Pop pop pop

Last weekend Wyatt was bored. So I pulled out the surprise I had bought at the store earlier that day. JIFFY POP!!! WYatt had never seen popcorn that wasn't cooked in the microwave. Soo he was a little skeptical.
After I showed him how to hold the pan carefully, and to shake it.. he quickly became excited... and his eyes kept getting bigger and bigger as the top of the pan began to grow.
Finally he was able to eat his popcorn. It tasted every bit as good as I remember Jiffy Pop tasting. When asked if he wanted to do this another time, he said "nah, it takes to long.. next time just put it in the microwave."

The Meaning of Life: contentment

As I sit here, surrounded by the trappings and trimmings of Christmas, I find myself thinking of my life and the direction I am headed in. I think about the things I have and the things I want, as well as the things I value the most. I realized that the reason it is hard for me to make a Christmas list, is that I have almost everything I need or want. I don't really have that many wants. Not really, despite what my husband may think or say otherwise. I have my family, all living close by, where we can visit regularly, and do things together. I have my health, and my family has theirs. I have friends, both those that live near me and those that are scattered around this sphere we live on. These friends cheer me up when I am sad, listen to me vent my frustrations, and offer advice and laughter all the time. I have a house, and a car that is now officially paid for and belongs to me. I have a job. What more could I ask for? Why did I start thinking about these things?

Because of a conversation that I had today with a lady I have known for years. Since Steve and I started dating. She married one of his friends. She kept talking about how much money her husband made, adn the new car they just bought b/c the other one was two years old.. and the house they moved into with 5 bedrooms, and 6 bathrooms for 3 people. Then after about 15 minutes of this type of "conversation" she asked if Steve and I still lived in our "cute little house" and when we would be moving to a larger house. SHe really didn't like my "answer" of "WE are happy where we are." SHe actually asked me "are you really happy?"

I realized at that moment that for me the meaning of life is all about one thing: Contentment... I am content and happy with my life.

Is it really Possible?

Is is really possible that my baby is READING? I mean really reading!! It seems like he was born yesterday. Now he is in kindergarten. He started kindergarten in AUGUST, he knew most of his alphabet, and now in 18 short weeks, he is reading. Every night we sit and he reads from one of his little beginning reading books. He blends his sounds, and reads the words. He needs help with most of the bigger words, but tonight he read a whole book. He needed help with ONE WORD! ONE!! That's all.
I am so proud of him. He is working really hard to learn everything. He loves learning, and he is soo excited to be reading books.

Still HOT!!

I hate hot weather in December. It's 5:00 AM... and 72 degrees... and the high is 83 degrees.... I hate hot weather in December.that's all.

HEAT WAVE!

Crammit... it's 80 freaking degrees here.. it was 84 at the hottest point of the day.. it's DECEMBER... It is supposed to be COOLER.. maybe a little chilly.. 50's would be good.. .I should not be wearing shorts, and flip flops (and a tee shirt) to the Christmas parade.. It doesn't feel like Christmas... I WANT SOME COLD WEATHER!!!

My Favorite Christmas Memory

My favorite Christmas memory since my son was born, involves this show. Santa Claus is Coming to Town. I Love Christmas shows, and even though Wyatt was only 10 months old, I wanted him to see the shows that I grew up watching every Christmas. Soo this show came on, and I remember sitting on the living room floor with Wyatt. He had been crawling around the room, while I watched the show. He just didn't appear that interested in the show for some reason. Right when Kris was singing the song about "you put one foot in front of the other, and soon you will be walking across the floor" Wyatt had pulled up to the sofa, and then off he went. HE WAS WALKING!! He took 4 good steps before he sat down and laughed. Now I have the dvd of the show, and every time I watch it, it reminds me of my baby and his first steps. Now he is 5, and those first steps seem soo long ago.

MY Tree this year. 7 1/2 foot pre lit, and trimmed in blue/silver and white ornaments. I LOVE my tree. Here are a few of my favorite ornaments. This is one of 5 trees I put up this year, it's the biggest and it sits in my living room.
My "tiara" ornament.
I have several of these angel ornaments on my tree. I love them. I want a few more.
I love the look of the silver wire, beaded ornaments.
My new tree topper.. a silver and white angel.

Traveling Vietnam Wall..

I get a call on my way home from work. My sister is telling me that the "Traveling Vietnam Wall is passing through our town on the way to a town next to ours." Trafic was going to be blocked off for a time, as the truck carrying the Wall, and a MOTORCADE of motorcycles escorted the Wall to the Church that would display it for the Veteran's Day weekend. Sure enough, people were lining the street to wave and salute as It passed by. As I could go no further until the "parade" passed, my sisters and I joined the small crowd. I have seen the Traveling Wall before and it moved me to tears. As I stood on the street waiting for the Truck to pass, I explained to my niece what it was like to see it. All of the names, each representing a fallen hero. The momentos left by survivors, family members, and friends. THere were really no words to describe how it had made me feel.
OVer 3000 motorcycles escorted the Truck to the Church. Some were part of a group of Veterans who often escort the hearse of fallen Soldiers from the current war. It was quite moving to see the big, burly men roar by on their motorcycles. I was most touched by the tears I saw sliding down their cheeks. On the news that night, one of the men said that it made him feel like people really cared, when he sees them standing there, waving, and saluting as he drives by. That statement made me cry all over again.
We didnt' get to go see teh Wall all set up. The weather was rainy. I didn't want to get Wyatt out in the rain. I don't think he would have understood the meaning of it at his age. But the next time it is near here, I will make it a point to take him to see it. If you ever get the chance to see it, I urge you to go. You will leave there with a new perspective.

Halloween 2007

How could I neglect to post my Halloween photos this year? I have been busy. That's my excuse. It's not a good one but it's the only one I have. In the first photo, we have my niece ALex. SHe went as a nerd. SHe wore my old Napleon Dynamite wig (from three years ago). SHe doesn't normally look like that. SHe had the laugh down pat.
Then we have Wyatt. The red Powerranger. I was surprised that he really wore the mask for all of about 15 minutes.



Last, We had a special visitor this year. Hiding among the trees was Michael Myers. TIffany had a good time being MIchael this year. She had the walk, the stiff legged walk, the fake knife.. and she didn't speak at all. SHe just followed people. At first they were wanting thier picture taken with her. Then after the sun went down, people were a little creeped out by her. One woman, came walking by, looked at "Michael", who then began to follow the lady. THe lady would walk a little faster, Mike would walk a little faster, it ended with the lady really RUNNING down the street. We all had a good time laughing at Tiffany.