2008 in Review...

Jan – ramp up for tax season, resolutions of traveling - (as I’ve been resolving to do for 20+ years! however, this year I actually GOT my passport!)… along with getting a prayer partner, which I also achieved this year! (Yay, ME!!!)

Feb – tax season hours begin (uggg!), got all gussied up and went to the Ronald McDonald Gala with my hubby and friends, went to the Circus with my mother/father-in-law for Mack’s 6^th bday, and saw Will Ferrell standup show at UNC (by far one of the funniest humans on the planet!)

March – tax season hours continue (UGGG), my sister-in-law, Gina and her girls came to visit us for a few days

April – the 15^th is always a VERYYY happy and tiring day, went to VA for about 5 days and spent time at Haven Beach for the first time in AGES (one of the many things I miss about "home")!

May –Double baby shower for my cousins, Deanna and Bekah - who are also sisters, babies due w/in a few weeks of each other... (stuff like THAT doesn't happen everyday, you know?)

June – Celebrated my 3^rd wedding anniversary!, saw Jimmy Buffett in concert for 4th time, baby brother graduated from the ole' M-H-S I loveit, I loveit , I loveit - M-H-S! (the ole' cheers just creep right in there... Its a gift really...!) :-)

July – Bought myself a Canon 40D that I can’t seem to put down, 3rd annual camping extravaganza w/ my dear friends in NC mountains, Elijah Reed was BORN (Deanna's baby)! w00t!

Aug – went to Ireland with my husbands family and officially got addicted to Facebook (thanks to my nieces and sister in law after said vaca in Ireland.), Raeann Rose was BORN (Bekah's baby)! w00t! w00t!

Sept – celebrated 1^st year in our new home!, prep'ed for Africa trip - (last min. shots and packing), spent the 3rd anniversary of my Gma's 'graduation' in Africa!

Oct – Continued the 13 day mission trip in Africa that forever changed my life!, dressed up as a Spa Princess for Halloween (one of my favorite holidays!), co-hosted the Hot Totties Cheppema Stock Dinner with Rachel and Mote

Nov – celebrated Festivus in STYLE w/ a forever young safari themed party to roll in my 30’s! and was blessed to have friends representin’ New York, Conneticut, VA, and NC in attendance! and planned the 1^st annual Old School Reunion for my CNU classmates and friends

Dec – Went to the Mathews County (VA) Christmas Parade in which my stepdad won the best float! (trust me, it was really good – but it probably won because my sweet-all-grown-up-brother, Brian, drove it in the parade!!), I got an external flash for my camera for Christmas, and hosted the 4^th annual Christmas Cheer with the Bahr's Party!

Wow… when you look at it like that, it really was a BIG YEAR! Did some big stuff, celebrated some really important milestones, and was surrounded by a lot of love and joy while it was all goin’ down!

Cheers to bringing in a new year – 2009!… The journey will be adventuresome, no doubt about it!

2009... the Year to SHINE!!!
2009... the Year to be WINED and DINED!!!!
2009...the Year of Blessings Divine...
2009... the Year of Stay-at-home-wifeness??????? Sigh...

Crap... Just doesn't look like its in the cards does it?

And AGAIN...

After 3 straight days of being in the house with 2 sugar-cookie-induced children, I would like to reiterate that I want to be a stay-at-home-WIFE – which in my humble opinion is VERRRYYYYY different from the role of a stay-at-home-MOM!

My warped perception:

Stay-at-home-WIFE = nicely-kept-up-hired-housekeeper-peacefully massaged & pedicured woman of said “kept-up-ness”

*NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH*

Stay-at-home-MOM = wiping snotty noses, more LAUNDRY than LIFE (we’ve had this discussion!), packing/unpacking dishwasher 2+ times a day!, and preparation of healthy meals times 3 (break, lunch, dinner) times 365 (days) times 18 (years) = 19,710 meals WHICH YIELDS = very tired, irriatible, non-peaceful, non-massaged, non-pedicured, heavily medicated maniac…

If babies are in my future, God may have to strike me with a lightening bolt to change my mind!... at this point, IT. AIN’T. HAPPENIN’!

...And our kids are actually GOOD KIDS!?!… Bottom line, I’m just a pansy - but at least I know it. Right? That should count for something????


You stay-at-home-moms are my heros! And the stay-at-home-mommers-that-also-manage-to-homeschool, you are flat out SAINTS or just plan crazy! I haven't quite figured it out yet!

When I grow up...

I've been off since last Friday afternoon. Um, yeahhh... AWESOME!!!!! I've concluded that I could be an INCREDIBLE Stay-at-home-wife... (not to be confused with a stay-at-home-mom ---NOOOOO wayy!).

