Christmas Weekend

My kitchen is full of bags filled with wrapping paper and boxes.  They're waiting patiently for their trip to the recycling center.  We had an awesome weekend starting with supper and opening presents at my in law's on Friday night.  We ate dinner with my parents and family on Christmas day and back again to my in law's house Christmas night.  I was spoiled beyond imagination this year, again.  The kind of spoiled where your eyes tear up and you think - wow, do I really deserve all this?  I, undoubtedly, have the very best family and friends.  This crazy girl is some kind of lucky to have the people in her life that she does. 

Heads up...tons of pics coming your way.

Kaleigh (my niece) and Conner

Whitney and Kaleigh (my nieces) with Conner

Adorable Whitney

Whitney and Mike (my brother in law)

Whitney and Madison hanging out on the couch.

T-Ma and Kaleigh

Mitch opening presents

Alison (my sister in law) with Madison and Whitney

My little cutie Conner with his new truck

Conner with T-Ma

Madison with her new Dora Window Surprises Dollhouse.

Santa came to our house! Madison's bike and Conner's Inchworm were in the barn still.

Conner opening a present Christmas morning.  For the most part he couldn't care less about opening presents.

Madison hard at work opening presents.

Mitch with his Ipod Touch.

 Conner and Daddy outside playing - Conner didn't care about his Inchworm bike.

 Madison trying to ride her Dora bike.

 Mitch loves Star Wars Legos.

 Totally adorable

 Sleepy heads

 Madison with her "Strawberry Cupcake Toy" as she calls it.

Wendell (my brother) playing with the kiddos.

 Madison with Gina (my sister in law)

 Daddy with Conner

 My little baby boy.

Conner Rockin' Out.

 Madison has slept in her new Princess Tent since Christmas morning - even naps.

We ended our Christmas weekend with snow and enough of it to stick.  This is the second time this year that it's happened and it's the second time since the 1980's that it's happened in this area.  Having it happen twice in one year here is almost like Hell freezing over.  Let me say before I show pics that I am a total dork when it comes to snow.  We don't get alot of it around here so when we do I'm like a little kid cracked out on candy.  I think that snow is romantic.  When it starts coming down I head out to the firewood pile and lug some logs into the house.  It's fire time.  Time to snuggle with my baby.  I couldn't live without a fireplace.  And the funny thing is I hate wintertime.  I am very much a summer and beach girl.  What can I say?  I'm a complicated sort...

 

Jingle Bells

I've been busy chasing the kids through the house because this time of year I turn into the Grinch (at request of the kids.)  The kids run through the house and hide from me all the while claiming to save Christmas.  They're all loaded down with jingle bell necklaces.  I should let them wear them all year because I know exactly where they are at all times...kinda like a cow bell.  We've been jamming to Vampire Weekend's "Holiday."  So much so that I am beginning to tire of it.  With all the dancing and running around the house I've gotten a year's worth of exercise in 2 days.  Impressive.

I've also been baking like Betty.  "Betty who" you ask?  Why, Betty Crocker baby!  My kitchen is covered in Gold Medal Flour and sugar and smells like candy canes.  It's a mess, but a beautiful mess.  I keep telling the kids we have to clean up because Santa doesn't like to go into dirty houses, but for some reason they don't care...nor do I really.  Cleaning can wait.  Right now I am enjoying every minute of being the Grinch and playing with the kids.  I'm sure Santa has seen worse anyway. ;o)

We've also been spending time with the fam.  We found out last night that Conner likes to sing.  We're going to have to get him a karaoke machine.  And I have a new stash of homemade ornaments to adorn my Charlie Brown tree with. 

Conner singing.

Mitch singing.

Baking like Betty!

Well, I'm off to make a new batch of hot cocoa and I still have some wrapping to do.

Christmas Came Early!

I'm a happy girl!  I've been wanting a new camera for awhile now, but since I have to learn EVERYTHING about something before I buy it,  it has taken some time for me to make up my mind which one I wanted.  I had first set my heart on a Canon 50D, but soon changed it to the Canon EOS Rebel T2i after comparing the two.  And it's really weird that the Rebel T2i has most in common with the Canon 7D which is twice the price...

Anyway, I had planned on saving all my Amazon credits starting after Christmas and planned on making the purchase around March or April - depending on how many surveys I get.  Well....my absolutely adorable hubby totally surprised me with my new Canon EOS Rebel T2i today.  He had planned on giving it to me on Christmas, but thought that I might want to play around with it before Christmas.  He got the kit which included an EF-S 18-55 IS lens.  He said that I could just use my credits to get more lens to go along with it.  I love that man - more than words can say.

So here are some pics that I've been taking. I haven't started playing around with the editing software yet.

Total Cuteness

I'm in the bed today sick with a cold.  Yay.  And even though I feel like I've been drug through the mud and hung out to dry I still find the kiddos ransacking the place kinda cute.  Madison has been "doctoring" me with her medical kit and Mitch has been bringing me some "yummy" medicinal drinks.  I absolutely HATE laying in the bed.  It makes me feel like a bum.  But today I welcome my comfy bed. 

I was laying here about to pass out when Madison came in and said "What do you call it, mommy?"  I said "What do you call what?"  She said "The TV."  I smiled and said "A TV."  She smiled real big and said "Good job, mommy.  That's right." 

