Out of the Mouth of Babes

[On her way to bed.] "Night, pizza. Night chair. Night tummy."

[After trying to play in the snow outside.] "I het snow." (I hate snow.)

[After being tickled by Mom.] "I het that, Mom." (I hate that, Mom.)

[While asking very politely for her bink.] "I deed it reawy bad." (I need it really bad.)

[After seeing the Santa decor at Walmart.] "Santa. Pesents. Many toys." (Santa. Presents. Many toys.)

[After looking in the mirror and realizing her hair is in a crazy, non-combed afro and while crying in a very concerned tone.] "Fix it hair. Pitty hair."

Happy Halloween!

We modeled our 2010 Halloween jammies and secretly hid our cast under them.

We hugged pumpkins. (We also told them, "Night punkin," each night before bed.)

We carved pumpkins! (Mine is the one on the bottom that looks like a 3rd grader made it. And yes, Bryan's is eating a smaller pumpkin.)

We dressed up! Bryan is a tree, I am a rake, and Andlie is a bag of leaves.

Andlie was the cutest bag of leaves I've ever seen in my entire life.

Happy Halloween!!

Four Eyes

I got glasses.

Something happened to the computer screen when I put them on. It was like magic.

Happy

I got flowers.

And I love them. Thank you, Bryan. You made my day. I love you.

"Fix it. Leg. I Sad."

September 29, 8:30 PM: Andlie jumped off the couch. We heard a popping noise and she wouldn't stop crying. We took her to the doctor. (Her pediatrician happened to have a doctor on call, so we didn't have to make a trip to the ER.) He ordered x-rays. Andlie hated them. We spent that night & the next day on the couch eating popsicles and watching movies. We put a wrap on Andlie's leg just in case.

September 30, 1:00 PM: Doctor called us and reported that the x-rays showed no break and that it was probably a bad sprain.

October 1: I called the doctor's office because Andlie seemed to be in pain and wouldn't put ANY weight on her leg. Plus, she kept saying, "Fix it. Leg. I sad." Talk about breaking your heart. We went out to the doctor's office where he did a further examination and told us that it was probably a bad sprain. He also mentioned that sometimes, because the bones are still soft, that a fracture won't show until five days later. He put a splint on and told us to call if she still wasn't putting weight on it by Tuesday.

She spent the next two days like this:

October 5: Called the doc. Still not putting weight on her leg at all. Doc requested a second x-ray and called later to say that "the radiologist had found a tiny break and we should cast it." The break is so small, but it's probably what's causing pain & inability to walk on it. We're supposed to report back on October 28.

I hate couches now. It breaks my heart into pieces that Andlie has a cast and a hurt leg, but I'm so thankful for a good doctor.

I'm Funny

I went on a late dinner run to get us some Wendy's last week. Bryan said he "wanted a giant Diet Coke" since Wendy's has any size drink for $1.00.

Yes, I had to specifically ask for the "smallest cup they had" and a lid to go with it.

Yes, I was giggling even when I said it to the lady at the window.

Yes, she looked at me like I was crazy.

Yes, I left the real Diet Coke in the car when I got home so he'd think this was it.

Yes, I giggled like a little girl all the way home by myself in the car.

Yes, I'm still laughing.

Official Master

He finally has it in his hands! (Well, it's actually in a frame in our room, but it's in our possession.) Yay! You can call him Master Bryan from now on.

It took a lot of hard work, dedication, and willingness to get his degrees. I am so thankful he did it. I am so proud of him. I love him.
Congrats, Master Bryan!!

Happy Birthday, Mooshers!

Happy 23 to Mandy! We love you!!

26 > 25

8:00 AM: I sat down to work to find that Bryan had changed my screen saver to, "Happy birthday, Chandi! I love your guts!!" Even though me & Andlie were so sick all day on my birthday (boo), this made me smile!

12:00 PM: Andlie fell asleep on the couch due to her sickies. (This never happens.)

12:30 PM: Bryan surprised me with beautiful flowers at lunch! Another thing that made me smile even though snot was dripping down my face.

2:00 PM: I finally gave in and called in sick for the rest of the day so I could sleep too.

5:00 PM: I opened my first present from Bryan. It's something I've been needing/wanting for the last few months. I'm so excited to learn the songs!

5:30 PM: We went over to my parents' house. Me & Bryan took our annual birthday picture. Bryan was sneakily making ridiculous faces each shot.

We got a good one though. Isn't he just the hottest thing you've ever laid your eyes on?

6:00 PM: We ate dinner & cake. My Mom made my favorite dinner - homemade pizza. Yum!! (You know your family loves you when your Mom & Dad let you come over to their house to eat and your siblings are all still in attendance [minus the Honduran] even with your drippy-ness and sneezy-ness.)

8:00 PM: I opened the rest of my presents from Bryan & Andlie! I got a cute card, flowers, a running watch, running pants, a Lady Antebellum CD, a piano book, and a jacket. I love them all, but I really love the jacket. I immediately tried it on and struck some poses. (I especially love the one of me in the bathroom where you can see our toilet.)

9:00 PM: Bryan knows that I don't really love cake, but I do love these cupcakes, so he made my perfect cake!

Thank you to everyone who made my birthday special - with phone calls, texts, FaceBook wishes, cards, presents, or homemade pizza (thanks, Mom)! I truly appreciate it! Special shout out to Bryan who made my birthday special and fun even though I had sickies. Horray for birthdays!

Shout Out to Our Plant

A House Plant Surprise

By Chandi Allen

We are really quite proud that you are not dead.

But instead you are bigger than two human heads!

We usually end up growing some shrooms.

But we really hope you continue to bloom!

You got so big, we had to switch pots.

Holy moly! Who would have thought?

Plants in this house usually last only days.

(Seriously, like eleven days maximum.)

But you, little plant, have truly amazed!

Thank you for lasting a whole year plus some!

I'm so happy - I practially want to buy rum!

(And also, quit laughing that this poem is so dumb.)

August 2009:

September 2010: