Whew!

What an exciting couple of days! Christmas Eve and Christmas day are crazy for my family. I LOVE all the craziness and running around, there is just something about Christmas that makes me happy!

Every year JP's Aunt Pat and Uncle Honey have dinner at their house on Christmas Eve. This is when the little cousins all exchange gifts and get to play together. Tink had a ball playing with all the little girls. Syd is her favorite, they are six months apart and will go to preschool together next year. This is when everyone gets dressed in their Christmas finest and has time to sit and visit and relax. I always enjoy this party.

Christmas day is always a little more rushed and running between families. We got up early and opened gifts at home with Tink. My parents came over from across the yard and watched Tink open gifts. She took forever this year! There is no ripped paper flying like when I was a kid. Tink opens each gift hugging it and exclaiming it is just what she has always wanted, then stacking the gift neatly in a pile and throwing away the paper before opening the next. Can we say OCD???

After our gifts were opened, JP's dad came over to drop off gifts to us and visit with Tink. We then headed to JP's Mom and Stepdad's for breakfast with all his siblings and their families. We opened gifts there with Meme, Pappoo, Court, Chad, Racheal and Shelbi. After leaving Meme's we headed home to drop off gifts and run across the yard to my parents house to open gifts. I helped my mom make dinner and we spent the rest of the day there.

When we got home later in the evening it looked like a bomb had gone off in my recently cleaned house! There wasn't a place to sit or walk for that matter that wasn't covered with toys or boxes with clothes. It took us all evening to unpackage the gifts and get them put away. Tink didn't know what to play with first. I'm pretty sure she has no idea what half the gifts were that she got.

A couple of her favorites are her Chou Chou Baby "My First Tooth," a fur real lion cub, the "Alvin and the Chipmunks" movie (or "Chick-a-chick-a wa-wa" as my youngest nephew insists it is called), Cinderella's castle and a princess scooter.

JP got a Wii. Thanks to his twin sister, Court. Thanks Court! I'll never get him off the couch now!!

I got some new clothes, three new books including "The Tales of Beedle the Bard", some new snowmen for my tree, and gift certs for a mani and pedi and dinner out. We also got money from both of JP's parents, so we can buy a new tv (ours is ancient and everyone has a greenish tint to their skin now).

What a couple of days!! Today I am back at work. Yuck! Tink cried for me to stay home with her today. Oh how I wish I could have! Tonight we are off to look for a new tv.

A birthday card

Happy Birthday Jesus!

I just wanted to say thanks for all the blessings you have given me this past year. I promise to try to get to know you better in the upcoming year.

I hope you are celebrated the way you deserve to be on your birthday.

Love,

Me

This is why I can't make dinner anymore.

For those who don't know me IRL. I hate to cook.

There are a few things I can make from scratch that are great. Like my french toast, fabulous! For anything else I pretty much need a recipe for it to taste good.

I find cooking to be a chore, not something I enjoy. Luckily for me, JP likes to cook and is a great cook. We tend to share the cooking duties at our house.

JP was kidding with Tink last night and asked her what she was going to make us for dinner. To which she replied with a totally serious expression on her face "Princesses don't cook."

I burst into laughter. That's my girl.

I am going to have to remember this and use it as my new reason not to make dinner.

A weekend full of suprises.

I took Tink over to the Moore's on Saturday to play with her best friend Boo. The girls had a great time. They exchanged gifts with each other and decorated gingerbread men for our trees and also sugar cookies. JP joined us later and we all went out for Mexican. A fun day was had by all.

I found out the Moore's are expecting a new little bundle of joy this coming summer. I can't wait!!! Boo doesn't seem too concerned about the new sibling. I know she will make a great big sister.

Tink is very jealous! She is sure we need a real baby at our house. She promises to help take care of it and love it and she will even tickle it and make it laugh. I hated to burst her bubble, but that's not gonna happen. JP and I have discussed this, we aren't having any more kids. Not that I wouldn't love another baby, I love babies. If I could stay home all the time I would seriously consider it. I can't, therefor, no baby.

Our frog bit the big one, so to speak, this weekend. He was quite cute. We had him for over a year. He was an aquatic frog that stayed with the fish in our aquarium. (The last of the fish died in Oct.)

Tink has now ammended her Christmas list to include: two frogs, some fish, a new cat (our's died back in the spring), a dog that loves her more than Reese does and a real baby.

