Holy Moley
okay, bad pun. I had three moles taken off last week, and finally got the results back on Monday. They weren't as good as we'd hoped, and I have to go back in a few weeks to have more cutting. Doctors are relentlessly flippant about these things, as they have to be I guess, but we've heard it all before. I just want to get it over with. They'll be recutting the moles to see if they can get all the bad places this time, which should just require stitches and some rest. Then if they do...I'm home free for awhile! If not, I go under the ol' knife at the hospital and get to set off metal detectors with my staples like last time. We'll just wait and see.
Reed and I have been researching again (nothing like a scare to get you interested in breakthroughs again) and have found a few things we'll bring up at the oncologist next week. one is the cancer vaccine possibility, another is a skin cancer cream, also found here. There are also some supplements that could help boost immunities against cell mutations, and I'm up for anything.
Please don't feel you have to say anything to me about this. It makes alot of people uncomfortable. I know I have great family and friends who support me regardless.

In the meantime, if you are bored, read "The Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff. I really love this story, and love the philosophy in it. My friend gave it to me in high school, and rereading it only shows new things. It's good stuff.

Carson and I went for a looooong walk the other day while it was nice. We got a good workout and had some mommy-Carson time. He's pretty fun to talk to now, and can make conversation! I took pictures because it was so pretty out, but by the time we got to the top of the mountain, it was getting dusky so this pic didn't come out as well as I'd hoped. But for those who wanted to see...this is how high up we are. It's amazing sometimes to look out at everything. And freaky when you're in a huge Tahoe on the one lane dirt road portion.
Little Trevor...I say little but he's not! He's only 5 pounds lighter than Carson. I have great biceps for a girl. It's sad that he's not a baby anymore, especially since he's our last. Oh, he's not freakishly huge, that's a baby sized couch.
My friend Brandy has gotten me into scrapbooking alot more now. It's fun to see what I can make with our pictures, but it is time consuming. I wish I had an art room that I could just leave everything out in, because that's a big portion of the time right there, getting out everything I want to use and then clean up after. I am nowhere near her level, but it's fun to see how much I've changed scrap-wise in just the few months I've been doing it.
Guilty new pleasure?? Pink is the new blog. It's just funny to read and I don't have to stand in line at the supermarket and take peeks at the gossip rags.
Newest book I'm reading...Night by Elie Weisel. It's really sad but awesome to read. This book, Post Secret , just came out and I think I want it soon. I don't know as if it's something I'd reread (as those are the books I keep), but I've seen the website, and it's interesting to see what secrets people keep...or not.

Kris and Mandy after his birthday song at the Japanese steakhouse. How fun!
Reed doing his traditional "happy birthday falling" routine. Yes, he's on the floor, and yes, that's his chair under him. He tipped it over on purpose. He has a falling addiction. He's an attention whore, and I love him.
Us at Yoshida's...it's been awhile since we had a pic of both of us together. He's so adorable.
And Carson! This kids' eyes are just gorgeous. sheesh. I had to share. This isn't a good pic of Trevor but there's plenty of baby love to go around...he's adorable too.

Old Friends...
we had a visit from one of reed's oldest friends this weekend. he and kris knew each other way back in high school...that's a long time ago! I met him and his girl mandy when we moved to florida in 2001, in fact, kris helped us move in. they were great to hang with, at the beach every weekend and for breakfast every sunday. we've kept in touch since we moved back to north carolina, and I'm very proud of them and what they've done since I've known them. mandy went back to school and got her teaching degree, they got engaged, and bought a house. they are just a great couple and I hope they never take it for granted. *mushy gushy vibes* Good Luck Mandy and Kris!!
and new friends...
It's strange to have such good friends over the internet, but I have been blessed to meet some really great women out there. In these busy times it's hard to meet people you get along with in your town, let alone someone who could be your twin! I have a group of girls who are truly the best, who call and email and write and send fun things to each other. We all met in Chicago (some of us for the first time) and had a blast. I know that if I had a problem I could call any one of these chicks and she'd do all she could to help me out. Thanks, darlin's...you're the best!

