Future Gene Simmons

I'm in my house by myself.

By. Myself.

That has never happened before in this house.

Part of me is nervous because I just watched my WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE drive away in the car to go visit Mamaw and Papaw Creekmore (and the rest of the fam)..................and I got out of it. Did I just say that outloud?

The other part of me is so excited I just want to scream P-A-R-T-Y!!

I don't really know what to do with myself - but I can tell you this, I am NOT using this precious time to clean. The dust can kiss my ass.

I just did some things on the computer - organized some pics, uploaded some videos, re-loaded my digital pic frame to take to work with new pics. Now I'm going to post a few new pics and a small Stella update here... And then I am going upstairs and SCRAPBOOKING LIKE A FOOL.

Her newest trick? She has found her tongue - and it sticks out 24/7!

Click this link for a video of The Tongue.
(Please excuse my fake surprise gasps. You don't realize how much you do that to a kid to make them smile until you record yourself. Embarassing.)

Here are a few new pics from the last few days... She's growing ya'll!!

The Tongue in action:



This crib rail is yummy!



Daddy kept me warm in his coat when we walked home from Granny's house.



I know it doesn't LOOK comfy, but I was sleeping like a baby!



Off to the Scrapbook Room!!

TGIM

I never thought I would say that but THANK GOD IT'S MONDAY! This weekend kind of blew.

It all started on Thursday. I stayed home with Stella because Mom and Dad left for a long weekend at the Homestead in Hot Springs, VA. We stayed home all day, just piddling around. Nana Thurston's funeral was at 2pm but I did not go because Stella was really congested and stuffy and just not acting like herself. She felt like crap, basically, and I didn't want to leave her with my Nanny like that. I didn't want to put Nanny through that! I saw the Ellett family the night before at the viewing so I was glad I was able to see them then atleast.

Toby usually gets home around 4:30 during the week...so 4:30 got here...5:30...6:00. I called his Nextel and left a message just seeing what time he thought he would be home and should I do ahead and get dinner ready? Then here comes 6:30....7:30....8:30.... I was HYSTERICAL. I called Heath to see if he had stopped by there and just lost his brain cells for a few and decided to stay and have some beers...but he had not heard from him either. All the while I am calling his Nextel and it's going straight to voicemail. I shifted from "I'm going to kill him" to "I bet he's laying in a ditch" a million times. At 8:30, I HAD to leave the house so I bundled up Stella and we went for a drive. She slept while I was driving through the tears. It was ridiculous. I just KNEW something was wrong - this was really out of character for a work night. So I pull back into the driveway at 9 pm and his van still isn't there - major meltdown. I get inside and he had JUST called and left a message. I called him back, still hysterical, and he swears he had told me the previous night that he was going to be working late way out in Buckingham County - where his Nextel gets no reception. I swear to you, dear reader, that HE DID NOT TELL ME. I do not forget things like that - and I certainly would not have spent HOURS in a hysterical state and not have it come to me that "oh yeah! He said he was working late." Ugh. So he finally got home around 10:30 and I had the biggest headache on the planet which required 2 tylenol PMs.

On Friday, my aunt Nancy came over to the house and stayed with Stella all day so I would not have to take another vacation day. I think they had a great day! She told Mom that she wants her job! (So do I!) I was out of it and groggy from the Tylenol PMs and the not adequate sleep... but it was a decent day at work. Toby called around 4:30 to tell me he was going by his friend Tom's house for an hour and then would be home. WOULD YOU BELIEVE that at 7pm, I called his cell. "Gee, it has been one long ass hour!" I was pissed. I am NOT one of those wives that has to know where you are every second - but show me some respect! Atleast let me recover for ONE night and not have a repeat of the hellish night before! He immediately came home and this whole deal prompted a discussion about letting each other know where the other one is (like I needed this discussion but sometimes using "we" is more effective) and if either one of us is going to be longer than we originally said, then just call. No big deal. Just do it.

So then a few of his friends showed up and they all went out to the garage to have some beers and play a few games of pool. Fine by me! I like having them in the backyard so I don't have to worry about anyone driving....But for those of you counting, this is two nights in a row I had complete Stella-duty.

Saturday started early with Stella babbling in her crib at 7am. The babbling 24/7 is a new thing. It's just ba ba ba ba ba ba but there is definite intonation - her tone goes up and down like she is telling the most exciting story! It's funny. I got myself showered and ready and Stella ready and we headed out - I dropped her off with Mimi and Sunah and headed to Carytown for my bi-yearly haircut. David, my hair guy, took one look at me and just said "Your hair is long and big." ha! That pretty much summed it up! We gossiped while I got a trim which lasted for an hour. I returned to Mimi's to pick up the girl and she must have played hard because she fell right asleep. I lugged the 20 lbs of sleeping baby into the car and we then went by Weight Watchers for my weigh-in...I lost 1.4 last week. Awesome. I lugged her back to the car (this is atleast 6 activity points) and we headed home.

Heath had come over the night before and ended up staying in the guest room, so he was still there. I asked if we ALL could ride over to the Estate Sale place to pick up the server/wine bar I wanted...See, my mother-in-law has this AWESOME wine bar that would not fit in her house here. She gave it to us to babysit since it looked great in our dining room. But she moved to Northern VA last week and took it with her since it now fits in her new place. Here it is....The old dining room - with the wine bar under the window. Goodbye lovely wine bar. :)





So we were at the Estate Sale and I told the lady which server I wanted and while we were waiting, we roamed the store and actually fell in love with a dining room table and chair set. We decided to NOT get the new server - but to spend only $100 more and get the new dining set - as it would be smarter to do that. The dining room set we currently had was falling apart - the chairs were literally falling to pieces...and the server was for decoration anyway. We decided to be practical and buy the table and chairs.

Here is the new dining room:
(There is junk on the floor and that fake plant is going...and the room needs "something else." Just don't know what that is yet...but we LOVE the new set and LOVE that the table is high - it comes to your waist when you are standing beside it and my feet don't hit the floor when I'm sitting in a chair. LOVE IT!



Detail on the chairs:



Detail on the table:



So it was a productive Saturday. Heath fell in love with the Estate Sale place too and actually found an armoire/dresser set and a whole new dining room suit for him and Julie!! We all kept that place in business on Saturday!!

The sucky part started when the guys borrowed my Dad's truck to bring the table home. It was hard getting the table through the front door - Toby had to take down the door - which is NOT a big deal - but Mr. Frustration made a quick appearance. As he and Heath were getting this heavy table through the door it was JUST making it....barely but it was making it.... I said "It's coming, just a little bit more" and apparently Toby lost his frigging mind and got really frustrated and slammed the table through, taking a chunk out of the corner. DAMNIT! This is one thing I can not stand and have talked to him about a lot - and in his defense, he is about 85% better than he used to be...but he has ZIP for patience. And it needs to stop. It's ridiculous.

So anyway, that episode ruined an otherwise happy occassion. I was pretty upset the rest of the day and he was upset and it was just yucky. THIS prompted another big discussion ...blah blah blah....Won't get into that too much but basically I am a big believer in psychology and how your past affects your present...meaning the way you were brought up and the environment that you were raised in TOTALLY affects who you become as an adult...and if that environment was not exactly "healthy" it will take time to reverse all that. Your first step is ACCEPTING that fact that your past wasn't quite peachy and that you need to be conscious of that and make an effort to change things...and while it's ok to have slip-ups every once in awhile, you can't just keep "slipping up" and thinking that saying "I'm sorry" afterwards is enough. You have to make the effort to CHANGE. It's great to realize that you have back-slid - but you need to continue the work to change it BEFORE. Not just keep backsliding and apologizing afterwards. That doesn't cut it.

So Saturday night was kind of a bummer - but at the same time was a development opportunity. :) "Development opportunity" - haha. Corporate speak. Like when work told me that putting together training binders for another department was a "development opportunity."

Sunday was a lazy day. It was sleeting and freezing outside so we didn't leave the house! Toby did run out a couple times - first to get himself a frozen pizza for breakfast (!!!! Tell me again why he is skinny as a rail?) And the second time to the tattoo shop to talk to someone about getting a new tattoo with his $300 of THREE YEAR OLD certificates. I'm praying they still take them or I might as well have flushed $100 down the toilet on his birthdays for the past 3 years. BUT ANYWAY.

When he got back, I asked "Can I please take a nap?" And by NAP, I mean a 2-3 hour one in the bed, under the covers, in my room, with the door shut. He said "Sure!!!! Of course you can!!" (Have you, dear reader, been adding up my full-time Stella- duty since Thursday?) So I set Stella up in her bouncy, fixed her food for the next feeding, told him when she ate last, and practically skipped to the waterbed. A nap! I haven't had one of those in 6 months. And I used to be Queen of the Nap.

