See you soon.

I am in dire need of updating the blog. Things have been nutty cuckoo. And that is the technical term. Lots going on...good stuff and annoying stuff.

If I wrote right now, it would look like

"blah blah blah bitch bitch bitch. Blah blah blah blah. Bitch bitch bitch bitch. Blah bitch blah bitch. And on and on and on................."

So I'll do a big update one day soon. Probably when I find out the answer to a major question mark in my life right now. I should know by the end of this week or beginning of next. (No worries...nothing bad, I promise!)

IMDB

Toby is watching Mr. Mom right now...and I was curious if the lady he meets in the grocery store was Delta Burke so I looked the movie up on IMDB. Turns out it's Ann Jillian. Neat.

So then I had the idea to look up my best friend since 5th grade. She's an actress/writer/producer/comedienne. Why have I never done that?!?!

HOW COOL IS THIS.

Yesterday and Today

It's been a little bit... sorry about that. I was busy doing EVERYTHING. Ugh!

Well, I was off yesterday and this is what I woke up to:



And then I went back inside to get Sleeping Beauty and all of her "friends" in the crib:



We had a great day at home. I was "forced" to take vacation (ha!) because Mom and Dad are at a work event at The Homestead. Lucky Dogs. I have been there once for a work event - NEVER could I afford it on my own.

I had a cleaning service come by yesterday to give me an estimate on deep cleaning once a month. I just can't do it. I don't like it, I'm not good at it, and I don't have time. So, I am willing to pay. Toby is TOTALLY against it, but I didn't tell him. And I probably won't! ha! He brought home a cat and didn't ask me. So, I'm bringing in a cleaning team. Surprise!!!

Later, I went in to check on Stella during her nap. (We have SUCCESSFULLY transitioned to just putting her in her crib WIDE AWAKE for "night night" and naps - and she'll play for a bit and then goes to sleep. It's a GIFT FROM GOD, people!) So anyway, after a long quiet spell, I went in to check, and this is what I found.




Could she BE any cuter?

When Toby got home around 4:30, I then scooted out for my Woman's Group and afterwards went by Linens and Things and got some curtains for the bathroom, a new bathmat, and some big-time drapes for the living room on MAJOR sale... I am anxious to get all of that stuff up today. Plus I HAVE TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE because I have put it off forever.... and I need to go by A&N because they are closing all stores in Richmond and everything is 60% off and Toby needs work clothes. In addition to cleaning, laundry, getting ready for my Scrapbook Day on Sunday........

I need a wife.

Eight Days Into 2008....So far so good!

I am due for a BIG update. I just am amazed at how EVERY day gets away from me. I know I could be MUCH better about time managment in my personal life. But I"m just damn tired!! So, right now, it's "what happens, happens." As long as my family is sheltered, fed, bathed (atleast sometimes), and rested... I guess we're doing alright.

2008 is turning out to be a breath of fresh air, compared to 2007. Yes, we are only 8 days in...but my chest feels lighter. And that's a good thing.

New Years was VERY BORING - as that's how we roll. I LIKE BORING. We went to Friendly's with Toby's Uncle Greg and Aunt Donna. I had the best burger of my life followed by a big Peanut Butter and Chocolate concoction. It was a perfect "Last Supper" before the big R word. (resolution)

Mac n Cheese face; ordering ice cream - Is she my child or what?!


We returned to work and a normal schedule on Jan 2. Kind of good to be back... Same shit, different year. Who cares? As long as I get a paycheck, I really don't care anymore. I'm over the drama. My MIL gave me a wonderful iHome iPod docking station thingee that I took to work and it's now my best friend on my desk. I hope I am not bothering anyone with my Avenged Sevenfold.

I also started my Health Kick on Jan 1 and it's going great! I lost 1.6 lbs this week just from eating right. I still need to get my a$$ moving and get some exercise in. I ordered a BEAN ELITE WITH THE FLEX 10 and it arrived on Sunday. I plan to do my first strength training workout tonight while watching the Biggest Loser. (I love/hate that show. It's so incredibly unrealistic (who has 8 hours a day to work out?) but also inspiring at the same time.) I am journalling my food diary online. Finding support with others. And.........................

(Drumroll Please)

I SIGNED UP FOR THE MONUMENT 10K RACE! (WHICH I will be walking the hell out of....but anyways....)

Thanks to my friend Leslie (who bullied me. Just kidding!) I also signed up the for 10 Week Training Team to get ready for the race on April 5. I am so incredibly nervous about this but also incredibly excited. There's no way I can't lose weight and get fitter. It's GREAT.

