Wednesday, December 31, 2008
New year, new goals
Family:
1. Less t.v, more games. It's not like I have the t.v on all the time, but I do use it when I need to get something done. Baylor loves watching movies but I think he needs to start playing games with me. I refuse to feel guilty over this subject, I'm doing a great job monitoring and turning it off, I just want to get him involved with more preschool games since he will be starting in the fall...gulp.
2. Family dinners. It by far is the hardest thing to accomplish because of two big factors. One being my kids eat so early (like 4:30 or 5) and Lonnie doesn't come home until....well, that's always a fun little game we like to play. Wait, did I say fun? Not so much. I LOVED the time we spent eating as a family (which was rare) when I was a kid. I want so badly to do this, but I will try to do it (even if Lonnie isn't home yet...he can always eat dessert with us!) No toys at the table either...Baylor insists on bring his arsenal of army men, dinosaurs and veggie tales at every meal!
3. Enough with the freak out anal planning, scheduling and germophobia. It's slowly taking over my life weather I like it or not. I'm a first born, a planner by nature and organization and cleanliness sometimes overtake me...that doesn't make me a bad person. I, in the words of Baylor, "just need to Relax." So I will try......even if it kills me.
4 Less yelling. I grew up in a family of yellers (sorry mom and dad, you know it's true) and I absolutely hate it. I find myself doing it more and more when I get frustrated and I know Baylor is picking it up and it just tears me up inside. I will take more deep breaths and pray before I open my mouth in anger.
5. I will teach Baylor his full address, phone number and how to write his name! I know he's only three, but he's brilliant. I will teach Brody how to talk.....using real words, instead of made up ones....even though they sound mighty funny.
6. More dates and game nights with Lonnie. I knew marrying a coach would come with a weird schedule, but it's even harder when you add kids to the mix. We are both busy and when we do find a spare minutes, we don't spend it together. We, by nature, are very independent people and that makes it even harder to find the time to do something together. We are still going to finish the book Love Dare, even if we're only on page three. The truth is that I need to put more effort into our marriage, it's not something that will get better with time without the hard work. No one said it would be easy either.
Life/health/friends/fun:
1. I will have more play dates over here for the sake of my kids, even if I'm totally freaked out over germs...and even if people don't want to come over here. It doesn't hurt to ask....and if they don't like dog hair, swords or cookies then I guess they can find somewhere else to go.
2. My goal last year was to do a sprint triathlon, but the whole swimming training posed a big problem because of the freaking cost of a pool pass and the whole biking thing...because I don't have a bike. I still want to do one, it just may take a while. I figure a road race is a good place to start or a half marathon. There is no way I will ever do a full one....never ever ever. Either way, I will be running a lot more.
3. Less sugar. Smaller booty. Toned abs. Goal weight. A girl can dream can't she?
4. Make more art. Sell more art. Take a trip...alone or with Lonnie.
5. Learn how to knit.
6. Learn how to play the Euphonium, Baritone or tenor horn....just for fun.
7. Take Baylor bouldering (rock climbing without ropes...don't worry, it's not that high off the ground) I used to climb all the time in college and high school and I miss it. I really think Baylor would love it and we have some great places to start around here.
8. Not care what people think. Really? Really. I don't care if they think I am a bad speller or if I don't discipline my kids the, "right" way or even if they think I smell funny. This is the way I am, like it or not. I think I'm pretty cool and by golly I'm doing the best I can.
Faith:
1. Consistent quiet times or at least scripture for the day. Doesn't matter how long it is, it just needs to be everyday. Praying too!
2. Change my attitude....for the better.
3. Consistently plug God into everything in our lives, teaching my kids more scripture and bible stories. I do it, but not as often as I want to.
4 Trust that God is in control. He is, I know it, I just need to put it into practice.
5. Contentment. With our money, living and car situation. This comes and goes, but I need to be content where God has us right now.
Well, there you have it folks. Who knows if these, "things" will get accomplished, I should hope so. It gives me things to shoot for. I'm aiming high baby.
What are some of your New Year's Goals?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Year in Review

Happy almost New Year.
Here are my top 12 highlights (blog style) from this year:
1. January 2008 http://baylorandbrody.blogspot.com/2008/01/motherhood-is-not-competition.html
2. Feb. http://baylorandbrody.blogspot.com/2008/02/by-golly-i-think-hes-got-it.html
3. March http://baylorandbrody.blogspot.com/2008/03/take-that-menards.html
4. April http://baylorandbrody.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-need-licker.html
5. May http://baylorandbrody.blogspot.com/2008/05/where-wild-things-are-aka-my-house.html
6. June http://baylorandbrody.blogspot.com/2008/06/laugh.html
7. July http://baylorandbrody.blogspot.com/2008/07/football-stars.html
8. August http://baylorandbrody.blogspot.com/2008/08/baylor-speidel-poo-flinger.html
9. Sept. http://baylorandbrody.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-aint-no-martha-steward-booger-face.html
10. Oct http://baylorandbrody.blogspot.com/2008/10/friday-15photos.html
11. Nov http://baylorandbrody.blogspot.com/2008/11/truthful-tuesday.html
12. Dec http://baylorandbrody.blogspot.com/2008/12/lord-of-bean.html
There were too many silly stories and crazy antics to choose from, but here are my faves. I learned a lot by perusing through old blog posts. 1. I sure do whine a lot (mental note, do not whine as much in 2009, find other ways of expressing displeasure) 2. Last winter sucked 3. I always seem to be tired....go figure. I'm still thinking about the ever so popular new year's resolutions (which are waaaay overrated) More like goals, less like resolutions. Here is a quick stat update for those of you keeping score:
Baylor:
3 years and 5 months
35 lbs and skinny as a rail
Size: 4T and moving up to a size 9 shoe..there's still hope. (Can anyone inform me about booster seats vs. car seats, like when to switch and age/weight? His feet are hitting the back of the passenger seat....thinking it's time for a change, but safety first...sorry totally random)
Loves: Pirates, Wonder Pets, Cars, hitting, using anything and everything as a weapon, candy
Hates: going to bed, sharing his toys, being "squished" by dad, eating
Brody:
17 months
26lbs and still a midget (all his 18 month pants are too long) Size: 18 month and size 5.5 shoe
Loves: stealing any toy that Baylor has in his hands, Lovey Lamb, eating, Buch-ho (back-hoes) and destroying all things
Hates: going to sleep, being still, the little plastic finger monsters, wearing a hat, sharing
Monday, December 29, 2008
I done got me some Vitamin D
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Stuffed: Part deux

So my mom got an elliptical machine for her Christmas gift and enlisted the help of handy Lonnie. They spend a total of 4 1/2 hours putting it together! So much for, "sure, it's easy to put together," says Mr.Sears man.

This is my parents dog Waldo. He's tiny, he's annoying, he yips, his ears resemble satellite dishes, but he's sure cute. He's so tiny that he gets cold and sits in the bathroom with his tiny little paws on the heating vent.
Stuffed:Part One

All he got were some goldfish.....he's on a high carb diet...just kidding, don't worry...we feed him. TRUST ME ON THIS ONE.

TWO WORDS: MAN BOOBS (not me silly, the kid)

Baylor, the cake is supposed to go IN your mouth.

