Vacation's all I ever wanted...

Christmas vacation is going very well here for the Brown family! My children are enjoying themselves thoroughly and Phillip and I are taking it easy. Each day, we come up with some craft or food to make and a way to get out of the house. So far, so good. Previously, Miles has cried when school was out, but this time she is giggling and happy. I think she understands that everyone is out of school, not just her. (At fall break, she seemed to think that the rest of her class was still at school having fun and that we were just keeping her home. We could not convince her otherwise, and she cried like a mopey, depressed thirty-something.)

To think that tomorrow is Christmas Eve is astounding. The weather is so nice and mild. The sun is shining! So much for a white Christmas, huh? That's ok. My childhood memories always seem to include beautiful sunny Christmas days in Louisiana, so I'll talk a nice mild Tennessee Christmas.

We had planned to go to Liberty tonight to Mandy and Neil's house, but it looks like we are going stay in town. They have three more puppies to give away and need to meet some potential adoptive families for these three, so it would be hard to get together. They came over Friday night and I was able to give her the Little Wayne painting I commissioned from Jeff Bertrand. She loved it. We gave Neil some leather work gloves, some bungee cords and a copy of Capote. I guess you just have to know Neil to understand that gift combo. :)

I am very ready for Friday morning. Santa is bringing so many wonderful things this year! In fact, I may have gone a little overboard. Possibly. Slightly. But not really. We have lots of gifts under the tree and will all be getting many things that we wanted...but every penny spent was cash money, so that isn't too bad, right? No lingering debt after the holidays means it is ok, right? But I digress.

2009 has been a strange year. We've sent a child to kindergarten and we've passed along how good it feels to keep on volunteering in this community. We buried Papaw Joe but we've celebrated birthdays with lots of little friends just learning to be themselves. I went back blonde. Lola became a true LSU fan. (She's watching tv, wrapped in an LSU thrown right now. Don't prod her or she will ask you, "How 'bout them tigers?") The entire world said goodbye to MJ. We congratulated Britt on her engagement.

Merry Christmas to each and every family, with warm wishes for 2010!

On the topic of best friends

Mandy is my actual, functional, best friend. She is my best friend from childhood who has known me the longest and to this day, knows my deepest darkest secrets. I rely on her to be my rock, my cheerleader, my confidant and my partner in crime on a regular basis. We haven't always seen each other much more often than once or twice a year since she is a bit of a rambler (or has a history of being one) and has spent time living elsewhere, but we will always be on that level with each other. We are each a part of the others' families and we know each other in and out. She can see right through me and she isn't scared to call me out. Our husbands were fast friends and are hilariously, two peas in a pod. If she calls me out on something, I know it is for real and that I need to really think about what she said, because she knows me deep down to my soul. I'd give her a lung, a kidney or my bone marrow, and she knows it. She'd fly to Mexico in the middle of the night to kick some corrupt government booty and bail me out of jail. That's just the way we are. She has a couple of other best friends, and she would do that for them, too. The few other people that she counts as best friends have really different personalities, like apples and oranges, just like my short list.

I also have best friends from college that I rarely see but will always consider best friends. They are not all at the same point in their lives, so I can't hold it against them that our lives don't always correspond these days. I have two children; they either have zero or live an hour away. I have been married 8 years today; they either haven't walked down that aisle of life yet or they didn't marry someone that makes an effort to be a great friend to my husband. They still mean the world to me, but they aren't really filling that void at this point and they will never compare to someone that has grown up with me and is truly here for me when I need her. I know we'll be friends til we die, though, and that at one point, my life revolved around them, so they will remain what I consider a close friend or even one of my best friends.

I also have a few friends that are by far, my best friends in my momtourage. Shea and Jen are my main homegirls. I love them to death and I rely on them for certain things. I also know we will be friends outside of the mom role. I think Shea and I will be stalking Donny Whalberg at a retirement home, but she had two best friends before I ever met her, Juli and Sara, and that doesn't offend me. We're get each other on a different level. We are parents but still people. I couldn't make it through the daily grind without them.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that its hard to feel like you have hurt one person by calling another person your best friend when you don't mean any harm or insult, because I can't even begin to list all of the other people that are important to me. I didn't write this for any specific reason but just because I regularly see that as women, we (not meaning anyone listed here) don't always think it through when we get our feelings hurt. Agreed?

