Thursday 13 Memories with my Daddy

The family and I drove to the small town where my parents live last night and Daddy and I got up at 4:45 this morning to make the trip into Birmingham. He has to have his heart shocked back into rhythm and I'm a nervous wreck. But, God is good and I will continue to pray without ceasing. So, while I sit and wait, I will reflect on a few of the many wonderful memories I have of my Daddy.

1. I had my 8th birthday party at the Skating Rink and when it was time to do the limbo, I cried because I was afraid Daddy was too old to do it and would fall and break his hip. He was 35.

2. We share a love of John Wayne and the 3 Stooges. Too bad they never made a movie together.

3. One of my favorite things to do on Saturdays was to go to the Country Club and sit in one of the rocking chairs on the front porch and wait for daddy to co come up #18.

4. Speaking of golf, on Mother's day when I was 12 years old, daddy came home with a bag full of clubs and a new pair of golf shoes and said "Get in the car. I'm teaching you how to play golf." And he did.

5. We used to watch the Braves on TV and we'd listen to Skip Carey for the first few innings while he was calling the game there then when they switched out and went to radio, we'd turn the TV down and watch it while we listened to Skip on the radio.

6. When I was little and we were in the car (back when little kids could ride in the front seat) he would reach over and pinch my leg and tell me that "Sam" did it.

7. We lived in Florida when I was in the first grade and we used to go to Steak n Shake and the girl would bring the food out to the car on real dishes and hang the tray on the window. The glove compartment let all the way down to hold our giant milkshakes topped with real whipped cream and a bright red cherry and the front bench seat on out 1968 Oldsmobile was big and roomy enough to hold all three of us on a warm Summer night.

8. As much as I hate to admit it, Daddy and I weren't very close when I was growing up but that all changed in 1991. I moved back to our small town from Atlanta after a bad break-up with who I thought was the love of my life and went to work at Daddy's carpet store. Thank you, loser boyfriend, for sending me back to the best Daddy ever!

9. In the mid 80's, we used to come to Atlanta every year for a Brave's Game and the Atlanta Classic (Golf Tourny at the Marietta CC). Mama laid by the pool the whole time while we were at our events. Following the Leaders on Sunday was my favorite part!!

10. When I was pregnant with our first, I used to call and tell him every (appropriate) detail of what was going on. Being an only child, both of my parents were so very excited to hear al about what was going on. They came over for all three births and even to the ultrasound appointments at 20 weeks for the first two to hear we were having a boy. They would have been here the third time but I found out a week early. My husband wasn't even there!

11. This is a sad one : (

On September 11th, I was sitting at my computer putting pictures of our trip to NYC we had just gotten home from 3 days before on my web site. Mama called and told me what was going on and just as I ran into the den to turn on the TV, I heard Daddy yell "Oh my God...another plane hit the other building!! and he started to cry. My husband was at work and I was all alone. 5 and a half months pregnant. That's a whole other blog post.

12. I just L-O-V-E sitting around and listening to Daddy and the rest of our family on his side talk and tell stories. We have the happiest, funniest family and I'm so blessed to be a part of it.

13. And my all time favorite number one memory of my daddy was the day "WE" got married. When I was 4 years old, he married my mom and I told everyone that WE, the three of us, were getting married. He adopted me soon after and I went from calling him Doc to calling him Daddy. Since then, every year on February 3rd, the three of us celebrate "OUR" anniversary. We just celebrated number 42 and I'm praying for many many more

Well, his procedure is over and I'm in recovery with him. All seems to be well and I credit that to our amazing God. I love you Daddy : )

Praying for Direction

The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9

When our youngest was barely walking, my mom asked me if I had ever considered homeschooling, which was funny to me because I didn't even know she knew what it was. I couldn't even answer her for laughing!! Me? Homeschool? I have to use spell check a dozen times every time I send an e-mail, I'm more OCD than the average bear and have a scorching case of ADD. Really. There's a psychiatrist that has a folder with my name on it and he told me that he has only ever seen one person that had it worse than me. Great. And on top of that, I choose not to take medication for it. So, how in the world could I possibly homeschool? Fast forward 9 years. See, the awesome thing is, the Lord tells us in Isaiah 55:8 (and I paraphrase) that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are above our thoughts. Meaning that if He puts His stamp on it and if I do my part, I can rock at this!! Not to mention that I have a ton of girlfriends that homeschool and that wonderful little resource called the Internet. Now, the reason for the opening scripture is to represent my desire to seek God's will for this venture. I know "I" want to homeschool but need to make sure HE wants me to. That's where the wicked heart comes in. It is my greatest desire for my boys to have a heart for the Lord and to grow to be godly men but the world has other plans. B is in 3rd grade this year and the things he is hearing at school can be defined in no other way than deviant. He doesn't like it but you know what they say: You can't un-ring a bell. I hate it that he has even been exposed to these things and although I can't take it away, I can keep it from progressing. So, I would be starting in his 4th grade year. Niblet will be in 2nd Grade next year and I'm considering keeeping him in public school while I cut my teeth on B and then pulling him out and keepig him home for 3rd. NayNay will be in the 4 day 4's program at his Christian Pre-School next year, so he's good for now. We had talked about homeschooling this year but decided that it wasn't time but looking back, I think we should have. So, for now, I reamain in fervent prayer, seeking God's direction in this most important aspect of our life. For those who stumble across this post, I would ask you to pray for us as well. In the meantime, I feel somewhat giddy as I ponder the prospect so I scour blogs and facebook pages of other homeschool moms to hopefully gain insight and prepare. We shall see...

Gluten, Dairy and Sugar, OH MY!!

I'm not one to jump on the bandwagon every time a new this or that comes down the pike, but I do think there's something to this whole gluten and dairy thing. So, I might as well poke around and see what I can find out. I have several friends that have issues with gluten and I'm starting to hear more and more about dairy. Lots of things. Things I don't like. Especially since I love milk..."LOVE" love it. Just to backtrack a bit, I made my own baby food for all three of my boys. We bought a jar of baby food one time on the way to the beach, opened it, smelled it and threw it away then bought a banana and mashed it up to tide him over until we got there. As a result, my kids love fresh fruits and vegetables. I buy organic whenever I can and try to not to use many pre-packaged foods if I can help it. It's hard!! Especially during the Summer when we don't have a schedule and we're eating later which means I'm not putting as much time into preparing meals. So when I was at the grocery store today, I bought a couple of gluten free things to try out on my guinne pig....I mean, my 6 year old. Why him? Well, he has focusing issues. It could just be his fun-loving, middle child self, or maybe there's something else to it. What is gluten, anyway? I know it's in bread and stuff, right? But, is it in peanut butter? Oh, please don't let it be in the Jif!!!!! What about Rice Krispies? Mustard? Ranch dressing? Ragu spaghetti sauce??? Publix rotisserie chickens??? All things I need to find out. But, in the mean time, I bought organic chicken which is currently marinating in the fridge and ground turkey to brown and put into the gluten free pasta I bought to make spaghetti with on Monday. I also bought him a half gallon of Lactose Free Skim Milk. Then, after I got home I looked at it again. It's Lactose Free MILK. >>DUH<< The Lactose isn't what it makes it dairy...the fact that it came out of a COW makes it dairy!! Jeeeez. I paid almost $4.00 for a half gallon of something that somebody's gonna drink whether they like it or not. Anyway, the plan is to make big, jumbo changes for a solid week and see what happens. Limited bread items, even more fresh fruit and vegetables and cutting way back on the milk and revisiting the grocery store to see what my options are. We're not big cheese eaters so milk is the only real dairy product that will be an issue. I've already planned my meals (breakfast and dinner..not lunch yet) through Wednesday so once I figure out the other few days, I'll be set. I'm kind of nervous because I want to take it seriously but it'll be time consuming and I might meet resistance from the troops. I'm anxious to see what the next week brings and what works and what doesn't. The trick is to make it yummy enough that they don't even notice!! I'm looking forward to researching recipies and seeing what I can come up with. Check this link to see one I've heard about and want to spend more time on. ( http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/ ) That said, now that I'm about to wrap it up, I realize that I didn't even address sugar. Let's just say, Mama's about to rock their world.

