Green Acres

Well- we have started our search for land. It is always a daunting task where we live because the market has just exploded and any decent piece of land seems to be snatched up before the sign can get in the ground good. Mostly by these tract home builders, too. Since the subdivisons around here seem to be charging ridiculous amounts for their lots, we have decided to look for 3 or 4 acres so that we can sell some lots to our friends, too. Our own little neighborhood, I guess. We only personally want 1.5-2 acres at the most, so hopefully God will lead us to the right place. We are handing it over to Him, because we are so excited about building this next house that we are afraid we will just "settle" for something. We will trust Him to help us, and we know He will. We looked at a parcel of land last night and really liked it and when we called about it, we found out they had just closed on it that day. We know that means it just wasn't meant to be and we are okay with that. Again, as always, this will probably be another lesson in patience. Not our strong point! Anyway- we are getting ready for Emmaline's friend party at the ballet center tommorrow and her family party will be here at the house on Sunday. Aunt Libby mentioned that she wanted them to spend the night and I am hoping she may come get them on Sat. and bring them back on Sun. for the family party. That will give us a chance to clean, watch football (Go Tigers! Beat Ga Tech!) and maybe even go out to dinner with other actual adults. It has been almost 3 weeks since they have spent the night anywhere or since we have had a sitter- and believe me we are all getting tired of being around each other so much! We will see- if they don't go anywhere that will be okay too. Well- off to do some laundry and clean up a bit. Such is life!

Happy Birthday To Emmaline!!

My baby is 4 today! I can't believe that. Time really passes by so fast. She is growing to be such a funny and beautiful girl. She awoke this morning to balloons in her room (I have done that since their first birthdays) and wanted to know who put them there. I told her the birthday fairy did and that she does that every night before a birthday for them. She smiled and carried them all over the house until it was time for school. I sent M&M mini-cookies to school for the class (they aren't allowed to bring anything with frosting). She chose to go to "Dan Powflos" (ie: Don Pablos) for lunch and they gave her free sopapillas (very yummy) and they clapped for her and took her picture with a huge green sombrero on her head. And she gets to choose what we eat for supper, so she has decided on chicken fingers, peas and french fries. (It was cereal at first and I convinced her to change her mind.) She is getting an MP3 player from us because Annelise has one and they fight over it. Her ballerina party is going to be Saturday and the family party is Sunday. (Birthdays are a big deal in my family!) On the way to school this morning we saw the sunrise and it was sooo beautiful. I wish I had had a camera so I could have captured it. The sky was a vibrant pink and orange and the sun was a dark pinky-orange color. Emmaline decided that it was God's birthday present for her and I told her that it probably was. I thought that was very sweet. She is going to be fun to watch over the next few years. So far her interests include cooking, basketball, ballet , puzzles and anything her older sister likes. We still have to force her to eat and she is still pretty hot-headed, but she has a definate sweet side and shows it often- she has to have a "kiss-hug" every night and every morning. She still cries at the drop of a hat and she still won't take any junk off anybody- so she is going to be an interesting character to see in about 10 years. She is such a blessing to us-even though she drives us crazy sometimes. We are grateful God chose to lend her to us and we wish her a very SUPER birthday!!

Eye Candy

Just thought I would share some of my favorite eye candy with everyone today. Enjoy!! (Enrique and Josh- if something happens to Brian I am comin' after one of you!)

Attitude Counts

This week-end we watched a lot of football. We fast forwarded through most of the commercials and the time-outs and halftimes, so it really didn't take up too much time. Clemson looked really great Saturday, so that was a good moment for me. Then we watched the Carolina/LSU game- which I had been looking forward to because Carolina is my least favorite team- in fact if there was a position lower than least favorite, that is where they would be. I knew they were going to lose and I had hoped they would just get spanked. I was even more excited because we watched it with 2 Carolina fans, so I could taunt them easily. However- (I know, never good when I say that...) I was so disgusted by the way LSU behaved that I could not enjoy the game. On top of that, Carolina did much better than I thought they would (I think I just puked in my mouth a little) but the truth is the truth. That is hard for me to say, but it is what it is! I mean, LSU was pulling a facemask every chance they got, and it was intentional. That is so very dangerous- and as a football player each one of them knew that. They would tackle a SC guy and then they would shove their heads in the ground while they were getting up. The arrogance on the field was also nauseating. I could not , in good conscience, pull for them. I used to coach the high school girls basketball team and I always emphasized how important their attitudes were. How are we supposed to expect kids to behave in sports if adults can't? I used to tell the girls on my team that if they weren't good enough to play without doing things like that and acting ridiculous, then they weren't good enough to play at all. Someone needs to tell the players for LSU that. The coach needs to have a "come to Jesus" talk with the team. He didn't even look like he cared, though. That is probably part of the problem. If you have to play dirty and commit intentional personal fouls to get to number 2, then I hope my team never makes it there. Maybe I will have another chance to enjoy Carolina getting whipped- I hope it will be during the Clemson game!!

