The End of 2015

Well Happy 2016.  Christmas was 14 days ago, and New Year's Eve is a blurry memory.  Let me clear that up... New Year's Eve is a blurry memory because I am old and boring and went to bed before midnight.  It's not a blurry memory because I partied too hard.  Unless "partying" involves wrapping your scaredy-cat dog tightly in a blanket to keep her from having a firework-induced doggie heart attack.  If that's "partying," then put me in rehab.

Christmas was big fun, and we made the annual travels to see all our people.  We saw Dan/Daddy's family in Florida, spent 3 days at home in Tennessee, and then went to see my family in South Carolina.  Everywhere we went, it was hot.  And humid.  No one could stop talking about the Christmas heat wave.  To say I was not a fan of the weather would be a huge understatement.  I don't even like hot humid weather when it's supposed to be hot and humid.  Blah.  No one wants to sip hot cocoa by the cozy fire.  No one wants to wear their new sweaters and fuzzy socks.  Christmas 2015 will forever be known as The Christmas We All Sweated.

The boy made cookies with his Nana... A tradition they continued with the AC on.  And while wearing funky cat t-shirts, apparently.  Meowy Christmas.

 

 

Dan/Daddy's grandmother loves having us over to her house for presents and deserts.  Grandmas can rock a Christmas sweatshirt even in a heat wave.  I would have been a puddle.

In SC, this is the only picture I was able to get of my nephew and the boy.  The rest of the photos were blurry because my nephew is 7, and never stops moving.  This was also 4.2 seconds before he peeled off his shirt and opened all his Christmas presents semi-nude.  Did I mention it was hot?

Church selfies.  Please don't judge.  Look at my sweet mom, smiling at the boy... She loves having us all home and able to go to church with her.  But her sweet daughter and other grandson are goofing off.  Church is obviously the best place for all of us.

 

 



Once we were home from all our Christmas travels, we rang in the New Year with football games and large amounts of cheese.  The boy was out celebrating at a friend's house, so Dan/Daddy and I watched TV and grew roots to the couch.  I did about 40 loads of laundry, but that's not glamorous, so I'm trying to forget it.  I made the executive decision to watch the ball drop in New York, and being a fan of Eastern Time, I went to bed at 11:20 pm. 
I said, "If it's 2016 in New York, that's good enough for me." 
Dan/Daddy said, "It's been 2016 in Australia since this morning... Why did you even get up?"  There's always a critic.

I hope your Christmas was cold and full of fun.
I also hope your New Year's Eve was half as exciting as mine.

December... 12 Days In

Well hello, December 12th.  Christmas is 12 days away.  You're welcome.

It's taken me two weeks to recuperate from Thanksgiving. We drove all over the southeast like crazy people.  We spent two days with Dan/Daddy's family and two days with mine. I took tons of family pictures, ate carbs like they were going out of style, and learned a really inappropriate song from my nephew.
The drive from my parents' house to our own should take about six or seven hours, but on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, it took twelve.  Most of the trip we inched along at a blistering 11 mph. We even saw two cars get into a minor accident, and when the drivers got out to check the damage, the traffic started moving. They shook hands, hopped right back into their cars, and kept going. No dented bumper was worth spending any more time on that highway.
Thankfully, we had Adele to sing us through the hours of torture.  (Y'all.  That girl can sing.) 
We also listened to every Christmas CD we own.  (Yes, we still listen to CD's like it's 2005.)  I took a video and sent it to my sis-in-law to show her the nightmare of a traffic jam we were in, but I didn't realize you could hear the music playing in the background.  I also captured Dan/Daddy's excitement when we got up to 14 mph.  It's the little things.

I read 36 back issues of People, filed my nails, debated the Presidential race, made too many "to do" lists, and cleaned out my purse.  We eventually made it home and spent another hour unloading the car.  I'm getting too old for this.
I am looking forward to the day everyone comes to my house for the holidays.  I want to drag out all the extra chairs, forget to buy ice, make way too many desserts, and feed all my people.  I told the boy I'm excited for the days he brings home friends from college, and I can drive them batty offering "one more piece of pecan pie." 

Since Thanksgiving, the whirlwind of holiday madness has descended.  If you are one of those calm, organized, "I finished my shopping in August" people, just pray for me.  I have decided the holidays would be easier if we could stop all the regular activities and just do Christmas-y stuff.  I can't keep up with laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, errand running, soccer practices AND do all the holiday stuff.  It's either one or the other.  If the Christmas presents get bought and the cookies get made, then there's a good chance the dog hasn't been fed, the towels need to be washed, and someone ate cereal for dinner.  Here's where I give a big ol' shout-out to all the working moms who have grown-up jobs on top off all that other stuff.  Who am I to complain?

