Feelin' Crafty (and bloggy)

Hey there!  How y'all doin?  So, I just got that old familiar (crafty) feeling today.  I've had it for a while, but today it got the best of me.

It has been a while since I have blogged and it has been an even longer while since I have sewn, so I thought I would share with you all.

Oh yeah...if you can't tell from the fabric, I'm making something for Caroline.  Want another clue?  Well, here's the main fabric:

A'ight, at this point I just have to share a funny dialogue I had with the Mr. when he got home:

Me: Won't this be cute?

B: Hmm, I don't really care for that.  It's almost hideous.

Me: At least it's for Caroline and not Rob!

B: Let's both be honest, you wish you could have and would have made that for Rob!

Me: (to myself) Yeah, you're right.

I guess I should be saying "thank you" to fate that I am only just now getting comfortable around my Singer.

Because the room has the best light, I cut fabric in my kitchen on my table.  As you can see above, Caroline is a permanent fixture atop the table. I mean, seriously...Get. Down. Now!  Moving on...

I would love to have a fancy new machine.  I also would love, love, love to have an embroidery machine.  But I love most that my trusty Singer is a Wiggins/Morris family heirloom and the thing works like a charm.  Too bad I can only make straight stitches with said charm.  Ahem, I'm getting there.  Slowly.  Baby steps, right?

What's that you said?  Where's Rob during all of this?  Take a look:

That's a sword in the back of his tee-shirt.  He's a ninja.  Bewilderment all around, people.

I used my iPhone for pictures, so I am sparing you the step-by-step.  I'm just so proud of myself.  I'm beaming with pride right now!  Here are a couple of shots of my pride and joy:

Caroline is going to be so super-cute in this dress!  And if you don't have a clue by now where she is wearing it, stay tuned.  I promise to blog about it soon.  I'm trying to stay in touch with y'all.

'Til then, peeps, God bless you!

Happy New Year

Gosh!  Can you believe another year has come and gone?  In the year 2010 I learned how to be a mother of 2!  I started this blog!  I started learning how to be a do-it-yourself'er and I documented it for all the world to see.  However, I do look back at 2010 and see things that are still on my wish list.  (Really, who doesn't?)  Not gonna happen this year; I am biting the bullit and putting it in writing!

I read many blogs on a daily basis--some inspirational, some just for fun.  Several of you out there have either done this, considered this, or heard about this.  I am going to start 101 in 1001!  If I started checking things off my list tomorrow, I would/should complete this by September 28, 2013.  Who out there makes New Year's Resolutions and fails to keep them?  Okay put your hands down; it was a rhetorical question.  But if I give myself over a year-and-a-half, surely I can come close!

My list will be a work in progress.  I haven't reviewed this with the Mr. yet, and I have a feeling he would have his own ideas of what needs to be on the list.  So I am open to revisions throughout the process.

With no further ADO, I present my New Year's (and beyond) Resolutions!

