“Do you see a snowglobe sitting here?”

I had a really wonderful Thanksgiving holiday weekend. It was so, so good to spend the time with my family and just “hang out.” There were no big plans – no agendas – just our family spending time together. Perfect.

After Thanksgiving dinner, my Mom decided to talk about how she is revising her Will. Actually, dinner wasn’t even over yet – I think some of us were still finishing up – we hadn’t even had dessert! She begins by saying that her and my Dad have been talking and want to make some adjustments to their Wills. Then she says that she wants all of us to know her “wishes” for after she’s gone.

I’m thinking, “Oh goodness… why do we have to talk about this now?” I think I had Mackie sitting on my lap and I was kind of hiding my face behind her. Mom continues by saying that she doesn’t think my Dad will get remarried… blah, blah… and that she doesn’t want a viewing; she wants to be creamated. (ugh)

I’m getting queasy at these thoughts and sad thinking about how we’re all just talking about this like it’s no big deal. Then my Mom says that she needed to get our “buy in” on what we wanted to do with her ashes. She said that she wants part of them to be with her mother, my grandmother, in New York. She says to dig a little hole at my grandmother’s gravesite and put some of her ashes there. (gulp)

Then she says that she needed us to agree to what was to happen with the rest of her ashes. She wanted us to talk about what we’d and make sure that she was comfortable with the plans. She said that she didn’t mind if we split the ashes so we each had some or if we wanted to keep them all together. She also said that she didn’t have a particular kind of container in mind, but she did have an idea for us… she said, “I was thinking snow globes.”

That’s when I lost it. I already have a loud laugh – but I think that’s the loudest I’ve laughed in a long time. I couldn’t stop laughing. When I did, I told her that she was a sick, sick woman… and it had nothing to do with the meds she was taking. We were all laughing. She said that she’s seen snow globes with personalized photos in them. She demonstrated for us what she thought it would be like, shaking the snow globe and the kids saying, “Good morning Noni – are you there, Noni?!”

She then said that she thought if her ashes were mixed with water they might just turn everything to mud, so maybe a snow globe isn’t the best idea. Thank goodness. The snow globe was definitely a topic of conversation for the rest of the weekend. I told my Mom that I never, ever wanted a snow globe from her. Ever.

We drove to the mall on Saturday. Mom loaded the kids up with clothes – so generous of her. On the way there I made a joke to the kids about Noni and Grandpa being really, really old. That’s when my Mom said, “Hey! Do you see a snowglobe sitting here?”

There’s a little insight into my psyche. The apple does not fall far from this family tree.

How ’bout we change today’s meal to ‘Rooster’?

We made it safe and sound to my parents house last night. It was a seven hour drive with only moderate traffic. Not too bad considering we drove through downtown Atlanta during the usual rush hour timeframe. I would like to thank McDonald’s iced coffee, twizzlers and bar-b-que corn nuts for keeping me awake and alert during the drive. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. Oh yeah, I would’ve slept…

Speaking of sleep… we got here at a little after 1:00am. I had planned on sleeping in a little bit because of our late arrival – at least until 8:00am – that’s not too much to ask, is it?

My parents live in the middle of nowhere-farmland-Florida and some lovely roosters decided to make sure I started the day BRIGHT-and-FREAKIN-EARLY this morning. I never knew how much I hated roosters until today. Because I do… I hate them.

Right now I’m wondering how they taste with green bean casserole and gravy.

Oh – Happy Thanksgiving.

Pardon me boy…

is that the Chattanooga Choo-Choo?

Why yes, yes it is.

We took a little road trip this past weekend up to Chattanooga Tennessee. It is a mere ninety minutes from our house! Who knew Tennessee was so close? (not me!)

We had such an excellent time! We visited Ruby Falls, the Incline Railway, the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, and Rock City.

Here are my kids atop a swing bridge in Rock City - one of my new favorite places in the whole world.

(we all made it safely across the swing bridge – even the husband who had childhood memories of this bridge being rickety, at least a million feet above the rest of the park and hanging so precariously to the side of the mountain that his entire family would fall to their deaths at any moment  – - btw, his memory exaggerates a teensy-tiny bit)

How could you not love a place that includes areas named “Needles Eye” “Deer Park” “Lovers Leap” “Fairy Caverns” “Gnome’s Bridge” … and our personal favorite “Fat Man’s Squeeze” (which we all made it through, thankyouverymuch).

Oh – and I did I forget to mention that there’s a Starbucks located at their entrance? That was an added bonus… walking through this most beautiful place carrying a Peppermint Mocha. What could be better?

After Rock City we drove a few minutes over to the Incline Railway. Very cool. Then we found Point Park - three blocks away – and also discovered a Civil War reenactment going on while we were there. The boys watched the little production put on by the participants of the reenactment.

The girls decided to explore the park and marvel at the views of Chattanooga and the Tennessee River from the top of the mountain. (besides, the reenactment was for the wrong side of the war)

Instead we looked at this:

and this

Not a bad way to spend a weekend. We were able to do all of those things in one day with no crowds and beautiful weather. And if you haven’t been to Chattanooga – please go… especially to see Rock City. It is truly enchanting.

Just remember to watch out for people dressed up in Civil War uniforms carrying muskets and/or standing next to a cannon. They tend to want to shoot them off and scare the bejeesus out of you. Seriously.

They’re not mine but they’re darn cute.

Jamie’s kids on Halloween. How cute are they?! And don’t you dare say that Ethan looks like a condom… he doesn’t. He’s Buzz Lightyear.

Observations late Sunday night.

You know you’re getting older when:

• The Breakfast Club is playing in the background, and even though you’re saying lines along with the actors, you start to relate more to the characters’ PARENTS than with the teenagers. (“Geez, how are they dealing with such punk kids? They must be so stressed out!”)
• You find out that the actor from High School Musical who played the parent of the teenager was born a mere three years before you.

Okay… that’s all I can manage right now. Its 11pm and way past my bed time.

How many blondes does it take to write a blog post?

Mackie had a birthday party today at Libby Lu’s today for two of her friends. (twins) The theme of the party was Hannah Montana.

What? You haven’t heard of Hannah Montana? You are obviously sooo uncool and lacking class. <<huge blonde wig hairflip>>

(okay, so you have a life… fine.)

The girls got to put on special outfits and get made-up (including the lovely blonde wig) to look like their favorite TV star.

Once they looked like a group of pretty blonde clones a la The Stepford Wives… they performed a few songs in front of the store. (this photo was taken during The Chicken Dance) So fun!

Mack had a FANTASTIC time! 

There were a few other blondes who weren’t invited to the party:

(sweet niece Kelley)

(um…)

Yeesh. Get that last girl a razor. Stat.

 (and Dale… xoxoxoxoxo…Thank You!)

A Freeze Warning?! Are you kidding me?

Overnight Low
30°F

What the heck is this? It’s NOVEMBER. We have a Freeze Warning in effect from 3am – 6am tonight. We’re only six degrees warmer than Portland-freaking-Oregon. I thought I lived in the SOUTH.

I’m not prepared for this kind of weather. My assistant was talking about “winter wardrobe” today. What? A different wardrobe for winter? You mean pants and a light jacket aren’t winter wardrobe essentials? What?

You know it’s winter in Florida because people are wearing closed-toed shoes with their shorts. That’s really about it. There’s no seasonal wardrobe. I’m at a loss. And I’m really, really cold. Like, all the time. Its not even winter yet.

Every time it gets below 60 degrees outside the kids think its Christmas. “No kids, its not Christmas, we just live up North now.”

The other day I almost passed out when someone mentioned “ice storms.” Are you serious? Ice storms? WTF is an ice storm?

I’m turning into a Jen-cicle.

“Sweatah Weathah”

(anyone else see SNL this weekend? Marti? — that’s where the title comes from. Bronx Beat is a favorite!)

I’m so totally enjoying my very first Fall. But, man… it’s COLD! I know for your Northerners, this weather is probably not cold yet… but this Florida girl is FREEZING! Luckily, the scenery is so beautiful it helps me forget for a few moments that I’m shivering in my layers and layers of clothes.

While shivering… I did manage to do this little mini-book – inspired by this Ali Edwards project.

| View Show | Create Your Own

(you can make the slideshow move faster by hitting the ‘+’ sign)

It will be great to have this book out during the holidays. The kids have already enjoyed reading it. And I got to use a bunch of  my Christmas scrapbook paper collection. *cough*

I’m addicted to Christmas paper! (shhhh Jen!) I can admit it!

A witch’s work is never done.

Costume? What costume?

Halloween was f-u-n. The kids had a blast - it totally wears them out (the grown-ups too). They got an obscene amount of candy – really – way too much for any two kids to receive… or eat, for that matter. (especially when they will only be allowed one piece a day – or every other day – or every other-every other day)

Nevertheless – they made a pretty cute pair of trick-or-treaters. A Wildcat (High School Musical cheerleader, of course) and Obi-Wan Kenobi.