Out with the old...

Three hours and 45 minutes and 2006 will be gone, no more. How depressing is that? But we do have a very new year, no blemish, no nothing to start off with. A clean slate. Seems the older I get, the faster everything moves. I will probably be asleep when the new year comes in, not that I don't care, I just really have never gotten into the "celebrating" the new year. Never got involved with new year's eve parties, fireworks and so forth. Why is that, I wonder? Allyssa turns 6 tomorrow. 6 years old...she was just a premmie yesterday...seems like yesterday sometimes anyway. Still haven't done anything with my "resolutions" idea, finished one layout today, "14 months" for Dakota. Been looking at a picture of Allyssa taken back in September, 2005, when we went to the lake and I captured the most beautiful picture of her as she was getting back on the boat from a dip in the water. I just cannot seem to put down into words what I see in the picture...the water droplet falling from her chin, perfect pink lips, tantalizing blue eyes, perfect nose...some of the traits I intend to put on the layout...not finished though. Not feeling very good today anyway.

Dakota loves this Water Globe

This year Dakota was old enough to pick out some things that were associated with Christmas. Not that she knew that these particular items had anything to do with Christmas, but she knew that some things that were "out for Christmas" were not normally sitting out. This water globe was one of them. I had it sitting on the television and one day when we were walking around at a time when I actually had her in my arms (probably because she had been crying or something) she noticed this water globe. I am thinking I received this from Deborah one year but I am not sure. It is a Coca-Cola Santa Claus water globe with a train that moves around it when it is wound up and it plays the Coca-Cola song, It's the Real Thing. (I think, come to think of it, I am not sure that is the name of it!) Anyway, every time she was over here at the house, at least 3-4 times I had to pick her up and show her the globe with the snow. I would have to turn it up-side down to get the "snow" going of course. There was also a smaller water globe I got one year for Christmas from a girl at work, but the snow did not do as well as this snow did. She looked at it for the last time today when I was trying to soothe her before Natasha came to get her, before I finally gave up and took her to my bed and laid there with her on my chest where she was asleep in 3 minutes. After she and Allyssa left, I packed up all the christmas stuff and put it away until next year. Wonder if she is going to remember it then? Of course, I will always remember her little smile and face light up when I would pick her up to see it "snow".

Allyssa was caught up in her new portable DVD player all day. She took it to Stamps and More when me, mom, Dakota and Allyssa went today and she sit and entertained a little lady that was sitting in the "little room" that Eleanor has which has a table and a small couch in it. She was watching Barbie Rapunzel all day. Does not seem like she should be old enough to be so entertained by a tech gadget like the portable DVD but she is. I can hardly believe she will be six years old Monday. Where has the time gone? She usually comes to my scrapbook room when she comes over and today was not different. She asked me for some paper so she could "write" something. After about 5-10 minutes she came to the living room and told Papa she put a note on his door to come and see it. So we went to his computer room and she had wrote, "Papa, I love you". She had done this all by herself, she did not even ask me how to spell any of it. I asked her today what she would miss about being five years old, (I was trying to get her answers so I could do a scrapbook page on it), but she said she did not know. I am not sure whether she understood what I was asking or she just was not in the mood to think about it! I think I will try again later. They grow up way too fast....

Hershey Kiss Baby!

Dakota loves Hershey's chocolate, it don't have to be a kiss, it can be a bar itself. She knows what a miniature hershey bar looks like and she knows what a hershey kiss looks like. I had to snap a picture of these last three kisses before she ate them. The second picture she is walking over to Papa for him to take the paper off and she had to test it before she got there! Aren't those kisses looking good. Something about a hershey's kiss and this is dark chocolate too, yum. The regular kisses were good, but now that they have dark chocolate they are even better. Allyssa was with her former babysister who wanted to baby-sit her for the day before Allyssa went back to school so I did not pick her up at daycare when I picked up Dakota. Sure do miss her. I haven't seen her since Wednesday, seems like a long time!

Gotta get ready to get all the christmas stuff back up in the attic. I hate doing that. Wish I could snap my fingers and it be done at once! Well, I am still trying to get my scrapbooking mind going, still have so much in my brain, but cannot get started....

Remember This?

