Black Friday = Blah Friday...

You know, I'm not really one to get up at the crack of dawn (or sooner) to chase a bargain on Black Friday, BUT when we hit the mall this morning, I really was expecting a little more selection in the deal department. Boy, was I mistaken! However, I did manage to stumble across THIS...the "Christine" cardigan from Eddie Bauer! Designed after one that Christine Bauer herself owned, it's a retro throwback to simple and chic design. It doesn't take much to impress me, right? What makes it even better is that even on sale online, it retails for $40. I was able to purchase this amazing cardigan (which I've been drooling over since late summer) and a button down shirt for $30! Black Friday is mostly BLAH, but I scored on this one! :0)

Pining for the Past...

I've recently come to realize that it's hard to grow up, to be the grown up, and to know without a shadow of a doubt that the past will never be again. It's times like these, when I'm the only one awake in the house (mine or anyone else's, as it happens), that my mind starts to wander. I'm famous for my really good memory. Eric says I never forget a thing. And, maybe that's the trouble...

I'm remembering holidays past, and I wish to goodness that some things could just be the way they were. For one, I miss the naieveness of childhood, when no matter what was going on behind the scenes, I was blissfully ignorant of it all and just had a good time eating and playing with my cousins. That's another thing I miss. I LOVED seeing my cousins all the time, but especially gathering at Nanny and Papaw's for a holiday get-together. We always had so much fun! And now, well, we never see each other anymore. Thank goodness for the internet, I guess. And, I miss Papaw and the farm and picking pecans and him stoking the fire in the stove and scaring all of us as we walked past his recliner into the kitchen, chasing the amazing smells that wafted our way.

I know things can't remain the same. It's not natural, but sometimes, I just wish for a little of the past to carry forward. I want life to be a little less complicated and a lot more, well, not complicated, I guess. I am thankful that I have lived long enough to have a "past," and that Eric and I are building traditions for our boys. With any luck, they'll have just as fond a store of memories as I do...that we all do.

Folks, regardless of today being "thanksgiving," let's all try a little harder to be honestly, truly, deeply thankful for all with which we have been blessed. It could be worse. As for me, well, I guess I need to start living a little more in the present while cherishing the past for what it is...the past...

I Am Thankful For...

I am thankful for so many people, places, and things. God has truly blessed my family, and he has provided for us beyond my wildest dreams. We have never gone without, been in want or need, and He has provided a comfortable, wonderful, amazing life for our little family. I am thankful...

I Am Thankful For...

-Our loving and merciful God

-Eric, Braden, and Garrett

-Our wonderful extended families

-Large network of trustworthy, creative, talented, caring friends

-Productive and fulfilling occupations for both Eric and myself

-Good, quality education for our boys

-Lots of room to roam and fresh air to breathe at our amazing home

-Opportunities to travel and expose our children to things we never experienced

-Good food

-Good drink, on occasion

-And good books and movies, which we love so much in our family! :0)

New Moon...

Saw it, loved it, wanna see it again!!!!! It's better than Twilight (if that's even possible) and completely worth the money to go see Edward, and yes, Jacob, too, on the big screen!

Christmas Card Preview...

This is your official preview of the Springs family Christmas card, 2009! Many thanks to Michelle, for your patience with all of us, especially Garrett who only wanted to stick out his tongue and cross his eyes! We appreciate your willingness to help!

Back to Reality...

Well, we're back from our big anniversary trip to Branson. Reality hits again...and it hits hard...it hurts. We love our children dearly, but it was so wonderful to get away Friday morning and hit the open road (behind tractor trailers, that is) and take a leisurely cruise up to the mountains. I'm sure it was more leisurely for me, since I got car sick and had to go to sleep to keep my breakfast down. Poor Eric, always the driver and never the passenger...

We hit Silver Dollar City early and the weather could not have been more beautiful! It was in the upper sixties and crowded...but not nearly as much as when we went again Saturday! You couldn't turn around w/out bumping into yourself on Saturday! Mostly, we just ate our weight in treats (especially the apple dumplings!) and visited the shops that we can't take our rascals into. We also visited Big Cedar and met some very nice folks there. We didn't shop and we didn't hang out in the children's area at SDC (that's the "City," not student detention for those edunerds out there), and we didn't have to panic when we heard other people's kids fussing...we just hung out and breathed easy.

I forgot my deodorant, so we had to hit Target...three-and-a-half hours just to go to Target! I did do a little stocking shopping there. We had dinner at Branson Landing, that seafood restaurant that Bass Pro has. It was really good.

Sunday afternoon, when we pulled up to my sister's house in Pocola, the kids were giddy...which is a good thing since our boys now regularly declare that they don't love us any more. The things kids say when they don't get their way! Thanks so much to Erica and Matt for taking in two additional boys for the weekend. Our plans for Nana to watch them largely fell through and the aunt and uncle saved the day! We appreciate it. Imagine, four boys all under age six!

Reality is here...we are here...our boys are here...and we're back to the old grind, but what a great grind it is! :0)

I Won!...

Look what I won! There was a give away on Sew Cute Shop last week and I WON! I never, ever win anything! These are the little woot woots and they are mine! All of you know that my new (well, now just all time) favorite place is the Sew Cute Shop at Etsy. This is why! And, yes, that's Amy Butler fabric!

CMA Envy...

Watching and drooling over the CMA awards. I always wanted to be a famous country music singer...too bad I can't sing. I have just witnessed the awesomest (most awesome?) rendition of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by The Zack Brown Band! Literally, I was in awe! And, as Darren likes to say, "Hootie, no Blowfish" is now an official CMA winner! I love his country music!

Belated Halloween Pics...

These first two are from the afternoon before trick-or-treating. We went to Emma and Luke's house in town for our first ever friend Halloween party. Everyone had a blast and Eric and David got to nerd out, discussing engineering "stuff." In the photo w/Braden and I, you can see their new sun porch...Eric helped w/a little of it.

The last two photos are of the boys in the nursery room at church. I decorated the door (w/some help from Erica and our friend Davina) and passed out candy at our first ever trick-or-treat spectacular event. The boys wanted to be Luke Skywalker and "a jedi." I've joked that they both wanted to be the same thing, but I wasn't going to be the one to tell them. Once Garrett got a look at his costume (identical to Braden's), his first reaction was "I decided I want to be a pumpkin." We went round and round on that one...the day before Halloween! In the end, I had two Jedis! :0)

Is It Really November?...

After we survived the seemingly endless days of rain, clouds, and more rain, last week was an absolute wonder! Then, this weekend, it felt as if late spring had arrived once again! I took a picture of my blooming buds while we were messing around outside because they haven't bloomed all spring/summer, but now...

The boys had a blast just being out in the sunshine and warmth...after I convinced them to actually go outside. They are still not comfortable being out there in that big ole' yard by themselves. Although, the boy next door came over to play Sunday afternoon and they all had a great time!

Sunday, after church, the boys and I had a picnic lunch out on the hill in the backyard. They are so fun and funny! Look at Garrett's face!

This was Saturday afternoon. After Eric mowed the yard (finally), he took the boys for a ride around the neighborhood and the yard...courtesy of the Dixie Chopper, of course! In the midst of trying to photograph this hilarity, I was being chased by a honey bee AND a red wasp! You should have seen me run!