Happy July 4th!

Normally, we are at the beach over the 4th.  I have to admit that I was not a happy camper when my doctor told me we could not travel the last month of my pregnancy.   I think the baby is coming early but not THAT early.  Anyway, we stayed home even though our hearts pined for the surf. 

So, our day was low-key and that was nice.    Church was quiet and laid back this morning, then the pool, BBQ ribs, watermelon and our own little fireworks show. 

I feel blessed to have been born in this country of such freedom.  At the sacrifice of so many.   Freedom to express our opinions, vote for who we want and most importantly worship as we choose. 

I hope your day was fun, too!

OH GLORIOUS DAY!

Casting Crowns, Glorious Day


Living, He Loved Me
Dying, He Saved Me
Rising, He Justified Freely Forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day!

Out With The Old, In With the New!

Happy New Year!!! 

Welcome 2010!

Big Plans Tonight?

I don't know what happened but sometime between the age of 32 and now, I lost my desire to go out on New Year's Eve.   This coming from someone who was sure to be the "party girl" forever.  Now, I'm just a plain 'ole homebody.

It could have a lot to do with the fact that I love to ring in the new year with my little people.  They stay up as late as they can and sip sparkling cider with us.  I think it makes them very happy to be with us and not a sitter.

I remember as a kid, my single mom would have to work almost every New Year's Eve.  She was in the restaurant business.   I would stay home with my brothers and watch movies.  My mom would call us at midnight and I could always hear the craziness in the background of the her call.   I missed being with her.    Even as I got older and left home, I would call my mom at Midnight.

Anyway, now it's usually my mom babysitting my kids if we do head out, so I am bound to see her at the end of the night.  

I do enjoy having friends over or going over to a friend's house because then I don't have to drive or drive very far.  I think the thought of drunk drivers scares me a little bit, too. 

We are heading out today to see the new Chipmunk movie and then back home to settle into our warm house with each other.   Sounds good to me!

How about you?  Any big plans tonight? 

So, my first thing to do in the new year is get a haircut - I think it has been about 5 months since I last got my locks chopped and it shows!   Well, after I get all these Christmas decorations down.   I love to get my house back in order after Christmas.  It makes me feel really good - organized, clean, ready to conquer the new year.

 I don't have any resolutions this year.  I do have a word for 2010, though.  I plan to post that Monday or Tuesday of next week.    I'd love it if you would join in with me.    Basically, I choose a word that I think will represent my new year.  I don't try to fool myself into thinking I will stick to a bunch of resolutions that sound really great this week and then seem to be too hard by the third week in January.  I prefer to choose a word that I think embodies an area I really need to grow in because I think life really is more a constant state of growth than a list of things we can check off.  Even a resolution I think I've conquered in the past seems to show itself in different ways years later.   

Last year my word was AWARE.    I think I did grow in that area of my life and that it is something I can still be working on in the new year.

So, start thinking of your word!  It will be fun to see what you come up with.

Why Does the Entire World Seem Motivated to Clean Except Me?

Seriously, I just want to veg out and watch movies.  I keep praying for snow but nothing.  It is still 50 degrees and sunny.

I think the hustle and bustle of this holiday season just got to me. I am kinda over hustling and bustling.

So, I was thinking back to some funny memories from the holidays and thought I'd share a couple with you.

My husband and his brother decided that it would be very funny to give their father a entire box...a entire BIG box of golf balls for Christmas.  Not like a shoe box.   This box...

Apparently, their dad loses many golf balls on their golf outings and they give him quite a bit of grief about it.  Hubby's brother knew a guy that collects all the lost balls from a course every day and so they just thought it would be hysterical to put them in a box for my father in law.

Y'all.  Oh my goodness.

It was hysterical!

First they gave him the wrapped box which was extremely heavy.  They both carried it to him and put it in his lap.  He was oooohing and aaaahing over what it could be.  At one point he said,  "It feels like a box of rocks!" to which all the kids responded in laughter.  So, he opened it, to find a big pillow on top and then underneath that more golf balls than he could ever lose.  After his initial shock he just started laughing.  We were laughing. The kids were rolling on the floor.   And not just Hubby and his brother but the little kids, too!

Too fun. 

The second memorable event came when my brother and his family were visiting.

I set the tables for Christmas dinner - the dining table for the adults that were here.  My dining table only seats 6 people, I have only 6 full Christmas place settings and we had 6 adults, so it was perfect.  Then I set the kitchen table for the 5 kids, ages ranging from 5 to 17.

