Bye Thanksgiving, Hello Christmas

The Thanksgiving holiday is officially over. I'm back on the couch and contemplating exactly how much I'm gonna decorate for Christmas this year. Usually, I'm really excited about decorating but this year I just feel kind of blah about it - not Christmas! just decorating. I think I've kind of decided to just do the outside this year. Of course, decorating the outside consists of putting a wreath on the door, a mat at the door and a decoration on the mailbox. Who knows, I might get crazy and put my tree up...

Hubby left to go back to Atlanta this afternoon. Only 3 more weeks of this thank goodness. We went to church this morning and then to lunch with T, K, C, O and baby K. We had Chinese AND I followed the RULES and got chicken & brocolli with brown steamed rice. It was pretty good but let's face it, you can't get much better than sesame chicken (or basically anything fried.) I had baby K in the nursery today and I think she gets cuter every week.

J2 and I went running this afternoon. I ran a mile and a half straight today. I'm really excited about that but somehow I've got to get up to 3 miles by the time I do the Jingle Bell 5K Saturday morning. Although J2 is a pro now, this is my first run. I REALLY hope I can do it.

It's really rainy right now and they're saying possible snow drizzle. I wonder if it could drizzle enough where we don't have to go to work!

Love me some Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day has wound down for me. It has been a great two days. Mom and I got to Granddaddy's house around 9:15 yesterday morning and headed to Wal-Mart to get those last few items. (I know you probably won't believe it, but a few other people in Clanton had the same idea.) Then, Granddaddy treated Mom and me to lunch at - none other than Arby's.

Granddaddy LOVES Arby's and while we ate he recounted his many visits there. Now, Granddaddy is a man of few words so it was a treat to hear his memories of the first time he had Arby's (which he didn't like because he didn't know about the Arby's sauce.) Then he remembers the 2nd time when he used the sauce and it has been LOVE, LOVE, LOVE ever since.

We got back to his house around 12, got everything unloaded and I promptly got in the bed to take a nap. I laid down at 12:30 and woke up around 3:20. I KNOW! Apparently, I slept through all of Mom's dinner preparations and the smoke alarm going off 3 times. Just so you know, Mom didn't burn anything up. The smoke alarm just does that. (It started going off today and Granddaddy just sat there. I thought maybe he just didn't hear it so I went over and said something about it. His response - "It will stop in a little bit.")

It was nice getting caught up on all the family gossip. C & H are back together. C is my cousin. He and H broke up a few months ago but apparently the LOVE has brought them back together again. Teenage love....

I loved being with my family and I'm so thankful for them. I totally realize I'm a blessed, blessed girl.

YIPPEEE

OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! I just got an email from Big Mama !!! She is my blog hero and SHE EMAILED ME!!!! I can't believe it. Can you tell I'm excited??? I'm pasting it below because it's so special (and so you'll believe me.)


From:
"Big Mama"
To:
"sharpej@ny-yankees.net"
Subject:
Re: [Big Mama] Comment: "Doodle O'Malley"
Hey Jill- I just wanted to say thanks for the sweet comment and welcome! Love, Melanie

Did you see that? She said "thanks for the sweet comment" and she welcomed me ya'll! And she signed it "Love". See, I knew this day was going to turn out special since the Lord wanted me to get started on it so early!

This day better be good

Yes, it really is 4:30 AM. I've been up since about 2:15. I couldn't sleep so I decided to get my rumpus out of bed and do my Bible Study. I'm going to assume that this day is going to be so SUPER good that God wanted me to get it started at the CRACK of dawn! OK, even before the crack.

So... I've done my Bible Study, straightened the kitchen, done some laundry, read some of my book and am going to leave in about 20 minutes to meet J2 at the track to run. After work, mom and I are meeting a couple of girls at Sips N Strokes to paint a Santa picture. THEN! I have to meet Gym Trainer. Oh my stars, it will be a long day. BUT! I'm off work tomorrow and Mom and I are going to Granddaddy's to cook for Thanksgiving. OK, I'll be honest, she'll cook. I'll probably do a lot of tasting and talking.

Better run (literally!)

A whole different world from where I come from

Hubby and I are over at Jill Squared and M's house right now. The kids are hyped up on sugar and WILD! J-Squared is trying to bribe them with a movie to get them calmed down for bed. Little G just asked for another piece of cake for about the 10th time. Of course she said no (all the while M is in the other room giving a piece to Little H.) Oh, good times.

I had a training day at work which went well and then went to lunch with two friends from work. Just so you know, I had the chicken and rice at Cracker Barrel and it was to die for. Not really, I wouldn't really die for it. Maybe a butterfinger Blizzard but definately not chicken and rice.

