Big Apple Whirlwind a Blowing

Man, do I miss writing in a blog...so hard to find the time though to make a moment to post.
So here I am, Labor Day, with a minute.  So let me tell you what I've been doing this afternoon.  I've been fretting over my trip (with Julia) next weekend to NYC.  That's correct, Julia and I will be going next weekend to NYC.  We arrive on Friday, and leave Sunday - a very short amount of time to try to drink anything in.

Our main thing on the agenda is to see "Phantom of the Opera" on Saturday afternoon.  All things will be revolving around the 2:00 matinee time.  If I had been thinking it through (we booked Phantom tickets before anything else was purchased, including the ever affordable Sky Mile tickets to get there).  Had I been thinking it through, I would have booked tickets to NYC sometime later on Thursday afternoon, and taken Julia out of school on Friday (allowing for all day in New York on Friday).  Instead, we don't arrive until 8:05 Friday night.  But Julia has reminded me that we will be in "the city that doesn't sleep".

So, after arrival and checking in to the Hilton in Times Square (another beautifully affordable fare from AAA that I can't seem to duplicate on their website now, and the third hotel I've made reservations for), we will head to our first order of business and go to the Top of the Rock observation deck at Rockefeller Plaza.  I have just booked tickets for a 10:00pm lift to the top.  That should be pretty neat - there's even an app to help us identify the things we'll be seeing that "the Rock" recommends we download for free - I'll be doing that.

I have planned for the hotel to have an M&M stuffed chocolate taxi and bucket of sodas upon arrival (I didn't forget about myself, I'll have a bottle of sparking water waiting too - and of course I'll make Julia share some chocolate with me - haha). Then whatever we feel until we wake on Saturday.

On Saturday, we will enjoy the sights of Times Square, possibly Macy's a bit further south, stores on 5th, we'll just see what happens until we go to the 2:00 showing of Phantom.  After Phantom we'll allow our feet to take us where they may again.  Maybe to another show thanks to the TKTS booth in Times Square that sells same day tickets at savings of 50+%.  Maybe not.  Maybe we'll just be so tired we eat and crash - hope not, but who knows.

On Sunday, our plane doesn't leave until 3:15, so I'm guessing an arrival at the airport may mean we should leave the city by 12:30 or 1:00.  But before that, we'll check out of the room, and hit Dylan's Candy Bar and FAO Schwartz (which both open at 10:00).  Depending on timing of things, and how much we have enjoyed those stores, we may be real industrius and try to at least get a glimpse of the big T-Rex in the lobby of the Musuem of Natural History (that may be being a bit overzealous, but that's on the radar at least), or a quick trip into the edges of Central Park (all near Dylans and FAO).

When we booked this trip - Julia made it clear that she didn't want to go in the window of any morning news shows (that was cheesy and she always felt sorry for those people), no Empire State building, and no Ground Zero.  No Double Decker Buses, but definitely Phantom, shopping and buying something from a street vendor.  Maybe even visiting the NYU campus (you know she is a budding actress, and that's Martin Scorsese's alma matter).

So - I'm a bit nervous (though I have been there once - TWELVE years ago).  Wish me luck.  I know we'll have fun!

July was All of Sudden a Long Time Ago!

July - that seems so long ago. It was a time and place where there was warm air and swimming. And a new puppy in the house. I know I have no readers left to speak of, but I'm going to try to get started again. We'll see how well I do. Please leave a comment regarding some of the things you want me to write about. The list of things that have been happening in life are all up for grabs - cast a vote - let's see if there's anyone still out there - lol!

So, what have I been doing since July?

August - creating and organizing a "mobile" storefront for the school store while the building is under renovation. This included buying a rolling "tool cart" from Sears (Craftsman - that later need replacing due to faulty wheels), and filling "school supply" orders for the 200+ students who have ordered them. Trying to plan a Happy Birthday for my son, Legare and also celebrating with my niece, Eliza - they share the same birthday. School Started.

September - the month got kicked off the my brother-in-law's death. He was 40 and passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. He laid down on his bed and never woke. Julia's birthday was the day after his funeral. Life has seemed very surreal since then. This horrible family event was quickly followed by my dad's "roof" accident. Short story is that he fell off of a roof, got tangled in the ladder on the way down and compound fractured his tibia and fibula. This required emergency surgery and a rod placed in the tibia. I was also asked to be a board member for the fledgling theater company, "Threshold Repertory Theater". Oh, and I started a part time job. (this month left me feeling kind of numb).

October - My husband and brother-in-law's birthdays (back to back - 10th and 11th). Legare's football team is in the championship bowl and won. Bryan and Legare have taken up hunting with some guys from the team.