Nothing Exciting

It has been a pretty "uneventful" week this week. (I am not complaining.) The girls have been fairly good - that is important since I just started working an additional afternoon a week doing phone triage for the office. Today while Annelise was at school, Emmaline and I went to run a few errands and then met my friend Jennifer and her little girl at Chick-Fil-A to play on the playground and eat an early lunch. The girls had fun and we had a good "catch-up" session. I have some sort of sinus stuff going on and cannot breathe through my nose, so I haven't been to the gym for a few days, but I can't stand to work out when I have a cold, so that will just have to be the way it is for now. I have been in a lovely mood for the past few days and have no idea why, but hey, I will take it. I do have 2 things to be excited about this week. Just found out that the football games I wanted to watch this Saturday are all coming on at different times. That means I can watch the Clemson game at noon, then watch LSU spank SC (only watching that for a good laugh) , then we will see what Georgia and Alabama have in store for each other (I know, Roll Tide, yada yada). I am sure the games will be frequently interrupted for playtime or games with the girls, but that is what I have TIVO for. The other thing I am excited about is that Brian is thinking of purchasing a laser machine and letting me get trained to use it for hair removal. The machines are expensive, but getting the hair removal done is really expensive, and I want to get my bikini line and my underarms done (I know, TMI). By the time I do that, it will have cost a lot and I can make money doing it for other people. So, that is exciting- if he gets it, I will do my legs and everything- I will never have to shave again! Anyone who wants to go ahead and schedule an appointment can call me- I'll pencil you in!

Things Are Not Always As They Appear

We went to Annelise's soccer game last night and it was fun. Went out to eat afterwards with friends and family and got home late and in the bed even later. The girls were unexpectedly good this morning when I had to drag them out of bed, though. At the game last night Brian noticed that the other moms (most of whom take their children to him) were talking to me a lot more this time. Usually I sit there with Emmaline and they stay in their group and talk with each other- understandable because they all went to high school together and I never really made an effort to go be a part of the group. (I never had that "need to belong" issue at any time of my life that I can remember....) But last night I was in a particularly good mood and I struck up a conversation with one of them and before I knew it they were all over there talking to me and we had a few good conversations throughout the game. I really didn't notice the difference between that night and the others, but Brian did and he said "I noticed the other moms were talking to you a lot more tonight." I said "Why do you think that is?" He said , "They probably didn't talk to you before because you are a "doctor's wife" and they had already stereotyped you as snobby and not interested in people like them." Well, this is not the first time that has happened. When we first had kids, we lived in a neighborhood not far from here and the same thing occured. We never got invited to the cook-outs, I wasn't invited to play Bunco or just hang out with the other moms there. It never bothered me but I did wonder why. I finally came to the conclusion that everyone had stereotyped me and Brian for something we are not. I became friends with a mom down the street not long after that, and she admitted to me that people just assumed we did not want to hang out with them and that we were just the typical "doctor and doctor's wife." I found that to be hilarious because we are so far from that. I lived the first 7 years of life in a single wide (not even double wide) trailor. We had to move out because the toilet was starting to fall through the floor and it was beginning to get rust holes outside. We did not have much as far as finances went. I knew how to squeeze every cent out of every dollar and I have not forgotten it. My husband grew up in a tiny house in the country with goats and chickens in the yard. His dad worked at a factory and his mom was a hairdresser. We put ourselves through school- he even put himself through medical school with no help. (Which ended up in a $150,000 school loan we had to pay off when we got married-that's why it costs so much to go to the doctor, people!) My kids wear clothes from the clearance rack in Wal-Mart, and sometimes, so do I! I buy my Christmas presents in January, when all the winter stuff is on clearance- and I do kids consignment sales twice a year. I don't have a maid, I don't pay people to do things I am able to do. I am just about the furthest thing from materialistic as you could get. That is what makes the "doctor's wife" stereotype so hilarious. I have my weaknesses (furniture and jewelry) but I would never pay full price even for those things. I am also guilty of making assumptions and sterotyping people, but after my experiences, I think I will be more aware of doing those things. One of the ironic things about the moms at the soccer game is that one of the moms had a diamond ring on that almost blinded me when she moved her hand- it was about a 2-carat stone with tons of smaller diamonds all around it. I guess it is not the fact that Brian makes a decent living that causes people to think what they do, but it is the title alone. That is even more ridiculous. I am not blaming people who think that of me , that is just the way it is I guess. Same thing as when most people lock their car doors when a person of a different race or someone who looks a little rough walks by. Same as when someone sees a pregnant teen ager and automatic thoughts about her come into their heads. There are so many examples of it that I guess it is just the way it is- sad. Just because it looks like a duck doesn't mean it is!