I've been very productive -- cooking, cleaning, wrapping gifts, hosting Christmas parties, laundry (ugggg the dreaded laundry!). Nailed IT! All of it...

I've also picked up 2 new books and now have 3 going at the same time... (one of my very favorite past times!)

On Monday when I have to go back to work, I may actually cry on the drive in.

All this time, I've never known what I wanted to be when I grow up... now its VERY CLEAR! I want to be a stay-at-home-wife? However, without the cooking, cleaning, wrapping gifts, or the dreaded laundry!... Ohhhh how I loathe laundry!

Game Nights...

Last Wednesday night, we had a theme night that I called "Game Night." We picked out the game Pictureka to play as a family - my fabulous sister, Michelle gave it to the kids for Christmas. (Insert commercial music segment here.) This game is SO MUCH FUN... Even John and I enjoyed playing it with the kids - and would likely play it even if the kids weren't around. Everyone was laughing throughout the game. Basically, the player has to find a "picture" (or 4 or 5 or 6 depending on the number you rolled) on the game board before time runs out. Think Where's Waldo but with a competitive edge... And we alllll know how I can get when it comes to being competitive!? Sigh!

We have a lot of games - Truth or Dare Jenga, Scattergories, Mexican Train Dominoes, Clue, Scrabble, and my very favorite Balderdash!

Last night, we went over to our neighbors house with a dear friend, Pam (who came over within 30 mins of me asking her - I love people like that... AND she came over in her PJ's... Again, PEOPLE LIKE THAT = LOVE!... I digress). We ordered pizza, wings, and drank wine while playing Balderdash. I mean, really? A Sat night w/ friends in pj's, throw in some pizza, wings, and wine - a splash of Balderdash and trash talkin' and... in my opinion you got HEAVEN...

So... The question I'm pondering tonight - Why don't we do that MORE OFTEN? It's cheap, it's fun, it's an opportunity to grow relationally with the people that we love... all while talkin' trash in a little "friendly" game of Balderdash? HELLO?????? Is this thing on?

GAME NIGHTS = FABULOUS FUN!
Who's in for another night of "friendly relational competitiveness"?

:-)

Publish Post

Friends from Long ago... Part 3 - RHONDA!

Rhonda Hudgins Ramsey (affectionally known by many nicknames – Rhoda, Adnohr, Rhodes, R-squared, etc. – you get the point… nicknames for her have always come easily!)

Rhoda and I have known each other since elementary school, but became really close at the ole' MHS. One of the things I love the most about her is her laugh and willingness to laugh at funny things that happen to her (again, this is a recurring theme w/ me – I love people that enjoy telling stories about themselves that are hilarious and often times embarrassing!) Rhonda has a plethura of embarrassing and belly laughing stories about herself! Spending time with her is always followed by tired cheeks!

When I reflect on my days with Rhonda, Adnohr, Rhoda, or R-squared these are some of the memories that come to mind:

• Miss Rowe’s Health Occupations class – the funny and very random stories are ENDLESS! But sending Wesley to Sleven (7-11) to get us M&M’s and Dr. Pepper was probably our favorite regular occurance.
• Our band trips to New York City and Myrtle Beach – so many funny, yet inappropriate things that could be said here… :-)
• Football games in the stands with the band and flag girls
• Girls Basketball games – Cheering for her was easiest for me, b/c I just loved her so much and she was point guard (thus, she had the ball a lot!)
• Boys Basketball games – between the bus rides and the cheering station wagon – the memories are so fun! But my favorite memory regarding boys bball was when we dared her to grab the very CUTE and YOUNG Coach Underwood’s butt! She did it and we laughed the whole way home! Oh, it was PERFECT and many of us were jealous! But the look on his face was PRICELESS!!
• In English 12 when Martin Richardson in a Beavis and Butthead voice said, “RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRhondddaaaa” and accidently poked her in the booby! Still makes me CRACK UP to this day! As you can imagine the look on HIS face, well, it TOO was PRICELESS!
• O2BNKD license plates
• Chris Sheppard throwing gum wrappers and balled up pieces of paper into her hair that she would later find in the SHOWER b/c her hair was so big and curly!
• Our Senior prom with the Livermon boys!
• And she was THE friend who came to NC to help me move into my apartment!

But I have to say… the memory that we mention and laugh about most was the hysteria surrounding the closure of the ONLY little video store in Mathews County!

12th grade, 1st block – I ran up to Rhonda and told her the gossip: Encore is going out of business! This was HUGE news! We were devastated…

I saw her again in 3rd block and she came up to me with gusto and said, “You are NEVER going to believe this?” I said, “WHAT?” She said, “ENCORE IS GOING OUT OF BUISNESS?” I said, “Rhoda? I told you that this morning?” R said, “OHHHHH YEAH!”

