Christmas gifts and today marks the end...

Yes, Christmas has come and gone...it was wonderful actually. Elizabeth was old enough to talk about what she wanted (a baby doll) and she really grasped onto the "baby Jesus" part of the Christmas story.

We had some wonderful surprises for all the kids on Christmas morning. The best I think was a piano we had searched for but was actually given to us by my sister's mother-in-law. It was delivered Christmas Eve while I drove the kids around the neighborhood, so they wouldn't see it. We were able to get Ian inside late that night after celebrating with family and he didn't even see it all covered up right beside his bedroom. He woke up the next morning and ran into our room asking, "what is that huge box in the living room?" (I loved saying, "it's for you Ian...let's go see what it is.") He immediately sat down and played jingle bells; the one Christmas song he has memorized.

Eli was surprised by a real grown up Trek bike that Nate had searched high and low for on Craig's list (losing each of his bids) but finally finding a few days before Christmas in Nashville.


And of course Elizabeth got her prized possession...a real baby doll. No, I mean really it was like a real baby. It, I mean she, really sucks a pacifier, coohs, cries for mama, then goes to sleep by making breathing noises with it's, I mean her, chest rising up and down. Elizabeth didn't even laugh or jump up and down rather she looked very serious and picked her new baby up then started rocking her very serious like. I think up until a few days ago she thought the doll was real. Oh, and you can see from the picture the answer is yes to "is that an African American baby?" I was trying to promote multiracial love thank you!

We were able to see all of our family except Aunt Hannah (Nate's sister) who is coming home this Sunday! But thanks to Skype she watched us open presents at their parents' house on Christmas eve.

And it was baby Ayden's (Nate's other sister's first baby) first Christmas.


But enough with all that...the most monumental event of our lives took place today. No, we didn't sell our house today (although we hear that might happen very soon) and we didn't win the lottery (it would probably help if we bought a ticket)rather sister girl made the plunge and climbed out of her crib, altering history and our lives forever.

I remember the days that followed this event in both my boys' lives years ago. The moment when you sit down in the living room after tucking your young precious angel into their crib like you have for the last 24 months or so and then you hear the door creep open and next you see out of the corner of your eye a little shadow munch-kin toddling towards your peaceful existence in the adult world (not to be peaceful again for about another two years when they are old enough to know better or maybe just worn out from the years of fighting their parents in the "I don't want to stay in bed" battle.)

We've been through it all with the boys. We've had locks on doors, slept in their beds until they fell asleep, laid on the floor beside their beds, spanked, yelled, threatened, rewarded, had them sleep with us for crying out loud...it was just a dark chapter in our lives times two. Well, now maybe times three.

But Elizabeth is different than the boys I have to admit. She is bold like her brother Ian (and a little crazy like him as well - streaking, running down the street full speed away from us, sneaky) but she is more timid like her biggest brother Eli (jumping and screaming if she gets spooked, climbs up most things but is too scared to climb back down, etc.) I am hoping if I play this more timid card it will go in my favor.

Tonight she crawled out once and (luckily) hurt her foot. So I was able to say again, "see if you crawl out of your crib you could really hurt something like break your arm or foot or knock your head (off)". I don't hear anything yet and she seemed to take me very serious when I was pointing out the multiple ways her body could become damaged from this crib of hers. (now if only that worked when I told her if she ran into the street a car would come along and hit her and it would hurt very bad...or if she ran off in a store a stranger would take her away from me. And I wonder why she wakes up screaming at night.)...I digress!

Of course I always have plan B...the duct tape. I figured after I get through wrapping it around her diaper in our nightly ritual I'll just attach the end to each side of her crib. Seeing how I have had two family members (both the grandmothers) suggest this as well I don't think it is so inhumane. I'm off to listen for little feet on the floor!!! (or a big thump and a scream!!!) And don't worry I've got extra duct tape in the garage!

