At the Mallory's This Week

Well this week turned out to be a pretty busy week for me at home. I am devoting this month to Winter Cleaning. I know most people do it in the Spring but I like to spend my time outdoors during that season so I choose Winter and the month of January to do it. So far this month I have cleaned out my kitchen cabinets, pantry, laundry room, boys bedrooms, bathrooms, my bedroom, desk and file cabinet. I still need to clean the blinds, shampoo the carpet and clean out our closets. It has been fun doing this actually because I find things that I thought I had lost or gotten rid of. I found Jesse's imunization records and our birth certificates, which I thought was lost in the move 3 or 4 years ago. I found the paint that Jesse had stored above the refrigerator. I had been looking for this for some time. The good thing about cleaning like this is you get to where everything is organized and in its place and it makes you feel so peaceful, or atleast it does that for me because I love my organization.....love it! Without it I would be lost and just a little crazy.....the eye twitching kind of crazy. So all is almost right in my world and after that I can kick up my feet and delve into the next Nora Roberts book I stumble upon. Hope everyone had a happy holiday!

P.S. Robin if you are reading this, that was me that honked at you the other night when you guys were having a bonfire :)

So in my last post I didn't get to show you a picture of my wonderful Aunt Debbie because the only ones I had I was in and looked terrible. I often hear that we look alot alike (which right now I don't think so because I got the love pudg going on ) but as far as personality we are both very tell it like it is. She is like my best friend and has always no matter what been there for me. I love her very much! This picture below is one that was taken after she had her hair and makeup done before the wedding. The cool thing about it is she had her makeup spray painted on so you can sleep with it on and wake up looking the exact same. I will definantly keep that in mind when going to my next event.

Isn't she perty?

Our Visit to Houston

After New Years Jess and I dropped the kiddies off at the grandparents and headed to Houston for my cousins wedding that Saturday. To say we had a blast would be putting it lightly. Ok, let me put it this way, if i could sell my house and bring Jesse's family with us, I would totally move to Houston. I love the people, I love how you can have a house on one lot and a resteraunt on another. I love the skyrises, and how there is always something to do. It is a place where just about anything can thrive. And my favorite Aunt and cousin in the whole world is there! While we were there she spoiled us rotten, we went to all kinds of neat places to eat. My favorite I think is Harry's for breakfast. Their food is incredible! While we were there she took us to see Marley and me. All I have to say is good grief! I can imagine while we were sitting there Jesse was on the side of me thinking, "see, this is why we don't have a dog. Why would I want to get myself attached to something that is going to die and make my kids and myself sad." My Aunt Debbie and I still think we saw Jess wipe a tear. =)

Anywho, we got to meet some really amazing people while we were there that are now a part of our family we just love them so much. One would be Rikka, my Aunt Debbie's best friend and traveling buddy. She has a little dog named Becker who is so cute and fiesty. He bosses all of the big dogs. Rikka is extremely sweet, fiesty and artistic and probably one of the most understanding people I have ever met. She is now dubbed Auntie Rikka in our family.

Another person we got to know a little better was my cousin Johns best friend Barry. He is such a cut up but also a really stand up person. I heard he does a really good impression of the cowardly lion from the wizard of oz but didn't get to see him do it before we left. Maybe next time eh Barry?

Jesse finally met a dog that doesn't make him sick and that he liked. His name is Borris and he is a Goldendoodle. Borris just won my heart and I wish I could have him for myself. He likes to cuddle, loves to throw the ball and isn't too hyper. He is also hypoallergenic, meaning he doesn't shed. I know crazy huh? Because a dog with that much hair has to shed something right? Nope and Jesse didn't get the least bit sick while we were there and he petted him and everything.

Before the wedding I got my hair and makeup done at Urban Retreat and they did a great job. It was a little odd at first because I am used to doing my own makeup but I got used to it after a while. While I was doing this Jess was off to the museums. I was so glad he had time to do this and Auntie Rikka gave him her free pass to one of them. He seemed to really enjoy it and I think it might have given him a few ideas for painting.

My cousin Johns wedding was held Saturday night and it really was beautiful. I felt kinda bad for them though because all the pastor talked about was how they were going to screw their marriage up. Being the wonderful people they are they stood there and took it with a smile and walked away husband and wife. Abby looked so pretty in her dress and as soon as I have pictures of that I will post them. Until then the one we took the next day of them will have to do. We are so excited for the two of them. My cousin John is more of a brother to me than a cousin and I just love him so much! It is really nice because Abby just fits right into everything and I think they are going to make great parents.

Needless to say our time in Houston was fantastic and we cannot wait to visit there again this summer!

New Years Eve

We had so much fun New Years Eve! We had Jesse's family out to our house for dinner and fireworks. I cooked Cabbage and beef over rice and mac n cheese with hotdogs for the kids (even though a lot of us adults ate that too) We then went outside to do fireworks. I lit them out by the pond while the kids sat on the trampoline. Jackson, of course, refused to get on the trampoline and was very unhappy about not being able to help mom light the fireworks. Once they started popping though he quickly stopped complaining and just started jumping up and down screaming for joy. At midnight we were ready with those things you blow and they curl out and make noise and some poppers that blew confetti. What was dissapointing was the things you blow didn't make noise at all and none of the kids had the strength to pull the poppers so I went around and did them all for them. They still liked it though. I think the icecream and apple pie made up for the dissapointment. What kid doesn't like icecream?