December...Better Late than Never

First Snow of the year!

It wasn't much but it's was SNOW! Jackson school district was out of school that day for this!

Lucky school teachers.

Stratton was watching tv like this and I couldn't help but take a picture of him.

He sits just like his daddy.

I was trying to teach Stratton how to wink. This is the result. Haha.

This too.

Stratton was having fun with the magnets at Aunt Casey's house.

We apparently had too much fun at Aunt Casey's. Notice the orange STILL in hand as he was sleeping.

This was for my mom's birthday. Stratton helped her blow out the candles.

Stratton helped take out the candles and licked the bottoms of them. Not sure where he got that from.

I took a half day a few weeks ago and decided to make a trip down to the SEMO River Campus to get a peek at Nathan Sawaya's lego sculptures. They're pretty amazing. If you get the chance (and they're still down there) you should go take a look at them.

This was the first of our family get together's for Christmas

This was over at Derek's Step-mom's sister's house.

This was the present that Derek and I brought for the rob your neighbor. 

It was awesome!

 This was our cute little tree. Most of the presents under there were for Stratton.

 

This was at Derek's Dad's house on Christmas Eve. We had too much fun watching all the little kids opening the MOUND of presents. I think the parents had more fun playing with the toys once they were actually open though. 

This is Stratton not wanting his pictures taken any more.

Christmas Ever we went to the Light Show at Cape County Park with Stratton. The pictures aren't that great but we had an amazing time watching Stratton.

Countdown to Christmas 1 hour 27 min 20 seconds

We were making snowmen in the driveway.

Grandpa Calvin made him a snow man. It was so cute...until he swatted it off onto the ground.

Christmas morning at our house was really short because we had to make our way over to my Grandma Marge's house.

I love going to Grandma Marge's house on Christmas morning because she makes the BEST breakfast casserole I've ever tasted. We opened up a bunch of presents here too. Yay... just what we needed.
Marcus got JUST what he wanted...from Victoria's Secret. Just kidding, he got a iBlox from our work.

Stratton Loves his Grandpa Calvin

We got Marcus an iBlox from work. I think he was pumped about it.

We got my dad a VCable from work too. It's has a volume adjusting knob on the connector of the cable.

Stratton doing no handed yoga!

He loves his new puzzle so much! It makes all kinds of vehicle noises.

I got a new Kitchen Aid mixer! I can't wait to use it! I hope my home made cookies taste as good as Grandma Marge's and Grandma B's!

The whole family! Even Sage. Poor Sage.

Marcus, Casey, Me and Derek outside of Grandma Marge's house.

Time for Christmas at Derek's Grandma Maxine's house. 

Lots of presents!

Aunt Mary, cousin Payne and Uncle Danny

Aunt Stephie and ALL the presents!

Payne was loving Uncle Danny. I think Payne was a little tired.

Stratton got drums from Derek's grandma. He loves them!

We had 5 different Christmas's this year. I'm SO glad that it's over.

Thank you to everyone who helped make our holiday so much fun!

sorry...

Sorry all those who follow my blog. I have been under the weather today and super busy the last week. 

I have a stupid stomach bug today and I'm stuck at work. I'd much rather be curled up in my bed but alas I'm stuck feeling like I'm going to come out of both ends at any moment...at work.

Merry Christmas!

Would just like to wish everyone a 

Merry Christmas!

all about me

I know most of the people who follow my blog either know me personally and/or are related to me but you never know who reads your blog. So, here is a little bit more about me.

_______________________________________

Name: Emily...Most of my family and friends call me Em though.

Height: 5'4ish. I'm pretty short.

Relationship Status: Married- It will be three years on Feb 23, 2011

Location: Southeast Missouri

Occupation: I work at a company called RapcoHorizon. I work as their Graphic Artist/Designer.

College: I am currently working on my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic Design

Sorority: GDI

Family: My husband, Son and myself, 2 parents, still married and an older sister and a pretty much brother in law. My Grandma on my dads side and my Grandma and Step-Grandpa on my moms side. One aunt on my moms side and one aunt on my dads side. On Derek's side I have a father-in-law step-mother-in-law, mother-in law, step-father-in-law, 5 brother-in-laws, 4 sister-in-laws, 2 nieces, and 2 nephews. Both grandparents on Derek's dad's side, and a grandmother on his moms side.

Car: 2007 Kia Optima that I got while I was pregnant because my Toyota Tacoma got recalled. :(

Lucky Number: 23

Music Preferences: I like it all. Except rap. Just not a fan of it.

Favorite Quote: "The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can" Robert Cushing

Random Things about me:

1.) I never wear socks...ever. I hardly wear shoes unless it's really cold outside. I'd much rather be barefoot.

2.) I love to sing in the car with Stratton...even if everyone around me thinks I'm a freak.

3.) I once danced with a group of all black girls (who were all my best friends) to the tootsie roll song. Haha.

4.) I lose my phone ALL THE TIME! Just ask my husband. He's always calling it for me.

5.) I love when Stratton calls me mommy.

6.) I'm ready to graduate SO BAD!

7.) I'm self diagnosed OCD.

8.) I hate the way hair clippers sound.

9.) I have a really bad problem of passing out unexpectedly

10.) I would love to have a dog but I do not have the time, money or patience for one right now.

11.) I have a heart problem. It's called supra-ventricular tachycardia. 

12.) I have a slight infatuation with the singer of Avenged Sevenfold. His name is M. Shadows

13.)  I love to travel. It's one of my favorite things to do as a family. Especially with my mom and dad.

14.) Fall is my FAVORITE season. Because not only is it SO pretty but it's my and Stratton's birthday.

15.) I had Stratton ON my 22nd Birthday.

This brought tears to my eyes this morning. .It really shows that there is still some good in the world today. Please read the whole story HERE

Happy Birthday!!!

Yesterday was my mom's birthday! 

I made a pot roast and had the whole family over. 

My mom, dad, Casey, Marcus, and of course Stratton, Derek, and myself enjoyed potatoes, carrots, pot roast, and home made mac n cheese. Yumm! 

After dinner we sang happy birthday and gave mom her red velvet cake. 

Stratton helped blow out candles. It was a really fun time.

Thank you for being the best mom and grandma in the world.

I am SO thankful that I have such an amazing woman to look up to in my life. 

I love you so much and so does Stratton and Derek.

I hope you have many many more birthdays to come.

Love you!

Year one of Family Tradition Ornament...NOT as smooth as predicted

Saturday after the Jingle Bell Walk/Run I decided that we were going to start our new family tradition. Picking out Hallmark Ornaments. I want Stratton to have something for when he starts a family of his own. I know when my mom gave me all my childhood ornaments it was really special to me. We went to the Hallmark Store (my mom joined in on the fun) and picked out the perfect ornaments. Stratton had a few he really like but the one in the picture was the one he REALLY wanted. Of course it was one of the most expensive ones there was. But, anything for my little guy. Plus it's only once a year and I can handle that.

 

 Stratton really liked all the plus figures that moved and sang too. He kept pushing ALL of the buttons right after the next. All of them were going all at once. It must run in the family because my dad and I used to do that when I was little too.  

 Of course we had to open it as soon as we got in the car so he could play with it.

  And then my mom let him eat the cookie he won for the Tot Trot.

 Here are the three we picked. Mine on the left, Stratton's in the middle and Derek's on the right.

 Here is Derek's Dwight bobble head ornament. It talks and says a few different things. Pretty hilarious.

 Here is Stratton's ornament. It says a line for the Night Before Christmas. It also lights up, the blue wheel spins, and the little kids heads move back and forth. Stratton likes to pet the little dog on there and whisper that "shhh he's sleepin'."

 Here is the best part of all. I of course open mine last and this is what I find. I was crushed not as bad as my ornament though and immediately took it down to Derek with tears in my eyes to show him. He laughed at me. I called the store as quick as I could find the number and told them what had happened. They only had ONE left so I told them to put it on hold while I came BACK to Cape and exchanged it.

I got dressed again, packed the broken ornament back in the box, and trekked my way back to Cape. Mind you we live on the West side of Jackson where as Cape is East of us. It's a good 20 min drive. Lovely. I got to the store filled out all the paper work, put the ornament back in my purse, got in my car, and drove to my parents house to pick up Stratton so we can go home and put our ornaments on the tree. So far so good right? Wrong. I get there and notice I have a missed call on my phone. I listen to the message and it's Hallmark calling to tell me that they accidentally gave me the wrong ornament back and that they still have the good one there at the store. Ugh. Just my luck!!!  I asked my mom if she could run by there for me again and she said she could. Thank God! They felt so bad that they gave me a complementary gift bag. SCORE! I got a new coffee mug, a set of cookie cutters, a cookie sheet ornament, and a journal. I wasn't that upset but it was nice to get something for all the running back and forth to Cape. All three are now hanging from our tree beautifully.