In other news, last week as we (me, Toby, Stella) were walking home from Neh-Neh and Ba-Pa's house, Toby told Stella "I have a surprise for you and Mama!" He proceeded to walk upstairs and come down with a CAT.

A MOTHER-EFFING cat.

Sorry. But I was so mad. Like I bust out into tears and yelled "No! Take it back!! Now!!!!!!!!!!!!" (I am such a nice wife.)

See, the reasons I flipped my lid are:
-Cats poop and pee - and don't use the toilet
-Cat Hair gets EVERYWHERE and I am now in love with having an animal free house
-Cat Litter tracks all over the place
-Cat Food bags are heavy and I don't want to add them to my grocery list
-Vet bills. Enough said.

And the #1 reason I flipped is because REMEMBER EASTER?!?!?!

I don't want another cat after Easter. That was it for me. That was traumatic.

And the #2 reason I flipped is because IF I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF ONE MORE THING IN MY LIFE, MY HEAD WILL EXPLODE INTO A MILLION PIECES.

So.................

We have a cat. :(

I am SUCH a pushover. But Stella loves her and named her Sissy instantly. (I have an Aunt Cissy so I'm sure SHE is just honored as can be!) She cackles at Sissy and the most amazing part?? Sissy actually goes UP to Stella and lets her pet/hit her. She sits beside her and rubs on her. Now, Easter would have clawed Stella's eyeballs out in the first 10 seconds. It's truly incredible to watch. I am convinced this cat is a patient old lady reincarnated.

AND the cat food and litter and the purchasing and cleaning of such items are ALL on Toby. He agreed. All of the cat "stuff" is upstairs in his room where he gets ready in the mornings so I don't even have to look at it. Sissy spends most of her time up there. We let her down with us when we are home (so we can monitor any furniture scratching) but when we are not there or are all sleeping, upstairs she goes.

So far, this system works. I'll get back to you when the smell of cat pee and poop starts wafting down the stairs into the living room.....

Here are some pictures of the newest Creekmore. She is purdy.













So, a friend posted some pictures of some knit hats she bought for family members for Christmas and they were so incredibly cute, I went to buy one instantly...and then bought ANOTHER one I saw.

Can you guess what this is?





A HOSTESS CUPCAKE.

Now you CAN eat her up!!

I also bought a Green Apple Hat since anything edible and round is a "APPLE!!" I don't know if you can tell, but it has a stem, leaf, ladybug, and a worm (with googly eyes!) on top.







The lady did such an amazing job on these hats - and they were only $10 a piece. Please visit her site. I don't know her so she did not ask me to advertise for her...but I want to because I just love these hats.......

ETSY SITE

Stella is growing like a weed. I say that every time but it's the TRUTH! She probably has about 1209346530473987529435 words now. There's no way I can list them all. Let's just say - SHE IS A REPEATER.

Last night, I walked in the door and Toby said "Hi Ma!" and she said "Hi Ma!" Which cracked me up because I am MAMA, not Ma. She now says:

All Done!
All Gone!
More
Sissy (a million times a day)
Abby
Phone
Remote (the important things in life....)
Brush

She calls her sippy cup "Ma Molt" - I guess she's trying to say "My Milk" but she says "Ma Molt" even if it's just water or juice.

We started brushing our teeth. Speaking of teeth, she has 2 giant molars coming in now that just recently broke through. THANK GOD.

Brushing Teeth:




When she sees letters she automatically starts "singing" the ABC song. Even though it's just a bunch of "ACDBACDB" it's in a TUNE and you know what' she's doing. She also takes her finger and points to each letter as she's singing. She does this to the SONY logo on the bottom/front of the TV. We started singing "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes. Knees and Toes!" and all she says is the "HEAAAAAAAAAD" part but she points to her knees and toes - too good to bend down and touch them. She also acts out the entire "Itsy Bitsy Spider" song and can do sign language for "Mama" "Dada" "Dog" "Eat" "Sign" and "Book."

HARVARD, here we come. On a FULL academic scholarship.

Stella has an ear infection.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

All you can do is laugh.

Anyway, I am kind of recovering from the devestation of missing Christmas. But I will be deathly afraid of illness near the holidays for the rest of my life. I think next year I will rent one of those big tents they put over houses when they bomb them for insects...and just stay inside the entire month of December and come out on the 25th. That might work.

So, I was better by the 27th... And Stella was just not quite herself still. Just whiney and cranky - so I took her to the Doc for them to check her ears - and lo and behold, the beginnings of a mild ear infection. Go Mothering Insticts! But she also has 2 giant molars coming in on the bottom so the doc said THAT is probably the reason she is so fussy. We got some lovely antibiotics for the ear and some probiotics to counteract the crap. UGH. I'm so sick of this.

