Oprah Brings Thrifty Holiday Music to All

There are not many free things these days, but here is one from Oprah. She has eight free Christmas songs available for download. the artists include: Faith Hill, Tony Bennett, Il Divo, Josh Groban, Brian McKnight, Amy Grant, Harry Connick Jr., and Aretha Franklin. Here is the link: http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081118_tows_holiday/2 They are only available for the next day. So, this is my way of saying Happy Thanksgiving and may you have relaxed and peaceful month ahead during this holiday season!

Happy Holidays!

Until the next nap time...

Over the River?

Whether for Thanksgiving or the Christmas season, I like my new rendition of the holiday favorite "Over the River", now referred to as "Over the Bayou". It's Houston-style.

Over the bayou and through construction
To Grandmother's house we'll go.
Dad knows the way
on the Katy Freeway
through sun and mug we'll Go -- o!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Until the next nap time...

Madagascar 2 Cracks Us Up

Yesterday afternoon, Trent & I took Little K to the movies to see "Madagascar 2". It was the first time for Trent to see our daughter at the theater. (I've taken her to a matinee once with our MOPS group.) It was so fun.

Little K didn't seem to remember our previous trip but she was excited to see the show. She LOVED the popcorn. Luckily, we sat on the first row above the handicap seating so Little K actually had plenty of foot space and could occasionally stand up to stretch her legs without bothering anyone.

The "Madagascar 2" show was fabulous. Adults enjoyed it and youngsters were thrilled. I can only imagine watching that flick on IMAX, which is available at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. That would be a blast. Great, humorous lines with some good moral values weaved in. I give the show a big thumbs up. Trent & I have agreed, though, that our favorite part was watching Little K at the movie -- she danced, sang and was enthralled. Now Daddy is even willing to take Little K to more movies. Who knows? Maybe Mommy will catch some free time while the duo heads to the movies.

Until the next nap time...

Paint This

We had a great, no stress time at Young at Art this morning. My sister brought her 4 month old Claire so that we could get her foot print painted. Too fun & cute.

Even though it's a gorgeous day outside, we enjoyed the art studio. I only wish I had taken Little K there when she was a newborn so that I could have gotten her handprint & footprint done. Claire's handprint was so little, it was adorable. Last time, we did Little K's footprint but could only do her toes because her foot is already bigger than the large tile we were painting. Way to go, Mom.

I think we're going to see "Madagascar 2" later today so I'll post my review later this weekend.

Until the next nap time...

Flu Shot

Last Friday, I got a flu shot. I've made the mistake of not getting one in the past and regretted it in January when I was sick as a dog. This year, I hope to escape the bug.

But what about my 3-year-old? I know, I know. All the doctors recommend the flu shot in young children, especially those attending school since they're surrounded by other carriers of the flu. With so many runny noses in one classroom, I don't know how any of them stay healthy. However, there's something counterintuitive about sticking my daughter with a needle... voluntarily. And how do I explain that we're choosing to get a shot? Suggestions out there?

I asked my husband his thoughts yesterday & got the brush off with "Let's wait until she's feeling better." She has allergies or a cold or something not contagious, the doctor said last week. Hmm... I want someone to wave a magic wand to give my Little K the flu vaccine without the pain of an injection. I wonder if her Tinkle Bell wand would work?

Until the next nap time...

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

My sister-in-law sent me this yesterday and I had to share this magical story.

A full page ad repeated the “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” article from 1897. Macy’s had a page next to it in which children can write their letters to Santa. You put it in an envelope, put a stamp on it, and then take it to Macy’s to put it in their big giant mail box. Then, Macy’s is donating $1 for every letter to the Make a Wish Foundation. So, it’s fun with your youngsters and a good cause! Check out the web site and have fun!

Thanks, SuSu!

Until the next nap time...

Singing in My Past & Future

My maternal grandfather turned 85 on Election Day. I tried calling but got a busy signal. He was likely talking to one of his numerous relatives. I plan to have Little K call her PaPa Don this weekend to sing for him. In the mean time, I emailed the b-day boy and got the following response. Singing must have been on his mind.

Hi Meg:
I understand and I know you have a full plate. But thank you for the greeting.

Besides your email forces me to write to both you and Colyn over something I found in the files while looking for some other material for your blog.

Surely you remember digging potatoes here several years ago. But do you remember the ditty we used to sing both during the digging and afterwards? Well, while I look for that picture of you two, tell if the following jogs your memory.

Last summer we went to Ohio
We went to help pa pa pick peas
But the rabbits arrived there before us
Dug taters, 'cause there ain't NO peas !
Taters, taters,
Dug taters 'cause there ain't NO peas !

I know that both of my great grand daughters are rising vocalists. Now it's your job to teach them this new lyric.

Pa Pa


Hope you Houstonians get outside this weekend and enjoy the gorgeous weather. Perhaps your family will plant something of your own. Now's the time.

Until the next nap time...

God bless mothers who drugged us!

A friend forwarded this email to me & I just had to share it.

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me arhetorical question,

''Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?''

I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young:

I was drug to church on Sunday morning.

I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four-letter word.

I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad's fields.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chopsome firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

Until the next nap time...

Acorns A Many

I forgot to check the pockets on my daughter's clothes before doing a load of laundry. No big deal, you think? Well, I just found the 29th acorn and am betting I'm not done. Apparently, Little K collected acorns the other day at school and put them in her pocket. She carefully sealed the pocket snap closed so the acorns wouldn't fall out during nap time.

I whiz through the laundry and discover 1 acorn, 2 acorns... Not only have the 29 acorns appeared in the laundry basket, but also on my bedroom floor and in the laundry room. "So that's what was making that sound in the dryer," my husband said.

"At least it wasn't frogs," my neighbor said. Her nephew rescued several baby frogs by putting them in his pant pocket. When his mother was later folding his clean clothes, she discovered his collection of frogs. Groce.

I'll be sure to check Little K's pockets from now on. Who knows what she could collect?

Until the next nap time...