November - the first Thanksgiving without Thomas. My Dad was given permission to "toe touch". My first quail hunt - pretty cool!

December - Threshold RT held their first production (I was so busy and numb I didn't even attend - not that I didn't want to, I just couldn't produce the extra time anywhere in my schedule). Julia had her first round of exams (ever). Her lowest grade was an 88. Pretty good, I say. Watching her study was an event in, and of, itself. The first Christmas without Thomas. A first (and possibly only) snow of the season that happened the day after Christmas.

And that's about it. Oh, and I have been pretty tired and kind of convinced that my thyroid may be to blame. So I went to the doctor. He ran some blood work and all came back fine. I have a swollen gland in my neck, and because the blood work came back fine, he's sending me for a biopsy of the node. I go for the surgical prelim on Monday. This weekend our family will be spending New Year's with some dear friends who have invite us to join them at Sea Island, Georgia. Bryan and I will go the the ball at the Cloister. I'm kind of looking forward to this, except that Legare's new Leopard Gecko, Fleck, should probably be cared for - as well as Eloise. She's likely to scarf all of the food in one day instead of letting the free feeder do its work. I'll have to get on seeing if someone can take care of her and Fleck.

So - in a nut shell - that's what's been consuming my life since July. I know you have all been busy too. Comment or otherwise respond and I promise to post sooner than later! Welcome back, and thank you for coming back, AGAIN, to check to see if I've posted. You knew I would sooner than later!

- A

Tea, A drink with Jam and Bread

We just had a very fun weekend at Garden City (thanks, Aileen and Spencer!). We had fun at TWO honest to God arcades, enjoyed some (pretty chilly) pirate Putt-Putt, watched a few great college football games, ate on the waterfront in Murrell's Inlet, and watched some riveting "Moustrap" building. It was a great weekend! It ended with me taking Julia to audition for a part in "The Sound of Music" with one of our local theater companies. The auditions started at 7:30. We arrived a few minutes early and were still 55th.

Julia's music teacher at school has been helping her with an audition song. They settled on (and have been working on at lunch) "In My Own Little Corner" from Cinderella. When I heard it on Thursday night (finally) I was blown away at how good it sounded. Not that I thought it wouldn't sound great, but I was very impressed. She brought tears to my eyes (not really surprising, I know), but she also brought tears to the neighbor's eyes. They were here because we caught them Boo-ing us. I swear Betsy let more tears drop than I did.

We got to the auditions at 7:25, and at 5 til 11:00 we were done. We were a bit encouraged that Julia was one of the few that sang a song NOT from The Sound of Music. Mr. Ivey seemed really pleased with her. I was the mom listening at the door...literally with my ear pressed as hard as I could get it. As she was leaving (when they opened the door) they stopped to ask her another question and then both (Mr. Ivey and the pianist) called out that she was really enjoyable.

Yay, Julia!

Bryan was funny...he didn't say much to me about her auditioning before hand. However, last night as she was in bed and sleeping, he looked at me and said something like, "How about Julia actually wanting to try out and actually doing it." She was, afterall, the one that presented me with the possibility of doing this after Googling "auditions in Charleston for kids". This was all her idea.

Tonight was the second and final night of the auditions. I don't know when or if we'll hear anything, but I'll make sure to keep you posted.

I swear she didn't even seem nervous. Giddy is more how I would describe her. I was glad to be there to witness it.

And the Next Birthday is.....

The Next Birthday is Julia's (Sept. 15).

So this is what I have cooking for Julia's birthday...
She's turning 11 and still likes American Girl dolls. And even though she wants a Nintendo DSi she would love to go to the American Girl Experience or the American Girl Bistro (basically anywhere she can travel by plane I think would be fine too. And since I've driven around Atlanta before, not Chicago or NYC - Atlanta is what I chose for such a quick trip).

So, since we've accumulated LOTS of sky miles over the years of using the Amex, I decided that I'm going to (surprise) take her to Atlanta next weekend to go to the American Girl Bistro. I have booked the plane, the rental car, the hotel and our breakfast at "The Bistro". I have even gotten the teachers to ok a surprise early dismissal from school. The only thing I have left undone is where we will eat on Friday night (there's a Bennihana's right around the corner from the hotel. There is also a gracious plenty other fun looking restaurants around, so there should be no problem to pick something she will think is a fun thing ).

I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I think what I will do is pick her up from school and have all of her American Girl dolls in the car so that she can chose which one to take to have her hair done while we are there. The nice lady on the American Girl reservations line said we should make sure that Julia has the doll out and in the airport (she has an AG backpack to carry the doll in) because sometimes there are AG ambassadors at the airport handing out certificates to the girls with dolls. So we will definitely be doing that.

