No Better Way To Spend New Year's Eve

Being the party people we are, Mike and the gals and I (Logan is out for just a bit) had a lot of fun tonight with my new chocolate fountain. Is there any better way to spend New Year's Eve than to be dipping stuff in chocolate? I don't think so -- at least not when you have Mono. If I can't get a New Year's kiss from my sweetie, then at least I should be able to eat as many pieces of chocolate dipped pound cake that I want. :)

I have what?

So, I haven't been feeling well for a while. I kept getting sick over and over again. The last time I went to the doc, she said my glands seemed swollen and she took some blood. I found out yesterday -- I have tested positive for MONO! Can you believe that -- I am a 40 year old woman with the "Kissing Disease"? :)

I have good days and bad days. Yesterday was good - today I could sleep all day. But, I have come up with some positive things to say about having Mono:

#1 - I can take a nap anytime I want guilt-free

#2 - I have an excuse for why my bathrooms are not clean

#3 - I don't have to spend that much time with make-up because there isn't enough in this world to cover the dark circles under my eyes

#4 - I don't have to share my drinks

The doc says I should feel better within the next month or two. Great!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Mike took the gals to see Santa tonight. We asked Logan if he wanted to go, but he said he would rather hang with his friends. Go figure! :)

The Christmas Pageant

The girls are in the Children's Choir at church, and they sang in the Christmas Pageant Sunday night. I couldn't get any good pictures of them singing (hadn't figured out the new camera yet), but they were so beautiful in their dresses I just had to take some pictures.

Lewis Ginter Lights

Tonight, a friend and I took our girls and one of their friends to the light display at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. I had never been, and it was really pretty. We got to stop halfway for hot chocolate and a cookie. Definitely a cool thing to see! (And when I say "cool", I mean COLD!)

More To Come

I know it has been a while since I update this blog, but unfortuantely, on top of Mike being gone all but 4 days this month, my camera broke. I had dropped it in the lake over the summer, and the damage finally caught up to it.

But, I am happy to report that last night I picked up a new one, so be on the lookout for more posts soon.

The Last Day of the Year of Jill

All good things have to come to an end. It's been a great time, but after today it is over. I wish I could say that I spent this day doing something exciting, but I'm afraid it was just like any other day. I did make a pot of turkey and sausage gumbo for the first time which was something new, but other than that - nothing exceptional.

Tomorrow starts The Year of Mike. We already have several ideas ahead for him so be on the lookout for those pictures and stories. I am going to help him to have fun - like he did for me.

Only 1 Day Left . . .

in the Year of Jill. :)

Mike Wanted to Fry a Turkey . .

and the girls got to see a real live fire truck! :)

Only 2 Days Left . . .

in the Year of Jill! :)

Only 3 Days Left . . .

in the Year of Jill!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We were supposed to be at my mom's house right now eating a fried turkey and spiral ham, but unfortunately our plans got changed Tuesday evening. So, Logan and I ran to the grocery Tuesday night at 8:30, grabbed some stuff to cook, and today we had ham (which I already had bought) and a bunch of other sides that the kids helped me make.

It has not been the same, but as long as the 5 of us are together I am happy.

Time for some football and a nap. :)

For My Sister, Jackie

Ma and I found this pin at the Craftsmen's Classic we went to a couple of weeks ago. I have been wearing it this month for you. :)

For the Control Freak - Like Me

Being the Control Freak that I am, the holidays are always hard for me because I want everything to go a certain way. In a family of 5 people who have their own ideas, that can cause me major frustration.

Every day I get this daily devotional email and this prayer was in this morning's message:

Dear Lord, reveal to me the roles that I tend to control because of my own perfectionist tendencies or other’s expectations. Teach me to release some of the control I hold in our family’s holiday traditions. Teach me to share the work, the time, and the joy. Help us as a family to work together and enjoy each other’s company. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

It's like it was written for me specifically. I have kept it with me all day. It has helped me through the turkey cookies that don't look like turkeys. It has helped me through the egg cracking that took 5 minutes along with shells I had to pull out. And it has helped me keep in mind how much fun my children can have if I let go and let them.

