This week's Catch up

Christmas has been wonderful! I really hate that the season is almost over because it's kinda like losing the season where people are happier, smile more and good spirited. It's back to business after the New Year. Well to me, it almost felt like it was back to business after the presents were opened!

The Christmas lights on my street were not on on December 26th. I guess folks are in a recession! LOL!

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Okay, let's back track to Christmas Day.

The kids had a ball! They made out like Phat Kats and got plenty of loot! LOL! Santa was good to them, but family was better!

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CJ's (Runnin' Man)one of those unfortunate kids that has a birthday right around Christmas. His birthday was yesterday, on the 30th. He hasn't gotten anything for his birthday yet because, well mom and dads funds were wiped out this Christmas. But it's PAYDAY and we have a bowling party planned for him on Sunday. All he really wanted was a bike. The thing is, he already has a perfectly good bike. He just doesn't like to ride it because he says Cam's (Sir-Talks-A-Lot) is bigger. They are both 20inch bikes. He's quite the shorty and is not yet ready for a 22inch yet. Well, I have tried to convince him to get something else and at this point he wants a Wii remote and Legos to substitute for the bike.

I guess this December birthday thing has ups and downs because everyone tries to give kill two birds with one stone and give him one of the Christmas presents he would have gotten anyway as a birthday present. On the other hand, he is on Christmas vacation on his birthday and is able to have a sleepover ANYTIME and have a birthday party to maybe get the gifts that Santa missed on Christmas!

What a deal!

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Okay, the best part of Christmas is that my dad bought the kids Super Mario Bros. Wii! Okay, now, this game is just like the old-school Mario, only better. My brother was here and we played and got HOOKED! He didn't go home until we defeated Bowser. He ended up staying two extra nights just to do that! It was so much fun. I love taking over the Wii from the kids. Okay, all I need now is a Wii Fit and I'm sure to be in heaven!

Well, Happy New Year, Y'all! I'm gonna be brining in 2009 playing games with my kids and drinking sparkling grape juice. Hope all of y'all stay safe!

Not so Bah Humbug-ish

You know what I find amazing?

Here we are 3 days till Christmas (2days, 1hour, 15mins according to my kids) and I have not once used my most use saying this year.

Every year I have taken a dislike to the holidays. Every year for as long as I can remember in my adult life Ive dreaded the holidays. This year I have not said it ONCE!

I have not said Bah Humbug to ANYONE!

I have not said Bah Humbug about ANYTHING!

I have not even thought about using the phrase for ANY REASON.

This year I am looking forward to the day.

This year, it's about the love of family more so than what I have been able to give.

Amazing Revelation.

Kid of the Day Contest

There are only four days left till Christmas. Is it me or did December sprint by us? I'm not ready for it to end. The holidays are a time of the yer when everyone loves each other and shows it. Why can't it las a little longer.

Okay, I don't know about you guys, but I'm not exactly finished with my Christmas stuff yet. I have to get one more present. For my dad. Now I won't go into saying what it is for the slim to none chance that he might actually read my blog, but better safe than sorry. It's from all of us this year. My brother, sister and I. We're in a recession!

I'm gonna be dragging the rugrats around again today. Yesterday they were being absolute twerps on our outing. Our first stop was Walmart and I was two seconds away from leaving all three of them there. I was planning to run out screaming at the top of my lungs

STRANGER DANGER!

STRANGER DANGER!

THESE AREN'T MY KIDS!

So, instead, like the strategic mommy that I am, I told them that we were going to have a contest.

It was the KIDS OF THE DAY contest.

For the remainder of the day, whoever could be the best kid would get something special.

That really worked!

The boys were perfect ANGELS while I dragged them around Cato to find me a pair of jeans! (not so much Miss Missy, but two outta 3 ain't bad) They were like church mice in the car on the way to the grocery store! And they walked like soldiers with out one MAAAAAA! He's called me a name, hit me, LOOKED AT ME!!!!! Didn't realize this favorite child thing would work! uhh, I mean best kids... whatever.

At the end of the day, the Kid of the Day was Runnin' Man. But I did give Honorable Mention to Cam, for his great behavior as well. So both kids, and even Miss Missy gets a prize. What's the prize, you say? A McDonald's lunch on the first day back to school. Little price to pay for just a little sanity!

Okay, so maybe that's not Supernanny's way of handling things. I'm sure there's a psychological hindrance somewhere in there, but WHO CARES! It worked! I'll deal with that when they end up in therapy!

What's your Favorite part of the Holidays?

The deeper it gets into the holidays the harder it get to be separated by deployment.

Driving home from dropping Miss Missy off at Pre-K today, I had a moment of weakness. I mean I'm very good at hiding my feelings about things and usually don't express feelings a lot. I teared up at the thought of this being the first Christmas that Hubs isn't going to be home for the holidays. I have Chritmas music playing in my car all the time now and the blasted station played "There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays" and I got that stinging feeling in my eyes. LOL! I have to admit that the holidays just aren't the same without him here.

Okay, but the holidays have also gotten the kids into a different kind of spirit. They are more aware of the situations of others and are more sensitive to understanding that some people can't get much for Christmas.

I try to keep them humble. When they make out their lists, ask to choose 2 or three things that the REALLY want and that may be all that they get this year. Of course the list never stayed below ten, but most of the requests were the "Just in case" items. LOL!

Sir Talks-A-Lot said that it's okay if he doesn't get much (not yet willing to give it all up) for Christmas. He said he understands that there are people whose parents can't get them anything and that Santa has to have enough to give those kids more. He's so sweet.

Both boys' are.

Sitting at the dinner table the other night, I asked them what was their favorite part of the holidays. Runnin' Man, as usual, responded with being able to spend the holidays with his family. He says that he likes when we all get together.

Sir Talks-A-Lot agreed and added that he just wishes that his Grandma didn't live so far away and that she could come for Christmas. And of course, that he really misses his daddy.

They are really sweet kids.

Later that night, Miss Missy came to me and said, "Mommy? Do you know what my favorite part of the holidays is?"

At this point, I'm so filled with joy that all of my children are starting to understand the meaning of Christmas, that it's not about the "things" you get.

Me: "What's your favorite part of the holidays, Sweetie?"

Miss Missy: That Santa is gonna bring me lots of presents, Silly!

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So what's your favorite part of the holidays?

Believing in Santa for another year

Mommy Fabulous has certainly been missing in action in the blog world. Truthfully, I have had all these great posts in my head, but have not taken the time to write about them.

But today I just wanna talk about how wonderful my family is. My kids are so special.

