Hi Everyone, Bella here, hijacking.

I received a sad text from Patti tonight, she lost her mother. I know she was in the hospital for pneumonia and that was the last I heard.

If you are interested in donating for flowers and a gift for the family (I'm thinking of sending Patti one of the willow t*rees, the remembrance angel), please let me know - bella lou who at gmail dot com and I will send you my paypal information. If you do decide to donate and want any updates on what is collected and how it is spent I will be happy to provide you with that information.

Also, if you are interested in sending a card again, please e-mail me and I will give you my address and get all of the cards to Patti and her family (I don't feel comfortable giving out her address.)

Patti, I know you're reading this and shaking your head at what I wrote above, we are wanting to send something to you because we love you.

We are sending you and your family big huge hugs in this time of sorrow. Please keep Patti and her family in your thoughts.

Wednesday after Christmas we decided to take a short trip to Hendersonville, NC as it has been awhile since the three of us have went away together.
It was a 3 1/2 hour drive to Hendersonville from Florence. A very pleasant one as it was striclty I-20 and I-26 all the way!
Maddie caught a nap (as she always does in the car!)
The ever present "Boy" snoozed with her too. Won't this make a terrific blackmail picture when she's older Ha! Ha!

When we got to our Hotel they HAD some snow, Maddie had to pick up some of it.
I know, she doesn't have on a coat and it WAS cold, however she just got out of the car and ran to the snow. We were going from the car straight inside and she never wears a coat in the car. My sister sent me a text immediately bawling me out for her not having on a coat(as I had put this on f@cebook too!)

We left the hotel to get some dinner and when we came outside it was snowing like CRAZY! Madison was SO excited!!! She was trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue.
I decreed from now on a coat was to be worn no matter what or my sister was going to kill me!

The short ride over the mountain from our Hotel had some beautiful scenery and winding snow roads! We loved it!

We were headed to "Moonshine Mountain" to go snow tubing! Here are the runs and someone had built an abominable snow man up there! Cool!

Maddie riding the lift up, they attach your tube to a pulley and it pulls you up the mountain OR you can walk but no way in !@#$% was I hiking up that mountain over and over. I noticed once I saw a person doing it they were in line for the lift next time around LOL

Me & Maddie in line, beside the pit fire. We had maybe a 5 minute wait before getting on the lift again. It was truly awesome. I didn't get to take any pictures from the top because you had to keep moving and on the way down - FORGET IT! We FLEW down so fast I had to hold on!
One time we went to the highest run and the guy informed us we had to go seperately - boom - down goes Stacy. Before I could even get my wits together, worried about Maddie, the guy said "she'll be fine" and shoves me and off I go. Holy Heck that run scared the BEJESUS out of me. You start down and then hit a rise and I SWEAR it was a SHEER drop down. I screamed like a fool, I was sure I was going to tumble right out of the tube but I didn't.
When I got to the bottom Stacy was trying to signal the guy NOT to send Madison down when - Whoosh - here she comes. I was praying my baby wouldn't fall out or get hurt and she looked absolutely petrified when she got close enought for us to see her little face. She made it fine though.
She was a little shaken, and said she did NOT want to do that run again.
I didnt' either! So we stuck to the middle one which was plenty fast believe me!

After tubing we went back to downtown Hendersonville to get something to eat.
Maddie picked this place (because she liked the idea of it being downstairs)

Actually the food was wonderful! I had boiled shrimp and some gumbo which came with french bread. OMG delicious!! We ate like pigs!

It really was an awesome trip. We spent two nights, and Madison swam in the pool both evenings. Stacy was a good sport and got in with her.
It was just so nice to be away, having fun together as a family.
I hope we can do it again - soon!

Santa DID come!!!

Ready to open presents!

Santa brought me the Pink Nintendo DS I wanted!

and a big walking Doll - she's almost as big as ME!

and a Purple Brett Favre Vikings Jersey!

It was raining and very cold so Maddie just tried out her super cool new motorcycle - In The House!

Santa didn't forget Daddy - he got a shiatsu massagie chair!

Madison & Reilly scattering "food" for Santa's Reindeer! Those specks are the reindeer food (quaker oats & glitter mixed together!)

Looking a little unsure about it LOL

Digging in~!


Okay Mommy it's cold - can we go inside?

We went to find some "southern snow" to take pictures for our family Christmas Card.
Luckily we went when we did because they chopped the cotton field the very next day!

