Late Christmas Wishes and Catching up!

Posting this hoping that each and every one of you enjoyed your holidays and hope that you were blessed with good food, good family and lots of happiness.

Things have been "hootie-wild" around here since I got here a little over a week ago. It was a constant "on-the-go" feeling until it all wound down on Christmas Eve. (For us, Christmas Day is a day of reflection, relaxation and eating until we're sick!)

(Pic above: my cousin Jen, My 'famous' uncle Bubbo and I don't know who that other girl is..LOL!)

I so enjoyed being here for the holiday. Of course, in our annual family tradition, our 'gathering' Christmas Eve at my grandparents was such a blessing. Grandma, I could tell, was a little confused as to why all these people were in her house (she suffers from Alzheimer's), but most of the time she was cognizant and aware. Grandpa was king of the castle surveying from the comfort of his easy chair. It was so good to catch up with everyone and my favorite moment this year was gathering around the kitchen table (all of us grand kids, significant others and some of the aunts and uncles) and reliving all the crazy things we did and said as young kids. The room was filled with roaring laughter (because, let's face it me and my cousins did some pretty funny things!). It brought back great memories and it seemed as if the time has passed wayyyy to quickly.

(Above pic is all grandma & grandpa's great-grandkids!)

Of course, the girls (Morgan and my niece, Hannah) got way more than they ever needed. In fact, Hannah loved the box that my Dad's gift came in! Both agreed it was "the Best Christmas ever!" And, given the great family that I have and the laughs we enjoyed....I have to agree.

May you all be blessed in the upcoming new year!

From the Hills of West Virginia...

We made it! Although that is the L-O-N-G-E-S-T trip ever I think. It isn't that the trip itself is difficult, you basically get on the interstate and stay on the same interstate the whole 7 1/2 hours. It's just that you see corn, corn, corn, soybean, soybean, more corn, then some small hills, then they get bigger and then you're here! Not the most exciting things to see (well, except for the old ramshackled barns and farm houses that I'm just itching to stop and capture in black & white photos.) But, if I did that I'd never get here, because there are plenty along the way. Something else that always draws my attention, at least in the spring and summer months, are these huge brilliant green fields and there will be a lone tree stuck right in the middle. All by itself, and you can tell that the tree has been there nearly forever, just strikes me as interesting. Guess that says a lot about me! LOL.

Well, we've hit the Christmas Season running since I got here. The first night (Friday) was just for visiting with Mom and Dad, catching up and eating my very favoritest meal...pinto beans, cornbread and kale with vinegar! YUMMMMMM. I ate wayyy too much and it was sooo good. Mom and I stayed up until 4:30 in the morning just talking, just like we used to. THAT's what the holidays are supposed to be about, right?

Saturday morning, Morgan went to a Christmas breakfast with her dad and mom and I went to what we affectionately know as "The Junk Store". Think a giant yard sale where you can find ANYTHING! Boy, oh boy did I score with stuff....scrapbook stuff! I did a little happy Snoopy dance right there in the shop. I got ribbon for 50-cents a ROLL, Tim Holtz alcohol inks that retail for 6-9 dollars I got three bottles for a dollar, chipboard books for 25 cents, flowers and brads, old metal hinges, press-board plaques to cover with paper...oh goodness, look at my stash (for under $15 total!):

Last night, my neice Hannah had to come over and have a sleep over with Morgan and "A". She's never called me Amy, Aunt, anything but just "A". We made a gingerbread house, watched Strawberry Shortcake, sang songs and finally all went to sleep about 11:30pm. It was a barrel of fun!

I'll keep you posted on the rest of the activities of this week!

P.S. I miss my hubby :(

*sniffle, sniffle, cough, cough*

URGHH! I hate being sick! Bob started off with a sniffle a couple days ago and it hit me Sunday night. I, on the other hand, have a nasty chest cold and one heck of a raspy voice, along with a lovely fever, aches and chills. Again, I say...I really dispise being sick.

