Christmas Eve

Once again Randy is at work for Christmas. I hate that he missing Christmas. I think in the 12 years that he has been working offshore he has been home twice. The first time was because it just fell right and then last year because he was in between jobs. I know that Sarah Katherine is young enough right now to not know the difference, but I do. We will celebrate Christmas next week when he gets home so we are looking forward to that.

Tonight we went to Randy's mother and dad's house to have Christmas with his family. Annette was going to fix soup but when we got there she had a ton of food. Even Randy's favorite...egg custard. She did promise to make him one when he got home. Anyway most everyone was there. Chuck, Connie, Scott and Holly weren't there but the rest of the group was. The food was great and the kids enjoyed opening their presents. It was nice getting to be with them tonight. We don't get together with all of us nearly enough. Maybe we can work on that.

I hope that each of you and your families have a wonderful Christmas.

Callawy Gardens

Last year Mother, Daddy, Gigi and Jim went to Callaway Gardens to see the Christmas lights that they do. They have all talked about how much they enjoyed it. Randy and I really wanted to go but they called him last week to go back to work. Anyway, Mother, Susan, Norma and I had talked about going somewhere to look at Christmas lights so we decided to go to Callaway. We left Thursday right after Sarah Katherine's party at MDO. It took us just about 3 hours to get there and it was well worth the little drive. We got there just in time to catch our trolley. Sarah Katherine really enjoyed all the light displays. After the trolley ride we got to roam through a Christmas store. They had a place where you could decorate a cookie. So of course Sarah Katherine had to do that. I think the only reason she wanted to do it was for the icing and the candy to decorate the cookie. We all had a great time and I encourage everyone to go. It really is a beautiful place. Just make sure to order your tickets online.

Special Visitor

Last Thursday at Mother's Day Out they had their Christmas Party. I think that everyone had a great time. Randy and I went early to see who the "special guest" was. We got to go outside and watch the kids play for a little while. Then we went back to the room and guess who showed up?? It was not other than Santa. All the kids got to visit with Santa Claus and share what they wanted for Christmas. There were a couple of the kids who wasn't quite sure of Santa, but Sarah Katherine wasn't the least bit afraid. I don't know what it is with this Santa but she is mesmerized with him. She just listened so intently while he was talking. I asked if Santa would come home with us, because of his effect on her but of course he couldn't he had to get back to the North Pole to finish getting ready for Christmas.

Aunt Maydell's Dress

Sarah Katherine's Great Aunt Maydell bought Sarah Katherine a Christmas dress and it was perfect. It fit perfect and it even came with a matching dress for her baby. Baby got mad though and didn't want her picture taken much, so we just got Sarah Katherine mostly. Sarah Katherine doesn't mind taking pictures, so she did well. Maybe we can find a party or something so Sarah Katherine can wear her new dress. Thanks Aunt Maydell, we love it!!!

Who Let Tha Dogs Out?

We decided to go out and play yesterday and who would have thought it? The dogs turned into pirates and took over Sarah Katherine's playhouse. Buddy began by jumping in the house with Sarah Katherine and climbing up the tunnel. Then he went down the tunnel. Sarah Katherine thought that was funny to see Buddy go through her tunnel. It freaked Rosie out. She had never saw that before. Well, Buddy made the playhouse his house for a while until Rosie got his attention and they chased each other for a while. Sarah Katherine got control of her playhouse once again. We had fun.

Christmas Baking

I decided a couple of weeks ago that we would start a Christmas family tradition. I thought that it would be a lot of fun for us to decorate a gingerbread house every year. This is something that I have always wanted to do but never really tried it.

I bought a kit at Walmart a couple of weeks ago to try. I had to hide it in the pantry because Sarah Katherine had a fit every time she saw it. This morning after breakfast we decided it would be a good time to work on it. It was so nice that Randy helped with it. He did the icing and then Sarah Katherine and I got to do the candy. I am sure that each year we will get better.

After we finished the gingerbread house we decided to make some cookies too. That is something we will have to work on. Figuring out the sprinkles and the decorations.

Anyway I think we all enjoyed ourselves. I know that Sarah Katherine enjoyed the candy. I think she ate more than she put on the house.

Lane Christmas

Yes, we all knew it was a little early but it was the only time we would all be home. My dad's side of the family held Christmas on Sunday. We all went to Jill and Steven's house for lunch and Christmas. Since we all were just together and had all just had a huge meal we went light..sub sandwiches and pizza. It was easy too!

