I started this blog intending to discuss things like marriage, my husband, myself, discipline within our relationship…It’s evolved. Maybe I’ve evolved, too? We have a life, in between the bullshit. I’m not always in trouble with Adam. I’m actually a pretty decent wife and mama, most days. I have a lot of things to talk about. I enjoy writing about the more “mundane” parts of life, as much as I do the “dramatic” parts. I prefer the “mundane”, if I’m honest. It really isn’t typical for Adam to be frustrated, or angry, with me. He’s actually pretty happy, most days. I’m a wife and a mama first, but I’m also a lot of other things! In fact, I’m downright interesting, if I do say so myself! I’ve lived long enough to have some advice and wisdom to give. I’m still young enough to have things to learn. I wonder if that’s how I’ll feel 20 years from now, too?

I’m at this point in life, where I want to both give advice, and receive it. I am happy. I truly do think these memories I’m making, the ones I’m writing about now, are ones that I’ll look back on as the best time of my life. I think this is why I’ve made the shift to writing about the “boring”, too. It matters. It’s real. “Boring”, to me, is the very best. I am so content to have days where no chaos gets thrown in. Shit happens, but I really do love it when there’s no crazy in my day. I do more right than I do wrong. I show Adam love and respect much more than I don’t. I’m joyful much more than I’m sad. That’s the real of it all. I’m not making shit up. I’m not “stirring the pot”, so that I can create new drama. I don’t look for that! I am just trying my very best to be my very best self. The best wife I can be. The best mama I can be. The best friend I can be. The best daughter, sister, neighbor, and acquaintance. That’s what my goal is! I want to be my very best self.

I think this is why I appreciate the way Adam and I handle our issues. I love that they get resolved in predictable ways. I need it. I always know that troubles are temporary. I can be assured that, no matter what, Adam’s still here for me. I flourish in this knowledge. I’m sillier. I’m happier. I’m more confident. I’m brave. I’m more creative. I’m just plain happy. I am the first to admit, I probably have some abandonment issues, because of my mother. I’m afraid that the people I love and trust the most, will leave me, if I’m not good enough. That’s something I have to be aware of, and work on overcoming. I have to really trust that Adam isn’t going anywhere. I have to believe that he will still be here, even when I’ve seriously screwed up. I am still growing and learning. When he is consistent, and he continues to show me love, regardless of whether I’ve “earned” it, that trust grows. I both need to know he will call me out on my bullshit, and that he won’t abandon me for it. I can’t describe how much it means to me knowing that he loves me enough to make sure that I am assured of these things. I don’t want to fuck up. I also know I will. When Adam shows me that he won’t tolerate it, OR leave me for it, that’s the very thing that makes me confident that he’s got me. I’m never alone.

Mostly, I’m pretty good, though. Mostly. This is why my blog is filled with the everyday of my life. It matters to my family, and to me, and to be truthful, that’s all that motivates me.

Adam says this to me, all the time. If he’s spanking my ass, and I put my hand back to “stop” him, he always tells me, “don’t try to block”. It’s not a wise choice to go against that advice… If I absolutely cannot help myself, Adam will grab my hand and pin it back, to avoid any unintended injury. Occasionally, I throw back my hand, before he has the chance to avoid it, though. This happened, last night. We were mostly screwing around. Teasing each other. I’d been pushing boundaries, playfully. He threw me down on our bed, pulled my pants down, and just before he brought his hand down, I’d placed my hand in between my behind and his incoming hand. Today, I have a jammed and bruised pinky finger. It don’t feel particularly good. Y’all, don’t try to block! It only results in unintended injuries. I also wound up with a pretty sore behind, because Adam doesn’t like to see me do that. He never wants to hurt me. We were just playing around, but I ended up getting hurt, unnecessarily, because I tried to block an incoming spanking. Don’t do it. It’s not worth it! Just sayin’.

I forgot to include this little tidbit in my post, earlier. Thought I’d go ahead and throw this in a separate post. It’s worth mentioning…

Jackie and I have been working on some projects. This is a Christmas gift being crafted for my sister’s husband. We had a lot of fun working on that!

