Rebel FOR a Cause!

I'm sure that it's no secret by now what a HUGE fan I am of MckMama's blog. When MckMama and her husband were told that their unborn son would surely die after birth, they decided to give their son completely to God and carry him to term. Their son was born totally healed and is a healthy one-month old. MckMama is using her story to touch the lives of others in a major way. By purchasing a "raffle-way" (raffle/giveaway) ticket, your donation will go to raise support for String of Pearls, No Hands But Ours, and The Elison Project. It will also give you a chance to win a Canon Rebel XSi and a slew of other fabulous prizes.

Check out MckMama's blog (http://www.mycharmingkids.net/) for more details.

"Not me!" Monday

It's that time again! In following MckMama's footsteps, it's time for me to be brutally honest and live to tell about it. I'm definitely not a perfect mommy or wife, and here's proof!

For starters, I did not watch my son move his step stool from the bathroom into the kitchen in order to help himself to a pack of smarties at 5:15 am as I was preparing to leave for work. I am certain he did not get the idea that this is an ok practice because I once gave him yogurt and smarties before I left for work in order to keep him from crying and screaming for me to stay with him. Even if he had gotten his own smarties, I most certainly did not allow him to get away with it because I feel guilty for leaving him.

I did not leave my house at 4:30 am to go to Wal-Mart on Black Friday. Only crazy people go to Wal-Mart on Black Friday! I did not leave approximately 20 minutes after arriving because there were fights breaking out and police officers being attacked.

Even if I had gone shopping on Black Friday, I did not get Brennan two pairs of jeans, a sweatshirt, three sets of pajamas, and a long sleeve shirt for $29!

In closing, I would like to add that my house does not still have pumpkins sitting in front of it while every other house in the neighborhood has Christmas trees or lights. I would not justify this by stating that at least the rotten ones have been thrown into the woods. Like that would make it ok to have pumpkins out in December!

Nope, not me!

Thanksgiving Day Fun!

Here are some photos of our Thanksgiving Day fun. We spent the day at with my paternal grandparents which is only about 20 minutes from our home. We had a really fun time and had the chance to visit with several Aunts and Uncles. I could be mistaken, but I'm fairly certain that this is the first Thanksgiving dinner Big B has been able to attend since he graduated from boot camp in 2004. And, even though he's been living in our guest room, we're thrilled he's home :o)

Little B and Big B

Momma and B

Watching the beautiful sunset over the Potomac River

Cousinly love!

Thanksgiving 2008 - Top 10

We would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! Don't forget to take time to reflect on the true meaning of Thanksgiving - counting your blessings and thanking God for them. Even with all of the political and economical drama that surrounds us, we are so blessed compared to the majority of the world. This year, here are the top 10 things for which I am truly thankful (in no particular order!):

1. A God who loves me with an unconditional love I don't deserve;

2. A hardworking, loving husband;

3. A happy, healthy, bouncing boy;

4. My Momma who has the love and patience to care for my baby boy;

5. My Dad who always finds the energy to give B a ride on his shoulders - even after working in 100 degree heat all day;

6. My in-laws who are always willing and able to watch their grandson - even on short notice;

7. Big B making it safely back to St. Mary's County;

8. A warm, cozy place to call home;

9. Food in my pantry;

10. The freedoms I have as an American and the soldiers who died to give me those freedoms.

There are so many more, but you get the idea! Anything that you are thankful for this year?

Another "Not me!" Monday

That's right folks, it's time for another "Not me!" Monday post. Be sure to check out MckMama's blog to read about the things she didn't do over the past week. Speaking of MckMama, she is trying to reach as many people as possible to create hype for String of Pearls, so pass her blog information to your friends.

As for me, I most certainly did not skip a week of "Not me!" Monday simply because I was too lazy to blog!

I did not manage to buy B a new coat, a new hat, two pairs of "glubs", "glub" holders, and a popcorn tin for $26 at Wal-Mart. Do such deals still exist?!

I did not eat half of a slice of almond pound cake as a pre-breakfast snack.

I did not finally get a week's worth of grocerys for under $50 ($49.68 to be exact) after (unsuccessfully) attempting to do so for several weeks. I also did not manage to do so after keeping track of my purchases on a calculator only to clear the total before I finished shopping.

I did not watch Wall-E five times since Friday because that is B's new favorite movie.

How about you? What did you not do this past week?

Nana's Daycare!

Lil B has a new friend at Nana's Daycare...

...it's Cousin Waylon!

Actually, it's more like B's Mommy's Cousin April's son Waylon, but we'll let B call him "Cousin Waylon" because it's a little easier! Lil B likes having Waylon around and enjoys helping Nana care for the little fella. Nana is a very patient woman!

Time for another "Not me!" Monday

Be sure to check out MckMama's blog to read about the origins of "Not me!" Monday and see what she didn't do over the past week.


As for me, I did not spend approximately 48 hours in sweatpants with no make-up on and my hair in a ponytail over the weekend. Sick or not, my hygiene comes first!

I did not go an entire week without posting cute pictures/videos/updates of my sweet little boy. After all, that is the point of a having a blog.

I did not tell my son to "be good and watch tv" so that I could try to grab a cat nap on Saturday. I am a mom and as such I know that I am not allowed to be sick!

How about you? Anything that you did not do this week that you would dare to share?!
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Speaking of cute videos of my son, here is a long-overdue cute clip of him trick-or-treating at his Pops and Nana's house:

Another "Not Me!" Monday

For the original story behind "Not me!" Monday, head on over to MckMama's blog. Here is a list of things I did not do this past week (I don't care what you've heard!):

- I did not devour an iced sugar cookie while hidden in the kitchen so as not to been seen by my son. After all, that would be childish!

- I did not stalk MckMama's blog awaiting news on baby Stellan. I mean, I do have a life...don't I?!

- I most certainly did not turn my alarm off at 4:30 am this morning and proceed to sleep for another 30 minutes. I did not - wake up in a panic at 5:00 am; still manage to shower, find clean clothes, and throw my hair up in a clip; throw all of the contents of my car in the trunk; do a 6-point turn to get out of my driveway; stop and get gas, and still make it to the carpool lot on time. I mean, that's not even humanly possible, is it?!

- I did not actually make a list of things that I didn't do so that I would have something to blog about. I mean, that would be silly!

What about you? Anything you did not do that you want to be "bruatally honest and live to tell about"?

Like Father, Like Son!

Yup - he's dressed up like Daddy for Halloween! Well, it depends on when you ask him really...

Around the beginning of October, Josh and I started asking B what he wanted to be for Halloween. Every time we asked, B told us "Daddy". We had B's Sammy (Josh's mom -- who is a far better seamstress than I could ever wish to be) take one of Josh's old uniforms and make it Brennan size. So B was all set to dress like Daddy for Halloween. Then a few days ago, when asked what he will be for Halloween, B responded that he was going to be "Chris". Thankfully, Chris works with Josh so no costume change was needed!

What a compliment to Josh (and Chris!) to be so admired by a little guy. And what a reminder of how the things we do and say have a huge impact on little people.

Have a fun and safe Halloween!

Halloween Sneak Peek!

Here's a peek of Lil B in his Halloween costume:

Can you guess who he is?!?