I love my life.  :o)

This Cracks Me Up

Mitch loads his door down with signs that are supposed to keep Madison and Conner out.  His door is covered.  So the other day I finally asked "Why do you have all those keep out signs on your door?"  He says "So Madison and Conner know not to come in."  And I said "And you know that they can't read, right?"  And he says to me "Well, how else are they going to learn?"

Once again I have no response.

Annual Christmas Party Numero Dos

We had our annual Christmas party at the golf course last night.  Boy, oh, boy!  It was a lot of fun and it would have been a lot more fun if I hadn't been distracted by the fact that my babies were sick.  I kept checking my cell wondering if my parents had called.  I was antsy to get back home to them.  And you know what?  I knew which forks to use at dinner even though there were fewer to choose from this time!  Plus, there was a lot more food than there was at the Hyatt.  I don't know what the Hyatt was thinking giving us only 4 green beans.  We like to eat here in the south.  Anyway, as you can guess we left early, but I wish we hadn't because my father in law had just ordered another pitcher of beer right before we left.  And he had already had a few.  He was, of course, the life of the party.  I've never laughed so hard in my life!  There were only about 30-40 people there this time which made for a more cozy good time.  And I will definitely be making more trips up there because the bartender made me her special Long Island Iced Tea that was soooo good.  I had a few too many. ;o)

Here is the evidence of a wonderful night.

My mother and father in law (Jeff and Terry)

Me and my baby

Jeff and Terry getting down.

Incriminating evidence.

Getting down and dirty.  He kept trying to grind and Terry left him on the dance floor. Too funny!

And this would be Tony smacking Fran's tail.

Rainy Days

It's a rainy day here.  Usually I love rainy days.  They're my fave.  However, today has been a weepy day for me.  My two little ones woke up with alarmingly high fevers.  Why does that always happen on the weekend?  So our plans for a fun day of shopping and seeing Santa has been canceled.  I hate seeing my babies sick.  Also, our Annual Christmas Party Numero Dos at the golf course is tonight.  I'm not too happy about leaving the babies, but the tickets have already been bought.

Back in June my sweet nephew passed away.  While I was out shopping yesterday I came across something that I would have picked up to give him for Christmas and it actually took a second to sink in that he won't be with us this Christmas.  That makes me really sad.  He had a list of ailments that included Cerebral Palsy.  And although it gives me comfort that he is no longer suffering I am still a little selfish and want him around.  Even though he couldn't talk his big eyes and big smile spoke volumes.  Talking is overrated anyway. 

I try to be positive and always have happy days, but I think we all need some sad days to keep us honest.  It's good to feel and to take a moment.  Today was a good day for it.  I bought the gift, put it in a cute box and placed it under the Christmas tree that's on his grave.  I'm sure some scumbag will come by and steal it, but I believe in Karma and I believe that she can be a bigger bitch than I could ever be. ;o)

Santa will still be at the mall next week.  And today I'm laying low taking care of my sicklings.  I filled up the crock pot with some yummy goodness and we're watching Christmas shows.  It's a good day.

I Love Red Paint

When you make crafts always make sure you put up the paints.  Madison made this lovely work of art on the window with red paint.  I'm glad it was red paint because it makes it so much prettier.
And you know what?  We're leaving it like it is.  Cuz' I like it. :o)

The Annual Christmas Party Numero Uno

Last night was the Annual Christmas Party for my hubby's work.  It was held at the Harborside Room in the Hyatt.  This was the first year that we've gone.  These Christmas parties allow you to see other sides of your co-workers that you don't get to see at work.  Like when your boss gets up and gets jiggy with it on the dance floor and you get really worried because he has a bad hip.  You get to have lots to drink and get to dance to classics like "Sweet Home Alabama," "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Baby Got Back."  It's the perfect time to make a complete ass of yourself and not worry that you'll be picked on at work because Hey! Everyone else is having fun too! 

Then when you get drunk enough you can walk down Riverstreet and stumble on the cobblestones.  Tourists always say how they love the cobblestones.  I hate those things!  I'm naturally clumsy as it is and throw in a couple of beers and they're down right atrocious!  Then you ride the ferry boat back and forth across the river because it's fun and free.  And, well, that's just the sort of stuff you do when you've had a few. ;o)

And sometimes you show up at the party being the topic of conversation because that day your hubby took his buddy up on a bet and put a pie in his boss' face.  Ahhh....that one's gonna stick.  Pics were everywhere! Everybody was busting out their iPhones and Droids to show the evidence.

The only bad thing about the party was that I showed up all dressed up and pretty, but didn't know which forks to use at dinner.  I had 9 pieces of silverware surrounding my plate.  Just give me a fork and I'm good.  Throw in a spoon for soup or ice cream and a knife for a steak.  I'm not very sophisticated.  However, this dilemma prompted me to do a little research.  Next time I will be prepared for such proper conditions.  And if you're interested to know too check it out HERE.

Ridin'

I love driving!  I turn the radio up and sing my lungs out.  Life is friggin' awesome!  I like to just get out and ride.  Out here in the country you never know what you'll come across.  Yesterday I saw a dead armadillo upside down on the side of the road and someone placed a beer bottle on top of him to make it look like he was drinking it.  Only in Georgia...