Happy Happy New Year!

Hope everyone has a Happy and Safe New Year!!

We are Texas bound tomorrow morning for the Cotton Bowl and to sneak in a visit with the Schmidt's!

HOTTY TODDY!!!

BRRRRRR...Its cold in here!

Friday, Dec. 26. Zach, his nephew and I took off to Nashville....for the day! Call us crazy, but we did it and had a great time. We finally got to Nashville about 12:30. Perfect time for eating at the Aquarium Restaurant. We all had great meals and a good time watching the sharks swim by as we nibbled on a shrimp or two!

With our bellies all full we headed to Oprylands ICE! Exhibit. This is a truly unique experience. If you love to be cold and see really cool things then this is the place for you. Where else in Tennessee can you go into a 9 degree building and see 1.5 million pounds of ice transformed into a GRINCH wonderland? Words really cannot describe what we saw and I am not sure the pictures can either but here you go!

At the end of the Grinch display they have a huge Nativity scene. It is pretty amazing!

A Merry Little Christmas...

Can you believe it, Christmas has come and gone. Maybe it flew by to fast for me since I had to work on Christmas Eve. I now know what is one of the most depressing things ever...driving to work and passing other families going to Church or to spend time with their family and friends. Well with it all said and done, I made it. I survived working Christmas Eve and I actually pretended to be really happy to be a work to see if I could brighten at least one patients day!

So lets back up...

Christmas Eve: I had to work the night before so I came home bright and early to wish my love a happy Christmas Eve. I only got three hours of sleep before I woke up. I guess I was filled with anticipation and excitement?! I knew it would only be a few hours before Zach would be so shocked about his Christmas gift....a 52 inch flat screen. It was so funny because we received a package from Crutchfield that Zach saw. He was dead set that he was getting a Tom Tom for Christmas. If the boy can't find himself around Oxford yet-we are in big trouble! So the delivery boy pulls up in a unmarked white van and of course Zach gets paranoid because he is clueless. I open the door and then demand Zach to help the little guy bring in the box. This is when he figured out what was going on. He was so excited and couldn't believe I had actually pulled this off. I was very thrilled for him....but whoa what was I thinking. He is permanently glued to the TV. Then off to work I go.

Christmas Day: Zach's family tradition is a Christmas Breakfast. It was very tasty and really fun, even with 3 hours of sleep in a 30 hour period. We had some great food and good company but I must admit the best part of the morning was this "Crazy Santa" game. This was the first year of a new tradition. Zach's parents hid 2 fifty dollar bills in the living room and we all had to search for them. Whoever found them got to keep them. It was very frustrating as well as entertaining. . .for the parents at least. All 6 of us wandered around like a bunch of goofballs for a good 15 minutes. I found myself searching the best places, the tree, the deer heads, pictures...everywhere. After staring at this one particular deer head for 3 minutes at least I gave up on it. Shortly after, Margaret, my sister-in-law walked right up to it and yelled "I FOUND IT". I was pretty upset about this because you do know I am very competitive. So on to searching we go....long story short. I found the 2nd one....in the exposed ceiling beam knot hole. Did you follow that? Meaning in a really random place that no one would ever look- I still don't know what made me look there. I am glad I did!

To finish out Christmas Day, Zach and I had the family over for dinner. It was suppose to be my Grandparents and Mom and his family. My Grandparents got sick so Mom came to Celebrate with us. We had a great time cooking, cleaning and pretty much doing the normal run around to get things ready! (UGH this is getting long). The food was decent but the company was better! ;) Mom gave Zach some "runny (maybe suppose to be running, this is just what I have always called it) money" and he is super thrilled about spending it on something great. I got my juicer we already discussed, Mama Mia, two shirts and a ped egg...I am really excited about that!

I think I will get to my pedegging I had planned! Merry Christmas to you and your families!

We are now "Juicers"...

What exactly does that mean? For the King family, it means we drink juice....occasionally! Ha, don't stroke out mom.

This Jack Lalanne Juicer was my Christmas present from my mom. I was actually begging her for it and she gave it to me early. Somehow, I got stuck on the "infomercial" channel late one night. Anyone that knows me knows that I am a huge sucker for good advertising.

So far, so good. We all three approve this contraption and the refreshing juice it makes. Zach and I have a new favorite: Fresh pineapple and a red apple. Something that is very tasty and for once healthy. We love to throw a nice big glass of juice in with our Bon-Bons, fudge, peanuts, peanut butter cups....it just takes all the guilt away! ;)

Zach thinks it is all fun in games. Just wait until he comes home from a long days work for a nice home cooked meal and he finds the following: A large glass of tomato juice with a side of sweet potato juice, celery juice and some other juice from a random veggie I have sitting around!

In all seriousness, this is machine is awesome and we have really enjoyed it. It the beginning of the new year I am going to really crack down and lose some of this excess...junk food...I have layering around my belly...YUCK. I am going on a juicing marathon. I will keep you updated.

Let me know if you have any good juicing recipes!

Happy Juicing from the Kings!

What is your song?

A Simply Crazy Night...