Busy as a bee

Wow. We've been a busy little family lately! This past Wednesday, I took the girls to the CAC Duck Derby tagging party. They entertained themselves playing, mainly. At one point, though, I got super nervous when I couldn't see Miles anywhere. I was cleaning ducks when asked my friends to pardon me for a minute, as I couldn't see Miles. Lora (of The Lula Smith Collection fame) then pointed out to me that Miles was behind me at another table, amidst a group of adults, just cleaning those ducks like her life depended on it. I am so incredibly proud of the volunteer's heart that she already has! Speaking of Lora, she is a friend and an artist, so she's cool like that. She makes me laugh forever and her husband is real sweet and she loves Jesus but doesn't make a fuss if you drink a little, so I like her. Plus, she's super cute and has wicked style and class, so she makes me look good.

On Saturday, the girls and I took a little journey to the library and to Uncle Dave Macon Days. We enjoyed ourselves, except I could strangle the jerk that set up some inflatables and wanted $10 per kid to jump. Honestly, I don't think a festival should allow them if they are going to be so blatant about ripping people off. Why? Because it ruins the entire outing for the parents that have to listen to constant begging. Ahem. Parents such as me. Back to the subject of UDMD, I was sad to see that even though they were adamant about not allowing random people to invade the art area, they DID have Gutter Guard, Bath Fitter and several others like that. I am glad I did not do it this year. We came home, napped or rested and headed out to my parents' house for dinner.

We've had my niece, Brittany, and her boyfriend, Matt, in town from Louisiana this weekend, so we had dinner with them on Saturday! Lots of fun time sitting around talking and shopping at The Avenue's Ulta and being there when she got the call saying that she was hired for a position that she wanted! Great times. We're sad that they are going home tomorrow.

Tomorrow both of my girls go to the dentist for their cleanings! Pray for no cavities again this time!

Do you ever have those moments?

Do you ever have morbid thoughts about yourself now that you're a mom? I know I do. Not morbid thoughts in the sense of graphic info, but morbid thoughts like how you'd like to be remembered should something tragic happen to you? As bizarre as it might sound to some people, I really think those thoughts are necessary when I have two little girls who would be left in this world without me.

I do know that I would want to be cremated, and that I would want certain music played at my services. I am a funny person, and I would automatically want some music to crack people up. I would want some Elvis singing southern gospel music mixed with some baptist hymns that were my favorites growing up, like Victory in Jesus, Because He Lives, Old Rugged Cross and so on played. I can't forget to include The Brown's 'Three Bells'. (All the chapel bells were ringing...) That last one if from the 50's or 60's if you don't recall it.

The hymns are important to me because those were my favorite church songs at Pine Grove when I was little. The Elvis is because I think people that know me would immediately realize that I picked those to be hilarious. Seriously, in this day and age, doesn't it crack you up to hear Elvis sing Amazing Grace?!?! It would be flamboyant, just like me!

I wonder if other people think the same way I do?

Furthermore, I would hope that my husband found love again...and as crazy as this sounds, I would like for it to be with one of my friends! Yes! I said one of my friends. Why, you might ask? Well, because any friend would not come in and try to replace me. She would also value my children more than a stranger would as a step-mom. Plus, I know my friends. I choose my friends wisely. I do not choose fake, childish people as my true friends.

I am well aware that I might get some comments telling me that I've lost my mind, but just think about it. The more you consider it, the more sense it makes.

I would want my girls to know just how much they fulfilled my life, and for Phillip to know just how much I respect him. He works so hard for our family. I am able to stay at home and take care of Miles and Lola because he gets up everyday and commutes to Nashville. Nothing has ever made me happier than to see a smile on my girls' faces or to hear how much they look up to me. They fulfill me in every way.

Though I might complain sometimes, I would never, ever trust a stranger to take care of them as well as I do.

I would want my girls to grow up to be Chi Omegas and Junior League members, since both of these organizations mean so much to me. The truth is, I make a difference in our community, even if I am normally humble about mentioning it. I volunteer for my community on a regular basis!

