Thursday morning crew

MeRrY CHrIsTmAs from the Thursday morning breakfast crew!!!

Don't worry, ski happy

A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” Eudora Welty

…or in my case, sliding down a ski slope.

I’m such a copy cat because you all know I didn’t read something intellectually charging and find that on my own…Unless you call the Pottery Barn 2011 Gift Guide intellectually charging.

If you know me very well, you know that my MOST favorite thing to do in this ENTIRE world is to ski. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Like, REALLY love it. As I mentioned, with the 3-0 looming ever so closely, Jason planned a little trip with some of our best friends. Now, I talk to her almost every day, so how she didn’t tell me- even went as far as to LIE to my face-is a miracle! PROPS TO HER! You can lie to me if you want if it involves us going skiing. They all schemed and told me over dinner one night… I cried. I was a giddy child counting down the days.

Well, it’s now over. It was THE most fun trip I’ve ever been on. We had an ABSOLUTE ball and laughed the entire way home. I was so happy to scoop my girl into my arms and pat Gus’s head, but oh my… .the memories are wonderful.We talked about how we often try SO hard to live in the moment, take it all in and burn memories into our minds…it’s hard. Then, I saw the quote above. Thank goodness for pictures. Thank goodness for lugging my serious camera up the mountain. Funny note, Yours Truly didn’t feel the need to check the battery. Got up the mountain, posed and it DIED. RIGHT THERE ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN! WHAT IF…. WHAT IF…. Oh my. It didn’t happen, so let’s not go there.

These friends of ours…. They are precious precious precious.(I'll teach you about doing silly poses around me!)They took time off their important jobs, busy schedules and smack dab in the middle of the Christmas rush to spend time (and money) to go skiing with me for my birthday. See! Precious friends. Very humbling, might I add. AND… good skiers, might I also add.See, I’m the one that went flying on concrete and about broke my almost 30 year old body. Jason rethought the trip at that moment, I think. I had a small mental lapse. As in, I guess I forgot you can’t ski on concrete- I have no idea, but I gave them a GREAT show. All of that within the first hour! I’ll SPARE you everyone else’s senior moments because they didn’t sign up to be on this blog. So, for your info, they were FAST, graceful, never missed a beat, Picabo Street-kinda skiers. Ahem! One of them even wanted to go to the terrain part and do tricks off the hills without a helmet- FIERCE. Um…DID I MENTION WITHOUT EVER DOING A TERRAIN PARK BEFORE!! See, even senior moments for the youngest on the trip.

So, my husband is the best, most kind and thoughtful person. We all survived. Had the TIME of our lives. One of us is closer to 30. As I stated, nothing the hot tub couldn’t cure. My parents kept EB while we vacationed in Utah. EB had the time of her little life as well and asked if she could hear Millie’s voice again once we got her home. They, too, helped me have the best trip ever.

PS- I met a little girl that was 3.5 and had started skiing when she was 18 months old. Watch out folks, EB will be cutting it up this time next year!! Thank you, JB, Carras and parents for the best trip and birthday surprise!

30 isn't so bad.

I'm a few days shy of 30. Unreal...Simply because I still feel 25. My sweet husband and some of our best friends planned a little jaunt out west to hit the slopes to ease the transition. Or maybe it was an attempt to truly make me feel my age- Nothing a few trips to the hot tub can't cure.

We're ready!

Santa’d up. A year makes a huge difference. Last year, we ALL got to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what we wanted. This year, EB marched up there, verified that he WOULD indeed be paying a visit to her house and checked off her list right then and there.

Decorated. We have too much “Christmas” in our house [BLASTED PINTEREST!!]… but it’s comforting, isn’t it? I threatened to take half of it down in a text conversation with Jason because I can’t function in there under those conditions, but…. Better to have the halls decked with boughs of holly, I suppose. My Pandora app is hands down my most favorite app on my phone. Currently, I have about six Christmas song channels ready to go at a moment’s notice. On the Country Christmas station I heard a wonderful twangy version of something from Mr. George Strait himself. He mentioned, “humbly kneeling by the manger.” I like that… A LOT. It is now the image on the forefront of my mind this month.

Yeah yeah yeah... I loved this font on Pinterest.

Three

Three years ago today....
And now....

So blessed! We are so in love with this girl. Happy Birthday, sweet, crazy, precious girl!! We love you more than you can ever imagine. What a blessed blessed blessed three years it has been.

A new craze

We are SLOWLY sticking our toes into the world of princesses. Lately, EB has shown a fondness to Snow White. She particularly loves when the seven dwarves sing “Hi Ho.” Here is her rendition….listen closely to the beginning….

Somehow she’s confused. I’m not sure if it’s worth correcting or not.

For love of the game

A message from a fan (remember: she’s not quite three… the fight song has lots of words…but her heart is TOTALLY there):

Pin THAT!

So, friends, when I get hooked on something, unfortunately, I.AM.DOUBLE.HOOKED. I resisted the ol' pin-interest (I-for real- thought that's what it was called until a friend said it correctly and I stared at her. Thank goodness I'm surround by smarter people every day of my life) for QUITE some time. Like I need ONE more thing to distract me. I gave in... hard.

