Broken Eggs

For New Year's Eve, my mom offered to babysit. Derek and I decided to go out to dinner, just the two of us. We don't get a sitter very often, so when we are able to go out by ourselves it is a real treat. We really should do it more often. I believe it is so important in a marriage to carve out time for yourselves as a couple, so you can remember, in the midst of busy life, why you fell in love. We dropped the kids off and had a lovely dinner at Saddle Creek Grill. After dinner, I had planned for us to visit the mall to check out some sales. Am I the only person that didn't know the mall closes on New Year's Eve? Maybe I really don't get out enough! Ha! Well, after that plan didn't work out, we decided to just pick up Evan and Ella Grace and head home. We were gone a whole hour and 45 minutes! It was still nice to get out with Derek even for a short time.

Evan loves to go to my mom's house. He explores every inch of it. I must admit as sweet as he is, he can, at times, be equally mischievous. I'm sure he gets this from the Horton side! We were getting ready to head home and packing up the car. It seems like we are moving anytime we go anywhere...everything but the kitchen sink! For some reason, Evan decided to check out the refrigerator while we were occupied and got out the eggs. Next thing we know, there are broken eggs on my mom's kitchen rug. I'm not sure if he dropped them or if he threw them. I suspect it was the latter. We all could not help but laugh so hard. Thank goodness there were only two eggs in the refrigerator! Then, on the way home, somehow Ella got to the take-out box that was next to her car seat and managed to dump a half rack of ribs, a grilled chicken breast, and garlic mashed potatoes in the backseat and floorboard! Again, we had to laugh! There is never a dull moment!

The crime

The mugshot

While at my mom's, Ella Grace decided she liked apples . She would point and say, "Apple." "Pees (please)." So sweet! She will not touch baby food anymore. She only wants what we are eating, especially what Evan is eating! She is growing up so fast!

Sunny Days...Sweepin' the Clouds Away

We found ourselves on Sesame Street this afternoon. Evan and Ella Grace are both BIG Sesame Street fans. As part of their Christmas, Derek got us all seats at Sesame Street Live. We went to the show this afternoon at Robinson Auditorium in Little Rock. We all had a great time. Derek and I had the best time watching Ella and Evan dance around and clap after each number. They were mesmerized. It was a really fun afternoon. Here are a few snapshots.

Ms. Christine

There are some people you just know God put in your path for a reason. There are so many of these people at Evan's pre-school. One in particular, Ms. Christine, is one of Evan's very favorite people. He adores her! She has worked with Evan for over a year and I have come to adore her as much as Evan. Sadly for us, she is moving to Dallas and her last day was right before Christmas break. She gave our family a beautiful "Courage" Christmas tree ornament, which is perfect because we will think of her every year as we hang it on the tree. We thank her for all she has done for us and wish her all the best as she starts her new adventure in Dallas. Christine, you will always have a very special place in our hearts! We love you!

Joshua 1:9

Tiny Hot Pink Cast

On December the 12th, when Ella Grace was just 13 months old, I was horrified to learn that she had a broken leg. How could this happen? Well, I had bought Evan and Ella a new video. They were both very, very excited! Evan was jumping around like a monkey and Ella Grace, always wanting to be in the thick of things with her brother, got too close to him. Evan wasn't paying attention and accidentally jumped on her left leg. The sad thing is there was no initial swelling or bruising, so we didn't even know it was broken until the next day. I knew that night that she was very uncomfortable, but I just thought maybe she had an ear infection or a throat infection. I took her to the doctor the next day and he checked her out and said she looked fine. I did mention the incident from the day before and that she whimpered a bit when I moved her, but he didn't seem concerned and never checked her extremities. He said she was probably "just past tired." Well, by that evening when Derek got home, I told him she still didn't want to crawl around and asked him to see if he could get her moving around. Oh, and in the midst of all this, I have a 101 degree fever and am very sick. He came back into our bedroom and showed me how swollen her leg had gotten. I was really sick then...sick with worry. I called the pediatrician's office and told them there was definitely something wrong with her leg and they informed me it was too late to get her in and they had no room to work her in. They went ahead and called a referral in to the radiology clinic. Thank goodness my friend from church works in that clinic. She got us right in and was able to tell me in the kindest way, "Leigh Ann, if I tell you something, are you going to freak out? She has a fracture." Actually, she has two fractures. She sent us back up to the doctor, and he felt pretty bad that he missed it. The next day we were off to the orthopedic doctor for a cast. We picked hot pink. She might as well be fashionable! It comes off in January, and it is not slowing her down at all. She is even trying to walk in it!

