Winter Weather

Brooke and I are supposed to head to Knoxville tomorrow, but this winter weather has put a halt to our trip! Birmingham is supposed to have bad weather in the morning and Knoxville is supposed to get 1-3 inches of snow!!! I can't drive in the snow, so I guess its a no go!
BTW, it actually sleeted a bit tonight at church and school may be cancelled tomorrow! If I was still a teacher I would say, "Woo Hoo!"
We canceled Latte' Ladies and I doubt I will bring Brooke to MDO. She has a cold, so it is probably best to keep her in.

Beautiful Service!

Last night, we went to Chase's visitation at the Southern Heritage Funeral Home. Connie (our neighbor) and her kids came over and kept Brooke and Ella, so that Penn, Ashley, and I could go and pay our respects to Michelle, Robert, and Taylor. (Little GiGi stayed with the Quartapellas to play.) We also met Chase's dad~boy do they look alike! It was a good thing that we did not attempt to bring the girls because we were waiting in line for well over two hours. They had over 1200 visitors at the funeral home to sign the book and just imagine all who didn't. I have never seen anything like that in my life! I know they must feel so overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support. I pray that they will be able to get through this. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13
Today was Chase's Memorial Service. I haven't been to very many funerals, but I can say that this one was quite beautiful.
I dropped Brooke off at Tiffany's (another neighbor) to play and then met Christy and Ashley at Bruno's. We thought if we rode together that there would be less cars in the parking lot to leave room for others. Penn went ahead of us to drop off a pot of red beans and rice to the ROC.
When we arrived, there were several people lining the walls of the church foyer and so we kind of just followed suit. Then, we heard a loud, strange, rumbling sort of noise coming up to the church doors. It was Chase's body in a dark wood casket covered with breathtaking white roses. The pall bearers guided him in and put him at the front of the church. It was such a sobering, somber sound that I will always remember.
As we made our way into the church, we found Penn and sat with him. The church was packed very quickly and the over flow had to go over to the ROC to listen and watch via satellite. I felt content in our sanctuary and was glad that I had arrived early to something once in my life! (My mom and I always say we are going to be late to our own funerals due to the fact that we just can't seem to arrive anywhere in a timely manner! Ha!)
There was a CD playing with some very touching music. I could hardly bear the "Baby Boy" song. A real tear jerker!
The service finally began and all of the speakers just did a nice job trying to give everyone some sweet memories of Chase. Our pastor Jeff, did an especially great job preaching the gospel. I wonder how many will become Christians because of this service? Chase was a christian and is now in heaven. That is so comforting to know at times like these.
Anyway, I was a little disappointed to see one of my very favorite songs "How Great is our God" typed up in the program. I know it is selfish, but I loved to listen to that song in my car really loudly. It just gave me a GREAT feeling to have it playing as I drove around town. I would always secretly wish someone would hear it and say, "WOW I want to know how great our GOD is!" And now, I know I will always remember Chase and his family when I hear it. I think that it will be sad now because it will trigger the memory of the service and the great loss of their sweet boy!
I really do love that song and I look forward to the day Michelle is able to talk to me about it and tell me why she choose it for her baby's service.
Here are the words:

"How Great is our God"

The splendor of the King, clothed in majesty,
Let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice.
He wraps Himself in light, and darkness tries to hide,
And trembles at his voice, trembles at his voice.

Chorus:
How great is our God, sing with me,
How great is our God, all will see,
How great, how great is our God.

Age to age He stands, and time is in His hands,
Beginning and the end, beginning and the end.
The Godhead, three in one: Father, Spirit, Son,
The Lion and the Lamb, the Lion and the Lamb.

Name above all names,
Worthy of all praise,
My heart will sing
How great is our God.

Isn't it lovely! Can you hear it playing in your head? Are you starting to sway? Are you taping your foot?
After the service, we did not go to the graveside. The others with me thought it should be for family only. But, I did find out later that the state troopers reported to Nancy that the longest processional they had ever seen was 2 miles and Chase's was 5 miles! Is that just incredible or what?