All the kids had a blast opening up their presents. The Lane's got Sarah Katherine a baby doll that is so lifelike. It was perfect for her because she is really starting to get into baby dolls. She loves to put them in her stroller and push them around the house. They also found her a Potty Book. Maybe one day soon she will start using it. The potty that is.

She also got two puppy dogs and all the accessories to take care of them. They are stuffed. She has a stroller and bags to carry them in. Jimmy and Patricia knows they she likes her animals. Maybe this will help her stop trying to carry our cat around the house.

The Prevett's gave her a blender and a farm book. The blender will work well with her Christmas stuff. And Nancy and Jeremy got her some dress up clothes. I will have to try and get some pictures of her in her fairy dress. She played in in some Sunday night.

Sarah Katherine enjoyed getting to play with the older kids and then of course loving on Jack. Poor Jack...Sarah Katherine kept trying to take all his presents.

We all had a good time. It is kind of sad that we won't be together Christmas day. Jerry, Mary and Laura are going to see Jeff in California then to Houston to be with Mary's family. Nancy and Jeremy are going to Atlanta to be with his family. I guess that what happens as we get older and our families grow.

Andalusia Christmas

Thursday night Randy and I went to the lighting of the Christmas Tree at the square. This was our second attempt at this event. Last year we missed it because Randy thought we needed to eat first.

We weren't quite prepared for the cold, though. Earlier in the day it was nice, but all of a sudden it was cold. We went with my parents and met Kiley, Dalton, Keaton and Mary Michael. Poor Paul was stuck at work.

There were several different groups there singing Christmas carols and that was very enjoyable. Santa and Ms. Claus were even there. Sarah Katherine wasn't quite sure of Santa. Thank goodness Dalton was with us. Otherwise, I don't think that she would have even gone to Santa. We finally got her on his lap, but I think that the main reason she did was for the candy.

Friday night we went to the Christmas parade. I couldn't believe how early people start staking out their spots. Randy was lucky enough to find a spot to park the truck so we could sit in the back of the truck. I think Sarah Katherine had a blast. Thanks to Covington Electric's float she was able to see Mickey and Minnie. I think she was more impressed with them that Santa. She still loved the horses and I think she liked the motorcycles.

Saturday we took Sarah Katherine to the Brunch with Santa that the Ballet Association sponsors. They had it at Dr. Butler's home. Vicki Popwell was there taking the children's pictures with Santa. I was a little nervous after Friday night. I didn't know if Sarah Katherine would go see him or not. I guess Vicki has a way with her. She walked up to Santa and jumped right in his lap. No bribing or anything. I can't wait to see those pictures. Vicki always does such a beautiful job.

We didn't stay for the activities or the food. We had just left the Pancake Breakfast. This is something that my dad and I have been doing for years. I would come home from college just to eat pancakes. Sarah Katherine enjoyed the breakfast being that pancakes is all she seems to want to eat for breakfast.

The last week and a half

Things have really been busy lately. I will try and catch everybody up.

We did Thanksgiving and Nancy and Jeremy's in Niceville. They were kind enough to let everyone come to there beautiful home on the bay. I have yet to figure out how Jeremy gets any work done. One with a new baby and then with the "horrible view" out his office window.

Sarah Katherine help Nana with the dressing. She really enjoys getting to help with the cooking. I hope it continues. Everyone says that they agree because they don't know what I will do if something happens to my mother. They all say Sarah Katherine will have to teach me to cook!!!

I have learned one very important lesson from Thanksgiving though...don't ever travel with food in your car without properly containing all of the food and having plenty of towels in your car. Mother made gravy for the dressing and we thought it was secure. Boy were we wrong. I had to slam on brakes and the gravy spilled. I had nothing to get it up with so I had to drive all the way to Niceville with gravy in the carpet. Once I got to Nancy I thought I cleaned it up. Needless to say I didn't. The smell in the car gets worse and worse everyday. Finally last Tuesday I took the car to clean the carpet thinking that I just didn't do a good job. And I knew Randy would have a fit over the smell. Wendall, the guy I took it to, found more gravy. It is like the stuff kept multipling. The gravy was all under the carpet. He cleaned it and we thought he had it all. No such luck. The smell kept getting worse and worse.

