Stellan

Please pray for this sweet baby. He is very sick at the moment. You can follow his story at www.mycharmingkids.net. His mom is updating the Twitter column from the hospital and there you can find the most up-to-date information. Her family members are updating her blog for her, but the twitter updates are more current.

Merry Christmas

Jay and I wish everyone a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

100 Things...Part 1

So I'm sitting here watching my all time favorite Christmas movie...Merry Christmas Charlie Brown. I'm probably the only person who tears up while watching Charlie Brown, but can you get any more innocent than the love of Charlie Brown? The last 5 minutes of that movie make my heart smile.
I was talking to a good friend of mine (and someone who I look up to dearly) tonight at dinner and she mentioned that she finds out what is going on with me through my blog. So on the way home tonight it hit me, many of the people I work with really don't know all that much about me. I started thinking, what are 100 things that I think people should know/might get a kick out of knowing about me? Here are the first 50 that I came up with (in no particular order)...

1. I have lived in 3 different places (Montevallo, Mobile, Calera)
2. My favorite color is blue
3. Seafood is my favorite thing to eat, with ice cream in a close 2nd
4. I HATE hot dogs and mustard.
   
5. I collect Peanut's Gang memorabilia as in Charlie Brown and Snoopy stuff
6. I change hobbies with the seasons. Some past (and reoccurring) hobbies include: photography, painting, tablescapes, cross stitching, jewelry making
   
7. I met my husband at my cousin's wedding. I caught the bouquet and he caught the garter. I was there to serve the wedding cake and he was a groomsman.
   
8. I LOVE to cook especially bake. I enjoy teaching others to cook.
   
9. I am painfully shy and blush very easily.
10. I have always dreamed of being on tv. I have been on 1 PBS special, 2 news reports while in Mobile, 2 commercials (Mobile), and two on air interviews in Birmingham.
    
11. I hope to one day have my own tv show. I used to joke that it would be a soap opera (oh I have some crazy story lines) but now I would love for it to be a cooking show.
12. When I was in 5th grade, I was on the game show Nick Arcade. Nickolodeon came to Birmingham and chose people out of the crowd to participate. I was chosen for the show Nick Arcade, a game show that made the participants look as if they were playing inside of a video game.
    
13. I was a cheerleader in high school (Go Bulldogs!)
14. I was the mascot my senior year and received the UCA All Star mascot award
    
15. I was Miss MHS my senior year
    
16. I was Miss MHS Congeniality my freshman year
    
17. My first job was as a babysitter. I kept 3 kids that through the years expanded to 6 kids. I loved babysitting for that family. I soon established a group of families that I regularly babysat for.
    
18. I was a Pharmacy Tech for CVS pharmacy in Pelham, Columbiana, and Helena
19. One summer I worked as a behavior specialist for a little girl who was autistic. My job was to work with socialization. When she was working with another specialist I was the nanny for her 3 year old sister.
    
20. My first summer in Mobile, I was the public relations intern for America's Junior Miss. My job was to coordinate all of the news reporters who were coming for the program. I also coordinated all of the press passes, parent passes, chaperone passes, and back stage access. I was the assistant to the assistant who helped with the band--which was a boy band from Ireland.
    
21. I worked at Kirklands for almost 4 years. I made it all the way up to a supervisor position. I loved getting to decorate houses all over Birmingham.
    
22. I was a 2002--2003 USS Alabama Crewmate. I served as an ambassador for the state for the Tourism department. I traveled all over the state promoting tourism to Alabama. I was the first person in 20 years chosen outside of the Baldwin/Mobile area. It was one of the best years of my life.
    
23. I served as a hostess of Mobile's Bicentennial celebration. I helped host parties during the Tall Ship celebration
24. I am a member of Alpha Omicron Pi, Gamma Delta Chapter.
    
25. I am very sensitive and get my feelings hurt easily.
26. I am terrified of snakes
    
27. I love sending Christmas cards
    
28. I hope to one day write a children's book
    
29. I have seen the musical Rent (not the movie) 7 times
30. I used to dream of being on Broadway (but I don't like singing in public)
31. I don't like to pray aloud
32. I'm a MAJOR pack rat. I keep everything
33. I have a very sensitive sense of hearing and smell. I hear things before most people (at lower volumes) and smell things that most people don't.
    
34. I was born 6 weeks premature
35. I was on the newspaper staff in high school
36. I have changed my major 7 times (undergraduate and masters) Pre-med, nursing, sports and even marketing, occupational therapy, child life therapy/therapeutic recreation, elementary education, library media science, educational leadership/administration
37. I love the show Secret Lives of Women
38. I am allergic to milk but have learned how much I can tolerate before getting sick (hence my ice cream addiction)
39. I collect movies (my video collection is 200+, my DVD collection is 150+)
40. The summer before my senior year in high school, I spent 16 days in Houston, Texas participating in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine. I got to observe an open heart surgery, experience an autopsy, hold a human brain and heart, and meet some of the top doctors in America.
    
41. Spring Break my junior year in high school, I spent the week in Washington DC and New York city doing volunteer work and learning about citizenship in America
42. My favorite candy bar is Milky Way Midnight Dark (the dark chocolate version of a Milky Way--heavenly!)
43. I hate to clean
44. Merry Christmas Charlie Brown (the first part of A Charlie Brown Christmas) is one of my favorite movies
45. I love music and associate songs to different events and people in my life
46. I am a perfectionist to a fault
47. My favorite author is Jodi Piccoult
48. I am an avid reader and get it from my Dad
    
49. I am allergic to cats
50. Fairhope, Alabama is one of my favorite places to visit
    

So, there is Part I. Did you learn anything new? I have a random life don't you think =) But I have lived, loved, and learned through every minute of it. Part II will come before Christmas hopefully. I leave you with a clip from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Can you tell that I love this movie?

Life

This entry is probably going to end up all over the place, but life lately has been like that. The past week has been a week of ups and downs and extremely fast paced.

Lets start with the good news...I was accepted! Thursday, I had my interview for the Educational Leadership program at UM. It went really well and they even let me know there in the interview that I had been accepted into the program. I was also told that my portfolio had been the best this year and one of the best that they had ever reviewed! That made me feel great because I was really beginning to doubt myself because of all the hurtles I had to jump to apply for the program. Want to know what is even crazier...I am only 1 of 4 people who they accepted into the program. Yes, you heard me right, they only accepted 4 people into the program this time! How crazy is that? But since there is only 4 of this, they are putting us on a fast track and we will graduate in a year and a half instead of the normal 2 years. I am excited about this. I am ready to have my masters and I feel really good about this program. I have had a lot of support as I have told people about my intentions. I know it will be a challenge but I am ready to take it on.

Ok, now the sad news. A friend of mine from high school passed away this week. On Monday, his mom was unable to wake him and by Wednesday he had no brain activity. I have heard a couple of speculations as to what happened but I don't know the final story. His family made the tough decision to take him off of the ventilator Wednesday night and donate his organs. Please pray for the Barnes family, this has been a really tough year for them. I still can't believe that Wesley is gone. In high school, he was one of those guys that everyone loved. He played football and was always friendly to everyone. He had a great smile and sense of humor.
I wanted to go to his visitation Friday night, but I just couldn't. This is the first time that I have had people that I am close to pass away. Yes, people I have known have passed away and I have been to my fair share of funerals, but this year it has really hit hard that people that I am close to have passed away. I have a hard time dealing with death. First Linda and now Wesley, I just couldn't handle it alone.

Back to happy times, Christmas is almost here! I would post some pictures of my Christmas decorating, but it kinda looks like Christmas threw up in our house right now. There are decorations everywhere, one tree decorated, one that still needs to be decorated, and a mini Charlie Brown tree that needs to be finished. There is wrapping paper all over the floor, and a half finished It's Christmas Charlie Brown puzzle on the coffee table. Its a little overwhelming, I wish I could find some elf that would come and clean my house for me.

10 days of school left...it should be fun. If I can keep their attention for 5 more days, I will be happy. That last week before we get out for the break should be fun. On Monday, we have a field trip, Tuesday should be normal, Wednesday we are doing "Christmas Around the World" as a whole day activity, Thursday is our annual Gingerbread House Extravaganza, and Friday is "Polar Express" pajama party day. That last week should be fun. I hope our classroom elf Max can keep up with all the fun. The kids have been so funny about Max. Each day, they look to see where he has moved, and if he has made a mess. On Friday, they were pretty sure he had changed clothes =) Oh the imagination of 2nd graders!

Snow?

When I was a little girl, I used to always wish for a white Christmas. I think it came from my love of old Christmas movies; all of them had snow in them. Unfortunately, living in Alabama, we don't get much of the white stuff.
I have been following the weather for the past few days (yes, I am a weather nerd) and there is a chance of snow tonight and tomorrow. They are predicting a rain/snow shower mix beginning tonight. The ground is too warm for it to stick but (despite the cold) if we do see some white stuff tonight, Jay and I might have to go walking through the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights. I think this might be as close to a White Christmas that I can get.

Check out www.jamesspann.com and click on the blog link to follow the weather with me.

UPDATE: There have been reports of snow in Biloxi and flurries in Gulf Shores.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was wonderful this year as usual. Good food, good times, and beautiful weather. Thanksgiving has always been one of my one of my favorite holidays. I love getting to gather with my family for a happy occasion. Here are some pictures from that day. We spent Thanksgiving down on the farm in River Bend.

The boys played football after their big lunch.

My Family

My brother

My cousin Stephanie and her family

My mom and her brothers

Bubba (Aunt Becky's brother) and his wife Coral

Aunt Becky and her brother Bubba (his real name is Richard)

The whole family (thanks to the tripod and timer)

Aunt Becky and Uncle John

Aunt Becky, Uncle John, and my cousins Stephanie and Paul

Preview for Penny

I had the pleasure of getting to spend the afternoon with Penny and her beautiful babies. Here are a few pictures that we took. Here are a few of my favorites.

Tag! You're it.

This is from my cousin Bailey. If you are reading it, then tag! you're it. Now it is your turn to fill it out.

Eight TV shows that I (currently) watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Desperate Housewives
3. Fringe
4. Top Chef
5. Heroes
6. Ugly Betty
7. Dancing with the Stars
8. Anything on the Food Network

Eight Favorite Restaurants: (in no particular order)
1. Cajun Steamers
2. Olive Garden
3. Chili's
4. Five Guys
5. Cheesecake Factory
6. Taziki's
7. Gambino's
8. Original Oyster House

Eight Things that happened this weekend:
1. I turned 27
2. Went to dinner with Jay, my parents, my brother and his girlfriend
3. Made homemade chili
4. Did laundry
5. Set up the Christmas tree (but I refuse to decorate it until after Thanksgiving)
6. Ate birthday cake
7. Slept in
8. Attempted to clean house

Eight Things I look forward to:
1. Thanksgiving with the family
2. Thanksgiving break
3. Decorating the house for Christmas
4. Christmas shopping
5. Finishing my current book and starting a new one
6. Getting to practice my photography skills--so far I have 2 families I am photographing for Christmas cards, let me know if you are interested!
7. Christmas baking
8. Christmas break

Eight Things on My Wishlist:
1. Treadmill
2. Cricut machine
3. A clean house
4. To lose some weight
5. For Jay and I to find a church that we both like
6. A long vacation
7. Some new books to read
8. For the economy to get better

Fryday Fun

For a few months now I have really enjoyed reading MCKMama's blog about her amazing babies. She always has the cutest stories about her kiddos not to mention beautiful pictures of them. Also, the story about her newest addition is a true testimony to prayer. If you get a chance, check out her blog My Charming Kids.

I know I have mentioned her blog before. She is responsible for the fun "Not Me! Monday" posts and the "Wordless Wednesday" posts. Currently she is doing a contest for her readers that I am entering. Besides being a mommy, she is also a photographer. I have enjoyed reading her photography tips and now know what "noise" is in photographs.

So, check out her blog! I will be updating about my wonderful birthday some time later today hopefully.

Happy Birthday!

This is a week full of birthdays!
Tomorrow is my sweet baby niece, Harper Ann's First Birthday!
Happy Birthday Sweet Girl! We love you!

Big Picture Post

Jay and I just got back from our wonderful mini-vacation. We had a blast and even got a little Christmas shopping done. The trip was very relaxing and refreshing. I got to spend some time with my husband and my camera. Jay was very patient as I explored the grounds looking for the perfect picture. I have included many of the pictures from Monday and Tuesday. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them. I think my favorites are the sunset pictures from the pier.

There were butterflies everywhere we looked today! Here are a few shots I was able to get. I guess this was part of the Monarch's migration south.







I set the tripod up hoping to get some good shots that I might use as a Christmas card. We had fun taking these pictures. A couple of times we thought that the white duck might join us in the shot.






The ducks were so hungry that they ate the fern.

Shhhh...the duck is sleeping.
Our friend, the hungry duck. He was not shy at all. While we were taking pictures he came as close as a foot away from us.


The bay was beautiful today. The water was calm and so blue. I wish it was warmer so we could have played in it. How calm and refreshing it was.


The weather was absolutely perfect for a November day. A green flag means everything is good and calm waters.




This is the Grand Cannon. The Grand Hotel has a long history and every day at 4pm the fire the cannon in honor of the history. There is a whole story that goes with this but I don't remember it, sorry!

This was a cute little garden tucked behind one of the buildings.
I love the grounds at the Grand Hotel. And the swings are a perfect place to take in the beauty of the bay.


I had read about these fire pits that are lit each night for guests to sit around and enjoy. Monday night we searched for them but didn't find them. Tuesday while we were exploring, we found them! They were one more building over from where we stopped the night before.
Jay made a friend while we were exploring.
This is the Spa building at the Grand Hotel. This is the building we stayed in.


Okay so I realize that the pictures are out of order, but it was easier to upload them in order from my camera and I used two different cards.
When we arrived in Fairhope Monday evening, the sunset was in full glory. We stopped at the Fairhope Pier so I could take some pictures. Personally, I think they are beautiful. The fiery colors of the sky were amazing and you can see the transition to a cool evening.







This boat was for sale. Jay and I hope to one day own one like it.


I am really excited about how these two pictures turned out. This was my attempt at some artsy composition pictures. The sunset was gorgeous that night.

The sun was setting fast and I knew I didn't have time to set up the tripod so we took this picture ourselves holding the camera. We always take a picture at the Fairhope Pier. This is the latest installment.


Yes, the pool is still beautiful in the fall. Would you believe that there were people swimming in it the next day?!
These two pictures are of the marina that was outside of our building.

These are two of the original doors from the Grand Hotel. They have even withstood hurricanes.

I had wanted to stop by the USS Alabama to see some old friends but the crowd there was overwhelming. So I took some pictures as we drove past.



These next few photo's made me sad. First, when we arrived at Point Clear on Monday night, we were so excited about a yummy meal at Gambino's. Much to our disappointment, this was the sign that we saw...
No Gambino's for us! Then on Tuesday, we we decided to stop by Picklefish to get pizza to bring home. But guess what! It has closed too! Whats the deal?


So as you can see, Jay and I had a fun mini-vacation in Fairhope. We are already planning a return trip before Christmas.