Happy December 1st!

While my family is in the living room watching a Christmas movie, I am on my laptop in the kitchen doing homework:( 14 days left in this semester and 10 more class till I have my degree. Little sacrifices like this will be worth it when you look at the big picture. This time next year I will be preparing myself to receive my bachelors degree! It does make it easier knowing the end is in sight and near! Now back to school I must go. Off to write replies to two other posts. *sigh* It would be easier if I didn't hear the Swedish Chef from the Muppet's in the background!

Your Never To Old To Learn

My son broke my heart tonight. Well I hurt his feelings and didn't realize it. That is what broke my heart. Shane and Matthew took down Christmas decorations last night while I was with my mom. I came home and he had a billion Santa Clauses on the bar. And my Christmas village on a little stand instead of the table behind the couch where I always put it. So I fixed it. I shouldn't have done that. I concentrated on the wrong thing. I thought about how cluttered it looked and wanted it to look "nicer." I didn't think about the fact I told him he did a good job then undid what he did. While Shane and I were at our class he told Aspen how upset he was. Now I have to wait till he wakes up to say sorry and hope he is not discouraged and is willing to fix  my mistake!

It Now Feels Like Christmas!

I love the Christmas Season! For me I like the days before Christmas better than Christmas. I love all the excitement and traditions we have. One of them being "Merry Christmas!" We yell Merry Christmas when we see a house decorated. The only rule being you have to wait till you SEE the lights before you yell it. We end up memorizing the houses in our neighborhood and some people try to yell Merry Christmas before the houses are in view so we try to level the playing field:)

I took this with my cell phone so it's not that great but this is 3 houses together that put up an awesome display of lights in the Olde Mills neighborhood off of 707. They have done it for years. Every time we come home that way we take a detour to see all the lights. We let Matthew unbuckle and drive REALLY SUPER SLOW so we can take it all in.

Another tradition I love is Elvin the Elf! This is a mischievous elf that visits and reports to Santa daily. He leaves messes or does silly things for the kids to find in the morning. Last year Aspen helped out with Elvin. She knows who he really is but still likes to see what he does. Last year on his last morning (Christmas Eve) he left Dunkin Donuts. Matthew was sad to see him go! Tonight is his first night here this Christmas season!

I forgot to disguise my handwriting! I hope Matthew doesn't notice!! Aspen watched me do it so I guess she knows! lol I get so excited when I think of stuff but forget the mess I have to clean up! I used spray snow on the mirror then wrote the message. I now remember I don't like that stuff! Oh well, I can't wait to see the excitement on Matthew's face when he sees it!
I love receiving comments! Leave a comment telling me about some of your favorite Christmas traditions!

Black Friday Sales

I am NOT a morning person! I am more of a night person. So when I saw Walmart was having a sale on digital cameras I thought it MIGHT be worth venturing out. Matthew is always "borrowing" my camera and taking pictures and video so even though he didn't ask for one I know he will LOVE his new camera! The sales started at 10 but the camera was part of electronics and didn't start till 12. Aspen and I got there at11. We had to hike across the parking lot and WOW!!! The store was crazy!! Aspen and I walked around and got a few things off my list, most of what I wanted was already gone. Then at 11:35 I walked over to the pallets where they had the cheaper electronics. At 11:40 an employee handed the person closest to the pallet (more like the one with her body draped over it lol) a box knife. She cut into it and a surge of people went forward. I was push some by the crowd but it wasn't that bad. I didn't see anyone get ugly. Actually a person towards the front started passing back cameras. So I yelled, "Two please!" She passed them back and I was on my way! I got home about 12:15. Not to shabby for my first get into it Black Friday! I actually bought two cameras I don't think Aspen realized but I had one for her too. I looked around before I went to make sure this deal was worth it. I saved $30 per camera! So I think I did well!

Happy Thanksgiving!

