Hey, Buddy, Buddy...

I am so very behind on blogging (both on here and on the cooking blog).  And since we are visiting family out of town, I am really trying not to hang out on computer too much.  So today I am going for an easy post.  Then hopefully once I am home again and have a little spare time this week (since our holidays will be winding down), I can start blogging again and catch up.

Buddy.  Our elf.  I am going to share a few more of his adventures before he left us again on Christmas Eve.  Mainly so that I remember in the future what that crazy elf has done...


Let's see...

December 12.  We found Buddy by the Fisher Price nativity reading the Christmas story from Luke.  Wise elf.

 December 13.  Apparently Buddy became Prince Buddy for the day, hanging out in the castle.

 December 14.  Legos!  Buddy brought a Christmas Lego set to work on. Unfortunately, he didn't get very far.  Joshua was more than happy to finish it up for him the next day.

 December 15.  Buddy is hanging out in the "snowball" bucket with the snowman.  Must feel like home to him.

 December 16.  Buddy and the Santas are wearing special glasses and staring at the tree. They make the lights on the tree come to live with different designs and shapes.

 December 17.  Buddy is hanging out with his bud Santa.  Literally.

 December 18.  We found Buddy on top of the fridge hanging out in a Christmas Kleenex box.

 December 19.  "I am the King of the World".  Apparently Buddy wanted geography lessons as he searched for the North Pole on our globe.

 December 20.  We had a hard time finding Buddy.  Finally he was spotted in the garage, hanging out in our change jar. 

 December 21.  Where's Buddy?

 Oh, he is hanging out in Maria's stocking!

 December 22.  Uh oh, Buddy. You are in trouble.  You have made the natives and the cowboys angry...they have you surrounded!

 December 23.  We found Buddy attempting to wrap something. Oh, Buddy, you are making a mess!

 December 24.  His last night with us.  Buddy was spotted on top of Marley's crate...

De

 with a book about Marley!  How thoughtful is that?

Of course, on December 25, Buddy was nowhere to be found. He apparently hopped into the sleigh with Santa.  Hope he comes back next year!

Reba

Twas the Night Before the Night Before Christmas...

No. I didn't hit the Jackpot. We won 23 dollars.  To split among a bunch of us.  We gave it to charity instead. :)

Anyway, I need to be sleeping but these thoughts are swirling around in my mind...

This is obviously adapted from Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore...

Twas the night before the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, except Reba Cloud
The stockings were hung by the fireplace with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were sprawled all over their beds,
While visions of iPads danced in their heads.
And Dad just a snoring, the dog in his lap,
Had settled down for a long winter’s nap.

When in the other room, there are such a clatter,
I sprang to action to see what was the matter.
Away to the wrapping paper, I flew like a flash,
As my heart began to race and I broke out in a rash.

A present is missing, I thought with great fear.

As slowly my blue eyes filled up with tears
I prayed and I prayed for that present to appear,
But sadly I discovered it just wasn't here.

I threw aside the tape and scissors, and to the table did run,

Finding our Christmas cards sitting undone.

I grabbed up the labels, and I let out a small sigh of shame
As I wearily began to call out each name.

"Now Smiths! now, Jones! now, Williams and Mils!
On, Thompson! On, Davis! on Presleys and Hills!
To the envelopes, I quickly went to work
Slapping down those labels with a little hand jerk.

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
I noticed the redness in my very tired eyes.
I glanced at the clock, and listened to the tick tock,

As I saw the time was 2 o'clock.

I dashed to the kitchen, and washed my weary hands

To make dough for the Christmas cookie demands.
I quickly threw in the butter, egg, and all purpose flour,

Trying not to notice the very late hour.

My eyes, how bloodshot, my arms how they ached.
I began to look cross-eyes, oh for goodness sake
My mouth was drawn up, into a tired frown.
While my shoulders so weary began to cast down.

The t.v. in the background filled the room with noise,
As I continued to wrap up outfits and toys.
The room was littered with tape, paper, and tags,

Along with dozens of Amazon boxes and Target bags.

I was chubby and plump, a right weary old elf,
And I laughed when I saw my face in the mirror, in spite of myself!
A blink of my eyes and a nod of my head,
Soon let me know I must go to bed.

I spoke not a word, but continued my work,
And wrapped a few more presents, then turned with a jerk.
I brushed my teeth, surveyed the many piles,
And decided that the rest could wait a little while!

I turned off the light and crawled into my bed,
While visions of to do lists whirled through my head.
As I rolled over to sleep, I let out a small sigh,
Trying not to think of all left to do with a cry.

Tomorrow's Christmas Eve, and there's still so much to do before the fun...

 As I remember once again, a mother's work is never done.

Merry Christmas!

Hitting the Jackpot...

Apparently the Arkansas "lottery" has a lot of money in the jackpot.

Like several million.

I don't really know how much because I don't really follow it.

But I was invited to join in a pool, and I did. The money goes toward scholarships, and it was just a few bucks.

I know, I know, I may have to give up my Baptist card.  Just kidding. We don't carry cards. 

I will just say I am not really a gambler.

I know that it is a waste of money.

And I also know how addictive it is. Says the person who has been playing Vegas Solitaire on the computer the past few nights...I have lost hundreds of virtual money. :)

But this time, I joined in.

And I heard today that I have a better chance of getting hit by a meteorite than to win.

And that is okay.

I don't really know that I would want to win.

I mean, have you seen all of those shows about how winning the lottery ruins people's lives?

Though I don't expect in any way to win, it is only natural to start thinking, "What if?"  What would I do if I suddenly came into money?

I know that I can't really know unless it happens. Which isn't likely to happen. Even if I get hit by a meteorite.

But I can wonder.

This is what I have decided...

We would tithe first, of course.  That is a non-negotiable at our house.

We would obviously pay off the house addition (that hasn't even started). Oh, and the rest of the house.

We would probably buy hubby a new (used) vehicle.

We would give to charities.

We would set aside a retirement fund for ourselves and build on the college funds of our kids.

I would take a beach vacation with my whole family (our family, my parents, my sister/her family).

We would travel a little more (different places on spring break, the beach in the summer).

And I think we would get a pool.

Oh, and maybe remodel the kitchen if I could stand being displaced from it.  New appliances and new cabinets.

We would have our house painted.

And maybe get a little landscaping work.

And we might get a lake house and a boat for summer weekends.

Oh...and pedicures. I might get a pedicure more than twice a year.

What would not change?

I don't think either one of us would stop working.  I know it is easy to say that right now without much money in our accounts. But we both truly love what we do.

The number of presents the kids receive from us for birthdays and Christmas.  Nor would the value drastically change.  They have lots of "stuff".  We only want them to have the "stuff" that will mean something to them.

Our kids still would not have tv's in their rooms.  And they still would have to do their chores.  They wouldn't wear designer clothes (they are kids...they outgrow clothes faster than we can buy them).

Though it would be nice to do some of those things (more vacations, pay off some bills), the truth is the money doesn't change life.  At least not all parts of it.

There will still be joys as well as sorrows.  Sicknesses and health.  Trials and tribulations.

And not enough money in the world can take those things away...

Reba

He's Back...

I am still around. I have blogged a little but they have involved pictures so those posts have been on the family blog.

Anywho...

I really need to stay off Facebook. I do.  I enjoy so many things about it but I also end up feeling "beat down" after reading some of the posts.  Especially posts that call into question family traditions.

So I am going to lay it all out there.

Santa does come to our house.  He does.  And he brings gifts. 

I know the reason for the season. So do my kids. 

I don't feel like I am any less of a Christian because of jolly St. Nick.

I grew up with Santa and so far haven't been tainted for life.  I know I am only 42, but surely there would be some sign by now?

And yes, I sometimes say "Happy Holidays".

Again, I am not trying to take the "Christ" out of Christmas.

It just seems to cover all the holidays from Thanksgiving to Valentine's Day.

And yes, we have one of those "creepy" elves at our house.  For us, it is a fun tradition started two Christmas seasons ago.  Every morning my kids get up and go on a Buddy hunt.  Where is he today?  What is he up to?

There, confession over.

Now I am going to move on. To a post about the creepy elf who hangs out at our house for most of December.

On December 1, the kids woke up and found our dear old elf friend hanging out in the bathroom...They were quite excited he was back.  I wasn't as excited that he used lipstick to write on the mirror but I guess that was better than permanent marker...

 On December 2, Buddy was spotted snacking on our pumpkin cake.  Thankfully he didn't find the caramel sauce in the fridge. That would have been a tragedy.  Or a travesty.  Or something.

 December 3.  Taking "Copper" the dog statue for a walk.  I think Marley was a little jealous of that one.

 December 5, hanging out with the scarecrows.  Yes, we were finally getting fall/autumn decorations put away. :) 

 December 6.  We found our budding photographer posing some of our Santas and snapping a picture or two with MY camera. Unfortunately, that was the big snow day so I had to confiscate the camera later to get my own pictures. 

 Well, not bad for a first time photo session...

 December 7, that tricky elf. He didn't move in the night like he usually does.  But he fooled the kids. When they finished up their breakfast, they found him under the tree with a Christmas movie.  Perfect for watching on a snowy day!

 December 8.  This one took us a while to find. Buddy was hanging out in the toyroom by the copier/printer.  He also used quite a bit of ink making a copy of himself.  I hope that elf told Santa to bring me some ink cartridges!

 December 9, Smores!  We had smores earlier that night. Apparently we didn't clean up well. So Buddy decided to make one for himself. Thankfully he is a smart elf and didn't leave a candle lit all night long...

 December 10. We thought Buddy had disappeared. We couldn't find him anywhere. So what a shock to get our morning milk and find this!  I heard squeals and shocked screams every time the kids got a glass that day...

 Finally, today, December 11.  Apparently Buddy is treating himself to some mini doughnuts.  Too bad he didn't leave any for us to have!

We just never know what we will find when we wake up each day...

Happy Holidays!  (And Merry Christmas to you!)

Reba