Sickies and a Little Ray of Sunshine!

Well we are on week 5 of Scott being gone and
sickness is still falling upon our house.

Someone has been sick (and sometimes, several of us
at the same time) since before THANKSGIVING!!!
and to be quite honest
we are SICK of being SICK!!!!
Wednesday afternoon I started not feeling well,
still felt bad on Thursday so I loaded up and went to the Doctor...
I have strep
and it has just about knocked me on my backside!
Luckily, Jackson has been very entertained with movies...
at times....the same one over and over!
But it is working for us right now.

Tonight, we received a special treat...
Joy and Michele went and bought us groceries
and brought me Chinese for dinner...
and some beautiful flowers to
brighten my day!



Normally, the grocery thing would not have been such a big deal...
except they are giving SNOW in the forecast...
lots of snow...
and
ICE
YIKES!!!

And what were we out of...
milk and bread
and Jackson goes through the milk like we own a dairy farm!

So last night when Joy called to check on me she said
"Tell me what I can do"
and I said
"Bring Jackson Milk!"
so she told me to make a list and off to the store they went today!
I think that was the best thing EVER!!

Knowing we didn't have to get out in the cold...
out in the crowds...
made me feel better
even though my meds are not!
Hopefully I'll be back to normal in a day or two...
and the weekend is here so we plan on sleeping LATE
and just being lazy!

New Year...New Goals

Every year brings a new attitude of change...

resolutions to loose weight, organize, read your bible in a year...

All things to make us better and this year I am going to

try my best to put into place ways to keep me on track!

I keep looking for ways to keep myself on some sort of schedule.

Scott is a list maker and a task master...

me, umm not so much.

He is always fussing at me to

make a list...

to take to the grocery store,

to Wal-Mart,

of things in general to do around the house...

so one of my goals is to start making lists!

The grocery list,

Wal-mart list,

Austin's activities

House projects to be done...

Writing it all down so I don't forget it...

and also hopefully to look back on and be able to say

"See what I got done today"

when he comes home and says...

"so what have you done today?"

One list I found was a way to keep things caught up around the house...

this is a biggie for me.

I wait until everything is in total disarray and then try to clean from

top to bottom.

So here is my resolution to house cleaning in 2011.

I read this schedule somewhere out in
blogland....but can't remember where I saw it.

Monday:  Menu and Market

I am going to try to get in the habit of planning out our meals

and buying what we need and not a lot of junk when

we are constantly running in to the store...

Tuesday:  Tubs, Toilets and Towels

Cleaning our bathrooms and getting caught up on all the

towels!  Up and down!  Whoever thought 5 bathrooms was a good idea...

never had to clean them!

Yikes!

Wednesday:  Wash

I am going to try to do a load a day and

then just use Wednesday as catch up.

Jackson still takes his bath in the

laundry room sink, so I am thinking a load while he plays!

Thursday:  Dust

I'll use this day for clutter pick up too...
gotta pick up to dust off!

Friday:  Floors
Dust, Vacuum, and Steam hard floors...then maybe
I'll only see the shine off my hardwoods...and
not Jackson's little footprints in the dust!

Hopefully this will keep me on track...
and things will not get out of control!

I am also going to go room by room and declutter and clean out...
Jackson still has shorts in the closet mixed in with his winter sweaters!

Another one of my goals this year is to be a better note writer.
We are so caught up in instant messaging, Facebook-ing, and emailing
that the art of a hand written note is almost lost!
But one night, at our group meeting at church,
Ray was talking to us
about how much a note means to someone who is sick. 
And also told us about
Elaine's mom getting notes from our friend Andy,
who passed away last year.
Andy was so good to send notes of encouragement to those
in our local congregation.  Andy did this all the time,
 but even after he got sick...
and knew he was dying...he continued to send notes
to people around him.
Ray challenged us to write more and do more...
if Andy could do it then surely we could too!

So today I sat down and wrote several notes...they are not
poetic by any means, but hopefully they will bring a smile to someones face.
I might add this to my Monday routine.

I haven't made a menu out for this week.
Scott is still gone, so there is not a need to cook a big
meal every night...we have been eating a lot of sandwiches
and left overs!
and Take out Pizza!!!

Austin heads back to School tomorrow!!!
Jackson is going to be sad to see him go...
but it is going to be good for us to get back to a schedule and a routine!!!

So that's about all for today...
nothing exciting going on...
just planning out goals for the year...
and getting ready to take on the world!!!
Well... just our little corner of the world.

New Year's Eve

This is where I wish I was for New Year's Eve....

sigh...I can hear the ocean now....

It is warm enough outside for us to be at the beach!

The car said it is 67 degrees outside..

weird for the 31st of December...

even in Alabama.

but I am here, with my two little boys, watching movies!

That's as good as the beach...