Just thought I would share - I know a few other Control Freaks check this Blog. Not naming names - you know who you are. :)

My Little Turkeys

So, I saw on my friend Stacey's blog that she had decorated some cookies with her son and made them into turkeys. I thought that was a great idea. After the girls got home from school today, they put their aprons on and helped me make a sweet potato pie for Mike. Then, they decorated cookies. They had a lot of fun doing it, and I think they look cute as anything in my aprons. :)

Only 4 Days Left . . .

in the Year of Jill.

Only 5 Days Left . . .

in the Year of Jill. :)

Me - Only Not Me

A few weeks ago I met a woman at the girls' bus stop. I noticed right away that she had a set of identical twin girls - I mean, they're indentical - how could I not notice. So, we start to talk and I find out that her girls are in 2nd grade - a year ahead of my girls. Then, I find out that she has a son who is 18 years old - a year ahead of Logan. She's me - only next year me. Anyways, she gave me a huge bag of clothes today for Madeline and Amanda. I haven't gone through it yet, but her gals are clotheshorses so I am sure there is plenty in there to make my girls happy. This is only the second time that I have had anyone give me clothes for my girls - and the fact that she dresses her girls like I do - similar only in different colors - makes me really excited. :)

6 Days Left in the Year of Jill

The countdown has begun!

Birthday Dinner

So, for my birthday, I told Mike that I wanted to get some friends of ours together and go out to dinner. We went last night, and I had so much fun! The LIMO (yes - I said limo) got here at 6:00. James (yes, our driver's name really was James) rolled out a red carpet for us and we were on our way. We picked up the other people and headed to Maggiano's. I loved it! Everything was exactly what I wanted it to be, and it was one of the best birthday presents Mike has ever given me. Katie's husband, Kyle, couldn't be there, so I took a picture of him and glued it over the face of Elvis on this cardboard cut-out I have. We had a lot of laughs about Mini-Kyle.:) This is the last week of the Year of Jill , and this dinner is one happy memory I will have for a long time.

It's OVER!

After weeks of phone calls and meetings and everything else that went with it --the MOPS Craft Fair is finally over! I know it was all for a good cause, but it was very stressful. You would think people that handmake crafts would be friendly and intelligent. You would be wrong. Enough said.

I can say that it was successful - our most successful fundraiser to date. I am happy about that. And I got to work with the great gals who are on the MOPS Steering team with me, so that was a blessing.

I'm going back to bed now. :)

Trick Or Treat!

Another Halloween come and gone. Amanda was dressed up as a Snow Princess, and Madeline was a Glamour Girl. They got to pick out their own costumes this year. The main enjoyment for me is to get to stay home and pass out candy. I really like to see the little kids in their costumes. Well, it is 7:30 and I have had about eight Trick-or-Treaters the whole night. And most of them were too old to be trick or treating. Talk about disappointment.

Mike took the gals to visit our old neighbors, Wade and Nancy, and then over to the church - they did a Trunk-or-Treat thing, and then they hit our neighborhood. Logan is out with his girlfriend.

Needless to say, we have a ton of candy left plus what the gals brought home. Not good. Not good at all.

Happy Halloween

Ahh - Youth

I walked in my door at 9:00 tonight. I went out to go to my car at 10:00 tonight. This is what I saw- I know I should be ticked, but in times where the girls elementary school has a bomb threat called in and kids are so mean to each other, there is something so innocent about toiletpapering a yard. Logan says it was obviously done by underclassmen because they spent money on the good toilet paper, and they used spoons instead of forks in the yard. I also think it is funny because Logan has prided himself on not letting anyone know where he lives to prevent this from happening. Looks like they found out. :)

Princess Scarlett

She went to the beauty shop today, and they put bows in her hair for Halloween. I wish I could get a better picture. She looks so cute! Like I really need another girl to buy hair accessories for in this family. :)

Put On A Happy Face!

The girls and Mike carved out a pumpkin yesterday. Well, he carved, Amanda played her Gameboy and Madeline supervised the whole thing. It now sits proudly on our front porch, along with the two smaller pumpkins the gals decorated at school. Is it me or is Halloween beginning to become a week long event?

