I haven't wanted to write this post so I've been putting it off. Sadly, our dog of almost 14 years, Zoey, died on January 19th. She had been sick for a while, so we knew it was going to happen, but it was really hard on us.

We were eating dinner and Zoey was outside. I had put her outside earlier in the day because she had peed on the kitchen floor and I mopped it up. The weather was nice, so she stayed out for a little bit. Well, while we were eating we heard a yelp from outside and we looked at each other because it sounded different from any sound we had heard before. Daran went outside and he said he could tell something was wrong. She died shortly after he went outside. He took her to the vet and they cremated her.

We still miss her and talk about her all the time. She was a good dog and very patient with Rachel. Rachel would hang all over her and Zoey very rarely growled or got mad. Zoey kept me company when I was home on bedrest and Daran was gone all day to work.

Last week of vacation

On Monday we went to see Princess and the Frog. Rachel did okay, but I don't think she was really interested in the movie. She wanted to go to the bathroom and sit on my lap most of the movie. She didn't really pay attention, but I liked the movie. I thought it was cute.

On Tuesday we met Nana, Papa , Elizabeth and Benjamin at the bouncy place in Lakeline Mall. It was very crowded, so we didn't stay too long. We also ate lunch there and then we came home.

On Wednesday we went out to eat lunch with Nana at Mimi's and did a little shopping.

On Thursday Nana and Papa took care of Rachel for a few hours while I graded papers, and then we went to HEB. It was New Year's Eve, but we didn't really do anything exciting.

Christmas Part II

On Christmas Eve, Nana and Papa came over around 4:00 and Rachel opened a present and then we went out to eat dinner at Red Lobster. Rachel was so well behaved, i was so proud of her. She even ate well! Then we came back to our house and opened the rest of our presents. Rachel got some art supplies, new clothes and a princess light. Daran got a gift card to Fry's, and I got some new silverware and some earrings and a new nightgown. It was a great night!

After Rachel went to bed, we got all of the Santa stuff out and off we went to bed!

On Christmas morning Rachel woke up around 6:30 and then we opened presents. She was very excited to see what Santa brought her. She got a barbie bathtub, art stuff, barbie jeep, a barbie, and some games. I know I'm forgetting something, she got lots of stuff.

(I thought I would throw in that picture of Zoey because she is sick and we don't know if she will make it much longer. She is almost 14 years old. We have had her since 1996 right after we moved into our house on Dominique. We are very sad that she is sick and it breaks our heart.)

Then we got ready and went to Nanny and Papa's house. We stayed there most of the day and opened presents and then had a delicious lunch. Rachel got lots of stuff there too. A doll, games, stuff for her doll house. We had a wonderful Christmas.

Christmas Part I

My last day of school was December 18th and I was so ready to be out of there! I was very ready for a break!

On Sunday the 20th we went to Don and Carlene's for Christmas and Rachel really enjoyed herself. She got to ride on the golf cart with Grandpa Don and Daran and they saw some deer. We ate lunch and opened presents and Rachel was very sweet.

Then on Monday the 20th we went to see Santa. Last year she cried and wouldn't sit on his lap and told him not to touch her. It was hilarious. This year she sat right up there and told him what she wanted, a barbie bathtub, a barbie car, and a kids snuggie. Isn't the kids snuggie thing hilarious?

This picture isn't the greatest, but it shows that she was having fun with Santa.

After Santa, we went to buy a big TV. Daran had been talking about it forever and I was like just buy it already. So we got a 55 inch LCD TV and a blu ray player. It is awesome!

On Tuesday I got my hair cut and highlighted, and Rachel stayed with Nana and Elizabeth was there. They always have a great time together and she cried when we left.

On Wednesday, Shonda, Gary and Priceilla came over for dinner and to open presents. We don't get to see them very often, but the girls always have lots of fun together.

Christmas Program

Rachel's Christmas program was on December 11th. Daran and I took the day off work so we could also do some Christmas shopping. Rachel was an angel this year, and actually it is the third year in a row she has worn the angel costume that Mary made for her. It gets a little bit shorter every year. Last year at her Christmas program, when she saw me she started crying and didn't even perform with her class, so this year I was going to hide in the corner so she wouldn't see me. One of the moms came up and said that Rachel was already crying and sitting in her teacher's lap, so I thought, oh no, here we go again. Well suprisingly, she did really well. Her teacher said that she was one of the best singers, and that is why she is standing by Mary. She did a wonderful job! Afterwards, we went Christmas shopping and then out to eat lunch, so we had a very busy day.

October and November

I think about updating this every Sunday and then never get around to it between cleaning, shopping and laundry. Right now Rachel is terrorizing Zoey, so I have a little time.


For Halloween Rachel was Minnie Mouse. Nana and Papa came over in the evening and we had pizza, and then Rachel went trick or treating with some kids in the neighborhood. They ran in a big pack and after a while I couldn't even tell where she was, but I knew she was there.









Do you notice how she is the only one dressed cute. Everyone else was a vampire or scary bride or something like that. We got her costume at Target and it was adorable.



I had my first Thanksgiving at my house. Dad came over in the morning and showed me how to do the turkey, and they also made sweet potatoes, stuffing and fruit salad. I did the green bean casserole, corn casserole, rolls, pumpkin pie and ham. Doug, Eleanor, Elizabeth and Benjamin came over and brought a pecan pie. The kids really enjoyed playing together and everything tasted great. I forgot to take any pictures. I guess I was too busy cooking and cleaning.


Unfortuately the next morning Dad called at about 7:45 asking if anyone was throwing up. I told him no and he said that at about 4 in the morning mom had woken him up in pain and they went to the emergency room. She was having a gall bladder attack and needs surgery pretty soon. So, my first Thanksgiving, I send my mom to the hospital.

What we've been doing

We have been very busy. Rachel is really enjoying school. Her teacher this year is Ms. Jan and they are working on their letters and numbers. They have show and tell every week and you have to take something that starts with that letter of the week. So far we have taken her apple umbrella, a book, her Rachel cup, and a doll. We went to a birthday party last weekend for one of her friends, Bella. It was at their house and lots of fun. Then I came home and cleaned my house like a madwoman because I can't stand having a messy house.

Mom is doing better with her hip replacement. She is home now and we went to see her last Sunday. She was happy to see Rachel and Rachel was very happy to see her.

Rachel is getting so big and grown up. Right now while I'm writing this she is pretending to talk on the phone. She loves to play with her dolls and she loves to play outside. The weather has been really rainy lately though so she is hanging out with me.