Wouldn't you know the 16 and 17 year old had something to say negative about sitting at the kid table?  At what age do you remember complaining about sitting at the kid table?  Why would any kid even want to sit at the adult table?

Anyway, my response was that you had to earn your way to the adult table but my brother who has a very quick wit reminded them that the only way you could move into the adult table was by way of the passing on of one of the adults who presently sits there.    My mom, being the oldest of all of us, did not think that was too funny.  But everyone else for some reason got a kick out of his very honest response to the teens.   People, my family is odd - I'm just sayin'.    Really, I'd give up my seat at the big table in a hot second if it meant my mom could sit at my dining room table until she is 105.

Anyway, do you have any funny memories you want to share?    

Very Merry, Full of Surprises!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

It has been so crazy around here that I have barely missed blogging.

Barely.

I did have to contain myself from not sitting right down and blogging once I opened this gift from my hubby.

It was a total surprise! I did not think that he would ever purchase something that would actually encourage me to spend more time at the computer but he said that he wanted me to be comfortable. What a sweetie.  It is a very soft leather comfy chair (and not nearly as red as it looks in that picture) and now I don't have to use one my dining room chairs.   He also surprised me with a new Kuerig coffee maker that I've been wanting for about 3 years.  He seriously spoke my language this Christmas - coffee and computer.

He also got himself the family me the Wii Fit. My brother was here and told my hubby that he was a brave man for giving his wife anything that inferred her needing to exercise.

The kids were delighted with Legos, books, DS games and plenty of goodies from Justice.  Seriously, I should own stock in that store.   Much of my Christmas budget went there this year for my daughter and niece. 

 

 

You can see the dog sticking his nose in on all the fun.  It was his first Christmas!  I have never seen a dog so excited about opening gifts.  When it was his turn, he actually mouthed the wrapping paper as I unwrapped it for him and then would VERY happily run off with his newest toy and swiftly destoy it.   In three days, he has managed to eat or tear apart all of his new toys and Buddy's toys.    

My hubby loved his gift of a golf GPS - you can see his not so surprised face here.

I did not do too well in the surprise department for him this year.  He pretty much got exactly what he wanted and he should - he works so hard for the rest of us.

I did manage to pull off one very big surprise for my mother, though.   My brother called a couple weeks ago to let me know that he would have a couple days off after Christmas.  This is no small feat considering he is a manager for Wal-Mart.  Since December 26 is the busiest return day of the year for retailers, he always has to work.  For the last 7 years, we have not been able to spend Christmas with him.   When he was single, it was really hard because he was often alone.   Anyway, I have not seen him since he got married a year and a half ago!   It's been a year since my mom has seen him and he wanted to surprise her on Christmas morning.    Have I ever told you how terrible I am at lying?  Keeping secrets is soooo hard for me!    I almost always give something away.   But I didn't give it away this time!  Or at least nobody had let on that I did. 

When he got off of work on Christmas Eve, he and his little family piled in their car and made the 6 hour drive from Atlanta to Raleigh.  They got here in the middle of the night and caught a few hours of sleep.  My mom loves to come over first thing on Christmas morning and watch the kids open their presents.  So, we had my brother stand in the kitchen with his wife and kids.   My mom came in and sat on our couch in the family room to watch my kids open gifts.  Then she looked over into the kitchen and for just a minute, I really thought she was having a heart attack.   I'm not kidding, she did not breathe for a full 10 seconds.  And then she realized that my brother was real and in fact standing in my kitchen!   Needless to say, she jumped up, ran to him, embraced him (my little brother - HA!) and cried for the next 5 minutes.   She said it was her best Christmas ever! 

The only thing that broke it all up was my patient little 5 year old son who said, "Can we get back to opening presents, please?!?!?"   

 After it was all over in 8.5 minutes, my ever sweet daughter looked over the pile of gifts and family everywhere and simply said - "We are very blessed, Mommy."

Indeed, we are.

How was your holiday?  Did you blog about it?  I'd love to read about your special memories! 

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

I just wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas! 
May it be full of love and joy.

I am signing off the blog for a few more days - see you soon!

7 Days Until Christmas!

Can you believe it?

Are you ready?

I am nearly ready. I always have last minute things to do - just the kinda girl I am. But for the most part, I'm ready. Well, I did have to order some additional Christmas cards last night because I finally realized that the additional ones I ordered last week were not coming. The website didn't even have record of my order. Oh well, it's all working out now

I wonder what Santa will bring me this year. I didn't even have a list for Hubby this year. I feel pretty satisfied with what I have. Well, I do want an iPhone but I doubt I'm getting that. I don't even know if they make those in the North Pole. Were you asking for something special this year?

