Xmas Songs

Every year in July, I feel overwhelmed with annoyance by the appearance of Xmas stuff in many stores. Argh! Every year the week before Thanksgiving when the 24/7 Xmas music starts on the radio and half my neighbors already have their lights up, the ARGH! gets me again! The dread of things needed to be accomplished to make the holiday season joyful begins to weigh me down. Cards to make, presents to get, decorating to do, etc, etc, etc. But then there's a moment, a moment where suddenly I'm ready, ready to hear the Xmas music, get working on the cards and spend 1/2 a day decorating the house. I never know when it will strike me. I usually anticipate it to be late - that I will need to force myself to even get the Advent Calendar out on time. But it struck me early this year. Andrew has his 4th grade Xmas concert tonight, and on Tuesday he had his last practice. He forgot the words to the song he is performing as "Bill Holly" of "Bill Holly and the Mistletoes". Jingle Bell Rock. "Okay, " I said, "Let's go play it and practice." Off we go to Windows Media Player and begin to play it. Then on to Google to print out the words. It helped him and surprisingly didn't annoy me. I switched my MP3 player to all Xmas and anticipated enjoying all my favs at work the next day. I am very fond of Eartha Kitt's version of "Santa Baby", The Eagles "Please Be Home for Xmas" , & Harry Connick Jr's "The Happy Elf". I like the goofy stuff like "I Want a Hippo for Xmas" "The Chipmunk Song" and even Cheech and Chong's "Santa and his Old Lady". But there are certain songs that make Xmas feel like Xmas. The John Denver and Muppets Xmas album, Bing Crobsy's "White Xmas" Perry Cuomo's "It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Xmas" and Nat King Cole's "The Xmas Song". What's your favorite?

HOLY CRAP!

HOLY CRAP!

It has been a while since been here! So long, I forgot how to log on! My lame excuses are : I've had nothing to say and little time to say it because I've been too busy playing in WEBKINZ! In fact I feel right now like I'm wasting precious Cash Cow time! However, I felt a need to do something more adult like this morning so...

Things I am Thankful for as the Season of Thankfulness approaches:

1. I have 2 healthy, sweet, smart boys who get spoiled with prizes when Mommy returns from Parent Teacher Conferences with great report cards and glowing reports!

2. That today is a clear day. Where none of the fog of worries, stresses and annoyances block my view of the blessings that fill my life everyday.

3. Having a talented husband who can not only make my living room into a thing of beauty, but can also make a great chocolate chip pancake!

4. Having a dog. Always coming home to a dramatic display of utter joy at your arrival is really nice. Nearly unconditional love is gratifying. (feed me and I will love you!)

5. Surprisingly unobtrusively planning 3 days worth of meals in anticipation of family being here for Turkey Day! Oh the joy of turkey day leftovers!

6. Harvey & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice tea!

7. Finding the type of Xmas gifts that you can't wait to give!

8. Feeling like I've justified enough that I am an adult and can now go play on WEBKINZ!

Independence Day

In honor of Independence Day (sorry it's late) I am suggesting a visit to this website : http://TheIndependenceFoundation.org. This is a non-profit organization started just 2 years ago by a family I know through church and have become very close with. In fact, I now work for Ben as a home health care aide. This family is making huge strides to achieve for these young adults what most of us take for granted every day. Independence. Many have fought and died to make and keep this country free, and yet here at home having a physical handicap keeps many from living a self-directed life. The good, no GREAT news is : after only 2 years the Foundation has been able to purchase a house that three on the their long list of young adults will be able to move into after a couple of adjustments! Also achieved:a Power Wheelchair Soccer League, a transportation program, 2 wheelchair access van donations, a transportation program, college scholarships awarded and many other life changing steps. Other big projects are in the works. The heart breaking news is that these changes don't always come fast enough. This is near and dear to my heart and I hope it touches yours.

Tagged

Tagged by Reason Enough, whom I will see this weekend!
1 Where is your cell phone? purse
2 Relationship? happy, good 10 years & counting
3 Your hair? fizzy due to humity
4 Work? don't get me started!
5 Your sister? german and fabulous!
6 Your favorite things? 1 asleep on couch 2 at VBS
7 Your dream last night? boring
8 Your favorite drink? today, ice water
9 Your dream car? Carmen Ghia
10 The room you're in? soon to be Book Nook
11 Your shoes? barefoot - ditto
12 Your fears? I have the upper hand today
3 What do you want to be in 10 years? watching my son graduate from High School - WOW!
14 Who did you hang out with this weekend? family
15 What are you not good at? so many things, listening
16 Muffins? cranberry-orange - ditto
17 Wish-list item? enough income to not have to worry, but not so much to add worries
18 Where you grew up? East Aurora
19 The last thing you did? burned grilled cheese sandwiches
20 What are you wearing? tank top and skirt
21 What are you not wearing? winter coat!
22 Your pet? asleep under the fan
23 Your computer? just right
24 Your life? good, very good
25 Your mood? happy despite the humidity
26 Missing? lake Erie
27 What are you thinking about? a cold swim
28 Your car? just right
29 Your kitchen? extra clean due to manual scrubbing yesterday
30 Your summer? BUSY!
31 Your favorite color? blue
32 Last time you laughed? a few hours ago
33 Last time you cried? a few hours ago
34 School? far enough away, yet not soon enough
35 Love? Everyday
36 Tag? three

I am taking gingersnapspice, navilyn, and epiphanyalone, just because I'd like to read their answers!

Summertime

Ah Summer, time for outdoor projects like gardening. I am pleased to say we actually have something growing besides weeds! We even have some new things given to us by a friend who needed to thin her garden out! Instant gratification when putting in full grown plants to an enpty space! Joe has also been VERY hard at work digging a four foot deep trench to install our water line - and will be hooking us up to city water tomorrow! He will also be putting a new roof on the garage and finishing the last corner of the clubhouse! And what are the boys up to you might ask. Making mud mountains out of the dirt from the trench, catching crayfish in the creek, being forced to clean out a messy playroom, and finally being allowed to sleep out on the sun porch with Molly! I remember wondering why my parents spent so much time working outdoors all summer long, when the should be playing. I get it now why they didn't and why my kids are irritated that I'm busy mowing, weeding and hanging laundry! I plan to take time to veg, hope you do too! (Yes Lucas actually fell asleep that way!)

Wet and Wonderful

Joy can be found in many small ways!

Jumping in mud puddles the 1st Sunday June!

Glad for the much needed rain!

Finding a good place to hide from the thunder!

(dog under desk)

Ideas approached skeptically, turn out to be good!

(Hubby wanted the mutton's in, I wasn't so sure.)

Remodeling approaching the finish line!

Three hour naps on a rainy afternoon!

(Thanks guys for letting Mommy sleep!)

Quiet in the house, while everyone enjoys their books

(except for the occasional interruption when we needed

to share a funny part!)

Good books to read!

Perfect things to snack on! (popcorn)

A good laugh before bedtime! (Thanks AFV!)

A good scratch on the back for a hard working hubby

who's sunburn has gotten itchy!

Glad to be right where I am at the end of the day!

Message of the Day

One of those e-mails you always get, but worth sharing.

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly,Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here let's dance!

Author unknown.