Ring in the New Year.

Ahhh - New Year's Eve. To say it is a beautiful day is an injustice. The sky has been so blue and it is 63 degrees. La Nina is causing mild flavored holidays around these parts. Mr. Macho and I took down the Christmas and put up the Mardi Gras. Already.
A calm is coming over me after reclaiming my house from the clutter of Christmas. I have a huge pot of red beans cooking on the stove and it is smelling pretty good.
We actually received an invitation to a dance party this year to bring in the New Year. We declined - mostly due to a little sore throat virus that I am kicking.
The New Year will arrive on kitten's feet at our house. We will toast out the old year with cheap bubbly and maybe light up the house with some candles to make it feel festive. 2011 was a good year. It brought good things - like our new granddaughter.
My resolutions are few and small. I resolve to try and use more coupons. I cut them out and then promptly forget them. I will try harder. I do not want to do ultimate coupon-ing - that is crazy.
My other resolution is to try and be more flexible. I have started today. It entails letting things go and realize that I do not have to be in control all the time. That is a tall order for me. I will try. I really will.

And those are my resolutions.

 Happy 2012!

Surgery and sleeping on the air mattress.

Our granddaughter, Lauren, had some surgery yesterday. We have been anticipating it for months. The surgery is cutting edge and is so new there are not statistics to know the success rate of this particular surgery. Lauren was born with a cleft in her soft palate (8 years ago). At 10 months old she had cleft repair surgery. She has had speech therapy since she was 3 years old. She has had other surgeries that are related to her speech and hearing issues - tubes placed in both ears, tubes surgically removed from both ears and the holes in both eardrums surgically repaired. God bless her, she is so brave and stoic through all of this.
At the end of last summer her speech therapist advised that she see her cleft doctor again because of some "hypo-nasality" in her speech. Basically there was too much air escaping from the wrong place on certain sounds. Follow me? Good. The therapist suggested that another surgery may or may not be called for. So, said appointment was made amid the worry that a cleft repair would be much more traumatic on an 8 year old as opposed to a 10 month old. Besides the fact that Daughter Number One was expecting child #3 in September....the straw, the camel's back - get it?
So, they saw the cleft doctor and to our amazement there was this new procedure! The cleft doctor proposed to liposuction fat from her abdomen and inject it into her soft palate to plump it up so that it would function more accurately and sound production would be improved. The best part is that instead of a 6 week restrictive recovery period - there would be zero recovery time!! Oh jump with joy!
And yesterday they did just that. The doctors say that the surgery went as planned. Now we wait to see if her speech is improved. I am sure it was my imagination, but I think I already heard a difference today when she got home from the hospital.
While Lauren, mom, dad and baby Super Carrot were at the hospital for the surgery, Mr. Macho and I were taking care of T-Bone. We loaded up our blow up mattress and spent two nights camping out on Number One Daughter's living room floor. Now, this was my first time sleeping on that thing. And it wasn't totally terrible. But I wouldn't want more than two nights in a row on it. I am just going to say that I will be so very happy to sleep in my own real bed tonight.
One more thing. We played a new game with the grandchildren. They got it for Christmas. It is called "Doggie Doo". Yes, it has to do with what it sounds like. It is a short game and it is silly. And it was fun. Go figure.
And last night, after months of waiting for this surgery I felt like there was this little door in my chest that opened up and a huge beam of gratitude shot into the night and lit up the sky. It was my prayer of thanksgiving, and that is how I imagined it would look. One small surgery for Lauren, one huge hurdle for her mother. Thank you, God. Continued blessings on them, please?

The afterglow.

Christmas Day was pretty wonderful. The troops arrived one family unit at a time until all were present. I love it that the Tuscaloosa grandchilluns arrive in their pajamas. And stay that way. All. Day. Long. Their mom is cool like that. The day was rainy so we were packed inside like sardines. Our meal was casual and delicious. Number One Daughter made her famous mac and cheese. Kacie brought a yummy appetizer. Alyssa made Christmas brownies for dessert. They are long gone. 

Son in the Middle was the "Santa" that handed out the presents. Everyone was happy with the gifts they gave and received. The children seemed extra good. Ahh. The magic of Christmas! Joy to the world. 

 T-Bone was slightly under the weather, but oh so happy.

Sweet Pea showed off her new walking skills...all over the place!