So I'm laying there for about 10 minutes and I hear baby screams like I have never heard before...so I get up and go out there and I guess Miss Thing was having some serious stomach pains or something because it was like she was hyperventalating crying - like she was losing her breath! So I sat with her for a sec until that went away...and she was good to go. I wish babies could talk and tell you what the heck is wrong with them.

So I go back to bed, and lay there for about 30 minutes when Daddy brings Daughter in and says "She's so tired - can she lay in here? She's just not happy doing anything. She's doing her grunting thing." For those of you who have witnessed this, it's pretty funny - but she grunts when she's tired. Long, continuous grunts that can last up to 30 minutes...and then she's out like a light. It's her way of telling us she is exhausted and needs to sleep pronto! SO ANYWAY he lays her by me and she falls asleep but guess who doesn't? ME. She takes her usual catnap of 20 minutes and is up babbling and cooing and smiling. She's so funny... So I get up again, get her, take her in the living room and...

TOBY IS ASLEEP ON THE COUCH.

AND STAYS ASLEEP FOR 2 HOURS.

AND I MADE MYSELF SEVERAL CUPS OF COFFEE.

The rest of the afternoon/night was uneventful and filled with the usual piddling on the computer, watching useless TV, moving Stella from swing to jumper to exersaucer to walker and back again, emptying and reloading the dishwasher, washer, and dryer.... Ask me how much scrapbooking I got done! Go ahead - ask!!

Well, we moved the old dining room table up to the craft room! Sure, the legs are unscrewed from it. Maybe next weekend I'll get a minute to screw the legs on. And then the NEXT weekend maybe I'll scrap a page.

So, I watched some of that Jennifer Garner movie 30 going on 13 last night and it was really cute. I ended up going to bed so I DVR'ed the ending and will watch tonight while Toby is getting his tattoo...(Full time Stella duty again in case you didn't notice.) :)

And I foresee an early bedtime for us girls. Toby woke me up this morning at 5:30 because he could not find the coffee filter. I told him to go in my purse and get a couple dollars and go to 7-11. I was half asleep when I told him this.

THEN he comes back in at 5:45 because he can't find his wallet. He's banging around, cussing, turning into Mr. Frustration again - bitching about how his tattoo certificates are in there and "There's $300 gone! And I'm about out of gas! And now I'm going to be late!" And on and on and on........... We each searched the house for a good 20 minutes, me in my flannel pajamas and slippers. He SWORE it was in the basket next to the door. Swore on his life. Someone must have gotten in and stolen it.

I asked several times "Is it in your van?"
"No, Stephanie, I have already looked there."

Okie dokie. We look some more.

Finally I say "Can we look in the van just one more time...."
"Fine! I need to leave anyway - I'm late."

So we go to the van. He turns on the light and I hop into the drivers seat and he is narrating everywhere I am looking...

"No it's not there. It's not in that coat because that coat has been laying there for 2 weeks. No it's not in that compartment I never use that. If I have it in here I ALWAYS put it up here in the visor and it's not........"

Silence.

I stop digging through stuff and sit up and look at him and he says.

"I'm sorry!! Don't look at the visor! I love you!!!"

If I could have shot lazer beams out of my eyeballs, I would have.

So, to make a long story short - TGIM. I'm glad to be back at work for a BREAK!

But by this Friday, I'm sure I'll be saying TGIF again!!

But I'll end this on a cute note:
Here are a couple new Miss Stella O. pictures:

Looking like the kid in Raising Arizona when he's riding in the back of the car and hiding behind his hood!



Jumping in the doorway is EXHAUSTING!!
(This was so funny! She was in the jumpster in the kitchen doorway. She was playing with her stuffed chicken the Aunt Cece had given her for Christmas - she LOVES that thing. And I was cooking and singing "how funky is your chicken - how loose is your goose - come on everybody and shake your caboose!" and I stopped because I heard SNORING. She was just hanging there asleep! Of couse I got the camera...)

Sad news for dear friends...

CRAP! Things have been so busy I have had no time to update anyone on my exciting life! (sarcasm) I do promise an update very soon. Friday is looking pretty clear.

