The Burlison Family

Galactic Blast VBS 2010

2010-06-11T21:28:00.001-05:00

So immediately after school ended, we geared up for Marvin UMC's Galactic Blast...VBS 2010. Can you sense how busy it has been??? God's love (and torrential rain) were "out of this world" all week. The girls each had their own story times, activities and friends made during this week.

God bless our sweet two year-old teachers, Jordan and Jennifer. I don't think they knew what they were getting into, but they did it beautifully! How sweet it was to see Molly going from activity to activity learning about God's love for her and her friends. Sweet moments!

Addy and friends enjoying time with the parachute. Who knew a round piece of fabric could brings so much joy?

This is Addy dancing on the stage. The girl can "get down" and LOVES her music!

You've seen this special friend, Riley, before. These two are inseparable buds when together.

Mary Ella dancing with the "astronauts", Paul and Luke. By the end of VBS, they were celebrities!

Mary Ella is hard at work putting the final touches on her craft...so serious!

This is just one of my sweet friends here in Tyler, Jami. You can't see it, but we both wore white skirts and blue shirts on this day. All in all, VBS was a success despite getting wet at times. It is always fun to spend time with each other and our children each year. Yes, it requires LOTS of preparation, but it is totally worth it when you see the excited, happy faces on the children.

End of 1st Grade Bash

2010-06-04T21:17:00.000-05:00

We wrapped up another successful school year by having a party for Mary Ella's class at our house. Mary Ella's teacher, Mrs. Sudduth, joined us. I also had the privilige of coming to know each of these kiddos throughout this past year. What a great group of kids and what an amazing teacher! I truly believe Mrs. Sudduth helped Mary Ella discover her love of reading and writing. How comforting it was to send our daughter off to school to be loved and nurtured by this wonderful teacher!

Water balloon fight!

Junior Olympics

2010-06-01T20:50:00.000-05:00

Mary Ella and Addy concluded their year in gymnastics with their Junior Olympics complete with medals and all. Lots of tumbling, climbing and balancing acts were enjoyed by the kids and parents alike.

Addy's favorite activity....the monkey bars

Whoa!

TA DA!!!

Ready for the balance beam

Hanna and Mary Ella

Look what I earned!

Last Day of School

2010-05-21T21:33:00.001-05:00

Well, Addy and Molly wrapped up another year at Oak Tree Academy. Addy enjoyed a little lunch with her sweet teacher, Liz, and her classmates. She thoroughly enjoyed the Cheetos :). As we walked through the sea of tearful parents attending the Pre-K4 graduation, I realized I'd be there next year with Addy. Before I knew it, I was tearful just thinking about this time next year. Sometimes I wish they could just stay this age forever!

Molly's teacher, Robin, had and ice cream sundae party for her class. To those who know Molly, you know how much she LOVES ice cream. You can also see her love for Mrs. Robin in the picture.

A Dozen Years Later

2010-05-16T21:17:00.000-05:00

On May 16, 1998 we entered the Sacred covenant of marriage. On May 16, 2010, we kissed our three girls goodbye, left them in capable hands, and had ourselves and adult-only dinner. One thing we have come to appreciate, especially after having children, is enjoying a good meal together. We went to our favorite restaurant, Bernards, and reflected on all the years. In years, our marriage is still young, I realize that, but I still can hardly remember my days without Scott. We reflected on the last 15 1/2 years we've known each other, how we met, and our years of "barely making it" from month to month (we have the best stories during that time period)....where we were, where we are and where we want to be. Inevitably, the conversation and thoughts always end up turning to our thanks to God for using our circumstances to bring us closer day in and day out. Let's face it...we are not the same people we were 12, 10, even 5 years ago. As time goes on, the changes we experience always compliment each other and it is just "easy" to be together. We are so blessed to have God, each other, and our little girls! Now, I wonder what the 13th year will bring? Can't wait to find out!

Randoms

2010-05-15T21:19:00.001-05:00

Mary Ella put out her clothes for the next date with a note, "I want to ware this"...so cute!

A family of three girls dress-up a lot!

....even to do homework!

Molly throwing a fun two year-old fit.

Molly- five minutes later. What a difference five minutes makes!

Mother's Day 2010

2010-05-09T21:00:00.001-05:00

This picture was taken on Mother's Day. Not the best picture of me, but aren't these little smiling faces infectious? Don't they make you smile? Of course, motherhood isn't always filled with laughter. In fact, there are some days I flat out get and "F", but the moments of pure joy, as seen here, refuel me. Here's a little known fact....my grandmother was one of three girls, my mom was one of three girls, my cousin on my mom's side has three girls and I have three girls....pretty crazy, huh? So I was born to be a mom of three girls and "yes" my days are drama filled, pink filled, glorious and sometimes not so glorious days. The bottom line...I LOVE it and wouldn't have it any other way! Happy Mother's Day to all those mom's out there! Of course, all those who meet this day with sadness are always on my heart.

Race for the Cure 2010

2010-05-08T20:41:00.000-05:00

This year's Race for the Cure took on an even more meaningful meaning since my mother was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer last August. She was originally diagnosed nine years ago. They thought they had caught it early, but little did we know it had already spread only to be found when her medication inhibiting the estrogen food had stopped working. She has been doing chemotherapy and is responding well to treatment. So we all donned pink (even Scott) to do our part in finding a cure for this increasingly more common type of cancer. Not only has my mom been diagnosed, but my best friend's mom has been treated for breast cancer, and one of my dearest mentors/friends was recently diagnosed. Reality has hit from all directions. A cure MUST be found for ALL types of cancer.

Unfortunately, I did not get the memo that we would be hitting record lows in May, so there was a nip in the air and we had to pull out blankets to cover the girls up with....but we did it!

This is Judy, she has been a pillar of strength for me and is also a breast cancer survivor! Yay Judy!

Chuckwagon Day 2010

2010-04-28T21:00:00.000-05:00

I went and spent the day at Oak Tree Academy for Chuckwagon Day. This is where Molly and Addy attend preschool. Molly's class was first. I think you can't deny this girl is into it! She was lovin' her some farm animals.

Yes, she is painting a horse

Excited about the lamb

Bunnies!

I had to leave after the animals due to our attachment issues...at least I know I'm loved!

Next was Addy's turn. She's been begging for a dog, now she wants farm animals! Yikes! Guess she'll have to go to my mom's farm for that one!

So sweet and gentle

Riding the not so real pony

Now we're talkin'

Such a sweet class! LOVE Mrs. Liz!

Marvin UMC Children's Choir Program

2010-04-25T20:52:00.000-05:00

With the end of the school year comes lots of "wrap up" activities. It just so happened that the morning after the dance recital we sat in our sanctuary to listen to our little song angel. Mary Ella doesn't know how to do anything half-heartedly. She approaches all activities with full committment. I love that you can see God's light shine through her in this picture and the cross above her head says it all. So proud of her!

When I grow up

2010-04-24T21:44:00.000-05:00

Mary Ella performed in her second dance recital April 24th. Each class represented a different profession. Mary Ella's cheer class were referees and danced/cheered to "Keep your head in the game" from High School Musical. Yes, they were in heaven and she did SO well. On to jazz class next year. The girl has developed some rhythm!

Getting ready!

So good!

Easter weekend 2010

2010-04-04T20:57:00.000-05:00

We all decended upon Horseshoe Bay for my grandmother's 80th birthday. What a blessing it was to spend this special time with family. It also happened to be warm enough to enjoy the first swim of the season.

All the adults dressed up and enjoyed a peaceful dinner to honor my grandmother. If only I had the words to adequately capture her sweet spirit and why we all wanted to share this special day with her. Unconditional, kind, loving, generous, humility....are all words that come to mind, but again, the only way to understand, is to know her. She is the matriarch of the family and has instilled the importance of family in all of us. Thank you grandom! It was a wonderful weekend!

My big bro and I

My grandmother and granddaddy Pete. Happy Birthday!!!

We finished the weekend off with an egg hunt and our own, little family church service.

Kids examining the bunny loot

Girls hunting eggs

Mom and her mommy
All the great-grandchildren
Mom playing for our family church service
Molly getting some snuggles from Pete

Addy's Egg Hunt

2010-03-31T22:11:00.000-05:00

I was able to attend Addy's egg hunt this year. You can see how excited she was. She was the first one out of the shoot. However, she did not look so pleased when I wanted steal a hug and a picture with her. Guess I'm out of touch with how important egg hunting and candy eating is....
Oh well, won't be the last time!

Palm Sunday

2010-03-28T21:50:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Palm Sunday by doing the annual Resurrection walk with the children. Our church puts this together every year and families walk the path of Christ leading up to the Cross. They certainly know more about the signs and symbols of this sacred season than I did as a child. We are blessed with a wonderful children's ministry team at Marvin UMC!

Listening intently to what the gentleman had to say about the stone

After the Resurrection Walk, we went on to hear our little song bird, Mary Ella sing for Palm Sunday. The girls also had fun waving the palm branches during the processional.

Preparing to sing

I still tear up any time one of our children performs. Guess that will never go away. It is a mother's "right" to be sentimental about anything and everything, isn't it???

Four and Hoppin'

2010-03-14T21:33:00.000-05:00

It was yet another Jumpin Jacks party for the Burlison Birthday Girl. I don't complain because 1. It is climate-controlled 2. kids are continuously entertained 3. No clean up required. Easy, easy, did I say easy? Her favorite activity is the big slide and she was pretty insistent on incorporating the color blue, since it is her favorite color. You will see below that the cake turned out precious.

Before

After

The little man above is Addy's best friend, Riley. I saw this and my mind immediately fast-forwarded about 12 years. Don't let the look on her face fool you, Addy adores him and he couldn't be any sweeter. Such sweet friends they are!

Out on the Range

2010-03-10T20:57:00.000-06:00

We traveled to Houston and Bleiblerville, Tx over Spring Break. In Houston, we took Mary Ella and Addy to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo where the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato were playing. "Wow" is all I have to say about that. Mary Ella spent the whole time blushing and Addy downed a whole bag of blue cotton candy in about 5 minutes...no exaggeration. Who knew girls could become boy crazy by age six??? Yet another little piece of information someone left out. Nevertheless, we had a great time while Molly played at Grandmom and Granddad's. Thank goodness they got their kitty and doggy fix there. From Houston we headed over to the Maedgen Roost for some farm fun.

Addy got her "blue" Snow White princess bike and Blondie, their yellow lab puppy had the seat torn off and consumed by day #2.
They enjoyed going to see the new calf and feeding the donkeys. It is the simplist things in life...

"Tickle Monster" fun with Bryan! Oh how the girls love this game of sneaking up on him thinking, "he surely isn't going to sneak up on him this time."

They had some dress-up fun in some of Noami's old clothes. They looked beautiful!!!

Then they got the sillies and went for my mom's wigs. I think they wore them well. We all got a good laugh! These girls truly squeeze every bit of joy out of fun moments!

Addy Scott turns FOUR

2010-03-02T20:43:00.000-06:00

I've written this blog entry in my head what seems like 50 times. What can I possibly say about our now, four year old, middle daughter??? I think the picture above says it all. Our little Addy lives life out loud. She gallops everywhere she goes and her smile paired with her big brown eyes lights up even the darkest of places. Over this last year she has learned to speak more clearly, write her name and has become quite the experimentalist. I often find her making new "potions" or creating new uses for ordinary things. If only I could go where her little imagination takes her so often. She prides herself in new found independence whether it is buttoning up her shirt, buckling herself into her carseat or making her bed. Her self-confidence bubbles over. Now with her curiosity comes danger at times. She has also (we highly suspect), fractured her nose two times and has actually put a hole through her top lip over this last year. I often joke that Addy gets herself into predicaments that even she can't explain. She is just one of "those" people that unexplainable things happen to. I find myself holding my breath frequently when it comes to her and praying that God's hand of protection would just keep her safe. As a mom, I love nothing more than the fact that she still asks to snuggle with me and lets me shower her with hugs and kisses as I please. Somehow I get the feeling she'll be letting me do it forever, she's just that kind of girl. So Happy Birthday to our dear, sweet Addy Scott. There is truly none like you!

Afternoon Treats

2010-02-18T20:31:00.000-06:00

Mary Ella had done well on her report card, so we went for a tasty treat after school. Mary Ella and Addy chose blizzards and because of Molly's milk intolerance I chose a red, yes RED, slushy for her to drink. Despite enjoying the sugary RED slushy, she continued to stalk her sister's ice cream. Of course, one can always count on Addy spilling a portion of hers and Molly siezed the opportunity to have some of that "forbidden fruit". Disclaimer: after taking her picture, I did make her stop :). Believe it or not, this warm day was only a few days after that huge snow. Only in Texas....

Snow Day

2010-02-12T21:38:00.002-06:00

On February 12th, Tyler received the largest snowfall in 26 years....6-7 inches! We awoke to pure beauty and enjoyed some outdoor fun. It honestly didn't last too long as us Southerners are not very equipped when it comes to this kind of weather. The kids stayed out, did their thing, and they came in to thaw their cold, wet hands/feet. Fortunately, we were already out of school so we just enjoyed the day.

The Day to Day

2010-02-11T21:07:00.000-06:00

I'm not even sure where to start or wrap-up. Life with these three girls is never boring. I swear there are days they go through three outfits, we have dress-up stuff spread from one end of this house to another, countless mis-matched Barbie shoes that "accidently" get sucked up by the vacuum cleaner, and at one point or another I'm mending something that had fallen victim to all our rowdiness. We have friends coming in and out, cheerleading, gymnastics, choir....and my friends, I am coming to realize that when all three are involved in things, there will have to be limits. In all this comes much laughter, much drama, and some tears but all in all we are doing great. I think Mary Ella put it best when she said, "Mom, riding in your car is like trying to ride a bull"...better hold on for the ride. Now in my defense, I do drive a "bus" with slick seating :). Below are pictures from many of our different "moments".

Update on mom

2010-02-09T08:29:00.000-06:00

Several people have asked how my mom, Cynthia Maedgen, is doing so I thought I'd give a quick update. First, she and the rest of our family have really appreciated all the thoughts and prayers that have been lifted up on her behalf. Unfortunately, the first round of treatment was not successful in that her scans revealed more cancer in her liver. The doctor at MD Anderson indicated that they probably could achieve remission if quick action was taken. As a result, she immediately started chemotherapy and has been doing that for 3-4 weeks. The fabulous news is that she feels much better on this treatment and the pain she has had from the liver tumors has pretty much resolved. We are hoping this is a good indicator that the chemo is working. She is not due for more scans until mid-March, but they are taking bloodwork which can give us a much earlier indication if this method of treatment is working. Again, we appreciate all the prayers and would appreciate more, of course, as she continues on to battle this horrible disease. Unfortunately my mom is one of MANY who are fighting cancer. We pray continuously that God would lead the charge and impart knowledge and wisdom to those who are researching for cures. Much love to all and thank you!

All Aboarrrrrdddd!

2010-02-06T21:42:00.004-06:00

Oh yes! We did it again...The Polar Express! This is truly one of the most joyous, fun-filled times we have as a family. Scott and I soak in the joy and wonder that our girls ooze during our train ride to the North Pole.

Molly clapped and danced while Addy waited patiently to give Santa that giant "hug" she'd been talking about for weeks. Mary Ella sat, clutching her book with excitement hoping to get Santa's autograph this time around.

