Barbies, Bionicles, and Bing

That title pretty much sums up the day. We had a great time just lounging around with my mom, dad, and brother. My mom and I watched our all-time favorite Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life" last night. I cry every time.

Christmas Day began at about 6:55 a.m. Not. too. bad. We used to have my parents up about 45 minutes after they went to bed......3 a.m.~ish. My kids haven't caught on to that one.....

So, the big hit with the girls were dress up clothes and Barbies. Emmy likes to strip her Barbies down to their birthday suits. She's a weirdo.

Horton Hears a Who has been played over and over. Cute movie. I'd recommend it.

Michael now has at least 5 Bionicle robots. One from us, 3 from GiGi and PopPop and 1 from Uncle Robert. This picture says it all.

My mom and I enjoyed lazily sitting around watching Bing Crosby in "White Christmas". Thanks for the tip, Lula and Lizzy....:) A new Christmas favorite.

We had an awesome Candlelight service at church last night. Very well attended. Christ was honored. It was wonderful.

I hope everyone had a tremendous Christmas. Looking forward to your recaps.....:)

Child of the Promise

These are the words to a song I sang in a Christmas Cantata before I was even married. I love the powerful words spoken about what it must have been like that first Christmas for our Heavenly Father. Praise you, Jesus for stepping down into darkness to be our LIGHT!!!

Merry Christmas, friends!

CHILD OF THE PROMISE

Child of the Promise
Child of the Covenant
Jesus our Savior is born!

Hope for every nation
The only salvation
God's promise brought joy to all the world!

The Father and the Son, facing separation.
A time They would no longer be as One.
Knew the only way to save Their prized creation
Was a sacrifice, to give the life of the Son.

So on that first Christmas Day
A baby became our LIFE.
The prophets spoke the truth
long before the babe was born that Holy Night!

Blue Light Special

Remember those? I don't. Are you kidding? I'm not quite that old:). K-Mart just does it for me. I love that they put there Christmas decorations out for sale at 50% off before Christmas.

How thoughtful of them. I didn't need to wait until after the blessed day to stock up on stuff for next year. As a bonus I get to use my gingerbread man coffee muuuuuuuuuuug (I drank too much coffee from it today) immmmmmediately. Sorry. I'm a little jumpy.



My place mats that I got for $1.25? Cutest. things. ever. Emmy says they smell like the beach. I think it's because they are made out of the same plastic her floatie from this summer was made out of......but cute......oh. so. precious. One says "Merry", one says "Joy" and one says "Jingle". They are shaped like round ornaments. I would take a picture, but my stupid camera broke.



I also found toys for my kids at the Big K that I couldn't find anywhere else. Bless their heart. Don't let their doors close.



Plus, they support St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Love. them. Jon and Kate did a show on them the other night and I never knew kids could go there for free. I guess I've been under a rock or it could be, that thankfully, I have never needed to go there with my children. Thank you Lord for healthy children. What a blessing that I know I take for granted.

This very random post was brought to you by a very satisfied customer of the Big K.

A Prayer From The Youngest In the Family

My baby (she's 3) is, as some of you know, a handful. She does, however, never cease to keep me from laughing. A "frick frick" here and a smart mouth comment there......

Well, the other night at family prayer time she prayed her usual:


"Dear Jesus, tank u for dis day, and tank u for dis food...."

And then she topped it off with:


"and I'M THE OLDEST, AMEN!"


I guess she's just wishin' it into the atmosphere. Dunno.


She makes me smile, cry and scream. Lord, tank u for Emmy.

7 utterly useless pieces of information...

First of all, I'm not tagging anyone for this, but I will answer the questions, because I'm a loyal friend of Ouisa (she is such a hoot and I love her dearly).

1. I'm double jointed in both elbows. I can hold my arms out and make them look broken. It's truly nauseating, but really cool.
2. My eye makes a squeaking, squishy sound when I rub it. Also nauseating, but a good weapon that can be used to clear a room.
3. Mexican food is about as good as it gets. Oh yeah, nachos with lots of chicken and beans and sour cream and salsa and cheese. Enchiladas are better than.....I'll let you decide. Don't even get me started on tamales. God had me in mind.....
4. I was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease which has completely altered my eating habits. I miss wheat.....:(
5. I'm addicted to The Office (I've seen every episode at least twice). Best comedy on television!!!!!!!
6. I want to audition for Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy but I think they cancelled it. I DVR every episode. It's a sickness.
7. Last and probably least.........I don't shave my legs unless I absolutely must or if my husband asks. I'm just too lazy and the hair on my legs is so light you can't even tell it's grown out until my legs shimmer like a vampire in the sunlight.

Toodles!!!

Therapy....Melissa Style

Since some of my friends are sharing about their Christmas therapy, I felt obliged to illumine you to mine.

For the last 4 years, I have been privileged to spend one entire day with Christian women of all ages and no children attached to my person. This blessed event generally comes the first Saturday of December. This year was no exception. Now understand, this chance only comes along once every 365 days. I take full advantage of the time I have.

Our church puts a sign up sheet in our foyer so we know how many vehicles we will need to take. This year we had 10 women. I got up at 5:45 a.m. Hair is a big deal to me. My flat iron got a workout. We met at Bud's grocery at 7 a.m.........and we're off to Golden Corral for breakfast.

We stuffed ourselves with the intent of not stopping to eat again until 3 p.m. that afternoon.

There's something about shopping together that's bonds women. It really is therapeutic. I laughed so hard I cried. I got all of my shopping done. I didn't talk to my hubby or kids once all day and I was okay with that.

I also thought of my sexy bloggy buddy Lula. Here's one of me trying to do an impression.

How do I look? Yeah, we could be twins, right?

We also got fake nose rings to freak out our hubbies. A bunch of the ladies loved them so much they wore them to church on Sunday. Good times.

We didn't get home until almost midnight. Was it worth being tired and groggy the next morning? Do I have to answer? It was sooooo worth it.

I was in the best mood yesterday. I taught Sunday School better. I worshipped better. It just really helped me realize that there is something to be said for good, lengthy, childless, ladies fellowship. We had a blast and I hope it's not the first Saturday of December 2009 before I get a chance to do it again.

Taking A Vow

Our Family at The Ocoee River

I have decided to take a vow of "yellibacy". I just read an article in Parent's magazine about parents who yell and I know I am guilty.

Any suggestions on how to keep from yelling? I have had 2 really good days, but it's taking all the self control I can muster to do it. How can I teach my kids to control themselves if I can't?

They deserve better......

Let's hear what you do? If you're a yeller, too, we can hold one another accountable.....

I'm attaching some more photos of our trip to try to conserve blogging time. It's called being "bloggimentally concious". ;0)

Lauren and Emmy

with cousin Helen

Michael in the fall leaves

My Dad and Mom

Watch out Madonna!

Emmy knows how to Vogue!

Dear Mother of Children under 5....

I feel your pain. I know what you're going through.

Do you ever have those days when you just lose it?

Does your head start to feel like it's going to spin right off?

All good parenting just goes right out the window?

Do you get frustrated with yourself? I do.

I try so hard not to yell at my kids. But I do.

I try so hard to keep my cool when they are acting up. But I don't.

I know I can.... I think I can.....

Sometimes, I just feel like I'm losing my sanity.

Sometimes I feel like I'm losing control of my kids.

Do you ever have days like that?

Come on, don't hold back......I need to hear your version of sanity.