Monday, December 15, 2008

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree

Whoa, Nellie!


You will get a sentimental feeling when you see,

Cozette rocking on her horsey,

right beside our Christmas tree.

Rocking around the Christmas tree,

and I think that you'll agree,

Cozette playing "pee-pie" on her horse

will bring you jubilee!

Friday, December 12, 2008

The Christmas Song

A true Boy Scout!


A glance at our week in song:


Everett roasts his hot dogs on our stove top's fire.

Cozette has a stuffy nose.

Kayleigh and Everett sang in their school's choirs,

And we were pleased from head to toe.


Everybody knows that we have had some recent woes,

But we believe it will be all right.

If we could find our family a new P.P.O.,

It won't be hard to sleep tonight!


We know that Lawnscapes is on its way.

To be blessed with lots of accounts is what we pray.

And, today, my mother even smiled,

When Cozette came over and went a little wild.


And so I'm offering this happy phrase,

My Christmas shopping is done; it's really true.

We're so excited for it to be Christmas day,

And we believe that you are too!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

A Season of Joy

Put aside your work
Put aside your worries.
Put aside your troubles.
It's the season of joy!


Everett surprised us when he expressed his interest in singing in the school chorus. I like to secretly listen to him while driving in the van. I never make a comment. I know he will not sing if he thinks I am listening to him. I have this happy little secret of knowing that Mr. Baseball can carry a tune.

His secret is out now.


Tonight was Everett's Christmas choral performance. The fourth and fifth graders proudly presented, "A Season of Joy."

I thought Mr. Baseball's fans would like to know some of his feelings about this very important event. Please keep in mind that he is a man of few words AND I have to call him Everett since baseball season is over.

Me: Thank you, again, for your time.

Everett: OK.

Me: What made you decide to be in the chorus?

Everett: I thought it would be fun.

Me: Was it hard having to get up at 6:45 in the morning for practice?

Everett: Yes.

Me: Did Mrs. Johnson have you warm up your voice?

Everett: Mrs. Johnson had us sing, "I like ice cream scales." Everett then breaks out singing these scales for me. It was very amusing.

Me: That is very nice. Did you have a favorite song tonight?

Everett: Yes. The Santa Claus Rock.

Me: Will you sing some of the lyrics for me again?

Everett: (hesitates and starts to laugh) Wave to the people. Stomp with your feet. Hands on your hips. Now, twist with the beat. And rock. The Santa Claus rock.

Me: Oh, I loved that song.

Everett: Did you see the principal doing the twist?.

Me: Yes, that was great. Do you want to know my favorite song?

Everett: Oh, Yeah...

Me: "Yankee Doodle Santa." I loved the line that said, " Yankee doodle came to town a riding on a reindeer. Santa's a Yankee doodle boy." Do you think Santa Claus is really patriotic?

Everett: (smiles sheepishly) Yes, because he wears red and white.

Me: Do you think we could sing a duet together?

Everett: Hmm. I guess.

Me: In church?

Everett: NO WAY!

I went too far on that one.

Me: What was the best thing about tonight?

Everett: Going to Dairy Queen to get a treat after the concert was over.

Everett: Good night, Mom.


I guess the interview is over.


Christmastime is a season of joy!

Another highlight of the evening was the Gwinnett Gladiators' mascot coming to the school. Cozette liked him from afar. Kayleigh's chorus recently sang at a Gladiators game.
Stay tuned for her Christmas concert.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Up on the Table Top



Up on the table, we all paused.

Cozette is sitting and thinks we'll applause,

"Please get down," I will say.

But climbing on the table brings Cozette joy every day.

Ho, ho, ho!

Please don't go.

Ho, ho, ho!

Please don't go.

Up on the table,

Click, click, click.

And playing in the chimney isn't to become your new trick!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Christmas Cookies


Baking Christmas cookies is a favorite holiday treat. It was cold and dreary today. Brad, Kayleigh, and Cozette woke up sick, so I decided to make some sugar cookies to cheer us up. Kayleigh is at the perfect age where she loves to help and immediately perked up, so she could assist me. There is something nostalgic about baking cookies with Christmas carols playing in the background. I have fond memories of helping my Mom with the Christmas baking. I hope that Kayleigh will have happy memories too.

Brad and Everett are the most excellent taste testers.

The verdict: two thumbs up.


Tuesday, December 2, 2008

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree


O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou tree most fair and lovely!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou tree most fair and lovely!
The sight of thee at Christmastide
Spreads hope and gladness far and wide
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Thou tree most fair and lovely!