I have been off work since Dec 21. And about 95% of that has been stuck in the house. We might venture out to Target today...just for something to do. Maybe a swing by Starbucks. I might even get something sinful there - not my usual skim latte. (I always have to have a "Last Supper" kind of experience before I start eating healthy. It's just ONE of my sick rituals.)

Oh, I bought The Bean for my exercise room. I am excited about that.

So anyway, here are some Christmas pictures. This was the one event I was able to attend - it was on Christmas Eve at my house - with Zana, Kim, and Kendall (Toby's Mom, Sister, and Niece.) It was really really nice!

Dancing with Mimi


Da Da


Shy with Kendall


Gift Carnage


Exploration Station


Cousins


It's never too much Melmo


Poor Scooter could not get a moment's peace



And then on the night of the 26th, we had a "do-over" with my parents who spoiled us ROTTEN.

Mom and Dad


Dada


Mama and Stella - please excuse how BAAAAAAAADD I look. I was still in recovery.

And in a final F-YOU from the year 2007....

I missed Christmas! I totally missed Christmas.

I started throwing up around 1am on Christmas Eve and didn't get out of the bed until a few hours ago (Dec 26.)

I am still in a state of shock and depression. It was Stella's first "real" Christmas and I missed it.

I got up for a few minutes to watch her get her Kitchen from Santa and to take a few pictures...then I had to get back in the bed. Mom and Dad got her and took her to Mom's Side's Christmas and then to Dad's Side that night....

At Dad's Side, the family sings Christmas Carols and Dad and Matt play guitar and bass. This year, Nanny bought special bells for the Great-Grandchildren to ring during "Jingle Bells." Stella and I had been pracicing for a month. They took a video for me so I'll atleast get to SEE it.

I had worked so hard this Christmas. My fridge is PACKED with food for all of the events we missed. I even made spreadsheets of what dishes for which events. I really thought about gifts this year and was really excited to see reactions... and I nearly killed myself working on 3 scrapbooks for the grandmothers. Everything was decorated and wrapped early. I was really enjoying this season! On Christmas Eve, before I went to bed, I even set up the kitchen with all the right pots and pans and organized all of the ingrediants to make my breakfast casserole for Mom, Dad, Matt, Kristen, and Zana - so I wouldn't be fumbling around...it would all be ready. Well, it's STILL sitting like that.

Stella got sick last Thursday and Friday...was still puney over the weekend but was getting better. And I was SO GLAD she was well for Christmas. I didn't even think about getting it myself.

2008 - PLEASE HURRY UP!

I have HAD IT with this year.

I got a call at work from my Aunt Nancy on Thursday at 10:30 am. She said that Mimi had a car accident and was being taken to the hospital - so I was in my car and on the road in about 2 seconds flat. She told me on the phone she was ok...so I was not worried about that so much...just anxious to get there.

To sum it all up, we think she ran a stop sign while taking a right onto Hermitage Road. There was a large truck (like a Dodge Ram) traveling on the road and she pulled out in front of him. He hit her, she FLIPPED upside down and then he ran over the back of her car and crushed it. My 81 year old, 4 foot Mimi crawled out of the window with some help from bystanders. She told the EMT's she did not want to go to the hospital - but made sure to tell them she had left a ham in the oven at home and gave the Fireman on call my aunt Sunah's cell phone to call her and tell her to go and get it out of the oven before Noon. That's my Mimi!

We spend the day in the ER. (We made her go, of course.) She started to be in a lot of pain - mostly her back. And she had some dizzy spells. So they did X-rays and a CT Scan of her head and everything was perfectly fine. The pain is from a pulled muscle. In addition to that, she got a black eye, a bump on the head, and some scratches.

AMAZING.

She kept telling everyone "That's it for me. I'm not buying a new car. I'm 81. I'm done driving." Which we are all perfectly happy about. We are all happy to "Drive Miss Mimi" wherever she wants to go. Everyone working in the ER loved her and was laughing at her funny, blunt comments - calling her a "pistol." Several people asked if they could take her home.

Here she is with Stella - who is almost as tall as she is!


So, after a long, grueling, emotionally-draining day.... Stella and I layed down in my bed around 7:30 to wind down. She actually went to sleep early.... but I was woken up by her PUKING at 1:00 am. This is my first Stella-Puke experience and let me tell you - NOT PRETTY. She continued to throw up every half hour until 6:00 am. So I had to stay home from work again (and I had left so many things undone when I left for Mimi yesterday....Ugh.)