Priorities

Sometimes I feel so guilty for wanting time away from the girls. My parents are about to move to their new house and Aunt Libby has been out of town for a couple of weeks so the girls have not spent the night away for quite sometime. Annelise has been particularly needy of attention lately so my patience is worn thin. But then I wonder how much I am going to regret all this time I try to get away from them when they are grown? I know there will come a time when I would do about anything to get a few minutes of this age back. That is hard to think of when they are driving me crazy, though. I also have been keeping up with another mom's blog, who also had 2 girls and her oldest (5 years old, same as Annelise) drowned this past July. When I read it I see how she encourages other moms not to take the time you have with your kids for granted. She said she regrets the times when she told her oldest daughter to go play or when she maybe yelled at her for something and lost her temper. That all makes me think really hard about how I am doing with my girls. I have a naturally hot temper and I am also a person who has always enjoyed solitude. So, spending quality time with the girls is something I really have to work at. The mom who lost her daughter asked herself "Why didn't I just let her wear her Princess dress to the grocery store when she wanted? or Why didn't I wear the tacky glitter fingernail polish she picked out for me because she wanted me to?" I have gotten better about those things because of this mom. Last week I wore some pink chrome toenail polish Annelise had picked out and I also let Emmaline wear her tu-tu to pick Annelise up at school because she really wanted to . The amazing thing was - nothing happened! I don't know why any of these things were ever big deals to me before, but now I try to choose my battles a little more carefully. I have loosened up a little and I feel better about it. I know if something happened to one of my girls, I would have so many regrets. But, we are human and we do the best we can most of the time. There was never any such thing as the perfect mother. I do tell them a lot more often that I love them and I give more hugs and kisses than I used to. ( Not a touchy feely person by nature.) I think small changes can go a long way. I am trying to play more games with them and play outside with them but those things seem harder because I don't enjoy them. I am having to learn to enjoy the time with the girls instead of trying to enjoy the particular activity. I know one day they will be at a point where they just want me to go away! That will be tough, but I know it is coming. So, for now I am trying- that is all I can do. It will be interesting to see how they describe me when they are older. Emmaline loves to cook and wants to "help" with anything and everything in the kitchen. That has been the hardest thing because of my limited patience and the fact that I am used to cooking alone and getting it done quickly. We all have our areas of parenting in need of improvement I guess. Well, give your kids an extra hug today! It may mean more than you think.

