PAYBACK!! SHOULD THIS BE OUR CHRISTMAS CARD?

THIS IS WHAT I STUMBLED UPON. HOW FUNNY. DON'T WORRY WE LET CULLAN OUT OF HIS BOX. THE DAY BEFORE THIS IS HOW I FOUND HIM ON OUR FLOOR THE OTHER DAY. MY KIDS REALLY LIKE BOXES.

OH WISH I MAY.. OH WISH I MIGHT......

HOW I WISH I HAD ONE OF THESE IN MY BACK YARD. I GUESS THAT MAY BE OTHERS FEELINGS AS WELL DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR. IT SEEMS NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE SAVE AND BUDGET, SOME THING ALWAYS COMES UP THAT SEEMS TO THROW A HICCUP. BUT THANK GOODNESS FOR HOLIDAY ANGELS. OURS COMES IN THE FORM OF OUR CAR DEALERSHIP. I KNOW MOST OF YOU ARE THINKING WHAT SINCE A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CAR DEALERSHIPS, BUT WE DO. OUR DEALERSHIP IS THE MOST HONEST PLACE ON EARTH I THINK. OUR VAN STARTED ACTING UP OVER THANKSGIVING AND SO WE TOOK IT IN WHEN WE GOT HOME. AT FIRST THEY CALLED BACK AND SAID THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST LIKE $580.00. YOU CAN IMAGINE GARRAN AND I WERE NOT SO EXCITED, SO WE TOLD THEM TO FIX WHAT WE COULD AFFORD TO FIX AND THE REST WOULD HAVE TO WAIT. SO THEY AGREED AND WE HUNG UP. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER THEY CALLED BACK AND SAID THAT THEY HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON OUR VAN, AND THEY HAD DONE SOME WORK ONLY ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO ON IT. THEY SAID THAT DUE TO THE WORK THEY DID, WE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. DUE TO THAT, THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD FIX PART OF IT FREE OF CHARGE. OUR BILL WAS CUT MORE THAN IN HALF. THANK GOODNESS FOR CHRISTMAS ANGELS.

FLASH BACK FRIDAY

OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT GARRAN. BUT MY FLASHBACK FRIDAY HAS TO DO WITH MY HUBBY. UNFORTUNATELY SINCE WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED GARRAN HAS BEEN THE BRUNT OF SOME OF MY FUNNIER STORIES. WHEN I WAS ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS PREGO WITH CULLAN GARRAN DECIDED THAT I SHOULD CUT HIS HAIR TO SAVE MONEY. SO WE WENT AND BOUGHT CLIPPERS AND TRIED THIS NEW ADVENTURE OUT. GARRAN SAT DOWN IN OUR KITCHEN AND I STARTED BUZZING AWAY. FOR THE MOST PART IT WENT PRETTY WELL, A LITTLE SHORTER THAN WE HAD PLANNED BUT IT WAS NOT HORRIBLE. SO THEN I TOOK THE GUARD OFF TO DO HIS NECK AND BY HIS EARS. AS I WAS FINISHING UP HIS NECK, I TOOK A SMALL SECOND BECAUSE I COULD FEEL A SNEEZE COMING ON. SO AS I SNEEZED, THE CLIPPERS STILL BUZZING, LUNGED FORWARD AND TOOK A HUGH CHUNK OF HAIR OUT OF THE BACK OF GARRANS HEAD. THERE WAS A HUGH BALD SPOT. I STARTED LAUGHING AND THEN CRYING A TAD BIT. GARRAN ASKED WHAT WAS WRONG AND I SAID NOTHING AT FIRST BUT KNEW I WOULD HAVE TO FESS UP, BECAUSE AS SOON AS HE LEFT THE HOUSE SOMEONE WOULD ASK HIM WHAT IN THE WORLD HAPPENED TO HIS HAIR. GARRAN STILL TRUSTS ME TO CUT HIS HAIR, WHAT A BRAVE SOUL.

Vintage Meg

OK SO JUST FOR THE RECORD. IS THERE ANY DOUBT KAEL IS MY SON AFTER LOOKING AT THESE PICTURES! (KAEL IS IN THE RED IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW US)

FIRST SNOW OF THE YEAR!

