I was prepared to confess but...I luv staples!!!

I was desperate! I was prepared to confess publically but then...

I was leaving for STL this afternoon and I needed a case for my new iPod (that's a story for another post). Anyway circuit city went out of business and there was no time to order a case from the Internet so I was thinking that I would have to darken the doors of my arch enemy...worst buy. But then kenny suggested STAPLES! Yes!!! Went there and mission accomplished!!!

Made it safely to STL and to the Base. And love this iPod so far but typing on it now so forgive any misssspellllingggs!

Burrrrr here and it's supposed to get colder tomorrow. They are even talking school closings because of the cold.

The Tree is Down!

Jan 12th, 2009: The Christmas tree has been taken down. It had to happen. I really enjoyed the skinnier tree this year but honestly it felt like I didn't have much time to enjoy it. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, really, New Year's just flew by. So, I took a few extra days to look at it.

FYI: Hannity's new show started tonight.
FYI: Idol starts tomorrow night.

Take THAT! Terry, Howie, Michael & Jimmy

Ok, it's only 1/2 time, but the Arizona Cardinals and Kurt Warner have come out on FIRE! The whole Fox pre-game crew (Terry, Howie, Jimmy, etc) picked Carolina to run away with it, but they underestimate Kurt Warner and #11.

We have had a busy week. My parents were here (partly sunny & 52 today) on their way to Florida (sunny & 75 today), escaping Coal Valley IL (snowing and 20 today). Cameron played basketball today and his team won 37-20. He played very scrappy defense! I will be heading to St. Louis (30 and flurries today) on Wednesday for work. I am not sure I can take the cold.

FYI: IDOL STARTS TUESDAY!

For My Sister

Shayna & Kelsie, Here you go!

Here are some additional pictures from Christmas...


I can't rotate this one because the pictures are on a disk and well, for now, I am too lazy to save them to the computer and rotate them, and then put them on here...But, had to put this picture on because it's my dad reading the account of Jesus' birth.

This was hilarious -- Natalie and Maddie on their "motorized" car -- Maddie, did you take driving lessons from your mom? LOL!

We had fun putting together this puzzle -- 550 pieces can be conquered in 1 day, who knew?

One year when I was a kid, Santa tied all of our presents to string and we had to follow the string to the present. Yikes, it was crazy! I have often wondered if Santa would do that for my kids, but so far, Santa must run out of steam before he gets to our house. But this year, Kelsie did have one of her presents tied to string! It was fun watching her follow the string to her pea coat!

Santa brought Cam a certificate for a new baseball bat come spring training.

Yes, we do play bingo...for prizes on Christmas day...we have a lot of fun...but, Shayna tried to steal the whole pot before we even got going...

Kelsie opening her Ipod...

We played white elephant rob your neighbor again this year....

My dad was thrilled with his gift which was re-gifted by my niece Nicole from last year -- I think they are some kind of thing you attach to your shoes to walk on ice?@?#?!@ And Cody was thrilled with his bath products which included a scented pillow! I think my brother ended up stealing that though...he said they were for his wife, but??@?#?@!?

New game Brant brought over -- I think it was pictionary man. Very fun! Just tell me this...how would YOU draw "Cleopatra"?????? I say start by getting them to say "Pat", and then draw a "bra"..."pat bra", "pat bra", "patra" "Cleopatra!!!!!"

That's it for now. Happy New Year everyone....

What More Could a Woman Want for Christmas?

Well, I have a lot I want to share with you, but for the moment I will share this. My Christmas was made complete with the one gift every woman not only wants, but needs...

You are probably wondering, "what put the smile on her face?"


Look closer....Yep, after all of these years, all of the Christmases, I finally got the one perfect gift...

You decide...Mr. Wonderful above, or Mr. Wonderful below? The one above tells me everything I want to hear..."Sure dear, we can run to the mall for a new pair of shoes!"...."Why doesn't your mother stay another week?"..."I'll tag along and carry your bags"... "Of course you don't look fat in that dress...nothing could ever make you look fat".... and the list goes on.....

This man, on the other hand, never has a kind word to say to me - unless you think - "Is dinner ready?" or "Have you cleaned my clothes?" are kind words. He certainly isn't Mr. Wonderful!!!

PS: this is the real Sheri back posting. I have changed my password so that my wonderful husband can't hack in anymore.

What I originally posted was, this man doesn't look that happy...is he waiting for me to give him "Mrs. Wonderful"???? :-)

Some Christmas Favorites

Hi -- I am still going to post the pictures from Kelsie's Western show & Cam's basketball kick-off, but I need to find Kenny's camera. So, in the meantime, I wanted to post some Christmas pictures. I think last year, I posted some pix of favorite ornaments on our tree. This year, I have a couple of new ornaments that I took pix of, but I also want to share a few other favorite things. I hope if you are a blogger, you might do the same!