Identity Theft or "don't rent houses from men in Africa""

It's as close to identity theft as I've ever been. Our home has been "for rent" for a whopping $700 a month this past week on Craig's list. And all you need to do to rent this fabulous house (pictures included) is fill out some supposedly official looking paperwork and mail your $700 to a man who happens to live in Africa (that is why he can't show you the house himself). And would you believe people have fallen for this crap? (Oh yeah I said crap!!!)

It wasn't a big deal in my mind until first a woman showed up in our driveway when we weren't home and was seen walking around our yard checking out our house. I'm sure she was trying to look inside to see what was up with this 'rental' house b/c it appeared that people lived here AND THERE IS A FOR SALE SIGN IN THE YARD!!! (my neighbor was texting me while this was happening - remember my personal spy next door with the cookie tray?) I told her it was okay (thinking it was a prospective buyer) as long as the woman didn't disappear into our house and then leave with a t.v. or computer!

But...then a man shows up at my door yesterday, with his old pick up truck and 'buddy' in the driveway, telling me he's here about the rental! I held back my anger that I was wanting to lash out on the real criminal and tried to be kind to this scam victim. I explained to the man quickly (through a locked storm door) that it was a scam and our house was not for rent rather for sale (SEE THE SIGN THERE IN THE FRONT YARD THAT YOU DROVE BY) and I hoped he hadn't sent the man any money.

And then this naive man started trying to persuade me the validity of the situation, "But I have been talking to him on e-mail, Nate Callender is his name (yes, that is my husband's name whom he stole his identity to set up an e-mail account) and he sent me paperwork to fill out." He was having a hard time accepting this truth of the matter while standing there gazing at my beautiful chocolate brown living room walls through our shiny glass storm door!

I wanted to say....well, if you want to buy it I can hook you up with the REALTOR ADVERTISED RIGHT THERE ON THAT SIGN IN MY YARD GOOF BALL! but I was nice and just kept repeating myself..."It's a scam...don't send any money in!" (Goof ball....)

And then he turned around with a shocked expression, not telling me he was sorry for bothering me or that my husband had been a victim of identity theft or that every crazy person in middle Tn. now had seen my chocolate brown living room and my bed for goodness sakes on Craig's list! He just walked away.

So...hopefully this drama will play out this week and be over. I do hope no one sent money to this "African" rental scam artist. I have had some strong male friends offer to take turns standing outside my house with a fire arm or two until this blows over but I think I can handle it!

Lesson to you all...don't rent any houses that have beautiful chocolate brown walls and are "newly decorated" for $700 a month but you have to mail in money to traveling African men who promise to mail you a key to the house!

Cookie Baking Time

Baking Christmas cookies is a tradition in my family. I love making dozens of them at once and then giving them away, as well as keeping just a few for my family and those visitors during the holiday season. I have made the same types of cookies since I was first married. They are tried and true, always bake well, don't have too many ingredients and well...they are delicious! These two are passed down from my mother and I wanted to share them with you. I had a little helper this day so I hope her participation inspires you to try these as well this Christmas.

Spritz Cookies
1 cup butter softened, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 1/4 cups flour, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 egg, 1 tsp. vanilla.
Heat oven 400 degrees





add room temperature softened butter (2 sticks)

add sugar

Mix medium speed until creamy

add one egg

add vanilla

add salt

add flour a little at a time and mix

"Stop eating the dough!!!"

choose your food coloring. I pick green and red b/c of the shapes I'm going to make.

wash your mixers between coloring. I split the dough into two bowls and prepare the coloring for pushing out the cookie shapes.


Pump out your shapes. This may take practice if you have never done it before.


"Don't eat the dough!"

Bake 9 minutes till set (not brown). Makes 5 dozen cookies (I got 72 cookies out of this batch).

Wedding Cookies
A great cookie recipe for showers or tea parties or for Christmas! Reminds me of snowy days!

Heat oven to 325 degrees

1 cup of flour

3 tbl. sugar

1 stick softened butter (not melted!)

Mix together. I made two batches. One I added 1/2 cup chopped pecans.