Lonnie and my mom, gravy making extraordinaries! Guess who gained a new holiday job....excuse me, Christmas job :) The gravy torch has officially been passed.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Lord of the BEAN
See, I told you he was amusing. Just a tubby little laugh factory. I dare you to watch this an not laugh.
He is freaked out by what he thinks is a bug (but it's actually a bean) He wouldn't touch it. He's yelling, "BUGGY" in case you were wondering. Hey, at least it's better than PENIS!
Fish food for dinner
Numero Dos:
We're trying to teach Brody to say, "please" and "thank you" (among other things) and sometimes he just can't get the words out. I now believe what they say about the second child not talking until later. He speaks in his own language and makes up words. So I was offering him something....can't remember...my mind works like that you know....and I held it out and said, "say please" and what did I get?
"Penis"
Seriously. Did he just say penis? I looked at Lonnie...who was cracking up.....so that answered my question. "Brody, say please."
"Penis"
I'm not even quite sure where he learned how to say that...it's not like we throw that word around a lot here. It think it may be a combination of please and pizza...but it came out so very very not like please or pizza at all. So be careful what you ask for. Instead of a nice and simple please or thank you, we are now getting a phallic organ in response to an offering. Kids say the darnedest things, eh?
We're getting an ice storm today. Lonnie and I are cleaning out closets, cabinets and toy boxes in hopes of making a huge donation to Goodwill on Tuesday (quarter Tuesday baby!) Since the boys got new toys, our rule is that a few older toys that are no longer played with must go. I love cleaning clutter! I can't stand clutter, it makes me short of breath....even though sometimes our house is overrun by it. The stuff must go!!! I got a sweet slow cooker from my mother-in-law and will be getting rid of my other one, so if anyone needs one, let me know, I'll send it your way!
On a quick note, my other blog www.creativegeniusart.blogspot.com, (which features my artwork and projects) will now be featuring the amazing artwork of some of my creative mommy artist friends. I'm so excited, they do wonderful things! So check back soon for an updated art blog...maybe you'll see something you like!!!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Happy Birthday Jesus

Who gave that to you!? Rethinking that decision now....

I wish someone would give me a foot massage!

Flo, guarding the cookies (EL Fudge of course!) and carrots (for thr reigndeer)! Jesus' birthday cake was in the kitchen, it was angelfood...how fitting!

The drooling cowboy.

Remember the last minute presents from my dad...wrapped JUST LIKE THIS? Love it! It was chocolate covered cherries (like I need any more sugar!) and some Keri lotion. Nothing says I love you like large amounts of packing tape.

Christmas morning....his Pirate's Who Don't Do Anything Veggie Tales ship. He's thrilled.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Over the river and through the woods.....
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
For unto us a SAVIOR is born!!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Dear little red pickup truck driver
I realize that even though you don't know me and I haven't the slightest clue who you are, I am harboring large amounts of anger towards you right now. Let me explain why. You see, we are under a, "snow emergency" in this great little town of Lisbon. When that happens, it means you can't park on a street that has the signs reading, "EMERGENCY SNOW ROUTE, NO PARKING" Now I realize that you may be illiterate and I don't mean to discriminate, but I'm pretty sure judging by the fact that THERE ARE NO OTHER CARS ON OUR STREET, you could figure it out. Your little red pickup truck that is sitting in front of our house is causing me frustration. We happen to live on a snow emergency street and so your parking there....IS ILLEGAL. It is also hindering the snow plow from plowing our street and mainly in front of our mailbox. I spent about an hour this morning with a two foot shovel (don't ask) trying to dig the mailbox out to no avail. Do you know what happens when we don't have our mailbox cleared? You guessed it. NO MAIL. No Christmas cards with cute photos, no new magazines and catalogs and no money from granny...all because you decided that parking and leaving your truck in front of our house was a great idea. Believe me, walking outside to the mailbox is the highlight of my day and you are stealing my sunshine, buddy. Another reason you are slightly ticking me off is now that they won't plow on our street...I have to lug two enormously bundled up children through large wet piles of snow to get into my car. Now I am a short person....vertically challenged maybe, and my pant legs sometimes drag on the ground. Trudging and walking through snow makes my shoes, pants and socks wet....and that makes me cranky. You don't want to make me cranky.....er. Now I realize that the reason your car is sitting there could be for many different reasons.....1. Aunt Bertha slipped and broke her hip and you rode with her to the hospital in the ambulance 2. You lost your keys as you were delivering Christmas presents to the needy 3. You ran out of gas while helping a woman with 14 children into her house. If you were doing one of those...then you can just forget this, but I find it highly unlikely. So all I'm asking is that
YOU MOVE YOUR STINKIN CAR SO THEY CAN PLOW MY STREET!
Simple as that.
Have a good day.
Merry Christmas.
Sincerely,
Unhappy mother stuck in her house with nothing better to do than write a fake letter to a truck driver who is m.i.a. I hate winter.
Amen.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Ice, Ice, Baby...
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
and I quote, "Little House on the Prairie Women never went anywhere..."


