The Incredible Hulk

The other night after dinner, I sent the kids upstairs to get a bath and change into their pajamas. As I was finishing up in the kitchen I heard someone stomping down the stairs. I turn around to find Harrison storming into the room wearing his Hulk underwear. He looks at me and says "What the heck happened to these?" At this moment it was all I could do not to lose it. Here is what he was wearing............

My first thought was how ironic that he was wearing shredded Hulk underwear. I mean isn't that what happens when David Banner becomes enraged and turns into the Hulk? Could this be a sign of things to come? Are those fits of outrage something more than a 5 year old's tantrums? Could he be the next Incredible Hulk??????

It won't hurt.............

I had to take Holden to the doctor this afternoon. He developed a nasty cough over the Thanksgiving holiday and it just didn't seem to be getting any better.

Holden has a deathly fear of shots. One mention of going to the doctor invokes a paralyzing fear in him. He starts chanting "no shots, no shots" until I assure him that we are going only for a check-up or sick appointment.

Last year when Holden had an ear infection that would not clear up, he had to get a shot of Rocifin (actually 2 shots, one in each leg). I tried to explain to him that if he would relax and take a deep breath, the shot would not hurt nearly as bad. Of course telling him that just sent him into a fit. No amount of reasoning would calm him down. Two nurses came in to give him the shot and when they couldn't control him, they sent me out of the room and had two other nurses come in to hold him down. I don't know which was worse - the humiliation I felt that my child was making such a scene (which by the way the whole entire office could hear) or the sound of his pain. A half hour later we were on our way but the memory of that lingers in his mind.

So today as we were sitting in the room waiting on our doctor, Holden reminded me that he didn't want to get a shot (like I really needed reminding). Harrison looked at him and said "Holden, Mom said if you don't tinsel up, it won't hurt. And I didn't tinsel up and she was right." When the doctor came in we were both laughing. Holden did end up having bronchitis. Thankfully no shots were involved.

I am so thankful

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My family and I went to my grandmother's house as we do every year to celebrate the holiday with all of my aunts, uncles and cousins. We always have quite a large crowd with lots of food.


Even though I am a bit late, I thought that I would make a brief list of some things I am thankful for.


In addition to my family and health, I am thankful for (in no particular order):

1. My friends (both old and new)
2. Freedom of Worship
3. Freedom of Speech
4. The soldiers who fight for our freedom and their families who sacrifice so that they can
5. Teachers who get way less praise and appreciation than they deserve
6. My husband who works hard so that I can stay at home with our children
7. My dad who stood in line for 2 hours and was able to get my kids the one present they really wanted for Christmas
8. The smiles and laughter of my children, the feel of their arms as they hug me tight, the trust I see in their eyes and the peacefulness on their faces as they sleep.
9. My mom who never hesitates to offer her help
10. The roof over my head
11. Clean water and food on my plate
12. My Dansko clogs
13. Warm coffee on a cold day
14. My birthmother who made the unselfish decision to give me the opportunity for a better life than what she could have given me
15. A beautiful sunset
16. The crashing of the waves on the shoreline
17. My favorite sweats
18. My pillows
19. The first flowers of spring
20. Rainbows and the promise they stand for
21. Days when absolutely everything goes right
22. For the rain after a long dry spell
23. Libraries
24. Technology
25. Hope
26. Forgiveness
27. The future

And on that note, I would like to leave you with these thoughts. I can't take credit for writing it but I wholeheartedly agree with it.

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary, because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

Christmas Wishes

This year for Christmas, we decided that our children needed to get less than they have in years past. It seems that each year the gift giving has gotten bigger and bigger to the point of ridiculous. They would end up with so much stuff that they couldn't possibly appreciate what they got.

So David and I sat the children down and explained that this year we were going to allow them to ask Santa for 4 things. We gave them the option of combining a wish for one large thing. After a few whispering sessions (and some good old politicking on Haley's part) they each decided that it would be good to combine one wish each and ask for a Nintendo Wii (which of course cannot be found, but that's another story).


