Natalie Goes to Dance Class

Natalie and I ran by the dance studio today to pick up my paycheck (very important), while we were there we stopped by Miss Kristin's class to say hello. Luckily, the girls were just starting a game of "freeze dance" and Natalie decided to join in.


I don't know... I think I might have a dacner!

Truth #3

I can't wait until Christmas Day. I feel like I've got two whole years of Christmas anticipation built up in my system and I can't freaking wait until the 25th! It's going to be a great day, we're going to eat a big breakfast, open presents, listen to Christmas carols, eat a HUGE English dinner, drink wine and be merry!

Truth #2

I get excited about checking the mail.

Everyday I look forward to it, I guess I'm hoping someone has sent me a card or a hand written letter. I never get any except at Christmas and birthdays, but still I hold out hope. I anxiously sift through piles of magazines, coupon flyers and bills looking for anything hand written. I even get excited about those hand written thank you cards your bank/financial advisors send you... or the hand written reminders of your pet's next appointment. My trip to the mailbox was very rewarding yesterday, I got a Christmas card from my cousins in NY. Thanks Karen and Britt!

30 Truths

Someone else did this on their blog and I thought it was a good idea. This particular "blogger" was looking for some blog fodder and came across a topic called 30 Truths. Basically all you do is blog about 30 truths pertaining to yourself, and then you've got 30 new blog updates, woo hoo! Thought I'd give it a try since my blog updates have be so few and far between.

Truth #1: I like fancy things.

For example, I wish I had an occasion to use my fine china and stemware every day! Cut crystal, napkin rings, silver serving pieces, etc. all make me very happy. A lot of my peers think I'm old fashioned, but I don't care. I hope Natalie enjoys the same things I do, she's going to inherit a lot of fine things from me and my mom!

Happy Holidays

I've fallen a bit behind in my blogging, and I apologize for that. I know all 17 of my followers wait with baited breath for my next update, and so I promise to be better. Starting now.

Thanksgiving was an interesting day for the Blanton family. Chase invited several of his single soldiers (the ones who couldn't go home) over for dinner. That was the interesting part. Let's just say that one of them in particular was less that polite, very annoying and down right crass. I won't go into details on the blog, so call me if you want a good entertaining story.

Natalie was a trooper, she managed all the strangers and loud noise like a champ. I couldn't get her to eat any of the Thanksgiving goodies, but she managed to have a good day. Unfortunately, by the time I got the camera out it was bed time, so our Thanksgiving pictures leave much to be desired.

The next day Chase and I set up our Christmas tree and decorated the whole house. It was neat seeing all of our Christmas decorations again. Since I haven't decorated in two years, I went all out! Natalie had fun "helping" her Dad set up the tree and seems to really enjoy all the fun Christmas things. The next morning when Natalie saw the tree completely decorated for the very first time, her eyes lit up and she she said "wooooooooooow"! She had a look of pure wonder in her eyes the rest of the day.

In other Natalie news: She is getting three molars. Ouch. Needless to say, she hasn't been the most pleasant person to be around the past few days. Poor little baby has had every teething symptom known to man... fever, runny nose, pain, crankiness, restlessness. Finally, just the other day, one of the molars completely broke through. I'm hoping now she's going to get at least a little relief before the next set start pushing through.

To all you Ebenezers out there...

I love this time of year; from about October on I get in the holiday spirit. Halloween was extra special to me this year, because it really marked the kick off of the holidays. I used to be one of those people who would walk into Wal-Mart in mid October, see all the Christmas decorations and think "Seriously? What happened to Halloween?!", but not this year. The first time I was greeted by a spectacular Christmas display was during a trip to Lowe's at the beginning of October, and I smiled. I know that the big stores and venders are motivated by marketing and making a profit, but why should that dampen my mood?

Last holiday season was really hard for me, even though I had my beautiful baby girl and I was thankful, I just couldn't get in the mood. Not having Chase home and not knowing if he was safe really put a hiccup in my spirit. Now that Chase is home and we know he's safe, I'm ready for the holidays! I want to decorate, I've been baking like crazy, I can't stop humming Christmas carols and I love all the Christmas displays! I'm so grateful to have my family happy, healthy and together that the sight of Wal-Mart's Christmas aisle was like Rockefeller to me this year. Having my family together is what really makes the holidays so special to me; being married to the Army, I'm never sure what's around the corner next. Who knows? Chase might be deployed again next year, so I intend to live it up this season!

I've heard several of my friends talk about how they can't stand this time of year, or how they hate that the stores decorate so early, or that Christmas music shouldn't be played until December. BAH HUMBUG to all of you!

I think it would do us all a lot of good to welcome some holiday spirit in our lives no matter what time of year it it. All too often we remember to be thankful only in November, giving in December and believe in miracles only in spring. So when the holidays end and the new year rolls around, I resolve to live with the spirit all year long. I challenge all of you to do the same.

Couch Potato

Oh no.

She's a couch potato.

No, not really. Natalie is a bundle of energy, I can barely keep up with her. This was at the end of the day today, right before bedtime. I just thought her interpretation of how to use her chair was hilarious.