And, Here You Go....

I'm back with the video....(or "bideo" as AG likes to call them).

Let me set it up for you:  At our house, we have a nightly ritual.  First, AG says her prayers, and then, John and I sing Amazing Grace, while scratching her back.  Somehow, she learned that there is more than one verse, and she now demands nicely asks that we keep singing after we finish verse one.

Every night.

(Don't think we haven't tried a super fast rendition of the song, either.  Uh-uh.  She's not having it, folks.)

Anyway, one day, I was lying down beside her, and she started scratching  my back and singing Amazing Grace to me.  And yes, I may or may not have totally lost it teared up slightly, because there's nothing more precious than her little voice singing.

(And she was already well into the song by the time we realized, "Hey! Maybe we should whip out the video camera and capture this moment on film."  Or the iPhone, because we're high-tech like that.)

Enjoy!  And Happy New Year, everyone!

A Phone Post....Because I Am Fancy

So here's the deal. I'm definitely going to blog about Christmas. But since I'm super busy trying to play catch up today, I'm just gonna leave you with probably the cutest video ever seen on this blog.

(And let's be honest, it's really just because I'm typing on my iPhone and starting to get a thumb cramp).

(And aren't you so excited to know that I can now blog from my phone? It's a fancy, fancy world we live in.)

Wait. I just found out that I actually can't post a video from my phone. The world is slightly less fancy now. But since my thumbs worked so hard on this post, I'm leaving it.

I'll be back with the cuteness shortly!

Random Stories. You're Welcome.

So, I just hopped on here to tell y'all a few random stories....I'm SURE you're just beside yourself with excitement. Or not.

Regardless.

Random Story #1: Today I went with John and my dad to see the movie "We Bought a Zoo."  And here's what you need to know about it (besides the fact that Matt Damon is in it, and that's reason enough all by itself):

It will reduce you to the ugly cry at least 6 different times.  It was either super good, or I am super hormonal/crazy. 

Let's not think too hard about that one, okay?

Random Story #2: Last night, John and I went to Target to partake in one of our favorite Christmas traditions.  We started doing it about four years ago after I unashamedly stole the idea, and now it's just not Christmas without it....it's called, Fill Each Other's Stocking Using $30 and 30 Minutes. 

A.k.a. Sneak Around Target Pointing Finger Guns and Acting Crazy.

(A.k.a. Security Doesn't Think The Finger Guns Thing Is Too Funny, So Maybe Skip That Part, Why Don't You?)

Seriously, it's fun y'all.  And you wouldn't believe the abundance you can find at Target for only $30.

(Actually, if you're like me, you would totally believe it, because I'm at Target so much that I practically work there.  If "working there" means you leave with less money than you came with.)

Random Story #3:  Yesterday, I went to get a pedicure.  And before you get all judge-y and think, oooh, Miss Fancy Pants Got Herself a Fancy Pedicure, well, don't.  Because my toenails were so bad that I think my nail technician cried a little when she first saw them.  Anyway, I'm sitting there chatting with my friend Kristin, and I begin to notice this little gnat flying around my head.  Having just been to the gym, I know I was a nasty, sweaty mess perspiring a tiny bit.  The gnat was clearly enjoying this, and would not leave me alone. 

Suddenly, it lands on my cheek.  And instinctively, I smack myself in the face.  Hard. 
And rather suddenly for that matter, according to the fact that everyone in the entire place looks at me like I'm super crazy.

Which I am, just not in the way they think.


Merry Christmas Eve Eve, blog friends!

Surprise! Or not.

I believe I may have mentioned in the past that I have a slight tendency to be a total surprise ruiner a tad bit nosy when it comes to my birthday, Christmas, etc.  I may have even been known to ahem, review the credit card statement around those key times of year, in an effort to see where John has been shopping. 

(I'm sure this quality is highly adorable and not at all irritating for him.)

I may have even accidentally logged into his amazon account last year, and seen that he ordered a kindle.  Right before Christmas.  After I had just been talking about how much I wanted one. 

(It was a total accident.)

(Maybe. I can't really remember.)

(In my defense, is it really my fault if his password is so easy to figure out?)

Alright fine.  I am a world class snooper, of the highest degree of snoopiness.  Which actually does not even look like a real word. 

But, I had NOTHING to do with the surprises that were ruined yesterday.  For once in my life, I haven't even attempted to find my Christmas presents, look at the credit card statement, or log in to any amazon accounts. 

Anyway, I get home from an afternoon appointment, and John and AG are playing upstairs.  Little presh's favorite new game is to "hide."  (In the same 4 spots every time).  I hear them run off and hide, so I come upstairs and begin loudly searching in ridiculous places, like the washing machine, or the toilet, to see if I can get her to giggle.

(Because, really?  If AG actually hid in the toilet, I would be a little upset. And grossed out. And honestly impressed with her creativity.)

I go into her room, and she's not in her go-to spot behind the curtains.  So, I head into our room, to see if she's behind our bathroom door. 

And that's when it happens.

I see two things from my Christmas wish list (which was typed, with links, and given to John, oh about 3 months ago. Because I'm helpful like that.), just laying right out in the open, for all the world to see.

Hi, husband?  This is Sherri.  Get your head in the game! You of all people should know that I am nosy. It is nearly impossible to surprise me.  I will try to discover surprises you have planned for me, almost 100% of the time.  I know this must be super fun for you.   Is this some new, clever non-hiding technique that you're employing?  Oooh, wait.  Were they empty boxes, left out, just to throw me off?  Maybe I should go shake them and make sure.

By the way, I absolutely love them. 

And you.

Love,

Your over-the-top nosy wife, who tried really hard this year not to be the surprise ruiner that I normally am. 

P.S. Maybe you should change your passwords.