Soccer

Thought I would share some pics from Annelise's soccer game. She had her first game last week and she scored a goal! She was sooo excited. I know nothing about soccer, but I was so proud when she kicked that ball into the goal I could have burst. (Don't worry "Sweet Thang", it's okay to be proud of a great airplane imitation, too.) Notice that my child looks like Andre the Giant compared to the others. It is bad enough that she is the only girl, but she is also huge. She wouldn't go after the ball for a while, because she was so scared she would hurt "the little kids." They are all the same age. Her coaches are really nice, too. They said that she was doing really well especially for a kid that never played before. (They could be exaggerating, but, you know....) As tall as she is I really wish she liked basketball a little more- but such is life. While I was watching the game last week I realized that my worst nightmare has come true.... I am a soccer mom! Not that I fit the bill. I refuse to ever drive a mini-van again and I have no stickers on my car about my kids. I also am not class mom at my girls school, nor do I do "playdates" or wear mom jeans- so there is still hope that I can escape that trap. I pretty much sit by myself with Emmaline and try to be invisible at the games, except for cheering for Annelise. I don't want the other moms to suck me into their true soccer mom worlds. I hope that if I start exhibiting signs of "Soccer Mom Disease" my friends will save me. They know the signs- so I am not too worried. Oh, well- back to doing phone triage. More tommorrow. (PS- I did go and buy the bedset from Target for Emmaline. Brian actually told me to! Good thing, because they only had one in her bed size left in the bedset and the quilt!)

Emmaline's Next Room

Here are the bedding sets I am thinking of combining for Emmaline's next room. She has never swayed from wanting a brown room with red polka-dots. (Her 2 favorite colors.)I think the brown one would be her bedspread with the dot one folded down across most of the foot of the bed. They are both going to have white beadboard below the chair rail in each of their rooms- so I was going to paint above that: chocolate brown or tan and put on those "wallies" - removable wallpaper dots -scattered on the brown paint. The wallies come in a shade almost exactly like the really dark pink on the comforter so I think it would look cute. I showed this comforter to Emmaline at Target and she loved it. (It's not red, but close enough.) Anyway- that is about as close as I think I can get to what she wants. Plus- she won't grow out of it too soon. The wallies come in different-sized circles so I think they will be cute. Anyway- that is all the design I can muster for now. I am thinking of waiting until this set goes on sale, but I am afraid it is going to be gone. (Boy, Aunt Libby's basement is going to be full before we get this house started!!)

Already Decorating

As many times as we have moved- I have become very "in-tune" with myself as far as when and how to do certain things. We have moved so many times in the past few years that I think my brain is starting to get fried as far as decorating ideas go. I seem at a total loss for what I want to do with colors and such in the next (and final) house. I am not complaining- these are good problems to have because it means that we have been blessed to even be able to think about building again. However, I have learned that when an idea strikes me for how I want to do a certain room, I should go ahead and go with it. So, I was shopping at Kohl's yesterday and saw this brand of items called "Student Lounge". They had the cutest stuff and to make it even better it was all just marked down to 70% off that day. One particular piece stood out- a little storage box with different colored butterflies all over it. I knew when I saw it that it was what I would do the girls next playroom in. The pictures above show all the stuff I got- except for the boxes. I got 2 of the polka dot blankets- they are so soft. It was cool because all the stuff matched and coordinated and I loved the colors. I think I will do 2 walls in the orange color and the opposing 2 walls in the blue. (I know- the house is not even started yet- but this room will be done!! I also got 2 of the pink dish chairs for their reading area and the butterfly curtain to go behind that. I got the 3 pictures, too. I am excited that I have at least figured out one room.... Annelise wants a "fancy lacy pink room" and Emmaline wants a brown room with red polka dots. I am getting a headache just thinking about that. However- I think Target has a bed set that would be cute for Emmaline- I will post it tommorrow to see what you think. Oh- and thanks to "The Diva" for telling me how to upload pictures!!

We're Free!!

From one of our mortgage payments, that is. We closed today on the house we have needed to sell for so long. It still has not sunk in and we are so excited and so relieved. The people buying the house could not be nicer. They gave us a really nice gift at closing and they were so sweet. Annelise drew a picture for the little girl that will be in her old room and the mom said she was going to frame it and put it up in her daughter's room. Now, she seems genuine, but she may have gone home and thrown it in the trash. I really don't care right now, because we CLOSED! Now we can actually seriously look for a lot to build our final (laugh as you will) house on. Annelise said she is "tired of leaving her memories everywhere". I have to agree with her. She told us we have one more chance and that will be it. I also agree with that. We have learned a lot from all of our real estate ventures and so we should have a good shot of actually staying in this next one for a while. Plus I am just really sick and tired of moving. I can hear voices saying "We'll believe it when we see it..."

Give Me A Break....

