Kandi's Favorite Things in 2008

• Emma's Boutique in Denton where I have found super cool Christmas presents (even for me!), my fave pair of feel skinny black pants, and clothes for photo shoots. Most importantly, the awesome girls at Emma's introduced me to Poo~Pourri.
• Fire Roasted Tomatoes because they make me happy
• Blue Mesa Grill and their online recipes! YUM
• The Twilight series(I know, I am not 14 years old...so what?)
• Central Market's Playground where I can read a magazine and have a healthy lunch while the kids play. And NO Happy Meals!
• THESE necklaces
• Old Navy's cashmere v neck sweaters sexy, soft, and beautiful colors

There are more I know....will add on! :)

Pretty Please w/Sugar on top.

Let this little bit of icy drizzle we are getting be enough for a NO SCHOOL DAY!

Why?

The high is 34 today and it won't even be up to that until 4ish.

A perfect day to declare it:

Pajama Day
Make Cookies Day
Build Tent Houses Day
Listen to Christmas Music Day
Drink Even MORE Hot Cocoa Day
Watch An Affair to Remember While Kids Watch Home Alone Day
Read the Christmas Story Day
Keep the Tree Lights on All Day-Day


What kind of day would YOU declare it? :)

Dear Mom

I miss you today.
Mom, I know your time was up. And I know I have written about this. But I will write again.
You had a rough end of your life. I understand that. But you made such an impact when your health was good. I am told by many that you went out of your way to make others feel special. Your nieces and nephews adored you. They miss you. So do I. So does your son, husband, sisters and brothers.

Mom, I have been told that my mom must have been a special woman to raise a girl like me. Little do they know that I am peanuts compared to who you were. You gave me opportunities that a girl could only dream of. You gave me life lessons that I never got until I was a woman.

The past 3 years have flown by mom, and each year I think to pick up the phone to call you at least 100 times. But I can't. When you left THIS earth, I was a new mom. I had a 3.5 year old son and a 15 month old girl. I hadn't even began to ask you much parenting advice. As each year passes, I pray that I can be the woman you raised me to be. The funny thing is, that like you, I have turned to writing to express myself. A typewriter clicked and clacked at midnight as you wrote of your life, and tonight a keyboard taps away writing of my life with you. Ironic, huh?

Tonight I want to remember the past year and the influence you still have on me:

• You were right, it is never to young to give children the love of great literature.
• I am rethinking never bestowing upon my children the word of the week during summer break...I get it now mom. Haha
• Around age 4, I remember you telling me that mommy and daddy needed "grown up time". Snicker. That, I also get and I even use the same phrase.
• You never made me feel silly when I stood up in church and made up songs. So now, I will never make my daughter feel silly for the random songs or dances.
• Faerie hunts ARE magical
• Snipe hunts don't seem so mean after all!
• Boys and bikes and ramps all go hand in hand
• Manners....you have to have them
• Santa doesn't have that much room on his sleigh
• I finally understand why you used to say: 1) Do you need a tissue for your nose? 2) staring is rude 3) You're going to catch a death of a cold 4) If you don't wear socks your feet will stink 4)Say excuse me 5) It's not nice to laugh when mommy passes gas 6) You don't like that long purple coat? I think it is cute! 6) Ear muffs are adorable on you! 7) You are too young to like boys 8) We don't sword fight in the produce section 9) Put that toilet seat down! 10) I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW!

Mom, I cried in Chad's arms tonight missing you. I can't imagine how dad feels. I know that I will see you again. Speaking of, Andrew realized the other night that he gets to see you and Chad's Grandpa again one day. He was sooo excited. So am I. But until then, I will cry because I miss you. I mourn our relationship, our phone calls, our talks, our margaritas, our diaries, our movies, our ghost stories, our inside jokes, our thing that only a mom and daughter can have.
I love you mom, to the moon and back. This time YOU are MY shining star.

Kandi

A Magical Day

My day started off as usual. Getting Andrew up and ready for school. Telling Andrew and Chad bye...and began my day editing.

I have been working a lot as most of you know. So very much. SO every free second I get I edit.
This morning I got up from my computer to check on Jordan. She is home on Tuesdays and Thursdays and we used to do little things together. But the past several weeks I have been absorbed in my work that she has had to use her little imagination to keep herself busy and entertained. Which is totally ok. I know. Well, I checked in on her. She was on her knees, hands folded in prayer, eyes closed tightly.

"Dear God, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me become a pixie. I will be a very very good pixie. I promise God. And also, let my mommy stop working and spend time with me. Amen"

Gulp. My heart dropped. Turned off computer and got us ready. Turned off the rented Tinkerbell movie that she has been watching the past couple of days and we got ready. For what? I don't know.

She chose her black turtleneck, grey skirt, black tights and black boots to wear. Of course on her back she sported a pair of pink faerie wings. She also asked me to straighten her hair.

We got in the car...no destination chosen yet. But in the car Jordan saw the faerie working. :)
The dancing leaves twirling in the wind.
The trees blowing in circles.
The sun with the sparkles it leaves on the windows.

She saw them everywhere. And was in such a state of awe.

Where to go....where to go?

Then she asked...are there ice skating places really in our world? (her way of trying to figure out if things are real or not, she asks if they are in our world)

Aha. The Galleria.

So we arrived...and she was just amazed at the parking garage. Haha. We parked next to a big store that has not appealed to me at all before. But Jordan saw little girls walking out of the store and she asked what it was.

"American Girl store honey. Yes. Like Kit from the movie you watched."

An hour later (and no money spent) we finally walked out of the magical store that is American Girl. She even found a Jordan doll (as in she looked like Jordan). And she loved the babies. I have to say, I loved it too (I may have gotten teary eyed walking into the store).

Now, off to the mall. We found the ice skating rink and watched for a long time. We got hungry and she wanted La Madeline (it's all about bread and strawberries folks). So we were choosing what we wanted, and she asked the man behind the counter for strawberries without the yucky cream sauce. He said in the most Louis Armstrong voice I have ever heard, "Sure! How about whipped cream baby? You gotta like whipped cream!".

"Yes please!" Then she whispered "Mommy, pick me up".

So I did. And he handed her the plate. She said, "Thank you for making my very special day!!!". With that she got three more strawberries as I seriously saw swoon. Awww.

We ate and chatted and talked in high pitched faerie talk. Then....we heard a little girl talking about Santa.

Ding!

We walked and walked and found him. We were 2nd in line. Yeeeehawww!

And Santa spoke. Softly, and acted as if he knew Jordan. She sat on his lap and they talked. So much that they didn't pose for the pic (my fave kind). Then, with one finger motioning me over to them, Santa (in a non perverted way) invited me to sit next to them on the chair. He looked at me and said how I've grown. He asked if I remembered the doll he brought me when I was 4. I said yes...almost breathless (today IS magical...right?). I knew it was an act, but just be young minded as you read this. He looked at me and told me that he had told Jordan the same thing he told me when I was younger. He may bring her one or two things that she wants, but sometimes Santa likes to bring what HE thinks she will like. He looked at her and said he loved her artwork and he may bring her crayons that weren't broken like the ones she has. :) AWWW. Then, he looked at us both. And said..."You know that neighbor you have that seems lonely? Make her sugar cookies. Put them in a Ziploc bag and tell her Merry Christmas. When she eats those, she with think of you". We both gave him a hug. I was seriously almost in tears. I LOVED him.

Then we did other things like play in toy stores, she rode a train, and we had a milkshake. But it was perfect.

Next I want to spend a day like this with Andrew. Hopefully very soon.

Until then....can you find the faerie wings?