The Worst News Ever

Last night honestly all I wanted to do was make some Hot Chocolate and watch Grey's Anatomy. (It's a huge guilty pleasure of mine!) And then my night and lives changed forever in just an instant.
John K. called to speak to Penn. I told him that Penn was putting the baby to sleep and he said, "Well, I will just tell you." And just like that he reported that Michelle's son was dead. I said, "Are you kidding?" As if someone would joke about something like that! I was in total shock and disbelief. I started to feel hysterical and ran upstairs to tell Penn.
Penn quickly left to pick up John K. to go over and be with the family. I stayed home with Brooke and continued to put her to bed. The tears were just streaming and I prayed to my God to just get this family through this horrible tragedy.
I wanted to hold my little girl and never let her go!
I couldn't believe that God would let something this bad happen to one of His children, but I do know He is in control and it is beyond my understanding.
I finally put my girl down and then the phone started ringing off the hook.
Several friends called to see if I had heard of the tragedy. We talked and cried and prayed.
I finally fell asleep on the couch and Penn woke me up when he got home around 1:00AM. We talked and cried and prayed some more until we fell asleep.
And then early this morning we woke up and it hit us again like a ton of bricks! It was real and not a nightmare. Penn said he just couldn't imagine if they got any sleep or not and then to wake up and let it hit you again all over!
I just pray that this family will be able to recover and find happiness and that we will be able to be there when they need us. The following scripture has brought comfort to me for this situation.

Job 1:6-22 (NASB)
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it." The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth,a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? "Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. "But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD. Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you." Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said,"Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

We love you Goodners!

Birmingham to Baton Rouge & Back

Saturday Morning Brooke and I slept in and then packed up to hit the road for an extra long weekend. We headed to Baton Rouge for my Sister-in-law's baby shower. My brother is having is first child, a boy.
Anyway, we piddled around the house forever and didn't get in the car until 1:30. It takes about 6 to 7 hours depending on stops, so that was gonna put us there well after dark. Oh well, no worries. The good thing about leaving so late is that Brooke was ready for a nap. As soon as we approached 65, she was out. That meant I was able to listen to MY music. I enjoyed several hours of my favorite praise and worship songs along with a little talk radio. I started craving Starbucks, so I was on the lookout for one close to an exit. I started thinking that I should just drive through without any stops and then Brooke woke up. We were passing through Meridian and she saw McDonald's. She said, "Mommy, McDonald's, eattt wunch, peas! I couldn't resist my little well mannered cutie and made a v-line or is it bee line to Mickey D's. There we both enjoyed a Happy Meal.(Brooke pleads for a hamburger every time and then she makes me eat hers. She only eats the fries. Oh and BTW, don't ever get their chocolate milk. It is pure sugar!) The food was pretty good, but we were a little disappointed to get boy toys in our happy meals. We were trying to finish our collection of the littlest pet shop figures!
~Back on the road again~
Now it's Brooke's turn to take over the radio. I had to sing and do the movements to every kid's song imaginable. And each one about 20 times each! I was desperate for a Starbucks treat. Finally, at three hours into the trip, I stopped in Hattiesburg. It's a college town, so I figured there must be a Starbucks around. Jackpot!! The lady at the gas station said there was one at the next exit just off the interstate. We sailed through the drive thru and I ordered a grande gingerbread latte. Now I was in the mood, well I mean now I could survive the rest the trip and Brooke's music selections. She is very particular. We sang and had a fabulous ride until we almost DIED!!!
Evidently, I got a little carried away with the motions to the music and I crossed a bit into the other lane! Well...when I jerked the wheel back I started to lose control of the vehicle and we were swerving all over the road just missing car after car by just a hair. It was the SCARIEST thing that has ever happened to me. I am so thankful that God protected us! I turned off the music and was shaking like a leaf. I just started praying and asking God to just get us to BR safely! And get this...Brooke thought it was totally hilarious. She kept saying again, again! I was about to have a nervous breakdown! We were only about 45 minutes from Baton Rouge and I just drove very carefully the rest of the way.
We arrived in BR at exactly 7:30PM. We made awesome timing!
Brooke and I met my mom at Walmart and then we all went out to Calendar's. It's a local restaurant with my favorite spin dip and salsa, with warm and crispy chips. After that, we headed to the house and stayed up late playing and talking.
On Sunday, the baby shower went well. Becky received lots of good stuff for Peyton. After the shower we all needed a nap, so we fell asleep watching the Saints lose. So sad! When we woke up, we went out for pizza and then shopping at Target. I talked Mimi into getting Brooke a newborn Cabbage Patch Doll. It was special because the doll~McKenna Sadie, had the same birthday as MiMi, April 25th. Don't you just love the smell of a brand new CPK?
On Monday, we hung out with my brother for a good while. We ran some errands and had lunch together. Brooke just thinks her uncle Brian is such a hoot! And then went out shopping again. Mimi bought more than a dozen new outfits for Brooke and then we went out for some dinner. We let Penn treat us to Olive Garden. It is one of our favorites. After that, we did a little more shopping and my mommy bought me a new dress and shoes. Yay Mom!
We got home well after Brooke's bed time, but decided we would still have a fashion show. Brooke tried on ALL of her new stuff. She is such a GIRL! She enjoyed every minute of it too! We packed up most of our stuff and tried to get to bed by midnight.
On Tuesday morn, we woke up, had breakfast and got ready to head back to Birmingham. We cried and said our goodbyes and were out the door by 10:00AM. We were on a time schedule because I had promised Ashley that Penn would watch Ella for a girls night out. We got down the road and my mom called. I had forgotten to load up the pack and play and I needed it for another upcoming trip, so I turned around and went back. Ugh! We said our goodbyes and then left once again. I pulled up at the gas station and wouldn't you know it, it was my mom calling again to tell me that I left my brush!!!! I don't know about you, but I can't live without my green brush! My mom agreed to bring it to the gas station, so Brooke and I just went in the gas station store and shopped around until Mimi arrived with the green brush.
We hit the interstate at 11:00AM and arrived in B'ham without any near death experiences at 5:00PM sharp. Record time again! I had just enough time to unpack and change and then Ash arrived with Ella.
We left Penn with the girls playing kitchen and we were free!!! We jetted to Sumo for a most fabulous Japanese steak house experience. It was my first time there and I loved it. I will definitely be going back in the near future.
After Sumo, some of us headed to Starbucks for coffee and dessert. It was worth rushing back for the great food and the fellowship of my eatin' good chat friends!!!