I have already started putting together some of our travel liquids...shampoo, conditioner (hotel versions are never good for my hair), travel deodorant, travel toothpaste, moisturizer, etc. The one thing that I'm having trouble with is contact solution for Julia.

The TSA allows you to pack 1 quart size zip lock bag per passenger, holding as many 3 oz. containers as you can fit (they call it the 3-1-1 for Carry ons). the problem is, the small contact solution I'm finding is 4 oz. It states (even shows a picture) right on the package that it is TSA approved, but I wonder how that is true with it being 4 oz? The last thing I want to do is buy a special size but still have it confiscated at the airport, causing us to buy another one once we get there. Of course if we do this, we'll just get to hand it over again as we get ready to return 24 hours later. Money well spent, don't you think?

Well I think I will be making a call to either the maker of Opti Free or Delta to see what I should do. I have only been to two stores, so there may be other options for travel sized solutions at Walmart or Walgreens that I can choose from.

Anyway - wish me luck keeping it secret. I can't wait!!

The Day I Turned 40

Forty is good! Although it's kind of funny that Sunday night I woke drenched in sweat. Did I say "drenched"? I really meant "swimming in" sweat. I think that was my body's way of saying "Welcome to the club!".

I was born at 8:06 pm on April 19th. That's about the exact time we left Mom and Dad's Sunday night and we had some fun commenting about how now it was officially my birthday. When we got home and tucked the children into bed, Legare stopped me as I was leaving his room...
"Hey Mom."
"Yes, Legare?"
"I just wanted to say Happy Official Birthday."

Sweet child!

So, let me run down for you the events of the birthday weekend - it was pretty fun! On Friday I was supposed to go to lunch with two of my girlfriends. We always get together on each other's special days. This time we were going to the new restaurant BLU that I talked about the other week. I was very excited.

Well, when we arrived (I rode with one of the friends) and got inside I could see my husband's face. I thought, "that crazy guy, he said he wouldn't meet us today, but he did!". I was kind of excited. Then I realized that he was sitting at a large table with 4 other of my friends and family. A surprise birthday luncheon - just for me! How wonderful. After my friend Lisa and I rounded the corner I was told that we beat 3 others getting there, my mother and two other of my best girlfriends.

My friend Lisa, whom I arrived with, is the new owner of the hotel and restaurant and she was the one who gently guided my husband to making sure he did something special for me. It was wonderful! The atmosphere is nothing but happy (how can it not be with the ocean as the backdrop?), the weather was sunshiny and perfect, and to be surrounded by my friends and family - well that was priceless! I could go on and on about this luncheon, but I won't.

OK, maybe I will go on. But not on and on. There were menu cards at each place at the table. My name, the occasion, the date and the menu choices were all printed out these precious cards. The champagne flowed for toasts, and even the gifts somehow managed to all be color coordinated with each other and with the restaurant. (I couldn't find my camera on Friday so I don't currently have pictures, but some were taken, and when they get emailed to me, I'll share them with you). After all of the guests had arrived, Bryan shared the first birthday toast with us and then left us girls with the luncheon.

After the wonderful lunch most of my friends had to get back to children, but me, my mother and the two original "going to lunch for my birthday" girls headed to the bar for one more celebratory libation. This celebration truly was perfect!

Saturday was garage sale time. After a breakfast in bed fixed by Legare (waffles cooked on the iron by himself and coffee just the way I like it with cream and chocolate sauce - my version of a mocha latte) we were off. I don't usually do the garage sale thing, but my neighbor (one of the luncheon celebrants) called, and since our neighborhood was having a community wide sale we thought it would be fun to tool around the neighborhood to see if we could find some treasures. We also went to neighboring neighborhoods to look around. And that's where my finds came.

4 bar stools for $1.00 a piece. These are going in the playroom to offer additional "lean to" type seating. At the next sale I purchased a slightly used HydroSlide Pro XL for $10.00. Pretty good bargain considering husband was going to be spending close to $2oo.00 for one on some not so distant day in the future. At the same house I also purchased a pair of Hush Puppies brand bucks for $3.00 for Legare. These shoes didn't even have a scuff on the sole - I doubt they had ever been worn. They didn't even have lace marks on the tongue! My neighbor got some things for her niece including a $3.00 smocked dress that didn't have any stains. Husband and I spent the rest of the day cleaning the leaves from the pool, pruning plants in the yard and enjoying the outdoors.

