Thursday 13

Thirteen things that I believe

1. I believe that there is magic in the laughter of a child.


2. I believe that people can make a difference.


3. I believe that Joe Montana was the best quarterback ever.


4. I believe that being a reader is fundamental to becoming a thinker.


5. I believe that good people go to Heaven when they die.


6. I believe that people should listen to the stories of their grandparents.


7. I believe that you should live for the moment, remember the past, and look forward to the future.


8. I believe that BC Powder is the best medicine in the world.


9. I believe that my Mama is the prettiest woman I have ever seen.


10. I believe that every house should have a front porch.


11. I believe that parenting a child is the most important job in the world.


12. I believe that love can last forever.


13. I believe that God hears me when I pray.

Dirty Santa

My Wordless Wednesday is down below :)

So there have been several people questioning Dirty Santa. I am going to explain it the best that I can. If you are still confused after reading my explanation, please look here. I think I may have confused myself on this one.
Dirty is a gift exchange game that goes by several different names and has several different sets of rules from what I have heard. Some of the names that I have heard are
1. "The Game"
2. Dirty Santa
3. Yankee Exchange
4. Yankee Swap
5. The Present Game
6. The White Elephant Exchange
7. Stealing Santa
8. Rob Your Neighbor
9. Dirty Christmas
10. Screw Your Buddy
11. Cajun Christmas
12. Backward Auction
13. Cut-Throat Christmas
14. Red Neck Santa
15. Rob A Santa
Pretty much every group that I have played it with has played it a little different. There are variations on how many times a gift can be stolen and on whether a player steals before or after opening a gift. I am just going to tell you the way that we play it at my family Christmas, because that is the way that I know best.

This is basically how it is played:
Everybody brings a wrapped gift of a predetermined value. The gift can be anything. A purse , a drill, crazy sparkly slippers, a voodoo doll...anything. You never know what you are going to get.
The gifts are placed on a table in the center of the room and everyone draws a number from a hat.
The person who draws the lowest number goes first. They choose a gift from the gift pile, open the gift for all to see, and keep it for the time being.
The guest who has the next lowest number goes next. This person can either choose to take an unopened gift from the gift pile to open or to steal a gift from any previous gift-opener. Each subsequent person is allowed to either unwrap a new gift, or steal any of the gifts previously opened.
When someone's gift is stolen, that person can immediately unwrap a new one or steal another gift, whichever they choose. This stealing will continue on and on until someone unwraps a new gift, at which point play proceeds onto the next number.
The only gift that a player cannot steal is the gift that was stolen from them on the same round.
A gift can only be stolen three times. After three steals that gift is out of play, or dead. So the goal is to be the third one to steal a really good gift.
In out family we kind of work in teams. As in, "Hey Mama, your turn is coming up and that candle has already been stolen twice, Steal that for me and I will steal whatever you want when it is my turn."
That sounds like cheating doesn't it? But hey, this is a game of stealing and it is all in fun. We haven't had anybody get bent out of shape yet although I have heard of that happening when other people played.
On with the rules... People in possession of live gifts (or gifts that have not been stolen three times) must keep them visible and hold them up when requested. There is no hiding the good popcorn popper under the table and hoping that people will forget about it. Although people do try this ( cough Mamaw cough), we call them out on it. In my family we call them out loudly and then steal the popper just to teach them a lesson. take that, Mamaw.
After all turns have been taken, the person who went first has the option of taking one more turn since they didn't have the option to steal on their original turn. However, the dead gifts remain dead. This is why it sucks to be number 1. By the time you get to the end of the game, especially with 45 people playing, almost everything has been stolen three times.
I hope this sheds a little light on the subject. I highly recommend this game for large Christmas gatherings. It is a lot more exciting (and loud) than drawing names.

Wordless Wednesday - Mimi's new puppies

Crazy Eights

So I was over at Blue Momma's Page the other day and I fell in love with her Crazy Eights Meme, which she did not tag me for, so I tagged myself. Don't worry, I let her know. She deemed me tag 8.1. Because as we all know 8.1 rounds down to 8. At least Blue Momma and I know this, because we work in the accounting field (or once did) and we are smarts like that. And then just as I was about to tag Bren over at Three Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, I saw that she had tagged me for this too!! Yay!!! I love being tagged. So if you are ever sitting around wondering, " Hmmm, who wants to be tagged?" The answer is ME! ME!
So anyway here are my Crazy Eights. Please read Crazy Eights in the voice of the old Price is Right anouncer guy, because that is totally the voice that I am writing it in.

8 things I'm passionate about:

1. My husband (have you seen those eyes? He is purty cute)
2. My children
3. My Family
4. Reading
5. Being yourself at all costs
6. Dirt Cake
7. Human rights
8. A tie between Johnny Cash, Angelina Jolie, and this blog

8 Things I want to do before I die:

1. Be married 65 years
2. Have great grandchildren
3. Publish a book
4. Own a house again(hopefully soon.)
5. Visit Jim Morison's grave in Paris
6. Go on a cruise
7. Spend a week in Italy
8. Pass on many stories to my children

8 things I say often:

1. Of course you do.
2. Randy!!
3. Stop hitting!
4. Put your toys in your toy box.
5. What the crap!?!
6. Cool.
7. I love you.
8. Give me a kiss.

