Ice Storm

We just finished an ice storm to rival the FS storm in 2000. We lost power on Tuesday, so we made our living room a "camp site". We all ended up in our room that night though because the gas fire place was giving off so much heat. By Wednesday we were all stir crazy and decided that Kevin should go to FS to work on Thur and Kinley and I went to Kyle and Dan's house to watch some tv and get some nice comfy sleep. Unfortunately, Mallory (my golden retriever) kept me awake most of the night with her anxiety attacks!! Thursday I sent Kinley to FS with my parents because we still didn't have electricity and I had to work the next day (School was still out of power), I went to get some fast food and when I came back around 630 pm...we had power. We were lucky to have only lost a huge beautiful tree and limbs off another tree (am I already tired of cleaning it all up and we aren't half way finished). My parents were in FS this whole time, and when I went to see if they had heat I realized that they had a power surge which had almost caught their house on fire. Then, while waiting on the fire dept to check it all out, a transformer blew in their backyard and caught a tree on fire. I ran out of the house to get away then ran back in because I was afraid limbs might fall on me!!! I was a wreck! But, thankfully, no one was hurt and my parents have insurance! You take routine things such as electricty and gas for granted everyday, but this week I took notice!

Hollywood

If you have ever seen American Idol, you will get a kick out of this story. Kinley was singing, as usual, but this time she stop to look at me. "Do I get a ticket?", I say "yes, here is your golden ticket" (sadly I knew what she was talking about). She grabbed the imaginary ticket and ran off with her hands in the air screaming "I'M GOING TO HOLLYWOOD!!!!" She is too funny. The pictures with this post as from her putting on her own "makeup" and posing for me. She is too girly!

Baby Nicodemus

WELCOME TO THE WORLD!!! This is my new nephew Nicodemus. He was 6lbs and 4 oz. And so super cute. Kim had a c-section last week, and seems to be recovering well. Nick (her boyfriend) left to get some lunch and Kim needed some sleep, so I got to hold him for over an hour. It was quite exciting. He just slept and slept. I decided that I needed to keep him as my own! No nine months of pregnancy/labor/recovery for me! Kinley is still talking about how she is going to get married so she can have a little brother AND sister. Rebekah went to "school" that day, and Nick brought her up after to hold her new brother. It was very cute to watch her "explore" him for the first time. Kinley was DYING to hold the baby, so when Bekah was done, Kinley got her turn. She lost interest in all of 3 seconds, but was already talking about the next time she could hold him.

I should really blog more often!!

Ialso forgot about going to the Fayetteville square before Kevin left to check out the lights and ride in Cinderella's carriage. We were just about the only people out there. I guess the 10 degree Thursday night doesn't appeal to everyone :). I am also posting a picture of Kinley's sleeping beauties. She has been tucking her babies in all over the house. She gets angry if you step on them, and quite frequently they go to time out because they won't stop"talking to each other". She tries to put pajamas on all of them (including barbies). It is quite funny to see a 6 inch barbie in 4T clothing. But there is no convincing her otherwise!

Christmas Party

I forgot to mention that in the midst of my single parenthood Kyle and Danielle kept Kinley for a sleep over, so I could go to my work Christmas party. It was a ton of fun (especially because it meant a night off for me). The party was at Lindsey's house, and sometime after the dirty Santa game Ragan and Jason snuck out to put some "affectionate" deer on her lawn (the deer have now made their way all over NWA). It was very funny. And once again Ragan I am sorry that I immediately knew you did it. I can's help that you are always mischievous.

December

Christmas was a whirlwind like usual this year. Kevin spent two weeks in Jackson, MS for training at his new job (a proud new pharmaceutical rep). He was gone from the 7th-19. He got back at midnight on the 20th due to flight delays. We were very glad to have him home. I had spent the weekend before "finishing" Christmas wrapping and shopping. I even cleaned the house on Thursday, so we could laze around on Saturday. Being a single mom is a VERY tough job! I am glad that I wasn't the one away from Kinley, but by the time we got home, changed, fixed dinner, cleaned up, took baths, and fixed our lunches for the next day (we're still trying to be financially responsible) it was time for bed. We would go to sleep and have to start all over again! Anyway, after Kevin got home, the next day was our immediate family Christmas at Kyle and Danielle's house and AC's 4th birthday. It was a ton of fun until about 4 in the morning Sunday when I woke up with a stomach bug. It managed to linger with me for a whole week! Kinley and Kevin never got it, but Kim, Nick, and Christy and her brew all got it. In the midst of Kevin being gone I all had volunteered to help with the Christmas eve mass (I needed volunteer hours per school requirements). It was very neat. It would have been even better had Mom and I not been scrambling around to find the manger scene costumes that had disappeared, but none the less the make shift costumes worked out. Kinley sang her heart out and then we came back to the house for dinner with the parents/in-laws. Kinley woke up at 630 the next morning and asked if she could watch cartoons. After asking if she thought Santa might have come, she promptly sprang out of bed to find out if he had. I couldn't believe she had forgotten!!! I am pretty sure that other than her Diamond castles barbies, her favorite present was clothes from her aunt and granny....such a girl. I was very proud of how gracious and thankful she was for every present, even if she already had one of the same thing. OH and I got a pair of UGGS!!!! Finally, after years of loathing for them! I am pretty sure the only time they have come off is to sleep and to work today. They seriously are a great investment :).

FAMILY PICTURES

This is Kinley's first school picture. We didn't get a choice, so I was pretty nervous when I opened them up. I was pleasantly suprised! I can't believe I have my own little Catholic school girl! She is loving school. That is mostly because her and Anna Claire are partners in crime. When they actually behave at school Ms. Roxy is most proud of them, but it is a rare occurance. They act just like sisters. They don't want to be separated, but when together they fight and make up all day. The other pictures from October. We had a family photo session (finally!), and those were just a few of my favorites. Although, I had to scan one twice (my setting were off, and I couldn't figure out how to delete.