Well, it's Tuesday and I actually have a contribution this week for Two Thumbs Up Tuesday. I actually took these pictures a couple of months ago to use on a Tuesday and am just now getting around to it! My two thumbs up is the . . .Bacon and Jelly sandwich! Hey-don't say ick and turn your nose up until you've tried it.

A little history: My mom, Becky, and her two sisters, Cathy and Jacque, enjoyed bacon and jelly sandwiches growing up. Their grandmother, Gramma Nichols to me, was the one who introduced this delicacy to them. In turn, my mother and aunts made them for their children growing up and a number of us still eat them today. My cousin Carrie and I would have them at least once a week while we lived together in college. Now, some of us enjoy them toasted while others (me included) prefer plain old white bread. Also, the flavor of jelly is up to personal taste, mine is grape. I believe my mother prefers strawberry.

I know this sounds gross but I promise if you try it you will like it especially if you are like me and like the sweet/salty thing i.e. chocolate-covered pretzels. And just for verification I would appreciate it if a number of my family members commented on this post to back me up on this fine choice of a meal!

Warning!

First of all let me apologize for the lack of attention to my blog the last month. I will not bore you with my litany of excuses but I assure you they are numerous and all true. Of course, the first one would be "I have three kids 5 and under." Now on to the point of the post.

I am also participating in "Project 365" with my friends, the Heidis (if it's ok with them I'm just going to start referring to them like that because it is shorter than typing Heidi and Heidi.) The following picture will be a photo of the day no doubt! But before I post for public consumption I must include the following disclaimer.

Warning: The following image may not be suitable for younger viewers. They may find it disturbing and scary and it could possibly give them nightmares. The original intent of the photo was not to be scary but rather a cute and funny picture of my son with his cookies. Somewhere between the click of my finger and the image appearing on my screen it morphed into the following image. We now have visible, photographic proof that the monster lives. . . the (Oreo) cookie monster that is. Beware!

Year in Review-2008

Oh what a year it has been! Although, I could probably say that for every year because they're all great in their own special way. A few highlights and then a few pictures.

The Serious Stuff:

• Seeing my three kids grow and laugh and learn everyday.

• Deepening my friendship with a group of women (the NOGGS!) who aren't exactly like me but certainly get me.
• Continuing to be able to enjoy a large family (both sides) who always know how to laugh and love!
• Working on my relationship with God, it's not always smooth or easy but He's always there, isn't He?
• Continuing to learn to love my husband better each day and strengthening our marriage.
  

The Not-so-serious Stuff:

• Hamburger Mary's
• Our first night at Disney World over Spring Break (that's funny now, not so much while it was happening)
• Rylee finally learning to say mommy after Daddy, kitty, baby, Grandma, and Grandad!
• Brady finally learning to use markers and crayons in the way God intended instead of on himself and our coffee table.
• Peyton learning to improvise on Show-n-Tell day at school when Mommy dropped the ball. (For those of you who haven't heard this one, he used the baggie of cereal in his backpack for show-n-tell and gave a rather detailed dissertation on the subject of cereal and breakfast-you can see it at the First Baptist Preschool site)
  

Now a few pictures, ok maybe more than a few, but it is a whole 12 months!

January-Snow and Sledding in Indiana

February-Brady turns 2 and Peyton starts T-ball!

March-Beth Moore!

April-Disney World with 3 Kids and Jon is Teacher of the Year!

May-Memorial Weekend at the Beach

June-Summertime!

July-Rylee turns 1

August-School Starts

September-6 years of Marriage (Really, I just included this photo because 6 years and 3 kids ago I was sooo much skinnier)

October-Super Heroes

November-Peyton turns 5

December-Christmas Memories Made

Goals for 2009-Get a decent picture of my three children together; as you can see, that is easier said than done!

Me and My Piggies!!!

Finally, I achieved a picture of Rylee with her hair in pigtails. Usually they last all of about 30 seconds before she tears them out. So, with a little help from Daddy and Elmo I got them in on Christmas Day and she actually kept them in for an hour or so. I guess it was Rylee's Christmas present to Mommy (and Grandma, who has also tried several times to get the piggies in) .