Running Man is about to turn 10. Now with so many kids losing their belief in Santa so early, I was sure that THIS year was his year. This was that year that he was finally over the Santa thing. Now, that made me sad because when you stop believing you lose something magical within yourself that takes away from this whole season. I mean, for a few years now, about 3, his best friend has been telling him that there is no Santa Claus. 7 years old is way too soon to stop believing and I'm so glad that he has still held out hope this long.

Well, I overheard him mumble one day a few months ago that there was no Santa and it broke my heart. So I knew that this was the year. But he's so kind hearted that he would never tell the other two that Santa's not real.

This year, I was on the planning committee for two Christmas parties back to back. Our Brigade party was on Friday night and Santa Breakfast for the boys' school was on Saturday.

Now let me tell you, last year's Santa Breakfast Santa would have made any child lose their belief! I mean he was fake from head to toe. Scraggly fake beard. And he and his photographer (his son) were actually arguing in front of the kids! Like something out of a comedy Christmas scene! So this year, one of the coordinators for the Brigade party told me that the Santa they were using was "The real Santa"! His name is Chris, for heaven's sake. And I booked him for our Santa Breakfast without even a thought. Without seeing him. ANYTHING had to be better with the one from last year.

OMG! When I saw Santa, I WANTED TO SIT ON HIS LAP! He was just that great! He has a Deutsche accent. He had a white beard, abroad face and a round little belly! He was Santa! When asked what he wanted for compensation, he said absolutely nothing!! He said he doesn't do it for money but because he loves the kids. He does ton's of charity work and attends a lot of the military Christmas parties especially for companies with deployed soldiers!

OMG! It really was Santa!

Okay, so back to my point. After two days of spending so much time with the real Santa (I mean, he and I worked closely and spoke a lot both nights) the kids were amazed that I knew Santa so well.

Later Saturday evening, after all of the excitement had died down and the kids and I were home relaxing, Runnin' Man comes to me and says, "Mom, you don't have to worry about buying me a bike now. I asked Santa for one."

I smiled.

It was all I could do to keep the tears from falling. My baby has another year of believing. Thanks to Santa!

Our Family Spreading a little Holiday Cheer

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Christmas Q&A

Here's a little question and answer post that I thought was cute for the holidays. Yonca posted her answer to these questions over on her blog and I decided to borrow them for my own blog. I hope she doesn't mind.

*Have you started your Christmas shopping? Yes, but mostly for Miss Missy and not much for the boys. I'm ashamed of this. Does this mean that I love Miss Missy more because she is the only girl? Those boys are just a little harder to shop for!

*Tell me about one of your special traditions. I haven't started any real traditions. The tradition of Santa is sure to only last a few more years as my 9 year old has stopped believing(for this I am heartbroken) and is sure to break the news to the others and crush their hearts.

*Are you a Black Friday Shopper? I DO NOT like Black Friday. I think I might have gotten up with my mother ONCE to do Black Friday, but I just can't see giving up my sleep to go out and fight a crowd of freakish shoppers. I enjoy my beauty sleep way too much for that.

*When do you put up your Tree? Okay, as a kids, we put the tree up maybe two weeks before Christmas, sometimes later, (of course it didn't ever come down to right before my birthday - January 28th! LOL) but I have been trying to get in the spirit earlier and we got the trees up on the 2nd. Well one anyway. The real one had to be immediately put in water and that's probably the only reason it's not still laying in the garage!

*Do you Travel at Christmas or Stay home? That's my one "RULE" at Christmas. I DO NOT like to be outside the house on Christmas morning. There's something magical about the kids waking up out of their own beds and sneaking into the living room to see if Santa has already come. Now I don't mind going to someone's house for dinner, but I've gotta be home on Christmas morning.

*What is your funniest Christmas memory?
The funniest memory I have of Christmas goes back to my childhood when I use to wake up in the middle of the night to see what Santa had brought. Apparently this particular year, my parents got wise and LOCKED the hallway door that was in between the bedrooms and the living room. I got up and pulled and pulled on that door. I got up like 3 or four times and it just wouldn't open. It took one of those skeleton keys so I remember peeking through the keyhole but all I could see was the glow from the lights on the Christmas tree. I went back to my bed and started to cry. I seriously thought that we all were stuck in that part of our house forever. They'd never locked that door before so I didn't even know they had a key to it. My parents seem to think that was funny.

*What is your favorite Christmas Movie of All time? I have so many. I love The year without a Santa Claus with Heat Miser and Snow Miser. Me and my mom always watch that together (even now we do it over the phone) and sing the entire "I'm Mr. Heat Miser! I'm Mr. HOT!" song.

*Do you do your own Christmas Baking. Pilsbury!

*Fake or Real Tree? I love a real tree. Funny thing is Hubs had never had a real tree and when I told him I wanted a real one he said that was "ghetto". He grew up poor and if you ask me if anything is more ghetto it's a fake tree because most po-folks ain't about to buy a tree every year! This year I have one of each.

*What day (as a mom) does the actual panic set in to get it all done? Panic sets in about a week before. I'm starting to feel it now actually. I'm already going nuts because I know I'm not going to be able to cover everyone like I hoped and will have to make cut backs.

*Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve? YEP!

*What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas? Watching the Christmas shows that I use to watch when I was a kid with my kids.

*What Christmas craft do you like the best? I really don't do the craft thing at home, but I think the reindeer food thing that the kids do at school is adorable!

*Christmas music. Yes or No, and if yes What is your favorite song? OMG YES! I mean I can walk around saying bah humbug the entire season, but you can't keep me from singing christmas songs at the top of my lungs. I LOVE "This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway, or Chris Brown or whoever else has tried to remake it. Um Um Um! That is the one song that I KNOW I can sang! Can't nobody tell me no different!

*When do you plan to finish all your shopping? Next Week. The kids get out next Friday and if I'm not finished by then they aren't getting anything because it's just me here this year and I don't have anyone to babysit. This Friday is the LAST DAY I plan on shopping. We shall see........

O Christmas Trees!

Okay, so it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in my house. I feel like I have a leap on things. This is kinda early for me. I seem to remember my husband asking a time or two last year, "Umm, when are you gonna put up the tree?"

Okay, so this year I have not one, but TWO trees up.

I know it seems crazy and it's not about trying to flaunt my riches or anything. (ain't got none to flaunt) There is actually sentimental reasoning behind why we have two trees. There is one in out living room, of course. The main one. That room is on the back of the house. The second one is in my compute room/game room/exercise room place. There's a big arched window in there that faces the front of the house. The tree looks so nice there from the outside. But that wasn't the reason I put up a second one. The computer is in that room (as I have yet to get my own laptop, in case anyone is looking for that perfect Christmas slash birthday slash next Christmas gift for me) and so is the web cam. So with a deployed Husband, that was the perfect spot for the tree as we can open gift over Skype together.

