Reading Gone Wrong

'Hey boys!  Let's read a book!'

Trent: This page is my favorite...I love to grab the caterpillars.

Miles: Quit hogging the book.  Maybe I want to grab a caterpillar.

Trent: Fine.  Take the book, but get out of my mom's lap.

Miles: Deal!  See ya!

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I

I've been a fan of Harry Potter since my sophomore year of college.  I took a junior adolescent lit class as an elective.  That class was totally up my alley - reading pre-teen books for a grade?  Sign me up!  Since then I have devoured the books and movies.  There's always a bitter sweet feeling when I get to last book of a series, but this story was so fantastic I couldn't be too sad.



The movies have all been good, and Part 1 of the Deathly Hallows was no different.  I thought the acting was great, special effects were great, plot was (duh) great.  Even though I know how the story ends, I can't wait for Part 2!  Just 7 months to go. ;)

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving!  In the spirit of the holiday, a list of some of the things I'm thankful for (besides the obvious ones of friends and family):

• having my family close by - they are such a huge help and blessing to me
• Trent and Miles being close in age - I know they will be great friends as they grow!
• public libraries
• blogging
• new babies...the ones that are here and the ones on their way!
• my church
• Target
• Brent's new job
• pedicures
• movie dates with Dena and Allison
• my cleaning lady
• DVR and Netflix

There are a million things I could list, but I don't want to type all day. {grin}

P.S. - Happy birthday, sissy!  32 looks amazing on you.

Trent at Zilker Park

Trent has his first (or many, I'm sure) trip to Zilker Park with Nana and Papa.  They played and played and played.  Nana and Papa got some great shots of him swinging, on the fire truck, on the train and his favorite thing...eating. {grin}

A collage (of course) of his busy, fun day.

 My personal favorite.



Movie Review: Morning Glory

I went and saw Morning Glory  with Allison tonight.  We both went into it with low expectations, just hoping it would be an entertaining 2 hours.  We both loved it!  It was a lot funnier than either of us thought it would be, and the story was really well done.  It's definitely not going to win the Oscar, but I don't usually enjoy those movies. {grin}

Bonus?  Patrick Wilson as the love interest.  When they first showed him I turned to Allison and said 'That's the love interest?  Not impressed.'  But by the end, I was totally won over.  He is adorable!

Double Cousins...

The great thing about the holidays (at least IMO) is time with family.  (Sidebar: we always say what we're thankful for with my mom's family and this weekend when everyone said they were thankful for family, I said 'lame'.  I am such a brat.  Ha!)  This may sound cheesy, but I had a great childhood in which I spent a lot of it with my cousins.  My mom's side of the family is on the big side, my mom is 1 of 7 kids, and there are 12 grandkids.  My dad's side of the family is on the small side, my dad has 1 brother, and there are 3 grandkids.  This past weekend, when we went to Euless, we got to spend time with both sides of the family.

A great thing about time with family is I don't feel the need to impress them - they've seen me at my best and my worst.  So if I choose not to wear make-up or brush my hair and wear jeans and a t-shirt?  Well, you get the below pictures. {grin}

6 of the 12 grandkids on my mom's side (3 sets of siblings)

Later,  Hagan came over to my aunt's house with Connor.  We couldn't pass up the chance to pose.  This age with the boys is too fun.  As evidenced by them not wanting to sit still for a picture!



I promise I'm not trying to be a tease (well, too big of a tease) about our adventures this weekend, but that post is completely dependent on my sister sending the pictures she took.

Did You Know?

• I finished my big work project on Friday!  No more L.O.N.G. nights (at least for a while).  Hallelujah!
• I was very upset to go so many days without new posts this past week.
• We went to Dallas this weekend (Mom, Dad, Patty, me, Miles and Trent) for our first Thanksgiving.  I have TONS of pictures of the adventures the boys had...but they're all on other cameras...here's hoping my mom and sis sent those pics soon!
• The boys tried something new this weekend...and it was hysterical watching them.
• My beloved Aggies BTHO Nebraska last night and have a record of 8-3!!!
• I am SO excited for a short work-week.  Anyone else?
• This is Brent's last week of work...EVER.  Well, for his current job anyway.  {grin}

Enough teasers in this post???

Happy. Sad. Blessed.

Work is another one of those weeks right now.  Burning the midnight oil and only seeing my baby in the morning...if that.  Brent Mr. Mom sends me precious updates of their adventures.  Like this one coming home from Nana and Papa's house this evening. 

Makes my heart happy to see my baby. 

Makes me sad that I can't be there. 

Makes me feel blessed that this precious boy is part of me.

Wordless Wednesday

Alternatively Title: Read Me a Book, Daddy

Another picture that was way cute until Trent decided to move. {grin}  And it is just me or does he look adorable in his non-matching long pj's?