Scott is still on travel.

This will be the first time we have not been together

on New Year's Eve in

17 years...

although his job is keeping us apart,

we are thankful he has employment!

There are so many in our area that have been laid off after

years of service, so we will make it through this time apart

and be sure to cherish each other a little bit more

when we are all back together!

Until then, I have got to get this house back in order!

The holidays are always so hectic and we seems to just

TRASH the PLACE!

Scott had asked me to start making a list of

"Honey Do's" for him when his proposal is over...

I plan on taking this opportunity to get us

cleaned out and organized!

So...this is my motto for

2011

I am planning on going room by room.

We are getting ready to do a bedroom shake-up!

We have been looking for new furniture for Austin

which means that Jackson will get his old furniture...

which means....

Boys room clean out and shape up!!!

So maybe if I put it out there that this is my plan...

maybe someone will keep me accountable

and keep asking me...

"How's the organization going?"

So here's to being organized in 2011...

which will hopefully bring

happiness and harmony to our little home!

Best Wishes for a

Happy and Healthy New Year





A White Christmas!!!

We woke up this morning to

SNOW

Austin came into our room at 7 AM...

announced that Santa had stopped by for a visit last night...

could we please wake up Jackson...

because if we had to wait on him to wake up on his own it would be

10 o'clock...

which he's right...

Jackson likes to sleep like me!

Oh yeah, and check out the

SNOW

He yanked open the blinds and there was

the most beautiful blanket of snow.

And it was still coming down in buckets!!!

Snow just makes everything so beautiful.

The trees were just beautiful!

Everything looked so clean and calm...

and outside was so quiet!

But inside...it was time to get down to business!!!

Santa came by to leave the boys a few gifts...

Austin got some new video games and

Grandpa-Claus brought him a new Bass Guitar and Amp

Jackson got a new Tricycle and Helmet.

Santa stuffed their stockings with some candy

and a new tooth brush...

Jackson was so excited to see his new tricycle...

although he's not quite awake just yet....

Austin on the other hand, has this Christmas morning thing DOWN!!

Show some love to Santa...and then to the tree!!!

Jackson still needed a little direction...

he didn't realize there were goodies down in his stocking...

he wanted to get back to his tricycle!

Keeping an eye on the weather...

trying to figure out if we are going to be able to make it

Over the River and Through the Woods

to Mama and Papa's

Jackson opening his first present...

He still does not quite get the whole idea...

he would open a present, turn to us and say

"I want to pway with it"

so we would start to take it out of the box...

he would wait...

we'd try to get him to open something else...

and he would reply...

"NOOOOO, I want to pway with THAT one..."



And that's what he would do...

Stop and Play...

This is why he still has

FOUR presents to UNWRAP!!!!

Silly little boy!



I got right to work opening my presents...

Lots of Pandora lovelies for ME!!!

There was one last gift to open...

but it didn't have a name on it...

so Scott told Austin he could open it and then

we would figure out who it belongs too.

At this point, I start smiling...so he knows it is his...

So he opened the big box, only to find another smaller wrapped present inside.

Oh wait...it's wrapped AGAIN...

oh, and it's taped with packing tape...

over every surface from which to tear paper from...

He finally figures out how to get the packing tape off

only to find...

OH YES....It's Wrapped AGAIN!!!!

and yeah...it's sealed with packing tape too!!!

At this point he starts laughing and says

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME???"

Nope...not kidding...this is really fun for me...

Austin...yeah... not so much!

Hee Hee

He's got it now...

and he sees the little Apple

on the top of the box...

Oh Yeah....

He has now declared this the

BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!!!!!!

Austin got his big Christmas Wish...

an iPad...

This year was not without it's glitches...

Grandpa came to pick up Nana last Monday...

and then was sick by Wednesday...

and Jackson was at the Dr. on Wednesday...

with what we are still not sure...

so Steven, Alicia and Conner were not able to come

and celebrate with us...

Grandpa didn't feel well enough to come up for gifts...

and for a while we were not sure if we were going

to be able to make the drive to Mama and Papa's.

Jackie, Rick and Jeremy were at home in Texas

So, with family missing...it's somewhat bittersweet...

Nana and Grandpa leave to go home tomorrow...

and Scott has to leave AGAIN...

counting down the days until

January 10th!

But in the end, we are left with some

wonderful memories with our boys.

Memories that we will carry through the years.

The year it Snowed!!!

(The last time we had a White Christmas in Alabama, was in 1989...

why do I remeber this...it was the year I got a Car for Christmas...

yep...couldn't get out and drive it!)

The year Jackson wouldn't open his presents...

and the year Austin got the

BEST gift EVER!!!

We hope that everyone had a wonderful time

with your family and friends!

We sure did...





Christmas Eve

I have been wrapping

ALL DAY!!!

