Christmas 2006- Part 2

Here's some more random photos...gotta love those christmas morning sleepy-eyed ones!
Marcus and Carsyn had a blast opening and loved everything. Payton just wanted to stand on boxes.

Christmas 2006- Part 1

Here are some highlight photos of christmas this year. Notice I am in NONE of them, because I am always behind the camera! This first post is from Christmas Eve...Christmas with Scott's family.

My Christmas Shout-Outs

I have many photos and info to share with everyone but am just chilling now and don't feel like it, to be quite honest. But I did want to give a few shout-outs to my friends and family this christmas for going the extra mile!

To Amy for hookin' me up with scrappin supplies. Awesome. And for Bella Dancerella...Carsyn is lovin it!

To Marcus for handcrafting me a solid oak jewelry box in building trades class at school...i will post pictures soon but it is really great.

To Mom for spending so much time crafting this year just like in the old days...handmade robes, baby blankets and denim purses (now where's mine???)

To Dad for making Payton a cradle out of solid oak as well. Something she will treasure always. It is beautiful...photos of handmade stuff to follow!

And especially to my cousin Lori for probably spending countless hours making a family legacy slide show. It was really special. We viewed it in Texas today. Although we enjoyed it all, I especially loved the beginning with all of the old photos of grandma and grandpa...I haven't seen lots of them. It was really touching and greatly appreciated! Thanks from the bottom of my heart!

Ceiling Fans and Butts...Part 3

I left a butt off, sorry!

Ceiling Fans and Butts- Part 2

So here's part two...the butts

Ceiling Fans and Butts

That's what Carsyn likes to take pictures of apparently. She has taken about 20 photos of the ceiling fan in the living room. And she keeps telling us to turn around and bend over. I thought it was funny because Chris told Amy her photos are always feet and walking away. What do you think?

Move over, Aunt Amy...


There's a new photographer in the family. Carsyn got the pink fisher price digital camera from Santa and has taken a million photos. The next two blogs will feature her best portraits so far... she tends to stick to only two topics.

Look what I did!

Remind me next year NOT to spend three days before Christmas redecorating! This used to be the nursery. Now it is a playroom/computer office. It took me a while and was a bit of a pain but I totally love it. I had to share. It is just so cool to walk into a room with so much design! What do you think?

Gingerbread "fixer-uppers" and fun in a box (Thanks Nana!)

Last night Luke came over for a while so Jill and Marc could celebrate their anniversary. While I baked desserts for tonight, Marcus, Carsyn and Luke made gingerbread houses with graham crackers and empty milk cartons. Marcus calls them "fixer-uppers" and wouldn't let me take a photo of his. They aren't beautiful, but they had fun.
Also, Nana brought her gift for the girls early...a tv and dvd player for their room. Although they like that quite a bit, I think right now the box is even more exciting. They played forever with Marcus dumping them around in the box. Carsyn is actually in the box in the photo where it is up on a corner spinning like a top. And they only cried once!

So here's the update on Payton. We went to the ear nose and throat doctor yesterday who sent us over to the audiologist first for a hearing test. Is it weird that I think all of this is super interesting since I studied it in college and would love one day to go back and get my masters in communication disorders? Anyway...she has a significant hearing loss. She is hearing at 35 dB what others hear at 20. There is a lot of vibration due to fluid back up causing the loss. Also, the doctor said an ear drum should be semi-transparent but he can't see through hers at all. HE also noted my concerns for her speech development. She is 14 months and really doesn't say much of anything. He said he will see what happens after the tubes/ She is getting tubes on January 9. I think that's the date...it's a Tuesday.

A visit to Santa!

We went to the mall after church on Sunday to visit Santa. Carsyn has seen the same Santa every year and he is awesome...I think he's the real deal! The girls were adorable. Carsyn picked up a rock in the parking lot and gave it to him. He thought that was pretty funny. She asked him for a bouncy ball and a trampoline. She also asked for a new car for her daddy. Santa told her that daddy better ask for that himself if he wants something that big! He gave them both a kiss and told him he loved them and asked them to be good. Then we said goodbye and left. Later that evening we realized we forgot to get out photo! Two days later I called the mall. Not only does Santa have a direct number, but he saved out photo for us! So here it is!