Just Like the Post Office

Just like the post office, not rain, nor sleet, nor snow could keep us from seeing Santa yesterday. And I'm pretty sure we saw a little of all three yesterday. The weather was horrendous, but because Jon and I are not believers in the "get it done early" theory of living, we were running out of time to take our kids to see the big guy in the red suit. So we head to Mall #1 where when we arrived Santa was on a break. So, we entertained ourselves for the better part of an hour. Jon, Nick and the boys in the arcade; Rylee and I strolling around Target because they have carts where said "Princess Rylee" could be strapped in securely. Then after a 45 minute wait we ventured over to the place Santa was to arrive and low and behold, Santa wasn't coming. . .because of the weather! At this point we were prepared to give up the quest but we really didn't want to attempt this again tomorrow on Christmas Eve (besides I'd dressed the kids in their adorable red and green outfits). Thankfully, Nana came through and knew of a Santa at a different mall in downtown Bloomington. And was it ever a blessing! Other than slipping and slidding on the street to get in; this Santa was friendly, the photographer was friendly, the "elves" were friendly and no lines!!! It was a very pleasant and enjoyable experience. Rylee didn't cry but was happier observing Santa from afar as you can see from the picture. Brady liked him ok, talked to him, but was not about to sit on his lap (as you can see).

A Christmas Survey

I read this on the Living Proof Ministries Blog and thought it may be fun a few days before Christmas. And since it's Tuesday and I don't have anything better to offer; this is my Two-Thumbs Up Tuesday Tip. . .FUN, for absolutely no good reason! (Copy and paste on your own blog and add your own answers!)

1. Fresh Tree or Fake Tree
Fake-This was mine and the hubby's first major fight of our marriage. Fake or Fresh (I wanted fresh), Colored or White lights (I wanted white) So, after three days of barely speaking we compromised, white lights on a fake tree, and we've never gone back.

2. Favorite Ornament
This cute little snowman ornament Peyton was fascinated with his second Christmas (he had just turned one).

3. Favorite Christmas Song
O Holy Night by any decent singer

4. Favorite Tradition
Opening one gift on Christmas Eve at my grandma's house, which I've altered for my own kids. We open one gift on Christmas Eve, too, except it's always their Christmas pajamas (Thanks to my SIL, Stacy for that great idea).

5. Favorite Gift Ever Received
Two Christmases ago my wonderful husband surprised me with a laptop. I had been wanting one really, really bad and he came through. I didn't think I would get one that Christmas because we had just found out Rylee Jane was on the way (our third in three 1/2 years) and I didn't think our budget could handle it. But, Jon had ordered it about a week before we found out about RJ and there was the laptop Christmas Morning waiting for me next to the coffeemaker.

6. Favorite Christmas Meal
The usual, followed by my Aunt Jacque's scotcheroos (although, really, these are a staple at any family gathering, not just Christmas)

7. Favorite Christmas Cookie
My mother-in-law, Suzy's Christmas Tree cookies.

8. Favorite Place To Be
Wherever my family is, Florida or Indiana, we always have a great Christmas because we have great families in both places.

9. Favorite Memory
I have two (other than watching my own children on Christmas, of course). First-On Christmas afternoon we would always head over to my Aunt Jacque's house with all our loot to hang out with her family and my Aunt Cathy's family and just enjoy each other and all our new stuff! My childhood memories mostly center around mine and my two aunt's families. We spent so many good times together-loving, laughing (and a little fighting) but mostly laughing!

Second-For many years of my childhood my greatest ambition was to be a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader and one Christmas my parents . . .uh, I mean Santa. . .brought me a Dallas Cowboy jacket (the shiny 1980s kind). I was in tacky, cheerleader heaven.

10. Favorite Christmas Movie (and Book!)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: If you've never read this book or seen the movie, I highly recommend it! I just finished it with my students and even as 6th graders they enjoyed it immensely.

Alright, as I said before, FUN for no good reason!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Addendum: Yes, I know my oldest child is 5 now. I think the cold has affected my brain or maybe, I'm still holding on to my 4 year old baby rather than my 5 year old big boy. And by the way, it is now O degrees here in Indiana.

Well, we have arrived safely in Indiana and it is C-O-L-D! While Jon and I were shopping this afternoon it reached a high of 12 degrees, that's right all you Floridians, I said 12 degrees.
The trip up was fun, it was real, but it definitely wasn't real fun. This picture pretty much sums up the first couple of hours in Georgia after everyone awoke. Peyton first and then Brady, but at least the 4 year old held it until I could get him a bag; the 2 year old -not so much. And to make it even more fun we had to stop in the exact spot where I am certain Deliverance was filmed in Georgia. The clerk in the convenience store told Jon he had a pretty mouth.
After that the trip improved drastically and we arrived safely, which is , of course, the most important thing after all.