The "Bugs" Beds

Beds!!

We love our beds!!!  We are a very active family, thanks mostly to the kiddos and their many activities that keep us all on the go.  Nealie, being the trooper that she is, can sleep in just about any position if she is tired...she makes me laugh sometimes as she can get away with doing the things we all want to do, but won't...like yawn when someone keeps talking and talking...or sleep right in the middle of dinner!!

YES...asleep under a side table in the kitchen!!!!

Eating pizza on "Friday night pizza" night!!!

Somewhere in the picture archives is a picture of Bugjuice sleeping while sitting straight up on the sofa during the Super Bowl that he so desparately wanted to see.  I will continue to search and post when I find it...but just know he too has some truly odd sleeping places!!

When it truly comes time for rest though, they have both created their own special "nest."  They are both known to fall into bed exhausted and just smile and giggle...they are that happy to be snuggled in amongst all those pillows and animals and music boxes (Nealie)!!!  Here's Nealie happy in her bed with her "leaf" roof - a gift from Uncle G and Aunt L.

There are rituals that must be followed to put each "Bug" to bed. Nealie has to check herself out in the bedside mirror, pat her pillow a few times, start her musicbox, and then scrunch her hands under the pillow. She then waits for me to put her sippy cup in its spot between the two pillows ( or in her mouth!!) and give her many kisses!! Lights out and she is off to slumber land!!!



Pher was a little jealous of Nealie's "leaf" pad...that was until he got some new furniture and created an "apartment" of his own!!! Yes, at 13 years old, he has started the "i love my room" part of life!!!

Pher's ritual is to flip... and I do mean flip...

into his bed.  He then re-arranges his pillows...there are SEVEN of them!!! Yes SEVEN!!! Once they are in the right spots, he gets comfy right in the middle of the bed facing his TV.  I wait for him to find the show of choice and then I set the timer.  Sometimes we talk a little about the happenings of the day, sometimes I rub his head a little (a habit I started when he was a baby and still likes; his wife may hate me one day!!!), but always, ALWAYS we give hugs. Wonderful!!  Although I am usually exhausted by this time and sometimes wish we didn't have to go through these rituals, I truly love this time.  He is my firstborn and growing up so very fast...it is in these moments that we go back in time just a little...little baby boy and smitten mom.  I hope we always continue to have little moments like this Bugjuice...they make my heart smile.

Night, night. Love you "Bugs"!!!!!! You are my life!

Pearly Whites

Hi again!! Remember us...The Bug Life??  I've been MIA for quite a while...sure blog-friends Steffie J's World and The Shoe Box can tell you exactly how long!!!  I'm gonna do better in 2012...honestly my determination is being fueled by The Shoe Box printed edition.  I want that for my "Bugs".  So...here we go!

Today Nea-Bug had a dental procedure at UNC Children's Hospital.  Nealie did quite well with dental visits until the summer.  A baby tooth in the front would not fall out even though the permanent tooth was almost completely in.  So our wonderful dentist Dr. Debbie Smith gave her a little sniff-sniff of the laughing gas and BAM...an orangutan was born!!!

Two of us wrestled her for over an hour...sweating bullets and laughing like little girls towards the end!!  NEVER AGAIN...I said!!!  So when Dr. Debbie found an issue with a molar, we decided to give Nealie general anesthesia and fix the molar, make x-rays, get a good cleaning, and apply sealants. 



This morning we set out at 7:15 for a 9:45 surgery.  All smiles on the way...dancing to music and tickling dad's ears!!!

Hurry up and wait is what you do in hospitals.  Keeping an inquisitive 8 year old entertained while starving her proved quite challenging, but we succeeded!!  Finally, at 12:30ish (yes...that long of a wait) it was our turn to put on these spiffy new pj's!!  You truly are a diva princess if you can look this dang cute in Youth Large scrubs!!!

Everything went very well...no issues at all. No pics, but on the way home Nealie downed 5 strawberry newtons, 1McD's cheeseburger, and small fries.  Before going to bed, she at some applesauce.  I'd say she made up for no food in the first half of the day!!

Fall Fun Times

I love Fall!! 

It is my favorite season. I just love the crisp air, food smells, piles of leaves, and energy that is all around.