Take a look at that Santa Claus! Looks like one of those Santa's out of a christmas book!!!! This picture was taken when Zachwas a year old, what 16 years ago? My, my how things have changed, how we have changed, more than that how Nick and Natasha have changed....would love to be able to go back and look "in" on our lives then. Sort of like Ebenezer Scrooge when he is taken back in time....ok, enough of the sentimental-ness. I can't stand it, I will be crying in a minute! All of the kids have grown up so much and have their own lives, all except Zach, he may never leave home!!!!!! I still keep thinking about him up at 7:30 a.m (2006) Christmas morning because he was "getting stuff"!!!!! Such a half grown man and such a little boy still...we all need to be that way. I think deep down inside, away from all the hustle and bustle of what gift to give, whether we will have enough money, whether the gift receiver will like the gift, I really like Christmas, the lights, the baking of goodies, (of course, when an oven does not burn the bottom of everything you make), the trees all decorated, the gifts, the "kindness" of everyone during the season, the magic in the air....the real reason for Christmas. It is really nice. Would it not be nice if we could all enjoy the holidays and not have to worry about anything, and I mean ANYTHING! It will never happen though. So for now I will just reminsce of Christmas' gone by and our little children wrapped up in the magic of it all.

End Of 2006

The way this Ty Beanie Baby Christmas Bear looks is about the way we all are feeling right now (I think I speak for the majority of us!). Stuffed and pooped out! We are tired, pooped out, exhausted, run down, ready-for-it-to-be-over. Maybe not quit ready-for-it-to-be-over, but almost. Seems like after the gifts are open, the visits to friends and families' houses are done, the eating (and the crying because we ate too much) is done that the magic of it all ends. I asked Allyssa today if she had a good Christmas and she said "yes ma'am". I asked her if she got everything she thought she asked for and she said yes. I can safely say I did. A couple of things I got, I had just mentioned (Santa is a good listener!) Dakota got plenty of toys and clothes as well as Allyssa. She, Randy and Natasha baked cookies in her Easy-Bake Oven Christmas Day night. They were suppose to fix slushies tonight, but she had a date with Mom to spend the night since Mom would have them tomorrow anyway. Dakota had a big day at day care today apparently. When we got home, I gave her a snack, changed her diaper and she was ready for her nap. I usually lay down with her on my bed and get her to sleep. It normally takes me about 20-25 minutes to get her settled down enough to nap a little bit before her mom gets here to pick them up, but today she was out in less than 5 minutes and snoring to beat the band! You could hear her all the way down the hall. Allyssa was watching the DVD movie Waterboy with Papa until her mom came to get them. I woke Dakota up about 5 minutes before she got here. Sometimes when Dakota wakes up she starts shaking until the figures out where she is at. So I wake her up gently so she can ease into her surroundings once again. Went back to work today for 3 days and then another long week-end, WOO-HOO! Still thinking about the resolutions thing, gonna do a scrapbook page, but haven't quit got it down in my mind how I want it, or maybe I will just do a mini-book about it. Got a little scrapbooker's block going on right now. So much I want to do, so little time to do it in. Sometimes things run through my mind so fast I cannot even keep up with them, much less right them down. Ate lunch with Mom today at Subway. I only get 30 minutes so it is a eat-and-run lunch. She was so funny today, we were sitting there eating and then all of a sudden I say, I have to go. Instead of me wrapping my sandwich up to go (actually I was already done with it since I am used to eating in a hurry) she starts wrapping hers up really fast and she said "I love eating lunch with you"!!!! Of course, I knew she was being facicious since I had to run and she did not! There was a time when I did not have to rush off from lunch but those days are long gone. I don't think I will ever get to that point in my career again, especially where I am working at the present time. I sure do miss not having to rush around all the time. Well, gotta go and start my mind thinking about the mini-book of resolutions I am going to make, I think!

It's gone again.