Just a couple last minute gifts, school finishes up today, wrapping just a few ALL the gifts and I might finally start some baking! It's really a miracle I've survived this holiday shopping season without one single homemade sugar cookie. Really - not one. Something needs to be done about that this weekend!

We are expecting snow here in NC. I have to say that I am not too excited about that. I just hate the cold. For me snow is pretty to look at and that is all. I grew up in the Midwest - I've seen enough snow for a lifetime. Keep your skiing, give me the beach. Plus, I still have some errands to do and it's not fun when you have to be out running around in a wintery mix of rain and snow = ice. But my kids are beside themselves excited, so I will have to put on my big girl snow boots, a big mommy smile, go outside and make a NC snowman (much different than a Midwest snowman by about 4 feet). Come in to make the hot chocolate and dry all the wet clothes. All the while, listening to squeals of delight. Oh, I guess it isn't all the bad now that I think about it.

So, how 'bout you?
Are you finished shopping?
Snow - love it or hate it?

Family Gifts

As a younger couple we spent a lot of time (and money) buying each individual member of our family a gift.    We got each of our brothers a gift.  When they added wives - a gift,  kids - each a gift.    As you can imagine, it got to be pretty expensive.    So, we got a little smarter and started to work out a new plan with each family.  Some we exchange names and others we purchase a family gift.


So, I thought I would share some of those ideas with you from over the years.


Family Movie Night: 
This can be a couple ways.

• Give them a DVD of family movie that they haven't seen yet -  include some microwave popcorn or Jiffy Pop and candy in a basket and you've got Family Movie Night.

• Purchase DVD sets of your favorite old shows like The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island and The Lone Ranger.  They can have several movie nights with so many shows.  
  

• This year I actually purchased movie tickets to the theater in my brother and sister in law's town ahead of time.  After I received the tickets, I added boxes of movie candy for each member (4 in this case), wrapped it all up in a little cute basket and shipped it off with a note that said, "Enjoy a Family Movie Night Out on us!"  Movies are expensive so I think this is a nice treat.    I know I'd love to get it!

• You can also do this with local skating rinks, bowling, concerts and sporting events.  
  

Family Game Night:

• Last year, I had so much fun with this one.   I bought a couple of our favorite games and just like the movie night included some goodies like popcorn, candy, homemade treats.  Wrapped it all up for Family Game Night!  I thought about this later but how fun would it have been to include a blanket in this basket or slippers for each family member?!? 
  

Our favorite games are Apples to Apples (they even have versions for younger kids), Sequence (also has a younger version) and Clue.   I am sure you have a favorite or two you could put in a basket.   Obviously, you want to base this on their age.

• Wii games are great family fun games.    We have a blast with the bowling and Guitar Hero.  If they don't have those games and have a Wii, these would be fun. 
  

Webcams:
This is a bit pricey (because you have to buy 2) and not a gift I have actually done, but my in-laws happen to have the same webcam as we do and we recently thought about connecting with each other on them.  My friend recently told me how she gave them to her family members when they moved away.  Great idea!   I love my Logitech and you can get free shipping on orders over $75 right now.   What a great way to stay in touch with long distance relatives.

Photo Album:
How about a photo album full of photos your family with their family?  Find pictures from over the years and put together a special keepsake for them to show how much you enjoy your time with them.  

How about you?  What family gift ideas do you have?  And yes, I am fresh out, so I will be borrowing them!  ;)

Stuff I gotta tell you:  

*I did receive a Logitech webcam a few months ago from Logitech via MomSelect.  I have not received any other compensation from Logitech or MomSelect  for talking about my experience with my webcam.  I'm just sharing my opinion and the offers that are posted on the Logitech website.   I have not received any compensation for mentioning the games above.  I just like them. 

O Christmas Tree

Yesterday, I joined in the Christmas Tour of Homes but I thought it would be fun to dedicate a whole post to the tree.   Not that it is that awesome or anything but it does have a little story.

I love the tradition of taking the family and picking out a live tree.  We usually head to our local Farmer's Market or christmas tree stand near our home and pick out a tall but fat tree.  I survey the lot, the kids run through the rows and finally we decide on the perfect one.  Hubby ties it to the top of the van and we pray all the way home it doesn't blow off! 

It's a beautiful picture.  Except that my kids and hubby have allergies and the tree does bother them.    So, since that picture of sickness is not so beautiful we decided to go artificial.  I miss the smell so I did buy some candles and other pine smelly things for the house.

Another big change this year is that I finally succumbed and let the kids add colored lights to the tre.  And it looks very good mixed with the white lights!   I was pleasantly surprised.

