You know it is time to go back to work when you have made cinnamon rolls, sugar cookies, banana nut bread, and mini-cheesecakes as well as cleaned the house, organized your shoes, discovered your refrigerator is on wheels which means you can clean behind it by yourself, and determined that daytime TV really is no good.

Anyone want some mini-cheesecakes or a mini-loaf of banana nut bread???  Or does someone actually need something baked and just doesn't feel like doing it??

Singing John

John entertained us while enjoying a Christmas sprinkles, chocolate glazed Tato-nut.

Up first - John informing us that he is a Saints fan (and we have decided he could be on the edge of becoming a coonass (the term used in this area to describe a redneck from LA)).  (Please note that I called myself a redneck in the previous post).  No worries Atlanta friends - MB and I quickly taught him the "Dirty Bird."

Then he moved on to signing "Jingle Bells."  MB had taught him the "Batman smells, Robin laid an egg" rendition - so Uncle Andrew surprised us by teaching John another one while we were at the grocery store.  This was the first time he had sung his new words (thanks once again to Uncle Andrew) so it goes without saying that MB and I were shocked.

Yes, he said, "Batman smells, Robin....Tucker dropped a turd."  I promise, Andrew really only teaches John these things to pick at my sister.  He really doesn't teach other kids such bad things...really I promise.  See previous post about teaching John gun safety and building all the neat things with legos.

And finally - he sang songs from his Christmas program.

Redneck Christmas

Andrew and I opted to give each other a shared gift this year for Christmas.  It is a new toy that both of us have wanted and started to worry that if we didn't buy it soon, we wouldn't be able to buy one...

We weren't able to shoot it before Christmas so of course we took it with us so we could shoot in Macon.  Well...as our luck would have it...it rained on Christmas Eve (even though the forecast said it wouldn't), but we didn't let that stop us.  The reason southern homes have porches is for drinking sweet tea, visiting with friends, and...

 shooting your guns into the dirt pile.  Yep, we did that.  Yep, we are those people.

Continuing on - my father in law found these beer glasses for his boys.

 It says, "REDNECK 8oz, Good Ole Boy 6oz, Member NRA 4oz, Yankee 2oz."

Yep, really - we are those people.  For those of you that thought we only spent time at the golf country club - think again - we spend time at the redneck country club as well.

Christmas, Part 1

Yes I know I haven't updated the rest of Thanksgiving - but someone, cough, cough, Brandy, cough, hasn't loaded up the pictures.

We started Christmas in Ocean Springs, made a pit-stop just north of Mobile for a brief exchange, then finished in Macon.  Mom and Dad, Grandmomma and Granddaddy were all supposed to be with us in Ocean Springs, but Mom got sick and couldn't make the trip until Sunday - when we were leaving.  So we got to spend time with everyone and at least got to see Mom and Dad.

After this trip home, we have decided that Alabama needs new welcome signs.  They should read, "Welcome to Alabama!  Warning: We make budget each year by creating phantom work zones (note: you will not see any work done for years) so we can drop the speed limit without warning by 20 mph, then set up the ultimate speed trap with 50 troopers and one on the bridge.  We hope you enjoy your trip!"

Tucker jumped in the car when I started to load it for the trip.  He refused to get out, so I loaded around him and he sat there for an hour before we went any where!!  I would say he was ready to go.

 See, I've added bags in the floor.

 And finally his bed.

The kid loved, and I do mean loved, his dino rain coat and umbrella.

 And his legos -

Uncle Andrew built him a dino with legos.  While building with Uncle Andrew, he said, "I though legos were boring until today.  I didn't know you could build really tall towers, dinos, and houses!!"  Leave it to Uncle Andrew to teach that boy something.

We also gave him a dart gun.  He was given very specific instructions about not shooting at people or dogs and always walk with the barrel pointed down.  He corrected me once for carrying it with the barrel out and put his daddy in time out when Hugh shot MB, haha!!  The adults are always the trouble makers.  He also learned that you "had to wick" the bullets to make them stick...he means lick.

After a long day of cooking, running, eating, opening gifts, everyone was taking a break.  MB and I were on the porch in her rope chairs - think mini-hammocks...awesome - with the windows opened because we may have burnt something earlier in the day drinking several adult treats when our boys decided to take a break too.  They had been playing together all day.  They really love each other.  The only problem was John could crawl through the window but Tucker is too big - he didn't like that too much.

Nap Time

Andrew was post call today, which means he was very tired.  However, he really wanted to go to the driving range.  Since I don't like for him to drive post call, I offered to drive him out there so he could hit for a while.  On the drive, he got really quiet...

Guess it was a really good thing I drove him.

Nerd Alert

This is a normal Friday night for most people right?? Two electronic devices (three actually, my phone that I used to take the picture), a beer, bag of ice on a semi-bummed foot, and Duck Dynasty.

"New Castle"

I decided to construct a gingerbread house from scratch this year since I wanted a gingerbread house and I'm always up for a challenge.  I made, rolled, cut, and baked the pieces earlier in the day.  Things were looking great at this point.  Then while enjoying a Newcastle (only one...I promise.  I know it looks more like a 6 pack, but it was just one...I'm not an artist), I constructed and decorated the beauty. 

 Humm...this is a problem already.

 It's a little off center and the light post is leaning and the candy on the front windows are uneven, but not too bad right?

 Uh, now the other light pole is leaning...

 Is it just me or does it look a little like a famous leaning tower at this point??

And here she is a week later, one man down from the roof, the candy is dripping and sliding and the roof is pitching a little more these days.

You are welcome - enjoy the laugh!