Oh yeah...I went there!!

Just popped the cork on a new password

I just spent the past 30 minutes trying figure out my password and then trying to figure out how to reset it. My ADD, however, along with my three kids buzzing around me like gnats, was enough of a distraction that I was overlooking the obvious link. Anyway, it wasn't until I tried to reset said password that I remembered what it was in the first place...I think. Anyway, now that I think of it, my password isn't the answer to my security question but I'll be danged if I'm gonna get back into the whatever you want to call it to try and figure out how to make it line up. Sooooo, I'm going to leave myself a hint here in case I forget again, which is completely possible. Let's see. How paranoid should I be? I mean, is anybody really going to pay attention to this, let alone, make an effort to look at a particular thing just to get my password? Well.....I guess I would. That's just the kind of person I am. I wouldn't actually try to USE the password, I would just try to find out what it was just to say (to myself) that I did. Like a scavenger hunt!! This goes back to the competetive issue. Sad, really. Anyway, back to the subject. password...password...OK. It's a word...no, no, too obvious. It's gotta be something that only means something to me. I'm putting waaaaay too much thought in to this. OH, OH...I know!! "JESSE". Wow...how random is that? Well, guess that takes care of that.

A Few of My Recent Facebook Posts for this Thursday 13

CRH...doesn't like the "suggestions" on the side that asks >ME< to make Facebook more fun for...whoever...and to send them a message. You get out of it what you put in to it people. I'm just sayin.

CRH...has a sleeping baby in the back and is sitting in CVS parking lot waiting on the Rx for his ear infection to be ready. Today l am thankful that my pediatritian is open on Saturdays!!

CRH...would like to thank NASA and other appropriate organizations for sending the International Space Station AND the Space Shuttle directly over our house last night. We had seen the ISS before but it was the first time we had seen the Space Shuttle.

CRH...is just now googling cornbread recipes. I wanted to use buttermilk but don't know if I can just substiture it for my regular milk. Where's Alton Brown when you need him??? Actually, he doesn't live too far from me. I wonder if he's still up???

CRH...is thankful that Jesus paid a debt He did not owe for my debt I could not pay. Everything else is gravy.

CRH...is feeling chatty today. It occurs to me that some might wonder how this day is different than any other. Well, it just is : D

CRH...has the bestest, funnest, most awesomest friends anyone could ever ask for. That is what I'm thankful for today and every day.

CRH...is prayerful. The ones we love are the hardest to witness to. Lord, use me to be a voice for You and to share with others what You have done for me and how You have changed me. I praise Your holy name for washing away the "me" I used to be!!

CRH...had two coupons for free DQ ice cream cones and they dipped them for free too. Niblet held his up and said, "Look Mommy, I'm the bride with the fire!!" I so love my boys ♥

CRH...thought the auction was great but got outbid on the stuffed bobcat. Now what am l gonna get Tilley for Christmas???

CRH...is crazy sleepy but, unfortunatly, catnaps in the carpool line are frowned upon. ~~yawn~~

CRH...just found the HIDE button. Hide buttons are a good thing. So long Farmville!!!

CRH...so stinkin' excited!!! Today is the perfect day: Cloudy, cold, breezy with football and friends. Fall ROCKS!!!

Why Today?

Because today is my uncle John's 73rd birthday. He was buried yesterday. He died four days ago. He was diagnosed with cancer about 3 months ago. Because my niece died a few weeks ago at 25 because a military doctor misdiagnosed her. Now her little boy has no mommy. Because I have a friend having a biopsy today and another having one next Tuesday. Because one of my best friends has a broken heart that her mother is on chemo and her grandmother stopped treatments because it wasn't working.

I. Hate. Cancer.

If you've ever been touched by cancer, raise your hand. Thought so. Me too. Too many times and right now more than ever.

So what did you do today and how did it come to be, you might ask. Well, when I was pregnant with our youngest (and last child, I might add), my hair grew like I dipped my head in Miracle Gro. I've always had long-ish hair but figured that if I was ever going to grow it out to donate, this was the time. Now or never. I was, after all, 42 and waaaaay too old to have long hair. Now, two years later at 44, and really way too old to have long hair, it was finally time. Locks of Love accepts donations of hair, 10" and longer to make wigs for underprivileged little girls. The thought of being able to produce something that could make such a difference to a child was something that...well, how could I not? The Lord has blessed me more than I deserve and how could I not use this opportunity to be a blessing to someone else? I can only imagine what it must be like for a mother to have gone through such a battle with her child and after all of the chemo and radiation and sickness...to see the smile on her baby's face when they slip something onto her sweet little head that makes her feel almost human again. Something that we all take for granted yet, to her mommy, makes her look a little more like the little girl she remembers before that terrible monster attacked her precious body. It takes a lot of pony tails to make just one wig for a little girl but at least it's something. That little girl will never know who I am or how many days I fussed because it was so crazy hot or it couldn't be colored or stuck to my lipstick every time I rolled down the window in the car but it was worth every humid and windy day. Hopefully what she will know is that there are people out there who care enough to do just a little something. And maybe one day, she'll get the good news from the doctor that she is cancer-free, grow up and have a family of her own and do the same for another little girl. But the only difference will be that hot and windy days wont' be a bother but will instead be a pleasent reminder of more trying times. Of course, I'll never know if she gets that good news or not or if she ever has a baby of her own. All of this I do to glorify Him so I will lay it at His feet and walk away knowing that He is in control. Will donating hair bring back my family or cure my friends? No. But maybe somehow it will make some kind of a difference. It reminds me of the story about the starfish. A man goes to the beach and sees that there are thousands of starfish washed up on the shore. One by one, he picks them up and slings them back into the surf. Another man walks by and asks why he bothers because what he's doing doesn't make a difference. The first man picks up another starfish, holds it up and flings it back into the water. "It made a difference to that one."

Wordless Wednesday

When ya gotta go...

Another One Bites the Dust

When I first started writing this blog a little over a year ago, I was obsessed with it. I would think of some thing...or three, I wanted to write about and keep it as a draft until I had a chance to finish it. Many remain on my dashborad that I'll never finish but I like keeping them there. Reminders of things once thought funny or important enough to begin to put into words but yet not as important as those things that kept me from going back to complete them. As I look back through past posts, a few stood out. I still miss Tim Russert like crazy and always will. Of all my entries, that's the only one I wish I had never had to write. On a lighter note, the one about the dream I had about some local radio personalities and the one about the fishing monkeys still crack me up!! I love to write and usually the words pour out of me faster than I can type but tonight I'm just too tired. We just completed another year of Vacation Bible School and I'm BEAT!! I've already gotten everyones clothes ready for church tomorrow and am going to bed...maybe to dream of fishing monkeys!!

