Bass Pro Shop

This afternoon we decided to go and see the new Bass Pro Shop. Have any of you been? This place is HUGE! Eddie and his friends call this the Redneck Disney World, and I'm sure I looked like a redneck walking around taking pictures, but I just could not help myself. The scenes they set up were just so cool! Check out the pictures. The picture to the right is actually a painting on one of the walls.

This was a scene set going from the 1st floor to the 2nd. They had animal scenes, and fish scenes all through the store.

This is the stairs, they almost look like they are in the woods.

Okay now one of our main reasons to go was to see Santa. They had a cool set up with BB guns, crafts, letters to Santa, trains and of course Santa himself.

Bri wrote a letter to Santa while dad kept telling her to ask Santa for a bass boat for him. She told him he needed to do that himself, but since he just would not stop she asked him. Eddie took a picture of the letter while she wrote, I found it very funny. If any of you still have not seen Santa, as it occurred to me today that we had not, I would recommend this place. The line did not take that long, and you get to drool over bass boats and pontoon boats while you are in line. Personally the pontoon boat with leather couches is more to my liking, but Eddie likes the faster than light bass boats. Now, when you fish aren't you supposed to sit and wait? So why do you need a big fast, fancy boat?

In addition to getting to see the big jolly elf you get a FREE 4x6 photo and you can take all the pictures you want while the child is in Santa's lap. The picture is good quality and on the back of the card they put your picture in is a number. You can get on their website and put in the code and see your pictures and of course buy some if you like. You don't have too, but you do have that option. The prices are not too unbearable either. While we wondered around this store checking out all the things there we found an area where they were giving away basically a trip. It is in the Outdoor Traveler Center. For $59 you have one full year to take a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC; Smoky Mountains; Orlando; Las Vegas; or Charleston. You can pick one destination, there may be more, I can't remember all of them. The $59 is for a 3 day/2 night weekday stay and you receive a $25 gift certificate to the Bass Pro Shop. Okay, what is the catch you ask, well you do have to go to a sales pitch about time shares, I actually thought this would turn Eddie away, but it didn't. They told us less than an hour, unless you show interest, so unless you plan to buy DON'T show any interest. You do have to book it between a Sunday - Thursday, but you could book it on a Thursday arrival and get the weekday rate for Friday night as well, you could also book additional nights at a discounted rate. We chose to take the deal and plan to go to the Smoky Mountains either in the Spring or Fall, we have 30 days to book our trip so we will need to make our plans over the next few weeks. The only out of pocket expense for you is you do have to pay the taxes and any other hotel expenses you incur. Of course, the trip expense is all yours too, but the place to stay is pretty cheap. To qualify you have to be over 25, and make 40+ a year. They do not check on the salary or your credit, it is an honesty thing, if you tell them you make that they will take you on your word. He told us if you tell them you make less they will turn you away. We spoke with Steven Hall, he is the manager and he is a very nice guy. He told us that anyone who came and signed up for the trip and told them we referred them then we got an additional $10 gift card, so if you go up there and qualify please give them mine and Eddie's name. If your interested and want to talk to me about it just give me a call.

Okay end of the sales speech, just thought some of you may be interested.

Blessings,

Lisa

Christmas Time

Okay, this pictures is just to show you that yes, Alex is still around. He just rarely lets us get pictures! This is after the Tide Rolled over Auburn 36-0. He really is happy and so is Dalton, they just HATE pictures!

I even completely understood the obnoxious problem Alex had with Auburn fans. While waiting for his lab class Wednesday two obviously Auburn boys walked up, Alex knew them, I did not, and just started in on how awful Alabama was, "they were going to the National Championship, but they lost, how great are you now?" I saw Alex getting mad, but he handled himself very well. I reminded them they lost to Alabama 36-0, and then their coach quit. One just nodded and went on, the other one kept going he refused to give up. I told him they were good last year, but this year his team really stunk. We lost one game, so far, but we beat Auburn, and that was all that mattered. I guess he was just upset because his team REALLY stunk this year, so bad that his coach even stepped away. Okay, so maybe I was a little hard, but he would not let up and after 6 long years we have the bragging rights back, so look out. If you start something with us, we will finish it! Alex, by the way was very pleased. "I told you they were obnoxious", "I really don't like those guys, but for some reason they look for me and Dalton every time to hangout with us." ROOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!

These girls were invited to decorate a tree in an 1800s cabin by the Jefferson County Historical Society. They are sitting in front of their completed tree. They did a great job! Ms. Grunge was so surprised, she did not expect so many ornaments made by the girls, we even had to place ornaments around the rest of the house because they just would not fit on the tree. Good job girls!

I love a Christmas Parade! We went to the Gardendale Christmas Parade last week. It was beautiful. We met some friends and had dinner at Chik-Fil-A and then went outside to watch the parade. It as FREEZING. We had no feeling in our hands or feet until we were nearly home. Yes we had sock, shoes, and gloves on. It was just really cold. Bri even asked if she would get frostbite on her fingers. Okay, I thought it was funny, but that was how cold it was.

This is a masterpiece by Ms. Brianna. She did an awesome job I think! She did this all by herself! Her elves left her a gingerbread house kit and she went to town with it. I did not post the pics of dad eating the leftover icing, or the dog begging under the table. This is the house that the elves nearly ate up this week. No she is not mad, she thought it was funny. Like I said, I REALLY believe they had help!

Well that is pretty much what we have been doing so far during this holiday season. Yesterday we went shopping with Granny. We had a great day. It has been a VERY long time since we have had a day to hangout with her. We pretty much wrapped up our Christmas shopping too! The kids got a few things early for Christmas in the form of Christmas outfits, PJs, and just a few fill-in clothes that were needed. I told them they needed to let me wrap them and put them under the tree or they would not have much Christmas morning, but they said they did not care, they knew what it was already! Well with two posts in one day, I fairly used up my "busy looking" time. The natives are starting to hunt me down, so I guess I should go and get things moving for the day. One of which is most likely a visit to Santa. I realized this morning we have not seen Santa yet and 2 weeks left before the big day, well I have one very anxious girlie!

I hope each of you have a very blessed week, as you prepare for the celebration of the birth of our Saviour.

Lisa

Christmas Elves

I'm still around, we've just been so busy with the preparations of Christmas and the wrapping up of school activities. I'm happy to say next week is so quiet, at least from a school standpoint, that crickets are actually chirping on that part of my calendar! Of course it is Christmas, and as Eddie so profoundly put it, "I'm sure you'll find something to do." Oh yes honey, I already have!

So I know you noticed the Christmas elves title, and as a tradition in our family, as many of you know, we have two little elves that spend time with us at Christmas time. These little elves have provided many hours of fun and laughter to all of us. They came this year and started out a little slow, they made a few messes, and left a few gifts, but they were fairly quiet. A couple of nights they did not even leave their beds. So I guess they were tired when they arrived here. Boy, have they rested up. Over the last few days they have eaten ALL of the candy off the Gingerbread House that Bri built so carefully. Of course, I think Bri and her friend Dae ate a few pieces of the candy and just let the elves take the blame. They built a ski ramp on our stairs and sprinkled their snow all over the stairs. Last night they even tried to take credit for giving Bri and I earrings that we bought for ourselves yesterday. Yes sir, they put mine in a box complete with bows, and put Bri's earrings in their ears. Then they drew a mustache on sleeping Brianna. I guess they were fairly tired after their day, so they made themselves a marshmallow bubble bath in the sink and were found lounging in there this morning, complete with soap stuck in their clothes. Yes they have truly been stinkers lately!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas Season!

Thanksgiving and kids

GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving, I know we did. We enjoyed the day just hanging out with each other and of course eating. See the picture of our turkey? Its rather creative don't you think? Brianna made that to hold our bread, and it did hold a bunch of rolls too. We thought she did a great job on it and she was quite proud to have made the centerpiece. Papa had a good time asking her about her turkey too. We really enjoyed just hanging out together and talking about different things, from the presidents past and present and future. Papa told us Agnew had mafia links, which we never knew and found interesting. I enjoyed Papa sharing his naval mechanic days, and Alex found it very interesting when he talked about how the planes landed and took off on the aircraft carriers. Afterwards, Papa wanted to do some work on the garden getting ready to plant in the next few days through February, and you thought the garden work was done didn't you? No way, we have cabbage and broccoli, maybe beets, and I'm not sure what else, but I know it has to be planted during the 12 days of Christmas and I'm sure I'll know what he has in mind by then. Anyway, he has been gathering leaves to mulch and put on the garden. Bri and I spent the afternoon picking up pecans. The pecan trees just started putting out a few years ago, but this is the best year yet. I have 2 five gallon buckets of pecans right now, and that is just from 5 trees. There are probably5 to 6 other trees I have not spent a lot of time with, but Papa has, I just have not had the time really.

In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving the kids have been diligently working to complete their studies so they can have a long Thanksgiving and Christmas break. Bri succeeded and finished up Tuesday and has been given the reward of no book work (I plan to sneak learning in other ways, shh, don't tell), and Alex has decided he would really like to continue with his math and chemistry up to Christmas. They both have worked very hard this year. Alex has one more chemistry lab at McWane and then we will be done with that for the year. He and Bri also have one more art appreciation class each at the museum. They really are enjoying the art appreciation classes, Alex was certain he would hate this, but Bri was giddy with excitement over it. It has been a very much anticipated class each month, wow, could it be I was right? Nah, not possible.

During one of Alex's labs, Bri decided she was going to ride this. I was so surprised as she was much too scared in the past. Once she was certain she was not going to fall or tip over she decided to do it, thankfully I had my camera with me! She would only go halfway, but it is more than I'm willing to do! Shoot my heart was in my throat the whole time she was on it. Anyway----Way to go Bri!!!

Bri and her American Girl buddies have been invited to decorate a cabin by the Jefferson County Historical Society. So we got together this past month to make Victorian era ornaments for the tree. The ladies of the the Historical Society were so impressed with our girls on a visit to some of the homes that they asked them if they would be interested and the girls were. In their honor the ladies have planned a tea for the girls next week and then they will get to decorate the tree. We are really looking forward to this! On the day of the making of the decorations we also had hot apple cider, hot chocolate, and a cookie swap, did I mention I'm really struggling with the diet thing lately, way too much temptation.

We have also been enjoying the fall color. We went on a fall color hike in Decatur with friends, it was a little rainy, and gray, but it was a good hike. At least I'm getting some movement in with all the eating. I have to say the color seems really awesome this year, don't you think?

The kids also tested for their next belt in karate this week. They are going for the yellow belt. I could not get a better picture of them without being a distraction and I did not want to distract. They did a great job on their kata's and I think Bri may have made a 100 on her written test, I did not see Alex's test before he turned it in though. Sensi told them they passed the kata part of their examine though. Way to go guys!!!

Well that is a little wrap up of what we have been up to. For those who may not know Eddie's car engine had to be replaced over these last couple of weeks and we have been playing musical cars. Today his car was ready to be picked up so we got it back and Eddie and I did a little shopping to finish the kids Christmas gifts up. We found some good prices that were not listed in the sales papers on some things we were looking for so we were very pleased. We even enjoyed a lunch together. Its nice that Alex is old enough to look after Bri for a few hours while we get away and enjoy each others company for awhile. I really thought the crowds were down though, it was like a busy Saturday for the most part to me.

Now its Iron Bowl time --- ROLL TIDE!!!!!! Then the Christmas season and decorating can begin....

Until next time I wish you many blessings and peace.

Thanksgiving

Wow can you believe Thanksgiving is right here on us? This year has really flown by. In fact time has flown so fast lately. Today realized it has been a while since I was on here. I have so much to tell you about and I will probably catch you up somewhat tonight, just depends as the kids have testing tonight and I'm not sure how late we will be out. They have been working so hard so hard for their new belts, not only do they have to know their Kata's (karate forms), but they have to know a lot of the Japanese language that their commands are called out in, they will take a written test tonight on that as well.

Today I have had Thanksgiving on the brain, probably because I have been preparing for it as much as possible today. In fact Thanksgiving has been on my brain since Saturday pretty steadily. We have been talking about what Thanksgiving really means in our house, and in Sunday School our lesson was about being thankful and the question was asked to each person what they were thankful for. Of course I usually say my family, but then I was asked to take it deeper, what are you thankful for with your family so I have been really thinking on that. I've been thinking about each member of my family and what I'm thankful for. As I thought about it, I realized I'm also very thankful for my Savior because without him I would truly have nothing. I'm thankful that God loved me enough to send His Son to die for me. I'm thankful that in God's infinite wisdom he put me with Eddie, who is truly the love of my life. I was watching a movie the other night and the question was asked how do you know it is true love and the answer was when the other person knows all your faults and failures and still thinks the sun rises and sets in you. I believe that is true about me and Eddie, we each know the faults of the other, but we still overcome them and love each other in spite of them. Are things always perfect and wonderful? Of course not, but I do truly believe I have the best husband for me, he is my best friend, my confidant, my safety net, and my true love.

