Sunday, November 30, 2008

What tradition?

This year, our holiday decorating night was much, much different than the last.
Remember this? Haha...good times.
Every year since we have been married, we have gone with my parents and sister to get our trees together on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Yesterday was way too rainy for that, so we conceded that tradition and went to our local tree farm this afternoon with Charlie. He had a blast running through the trees and helping Adam "drive" around the farm. I was a good wifey and didn't overscrutinize every tree. (Although, why is it that they look so perfect on the farm and totally jacked up when you get them home?) Adam went all lumberjack on me and had that tree cut down in 2.7 seconds. (I think he has been practicing). We stopped by the store on the way home, tree on van, to grab a few last items of Christmas cheer, where I somehow managed to lock the keys in the van. I know, shocker. We were quickly rescued by Adam's dad (thank God for having the fam close) and headed home. I had been feeling increasingly crappy during all this, so when we got home, I was well...maybe a teeny bit cranky. Okay, I was a raging B. It was mostly because I was tired of holding the itchy tree up while Adam screwed it in place beneath me. Ah, the joys of real trees! At one point, we were so frustrated with the thing that we almost considered leaving it flopped against the window and dubbing it 'The Beauchamps Leaning Tower of Tree-sa'.
Yes, I know that's not funny.
Finally, the darn cyprus was standing straight and tall. The entire time we were making that happen, Charlie whined. He wanted to play Nintendo. (He has been on detox for an entire week). He wanted to watch Spiderwick. He didn't want his dinner, he wanted a "snack". He was so not into the tree thing. I had imagined that once we got the lights up, we would break out the good stuff and he would have a blast helping us hang them, and that holiday warmy goodness would finally descend upon our chaotic evening. What actually happened was...
I feel asleep on the couch with Malgirl. I woke up almost 2 hours later. Charlie and Mallory were both in bed, and Adam was next to me. Once I shook it off, I realized I felt much better. I also realized something else. If Adam had fallen asleep while I was on Operation Decorate, I would have most likely tried to have him beheaded. It would have been a wrath of fury. Loud sighs, silent treatment, chilly glares. I'm a total brat.
So, when he turned on the Christmas music and surprised me with two cups of hot chocolate, I realized that maybe, just maybe I should learn to chillax more.
We had a great night, just the two of us, putting the tree together and talking about the ornaments that are special to us. We talked about how many more we are going to accumulate over these next few, precious years. We sang songs. We enjoyed the quiet. We hugged. It was the epitomy of holiday romance. I felt like one of those cheesy couples in the jewelery commercials.
After the tree was finished, we did the rest of the house. Hanging things up, lighting candles, and just cleaning a little. When we try, we really make a great team, that boy and I.
So, we didn't get to spend the evening with the kids like I had wanted. I will get some pictures of them hanging around the tree soon. But, I learned a lesson in patience, and Adam learned that it's not that dang hard to be romantic. It wasn't the night we planned, but I'm learning that plans don't always become the reality, and that's okay. It's better than okay. It's life.

The kids, before bedtime...



The parents, getting Christmas-y...






Some of our favorite ornaments...








And of course, the cow:


We didn't forget about PDP. Doesn't he look lovely?


TahDaaaah!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Musical Monday!

Okay, yes, I am stealing this from my friend, Laura. She writes a Twili- I mean, family blog here.
So, all I am going to do on these Monday posts is (duh) share music. I am pretty obsessive, and have been known to play the same songs for weeks. Luckily, I have great taste. (Haha.)
I first heard this song over a year ago. It got some radio play, and was featured (like a ton of songs are) on one of the major shows. (Grey's, maybe?) So lots of you have probably BTDT, but I love it so much, that if even one person hears it for the first time and loves it, I will be most pleased.
I just noticed that it's technically Tuesday. Oh, well. Details!
What an amazing song.
Enjoy it. Learn the words. Belt it into your water bottle, hairbrush, ect.

Ahh...Apparently some folks don't like for random people to advertise for them!
Can't post the vid here, but...
LINK!

One more.
When Adam and I "discovered" this song (and band, all the songs are amazing) we felt as if we had found our own little Holy Grail. We were, and still are, baffled that more people haven't heard of them. This song became our anthem for months, playing on repeat in the studio when we both worked there full time. We played it in the car, the house, and if we weren't playing it, we sang it. It really spoke to me, and when I feel bad, I listen to it, and somehow, the lyrics ring true, and it helps.

Friday, November 21, 2008

2008

You know those desk calendars that are everywhere around the holidays, with a bazillion different themes from fishing to swimsuit models to puppies wearing hats? Well, I have been gifted several of those over the years, and they rarely make it past sometime in March. This year's was different. It was from my mom, and every day at my desk I actually remembered to pull of yesterday's page and read today's. The theme of my '08 calendar is "Wild Quotes from Wild Women", and it was a great one. Some of them, I couldn't part with and stuck in the desk drawer. Some of them I stuck on the bathroom mirror for my hubby to read. (teehee). And one of them, I like to think, might have played a small part in a big decision on just the right day.
The year's not over yet, but here are a few of my favorites so far.



