Let the Holdidays begin...

We started our Christmas break with a friend over to spend the night

last night, then off early for Breakfast with Santa

at the Hotel!

I'm a lucky girl!! He's all mine!!

My handsome boys {men}

HELLOOOOOOOOOOO.. can we take the

North Face Jackets off??

Friends after last weeks band concert!

Handsome men if I do say so myself.

And they put on a WONDERFUL Concert!

Number 1 in his 3rd year as Trombone... sitting second chair to

his friend Davis!

Number 2 son in 6th grade beginner band.

He shares first chair with a friend who attends

the other 6th grade school.

The band director rotates to both schools!

It's all good because they are good friends!



Waiting to play! A little nervous??

Maybe!

Girls Christmas Party

Sips and Strokes... well our little painting studio is not called that but it is the same basic idea. You bring your wine and snacks and then paint a picture. It is a whole lot of fun and I had been wanting all the girls to go FOREVER!! I took Number 2 son over the summer and we did paintings for Father's Day. We had fun!!

So this past Monday night we had our girls Christmas party and we all painted...

3 of us were "Crabby"...

We had 1 angel....

{somehow I didn't get a picture of the final project}

and then those that painted a local landmark...

It was soooooooooooooo much fun!! We all agreed that we would have to go again. Even McSweetie was most impressed with my art. They offer date nights so maybe we can go one night!! Now that would be fun. But for now, I can't wait to get mine framed and hang it in the house!

Thinks it's funny

when your husband sends you and email that asks...
"what's our family photo page?"

" Huh??" I send back.

"You know the link where we can see all our pictures."

" FB?" I again send back.

"Yeah, how do I get it?"

" Uh, with a FB account that you deactivated yours. "

Seems that McSweetie wanted to show off the DOG and kiddos to some coworkers today. Ordered... Dog, Wife, Kid 1, and Kid 2.

Funny!! So here is the "family" link to see our pics...

First we have the Dog...

Kiddo Number 1:




Kiddo Number 2:

And then you have me:




And then you have the cat...I'd look like that too if nobody wanted to see a picture of me!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

SEC Champs....

...enough said!!

Mommy Guilt... do you ever have it??

Well I am really sad...

1. Number 2 son is sick!!



2. Number 1 son is swimming in the State High School Swim meet and I am not there.

Of course I could have dragged number 2 son 4 hours away to sit in a LOUD Natatorium to watch his brother swim for a total of about 5 minutes, but alas, I did not. I could have been hanging out with our swimmer friends. But alas, I am not. Instead I put out a FB plea for an easy chicken noodle soup recipe. I was not disappointed!! I got out the ol' crock pot and loaded that girl up with all my yummy ingredients. It is almost ready and I am ready to settle in for a warm cozy evening of Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and my pj's and my favorite number 2 son and a movie.

Number 1 son is with his friends, Yay!! His Dad!! Yay!! And a sweet friend who attends AU came to watch him swim. He's in good hands... but you get the Mommy guilt anyway!!

Traditions!

I love the holidays!! It is so fun to drag out all the Christmas decorations and "oooo" & ahh over favorite Christmas pieces. My all time favorite is the nativity given to me by my mom on our first Christmas married!! She purchased it in Italy when she lived there as a teenager. I have fond memories of sitting under our family tree and arranging and rearranging the figures.



Another reason I love the holidays is because they are full of traditions...

• baking cookies What types do you bake?? My favorite is Ginger Snaps! Nothing says Christmas more to me than a ginger snap. Now my mom ALWAYS made a TON of cookies, sandies, spritzes, ginger snaps, chocolate chip, haystacks {not a cookie but still you get the idea!!


• stockings and I use that word loosely because we use burlap sacks, yes SACKS!!! Our tradition has been to put all the stockings in one room on Christmas day and ALL the family takes turns going in a filling each others stockings. It is fun to see what everyone comes up with. We have had to laugh at the many times we have gotten HOTEL soaps and shampoos from Papa.