This is the one that made the card!

She asked me "Mommy why are we in a cotton field?" I said "to take pictures for a christmas card, remember when I took you to Azalea Park for easter pictures?"
She said she did. One thing I can say, she is a cooperative photo subject!

This smile looks a bit fake don't you think? I imagine it's hard because I took a LOT of pictures!

Some of the cards I sent are coming back so I apologize if you sent me a card and didn't get one or you usually get one from me. Don't know what the problem is this year with the postal service. I've never had this happen before!

My MIL is doing okay, hopefully she will come home today.We will be going down tonight for the week-end.
Last night Santa stopped by the party Miss Patsy had for her dance class.
I got to tell Santa what a good girl i've been this year!

My child is a NUT. She went and put the Santa suit on after we got home.
Me & Stacy laughed so hard!!!!!



Have a great week-end and remember - Santa's Watching!

I have thirteen nieces and nephews. I was always the "fun" Aunt (because i'm the baby of five).
One time I even endeavored to take all 13 of them (in my Dad's station wagon) to see the movie "Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles".
My ears rang all the way home - because all thirteen of them sang the theme song from the movie- non-stop! LOL
But... I digress.
Despite babysitting from the time I was about 12 years old, it in no way, shape, or form prepared me for a baby of my own.
An infant.
We did not know how to do her bottle, the hospital provided us with the "cheater" bottles and we were frantic that we might somehow screw up regular formula/bottles and harm our babygirl.
Sometimes I wish there had been a hidden camera - i'm sure we looked comical. Two "skirting-forty" parents completely un-hinged by a tiny infant.
But, we made it through.
Now she is five years old. FIVE. Where did the time go?
I dropped her off at pre-school this morning.
She doesn't want us to walk her in anymore, she's already embarassed to be kissed in front of the other kids.
I watched her go up the walk-way, flowered LL Bean Backpack on her back (monogrammed, of course).
It looked as big as her.
I still find myself frustrated and at my wits end. \
Did I do the right thing?
Did I give the right answer?
Do I do TOO much for her?
Am I giving her too much lee-way ..... or not enough to grow.
It's HARD - the hardest thing i've ever done.
I am responsible for raising this human being right.
I want her to be strong,fair,compassionate, and open-minded.
In the end I can just take a deep breath and hope for the best!

Back in the day I regularly came up with PSA's (public service announcements dontcha' know?!) but I haven't done it in awhile. I fear i've lost my touch!

Dear DH - You need to take it to the Beach - your such a crab-ass! I know there are reasons for this but it doesn't make it any easier for the people who have to deal with you.

PB - I do not want to be BFF's, I do not want to do extra-curricular Christmas activities with you, I definitely don't want to hear about your s*x life! Have a little professional courtesy ok?

Bowl-Head- I know you are not a happy camper. It's been obvious for years. You're children have disappointed you terribly but there is no need to take it out on people who don't deserve it and have circumstances beyond their control. You deserve a quick karate chop to the neck. (I say quick because I CAN be humane - unlike you).

God's Gift - Hahahahaha after I pick myself up off the floor because - YOU are a catch? - Really? Hold still while I go find a mirror and tape recorder. Take a good long look at yourself and listen. Oh wait, your ego is in the way there!

DSIL - If by any chance you DO take that blow-hard, bossy, lazy, no-good !@#$%%^* back I will jerk a knot in your tail that a whole troop of boyscouts couldn't get out.

Little Hitler - I know you WANT to be the boss but you are NOT the boss and you will never BE the boss if I have anything to do with it. Oh here's a tissue. There's some brown on your nose!

I feel ever so much better now!

Yep - White Christmas.......
but I doubt if we'll get it.....
the last white christmas we had was 1989- 20 years ago!!!!
My brother and I used to always go out shopping on Christmas Eve and when it began snowing while we were having lunch I started crying my eyes out.
It was the first white Christmas since we had moved here from Pennsylvania!
We did get snow twice last year so I can't complain too much.
I have the cutest 8x10 picture of Madison next to the big snowman we built and it's as big as her!
Still, she would love to see snow again and I would too....
so let's hope for a christmas miracle and about a foot of "Noël sous la neige" on Dec 23rd!