Travel

1.       Go on a cruise

2.       Plan a trip to Disney World for 2013

3.       Go to Gatlinburg, TN 

4.       Take another Morris/Mitchell/Stewart beach trip

5.       Go to Six Flags

6.       Go to Opryland Hotel at Christmas

7.       Take Rob to a Braves game

8.       Go snow skiing

9.       Have a picnic at Helena waterfalls once a month this summer with kiddos (0/3)

10.   Attend a Rick and Bubba show in the Golden Ticket Seats

11.   Go to the beach during summer 2011

12.   Go to the beach during summer 2012

13.   Go to the beach during summer 2013

14.   Spend the night in a true bed-n-breakfast somewhere

Create

15.   Learn how to sew from start-to-finish unassisted

16.   Sew an outfit for Caroline

17.   Obtain an embroidery machine (new or gently used)

18.   Learn to embroider/monogram

19.   Take a photography class

20.   Learn how to use advanced settings on my Olympus

21.   Make blog printouts for 2010, 2011, and 2012 (0/3)

22.   Make lots of bows for Caroline (after #63)

23.   Get a “professional” blog makeover

24.   Write and complete a novel

Expand Knowledge

25.   Try 5 new dishes from my family recipe book (0/5)

26.   Try 5 new recipes from my cupcake cookbook (0/5)

27.   Take a wine tasting class

28.    Learn to speak Spanish fluently

29.   Learn to speak Italian just for fun

30.   Become CPR certified

31.   Find a GED program needing volunteer services

Health

32.   Eat Vegan for a week

33.   Eat Vegan for a month

34.   Go on a 21 day detox 

35.   Create a gym routine

36.   Go on a walk 5x's/week

37.   Give up sweets for a month

38.   Give up fast food for a month

39.   Complete P90X

40.   Get down to my “wedding” weight (no, I’m not publishing it.)

Organize/ Home Improvement

41.    Have kitchen painted/neutralized

42.   Tile floor for bathrooms

43.   New backsplash for kitchen

44.   Hardwood floors in living room/hallway

45.    Clean out/purge and organize garage

46.   Repaint garage floor

47.   Lay more flooring in attic

48.   Wire an additional light in attic

49.   Fix Rob’s closet light wiring

50.   Finish replacing all doorknobs to ORB

51.   Wall repair/holes patching where needed house-wide

52.   Clean out my closet

53.   Clean out hall closets

54.   Clean out kids’ closets

55.   Clean out my drawers

56.   Clean out kids’ drawers

57.   Sell unused clothing/toy items in seasonal consignment sales

58.   Decide on and put up window treatments in kitchen

59.   Finish replacing metal blinds (playroom, back doors)

60.   Replace Rob’s blinds

Financial

61.   Pay off Expedition

62.   Open a Disney Savings account

63.   Have at least 1 month’s income in savings at all times

64.   Attend a couponing class

65.   Set a realistic grocery budget and stick to it with coupon use

66.   Eat out only once a week for a month (0/4)

67.   Feel “successful” at JBPL

68.   Find a budgeting/account balancing program I like

69.   Learn to use aforementioned balancing program

Good for the Soul

70.   Give up television for a week (0/7)

71.   Watch the sunrise at the beach (during #’s 11-13)

72.   Complete another Young Families class at church

73.   Start a vocation at church again

74.   Start a Rosary daily devotional habit

75.   Read a really great inspirational/Christian book

76.   Complete The Love Dare with Bobby

77.   Renew our wedding vows

Life Changers

78.   Re-enter the working world

79.   Donate blood at least 3x a year

80.   Donate plasma once

81.   Decide if we should have another baby or get over it

82.   Sell our house so that we can…

83.   …buy/build a bigger “forever” house

Things that need to be done/Just for fun

84.   Train Caroline to wear bows

85.   Print photos and start albums for each child

86.   Get Caroline off the bottle

87.   Potty train Caroline

88.   Get Caroline off the pacifier

89.   Update the blog everyday for a week (0/7)

90.   Get a passport (may need for cruise)

91.   Take Rob and Caroline to an Alabama football game

92.   Read To Kill A Mockingbird

93.   Read Wuthering Heights – just curious as to why Bella and Edward both love it so much J

94.   Read one “classic” book a month for a year (0/12)

95.   Participate in a "Show us your Life" from Kellys Korner 

96.   See a movie at the drive in

97.   Join a Bunco group

98.   Participate in Bobby’s “special challenge”

99.   Have family portraits taken

100.      Have “artistic” portraits of the kiddos taken – Maybe on Morris Avenue?

101. Complete all the items on this list... :) Maybe this is cheating but I can't think of anything else! 

Merry Christmas Pelham! (and more Helena)

Time for another Christmas tradition or two...

On Friday night (12/17) the Morrises loaded up in the Expedition for a Christmas expedition of sorts: to see Santa on a rooftop.  Uncle Jason, Aunt Kristy and cousin Josh joined the kiddos and us for a drive.  This is a long-standing tradition in a cozy Pelham, AL neighborhood.  This family truly has love in their hearts for the magical season.  On one advertised night, they manage to have Santa on their rooftop.  Over the years this tradition has grown so popular that now the Pelham Police are present to direct traffic.  The entire neighborhood features light displays and each neighbor has luminaria in his/her yard at the curbside.  It is something not to be missed.  I took the following photos and videos using my iPhone, so you will have to use your imagination to compensate for the grainy quality.  However, with no further Ado, please enjoy!

Now, how did Santa get to this house?  He was pulled by his reindeer!  Duh!  Donner, Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, and pals were still at the North Pole resting up for the big night coming up.  So the other reindeer were here. I can't remember their names, but their barn says one's name is Henry.

I know there is a lot of talk about Santa, but this family did include elements to remind us of the real reason for the season.  Even better gifts include the gift of freedom Americans enjoy -- there was an inflatable Santa dressed in camoflauge with a sign reminding us to pray for our troops.  Speaking of prayer, the ultimate gift was God's gift of his Son and there were a couple of different Nativity scenes present.

Moving on from here, we went all over Pelham and Helena, AL looking at light displays.  There were many noteworthy yards, but only one other yard made the cut to be featured here on this blog.  Look, let it be noted I bleed Crimson.  Roll Tide Roll, people!  (Click on that linked phrase to see just how I like to live!)  But this yard is just as passionate about their team.  Rightly so, because the Auburn Tigers have a shot at the National Championship and I will be cheering for them! 

This house is in Long Leaf Lakes, a new neighborhood on South Shades Crest Road.  If you want directions, email me or leave a message at the end of this post.

