The best part...

For me, the best part of traveling is the coming home part. While I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to see the country the past few years, nothing ever compares to the excitement of traveling home and knowing that in a few hours I will get to see the gals. As our friend Kim aptly points out, travel can often be rejuvenating and is a bit slower paced than the day-to-day, but I never lose the feeling that there is something, and some special ones, that are missing. Being able to come home and see the girls, or seeing them first thing the next morning, is always the best.

Good morning from San Diego

I am in San Diego this week for a conference and took this picture from my back door...not a bad spot for some coffee...I just wish I had my 4 gals with me.

Tot is Three!

It's hard to believe that another year has gone by. Taylor turns three tomorrow, January 24. She has been very excited about her birthday the past few weeks. She kept telling us that it is "sooooooo...sp'acial"...and she is right. We celebrated her birthday quietly at home, with plans to hold a combined super,-duper birthday blow-out party for Taylor and Abby sometime in February. The Wizard of Oz appears to be the theme of choice, at least for today.

Thufferin' Thuccotash!

Regan encountered a number of folks over the past few weeks that offered to do us all a favor by pulling her remaining front tooth.  Her tooth had literally been dangling since before Thanksgiving, and of late had turned a distressing shade of GREEN due no doubt to the nerve damage that it sustained while hanging by a thread.  On Sunday, in a fit of courage, she allowed Bella and me to 'help' her wiggle her tooth in a half-hearted attempt to get us to leave her--and her tooth--alone.  After two hours of hearing her wail in phantom pain I had enough.  Just before bed we convinced her to afford me just one try to loosen the tooth a bit more, and while Bella held her arms, I pinched that sucker out!  Regan's face was priceless as she sat straight up on the couch and looked at us and said, "Is it out? Is it out?" She is none the worse for wear, excepting the pronounced lisp she has developed.  But at the end of the day, I think even she would agree that the ordeal was worth the rewarding trip from the tooth-fairy.

Farewell thee well.....finally.

For Chris....wonder if it was a Valero?

Survivors Of Gas Station Explosion Mourn Tragic Loss Of Gasoline

No Smoking!

I feel the need to blog about a very important topic.  Bryan informed me the other day that Governor Tim Kaine intends to reintroduce legislation that would ban smoking in eating establishments throughout Virginia...yeehaw!  Governor Kaine introduced this bill last year but it failed when our legislators lost their nerve.  This bill has my full support because I cannot stand the smell of cigarette smoke...especially when I am trying to eat. 

I feel this way not only for me, but for my family as well.  I cringe because I hate the thought that my girls are having to breathe the filthy air.  Having non-smoking areas does not help most of the time.  Just because you are sitting three tables down from the smoking section doesn't mean that you are secluded....you can still smell it and still have to breathe it.  

For those of you who feel the same way, please call or contact your state legislators to urge them to support the smoking ban!  It doesn't hurt people to go outside.  When it's cold, don't be a baby, put a coat on!  Don't subject me and mine to your dangerous habit...it simply ruins the taste of a good steak and tiramisu.  

Bud Phillips can expect my call tomorrow...let me know if you need contact information, I will be happy to send it along.  

Christmas Traditions

We are going out to eat..

Every year, the fun begins with Bella's baking...peanut butter balls, no-bake cookies, biscotti, gingerbread men, and a healthy sampling of new concoctions.  This year's new menu items included chocolate-dipped meringue thingies....Bella ran across them on the Food Network...they tasted like pure sugar to me.  I suppose they were yummy if you are into that type of thing.  Me? ..not so much.  But they looked very pretty. 

We always spend Christmas Eve and the day before with my mom and dad and family.  This always proves to be lots of fun.  Santa has even made a habit of showing up a couple of days early to surprise the kids at Nana's.  This year was especially memorable for Abby.  Abby's only request of Santa this year was for a 'ping-pong paddle,' the type that has a small rubber ball attached to the end of it.  Santa and his elves were a bit challenged to find the goods.  Luckily, the elves were successful and Abby received her gift, presented to her by Santa himself.

Christmas Eve involved a lot of visiting...we visited Gran and Papaw and the rest of my family in Clintwood.  We ended up drinking too much punch and eating way too many sausage balls, bologna salad sandwiches, biscuits, and other goodies.  

This year, we were treated to some entertainment, which added to the fun.  Gotta love some karaoke!!

 Christmas Eve night we returned home to get ready for Santa.  Our most important task is getting Santa's cookies and milk ready.  This year Santa's reindeer even received a treat...Abby made some reindeer food for Rudolph and the guys at pre-school.  We finished up our long day by watching a few minutes of, what else, 'A Christmas Story.'  

Christmas morning we all woke early to see what Santa had left...and to open our remaining gifts. After that, we went back to the kitchen and prepared yet some more food to get us through the Christmas Day and fun with the rest of the family.  

Christmas is an important and fun time of year.  We get to visit and hear from all of our family and friends, especially those that we don't see often enough.  But, Christmas also gives us an excuse to eat too much. After all was said and done, and despite all of the fun and fellowship, we came to the conclusion that we were also grateful to finally get away from all of the food.