Once Upon a Snow Day

7:15 am.

FREEZING cold.

Still pretty dark outside.

I was snuggly and warm in my bed.

"WAS" being the key word here.

A scream broke the morning silence.

"IT SNOWED! IT SNOWED!! IT SNOWED!!"

Of course, being the "12 year-old child trapped in a 30 something (?) year-old body" that I am... I got up.

And snow it did!

It actually snowed until about 3:00 that afternoon. Nice.

We played like crazy snow-deprived people. (Is this what living in the Mojave Desert does to you?)

Another day off from school, another day of PJ's, piles of wet clothes, puddles in the kitchen floor, stacks of board games, enough hot chocolate to kill a normal person, AND...

My power stayed on!!


Thank you Lord for snow days.

The intersection where we live... where- all day- we watched cars slip and slide...






We only had one "problem" with the snow... It would not "pack" into a snowball OR a snowman. It was too "powdery" for building. Therefore, I give you...

"Cyclops... The Tiny Snowman"

Even his little Sweet Gum Tree thingy eyes wouldn't stay on... Hence his name...

Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures

We have had a bit of chilly weather here this past week. COLD, people. COLD.

I think the wind chill one morning was a toasty 8 degrees.

You won't hear this Southern girl complaining, though. I love me some chilly weather. Now before you tell me to pack it up and move to North Dakota, and that I am not really "Southern" because I like cold weather...

Let me explain. It is January. That- in my tiny mind- translates to "cold." I like to enjoy each Season as the good Lord intended. Warm in the Spring, cool in the Fall, hot in the Summer, and cold in the Winter. Nothing irritates me more than for it to be cold on Easter. Or blazing hot on Thanksgiving Day. Irritating.

And, in my defense, I am a flip-flop lover. (See. I like Summer. IN Summer.)

How cold has it been here?

Just let my two cats explain it for you in their own way.

These cats barely tolerate each other. In truth, the fat one HATES the skinny one.
Hmmm...

Anyway, this is Shelby (a.k.a. "Biggie") trying to cuddle up on the couch with what she assumes is a pillow?



Trust me, this cat cannot STAND her adopted "sister." She growls and hisses when Subway walks past. It doesn't help that Subway takes random smacks at her at EVERY opportunity.

Does she really think it is a pillow? Maybe with her old age and half blind self she thinks it's me or the boy?


Or maybe when it's 8 degrees outside... enemies can become friends... if they're warm.

A Little Bit of Idol

I feel, somehow, a little happier today.

Did I get good news from a family member?

Did I catch up on all my scrapbooking?

Did someone offer to do all my laundry for the next 10 years?

Did I win the lottery?

Nope. None of the above.

Just got to watch a little American Idol last night.

Ahh.

I knew something had been missing from my scattered little life.

It was condescending judges and bad singing. Why is that entertainment to me?

The "WHYs" of Christmas... the Final Chapter

As much as I HATE riding in the car and as much as I love being at my house for the holidays, Christmas would not be the same without a trip to good old "home." That's my childhood "home"... you know... where my parents live.

So, the day after Christmas, we loaded up the car once again and headed to SC. We opened gifts with my family and ate like pigs. Again. And again. We even got to see some relatives we haven't seen in a while.


Why, even as a "grown-up," does this make me giddy?


Why is this so crazy adorable? Spit and all!


And why... when I look at this picture do I hear the song from "Cops"... "Bad boys, bad boys. Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?"


We decided after church to take some "family" photos.

Let me now state the truth.

I decided, during church, that since we were all clean and purty... we should take family pictures. I then passed a note to my brother (in church) to tell him of my plan. He frowned and scowled at me (in church). My husband, reading the note over my shoulder, whispered (in church), "YOU are gonna be the one to tell your son."

You would have thought I was asking them to remove their own toenails with a fork. Goodness, people! They are only pictures.

If you were to ask my son, he'd probably tell you that bad people go to Hell and all they do there is get dressed up and pose for pictures.

So, without further ado... the photo shoot...

Why did we take 47,583 pictures and only get ONE where we all had our eyes open?



We were able to have lunch at our Mamaw's house that weekend. Wow. My booty is what it is today thanks, in part, to that lady's cooking.

True to our family's nature, there was a weapon involved in the festivities. (See the Thanksgiving post.)

Only this time, it was a Nerf gun. Yet, somehow my husband and brother and son managed to find a way to use it inappropriately.

Why is my husband having such a good time with a toy gun?


The answer?
Why is my brother catching Nerf bullets in his mouth and why is my son cheering?