Laundry

I struggle with the idea of whether or not to say that I "hate" laundry. I don't like to say I hate anything but this comes pretty close. I've been doing laundry all morning and it became obvious to me that this is really a serious hot button for me. Reflection ensued. First of all, let me say that there's nothing like being sick for a week to make one realize how important daily laundry maintenance is to the runnings of a household. It was actually all clean thanks to my husband but none of it was put away. Then, somehow, with soccer and other things that I can't seem to recall, I got behind again. If someone were to come to my front door right now, they would see a crazy mish-mash of everything from boxers to sweatshirts...all sorted...laying in my foyer where I tossed them over the bannister. Why are they still in the foyer? Because I don't want to move them and it's just as easy to step over the piles there as it is in the kitchen which is by the laundry room which should be large enough to keep the laundry I have to do today but isn't. This brings me to my hugest gripe: The laundry room is on the first floor of our two story house. This is proof positive that our builder was a man. How would he like it if I built his house and didn't put a toilet within earshot of the TV??? The other thing that gets me about our particular laundry situation is that every pair of pants and underwear and every sock and shirt worn by my husband and children is wrong-side out. My OCD/ADD will not allow me to wash anything wrong-side out. It's just not possible and I'm pretty sure that if a scientist looked at my DNA, they'd see some obscure laundry gene restricting my ability to do so. And then there's the pocket checking. This is currently limited to my husband but will soon spread like a virus to my three boys. If I were pulling out folding money I wouldn't mind, but I'm instead finding change, pennys and nickles mostly, and enough reciepts to kill a small tree. Another laundry issue that will bring a tear to my eye is finding something mixed in with the dirty clothes that I know for a fact is CLEAN!! But it's been in with the dirty stuff therefore must be washed anyway. Again.

As greatful as I am to have nice clothes for my family and a washer and dryer to keep them clean, I know I shouldn't complain. It's just time I wish I could spend with my kids. Come to think of it, they're old enough to put their own stuff away. That way, we can have the laundry done and be together at the same time. Something tells me they won't see it the same way!!

First Thursday 13 for 2009

13 Things I hope to do this year that I meant to do last year...



1. Touch up the paint on the black end table in the playroom.
*
2. Paint and recover the seat for the chair in my office
*
3. Replace the coconut liners in my hanging baskets
*
4. Watch Passion of the Christ...nope...never saw it.
*
5. Organize all of my scrapbook paper.
*
6. Move my quiet time reading my Bible from night to morning.
*
7. Put all of my old pictures on discs.
*
8. Make a window treatment for the window in the two story foyer.
*
9. Sort through all of the many tubs in the basement and consolodate/purge.
*
10. Spend more time with my friends.
*
11. Start doing pilates again.
*
12. Get contacts.
*
13. Take the kids to the planetarium and Fernbank.

Wish me luck!!

Tag...I'm It : )

Eisha tagged me and since I don't know what to do, I'll just make up my own rules which is how I like to roll anyway...

This is a story about when our last baby was born with a little back story:

I never thought I'd have more than two kids and that had really always been the plan...even before I got married. I knew I wanted more than one because I was a very lonely, only child, painfully shy as a result and didn't want to do that to my child. But three wasn't even on my radar. I took Clomid with the first two boys and my OB said that I would probably never get pregnant again without it so, after they were born, we decided that I would not go back on the pill but I wasn't going to take Comid again either. What the OB failed to tell me was that it increases the chance for twins and I'm hear to tell you that if I had ever had twins, I'd have packed my bags the minute I found out and moved right back in with my mother. It's obviously a non-issue so we'll move on. We figured we'd take our chances and if it was the Lord's will that we have another baby, then we would. I was, after all, very happy and fulfilled. Some would disagree due to my inability to control my emotions when I saw a pregnant friend. Pregnant strangers didn't phase me but let one of my friends get pregnant or have a baby and I was a blubbering mess...in a good way. So, a year or three went by and the occasional conversation took place between me and either hubby or my oldest about if mommy should have another baby. Then the conversations turned into a decision for me to make, so...I had talked to them but I had never taken it to the Lord in prayer. Sitting on the side of my bed one day, I just said it out loud: "Lord, I think I want to have another baby and if it's Your will, then let it happen". That was it, word for word. Short and sweet. I figured that would be the end of it because I was already 41 years old and had about an egg and a half left so the chances were pretty slim. I stood up and went on with my day. A couple months later, I was walking down the stairs and suddenly had to pee for like the third time that morning but this particular time had a certain familiarity about it. I actually said outloud, " I haven't had to pee like this since the last time I was pregnant", haha. (And all of this happened in a matter of about 5 seconds) Well, I stopped dead in my tracks on the 4th step, and since the cat's out of the bag that I talk to my self out loud, a lot, I whispered "noooooooooo". I stood there for a second and turned around and ran back up the steps and into my bathroom, grabbed an old EPT out of my vanity that had been there for about 3 and a half years and headed for the potty. Hubby was in the basement and there was no doubt...I saw two lines. I yelled for him like the house was on fire. He came running and there was no "I have something to tell you" or "I've got great news". I stuck that stick right in front of his face and yelled OH MY GOD!!! I don't even think he said anything. He just ran out the door to CVS to get another test. I personally think the 2-pack was overkill but I obliged. (This is turning out to be longer than I had planned but I'm too far in to stop now...)

So, I called my OB and they couldn't see me for 2 days so I went to the health department. I thought I was going through menopause and didn't want to get my hopes up. Nope, you're pregnant!! I went home and put on maternity pants.

Thirteen weeks later, I went for my 16 week ultrasound and was asked if I wanted to know if we were having a girl or boy. Well, yeah!! Ooooooh, you mean right now??? But, my husband...I wasn't supposed to find out til...I can't wait 4 more...and he's not...I told him he didn't have to.....but I thought that...what do I do.....what do I do....ok, tell me. It's a boy!! I had had my other two at this same practice so they knew my family and history and everybody was so excited that we were having another boy. Except me. I had psyched myself up so much to be prepared if they told me it was a girl that I was disappointed when they said it wasn't. I faked excitement til I got to the car and broke down into tears. I called my best friend who also has three boys and she talked me through it and I was over it by the time I got home. So, now we come to the point of my story which is going to be much shorter than the supposed "short" back story. The time for delivery had come and although my last delivery was a c-section due to the cord being around his neck, I was able to have a V-BAC, aka: vaginal birth after cesarian. YAY!!! (First let me say that my older boys are blonde like my husband so all my boys should be) So, at 9:40 that night I started pushing and about 15 minutes and 10 pushes later, when the head popped out, my mid-wife says "This one has dark hair like you".

Well, I just about had a panic attack right there. (I thought that meant it was a girl) I tried to sit up and said "WHAT???" But all my boys have blonde hair. They said it was a boy!! All I could think was that if it's not a boy, you just better slide it right back in til it's done cause I ain't havin' a girl!!!

~

Two minutes later...

