The things I apparantly don't know

Apparantly the walls to our house are very thin and poorly insulated. This was a huge discovery at 4am this morning. I was awakened abruptly at that time out of a peaceful sleep by the cries of two cats, the barking of Annie, and the low growl of Westin. The bed was alive with sudden activity. Nathan even woke up which means it must have sounded like a train coming through the house. In his grogginess I told him to go throw some water on the cats. Although as soon as he left I felt bad for them because it was so cold outside. My slight misgivings were not large enough to retract my statement. He came back shortly with the conclusion that they had already left. Annie was still going crazy shaking and barking and despretly trying to scratch her way through the wall under our bed. I didn't think they had really left. Sure enough, the cat fight commensed a few minutes later. Have you ever heard one? That is truly the worst way to wake up out of a nice sleep.

So here we are at 4:10am, both animals on guard, Kayla wide awake, and Nathan ready to go back to sleep dispite all the noise and bed quaking. I tell Nathan I think he needs to go back outside. Instead, in a mad rush he scoops Annie up (she is the one causing most of the trouble) and heads to the back door saying, "I have a better solution." Luckily before he even got around our bed, I began to smell the "oh so distintive" skunk smell. Then there was silence. I guess our black and white friend took care of the problem. I just hope he hasn't decided to take up residence in the yard behind our wall. I was afraid that the whole house would stink by morning, but the smell has seemed to disapate.

Needless to say, I didn't sleep much after that. I was wide awake and couldn't go back to sleep until 6am. Nathan had no trouble going back to dream land. Oh to be a good sleeper again. Then at 6:10am the first alarm went off. At 6:30 the second, and at 7:20 I shook Nathan awake saying, "Shouldn't you already be up." So that was my adventurous night. Apparantly I needed a little adventure in my life.

Small Town Bliss

Today Brenna and I got to experience one to the privileges of living on the main street of a small town. We were getting ready to go for our daily walk, when I started to hear a lot of commotion down the street. It sounded like it was coming from the fire station. Annie was barking and I heard a lot of noisy kids yelling at cars that were passing by. I decided to hurry up with getting ready for our walk. Once we got outside I realized that something really was happening. Brenna and I walked a short ways down the road and then I saw what was coming. Apparently a portion of the San Antonio rodeo rides from Corpus Christi to San Antonio every year. Guess who is smack in the middle of those two places? Yes, it is indeed Karnes City. We had so much fun watching all the cowboys and cowgirls stopping traffic to ride through town on their lovely and very hot horses. I'm glad it was still a cool morning. I can't even tell you how many riders there were. Brenna loved it. She hasn't stopped talking about the "neighs", donkeys, wagons, chickens, and puppies, since we saw the parade. It definitely made for an eventful morning.

We also had an exciting day yesterday. We were finally able to get all of Brenna's Christmas presents here this weekend. We picked some of them up at Aaron and Elizabeth's house on Saturday and my parents were nice enough to come here before they went home on Sunday to bring the rest. So, Sunday night Nathan and I put together Brenna's new desk and her new rocking chair. When she got up on Monday morning that was the first thing she noticed. She didn't even want her normal morning cuddle with me. It was fun for me to watch her Christmas excitement all over again. I am especially glad for the new toys to play with. We were really getting bored last week. Hopefully the excitement of these will last her until her birthday.

Happy Birthday Tanner

We spend Saturday in San Antonio for Tanner's birthday party. That was a good day. It was great to be in "civilization" for a day. I loved being able to spend time with adults especially when they are family and friends. I am especially thankful that we were here for Tanner's Birthday party. The party reminded me of one of the reasons I wanted to move to Texas in the first place. I wanted to be a part of my family's lives again. I even "glazed" when we sang "Happy Birthday" from the joy I was feeling to be present. Tanner was great. He loved all the attention, cake, and presents. (Although like all 2 years old, he didn't want to share said presents.) It was a great day.

I wish I had a picture of Tanner from Saturday, but I didn't take any because I was too busy enjoying the party. I will leave you with one of my favorites taken this past summer.

Today is actually Tanner's birthday. So, Happy Birthday Tanner. You are growing into such a big boy. I'm so thankful to be your Aunt Ka Ka. I love to hear your glee and joy in your laugh, and I love to watch you play. You are a blessing in my life.

Great Quotes

I read a quote from someone I haven't heard of before today.
"Then the time came when the risk it took to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." -Anais Nin

What a powerful description of my life. I can't believe someone else could sum up my entire life in one sentence. I am still thinking on that quote from this morning. It has stirred the desire in me to write again. Actually that desire has been stirring some over the past few months. I'm just not sure where to start. I long to find my writing voice again. I would love to take a few classes again. How I wish I were in Athens now with UGA around the corner. So I am on a search for a writing class somewhere near. I would have so much fun.

Speaking of fun. Look what those magnificent bubble produced again. An afternoon filled with wonder and smiles.

Boring days

Brenna and I are faced with a few boring days coming up. If anyone has great ideas of what you can do when you are trapped in your house because it is cold and raining outside, please let me know. I am not looking forward to the next few. Today has been a small glimpse of our future. I hope I don't loose my mind. I am frantically trying to be creative to intertain. Let's see, today we built a tent. That was fun for about 30 min. We read a lot of books. We ate lunch, and I think we will color after naptime. So what next for Thursday and Friday? Oh how I wish there was something to go do in this small town.

