RIP Chloe Bell

My beloved, 17 year old Chloe passed away this past Friday. Actually, we put her down. It was the sadest day. We had Chloe for 13 years. She was such a good companion to us. We had to make the VERY difficult decision to put her down. She couldn't see anything but shadow. She couldn't control her bathroom habits at all. She recently has started walking in a circle...always to the right. She couldn't be outside any longer than 5 mins. when it is hotter than 80 degrees outside. Steve accidently left her out there for about 20 minutes a couple of weeks ago and opened the back door and she was sitting there crying and couldn't use her back legs at all. Then she comes in and goes directly to the water, but is so disoriented that she would walk in the water and just stand in it not realizing it. She in general was totally disoriented. I think the breaking point for us was that Thurs. morning Steve found her laying in her own urine on the living room wood floor. There were some internal issues as well with her kidney and heart. What kind of life was she living? Not a very kind one. She would poop on the floor and walk in circles in it and would spread it all over the floor and be all over her as well. It just wasn't right to allow her to keep living that way.

We took her to the vet on Friday knowing that it would be time to put her down. The vet confirmed our fears. There is medication that can help her to walk in a straight line and help with the dizziness. But because of how disoriented she was, it wouldn't do a lot of good. So we put her down. Chloe has given us 13 years of joy and happiness, we wanted the end of her life to be with dignity. She deserved that.

We were there with her when she died. The vet and vet techs were very kind. We decided to have her seperately cremated, and they will put her remains in a wood box with her name on it. She will be back home one day this week.

Below are some pictures of her last day with us.
The last year or more she hasn't been able to jump. So we had a bed for her in the living room so she would be comfortable while being in the same room with us. She used to be a couch dog. But her old bones wouldn't allow her to jump up on it anymore.



Peyton has handeled it ok. I explained to her that Chloe was going to be with God and she would always be in our hearts. So before she and I left the house to take her to Andi's, I told her she might want to say goodbye to Chloe and give her a kiss. She did and told Chloe she loved her. She cried for a minute, but then was ok. She has cried a few more times since, but mainly asks questions about it. She keeps saying "I can't believe Chloe is never coming back". "Will Chloe be with God forever?" "I sure am going to miss Chloe". Heartbreaking. ;(

This picture kind of stinks. Because Chloe can't see anything but shadows, she didn't like to be picked up or messed with. She would see a shadow coming at her and it would scare her. So I was trying to get a picture with her and Peyton, but Chloe didn't like Peyton holding her.

We miss our Chloe. I think Murray misses her too. He seems lonely or sad. We have been giving him some extra attention though.

Thank you, Chloe, for the precious 13 years we all had together. Thank you for the unconditional love you always gave. Rest in eternal peace, sweet girl. You were loved!

oopppss!!

The above pictures have been my life the past few weeks in a nuttshell. End of school activities, graduation, graduation parties, hanging out with Peyton...etc and etc.

Sorry folks. I have truly sucked at blogging lately. I have been ridiculously busy. I have said I have been busy in the past, but I am tellin' ya. I have been super busy. I had 1 closing last month and I have 3 closings this month. OOber busy. ;) Thus, no blogging.

Ash's end of year kindergarten thing was cute. Can't believe she is done with her first year of school. Peyton finished her 3 year old class and says every day how much she misses her friends and her teacher. Brit's graduation was grand. LONG...but nice to be there to see it. Syd is excited that summer is here and I hear she is sleeping until 11am every day. Oh the dog days of summer. How I miss that as a kid.

I have just been shuffeling Peyton to here and there and every where. Mostly Nana's house. She has been swimming a few times, and is picking it back up good. The first day was tough getting back in the groove, but after a couple of swims she is off and runnin' again. No fear at all. And we found out nana's neighbor is a certified swim instructor. WOW! Awesome. She is going to help out too. I hope Andi gets Ash in lessons soon. ANDI!!!!

Brit's grad party was good. A bit of a whoppin' for all of us and the kids. We may have had them doing too much. A fine line of making it challening and making them pass out. ha

Otherwise, folks....I really don't have much else to say. It is after midnight now, and I am tired. That's been it in a nuttshell.

