Post Christmas Round Up

I haven't been around much in the past few days- we have been sick. Poor Spencer had a couple days of the stomach bug. Isn't it great how he will walk (run?) past two bathrooms just to puke in my bed? Poor little guy. He was aching, feverish, nauseated, head pounding so hard that he couldn't even watch TV. I took him to the doctor and I got the infamous rapid fire speech (as the pediatrician is walking OUT the door) "It's just viral. Give him Tylenol and liquids and call us if he doesn't get better in a few days." Fantastic. After pulling a sick kid 30 minutes away to the doctor in the cold, damp air--then sitting in the waiting room for 55 minutes with screaming kids and horribly impatient parents, paying a co-pay-- I am told to do the same thing I have been doing for two days that hasn't been working. Not that I want them to medicate him needlessly or invent a disease just to rationalize the doctor visit, it is just frustrating that I can't do anything to make him feel better immediately.
My doctor, on the other hand was fabulous, as usual. He knows how once I'm sick, it takes an act of Congress to get well, so he didn't even make me come into the office--he just called in another round of antibiotics.
Glancing at Face book this morning--so many of my friends and/or their kids are sick right now! I guess Spencer and I are just part sick majority. Hopefully within a couple of days, we all will be ready to start the New Year on a healthy note!
Spencer is still enjoying all of his Christmas treasures. The Red Ryder is getting lots of attention. He has been very safe and always wears his goggles. The only "incident" we have had so far is when he elbowed me in the chin while loading BBs....


Bowser had his first play date. My friend Donna brought over her 6 month old puppy (a Welsh Corgi named Salem) and the two pups jumped, chased and played until they literally fell asleep. It was so cute! The best part was that Bowser was VERY protective of Spencer and did NOT let Salem play with his boy. Bowser would get in between Spencer and Salem every time Salem came to Spencer!

Christmas Day 2008

Spencer was a lucky boy this year- Santa left him the official Red Ryder BB gun. He also left 21,000 BBs, targets and.....safety goggles- so he won't shoot his eye out!
Spencer tore through his gifts Christmas morning, oooohed and aaaahed as appropriate, the raced outside to abuse a Diet Pepsi can with a barrage of BBs. Bowser got a stocking of treats and squeaky toys and the cat got a can of salmon. It was a fantastic morning!



Mid morning we went over Nana and Boppa's house for our traditional big country breakfast and then our family Christmas. Spencer and IV were so excited! We all got wonderful gifts and had a great time relaxing, watching the boys, and talking about our new gifts. Of course, it wouldn't be Christmas morning with our boys if there wasn't an all out war with Nerf guns and darts.



Later that evening, we had dinner at Nana and Boppa's house along with some friends and family. Christmas Evening is just a big floating party with friends and family stopping through for dessert, drinks and sometimes leftovers. Bowser came over towards the end of the evening and enjoyed all the extra attention. Julie even made him some gourmet treats--she uses her grandmother's old recipe for dog biscuits made with cheese, beef stock and garlic. The dogs go crazy over them---and the kids, too. ewww. Actually, they tell me that they taste like the little cheese biscuits from Red Lobster with a slight beef taste. It's an acquired taste of cultivated canine palettes.



Spencer and I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and we look forward to seeing you in 2009!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Tonight was steeped in tradition for my little man. We dropped off a few presents, went to church service, put on new pajamas, set out cookies and milk for Santa, left apples for the reindeer and then we continued a new tradition started last year: we read our Christmas cards. Since Spencer had read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" at school, we decided last year that on Christmas Eve we would read through all the Christmas cards we received and say something nice or a special memory about the person that sent the card. I think it was the highlight of our evening! Spencer has a keen memory and was reminding me of people, places and events that I had forgotten! For my friends that sent cards (whom Spencer has never met) it was fun to explain to him how I met them, how long I have known them, etc.
Merry Christmas to all my blog readers-- Spencer and I wish all of you happiness, health and an abundance of blessings in the New Year.

Rub a Dub Dub

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Spencer took a bubble bath tonight and I didn't crate Bowser. Bowser took off to the bathroom and climbed up to the tub. He saw the toys, a ball, a squeaky duck....and his boy. PLAY! He walked along the rim of the tub, played ball and caught water splashes with his mouth. I took a few pictures....and then mopped up all the water out of the bathroom floor!