In other holiday news, I gave in to the yard decorating pressure I avoided for a long time.  I have always liked white lights and simple decorations outside.  Well guess who threw caution to the wind and dragged home two yard inflatables?  This girl.  My elf helper was excited.

 

In case you think I'm starting to get it all together... While we were setting these up, the dog ate up all the cat's food, and a rotisserie chicken I had forgotten to take in the house leaked chicken juice into my car.  My yard looks festive, but my car smells like roasted chicken.  It's one or the other.  



Happy Thanksgiving And Deck The Halls

I have one of those houses.  One of the houses you have heard people ranting about.  I have become one of those people.  People who your Facebook friends are talking about.  Yep.  I have at least two different holiday decorations up at the same time.  It's Thanksgiving on my mantle and Christmas on the other side of the room.  My house is holiday-confused, and I am ok with that.  HGTV was not calling to do a special on my decorating skills anyway.

It seems to me the "When Can You Decorate For Christmas Wars" started early this year.  I also call them the "When Can You Listen To Christmas Music Wars."  I say live and let decorate.  I love Christmas music, but I have friends who listen to it all year.  Really.  I'm not exaggerating.  Why do we have to be "Team Thanksgiving" or Team Christmas" at all?  Can't we be both?  I am over here waving the holiday truce flag.
I started putting up the Christmas tree before Thanksgiving a few years ago.  We were traveling all during Thanksgiving, and it was my plan to come home to a twinkling Christmas tree.  It just makes me happy, and it seemed to help in the chaos that is the 4 weeks between the 2 holidays.  It was one less things to worry about.
I am a lover of all things Thanksgiving, and having my tree up does not make me less focused on being thankful.  It makes me more thankful... for a tree that is already up.

I hope and pray you have a beautiful Thanksgiving.  I hope you get to eat your favorite foods with your favorite people all around you.  I hope you don't count calories or the number of desserts you eat.  I hope you remember to be thankful on Thursday and every day.  Even if it's not Thanksgiving!  I guess if we can try to be thankful every day of the year, my crazy friends can listen to Christmas music all year, too.

In case you are concerned about my sad holiday decorating skills, I did a quick check before sitting down to write this, and I am fairly certain there's no remnant of Halloween still around.  Unless real spiderwebs count. 

Up To Date

I spent the last half of my week dragging people and pets to various appointments where we received a total of 8 shots.  We are now all up to date on our vaccinations.  The boy and I went to get our flu shots.  The flu shot is big fun all by itself, but when the nurse checked the boy's charts, she saw he was due for a booster of the meningococcal vaccine.  Good times.  He looked at me like he was 5 years old all over again... eyes wide open... and said, "We are gettin' ice cream." 
Shots at the doctor = ice cream on the way home.  We sat on the couch last night complaining about whose arm hurt the worst.

Then this morning, I took BOTH the cat and the dog to the vet.  At the same time.  Our cat was due for her yearly check-up and vaccinations, so I called and made an appointment.  The receptionist reminded me the dog was due for a heartworm check and vaccine, so I made the bold move to take them together.  I decided if I'm loading one furry child onto the car, I may as well load two.  I'm a sucker for a stressful event.
Our cat was great.  She scrunched down into her box and let the vet check her from head to toe.  She didn't even flinch when the needles went in.  The dog, however, was a different story.  She whined and cried and zoomed around the exam room like a needy toddler.  When it was her turn to have blood drawn, she whimpered like crazy... after the needle came out.  She begged the vet for attention, she begged the vet tech for attention, and she pawed at the door.  She even took a treat from the vet, and then spit it out on the table.  I was embarrassed.  The fur kids were not.

Even as I was trying to pay my absurd bill and check out, our dog pulled on her leash and tried to get the attention of every single person in the lobby.  In case you are wondering, no one got ice cream on the way home.

Back To Reality And Rain

The weekend was 4 whole days ago, and we are still celebrating around here.  The boy's soccer team won our State Cup Tournament!  First place in their division!  This kid never gives less than 100%, and he fought a lot of obstacles to be on this team.  A lot of prayers went into this season, too.

 

I think he was in a tiny bit of shock after the win.  He gave me the biggest hug right there on the sidelines, and I think it was one of my top 5 moments as a mom.  His shock wore off quickly, and the celebrating started...

 

 

Our sports victory high came to a screeching halt bright and early Monday morning.  The "check engine" light was on in my car... for the 3rd time in a month.  Thankfully, it was a minor issue (again).  The mechanic explained this particular "glitch" happens in older cars.  You say "old,"  I say "paid for." 