The most wonderful time of year has arrived. I love everything about Christmastime except for one little thing; buying the Christmas tree. Finding the perfect Christmas tree is such a difficult task. (and then there is the tedious task of stringing the lights perfectly.) Last night, Mommom and Papa came with us to Lowe's to buy their Christmas tree too. It was bitterly cold and the selection of trees was the most pitiful I have seen in years. Poor Brad and Papa, they must have pulled out about 20 trees for us to approve. We were shivering in the cold and Brad's hands looked like they were going to fall off.

"Are we having fun yet?" just about describes how we felt.

Everett informed us that he had to go to the little boys room. After looking at a few more trees, we gave up and went inside to get warm. We were waiting for Brad and Everett to return, so we could go to Home Depot to try and find a Christmas tree there.

Guess where we were waiting for them?

Right by the artificial Christmas tree section.

Those trees were so lovely.

We all ended up bringing one of those lovely Christmas trees home.

Tonight Mommom called and asked to speak with Everett. After they hung up, I asked him what they talked about.

"She called to say thank you to me for having to go to the bathroom last night."

I started to laugh. We can all thank Everett for solving our Christmas tree dilemma.

Now, I truly love everything about Christmastime!



O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!

I hope you keep your beauty.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
I hope you keep your beauty.
You see, we have a sneaky Christmas elf,
who cannot keep her little hands to herself.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
I hope you keep your beauty.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Thanksgiving Top 10



The 10 best things about our Thanksgiving trip to Columbia:

10. Sleeping in late.

I never thought I would see the day when I thought sleeping in until 8:45 would seem so luxurious. Every one knows that I can easily sleep until noon. Little Cozette has changed that for me. It really was nice to sleep in until 8:45 without any alarms disturbing us.

9. Delicious Food.

Kayleigh starts talking about Grandma's home cookin' days before we actually arrive. It is a favorite family topic as we drive towards Columbia. We all hope she prepares our favorites. Brad usually calls and asks what she has prepared for us. I especially look forward to having a selection of at least six drinks to choose from at each meal. I never choose water because I am so healthy; and she always has a selection of about four or five desserts. It's paradise for a dessert loving person like me!

8. South Carolina State Museum.

We usually have many fun outings while visiting Bill and Shirley. A favorite spot for Kayleigh and Everett is the museum. I enjoy it too. It's fun learning unique facts about South Carolina's history. This year I discovered the answer to something I have always wondered.

What is the difference between a sweet potato and a yam? ( I thought a yam was a canned sweet potato)

Nothing.

Plantation owners owned slaves from many African nations. Communication was difficult due to the many different languages spoken. As the slaves attempted to speak to one another, a new language called "Gullah" was created combining these native languages. Some of the words derived from this language are okra, yam, and tote.

7. Cozette being the center of attention.

Let me just say that she really did put on her very best tricks for every one. We all thought we were going to eat her up!

6. The Flight Deck.

This is a unique restaurant that is centered around airplanes. I thought it was quite clever that the steak entrees were listed under "the Beef-52's." There is a game room which made all the kiddos go crazy with excitement and the highlight was watching Cozette climbing up the Ski Ball game.

5. The Carousel.

Cozette and I rode our very first merry-go-round. She also rode it with her Daddy and was so cute as she waved to all of us. I was secretly pleased that Kayleigh, Everett, and Mary-Faith were just as excited to ride and didn't feel they were too big for it!

4. "Total."

This is our new family expression. A favorite family activity is playing games. Scattergories is our game of choice. Brad and Everett are usually on the same team and the answers they come up with are more than amusing and usually make us laugh hysterically. We played a round that the letter was "T" and the category was, "something you shout."

My answer was, "that is not nice." ( a very reasonable answer.)

Brad and Everett's answer was "TOTAL." It was hilarious to see them shout "TOTAL." We argued that they did not give a real answer but it made us laugh so much that we agreed to give them a point.

So now, we will say "total" to each other while we pass each other in the halls at church. I think it means we are doing totally great.

Even Shirley and Barbara were saying it to each other!

3. Straightening Mary-Faith's hair.

I thought it would be fun to see how her lovely curly hair would look straight. We were not expecting how beautiful it was going to look. It was worth it to see her Mom's and Shirley's reaction.

2. Celebrating Thanksgiving.

We have been blessed with so much. We loved being with Bill and Shirley, Barbara and Mary-Faith.

1. Bill's homemade pecan pie.

It's really embarrassing when I think about how much of it I ate. At dinner last night, when I finished off the last piece, I asked Bill and Shirley if they even got a piece. They were so kind and assured me they did get a piece. But, that was all they got. I know that I ate about 3/4 of that pecan pie. It was the best I have ever eaten.

We really did have a fantastic time.