Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Because I don't ever remember anything...
Although this past year has been filled with it's ups and it's downs for sure, I can't pinpoint the most memorable things as some of you have done. You can read some of my profound thoughts here. I'm sure I've said before, I have a terrible memory and that is one of the greatest reasons I am so glad I started blogging. I have always been a journaler..(is that a word, really?) I have enjoyed keeping the day's events and my thoughts on paper, and love going back and reading what I wrote. I am so thankful I have done this even if there was I time I didn't do it faithfully. If it weren't for my past journals and now my blog, I absolutely wouldn't remember anything.
I just want to take this time to wish everyone a wonderful and very happy New Year. May we continue to grow in our bloggy friendships and say and do lots more things I probably won't remember, but will love at the time!!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Nothing but my Reality Check
It has been rather busy over the holiday break. I just realized tonight while walking down the aisles of the grocery store that the break was almost over. Time passes so quickly. Although Big Dan hasn't been home much (except when it was time to rack up..lol), I have so enjoyed spending this time with Little Ann. We have done lots of shopping, visiting friends, and we've watched lots of movies together.
It currently looks like a tornado hit my bedroom. Last night we blew up an air mattress so Little Ann could sleep in my floor. Her daddy was home and she wanted to sleep near me. Pete wanted to know how long that was going to last, and I assured him only during what was left of Christmas break. I just laughed to myself when I saw him stumble over 3 American Girl dolls in a make shift bed right beside her and about 10 stuffed animals in my floor. It definitely didn't leave much room for walking. As frustrating as her messes are sometimes, I know one day I will look around and wish for something to clean up.
Speaking of Little Ann.....although this has nothing to do with anything, she just came in here and told me she wishes I would have named her "Alice". Don't know what that's all about.
I had a little reality check tonight. One of my best scrapbooking friends' daughter had a baby today , but not only that... Pete's mamaw had back surgery. I love babies. I guess maybe I could've had 6 or 7 and been happy, but I guess God knew what would be best for me. When I was pregnant with Little Ann, I often questioned myself. I wondered how I could possibly love my new daughter with as much love as I had for my son. Did I actually have enough to go around? Oh, I did. It's still hard to understand how a mother can have so much love in her heart...and it just never goes away, no matter how many "I hate you's" she hears.
After visiting with my friend and swaddling that precious newborn baby girl, we moved up to the next floor to visit Pete's mamaw. She will be 88 in March and is in the hospital for back surgery because she fell off a ladder. A ladder people. Why would you climb a ladder if you were 88? But nothing much gets this woman down. It's unbelievable how good she still looks and acts at her age. As I looked at her petite 95 pound body lying there, I wondered just how many more years of life she actually had in her. And just as my friend's new baby was entering into this world....I know it won't be very many more years before she will be leaving...because that's what we do. We are born into this world, and then we leave it.
So many things are swimming around in my head right now. I mean what if I am drawing closer to my time of leaving. Really, none of us have the assurance of tomorrow.
James 4:14 - Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away.
So what is my life? How will I spend my 2009? What will remain the same? What will I change? What will I do for God who brought me in to this world and can just as easily take me out? I know that despite conflicts in my marriage, unloving words spouted off to my children, bad decisions I continue to make, whatever it may be dragging me down... that ultimately my happiness lies within myself. I know that my life will be just exactly what I make it.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Traditions and a little Chaos
Little Ann held tight to her list, making sure we followed the order of operations. Luckily she remembered our yearly traditions and had listed things in order anyway, so as we went with the flow of our Christmas Eve evening, it all naturally fell into place.
Christmas Eve has traditionally become the time we spend with my side of the family. My family isn't very big as I only have one sibling and once my grandparents passed away, everyone began to branch off establishing their own traditions with their immediate families. This year my parents weren't able to make it so it was just Pete, the kids and I, and my brother's family. Which believe me....with 3 boys and Big Dan to ag it all on..was all the chaos we needed.
The food was all delish as usual and once the tables were cleared and food put away, we began our highly competitive traditional game of Bingo. After Bingo, we managed to fulfill another of our family traditions being our family photo, but not without lots of grumbling.
You can't tell it though. We managed to get a smile out of everyone..surprisingly.
The present opening came after the picture and is usually what takes up the majority of the night. We are slow and it took Pete awhile to get used to our way of doing things. His family is so different than mine where presents are concerned. They waste no time with their opening, but we try to make it last by giving each person their own turn and full attention. These are a few of the happy faces from the night's gift giving.
