Overheard

I already posted this on Facebook, but it was too funny not to re-post for the non-Facebook people (mom and Chollet, I think that you are the only two so this is really for you):

Last night Ward and Ann Park were in the playroom building a fort.  They had pillows and blankets everywhere and it looked more like a mess to me than a fort, but apparently there was a small space where they could both fit inside the mess of pillows and blankets.  I was in the laundry room and they were running back and forth by me to get various items to put in their fort to play with.  Here is the conversation I overheard:

AP: "Come on Ward, we are almost done!"
Ward: "Yeah, okay.  Oh, hey!  Do you want your diarrhea book?"
AP: "Oh yeah!  Thanks."

Ummm. . . Ward, I am pretty sure that the word you were looking for is "diary" book.  But who am I to know?

Cookie Monster

For a little mommy time yesterday, Ann Park and I made chocolate chip cookies.  Although I told her she could have only one, mommy has since consumed at least 7.  Nice way to start the holiday season, I know. But I think that Sam enjoyed them the most.  What do you think?

Exes

As in ex-boyfriends (or girlfriends for all my hundreds of male readers out there).  Why is it that people don't ever tell you anything about your exes?  I just don't get it.  As most of you know, I have two ex-boyfriends - one from high school and one from college.  Yes, I am a serial dater, I know.  Why is it that everyone who knows me (and, therefore who also knows my exes) NEVER and I mean NEVER tell me anything whatsoever about them?  These are two guys who at one point I considered myself closer to than anyone else in the world.  Did the relationship work out?  No.  Do I not care a bit about them or their lives?  Certainly not.  I loved both of these boys for a long time.  And I still care about them - not in a love way of course, but they will both always have a piece of my heart.  They are the people who helped shape and prepare me for Ted, the love of my life.  Plus, I had a great time with both of them!  Most of my favorite memories from high school and college involve them. 

But back to the point of my post.  It seems that other people in my life currently know all these things about my exes but don't ever tell me.  Why not?  I just don't get it.  For instance, the guy I dated in college has the most amazing voice.  It is one of the things I loved most about him and music was something that we had in common.  So last night I was watching "The Sing Off" and I called my mom to discuss that I met one of the guys on the show through a musician friend of mine (Jeramy Lister for those who watched).  Mom then tells me that my cousin sang in the group from Yale when he was there and that he now sings with my college-ex in "that singing group in Altanta."  Like I knew.  Of course I didn't know.  I had no idea that my ex still sings or is in a group in Atlanta - because people don't ever even MENTION his name around me.  But that is just a small example (i.e. mom, I am not mad at you!)

So for all you out there, I like to know things about them.  I hope that they want to know things about me.  Of course, you don't have to bring them up in every conversation, but when you learn something cool about them or hear that something is going on in their life, there is no need to avoid telling me.  Just because I didn't marry them or they are not in our cicle of friends (something that I think would be a little weird) does not mean that I don't care.  And it certainly does not mean that it is a topic to be avoided.  Just wanted you to know.

Christmas fun

We are really getting into the Christmas spirit around here.  The other night I pulled out our Christmas pajamas and the mood instantly changed.  Isn't it amazing how just the mention of Christmas puts smiles on everyone's faces?

Matching pjs for my boys!

(Ward's turn taking the pictures!)

playing on mommy and daddy's bed

my little ragamuffin!

And then I woke up this morning to hearing a lot of "shhhhh! don't wake up mommy"; "she's gonna love our surpirse!"  And I came downstairs to see all my kiddos, with Ted's supervision, decorating our Christmas tree!  I had to snap a couple of pictures just for the memory, although the lighting wasn't very good!

Ann Park and her "mean face" while hanging up a diamond ring!!

Ward hiding behind the tree!

Daddy found an ornament when our family was just Mommy, Daddy and Ward!

The threesome!

Take two

And one of our little princess (nice pj ensemble huh?)

Thankful

Thanksgiving was a little hectic over at our house so I was a little late getting around to writing my annual "what I am thankful for list" this year.  I wrote down many things - each one as important as the rest, but what it all boiled down to was this:

My family.  I am truly so blessed.  I love each one of them with all my mind, body, heart and soul.  I don't know what I would do or be without each one.   They have made me the person that I am today and continue to help me become the woman I was born to be. They may sometimes make me want to pull my hair out, or even drive me to drink (kidding really, but not some nights!), but they are my everything.  And the Lord has truly blessed me.

Itchy

So I have poison ivy or poison oak. Not sure which one it is, and really, I don't care.  All I care about is the itching.  And the fact that I woke up this morning and it was ON MY FACE.  Oh yeah.  I am lookin hot this Thanksgiving.  Thank God I was able to get into my dermatologist this morning and got a nice ole shot in the fanny of a little thing called steriods.  I also got some good seteriod cream for the body rash as well as the rash on my face. Only problem is, it is still spreading.  I just noticed two new breakout spots.  I look awful.  At least I will be with family over Thanksgiving.  They have to love me, even if I look like "a monster is trying to come out of my face" as Ward told me today at lunch.  Kids don't lie.

Ward's thoughts on Jesus

Ward has been learning a lot at school abot Jesus.  He is so sweet about it, although I have to hold back the laughter on some of the things that come out of his mouth.  The way kids minds work is just so literal.  Here are some samples:

"I love baby Sam the way Jesus loves him."  (When he said this tonight, I think that mom was about to cry.)