~

Well, what do you know. A dark haired little boy. And he looks just like me. Our little gift from God. What a blessing to know that the Lord knows us better than we know ourselves and when the time was right, He opened my heart to the idea of another baby and when I took it to Him and asked that His will be done, He blessed me with the greatest blessing of them all. And now we are 5.

~

Jenny Hodges, Kim Jarrett, Rebekah Gregg and Penny Nordin...YOU'RE IT!! Give us a little insite as to who you are and don't forget the pictures!!

3,2,1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Another year, come and gone. Why is it that as we get older, time goes by so much more quickly? More commitments to eat away at our time, I suppose. The days just click by, one after another and before you know it, we're sending our kids off to college and drawing our social security. When I was pregnant the first time in 2001 (about 3 months so I hadn't even found out if I was having a boy or girl yet) it was August and the back to school ads were running on TV. My husband came in and I was sobbing in front of the television so when asked why, I said that because "before we know it, our baby will be going to school...boohoohoo". Now, when I cry...I cry like Lucy, so this was a big deal to me and it really kind of freaked him out. My baby was, in my head at least, already wearing a back pack at the imaginary bus stop, barely giving a half wave as he or she drove away starting his or her new life with all of his or her new friends. I also craved the smell of lawn mower tires at Sears so I guess comparatively speaking, it wasn't that odd and will chalk it up to hormones. Yet, here I sit, with my not so little one in first grade and although the scenario wasn't quite as grim as I had envisioned it, I can still taste the tears. Two babies followed and try as I might not to look too far ahead, it's hard not to notice how quickly time passes and how things change, often unnoticed. My resolutions of years past have been frivolous and even non-existant, but this year I feel a sense of urgency. A need to remember, to notice. To live in the moment. My greatest desire in this earthly life is to enjoy, nurture and experience my greatest blessing: my family. And as I have a first grader looking over my shoulder, it's time to go because he wants to cuddle with his mommy. Enjoy them while you can, they say. So I intend to do just that. Happy New Year!! Here's to you enjoying what you have been blessed with, whatever or whomever that may be.

The fat lady sings at 9am

If I only had a nickle for every time I heard myself say, "Christmas is over people...TAKE DOWN THE DECORATIONS!!!" I guess I should mention though that I usually start saying that on the 26th and I always say it out loud. I can't help it!! If it were up to me, there would be no tree in my den right now and it's still officially Christmas day...or, night. But, in keeping with tradition, one of the first (and I mean very first) things I'll do in the morning is take down the tree, drag that sucker out back and remove any signs of Christmas from the house. I consider it my little birthday gift to myself. The only thing that will stay up is the rediculously huge blow up Santa in the yard so he can dry out before going back in the box and on the shelf in the garage. Now, any that stumble onto this that don't know me might think that I don't like Chrsitmas. Oh, but no!! I'm totally in LOVE with Christmas!! But when it's over...it's OVER!! I know some people leave their trees up til after the new year...some crazy nonsense about it being good luck...but I just don't get it. Snowman are ok because they're winter type folk people...whatever... but Santa's, Christmas lights and (please forgive me Jesus) manger scenes have gotta go!! I've tried to assess the reason behind my tree issues but come up empty every time. I guess it just boils down to not liking a tree with nothing under it. It's there to put presents under and when there are no more, then what's the point??? The annual trip to the tree farm is a big deal for our family (except this year as stated in the most recent 13) and the decorating is one of my favorite traditions. But let that last present be removed from underneath and I'm ready to toss it in the chipper. Well, that said, how bout another slideshow??? Just turn the music back up in case you got tired of listening to the same sont over and over.

Merry Christmas everybody and Happy Birthday Jesus. Thank You for grace, mercy and the opportunity to know and love You.

~

ps...The cedar tree being cut down in the pictures is one we found in the woods at Nana and Papa's when we went to visit. They have an artificial tree and I thought it would be a better memory for the kids if we drove up into the woods on the golf cart and cut one down instead of getting there and there being a fake one already up. It was a charlie brown tree but the boys and I made every ornament on it. It was probably one of the most special trees we've ever had. I've got to start keping tissues on my desk.

Thursday 13 : Christmas Edition

13 Things we did this Chrsitmas Season...

.

Baked batch after batch of cookies and only burnt two.

*<{}:O)

Made some of the coolest popsicle stick and glitter decorations ever!!

*<{}:O)

Chose a Christmas Angel off the tree at B's school

*<{}:O)

Lost a frozen lasagna in the car and found it under the stroller two days later.

*<{}:O)

Explained to the boys why one of the four Santa's we saw had a fake beard.

*<{}:O)

Spent two hours at Bass Pro Shops...Thanks for the tip J.O'C!!

*<{}:O)

Made bubble bath for a friend and didn't give it because it stuuuuuuunk!!

*<{}:O)

Bought stuff to make Christmas cards and didn't do it for the second year in a row.

*<{}:O)

Said " CRAP !! " about 37,000 times.

*<{}:O)

Bought a tree from a tree lot. Don't ask.

Ok, it was already Dec. 6th and we still didn't have a tree like we usually do as of Thanksgiving weekend...KB had to work and I had all three kids and wasn't gonna lay on the ground in cloudy, very windy, 30* weather to cut down a tree and then hang a baby on my hip while I dragged it back to the hayride wagon. Buying a pre-cut tree goes against everything I believe in and hear me when I say...It will NOT happen again next year. Whew, I feel better now!!

*<{}:O)

Did not go to a single mall.

*<{}:O)

Made us into elves at elfyourself.com

*<{}:O)

Watched (against my better judgement) Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.

*<{}:O)

Made a breakfast cassarole for the first time.

*<{}:O)

Took the boys for a ride in the woods on Papa's golf cart.

*<{}:O)

Got rained on at Back to Bethlehem and was glad I got to go home and didn't have to stay and walk around with a sheep on a leash.

Famous People

I was just reading John Mayers Blog. You know. The cute, curly haired kid that sings and dates that famous girl. I really enjoyed it and it also brings me to my point: Why do we care? I used to care. I don't really know why. Probably because I was living is Craphole, Alabama and loved the idea of something more glamorous than riding around with my friends and a 6-pack. But, now I've grown up, said bye-bye to Craphole and hello to big city. I traded the 6-pack for Aquafina and twenty years, a husband and three kids later, I finally figured out that there's no difference between me and aforementioned famous girl. Well, I can't fit into her jeans but I can live with that. It's all relevant. At the end of the day, the "famous" people are just people that probably make a little more money and know other "famous" people but, they still get sick, fight with their family, have dogs that die and cry at sad movies. They fall in and out of love, go to church (some/not enough of them) and many don't eat their vegetables like they should. They have hobbies, savings accounts and complained about gas when it was crazy expensive. Bad sushi does the same thing to them as it does to me so we'll just leave that one alone.

So, now when I see one of the gossip magazines spouting this and that I just shake my head and remember that there are still enough people that do care to keep those aweful magazines in buisness. Too bad, too. All the "famous" people want to do is act, make music, make us laugh and maybe sing a little. And I'll also bet that on some days, there are one or two of them that would trade where they are for Craphole, a friend and a 6-pack. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all.

Do I look Omish to you???

