A Year in the Life

The last two weeks have been CrAZy!  Oh wait, our weeks are always crazy.  :)  Because of what we did over Christmas vacation I have some definite opinions about a few things.  I know, hold your comments, I have opinions about pretty much everything.  Here goes... This reminds me of a Christmas Carol. We left Christmas day for Park City, Utah for the fam to take our vacation skiing.  We are usually spring skiers, but because Hop's spring break is different from the other three, Harry had the idea to go at Christmas.  We left the 25th so I didn't really decorate the house for Christmas.  I put out our favorite decorations, but I didn't put out everything, and it was all packed up before we left.  I didn't even wrap any presents.  I love Christmas, so this part was hard for me to swallow. All my peeps skiing on the 26th. We arrive in Utah to it snowing.  It was in the 20's, which is cold but manageable.  My first hic...

I have MANY things in my life to be thankful for.  Much more than I deserve.  Today is Harry's birthday, he's 17, where did that time go?  Hopson's birthday was yesterday, I won't tell you how old he is, but he's one year older than me.  If you need to know my age, click here .  :)  I was able to do something earlier this month that was one of the coolest things ever. I love to dance.  I always have.  My friend Steven, who was my boyfriend in middle school, used to put his hand on top of my head to try to stop me from dancing.  My theme song back then was, All She Wants to Do is Dance .  You know, not much has changed.  I hear music & I just have to dance.  (granted, things to move quite like they did 30 years ago.)  So does Elizabeth.  I'll be cooking dinner; music is playing; E & I are dancing around the kitchen.  Yes, it's a personal problem, but a good one if you have to have a personal problem, but...

Henry, Elizabeth, Hop, Harry and Hop's first best friend, Will D. Birthdays do make me happy.  It's another year to celebrate life.  (and eat birthday cake!)  A chance to celebrate both what has been and what will be.  Having a birthday over the Christmas break can be a bummer.  Friends are out of town or already have plans.  Poor Harry.  He really wanted Mooyah! for dinner that night but they were closed, so we ate Mexican instead.  When Harry was little would have his party on his half birthday.  It's easier to have it during the summer.  This year he just wanted to have a few people over to watch movies, shoot pool, hang out, and eat cake.  Not a problem!   Happy Sweet 16 Harry! WooHoo!! 2 drivers in the house! Harry's favorite cake is a cookie cake & so I made him a double decker birthday cake with lots of icing.  I think he liked it.  :)  Yea for the mommy who doesn't like ...

...anyone know what movie that is from?  Anyone?  Pirates of the Caribbean.  Jack Sparrow says it.  I love those movies.  Johnny Depp is just too funny.  The title of this posting really has nothing to do with this post itself; I just like that line in the movie.  Well, on second thought, it does sort of go with this posting. Grammar & Speaking Rules   This is a little bit of a hang-up for me.  It started with my mom.  Which today would be her 65th birthday, so how timely that I'm writing about grammar.  Growing up we had to speak properly or she wouldn't acknowledge us.  And now, much to my children's chagrin, I'm the same way.  We may be from the south, from the state of Alabama, but you will speak properly.  (insert most charming smile here.)  :) Last night as I waited up for Hop to get home from a friend's house I was cruising Face Book.  You know what was bothering me ju...

I thought I would go with another Epiphany theme for today's posting.  I love the song We Three Kings.  It's so cool to think about these guys.  Don't think of them as showing up Christmas night to see the baby Jesus, because that is not how it happened. These guys were astrologers in the Orient.  Someone told me they were known as 'king makers'.  While studying the skies they noticed a new star that had settled over Jerusalem.  They knew it was a special star & set off, on their camels, to find out what king was living under that star.  This was a several thousand mile journey, not just a jaunt over the next hill. It is often speculated that there were three wise men, but there could have been more.  What is important is that when they saw Jesus, who is between 1 and 2 when the Magi arrive, they knew he was the messiah.  They didn't hesitate in giving their obedience ...

Happy 4th of July!!! I've been reading the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights a lot lately.   The documents are beautifully written.  If you've never read them as an adult, I highly recommend it.  There are phrases in the there that just hit you in the heart.  They give you a hint as why the founding fathers wanted something not only different, but something better. Something better.  Something free.  Something that put it's people before anything else because it's the people that make this country great.  I love it that our country wants to invest in people.  It makes us special and unique.  One of the things that I read in the Declaration of Independence says:  "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to pro...

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Resurrection Day!  I know it may seem cliche, but for Christians it the holiest day of the year. Did you know that the early church moved their services from Friday to Sunday so they could celebrate Jesus' resurrection every week?  I was reminded today at church that the same power that raised Jesus from the grave lives inside of us.  The devil would love nothing more than for us to not realize this.  He does not want us to know the plan God has for us.  If you don't know what God's plan is for your life, it's for you to be in a relationship with Him.  Through this relationship He will reveal His purpose for your life.  And just in case you're wondering, He does have a purpose for you.  He has a plan, that was made in advance for you.  In case you think you can't be forgiven for something in your past, know that is a lie.  God loves nothing more than to give his kids another chanc...

Well, I  almost forgot to post, so this is going to have to count.  It is now spring break for my kiddos and we're out of school for the next week. I think we all needed the break from school and sports.  For us, it's a chance to catch our breath before the last BIG push at the end of school. My posts this week may occur late, sorry.  Today I took a huge nap & needed it.  I found myself awake at 4am.  So not cool.  Oh well, y'all have a great night & I'll see you tomorrow! Celebrating Life & down time with the fam! ~ashley

Ok, my least favorite holiday is Valentine's Day...whew, there I said it!  All you boo birds can just boo all you want.  I think it's stupid to relegate love to a season.  Hopson buying me flowers or taking me out to dinner means much more when he's not compelled to do it.  And when did it become vogue to make it a big deal to give children Valentine's presents?  My children are not my sweethearts...my husband is.  If I'm not doing anything for him, I'm not doing anything for them. I can understand the little children giving valentines at school & having valentine's parties at school, but from parents?  Um no, not in this house.  How about a big hug & I love you?  Happy Valentine's Day!   The only redeeming quality about Valentine's Day is the candy.  We are sugarholics around here.  (well the children and I are anyway)  I love candy.  I'm going to blame it on my mom becau...

Look at all the people!!! Yes, it's the day we all know and love, Groundhog Day, and for some odd reason, I LOVE IT!  The day when we depend on a rodent to let us know if we'll have an early spring or 6 more weeks of winter.  If I was a groundhog, I'd put my vote in for an early spring.  But, because it's been so warm these last few weeks I wouldn't be surprised if winter hangs on with all its got.  Boo cold weather, it makes me sad, and no one likes a sad mommy. ;)  BTW, Phil did see his shadow, so six more weeks of winter. I think Punxsutawney Phil is the national groundhog.  He lives in Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, PA.  There is an actual Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.  Love it!!!  I wonder if they have honorary memberships?  I think I would like one.  It may be a men's club though, because every time I see pictures there are only guys in it.  They all look so happy, and you know what, ...