The Grinch, Part Deux

Well, the big day is almost upon us and so begins the rush rush rush to get everything done. Last minute gifts bought and wrapped, goodies baked, cards sent (which I didn't do this year...ooppss) and the ever present desire to make sure that the kids have the biggest and best that the season has to offer. But a funny thought occured to me as I was driving home from work the other day with all of the to-do's running through my head...I simply could not remember but maybe 4 or 5 of the gifts I'd gotten as a child.(Sorry Momma and Daddy!) When I think back on the Christmases of my youth (which was NOT all that long ago, thank you very much! ;) ) what I remember most is the traditions that my family had. On the night of Dec. 23rd, we would all get together at my Mamaw's house. The grownups would stay up late playing cards (Rook to be exact, a game that I learned to play as I got older and haven't played in a LONG time) and my cousins and I would make general nuisances of ourselves. And of course, there would be LOTS of snacking going on.....MMMM, sausage balls!! Then that night, (Christmas Eve Eve so to speak) Santa would come and visit us at my Mamaw's house. Christmas Eve was always "really" Christmas to me...Christmas Eve was Christmas at Mamaw's and if Christmas is all about where your heart is, well, Mamaw was (and still is) where my heart is. Not that I don't love going to my Granny's house, which is where we went on Christmas Day, but even now, when I think Christmas, I think Mamaw's. Of course, then there was Christmas morning at my house, which was probably the most wonderful part of Christmas b/c it was the part that I didn't have to share with anyone else...(This is where the Grinch comes out of me...) It was all about ME! (Ahh, what else would you expect from an only child, hehehe) But really, if the truth be known, the best thing about Christmas wasn't the gifts, or the decorations, or the food....it was the anticipation of Christmas. The time from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the time spent with family getting everything ready for the big day...That's the best part of Christmas. So this year, when Santa leaves the Hurricanes' toys and I'm looking and worrying that they don't seem to have much (YEAH RIGHT!!) I hope that I will remember the famous line from the Grinch movie...."Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe, just maybe, Christmas means a little bit more"

Feeling like the Grinch.....

"If there's one thing I hate, it's all the NOISE, NOISE, NOISE, NOISE!!!"
I don't know what their problem is tonight but the Hurricanes WILL NOT BE QUIET!!!!!!!!! And they are getting on my LAST NERVE!!!!!!!!!!! I got the new Harry Potter movie tonight and they would NOT be quiet while I was trying to watch it.........GRRRRR!!! I'm just in a generally pissy mood tonight. My nose is stopped up and I can't breathe, it's taking FOREVER for Christmas break to get here, I've got TONS to do before Zach's party on Saturday, and my kids at school are getting on my nerves BIG TIME. On the up side....One of my kids is suspended, one is at alternative school, and 4 have in school suspension. But on the down side, that still doesn't take care of even half of the discipline problems. God I'll be so glad when this year is over! But the down side to that is that next year Daniel will start Kindergarten. So while I'm ready to get a new group of kids, I'm NOT ready for my baby to start school. :( I need a vacation....a nice long trip to some exotic island....No kids, just me and maybe Robert. But, only 2 more school days left in this week and then one more week until Christmas break....I can't wait!!

It's hard to believe....

That Zachary is almost one year old!! My baby is growing up!! We are planning his first birthday party for this coming Saturday, even though he won't turn one until the 21st. With Christmas coming up and all of the hustle and bustle that comes with it, I wanted to have his party a little early so that it would be all about him. As I was looking at the calendar, I realized that Friday is the 14th, which is the day last year when I had the wreck that set Zachary's birth in motion a little early. He wasn't supposed to be born until 12/27, but when I had a wreck on the way home from work on 12/14/06, my blood pressure went up and my dr decided to induce me earlier. We were hoping that since Zach was born on the 21st, that he'd be home in time for Christmas. That wasn't to be the case. He developed pneumonia and ended up staying in the hospital until 12/31...a total of 10 days. But he has certainly made up for his rocky start. He is almost a year old and weighs nearly 30 lbs and is about 3 ft tall. He has been walking for about 3.5 to 4 months now and is definately able to keep up with his big brothers. Like Daniel and Mikey, he has gone straight from newborn to toddler. All 3 of my boys seemed to just skip over the baby stage. It's so hard to believe that my baby is turning one!!

My surrogate daughters....

This post is dedicated to all of my "daughters" who visit my blog and my room each day. AND who have won a special place in my heart. Being the mommy to 3 boys, I thought I'd never get to have the joy of having a daughter. So thanks to my girls from school, I know how wonderful it is to be blessed with daughters, sort of. I just want to let you girls know how special you are to me and how much I love all of you!!! You girls really help make my day more than you know. Sometimes your smiles and hugs make an otherwise unbearable day a little brighter. I love you all!!
Love ya,
Momma Forney!

Confessions of a Christmas Tree Snob

Hello, my name is Lee and I am a Christmas tree snob. I REFUSE to have an artifical tree and I REFUSE to bring home a less than perfect live tree. Each year, it takes me no less than 30 minutes to pick out a tree. I have been known to go to 4 or 5 tree lots to find the perfect tree. We got our tree last night and this year was actually a pretty good year. We only went to one lot and it only took me about 45 minutes to decide on a tree. My daddy is the one who taught me the fine art of picking out the perfect tree. When I was a kid, my daddy insisted on having cedar trees. He and I would go into the woods behind our house and search for HOURS until we found the perfect tree. It had to be shaped just right and there absolutely could not be any holes in the branches. Then we'd drag it through the woods and put it in the tree stand. I still go with my dad to look for the perfect tree, but we go to a tree farm now to get his tree. I guess we depleted the tree supply back behind our house! Once we had the tree in the house, Daddy's job was over. He'd go sit in his recliner and watch TV while Momma and I decorated the tree. I'm also very particular about decorating the tree. If my daddy taught me the art of choosing a tree, then my momma taught me the art of decorating it! I am very careful to make sure each side is evenly covered and that similar ornaments aren't hanging close together. I am know teaching my boys the fine art of choosing the perfect tree. Right now however, they just get bored with the process. "Mommy, just get a tree so we can go" They also are still learning the finer points of tree decorating! Mikey would hang all of the ornaments on one branch and leave the rest of the tree bare! AHH, youth! They will soon learn to appreciate that the art of tree choosing cannot be rushed!!! And that decorating the tree is an art that must be carefully honed and perfected. I just hope that when they are grown, they'll have the same great memories of Christmas that I have from my childhood.