I "kid" you not

click on collage to enlarge (and see the goats!)

There were three goats in my yard this morning. Three friendly goats. Spencer made some sort of goat noise (just imagine a whinny and a grunt) and they came barrelling towards us. Spencer asked me to go get them something to eat--so I returned with a loaf of bread and Mr. Salty Pretzels. That's all I could come up with on such short notice.
Spencer decided that the goats were for him, IV and Boppa. I hated to tell the kid that we were NOT keeping the goats. This puppy is enough! He chews up everything, eats all day long and poops everywhere -- I figured it out-he is part goat!
We had to leave for indoor soccer practice and they huddled in front of the car. Using the Honda as a makeshift border collie, I herded them up our l.o.n.g. driveway and to our neighbor's yard. Merry Christmas to them. Ha!Ha!
This evening, I met up with friends for dinner. Two friends had company drop by and couldn't make it tonight. And I totally forgot to call another friend to meet us there (I assumed Mom called her....) That's okay....she doesn't read my blog :-)
Anyway...that left the four of us to meet for dinner and drinks. We had a great time and celebrated Dee's birthday as well. Poor Dee was born on Christmas Day. It's tough to share your birthday with a Saviour. We try to make sure she gets birthday greetings somewhere in all the Christmas celebrations. Instead of birthday cake, Dee got a birthday shot glass of strawberry cheesecake. It was the perfect size for everyone to have "one bite" and not get all blah.

Spencer: My Toothless Wonder

Toothless Wonder...as in he wonders where the tooth went? He thinks he dropped it. He is CERTAIN that it was not swallowed this time. He wrote a note to the Tooth Fairy explaining his predicament for yet a second time in his young life. Flossie (the Tooth Fairy) normally likes to inspect the tooth to make sure it was taken care of before a child is rewarded. Hopefully, she will find the note and understand. Spencer added a "P.S. Merry Christmas" to the note to make sure she knows he is a sweet kid---- with butter fingers.

Poppin' and Lockin'

Spencer and IV had their Christmas party at Hip Hop class this evening. Even with my head cold making me miserable, I still laughed at these little goobers. Usually the parents aren't allowed to watch class, but I found out today that we could get a sneak peak at their routine while setting up for the party. The boys were AWESOME! They are tough and funky! I can't wait until the spring recital!

Gingerbread Crackhouse

This year I was determined to ice the gingerbread in stages/letting it dry so that the walls could support the weight of the decorated roof. Once I had the walls and roof in place (and dry!) I let Spencer decorate it all on his own. I came back in the kitchen a few minutes later and he said he was finished.
Really Spencer? That's how you wanted it to look?
He is especially proud of the green gummy wreath on the front. I guess even crack houses have one redeeming quality. Just when I was thinking that maybe I should mix up some fresh icing and touch it up, IV came over and said, "Wow Spencer! I LOVE your gingerbread house! Can I taste it?"
It works on a little boy level so I guess that's cool.

Look at dem big ol paws

Bowser's paws are getting huge. I think everything he eats goes straight to his feet. Spencer adores this dog-- I'm still wondering if I was insane to agree to adopt this beast. I didn't want a pony!

Christmas Musicale Emerywood Style

Matt's magic touch transformed our little wild boys into a choir of angels tonight. The kids had a great time and the adults were entertained. Even the biggest Scrooge's heart would melt watching our kids produce the Spirit of Christmas with such energy!

I had a great time teaching the craft classes leading up to the production. We made banners, cards, tambourines, spin art plates and the fringed T-shirts. The kids were fantastic!

I can tell Spencer had fun because (1) he didn't want to take off his performance T-shirt, (2) He sang "Go Tell It On The Mountain" about 150 times tonight and (3) as soon as we came home he asked if he could pick out pictures and help me update our blog about the play. These are the pictures he wanted to share:

Still not gonna happen

We tried again for a Christmas picture and it just didn't work. How much are doggie sedatives? Can I go to Costco and purchase them in bulk???

Reindeer #8

Tonight was the PTSA spaghetti dinner and then the 2nd graders did their Christmas play: Elfvis. It was a hunka hunka good time!

Spencer was reindeer #8. He was shy and giddy, but spoke loudly and with confidence when it was his turn. He was so cute!