Stream of Consciousness

We had a great weekend.  The Aggies AND the Cowboys won.  I can't believe the Aggies are ranked this season.  {Whoop!}  I have dubbed Trent 'The Tornado'.  He walks into a room, destroys it, and leaves.  It is driving me crazy!  He's lucky he's cute.  He's also pulling hair - sometimes for fun, sometimes (usually) when he's angry.  The kicker is that he laughs when I try to discipline him.  Oh boy are we in for some fun as he gets older!  I was happy to read I wasn't the only person already feeling the Christmas vibe.  I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week - but that means it's time for Christmas shopping - EEK!

Confessions

• Trent played outside naked today.  Brent called us white trash.  Is it really that bad?
• I had Starbucks twice on Tuesday.
• I like Willow Smith's 'I Whip My Hair'.  At the same time, I think it's stupid that a 9 year-old has a single.
• I'm ready for Christmas and if I hear one more person say they are putting up their tree early, I might cave.
• I get sad when I don't have comments on a post, especially if I think it's a really good one.  Ha.
• Trent has been waking up at 5:15 this week.  I am tired.
• I've already started listening to Christmas carols.

Anything you want to confess today??

All Boy

Can you see what my son is holding?  Yup, that's a caterpillar.  This guy is such a lover of all things creepy crawly.  If it's moving, he wants to hold it (and maybe eat it).  If it used to be living, he wants to pick it up (and maybe eat it).  I'm working on not being squeamish because I do not like bugs.  I can just imagine what my future holds with this boy.  Maybe I can get him to be in charge of killing crickets and roaches for me??  {grin} 

Currently

Current Book
Odd Hours by Dean Koontz (I absolutely love the Odd Thomas series by Mr. Koontz - one of his best IMO - and I think most of his books are incredible)
The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears (Bought this forever ago as a recommendation from Heather and am finally getting around to learning...)

Current Album
Speak Now by Taylor Swift (hint, hint Dena)

Current Songs
'Dynamite' by Taio Cruz
'Animal' by Neon Trees
'Mean' by Taylor Swift

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure
I would say 'Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team 5'...except I'm not ashamed! {grin}

Current Drink
Sweet Leaf Sweet Tea (Yes, I drink a lot of tea!)

Current Outfit
Jeans and a GAP tee (that I got on sale for $3!) - typical for me {grin}

Current Celebrity Crush
Do Ryan Tannehill and Cyrus Gray count as celebrities?  I thought so too. {ha!}  Gig 'em!

Current Mood
Happy

Current Anticipation
The holidays!

Current Film
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (I won't be there at midnight opening night, but I can't wait to see this movie!)

Current Picture

{image}

Baby Bump Watch - The Sister Edition

I thought it would be fun to compare Patty's bump from Miles to this baby.  Patty has humored me again and is letting me take pictures at my whim.  She did finally admit that she appreciates having all the pictures I took of her Miles Baby Bump.

17 1/2 weeks (Miles) vs. 18 weeks (Baby 2)

I'm Not a Terrible Cook Afterall!

Just wanted to share that it was not my cooking that got us sick.  Unfortunately, we know that because my sister and Janet both got sick.  I felt so terrible that they caught it from our household (especially since Janet kept Trent Thursday night when we were so sick)!  So if anybody wants the Tater Tot Casserole recipe that we'll probably never eat again (even though it was delicious at the time), let me know! {grin}

Down But Not Out

The adult Gurleys are SICK.  Have you ever thrown up at DFW International Airport?  Until today, my answer was no.  Not anymore!  It's been quite a rough day, but I'm so thankful for my in-laws.  They are keeping Trent tonight so the Mr. and I can recover.  I really don't like being sick.  And you know what really stinks?  We think it's from the dinner I made last night.  Wife FAIL. 

Be Honest

Is this literally the {cutest} picture you've ever seen or what?

Busy, Busy, Busy, Busy, There's So Much To Do

I haven't posted many pictures of Trent recently.  At least it feels that way to me.  Are you so curious as to why?  Because this kid is BUSY!  I made a collage (big surprise!) of the most recent pictures I've taken of T.  He's making a mockery of my need for pictures of him, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Mommy FAIL

Last year, Trent wore a special costume for his first Halloween.  This year, we didn't buy a costume for him.  FAIL.  This year, we didn't take him trick-or-treating.  FAIL.  This year, his daddy didn't dress him up in the hand-me-down costume we did have for his school party (I was traveling for work).  FAIL.  This year, I didn't take a single Halloween picture of him.  FAIL.  This year, we didn't carve pumpkins (not that we ever have before).  FAIL.  Hopefully he'll forgive us because it's obvious this kid is unloved as we neglected all Halloween traditions.   There's always next year!  {grin}