Lauren was ready to open presents the minute she got here...and was happy playing her new DS games most of the day. Uncle Son out of Town and Aunt Alyssa gave her a tooth brush that plays Justin Beiber songs - and she brushed her teeth at least 5 times Christmas afternoon. Her teeth were shiny clean and she was a happy camper. 

Merritt entertained her Grandaddy with her biggest-best grins. 

Our floor was full of grandchildren. 

The entire crew. 

Merry Christmas, Eve!

Yes. You read it right. Around these parts we take great fun in addressing non-entities on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas, Steve. Merry Christmas, Sleeve. Merry Christmas, Reeves. Holiday traditions. We love them. We love to tell and retell favorite Christmas stories. Without going into too much detail, one of our favorites is "The Year of the Stomach Virus"! It has all the elements - full church, fur coats and lots of vomit. Enough said.
Our tradition has always been to attend church on Christmas Eve. Invariably we would "spot" Rudolph on the way home. We could see his red nose blinking! What fun.
Tomorrow all of our children and grandchildren will arrive to help celebrate the day. Today will be spent rather quietly getting ready, maybe thinking about Christmas past - a little nostalgic.
"Backward turn backward
Oh Time in your flight.
Make me a child again
Just for tonight!" -Elizabeth Akers Allen
And with that I will wish you a very Merry Christmas!

The day before the winter solstice.

Mr. Macho is on his break for the holidays. It is so nice to not have to get up quite so early. I like a slow wake up experience. My exercise regimen was adhered to and then he helped me make my belgian waffles - a great grandmother's recipe (she just happened to be from Belgium). We danced to the oldies in between batches.
The waffle has basic ingredients and is flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg. They are not eaten hot with syrup but rather like a teacake or cake-cookie. They are terrific with a cup of coffee. Our offspring have grown to love them. That is why I make them. I like them so much better because I share them.
For all the years my mom made the waffles she was pretty rigid about sticking to the original recipe that entails stirring a very stiff dough. Every year I confess that I have veered from the recipe only to find out that so did all my siblings. "Forgive me Mom, for I have veered. It has been one year since I made my last batch of waffles...." It is my observation that the younger the sibling the farther from the original recipe we take it. One brother uses chocolate milk instead of plain milk. He is known to have even tried chocolate chips in the recipe. One of my sisters uses olive oil instead of crisco, another uses less sugar but adds pear preserves...last year I tried commercial egg nog in lieu of milk. This year I opted for the olive oil and partial pear preserve combo. I also used Vanilla Almond Silk instead of milk. Number One Daughter is nursing the baby and there is a milk issue. So, during these holidays I have been attuned to how many products have milk in them. You don't appreciate it until you go through it. Salsa. Even salsa labels warn of milk content. Who would have guessed?
After lunch Macho Man went Christmas buying (he doesn't shop - he only goes when he is buying). He asked me for my list. I didn't provide one. He was on his own. I will be most happy with whatever random thing he puts under the tree.
I stayed home and made and froze two batches of sausage balls and one batch of chocolate peanut clusters. I wish you would come over and help me eat these things. Now. Before they're gone.
The weather is frightful, but my spirit is feeling pretty festive.
Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year. Do something fun. Dance around your Christmas tree. Do a small act of kindness. Sing at the top of your lungs. Make your story a good one.

Mustache under the mistletoe! or We 'mustache' you to have a Merry Christmas!

What began as a dreary and somber weekend turned itself around and the clan had good cheer and lots of laughs being together at the in-laws' house. They are truly excellent hosts and every year have a welcoming house that is beautifully decorated and full of warm feelings and good things to eat. 

We attended Aunt Evelyn's graveside service on Friday in the rain among throngs of cousins and her one remaining brother, my father-in-law. Her children invited us back to their church to eat lunch. Cousin, Diane's, Sunday School class fed us in style. The tables were covered in tablecloths and wreaths of holly. The buffet was full of scrumptious choices. They treated us all like royalty and waited on us hand and foot. 

Friday night of our annual family gathering is typically attended by the older members of the family and is always "wing night". It is becoming legendary. Our hosts find a cool wing spot and we all bring our bests appetites. This year we went to Johnson's (I think that is the name of the place.) There were 10 of us and we consumed 100 wings. And they were good. We also enjoyed a terrific cake from Publix as we were celebrating nephew, Garrett's, college graduation! Woohoo! Attaboy!

