Are You Covered?

Okay, so I'm always on the lookout for lower prices on everything. I know you expect nothing less of me, by now. I'm constantly checking percentage rates and checking to see if and how that would affect my families situation. I've been thinking lately that it might be time to do some comparisons to make sure that we have the best deal possible on home, car, and life insurance. Have any of you ever done insurance online? Is it more dealing with computers than people?? I don't think I would like that. I like a more personal touch, but I have had a family member tell me that you can get price comparisons and quotes online with relative ease. I might just try and let you know.

Retreat!

Another item on my wish list would be some sort of fire pit or bar-b-que area in our backyard. Hank and I talked about getting some pavers and leveling out an area. Then we want to put a firepit or a bar-b-que in the middle and put some nice outdoor patio furniture around it. But if we do it where we want we are gonna have to do some serious planning in order to get some outdoor lighting in place. But I think it would be worth it in the long run to get this accomplished.

To me, our back yard is a retreat for our family. The woods and the distance between houses, coupled with the fact that we live next to the power company's right of way, gives us a sense of privacy and isolation that is nice! So to add some comfort and luxery to the back yard would be just fine for me!

Big Plans

I'm sitting here at my sister-in-laws house surfing the web on my nieces new laptop and thinking about all the things I need to get done when I get home! First on my list of priorities will be to find all the Christmas stuff a home. That includes a lot of new toys.

We've been meaning for the past few weeks to rearrange the shelves in our toy area and just never got around to it. I want to put all the shelves on one wall and open up the other one for our 'office area.' I while shopping among the many new and improved computer desks at target and office depot is appealing, it is a low priority.

We will be adding a new bathroom downstairs soon (part of our Christmas from my parents), so we have to get things reaaranged to allow for the bathroom door.

What I Got For Christmas

I love Christmas and all the fun and surprises it brings with it! I love being surprised and I love surprising others!

This Christmas, Hankie got me the perfume that I wanted from Epcot. It's called Laila and it is so awesome! I love the way I smell... not that I smelled bad before, mind you... I just love a good perfume.

He also got me a parson's chair (an armless, streamline look) for our upstairs den, and an outfit complete with shoes. Ava Sophia got me a new Willow Tree figurine called 'Mother and Daughter.'

My boys each decided to get me jewelry once again! I love this about them. They each picked out something for me. Bryant got me a silver, long chainlink sort of necklace. Tres got me a turquoise and silver necklace and earring set. Now, neither cost much, and neither are real, but I love that they pick it out for me! So even if I'm not sporting any new diamond rings in the New Year, I'll be decked out just the same!

Knife or Luggage?

I've heard of a Swiss Army knife, but have you ever heard of Swiss Army luggage? It must be some pretty impressive stuff to carry the coveted and almost institutionalized name of Swiss Army. Maybe it has a handle that doubles as a knife or a cork screw in the wheel or something cool like that! Isn't that what Swiss Army is known for?? Cool and crafty stuff? At any rate, it must be the best stuff around to have to carry the burden of that infamous name, huh?

I would love to get some new luggage that would last longer and hold up better than this stuff we lug out every time we need to head to see family or on a vacation. We got it on super sale or something for five pieces, but it is wholey unimpressive and slightly embarrassing to carry around. Oh, well. We can't all have Swiss Army, right?

Tis The Season For Some Blogging

I wanted to post as all of these events took place, but I'm a little slow on the draw still from my surgery. We are heading out to visit Hank's family so I won't be blogging till all the merry making is done!

We had a FABULOUSLY BLESSED CHRISTMAS! I am in awe of my wonderful family.

Tests

When I took Ava Sophia in for her one year check up in the summer, her pediatrician determined that she was off the chart (and not in a good way) for her age. He wanted to test her to make sure there was so reason for her not gaining weight. So he took a urine sample, drew some blood and did a sweat test on her. I still don't know what all they were looking for, but I did ask what the sweat test was for. The doctor told me that he wanted to make sure that she didn't have cerebral palsy. I was calm when I told him I was sure that she did not. And I was confident. I mean, have you people met my in-laws?? Petite seems like a giant word when I think about them! :) So, I knew it would come back that she didn't have cerebral palsy. My God is bigger than that!!