I do want to take a moment to ask for some prayers for my dear life-long friends The Ellett Family....Shirley (the matriarch of the family) passed away yesterday after learning she had a brain tumor and cancer on Thanksgiving. It's been a rough 2 months of hospitals and radiation and rehab centers.... We visited with her a few times; the last time being Sunday - and I am SO glad I went even though it was the most difficult thing to witness. Linda and Christy (her twin granddaughters) are dear friends of mine and I want to say some extra prayers for them because they are amazing. I am leaving work today at 2pm for the viewing and will attend the funeral tomorrow if Stella is still doing alright - she's a bit sick.

But more about crusty noses and baby phlem on Friday.

Love to all.

We're a pretty family, aren't we?

Dagnabit work has been busy! I'll tell stories tomorrow....

But I HAD to get on here and post some pictures.

First, our new family portrait - LOVE IT.



And Daddy put together Stella's new big girl highchair tonight. (We got a really good deal on it...) It is AWESOME. She thinks so too!

My Girl

I'll post an update tomorrow from work when it's slow...This weekend was full and very productive, despite me and Stella being sick girls together on Friday.

Since work blocked photobucket - AGAIN - I thought I would quickly post some pictures from home and then tell yoy my stories tomorrow... She's growing like a weed, ya'll!!

Modeling her new outfit from Aunt Cyndy


Only Stella can pull off horizontal stripes from head to toe


Stretch!!!


2 Cool 2 Drool


And we thought the Bumbo couldn't get any better...it has a TRAY!!


Watching Mom


Check out my cool new chair from Mom's work friend, Bill!



And for your viewing pleasure: THE JUMPSTER IN ACTION

Guess who's not working today?

Here's another MeMe I found...I like this one better - it's more of a recap of the past year. I'll want to go back and read this one day...

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Give birth

2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I think I was too sick last New Years to make any. This year it's the usual - health, money, relationships - do better at all of them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A lot of people! It was the year for babies.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Several people I am close to lost people THEY were close to...if that makes sense.

5. What new places did you visit?
Nowhere really... I was too sick until Stella's birth... and then I was too busy!

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Patience and compassion for certain situations - no further details needed. I know what I mean. :)

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I have two:
July 23 - Stella O'Dell was born
May 31 - Two friends lost their infant sons. I think about them each atleast 50 times daily and probably will forever.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Only missing 2 days of work out of 7 months of being deathly ill

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
See #8. I think I had the worst case of "morning sickness" and acid reflux of any pregnant woman I have ever heard of.

10. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Toby - He's made so many awesome changes in his life. And he stayed in the delivery room and helped Stella be born...when he told me he didn't think he could do it.

11. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?


12. Where did most of your money go?
To Stella - and I'm sure it will be that way forever!

13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Stella's arrival

14. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

15. Compared to last year, are you: Happier/sadder? Thinner/fatter? Richer/poorer?
Happier, Fatter (I had a baby - that's my excuse), and I wouldn't say RICHER but how about "better off."

16. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Take more time out for just me and Toby. This is a goal of mine for 2007.

17. What do you wish you'd done less of?
wasted time on the computer

18. How will you spend the 2006 holidays?
Attending several family events, hanging around my new beloved house in my flannel pants, making Stella's first Christmas lovely

19. Did you fall in love in 2006?
with Stella

20. What was your favorite TV program?
This year I was into American Idol (Elliott!) and Project Runway

21. What was your favorite film of this year?
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

22. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I'm so glad we moved because I adore the new house beyond belief...but I could have done without the packing and the moving and the house "drama" (paperwork, real estate agents, etc) while trying to take care of a 3 month old and going back to work full-time...

23. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Maternity clothes for Jan - Aug
Whatever fits (which isn't much!) for Sept - Dec

24. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
Take NOTHING for granted. NOTHING. EVER.

25. Share a breathtaking moment from 2006:
Giving birth was pretty breathtaking. The whole process - labor and all. And on a different level - when I learned of my 2 friends' losses within moments of each other. That knocked the wind out of me.

26. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May
I guess you'd say, what can make me feel this way
My Girl
Talking about My Girl

Yeah, that was cheeseball but that's what happens. You'll see. :)

Happy New Year

On Saturday we had an Open House for some of our friends...most had not seen the new house and some had not seen Stella since she was itty-bitty. It was great to see everyone! I loved catching up and hanging out. It was a steady flow of friends all day (and into the night at Toby's Doghouse) so it was never really crowded (except for a few minutes when Mom and Dad came over and brought their friends who were visiting them next door - gotta show off the granddaughter!!) I made A LOT of food and luckily it was all pretty much gone by the end of the night! Thank you!! I did have to throw away some Rolo/Pretzel candie thingees - not because they weren't any good but, because they are TOO good and after the Open House, it was the beginning of Food Detox for me. Anyways, thanks to all who stopped by to see us. It was great catching up and laughing at old stories (Denny, Morgen, Troy) and even BETTER pulling out the ol' wedding DVD and watching the part where they had to CENSOR Denny. Who in the world has their wedding on DVD where they have to CENSOR someone with a big long beep! That would be me. I love you Dennis!!

Actual New Years Eve was extremely uneventful and resulted in the whole family being in bed sound asleep by 9pm. Woo hoo! PARTY!! It was exactly how I wanted it to be and that was just fine. We were exhausted from the day before and really all I wanted to do was sit around all day in my flannel pants and piddle around the house. I did make homemade Double Decker Tacos for dinner with REAL sour cream (the last supper) and played on the computer (damn myspace sucks me in....) I did manage to collect all Christmas decorations from around the house and put them all in a pile on the dining room table. But that's as far as they got.

On New Years Day, Toby woke up sick with a cough so he was in bed ALL DAY LONG so it was just me and Stella to fend for ourselves all day. She was pretty high maintenance all day so I wasn't able to get into anything for long periods of time...During one of her catnaps, I did manage to get the decorations in their bins and got the Tree taken down and in a pile. It was raining AND THE YARD FLOODED AGAIN so I'll have to wait to get it all out to the shed. I was also able to get a lot of computer work done...I figured out my new Digital Picture Frame and got it all loaded up with pics to take to work today. Matt came over and set up my new ipod shuffle and an itunes account so I know how to do that... I need to load that sucker up with some good walking songs because I want to get back to the gym starting in the next week or so...

I started Weight Watchers CORE yesterday. That is always a good program when I need to detox from junk. It's Day 2 and I'm doing well...feeling good...I managed to lose around 3 lbs in the month of December and through the holidays which I think is miraculous!! I'm so glad I had joined WW back in November to keep me in check over the holidays so I didn't gain 10 lbs like I usually do...

Now it's the new year (2007 - I can't believe it!) and I'm ready. I have some resolutions in mind but nothing really specific. Get healthy, save money, get (more) organized, etc.... Typical stuff. I'm not putting any pressure on myself. I just want to live life and enjoy it and make some positive changes when I can... It's amazing what a 5 month old can teach you and they can't even talk......

Happy New Year everyone!

2006: A year in review

1) Where did you ring in 2006?
Asleep. I was pregnant and sick as a dog.

2) What was your status by Valentine's Day?
Still sick as a dog!

3) Were you in school anytime this year?
No.

4) How did you earn your keep?
Working at P-Mo.

5) Did you have to go to the hospital?
When Stella was born - and that was the only time I have been in the hospital myself since I had TUBES IN MY EARS (Cece!) when I was little.

6) Did you have any encounters with the police?
No. And neither did Toby. (as far as I know!)

7) Where did you go on vacation?
We went to the Eastern Shore to my Mother-In-Law's Shore House a couple times...That was it for our travels in 2006. I was too sick.

8) What did you purchase that was over $500?
A house, living room furniture, Toby's Jeep, all the baby's furniture

9) Did you know anybody who got married?
Yes

10) Did you know anybody who passed away?
I knew several people but no one really close to me...

11) Have you run into anybody you graduated high school with?
Yes - I work with Kevin B. I see others on myspace but don't contact them. I just like spying on them.

12) Did you move anywhere?
To Lakeside. Next door to my parents.

13) What sporting events did you go to?
None

14) What concerts/shows did you go to?
Motley Crue = AWFUL. (But maybe because I was really pregnant and sick and Vince sounded like absolute poop. I went and sat outside the coliseum halfway though and waited for Toby and his friend...if you had told me in 1991 that I would walk out on Motley Crue, I would have told you that you were insane.)
Motion City Soundtrack = AWESOME. The first time seeing them headline. I was also deathly ill at that point but I HAD to go. Traveled to Norfolk with Mom and Dad. Thought I would die but it was so worth it. One lady bouncer let me sit on a stool for the show which saved my life.

15) Are you registered to vote?
Yes.

16) If so, did you do your patriotic duty on Nov. 7?
No. Whoops.