8 Books I’ve read recently (or am still reading):

1. The Red Tent
2. Middlesex
3. Outlander ( Currently reading)
4. Real Boys
5. The Time Travelers Wife (Currently reading)
6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
7. Lisey's Story
8. The Great Gatsby

8 Songs I Could Listen to Over and Over (And do!)

1. You Can Call me Al - Paul Simon
2. In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
3. Living Dead Girl - Rob Zombie (My husband's influence)
4. Love Shack - The B52s
5. Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
6. Baby, Now that I've Found You - Alison Krauss
7. You're Beautiful - James Blunt
8. I'd Love You to Want Me - Lobo

8 Things that Attract Me to My Best Friends:

1. They are completely real. No Fake People Allowed!
2. They get my humor.
3. They love me regardless of how crappy I can be at keeping in touch sometimes.
4. When they walk in the room, I feel like we were just together, no matter how long it has been.
5. The ability to laugh at themselves.
6. They don't take things too seriously.
7. I can count on them no matter what.
8. I don't care if they see my house dirty.

8 People I Think Should Do Crazy Eights: (Do it or don't, just let me know if you do :)

1. Amanda at The Milk Bar
2. What Works For Us
3. Mom Chatter
4. Just A Mom
5. Honeybell of The Bell Pages
6. Dana of Life Turned Upside Down
7. Secret Agent Mama
8. Mommy Loves Diamonds

A Wordless Weekend in Review

Fun Monday

Our Fun Monday host this week is The Humble Housewife. Her topic is:
I want to hear about or see a holiday tradition, recipe or event. It can be any holiday you like or that is special to your family. With Thanksgiving and the Winter holidays coming up, those would be especially apt, but anything that is special for your family is fine. If you have pictures - it's a bonus! Whether it's your Mom's famous stuffing recipe, going caroling on Christmas Eve, Diwali dances, or even the inevitability of Great Aunt Polly having one too many brandies and knocking over the Christmas tree - I want to hear about it!!!

I figured I would take this opportunity to tell you about the Christmas tradition that I call the mad dash. It all starts two days before Christmas Eve when Santa comes to my house. He comes early because we will be out of town on the actual holidays and he thinks that the kids should have some Christmas memories of just our immediate family and home. It is always nice, this is the part of the holiday where I don't feel like I am forgetting to do something. I enjoy the holidays, but as far a relaxing goes, this is it.
The day before Christmas Eve we head down to Mom's. I help cook and get ready for the Christmas Eve Family Gathering. We will usually have a small dinner at Mom's on this night, where just my Mom, Tim, my sister and her family, and my family open gifts and hang out. The traditional meal of choice on this night is steaks and baked potatoes. No holiday food at Mom's. We decided that many years ago. And as far as holiday meals go...this one is my favorite.

On Christmas Eve morning my Mom's entire family (50+ people) gathers at the old Woodman of the World Lodge that my Papaw bought for our family gatherings. He bought the building because we got too big for his house. He should have thought about that before he had 7 kids, huh? This dinner is a giant pot luck and my Uncle Bo fries turkey. His turkey is the best turkey ever. After much eating, talking , and singing we do presents. Everyone buys Mamaw and Papaw presents and in return Mamaw and Papaw buy the great grand kids presents. The rest of us sit patiently and wait. When they are done, we play Dirty Santa. Dirty Santa with my family takes more than three hours to play. There is a lot of conniving and plotting. It is always fun.

After that there will be more visiting and music until eventually everyone drifts back to their own homes and holidays.

On Christmas morning we get in the car and drive the hour from Natchez to my Mamaw E.'s house. Mamaw E. is my Dad's Mom. Her family isn't much smaller than my other one, but we all celebrate at her house. There will be people in the kitchen, living room, hall, on the porch, and scattered through the yard. Again, this is a pot luck lunch, but we get Mamaw's wonderful country cooking. There is never a lack of fresh vegetables. Here there are always about 500 different conversations going on; you just have to pick what you want to talk about...politics, kids, crops, or local gossip. My Mamaw's brothers, who do not have kids of their own, will join us. Everyone gets a kick out of watching the kids, because believe me ...there are a million kids. Later in the day Mamaw will open her presents and she will give all of the little ones a gift. My Uncle Jim will hand out coins to the children for their coin collections.

Depending on what shift he is working, we will either do our small family Christmas at my Dad's Christmas night or some other night around then. At his house it is just mine and my sister's crews again. We eat, laugh and open gifts. My Daddy always gets Alisha and I the best gifts. He says that we are his babies, so he has to spend more on us than the babies. We enjoy this, because he is the only person in the world who feels this way :) But don't worry, Papa gets the babies plenty too. He pays for my niece's cell phone! Everyone gets spoiled.

