Working Girl

Well, I've survived two days of work, so far. I have to say that today was better than yesterday. I didn't feel completely out of sorts. It is definitely an adjustment to be up early and ready to walk out the door for the day. I could set my alarm for even earlier and probably make things a little better on myself, but I don't think I can stand to! I know, I'm being a big baby. I have just been at home for 14 years, so I am having to adjust. Overall, though, I think it will be good. The boys are so excited to come into the computer lab and see me. They think they're hot stuff now! (well, they probably always have) So, I'm here...I've survived this far...I miss checking in with everyone on a daily basis, so I hope to be able to do that soon.

Party Time's Over

Mission accomplished...Both Christmas parties are over and they were both huge successes. The office party wasn't near as much fun (how could it be?!?), but everyone had a good time. I am completely exhausted though. I haven't even changed out of my pj's all day. I spent the day doing piles and piles of laundry and addressing Christmas cards. If you'd like one, send my your address and I'll pop it in the mail. They came out so cute!

So what does tomorrow hold? WORK!!! I am both excited and nervous to be starting work tomorrow. I know I'll enjoy it, but I also know I'll miss all the time I have been so spoiled with to do pretty much what I want (including blogging). I'll still be here, but I don't know if I'll be able to post and check up on all my bloggy friends as often.

I am adding some pictures of my mantles...partly to show you, but partly to document what they look like, so I can do it again next year :)

Have a great Monday, I sure hope I do!!!

here's the keeping room:

the living room:

outside fireplace:

Ad just for good measure, I thought I'd share Richard's redneck corner ;) Yes, those are shotgun shell Christmas lights hanging around the bar.

and a close-up of the wreath:

Yes, those are LSU helment lights around the wreath that is hanging around the deer horns. You might be a redneck....

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

One Down, One to Go!

Last night was the best party ever! We had almost 100 people here (over 50 were kids). Everyone seemed to really have a great time. When Santa came in, the mayhem was overwhelming, but so cute. The kids just went crazy. Here are a few pictures of the night:

Santa makes his big arrival

His helper brings in the loot.

Look at all the kids! Parents and kids alike were so excited.

Santa starts handing out gifts.

Braden was so cute.

Three cutie bugs. The elf hats were for the older kids who were helping with the crafts for the kids, but Cade snagged one. I think they're adorable.

Richard and I had to get a pic too. The boys were long gone.

My nephew, Rylan, was Santa's biggest fan. If it had only been him here, it would have been worth all the work. He was just in love with Santa.

Me and that adorable boy

The afterparty. Some of our guests stayed late. Here is a group of the kids. All boys, but one little girl. That is my life!

That was truly a magical night. It was so much fun to have all our family and friends at our house and to see how excited all the kids were. It will be one of my best Christmas memories. I think it might turn into a tradition.

So, here we go again. Richard's company party is at the house tonight. We're vacuuming floors and washing platters, and will set it all up again. It will be nice, but I know it won't beat last night.

Tortilla Soup

About a month ago, Kim posted this post. I always want to try recipes that ya'll post, but always forget before I get the chance to. For some reason, this tortilla soup really caught my eye and I tried it. I especially don't try many chicken recipes because Richard happens to be allergic to chicken! I know, crazy, but sadly true. He gets very sick if he eats anything with any kind of poultry in it. Even if a french fry is fried in the same grease a chicken tender was hours ago, he gets sick. Oh, well, there are worse things, I guess. OK, on to the story. Everyone who has tried this soup has loved it. I have now cooked it for two neighbors and the all LOVE it. So when Braden came home with a note about a 4-H cooking contest, he immediately said he wanted to take this soup.

Let me just say, that this is not a contest I especially wanted him to win because if you win, you "get" to go to a second contest in another city!! Great!! He was so excited, though, and wanted to win so bad. Now, as you know, I've been a little busy this week trying to get ready for everything, so this became just another thing to get in the way of what I really need to be doing. I wasn't ugly about it, but I wasn't overly excited either. My attitude changed, though, when we got in the car to go last night. Braden looked at me and said, "Thank you for taking me to this and cooking the soup." So sweet! I told him that I don't mind all the work, as long as it's appreciated.

As you have already guessed, yes, he WON!! He was so stinking excited, that I couldn't help being happy about it. Here he is with his certificate and his prize :)

Guess we'll be bringing this same soup to the next contest in the spring!