I know! I know! Sniff Sniff, right? Yeah well, even I've been a little eyed this Christmas with the thought of him being gone for the holidays. Every time he's gone away before, he has always come home for Christmas. This will be our first year not all being together.

Soooooooo, there! Two trees. One for when the family arrives and one specifically for our family.

That oven ain't gonna clean itself!

Does anyone know how to use a self cleaning oven?

I'm too lazy to spray it down with Easy Off and wipe it down and honestly it has gotten way dirtier than I have ever let it get. Back in the day, Hubs use to clean it. That was back in the days though, when he was a clean freak and couldn't stand the sight of dirt.

I think now he has gotten to the point where he figures that if everyone else ain't gonna come up to his standards, then he gotta come down to ours.

So guess who does all of the cleaning now? Guess who does all the fussing about it?

He still does the laundry though, so I guess I can't complain. Then again, he only does it because he doesn't like me washi'g his clothes. Never has. He doesn't dry any of his outfits and he's afraid that in my careless, cluttered brain I might forget and dry something. So he does the laundry often. Great! He doesn't exactly do it the way I'd like. He doesn't wash towels seperately or all of the jeans together, but HE WASHES THEM? Who am I to complain? I mean, those that complain end up later complainin' that their husband doesn't help with anything. Stop naggin' him. Stop being a perfectionist and let him do it. Right or wrong he'll eventually get it right after havin' to replace a couple of load of socks!

Anywho, that wasn't my point. My point was, I have become too lazy to clean the oven. There is a self cleaning mechanism on this thing and I've never used it. I'm afraid that I may burn something up or forget it's on and leave.

So, my question is do you use your self cleaning oven?

Do you clean it the old fashioned way?

Came I get some instructions????

Turkey Weekend

It was a great Thanksgiving. As usual me and my aunt did our thang in the kitchen. Her more than me. But I got this new macaroni and cheese recipe from a friend's sister and BOY! I FINALLY got my mac and cheese perfect!

See, I have beed trying to perfect my mac and cheese for a long time and I have tried to do it in many different wants using ideas from here and there. Well, my friend had a birthday dinner a few months back and I tasted her sisters' mac and cheese and MMMMMM!

Gosh I wish y'all could taste it! If I could, I'd send each and every one of my readers a bowlful. Problem with that is there would be a whole lotta SMACKED MAMAS out there and I don't wanna cause no confusion. So instead I'm just gonna let you see it.

So, though it's nice to be around family, for some reason I was so ready to get home. Okay, so I WAS in the most boring town in GA, but usually I could stay a week or so before I really want to leave. Okay so the city's biggest attraction is the Super Walmart. Y'all.... since I left 10 yrs. ago, they have widened a few roads and added a Ruby Tuesday, but there is NUTTIN to do there. I remember when I was young I use to have the ambition that I was gonna open up a skating rink so that the young folks could have something to do other than get in trouble and get pregnant. When I was older, someone actually tried but couldn't get it approved. It's one of those towns that wants to remain a small, dull, boring....

I had to go to thesaurus.com to come up with some more words to described my wretched hometown. There were a few good ones:

Bummer

Dull

Characterless

Uninteresting

Ho Hum

Lifeless

Moth-eaten (that's funny!)

stupid (no kidding, that's a synonym)

zero (as in ZERO chance I'd ever willingly go back home to live)

Okay, so maybe I'm being a little hard on the ol' hometown. Maybe I was just a bit salty because Hubs wasn't there to get on my nerves while I was cooking. Family gatherings are usually the times when he nags me until I POP and be ready to open up a can of WHOOP *** on him!

I MISS THAAAAAAT!

But the Ville still sucks and the fact that I only have one friend in my hometown has absolutely nothing to do with it.... nothing at all!

Thankful Thoughts of November... Surviving

I have something special to be thankful about. I'm so giddy about this that I can't believe that it actually took me this long to post about it.

No, I'm not pregnant. In that case I'd be crushed, the opposite if giddy and standing on the top of a building ready to belly flop to my doom! I have decided that 3 is enough. Wouldn't wanna take the spotlight off the other kids, right?

But today and for the last few days, I have been thankful that the doctors have decided that it is time for my dad to come off of chemo. No more treatments! They are amazed with his progression and the fact that after almost 2 years every test has come back clean. Every CAT scan has shown no return of a tumor. Now if you need to catch up and read the entire story you can read it here.

But it's a story worth telling again so I will recap:

2 years ago I got a call from my Grandmother telling me to call my dad because he was in the hospital. My dad NEVER gets sick, so for him, it had to be serious.

When I spoke to him he sounded so small and so afraid as he told me that they'd found 2 masses on his brain. These masses, of course turned out to be two walnut sized tumors. Not just any old tumors, but brain tumors. Not just any brain tumors, but Stage 4

Glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer.

Doing the research, I immediately found that this was quiet absolutely THE worse brain cancer you can get. People just didn't live long with this type of cancer.

He had a great surgeon. One credited with being on of the best in the nation. Awards and all.

When the surgeon came out of the operating room, he simply said that it seemed that he'd gotten it all out and it didn't look good.

That's a lot to take in. Now, I'd done the research, so I wasn't feeling positive, but that made me feel worse.

A few days later, a quickly recovering, now bald, father, saw the follow up doctor. This doctor was just as grim as he gave a NICE KNOWIN' YA. HANG IN THERE. YOU DON'T HAVE LONG prognosis.

Almost two years later, after several cat scans and months of chemo, the doctors are taking him off of the chemo. He is healthy. They are amazed! I am amazed! He is still bald. But he is healthy. For how ever long GOD allows! So the one thing that I am most grateful for is that No Man, No Doctor, and No Science can know what the power of prayer can do!

And for this I am thankful!

Spacial thanks to Clueless Mama @ Guessing All The Way for giving me the chance to participate in her Thankful Thoughts. Get over there and add your name to her Mr. Linky, snag this great button and get back to your page and tell what you are thankful about! Go, I'm ready to read it!

The Ugly Christmas Sweater

If there is one article of clothing that I really can't stand to see people wear, it would have to be a CHRISTMAS SWEATER!

Now really, You'd think that because I spend so much time at the kids' school and during the holidays I am surrounded by teachers and staff wearing Christmas sweaters throughout the month of December, I'd be over my hatred of these wretched things, but I'm not. The teachers love these things. I know some buy some new ones every year just to parade around the halls looking all jolly. Sporting around with a great big Rudolph in the middle of your chest or a Christmas Tree WITH LIGHTS! What kinda......! I just cant understand why anyone would want to actually buy one of these things! I think of them as a gift you get from your grandmother that you wear just to make her smile!