Merry Christmas, y'all!  Remember to remember to celebrate CHRISTmas!

Merry Christmas Helena!

This past weekend was the Helena (AL) Christmas parade and the kiddos and I joined my mother, Kristy, and Josh to enjoy the festivities.  It wasn't as cold as it looks in the pictures.  But it was overcast and wintry.  Guess that's good "Christmas" weather. 

This was Caroline's first Christmas parade.  Since we didn't do any parades last year, this could very well be the first Christmas parade Rob remembers.  Both children loved their time.

When I uploaded this picture onto my computer, I had Caroline in my lap.  She immediately started making the "Ahhhhh" noise that she was making during the shot.  She's such a camera ham!

 Rob took this picture himself.  Can'tcha tell?

This is how Rob wanted to enjoy the parade.  And rock on, Mom!  It takes some strength and bone density to be able to oblige!  I helped her out by lending my shoulders too.

See?  Of course, he was quite heavy, so it's apparent I did not know I was being photographed.  I guess I'm only sharing this picture so you'll believe I didn't leave him on my mom's shoulders the whole time.  You're welcome.

Here are a couple of quick videos of the day.  By the way, I took these using my iPhone and I keep forgetting I'm supposed to turn the phone sideways to better film something.  So please forgive the black sidebars.

Please remember to keep Christ in Christmas!  Merry Christmas from the Morris family.  There'll be more merry to come.

LS-WHO? Well, we found out the HARD way...

So, the entire crew traveled west to Baton Rouge, LA full of Crimson Pride and Optimisim.  We came home with the pride, but the optimism must have gotten lost somewhere.  Ahem...moving on!

The weekend started with a stay in Houma, LA.  I just love that deep in the heart of Tiger country and "Tiger Bait" my dearest friend Lorie proudly sends her daughter to pre-school dressed like this:

 

No trip to or from Houma should be considered complete without some fresh seafood and there is only one place for top quality...Bayou Side.  Shameless plug here for a family business, but with a family like the Whitneys, you can count on quality!  So we did what any tourists would do -- take pictures!  Notice how we were dressed for the 1 hr ride into Baton Rouge.

Once we got into Baton Rouge, we had so many great plans for revelrie...we were so happy to be in town (remember the mention of optimism?) and we wanted everyone to know we were there (remember the Crimson Pride?)

We stopped by the hotel bar for Happy Hour before going to a lovely Italian dinner at Gino's.  We were pretty sure we were in the presence of celebrities.  There was a toss up--is this guy Will Ferrell or George W Bush?  You be the judge.  Nevertheless, here's the photo montage of our evening:

Now, it had been a loooooooong day and a loooooooong evening.  Happy Hour was very HAPPY!  So the following video should not be viewed by the faint of heart.  We were safe in our hotel and had only to stumble towards our beds.  Therefore, we thoroughly enjoyed our Crimson Pride and Optimism in liquid form.  The only reason I am sharing this with you is because the "Where's Waldo" version of Lorie's cameo near the end of the shot makes me giggle every. single. time...here goes nothing:

It may be hard to believe, but we were up bright and early the next day.  You know what they say, right?  Get back on that horse! Giddyup!  Ugh, get me to some strong coffee STAT!

What were we thinking posing with these LSU balls?  That may have been the beginning of the end for us.  That washed away the mojo.

 This is love...Fun times!

Somebody call PETA!  Those dogs have been shaved to read "Tigers" and "LSU".  Poor creatures.

Okay, you will notice that I have no pictures of inside the stadium.  I don't really want to remember that part of the trip.  I don't want to hear about how well we played and blah, blah, blah.  Just get me out of there. 

I'm not sure who this guy is, but for some reason it occured to us to pose for a picture with him.  So we did.  Twice.

It's easy to be a graceful loser when you know the Cadillac Cafe has reserved a table for you.  It's also easy to keep your Crimson Smile upturned when you are drowning your sorrows.  Geez. 

My mom went to high school with the Cadillac Cafe's owner, Anthony Gallo.  He lives in Baton Rouge now, but still has love in his heart for the Tide.  He gave us the star treatment and welcomed us to his club.  We were the minority there and the victorious home-team-crowd could have/should have been a little rowdy toward us but we didn't care.  The Gallos wrapped their southen hospitality around us and made sure we enjoyed ourselves. A little Aspirin the next morning and some dark sunglasses will help finish that sentiment.

That's a wrap for this weekend.   I have been in Baton Rouge when Bama won and I have been in Baton Rouge when Bama lost.  I think I can honestly say I have seen it all.  Trust me when I say you are thanking me for not sharing ~all~ my stories of this weekend with y'all.  There were some crazy happenings.

As always and no matter what, Roll Tide people!