Who Put me In this Minivan?

Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah

Yes.  I know.  Long overdue on posting pictures.  Just located the camera (it was lost in the abyss that is Matt's car) and will begin uploading soon.

Let me take the last day of my 30's decade to once again prove my immaturity.  Enjoy my new favorite commercial!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3bKZ1Tb9xM

This is my friend Paula and her very special friend, Bill.  (But I call him "Ben."  It's my pet name for him.)  Aren't they cute???  Love is very spe-shul.)

Paula just ran her first half-marathon in San Antonio last week.  That girl is a runnin' fool!! 

But I'm very proud of her.   She's so awesome!!

The Sweetest Sound

For those following Stephanie Nielson's recovery, the great news is that she spoke with her children this weekend!  See Courtney's post here:

http://blog.cjanerun.com/2008/11/whenever.html

(photo from www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com)

A truly remarkable family.  AND if you want some real holiday inspiration, go back into Nie's archives and read about her Christmases past. 

So good to hear good news!  And so inspiring to hear Courtney tell about her life...espsecially right now, as she's mothering not only her baby, but her sister's children as well while her sister heals.

http://blog.cjanerun.com/

Things That Have Kept Me From My Blog...

Christmas shopping...(online and otherwise)....

Filling up my new purple ipod with music... (thanks, Mattie!)

My new obsession with facebook (join me, won't you??)

And life in general.  Including celebrating the birthday of a very wonderful person yesterday in Asheville.  Happy (belated) birthday Betty Ann!!

(I don't know why she's posing by a cow skull, but she's very refined, doncha think?)

It snowed a bit in Asheville.  And we had lots of fun shopping, eating, and visiting with family.  I woke up feeling poorly, but Matt got me home and for now, the fever is gone and I'm able to eat too.  Fingers crossed for "back to normal" tomorrow.

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My goal this week is to post some party pictures from my big birthday celebration last weekend.  My actual birthday?  It's in 3 days.  I'll be hitting the big 4-0!!  I' ve already been spoiled rotten by so many great folks.  And I feel really blessed to be where I am right now.  So I'll be thinking of all my blessings this week as I start to gear up with Thanksgiving lists and holiday whatnots.  My favorite time of year is here!!  I am going to revel in the chilly weather and the planning that is to come.

Happy days to you too!!!

Ewww...

Memory flashback this morning...being about 6 years old, drinking instant breakfast with a straw before school, and listening to WHUB f.m. as Engelbert Humperdink sang "After the Lovin.'"

Even at that young age, I knew there was something lecherous about that man...even though I wasn't quite sure what he was crooning about!  Seeing this album cover proves it.  Y-u-c-k!  (I think Nell quite enjoyed the song, though.  I heard it a lot.)

I do miss the instant breakfast.  Carnation makes some powerfully good breakfast beverages, I must say.

And how is your morning???

My Newest Favorite T.V. Show

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Genius...have Martha Stewart's daughter (and friend) make fun of Martha Stewart.  Highly enjoyable (thanks for the heads up, Lisa!)

I love the way Martha enunciates, "Peanut Butt-tter."  So proper!!

MeredithFest 2008

OH my.  More to come on the weekend that was soon.  Charlene provided this lovely photo to "whet" your appetite for more visual confirmation that I, my family,and so many of my friends are absolutely nuts!!!  (Charlene,please destroy any video asap, my friend!!)  I will upload all the pictures that Paula took soon as I can.  I'll also fill you in on the amazing itinerary.

A giant THANK YOU to all who made this wonderful weekend possible, for those who joined us, and for the well wishes of those far away too.

Blog update soon.  Off to recuperate!

Meredith, Version 4.0. ( Oh, alright.  Almost 40!!)  

A ginormous thank you to my Mattie and my Lisa for all their hard work, patience, planning,and general sneakiness!  YOU overhelmed me with so many things.  I love you!!

Still Battling the Internet for Control of My Blog...

I have tons of vacation and Halloween photos to show you, but they're all trapped on a computer that uploads them extremely slowly, if at all, and that is WHEN I can get logged on with Knology.  Major computer hassles.  May-juh.  It is extremely frustrating, but we'll try and get it straightened out this week.

In recent news...Halloween was a blast (so glad you could join us, Melissa, Abby, & Will).  This week is busy busy busy...awards ceremony at the elementary school, Matt traveling to Little Rock to receive his national award (yay Mattie), soccer end-of-season party, orthodontist appointment, Brownies, chess club, a playdate for James, a trip with Aron's class to the animal shelter, reading to the wee ones at the preschool, and, um, yeah.  Something coming up this weekend.  Something to do with moi.  Sooo mysterious!!

Until I can post again, I will leave you with this lovely picture from Halloween afternoon, pre-costume and post-pumpkin carving.  My little babes.  They actually look as though they like each other!  All in one picture!!  Score for the Christmas card!!

 

Toodles to you all, and have a happy week!!

 

Meredith

Get Your Nie Tee, and Help Out the Nielsons!!

http://web.me.com/andrewtbagley/NieRecovery/Auctions/Entries/2008/11/1_Nie_Tee_Now_on_Sale!.html

So cute...

Computer Snafus

So, Knology's internet connection seems only to work sporadically and intermittingly and overwhelmingly little.  I lucked out this morning, which is good, so I could get an update on Nie...

http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2008/10/27/20081027liv-stephanie1027.html

Simply amazing.

Anyhoo, please forgive blog/email lapses.  I blame KNOLOGY.  Knology, you and your crud connection are ruining my computer social life!!

Here's what I would do to KNOLOGY if I could...

Bah.  TechKNOLOGY sux.

Off to run errands, run more errands, do more laundry, and look balefully at my computer...

Rocky Balboa

Amazing Grace

Read this incredible article and watch the news story as well. 

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/10/26/20081026sisters1026a1.html