Our Cruise!

Ok, sorry its taken so long to write about our cruise..we had a great time..We left on Sunday morning and went to New Orleans and went to a Saints football game...it was a lot of fun..the food was terrible and we sat at the top of the Super Dome but it was fun, I am not sure if I would love to go back again but Harper would love it.... we then went to check in our hotel ( the Ritz-Carlton) it was so fancy, our room wasnt ready so we walked down Canal Street and did a little shopping...After showers and relaxing a little we had dinner at the hotel.
The next morning we got up and had breakfast. WE walked around Riverwalk and did some Christmas shopping....then off to the cruise ship.....It was so big! I thought it would be much harder to check in than it was but it was EASY! we were VIP and went straight to check in and had our first cruise picture made....(I loved the cruise pictures---I was a sucker and wanted every picture we took..they had different backgrounds and photographers--some made us look like we were getting prom pictures made..ha) We got to our room and it was so cute and big! I couldnt wait to walk around the boat...We had a balcony off our room and it was fun sitting and watching the water....We got dressed up each night and had dinner in the dining room, we liked all the people at our table...they were all from Louisiana.....One of our stops was in Progresso and there really wasnt much to do..Bert and I couldnt do any excursions due to back problems so we did a little shopping and went back to the boat, Bert took a nap and I laid on the balcony by the pool and read a book. I got wind burned because it was so windy. The next day we went to Cozamel, it was lots of fun...we did lots of shopping...I got a new wedding band set...it is beautiful--- a 1 1/2 carot pear shaped diamond on a band that is completely covered in little diamonds and another matching band...I love it!!! We spent all day just walking around and relaxing......By day 4, we were missing the children...it was a long time being away..especially since Harper got sick the day we left and had to go to the doctor......All in all we had a great time but I think next time I would like to go with another couple or with Harper and Annellise....Here are some of the pictures----Hope you like them!

Halloween!

Its been so long since I have checked in..we have been so busy..last weekend we had 2 Halloween parties, Erin and Presley came to visit, I worked all week,went to the pain management dr, finally did some Christmas shopping, Halloween, and our anniversary and Iforgot fall festival day at school......Ok, first our visit with Erin and Presley...she is sooo sweet and a great baby...I had so much fun getting my baby love...Price and Payton came over and Price and Presley "played" with each other.....I went to the dr. we are going to try medicine because I cant have a pain pump because I am fused all the way down and he couldnt get to my cord to insert it, I had a hard time when he told me, ( I guess I was holding out hope that it would be my "answer") he looked under fluoro at my back and said that if anyone ever questions how bad my back is to ask him...that made me feel better that he was "on my side"..so hopefully we can controll my pain with meds....Anyway back to the kids, we had a great day at fall festival the kindergarten had lots of games and fun..I had both Payton and Annellise and we had a great time, it just so happened to be on the last Friday of the month and that is a day parents can eat lunch with their kids so Annellise and Payton and I got to eat lunch with Harper...(Annellise and Payton were in heaven because they were in the cafeteria with the "big kids" ha...) they were even cuter because they were dressed as scarecrows...ha...
Lets see then we had our Halloween parties...Annellise was a mermaid and Harper was a Saints football player, we had a great time..it was good we had something to do because we had no water from about 2 that afternoon till about 11 that night..the next morning we had soccer and football games....Then on Sunday we went to church then went to Paytons birthday party...it was a beautiful day (it was ouside) the kids were dressed in Hallooween costumes and had a hayride and played...Annellise was Minnie Mouse and Harper was a Saints player again
On Wednesday, Halloween, we had the trailer and hay ready, and the kids all piled up for trick or treating....Annellise was Scarlett OHara and Harper was a Mississippi State Football player ( do you see the football thing goin on ha) Harper's best friend Russell and his brother Jake came and went too, so did Payton and Price...Dad and Nannie gave out candy while Kyle cooked our chilli...after trick or treating it sure is fun to come back and eat good chiili..thanks Kyle!
Our anniversary was Thursday the 1st..10 years! Yeah!----I let Bert go to a Ducks Unlimited banquet because we will celebrate next week on our CRUISE...last night we went to the movie to see American Gangster---it was great! then today we had our last soccer and football game...Tommorrow is church and then we are taking mom and dad to eat for their early birthday (since we will be gone on the 12th) then church again....this week is going to be crazy too so who knows when I will check back in...We have soccer and football awards night Monday and its Berts birthday!, Tuesday its work and to Mazzios with Harpers football team, then Wed and Thurs the kids sing at school for the big Christmas gala this week...Saturday we are going to eat breakfast with Santa, a birthday party , and then back to the school for an adult only party! then its off to NEW ORLEANS..we are going to the Saints game on Sunday, eat fancy that night, benighs(sp) in the French Quarter on Monday morning and then board our boat!!!yeah!!