For all you "non-country" folk out there, this is a three dimensional deer target. This is what the poor man asked for ya'll, so don't be giving me those eyebrows. Jeff Foxworthy may've said it best..."You might be a redneck if.....". lol.
I must say..one of the highlights of the night was listening to my brother's 3 year old repeat his newly learned phrase....."What in the heck?" as loudly as possible every single time someone opened a new gift. Look at his mouth and get a mental picture. Hi.lari.ous.
After all the gifts were opened and we all did trash patrol, the kids, once again followed Little Ann's schedule and took the telescope out to find Santa
all the while running in and out to track him on the Santa tracker as well. Hmmmm..is he close?
And where there are boys, you will most likely always find some level of chaos...especially with little (and big) boys who have just inhaled an extreme amount of sugar, opened lots of new toys, and are anxiously awaiting Santa. Needless to say, there was lots of this going on...
And thanks to Aunt Scrapper Mom who buys the most awesome gifts ever, a nerf gun, and a boy who subconsciously doesn't want to grow up (especially on Christmas), there was quite a lot of this too...
But Christmas Eve and all of our Christmas Eve traditions finally came to an end, Santa arrived at the home of Scrapper Mom and here are my sweet babies on Christmas morning. This was such a bittersweet morning for Big Dan. Does Santa still come see you after you graduate High School?
Awww... I must say, these moments are few and far between.
I won't bore you with the list of everything everyone got from Santa, but I will tell you, I think the Wii was the favorite. I haven't played the ping pong yet, but I'm ready to take any of them. I rock at ping pong!
The rest of Christmas day, we spent with Pete's family. The girls.....
Some of the guys...(I bet you'd never guess they were watching football, would you?)
And I know I have probably more than used my share of picture allotment for the day's post, but I just have to show you Pete's sister's tree. It was small, but adorable.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday!!!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Christmas Reflections
Today, for myself, I want to reflect back on some of my most memorable Christmases. Starting with what I am assuming to be 1973 or 74 or something like that. Bear with me on these old photos. I've had to scan them while inside the album and there is some discoloring. (Did I mention being close to 40??)
I don't remember much about this Christmas, but I do love looking at how pretty my mother dressed me. And I got so tickled at how far her Christmas tree decorating has come over the past years.
This next photo must have come sometime after 1975. I'm assuming I was around 6 and my brother 2. Little Ann thinks Santa looks corny. I agree he does need somewhat of a makeover.
I love looking at our nappy heads every Christmas morning. And did anybody else have one of those Fisher Price hospitals? Remember the dinging elevator? You can't see here, but I was missing a few front teeth in some of the other photos from this morning. I must've been singing "All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth".
Let's fast forward a few years. Eventually, I did grow up. I graduated high school and moved into my own apartment in my college town. This is where I had my first taste of independence in so many ways. I remember how all I really wanted to be was a mother. I was always so afraid the rapture would occur before I had that opportunity. Little did I know what being a mother would behold for me, but I knew it would be special. I loved to play house...even in college and dreamed of what kind of wife I would make when that time came. I remember being so excited to go buy my own tree....(even though it was the cheapest one Walmart had at the time) and the limbs highly resembled the toilet brush I had in my bathroom. I was so proud of my table setting. Pretty good for 18 years old, huh?
Fast forward another couple of years when motherhood became a reality (a little earlier than expected), but I love this picture.
And I love this boy and wouldn't have had it any other way.
And this precious boy is now 18 years old himself, but I don't think he's too much into setting tables for the holidays.
We'll move forward another 5 years to December 1998 which was Little Ann's first Christmas. Where Big Dan was an October baby and only 2 months old for his first, she was 9 months old and very, very busy. We had sold our little house in preparation for a bigger one where Little Ann could have her own room. We were renting a itty bitty one bedroom house while we built with a living room so tiny, I only had room for 1/2 a tree. Yes, 1/2 a tree. The front half in front of the window. It worked pretty well until Little Ann decided to pull it over. She has always been a little mischevious. Pete had to tie it to the wall with fishing line to keep her under control. That was a small house, and we were cooped up in it together for over 12 months, but we had some great times there.
In October of 1999, we were able to move into our new home where we've spent many more Christmases together and made lots of memories.