After each of the families had their Christmas with their immediate family, we all met at Mom and Dad's house for the usual lunch and opening of presents. The food was delicious as usual with Smoked ham (my favorite right up there with turkey), potato salad, congealed salad, fruit salad, green beans, corn, macaroni and cheese, homemade yeast rolls (so yummy), just like the "big fat yeast roll" Quincy's Steakhouse used to make, all kinds of sweets. Wayne and his family were not there because Wayne had to work at the fire department and Mitch and his family were not there either. Deborah and her family were there and me, Vincent and our family were there and Ashley was there with Nicholas. We had a really good time. Vincent was under the weather but all in all he did pretty good. Dakota and Allyssa thoroughly enjoyed themselves. After we opened presents, Natasha, Randy, Allyssa, Dakota, Nick and Ashley headed to our house to open their gifts from us and then we all headed over to Natasha and Randy's to see what Santa had left the girls. So, so much stuff. We are all so fortunate and blessed. We often times forget just how blessed we all are. We all have our good health, our jobs, family....so much. I gave Vincent some drive lights for his motorcycle and a gift set of Fahrenheit cologne and aftershave. He gave me sooo much; a Cricut die cut machine for my scrap booking, a 20" flat panel television for my scrapbook room (so I can watch House and CSI when I am in there!!), a circular sapphire and diamond necklace (which has a story in itself) and a Kodak Easy Share C743 digital optical zoom camera with the Easy Share G600 printer dock, WOO-HOO! Santa was really good to me. I told him he really spent too much on me since I was not able to spend a whole lot on him. Now for the necklace story.....back in October Belk's was running a good sale on their 10k gold sapphire and diamond circular necklaces. Vincent and I were on our way to get Mom one for Christmas when I called my brother-in-law Randy to see if he was interested in getting my sister one for Christmas. He said yes and I picked one up for him. Vincent ended up getting me one also. So we were opening gifts at Mom and Dad's house when Mom opened her necklace and was telling us how beautiful it was when Deborah seen it and started talking about how coincidental that Mom and she got the same necklace. Of course, me and my big mouth stated that I got one also, but I had not unwrapped it yet. (one of these days, I will learn to keep my mouth shut). Then Deborah's wheels in her head started running double time (if you know my sister you will know what I mean!). She then started asking Randy about how he got the necklace, did he buy it, did he pick Mom one up too.....then she asked me, "did you get that necklace for Randy?". I told her that I was not saying anything. I really felt so bad that I did not think in advance that Deborah would be upset about the necklace. At the time I was purchasing the necklaces and I knew Vincent was getting me one I thought it would be neat that we all had the same necklace. I was not thinking that Deborah would be upset that Randy did not go and actually get it himself. I wish I could do it all over again. I would never do anything to hurt her and I feel that I have really messed it up for her this year. After Mom opened her gift, of course, no one else could understand what Deborah was getting so upset for. I have learned my lesson though ( I hope). From now on I am staying out of picking up any gifts for anyone. Now the necklace incident is going to be called the "infamous necklace"! Anyway, guess I had better go for now.

Young and Carefree!

This is one of my favorite photos of Allyssa. This picture was taken at Venice Beach while we were in California. Allyssa had a fit until we finally got to the water! She enjoyed her "dancing" on the sand. Mom and I went to do our usual Saturday outing today. We had a good time. Been printing out pictures tonight like crazy. My PictureMate printer is working for a little while so I took advantage of it. I have printed about 75 pictures tonight. Pictures I need to scrapbook, pictures I NEED to just look at and reminisce. Sometimes I just daydream all the time. I am not sure you would call it daydreaming, I just let my mind drift to all kinds of places or things to ponder. Got so much to scrapbook, so much I need to put down on paper, where is the time? Christmas is 2 days away, as usual money running thin. Trying to put together a "Resolutions for 2007" page. I don't usually do the resolutions thing, but I thought it might be something to try to come up with for a scrapbook page. Not off-the-wall resolutions, actual reasonable resolutions that I think I can complete before December 2007. Might end of making a mini album. Don't know yet. Well, it is 10:08 p.m. on the 23rd of December. Think I am going to go get ready for bed a little bit earlier than last night! But I sure would like to do another scrapbook page. Completed one tonight that I had scraplifted from an idea gallery at A.C. Moore several weeks ago. Turned out pretty good! I ran across this quote a while back that I keep on my desk and read every day; "do not fear going foward slowly, fear only to stand still" (Chinese proverb) Kinda makes sense, I guess. Until tomorrow......

"Kid-At-Heart" Hack!

What exactly was Hack saying to this turkey? I was just thinking about him the other day as I do every year at Christmas. I reminisce back when we were just kids and he would have his house all decked out for christmas, lights everywhere. Then I remember when he and Cornelia (or Coneer as we called her) moved to Silver Shoals Road in Marietta and how he decorated, how he would be in the house before it got dark with all doors locked and not come out until morning. I sure do miss them, but I really miss Hack because he was just a big kid-at-heart! Silly......

Today was our last day at work before Christmas. I don't mind working on the last day before christmas. Everybody is giving gifts to one person or another, working a little bit and "playing" a little bit too. Today is Natasha's 24th birthday. Little sad that she choose to spend it with Randy and his family rather than her family, but it does not surprise me anymore. For some reason, she and Nick both would rather spend time with other people or other family members instead of their own immediate family. Allyssa is at her dad's house for the weekend through Christmas morning. She wanted to spend the night at her dad's house for Santa this year. She is growing up too darn fast as is Dakota. Dakota was not feeling too good today. She was kinda of whiny, she threw up, just over all not feeling good at all. Vincent is under the weather also. Going shopping with Mom tomorrow to do our usual Saturday outing. I love spending Saturdays with her and miss it when things come up and we cannot get together. That is about the only time we have to catch up on things and just talk. Not done any scrapbook shopping the past couple of weeks, christmas is taking all my money!!!!!! That's not good!!!!! (Just kidding). Well, gotta go wrap presents!

