Christmas Caroling

This past weekend our church small group went to some area nursing homes to sing carols and pass out Christmas cards to residents. I tried explaining to Emory what a nursing home was, but I don't think she got the picture. Well, she fully understands it now. As we were walking through the cafeteria handing out cards, she said in full voice, "Mom, these are old people". Then as we walked into their living area, she said, "Mom, these people are REALLY old!" Let's just hope their hearing wasn't too good.

Christmas Cookies

Ok, so this is not an official blog today because I stole it from Mikki. I just wanted to give more people the chance to read it because it made me laugh so hard. You might just have to know Elijah. Hope you don't mind, Mik!

"Elijah and I tried making our first batch of Christmas cookies together today. I knew it would be a challenge, but was up for it. I asked him to turn the mixer on, something that he had been chomping at the bit to do. He switched it to full speed before I could stop him. The picture says it all. . ."

Ripped off from sonorliteman.blogspot.com

Dear Santa,

Dear Santa, there is only one thing I need this Christmas. I desperately need help organizing my life. I searched the entire house looking for my keys on Sunday for 10 minutes, when Emory calmly said, "Mom, they are in your pocket." I have 3 baskets of unfolded laundry waiting for me to fold. My car has a strange smell that I can't identify. There are 4 bags of clothes that have been in the garage waiting to be taken to goodwill for 3 months. The other day, I heard myself say a little prayer to Jesus asking for a set of matching socks for Emory to wear. I have a mental list in my head of all the things I want to accomplish, I just can't seem to get them done. I have nicknamed myself "The Queen of Good Intentions". I guess the good news is that all the bills get paid, everyone eats, and we all have clean clothes to wear. Please Santa, send a little elf to show me what I am doing wrong. My family will be forever greatful!

Princess Hula Dancer Super Girl Magician

This is what Emory called herself at her dress up party this weekend. She had about 5 friends over to play dress us. Sadly, she was the only girl. The boys had fun being skateboarders and pirates and superheros. We called Miles "Super Hot Dog Boy". We all had a good time, and Emory did a nice job except when it came time to blow out the candle. After 4 attempts, she finally had to have a friend blow it out for her. This is very embarassing for me, considering both of her parents are tuba players.

Crisis Averted

I knew it would happen eventually. Emory's baby, Lucy, is a member of the family. She doesn't go everywhere with us, but she is VERY important to Emory. And with Lucy goes Lucy's blanket, Guanie. Well, tonight Emory left Lucy at church. When Emory realized that Lucy was at church, she began a very long sliding cry, complete with the huge gator tears she inherited from her Aunt Sarah. I thought I was on my way to church at 9:00 p.m., but then I got creative. I calmed her down and told her about my teddy bear that I couldn't live without when I was her age, Pink-Pink. Of course I still have Pink-Pink, although Clif calls him, "Doo-doo brown Doo-doo brown" now because he lost a little of his pink pigment. Emory reached out to Pink-Pink and welcomed her into her bed for the night, and even asked for my baby blanket and my Raggedy Ann also. To top off the nostalgic bedtime, I read her my favorite story from when I was a little girl, "The Little Engine That Could". It was nice being three again tonight. Tomorrow we'll go get Lucy and hear all about her night at church.

My 3 Birthday

Three years ago little Emory Jane rocked our world when she entered our lives. Right before we went into surgery, I had a lot of second thoughts about becomming a mother. I don't know what I was going to do about it, I was just SO nervous about the changes that lie ahead. We had no idea about what to do with a baby, and it took two of us just to change her clothes. We didn't know if she was going to be a boy or a girl, But I had a very strong instinct that she was a boy. I remember the first time I saw her, I thought that there had never been a prettier baby ever! Now that little girl is 3 years old! We are so proud of Emory and the little lady she has turned into. Tonight we took her to dinner and we talked about our favorite "Emory Memory". Mine was the first time she reached out to hold her new baby brother. Clif's was when he took her to Taco Bell when she was 1 1/2 and she said, "Hey Lady, no mustard" when ordering a quesadilla. Emory's was "Right now, when you guys took me out to dinner for my birthday!" Happy birthday, little lady, we love you!

SNOW DAYS!

There are many things about me that have not changed since I was a kid. I still eat a lot of pickles, still annoyed by cats, and STILL LOVE A SNOW DAY!!!! I have very fond memories of being pulled behind the tractor on a big piece of carpet. It was kind of like water skiing, except the frozen horse poop really hurt when you went over it. Dad used to build us each our own snow fort that we would stay in for the better part of a day. Then there was the time that I went sledding down the hill in front of the house and went under the fence on the sled and got a black eye and skinned up my face. Yep, snow days were the best! The picture above is of me and Mikki and BJ and Dad on one of our snow days in Nevada. Casey must have been inside reshelving books in her "Lending Library". We have now had two snow days back to back. We got hit by 2 storms in two days, so we now get to enjoy a four day weekend. I think that snow days are one of the few perks allowed in the field of education. If you have a real job, the term "snow days" refers to a grand memory in your past, and a 2 hour commute in your present life. And before those of you who were stuck in traffic a combined total of 9 hours the last 2 days starts whining, let me explain that we do have to make up snow days if we exceed two days. I don't care. I STILL LOVE THEM! Unfortunatley I haven't gotten to go play in the snow yet, Emory has not been feeling well, she has a bad cough, so I have stayed inside with her. Maybe we will get out tomorrow, there is still plenty of snow!