Friday Fun

Today, we had planned a playgroup at Oak Mountains Lanes for a little bowling fun, but when we arrived there was a surprise in store for us. The Special Olympics had reserved the entire bowling alley for their own purposes, so we all stood around trying to decide what to do. The kids were pretty pumped up about bowling, so we headed over to the bowling alley on 280 as a second choice. It was a smoke free facility which is good, but the prices were much higher. And the building and equipment was pretty out dated. The kids didn't know the difference and had a swell time "frowing da ball" as Brooke calls it! I bowled a 107(pretty poor for a girl with her own ball and shoes) and Brooke beat me with a 110. Can you believe that? The most fun was after we finished our 10th frame. All the kids celebrated by playing "Ring Around the Rosie" right smack in the middle of the lanes. (A new favorite of Brooke. She can sing the whole song by herself.)
We were starved for some lunch, so we agreed to go to the Mellow Mushroom. It is a playgroup favorite because it has a very large area upstairs with a chalkboard wall and the kids can run around and play. We all ate some lo-cal pizza (wink wink) and exhausted we sped home to have a much needed afternoon nap.
That evening, Brooke went to the nursery at church and Penn and I went to the Encourager's group at the Kitt's. Nancy fixed yummy gumbo, deviled eggs, and my new favorite Texas Hot Cocoa Cake. She is such a great hostess. Also, Amy brought some kind of buttermilk dump cake type of thing that was outrageously good. I will have to definitely get the recipe for that.
We all sat around stuffed and had some great fellowship.

Starbucks to Go

Today the Latte Ladies ordered their coffee to go and we headed out to the nail salon in Alabaster. There we had luxurious pedicures and sipped our cup of Joe's. It was great to get pampered and to finally have pretty toes again. Too bad it was really cold and we had to put our socks and closed toed shoes back on.
Afterwards, we headed to the mall for a little shopping and some lunch.
Oh how I do cherish these MDO Thursdays!

Fun Factory

Today Brooke had her birthday party at Fun Factory. It is a place in Bessemer that does private parties. There is a party room for cake and presents and a huge play room for the kids and their families to have a ball. I picked it because no one that I know has ever had a party there and I thought it would be something different. They offer theme parties and that was perfect because I wanted to have a Winnie the Pooh Party. Brooke's party just had to be Pooh because Pooh and two rhyme. For each party, the party room is decorated to go with your chosen theme. The center has a box of decorations that are used over and over again, but I insisted that I bring my own because I didn't really like the Pooh pattern they had or any of their Pooh stuff. You have to bring your own cake, but they supply the ice cream and drinks. You are also allowed to order pizza, but that is the only other food that can be brought in. They also supply generic treat bags, but you know I had to make my own party favors cups that were all Pooh themed.
I brought over the decor and Pooh music a couple of days before the party. The place promised that the room would be ready and decorated according to my list of wishes by the time the guests arrived. I told them that I was very particular in the way I like things done, and that I knew I was probably one of their most difficult customers. They were all like no problem anything you want blah, blah, blah! They just wanted me to book the party and pay the bucks!
But...when I arrived at 4:17(And don't even ask why I wasn't there before that cause that's a whole other story) along with all the other guests, do you think the room was ready for us? NO!!!!! The lady was still cleaning it from the earlier party!
Can you say meltdown? I was already on edge from being late and feeling a little PMSish that I almost flipped out! I did speak my mind to the party people and then went outside to shed one or two tiny tears because I was soooo mad! They worked fast and had the room ready at 4:31. A took a couple of deep breathes and got over it!!
The guest took off their shoes and headed to the playroom!
Everybody seemed to have a great time especially my little Brookie. In the playroom, there are four huge bouncers/giant slides, an arcade, a little tikes playground, a dress up area and more. We even had a real live Pooh and Tigger in the playroom bouncing around and taking pictures!

It was Mike and Sondra Beck. They dressed up for us! They were so cute! Thanks y'all! The kids played in the playroom and used up their tokens for about an hour and then it was time to go back to the party room.
In the party room, we had pizza, cake, and ice cream. In lieu of gifts, I asked that each family bring a $5 donation for St.Jude's Cancer Research Hospital. We raised well over $100 dollars!! Woo Hoo! Thanks everyone! It is so important that we find a cure for all of the terrible childhood cancers that are taking our babies from us. I just have always had a soft place in my heart for St. Jude's. I always read about families impacted by cancer on Caringbridge and just cry my eyes out! It was such a success raising money that I do plan on doing it again next year. Maybe a different charity? I would like to make it a family tradition. My hope is to instill the joy of giving in Brooke more and more as each year passes.
And don't feel bad about her not getting presents on her birthday, because many could not resist and brought gifts anyway.(Against my wishes!) So... after the party we headed out to have more fellowship with our out of town guests and then we all went back to the house to open gifts and to watch the Saints win Who Dat?
What a great day to celebrate being 2!!!!!!!
(BTW, I'm totally exhausted!)

OK,OK I confess...

So much for starting 2007 off right as for as healthy food choices. I will NEVER drop a pound at this rate.
Because you see...Penny MADE me go to Red Geranium for lunch today! She had never been before, so I felt it was my duty as a good friend to accompany her. (The things I do for you Penny!) And Becky called while I was on the way. She was beyond famished, so being the good friend that I am I insisted that she meet us there. Rachel also said she may come over to meet us with her mother-in-law who was in town and they did. We also ran into Nancy and Tracey. We were all being so bad today.
Sadly for you non-rebels, you can never go cause that restaurant just does NOT have anything healthy or cheap on the menu!(It's not really expensive, just not Mikey D's cheap!)
Well...as if the chicken salad on croissant with chips wasn't bad enough we had to go and order dessert too! We had a piece of this really delictable Texas Hot Cocoa Cake right smack out of the oven! Have you heard of it? It was sinfully good!
Anyway, lucky for you, I went into my secret chocolate cake vault and found a recipe for it. ;-)
So...who wants to make it and let me compare it to the Red Geranium's? You know, it would be a great dessert for next Friday's fellowship night. Hint! Hint! I promise if it taste anything like the one we had you won't be disappointed.

Texas Hot Cocoa Cake
2¼ hours 1½ hours prep
Cake
3 1/2-4 tablespoons cocoa
1/4 lb butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
2 cups sugar
2 cups Wondra Flour
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
Frosting
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 1/2-4 tablespoons cocoa
6 tablespoons milk
1 box confectioners' sugar
nuts (optional) Put pecan halves spaced out evenly (I for each piece

Combine in saucepan cocoa, butter, oil, and water.
Bring to a boil, stirring; let cool.
Combine sugar and flour in a large bowl.
Pour cocoa mixture, when cooled, over flour and sugar; and beat until smooth.
Combine buttermilk, eggs, soda, cinnamon and vanilla; then beat into above mixture.
Grease and flour a 13x9 inch pan; bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
Frosting: Start 10 minutes before baking is done.
Combine frosting ingredients except for confectioner's sugar in a bowl, mix.
Add confectioner's sugar; stir well, then beat until thick.
Spoon frosting over hot cake.
Top with nuts if desired.

HOW YUMMY!!!!!

Ladies Retreat

Psalm 84
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. 8 Hear my prayer, LORD God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. 10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 12 LORD Almighty, blessed are those who trust in you.

This weekend I went on the Evangel Ladies Retreat at Shocco Springs, Al. I almost didn't go because my supposed to be room canceled, but I had a little talk with the Man upstairs and He said I SHOULD go! The retreat Center was about an hour and a half away. Mandy W. drove Penny and me. On the way, we stopped at Starbucks for a Caramel Frappuccino. Yum! We had a nice ride (no traffic) with lots of girl talk.
We arrived just in time to check out our room, have and snack, and then eat more at dinner. Why do these types of trips give you free reign to EAT the ENTIRE time you are awake? I sampled 2 of EVERYTHING they offered in the cafeteria and it was all quite good. The fellowship in the dining hall centered around gross stuff like throwing up and then ending up with how many pounds people had gained during pregnancy to telling delivery war stories! Hopefully, the men from Oak Mountain, PCA whom we were sharing the cafeteria with didn't over hear our conversations.(They had their men's retreat at the same time and place as us. I even saw a guy I knew!)
Anyway, after dinner we sang a bit and then broke into totally random small groups. We each had a puzzle piece and had to find the rest of our puzzle. Carol S. was my leader and Coral B., Alea S., Jennifer S., Lori J. and a lady visitor named Karen were all in my small group. We all shared some ways that God had revealed Himself to us in our lives. It was great to get to know these women and to hear their stories.
After meeting with our small group, we headed back to the conference room and sang a few more songs. Then, our special guest Cheri Bachofer spoke for a while. As a career, she is a life coach and she also gives talks to groups like ours. She was very pleasant, attractive and informative. Her talk centered around her life's journey and her life verse~Psalm 84. We talked mostly of achieving a truly intimate relationship with God. To help complete this much desired goal, we then had a quiet time. I read my bible and prayed a lot. I always feel closer to God after having a quiet time. At home, it is usually only in 5 minute increments, but tonight we had 30 whole minutes at once. It was nice!
After quiet time, we played a gift giving game and I got a $10 gift certificate to get my nails done! WOO HOO! The early birds went to bed and a bunch of us stayed up eating more chocolate and playing games. Mandy and I roomed together and we stayed up until 2:15AM talking.
We arose bright and early for breakfast. We had to be there at 7:30AM! I ate a ton of food and was totally stuffed. The format of the day was about the same as the night before. We sang, listened some more to Cheri, met with our small groups and had a private quiet time. At noon, we ate lunch and then headed home. On the way home, we stopped to see Grant, Michelle, and Baby Catherine at Brookwood. She was sooo tiny & precious! Congratulations McCalebs!
All in all, I would have to say it was an excellent retreat! I am so glad that God put me there. Thank you to the retreat committee and especially to Cheri and Ginger!

Just in case you were wondering...I did manage to get ALL of the Christmas decorations down on Friday before the retreat! Good thing cause I don't think I would have been able to relax with that on my mind! But let me tell you a little secret, as of today Jan. 7th, my mother still had some of hers up! ;-) I guess its in the genes! I told her she should just keep them up until next year and she got mad! Goodness Mommy! I was just kiddin' around!