In the mean time we finally were able to get Randy home. We picked him up last Tuesday night. Needless to say we were very glad to see him. Now Sarah Katherine doesn't want much to do with me. She just wants her daddy.

Any way, back to the car...Randy has refused to ride in the car until something is done. And if he gets in the car he rides with the window down and his head hanging out the window like a dog. Randy called "The Professionals" to handle the cleaning of the carpet. They came and cleaned the carpet once again. This time they had to cut the carpet to make sure they got it all. Hopefully this will work and the smell will be gone. My advice...NEVER CARRY FOOD WITH ANY LIQUID ANY WHERE!!!!! It cost way too much!!!

Sarah Katherine

Even before Sarah Katherine was born everyone said that she looked like Randy. We did the 4D ultrasound and Mary Michael said she looked just like him. In those pictures I couldn't see. But since the day she was born I knew she looked just like him. Everybody says she is Randy made over. Every now and then someone will tell me that she looks like me and it makes me feel good. But to be honest with you I never saw it. Until yesterday...

Mother found a photo album when she was cleaning. There were pictures of me when I was little. And there were a few that if it had been for my dad in the picture with the 70's look I might would have though it was Sarah Katherine.

Ya'll decide....

Sorry, it been a while...

I know that it has been awhile since I last posted anything. I thought that it would be easy to maintain the blog while Randy was gone. I guess if I wasn't trying to decorate for Christmas I might would have time. I promised Randy that I would get all of our decorations done before he got home. Well, I am almost there. Just a few things left inside and then all of the outside stuff. My instructions were to place everything outside and then when Randy got home he would plug up everything, because he has a "system." Heaven for bid that we mess up an electrician's electrical plans. In order to get the decorations up I had to make a deal with my dad to help get all my stuff out of the attic. He made me promise to decorate their house. I don't know why he asked, I always put up their decorations.

I have spent the last several days putting up my parents stuff and thank goodness we are almost finished. If I hadn't gotten this terrible cold I would be finished by now. Saturday, Mother, Susan, Sarah Katherine and I went shopping down in Destin. My throat hurt most of the day but was tolerable. Sunday was another story. I felt so bad I actually took a nap, something I haven't done in forever. Any way I think mother felt sorry for me and offered to let Sarah Katherine spend the night with them. I hated to do it but it gave me the opportunity to get a good night sleep. With Randy gone there is no such thing...I have a bed buddy that thinks she owns the bed. This was the first time that Sarah Katherine spent the night away with me in the same town. It felt very strange not having our nightly ritual. But the sleep was good. I feel better today.

Anyway...I will try and do better about posting. Randy will hopefully be home this time next week. I think the being on a rig with no idea when you will be coming home has been a bit stressful. He seems to be a bit on edge. I think that they have just passed over the equator just off the eastern cost of South America. We can't wait to have him home.

Here I am in Africa

Well, I am now in Cape Town, South Africa. I came to Cape Town to catch Ensco 8500 on route from Singapore to the Gulf of Mexico. I hated to leave my family again for this journey, but that’s what I do. My company sent me down a few days early and I’m getting to see some of the town and the sites which are amazing. I never would have thought of venturing to Africa, but it is something to see. The people are extremely nice and welcoming.
I’m sure it has something to do with money, but it is worth mentioning. A short walk from my hotel is an open market where folks sell their handmade goods and African artifacts. I can’t stand to go anywhere like this without getting a few souvenirs, but I had to leave the African Zulu masks there because I know Jennifer wouldn’t let me hang them in the great room. Thursday night a group of us went to the world renown Cubana’ which is a Havana Lounge where you can here Cuban Club music and enjoy a nice Cuban cigar and refreshments. I don’t get to smoke a Cuban that often, so when I get the opportunity I take advantage of it. Later we walked the town and found a European car showroom where we got to dream and see cars like Lamborghini, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, and a bunch of Aston Martins. Friday we took a taxi up the mountain to a place called Table Mountain which is over 3500 feet above sea level.
We rode a cable car up the mountain and saw the best views I think I’ve ever seen. Gatlinburg or Colorado doesn’t have anything on Table Mountain. My friend Chance had read about a place in Cape Town at the Waterfront called Belthazar that was featured in British Airways Top Places To See magazine, so we set out to find it. We sat out and enjoyed the nice weather and had some drinks before dinner. BA said they had the best steak in South Africa, so I had to try one. I wanted to try some wilder beast, but I’d have to kick myself if I turned down the best steak in the country. The food was great and the baked cheesecake with cream was even better. The next morning I had to catch a helicopter out to the rig.