 On Saturday all the younger members arrived - except Number One Daughter, who was home-bound this weekend because L had the adnovirus. A bad sore throat with fever. I spent a lot of the day wishing she were there, knowing that she loves being in the thick of the family. 

We always take a family picture at this get together and the last several years there has been a "theme" to our photos. Enter the mustache. Oh yes. Even the babies. It was pretty hilarious. So. Follow the fun below...

The in-laws that look like out-laws. 

Nephew #1 and Son in the middle duke it out, old fashioned boxing style. Take note of the questionable onlookers. A surly bunch, for sure. 

Uncle Tom and his mother, Edith. Don't they look alike?

Mr. Macho and his dad and sisters. Strong family resemblance!

Sweethearts.

Out of town son and his Mrs. 

Wow. Did I hear you say, "Hey Mother Goose!?" Watch out for this guy. 

Son in the middle and his family. Sweet Pea didn't care for the feel of the mustache, so she wore her's "uni-brow" style. 

Garret and Amy. Way to go college grad!!

Senior picture pose. 

Another high school pose. 

 High school posers.

Obligatory football pose. 

 

Heisman pose... 

....it runs in the family from the grandfather all the way down....

 

...to the newest member of the family. He is such a little man!

Another tradition is the peppermint pig. It is in a velvet bag and we pass it around with a tiny silver hammer and everybody gets to hammer the pig. Even the little ones. Then we open the bag and pass it around again and everybody takes a piece of the peppermint to eat. It symbolically binds us together and brings us good luck in the New Year. 

Dirty Santa got jiggy this year with lots of stealing and maneuvering going on. There was even an extra gift under the tree for the person who volunteered to be "Santa"...Uncle Jay was rewarded with a Christmas ornament of the dad from "A Christmas Story" complete with leg lamp! Uncle Jay couldn't have been happier. It was a great gift to end a great game of Dirty Santa. 

And so things brings us right into Christmas week. Mr. Macho has the next few weeks off of work. We will sleep late and relax and think of our family and be with our family and celebrate Glad Tidings. 

Change of opinion.

Okay. So the TJ Maxx store has been in town for a couple of months. Before yesterday I had been in twice for reconnaissance missions. They were not fruitful and I remained an unbeliever. (Cue the dramatic interlude.) Until yesterday. I was on my way to the super store that will remain unnamed when I made a quick decision to check out just one store and then give up looking for the raincoat I wanted. I wanted the raincoat to wear to Aunt Evelyn's graveside service. That way I wouldn't have to seriously look for new funeral clothes during the holiday season and besides, I don't think I have ever owned a real raincoat. Rationalizing? Yes.  I stopped by the local JCP. No luck there. Pitiful selection.
The new Max store is right close to the JCP and on a whim I whipped into the parking lot. I found the quintessential parking spot so close to the store it caused me to say, "It was meant to be" (thank you sweet daughter-in-law for that happy parking mantra.) It was a sign that destiny and merchandising were coming together. Then I performed my  usual good deed of pushing a stray store cart back inside the store and was greeted by a surprised employee that, I think, could hardly believe that I just did that and didn't even need the cart. Well, you have a special day, too! I could just feel the Happy Shopping Fairy sprinkling successful shopping dust over me. Good warm fuzzy retail feelings began to tingle.
Then while I was perusing the coats I was joined by a very sweet other-coat-searching lady that was chatty. She was most complimentary as I tried a couple of coats on in front of the store mirror and everybody. So, you see, the entire atmosphere was charged with electric shopping vibes. There were actually a few contenders on the rack...I was about to make up my mind for a nice bright red trench style rain coat when loandbehold! there it was - my coat. I knew it from the moment I tried it on. It felt like my coat. It is a lovely olive color with  lighter contrasting lapel and cuffs and a removable lining. And the price was right. And now it is mine. Good job TJ Maxx. You have converted me.

Rocking babies and funeral clothes.

