Oh, my---I love January. The pressure to be jolly is finally over, and now we can be merely content. Which is actually good enough, thank you.
The new year brought good news on a family health front and after that, well, all other good things were just a bonus. But, mercifully, they keep coming, and we are so grateful.
My mother-in-law is still recovering nicely and has managed to do so without threatening bodily harm to anyone, which is likely how I would react after being couch-bound for weeks on end.
In the last couple of weeks both kids have had sleepovers, Sir Jack for Nate and the lovely Elaina for Liv. Both guests were excellent company. This weekend has been a tad quieter, with Nate nursing a cold. Olivia is at her knitting lesson today with Cousin Emma. This idea was hatched by the girls and a dear church member Susan. Twice a month they go home with Susan after church, have a snack and knit. I don't know which thing I'm more blown away by---the fact that my ten-year-old daughter who loves all things electronic is fascinated by knitting, or the never-ending grace and generosity of someone like Susan who offered up two Sunday afternoons a month to knit and share cookies with her. As I mentioned, the good things blessedly keep rolling in.
What's on the night stand: (Or should I say what's on the new Kindle Fire which was a Christmas gift from hubs. But it does rest on the night stand.)-- Traveling Mercies, by Anne Lamont. Awesome, awesome read. Anne Lamont is a recovered alcoholic who is now an associate pastor of a super crunchy granola church in northern California. Her courageous honesty about her struggles through addiction, getting sober and unexpectedly having a son at age 35 is nothing short of humbling. The fact that she's hilarious is just icing.
What's been on the menu: Aunt Sybil's chili, roast chicken, chicken and rice soup, beef tips. All in the slow cooker, my winter BFF. Oh, and of course chicken casserole, the kind with the stuffing on top (not a slow cooker meal but just as easy and delicious). I had to make that after overhearing Nate ask Emma one night "Hey, have you ever had my Aunt Sybil's chicken casserole? With the crunchy stuff on top? Oh, MAN that stuff is goooood." Emma and my Aunt Sybil, as far as I know, have never met. But maybe I should make the casserole for her one day--she will definitely want to meet her and get her autograph to boot. :)
State of winter so far: Still not much of one, although today the temps barely reached above 40 which was highly unusual. Aunt Beth's birthday is still coming up on Tuesday and that almost always brings some snow. Finger's crossed!
And fingers double-crossed that if it comes, it'll melt in about 8 hours. Heh. Sorry, that's how we southern gals roll.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Friday, December 23, 2011
Faking It
Things feel a little off this year. We've decorated, made gingerbread creations, sent and received cards but for various reasons I'm just not feeling it this year.
Yesterday we discovered that something we thought we didn't have to worry about is, in fact, not quite over. It feels like a cruel joke was played on all of us.
Meanwhile, we all know that a big part of this season is for the children so for their sake I'm putting on music tonight, getting down my Christmas Eve coffee cake ingredients, and helping them wrap their gifts for eachother. Olivia has been working on something for Nate for weeks. Nate--well, he approved of the gift his mother purchased for him to give his sister. He really thought Liv would prefer Madden Football for the Wii but somehow I don't agree.
Oh, and did I mention it's nearly 70 degrees? I'm not complaining it's just that that is decidedly UN-Christmassy weather, OK?
The good thing is that Mark's brother and his family are flying in from Maine tonight and staying with us. The kids are beyond excited to see their cousin and it'll be great to spend time with them.
Sigh. . .meanwhile I'll try to get over my funk. Maybe the spirit will hit me sometime in February when perhaps the temperature will dip below 60.
Yesterday we discovered that something we thought we didn't have to worry about is, in fact, not quite over. It feels like a cruel joke was played on all of us.
Meanwhile, we all know that a big part of this season is for the children so for their sake I'm putting on music tonight, getting down my Christmas Eve coffee cake ingredients, and helping them wrap their gifts for eachother. Olivia has been working on something for Nate for weeks. Nate--well, he approved of the gift his mother purchased for him to give his sister. He really thought Liv would prefer Madden Football for the Wii but somehow I don't agree.
Oh, and did I mention it's nearly 70 degrees? I'm not complaining it's just that that is decidedly UN-Christmassy weather, OK?
The good thing is that Mark's brother and his family are flying in from Maine tonight and staying with us. The kids are beyond excited to see their cousin and it'll be great to spend time with them.
Sigh. . .meanwhile I'll try to get over my funk. Maybe the spirit will hit me sometime in February when perhaps the temperature will dip below 60.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Breathe In, Breathe Out
Hmm, where to begin.
