I love the Holidays....even though they exhaust me!

Christmas is fast approaching!! Are you ready??

All year I look forward to the holidays....all of them! I love the decorating, the festivities and celebrations, the shopping, the giving, the spirit and the extra excuse to cram lots of family time in there! By the end I am glad it is over and am ready for my life, my house and my routine to get back to normal!

This year's Christmas season has been like no other! I was overly excited this year because we would be spending our first Christmas in the new house! This mean new decorations and new way and places to decorate! It also meant we could put our tree in a spot not behind our couch like we had the previous two years! But when December came, we hadn't even finished decorating and organizing around here before it was time to start putting up the tree and decorating! It has been exhausting to say the least! We are getting it, and in a few weeks it will all be over and things will return to normal!

We are hosting "Christmas" here at our house this year! I have been attempting to do this for a few years, and this year it will happen! Unfortunately though, nothing is the same this year....nor will it ever be I fear!

We will be having Christmas early this year - this was originally due to Bub's work schedule! But I thought it a good idea either way so that everyone could wake up Christmas morning at their house and spend the day there instead of rushing to head off to someone else's house! One big change is the divide in our family! Since the death of my Mamaw, my Aunt has taken upon herself to single handily ruin our family! At first I was trying not to place blame, but I can see no other way to explain why our family - the few there really is, is no longer talking and cannot even spend the holidays together! I am angry and am about to cut ties myself! How dare she do this and it make me even more mad she is doing it in the name of my Mamaw. She knows damn well if Mamaw was alive she'd be kicking her ass right now!

I don't ask for much! But since moving here all I have wanted was to be with family. When I found out all of this was surfacing I cried and told her all I wanted was for us to all be family. At first I was very upset and depressed over it. But now I am just pissed! I think wrecking a family over money is just stupid and selfish and I will no more be the middle man trying to be friendly with everyone! YOU have personally taken something very special away from my and my daughter and I hate you for it!


Anyways, now that that is out, on to better things!!

We have a few traditions of our own!!

We do Breakfast with Santa at the Zoo of Acadiana.





We will now be doing the Christmas Festival at River Ranch each year. It was a blast! We got to take Nativity pictures for crying out loud! I LOVED them!! She got to play lots of games, chat with Santa and ride a Trolly! Oh and this was her first ever face painting experience!!









We go to Acadian Village to check out the lights and ride a few rides!











We had our annual Christmas Party with Playgroup! Always lots of fun! We hosted this year!!









We also finished up our Charity for this month!! We did great! We collected more than what is pictured! I am so proud of my girls!!!





Friday morning I went and did something called Christmas Wishes! Acadiana Outreach puts raises enough money to send 100+ kids on a $100 shopping spree at Toys R Us. They ask for volunteers to take the kids shopping and let them pick out whatever they want! I got a little 4 year old girl! She picked out a Princess bike, a princess makeup set, some play shoes and a phone! She even got to ride her new bike while we were waiting for them to load up the buses!! It was a neat experience and I think I will definitely do it again next year!!


What I hope to make a new Christmas tradition is serving Christmas Dinner for Acadiana Outreach! The three of us are all able to go and volunteer as a family and though Regan doesn't understandng what we are going to be doing, Bub and I are very excited and are certain Regan will get a lot out of it too! Even if she just has a good time!!

Well, I think I've covered most everything so far! There are lots of other things still to do, so I need to get busy!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL!!!

Annual Cookie Exchange

Yesterday was my Playgroup's 3rd Annual Cookie Exchange! I look forward to it ALL year!

My friend Jeanne hosts this event each year and it keeps getting better each year! We jam pack the day with contests and exchanges. We each bake a certain number of dozens of our cookie. We each wrap a set amount to give to each of the attending members. We always suggest everyone get creative with their packaging and boy, do some really go for it!!

We do a best tasting contest, a best wrapped contest, an ornament exchange, a White Elephant steal-a-gift exchange and well, we eat lots and lots of cookies! LOL

If you are ever invited to a cookie exchange, don't say no!! It is a lot of work - but SO worth it! Especially if you are surrounded by great ladies like I am lucky enough to be!

Here are all the cookies packaged by each of the ladies to hand out!
Cute, right??
Mine was the Christmas Tree burlap sack thing! lol

And here is my great group of friends!! Can you say blessed?!?!
Happy Holidays everyone!!

Being Charitable....Love Your Community

About 3 or 4 times a year my Playgroup adopts a charity and collects donations for that cause! In the past we have done food drives for the Lafayette FoodNet, collected supplies & monetary donations for The Lafayette Animal Aid, walked for the Race for the Cure and all to much success!

I cannot tell you how great it is to be surrounded by great people willing to help their own community! The way I look at it - this is OUR community! We live here and raise our families here and I think supporting our community and those within it is important!