I think I'm headed to the pet store tonight to look for fish and a frog. The rest are not an option.

I know I'm on the good list now!

I just did my good deed for the year.

I work in an insurance agency. My boss has a good friend who owns an agency in a town about an hour away. I occasionally talk to the girls at that agency on the phone, we help each other with computer problems or such.

One of the girls called a little bit ago. She is in desperate need of a Wii. There are none to be found in the mountain town she lives in and the Toys r Us in my town had 3. TRU would not hold the Wii for her, it is first come first serve. Could I possibly run over there and buy one and she will drive down tonight and buy it from me?

Sure. I'm feeling the Christmas spirit, why not.

My office manager suggested I drive on up the hill to the mall and get us Chick-fil-a for lunch while I was over there. Sounded great!

So I did.

When I got there it was so nice outside, sunny and 60! Wow! It has been raining all week and in the 30s. I shed my winter coat and braved the crazy parents at TRU and soon had a Wii.

Ok. Off to the mall.

That place is a mad house! There is no place to park and people every where. I parked a mile away, but it was so nice out, who cares.

When I got to the counter to place my order I realized I had my umbrella in my hand and I don't remember grabbing it in the car. I soon had my hands full of bags and cups and go to leave the mall. It started raining.

I adjusted my packages so I could hold the umbrella upright. Half way across the parking lot the wind started. Like 50 mph winds! My umbrella flew inside out and started pulling me across the parking lot. Then the torrential rain began. Seriously. I was soaked from head to toe. I had river of rain running down my face.

So, here I sit at my desk. Wet hair. No make up, it all came off as I dabbed dry with my Chick-fil-a napkins. In wet clothes.

It's a good thing the food was good!

I'd better be getting an extra nice gift is all I have to say, Santa!

Our first Christmas party of the season

Last night we went to Tink's dance class Christmas party. It was at the local roller skating rink. Tink has never roller skated before, well not really. She has a pair of skates that fit over her tennis shoes that she wears around the house and spends most of her time crawling to something to help her stand back up.

I decided to put on a pair of skates to help her around the floor. JP declined skates and watched from the sidelines. We were a bit pathetic. I tried to teach her how to walk in the skates, hoping she would learn how to balance herself in them. She insists on doing things her own way and is sure you should roll on skates. This leads to her feet flying in all directions.

Someone thought it would be a good idea to give the microphone and dj duties to an 8 year old. Not a good idea people! Someone should be smacked for that! Every 10 minutes he would turn off the music to announce different things. Like couples skate. Yeah, all the little 3 year olds care about couples skate or fast skate.

What an evening! I was worn out when we left there! Luckily Tink had fun.

Dear Santa,

Everyone has been asking, well my mom and JP have asked, what it is I want for Christmas. I couldn't think of a thing I really wanted. I have finally come up with a list. I know it's a little late, so I thought I should let you in on it too, so then I'd have a better chance of actually getting it.

1. For Tink to believe in Santa forever.

2. A clean house. It doesn't have to be spotless, just cleaner than it is now. You know, the dishes done, the frogs tank cleaned, laundry caught up, vacuum ran, those sorts of things.

3. A full body massage. JP got me one of these last year. It was GREAT!!!!

4. "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" by JK Rowling. Love her books, can't wait to read it.

5. A mani and pedi.

6. A clean dog. Really, he could use a bath and his teeth brushed.

7. The motivation to workout. I could really use to loose about 5 or 10 lbs and tone my abs.

8. A new job!!!

9. Our house to sell.

10. Bills paid off.


I think that's about it for now. If I think of anything else I will let you know. Thanks Santa! Oh, and if you can't fit it all into your sleigh, I'd settle for a new house at the beach.

Lots of Love,
Me

Christmas card

Dear Bear living in the woods behind our house,

I just want to say thanks for making yourself known this weekend by leaving your footprints in the snow on the hill overlooking my backyard. We have suspected you were up there somewhere for some time now, but had no idea how close you would actually come to the houses. If the sound under the front bedroom window was actually you last summer, please don't come back into the yard.

I know I usually just let Reese out to run a couple of times a day, but since you have made yourself known I am keeping him tied up in the front yard when he needs out. I am afraid he will run into you when he makes his nightly round around the yard. Reese likes to bark if he doesn't know you and he is a bit overweight so I'm pretty sure he would tick you off and not be able to out run you or have a clue how to protect himself. Reese is not happy about being tied up and honestly I don't like having to go out into the snowy yard to untangle him from around the shrubs and rose bushes that he has wound himself around.