Yesterday was all mixed up with emotions happy and sad. On my way to Number One Daughter's house I had the Christmas channel on the radio and got sad and nostalgic with all the sweet and sappy tunes. My intent was to hold and rock Super Carrot so Daughter could do some house chores. Super C likes her mommy. She likes her mommy to hold her. All. The. Time.
Super Carrot was okay until she realized that it was me and not mom holding her. Oh and then she cried. But I rocked on. And finally, after 3 rounds of all three verses I know of Silent Night, she gave it up. And slept through lunch. But I didn't put her down right away for fear of waking her. I needed to lay her down by stealth. And it worked. After and hour and a half of rocking. Whew.
While I rocked, and sang, and held her I had the sweetest feeling and it made me cry. Big ole tears rolling down my cheeks for the sweet feeling of her little body curled up to mine. The weight of her. Her breathing. My cheek touching her fine hair. I looove rocking the baby.
After lunch came the call from big sister's school. Tummy hurts. Head hurts. May be strept throat. So off we go. Strept test negative, but nastiness in the throat and red in the ears. Home for hot chocolate and antibiotics.
Then the call from Sister-in-law, Aunt Evelyn has passed away. My father-in-law's only remaining sibling. Everybody loves Aunt Evelyn. I do. My children do. She and father-in-law have the same silly sense of humor. They are fun to be around. Always laughing. Her children and grandchildren will miss their Mimi. We will miss her, too.
Our plans to attend the annual performance of the Messiah last night got way-laid. Mr. Macho just didn't feel like going. Son in the Middle called to see if he and Sweet Pea could come over for a visit. And so our evening was spent over some heated leftovers from the freezer and a new recipe for grapefruit and avacado salad. Sweet Pea ate some foodfromajar and acted like she was full....until we gave her a taste of green gumbo. Then she couldn't get enough. Oh yes, she loved it.
All of my funeral wear is rather dated. I sooo don't want to shop for somber clothes amongst all the cheery Christmas shoppers at our one store in town. So - I will ransack my closet to find something appropriate to wear to attend the graveside service for Aunt Evelyn in a few days. She leaves good feelings, happy thoughts and an extended family that loves her in her wake. God bless and keep you always Aunt Evelyn.

Happy birthday Sweet Pea.

It seems more like a month rather than a year since we watched the pinkest baby in the world be checked out and bathed in the nursery at the hospital. Our Sweet Pea celebrated her first birthday yesterday. She was surrounded by cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, one great-grandparent and friends. 

 Sweet Pea's mom was so clever in her decorations! I loved the clothes line spelling her name and displaying photos of Sweet Pea taken with her pink monkey at different stages throughout her first year. 

 The birthday theme was "Look Whose Turning One!"

 Sweet Pea with her mom and dad.

 Cousin, Super Carrot, was in attendance. 

 Cousin Whitt was there looking rather elfish.

 Sweet Pea and  her Pops. 

 Sweet Pea and her Grandaddy, Mr. Macho. 

 One year old. 

 Tuscaloosa cousins enjoyed the chicken nuggets and cupcakes and ice cream! 

The homecoming queen in her cadillac. 

The paper was more fun than the presents.

Big cousins to drive me!

Cute table decor. 

It was a sweet party for a sweet little girl.

That Christmas feeling...

I am all about the no-stress Christmas. Sometimes it is a little sad that there are no longer little children in my house whose Christmas joy depends on what I do. On the other hand I am released from that "my heart is walking the tightrope" feeling.
So today I am going to try to do a little Christmas shopping. For Christmases past I would start shopping in August, as soon as the children would start back to school. And now I get later every year with my shopping. And I like it. Mr. Macho has always done his shopping at the eleventh hour. He says, "I don't go shopping, I go buying." True. He asks for my lists, and doesn't veer from it. I love the guy, and in complete open disclosure - he is not imaginative.
Gift giving can become an art form. Sometimes I do a good job. Only sometimes. I like to give the small thing that says, "I know who you are and I know you will wear/use/love this item." Sometimes I miss the mark and give everybody - wait for it - socks. Yes, I have been through 'sock Christmases'. Just ask my kids. When all else fails, buy socks. Fun socks. But, yes, socks.
Today I promise to try my best to make shopping an adventure. I am excited just thinking about it.

It was good to spend the day in my pj's yesterday. The television is still on the fritz so I worked on and finished Super Carrot's Christmas stocking. It is an old Simplicity pattern that I used to make Christmas stockings for our three children. Easy-peesy. Son in the middle said yesterday was the day that lives in infamy. Snow deliberately attacked us here on the home front. Yes, here in the deep south we had snow on December 7! What will happen next?! A good day to stay in my pajamas and drink hot spice tea. I do feel better today - like I am kicking this cough out of my house.