YEAH FOR THE FIRST SNOW OF THE YEAR. THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND IT IS SNOWING. THE BOYS HAD SO MUCH FUN RUNNING AROUND THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD POST A VIDEO OF THEM RUNNING AND SCREAMING. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT. CULLAN WAS FREEZING BUT DID NOT WANT TO COME IN. WHEN CULLAN SAW OUT THE DOOR HE GOES WOW WOW AND THEN I SAID DO YOU WANT TO GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY... UH HU PEEESE!

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WHY I MARRIED THIS MAN!

SO I HAVE TO TELL EVERYONE WHAT A GREAT HUSBAND I HAVE AND JUST HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM. HE IS A PERFECT MATCH I THINK. WE BOTH HAVE OUR LITTLE QUIRKS BUT HE MAKES ME SO HAPPY. FOR MY BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR MONEY WAS A LITTLE TIGHT AS IT ALWAYS IS THIS TIME OF YEAR FOR US BECAUSE WE DO A LOT OF TRAVELING AND WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY TO SEE. ANYWAYS THAT IS BESIDES THE POINT. SO I KNOW GARRAN HAD SOME IDEAS OF GIFTS BUT HE HAD TO SCRAP THEM SO THAT WE COULD DO OTHER THINGS THAT WERE MORE IMPORTANT TO ME. MY HUBBY BEING THE GREAT MAN THAT HE IS DID NOT LEAVE ME EMPTY HANDED ON MY BIG BIRTHDAY. I WOKE UP SUNDAY MORNING TO BREAKFAST IN BED. FRENCH TOAST AND FRUIT. YUMMY! THEN AS I GOT UP (OH YEAH I GOT TO SLEEP IN KID FREE =) BUT AS I GOT UP I WAS WAKING UP TO A SPOTLESS HOUSE PEOPLE. NO NOT A TIDY HOUSE AN ABSOLUTE SPOTLESS HOUSE. EVERYTHING WAS SPARKLING CLEAN, NOTHING ON THE FLOOR. NO TOYS, NO CLOTHES, NOTHING. AND IT WAS NOT JUST THE LIVING ROOM AND KITCHEN, BUT EVERY SINGLE ROOM. i WAS SO IMPRESSED AND EXCITED. GARRAN KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE A CLEAN HOUSE. THEN HE SAID HIS GIFT TO ME WAS A DAY OF NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING. IF THE BOYS WERE ACTING UP HE TOOK CARE OF IT. HE DEALT WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE DAY. IT WAS A PERFECT DAY AND I AM SO THANKFUL FOR A MAN THAT REALLY GETS ME ENOUGH, THAT EVEN WHEN MONEY IS TIGHT, HE STILL MAKES MY BIRTHDAY SO SPECIAL... i LOVE YA HONEY!

SPT WITH 30 MINUTES TO SPARE!

your challenge this week is to find a quiet moment. give thanks for all that you have been given, all that you have given in this past year. take advantage of a pocket of an afternoon when you can slip away and be thank-full. we can all make time for this very important date with ourselves, with only our shadow along for company

OK SO HERE IS MY SPT. NOTHING SPECIAL BUT MY SHADOW ENJOYING LOOKING AT FAMILY PICS. I LOVE PICTURES AND I LOVE FAMILY. HAPPY SPT PEOPLE!

Let's just pull over--Cullan's throwing UP!

So we were traveling today to go and see my parents for Thanksgiving. We stopped at the store on the way out of town to stop and pick up a quick bit of breakfast. So we bought some of those prepackaged donuts and a few other healthier choices. Anyways we were about halfway to our destination when I look back and see Cullan trying to shove this donut in his mouth. Then a few seconds later I see Cullan making this funny face and the donut came right back up. Yes it was very gross and we had to pull over, strip him down and then continue on our way. Oh the joys of traveling with children.

HaPPy BiRTHdaY to MeG!

the ten things I love most about my Meggy:

10. Her astoundingly low standards in men

9. Her astonishingly high expectations of me

8. Our wonderful kids are her fault

7. Her sweet, soft skins

6. Her inappropriate comments that I pretend to be offended by

5. making fun of church (inside joke)

4. doing "taxes" (one bad year..one long story)

3. Its always us agin' the world even around her friends

2. Those eyes

1. Besides being a classy dame, shes a superior wife in every way, and she loves me and I know it.

SWEET MOMENTS

Today I was sitting on the couch and both of the boys were standing in front of me. All of a sudden Kael leaned over to Cullan and gave him a hug. Then Cullan leaned over and gave Kael a kiss on the forehead. Kael looked up at his big brother and signed Thank You... Some days my boys can be so sweet!