All the girls were gazing at the North Pole as Santa and his elves boarded the train

They are eagerly looking down the train cars to get a glimpse of Santa!

Addy ran to give Santa his special "hug"....what a sweet and BRAVE girl!!!!

We listened to carols and ringing sleigh bells all the way back home. In the end all goals were accomplished from hugs to autographs. Such great memories we make during the special outings.

Christmas program

2010-02-06T21:26:00.003-06:00

Upon returning from our Thanksgiving trip, we quickly got ready for Mary Ella's Christmas program at church. We dolled her all up and went to Marvin UMC to listen to little children sing and talk us through the birth of our Savior. You can imagine though...taking two toddlers to watch this performance after days on the road. Before the program even began, Molly was wiggling and yelping at each attempt to restrain her from running through the pews and aisles. After multiple attempts to keep her still and engage her in the performance I handed the camera to Scott and took her outside where she proceeded to yell, "YAY!!!!" and clap after each song and speaking part was completed. Therefore, I moved on to the "cry room" where I watched a live feed and Molly happily toddled around free. Ahhhh, the life of a two year old :). The program was completed and all the kids did fabulous. We went on for hot chocolate (aka evening caffiene for children) and cookies (aka sugar high inducing drug) when Addy kept telling me she was cold. We quickly wrapped up, got home and realized Addy was officially sick with a fever. It seems like everytime we come home from a trip, we have one or more kiddos come down with something. The trips are still worth it and the circumstances do not take away from the fact that Mary Ella and all her friends delivered a beautiful reminder that evening. In that respect, it was the best start to Advent ever!

Thanksgiving

2010-02-06T20:44:00.007-06:00

We spent Thanksgiving at the Maedgen Farm (my mom's) in Pfleugerville, Tx. For those unfamiliar, it is near Brenham, TX. The kids spent much of the time running free around the great outdoors, feeding cows and riding in this bright orange car (much to Scott's dismay). Unfortunately because I am busy chasing kids, it does not afford me much opportunity to take many pictures. My mom hosted a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner with a beautifully set table as always. She refuses to use anything but china and crystal for her holiday tables, so you can imagine what it is like to clean up after 20+ guests. It was all worth it. We enjoyed the company of grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, siblings and parents. You combine that with good food and you just can't beat it! What a blessed time it was for all of us. You will find a few pics below. There are many more posted on facebook courtesy of my brother :)

Addy preferred to stay in the mule and watch the fun at a distance....don't blame her, really.

Addy became a little more brave the second time around, with her sister's encouragement

Need I say more??? Molly Kate is wild and crazy out on the prairie!

The funny and sweet

2009-12-27T21:38:00.002-06:00

Addy Scott keeps us on our toes. If only I could leap into that head of hers for a few minutes to go to the same glorious, wonderful places her imagination takes her. I often find her talking to herself and creating a storyline with her as the lead character, of course. As a result, she often disappears at times as she escapes into her imaginary world. Well, one day she had been quiet a little too long, so I sought her out and found her in my makeup. She had created this masterpiece:

oh how I giggled and she smiled so proudly while I took this picture, but then she wanted to see her "work" for her self. When she saw this picture, she burst into tears from embarrassment. It made me so sad the pride had melted away into sadness. Darn! I wish they could live forever without knowing what embarrassment was. There was no convincing her that she was "cute"...poor baby!

Below is a picture of one of those "tender moments" I blogged about earlier. I love to witness all the sisterly differences put aside for security and love. What a blessing that they find comfort in each other's presence.

Catching y'all up

2009-12-27T21:18:00.003-06:00

Yep, I've really been slacking on this thing...I'll try my best to catch you up. On October 31st we welcomed a new member into our family, James Tommey. He married our sister, Kristin in Boston, MA. Mary Ella and Addy joined us on the trip and were actually flower girls. Molly (the two y/0) stayed home with grandparents. Below are a few of the pictures from the wedding

the happy couple

all the pretty ladies

Mary Ella and Addy Scott all dolled up

the flight up...notice the scab under Addy's nose...she put a hole through her lip that week :)

We are so excited that James and Kristin have now relocated to Texas were they will pursue careers in the Austin, Tx area. We are so thrilled to have them closer to us and were so blessed to be part of their beautiful wedding!

Burlison Family Christmas

2009-12-26T14:28:00.000-06:00

The day after Christmas we went to visit our family in Shreveport, Louisiana for some Christmas fun. We also got to meet the newest member of our Burlison clan, Annasyn.

Our family

Hanging out with Nana and Pop

Daughter-in-laws with sweet mother-in-law

Loving on Annasyn

Meeting newest Burlison girl, affectionately called baby Annasyn

My nephew's little creature friends. I think God was wise to give us girls :)

The girls admiring the lizards....from a distance, of course.

The girls with their cousins

All the cousins minus baby Annasyn

A few days after Christmas I went back to Shreveport with the girls because Scott's oldest brother, Kevin, and his family came through. So we took advantage of the rare moment to have all the grandkids together...TWELVE in all!

Christmas 2009

2009-12-25T21:02:00.000-06:00

Christmas was such a special time for our family. We celebrated the joy of our Savior's birth and watched our three little girls ooze giggles and happiness. It was wonderful. Below are just a few of the pictures:

Mary Ella couldn't just leave cookies and milk...she had a list of questions she wanted answered.
Unbelievably, we had to go wake ALL the girls up. Scott and I enjoyed some quiet time before with Christmas music and coffee....heaven!

Mary Ella and Addy both wanted scooters from Santa. Mary Ella requested a pink, Hello Kitty scooter and Addy wanted a blue one, of course. Molly got her Bitty Baby and stroller. Once Addy realized her baby sister was pretty interested in her Christmas presents, she quietly removed them from the room and took them upstairs to her bedroom. She didn't even stay up there to play, she just put them away and came downstairs....such a silly girl.

However, Molly was more interested in taking one piece of chocolate at a time to the table and consuming as many as she possibly could before I would notice enough to say, "no more." That girl loves her some chocolate...guess she comes by that honestly!

They finally settled in to unwrap the presents under the tree. Molly was still a little apprehensive about having to stop eating the chocolate at this point. I guess she might be wondering how the coming activity could be more important than eating chocolate??? :)

The "family gift"

We enjoyed a visit from our neighbors and family Jan and Kelly. The kids LUUUV "Aunt Jan".

Mary Ella and Scott trying the Wii out. Scott's shoulder was hurting by that night. He was reliving his glory days as a baseball player. Addy is actually a better bowler than any of us! We've had so much fun!

Random stuff before Christmas

2009-12-23T16:18:00.000-06:00

The girls truly had a blast through the month of December. Mary Ella and Addy totally "get it" when it comes to all the Christmas traditions and Molly fed off their excitement. We spent much of our time doing Christmas parties, Christmas light gazing, and just enjoying the season. Oh how excited they were when they got their first wiffs of pumpkin bread and when they see the first houses with Christmas lights at night...too fun!

Mary Ella has been doing cheerleading classes at Dance N Drill. She enjoys coming home to show me her "stunts" and often has to be reminded that those "stunts" really need to be done at the studio, but I often find myself spotting and praying for her not to fall. It is also worth noting that Mary Ella is still enjoying school. Life has gotten pretty interesting since she has become proficient at reading and writing. I found this little "festive" reminder on our bathroom door one afternoon. The girl cracks me up!

Well, at least I know she's mindful of washing her hands after using the restroom...haha!

Tender moments

2009-11-08T21:57:00.002-06:00

So I posted that last entry and went upstairs to do the last "tuck in" of the night. I went to Mary Ella's room and pulled the blankets up, then went on to Addy Scott's room. I reached for the blankets and realized Addy was not there. I looked on the floor thinking she must have rolled out of bed and still, no Addy. So the heart started racing and I turned on the hall light to look in Mary Ella's room and there she was sleeping up against her sister. Sweet little moments like that help me cope with those "other" moments. Thank God for that little blessing tonight.

Expanded Vocabulary

2009-11-08T21:15:00.004-06:00

I must say, when Mary Ella started kindergarten I was not prepared. She came home saying things that would make me cringe. They weren't horrible things like foul language...just things you know likely came from a child with an older sibling and yes, I'm well aware our two younger ones will probably be "those" kids as well. Anyways, most of those things were easily extinguished using the "inappropriate" lecture and so on. Well, in first grade we continue to learn to read, write, math and other "fun" (enter sarcasm here) sayings/words that must be extinguished. So on to the story....it was a beautiful afternoon and the kids were all outside playing. My mother was outside with them. I had asked Mary Ella to come inside and the conversation went something like this:

Me: Mary Ella, it is time to come inside and clean up for dinner

Mary Ella: Noooooooo

Me: Mary Ella, it is time. Now come on and let's go clean up.

Mary Ella: Noooooooo

Me: Now Mary Ella, you've got two choices...come inside and get ready for dinner or stay out here and get in trouble

Mary Ella: No mom, YOU'VE got two choices. You let me stay out here OR I can give you a wedgie and I KNOOOOOW what a wedgie is.

Me: (Insert a grandmother in tears laughing so hard she can hardly stand it...thanks mom, glad it is humorous) Mary Ella! (trying extremely hard not to laugh at the fact that my mother just witnessed this showdown) Get inside now.

Fortunately, Mary Ella came to her senses and got inside. Good grief! Do they really have to know what a wedgie is at six years-old. Geez! I guess there are worse things.....

She's TWO

2009-10-28T14:16:00.004-05:00

On October 19th, we celebrated Molly Kate's 2nd Birthday. It is interesting to say that we now have a 6, 3 and a 2 y/o. I think despite heading full-steam into toddlerhood, she will always be "the baby." Here are a few of her favorite things...

1. Her pink blanky- the smell of it is forever etched in my sensory memory. No matter how many washings, it still smells yummy like Molly Kate

2. FOOD- she came into this world hungry and does. not. stop. Lack of food becomes a national emergency at our house

3. Hide and seek with her daddy and sisters

4. Being held my me. Yep, she's a momma's girl

5. Dancing- the girl has the best rhythm out of all of us!

6. Play-doh- what kid doesn't like play-doh??

7. Swinging

8. Her baby- how we have raised three momma hens, I do not know. But ALL THREE love their babies!

9. Barney and Yo Gabba Gabba

10. Last, but not least...when daddy comes home. She joins in the chorus of squeals when he gets home.

What I love about her is that she is in no rush to wiggle out of my arms. In fact, she would probably prefer to stay there most of the time. I love to kiss her dimpled cheeks and to see those beautiful brown eyes cut over to the side in delight. Not too often does a week go by without someone making mention of her happiness and good disposition. She is such a blessing and is emerging into a precious (gulp!) little girl, but as I said, she will always be our baby. In fact, I am typing this right after sending her off to Shreveport for a couple of days while we attend my sister's, Kristin's, wedding in Boston. There is already a void because she is gone. Molly, you hold such a special place in my heart and in our family. Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Good reports

2009-10-27T16:09:00.002-05:00

Mom went to the MD Anderson today and met with her oncologist. Fortunately, the cancer is still the same type from 8 years ago and hasn't morphed into anything bigger and badder. This basically means that the drug she was on to block estrogen production quit working and the tumors grew. They are very, very tiny and hopefully will be responsive to a new medication that binds to the tumor itself to block the estrogen and this, in turn, will hopefully keep it from growing and may actually kill the existing cancers cells there. All indications are that this is a very slow-growing and not very aggressive form of disease.

Thank you for all your well wishes, support and prayers. Our family has felt every bit of it! Please continue to pray for her and MANY others like her who are fighting this horrible disease. God bless!

Pink

2009-10-22T14:41:00.003-05:00

As you probably know, this is breast cancer awareness month. This time of year has always been personal as my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer 8 1/2 years ago. It was caught early and we thought that was the end of it as long as she stayed on her medication. Well, we were wrong. She recently discovered the cancer had come back and metastasized to her bone and liver. She will now be followed and treated through MD Anderson in Houston, Texas by a fabulous doctor. Our family appreciates all the thoughts and prayers already said on behalf of our wonderful mom, Cynthia Maedgen. We just ask that you keep her as well as countless others battling this disease in your constant prayers. I will keep everyone informed as I get information. Thank you so much my sweet family and friends in Christ.

more....

2009-10-20T11:26:00.003-05:00

First day of preschool for Addy and Molly Kate....sooo excited

Enjoying the new swing set and the last warm days of September...notice the sprinkler (just can't beat sprinkler fun!)

Not giving up!

2009-10-20T07:56:00.005-05:00

Ok, so I've gotten really bad at this blogging thing, so instead of getting caught up with words I will leave you with a few pictures to mark the beginning of school and gymnastics:)

First day of 1st grade:

Addy practicing gymnastics...she's best at the monkey bars, of course!

Molly and Addy at meet the teacher

We are settled into our new school year and the kids are doing very well! More to come....

Changes

2009-09-28T13:29:00.002-05:00

One week ago today, we learned that some friends of ours from residency had lost their 2 year-old twin boys in an accident. At the very moment we received this news I knew the Kirbys and all those who love the Kirbys would never be the same. The suffering and heartache has been unimaginable, the love profound and the faith, well, nothing short of a miracle. We were unable to go to the memorial service honoring the two boys, but from what I heard it was beautiful and the parents displayed such Grace that can only be attributed to Divine intervention. In the wake of such tragedy, Scott and I have sat and re-evaluated our priorities as parents. Yes, I've said that I cherish the moments and there are seasons in my life that I am better at it than others. But in re-evaluating I have realized this...there are many times the dirty dishes in the sink have been more important than playing tea party, taking a shower meant that I had said, "no" to playing dollhouse, and making sure the kids were in bed by 8pm meant that I could punch the time clock on my day. Oh how selfish I've been at times rather than seizing an opportunity to cuddle with my children or experience them. It was easier to do with one, a little harder with two, and when the third came along I think much of our day was taken up with "my agenda". In some twisted way I reasoned that I held it all together for them, but in reality I was holding it together for me. So sad and I'm sure I'm not the only one. God meant for us to experience our children much in the way he experiences us...His own children. I'm sure he has wanted to shake me at times when I've missed some teachable moment because of my own ignorance and agenda. So in this last week, I've let each of my children stay in my lap as long as they want, savored the goodnight kisses after they have fallen asleep, and tried to follow their lead instead of creating the path for them. In the past I've said it was all about them, but it hasn't been the truth and the scary thing is that I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT! I pray that I never forget this feeling or take a loved one's life for granted again. Life as usual is not going to be usual anymore.....

Colorado bound

2009-09-05T20:29:00.008-05:00

As I mentioned in our previous post, we made the trip to Vallecito Lake, CO which sits northeast of Durango. After much consultation with friends who have gone before, we decided to take a leap of faith and just GO. The odds were stacked against us as quite often our two younger children struggled with two hour trips, how on Earth could they make it 12 hours one day and 6 the next. Here was our strategy:

1. I packed as light as we possibly could because a) we would have access to a washer/drier b) I absolutely CAN NOT stand a cluttered car. If momma struggles, we ALL struggle.

2. Upon recommendation from my friend, no hero, Courtney, I made "goodie bags" for good behavior along the way. One might have a piece of candy, another stickers, or a new movie.

3. McDonalds, McDonalds, McDonalds (thank you to my friends Jeanine and Jaime for giving me "the ok" and helping me rid the guilt). You get sick of it, but the kids don't and if it is dangled in front of them, they will ride happily for miles.

4. Break it up, stay in a hotel room and the kids will think it is a resort...seriously, they LOVED it. Just pack an overnight bag with all your valuables, toiletries, and family's clothes so you won't have to unload too much when checking in.

5. If you have a little trouble winding down from a day like that as Scott and I do, take a little adult "juice" to take the edge off for a peaceful night sleep...NOTICE- I said "a little"

6. Just about anything goes unless it is dangerous or can make a mess that can not be cleaned up. For example, putting stickers all over the windows or tearing a paper into tiny pieces are all things that can be cleaned, however, markers or meltable candies that can be used as "lotion" are NOT good.

7. If they watch 10 hours of movies, they watch 10 hours of movies. Are they quiet and content? Then don't worry about it.

8. Take several trash bags and clean out trash at every stop. I guess this only applies if you are OCD like me, but I was amazed at how much trash would pile up between stops.

9. Fill a back of individually wrapped snacks...lots of them and don't be the "food police". Trust me, it is not a battle worth fighting on a long road trip.

10. Last, but not least keep your sense of humor :)

Oh, and one last thing that really only applies to those of us with girls. Keep your girls in dresses, easy pull-over dresses. It makes bathroom stops and diaper changes MUCH easier! The kids were a little more restless on the way back than on the way up, but all in all it was great.

Here are some pictures:

Molly covering herself with circle stickers

Peaceful ridin'

Woo hoo!

The Big Texas...I do NOT recommend!

Cuddled on the front porch swing

Enjoying breakfast with Daddy boo

One of the few times Eleanor sat down

Fishing in a dress

Boat ride

Horse ride

Fishing in the mud. Unbelievably the mud came out of their clothes

Roasting marshmallows

Summer...abbreviated

2009-09-02T21:03:00.010-05:00

Can you believe I missed a whole month of blogging??? Let us see, I'm not even sure where to begin. Maybe you to tell the story in pictures:

Princess in training

Girls in sibling harmony

Addy being silly

I would say Molly is exhibiting the full, healthy signs of toddlerhood:)

This would be me losing my mind

I'm totally kidding. There was MUCH more to our summer than that...geez! There was swimming, swimming, and more swimming....day camp....vacations....swimming.

July 4th we made our annual trip to Horseshoe Bay, Texas. It is always so much fun to get together with family. We had 8 kiddos there between the ages of one and six and one itty bitty little blessing. My cousin came in for a little visit with her new daughter, Aspen. It was so sweet to hold a little bundle again, but what was even better was watching two of my favorite people beam with pride over their new daughter! Unfortunately I don't have any pictures because chasing the kids around the lake for 3 days did not yield much opportunity to pick up a camera, but thanks to family members I have copies of pictures.

After we returned it was time to gear up for Mary Ella's 6th birthday party. We had it at Pump-it-Up and it was so much fun. My kids stayed on the slide the entire time...even Molly. Can we say, "trying to keep up with the sisters???"

Yes that is Molly coming down the slide

All of Mary Ella's cute friends

After the birthday party, Mary Ella and Addy went to my mom and Bryan's farm for a few days. They had so much fun going to the Blue Bell Ice Cream factory, water park, riding tractors and calling cows. Addy is still doing the cow call at random times. I will also add that my mom had all FIVE of these children by herself and she survived! What a brave, brave woman she is :). It was so interesting to just have one child at home. I had considerable difficulty and actually a little anxiety over slowing down my pace. I constantly felt like I needed to be doing something or forgetting something. Below are some of the picture my mom took.

The fast pace returned just in time to go see our good friends, Rodney and Jennifer. They have one little boy and another little boy on the way. It was SUCH a good visit and a blessing to have that time with them.

The next weekend we packed up and made the 18 hour road trip to Colorado. Taking several pieces advice, the kids did remarkably well...no...EXCELLENT! We now have the possibility of white, sandy beaches in our minds. I'll have to write a separate post for all we learned on that trip for the sake of getting caught up. We enjoyed fishing, seeing my dad and his wife Eleanor, 45 degree nights, campfires, and cool, crisp mornings. Ahhhh, so nice. Needless to say, after our busy summer, it took a good couple of weeks to get back to "normal" around here and prepare for the beginning of school which will, again, come in another post.

So that is pretty much the very abbreviated summer summary. I will hopefully jump back on the blogging train as our routine begins to settle. Hope all of you had a safe summer vacation as well. Love to all!

I'm SIX

2009-07-21T14:21:00.005-05:00

On July 17th we celebrated our oldest daughter, Mary Ella, turning SIX. It is simply hard to believe these years keep flying by and she now wears a necklace that reads, "1st grade rocks!". What???? Just six years ago I held a sleepy newborn in my arms pressing her soft forehead into my lips several times a day. Fortunately, she is still a cuddle bug, but the kid can hardly fit in my lap anymore! Despite seeking those "cuddle" times, she is busy conquering the world. Nothing brings me more joy (or more tears) than to see her succeed at something completely new or to see her precious face shining on stage. I mean, I teared up when they sang "Happy Birthday" at Jalapeno Tree for goodness sake! Just to see her "light up" brings joy and a flood of emotions for this sentimental momma. I can not imagine what life would be like around here without her gentle guidance and leadership of her two little sisters. That is not to say there aren't sibling conflicts, but in those moments when they are off in a corner, I get to witness the lessons in love she demonstrates for them. What a gift she is to Addy and Molly.... Well, she's a gift to all of us! Happy Birthday sweet daughter! God continues to shape you in more creative and beautiful ways than I could have ever imagined! May this next year be full of happy endings, new accomplishments and most of all full of love and laughter. Love you!

I'm gonna do this....

2009-06-23T21:10:00.006-05:00

I know, I know, I know....I haven't been good about blogging lately because, well, it is summer. In short, Mary Ella wrapped up her school year, we had VBS at church, computer bugs, tummy bug and Scott's "vacation" turned "staycation". Yep, summer is in full swing at the Burlison house. Although I'm highly resentful that the tummy bug visited my house again and that it interfered with visiting my sweet Galveston friends that I RARELY get to see, we are beginning to enjoy the non-scheduled days. We have found ourselves in our pajamas at 11am and sat around doing nothing...YAY! Our kiddos have actually slept past 7AM this last week...what a gift! So I better start with Mary Ella's graduation. We are so proud of all she has accomplished this year, not just academically, but socially. We've been here for a year now and Mary Ella has already made such sweet friends. What a blessing! Even better is that all their moms are WONDERFUL too. As promised, here are some pics of our little kindergarten graduate:

After graduation, Scott went home to sleep (post-call) and I took Mary Ella to get her first pedicure and lunch. We had some much needed girl time. She picked the purple polish and they put little flowers on her toes. Boy did she feel "girly" and she loved it! (uh oh) We went to pick up her sisters from their little day camp and this is what I had in my living room within five minutes of being home....

So cute!

Next was Vacation Bible School at Marvin UMC. I taught Mary Ella's class with 11 kiddos and some adult helpers. It was so much fun. Our kids are still jamming to the music most afternoons doing the moves the "high school kids" taught them. So much fun to see them having fun and learning some valuable lessons at the same time.

We've been to the pool several times and Addy now fearlessly jumps into the pool and Mary Ella is also a little water bug. Miss Molly toddles around while splashing and playing. Speaking of Molly.... she is talking up a storm. Her first sentence was " I wan mo" translation "I want more", which shouldn't come as any surprise to those of you who know how important food is to this girl. Tonight at the dinner table Addy exclaimed (just to be silly), "Molly's a boy!" Giggles of course were elicited and Molly perked up and said, "I a boooyyyy!" We all couldn't stop giggling. It was hilarious.

After dinner we settled in and Mary Ella started wiggling one of three loose teeth. I said, "you know if you push it the opposite way, it just might pop out..." She did just that and it popped right out:

Would it be ridiculous to admit that I teared up a little???? 'Cause I did. My baby is losing teeth, ugghhh! Too much to handle in one month. She was SO proud! Addy saw all the commotion and began pulling at her teeth. She just "knew" she should lose one too. Such a silly girl!
So upstairs is a sleepy little girl with a tiny tooth slipped in a baggy and a note that says, "can I ceep my tooth? Love, Mary Ella" Guess the tooth fairy is visiting tonight :)

Lots-O-Stuff

2009-05-31T20:19:00.006-05:00

Not quite sure where to begin. Summer's-a-comin'. The busyness has not stopped. If anything, the accelerator has been pressed further, but fortunately it is all fun stuff.

The girls and I spend much of our time outside. We are trying to squeeze it in before it gets too hot. The heat comes on so fast here! I caught the picture below while they were making "salads" with grass, dirt and rocks. Unfortunately I missed the photo op of Mary Ella draping each arm around her two sisters...just squeezing in some of that big sister love. But the pic below is still sweet.

On May 16th Scott and I celebrated our 11 year anniversary in Las Vegas. As would be expected, the trip revolved around food and dinner/lunch reservations. Of course, we didn't neglect the spa as well...ahhhhh! Many people don't realize this, but Scott and I LOVE to play blackjack together. We sat at some great tables and fortunately didn't lose money...yea! It was so nice to have uninterrupted conversations and meals. We love the kiddos, but also love to have that precious time together! We stayed at the Encore and it was fabulous!

Our view at lunch

The following weekend was Memorial Day weekend. We enjoyed a visit from my dad, Eleanor, Kristin and James. It was also opening weekend for the pool! Yay! We soaked it all in!

The girls with Aunt Kristin and (soon-to-be) Uncle James

We have since been to the pool 4-5 times eating ice cream and sucking down water/lemonade to our heart's content. Addy is already so brown despite the 70 SPF sunblock I lather her up with. What can I say? That mocha skin soaks up the rays. Mary Ella and Molly are also getting some golden tones. I love seeing their sun kissed cheeks and how much fun they have splashing and playing. Going to the pool is also much different this year because we actually know some people. The kids enjoy their friends and make new ones easily. Instead of napping in my arms, Molly is running around splashing and playing

Addy enjoying her 3rd or 4th lemonade

Sunbathing diva

Molly catching some shade from Daddy.

This last week I was able to attend Mary Ella's Field Day. What fun! Most of all, I just enjoyed seeing her giggle and laugh with friends. I LOVE how uninhibited they are at this age! I can't believe she is going to be a 1st grader. Oh, another bit of Mary Ella news. She has THREE loose teeth. Yep, the tooth fairy will be visiting our home soon. Of course I predict Mary Ella will not like the idea of the "fairy" coming into her room, so I am thinking the tooth might be left somewhere other than beneath her pillow. But then again, my children often make a liar out of me, so we shall see. Below are some field day pictures.

Mary Ella and one of her sweet friends. They already have the "party pic" pose down!

Scooter races!

We have four more days of school and are looking forward to enjoying slow mornings and summer fun! There is a kindergarten graduation coming up this week. I'm not quite sure why there are now FOUR graduations before high school (pre-k, K, 5th and 8th grades). Don't get me wrong...I'll still be that tearful mom snapping lots of pictures, so stay tuned. I'll be sure to post some.

Year's End

2009-05-20T14:01:00.000-05:00

Hello!?! Is is seriously about to be summer!?! I simply can not believe how quickly this year has passed. I am amazed that I now have an avid reader who can actually read her sisters books....if they let her. Usually they insist on having "mom" do it. Oh well, she gets to read to me and that has been so much fun! Addy has blended right in to her new school making fast friends and overall enjoying the silliness of life itself. Molly is 19 months and a spirited (nice way of saying tantrum-throwing), climbing little girl. With the end of the school year comes many field trips, parties and programs. Can we say busy is an understatement!?! Although, I can't complain. It is not nearly as busy as trying to transition into a new home, new town, etc, as we were last year but it is still busy.

Above are pictures from Addy's Texas week celebration. Pony rides, holding chicks, painting, etc were all included in this day of fun. Sheila is her teacher. She has made every little moment special for these kids. She even had a little brunch for us to share with our kiddos. I got a sitter so I could spend 100% of the time with Addy. I'm glad I did because I don't think she gets me to herself enough.....something to strive towards I guess. Below is a picture we took together. I love it!

Below is a picture from Mary Ella's Kindergarten Texas program. The kiddos had a blast.

Last, but certainly not lease, we tackled the job of getting Molly a haircut. We cut quite a bit of Addy's hair as well, so now her little curls bounce as she gallops around. As you will see below we had to use some sweet stuff to get her to stay still....notice all the drool.

The results:

One final note to the post below. I was looking for a clip today in my little car "catch all" nook. There are some little things in there like a crayon, a couple of pennies, pen and a KEY! Yes, a key to the house that I could have used to get back in the house that chaotic morning. Oh well, lesson learned :).

The Fruits of Bribery

2009-05-01T10:31:00.003-05:00

Ok. This is the last story....I promise :). Many of you might have seen my update on facebook about having to take all three girls to the grocery store. This wasn't just to get one or two items. It was for the big weekly run. I usually avoid taking the whole crew to the store and lately even just taking my regular partner, Molly, has become a challenge. This is because, Molly now screams for everything I put in the buggy. No matter how I arrange it, she will get those hands and fangs on just about everything from biting into the hot dog wrapper resulting in leaky hot dogs to squeezing the loaf of bread while attempting to grab a taste. Yes, food is important. So on this particular week, it was necessary to take all three. Like a good mother (enter sarcasm), I began with bribery called a "surprise" at the end of the shopping trip if they all behaved. I hadn't decided what that would be, but the thought of the "surprise" was good enough. They behaved with exception of Molly gnawing on anything she could get her hands on. The girls eyed some of those foil balloons on a stick at the registers and asked if they could be the surprise. I said, "yes" and reminded them about the balloons at least once down every aisle. We checked out and I began to grab the three balloons and noticed they were $3.99 each (Yikes, I had no idea they'd be that much). So $12 worth of balloons later we proceeded to the car. Before the seat belts were even buckled the annoyed screams began. So and so was smacking the other in the face or tickling someones neck and the mom "threats" began as I said over and over, "now I'm going to take those balloons (all $12 of them) and throw them away if you can't keep them to yourself." Then a balloon would fall off the stick and crying ensued. This is not at all what I envisioned. We finally made it home and Mary Ella's balloon once again fell off the stick except this time Addy got her hands on it and squeezed it between the door and her seat so Mary Ella couldn't get it (she was smiling I might add). Just as I began to say, "give it back," Mary Ella took the stick and whacked her with it....nice (enter more sarcasm here). I then took all the balloons which provoked more tears and screams and sent them to time out. So I spent $12 to give them weapons to be used against each other. In conclusion, here's the lesson:

1. If you use bribery, make sure it is something consumable or an activity
2. Go to the grocery store after they go to bed at night

Keys anyone?

