What a Weekend

This weekend was our annual Hardwick Cousin Family Reunion. (My mom's maiden name is Hardwick.) It was held in Allen, OK. Each year our reunions have a theme. The theme for this year was Mardi Gras. One of the activities was a Mardi Gras parade. Each family was supposed to do something. Mom left to go to Allen on Thursday with her brother. She informed myself & my SIL (Mandy) that we were in charge of coming up with an idea for the float. I have more pictures of it coming, but....Mandy & I made tutus for the girls in Mardi Gras colors. We called Mom to tell her & she said she wanted one too. So.......
There was more to the costume than this- but doesn't mom look HOT in the tutu? Speaking of hot...it was HOT at the reunion.

Since Mandy & I stayed up until 4 am making the tutus, I didn't get much sleep before it was time for us to leave and drive the 2 hours down to Allen. It was 98 degrees (at least, no exaggeration) during the day. I only got about 40 oz of water during the day. I was outside quite a bit. So, total- I spent about 6 hours driving during the day. I decided to drive home & when I got home- this is what my edematous feet looked like.
Isn't it sexy? It was starting to swell up into my legs. I hadn't had swelling that bad since I was pregnant with Quinlynne. I don't even think this picture does it justice.

Things I heard this weekend: Quinlynne "Abby, do you know what booby cracks are for?"
Abby "What?!?!"
Quinlynne "Ya know- women's booby cracks? They're so men will fall in love with them."
Me trying to not make noise laughing in the front seat.
Abby "My mom doesn't have that I don't think. I never see it."
Quinlynne "My momma has it."
Abby "I see it sometimes too."

As Quinlynne & I were driving back home last night, she was watching "Because of Winn Dixie". Just as we were getting on I-40, she started laughing. I heard her laughing & wondered what she was laughing at. She said "Momma- know why I'm laughing?"
Me "No. Why are you laughing?"
Quinlynne "I heard thunder & I it made me kinda wake up. It was in the movie, but I thought it was in our country."
I guess I'm gonna have to talk about the word "reality" & teach her the definition & when to use it. That kid cracks me up. "In our country" & "Booby cracks".

Oh my goodness, really??

I have been on a kick lately of visiting antique stores. It's my version of "going green". I'm reusing!! I thought to myself "Gee Shandolynne, you're really getting old when you go to these antique stores and you think 'I remember using that!!'" Then I said something about remembering the Otasco stores. The older gentleman working at the store said "You're THAT OLD??" I told him indeed I was, and I'd take it as a good sign that I looked good if he found it hard do believe I remembered Otascos. So- this is the Piece de Resistance: This morning Quinlynne was watching cartoons on Disney. In between the modern cartoons they show short classic cartoons. I told Quinlynne that those cartoons I used to watch when I was a little girl. (It was one with Daffy Duck.)
Quinlynne: On Disney Channel, momma??
Me: No. We didn't have Disney Channel, Quinlynne.
Quinlynne: Why not?
Me: We didn't have cable when I was little.
Long pause.
Quinlynne: Did you have electricity when you were little?
Long pause.
Me: Yes, Quinlynne!!! (snidely) We had electricity!!! We just didn't have cable yet.

Wonderful start to my Mother's Day! The child has a thing or two to learn about history.
For Mother's Day we had a fun picnic at one of the parks here in town. It was great to be able to spend time with my mom, Connie, Mandy, Aaron & my nieces, my cousin Penny & her husband John, and Uncle Charlie. We did use the new quilt, again! It was a beautiful day!! And to top it off?? I get to have my niece Cadyn this week! Quinlynne has already asked if she can pretend she's her little sister.

Family pool time

Family time at the pool. Cadyn absolutely loved it (which surprised us all). Quinlynne is swimming now & thinks she's totally hot stuff.

Well hello there!

I know it's been a bit since I last blogged. It's not because NOTHING noteworthy has been happening. You see, I've been busy trying to NOT fail this OB course I'm in right now. The tests are real....humdingers; I"m not even the only one who says this. I won't get into it right now. But sufficeth it to say- I've cried, I've thought of taking a stronger dose of Paxil, I've prayed...let's hope it all works.

In this time interim, we've had the fun experience of getting to spend time with the Kansas Hoffmans. I took some pics of Miss Baby Cadyn fresh from a bath. Adorable.

I promise I did not put that bruise on her forehead. I do enjoy that little girl. She now has her first pair of walkers & is walking. That's right ladies & gentlemen... she is walking before 10 months. Advanced, that's what she is!

My brother's birthday

My brother's birthday was July 26. So, we surprised him & drove up to Kansas. We finished up church with his fam, stayed around while both of them were set apart for their new callings, then went to "the Kansas house". We took three-way, which is the meal my brother likes for his birthday meal (when Olive Garden is not an option), & I made his dirt cake to tak for him. It was a pretty good day for him I think. I know Quinlynne & Abby had fun playing, we loved playing with Cadyn, & it was just good to spend time with family.