Ya'll have a good weekend!

short and sweet

These are pics from Peyton's end of year program at Little Blessings. Thurs. is her last day for the year. They sing songs at this program, but Peyton just stood there and didn't sing or do the hand movements. It wasn't that she was being shy, because in between songs she was yelling "HI ASHLEIGH" LOL Goofy girl.

Very busy times. Work, End of year stuff, and attending all the different "lasts" for Brittany. Amazing kid, that one She has gotten lots of scholarships. Very proud. Go brit!

Lots of work. Had a closing Tues. and another on June 1. Got an offer on a house in Bedford I listed YESTERDAY! Already an offer. WOW! Need more like that. Listed a short sale tonight. Mom might have somebody to buy her house before I ever even got it listed, and REALLY need a buyer for my listing in Keller so he can buy the short sale by mid-end of June. That would bring me great $$, so say a prayer, would ya.

Just working a lot and trying to spend a lot of time with Peyton when I can. I worked until 9pm tonight, so I got to see her for all of 10 mins. today. uggh. Gonna try and take the weekend off though. We will see if that works out. I almost don't know what I would do with myself.

Ya'll have a good week. More later.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day everybody. I had a wonderful day. Very relaxing. Steve has done everything today. I got my favorite Entemens (sp?) donuts for breakfast. I didn't want a big breakfast since we were going to lunch. Got flowers and handmade cards and coupons for special things from Steve.

We went to lunch with my mother to Joe T. Garcia's. They were busy but didn't have to wait too long. It was very good. I then came home and took a big ol' nap! Best part of my day. ;) Woke up and Steve started preparing dinner for me and his mother who was coming over to join us. Had a nice dinner and had chocolate fondue for dessert. Yummy! AND Steve CLEANED it ALL up! Which was good, because he is one messy cook. the messier the cook the better the cook, isn't that the saying. It was very good. He did an excellent job.

Peyton kept giving me hugs and kisses telling me happy mother's day, and that she is happy I am her mommy. So sweet, that little girl. She is very loving! I just love her to pieces.

We had kind of a rough day with on Friday with her. She got a marker and wrote all up and down her arms and legs. Then proceeded to write on the carpet in her playroom! Oh man. She got in HuGE trouble. Toys thrown away, all her letters taken off of her board, she had to clean it up herself, butt spankin' (which made me cry), and time out. We were not happy with her at all.

I am just not a spanker. I don't like doing it, and I really usually don't. Steve does believe in it. and it's not that I don't believe it it...I just really don't like doing it. After it was all said and done, I was sitting in the living room and she was sitting on the couch like she was told to do, and I started to cry because I hate that she had to throw away toys and that I had to spank her. She looked and me and said, "mommy, why are you crying", and I said, "because I am sad". She knew why I was sad. She came over to me and started crying and said, "I'm sorry Mommy." "I won't do it again." I just told her, "it made me sad that she did that, and that I had to spank her and had to throw away toys because she won't take care of her things, and the home that we have." She was so upset that I was upset, that was the worst punishment she could get. I learned a lot from that episode. ;)

Anyway...Peyton really is a great kid. On this Mother's Day I am just thankful I have her and that she made me a mother. The fact that I can't have another child sucks. But, the blessing that I have is unmeasurable. God Graced me with Peyton. How lucky am I, and who am I to complain! Thank God I have her. Thank God I have Steve. The 3 of us make up our little family. All I need. The end.

Thanks to my Mom for a wonderful life. She is a pretty remarkable woman herself. With all the challenges she has faced in her lifetime, she came through with grace and glory. She is keeping herself healthy and going with the flow. Thanks, Mom for all you do and have done! We love you.

Having said all that, Happy Mother's Day to you all. Hope you all had a fabulous day whether you are a mother or not.

Quick blog..it's late

Went on a picnic over the weekend. These are just a few pics from that. Ash took the pic of me and peyton. ha Good time. Both girls really enjoyed it. Peyton has been begging to go on a picnic. They were ready to go after about an hour though.

I took the entire day off Saturday! It was really needed. I had to do another open house on Sun. though. uggh. So I didn't get the whole weekend off, which I do need to do soon! Be nice not to have to worry about work for a whole weekend. Was gonna try to this weekend, but ended up scheduling 2 appointments on Sat. Maybe I can take the whole day Sun. off.

