Trip to Houston

A few weekends ago we packed up and went to Houston to get away. We stayed at a nice place on the water. The view was great!

We went to the Space Center for the day. We had a really great time. There was lots of interesting stuff and they took you on a tram ride around the grounds. We go to go see the real mission control center, and the training facility for the astronauts. There was also a giant indoor play scape for the kids. Dylan was a little small for it, but Tyler was in heaven.

We went to a place called The Aquarium for dinner. It was really neat. They had a humongous fish tank in the middle of the restaurant. Our waitress said it was the second largest in the country? It was great entertainment while we waited for our food which was only okay. The kids were fascinated by the fish, sharks and other things.

We also rode on this cool double decker carousel, and of course we were up top.

Not much.

So I don't feel like much is happening this week but here are a few updates and some cute pictures.

• First is Jeff and his hand. He is doing better. He got the pins removed and a full normal cast put on, not pink per my request but whatever, he will have it on for another 3 weeks. He isn't groaning about it as much so that is good, and he can finally button his own pants and tie his own shoes so that is even better. How do I feel besides not having to dress him? I am getting over it slowly. A friend reminds me that it could have been worse, but I still have heart palpitations and anxiety attacks every time I open a new medical bill in the mail.
• Potty Training Dylan! Ugh! I guess it is going okay. He has been wearing just underpants for the whole week, except to bed. I have figured out that I just need to be a better mom and put him on the pot ever hour whether he says he has to go or not because then we do great. Instead of waiting for him to tell me and having it be to late. Hopefully soon he will have it down.
• Kyle is going through a "if your not going to hold me or play with me I am going to cry till you do" phase. Good times. Which then of course, after I let him cry for a while makes him so hysterical that just holding him won't work and I end up having to feed him even though I know he isn't hungry, which takes even more time, but then usually puts him to sleep. I am hoping he will grow out of this soon.
• I need a haircut. But I have been enjoying the dry weather, which means good hair, split ends or not.
• Dry air also means though that Tyler's eczema is in full swing. Not to mentions allergies are awful right now. And since he is allergic to everything air born the poor kid is in a world of hurt. Zyrtec is our friend, along with lotions, cremes, his inhaler, and nasal spray. Poor kid.

When he is smiling, he sure is cute!

Two heads are better than one!

Do you Kung Fu?

Kung Fu Panda is our new favorite movie. Of course that means that we have to Kung Fu all day long. It is also a rule here that when you Kung Fu you have to make a silly face.

This is just a good picture of me and my TyTy.

Disguise

For youth group the leaders all dresses up in disguises and went and hid around our local Walmart and then the kids were sent out to try and find us. We all had a great time hiding and finding. My friend Kristen rocks, and did my make up really dark and braided my hair. I wore all of Jeffs winter Harley riding gear. It was funny to see kids walk right by me or stand there and debate with each other if I was someone they were looking for.

These are women leaders that hid. We all looked great!

Thanks Kristen! I owe you big!

BTW Happy New Year!

2008 brought us an unexpected surprisebut we wouldn't change him for the world. We hope 2009 will bring us rest, relaxation, and some good old fashion fun. Hope it is good for you!

I just don't want to!

One of the things I really dislike in life along with hair, humidity, and sand, is POTTY TRAINING! YUCK, YUCK, YUCK! Dylan turned two in November so I decided that after the new year we would start him pooping and peeing in the toilet. He decided it was time for this a little while back, but I have been ignoring him because I still don't think I am ready. What do I do if he is ready and I'm not? I just hate dealing with it. Do I risk putting him in underpants and the aftermath of an accident? Do I even dare put him in a pull up, which I don't think helps? Or do I just keep dealing with yucky diapers? I guess I just have to suck it up and get in sink with him if he is ready. Since I am now finding him on the pot by himself and ripped off diapers around the house, some messy some not (good times), I just need to do it and hope he figures it out fast. Did I mention how much I dislike this and don't want to! AAAAHHHHHH!

Are you a Pepper?

I'm a Pepper! That's right. I love Dr. Pepper and I have been trying to go to the Dr. Pepper museum in Waco for a while now. I finally convinced Jeff that we had nothing better to do so off we went. Did you know that Dr. Pepper was invented in Waco Texas? You can find that out and more by visiting there museum http://www.drpeppermuseum.com/

You can tell by the expressions on there faces that they had a great time!

At least I did! A Pepper is what they call a person who loves Dr. Pepper. Are you a Pepper?

LOOK AT THE CAMERA!!!!

It really probably would have been a better trip by myself or with a fellow Pepper. The kids were a bit rowdy after the hour drive and Jeff isn't much for the museum seen, but now we can say we have been and never go back again. Well, maybe.

Why eat just one?