I would like to see them each marry a Sigma Chi or a Kappa Alpha. Silly, but it is just a part of me. I would want my girls to group up under the wings of Miss Mandy Cany Kelly, Missi and Julie and Leigh Ann, who could share old stories about me as they grow up. I would want them to look for a husband like their daddy or Brent Campbell or John Trail.

Don't be alarmed; I plan to live a long, happy life! I don't mean to sound like I expect to meet my maker any time soon. I just think that these subjects are important and I'm not a shy person. I don't mind sharing my strange thoughts; I just hope you all understand where I'm coming from as a momma.

It must be a mystery! OR how we celebrated Lola this year....

How can it be that over three whole years has passed since I held my baby, Lola, for the first time? Was it really just more than three years ago that I sat in Outback, trying to eat a good dinner before a c-section scheduled for the next day, and tried to ignore my contractions? That just blows my mind. Lately, Lola likes to walk around the house and announce that certain things just must be a mystery. I'm so glad my baby likes Scooby Doo just as much as I did.

That precious, cheeky baby came into our world on May 18, 2006. We are so proud of our big girl these days, but it sure is bittersweet to see another year pass. Of course I am happy to be done with Pull Ups. But Lola is a big girl now, and she doesn't need my snuggling as much.

This weekend, we celebrated Lola's third birthday with a party at her Mawmaw and PopPop's house. Her best buddies came out to the country for a day of celebrating. They swung, they ran, they drove the Barbie jeep...

It was such a phenomenal day. Oddly, I felt like it was the best kid's party I've ever thrown. I loved the relaxed atmosphere that my parents' house allowed. We were way out in the country, surrounded by tall trees and green grass. Everyone was very comfortable and we laughed around the dinner table. I just realized that I forgot to tell my friends that the table we gathered around was the same antique wooden table that I grew up eating dinner at everyday.

Jen, Mandy and Shea all made the trek out to good ol' Unionville. Phillip was excited that their husbands came, as well. When it came time for Coen to leave, he cried. It only took a second to come up with a win/win solution. I told Shea and Denton that we'd just bring Coen home in about two hours. They were really worried that he'd have a meltdown, but we insisted and they let him stay. He was perfectly precious...not a problem in the least. In fact, after he took Lola muddin' in the Barbie Jeep, they swung together and then we all gathered around that same old wooden table and shared a perfectly ripened watermelon. Oh, Lord, what a cliche this must sound like!

By the way, when I say Coen took Lola muddin' in the Barbie Jeep, I really just mean he drove her through a mud puddle! Furthermore, those two were a hoot, riding around the yard like two teenagers! I had to yell to Lola to sit down, as she stood up and egged Coen on. Some memories are absolutely made to be remembered until the end of time.

Today was one of those memories. You know, it is funny, but it felt really nice to have those particular people together in one place. We might just have to make a habit of this.

Friday afternoon blues...

Oh my goodness. Today I thought I would lose my ever-lovin' mind if we didn't get OUT of this house. Miles, Lola and I met Mrs. Jennifer and little Mylie at the park.

While we waited for our friends, we had the pleasure of playing on the playground as a mother breastfed her baby. Why do I phrase this information in such a manner, you may wonder? Well, I will gladly tell you why! The lady was topless. Honestly, in a long skirt, socks and shoes with her bra folded down below her boobs and her shirt removed! After more people arrived, she went to her car and sat in the passenger seat, but still! I saw both boobs of a stranger without even remotely wanting to! Ahhhhh! She was just letting the sun shine down on her nude torso while nursing. Seriously, this is past the line of acceptable. I am not immature; I just don't think that it is appropriate to take your top off to nurse.

It got pretty cold, pretty fast...plus both Lola and Mylie managed to fall on the slide and get 'hurt'. We decided to load up and ride up to the Wilderness Station for some indoor snake and turtle watching. The three girls went a little wild before they finally settled down and checked out the aquariums full of snakes, frogs, salamanders and such. The Wilderness Station offers Push-Ups and other ice cream novelties, but I managed to convince them to just let me buy a whole box of Push-Ups at the grocery store. Score one for me!