I also had my yearly eye exam.  Whoever said it's all downhill from 40 failed to mention you were riding on a sled down that hill.  A sled with no brakes.  I had to get new reading glasses last year, and I really only used them for reading.  That was then.  Now I wear them almost all the time to see up close.  The eye doctor said my eyes were fine... just old.  Umm, thanks.  She changed my prescription and suggested I wear my glasses all the time.  Thankfully I had my hair colored last week, or she may have pointed out my gray roots.

In weather news, I thought we were going to need a boat to get around yesterday.  It seems like we have had plenty of rain in the last several months.  We have had so much rain, I broke down and bought a raincoat.  A real waterproof raincoat with my monogram... Like all the young cute girls wear.  I wanted one for a while, but I was afraid as soon as I ordered it, the rain would stop forever.  The raincoat came Monday, and the rain started Tuesday.  I wore my new coat, but I discovered something important... Raincoats don't breathe.  By the time I got to my Bible study, I was a hot, flat-haired, sweaty mess in my cute raincoat.  Oh well, you can't have it all.

 

The same person who said, "It's all downhill from 40" should have also said, "Cute monogrammed raincoats don't breathe."  And, "Old cars may be paid for, but they need lots of repairs."  And, "Reading glasses will soon become seeing glasses."  Oh to be young and athletic and a State Champion.





I Saw The Signs

I was pumping gas a few days ago, and I noticed the sign above the ice machine outside the gas station.  The sign said,

"Healthier Than Homemade"

 

Really?  Is that something I should be noticing when I put ice in my drinks at home?  I have never stopped to wonder, "Is this ice healthy?"  And I have purchased plenty of ice in those monster-sized bags from the gas station for parties or get-togethers.  Not once did I feel better about serving my guests healthy ice.

 

This week, the boy and I went to a park near our house to take some pictures so I can get a head start on the family Christmas card.  I usually try to take the Christmas card pictures over Thanksgiving, and it is as much fun as you can imagine.  The beautifully cool Fall weather we've had for 3 weeks straight magically disappears on Thanksgiving Day, and it turns out to be a humid 98 degrees.  I have visions of color-coordinated outfits and Fall-happy smiles, but what I typically get is someone squinting in the sun, at least 2 people dripping in sweat, and one or 2 folks complaining about the hot outfit they have on.  And there's only 3 of us.

So while I was torturing my son taking his picture at the park, we saw this:

 

 

Who walks on mud on purpose?  Maybe I'm not the adventuring type, but if I see a big, half-dried up, muddy lake bed, I do not have the urge to step out in it.  Who knew our park had quick sand?   I said I would pay good money to see somebody stuck up to their chest in mud.  Well, maybe I wouldn't actually pay to see it, but I would like to see it.

 

And then I had to run into the store this morning for a few quick 83 items.  This is the sign that greeted me at the door.

Thanks, Wal Mart.  My holiday anxiety was already beginning to rear its ugly head.  You have helped me shoot straight into full-on panic mode.

 







Do You Have A List?

If you are a parent, I am pretty certain you have a list.  I have a list.  I would love to tell you it is a written list, but that would be a lie.  I keep the list in my mind, where we all know it could vanish at any given moment.
My list is called, "Things I Never Thought I Would Ever Ever Say"
The list could also be titled, "Weird Stuff You Say When You Have Kids"
Some of my favorite items on the list are:
1.  Why is your underwear on the cat?
2.  Get down off the top of the refrigerator.
3.  Don't fight with a drink in your hands!
And my latest entry... "I got your tutu out of the garage for you to wear.  Again."
That is correct.  The boy wears a tutu.  But only on special occasions.

 

He was a cheerleader in the annual Powder Puff Football game.  He takes his role seriously, and - like all good cheerleaders - wears a short skirt.  Thankfully, he wears shorts and pants under it.
He was a cheerleader last year, too, but he had to borrow a pink tutu.  Heaven forbid.  So this year, he has his own.  He's even worn it before, but I can't remember what for.  Maybe I'm subconsciously blocking the memory.  Last week, he reminded me about the game, so I went rummaging through the costume box in the garage to find the tutu.  And that's when it happened.  I said, "Your tutu is in your room!"  I stopped and thought to myself, "That needs to go on the list."
New parents are sometimes given the advice to write down the funny and cute things their kids say, and that is great advice.  But the crazy stuff parents end up saying is just as entertaining.  And some things should not be forgotten.  Maybe I will start that list today.