2009-04-30T12:33:00.002-05:00

I know I'm marathon posting and y'all might actually get sick of it, but there have been some stories over these last couple of weeks that have to be told :). Our youngest, Molly, has a fascination with food and keys. She is relatively calm and entertains herself, but if it involves taking keys or food away a HUGE meltdown of epic proportions ensues. There is no calming her down. Last week my big set of keys went missing. I immediately knew little hands had taken off with them and wrongly assumed they would be easy to find. Out of necessity I grabbed my extra set and resumed life as always. However, out of precaution I didn't put the trash out....just in case. This was Friday. Over the weekend we looked and looked and, well, you get the idea. No success. Monday morning rolled around and we were hurriedly getting dressed as usual. I left Mary Ella in the mud room tieing her shoes and went to put the two younger ones in the car. I heard Mary Ella say, "Wait!" and she slammed the door. My heart began to race and I looked at Addy and said, "please, tell me Mary Ella is not in the garage?" Addy, hesitantly shook her head, "yes" knowing with the look on my face that this couldn't be good. We were locked out. My keys and cell phone inside the house. No extra key outside b/c I had just taken it up while Scott was out of town. It was 7:48 and the bell rang at Mary Ella's school at 8am....not good. I sat there for a minute wondering what on Earth I was going to do and then a thought....I grabbed Mary Ella's back pack and walked all three of the kiddos down to our friend's house, the Phillips. Erin opened the door and thankfully she let me take her car while the other two kiddos stayed at her house. We got there as the bell rang and I returned to their house where I found my other two playing happily inside. Monday just happens to be the day Erin stays home, she is a physician at the same clinic as Scott, and Chris, her husband had not gone to work yet. Thankfully, he took me up to the hospital to get Scott's keys as Erin continued to watch the two youngsters. I finally got everything settled and was more determined than ever to solve the key mystery. I decided I needed to search the outside trash and they were in the first bag I looked in. Molly must have thrown them in there during one of my (many) distracted moments. So two things to be thankful for:

1. The Phillips who totally saved me
2. The fact that I had the forethought to not put the trash out last Friday

Outside time

2009-04-29T09:56:00.007-05:00

These were taken on one of the last cooler days of Spring while Scott was studying. Mary Ella is learning to climb trees which means Addy is trying to climb trees :)

Then, Mary Ella had to take a picture with my camera. Have you noticed I'm always in a black jogging suit? I guess it can be considered my uniform.

They were drawing with chalk and I was reading a magazine. I turned around and saw Mary Ella had drawn this:

My heart melted.

I know some of you noticed they are all dressed alike. As a mother of three girls, I have learned the genius behind this. At first I thought people did this to create uniformity between the kids and cuteness. Don't get me wrong....I think it is cute to dress them alike every once in a while. But here's the deal:

1. It decreases the arguments of "Why didn't you get me that sweater and I want to wear what she's wearing."

2. It makes shopping easier....I find something I like and say, "I'll take three of those please"

3. In a crowd, it makes them easier to spot because they NEVER head out in the same direction. It's like playing "where's Waldo?" with the Burlison girls

So I've quickly learned that dressing them all in the same clothing actually makes sense sometimes, but I have to admit....it is pretty darn cute too. Trust me, they all assert their individuality in other ways :).

We are the Church.....

2009-04-28T21:54:00.002-05:00

In the Fall, Mary Ella saw the kiddos in the Cherub Choir perform in the sanctuary. She said she wanted to do choir, so in January, she began. This was performed during the traditional service, so they donned robes and all. It was Children's Sunday and the older choir kiddos did a musical. It was SO cute and they did such a great job! Mom, you will recognize their little "robes"....I'm pretty sure I remember wearing these in the church I grew up in :).

Re-engaged

2009-04-28T20:50:00.008-05:00

Our poor blog is suffering from neglect and SO much has happened! Scott completed his marathon study sessions by taking his oral board exam in New York City (now you know every time I type or say that I make it sound like the Picanti sauce commercials for some twisted reason!). Anyways, he won't get the results for another few weeks and hopefully before our Vegas trip :). In the midst of all that stuff was preparation for Mary Ella's dance recital and her first church choir performance. Some small details are that Molly's nose continues to drain like a river and an hour before Scott arrived home Addy gave herself the biggest shiner I've ever seen on a kid by running full steam into the corner of our dining room table. Yes, it's always gotta be something. If only I could get her to look forward while she is running :). I've taken pictures. When Scott left to take his boards, I think we all began to deflate. Mary Ella cried and prayed for "free time" to return with her daddy, I had to explain to Addy that planes don't get lost in the sky like balloons do, and I, myself, had a few tearful moments knowing when Scott returned home he would be free from all the shackles and chains. I know the questions looms, "how does he think he did?" Well, I tell ya, no one comes out of those jumping for joy. In fact, most come out thinking they've failed. So, I'm not sure that Scott necessarily thinks he failed....he just doesn't know or have a "feel" for it one way or the other. We shall see and hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

We held a "surprise" party for him upon his return and the kiddos made signs. Well, Addy and Mary Ella did. Molly ate the crayon....literally.

We tucked everyone into bed that night and just hung out together. At 5:15am the next morning Addy was crying on the stairs with a HIGH fever. Of course, Motrin did the trick, but Addy had to stay home from school. At least she could spend time with dad and I escaped to run errands child free (ahhhhhh!) :).

Right after the table jumped in front of her

2 days later....

Fortunately Addy's fever was short-lived and we were able to get on with the rest of the cuteness that awaited us....Mary Ella's recital and church choir performance. At first Mary Ella was just excited to wear make-up for the recital, but as soon as it was over (she did SO great by the way), she came up to me and said, "I want to do this FOREVER!" And, yes, I cried watching her up there.

After the recital, Scott decided to take care of some unfinished business with an armadillo that has made a home in our flower bed Uggggh!

....and he WON!

Below is a picture of Mary Ella's entrance into the sanctuary. I'll post the video later

We are so excited to be resuming family activities and having Scott join us. Although relieved to have it behind him, I can tell he sometimes feels a little lost thinking he's forgetting to do something :). More to come....

Spring to it

2009-04-13T20:52:00.004-05:00

Spring has sprung at home. The flowers are blooming, the yard is getting greener, and the calendar is getting fuller. Spring is truly a phenomena. For as long as I can remember, Spring comes with a busyness like no other season. And the odd thing is....I can't possibly account for what creates all the busyness. Truly, I just know I'm one busy chic in the Spring. We celebrated Easter, went to church, lunch, then Scott was off to study. Only SEVEN more days until he leaves for New York City! Yay! It is very difficult to wrap my mind around what all these young docs have to endure to get their certifications. I'm not playing the violin or anything (this time), but there are people who look at the "life" of a doctor and think it all just fell in their lap. It has taken Scott 15 years of countless study/work hours, sleep deprivation, little social interaction and excessive federal government borrowing to get to this point. It is truly a marathon and we are proud for this "last" milestone of all his training. Hard to believe in TEN days he will no longer be handcuffed to his books. I'm thinking I need to cross the Smith County border to make sure he has an ice cold beverage to sit and enjoy when he gets home....

I love this picture of Scott and his littlest, baby girl...Molly Kate

On Saturday night, we got the kiddos ready for bed. Addy's apprehension was growing and Scott and I were a little perplexed by our "fearless" one's behavior. She asked if Mary Ella could sleep in her room and of course we said, "yes". We got to her room and she quietly climbed into her bed (again, "quietly climbing" is very out of character) and covered her head with a blanket. She wouldn't even come out for hugs and kisses! Then it hit me...she was scared the Easter bunny was going to come in her room. We assured her this was not going to happen and gave hugs and kisses to a blanketed head. Scott and I were trying to hold back the laughter as we exited the room. Addy then yelled, "Close the door!" Ok, the child NEVER wants her door closed! We granted the wish and off to a sleepy slumber they went. We awoke to a very dark sky and we realized it was almost 8AM!!!! BONUS! All the kids slept in. Usually we just hope they all make it to 7AM, but 8!?! Yes, it is the little things. As a result of the rain, the bunny had to leave the eggs in a basket instead of outside. How considerate....

Our three girls...our angels!

If this were a large picture you would see the drainage seeping from Molly's nose and the chocolate smudges on Addy's dress. I'm beginning to think our Molly suffers from some East Texas outdoor allergies. Funny how perspective has changed. I remember being down in Galveston with all my sweet friends and staying in practically ALL winter because of Mary Ella's recurring snotty nose. I was afraid to take her out in public. One instance in particular was when I was on my way to a baby shower for one of my friends at Vicki's. I heard a sneeze in the back seat and looked back to find snot all over Mary Ella's face. I ran into Vicki's house dropped off the plates and refused to stay (remember this, Vicki?). Vicki, a mother of four, looked at me and said, "I just don't think a snotty nose is that big of a deal." She did not persuade me and I left anyways. I just couldn't be that person who brings a snotty-nosed kid everywhere. Well, Vicki, NOW I GET IT! It is totally impossible to quarantine a snotty nosed child and it is, in fact, "just a snotty nose". Life can not and will not stop. So now, if you see me with all my children...chances are at least one of them will have drainage and if this is all they have, it is believe it or not...a good day. Funny, I spent all that time inside that Winter and Mary Ella still kept getting infected. I have found the same to be true for all our children, but miraculously by age 3 it is not nearly as persistent as the earlier years. Guess, they just have to build up their defenses.

All in all we had a wonderful Easter and am totally enjoying the fact that my girls are loving their church. I love watching them run up and down the hallways with the same familiarity as they have at home. It is such a blessing. God bless you and we hope you and your family had a wonderful Easter as well. We are so blessed to have all of you in our lives!

Happy Birthday Grandmother!

2009-04-09T20:19:00.004-05:00

I'm two days late posting this grandmother. Wish we could have been there to celebrate with you. Thank you for all you do when we all decend upon your house and all the love you give. You truly do inspire us all. Love you very much xoxoxo

Hey, I ain't perfect, ya know???

2009-04-05T20:27:00.002-05:00

Well, today was one of those days. It shouldn't have been because we started the day off at an AWESOME worship service with wonderful music by the christian band Luminate. Check them out....they are some neat guys. Anyways, Scott was on call yesterday, so he came in this morning, helped me get the kids ready and off to church. For whatever reason trying to get three little girls dressed and out the door is never routine. I pick out outfits, tights, shoes, and even bows the night before then something always comes up. A shoe that was previously on the foot is now missing, a dirty diaper, a need to use the restroom, or this morning it was, "my booty is hurting real bad momma" resulting in a booty inspection (isn't motherhood glamorous???). Scott stayed home to sleep and we arrived home in time to see him off to study. It was hard not to resent this darn test at that moment because I was feeling the fatigue taking over knowing I needed a break, but couldn't take one. Yes, I was beginning to feel sorry for myself. We are both tired...he's tired of studying....I'm tired of, well, holding things together without him and the kiddos are probably tired of me and missing their daddy too. I felt like I was two steps behind the kids all day...literally. The drive to keep up was not there. I was slow to react resulting in more boundary testing and then when I did react...well, let's just say I wasn't that nice about it. No spanking or anything like that, just the impatient tone in my voice was ever-present today. I was just "blah". It is a good thing days like this don't happen very often around here and I'm not even sure why I felt the need to share it...just keepin it real, ya know??? Thank goodness God's grace is sufficient to wash it all away. Now I just need to get off this computer and let Him! Glad tomorrow is a new day.

Our little Ya yas

2009-03-29T21:01:00.003-05:00

As a mom of multiple children, I get to witness those moments when the girls are in perfect giggling harmony as well as those other moments where I want to say (and sometimes do say), "what are you doing??? that is your sister!". Yes, they are complex relationships. On one hand, they are out to sabotage and then on the other, the avid defender when the other is mistreated. It is interesting to say the least. There have been several weekends where the girls have decided to have slumber parties together. In other words, Mary Ella joins Addy in her room. We put them to bed and then we hear giggling and laughing for about 20 minutes before the sleepy slumber takes over. My initial reaction was to yell up the stairs, "It is time to quiet doooooown! Go to sleep, pleeeease!" However, right after I said it, I realized just how wrong I was and immediately smiled. Why, you ask? Well, here it was the weekend...nothing to get up for in the morning and two of my precious girls sharing a sisterly, giggly moment with one another. I realized I couldn't and I shouldn't lay down the law because in that moment the sweet memory of hearing them love and bond was way more important. I think I need those moments almost as much as they do. On Saturday, we awoke to more giggling and talking upstairs. We heard the pitter-patter of little feet above us and wondered what they could be doing, but we quietly waited in our room knowing they would come down eventually and that they did. They both came prancing into our room wearing their princess attire with tiaras carefully placed on top of their heads....such a sweet sight. What a way to start the day, huh?

The Verdict

2009-03-26T08:48:00.002-05:00

The verdict has been handed down. I am relieved to say I have officially gained 10 lbs of muscle mass and lost 7.5 lbs of fat mass in the last month. That helps me swallow the couple of extra pounds that appeared on my scale and the "mommy, you have a big bottom, I have a little bottom," comment from Addy the other day. Now why do they have to learn this "big/little" concept?

Has it really been that long???

2009-03-25T20:50:00.004-05:00

Goodness. March has FLOWN by. We began with Addy Scott's 3rd birthday and Scott out of town for a week. Then the second week I braved a car trip with the girls...no hubby. I guess I'll start with Addy's party. She had it at the zoo and we all hoped, prayed and begged for the weather to cooperate, but more importantly for the Rhinos to be out in the exhibit. You see, the last time we went the rhinos were "abstent" per Addy and she did not quit asking about them hoping they would return in time for the party. Thank goodness the good, no GREAT, weather and FIVE rhinos were both delivered! Yay! Here are a few pics from that week:

Does this adequately capture her personality???

All the critters at the party

Enjoying our birthday girl

Doughnuts with sprinkles

For Spring break, I left with the girls to go to Houston, Brenham and Horseshoe Bay, Texas. I was a bit nervous because just 9 months ago, Addy couldn't be in her car seat 20 minutes without squealing and crying. Uggghh. The solution to that has, quite frankly, been to stay put and as we hoped she would outgrow it. Well, SHE DID! The trip went off without a hitch. I only came close to running off the road a few times (totally kidding, well...kinda). Anyways, as long as I could toss teddy grahams, put on movies and sing, we were golden. We had a blast seeing my parents, grandparents and cousins. Mary Ella enjoyed my cousin's daughter so much she was too sad to even say goodbye :(. Here are a few of the pics from that week:

Now we are eagerly anticipating the end to Scott's 4 1/2 month study marathon. He has been hitting the books hard and will be taking the last round of certification April 23rd! I would be lieing if I told you everything was great. All in all we are good, but it is hard to wrap one's mind around how much preparation is required for these exams. Quite frankly, many sacrifices have to be made from all of us. We are ready for Scott to rejoin family life, have some relaxation time and for this to be DONE! Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he approaches April 23rd. After he completes this, we are actually going to celebrate our anniversary this year in VEGAS baby! That gives us something to look forward to :).

Good News!

2009-03-13T08:57:00.002-05:00

Thanks for all the prayers, the news is good....nothing to be worried about! Yay! Scott was gone all last week for a board review course, we had a birthday party for Addy at the zoo, and I've been on a road trip with the three girls since Monday. We've been to Houston, are now at my mom's and will heading to Horseshoe Bay today. Like I said...ROAD TRIP! We've enjoyed seeing family and some old friends. When I get back, I'll have lots of updating to do so be sure to check in.

Small request

2009-03-05T08:07:00.002-06:00

Hi all! I'm not even sure who all reads this these days, but am sure there are some pray warriors out there! I've got yet another special person in my life who is undergoing a biopsy today on a suspicious looking area. I'm not able to give her name at this point, but God knows who she is. Please lift her up as she awaits results and that she would feel the presence of God's comforting hand. Thank you!

three, Three, THREE!

