November 2016

The month of November in one post?? Let's see if I can do it without it being a novel!

Nina kicked off the month of November with shoulder surgery. She was SO ready to get it over with and behind her, and I can't blame her. I went over to check on her before surgery. They were running behind- of course. And you wanna know what? 80 year old ladies with broken shoulders who haven't eaten in 12+ hours can get a little grumpy! I did my best to brighten her spirits with Snapchat filters and selfies. It didn't help a lit, but I did get her to smile a little bit.

 

This was the best I could get from her.....

Macie came home with this paper from school....

No instructions or explanation.... just this. I couldn't help but laugh at the last one...pot. hhhmmmm??Is it the kind you cook a turkey in? Or the other kind?? HAHA!

I took Macie, Maylee and Brenna to Landry Pryor's birthday party. It was a costume party! And once again- Macie chose a different costume! A girl after my own heart....can't be seen in the same outfit twice! LOL

Landry the pig, Maylee the bunny, and Macie the cat!

Sweet sweet friends!!

Hayride fun!

Brenna handed me this picture the night before the election.

I couldn't help but laugh! She was very in tune to everything she heard this year about the election. She was always asking questions and telling me what she heard at school. I liked her predictions- but was nervous about the actual election outcome.
On election night, we opted to go watch the Peaster Volleyball playoff game in Azle instead of watching the news all night long.

It helped pass the time for sure! Luckily- in the end it turned out in our favor! The game AND the election!
The kids had to come to school with me one afternoon when their school got out early. I happened to have two empty boxes in my room, so they enjoyed playing IN them and drawing on them! Simple entertainment- I love it!

My birthday weekend!
Josh and I started off on Friday night with a dinner date! Much thanks to Dad and Kathy who kept the girls so we could enjoy some adult time!

We had a wonderful steak dinner at Ruth's Chris. I had heard about it before, but we had never been there. The food and atmosphere was really good, and we enjoyed it a lot. But I think that if I am going to pay that much for dinner, I would rather go to Del Friscos.
They did bring this super cute dessert out for my birthday! Too bad we were so full we couldn't hardly take a bite of it!

Rule of thumb...always dot your I's and CROSS YOUR T's! haha!

The next day was volleyball tournament day! I was so proud of Brenna and her new team. They worked so hard this season to learn to play together. It was a rough start, but in the end, they left their hearts on that court and came in with a 3rd place win!

I love this girl.

After the tournament, we celebrated with ice cream at DQ!

Sunday morning started out quiet and slow. I captured this sweet moment of Macie reading to her babies.

Josh was working- so the kids and I headed to Dad and Kathy's for an afternoon of fun! Dad kept the girls while Kathy took me for a pedicure! It was heavenly!

We had a yummy grilled dinner and enjoyed just relaxing and visiting. It was a great time!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
Monday was my birthday! I used to get excited about birthdays... but somehow after having 37 of them- they have lost their thrill. It's still nice to be spoiled and pampered by those who love me though!
Josh sent me these beautiful flowers to work!

Then he fixed me homemade lasagna for dinner. YUMMY!!! The girls gave me a gift card to buy new shoes...because new shoes are the way to my heart!! :) And Josh gave me tickets for us to see Reba and Brooks and Dunn when we are in Vegas in February! I can't wait!!!
Then they surprised me with turtle cheesecake for dessert!

I love these little people!!! And their amazing Daddy who made my birthday wonderful. While 37 feels a little too close to 40 for comfort... it feels good to be me at 37. I am blessed beyond belief!

I got to go up and surprise Macie at her Thanksgiving feast at school! I love that I have a schedule at work that allows me to be a part of these little things with my kiddos.

We were all looking to having the whole week off of work to just enjoy being together!
Macie started the break off with loosing her first tooth! (well- the first one that wasn't pulled by the dentist at least! She wasn't too thrilled about it, but she recovered quickly. The tears were short lived. :)

On Sunday night, we went to the Ft. Worth Parade of Lights! It never disappoints. And this year, the weather was amazing.

My loves.

A hug for our favorite Shriner in his little yellow Barbie car!

