Merry Christmas Eve

As I wait for Santa to arrive...actually, I think he already arrived ;-), I think back over the last year and wonder where the time has gone. Really not only 2011, but the past several years. Whoever said "time flies", really was right. What will 2012 hold, I wonder. Will it go as fast as 2011 did, and the year before that, and the year before that? My guess is yes. I've had some health struggles the past few months. I wish those times would fly on by - and sometimes I wonder, why those times don't seem to fly by quite as quickly as the good times. But through it all, I've been blessed. I pray in 2012 that I can be strong in the Lord, live in His plan and be a blessing as I have been blessed. I pray that my family and friends will experience His blessings and that the Lord will continue His hedge of protection around my kids. Merry Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas everyone.

My Worker Girl

I am not sure why I have a picture of Kelsie's friend with her apron and bow tie on but not of Kelsie????

Going Red

The blog is going "Red" in support of the Cardinals' post season participation! I will admit, I was SO done with them about 3 weeks ago. I couldn't help it. I was done! But, now I am back ;-)

In other news, let's see...my partner Ashley and I won our City Finals match a couple of weeks ago. I am now officially over-committed with tennis. And I'm tired.

Kelsie's job is still going well. Cam is playing his fair share of tennis...so is Kenny. Did I mention that I'm tired?

August....

I have to have an August post! But, I didn't want to until I could post a picture of my new little worker girl in her Steak n Shake uniform. But alas, I am too lazy to find the camera card and the adapter, and....well you get the picture (no pun intended). Anyway that was the big news of the month, Kelsie got her first "real", non-babysitting job and she's doing great at it. I have had to pry her tip money out of her hot little hands so it can go into her bank account. She's made so much $$$, I'm thinking of quitting my job and becoming a Steak n Shake waitress myself ;-) I am very proud of how she has managed work, friends, and homework. They are working her to death, though, so we may need to make a few adjustments, we'll see. As August passes...happy September to us all.

Ft. Lauderdale

We spent last week in Ft. Lauderdale. It was a great weather week, rained a little bit one late afternoon, but that was it. We had a good time with one exception. One of us was sick. Check the pictures out...who is missing? And now he's given the sickness to me...sore throat, etc. :-(, but...we press on. These are a few pix -- haven't uploaded all of them to the computer yet. Heather was able to fly to FLL and join us for most of the week, I think the girls really enjoyed themselves. And we got to see the Linn's in Miami, but I don't have those pix uploaded yet, except the one of Cameron quacking the quacker from the Ducks ride.

I'm Tired and Ready to Go Home

Lots of driving, a graduation party, seeing good friends, more driving, more driving, work, more driving, a wedding, family, some stress, driving, work, more good friends, driving, work, driving, driving, home. I'm about in the middle of all of that right now. I'm tired. I am thankful for the Lord keeping me healthy and I'm thankful for my family and friends, safe travels, my job. Come Saturday, I'll be heading home. Here are a few pictures from my niece Shayna's wedding. She was a beautiful bride, it was a wonderful wedding.

Happy Mother's Day

This might be the best mother's day ever. Stay with me. I'm sitting in a hotel room on Base without my kids, my husband, my mother, all by myself. Sometimes on mother's day, I really wish for just peace and quiet. A nap. Some alone time. Today, this mother's day, I am getting just that. And what I miss most? My kids, my husband, my mom, my dad (who are at my house taking care of my family). So while I wonder why my plans didn't work out, to be home today, maybe I'm learning something...on those mother's days that I long for some peace and quiet, a nap, some alone time, while those aren't bad things, I should treasure the hub bub a little more ;-) - and learning that just might make this the best mother's day ever.

I hope my mom, my mother in law and all of the other moms who read my blog have a very happy mother's day -- no matter what you are doing today!

The Very Important Post!

Kenny has finished his long awaited memoir and "You Can't Take the Bronx Out of My Dad" has been published!!! I am very proud of him -- this is a huge accomplishment. If you would like to check it out and purchase this soon to be best seller, visit his blog: http://www.kenhand.blogspot.com/ I have had a lot of feedback from friends and family who have already bought it and they can't stop laughing ;-) Let me know what you think.

The Long Awaited UPdate

Ok, well...I've been planning a big post since last Saturday...I think it was Saturday when I was on the tennis court, taking a lesson and I did something I've never done before. I hit myself with my racket -- on my chin -- it brought tears to my eyes, it was the hardest hit forehand I've ever swung -- and there was my chin. It hurt really bad. Well, I put ice on it, it was totally black and blue the next day. So, knowing that I needed to update my blog, I had my husband, and both kids try and take pictures of my chin that would do the black and blue justice, but not make my neck/face look fat and not show up my nose. That was a difficult task all the way around. So, yesterday, I decide that I'll upload the picture....when much to my dismay, the picture card was missing from the camera. So, I'm wondering, was it missing when the pictures were taken and I'll need the cord to plug into the computer (which I don't know where that is), or is it on the card, which I don't know where that is. So, I gave up and here I am without a picture. Please take my word for it, it scared a lot of people this week when they saw me ;-)

So that's what's been going on around here. Now that I am back blogging -- please stay tuned...I"m going to have one more VERY IMPORTANT post, probably within the next 2 days ;-)

I MUST!

I MUST update my blog! I MUST update my blog! I WILL update my blog....sooon!!!!!! Update coming soon....

Sweet 16

Shockingly enough, my baby is 16. I know, everyone says, where does the time go? And they would be right -- I don't know where the last 16 years has gone. Here are a few pix from Kelsie's dinner at the Melting Pot and from her horse show. Kelsie Lyn Gardner Collins Hand, I'm proud to be your mom. I love you!

The picture above scares me! Who let these kids lose with weapons???

Nick tried to suck up the remaining chocolate with a straw! Why haven't I ever thought of that?

I haven't made rolled out sugar cookies in a long time -- but a sweet 16 deserves the best!

I Did Something Crazy Today

For about 2.5 hours, I chipped ice off of a tennis court. Why? I wanted to play. I didn't think it was going to be all that hard -- it was, until someone brought a hammer. That actually worked pretty well. Of course I had to hammer with my left hand because I didn't want to overuse my right arm, had to save that for the match. We got the match in despite the fact that a river continued to run behind the baseline. I'm not sure about this whole tennis thing -- my mom's right, tennis players are worse than golfers. But we did win our match ;-)

Bizarre!

Well, did you know that I guess Atlanta owns about 6 snow plows? I think Cumming owns ZERO. Also, I don't think they have access to salt either. I am mind boggled that 6 inches of snow and a little bit of sleet below and on top has brought the city to a stand still. Get this: I went out for some chili from Wendy's today -- it was closed! So were: McDonald's, Chik fil A, Burger King, Arby's, Steak n Shake, Chili's, Subway and everything else except Huddle House (I don't even know what that is), Starbucks and Walmart. I ended up at Walmart, but they didn't even have chicken made up. I left with some bologna, bread, chips, salsa, bagel bites and milk...the staples. I couldn't carry much because I was afraid of slipping and falling on the ICED PARKING LOT. There was no way to roll a cart out to the car. So, tomorrow is day 3 of the schools being closed -- will this ever end? Temps are not supposed to get above freezing until possibly Friday -- that's the only way that this stuff will go away -- without snow plows or salt, we just have to wait for the sun to burn it off. It's interesting. I grew up in the north, we would never stand for such craziness! ;-)