Ella Grace and her very tiny hot pink cast!

"Baby" has an owie, too!

My Favorite Christmas Present

This year, my favorite Christmas present is not material. I am so thankful and blessed to have Derek home this year. He spent 15 months in Iraq as a helicopter pilot, flying Medevac missions in a Blackhawk. Last year was so bittersweet to me, as I was happy to share Ella's first Christmas with her, but I was sad that Derek was missing it and was so far away from home. This year has been very special. I have loved every aspect of Christmas this year. We have had the best time shopping for the kids, baking goodies, playing with the kids, and just being together. As happy as I am, there is still sadness in my heart for Wendy W., Wendy T., and Doris. They lost their loved ones in a helicopter crash in January while bravely serving in Iraq. They were all good friends of Derek's, and I know this season has had to be very difficult for them and their families. I pray for peace for them and all of the other families that have had to go through Christmas without their loved ones.

Derek, we are so happy you are home!

Turning 35...It's Not So Bad!

Today is my birthday. I'm 35. Having your birthday the day after Christmas is not that great when you are a kid. You never get to have a classroom party, you are always on Christmas break so you never see your friends, often your Christmas gift was given to you with the phrase, "...and this is for your birthday, too," and everyone is so tired after Christmas that a birthday cake just doesn't sound that good to anyone after all the food everyone has eaten. My parents always tried to make sure my birthday was separate. My mom usually made a cake for me even though everyone was stuffed, and I always received my birthday presents from them on my birthday. As I have gotten older, all of that doesn't really matter. However, my husband, Derek, really goes all out on making my birthday special, and I so appreciate it. He, Evan, and Ella Grace really spoiled me this year. The kids gave me a necklace and Derek gave me a pair of earrings. They are beautiful. And, even though it was pouring rain and very cold, they took me to lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, The Marketplace, in Conway. So, turning 35 is not that bad when you get to spend the day with and go to lunch with your three favorite people. We had a great time. Thank you, Derek, for always making my birthday special. I love you.

Derek and Ella Grace (14 months)

Evan and me. He was more excited about his coloring page than getting his picture taken!

One of the best things about my birthday is that I share it with my Mamaw (my Dad's mom). She is exactly 50 years older than me, so today is a big day for her. I was able to talk with her on the phone for a while today and wish her a Happy Birthday and she did the same for me! I love having that special bond with her. Happy 85th Mamaw! Love you!

New Bloggers!

My dear friend, Kelly, has inspired me to become a blogger! Kelly was my suitemate at OBU and I love her so much. She is probably one of the most sincerely sweet people I know, not to mention one of the funniest! We had so much fun at OBU. I think about our time there fondly and all the laughs we had. She is a riot! I don't get to see her very much anymore...only when she stops through Little Rock from time-to-time and we catch lunch with Kandi (Kelly's roommate at OBU and my other dear friend). I was so happy to get Kelly's Christmas card this year and find she had written a note letting me know I could keep up with her and Scott (Kelly's husband) through her blog. I had the best time reading it! It is so Kelly! I then told Derek I was thinking about doing a blog, secretly wondering if he would laugh at me. Derek, being the technical guy he is, thought it was a great idea and that it would be a lot of fun for us. He said he would even be interested in doing some posts himself. At first, I thought we are kind of boring and I have no idea what I will write about other than our daily life. Then I thought about my children growing up so fast. I think this will be a great way for me to capture our life as it happens. So, I guess I am doing this mainly for me, so I won't forget the funny things, the sweet things, the interesting things, the crazy things, and the wonderful things that happen when you are a blessed mom of two beautiful children. In the meantime, if friends read it and enjoy it, that's just icing on the cake! Thanks, Kelly, for inspiring me to do this and for being my friend. Hugs!

This is Kelly and me doing the "Cabbage Patch" dance in my dorm room. I can't remember for sure what we were celebrating. There is no telling!

I am only posting these pictures because I think Kelly will get a kick out of them. Kandi is first on the left and Kelly is last on the right. Notice mine and Kelly's matching gingham shorts (not planned of course) and my lovely '90's hairdo. Man, I had a lot of hair!

We REALLY need to get together soon to get some new pictures!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas To All Our Family And Friends!

Derek, Leigh Ann, Evan & Ella Grace