Headed South

I had plans to remove all of the face plates from the walls in our bedroom this weekend.
I had plans to remove curtains, rods and screws from the walls.
Remove photos, mirrors and anything else that covers my currently eggshell colored walls.
My painter was to come by and paint the room a new color why we were out of town for the week. As my life usually goes, I never got everything on my "to do" list accomplished before it was time to hit the road and head south. I hated to leave the room half done, that is just more for Katey to have to do before she can get started painting.

But, when we got up Sunday morning (November 15), we were running non-stop to get the car packed, get to church, get Alyssa picked up and get on the highway.

It was noon when we finally got to head south. We drove the truck this year in case there was any purchases that we decide to make while there.  We lost an hour (on the clock) when we got to Chattanooga, so we hit Atlanta around 4pm. Stroker still gets panicky when driving through big cities or unfamiliar places. He keeps both hands on the steering wheel and requires full concentration on the lanes and signs ahead. All those lanes of traffic can be a little intimidating.

Once we were on the other side of Atlanta, it wasn't long until sunset. Most of our driving was in the dark. We arrived at the Disney gates around 10:30 pm. I took advantage of the online check in this year, so we got to proceed straight to our rooms after we parked.

We spent about an hour unpacking, walking around the resort and getting settled in. It was around 75 degrees, so the weather made you want to stay outdoors. We finally got settled in so that we could get rested for Monday.

Our aim was to get up early(er) on Monday, November 16, but it wasn't as easy as we thought. We did manage to be in line to get on the bus heading to Hollywood Studios by 9am. Lots of things were just as I remembered, but some things that I wanted to see had been changed. I was disappointed that I couldn't take Brooke's photo with Woody again in front of Al's Toy Barn, because it was now Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen in front of Mater's Garage.

They say we learn something new everyday...and today I learned that I am getting old. The rides scared me more, they made me qweezy and made me nervous.  Brooke made comments about all of our candid ride photos. I told her I just can't handle being slung around like I used to.
The drop on the Tower of Terror got me, but I tried to maintain my composure because I know from the past that it takes a photo as you drop.

But, the Rockin' Roller Coaster is a whole other story. I can't hide the fear. I can't hide the panic and I can't hide the G-Force pulling my head back as we take off 0 to 57 mph in 2.8 seconds.
I don't know how Brooke kept her yes open, but she looks a little creepy.

The weather was amazing though!!! Sunny and 80 degrees.

We were followed by the Hollywood Studios paparazzi throughout the day calling Stroker "Kanye West". It was pretty funny how we ran into them throughout the park.  They kept rolling out the red carpet. LOL. At one point they were calling Alyssa "Reece Witherspoon".

We ate an entertaining breakfast at the Sci-Fi Drive In In Hollywood Studios. It's one of our favorite restaurants (but not for breakfast).

We had  great day!... and by nightfall, it was Christmas everywhere!!!

Change is Good

After getting home from the birthday bash, we rested a little and I cooked soup for dinner. 

By Sunday, November 8, my turn for the breakfast committee had rolled back around. 

After church, we went to lunch at Cheddar's and went on Faith visits Sunday night.

On Monday, November 9, I paid the dermatologist a visit about my "cooties" on my arm. She diagnosed it as nummular exzema but done a biopsy to reassure me.

I also received an invitation to Jett's 8th birthday party!

Tuesday, November 10 was a day for me. I went for a wax, and went for a massage.

Stroker and I also visited his mom in the hospital because she is having kidney issues again.

Remember a couple of posts back when I had the phone line trouble with Charter? Well, they seemed very unconcerned, so on Wednesday, November 11, I finally followed through with my threat and changed carriers. I have been threatening for years to do this because the cost is constantly rising anyway, but now I have finally done it.  

Stroker and I went to pick up his recently ordered glasses on Wednesday too. We celebrated his new found vision with dinner at O'Charley's. I can't believe that I have been riding with this man all these years. He raved about how clear everything was all night long. He must have been feeling his way around for the past decade.

