In the spirit?

So my blog is all the "decorating" I am doing this year. The first Christmas we lived in this house, Sissy was just 2 months old. I have always loved to decorate the inside of our house, and that year wasn't any different. The next Christmas, she was a little over a year old, and trying to keep her out of the tree and not touch my handmade ceramic nativity scene was torture for all of us. So the next year, last year, when Bubba was 5 months old and crawling, we opted NOT to drag all of our decorations out of the garage and put them up.

This year we, again, opted NOT to decorate. Hubby and I very much wanted to, but thought we would be yelling telling the kids to get out of it and not touch. I have decided that next year, we plan on being in our own house, and we will most DEFINITELY decorate it!!

So for now, my blog is the only thing getting decorated for Christmas! Thanks to my friend, Ashley, for making my wonderful header!!

ER TRIP

OMG!!!!! My stomach is so upset! So upset, in fact, that I think if I threw up, I would feel much better! We just got back home about an hour go after our first trip to the ER with one of our kids! Bubba was walking through the kitchen, in his socks, slipped and hit his head on the edge of one of our kitchen chairs.

He let out that cry where you know he is hurt, so I ran over and picked him up. Not thinking that anything was wrong with him, except a bumped head, I laid his head on my shoulder. He started screaming worse. I pulled him away from me and looked him over. To my dismay...his ear lobe was TORE! Like ripped! I mean, it looked like Mike Tyson got a hold of him, it was hanging!!!

I think my exact words to Hubby was, "Ohmygod!!! Daddy!!! We gotta get him to the hospital!!! NOW!!" He jumped up, ran over, looked at his ear, and told me get everything together. While in the process of getting Sissy to put her clothes and shoes on, grabbing Bubba some clothes, throwing my shoes on, grabbing Hubby's sandals, grabbing coats and a blanket to wrap Bubba in, I was on the phone calling my aunt...who is a nurse...and my parents.

My aunt met us at the hospital, and I am glad she did. The doctor told Hubby that they could give Bubba some medicine to be able to stitch him up, but that it would leave him in a catatonic state...uh, NO! So instead the strapped him down to a Papoose Board. Neither Hubby or I could stand being in there with him, screaming, so my aunt went in there with him. When they needed us back there, she stayed with Sissy.

3 stitches and about 2 hours later, we are home, and I am still shaken up! Bubba is sleeping peacefully right now, and I am hoping and praying that he sleeps okay tonight.

Here is some pics of this memorable occasion...

(The dark bloody spot, is the top of where he ripped it. If you look closely, you can see the bottom part of the rip...just hanging! Gross, I know!)

(3 Stitches later)

(They wrapped his head so that he wouldn't pull at the stitches!)

Playing Catch-Up

I, finally, went through my pictures and organized them from the past 2 months. I have been slacking with everything going on lately. So I thought I would share some pics I took of the kids last month. Our wonderful neighbor, Mr. RC and his wife have two kids who, I think, are both in college. So they love that there are two little ones living right next door. Mr. RC does quite a bit for us around the house. During the summer months, he mows our yard from time to time, and this fall, he raked the leaves out of our front yard. He knows with Hubby working all the time, and me at home with two little ones, we just don't have the time to do alot outside, plus he loves doing stuff like that...so he says. LOL

Anyways, back to the pictures. When Mr. RC raked our yard, he piled them all up so that the kids could play in them before he loaded them up to take them to the burn pile behind our house. So here are some of my favorites from that day.

Last night, I took the kids to the local Christmas parade. They loved it, except for the bigger kids that where beside us taking all the candy. Not that my kids needed any, but it really upset Sissy that she couldn't get any before they took it all. The only think that made me mad was the kid that pushed Bubba's stroller out of the way to get a piece of candy that was under it. I mean, really??? Here is a pic of them all bundled up ready for the parade.

Last Saturday, we went out to the mountains for Thanksgiving lunch with my family. My dad wanted us to go to their cabin and help with some stuff. Plus it was the first time we had ever been out there. Well, while out there, Hubby found some of my dad's cedar planks he had. He was teasing Dad about taking them, so Dad told him to go to his barn out at the house and take all he wanted. So we did, and Hubby built Sissy a cedar bed. Here is a picture of the finished bed...without the bedding on it.

Cold or Hot Natured?

The other night, while lying in bed freezing my bootay off, I was thinking about if I was cold natured or hot natured, I'm natured, err, normal...I think. When it's cold, I'm cold. When it's hot, I'm hot. My dad used to get so mad at my mom and I when I was growing up because during the summer, we would want it so cold in the house that we had to wrap ourselves up in blankets. During the winter, we wanted it so hot that we had to run around in tank tops and shorts. I'm still that way today.