Country Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Disco Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Great Little Video

This was so much fun to make!!!!
Hank

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I have a good excuse!

Sorry I've been out of the blogging loop for a week or so! I had my surgery last week, but I'm back and at it this week! I might be short a uterus, but I'm good. It was a good uterus and served our family well. Farewell, childbaring years! Hello to cramp free, mood swing free days... well I reserve the right to mood swing as a female.

I might have been in a drug induced state for a couple of days but that did not stop me from sending Hank to pick up this, buy that, or look for this and that! And Christmas is in the air!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE and I promise to start the marathon blogging sometime soon! Family first and all.

Mold Problems

My dad is still the owner of a house that he has been trying to sell for a few months now. He entirely renovated this house, top to bottom. Then when he thought he was complete, some mold showed up on the sheet rock in the basement room that he had completed. He got some mold killer then had to re-sheet rock and paint.

That kind of mold scares little ole me. I'm not too sure exactly what kind of health ramifications mold holds. Didn't I read somewhere that Erin Brockovich tackled that particular problem in the court system. I think I might need to google that one.

Don't worry though, my dad's house is mold free. It was inspected after they found it and now has a clean bill of health.

Diet and Exercise and a little something else...

When Hank and I first met, he had just made some pretty big life changes. He had dropped close to 80 pounds and was really into exercize and fitness. So what in the heck drew him to me?

After we married and we were having our first baby, he decided to stop taking a supplement he was taking. When he did, he had some adverse reaction to coming off of it. He had what felt like panic attacks and shortness of breath. So when he told me that he wanted to try it again in preparation for an upcoming half marathon, you can imagine my skeptisism... so we decided to take a look at a few Hydroxycut reviews. The formula for creating it is different now, and is supposed to be more natural. Hank bought some and used it for a while but felt like it did little to nothing for him, so he decided to stick to just exercize and a very loose form of a diet. I mean, it's hard to be on a diet around me right now.

Tres's Christmas Program

Tres had his school Christmas program last weekend. He did so good, and I was a proud Momma! He got to play the bells, and not every kid got to do that.

Tres also got to give his teacher her gift... which was a goody bag of CVS items we've been putting together for a while.I wish we could have done more. I just love his teacher, and he does too. Truth be told, I think he has a little crush on her! He also made her a necklace and a keychain (an idea that I got from Gretchen's blog!).

New Year's Resolutions?

Do you make these? As I get older, I make fewer and fewer 'resolutions.' Because I don't want to fail at them, I just don't make them, you know? I've already heard a lot of my family members saying that they are starting this diet or that diet starting in January. I would like to know what the most effective diet pills on the market are. I don't want something that would give you weird side effects like my hair falling out or blurred vision. I don't want to try one of those you see on a commercial where the list of things that could effect you is longer than tbe actual information involved in the commercial itself for the product. I do want something to help me get my metabolism jump started so that when I start volleyball, and I'm active, my body will start deciding to shed some of this -- uh, hum-- insulation.

Watch these videos, they are great.

Sophie
Bryant
Tres

Travel Bug

My friend Sherra just had her third baby just a few weeks before Christmas!! I wish that I could have made some quick las vegas hotel reservations and gone and gave that baby a squeeze!

I want to go to Vegas pretty bad just to experience it. CSI makes it look like 'everyday' things, but I don't want to see that. I want to see what makes it a hot spot.... the hotels, the shopping, the food, and the entertainment.

Before I got married, I was contemplating a trip to Vegas and one of my friends, Mike, gave me a video to see what all was worth seeing and what you could do there. Gondola rides, roller coasters on top of hotels, white tigers, and blue men.

What About Bob?

This year, we have a holiday visitor that will be around for years to come! Meet Bob... our own personal elf!He came early December to send reports back to Santa about our nice/naughty status.Bob is sometimes a helper... and sometimes a hindrance...like the time he scattered the laundry I was folding all over the den! Silly, Bob. Other times, he just chills out at the house while we're gone.

I won't lie, sometimes, Tres gets a little freaked out when Bob moves, but for the most part they are having a really good time finding him all over the house! And it keeps them in line most of the time!

