November Photo Hunt

For the month of November the usually bi-monthly photo challenge split into two months with 10 items instead of 20.  I really like my pictures from this month, and I like the smaller number!  So, here ya go ...

1. Home Sweet Home

This is Vulcan.  He is famous to Birmingham, Al.  When I was growing up he had a light on his torch ... if it was green; there were no traffic fatalities that day, but if it was red; someone died in a traffic accident.  A bit morbid (probably partly why it's gone now), but it reminds me of my childhood and my 'home sweet home', and now I drive by it everyday to work.

2. Thankful

I am so very thankful for my girls.  They are my life, and I never imagined I could love anyone as much as I love them!  This picture captures them perfectly!

3. Family

So obviously I didn't take this picture (my wonderful mom took it), but it was with my camera and I edited that ... it counts, right?  oh well, I like it!  An edited version of the middle picture is also our Christmas card this year!

4. I Ate This

My baby turned 1!!!!  oh, and a word to the wise ... don't get pink icing on your smash cake, it will get on everything!

5. A Turkey

My hand became a turkey!  Leah helped me color the face ... by reaching over her picture she was coloring to scribble on mine, lol.  Then I asked her and Andrew what they are thankful for and wrote all around our turkey!

6. Something Hand-Made

These were our place markers at the Thanksgiving table at my parents' house.

7. Something Hot

Fire in the fireplace.  I could totally go for a fire right now ... I'm all wrapped up in a blanket.

8. Something Cold

9. Something Orange

This is Tank the kitty cat.  He was our landlord's cat, but she can't keep him inside b/c of her husband's dog, so Tank is living with us now!  She lives like 5 houses down, so it's nice to have my landlord close by.

10.  Anything Goes

I really like this picture ... there's just something about it, and I think it fits perfectly in an anything goes category!

Make sure you check out the other wonderful entries at Photo Hunt Challenges

It's beginning to look ...

a lot like that time of year where you pull out the boxes marked 'Christmas' and start a transformation of decorations and presents and more.

It's also the time that you get together your annual Christmas card to share with all your friends and family.  This year, may I recommend you use Shutterfly for all your Christmas card needs!

The past two years I have used a ...drug store... for my Christmas cards, and they turned out nice.  I kept seeing many of my friends talking about Shutterfly, so of course since I am mildly obsessed with blogging and checking out everything someone else posts about ... I went over to Shutterfly.

I was amazed by their selection!!!!!!

They have hundreds of different card selections.  Flat cards, folded cards, cards with one picture, cards with 6 pictures, cards with 12 pictures, modern colors, classic colors, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays ... I was in Christmas card heaven!

It is so easy to use as well!  The instructions are simple to understand and you don't have to be a photo guru at all.  In addition to photo cards, they also have calendars, photo mugs, and you can even print your pictures with them.

Here are some of my favorite card selections from Shutterfly:

Family Wall Red Christmas Card

Pretty Poinsetta Christmas Card

Peppermint Bliss Christmas Card

and finally ... the card we are using this year:

Merry Modern Collage Christmas Card

Where can you get into this action?  Well ... you can find the Christmas Card collection here; their facebook here and the wonderful photo site Shutterfly here.

and if you are a blogger; you can get 50 free cards by blogging about how much you love Shutterfly and it's easy to write about something this awesome!  Just sign up here.

Merry {it's time to get ready for} Christmas

i'll take the middle part out in December

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

It's the holiday season ... a time for seeing family and stressing out about how to fit seeing family when you only have two days off work.  Yeah ... My days are so messed up right now!  I had Thursday and Friday off, but then I worked Saturday, and I'm going into work today around noon.  Today is Sunday ... right?  Hope so because I have some fun pictures to share.

Black and White

This is our Christmas tree topper.  Friday night we put the Christmas tree up ... well, Leah and Andrew put stuff up ... I watched and took pictures, lol.  Leah really enjoyed putting the ornaments on and she loves our tree.  Yay for Christmas decorations!

I ate this

I am horrible at taking pictures of food ... I think it's because I'm distracted by the food.  We had lots and lots of yummy food at Thanksgiving and by the time I thought of taking a picture; it was all gone!  We did eat turkey (not these ... these live in the zoo, no worries), but I did eat turkey, lol.  Ok ... I thought it was funny.

Historic

These are my Papa's old film cameras.  There is so much history in these cameras.  My mom has them and she has tried to refurbish them, but maybe one day I can fix them and use them!  My Mema says I get my natural photography 'skills' from my Papa.  His favorite pictures to take were "making bees and ants look big on flowers" (from Mema).

Off Center

We went to the zoo for Audrey's birthday last Saturday.  Leah really wanted to see the hippos, but they are doing consturction to the zoo and the hippo area was blocked off.  We did get to see the rhinos who have two horns; as Leah pointed out again and again.

The End

Dinner after Thanksgiving was birthday cake for Audrey and my Dad (November birthdays).  This is 'the end' of her smash cake.  She loved it, as did everyone else ... and I got to clean her up ... woo hoo.

Oh and because I can't resist here are some more pictures of Audrey eating cake :-)


I hope your Thanksgiving went well and you get to bring in the Christmas season well!

Smiles

I'm Thankful for Smiles!

I am Thankful for each and every one of you, and I hope you see many smiles on this Thanksgiving Day!

Worry, worry, worry

Today I'm joining in with Shell at Things I Can't Say for Pour your Heart out Wednesday. 

I think I'm paranoid.  And sometimes I'm paranoid about being the only one whose paranoid.  Or maybe I'm just crazy.

This morning I saw an ambulance heading in the direction of my house.  Even though I had left the house about 5 minutes eariler.  Even though I knew the only person awake was Leah.  Even though every rational part of me told me I was crazy; I still had the brief thought, "Is that going to my house?"  "Did something happen to Leah?"  "Is everyone ok?"

So, that thought lasts for about five seconds, quickly followed by calling the house; and then it leaves.  Of course I know nothing happened at my house.  Of course that ambulance is not heading to my home.  Then I usually say a quick prayer for where the ambulance actually is going ... which is not my house.

Am I the only one who thinks like this?

If Andrew goes out to run an errand that takes longer than I expect; I start to worry.  If he doesn't answer his cell phone, I just know some horrible accident has happened.  And then he walks through the door.  Everything is fine, everything is good, but why did I even think of something horrible happening?

Is it because I watch too much drama tv?  (maybe)
Is it because I'm a Mom? (probably)
Is it because I love my family and want them to be safe always?  (yeah ... it could be)

or is it because I'm just crazy?

Worrying is always something that has bothered me.  Sure, it grew ten-fold the day I said 'I do', had my first baby, and then my second.  But even in high school and college; I was a worrier.

I can recite Matthew 6:28 by heart.  but I still worry.

I have peace in my soul that whatever happens, happens for a reason.  but I still worry.

Is worrying a bad thing?

or am I just a crazy worrier?

I don't know.  I don't know how to answer.  I don't know how to change, or even if I want to change.  If I change, if I quit worrying does that somehow make me less of me?

I'll leave you with this:

²⁵"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
 ²⁶"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
 ²⁷"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
 ²⁸"And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, ²⁹yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
 ³⁰"But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! ³¹"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'
 ³²"For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
 ³⁴"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
--Matthew 6:25 - 34

{Virtural Coffee} It's THE week

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Grab a cup of coffee (with Amy at Lucky Number 13) and have a seat on the couch today as I turn down the radio in the background.  ok, I'm really at work, but I can pretend to be at home.  'Why is the radio on?,' you ask.  Well ...
to set the mood, because it is THE week

'Oh, you mean the 3 day work week?'

Yea, kinda.  That's awesome, and who doesn't love paid time off, but that's not the week I'm talking about.

'Oh, then of course you mean Thanksgiving; a wonderful holiday where you can gather together with the entire family and share a meal.'

Yeah, that's awesome and all.  Honestly, I do LOVE Thanksgiving, but that's still not what I'm talking about.

'What other week could it be?'

IRON BOWL WEEK!!!!!!

What?  Stop looking at me like I'm crazy.  You probably don't understand it (unless your Brandi) unless you are from Alabama or have ever lived in the state of Alabama, but this is the week that comes right behind Christmas week ... probably tied with Easter.

'What is the Iron Bowl?'

ok ... I'll pretend you didn't ask that, lol!  The Iron Bowl is the epic match-up of Auburn University vs (in-state rival) the University of Alabama.  When you rank rival match-ups the Auburn vs. Alabama game is one of the top!

In Alabama little kids are forced to choose a side, best friends become enimies for a day and pretty much one half of the state hates the other.  Only for a day ... then you have bragging rites for the next 364 days.  Even married couples who spend Thanksgiving loving each other will not speak if they pull for opposite teams.

(this is an actual house ... see the story here)

Hold on ... let me turn the radio up.  Right now the local sports station is playing a montage of all the great calls during the Iron Bowls of years past.  Gives me chills.

There have been streaks.  In the earilier part of this decade I had the wonderful opportunity of being in 4 of our 6 game winning streak over Alabama.  Right now ... Alabama has won the last 2. 