Fast forward about 2 hours to 4th block… Rhonda ran up to me in band class, “E, did you hear? ENCORE IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESSSSS????” I busted out laughing and said, “RHOOOODA, IIIIII TOLD YOUUUUU THAT THIS MORNING!!!!!!”

To this very day, we will send cards to each other that say: I just heard that Encore is going out of business, can you believe it? Almost 14 years and approximately 5 video stores later, we are still laughing about it!

Rhoda, you have always been one of my biggest encouragers – your cards and funny emails and voicemails have ALWAYS been warmly received! (I still have the voicemail saved that you sent me when you were having a CONTRACTION!... only to have the baby several hours later! Its HILARIOUS!) Thanks for always “knowing” when I needed a pick me up – and always following threw with a word of encouragement.

There were times when I was falling and you caught me when I needed it most! You are considered one of the many blessings in my life! Thanks for being a very dear and FUNNY friend!

Kids say the darn'dest things!

Molly is a really funny kid... She's constantly cracking me up. At times shes like a 30 year old trapped in a 9 year old body. (Which means that I can relate to her more often than not? HA!)

On Tuesday night, one of John's clients brought their kids. Their boys are around the same age - which is really nice b/c most of our friends' kids are much younger.

At the Christmas party, all the kids wanted to go outside and run around - so they did. Mack and Nicholas are convinced that they are NEW best friends and Molly and Sean chased each other for about 40 mins (true love in the making!). KIDDDDDDING, I hope!!!

According to Sean's mom, Molly outran him in tag. Sean has profusely requested a rematch. But the funniest part was what Molly said after they left...

Me: Molly, did you have fun playing w/ Nicholas and Sean.

Molly: Yes!

Me: Looks like you were playing chase?

Molly: Yep! I may not be the fastest, but he IS going to have to CHASE ME!

Me: With the look of a deer in headlights, I drop to my knee (still in the resturant) to look her in the eyes - and because I'm always trying to teach her a "life lesson"... I say ... Oh honey, PLEASSSEEEE tell me that you will remember those words when you are 16!!

Molly: Good GRIEF, it was JUST a game of TAG?????????


Oh, how the thought of the teenage years are terrifying to me!!!! TERRIFYYYYYINGGGG TO ME, I SAY!!!!

A momma's many hats...

Last night my husband had a fabulous Christmas party for his clients and those that he networks with in the community. Can I just tell you that these people are really awesome! His clients and friends, in my opinion, reflect a lot of my husband’s goodness.

They are kind, funny, smart and outwardly generous people. They tell great stories and find ways to laugh at themselves. (I think I’ve mentioned before how I am a BIG fan of people that can find the ability to laugh at their own sillyness?! I guess misery DOES breed company??? I digress…)

On occassions like we had last night, I like to refer to myself as the "FIRST LADY" (yes, it’s a self proclaimed nickname! SO??) ...But it's true! I’m the "FIRST LADY" at these functions and I will walk right up to one of John’s clients that I haven’t met yet and announce just THAT! Because in reality, walking up to someone you've never met before that has a mouth full of food can be a little intimidating and somewhat weird… so a laugh is always up my sleeve during these kind of ackward moments! Fortunately, I love people and making them laugh makes it even MORE fun – especially when they have their mouths full – breaks the ice – QUICKLY, I might add! And, well, they never really forget me when I use that technique?... or at least, that has been what I have noticed? Haven't quiet figured out if thats good or bad, but I guess it really doesn't matter?

John had a great turnout! It was just the “right” amount of people and personalities that came together. Even our kids were there and had a blast – and they were on their “BEST” behavior. I mean it! Like, BEST BEHAVIOR EVER – It was amazing! Quite frankly, I’m still in awe over it?

However, I will say that just before getting out of the car and while slapping some fabulous shiny peppermint lip gloss on my big ole’ lips, I said a prayer regarding their behavior! I mean come ON moms!! --

You know this equation:

Clients + Nice Restaurant + Kids (could make for a) = COLLOSAL EXPLOSION…

But apparently, the combination of my prayer and the threat that their father gave them before entering the building (which I didn’t know about until they were in the bed) worked! :-) Nothing like a glorified parental tag team!!

Tonight is THEME NIGHT with the kids – we are having dinner w/ a GAME NIGHT theme… The table is decorated with games galore and the plan is to play one after we eat. But I have to admit that I’m a ‘bit’ on the competitive side… my husband actually LOATHES this about me! I mean really HATES it b/c I like to talk trash, even if I loose – and the kids are not omitted from this wonderful "characteristic" that I have! WHAT?????? It’s JUST WHO I AM PEOPLE????

Last night it was the FIRST LADY and tonight its TRASH TALKIN’ MOMMA!!! Ahhh, the many hats I wear!!! :-)