3/4 of our grandchildren. Just look at all those blue eyes. Love, love and love.

P.S. I love Kelle Hampton's "Fahoo for-aze" reference. If you haven't visited her blog do yourself a favor and check our her Enjoying Small Things blog. You will love her, too, and want to be her best friend.

Older and wiser.

Okay. So yesterday was my birthday and I was all like "it is a good day". And it wasn't terrible. But it wasn't great either. So I move on. Maybe it is the congestion I have. Maybe it is because people forgot my birthday. Maybe it is the dreary weather. I had a nice little pity party and I move on.
Today I get to go do a fun little bone density scan because I am "that old". Life is starting to pitch me some curve balls and fast balls.
I am having a hard time finding my happy thoughts for the day. But they are out there somewhere. Think I will go try and find one or two.
Be sweet.

Rainy days and birthdays...

Well. Today I am 55. And it is raining.

Last day of thanksgiving challenge. #30.

This exercise has made me realize how much I take for granted. I have had to think hard about what to be thankful for every day. The big things I am so obviously thankful for. I wanted to be poetic like some other creative blogs I read. But I am in a different spot it life...no small children to force me to realize the small wonders of every day. Neither am I on a farm so that I have much of nature and animals to make me see the beauty and be thankful for the beauty in rural life. I live in a typical neighborhood. I have been here for 28 1/2 years. For that I AM thankful. I am thankful for the good job that has afforded us a comfortable living. I am thankful for the familiar. Every day I try to follow Sheryl Crow's advice and remember "it isn't having what you want - it is wanting what you have."
I am thankful that this challenge has come to and end. Time to celebrate! Put your happy Hanukah pants on, turn up the Christmas music and let's get jiggy. Open your heart and let love in.

In the short rows...#29!

Today I am thankful for:
smiles created by Christmas greetings
familiar mail clerks that ask about my parents
last few Belgian waffles (just in time to make another batch)
hair appointments
warm socks
clean sheets
glad heart.

Twenty eighth day.

I am thankful for online shopping today. Lands End made me very happy with their 30% off and free shipping!!! Just click the online chat and ask for a promo code. I mean 30% is terrific! And I didn't have to drive around town and shop. It was so easy. Whew. One Christmas present accounted for. Check.

Day 27.

I am thankful that my Christmas tree is up and I am getting that Christmas feeling. The weather outside is frightful. My throat is getting a little scratchy. And still. Turn off all your lights except the ones on the Christmas tree. See what I mean?
The  angels and Santas on the mantel keep a cheerful watch over my living room this time of year. The frozen faces of my Nativity assure me that what they are seeing is extraordinary. Can peace on earth really begin with me? Of course it can.

Days 25 and 26.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day with Mr. Macho's Dad joining us, along with Number One Daughter and her family. We all enjoyed a large meal giving thanks that we were together. Number One's husband returned home at the end of the day to attend to some estate matters of his late father. #1 Daughter and three children stayed until today before returning home. On Friday the rest of our crew arrived and celebrated Thanksgiving by helping us eat the leftovers, which are actually what most prefer...an open face sandwich with turkey, ham and cheese. We call them New Yorkers. It is beyond any measure to have all the family gathered. It is noisy and busy and a little crazy, and at the same time it is zest and glue and icing in my life. The house gets too quiet when the time is over. Here are some snaps from our time together...

 T-bone and Super Carrot striking a pose.

 Cousins, cousins! Sweet Pea didn't realize she was sitting on Super Carrot while big sister looks on laughing.

 The backyard football game. 

 Son in the middle styling his muscle pose. Out of town Son sporting this "No shave November" whiskers.

 T-bone in his tree spot during a quick game of hide-and-seek.

 Mr. Macho helps Sweet Pea with her hiding spot.

Big sister did a great job decorating her cookies. 

 She had even more fun eating them. Then she zoned into a sugar coma for the remainder of the morning.

 

 T-bone was serious about his decorating. You can tell by the position of his tongue. 

The grown ups added their flare to the process. 

This accident is currently being investigated. No crime scene tape could be seen before press time. We are pretty sure the kid-who-climbed the fence had something to do with it, though. 

I hope you all had a fun and eventful Thanksgiving, too.