A "WILD" Night!

These two zebras decided that we were there to feed them only. At one time, had their heads nearly in the window! This trip to Hollywild was with Allyssa by herself. We fed the deer, these zebras, goats, a horse, camels, baby goats. There were llamas, 2 BIG, BIG cows and when I say big, I mean, BIG. They each weighed in at around 3200-3400 lbs. (yes pounds) and they drink about 60-70 gallons of water a day, and stand way, way over 7 feet! You would not believe how big they are. I got "head" butted on my hand by a baby goat, but let me tell you, just because he was a baby did not mean he did not pack a powerful "head-butt", my hand was sored for at least 20 minutes, got nibbled by the zebra and one of the goats, but that did not hurt. Allyssa enjoyed herself, wore herself out and was ready to hit the sack when we got home. Gotta go for now, it is 10:22 p.m. and I have to fold up a load of laundry and put another one in the dryer. Woo-Hoo!

Santa Pictures

Ok, someone could have told me to take off that ridiculous hair band on my head!! I look like I have horns and look at Santa, I think he was really enjoying this as he leaned over closer!!!!! It was all fun even if Dakota did not appreciate it one bit!

What A Day!

Allyssa seems to have a real fascination with this bear's hole in his pants!!!! This bear is on the sidewalk in Hendersonville, NC, right near the Mast General Store. Every year me, natasha, allyssa, mom, deborah, and asheton have tried to go to Hendersonville one weekend in December before Christmas to "shop", exchange Hallmark ornaments and just enjoy the company and the day. This year we added a new member of the "girls day out". Miss Dakota Kahl our newest member of our family enjoyed the day with us, but Natasha did not get to go, she was working. Of course, we spent most of the day trying to get Allyssa and Dakota's Santa pictures made since they had not been made yet. We went to the Blue Ridge Mall in Hendersonville first thinking that we could get in there early (before the crowd-LOL) and get out so we could head to Main Street since Mom and Deborah had to be back in Travelers Rest by 3:00 P.M. Boy was that a BIG MISTAKE. On this day the mall was hosting a "Breakfast and Magic Show" to begine at 11:00 A.M. and then an appearance by Santa (which happen to be around 11:40 A.M.) and then Santa would begin making pictures (which was about 12:00. Of course, by the time Mom is having a time with Dakota, not because she was not being good, but just because she is a 14 month on little girl that wants to play and not be held. And of course, we forgot the stroller
:-(. Allyssa really enjoyed the magic show though and Deborah got some shopping down in the meantime since Asheton need to try on some clothes for Deborah for christmas presents. After we left the mall, about 12:30 we went to Fatz to eat lunch and exchange our gifts. Then we headed to Main Street which I think was about 1:30 P.M.(?) We went to the Mast General Store, purchased a few items, came out of the store and then decided to go ahead and leave since it was 2:10 P.M. by then. We all piled back in the car and headed for TR. So much for our relaxing and mellow day! It's all good!!!!!!! But boy were we all wore out.

I'm back for the moment!

Is this not a beautiful site? This was taken at the Travelers Rest Christmas Parade on December 9, 2006. She is so precious. When I seen her doing her little routine, I just wanted to pick her up and squeeze her. She was doing so good, looking at the instructor while she was dancing. She loves dance class. Every time we go by Karen's Dance she has to show me that she takes dance there!

I have not been able to get on the internet lately. Something to do with the signal between my computer and vincent's since we use a wireless router. You don't realize how much you depend on the internet until you cannot get on it. Technology is a great thing when all is well with it working, but when it decides to take a vacation, it can been a terrible thing!

Christmas is 2 weeks away and I have a few more gifts to purchase. No worries though. The items I need to get are common so I should not have a problem getting them. Am going to try to get the tree put up this week. I just really have not been in the christmas mood to put up any decorations or the tree. Not sure what the problem is. Going to Hendersonville this coming Saturday, the 16th. Our semi-annual trip (last year we did not get a chance to go) with me, Mom, Allyssa, Dakota, Deborah and Asheton. Natasha has to work and cannot go. We give a gift for each one going and this year is it going to be Hallmark ornaments. That is what it started out to be in the beginning and somehow we got off track with it.

Think I will go for now and hope that I can get back on the internet tomorrow to continue my blog.

Oh and Mom, I am still thinking about that "goldfish".! I think I will do a scrapbook page on it!