Sunday - the official day - we started off the day by going to the Marina Variety Store for breakfast (I had the special - a shrimp, spinach and portabello omelet), a quick jaunt to church and then to Lowe's for another part of my present, plants and flowers to plant with the children; these went on the front porch.

We then went to Mom and Dad's for a birthday supper of homemade meatball subs and homemade banana pudding. Did someone say YUM! I got that Hamby's Catering cook book from Mom - yee ha! - and a nifty cooler cart and beach/boat necessities from my brother and his family.

The day was great! The whole weekend was great! So far, being 40 has been great! I don't really know what all of the fuss is about. The only thing so far that does stink is the sweat (which actually hasn't "stunk" in the true sense of the word - ha), and today's mammogram. I would say the beginning of that procedure will mark the official end of my birthday celebrating.

But then I'll be quickly off to Lisa's birthday lunch to begin that celebration. She's 41.

Oh, Christmas Tree

During my Christmas Ramblings last year, I made a brief mention of the name of our Christmas Tree. I don't know why I started naming them, but I did - a few Christmases before Bryan and I were married. When we got married he gave me a journal and I have written the names of all our trees in it. The first year I named one, I just picked a name. Then it dawned on me to go in alphabetical order. So I backed up, started at "A", and then skipped the letter I had already used when I got to it.

I thought about sharing these names with you guys when my children and I were picking a tree out the other day and I thought how funny we sounded walking around the tree lot ooh-ing and aah-ing over "how cute" they all were. (Bryan was at work, we were surprising him by buying the tree. Much to his delight and relief).

Christmas Tree Names
1992 - Charlie
1993 - Uncle Arthur
1994 - Beauregard (the year we were married)
1995 - Dale
1996 - Elmo (and we didn't even have children)
1997 - Franklin
1998 - Grady (the year our daughter was born)
1999 - Hector (he had a Spanish accent)
2000 - Issaac (the year our son was born)
2001 - Jerome
2002 - Kyle
2003 - Linus
2004 - Mary Christmas (not merry - "Mary")
2005 - ?Ned? Noel? We didn't write it down - we think we called it Ned
(that's what's written in the book)
2006 - Opus
2007 - Popcorn

and drum roll...........
2008 - Quasar

A little background on that choice: Quasar is in honor of all of the Star Trek and Star Wars movies the children have been watching. The baby name websites say Quasar means shining star, radiating energy. Pretty fitting for a Christmas tree although that's a lot for a tree to live up to. I think this is the most thought that has gone into any Christmas Tree name. But when you're on "Q" you have to be creative or you end up with Quincy or Quaid. And aren't those kind of obvious?

Overheard This Evening

Scene: family having a floor supper as we watch an old Star Trek movie. Asked for by the kids - Bryan didn't even force it on them. It's "Star Trek 4: Voyage Home". The one where Kirk, Spock and the gang go back in time to get a Whale.

At some point Kirk is explaining to the crew that they're going back to 1987 (I think), where we Earthlings are "primitive and paranoid".

To which Julia perks up, "Did he just insult us? I think he just insulted us!".

We then skipped backwards watched it again and she confirmed, "Yep. He insulted us." And then laughed heartily! So did we. I love her sense of humor.

March Showers bring May Puppies

Haven't posted since our fun Spring Break "quickie" to Myrtle Beach - pictures will be coming - the kids had a ball.
But I thought now would be an o.k. time to let you know our fun new news...

Some of you may know that Bryan and I have been talking about getting a puppy to add to our furry brood. Well, looks like we're going to have a litter. If we can find them all homes hopefully we'll only have a litter for 8 weeks or so, but one never knows.

Seems as if when Willis got "fixed" when we adopted her, she didn't really get fixed - or it didn't take. They always say there's that chance - but that never happens to us, right?!
I noticed not long ago that she's had an odd place at the base of her tail, and wondered what it was. I just assumed she'd been getting under the car and it was an oily spot. And now, several weeks later, after a trip to the vet because she's been acting odd and getting fat, we have been told that we're going to be Grandparents.

WHAT!! This isn't some poisoning that can wear off? I like to think I'm a bit more science savy than being blindsided like this! How did I not see it?

No, I never noticed a heat - why would I? I wasn't looking for it, after all - SHE'D BEEN FIXED! And though she has had a rare few occasions where she has gotten out and visited down the street, I had no idea! And I have no idea who Dad is either!

Well, the vet has told us that these bundles of joy should be with us in approximately 1 month. Canine gestation is about 60-64 days and she's already half way through. So, come the end of May, if anyone you know wants a cute puppy (a mix of Lab and whoknowswhat) we'll have several ready to go to good homes. Hopefully I won't have to take them to the pound - that would break my heart. I'll keep you all posted!