Peyton story....She was walking into the other room, turned around too late and smacked her head into the wall. Started crying. Told her to come here and let me look. Tears a flowing...I kissed it and made it better. Told her she was fine but she might want to go make sure the wall was ok. She looked at the wall then looked at me and said, "mommy, actually the wall can't talk". Steve and I busted out laughing. She busted out in tears again. I asked her why she was crying, and she said "because your laughing at me". We told her, "no, we aren't laughing at you, you made a joke so we laughed." She giggled and then said, "knock, knock". LOL!!! We laughed our asses off again and so did she. Then she got serious, and said"knock knock!" hahaha Too funny. We gladly abliged with letting her finish her knock knock joke. Which is this. Knock knock. Whose there. Banana. Banana who. Banana you glad I didn't say banana head. hehe

Makes no sense. But funny.

She has been testing us lately with her attitude and a few other things. Cleaning her room, leaving her shoes out, I had to cut bubble gum out of her hair yesterday. Now she is missing a big clump of hair. Leaving her movies laying around and losing them, not listening and just all around sassing me. We now have a new time out chair set up in the dining room to make it less fun then the corner where she could see the tv. Plus I'm tired of hearing her crying in my ear.

Otherwise...staying busy. Birthday is Friday. 37. Damn, I am getting old. But so is Andi. One advantage to having a twin. You know you are not the only one getting old.

Auntie S. give Uncle Richard our love. Hear he is going to be doing chemo if he hasn't started already. We are thinking of you guys.

Have a closing on the 19th of May! Thank GOD! Been since Jan. that I got my last paycheck. Have I mentioned I need referrals!!!! Come on people! Something...anything!

Hope that satisfies the blog folk for the week.

Your weekly update from your friendly host...

So...how about it? Good week? I had a pretty good week. Friday couldn't get here soon enough...no not because it's the weekend and all that jazz...cause really what do I care if it's the weekend...I work all weekend anyway. Friday was FINALLY payday for Steve. uggh. It takes forever for the next pay period to roll around. He gets paid every 2 weeks but for 10 years we were used to getting paid every week. It has been something like 2 years we have been doing the every 2 week thing, and it just sucks. ha We were so broke all week, we had to spend the garage sale money that we made..which we were saving to go to Shreveport next month as a get a way trip for me and steve. Now we don't have it. ;( Now we can't go on our trip. ;( Man oh man. Money has been tight. There is just a lot of extra stuff going on the past month, and May...oh my gosh! Going to be even worse.





Otherwise...really nothing to tell for the week. Not a terribly busy week, but did have some good leads and work. Hey ya'll! I need referrals! Bring 'em on!





Peyton had a good week. Lots of bike riding but lots of rain too. Which made her mad that she couldn't ride her bike.





Let me see if I can find some pics I haven't put on here yet.




Ah yes...The princess sleeps. Her sweet cousin, Sydney, gave Peyton this princess mesh deal that goes over the bed. She loves it. And doesn't she look too sweet. I did have to threaten to take it down if I found her playing with it before going to bed. I walked in 3 nights in a row to check on her and she had that mesh wrapped all around her. I was scared she would tangle herself and choke or cut off bloodflow or something. So, it worked. She hasn't since I told her I would take it down. But I still frantically check on her every night.

That's all the pics I have. Maybe one day Andi will get our Easter pics to us so I can post some. ANDI!!!!!

Have a good week all!

Happy Easter

Well. How was y'alls easter? Ours was great. I am sorry to admit we didn't go to church this year. We at least try to goto the program they have at my Mom's church, but didn't make that because I worked all day. And then this morning we hung out as the little family that we are. My favorite.

Saturday was an Easter egg hunt at Steve's folks church. I had to work so Steve took Peyton there. I got to work and the receptionist there said to just go. If there was a call she would call me on my cell. Our new rule is that if you are on floor duty you have to be at the office. So I took off and went to the church for a while. I kind of wish I had just stayed at work. ha I'll tell you why in a min. It was a nice surprise for Peyton because she cried when she left in the morning to go and I wasn't going too. Which made me cry. uggh. So when I showed up and surprised her and steve she was excited. I missed the egg hunt but they had bounce houses and cupcakes. Here are a few pictures to tell the rest of the story....

Soooo...Peyton was happy to see me. Playing in the bounce houses.

And picking up Easter eggs...