"Girls smile for a picture with Pops!"
I said WITH Pops! Not in front of Pops!

After the parade, we joined Pops and the other Shriners for dinner at Los Vaqueros. We were all starving!

THERE'S POPS!!

We spent most of the week just hanging out at home and getting our house ready to host Thanksgiving dinner. But in order to do that- I had one very important task to accomplish that I had been putting off for years... I had to learn to make the dressing. I'm not a big fan of turkey and dressing. But IF I am going to eat it- I want it to be my Mama's dressing. I was always the official taste tester when she was making it, but I never made it on my own. So I decided that it was time to learn, and asked Nina to teach me.
I bough all of the ingredients and headed to her house on Tuesday for my lesson.

I got it done! Not sure I will remember how to do it all next year- but this year- I nailed it. Macie Claire even helped!

She has become quite the little kitchen helper! And she's good too! She helped me slice all the bananas for her Daddy's blueberry Banana crème pie!

Next up....Thanksgiving!!!!

More October happenings

October was a busy month! Goodness! Although, in truth- I think every month is busy for the Pool clan. October was just more of the same.
After she broke her shoulder, Nina spent the weekend with us. I picked her up on Friday after I got back from the Advocat's Luncheon, and she stayed until Monday after her Dr's appointment when Kim got home.
Macie had to make a literary pumpkin for school. Brenna had done this same project, and I remember how time consuming it was and how challenging it was for my non creative self. She did Junie B Jones, and I had to definitely think outside of the box for it!

I have since wised up with Macie Claire! I give her a few options that I consider doable and let her choose from them. She chose the book Olivia Clause. (and lucky for me I found one on the internet to copy!) She did all the painting on her own!

And then I helped with the rest. I think it turned out pretty cute!!

And much easier than Junie B Jones.
I took Nina to the Dr on Monday morning to find out the plan for her shoulder. Vicki went with us.

We were all heartbroken to hear that she would need surgery. The dr I talked to in Weatherford said she would not need surgery, but the specialist in Ft Worth said it was the only way she would get use from that arm again. HELLO- she needs to be able to use it! So we set up surgery. I was so relieved knowing Kim was on her way home to help out. Not that I didn't WANT to take care of her myself, but with a job and two little girls, it was going to be hard. I was thankful for the reinforcements.
The girls had dress up days at school all week for Red Ribbon Week.
Hawaiian Day

Black out day

Team Up Against Drugs day

This was the best we could do for a team jersey

Pirate Day (Drugs Arrrrr Bad)

Pajama Day (put drugs to sleep)

Brenna, Maylee, Macie and I went to the School Carnival on Friday night. The kids had fun......we will leave it at that since that is all that matters! LOL!

Macie tried on her costume. It was a hand me down from her Mrs. Sara. It belonged to her granddaughter Hannah. Here is the picture she sent me of Hanna wearing it about 12 years ago...

And Macie Claire all these years later!

SO cute!!!!
On Saturday we went to the neighborhood hayride to trick or treat. Brenna wore her new witch costume, but Macie had already decided to go as a Mommy to this event. She and Maylee were both Mommy's. This was the best I could do with a Mommy costume!

It was a great night with great friends. I am so thankful for our neighborhood. And while I think it would be awesome to not live so far from town, I wouldn't trade the relationships we have built here for anything!

BFF's

Landry, Brenna, and Vaydin

All of the tractors and trailers pulling out to go trick or treating! 

On Sunday we went over to Pops and Memaw's for dinner. I loved this picture of the kiddos playing with scraps of wood. I remember sitting outside of Dad's shop when I was little and doing the exact same thing for hours on end! Two pieces of wood, a few nails, and a hammer could keep me entertained!

After we ate, I got the girls dressed and ready to go to the Central Christian Trunk or Treat. Macie wore her witch costume this time!

The Central Christian Trunk or Treat is a tradition for the Pool girls. We have gone since Brenna started staying at Mrs. Nikki's. She looks forward to it every year because she gets to hang out with her friend Tia. Macie has only missed one year- which is the year she was sick and had to stay at Nina's while Brenna went. Both kids love getting to see Mrs. Nikki and Tia, as well as Mrs. Sara who is always in the kitchen serving hot dogs and nachos. It's a fun evening for all of us, and a tradition that we love.