Much to my daughter's dismay, I "86-ed" the big, fat, non-pre-lit tree this year (I gave it away to someone who is enjoying it). It just was too big for our new space. I took Kelsie & Cam to the tree store (aka Hobby Lobby) and I gave them 2 "skinny, pre-lit" tree choices. It was unanimous! I don't think Kelsie has admitted it, but the new tree is the perfect size for the new space and it's pre-lit, did I mention that??? The angel that has been on the top of our tree for several years survived the move, not too much worse for the wear. Kenny had to do a little smushing of her base, but got her up there safe and sound.

A special new ornament this year called "from the cradle to the cross". One of the 3rd graders in my AWANA group actually made this and gave it to me for Christmas -- how cool is that -- it tells the truth of Christmas perfectly in an ornament.

My sister gave me this ornament this year for my birthday & it looks beautiful on the tree.

Ok, I found the cutest new store off of exit 17 it's called "2 posh dames". Very cute stuff and I found this ornament there -- love it. They had an equally cute Santa ornament too.

Now this Santa has been through a lot over the years; his tree is broken, but I keep sticking it back together and hoping for the best. I am not sure if my mom or my sister (or both) made this years ago. I think he used to have a sled too, but that's long gone. Considering all he's been thru, I think he's holding up pretty good.

This mr. santa has held up better -- again, not sure if my mom and/or my sister made him, but he is back sitting on the chair in the living room.

For some reason, I'm showing several santas! This one I bought at this interesting combination junk/new stuff store (mostly junk) I found while driving to the Mall of Georgia. It's a consignment store -- it's huge, takes a long time to get through and it makes me dizzy looking back and forth, left and right through each aisle, but, I found this cute thing to hang over our door in the kitchen.

I hope everyone has an excellent Christmas. We received a Christmas letter today that really made me stop and think. I want to share what it said at the bottom: "We pray that God blesses you richly in 2009 and wish you a Merry Christmas! We pray for revival in our country, safety for our men and women in combat, and thank God for His Son and our salvation". I couldn't say it better myself.

A Bucking Horse, Two 3rd Place Ribbons, & the Tar Heels Open Their Season

That's probably the longest title I have ever had. It's been a LONG day, so I think that's appropriate. Pictures coming, hopefully; I am too tired tonight. Kelsie earned her 1st ribbons as an equestrian. Her 1st horse nearly bucked her off, but she maintained composure and stayed on...although you could tell for a split second she was deciding whether or not to fall off...it happened so fast, no time for Kenny or me to get too scared for her! Her 2nd ride was really good; even though I still don't know much about the whole thing, I could tell that she has made progress. Oh, and it was Western riding today -- a totally different look from the English way -- cowboy hats, spurs, chaps, glittery shirts. Their outfits were...interesting. Thank goodness Kelsie's coach has a collection of stuff for the girls to wear, I would hate to think of how much all of that would cost?@?!#?@

Cameron's basketball season started tonight. It's the first year we haven't been involved with Upward basketball, seems a little strange. He is playing at 1st Redeemer church and their league has a similar philosophy to Upward, which is nice. They had opening ceremonies tonight, pictures and 2 "mini-games" to kick the season off. Looks like he will have a good team and he did very well tonight.

Weather Report

I know, it is going to sound like I am rubbing it in to all of you Notherners, but I have to say it. I was driving Cam home from piano lessons this afternoon and I looked down at the temperature gauge on my dashboard that shows the outside temperature...61 degrees! I couldn't believe it. It sounds like it's raining out now, if that gives you any comfort. We need the rain, though, so bring it on!

Cam's 1st Piano Recital--UPDATED W/PIX

Pictures to come! Cameron had his 1st piano recital tonight. He played "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Jingle Bells" and did a great job. We miss his 1st teacher (hi Linda if you are out there!); he seems to be adjusting pretty well to his new teacher. It just dawned on me and I have to tell him this tomorrow, he made it thru both songs without getting itchy! It's crazy, but he gets itchy when he plays. Don't tell him, but I think it's an unconscious ploy! :-)

SIDE NOTE: Last week I woke up a couple of mornings to temperatures around 25 degrees. I said to myself and a few others that I had been brought to Georgia under false pretenses. I thought that in the dead of winter here, it might get down to 35 degrees and here at the end of November, it's 25! What's up with that? HOWEVER, I must report a positive trend. Yes, it is cool in the mornings (not normally 25), but they are referring to the daytime highs around 50 as "abnormally cold" -- I talked to my mom yesterday and she said it was 8 degrees, -5 degrees wind chill -- so, a definite plus in the weather department here. Come warm up down here in Georgia with us!