I have heard you like bird food as snacks, so I have also stopped filling my bird feeders outside, hoping not to entice you into coming down off the hill. The birds are not happy either.

Since I explained to Tink how she can not leave the sight of grown ups while outside, fearing that she may unexpectedly find you napping under the pines in the back yard if she were to venture out there alone, she has been having nightmares. She is sure you are lurking around every doorway or in every dark closet in our house.

I just want to say that I am glad you have chosen our neighborhood as your home, but really we would all be a little happier if you wouldn't come down out of the woods. Even if you were only checking us all out from the top of the hill.

I do hope you have a very merry Christmas, but shouldn't you be hibernating this time of year? Just asking.


Happy Holidays!!
Just me.


PS - JP is a hunter. You may want to consider relocating in the spring, I'd hate to see you mounted in my house somewhere. Really. He has been known to threaten doing just this. Just saying.

Holiday pics

This is our tree this year. I was tired of the fancy ribbon and decorations that I usually hang on our tree. This year Tink and I decided to make a paper chain and use it as a garland for the tree. I also found some white ribbon with red stars for the topper and the same ribbon with blue stars for the little bows. We also put Tink's collection of stuffed snowmen all over the tree. JP thinks it looks pretty silly, but Tink and I like it.

I sat Tink down to get some pics for our yearly Christmas card. This is what I have to choose from.

This is my favorite.

This is JP's favorite.

She was pretty tired and getting silly at this point.




These are the gingerbread men that we decorated with the Ware's last night. Tink and Miss O ended up eating half the ones they decorated. Mrs. Ware and I ended up decorating while the girls played dress up.

Miss O dressed as a fairy.

Tink and Miss O, singing to Hannah Montana.

What a show!!

I videoed it with my digital camera and didn't realized at the time that the camera was sideways. I can't figure out how to rotate the video.

I hope you enjoy this sideways version of "Best of Both Worlds!"

(They keep singing the same verse over and over. It's the only verse the Hannah doll in Miss O's hands sings.)

It's been a while

Sorry for the delay in posting. Things have been kinda crazy for me since Thanksgiving. I slept in a bit on Black Friday and went shopping at about 9, missing the crazy morning shoppers. Since then I have been keeping busy with Tink and taking her to dance class and play dates with her friends. I have also been trying to get my Christmas shopping done. Almost finished!



Tink's dance class was in the local Christmas parade last Friday. She is in the baby class, so they rode in the back of a truck while the bigger girls marched and danced. I volunteered to chaperon our class. It was COLD! It was only 22 degrees that evening. Tink had on so many layers that she could barely move. I kept her and the other little ones wrapped in blankets and they all stayed fairly warm. I had to keep taking my gloves off to put Santa hats back on the little ones, so my fingers got pretty cold.



I have also been looking for a new job. This one is getting worse by the day. My boss has just cancelled our Christmas party, apparently we are all unappreciative and undeserving of a party. I called him yesterday and he laid the phone down to have another conversation and forgot I was on his cell. I overheard an entire conversation about what all his undeserving employees could do to themselves. Wow. Very enlightening. Jerk! Seriously, I have to get out of here, this place is starting to drain the life right out of me. I sit here everyday wishing the clock to move a little faster so I can get home to Tink and JP.

JP is working out of town again, he won't be home until Wed night. He hasn't been home much lately. He has either been working out of town and only coming home on the weekends or spending time at the farm to hunt. We have all been missing him, but we are managing.

Tonight we are headed over to the Ware's to have dinner and decorate gingerbread cookies with Tink's friend, Miss O. I will post pics later, it should be fun.

Back to this crazy, busy life now.

My Thanksgiving Wish For You:

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have never a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!

Did she really just say that?

Tink and I were cuddling on the couch last night before bed. Ya know, the kiss their cheeks until they can't stop giggling, praying they will stay this age forever, tummy tickling kind of cuddling.

She suddenly got very serious.

Tink: I keep stuff way down in my heart forever.

Me: Really? What kind of stuff?

Tink: Your love and kisses and hugs and your good byes. And daddy's good stuff too.

Me: (With tears in my eyes.) Wow, that's good stuff to keep in your heart. I'm gonna keep this in my heart forever.

Tink: Me too mommy.

Then she was back to being a three year old again and was smooshing my cheeks to make me look silly.


