Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about...

So we made our pilgrimage to Little Rock to meet my sister half way between Texas and Tennessee.

The trip turned out pretty well. The kids (niece and nephews) behaved really well the entire 7 hours it took to get back to Tennessee. Thanks to Ms. Molly’s van, everyone had plenty space.

My mother is in full Nanny effect.

Matt is in full Uncle Matt effect.

We went over last night to bring a cake for my nephew’s birthday and to give the kids their Christmas presents from us. There was jumping, there was tickling, there were Nerf darts flying around.

On the way home I began my normal gripe with Matt about all the rough housing and playing, and the blurred limits and boundaries that could cause problems. He agreed, waited a while and then he responded something like this:

“Maybe I like to tickle them. Maybe that is just how boys play. Maybe that is one of the things I look forward to the most. And maybe you should just leave me alone and let me play with my niece and nephews.”

Of course I’m completely smiling at Matt who is smiling back. Both points were made. Uncle Matt will return for round two tomorrow night.

His favorite time of year.

Matt got me a slightly used obese cat for Christmas this year!


And not to be out done and to keep the title as "cutest animal in the Silvey household". Biscuit dressed up like the missing member of Santa's team of reindeer.

You have to love Tennessee winter weather.

Monday my HUGE exam was canceled because of an impending ICE STORM. Well the storm part was disappointing because, basically all we got was a glaze early Tuesday morning. But that was enough for me to seriously bust my butt on our front porch. I’m talking major soreness and bruising folks.

Today is Friday and it is 66 degrees! People are wearing t-shirts for goodness sakes. Oh… and the gale force winds that blew this warm weather in ripped a piece of metal flashing off our roof, which made a terrible racket all morning. Good thing I was already up due to roaring and whistling that was already going on.

I’m sure next weekend when Matt and I make our pilgrimage to meet my sister half way in between Texas and Tennessee, the weather will again be a toss up.

Other happenings: my test will loom over my head for yet another weekend. I was thoroughly amazed when the dry cleaner was able to remove a spot from the brand new silk shirt I love. And things have been looking up around the Silvey household. Matt got wonderful grades and so far I’ve done well this semester too.

Hope every one is planning on having a wonderful Christmas!

Matt's Second Birthday

It’s a little early but I wanted to wish my husband a happy 2 year birthday!

It’s been two years since my husband smelled of cigarette smoke.

Two years since his kisses have been smoky kisses.

Two years since I’ve hugged him and inhaled the stale cigarette smoke in his clothes.

Two years since he’s had to dart outside of any indoor event (weddings, dinners out, concerts, family gatherings, etc.) because he’s needed to smoke.

Two years since we’ve had to crack the window in the car to suck the smoke out of the cabin.

Two years since I’ve been agitated at him for trying to sneak a smoke in the bathroom with the fan on.

Two years of enjoyable plane rides and airports.

Two years of saving boo coos of dollars on cigarettes.

Two years of the wonderful color that has returned to his skin.

Two years since I’ve noticed dark circles looming around his beautiful eyes.

Two years since I’ve been worried that our future children would grow up being exposed to constant cigarette smoke.

CONGRATULATIONS hubby! I’m VERY proud of you and your liberation from the grasp of nicotine!

Every year I buy Matt and I Christmas ornaments. I started this because we needed to build our tree as a married couple. I have also made my nieces and nephews ornaments every year.

Through this, I have discovered many reasons why I do not like ornaments that can break. I love cloth ornaments that look old fashioned and cozy. I also really like that they make shatter proof Christmas balls now. Here is a good example of why. The first Christmas I had Hans (my cat child) I was really nervous about him knocking over the tree. He was younger, lighter, and more agile back then. Well, he knocked the tree over multiple times as expected, but his next fascination was the kicker. I had purchased clear glass Christmas balls that had blue tinsel in side of them. Hans loved them. He would sweetly bat them around, so I moved them higher up the tree. This did not help. He figured out ways to get them down or he would just resort back to knocking the whole tree over. Next he discovered that if he knocked them down the stairs the fragile glass would break all over the wooden stairs of the apartment and he could freely gnaw on the tinsel till his heart was content. I’ve never bought anything other than the shatterproof ornaments since then. I figure if my cat was this bad, actual children are going to be much worse. So slowly, I’ve been building a collection of ornaments that will not leave tiny glass splinters and shards. As for Hans, he has outgrown this and does not behavior so badly anymore. He big fatty just loves to lay under the tree and sleep, or roll on his back and look up into the lights. Occasionally we’ll catch him or little Sister (Cat number 2) chewing on a low branch, but other than that we haven’t had any complaints.

Here are our ornaments for this year. I like to call them Little Matt and Little Shelby.

Gobble Gobble

Matt and I had a really nice Thanksgiving break together. We had a house guest. Biscuit was spayed on Wednesday morning so she got to be pampered and stay in the house with Matt and I. She loved it. She snuggled, and romped and played and kept pushing the limits to see just how close she could get to the Cats before they protested. She’s back outside with her sister now, and she seems thrilled to be back with her.

We ate breakfast with my grandparents on Thanksgiving morning at Cracker Barrel in Clarksville. Then we spent the day with the Silveys. Friday we put up the Christmas tree, and ate Mexican food. Saturday we studied/worked on lesson plans; and then went to my parents and grandparents in Cheatham Co. Sunday we went to the 144^th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin with my Mom and Dad. It was cold, it was wet, and it wasn’t what we expected, but it was something different we had never done before. We parked in a Domino’s pizza parking lot, and got some evil eyes from the employees there. We kept joking that our car was going to be filled with pizza boxes when we got back to it. And after a few minutes of standing in the drizzling rain and cold, my mom said that if we didn’t leave soon she was going to throw herself face first on the ground and kick and scream like a child till we left.

Here are some links to a little more info about the 144^th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin

Tennessean Photos