Posing for pictures...

Eating cupcakes...

Then the melt down. She was walking around barefoot because she was going back and forth to the different bounce houses. She stubbed her toe on the concrete and was bleeding with skin hanging off. She was crying. Ok. Don't blame her. Tried cleaning it off, she freaked. The nice lady at the church ran in and got me a band aid. K...Peyton, for some odd reason, does not like bandaids. She freaks out about them. Hasn't let me put one on her for a couple of years now. Weird fear....but a fear nonetheless. So she is screaming, freaking out, and asked her to please let me put her shoe on her. She screamed and cried. We are now into full blown meltdown. Kicking and screaming. Here is the end result of this little excursion.

Yes, Steve carrying her off kicking and screaming. She did not want to have to leave but wouldn't put her shoes on, wouldn't let us put on a bandaid, clean her wound or anything. Then she wouldn't walk to the car. So steve picked her up and carried her away. Steve's mom said she had people from the church calling her asking if she was ok later that afternoon. Oy...she is now known as the cryer. ha

She does this about once a year. This was a pretty bad one, but she has had one worse one when she was about 2. That one was BAD. Took me and Steve both to hold her down to get her in her carseat.

Other than that...it was a nice time. I, personally was fine with having to go back to work after that. haha Let steve deal with the cranky kid. So I did. Then Steve calmed her down and she actually let him put on a bandaid when we got home!!!! I was SHOCKED!

Steve's folks wanted her to come over after the church function, but due to circumstances of our little monster freaking out, she couldn't go right away. So steve too her back later. She did very well and stayed there for dinner too. Which was nice, because after steve went with me to show a crazy man a house, (because I didn't feel safe alone), he and I went out and had Sushi. We tried a different place this time and it was very good. We tried a new one which was very spicey! Can't remember the name of it now, but wow. My stomach was burning for a few hours after. But it sure was yummy. We also finished getting all of our Easter day festivity stuff. Nice day overall.

Today, woke up and made my family some yummy Texas breakfast. Biscuits and gravy, bacon, and eggs. Steve took a picture to save the memory because I don't cook breakfast that often.

Love breakfast food, but am not enough of a morning person to get up and feel like cooking or eating for that matter. But on Easter, I will do it. Then Peyton checked out her basket and hunted easter eggs in the house. Which is a tradition we started last year.

Then after our morning festivities I saw a perfect window of opportunity for a NAP! And I took it! Not long enough, but a nap nonetheless. ;)

Off to Andi's we went for good food and our crazy easter egg hunt. It was raining earlier in the day, so we had to all wear these pretty blue booties so we didn't ruin our shoes and andi's house from the wet and sorta muddy ground. Here are some pics.

Good times. Happy Easter, and have a good week.

Lots of pics to make up for lack of blog

Britt goofin' off


Ash hammin' it up



Peyton hammin' it up




Ally goofin' off.


All the cutie pies

Addy not enjoying the bluebonnets


Peyton not enjoying the bluebonnets

Peyton and her bud Olivia on our playdate

Lovin' the slide at the playscape

WEEEEE

Ok...I am sorry. I have gotten a lot of complaints about my lack of blogging. Do ALL the pictures make up for it?

Look. Between work, playdates, garage sales, and more work... things have been out of control lately. We had sooo much stuff to go through for the garage sale, so almost every evening the past week has been dedicated to that. Then garage sale fri. and garage sale sat. Work on saturday. Take the stuff over on Thurs. Showed a house on Thurs evening. Went to the office today to try and catch up on some stuff I had to do, but ended up having to show houses for most of it. So I had to stay late to finish the must finish items today.

So really. Has been nutts. Listed a house though and wrote an offer. And I have picked up 3 good buyers this week. Working on 2 lease folk too. (oh joy!!) But hey...$$ is $$. I will take it even if it's just a little bit.

Birthday galore lately. Brittany, Kevin, Kyle, Steve's mom, Steve wingate, Bridget, All in a 2 week period. Easter is next week. Have to get ready for that. It will also be one hell of a weekend next weekend too. Easter egg hunt at Steve's folks church, floor duty in the afternoon and mom's church program. ALL on Saturday. Sunday....church??, then to Andi's.

April is open house month. So I have the pleasure of holding open houses every sunday this month except on easter.

