Post Holiday Meltdown Time

Well, Christmas is finally over for us. We had our last Christmas get-together last night and we are full swing into the meltdown mode now. The girls have been sooo absolutely horrid for the past few days. (Not totally their fault- staying up late with no naps is mostly to blame.) The weather has been terrible with torrential rainfall and having to go out in that to all kinds of places. But, we had a very nice Christmas. Annelise loves the Real Loving Baby she got and she has been mothering it for days now. Emmaline loved her see-saw and her pet shop and she is also obsessed with a set of Widgets she got from my parents. We did have some excitement Christmas Eve with her. We put them to bed at about 8:45 and told them they had to go to sleep for Santa to come. Well, at about 10 p.m. we figured we were safe and we started to drag out stuff and putting stuff together. We started with Emmaline's things and we drug out the see saw and put it in the den and started assembling the Littlest Pet Shop. Well, all of a sudden, I saw something out of the corner of my eye and it was Emmaline! She just stood there and I yelled at Brian to take her upstairs. I went to listen outside of Annelise's room to see what she was saying and she was telling Annelise "I really did see all of my stuff, it's all down there!" Well, I paced the hall and thought of what in the world I was going to tell her. I finally told her that Santa had to drop off her see-saw early because it was big and he would not fit all the other toys into the sleigh with it in there. I also told her that I told him to go ahead and drop off her Pet Shop and I would put it together for him since it had so many parts. I told her he was very disappointed in her for getting out of bed and being disobedient. She took it, thank goodness. Annelise was just worried that he would come take it back and not leave her toys because Emmaline was disobedient. So, when they woke up Christmas morning they were both very pleasantly surprised that Santa had been so gracious to leave Emmaline's things and also bring Annelise's to them. Crisis averted. They met a man at one of Aunt Libby's bluegrass get-togethers last week who told them he was Santa Claus. (He had the beard and everything.) Well, that poor man didn't know who he was telling that to, because Annelise and Emmaline started giving him the 3rd degree and trying to make him prove it. "How do you make the reindeer fly?" "Why aren't you at the North Pole?" etc., etc.. Aunt Libby said he got very nervous and finally told the girls he had to go outside and make a phone call to get away from the interrogation. Hah. They take after their mommy for sure. We took them to see the movie "Enchanted" the other day and it was sooo good. It was hilarious. Brian even liked it. So, for anyone who has not seen it, you will enjoy it as much as the kids! I have already started Christmas shopping for next year. We went to Commerce to the outlets on the 27th and we got a few things. I am going to go ahead and wrap them since the paper is out and get them recorded in the computer and put them away! I hope that next year we may be in our new house for Christmas. We will see! Well, I have to go make a mac and cheese to take to Chris and Megan's tonight for the bowl game. I really hope Clemson can end the year on a good note!!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

I always feel like a little kid when I say that. But, it is what the season is all about. Actually LIFE itself is all about Jesus- it bothers me when people only choose to focus on Him one or two days a year. All these people saying "You shouldn't take Christ out of Christmas!" Well, we allowed Him to be taken out of everything else a long time ago- but it seems people don't think about that. Anyway- I won't get on that soapbox right now. I know this is going to sound silly- but every year on Christmas Eve, I give a "present" to Jesus. I know what you are asking- "What do you give the man that has everything?" All kidding aside, I always thought it was funny that we are celebrating Jesus' birth, but we give everyone else presents. I would be pretty upset if it were my birthday and I was the only one not getting presents. So a few years ago, I decided that I would "give" Him something every Christmas Eve. Usually it is a private thing between me and Him, but this year I thought I would share what I came up with. I decided that this year I would give Him the gift of time with my children spent talking about Him. I bought a children's devotional book and I have made a promise to do one with them every night they are home. The devotions are very short and very applicable to their lives. I know it is something I should be doing anyway, but this way, when I give it as a gift to Jesus, it kind of holds me to it and keeps me doing it even if I don't feel like it. I think He will like that gift. I spend a lot of time coming up with things and I always want it to be something realistic that I can actually stick to. So, that is what He is getting from me for Christmas. I usually ask Him for one thing that is above and beyond my usual prayer requests. This year that thing is for us to find the right piece of land to build our house on. Brian has found a neighborhood he likes, but I am not sold on it, yet. I am frustrated and want to make sure we choose the right place, so it stresses me out a bit. We really want to start building in February, but I want it to be the right place, so I am trying very hard not to get desperate and just settle for something. For now, we are going to focus on Christmas and all we have to be so grateful for. We are very blessed and we know that. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and that the New Year brings many great things for all my family and friends!!