Miles and Lola both touched a king snake. Ahh! The lady made it a point to tell them to touch with just one, gentle little finger. The best part was when Lola tried to touch the snake, it took her about three times of leaning forward, almost touching it and then jerking her hand back, before she ever actually touched the snake. When she finally did feel the scaly skin, she smiled and calmly pulled her hand back before her body had a quick case of the shivers. She absolutely shook like she'd seen a ghost. She shivered so violently for just a moment and then giggled. It was intensely touching to experience with her. Just a little puddin', touching a snake for the first time. (I have never, now will I ever, touch a snake. She didn't get her bravery around snakes from me.)

After the park, I took my girls to Kroger for a little grocery shopping, which went just swimmingly, as you can imagine. $100 bucks later, we got home and cooked dinner before Lola had to go to bed early because she just could not stop whimpering and whining. I could not take it anymore! Ahhhhh! Somebody save me!! :) I am sure some of the other people got a little tired of hearing me scold my girls for climbing all over the top of the 'beep beep buggy', throwing things like powdered donuts into said buggy, stomping on the groceries and so on.

At least I can recall that just last week, I was complimented on my parenting by the local library staff. One night, I decided to take just Miles to Linebaugh Library. I had to get out of the house and I wanted some new novels to devour. Miles and I spent some time in the children's section before she escorted me to the adult fiction area to retrieve my selections. A time or two, Miles attempted to climb onto the library racks. I was unaware that we were on the same aisle as a library employee. I quickly reminded her that climbing on the shelving units was very disrespectful and to get down immediately. She quickly obliged, and she was so sweet for the rest of the visit. Anyhoo, the lady on the aisle made it a point to come and tell me that she did believe that I was her favorite mother to ever enter the library. {Golf claps!} I should remember this next time I am almost at my limit and take a deep breath and thank the Lord for generally well-behaved children.

P.S. I forgot to buy the Push-Ups.

Recap

Wow! I haven't blogged in a while.

Last week we went to the park with some friends. Good times!

On Friday, I took Miles to McFadden School of Excellence for her pre-screening for the kindergarten program. There are 40 spots for incoming kindergartners, and we will find out in March whether or not she was selected. We really like the school's mission statement and historic feel but if it doesn't work out, she'll go to Barfield. We will be fine. We will live just a couple of blocks from her school and the earth will keep spinning. I would like to see her get accepted into the program at McFadden, however, I am not stressed about it. She was precious in her (pastel pink, yellow and blue plus navy blue) plaid Ralph Lauren dress and grey cardigan sweater with pink sparkly mary janes. That is a memory that I'll always hold dear, and that is what matters.

Then, Valentine's weekend was off the hook fun with family and friends. We had a fabulous time! Phillip and I had expected to go to J Alexander's on Friday night, but we ended up not being able to make it. My mom offered to let the kids come over while we went, but it was already too late to try to get organized in that fashion. We took the girls out to Arby's on Friday night and then to play soccer and ride bikes on Saturday before coming home to a spaghetti dinner and homemade Hummingbird Cake on Saturday night. Olivia and Noah came by for a little bit on Saturday night, which just delighted the kids to no end. Mrs. Mandy Candy Kelly and Mr. Neil spent the night at our house for some fun.

On Sunday, my precious Lola got all puny, developed a fever and just wanted a bath and the bed. She was such a little angel all sacked out there in her bed. She broke her fever easily and rested well. Mrs. Mandy Candy Kelly, Mr. Neil and Miss Olivia spent the night.

Monday was very lazy but we grilled out again and enjoyed the brisk weather from the warmth of our living room.

So there you go. Our recap since I last blogged...

just in case you're looking for me on March 16th...

I'll be in section 3. Right by the B Stage. With my one and only BFFFFFF since sixth grade, Mrs. Vogeler. Look for us. We'll be the ones swooning over Jordan and Joe. Shea said I had to keep my sites set far away from Donnie, so I'll go back to my original one and only fave, Jordan.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Hanging tough

It is just a few days until tickets for the Nashville concert date for New Kids on the Block go on sale and I am getting antsy to go ahead and know already what kind of seats we'll have. I am spoiled. We used to camp out for everything and always had first row or maybe third at worst.

I always used to love Jordan, but now I'm just not sure if I like Jordan or Donnie more. Hmmmm. Donnie cracks me up in the videos he makes for AOL but Jordan has always been so cute. You'll be happy to know that they don't have their rat tails any more. All five guys are clean cut.

I want to play a little game here.

OK, so let's assume that you woke up tomorrow, able to afford the things in life that you really want. I'm not talking about winning the lottery and buying a Ferrari. I'm talking about realistic things that you'd like to have should you gain some personal long term wealth. Things that are realistic purchases, though not necessarily affordable to you right now. I would love to see your own list posted on your blogs! Let me know if you do it!

*I want to add that I was extremely blessed with Christmas gifts, and this isn't any indication that I don't appreciate my blessings. This is just for fun.

Home/Neighborhood: I would buy or build a home that is at least 3500 square feet either on land in the Rockvale/Christiana/Barfield vicinity or in Innsbrooke, Rockvale Meadows or Berkshire. It would have to be a home with a functional front porch, a large covered patio and a fenced in back yard. I would have Phillip build a wooden fort/swing set for the kids, and add a trampoline.

Vehicle: I would want an SUV that could hold seven or eight people. Currently, I'm eyeing a Toyota Land Cruiser or a hybrid Yukon/Tahoe.

Business venture: I would open a business in Murfreesboro that offered cuisine/catering and coffee. My best friend, Mandy, would be my main employee, my boss in fact, running the show for a nice salary. I would find the most prime location and decorate it in a unique, appealing manner. I would also open another business in an ajoining space that served as a local art gallery, selling art, jewelry and locally designed clothing, similar to Magpie etc. in Nashville.

RIP Denzel

She let me know first thing this morning that he was gone. After 12 years, her cat Denzel had passed away. He's been through three states worth of addresses with her. He became her pet in college when she rescued him. He was here through graduation, going back to school for a certification and right up through her engagement and recent marriage. He's been sick since the spring; the vet warned he might not make it til now. However, she still wasn't prepared for Neil to find him last night.

She asked if we could make it to the funeral tonight before she went to work with a heavy heart. We made preparations for a special 'ceremony' in his honor. Phillip wrote out the Rainbow Bridge poem on a painting of a rainbow by Miles. Neil dug a hole for Denzel's final resting place just beneath her childhood bedroom window. Finally, she came in the door, eyes red and swollen from a long, sorrow-filled day. After a moment, she asked that we go ahead and "get this over with".

We filed outside, Mandy, Phillip, Miles, Lola, Olivia, Neil, Mrs. Judy, Mr. Charlie and me. Mrs. Judy placed candles around the tiny grave and Mandy asked to see him once more. She spoke sadly to her Denzel. She sobbed and lingered. She stood and took her spot next to the grave, flanked by Miles and Neil. Phillip began to read the Rainbow Bridge and she fell apart. Neil placed Denzel in his grave, and Mandy kneeled next to it to have her moment with him, below the flower bed around him. Miles and Neil patted her back gently. I pulled out my handwritten lyrics and began to sing Amazing Grace. I wouldn't normally need lyrics, but thankfully I had the foresight to jot them done. In the moment of her grief, I hesitated to begin, for the melody went blank from my mind, much less the words. Mrs. Judy first let out a nervous laugh, then began to cry and joined in.

It was over, and Denzel was honored in a way that was special and heart wrenching at the same time.

RIP Denzel, beloved kitty to Mandy Caffey...

Here we go again...

Last night, I heard a loud car door outside of my house. We were waiting on a friend to come and get Olivia and Noah, who were playing Wii at our house, and I opened the front door to check it out. There stood a little beagle. Someone dumped a dog off in my neighborhood. She was clean and smelled good, though she looked like she hadn't been fed recently at all. She was most interested in water, too, which was really sad. Clearly she was a pet and they either couldn't feed her anymore or they just quit feeding her. She's been fixed, so she's at least six months old.