So what about Randy's family you say? Well, i think it is a good thing that they aren't really gatherers, because I honestly don't know where I would squeeze them in. We usually try to spend New Years with either his brother or his Mom. Last year we went to Georgia and hung out with his Mom. Christmas time in the Georgia mountains is a lovely, so I am thinking that we might make that a tradition too.

Man, I am tired just thinking about all of that. But...like always, I can't wait.

My Son the Photographer

This weekend I discovered, almost accidentaly, that Super Z is a rather talented photographer. We were sitting around in my Mom's backyard and he asked if he could take a few pictures.
I put the strap around his neck and sent him on his way. He turned around with one question, "So, can I take pictures of whatever I want?"
"If you like to look at it then it is probably a good thing to take a picture of," I said.
He smiled with the glow of a million suns and set out on his way.
He took about thirty pictures. Everything from the car, to his pappy, to a tiny plant growing out of the side of a tree.
When he brought my camera back, I was startled to see how good some of his shots were. It was lovely looking at the world through Super Z's eyes, seeing the things that he likes to look at. I decided then and there that I would share his first photos with you all today. What I didn't know, was that my photographer was just getting started.
We got to church a little early this morning because of the time change (yuck) and decided to spend a little time hanging out under the beautiful moss covered oaks. As we sat down, Super Z exclaimed, "Look Mom! It's Heaven's beard everywhere! I have to take a picture."
I was charmed. I fell in love with my little man all over again, much like I do everyday. Heaven's beard. It was just the perfect description. And the fact that he was compelled to take a picture of the trees that I have always loved just filled me with joy. Of course I got him the camera and he went to work. Again, he took about thirty shots.
I wish that I could share them all with you, but I have maintained control. I am just sharing some of my favorites. These are from yesterday and this morning. These are wonderful for a 4 year old, wouldn't you say? ( I even included his self portrait :) )

Welcome to my Saturday

This is where NaBloPoMo gets the hardest for me. Every few weeks I spend the weekend in Natchez, my home town. When I stay at my Mom's there is no Internet...so that is a challenge. I still have to figure out what I am going to do Thanksgiving weekend. This used to not be a problem, as my sister lived right down the road...but alas, she moved away.
At my Dad's, where I am now, there is obviously Internet, but I am usually too busy to use it, what with all the four wheeler riding and hanging out around the bonfire. But, I am in this for real. NaBloPoMo all the way! So while everyone else is out relaxing by the fire I came in to throw out my daily post. I was going to put up some lovely pictures from my awesome relaxing day, but the pictures take forever to upload here. So you only get one. This is a close up or our fire. I thought it was a pretty cool shot. I love the beauty of fire on a cool fall evening. Speaking of which, I think I'll get back out there. I hope everyone is having a great weekend! See you tomorrow!

Haiku Friday

Evil Serina

with her disturbing bad vibes

has left the building.

***

Have you studied skin?

A web of cells intertwined,

A beautiful shell.

***

I have forgotten

more than a million details...

but not about you.

***

God gave me you three...

The Fire, the Sun, and my Rock,

To fill up my days

***

The curve of your neck

as you tell me your stories,

The calm of water.

***

Days keep flying by.

The little changes don't stop.

I watch you grow up.

**

"I want to hold you,"

He would tell me all the time.

Now I chase him down.

**

My baby has words.

She tells me how it should be.

I used to just know.

***

When these children smile

my heart dances through the room.

Nothing can top that.

Stressed Out and NaBloPoMo

Thursday 13 is below :)
I am doing NaBloPoMo. That means I am going to be posting EVERYDAY in November!! Even on the weekends. I have no idea how that is going to go. But I am up for a challenge. Now on with the show...
I am usually a pretty calm person. Mellow is my middle name. I am able to take most things in stride and not freak out. Sometimes I am so laid back that I am actually laying on the ground. That is just the way I am...usually.
Every now and then though, my Mother's DNA sneaks up on me. Every now and then the circumstances of my life come together with just the right combination needed to produce Evil Serina.
Evil Serina is not fun. I sprout red horns, electricity bursts from my head and I have been known to fry people (Randy) with laser beams from my eyes. I hiss and bang my desk with frightening frequency when I am Evil Serina. I mean that... I actually hiss.
I can always tell when Evil Serina is in the house. I hear myself yelling numbers at my child because he is a slow poke. I have always known that he is a slow poke, this is not new information. But Evil Serina does not understand. She insists that if she yells, "ONE! TWO!! THREE!" and so forth and so on at the boy until he cries that he will no longer be a slow poke. This is stupid of Evil Serina. I mean everyone knows that a crying Super Z moves slower than a non crying Super Z.
Evil Serina also gets mad at Randy over the stupidest things. Take last night for instance, she got mad because so many women in the neighborhood smiled and gushed at him while trick-or-treating, women that she doesn't even know. I mean of course the stay at home Moms know him! He is a stay at home Dad! How is this a bad thing?? How is that his fault?
Evil Serina will not listen to my logic. She just feels all jealous and territorial. She just yells at the children and gets migraines because of work stress.
I am ready for Evil Serina to go. Hit the road, Jack. And don't come back no more no more no more no more.