This girl loves her some Mrs. Nikki!

I just couldn't get over how cute they both looked in their witch costumes!!

Monday was Halloween. But since we had gone to the school carnival on Friday, the hayride on Saturday, and the Trunk or Treat on Sunday- we opted to stay HOME on Halloween!!! Josh and Macie finally got around to carving their pumpkin. Brenna wanted NO part of it. She was scared to death that she would have to touch the inside of it, so she made sure she stayed clear of the festivities. Macie, however, was all over it!

And the finished product turned out so cute!! Macie drew it, and Josh cut it out for her. Teamwork! Josh modeled it for me...

And of course Macie Claire couldn't be left out...but she needed a little help with holding it up. Daddy to the rescue!

We spent the evening just hanging out and enjoying being together! Couldn't think of a better way to end a busy month!

That time I met Melanie Shankle

Many years ago, my friend Ashley Healey introduced me to the Big Mama Blog. She kept telling be about it, and I would say "ok" and move on and not think much about it. I read a few funny posts she would send me, but that was it. Then she told me about this book- Sparkly Green Earrings. She raved about how funny it was and said I should read it. So I hesitantly said I would and took the book. YALL- taking that book changed my life!!!! Ok- so maybe it didn't technically change my life, but it was certainly a turning point on how I felt about Melanie Shankle- aka Big Mama! I read the book and laughed so hard I cried! I had to stop reading it during a day of hall monitoring of the TAKS test because I couldn't be quiet! I was laughing until my sides hurt! I was hooked. And I became a blog reader in the process.
Then her second book came out- The Antelope in the Living Room. Same result- Side splitting humor! I was convinced we had married the same man. Josh Pool and Melanie's husband are one in the same. And Ashley and I became convinced that if Melanie Shankle could just meet us that we would all be instant BFF! And we even started referring to her as that- our BFF. Too bad Melanie wasn't let in on that little secret.
And when her third book was released- Nobody's Cuter than You- I pre-ordered it. Yes, you read that right- I PRE-ORDERED A BOOK! Totally not like me. But I just love her writing so much. I read the entire thing on our cruise a year and a half ago.
So fast forward to about August of this year. I heard that Melanie Shankle was going to be the guest speaker at the Aledo Advocat's luncheon. And I instantly knew that I WOULD be there. No matter what. Because we are BFF after all. I texted Ashley to tell her about it- only to realize that she is now on the board of the Advocats! (my guess is it was her idea to get her to speak...LOL) And I called and asked Sara to go with me. I knew she didn't know who she was, but I was confident that she would love her just as much as I do after she listened to her. Sara said yes, I purchased tickets and it was a date!!!
Insert Nina's broken shoulder the night before and the late night at the hospital...... I wasn't sure I was going to get to go, and I was heartbroken to say the least. Now- don't get me wrong. Nina was more important obviously! And I would make what ever sacrifice needed to stay with her. But part of me was trying to figure out a way to take care of Nina and STILL get to go to the luncheon. Sara told me at the hospital that if it worked out- we would still go, but it not that it was totally ok. And after I verified that Nina was ok and no drs appointments would be needed that day, I texted Sara "I am on my way to town, dressed for a luncheon!"
I showed up at her house, finished getting ready (because I left my house in a sleep deprived rush to go check on Nina), and we were OFF!
The luncheon was at the Ridglea Country Club, and everything was set up so neat and pretty. We saw several people we knew, and took our seat at our assigned table. Almost immediately the waiter came around asking if we wanted a glass of wine. Do we want wine? Free wine? DUH! Yes please! ha! That was definitely what I needed after the last day.
The food was great and soon Melanie Shankle took the stage. Yall- I was like a kid seeing a celebrity! Seriously- I got butterflies and was all smiles! She spoke on relationships and women, talking a lot about how we have amazing people in our lives to provide support to us. And how ironic that she chose this topic, and I was sitting next to this amazing lady...

