seven

I know it seems trite, but. my God. My child is getting so freakin old. Gone is the baby face, the small teeth and the silky smooth skin. She is developing into such a sweet child. It breaks my heart a little bit. I am so proud to say she's mine.

Easter 2008

Here we are last Sunday at a friend of the family's. Wade's probably going to get his feelings hurt that he didn't make it into this family picture, but OH WELL, our livlihood is based largely on the restaurant and the holidays, so we deal with it. We did miss you though Daddy.

Stay tuned for LV pictures, they are sure not to disappoint.

Let this be a reminder

to all you people out there that are considering going on a trip to Las Vegas with your children that it is NOT A GOOD IDEA. Oh, wait, you would never do that, would you. Only crazy people would think that would be a good idea.

Yeah.

Where to begin.

Let's just say there were a variety of variables that went wrong. I lost my new camera. Sydney acted like we were torturing her with nails and a hammer, straight with lying down in the middle of the casino tantruming. Several different times. Our "nanny" talked on her phone the entire time and all Grace asked was "WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GO SWIMMING."

And the clincher. The stomach bug. In the form of vomit and diarrhea. Which happened during our only scheduled outing by ourselves at an amazing restaurant that I made reservations for a month ago. Yep. Wade was in bed by 8:00 pm on Wednesday night and vomiting by 10:00.

So I did what any wife would do. Gamble. I kept thinking, "I have got to make something about this trip salvageable." And if you think that was heartless of me, don't worry, I paid for it. Although he gave me permission to leave, I paid for it with subtle jabs the next day.

Spring Break 2009 is already decided. Someplace close with a pool. Period.

When Robitussin Attacks

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books


I'm just so happy to get to share with you what a complete and total nutcase my child turns into when presented with cough syrup. This video is a little over one minute, but you must watch it in its entirety because the face she makes after taking the syrupy nastiness is priceless!

To keep or not to keep...

If you've had the pleasure to speak with me lately...well, it may have been an unpleasurable experience. I've been a bit of a grump lately. So I'm apologizing for that right now. But! there is a good reason for my unpleasant mood. You see, my brother and I have had the shitasheous job of basically ransacking my parents house in order to get out anything we want/deserve before the gigantic estate sale in a couple of weeks.



All I have to say is thank goodness they had moved out of the house I grew up in already! Now, that would have been a really shitasheous job!! But, alas, this has been pretty miserable in itself. I just don't know what to keep vs what to get rid of. Some of you may already know that I'm not exactly a "keeper" of things. I like to throw away everything. My mother was the opposite. She was a shopper/keeper of shit. So, I'm okay with getting rid of most things, but there is this small part of me that knows she is dying? inside. I really just do not want or have room for it. Sorry mom.



And then there is the fact that my dad seems to think they he has to get rid of every.last.picture. Including all pictures of my mom, me, Grace etc. What's that about? He seems to be eradicating this family from himself. I guess I'll have to live with that. He left a folder with my name on it that had HIS WEDDING PICTURE of he and my mom, among other sentimental pictures. It makes me sad, but maybe he's wanting me to keep them safe. Who knows. It just feels...awkward and strangely disloyal.



I am trying to keep my chin up, as I say to my kids, but this extracurricular work seems to be kicking my ass! Crawling in a hole sounds kinda comforting...although I did find a diary from 1984 that made me laugh so hard I cried, which was almost worth it. But not quite.

couch tater

Obviously, she was born the wrong gender.

I JEST!!

She just loves her Diego and her Oreo's.

Pretty much like my evenings, except I watch LA Ink and nibble on Jenny Craig cheesecake.

Like mother, like daughter.

The Quick Trip

I totally forgot to write about our funnnn trip to Vegas! Probably because it lasted all of 36 hours annnnd Abigail died the morning after we returned.

Here's Wade and I looking super cute, no? And he's wearing his HOT PINK sunglasses. Tell me, what man would be comfortable enough with his manliness to wear these?

Once again, Vegas didn't disappoint. God, I freakin' love that place. The flights were eazy breazy, although everyone is in agreement--DO NOT TRAVEL SOUTHWEST VACATIONS-- too many horror stories from the friends. Anywho, the room was great (mirage), the gambling (blackjack and texas hold 'em) was awesome and the food (nobhill, burger bar and Japonais) was killer!!!!!!!

Here is Ashli and myself, she's looking high, as usual. I mean, she's not high usually, just kinda always looks like it in pictures.