I don't have more than one tree.  My house just is not conducive to that.    Also, I'm not really keen on the idea of cleaning up two trees.   So, we have one tree.  It's in our family room where Christmas morning happens.  It's theme?  Family.  Fun.  Love.    It's not the most beautiful around but it's ours and it suits us just fine!

It's full of ornaments the kids have made over the years.  I know that will not last forever, so I cherish and display each one.   Macaroni Angel.  

And ornaments from my husband's childhood.  I think this was actually on his Grandmother's tree.  She passed many of them along to us a few years ago.

Big silver and gold balls that I stuff deep in the middle of the tree and these red sparkly things that give it some color.  Like it needs anymore color!

Jesus.

Topped with a bow.  My kids would like a star and I just can't find the perfect one.

Merry Christmas from us to you!

Check out Thrifty Decor Chick's Christmas Tree Party - click the button above!   More beautiful trees!

Christmas Tour of Homes 2009

It is time for the Holiday Christmas Home Tour for 2009!  This year it's being hosted by a favorite blogger of mine and yours - The Nester!   You have to spend some time checking out her home and the many other beautiful homes linked up on the tour.  It's so fun to have a peek into everyone's homes and decorations!  Have fun and thanks for stopping by!

I decided to try a little Smilebox slideshow this year since I had so many photos.  Oh and there is music with it so press mute if you have a sleeping baby in your arms! 

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Gift Cards are a Gift

I love gift cards.  Not only to give them but I LOVE to receive them.  Over the years, my poor hubby has come to the conclusion that I am a bit picky in the gift department.    Often, unless he knows of something specifically that I want, he will give me gift cards to the mall.

He knows me.
He speaks my language.
Shopping is a gift for me.

I used to do it too much and I've had to rein that in over the years.  So, when he gives me what seems like FREE money to spend however I choose, I promise you, I am childlike.

I do know family members and even friends that seem to be down on the gift card as a gift.  They think they take less thought than finding a very personal gift to give someone.   I can see that point.  I am truly honored when someone thinks of giving me something that I would love but might not have bought for myself.   I feel valued when they listen to something I have expressed wanting, make a mental note and buy it for me for as a gift.

But I also feel valued, honored and loved when I get a gift card to a favorite store or... Starbucks.

Honestly, some people are very good at the buying people the perfect gifts.   Others just struggle.  It's difficult and stressful for them.   My mom hates to shop and often has me go buy my kids gifts just because she can't handle the stress of the stores.

And what do you buy a teenager?  A shirt that won't fit or has the wrong color blue on it?  A CD they already have or won't use because they only know how to download music from iTunes?

• You buy the teens in your Aeropostale, Old Navy, Hollister Co., GameStop or iTunes cards.  You will forever be their favorite relative.
  

• Or the sister or friend who has everything?    Starbucks cards.   iTunes, photo-site gift cards, Hallmark gift cards.  A gift card to a bookstore is always a favorite gift of mine.  Even if the person you know isn't a big reader they usually have music, cookbooks, stationary and cards at bookstores also. 
  

• Really, Starbucks and iTunes or Rhapsody gift cards are great for most people.  These are things people love but seem to cut back on when times are tight.  Like now.  

• The brother and sister-in-law who just bought a house?  Home Depot gift cards - wrap it with a screwdriver or hammer if you want to include something they can hold on to.  I always need a hammer or a screwdriver.  Or one of those little bitty screwdrivers that you need to open every single toy in the world.   Those are awesome to have extra.
  

• New baby in the family? Send the parents a Target gift card tucked in some little cute socks - diapers are a never-ending expense.

So, if you receive a gift card, accept it with great joy - it is a gift after all.  And if you are struggling over what to get someone, think of where they might like to shop or eat during the week - a favorite restuarant, movies, etc. and buy them a gift card there.

I would stick with big name stores when buying gift cards.  You never know when someone will go out of business and don't want your mother in law to be stuck with a gift card she can't spend.  

So, how about you?  Are you a fan of gift cards or not?

Tomorrow - Family Gifts.  I'll share with you gifts that work for an entire family.

Electronic Hypnotism - Wordless Wednesday

Once I found my photos from last Christmas, I stumbled on this one which was taken just a few hours after all the excitement of opening gifts died down.    Here are my kids and my niece with what appears to be their favorite gifts - electronics.   Apparently, things that beep are still king in the toy department.   Look how hypnotized each of them seem on their respective games and phone. 

So, I'm Not The Worst Mother Of All

I found the pictures from last Christmas morning!

