Happy New Year's Eve

Closing out 2015 at my brother's house with one last picture. Cheers y'all!!

A Week of Leisure

Ever since my babies came home Sunday, there has been lots of this going on. I would love to tell you the 16 year still snuggles with me but I can't. Sniff, sniff...

This week has been very low key and I am loving it. The kids and I went out Monday to have a late lunch and run a couple errands. I snapped this at lunch. When did he grow up? Seriously, it goes so fast yall!  

Before heading back home, we took the White Stallion to the car wash because honestly, he was pretty dirty. My sweet, sweet son got out to scrub the car before we went through. Bella and I waited in the car while he scrubbed. Love him!! 

Monday evening we went to my BFF's house so we could have our Christmas and catch up. We hadn't seen each other since our Canton trip. A good time was had. Let me mention that a cold front had blown through which was very welcomed. It's been too warm for me this time of year. The kids hung out in the hot tub...

Chris was even dared to jump in the pool and totally did it. I should have videoed it but my phone was inside and he was quick! 

I have to show off my blanket scarf Marilee gave me. I absolutely love it. Notice my initial on it...

I even wore it the next day when Christopher and I went to Bass Pro Shops. We were texting each other pictures of us wearing our gifts so I sent this one to her.  Let me just say this was the only way I could handle it because it was too hot up around my neck. If I had been out in the cold, no problem but yesterday was not that day. I felt like a continuous hot flash so I tied it the way you see in the picture below....

Today we are heading to daddy and Lena's to celebrate Christmas with my kids since they weren't with us Christmas Eve. We are heading over early to play games and I can't wait. 

I am really enjoying my time off this week. No rushing around, sleeping in, pajamas, snuggles, movies, games, cards, family with lots and lots of love. Pretty perfect in my book. Yall have a good one!

From Our House to Yours...

I hope y'all have a very Merry Christmas filled with lots of 

love, fun and family!!

Love & hugs, Missy

Christmas Goodies

I am happy to report that I am officially on vacation until January 4th!!  They let us go early today (another plus) so I headed to town to grab a few more things I needed. While I was in Target I got a phone call from my nephew Brandon asking if I was home. He, Makenna and two other 4-H kids were ringing the bell at Kroger and they needed a drink. Can't blame them at all since its 82 degrees on December 23rd. What kind of ridiculousness is that? Anyway, I finished up my shopping and headed to Sonic to get the babies a cool drink. Love doing little things like that when I can. They were very grateful. Got home and decided to do a little baking...

Sugared pecans, pecan balls or snowballs and fire crackers. We shall see tomorrow if any of it is edible. The fire crackers I did a little different. Normally I just use regular saltines but today I decided on Cheez-its, oyster crackers and mini club crackers. I'm letting those sit overnight before I try them. 

Sort of random side note:  I love the knife in this picture. Love! My finger on my right hand not so much but I love it. If you have not purchased a Pioneer Woman knife, you need to. Your kitchen life will be so much better. 😁

I'm beat from shopping and then baking so this gal is going to polish her nails for tomorrow (we're having Christmas at Daddy's) and hitting the hay to get some shut eye. Yall have a good one. 

Yippee

As luck would have it, I will have my babies for one more night.  Bella was super excited about that. They were supposed to head to their dad's this afternoon before I got home from work but he is not feeling well and still has some last minute gifts to get, wrapping and grocery shopping so I offered to keep the kids one more night.  Lucky me!  I was going to head out after work to grab my last few things but it can wait.  Because I hadn't planned on them or me being home this evening I didn't plan dinner so we'll eat out tonight.  Wonder what they'll pick?

My sister texted me yesterday from Walmart with the following message...

"When you are in Walmart and you turn to go down the Christmas candy aisle and its all Valentine candy!!  

Needless to say I wasn't happy, more so because I have not picked up my Christmas candy yet but dadgum people, can we slow things down a bit?  Its ridiculous!  Did nothing but add to my already poor attitude.

