Good friends

Mattie and I. Isn't she the cutest? 















Robyn and I.  





Robyn and Gray; Gabrielle, Patrick and Mattie came to visit today. This was our "Christmas" visit. So good to see good friends. The girls rode the horses, played with the dogs and rabbits; Patrick along with my boys shot bb guns, his bow and arrow and played football in the backyard. The weather was perfect for being outside all day.

Thank you, Napiers, for coming to see us. We love you!

Just call me Martha . . . as in Stewart

Arent' these just the cutest aprons? I saw the idea/directions on the internet before Christmas and today was the day to make them. Yep, I sewed. Kind of like saying that my sister, Traci is on time. It CAN happen. Just not often. I come from a long line of seamstresses and if my mother would say she failed at one thing, it would be that I didn't learn to sew thus growing up to make my family's entire wardrobe. 

So, don't look close, because, remember, I am not a seamstress. I am a addicted scrapbooker who is suffering from withdrawals since all my stuff is packed up, waiting for my new office. So I got out my sewing machine and went to town. They really are cute. Just don't look over them too carefully because I, like a drunk can't walk a straight line, can't sew a straight line. These aren't meant to be judged in the 4-H sewing division, however if you like quirky, fun things, that will make you cook better, then these are for you. Ok, maybe not the cooking thing.  

I thought of selling them on etsy or ebay however once I researched it, there are like 500 on each website and slim to none bids on any of them. So I get to enjoy them all. i actually wore one tonight while cooking. And I felt very "Beverly Cleaverish" although if she would have made one I am most certain that her sew lines would have been super straight. 




 
This one has pockets and is going with me to Crop Connection this weekend. It will be great to put handy scrapbook tools in, money, cell phone, etc.



Can you guess who my model is? He was super nice about it and stood very still as i tied each of them on for the pics.

A little rearranging going on

It seems that this Saturday finds me on the couch, under a blanket, with the fire going, and surfing on the internet. How you may ask? using the super fast internet that dear sweet hubby got me for Christmas!!!!!!!!! oh yeah!!!!!!!! the newness has not worn off yet. love lazy saturdays!!!!!!!!!

you'll see I"ve done some rearranging on my blog. why you may ask? because I can! yippee for me! I've added a blog list to the right. These are the blogs I check almost daily. Some are scrapbook related but others are just about life and some of these people are really going through hard times. Illnesses, death, sick babies, cancer, etc. It will make you cry. It will make you sick. But it will you make you grateful!

Enjoy your weekend and the new look of my blog. Afterall, I know you were waiting for it. haha!

Around our house

Here she is. Emma was at our house again yesterday. What a joy she is. so cool that I can play with her and love her and then she goes home and I get to sleep all night. Someone said to me yesterday that I sure do keep her a lot, like that was a bad thing. I'm just helping her mom out however I am the one who gets the most benefit! Love keeping her and loving on her. One of my boys said to me, "Emma is going to start thinking you are her mama." Not hardly. She well knows who her mama is.
 






 Now, THIS is why I love him so much! what a man! She was fussy and I needed to cook supper so he offered to hold her. Now was it b/c he is that sweet or because he was hungry? hmmm? and btw, what did I do with my babies when I had to cook supper. It's like I don't know what to do with her if I am not holding her. oh well. she fits nicely in my arms. :-)

And Noah wouldn't want me to spread the word, however he held her for a while when I was cooking supper. He's pretty good at it. He's a sweet boy too.



And finally, it was report card day yesterday and I am very proud of all my boys. Three are on the A honor roll again. and the other one missed the AB honor roll by one grade. So it's pizza night at our house. and Pandemonium because three of the boys are having a friend spend the night. Yes, it is official, I have lost my mind!
 

Guess who I played with today!

 She is tiny and sweet and smells good and cuddly and has started to smile! oh so precious!

The Porch Project continues

 

I painted the plywood with primer. looks a tad better since it blends more with the white house. not much progress besides that. It's a cash project so it will take a few months. I'll keep updating with pictures as we go.

A little birdie

 For some reason, I am really into birds right now. and have acquired a nice collection. Got this one a few days ago. 75% off! yippee!

The Porch Project

 We have FINALLY started enclosing our porch. I forgot to take a pic before we started so you just have to go on memory or imagine white posts every 16 inches where the plywood now is. Hoping to work on it again in a week or so. Siding on the outside and windows on the front and back.

Sweet baby girl

 

I kept Emma last Friday and what a joy! She smells sooo good and feels so cuddly and I loved her on her about as much as possible. Lucky me, I get to spend the day with her again tomorrow. This is better than having your own.

