{MIA!}

Help!!! I've been missing amongst all this CHRISTMAS going on around here! We have been SWAMPED at DSS as we try to make sure every foster child has a wonderful Christmas full of special surprises and it has left me EXHAUSTED....but smiling! I can't wait to get my new camera in the mail any day now and start blogging more regularly again. I miss it!

In less than two days I should be able to SLOW DOWN and enjoy spending lots of time with my family and friends! Until then....GOTTA KEEP MOVING!

Love,
Laura

"Thanks be to God for His INDESCRIBABLE gift!" ~2 Corinthians 9:15

{The Big Stink!}

What in the world do you think warrants wearing a mask in the comforts of your own home? I'll tell you what......THE WORLD'S GREATEST FARTING DOG!
Behind that sweet stare is a smell that will KNOCK YOU OUT!

I've tried Beano, we stopped giving her bones, she eats an EXPENSIVE food for dogs with allergies and she still has gas the size of Texas. I'm at the end of my rope...and hanging on to MY gas mask for dear life!

So, now that you're thoroughly GROSSED OUT :) have a good night!

Love,
Laura

{The Mack's 1st Annual Tacky Christmas Sweater Party!}

Hello! Would you like to follow me to a party?

Ok...but I'm warning you...It's about to get TACKY!See....I TOLD YOU!
It is SO fun to look SO bad sometimes!
Especially when you do it with your most FAVORITE people!
Like Fran and Granny....
...and even these crazy kids!
"Aunt WaWa, break out the PARTY FOOD!"
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Mack really put on a smashing 1st annual Tacky Christmas Party...
...and my, my, my were the sweaters TACKY!
Morgan won the prize for "Most Festive" outfit!
I think Dad should get bonus points for wearing this...any man who wears a Santa on his sweater deserves a KUDOS! Love ya, Dad!
Makayla showed off her eating skills and later showed off how she can pull up and walk with help on her tippy tippy toes!
Merry Christmas from the Hostess with the Mostest...the MOSTEST Tacky Christmas FLAIR that is!
1980's Tacky Christmas Day Dreaming...
Hey Granny! Thanks for making those DELICIOUS sausage balls!
Me+Cam=2 animal lovers!!!
But Unkie Trav---I can't see you!
A pretty table full of GAG GIFTS!
Me and My Al Pal...all tackied out!
And an extremely festive looking Fran, partying poinsettia style!
I. LOVE. THIS. GIRL! ENOUGH SAID!
And I'm pretty fond of this amazingly tacky looking fellow, too!

But I must say---NOTHING BEATS THIS CHRISTMAS PARTY ENTERTAINMENT! ~ Warning: My husband is crazy!!!~
He came busting out of the bathroom sans shirt and put on a most HILARIOUS show!
That's my man! HEHEHEHE!
So funny!!!...I swear I-never-stop-laughing!
And later....he put his clothes back on! LOL!
Awww...I love you, too!!!

As the night moved along, we played a few games and then broke out the gags---
Andrew got these lovely and might I say-SEXY-undies!
NICE! Make note of my granny who could not even catch her breath she was laughing so hard!
Hmmm...what is that Cam?

SCORE! It's a plunger, stolen by Ali, who for some reason said she needs one---and let her fruzin open another gift that ended up being clown heads...don't even ask!

And then-my camera broke:(-so the pictures ended...but the fun didn't!

I'm already looking forward to next year!

Love,
Laura

{A Fabulous December Friday!}

Happy FRIDAY Everybody!

I woke up this morning thankful for, among MANY things, that the weekend was QUICKLY approaching! It was COLD out so I donned my new SUPER WARM COAT! It was a steal of deal for only $47 at Aeropostale. It's lined with some kind of soft warm stuff and the fur hood is FABULOUS!

I just LOVE lots of sunshine on a cold, crisp morning!
{P.S. I don't advocate taking pics in the car unless you're at a redlight!}

Let's see what SANTA has to say today---

Yay! Santa says "Ho! Ho! Ho! There's only 15 more days 'til I come down your chimney!

{"Or use my special key if you don't have a chimney"~wink!}

Santa (or one of his Elves) snuck (it's a real word to me!) some goodies into my work stocking again this week. I got some hand sanitizer, a box of chocolates.....

...and one of these candy-filled candy canes!
...And I gotta give BIG PROPS to NPBC 17 and under Basketball team! They played their first game last night, and although they didn't win, they played GREAT and were able to cut the lead to only 2 in the final few seconds! I think it's the combo of amazing players and COACHES TRAVIS AND PATRICK RADA!

Don't worry...yall will get 'em next time, boys!

Happy FRIDAY to all and to all a GOOD NIGHT!

Love,

Laura

{Sophistareaders:December Meeting!}

The "Sophistareaders" is the name of the AWESOME book club that I am a part of! It was formed during a lunch at Olive Garden a month ago and this was our first discussion lunch/meeting. The Sophistareaders are a SOPHISTICATED :0) group of my friends/co-workers and we pick a book, take about four weeks to read it, then plan a lunch to discuss it.

This month, we read Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Coulter . Mark did an amazing book review on it....you can read that HERE. We ate at El Arriero and exchanged bookmarks for Christmas! These guys were having fun cuttin' a rug with Santa!
This is our group, minus our dear friend Jody who couldn't be there. We love you Jody!

Molly gave Leslie a bookmark and in usual Leslie-Style she got a little teary eyed!

Mark made this INCREDIBLE bookmark for Lisa...he is very talented!

Molly got a pretty Crystal bookmark with a sparkly "m" on it from Rachaelle!

I gave Mark an "M" bookmark, too!

And Leslie special ordered a bookmark for me that hasn't come in yet so she had to give me a stand-in until it arrives!

This month's book is called "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham. Can't wait 'til our next meeting fellow Sophistareaders!

Love,

Laura

{Hello from...}

...the cold, bearded woman in the hoodie!

And from the cutest Momma and little Monkey that you ever did see!

This particular little Monkey likes to eat bananas... and socks!

I'm so happy to be her AUNT LAURA!

You know I had to buy this for her! :0)

In other news-
Can you believe there are only 18 days until Christmas!?

May those 18 days {plus the 365 after that} be MERRY and BRIGHT!

Love,
Laura

{Our Christmas Crib!}

Here's a quick sneak peek at our home during the Holidays!

I love decorating and don't care if things look tacky because to me it's all just FESTIVE! As you can see, our main bathroom ended up brown...much DARKER than I had planned so come January it's getting a new paint job. I tend to go EXTREME on most things, and painting was no exception, so this time I'm gonna try to be reasonable and use a lighter, more neutral color that will appeal to more people.

The Kitchen is one of my favorite places to "fest up" for the Holidays!

Although I just painted it red a few months ago It's getting a new paint job soon, too. I'm TOO INDECISIVE!

And of course, the living room needs to be full of cheer since that's where most of our time is spent. This is the first time I've shown you our new gray walls and yes~ you guessed it...it's getting a re-do too! I know now that paint colors often appear much darker and look different once on the wall so I'm hoping this time I can pick out something just right.

{Trav's make-shift desk is not part of the normal decor...lol!}

No Christmas is complete without a nativity scene...that's what it's all about!

{FYI: Windex is NOT streak free!}...and yes, I still need to put my switch plate back on!

The piano is a fun place to decorate! I didn't feel like adjusting a nail that was already there so I just stuck the wreath up even though it's a little too high. Who cares, right?

So there you have it! An official tour of our humble Holiday abode!

Love,

Laura