FLASH BACK FRIDAY!

This flash back Friday goes out to my little sister. Once when I was probably like 15 years old which would have made her 7. Anyways I was watching TV in our living room and my sister wanted to watch the Power Rangers. I would not let her and so she grabbed the remote and took off. We lived in a split level house at the time and so she jumped the first set of stairs and then jumped the second set and headed off to hide in her room. Well of course I was behind her. I also jumped the first set of stairs making my turn on the landing and then heading down the second set of stairs with my socks on I might add. So I have to pause at this point in the story to say that our stairs were wooden. Also earlier that day my sister had helped my mom clean the house. However being seven she did not know exactly what to use on what. So she had pledge the stairs. Yes folks.. PLEDGED THE STAIRS.. I can still hear my self hitting each hard wooden step as I fell to the bottom of those stairs. Then when I finally landed at the bottom in a pile I ended up with a broken finger.. And as I am laying at the bottom of our stairs in a pile here comes Sara handing me the remote saying "You can have it, I don't want to watch anymore." ARGGG
PS Can I add that Sara had a TV in her room. It was not like because I would not let her watch it in the living room she was completely missing it. She was being a typical younger sister.. Annoying at times!

SPT

so this week's spt challenge is to take a few moments and focus on that special holiday *thing* that you are planning for this year.

So this is how we have started kicking off every holiday season. The day after Thanksgiving we watch "The Polar Express", drink hot chocolate, with marshmallows and drag out all of our Christmas stuff. We listen to Christmas music and decorate the house. We have a lot of traditions but this is by far my favorite. Christmas is a favorite at our house so every extra day we get enjoy our decorations and listen to the music is even better for us! This picture is of the day I got married. It was just sitting next to the hot chocolate when I set it down to take the picture so that is why it is in there. That is my self portrait part of it.

The Deal of a CENTURY!!! I HAVE TOPPED ALL MY GARAGE SALE BUDDIES! EVEN GEORGE!

SO are you looking at this picture thinking that is not Meghan's living room. Oh but you are wrong. It is. We got new furniture. Now I am sure those of you who really know me are thinking hmm how did she do that because she is such a penny pincher. Well I will have you know that for the lovely price of zero dollars we, well I should say Garran and friends, picked this up and brought it to our home. Ah I danced around the living room, praising myself on a job well done. Even Garran was super impressed with me. It takes a lot for him to get excited but he was excited about this. I am so excited.. I would tell you how I did it but the friend that told me has sworn me to secrecy. It's really not that hard. There is a link to it on my page =) Here is a closer look. EAT YOUR HEART OUT GARAGE SALE BUDDIES AND GEORGE~!!! I feel I should really get to bost about this one. I know its not very humble. Oh well everyonce in a while you have to pat yourself on the back.

My Newest Christmas Wish!

Ok so I have a lot of things that I hope for that have nothing to do with material things when it comes to Christmas Wishes. I hope for all kinds of good things for family members and friends and even for strangers for that matter. But this blog I am going to be selfish. For those of you who know me well know that I would rather be barefoot than have shoes on, however I have found a shoe that is wonderful because I can slip it on and go. They are super comfy and I just love them. I have two pairs that I rotate throughout the year except for at Christmas time. Or should I say while it is cold. They are great when you have kids and need something quick. So here is my newest Christmas wish. Below is something that I passed in a store and now I have been lusting after them ever since. Don't they just look so comfy.. Ahh hopefully Santa reads blogs!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Gillespie

Ok so I know this is not the best picture of Grandpa Gillespie, but I love it. It is one of my favorites. I just think it is so cute they way they are sitting on that hill together. Anyways we went out to there house to celebrate tonight. Cullan and Kael were both very excited about the cake and ice cream portion of the evening ! It was alot of fun. Grandpa's actual birthday is on the 13th. However we still had fun singing and having a good time. So

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA G!

Fun Videos... Thought People Might Enjoy!

ENJOY!

An Trip to the ER... Who would have thought!

Well this afternoon we took a quick trip to the ER. After lunch Cullan walked up holding my pill container. He had taken some of my thyroid medication. So we had to go the ER and have him checked out. They said that he would be ok, they gave us a few things to look out for, and said to give him a ton of chocolate milk. So we will be dumping it down his throat every chance we get. We just really need to get the med out of him. Garran and I did have to laugh on the way out. We just said that we wished that the doctor would have told us that we just needed to chocolate milk to say oh I don' t know fix my back and things like that. Wouldn't that have been easier than back surgery, just a couple glasses of yummy chocolate milk!