2009-03-02T00:00:00.000-06:00

Addy Scott turns THREE today. How can it be??? Three years ago I remember waiting for the nurses to bring her in at night, the room was as dark and as a hospital room could get. It was 2:30am, but I didn't care, I already missed her and was ready to have more time with her. They would bring her in and all I could see was the precious silhouette of my little 7 lb 2 oz baby along with the white surrounding her big, beautiful, beady brown eyes. My heart pounds just thinking of those moments. The first year we struggled learning how to care for her sensitive digestive system. Well, I struggled, and she just smiled and cooed as if she was cheering me on. Our Addy has grown into a thriving, healthy, and spunky little girl who solves challenging situations with more ingenuity than all of us put together at times. Her favorite color is blue and she even insists that we get the sprinkled donuts from the store that has the "blue sprinkle" within the rainbow sprinkle mixture. All those who know her have experienced her sense of humor and are frequently amazed at her ability understand the jokes often firing back her own witty retort. I might also mention she shares a birthday with Dr. Seuss which is pretty appropriate for this little girl. She still gives me those little moments when she climbs into my lap and melts into my soul (ahhh, Heaven!). However, when you see her she is likely not walking, not running, but rather galloping around. I guess she just prefers to bounce but this often means we are kissing and loving on her after walls and door frames jump out in front of her. Despite these battle wounds and the challenging, daily lessons toddlerhood often brings , at the end of every day her prayers sound a bit like this, "God is good, God is good, God is good, God is good......Amen." Well, baby, I couldn't say it any better. He is SO good in that He knew your unique addition to our family would be a perfect fit. We love you so very much!

Did you hear it?

2009-03-01T15:23:00.002-06:00

If you were at the Target on S. Broadway here in Tyler around 11:30 a.m. this morning and heard

5 y/o girl: I want something too. Are we going to get me something??? I want something too, mooooom!?!
(almost) 3 y/o girl: Give me the lip gloss! Give me the lip gloss! Give me the lip gloss!
1 1/2 y/o girl: (s)nack! (s)nack! (s)NAAAAAACK!!!!
Mom: Shhh! Shhh! SHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! No. Give it back. We'll have a snack when we get in the car.....

simultaneously....It was me :)!

Retro kicks

2009-02-28T13:56:00.003-06:00

It has been three weeks since I began this workout routine (one more and I get myself a pedi!). I see the trainer once a week and do the workout on my own on the other days. This week she stepped up my routine a bit, added some weights with the ever so painful planks and giving me some sort of kickboxing move where I am supposed to lift my knee and do a kick forward and then to the side while maintaining my balance, so being the good student, I got right to work alternating legs and all of a sudden some hard-wired drill team moves started resurfacing....no kidding. Before I knew it I was trying to add toe touches between kicks and little, bouncy hops. Oh my, my brain was trying to get me to do a high kick routine! I tried to tell my brain "that was 15 years ago, I am NOT that flexible anymore, and THIS IS NOT FUNNY!" But it wouldn't stop! I looked at my trainer feeling the need to explain my fumbling over something that should be so simple and told her my brain was trying to take me back to high school (enter a laugh of embarrassment here). All she could say was, "well, you sure are making it look pretty." HA! Good grief! Think I better practice that one before doing it on my own at the gym.

My (not so) average life

2009-02-26T12:41:00.003-06:00

Funny thing. Often I hear people characterize moms as those people who've somehow sacrificed who they are and even wonder how women could be happy in such a role. After all, it has been a popular subject for several depressing songs. Yes, I am that SUV driving, carpooling, boo boo kissing mom that many people from the outside think is some average life. I'm not saying this in a boastful way, but I feel like the adventures of motherhood is more extraordinary. Yes, I have and believe all parents have extraordinary lives and here's why:

1. I get to wear a pipe cleaner bracelet whose mismatched beads were put on by little fingers filled with love...there's not another one in the world like it.

2. I get to see the exuberant looks on my girls faces when I walk through the door or pick them up from school. Who doesn't love to be greeted that way?

3. My arms and lap are custom made to wrap around them knowing they feel so safe and secure there. I pray that they will find the same peace and safety in Jesus' arms.

4. I don't get to travel much, but through my kid's eyes and words my attention is constantly drawn to the wonders right around me.

5. I get a never ending supply of kisses and hugs, spontaneous and on demand :)

6. I get to see their inner and outer beauty untouched by worldly perceptions and influence.

7. Happy hour now means all our girls are giggling at the same time...ahhh the sibling harmony.

8. I get to witness and experience their very first expressions of love (comforting pats on the back from tiny hands, hugs and mmmmmaaaaa kisses)....can you get anymore extraordinary than that???

9. I get to see their excitement when we announce a surprise adventure, who knew a treat run to Sonic could be so exciting and smile producing? OK, I get that excited too.

10. I get to walk in after they are asleep every night to see them at a peaceful rest. Given all the activity of the day, it is definitely extraordinary that they can achieve such peace. Yes, I still do night checks.

I'm sure if I had time, I could think of many more. Yes, fatigue may consume my face at times and my feet may drag a little, but know that my heart is full (even if I have worn the same sweats three days in a row, you just might not want to get too close) :).

Another thing....I once heard a news reporter refer to getting kids dressed in the morning as a "simple act". Let me tell ya, there is nothing "simple" about it! I think getting kids dressed and out the door is an extraordinary task within itself.

Our ladies

2009-02-18T21:00:00.000-06:00

Here is the preview of her dance recital coming in April. Oh my, does she look like she's in her element, or what???? She and her class will be dancing to Shirly Temple's Animal Crackers in my Soup. It is sure to be a cute-fest. On the school front...she is a book worm. This girl LOVES to read and tackles books on a nightly basis. Below is a pic from her class....cuteness!

Addy has finally mastered her "ride"....thank goodness. I think a wheel already needs to be replaced from bumping the curbs, but hey, we survived! Just because she can navigate the turns does not mean she can navigate around other people(this may be a choice)....better to stay out of the way for now! Below is a picture from her class....

Here is Miss Molly! She is walking but would really like to run and keep up with her sisters. She is letting her will and displeasure be known to all these days....welcome to early toddlerhood! She has developed quite an attachment to a pink, minky dot blanket given to her as a baby and to say she is possessive of it is the understatement of the century.....DO NOT TOUCH THE BLANKIE! Here she is trying to keep up....

Looking at all these pictures reminds Scott and I how blessed we are to have these little girls in our lives. Although it does take quite a bit of energy, prayer and patience, they are SO much fun!

25 Things

2009-02-12T17:40:00.005-06:00

I did the 25 things about me on Facebook, but I'm going to do 25 more things here. I thought it would be a good thing for our daughters to read one day....

1. When I was born at Spring Branch Hospital in Houston, Tx the doctor put me in the back of the nursery so my parent's friends couldn't get a good look at me because I was ugly...this really IS true.

2. My elementary teachers thought I couldn't hear because I often had a blank look on my face, but somehow always managed to complete my work according to their instructions

3. I am a total bottled water snob....some bottled water tastes to "minerally" for me

4. No one will ever convince me that thong underwear is actually comfortable...ever.

5. I got a 1.9 my first semester in college, but managed to bust my tail the rest of the way and graduated Cum Laude.

6. I sometimes deliberately vacuum up those tiny polly pocket shoes because I'm tired of them not ending up back in their rightful place

7. I can not stand touching paper when my hands are dry, so I use lotion all the time.

8. I never read any of those baby scheduling books like 'Baby Wise'...just chose to go with the flow. Fortunately, all our kid's eating and sleeping habits were very predictable anyways.

9. It makes me very uncomfortable to be around people who break other people down for entertainment. Why pick the speck out of someone else's eye when I've got a log in my own eye to chisel away, ya know?

10. I don't hold grudges. Life's too short and it is too exhausting to hold onto something that is likely not very significant at all.

11. I love coffee made with freshly ground beans and the aroma it leaves in my house for hours.

12. I try really hard to teach my kids that bodily functions are not polite, but then Scott comes home and ruins it all, even making me laugh.

13. We are a "dessert" family....seriously, I think my kids would revolt if I didn't have a tasty treat for them after dinner. This probably started with my nightly chocolate chip cookie habit I've carried with me since college.

14. During my first pregnancy, I was so nauseated that I threw up my fruit loops when I saw toilet paper in the potty just because I knew what that toilet paper was probably used for...

15. I truly believe in the saying, "you are who you are when no one is looking"

16. The transition from Summer into Fall is my favorite time of year....football, the sound of dried leaves blowing in the wind, and cooler mornings

17. The first time I got in trouble during kindergarten I had said the word, "crap" then pretended I didn't know how to recognize my name so I wouldn't have to take my apple off the apple tree. The teacher took it down anyways. I was so embarrassed....clearly, I remember it like it was yesterday.

18. Since having children (particularly a 5 1/2 year old) I jam out to Radio Disney, and actually LIKE it

19. I am fascinated with oceanography, but don't like sand or saltwater on my skin

20. I am totally and completely humbled (and overwhelmed) that God has entrusted Scott and I with these three little girls and was glad our pastor reminded us that God's grace is sufficient to make up for the mistakes we might make along the way....whew!

21. I LOVE to ride roller coasters and look forward to going to Disney World or Six Flags just to do that. The faster, the loopier....the better! Weeeeeeee!

22. My favorite color is brown...deep, chocolate brown.

23. I was thrilled when we found out Molly was a girl because I feared if we had a boy, he'd be dressed like a princess until he was four :). There is just something about having all same sex children; however, I can't adequately articulate what that 'something' is....

24. It takes us at LEAST an hour and a half to get the three girls and me dressed to get out of the house and usually I'm having to put my make-up on in the car. Molly usually needs a diaper change or a shoe(s) is missing from one of six feet (but they were all on before I got in the shower!) or someone all of a sudden needs to go to the bathroom or someone falls and needs some love or......

25. I am a "Pollyanna" ...usually trying to find the good in a situation or person. Keeping my focus on the good stuff helps me keep perspective in most situations; although, sometimes I slip up and need to be reminded of what is really important.

There, I did it. I think this would be a fun family activity to do one day when our children are old enough to come up with their own random facts. It is interesting how you can live under the same roof with someone, but still lose touch in the minutia of day to day stuff....

Politics

2009-02-10T07:56:00.004-06:00

I'm not one for political debate. Not because I'm not comfortable with my stance or educated in it. I'm just comfortable with where I stand and don't see the need debate it or shove it in other people's faces. With that said, I HIGHLY suggest all Americans take a close look at this stimulus bill. Read it. It is our duty to inform ourselves because NO media outlet is without bias. My friends, we and as well as future generations will be paying for a long time. Whether for it or against it, we owe it to our great country to know what we are supporting/not supporting. Please don't be content with what we read in newspapers , hear on tv/radio, or hear from our friends. Assumption is the root of most mistakes....

Rezoning

2009-02-09T21:03:00.002-06:00

After years of excuse making, three children and months of procrastination....I joined the gym. This is something I have wanted to do, but didn't want to do. Those who know me, know that I generally don't have any insecurities. I don't try to hide my true self. What you see is what you get. However, when it comes to stepping into a gym I am WAY out of my comfort zone. I danced in high school and that is the last committed relationship I had with exercise...yes, my last and I had to admit that to the trainer I met with today. How embarrassing! Now I have walked here and there, but nothing with much commitment or consistency. I have been rather disciplined with my weight, but I'm SO not in shape. So after joining the gym I had to go get new workout clothes, because I figured my Umbros probably wouldn't cut it these days. I went and discovered there is actually "style" in workout attire...yes, my friends, workout clothes now follow trends. How long has this been happening???? (Never mind, don't answer that.) I grabbed some clothes and stuck with black, white and gray for now. I am not, after all, throwing on one of those cute turquoise tops. Nope, I will not have any attention drawn to my clumsy self. I'd rather blend in with the walls, thank you.

So I figure, there would be no harm in rewarding myself with say...a pedicure or a massage for every four weeks I stay committed to it, right???? Have some "me" time, regular pedicures, and get in shape a the same time? Doesn't sound like too bad of a plan....

You know your...

2009-02-03T09:00:00.003-06:00

married to an anesthesiologist when....

1. Your spouse analyzes your spine making comments about how easy or hard it would be to put an epidural or spinal in

2. You are trying to tell your spouse about your day and you realize he/she is looking at your neck like a juicy steak because he can see your artery...a perfect location to place a line.

3. You ask your spouse a medical question about you or one of your kids and you get a "it could be...." answer.

4. You never worry about emergency room trips for stitches or falls because, he can knock you out, numb it, and stitch it all at the house....seriously.

5. Dehydration? No prob, he can place an IV at home too.

6. He starts playing the "I bet I can locate a hard to find vessel" game while your sitting on the couch

7. Even though your spouse is home by 3:30 pm, he's still put in a 9-10 hour day

8. Chills go up his/her spine every time they even think about having to run a clinic/office

9. When dosing medicine for the kids, he asks "how many kilos does she weigh?" (what???? Oh yea right, like I can answer that!)

10. You can easily find out about his/her day if you know the height, weight of his patients and/or the surgeon(s) he worked with that day.

You know I love you babe :)!

A gift for my grandfather

2009-02-02T16:43:00.002-06:00

To my sweet granddaddy Pete who was born 2/2/22! Happy Birthday and love you very much!

And let there be light!

2009-02-01T14:00:00.002-06:00

So after much whining and complaining, I can finally say we are on the mend...HOORAY! We actually made it to church this morning and let me tell ya, it was so refreshing to see smiling, familiar faces. I can honestly say each time we walk through the front door of Marvin UMC, we love it even more and feel even more at home. We still have not joined, but are praying and feel like we are getting closer to making that committment. Of course sometimes it is hard to tell if the kids are more excited about Sunday school or the doughnuts-a-plenty :). Anyways, just thought I'd share the good news about good health...YAY!

Forget the glass

2009-01-29T21:25:00.004-06:00

Give me the BOTTLE! Ok people, I know I'm going on and on about this stomach bug thing, but hey, this is my life at the moment. I have yet to mention that Molly has that horrible cold/cough thing going around. So in the midst of poor Addy's illness, Molly has been sick too. She initially came down with a cold 2 1/2 weeks ago and then seems to have caught something else just when the other was clearing up. So the poor thing is just not feeling well and quite frankly has been very fussy. Who wouldn't be, right??? Anyways, we missed last Wednesday's mid-week activities at church due to Molly's cold and Mary Ella really wanted to go this week. So Scott got home and I left Molly with him while I took the girls to church. We got through the food line and I placed the plates on the table ready to "settle" them in and Addy looks up at me with a horrified look on her face and says, "mommy". I pat her on the back and at that moment threw up all over the table.....LOVELY! Immediately after the "episode" she looked at me and said, "can I have dessert?" ....."um no, no dessert for you tonight." Dessert??? Some kids just have their priorities. I guess she comes by it honestly :). After some really nice ladies helped me clean it up (thank goodness the table clothes were disposable), I gathered the things to go home. At that moment, Mary Ella realized we would have to leave and the disappointment consumed her face. She was trying to hold off her tears of looking at me like, "please don't tell me we have to go." So what does any good mom do??? I start tearing up with her as I try to explain why we can't stay. Uggghh, the guilt. But the reality is, when one is sick....we all are sick.

