Which One Doesn't Belong?

I opened my refrigerator yesterday and this was the scene.  Got it yet?  I'm not sure when or how, but I'm positive I know WHO in my house is responsible!

Of course I remedied the situation, but I'm sure some of you are now swearing off ever eating at our house again for fear of hair infestation!

Reauxll Tide Rewind: Here's to You Section U1-A, Rows 3-15.

I'm a week late posting this, but better late than never, right?  Like 92,000 other people, we headed to Tuscaloosa Saturday a week ago to watch the Tide compete for the SEC West championship against LSU.   LSU is such an exciting game for many reasons, not the least of which is some AWESOME tailgaters hitting the road from Baton Rouge.  And while I definitely want the Tide to win, Tide fans don't generally "hate" LSU like, say Tennessee or Auburn, which makes for a much more enjoyable tailgating experience--at least for me.  And let's face it. This is my blog.

Jason and I arrived about an hour before kickoff so we had some time to pound the pavement and see the sights.  Like Club La Bengal.

(What this picture can't convey is the alarming loud hip/hop music coming from inside the tent.  I was sure at any minute a light ball was going to descend and a dance contest would begin).

And the CBS stage.

And some "Tiger Tail"

Did someone forget to tell her Halloween was two weeks ago?

Disclaimer: I am not in the habit of photographing other women's behinds (or men's, or my own for that matter).  However, I was so astonished this young lady decided to adorn this piece of Tiger flare that I felt the need to capture it.  Seriously.  Just think, after getting dressed, she stuffed a faux tail in her pants, looked in the mirror and called it good.  Different strokes people. Different strokes.

Nevertheless, as game time approached, Jason and I walked the ramp and assumed our usual seats.  Jason's family has secured the same seats for at least the last 20 years and I've been going to games with them for the last 8ish.  Generally, the same group of people return season after season, and let's just say you get to know your neighbors pretty well over the years.  We sit on the second row of our section, so we know best the people on our row and the first row.  There are a few other faces I recognize outside the designated parameter (like a man who bears a shocking resemblance to Conway Twitty), but that's about it.  That is, until this game when I was introduced to a whole new Tide Pride gang.

Somewhere around the second quarter,  right before the 45th LSU player injury and after an incomplete touchdown pass to Julio, I was too nervous to look at the field anymore.  So I turned around.  Whoa.  At that moment, I realized there are entire rows of regulars who sit behind us that I had never before encountered or noticed.  For nearly 8 years I have shared countless hours with the same people less than 10 ft away from me and I've never even bothered to look them in the face.

As I surveyed my new crowd, It was a whole new world. My eyes were immediately transfixed by the mundane, and they zoomed in on what seemed to be the most comical of ordinary stadium paraphernalia.  It was as if my brain was producing its own TV sitcom--in slow motion.  I saw different Tide jerseys, half chewed cigars, sorority stickers, stickers with expletives, and different ways to hide stadium contraband. They ordered different things from the concession stand.  They yelled different cuss words.  They went to the bathroom at different, yet still inopportune, times.   Just as I started to mentally dig deeper into my Brave New World, LSU earned a safety and my attention was quickly diverted.  But my curiosity is peaked with you Section U1-A, Rows 3-15.  I may not know you now, but I'll pay more attention next season. Rest assured.

I recount this vignette because my pregnant blood pressure cannot take reliving the memory of the first 3.5 quarters of the game.  In the end, as the story has now been broadcast, the Tide clenched the win and secured a spot in Atlanta at the SEC Championship.

It looks like I have a less than a month to manufacture (or purchase) tasteful amounts of GATOR HATER props. Watch out Tebow.

Tis the Season

to buy your tickets.

7:00, December 14, 2009

Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church

You can order tickets online here. If you don't remember my post last year about the concert, this is hands down the BEST christmas concert you and your family will attend.  I might even personally guarantee your money back if you aren't overcome with the true meaning of Christmas when you leave. (Hmm, maybe I should talk to Jason before I commit to that guarantee...)  Nevertheless,  Andrew Peterson is a phenomenal singer/songwriter living in Nashville and he has put the entire story of Christ's birth into the most beautiful concert. (Incidentally, he brings some really talented musicians with him too). The "tale" begins with the Old Testament prophesies of a Messiah, includes Passover, and culminates into Christ's birth.  It meaningfully ties the Old and New Testaments of the Bible together, demonstrating God's loving plan of redemption for His people.

The first year we went, I was pregnant with Emma, (big pregnant too--due any day), and I was overwhelmed with praise and emotion (or hormones, you pick) for our Heavenly Father.  I found it SO special to be pregnant at Christmas, where we celebrate the birth of the most special baby: our Savior.  I'm thrilled and feel blessed to be pregnant again this year at the same time--and to return to such a wonderful evening where my "to do" list, shopping, cooking, decorating, gift wrapping, traveling and the like, all takes a HUGE backseat to the REAL reason we celebrate.

So plan now.  Find time to go. It is worth it.

No. 2

Not the pencil.

Not Bama's earlier season ranking.

And not this guy either:

But Baby No. 2!

I guess I'm in a whole new realm of technology announcing my pregnancy on the blog!!  Regardless, Emma is pleased to announce that she will be a big sister in May 2010.  She is also thrilled to tell you that she has a baby in her tummy just like Mommy.  Just ask her.  She will almost convince you.