Why Does Everything Random Happen at the Park?

The following takes place between 10:00am and 11:00am......
(With my cousin, Whitney, at the neighborhood park.)

(Jack Bauer was not present, but it would've been totally awesome if he was.)

Ally Grace:  I'm cooking, I'm cooking....Hey, Man!  Look at me, Man!

Nice Grandfather Innocently Watching His Grandson Play Nearby:  Who?  Me? 

Ally Grace:  Talk to me, Man!

Nice Grandfather:  How old is she?!

Seriously.

I'm thinking we should possibly teach AG a few life lessons here.....namely, that she shouldn't demand that random strangers talk to her.  Perhaps that it's rude to yell "hey, Man!" at random men.

(And also, that it's rude to yell "hey, girl!" at any man.)

(They tend not to like to be called "girl.")

(I may have learned this from experience, as John was not amused by my "hey, girl!" the other morning.)

November....in December

Yes, it's here.  Part 2 of my slacker-ish fall recap.  Since November is basically "The Month That I Know Happened, But Cannot Remember," I'm going to entertain you with an iPhone picture dump. 

(Also, I hate the word dump.   Just in case you were wondering.)


So, in November, we were.....


...Taking ironic pictures.  Yes, this really happened.
Excuse me, Fitness, I'm just minding my own business, enjoying this cupcake.
Back up off me.



...Accessorizing like a champ.  The more purses the better, I say.

...Doing toddler art projects. Aka, entertaining with stickers.
Or as AG says:
"Putting band aids on mommy."

...Engaging in some super unflattering, (at least for me) self-taken family portraits.

...Taking advantage of a Groupon at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.
Or maybe just taking advantage of my husband.  I can't remember.



TRYING to teach Belle how to be a lady. 
It's clearly isn't working.



....Decorating the Christmas tree!

The week before Thanksgiving.

After which I learned that people on Facebook are weirdly opinionated about putting your tree up before Thanksgiving.

Among other things.

...Christmas partying.
The Nelsons annually host my favorite Christmas party of the year, which involves the boys dressing like freaks, while the girls dress cute and laugh at them. 

Oh the joys of Christmas.

Well, would you look at that! We made it into December, didn't we?  Who knew a phone dump could be so productive?

And yet sound so disgusting at the same time.

Biting the Bullet

Well, it's been six weeks y'all.  Fall has been kicking. my. tail.  Every time I start to sit down and write a post, I remember how long it's been since I've actually done one.  Which leads me to my fallback method of dealing with life....Procrastinating and procrastinating, and then procrastinating some more. 

(Or perhaps it's just sitting on the couch and watching tivoed Hart of Dixie episodes to cope with the stress.)

(Which has worked fairly well, up until now).

But now I am feeling guilty.  Because I know that all two of my readers are perhaps occasionally wondering where I am.  Or not.  Either way, I am biting the bullet.  Let's DO THIS.  Time for Fall Recap 2011. 

(It can't be any harder than Christmas Present Wrapping 2011).

When I last posted, I think we were at the beach celebrating our seventh anniversary.  Which you didn't know, because I'm paranoid crafty and didn't want Internet creepers to know we weren't at home. 

We went to Rosemary Beach for a week, in October, which has GOT to be the best time of year to head to the beach.  Except when you're nauseous for the entire first three days, thereby immediately convincing yourself that you're pregnant, and HOW IN THE WORLD ARE YOU GOING TO DEAL WITH 6 STRAIGHT WEEKS OF CONSTANT NAUSEA?!?!?!  DURING THE HOLIDAYS!?!?!  I NEED A PREGNANCY TEST IMMEDIATELY!!!

Oh, what's that?  It's negative? 

Indeed it was. 


So, the beach was fantastic, and as per usual, I failed on the photo documentation aspect.  Maybe because our camera has been shoved somewhere down near the bottom of our diaper bag.  I think.  Anyway, here's our ONE "Let's Hold Out the Phone, Try Not to Shake It, and Hope for the Best" picture:

You know, it makes total sense that, of all the pretty backgrounds down at Rosemary Beach (namely, um, THE BEACH), we would choose the inside of the place we rented.  Obviously.

Before we left for the beach, we had a tiny birthday party for "our little pumpkin's" 2nd birthday.....



Cheesy? Yes. 
Easy to find 1/2 price fall decorations at Hobby Lobby? Why, yes. 
A good excuse to have my favorite cupcakes in the world from Little Cake Bakery?  Oh heck yes.

I feel that AG looks slightly unappreciative of the fact that she can totally rock a tutu and some boots.  Don't think I wouldn't try it myself, if I thought I could get away with it. 

And yes.  Yes, that IS the same shirt in all four pictures.  I know.  I totally need a fashion intervention, due to my tendency to, ahem, recycle my worn outfits all week long.  But guess what?  I'm totally re-wearing an outfit for the THIRD day in a row tonight at a Christmas party. 

Take that, Stacy and Clinton.

(Actually, come to my house and surprise me with a $5,000 gift card.....please?!?)


Okay, moving on to Halloween.  If you're still reading, I totally appreciate your willingness to be in this for the long haul.

I love how AG's all, "Hey! There's a giraffe sitting next to me!"

Unfortunately, when I brought out the "Eat Mor Chikin" sign, she freaked.  "NO, Mommy, I NO WEAR DAT NECKLACE!!!"

Diva. 

She did however agree to hold it for the pictures, after letting me know that next year, her contract would clearly stipulate no necklaces.

We capped off October with a trip to the Varsity.  Because, well, who doesn't love a chili dog and a funny hat?

Exactly.

So, yeah.  Not even into November yet. Don't worry, I'm gonna save that one for later. 

(And by "later," I do not mean mid-January.  I promise.) 

(Maybe.)