And why... am I a tiny bit proud that he can do it too?


Please, for the last time, do not call Child Protective Services. We are good parents, I promise. Just bad examples!

The "WHYs" of Christmas... Part II

So, lemme see. Where was I? I know...


Why do most of the Christmas 2008 memories in my mind look like this?



After TRAVELING for 40 days and 40 nights... Well, it felt like it. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at home. Nice.


Why does the last page of the Polar Express always make me cry?


Why did the boy feel the need to leave Santa a gift with his cookies and milk?
(Can't read the note? It says, "Take this for your troubles.")
Why did he think Santa would be "troubled" on Christmas Eve?



Christmas morning dawned bright and early for some people. Some small people who then proceeded to pound upon their poor mama's backside until she drug her half-dead self into the living room. After all the presents were opened, Dan and I went back to sleep! Now that's a present!!

Why didn't I ask Santa for one of these myself?


Why didn't I invent these little things so I could be a gazillionaire?


And... Why didn't somebody throw this thing back on the sleigh before the fat man zoomed out of there? Seriously. It hurts.



Our celebrations were far from over. We left the day after Christmas to see the Rogers side o' the family. But, that will have to wait.

I have an empty and dirty house. And, the only time I can clean it and actually enjoy it being clean is when it's empty.

The "WHYs" of Christmas... Part I

While scrolling through the photos from our holidays, I was wondering how I could post some of the better ones in a more "interesting" way. Let's just say that I didn't have to look too long before I realized just how "interesting" the pictures were all on their own.

Let me put it another way. As I looked at the pictures, I kept repeating to myself the question, "Why?"

"Why is my son making that face?"

"Why are that person's eyes closed... again?"

"Why is my hair lookin' like that?"

"Why did I think that would make a good picture?"

And, why... why... why...

So. Here are some of our memorable moments.

And some of the "why" ones, too.


We started our Christmas in the best possible way. With the children from our Chapel presenting the Christmas story. The boy had a speaking part and a solo, and I helped some of the other moms direct.

Why are kids in crazy costumes singing Christmas carols so darn cute?


Why does this make me teary-eyed?


And...Why do 9 and 10 year old boys feel the need to pose like rappers?



After the musical entertainment at Chapel, we headed over to the Smith's house for a "Birthday Party for Jesus."

Why did our son make such instant friends with our friends' children?


Why did God bring me these amazing friends? How did He know I needed them?


And...why do parties have moments like this? Who thought plastic knives were a good idea?



Once school was out, we headed down to Pensacola for a visit with the Urquhart side o' the family. Sadly, Dan's Papa's health is declining due to his cancer. So, we spent a lot of time at his bedside in the Rehabilitation Hospital. On a lighter note, we "visited" with everyone and exchanged gifts. Dan and his dad also spent an entire afternoon roasting and eating fresh oysters. (See below for my opinion on this.)

Why does seeing these two girls all grown up and "teen-agey" make feel like an old woman? (That's a cute little boyfriend in there, too!)


Why is this a little frightening? Yep... that's Nana's dryer. And why is he in it anyway?



Why does this make my husband SO happy?


Why do these even qualify as food? (I know... some of you LOVE them.)


And... Why (no matter how hard I try or how often I try or how they are prepared) do I HATE them so? (I tried, folks... see? I can't even get the critters down. I spit this one in the bushes PROMPTLY after the photo was taken!)


And... Why (despite the sadness of it) is this one of my favorite pictures from the trip?



I think that'll do for now. Supper hasn't been made (or even planned), homework has to be checked, and intuition tells me my son just went outside to play without a jacket.

I Lied (Sorta) and New Pencils

Remember the post where I said I could keep the snowmen up through January?

Nope.

Can't do it.

I tried.

Really, I did. I think it's because it's not really cold here. It feels like Spring or Fall. Not Winter. Not snowman-y at all. It has actually been rainy and dreary for a million years. I'm only exaggerating a little bit. I feel like I live in Seattle, Washington. Not North Carolina.

But, I digress.

Now, I know you remember the strange comment I made about loving the start of school as a child. I was ALL ABOUT those new notebooks and pencils and smelly erasers. Not "smelly" like "stinky" but "smelly" like "yummy-fruit smelly." Something about crisp office supplies inspires me.

So, the new blog look is a little gift from me to me. My own little attempt to inspire myself, to encourage myself, and to get my sorry self motivated. You all just get to come along for the ride.

And, I did get the holiday pictures off the camera and onto the computer.

Coming soon to a blog near you...