• Christmas Eve: growing up I was always allowed to open 1 present on Christmas Eve. Some were off limits but it was fun getting a "taste" of what the next day had in store. Instead of opening one gift from under the tree, we first have family and friends over for soup {potato, taco, chili, red beans and rice just to name a few} then we ALL kids included play Sneaky Santa/Dirty Santa. It is fun just to see how vicious some people can get! A few Christmases ago, we were in the middle and my friends son said something about "the elderly lady". Well he was talking about my mom and she is FAR from elderly. My sweet friend still cringes over that one! We just laugh because it was sooooooooooooo funny!!

Now I was blog hopping and read this post at 320 * Sycamore and KNEW i had to add this one to the list of traditions. So i went in search of our Christmas books {gonna have to do a little shopping and I am going to only do 12 since I am getting a late start}. I am going to Target to get the cutest wrapping paper for them! I cannot wait!!

What traditions do you have? Please Share!

Number 1 son was a little put out with me...

because I did not blog about their performance in Mulan Jr. I know... BAD MOM!! I'm sorry; time just got away the month of November!

So without further adieu.... May I present to you.....

MULAN Jr.

starring:

Number 1 son as Fa Zhou

and

Number 2 son in the army/ensemble

One of my favorite scenes... the Hairdressers!!

The cast waiting for their review after their first

performance.

Now for the BEST news....

They were chosen to perform for the

Southeastern Theatre Conference in

Lexington, KY in March!!

What an HONOR!!

{No wonder Number 1 son wanted me to blog about it soooo badly!}

300th Post and a Very Merry Christmas Tour!!

I thought you guys deserved something special for this post! I cannot believe that I have blogged 300 times. What in the world have I had to say?? I talk about our lives... the good and not the bad. There is plenty of bad out there so why talk about it here! I have found so many fun places to visit through this world of BLOGGING!! It has been fun and inspiring to me. I ADORE seeing all you crafty people out there. I have a good friend at Fancy Schmancy and she is sooooo gifted!! I anxiously await my "burley" that is headed my way. I have saved the perfect spot for it. Will show you when it arrives.

Until then, enjoy the Home Tour of

Just Another Day on the Bay

Where life REALLY IS

GRAND!!!

Our Front Entry this year!

As you walk in, this is the table you see

that has a collection of Santa Photos

and favorite Christmas Card

photos!

My favorite space in the house...

The Dining room

{ I have a very special play for my benches here!}



Our Living Room

{without the HUGE Santa picture this year,

it has residency with my Mom this year!}


Here I am with one of my FAVORITE ROOMIES

from college!! This was taken after our very

SWEET IRON BOWL WIN!!!!

At the In-laws for Thanksgiving!!

We were all VERY THANKFUL to

have Senior Mr. B with us!! He gave us

quite a scare the first quarter of the year!!

My Best BOYS!!!

May you enjoy the REASON FOR THE SEASON!!

Despite all that is going on in the world around us,

God has a very special plan for each of us.

Starting with the birth of HIS son, our SAVIOR!

May HE be the REASON for YOUR SEASON!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

10-31-09

Why so serious??


Hobo and a Joker!

Girls!

Old Friends!! Good times!

Halloween Bash 2009 & Our Anniversary!

17 years!!

Our Hosts for the Night!

They Guys!!

The Girls!!

17 Years....

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

TO ME AND MY

McSWEETIE!!

i LOVE yOU hONEY!!

For whatever reason...

I cannot get the JIBJAB card to post up here.... so scroll down to the bottom to see

THE BOLES' MONSTER MASH!!!

it is funny!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

It's FINALLY here...

fall!!!!!!!! The weather is absolutely WONDERFUL outside!! I even wore my UGGs to school today!! Not only is fall weather here, but Fall Break as well! My Peeps have all headed south to visit the Mouse. I must confess I am a little green with envy but I must also admit that I am looking forward to just having down time. I am going to scrapbook... I am going to enjoy a cup of coffee in the am without having to rush out the door... I am going to workout and do Zumba. I am going to find an AWESOME book to read while I am drinking my coffee.... I know, there are a whole lot of I's in there. But I am also going to enjoy time with my boys. Although number 1 son is taking off tomorrow to go watch some friends in a soccer tournament. But that leaves quality time with Number 2 son. And of course there is LOTS of good football to watch. I am making Red Velvet cupcakes and Red Beans and rice in honor of Homecoming for my alma mater, UNIVERSITY of ALABAMA!!! ROLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!

