Where in the US is it hot 1 week before Christmas?

Valdosta, GA would be the answer to that question.

When I got back from lunch I had to turn my fan on in my office because it is HOT outside. CRAZY!!!! It's almost hitting 80 degrees out.

I think Santa is going to come dressed like this to my house this year.

I won the candles! WOOOHOOOO!!!!! Merry Christmas to me.

Also, my hubby has been working on something for me too.

He has installed my new sink and faucet.

We've had both for a while but didn't want to install them til we finished the cabinets which we finished in Feb. but life got in the way and now 10 months later it's getting done. Well worth the wait though.

The before.....

The during.....



The after......

I might be crazy but I just can't help myself.

While browsing around a shop in Jacksonville, FL a while back I had the pleasure of smelling one of these and it smelled so GOOD. I didn't buy one b/c they are $25...Yikes--I don't even like saying that. And, you just never know if they'll actually smell that good while burning.

After looking around on-line to try to find one cheaper and not being successful I gave up. WELL, today a mom on one of message boards posted on just how wonderful these candles really are and just went on and on. So, what did I do.....started on my search again. This time Ebay came thru for me. I have placed a bid for 5 of them at just over $40. Can't beat that. So, I'm hoping I'm the big fat winner. Please hope with me....I REALLLLLY want these candles.

What a busy day! I was the first one up and ate a Marshmallow Crescent Puff and had a great cup of coffee.

Then, I cooked a good lunch of ham, mashed potatos, corn and rolls.

After lunch we headed to the mall so Macie could have her picture made with Santa. We waited for about an hour to see him ...luckily she was pretty good the entire time and wasn't scared of Santa either.

At about 6 o'clock Amy came over to take our Christmas picture for our cards. It took 2 hours to get these pictures....it was not fun but we got some good ones and made some memories in the process.

I'm exhausted after 2 hours of trying to get a good picture and then getting aggravated at trying to pick out the perfect card so I'm going to bed NOW!

Oh what I'd give for a nap right now.

I am sooooooooo sleeeeeeeeeeeeepy!

Jacob is 8 today.

Seems just yesterday we were all waiting anxiously at the nursery window to see his little face. I can't wait to celebrate with him next Friday.

Check out my handsome fella here.

I have been all smiles lately. For the first time in a long time I'm HAPPY beyond belief and it feels good. I'm falling more and more in love with Nick every day when I didn't know it was even possible. He seems to always amaze me at how wonderful he is and how he is such a good dad and husband. Macie is the sweetest kid I know.....she makes me act like a kid more and more which I love. Her smile is amazing and her laugh is the best sound in the world.
This feels good and I hope that it will only continue to get better. I'm truly BLESSED beyond belief and I thank GOD for this wonderful, crazy, amazing life.

I had a wonderful weekend!!

I was a bridesmaid in a friend from high schools wedding. Cortney was the beautiful bride and two of the other bridesmaids were good friends as well...Amy and Laura. It was so much fun catching up with them since it has been way too long since we have done so. Just like all lasting friendships it was like we never had been apart. It was great! I also got to see several other people I grew up with and hadn't seen in FOREVER! What a great way to spend my Friday and Saturday.

This is Amy, Cortney, me and Laura

Me and my handsome husband.

My hair....LOL. I loved it so I had to take a picture. Jill asked if I wanted to go with the crowd and do curls or go "funky" As you can see I went funky

Here's a picture of Amy's new puppy. She hasn't decided on a name yet but she's thinking either Cooper or Oliver. In my opinion she can't go wrong with either one.

He's a bassett hound and is around 8 weeks old.

I do believe I'm already in love!

I completely finished my Christmas shopping yesterday so it was well worth getting up so early. We did sleep in til 4:15 b/c Nick turned the alarm clock off but luckily we were quick and made it to Amy's by 4:30(Sorry Amy for making you wait 30 minutes on us)

Anyway, I'm super duper behind in posting pictures so this is going to be a catch up on that.

Halloween at Wild Adventures...We went to see how they decorated for Hollow Scream but were pretty disappointed when there were no scary decorations.

Macie had a fall festival at her school. We blew threw the games in about 10 minutes since she really isn't into that kind of thing yet but it was nice of them to have it for everyone.

Emma's 3rd b-day party was a "carnival" complete with funnel cake and a balloon maker to name a few. It was a gorgeous day to be outside. Macie's favorite part was Ms. Jennie giving her popcorn and getting see "Uncle" Jeremy a lot.

For Halloween Macie was a BEE...what a cute bee she was. I didn't take very many pictures(I'm not sure why) but she was super adorable. Trunk or Treat at the church was nice and I hope we'll do the same next year when she'll be ready to grab all that candy. Afterwards we went by to see Aunt Amy and her friend Ms. Freddie so they could see her dressed up...they, of course, thought she was the cutest bee EVER.


Macie's art work was featured as the first ever "Masterpiece of the Week" I may have Picasso on my hands.

Our first fire ever...this was a couple weeks ago. It was cold....probably not cold enough to have a fire but we couldn't resist. We enjoyed it yet haven't been able to do another one...Nick actually wore shorts today. Our crazy South GA weather.

Stayed tuned for my "Fantasy in Lights"/Callaway Gardens pictures.

I am stuffed! I've been grazing all day. It sure was YUMMY, though!