Shoe Hound

Ava Sophia is the boss around here. So when she insists that she wear her shoes ALL THE TIME, we must comply! :)

Seriously, she has to have them on all the time... over her sleeper and everything. I have to wait till she falls asleep and take them off then at night.

How Descriptive Can I Get?

So we're riding to Tres's school. It's about a three minute trip. The kids are all piled in on this gray, dreary morning since Daddy had to be at work by 6:30 and won't be home until 11 tonight. I remember feeling so bad for him as he kissed me goodbye this morning. He smelled so nice, and I could hear the rain on the rooftop. Anyway, I digress.

Bryant was in the back with Sophie telling knock, knock jokes that made little to no sense.

Bryant: Knock, knock!
Us: Who's There?
Bryant: Banana Split
Us: Banana Split who?
Bryant: Banana Split went over the moon and in your shoes!
Mom: That's pretty creative Bryant.
Tres: That doesn't make sense Bry.
Bryant: {Who turns for moral support to his captive audience in the seat beside him} Was that funny Sophie {he says in his best your the baby and I'm the adult voice}? Was that funny?
Sophie: Cool! {Then she forces out the worst fake laugh in the world!}

We were all laughing as we turned into the school. The rain obviously has made a lot of people late, cause the line is long today. I can usually drive right up and drop him off. But we sit, and Tres is telling me all about Jerry the Elf in his class and how he is in a different place every day. He makes a prediction as to where he will be today. Then as I am pulling up to drop him off, I smell this hideous smell and look over to see streams of milk, cereal, and last night's shrimp, corn and broccoli being projected out of my 6-year-old's mouth. At first, I encouraged him to catch it on his raincoat... but that quickly became a loosing battle. It is now in a proud, stinking, steaming pile on the floorboard of my van.

So, I pull right on through the drop off and make that normally three minute trip back home a two minute ride. Commentary on the return trip was a bit different. I took a look in my rearview mirror and saw Bryant desperately holding his nose and trying to teach Sophie how to do it. Sophie just smiled at Bry, apparently not effected by the horrible stench. "I smell it Mom," Bryant informs me, "and it smells weally, weally bad!"

I pull into the garage, get Tres out and stripped down (thank GOD the washer was empty!). We threw his clothes straight into the washer on hot on a heavy duty cycle... then as I stood at the washer I knew what I must do. I turned slowly around and faced my old foe... up chuck in the car... we meet again.

I grabbed up some cleaners and battled my own gag reflex as I wiped, scrubbed and rinsed that van floor.

Now I'm left to wonder if this wonderful bug will spread to my other two children... and also left doing an internal check because like any self respecting Mom, I finished Tres's cereal when he was done this morning. Sigh.

A Tale of Two Tubes

So maybe third times the charm for my poor little B-Bry. He had a nasty round of ear infections and his doctor and an ENT determined that he needed tubes again. This time around, the ENT Dr. Boyd (who Bryant calls Dr. Floyd), said he wanted to take a look at his adenoids and possibly remove them as well. And they also drew some blood and sent it off to test for the top 12 common allergens. Here he is with his Dad in the waiting room. He was a little nervous and kept asking us over and over "Am I not gonna get a shot?" He got to wear his PJ's since we got him out of his bed to go at 5:45!When we got back to his room, he put on his special shirt (which now resides in his memory box!) and waited. We waited longer than we had to the previous two times, but that's probably because we weren't the first surgery that day.Dad took Bry on a few quick strolls around the hall to waste a little time. And before we knew it, he was off. I wanted to take a picture of him as he left us at the door to the operating room, but I didn't know if it was appropriate. But I will forever have that image of him walking nervously holding on the nurse's hand etched in my mind. He never looked back. Hank and I went back to wait in his room. If you know Hankie, then you know he isn't very good at waiting. He paced as much as the room would allow him. I brought work to take my mind off of it. We got a call in the room about 30 minutes after they took him telling us that Dr. Boyd decided after seeing his adenoids to take them out. And about 20 minutes later......we had our sleepy man back with us. He was in and out a lot at first. He wanted his IV out, but the nurse said he needed to get those fluids in him before they could do it. He was funny though. His expressions would change really quickly. He would be watching the TV, then he would smile really big, then he would look like he was dozing off. I got a little video of him.