Preparing for Easter Eggs

Placed 18 eggs in the pot to boil.
I swear at least one of the eggs was "chirping".
I even called each family member over to hear it to make sure I wasn't just going crazy.

Funny how the sound made me feel kind of mean.

Time for Mom and Dad

My Bible Study is doing a great book about parenting. One thing we discussed today was the importance of a marriage centered family, not a child centered family. We discussed the importance of doing things so that the children see Mom and Dad as a unified front. We also discussed the importance of not letting all of your actions revolve around the children.

One of the Mom's was worried that taking the children out of the center would be hard to do and would basically just be adding more to her already long "To Do" list.

I will admit that my children are older than hers, so some things are easier for me - no wiping behinds, no wiping drooling chins and no changing clothes of wiggly, little persons.

But, we all talked about the little things that send the message to the children that the family doesn't revolve around them.

So, here are 10 ways in which I think Moms and Dads can incorporate "marriage centered", not "child centered" behavior into daily routines. This will help let the children know that Mom and Dad are boss and lets children see that Mom and Dad time is important and will happen.

1. Close the door to the bathroom and don’t let them come in – this is your time.

2. When you're reading a book – make them wait for you to finish a sentence or paragraph before you talk to them. Don’t let them interrupt you.

3. Same with the phone.

4. Greet husband first and plant a kiss on him. Children need to know you’re not embarrassed or ashamed to show love to your spouse.

5. Just because your children want to use the computer (or whatever the devise may be), doesn’t mean it’s their turn. Letting them see you on the computer (doing banking or blogging or simply playing a game) lets them see you doing something for you – another example of your time. This helps them realize that you don't rely on them for something fun to do. And saying "No, not now" is a perfectly good answer to them wanting a turn at something.

6. Not letting the children have the remote control just because they’re in the room. They need to know you have likes too.

7. Don’t always let the children dictate the choice of music in the car, and have family movie night where Mom and Dad pick the movie.

8. Don't let them get you off track of going to the gym or on a walk. They don't have a say in your leisure time - sometimes they just have to go along too.

9. You pick the toppings on the pizza and let them pick off what they don’t like. Why should you always sacrifice your favorite style.

10. Let the children see Mom and Dad make plans together (for each other or for the family). They will learn a lot from watching you compromise and figure things out.

Hanging on to Christmas

A few long promised pictures.

POPCORN, the CHRISTMAS TREE...

A shot of the front porch...

My street surfers on day one...
Another angle on the surfing, notice all of the pink...
Christmas Turkeys...

Showing Eliza how to use her dress up clothes...

Standard Operating Procedure

Anytime I'm on the laptop, so is Felix. Here's a picture from back in the summer showing what his standard operating mode is when anyone is on the laptop. He saves this behavior for me and the kids. Bryan wouldn't be so accommodating. As I'm typing currently, I'm slightly contorted to the right to give him room. I did manage to get him onto my thigh this morning instead of the keyboard.

I always try to claim my space, but he never seems to care. He just readjusts. The only thing that would persuade him to leave would be to physically remove him. But he's too warm and purr-y to do that. What you call the true Warm Fuzzy. Deep down I really don't mind. And the kids don't either.

Post Christmas Rambling

And I do mean rambling.
Beware, I skip topics so fast you may get whiplash.

Christmas!
What a wonderful whirlwind of excitement.
How fast it is over.

We had such a great Christmas. The season was actually relatively easy going and laid back even though we did travel to each set of parent's houses, went to hear Julia sing at the Christmas Eve pageant at church attended a Tea, attended the school pageant, Bryan's office party and hosted a Cookie Swap. But I would definitely do it all over again!

This is the time of the season when all of the decorations have to come down. As much as I dread getting them all up and in place, I really do dread taking them all down more. And not because I know it will be time consuming, but because I will really miss the splash of Christmas all over the house. It makes things so cozy and warm.

And we have such a great tree this year too. It drank continuously and dropped very few needles. I was so impressed.

I think I said this earlier that I have been naming trees since a year or two before Bryan and I were married and this year we were on the letter "P". Legare dubbed this one "Popcorn". How happy and fitting for this time of year.

My house is still not clean from all of the excitement of Christmas morning. How does so much trash get generated? In the middle of dragging my feet to get it all straightened up around here we started having some fun too. Much Wii playing and lots of Wave Board and Rip Stik riding (street surfing). The children and Bryan have gotten very good at "surfing".

I want to be good. I do. I want one of these things for myself! But because I know what it feels like to break a bone (collar bone snapped in three back in 1997) I am terrified of hurting myself so I am scared to death of actually doing it. And in the process of being scared I am waiting for the fall (or is that willing it?).