On a happier note, only 2 days until we go home for the holidays! (YIPEE!) I'm so excited. My mom and I do "mega-shopping" when I go home. In other words, we're great procrastinators and we wait until the last minute before we run around like crazy for a few days! *grins* It's a great time.

I have been creating though. In my family, we have a tradition of getting a "special ornament" every year to hang on the tree. My mom started it with me and my brother when I was around 8 or 9 and we still do it today. I got the idea to create a mini-book documenting some of these ornaments and their history. (I'm not done only half way, but I'm posting pictures none the less.) Hope everyone is having a happy holiday season thus far.

*locking down the shutters* preparing for a vicious ICE STORM!

Everything's too quiet tonight (Mo's having a great time at a friend's birthday sleepover, and hubby has been up since wayyyy too early) so all that's left up is me and the pets. The Christmas tree is glowing and I'm watching the "Weather Channel"! LOL! Seems we're gearing up to a vicious ICE storm for tomorrow night through Monday afternoon. Hubby brought in some extra firewood tonight and I made that important trip to the grocery today for staples...pretzels and salad fixins (for me!) and some yummy treats for the family that aren't concerned that the hind view is growing! LOL!

Funny, it seems sooo quiet in the house when Mogley isn't here, even though she'd be sound asleep by now. It's still wierd with her not being here, (even though I made her take my cell phone and call me before they settled down for the night! LOL!, I'm sure she was embarrassed to have to call "momma" but, she just has to do it for my frame of mind!)

It's only six days until me and Mo leave for WV and home. I'm so excited, but then again, I feel badly that hubby won't be joining us this year for the family festivities. I understand though that he won't get off work before 4pm on the 24th and has to be at work at 6am on the 26th. Not exactly time enough to drive 8 hours to WV one way! Still makes me sad that he won't be there with us for the "family Christmas festivities".

I've been absent lately from blogging, but we've been totally re-vamping the store and I've been working a lot more lately to get it done in time for holiday shopping. Needless to say, I've been falling into bed earlier this past week, but the store looks wonderful. I did take some time to take pictures of my Christmas decorations and our special ornaments. We have a tradition every year that we get a "special ornament" to hang on the tree. My mom still does it with me and my brother and has expanded it to include Hannah-Bug and Morgan. We still do it too...Morgan always gets a special ornament and new pajamas on Christmas Eve....although this year she's asked for an old-fashioned gown and bonnet....all white linen and lace...so I'm on the search to find the perfect outfit! (Truth be known, I can only imagine the pics of her on Christmas Eve, black and white in that white/lace gown and bonnet, now I HAVE to find it!) :)

Such a cute 'lil Oscar the Grouch!

I couldn't resist capturing my cute lil Oscar the Grouch sleeping under the Christmas tree tonight! He's such a little he**-cat most of the time, it makes me smile to see him so cute and adorable! (Although, he'll 'headbutt' me about four o'clock in the morning demanding his breakfast....and I'll send him over toward hubby...LOL!)

Without going into much details, today has been a rough day! Just a lot of stress that was unexpected, and needless to day I'm happy to be in my PJ's sitting in front of the Christmas tree and watching "The Guardian" (which is a fabu Nicholas Sparks book...). Gives me an excuse to blow off steam whilst watching a Kleenex-worthy movie! *sigh* In the words of my favorite Scarlet O'Hara...."Tomorrow is another day"!

Family Movie Night

It's really important to me that my family (me, Bob and Morgan) have 'traditions'. One tradition that we have is "Family Movie Night". Every Saturday night (other than the Saturday nights that Morgan is having a sleepover) we have "Family Movie Night". The three of us, with other members of our family...Like pets, Zack, Fred, Ethel and Oscar....will sit down with popcorn from a retro hot oil popper and enjoy a 'family-friendly' movie. Recently, we've been enjoying 80's movies (aka Karate Kid, ET, Indiana Jones, etc.). Morgan loves the fact that Momma and Daddy Bob watched these "way back when". We have a ball sitting around the living room laughing, and eating popcorn. To me, these traditions are MANDATORY!