Note to self:

Next year, wrap as you buy...

throw away shipping boxes as they come in...

don't wait until the last minute to do this again...

it's not fun...

...back to our regularly scheduled post...

I think I have finally gotten everything wrapped...

I have presents wrapped for everyone in our

immediate and extended family!

This year we had a lot of

BIG BOXES

Every year, we let the boys open one present on

Chirstmas Eve...

but the catch is

I get to pick!

Two little boys who are very excited about

Christmas Morning!!!

And two little boys who are very happy

to have their Daddy back home!

He has been working in Detroit since

December 2nd!

Aunt Leisa and Uncle Rick surprised us

Wednesday night and picked him up

a day early to surprise us!!

Opening their Christmas Eve gift

Austin opened a SEC Champion

Fans Only Parking sign for his room...

and Jackson got to open and Cars Bath Set...

Mater, Lightening McQueen and some soap!

We are enjoying spending time at home today.

Scott, Austin and Jackson got out this morning for a few

last minute gifts....and I had to get out

and get a few last minute things later this afternoon.

If we don't have it, we are not going to get it!!!

Time to get little boys in their Jammies...

Cookies out for Santa...

and in the bed so Santa can come and deliver some

presents to some good little boys.

Merry Christmas

to

You and Yours

Santa's Village

Tonight we spent the evening at

Santa's Village

I have always wanted to go, but the hustle and bustle of the

holidays always seemed to cause us to miss this.

Since Scott has been out of town the entire month,

I wanted to wait until we could all go as a family.

Tonight was the last night they were open before

Santa had to return to the North Pole to

get ready for his

BIG NIGHT!!!

Here is one of Santa's reindeer resting up for the

long trip back to the North Pole

and then across the globe

to deliver all of the

PRESENTS!!!!!!

There were so many fun things to do.

Above is a picture of Jackson, Nana and I decorating a cookie

in

Mrs. Claus' Kitchen



Jackson decided that he would take a quick

spin in Santa's Sleigh

And try his hand at being a

SNOWMAN!!!

He might get to try this for real on Christmas Day...

they are giving SNOW

for Christmas Morning!!!

Whoo Hoo!!!!

Scott and Jackson made their way through the

Icicle Maze

Jackson and I stopped to write a letter to the Big Guy himself!

Jackson said he wanted Santa to bring:

"TooTies" aka Cookies

"Pizza"

and

"Toys!!!"

When I asked him if he has been

Naughty or Nice

he quickly replied

"Nice"

with a great big smile...

After we wrote our letter to Santa, we came outside and

found

Mrs. Claus

This is a horrible picture of me,

but I thought it was really cute of Nana and Mrs. Claus.

Jackson loved Mrs. Claus.

He would just giggle at everything she would say to him.

Look....Jackson and I are a Christmas Tree!

Every 20 minutes down by Santa's house

they would have

SNOW!!!!

Jackson would get so excited every time

he would hear the machines kick on.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!!

it was more like clumps of bubbles,

but every time they came on all of the

kids went NUTS...it was a lot of fun to

watch how excited they all got! 

We waited in line to see Santa at his house...

Jackson had his picture and almost left his Paci with Santa...

but decided to take it back in the end.

After a quick trip upstairs to see Santa's bed...

ready for him to rest up for his big night...

we headed home...by way of Costco...

to buy a new TV...

the one downstairs died...

not what I had budgeted for at the holidays!

Oh well... 

We had a really great time...

Even thought it was really cold...

Did You Make the Nice List??

We ventured out to the Mall this afternoon.

The boys and Nana have all been sick with a nasty stomach bug...

it has not been fun...

But everyone is getting back to normal and we decided to

get out for a while and make a visit to see Santa.

If you say anything about Santa,

Jackson will bust out with a big

"HO HO HO Meeeeerry Christmas!"

It's the cutest thing.

Nana tried to pay Austin money to sit with Santa...

he declined...

He has never liked Santa...

the last picture we have of Austin with Santa is

when he was about 18 months old...

he wasn't looking at the camera...

he was looking at Santa as if to say

"Who are YOU?"

He never would sit with him again...

We are trying to get ready for the holidays.

Scott got all of the decorations down before he left.

The door is decorated, the tree is up--but not decorated,

and Ben and Jerry are standing guard in the foyer.

We are going to try to get the tree done tomorrow and

the Snow Village up!

I'm going to start decorating next year on the 1st of November!!!

Scott left this morning for his long trip in Michigan...

he said it's really cold up there...

it's fixing to get really cold down here...

they are even giving us a chance of snow tomorrow...

YIKES!!!

But ready or not the holidays are upon us...

we better get crackin'!

Hopefully we will be able to post some pictures of the

decorations up and ready to go in a day or two...

until then...

Ho Ho Ho!!!