"Your passion is waiting for your courage to catch up."
-Marilyn Griest, career consultant


"Politeness is the art of selecting among one's real thoughts."
-Germaine de Stael, intellectual


"Do you want to trace your family tree? Run for public office."
-Patricia Vance, PA Senator


"If a man is talking the forest, and there is no woman there to hear him, is he still wrong?"
-Jenny Weber, wit at large


"Nobody really cares if you're miserable, so you might as well be happy."
-Cynthia Nelms, American aphorist


"When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?"
-Eleanor Roosevelt


"Never look as if you are lost. Always look as if you know exactly where you are going. If you don't know where you are going, head straight for the bar."
-Joan Collins, actress


"It is better to break someone's heart than to do nothing with it."-Margaret Kennedy, screenwriter


"I am convinced that there are times in everbody's experience when there is so much to be done, that the only way to do it is to sit down and do nothing."
-Fanny Fern, "Dear Abby" of the 1800s.


Leave me some of your favorites. I can never get enough of the quotes.
Hopefully one day I will make up my own. ;)

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Opia.












I need to go back. I usually keep Ethiopia tucked away inside me, but I feel like I can't control the urge to go. Everything in my body wants me on a plane.

For me, but mostly, for her:


This afternoon I almost tossed the last of a loaf of bread, because it was old-ish, and possibly getting a little stale. Thier faces instantly flashed in my head and I felt so sick. What the hell has happened here?

Sometimes I don't think I deserve for one second to follow in her footsteps for this boy.
I'm sorry for the melodrama, but it's late and I can't sleep and I can't stop crying.

I had no idea.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Baby news!!!

Dear God, no, not me!!

My Baby Sis is going to be a Baby Mama!
Congrats, again...I can't wait to be an aunt!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Trash the Dress!

I remember being at Julie and Tyler's wedding, one of my favorites of all time, and telling them about this photography trend I had seen online that I was really wanting to do. Julie loved the idea, and about 18 months later, I had my chance! Jess and I had such a fun day with these guys. This girl is a trooper and never complained about the freezing water or the half mile hike back to the car, soaking wet! Julie's mom was also with us, and she was such a good sport. Here are a few of my favorites.
OH, and I learned a lot more about Julie today...she's a Twilight addict who likes Obama. My kinda gal!












.

Thanks, Jess! Oh, did you leave the car running?
;)

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Awesome.

This morning, after getting Charlie dressed, I scooped him up for a big hug.
Me: Ohhhh, Charlie's my sweet love!
CF: Noooo, I'm PattyPoo's sweet love!
Me: Uh! You're my sweet love!
CF: Noooo, PattyPoo's!
Me: Well, who is my sweet love?
CF: Mama, we can all be sweet lo-ove!
Me: Ohhh, okay! You're so funny.
CF: I'm right, 'cause I'm awesome.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

I don't know
what I ever did
to deserve
these two.



I can't even get myself to bed, for staring at them sleeping.
Amazing,
this love.

Hold on, you. It's soon.

We still got it...

Okay, so yes, the social calendar is a little full these days, but I promise I AM still parenting my children 7 days a week. Adam got some Daddy time in on Saturday while I went out with the gals for our girl Hannah's bachelorette party. She is getting married (to another one of our guy friends, but of course) in two weeks. We had a BLAST. I haven't danced for that long in, um, a long time. In heels, no less. Of course, at the time, I didn't feel a thing.
What I DID feel though, was the burning in my cheeks after I strutted up to the front of the bar to tip the cute Irish singer for playing us a song and fell on my ass in front of him and the entire pub. At least no bones were broken, only dreams of grace and elegance.
After that, we hit Opera, one of the best clubs in Atlanta, and stood in line, only to be let in for free on the "pretty girl list". Aww, shucks. I bet they say that to all the girls! (Naaah.)
We love you, Hannah, and can't wait for the big day!
Now, I have a holiday party to plan! Is it January yet??





Friday, November 7, 2008

And now back to our regularly scheduled life...

...only with more HOPE, of course. Wink, wink. Okay, I'm done, promise!

Last weekend Catherine, our most awesomest photog buddy took some great family pics for us. You may also see these in your holiday card this year...
Thank you, Cat! You rock, as always.







And one more, just to prove that this little lady looks like her daddy, not me!


From the park that same day:
Peekaboo...


And Charlie's new favorite fashion item, the Iron Man belt...



I know Halloween is done and gone, but I wanted to share a few photos from the actual day, and from our ridiculously fun party at Jessica's...
We actually did make Mal a little costume, to go along with the Mario theme. She's Toad. Anyone get it?


Us hanging out in the mini waiting for Mario to "unpause"...


See?




Mario scoping out the best cars to hit at the preschool's Trunk or Treat...


Down the pipe!


Hitting the streets with our buddy, Mason...



The next night was the grown up party. It was amazing. Decorations, stocked bar, yummy chili, friends, music...and a microphone that ended up being way too much fun!
My wonderful parents took the kids home early, so Adam and I got to party like, well...like we used to!














Yes, Adam worked very hard on his costume. Halloween is a big deal for him, and he does it all from scratch every year. Chomp, chomp!