______

WARD:  "Mommy, I want to be like Jesus."
ME: "Ward, that is so great.  We all should try to be like Jesus in everything that we do."
WARD:  "Yeah, I know.  Only I don't want to be put up on a cross in my underwear."

I didn't reply to that because I was too scared of laughing.

_______

WARD: "Mommy, what happened to all the people who died before Jesus?"
ME: "Well, Ward, they didn't get a chance to know Jesus, but they knew God and if they loved God they went to heaven to be with God."
. . . silence . . .
WARD: "Mommy?"
ME:  "Yes bud?"
WARD:  "I think that if you don't know Jesus you just stay dead in the ground."

I didn't have an answer for that one either.

My new obsession

So I am newly obsessed with The Pioneer Woman.  http://thepioneerwoman.com/  Why did no one tell me about this amazing woman and her blog!  I mean, I am all over the internet (what do you think I do most of the time I am at work?) and I just heard someone talking about it.  She is fabulous,  hysterical, and, best of all, real.  Her blog has incredible recipes - a couple of which are definitely going to make it to my Thanksgiving table - and step-by-step instructions with pictures!  What more could a girl ask.  Plus she is an amazing photographer and gives great tips for us beginners!  So fun.  I could spend hours and hours on her blog.  But I do need to do a little bit of work today, I guess . . . .

Veteran's Day

Veteran's Day is always a day that is close to my heart.  I am very patriotic and am amazed at all who sacrificed for our, my, freedoms.  I know how selfish I am when I ask myself whether I could do what they do every day.  And it is all the more special to me now that we have a Marine in the family - Louisa's husband Greg.  He will always have a special place with the Upchurch's.  Ever since their "Southern Tour" after college when he and Louisa came and stayed at the lake and Ward fell in love.  We talk about Cousin Greg a lot (sometimes he is even referred to as Uncle Greg!) around our house and even though he is not currently "fighting the badguys" in Afghanastan, his life, and Louisa's, is a testament to the work service.  Ward even drew a picture of him on the computer, in all his camo, holding an American flag.  I gotta send that one out ot CA.

But to all that currently serve, those who have served in the past, and especially those who have made hte ultimate sacrifice, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you just doesn't seem to cut it, but know that my prayers cover you all daily and nightly.  God Bless you.

Halloween weekend

To say that we had an overwhelming Halloween weekend would be an understatement.  I really can't put into words what went on.  Yes, we were busy, but that doesn't quite describe it.  On Friday, Ward went to the Pumpkin Patch with school and I was in charge of both his Halloween party (when they got back) and Ann Park's at school.  We did our normal Friday night pizza, and then I had a baby shower to attend.  On Saturday, the real chaos began.  We had a dress-up birthday party at lunch.  Ward was Darth Vadar (he won the prize for best costume) and Ann Park was Ariel - princess Ariel, not mermaid Ariel mind you. 

Then Ann Park and I rushed home for a quick costume change.  We went to see the Alabama Ballet's performance of Snow White with some friends and she just had to be my little Snow White.  The girls trick-or-treated before the show and were nice and sugared-up by the time the ballerinas took the stage.  This is the first time Ann Park has been to a ballet performance and she was at first very confused by the male ballerinas and giggled quite a bit.  She then got really into it and was dancing in the aisle and watching the Evil Queen very intently.  I think the 7 Dwarfts were her favorite though!

Look at my candy!

The girls

My Snow White - fake smile and all!

After Snow White, we went home to rest before we headed to the Mountain Brook Club for a spooky Halloween dinner, complete with crafts and a DJ.  Inspired by the ballet, Ann Park dressed up as a butterfly (note that this was her 3rd costume of the day) in her leotard, tutu and butterfly wings.  I even gave her some sparkly pink makeup.  Ward was Obi Wan and looked the part.  Cher Cher came with us and we had a good time until Ward burned his finger on a spot light (bubbled up instantly) and Ann Park's shoeless foot was crushed while dancing.  I did not get any pictures as I was determined to get some wine in my system!

Ahhh, then Sunday, the real day of Halloween hit.  I was already sick of it all as you can imagine.  But the kids were pumped.  Church was a nice distraction that morning and didn't last long enough!  We got home and I had to get ready for the week, which included grocery shopping and laundry.  We then headed over to our friend's house to decorate the trailor which would become our float in the Halloween parade that started at 4.  Ann Park decided on yet another costume, an original idea - a Supergirl Fairy.  Ward was Obi Wan and Sam was a pirate (chosen by Ward, of course).  Here are some finished pictures of the kids in costume:

Mommy even dressed up as a witch!

After the parade, we had about 20 people over to our house for dinner, trick-or-treating and tons of fun.  The house across the street had a band, and Sara Evans (our neighbor and country singer) even sang.  Our side yard was a huge hit and kids were playing football, tag, and soccer throughout the evening.  We did have more trick-or-treaters than we have ever had and they started coming at 4:30.  I think that our last one was at 9:30, when we were cleaning up.  There was a steady stream the whole time.  Most of them were not from around here and someone even told me that if you googled "good place to trick-or-treat in Birmingham" our neighborhood came up.  I believe it!  Overwhelming, exhausting, but the most important part was that people had fun.  I can't tell you that I actually had fun, but I WAS happy when it was over.  But dreading going to work the next day!

handing out candy with Grandmom

Sam with his favorite person, Cher Cher!

Ward's light sabor injury!

Arghhhhh!!!

Another Halloween in the record books.  Not sure if I am looking forward to next year!