Monday of Christmas Vacation

We finally got to my parents late afternoon on Saturday ... we actually made it in time for dinner.  We were supposed to have a family dinner, but Carly was really sick, so the McGregor's couldn't come (Jen and Carly did sneak over for a bit later that night)  On Sunday, Dean dropped Torrey off to spend the night with Gretchen ... still BFF's after all these years!  We rested and relaxed ... and basically did nothing.

On Monday we started our day with a girls shopping trip.  We started at, where else?  Target.  Mostly because the Starbucks is oh so convenient!

 The "girls" who made the girls shopping trip so much fun ... Jen, Mavis and Mom-to-you.

 We knew Zackie would be fine at my parents ... he likes people.  Zoey, on the other hand, we knew would be skitchy.  She likes her family.  Period.  And,  there was no amount of convincing her that Grammy and Papoo were her family too.  She spent a lot of time sitting on Dean's lap ... I do mean a lot of time.  On Monday night, Zack was up there first ... and those of us who know Zoey, knew it wouldn't be long before she made her way up there too!

 Monday night also marked the lunar eclipse ... the last time it was seen was ... well, a long time ago.  

 I will admit right now that I did not take these pictures ... one had to be up in the middle of the night to take these pictures.  Jennifer and Ryan did the honors.  They had gone to Epcot earlier in the day and picked up Torrey from Gretchen, which meant ...

that she was up at o'dark thirty with the McGregor family to see the eclipse.  Not sure being a McGregor was what she thought it would be that night!

More fun to come!

Getting There is Half the Fun

Last year, right at Christmas I called my parents and said we would come for Christmas if we could bring the dogs.  They agreed rather quickly.  Which surprised me.  Because I was only kidding about the dogs, but I wasn't kidding about coming for Christmas.

Fast forward to November and Zoey having knee surgery.  We were nervous about boarding her.  And then we found out the boarding place would have to move them to a downstairs room for almost double what it costs for an upstairs room.  They tried to sell it to us because they would have a TV in their room.

Clearly the girl on the phone forgot we were talking about DOGS.  Who don't watch TV.  Good grief.

We made the decision to bring them with us.  And were shocked at how great they did.

They stayed in Zack's crate and slept most of the way.  Happy as larks.

Surprisingly, the only one who asked "are we almost there yet" was ... um, me.

Bah Humbug ... No More!

Today started out hard.  And early.  At 5:00 this morning, I discovered a smallish water spill in our half bathroom.  That would be the one with the hardwood floors.  It didn't take me but a few seconds to realize that said water spill wasn't from the cats spilling a glass of water (seriously thought in my head that perhaps they had CARRIED a glass in the bathroom and dropped it ... perhaps 5:00 is too early for me to get up in the morning!)but rather from a drip drip drip COMING FROM THE CEILING!

I may or may not have been more concerned about the floors than I was about the water coming from the ceiling.

Of course I was more concerned about the floors.  Hardwood floors people!

Anyways, it was discovered that one of the hot water tanks (in the attic ... only in Texas) was not installed properly and sadly, we needed a new hot water heater.

Ya'll we just had double knee surgery on the dog ... and unfortunately she wasn't covered under Obamacare.  Some days you just want to scream.  And, today was my day.

But, it gets better, because in October we got tickets to go see our Church's Christmas program.  For tonight.  And while I had been looking forward to the program at 4:59 this morning, suddenly I wasn't feeling too Christmasy.

But we went.  And we were grouchy.  Dean may or may not have tried to figure out when I would be going through menopause ... he learned quickly that some things are better to NOT try to figure out.  If you want to live in peace and harmony and all.

So there we sat ... and it didn't take long to remember that Christmas is really all about Jesus.  Slowly we forgot about new water heaters, and shananigans at school, and all the things that have to be finished before next Friday ... the menopause thing might take a little longer!

It was beautiful.  And full of all things Christmas.  And full of Jesus.  And I loved it.  And took pictures ... without a flash.  They are terrible, but I must share.  Mostly so I will remember .... because Dean has already told me next year he is hiding the camera!

Santa rode in on a sleigh ... and I waved.  Because I know I am on the "Nice List".  Santa was hilarious.  But, then you knew he would be ... being jolly and all.

The Worship Center was full of angels.  Some were on rolling riding things and some came in on stilts and at the same moment they popped out their wings when they were worshipping baby Jesus ... do you see Him?

The shepherds came to worship baby Jesus ... along with their sheep and goats.  Who knew baby goats were so cute?!

And then the wise men made their grand entrance.  And grand it was!  The last king comes in a procession that included an elephant.

An actual full grown elephant.  In the Worship Center.  And while he is walking around the Worship Center, the choir is singing "Do You See What I See?"  And I had goose bumps.  And couldn't look away.  