And in one week my best friend and I will be celebrating our 17th Anniversary. We have a Halloween party to go to that night and we have a GREAT costume planned!!

So, HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

Whoop, Whoop!!

State High School swim meet.... Here we come! Number 1 son made two cuts tonight, 200IM and the 100 Back!! Sorry no pics but I was a timer and could not take pics too!!

Night all, feeling a little run down so I am going to bed to keep the "piggies" from invading our house!

Do you ever just get in a FUNK??!! And you can't seem to shake it??

Well, that is what RETAIL THERAPY is for {or lunch with the girls, but since it was way past lunch time I opted for a little LD phone call with one of my "Besties" from back home}. I dropped the boys at swim practice with all good intentions to just "run" into Hobby Lobby and look at the Halloweenie stuff and grab some ribbon and head out... OHHHHHHHHHHHHH, NOOOOOOOO!! One trip to TJMAX and Hobby Lobby and 2 hours later I about missed Zumba!! In fact, went back to pick up Number 2 son from practice but he had already started his homework so he told me to go on. {You don't have to tell me twice!}

Came home fed the kiddos {gotta love the crock pot and microwave} and busted out my treats!! I made a CUTE Halloween tree from a little silver tabletop tree I bought at MAJOR clearance after Christmas last year!! Oh my!! I love it!! Kinda helps to get me out of my FUNK I have been in lately!!

Cannot find my camera cord to download the pics {actually I think I know where it is but I am too tired and too lazy to go look for it!} So hopefully sometime in the next day or two or three I will post some cute Halloween pics!! I am FIRED up about Halloween this year. My Number 1 son has a very uncanny resemblance to Heath Ledger so he had decided to dress as the JOKER!! I have already gotten his costume except for the shoes!!

What do y'all think?

I think we can pull if off!!

A GOOD Blogger...

wouldn't leave you hanging for soooo long. But I am not claiming to be a "good" blogger. Life is just busy and when a free moment does come blogging is not my first choice of activities.

All is good here though. Although if you had asked me that last Tuesday you would have gotten an earful!! I'm cooled off now but still not the happiest of campers.

The boys are well into Mulan right now. The play is less than a month away so rehearsals are really kicking in right now. Add swimming High School and Year Round and that makes for quite a busy afternoon!! We love when the weekends finally roll around and we can have SOME down time!

This weekend was busy with rehearsal and swim meet. The boys swam really, really well! Number 1 son made 2 cuts for Southeastern's. And number 2 son dropped all of his times.

Yesterday we enjoyed a very lazy family day {after rehearsal and ZUMBA of course!} It really was PERFECT!!!!! Then I met some friends down at the GRAND to take Homecoming Pictures. They were all so cute!! Oh for THOSE days again!!

I have taken bunches of pics but am too lazy to download all of them. Will try to download and post some this week!

Until then... hope fall has hit where you are. It has finally cooled down somewhat here! Still wearin' my flipflops!! I never tire of those!!!

A Wet Weekend on the Plains....

GNO!!!!!!

Me and my friend at flipflops&pearls
Waiting in line

Jamie, oh my....

What a cutie!!

And NICE!!!

Fun, fun, fun girls night out!! We met at 5:00 and chatted and chatted until the book signing started. We enjoyed sampling the food and drinking the wine!! After the Q&A we hopped in line.... oh the line. But it was well worth it.

Afterwards we met some more girls at a local establishment and lo and behold guess who shows up!! Yep, those Deen Boys were following us!! Bobby was so sweet and said don't we know you and then came over and sat with us to chat. What a sweetie!! He just raved about his mom and I told him that I hope my boys have the same sweet things to say about me one day. And do you know my sweet boys had the house spotless for me when I got home... AND the garbage outside.

Perfect ending to a fun night out!!

Happy fall y'all. Hope we get some cooler weather soon!!