I’m making some candy. I’ve got peanut clusters, covered pretzels, puppy chow, and we’re making some sugar cookies for the kids to decorate. I’ve got a beef roast slow cooking in my crockpot, for supper. I took my daughter shopping, this morning, for some last minute Christmas gifts she wanted to buy everyone. My son’s got wrestling practice, this afternoon.

Jackie is on board with my podcast idea! I’m thinking I’ll aim for uploading once a week. I still intend to write in my blog the same as I do now. It just also seems like it could be fun to have real conversations and more long form type of discussion. Jackie and I have talked about doing something like this for years. Adam was super supportive, too! He told me, “Hell yeah, go Boo!” 😊

Just looked out the window and saw my kiddos are outside jumping on the trampoline. I think I’ll go join them.

I spent Sunday hanging out with my family. Adam grilled some pork chops. We just had a quiet Sunday at home.

Adam wasn’t angry, when he got home from work, Saturday evening. He did not punish me for neglecting to kiss him goodbye, that morning. He did express how important it is to him that I do, though. I’ll make sure not to leave the house without giving him a kiss, from now on. We also talked about the little issue we had with our dog, Oliver. I need to work a little harder on speaking to Adam with more respectful language, but he admitted I was right to call him out. He knew he was wrong to “baby” Oliver like he had. Neither of us wants our dog to continue with bad behavior. So, everything was settled.

I’m thinking of getting something new started. I’d like to do a podcast. I intend to discuss the same things that I write about here. It would be fun to include Jackie, Adam, and other guests sometimes, too. I’ve got my title and description all figured out. It’s still very much a work in progress. I’m no expert in all of that, so it’s not going to be high quality, but it could be a lot of fun, if I can make it work! We’ll see how it goes? IF I can actually launch this idea I’ve got, I’ll be sure to let y’all know.

My kids are home for the next few weeks, on Christmas break. I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas?! Im just about done shopping. I’ve still got presents to wrap. We’re doing things a little different, this year. I’ve had a tradition of making meatloaf with green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese, for Christmas Eve dinner. We’re going to have that for Christmas Day, now. My dad, his girlfriend, my sister, her husband, and their baby, are all coming over for Christmas Day. Adam got a ham and some yummy sides from Omaha Steaks sent to us, through his work. So, we’re going to have that for Christmas Eve, instead. I know meatloaf isn’t the traditional Christmas meal, but it’s been our thing! Years past, we haven’t had a big meal for Christmas Day. I make this breakfast casserole, that we eat late morning. The rest of the day was just sort of fend off of leftovers, while we put together and play with new Christmas toys and gifts. I insist on being home for Christmas. I absolutely love to wake up with our kids, open gifts, and hang out with my family. It’s fine with us, if family and friends would like to come by, but I’m staying home. I am definitely a “homebody” type of girl. I like to go out and do fun things, but I love spending time at home, with my people, more than anything else.

Our kids are getting a new ping pong table, this year. The box is huge! I’ve got it down in our garage. Not sure how we’re going to wrap it, or fit it under our tree. We’re going to put it downstairs, in the playroom area. It’s going to be a lot of fun for all of us to have! I have the kids make their wish lists with things they want, things they need, things to wear, and things to read. I’ve checked off things from their lists, and found a few things I know they’ll love, that they didn’t think to ask for. It’s so much fun to give them their gifts, but the real joy is in making the memories. The real gift is in the time spent loving and enjoying each other. I believe our kids appreciate the traditions and the memories most, too.

I got irritated with Adam last night, over something stupid. Our dog, Oliver, made kind of growling noises when Adam petted him, while Oliver was eating. We don’t like to see food aggression. Adam took the food bowl, and in this gentle voice, like you’d talk to a toddler with, he told him “Oliver no. We don’t do that.” I walked over and I took over. I told Oliver, I’m my stern mama voice, NO. I was super annoyed with Adam about the way he’d handled that. Oliver responds to me, even to our daughter, very well. He only pulls the bad behaviors with Adam. I can’t remember exactly what I said to Adam, after all that, but I definitely let him know how pathetic I thought he sounded, and how incompetent he seems, when it comes to Oliver.