I love looking back at what the kids received and the smiles on their faces...nappy heads and all.
And although time has continued to pass me by, the memories will continue to linger and new ones will be made. Here is to a wonderful holiday season. May the Lord richly bless you in the new year. Please remember that He truly is the reason for this wonderful season.Merry Christmas to you all.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
A Christmas-y Weekend Wrap
The Girl Scouts got to go to the County Courthouse to view their ornament on the big tree, sing Christmas carols with the County Judge and eat refreshments.
Here is Little Ann with her new point and shoot....a girl after her mother's heart. The newest photographer in the family.
Remember this night? The kids were all so excited to get their parent's and grandparent's gifts with their behavior bucks. They were so much more eager for my mom and dad to open than they were to even get their own presents.
And I totally don't want to gross anybody out, but on this same night, my dad surprised my mom with $500 big ones so she could go buy her a laptop. The sweetest thing is that they are in retirement, so he had gone out and cut several loads of logs to sell to the mill so he could do that for her. I can only hope I am this happy after 40 years of being married to the one I love.
Here is my little "lady in red" hamming it up for the camera. She is all decked out in meemaw's new scarf and mittens, wearing her bow while holding her new red camera. So stunning..dahling.
We had a busy morning today. Of course, being the Sunday before Christmas meant our choir's performance, lots of wonderful holiday food, and back into the sanctuary for the children's play. It was called "Operation Baby King" and the kids did great. It was a sting operation to make sure everyone understood the Baby Jesus came for ALL PEOPLE!!
Here is Miss Sass herself....The names blond.....Jane Blond.
And last but not least...here's my baby girl and myself. She'd already gotten rid of the tie. And...Oh dear hairdresser..I know you had surgery, but can you just look at this hair??? I need you.........before Christmas!!
Have a great Monday!Saturday, December 20, 2008
Really Liking Her Way of Thinking...Updated
Mom: "Yeah, I know, that will be much easier, huh?"
(Little Ann goes and get's her pencil and paper and walks around checking things out)
Little Ann: "We haven't had Christmas here in a long time...I want everything to be perfect."
(Little Ann pausing for a moment in deep thought)
Little Ann: "Mom, we really need to clean the house."
Mom: "Yeah, I know that too, but we've still got a few days."
(Little Ann writes a few things down)
Little Ann: "How do you spell appetizers?"
Mom: "A P P E T I Z E R S"
(Little Ann taking note of all my scrapbooking supplies in the corner of the dining room)
Little Ann: "Mom, that stuff's in the way." "You really need to build onto the house so you can move that cart and have your own place for all your scrapbook stuff."
(Chuckling to myself)
Mom: "Yeah, that would be really nice....wish I had some money."
Mom is really liking Little Ann's way of thinking!!!
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Update: Found this lying on the couch...Too cute.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
She's Here...and it's about time!
Baby News! One More Progress Update!
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Update 5: 10:55 - I just got word that sadly, but for the best, she is going to have to resort to a cesarean section. I am assuming they are doing that right now. Not sure because they aren't letting any visitors back. Clark came out to inform family who are waiting. I hate that for her especially after 3 the other way, but she is so tired. One good thing is that she can now say she has experienced both. Please say a prayer for them tonight.
Update 4: The latest update I have just gotten is from another one of my friends who is waiting. It is 9:25 and the doctor has gone to deliver another baby as Chickadee is resting from all her hard work at the moment. No baby yet. Keep your fingers crossed...I voted for the 19th!! I'm almost there! (no, really, I wouldn't wish another 2 1/2 hours of pushing on her for any amount on a Target gift card!)
Update 3: I just got in and called Clark to check on Chickadee. He says she is in some pain, but fully dialated and ready to push. It is around 7:00 right now and the doctor is on his way. Clark seems calm. I could hear the TV in the background and he informed me he was watching an episode of Seinfield. Isn't that just like a man. This is number 4 so I guess he's used to the birthing process. I will let you know when the sweet one arrives!
Update 2: It's 2:15 and I just checked in with Chickadee and although she hasn't seen the doctor all day, the nurse has come in and determined that she has dialated to a 4. I'll be out for a while, but plan on checking back in when I get home later.
