Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Resolutions

Resolutions for 2009:

~ will not wish for excuse to wear couture ... why, oh why, did self ever watch "The Devil Wears Prada?"

~ will spend time learning where various countries are, even learning which countries are actually countries (as in Paris is a city, not a country)

~ will think about family and friends in heaven, realizing that so many things I loved about them (especially about Auntie) we are all carrying on with ... know they are smiling at us

~ will be grateful and live in moment ... will help others less fortunate and those who cannot help themselves ...

~ will savor moments as one that occurred with Annie yesterday, who woke up from her nap, hugged me, and said "Love you, Mommy"

~ will not take amazing, amazing family for granted ... will realize not everyone has "a group" as my Uncle Larry put it

~ will dance every single day, being so grateful to FINALLY feel good enough to do so ...

~ will do very best to be kind to each and every person I encounter in a day (ESPECIALLY dear husband)... never know what others are going through ...

~ WILL learn to accept fact that self is going to make mistakes and that is ok

~ will be thankful to God for the beautiful world He has given us ...

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

You Are My Dancing Queen

Well, Christmas was absolutely perfect with lots of family time ... I'll post pictures soon. As you might imagine, we took a few million ...

One of my gifts was (shock!) "Mamma Mia!" on DVD, so of course I've watched it a few hundred times and learned all the steps to the pier sequence of "Dancing Queen" ... SUCH a fun movie!! Anywho, back to my original point (and I did have one), I believe our lives should be like "Mamma Mia", where people just burst into some previously memorized and perfected song as we journey through life.

For example, we're dropping the kids off at Moms Day Out, and all the parents just suddenly launch into a choreographed dance routine in the parking lot (complete with full musical accompaniment, of course.) The children join in, the teachers sing along, the neighbors come out of their homes to join us for an impromptu dance around the neighborhood, and the day just becomes magical! Oh, and of course everyone involved would have beautiful singing voices and fabulous costumes.

This happening would naturally occur at any moment and at any location... Target or the allergist or a Mardi Gras ball or anywhere really. It's as if the world would always be waiting with a wildly enthusiastic song that everyone around would know the words to and also a lovely dance.

It could happen ... Just be on the lookout!!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Silent Night

Well, despite the monsoon and oddly warm temperatures that descended upon Nashville today, we have had a wonderful time checking out the Opryland Hotel Christmas lights. Mom and Dad are here, so we had lots of photo ops, and the breathtaking decorations we found at the hotel are well beyond description ...

The pictures of Annie in her jammies were taken right before she went to bed tonight ... she's telling our Scottish Santa what she wants for Christmas tomorrow ...



















And lest we forget what we're truly celebrating tomorrow, here are two pictures of the Holy Family and Annie touching Baby Jesus ...

May everyone have a wonderfully joyful and peaceful Christmas!


Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Fun of Family

Anthony's parents and our niece spent the night with us last night, and of course the girls had a big time!!





Friday, December 19, 2008

The Duty At Hand

And so begins the two weeks of holiday joy ... no Kindermusik once a week, no Moms' Day Out twice a week ... woe is me.

We went (as usual) to the happening hotspot on Fridays, McDonald's, with our friends today and found it to be a bit more rowdy than usual as the schools all got out early, and it seemed everyone in the city decided to be at the golden arches. Anywho, not to gross anyone out, but Annie had not yet had her morning poop when we arrived, so I knew (with that special mother's intuition) that it would happen while we were there with 7,000 other children. Sure enough ...

I went to the bathroom to change her (the handicapped stall has a changing station) and as I was doing so, the commode just automatically flushed. I don't know why ... it isn't as if they flush when you actually want them to. So after a bit of fright, I returned to the duty (no pun intended) at hand. Then ... another flush. Very strange. Very strange indeed.

At least my knitting didn't get wet ...

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The Miracle of Christmas (sort of)

And so today was Annie's Christmas program at Moms' Day Out ... given the fact that it was around 20 minutes long and her class was the youngest class on the stage, I was wildly impressed. Not once did she pick her nose, flash anyone or even attempt to get off the stage. Ah, the Christmas miracle ...

I also had my haircut today and have decided to carry around knitting wherever I go. No, I don't knit, but someone at the salon had some sweater-thing started and the knitting resting atop her purse, and I decided it looked a bit crafty. So I figure I'll find a friend who knits, have her start something for me, then just have it about whenever I'm out so it appears I'm some sort of seamstress. Genius.





Friday, December 12, 2008

Keeping Everybody Warm












The Hideousness Of It All

(As a preface, I must wish my mom and dad a very happy anniversary! I love you both so much ... And also a big good luck prayer for Uncle Michael and his football game tonight.)

And so today we are officially snowed in. I'm not sure what I expected after last night's mini-blizzard, but our usual Friday playdate/hanging out at the always hip and cool McDonald's couldn't occur because of the ice on the roads. To indicate the hideousness of the situation, all Williamson County schools were closed today.

My first thought was, "Oh, dear Lord, what will we do stuck in this house all day?"

Anywho, Annie and I have spent all morning together, and even I have to say she's been really good considering we've been confined to the house. (and yes, I realize we could have been out in the snow building a lovely Martha-Stewart-type snowman, but it's 25 degrees outside and COLD.) No kids in the neighborhood are out playing.

So we've read and read and read ... Annie has developed quite the voracious appetite for any and all books about Clifford the Big Red Dog. She's also developed the unending question: "What's that?"

Here's a sample conversation:

"What's that?"

"That's a tractor."

"What's that?"

"That's a cow."

"What's that?"

"That's a horse in some sort of clothes to keep him warm."

(at this point I check to see if she's actually paying attention, or if the entire thing has become a game.)

"What's that?"

"I believe it's a dinosaur, long extinct but somehow he has survived and is in our backyard."

"What's that?"

"It is Dolly Parton."

(and then, inevitably, the mind numbs.)

"What's that?"

"I don't know."

"What's that?"

"I still don't know, but I will find out."

Yep, tiny white lies in motherdom are certainly forgiven.

I hope.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Arrives the Snow

"Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson




Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Home Sweet Home

have returned from tour of southeast ... have posted various pictures from most recent trip and also Thanksgiving ... anecdotes from insane road trip to follow ...


From Gulfport trip:
Annie reading to one of Mom and Dad's cats:

With my cousins, Nikki and Danielle:

Annie and my Grandpa Calvert:

Annie with my Aunt Mar (Meme) and little Maggie:


From Thanksgiving trip:

Annie with Darby, Teri's new baby:


Our visit to Molly's, one of my best friends in Columbus:



Annie with the Barclays:


Anthony and his brother, James:


Annie, her cousin, Ethan, and Grandpa Barclay:






Annie and her cousin, Emma: