Valentines' Day . . . Ahhhh. . .

I know I am a little late for this but I have to get this off my chest. My husband does not believe in Valentines Day. Like if he does not believe it does not happen. HA HA!! When we first met he told me this line of bull. In truth it is his way of getting out of having to buy flowers when they are the most expensive. I have always told you he was cheap. He does buy me flowers on occassion but he hates it on Valentines day. He says it is a made up holiday that the card and flower shops conjured to make money. Anyway, he really does have a heart. I thought about this when I read Beths' blog about all the other women getting flowers on V Day and how Dan didn't do that. Well the first V day after we were married I was working in an office of a bunch of spiteful women. Mark new I did not like where I worked nor the bunch of women I worked with. So in order to make me feel better about me and to make them suck air. He sent me a singing quartet to my office. Yes, a singing Barber Shop Quartet. They sang, "I love you truly". Needless to say there were a lot of men that night getting an ear full! I was a little emabaressed but I loved every minute of it. I do sort of miss not working anywhere now. But only for that reason. I just had to tell you about that one. He really can be sweet when he wants to.

This year I did get two long stemed red roses. He snuck them in the house and let the boys give them to me. To bad I don't have more kids huh. Goober didn't get me any chocolate though. I had to buy that myself. Oh well, ture love is never perfect.

My Baby is growing up. . .

My baby is now 5. Yes, I said it 5. Is this possible? Is it possible that the little bundle of joy that I fretted over for 9 months is now 5 and will start school in August? It seems that only yesterday he was siting in his bouncy seat cooing and giggling at everylittle thing. How is it that they grow up so fast? I am not ready to be a mother with two boys in school. I like being the mother of a preschooler. It makes me feel young. OK, I know I'm selfish, what can I say. What ever will I do with myself for those "Fabulous" (oops did I say that?) 61/2 hours with no kids.

What your Husband lets your kids get away with. . .

I had the pleasure of entertaining some of Beth and Jennifers' friends at their house for a Pampered Chef party. It was so much fun. We made all chocolate recipes, of course. While I was "working" HA HA, my husband was taking care of our children. I love my job! I get to entertain all the time and we have so much fun. How cool is that? OK, OK, so back to the story.

I got home after the show and there sat my beautiful boys watching "Gremlins", yes the 80's scary movie that I was not allowed to see because it was PG. I did see it later and I was scared to death of those little creatures. Now my kids are 8 and 4. I was so upset I could not believe he let them watch that movie. His response was, "they wanted to watch it." I asked, "and if they wanted to watch 'Nightmare on Elm Street' you would let them watch that too." He said no he would not let them watch that. Thank goodness. I told him if they had nightmares he was going to deal with them not me. He said oh, they will be fine they are not scared. It came time to go to bed and Thomas the 4yr. old started crying and did not want to go to bed. He said the "Gremlins" were going to get him. I told Thomas it would be ok because Daddy was going to get a sleeping bag and go sleep in his room with him. Needless to say my husband was not to happy with me at that point.

They did sleep through the night with no problems. I did have issues the next day with Thomas not wanting to take his nap because of the "Gremlins". Now that was this past Sunday and yesterday as his teacher was puting him in the car from preschool he asked if he could watch it again. I told him no and proceeded to tell the teacher the sorted story. She laughed and asked Thomas if he was afraid of the "Gremlins". He told her he was a little scared of the ugly slimy ones. She laughed again and said you know they are not real don't you. He looked at her real puzzled and said, "Have you seen the movie?" Well we both busted out laughing.

So I guess the moral of this story is: If you leave your husband alone with the kids be sure to hide the scary movies.

Birthday Blues. . . .

Just celebrated the big 39. Hated it! My Mother and Father called the morning of at 7:30 to sing to me and wish me a Happy Birthday. That was very sweet. Mark and the kids took me out to eat at Kampi. My oldest has learned the joy of Hibachi Shrimp. He enjoyed his so much that he ate mine too. I did get one or two before he finished. Now as for the youngest. He is at that stage where he does not want to eat anything unfamiliar. That is anything that is not pizza, hot dog, peanut butter sandwich (except at school), yogurt and cereal. He has had the chicken at Kampi before and liked it. But, for some reason every time the chef put anything on his plate he would say NO! Thank goodness the folks that sat on that end of the table had raised two boys and nothing my kids did seemed to bother them. As for the two that sat on the opposite end they were to involved with themselves to notice anything else. Oh, I guess that would be for another day. Tune in for my rant on public displays of affection. HA HA!!

