(Alleged) Redneck Snowman

So this is near our house.  Randy calls this the redneck snowman,  but I don't know.  I think it's pretty cool myself.  He says "that figures."  I remind him he was born in Tuscaloosa.  He shuts up.

War Eagle!!! National Champions....Yea!!

Congrats to my alma mater football team!  We are the 2010 National Champions.  I am so proud.  I love you, Auburn!!!

Winter Storm 2011

A rare winter snow storm invaded the Southeast on Sunday evening.  We woke up Monday morning to 8.9 inches of snow on the ground.  This might be the most snow this area has ever seen.  Of course, there was no milk or bread to be found and I'm pulling out my hair with needle nose pliers because school has been out ALL WEEK....but, hey.....we're adapting.  Sort of.

The scenery is beautiful, I must admit.  These hay bales down the street are covered in snow.

A barn near our house....this was a few days after the storm when we finally ventured out.  I was starting to scratch holes in the drywall by this time.  Mac has nothing on me.

The family snowman.  I know he's a little small, but it was freezing out there!  Besides, it's harder than it looks and I don't like wet mittens.

I have never done this before.  A carrot nose and everything.  Wow.

I'm Not Dreaming Any More!!!

We awoke to a special surprise this morning.....SNOW!!!  If you don't live in the South, you may not realize just what a rare occurance this is...not to mention the odds of it happening on Christmas Day.  This was not just a dusting of flurries, either.  We had about 4 inches total and yes...it "stuck"!  So after opening gifts and eating Christmas dinner, there were snowmen to be built and snowballs to be thrown.  It was so much fun!!!

Mac!

Okay, this post is really overdue but better late than never. We got a new puppy about a month ago and we just love him so much! He is part Yorkie-poo (part Yorkie, part Poodle) and he is now almost 12 weeks old. He is so fun and playful yet so very sweet at the same time. He is also extremely smart. Randy taught him to sit, lie down and "leave it" on command 3 weeks ago. He has been fully housetrained for almost 2 weeks now. Here are a few pictures of our little one!

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Clarification...

Due to several questions regarding my new profile picture, let me start by addressing the most concerning one. No, this is not a picture of my colon, nor is it a picture of anyone's colon or any other internal organ. It is supposedly a black hole. I cannot prove that that's what it is since I simply found this picture on the internet, but I have no reason to believe otherwise. Why did I choose to represent myself with a picture of a black hole? Because I am melodramatic, that's why.

Black hole: an area in space with such a strong gravitational pull that no matter or energy can escape from it.

While this definition does sound a little like my mind, if it also sounds like your large intestines, you may want to check with a doctor.

Summer!!

Only 3 more days of school and less than a week until the beach. I need you, Destin FL! I need you sand! I need you ocean! I need you crab legs! I need you Back Porch and Callahan's and Jim N Nick's and Dave's Dogs and The Donut Hole and....okay I'm getting really hungry.

And yes BFF...I need you, too!!! I need to take a million pictures of our kids in matching outfits, roll my eyes every 60 seconds, and laugh until I pee my pants!!! Are you ready?

Dog Days

Let me preface this story by saying that my son is the most sensitive, sweet and loving little boy in the universe. Seriously. I mean, look at him. The eyes, the dimples, the smile. Look at his little finger and you'll see me (and some other people) firmly wrapped around it.



Once upon a time, this little angel loved him some animals. We have pictures of him snuggling up to puppies, cats, rabbits, horses, tiger cubs (not really) you name it. His little heart had room for all of them. His favorite toy was a stuffed border collie named Douglas that went every where he did. I was actually concerned we were going to have to end up getting some form of a furry pet just to satisfy him (click here and here to read about our past pet experience). That is, until this moved in next door.

About five seconds after this moved in next door, our world changed. Why? Because this elephant of a dog came racing out of it's new home baring its 6 inch razor-sharp teeth (not really), jumped over some 6 foot tall hedges (not really) and proceeded to knock a 3 year old Ethan to the ground (really). Ethan's world view of animals changed from that day forward. No longer did he want to pet our neighbor's dogs that would stop to pee on our mailbox. No more snuggling with Uncle James' puppies. In fact, wailing would ensue just upon spotting a dog, even if he was safely ensconced inside a vehicle. Now, 3 years later we are still dealing with the trauma he suffered that fateful day. Is that therapy I smell? Probably. Anyway, I digress. For the last 3 years every time we go to someone's house his first question is "Do they have a dog?" and if the answer is affirmative the child will not get out of the car until he has been assured that the monstrous beast has been constrained in some manner. Most of our friends already know to do this before we pull in the driveway. He will still linger in the front yard until we give him the all clear. Last night we were going to our friends' house and the predictable scenario played itself out. We go in and Randy goes back out to inform Ethan that Flick is put away. Flick is a 14 year old Jack Russell terrier who couldn't care less about Ethan or anyone else for that matter. Ethan is a little hesitant so Randy tells him again "Flick's been taken care of, son." Suddenly Ethan's little angelic face lights up and he looks up at his dad with is face full of hope and says...

"You mean...he's dead?"

Funny how sensitivity dissipates in the face of full-blown terror.

Funtastic Friday

Wow....I've been really serious in my last two posts. I think that's enough for this week, don't you? I'm feeling rather sarcastic and witty today so I fully expect this post to reflect that. Or not. I try not to have too many expectations of myself. I actually get more done that way. I go from "Woo-hoo! I don't have to do anything today except eat milk duds and watch the Discovery Channel" to "Well, I could actually lay down on the couch if all this laundry wasn't here." to "I'll just fold some to get it out of my way" to "Wow. I just accomplished something. Hey, I can be productive." Usually the feeling of being productive is enough incentive to make me do something else that's not borderline absurd. Compare and contrast that to my other option. I go from "Oh my gosh! The living room is a mine field. I better get to work" to "Oh look, there's an unread piece of literature under this shirt I was folding" to "Wow this is a good book" to "Oh well, it's not like the laundry is going anywhere." You get the drift. Anyway, today has been rather uneventful so far. Other than Ethan's panic attack in the car because he forgot a book, there's not much excitement going on. Of course, that's usually a good thing since excitement in this family usually means someone has been committed to the local mental institution, vomited anti-matter on the carpet, or managed to completely flush their college career down the toilet. You know...those kind of fun events. But hey, who's complaining?

Today I am actually feeling an urge to visit Hobby Lobby. I am thinking about sewing Hallie's Easter dress this year. So what if I haven't sewn anything since 6th grade 4-H? I think I can do it....with Alex's help. Hey, she has time now! Making lemonade, people...I'm good at it.

What's gotten into me? Homeschooling? Sewing? Watch out...I may be baking our bread soon instead of grabbing it off a shelf at Publix. Maybe I'm just subconciously preparing for the economic pit of poop that awaits us all. Or maybe I am just becoming very resourceful. Or maybe I'm just having fun.

I think it's the fun thing, too, but heck, the other two just sound so much better. I won't tell if you won't.