Now, if you wear these horrible things, chances are you're either not my friend or may not be my friends anymore after I tell you how awful you look in that thing. When I see those sweaters I think of OLD PEOPLE and TEACHERS. Those sweaters are one of those gifts that you open and you're like, "Aww! It's so... awww! Thanks." REGIFT!

I'm seriously considering having an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party!

Here are a few that I'm really hoping NOT to see anyone in this year:

If you just so happen to own any of these, I'm sorry............ for you.

Whatever you do, DON'T TELL DADDY!

It was getting late and I was piddling on the computer. Don't remember what I was doing, probably, playing Cafe' World on Facebook. The boys were busy cleaning their room and Miss Missy was suppose to be getting ready for her bath.

Oh, I remember now, I was going over the kids' Wish Lists on ToysRUS.com. They had been busy throughout the afternoon handwriting their lists and I was entering their picks from the Toys R Us Big Book onto the website so that Hubs would be able to see what they are asking for this year.

Anywho, Mom called. Now somewhere in between talking on the phone, searching the web and yelling for the kids to finish their duties, I remembered that Miss Missy was supposed to be taking a bath. Then I remembered that I had started her bath water... A.LONG.TIME.AGO.

I rushed into my bathroom, expecting to see the water in my garden tub at the top, but draining through that little security drain that is in the tube just for such occasions.

What I found was nothing of the sort. My garden tub (I mention this again to give you an idea of the amount of water there is) is filled to the top, overflowing onto a floor that already has at least an inch is water covering it! I mean, seriously, you could have surfed in there, which I did. Tell ya later. There were 3 rugs on the floor. Each soaked, no, SUBMERGED in water.

OH MY GOD! Was all I could say. OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN! Hub's would kill me if he knew so I'm trusting that nobody repeats this, okay?

OH MY GOD! What am I suppose to d?, I asked my mom who was still on the phone.

Towels. TOO SMALL!

A comforter. Not one! Three! Three freakin' comforters were thrown on the floor and they too we SUBMERGED in the water. Believe it! I mean, I wouldn't have had I not seen it. Nor would I have believed that I had a serious I LOVE LUCY moment as I slipped across the bathroom floor trying to put down the first conforter! I was SOAKED! Really REALLY soaked.

Thanks goodness I remember that we have a Wet/Dry Shop Vac. I filled and emptied that thing 6 times! But finally after about 45 minutes, I'd gotten all the water up and was in the tub stomping on the comforters in an effort to get the water out of them.

I'm really having trouble believing that I let it get that bad. I thought Miss Missy had gone to take her bath and turned the water off as she usually does. WRONG! You do realize that this is one of those things that I would never tell Hubs. So, I'm hoping that perhaps he really doesn't read my blog, as he says!

Catch up

Some Anonymous IDIOT has been posting advertisements in my old post comments. Angers me because I don't want to make my blog to where those who are anonymous can't post because ofter times those people that comment that way make for great reading, but I'm irritated but this butt head using my blog to post about Viagra!

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I'm not sure that I've had the chance to mention this, but do you remember a long time ago when I was on a search for a great church? To refresh your memory, there was the one with the controversial sermon about WHO GOD SAID YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR! Well, I n

ever visited that church again. BUT I've found a church that I can call home. The kids LOVE it. They want to go all week. Okay, I haven't gotten to that point (probably won't) but they are trying to go on Sunday morning, then come back for the 6:30 service and on Wednesday. I say, let's take it one day at a time! Sheesh!

Anyway, I walked into this church and IMMEDIATELY got a calming feeling go through me that told me that I was welcome to stay. I looked around at this mixed congregation and never once did I feel out of placed as I joined in on praising the Lord with blacks, whites and "other", young and old, the Amen'ers and the silent worshipers. I felt great and when the kids came out of their individual classrooms with huge smiles on their faces and EXCITED about god and what they saw, how they worshipped and what they did, I knew THIS WAS IT!

So, I have completed that journey. Found a church home for my family. One that we all love!

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There has been so much going on lately and I hate that I haven't had a chance to post it all. So here's a quick recap:

Hubs is back in Iraq. The visit was short and sweet, but the departure wasn't nearly as bad as the first one. The kids didn't even cry. It was too soon. I hate that he came home so soon. These nine months are gonna be really hard!

The night he got on the plane, while I was ready to wallow in my own self pity, my neighbor was having a Going Away Bonfire. I'd settled into my pajamas to lay in my room and watch Lifetime and she knocked on the door to remind me. Glad she did, because I was just starting to feel the tears come on.

We'd never roasted hotdogs over an open fire, so it was pretty cool! The kids loved the whole bondfire out in the woods thing and NONE of them fell in! That made the night even better!

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Runnin' Man had his last football game! Whoooo Hoooo! I love football season with the boys, but I also love when it's ever. By the end of running the two of them around, I-need-a-break! Their banquet was at the bowling alley and I promise you, they had a ball! Pizza, Coke and Cake was no match for the bowling because they didn't stay up when they got home, like you'd expect from the sugar. They passed out! It was great!

I signed Runnin' Man up for basketball, which he is VERY excited about. Sir-Talks-A-Lot is waiting for baseball in the spring. Basketball has never been his thing. He seems a little lazy for baseball, but whatever. What kinda mom would I be if I didn't let him figure it out for himself?

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The school's Veteran's Day program was really nice! We live in a town where there are so many military families, us being one, and I really love the honor the school gives to them. I was really touched, even more so than last year, with having a soldier in Iraq. Almost, shed a tear. Almost. I ain't no punk! LOL!

He had a speaking part. Whoo Hoo! Watch out Denzel!

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Oooooo ooooooo! I almost forgot. Last night, we made pizza. This was our first time making pizza together where I let everyone pitch in and get messy. They had a ball! They claimed that our pizza was better than Pizza Hut and Papa John's. It was a great change from ordering out, you know. And a whole lotta fun with the new Ice Age movie added on. They really love these family times.

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Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Thankfully I have self control!

I'm participating in Thankful Thoughts during the month of November with

Clueless Mama at Guessing All the Way.

It gives me a chance to step back and realize all of the precious things in my life, the things I am truly thankful for.

I am Thankful for the rain today, because it teaches me to appreciate the sunshine. I'm really dreading getting back into my car today to pick Miss Missy up from Pre-K.

The rain has really started to come down. On days like these, I just wanna sit in my bed all day in front of the TV, watching Divorce Court, Reba, The View, Let's Make a Deal and Ellen, not really in that order.