Wow, now this is what I want to be like when I grow up. Check out those biceps from manual labor. Dead sexy. And since we're laying on the sarcasm and cynicism pretty darn thick......

...and my personal favorite.....

Tuesday, December 16, 2008
I am a mean mean mom....
Now you see that cute little plastic 2 inch yellow monster finger puppet with purple arms? Yea, that one. Well, he strikes fear into the heart of Brody (I'm thinking of calling him Teddy if he keeps gaining any more weight....like the third chipmunk Theodore who eats everything) Notice how Brody has his own little language too. I'm sure he's really saying, "get that freaking monster away from me, you're scaring the poo out of me" We have yet to figure it out though. Now this video doesn't demonstrate my evilness...just wait.
Poor kid. He goes running and hides in the corner all because of that little monster. I do believe you hear me utter the words, "it's okay Brody, come here." Sure, it's okay...I just want to catch you on camera freaking out. Geeze, he can't even decide which couch to hide behind!
The evil is coming, trust me.
Not here so much....or here....but HERE
Notice how he gets further and further behind the couch...he knows what's coming....You'd think you could trust your mom?
"touch it, it's okay"
I think I heard these words uttered from my brother when he put a cigarette lighter up to my finger....
So sorry. I couldn't resist. Never fear, there was much loving and moster therapy after the traumatic touching of the monster. Hey, I'm only trying to help...we don't want to raise a weenie :)
Monday, December 15, 2008
A sacrificial couch burning?
Well, the weekend was too fast. Lonnie was away for part of it so the boys and I chose to stay indoors (this is also where I spend most of the winter) I made a huge pot of chili and it will last for days, so dinner is covered! Nothing like a bowl of chili with crusty bread and cheese....mmmmmm. Nothing like winter in Iowa too...where you go to church without a coat (it was 50!) and walk out to wind chills and freezing rain. Did I mention how much I hate winter?
So I read this in my quiet time this morning and it was a great verse for me.
Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 cor. 10:5
I often find myself fighting off the "evil" thoughts during the day. Not necessarily mean horrible nasty ones, but simply thought of anger or thoughts of jealousy or even comparison. So every time I find that I am comparing myself to another mom or the girl with the amazing abs in the magazine, I will try to take that thought captive! Grrr take that. It's not as easy as it sounds!
Baylor and I have a Wall-E viewing date right now. Since he gives up most naps, it's been fun to spend some quality time with him while the destroyer sleeps. We'll be huddled under blankets on the couch if anyone comes a knockin.......
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Button, button who's got the button?

Alrighty then. Yesterday is was canola oil. Today is was buttons. Ironically enough, I found this Popsicle stick laying in the pile of buttons after I attempted to sweep them up.

The pile after the sweep. This is nothing.

Dangling from the table....trying his hardest to get those buttons! If he doesn't win gold in the Olympics for gymnastics, I'll be stunned.
So we decided to make homemade Christmas ornaments and I busted out my jar of buttons (which was not a smart idea..what was I thinking?) and they decided that button tossing, throwing and rolling was clearly more fun than making ornaments. So I walked into the other room to grab something and came back to this.....(see above video)
I guess when you've been stuck in a house all week, there is nothing more exciting than making BUTTON ANGELS!!! Woo Hoo....and I guess when you are up from midnight to three in the morning, a little button fun wouldn't hurt anyone. ME TIRED. Oh, and the Christmas ornaments are really cute by the way.
Yea, so if you ever need some buttons....
Friday, December 12, 2008
" I spilled the YELLOW JUICE!!!!"
Baylor: "yes"
CRAP.
So Baylor leads me downstairs as I envision Brody swimming in this so called "yellow juice" (which he was) Now you're probably wondering what the, "yellow juice" is. Don't worry, it wasn't bodily fluid related (although the thought did cross my mind) The yellow juice was a brand new, just opened and very full bottle of canola oil...and yes, it was yellow....and yes, Brody was covered in it and thrilled at this new slime he was playing in. I however, was not. How on earth (I am very open to suggestions on how to remove oil from clothing and stuffed animals!!!) do you get this out!!! I've washed the clothes....ALL of our clothes...in hot water, oxyclean, lots of detergent...and when I pull out the load to dry it...my hand is still covered in oil. I'm very sad because he sloshed me in my favorite pair of Jeans....and since I only have two pairs that actually fit, it looks like we're down to sweats. It also got all over the boys nice jeans and Lovey (Brody's stuffed lamb that he has to sleep with or else) So here I am, asking for some laundering advice on how to remove butt loads of canola oil from clothing!!!! Help!!!
Happy Friday.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Ordinary Day
Rules:
1. Put your iPod on shuffle. (or your itunes if you're ghetto like me and don't have one)
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag *at least* 10 friends (or three if you don't have any....) who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you stole it from.
5. Keep in mind this was given to young adults (not happily married stay at home moms :) although some of these are pretty amusing! I've added my commentary in red.
1) IF SOMEONE ASKS, "IS THIS OKAY?", YOU SAY? The Baby-Blake Shelton (of course the baby....that's my answer for anything now.....must be subconscious)
2) WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? Everything You Want-Vertical Horizon (Exactly, I'm a rock star)
3) WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? You Center Me-Robin Thicke (or your husband! How true, he does center me...especially when he sits on me)
4) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? Five Little Frogs-Raffi (if this is any indication of children, I'm crying now)
5) WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? I Vow to Thee My Country-Holst (very true, I love my country...not the current pres. elect, but I still love my country)
6) WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Lullaby-Brahms (I didn't think I was that boring, but whatever)
7) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? You Said-Shane Barnard (well I hope what you said was nice)
8) WHAT IS 2+2? Overture to Colas Brugnon (dude, math was never my strong point)
9) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? Runaway Meadow-Thomas Newman (exactly)
10) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE (or perhaps your husband)? Glad-Tyler Hilton (right on once again)
11) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? Show Me Your Glory-Third Day (I hope this can be my life story someday, but not my glory of course)
12) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Youthless-Beck (Hey, it's better than toothless!)
13) WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE A PERSON YOU LIKE (or your husband perhaps)? Better is One Day-Passion (Better is one day...especially when you bring home pizza for dinner!)
14) WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Nothing Better To Do-LeeAnn Rimes (great, thanks mom....)
15) WHAT DID YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? El Verano-Vivaldi (No hablo espanol, but we can dance)
16) WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? Why Did You Mess With Forever-John Mayer (Yup, dead is pretty much forever....)
17) WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? Audience of One-Big Daddy Weave (or two....little boys that is)
18) WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? Riverdance-Dueling Violins (dang it, my secret is out...no more late night Lord of the Dance parties on the kitchen table)
19) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? Give Me Your Eyes-Brandon Heath (yea, give me your eyes so you can't make fun of my wicked dance skills)
20) WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? If I never see your face again-Maroon Five (If I never see your face again...Patrick Dempsy..um, I mean Lonnie)
21) HOW WILL YOU DIE? Walking Away-Craig David (Gosh I hope not, is this a bad western or something?)
22) WHAT IS ONE THING YOU REGRET? Taking Chances-Celine Dion (not at all....more regretful is the fact I have Celine Dion songs on my computer)
23) WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? Lost-Coldplay (pretty much because I can't find my way out of a paper bag)
24) WHAT MAKES YOU CRY? Bone Up-Bonerama (ummmm, I think I'll leave this one alone...by the way, it's a Trombone group!!!)
25) WHAT IS YOUR MARRIAGE LIKE? Puff The Magic Dragon-Peter, Paul and Mary (Just say NO to drugs, seriously)
26) WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? Steal My Kisses-Ben Harper (especially when it's the dog.....nothing like a unsuspecting wet sloppy kiss to the mouth)
27) DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU? Bonified Lovin-Chromeo (Heck yea...apparently it's bonified...and why the heck do I have so many songs with the word bone in them!!)
28) IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? This is Me-Demi Lavato (This is me, what you see is what you get)
29) WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW? More Where that came from-Dolly Parton (well, considering the fact that the sidewalk is covered in ice...I'm fairly certain there will be plenty more wiping out on the hiney...because that's what hurts!)
30) WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? Ordinary Day-Vanessa Carleton (story of my life)
Okay, I'm tagging whomever wants to avoid doing housework, laundry or simply wants to ignore their children for a few minute while they fill out this amusing little survey....go go go!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Drama 101: The Disappearance of Little Green Man

Meet little green man. He doesn't really have an official name, but as you can see he is very very tiny. That is our remote he's posing in front of. Let me give you the background on this frightfully small and somewhat scary looking thing. I got him back in high school from a friend and had kept him in my jewelry box (I don't wear any except my wedding ring because I'm allergic so I don't frequent the box....an old cigar box....very often) for God knows what reason. I guess he was sentimental, but obviously old age and birthing children has permitted me from remembering the details....except it was a boy that gave him to me! Ohhhhhhh, juicy. So one would think that this miniature thing would not be an exciting toy for a kid because he's just so small, he doesn't make any noise and he obviously can't be used as a weapon.
WRONG. If you haven't met my son yet, he gets attached to strange objects (even vegetables such as squash and kitchen utensils such as whisks....don't ask, just smile and nod) and then he sleeps with them, doesn't let them out of his sight and clutches them in his grubby little hands until he falls asleep and they fall out of his hands...which then is another major drama waiting to unfold. Who can find the toy in the bed sheets first! It's a fun game we like to play. So I game this little green dude to Baylor and it was love at first sight. He dropped his other toys, trains, cars and rocks and clutched his beloved green monster thingy with a huge smile. The dude went everywhere with him....ate lunch with him, went to the bathroom with him and of course got to sleep with him. So as you can imagine, he is waaaaaaay attached to this little guy....and of course the inevitable happened.
GONE. HE'S GONE. (insert cries, wails and tantrum throwing here) So yesterday we spent the entire day pulling apart the entire house looking for a 1cm tall scary looking dude. It did however have it's positives. 1. I cleaned the couches off and took all the cushions off, vacuumed and febreezed the heck out of them. 2. Found 13 toys that had magically disappeared under the coaches (yes, COUCHES...THREE!!! Don't remind me!!) 3. Cleaned under each couch with the long sucky thing on the vacuum...it had been a while and I'm sure I sucked up an entire dog worth of hair...ewww gross. We searched in the beds, under the beds, in the toys box, in the bathtub....nothing. Despair was setting in and I was losing hope of ever finding this beloved toy ever again. So the day went on and Baylor went to bed still asking us to search for him while he slept. Sure thing.....I'll get right on that. Sorry..this is turning into a short novel isn't it. Okay, I'll finish soon, I promise!
So this morning I decide that I've been stuck in this house for far too long (since Sunday) and needed to get out and move around and have the boys run off some energy. So we bundled them up and tossed them in the car. Okay, we safely buckled them in...but tossed sounds much more exciting doesn't it? Baylor kept complaining of something in his boot and I just thought it was his sock seam (coming from a freak of sock seams...I have to have mine perfect or else) We get to Cornell, take off his boot and.....
BAM! Out falls little green man!!!!!
I know you're excited now.
Jubilation. Celebrations. Cries of joy. I kid you not, I think I saw a tear in Baylor's eye..of joy of course! So little green man has returned...for now.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Just because

Excuse me, it's not Holiday decorations...
CHRISTMAS!!
If it was not for the CHRIST in CHRISTmas...there would not be one....a Christmas that is. Where has America fallen of the deep end to the extent that we can't even say "SALE on Christmas decorations!" we have to say, "sale on holiday decorations!" Hold on, I have to go put an ornament on my holiday tree and then while I'm at it, I might sing a little holiday carol. (Heaven forbid you might get someones undies in a bind) Sure, it's a holly jolly holiday season, but isn't this big ole' holiday that we're celebrating CHRISTMAS? Yes, I do believe so. Remember way back in Sunday school....you know, when you used to stick glue in little Cindy's hair and make fun of your Sunday school teacher's uni brow? And that nativity scene that you used to play with as a kid? (ours is currently sitting next to lightening McQueen, Larry Boy and a t-rex...but who's to say there weren't giant cucumbers back in the day) So back to JESUS.....Yes, that one. Remember those stories about wise men and Shepards and oh yes, THE BABY JESUS!!!! That little baby my friends, is why we celebrate CHRISTMAS not just have holidays. That little baby that came to earth and eventually die for us (a big fat bunch of sinners...yes, I just called you a sinner) So please don't take the CHRIST out of CHRISTmas. Our goal this year is to make sure Baylor knows the true meaning of Christmas and how it's not all about the loot (which seems almost impossible since he realized that he gets presents this time) it's not all about the shiny glittery "holiday" decorations, it's about that little baby that was born in a manger...and I thought the sheets at St.Lukes were scratchy......True, it is fun to give presents and even more fun to get them, but we have totally over commercialized Christmas to the extent of nausea while watching t.v commercials for sales, bargains and knocking down pregnant Wal-mart employees. So maybe instead of reading them The Night Before Christmas, you read them the reality show version of Christmas...straight out of the Bible. I hope that you (and myself) can reach out to our kids this year and really show them the true reason for the season.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Time out please!

Saturday, December 6, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Flashback Friday: Happy Birthday Grandma!!

She's a hottie isn't she? This is my grandmother M.E and she is turning 80!! I have been so blessed to have her in my life from the very beginning and she was even there for Baylor's birth. She has the spunk of a 20 year old and the legs of an 18 year old. I'm pretty sure she's had every joint in her body replaced but still gets up and walks two miles a day. She's retired (but not really) from a lifetime of racing horses on a farm in Illinois. She is also celebrating her 60th wedding anniversary to my Grandpa Allen aka Senor grumpy pants :) I used to go and spend weeks with her on the farm in the summer, learned how to drive a tractor (and crash it too) ride a horse, fall off a horse, get back on a horse, walk underneath a horse, shoe a horse, bale hay, shovel horse crap (a skill I think everyone should learn!) build spectacular tree forts near the creek, chase horses, shoot a gun, change a tractor tire, and the list goes on. I have so many fun memories and hope to have many more. She is one special lady and I love her to death! Happy Birthday Grandma!!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Ugly Angel

Shield your eyes!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Three peas in a pod
It's snowing again. Did I mention how much I hate winter?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Does this snowsuit make my butt look HUGE?

I think we're going to have trouble with this one....as in preppy college frat boy trouble. He couldn't keep the ladies away in the nursery on Sunday. That's the way he rolls.

I Love it when you call me BIG POPPA...(sorry, you have to see the movie to understand...)

We made "gingerbread" houses this morning out of graham crackers, frosting and m&m's (most of which were ingested rather than making on the houses.
