This was the best shot we got...

Not exactly the best of pictures....but heck, it isn't even Thanksgiving yet.

And this was the most Southern Santa we had ever met...

Friday Pictures - Shoes and what I do on Thursday nights...

I admit it. I have a shoe problem. And it's not for me, it's for my kids. I love getting shoes for the girls. They have church shoes, tennis shoes, multiple pairs of crocs (which they are discouraged from wearing to school anymore), and play shoes. I am thinking I need to get some boots for them, although it doesn't snow here...

Anyways, I bought Audrey's newest pair of shoes from Kohl's for $14.99...what a deal!

Aren't they cute? (and yes, I mean the shoes and the people)

Buy me more shoes!
Check out my new shoooooossssss.
Ashley had to get in on the fun...she is showing off her socks. That black thing? It's really Minnie Mouse's head...

The next pictures are going to showcase what I do for an hour and a half on Thursday nights...just in case anyone out there was curious...My town built a brand new cultural center a little over a year ago. Yes, my little town outside of Raleigh has a cultural center. It's really kind of cool, it has a library, rooms for classes, a coffee bar, and a 200 person auditorium. That auditorium is where we practice and play. The town provides us with chairs and stands.

Gathering before practice. That person in the red on the right is my good friend Heather. She comes to my house and eats dinner with us prior to practice every Thursday. And she got to see the wrath of grumpy Ashley last night. I think I scared her from having more children.

I sit next to these clowns. Seriously, they were laughing so hard at one point last night they were crying. Or maybe they were crying because they miss Martha?

Our low brass, the trombones and tuba guy. Oh, and the end of my bassoon. There are normally a few baritones, but they didn't show up tonight. I think they knew I was going to bring my camera.

My view, and our very nice, very good band director. The seats normally don't look like that, they are pushed up against the wall.

And this is what I play.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...well, it has for a while for us since we have been practicing Christmas music since September. This piece we are actually playing along with a children's choir.

The Newest Member of Our Family

For the past few months, we have been in search of a dog. We had pretty specific wants - a small to medium dog, older (aka already house trained) and good with kids. One of Ray's clients rescues dogs, and ultimately, this is where we got Tootles...(not the best picture, Ray was taking them...)We think Tootles is a full breed Dachshund, but we aren't sure, and it doesn't really matter. She is a great dog, doesn't bark, good with Ashley and Audrey, small and doesn't really shed.

And this is Ashley's first reaction.

Ashley is used to one of our neighbors dogs who is big and jumps on her all the time. Ashley warmed up quickly though. And Audrey? Watching her with the dog is hilarious. She goes from sheer joy to excitement to terrified to mad in the matter of a few seconds. She is so excited about the dog, but then we the dog puts her paws on her, she gets a little scared. And then she wants Tootles to just sit so she can pet her, and when Tootles doesn't, she gets pissed. She spent much of the first evening with Tootles chasing her through the house yelling "DOG, DOG, WAIT". It was quite cute.

Tootles is definitely a lap dog. She wants to be on someone at all times. And we were told she likes to sleep with people. Ashley wanted Tootles to sleep with her the first night, so she made a bed out of blankets on her floor. Ray went to read Ashley books, and Tootles got a little excited and ended up peeing on Ashley's blankets. I asked Ashley if she wanted Tootles to sleep with her when Ray was done reading to her, and her answer was an emphatic no. I think she was worried Tootles would pee on her. So Tootles slept with Ray and I, or rather me, as she slept on me most of the night. Then last night she slept more with Ray, which was nice since the dog had gas...ah, to be a pet owner again...

Winter Bazaar - Thanksgiving

This year, we are spending Thanksgiving Day in Myrtle Beach with my Mom and Stepdad and my brother and his wife. That morning, some of us are running the 5K race in Myrtle (and Ashley is running a race geared towards her age), and then going home to my parents house to recouperate and then out to dinner for Thanksgiving dinner. I have honestly never eaten out for dinner, but I am thinking it will be kind of nice not to cook or clean.

Anyways, I was searching for things for us to eat for lunch that day that would be fun. And I came across these..