We are full into football season along with "Fall Ball" baseball.  Chris is in his last season with Little Falcons football.  He continues to be the starting Center and is also playing some defense again this year...with 2 tackles last week!! Woop woop!! It's really hard to get good pictures of football because as fans you are so far away...but here is one close up taken by the newspaper.

Who says "ruff-n-tuff" football guys can't have a GREAT grin!!

We always host the Halloween party for the baseball team. Pizza, desserts, and football in the front yard after trick-or-treating. Fun, fun times!!

But what truly marks the beginning of the season for me is The Ya-Ya's Annual Williamsburg trip.  My mom, sister, and I always go to Williamsburg VA in October to shop.  This trip has been going on for over 13 years!!! WOW..I am so proud that we have been able to keep this up.  It has developed into more of a girls extended weekend trip than an extreme Christmas shopping trip.  We do get some Christmas gifts purchased or at least decided on.  However, the main goals are to plan our family Thanksgiving and Christmas menus and just enjoy each other.  And enjoy we do!!! I cannot even begin to explain all the HILARIOUS happenings that we have experienced...the possessed squirrel, the hickory nut that found it's way back then almost caused my house to burn down, the ditch that really wasn't there, the pen that was a bullet, the freezing cold dinner at the tavern, homework Melissa, taking a tazer into Dunkin Donuts, "why do we always get so many fries?", the wonderful massages!!!! Besides, they are probably not funny to anyone but us!!!! Hootie, Hooo!!! (Girls, are y'all laughing your butts off?!)

Melissa & Mom

Melissa & Me

Me...it was truly FREEZING in the room!!!

Forever doing homework for MBA...Glad you're done sis!!

Before our MASSAGES...what a BLAST!!!

Well...it won't be long now!!!!  I must admit I do have a little "pep in my step" each morning these days!!!

Hope y'all take time to enjoy these wonderful days of Fall!!!! I sure am!

Ahhh...Marvelous Monday!!

Who loves a Monday? Very few of us...so I've decided to post each Monday about the weekend and something fun that happened...to put a smile on our faces as we start the week!!!

This weekend I did something for each of my favorite upcoming holidays...I decorated for Halloween and Thanksgiving and I wrapped a few Christmas presents!! I know...how crazy is that!!

Christmas gifts first...please don't think that I am one of these people who do not give each season/holiday its own time...I do. However, I have been on a mission for the past 2 years to truly enjoy Christmas as a participant, not a hectic stressed out grouchy Mom...this year looks like I"m gonna come very, very close to my goal!!

Ok...back to the decorations.

I started on the inside.  I always decorate for Fall... a mix of Halloween and Thanksgiving. 

Yes...that is a Wii box in the background!!!

I'm really excited about the upcoming season...will keep you posted on my outside decorations!!

Everyone have a great week!

So cool!!

My mom and I love going through antique shops and yard sales.  Mom was my first inspiration of "trash to treasure." It is amazing to see what she can do with something that looks totally hopeless.  Well, a year ago I bought an old door...yes, door. I had great plans for it as it is beautiful.  However, my hubbie did not see the beauty in it.  After moving it around a lot, I decided to give it to my mom to "store" for me!!  Look at what she did...too cool!!

She also put up this really cool window/shutter display.  She is going to decorate it as if it were a real door and window on a house....with a wreath and side tables, etc!!  I will send more pictures when she is done. Forget parents living through their children...its children living through their parents!!!!!

Love ya mom!!

Daydreaming

Well, we got what we wished for...cooler weather! 

Just sitting here daydreaming for a little while and my mind settled on our AWESOME trip to Disney World last year. AND since my BLOG friends are pestering me to make another post...thought I'd post some pictures.

 What a great time...seeing the wonder in your children's eyes and watching their faces. 

Skipping down Main Street USA.  And, seeing your husband meet the girl of his dreams!!! Who can compete with ARIEL!!!

We went with some wonderful friends...

Y'all ready to go back??!!

Here's the Weekend!!!

Hey y'all...Bugjuice has ballgames this weekend in town.  So, me and the Bugs will just be hanging out in two of our favorite spots...the ballfield and home!!!  Enjoy your weekend!!!