Okay, enough complaints. This weekend Brenna started "cantering" around the house saying "Neigh". It was so cute to watch. I don't know where she figured out how to run like a horse, but she did. Nathan asked me if I had to guess what she would be when she grows up, what would my guess be? Can anyone see a little vet? Or at least something to do with horses. I hate to tell her what a long frusterating road that could be. Just look at your Mom's struggles and longing to ride. Oh well, I can keep dreaming for the day when I can own a horse again.

...followed by an onslaught of crazy ones

Several hundred dollars and a day and a half of business, Nathan and I are now the proud owners of Texas liscense plates, resgistration, and inspection sticker. I also have my Texas permit, with the real drivers liscense on it's way in 7 to 10 business days. Wow, that was even a load to write.

If you don't live in Texas, you wouldn't believe all the steps you have to take in order to be legal to drive. It is crazy. I was very thankful for living in a small town now. It would have taken many more hours had I have lived in a larger town. I'm also not sure if our cars would have passed inspection. Thank you Lord they did.

When I moved to Georgia, I was a little sad to hand over my Texas driver's liscense and take the Texas plates off my car. I am having those same sad feelings again. It is strange how those driving necessities actually define where home is. As Texas still doesn't feel like home, giving those two things up leaves me feeling a little lost. I know this won't last for long though. I am just being a little sentimental or maybe even silly.

All though Governmental lines and buildings are no place for a toddler. Nevertheless, Brenna was there with me the whole time. She was a trooper, but today has been all about her. No lines or building to stand in. Only toddler world.

I have also been madly cleaning my much neglected house. The floors are beginning to shine. (Well, at least I can imagine they shine. At least I know they are clean as evidenced by the less dirty socks I take off of Brenna's feet at the end of the day.) The bathrooms smell and look clean again, and the kitchen is legal to cook in again. I do love having a clean house. Now to tackle the inch of dust on my shelves and the dirt covered rugs. Hopefully I will finish it all before it is time to start again.

Hopefully the sun will show it's beauty again so that we can go play outside this afternoon.

Slower day

I feel like I have been running wild ever since we came back from Christmas vacation. I have been trying to get the house back in order and finish things that I have neglected over the past month. Today, I realized I don't really have anything pressing and I am now tired. Imagine that. A mom tired. I think I may even take a nap while my little one naps. Hopefully she will nap longer today than she did yesterday.

I did want to post this picture that I love. I took it the other day when I got one of Brenna's stuffed animals from last Christmas off her bed so that she could play with it. Who says toys don't last from one year to the next? Way to go Oma and Pepere. You bought a winner last year and a winner this year.

Look at all those pearly whites. I love it when I capture such a great smile. Yea Mom!

Love that horse Brenna.

Happy New Year

Wow, Christmas has come and gone in a blur to me. It was a crazy Christmas for us this year. We drove to Georgia and loved the time we spent there with family and friends. The drive there was great. I was completely amazed at how well Brenna did on the 15 hour car ride. She was a little trouper. Unfortunetly the drive back was not as pleasant, but still pretty good considdering the length.

Nathan and I enjoyed all the conversations we had with family and friends the most. We miss the companionship we had there so much. There were several late nights for us, but we survived and came out the other side happy to have had the opportunity to visit.

I took more pictures than I can post. Brenna loved Christmas this year. By the time we opened presents with my family, she really understood the concept of opening gifts. She wanted to open hers, mine, Daddy's, Tanners, Aaron's, and Liz's. When she finished opening one package she would hussle over to the tree to capture another one to open. Unfortunetly she can't read yet. I had to send her to the appropriate receiver. Apparently she had a lot of fun.

Nathan and I also realized we need a bigger car. We couldn't get all her toys, the dog and the cat home in one trip. Brenna, Annie, and Westin came home with us, but many of the toys are dispersed at various homes until we can gather them at our house.

Here are a few Christmas pictures.
These were her favorites from Nonni and Grandaddy Jones.

Here is everyone at the Jones Christmas day. Oma is missing out of the picture because she is taking it.

Brenna really got into her unwrapping.

And this is the favorite from Mimi and Poppi Collins


As you can see, Christmas was very fun this year with a toddler. We enjoyed everything about it this year.

As for the New Year. Brenna and I have traveled to Austin to see a friend from high school. That was a great treat for me. Amy and I don't get to see each other often, though we do talk a lot. Brenna played with Amy's daughter Krissy pretty well. There were a few scuffles over toys, but all in all the time was well spent. Brenna had her first baking experience and had fun blowing some bubbles one night. Amy and I also had shopping time to ourselves. I was able to spend a little of Brenna's christmas money. That was a lot of fun.

Anyways, that is all I have been up to for the past few weeks. I hope to write a little more now that life should be getting back to normal again. I will leave you with a few pictures of the Austin trip.

Brenna and Krissy baking

Brenna enjoying the fruits of her labor

Blowing bubbles

Luvin' the new car