She has had two more tidal waves of puke today. And I mean TIDAL. WAVES. I have taken 3 showers today. She's had 2 baths. I've done 3 loads of laundry and had to break out the upholstery cleaner once.

Dear God, hear my prayer. Let this be the 24-Hour deal and not the big bad Flu. I only have 356472948716434630497 things on my To-Do list for Christmas. Waaaaahhhh!

The Santa Tea at Feathernesters

If any of my readers are from Richmond, Virginia, they already know about the Legendary Santa (the REAL Santa!) who was at Miller & Rhodes Department Store for so so many years.... This was where my parents took me and Matt to have lunch with Santa in the "Tea Room" for all of our childhood. All of my aunts and my Grandmas would go too.. There was Eddie Weaver who played the Organ, and the beautiful Snow Queen, and "Bruce the Spruce" (the talking Christmas Tree)...and there was an "act" every year that involved Santa drinking his big glass of milk in a couple gulps and his story about how Rudolph made a special cake for us all to enjoy...and we'd all go running to a big table to get a piece of "Rudolph Cake." And never fail - my Mom and aunts would all cry at the "magic" of it all. I thought they were crazy.

That tradition ended many years ago when Miller & Rhodes closed... They have moved "Legendary Santa" to several different locations throughout the city, but it's never been the same.

Well, a fabulous little gift/coffee shop near my house has started the tradition again... and we went today. What a wonderful, wonderful thing.

They brought back THE Santa. The one *I* used to see. He must be in his 90's easily. So he's not exactly the "bowl full of jelly" Santa anymore...but I don't care. They also brought back THE Snow Queen - she was the Snow Queen from 1970 - 1991 so I know I saw her.... They even had Rudolph Cake.

It was such a wonderful event and surely a "new" tradition for Stella.

AND my Mom and Aunts cried. Just like old times.

FOUR THINGS

From my cousin Amy...

Four things about me that you may or may not have known in no particular order.

1 Four jobs I have had in my life:

-At King Dominion for 2 summers (schleped pizza at that place next to the swings)
-Receptionist at Memories Day Spa in Banner Elk (Courtney and Ashley had to take me and pick me up because I didn't have a car. Bless your hearts.)
-Front Desk Clerk at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center in Boone, NC (worked nights through college)
-Sales and Catering at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Richmond, VA

2. Four movies I've watched more than once:

-A Christmas Story!
-Hope Floats
-Natural Born Killers
-Friday

3. Four places I have lived:

-Mechanicsville, VA
-Banner Elk, NC
-Midlothian, VA
-Richmond, VA

4. Four T.V. Shows that I watch:

-Grey's Anatomy
-Oprah
-Project Runway
-Private Practice

5. Four places I have been:

-Hollywood, CA (best friend lives there...)
-Manhattan (gay boyfriend lives there...)
-San Antonio, TX (for work...loved it there!)
-West Palm Beach, FL (for work again...stayed at the PGA Resort and never left the grounds!)

6. People who e-mail me (regularly):

-Cousin Amy
-EdogErika
-Ashley
-Cyndy

7. Four of my favorite foods

-Chocolate anything
-Cheesy anything
-Mexican Food - esp burritos
-Really good, cold, chopped salads

8. Four things I like to do:

-Scrapbook
-Read magazines in bed
-Shop
-Eat out

9. Four places I would rather be right now:

-At home. Working on the 50 million things on my to-do list.
-Shopping
-Somewhere vacation-y... mountains, beach, etc...
-In my waterbed. I love that place.

10. Four friends I think will respond (put this on your blogs!):

-Kim K.
-Chris (if she can stop puking from M.S. HAHA! ..not funny)
-Melanie
-Choo!!

11. Things I am looking forward to next year (in no particular order)

-Getting more Scrapbooking done at my monthly Open Houses
-Taking my health seriously and getting off my a$$
-Getting a better family routine down for weeknights
-Getting my raise in March!!!

This morning, on my way to work...

...I was behind a car at a stoplight. The ENTIRE back windshield was covered with a custom made sticker (or maybe it was airbrushed on?) It said:

*Hillary 4 President
*Oprah 4 Vice President
*Sharon 4 Personal Assistant

You can not make this shit up.

So I tried to pass her to get a good gawk at this "Sharon" since I assumed she was the driver of the vehicle. And that's when I notice she had giant MAGNET signs made for her doors (like the ones realtors use) that said the same thing!

I am going to make one that says:

Dear Sharon,

Stop it.

Sincerely,
Stephanie

P.S. Tomorrow the camera will be ready...just incase I get accausted with that view again.