Break From Reality

Last week, Hubby and I had a break from reality. It was much needed, and even more than I needed it to be. Despite the timing of The Devil Within, once we were away we let everything go. In my writing journey, over the last few years, I've become a social media guru. You pretty much have to in this day and age (yeah--I sound like a grandparent). I use twitter, Google+, Facebook, Instagram, etc. to promote myself as an author and promote my work. The nicest part of the vacation was our decision not to use technology while we were there, except to Facetime or message the kids. 

Our eldest told us he wouldn't miss us. Because he's ten and all. But he did. He tried to Facetime me a lot and then if I mentioned him missing us he'd say, "No, not really." When we pulled into our garage a week later, he was the first one through the garage door and he flung himself into my arms. It's nice to be missed. 

I recommend a get away like this for anyone who hasn't done it. I came back refreshed and ready to write again. Now I'm focusing on editing Little Birdhouses and promoting The Devil Within. Fairly soon, I'll have some swag to give to you. It's getting real, y'all! 

And don't forget. If you sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bo4ILP you'll automatically be entered for a chance to win a free signed copy of The Devil Within! The winner will be announced in the July 31st edition of the newsletter. 

Here are some photos from our trip, just because I think everyone should go to Punta Cana. The Dominican Republic is the sixth largest exporter of cocoa in the world. And their chocolate is wonderful, and their people are amazing, and if you haven't been to a third world country and left the resort you should. It's an eye opener, and it makes you grateful for everything you have. 

      

Post Holiday Blah

I'm really trying to get back into my workout schedule. Yesterday, I went for a run and I only made it about 1.2 miles, then I walked the rest of the way. I'm sure it didn't help that I had a runny nose, a cough and was fighting a headache. There was no way I was going to spend my last day off of the year in Urgent Care though! No way! Oh, plus the temperature dropped from 71 degrees to 40-something yesterday. That probably hurt my attempts too.

Grandma is here, and she's going to sit with the kids while Hubby and I go to work, so I should be able to get out there and go for a run a little bit later today, around 6:00 AM.

We had a wonderful Christmas. I missed my Mom, who is in Nashville still helping my sister with her twins (and her other two precious kids). On Christmas Eve we sang carols with my Dad and had some snacks at his house. Then, we came over to my house to open one present and to eat Hubby's Ozo Soup and prosciutto salad. It was yummy.

Alabama Cousins + Dad.

I snapped this photo of Hubby and Darling Daughter that I'm totally in love with. I love the look in both of their eyes. Pure and total love.

 

 

The biggest hits present-wise this Christmas for Son Number One were:

• The Hexbug Nano Set with 4 Hexbugs: This was not on his list, but Santa must have figured he'd like it.
• The Lego Batman Set with Robin: He'd been asking for this for months.  And you can tell by the look on his face when he opened it that he was thrilled.

 

 

The biggest hit for Son Number Two was:

• The Spinjitzu Lego Ninjago spinners: If Santa had only known that this was all Son Number Two really wanted, then he could have saved a lot of money and his elves would not have had to work so hard this year!
• He also really liked the Cars 2 Tokyo Spinout Track. 

 

 

The biggest hits for Darling Daughter this year:

• The dollhouse: The whole family has gotten into playing with this
• The Lalaloopsy Remote Control Car, and
• Son Number Two's LeapPad2. Funnily, I did not think she would be interested in this year, so did not bother asking Grandma for one, but she absolutely loves it, and she wants to play with it all the time! 

 

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!!







Christmas at the Bass Pro Shop

You may be wondering where my Goal Post is this week.  I decided to take a little break until after New Year's.  I have too many time commitments to give my goals their due respect, and I don't want to set goals and write about them knowing that I don't have time because of Christmas parties, kids, wrapping...you name it!

Last weekend, we took the kids to see Santa at the Bass Pro Shop in Prattville.  We dressed them up in their Christmas finery and headed out for a long drive to the "North Pole."  Number One and Number Two both brought Diary of the Wimpy Kid books to read (Number One) and to look at (Number Two). 

When we reached the shop the line was so long. We placed ourselves in the back of the line, and Hubby and I took turns standing there or chasing the kids.  Bass Pro Shop did a great job at providing entertainment for the kids: games, coloring, letters to Santa, a train, and the 4-wheeler display!

 

 

Now I can't say I approve of the Alabama bow on their tree, but I'll forgive them for that!  The boys played nicely which I must say is a Christmas Miracle.  They are like Tom and Jerry these days, always at each other's throats. 

 

 

Darling Daughter snuck off to take a peak of Santa.  I'm almost sure she made it into some unsuspecting family's Santa photo.  She was thrilled and in awe of Santa and not one bit scared of him!

 



 

 

After waiting in line, for what seemed like forever, our time with Santa finally came up.  The kids ran up to him, and there was a slight scuffle between Number One and Number Two about who would sit where.  Number Two didn't want to be in the middle, because well, he's ALWAYS in the middle.  I placed Darling Daughter on Santa's lap.  She was uncertain but didn't cry.

 

And then, the Christmas Elves snapped this priceless photo, that I will remember for years to come:

 

 

And it will always make me laugh!





Thankful

Last week I was in a funk.  My parents were not going to be here for Thanksgiving.  My sister had adorable twins (who I can't wait to hold), and my parents were going to stay at her house to lend a hand.  I was feeling selfish and sad, like a small child.  I wanted everything to be the same.  For once in my life, I was not happy with the change in tradition. 

Almost every year at Thanksgiving, we go to my Mom's house.  My whole family comes.  My Mom invites lots of people, and we spend the time talking, laughing, and mostly eating.  I love seeing all my relatives.  I love the festivities and the overload on food.  I love the way my Mom's kitchen smells, conjuring up images from my youth. 

