"A trip to the ER........."

 Got a call last Sunday afternoon from a co-worker of Nicole's that they were taking her to the emergency room. What?! Why, what happened???? She dislocated her knee cap (Thank goodness she didn't totally dislocate her knee!)

 She did good until we got into the ER room. Her knee cap was totally dislocated (as you can see!) and she was in a lot of pain. She is tough and only cried a little. They started her an IV and gave her some happy meds and reset her knee. She doesn't remember that part. And was happy she wasn't wearing a good pair of jeans because they had to cut them off in the ER.  Now she has to wear a huge knee imobilizer brace for about 3 weeks.

 We went and saw an orthopedic doctor and thank goodness she doesn't have to have surgery. Just rehab and restrengthen her muscles and tendons. X-rays show bones and everything is back where it's supposed to be.

 I've been taking care of my "adult-baby" for the last week. Helping her shower and driving her around. Cooking for her and being her assistant. I'm exhausted!

 She will be on crutches until she can put full weight on her leg. The crutches are slowing her down and she hates them! Yesterday we let her start driving again. It's been over a week and she thinks she can handle it. Good thing it was her left leg and she drives an automatic.Things are slowly getting back to normal around here. Bummer she has her 18th birthday on Saturday and she is still on crutches. Guess she can't get into too much trouble. ha!

She is a trooper and her youth and being fit will help her recovery. She is going crazy not being able to work but at least she is driving again. So glad it wasn't more serious. The good part is how much time I have gotten to spend with her! ha!

"Big T is a baller.................."

 Ahhhhhh....basketball season! How I love it. Tyler only has a few games left and has had a good season. He has had some great 3 point shots (that went in!!) and has been aggressive and a good leader at point guard.

 He is #8 green shirt. Shooting a 3 pointer! (Did it go in????)

 Great rebound!

 Another outside shot.

His team won. He is talking about playing spring basketball. I hope he does. I love to go watch him play.

"Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!"

 Happy Valentine's Day! I love Valentine's Day. Maybe because everything is pink and pretty and romantic (in theory!). My Hubs got me pretty flowers and baked a cake! So sweet.

 We needed another craft day so I could get my Valentines Day stuff ready. Donna, me, Amber and Tina had a great day of crafting and eating. (last weekend)

 I made simple, yet adorable Valentines for my kids and Hubs.

 You can't go wrong with M&M's and Dove chocolates! And in a mason jar it's just perfect!!

 We may have "tried" a new sangria recipe............

 I bought fun little treats for LeRoy every day and made tags with cute little sayings and left them on his desk every morning' so before he left for work he would find them.

 So fun!! He loved them all.

 We did make yummy drinks for craft day................had to get our projects done!

 I bought myself a Valentines gift last week. ha! I got it in the mail on craft day. What a great day!!

 More cute treats for the hubs.........

Somehow got Nicole to myself for an afternoon! The only way I get to spend time with my girl is if I somehow contain her. ha! She got her hair done and a pedicure all in one day. Put some fun red lowlights in her hair and a fab haircut.

 I can't keep her attention for very long.

 So I just sat under the other dryer and hung out with her. We went to lunch and picked up her brother from school. Good day with my kids......

And today was actually Valentines day. Busy day. Worked. Came home and made homemade pizza and chocolate covered strawberries. Went to Coltons game. Took Nicole and the girls treats to work. Had lots of company this evening. (Gpa and Gma Mary stopped by and Gunner and his new GIRLFRIEND stopped by!) I'm exhausted and ready for bed!!

"It's the little things........................."

It's the little things that matter most.
I worked a long day. Still needed to figure out dinner. Tyler had basketball practice. Nicole had left for work. The hubs and I decided to go together to take Tyler to practice. With busy schedules, if "car time" is the only time we can find to be together...........than I will take that. We decided to run by Hasty real quick to get a soda and visit my girl.
All we got was 2 sodas.
She wrote on mine. So sweet. Kind gesture. Made me smile. I told her when she got home from work that small things like that go a long ways and totally made my day. (She kind of looked at me like I was crazy. ha!!) Something so small sometimes means so much........

"Mary Christmas 2012"

 Christmas Eve. Doesn't feel like Christmas Eve. This month has been crazy and busy and now it's Christmas Eve.

 Gifts are wrapped. Food is ready. Kids are antsy. Nicole just left for a work party and I've already tortured them with "family christmas pictures." We didn't do many Christmas festivities this year. Work, school, basketball, obligations took up most of our month. This is about the extent of the Christmas lights we saw.

 We had a family christmas party with all the aunts, uncles, cousins, kids, grandparents.

 Lots of coffee has been consumed this month. Much more than usual. And much needed!

 Winkie the gnome, Figgy the Elf, and the Grinch were around alot. I like them. They are fun.....

 Nice to see my mommy smiling.....

 Wine was a necessity as well as coffee. Again Figgy the Elf was there to keep me company. (I think this was 2 days ago when I started wrapping gifts...............was a long day.)

 I frosted sugar cookies with my Mom and Dad........good times.........

 And now it's Christmas Eve. I worked today. Cooked and cleaned all day yesterday. Wrapped the day before. So it's nice to be home right now in my clean house. Candles lit (smells amazing!) . Tyler is watching a movie. LeRoy is around. Nicole went to her work party. Family should start arriving here around 6:00ish. I already tortured my kids about an hour ago with pictures. Why do they fight it??????? They know I'm going to take them.............and if they would all just cooperate it would be done in 3 minutes!

 Finally! A few smiles!

 But this is more the reality. hahahhahahaaaaaaa!

 Stockings are hung.

 Candles are lit.

 Kids have suffered thru pictures. (and about 10 minutes ago Tyler persuaded me to let him open a present! His sister is gone for awhile and he promised he wouldn't tell her. I let him pick it and was glad because it was a movie so he can watch it later.)

 Kids are growing up so fast. Tyler is 13. Nicole is 17.

 Now we just wait for the chaos and family to get here. (more pics later)

And Santa tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!