The start of a new week!

Last week was just wild for us. We rarely do much during the week and last week we did something every night. Tucker was in a ball tournament in Springfield so we had games Monday, Wednesday and Thursday . I taught a class at Scrapbook Generation on Tuesday night. Taylor had his winter semiformal dance on Friday and then we played in a ball tournament on Saturday Morning! We were all done by Saturday night. It was really warm over the weekend and then the temp bottomed out last night, it is soooo cold here today. The boys were hoping for a snow day and didn't get one, but they only have this week and 2 days next week and they are out until the 6th of Jan. Tucker and I did some holiday baking on Saturday night and then I continued with some more on Sunday. I got a few presents wrapped and under the tree so we are getting closer to being ready for the big day! Hope everyone is warm and toasty somewhere and enjoying the season!

I love this Girl!

Nice Tree....Lots of Sap!!

You either know the quote or you don't! Christmas vacation is my ALL time favorite holiday movie. We watch it at least once between Thanksgiving and Christmas and usually more like 3 or 4 times. We all have our little sayings from the movie and our favorite scenes. No matter what, sap or not, when the tree goes up in the stand at our house, on of us says, "nice tree, lots of sap!" It's a tradition!! Another tradition that is a little more special is unpacking the ornaments. The boys have gotten an ornament from each of their grandma's since they were babies every Christmas. They are all packed away in little boxes that are dated. Gregg's mom even writes a little note with each one, telling why she picked that ornament that year. Like this year she and Gregg's dad taught the boys to play tennis and so she bought each of them a tennis themed ornament. The boys still like to look at all their ornaments and they each hang them on the tree, they have their favorites. Tucker is a huge Batman fan and always has been, so he has a whole collection of Batman ornaments. Taylor has always loved basketball so he has many that represent that. They hang their ornaments on the tree and I fill in with ornaments from my childhood and one's that i have collected over the years. I have some of the balls that hung on my mom's tree when she was a little girl. I love the Christmas tree. I look forward to it each year. It makes me smile!!

What to buy?

It's so hard to decide what to buy the boys for Christmas. I wouldn't say they are spoiled and the for sure would tell you we don't buy them everything they want, like cell phones, but they don't need anything. This year I had them each make a list and there wishes had to fall into one of four categories...something to wear, something to read, something to do with your hobby and something to play. We told them we would pick one gift from each category, they were thrilled with the "read" category! So 4 presents each, sounds good to me, of course they will have stocking stuffer things. But I am already done and not stressed a bit, thank goodness for online shopping and free shipping!

Do You Speak English?

This is a question i silently mumble to myself on a regular basis these days. I do not remeber anything in the paperwork when I brought him homefromthe hospital that suggested that I would need to learn a second language, they failed to mention this part!

If you have a teenager or have raised one you know what I am talking about. Sometimes I think I am speaking a foreign language or possibly the pitch of my voice can not be heard by teenage boys. How do you day, hang up your towel? I guess I missed the meeting where they handed out the secret decoder rings. At what point will we again speak the same language? Until then could someone please share the code word for, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Thanksgiving Recap!

I am terrible about taking pictures of our inside celebrations. I have a zillion pictures of our outside avtivities, but rarely bring the camera out for inside pictures. I always have good intentions of getting pictures of Thanksgiving and Christmas, but don't get it done!

We had a great Thanksgiving, our tummies were full!

I am so Thankful for my family, the ones who live with me and the ones who I ahre my heart with. I am so thankful that my children are surrounded by people who love them, what they say about it taking a village to raise a child, is so true, and i am thankful that they have different influences to guide their choices and shape their character. I am thankful that we have had my grandfather for so many years and that he is still able to join us for celebrations(he smoked our turkey for dinner this year. I am thankful that God blessed my life with a man like Gregg. He balances me-he encourages me and supports me, but mostly he loves me in spite of my flaws. I am blessed!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving .