7 Random Facts

So Amanda tagged me to create a post to list 7 Random Facts about me. Why 7? That is too random AND difficult. I am shooting for 5 and anything after that is just a bonus. Here we go:

1) When I was little, I was a rough and rowdy gal. I used to collect live crickets and stick them in my pocket. (That is if they escaped the burning lens of the magnifying glass). My poor Mom used to find cricket legs and heads in the washer and dryer.

2) I was born in London England. Chelsea to be exact. After a few drinks, I do a mean London accent. Sober, I do......something close.

3) It is quickly becoming a family tradition on holidays to play the After Eight Mint Game. You get an After Eight Mint and put it on your forehead. Lean back. Now you have to get it into your mouth without touching it at all. You can only use gravity and facial expressions to get it down your face. This game is best placed while inebriated. My brother demonstrates wonderfully.

4) I must have carnies in my family tree as I have many strange tricks up my sleeve. I can: tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue, put 1, 2 or 3 loops in my tongue, I can wave my tongue, cross one eye, cross my arms after turning them inside out and STILL fit my head through there without letting go of my hands, and I can blow a bubble with gum bigger than anyone I know. And no, I will not show you pictures of of any of it. Carnie, not crazy. I am also left handed to add to my oddities.

5) I, like Amanda, have never (and probably won't ever) get gas before the gas light comes on. Don't lecture me. I am big on structure and schedules and lists, but apparently, filling the tank before necessary is not in my nature.

6) I am proud to admit that I am one of the few people my age that I know that has 3 friends I have known since kindergarten and still speak with. Melissa, Kathryn, and Katie.

7) I actually have a pet raccoon.

ok, no I don't but how many people have pictures of themselves feeding raccoons on the patio? Not a lot I bet.

OK, that is 7. This wasn't as hard as I thought. I actually can think of more random things about me! BUT, unlike Amanda, I will not curse you with having to post about yourself! ;)

Holly Jolly

Here we go. A ton of photos of one person in particular that will probably bore you (unless you were there). Never-the-less, pictures from that crazy holiday where going green would mean not wrapping your presents for others, and that is just crazy talk!

The injured reserve: Zach had a brace on his hand. Boys will be boys....

Alex was actually hanging upside down for this one. He was a happy kid!

Not very keen on the way the tree feels..

I got Dad a new hat

With some new hair..

Isn't my family pretty?! Don't be jealous.

Christmas went by in a flash and Alex was spoiled. I spent most of the night opening presents for him. (There was no shortage) I can't wait to see what the maids figure out to do with all this stuff while they are trying to vacuum!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and we will see you next year!

Merry Christmas Ya'll!

I found out today that Alex and Laura are having a girl! YAAAAY!!!

Merry Christmas!

Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?

So guess who is crawling now? Well, he can crawl. He actually prefers to pull himself forward by his elbows and drag his feet behind him. It is more of an army crawl. Although he can actually crawl, I guess he thinks it is much more dramatic to make it look like he is wounded at war and crawling to his safety under heavy gunfire. Looks like something right out of a movie! It won't be long before I am the most paranoid person in the world with leaving things out on surfaces, etc. This kid already wants to put his hands on anything he is not supposed to.

Let the Holidays begin!

Joe and Teresa came over tonight to have some of my favorite Cheeseburger Soup. We hung out for a little bit afterwards until Allen brought in the tree to put up. Then, Joe whips into action. If there is something to be done, Joe is going to do it right! Once we get the tree out of the box and put together, Joe continuously alternated from sitting on the couch making sure we had our angles right to getting up and making sure we were "fluffing" it properly. This game ensued for at least an hour.

This was Alex's first tree siting. He loved looking at it but hated touching it. Which is fine by me. I hope that trend sticks for the next ten years! That kid can hate trees as much as he wants. Stay away from it Kid!

So that is that. Holiday weekend over. Man do I hate to go back to work on Monday!

Joe Humbug

Alex's first look at a Christmas Tree!

Thanksgiving in Arkansas

We went to Arkansas to see Allen's extended family for Thanksgiving. As promised, I have pictures of cats and guns! I can't help it. Where else can you drive just a few miles from the house and shoot stuff!? And where else do you walk out the back door and see so many cats just waiting to see you!?

We arrived on Thursday and had Thanksgiving dinner at Bob and Joyce's place. It was crowded but MMMMMM it was good food! Alex also met his cousin Preston for the first time on Thursday. Normally, Alex sees himself in the mirror, so seeing Preston really threw him. I think he could not figure out why this kid looked nothing like the kiddo he normally sees, and why doesn't this kid do everything he does?

We got up and took our time getting ready Friday. We went to lunch with Allen's parents and then headed back to Granny's. Granny does have some cats outside this year, but not as many as before. She did have three kittens that were just adorable and I wanted to take home. Allen would hear nothing of it. Poor kitties, they were so small and it was so cold........ Then we jumped in the truck to go do some target practice. It was cold and raining but, you can't sit around all day! (Notice the RED Arkansas mud on the ground. You want nooooo part of that.

We drove home on Saturday, and here I sit, updating the blog, watching Alex play. Alex is getting very close to crawling. He can go backwards right now. And he rocks back and forth a lot. I am guessing that within 2 weeks, he'll be crawling around.

I leave you with some pictures and video!

Smiley Boy!

Preston

As soon as you get there, the cats jump on your car because it is so warm!

Begging to take kitties home.

Too bad Allen didn't actually catch the lid flying off!

(I would upload the video of Allen's target practice but it is loaded with profanities so, I decided against it!)

This kid is almost always happy!

Company Christmas Party - In NOVEMBER???

Yes, the company warned us that the Christmas party might be a wee bit early this year, but we had no idea it would be so early we might be tempted to dress as pilgrims and indians! I mean how often could you wear a head band with colored feathers and it be appropriate? We did, as a side note, eat turkey and dressing while we were there. Is it bad that I ate three pieces of pumpkin pie too? I think not. I mean, they would have thrown it away if it were left over right? And no sense in that right? So I was just making sure we weren't wasteful. Yah.

It was a casino/Vegas themed party. I am a big fan of the slot machines, but, I almost hate to admit, I have never even played Blackjack before. What better time to learn than with play money!?!?!?

After ALLEN lost ALL my chips, we sat back down at our table with our good friends Alynn and Ryan, and proceeded to (very maturely) snap random and silly photos of each other. Everyone that works with me knows that if nothing else, I always try to be the utmost authority on behaving professionally. ;)

Below are a few shots of the party.

Tomorrow Allen, Alex, and I leave to go to Arkansas to see Al's extended family. Alex will meet his cousin Preston for the first time. They are only 2 months (right Kelly? Two months?) apart. So I am sure I will return with lots of photos from that. And cats. I always manage to take tons of pictures of cats while I am out there as well. A guns. Always photos of guns too.

Inner monologue: You know, we always target practice with beer cans but maybe since there are so many cats around.......

Looking good Big Money

Alynn and I goof off.
A lot.

I love this gal!

I can not believe that Monday is going to be December 1st.