Playback from Dec 2007

So, I have been reading older posts - what fun! I came across this and thought I'd post it again. It still fits my life to a "T".

What annoys you about the Christmas holidays?

I just completed a "Christmas Survey for your friends" e-mail, which I love to do. It's fun to give your opinion on some topics.

One of the questions was, "What is most annoying to you about the Christmas holidays?"

For me, it is the pressure to buy expensive, impressive or just plain more presents. I sometimes feel that I am such a simplistic person. I consider myself very content, and there is very little that I wish for or yearn for in this life that I don't already have.

I think, though, what I wish for most, is a simpler time.

I wish that our neighborhood could be like Mayberry; our family be like the Cleavers; our house filled with stories and singing rather than television and movies (ironically, how would I know about Mayberry or the Cleavers without TV? I know, I know...). While I am sure that I have idealized the periods just a bit, I still remember walking to my friends homes and riding my bike for just a little while after dark. I wonder if my kids will experience that.

Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't trade a hot shower for life 100 years ago. After all, that IS a lot to ask!

My children are not old enough to really appreciate what Santa is all about. But, when they are, I want them to enjoy the innocence of this tradition for as long as they can. Is there a way for them to want something and be satisfied at the same time? I'm sure they won't as children - for that is something I hopefully can teach them.

I hope this is something that I am ALREADY teaching them.

'Nuff said. (gotcha Randy Medlin)

Sleeping babies

Yesterday I spent a blissful hour rocking Brooks. He has not been much of a cuddler since he was a baby, and I can only count a few times that I have rocked him while he slept (since getting older). This was a wonderful time for me - knowing that I have so few of these times left.

This morning, a fever rose it's ugly head, and explained why he granted this rare siesta. I have started him on antibiotics today, hoping for some clearing by this weekend. Cousin Sophia will be here and we have some major playing to do!

Kate and I enjoyed our girl time today at church. Afterwards we went out to eat, and called it our girls date. She is just getting so big everyday. I don't like it.

Here are some funnies of late:

• (talking about her new bear, Spots) "Mama, Spots is not a boy or girl. Spots is just a bear."
• (while with Daddy learning to ride her new bike) "Daddy, God and Jesus are angry." - no further explanation.
• (working with workbench) "Mama, can you help me wrench it? I just can't wrench it!"
• (just talking) "Daddy, I poop for treats!"
• "Mama, Brooks is avergating (aggravating) me!"
• Brooks always says, "Thank you welcome"

Christmas kisses

Kate, give Brooks a kiss...



Now, Brooks, give Kate a kiss...

Christmas morning 2008

What a blessed morning we had, indeed!

Brooks got a Black and Decker work bench. Kate got a box of tools and a new bike. Well, the workbench was a hit. Both the kids have been playing with it non-stop. They really love the electric drill and electric screwdriver. They also got a play-dough set where we can make "pasketti" among other things.

They had a wonderful Christmas. What else could we ask for.

Thanks, Casey!

Here is our 2008 Christmas card!

My very talented sister put it together for us. I just love it!

Merry Christmas!

Have a Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Revised, and finished ornament

So, I ended up adding some tensile to the inside of the ornament. I really liked it! I didn't have enough to completely stuff each one, so I added only a partial amount. I think it gives it some more pop without overwhelming it.

I also had picked up these tags at Walmart months ago. I had intended on putting a monogrammed letter, but on second thought, the year seemed more appropriate.

I may just have to make more of these next year, maybe to sell for some Christmas money...

Ornaments

So, I've had this idea of what I wanted to make for this year. But it has taken some trial and error to get the technique figured out.

I was able to find the really fine glitter at Michaels. It really makes a prettier polka dot. I also used some stick glue to make the dots.

Leah gave me the idea of using a paint pen to draw the letters on the ornaments. I had recently gotten an embroidery book with monogramming techniques - which I used to make my letters.

I am not sure if I will place a bow or not. What do you think? I had also thought about placing some silver tensile inside the balls to give it some texture. Any ideas?

What a sweet picture

Kate and Megan

These girls look so incredibly grown up in this picture!
They had a good time playing together in Mobile this Christmas.
We can't wait to see you again, Megan!

Pizza Pajama party with Santa

Last night our church hosted a party for the kids. It was a pizza pajama party! The kids all wore their pajamas and got to meet Santa. Most had the best time running around the room. Luckily I had a good day at work and was able to make it there on time. I got the kids matching pajamas at the Carters outlet in Pigeon Forge. I wish we had one down here!

I took SO MANY picture of the kids together, and not one had BOTH of the smiling at the same time.

Good Mama, bad Brooks.

Kate had a better smile with this Santa... Where is Brooks you say? He wasn't going to sit with Santa, not even for a sucker.

Well, it seems that all I post is funny things. Well, I'm just so glad to have funny things to post! :)

- Tonight, I decided to take the kids riding around to look at Christmas lights after church. There was fantastic display in one neighborhood. All of the sudden, Brooks exclaims, "Mama, wook! A fwag!" Yeah, that's what he noticed.