Did I mention things are busy!

Ok. I will quit complaining.

Peyton is doing well. She is a little monster sometimes. Yesterday I'm on the way to the garage sale, and Steve called me...(who was already there at the garage sale) Well....She was ever so kind to just drop by and bring everybody donuts. And offered to take Peyton for the day while we were doing the garage sale. HOW FREAKIN' SWEET! So she took off with Peyton for lots of fun at the Rogers' house. Then she brought her back to me. Really...it was so appreciated. Peyton wouldn't have been fun to keep up with during the garage sale because she had nobody to play with since all the other kids were in school. Thanks Jess!

Then...Jess sent me an email that I got this morning. I am going to copy and paste it below:

Entitled: Highlight of my day with Peyton

1. She was supposed to be named Brooklyn, but her daddy didn't like that name so she was named Peyton instead.
2. She asked how you spelled "Ryleigh", and thank God I called Aunt Andi to ask before scarring her for life by spelling it incorrectly. (You FREAKS of nature with the "Leigh" crap!)
3. She promised me not to tell her mommy that she got extra chocolate as her way of getting even more. (Did she tell you Ally?)
4. We built 6 puzzles together and she named every star on the Dora puzzles.
5. She LOVED Word World on PBS Kids.
6. She spilled Diet Coke on her dress and insisted it was just an accident all the while taking the straw out of the cup to drink from the bottom of it instead of sipping from the actual cup. Accident...I think not!
7. She drew me a picture of Aladdin. (I will attach this to my blog when I do my Peyton post this weekend.)
8. She covered her ears every time Ava cried and said, "That baby sure is loud." (Does that tell you what kind of days I have?)
9. Jeremy gave her a hug when she got here and he asked her why she was skipping school today. She told him that she didn't go to school and he looked at me like...what? I had to remind him that Peyton just turned 4 and he couldn't believe how tall she was! (He LOVES her and thinks she's so cute. Watch out Ash - you need to come over to "Aunt Jessica's" more often. Peyton is taking over after just one visit! LOL.)
10. She apparently inherited the "snack" gene that all women get because she ate and ate and ate some more! ...and I ate every time that she did. LMAO!
Bonus: She reminded me why every woman needs a little girl in their life!

You guys have a sweet child on your hands.
I enjoyed my time with her, and I hope that she can come over more often.

~ Jessica

---------------

I thought it was so sweet. I hope jess doesn't mind that I put it on here. Thanks Jess. Let me just tell you guys a few things about Jessica. She is really a kind person. She takes care of what needs to be taken care of. Is a great mom and friend. She takes has 3 kids at home and seems to do it effortlessly. You know what I am jealous of. The fact that she awakes at like 6 am and is happy and ready to go! I've heard about it anyway. I haven't witnessed it. I really do wish I could be a "morning person" like that. So anyway...Jess is a great lady. xoxo

The first thing on that email...The name Brooklynn. Did I ever tell you guys this story. Well, I really love that name. And my middle name is Lynn, so it would have been perfect. But our last name is York. So she would have been Brooklynn York. I told Steve we could name her Brook Lynnew York....get it?? (Brooklynn New York all run together. ha) Steve wouldn't have it. But if our last name wasn't York, she would be named Brooklynn. Anyway, I told her about that in the car on Thurs. She remembered it and told Jess about it. The other stuff is just so typical Peyton. Note to all that watch Peyton. She will ask for food all day..and I mean ALL day! You have to learn the art of NOOOO! She will eat anything that you will feed her. She has no control when it comes to food, which is a concern to me. But her food intake has to be closely monitored. It's crazy how much she wants to eat. But Jess didn't do too bad.

What else. Humm...That's it for now. I will try to do better.

Ya'll have a good week.

Long time..no blog

K...I am uploading a video while I am typing this...we shall see if it loads. I haven't had any luck with that lately.

So how the heck have ya'll been. Good I hope. I have been good. All is well. Life is grand. All is peachy keen. K...you get the picture.