I have to admit, going to Vegas with 3 other couples had me worried because it's not exactly a couply-kind-of-place. But it rocked and we laughed our asses off. And, of course, the small sweet victory of NOT having to change diapers and fix sippy cups of juice for a few short minutes.

Back to reality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 years

Unbelievably, it has been two years since the passing of my mother. January 23, 2006 was most definitely the day that changed my life forever. It sounds so trite, but you really can never be prepared.

Sadly, I was unable to make it to her grave today. Grace really wants to go and put down some pictures she has drawn for her, and I had to work late. Which was actually a God-send.

My favorite picture of us, taken Christmas Eve, just a month before she died.

Seriously, does she even look sick?

What a blessing.

(P.S. thank you hens, love you.)

R.I.P.

I don't even know how to tell the blogworld this utterly devastating news.

Our sweet, adorable little birdie is dead.

It really is sooo sad and we JUST trained her to stop freaking out when we open her cage and she had definitely taken to Grace, who had recently learned to get her in and out of the cage herself and walk her around on her shoulder.

The way she died is what is so absolutely horrid. She found a way out of her cage (WADE STOP ASKING HOW SHE GOT OUT) and, get ready, one of the dogs killed her. Grace saw the bird in Curly's mouth and started screaming bloody murder. Then I came in the room and started screaming at the dogs at the top of my lungs and then Wade came down the stairs assuming that someone was missing a limb and confirmed the news: she was indeed dead. Most likely a puncture to the lung.

I cannot tell you how sad my daughter was. She cried and cried until her face was melting off. And there was not a God Damn things I could do. Except hug her and tell her I was so sorry. Seriously. This is not okay.

Saddest part of the entire event. Sydney was bawling while we were screaming and she kept repeating the phrase, "sissy, STICKY TAPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" For those of you that don't know Dora, sticky tape is what she used to repair a hot air balloon and various other broken gear. So sad. And also really freakin' smart.

R.I.P. Abigail. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from the big bad wolves.

for the love of money

Oh, it's on!!!!!!!!!!!!!


It's less than 7 hours I will be hitting the tables in crazy L-V.


Awe yeah.


Annnnnnnnd, I'm 8 pounds lighter!! So, bring on the foodddddddd................




Wish me luck, peeps!

So

My husband gets to go on a vacation with his best friend this weekend. Must be nice. Sheesh. Truth be told, I am happy for him, as he never gets to do anything fun. Unless you count working and being with me and our children.

Borrrringggg.

So, being the kind of person I am, I waited until today (he left at 2:30) to give him shit. Hey, I could been being bitchy for weeks. I'm nice.

Him: So what are you going to do this weekend?
Me: Just hangin out with the kids, AGAIN.

Now times that by about 10 and you can get a feeling for how our morning was.

He knows I am loathing, so he sent me these last night:

Duh, not helping.

End of an Era...maybe?!?!?

We are on day 3 without a nap. She is, thankfully, still not complaining about going down for one, but I can hear her kicking and playing for about an hour before summoning me to her room.

Sigh.

Why do they have to grow up and shit.

Does anyone think it may be a phase? Does anyone care?

In other news: HAPPY 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!

I always love the start of the new year. So full of promises, so full of hope, so full of days to screw your kids up more...

Ahhhhhh, the positivity. I, of course, have to point out that 2007 was a pretty decent year for me in the "resolution" department. As most of you know, I quit smoking March 2007, and stayed smoke-free to this very day. Alas, this brings me to the start of my new resolution for 2008. As I type, I can see my belly in my peripheral vision. Thanks to my healthy resolution of no smoking, I have picked up a not so healthy habit of EATING LIKE A FUCKING PIG. So, the time has come to shed some pounds.

Y'all know I can do it.

the.wedding.

It was hard, not gonna lie to you. I had this surreal feeling come over me during the exchanging of the vows. It's strange, because weddings are usually such a happy time. Wade and I normally look at each other, smile and remember that amazing feeling when we got married. I definitely did not have that feeling wash over me.

It was quick, the girls didn't walk down the aisle throwing flowers (much to Grace's dismay, "that was the most boring wedding EVER!"), and there were only 20 people at most.

Grace and Sydney looked precious, which is more than I can say for the others. Wow, that was rude. Here are some pics to shut up my bitchiness.

The after party was a freakin madhouse, to which Wade and I only stayed about an hour. The girls had fun, but I was seriously worried that Sydney was going to trip and kill an old person. She was damn excited to be staying up so late.

Which brings us to the funniest picture of the night.