That puts me 12 weeks pregnant, and feeling pretty good. Jason and I are very excited and look forward to meeting this new bundle!! So here are the answers to the questions that are burning through your mind (ok, maybe not burning):

1. Due Date: May 19, 2010;

2. No, we will not find out the gender before birth;

3. Yes, we have names in mind, but we don't share them before birth;

4. Emma and No. 2 will be 29 months apart; and

5. I will be referring to this baby as "He." (Of course, I do not KNOW he is a he--see 2 above, but (1) I do not like referring to my child as an "it" and (2)  I really want a boy, so I'm practicing visual thinking, speaking and er, typing.  That said, I would be of course thrilled to have another girl and for Emma to have a sister.  Nonetheless, until the Lord convicts me otherwise, No. 2 will receive male pronouns).

And now?

ROLL TIDE

Tootles!

Guess Who's Ghetto Now!

I hesitate to post the following.  However, I've never really shied away from disclosing slightly embarrassing personal details, so why start now?  Let me first begin with this:

Since last Sunday, the Eminator has struggled to reset her internal clock and "fall back" with the rest of us.  The result is an early morning wake up call, which leads to a cranky mom and a late afternoon cranky Emma, forcing an early bedtime and only to repeat the cycle the next day.  My first hypothesis is the light coming into the windows earlier in the morning wakes E up.  So, we need a solution.

First,  I priced blackout lining for the drapes.  Man, that stuff is expensive.  So, before I commit to the purchase, I need to make sure we have indeed identified the problem and that's where the aluminum foil comes into play. Classy, huh?

I fully expect I am violating all kinds of Homewood city ordinances--or at least Edgewood decency policies, so please don't report me!  Any of you parents out there know that you'll try anything for a well rested child--and momma!! I sure hope our neighbors don't mind!

Go ahead.  Let the comments flow.  I expect them to be merciless.  But I promise to report back on our "experiment."

Snuggies-n-Smores

Do I have your attention yet?  I feel like it should be a personal life goal to never type or use the Snuggie TM in my daily life.  Alas, if this were an actual life goal, I would have now failed--miserably.  What, you might ask, would compel me to experiment with this oversized "blanket" (aka bathrobe turned backwards)?  It would have to be an exceptionally good cause.  Good thing I love our church functions--and our church small group.

Incidentally, and before I continue, it continues to baffle me beyond all things imaginable that someone is making a FORTUNE from these things--despite the gaping draft you feel in the back when you stand up--hospital gown style.  Some quick google research revealed that not only did the Snuggie make over $4 million in 2008, but the projected revenue for 2009 is somewhere around $9 million.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  Further investigation reveals that Gary Clegg (father to the Snuggie) birthed the idea after finding it necessary to cut a hole in his sleeping bag since the TV remote wouldn't work through the fabric:


"Gary Clegg said it began in 1998, when he was a freshman at the University of Maine in Orono and living in a chilly dormitory. He cut a hole in his sleeping bag because his TV remote wouldn’t work through the fabric, and subsequently asked his mother to sew a sleeve onto it, he said. Mr. Clegg added a second sleeve and otherwise refined the design in the ensuing years. He gave the appendaged blankets as gifts to friends, and finally, with an investment from his brother, Jeff, mass-produced them and started selling them onSlanket.com in early 2006."


And think I believed my mom when she told me that I wouldn't get anywhere in life sitting on the couch watching TV.  Let this be another lesson to all those couch potatoes out there---sloth can breed millions people.  (Read the entire NY Times article here.  And please don't think the term "Slanket" is escaping me.)

But, I digress.  My first experience with the Sunggie was Sunday night. Our church has a "fall festival" of sorts and every small group lines the soccer field with trucks. There are games, trunk-or-treating, and lots of good food.  This year, our group designated a theme and it was, you guessed it, "Snuggies-N-Smores."  I highly recommend the latter.  As for the former, after I tied the back together and rolled up the yards of extra sleeve material from the "one size fits all," it wasn't too bad.    Regardless, it was a great night and we had lots of fun. We were definitely well equipped with lots of snuggies, a fire pit, toddlers and candy.  All the makings of a great night!

Do they make toddler snuggies?  Not that Mr. Clegg needs my advice, but it could be an untapped market.  Until then, Emma will remain snuggie-less, and at the mercy of dear Tom to provide her some much needed juice.

Meet Vance, Patrick, and Chris (L-R).  A picture really does say 1,000 words.

Apparently, hot buns were also on the evening's menu.

Dear monogrammed Kala.  What would we do without her married monogrammed trick-or-treat bag?

Sweet Ashley--the marshmellow roasting master.

Undoubtedly the best part of the night.

Until next year friends.  I'll be scouring QVC for the next up-and-coming trend to inspire our tailgate!

Catwoman?

Halloween was low key.  We headed to some friends' house for good food, fellowship and costume watching!   Speaking of costumes, I was determined to find (or create) an inexpensive costume for Emma. So, for about $10, a cat was the result!  (A big thanks to my mom who made the hood. No pun intended of course).

So here she is--dressed and ready to go.  Emma was definitely up for the part, and even kept the hat on most of the night!

Jason bonded with Emma over some great food.  I'm pretty sure this might be Emma's first meatball.  Not sure if Cat's like them or not, but Emma did! And she should have--they were delicious!

And what could be more fun than stairs???

And a bannister overlooking the party?

I hope everyone else had a safe and happy weekend.  Thanksgiving will be here before we know it.  Time to get sewing again!!!