Jingle Bell Run 2010

Saturday was our 2nd Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis! This year we got to have a 4 generation group of walkers. US! It was Stratton, Me, My Mom (Grandma Kathie) and my mom's Mom (Great Grandma Marge). My sister also came out this year again as well as my Step Grandpa John.Derek even came out for moral support. It was rainy and nasty outside so we wound up walking inside on the indoor track that Fitness Plus has on their second floor. Stratton had such a great time going around the track and tackling me, my mom, and Casey. He ran the ENTIRE mile! He stopped every time we went by the indoor pool as well as the gymnasium though so he could wave at the old lady's doing aqua aerobics. Here are some pictures from the day's events.

Grandma Marge and Casey getting the jingle bells put on their shoes.

Stratton and Grandma Kathie playing (Stratton throwing a fit and my mom blowing in his mouth to piss him off and forget what he's so mad about)

 4 generations of walkers!

 My grandma and step-grandpa John

 Walking around the track and my mom chasing after Stratton

 Trying to walk and take a picture at the same time. Not such a good idea.

 Casey was running around with Stratton and making him laugh SO hard. He was having a blast with everyone.

 This was after the tot trot! Stratton got a metal AND a cookie!

Right after we took his shirt off he started to make muscles at the old women in the pool and for the old guys in the gym that were lifting weights too. Super cute.

  This was another little girl that was walking that day. She was almost two and half Stratton's size. Her name was Lanie. She was SO adorable. Super tiny.

Stratton was Helping...

My mom bought a real tree for Christmas this year and Stratton really wanted to help put the decorations up with her. He is such a good helper. God love him. Here are some pictures.

 I seriously need to get a good camera so I can quit using my phone to take pictures of everything... My husband better be thankful for that new 42' t.v. he got for Christmas. That could have been a new camera.

Is Facebook the Root of All Evil?

I wish SO bad I could take credit for this post but I can't. I love it though. It's SO true and it happened to me just the other week. You can read JPo's hilarious blog here. I had a "friend" on facebook completely rip me a new one because of a stupid video that I put up on facebook. I'm seriously contemplating getting off facebook completely and just sticking with my blog. That way at least I have a reason to not get into all the stupid drama.
 
Is it just me or is there a constant cloud of drama hanging over Facebook? Do most of the arguments you get into start with, "I saw on Facebook that you've been....."?

I'm truly beginning to wonder if facebook is the Devil's mistress here on Earth. If Facebook was created in the pits of hell rather than a college dorm room. I've heard of people loosing friends, boyfriends, jobs and HUSBANDS due to the inner workings of this "social site" a.k.a. "festering pool of temptation".

Facebook is fun in a lot of ways....It's one less reason to call your friends on the actual telephone; you can join fun groups like, "I love Mac and Cheese"; you can brag to all your facebook friends by posting pictures of your latest dream vacation or your good looking kids; you can show that person in high school that would always turn you down how damn good you look now. It's fantastic.

But, oh how Facebook can be Satan in disguise. Things get twisted and turned around; people begin hating you for your political opinions; you begin to feel left out if you weren't included in a fun outing that you see the posted pictures of; people of the opposite sex seek you out; you unwillingly have to know the every move of that one fb friend who updates their status every few minutes even when it's "I'm now brushing my teeth".

I mean seriously? I don't want to know if your brushing your teeth, scratching your butt, taking out the trash or taking a poop! I don't care!

Too, often times have you asked your spouse, "Why did you say you 'like' Sally's post?" Is it because you like her??!
Or, why don't you update your relationship to include me? Are you ashamed of our relationship?

Today, I accidentally hurt a dear friend's feelings on facebook. I was so sad that this happened, but what I was most sad about was I had no idea what I did. Immediately, I hopped onto my facebook (which is conveniently located on my phone because, God forbid we go a second without getting our Facebook News Feed updates) to try and figure out what I had done wrong. Nothing, nada. I couldn't find it. After a few phone calls and further searching, BINGO. I found it. I totally see how it could have hurt my sweet friend's feelings. Not because what I said was mean or ill-willed but because it's typed and when something is typed you have no idea what a person's demeanor, feelings or meaning is behind it. It was not meant to hurt anyone just simply to make a joke about myself. But, what did it do? Instead, it hurt someone I love.

Sometimes I miss the good ole' days of MYSPACE, where bands constantly asked you to hear their music and you would search all Saturday morning for the perfect Profile background and Song List.