Creepy Claus

Two things noteworthy in this picture:

1. This is the creepiest Creepy Claus I've ever seen close up. Friends - he didn't speak. He grunted toward my son. His legs are skinnier than toothpicks. That 70's hair has got to go. Even Santa Claus himself wouldn't sport that fro-licious mockery of the jolly man's hair. And I'm not sure if that ring is a staged item for the Mrs. Creepy Claus or if he's actually married in "real" life. Must be "Minimum Wage Santa" what with all the economy issues at large this year. But seriously - you could not have paid me enough jingle dollars to sit on that lap. It was all I could do to set my only child on his lap and walk away. I actually felt bad for Quint. Meanwhile,....

2. Speaking of my only child - my son - the light of my life...how freaking good does he make Sir Creepy Claus look when he's smiling like that - in his cute little red and green? I mean, he didn't even hesitate. I sat him down and he just smiled up at me with an ignorance is bliss expression - and kept right on smiling until I went and snatched, er...gently removed him off of S.C.'s lap. Sorry "Santa" but you need my boy on that knee all day to help you out with the whole "creepy" factor. He's all you've got going for you between the twiggy legged striped stockings and the Travolta hair - you better keep him there so you don't scare the rest of the unsuspecting children away. And by the way...you might want to put those pictures on clearance...because I'm telling you why...if Santa Claus is comin' to town in that getup, I'm taking the stockings down.

Ya feel me?

M3 Christmas Luncheon

Just sharing some pictures from our M3 Christmas Lunch yesterday- the one common chord that really stood out this year was that not one of these four children were present at our luncheon (or our homes) at last year's lunch. A very humbling reality, indeed.

What an amazing year we've had. I love you girls - couldn't have done this without you - each and every one...

The M3 Posse - minus FIVE M3 Kids...

I tried to explain to the little man that he has to work it with the ladies - but he was having none of it, and only wanted his main lady - MOM.

Ok, how about THREE other little ladies? Nope. Still only wants MOM. (I'm kinda likin' that...)

Ok little buddy - come to mama - that's my boy...

Silly girls - Erin and Kelley

Erin and her beautiful new baby girl - Meisey... aren't they freaking adorable?!?

Well, he's just the most charming and funny and wonderful little boy I've ever known.
I love him!

Isn't Miss Aubriana the prettiest little thing?
She's such a delightful little baby - such a sweetheart...

Robyn and Avery - chillin before the food arrived. They are two peas in a pod!
(my kinda peas...)

There's your husband...

Back in my single gal days, I had lots of girlfriends that I hung out with on a regular basis. I'm talking practically daily. We'd get together, have coffee or a meal, shop, chat, catch up on the last 24 hours of each others lives, cry, laugh, and more. But one of the games we giggled uncontrollably at without fail was "there's your husband". In the middle of some profound conversation about lip gloss and purses, one of us would silently scan the room and come up with the...shall we say, best ne'er do well chap we could find and then casually interrupt and say to the friend "there's your husband". We'd all look and burst into a fit of giggles. Sometimes, on a good day - you'd find some gorgeous man in the room and take pity on your friend. So you'd throw her a bone and say "there's your husband" to which she would reply "Gawd, I WISH!". Ah, the single life.

When I was 25 years old, I attended a school function with my Mom for my little sister - who was then, only in the 5th grade. As the audience filed in, my mom and I had already found our seats and were doing some of our best "girlfriend" chatter while we watched people take their seats ahead of us. (we're back row Sally's) I didn't know my mom knew this game, but suddenly she said "whoo...hottie 2:00" and something that resembled a comment of "there's your husband". My eyes scanned the room and when my eye-clock hit 2:00, I saw what she saw. And something flip flopped inside of me. I think I made a slight sigh and said something like "gawd...I wish..."

Turns out he was the new teacher on campus. For three months I pined silently over him. Not really, but just seeing him around the school when I would pick my sister up, etc. set my little heart aflutter. One day, I saw him coaching Volleyball and I thought..."why not me? It has to be someone?" I knew he was single - but didn't know if he had a girlfriend. One could dare to dream...

One month after that, I got up the nerve to call him and invite him out. Over coffee - I stared across a tiny Starbucks table at my 2:00. He was charming, dead freaking attractive, and marvelously funny. We laughed and connected and had some weird chemistry (yeah, chemistry...).

One year, four months, and 20 days later - I stood in white and he stood in a gorgeous tux and we promised to love each other forever. To take care of each other, laugh together, and cry together. And we didn't know it then, but to share in parenting our sweet little Quint and Keira.

I sometimes look back on all the weird ways that we ended up together. The nerve it took to call him - he didn't know I was alive (by the by). The trip we took to LA where he says he officially fell in love with me while I held court with his some 50 relatives. The confrontation we had two months into our dating relationship where it was sink or swim. Lots of little pieces that could have gone differently. Lots of little ways the road could have shifted another direction and led us to other people.

I wish I could go back to that night my sweet mom pointed him out and said "there's your husband!"...

I could say "I know...isn't he spectacular?"

Just a little sumpin...

Hi y'all! (tee hee - I'm Paula Dean now!) Just checking in to say that this holiday season is whipping by! We finally got the tree up and the decor set up around the house. I'm so relieved! It's so much better to spend these cold days indoors when we have the fireplace going, the tree lights twinkling and the mulberry spice candle burning. We have XM radio on the Dish, so we just keep it set to "Holidays" and get to listen to all our Christmas favorites throughout the day. We are so cozy in here - I'm hesitant to leave! Meanwhile, that would heartily explain why my Christmas shopping is in poor shape. Not to mention the fact that my tree's underside is still bare. Oops!

I've started a little bit of crafting - painting ceramic ornaments is a small hobby of mine and I took sentimental joy in coming across and then putting them on the tree this year (i.e. the one I made for our kitty Meggie that we lost two years ago...), which made me think that I might still have some unpainted pieces around somewhere. Lo and behold, I found them right away and got the bug to start painting them again.

Meanwhile, all these yummy smells and twinkling lights have also put me in the mood to get back to some scrapbooking - especially starting a book for my little sweetie - Q-man. So, I'm starting up that engine too.

Meanwhile, I've got some gifts to wrap and goodies to bake. I've been in the kitchen quite a bit lately - which is very uncharacteristic of me. But I've made some killer spinach dip, a really melt in your mouth breakfast casserole and tonight I made a chicken noodle and cheese casserole that knocked our socks off! Warm, cheesy and gooey - that's my description. Getting AB's approval on my cooking is high praise in my book - being that he's amazing in the kitchen. I literally threw it together and it was a piece of cake!

Well, enough about me! What are you doing with the holidays? Any crafting going on out there? Special projects you do around the holidays? Do tell!

Here's some Quint-a-licious goodness for the road:

OMG! So darn cute - can you stand it?!?

My boy is drinking from a straw! What happened to my baby??

So cute - Daddy, boy, and puppy all taking a Saturday afternoon nap. I just love this...Quint loves his Daddy so much. NO where else he'd rather be...

Hug!