Speaking of food (which I do often), Gym Trainer says you should have a cheat day each week and eat WHATEVER you want and as MUCH as you want. I think that's my favorite thing he's said so far. It does help to be good about what I eat all week knowing that on Saturday I'm going to blow it out of the water!

Hubby has asked me twice if I'm finished so I'll check out for now. Keep it real ya'll.

In for the night!

I'm settled in for the night!

Comfy jammies on - Check!
Contacts out, glasses on - Check!
TV on - Check!
On the couch - Check!

The weatherman just said it is going to be super cold tomorrow with a high of 47. I'm pretty sure that's grounds to stay home from work. Of course, I think you should be able to stay home from work if it's raining too. It should be a law that whenever it rains, you get to stay home and read. Totally just my opinion.

I figured it up today and it's only 34 days till Christmas!!!

Old Maids and Rock Stars

I would just like to say that I sure am glad I have Hubby and am not a part of the dating scene. I'm pretty sure I would die an Old Maid. I was just driving home from the gym and got choked on my water (no lie). I was coughing like a maniac and the guy in the car next to me did not look impressed. It's hard to look cool when you're gasping for breath.

OK, so I got to thinking about rock stars today. (I know, it's the Pink song. It's so catchy.) Don't get me wrong - I know I'm not rock star material. But, it reminded me of when Sister and I used to ride back to Montevallo on Sundays. I kid you not, I think we heard Elvis' Suspicious Minds and Shake the Sugar Tree by Pam Tillis every single time. (Sister, do you remember that??!!) We used to sing at the top of our lungs and we are 100% convinced that the backup singers for Elvis are the best EVER!

Just so you know, I did intervals (Gym Trainer calls it "conditioning") at the gym tonight and it's entirely possible that I won't be able to get out of the bed in the morning. It's amazing - I actually pay someone to make me feel this way....

Bunko Baby

Woo Hoo - 2nd prize baby! Let me just tell you, I love my Bunko group. This group started about 5 years ago and since then there has been a marriage, multiple babies born and TONS of fun. I love each and every one of these girls.

Missed Opportunity

Oh me, oh me..... Gym Trainer worked my legs tonight - nuff said.

I missed Abbie's Heritage Girl's Award night. Sister failed to let me know about it until 8:45 last night. If I had known, I could have rescheduled Gym Trainer. Get this, Abbie told Sister that "Aunt Jill will definately be there because she wants to be involved with everything I do."Seriously, she's 7! So very growny and oh the pain in my heart for not getting to be there!

I'm watching the Amazing Race right now- I would have watched it last night but I got hooked watching a recorded America's Next Top Model. I'm not sure if it's evident, but I'm really into reality TV.

Just a thought, if you could be on any reality TV show - what would it be??? It's a toss-up for me, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader - Making the Team OR America's Next Top Model. And then I wake up. I would laugh, but I'm afraid my legs will move.

Friends, Friends, Friends

I got home a little while ago from Hadley's 1st birthday party. Hadley is the daughter of my most favorite friend from college. Alicia moved to Kentucky several years ago when she got married and I have missed her terribly. You know you have a real friendship with someone when you can go months without talking or seeing each other and it only feels like a minute has passed when you see them again. This is my first time to post pics so I hope all goes well!!

I also want to give a big shout-out to K (Kerrie) & T (Tom) for inviting us over last night to play games. We were some party animals playing Phase 10 and UNO. K has been my best friend since 8th grade - 20 years of a wonderful friendship. And..... I love, love, love her 3 girls!

Right now it's cold and rainy outside and I am loving sitting on the couch next to Hubby. I can't tell you how glad I am that he's home. He spent some time out riding his dirt bike with friends while I was at the party. We're gonna have a little date nite tonight!!!

By the way, I saw 2 rainbows driving home from the birthday party - beautimous!

I Heart Hubby

Hubby comes home tomorrow!!! (I would stand up and do a little jig but I'm still a little sore.) I love Hubby with all my heart and can't tell you proud I am to be his wife of 10 years. He's the most wonderful man - funny, smart and SUPER good-looking! He's always doing sweet things for me like...

The lamp on my nightstand is pretty tall so I would have to get out of bed to turn it on or off. Very frustrating when I'm reading and my eyes are so heavy that all I want to do is put my book down, take my glasses off, roll over, snuggle up to my body pillow and enter dreamland. MY MAN ordered me Handy Switch and put it right on the side of my nightstand!!! It is fabulous. I totally recommend it.

The best thing about Hubby is that he totally "gets" me. He knows exactly who I am and loves me anyway. He deals with my moods, gives me space when I need it and somehow seems to know exactly when I need a prize. It doesn't get much better than that. I heart him.