And speaking of attitude, I have a bad one.  I mean downright ugly attitude.  Its more work related but lets be honest, if I have a bad attitude at work, its going to rub off elsewhere.  I'm good about leaving everything here once I go home but some days the attitude follows and its just not pretty.  So my goal is to get it all out these next couple of days and come back next year with an attitude adjustment.  You would think that after all these years, I would know how to handle the people who feel they are entitled and whine when they don't get their way or are not included.  These are grown ass people we are talking about who should know better.  My tolerance is gone for these people and I have got to figure out how to deal with them because I don't like my attitude. I don't like me.  I can't change their attitude but I can change mine.  I have to.  For me and for my children.  Any words of encouragement are gladly accepted.

That leads me to my word for 2016...Faith.  I need to return to my faith and have more faith in all aspects of my life.  I think it is a fitting word choice given my new attitude I'm going to come in with next year.

Ok, I'm off to get some work done and check my lists for the 87th time.  :)

Y'all have a good one!

Short Week Ahead

I'm working this week through Wednesday and then our offices are closed Thursday and Friday for Christmas but this gal won't be back until next year!  Hallelujah!!  I'm so ready for my time off. I will get a few days to myself but that also means I won't have my babies for Christmas this year, but I will be okay.  I got this.  They will be back on the 27th and I'm happy I will be off for the second leg of their Christmas break.

Have y'all seen the new laser lights this year?  Or as my dad calls them, lazy lights.  haha!  He and Lena have some at their house.  Its one little box you plug in and it projects red and green "lights" onto your house.  Its really pretty cool looking.  I told Daddy it made his house look like the Griswald's!  My brother, sister and I had some fun with them last week at family dinner.  We may get older but the kids in us always come out for fun.  That's me and sister below....

Hank has just been moving around this year, not up to too much really. Slacker.  Bella still gets a kick out of finding him every day though.

This child has had more fun playing in this box than anything else.  Forget toys, I'm going to get her boxes for Christmas.

And here we are about to head out to look at Christmas lights in our pajamas.  I posted on FB that I started this tradition with Christopher when he was a little one and I've continued it with Bella.  I'll keep doing it until I have to go by myself.  I have a string of lights out on my tree which disappoints me as this tree is only 3 years old.  Hopefully we can get them working again.

Not really much else to report.  The kids leave for their dad's tomorrow and then back the 27th. Oh yes, I did get an early Christmas gift yesterday....Bella has lice.  So NOT what I asked Santa for.  Yesterday evening was spent decontaminating the house and treating her hair.  It wasn't bad at all but I'm still going to have her father treat her again while she's with him.  Now that your heads are itching I'll bid you farewell.  You're welcome.  Y'all have a good one!  

A Sweet Surprise

Today we had our employee awards luncheon at work. In the past, we've always had the luncheon in the summer but things have been so busy that time got away from us.  I pull the luncheon together every year so I left early to get things set up and didn't return until almost 2:00 this afternoon.  When I walked back into my office I had a box sitting on my desk.  I opened it to find this note...

And this ornament.  Isn't it beautiful?

Its no secret to anyone around here that I've had a bad attitude. I try really hard to not let it show but some days I'm either full of piss and vinegar or in tears.  I've vowed to get it all out and come back fresh with a better attitude in 2016.  Until then, I've asked for patience and lots of prayers. This sweet gesture made my day and I had to share it with y'all.

Have a good evening y'all! 

Hank's Shenanigans

Tis the season for life to become extra crazy!

Hank has been all over the place this year...nothing too crazy but silly enough to keep Bella laughing.  Every morning this child wakes up wanting to know where Hank is.  Some days I tell her I can't find him and others (when its obvious) I tell her she just has to see for herself.  

Hanging out on what I call my kitchen Christmas tree....

Sprinkles Angel

Hiding in the holly.  He liked this so much that he stayed there for two days!  