Where does this stuff come from? Is there a 90 year old person hiding inside her body? This stuff is too deep for a three year old.

Dear Reese,

You are a great dog. You were my very first baby. I bought you on JP's birthday more than 8 years ago and gave you to him as a gift. I had always wanted a chocolate lab. You were chubby and adorable and such a ball of energy.

JP soon became your dad and over the years you have become more attached to him. I know the highlight of your day is when he gets home from work and you can sit on his lap and give him some puppy love. (Well, doggy love. You are no longer a puppy. You are 8 1/2 and weight 110 lbs now.)

I know that JP going away for deer camp is hard on you. I know that even though I give you extra love and attention and let you sleep on his side of the bed while he is gone you are still unhappy.

I get it.

You are not happy.

You don't need to bark at me for 20 minutes every hour, all night long, every night.

I understand. If it were up to me he would come home today.

He is not coming home today.

He will be home on Thursday.

I am sorry for that.

As for tonight. You need to settle down and let me get some sleep. I am honestly on the verge of making you sleep outside in the snow. You have never slept outside before. You don't like to get cold. You will not like sleeping out there. Please quit barking and just go to sleep! I will let you sleep on the bed. Just be quiet!

Thanks for cooperating.

Love, Mom

And he's off.

Every year, since he was 12, Hubs goes to hunting camp for the first week of deer season. For the past couple of years he has been leaving earlier and earlier. This year he took off two weeks instead of one. He has been home all this week and has been hunting a little every day at our house and doing some other things that need to get done. He leaves today for deer camp.

As soon as his cousins get off work they are headed to the store to buy food (I'm pretty sure it's just beer, chips and beef jerky) for the week and are off to the "farm" until Thanksgiving day.

I use the term farm loosely.

That's what they call it, I call it a hell hole.

But then again, I am used to sleeping with no mice in my bed and no bullet holes in the kitchen wall. Really people, this place is a bit scary.

I have been there.

Once.

For like 10 minutes.

I was afraid to sit on the furniture. The entire place smells like deer pee. I was told it is called Tinks and is the top of the line deer attractant. Yeah, it's still deer pee.

I chose to sit on the front porch.

As of today I am hubby-less until Thanksgiving. I will be able to clean my house tonight and it will stay that way for almost a week! I won't have spit cans sitting on my end tables! I will have the entire bed to myself! Well, if you don't count the dog and Tink.

So, when he calls me at work later today to say that he is leaving, I will pretend that I am sad to see him going.

Then I will call his cousins wives. We will make plans for dinner together this week, we will drink daiquiris and let our kids play together. We will laugh about our hubbies at the farm and how their hot water heater goes on the fritz every year. Then I will have the shower turned on and waiting for him when he walks in the door on Thursday. Because boy does he smell bad when he gets home!

I will also get lots of Christmas shopping done. Shhhh. I don't want him to think I am having fun while he is gone.

Still looking.

Tink woke up while I was in the shower this morning. She came in the bathroom and was talking to me. She has been sick this week and now has a cough and is apparently losing her voice. Her voice was going in and out while she was talking. I told her she was losing her voice and I couldn't understand everything she was saying, she would have to wait for me to turn the shower off to talk.

She left the bathroom.

A few minutes later she came back and told me "I still don't know where my voice is, I can't find it anywhere."

My sweet, sweet girl. All I could do was smile and tell her I would help her when I got done in the shower.

Not Me Monday

I'm off again to McMomma's to join the Not Me Monday circus. Join me, it's very refreshing to get it all off your chest. If it had really happened, of course.



* I did not order a Happy Meal for myself on my lunch break. That would be silly, I am an adult!



* I did not bring Tink to work with me on Thursday, only to have her get sick and have to leave early and stay home the rest of the week.


* She was not sick until Sat afternoon with a stomach bug.


* I am not starting to feel sick myself!


* I did not volunteer to be a chaperone on the float for dance class in the upcoming Christmas parade because I am paranoid about leaving Tink with anyone but a few select people. Really, I'm more trusting than that.


* I did not cringe when a new child joined Tink's dance class. Just because she runs around and distracts the other kids instead of participating in class, that is no reason for me to wish she would never come back to class.

Hop on over and check out the other Not Me Monday posts. http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

Wordful Wednesday

The smallest Hannah Montanna fans.

Tink and my God-daughter, Miss Moore, are huge Hannah fans. They had to wear their Hannah bling to get their pics taken together.

