Snow Day!

It wasn't the full foot blizzard they predicted, but we got several inches and it snowed lightly for a full day. Saturday afternoon we went sledding with our neighbors. Miles always has a blast chasing Morgan around!Audrey even got to take a couple runs. She wasn't having a great time, too bundled up to move much.
Audrey was feeling a little puny after not much sleep the day before. She woke up late Thursday night/Friday morning and threw up a bit. I got my full initiation into motherhood by catching a mouthful down the front of my pjs. Awesome! She was fine the next day, but had some yucky diaper action Sat. Hopefully whatever it was has worked its way out of her system by now.
They wouldn't have school on Monday anyway, but I sure hope the library is open tomorrow. We'll definitely need an outing after being cooped up all weekend.

Pins & Needles, part II

I forgot the other reason I named that post pins & needles... I made a pair of pants for Audrey! I took my machine to Nashville and Elizabeth showed me the ropes. She had the pattern & this adorable material. Audrey loves her "poka-doTS" and the "ruffas" at the hem. Now to attempt the next piece on my own. yikes!

Pins and Needles

I know you're all anxiously awaiting the announcement of the book winner.... it is Janna! I very scientifically wrote your names on slips of paper and let Miles pick from a bowl. He didn't peek, I swear! Anyway, hope you enjoy it!

So January has just flown by! This is the first time I've taken photos off my camera since New Years, so we must have been a little busy. Having all those snow days at home with everyone puts a damper on productivity, that's for sure.

Audrey is starting to dress herself. Her favorite thing to do is take off her shoes & socks, then put just her shoes back on. She'll come running out of her room with pants on her arms. And she loves clomping around in all of our shoes, though she prefers Miles's . I guess those are big without being cumbersome. She's very chatty! She can count to 10 and sings Twinkle Twinkle & Edelwiess along with me. She also sings Single Ladies and A Slight Figure of Speech, which are pretty funny to watch. She loves working puzzles and she gets really mad when Chelsea sits in her chair.
We went to Nashville for Kate's 5th (!) birthday party. It was a lot of fun! Audrey & Kate had a couple of nights at YaYa & B's alone while the rest of us were at Shay & Elizabeth's house. She did great, so the groundwork is there for another trip away from mom & dad.
Speaking of birthdays, we did celebrate by 35th on the 8th. We were snowed in for my birthday, so Wayne picked up some cupcakes to celebrate. Miles wanted a little of each! Our favorite was "The Graceland", a PB & Banana combo. Yum!

miss piggy-tails

The Male Factor

So I was chosen by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group to join their "Blogging for Books" program. Basically they'll send me some advance copies of books that I can read and review here. I thought it would be a fun way to get some books and read some things that I might not usually pick up.

The first book I read was called "The Male Factor" written by Shaunti Feldhahn. I had heard of Shaunti Feldhahn through Simple Mom's 2009 book club - the book "For Women Only: What You Need to Know about the Inner Lives of Men" has been on my reading list all year.

This new book investigates the inner thoughts of men and their attitudes toward women in the workplace. Now, I am 4 years removed from having any sort of "workplace," and the only male I deal with all day can be sent to time out if he starts to act out! So why would I care about this book? I do plan on returning to school then work at some point, so I may as well get some advantage in dealing with them. And I thought there would be some aspects that could apply to personal interactions as well.

One of my friends from my former workplace and I used to talk about how "perception IS reality." In other words, it doesn't matter what you say and do, it matters how others comprehend what you say & do. That concept is the essence of what this book tries to explain. Three points in the book really drove that home for me. First, she explains that when a woman asks for help or clarification on a task, men see it as "she couldn't figure it out." A second point is that when women ask "why" questions, it directly challenges a man's judgment, belittling them in a way. (a better approach is "help me understand how....").

