It's being to look a lot like Christmas....

We got our first snow today! That is right you heard correctly, Nashville has its first snow on December 11!!! I have lived here in Nashville for five years, and have been coming here for eight, and I never remember it snowing before February. So I am feeling in the Christmas spirit now with the pretty snow outside. The boys did not seem really excited about it though, probably because I wouldn't let them go outside and play in it tonight. The only downside to the snow is that they closed school tomorrow, and that means my MOPs group won't meet for our cookie exchange. I wish I had known that it was going to snow so I wouldn't have made 3 dozen cookies, well only 16 of them were edible, but that is another story:) I guess I am not the baker. Matt says I should get our friend that is a great baker to make my cookies next year and she could be my "ghost baker". Not such a bad idea! Well, I hope the snow is still around in the morning so the boys can go play in it. You never know in Nashville if you will see snow again or not. I will post pictures if we get to go out in it.

Christmas Decorating

I have gotten most of my Christmas decorating done except for the most important part, THE TREE! Matt is working on the rental house this whole weekend, so I have to find a time that he can spend helping us put up the tree. I was going to buy a new tree this year since our current one is quite small, but I have decided against it. My MIL has a nice big tree that she is going to give me after this Christmas because it is too much for her to deal with. So if I can just get over not having a great tree this year, hopefully next year we will have a nice one. I still need to put the lights up outside too, I think I might try to do that tomorrow while the boys nap. It is just so darn cold outside I really dread doing it, and since we were at my parents house for almost two weeks, I missed my opportunity to put up the lights while it was still kind of warm outside.

Here are some pitures of the boys helping my mom put up her tree in VA, they really had a good time with it!

Pictures from our trip!

Here are some pictures from our trip to VA. We had a great time, now we are back home and the real Christmas fun begins!

One more day in VA

We have one more day before we fly home from VA. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. We have had a great time here, we went to the local farm and took pictures with all of their cool holiday decorations, and we went to the Air and Space museum that is in Dulles. The boys really had fun at the Imax movie we saw there, although Matthew fell asleep at the end! Matthew must be the soundest sleeper ever, because the walls were shaking the movie was so loud, and he slept right through it! We also took the boys to see Wall-e at this old theater right across from my old college that I used to go to that is really cheap. I was disappointed in the movie though, I am not much for silent films. The boys had fun though, and that is all that matters.

As for the Christmas shopping, I am almost done with all of my side of the family. Which is good, because I don't want to have to mail things back here (shipping is just so darn expensive). I need to buy my Mom a few things tomorrow and I am done! We also bought the boys some stuff online last night and so there only a few things left that I need to go buy when we get home. Now I just have to wrap everything up before our flight leaves on Tuesday. So far I have wrapped three presents, I think I better get a move on if I want to be done anytime soon. Well, I need to go finish some laundry before I hit the bed (some things never change:) )

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, we made it though the Thanksgiving feast! My mom and I spent all morning cooking it up, and we just finished cleaning up about 30 minutes ago! With the too of us together we can really make a mess in the kitchen! The day went pretty well though, and we took the boys to the miracle of lights after we all too a well deserved nap. They loved seeing the lights, and listing to Christmas music. We also went and got McDonald's milk shakes, so good! So now I need to go hit the hay so I can get up to do some black Friday shopping in the morning. I think I am going to hit Kohl's, Old Navy, Target and Justice, before my 3:00pm hair appt. I hope I can find some good deals!

We're Here!

We finally got to my parents house Saturday night Late. The boys were so tired, but were ready to go when we walked in the door! We haven't done much so far, just hanging out at the house. The girl that lives next door has come over every day to play with the boys though, and they love that! I guess tomorrow I am going to be off to the mall to find the boys a Christmas sweater. I need to take their pictures some where for our Christmas cards. Hopefully I will have some luck tomorrow. Well, I hope to have some pictures soon.

The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving show is getting ready to come on and my mom is about done giving the boys their bath ( having a Mom that is so helpful is really nice) so I will post some more about our trip soon.

By the way.....

Brianne, I am not sure if you are reading my blog, but if you are call my parents house this weekend so we can figure out a time to see you! Well, that is if you survive your in laws :)

Getting Ready

We leave tomorrow for NOVA, this week feels like it lasted forever! I am ready to get on that airplane tomorrow. So far I have gotten the boys and I packed about 75 % of the way. Now I just need to finish packing and clean my house. The boys and I are going to go to lunch at Mc Donald's to get some energy out so they will take a nap. Hopefully I can get the floors mopped and the bathrooms cleaned while they are sleeping. My sweet husband decided to call his Dad and invite him over tonight, not sure if you understands we are leaving tomorrow for NINE days! Well, I need to get my boys dressed and loaded in the car. I will post pictures of the boys in VA soon!