Thanks for making me smile Dylan Doo.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Christmas Eve day we took the kids to go see Santa. Better late than never. With all that has been going on we just seemed to lose track of time, but the kids had to get there request (light sabers) in so luckily for us he was still around. He was looking a little rough, maybe a long season for him, but the kids were happy and didn't freak out so that is all that matters.

That night they got to open one gift. Jammies of course. Tyler got spiderman and Dylan got cars.

Christmas morning was busy. The kids got all they wanted and more. Santa was very generous and got them the light sabers they have been waiting for.

Kyle's loot

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa D for the wagon!

We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas too!

It WAS a Merry Christmas

So despite injury and crankiness we did manage to have a Merry Christmas. Here is the photo finally chosen to go out on the Christmas card. With all the trauma it took to get it I think it turned out pretty good.

With the Christmas card I sent out Kyle's birth announcement. I thought it turned out really cute. (Thanks Katie!)

On Tyler's last day of school they put on a little Christmas program and invited all the parents. He was an angel and did a wonderful job.

Jeff's Mom, Brother and Grandparents came from Michigan. We had great weather for them and I think they were happy for the change in scenery. We went to two movies, did some shopping and of course went out for steak, bbq, and tex-mex.

The Pictures

He almost looks proud doesn't he? Trust me, there is no pride in not being able to button your own pants.

The Result

Make sure to read "The Conversation" first.

• A swollen and bruised hand
• A hurt knee
• An aching back
• Sore ribs
• Scraps and Scratches and Bruises all over
• A limp
• A lot of groaning
• Won't go to Dr.
• Can't get out of bed by self
• Can't button own pants
• Can't put on own sock or tie shoes
• A really really really ticked off wife
• Finally will go to Dr.
• ProMed Dr visit
• An ex-ray of hand
• A referral to an Orthopedic doctor to look at hand.
• A massive splint on hand.
• One ProMed bill
• Trip to Chiropractor
• An Orthopedic Dr. visit.
• A recommendation for hand surgery the day family is coming into town
• A really really ticked off wife
• Trip to Chiropractor
• Hand surgery the day family is coming into town
• Kids at friends houses all day.
• At hospital all day. The day that family is coming into town
• A very stressed out wife
• Two wires and one screw in hand
• One weird half cast/splint on hand
• Pain pills
• One Orthopedic Dr. appointment in 2weeks
• In cast/splint for 6 weeks
• One huge medical/hospital/doctor bill (Merry Christmas Jeff)
• A really ticked off wife
• Still can't get up from laying position by self
• Still can't put on own socks and shoes
• Still can't button own pants
• Not much help at all
• One majorly deserved I TOLD YOU SO!
• One not so happy wife

Picture to come later.

The Conversation

This is a conversation that took place at our house 2 weeks ago.

Jeff: I think I am going to go dirt bike riding. Rushell: Hmmmm. When? Jeff: Friday. Rushell: With who? Jeff: Some work guys. Rushell: Hmmm. Have you before? Jeff: No. These guys ride all the time and invited me, so I think I will go. Rushell: Hmmm

Jeff: So do we have stuff going on this Friday? If not I think I am going to go. What do you think? Rushell: Well.... I guess so..... I don't know..... I just makes me nervous. Dirt bike riding seems kind of dangerous, those motorcross guys get hurt all the time. Jeff: Oh it will be fine, we are just going to go for a little bit, have some fun and then come home. We will be on a track made for dirt biking and everything. Rushell: Right. But people still get hurt and I really can not afford for you to get hurt right now. Not only is your family (mom, brother and grandparents) coming soon but we need to get the house ready and finish up Christmas stuff. I really can not afford for you to get hurt. Not to mention we don't have medical insurance. This just really worries me. Jeff: Okay... I get that, but I will be fine. Rushell: Right. No jumps or anything crazy okay? Jeff: I'll be fine.

All by myself!

Also this weekend, Tyler mastered riding his bike all by himself. He got starting and stopping down, and now he is off!

Parades!

Most of you probably don't know this, but my husband loves parades. I think it has something to do with growing up in a small town and having a parade for everything. At first I thought it was funny (okay is still think it is kinda funny, a grown man loving parades this much), but now we actually have a lot of fun taking the kids and finding all the parades around. This weekend we went to the Georgetown parade and holiday stroll. It was pretty good and there was lots of free stuff, we will probably hit it up again next year. Here are a few pics of us waiting for the parade to start. Next weekend will be the Pflugerville night light parade, we can't wait!

Bah Humbug!

I hope your Christmas card photo shoots are going better than mine! AGH!!!!!

This may be what you get!

If you want a card from the Megerles email me your address (rushell@coolofftexas.com), I know alot of you have moved since last year!