November sure did bring us a roller coaster ride that started out great and ended with a thud. But December mercifully had us back on track again, chugging along.
I'll post some pics soon from a wonderful trip to NYC that Olivia and I took with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and niece. It was a much-needed girls weekend that included going to see "Wicked" on Broadway, a Central Park carriage ride, and skating for the girls at Rockefeller Center.
Soon after arriving home, my sweet sister-in-law received news that shook us all to our very core. After a lot of tears, prayers and support from our church family and friends (oh and a very successful surgery) she's on the mend and we're slowly creeping our way back to normal. Or at least normal for us. :)
MEANWHILE, my poor mother-in-law, who normally effortlessly maintains her status as Super Grandma, fell and broke her kneecap a couple of weeks ago (I KNOW--Owwww) and is reluctantly laid up on her couch. The knee is set and braced and so far it looks like she'll be able to avoid surgery. BUT!! She of course is so frustrated because she wants to help her daughter, cook, wrap gifts, decorate and basically do what Grandmas do.
Mark and I (mostly Mark, I have to say) have tried to help out with both households as much as possible. We still don't feel as if we're doing enough. Hopefully we made things a little more bearable for them. They mean so much to us, and we realize that now more than ever.
Back in Pinetown: My dear Uncle Edgar passed away on Saturday Dec. 17. He had been in declining health for months and is at last at peace. He loved football, chocolate, and his many nieces and nephews. He loved being an uncle, and it showed. RIP, sweet Edgar Paul.
November sure did bring us a roller coaster ride that started out great and ended with a thud. But December mercifully had us back on track again, chugging along.
I'll post some pics soon from a wonderful trip to NYC that Olivia and I took with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and niece. It was a much-needed girls weekend that included going to see "Wicked" on Broadway, a Central Park carriage ride, and skating for the girls at Rockefeller Center.
Soon after arriving home, my sweet sister-in-law received news that shook us all to our very core. After a lot of tears, prayers and support from our church family and friends (oh and a very successful surgery) she's on the mend and we're slowly creeping our way back to normal. Or at least normal for us. :)
MEANWHILE, my poor mother-in-law, who normally effortlessly maintains her status as Super Grandma, fell and broke her kneecap a couple of weeks ago (I KNOW--Owwww) and is reluctantly laid up on her couch. The knee is set and braced and so far it looks like she'll be able to avoid surgery. BUT!! She of course is so frustrated because she wants to help her daughter, cook, wrap gifts, decorate and basically do what Grandmas do.
Mark and I (mostly Mark, I have to say) have tried to help out with both households as much as possible. We still don't feel as if we're doing enough. Hopefully we made things a little more bearable for them. They mean so much to us, and we realize that now more than ever.
Back in Pinetown: My dear Uncle Edgar passed away on Saturday Dec. 17. He had been in declining health for months and is at last at peace. He loved football, chocolate, and his many nieces and nephews. He loved being an uncle, and it showed. RIP, sweet Edgar Paul.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Looking Back on September
OK, I realize I'm going backwards here. The last post included photos from August, then I jumped to October and now I'm back to September. Sorry. I have to be me.
Just wanted to preserve some memories from my birthday girl's night in Charlotte with pals Dawn and Sharon, and also Aunt Ro's 90th birthday lunch at The Savannah Tea Room in Fort Mill.
We're too shexy for our gruyere popovers. Almost.
Morning-after French press at Amelie's!
Emma and Olivia with Aunt Ro on her birthday.
Just wanted to preserve some memories from my birthday girl's night in Charlotte with pals Dawn and Sharon, and also Aunt Ro's 90th birthday lunch at The Savannah Tea Room in Fort Mill.
We're too shexy for our gruyere popovers. Almost.
Morning-after French press at Amelie's!
Emma and Olivia with Aunt Ro on her birthday.
Random Recent Moments
That title isn't entirely accurate, depending on how "recent" August actually is. Anyway, here are some photos of Benjamin's shower in August (we also took a side trip with cousins Holly and Rhynn to wait for one of the world's best hot dogs EVAH).
There's also some shots of the wedding in October, a snap of the view from Blue Ridge Parkway, and I also captured Olivia's 'do for the daddy-daughter dance last night. Also got one of her and Mark before they headed out the door. They both had a blast. This was one of the school's best fundraisers by far. Can't wait to break out the macarena for the mother-son dance in the spring! Hee. Just kidding. I'm much, much better at the robot.