Teeny Turkeys

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
Cocktail pumpernickel bread
Vegetable cream cheese

Decorations:
Peas (eyes)
Red pepper
Pepperoni
Cheese
Cashew
Slivered almond
Parsley

1. For each sandwich, spread vegetable cream cheese between 2 slices of cocktail pumpernickel bread.

2. For the head, use a small drinking glass or round cookie cutter to cut a circle from another slice of bread, then stick it to the top of the sandwich with a dab of cream cheese.

3. Likewise, add facial features such as pea eyes, a red pepper or pepperoni snood (above the beak), and a pepper, cheese, or cashew beak. Finally, wedge pepper, slivered-almond, or parsley-sprig feathers between the bread slices.

Go visit Scribbit for more ideas...

A Few of My Favorite Things....

I could not participate in yesterday's Fun Monday because the battery on my camera is dead and the charger is at Ray's office. Don't ask.

Instead, today I will show you my favorite things, or more importantly, my wish list for Christmas. This is really more for Ray who stated "I don't need a list for you". I am fortunately already done shopping for Ray for Christmas. I will have to tell you that tale after the Holidays...

1. An Apron - If you recall, I have mentioned the need of an apron before. And check out this cool apron from Vera Bradley. Plus, it won't break the bank.


2. A new watch - I love watches. I have a digital watch, a Disney watch, and a VT watch (what, are you shocked?). But I would really like just a plain old watch.
3. A potato ricer and a potato masher - I really am not nuts. I just love to cook, and as I am trying new recipes and such, I am finding the need for certain tools. Like these.


4. PJs - one thing that I failed to buy myself after losing 60 pounds was pjs. I have a few things, but a few more would ensure that I don't go to bed and wake up in the morning with my pants at the bottom of the bed.
5. A Bassoon Book - this is an item I have asked for from my husband a few times...I should have just ordered the damn thing myself. One day I will learn!


6. Photo Smart printer - this is really a wish list item. Ray got me a photo printer last year, but it was free with the camera he bought me, and it really doesn't work well. Plus the few pictures I have printed from it have all seriously faded. So what's a must have item for you this Christmas? And speaking of more Christmas, head over to my friend Julie's blog...she is hosting an ornament exchange.

Veterans Day

I will be posting my Fun Monday post tonight...

But today, I would like to thank all of our service men and women, from past and present, for what they have done for our country.

My Stepdad is retired Army, and with a couple of bullets still in his back, he served our country well.

Thanks to all our veterans...

Band Drama!

As most of you know, I play bassoon in my town's community concert band. And a ton of crap has been happening lately, which I find totally interesting, but some of you may want to skip this snooze fest...

The original band director had some issues. He wouldn't listen to us as a band, chose music I hated (as well as most others), and made mistakes in concerts. Was he getting paid? Absolutely not. Do I make mistakes in concerts? Absolutely. The difference was he wouldn't take constructive critism, not from the band members or the board.

I was at one time the fundraising chair person. I pretty much quit because no matter how much work I put into it, it wasn't enough. This guy expected a full time job to be done by me, and here I am thankful I found a band that only practiced for two hours once a week. I was doing this because I loved it....

The Board members all had issues with him, and approached him on several occasions. Then I guess they finally had enough after myself and my good friend Heather said we were going to go try out another band (although the only other band Heather and I found looked like we would be the youngest members by a good 30 years...). Their plan was to meet with the band director and convince him to step down. And they wanted me present for this.

Of which I was not. I knew this was going to turn ugly and I do not like confrontations. I don't do well with them. I mostly just cry. Ask Ray about the time he tried to buy a car with me and started getting loud with the sales guy....me crying actually helped...anyways...

So the band director stepped down. And now we have this cool new woman director who rocks. And all is good in band geekdom.

Over 400 Posts

I have gone over 400 posts on this blog! Wahoo or whatever. Not really all that exciting, just thought I would mention it.

I am running a 5k on Thanksgiving Day and I am signed up for another one in January (which I won't mention where, but it may be in the happiest place on earth, which I may or may not get to go to). I am really thinking I want to do a half marathon. I know I could never do a full one because I don't have the time to train (or desire), but the half is more attainable.

And yes, I am really only running the one on Thanksgiving Day so I can eat more that day...

How's that for some Saturday randomness?