17) Where do you live now?
Lakeside

18) Describe your birthday.
It was the big 3-0 and it wasn't all that fantastic. Stella was 1 month old and was really having a bad day...so I ended up having to take her to the Dr who diagnosed her with Acid Reflux. We waited for a long time in the waiting room before we saw the Dr and then we had to get prescriptions filled which took FOREVER because the people at Walgreens were incompetant. We were supposed to have a big family dinner that night but ended up having to cancel. Mom, Dad, Matt, and Kristen came over anyway and brought pizza and cake which was really nice. So it wasn't all that bad and Stella was here so that's all that really mattered.

19) What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2006?
Survived 7 straight months of sickness while only missing 2 days of work.

20) What is one thing you regret from this year?
I don't really regret things anymore. I don't drink anymore so that may have something to do with it. :) ha! Just kidding. I guess I regret not keeping in touch with friends as well as I should/want to.

21) What do you want for Christmas?
For the first time, I didn't really WANT anything.

22) Any new additions to your family?
Stella O'Dell

23) What was your best month?
July - I was 9 months pregnant and actually felt the best I had the whole pregnancy! Stella arrived early on the 23rd. Her first week was the best week of my life.

24) What from pop culture will you remember 2006 by?
All the babies born - TomKat, Gwen, Britney, Brooke, Gwyneth

25) How do you plan to ring in 2007?
Asleep. Atleast this time I was not sick.

26) Will you be looking for a new job in 2007?
If so, it will be within the company.

27) Will you be looking for a new relationship?
No!

28) New house?
I'm not moving again until I am 95.

29) What will you do different in '07?
Focus on my health and get back to a comfortable weight.

30) New Years resolution?
Get healthy
Stop spending money and SAVE
Apply myself more at work
Resume scrapbooking
Organize

31) What will you not be doing in '07?
Being pregnant!

32) Any trips planned?
Maybe one in the fall to the NC mountains? My aunt is moving there and it is also my 10 year LMC Girls Christmas reunion.

33) Wedding plans?
For my aunt :)

34) What's on your calendar?
Our 2nd anniversary
Stella's first birthday

35) What can't you wait for?
To watch Stella grow and reach new milestones
To watch MCS's success

36) Do you expect '07 to be a good year for you?
Yes

37) How much did you change from this time last year til now?
I'm a Mom. Could there BE a bigger change? And all of these maternal instincts have me cleaning and cooking a lot more.

38) Do you plan on having a child?
Not for a LOOOOOONG time

39) One wish for '07?
I wish for happiness, joy, peace, forgiveness, love, understanding, patience, and health for all of my friends and family.

Post-Christmas Zombie

Zombie. You know how words can look really strange and funny to you all of a sudden...well, Zombie is doing that for me right now. Weird!!! Anyway...... I am so dang tired I can hardly keep my eyes open and my head is pounding. Kind of like I had too many beers last night but I didn't have a one. I'm just old.

It was such a nice Christmas for us!!! I hope everyone else had very happy holidays with family and friends. Stella really did make our Christmas even more special this year - she's just so amazing and fun.



On Sunday, we went to my parents' house for our gift exchange. They got us TOO MUCH. It was ridiculous. It was so nice having Matt and Kristen home....







One of Stella's gifts was a Jumpster which she loved right away!



After Christmas at the Taylors, we went to my mother-in-law's house for Christmas there. We ate Mexican food - she made the best enchiladas - and opened presents. Here are the girls and their new hats! (Oh yeah - and Toby and Kim. Who cares about them? It's all about the girls now! And excuse Toby's goofy smile. :)



And Kendall in her new jacket from us.



Here's Mother and child. I look like a goofball.



And here's Stella and her "uncle" Scooter.



Christmas morning was laid back.



Zana (MIL) came over to see us and we just lounged around and talked while A Christmas Story played in the background. I ruined breakfast which wasn't anything new. ha! It had hashbrowns, eggs, cheese, onions, peppers and it was supposed to cook overnight in the crockpot - which it did. It cooked into a big brown mess! GAG. Lucky we had KFC biscuits to save the day!!! Mom, Dad, and Matt stopped by for a minute but then we all needed to get on the road to Nancy's house where Mom's side of the family gathers every year. We all ate and did the annual "Wacky Swap" that is so.much.fun. I stole again this year - I think I'm getting a reputation. I stole from my Mimi last year and I stole from my Dad this year. Maybe I should be nice next year...