And the last idea that really struck me hit closest to home, working women with families. While the men didn't begrudge a woman asking for flextime or reduced hours, they expected her to understand that they could not be considered "equal." In fact, Ms. Feldhahn attributed some of the discrepancy in male/female wages for the same job to this inequality. We may have the same title, but he works late hours and on weekends so his compensation is higher. She acknowledges the inherent unfairness and shares the hope that "over time, 'equality' will mean the demonstration of equal capability, not equal contributions..or equal time." (p194)

I enjoyed reading this book and learned some new things about that mysterious male brain. While I initially had some skepticism about what she would say (I thought there would be suggestions to alter yourself to fit into the male design) but at every turn she recommended practices that could be applicable to men as well as women, such as respecting co-workers or managing the perceptions of others.

You can purchase "The Male Factor: The Unwritten Rules, Misperceptions, and Secret Beliefs of Men in the Workplace" at amazon.com or through the Random House website.

However, I have an extra copy to give away! If you are interested, please leave a comment on the blog or the Facebook note before 12:01am Jan 16 and I will draw a winner later that day.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Happy Twenty Ten!

Hope everyone had a festive New Year's Eve! We cheered for the Vols to mixed results. Here's to next football season and a year with no athlete felonies!

So last year I set a few goals. I did pretty well with them, at least I'm happy with it. First was to read 25 books and I read 31 (not including some skimmed and a couple short stories). 2nd was to run a 5K and I ran 2 last year! and Last was to do better with meal planning. That was a little vague, but I did set up some ways to archive & schedule my recipes. I didn't follow my schedule very closely, but we did eat a good variety this year.

This year I'll try for 35 books. I want to keep running and will be running the Knoxville Marathon RELAY (1/4 of the marathon) in March. I'll aim for that and 2 more races in the year. And last, I will try to sew an article of clothing! My mom & Don gave us a sewing machine for Christmas and I tried it out today. I thought I had it going pretty well, but when I'd finished my first line, it was a big ole mess of thread on the back. I'll have to enlist some of my talented sewing friends to show me what to do!

Christmas 2009

I was looking back at the number of posts over each of the last few years and 2009 was a big drop - almost 20% less than prior years. So here are a few last things in 2009... I'm trying to bump up my stats before the end of the year! but seriously...

we had a fantastic Christmas this year. Both kids were giddy with anticipation of the big guy's arrival, and even remembered that Baby Jesus kid too. We didn't go to Christmas Eve Mass because we didn't want to fight the crowds, so we relaxed with BeeBe & PopPop and read some Christmas stories before their bedtime. After the grown-ups enjoyed a dinner of crunchy dijon salmon, the best broccoli of your life and carrot souffle, Santa got his work done and all were sound asleep.

Until 5am! That's when Miles woke, though we convinced him to read in his room until 5:45 when he came in our room to watch Phineas & Ferb. Finally (lol) Audrey woke at 6:30 and we bombarded the living room. They were so excited, but they took their time getting through all the wrapped gifts. Miles had only asked Santa for 2 things, and he sat right down to play with the BatCave. After Beebe made some panacotta French Toast we headed off to Christmas Mass. It was attended as well as a regular Sunday, but there was no nursery! Usually we drop Audrey off and Miles sits nicely with us, but this time he felt the need to entertain her the whole time. Argh! We survived and made it home to enjoy the day. I worked on Boeuf Bourguignon for dinner, yum! and we watched some Christmas movies.

Hope everyone had a wonderful New Years Eve tonight! We celebrated last night at The Avett Brothers concert. It was fantastic, though they have obviously been around a while and we're just now learning of them. The crowd was crazy! They are playing 3 nights in a row (here, Asheville & Atlanta) and it seemed that most of the people were going to all of them. What made the night even better was our free babysitter. We're worked out a swap with our neighbors so we can each get at least one night out a month. I think that will be a good resolution for the year - more date nights.

Happy 2010 to all!

and Miles's show

Finally, here is the abridged version of Miles's Christmas program. The PreK class did a show about the animals who were there for the first Christmas. Miles was a camel. I've edited out everything except his parts, but basically the animals are talking about baby Jesus as they follow the star. Enjoy! ( and check out his ownership ofthe mike during the song)

the week before Christmas in photos

So it's Christmas Eve and we have done so much that I need to blog about! But instead I'll just show you the fun in photos. Last weekend we went to Nashville to celebrate Aunt Elizabeth's birthday and also exchange presents with everyone there.