I had to work to keep from crying. I am blessed with some amazing women in my life that are always there for me, and this precious lady right here is at the top of that list. I love how God places the people in your life that He knows you will need, even before you know you will need them.
After Melanie spoke, she was signing books. I KNEW I had to meet her and get her to sign a book- but I didn't have mine with me! Luckily she had some there to sell- so yes, I bought a book (that I already owned) just to have her sign it and get my picture made with her! Yes- I'm pathetic, and I admit it!
I made Ashley step in for the picture since she is the reason I even know who Melanie Shankle/Big Mama is!

It was the most fun I had had in a while, and was SO needed after the stress of the night before and the days to come. I am thankful I got the opportunity to go.
After we left there, Sara and I did some shopping at Stein Mart for Nina a gown and robe she could get over her arm and then made our way to Trader Joe's to check it out. Neither one of us had ever been, so we were marking it off of our bucket list! (we marked IKEA off of our lists together a year ago). I LOVED Trader Joe's! And I MAY have stocked up on some 2 Buck Chuck wine while I was there! (I blame that on the influence of the free wine at the luncheon!)
It was a great day with a great friend! I'm so thankful that Sara is always up for an adventure with me! She's a great sport. And now Ashley and I have the picture to prove that we are BFF with Big Mama! I'm sure we will all be exchanging cell phone numbers soon.......

Only teenagers go from the party to the hospital.....

Nina's retirement party was on a Tuesday afternoon. And two ( yes, TWO) days later.... she fell and broke her shoulder. Hence the title- Only teenagers go from the party to the hospital!
On Thursday night, I was on the phone with Dad discussing Aunt Susan and the results she got from the oncologist that day when my phone beeped. I flipped over to hear Kathy on the other end telling me that Nina had fallen and they think she broke her shoulder and she is on her way to the ER in Weatherford. My heart sank. I didn't stop to take time to wonder how she knew this information before me... I just hung up and started trying to figure out a plan. Josh was gone to visit Billy in Ohio for the week, which left just ME. I called my inlaws and made arrangements to drop the girls off there, scooped Macie out of bed, left a half eaten pizza on the counter (I hadn't had time to eat yet), and ran out the door.
As soon as I got to the road, I started making phone calls and discovered that Jackie, Kathy's mom, had been at Nina's house when it happened. They were visiting, and when Nina walked her out, they saw a snake. Jackie kept an eye on it and Nina went in to get a hoe from the garage to kill it. When she got to the middle of her living room, she got dizzy and just fell flat on her face. (thanks to the vertigo that she has had for a long time). And when she didn't come back out, Jackie started calling her and finally when to look for her and found her in the floor. She called Dorman, Nina's brother, who came and finally called 911. Jackie then called Kathy, who called me. Holy Moly Batman!
I managed to be the first one to get to the hospital and got back to Nina as quickly as I could. And she was in bad shape. She had a collar around her neck because they didn't know exactly what she hurt, and they were just starting to assess her. Her eye was cut and she was already turning a nice shade of purple, and was in quite a bit of pain. But of course the first thing she asked was "where are the girls"! ha! That's a grandmother for ya!
Uncle Dorman finally got there, and when I went out to the waiting room, Kathy, Lisa, D'Lisa and Mrs. Jackie were all out there. And my Daddy was on his way- which calmed me a lot! This girl needs one of two people in times like this.... Josh or my Daddy.
I went back to the room with Nina, we got her robe off of her (and they cut her "good" bra off of her at my request after they tried to take it off and she screamed, which she still reminds me of to this day....apparently she didn't want to buy a new one! haha!) They got her some good pain meds FINALLY, and sent her off for x-rays.
I texted Sara to let her know what was going on because we had plans to attend the Advocat's lunch the next day and I wanted her to know that those plans might need to be canceled. And the next thing I knew (after telling her that I was fine and she didn't need to come up there), Kathy texted me that Sara was in the waiting room. Talk about a good friend! I told her I wasn't there alone and was ok, but being the person she is, she showed up to MAKE SURE I was ok and just to be there for me. I was totally blown away and felt a sense of calm knowing she was there.
And while I was sitting there talking to Sara and Kathy and Jackie, my Daddy came walking in. And I fell apart. A girl needs her Daddy from time to time, and this was one of those times. My support system that night was amazing. With Kim out of the country, and Kyson in Lubbock, and Josh out of town for 7 days.... I was just ME. And whether I wanted to admit it or not, I needed some support. Support that Dad, Kathy, Jackie, and Sara gave me. I couldn't have done it without them.
They finally came in and told me that Nina needed to stay overnight and would have surgery that night. HOLY COW. So I went out to tell everyone the plan and finally admitted to them that I hadn't eaten dinner (as it was now approaching 11 pm). So Sara left to go get me some food.
And about 15 minutes later, they came back in and changed it to no surgery and they would just pop her shoulder back into place and send her home that night! Talk about a different story!! It all happened so fast that my head was swimming. (insert my need for the above mentioned support system!)
They offered to let me be in the room when they "just popped it back into place" but I quickly and politely declined! They gave her meds that made her not care or aware of what they were doing, so it wasn't like I was leaving her there alone. I slipped out to the waiting room while they did their thing. They then came out and got me and said I could dress her and take her home. My head was still spinning on how this was all going to work. But I went back and dressed her with the help of D'Lisa and got everything signed and our instructions (which weren't much other than to call the orthopedic dr the next day). I told Nina that we would go to my house, and she INSISTED on going to Dorman's. She would hear nothing of coming to my house that night. She's stubborn if nothing else, that's for sure! So I finally said ok and we made arrangements for D'Lisa to go get her meds and I would take her to Dorman's and Lisa would take care of her.
I went out to get the car, and Sara was walking back in with my VERY large Dr. Pepper (much needed!!), breakfast jack, as well as a coat, snacks and a tooth brush! See I told you she was amazing! She had left to go get food when they were going to admit Nina, so she wasn't aware of the new developments. But I was still VERY thankful for the food and drink no matter what. I told her that depending on how Nina was the next day that I still wanted to go to the luncheon we had been planning to attend for over a month. She agreed and said to just let her know the next morning how things were and my plans.
I loaded Nina up, said goodbye to my amazing support system, and took her to Dorman's. After I got her settled in, I went to her house for clothes and other things she might need for the night. I got everything delivered, got her settled with Lisa, and finally made it home around 2am. I had been trying to call and text Kim since 1 am since they are 7 hours ahead of us, and she finally called me back about the time I got home. I got her all filled in and settled into bed about 3. Talk about a long night!!
I didn't take a picture of Nina on Thursday night, other than the one of our hands in the ER, but I sent this one to Kim on Friday night at my house. She was pretty banged up!! Check out the nice purple arm!