With that said, each child now had three wishes left. So in order to make sure those wishes got fulfilled, I told them that they should come up with a list to give to Santa. Holden, being the sweet, kind hearted child that he is, came down to breakfast the other morning and told me that he wanted to trade one of his wishes in and ask that Santa give a toy to a homeless child. It's moments like that when you know that you have done pretty good job at raising your child. It made me so proud that he would be so selfless. Knowing that he only had four wishes and he had already used one, he was willing to give one of his away to some child who needed a gift more than he did.


On the other hand, Harrison didn't quite comprehend the whole trading wishes thing. I asked him what he would like for Christmas and he mumbled something about socks. I thought that was kind of odd that he would be asking for socks, even though he really needs some so I asked if he wanted socks for Christmas. He replied, "No I want to trade my socks for some toys." I guess he'd rather have bare feet and some new toys.

The cutest little Indian

I was sick for the majority of last week. I started feeling poorly on Sunday and it seemed to get worse as the week progressed. By Thursday I was feeling better so I went to help set-up the Thanksgiving feast at Harrison's school. I was in the midst of cutting the turkey when I started feeling poorly again. I am not sure if it was the turkey or if I just wasn't completely well but whatever it was, I had to go and sit down.

I could have been on my death bed and I would have wanted to be at Harrison's program. And I am so glad that I was. His class dressed up as Indians and did a few songs for the parents. Harrison knew the words to all the songs. They were all darling but of course I thought Harrison was the cutest little Indian.

How Many Shopping Days Until Christmas?

I am being reminded already by the barrage of television advertisements, store flyer's and Wish Books that have arrived from Toys R' Us, Walmart and Target that there is only six weeks to finish our Christmas shopping. That's just 40 days or 960 hours or 57600 minutes. However you look at it, Christmas is getting closer. And forget about getting it all done by December 1st like I plan to every year. I haven't bought the first thing yet.


So I decided that I should try and get one step closer by at least putting down on paper the people I shop for along with the gifts I want to buy for them. Only problem is that once I got the list of people down on paper, I got stuck with the whole gift list part. Once I started thinking about their needs, wants, and personalities I just went into a catatonic state and realized that this year was going to be no different than the last five when I sweated every purchase as if I were making the decision of a lifetime.


I mean if I had unlimited funds, then gift buying wouldn't be a problem. Did you say you wanted a flat screen television, no problem. Or that cashmere sweater would look good on Aunt Bitsy, no problem. But realistically, I am on a budget. A very small one. And while my list of recipients isn't all that long, it's big enough to send one thrifty, budget conscience shopper (me) into cardiac arrest.


I thought Christmas was suppose to be one of those wonderful fun-filled enjoyable times of year. I mean it's all about the thought, right? Bull. I have put lots of thought into some of my gifts only to be told by my husband or child that what I bought was weird or not something anyone int heir right mind would want.


So this year, I am vowing to make it different. I am going to buy nice, affordable gifts. Gifts that everyone will love. I have scoured the internet and found a few interesting sites. And if these don't help me, then maybe they will help you.


http://www.etsy.com/: My new favorite site for all things handmade and homemade. You will find everything from art to clothing here. Check out the belts at Applina's shop.


http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/: They have fabulous gifts for those who love to pamper themselves. Check out the sweetest soft robe for only $39.50.


http://www.cafepress.com/: They have some very cute t-shirts, mugs and bags. One of my favorite t-shirts says "Who are these kids and why are they calling me mom?"


http://www.cooking.com/: For the chefs in your family. They have good prices and an excellent selection. Plus a flat rate shipping of $4.99 making the deals even sweeter. On my list this year is the Kitchenaid Mini Chopper and OXO mandoline slicer.


http://www.blurb.com/: Check out the photo books at this website. They are reasonably priced and most sizes are available in softcover and hardcover. They also can publish your blog entries in a book.

http://www.swoozies.com: Check out the cute monogrammed items available at this site. I particularly like the monogrammed insulated lunch bag.

http://www.perpetualkid.com: This site claims to have "unique gifts to entertain your inner child". Check out the stocking stuffers for those on your list with a great sense of humor.

http://www.amazon.com: This site has it all. Well at least almost all. But I like their selection of books. One of the big hits this year is the Dangerous Book for Boys and there is even one for the girls, The Daring Book for Girls (although I don't know that this is as big a hit).

http://www.givesimple.com: I love these cute polka dot tea towels and matching oven mitts. They also have some nice jewelry and handbags.

http://littlemissmismatched.com: This is the greatest concept in my book. Socks that actually never matched to begin with. A youngster (or someone young at heart) would love these. They even have change purses and pouches to match.

http://designmommarketplace.blogspot.com: Check out this website for a lot of unique websites for home and family.