I'm interested to see what kind of traditions your family has, so SHARE! LOL!

The Spirit of Christmas...(in my family)

Thanks to my good blog buddy, V
, I'm reminded of some of reasons that Christmas is so very special to me...

All the festivites in my family happen on Christmas Eve. Every year (for as long as I can remember...30+ years and counting) everyone in my family gather at my Grandma & Grampa's house, which can be between 35-40 people respectively. That sounds cozy, doesn't it? Ooh, it's wayyyy cozy. Mamaw & Papaw live in a two-bedroom modest home and it's always 500 degrees too hot, it's loud, you stumble over everyone...and it's FANTASTIC! There have been years when the snow has been flying and we've thrown open the doors to cool off. The kids are squealing/running/crying/whining....bless their little hearts! Usually, the women all gather around the kitchen & dining room (where all the food is...we aren't dumb...LOL!). The men "congregate" in the living room where Papaw is relaxing in his chair.

We, like most families, have our traditions, and even though some of those have changed recently, I still savor the memories of them...

1. My Papaw used to always read the "Christmas" story from the Bible while all of us gathered around him in the living room. Papaw is getting a little feeble in the last several years, so he hasn't been able to do it...but it's one of my favorite memories.

2. You can bet that somebody will "goose" my Uncle, affectionately known as Bubbo, just to see him jump and yelp. (Yes, we are evil people, but it's soo funny when he jumps and yelps 'ooohhhh' hee-hee!)

3. Above mentioned Uncle will make good use of a wooden chair...and the result of deviled eggs, just to clear the room! (My mother will be mortified that I stated this, but again...it's tradition!)

4. You will hear "Can we open presents now?" four million times from the youngsters (and the funny thing is...I used to be that youngster, now it's my daughter that says it.)

5. It's the 'job' of the oldest grandchildren, now great grandchildren to pass out the presents...and guaranteed that somebody's present is going to get buried under all the wrapping paper!

6. You can bet that Mamaw's kitchen and all the dishes will be done before anybody leaves...that's how my aunts 'relax' by cleaning up the kitchen!

7. I love the gifts that we exchange...homemade jellies, breads, candies...handmade Christmas ornaments. Those personal things that were handmade with love by my family...wonderful gifts!

8. The scents...the sounds of my family around me. I cherish each and every year that we've been blessed to have everyone still here (on this Earth).

Decorating for the Holidays

I can't seem to get into decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving has past. But after the Thanksgiving dinner has come and gone, I get into Christmas mode. Today, I spent most of the day cleaning the downstairs and preparing to decorate. Morgan and I decorated the tree tonight and it's beautiful. (BB doesn't particularly like Christmas, so I know better than to ask him to help decorate...LOL!) My tree decorations have so much history and tradition. I'm not one of those who have a theme to my tree, per say. I have ornaments that span my childhood up until the present. (The oldest ornament I believe is a ceramic angel that I painted in 1981).

Everytime I decorate the tree, I'm reminded of different times and places growing up, just by the different ornaments that are placed on the tree. I am by no means done, of course I haven't decorated the outside of our house while we've been experiencing high 50 degree weather....no, I'm waiting till this week where snow and sleet are expected all week! LOL!

Hope each of you are enjoying the blessings of being surrounded this week by family and friends and recalling each and every thing you are grateful and thankful for!

*waddles up to the computer to post*

Ahhhh....the feeling of being pleasantly stuffed almost to the point of being ill...it must be Thanksgiving! :) Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who may read this! Hopefully, you feel as blessed and grateful as I do on this day.

I spoke to Mom (of course) today and got to talk to my neice and my brother (my Little "Big" Brother...he's four years younger than me but towers over me!) Affectionately named "G" to me. He and I don't get to talk much, usually on the holidays, and that's something I wish weren't so. Life gets away from us, and even though he's on my mind a lot...we just aren't as close as I wish we were. He's a top-notch guy and a great dad and husband, I've missed him a lot lately.