Boring Day...
wanna know how creation went down?
God's Creation Blog

On a lighter note, my darling boy Trevor has made me laugh again. Those extended wear lipsticks should use him as their spokesbaby. He got into my makeup drawer, proceeded to pretty himself...and it wouldn't come off for over 24 hours. I scrubbed with makeup remover, soap and water, washcloths...and only made him mad. It was quite the conversation piece when we went to Target with my friend Brandy.

Hanging with our big sis...

Savannah got to come visit us for Christmas this week, and the boys are so excited. They just love their big sis. She's growing up so fast, and is so darling!

Super excited about powered Lady!

 

Carson and Trevor Christmas morning! Stinky rotten!

 

My darlings on Christmas morning! Santa and his elf. 

Here is our tree on Christmas Eve. This was a chaotic year. The week before we were kept out of our house by a vicious ice storm that blocked the roads and knocked out power. The week of Carson had a pukey virus that turned to a bootie virus. He gave this to Trevor on Christmas Eve, so we were up all night cleaning carpets and sheets and poor screaming babies. We even missed Christmas dinner! But we still managed to get presents wrapped and under the tree and the boys were both fine on Christmas morning, mostly, and had a ball. 

Carson helped make ornaments for family for Christmas presents. They turned out so cute! He did as much of the work as he could, picked out the shapes at Michaels, painted the plain shapes (the bell, tree, snowflake and stars) and did the glitter. I did some of the glue, but not all. He loved it! He also wrapped them himself. They were...interesting, but it made it more special, I think. :)

In the spirit of the holidays, I bring you the Scared of Santa Gallery. Many parents are upset by the sight of their children screaming uncontrollably, but obviously there are those who find it funny. In this case, I'm one of the latter.
Another fun link, for those Jewish or not, is this Jewish Heyya. Oy is just Yo backwards, you know.

thanks Michelle, Lesley, and Nessa for the last three links I've put here since I'm too lazy to find my own fun links! :)

Here's another odd thing I found...Christian Yoga. Strange to think that each religion would make their own yoga, but whatever. Downward facing god, anyone?

Stick with Jesus! because the Lord knows Scotch isn't doing it for you anymore. (snicker). Oh, and can't wait for the Lord to answer your prayers? You could get an instant reply (via yes nod or no nod) here. Who thinks up this stuff? And finally, for the boys on your Christmas list who love GI Joe... GI Jesus. I love it.

I'm addicted to this blog http://www.goingjesus.com/. It just cracks me up. The woman who writes it obviously has a good sense of humor about her faith. I think God probably laughs when he reads it too. Some people really do take religion and religion related things too seriously. The first time I read her commentary on Angel figurines http://www.goingjesus.com/angels/
I laughed so much my stomach hurt for an hour. That's a good workout. I won't post what she says or has pictured, to make you visit her site on your own. You just have to. Check out The Passion of the Tchotzke while you're at it and see the amazing fiber optic Last Supper clock, and the "Washed in the Blood of the Lamp" lamp. Of course you will.
This is me before the big event, I told my dear friend Lizzie I would post a picture since she sent me this shirt all the way from the UK! Thanks again Lizzie, it was beautiful! I love it!
This weekend has been interesting. We went to Reed's company holiday party at Hendersonville Country Club, which was quite nice. His boss, Mr. Easler, was three sheets to the wind before we got there, and quite entertaining. He serenaded the crowd with "Come home, Irene" (I think) before singing "Amen" with the strange lounge singer they hired for entertainment. One of Reed's coworkers played guitar and another sang "Sweet Home Alabama", and both were quite good. Not sure what that song has to do with Christmas or us since we live in NC, but hey! It's a classic. And it was definitely better than the singer they paid to entertain us. She was like a screeching owl in heat. If they go in heat. And since the big boss had set the scene with his Irene song, I figure it was "anything goes" after that.
The pianist player that started us off during cocktail hour, however, was VERY good, and played all the traditional christmas tunes along with the theme song from Napoleon Dynamite, which showed his good taste. Maybe that is what started the "anything goes". Good for him.
They had an open bar, which Reed fully intended to make good use of, but we suspect the liquor was watered down. After more than enough rum to be sufficiently embarrassing, he wasn't even the slightest bit tipsy. Free bar indeed.
They also did quite a bit of praying to Jesus, which is surprising considering today's trend of being politically correct and openminded about other religions. I guess we are in the south though. We always seem to take longer to adopt good practices than other areas. I wonder if this is somehow related to our talking slower...?
Anyway, I have one picture to share with you, of course.
Ain't he something? That little outfit was my baby brother's Christmas outfit when he was little. And he's 22 now? I love the 80's.