~Happy Birthday to Brooke~

Today is Brooke's 2nd birthday! Happy birthday my sweet girl. I love you more than words can ever express. You are my light and shining star. I wish I could freeze time and that you could stay this size forever! I love having you be the center of my universe. I love to rock you good night like a little bitty baby cradled in my arms. I love to pray with you and to sing you lullabies. I love how you sing along with me even though it is hard for you to pronounce the words. You are my little sponge and it is just amazing how you are soaking up everything around you from the minute you get up in the morning and say, "I waked up!" until you say "Night, night bed bites" before you close your eyes. I just pray that I am exposing you to the right things in life and that God will give me the grace, strength, and wisdom to help raise you into a loving and caring woman of God. You are so wonderful!
Thank you God for this little piece of heaven on earth.
BTW, Brooke had a wonderful day today! She woke up singing "Happy Birthday to me" and shook her head yes and said "I blowed out the candles now!" She then blew out the pretend sparkly cupcakes on her shirt.
I dropped her off at MDO with pink (her favorite color besides bluuuuue) cupcakes with sprinkles to share with her classmates. When I picked her up she said, "Mama, I timed out!" She told on herself for getting in trouble. She is so cute and honest too.
Next, we headed to the doctor to meet Penn for her annual check up. No shots when you are two, so it was fine for me to bring her, although she wasn't very enthusiastic. I tried to prepare her to be sweet, but she totally started melting down when the doctor arrived. We finally calmed her, and he did get to check her out. She was in perfect health weighing 26 pounds and measuring 33 3/4 inches tall. Pretty average for a 2 year old. By the end of the visit, she had really warmed up and even blew Dr. McCowan a kiss and said she loved him. Although the highlight was the "wollypop" as she would say!
We headed home for a nap.
After Brooke's nap, Daddy came home and we went to eat at O'Charley's. Brooke wanted to go there because of the rolls, and she also loves their pizza. It's her favorite food at the moment! They brought her a balloon. She asked for pink, but they only had red. Brooke enjoyed dipping chips into the sour cream for the first time. Penn and I always love when she likes a new food. Too bad it was sour cream and not a vege!
At the end of the meal, Brooke lapped up a huge slice of caramel pie. That's what they bring instead of the mini cakes they used to have. They also do not sing Happy Birthday anymore! A little disappointing to Penn and me, but she didn't know the difference. Finally, we were on our way home to open gifts~including letting Brooke see the kitchen for the 1st time. And yeah it is already like seven o'clock by this time.
We put the candle from Penn's 2nd birthday in a tuptake (That's how Brooke pronounces it) and she finally got to blow out a candle for real!!! (She has been obsessed with blowing out candles ever since Nancy's birthday!)
For the grand prize of the day, we headed up to Brooke's room to find the cutest kitchen ever! Thanks Mimi! You are the best! Brooke loved it. We had stocked it fully and she unstocked it fully in about 2 seconds flat. There goes my organization!(fruits in one bin, veges in another, dairy product together, meats in another, ice cream in the freezer, blender here, toaster there, pots and pans arranged just so, etc., etc.) Anyway, I must say it was a hit. She absolutely adored it! It was hard for my baby to get to sleep because she just needed to keep "paying kitchen" and "Cooukin"!
Happy 2nd Birthday little girl!!!!

Update...

Shortly after I finished blogging last night, Penn came out of the guest room and let me peek at the new kitchen. (See Blog Below!) It is soooooooooo cute. He did a fantastic job!
He also went ahead and put away the daybed and all of its parts in the attic! You know my policeman husband couldn't bear to sleep with a fire hazard in the hall!
Can't wait to post Brooke's reaction to her special day tomorrow!
Oh and I have a confession...I still have most of my Christmas decorations up. Am I a red neck or what?

Rearranging!