Because think about it ... God created that massive wrinkly beast.  And He saw that it was good.  Don't you think given a chance an elephant would have worshipped Jesus?  I do.  

And, just so you know ... we were sitting on the front row and that huge elephant walked RIGHT BY ME!  And it took my breath away.  And then my breath came back.  And I wished it didn't ... because clearly he doesn't bathe every day.

The evening ended with "The Hallelujah Chorus" ... and know who was first on her feet?  A severely handicapped girl in a wheel chair.  Oh, she didn't actually stand on her feet, but she had her hands in the air and she threw her head back ... worshipping her heavenly Father who created her perfect in His eyes.  He saw her worship and her praise ... and it was good.

She sat in front of us last year and brought me to tears.  I waited.  And watched.  And cried.  Because she knows the true meaning of Christmas ... Jesus.

And I Smiled

Sometimes something arrives on your phone that just makes you smile.  Tonight was one of those times.  My sister sent me this ...

And I was in love.  With my girl.  With my sister.  With Christmas.  With it all.  

Sometimes it really is the simple things.  

Procrastination is My Middle Name

So, the girls I work with think I am organized.  I just grin and nod my head ... as if to say, "of course I am organized".

Truth is, I am anything BUT organized.  Dean could write post after post after post of how unorganized I am.  But he won't.  Because he is nice like that.

Some days I think I can blame my being unorganized on being busy.  Maybe that is a legitimate excuse.  Some days I could blame it on a case of adult onset A.D.D. - oooh!  Look over there!  Something shiny!  Some days I could blame it on trying to take care of everyone else first.

Some days any one of those excuses might work.  But here is the truth ... none of those things are the truth.  Because we are about a week from a big trip, and I have a self assessment to finish, and lesson plans for next week to finish, and 80 ornaments to turn into snowmen, and presents to wrap, and ... and ... and ...

You get the picture?

So, with all of that looming in my NEAR future, what am I doing right now?   Right this very second?  Loading songs into itunes.

I am not kidding.  Perhaps my FIRST name should be procrastination!

Freezing ... But Not in My Heart

It was freezing in Houston today.  But, then it was freezing in most of the country today.  I do not like the cold.  At all.  Which is why I live in Texas.  I can do temperatures in the 115's in the summer, but give me temperatures in the 30's in the winter and I begin to fall apart.

But, not today kids.  Not today.  Know why?  Because today my heart has been here ... remembering one glorious day this summer.

There was an oil spill in the gulf, but this day on Anna Maria Island was perfectly perfect.  And, this picture ... perfectly perfect.  Soon not only my heart will be here, but my whole body will be here too.  And I can't wait!

Headed to the Funny Farm

I'm about to have a nervous breakdown ... and I am not kidding.

And it isn't because I found out today that my self evaluation is due on December 17th.  If you didn't know, doing a self evaluation is sort of similar to giving yourself a root canal without novocaine.  Please know that I did not jump up and down with joy.  At all.

No, my nervous breakdown tonight is being induced by a calendar we received via email today.  It would be Torrey's college guidance calendar.  Help me Rhonda.

Seems "we" have to take a SAT subject test for Biology because she is taking honors Biology.  Um, what is that?  There is more on the list ... I tried to read it, but all I could hear in my head was Charlie Brown's teacher.

Somehow I think we aren't going to be able to stop this clock.  And the ticking is getting louder.

Do you think if I pre-pay for a nervous breakdown they would give me a discount?

We Are Alive!

I have no excuse for not posting on the blog.  I really thought that I would post daily in December ... well, here it is the 5th and it is the first time I have ventured back in a month.  And not because we haven't done fun things ... we have.  And not because I haven't had any funny stories to tell ... I do.  And not because I haven't tried a new thing or two ... I have tried more than two new things.  I'm not real sure where we have been or why we have been MIA.


But, peeps ... WE ARE BACK!  Yay for you! 


And, I thought I would tell you a funny story or two.  Or three.  BUT ... the sickness hit our house this weekend.  I knew I was getting sick on Friday afternoon.  By the time I got home I was feverish and full on sick with a cold.  I went to bed at 4:30.  In the afternoon.  I am not kidding.


Saturday wasn't much better.  I rested in the afternoon, but when I woke up I was in misery.  Dean gave me some Nyquil ... which caused me to instantly go into a Nyquil induced coma.  But, Sunday came and I was really feeling MUCH better.  


But, now it is Sunday night and tomorrow (and Tuesday and Wednesday) I will be at a conference which means I had to get everything ready for a sub.  Which means you will have to wait until tomorrow to hear about our fun.  


Or, perhaps you will be waiting until January!