Get it girl! Eat that shitty food!

Meet the Newest Member of Our Family

This is Abigail:

And the best part:

Probably not exactly the surprise he was hoping for.

Heeheeheehee.

The 2nd Christmas

Grace continues to amaze me in her memory and/or willingness to remember my mom. For those of you that know G, are already aware of her, ahem, inability to see the big picture.... But today, 2 days before Christmas, she feels the need to tell Sydney about my mom.

"Cici is dead, " to which Sydney replies, "oh (pondering)..., sissy dead."

After a lot of, "no, cici, not sissy" talk, Grace goes on to tell her that it is okay that she is dead because she still lives in "here" and points to her chest.

*Insert me DYING*

I shit you not. I have never told her that. I'm sure someone has, but nonetheless, it is strange to hear my six year old say these words.

We then go downstairs and Grace tells me that she is going to draw a beautiful picture for Cici. For Christmas. Because it was her favorite holiday.

She's trying to kill me.

How does she remember this? It may be because we still talk about her (at least Wade, my brother and I) and she has simply heard it from our mouths. Who knows? It still breaks my heart.

And makes me proud.

Mary had a sad little lamb...

My youngest child broke my heart into several million little pieces today.

She didn't want to perform in the theater as a little lamb. She wanted to sit on my lap and watch the other children perform the worst Christmas play to date. But, nooooooooo, her "teacher" wanted her to sit with the other children and sing the songs.

But she didn't want to.

(who is that poor motherless child in the background?)

And so I am the mother and I get to make those decisions. So she sat on my lap.

And was a happy little lamb.

The end.

Home Sweet Home

You really never realize how much you take advantage of everyday conveniences, like, electricity, cable and heat. Sure, these are things that you don't get free, but, they are also things that you would never be without. Brief interlude for a little pic of the cutest snow bunny. And yes, she may be wearing the same socks that she wore Monday. Packing on the fly is hard!!








Our electricity came back on at 6 pm Wednesday night, and I was ecstatic!!!!!!!!!! We decided tostay in the hotel room one more night, because we had already paid for it and because our house was 49 degrees. Brrrrrr.... But we are definitely one of the lucky ones, so no complaining. Now we have to deal with insurance companies, which should be fun. NOT!! Here's how excited Rudolph is about talking to the insurance company AND delivering gifts:


The kids were also really excited to be back in their own beds, both marked by very little bickering our first day back. And I'll have you know I was so excited to be back that I actually did 4!! loads of laundry (Myself, people...which also included folding AND putting away), made chili in the crock pot and made blond brownies. Who's happy to have electric??!?!??









Me!! That's who! And Curly marked his excitement to be back by darting out the front door (for the billionth time in 2007), but Wade actually caught him with his bare hands, which is no small feat. Curly is a fast mo-fo. I just had to put this pic up because both Wade and Curly look cute after the above mentioned capture!



So, all is right in the Starr house. And thankfully it did not snow a bizillion inches like they thought! God owes OK some apologies here!

the view from my window

And that was our trampoline.

And, no, we are not at home. We are sitting comfortably in a hotel in downtown OKC after losing power on Sunday night. That NEVER came back on. And they think it may be upwards of a week.

And there was a tree in my dining room. And I'm not talking about a Christmas tree.

I do believe my worst nightmare is coming true. No school, no babysitter, no electricity, NO SANITY!!!!!

outtakes

I was determined to get a cute pic with the girls together for a Christmas card because THAT NEVER HAPPENS!!! I've been trying with my camera phone for the last 2 months to no avail. Thankfully the lovely Camille offered her expertise and came to the house this a.m. to attempt to "catch" them both looking decent. And when I say both I mean Sydney. Grace knows that when I'm trying to take some serious pics, she's supposed to smile with all her might. But Sydney is a pain in the rump. She purposefully makes silly faces just to make me cry. And loves it. Most of the pics were awesome, but here are a few of the, ahem, less than pretty ones.

Now, obviously I'm not going to show you the good ones just yet (I'm sure everyone can hardly contain their excitement). You'll be seeing them in the darrrrling Christmas cards I just ordered form here. And if you don't think I'm going to send you one, then send me your address and I'll do it!!! You know you want one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Thank you so much Camille!)

(Thank you so much Bubby for helping put our house together for Christmas!)

Flashback Tuesday

This picture was taken last year, November 30, 2006. It's around 70 degrees today! Oh, snow, where have you gone??

Although, I do hate school snow days!