Green Thumb, Meet Black Thumb

Let's start this post with the admitted fact that: I have killed a cactus when it was my house plant.

Everyone gasps when I tell them that. BUT YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO REMEMBER TO WATER IT! (That's what they say.)

Anyway, so I'm not good with plants. So I'm the ONLY one in my entire extended family who has plants committing suicide outside her door just so they don't have to be "taken care of" by me. My husband (who, annoyingly fits in better with the "weirdo gardening" side of my family than I do) accepts me for who I am.

However... when I brought home, as a surprise, some herbs in pots he told me to "PUT THEM DOWN! Put down the plants, honey, they didn't do anything to you. Don't touch them. I'll take care of them." I'm pretty sure they had given up the moment that I chose them from the store. It also might be the issue that I didn't listen to him and tried to help them along. Plants need cleaning right? I had to use soap! (JUST KIDDING, I know for a fact that my mother would fly here and take any living plant that was in my house just to save it from my evil hands if I actually did that.) Try as he might, Eric wasn't able to grant them life. They had seen the woman who would be their downfall. They gave up.

Yesterday Eric and I went to the store. He bought seeds (wouldn't even let me hold the packets, silly man) and soil, and some nice window sill pots. He brought it all home and made me some herb pots for my kitchen.

Lighting's bad, but I have basil, chives, parsley and oregano

 He told me not to look at them, not to touch them, not to even think about them. I'll try, but sometimes they look so lonely. :)

6 months later

Six months ago I got sick. Very sick. I was tired, nothing worked right in my body. I went to the doctor (and, yes, I counted) 17 times, had 15+ blood tests and other such nonsense. No one could figure out what was going on. I saw two specialists. And... finally, I have an answer. I apparently have the beginning stages of Diabetes II. I was kind of shocked because they took my blood sugar many times over the last six months. It was only when my newest doctor looked at all of the information and lab results that she discovered it.
It was a bit shocking, and a little disconcerting. However, it did explain all that had happened to me. I am on an oral medication to lower my blood sugar. They said that if I keep it under control I won't have to take insulin, hopefully ever.
My day to day diet has changed. Some changes were ones that I was planning on making anyway, and some I have to say, I'll miss. But, I would rather be healthy. :)
The Lord works, sometimes not in our time frame, in great ways in our lives. I just trust that this will be a good change for my body and my family.

Redneck Hole Punch

I started school yesterday and found that I had about elevendybillion papers to hole punch. I do not own a hole punch. I was exhausted and not fit to run to the store, so Eric came up with his solution to my problem.

Being Mr. Fixit, he just drilled the holes for me. Worked well enough, but I'm buying a real hole punch tomorrow. 

Christmas Eve (Part Deux)

I love being Santa! I love putting out presents for our kids. Bryan went to sleep early (the faster he goes to sleep the faster Christmas comes) and so we brought out all the presents. How Fun!

Stuffing Stockings

The not so secret Santa Elf

A full Christmas Tree :)

Can't WAIT for the kids to open them!

Christmas EVE!!!!

It is a little hard for me to think that it is Christmas Day tomorrow. In Georgia it's not really cold, wintry or anything that sparks that feeling of needing a hot chocolate and fire. Mostly, I just need an iced tea and some shorts. But, God, in his infinite wisdom, put us here to enjoy the season of His Son's birth. And, being the troopers we are, we make the absolute best of it!
There is a large garden, called Callaway Gardens, that outdoes themselves on Christmas lights. I wanted to take the boys, but it was a 2 hour drive and it cost a whomp-ton of money to get in. So, we did the next best thing. In our town there is a family called the Ludy's. Every year they create lights on their house in time to music and broadcast it for people to hear as they pass or stop. They do this to raise money for the Make a Wish foundation. So, we went there. And, it might have been only one house, not the whole neighborhood, but it was beautiful. And the kids didn't want to leave. :)

The lights are all connected to a computer and flicker on and off in time with the music.

They really out-do themselves. They even have a Santa come each night before Christmas.

Hansel, Hansel, Hansel and Gretel

I got gingerbread house kits. I got one... because I wanted to make one, and everyone else said they didn't. Knowing my boys, I got two more just in case. Today I sat down to make my gingerbread house. Three boys sat down to watch... so I gave them a kit. And the hilarity ensued. A contest was created... who can make the ugliest gingerbread house. I lost. :)

Their structural beginning.

More icing on fingers than on the house :)

Steve, Ray and Chris being diligent at (eating) putting candy on their house

The contest winner!

Demolition derby after pictures were taken

My little losing house. :)

Happy Christmas Eve(x23)

In our house we do not decorate or put up the tree 'till December. That way, we have 25 full days of Christmas decorations, but we don't lose the excitement from them being up in the middle of November. Today was tree/decorating day. Advent calendars will be given out, and names will be drawn for secret santa. I am giddy with excitement. Merry Christmas is coming!!!