Okay that title is a reminder for me - but looking at these pics definitely makes me happy!
We had a special visitor come back this year. She had a miniature elf last year that I had gotten from Amazon.com (as I didn't know fully what I was looking for). Well Wink was very well loved, some of you may remember my fracturing my ankle trying to move him one night ....
I found this book and the big Elf at the Christmas Shoppe at Southport Beach,NC and tucked it away.
Maddie and Daddy read the story "The Elf On The Shelf".
It details how Santa sends a special elf to watch over you starting around Thanksgiving.
His job is to report to Santa every night and fly back before morning (hence we have to keep thinking up places to move him to).
The child names the Elf and then is not allowed to touch the Elf or the magic will go away.
Madison is very very enchanted by this. She's a very whimsical child anyway. It makes me smile!


Meet our new (and permanent) Elf - "Sprinkles"

Madison visiting with "Santa" at the Darlington Christmas Tree Lighting. She knows he's not the REAL Santa but a helper :)

May the magic of Christmas be upon you and have blessed day!

What are the chances........
we have two people here who are dead ringers (pardon the pun - no really!) for famous serial killers and one scary character on TV.
There is a guy, who actually sits near me who looks like the guy who played the "Dad" to the clan of vampires in the movie Lost Boys. The one who was romancing the "Mom" because he needed a vampire Mom for the Lost Boys. His name escapes me.
This guys name is Charlie and boy, he looks a LOT like that guy.

The two serial killers.
One is a woman who works on the second floor who looks like Aileen Wuornos. Maybe that's not such a stretch - blonde, stringy-haired, blowsy woman LOL

the OTHER one - a guy - looks exactly and I mean EXACTLY like the BTK Killer Dennis Rader. So much so that one day I asked him if he was originally from around here because I fully expected him to say he was from the Mid-West where Dennis Rader is from. He said he wa from.........Kansas. I lacked the courage to ask if he was related to Dennis Rader though. If he is, i'm sure he's not bragging about it!
Have YOU ever known anyone who looked like a serial killer?

As if I don't struggle through bad days at work and try to shed my negative feelings when I walk out the door, I pick Madison up from school and it slides even more downhill quickly.
She got put in timeout. Told an OUTRAGEOUS lie to her teacher (one that would give my MIL a heart attack if she knew Madison said). Drug her jacket along behind her in the dirt. Purposely dropped her bookbag in the dirt and wouldn't pick it up.
So I spanked her on the step in front of her teacher (the class was inside). Then we get home and she doesn't want to go to dance class.
By that time - I am through. I didn't argue with her or make her go. I was angry and upset all evening long. Part of it is the stress i'm going through with work, part of it is a "visitor" - TMI alert, I realize this.
We are supposed to go to the tree lighting on the square tomorrow night - Madison was supposed to dance. That is spoiled since she didn't go to class last night I have no idea what she's supposed to wear, what time she is supposed to be there etc. Plus i'm too embarassed as i'm going to go ahead and let her quit dance class as she's been asking to do.
Somehow Stacy will still pull the float this week-end in the Christmas parade but i'm not riding on it or anything. See above.
I am sure i'm being stupid but it's how I feel. I don't mind so much letting h er her quit dance class - I ALWAYS said if she didn't want to do it I wouldn't make her but really - I envisioned this happening when she started at age 2 not at 5.
Not when we've got all of these dance-involved Christmas obligations coming up. Not when her Daddy JUST paid a deposit on her dance costume for the recital in May.
Ah well, i've got it all out......here on my trusty old blog.
Now just let me get through this day-from-hell (we've got out of town visitors so ramp up the old bullshit meter x 3).
On a GOOD note Stacy did some more decorating outside last night - my house looks SO GOOD y'all!
It is bright and festive and he's picking up 4 more airblowns to put up tonight (although they won't get put out until it stops raining).
Cut me some slack, our house is on an acre so we DO have some room for them! ;)
Get-Me-Through-This-Tuesday-Lord!

Two of my favorite cartoons - i'm a sucker for Peanuts and the other well.... it just has it's own "charm" Ha! Ha!
Hope you have a wonderful day and if you are going shopping tomorrow (as I am) hope you get all the bounty you are heading out for!!!!
Much Love & Gravy,

The Cutest little turkey I'VE ever seen!