I feel very fortunate and blessed that our family has done so well. It wasn't but 4 years ago when we were just starting out here in Louisiana, had a newborn and wasn't sure how I was going to buy her an $11 can of formula! I have been at every level of the economic "food chain" and I know good and well what its like and how it feels! I think so many people get on their feet or do very well for themselves and forget to pass it along!

Our last charity event of 2008 is the Faith House! I am really excited about this one and hope to make it a great success! If you are unfamiliar with Faith House, they are a Shelter for battered women and children. They house them and also help them start new lives and get on their feet! This is a charity I hold very dear to my heart!

I usually will post our charity events on local boards like Acadiana Moms (or moms like me) but I have yet to receive any interest after asked for help in our 2 previous charity events. I find this so funny, since this site is filled with OUR community! I start to lose faith towards the end of each time we collect for charities - but at the end of the day I have to remind myself that people have to do what is in their hearts! Me trying to get my community active and to care about those less fortunate will not change things! So, for me, I do what I can. My ladies usually pull through and give what they can!! I can't ask for much more!!

So in closing, if you would like ot donate to the Faith House - we are delivering our donations on Monday the 15th. I can meet you or you can drop items to my home! If you do not wish to donate to our chosen charity, please know there are MANY, MANY people in need! Not only during the holidays, but all through the year! It's never to late to reach out!!
For more info on FAITH HOUSE go to
http://www.faithhouseacadiana.com/
You can also view their wish list!!

As a tribute to my girls and all of their selflessness throughout the year........

FoodNet : http://www.foodnetacadiana.org/
GIVE ALL YEAR LONG TO THEM!!

Lafayette Animal Aid :
http://www.lafayetteanimalaid.org/Home.html

Find out about donating your time or items, or adopting a friend!



Komen for the Cure - Acadiana :
http://www.komenacadiana.org/site.php

Even if you do not know someone who has breast cancer or even
have it yourself, giving to a cause that effects so many is good for
the soul!


FoodNet : http://www.foodnetacadiana.org/
They need food throughout the year, not just around the holidays!!
They generally run out of food during the summer, so this year we
had our canned food drive in July!

'Tis The Season

Well, I know it's redundant to say we are busy as usual, so I won't! ;oP But, there are definitely lots of things going on lately!!

First, we finally got Regan's room finished! They changed out the carpet and the painters came. We also had the handful of screwed up tiles fixed! We are well on our way to having all the little things done! After a month, it's really about dang time!

We are now slowly finished up the decorating in the house, while we are also decorating for Christmas! I had hoped to be done with the house before we even started with the Holidays, but you know how that goes!

In keeping with the Christmas spirit we are doing Regan's Advent Calendar this year! We tried it last year but she was too young and I struggled to keep up with it! Here is one of the Crafts she has done from her calendar.






We have done decorating on the tree a few times. This is after the first time.We have since changed it up a little and added a bow and some gold! I will post an updated picture when I add the rest of the items I bought! lol




Today I took Regan to see the Nutcracker Ballet! It was actually a first for both of us! I am not sure how I made it 30 years without watching this Ballet - but I finally managed to make it happen! It was really nice and we really enjoyed it! I couldn't help but wonder as I watched these Ballerinas, how many of them wanted to be a Ballerina when they were Regan's age! Hmmm!

Regan did well, but I think this type of venue was a little too long for her! She was more excited once we got there and we found that one of the students from her old dance class was in the Ballet! We even ran into her in the lobby during intermission.




This is just a shot of my two loves before we left for the Ballet! Couldn't help but add it! <3

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Turkey Day People!!!

I hope everyone was as blessed as we were to not only spend Thanksgiving with Daddy home, but also surrounded by family!! In my book, any day that includes family and good food is just a blessing!

We headed over early so I could try to take a family picture of my Aunt & Uncle and their boys. Don't they look great?!


It was a really nice day! I wish I had taken the time to take pictures of the day and of everyone, but I guess I got sidetracked! I did snag a picture of Regan carrying around this poor little puppy! She toted this little pooch around pretty much all day.....and it just let her! Too cute!

I attempted to take a family picture of us before we left for their house, I think it's funny, but here it is! Samara was trying to stick her nose in, so I grabbed her so she could be in it!



And a blog isn't complete without a picture of the "Ham" doing her thing! LOL



On a more serious note, we really have so much to be thankful for! And not just today because it is Thanksgiving, but everyday! My family lost it's matriarch in February of this year. It was a blow to all of us. Unfortunately the loss of this great woman has not only left a void in our family and an emptiness in our hearts, it has also separated parts of our family!

I am thankful that Mamaw was a part of our lives! That she was able to know Regan and they were able to bond!

I am thankful that Papaw has been so strong and has stayed around for the family! We need him.

I am thankful that my Aunts and Uncles were and still are there for him to give him the support he needs.

I am thankful for all of my family and all of the memories and special bonds we have.

I am thankful to be a wife and mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece & friend.