Busy As Bees

Well, Brian had his snippety snip done. There was a small twinge of sadness knowing that I will never have another sweet baby of my own to snuggle, but that went away about as quickly as it came. I know we do not have the patience or the time to have another child. Brian has had a terrible time with such a minor surgery. He had to leave work early yesterday and at first after the surgery he kept passing out in the bathroom. (Yes, I did laugh at him, but I still felt bad for him...) I am not regretting it like I thought I would, though. We have been more consumed lately with finding a lot. We fell in love with a lot out near my parents house. It was in a beautiful neighborhood where all the lots are 3-8 acres. It was a dream come true until we saw how far it would be to work and school. About 35-40 minutes to school and about 30-35 minutes to work- and that was driving about 70 miles per hour the whole way. Between me driving to school and Brian driving to work we figured that gas would end up costing us about $35-$40 per day. That put it in perspective for us that it was just unrealistic and also very impractical and so we had to give up that dream. We did love the neighborhood, though. Of course, there are no more neighborhoods like that out there, but there are a few that are about 5 miles from the girls school. So, we have decided we will look all over and see what has the best potential for us. We have begun to feel like we will be forced to choose between the church we like near my parents house and the school that the girls go to. We definitely cannot change their school. So, we will see what God has in store for us. We know it will be great. He will open the doors He wants to open for us. Brian and I were really depressed about that neighborhood being so far away, but we also trust that things will end up like they are supposed to. If nothing else, we have definitely refueled spiritually speaking at my parents church and we feel like it has been really good for us to go there for the past few months. But I miss being a real part of a church and I miss being there on Wednesday and Sunday nights and being in the choir. So, we have a lot to think about! Annelise's teacher told me today that she prayed for us during her quiet time yesterday, and she asked God to give us guidance and peace. She is so great. One of the many reasons we just could never change schools! I know it will all work out. We are just sooo excited about building this house. One of my best friends is designing it and she is so talented. I know it will be awesome when she gets done. I am already looking forward to seeing the finished product! (Just don't know where it will be at, yet!!)

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things...

For some reason, Christmas time always makes me think of that song. I'm not sure if it is considered to be a Christmas song or not, but it pops in my mind come December. So, I thought I would share some of my favorite things. I listed my top 25. I didn't include things that are obvious, like religious things or things to do with loving my children or my husband (although there are a few in there that have something to do with them....) I wonder what my friends and family would list. It is hard to just pick 25. But, here they are:
1)- Chocolate and ice cream (same category as far as I am concerned.), 2)- Anything sparkly or shimmery (no, I am not blonde.), 3)- Hot scented bubble baths with a good magazine in hand. 4)- A good book (especially a suspense novel) 5)- Homemade soup with cornbread (hmm, food seems to be a theme in my favorite list) 6)-Playing games with friends (specifically Mexican Train Dominoes!) 7)- Really funny movies 8)- Ridiculously good bargains (love some outlet sales...) 9)- Dark Chocolate Peppermint Frappuchinos (highly addictive) 10)-Football season (college only- I am already going through withdrawal) 11)- The smell of my daughters hair (not to mention how soft and silky it is, too) 12)- Family movie night (although I can't wait until they start watching something we all like!) 13)- The lake (can't list all the things I love about being there.) 14)- Bluebirds (always loved them, even when I was little.) 15)- Snowflakes (I have a collection- it has something to do with loving shimmery things...) 16)- Snuggling with my cats (always makes me feel better.) 17)- Old houses/ antiques in general. 18)- Charleston! 19)- Cruising ( just about anywhere is fine with me) 20)- Trying new recipes and they turn out good (cooking in general) 21)- Compliments from my husband (I know he loves me, but it is always good to hear it.) 22)- White lights in trees (back to the sparkly things- I wish they would leave them up year-round!) 23)- Sleep- good deep sleep. 24)- Springtime (except for the pollen) 25)- A real fire in the fireplace. I think that about sums it up. There are so many more things I love. But these are my ultimate favorites. Anyway- on another note- we have a couple of prospects on land. They are both a little further out than we had planned, but they are both around 20 acres- which would be cool. We could sell some or keep some for the girls. And our house we want to build would look spectacular on a big estate piece. The land we are looking at is beautiful. We will have to pray about it and see what the Big Man Upstairs says. Hope you all get to enjoy some of your favorite things this season and year-round!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Springtime

Okay, I know that a lot of people really don't like this unusually warm weather we are having right now, but I am a big fan. I have always said that I would love for it to be Spring and Fall all year round- so I am thoroughly enjoying every bit of this 75 degree weather we are having right now. The girls have been able to play outside and I have had the screens open on the sunporch and the smell of the fresh air mingles nicely with my Christmas tree scent. It is wonderful. For all those who wish it were freezing cold out there, well, I am sorry for you- but you are out of luck. I know the cold is coming, but I am going to enjoy this while it lasts.
On a funny note, Emmaline's teacher pulled me aside the other morning to tell me something. (Usually not a good thing, but in this case it was.) She has allowed the children to bring in an ornament for the classroom tree if they wanted and a little boy brought in a "Cocky" ornament (the mascot for the Carolina Gamecocks for those of you who don't know.) He got to talk about it and show it to everyone. The teacher said that Emmaline turned her head to the side and crossed her arms and just looked disgusted. She asked her what was wrong and Emmaline replied "I just can't even look at that it is so ugly." The teacher, being a Clemson grad and fan, thought that was hilarious and had to tell me. I thought it was too funny. At least she didn't tell the boy he wasn't smart, because that is what Brian tells the girls when they ask why people like Gamecocks. Oh, well- she is brutally honest, just like her mama. They started basketball practice this week and it was good. I was as proud as a peacock watching both of my girls learn the sport I grew up loving. Annelise is surprisingly good, and Emmaline will be when she gets a little bigger. She is very frustrated because she expected to go out there and be Michael Jordan. Thank goodness we taught her how to do a granny shot or she wouldn't be able to get the ball to the basket at all. The scrimage was very comical, since only one or two kids even had a mild clue what they were doing. It should be an interesting season. Oh, well- I think I will go outside now and enjoy wandering around in a short-sleeved shirt and jeans while I can!

Never Say Never!

The older I get the more I find that all those things I said I would "never" do, I am doing. It started when I was young and mad at my parents. I remember crying in my room after getting in trouble for something and saying to myself, "When I am a mom I will never spank my kids!" Or "When I have kids I am never going to make them go to bed early or eat anything they don't like!" Then as I got older, there were other empty promises to myself, like "I will never date a doctor, much less marry one!" And the others: "I will never move back to Powdersville." Or, "I would never live in a tri-level house, they are sooo ugly." And let's not forget "I will never drive a minivan!" Yet, here I sit, a child spankin', former minivan drivin', doctor's wife who lives in nothing short of a Brady Bunch special tri-level home and who is currently looking at land in Powdersville and sounding more like her mother every day.... I do believe that God certainly has a great sense of humor. It is like He is saying ' You have no idea what you are and are not going to do, so quit saying stuff like that, it makes you look ridiculous.' And yet, I still say it, and I am usually eating those words within a short amount of time. My favorite one is from when I was a teenager and I used to say "I don't know why women dye their hair and go through all the trouble to look young- I would never do that, I am going to age gracefully and naturally." Let's hope that the graceful part will be true at least!!!

Christmas Spirit

Coming in my front door today with the last few gifts I had to buy in tow, I noticed that the first smell I can sense when entering the house is now the Christmas tree in the living room. Man, that tree smells soooo good. We got a particularly fresh one this year and you can tell. I love all of the traditional cozy smells of Christmas. Baking cookies and fires in the fireplaces and trees, etc, etc. But as I was thinking about things I like about Christmas, I also realized there are things I dislike about this season. Really only 2 things if you narrow it down to the ones that really bother me. One is the fact that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are so hectic for most people, including us. It used to be worse. A couple years ago my sister and I decided to be brave and tell my grandmother that we wanted to get together some other time than Christmas Eve. It was not pretty, but the whole family got over it and the date has been forever changed to the night before Christmas Eve. It is so much better- we are not rushed, we have nowhere else to be and we can spend as much time with everyone there as we like. However, my husband's lovely family still has this "get-together" on Christmas Eve that involves about 40 people in his family and they all come to a gathering hall at a church and we eat cold food and sit with the people we see all the time and everyone races out of there because almost everyone has somewhere else to be. Now, I ask you, what exactly is the point in that? We don't see these people any other time in the year. Know why? I do. So, why would I want to spend precious Christmas Eve time with these people when all I think about is wanting to go home and be with my kids and watch Christmas movies and drink hot chocolate? I know, makes no sense. And the older people in the family say it is because "we need to see our family and spend time with them on Christmas." What kind of time do you spend when everyone sits with their immediate families and then high-tails it out of there? Mark my words, that will change at some point. It is a mission of mine. I don't think Christmas should be so hectic and stressful- there are already enough things taking away from the meaning of the season, we don't need that, too. Anyway- the second thing that I can't stand about this time of year is the fact that there are always one or two toys that get sold out and people will end up paying hundreds of dollars for something as ridiculous as a Tickle Me Elmo. There are so many better things to do with your money. I know people who will spend whatever it takes to get their kids whatever their little hearts desire. It just makes me want to puke. If it were my child, I would use that time to have the "you don't always get what you want" talk and have a life lesson learned. In fact, we have had to have that talk before and the girls have not gotten plenty of things they wanted and they are just fine and lived to tell about it. I am so bad that Annelise thinks she can't even ask for something at Target unless it has "one of those little red stickers" on it. Hey- they will thank me later. Even with these things that rake my nerves this time of year, I still love it. I am looking forward to the girls getting out of school and making our annual Christmas cookies for neighbors and family with them. I look forward to talking about the birth of Christ before they go to bed Christmas Eve. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when they see what Santa brought on Christmas morning. The good certainly outweighs the bad.

