christmas in mccalla

christmas in mccalla is where tradition ceases. for the first time in my life i spent christmas eve without my family. thank goodness i had grandmother otherwise it would have felt completely, utterly wrong. christmas eve involved a range of emotions - from lonely and sad to elated and excited. it was good. but it was different. and it just wasn't the same. we made spaghetti on christmas eve like some small italian family would do. like i said, it wasn't the same.

we did manage to start some traditions i had always planned on for addison. we watched the night before christmas. we snuggled in our christmas jammies. we relished in the excitement of santa. we left out our cookies and milk for st. nick. it was sweet and it was tender. and it was ours and that made it special.

christmas morning was probably more magical for me than for addison. she was kinda of in a daze about it all. i guess that explains the paci - it was her security. in the middle of all the christmas frenzy, i had a big surprise up my sleeve that no one but a select few knew about. i somehow managed to get a wii, wii fit, and all kinds of other wii goodies at a price that would make most of you sick. i somehow managed to get it home, wrapped and hidden without terry even knowing it. i somehow managed to get my neighbors to leave it on our porch christmas morning. i somehow managed to coax terry outside to get the paper. i somehow managed to "act" like i had no idea what was going on. i somehow managed pulled the whole dang thing off...and man was it priceless! we called everyone we knew....first it was tammy and trey, then brenda and anthony, next was dad and jackie and so forth...all the way to carrie and marc. no one fessed up. and it was perfect! we went about 6 days before terry found out. but those 6 days were so much fun!

after the presents were played with and the lunch devoured, we three tingles (and grandma, too) managed to get our act together and set out on the open road for our next stop...christmas in tulsa...

sweet tingle christmas

christmas started off this year with a very quick trip to macon. basically it involved a stop at marjane drive to load up my grandmother, then a stop at the kroger to get gas, and then as always, a detour to pig in a pit for a sandwich. all-in-all, about a 20 minute visit to macon two days before christmas.

finally all back in one piece the three tingles and gi-gi all loaded up the next morning for the tingle family christmas in springville, alabama. it is always sweet to be with this family - my how we have all grown! it can be loud, and it can be crazy, but it is always, always fun! there is bingo (where my grandmother walked away a big winner with lots of goodies), and the kids led us in some carols (where my grandmother joined in the dancing fun), and there were tons and tons of gifts (and again, where my grandmother walked away quite spoiled). i could not seem to stop laughing when loading up our tiny civic we had to make even more room for all her loot. oh man, i love that woman. but moreover, i love the fact that terry's family is so warm, so generous and so special that they made her feel like one of them - like a tingle. precious. absolutely precious.

so much of this christmas season was different except for this day. it remained the same. the same family, the same laughter, the same joy, the same blessings and the same love. it was as sweet, sweet taste to my soul to have this one day where traditions were kept. tony was there with his jokes to make is all laugh and keep us on our toes. tammy made sure we were all joyful with her warming smile and caring heart (and her good dance moves). mimi made sure we were well fed and happy as she sat back and relished in her family - all together once again. papa, as always, played santa and was everyones favorite person for half an hour. like i said, it was sweet. it was tradition. it was a great start to this christmas adventure!

merry merry

we are finally settling down from a crazy busy christmas, but i just wanted to say...

merry, merry christmas from the tingles!

"would you not like to be, sitting on top of the world with your legs hanging free"

-dave mathews

that is from one of my all-time favorite songs. there isn't much to the lyrics, just a few more lines and then five minutes of music. but it is that small number of words that i love so much.

thanksgiving was wonderful. we spent the entire time in macon with my family. while i was there i felt, i think terry and i both felt, life becoming simple. we were able to hang our legs free, in the comfort of home. there was a lot of laughter, a few tears, some beautiful pictures, a little sunshine, tons of rain, and more than anything, the never ending feeling of safety and security. that is what gets me...it is when you feel completely safe and secure you are able to be free...to sit on top of your world and bask in the sweetness of life.

so, this thanksgiving was completely uneventful but thoroughly filling...in every since of the word.

sleep and dream

i love sleep. it is so very important to my well being. and to terry's tolerance of me.. after spending almost 18 months with addison, i realize how incredibly thankful i am that she is a good sleeper. there are many, many things about parenting that i am probably doing completely wrong but for one tiny second in her crazy little life, we did somthing right...we taught her how to sleep.

during her nap today i got the urge to sneak in addison's room and just watch her. watch her breathe in and out. watch her toss a little to and fro. watch her and wonder. what story her dreams are telling her?

i pray for many things for this little soul but alot of the time i pray that she dreams big. huge. never be afraid of an adventure here and there. it is those adventures that teach you the most about yourself. give you the sweetest memories. and mold you into the person you will become.

now i know addison's dream today was probably all about a cupcake or chocolate milk...but someday they will turn into so much more. but in between now and then, i am going to cherish this time and watch my little girl sleep.

generations

finally after many, many attempts, mom got her "generations" picture. and what sweetness it is. my soul needs some family nourishment and come wednesday, nourished it will be. i cannot wait to go home and relax with my parents, laugh with my grandmother, and visit with dear friends. it will be busy - as it always is, and it will pass by quickly - like is always does, and we will leave with smiles and a few tears - like we always do. but it will be sweet...just as it should be.

some nothings

just a few nothings...

i must admit. i have been cheating. on you. with facebook. that thing is crazy! it is a blog on speed. and it's on my iphone. so i am a facebook junkie 24-7. in the car, running off the road, ordering a sweet tea, bathing my child, chasing my dog, you get the picture. but at the end of the day, it is just a quick fix - not a long term companion like you, dear blog.

so i am back. and with much help from friends. and though i know i have so much to say, i cannot for the life of me think of what to write. writer's block. it is an evil, evil thing. so i guess i will write what is on my mind the most these days.

my niece. my soon-to-be neice, annie ruth. i love her already and i don't even know her. this whole holiday season is wrapped in one single being this year...a sweet baby girl. we are all on pins and needles waiting to hear that first cry, hold her while she dreams sweet dreams, and finally, after many months, gives her mommy a chance to breath a deep sigh of relief. i love christmas and all the hype, but this year, all i care about is meeting this little being, this beautiful soul we have prayed hundreds and hundreds of days for. she is a tender touch of god's grace. and i cannot wait to love her to peices!

so to annie ruth, on this night when there is so much to say but no words, just know i cannot wait to be your aunt. and a little heads up - that cousin of yours, she is a rascal...and she bites. i'm just sayin' you might want to watch your back.