Stella got MORE gifts. She is one lucky lucky girl. I can't wait to get in her room and unpack all of her new toys, books, DVDs, clothes, etc...Right now it looks like we just moved in! Here she is with a new vibrating pig that Great Aunt Nancy got her - she liked to kiss him! (I think the vibration felt good on her gums!)



Here's the Wacky Swap. We all have so much fun and laugh a lot.









After Nancy's house, we went home to "regroup" - I repacked all of the boxes of food and gifts to head to Nanny's - My Dad's side of the family. The fam has gotten so large, we rented a rescue squad building in Mechanicsville...and itwas GREAT!! We weren't stuffed like sardines in a house and we could actually move around and visit. Nanny was there all day decorating and getting it ready. We also had room to take pictures....my favorite thing. :)

Nanny and her kids



The Taylors and Creekmores



Rusty and his fam



Cathi and her fam



The Purcells



Nanny and her grandkids



And my personal favorite: The Great Grandbabies!!



We also had a "new" thing this year - Dad and Matt played bass and guitar and led a sing-along of carols; including the annual "I'll be Home with Bells On" by Dolly Parton (sung by my Great Aunt Phyllis. Usually she does not have a back-up band!) And little Cayden sang the ENTIRE "12 Days of Christmas" complete with a "palm tree in a pear tree."



So, a lot of events. A lot of family. A lot of food and visiting and packing and gifts and riding in the car! But mostly, a lot of love. It was a wonderful Christmas. And a wonderful FIRST Christmas for Stella O'dell.

One down...

...Four Christmas Gatherings To Go!

I survived the first Christmas gathering last night - and that was the one I wasn't sure I would make it through...so that's great! It was nice. Mamaw was pleasantly positive and she looked really good - and obviously felt good. There was no yelling. There was a tad bit of drama as Toby's cousin brought his new girlfriend and her 3 year old son WHO HAD A FEVER AND A RUNNY NOSE. I was so pissed. Stella has not been sick yet and Kendall just got over RSV last week. So, we were neurotic mothers and tried to keep the kid away from the girls... I felt bad but geez!! I don't want a sick 5 month old regardless of what time of year it is but especially at Christmas since we have so many places to be.....

Stella got to open some of her first gifts and it was so exhausting......





Yesterday did not start off that great as a mean lady made me cry in Ukrops. Happy Holidays!! I was the idiot who needed to run to the store for a few last minute baking items I had forgotten...I had 10 or so things and was waiting in the mile-long line when a manager came up to me and told me to go to the Cafe to check out as there was no line. I looked at my stuff and said "Are you sure?" because you usually don't check out groceries in the Cafe line but he said "Absolutely!" So I went over there and told the guy behind the cash register, "The manager said I could come over here." And he said "No problem!" (This is Ukrops - everyone is incredibly nice.) So I'm checking out and this lady gets in line behind me and he takes about 2 minutes to ring up my stuff and he hands me my last bag and I grab it and turn to go when the woman makes a smart-ass comment. I stopped and said "Excuse me?" and she said "Nothing." But then proceeded to talk.... "The sign says 5 items and you obviously had more than that. You need to have respect for other people...." Or something to that effect about me having no respect....... I said "The manager sent me over here" and just walked away and went to my car and cried. Haha!! I know it wasn't all about that woman - I was stressed about the event last night too....but dang!! Merry F'cking Christmas to you too, Beotch! I wish I had said that.

Before the Ukrops fiasco, Toby and I exchanged gifts because we weren't sure when the next "quiet" time would be. I got him an Ipod Nano and he seems to love it. I also got him the iTrip kit so he can listen to it in the car through the speakers.... He got me a Digital Picture Frame that rotates all the pictures you load on it. He said it's for me to take to work to show off my pictures. :) I LOVE IT. Now if I can just figure out how to use it.

I need to get off this computer and get to making some truffles. I already made the batter (I bought a food processor at Kroger the other day and WHAT A DIFFERENCE it makes when mixing truffles!) We need to be at MY Mom and Dad's house (next door) for our gift exchange between us and my brother and Kristen.... And then off to Toby's Mom's at 3pm for that side...... which was the event that prompted my "please think about the Creekmore's" post a few days ago.... but she'll be there with my niece, minus the slug, and I'm very happy. The issue is not resolved or fixed - but atleast she is coming.

More fun family stories later!! Merry Christmas Eve!!