SOOOOOOOOO bored!

So here I am, one hour into adminstering my last semester exam and bored out of my mind. I drank way too much sweet tea for lunch and now am about to pee my pants...but I can't leave my kids...they might cheat! I can't even listen to fun holiday music...these kids are quite easily distracted and sentence diagramming takes some serious concentration! So I am stuck with just Manheim Steamroller and Diana Kralls Christmas, which by the way I highly recommend to all my Ipod friends.
All this typing is just drawing more attention to the fact that my nails are a mess...I need a manicure. All of this "teaching" nonsense is really getting in the way with my life! I had all morning off and wasted it away at Hobby Lobby.
Wanna hear something funny? Holly Hobby is back. But not the sweet little bonnet prairie girl. She's kind of boho-chic. Carsyn and I watched the holiday movie on a kids channel this weekend. She loved it and now wants a "Hobby Lobby" doll and movie for Christmas. Hilarious...my little shopper!

Oh Christmas Tree!!!

Here's some random photos of the tree and our children in awe of it's splendor!!!

My Christmas Crafts!

Look what I made on my day off work? Photo wreaths and a gift set for a friend with an altered clipboard, bulletin board photo frame and several accessories.

How You like my Grill???

WE bought these as a joke at Halloween, but Carsyn wears them all the time. It is so hilarious to see her walking around in them and talking that we just had to share!

Poor Poor Payt!

Payton has been sick since Monday. Scott took her to the doctor again today and guess what? Double ear infections...again. He said on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst, her ears are at about a 9 right now. He referred us to the ENT to get tubes as soon as this round clears up. I am going to stay home with her again tomorrow and then hopefully she is ready to go back to school on Friday. Poor little thing!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that the Elliott's are alive and well...just really busy. We will post something really soon, I promise! If you want to see some recent photos, go to my sister Amy's site...she has been posting photos she took when we saw her at Thanksgiving. There are some really good pictures of me and the girls!
www.acovey.blogspot.com

Wow, I can't believe I haven't blogged in almost a month! I am so ashamed! I have been very very busy. I haven't taken any photos because Amy took so many for me at thanksgiving...wait til you see them! I wanted to post this great idea for all husbands out there...just not sure where to buy it. Anyone seen it?

"Daddy Baby"

Carsyn got this doll from her Uncle Mike on her 2nd birthday. It is a huge baby with a huge head and odd airbrushed on hair. It looks like a boy, but came with a pink warm-up outfit complete with hat and shoes. So apparently it's a girl. Carsyn never keeps the clothes on the baby though. She calls it Daddy Baby and it is her favorite. She take it with her on trips and sleep with him almost every night.
The problem with DaddyBaby is that he/she is creepy! His/her head is bigger than Payton's!
When Payton was a little baby, DaddyBaby was the punchline of many funny jokes around the house. When Scott and Marcus were supposed to have Payton with them, Carysn and I came home to find Payton all alone in the house in the bouncy seat in front of the tv with a Baby Einstein video playing. It was really DaddyBaby. DaddyBaby has also nearly fallen out of my kingsized bed and has been left unmonitored in the exersaucer several times pretending to be Payton in distress.
But the best DaddyBaby prank was completely thought up and carried out by Marcus. We were barbecuing dinner. We decided to eat on the table outside in the yard. Marcus was taking the dishes, drinks, etc out to the table while Scott was outside at the grill. Finally Marcus took Payton's high chair with DaddyBaby in it, started pushing "Payton" across the yard, and tripped and fell, throwing the high chair with daddybaby playing the role of Payton head first into the yard. Scott freaked out. It was so hilarious!
So I know this is longwinded, but you just gotta get a glimpse of daddybaby. He may have to travel to Ohio this Thanksgiving. Maybe we'll make a book of daddybaby's adventures. What do you think?

Random Stuff

Ok, here's some pictures and some random stuff.

First of all, Carsyn can not wait to see her grandma and grandpa. She talks about it constantly. So we made a paper chain yesterday to count down the days. She cut the papers all by herself and helped me put it together. Here's a picture of her tearing off today's link.