I've done two things already in the two days I've been a member. Unfortunately, again, I can't color inside the lines, much less paint, sew or do anything else that is REMOTELY creative. So, sites like this are created to help the creatively handicapped like Yours Truly. If it requires hot glue or something I already have, I'm SOLD. So....so far... I've had a camera and..well.. so far that's all I've needed.

I saw this picture of this little girl and I quote, "Hang camera around your neck+ auto timer and spin." We rushed home, ran straight to the back yard and there we spun and spun. I in a suit and EB in crazy school hair. I'm slow, so it took us about six times to get it KINDA right. Then, someone mentioned chicken pot pie and I was a step closer to losing my lunch on my black suit. BUT.... I think it was fun and worth it. I'll try again when it isn't dark-thirty outside. Also, EB thought I was the bestest, most fun mom ever for spinning and spinning and spinning her. Double plus! When daddy is out of town, we live on the WILD side.

Knock knock...

Tinkerbell flew in for "hallo-wing day."
Who can blame her for wanting a chocolate buffet??
Everyone was told to say trick or treat and pose,
Uh oh, Jason must’ve seen a witch with a big warty nose.Tinkerbell and a fireman took to the streets,
All to get their mommas some Halloween treats.(We did meet a witch who rode in on her broom-
I'm sure this will come back to haunt and I'll find a scared fairy in my room.)Tinkerbell got tired and couldn’t take flight...
Her asthma kicked in and we called it a fun night.With lots of memories and treats in tow...
Tinkerbell passed out back in pixie hollow.

Honesty, a good thing?

Dear dear offspring of your FATHER, your honesty is precious and raw (and not always in the best way).

This story begins all the way back at 2:30 a.m. when EB woke up... Therefore, I woke up. We finally fell asleep at 4 a.m....my alarm goes off at 5. So, I feel awesome, but it's all good. Of course, princess precious was a ball of fire when I had to pry her exhausted little self from her bed.

Moving forward, we were almost through our lovely commute and I turned around to see juice flying everywhere with EB just staring at me. As if this was natural behavior for the backseat. She was soaked, to say the least. I lost my cool... Maybe a little. Bottom line, I asked her not to, she did it anyway thus resulting in the slight raising of my early morning voice (which I guess wasn't my morning voice since I lost that around 3 a.m.).

I just mentioned, as moms tend to do,"EB, you're so tired today. You should ask Jesus to help you use your listening ears and kind words today because you're going to have a long day." A few minutes passed and I asked if she had followed through.....

"Nah. Not yet." Alllllllrighty then. Sweet...precious....child. Sigh.

Rammer Jammer

It's a Roll Tide kinda day.

Are we there yet

We've headed south. EB's version of "Are we there yet?" is "What are you doing?" or "Are we still going to the beach?" I probably answered each of those with the explanation of cotton fields 300 times. EASILY. What ever happened to sleeping the whole way to the beach?

It's Wednesday...

Lots of things happen on Wednesdays…. (besides practice fire drills in the drizzle)

I go to Bible study on Wednesday evenings….and the other two humans in my house go on a date. Jason started that when I started my class and it has been AWESOME. EB looks SO forward to that uninterrupted time with him.

Lastly, I get home in time for my most favorite show. I try really hard not to fall prey to fall TV shows. In the past, I have and they have dictated our every move (I think that’s the reason we now have DVR)…yes, TV had that power. So, I’ve tried hard not to get too into anything… BUT OH MY. Have you watched Wednesday night TV? I’ve begged people around me to tune in and they are fans. It’s the waterhole talk the next day (if not during the show via text). However, hear me on this, do NOT tune in tonight and expect to fall in love. YOU MUST START FROM THE BEGINNING. I can pretty much assure you that you will NOT be disappointed. It’s incredibly well done. If I’m being honest with you, and I am, the people, the houses, their clothes and the setting are all eye candy…. and are a close second to the twists and turns thrown at you in one little chocked full hour. IT’S AWESOME! 9 p.m….be there! For the record, I wear heels AND a cocktail dress on the sand too.

Been there. Done that.

I caused EB great strife and suffering, but it had to be done. I got so tired of watching her fight her allergies and asthma-that-they-won't-classify-as-asthma-just-yet. So, I took her on my own accord to an allergy/asthma specialist thanks to several referrals to the same doc.

Done. Don't have to tell me twice. I gave myself shots and battled those two lovely beasts my entire life and I don't wish them on my worst enemy.

So, we went. We cried. Survived. Walked away with successful tests and a new allergy/asthma regimen. Praise the Lord!!

The pledge

Never mind her scraggly hair or the breaking dishes in the background. We were wild and crazy on the swing and Jason assures me he wasn’t breaking all of my dishes while I was filming this. I think my exact words were, “Seriously? MEN!” Hey, he was cleaning the kitchen and for that I’m grateful- broken dishes and all.

