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Emma Turns 6

Today Emma turns 6.  I feel like I should do an overly emotional post but honestly I don’t have it in me.  We celebrated two weeks ago so it feels a little anti-climatic but I do have to say this past year was a huge year for her.  Obviously the biggest being that Emma started school this year.  She started reading.  She started writing sentences.  She lost four teeth.  She matured.  She really is one of the most caring people I know.  She always puts others first and I feel bad sometimes letting Lexi have her way over Emma’s just because I know Emma will be a big girl about it.  She loves all her friends and is as loyal to them as possible.  She’s smart and kind and she still loves being around Mommy even though she isn’t the affectionate one like Lexi.  People said she’d turn into a Daddy’s girl but that just hasn’t happened yet.  I love that I’m still Mommy to her.

I looked at Scott this morning and said “Can you believe we have a six year old?  It seems like yesterday we were going to my prom.”   And it really does.  And I look at Emma and she’s getting so tall and I can’t believe she’s growing up so quickly which actually means I’m getting old quickly by the way.  And then I see all the “big kids” at school and she looks like a baby compared to them.  Part of my heart breaks because she looks so vulnerable but I’m happy to have my baby for as long as possible.  But six?  Six certainly isn’t a baby.  I don’t know, this year feels a little different than other years.  She’s certainly not a baby but she feels like my baby.  She’s not really what I think of as a young lady yet.  For some reason I feel the need to break out with Britney’s ‘Not a girl, Not Yet a Woman’ LOL.  Maybe it should be ‘Not a Baby, Not Yet a Young Lady’. LOL  That actually rhymes.  OK, I think I should end this post.  Certainly not baby-book worthy.  Except this blog sort of IS her baby book and one day when she is not a girl, not yet a woman, she is going to look back at this post and say, Man, Mom, you are SUCH A DORK.

The Morning After

The morning after Twilight premiere that is.  I was up until almost 1 finishing my review last night.  This morning I was tired but I got up and got the girls ready for school but talked Scott into actually driving them.  At 7:25, 5 minutes after he usually leaves to take them, I was still standing in my robe and had not had a shower in over 24 hours.  No makeup and my hair was insane as it always is in the morning.  I think he felt pity for me and jumped out of bed.

I went back to sleep for a bit but didn’t get up in time to get a shower or get dressed. I plopped down at my desk and got to work.  Normally things are quiet here but it would just be my luck I had a busy morning…

9:45 the doorbell rings.  It’s Heather to get chocolates from me.  I peak outside long enough to hand her keys and tell her to check my van trunk.  She then tweets:

Stopped at @amyjbennett house. She totally needs to get ready! Scary!

10:30 the doorbell rings again.  OMG, who else could it be?  People just don’t visit me.  I peak through the peephole and it’s FedEx!  Mail!  I decide to open the door with my scary RPattz hair and robe.  He’s like, uh, sorry!  I just laugh and sign.

11:30 the doorbell rings AGAIN.  I look through the peephole.  It’s someone I don’t recognize in a red car and figure it’s for Scott.  Probably another officer.  Crap.  I go to Scott who is in the shower (and previously sleeping in unable to answer the door).  He says Answer it!  I’m in my robe! I say.  So I throw on all my Cullen gear from last night that’s still sitting on the floor, try to flatten my hair down and answer it.  He’s like, sorry, I didn’t wake you up did I?  Hahahha…no, sorry.  I’m just a lazy housewife that just woke up. (didn’t really say that)

Yeah, so needless to say I’m getting a shower during my lunch hour and putting on lots of makeup and sticking lots of hair product in my hair just to feel a little bit better about myself.

Twilight

This first part has no spoilers!

Wow.  What a day.  I was extremely, extremely excited to see the movie tonight.  I think everyone at work thought I was a little off because I was SO excited about a movie.  I seriously could not quit smiling for most of the day.  At some points I really thought I’d need to find a little corner to cry in just to get some anxiety out.  And I’m not really kidding there.  I was keyed up this evening!

We got there 45 minutes early and realized we didn’t actually have reserved seats.  It was a free for all save 3 rows mid theater saved for the media.  Thankfully Heather and I got two seats on the end on the next to the last row.  I was REALLY afraid of sitting on the first row.  No one did as it wasn’t a sold-out theater.  I would say a good 75% of the people were teenagers. I have no idea how anyone else got their tickets.

Because of the previews from Italy and such it seemed like the audiences could be annoying but we had a great audience.  We screamed/clapped at the beginning and just a little when Edward and then Jacob made their first screen appearance but otherwise no one moved an inch unless we were laughing.  I think I MAY have seen one girl run to the bathroom towards the end but otherwise everyone was a very good moviegoer.  ALL cellphones/camera were taken at the door so no distractions there.

Now, without spoiling it, I have to say the movie was SO good.  I walked away really satisfied with the movie.  As Kristen said in an interview, I felt like the essence of the book was captured.  There was only one scene Heather and I were like oh, that would have been nice to see but otherwise the Melissa did a FABULOUS job of fitting the book into a movie.  Yes, things changed but I was very satisfied with it.  Now, I have to say I didn’t like every single little second.  I have a list of things I didn’t like but I also have a longer list of things that made me very happy or were even better than I thought.  SO, if you are so inclined, please go to the jump to get more of the scoop.