What has been going on around here...hum. We didn't really do a whole lot this past weekend. FRIDAY...Friday is usually the day I try and be off. Friday is my most difficult day to find a babysitter. So, I just have ruled Fridays my day with Peyton. This past Friday we went to lunch with mom, the sis's and the kids. Then me and Andi went shopping with Peyton and Ashleigh...which is always an adventure in itself. Got a couple of things for Peyton. She is growing so fast she has pretty much caught up with Ash in the clothes dept. They are very near the same size. I think Ash is between a 7 and an 8 while Peyton is mostly 7's but sometimes 8. So the hand-me-downs are few and far between. SOOO...that means I must replenish a spring/summer wardrobe without the like of hand-me-downs. Shoes, clothes...bathing suites. $$$ expensive. A little at a time is my goal. Then took the girls for ice cream and headed it home. Then we went to dinner with the Linders.

Saturday...Steve worked until around noon, went to Brittany and Kevin's b-day extravaganza and dinner with the Harris'. (no..apparently we don't have any friends. ha)

Sunday....we did work around the house. Pulled the huge weeks and worked in the garage to get our garage sale stuff ready. Oh yes....the garage sale stuff. Steve went up in the attic so we could finally put up the rest of our Christmas stuff that has been sitting in the garage. While he was up there I said, "there is probably some stuff up there for the garage sale". Dumb of me to even mention. At the same time he touched it I saw it...the high chair. Oh God! He is going to say we need to sell it. I raced in my brain for reasons not to get rid of it. Nothing came. We are obviously not going to be able to concieve another baby. It just isn't happening for us. Have I come to grips with it. Well...I thought so....I think so....ok...not really sure. He started handing me the high chair. Tears started rolling. Then the baby mattress, the bouncy seat, the baby mattress, the stroller with baby carrier, the 2 umbrella strollers we had...ok. Full blown tears. I was so depressed and bummed for the rest of the night. I just don't know. I don't know what the heck to do. They are sitting in the garage with garage sale stickers with very low prices on them. Will they actually make it into the garage sale. I am not sure. It hurts in the pit of my stomach. But...maybe I should. If I sell it all I will surely get pregnant then. That's what happened to RC. Oh man...enough of that.

Here are some cute pictures. Video is still going...we shall see if it works.

T

Above: The "princess bride" ha Actually, it's one of those tool things that hang over your bed. Sydney was kind enough to give it to Peyton, but daddy hasn't hung it yet, so she got creative.

Below: The Linder Girls. Lovin' the nose pickin'. ha

The video worked! LOL. Andi will LOVE me for that! hehe Oh man...I can hear it now...go ahead Andi. I know it's coming.

Otherwise folks....Peyton is doing well. Went back to school today. YIPPIE! She enjoyed herself. We are on "Q" on the second round of her alphabet reward board. Had to take one away tonight because her shoes were thrown in her playroom. Must make it to the shoe pile or the closet. She got one today and yesterday for getting dresses as asked and in a timely fashion.

Me....doing a listing. It's a great listing, and I think I will have some good activity with it. Also writing an offer on a house for the owners of this listing. Unfortunately, I am not real optimistic with it. All has to time out right, and the offer is for a short sale and the offer is going to be $40k under the list price. But...they haven't gotten one offer on it, and they need one soon or it is going to foreclose. So say a little prayer that this all works out. The seller doesn't want to try and find another house...he wants that one or he is going to wait a while longer and pull his house off the market if it doens't work. Lord! So like I said. I am not optimistic. But, nonetheless. Doesn't work this time, maybe I will have a client for in the future. uggh. I hate wasting my time.

Today, cleaning lady came! woo hoo! Took Peyton to school, got to my sales meeting. Toured 2 homes, went to 2 brokers opens (open houses for realtors to see new listings), went back and worked at the office for a while, picked up Peyton then came home and worked for a while. Went to the grocery store tonight...the rest is history. Milk went down to $1.99 at wal mart for the past couple of months, and now is back up to $2.99. Orange juice went up like .50 cents since last week. What is up with that!!!!! I thought maybe prices would get in check again. They want $13 for 6 big rolls of paper towles. Good lord. I had to cheap out this time and get Brawny..which I don't usually buy.

Ok....I will stop boring you. Have a good week

Home again!

Hello all! Hope you guys had a good week. We had a good week, but a busy one...thus why there was no blog during the past week.

So I was off to San Antonio for the Century 21 Annual Convention in San Antonio. My friend, Erica, came with me. She came in from Washington last Sunday night. We had to leave Monday morning for San Antonio. We spent most of the week there, and came home Thurs. night. But we'll get into that in a min.