Sadly, if you looked at my i-pod most played list I'm sure Hannah would be at the top. Tink loves listening to it while I do the grocery shopping or driving in the car or whatever we may be doing. She's getting her own mp3 player for Christmas so I can have my i-pod back. Don't get me wrong, I like some of the music, just not repeatedly. I keep telling myself it could be worse. Most 3 year olds are listening to Barney.

Tea Party Hats

I was just over at the Tea Party. Mannequin invited me to sit beside her today. What fun!!

Of course I am wearing my favorite hat. I am posting a pic of it here.

I know, it's not the most attractive hat ever. It is still my favorite. It makes me think of relaxing days spent on the beach with Tink and JP. This old and much worn straw hat has been with me for many years now and will continue to be part of my wardrobe for many to come. Of course for the tea party I rolled the brim back and put a few fall flowers on it, it was lovely.

Tea Party!

Wow, I just got invited to a tea party!


You are invited too!


Go, check it out.


They are having great giveaways.

Here at, http://fracturedtoy.blogspot.com/ you can get a great apron or a hair snug. They are just adorable and so retro looking!

Here at, http://mommosttraveled.com/ you can get a bamboo hoodie that is pretty cool.

Here http://mommosttraveled.com/trunki-ride-on-suitcase/ you can get a chance at a gift certificate for a great online store with kids travel products.

Old, Old, Old!

I am in PAIN! Seriously people, real pain.

Why, you ask. Well, my back went out. I'm pretty sure you have to be old for this to happen. So, I am officially O.L.D.!

I was on my way across the lawn to the car when this happened. I bent over to pick up Tink, didn't want her shoes to get wet from the grass, and sudden pain! I about scared the poor kid to death. I couldn't move. Any movement was pure agony. After a few minutes we made our way to the car. I was in tears by the time we got there.

I eventually made it to work and have an appointment with the chiropractor in a little while. In the mean time I have taken enough Tylenol to kill a horse. The pain is still there. It feels a bit like labor pains, except it never goes away. At least with labor pains I only had them like every 5 minutes and then I got an epidural. I wonder, can they give an epidural for back pain? I'll have to ask the chiropractor.

On boating...I mean voting!

I took Tink with me yesterday to vote. I have to admit, before I had Tink I was a slacker in the voting department. Since her birth I have made it a point to vote. I want her to know that this is important and we should be honored to have the chance to vote.

As we left the house yesterday she wanted to know "Where we were going Momma?"
I told her "We are going to vote, then go to the library to get some books, then lunch and grocery shopping." She was quiet in the backseat for a while.

A few minutes later she wanted to know "Why are we going boating?"
I told her it is "Vvvvoting, not Boating."
"Ok....Voting, why are we going voting?"
I explained "we are going to help pick the new President."
Silence.

A few minutes later. "Are they going to give us paddles?"
"No, they are going to give us a paper and a pen honey."

"Why won't they give us paddles? We need paddles." She was very insistent that we would need paddles.
"No Tink, we don't need paddles just paper and a pen."

"Yes Momma, you need paddles to go voating. You know, to make the voat move."
Now I understood, she thought we were still going boating.
I tried not to giggle. I explained again "There is no boat, we are voting for the president."
She still looked a bit confused.

As we got out of the car in the parking lot she looked around and informed me "We can't voat here, there is no water!"
I had to laugh. Poor kid, I gave up on explaining it. She's only 3, she has plenty of time to figure it out. In the mean time, she wore her I Voted sticker proudly.

Making brownies

Yep, that's us. Making brownies for Papaw's birthday.

I adore the pink chef hat and apron!

They turned out perfect!

I had to throw this one in too. This is Miss Moore, Tink's best friend. We bought her the same hat and apron for her birthhday. She's too cute!

Happy Halloween!!!

This is what our Halloween week looked like.

A painting our pumpkin masterpiece.

Just a little more green paint and it will be ready!

hmmm, this pumpkin looks a little mad.

Our pumpkin masterpiece has the place of honor on the table by our front door.

A, getting ready to go trick-or-treating. She LOVED being a black cat!

A and my oldest nephew, the Army Man.

A and I out enjoying trick-or-treating.

My adorable little niece! She was also a black cat.

A with some of her cousins after trick-or-treating.

A great time was had by all!!!

Then we all ate too much candy!!

THE END.

Just for fun.