So I started typing this last night and have now been to the doctor with Molly. She has an ear infection :(. Good thing is there's medicine for that, so it isn't all bad news. Another little tidbit of info is that she's a tall girl....90th percentile in height. You go girl! She also said this stomach bug going around is lasting 7 -10 days...so watch out people and bathe in alcohol rub :).

I knew....

2009-01-27T20:32:00.002-06:00

I'd FORGET something!

What not to do

1. Do NOT eat after your children, especially during the winter months. I know that half-eaten Tyson Chicken Nugget looks good (only b/c you haven't had time to fix yourself something), but DON'T eat it! This is a "rule" of mine I broke on Thursday evening. Addy didn't finish an oatmeal raisin cookie, so I took advantage and would you know it, that is the night she got sick. Subsequently, I was sick two days later. You NEVER know what might be brewing! Scott ended up sick as well. Thank goodness, he has pharmaceutical connections. You wouldn't believe how much anti-nausea medication we went through to stay functional for our girls.

Cute little story too...

Mary Ella: Mom? Why don't daddy's and mommy's ever get sick????

Me: Honey, we get sick. We just can't be sick :).

Yep, long gone are the days of watching movies in bed, pajamas and chicken noodle soup. Hello, to "an extra shot of espresso is all the medicine I need" (and maybe some ibuprofen too) days!

Sharing the Wisdom

2009-01-27T13:36:00.002-06:00

Over this last year, it seems as though our family has been afflicted with the stomach flu more than our fair share. In the last 3 months it has hit our home 5 times. Not fun. Since I'm somewhat of a "Pollyana" I like to try and find the positives. So, because we've had this so often, I've learned a lot on how to handle and be prepared for these situations. I thought I'd share some of this wisdom....

What you will need:

1. Lysol, Lysol, Lysol....Not only does it help kill the germs before spreading to the next victim, it helps cover up the vomit smell that seems to take over your home.

2. Antibacterial soap- no explanation needed

3. Antibacterial hand gel- just in case you're a bit worried the soap didn't cut it and you need an extra barrier of protection and also for those times you need a quick cleanse.

4. Super thick hand lotion (next to the hand gel)- add a squirt after the hand gel so you don't end up with dry, scaly hands from all the alcohol rub your drenching your hands in.

5. Paper towels- keep a roll everywhere for those quick mouth wipes after an episode and to also stuff in the bottom of a "puke" bowl. This takes care of the splattering issue and makes clean up much easier after bowl is put to use.

6. Puke bowl- Very important that you always have a bowl handy in very close proximity to the spewing child. Even if you don't catch the first part, you can catch the rest, resulting in less mess. As stated above, stuff paper towels in the bottom of it :).

7. Pedialyte, water, saltines, bread....that will be their diet for the duration of the illness

8. Small plastic grocery bags- These are important (along with the paper towels) in cleaning up after a "spill". Also good to place over your hand while picking up the solid portions of the "spill", again with the paper towels.

What to do:

1. Remove all solid portions from laundry prior to washing, otherwise you end up with a mess when transferring to the drier.

2. If your kid has it coming out both ends and they are potty trained...for heaven's sake, let them wear a pull-up all day or just throw the undies away. Don't add anymore to your increased laundry load than you have to.

3. Let your kiddo only have a few sips of water at a time. They will want to gulp it down b/c they are so thirsty, but this will only stimulate another episode. Much better to wait until the vomiting has subsided, then let them chug all they want. Better to absorb a few sips than for it to all come back out, ya know?

4. Now, if you and your husband should both come down with it at the same time or you don't have any help at home....let your kids ransack the house, let them have cake for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and let them watch movies allllll daaaayyyy looooong. Hey, at this point, it is all about survival :).

5. Wash your hands all the time,Lysol door handles, toilets and anything else that could be infected.

6. Wine....just one glass, maybe two to help you relax after being on your toes for 24-48 hours.

Now, knowing me, I've forgotten a couple of things. Does anyone else have good ideas of their own??? How do you manage these mean little bugs???

***I can't believe I just typed a post all about vomit***

Memory Resurfaced

2009-01-23T21:34:00.004-06:00

Last night our middle daughter Addy awoke at 10pm saying, "my tummy is hurting." I stayed to pat her back and she was beginning to settle down when Scott comes up asking if she needs "medicine". Now this was strictly intended for a placebo affect as we suspected she just wanted to come downstairs. She said "yes" and sat up to take down the purple, grape-o-licious Tylenol. I said to Scott, "now, she said her tummy was..." and at that moment she spewed all over the place and I said, "....and she wasn't kidding!" So from about 10p to about 8a, she got sick roughly every 30 minutes. We went through countless towels, paper towels, many squirts of hand sanitizer and lots of pats on the back. Now, some people sleep better when their kids are in the room. Not us. I hovered just above sleep so I wouldn't miss the opportunity to shove the bowl under her...poor baby was miserable. Ironic how I recently posted about things I have to put my hands in, well, this was one of those moments.

In the midst of last night I actually had a sweet memory come forth from my childhood. Since becoming a parent, things that did not make sense then, do now. I have apologized several times to my mother for always stepping on her heels and frequently wandering off. Well, last night a memory came forth that once again, made me appreciate my mom. Not sure how old I was, but it was definitely early elementary school when I awoke in the middle of the night with a stomach ache. I went to my mom's room and she got up to sit with me. She got me oyster crackers and tucked me in on the couch. Soon after getting settled, I got sick and vomited all over the couch and floor. As my mom was cleaning it up, I kept saying, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." At that moment, in the middle of the night, cleaning up my nastiness, she looked up at me and said, "Honey, it is ok. This is what mommy's are for." Yes, mom, I "get" it now....thank you for being such a good example.

By the way, I'm not too sure I'll ever get used to doing the laundry after a night like this. Those who have done it, know exactly what I'm talking about. Let's just put it this way not everything is dissolved or goes down the drain in the washer. You do what ya gotta do though :). Thank goodness, she is better. Only a few episodes here and there today. So we are praying for an uneventful night tonight and that no one else catches this icky bug.

Claiming the Title

2009-01-18T21:30:00.000-06:00

No Fear

Recently Addy has begun to realize she also can claim a "big sister" status. She often performs little tricks for me saying, "watch me mama, watch me" The tricks usually involve jumping, hopping on one foot or twirling around. After completing her moves she states, "Molly not do that" I reply, "Nope, not yet." Today she "skipped" (more like galloped) across the room and turned to Molly to say, "Molly, you can't do that yet. It is ok". Funny gal. She is clearly watching Molly's every move making sure she is safe; however, Molly is not to pleased with this. She would rather have her personal space, but it is sweet to see Addy taking on the role like a pro.

Meanwhile, Mary Ella amazed us on Friday. She went to a friends house and came home begging Scott to take off her training wheels. It turns out her friend had already mastered the skill of riding a two wheeled bike. Scott and I had already discussed it. We knew when the time came, it would be best for Scott to take the lead in teaching her only because my "mom" instincts would kick in and my startle responses at near misses would probably cause more harm than good. We are so proud to announce that our first "baby", Mary Ella, has successfully learned how to ride her bike. What was even more fun, was that the other two kiddos in the cul-de-sac also decided it was time. So there were THREE wobbly kiddos riding around, but after two days they were doing and excellent job. The look of accomplishment on their faces said a thousand words. What a proud moment. This is one instance of peer pressure I think I'll be thankful for. Guess we need to get her a bigger bike now....

Molly is now toddling around with all the other kids. No longer is she content staying in my arms. She wants to be in the middle of the action. With this newfound independence comes several bruises and scrapes. I think, at this very moment, she has four bruises across her head, one on her cheek and two on her bottom. Everytime I take her to the church nursery I feel like I need to reassure them that I and no one else is beating her at home. Oh, this learning to walk stuff is tough especially when you're trying to keep up with two older sisters. The "toddler protest" (aka full blown temper tantrum) is also beginning to surface. She actually began to throw herself back onto the wood floor yesterday in protest over something (probably food) and then slowly lowered her head on the floor before she started belting out. At least she has some safety awareness. How on earth do they learn this stuff????

Happy Birthday!

2009-01-17T09:15:00.002-06:00

Since she is not blogging anymore (I think we need to start a revolt), I'm going to go out on a limb and wish our sweet friend, Jillian, a Happy Birthday. Every year, she tries to sneak it by everyone. I'm not going to let her this year :)...... Maybe we ought to peer pressure her into facebook too, what do you think????

Another thought....

2009-01-14T11:27:00.003-06:00

Molly and I got home from taking Addy to school. Molly went down for a nap and I began to tackle the post-holiday refrigerator...you know, all the left-overs that have been stuck in the back taking up space and becoming science experiments? As I was emptying the countless storage containers and using my hands to shove the nastiness down the disposal, I chuckled to myself. You see, 10 years ago I would have gagged and avoided touching that food at all costs....now I'm lucky if that is the only thing I have to put my hand in today. Golly, how things change!

Annual Job Review

2009-01-13T13:52:00.003-06:00

"you are my best momy"

Mary Ella worked diligently on this while I was going about the house taking care of odds and ends. Art is her quiet activity while the others sleep. I'm so glad she can see past all my faults and parenting blunders :).

Bugs, Rodents and FB

2009-01-10T20:30:00.003-06:00

Whew! What a week! Tuesday hit and we were revisited by that stinkin' tummy bug. This time it hit Mary Ella. I knew something was wrong when I made her favorite meal and she couldn't take down more than two bites. She requested a warm bath saying her tummy was hurting. Of course the first question out of my mouth (and would be from any other mom's I might add) was, "Have you gone to the bathroom today???" Her reply was, "no." So I *thought* I had this thing figured out and told her to eat some green beans to "help"the problem. She scarfed a few down and insisted on a bath, so I agreed. We head upstairs, get through bath and complete the other bath time routine. All throughout she was grabbing her stomach and I kept telling her to get on the toilet because, again, I had this figured out....NOT! Addy did something to make her laugh (of course) and in an instant she vomited all over the place. Then, I think what any positive thinking (actually hopeful) mother would think, "Surely, it is just drainage that upset her stomach???....again...NOT! She continued on this same course, vomiting regularly. After the fourth episode which happened to coincide with our bedtime, Scott broke out the Zofran. He somehow convinced her to take it and that made the night, well, tolerable. She missed her first- ever day of school which she was mortified about. I had to assure her over and over that it is "ok" to miss school when you are sick. They sure do stress attendance these days in school, don't they??? Anyways, as much as I don't like to see her sick, it gave me the opportunity to "baby" my first born. I don't get to do that too often anymore, so I took advantage and pampered her all day back to health. Fortunately it was just a 24 hr thing and she was up for school Thursday. By Thursday, my hands were cracked from all the hand washing and alcohol germ rub. They are now being pampered back to health too.

Molly is walking everywhere and now her little hands are free to take things along. She dumps them in random places often leaving trails of toys wherever she's been which, again, is everywhere. Here are a couple of her accomplishments this week:

Now you would think after finding the above Ritz Cracker box, I would be calling pest control. However, Molly spitting out pieces of card board put my mind at ease. This was also her good work.

A cute conversation between sisters about a famous rodent

There are a few of you out there that know Mary Ella has an extreme (putting it mildly) fear of Chuck E Cheese. This has spilled over into putting a little of that fear into Addy who has never been to Chuck E Cheese, I might add. They had this conversation this morning:

Addy: I don't want to see Chuck E Cheese. He's scawee.

Mary Ella: Awww, Addy, it is ok. I know he's scarey (paired with a hug and a kiss), but you can go and when he comes out you can go up into the tunnel. He can't go up in there. He's too big.

Addy: I, I, I, I don't yike Chuck E Cheese

Mary Ella: And if he's already out when we get there, I'll protect you don't worry.

Mind you, we have NO plans to go visit Chuck E Cheese. Quite frankly, it is not one of my favorite places either. I just thought it was funny that Mary Ella was vowing to protect her little sister when last time she went, she hid under the table. Did I mention she had an extreme fear of him???

Another happening this week is that I have finally joined facebook. The peer pressure was just awful (wink, wink). I have found most of my lost Galveston friends and tons of others I've lost contact with along the way...too much fun. Scott has even gotten involved. So if you are on facebook, we are out there. Give us a shout!

Found!

2009-01-05T10:38:00.001-06:00

Along with many other families this morning, we re-entered the "school routine". After a couple of weeks at home and some mornings to sleep in, we got up this morning and like zombies, got ready for school. Returning to school is a little bittersweet. We enjoy having some mornings where we get up and not have to rush somewhere and we get to fit in some fun family activities. However, as the weeks progress, sibling squables escalate and parents are ready to stop refereeing while the children look forward to returning to activities they call their own. It is all about balance. They heard, "stop aggitating," and "be sweet, " several times per day towards the end. I once heard Addy say, "stop attituding Mary Ella." She got a little confused on the words but definitely got her point across :).

Also, when the kiddos are home it is harder to keep things in their places, pieces to toys together, etc....Well, about two weeks ago some pieces to the fish puzzles went missing. I've been searching, asking...only to receive blank stares in return. This morning I took out Addy's lunch box to find them stuffed in a couple of baggies along with two pieces of stale toast...nice! Guess she had packed a lunch??? She responded, "oh, der are the pishy pieces. Look mommy. You found dem." Silly girl....

Just thoughts

2009-01-03T09:54:00.000-06:00

The New Year, whether it is intentional or not, always brings about thoughts of reflection and feelings of anticipation. Last year it was clear we had a big year ahead. Scott was finishing residency, we were anticipating a move and all that entails, Scott had written boards, Mary Ella was beginning kindergarten, Addy was starting a new preschool, Molly was changing daily and had food allergies, and I could go on and on. Over the last year, we've had struggles; however, we have also been blessed beyond belief. Often, when I do find time to blog, the stories that are remembered and written about are the good ones. There were plenty of days of exhaustion, short fuses, and many weak moments. It is not like those were the days I felt like getting on the computer, so those stories and moments are lost and forgotten. I like to keep this blog positive, so that when I do have those moments it is like going to my "savings account" of good that has happened to keep me going. I know it sounds corny, but it is what it is.

So as our family prepares for another year, we are, again, expecting some big events. For instance, Scott will be taking his oral boards in April. These are tough to prepare for. Imagine going room to room in a hotel and being quizzed one on one by different oral examiners. He passed his writtens in August making him eligible for this last step in his training. Of course, this also means many family and personal activities be put on hold because "not being prepared" is not in this man's vocabulary! We are praying this is the only time he has to do this.

We also have many friends going through intense struggles right now from those affected by Hurricane Ike to those affected by illness and other major struggles. Rest-assured, my sweet friends, ALL of you are also in our family's daily prayers. We hope these challenges continue to work towards resolution and that you would continually feel the cloak of God's unwavering grace around you.

Many blessings to you all and Happy New Year as well! Love, Us

Oh yea!

2009-01-01T21:37:00.000-06:00

I forgot....I did have a birthday. On December 30th, I, uh-hum, turned 33 years old. Yikes! Mary Ella came running down the stairs enthusiastically saying, "Happy Birthday Mom! I've gotta give you a birthday Huuuuuug!" How on earth can you start off a birthday better than that??? We had a good day. Scott got home and we went out to dinner. Bonus! No cooking or cleaning. Golly, I'm easy to please these days :).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T15:53:00.002-06:00

Our home all lit up!