They let him choose what flavor to smell when they put him under, and he chose Dr. Pepper. He will tell you though, that he went back there, smelled Dr. Pepper and that he didn't go to sleep at all! They just brought him back to us. He's so funny.

A Little Romance!

That's what I'm talking about! I would love a little effort in the love life department. And I'm not just talking about Hank... I'm talking to myself here, too. I think it's easy to get wrapped up in family, chores, work, and the everyday and put your relationship on pause. Before we added the third child, Hank and I were able to work out a date night about once a month. Now, I guess it's about once every other or every three months.

We actually have a date night planned next Wednesday before my surgery. I'm very excited about it! I might even go buy something extra special... wink, wink! Maybe light a few pillar candles, turn on a little mood music and make my move! What do you think?

The Other List

Numbers 3 & 6 are my favorite!

The List

When Sophie Met Santa

So, last year doesn't count since Ava Sophia was only 3 or 4 months old! So this year was the true test with Old St. Nick. She liked him from a distance, and even waved at him and said "Hi!" But the closer we got, the tighter she held on to me!


And when we got up to the next few in line, she was getting a little stressed.
And by the time we got up to meet the Big Guy, she was in full meltdown mode!She refused (and by that I mean arched her back and kicked) to sit in Santa's lap. And wasn't too much happier with brother's. The good news is that Bryant seems to have gotten over his Santa Claus fear this year!
Then after all of that, they accidentally deleted the first picture, so we had to torture her again... cause we aren't going to stand in line for over an hour and not get all three of our kids in the picture!

Maybe next year, huh?

A Houndstooth Kind of Christmas

I LOVE the kid's Christmas outfits this year! In fact, they will be wearing them way past Christmas and often!

'Help?'

I asked the boys to go clean their room and was impressed when I went in and everything was neat and put away. That is... I was impressed until I opened their TV cabinet that night and found a stash!

Then the next morning when we were getting clothes out of drawers and I found clean ones stuffed in those as well.

The funny thing is, I'm sure you all remember doing this just like I do!

Somebody Get A Rope

After we delivered Crystal home, safe and sound, we came in and I started figuring out dinner. I vividly remember telling the boys to go and play for a little bit before baths.

Hank came home for an hour or so between shifts and I was showing him all the presents when we heard this thumping sound. Hank shrugged and said maybe I overloaded the washing machine. I didn't think I had, but got distracted from checking.

About 30 minutes later, after the kids had eaten, I went downstairs to get the digital camera and change the laundry around. I walked into the toy room and this is what I saw........ Poor, poor Sugarbone. He must of done something really bad to get strung up, and swung around like that. I'm still not sure how they did it, but however they did, they ended up making the ceiling fan fall out of the ceiling.

Hank was livid. The boys went to bed early after praying and asking God to forgive them for 'breaking the house.' Tres asked if Christmas was cancelled... it was a rough night.

Hank used what was left of his time fixing it.

Such is life with boys, I suppose.

Oh, and Sugarbone is doing just fine.

A Wrapping Angel!

Crystal Dawn came over last week to help me get all our Christmas loot wrapped! She called me on Wednesday, and she made a casual offer and I was like, "wanna come tomorrow?" We laughed but made plans anyway!

She is so efficient! I felt like I was running around with my head cut off, but Crystal just kept prompting me to do this or that and finally it looked like we were getting somewhere!

I really can't thank you enough CD!Here is the wrapper extraordinaire with a package that is definitely Crystal inspired!

We had to block Sophie off from the wrapping action with some of my trunks, then we drugged her up with some chocolate!

I Promise...

... to post tomorrow! It's been crazzzzyyyy busier than normal! But I will be at home tomorrow since Bryant gets tubes in his ears in the morning.

I also need to tell you guys about:

#1 The Day the Doggie Got Hung
#2 When Sophie met Santa
#3 A Facelift to the Faceplate
#4 Wrapping With Crystal aka Martha Stuart! (I heart Crystal!)

So stay tuned!

The Countdown is Officially On... Again!