FLASHBACK FRIDAY...A DAY LATE!

Well this flashback is on behalf of my husband. He told me the funniest story. It may not be funny to everyone, but if you know Garran it is hilarious. So when Garran was in the Young Mens Program at our church they had an activity and put Garran in charge of refreshments. So most kids would have asked their moms to make cookies or something along that line. No my husband toasted like a whole loaf of bread and took toast as his refreshment. This might give you an insight into why Garran did not go into party planning as a career.

What a MAN, What a MAN, What a MIGHTY Fine MAN!

Well I thought I would write a blog in Ode to my wonderful Hubby! Lately he has been going above and beyond. The past couple mornings I have got to sleep in late, due to staying up in the middle of the night. So Garran has been bringing me breakfast in bed. What a great guy huh!

24 bites the dust too =(

Well another great show falls victim to the writer's strike. It is going to be a sad fall/winter season for TV viewing!

A SAD SAD DAY IN TV LAND!

Early Victim of Strike: ‘Office’ Originals End Next Week
By Brian Stelter
Production on “The Office” was halted Tuesday after many staffers, including the lead actor Steve Carell, did not show up for work. (NBC)
Television viewers are beginning to get a better sense of how the writers’ strike will affect their favorite shows. Original half-hour episodes of NBC’s hit half-hour comedy “The Office” will stop being shown after next week.
Steve Carell showed solidarity with the striking writers. A publicist for Mr. Carell said he had no comment about the strike.
Production on “The Office” was shut down on Tuesday, after the writers, several of whom are also actors on the show, began picketing and Steve Carell, the lead actor, refused to cross picket lines. Only two new episodes are ready for broadcast, so “The Office” will enter repeats after the Nov. 15 episode.
Picketing in Burbank on Wednesday, Greg Daniels, an executive producer of “The Office,” explained why he was helping force a halt to production.
“When we were in the 10th grade reading Mark Twain and dreaming about being a writer, none of us were thinking about residuals or payments for DVDs or anything like that,” Mr. Daniels said. “I suppose the reason people should care about this is because the television networks get their broadcast licenses from the government. They are supposed to create public culture. Instead, they are taking the attitude of ‘We will crush you’ toward the people who create their programming. They are talking of canceling scripted programming and replacing it with reality programs. I think that is not in the public interest.”
In a blog entry on MySpace, Dan Beals, a production staffer for “The Office,” said the crew waited for seven hours on Tuesday before Universal Media Studios decided to shut down production.
After expressing support for the strikers, Mr. Beals wrote: “As for me, it’s back to the unemployment line.”
–Edward Wyatt contributed reporting.
Tags: greg daniels, nbc, steve carell, strike, the office, wga

A SCARY WAKE UP CALL.. ALL THE WAY AROUND!

Well the other night I went to the store around 6:30, of course it was dark and I was trying to do things as quickly as possible because it was so chilly outside. I pushed the cart up to the end of the car and had it where I could see. I opened the side door that I was going to put Kael in, and as I turned around I could see very manly arms by my children but could not see a face. Just the arms. In a split second my heart dropped to my stomach. I started looking around thinking who out here will help me. I was literally about to start screaming at the top of my lungs "GET AWAY FROM MY KIDS! " and many other things at the top of my lungs, when our friend Dwayne popped his head around the van. I thought I was going to pass out from relief. It seemed like an eternity that I was standing there deciding what to do, but it was only a split second. It was just a really good wake up call to me about how I need to be much more aware of my kids and who is around them. If it was a stranger he could have easily grabbed one or both and took of running or threw them in a car that was close by. OH even now it makes me sick to my stomach to think about. For the record they were not even two feet away from me, just the position of the cart was at a funny angle. I will be much more careful from now on.

Second a man at our church passed away last night. He was young and had very young children. When things like this happen it always serves as a wake up call. I just think he was so young, looked to be in good health. They think he had a heart attack, but nothing is solid yet. It just makes you appreciate the time you have that much more. I look at my boys after both of these incidents and think, I need to be a lot more grateful for the time I have with my family.

Family Portrait Sucess

We recently had our first ever family portrait taken. I went to pick them up today and what a success. They turned out so great. I love it. The one of just Garran and I came out so well. And the one with the kids is not perfect, however is looks just like our family is and that makes me very happy. I would have scanned one and put it on here, however my scanner is broken. So I have to wait until I can find a scanner and then I will go back and re-post. Anyways I was just so excited that they turned out so well that I had to post something. Yeah for us!

UPDATE: SO MY FRIEND REBECCA SAID THAT I SHOULD TAKE A PICTURE OF THE PICTURE. GREAT IDEA. THE PICTURES DO NOT REALLY DO IT JUSTICE, DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THE LIGHTING RIGHT. ANYWAYS WE LOVE THEM, BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO CAPTURE OUR FAMILY JUST AS WE ARE! HERE YOU GO!

FOR SOME REASON IT LOOKS LIKE i HAVE A REALLY EXCITED LOOK ON MY FACE, BUT I DO NOT. WHEN IT CAME UP I THOUGHT WOW I AM NOT MAKING THAT FACE AT ALL. OH WELL YOU GET THE IDEA. HERE ARE THE BOYS!

A New Baby!

So tonight we went to the hospital to see our friendly neighbors newest arrival. There is nothing sweeter than a new little baby. They had a boy, but that is all the details I can say because I think they should have a chance to show off their little boy and give all the info. But I have to say holding that little bundle made me think about how sweet that newborn smell is and just how cuddly and soft they are. I just love babies. Always have and always will. Congrats to our neighbors!

Peeling Apples for Yummy Pies!

Well this weekend we had gone to the farmers market and got a bunch of apples due to the fact that it was the end of the season, so everything was half off. We went with our friendly neighbors and then they let us borrow their apple peeler and core remover. The boys thought that it was so much fun to help. Cullan got a turn and then Kael. They would both laugh at how long the peel was when it was all done. So much fun. Thanks to our friendly neighbors we will be eating all kinds of yummy apple dishes this winter!

Flash Back Friday!

Growing up, one of my favorite things to do during the summer was go to the beach. I pretty much lived at the pool growing up. I am definitely a fish. I loved riding in the van going to the beach. I loved leaving the patio doors open at night and hearing the ocean as we feel asleep. The first time we ever went to the beach after moving to North Carolina, my mom ended up in the ER because she got a burn so badly on her stomach. It looked like a jellyfish laying on her stomach,the blister was so big. We were all so burned. The beach is very deceiving, because the wind is constantly blowing and for the most part you don't get to hot. So you think, I am not burning. But oh how you are. So my flashback today is of happier and warmer days playing at the beach. Happy Friday Everyone!

We have a small CANDY ADDICTION!

So obviously the boys got way to much candy due to the recent trick or treating events. I have been limiting the amount of candy they can have, but know when ever they see candy the fully understand the sweetness of it. So today we were at the store and they had all of their Halloween candy like 75 % off. As we strolled by (not picking any up because we have tons at home) But as we were passing by, all of a sudden there was a screeching hault. I thought did something get stuck under the wheel. Oh no it was my youngest with a death grip on the candy bin. He was hanging on for dear life, all most to the point where he was hanging out of the cart. I tried to get him to release but was stifled a little by the fact that all the people around us were laughing at him, thinking he was so cute. I however just wanted him to release. He really loves CANDY, and so I found this picture on my camera of my little candy junkie on the way home from trick or treating. (NOTICE THE CHOCOLATE ALL OVER THE FACE)

Trunk or Treating.... Halloween

Well we went trunk or treating on the 30th at church. The boys seemed to really enjoy this. They thought it was a great idea that if Cullan said "Peese" they each got a piece of candy. Cullan said peese because we had not mastered trick or treat. So he would say peese and then they would hand each of them a piece of candy and they would throw it in their trick or treat sacks, unless it was something they thought it was something extra delicious. Then there was a bit of a struggle to get it out of their hand. But it was fun to get to visit with all of our friends and see all the kids in their costumes. They were all so cute. I saw one of my old roommates and her little girl. She was the cutest little ladybug. She was running all over getting candy and then checking her stash. It was very cute. ! The picture with the kids and I in the stroller is a funny one to me. The half smile and half scared look on my face is because after on sucker each you can see they were bouncing off their chairs. Cullan was springing out already. The next night on Halloween, we went to a Halloween party. It had games and the kids were able to run around and play. They were able to go on a treasure hunt. At the end they got these big treat bags. It was a very cute idea. All of the kids had a lot of fun. It was a good Halloween. Hope everyone else had fun..