Reed before the holiday party. He wouldn't get off the phone! He still looks great though.

mmmm donuts! I let the boys have a treat and gave them some mini powdered donuts the other morning. Trevor got more on his face than in his mouth, but it was still cute.
He has an awful bruise on his forehead from his daredevil antics. He and Carson climb on Carson's bed, then jump off onto pillows. Not smart! I figured that since he bumped his head he would know not to do it again, but I was wrong. Apparently, that head is thicker than I think it is, or he's just Evil Knievel waiting to happen.

I love this picture of Reed and Carson. They're both just so adorable and alike. Every time I see Carson, I can't help but fall in love with Reed again because it's like seeing all the good things that attracted me to Reed in the first place. Okay, enough sap. But seriously, if you know Reed at all,
you know we should have named our
firstborn Reed Junior instead. :) I can only imagine what he will be like when he gets older. Lord help us.








B-O-O-T-S boots! Carson got a pair of cowboy boots before Halloween so he could dress as a cowboy, (almost visible here under all that attitude)----->
but he really hasn't taken them off since. The first few nights I had to sneak in after he was asleep and take his boots off him because he refused to go down without them. I don't know why, but the boy won't part with his footwear. He walks differently when he's wearing them, too, a saucy little heel toe bit. LOL it's very funny, and I think part of what he likes is that anywhere we go he gets compliments on them from strangers. He's even started singing the Laurie Berkner song "Boots" as he walks around. Do you see what I mean? How can you not love that?

My boys make me laugh so much these days. Their little personalities are just coming out more every day, and it tickles us to see how much they are like the two of us. Carson runs around the house singing little songs he makes up about what he is doing. It's a full on play by play, which is helpful to me since I only have to listen to know what's going on in there. Today there was a performance in front of the bathroom mirror about peepee. This is totally Reed's doing, since he walks around singing little rhyming songs about the kids alot. I know he will pretend otherwise, but I think it makes him proud to see things in the boys that he has influenced.

Little Trevor just copies anything he sees the big boys doing and laughs the whole time. He is so happy go lucky! Tonight Reed and Carson were wrestling on this big mattress we need to put in the garage, and he kept hitting it and saying "Get on the Mat!!" Trevor decided to hit the mat too, and said "Mat Mat Mat!" It's amazing how quickly the second baby grows up!

I just started this blog today, after reading a friends blog and thinking it would be easier to set up than the onesite I had. It is much easier, but that doesn't mean I know my way around yet. I want to add links to sites I like, but haven't figured out where to put them yet! For now, here's one: http://brandylogan.blogspot.com/ who led me here. She has all sorts of great links about scrapbooking and cute pics of her boys. I don't know where she finds the time.
Another is http://southernhermit.blogspot.com/ which is Reed's Uncle Lou's site. He's a funny guy, really quiet but when he says something you know to listen. Here he is with Trevor this past Thanksgiving.

I really think photographing children is an art. By the time you get a nice setting in mind, two mess-attracting children dressed in something not covered in juice, and your camera out and ready, the children have gone mad. It may be some sort of illness that they should take medicine for, this fear of the camera.
I took probably 100 shots of two boys in front of one tree tonight. whew. I don't know people got decent shots before digital cameras, especially with two. In almost every shot, if Carson was smiling and looking somewhere in the vicinity of where I stood, Trevor had a finger up his nose. If Trevor was looking towards me and being cute, Carson was sticking out his tongue or giving me a full on shot straight up his nostrils. I finally got one I think will work, but I wanted to put this out there...if you get a photo card from someone, and the picture is of two smiling, serene looking children with perfect hair and a great background....well, send me the name of their photographer.