Going Once! Going Twice! Sold!

We just got back from the Preschool Auction. Our church is opening a new preschool next fall, and they had an auction tonight to raise money for playground equipment.


They had a clown come in to entertain the kids while the adults did a Silent Auction and Live Auction.


Well, you know what big spenders Mike and I are. We ended up winning a Tastefully Simple basket and some gift cards to Chipolte's. I wanted the limo ride and Nutcracker tickets, but they were beyond our budget. So, I am happy with my bread mixes and Mexican food. :)

Halloween Fun

Last week, Madeline and I went "belling". Some people call it "booing" or "ghosting". Both girls decorated brown paper lunch bags with stickers. Then, we filled them with candy. Amanda had soccer practice, so Madeline and I went to two houses of friends (I had called ahead to tell the parents - but Maddie doesn't know that). We parked the car a few houses away, snuck up to the front door. Put the bags of candy down, rang the doorbell and RAN. Madeline was so funny - she really thought we were being so sneaky. I had so much fun because #1 - I never get to do much of anything with just one of the girls and #2 - it was just plain little-kid fun.

Everything's Fine for the Class of 2009

Logan had his Ring Ceremony tonight. It was a really special way for him and his classmates to receive their class rings. At my school we never did that, but it is a tradition here. I guess they want to make you feel like all that money you paid was worth it. Every time I heard "Class of 2009" I freaked out a little - my baby is growing up.

Back from the Low Country

I got back late Sunday night from my trip

with my 2 gals from college. We had a really nice time. We shopped and ate and shopped and ate. My favorite part was Friday night when we went to a roof top bar where there was a really good blue grass band. After we left there, we found a restaurant that had its big french doors open where another band was playing, so we stood on the sidewalk and listened to them for a while.

It was another great trip in the Year of Jill! :)

Together Again - For a Few Days

Mike and the gals got back from the beach this afternoon, so we are all finally under the same roof. But, it won't last for long.

I leave Wednesday for my Big Birthday Road Trip with my College Gals. The three of us have never done a long road trip before so this should be fun.

After that trip, we have no where else to go for a while - at least for a few weeks.

Logan is still in pain from the kidney stones - but it isn't any worse than it has been.

Off to make dinner and hopefully talk with Mike for longer than five minutes.

Busy! Busy!

Sorry it has taken me so long to update this blog. I have had a busy week since getting back from Florida.

Bad news for Logan - he has kidney stones. He is not a happy camper right now. He goes to the doctor Tuesday so, hopefully, he will be OK soon.

Things have been so crazy around this house. I have finally gotten control of the laundry since getting back from my church retreat Sunday. 20 loads down - only 20 more to go.

I was so sick Monday morning from all the dust and mold from where we stayed for the retreat that I didn't even notice that Amanda only wore one sock to school. We went to Target right after the girls got off the bus, and that is when I noticed. She said she couldn't find her other one. She couldn't find it? She has a whole drawer full of socks. Ahh!

Things won't be slowing down here anytime soon. I am looking towards the middle of November for some quiet time -- just in time for Thanksgiving.

We're Back!

It has been a traveling weekend for the Riddle Family.

I left Wednesday night with a group of women from the MOPS group to drive down to Orlando for the MOPS Convention. It was awesome. I got to go to DISNEY WORLD!!

Mike and the girls left Friday night for their Indian Princess Campout.

Poor Logan stayed here. But I am sure that is how he wanted it.

I am very thankful that we all made it back safe and sound. I am off to tackle the mountains of laundry we all brought back with us.

Amanda Update

Well, after a not-so-fun trip to the doctor, Amanda doesn ot have strep. It is a virus. Needless to say, I sprayed this entire house twice with Lysol so no one else would catch it.

I am leaving tomorrow for Orlando for my MOPS Convantion. I am so excited - I just can't tell you. Well, I will tell you - when i get back. :)

Poor Amanda

It is only the third week of school and already Amanda is home sick. I think she has strep throat. I am taking her to the doctor today. Her Indian Princess campout is this weekend, so she seems to be OK with going. We'll see what happens when we get there. :(

Putting My Money Where Their Mouths Are

So, the gals had their dentists appointments yesterday for their cleanings. The news was not good. Amanda's baby teeth are so tight in her mouth right now that the dentist said out of the 20 teeth in her mouth, around 14 will have to be pulled in order to have room for the bigger adult teeth - and some of those will have to go as well. And Madeline is on her way to the orthodontist for an evaluation of her bite.

So, all future Christmas and birthday gifts will be donations made in our friends and families' names to Dr. Zentgraf and Dr. Dabney. Thank you for your support. :)

Battle in the Bayou

Well, after 3 years of planning, we FINALLY took our trip to Louisianna to see Virginia Tech play LSU. The game was ugly - so was the heat. But, we had a BLAST! It was so much fun. We got to walk around New Orleans and eat really GOOD food. The friends we went with were wonderful tour guides, and I cannot tell you how much fun we had. None of us got any sleep, but it was worth it!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

First Day of School! Hurray!

The gals were so excited. And my son was ready 15 minutes early so I guess that means he was, too, although he would never admit it.

My babies are growing up!

Weather Update

Hurricane Ingram blew out of my house this morning, leaving in its path destruction . . . . Just Kidding. Well, Almost Kidding.

I wish they lived down the street that way we could see them and not have to worry about all the time they need to unpack, repack, organize, repack, and on and on. It would be nice just to "be" with them.

The girls had so much fun with my nephew John. I should probably have slipped him a couple of bucks for keeping them occupied.

Their next furlow is in two years. It seems so far away.

Current conditions at the Riddle House - Overcast and too quiet. :(

And So It Begins

Today was our College Football Kick-Off Cook Out. It was so much fun. The Riddle Family really enjoyed it. I hope our guests did as well. Va Tech won, but ECU didn't lose too badly. What more could we want?

We headed for fun and fireworks tonight and had just a wonderful time with our good friends. The kids loved the face-painting and fireworks and we loved being able to just chill out with friends.

I am truly blessed by God.

The Early Bird Doesn't Have Writer's Cramp

So, today flew by with my son's orientation for the high school culinary center he is attending, a trip to the vet for Scarlett who has had some kind of allergic reaction to something, and a visit to Costco - which is always fun.

Tonight, after the girls were bathed, I sat down in my bedroom and began to label the 96 pencils, 96 crayons, 24 correction pencils, 24 markers, 24 colored pencils, 4 bottles of glue, 6 pink erasers and 2 pairs of scissors they have to take to school tomorrow during their classroom visits. Yes, I actually had to put their initials on each and every one of these lovely school supplies. Don't ask me why - I have no idea what the thinking is behind it. I only know that I have to do it. Of course, my cutie husband came in at the end and helped with a box of crayons and some pencils - all the while complaining about how he couldn't watch the LSU-Miss St game in Hi Def downstairs. Poor man!

I can't totally blame him. I have had their supplies for a while. Should have gotten to it earlier - I have had so much free time this summer (she said sarcastically).

I love my job. :)

What Were We Thinking

So, I get this great idea that a good friend and I should take our 5 - yes, I said FIVE - little girls to the Baltimore Inner Harbor for the night. I would say the gals had a great time, but my friend and I are going to be recovering for the next few days.

Outside of the constant giggling, screaming and overall touching of EVERYTHING in their sight, it was wonderful - at least for us. I would not say the same for the unfortunate people who had to share an elevator with us, sit next to us in a restaurant or stand in line behind us in a store.

But it was worth it. And it was the first of I hope many all-girl road trips. Girls Rule!

Let The Chaos Begin

Pigs must be falling from the sky because I would never have thought I would actually be doing this. But after speaking to a friend who just started her own family blog, I decided it might be a good way to share the joy and chaos of our everyday lives without having to spend so much time on the phone.

Don't get me wrong - I love them, and I love the chaos. Without it my life would be boring - and who likes boring.

So, here is a picture of the wonderful people who make my life complete. The cute one is my husband and the short one is the dog, Scarlett. After all, family chaos always includes a barking dog.