Hubby, on the other hand, is just plain hot natured. Sissy took after him. They both sweat no matter what the temp is, especially if they are sleeping. That's when it's the worst! So of course, when we go to bed at night, the air gets turned on. It's annoying as all get out to wake up at 3am to a frozen nose, ears, toes...yes I have to sleep with my feet uncovered...when it's 30 stinking degrees outside!! Bubba, like me, freezes. We have to have tons of blankets just to stay warm. I guess he and I will just have to grin and bear it!!

So, what are you? Cold or Hot Natured??

House Hunting

Hubby and I have been looking at buying a house by next spring. We will have all of our debt paid off with our income tax return and plan on using his bonus check as a down payment. I'm very much excited about this! I hate putting money towards rent. It doesn't go to anything, but the fact that we have a roof over our head for the next month. And we can't even do anything to the house, except keep it clean. Not fun!

Anyways, we have looked about everything we can find that is online, and even went to look at 4 or 5 houses in person. Only one to which we even kinda liked, but there is still some stuff that we would have to do to it. We don't want to buy a house that we have to do anything to to be able to move in. We don't have the time to do anything to it. We are willing to pay for it move in ready!

I am planning on going to look at another house tomorrow that was just put on the market today! I drove by it this evening, and am excited about going to look inside of it. Hubby has to work, so it's just going to be me, the kids, and our realtor lady. I hope that it is better than the others.

Thankful Thanksgiving

I have so much to be thankful for this year, and every year. I thought that with it being the day before Thanksgiving, that I would do a post on what all I thank God for on a(n almost) daily basis.

I am thankful for:

1. God sending His son to die for me.
2. God thinking that I deserved to have His son die for me.
3. My parents. They made me who I am today....good and bad! :-)
4. My husband. He is my rock.
5. My kids. They are the reason it's easy to wake up in the mornings....some mornings.
6. My family. We are all different, yet the same. My dad's family has stood strong this past year and though it's been hard with my grandmother's death, we are all strong Christian people that know she's in a much better place.
7. My church family. I can't express my love for them. They have made this past year memorable and helped me realize how much I am thankful for.
8. My friends. Though there are very few of them, I am thankful for each and every one of them.
9. American Soldiers. They have/are fighting for me, my freedom, my country.
10. Wal-Mart. Yes an odd one I know, but it's the one place that I can buy almost anything I need or want.
11. Nickelodeon and Disney Channels. They are what keep my children out of my hair when I am cleaning and cooking. Yes, I'm "that" mom.
12. Blogger. It has been not only my outlet for thoughts and fears, but it's has helped me realize that there are other mother/women out there like me. The kind with thoughts and fears. It has also given me the opportunity to become friends with women that live right here in my own hometown.

So what are you thankful for this year??

I am alive...

Yes, I am alive, if you happened to be wondering.

I have been out of sorts for almost 2 weeks. I've had quite a bit going on, for once, and have just now been able to sit down on my usual blog reads. Boy, did I have a lot to catch up on!

A couple of Fridays ago, a close friend invited me to a Beauticontrol Spa Party she was having at her house. I had never been to one, but had heard they were lots of fun. So I left the kids with Hubby, and off I went for an hour and a half of relaxation and girl time. Something I haven't had in over 3 years! It was so much fun, that I decided to have one of my own. So this Friday night, I am hosting my own spa party...I'm so excited...and I just can't hide it....I'm about to lose control and I think I like it. Okay, I'm done now.

Hubby got off work at 5pm Sunday, and we loaded up, and took the kids out to his family's deer camp for a few days. Of course, with it being the first of the week, anybody that would have sat at camp with the kids and I were working. So while Hubby, Papaw (Hubby's dad), Aunt J (Hubby's sister), and the other couple out there, went hunting, the kids and I sat in the camper and watched movies. I would have loved to take them outside and let them play, but it poured Sunday night, and then didn't get any warmer than 45 degrees, so we decided it be best to keep them inside.

We got back yesterday evening, and thankfully I had cleaned my house up a little bit before leaving out. We were so tired that we just came in and threw everything in the floor. Of course, today, I am having to clean everything up again!

We have also had some unexpected, uninvited, unwanted house guests....since after Sissy's birthday. They tend to come and go at there leisure. Whenever they get hungry, the show up. ANTS!!!

I hate them, it doesn't matter how much I clean my house, they still appear trying to find something to eat. I normally clean the kitchen every night to prevent them from taking over during the night. Last night, though, I was so tired, and ready for bed...we went to bed at about 930pm...that I just left it. Bad idea!!! I got up this morning to a sea of black...literally! They were everywhere!!!

Yesterday, was my dad's 53rd birthday. At about 625pm yesterday evening, my sister calls me.

Sis- "Hey, we are going to eat at PP's for Dad's birthday."