But today, even though God blessed us with a rainy day PERFECT for those activities, I had to get up, get dressed, and get OUT.

An FRG Meeting......

I am thankful that not everyone dealing with FRG is pessimistic about EVERYTHING!

Up to this point, joining FRG has been pleasant for me. Everyone I've dealt with have been great and happy to help, except 1 person. A Leader from one of our companies.

We're planning a Holiday Party. As you know, our soldiers are deployed and many families are left behind. A Holiday Party, to me, helps to boost the morale among the family members.

Well, the theme is Candy Land. Fun, right?

Not when you have too many cooks in the kitchen!

Wow, these ladies can be like alley cats! The meeting consisted of ideas being thrown around, good ones taken into consideration, bad ones moved off the table to file 13. Well, there was one chick there, a Leader of one of our companies, who seemed to just have a problem to whatever was thrown on the table. Everything! Nothing was good enough for her. She didn't want to do anything or go outside of the box. AT ALL!

So, as you may guess, a lot of the issues come down to funding. In my experience with PTO, I've found that donations is THE best way to go. I've found that many times, in volunteer settings, you have people who want to help. You just have to ask. You would not believe how many times at the end of last year people have come to me and said, "I wanted to help, but no one asked me." And, there are so many people that simply do not have the time to give but would love to help in other ways. I.E DONATIONS!

So here was the deal. Instead of having the FRG pay for craft supplies for the kids crafts, why not ask families to donate. Immediately that was a No No for Pessimistic Leader Chick.

"Well, I already know that my families won't donate. They never do."

I told her that there was no harm in asking and that even if you don't get all of it, you might get something which cuts down the cost. That's how we do things in PTO.

"Well, not to be rude, but this isn't PTO."

OH NO SHE DI'IN!

So right before I jumped over the table and snatched her bald, someone jumped in and tried to get her to realize that she wasn't going to know unless she asked.

It ended with her rolling her eyes and saying that it was time for her to pick her her kids for an early release day. Good thing, too, because any longer and she might not have left there with all of her hair!

And I'll be going through this all over again at a PTO meeting tonight. yeah me.

Thankful Thoughts of November... Oh what a world!

Today I'm thankful that God has given me patience to deal with children that you have to repeat things to 60 times!

I'm thankful that I have not taken out the ATTITUDE ADJUSTER (a.k.a BEAT EM STICK) today, even though I have told the boys like a bajillion times that they need to get that room cleaned up.

I'm thankful that up until this point, they have taken me serious about NOT COMING OUT OF THEIR ROOM UNTIL IT IS CLEAN, although that has not stopped them from throwing things into the hallway, asking "Can I get that?"

I'm thankful that everyday they are not like this!

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I'm I the only one that looks at the world and all of the crazy and bad things that keep happening and can't help but wonder what kind of world my children are growing up in?

What kind of world do we live in where soldiers can fight for our country and return home TO SAFETY and be killed by thier own fellowman?

What kind of world are they being raised in where a girl can be gang raped in front of a school in front of a large spectators who video tape the horrific event rather than stop it?

What kind of world is this where so many women can go missing in one area and convicted rapist can get away with hiding 11 bodies in his house, some of the women missing for 5 years, and no one investigate that area?

I pray that the world we live in becomes better for my children.

A Month of THANKFULNESS!

There is so much to be thankful for. There is so much in my life that I appreciate having. Although I am thankful everyday, November happens to be the perfect month to show just what those things are. First, I'm Thankful that Clueless Mama @ Guessing all the Way has given me the opportunity to talk about just what I'm thankful for from November 1-24th. Okay, so it's the 6th, but I just found out about this.

So today, I'm THANKFUL for Family. The one thing in my life that is constant. The one thing that holds me together and makes me who I am. I'm thankful for the love my family gives me and the love that I can give to them.

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It's Friday................

Positive Obama comment turns HOSTLE

Yesterday, marked one year.

For what, you ask?

One year ago we made history by electing America's first Black President. We all knew that electing Barack Obama President was only the opportunity to bring about change; that we would all have to keep working to fulfill the promise our victory offered.

Mr. President, one year ago, America believed in you. Today, I still do!


Last night I was Facebook in a cyber fight with a chick who decided that she wanted to voice her opinion about Obama on a comment I made:

President Barack Obama has declared November 2009 as Military Family Month. In the proclamation, President Obama stated: “No one pays a higher price for our freedom than members of our Nation's military and their families. This month, we celebrate the tremendous contributions of military families, convey to them our deepest respect and appreciation, and recommit ourselves to their support.”

I was proud that someone had taken notice of the fights and sacrifices that we Military families face. Michelle Obama has always shown her soft side for our families and that is one of the things about her that won me over.

Well, another poster came in and commented that it was "About DAME TIME he does something that is needed in out country!"

First of all, chick, LEARN TO SPELL!

I see all these adds saying OBAMA WANTS MOMS TO GO TO COLLEGE. You need to take him up on that!

She goes on to say that she "get irate knowing that Obama has never served our country."

Well, never has Franklin D. Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson or Bill Clinton... all GREAT presidents!

Then she says: I don't know why everyone puts down Bush.


UMMMMMM, Maybe because he had us to continue fighting a war looking for weapons of mass destruction WHERE THERE JUST WERE ANY!! How many soldiers were lost on that account alone. And because of that, we are still here in the war that we can't get out of! The rest of the world, who were once on our side grew to hate us! There are issues of poverty right here in America, a war that we should be fighting right here at home! Did he once think that maybe raising the minimum wage in 8 friggin' year might help to stimulate the falling economy???

She also said: Obama is doing horriable. what has he really done for the country as of right now?

He has spent the last 10 months cleaning up the mess from the previous 8 year. Kinda like my kitchen. Can't get any real cookin' done until the mess from the night before is cleaned up, ya know?

She was asked HOW Obama is so "horriable" (as she spelled it), to which she had no answer.

So then the comment was made: Unfortunately, and I am sure you are aware, MOST people who are against Obame is for the simple fact that he is black. Obama's opponent could have been the KKK and people would have voted for anyone except Obama.....just sad.

Hmm, here we go!

She responded with: "When the hell did i ever mention that I didn't like him because of his skin color? wtf? that's ridiculolus"

Its racist people who claim that others didn't vote for him simple based on skin color.

I've made this argument before. The fact of the matter is that he IS looked at differently because of his race. People DID refuse to vote for him because he is black. Being African America automatically give you, president or retail worker, a disadvantage. Freedom wasn't exactly "freedom" right away for blacks and there is still a fight for a since of equality today. If you can't see that then you are blind and naive.