I really missed being home and helping Mom cook Thanksgiving
dinner. I called right before they ate dinner and I got to talk to Hannah. That sweet little voice asking me "Hey, A...are you coming over for Thanksgiving?" and telling me she loved me...brought a tear to my eye. I hate that I'm not close enough to see her except for a few times a year. I love that little munchkin.

Other than missing home, my Thanksgiving was wonderful! My sweet BB cooked the whole meal for us. The food was wonderful and the chocolate-pecan pie....mmmm, so good! I'm grateful and blessed to have such a great husband. He spoils me beyond anything I could ever could imagine...and I've never been used to that. He's truly my soulmate...I don't even want to imagine life without him right next to me.

My sweet daughter is such a blessing. She ate with gusto and tried the green bean casserole and stuffing and loved them! She's growing up on me and I hate it, but I am so grateful to see what a beautiful, kind and caring young lady she's becoming. I'm so blessed to be a mom and have a great kid!

We started a new tradition this evening. We always have "Family Movie Night" on Saturday night, but since it's a holiday we incorporated a "Holiday Movie Night" on Thanksgiving evening. Tonight, we watched "Home Alone" (which is a favorite). Morgan loved it and we all giggled and laughed even though Bob and I have seen it many times. We then followed it up with "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation". (Another favorite of mine, but I don't remember it having as much 'language' in it as it did, so I did a lot of covering of ears!) We were in pajamas at 6pm and sat around watching Christmas movies and having seconds....that's what holidays are all about right?

May each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Visions of Chocolate Pecan Pie....yum!

Lordy, my house smells delicious. My dear Bobby Bear Cat has a chocolate pecan pie baking for tomorrow's Thanksgiving dinner (chocolate + pecans = I can die a happy woman!)...I'm including the recipe at the end :) . I'm so glad I married a man that loves to cook...I CAN cook, but God love him that man is a talented chef and he truly enjoys it. *sigh* (cue the warm happy fuzzy feelings!) I'll be happy if I just have to mash the 'taters tomorrow! Although, I have told hubby that I am available to be "taste tester" as long as he don't mind me tasting in my 'jammies! (I don't plan on putting on 'real' clothes until right before dinner 'cause I know somebody's gonna be snapping pictures!)

Work was "hootie wild" tonight...guess everyone is gearing up to shop til they drop on Black Friday. (I used to be one of the ones that were waiting at the stores at 4am and wasn't above pushing a TV and DVD player across the floor at Wallie-World because they didn't have any more shopping carts available!) Now, heaven help me...I work in retail! *GASPS* and *SCREAMMMMS*

*****The following passage has to deal with politics and is MY opinion of it to date, please respect my ability to express freedom of expression and freedom of speech, if you don't agree...let's agree to disagree and respect different opinions.**********

Hubby and I caught the Barbara Walters special with President-Elect and Michelle Obama. I have to say that I FEEL hope when I watch him respond. He seems to have the HUMAN element that I think we've been missing in the White House. I laughed, I agreed and some of it made me a little teary-eyed. I pray that the things he said and the promises he made come to fruition. I am EXCITED about Obama's Presidency and hope it changes the dismal economic and troubled outlook that a lot of Americans have.

I LOVED the fact that he and his wife voiced that their children were going to be responsible for chores and making their beds when they change addresses. To paraphrase, they said "they do it now why wouldn't they when we move!" LOL!

*******End Political schpeel*******

I hope that everyone has a wonderful, family-filled Thanksgiving full of laughter, blessings and wonderful times.

Chocolate Pecan Pie

3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup Light Karo Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup Semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 Tbsp Margarine, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cup pecans, WHOLE
9 inch deep dish frozen pie crust

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt chocolate chips. In a large mixing bowl, stir eggs, Karo syrup, sugar, melted chocolate, margarine and vanilla untill well blended. Stir in pecans. Pour into the STILL FROZEN pie crust. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until knife is inserted between the center and edge of the pie and comes out clean.

Calories per serving: ZERO! (It's the holiday season! LOL!) Enjoy!