gosh, I cant believe its been a week since I wrote...we have been busy with school and it was my time to work again---It just wears me out...Harper and Annellise are great, they keep me laughing all the time--Harper's new word is sweet and he says it to anything that is great--Annellise just says and does the funniest things..I found coloring sheets she had torn out of a Barbie coloring book that I had colored in her backpack and when I asked her why she took my coloring sheets to school she said " I just wanted Mrs. Rutland (her teacher) to see how good my mommy can color"..ha...I bet Mrs. Rutland loved that.....and the other night we were saying her prayers and I was holding her hand and she said to me " could you just give my hand a little break, I have been holding hands at school all day and my hands are really tired" where does she get this stuff...ha...we were at Michaels on Saturday and I showed her the cake decorating kit that is a princess castle and she pushed me back and said "shut up!" it was so funny and she didnt even realize she said something so funny......Saturday after the football and soccer games Bert took Harper and his best friend Russell to deer camp and they had so much fun..we went to church Sunday and Mexican for lunch (of course)! We then went to Best Buy and bought us a new digital camera for our trip...its almost here!....Bert got us Saints tickets for that Sunday and I am so excited! I have never been to a "big" football game ..Harper is jealous and really wants to go..he will have to go next time...I am going to see a pain management doctor on Thursday so maybe he can give me some good news, I have had some problems with my heart this last week, I had to go to the Dr. last Wed after work...I just had lots of fast palpatations--the doctor thought it was stress ( i cant imagine why!) I had an EKG and it was OK..I was scheduled to get a holter monotor tommorrow but it has gotten better they changed one of my meds and it seems to have helped...anyway what else can go wrong?
My poor children had to wear shorts and short sleeved shirts to school today and it was freezing today---this morning I put on Annellise's long sleeved shirt and the sleeves came up to her elbow and Harper's pants are above his ankles.....my children have GROWN so much since the summer..Bert went to the uniform place today to get new clothes and he had to leave because there were about 20 people in line..I guess everyone was shocked by the fast weather change and was not prepared like me...ha...anyway I am going to order it on the internet right now...
Erin and Presley are coing tommorrow and are spending the night..I am so excited to see baby Presley I didnt get to see her at grandaddy's birthday.....I can use my new camera and take some pictures to post yeah!...

My Wonderful Children!!!

Yesterday I went to a baby shower and Bert was left with the kids..It was beautiful outside so I think they spent most of the day outside...Anyway Bert took Harper's training wheels off his bike and he practiced a few times in our back yard (which has just a little slab of concrete)...so today the kids had no school and after a fun trip to the dentist ( no cavities by the way) we decided to go outside because today was beautiful too...I mentioned going in the street in front of the house to ride bikes and I figured I would be spotting Harper and helping him get started after falling a few times but guess what.....My child jumped on that bike and off he went...I WAS AMAZED! he needed NO help and he was even doing tricks like taking his feet off the petals....Annellise always needs help getting started but she jumped on and needed NO help.....I was shocked...My babies are not babies, it makes me so sad! I still cannot believed that he started riding a bike with no training wheels on the first try , he rode and rode for about 45 minutes and little sweet pea was right behind him....they are sooo cute!
On another note our church is doing something different this year, instead of an angel tree you get a shoe box and choose an age and girl or boy and you buy little goodies to fill the box..we went to the dollar tree and the children and I had so much fun filling their little boxes ( Annellise is so concerned that children dont have money and sometimes dont get Christmas presents)--I think she was too young last year to really understand..Anyway it was good for them to do something for other children...They got to choose a little happy for going to the dentist..and Annellise chose Princess tatoos that you put on with little stencils and glitter pens...She was so excited because it was finally a pen she could write on herself with...HA...you should see my hands and even Harper was sweet and let her tatoo him..ha.....If you have read my other post you will understand how much she likes to write ( on herself and anything and everythng..HA)
its back to school tommorrow after a 2 day fall break...

Its Friday!

Today the kids were out of school and are out on Monday too..its fall break....Yeah! We havent done much today my back has hurt all day..I didnt sleeo well due to pain and not getting comfortable last night... We are getting ready to go to the Hillcrest football game...Its cool outside so it should be real football weather...There is not much to post..Harper and Annellise are doing great..Harper has good grades and Annellise is writing all the time. I am so glad that she enjoys to learn..I sometimes worry about her schooling...School comes pretty easy for Harper if he brings home the correct books..HA....Everything is starting to get busy, it is hard to believe that Christmas is only 2 months away...Im going crazy, I am usually done with ALL my shopping and I have done hardly any...having surery and getting sick has put everything on hold...Bert and I go on our cruise in 4 wks, I am getting excited and nervous...We have never been away from Harper and Annellise that long or with out them....It is only 2 wks until Halloween--Harper is a Mississippi State football player (yuck!) and Annellise is Scarlett OHara ---she is so cute in her costume....We will load up the trailer with hay and Bert will pull us with the mule to go trick a treating...I LOVE HALLOWEEN.....The grownups sit on the trailer and the kids run around from house to house then we come back to our house and eat homeade chilli...Dad sits on the front porch with Nannie and gives out candy and Kyle usually makes our good chiili......It is SOO much fun..we have so many trick-a-treaters ...we run our of candy after about 1 hr...It seems like all of Byram comes to our neighborhood....They are having a fall festival at the church on Halloween night too, so we will probobly go there first before here...well I have to go we are leaving..