Also, I had a few extra moments before church today so I took some photos while the girls played outside. Carsyn really wanted to wear little pink cheer shorts, a red "I'm the big sister" t shirt and the dorothy ruby slippers handed down from Jenna. LUckily Jenna also handed down a red skirt and black shirt that went nicely with the ruby slippers.

Payton's outfit is a gift from her grandma for her birthday. I always like to show grandma how they look in her outfits. Too bad Payton discovered the rocks on the driveway and likes to eat them. Sometimes mommy should put the camera down and monitor a little more closely!

Five Things You May Not Know About Me


This was a tough challenge inspired by Amy, but here's what I came up with.

1. I chew my nails constantly. I try not to. I try to keep them pretty. But I always go back to chewing them, mostly in the car on the long drive home.

2. I am certified to teach deaf education, any area of special education k-12, physical education and secondary English. In Texas, once you have initial certification you can take any test to get additional certification.

3. I want to be a speech pathologist. But I would have to get my masters. And I can't do that masters and teach at the same time, so I'd have to quit my job and go to school full time...maybe another day.

4. I am not a clean person...my house often goes un-mopped or vacuumed, we forget to change the sheets and on more than on occassion i have gone to bed without washing my face or brushing my teeth. I am just lazy about being clean.

5. Here's the really bizarre thing...i type in my head. Yes that's right. When people say things i start to tune them out and practice sitting at my computer mentally typing everything they say. I try to keep up with them. I think that's why I am a good speller and a really fast keyboarder! That is bizarre, I know.

Happy Halloween!

We had a fantastic Halloween night. Carsyn, Luke and Payton all went trick or treating together in Jill's neighborhood. Payton rode in the wagon the whole way while the older two boldly ran up to doors, knocked and yelled "trick-or-treat!" It was too cute. One house was entirely too scary...Carsyn is still talking about it two days later! Jill and I may have gone about a block too far to tote three kids all alone..especially with her being pregnant. Now what will we do with all of this candy?!?!

Where's Kara???
Anyone know what's up with Kara's blog? I check it and it is a blank screen. Is she a blog drop out? Or is she having technical difficulties!

Happy Early Halloween!
We had a "dress rehearsal" with our costumes today. It was awfully sunny out, but they were in the mood so we went with it. Trick or Treating around here is always at night...not ideal for photos. So here's my little love bugs!

Musical Genius...is it in the blood?

So we were on the way to school today listening to our new Veggie Tales Sunday School Songs CD. Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho came on and Carsyn said "Hey, that's my Little Einstein's song." I thought she made no sense til I realized that the last episode she watched featured the theme from Peter and the Wolf, which, although I had never really thought about it, is basically the same tune.

Who says TV isn't educational?

Good Morning, Sunshine!

Today is Payton's birthday. This morning I went in to her room and this is how she greeted me. I had to capture it with a photo. Words cannot express my love for this little angel. If you are a mom, you kind of have an idea. But if you are a mom who has gone through something like what Payt and I went through before she was born, it is an amazing bond. I just stop and look at her sometimes and am amazed how perfect she is. Happy Birthday, angel!

Happy Birthday Payton!!!

Yesterday we had Payton's first birthday party, even though the big day is actually today. (A year ago I was dying for her to be born on the 21st!) Here are some photos of her at her party. She was a perfect little hostess- not the usual anxious and overwhelmed one year old you usually see at a party. She walked around to everyone, holding their hands, letting them hold her. She played with the big kids all afternoon. And she ate a ton of cake!

Nothing new and exciting here in Troy, Texas. Life is super busy. But we are finally blessed with a cloudy, rainy, cool fall day. It is great! I was going to scrap, but Walgreens didn't print my photos. So I think I'll scrap anyway and add the photos later. We actually slept in through church today which is amazing since we are usually up by 7:30. We slept til 9!
So, there's nothing new to post, but you can check out Payton's round one of her photos on the photographer's website. She wants to do more because it was too sunny to get good outdoor shots. Payton made squinty faces and there were lots of shadows.
Tell me what you think!

log on to www.staciemooney.com
go to client login
the user id and password are both payton

Here's my scrapbook pages. What happened on that last post?