Created by Janet

Destroyed by Brandon & Michelle.

: O

Holidaze

Janet called me yesterday and asked when everyone was coming. I had to admit I wasn't sure. So, who's heading to Atlanta, and when?

We'll have Christmas here. Amanda and Christina just got their own place and can only afford Top Ramen, so I feel sure we can count on them for dinner.

Not sure who might already know this but David is getting deployed again on Tuesday. So sad that this is happening right after little Alex was born. I am glad he was there with Luby and to spend some time with the baby before he has to leave, but I wish they would have honored their commitment to send him to school instead. There's a chance he could come back sooner than normal and go to school but it probably wouldn't be a good idea to get everyone's hopes up about that.

If you've only seen the picture of Alex that was posted here, you're missing out - Amanda and David took some great shots and posted them over on Facebook. Check them out if you're on Facebook.

We're probably not having a big to-do on New Year's Eve since it looks like everyone that is coming down is going home after the wedding. Let me know if I've got that wrong and we may rethink our plans. As most of you know, we'll have no room at the inn for the next several years, but the kitchen's still open for business : )

Where is Everybody?

Okay, I know you all are busy - Jonna just left for Mexico, Teresa is getting married, Dave & Luby had a baby, etc., but it's been awfully quiet here for a while. So in revenge for having a life and leaving me here by my lonesome you are going to have to hear about the exciting adventures of life in the boondocks.

I survived Black Friday shopping without any scars and got most of my Christmas shopping done. I do not think I will repeat the experience next year. I've done the Martha Stewart thing and sewed them new Christmas stockings. Only one of them ended up with a crooked toe so while I still suck, I am improving somewhat.

A few nights ago when it was in the 20's we went over board and stocked the fire box up not realizing that we were blocking the chimney. When Gary went down in the basement to check on it, the stove pipe was glowing red and it was almost 90 degrees out there. We didn't get carbon monoxide poisoning or burn the house down, but even after spending the next day cleaning and inspecting it for cracks & build up we're still too chicken to use it.

We got done with our annual gingerbread house this morning. Or rather I got tired of the kids arguing over who used too many of the gumballs (both of them!) on their side of the house and who was eating all the candy (again - both of them) and declared it was going to be displayed "as is". They are looking forward to December 26th when they'll be able to eat it. I won't touch it myself. The thought of willfully ingesting any food that's been handled and slobbered on that much is not appetizing at all.

Daniel and Lea Anna are trying to talk me into making Sheba homemade dog biscuits for Christmas. I can get over the fact that I can buy them already made down the street for a couple of bucks since the kids will get a kick out of it, if only it wouldn't involve driving to Timbuktu to find wheat germ.

It's freezing out here so we can't watch the grass grow or the turkeys cross the road. Maybe if I get adventurous I'll take the kids hiking. As soon as I get over the fact that there is no central heat in the great outdoors.

And that's all folks. So what's up with you all?

It's Right Around the Corner

Only





Thought I'd post a few New Year's weekend details...e-mail me with any additional questions. Can't wait to see everyone!



What will the weather be like in D'ville?



Who's coming?
Find out by going to MyPunchbowl.com and checking out the guest list.



What can I bring?
Go to MyPunchbowl.com and check out the potluck list. Right now we need good fireworks (Charles!) and champagne.



Overnight guests
Please bring a pillow and sleeping bag or the equivalent for your kids. I have a couple of extras if anyone forgets, but don't all forget at once!



If you haven't already let me know when you expect to arrive, please give me a call or send me an e-mail and let me know.



Bring your play clothes. The hiking trails in the subdivision have been cleared so bring your walking shoes unless the weather looks brutal. We also have a nice little half-court basketball area down by the lake and I finally bought a basketball, so bring your game. Or, more appropriately for our bunch, bring your sense of humor and your best smack-talk!

Happy Howloween

The fearsome pirate Black Bellamy...



And Dorothy, who is most definitely not in Kansas (and hates her hair!)...



Hope everyone has a happy Halloween and no one OD's on candy!

Gee, Mom - You're Swell!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Blog-Blog Sisterhood moms and aunties: Mom (Lorraine), Janet, Suzanne, Lisa, Jonna, Liubinka and Amanda.