He finally moved on to stand tall with my nutcrackers.  

The nutcracker Hank is next to is our newest edition. 

He really likes hanging out this year....

Jousting with Elsa...

This fish was a gift to Chris from Scott when we were dating.  

Hank liked it so much he decided to go for a ride.

The next day Hank found himself in our Christmas card holder but I forgot to get a picture of him there.  He also liked it so much that he stayed there for two days.  

Friday, the kids and I went to Hobby Lobby to see if we could find something to go with a gift I had already ordered for my sister back in July.  I was shocked to see that most of the Christmas was already gone.  Christopher ended up finding something else for his Godmother so I will put back the other thing for her birthday.  We were also on the hunt for a small Christmas tree for Christopher. We have talked about doing a fishing themed tree for a while and he finally decided to do it.  Hobby Lobby had one tree we liked but it was still pricey for the size.  After filling our bellies at Fuddruckers, we ventured over to Target where we found this beauty for $21!  

  

That picture wasn't very good so I took one with the flash on.  Chris did pick up a couple ornaments at Hobby Lobby and then added some fishing lures he had at the house.  We'll add to it as we come across some ornaments. Needs more lights for my taste but its super cute.

Sunday we once again found Hank hanging out, this time in the kitchen window.  Pardon the dishes in the sink.  I hadn't cleaned up yet when I took these.  I have to take the pictures when I think about it otherwise I will forget.

Yesterday he joined the elf in our tree :) 

And this morning I walked in my kitchen to find my knives sitting on the counter.  What the heck?  So I opened the kitchen drawer to find this....that crazy elf!

So there you have it....Hank's shenanigans through today.  

Almost forgot, last week Bella rang the bell at Kroger with my dad after she got out of school.  Aren't they cute?

and I have to show you my Berry Naughty nail polish....

I've added sparkle this week for fun (insert big smile)...

I am just about done with my shopping.  I have a few stocking stuffers to go and one more gift to pick up but that is a simple gift card and this gal is done!  The kids will be with their dad next week but I'll be working so that won't be too bad.  I'll be on vacation when they come back home so I'll get in lots of extra time with them. This weekend Bella and I will venture out for our annual Christmas light tour in our pajamas.  I'm hoping to convince Christopher to go with us since he hasn't been with me since he was a little boy.  Sniff, sniff.  We'll also be making some gingerbread cookies (i hope).   Things have been super stressful at work so I want to do as little as possible when I'm home.  Momma duties don't always allow it but it hasn't been bad at home.  Just need to get through this week and next at work, take my vacation time and come back next year with a better attitude.  

Hope ya'll are having a super day!

Hank is Back!

Hank the Elf made his debut in the kitchen this morning and let me tell you, Bella was one excited little girl.  I was worried she might think he wasn't cool this year but when she read his note (with my help), a huge smile spread across her face which in turn made me smile.

Isn't he cute?  As we were walking out the door this morning, Bella hollered back "Bye Hank!"

I need to stick with this because honestly I have fun with it and Bella loves to see what kind of mess Hank gets into each day. And if I'm being honest, if he helps her not be such a toot, I'm all about it.  

I did get Christmas up over the Thanksgiving break so it now looks like Christmas exploded in my house.  This is 3 boxes in and 3 more to go...

Its all up but I'm still moving stuff around.  I do that every year.  Same with the tree.  I'll get to looking at it while I'm watching a movie and see a hole or not like the way something is angled so I'll move it.  Always "fixin".  I'll try to take pictures and share them with you.  

Other than that, we are all trying to get back into the routine this week.  The kids loved being off but by Sunday Bella was anxious to go back to school  Chris, not so much.  I showed Bella on the calendar that she has 3 more weeks until she's off for Christmas vacation. That sure pumped her up because I know by the end of this week she will be complaining about going to school.  Mommy will have a nice little vacation at the end of the year as well. 

That's it for now, y'all have a good one!