We had a wonderful Christmas here in the Burlison household. We had class parties, dance presentations, and hosted some of our dearest family members for Christmas. Busy? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. The girls love doing the gingerbread house every year! Gotta love the premade $9 kits at Target and Walmart. They always love the idea of eating it after Christmas and I love to say, "Sure, have at it, " knowing they will only take a couple of bites.

Our Little Mover and Shaker

My neighbor and I have this wonderful setup. I take the kiddos to school in the morning and she picks up in the afternoon. This allows for our two youngest to have uninterrupted naps (crucial). On Tuesdays she takes the two girls to dance straight from school and I pick them up. Well, evidently some important information fell through the cracks, and I received a phone call from her saying, "The girls are going to have a little performance and Anna really wants me to stay, so don't worry about picking them up." My response, "WHAAATT???????" At that exact moment 3:20p (dance starts at 3:30) Scott comes through the door. I get off the phone and say, "I've got to go!" So I leave and pray the whole way there that I not miss it and that I get there safely. I get there to a room full of parents and kiddos anxiously awaiting to show off their moves. Ugggh, thank God for my trusty neighbor who was saving me a seat and laughing at me as I ran in the door! I could tell Mary Ella was relieved I had made it! Anyways, here are a few pics I took. My dear friend Suzie took pics of her daughters feet, so I thought I'd do the same. Too precious!

Can I party too???

We had Mary Ella's class "Winter Party"....one of the few times a year we can celebrate and serve sugary snacks (legally). Golly, times have changed. No Halloween Party, but a fall "treat"....No Thanksgiving Party, but a Thanksgiving "feast" with healthy snacks....No Easter Party, but a Spring treat. As you see below, Addy took a seat and somehow attained a plate full of goodies.

I got Robbed....

by Build-A-Bear. My sweet, dear friend, Jillian, from Longview joined us with her three boys. Our kiddos had been craving, literally CRAVING, each other....well, specifically Thomas and Mary Ella. They were itching to get out of the car and then they saw each other both wearing these shy, but very happy grins on their face. Thomas can make Mary Ella giggle like no other! We braved the very busy mall so that our children could build themselves stuffed animals. I had always heard these things were expensive, but we walked in and I saw $18-22 price tags and thought, "this isn't going to be too bad." Oh how mistaken I was. We added clothes, a voice, etc... Below is a picture of "Sara", Mary Ella's bear. Addy's bear was blue (her favorite color) wearing a sequin, CUTE, t-shirt with a jean skirt...her name? Barney. Then we had a no name, no accessory bunny rabbit (b/c I couldn't sit at that computer any longer with Addy's "help"). We got out their spending around $85. Yep my friends, that is almost $30 a bear, but doesn't Sara look adorable????? The time spent with our dear friends was totally worth it!

Our current favorite "spot" in the house.

For whatever reason our children enjoy piling into Molly's crib and playing...for a long time, I might add. They giggle away and we just let them have at it. After all, their having fun and are corralled. It is a win-win situation!

Here comes Christmas....and the buzzard!

One of our favorite childhood memories comes from visiting our grandparents. Grandmother would always provide the forbidden sugar cereal and we would sit in Grandaddy Pete's lap giggling hysterically as he counted our ribs and said, "here comes the buzzard. It goes round and round and round." Right about that time he would tickle our belly. As you can see below, Molly seems to find it pretty funny too!

Santa Came!

The grandparents wait with the children before given the Ok to come see!

I don't think Addy's ready for a license yet. Maybe these things need to be made out of steel???? I think Scott and I've pulled a few muscles trying to teach her how to drive this thing.

Molly trying to figure out her car and not quite sure what to think.

I guess I should put out a warning about all the American Girl stuff too. You wouldn't believe the mounds of accessories that go with this doll, but it is too much fun, so I won't complain. These fun dolls teach about history and friendships. I'm sensing an American Girl trip to Dallas soon!

We also got to spend some time with my dad for Christmas. The girls loved seeing he and Mommy Boo. We also got to see our Bostonian sister Kristin and her fiance' James. We have an exciting year coming up for these two. The are graduating from college and will be getting married some time next Fall! What fun it is to add another male to our family as the males are way outnumbered around here.

Kristin and James

I just had to leave you with this picture of our "caboose". Pure happiness and joy unless I'm trying to cook dinner (that 4-6pm syndrome has hit for this little tyke). Oh well, at least with the third one, I know it is a phase that will end. She has also begun to walk at 14 1/2 months. Why would she need to do so earlier???? She's been very content attached to my hip :).

One last moment....

As Scott and I cleaned up downstairs, it got eerily quiet upstairs, so naturally I went to check. I found our oldest princess helping our youngest princess to look the part.

Ahhhh, gotta relish that sibling harmony when you get it!

We hope you and those you love had a wonderful Christmas and wish you many blessings in the year 2009! Most importantly that you all know just how special you are to us.

All Aboard!

2008-12-18T21:20:00.000-06:00

On December 5th, we took the girls on the Polar Express train ride out of the Palestine depot. We've been eyeing this activity to do with the girls for a long time and now that we are up here, we took the opportunity. We had so much fun and to see the wonder and excitement in all of our children (even Molly) was a true thrill. I tried to capture it in pictures, but they certainly don't do it justice.

The excitement began building about two weeks prior. We had a countdown and everything. The day came and we got the girls in their pajamas and began our journey to Palestine. It was freezing cold and we pulled up to steam billowing out of the train engine. The squeals of delight were coming from all three girls. We got our tickets and boarded with lot of other kiddos wearing their Christmas pajamas and our hour long journey began.

The hot chocolate and treats were served with music and all. Soon the kids had the familiar hot chocolate ring around their mouths and Molly Kate enjoyed the krinkly sound of the wrapper.

They began reciting the Polar Express book; however, do to all the laughter and giggling we didn't follow along very well. Then they yelled, "THE NORTH POLE". They had decorated an area with thousands of lights and there was Santa waving on his porch (need I say the squeals got louder). He boarded the train and went from car to car giving each "believer" a bell. We listened to bells ringing all the way home.

When we got in the car to go home, Mary Ella said, "Mom, when we got on the train and they were playing that soft music from the movie, I almost cried." I could tell she didn't understand why, so we had the talk about how sometimes when we are real happy and excited about something we shed tears. I love the fact that she is going to be a happy crier....one the best emotions God has given us.....laughter through tears. We were just so thankful to experience this as a family. Even Molly loved it! I hope if anyone has the chance to do this that they would. We are so glad we now have this sweet family memory.

A day in the life....

2008-12-15T12:23:00.001-06:00

....of Addy. Many of you know our sweet Addy Scott. She has a sense of humor like you wouldn't believe. Literally, she will have you in tears laughing. Not only is she hilarious at times. She is often very methodical. She organizes, completes patterns and puzzles like you wouldn't believe. She came out of the womb that way. We have a distinct memory of Addy staring at my mother's brightly colored/patterned jacket when she was days old. So with that brief history on her, I have a couple of stories about her.

Story #1- I went to pick her up from school the other day. I walk in the door to her showing me her Christmas tree. I was busy getting her stuff together and honestly was giving the "uh huh, yeeeeaaa" without even looking. Her teacher then said, "It was awfully interesting doing Addy's Christmas tree today......" Out of curiosity I look up. It was a xeroxed tree with circles all over it. Addy had taken the foil star stickers and placed each sticker in the center of each circle. Evidently, she would not accept anything less than center. The leftover stickers were then evenly distributed between the circles.

Story #2- Eating a meal with Addy is, to say the least, interesting in and of itself. I'm not quite sure how she has managed to grow and thrive over this last year because the child would rather play than eat her food. Anyways, I'd given her chicken nuggets and ranch dressing (aka white dip). I look over to find her using a chicken nugget strip to apply ranch dressing all over her toes. I said, "what are you doing!!!???" She looked at me and said, "I'm painting my toe nails". I said, "are you going to lick it off?" She just giggled. I love how she gets my humor.

Story #3- Another interesting activity Addy participates in is packing. Often I will find groupings of plastic grocery bags filled with random stuff around the house. One bag will have the stabilizer leg to Molly's exosaucer, one bag will have Mary Ella's shoes, one bag will have magazines and so on. We know if we can't find something to go looking for bags :).

Story #4: Addy was again, resisting some request (probably to get dressed), so I had to get stern. She responded with , "you agitating me." I must admit that "agitating" is the word I use describe the actions and/or behaviors the girls exhibit toward one another at times, so I guess it should be no surprise that she turned it around on me. She has also told me I need "sassy juice" as well. She was probably right :)! Oh yes, life stays pretty interesting around here.

Giving thanks and Decking the Halls

2008-12-03T14:39:00.000-06:00

Well, last week we were joined by my older brother for Thanksgiving. The girls were so excited. In fact Addy would not take a nap for fear of Robin arriving and her missing something. All turned out ok, she got a nap and was ready to play after her five minute "pretend I'm shy" episode. I made pies, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, dressing/stuffing (yes, Jeanine, I used your church lady recipe and got rave reviews!), and rolls. Scott fried the most amazing turkey I've ever had...ugghhh, it was so good! We rolled away from the table and I of course had to clean up everything immediately (what is wrong with me???). The best part was having a clean kitchen and the smell of freshly brewed Cafe Verona waiting for me in the coffee pot....ahh, my sweet reward :). The guys disappeared for a while once Scott discovered Gander Mountain (aka gun store) was open. I jokingly laughed at the thought of Scott in the middle of an East Texas gun department on Thanksgiving, but then realized the Dallas Cowboys game was on, so it wasn't too busy afterall.

Mary Ella also had a Thanksgiving Feast at her school. I love going to her school and seeing her face when she sees me. Even if she's expecting me, she gets this looked of surprised excitement that I am there.

After Thanksgiving, we started pulling out all our Christmas stuff. The biggest task was deciding what we were doing on the outside. Evidently it is tradition in our cul-de-sac to line the yard with white lights (check), colored lights in bushes for girls (check), garland (uncheck-I can't get the darn hooks to stay up), wreaths on the windows (check), and the moving deer that Mary Ella emphatically requested (check). I'm not sure how many trips we made to Lowes, but their profit margins surely increased. This was the end result:

I took a picture of the Japanese Maple tree. When we moved in our lawn guy said people payed a lot of money for those trees and I didn't know why...until now. It turns the most brilliant shade of red I've ever seen.

We went to see Santa at Misteltoe and Magic. The girls had a blast. Addy and Molly were less than thrilled about sitting in Santa's lap. Mary Ella learned to ice skate (balance on the ice skates and walk), Addy enjoyed walking in the booties, and Molly hung out on my side. They ate cookies, cupcakes, ....sugar galore.

I've lost the war with winter cooties. With three children, I've come to realize one will always have a snotty nose or some nasty cough. It doesn't seem like too long ago I would freak out when people would show up in public with kiddos with snotty noses. I think the little bugs and I have learned to peacefully coexist.

Signs of Fall

2008-11-20T11:17:00.000-06:00

When we began looking for a home here in Tyler, one of our criteria was to have a lot with some trees. We found one with beautiful, old trees all over it. In the 7 months we've owned this home, several realities have come forth about owning a home with these big, beautiful trees.

1. Hurricane Ike- Seeing these huge trees sway in the wind over your home is a little nerve racking, yet strangely hypnotizing at the same time.

2. A large oak over 100 years old dying and having to pay professionals to cut down and remove it...expensive.

3. Fall- The yard guys come pick up the leaves and after a breezy day our yard looks like this

My pathetic attempt to rake up the leaves. I gave up after our two older children began jumping in the piles and "redistributing" them. Can't complain....it provided at least an hour of entertainment. Now we don't rake to actually pick up the leaves, we play instead. The kids have loads of fun.

Have some time?

2008-11-09T15:47:00.000-06:00

As the mother of a kindergartner, I was anxious to get involved with school. When we moved to Tyler, there were only a few commitments I would make within the first year...1. seeking a church home 2. school involvement 3. purchasing a home. I had decided I wouldn't join any service organizations or other groups until a year had passed. A defense mechanism? Maybe. I just don't want to jump into something unless I'm 100% into it.

So, when the Jack Jubilee carnival came up, I volunteered. Now, I even narrowed it down to just finding FOUR volunteers. Each volunteer would cover an hour. How hard could that be???? Well, it turned out to be quite the challenge. I got the directory and began calling. Phone calls didn't get returned and the only volunteers I had were my trusty neighbor in addition to myself. Not long after the initial wave of phone calls, I lost my voice. Therefore, I turned to email. Again, no response. I did finally reach a mom who agreed to a shift, sent her a confirmation letter and all. So the volunteers were 1. my trusty neighbor 2. a school mom 3. Me. 4. Scott. Well, the Jubilee came and I went to help set up and get my "trusty neighbor" started. I then returned home to switch cars with Scott so he could take Addy to a birthday party (did I mention the LSU v. Alabama game was on???? Scott was such a good sport). I then got Mary Ella and Molly ready for the carnival and called the first shift worker after her shift was supposed to be over (I had a bad feeling.) I said, "Please tell me the next person showed up." And she replied, "I'm still here taking pictures." So I get up there to relieve her and fortunately someone (not the person it was supposed to be) was doing just that. So I took advantage of the thirty minutes to take Mary Ella around until I needed to "man the booth". She desperately wanted to do the pony ride and we strolled over there to discover a VERY long line....there was no time. What is it about kids and pony rides???? Anyways, I promised (should've known better than to do that) we would get to it once Scott arrived. Well, Scott didn't arrive until late and the kids needed to eat. Poor Molly was having Teddy Grahams for dinner b/c I couldn't get away. Bottom line is that Mary Ella didn't get to do the pony ride that I had promised. I felt so guilty about it...still do. Here I was volunteering at her school....something that is supposed to be good and it turned out to spoil her fun. Now I'm not saying she didn't have any fun because she did. The pony ride is the one thing she really asked to do and we couldn't deliver. What was more frustrating is that I saw some of the moms I had called walking around with their kiddos, husbands, etc....one even came up to say, "hello." (maybe she didn't get the message???) Don't get me wrong, I don't hold a grudge(well, maybe a little...I'm working on it), but at that moment I was a bit frustrated. How can you not return a phone call about volunteering at your kid's school or more frustrating, commit to it and then not bother showing up or calling? This happens at churches a lot too. I just don't "get" it. I hope y'all don't think I'm an angry person, but golly, whatever happened to personal accountability? What a shame.

Despite this, it will not deter me from volunteering again. I think schools are a wonderful place to volunteer, even if you don't have kiddos there. Afterall, their big (many toothless) grins are worth it :).

You a turkey!

2008-11-03T14:27:00.000-06:00

Ok, I know I'm on a posting marathon, but bare with me. I forget things as quickly as they happen, so I'm determined to document this one.