Few would argue that Jesus really is THE reason for the season. And the boys are well aware of the importance of said reason and also the importance of giving. But, for the older two, at 4 and 6, receiving is a dangerously close third. Sure I was smart and got the Wii back in the summer and had the restraint to leave it in the box in the pillow case on my closet shelf but I was at Wal-Mart at 7:00 this morning to buy Bakugan balls that I've been trying to get my hands on since August. I was about two visits away from a restraining order from the lady in the toy department when I decided that maybe calling was a better/safer alternative. That said, I was there at 7 because I called at 9 the night before to see if they were coming in and was told to call back inthe morning. I called at 6. Once I found out that they had a "few" I was out the door....not to the one by MY house but the one in the next town. The way they've been flying off the shelves, I was ready. Coffee in hand with a pretty good caffine buzz pushing me toward the toy department and I didn't even have my purse. I had my credit card in my back pocket, my keys nerveously twisting on my finger and was ready to go hand to hand with any crazy, buggy pushing moms I came up against. I had psyched myself up and convinced myself that I'd take on anybody that wasn't either pregnant or holding a baby but anybody else was fair game. Ok, maybe not old people, but anybody else!! And for once in my life there wasn't a kid strapped in the front of my cart to slow me down. I was determined, if necessary, to crawl on my hands and knees to get to the front of the pack and take somebody down to get what I wanted for my little boy!! I had visions of women wresteling on the floor like those crazy girls fighting over the last discount wedding dress in Feiline's basement. I passed the greeting cards, the linens, I was getting closer...I saw the bikes hanging from that big tall rack thing..."I wonder how many people will be gathered in the aisle???" I felt my heart begin to race...My steps were quick and I think I was even talking to myself...Then I rounded the corner, saw the Bakugan sign hanging in the aisle and spotted what I had been waiting for...Throngs of angry moms? Noooo...Two guys talking about football. I gotta tell ya...I was a little disappointed. No pushing or arguing about who had what first. No tugging back and forth over the last pack and shouting why one deserved it more than the other. Nothing. Just deciding which of the boys gets which colors. But wait...there was some excitement after all.....I bought a farm puzzle for the baby. Merry Christmas!!

I miss scrapbooking. I still make albums for other people and can do a whole book in less than a week since I don't have the emotional attachment totheir pictures but it's not the same as doing my own pages. And Lord knows I love it but I just can't be one of those 8-11 pm girls that revels in her quiet time after the kids are down for the night. When my kids go to bed I'm not far behind. I guess I'm more of what you'd call an ADD scrapper. Yes, ADD as in A.D.D. About two or three times a year, I'll go into my office and spend the day and crank out as many layouts as I can....ususally about 3 or 4. Oh, to be one of those people that uses their circle cutter on all their pictures and puts them on white paper and then peels off stickers to spell out their title...drawing some lines on the paper to journal right on the page. I am not THAT person. That person is caught up. I am NOT that person. That person can go to a weekend crop and do 28 layouts. I AM NOT THAT PERSON...oh, but how I wish I were. Or, do I??? Anyway, on my ADD scrapping days, Hubby watches the kids and I only come out if I hear glass breaking or a siren. Why only 2 or 3 times a year? My office looks out into the back yard and it has to be nice enough to play outside on these days (it's always nice in Atlanta) and also because I keep having babies and always seem to have a 2 year old. And as much as I would like to say my office is baby proof...it ain't!! Not even close. Right now, it's not even mommy proof. In fact, fire hazzard is more like it. In the past year or so, I've become less of a "Scrapbooker" and more of a Scrapbook Supply Collector. I have a problem that there is no 12 step program for. Hello, My name is Christi and I'm a paperholic. Anyone with 2000 pieces of patterned paper either needs therapy or a retail space. Now, our basement is awesome. Not that big, but that's the beauty of it. I have my space, hubby has his office where he works from home and there is a playroom for the kids. There is a wart on this swan though and that is that since it is small, there are no walls (interior, silly) and the space is divided up and defined with furniture. My space is in an alcove so I just need a back wall which is made up of a large ikea cabinet which I use for storage, next to the back of the armoire that faces the playroom and a bookshelf on the end that offers more storage for me. I'm quite happy with what we've done but I still yearn for the traditional craft room...Pottery Barn style. It's a want, not a need and as life goes on, wants seem less important. For me anyway. I'll get there one day but for now, I'll enjoy my ADD days when I can and enjoy my time with my almost 2 year old because he will be our last. But, now that the time has changed and we're spending more time inside in the evenings, I hope to get things back in order. In my little pea brain, it'll go something like this: I'll come home from church this weekend, pre-plan the meals for the week and put hubby in charge of dinner and bath time. Since it's Thanksgiving, there is no school, Wednesday night activities at church or basketball parctice, I'll have every night free to baracade myself in my office and knock it out!! A little soft music on the radio and stream in an interesting talk radio show on my laptop and hear grown up people say words. Ahhhhh. The baby can go down at 7 as usual and the other boys can stay up. I'm suddenly aware of the fact that I'm going to have what I need most of all this next week.....TIME!! It's what I ask for for Christmas every year!! (Yet oddly never seem to get) I realized the other day as I waved at my neighbor, I pass her house 58 times a week. Not 5 to 8...FIFTY EIGHT!!! That's just carpool (two kids are in two different schools at two different times), church and basketball and doesn't even count grocery shopping, doctors appointments and other errands. So, in a couple of weeks, maybe things will be different. I'll either be organized and have things in order or I'll just start keeping my stuff in my car. It's where I am most of the time anyway!!

This Thursday 13 is Totally Random

I won't drink milk out of plastic cups even though it comes in a plastic jug.

I know where Alton Brown lives.

Red is my favorite color but if I were a crayon, I'd be Yellow.

I've killed a deer.....with a gun, not my car.

I used to work for Lancome.

I once listened to the same song over and over for 3 hours.

I've been to the David Letterman Show.

I nursed my three boys for a total of 31 months and the girls are still lookin' pretty good.

The first thing I do when I come downstairs in the morning is turn on the radio to 107.5 WJZZ.

I was on top of the South Tower of the World Trade Center 5 days before it fell.

I know Steve McCoys real name.

I can drive a tractor and a fork lift.

I've participated in defensive driving excercises for Alabama State Troopers.

Ahhhhh, Fall.

Occasionally, Niblet and I will drive through the grounds of the outdoor Y and look for deer early in the morning on our way to take him to school. On one particular day, I spied with my little eye, a fence at the end of a road blocking access to the wooded area behind and further up the drive was another tree that was a brilliant, firey red. Sooooo, being the frustrated wanna-be photog that I am, I filed it away for a few days until the leaves had peaked their fall color and I forced my kids to put on the appropriate colors for our upcoming photo shoot. My boys are great about letting me take pictures of them but this was the first time I had actually dragged them to a different location. By the way, I wasn't totally happy with Niblet's blue sweater but we pick our battles, don't we??? So, here is yet another slideshow of my kids. If you turned down the annoying song that plays over and OVER again (only option) then turn it back up b/c the pics are better with music. If the slideshow is over, click the X to start it again and the other X to take away the review bar...it's totally worth it becasue my kids are just that stinkin' cute.

Happy Halloween...a week late!!