There's also some shots of the wedding in October, a snap of the view from Blue Ridge Parkway, and I also captured Olivia's 'do for the daddy-daughter dance last night. Also got one of her and Mark before they headed out the door. They both had a blast. This was one of the school's best fundraisers by far. Can't wait to break out the macarena for the mother-son dance in the spring! Hee. Just kidding. I'm much, much better at the robot.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
That Girl
I really need to post some photos soon so I can look back on events of the past few months. Meanwhile, a teensy vent.
Olivia and Mark are attending the school's first annual Daddy-Daughter dance this Saturday (uncles, grandpas and guardians welcome too of course). We first found out about it a month or so ago and she and I agreed (next time I'll get it in writing) that she would wear the cute little black sparkly dress she wore to Benjamin's wedding.
So last night while out trick-or-treating we ran into one of the other dads who said that his daughter, a friend of Liv's, bought a new dress this weekend and was very excited. We told him how excited Olivia also was, and she piped up, "When are WE going shopping for a dress, Mommy?"
Yeah.
After we walked on, I reminded her that she already had a dress. Remember? The one you wore to Benjamin's wedding? Then she did what it takes most women decades to perfect. She said, "Oh. It's OK." Then she sighed. Then she got quiet.
So naturally I went out at lunch and plunked down whatever money I've saved from brown-bagging my lunch this month for a new dress. A red one, with a cute little shawl thingy for the shoulders. Sheesh. I need my head examined. That thing that some moms are born with, the thing that makes you do ANYTHING to make your daughter smile, even when they're being a bit of a butthead? Yeah, I need to have that thing surgically removed.
Olivia and Mark are attending the school's first annual Daddy-Daughter dance this Saturday (uncles, grandpas and guardians welcome too of course). We first found out about it a month or so ago and she and I agreed (next time I'll get it in writing) that she would wear the cute little black sparkly dress she wore to Benjamin's wedding.
So last night while out trick-or-treating we ran into one of the other dads who said that his daughter, a friend of Liv's, bought a new dress this weekend and was very excited. We told him how excited Olivia also was, and she piped up, "When are WE going shopping for a dress, Mommy?"
Yeah.
After we walked on, I reminded her that she already had a dress. Remember? The one you wore to Benjamin's wedding? Then she did what it takes most women decades to perfect. She said, "Oh. It's OK." Then she sighed. Then she got quiet.
So naturally I went out at lunch and plunked down whatever money I've saved from brown-bagging my lunch this month for a new dress. A red one, with a cute little shawl thingy for the shoulders. Sheesh. I need my head examined. That thing that some moms are born with, the thing that makes you do ANYTHING to make your daughter smile, even when they're being a bit of a butthead? Yeah, I need to have that thing surgically removed.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Warm and Fuzziness on Friday
Tomorrow we head to beautiful Boone, NC to see my wittle bitty baby cousin Benjamin get married. OK, so he's not so itty bitty anymore. That would be weird. He's all grown up, teaches high school and is getting hitched to a super-smart mountain gal who also teaches at the same school.
The kids are beside themselves with excitement. They've never been to a wedding before, so they're not sure what to expect. They've had their outfits planned for weeks. All they really know is they're going to get to see two people kiss in public, and at some point some yummy snacks will be involved.
It also doesn't hurt that Boone is smack-dab in the middle of the NC mountains, which should be gorgeous with autumn color right now. And, we'll also get to see some sweet aunts, uncles and cousins.
So today, with road trip plans swimming in my mind, here are the comforting words that keep popping in my head:
Tradition.
Family.
Pumpkin latte (you KNOW I will stop for one).
The team store, where I'm sure hubs will get an App State sweatshirt.
Fried chicken (From the Daniel Boone Inn---duh!).
Cinnamon Pear jam from Mast General Store. It will be mine.
The kids are beside themselves with excitement. They've never been to a wedding before, so they're not sure what to expect. They've had their outfits planned for weeks. All they really know is they're going to get to see two people kiss in public, and at some point some yummy snacks will be involved.
It also doesn't hurt that Boone is smack-dab in the middle of the NC mountains, which should be gorgeous with autumn color right now. And, we'll also get to see some sweet aunts, uncles and cousins.
So today, with road trip plans swimming in my mind, here are the comforting words that keep popping in my head:
Tradition.
Family.
Pumpkin latte (you KNOW I will stop for one).
The team store, where I'm sure hubs will get an App State sweatshirt.
Fried chicken (From the Daniel Boone Inn---duh!).
Cinnamon Pear jam from Mast General Store. It will be mine.
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