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Turkeypalooza

More blessings and this time in the form of a turkey lol…just in time for Thanksgiving!  Apparently I did well with one of my OTH affiliates (LinkShare) and won a Turkey.  Cool!

Hot Blogger Calendars Sneak Peak

Jane and Sarah put out sneak peaks to the calendar this weekend.  One of my pictures made it to the front (far left…it’s hard to see)!  Yay!

Last I checked, I think they should be out within the week.  You can go ahead and pre-order at the links below.

Female Hot Blogger Calendar

Male Hot Blogger Calendar

Sleepover

Last night turned out REALLY good.   We had less girls than we thought but it was a really good group of girls.  The night consisted of lots of food including some yummy fondue, games, karoke, movies and some scavenger hunts.

I found out I’m HORRIBLE at Jenga.  I think I lost all but one round I played.

I’d never really done karoke (I know  *gasp*) but it was so much fun.  We sang everything from Summer lovin’ to Girls Just Wanna Have Fun to What Hurts the Most to Santa Baby Here We Go Loopy Loo.  We had four or five mics and with the music blaring on our sound system, we all were singing at the top of our lungs and putting on our own version of what a jazzercise class might be like.  It really was a lot of fun.

Everyone finally settled in a sleeping bag around 1am for PS I Love You but they ended up switching movies at 2:30 and I went to sleep then.  The leaders woke up at 9:30 for our Bible Study which actually means I got MORE sleep than I did the past three nights.  Go figure.

Overwhelmingly Blessed

So much of what my Bible Study has been about the last two weeks is getting through tough times.  One week was about the goodness of God and knowing no matter what happens, He allows things to happen for His greater glory.  Another was about believing and having faith that fights through those hard times and this past week was about gentleness.  It emphasized that gentleness was born out of submission to God and His will…even through hard times.

She had us think of a tough time where we really struggled with God.  Honestly I had a hard time coming up with something.  Not because I’m a spiritual giant and don’t struggle but because I don’t think I’ve been put through a lot of times where I HAD to struggle.  Yes, in the past few weeks I’ve been met with untimely deaths that had the ability to rock my beliefs to the very core but overall, I just haven’t been in a Job kind of place.  That place where God tests you until everyone around you tells you to curse God because He’s tested you so thoroughly.

And I’ve just been completely overwhelmed about how God has blessed us.  Like really, really blessed us.  He’s been so good to us and I don’t know why He hasn’t chosen us for a Job type experience yet.  Honestly, it scares me completely to think I’ve been going through these studies in preparation for something.  Something that WILL cause me to question God’s goodness and put my faith to test and cause everyone around me to curse God.  I’m not saying I’m worrying.  I’m not.  My point is I’m SO THANKFUL for how much He’s blessed us.  Financially, emotionally, spiritually, physically.  Everything.  So much good stuff has been happening to me lately I just feel overwhelmed.  And yes, I credit all the little stuff to God.  He cares what we care about and He doesn’t miss the little things.

I know my heart has always been in a place to please God and obey his commands as much as possible.  I don’t do it all the time.  My time and attention isn’t always on Him but at my core, I want to please Him.  I think Scott is the same way.  We’ve always had that connection spiritually.  And maybe, just maybe, I need to realize that God is the God that is loving and good and faithful to His promises and has chosen to bless us because of our obedience.  I don’t understand why he has chosen us to bless and not others when they are truly submitted but for now, I just want to be so thankful that everything is so good.

Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings for Obedience

1″If you fully obey the LORD your God by keeping all the commands I am giving you today, the LORD your God will exalt you above all the nations of the world.

2You will experience all these blessings if you obey the LORD your God:

3 You will be blessed in your towns and in the country.

4 You will be blessed with many children and productive fields. You will be blessed with fertile herds and flocks.

5 You will be blessed with baskets overflowing with fruit, and with kneading bowls filled with bread.

6You will be blessed wherever you go, both in coming and in going.

7″The LORD will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven!

8″The LORD will bless everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

9″If you obey the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways, the LORD will establish you as his holy people as he solemnly promised to do.

10Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the LORD, and they will stand in awe of you.

11″The LORD will give you an abundance of good things in the land he swore to give your ancestors–many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops.

12The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens to bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.

13If you listen to these commands of the LORD your God and carefully obey them, the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always have the upper hand.

14You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today to follow after other gods and worship them.

Weekend Plans

OK, so the last post was all about how inside I’m freaking out a bit (lot) about my Twilight advanced screening tickets.  I’ll try to make this one my I’m a normal Southern mom that has normal weekend plans post.

Lexi has a make-up school day today so she’s in preschool this morning.  Scott is working nights all weekend so he’s in bed sleeping now and we won’t see too much of him this weekend.  It’s been a quiet morning so far.  Mom should be getting the girls for the afternoon so I expect a quiet day actually.  And with the rain outside, it’s a pretty quiet Friday.

This evening though I’m helping chaperone a girls sleepover for the youth group while MIL keeps the kids tonight.  We’re having fondue and watching chick flicks.  I’m actually looking forward to it but I don’t expect quiet AT ALL.

Tomorrow morning we’re still planning Bible Study since three of us are chaperoning it anyway.  I think tomorrow night Mom wants us to go visit one of her higher (est) end client’s houses.  Sunday will be the norm so nothing new there.

So yeah, should be busy later today and tomorrow but hopefully I can rest on Sunday and be ready for my Twilight freak-out week!

Twilight Advanced Screening - More Details

Why, Happy Friday, folks!  Have I mentioned I’m going to see Twilight on Tuesday?  Because guess what?  I’M GOING TO SEE TWILIGHT ON TUESDAY!!!  The excitement has not waned a bit.  I got my confirmation email yesterday evening.  The show is near SouthPark in Charlotte, NC which is about a 20 minute drive or so.  The show is at 7:30 and I’m supposed to be there 30 minutes early and bring the email or identification.

Absolutely no recording devices (even cell phones) are allowed in or they take it and all the contents and throw me out. And sorry folks, I love you, but I’m not getting thrown out.  So no twittering, twit-pic-ing texting, SMSing or flip-ing from me.  I’ll just have to video myself and blog until my fingers hurt when we get out.

I fully expect to be a blubbering mess the entire time so just be forewarned it’s not going to be pretty.  I’m seriously concerned at my well-being at this thing.  There has been so much hype on this and so many emotions while reading the book and oh my goodness, I’m seeing it THREE DAYS EARLY that I think the anticipation is going to make me do embarrassing things like throw up or pass out or cry for two hours straight.  I know.  It’s just. a. movie.  But somehow it’s not and it just wouldn’t be right for me to sit calmly and watch the movie like a normal moviegoer and then twitter that hey, I saw this movie last night and it’s a must-see.  Somehow only a FREAK-OUT seems to do its following justice.

So.  Be prepared.  Hopefully I won’t puke or faint.  I fully expect to cry.  But just realize.  I’m already freakin’ out and don’t plan to quit until Tuesday night.  Actually…probably will be freaking out until Friday at 2am after I watch the midnight showing on premiere day with a bunch of other Twilighters that are crazy enough to watch a movie that late.  Then maybe.  Just maybe.  I’ll calm down.  Nah, of course THEN everyone else will be hyped to see it that evening and I’ll have to stay up late Friday discussing it finally and then WE’LL ALL BE FREAKING OUT TOGETHER.  So yeah.  The next week of my life is Twilight freak-out week.

The Eleventh Commandment

Around our house we try to relate reasons for not doing things back to the Bible.  We want them to follow God’s Word and not simply because Mommy and Daddy says so, although that can be a valid reason as well.    For example, a lot of times we say you have to share because Jesus says it’s better to give than receive.  Well.  Lexi comes into her bedroom where I’m talking on the phone to Heather, of course about our exciting trip to the Twilight advanced screening, and Lexi has a big bag of Halloween candy corn in her hands.  She asks if she can have some candy and I say no, you don’t need any sugar right now.  And she says very serious albeit a bit whiny…

But Mommy, Jesus says we can have candy after we eat our dinner.

I WON!!

I’m so excited!!! I just found a text message I received at 1:30 this afternoon saying I won 2 VIP passes to an early screening of Twilight on Tuesday in Charlotte (I assume b/c that’s the closest one to me).  I emailed them my info and I should be hearing something soon.  WOW!!!  Heather of course is going with me and we were screaming like school girls over the phone.

Wordless Wednesday - My life 75% of the time

Panera Panacea

As planned, I dropped the kids off at school and headed to Panera Bread for some alone time with my laptop.  I literally sat there for four hours only getting up once to use the restroom.  It was a slice of heaven.  I caught up with emails, blog, Twilight interviews, listened to some music, chatted wtih some folks and did some writing.  It really was so relaxing.

The rest of the day wasn’t bad either.  I picked Lexi up from school and took her to McD’s.  She thought it was a treat because I took her inside to eat instead of running through the drive thru.  The kids always like to hear “Mommy doesn’t have to work today!”  I did a little cleaning and laundry this afternoon.

This evening was spent entirely at the church.  Our choir sang for our men’s ministry meeting and we all ate BBQ afterwards.  So very Southern of us right?  The kids were whisked into bed when we got home at 9.  Since then, I’ve been doing the whole catching up on emails, blog and Twilight interviews again.  I think I’m going to stay away from the TV tonight and watch House and Privileged later.  I want to write some more and I’ll just pretend I smell fresh bread and hear people chatting away around me.

Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattinson Vanity Fair Picture

*Update * WOW Why did I call her Kristen Bell????

This deserves a post all on its own. And to quote a t-shirt…”It’s a Twilight thing”

Guest Posting

I’m so excited about my first guest post and proud that it is Sarah that I met in New York for the Hot Blogger Calendar.  Check it out!