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We made it back from our Texas/Arizona trip on Wednesday night and we've been busy ever since. I had to busy days at work and then we had to unpack, do laundry, take down Christmas decorations and clean the house (the last has only been partially done, but at least the floors are clean). The boys had a great time with Nana and Grandad while Greg and I went to Phoenix to watch TCU lose at the Fiesta Bowl. Oh well, it was still worth the trip. One side has to spend their time and money to support their team even if they don't win. We'd do it again and will again next year if they can have another great season.

One of my only pictures that I took at the game. This was the beginning and the rest was so nerve racking that I didn't take my camera out again.

Greg in front of the stadium - obviously before the game. The picture at the top is of us in front of the TCU frog horn. It is usually blown every time TCU scores but it wasn't allowed in the stadium - that must have been the reason they lost.

One of the fun things about going was to see friends from college - like my old roommate Kim.

Things going on with the boys:

When I was putting Christmas stuff away, Ryan asked what I was doing and when I told him, he said "Ooooh, Christmas is over? But Santa will bring me more presents." When I told him it is was once a year and we needed to put everything up, he got really panicky that I was going to take his scooter away because he got it for Christmas. Greg and I both had to reassure him separately (and several times) that presents aren't decorations and he can still have his scooter.

Luke has been acting like cat for a couple of weeks. It started at first with him meowing occasionally (especially when responding to questions), but it has turned into a full-blown act. He wakes up in the morning and crawls on the ground meowing to whoever he sees and wants to be petted. It is really cute and also really obnoxious at times. I had to make the rule this weekend that he is only allowed to meow like a cat when he is crawling like a cat - if not it is constant cat meowing - which is annoying with a person or a real cat. I've threatened him several times that he might have to end up where we took Jackson last year when he became too obnoxious (Greg took him to the Dumb Friends League to be put down-he wasn't just annoying he was also sick). We'll see how long this act continues.

Ryan's behavior has improved somewhat. He still has an attitude but the anger has subsided a little. It turned out that he had something rammed down his ear canal - which likely contributed to his foul mood. I took Luke to the doctor before Christmas for his ear infection re-check and asked the doctor to look in Ryan's ears because he said his ears hurt (although we thought he just wanted some of Luke's medicine). He found what appears to be a small styrofoam ball. He was amazed at Ryan's toughness - he said most kids would be screaming in pain based upon how far it was jammed in his ear canal. No idea where that came from - probably the same place as the thing that got lodged in his vocal cords when he was 1. Ryan told the doctor that there was a spider in his ear and when he looked he said to me that it wasn't a spider but it could be a spider egg sack. He (the doctor) was kind of freaked out about it and had to think (out loud) for several minutes on how to get it out. He was quite relieved when he pulled it out that nothing came out at him when he squeezed it. Ryan was quite cooperative the whole time. He really is a tough guy, just a little emotional.

Lastly, my aunt and uncle (Jane and Charlie) came over to my parents' house for dinner before we left for Phoenix. We always enjoy seeing them and I wish we could find a way to see them more often. They've been such an important part of my life, as well to me and Greg's relationship. Jane taught me to make chicken fried steak last year (still haven't done that yet, but maybe for Valentines) and I was sure to get her Lemon Ice Cream recipe for my new ice cream maker.