Sometimes You Need A Little Sunshine

Over the Holiday's I had the chance to babysit Raven and Tessa so their parents could go to the temple with mom and dad. I was so excited for them to come. I popped popcorn so we could watch a movie in the theater. We cuddled up in our quilts and watched Cinderella 2. Not the best movie, but we were in the theater and we had it all to ourselves, so we still had loads of fun. Afterwards, we had lunch and the girls colored pictures. Raven wondered why I didn't have any pictures on my fridge. I told her that my kids didn't color pictures anymore for me to put on the fridge. She thought I needed one, so she made me a picture of a duck in the sunshine. I know you can't see the duck but, she drew it, and colored it, and cut it out, and glue it in the perfect place on the picture. But we weren't finished yet...

I didn't have any coloring books, but luckily I found Disney Princess pictures we could print and color. They got to take those home of course.

I had such fun with Raven and Tessa. Every time I walk past the fridge and see the picture, I smile and think of that fun day. Thanks for making my day Raven.

Worst Christmas Songs Ever!

So this year is the first year in about 10 years that I am excited about Christmas. I used to love it until it came to traveling, and the kids getting sick, and shopping around all of the grumpy people, and decorating only to have the lights go out. Whew!

Anyway, I am excited about Christmas this year even though my shopping isn't done yet. I listen to Christmas music and shop and try to stay calm in all the madness. I do okay until I hear those awful songs. Yes, you know the ones. The ones that should never be played on the radio or for that matter anywhere. I was talking about this with Carrie and thought I would blog about these songs.

1. Wonderful Christmas Time by Paul McCartney

Need I say more?

2. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, by Leanne Rimes. It is just awful! I would rather listen to someone run their fingernails down a chalkboard.

3. Last Christmas

Yes the one sung by Wham!

That song is weird on so many levels and I wish they would have saved me from tears and kept the song to themselves.

4. Christmas Is Just Around The Corner by Barry Manilow

This one is a new one this year. If you haven't heard it yet, consider yourself lucky and warned. I am doing pretty good staying excited about Christmas until I hear this song. This brings my stress levels way up. Come on Barry, retire already!

This is just a small sampling of the songs that come to mind right now. There may be more.

So, I was wondering? What Christmas songs could you do without? I would love to know!

Busy Busy Busy

It has been a CRAZY few weeks. I haven't really felt like blogging much either. I didn't really have to much to say. Savannah and I went to see New Moon. We loved it! It was weird not going to see it with Hannah, but thanks to Carrie and Candace, she got to see it with family and still have some girl fun. We are already looking forward to Eclipse!

Hannah got to come home for Thanksgiving. It was nice to see her and have her home. The kids enjoyed the warm weather one day and went outside and threw a football to each other and we watched the UT game with Hannah. (she liked that)

Brinkley just chilled outside. Spoiled dog!

Zachary and Savannah went to the orthodontist in November and entered their drawing for a gift card to Honey Baked Ham and Zachary won. He is excited about that. He gets to pick out what ever dessert he wants. Yum!

Now if I can just get my Christmas shopping done!

Mystery Masquerade

Savannah went to her first school dance last night. It was a semi formal masquerade dance.

Savannah wanted her hair straightened for the dance. This is a picture of her with her hair and makeup done, pre dress. She had her friend coming over to get ready ,eat pizza, and go to the dance together.

Strike a pose.

Our masks are on and we are ready to go!

Savannah had fun. She said the church dances are more fun than the school ones because the boys will dance at the church dances. None of her friends recognized her with straight hair and the mask.

I think she looked beautiful! I can't believe how fast she is growing up!

Tennessee Football and Halloween

This year Zachary decided he didn't care about trick or treating. He just wanted the candy. On Friday night, I took Zachary and Savannah shopping and let them pick out their favorite candies. The next morning we drove to Knoxville for the Tennessee vs. South Carolina game. It was raining (shock shock), but my genius of a husband made sure we got tickets in the covered section. Did I mention how much I love this man? I love you, I love you, I love you! Thanks for taking care of us!

We wanted to get there early so the kids could see the players walking to the stadium.

We are getting ready for

the football players! The

banner is up.

In all of the excitement I forgot to take pictures when the players were actually walking out. Oops.

It was raining, so we went on in to the stadium to our seats. Zachary got to do some trick or treating Neyland Stadium style. The ushers were handing out candy to the kids.

The view from our seats.

The band forming the "T" for the players to run through. I almost forgot to take a picture in all the excitement. I did miss the players running out in their black jerseys. Go Vols!

The band also did a Halloween halftime show. They played the Nightmare Before Christmas, Ghost Busters, Jaws, and to finish it off, they played Thriller. It was definitely a lot of fun to watch.

For Hannah and anyone else that wants to see it, I found it on youtube.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXb8AyE_OWY&feature=related

The Vols won 31-13. We had a great night. The kids thought it was a great way to spend Halloween. Another generation of Vols fans in the making!

Neighborhood Walks, Fall Colors, and Cookies

I love fall. I love the

clothes and the colors

and the cooler weather.

I took the kids on a walk

in our neighborhood to

enjoy the colors and the

fact that it wasn't raining

(something that has been

rare these days).

Zachary wanted his

picture taken at the top

of this hill.

Zachary and Savannah

keeping it real.

We tried decorating

Halloween cookies

this year. For Christmas

we will get better icing!

pumpkins, cats and

ghosts. Spooky!

New York State of Mind

Answers to your questions.

Yes, Bethesda Fountain is in the movie Enchanted. It is a very beautiful place to shoot a movie if you ask me.

No, we didn't see a Broadway show. We have seen Les Miserable and Mama Mia in the past. We would have seen White Christmas but it was wasn't showing until November 13th. Better luck next time. Maybe we will go at Christmas time sometime and see it.

I did stand on the exact spot where they put the big tree in Rockefeller Plaza. Exciting stuff.