You can click on the collage to enlarge. The photos show Spencer eating cotton candy with some friends, the cast of the Christmas play, and my friend Laura (yes, that's Mama Laura!) giving the PTSA report.

If I end up tied up in a ditch somewhere, it's because I photoshopped Go Tar Heels! and UNC #1 onto the shirts of Laura's girls and emailed it to her. (Laura is a Duke alum) << snicker >>

It never works out like I plan...

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I thought I would get a quick photo in front of our Christmas tree to send with my Christmas cards to those lucky folks who don't have to suffer through the ramblings of my blog...
well... Bowser had other plans...like chewing the bows...chewing the limbs.....chewing on Spencer.... << sigh >> My visionary cute picture of Spencer with Bowser wearing his antlers was just NOT gonna happen, I guess...

How Bazaar How Bazaar

Dee, Mom and I went to a huge craft bazaar in Myrtle Beach this past weekend. Vendors were set-up on all 4 levels of the convention center at Springmaid Beach Resort and the outside area in front of the pier had several more vendors plus all of the traditional Fair type foods.
We stayed at the resort so it was very convenient to sleep late and just take the elevator down to the convention area at our own leisure, shop as we wanted, take our packages back to the room when we wanted, etc. Our balcony overlooked the ocean and the pier - despite the crisp December weather we had a beautiful view.
We shopped at the bazaar then we drove down to the outlets- I got almost all of my Christmas shopping done. The rest of the time, we laid around the room and read. We never even turned the TV on the entire weekend. I had 4 books with me (because I couldn't decide which to take), 3 magazines and a newspaper. A nice cup of coffee, some fresh danish, a great view and something good to read is a perfect morning!
Okay so that was the shopping and relaxing portion of the weekend-- let's not forget the dinners and drinks....Friday night we had seafood, Saturday night we went to Cheeseburger in Paradise (where the drink menu is as good as the food!) and Sunday we had lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, Carolina Roadhouse- their "big salad" is delish! Plus since it was the "off season" we didn't have to wait anywhere!
The only bad part of the weekend was mid Sunday morning when we were getting ready to checkout. The hotel lost power. Actually, several blocks lost power. They did not have an estimate on when power would be restored so we decided to leave. That meant 6 flights of steps with all of our luggage and everything we had bought! Mom is recovering from knee surgery and Dee is getting ready to have knee surgery so they had to make their way slowly down the steps. I made a couple of trips-- the down wasn't bad but the 6 flights up was a burn. To make it a bit challenging, the stupid resort only had emergency lighting on about every third floor which means some flights of steps were in total darkness, some had barely any light and some had emergency lighting. Mom had a flashlight with her so she was able to see enough to keep from falling. I was loaded up like a pack mule and didn't care about the darkness, I just needed to get to the ground level before I collapsed. We all survived and I jokingly said that it worked off some of the food I indulged in while vacationing! Even with that check-out fiasco, we still had a fantastic time!

The only person I still need to buy for is my brother-- if any of you have any ideas, email me!

Puppy update

There have been some fierce battles the past couple of days over what I will allow the puppy to eat/chew on and what I will not. I am pretty sure that they do NOT make "cat-turd-stolen-from-the-litter-box" flavored dog treats for a reason. I have had to baby proof the house all over again: Trash can locks/doors closed/toilet lids down, cabinet locks....
He may look adorable but little Bowser is a beast! He has had more baths and mouth washings in the past few days than most dogs get in a lifetime. Bowser was a rescue/re-homed puppy and it always breaks my heart to think of all the pets needing homes; however, today after Bowser had another round of disgusting antics, I totally understand why his little arse was up for adoption. Tell me he will grow out of this phase!

Happy 8th Birthday Spencer!

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Spencer was on cloud "8" all day. He couldn't wait to go to school and tell everyone it was his birthday...he couldn't wait to come home from school and play with the puppy he got for his birthday...then he couldn't wait to go to the skating rink to meet his friends and family for his birthday party!
We had a Star Wars themed party (big surprise, huh?) and Spencer received several action figures, toys, books, gift cards, clothes, games, etc. He only received one duplicate gift and he wanted to keep both--so he could make them battle each other as clones....whatever. He fell asleep tonight in his new Mario Brothers pajamas clutching an At-AT. He is so cute!