For as long as I can remember, my loving grandfather has called us (the grandchildren) "turkeys." Well, Addy has reached 2 1/2 and, for me, the age of 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 seem to be the most challenging. At this age, I say "come here please" (2 0r 3 times) and I finally give the option of time out. Addy then follows my request; however, she starts coming towards me in slow motion with a smile on her face, sometimes she even throws a dance move in there. Inevitably, this occurs when I'm trying to get them out the door. This is only one example of the boundaries being testing right now. To be fair, Mary Ella did this exact same thing. Anyways, the situation just described had occurred and finally I got her in my arms to do hair and don shoes. She was wiggling and trying to make it difficult to complete these tasks. At that point, I said, "Addy, you're being a little turkey this morning" She whipped her head around and said, "No mommy, you being a turkey." She was so proud of her "come back" that she continued to call me a "turkey" all the way to school. She giggled at herself and, admittedly, I found it pretty funny too. So I guess if she goes to school and calls one of her classmates a "turkey" , it'll be played down to Thanksgiving holiday, right???

Our little spooks!

2008-11-03T14:07:00.000-06:00

The candy high started early on Friday afternoon. Mary Ella got home and immediately started asking if it was almost time to "trick or treat". After repeated, "no, not yet" answers, I was finally able to say "YES!" The girls kicked into high gear, dressing up, giggling and squealing with excitement. Here they are:

Mary Ella "the Poodle skirt girl"

Addy, "the doctor"...she already has her prescription of "skittles" in hand. Always prepared!

Molly "the cow"....very appropriate since she has been a bottomless pit since she's been eating.

All three of the munchkins. I tried to get a "happy" picture, but Addy was afraid of our 5th grader next door neighbor. He donned a very frightening skeleton costume with a black hood. Addy did not like this and any time he came around, she covered her eyes with her treat bag or hands as shown above. She keeps saying, "Matt's costume scawy. I don't like it"

All of the cul-de-sac kiddos partaking in pizza before getting "candied" up.

The girls examining and consuming the night's "take." I've been enjoying all the things that they don't like to eat.....yikes! Not a good way to start the holiday season.

Stand-by....recovery in progress

2008-10-31T11:54:00.000-05:00

Over this past week I would often find Molly just lying on the floor. Poor baby!

Yes, my friends and family, we have survived the worst of it, I hope. The stomach virus somehow bypassed our other two children....praise God for that. As for this last week, I've had my share of poop, vomit, and syringe feeding pedialyte. Whatever this was took its toll on our sweet Molly. She went a whole week hardly eating or drinking. However, at 4am yesterday morning, her appetite came back in a big way and wanted to make sure we knew it. She sucked down a full bottle and wanted more. Did I say it was 4 am????? On one hand, I was glad to see her eating....on the other, well, you know....sleep is important. So we are fully "in" for the Halloween festivities tonight.

In other family news, Mary Ella had "Red Ribbon Week" this week. On Wednesday, she had to dress western. Don't let the cowgirl had fool you. There is a rhinestone crown on the front of it....princess through and through. The same day she had to draw what she dreams of being when she grows up and, of course, she drew a princess and even tried to spell it, "prnss". Addy didn't want to miss the photo-op. In other Mary Ella news this week, she learned how to tie her shoes and snap. These were big moments for her. She was so proud of herself!

Say in Ain't So!

2008-10-27T20:51:00.000-05:00

Well, I hope the first week of our honey bun's second year is not indicative of what is to come. The night of Molly Kate's birthday (Sunday) I started hearing the familiar sound of dog barks coming from her room....Croup. The poor child was on her way back to recovery when a tummy bug hit her on Thursday. She has hardly eaten since. I thought Saturday and Sunday were better, but Monday morning she awoke with upset tummy again. Scott was on call Friday and Sunday...boo hoo! On top of that, Mary Ella and I have some viral chest thing (how's that for medical terminology???). So we are not feeling up to our best either. THEN, last night as we were going about our bedtime routine, Addy fell off the bed and busted her nose. Yes, bloodied it up and everything. Poor baby! Uh oh, as I was typing this, Scott just came in and said he'd just gotten sick!!! UGGGGHHH! Calgon, take me away!

*****Warning*****the Burlison clan will now be quarantined until further notice!

Sharing the Love

2008-10-21T14:08:00.000-05:00

I was just going through some our pictures and realizing all the things I haven't shared. Anyways, I came across these pictures of our girls when Molly was Baptized by our loving Pastor Sione' at Grace Community UMC. I think these pictures capture the bond between these three girls. They love each other so much. What a blessing they are to us.

And yet another example.....on Saturday morning Addy made her way down to our room and climbed in to bed with us. Not long after, Mary Ella joined us to snuggle in. As I put my arm over Mary Ella, I brushed my hand down her arm to find her hand. When my hand reached hers, I found that Addy's hand was already in her palm. It brought a smile to my face (even though it was very early in the morning). Don't get me wrong, they have their differences, but that sweet moment was a reminder that their relationship goes far beyond "who goes first" and "who got to the toy first". What a great way to start a day!

You're ONE honey bun!

2008-10-17T12:24:00.000-05:00

As always I'm a bit teary eyed as I write this. As each one of our girl's birthdays approaches, I become a bit nostalgic. I reflect on the year gone by and anticipate what the year ahead will bring. The first birthday, I've found, often brings more emotions than the others. Perhaps it is because when October 19, 2007 came around last year I held a little 7lb 11oz bundle of complete joy in my arms. This day I'm holding a 20 pound stair climb'n, squealing, wiggling, bundle of energy in my arms. Where does the year go? Molly Kate has encountered unrelenting kisses, hugs, and goofy behavior from all of us.

Molly, I love the fact that you can't wait for your food and that you already stand up for your rights. Most of all I love how you seem to balance it all by squealing and wiggling with complete joy when your daddy or sisters walk into the room and how you press your cheek against my lips when I'm holding you to receive my endless supply of kisses. Your cheeks are a soft, mushy heaven words could never describe. God knew you would make our little "Burlison" family puzzle complete. What a gift it has been to watch your first smile, first bites of food, first teeth poke through, first giggle, first clap and so on. We look forward to watching another year of many "firsts" and seeing that sweet personality of yours continue to evolve. I am honored to be your mother and completely humbled by the trust God has placed in us to raise you and your sisters.

Que Pasa?

2008-10-16T11:56:00.000-05:00

We've been on a quest....a Mexican food quest. We LOVE Mexican food and have set out to find a regular spot that we can satisfy our urges. Scott and I have been to 3 different places. I'm not sure what seasoning they are using, but I've left two of the restaurants in a sneezing fit that lasts for a couple of hours. A mexican food allergy...you gotta be kidding!!!???? I'm eager to go back to my regular places in Houston to see if I sneeze there. Anyways, here is the run down

1. Place #1- not bad, a lot like what we used to get in Shreveport

2. Place #2- Are these the tortillas we buy at the grocery store???? The fajita meat was only edible if you saturated it in cheese. Did they really mess up the guacamole??? How can you mess up guacamole???

3. Place #3- "I'm sorry, we can't wrap the enchiladas in flour tortillas. They can only do corn." What???? Did they really say that? Yes they did. The flour tortillas wouldn't have helped anyways.

Another thing I've noticed on the menu....Cheese sauce (aka Queso). Do I really need to explain the problem this presents for the crediblity of Mexican food establishments? Any ideas???? Maybe I just need therapy as I think I might be suffering from Mexican food snobbery.

Playground kisses

2008-10-07T15:03:00.000-05:00

Two weeks into school we were all sitting around the dinner table and out of nowhere Mary Ella begins this conversation"

Mary Ella: Joe (not his real name) kissed me today
Me: (nearly choking on my food) What????
Mary Ella: Joe kissed me today.
Me: (receiving a very nervous, "are you going to say something?" look from across the table.)
Mary Ella: He just kissed me when we were standing in line (ok, way too vague of a question)
Me: Where did he kiss you?
Mary Ella: Right here on the cheek
Me: (Whew!) Why did he do it? (Still not sure where I'm going with this)
Mary Ella: Well, Nick (also not real name) whispered in his ear to kiss me and he did it.
Me: What did you do? (Please say it was disgusting and awful and that you ran away)
Mary Ella: (Scott is still silent by the way) I just laughed and stepped away (with a slight shrug of the shoulders) .

I'll spare you the rest of the details, but oh-my-goodness! I guess this just goes to show, you never know what is coming next from these kiddos and some things you just can't prepare for :).

OK, the UPS guy just knocked and rang the doorbell in the middle of nap time (GRRR!). Now Molly is screaming. Guess I better go for now.

Say What?????

2008-09-23T14:13:00.000-05:00

Above is a picture of our post-Ike clean up. I'll say, the trees on our lot don't look quite as appealing when they are towering over our house and swaying in the wind :). I might be having second thoughts about my love for a "wooded lot". Fortunately, we didn't have too much to clean up and I elicited the girl's help. They were glad to help and were actually having fun for, oh about 5 minutes. That is when Mary Ella reached down to pick up a "stick" and the "stick" happened to slither away. Needless to say my "helpers" ran to our patio squealing "Snake, snake, snake!" I was glad to see it was only a grass snake, but that didn't help my cause. Not a toe touched the grass the rest of the afternoon.

I was checking my email and heard sounds of foil being wrestled with. I finally got up to find Addy standing in the chair. I really think she got through 4 chocolates in about 30 seconds. Guiness World Record??? Maybe not, but she was thrilled to have gotten her chocolate fix.

Standing...pushing....walking? Molly do you really have to put it in my face that you are growing up???? Oh please say it isn't so! And, yes, those cheeks are as kissable as they look :).

Untitled

2008-09-17T21:32:00.000-05:00

I couldn't even title this post because I am simply at a loss for words. This is a scripture I've used several times over the last 15 years to get me through some of our hardships. Maybe it will speak to others as it does me:

"Therefore, since we have been justified through our faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:1-5

I've had the thoughts of "thank goodness we aren't there" and "oh, I'm so glad we sold that house." However those thoughts are always short-lived and are superceded by the fact that we have several sweet friends and strangers facing hardship and distress. It is amazing how people can build up their nest, make it their own, and then all of a sudden, it is all gone. I am so sad for all of you out there, however I am hopeful for you as well. My prayers are with ALL of you affected by this horrible disaster.

Yikes Ike!

2008-09-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

If any of our friends and family down there on the Gulf Coast need a place of refuge, please call or email me! We'll be praying for all of you and your safety! Be careful!!!!

Here we go

2008-09-10T11:05:00.000-05:00

I know I've been lazy on the blogging. We've had several things from computer issues to summer activities and little hands that like to punch the keyboard while I'm touching on it. The only time left for blogging was at night and quite frankly, I didn't want to spend that time on the computer. Well, now that school is back in session I am going to have "little hands" free time.

Mary Ella is doing very well in school. Mornings have been surprisingly easy to manage; it is having to wake the other kiddos up from the afternoon naps for school pick up that has been the problem. I'm in the process of working that kink out. Her first day of school was exciting. I was too busy in the morning to get emotional. I guess I got it all out the night before. I was so excited to pick her up and hear all the details. So she got in the car and I was waiting for her to unload. All I got was, "it was fun". It has taken two weeks and more details have come to surface. I guess it all comes with time. As we got home and I unloaded the huge folder of school paper work and discovered her lunch bag was full....nothing eaten. I said, "Mary Ella, honey, did you eat lunch????" She replied, "yes, I had a tray." I said, "how did you pay for a tray?" She said, "Moooooom, it was free. Really, it was." Needless to say, I loaded up her account and put away that cute little monogrammed lunch bag we had just bought. She wanted to buy her lunch like "high school"....Funny girl.

Addy has begun her MWF preschool. She is also really liking it. Her teacher is as sweet as can be. Addy talks and sings all the time. She has also learned the art of blaming Mary Ella for things Mary Ella had nothing to do with. Example, "where did the other block go?" Addy replies (in a pouty tone), "Mary Ella lost it." I say, "honey, Mary Ella hasn't been at home all day, so she couldn't lose it." Addy says, "I don't know where it is". We're going to have to work on that :). Addy is also enjoying coloring. She actually likes for me to draw shapes over and over again while she directs me. We are really enjoying her spunk and ability to make us all laugh. In addition to her big personality, her tummy seems to be on the mend. She is tolerating more and more milk products. We give her probiotics daily which seems to have REALLY helped. It is so nice to see that sweet face covered in ice cream every once in a while!

Molly is cruising and I've actually caught her a couple of steps up the stairs.....guess it is time for a gate. She's getting two more teeth in so her gnawing on my knees and arms has become less tolerable. Her hair is coming in and, yes, we will be celebrating her first birthday next month!!!! I love nothing more than to press her little, soft cheeks against mine. That sensation is something I crave several times a day. She is also loving cheerios...hallelujah, the kid is tolerating most grains now! Hopefully the transition off Alimentum will go well next month! We are also hoping she will go to milk faster than Addy since she didn't get quite as severe.

Scott is really enjoying his job. We went to Lost Pines Hyatt Resort last week for a conference. My in-laws were sweet enough to watch our kiddos. I know that is no easy task. We had a great time relaxing with friends. We are still loving our time here. It seems as if something happens everyday that affirms the decision to bring our family here. Simply amazing.

Burlison Review

2008-09-10T11:00:00.001-05:00

Fantabulous

2008-08-24T15:20:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know we've been M.I.A over this last month, but we finally started enjoying the summer and tomorrow it comes to an end. Yes, my sweet friends and family, Mary Ella is setting out to conquer Kindergarten and boy is that girl excited! She was in my bed at 5:45 this morning if that is any clue (I usually have to drag her out of bed around 9-9:30!). Anyways, more on that later.....

So how is the transition into Tyler????? Well, Scott started his job, took his written board exam a couple of weeks later, then we had a vacation last week. Despite being on the go, we have met some great people. We have great neighbors and our kids have been enjoying "neighborhood life". We were blessed to find a set of 5 y/0 twins (boy/girl) with a 3 y/o little sister who live in our cul-de-sac. They play and bounce between houses all the time. The twins are going into kindergarten and the little girl will be in Mary Ella's class this year. Their parents are wonderful, inviting us to church and other social events. Of course we have also enjoyed being close to Laurie and Wayne Murphy, fellow UTMB residency alums. Laurie has been such a great source of support for this transition. Hannah...I didn't get your email (may have erased it b/c I didn't recognize the name...so scared of SPAM.) Please email me again! I'd love to meet you too!

Molly has kept us busy. Since June, she has gotten four teeth, crawled, stood, and is now beginning to cruise a little. I caught her climbing the stairs yesterday....time for a gate! Addy continues to be our entertainer. She loves nothing more than engaging in silly antics while eliciting a belly laugh from one or both of her sisters. She has also begun to really enjoy books. The past couple of nights I've gone upstairs to find her sitting and looking at books in the playroom (yes, she was supposed to be in bed).

As I mentioned before, Mary Ella is so excited about beginning Kindergarten and, honestly, I've gone all summer thinking this would be "no big deal" and "what is all the fuss about?" Well, tonight there is a lump in my throat, tears in my eyes and so on...We sat and read a devotion and the My Kindergarten book in her bed and before I knew it, Addy hopped into bed with the brag book of Mary Ella's birth pictures (need I say more????). Addy kept insisting the pictures were of Molly and Mary Ella would giggle saying in such a grown up way, "No Addy, that was me when I was a baby." GULP! OK, I won't go on and on. It would only result in emotional torture :). Mary Ella, this is YOUR time to shine sweet girl. We love you very much!

By the way, she has to be there by 7:45am.....ok veterans, I might need some pointers on this one :).

Splish Splash

2008-07-20T22:12:00.001-05:00