I had to go to bed really early, because Jackie and I had to take someone to the airport. We left the house at 2:00am. The city’s beautiful at night.

We got back home just before 4:00am. I crawled back into bed with Adam. He had to get up at 5:00, for work. I’d written a little note to him, and left it by his coffee pot. I texted him after I woke up, this morning. I asked if we were good?

I honestly didn’t want to wake him up, before Jackie and I left. That’s why I didn’t give him a kiss, but I left that note, instead! We are very very big about making sure to tell each other I love you, before we leave. You just never know. God forbid something happens, at least our last words to each other would be I love you. I did write it to him, though!

Anyway, I expected him to get after me for speaking to him disrespectfully, last night. I really wasn’t expecting him to be upset that I didn’t wake him up to kiss him before I left, though. I’m hoping he’s not seriously that upset. I’ve done such a good job, lately! He’s about to be headed home, so guess I’ll find out soon enough?

Yep, that’s a song title I just used. By Jason Aldean, my daughter’s favorite singer. My dad and her play guitar together and sing his song, “Night Train”, and it’s so cute hearing her sing with him. Her little accent comes out in full force, when she sings! My dad did an interview, awhile back. I never notice the “south” in his voice, until I hear it on TV or radio. I hate the way my own voice sounds, when I hear it played back to me. It’s interesting how different it is listening to people talk to me, versus hearing their voices played back for me.

We’re just having a “fend” kind of night, for supper. I’ve got leftover Italian meatballs, for meatball sub sandwiches. I’m also going to make some scrambled eggs with waffles, and some leftover sausage, because my daughter requested it. Definitely a random supper at our house!

Jackie has gotten more views on her blog, the last 24 hours. She was excited to see that! I really do love the way she writes. I’m more blunt and I curse. I sort of write as if I’m talking to someone I know really well. She’s writes so “pretty”. That’s the best way I can describe it.

I have yet to find trouble, with Adam! We’re doing really good. It’s been great, not having to worry about what’s going to happen, when he finds out I screwed up. I’m just happy. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love it. We are hanging out at home, for Christmas. I’ve had a Christmas Eve tradition of making meatloaf, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese, for supper. Our church (Joy Church) always has the kids come in pajamas, for Christmas Eve service. They get to go back to the play area and have fun. Our church has an indoor play area that rivals Chuckie cheese! So, after supper, we open our Christmas Eve present (always pajamas), do the church thing, and then come back home. Christmas morning, everyone opens gifts. The kids usually have us woke up by 7:00am. Jackie will be with us, for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. My sister, her husband, and baby Pj are coming over, Christmas Day. My dad and his girlfriend are also coming over. I’m making a big “feast”, for everyone. It should be a great time! My sister’s getting ready to go, with her hubby and baby, to visit his family. They live out of state. While they’re gone, Jackie and I are going to sneak into her house and set up a Christmas tree. She’s been wanting one so bad, but money’s tight for them, right now. So, I bought one for them, and we’re going to set it up with some extra lights I have, some ribbon, and some ornaments we all made, last night. Adam, me, our kids, and Jackie all painted some homemade ornaments. My whole Christmas tree is decorated in ornaments we’ve made over the years. We made extras, this year, to add to my sister’s tree.

That’s about all the excitement I have, for today!

I make this chicken casserole using cut up pieces of cooked fried chicken. You just cut up the chicken, put it in a casserole dish with 2 cans of yellow corn, 2 cans of white corn, a jar of chicken gravy, and some Colby jack cheese. Throw some mashed potatoes on top of it and bake at 350 for like 30-40 minutes. It’s delicious!

Just another one of my southern comfort food type recipes, if anyones interested! This is tonight’s supper, at our house. 😉