Me-"Okay....when?"

Sis-"Ummm...in like 5 or 10 minutes. Can you make it"

Are you kidding? LOL She said she thought we were still out at deer camp. Dad had to tell her that we were indeed home. So Sissy and I rushed around, got ready, and headed to PP's. Thankfully, we both took showers before that, so we didn't have to worry there. Bubba was asleep, and Hubby opted to stay home with him.

I may be MIA for the next week or so, as I am going to be pretty busy. If I don't post again beforehand....I hope you all have a wonderful and thankful Thanksgiving!!

What if....

Do you ever wonder what could have been? I mean, have you ever had a life changing experience, and look back and wonder what could have been? I have, and I wonder "what if" quite a bit.

I played basketball for as long as I can remember. It was my life, and I planned on playing until the good Lord wouldn't let me anymore. I just didn't realize it would be sooner than I had thought.

When I was 14, in the 9th grade, I was already receiving college recruit letters! I was very excited about going to play college ball at one particular college, 6 hours away from home! I got a letter in the mail saying that since it was a "certain time of the year" they had to quit contact with me, but would pick up when I was older. That day never came.

When I was 16, I had a bad car accident. I was late for curfew and it was pouring down rain. I was on the dirt road to my house, hit red clay, fishtailed, and as any inexperienced driver would do, I hit the brakes. I learned the hard way, that's not what you do. I hit a tree head on, which threw me on my side, and had me skidding back the way I came. My hand skidded along with the van, the glass, and the gravel. To this day, I thank God that not only am I alive, but that I still have my left hand, and all 5 digits. I almost lost 3 of them!

After that, my basketball skills went down the drain. Even though I am right handed, I could no longer use my left hand the way I used to. I also had to miss pre-season practice seeing as my accident was during the summer.

I never heard from another college wanting me to come play ball for them, and I sometimes wonder, what if.

What if: I had been driving slower.

What if: I had left for home earlier.

What if: I had I had never left home that evening.

What if, what if, what if...

When all those "what ifs" start running through my head, I take a break and realize where I am today. I am married to the man that I met when I was 16 and working at the local retail chain. We have two beautiful kids, and I love my life! I couldn't be happier! If all those "what ifs" had happened...I wouldn't have all of this wonderful life. Plus, I can't really think of where I would be now...after college had ended!

So the moral of this story: Don't focus on all the "what ifs" in life, focus on the "what are's", they are what matters!

PW and Gravy

I had heard about this one particular woman many, many, MANY times around the internet and from my friend over at Sugar Britches. She seemed to be a pretty famous woman. One who many bloggers and internet junkies in general love. After being completely curious, and oblivious, I decided to see what all the fuss was about.

Yes, I had to google.....Pioneer Woman!

If you had to click on that link to find out who I am talking about...well, let's just say that I'm happy to know I'm not the only one who didn't know who she was.

Anyways, once I went to her site, I had to add her to my favorite list. Yep, I love PW!!! She stole my heart. Her recipes, I am so excited about trying, and even told both Hubby and my mom that I wanted her cookbook, that she just released, for Christmas. I'm really hoping that one of them fulfills my request!!

Anyways, I was looking through some of her recipes and came across a biscuits and gravy one. I was in awe. Complete and total awe. Why??

Well, you see, I have been cooking since I was tall enough to reach the stove top. Now I'm not that much of a chef, or anything close to it, but there are just some things that one should know HOW to cook. Especially a southern cook.

WHITE GRAVY!

Can you believe that I am 27, yes I said it, years old, and I only started being able to make an edible pan of gravy in the past 2 months?!?!? Is that gasps and laughter I hear?? Didn't think so!

What? That still doesn't answer your question on why I am in total awe of her B & G recipe? Well, let me just tell you...

She measured everything out to a T!!! I am not one to measure when I cook. I think that's why I hate baking anything. You have to measure everything out perfectly or it doesn't turn out. Except for dump cake. Yay for dump cake!! My gravy is made by taste seasoning. If it tastes good enough to eat, than it's good. :-)

So, if you haven't checked out The Pioneer Woman's website, I strongly suggest you do so. You won't be sorry...I promise!!

My Husband, The Carpenter!

So Hubby is a man of many talents. He is one of the smartest guys I know, he draws, he's creative (he can turn an ordinary object into something totally different, and we have just learned he's a carpenter too!

Before Sissy's birthday party he was building some stuff to make our house look like a home.

(This was our plain jane table that he combined with an old antique dresser to make a desk)

(A key/hat holder)

(A gun rack fashioned out of some remaining OAD (old antique dresser) parts.)

And now for the most recent build. Something that he is extremely proud of and I am just in awe over! His first bed!!!

(Made all by hand)

(I think Bubba likes his toddler bed!)