Randomness

Just a few random thoughts:

Tonight my head is spinning from all the thoughts that are swimming around in this muddled brain of mine. Tis the Holiday season, after all. I guess that's what this time of year does.



Among all of the list making, cookie baking, present wrapping, crowd-fighting, and party-going, the regular every day things are still there. There's still laundry piled up, kitchens to clean, bills to pay and 9 to 5 jobs. It's a lot of pressure to keep up with it all. If we aren't careful it could all easily spin out of control.

So tonight I break from it all. I sip hot chocolate from an Elvis mug (because everything tastes sweeter from an Elvis mug!) from beneath my favorite, fuzzy warm blanket. It is bliss.



Lately there have been a lot of days that look like this:



Days that are filled with gray skies, rainy windshields, and heating units that do not shut off. So we did a lot of hanging out in the comforts of our own four walls. We caught up on laundry, did lots of snuggling, and lots and lots of playing. Sweetest thing ever was seeing my boys run to get their Toy Story bucket and hearing their version of the movie played out in my own living room.






We didn't let the weather keep us from enjoying our small town Christmas parade. We met friends and huddled beneath blankets while listening to our childens' squeals of delight as the tinsel donned tractors rolled by. Complete with the Pig from Piggly Wiggly. The finale: Santa riding in on the fire truck. We love it.















We also ventured out last weekend and surprised the boys with a trip to Nashville to see ICE! and to the Opryland Hotel. We enjoyed the ICE! exhibit, meandered around Opryland for a few hours and then headed to our hotel for a night in with pizza. It was just the five of us and it was so enjoyable.











While walking around the Opryland Hotel, their bear mascot? (did anyone know the Opryland Hotel had a mascot??) was mingling with the guests. The biggies weren't afraid of him at all but my little, well, lets just say he was glued to his dad from that point on. My goal was to get a good shot of my three boys for a Christmas card, but after that stupid bear showed up, I could have just put my camera away. It made for pictures like below. I swore if I saw that bear again I'd punch him in the face.





But just look at this place. I don't know of a more beautiful hotel anywhere.



In other news, Timmy the Elf has arrived. The first night, Jag was absolutely terrified of him. I felt bad that I had traumatized my kid over what was intended to be a magical part Santa-land. He's overcome his fear for the most part, as long as Timmy promises not to show up in his bedroom; however, Rhett won't let us so much as reach for the Elf. He literally shakes when we walk near him. What are the Holidays without a little terror, right?? And let's be honest. This little guy does look like he's up to something, huh?



At least Timmy showed up in time to witness our kids' great big hearts when it came time to shop for a less fortunate child. Each year we meet up with some friends and eat supper and shop for an assigned child. Our kids enjoy it so much and usually want to buy out the store. May as well put a big red bow on Walmart and have it delivered to the child's address. I love that these kids have such big hearts.



Perhaps I've rambled on for long enough. My eyes are tired and feel like they have sand in them. A clear sign that my bed is beckoning me to slip beneath that warm down comforter. Perfect for an 18 degree night. Sweet dreams.