Every year we make Christmas Countdown Chains! The boys love it... it's simple... and it's a great way to teach the boys about days in a month, as well as avoiding the inevitable question: "Is it Christmas yet, Momma?"

We sat down to make them. The boys picked their construction paper, cut their strips and got their glue sticks ready!Tres was extremely meticulous! He was serious and kept his mind on what he was doing. He was neat and seemed to get satisfaction out of doing the job well!Bryant, on the other hand, cut ragged and too thick strips and got easily distracted. In fact......Daddy finished his chain for him.

And Sophie... well......let's just say that Hank and I are thankful that glue sticks are non-toxic.

Shop Till You Drop!

For the past five years or so, my Mom has been a member of the Executive Club at a local high end hotel. Some of her benefits include year round valet parking, and some free nights at the hotel, and other stuff that I can't remember. Anyway, for all of that time, my Mom has booked her free rooms the weekend after Thanksgiving and committed 2-3 days to starting and finishing (for the most part) her Christmas shopping. This year marks the end of the Executive Club for this hotel, so we knew we had to make this one count!

I couldn't go on Saturday (see previous post!), so I made plans to come to the hotel on Sunday without kids... that's right, ladies! You heard me right! Hankie had all three kids overnight without me and did a great job! Thank you, baby for letting me take a little down time.

I woke up on Sunday not feeling very well, but after talking to my Mom and sis, decided to go ahead and come.

Sunday night, we went to Macy's and Pennies cause they were opened late. Then we took that stuff back to the room. We left Mom in the room to recover for the next day (remember she had hip replacement surgery not long ago!), and Tonnie and I headed to Wal-Mart to do some more damage. At about 1 am, we called it a night.

We were back at it on Monday. I knew that Hank was bringing the kids to me at 10, so I was in Belk bright and early checking people off my list! Once I had the kids, we had to juggle a little more, but we still made a lot of headway!

In fact, I left the mall around 6, met Hank to eat dinner, then went back to the mall until about 8:45. Then I had to get the kids and get them in bed.

I finished almost all... and I mean just 2 people short... of my Christmas shopping.

Tomorrow is a wrapping day for me. Crystal Dawn is coming to help! I'm in a countdown to my surgery and I want to have everything prepared and ready for Christmas.

Keep On Rollin'

Hank, his parents, and my brother went to Tuscaloosa Saturday to cheer on the Tide!I gotta say, after 6 years of mediocre seasons, it has been a fun season so far. Hank said it was a crazy, loud, fun atmosphere and was thrilled to be able to see UA come out on top! My brother went, even though he has recently had to have surgery on his knee!! No keepin' him at home once he knew he could be at the BIG GAME!

I know Alabama isn't favored to win this weekend, but I wouldn't count them out! Momentum and hard work seem to be in their favor. This season they seemed less rattled when mistakes were made and they didn't fall apart, just kept on working hard. I admire that.

Anyway, my husband is actually the really big fan... I'm just thrilled I didn't have to hear about a loss all season! And this game, was an especially sweet win, after six long years!

Handle with Care

I sometimes worry about my dad and my brothers. Well I guess if I worry about them, then I worry about the other employees in my Dad's plumbing business, too! But anyway, they have to deal with things that most of us don't even think about. On any given day they could be clearing a line, digging up a main, or replacing a toilet. All of that involves the nastier things in life. I got my dad some gloves for Christmas, to take care of all of that material handling that he does with stuff! Not a fun gift, but sometimes practical gifts are more appreciated than frivelous ones.

I sure do hope that they are up to date on all their shots and stuff. I bet their immune systems are pretty stout by this point. Yucky.

Matilda

Do any of you ladies have a Garmin GPS? My parents have one, and we borrow it anytime we take a long trip. It's super handy when we are in a strange city but need to figure out how to get around. We used it constantly at Disney! Because it's a women's automated voice, the boys have nicknamed her Matilda. Funny, huh?

My friend Mandy is trying to find a good deal on one for her husband for Christmas. She said if she can't find one, she isn't gonna do it, because she knows there will be a good deal eventually. But her husband will be disappointed! He keeps joking around and asking, "Oh, however will we find this place without a GPS?" I guess he'll find where he needs to go just like any other red blooded American man... by not asking for directions!