I've been meaning to post Halloween pictures since Halloween night and never could seem too get to it, so...here they are. B. was a Rescue Fireman, Niblet was Superman since he had already been Spiderman and Batman and NayNay was a Lion. He wouldn't let me paint his face like he did last year so I was a little disappointed but he still had a blast. We tried to pull him aorund in the wagon but he wanted to walk. Somehow, I ended up pulling the big kids and they were so cute cuddled up in the blankets. Oh, they're just growing up way too, too fast.

Tick Tock

Well, I saw the first Christmas comemrcial on TV the other day and I have to admit...I was absolutely giddy!!! (We've already started playing Christmas music in the car!!) And , not only do I absoluteley LOVE Christmas, I love the whole Holiday season, which for me, starts October 1st and runs to the end of the year. Without fail, we decorate the collums on the front of the house with cornstalks, pumpkins and mums, a couple of halloween things, then November 1st, the Halloween things disappear to be replaced by more Fall things. One of our newer traditions is to make a Thanksgiving Tree for the front door (even though there are quite a few Christmas things already up inside). The trunk is wrinkled and shaded brown paper decoreated with colorful leaves where each of us (on our own color) name things we're thankful for. Candy always makes the list!! I think I'll do this with the kids in my Sunday School class this year.

Then the day after Thanksgiving we put out our huge, tacky blow up Santa and make the annual trip to the tree farm to cut down the perfect Christmas Tree and take the hayride to the pond for cocoa and roasting marshmallows. Sigh...So, now that we're into November, it occurs that not only will Christmas be here before we know it...it'll be over. The plan??? To relish every moment and squeeze as much holiday fun into each and every day as we can. Starting tomorrow. Who knew having a bunch of kids was going to be so hectic??? Ho Ho Ho ! ! !

shhhhh.....it's the thursday 13

13 THINGS I NEED TO BE DOING BESIDES THIS!!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

EMPTYING THE DISHWASHER
***
LOADING THE DISHWASHER
***
WASHING THE NEVERENDING PILE OF CLOTHES
***
PUTTING AWAY THE CLOTHES I WASHED YESTERDAY
***
SWEEPING THE KITCHEN
***
BAKING CUPCAKES FOR W's CLASS TOMORROW
***
MAKING FIRE HOSE FOR FIREMAN COSTUME
***
MAKING LION COSTUME FOR THE BABY
***
READING MY BIBLE
***
EMPTYING MY CAMERA TO MAKE ROOM FOR TOMORROWS COSTUME PARADE
***
LOOKING FOR 3 THINGS FOR THE KIDS TO COLLECT CANDY IN
***
ORGANIZING THE PANTRY
***
TAKING 3 ADVIL

I'll be glad when Halloween finally gets here so we can ENJOY it and preparing for it will finally be over. Happy Pumpkin Day everybody!!

I do love my kids...REALLY I DO!!!

A friend/blogging buddy that shall remain nameless and I were talking tonight about what we blog about. More to the point, what we DON'T blog about. I, personally, don't blog about my kids very often. Why? Well, I don't really know. I guess it's because I'm with them almost all of the time and I'm a little saturated with the goings on of our family. I love them...all of them...and I do talk about them all of the time to friends and family but don't feel the need to write about them. Upon further introspection I came to the conclusion that there's just too much to say and I wouldn't know when to stop. I mean, do you really want to know the day to day ins and outs of daily victories such as convincing Ben he doesn't need to wear his Superman costume to go feed the ducks or the defeat of my not being able to go on his class trip to the Pumpkin Patch??? I ate lunch with Will at his school last week but his teacher said parents couldn't stay for the Bus Safety puppet show. Nathan is hitting every milestone and is perfect in every way except isn't talking so the pedciatritian says he needs to be referred out if he doesn't start by 18 months. Kelly has had a couple of great interviews but hasn't been led to the perfect job yet. We know it exists because the Lord leads our steps and will open the perfect door in His perfect timing. So, there ya go. Besides, other than the aforementioned nameless friend, who knows who even really even reads this thing anyway, so who cares??? Well, I guess it's settled then. I'll write about the kids occasionally but more often than not it'll be more nonsense about how I love to make lists and won't go into flea markets because of the musty smell. How I won't be in the choir at church because I cry too much during the music and that I dream in Technicolor and in crazy vivid detail. And I certainly need to share my handy household tips that I've written up for an upcoming Thursday 13!! Every post is a cobweb cleared in the dusty attic that is my overloaded and cluttered brain so here's to you, nameless friend. Get out your dustpan...this could get messy!!

Thursday 13 @ 8pm, 7 Central

Things I like to watch on TV...

New Adventures of Old Christine
Cities of the Underworld
Good Eats
How'd They Make That
NOVA
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
Deadliest Catch
Weather on the 8's
Everyday Italian
The occasional Infomercial
The Today Show with Hoda and Kathie Lee
How I Met Your Mother
Man vs Wild

This Thursday 13 is useless!!

Sometimes I wish I could run a defrag on my brain. I've got so much random crap in there that it's rediculous. Here's what I mean...

<-> There are no snakes in Ireland (except at the zoo)

<-> Jay Leno's wife, Mavis, was on a committee that was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.


<-> Eating too many apple seeds can kill you (ok, maybe not totally useless).

<-> Most bats are born in June.


<-> Prince Charles and Prince William can never fly on the same plane.


<-> Men's Sport Coats have buttons on the sleeves so back in the day Roman soldiers wouldn't wipe their noses on them...nice.


<-> There are no clocks in casinos.


<-> The man operating the Robot in "Lost in Space" was not the same guy that was the voice of the Robot. Danger, Danger Will Robinson!!


<-> Buddy Ebson (Jed Clampett) was supposed to be the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz but was allergic to the silver paint.


<-> Shaggy's first name is Norville.


<-> Your height is roughly equal to the furthest distance from middle fingertip to middle fingertip when arms are held out to the sides.


<-> The more sugar wine has in it, the less alcohol it has.


<-> Whole milk only has about 3 and a half % milk fat.

This could easily have turned into the Thursday 33.

You might hate this Thursday 13 because.....

I really hate it when...

*

I go outside in the morning and walk face first into a spider web.

*

I get kicked off AOL. I don't know who the Remote Host is but he hates me.

*

Kids think they have to make bad choices to be cool and/or accepted.

*

I turn on the radio to listen to Handel on the Law (Saturdays 12-3 AM 750) and instead, Captain Herb's NASCAR show is on.

*

People get hurt trying to help other people.

*

I sneeze while my mascara is still wet.

*

My six year old comes home and asks me about things he heard at school that aren't

age appropriate.

*

The tab on a diaper breaks.

*

Hollywood puts aweful words in PG-13 movies that aren't posted in the review and you're trying to watch it with your friends...AWKWARD!!

*

I load the dishwasher and put the soap in and the next morning realize that I forgot to turn it on.

*

I want to watch Grey's Anatomy and The Office but they're on at the same time.

*

I try to floss and when I pull the string, there's only 2" left.

*

And one of the things I hate the most is .....

When Elizabeth on the View, WON'T SHUUUUUUT UUUUUUUP!!!!

Is Paul Mitchell trying to kill me???

Well if he doesn't, my shower curtain will.