This is what your dough will look like. It comes out very crumbly so you will need to use your hands to really knead together. The heat of your hands helps the dough to stick.

Roll into grape sized balls.

I also form crescents with my hands. These are actually easier to keep stuck together.

Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 9-10 mts. Take out of oven and let them set for a minute.

Lay them on wax paper covered in powdered sugar to coat the bottom. Sprinkle powdered sugar on the top. The more the better in my opinion!

Snowy, sugary goodness right there! Let them sit to cool off with the sugar on top for a few minutes before moving.

Then you just have to watch out for husbands who sneak into the kitchen and try to eat your goodies before you give them away!

These freeze really good too for later!

Merry Christmas and happy cooking!

I'm living in a fish bowl!

I feel like I'm living in a fish bowl. Except I'm like a bottom dweller that constantly cleans up his surroundings to keep his environment clean (and well fill his belly but that part isn't me okay?).

What do I do most days? Clean. Honestly...I clean! I never considered myself OCD (I don't even really understand that term b/c people misuse it so much) but I think I might fit the bill now.

Having your house on the market is no easy task. They all warned me. I smiled back at everyone and shook my head that yes I was ready for the adventure. I was ready to clean, to move out almost all of my personal possessions, to live out of my garage (where all my stuff seems to have gone), to be ready at any hour to show my house. But right when I thought I was going to have a nervous cleaning breakdown (and my hands look horrible you guys --- so dry and cracked --- I really think I need a manicure!) a shark is circling.

Literally...we have watched them drive by a few times scoping us out. So, I do honestly feel like I'm in a fish bowl!

They looked Saturday (that was a crazy call...I don't recommend leaving one's cell phone at home while running around with the family on a Saturday morning). When they finally got us through Nate's cell phone we raced home and cleaned like crazy and sped out of the house. They took the bite. (Now I realize I have turned into the fishermen here so just go with me okay?)

They wanted to look again. It was between us and two other houses.

Round two. I was ready for this. It was like being in a call back of a beauty contest (come on now I'm from the South and almost everyone in my town was in at least one pageant...well I admit I was in more then one). But that excitement you feel when the MC calls out your name from the sweaty girl's locker room while you stand in your sequin mermaid skin tight dress with marshmallow taffeta sleeves bunched around your hot rolled bouffant hair (I sound beautiful don't I?).

They wanted a second look. I scrubbed. I made all the faucets shine. I even made the wood furniture reflect my image as I walked by. The windows sparkled. The house was ready for the judges last look. This was it. They would either love it or move on to the next contestant.

My neighbor spied out her window and called me giving me updates. They had stayed almost thirty minutes. I had thought to ask her (my neighbor) if she would stand outside with fresh baked cookies and happen to offer them one as she walking to the neighbors with her son to sing Christmas carols but I didn't think she would like me too much after that request.

And then last night I got the response e-mail. They love the house! But now the game begins...they say it is overpriced...so this is where my Realtor will show off her talent I guess and I will stay out of the way and pray! (of course I don't think it is overpriced but we did put a little cushion in there...a cushion I would rather stay but you know I tend to be partial to my beautiful brown living room and sour apple kitchen!)

But then there is the flip side to this whole business. We must find a house. I looked at three houses for the first time today. I was so thoroughly disappointed that I wanted to cry all the way home.

What's up with people not 'staging' their houses like I was told I had to do. What's up with people NOT CLEANING their houses if they want to sell it. What's up with people having BRASS LIGHTS when I was told I would HAVE to replace mine with updated fixtures if I wanted to sell! What's up with people having carpet so old and stained I wouldn't let a dog sleep on it!

And they are asking so much money for their houses!!!!!

I thought this was a freaking buyer's market!!!!!!!

Now that I got that out...sorry, I am just having my eyes opened to the realty of the housing market right now and the fact that not everyone does what their realtor tells them to do in order to sell their house! But I am truly trying to exercise patience and trust that the perfect house (even if it has big stains on the floor) will come along and hit me in the forehead and I will just know that my family will love it (once we buy new flooring and paint)!

