I have been quite remiss in updating this precious blog. In my newly found addiction to Facebook, it seems all my “online time” has been spent posting pictures there instead of sharing the stories here. So I am thinking this will perhaps be a lengthy blog as I attempt to catch all of you “non facebookers” up with the lives and times of the Parnells.
Where to start…
Halloween
Little Emma was an Aggie cheerleader for Halloween, and a cuter Aggie cheerleader you have never seen! Nanna came over and so did Gammy and we handed out candy to our sweet neighborhood children. It was one year ago on Halloween that Jeff and I found out we were pregnant. How much has changed!
The Induction of Rice Cereal
Let me set the stage: Emma is growing quite nicely, and the pediatrician suggested it Was Time. Time to add to my little girl’s palate. We were ready. Mamma was over to help me make it (Seriously, those directions stink. They aren’t even really directions!! Like basically they are good directions IF YOU’VE HAD A BABY BEFORE AND KNOW HOW TO DO THIS!!!) Back to the drama that unfolded. Nanna was there, Uncle Darren was there, and so was Aunt Mary Beth. I put Emma in her highchair and Uncle was poised with the camera, Daddy had the video camera pointed at Emma and we were all waiting with baited breath…..and she screamed. She had no idea what to do with the goo that we put in her mouth. None. She was just looking at us with confusion and as her little belly got hungrier and hungrier, she cried harder and harder. I tried making all the silly noises to get her to open her mouth but when she did and I shoveled food in there she was just dumbfounded. She didn’t spit it out, she didn’t push her tongue around in the food, she just sat there with her mouth open, crying. So after a few more attempts of Mamma making “Yummy” noises, we resorted back to the bottle and all was well in the little world of Emma Parnell. Side note: she now loves her cereal as well as carrots. The carrots did not make a good impression the first time she tasted them (silly Mamma didn't warm them up - cold carrots - YUCK!)
Thanksgiving
She also had her first Thanksgiving a few weeks ago. I remember last year, being newly pregnant, overly ravenous, and eager to eat as much food as possible in a short amount of time. This year, Jeff and I hosted Thanksgiving at our house. Several members of my family were out of town, and Jeff’s family had a myriad of plans so we only had my mother and his cousin Valarie over. The turkey was my first and it tasted pretty darn good if I do say so myself! We had dressing and peas and cranberry sauce (both kinds!) and mashed potatoes and squash and rolls and pies….we had a mighty good spread that looked and tasted delicious. We pulled Emma up to the dining room table with us so that she could experience the holiday at the grown up’s table. After dinner, my best friend Laura came over with her niece Kate and we managed to visit with enough enthusiasm to ignore the slaughter that was the A&M t.u. game this year.
The New Christmas Tree
Shortly before Thanksgiving, Jeff and I bought our Christmas tree. When we got the boxes home (yes it came in two boxes and yes, we went artificial this year. Too many renegade pine needles from years gone by to have another real one. Those suckers get harder and harder with age!!) We put up the tree immediately upon returning home (OK really I wanted to wait but those boxes were calling my name) and it was gorgeous. Let me just say that 12 feet of tree is quite different when you see it at SAMS Warehouse, compared to, say, in my living room! It is so big but beautiful. We have red, silver, and pink glass balls and I just love it. My Grandmother Cameron would have loved it as well.
Aggieland
At some point, Jeff and I drove up to College Station to take Emma to go watch March In. We missed them step off by about 30 minutes. Sigh. So instead, we walked around campus and took all the typical pictures.
Emma at the statue of Sully, Emma at Fishpond, Emma under the Century Tree, at Kyle Field, in front of the Reveille graves, and…EMMA WITH SOME CORPS BOYS!! Jeff stopped a group of fish on their way to the game and asked if they would pose with Emma. 
Best picture of the day! I was on cloud nine and floated all the way back to Katy.Katy Holiday in the Park
OK it’s probably not really called that, but Katy hosted its first annual Holiday Party which was really neat. Nanna and Aunt Mary Beth and I took Emma to see Santa. Jeff was in Canada, so it was just us girls. Admission was free – just some canned goods – and we got to see a live nativity scene complete with real frankincense and myrrh. Myrrh stinks. Really. It’s gross. But there was a petting zoo and pony and camel rides, a carnival and, the much anticipated arrival of Santa. ON A FIRE TRUCK!! It was so cool They also had some snow, but with the balmy weather (that day) it didn’t seem to last very long. Santa was lifted on top of the hook and ladder truck up and over the crowd to light the Christmas tree that was about 20 feet up in the air. He was then supposed to come down and take pictures with the crowd (for free – yippee!) but alas, the fire department got a call and Santa and his fellow firemen had to go put out a fire. When we got back to my truck, it did start. After a few seconds, I tried again and it finally started (Roadside Assistance came out the next day and replaced my battery in my driveway. Nice.)
Bear
In addition to all that has gone on with us, we have also made the hard decision to let Bear Parnell go and live with another family. His sweet temperament was unfortunately too overshadowed by his incessant barking (when the schoolbus comes 6 times a day, when the garbage man comes, when a leaf blows across the yard - you get the picture) so he is in foster care. I made sure I was at work when the girl came to get Bear because as much as he irritates me, I didn't think I could stand to see him go. He is, I'm sure, much happier living in a house with three other shelties (Lord help this foster mommy!!) and I have found him on the internet and continue to monitor his progress. I do miss the little boy, but the quiet at home (especially during Emma's nap time) is wonderful.
So that should catch you up on the Parnell household. We are anxiously awaiting Christmas and have plans to go caroling this weekend as well as to try to get a picture with Santa. Heather doesn’t do malls at Christmas time, so we’re hoping to avoid the SERIOUS crowds and drive up to College Station for the Santa’s Wonderland land of a bazillion lights. They also have a resident Santa, so hopefully Emma can get some lap time. (ask for new jammies Emma!!) I still have presents to make, a stocking for Emma to make…this list goes on and on. I am way more ambitious than my real life lets me actually be.
**note: I started this alleged "update" back before Christmas. It is clearly after Christmas. And New Years. Whatever. I'll work on actually getting Christmas up soon. AT least Jeff's side of Christmas. that was just last weekend!! LOL.