Kate and Audrey wore their matching dresses (thanks, Aunt Elizabeth!). Audrey was enamored with cousin Kate!Miles & Kate had lots of fun opening presents and playing together.Here are YaYa & B with their grand kids. Not the most cooperative bunch!Aunt Elizabeth celebrated her 29th birthday!
Since we were halfway to Memphis, Mimi & PawPaw came to Nashville to see us and drop off Christmas presents. We had a really fun breakfast!
Then we came back home and a few days later BeeBe & PopPop came to visit for Christmas. They're having lots of laughs and snuggles.
We've also had lots of visitors at out bird feeder by the kitchen window. It makes for lively mealtimes.
We finally went to see Santa on Christmas Eve Eve. Thank you, PopPop, for waiting in the 1hr 40min (!) line while we ate Chick Fil A. After lunch everyone was excited and ready to see Santa.

But then we got there and we weren't all that excited anymore. It was pretty close to naptime, too! But Miles took care of telling Santa what Audrey wanted too.
And today we made cookies for Santa. Miles is an enthusiastic sprinkler!
Now the children are tucked in their beds, and we're having dinner before Santa comes! And then we get to celebrate baby Jesus's birthday.

.:: ~ Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night ~ ::.

Audrey's debut

Audrey's stage debut was a little rougher than Miles's. She held it together, barely...


Miles's show to come....

Rock 'n Roll Girl

Updated: I just realized that by linking from Facebook, any of you who weren't on FB can't see this!! Sorry, I was trying to use that host site. Here it is again from YouTube.

Audrey is a little rocker. In the car she asks for "Geen Day, peez?" The other day she was rocking and singing along and I caught her... for a while.

A Christmas dress

Not to turn this into the "All About Audrey" blog (though one day that will probably exist!), but look at her cute new dress! Aunt Elizabeth made it for her, and cousin Kate has a matching one. They'll be so cute together at Aunt Elizabeth's birthday party. Thank you so much!

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Yippeee!! Snow!! The first snow of the season fell today and it was a pretty good one. We woke to a light cover on the grass, but it continued to fall and cover everything except the roads. Since Miles had a birthday party to attend this morning, we headed out while it was falling right after breakfast. While it did snow last winter, this was the first time for Audrey to get out in it. She looked like the Stay Puft Man in her pink snowsuit. I picked up rain boots for both of them at Target yesterday and hers were a little big. The worst part for her was the mittens, so after a few photos, Wayne took her inside.
Miles and I stayed out a little longer so we could work on a snowman - his first ever! We've had snow every year but it's never been nice & sticky like today's. It was a wee-snowman but it still counts. We had to defend it from Chelsea, she thought we were making a toy for her. Miles later added a second carrot in the bottom part of the snowman.... you know, his bellybutton.
This year the excitement level has ramped up over years past. We're having lots of fun playing Christmas music all day long and adding decorations around the house. They've enjoyed "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and I've been recording all the Christmas shows for them. We may have to slow up in watching some of them. Audrey tried to take a lesson from Buddy the Elf....
Merry Christmas everyone!

Over the river & throught the woods....