There is just something about enthusiatic sports annoucers.  I love it, love it, love it!!!!!

So ... around here, the Iron Bowl is a BIG thing.  And I am the only Auburn fan in my entire place of work ... which means I got alot of smack talking to do :-)

Hope you enjoyed your coffee and your very brief peek into the craziness that is football in the state of Alabama. 

Do you have any orignal sports traditions in your state?

oh, and if you want to watch it ... it's on this Friday at 1:30pm (central time) on CBS.  Just watch for the fans ... and if you really want to grasp the awesomeness ... listen to the radio at the same time!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Another Scavenger Hunt Sunday; my favorite themed pictures to take!

The View from Above

Walking around at the zoo ... this is my view of Audrey.

Something Hot

a fire in our fireplace!

Something Cold

my grape popsicle ... yum, yum

Electronics

You can't really play with electronics without these!

Sparkle

I just happened to be at the right place in the right time to capture this sun sparkle off the lake.  I love this picture!

Go visit Ashley and play along!  It's super fun!  Next week is:

1. Black and White (next week's Paper Mama theme)
2. I Ate This... (November 2010 Photo Hunt)
3. Historic (Dina's Suggestion)
4. Off-Center (Dina's Suggestion)
5. The End (Dina's Suggestion)

A Year Ago Today ... 11/20/09

A year ago today ...

I woke up around 7 in the morning, and I just knew today would be the day we would go to the hospital.  The night before, my husband, my mother-in-law and me stayed up counting contractions and playing trivial pursuit until 2am.  I decided we could wait till the morning, so off to bed we went to get some sleep.  In the morning though I woke Andrew up with an ok, let's go.

I called the nurse on the way to the hospital because Andrew was worried about traffic.  By the time we got to the parking deck; I was ending the conversation where the nurse told me I could wait if I wanted to or I could come on in.  Everything went well and we were checked in super fast.

I was far enough along to get an epidural ... Andrew said it was the first time he had seen me smile all day.  After the epidural my labor slowed down a bit, so they broke my water, and oh boy did that do the trick!

With Leah (my oldest) her deliver was different; an emergency c-section due to my high fever and Leah's high heart-rate.  With Audrey I really wanted to have a vbac (vaginal birth after cesarean), so I was nervous that I wouldn't know how to deliver vaginally.

After waiting, and puking, and sleeping a bit, I started shivering like crazy.  I asked Andrew to call a nurse to bring me a blanket.  But one heated blanket did not slow down my shivering a bit.  The nurse brought another, and then decided to have someone check me.  All my shivering was apparently my body preparing because it was time to push!

A nurse brought me a mirror while another ran to get the doctor (telling me to wait, lol).  I said no ... I don't need a mirror.  Then another nurse offered the mirror, so I agreed, and I'm so glad I did.

I saw her beautiful head with a touch of dark hair after pushing for about an hour.  She came out crying and perfect.

Today my baby turns one.  Oh how the year has flown!

The Night Before

also known as ... get that freaking camera out of my face ...

Sweet Audrey Anne

Love at first sight

Sisters ... the start of a bond that will hopefully last a lifetime

Happy Birthday Audrey Anne!

Coffee Loving

The Top 10 Reasons I Love Coffee

(letterman style)

10.  Because crack is not accepted in the work place, but drinking 3 cups of coffee in 2 hours is totally cool.

9.  Coffee is a jumble of contradictions; just like me.  It can be simple (i like it black) or super complicated (i'd like a double peppermint low fat extra shot large coffee with a little bit of whip cream extra hot extra fast, please).  I guess coffee kinda like an emotional girl.

8.  It's socially acceptable to say you have a coffee addiction.

7.  What other drink allows you to get up and take a break from working?

6.  It can cure a headache, menstrual cramps, hangovers and constipation.

5.  Don't have time to sit around and drink a whole cup of coffee?  That's alright, you can eat the beans for a quick jolt.

4.  What other drink wakes you up just from smelling it?

3.  You can only get Aldreol if you actually have ADD, but just about anyone can have coffee!

2.  Coffee is way cool.  It is everybody's friend ... from college students to moms with small kids to working peoples to uhhh I bet even the pope drinks coffee!

and the #1 reason I love coffee is

1.  It just plain tastes good!  

This mouth watering top ten list is brought to you by:

Mama Kat's Writers Workshop ... where you can drink coffee and laugh at the same time.

Next week will be ... the top ten reasons I'm a bad parent; possibly featuring the fact that my 3 year old is addicted to the internet before she can even read.  Seriously, she's on the floor (at 7 in the morning) crying because she can't paint on the Sesame Street website ....