I had a different driver on Thursday, November 12 to Nashville. It was our annual Christmas Village shopping trip. We always go on Thursday for the "sneak a peak" because strollers, buggies and lots of other annoyances are not allowed at the Sneak a Peek shopping night as they are the rest of the weekend.

Well, there are still lots of overdressed women in stiletto's drinking wine from a plastic cup....that's pretty annoying to me.

14

My baby girl turns 14 today...even though I’m not ready for it.

The cutest freckles in the world are across that nose, but they are concealed by make-up. Her bright smile is now outlined in lipstick. And her happy, bright eyes….framed in mascara.  These teenage years are bitter sweet. Time Slow Down.

I gave Brooke the option of a celebration or 14 days of gifts leading up to her 14th birthday. She chose the gifts. As the birthday grew closer, our 14 days somehow morphed into gifts and a celebration.  Next year, there will be no options.

Here was our breakdown.

14 Days of Brookelynn

Day One:     October 23 –     Ivory Ella shirt                                                                 $  35 

Day Two:   October 24 –   Two pair of sunglasses from Tina and Tae’s                      $  11

Day three:   October 25 –     Netflix                                                                               $  10

Day Four:   October 26 -    $15 iTunes card and Home button dots for iPhone.           $  20

Day Five:     October 27 –    make-up brushes                                                               $  25

Day Six:      October 28 –      Two pair of Jeans                                                            $  45

Day Seven:    October 29 –      Hair Products                                                                 $ 25

Day Eight:    October 30 –      Chrome-cast                                                                    $ 40

We named our Chrome cast "Big Tussie"

Day Nine:       October 31 -       Airbrush Tattoos and Katey Perry false eyelashes       $   5

Day Ten:         November 1 –   Nicole Miller Duffel Bag                                               $ 40

Day Eleven:     November 2 –   Manicure                                                                       $ 25

Day Twelve:    November 3 –   Pedicure                                                                         $ 25

Day Thirteen: November 4 –   Nugz Bracelet                                                                 $ 42

 

Day Fourteen:   November 5 -    Victoria Secret Lounge Pants, Shirt and 5 panties      $ 91

Sky High Trampoline park                                                                                              $ 60

Dinner at Hooters                                                                                                            $  98

Opryland Hotel                                                                                                                $216

Drinks at the hotel                                                                                                           $  13

Breakfast on the Way home                                                                                            $  24

                                                                                                                                         $850

Turning 14 has been crazy and a tad ridiculous.  I know what I want for my birthday this year.

...Like a Chicken with My Head Cut Off

If a picture is worth 1000 words, then this sums up the first week of November.

Since Halloween fell on a Saturday this year, it was a little more intense. Not only did we have our usual weekend agenda but at holiday schedule as well. We even had to set up a couple of units twice in one day.

We sure were tired on Sunday, November 1, but we still had work to do after church, including finding time to put away the Halloween decorations. In my haste, I broke the arm off of one of my favorite ghosts.

Instead of resting on Monday, November 2, I utilized the day to repaint Devin's bedroom.

I also swept the house, washed Devin's bed sheets and ours and got a few things organized around the house.

I was on a roll at this point, so on Wednesday, November 3, I stripped Brooke's bed and washed her sheets, swept her floor, cleaned her room, went to a hair appointment, went with Stroker to pick out his new glasses and had dinner at Ruby Tuesday's. 

I have no idea where the energy came from, but once I got started, I figured I should just keep going as long as I could. So, I took mom to dinner on Wednesday, November 4 at Captain D's after spending time painting my home office area.

Stroker lays his clothes out for work every night. What a planner!

It took the entire evening Thursday, November 5 to set up the new surround sound system in the living room. I did it all by myself by the way.

I also learned on Thursday, that Brookelynn had planned a bit of shopping, dinner and a trip for four to Jump Jam for her birthday. 

Here I was thinking that she chose 14 days of Brookelynn instead of all this other hoopla.