What "mom-isms" did your mom or grandma use? Which ones do you find yourself saying now?

Mom:
"Who took my good scissors?!?"
"Come here!" (when she wanted us close enough to smack - needless to say I wasn't very cooperative on that one)

Grandma:
"Put on [a sweater, shoes, etc.] or you'll catch a cold."

Me:
"Don't MAKE me come over there!" (I am sure my kids could rat me out here and come up with a lot more)

Happy Valentine's Day

2007: This is How We Do!

Wowee - I still haven't recovered from our New Year's festivities, which included a New Year's Eve party and the New Year's Day "Fiestamas." No, this is not because I drank too much (although there were a few people who can't say the same - you know who you are!). It helped that on Christmas I had the day after off. No such luck with New Year's Day - straight back to work! The hutch in the kitchen is still loaded with gear from the parties. I should put it away...or maybe since it's so convenient I should just have another party ; )

Charles, Suzanne and Caitlin came down from TN. I really enjoyed their visit, and it was nice to have Charles around for a change. He and Brian's dad hit it off and sat on the couch talking about motorcycles and drinking Bud for most of New Year's Eve. Oh, well - except for when Brian's dad (who is also Brian, but not Brian Sr.!) found out I had three-week-old margaritas in the fridge and was glad to help use them up!

Suzanne brought some good fireworks from TN - the kind we can't get here in GA. There were a couple of cool ones, like a huge $15 thing that sent arcs of exploding color into the air...once we finally got it lit (it got damp, so that was quite a challenge). Unfortunately, the neighbors once again showed us up with their display. They probably went to Alabama to buy it and spent $250. Grrrr...wait 'til next time! Charles says he knows how to pick out the good ones. We're just gonna have to pool our money so we can get the big guns.

I made Cosmopolitans on New Year's Eve, which went over well with everyone except those who had more than they should have. Or used them to wash down dark chocolate brownies. Or both. Ah, well, I guess that was almost everyone. Oops. I also made a couple of different kinds of fondue, including the traditional Swiss fondue. Mostly I made it because I had never made the thing that started the whole fondue craze. Once was enough - it was kinda stinky. The Mexican bean-chile fondue recipe is yummy, but next time I decide to serve more than one kind of fondue I'll go for the popular Not-Yo-Cheeze and make the additional one with Velveeta and salsa!

New Year's Day grub was muy delicioso, thanks to Brian's fantastic fajitas. When I found out Lisa & the gang couldn't come, and that Suzanne & Co. were pulling out in the morning, I scaled back, cutting out the Chicken Tortilla Soup. As it turns out that was not a good thing. There were still something like 10 people and we plowed through those fajitas like Sherman through Atlanta. I made a pitcher of margaritas and we drained that, too. I made Sopapillas for the first time, and they were easy and delicious. Everyone loved them except for the fact that I hovered in the kitchen while I was supposed to be helping my Cranium team. There were complaints about that but I didn't notice anyone protesting by not eating them.

Thanks to everyone that came (Brian, Amanda, Steve, Janet, Brian's dad Brian - ha - Christina, Michelle, Brandon, Caitlin, Suzanne, Charles, Angela, Chris, Ashley, Greg - am I forgetting anyone?) and hung out over the holidays. Y'all made it really fun and many of you helped with the load as well (Manda - food/drink, Janet, Angela, Christina - dishes, Brandon - sopapillas, Brandon & Michelle - bottle rocket cleanup, Chris & Ashley - game masters, Greg - last-minute chips, Steve, Charles, Brandon, Chris, Ashley - pyrotechnics, Brian - pretty much everything from home repair to dishes to cooking and serving). Sara and Grayson miss your company and the constant attention, and are looking forward to the next shindig. That will most likely be a Kenmore party. The date? As soon as I can replace my broken dishwasher!

No Fiestasmas for Us :(

As it turns out, our on-again-off again New Years plans have been scrubbed for good. Jazzmin's plane is leaving an hour (and a day) earlier than I thought so there's just no way we'll make it back to the airport in time. I'll miss you all and I hope you'll have a margarita or two for me.