I am thankful for a great husband who works hard and provides well for his family. He is truly an amazing man and my best friend!

I am thankful to have a daughter who amazes me and keep me on my toes each day. She is a blessing and I know we are lucky to have had her.

I am thankful for all of the friends that I have been blessed with! I am really surrounded by such caring and amazing women! They are awesome!

I am thankful for our health - mind and body and hope we continue to be blessed the way we have in the past years!

To everyone reading this ~ I hope you and yours are truly blessed for years to come! I hope that you appreciate each moment you have with the ones you love and make the best of it.

Happy Thanksgiving 2008! Be Blessed!!!

A Religion Rant

I was not raised in a religion, though when I was about 10 my mom started us with Jehovah's witnesses (which 1/2 of my family is), then in Jr High I latched onto a friend and started going to a Christian church with his family. My ex husband and his family were Catholic and the other half of my family is Catholic. I have had a taste of all of those and attended a non denominational/gospel church for a few years and been to a Lutheran church. I am extremely open minded, I do not attend church but take it upon myself to live my life the best way I know how. I try to live in a way that I can be proud and have no regrets. I do believe in God and pray and thank him daily. My daughter was baptized when she was little. I cannot classify myself to a religion because I feel that if I were to be "a religion" I would need to do it all the way! And since there are things about Catholicism and J.W.'s, I cannot fully commit. And picking and choosing what I do or do not want to abide by is just not how it works.......contrary to what many people seem to think!

I have encountered far too many people who, let's say - smoke pot. They know it is wrong, they admit it, ask for forgiveness then do it again. When I asked this one girl about it she said all I have to do is ask for forgiveness and I will be forgiven. So, basically her interpretation is that she can continuously commit sins, as long as she remembers to ask for forgiveness. DO WHAT?! So does that mean that everyone should do whatever they want, killing and hurting people all their lives and then on their death bed all they have to do is ask God to forgive them and their sins will be washed away?? What about those of us who live a good life? Whether it be in church every week or outside of it??

I HATE people who talk religion and then do horrible things! Do you know the people that I see behaving the worst, judging the most and committing the most sins are ALWAYS the ones who claim to be so religious. Can someone PLEASE help me to understand this??

In my life I do the right thing because I want to. Because I want to live the right way and be a good role model for my child. Being proud of the life I lead is what is important to me. Not doing something bad just because I think I can say sorry and make it all okay! What does anyone learn by repeating bad behavior??

Anyways, I got into this topic because of a post a read on the Acadiana Moms site. It was about how a Priest in South Carolina is asking anyone who voted for Obama not to take communion. So this article was posted and chat about religions and beliefs ensued and I was really in awe! The Priests pick and chose it seems what it wants to stand up for and probably only when it's convenient for them. Telling people that based on their political beliefs they have sinned and should not partake in communion. Wow!

I voted for Obama and am proud of it. Everyone has something that drives them, something they are passionate about and topics that are important to them. (I will talk politics another day!) I thought that the cardinal rule of most religions is Thou Shalt Not Judge......but I assume this is only when it is in the best interest of whomever is in power! Or power - trippin! LOL

Anyways, I am done ranting! I plan to find us a church soon here in Broussard. There is a church I have in mind and I hope it works out!

On a final note, whatever religion you choose, whatever God you pray to, just please commit. If you are going to go to church or call yourself a Christian or Catholic or anything else - proudly conduct yourself as such. No one can bash you for that!!

Safari of Lights & Baking With My Baby!

We took Regan to the Safari of Lights at the Zoo on Sunday!
While I am a huge lover and supporter of the Zoo, I have to admit we
were pretty disappointed with the whole thing!

We went specifically that night because it was member's night. There was a
HUGE line to get inside. Then once we finally made our way towards the
concession for the Monkey Meals, there was a line all around the area.
We decided it wasn't worth it to stand in line for 20 minutes for a few hotdogs.

We then made our way to the train........you guessed it - another long wait in a line!
The poor train conductor was all alone selling tickets, making popcorn and then
driving the train. We made it a few spots from the front of the line when
he closed up selling tickets to go drive the train. I couldn't believe
they had him up there alone. By the time we got to ride he finally had
some help! But not only were they working him to death, but it made the
waits and lines so long for everyone!

Half the lights were either not working or had not been put up yet.
They were still working on some when we were walking through.

I doubt we will partake in this event next year! But I did capture a few
pictures of Regan while we were there. We left about an hour into it
and headed to eat at Taco Bell - Regan's choice! Then a little
shopping at Target.

Regan and I did some mother daughter baking tonight.
I needed to test a recipe and she is always eager to help!

Here are some pictures from all the fun!!

I swear I do NOT tell her to pose like that! LOL

Filling the Muffin pan

Sprinkling powdered sugar on top

Waiting and watching them rise

Time to taste

YUM

Big bite!

I think we did good!!

That completes our family fun for now!!