Something for me to remember- A conversation with EB:

Me: What do you think Gus does while we are at work and school? I bet he SLEEPS the day away….or maybe he colors with your crayons?!

EB: Nope. He has paws, not “fingras.”

Touché.

Saturday

The heart of the matter...

You rarely get posts with this tone from me, but I want to share where I am now as a parent of an almost three year old.

If you know us well, you know that I’m constantly plagued by EB’s sass/behavior/belligerence/stubbornness/WHATEVER. It’s funny, occasionally cute, but I’m OBSESSED with her using manners (and she’s pretty good, let me give her credit), waiting her turn to speak and not embarrassing me (which falls way down on the list simply because kids talk..you never know what they’re gonna say and if it’s embarrassing, it’s likely because it’s true. Thank you my little conscious shadow). Basically, she’s almost three and I expect her to act 7 and find myself quite impatient with her. SHE’S TWO! Anyway, the Women’s Ministry at church started up their fall studies again and “Spiritual Parenting” jumped off the page, into my lap and tugged on my heart during our entire church service. I prayed about it, asked Jason to support me on Bible Study nights by getting home on time and I raced to sign up…….. By nature I can be a little shy, but jumped in with both feet (and prayed about my class the whole way to church because I was a NERVOUS wreck..God has a way of working things out). Let me preface by saying, I’m in week two. Week one, alone, left me a carnivore’s sized plate of brain meat to feast on…. I feel like the book and the class were written ALL for me. Did you know we can’t control our children’s behavior? Like, I SOLEY cannot control it, simply because I cannot control anyone but myself (see, I need a lot of help). However, by placing them on the path of the Divine, her heart and actions will be pointed toward the cross. I was pretty darn sure I could control her… in fact, I tried REALLY hard. HEAR ME! I did NOT say she’ll never talk back or we’ll never have explosive moments (because we did..the VERY NEXT MORNING. I yelled, she screamed louder and we ended up in war ((with a two year old. Hilarious))), but as we train her up in the way she should go (God willing) my/our actions will place her on the path of divine. Now, more than anything, that is accountability for me as her mom… it’s a challenge…it’s exciting….slightly overwhelming for my flesh. Again, a simple reminder that my flesh cannot do it. I, myself, must be in the Word. Our teacher shared a phrase that I’ve become obsessed with, “What’s down in the well comes up with the bucket.” For me that means when I’m parenting Evie-the good, the bad and the ugly- I cannot draw on my flesh alone, but I must be rooted in His word for strength, guidance and direction. At the end of the day, God’s grace is enough to cover my inability to be the “perfect parent.”
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

How to tote an elephant

(Watch it Aubs…this is NOT a Bama post)

When quitting time rolls around we head south--QUICKLY. I work in a lovely corporate environment that would prefer me to be in a suit every day. BUT..my name is not Ann Taylor and sometimes we slide. Anyway, I do NOTHING before changing clothes…. While Gus Black stands there with his legs crossed. Do you wear heels for 10 hours a day? If so, you know what I mean.

ANYWAY, I ran into my closet to change and came around the corner to this….
1. That elephant stays UPSTAIRS in EB’s room. 2. It’s bigger than her. As in, “sometimes she rides it” kind of bigger. 3. It SOMEHOW got downstairs…..4. …Got downstairs ON MY BED that I even have to work to climb into.

The answer?

“I gwabbed dat elephlant by his tail and puuuuuulled him up onto da bed!”

Well, of course! I may adopt that mode of thinking on a daily basis.

(I’m ignoring the ‘elephant’ on this blog that I haven’t updated in like 100 days. It’s all good. We’re all good. The fall is busy)

Moving on up

EB started a new school year yesterday (bright and early, mind you). At orientation we learned that “Your kids are now considered the ‘big’ kids here.” I took deep breaths and JB leaned over to make sure I wasn’t crying full out, ugly crying. On the heels of that info, we celebrated our first THIRD birthday of a classmate. Wow. It was a lot for this want-to-stop-time-panicked-she’ll-be-in-kindergarten-if-I-blink momma. It’s all good. This will be a great year and we’re excited.

So, we said goodbye to our beloved teachers in 116. Last year was a great year for EB. She learned so much….like how to count to 30 with the exception of 26, 27 and 28. Did you know they are interchangeable? She also learned to say “butt.” We remedied that RIGHT quick and found out she learned that from her “daddy” and not her peers. She learned to use the potty and only occasionally tried to “potty like da’ boys.” She became incredibly independent and expanded her vocabulary threefold. I think her favorite accomplishment was wearing a helmet and learning to ride the big trikes…That one time we went to the ER for a busted lip was not from the big trikes. It was from her face planting into the corner of the windowsill. It was, indeed, a great year with an ER trip under my belt.


One thing that has tripped EB up is holding numbers up with her fingers. She has now perfected it and likes to practice. Here she is practicing….and concentrating. I hope this isn’t a sign of her taking on my MAD math skills... mad as in, almost drove me madly insane!