The message she later left in my inbox after deleting herself from my friends' list proved my point!

Kimberly Bennefield November 5 at 11:22am Report I don't have time to deal with ppl who claim im a racist due to the fact I don't agree with there VIEWS or see things there way. And let's be honest here all the people who voted for Obama are stricltly of color. I never brought up race in that whole debate but yet you proved my ... Read Morepoint once again. Minoritys are the racist people on this planet because they think everyone owes them!!if anyone owes ppl something its us native americans! The whites did more harm and murders to them and took there land. so if anyone so claim the race card it should be us native americans! you all have ur own month dedicated to you! What the hell else more do u want?our president is half black!!, you get more education ways to pay for school simply bc ur black!but when Us white people stand up for what we believe but we are called racist bc of it ? But yet its okay for minoritys to throw the race card? Screw that.That's fucking bullshit and its people like you and ur friends that can't let ur skin color go.It makes me sick!!!!! I added you of some random group thinking I might actually meet some interesting ppl but I guess I was mistaken!

Now, if you've been following me, you know I didn't take that one laying down. I sat UP in my bed and got to typing! But to see that, you'll have to tune in to part 2. I'm tired and gotta get dressed to pick up Miss Missy!

Does COLD kill swine flu?

Last night was Sir Talks-A-Lots last game.

They lost.

Of course.

Anywho...

One of the last things said at the end of the night was, "Hey parents, Such and Such was not here tonight because he has the SWINE FLU. He played last night, so parents, keep an eye on your kids!"

AAAAHHHHHHHHH!

Just the thing that we have been avoiding like the plague! (It kinda IS the plague!)

The good thing is, he doesn't go to our school, BUT if it is that close then it is only a matter of time before it spreads to our school.

I'm praying that because it was about 40 degrees last night, the germs couldn't pass from the ball to the other kids hands. I'm hoping that even the almighty H1N1 is not match for almost freezing weather. I mean, it was pretty cold out there, and from what I hear, classrooms are usually kept cool to slow down the spread of germs.

Do I need to make a run to the health department at the first sniffle? No signs of a flu yet, but how long does it take to get symptoms after being infected?

OMG! Somebody PRAY with me that we don't get THAT flu!

Really Blah Blah...

Honestly, as of lately, I feel as if I've been worthless. Worthless to my PTO job (it certainly is not just a volunteer position, and worthless to the FRG.



Oh did I mention I made my first mistake by sending an evite for out upcoming Holiday Party out to people who were not supposed to be invited.



Okay, so it wasn't totally my fault. I'm new to this FRG Leader stuff and I don't know any of the people in our Brigade. That, alone, makes me a sucky leader. BUT the problem was that I uploaded all of the emails directly from our new Gmail account right to Evite and sent out the invite. I assumed that the only saved emails my co-leader had put into the Gmail address box were those from Brigade list. Well I was wrong! There were other folk in there that were NOT suppose to get an invitation to our brigade party and we kinda don't wanna use our already limited FRG funds to pay for people who are not apart of our Brigade.



Okay, according to our FRSA (the chick in charge of our FRG) it's not that big a deal, but enough so that we need to get it fixed. MY BAD! (in my best CLUELESS voice)





Trthfully with Hubs home, I have CHECKED OUT of my jobs. Most people understand. Don't know about my control-freak-PTO-president though. She doesn't call me anymore. This is so opposite last year. Hubs use to complain how much my phone would ring throughout the day. Heffa don't call me anymore. This is the consequence of HAVING AN OPINION! When I was quiet and had little to say, simple agreed, she was my bestest friend! LOL!



Time is winding down. Hubs only has a few days left. This time is not gonna be as had for me. Last time he left I was bawlin' like a baby. The kids were distraught. This time, not so much on my part. It won't be as hard to se him go. I had my crying days. Not saying that I'll be happy and throwing a party, but it just won't hurt as bad. I'm ready for it!



Once he leaves this time, I plan on throwing myself wholeheartedly into both organizations. I have to stay busy, doing something that I love... giving my 2 cents!

Okay, this was a very boring post. Sorry guys. Better next time!

Nature Valley Giveaway

Okay, so I'm not really the health nut. Matter of fact, I lack health knowledge all together. I'm a fried chicken/macaroni and cheese type girl.

So, when the ladies at MyBlogSpark asked me if I wanted to review some new snacks from Nature Valley, I was like, hmmm, a health food?

Okay, back in the days when I thought I was too cool to eat breakfast before school, my mom use to buy Nature Valley bars for me to snack on on the way out the door.



Nature Valley has come up with a new snack!



Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters are a bite size blend of 100% natural ingredients that include select roasted nuts, whole grain oats and a touch of honey - a wholesome and delicious pick-me-up any time of the day. If you love nuts, you´ll enjoy this flavorful little snack featuring the perfect combination of sweet & salty flavors paired with a crunchy texture that you can see and taste. And with the first unique cluster-shaped granola packaged in a handy re-sealable pouch, it´s perfect for sharing on the trails or in your living room! New Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters come in four easy-to-crave flavors: Nut Lovers, Roasted Almond, Roasted Cashew and Honey Roasted Peanut. (taken from Laurie Pepitone and My Blog Spark)


Okay, so I'm not big on nuts, so I wasn't expecting to love this snack. But I decided to tear into the Honey Roasted Peanut pack. I-HEART-this-snack! Yum! It was a perfect blend of sweet and crunchy and just plain good!



Now, I don't care for almonds or cashews, so I wanted to save those flavors for someone special. HUBS was coming home for his 2 week visit from Iraq. He LOVED nuts. I figured this would be right up his alley. And it's healthy, which is a plus because he has me beat in that department.



The other bags were gone within the first 2 days of him being here. He thought they taste like Crunch n Munch!


So that's a snack that was a hit!






And all the goodies that came with the samples were a plus. Everything you need for a hike. The kids loved the flashlight and binoculars. I was in need of a bag to carry my keys and really like the water bottle.



So, here's the thing. I've been holding on to this giveaway for far too long. I want to make this short and sweet. All you have to do to win this Nature Valley prize pack is leave a comment telling me what your favorite snack is. I'll randomly pick a winner on Friday, November 6th. You can enter until NOON eastern time.



Soooooo, GO!

She's Girl Crushin' on me!

So the rain came down and Miss Missy didn't get to go to the pumpkin patch with her class this year. I was looking forward to it, but after having to cancel for the second time, I'm sure they won't be rescheduling since pumpkins represent Halloween and Halloween is in like 3 days. So I told Miss Missy that we'd take her to a pumpkin patch and that seemed to be okay with her.