And so of course I did fall. Several times. Now I look like a loon in front of my children. I kept saying that I really wasn't a chicken but I don't know that they bought it. One time when I fell I really smarted my hip bone. I can't wait to see what this bruise will look like if it hurts this bad 1 day later.

I guess I won't be getting my own "Stik" anytime soon :-(
I've got to get much better than this. Bryan, however, certainly deserves his own - who woulda thunk it? Bryan looking graceful on a street surfing board and ME looking like a wimp. ???

Last night both children were with others so Bryan and I went to a yummy dinner at Coco's, a great little French restaurant in Mt. Pleasant, and when we got home we helped ourselves to a Wii bowling extravaganza. Bryan won twice, I won once. Sad that my arms are sore today from playing video games. But I guess it's good because we're getting exercise while playing. And how funny that we didn't even need the kids around to play the video games! I look forward to them being gone so we can do it again.

Instead of cleaning Christmas trash, today I found myself at the Optometrist office getting some debris removed from Julia's eye. At her oyster roast last night she got some sand/dirt in her eye from the play deck that she was under. Still this morning she hadn't gotten it out and her eye was terribly swollen and weepy. I was really glad that the Dr's office was open and that he was able to find something rather easily. The swelling started subsiding instantly and the weeping stopped. I hadn't realized that the precious child hadn't smiled all morning until the little piece of whatever it was was removed. I'm so glad that she didn't horribly scratch her eye. Just a few small scratches that didn't even hurt her. Nothing a little antibiotic cream won't make sure doesn't get out of control!

In the meantime, Bryan's throat started hurting and he decided to go to the new Dr's Care down the street. He has strep. Yeay! He's been in bed all day - he hasn't been sick like this in a really long time.

Meanwhile - Legare has been doing more street surfing and mastering Guitar Hero III on the Wii. He's so cute looking like a little rock star.

Maybe I'll actually get some pictures of all of this madness up soon.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

Hope everyone's neck is o.k. from all of this quick maneuvering!

Christmas Cookies Everywhere!

Monday night Aileen and I hosted a Cookie Swap.

This is the kind of party where everyone brings in cookies. We all enjoy sampling some. Then when it's time to leave, you leave most of your cookies but take some of everyone else's so that you have a good variety of cookies when you get home. And you've only had to prepare one type!

I started this party 9 years ago at the insistence of a great friend of mine named Sharon who doesn't live here anymore. I had never heard of a cookie swap until she insisted we throw one together. She would really be proud of this party today.

After she moved away I had many friends who offered to throw it with me so that it would continue. Not wanting to have to pick and choose between the friends that wanted to help, I thought I would ask my sister-in-law, and friend, Aileen to throw it with me.

Aileen is really so easy going to throw this party with. The party really kind of runs itself, but there is no way I would still be doing this if it weren't for Aileen and I joining forces. Our friends blend together so well too.

I will say that I feel like all of the cookies this year were over the top! They were all so good, and big! We need to work on dropping smaller cookies so that they are easier to sample and there are more to spread around. It is really easy to give yourself a stomach ache at this party, especially when the cookies are so big.

Each year there are inevitably some baking horror stories about what went wrong when people were making their cookies. We've had stoves catch on fire, cookies explode, chocolate not melt, forgotten ingredients, and always lots of multiple batches needing to be made for one reason or another.

Through the years we've given superlatives ranging from "best cookie", "biggest disaster story"," most festive", "most original", "best traditional Christmas Cookie", etc.

This year we decided to give just one award. The "2007 Cookie Queen".

This year the "Cookie Queen" award went to Amanda. I don't know what Amanda's cookies were called, but it was what my children are very affectionately calling "Chocolate Junk".

You know the type of cookie...as many different types of chocolate things you can think of all thrown together to make this decadent cookie. Chocolate chips, Oreo pieces, chocolate batter, etc. They were PHENOMENAL. And though they are lovingly called "Chocolate Junk" at my house, which doesn't really sound appealing, they were even pretty good looking.

Of course I forgot to take any pictures, but luckily Caroline took a few for us (and that's only one of 3 full tables of cookies that were available). There were truly more cookies than you could shake a stick at. I think everyone was able to take home plenty, and Aileen and I have never had such a good supply of cookies for ourselves after the party. Usually we don't get many, but not the story this year. I'll definitely have to share some, or better yet, have people over again to share all of this Christmas Cheer.

I can't wait until next year's party. Everyone left swearing that they were the one who would win next year. I'm sure the recipe hunt has already started!