    Our company is gone and we are now watching Charlie Brown Thanksgiving together.  Oh wait Matthew didn't last he is sleeping on the couch wrapped in a fitted sheet! That's his latest thing, he wraps himself up in a flannel fitted sheet at night. Go figure:) Anyway before we started watching Charlie Brown we read 54 turkey feathers worth of "I'm thankful for."  
    I made a turkey body on November 1st. Daily we were suppose to write what we were thankful for on a feather. We forgot many days but still had lots to be thankful for! I also had visitors write on our feathers too. Like my Granny who is now 82. She was very sick this time last year and we thought she wouldn't be with us very long. She is now doing great and even flew in September!

    After everyone went home the four of us sat and took turns reading feathers. Some were everyday things like fuzzy socks and snakes others were health and brand new baby sisters (our neighbor Hunter).We laughed at some and had tears in our eyes for others. It was a blessing to have that time together as a family!

The naked turkey November 1st.

Thankful supplies. Paper feathers from scrap paper, pens,markers and masking tape.

Our turkey last week! He looks more turkey like! LOL

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving Ya'll!!

State Competition

Aspen's marching band made it to state this year! We drove 3 and 1/2 hours to and fro to watch her group compete yesterday. They did great! They placed 12th out of the 17 bands that made it to state. So they moved up three spots since last year! Pictures coming later:)

Tricked Ya!

So I have been duped by my 7 year old! I have not been to a haunted house in at least 9 years! That streak will be over tonight. *gulp* Matthew has convinced himself and Shane that I said I would go with him tonight?!?!? How did that happen? I'm pretty sure he talked to me about it when I wasn't giving him my full attention. I think I said yes without fully paying attention. Any other moms ever do that? He went on Saturday night to Dr. Screams with Shane and loved it. All he has talked about since then is taking Mommy with him and how funny it will be when Mommy screams. So wish me luck tonight! I'm scared!!!!

 This is more my kinda scary, Matthew said, "Hey look I'm the headless horseman!"

Google Bar

While using Firefox I don't have a favorites list. So when I want to go to Pinterest I look in the Google tool bar to find it. Just now I did and here are some topics in my history:
dumb laws in Alabama
funny facts about Alabama
Chuck E Cheese in Alabama
 The rest were expected titles for a research paper. Think someone is doing a paper on Alabama?!? I thought these were funny and cute and had to share! Aspen said they each had to pick a state for their paper. I asked why she picked Alabama thinking it's because she knows someone from there...nope. She said no one picked it and she felt sorry for the state! I love the silliness!

Going to State

Lat night I drove to Hartsville, SC to watch Aspen's marching band perform in lower state.  I went by myself since Shane went with Matthew to his cub scout event. Shane also had tons of homework. It was suppose to be a two hour and fifteen minute drive. It took me almost 3 hours. I went to the actual high school instead of their stadium. I literally got there JUST IN TIME!! I paid as the band before them performed. I should have been able to see 3 other bands perform before her. They did great and out of 15 bands they ranked 6th! So next weekend they are going to state competition!

Can you see her? she is the one in black pants and blue uniform top. LOL I sent that picture and text to family and was asked your joking right?! I keep forgetting to take pictures. I get caught up in watching the performance that I don't take any. I must next weekend!

Almost Halloween

Wow a week and a half before Halloween. I need to get busy on our costumes! Matthew refuses to wear a homemade costume. He thinks it is not scary enough. But a $14 one from Walmart is? LOL We do this thing called trunk or treat at our church the Wednesday before Halloween. The adults stand by the trunk of their cars and the children dress up and trick or treat car to car. So people go all out and decorate their trunks. We decorate but not all out. This year though..... A commercial inspired me! Watch and take a guess on what I plan on doing!

If you guessed dressing and dancing like a hamster next to my KIA Soul well then your right! I have been practicing the dance when no ones around. Hahahahaha
Aspen wants to be an owl. I have been working on that costume based on one I saw on Pinterest. Then Shane? Well he never dresses up. I take that back We did convince him a few times. Maybe I'll go to Goodwill and try to get ideas for him. I love this time of year! But not the cold coming up! Bleh