Busy Week

This week is going to be a very busy one for us. I am trying to get ready to leave on Saturday for my Northern Va. Meanwhile we are still getting our rental house ready to be rented again. I want to get as much done on the other house on Tuesday and Thursday while the boys are at school. This plan leaves me getting our own house cleaned during the days the boys are home, which is not a small feat! I need to start packing our bags and making lists for who I am going to buy Christmas presents for once I get to VA. I can't believe it is time to start Christmas shopping again! So far I have only bought the boys a few things, and I need to get a move on before there is nothing left! Last year I got all of our Christmas shopping done the day after Thanksgiving, I don't think I can do that this year, but I am hoping to bring an extra empty suitcase to my parents so I can buy some stuff and bring it back. I need to get the boys Christmas pictures done too. I am at the point now where there is just not enough time to do all the things I want and need to do. I hate to feel overwhelmed, but the Holidays, at least at my house, are very busy. Well, I need to get my boys ready for bed and dinner in the oven. Tomorrow, I think I will make a list of all the stuff I need to do before I leave and hopefully that will help.

My Favorite Holiday

Most people have a favorite holiday, my boys love Christmas (as most children do), my husband's favorite is New Years (which I find quite bizarre) and mine of course is Thanksgiving. I am not sure when I made the decision that Thanksgiving was my favorite Holiday, it is just one of those things that happens and you don't even remember when. I do, however, remember why I like it so, and it isn't just the usual, you don't have to buy presents remark. I remember growing up having Thanksgiving at my Nana's house. Nana hated to cook, but she would be busy stirring butter beans and making mashed potatoes. Both of my Aunts would be there, My aunt Nancy would be dressed up and upset about something not being right. My aunt Teresa would be talking to my mom about family stuff and who was doing what. I would be playing in the house with my cousin and best friend Meaghan waiting patiently for our dinner. There was about 20 people in their small house, some of us were young and some old but we were all family. The real fun was the day after Thanksgiving, when my mom, Nancy, and Teresa would get up at 5:30am to go Black Friday shopping! Nancy would always bring everyone a sausage biscuit from Arby's, we would eat and off to the mall we would go. I really love the memories of Thanksgiving with my family, and even though, we have all gone off and had families of our own and don't have that special holiday together anymore I still want to try hard to give the same since of family and tradition that I loved so much to my boys. May we all be thankful for our families this Thanksgiving.

Sick

So I don't think it was the flu mist after all (that got Matthew sick), it seems it was all a coincidence. The good part is that Matt and I got a ton done on the rental house and it is probably about 60% done depending on if we decide all the trim needs to be painted or not. The bad part is that Jack, Matthew and myself are all sick now. I woke up this morning with a horrible stuffy nose and headache. The boys both have a bad cough and runny nose. So I am really hoping we can get better by Thursday so at least I will have that day to work on the other house while the boys are at school, I guess we will see.

Flu mist and Rental property woes

I was a firm believer before this week, that the flu shot and the flu mist could NOT get you sick, NOT anymore! I took the boys to the Dr. on Wednesday to get the flu mist and to get myself a flu shot because I had a free day during this crazy busy month. Well, about five hours after getting the shot I started having horrible aches in my legs, I felt horrible. I went to sleep and felt fine this morning so I thought all was well. Then Matthew starts having a runny nose, which they told me could be a side effect of the mist, by the time I get Matthew home from school and he is playing I look at his face and decide he looks a little red. I get the thermometer and he has a 102.3 fever! Mean while we have an empty rental property that needs to be painted, and I am supposed to meet the Nashville gas guy and someone else over their tomorrow at 8:00am. So this is not looking well, but then I think oh I am sure these side effects won't last long and we will still be able to have my MIL watch the boys this weekend. The phone rings. It is my MIL saying she is sick and won't be able to watch the boys until Saturday morning at the earliest! This day has gone from bad to worse in a hurry! So now I really do think Matthew is fine since he says he feels fine and his fever has gone down with the help of Motrin. I just hope we can get some work done on this house or the double mortgage payments will be coming.

GO VOTE!

This is going to be a historical election no matter who is elected, and every vote counts! So many people have fought and died for our freedom and Democracy, including my Nephew who is fighting for us right now! So be apart of this election and Go Vote!

Trick or Treat!

The boys had a great Halloween this year. Matthew decided he wanted to be a monkey and Jack wanted to be Spiderman. This was the first year they were not the same thing for Halloween, and of course I was a little sad but this just shows the difference in personality that these two boys have! So they had their Halloween party at school on Thursday, and got to go trick or treating in the school, which they had a blast doing. Then on Halloween, we went to our friend Melinda's house for few minutes so she could see their costumes, and then on to the real deal. They had so much fun ringing doorbells, and and saying trick or treat. It did make me a little sad to think they won't be little much longer, and need us to hold their hands going up the stairs to people's houses. Once we did our whole street we went home and they dug in to their candy immediately! I guess we are going to be on a sugar high for a while now!

Matt's Birthday

Today was Matt's birthday, and we had some of our friends and his Mom and Sister over to celebrate. It really turned out nice, I think everybody including the birthday boy, had a good time. The boys really enjoyed playing with their cousin Sam, and I had fun watching them! This Month is crazy with birthdays, in fact every weekend until the end of the month, we have a birthday party to go to! That is just crazy, I had no idea we had so many birthdays in October. Sam's 2nd birthday is next weekend, and that should be a lot of fun, since they have a lot of land and they are doing a motorcycle theme (the boys are going to love that). Well, the one thing I can say about have a party at your house, is that it really makes you clean! Usually my house is a complete mess after a party, especially one like this that has six boys under 5 years old running around, but this time everything but my bonus room is really clean! So I am happy about that, and the fact that maybe I can do some birthday shopping this week instead of cleaning house on the boys school days. Well, I am off to go spend a few more minutes with the birthday boy before bed.

First Day of School!

So I am a little late with the first day of school pictures. Actually this Tuesday will be the third day of school. Anyway I couldn't wait to post these pictures because the boys look so cute:)

So far the boys really like going to school. One of their little friends is in their class and that helps a bunch. Matthew actually told me last Thursday, that he had so much fun at school. That really made me feel good, because I now I know that they are having a good time and I am getting some stuff done in the process! Now my only problem is that I have so much stuff I want to get done in my two days that I can't figure out what to do first!

Back from Vacation

We are back from Panama City Beach, just in time to miss the next Hurricane! Luckily we just caught the tail end of Fay and most of our week was full of great weather and no crowds!! I have to say this years vacation was so much better than last year. The boys enjoyed the pool and the beach more. They also did much better at the restaurants and so we took them out with us and the grandmas almost evey night. It was a lot of fun having both of our moms there with us, it took some of the pressure off of me to take care of the boys the whole time, and we just had a lot of fun hanging out together. We had such a great time I can't wait to go back next year!

Mommy Time

So today is the start of the Olympics one of my favorite things to watch on TV ( besides CNN of course). I have said since the boys were born that I wanted one of them to go to the Olympics and when a gold medal and say I did it for you Mom!! So I started thinking about how I have so many hopes and dreams for my boys, but not much in the way of dreams for myself. Everyday revolves around what I am going to do for the boys and there is no time for what I want to do for myself. I guess I have been in the mindset that being this way makes me a better mother a selfless person who gives her all to her family. I had a breakthrough this morning reading a book I got in the mail from MOPs called the Mommy Diaries. I do need time for myself, and I need to have goals and interests outside of family. This does not make a selfish Mom but a Mom that is happy and fulfilled in all areas of life! So if by chance one or both of my boys wins a gold medal in the Olympics I hope they say "I did for myself"!

It has been awhile!

Wow, I can't believe I haven't blogged since May! Well, we have been busy around here. The boys are working on the potty still, but are coming along :) I guess I have the oldest kids around still in pull ups!!! Anyway, we finally booked our vacation, which I am excited about, we are going to Panama City Beach at the end of the month. This weekend has been nice, we went to the Discovery Center this weekend on a free family pass. Matt and I had a good time seeing the boys so excited over everything. Today we went to the mall, and out to eat. The boys are getting so much better about going out to eat here lately, I really hope it doesn't end while we are on vacation!! Also the boys will be starting school once we get back from FL so I need to get their lunchboxes bought, and their nap mats. I can't believe they are starting school so soon, but I am hoping to get some stuff done around the house those two days, and start my e-bay business up again. There seems to be so much I want to do right now but I am kinda on hold until we get though August. Well, I need to go get my CNN fix before bed!

Visiting VA

We are still visting my Mom and Dad and Northern Virginia, and the boys are having a blast. So far we have been playing outside a lot, gone to my brothers house in Richmond, visited a park that has a train that you can ride around on, and gone to the movies to see Horton sees a Who. Needless to say, the boys are really tired. Today they have been cranky, they just need some sleep I supose. It stays light outside until after 9 O'clock here, back home I thought it was getting dark around 8 or so. So I have had some difficulty getting them to go to sleep at night. Hopefully they will take a good nap today and sleep well tonight, because tomorrow we are going to the National Zoo in DC. I have never been so I am excited too! I will post pictures from the zoo later this week!