heard someone on T.V. say, "Dammit!" (I am certain it has never been said in this house..) So she comes in the living room saying, "Dammit dammit dammit" and then Kiki starts, "Dammit, dammit dammit". I had to laugh... what would you do?!

Teagan talks like a grown up but there are still a few words that I love to hear her mispronunciation of...

1) gorilla - "granilla"
2) spaghetti - "pasketty"
3) barbecue sauce - "bah bah you cos"

A couple of days ago she asked me to turn the light on for her. When I told her she could do it she replied, "No, I can't; I'm full of hands." She meant her hands were full!

Kaylan jabbers and plays pretend with her babies more and more every day. She says candy is "nanny" and if something is yummy she says "nummy". She is getting more independent and loves to do things for herself. They both love to help me cook and Keek is my little cleaning machine.

I am looking forward to Christmas this year... They will both be able to participate more this year than ever before. Tuesday we are having Susan photograph the girls while she is back in Texas... I cannot wait to see how they will turn out. We are also taking all of the kids on the Polar Express train ride the 26th. Ever since we told the girls we were going that's all they ask about.

Hope you all have a fabulous Christmas!

Much love,
The Hills

Viva Las Vegas...

Well, needless to say I had an unbelievable trip to Vegas; I have the blisters and sleep deprivation to prove it. A friend of Molly's from L.A. drove over with her boyfriend, who is the former drummer for Candlebox. We hung out at their suite before going to the penthouse at the Hard Rock for a V.I.P. party where we hung out with Carey Hart. He's a motocross racer who
used to be married to the singer, Pink.

We also hung out with Frenchie from the VH1 reality show, Rock of Love with Brett Michaels.

We also met a UFC fighter but I can't remember what he said his name was.... If I can find his picture I'll post it, too.

So I got my mini-celebrity fix in Nevada. We had a great time, but I'm glad to be home.. I missed my kids and my bed.

Can't wait until the next trip with Molly!

Tagged by Alli

8 T.V. shows I watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Desperate Housewives
3. The First 48
4. Channel 7 news/ E! news (every day!)
5. Ellen
6. Oprah
7. The Girls Next Door
8. I Survived....

8 Favorite Restaurants: (in no particular order :)
1. Pizza King
2. Texas Roadhouse
3. Chili's
4. Souper Salad
5. Taco Cabana
6. El Sombrero
7. Subway
8. Outback

8 Things that happened this week:
1. Got my stitches out... OUCH!
2. Flying to Vegas TODAY!
3. Went to Target w/ Tracy and the kids
4. Hung out w/ LeeLee, Randi, & Reg
5. Cleaned house
6. Downloaded some new tunes
7. Made homemade potato soup for the first time... yummy~
8. Caught up on TiVo'd shows

8 Things I look forward to:
1. Going to Vegas!
2. Fun family trips that the kids will remember
3. Christmas morning w/ the fam
4. What my kids will say next
5. Finishing school and...
6. Getting a JOB (that pays!)
7. Snow
8. TV nights

8 Things I pray for:
1. That I will always enjoy my children
2. That I will grow stronger in my faith
3. That I will continually become a better wife
4. A healthy family
5. That I do a good job balancing love & discipline
6. That I will become more faithful
7. That I will become more organized
8. That I will always be content

8 People I Tag:
1. Amanda
2. Mom
3. Molly
That's all I got.... :)

I love her....

Britney Spears "Circus" -new music video

I do not want to hear another bad word about Britney Spears. Love her or hate her, she is the epitome of the American dream. She has worked hard for years to get to where she is now, all the while under constant scrutiny from the media. Of course she has made mistakes (just like the rest of us), but the difference is that you and I didn't have 50 paparazzi trailing us to get that misstep on film. What an ironic song "Circus" is.... because it almost identically mirrors her life as a pop star. Britney is a fantastic performer and keeps getting better as the years go by. I will always be a fan and hope to see her live soon. Enjoy~

This and That

The leaves on the trees at my parents home in Hallsville are just breathtaking... This is why fall is my favorite season, even though it doesn't last very long in East Texas.

The girls have so much fun in the bathtub, especially when shaving cream is invited to the party. They love to squish it between their fingers and draw on the walls with it.

I am getting closer to normal each day since the surgery, but still have a ways to go. There is still some swelling but the bruises are gone and the stitches come out Tuesday. I am taking a girls trip to Vegas with my BFF Molly next week and I can hardly wait. We will be leaving the 10th and coming back the 13th. I'm sure it will be an unforgettable trip!
VIVA LAS VEGAS!!

Before and After Surgery shots

As most of you know, I had surgery last Wednesday for some issues I've had with my nose. My dear friend, Leslie, took these shot immediately after I returned from the OR. I have been taking daily self-portraits to chronicle my progress. I still have some bruising and swelling, but feel much better overall.

Day 1 PostOp
Day 2 PostOp


Will post more later!