She's sweet and prefers to lay in Phillip's lap and sleep. She wasn't wild at all and didn't bark. We took care of her and she spent the night. The kids named her Ellie, and they love her. Clearly, Phillip adores her. I think she's sweet and like her, too. Our friends, Mandy and Neil, have a beagle named Jack, and this dog acts oddly similar to Jack. Slightly emo and trying to get into the trashcan but mild mannered otherwise. This morning when Phillip left for work, though, Ellie had a meltdown. She barked like a maniac, jumped all over everything and ran around constantly looking for him. What to do, what to do??????

If we find her a good home, then she'll go to a good home. If we don't, then I guess I am now the owner of a slightly emo beagle named Ellie.

Peggy Sue Got Married

Phillip and I are watching Peggy Sue Got Married tonight. If you aren't familiar with the plot line, Peggy Sue passes out at her 25th reunion and wakes up in high school again. This got me to thinking about what it will be like when I've been out 25 years. It has already been 15, so I guess it isn't too much of a stretch!

For me, 25 years since graduation will be 2019. I will turn 43 that year, and Phil will turn 42. My kids will be turning 16 and 13 that year. I don't know yet what this country will be like, or what the cars will look like, or even which of my classmates will have passed away by then. I do know that I love my life and I can't wait to see what I'll be like at 43.

I'm not so sure I'm ready to imagine Miles behind the wheel of some sporty little thing she gets for her 16th birthday, but then again, I do have nearly 11 years to prepare myself.

I have to wonder, since we tend to see clothing styles come back into popularity, does that mean that in 2019, we'd be reviving the look of the mid to late '90's? I hope not, because I still regret those jean-cut velvet pants I wore on New Year's Eve 1996 (when Leigh Ann and I randomly flew to Tampa to ring in the new year; what were our parents thinking when they financed that shenanigan, I'll never know) and if you think for a second that I'll be reviving the looks that I wore out to fraternity parties at the old Sigma Chi, KA and SAE houses in said mid to late 90's, you have lost your ever-lovin' mind.

I would imagine that by then, sadly, I may not have my daddy anymore, as he'd be 87. (Sometimes I guess it doesn't pay to look to the future so much.)

Then again, I also imagine we'll have a 20th reunion instead of a 25th, which means I am more likely to be attending my next reunion in 2014...

Geuninely surprised but not really disappointed...

The election...my headline sums it up.

halloween fun at Shea-be's

Tonight we had a little Halloween party at Shea's! It was fun! At one point, Coen referred to Lola as "Miles' baby" and we had a big laugh!

The Preds scored 5 goals! We got Frosty's!

On Saturday night, we went to the Preds game with Casey and Hal. Fun was had by all. We went to Satco before the game, which I absolutely love, so that was awesome, too!

Phil and me at the game...

Hal and Casey

I'm taking suggestions

So next Saturday, Phil and I go to a Murder Mystery party and Leigh Ann and Tim's house. It is a costume party and I am not sure what I'll be yet. I am taking suggestions but have a few rules! LOL!

• I've had two babies via c-section and my eating habits haven't been that great this year. It can't be anything that will be tight in the middle or bare midriff.
• It had to be somewhat comfortable...not some big contraption that I can't sit down in or can't quit running into people in.
• it can't be ridiculously expensive.
  

Troxler's place

Thursday night we went to see Ben Troxler's new East Nashville home! It was so neat and we had a fun time. I love the back-splash in his kitchen, which is made up of many tiny 1" or so tiles in a great mix of earth tone colors, from sage to taupe to brown. Sweet! I also can't forget to mention how much I fell in love with the antique table that he bought for his kitchen. It was fabulous! Beyond words! Very long, probably 10', with dark stained legs and a lighter stained top made of loooooonnnnnngggg planks of wood on top. Gorgeous! Then again, what DID I expect?? It's Troxler!

For his little open house, shindig, I gave him a JLM cookbook and Mandy gave him a gift card...and a little black boy cherub praying statue and a Jesus night light. He loved it all, I am sure, since he's so gracious.

(Mandy and Ben at her wedding)

We came real close to heading to Lipstick after the party split up but then we decided just to head back to the 'boro.

PS Isn't he freakin' adorably hot????

Go Preds!

Woot woot! I had totally forgotten that my husband and I are going on a date Saturday night to the hockey game. Hopefully, Casey and Hal will be there, too!

Officially a member

I am excited that tomorrow night is my official installation as a full fledged member of JLM.