Aaron got a few gifts. If this is any indication of the way he's going to dress, I should just go ahead and purchase his polyester leisure suits. Dickie brand, here we come. (Just kidding, Aaron was trying on his figts & felt the need to pose like a dweeb. I love that little boy.

More pics of new Baby Cadyn

Mom came home from Kansas on Friday night, and brought with her her camera. Yeah! I had to load some new pictures of Baby Cadyn.

First of all, here is a picture of Aaron & I with his baby girl. (Mom is notorious for cutting off people's heads in pictures.)

Baby Cadyn on the day she came home from the hospital. Aaron giving Cadyn her first sponge bath at home.

Aaron finishing up with the sponge bath.

Cadyn sporting the outfit Aunt Shandy got for her, in hopes she would wear it home from the hospital.

Aaron & Cadyn taking a little nap.

NEW HOFFMAN BABY

ATTENTION ALL!!! THERE IS A BRAND NEW ADDITION TO THE HOFFMAN FAMILY. She was born April 21, 2009 at 4:26 pm. She weighed 8 lb. 4 oz. and was 22 1/4 inches long.
(I don't think she'll measure that long next week- when her conehead goes away.) She is quite the little beauty. She nursed like a champ this evening and she is very easy going and quite laid back. More pictures will probably be posted here later on Wednesday. Come check her out!

Mother and baby are doing well. Mom is sore, and very tired. Hopefully she'll feel better after a night of sleep. (Oh, I guess I should mention that this is my brother and SIL's baby.)

shower pics

I had a request to repost the pictures. I don't know what I've done wrong....but let me try again.
Quinlynne was watching me make this bubble bath punch (sherbet and Sprite). She asked me if it was for the baby shower. I told her it was. She said "OOOOh, Momma, the baby gonna be coooold!" I had to laugh, and explain to her that this concoction in the bathtub was not for the baby to bathe, or shower in!


Also, Angela- I WAS getting my CPR cert that day! I was listing all the stuff I had to do this week. You know darn good and well if I'd had a hot date I could not keep my mouth shut about it!!! Also- Hell has not frozen over, to my knowledge.

I gave a Baby Shower

I am sure I may have mentioned this previously- but my brother and his wife are expecting their first baby together. I'm SOOO excited to meet my new niece (or nephew). They say this baby is a girl, but I just have this feeling that it is going to come out with a penis. I am not the only one who has this feeling. The due date is not until April 18, but apparently my SIL's OB said she should not travel after March 1. I know, I think 6 weeks of not traveling at all is a bit extreme. But, whatever. I'm still so excited to have a new little baby in the family.

My brother is a big fisherman. In fact, he is a charter member if the Bass Masters fishing club at Oklahoma State University. He's even been on ESPN for some fishing tournaments. He's all into the catch-and-release Bass fishing. (I ask you- what's the point of catching the fish if you're not going to keep them and eat them? I love a good fish fry!) My SIL has even been in some couple's tournaments with him. They do enjoy going out on the boat and spending some time on the water.

In addition to getting all of my stuff ready for the Just Between Friends sale this weekend, I was planning my brother's baby shower, and renewing my certification for CPR (if I let that expire I get kicked out of nursing school), and writing assessments and process recordings and getting my taxes done......it was crazy and continues to be. I made the baby shower invitations myself (if I knew how to get pictures from my Blackberry onto the computer I would download the picture onto this blog). They said "Come help us celebrate Aaron & Mandy's latest catch"......vital time and place info.....and then "the Small Mouth Hoffman is registered at Target".

Saturday came and Mom & I were mad shoppers at Just Between Friends. We literally stood in line an hour and a half before it was time for us to get in as consignors, and I ran up stairs to get to the strollers and car seats....and scored a brand new Chicco travel system with an extra base for less than half of what it costs retail. I know, I'm amazing. We waited for Aaron & Mandy to get in to the sale at 3:00, and we showed them all the stuff we had picked. We made them pick a few things out themselves. When it was time to check out I left them all in line and boogied on over to Sam's to pick up the cake. I came back and picked them up, along with the goods, and we headed to the homestead for the shower. Aaron & Mandy were 30 minutes late to their own shower. Isn't that lovely?

Not counting mom & I, or Aaron & Mandy, there were 20 or 22 people in our living room for the shower. Isn't that a great turnout? I have placed pictures throughout the post here for you to enjoy. Please feel free to tell me what a good job I did!

So happy Aaron & Mandy were blessed with so many gifts! Before the shower all they had was a crib...no mattress....but a crib. That is no longer the case! Come on Baby Hoffman!