I hope that you will find one of these websites helpful. Now I need to sharpen my pencil and start crossing those names off my list.

Oh and if you do happen to be one of those people with unlimited funds, can you add me to your Christmas list?

Christmas, already?

Yesterday Harrison and I were riding down the road. I was lost in my own thoughts and enjoying the tunes playing on my Ipod when I heard a shriek coming from the rear of the car. My first thought was that Harrison (who was the only other one in the car) had mashed his finger in the window, or got his tongue stuck in the juice bottle. I hit the brakes and turned around (only slightly because I was after all driving down the road at 45 miles per hour) to ask him what was wrong. Well, turns out nothing was wrong, he had just spotted the newly hung Christmas decorations that were adorning every light post on the road. This apparently had sent him into a frenzy of what excitement? I don't know. After I explained that he couldn't scare mommy like that, he rolled his eyes and said "But mom, they really messed up because it isn't even Thanksgiving yet." My thoughts exactly little guy.

I need some of that face cream

It's funny how when you are young, everyone over the age of ten seems old. When I was young, 40 seemed incredibly old to me. And if you were 60 then you definitely had one foot in the grave. And 80, well that was just too old to fathom. Oddly enough as I approach 40, I think don't think of it as old age anymore. And when I think of 60, I think of the benefit of senior discounts. And I know plenty of 80 year olds now who get around quite well and really don't seem terribly old to me.

Harrison and Haley were watching Hannah Montana and Billy Ray Cyrus came on the screen. Not the old "Achy Breaky" Billy Ray but the new and improved "Ready, Set Don't Go" version. Harrison looked over at Haley and said "You know he's like Mammy's age." Mammy is his great grandmother who happens to be in her early eighties. So if Billy Ray Cyrus is indeed that old and looks as good as he does, I might need to get me some of his face cream. I figure if I start using it now in a few years I might look like this.

We can all dream, right?

And God said, "It was good"

I took Harrison to the doctor today and while we were waiting, he picked up one of those Bible Story books. The first story was the one about the Creation of the World. It went into a great amount of detail and since I didn't have time to read it all and didn't feel that he would get a whole lot out of the long version, I shortened the story a bit, enough to get the point of the whole story across. I figured that he pretty much got it until this evening when he recounted to Haley the story of how God created the Earth. Here's Harrison's version:

"On the first day God created that ship, the Mayflower. And on the second day he created the land. Next came all of the animals (only he says it aminals)."

Of course at this point I am curious as to when he thought people might have been created, so I asked. Harrison said matter of factly "God created people on the same day Jesus was born."

I suspect we have some more Bible reading to do. Perhaps next time I shouldn't skip over so many parts.

My first classes

I taught my first class at the scrapbook store on Tuesday night. When we first moved to Charleston, I went and visited the store and talked to the owner about teaching some classes. My motivation was to meet some new people but in addition, I like the discount that comes along with teaching.

So, anyhow I came up with several ideas for classes and we settled on doing a fall layout class and a squash album class. The class I just taught was on the Fall layouts. I had a total of 7 people sign up for the class but only 3 could make it the night it was scheduled. Thankfully I still get paid for the people who purchase the kits even if they didn't make the class.

I taught them how to sew on paper. It's funny how doing something new totally intimidates some people. I had one lady who laughed at herself because she was afraid to sew on a $1 piece of paper yet she would go and buy expensive fabric and sew on it and mess that all up and not think a thing about it.

While the layouts I came up with are not my usual style, I think they turned out pretty cute. I had to use a limited amount of supplies to keep the cost of the class down and each layout had to have some sort of sewing on it. Here are the three layouts I taught:

Guess whose birthday?

Happy Birthday David!

Sometimes, we seem to take for granted the people we love the most. It doesn’t mean we don’t care. It is just that sometimes, life gets crazy and there isn’t time to do it all or say it all. Especially today, I want you to know how much I appreciate the loving things you do and how much I admire you for being the kind and giving person you are. I hope you know how very much I Love You…not just today but always.