Once upon a time I had a blog. Then November happened.

So, Wow. November was fast.  I have been saying for a few years that November has become the new December as far as busy-ness. At least it is that way in the Summy home. But then, December is still December so really I guess that makes no sense and was just my attempt at an excuse for going MIA for an entire month.

That entire last paragraph was written sort of apologetically to all my readers, but at this point I am pretty sure I am talking to myself (which is a shameful admission that I read my own blog. Is that weird?) which is fine really since I pointed out in the beginning of my blogging days that my number one reason for writing is so when my mind leaves me for Dementia (which I truly believe will happen the way most hypochondriacs do) I will be able to go back and read about my exciting day to day life.

November really was crazy. Good crazy, but still. Most of the month was devoted to Amelia's school play. I gushed like a super proud stage mom here when she scored the lead role in Annie Jr and it was everything we expected and more! It was a tough few months of rehearsals and memorizing and that was evident by the dip in grades on her report card and the rise of the numbers on my bathroom scale. But we made it and the show was spectacular. Here are a few pics from my favorite moments.

We moved straight from play week into Thanksgiving week with no chance to catch our breath. It's okay because holiday season is my jam. I LOVE it! We celebrated Thanksgiving at my sister's new home which is only 10 mins away so it was really like a special gift just for our little family. For the first time in years, we were able to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving parade and still make it for the family lunch. We were then back home and in our pjs by the time the sun went down. That's my kind of holiday.

The Christmas music has been flowing in this house for a full month and we aren't slowing down any time soon. As soon as Thanksgiving was over, it was time to pack up the pumpkins and get the house ready for Christmas decoration explosion (that word sounds a bit contrary to the spirit of the true meaning of Christmas. But I assure you we are thinking of Jesus' birth the whole time!).  As we cleaned the house in preparation for the usual Christmas decor (I couldn't bear the thought of putting tons of greenery on top of already dusty furniture) I kept thinking it was a picture of rebuilding and preparing the temple and for the coming of the Messiah. Okay, maybe comparing my house to the temple of our Lord is a stretch, but it still gave the cleaning process a little more meaning and therefore gave me a little extra motivation. (I need any and all motivation for cleaning these days. Momming is hard.)

And with the cleaning done it was time to select that most important of Christmas symbols (no not a stupid tie with the Santa Clauses on it... thank you Audrey Griswold) the Summy family Christmas tree. We do it up real nice and drive all the way to the nearest Lowes and select one of the prettiest 6-7ft frasier firs they have in stock. Because we are fancy like that.

Lou walked right up to this itty bitty tree and said
"Look guys! I found the perfect tree!"

Those are the November highlights. And these are a few of the other things I've been obsessing over this month.

I love a good Christmas album. And this beautiful one from Christy Nockels does not disappoint.

Ok yall. I am sure you have heard people mention The Crown on Netflix. But I need to give my 2 cents because it is so wonderful. I am desperately trying to pace myself so that I don't finish season one too quickly and then fall into a deep depression. I love everything about British royalty and The King's Speech is on of my most favorite movies. This seems like a perfect sequel to that beautiful movie. Beautiful is the best word for it. The costumes, the scenery, the score. I love it all. So much that I can watch an episode while running 4 miles on the treadmill and be blissfully happy the entire time. (if you know my hatred for running, you know that is saying a lot!)

Have you heard of this little thing called the Gilmore Girls revival? Obviously this is all anyone has talked about for the last week. I was all in. I have always loved these GGirls and therefore watched these back to back until the wee hours of the morning. It was so lovely to see all my old friends again and it gave me all of the comfort feelings of the past. I was not super happy with how it all shook out in the end, but it was very well done and entertaining.

So that about covers November. Looking forward to all that December has to offer! It really is the most wonderful time of year!!



FACEBOOK FROM THE PAST
November 2011
I just realized that I have unintentionally and unknowingly cut red meat out of my diet. Now if only I could accidentally quit eating sugar.