Arrrrrrggg!

Seriously! How is it that I keep writing these long posts and then somehow deleting them! I feel like a total goob. You would think this is rocket science.

So anyway, basically I was just letting you know that I can barely move after Gym Trainer decided we would start "intervals" tonight. I am so stinkin sore. I can't imagine what I'm going to feel like in the morning. I'll save all my complaining till then.

Anyway, as part of my "real life" I need to get myself in the bed. Actually, I may have to sleep on couch. I'm not so sure I can hobble to the bed.

Happy Birthday James!

Today is my youngest nephew's birthday. He is 2 and according to my sister - full of the two's! Check out her blog over at http://itstartedwithlove.blogspot.com/ and see the cutest 2 year-old ever. My sister is pretty remarkable, but the greatest thing about her is that she has provided this world with 4 of the most precious, beatiful, brilliant (I promise I'm not biased) children in the entire world. I can't imagine life without them.

Tyler is 10 and has the warmest heart ever. Oh my heavens, he was a beautiful baby! I remember just wanting to hold him and watch him sleep. He's becoming a young man - hard to believe. Tyler was my first unconditional love.

Matt is 9 and without a doubt, you will never meet anyone like him. He has a love for animals (especially chickens) and is amazing with them. He's always trying to make a buck but he's a giver too.

Abbie is 7 and our only girl. She's all girl but don't get me wrong - she can hang tough with the boys too! I love everything about her. She's a great little 2nd mama to James.

And James.... the birthday boy. You can't help but look at James and fall in love. My heart just lights up when I see him and he hugs my neck.

Just so you know... Sister is in the process of adopting a baby girl! I'll keep you posted.

Everything is an ordeal

Oh for the love, I just wrote a whole post and somehow deleted it! I'm too lazy to do it again - so for my one reader (yes Sister, that's you) - sorry. More tomorrow.

Alone again...

I'm back on the couch. Hubby left a few minutes ago for another week in Atlanta. I miss him tons but am thankful that he has a job. I know that so many people are out of work right now.

I just got back from Academy where I bought some of those 180 degree ear thingies. I met Jill (I'm not crazy and I don't refer to myself in the 3rd person. Jill is my bestest friend.) at the track at 6:00 AM (yes, AM) to run. It was freezing and because I'm the dork that I am, I wore shorts. It felt like needles were hitting my legs over and over. My ears were the worst though. We're meeting again at 5:30 tomorrow morning and I will have on pants and my new ear thingies!

Before you get the wrong impression, I am not some kind of fitness freak. (Although I would really like to be.) I will be 35 next August and have decided that by the time I'm 35 I want to be in shape and run a 5K and 10K. I have never ran before in my life so I'm doing the Couch to 10K deal. I'm on week 2. Baby steps. I have also gotten a personal trainer. Tomorrow starts week 2. More on that later.

It has been a GREAT weekend! It was actually a long weekend for me. I decided to take a personal day Friday which turned out to be the beginning of some much needed fun and rest. Mom came over Friday morning and we went through my gift closet. I am a clearance nut! I buy things here and there all throughout the year, put them in the gift closet, promptly forget what all I've bought and then LOVE MYSELF because right now I have pretty much finished all my Christmas shopping! Jealous, huh?

Church was so good this morning. The sermon was powerful and really made me think about whether or not I have really died to self. One thing Bro. Bill mentioned was mentally praying each morning about that and committing it to the Lord. It was about using your time and talents for the Lord also. In light of that, I need to 1. Figure out what my talent is and 2. Start using it. Sunday School is one of my most favorite times of the whole week. I work in the nursery and keep babies from about 3 to 8 mos. We only had 2 today. Little Mr. C was ready for his bottle when I first got there. He is the cutest eater you've ever seen. He makes noises the whole time and it just makes you smile. He fell asleep and was out for the rest of the time. I know I could have laid him down but I just held him and he slept till his mama came.

Well, I'm about to start my Bible Study for the coming week. It's week 2 of Kay Arthur's Return to the Garden. Hmmm... lots of week 2's in this post. C-ya!

WOW - I can't believe I'm doing this!

I was just sitting here reading up on some of my favorite bloggers and I thought, "Why not?" I can be somewhat impulsive so hear I go... And even if no one ever reads my humble little blog, at least I'll have something to look back at one day and remember.

You know, I'll want to remember that I'm sitting on my couch on a Saturday afternoon at 3:45 watching recorded episodes of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team. There are just some things you never want to forget.

Memories are good. I have lots of good ones and know that there are many more to come. Can't wait to share them with you!