Thanks for the recipe, Kim! My in-laws live in Houston, and I'm really hoping they might pick up those Jr. League cookbooks for me for Christmas ;)

Louisiana Snow

I took this picture yesterday because I love the way these flowers fall to the ground and cover it with a "pink snow". I'm afraid this is the closest thing we'll ever have to snow around here. The boys were talking about snow on the way to school today, asking how old they were the last time it snowed here. Bryce was 5, Braden was 3, and Cade was about 9 months. Braden says, "I remember it well. I was asking you how to make a snowball." He's probably right, but I don't remember so well these days :)

Still getting ready for the party, but feeling more like it will all get done. I ran around yesterday doing errands, and am doing the same today, but tomorrow might be the "clean the house day". Whoo Hoo!!! Tis the Season!!

This and That

Well, things have been crazy over here, to say the least. We did celebrate Thanksgiving with my parents before we headed for the camp. We are actually trying to sell the camp, so that might be the last family trip we take there. I tried to keep a good attitude, but the whole lice thing was/is extremely overwhelming. I can't even tell you the whole story because it's just too awful!! Just know, that I think we might be bug free, but I am a maniac checking everyone's heads all the time. I think I might resemble a monkey from time to time. I have spent hours upon hours treating everyone's heads and nit picking every strand of hair. Hours that would have been well spent doing a million other things that still have to be done before the party Friday night.

Here are a few pictures on Thanksgiving. It was really warm here, so I told the boys they had to wear shorts that buttoned (as opposed to athletic shorts). Instead, they came down dressed like this. They looked so cute.

Braden was starving, and made it to the table first. He said our blessing and asked for the food to taste good. So cute.


I am making progress on the house, but I feel like I take one step forward and two steps back. I finally finished the tree only to find today that it is dead! We had the neighbor come water it while we were gone, but the water level hasn't gone down at all, and the needles are already starting to fall off. As you can see, it's not a small tree. It took forever just to hang all the lights. I called the nursery and they're more than happy to replace it, but that means I have to take everything down and do it all over!!!!! I think I'm leaving it for the weekend and then we'll have to deal with that next week. Perfect!!


This morning, I was trying to clean up the kitchen before I started on my to-do list. I started hearing water hit the floor. I looked down and there was water pouring out of the cabinets under the sink! I had to pull everything out of the cabinets and dry it all. Thankfully, I was able to call the builder (because, of course, Richard isn't here) and he came and fixed it.

One big thing I was able to take care of today was our Christmas card. I took the pictures and ordered them, all in about 1 hour! Here's a silly preview (of course, it's not the "chosen" one):

The boys go back to school tomorrow, so I'm going to hit the road running! I don't start working until next week, so I need to enjoy my "freedom" this week!! I'm hoping to squeeze a pedicure in somewhere, but we'll have to see about that. I haven't been able to check on all your blogs, but hope to do that later tonight! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!!

YUCK!!!

Well, it happened....we had our first case of lice in this house!! To say I am grossed out is a great understatement. I was all ready to take a bath and wind down last night when Braden came in saying his head was itching. Well, you know the rest of the story...I ran to the drug store and spent the next two hours washing and nit-picking his hair. GROSS!!! Is your head itching just reading this? Mine is as I type. I'm just thankful he's a boy and doesn't have a ton of hair. I don't know what you do with a girl with long hair! I'm just praying we got it taken care of. I told him if we had already taken our Christmas card photo, I might just give him a crew cut. Lucky for him, I'm a procrastinator!!

Otherwise, we have still been super busy. Richard and I went to New Orleans yesterday morning for our fingerprint appointment. No one has asked for money yet so I'm praying we get through!

My SIL came over yesterday and we started decorating the house. It is looking really cute! We're supposed to get our tree today, so that should be alot of fun! I only have a few more Christmas presents to buy and I'll be completely done. The "big brown truck" (as my boys call it) should know my house well for the next couple of weeks. Isn't it so exciting to see that truck pull up at your house?!?! Ahhh...it's the simple things!!

We will be going to my parents house tomorrow for Thanksgiving. It will be quiet, but still alot of fun. We have so much to be thankful for. Among many things, I am thankful for all of you fellow bloggers who I have met on this crazy adoption journey. You have been a special blessing of encouragement every step of the way. Thank you!!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!