So a couple weeks ago when I filed a complaint with Mother Nature regarding our temps, I knew I may suffer her wraith for doing so. Well, She responded and let's just say it wasn't pretty. 

First of all, she struck me mute - literally!  Last Tuesday I woke up with my second head cold in a month, my head pounding & voice scratchy.  By Thursday, my voice was so messed up that everytime I tried to talk, these horrid, only-dolphins-can-interpret squawking sounds came out.  Tim just looked at me and nodded a lot & Picabo ran & hid.  BUT, the temps were in the 50s again, so I figured even though Mother Nature didn't like my questioning her, we had come to some kind of understanding.  When Sunday rolled around not only could I produce a somewhat normal-sounding sentence or two, but the day was absolutely GORGEOUS - 76 degrees & sunshine baby!  It seemed the worst had passed.

That was until I looked out my window yesterday morning and saw THIS...
 

It only lasted a few hours & I actually enjoyed watching it fall. The flakes were HUGE - some of the biggest I've ever seen. Picabo wanted nothing to do with it & stayed under her blankets all day.

Today with my cold mostly gone & my voice back to normal I'm thinking a bit clearer & concede it probably wasn't Mother Nature punishing me.  But you've gotta admit the timing is a bit suspicious.  And 76 degrees one day, 32 the next - well that enough to drive anyone a little crazy.  Kramer's right, Mother Nature is indeed a mad scientist!   I just wish she'd take that madness somewhere else ☺

I hope you have a GREAT day.  I wish I was there to celebrate with ya.  LOVE & MISS YOU SO MUCH! 

Here are some of my favorite photos of my dad...music is "Song for Dad" by Keith Urban...

Poor Picabo had to get her teeth cleaned today and it was not very fun -  for her or us.  She knew somethng was up when she didn't get breakfast first thing this morning (can't eat 12 hours before) and I had to coax her out from under our bed.  This is the first time we've had to do it though so I can't complain too much.  They have to put dogs completely out of course and it takes at least 24 hours for the anesthesia to be totally out of her system. Instead of just crashing and sleeping it off like a normal dog though, this high-strung little creature tries to fight it.  Which means we have to keep an eye on her as she wobbles around like a drunken sailor.  Here she is a few minutes after we brought her home this afternoon.  Her eyes kept closing and she could barely hold up her head, but she kept trying...

If you ask me, Valentine's Day is a pretty awesome day.  Not because of boxed chocolates or conversation hearts - which they RUINED this year by changing to fruity flavors.  I mean, come on, how could they do away with Pepto Bismol Pink?? Idiots! 

No, I think Valentines is pretty awesome because it was 14 years ago today Tim recreated our first date and officially asked me to marry him. And every year he gives me roses to celebrate that day - this year he got me my favorite - PINK...

Dear Mother Nature,
WHAT THE HECK??!!  I thought we had a deal...us Texans accept 4 months of 95+ temps with lots of humidity & pretty much zero rain in exchange for 8 months of mild beautifulness.  Now being winter, I can take days of endless rain - dreary as it is.  And I do my best to not whine about the 20-30 mph winds that stir up all kinds of allergies.  But temps consistently 20-30 degrees below average???  Really???  No, I'm sorry.  I have to draw the line somewhere. Now if our summer is also 20+ degrees below average, well, then, all will be forgotten. ☺

President Ronald Reagan was the first president I actually remember in office.  I do remember singing "Jimmy Carter has a way of messing up the USA" during recess in elementary school, but I don't think that counts☺.  My Nana had her picture taken with him when he was Governor of California and as a kid I thought it was totally awesome my Nana "knew" the president.  As an adult I have come to admire him not only as a good president but also as a great man.  He was a confident and positive leader and had a great sense of humor.  He really loved Nancy and she loved him, something that seems to be lacking these days - especially in politics.  He had a great love & respect for all animals. Whenever I see photos of him riding his horses around his ranch, it reminds me of John Wayne which makes me think of my Papa.  He loved Jelly Belly jellybeans and would share them with everyone, even his horses. And, regardless of your politics, you have to admit the man had a way with words.  So in honor of his 99th birthday, here are some of my favorite Reagan quotes:

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."

 "One picture is worth 1,000 denials."

"It's true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance?"

"Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15."

When Kelly & Ele were in town, we got some stuff for Ellee to take back to her little brother & cousins from all of us - including a really cute stuffed version of Bevo, the University of Texas mascot.

I know its been a while since my last post; I spent the last 3 weeks of January fighting off a nasty stomach virus & then a cold. I didn't feel like doing much of anything -especially looking at the computer.  But I'm feeling MUCH better now so here's a recap of what else we've been up to the last month or so:

KELLY & ELEANOR VISIT:
The first week of January my baby sister Kelly & niece Ellee came for a visit. They were originally going to visit us  back in November in Houston, but since we sold our house so fast & had to get out by Dec 1st, we switched their tickets to January & Austin instead. And despite the close quarters, record low temps (poor Kel!) & me beginning my 3-week sickapalooza on their last day/night in town, we still had so much fun together...we always do!  Here's a few pics of our adventures: