"Mommy, wake up! Santa Was Here!!"

"Santa Came! MOMMY! DADDY! Santa Came! And he filled the stockings!"
This was my wake-up call on Christmas morning, and it absolutely warmed my heart to hear the excitement in Zander's little voice. When I rolled over to check the time though, it was way to early. 3:30 AM early to be exact! "Um, Zander, can we maybe go back to bed for a few more hours? It's very early" He pouts but walks back to bed.

7:00 I'm awake, but laying in bed still. Waiting for the stampede of little children footsteps to come down the hall. Without fail, 5 minutes later, Zander is back. "Mommy!!! Santa left a BIG box and it has MY NAME on it!" (the little things like him being able to read his name makes my heart happy). The excitement in his voice is the best Christmas gift for me. He's dying to open the gifts. I calmly tell him that we have to wait for Daddy and baby sister to wake up so they can open presents from Santa, too. He pouts some more. He's dying to rip open the paper. I offer him hot chocolate and eggs for breakfast, and he perks up. He agrees.

I love sharing a quiet breakfast with Zander. We talk about letter sounds, numbers, how rain is made. His desire to learn is amazing.

Finally, we hear noises from down the hall. Ainsley and Daddy are awake! Zander starts squirming in his seat. "Is it time to open presents now, Mommy??" "Soon, baby. Let's let Ainsley eat a little something and Daddy get a shower in." I swear Zander had the patience of a saint on Christmas morning. The amount of times I had to say, "sorry just a few more minutes" was the equivalent of watching paint dry to a normal adult. He held out though.

The pay off was priceless! Hearing Zander and Ainsley's squeals of excitement as they tore open the next gift was just magical. "OOOH! SO COOL!" and "OOHH! LOOK WHAT SANTA GOT ME!" I loved each moment of it.

Of course, being the bad blogger that I am I got zero pictures of them opening gifts, but I don't care at all. I was in the moment. I was able to watch them tear into everything without being behind the lens. The joy on their little faces seeing everything that Santa brought was amazing. I'm zero percent sorry for being away from the blog for almost a week now. The memories that were made this past weekend were incredible, and absolutely the best gift I could ask for.

Today, I'm grateful that Josh and I were able to give the kids such an amazing Christmas. But I'm even more grateful that Zander is starting to learn the true meaning of Christmas. We read the story of baby Jesus, and he's starting to understand it's better to give than to receive. I'm grateful that both of my kids are so well behaved and aren't greedy. Not once this past weekend while we were visiting family did I hear from either of them, "ugh, that's ALL I got" or anything similar. Zander and Ainsley were even thrilled to get new socks in their stockings from Santa. To me that just warms my heart to know that I'm raising them right. I'm grateful they're so well behaved when we visit family, and that I'm not raising spoiled brats.

best parents! ;) 

Today I'm linking up with Emily for a Grateful Heart and
with Amanda sharing these sweet conversations from Christmas Morning.

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas, and I truly hope you got to experience the magic of Christmas like I was able to. It was the best Christmas AND birthday for me!

my sweet babies Christmas Morning

That Southern Llama

Happy Monday, Y'all!! On this glorious day (only 10 days away from Christmas might I add?)
I'm linking up with Emily with a Grateful Heart.
AND Amanda For My Conversations

Last Thursday, Josh and I watched Guardians of the Galaxy. I highly recommend this movie. It's hilarious and the soundtrack is THE BEST! No exaggeration. After the movie, somehow we got to talking about C.S.I.: Vegas. 

Me: Wasn't that the show that Mufasa was in (SIDE NOTE: I don't remember actor's names... just stuff they've been in)

Josh: James Earl Jones was NOT in C.S.I

Me: Well dang it... who was the guy in that show? He has a distinctive voice like Mufasa.

Josh: He's not Mufasa. He's James Earl Jones. And most people remember him for Darth Vader Anyways.

Me: You still haven't told me who's in C.S.I.

Josh: Lawrence Fishburn. Also, you sound really racist.

Me: NUH-UH! I didn't mean they look alike. Just that they both have really distinctive voices. I'm not trying to be racist.
After this we sit quietly for a moment, watching the extras from the Guardians bluray.
Me: So, Random thought... it's Lawrence Fishburn in the sprint commercials then right?

Josh: *with a very confused look on his face* Which Sprint Commercials?

Me: You know!!! The ones where it's him and the white guy and they go, "OMG he's cray-crazy aborbs!" and "Obvi!"
At this point Josh is holding his face. He's officially come to the point where he can't even with me anymore. 

Josh: No. *trying to hold back his laughter* That's James Earl Jones in those commercials.

Me: Ok. Got it. Matrix guy is C.S.I. and Mufasa is sprint.

My husband has the patience of a saint with me, y'all. 

The instagram picture

Aside from being grateful for my husband's patience with me, Today I'm grateful for sponsors. Well, not just today. Everyday I'm grateful for them. I love getting the email notifications saying "new sponsor to approve!" Ok... adproval doesn't say exactly that, but you get it. I'm especially grateful when my sponsors have started as bloggy friends. Bloggy friends like Ashley. She blogs at That Southern Mama. She's such a sweet, caring person with a fun style and a great attitude about parenting. She's also one of my current Daddy Llama sponsors!

Today I'm excited to introduce Ashley to y'all. I know you'll love her as much as I do. If you're not following her yet, why not? Do it!

Describe yourself in four words.
Mama's a hot mess! [ This is how I feel these days, ha!] 

You're about to have your second child. Are you excited or nervous? Tell us what you're thinking!
Both, I am excited to meet her & Kenzie finally meet the little sister we are always talking about. I am a little nervous about the labor & delivery part. Last go round went so smooth for it to be my first.. Just wondering how this one will go down. 

I really love your blogging style. What made you start blogging? 
THANKS! :) Well with this blog it was me becoming pregnant with Kenzie, & wanting to share & document as much as I could. 

You're a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why?
Leopard print, because it IS a color. Or should be. It is awesome, I am awesome so it just makes sense. :P

What's the best advice you've ever been given about blogging?
Enjoy it. When I no longer enjoy it, something went wrong & I will probably stop. 

What's your favorite movie quote?
Hmm I do not really know. Maybe, "We are going to need more pies!" or "Did we just become best friends?" Ha, I am lame. 

If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
At this moment I would say pretzels! I must have them every day! Maybe they are the reason I have gained so much this pregnancy.. 

See? How fun is she? I'm very blessed to have met Ashley through blogging. She's a local GA blogger like me! PLUS, Anyone that wants to be a leopard print crayon is automatically fun!
Want to see more of Ashley?  I highly suggest it. 

Follow along!  || blog || Instagram || Twitter || Pinterest ||

The Breakfast Club

Spending time with family is the best. Catching up, and having conversations. It's the perfect day to share conversations because we're linking up with Amanda for #MyConversations

Conversations With...

...My Family!!

This is what happens when there's been a lot to drink and we start talking movies...

Uncle: We should watch The Breakfast Club!!

Me: OOOOHH!! YEAH! love that movie!!

Sister's Boyfriend: What's the breakfast club??

Sister: [embarrassed] He refuses to watch it.

Uncle: That's it! We're watching it!

Boyfriend: [to sister] is that the one that you've been trying to get me to watch forever?

Sister: YES! It's a classic!

Uncle: What would it take to get you to watch?

Boyfriend: Two bottles of whiskey and a gun for Christmas

Uncle: Done. We're watching.

Me and Sister last night. After this conversation

We didn't watch The Breakfast Club. Turns out my Aunt doesn't own it. Uncle was too drunk to remember this conversation after 10 minutes anyway. But it was hilarious at the time!

Do you have a funny conversation? Link up with Amanda!

Conversations With...

... My Kids

Good Morning, blog world! Surprised to see me around here on a Saturday? Yeah, me too. BUT! It's the 15th which of course means it's time to share a conversation with Amanda 

Let's set the scene. It's a weekend. It's outrageously early in the morning. Both kids have made their way into bed with me. 

Zander: Mommy, Can I play with your phone?

[I'm pretending to sleep to see how long he will let me stay in bed]

Zander: Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Can I play with your phone?

Me: No, go back to bed. It's too early

Zander: But I'm already up! I want something to play with.

Me: Go play with your toys in your room.

Zander: My room is too messy. I can't find batman.

[now I'm laughing because I told him to clean his room last night and he didn't listen]

Me: well, I guess you're out of luck then.

[I feel Zander climb down and hear him go clean his room. Score 1 for Mommy!]

Ainsley: Mama!! Watch!!

[I roll over to see Ainsley now standing on the bed]
*Ainsley starts dancing and laughing*

Me: good dance Ainsley.

From there... I decided I couldn't sneak anymore sleep and it was time to make breakfast. Sigh. Life of a mom. Never getting to sleep past 7:00 ever again. I wouldn't change a thing.

Daddy Llama Conversations

Can anyone else belive that tomorrow is Halloween? No? Me either. Well since we're at the end of the month it's time for another round of Conversations. Technically the blogger men tell all linkup went live a few days ago, but I'm doing my own thing here. My blog, my rules, right? ;)
Let's get into it! I think Josh secretly enjoys being featured on the blog more than he lets on. He's funny that way.

Blogger Men Tell All

combined with

My Conversations
 

Me: OK, Babe you ready to answer some more interview questions again?
[rolls his eyes] I guess. I have a question though...
Me: What's that?
What's for Dinner?
Me: Um. I dunno. probably tacos
OK. Cool. Continue.
Me: Thanks for your permission.

Is Halloween your favorite holiday?
No.
What is?
[thinking hard] Uh, I guess Christmas. No particular reason. Just cause.
[me laughing] ok.

What do you plan on dressing up as for Halloween this year?
[giving me an evil look over his glasses] seriously?
Me: Babe, my readers don't know everything about you!
[sighs] fine. I don't dress up for Halloween. I'll wear my work clothes like I do every year.

What is your go-to drink (alcoholic or non)?
Non alcholoic would definitely be coke. Um, alcoholic would probably be Yuengling. Although we haven't had any beer in the house in awhile. Babe, you wanna get some beer later?
Me: Haha, ok. we have to go to the grocery store anyway.

What's your favorite scary movie?
OH! That's easy! All of the Halloween movies. But Freddy is pretty great too. Maybe I don't have a favorite
Me: Is this harder than you thought?
Yeah. I just like movies.

What is your best Halloween memory?
I don't remember much about Halloweens as a kid, so I guess my favorite would be seeing Zander and Ainsley trick or treating last year.
Me: And Ainsley will understand the candy this year
I'll let you handle her asking for candy every five minutes after we get home.
Me: Great, thanks.

There y'all have it. My husband. I swear as much as he sounds like he hates answering these I really think he loves it. Thanks again Becca and Amanda for these great link ups!

My Rhymes Are the Bomb...

Have you ever had to come up with rhymes to anything on the spot? No? Well, I can honestly say I have mad respect for rappers now. (See what I did there? Too lame?) OK... moving on. For those of y'all reading that haven't had the need to rhyme literally any word with another word on the spot allow me to introduce you to my son, Zander. Sure y'all have heard about him and seen his (adorable) face around these parts, but what y'all don't know about Zander is that he's obsessed with rhyming (and counting).

Today is the 15th, and if you were around here on the 15th and 30th of last month, then you know that today we're linking up with Amanda from Knock on Wood for #MyConversations. Check out the rules. Go ahead, I'll give you a minute... (Easy, right?)

This week, I present to y'all
Rhyming With My Boy

*in the car*
Zander: What rhymes with [long pause here to think of a word] House?
Me: Oh, that's easy: mouse, spouse.
Zander: Well what does house start with?
Me: H.
Zander: oh, yeah. [giggles a little]. Well, what does Fridge rhyme with?
Me: uhhh.... I don't know. Josh what does fridge rhyme with?
Josh: smidge?
Me: oh, yeah good one! smidge!
Zander: What does pizza rhyme with?
Me: [panic!] um. I don't think there is one, Bud.
Zander: yes there is. lots of words rhyme. like hat and cat.
[OK, smarty pants!]
Me: you're right! good job, but I don't think pizza has a rhyming word.
Zander: what about monkey?
Me: [by this point I'm out of words!] um...babe help me out!!
Josh: funky! [he then breaks out in a finger dance as he's driving and starts singing] Brass Monkey! That funky monkey!

Clearly I'm terrible at rhyming and my son is obviously smarter than me. Also, I Googled it: there isn't an English word that rhymes with pizza. Zander didn't like that bit of information. Sorry, kid orange doesn't have a word either. I love that Zander is so fascinated with words (and numbers). School is really amazing for him.
Also, Zander and I can't take a serious picture anymore. We're cool like that.

 

Anne, because I love you so much I'm linking up with you this week (per the norm!)
for Wednesday Wishes.

 

My wish this week is that Zander never tires of wanting to learn. I wish that he always finds joy in wanting to know more about the world around him. I wish that I can help him in any way that I can to make sure he gets the knowledge that he's looking for. I love my little smarty pants. Even when he's being a smart alec! I wish he stays just as cool as he is now, because let's face it- my kid is awesome. (Totally unbiased Mom opion right there! haha!)

 

ALSO! Don't forget, I've teamed up with 19 other bloggers to giveaway adspace AND $25 paypal cash! Go enter now. Seriously... do it! ;)

Let Me Introduce Josh

We're trying something new today. We're going to let my hubby Josh kind of take over the blog and share his thoughts on some things. To do so, we're linking up with Becca from Becoming Adorrable and Amanda from Knock on Wood

Blogger Men Tell All

combined with

My Conversations
 

I sat down with Josh and asked him these questions provided by Becca. I typed his answers, so it counts as a conversation since we were talking face to face. Just go with it.

If you had a blog, what would you call it, and what would you write about?
[he's thinking very hard on this question].
I dunno. I'm not very good at coming up with names on stuff. You're the creative one.
Me: well, if you had to pick... right now... say anything
Geez, peer pressure much? *sighs* ok, I guess Reaper's Corner
Me: geez, dark much??
You know everything I name has Reaper in it. (it does... his xbox gamer tag is ReaperPeanut)
Me: OK... fair point, so what would you write about?
I dunno... probably about how much my wife annoys me with silly blog stuff. And how much work sucks.

If you could live inside any video game, which would it be?
Probably Major League Baseball just because that's the only game I own that doesn't have killing in it. I wouldn't want to live in a game where my life is at risk.
Me: I thought you had driving games too?
Oh yeah, but I still say baseball
Me: OK.

Who is your best player on your fantasy football team this season?
You're kidding right?
Me: That's the question
You know I don't do Fantasy Football.
Me: I had to ask the question! Plus, my readers don't know that kind of stuff.
Fine, Robert Quinn. (his cousin)

If you could play for any professional sports team, which one would it be?
Is professional eating an option, because I'm pretty awesome at eating.
Me: I don't think so...
Well, that's my choice and I'm sticking to it!

What do you typically do with an hour of free time?
Sleep
Me: no, seriously.
I am being serious. If I have down time at work, I sleep in my truck if I can't talk to you.
Me: What about at home?
Watch T.V.
Me: you're so exciting. *as I stick my tongue out at him*
You married me. (his answer to everything!)

So.. that's Josh. Trust me, he's just as much of a smart ass as his answers sound, but he's my smartass and I love him.

Talking to Myself...

...except not really...
Today marks the first day for Amanda's fun new linkup "Conversations". She has been so sweet to ask me to co-host this link up, and of course I said yes! I was pretty excited when she shared the details with me, and the best part is they're SO SIMPLE, y'all!! Here's the deal: It's a twice a month link up on the 15th and 30th of every month... and it's simple: Just share any conversation.

To kick off the start to #MyConversations (use this hashtag with any social medial!) We're going back in time for this conversation. Back to 2006.

"That one time when I had to change my tire"

Let's set the scene, shall we? It's either very late at night (or very early in the morning... depending on how you look at it). It's raining. There's three people in my car: Me, Amanda, and our friend (we'll call him C). This is my first car ever, and the three of us had been enjoying new found freedom since I was the only one with a car out of the three of us.

Well, early in the morning ( / late at night) Amanda had to get home. She was in a new apartment and trying to tell me how to get back to it since I couldn't remember. With the rain though, it was difficult to see; we missed a turn and I ended up hitting a curb which of course, as luck would have it, turned into a blown tire. My first blown tire ever!

As it turns out... none of us knew how to change a tire. C still gets crap about never changing a tire, since he was the only guy with us and as a guy he should've known. Right? Right. After the three of us stared at the spare in the trunk forever, I decided to finally call for help. Except, none of us had triple A either.

The phonecall I'll never forget...

Me: Hey, any chance Mommy is still up? We blew a tire. ((No WAY I was calling the house phone at ungodly hours so I called my sister to talk to my mom!)) I'm a thinker.
Sis: hold on, I'll get her
Mom: Baby? you ok? What's going on?
Me: Welllllllll (I then explain what happened to the tire) And none of us know how to change the tire.
Mom: I can't come get you though. There's no room. And the baby is asleep.
Me: Well, can you walk us through it? We don't know where to start.
Mom: *insert uncontrollable laughter here* Sorry, I know it's not funny but this isn't the conversation I expected to have, ever!
[at this point we're soaked]
My mom does go on and walks us through how to change the flat, but to this day, if she sees C or I talk about Amanda she asks "have you changed any flats lately?" Thanks for being so loving, mom.

"Lady" My first car, ever

It's also Monday today, y'all and in the spirit of being grateful (with Emily at Ember Grey), I would like to say I'm very grateful that my mom was still awake that night. Now I know how to change a tire, and I have this hilarious memory.

If you'd like to share one of your conversations, please add the link to your post below! We can't wait to read them!