I actually remembered later that I did not use my camera last year because I dropped it in water at the beach and I did not have a camera to use.

Soooo, I used my daughter's camera and all the photos were still on her data card!  Isn't that lucky great?!?

Now I can finish my Christmas album with dignity.

Advent Calendar

I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving.  Ours was full of family and food - good times all around.

Last night was the night that we had to get the Christmas decorations out because the advent calendar is in there.  The one that starts today! 

This year, though, we have a new advent calendar which is proving to be a lot of fun and cause for great anticipation for my kids.

The Playmobil Advent Calendar "Knight's Duel".

Each day we get to open a little box with a little Playmobil toy in it.  Once we open all of the boxes, we will have a complete knight scene.   It's like a puzzle that my kids get to play with as they go along.

We've never actually had anything Playmobil, so I was pretty excited when MomSelect sent it to me to review. Yes, they sent it to me, my kids are playing with it and I am talking about it here on my blog.  That might happen a few times during the holidays.  They generously sent me a box full of goodies to review.  Thank you! 

Anyway, it did take me 40 minutes to put together last night. That is the only downside.   I would say it is very worth it, though.  The toys are really well-made.  I can tell my kids will enjoy them.


The only other downside is the fact that I have 2 kids so they have to take turns with a box each day.  Thank goodness, I have another advent calendar that the other child gets to do his or her off days.   It is one the kids actually made a couple years ago that says Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!  I love that one. 

They also have a girls set and a couple other winter scene sets and a Nativity Set.

I am not an Amazon Affiliate.  North Carolina does not participate in that program anymore.  I'm just directing you to Amazon because it's the easiest and cheapest I found online.   You can get some of these sets at Target and Toys R Us, too.  

So, do you do an advent calendar? 

Give Thanks

Thank you so much for reading, subscribing and commenting on my blog.  I am so thankful for the new friends I have made through this blog, the old friends that I am able to keep in touch with and the blog community that allows me a much needed outlet to record my thoughts.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  

I hope you get to relish in time spent with family and friends! 

May your turkey be juicy, your potatoes un-lumpy, your cranberries sweet and your pie crusts perfectly flakey.

And if it is the opposite of all of those, don't worry, it really is about the much needed time we get to spend with those we love.  

If you can't be with those you love this holiday and you are lonely for them, I have said a special prayer for you today.  

  Regardless of what you eat today or who you are with, my biggest wish for you is that you see God's richest blessings overflowing in your life! 

I Really Should Be Cleaning or something...

I should be cleaning.
Or baking.
Or shopping.
But I feel a little lazy.
So, I'm blogging. 

Feeling lazy when I have 11 family members coming to my house for dinner tomorrow night. 7 of them staying with us for a few days.  Am I crazy or what?!?!?

I guess that is the beauty of family - comfort. Comfort in the fact, that if I don't get something just right, they will still love me and still just be happy to be together. 

• B is feeling so much better. I just hope it is not one of those flu bugs that comes and goes.

• My mother and my husband cleaned my garage. Can I just get a hallelujah here? Praise God, I love a clean garage.

• My husband FILLED my entire van and took so much stuff to the dump.

That is the other thing I love about family coming to visit - you get stuff done that you have been putting off forEVER!

• I have ordered and received my Christmas cards. I am just a little proud of myself. That just never happens.

• I got Hubby an ice cream maker for his birthday and can't wait for him to make his first batch. He is working on it now!

• I am getting ready to order my first ever side of grass-fed beef from a local farmer! Woo Hoo - so excited about that.

• My pastor convinced me asked to be in a drama this weekend at church. Yeah, same guy who got me to do the pie eating contest. I really am doing some things that are way out of my comfort zone.  Isn't that they best way to serve Jesus - he really always seems to do amazing things with me when I serve out of my comfort zone.  Anyway,  I can speak publicly, no problem, but this drama thing has me a little nervous. Not that I'm not dramatic in many ways, believe me. I've just never acted in a play or drama. A.Leetle.Nervous.Indeed. Luckily, it will be a light weekend at church. I'm hoping. 

Okay, so enough randomness. That is just so how I am feeling lately. Random.

What's up with you?  Anything on your mind?  

Thank you.

We appreciate your sacrifice and your family's sacrifice.

We pray for the soldiers away from home right now

and pray that you are safely reunited with your loved ones very soon.  

Thank you.  

Prom Queen, A Ninja and Too Much Candy!

One Prom Queen (her creation),

One Ninja (his dream),

And one glorious Halloween night of good spooky fun...

Ends with an OBSCENE amount of candy.