Back in 2001 when I was pregnant with B., I had my first realization of what certain things can, and do, do to your body. I didn't color my hair or use nail polish during any of my pregnancies. And I'm not one to believe everything I read but lately I've started to make sense of it all. Our bodies are like sponges and everything we put onto them soaks in, not to mention all the things we breathe. (ie. fumes from vinyl shower curtains) Now, I'm not gonna go ripping out my cabinets because they're made with formaldehyde (<--had to spell check that one!!) but I am going to make smarter choices and not replace my counter tops with granite because they can emit radon or buy sippy cups made with BPA. We've replaced scurvy and the plague with cancer and, well, more cancer for heaven's sake.....why continue to make those choices that'll tip that unstable scale in the wrong direction??? I may be lazy about a lot of things but this is too easy NOT to do. That said, we've made more than a few changes at our house. Ok, I made the changes and the rest of the family just lives with it. So, what have we done, you ask??? Sodium Laureth is the foaming agent in shampoos and toothpaste and is linked to cancer. And did you know it's also used in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and car wash soaps??? Bert's Bees doesn't have it so we've switched to their shampoo, conditioner, kids shampoo/wash and even their baby bee diaper ointment which also works on the baby's eczema. (Yes, Bert's Bees products are a little more expensive but the ones I've used are at least 96+% natural and the shampoo is more concentrated anyway so it lasts longer than a cheap bottle of the same size. Besides, if you're using 88 cent shampoo, you'll have 88 cent hair. Live a little why don'tcha?) There are several natural tooth pastes that don't have the Sodium Laureth either and that's on the to-do list. The FDA doesn't regulate fragrances used in products and there are many things hidden there that we're not aware of. Anti-Persperant has aluminum in it. ALUMINUM!! If I wanted aluminum in my arm pits, I'd stick a piece of tin foil under there!! Baby Powder (which is really 100% corn starch) is my alternative. (Ok, so I still sneak a swipe of my Dove on those hot, humid days) We also don't use anything with aspartame...don't EVEN get me started on people that give their kids Diet Coke!! (Or soda of ANY kind, actually) And with the birth of our newest little one came the change to buying more and more organic food which was really important since I've always made all of my own baby food. It is a little more but not that much. For the price of a delivered pizza and a 2 liter soda, we cover the cost of buying organic stuff for a month. How can you possibly argue with that? And why in the world would I want to give my kids meat that has antibiotics in it??? I KNOW...These poisons are very, very minimal but over time, they build up and trigger things I don't even want to think about. Like it says in the bible...you have to have more than just faith. I pray God's protection over my children every day but he left them in my care and it's my job to be a good steward of that responsibility. Like I'm gonna to go to Publix and look at my baby in the buggy and say "Well, honey, the organic sliced carrots are 30 cents more...sorry. But we went to Taco Bell Yesterday!!!"

It's all about choices, that's all I'm saying.

~

~

UPDATE:

Thursday, October 9: On a trip to Trader Joes today, I was able to check the above mentioned TOOTHPASTE off of my to-do list.

Philippians 2:1-18 NIV

Why I do the things I do : To give God the glory!!

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Thursday 13 things I can never remember

The difference between "A"ffect and "E"ffect
~
Whether we'll be going into Daylight Savings time or out of it
~
Which way my ceiling fan is supposed to spin in the summer/winter
~
The password to our online bank account
~
The name of almost everybody I've met less than 5 times
~
The number of the room where I teach Cubbies
~
To take my grocery list INTO the grocery store
~
To pick the right movie I want from Netflix before they're mailed
~
Our fax number
~
To use the raincheck for the carwash before it expires
~
How to spell completely. I have to spellcheck EVERY time!!
~
What night Big Bang Theory comes on
~
To give away the free baby formula that came in the mail... 6 MONTHS AGO!!

Whatta weekend!!

Friday night we had our Sunday School care group's ladies night out at my house. There were 6 of us and it was great to have a chance to have a little girl time without the kids. Saturday morning we were out the door early to go to American Adventure's for Harrison's birthday party. Mari and Richard win the prize for most awesome birthday party EVER!! We had as much fun as the kids...I can't remember the last time I rode go-karts!! It's a good thing we found a gastation that wasn't out of gas or we wouldn't have had enough to get to church this morning) Then this afternoon after chrch, we went to a Bowling party for Dawson who is in B's class. I was so proud that B got the only strike of the party!!! Then a quick stop at the grocery store, get the kids fed and down for the night and I'm off for the sesion premier of Desperate Housewives. Oh My Gosh...It's 9:00 right now!! See ya

Thursday 13 things I did this week...

Painted my kitchen and half bath...not quite finished
Watched three movies just for me
Welcomed my family home (K, W and B) from the beach
Painted my nails
Tried to sell our sleeper sofa on Craig's List...no luck.
Forgot a conference with W's teacher
Took W and B to the dentist
Took my beloved laptop to the doctor and all is well
Took the boys for ice cream
Waited in line for gas
Finalized plans for girls night out at my house
Ate dinner with Todd and Annsley
Returned a casserole dish to my neighbor

Wow...what an exciting week!!

I give up

I don't know what's going on with my blog. I changed the background but it didn't do right and now it won't let me change it back to a mina-whatever template so I can change it back to the background I want.I mean, I like this template I just want to tweek it and it won't let me. And my colors on different things are all screwey. I don't like being at the mercy of my laptop so as I said to Bridgette in an e-mail just moments ago...I give up. I'm going to Home Depot to buy paint.

post script....Well, it's been a day and it's grown on me and I think I love it just the way it is!! You know what they say about the small stuff.

Simple Pleasures for this Thursday 13

1. A long nap on a rainy day
2. My standing Wednesday night dinner date with Annsley and Todd Martin
3. Early morning cuddles with the boys
4. Reading with the kids
5. The way certain songs move me
6. Quick Trip coffee
7. Hobby Lobby, Hobby Lobby, Hobby Lobby!!!
8. A bath and a magazine
9. Scrapbooking
1o. The first signs of Fall
11. Smelling candles at the store with the kids
12. Walking through furniture stores
13. Day trips with the whole family

Click on X on top right of slideshow to reveal pictures.

Move over Oprah...It's my THURSDAY 13

These are 13 of MY favorite things. (I snitched the idea from Hollie Hixon's blog...Thanks Hollie!!) Ok, so maybe there aren't throngs of dressed to impress women falling all over themselves at the prospect of having lavish gifts thrust upon them but these are the things that make my life easier and yes, even make me a little happy.

1. Bert's Bees : I've switched to their shampoo and conditioner for me, Baby Bee Shampoo and Body Wash for the kids and Baby Bee Diaper ointment for NayNay. It all smells awesome and is usually at least 98% natural. KB doesn't have much hair so he just uses Suave. HaHa.

2. Palmers Cocoa Butter Stick: It's jumbo sized and I use it for my unfortunate chapstick addiction...it lasts forever!! It's by the palmers lotion at CVS but by the ethnic hair care products at Wal-Mart. I no longer feel the need to explain to the black girls why I buy it. This would also be my #1 pic for what to have if stranded on a desert island. I can brush my teeth with a stick.

3. Reynolds HandiVac System : I started using it because I made my own baby food and would freeze it. Now I use it for cheese or anything I put in the freezer. Since there's no air in the bag, you don't get those frosty ice crystals on your fishsticks.

4. Over the Door Ironing Board : I love to iron and although I don't choose to spend my Saturday nights pressing khaki's, having an ironing board that just flips down at the press of a button is awesome. The best part is not having that nails on a chalkboard noise it makes when you put it up and down. <-- Too tired to redo the sentance so it doesn't end in a preposition...sorry!!