I hated to go, but I was ready to get this over with so I can get back to Jennifer and Sarah Katherine. I hope to bring them back to South Africa. Maybe I can talk Jennifer into a 3 or 4 day animal safari or go cage diving with the Great White Sharks. Maybe not the sharks, but it won’t be hard to find something adventurous to do in Cape Town.

What was I thinking????

Tonight I decided to let Sarah Katherine participate in the Halloween on the Square. This was both of our first trip to this event. Last year we spent Halloween in Texas and the year before we were getting ready to go to the hospital to have her.

I told myself this morning that we were going to make sure that she had a good nap today. When I picked her up from Mother's Day Out I told her to take her nap and we would go Trick or Treating tonight. Surprisingly enough it worked, she went right to sleep. I thought that she got a good nap...2 hours at least. But I don't know now if it was enough.

When she woke up we went outside to get some pictures in front of our monster pumpkin. We got a few and then Kiley, Dalton and Keaton came over. We thought we would take the kids to Vicki Popwell's to get their pictures made in their costumes. We didn't quite make it though. I did get some really cute pictures with Dalton and Sarah Katherine.

We did finally make it to the square. Needless to say Sarah Katherine was none to appreciative of the head part to her costume. The only time she had it on was for Ms Vicki and Ninny. But at least they got it on. I guess maybe everything up there just overwhelmed her. She refused to ride in the stroller, wouldn't hold anybody hands, didn't want to be carried and certainly didn't want to have anything to do with me. She is becoming Little Miss Independent. We did manage to get a little bit of candy. She did figure out that if she opened her bag she would get some candy. I am a little afraid that now that she has discovered candy she may actually have a part of me in her....my sweet tooth.

Since most of the pictures that I was able to get don't show her costume...she was a cow. I figured that she would love that since she is so fascinated with them.

I do appreciate that Nana and Pa went with us tonight. But I do hope that if I am crazy enough to do this again next year Daddy is with us. We are a little sad at our house, we had to take Randy to the airport on Tuesday. Not sure when he is going to be coming home. They are towing the rig from Singapore to the Gulf of Mexico. He flew down to Cape Town South Africa and will be riding the rig to Trinidad. We talked to him just for few minutes last night. He was going to get to go around some today and tomorrow and see a little of the country. We do know that he won't be here for Thanksgiving. We are hoping for Christmas though. So please say a prayer for me. I am a single mom of a soon to be two year old.

Birthday Parties

It is so hard to believe that my baby is about to be two!! Since there was so much uncertainty about Randy's schedule and when he would go back to work we planned Sarah Katherine's birthday party for this weekend. We orginally planned it for Sunday, but Randy got worried that he maybe gone so we moved it to Saturday.

Since we had to move it, Patricia, Jimmy, Jill, Steven, Peyton and Lane were not going to be able to come. So Patricia decided to do a little party for Sarah Katherine at her house. We all went over Wednesday night before the fair. Patricia had her a pumpkin cake. Sarah Katherine enjoyed the icing off the cake. She also got to get her presents. She knew just what to do with them. These where the first presents that she has opened. Last year she wasn't sure what to do. Patricia and Jimmy gave her six pair of pricness shoes. She had to model each pair before she would open the next present. Jill, Steven and the kids gave her a cow, horses and an outfit.

She had a ball that night. It was so great of Patricia to do this for us.

Saturday we got to have another party. Nancy, Jeremy and Jack were able to come and Sarah Katherine loved being able to hold little Jack finally. She wanted to hold him in the hospital but she was just too small. She got to play with Dalton and he helped her with her presents. She was very excited over Elmo and her kitchen stuff. Hopefully my daughter is not going to take after me. Right now she enjoys playing with her pots and pans and helping people cook. I am hoping that this will continue. Since we moved the party, Jerry got to come with Mary and Laura. I wish Laura was here all the time. I might could get more done if she was. SuSu gave Sarah Katherine a round jumpy thing that she loves. We didn't think that we would ever get it aired up enough but we did. Now we just have to figure out where we are going to keep it. Thank goodness Sarah Katherine got lots of book too. We were starting to get tired of the ones we have. Just this week she has really gotten into reading. Before we would read at least a couple of times a day. Now it is hours on end. Loy and Kiley made sure we would have new reading material. I am ever so greatful.