Exiting 2010

First, I'd like to say, my little guy turned 2 this year!  Still cannot believe we are the parents of such a little rock star angel baby!  Happy Birthday, little man!

I have been hearing so many friends commenting on what a hard/stressful/terrible year that 2010 was.  As we exit this year, I realize I have so many wonderful (some mundane, some huge) mopments and people to cherish.  I hope during your job losses and financial struggles, estrangements and divorces, sicknesses and deaths, that you all will find something in 2010 that was worth cherishing (and may comfort you) in the years to come.  As Sally Fields says in Steel Magnolias, "...[she]..wouldnt want us to get mired down and waller in it...".  Here are just a few of my greats of 2010...

I owe my good, old (not that old, now, we graduated high school in 1995) friend, Amy, a mess of thanks for inspiring me to get out here in this blogosphere and write (something I love to do).  Check out her blog at http://www.yoursouthernpeach.blogspot.com/

I am thankful for my Jamie.  I will be thankful for, and love her every year, however.

I am thankful for a husband that I love and I can communicate with.

I am thankful for both my Webb and Whitmire families.

I am thankful for my four closest girlfriends: you know who you are!  And my best friend for the last 20 years that has stuck around.  You make me feel YOUNG, Jess!

I am thankful for the gym for getting me even closer to my 20 year old butt.  I am thankful for the women I have met there.  I am thankful to be a part of an organization that gives back to the community!  Go Ron Rosner YMCA!

I am thankful to have a roof over my head, food in my belly, and clothes on my back.

Most of all, I am thankful for God who showers me with these wonderful blessings everyday!

And I ended 2010 on  good note: I bought a scratch-off lottery ticket (which I rarely do) and won fifty bucks!  Well, really $48, but who cares!  Maybe I'll get a long overdue pedicure!

I cant wait to run screaming for joy into 2011!  Happy New Year everyone and may you have the best year ever!

Cheers!

W.A.'s Momma

Family Christmas 2010

W.A. and family packed up the car and headed for the great state of Kentucky for Christmas this year!  It was a short, and wonderful, trip!

My nephew got grounded (oh the memories), my niece was home from college, my other nephew gave me a lesson in the new teenage slang and some music tips.

Some of us ate too much, drank too much but we were all merry! 

Hope all of you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas season this year!

Enjoy the pictures!

Cheers!

W.A.'s Momma

The Dasher Express

W.A. and family piled on the Dasher Express at 8:30 this morning with hundreds of other kiddies to see the rolling hills by train and most importantly, Santa and Mrs. Claus.

We are super busy this holiday season, so I havent been updating my blog as often as I'd like.  Hope you all enjoy the pictures and have yourselves a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!



Judgements

My Kentucky Gentleman and I are fans of Joel Osteen.  I am not a huge fan of so called "Mega Churches" typically, only because I feel you lose "fellowship" once you get too large.  But anyhow, we love listening to Joel Osteen's messages every Sunday morning. 

This past Sunday, he talked about not casting off people who you feel don't live up to your expectations or standards.  He said you should not push away those who "don't fit into your box".  These people could be God bringing you an important message, an important relationship, etc.

For some reason, I clearly listened to what he had to say.  I am so guilty of this.  I've had friends in the past that I decreased activities with  because they became "needy", or "nutty" or one of our most used words was "psycho".  I realized on Sunday, I was judging these people.  I asked myself, "Why are you judging them?" and the answer, I knew immediately.  I was judging my friends and acquaintances for things I did not like about myself.  Ive prayed numerous times for God to take away this judgemental side of me far away.  I don't like it in my head and I certainly don't care for it to be in my heart.  God loves all of his children, even me.  I have faults, flaws, sin....I am not perfect, so who am I to judge?  Am I so much greater than God that I can criticize his handiwork?  That struck me deep inside when I thought about it that way.  I was an idiot and I was acting like a jerk when I judged others.

I am trying harder everyday to (as my friend Erika would say): "Worry about yourself."  I want to be a  better friend.  I'm praying God can help me with this.  I want my son to be proud of me.  So...

If you see/hear me judging others: CALL ME OUT!!

Cheers!

W.A.'s Momma

Rough and Tumble Boys...

...I really am trying to get used to this.  Why is it so difficult?

Every time he bumps his head I am afraid he's got a concussion.  Severe brain bleeding, hemorrhaging and swelling just fill my every waking thought.  I check the pupils, the motor skills and the whole nine yards for every head bump.  I mean, I am seriously up ALL night checking that he is still breathing!

Every cut deserves a trip to urgent care (you're welcome, Dr. Ken and Margaret, I'm sure your mortgage is paid...just kidding...sort of) because I am just sure he needs stitches...or maybe a blood transfusion.

Every bruise is checked with a microscope, every scratch is cleaned to ward off infection..or some other flesh eating bacteria that I'm positive he will get.

My good friend Krista (and mommy to two boys) assures me, "you just have yourself a rough and tumble boy".  I thank God for her some days, but seriously, I am going to check his breathing again right now.

How do you mommas of these beloved boys ever relax?  It's the wine isn't it?  I should buy stock in Robert Mondavi.

Good night Mommas!

Cheers!

W.A.'s Momma

P.S.  Did I mention I have three sisters and just about all female cousins?  I don't know the first thing about boys.

THE Icon

The ultimate HOMEMAKER, the ultimate STAY AT HOME MOM, the ultimate MOTHER OF ADVENTUROUS BOYS has passed on. 

Yes, folks, my idol, my icon, my role model (both her television persona and the real life persona) has gone to be with our Lord...

Rest In Peace, June Cleaver (Barbara Billlingsley).

December 22, 1915 to October 16, 2010

I will miss you...

Grandmothers...

me and my grandma. 1978

I had the best darn Grandmother in the whole world when I was growing up! 

First of all, she let us run around her yard picking apples and catching lightning bugs. 

She was the best cook ever, and made some great fried okra.  I loved her apple turnovers in the fall and her butter pecan ice cream in the summer.  She could fry chicken so well, it made you want to slap yo' momma!

She had the best chunky jewelry and satiny-est nightgowns.  My sisters, cousins and I would all dress up and play princess or wedding (our favorite).  I was always the groom because I was the tallest.

We could plunder her refrigerator, her closet, her drawers, whatever.  She was Grandma and just didn't care what we touched, moved, tipped over, broke, tangled up, greased up, ripped, soiled...as long as we were having fun.  I do not EVER remember her getting angry with us for "ruining something". 

I hope W.A. has some sweet memories of his Grandmothers (Oma and Grammy) that he can pass on as well.

(love and miss you GMA)

Cheers!

W.A.'s Momma