The Greatest Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Hunt

Every year we trapse down to Lowe's to pick out the beloved family Christmas tree. This is no way compares to my years at Grandma and Grandpa's hunting down the perfect tree on their farm, but it has served its purpose. Robbie has at least pretended to be slightly interested in this magical experience...well, that is until this year. To say unenthused, is an understatement. I think he's just trying to pressure me into a fake tree and let's just be perfectly clear...THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN! I am a strictly real tree kinda girl. I can't help it! Anyway, I did manage to snap a few pics of my most favorite smiles...

The Commonwealth

It was time for our annual Thanksgiving tailgate at the Tennessee vs. Kentucky football game.
We loaded up the turkey fryer and mounds of blankets to head to Lexington, not without a quick fill of the lovetank from these two before leaving them for some QT with Mamaw and Papaw...

I look forward to this event all year. We all know my husband is a HUGE KY fan, but we have accumulated quite a group of "extended family" for this yearly celebration. We arrived at Commonwealth Stadium around 11:00 and the Godfather and gang had already setup the tent. I have to say...it is quite a setup. It would have to be for me to spend the whole day in the cold weather. We have a heated tent, cooking station, and plenty of personality! I dare to say we are the envy of the Orange Parking Lot. The only downside is the hourly visit to the port-a-potties, but its a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

The day started with a visit from Cousin Mose.

Cousin Mose is the only ceramic monkey I know with his own facebook page. He has been a member of the Blair family for years. He came decked out in his "Cousin Eddie" hat and managed to stay warm all day despite his poor preparation in the wardrobe department.

Cousin Mose currently resides with Virg who is not only one of my loyal blog readers, but also one of Robbie's oldest and dearest. Here you can see Virg trying to entertain us with a card trick that failed miserably three times in a row. He kept blaming Adam, but I think he's just a bad magician.

As you can see from this pic, the boys have all the amenities necessary for a proper tailgate...a heater and satellite tv.

When we were not in the tent, we played some football. The MVP (Nonny) is not pictured here...she was probably still out in the field schooling those Kentucky boys on her spiral. I told everyone it was an awesome coach that taught her those skills (wonder who that would be???).

Of course, no tailgate would be complete without the food masters. Vaughn and the Godfather took good care of us. I ate from the moment we pulled up...veggie soup, fried turkey, french fries...you name it...I consumed it!

There is one small problem with this whole arrangement...a divided household. In October, we went to the wedding of these cat-haters.

Yep...Virg's own sister and her new husband are VOLS fans. Now, you know this isn't a big deal to me, but the KY boys would not tolerate an invasion of this sort, if they weren't so much fun! I have to say they are one of my favorite parts of this annual frenzy.

We have even recruited some non-fans to the lineup. After all, what would a family tradition be without our own adopted family...The Nonster. Here we are bundled up for gametime. Nonny hung in there even though her poor Auburn tigers got beat the day before. What a trooper!

And here is the last picture I have with my husband smiling.

Unfortunately, the cats lost another close one to the Power T. To say there were some heartbroken boys in the heated tent after the game is an understatement. Despite this slight setback, we had a great time and are looking forward to another great tailgate in Knoxville next year. I am already planning the menu...

Thank You God for This Food...

BLESSED.

I could go on and on about the ways that I am blessed, but it would take a LONG time. It starts here:


The fact of the matter is there is no other way to explain it. 15 years ago, I had a plan and that plan did not involve any of these people...

The Lord simply blessed me with them. It starts with my husband. What a man! Yes he drives me nuts at times, but the Lord knew 10 years ago this spring that he was exactly what I needed. Stable, kind, hard-working, a little quirky...couldn't be a better fit for me. He loves in a way that I can not organize. I try to tell him how to love me all the time, but he doesn't listen. He knows what I need and loves me completely. What more could a girl ask for?

And then came this guy...

I can't help it! This one carries my heart in his hands. If you can envision my heart literally sitting in my son's hand as he trips and falls through his days, you can attempt to feel the random squeezes on my heart perpetrated by him. He has the most tender spirit that loves so hard and so genuinely. Just yesterday, his mamaw asked him what he wanted for Christmas. His answer? "To be with my whole family." See what I mean???? Random squeeze.

And then the wind blew...and she entered my life...


Mahummed Ali said, "Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee." No better words could describe my Beaner. She is strong-willed, certain and lights up a room just by walking into it. She loves unconditionally and thoroughly and never lets life get the better shot. She is truly an original who is confident in who she is and what she believes. Just tonight, 3 outfits later, she informed me that she figured out what was missing...her pink hat. Now, didn't that just make the outfit??? That's my girl.

Today I spent Thanksgiving with many other folks I am blessed to know:

Aunt Myrle

The matriarch of the family. In a family of lots of boys, her silent presence is never ignored.

Uncle Adam

Our budding lawyer who sees what he wants and is never afraid to go after it. He also feeds me some of my favorites: zucchini soup, peanut butter pie and fried pickles...YUM! And then there's his wife:

ERIN

Poor Erin...always wins most popular. The kiddos just hang all over her and can never get enough of "Aunt Erin" time. Fortunately for me, I am blessed to have a sister-in-law that I love spending time with. I am kinda bummed to not be shopping with her in the a.m., but I know I have to share her with her own sister.

