Busy, Travel, and 1st Haircut

BUSY:
What a week we had last week. I did survive my first major deadline of tax season. I really dislike January 31st because there are no extensions! I do the W-2s and 1099s and payroll reports for over 100 clients and they HAVE to be finished and in the mail by the 31st. I put in 12 or so hour days from last weekend through Wednesday. My kids were thankfully farmed out to different babysitters and we all did survive. I was just very grateful for Thursday.

TRAVEL:
On Friday we loaded up and went to the metropolis of Sudan, TX. The journalism UIL coach there had contacted Leland about doing a workshop to prepare her kids for UIL district. I have a cousin and her family that live there now so we spent the night with them and got some good catching up in. On Saturday when Leland was finished we met my parents and my brother and his wife in Lubbock. My parents needed to get on the road home so it was brief with them but we ate at Johnny Carinos with Mitch and Katie for probably 2 hours. We had a great visit and hope to do it again soon.

Yesterday my family and mother-in-law headed to Austin. Leland will be presenting at a technology conference this week. Leland has an aunt that lives there so the others went to see family. I'm enjoying my girl time too. I always enjoy this time for a couple of days and then start to really miss them by Tuesday. So I'm having girls night at my house Tuesday evening! Girls always need a little time to themselves and with other girls so we are looking forward to the evening.

Then my family returns home Wednesday and Friday we head to Lubbock for LCU's homecoming and Master Follies. We are really looking forward to seeing everyone and showing off the kids. We don't see enough of our college friends during the year so we enjoy that weekend of reunion.

We always enjoy such fun trips but I'm always grateful they are over when they are stacked on top of each other like this. Next week will be nice to have our "usual" routine back.

1ST HAIRCUT:
I hadn't forgotten to post these pictures but just haven't had the time. Raylee had her first haircut 2 Fridays ago. I had called our beautician to schedule Leland, Ryland, and I so I chatted with her about Raylee. Raylee's hair is so fine and so straight that I was having a hard time doing anything with it. We decided to give her bangs. The rest just got a little trim to even it out. Now we can see her eyes and they even seem bigger (if that's at all possible)! I'm hoping as her hair thickens that clips will possibly stay in but if it's anything like mine was when I was little, clips won't be in her future for a very long time. :) So here are the pics of her first haircut.

Raylee was a little unsure but did awesome! She sat very still the entire time.

Here is one with Miss Kay and me with the few clippings for the keepsake bag.

Raylee didn't want to look at the camera when she was finished but at least you can see her bangs.

And here we are together. My mom was still in town then so she went with me to help out and take pictures. It was a fun outing.

We are all doing well also. The baby and I are definitely growing! Someone at church yesterday told me that I have "blossomed" lately - that is code for "you're getting BIG!" :) But the baby does seem to be well. I had a rough time last Wednesday though. I was in a lot of pain. After chatting with my nurse and my doctor we decided it was extreme fatigue from working so much the few days before that. Sure enough after some rest Wednesday evening and Thursday morning the pain was gone and I'm back to my usual self. It was a little scary but everyone helped out and helped me get through the deadline. I have such a wonderful boss (he did whatever he could to help me finish up everything) and a wonderful husband who did awesome being dad and mom and taking care of me for a few days. I'm so fortunate!

I hope everyone enjoys their week - can you believe it is already February of 2007?