Until then...I'm back to cleaning (got another viewer tomorrow) and back to searching zillow.com!

The secrets of the night

There is a time that occurs each night when the children are in bed and the adults of the house get to let loose and play. The time varies each night depending on how awake the little ones are upon the golden hour: how many times you have to fill glasses of water, hear the toilet flush, kiss goodnight, confirm again that it is indeed time to go to bed, convince them that they really will fall asleep if they just close their eyes and quit moving around.

When it becomes very quiet in the house you know it is time...to play!

All children wonder what their parents do late at night. The older they get the more intrigued they are to find out. Eli is a night owl (and a rooster)and has been known to stay awake past the time his parents have fallen asleep in bed. "I stayed up later then you last night!" he'll boast the next morning. Don't worry...he doesn't try to sneak out of the house (he's too scared) but just reads or draws in bed (or eaves drops on our movies). Now if it was Ian doing this I would have an electric fence turned on around the house!

Well...this past Saturday evening it happened. Eli came in late in the night as usual and smiled his mischievous smile saying, "what's ya'll doing?" I was about to spit out the same old words I always do, "go get in bed Eli" but this time I didn't. "Do you want to draw at the table with me while I paint?" I asked. Eli's face lit up. "Really?" he questioned and ran to grab a drawing tablet and pencil.

And so began the unveiling of the secrets of the night with adults. He got to watch silly giant monster fish shows on the internet with his dad while I painted a canvas and Nate graded papers. We all had a snack around 10pm...of course what adults eat when kids are in bed...chips and even a little peanut butter sandwich for the two guys. Eli thought he was big stuff...I felt giddy that I was letting him be a part of the big world for once...and we all actually had fun just hanging out together.

It was way too late to admit when we finally decided to go to bed. Of course the next morning Eli couldn't hold back the excitement of the night and made sure to tell Ian that he had stayed up late with mom and dad and watched crazy monster fish movies and ate chips! Ian didn't seem phased by the desired jealousy from his older brother (I think he was glad he got to sleep!)

Now when this coming Saturday night gets here...I think I'll have to practice saying those words, "get back in bed Eli" once again. We can't let too many secrets of the night out of the bag!

New traditions and the same old turkey

It's one of the two times a year we allow ourselves to eat a full meal just during the appetizer course, then another during the dinner course, and once we are fully stuffed we force ourselves to yet again try everyone's homemade pie (including the pumpkin pie that the seven year old made). We want everyone to feel appreciated of course.

My family started a few new traditions this year. It helped that we were at my sister's house in Nashville. A big house. With a huge empty lot down the street.

I credit her for being quite the organized hostess. It might have sprung from our past Thanksgiving/Christmas gatherings where at least one member of either side of the family ended up in the hospital for some reason or other. We laugh at this fact now don't worry!

When we entered her home we were all hit with such a tantalizing aroma coming from the oven I would have agreed to anything she requested. Her husband was baking a special homemade turkey, freshly bought not frozen he bragged with due rights, and other sweet treats that filled the air with smells of spices. Once we fully discussed the main guest for the day, the turkey, we were introduced to the schedule.

Don't laugh. You'll be using one next year.

My sophisticated sister had mapped out the day's activities with times and foods to be eaten as well as activities and conversational moments. We all giggled but it actually kept our large family on task.