So, I'm watching TV last night while I wrapped some more Christmas presents (I know, but you will be jealous in December when I am done and you are running around in all that mess). Anyway- they were advertising the Emmy's or Golden Globes or something. It just makes me crazy when I see celebrities walking down that red carpet in their ridiculously expensive gowns and their diamonds borrowed from Harry Winston. Then they even have a show just to talk about what everyone was wearing and whether it was a "do" or a "don't". Really- who cares? People need to just wear what they like and not worry about what brand it is or how much it costs. Some people might be impressed to see a woman in a $10,000 dress- but it just tells me that she has a screw loose somewhere. Sorry- when you pay $1,000 for a purse or $500 for something like those ugly UGG boots or Jimmy Choo shoes - it makes you look stupid. My purse and my shoes do the same things they do and there is no way I would ever spend that much. All of them talk about how much they want to help the less fortunate and they have all these charity events. How much more do you think you could help with just that money you spent on that$200.00 T-shirt? Seriously- some of them could educate a third world country with what they spend on clothing for their dogs! On top of that, they are just normal people who have a different job from the rest of us. How many people would be crooning over Orlando Bloom or Ben Affleck or if they were service guys at Radio Shack or baggers for Bi-Lo? It is ridiculous how much credit these people get just because they can act. It cracks me up how all the time the news is trying to get so-and-so's opinion on political matters or what should be done about issues in our country. Please- who cares what they think? Half of them dropped out of high-school. The other half is in and out of rehab. When it comes down to it, I think anyone can look good in a $10,000 dress. Look good in a $5.00 blue-light special from K-Mart- then I might be impressed.

Seasons

I am so excited that Fall is here. It is one of my favorite seasons. (It ties with Spring for my fave.) I love almost everything about Fall. The crispness of the air, the bright blue that takes over the sky, college football (go Tigers!), going out in the early morning or late evening and getting a chill because it is so cool out. The leaves also are so beautiful this time of year and I love to go to the mountains and see the trees as we drive. The kids can play outside and I can go with them without bribing them after 5 minutes to please go back in because Mommy is having a heat stroke. And how about the foods for this time of year? Caramel apples and boiled peanuts and popcorn. Homemade soup and cornbread for dinner -and it's not too hot out to eat it and enjoy it. In late Fall you can even smell the trace of a fire from someone's chimney in the evening. The sunsets are prettier, too, this time of year. Plus, I start getting in the holiday spirit- thinking of Thanksgiving and Christmas. I even love Halloween- making cookies and taking the girls trick-or-treating. There are things to love about every season, but Fall is definately at the top of my list. Oh, and yesterday, as for my gym "orientation" which I thought was going to be me and a group of people being shown around.... WRONG. It was me, myself and a personal trainer named Rick. He made me work on those machines until I swore I would pass out. (Keep in mind- still sore from the day before.) Today I sympathize with those who may have been run over by a MAC truck at some point, because I am pretty sure I know how they feel. He was very encouraging, though. He didn't think it would take long for me to get where I need to be. And, he said not to diet- so at that point he became my new best friend. I am taking today to recover- he said I only needed to go about 3 times a week and to focus on weights and strength training and not cardio- except for cool downs. This is good, as I do not care for running or aerobics. Again- glad it is Fall and at least not 200 degrees outside.