Oh, We rode around some this afternoon and happen to ride by Best Buy...at 3:30pm there was already about 10 people with their chairs and blankets in line out by the door. Can you say CRAZY!!! LOL
We are crazy enough to get up early to go to the sales but I think that is a little crazier. :)

We have our list of what we want and a list of the stores in order of importance to us so we'll be ready at 4am to hit the road and hit the stores.
Since 3:30 is going to be really EARLY for me I'm hitting the hay.....

Night, Y'all!!

~Kristie

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY, MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP. MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP, MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS, MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE, MAY YOUR THANKS GIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS.
GOBBLE TIL YOU WOBBLE.........

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

When 5 o'clock hits today I'll be outta here til the Monday after Thanksgiving. Oh how I do love my job.
Other than getting a few things prepared for Thanksgiving at our house I don't have anything else planned. I'm just going to go with the flow. Maybe even relax alittle!

relax
Verb
1. to make or become less tense, looser, or less rigid
2. to ease up from effort or attention
3. to make (rules or discipline) less strict
4. to become more friendly

Sounds good to me!

How funny! I was just about to post about this coming up weekend with my family when I logged on and my sister already has. Check out Becky's blog when you get a chance. She is my oldest sister(LOL)--seven years older to be exact.


Anywho, We are staying here.....

Going here.....



To ride in one of these


To see....

To see stuff like this.....




I can't wait!!

I wanted to post my pictures from halloween but my camera is D-E-A-D...dead. I have my battery charging so I'll be able to post later this week.

Here are a few more from our trip to the pumpkin patch.

Okay...so this one isn't really that good but I just wanted to post b/c my hair is getting really long.

The below picture was me one month before Macie was born and about a week before I went in to have her I cut my hair even shorter. I can't decide if I want to go short again. I have a wedding to be in on Dec. 6th but after that I'm thinking of going short again. I don't know...I usually just do it and think about it later but this time I can't decide.

I just ordered these glasses

for only $12.95

That's right--prescription lenses, shipping and all.

You can check them out here

Can't wait for them to get here.

We bought a car this weekend. Don't get excited....this is it.............

1994 Honda Accord EX Coupe

We got it for $100.00 though so with a little TLC this should be a pretty fine car. It runs so basically all the work that has to be done will be on the exterior. We can't decide if we want to keep it and drive it for awhile or sale it as soon as all the repairs are done. We'll probably wait til it's all done to decide for sure. This car does bring back memories for me. My first car was a '95 4 door same color and all. Oh how I wish I would have kept that car. Crazy me....live and learn I guess.
Nick will do all of the work himself so I'll post pictures of the progress.

Tomorrow it will be just me and Macie. The daycare is closed for training so of course I took the day off to spend with her. Not sure what we are going to do yet but I'd like to take her to the park at least. I do know one thing I'm not going to do and that is work on my to do list. It can wait. I have accomplished a few things on it so it is slowly shrinking and all of those things will be waiting on me anyway.

Here are a few pictures of Macie at the Pumpkin Patch in Albany. We went a few weeks ago with my parents and my sister Amy. I will post some more later b/c I got some really good ones of everyone else too. Anyway, here are some of my favorites of just Macie.....

She wanted to know what was under that big ole leaf

Picking out her first pumpkin

She finally found it after picking up several

Leaving...she wanted a coke like everyone else(she didn't get to drink hers though)

First off....


Like the following stuff. HA!


Anyone like Hootie and the Blowfish?

Darius Rucker--the lead guy for them--now has a country album out. Check out this song and then check out his website for little bits of the whole CD.

Not the video I wanted to post but the other will not let me so this will have to do.


Kathy cooked these little pecan pies over the weekend and brought me one. YUM-O! She says they are so good because she used my parents pecans which according to her are the best ever. I guess all that hard work as a pecan farmer pays off when someone tells you that.


**The above picture is what they will look like with the original recipe**
I cooked both on Monday and like the mini pecan pies better but brought her one of the ones that are in the picture and she likes them better so try both if you can.

Prep: 15 min., Bake: 10 min. plus 22 min. per batch, Cool: 30 min.
Yield: Makes about 6 dozen

3 cups chopped pecans
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup dark corn syrup
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 (2.1-oz.) packages frozen mini-phyllo pastry shells

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350º. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant.
2. Stir together sugar and corn syrup in a medium bowl. Stir in pecans, eggs, and next 3 ingredients.
3. Spoon about 1 heaping teaspoonful pecan mixture into each pastry shell, and place on 2 large baking sheets.
4. Bake at 350º for 20 to 22 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks, and let cool completely (about 30 minutes). Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

**Mini Pecan Pies: Substitute 1 1/2 (8-oz.) packages frozen tart shells for frozen mini-phyllo pastry shells. Prepare recipe as directed through Step 2. Spoon about 1/4 cup pecan mixture into each tart shell. Place tart shells on a large baking sheet. Proceed with recipe as directed in Step 4, increasing bake time to 25 to 30 minutes or until set. Garnish with currants, if desired. Makes 1 dozen. Prep: 15 min., Bake: 30 min

My list of things to do just keeps getting longer and longer. What am I to do? Where am I to start? Ugh, I wish it would just go away.
I'm working hard on it this week though. It has to start shrinking soon!