12:00 eat lunch - ham sandwiches (we did 'left overs' before the main meal...it actually worked out nicely)

1:00-3:00 play time. We all traversed across the street not letting the drizzling rain deter our playful moods. The three little boys (not being so little anymore and all confident from their past soccer season experience, believing they could 'whoop' up on some old people's booties I'm sure) were jumping around us slow moving adults with glee as they began to kick the soccer ball. Teams were formed (and reformed, and then formed again as to a child's liking at any given moment)and the game began. It was fun making myself run up and down our imaginary soccer field with the boys and going head to head with my brother-in-law (an avid soccer player) and my husband (a self made soccer coach who has a competitive spirit like non other). I at least had my dad who was keeping up with the younger men quite well and cheering his two daughters on for actually running around while trying to keep the little boys focused on playing with the right team! Then there was Jane...the spunky four year old in her pajamas that insisted on her mother carrying her until she became quite engulfed in a stick and a large nut of some kind in a neighbor's yard. After an hour of running and sweating profusely, trying not to pass out in front of my nine year old, I threw in the flag and opted to "go check on the sleeping baby" and the grandmother who was pulling childcare duty back at the house with the two littlest girls. Not soon after the door flew open and a barrage of sweaty, dirty clothed, muddy faced soccer players triumphantly waltzed in ready for baths and a change of clothes. What was next on the schedule dear sister?

3:00-4:00 Appetizers and conversation
As often happens with multiple kids and various ages represented the adults get spread out around the house not actually carrying on a full conversation the entire day of being together. This wasn't going to happen today. Not at our Thanksgiving!
After cleaning up and putting on our official Thanksgiving attire we quickly put together the appetizers on plates and rushed them out to the front living room (away from all little hands). A movie was put on. "Who's watching the baby?" was asked a few times and then we were forced, oh I mean we were asked, to sit in a circle around the appetizers and have conversation. After the older people in the family laughed a little behind our backs we actually had a nice chat. Education, the latest NPR story, developments in our children, family history were all discussed briefly. Then a baby was crying, "where's the baby?" and the toddler was stuck upstairs and the turkey needed turning. It was nice while it lasted.

After that more taking turns playing with kids, watching toddlers, rescuing the baby, preparing the Thanksgiving feast and starting and stopping conversations along the way carried us through to the next scheduled event. The Thanksgiving feast!

5:00 The china was pulled out. The mother-in-law's silver, all polished and shiny, was properly distributed. Name cards were strategically placed and then replaced. Hands were washed. Children were served. The prayer was given. And slowly the adults one by one sat down.

And then it happened.

Looking around that room with the children at one table trying not to get in trouble for being too rowdy and my grown up loved ones around me we each realized at one moment or other how blessed we were. Everyone relaxed. Conversation flowed. Drinks were poured. The famous turkey was devoured. Complements were dished out as fast as side dishes were. Dirty looks were shot at the kid table, laughter came at times, awkwardness as well...all that comes when a family gathers together.

6:00ish - The darkness outside brought with it different waves of volunteers taking turns washing dishes and putting up food, playing with children, and dividing out left-overs.

7:00 - A group photo session, surprisingly quick and painless, and then coffee and games to follow. An unexpected spend the nighter with children laid precariously around the house in different beds and rooms concluded with hugs good night. Exhaustion over took each of the adults as we crashed early into our assigned beds.

I think the schedule will be replicated again next year and I know the rematch soccer tournament will be carried out again! I hope everyone had a fun filled, drama free, family friendly Thanksgiving as well!

Scary momma!

Tonight Ian told me I didn't have to dress up for Halloween because I was already scary. Not scary in the "ugly" factor but rather in the "Oh my you scare the daylights out of me with that stink eye look mom!" kind of scary.

I didn't quite know how to take this comment. You have to know Ian though. He tells it like it is. But then again he has gotten the scary look from me a lot today so I guess I did my job well.

What I have to decide is do I want to be thought of as scary from my kids? .... okay that was enough thinking, Yes! I very much do! =) (I say this with a laugh you know!)

I proceeded to tell Ian in a very pouty voice "well that hurts my feelings Ian." Which in turn made him say, "oh mom you aren't scary you are very kind." (but he said this with an impish grin!!!)

I tell you what! I turned around and gave that little booger a "scary look" and sent him on his way! And if he thinks I look scary now wait till he is sixteen and tries to sneak a lie past me with his buddies. Oh, then he'll see scary momma alright...I'm just warming up little fella, just warming up!