We haven't carved a pumpkin this year. For me, carving pumpkins is traditional. I ALWAYS carved pumpkins when I was a kid, at least that's the way I remember it. When you're a kid, it's so much fun, regardless of the grossness of the oowey goowey insides.

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Did I mention that I think that Miss Missy's teacher has some kinda girl crush on me? Okay, she's married. And I'm not saying it's like some kind of lesbian crush (although I think I might be just that stunning!) What I'm saying is that you know how... well, I think Beyonce' is hot. I like her because she's modest and sweet and kindhearted. And well, let's face it the girl is HOT! I'm envious. She looks damn good and I'd tell her so if I ever met her. I'd probably be all googly-eyed too! Not because I swing that way, but because she's just one of those people who stand out in my mind. And well, I WANT HER LEGS!

Okay, well, I'm no celebrity, but I have to say, Miss Missy's teacher sure makes me feel like one! She speaks to me every morning before I even get the classroom door all the way open, and that's before she greets Miss Missy! She makes sure that she comes clean from the other side of the room to say hello. She compliments me everyday, no matter what I have on. Well, I have to admit that I do go up in there most days lookin' like a superstar (yeah right), but today I have on am old sweat suit, ready to go walking when I got back home and she comments on how nice it was.

Okay, I know what you're thinking. Maybe she's just a really nice person. And she is, but I've spent a lot of time in that classroom and NONE of the other parents seem to get as much attention from her as I do. None of the other moms get compliments on their busted sweat suits, nor do they get greeted at the door, but instead a "HELLO" from across the room. I feel a little strange when I go in there because she stops what she's doing in class and comes to talk for a few minutes, always Always ALWAYS telling me how nice I look.

Perhaps I should just take the compliments for what it probably is, say thanks, and keep on truckin'. I mean, I'm a pretty good lookin' chick and have never lacked attention, but I'm also one to shy away from comments a little. I tend to change the subject when all eyes are on me. BUT I still make sure that I maintain myself so that peoples' impression of me don't change. I like looking cute and I like people seeing me lookin' cute. I don't wanna look like an average everyday Plain Jane mom. I don't wanna be out in sweats and a ponytail everyday. Yes, dealin' with kids makes you wanna just be comfortable, but for me, it's like, just because I'm a stay-at-home mom, doesn't mean I have to look like I STAY AT HOME!

So, I guess I can understand why Over Eager Teacher might feel the need to compliment me. Maybe it's not just a "girl crush". Maybe it's my style!

(ha ha ha ha ! Never had one of those before!)

They don't look like me..

Halloween is right around the corner. Whoo HOOOO!



The Party City flyers have started coming every week. This week, Miss Missy decided to look at it together at the kitchen table as she enjoyed her afterschool snack.



Party City has a lot of costumes on display on the front page.



"I like this one, mommy." She was referring to a Snow White costume.



"But you already have that one. You just wore it on your birthday."



"Yeah, but it's old already. I need a new one."



"Hmm. What about this cat costume. You said you wanted to be a cat, right?"



Yeah, but that cat has pink on it. I want my cat costume to be all black. Cats don't have pink on them." Okay, so the pink fur around the head, arms and legs, down the front and the tail was a bit much. But it was meant to be cute. I thought she loved cute!



After looking through the flier a few minutes more, she says to me, "Mommy, there aren't any brown people on here."



"You know, baby, you're right. There aren't an brown people." I was surprised she'd noticed. I mean, I'd noticed the same thing on the previous flier, but for her to notice was a surprise. She's 5 for goodness sakes.



"There should at least be some brown or black or light brown people that look like me and you and daddy on here. That's not fair."



"It's not fair, Hunny. Perhaps we should write them a letter."



"YES WE SHOULD."



She marched off to get her construction paper and crayons.



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Dear Party City Advertisers,



I have purchase a costume from your company every year for the past 5 years. As an African American mom, I was perturbed by the fact that my 5 year old was able to realize the lack of African Americans (people like her) wearing costumes in your advertisement. African Americans and other races purchase costumes and may see it as biased that people of color are not featured.



In the future, I'd like to see more variety, as our world consists of an assortment of races and backgrounds and we all wear your costumes.



Thanks,



Kay and Kennedy



P.S. If you are in need of a beautiful face of color for your next advertisment, I have the perfect Little Miss who would look absolutely adorable in a Princess Tiana costume!

Most Embarassing Moment

So, Sass had to dig deep to figure out her most embarassing moment. I decided to dig deep to find mine. Like Sass, I don't embarass easily. I laugh too much. If I do or say something stupid, I laugh at myself.

But there was a time...

(cue the swirly lines that indicate a daydream)

I was out chillin' with some friends. Had to be about 16 because I was dating Blackness, the ugliest boy in the school. We had our teenage selves out hanging out at a playground. I was swinging and talking and laughing with the other juvenile delinquents I frequently hung with (when I wasn't on punishment). And then I got this bright idea to swing as HIGH as I could and.......... JUMP!

While in my mind I was flying through the air with a perfect land, looking super cool in from of my boyfriend and friends, reality jerked me back. Well, my jacket jerked me back as it got caught on the chains of the swing and instead of gracefully landing in the sand, as my body left the swing, I was immediately jerked back and landed flat on my back under the swing.

Laughter roared from all who were there too see and Blackness came over to help me up and asked me what the hell I was doing. I wanted to cry, because my hip hurt like crazy and my jacket was ripped and people were still laughing, but I started laughing to play off my embarassment.

It was certainly time to go. The street lights were coming on anyway...

My soldier is HOME!

Hubs is Home!! There's a soldier in my house again. There's an adult-size body in my bed again! There's someone else to keep the kids in line. There's someone to share the responsibilities... someone to do laundry!

Hubs is home for a short time. I'm going to enjoy him while I have him!

The N Word Hurts

Is there an event in your life where, if given the opportunity, you'd go back and change or do differently?



There is one that stands out with me.



I was about 19. Working full time at Dress Barn, a retail clothing store. I liked this job. I mean, customer service came natural to me and I liked helping people find clothes and accessories that made them or their loved ones look beautiful.

Yeah YEAH sure SURE! It was a JOB! It was something to put a few dollars in my pocket so that I could pay my parents' water bill and put gas in my hooptie so that I could ride out with my girl to the Starlight Club on the weekends!

Anyway, there was one day that stands out above all the rest of the two years I worked there.

This place was right off the highway and was always filled with old people. There's something about an outlet that attracts old travelers. I think that once people get old, their trips take longer because they stop at every outlet they see off of the highway. It could be that when you get older, you just have more leisure time, or it could just be that you have to stop to pee more often and not rely on their Depends... I don't know.