5. The Writers Strike: Ok, so it's not an actual "thing" thing but, because of it, I re-discovered the Discover and History channels. If you've never seen Mike Rowe do his thing or a watched a show on the Roman Aqueducts, you don't know what you're missing. It also made me re-evaluate all of the mindless time I was spending watching...crap. Now if I watch crap, it's because Mile Rowe is standing in it. Ewww. Sorry!!

6. Reusable Grocery Bags: I bought the green ones at Publix and am very proud of myself for sticking with it. I always saved my plastic grocery bags to recycle them (you have to take them back to the store along with your styrophoam, styrofoam, stirophome...whatever....egg cartons) After I unpack my groceries I hang them on the front doorknob so I'll remember to take them to the car the next time I go out. I actually had a friend ask me the other day if I used my Publix bags at Target. Well, YES!! Like they're not gonna bag my stuff if they say Publix on them???

6. My New 65 Gallon Recycling Can: Since we're on the topic of recycling...they delivered my new bin last week..YAY!!. It's like the regular Waste Mgmt. trash can on wheels but a touch smaller. Recycling (much to KB's dismay) is more of an obsession than anything and when it rolled off the truck, the heavens parted and angels sang. We had been using 2 of the regular laundry basket sized ones and they just weren't big enough and stuff blew out and it was just a mess. Now, I just take the paper grocery sack that I keep in my pantry out and put the whole thing in instead of having to unpack it and poke things in where they would fit. This might actually be one if my top 3!! Ok, it's #2.

7. AOL : Sure, it's free now but I even stuck with it all those years that we had to pay $9.99 a month. It's pretty (not blah and utilitarian like Yahoo or Hotmail), it's very user friendly and best of all, I knew the minute they released the information that Julia Child was a spy and they thought they found BigFoot.

8. The Internet : Al Gore is a genius!! We don't even own a phonebook and I can find out in less than 30 seconds what Rolly Pollys eat. (B. rocked show and tell that day!!!) There's just practically nothing I can't find out in literally a matter of seconds. Oh, and just in case you're wondering, it's decaying leaves. Save yourself a Google : )

9. My Cell Phone: I've got 103 names/numbers in it and my plan offers 3000 minutes a month. This is why I talk to my daddy in Alabama sometimes three times a day. (We're both in the car a lot) But I have a regional free long distance calling plan so unless you live in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi or parts of Kentucky, you gotta call me. And this brings me to a related topic...

10. 800-GOOG 411 : Free Directory Assistance from Google. Now, 800-free411 is also free and you can get Government, Residential and Business numbers, but you have to listen to an ad. I don't need term life insurance or want a deal on a trip to the Bahama's. I do use it if I need a residential number but most of the time I use the GOOG411 which is for business numbers only. It's because of #'s 9 and 10 that I know where the two cargo planes that fly over my house every day are going...and why.

11. Spell Check : See #6

12. Electrasol Power Ball Tabs: These things are awesome!! I used to use the liquid Cascade because I don't like the clumpy powder but I got a sample in the mail and was hooked. It's actually cheaper than the other and my dishes are cleaner. Now I don't have to wash my dishes before I put them in the dishWASHER. Nice.

13 A . TiVo : TV for kids is aweful most times of the day so it's nice to be able to save shows that are age appropriate for rainy days or when the boys just need some down time. Most of the ones we record are on either very early in the morning or while they're at school. I like that they always have safe shows to choose from. Don't even get me started on Total Drama Island!!

13 B. NETFLIX : If you don't have Netflix, you should. We've watched the regulars like Nemo and The Incredibles but the we also watched the entire 4 year run of Lost In Space!! (It was so awesome and we were sad to watch the last one today. There are 3-4 episodes per DVD) Some of their favorites were the Frances the Talking Mule movies, and the ones about Herbie the Love Bug. You can even save movies in your Queue that have just or are about to be released in theaters. I love to go to the movie just as much as anyone but I'd rather spend my $40 going somewhere that doesn't have sticky seats. Til next time...

Goodbye Chaos...HELLO ROUTINE!!

Nobody loves having their kids home with them more than me, but I gotta tell ya...I was a little too happy for my kids to go back to school. I'm creative and crafty but not enough to fill the days of three little boys that are so totally different. If I heard B. ask me one more time "Are we going somewhere else fun today?", I was going to pack his bags and dump him out at Chuck E. Cheese....or Startime...or wherever. Ok, not really, but notice the key word was somewhere ELSE. We took them places at least twice a week...which come to think of if might have been the problem. Anyway, all is well with the world and my ADD is back under control with our new schedule. We're up at 6:15ish and even though Niblet doesn't have to be at his school til 9, he insists on getting up with B. They take a wake up shower, dress and make their beds then it's downstairs for breakfast. I have their outfits on hangers with underwear and socks so they dress themselves and all they have to do is find their shoes. We've even started getting NayNay up so he can nap earlier in the morning so I can get a few things done around the house. Then, 4 eggs, an english muffin and a bowl of random fruit later, about 7:15 or so we're out the door to take B. to school...all of us.

School Supplies: $30

New Backpack : $20

Being a Pirate instead of a Ladybug like the class next door: PRICELESS!!

I love to carpool. It's fun time that the kids can ride up front (the school is across the street from our neighborhood) and we have a great time. We wave as we pass the bus riders and their parents standing on the corner on our way to school...and again on our way home. Yep. They're still standing there. (Please refer to earlier post clearly stating that my child will n-e-v-e-r ride the bus)

An hour or so later we head to TLP to take Niblet to his school. We usually get there a little early and use this time to read our Cubbies story, work on our bible verses and wave/yell at friends across the parking lot who are also in the carpool line. Oh, the joy of being 4. His teachers, Mrs. Debby and Mrs. Susan, are great and he's very excited to make friends at his new school. I'm amazed every day at the enthusiasm he shows getting out the door to go to school. But what makes me really happy is the sheer joy I see on his face when he sees me there to pick him up.

WithB., homework has had it's own set of challenges. The boys are in bed at 8 (usually) but B. is so tired when he gets home, we've faced many tears about not wanting to do homework. Niblet didn't start school til 3 weeks after B. so now that they're both in, it's MUCH easier. They have a snack and have to rest for a half hour or so then I give Niblet worksheets to do and he practices his letters/numbers while B. works on his lesson. I've set up a classroom so we have a huge 4 x 5 dry erase board, an equally large bulletin board, alphabet, days of the week and month posters and a calendar station with weather chart. (The School Box is my new favorite place to shop!!) Anyway, we started out at the dining room table but now that we do homework here, it's much, MUCH easier and way more fun. My only issue now is the baby. KB and I are trying to work out a routine so that he can take care of him while we do homework so he's not into everyting. And when I say everyting, I mean EVERYthing. Those with toddlers know what I mean. I do try to savor every moment though because too soon there will come a day when all of my babies aren't babies anymore and I'll look back at the empty car seats and dream of the days that we waved at firetrucks, played endless games of car bingo and the many times we had to pull over to get the sippy that had fallen under the seat. But, as long as I do a good job with them while they're here, I know that the Lord will do the rest. With that said, we're off to church so they can hide His word in their hearts. <><