Brooke received so many toys for Christmas that I am having to rearrange the entire house!
I just took down her daybed to make some space for playing in her room. Besides, I never let anyone sleep in the silly ole bed because I didn't want anybody to mess up the cute white-eyelet coverlet. Also, whenever anyone would sit on it I would just cringe and then as soon as they got up I would straighten out the wrinkles. Hello! It is a bed made for sitting on and sleeping in! So, its a very good thing I went ahead and took it down. Now I won't have to obsess over it anymore.
Anyway, she needs the space for her new Large Kid Kraft Kitchen! It is 42 inches wide and weighs 80 pounds. (A special gift from Mimi!) Penn is putting it together as we speak. She will get it for her birthday in a couple of days. He is putting it together in the guest room with the door locked, so it will be a big surprise for Brooke on her real birthday. He is so cute when he is building. He has been in there for about 2 hours. I hear hammering and drilling, so I know he is alive!
Tomorrow, I will stock the new play kitchen with all of the essentials. It was so much fun buying all the play food, dishes, utensils, and mini stainless steel pots and pans! Penn says I bought way too much play food and that it is going to be strung all over the house in no time. But...I am under the grand delusion that Brooke will keep it nice, tidy, and organized!
I know pray for me. I need help.
Anyway, I still have half the Christmas decorations to take down and now I have a totally dissembled day bed out in the middle of the hallway.(I hope there is not a fire or we're in trouble!)
I think that I will go and shower and like Scarlet O'Hara says, "Oh, I'll worry about that tomorrow!" (You have to read it in your best Southern accent.)
Good Night!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

For Christmas, Penn, Brooke, and I went to visit Mimi in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We had a very nice time visiting with family and friends. Brooke had the most fun playing with Mimi, Paw Paw, some Aunts and Uncles, and some of her Louisiana friends.
On Christmas Eve, we attended a candlelight service and I sent Brooke to the nursery. I went to get her about 3/4's of the way through the service. I just didn't feel good about her being in the nursery! Good thing cause when I went in there to pick her up there were only 2 young girls keeping the children and the other girl was swinging a child around in circles by her arms!! Yikes! I would have flipped out if they were doing that to Brooke. Also, they did not know who I was because Penn and Mimi had dropped her off and they did not even question why I was picking her up!!! I could have been a total kidnapper! Anyway, I wanted her to hear the Christmas story, sing a hymn or two, and to see the candles. Mimi held her while we took communion. At this church, they broke the bread and you dipped it in the wine. They broke her off a piece, but I didn't let her dip it! Afterwards, she said "Good Roll, more please". At the end of the service, we lit the candles. She thought it was a birthday party with all those candles. We told her she was absolutely correct! We were celebrating Jesus' birthday! She loved holding her own candle. She did so well! Unfortunately, I was the one who spilled wax on one of my favorite skirts and Brooke's shoes too. Way to go me!
On Christmas morning, Brooke's much anticipated bicycle (it is really a big wheel) was a hit except that she can't fully reach the petals at this time! I'm sure it won't be long though! Santa Claus went way over board and we recieved so many presents that they all could not fit in the Explorer! We had to leave them behind. Mimi will try to bring them on her next visit to Birmingham.
In the afternonn, we ate our traditional Christmas dinner and Rum cake. It is the 2nd year we have done the rum cake and it is out of this world. It is a very secret recipe, so don't ask for it!! HeHe!
Our little Brooke is growing up so fast and she is one smart little cookie! For Example, Mimi told her a couple of nights before Christmas that Aunt Becky was coming over and that she had a baby in her belly named Peyton, well don't you know that she went right up to Becky on Christmas day and said Becky, then pointed to her stomach and said Peyton. Then she rubbed it and kissed it! It is so amazing to see her little mind just soaking it all in. It will be fun for her to meet her new cousin in a couple of months!
Anyway, we all throughly enjoyed the holiday and Penn and I even got to go out on a Hot Date! It was truly a very Merry Christmas!
We arrived home from BR just in time for New Year's Eve! We attended church in the morning and set some new year's resolutions! After church, we headed over to Habanero's with several church friends for our traditional after church Mexican fiesta! After lunch Brooke had a seista and Penn and I hung out. Then, the Clements came over for a visit. We celebrated some more by going over to the Lowdens for some watch the ball drop fun. We ate lots of food and had a great time visiting! Brooke had a grand time too!(She can really hang in there ans she's not even two yet.) We pretended it was time to count down at 11:00PM and cheered as the ball dropped. Penn had to then carry John upstairs because he had thrown his back out that morning. My heman of a husband carried John all the way to his bed and tucked him in for the night! Poor John! He is still in bed today not able to move at all! We pray that he will feel better SOON!
Well, we made it home just in time to put Brooke to bed and pop open some of our favorite champane for the central time zone countdown! We toasted to the new year and stayed up until 2:30 having some grown up fun. Wink! Wink!
I must say that 2006 has been very good to us! I can't wait to see what God has in store for us in 2007!