Anyway, we made it through the entire meal without incident. Mark still trying to convince Thomas he really liked chicken. Mark offered Thomas some of his Fillet Mignon. Well, Thomas has decided he really likes that. So Mark did not get much of his meal either. The waiter comes brings our check and Jack announces, "It's my Mommy's' Birthday today!" Of course the waiter scampered off and returned with everyone else and a piece of chocolate cake. The whole table sang while I stood with my cake and candle. Of course the kids loved the cake. We ended the delightful evening by going to the "Cookout" for milk shakes. Sh!! don't tell anyone. I am supposed to be eating better and losing weight.

Next year will be my one year anniversary of my 39th Birthday. I refuse to go any higher on that chart!

Christmas. . .

Well, Santa was a big hit this year. He brought everything the boys could possibly want. Of course with my memory trouble we did have a lost present. But, I did find it before we left to visit the relatives. You will never guess where it was. Yep, right under the tree wrapped and tagged. We made our trips to the Grandparents. I think my boys had the best Christmas ever.

This is what I heard as the kids got up to see what Santa had brought; Wow, awesome, that is so cool,

Random Christmas Hoopla!!

OK, sorry it took so long. Been crazy around here.

12 things ok here we go.

1. Christmas Eve Lovefeast at Church and the party afterwards at Marks' Moms house. Tradition

2. Santa always left our gifts unwrapped too. We unwrapped so much on Christmas Eve when I was little I don't think my Mom could have cleaned up another round of wrapping paper if Santa wrapped his. There was always some little cool something in our stockings. I am the youngest of three.

3. We still get together at Moms' on Christmas Day. Me and my family and my sister and brother and their families.

4. Mom is a wonderful cook so I always look forward to eating at Moms. She always has BBQ. I know you would think I would be tired of it living here. BBQ at Moms' is not like what we have here. It is more a tomato base.

5. Ok this one may be bad. When Jack was little it was so nice to be able to sleep til 9am on Christmas morning because he was in his crib. There was no possibility of him getting up early and catching Santa.

6. The Church I grew up in was Baptist and we had a live Nativity.My family supplied a horse. I was one of the angels.

7. I always love to see the Christmas decorations around town. Mark and I have always gone on little road trips to check out everybodys' decorations. If you are ever down in Lexington around Christmas one of the houses that is behind Hayes Jewelers has the most beautiful decorations. If you roll your windows down they also are playing Christmas music. The entire house is done up with dolls. There are spot lights and lights inside and some of the dolls move.
It really is cool.

8. We have our first Moravian Star this year. I am so excited I have always wanted one but never really had a place for it. They are so pretty.

9. We have a Christmas pickle too. If you don't know the pickle tradition here it is. It began in Germany. The pickle is a symbol of good luck. It was the last ornament placed on the tree. The first child to find the pickle on Christmas morning was rewarded with an extra gift from St. Nicholas. This tradition is supposed to make the children appreciate all the ornaments on the tree and not just rush to see what Santa brought them. We have the pickle but we have not started the gift thing yet. I don't think my kids are ready. I fear my tree would be in a pile in the middle of the floor.

10. I love watching my kids faces light up when they see what Santa has brought them. They are so funny sometimes.

11. We go every year to Tanglewood to see the lights. Sometimes we pick up food and eat along the way and other times we go somewhere nice to eat and then go while our food is settling.

12. My mother told me a story about one Christmas way before I was born. She had stashed Santa in my Sisters' closet. So they waited till she fell fast asleep and then they had to go in her room and in the closet to get Santa out. Well, while they were getting things out my sister started stirring. My Mom locked my Dad in the closet and left him there for several hours. He was all hunched over and crammed in this little space. My Mom said she wanted to make sure my sister was asleep before she went back for him. Every time I think of that I just laugh. I am sure it has happened to many Moms and Dads.

Christmas is my favorite time of year. I bake a lot around this time too. I love giving gifts. Especially those not expected.

Memory problems. . .

OK, I cannot be the only one that loses things around the house. I know you're out there. Well last night Mark and I were trying to figure out what we had the kids for Christmas. We took everything out and started sorting. This is for Jack no, this is for Thomas, no maybe this is for the neighbor kid. I don't know I cannot remember! Well, Mark and I have been buying things for the kids all year and putting it aside. Mark came home with a deal on a leapster cartridge for Jack. I had already bought that very one and had it put up but forgot that I had bought it. Last night I found it. So I will be returning the one I purchased at a greater price than my thrifty husband. I had also bought a watch earlier in the year for Jack and now I cannot find it.

I am my mothers' daughter. I will never forget (HA HA) my mother finding a Barbie Doll some 15 years after she was supposed to have given it to me. It was hidden in her closet. I guess in 15 years that Hot Wheels watch will turn up. Hey, maybe it will be a collectors item? I know it is still in the box.