An old couple was in the store. They had to be, I don't know, 70ish? The wife was a sweetheart and I just remember her taking a ton of clothes into the dressing room to try on. Good for me, because, although we didn't work on commission, our sales were tallied and we were recognized for what we were able to convince folks to buy.

WELL, while the wife was in the dressing room, this nice old man turns to me and says, "You know, my best friend is a nigger, too."

He must not have noticed the shocked, appalled looked on this young girls face because he didn't miss a beat as he continued, "And he was one of the nicest people you'd ever meet." He went on to talk about how this n-i-g-g-e-r was a good guy and blah blah blah. He lost me somewhere in there because all I could think about how insulted I was and how I just didn't know what to say or how to respond to such complete ignorance.

I mean, it was 1997! It wasn't 1935. It was obvious to all of the world that it wasn't okay and it was total disrespect to call a black person a NIGGER! And really, it shouldn't have mattered how old this old fart was. EVERYONE who had half of a brain knows that it's not okay and so absolutely offensive to use the N-word!

I couldn't say anything. I just stood there. Quiet and in disbelieve. I didn't defend myself in anyway. I simply smiled and continued to work.

In all do honesty, that is the one moment in my life that I wish I'd spoken up, the one time in my life when I wish I'd stood up and made it known what I was feeling. I didn't. I don't know why, but I was jut dumbfounded and bothered but did. not. say. a WORD.

What do I wish I woulda said?

I'm sorry, Sir, but I'm not a nigger. Nor do I know anyone who is. Nigger is quite derogatory and offensive to me and to any black person. We were called niggers in slavery, when white men owned us. This word is used by people who are deliberately intending to be offensive now. The definition of this hateful word is a person of any race or origin regarded as contemptible, inferior, ignorant, that which I am neither. Do I look ignorant to you, sir? Do you feel me to be inferior? Your age is no excuse for your ignorance toward me or your so-called friend. With friends like you, sir, I'd hate to see what kind of enemies that poor man had. I, sir, am no nigger and I am deeply offended by being referred to as such!

If given a second go around I probably still wouldn't be able to think fast enought ot spit all of that out, but I would certainly saw something. Something to let him know that I was offended and hurt by his actions. Of course, I may have been fired for speaking out, but I would feel as though I defended myself and stood up for who I am!

The Princess's Day

So my baby is 5.

Isn't she beautiful??

She had a wonderful birthday, and yes she did go to school in her Snow White dress, per her insistence!

Signing the letter L. not calling her teacher a LOSER! LOL!

This little girl has been such a joy.

Even her labor was easy (8 hours, as compared to the boys at 36 & 24!)

She has always been the most quiet and the most well behaved child I have ever known. I can't say that she went through a terrible 2 stage, as even her tantrums were mild and few. Up until her entering pre-k this year, she has always been my road dawg. I never minded having to take her anywhere because I never have to scold her for anything.

There just aren't children out there like her. In her 5 years, she has bought her father and I so much joy.

Here daddy fell in love with her from the beginning. When she was a baby, he use to come home from lunch just to see her. I mean, I literally got jealous because he'd walk in and say, " Heeeyy, Miss Missy!" (he uses her real name, of course), and I'd be standing there like DO YOU SEE ME HERE? LOL!

She changed him because he was nothing like that with the boys. They were just the boys and she came in and melted his heart.

Having a girl is so much fun and she is absolutely the GIRLIE GIRL! Something I never was! She is all about dress up, all about nails, all about picking out her own clothes. If it frills, flows or sparkles she is on it!

She's learning to read and that, in itself is a proud moment for me because she is doing so faster than her brothers.

This little thing loves to smile and loves to make sure that I know how much she loves me. She also want to make sure I love her, and hopes to hear that she is number ONE and loved even more than the boys. She loves me more than the WHOLE BIKINI BOTTOM and she is MY FAVORITE... DAUGHTER! LOL!

It was her day, and even though she still has a whole another party waiting for her at the end of the month, her birthday couldn't have been more special as she was treated like the princess she truly is!

Happy Birthday, My Little Princess!

Her Birthday Dance!!

Birthday Prep

One day left until Miss Missy's birthday!



My baby is turning 5.



It's a little bittersweet because she's growing up so fast.



I ask her everyday who told her she can grow so much? Why are her legs getting so long? Are her clothes shrinking? Is she going to grow too big to be my baby?



She says that she will always be my baby and that she will never leave me.



These are wonderful words coming from such a little angel. I better cherish them because teen years are not far off!



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Her Pre-K field trip to the pumpkin patch was cancelled today. I was looking forward to it probably as much as she was. I've never been to the pumpkin patch and since I love the fall colors, I was looking forward to snapping some pictures.



Rescheduled!



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So, in preparation of Miss Missy's 5th, I have to go order some cup cakes for her class tomorrow. Pink and white... and purple per her request. She also wants a tiara and a wand, but I don't know if that's gonna happen.



Did I mention that she plans on wearing her Snow White dress to school tomorrow? Did I mention that she takes the "princess" thing seriously? She's expecting a crown to wear with it and some dressy red or black shoes. Hmm. I know it's her birthday, it's her special day, but how are the teachers gonna feel about her being dressed in costume all day? It's sure to make some too cute pictures, though!



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This year, I 'm not going all out and planning a party for her at home, although I have tons of wonderful ideas. Last year, she had a tea party. I loved doing that party. I was all girlie and frilly and just too cute!



This year, we're holding off until the last weekend of the month, Halloween, to have her party, with very good reason.



This year, it's Chuck E Cheese, also per her request.



But that's not the reason I agreed. As much as I love the creativity of an at-home party, and as much as I DESPISE the CEC place with all of it's germs and rude kids stepping on your toes and sneezing all over the salad bar, I'm having a pre-planned party simply because I don't want to have all the extra work of preparation and cleaning on my hands. You see, I really won't have time to do all of that because I'm trying to spend my time with a very special person during that time.



HUBS IS COMING HOME! Yep, around the 24th we will be expecting our soldier to be home for R&R, his two week visit from Iraq, his mid tour. (Mid-tour, my tail! He just left at the end of August and here they are sending people home ALREADY? What in the world? THEY JUST LEFT!!! I certainly would have preferred a return for Christmas, or my birthday in January, or even Valentine's Day, but now, once her returns, He'll be there for 9.5 months. 9.5 months without seeing his family again. Terrible!) The kids don't know yet, so this will be a complete surprise to them as they are expecting his visit in January. I'm so excited for them!



So, during that time, I'm sure that you can understand why I don't want to be tied down with the planning of a creative, spectacular home party. I have better things to do with my time ;-)