Brianna asked me the other day what was so bad about teenagers, she had heard something on the television about life with teenagers and it was all negative. I had to tell her I honestly did not know. I guess you can tell from the question that we love our teen. Eddie and I had a very hard time having Alex, we thought we would never have kids. With the help of fertility drugs we did. I have been thankful for him everyday from the day of conception. I think that is why I struggle to understand women who hate being pregnant or just don't want their kids. I'm thankful for everyday I have mine, but what is it about Alex I'm thankful for? Well he makes me laugh. Last night I was cracking pecans and watching a really cheesy chick flick, which I was about to turn, the plot was just to predictable and then in walks Alex. He stayed and watched the movie giving me commentary all along the way, "look out here comes the crazy woman", "what is wrong with her", and several other things. Like I said the movie was bad, but I really enjoyed it with Alex, we laughed all the way through it. Alex is so smart and many times he helps me with things that I just don't understand. Yes, he knows things I have no idea where he learned it, but he is very computer savvy and technically inclined. If I need to get something going and Eddie is no where around, Alex is right there and always eager to show me what he knows. Alex is very trusting, to a fault, but I love that he still has a sense of innocence about him. He is just an all around good kid, oops, teen. He still gives me hugs with his friends around, and tells me everyday, several times a day that he loves me. I get several hugs throughout the day, randomly, just when I seem to need it most. We enjoy hanging out together. Of course he can become a moody teen sometimes, but for the most part he is a great young man.

Then there is little Brianna, she is definitely a child we never thought we would have, almost from the time I had Alex we tried for Brianna, even the fertility drugs were not working. The doctors started talking about invitro and Eddie and I just decided to stop trying. We agreed if God wanted us to have another child then we would. Alex was 3 when we made that decision and we had all but given up, but God, don't you just love that, but God did not. When Alex turned 6 I found out Brianna was on her way, of course I did not know at that time she would be Brianna. Alex told me the whole time I was pregnant it could not be a girl because girls have cooties. I still remember being in labor and the labor nurse laughing at that and saying circle circle dot dot now you've had your cootie shot. So when we told him he had a baby sister, we told him about the cootie shot, I had not thought about that for years until then. Remember doing those? Alex loved Bri from the start, it was only when she got older and started getting into his things and generally interfering that there was trouble, but he is a great big brother that is another thing I'm thankful for with Alex. He has spent the last 2 weeks helping Bri polish her forms for tonight. Anyway, back to Brianna. She is the child that comes up with things you would never think about, she tells you like she sees it and makes no bones about it. She has made me laugh until I cried many times. She is also my sensitive child really, she can cry at the drop of a hat. I have to be very careful when I correct her, not to sound too harsh or she will just crumble. She is the child that loves to have girlie days, go to lunch, get nails done, shop, watch little girlie chick flicks. She loves to do crafts with me and to bake with me. She is my pal. Yesterday we made cookies and she was right by me, today we made 2 pies for Thanksgiving and she was there again. She has been planning the meal with me, gone shopping with me, planning the table decorations which include a paper bag turkey that will hold our bread that she will make tomorrow, and she plans to cook the meal with me. She loves to help me, make me laugh, and never wants me to be lonely.

These people are a blessing sent from God, and I'm thankful to have them in my life each and every day!!

So its Thanksgiving, go beyond the food, what are you most thankful for in your life? I would love to hear from you!

Our Nation

The election is past, almost a week now, and in this house things are calming down over it somewhat. Eddie and I definitely had opinions about the election, but not really any candidate stood out as a great one, one that could really take the reins and bring this country around. Alex, who will be voting age in a couple of years, watched EVERYTHING and had some definite opinions. He was very knowledgeable about each and every candidate and like myself he liked the independents better than the bigger party candidates. I'm really proud that he takes an interest in the election process and can really form his own opinion. When I was his age I still looked to dad for an opinion on candidates, never researched them myself. So in the last election Eddie and I did not tell Alex who we favored, we made him research each candidate for himself, beyond the television, and papers, really dig and form his own opinion. He did just that, so it was really no surprise that he would do it during this presidential election too. I'm really proud of him in that regard, he seems to have a good head on his shoulders for the most part. Sometimes though the teen does come out, and when the man he was rooting for to win did not we heard all the negative about Obama you can ever imagine. He has painted some very vivid scenes for all of us on what the next 4 years may hold. It got so bad one afternoon, as in Bri was crying and convinced we would all die as soon as Obama took the oath of office, that we had to put a stop to it. The scene he was painting had to do with a machine guns and doors being kicked in. Maybe he watches too much science fiction with dad. In true teen fashion he blames me for a lot of things, and he blames me for Bri getting upset. How I asked, well you were talking about the election too. Of course Eddie and I both have concerns and we do talk among ourselves, obviously Alex does listen sometimes, huh. Bri on the other hand is only 9 and completely absorbed in her own world, not the state of our country. In the end she was the one most upset by any of the talk, while Eddie and I kept it toned down, not Alex. So I have been praying about how to help Alex accept the fact the Obama will be the next president for better or worse, only time can tell. It has been hard because for me this is the one candidate that ran so counter clockwise to everything that I believe. God told me just to tell him exactly what I have been praying and fasting about. So I sat him down and told him that I prayed God's man would be put in office, and for reasons I don't understand, this is God's man for the hour. Just like he and Bri do not always understand why his dad and I make decisions we make, we don't always understand God's plan, but he sees the big picture and we have to trust him. This is where faith comes in. So in true God fashion he kept giving me scripture on what we should be doing instead of talking down about this man. We should pray for him.

"I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men: for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

So now in our daily devotion we will talk about praying for our next president. Is he a Christian, I truly don't know, but just based on the fruit I see I would say no. Always look at the fruit is what we tell the kids. So if he is not a Christian then pray that he becomes one, pray that he makes the right choices for this country, pray for out country and the people in it. As a whole our country needs a lot of pray. I also pointed out to Alex if your life was put under the scrutiny that our public officials are put under would everyday of your life come out smelling like a rose? So pray my dear son, just pray.

So that is what this household will do, pray for our president. You have to admit he does have a daunting task ahead of him!

What's Up?

The last few weeks have been FULL. Since we returned from Ft. Morgan we have been on the go. We had a DUI course for Alex one morning. While he learned about the dangers and consequences of drunk driving, Bri got to skate. Can you tell she is happy about that?


This is Alex in his "car" with goggles that give the distorted vision that a drunk driver may have. This was a very good program. They had to walk the white line, touch their nose, and drive around the track, and through the cone maze. If they hit the side it represented the ditch, and the cones were people. Alex kept his car on the road, but he killed three people. In the kids defense, I asked the man who set this up if it was truly possible to navigate the cones and he said yes, as long as they did not hit the first cone, which means they would have to be the first one through the cones. The cones were really tight. It did make the kids think about how your balance, and vision are affected. I wish I had brought the video camera because they were so off balance with the goggles on. One of the boys started talking to me, but he was looking way to the left of me and I had to grab his hand and tell him this way. Great course!

The American Girl Club went to Wilson's Florist and Wedding Chapel. It was a very interesting tour. The girls got to see where they keep the flowers in the refrigerator, a big walk-in refrigerator, which was amazing to them. She showed them how to make a bouquet and gave them each a rose, and the mom's got one too! Then she took them to the Wedding Chapel part, we saw the groom's room, the bride's room, the chapel, and the outside wedding area. The girls loved it! They even fixed a "reception" for the girls.

We love science in this house! For Bri it is the most awesome subject ever to study!! In this picture she learned how to make a balloon shish kabob. She learned about polymers and the lesson was brought home with this little experiment.

Here she is showing her dad a science experiment from earlier in the day. The question is can electricity be conduced through fresh water or salt water best? Salt water is the answer because salt has positive and negative ions which are needed for electricity to conduce. Duh!

Then there were birthday parties, fall festivals, Halloween parties, art, piano, scouts, lab class. Of course for Alex no Halloween time would be complete without a visit to at least one haunted house. So in that keeping he got together with about 6 other friends and went to Atrox. They had a blast! They asked me why I did not ever go through the haunted houses with them. I told them life was scary enough without paying someone to scare the crap out of you. Just watch the news! Or better yet, learn about Obama, it will scare the snot out of you!