Are you going to Grandmother's house?
We are going to Charlotte, as I said in my post yesterday.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone and meeting the babysitting BIL's mother who is here from Wisconsin.
I wish Stacy didn't have to go home Thursday but we'll have the week-end together and then the following week-end we have to decorate the float for the Darlington Christmas Parade.
Stacy pulls the float and he and my sister throw candy to the kids.
We bought a bunch of candy after Halloween for just this purpose.
I am not going to be those people who only throw hard candies because they are cheap ;)
We get to leave two hours early today (which I am hella thankful for) so everyone have a fabulous Turkey Day and i'll see you next week!

Just curious what everyone's Christmas wishes are.....
honestly I got two of my biggest wishes already this year, my beautiful new house and my Dodge Charger. I am a lucky, lucky, lucky girl!

I don't have anything "hard and fast" but my wish list is....

A new Job (yeah seriously if I got that I could forego anything else)

A "sweet tea shirt" I saw these at Schofield Hardware, my favorite is "Hissy Fit" LOL

A Stand Mixer (I could seriously use one of these but i'd take a Sunbeam, I don't require a Kitchen Aide)

A Leopard Coat (faux)

Leather Moccasins (I stupidly got rid of alot of my comfy shoes when I moved)

Money (who doesn't like cold, hard cash!) ;)

I can't much think of anything else.
I guess i've pretty much got all I want/need.
I HAVE got something for Stacy that I think will knock his socks off and that makes me seriously happy.
He does so much for me that it's nice when I can give back for a change.
As long as Madison has a nice Christmas and i've got him something i'm happy with I will have a good Christmas.
No, - make that a GREAT Christmas!
Tell me your Christmas list!

Southern Girls know you can never be...
too rich
or too blonde!

Southern girls have a distinct way with fond expressions:
"Y'all come back!"
"Well, bless your heart."
"Drop by when you can."
"How's your Mamma?"
"Love your hair."

Southern girls don't sweat... they glisten.

Southern girls know their summer weather report:
Humidity...Humidity...Humidity

Southern girls have more fun than should be allowed.


Southern girls know their vacation spots:
The Beach
The Beach
The Beach

Southern girls wear Flip Flops and Pearls

Southern girls know everybody's first name:
Honey
Darlin'
Sugah

Southern girls know the movies that speak to their hearts:
Gone With the Wind
Fried Green Tomatoes
Driving Miss Daisy
Steel Magnolias

Southern girls know their religion:
Football
Racing
Football

Southern girls know their country breakfasts:
Grits
Bacon
Country ham
Scrambled eggs
Mouth watering homemade biscuits

Southern girls know their cities, dripping with charm:
Charleston
Savannah

Y'all know Southern girls are quick on the drawl.

Southern girls know their prime real estate:
The Mall
The Salon
The Bar

Southern girls can teach anyone to flirt...
Slowly lower your eyelashes
Listen carefully to everything he says
Speak r-e-a-l slow
when all else fails -
Stick out your chest
Flip your hair

Southern girls know men come and go, but friends are fo'evah.


I was at a (don't laugh) party for GLORY southern vegetables. I didn't hold the can right! LOL


**** Seriously I am reading a book called "We're just like you - only prettier!" written by a southern belle and it is the funniest thing (to me). I actually went to school with girls who were like that!

I can't find alot of my Thanksgiving decorations - I am hoping my Mother will take pity on me and give me some of hers.
She keeps saying she doesn't want to decorate anymore and she has some fabulous ones BUT I hope she does continue to decorate.
I think it lifts ones spirits. I remember as a kid, coming home from school and being beside my self, positively giddy with excitement because she had decorated for the upcoming holiday while I was at school.
I get it honest because my Mother has always decorated for every single holiday that comes down the pike! Valentines Day, St Patricks Day, Easter, May Day (flowers), 4th of July, Autumn, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas!

Here is the entranceway. I think it needs a little more "something" on the walls and i'll be in hot pursuit this week-end you can be sure of that! (well after I get done WORKING that is). Blah.

A close-up of the beautiful jeweled pumpkin wall hanging.

I'd like to find some snazzier pilgrims too but these will have to do... for now! I LOVE the sparkly leaves. These either came from the Dollar Tree or Wal Mart. Seriously!

This little turkey plate was so whimsical and colorful who could resist him?

Who could resist these two turkeys either? LOL

My turkey slide, I pretty much have something for every single holiday but i'm VERY picky about them. Cannot be too fussy. Out of several different turkeys i've seen this one remains my favorite for it's simplicity.

Ever thankful ....