So, feeling guilty as a mother, I spoiled my child rotten over the weekend last week. Knowing that I was leaving my poor child to be without her mother for a week I did all I could to make myself feel better about it. Sad, I know. But the guilt I have as a mommy leaving my baby to work and leave town for work...please! How does every working mother do this! ughh So on Friday of last week I took her to the nail salon to get a mani and pedi. She cracked me up. She really didn't do the full blown mani and pedi. Just filed her nails and painted them...so she spent most of the time waiting on me to get done..ha But I guess, now that I think about it, she hasn't been in one of those places. All the comotion, all the nail techs wearing dr. masks...lots of people scurrying around...she looked terrified! The put a chair for her next to me. She sat in it and didn't move!!! She was sitting up straight, not talking, not smiling...just sitting stiff as a board. Then they moved us to the pedicure chairs. Also sat in a chair next to me, still not moving. I could tell her back was getting stiff from sitting so still and straight. I tried to tell her to relax and her reply was, "I'm fine." LOL She then got her nails and toes painted. I think she felt special, but still scared. Once we left she was so excited that her nails were so pretty and purple. So after that we went to lunch with Mom, Andi and Addy. So a lunch out with the girls. Then Friday night Ashleigh spent the night. What a treat! Saturday we drove her and Ash over to Mom's so she could take them to the Incredible Pizza Co. (kind of like a Chucky cheese.) Then when we got her back later that day, she got to go to her friend Carson's house for a night of playing with him and Abby. Carson is Peyton's age and Abby is a bit older. She always has fun there. Then Sunday we spent the day at home helping Mommy get ready to leave town.

Here are some pictures from the convention....

Yee-haw

Yee-haw and woo-hoo..ha

The "denim and diamonds" event


Big Phil and Little Vicky 2 steppin'

Cowboy up peyton

Oops a duplicate..can't figure out how to delete it. ha

Line dancin'...Julie (left) Ruth (right)..Have no

idea who that is in the middle. ha

Line dancing (L-R) Ros (broker), Tim (broker), Ruth

"Denim and Diamonds" event with Tim my broker

and Erica

Princesses Peyton and Erica

So it was a good time. We stayed on the Riverwalk at a very overpriced hotel. Nickle and dimed ya to death. Drove down on Monday and as soon as I got there one of the classes I wanted to take was changed to Monday instead of Tues. So immediately went and changed, registered and off to a class. The first night was a welcome party at a place called Sunset Station. It was a good time. That's where most of the pictures came from. Tuesday we went to the boring general session. Really, it was boring. That lasted until about 11:30. Went to lunch, then to classes. Came back immediately and changed and had to leave to go to our office party. Our brokers were staying at their aunt and uncle's house. So they had a chef cook us up some good mexican food and hung out there for the evening. It was a lot of fun. But we were exhausted. Back to the hotel....finally I slept. I couldn't sleep the first night. I am a creature of habit and was not in my habit or in my bed. Took Tylenol PM the 2nd and 3rd night and slept like a baby. Wed....again the general session, lunch, did the Expo they had there for all the new products and such, and went to classes. Wed. night we had our Denim and Diamonds event. Had Henry Cho as the comedian, and Julian Hough (sp?) as the entertainment. More awards and such. Then we had our Centurion event. Had some food and beverages and a nice banquet room and such. It was lovely. The food was ritsy food...we didn't care for it...so we gingerly stummbled back to the hotel because both of our shoes were killing me, and plus I had been in heals all day long walking 2 miles in them...OUCH! We ordered a pizza that we had to wait 1 1/2 hours for, and get redressed to walk down the lobby to get. Plus it sucked! But it was food. Woke up late on Thurs and drove on home. With, of course, a nice stop at the outlet mall to shop. Shopped for a good couple of hours and continued on our way. Didn't get home till close to 7pm. THEN immediately left to go to dinner with the sisters and family so they could see Erica before she left. Not home again until 10pm. Then Friday had to get Erica to the airport. Today, Saturday..had to work at the office. Tomorrow....I am sitting on my ASS!

So it was a long and busy week. Erica already had to head it back to WA. Life is back to normal with some more sleep...I will feel like a million bucks. ;)

Ya'll have a good week!