Just a little Jibberish

Celebrated Legare's 7th birthday Thursday. And Friday (the real birthday). And Saturday.

I got to share the Lion King with him (and with Julia and Mom too). He couldn't understand why we were having to drive to Charlotte to see the movie. He didn't quite understand that it was a "play".

Legare has a way of acting like a little shit when things don't go the way he was expecting them (I can understand that - I do it too), and so I was worried that he was going to decide that he didn't want to be there even though I kept telling him that it was a play.

Well - he loved it. Said "This is awesome!" way more than once and kept asking if we could go see it again lots of times during it, during intermission and after it was over.

I loved sharing this with him. He and I sat together and Mom and Julia sat with one row between us. We were only 3 seats away from the aisle, so we were able to almost touch the performers as they came down. It was fantastic. The kids really enjoyed it. Us adults did too!

The Things You Learn at Bedtime

Tucking in children can be a chore.
It can be exhausting.
It can be fun.
And it can be a learning experience.

Rewind 1 week ago:
Legare tells me without any uncertainty that he does not want to go to a spend the night camp next summer. He's going to always stay here. For the rest of his life.

Aawwhh! How sweet.

Fast Forward tonight:
L - Mom. I wanted to go to spend the night camp.

Me - Honey you just told me you weren't interested in spend the night camps. But that's not until next summer, we can sign you up if you want.

L - No, Mom. Not a long spend the night camp there.

Me - What do you mean, There?

L - I mean, not that camp! I mean the camp in Sissy's room.

At this point I'm feeling a bit bad. My cousin's little girl is coming to spend the week with us. Legare must wish he had a friend to spend the night for a week. He must think that Julia's get together with Haley is like camp here at the house.

OMG! How in the world can I handle two 7 year old boys for a week? NOT interested!

Then Legare says...
"No, Mom. Sissy's camp!"

Me - What do you mean?
(Lots of confusion - Sissy is not going to camp yet - why does he think he can go to her camp)

L - I paid her a penny so that I could have spend the night camp in her room.

Bryan and I start trying to hold in the laughter. What in the world is he talking about!?!?

Throughout the rest of the conversation I laugh out loud once and fake sneezing a lot to keep him from thinking that I'm laughing with and at him.

L - Well, I paid her a penny so that I could do spend the night camp. For just one night.

Mom and Dad - What?

L - Well I don't know how to explain it, but I bet Sissy can.

Mom and Dad - Well just try.

L - Well, I paid her a penny so that I could spend the night in her room. And she would do arts and crafts. You know where she teaches me how to make those fortune teller things. And she has Hair Put Up Time and other crafts that she knows that she could teach me.

O.K. This was one of the times when I really couldn't contain my laughter. Faking sneezing was all I could come up with.

How cute!!!

And how mercenary of Julia.

We later found out the at the penny tuition was for the entire year of camp. Seems like Legare made out like and bandit, and Julia needs to learn how to not to give away her services so cheaply.

WE'RE IN!!

O.K. We decided not to do the PRICEY "updating" thing right now.
And we just moved in.
And we also didn't want to afford the pricey updating thing right now either.

So...something got into Bryan and he woke up Saturday morning having decided we were moving on Sunday.
Oooo Kkaayy.
I don't think I would have gotten away with that, but I wasn't looking a gift horse in the proverbial mouth. And this move-in started after I was at a retreat until 4:00 on Saturday and the 10:30 church service on Sunday (which in the Episcopal church lasts until 12:00 if you're lucky, 12:15 to 12:30 if it's usual). We were lucky this past Sunday!!

We did this with no moving van. No packing boxes.
Just a Chevy Pick Up and a Suburban.

I would have told you about all of this sooner, but I just got Internet access 5 minutes ago.

We haven't moved everything. In fact, not much at all.
*A couch - HEAVY!! But - a place to sit other than the hearth or the $5.00 plastic chairs
*Our bed (beds for the children were already here)
*The breakfast table and chairs
* Some dishes and silverware (some cups already here)
*A floor lamp
* Most of our clothes
* Two cats and a dog (the fish are coming tomorrow)

Oh - and we bought a lawn mower. It's in the box in the garage. Right now, I can't wait to mow the yard. I'm sure after the first time I will be over it and want to pay someone else to do it.

I promise pictures are coming. Maybe even on Wednesday. I need to take some more pictures of the pool too - they have finished the deck and cool decking, and are currently re troweling the inside. They are supposed to be done by April 30. I think it will be way before that - if the weather keeps cooperating.

Post Procrastination

I have got to get over the "need to have a picture to post" feeling.

Don't you think?