Update 1: It is around 11:20 this Thursday morning. She told us that she had to be at the hospital at 5:00 am this morning for her induction because she obviously did not go on her own. I just spoke with Clark and he informed me that she hasn't had any change since starting on the med's this morning about 8:00. I will report again soon!!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Let's Talk TV
Anyway, I am a fan of most shows on ABC, but here lately I've gotten into several on NBC. Like The Biggest Loser for one. I love that show and I know I've talked about it before. There is just something that is so inspiring about watching those people go through body transformations. I love it, and I used to be a big, big fan of Extreme Makeover when it was on. So, what did everyone think of the big winner? GO MICHELLE!! Didn't Ed look nice too? Wow. I couldn't believe it.
But what about Momma's Boys? I was just laughing trying to imagine myself on that show (as a momma, of course). What if I really could pick the ideal girl for Big Dan? What kind of girl would I pick? Naturally, he'd pick the exact opposite of what I picked...I might have to resort to that reverse psychology thing in order to get my way. Hmmmm......I'm afraid that's what the guys on that show are going to do. Those girls just better watch out. Ain't nothing worse than a momma protecting her boy. I KNOW!!! lol.
But, really, what was UP with that crazy lady? Jo Jo's mom? I couldn't believe all the stipulations she was putting on those girls. Even I'm not THAT bad? (am I?....grin)
If you didn't watch, you've got to. It will start coming on on Monday's as of next week.
Monday, December 15, 2008
It Went Off...but not without a hitch, glitch..whatever.
Anyway, Walmart.com wasn't as hard as I thought, of course, but the website was very contrary today. If it weren't for the fact that I kept getting booted off with about every click it would've been great. I got my cards done and Pete had even agreed to brave the freezing cold (soon to be wintry storm coming our way) to go pick them up for me. After I checked out I was informed the one hour wasn't exactly one hour, so I have to wait until tomorrow. Oh well, I've waited this long. What's one more day? Oh, yeah. I had to change pictures though, but that's another long story and frankly I'm sick of talking Christmas cards. Just know everyone will get a good laugh at my Little Ann's attempt at getting my dog to smile!
Although Pete sometimes refers to me as "Betty Crocker", you must know I've never actually tried to claim her fame. I tried my hand at fudge today though. Not so good. Well, I mean the fudge tastes good, but you kind of have to eat it with a spoon. That's ok, huh? It's what it tastes like that really counts, right? So, maybe that's what I was thinking about when I made up my blog title.
Guess what I got in the mail today? I got Christmas cards from my blog friends, Rae and April. Yipee!!!! I knew I loved blogging. I have made the greatest friends. Thanks girls for the newsletters and the pictures!! I love ya'll!! Yours is a comin'!! (you know the story, lol..)
Believe it or not Big Dan was exempt from all of his semester tests. That's wonderful. You just don't know how wonderful. For more than one reason. For one, I don't have to study!! And two..I get to turn in a statement to my insurance company for good grades and FINALLY get a break. (turning a cartwheel..well, not really, but wanting to). And that also means he is out for his Christmas break a week earlier than everyone else.
I'm kind of already feeling the laziness of the holiday break myself. It's so not like me to give in so easily, but Little Ann came home today insisting that she NOT go sing in her Holiday Hoedown they were having at school tonight. Since it is only like 30 degrees here today, it wasn't hard for me to look into her big brown eyes and say "ok, honey"..."whatever you say"....(while all the while thinking "yee haw, I didn't want to get out in this freezing cold weather anyway!!). So, we are going to watch The Sound of Music together later. I think I'll let her play hookey tomorrow too...shhhhh!!
I guess I'm signing off for today. Little Ann is requiring I cook dinner. Of all the nerve! lol.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Cards That Just Aren't Meant to be!
I think I failed to mention that on Friday when I made a trip into the capital city, I purposely made Wal-Mart the first stop on my list so that I could get my cards printing while I ran other errands on that side of town. (I already had issues with putting only one lowly little picture on a cd in the first place.) It just seemed so wasteful, and would you believe that the machine refused to read my disc? Strike One.
In my mind I set aside this afternoon to make my 2nd attempt at my regular Wal-Mart as the most contributing factor would be that I would already have makeup on and I try to squeeze the impossible in on those days. And of course, in refusing to only put one lowly little picture on another cd, I put several...114 to be exact...of the most recent family activities and of course our family shots. I knew my afternoon was cut short due to the fact that we'd had lunch at my parent's and we didn't leave there until almost 2:00 and I was due back for choir practice at 4:30, but if I could just get them started, I'd be good, even if I had to come back to get them later.
I stood in line at least 30 minutes waiting on the machine. I was third in line behind one extra superdy duperdy slow person, whom I thought would never finish, and then behind an elderly couple who were obviously very proud of their grandchildren and had to develop every picture on their sd card..yes, all 300 of them....and that is AFTER they had the little associate guy give them lessons on how to work the machine. That just couldn't be good. By the time I got there I was very frazzled and mind you...very short on time. I waited at least another 10 minutes on myself actually (remember the 114 pictures I was determined to put on my cd?). They took forever to load and of course the one I needed was the very last one. I finally got all the contents of my card put together, placed my order and went on about my merry way, actually with a few minutes to spare. As I began to wander aimlessly down the aisles trying to remember what else I came for it hit me like a ton of bricks. I had forgotten to add my text. I ran back to my machine only to find it being occupied once again. Strike two.
I rushed home for choir practice, church services and another play practice, and afterwards did a little eyelash batting at Pete in hopes of talking him into going back into town with me so I could try this yet another time. It didn't take much when he realized food could quite possibly be involved. He and Little Ann went to sporting goods while I marched back to the photo developing center. You guessed it. With 30 minutes to get my order placed before I would have to wait until tomorrow, it just so happened that I got behind a school teacher who was making individual cards for each of her students...each with a different photo. One she obviously took of each student on Santa's lap. Why me? That is totally a loaded question..........Strike three.
So tonight blog world. I am venting. Is it just not meant to be this year? (and my doggie looked so cute!!.......and my kids too! lol. )
I really should learn how to upload photos online, huh?
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Ooooo.. I Can't Wait!
Yesterday, I made a mad dash to our capital city to finish up some loose ends at some stores we don't have where I live. When I say mad dash..I mean mad dash because it's an hour away, plus an hour back, and I had to be back in time to get Little Ann from my mom's and to dress rehearsal for their Christmas play. And why, oh why, is it that when I am in a hurry, traffic is at it's worst? AND...for the record, I am admitting that I don't have the best reputation when it comes to driving anyway. I have been known to rip a mirror off my little car on someone's mailbox while adjusting my bra strap as I was driving to work. (Yeah, that really happened..I took that thing clean off and kept on driving). I also have pretty little designs on the side of my van at this very moment from getting a little too close for comfort with my own mailbox. What is it with mailboxes?? And did I mention how directionally challenged I am? Just this past year have I mustered up enough courage to tackle the driving in the capital city myself. I got so tired of waiting on Pete who is never home or bothering someone else to chauffeur me so I just did it. An amateur in capital city, work traffic AND Christmas shopping traffic..not a good mix. I think I may have cut like 50 people off and I didn't count how many mean looks (among other things) I got! lol. Something about having so many lanes to choose from just gets me every time. And those exits..they just seem to sneak right up on me.
Ok, so enough about my bad driving. I did finish up my gift buying and also went into Hobby Lobby to have my portrait of Big Dan framed as I bought more gift wrapping supplies. I was so happy with it.
It's sitting in front of my fireplace at the moment until I can get Pete inside with the stud finder to hang it for me.
After dress rehearsal, the kids got to spend some "good behavior bucks" they had earned on Christmas gifts for their parents. Adults had brought donations in the way of neat little what nots for them to choose from and we had a checkout and a gift wrapping station set up. They absolutely LOVED this. My littlest nephew was ecstatic..he ran up to my brother and said..."wook, Daddy, I got you this Christmas present and you're gonna wuv it"!! I also heard another little girl (6th grade) who commented she was so happy because she had never gotten to get her dad anything for Christmas and her sister's birthday was today and she was able to get her a birthday gift too. Little Ann wrapped most of her gifts herself and she was also very excited to come home and show her daddy as she placed each one under the tree. (But not before mom got a picture for the blog!!)
Most of my day has been spent getting what I've bought wrapped up. We are supposed to go to another Christmas party at a Mexican restaurant tonight, but I'm just pooped. I think I want to just stay home, curl up with my baby in front of the gas logs and watch a Christmas movie.
And last but definitely NOT LEAST!! I'm so excited to see that Jason is going to be the next Bachelor. If you don't know by now...I LOVE that show. I am such a sucker for reality shows and romance and when you combine the two, I am just hooked! It premiers on January 5 and I can't wait.
Have a great rest of the weekend! I guess my nothin' turned into somethin', huh?