Late Pictures!!

These are sooo late, but better late than never, right? Most of them are from Emmaline's ballet birthday party back in September, and the other 2 are of Annelise (AKA "Moonbeam") on hippie day at school. This week has been pretty quiet so far. I got some cleaning done today and we went to see the proofs of the Santa pictures, which were great. The girls are actually behaving right now, which is not the norm for this week. They have been very trying this week for some reason. I know lack of sleep is part of it, but as for the other part I am not sure. I also have had sleep issues for the past few nights, so I am so tired I forget to play the "Santa is watching you" card. That one really worked well last year, so I am going to try to remember it when I can! Emmaline has been extraordinarily bad this past week. It is like she is on speed or something. I think the tree in her room keeps her awake later at night, so we are going to turn it off when we lay her down tonight and see if she falls asleep sooner. She has never had problems before, so we will see. On the way to church this past Sunday, she and Annelise were watching the DVD player in the car and she took her headphones off. I asked her what she wanted and she replied, "Daddy, I hope that you get killed first." Of course, I started laughing and Brian was horrified and he said "What do you mean by that??!!" She said " Well, all of us are going to die one day and I hope you go first." I laughed and laughed. Brian asked why she was hoping that, but she never would explain. I don't know why things pop into her mind like they do............ Anyway- I told her if he "gets killed first" that we would take a cruise- just me and her and Annelise (to help with the grief process of course....) She liked that idea. Oh, well - hopefully we won't have to worry about that for a long time! Enjoy the pictures!

Getting Ready For Santa!

Every year around this time we have to take about 50 pictures of the girls and then we narrow them down and select the final one for the Christmas picture. It is a lot more difficult than it sounds, because one of them usually is looking away or one of them puts their hand in their face at the last minute, etc, etc.... Last year we had a really cool one of when they had their faces painted at Disney World- we knew we weren't going to be that creative this time. But- I thought I would post the "finalist" pictures and let everyone see them. We chose the one on the far right- with them standing in front of the tree. I liked the one in the ballet dresses, too. The two others were taken right before we took them to have their pictures made with Santa. That was so cute. It was a very realistic Santa and he was so awesome with them. He had a real beard and rosy cheeks and a bellowing "Ho-Ho-Ho." Annelise's mouth hung open and she kept saying "Wow it's really him!" Emmaline did well. She was a little wary, but it was much better than in years past when she would scream bloody murder and cry her eyes out. Annelise asked for a "Real Loving Baby" by Fisher Price and Emmaline asked for a see-saw. We also talked her into asking for a Littlest Pet Shop. Santa told them they were way up on the nice list and that he was sure the things they asked for were in his shop with their names on them. (He even told them what shelf he thought they were on.) I dread the days when their eyes don't light up anymore when they see Santa and the magic is not there like it is now. Tommorrow I am going to post the pictures from Emmaline's ballet birthday party and also the pics of Annelise dressed like a hippie for school spirit week. (Late, I know....) I have about 2 more gifts to buy- then we will be done and ready for Christmas. Hopefully Santa will bring us some options on land! We are trying not to get frustrated right now, but that is difficult when we want to start building in a few months. I know it will happen, just wish I knew where and when! This week-end the Christmas parties start, and so the craziness begins. I hope that amidst the parties and gifts and food that we can still have our focus on why we celebrate the season- which is the biggest gift of all!