I have some pictures to download, but just haven't moved that task far enough up the list yet. I know some of you may be wondering what the front of our new house looks like, and that it NOT a picture I have taken yet, which may be leading to my posting procrastination.

Well, we did close on the house last Thursday. We got insurance to cover the 900+ finished square feet on the ground floor (hazard insurance, not flood insurance). Which is very exciting being that we didn't think it could be covered, and it's going to house some furniture for a guest room and playroom (and all of the electronics that go into having a playroom). That takes our total insurable square footage to around 3700, instead of 2700.

We don't know when we will move in. We want to scrape the popcorn off of the ceilings (don't want to tackle that with furniture in the house) and we want to bring our pretty pink master bath into the '00's, and update the kitchen as well. Our contractor is supposed to get us numbers for all of this stuff next week.

The pool is also in need of a major overhaul. The deck has issues and the plaster is in need of a redo. That contract is getting faxed to the pool guy today. Of course, the pool's issues won't slow our move-in progress.

We did spend last Saturday with our new purchase. All day Saturday.

We tackled a few small things (more on those items below), but it was mostly admiring. And unfortunately for those that stopped by to admire it with us, the best (only) seats in the house are the hearth or the side of the tub in the master bath. Needless to say, our legs were very tired of standing all day long.

We have purchased 1 coffee table, 2 end tables and 1 bedside table to go "downstairs" (we only have a downstairs because our house is raised with a drive under garage - to get us above flood plane). And that is all that we have moved in at this point. And picking those up was one "non admiring" thing we did on Saturday - and that's just because when we purchased these things from the furniture store they needed to be moved out of the furniture store pronto.

Of course when we got them to the house, we stepped back to admire some more.

These tables aren't the only things in the house. The former owners left us a queen size mattress/box spring/metal bed frame, a grill (with a golf ball sized hole in the side of the cover) and a working central vacuum system. They had represented that something was wrong with it, so we thought we had a broken central vacuum system. Upon looking on Saturday, we discovered that just the beater bar attachment had a bad connector. So - BONUS! We thought we would have to buy a new motor if we wanted to have a central vac. And that want was WAY down the list. Learning that the system worked could be considered another important, "non admiring" thing that was accomplished on Saturday.

Two more "non admiring" things that were done Saturday. . .

Bryan is currently on a treasure hunt to find an in ground irrigation valve (its function is to switch watering zones on the irrigation system). After giving a valiant search on Saturday, he's decided that he wants the glory of finding this thing without calling for help from the previous owners. He has been all around the area where it's "supposed" to be; poking with a metal tool trying to find it.

He says that if anyone else finds it, he doesn't want to be told where it is. He is definitely on a mission.

And...Dad and I gave the garage doors an adjustment. My GINORMOUS suburban lacked about a 1/2 inch clearing the opening to get in. The car got all of the way in except for the rear cross rail on the luggage rack. A quick adjustment and !VIOLA! My suburban has a garage to live in (when we get there). We adjusted Bryan's too in case the "Burby" ever needed to get in the other side.

We have also eaten 3 meals there. Pizza on Friday night. "Delivered right to the door", which is a huge treat for my children being that in the country that luxury doesn't exist. Subs and chicken (for lunch), and take out fast food lunches. The kids think these floor picnics have been fun.

The children know lots of other children who live in the neighborhood, and haven't been able to find anyone at home to play with yet. Saturday was "Winter Break" for most of the schools in the area and many kids weren't home. Legare's mission when we are at the house is to go play with his friend from his class. We don't get in the neighborhood well before he asks when he can go to his friend's house. Hopefully it won't be long.

Well, I hope this post has satisfied a bit. I promise to do better later.

Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley arrived to visit my Mom from New Hampshire the other day. We decided to take him around Charleston.

We took tons of pictures with him, with Carriage horses, at Rainbow Row, on Cobblestone streets, at the Market, with the submarine Hunley replica. One of my favorite pictures is this one. It is a a really good one of Stanley. He was really pleased that he didn't get washed out by the glare of the sun.

He is at St. Michael's Church at the grave of John Rutledge, signer of the US Constitution. Below is a picture of him, Mom, Legare and Julia. He got to meet Julia with her new glasses.

Pretty in Pink

I don't have a picture of the sink at the present time...but this will give you a small glimpse into the life of the current owners...who I understand are not gay, but are doctors (of psychiatry and astronomy).

More pictures of the rest of the house to come. We are SLOWLY getting comfortable with all of the little things that need to be addressed with the house. I am also slowly getting REALLY excited!

See you soon!

Aren't these awful!!!!????!!!! The pictures actually make them look better than they are...they are bright and UGLY!