We had a fun trip around the state visiting family for Thanksgiving this year. We started with a few days in Memphis and had 2 Turkey dinners. Although by the looks of these pictures we lived in fast food joints. Here's Miles with PawPaw in the "classic" McD's in Cordova.And with PopPop after a play land lunch at Chick-fil-A. Even Audrey made it up through the steps and down the slide.We were so excited to see our Great Grandmas!
And Aunt Megan! oh , and Uncle Kyle too. Kyle's really glad Miles is entering the age of Legos.... man those things took over Kyle's room when he was a kid. We loved seeing their new house. I got some house envy seeing their awesome back yard and attic (!). And we got to meet their new doggie, Molly. Such a cutie.
Then is was on to Nashville for Thanksgiving day. This was the first year we made a point to watch some of the parade, and I think the kids liked it. Cousins Kate & Evan came over to play and eat.
Although they look enthusiastic, I don't think the boys ate much besides turkey. Miles wouldn't even try the cranberries, sweet potatoes or pears. I tried to explain that it was dessert for lunch, but he didn't care.
Audrey refused to eat at all, until Kate came along and fed her. They were both in heaven. Audrey being fed by her big cousin, and Kate having a real live baby to feed.
Now we're home and ready for Christmas! We've got the tree up and some decorations in some other rooms. Our Elf from the North Pole (named Broderick) showed up yesterday after a rough morning. Santa thought he should come keep an eye on things. Miles wrote his very first letter to Santa and Broderick took it back to the North Pole. This morning Miles woke up to a letter back from Santa and a candy cane! Miles asked for two things, a Bat Cave and the Robin Hood movie. I think Santa will be able to make him happy on Christmas morning!

Santa loves Chick-fil-a too!

practice makes perfect... or at least less wobbly.

For posterity and future personality tests.

Miles came to me last night while I was reading The Lost Symbol and wanted me to read to him. I told him I would as soon as I finished the chapter (Dan Brown chapters are 3 pages long). He asked what I was reading & I told him, "It's a mystery book. That means something strange happened at the beginning and we have to read to find out why and who did it."

And HE said, "Just flip to the end and see what happens!"

The roof is on fire!

For the last few months, Miles's school has been doing a "Learn not to burn" unit on fire safety. We've been making escape plans, choosing meeting points and stop, drop & rolling all around. Yesterday was the grand finale with a fire department presentation at his school. Since it wasn't his normal class day, Audrey & I took him to participate. Here he is with his buddy Eli trying to smile for mommy. Too bad the noon sun was right behind me! They showed the kids all around the fire engine, but the absolute coolest thing (for them) was when one of them got to open the storage door on the side. See the blond head behind Miles? That little door was the best!

Here's Fireman Sparky (seriously?) with all his gear. He dressed out so they could see what a fireman will look like and not be afraid. Audrey was afraid.
There was a miniature house where they reviewed fire safety and then got to practice climbing out a window. We still need ladders for the kids rooms, but he has practiced opening his window.
In other news.... Santa can cancel his trip to our house this year. Miles already has the greatest toy in the world: a big cardboard box. It's not as big as the huge box from our kitchen remodel, but it is just as much fun. His favorite thing is to trap himself inside with Audrey. They just sit there & giggle & peek out the cracks. This one might stick around for while, it is GREAT entertainment!

my little faker...she was acting sick 30 min. ago. Not so much anymore!

candy!

For the second year in a row several families from our street gathered here to set out for trick or treating. Unfortunately, the forecasters were wrong (shocker!) and the rain held on through the evening. Despite the fine drizzle, we all traipsed up and down the street, knocking on doors and ringing doorbells. We had the wagon train going again, but ended up walking for the last half of the trip. Audrey got the hang of it pretty fast. The photo in the top right was after the first house when she discovered they put CANDY in her bag. By the last house she was grabbing treats at the houses with the best of them. She walked right up and said everything she was supposed to, although too quietly to be heard.

Miles wavered between Superman and Imagination Mover Rich and I made him decide earlier this week, since Rich required some work. So after the GRE was over (oh yeah, I did it! and I'm pretty happy with the results. thanks for the prayers) I got to work making the shirt. A few iron-ons, some red duct tape and a glow stick for a scribble stick and viola, he's a mover. I'm sure no one knew who he was, but he loved it.

We got a later start this year so it was dark by the time we wrapped up. Both kiddos held in long enough for a treat when we got home - Rice Krispie Treat for Audrey & 4 pieces for Miles. They loved their costumes so much they wore them Sunday to the playground. Miles has already decided to be a witch with a pointy hat next year, we'll see how that goes. Might have to introduce him to Harry Potter.