Another Busy Saturday!

Last night Bert and I took the kids to the Hillcrest football game.We were brave and took 4 kids. Russell spent the night with Harper and we took Payton too..The kids have so much fun..they run around and chase each other, play football, and roll down the hill..They only come check in about every 15 minutes for food and a drink...They were so good..Annellise even got to go out on the track and cheer with the cheerleaders for the 2nd quarter...she was in heaven...This morning we were up at 7:30.. Annellise went with Alli and had her soccer pictures made and watched Payton play soccer..Bert and I took Harper and Russell to their football game at 9:00..My little Harper is so good..I am just amazed! I know I am bragging but he is awesome...He caught a pass and scored a touchdown and got best off. player today....After the football game we headed over to Annellise's game...she did great also, but she is sometimes a little scared to go after the ball, she doesnt want to hurt someones feelings by taking the ball....She scored a goal though ...Yeah Annellise and Harper...then Harper went with Allison and her family to Hattiesburg (its Mamaws birthday) and they are having a party for her...I am worn out and still have a hard time riding in a car because I still cant stand pressing my back up against something.....so Annellise and I went to another birthday party...This was Sydneys and it was so much fun, they made their own pizza and cupcakes...it was a cute party! but HOT...I have been outside since 8:50 and let me tell you , ITS HOT!!! I got blistered!.....Tonight Bert is taking Annellise and I on a date ( really we dont have a babysitter..HA) we are going to Shapley's, they have nothing for her to eat so we are going to sneek a lunchable..HA....
2 more days and I get my stitches out! Yeah!...one fell out yesterday, Im not sure how but I hope its Ok....I just have to pray that I make it through this week with no fever...I get stitches out Monday so that means my little holes will scab over and that will determine if my staff is gone.....Last time I was draining from my insision on Monday, its scabbed over on Tues, and Wed I started running fever and Fri I had surgery....Im just a little worried because I am still draining from my insision so we will see......Tommorrow I need to do laundry, I just havent been in the mood....My little Annellise got in trouble yesterday and got her little mouth washed out with soap---it was so sad, but she lied and then lied again because she got her story mixed up...for some reason she told a teacher it was her birthday....where does she get this from? She also was running around outside before school greeting all her friends....she is suppose to stay inside once Bert drops her off and she got caught by Allison....ha...As I have said before, she only goes to school to socialize....HA....I am going to have my hands FULL when she is a teenager....Luckily in the last few days I havent found her name on any furniture or walls..HA....Harper and his friend Russell were caught by Bert throwing and stomping on of Annellise's good baby dolls in the mud and said Annellise said they could...(the bad thing is she probobly did- anything to get some attention from sweet Russell) she loves all boys, especially Harper's friends..HA.....I love my sweet children and I am proud that they have already given me some gray hair..ha....Tommorrow is church, Mexican for lunch Im sure, and a birthday party for Harper's best friend Russell, then back to church again.....

My Little Annellise

Where do I begin...Annellise has been learning to write her name at school...she is doing great! BUT she practices EVERYWHERE and when I say everywhere I mean everywhere....I have found her name on her wall in her bedroom, on the side of her new dresser, on the nightstand (but on it she pressed down as hard as she could so it is indented into the table and will not come off...even with that wonderful "magic eraser") She also likes to put lipstick on her carpet, chew up pens so the ink goes all over her clothes, face, and bed..She also cut her hair (in the front right above her ear on the left side) it looks reallyfunny...On top of that she smart mouthes Bert and I and tells some little lies....she also plays dress up and instead of putting up her clothes she piles them in the corner, hides them in the closet in the back, and stuffs them under her bed....What am I going to do with her? If you punish her she doesnt seem to mind, she just thinks she can do whatever she wants...Are all little girls at age 4 like this? I am going to have my hands FULL as she gets older.....I guess mom was right when she said " just wait until you have a little girl" everytime I did something and got in trouble..I guess this is my payback..HA..
But you cant help but love my sweet little Annellise she is so sweet and tells you she loves you all the time... I love that little girl so much! I am so glad God gave me my children to raise...Harper is so much fun these days..He is finally doing so good with bringing his homework home now....He is going to his best friend Russell's bday party Sunday and Saturday we have a soccer game, pictures, football game and another bday party for Annellise to go to.....They keep me so busy....Anyway, my back is still hurting pretty bad...I am getting so nervous if this staff infection is going to come back because Its almost time for our cruise! Yeah!....