this is yesterday's picture -

Hazel really gets into movie night at our house.

this will be a short blog post since i'm in the midst of cooking dinner - tilapia, homemade wheat bread, fresh lemony green beans, spinach salad, oh, and new potatoes. kind of a springy dinner to go along with this springy weather.

i took the kids hiking at barton creek greenbelt yesterday afternoon after we finished schooling. we didn't stay out there too long since the sun was starting to sink behind the hills and we were getting cold and hungry. i took the kids out for dinner since Brian was going to a deacons' meeting and dinner would be provided. since he'd be out late, i tried to make the evening  fun by letting the kids have a movie night even though it was a school night. after picking up a few dvds at the library, we came home, made a fire in the fireplace, popped popcorn, and watched Monsters, Inc.

Hazel actually slept in her pack-n-play for half the night. hurray for progress! she's also making progress in her disposition. she sits and smiles now, even if she isn't being held.

after we finished up school today, i took the kids over to Mueller and we walked the two mile loop. the weather was so delicious i could've eaten it. sadly it will all change tonight when we get another cold front.

here's today's photo

lettuce from John's garden

two school days down so far in this semester. today turned out much better than yesterday. i threatened to drop the boys at the nearest school because of their fighting. the day was cold and rainy so they couldn't go out and play which made them stir crazy. we did eventually get out to the neighborhood library in the late afternoon. a trip to the library always makes the day brighter.

Brian took Margaret and Samuel to basketball. i had planned to get out and exercise, but i was tired and decided to stay home and do weights instead. after Brian got home we watched some of the BCS championship game together, but turned in before it was over.

this morning we all got out and ran the neighborhood. i think i'm going to start running with Brian and the kids every other morning. i've been going over to the trail at Mueller every day to run/walk, but it would be more convenient for me to just run over here. Brian, Margaret, and Samuel run 3 miles every other morning, William and John are currently running a mile, but should be running more like 2. we're all going to run the Vern's No Frills 5K in a week on the 18th again (they have one every month). i have no idea what pace i should shoot for. i haven't run a 5K in a year.

it's a beautiful day today even though it is cold. i think i'll take the kids hiking this afternoon.

i'm a bit late getting started, but i want to do like many of my friends have done, and post a picture a day here on my blog.

here's today's ~

i'm two months old today!

last night Brian and i (and Hazel) enjoyed some patio dining at Paco's Tacos around the corner from our house. we did some curriculum planning over dinner, and i feel a lot more confident going into this next semester. 

 i thought we had matured beyond this, but i guess not: Hazel was up all night. she wasn't really fussing, just squirming and wanting to eat, and so i was up all night as well. i still got up and took Hazel out for some exercise this morning. i'll get rest later on this afternoon (hopefully).

Hazel had her two month well check. she weighs 10 pounds 6 ounces and is 22 inches long. that puts her between the 25th and 50th percentile, but has a head that is in the 75th percentile. i guess she's really smart.

mama and Mike brought the kids back this morning. they had a wonderful time out there wandering in the woods and building forts, but were ready to come home. they're all such home bodies.

basketball season for the kids starts tonight. Brian is coaching Margaret and Samuel's team which makes it even more exciting.

i've been meaning to put down some new year's goals, but just haven't had the time. stay tuned.

i bought three packages of Starbucks Via Christmas Blend at target the other day. i tried it for the first time this morning. it ain't half bad. and it was like an instant pick-me-up to this worn out body.

well, off to conquer the world. or at least the laundry room.

Pessimism is a waste of time. - Norman Cousins

the big kids are at my mom's in Burnet, and Hazel is in her crib napping, so i've got a few minutes to myself.

my mom came in to Austin and took the kids yesterday afternoon. she wanted to get them out there for a couple of days before we started back to school. i'm giving them this week off since i made them do school the week of Christmas and so that Brian and i can do some planning. last night we went out to El Chile. they have half price apps until 7, and $1 off drinks, so we shared an appetizer and then split a plate of enchiladas. i also got a cactus apple margarita, i think that was what it was called. it was yummy. i love how you can drink down a frozen margarita like it's a slurpee, and think, "ok, that was good, but where's the kick?" and then suddenly it hits you like a load of bricks. we walked around French Place for about an hour after dinner, then came home and watched some of the Orange Bowl.

this morning after Brian left for work, i took Hazel down to the town lake trail and ran the 7.2 mile loop. well, i mostly ran it. i took a few walk breaks to make a couple of phone calls. the weather couldn't be more beautiful today. thank you, Lord!

have i mentioned how much i love these 80's inspired fashions that are in now? well, i do. they make me feel young again, and they remind me of all the cool outfits my sister had when we were growing up. see, i was 5 to 15 in the 80's, and didn't fully get fashion yet. my sister, being three years older and very cutting edge, wore all the latest styles. i have restocked my wardrobe using Christmas money and gift cards. it's nice to be out of maternity clothes, by the way.

speaking of clothes, i found these jeans at the thrift store a few weeks ago for $10.



if you go to the True Religion site you'll see that they go for $319. i feel kinda smug when i wear them. LOL.

here's a promotional video about Austin made in the 1950's. the cool thing about it is that it features our neighborhood Windsor Park as it was being built.

well, i've been sitting here with olive oil on my hair (trying to moisten it up - it's so dry!) and better go wash it out before Hazel needs me again.

oh, before i go, i have one more link to share. a friend of mine put this on FB, and i thought it was good.

sweet Hazel is over in her swing starting to cry. she just realized that she was put down after she fell asleep. she has to be touching a warm body at all times. i don't mind so much. i guess i've bought into the attachment thing. it just seems more natural to me. so she gets worn or carried just about all day. and sleeps with us at night. i know she'll grow out of it eventually, but i like giving her as much security as possible while she's just starting out.

we stayed around the house today. it's all cleaned up now. in theory i like to keep my Christmas decor up until Epiphany, you know, observing the 12 days of Christmas, but this year i brought everything down a few days early. the house suddenly feels so clean and fresh.

we're all big Peanuts fans here in the Wells fam, and William gave Brian this book for Christmas -



as Brian is busy reading something else, i asked to read it. it's really well written and awfully interesting, but then i just like biographies.

the kids are going to go out to Burnet tomorrow. i'll have two days to plan out the second half of the school year while they're away. i really hope i can use my time wisely and do what needs to be done.

well, i'm fading away. off to bed i go.