- On the way home I said, "When we get back to ___ (our town) I'm sure there will be more lights", to which Kate (unhappily) said, "Mama, we don't live in ___, we live in ALABAMA!"

- Brooks is always so silly in church. Maybe he gets this from his Pa and his Mama. Anyways, tonight during a rather lengthy closing prayer (as I am holding him), I open my eyes to him coming straight towards my face, tongue hanging out and about to L-I-C-K my face! I got tickled, to which he burst out laughing.

I am still smiling as I type this.

Christmas 2007

Look at this precious picture.

No kidding, 1 second later.

Back from Christmas in Mobile and... another funny!

We got in a little while ago from our weekend with Scott's family in Mobile. All of the cousins had a good time playing at Gran Gran and Paw Paw's house... with just a few fights... :) Oh, and there was the incident where Megan painted Kate's fingers with nail polish... :) (It's OK, cousin Megan... Kate didn't care).

As of now, the favorite presents from the grandparents are the cookie pillows. Both the kids went to bed with their pillow tonight. Scott got a beautiful assortment of UGA attire - which thrilled him! I got some cute Christmas plates, and fisherman Aubie, and some other things.

OK, so Kate has been on such a roll lately with her funnies:

While there, we all slept in the same room. Us in the bed, with Brooks in a pack-n-play and Kate on a pallet. Early this morning I felt some gentle scratching on my... um.... derriere. Thinking it was Scott, I pushed him to get him to stop. When it started AGAIN, I heard Kate whispering to me that she had lost her pillow. Oops........ Scott asked me why I "kicked" him (did I really "nudge" him that hard?) I told him I thought it was HIM, and had no idea it was HER!

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

OK, so this is another Kate funny that will make you laugh.

Last night, Scott was watching TV and eating supper (it had been a long day). All of the sudden, Kate tells him, "Daddy! Be still, there is a spider on your toe! Don't worry, I'll get it!". So she runs off to the bathroom, gets some toilet paper and proceeds to get the spider. Scott said he was too tired to even care or look, but he assumed she got it.

A few minutes later, she looked at his foot again, and said "Daddy! The spider is back!" This is when Scott looked down and saw....

The "spider" was actually the hair on his big toe.

Stubbornness runs in our family

I think that every family has a history of this. However, few can boast of having the Conway stubbornness. It drives Scott crazy when we talk about it, but the fact remains that I'm quite sure that it is the most stubborn of the stubborn genes ever created by God.

Which brings me to this post. Brooks. He as always been more strong willed than Kate. She, with some exception, is really easy going. Easy.

Brooks, however, is not.

He is the pickiest child EVER. He has whittled himself down to only a handful of things he will eat: hot dogs, pb&j, pizza, chicken nuggets, mandarin oranges, yogurt, french toast. That's about it. No cheese, doesn't really like milk (unless it's choc), no ice cream (won't even TRY it!), etc...

So, I have gotten stubborn. Tonight I made lasagna (a great recipe from our church's new cookbook, BTW). He won't touch it. He is crying for a hot dog. He has been crying for a while now. I even put him in the bathtub... I hope he will change his tune once he gets out.

But, I kinda doubt it.

I have got to get that book about raising strong willed children. I'm sure that there is some Conway blood in that author's past. Somewhere.

More pictures

Should have posted this photo earlier!

Gatlinburg, Cades Cove, 2008

Here it is!

So, here is my favorite picture that I have taken of my kids! (Allison, this is the big one!) I still cannot believe that I got this picture... and only about 15 minutes later Kate was crying from tiredness and "sick of taking pictures"...

I have tried to get our Christmas card posted, but it is coming up 4 really funky shades of green. I will keep trying.

I hope that your kiddo's pics have been as rewarding as mine!

A funny for Mimi

Today, Mom offered to watch the kids so that I could get some much needed Christmas shopping done. Brooks has been sick and I wasn't going to be able to get him out anyways... Kate wanted to go along at the last minute, so I obliged.

We were waiting in line to get lunch and Kate was getting a bit restless. She tried to undo the tie on my pants (lounge outfit) and I quickly told her to stop. Well, wouldn't you know, the very next question she let out was:

"Mama, what panties are you wearing today?"

My sweet Aunt Bill

My Great Aunt "Bill" died last night. She was my Grandaddy's older sister. This was a picture that I took of her at Grandmama and Grandaddy's 65th anniversary party. She was a feisty and sweet lady and we are going to miss her!

Funny faces and Candy Trees

I have tried to get pictures of Brooks running for quite a while. He really has the funniest faces when he runs. Scott hopes he outgrows this... HA!

Here is probably our only crafty project of the holidays... Mom did this with us when we were kids. We would decorate something (trees, bells, stars, stockings) with construction paper, then glue on candy. Each night we would get a piece of candy, and as the candy disappeared we knew that Christmas was closer and closer. We just loved this as children, and Kate and I had fun doing this today while Brooks was asleep.

By the way, we were at the dr's office this morning. Brooks started running a fever again last night. He now has an ear infection *sigh*. I hope he feels better soon.

Can you even believe the excitement on her face? (sure....)