Then Hubby picked up a free turkey from Publix for getting his flu shot.  For some reason, he decided bigger was better and picked up a 16 pound turkey.  He said we'd just have that and some mashed potatoes.  And I said NO.  I said, I'm going to cook.  I'm going to make a Thanksgiving for our children. 

I set the menu, and I cooked and cooked all day long.  We have enough food left over to feed an army, but it was worth it to give my children a Thanksgiving that they will always remember, even if it was just with our small little family.

I pulled out the fine China.  We hadn't used it since Hubby and I moved into our apartment in Gaithersburg, MD, nine years ago.  I made beef bouillabaisse for him, and we ate off the fine China.

I spread out the food on the breakfast room table, and took a photo of all the mountains of food we will be eating over the next few weeks.  (And freezing some too). 

Number One recited his Thankful poem from school, and then we went around the table saying what we were thankful for.

Number One said: I am thankful for all of you. 

Number Two said: I am thankful for this knife.

Darling Daughter said: Food

I said: I am thankful that all of you are here with me now.  I love you, and I can't imagine my life without you.

Hubby said: He was thankful his leg was finally healed.

And then we dug into the mountains of food we had made.  Afterwards we took naps, and then went over to our neighbors' house for dessert, which was amazing and decadent!  I will need to run a lot of miles over the next few days...

I'm thankful this year for my kids, for my Hubby who has put up with a lot from me over this year, for my parents, for my siblings, my nieces and nephews.  I'm thankful I have a job and I can put food on the table to fill my childrens' bellies.  I'm thankful for my Taekwondo friends who keep me going sometimes, when the going gets tough.  I'm thankful for my best friend who is ALWAYS there to listen to me whine and complain about life.  There are too many things to list. 

Let's be thankful every day for what we have. 

Happy New Year! 2012

Happy New Year!  I know most of us are all shocked and surprised that the world didn't end.  I guess the Mayans just ran out of stone.  Oh, but I also heard that the world isn't supposed to end until 12/21/12, so maybe it still will.

We had a great time ringing in the New Year with friends.  Normally, on New Year's Eve, I'm in bed and asleep by 9 or 9:30.  Hubby always calls me an old fogey!  Well, not last night.  We invited over some friends and their kids.  The kids played  destroyed the upstairs playroom, while we adults ate, drank, and talked downstairs.  It was so much fun!  I think we're going to have to do this every year.  What a wonderful way to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another!  To add to the fun, Auburn won their game against Virginia!  WAR EAGLE!!!

Unfortunately, I drank too much.  I remembered when I woke up this morning why I don't drink like that anymore, because when you get past a certain age you simply cannot handle alcohol!  Once in awhile it's fun though.

I did not really cook for the party.  I bought a lot of little finger foods from Costco, popped them in the oven, and voila, food!  Son # 2 was sick in bed most of the day.  He had a fever of 104.3, and finally around 3:30 when we realized it was not going down with tylenol and motrin, Hubby took him to PriMed.  Of course, he didn't have the flu or strep, and they sent him home saying it was most likely a virus.  He spent most of the evening pent up in our bedroom watching "Curious George" on our computer (we don't have a tv in there).  He is feeling much better today!

I was shocked that Darling Daughter managed to stay up until about 9:00 and even more shocked that Son #1 stayed up until 12:38!!!  That was a miracle.  He is usually a mess if he goes to bed later than 8 or 8:30.  Who knows what today will bring after that late night!  Here's a cute video from earlier in the day, when Darling Daughter and Son #1 were being sweet to each other (sort of).  I tried to get them to wish everyone a "Happy New Year," too, with limited success:

The kids counted down with us: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and then screamed Happy New Year's!  The party dwindled down, everyone left, and I fell into bed with my burning hot baby. 

I'm looking forward to a better year than 2011.  We're starting it out by watching movies, relaxing, and cleaning the house.

Happy New Year's to Everyone!!!

Festival of Lights

Tonight we went to the Christmas Lights at the zoo.  I have to be honest, I was really tired, and I did not want to go at first.  Darling Daughter is coming down with a cold (again), and neither one of the boys had naps.  I was honestly thinking that the entire thing would turn into a giant fiasco.  

When we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised that our membership let us get in for free, and even ride the train around the zoo.  We decided to visit Santa first, before the line was too long.  We saw the giant bearded man, relatively quickly.  Son #1 had no problem running up to him and jumping onto his lap.  Son #2 was a little hesitant.  I mentioned to him that if he sat on his lap, Santa would give him a candy cane, and that was all it took!  Hubby later told me that this was probably not something we'd want to encourage in the future, getting candy from strange men to sit on their laps!  Darling Daughter was not happy with Santa, at all, so I ended up in the picture.  Unfortunately, I don't have a picture to post on here, because our scanner is still packed in a box somewhere but believe me it was FUNNY!

After that, we waited in another line for the train.  Son #1 insisted on sitting in the stroller during this time, while Darling Daughter and Son #2 ran around and played.  Finally, we arrived at the front of the line, and the kids were so excited to ride the train.  Here's a good pic of Hubby and the kids, before boarding the train:

Even though they don't look like it here, the boys were super excited.  I'm really not sure what's up with their stoic expressions in the photo!


Then we loaded the train to see the lights.

After the train ride, we promised the boys they could look at the glow-in-the-dark toys that they were selling.  The boys picked different glowing glasses, which looked really cool.  Son #2 was mesmerized by his the rest of the night!

Overall it was a lot of fun, and afterwards the kids collapsed in their beds where they'll hopefully snooze all night long!