Ok, after reading my friend Becky's post over at http://mommyfirefly.blogspot.com/ I had to go to yearbookyourself.com and try this. I have to tell you, I laughed the entire time. Go ahead, try it yourself. 1962 - Wow! What a style!

1966 - Interesting!!!

1968 - hmmm.

1984 - I remember this hairstyle! I have an older cousin who wore her hair like this. Of course I'm sure we were wearing neon of many colors and listening to Madonna's Like a Virgin at the same time.

1990 - I actually sported this little number myself for a time.

1996 - Much closer to the actual me of today. Minus the bangs. Maybe I should go blonde and try the bangs. What do you think?

Ok, enough laughing at me, now it's your turn.

Not Me Monday

Yes folks, it's that time again. Time for Not Me Monday!!!



1. I did not laugh for 15 minutes when I found Tink trying to take off her tights without removing the dance leotard first. Really, it wasn't that amusing.



2. I was not me who ate most of the halloween candy!



3. I did not throw something in my back out of wack by just picking up my child. I'm not that old!!!! This would never happen to me!


4. I did not take Tink out to lunch at Applebee's yesterday after church and love every minute of having lunch alone with her.



5. Tink and I do not have plans for every evening this week.



6. I do not plan to eat dinner at the MIL's and then leave to meet with friends tonight. Really, that would be rude of me!

Check out the circus over at McMomma's and join in! http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

Less than 60 days!!!

I can't believe there are only 58 days left until Christmas!!! Only 3 days till Halloween! Well, for us it's a little more confusing than that really. 3 days till Halloween, but only 2 days till trick-or-treat, which doesn't really make sense to me. The town I work in has trick-or-treat on Friday, the town we trick-or-treat in has it on Thurs. Anyway, I think I'm a little off subject. It seems like it was just the 4th of July!

I have already started my Christmas shopping. Actually, I started a long time ago. I have a plastic bin almost full of gifts for Tink. There are only a few more things I'm going to pick up for her this year. I also have my nephews done and the cousin on JP's side that Tink exchanges names with every year. JP calls me crazy for shopping so far ahead. I like to call it resourseful, or thrifty, anything but crazy. I love bargain shopping and if I see something on clearance that would make a great Christmas gift I buy it and put it away. I'm saving him money, how can this be crazy??!!

I've already started buying things for Tink for Easter. Shhhhh.

CANDY!!!

Conversation at my house this morning.

Tink: Mommy, I'm too full, I can't eat any more breakfast.

Me: (checking her plate) You only ate one mini pancake. (Yes folks, I am a terrible parent and let her eat mini Eggo microwave pancakes for breakfast! Does is make it any better that she does not eat syrup on them?)

Tink: I'm reallllly full.

Me: Ok then, you can get up.

Not even two minutes later.

Tink: Can I have CANDY??

Me: No way, you are too full from pancakes.

Tink: I was just kidding, I'm still hungry. Can I have candy?

Me: Nope, but you can have pancakes or cereal.

Tink: Naahh.

She eventually ate pancakes, really cold pancakes, with no syrup. YUCK! Yeah, this is why I don't usually keep candy at our house.

Not Me Monday

Well, here goes again. A list of the things I did not do this week.

- I did not cry at my desk a few minutes ago while reading an article about Stephanie Neilson.

- I did not take Tink to a Halloween party at our local Old Navy store that ended up being a ploy to get parents into their store to shop and not a party for kids at all.

- I did not also take Tink to a Halloween party at JP's cousin's and have a great time on Sat night.

- We did not eat too much junk food, carve pumpkins and go on a hayride at said party.

- I did not tell ghost stories to a small child on the hayride, in the dark, in hopes of scaring him and getting him to sit still and quit kicking me. Do I look like a monster??!!

- I was not ignored by a couple that I graduated with when I spoke to them at the Halloween party. If I were ignored, I would never be so sensitive as to let this bother me.

- I am not debating about whether or not I should dress up like a witch for work this week. Really, I am much too old to be dressing up for Halloween!

- I am not excited about taking Tink trick-or-treating this week.

- I did not spend too much time on the internet while I was at work this past week. Really, who does that?

- I am totally looking forward to dinner at the mil's tonight. Really! Well, not so much.

- I did not shudder when I heard we are going to get snow tonight. Honestly, I LOVE snow and anxiously await it every year! Yeah, I can't wait to pack up my flip flops and get out the winter coats. Right.

