Another Week

I feel like I always say this, but we survived last week. Since I blogged last my eye infection returned and Ryland and Raylee both got it. I also went to my family doctor and got a shot of Kenalog and a prescription for penicillin. I was so miserable on Monday we called in reinforcements (my mother-in-law) and she took the kids home with her on Monday. My meds finally started working Tuesday evening and I started feeling like myself again. I had my OB appt. Thursday and did the nasty glucose test. My in-laws had planned to return the kids Friday evening but my mother-in-law threw her back out so I met Lee in Andrews to get the kids Thursday evening. I tell you what a week. But we are all feeling much better now.

On to this week. Leland is helping with the district One-Act competition Monday and Tuesday. I have Bunko at my house Tuesday evening. Thursday Leland will be in Idalou judging at their academic UIL meet. Friday is our district UIL meet here in Big Spring. I think I'm going to be glad when Saturday arrives! It's Mallett Mayhem for a reason. :)

We are enjoying the nice weather though. We had some fun family time in the backyard yesterday. Although the little bit of rain will force Leland to mow the grass soon but I love green grass. It is always so pretty. The kids tried to help with the mowing yesterday - so adorable.

It was a good Saturday. So on to this week. I'll try to keep blogland updated a little more often.

Austin Getaway

Since last week was spring break, we took a mini-vacation to Austin. Leland, the kids, and our friends Reuben and Shannon headed out Thursday morning. They arrived safely at the hotel that afternoon. After a good but quick meal at Leland's favorite BBQ joint, IronWorks, all of them (except Raylee) went to the musical The Lion King. They loved it of course. Reuben and Shannon had never been; Leland has seen it 4 times now; and this was Ryland's second time. 4 year old's get so excited about things. He was estactic! Raylee was delivered to Leland's cousin Brandy for the evening. Since I had a big deadline at work Thursday I caught a late flight and arrived in Austin at 8pm. Brandy (and Raylee) picked me up and we went to the hotel. We had an awesome hotel room. We use LaQuinta's reward program so we used some points on the hotel. They had something mixed up so they upgraded us to a two room suite. It was nice to have the extra space.

Brandy with the kids at the outlet mall.

Friday after a wonderful meal at Cracker Barrel (my favorite joint) we all went to the Capital for some sightseeing and then to the Build-A-Bear Workshop. Once again, a 4 year old's delight. :) Supper was at the Cheesecake Factory and then Target and then the hotel. The kids were worn out. Saturday we enjoyed the Round Rock outlet mall, McAllisters for lunch and then headed home.

The Mallett's on the grounds of the Capital.

The bad thing about the trip was the eye infection I acquired Friday morning. I looked horrible! Thankfully (I guess) Reuben had had an eye infection earlier in the week and had some antibiotic eye drops. I tried all day using just plain drops but was so miserable by that evening I tried the medicine kind. The infection was gone by Saturday morning but my eyes were still very red and swollen from wiping them so often the day before. Today I just look like I've been crying so I'm glad that horrible experience is over. Leland said we should have taken a picture of me on Friday for my blog but I'm glad we didn't document that event.

My favorite people at the Cheesecake Factory (ignore the bar in the background).

On the way home we stopped at the Buchanan Dam. It was sad how low the lake is. But the ducks were still out in force.

We are all back to the grind tomorrow. I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday and Leland is preparing for district academic UIL competition next week. I'm also having Bunco at my house next week so as usual Mallett Mayhem.

Pictures

Last Saturday while Leland was at a UIL meet I got ambitious and cleaned up the garage. Ryland was really wanting to ride his 4-wheeler but it was pretty windy that day so around the garage he went. Raylee was quite jealous and joined in so I couldn't resist a picture.

Ryland's self-portrait. He loves to take pictures and always includes one of himself.

Raylee actually caught on camera. She is so hard to get a picture of because she is always on the go. She is so much fun lately though. She loves to play with her dad and her brother. She is very ornery too. So much fun.

The baby is doing well also. She (maybe me) is getting quite large. I look like I've swallowed a basketball. We've got less than 12 weeks now so I'm really starting to get excited. My next appointment is the 22nd and I've got to do the nasty glucose test then. I'm not thrilled but I guess it's necessary.

We had a wonderful rain today. I love a good rain storm with thunder and all. We've had a great weekend also. Lots of good family fun with a little bit of work sprinkled in. Good times. This is spring break for Leland so he's looking forward to the extra time with the kids. What fun!

Life Update

Wow, what a week. I can't believe it is already March. Time is just flying for me lately. There just seems to be so much to do and get done and not enough time to do it in. And I hear it only gets worse with age. I'm going to blink and my kids will be out of school. Wow.

Well, we are all doing well. Raylee has done well with her allergy meds. She still throws up periodically from coughing too much but it is definitely better than it was. She is also starting to say more words. I had always expected her to be an early talker but she just communicates without words very well so words haven't been a priority to her.

Ryland is growing up too quickly lately. He gets totally ready in the mornings by himself (he enjoys telling everyone he can brush his own teeth). He's trying so hard to be good all the time. He wants to eat only things that are good for you (thanks to Carlos on the cartoons). He is so loving and precious. Even this evening after finishing supper he said that he was tired so he was going to go to bed to get some sleep. My baby is growing up!

Leland and his staff were finally able to finish a newspaper. The student computers are still not up (the technology people took all the hard drives today) so he is having to get very creative with keeping his kids busy since it has been two weeks now of bad computers. But maybe they will be up and running like normal soon.

I had a big deadline today at work. I always get lots of little things accomplished on deadline days since I need to be available for any random thing my boss needs me to do. And as always I had to fly down to the post office to make the final mail pickup with the last few tax returns that had to be postmarked today. The last hour of a deadline day is always the craziest.

March brings several exciting things to our world. Lion King the musical is first up. We went to see it in Houston last summer on vacation and Ryland fell in love with it. He has been begging since to see it again. When we saw that it would be in Austin we decided to make the trip. So over Spring Break (after my next major deadline) we and some friends of ours are headed to Austin for the show and some playing. We are all looking forward to the trip. It will be a nice little get-away before the baby arrives. At the end of the month is Distrist UIL for Leland. He enjoys the UIL season so much and loves winning (which they do all/most of the time). So district is very exciting for them.

Speaking of the baby, she is doing fine also. She is not a very busy girl but does move around enough. Lately she likes to push her head over on my right side. Today I finally had to gently push her back in because it was hurting having such a hard head trying to push out. I can tell though that I've hit the 3rd trimester. Sleeping is becoming much more difficult and my belly is getting heavy. But it should be less than 3 months now so the clock is ticking.

Life as always is busy and crazy but we have really enjoyed our family time lately. The kids are at such fun ages. They enjoy playing with each other and with their dad (wrestling mainly). We just keep trying to not get too bogged down with the huge to-do list and take each item and each day one at a time.

Sorry for no pictures. I have a different camera and don't have the cord to it yet. Hopefully I can get my pictures off of it soon to share.