But I was so glad she was going to be ok.

Happy Retirement Nina!

Well, I didn't think it would happen, but it did! My Nina decided to retire. I figure she'd be working insurance forever! But she finally realizIed that she's almost 80, and was tired of getting up every day to go to work. And I was happy for her!
The girls and I were there early, and Josh met us there later on. Mader Bagley State Farm did a beautiful job of throwing her a wonderful party. I had a feeling there would be a lot of people there, but the number of people that showed up to honor my Nina totally blew me away! There were people everywhere!! In fact, it overwhelmed Macie Claire. She hung out with her Mrs. Sara while she was there, but soon grabbed my phone to go and sit in the hallway to play a game. She's not much on crowds of people she doesn't know. Brenna took up residence in a chair with her book.
It was great to see so many faces I hadn't seen in a long time. But I must admit, there were many faces that I recognized but couldn't place. I really needed my Mama standing there next to me to tell me who everyone was. They all knew me, or well they knew I was either Kim, Sherry or Jennifer. I got called all three names- but after all these years, I am totally used to it.
The food and cake table was amazing!!!

My Nina looked so pretty!

I only managed to get one picture of us...

And for some reason it looks like my hair is missing....ugh. The joys of having blonde thin hair....it disappears in the light.
Well, I did get TWO pictures... gotta love a good selfie!!

And a goofy 6 year old....
We had a great time. And I know Nina did too! She was very excited to get started on her new retirement adventures. Little did we know that there would be a kink thrown into her plan a short 48 hours later......