Nothing a Little "Fa la la la" Can't Fix

It's November and I haven't written in weeks. This has become a form of therapy for me, and I have felt a little frustrated recently not having a chance to blah blah blah out all the extra words in my head.

After my wonderful anniversary trip the rest of October basically punked out on us and forgot it was supposed to be fall. It's November now and it's still stupid hot in the South. Which, yes, we are accustomed to the heat, but not in November. That's just mean and spiteful. You hear me November? You better step it up. 

There. I have said my piece about the crazy weather and promise to move on. I'm sitting here in a Chick Fil A today writing on an iPad. It is so not ideal, but with life as busy as it is right now I needed to kill two birds with one stone and get out of my dirty house. So here I am, lunching while I write in a place that was cleaned by someone other than me. 

I feel a little silly here pecking away on this oversized phone and suddenly realize I could use a laptop for these types of things. I've never really owned a laptop (and I guess technically don't NEED one now. But please join me in my first world thoughts) because I'm not a writer and never had a job that required carrying my computer around with me. And since I'm not really employed at this stage in life, purchasing something major like a computer just for facebook and blog posts seems extravagant. 

I'll be fine. I mean I have this little pad thingy and I have my giant 2009 Mac desktop at home at "my desk".  (which lets be real and say that it is a homemade computer desk from college shoved in the corner of our guest room and is covered in notes from teachers and expired to do lists.) Nevertheless, I have all that I need in the way of ways to write my little blog and should be grateful..... But..... Christmas IS a coming. Right? Maybe Santa reads mommy blogs.

The heat is trying to dampen my Thanksgiving/Christmas spirit this year, but I am determined not to let it win. Tuesday was November 1st, which in the Summy house is Christmas Music Day. That has been the opening day for my favorite genre of music each year since I was old enough to work my parents' record player. It's a very strict rule. Music begins November 1st. Decorating and Movies begin after Thanksgiving. It has worked for me for a very long time and I am sticking to it. I love to see all the Others out there who get so angry this time of year because people are "skipping over Thanksgiving" and they want to "save Thanksgiving". Well that's just silly. Thanksgiving isn't sad. Thanksgiving is not capable of feelings. My music doesn't ruin Thanksgiving. If anything it gets me so excited about the whole season that I enjoy that day even more. Also, show me a CD of Thanksgiving Caroles sung by the likes of Harry Connick Jr or Bing Crosby and I promise you I would be adding them to my play list. But alas... 

In closing, I don't say anything about you listening to Bieber or Pop Country which are equally offensive to my feelings. Can't we all just agree to disagree? I think we can.  That's what ear buds are for. 

I'm not even gonna mention the obvious elephant in all the rooms this month, but it rhymes with "shmelection". It is simply too depressing to discuss. But the end is near and we will all pull ourselves up by the boot straps and get on with our lives. All we can do is try to do the work that God has set before us in spite of a dishonest leader. I'm thankful my hope is not in men, but in a powerful God who loves me and knows all! 

Since the nation has gone coo coo for cocoa puffs (shout out to 80s advertising!), I believe we need to end on a happy note. So here are a few pictures of us sweating through the usual fall festivities. And may I please brag on my cute kids and their excellent Halloween costume and Trick-or-Treat game? I know I'm biased but they really turned up the adorableness this year. They had a blast and we will be eating on their candy haul until March at least.

Our annual visit to the Pumpkin Patch.
Steve was there for part of the time and managed to avoid all photographs.
Coincidence?

I love this one of us on the hayride,
but I'm a little creeped out by the ghostly looking photobomb. 

This is how they tell me they are tired of all the pictures

Davy Crockett, Elsa, and a Hooded Huntress.
Please note that I made Davy's vest and for this non-sewer that felt vest
might as well have been a wedding gown

Signing off from CFA. It has been my pleasure.



FACEBOOK FROM THE PAST
November 2010
I have too much storage space on my body and not enough in my house.