Claire and Jimmy - Dec 26

 

48 years!!!!!!!!!!

we celebrated Jimmy's parent's 48th wedding anniversary on Sunday. What a wonderful milestone! Mollie says we are celebrating 50 years with a family cruise--I'm in!

 

jimmy gets royal treatment

 

after complaining about his ear hurting, jimmy's mother decided she could perform reflexology on him. she even called her masseuse (sp?) to get some tips. it didn't seem to work however it made for a perfect pic! the next day she called and got him an appt. the lady worked on jimmy's feet for 15 mins. and didn't even charge him. but he said it didn't work. (jimmy's mom and sis really believe in reflexology)

The "Scarecrow" Prank

so this is Daddy. He has gone from cowboy hat on his head, riding a horse, penning cows; to "garden" hat on his head, riding a tractor, farming hay. Thus the scarcrow look. After fifty-plus years of being in the sun with little to no protection, he has decided that THIS is the way to protect himself from the sun. And also to keep cool. Whatever works for him. Daddy has never cared what people think of him so suffice it to say, he doesn't care what he looks like. It works for him, so be it!


Fastforward to Christmas Day when Noah opened his gift from my parents. He had asked for a specific cowboy hat. Much to his surprise, this is what he got when he opened the box. We all had a good laugh although I think he was about to cry, thinking that this hat was his real gift.

what a relief to all, especially Noah, when Meme appeared with the real hat.

Isn't he handsome!

Thinking about my New Year's Resolutions

2009 is just two days away . . . I don't normally make a resolution however I am really thinking about being a better person, a better mother, a better friend, a better Christian. The last is one that I struggle with. I know what I should be doing to live for Him but on a daily basis, I am a slacker, to say the least. So I will start with gratitude . . . . . to live with much thanks - I want my life to exemplify gratitude. It's really easy to dwell on what we don't have, etc. but I want my life to be a reflection of His faithfulness. His love is not circumstantial and so my praising him should not be either.

me and oprah gotta bad thing goin'

so oprah was brave enough to put herself out there for all to see. me, not so. although those of you who see me on a regular basis, probably have notice the extra (insert big number here) pounds. or maybe you haven't b/c you are just that nice of a person. anyway, how does this happen? well, i can tell you but I won't reveal all my secrets. i don't usually endorse nor pay any attention to Oprah for various reasons, however she and I do share this oh so wonderful thing in common -- EXTRA WEIGHT! and a lot of it. normally my weight does not bother me, it's the extra rolls on my back and middle that are so uncomfortable when sitting down. and then when i see others with the donut around the middle and think "oh how does she go out in public like that?" and then i realize that i look the same. ugh!

so while i am not committing to lose weight or give up anything that tastes good or that I crave on a regular basis; or join some program; I am however going to commit to a healthier lifestyle. one that includes eating better and bike riding. and if for some reason, i start to lose a few pounds, so be it.

i need to get that o mag just this one time and see just what she has to say about it?

Christmas Day

our family

 

Mama and Daddy

 

Mama and Daddy and girls

 

My sisters and I

 

We had a wonderful day! lots of fun and family. The festivities continue today with Jimmy's family.

Christmas goodies

Luke and I made our 3rd and 4th batch of Oreo Balls. Making a variety of devilish goodies to take on Christmas Day for dinner with my family and Jimmy's. Tomorrow we plan to make peppermint brownies, puppy chow, fudge and pralines. We'll see how the day goes as to how much we actually get done. Luke is my little chef.

Supper club goofiness

 
 
 
Just acting really silly at supper club ornament exchange. I brought home a beautiful pink glass ornament. Love these girls!

 Luke gets his yellow belt in Karate. So proud of them!


 Claire graduated from LSU yesterday. Yeah for the new tiger!

 Snow in December here in SW Mississppi. It was more snow than I have ever seen!

 
 This sweet baby is 7 weeks old and I kept her again this week along with her 4-year old brother. What a joy!


 Asa getting his yellow belt in karate. He loves it!

MAJOR catch up

Its been a while since I blogged (haven't I said that before). It was just too hard to post pics etc here. However Santa came early, as in 10 minutes ago and brought me High Speed Internet. Yeah!!!!!!!!!! Jimmy has been hinting for days about what a GREAT gift that he got me, etc. and I couldn't imagine what it was. And his surprise was ruined when the man came just now. He did have a chance to call and tell me about it first. No Surprise on Christmas morning or not, I don't care. This is super cool!