Ouchie

Okay- I can't move very well today without pain. I have to go to the gym orientation today in about an hour and if they expect me to do anything they will have another thing coming. They can't make me.....Anyway- update on the girls- Annelise is thriving in her new class. She has a little crush on a boy named Hunter- who was in her class last year. We tease her about it incessantly and she turns red and yells "Just Hush!!" Hunter is one of 2 boys who have a crush on her. The other is Christopher, who was also in her class last year and is also cute as a button. She is still the biggest and tallest one in her class. She looks like Atilla the Hun sitting at her desk. Emmaline is loving school. She has not cried once or clung to my leg at all this year. (Last year that was a daily thing.) She is so funny. She sounds like a 30-year old sometimes when she talks. We still have to make her eat and I think she could live off air and juice sometimes. She always claims that her "tummy hurts", but then it magically stops when it is time for dessert or snacks. The girls recent obsession is whether or not I have "kissed Daddy" today. They ask almost every day if I have kissed him and if I say yes, they look at each other and grin and go "Oooooooo! That's disgusting!" They ask us a lot if we love each other and I ask them what they think and they say "Yes- because you are married." I tell them that we do love each other and that it is not because we are married. They are going through that stage where each accuses the other of "being in love" with someone, and they both deny it with all of their powers. Annelise even sings that song "Emmaline and Janko sitting in a tree, K-I-S-T-Y-N-G" (Janko is Emmaline's crush from last year and she apparantly still fancies him even though they are not in the same class.) Emmaline just gets infuriated when Annelise sings that. It is so funny to watch them irritate each other and scream "Gross!" if me and Brian kiss in front of them. In about 12 years, we are going to be wishing they were still so innocent and the crushes were still so mild. We will yearn for the days when they thought kissing was gross. I have already decided that Brian will just not be informed when they have a date because he may likely follow them with the poor boy in the scope of his Glock the whole time. He has already stated that when their dates come to pick them up, he will just happen to be cleaning his guns in the living room so the boy can see all of them. It will be interesting to see what that will be like. If Brian's hair isn't completely grey by then, it will be soon after!!

Torture Started Today

I did it. I went and enrolled at the gym today after I dropped the girls off at school. I tried to come up with every excuse not to but deep down I knew what I had to do. So, I went and actually worked out for almost 2 hours. I already cannot move my extremities very well and I also have to ask myself why I showered when I got up this morning- as I had to do it again after the gym. Also enrolled hubby- so he has no choice! We are not what one would consider "chubby"- but compared to what we used to be we could use a tune-up. It makes me think, too that this is a whole new environment where people will see me and hear me and occassionally talk to me about this or that. It is a new opportunity to talk about God to someone who may not know Him. The thought keeps coming to mind that "You may be the only Bible some people read". What a huge resposibility! I know I have a terrible temper- it is my downfall and I am the first to admit it. I am constantly trying to work on it and do better. I am human and I do slip sometimes. I try to learn from my mistakes. I just get frustrated when people claim to be church-goers and Christians and then they go and curse or cheat on their spouse or act in a way that no-one would ever guess they went to church. Then when they say something about how they go to church - these people that have seen them behave like that think "Oh-well, it must be okay to do all those things and still claim to be a Christian." The talk has to match the walk, people. You can't be one person to your church friends and then be another to your non-church friends. It does not work that way. Again- I am not by any means perfect- but I do try my best most of the time. Going to church does not make someone a Christian. If you claim to be one, people are going to be looking at you a little harder and scrutinizing you a little more and it really shouldn't matter- because you should be doing your best to be your best. I think of all the chances I have had to witness and instead just made small talk or went with the flow and said nothing. Does what comes out of my mouth (or my keyboard in this case) show that I am a Christian? Do my actions allow people to see Christ through me? Not always. I will strive to be better as life goes along. I will watch what I say and do in new environments- like the gym and will try to be a good and positive influence. That is my goal. We should always be striving just to touch the hem of His garment. What do people see from you? What do they hear from you? It is something to think of.

One Down.....

Yes, the Tigers beat Florida State. Yay! One would have thought that with a 21-0 lead, it would have been a stomping, but Clemson rocked it out in true tiger fashion and barely escaped by the fur on their chinny chin chins. I was nauseated the whole 4th quarter. Each time Westmoreland threw a hail mary I would hold my breath and close my eyes. But , no matter how it went down, it is still a win in the books. Actually I was proud of the young Tiger team. They made some typical rookie mistakes, but otherwise did much better than I expected. I am glad that the next few games are easier ones for them, since half of the starting front line got injured and may not be back for a bit. I got to watch 2 college football games this past Saturday at the lake, because Aunt Libby came with us and she doesn't enjoy the sport like I do, so she played games with the girls and watched movies with them and I actually watched 2 whole games. It has been a while since that happened! I think we will take Annelise to her first Clemson game, soon. She has been begging to go. We are thinking that the Furman game will be a good choice, since it will be easy to get tickets and the fans are somewhat tame. (Plus, Clemson should win that one.) So, we will see. For now, I am sleep-deprived as it was an 8 p.m. game and I have to go do phone triage for the office in a minute. Back to regular subjects tommorrow! GO TIGERS!!