NOPE NOT ME!!

Well, that's about it for now. For the origional Not Me Monday check out McMomma here http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

The boys

When I stepped into my parents house yesterday after work to pick up Tink I was immediately jumped upon by my nephews.

Aunt D, can I go to your house?

Sorry, not tonight boys, we're aahhh...going to the store. Yeah that's it, maybe some other evening.

Iwannagotoyourhouse! Iwannagotoyourhouse! Iwannagotoyourhouse! (for five minutes!!)

After looking at me like I was the wicked witch of the west, my Mom finally stepped in and told them to stop. They do not like being told no, to anything. This caused a major meltdown. The boys started laying on the floor crying, throwing toys and kicking my mom.

(Any guesses as to why I don't want them at my house?)

The entire time this is going on Tink is starring at them and I am trying to put her socks and shoes on her as fast as humanly possible so I can get out of there.

Can't wait to hear it all over again tonight when I show up to get Tink. Tonight is dance class night! Sorry boys, not tonight.

Not Me Monday

Ok, I have been reading McMomma's Not Me posts for a couple of weeks now and have finally decided to follow along and post my own Not Me this Monday. So, here goes...these are a few things that I did not do this past week.

1. I did not yell at someone else's child at the McDonald's playland. Just because the playland was invaded by a local middle school's entire cross country track team and one of the 13ish year old boys screamed at my 3 year old, "Get out of that tunnel, I am going to play in there!" I did not run across the playland to rescue my terrified child and her friend and give the boy a piece of my mind. What kind of a monster yells at someone else's kid?? 2. I did not let A eat a sliced apple with peanut butter for dinner. Really, what kind of a mom lets her kid eat fruit only for dinner? 3. I did not trip over my own feet in the middle of my kitchen last night when I had a house full of people over for my dad's birthday! I am certainly not that big a klutz! 4. I did not totally mess up the camcorder during A's first dance class and end up recording when I thought it was shut off and vice versa for half the class. 5. I did not cringe every time I saw my mother-in-laws number on my caller id this week. I adore my MIL, why would I do that? 6. I did not nap on the couch after work on Fri and delegate all childcare and dinner preparation to hubbs then get up long enough to snuggle A into bed between hubbs and I and go back to sleep. Really, do I look that lazy? 7. I did not let A sleep in our bed twice last week. I am not a push over when she tells me she is afraid in her own room. Nope, not me! 8. I did not wear flip flops to work last week. Really, I work in an office, they aren't allowed. I'm sure there are tons of other things I did not do last week, but this list will have to do for now. Make sure you check out My Charming Kids for McMomma's list too. Oh, and say a little prayer for her and baby Stellan too. I don't know them personally, but I love her blog and they need the prayers right now. http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

Hubs, when are you gonna learn?

As I was getting ready to leave the house this morning I realized my really cute black purse with the silver buckles on the side totally did not "Go" with my brown sweater and flip flops that I had on. (No, I am not wearing flip flops to the office, they are not allowed. The fact that I am working alone for the next week does not mean I broke the rules and wore them anyway!)

So... I ran back to the bedroom to exchange the sweater and shoes for black ones. The hubs, JP, has the day off and was still in bed. Seeing me run in and start changing he asked what I was doing. To which I replied "My purse doesn't match my shoes and sweater, so I'm changing them instead of switching everything to a different purse." Seemed pretty simple to me.

He shook his head and informed me "That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard you say."

What? What is wrong with wanting to have coordinating clothing and accessories? I mean seriously, I'm not prissy and girly most of the time, but my outfits need to coordinate.

Just because his idea of a good outfit is holey jeans, a stained tee, work boots and a hat doesn't mean that I can't look a little put together.

I didn't have time to give him a fashion lesson, so I smiled, kissed him on the cheek, stuck my tongue out at him and left to drop A off at my sitter's (aka Mamaw's).

Beach pics

We had just arrived at Myrtle and walked down to the beach. The next wave totally soaked us!

A building castles with Papaw.
Relaxing in the lazy river at our hotel.

On the path down to the beach. Taking a break.
Pouting because I am making her leave the beach to eat lunch.

A with "Ruby"
A with a couple of the smaller sharks swimming behind her.
I was a little shocked that she actually touched the horseshoe crab.
Here we are with "Turdy" the new turtle.

A and Mamaw playing on the beach.
My little princess.

A checking out the beach at dusk.



THE END.