PAPAW

Retirement seems to be suiting him. He still stays busy, but the kids love to be his "helpers". This morning, I woke up to the kids hanging in the garage playing "gas station" in their p.j.s while Papaw worked on some of his Christmas projects. And then there's his lifelady:

MAMAW

This is one of the few pics I have of Mamaw looking at the camera and I just love it. One of my favorite times is sitting around listening to the ladies of the family talk about the "good ole days". Make no mistake about it, that Mamaw...she is one strong lady. And man does she love my kids.

Uncle Roger and Aunt Diane (not pictured)

The kids LOVE Uncle Roger and Aunt Diane. Last night, Tate was rather upset that Uncle Roger was going on the turkey hunt without him. We tried our best to explain to him that Uncle Roger knew what to do, but he wouldn't have it. He was certain that Uncle Roger needed his help.

Unfortunately, I missed out on pics of Sharon and Tim, but they get extra props this year for making a tasty Thanksgiving meal. They also got some QT with the kids, which included Sharon re-piercing Lily's ear for the THIRD time!

BLESSED

UNPLANNED

UNDESERVING

UNASSUMING

UNEXPECTED

I am...

SIMPLY

BLESSED.

Uga VII

My poor husband. I think he feels dooped. 10 years ago he meets this cute, athletic chick and he dreams of a lifetime of sporty bliss. I don't think anyone is to blame here. I just think he made some assumptions and I have changed a bit and now he's dooped.

My honey...he loves sporting events of any kind. Of course he's partial to college basketball and college football, but he would attend any of them if he had tickets.

Not I...I love sports. I love to be active. I love to cheer on MY team. The difference is its not MY team unless I know someone playing or coaching on the team.

So, every Fall and Winter, my husband celebrates Kentucky Football and Basketball by himself. I try my best to get behind the Big Blue, and there are elements I love about going to the games, but I'm just not built that way...I have to know who I'm cheering for...No connection...No Cheer!

So, he had four tickets to the Kentucky @ Georgia game. He tried everything he could to find someone to go to the game, but to no avail. In the end, it was me and him on a roadtrip to Athens, GA. I can't tell you the last time we spent the WHOLE day together...no friends...no kids...no family. Just us.

It was a great time. He even let me stop and buy some new furry boots that kept my feet toasty warm. We grabbed some pizza at the Mellow Mushroom, watched a couple of games on tv, and then headed to Sanford Stadium at UGA for the game.

The part of going to games that I love are the peripherals...the things that go on AROUND the team. Here are my favorites from yesterday's game:

• Southern fans (particularly the girls) dress up for the games. I saw more black and red dresses and heels on our walk to the stadium. I don't know how they do it because it was freezing, but they sure looked cute.

• UGA stadium is right in the middle of campus, so the tailgating happens right on campus...what a mess! But the college kids (yes they're kids now) seem to really dig the atmosphere.


• In the pre-game ceremony, a single trumpet player stood in the upper deck (a couple rows from us) and started the band as they played "Glory, glory, halelujah". We all know how much I LOVE the band!


• During the halftime ceremony, they honored one of the former coaches, Vince Dooley, by letting him direct the band. Man...how I wished I was that guy. He was flapping his arms in the air while the drum and brass played with gusto. I have to admit, I was super jealous of that guy.


• UGA: Man this was the thing I was most looking forward to. UGA's mascot is a bulldog and Uga is its' name. Unfortunately, Uga VII died unexpectedly so for the first time in the school's history, there was no live bulldog at the game. And leave it to me to get a little teary during the video montage of Uga VII...reminded me of my Rosa Pearle.

In the end, I was a little cold, but extremely happy to have purchased my new warm boots, Isotoner gloves, and Snuggie. They kept me so toasty warm with the exception of my nose. And, even better...the Cats won! 1st time in 32 years they have beat Georgia. Man, my hubby was one happy guy.

Beanut Butter & Freddy

You know Bean.

Spirited.

Social.

A Little Funky.

Meet Fred (aka Allison).

Spirited.

Poignant.

A Little Frilly.

Together.

Sometimes Peanut Butter and Jelly.

Sometimes Oil and Water.

But always Friends.

(Shirts compliments of my bag lady...makes great birthday gifts at $20/shirt)

Some other pics from Zach and Allison's combined birthday party at Pump It Up...

Nemo on Ice...By Lily Katherine

Hi! It's me Lily...I want to show you my pictures from Nemo on Ice. My Bobo bought me tickets for my birthday.

In this picture, I'm really happy to be driving to Nemo on Ice...


and these are my pretty, pink flower shoes...

This is a picture of Tate playing his DS all the way to Nemo on Ice...

and here's my mommy smiling...

Mommy took a picture of me and Tate before we went inside for Nemo on Ice...

And a picture of the SHARK...

Me and Mommy and Tate had fun at Nemo on Ice...

State Champ

Although we were sad we missed it, we wanted to send a shout out to Nonny and her Red Bank Lady Lions Vball Team for their state championship. The kids were so excited and wanted to share their enthusiasm with their own "Coach of the Year". So we dropped of some balloons and handmade cards to show her our love.

Congrats Nonny!