Well, as most of you know by now, I am obsessed with this new elf tradition that many families are starting. You might have been told about "Elf on a Shelf", "Magical Elf", or "Enchanted Elf". After visiting with the Pope family last night and hearing all the elf stories from Brianna and Addison, I really wanted an Elf. It is not exactly fair that only kids get to participate. So, I had a heart to heart with Avery and Sally, the Pope elves. They must have felt sorry for me and so did my Mom. She personally requested a girl elf from the North Pole. Since I was at my Moms house the elf came for a visit. I ran into the kitchen this morning for poor sick LaLa's water and I found a Simply Crazy Mess!! There was toilet paper everywhere with notes here and there. The mess led me to a super surprise...LITERALLY! My elf, AllieKateNutt, was hanging from the garage contraption with a new Christmas Card holder-(reminder-send me a card pronto, I am in a card war with Lisa) and a box of pregnancy test. I am not exactly sure what Allie Kate Nutt knows that I don't but I am pretty sure there is NO baby on the way. This was all a scandal between AllieKateNutt and LaLa...I think that was my hint for grand kids. Once she signs my LaLa contract we could be talking babies. This involves her babysitting 3 nights a week and only buying the new mommy clothes and toys.

Here is a copy of the letter from AllieKateNutt:

Dear Erica, when I arrived, I had a really hard time getting in the house. Seems you had blocked the garage door with your car. Erica, in the future I hope you will remember to park away from the door. It was not only hard for me to get in but your poor Mom had to make several trips to here car in the cold to get all the packages from the car. Also, Santa was not happy because He doesn’t like for me to walk in the cold when he could have pulled into the garage! Since your Mom was still up when I arrived we had a great conversation. Your Mom sure loves you and Zach very much. She is so very proud of you both. She said she can’t wait till you have a little Erica/Zack baby! Well, when I heard this I just had to get involved. You know, Mom’s have a way of leaving hints about things. I just had to help out!! If you will follow the trail of toilet paper I think you will find a few surprises!!!!!

Elf Name Explanation--I like AllieKate and Nutt--HOUSTON NUTT- HOTTY TODDY!

On the First Day of Vacation....

Erica made Cand-eee...

haha, surely after all that you picked up on the tune. "On the first Day of Christmas my true love gave to me...."

Anyways, I decided to make my favorite candy. I am not really sure why I think it is only appropriate to make candy during the Christmas holiday. It is like the stores don't sell sugar, vanilla, and coconut all year long. But, whatever!

So I am off for 8 whole days or nights which ever you prefer. I really do not have a lot planned but on the first day I found myself making Chex mix at 7 am, 2 batches of fudge and a batch of Martha Washington's. YUMMY! As you can tell in the picture I finally pulled the chair up and got busy sifting....what a job!

Oh, and for those of you following the Schmidt blog...I am kicking their butt in the Christmas card count... For anyone who wants to contribute to the big win, send me a card!

Merry, Merry, Christmas...

We Wish you a Merry Christmas...

Just a reminder to those of you sending out Christmas cards this year...

Don't forget to send a card to a recovering soldier with a kind word. Be Festive, joyful, and thankful!!

A Recovering American Soldier

C/O Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue,NW

Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

Chance comes to play

Last night was the first time that Zach and I have kept Chance, OUR nephew. This is Zach's brothers youngest son and he got to come hang out....all night, over night! We had so much fun running around, playing, reading and even sleeping.

I happen to find this perfect book yesterday while shopping and thought it might be a good investment. Boy! Was I right, Chance loved it until Zach and I had to terrorize him. You see, this book is all about animals in the jungle making music with different things hence the name Jungle Beat. The parrot is a real rap-a-tear. The croc thumps with his tail, the snake hisses, and so forth. Well what makes it so unique is that it has a big furry puppet in the middle of the book and it is up to the reader to move the mouth. It is pretty cute. So picture this: Zach is reading and I decide to stick my finger in the puppets mouth as it start to gnaw on my finger I start screaming and pretty much acting a fool. At this point Chance is like WHAT IN THE WORLD but remaining completely calm. Zach gives him a minute to ponder what just happened and then makes the puppet attack his own ear....as he is screaming for his dear life and jumping all around the room. Chance, bless his heart, just lost it....he literally was shaking he was so upset. Sad broken heart aside, it was HYSTERICAL. I am really not sure why I think it is so fun to scare him...My favorite thing is to jump out behind a door at little chance and see him scream and jump. He thinks it is kinda funny too!

Now that the little man has gone home I have been replaying my night. The best part is that Chance slept in his pack-n-play at the foot of our bed. All kidding aside, Zach and I woke up at his every move. He would cough and Zach would jump up and would whisper, "do you think he is okay"? He would move and we would question whether he was cold or not. I guess when they are your own you get use to the movement and the coughs here and there. Well for now, it is restless nights and Aunt E and Uncle Zach.

PS-Zach read the book countless times, changed many diapers, helped feed Chance, got him tucked in with his monkey and all.....I think he really might be cut out for this...umm...Daddy thing! One day...not too soon!

My stockings are cuter than yours...

see!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Zach and I have been decorating for Christmas over the last week. I must admit it has mostly been me. Zach gives his input by walking in the kitchen, looking at the tree and saying
"it looks great lovebug"...I think he has been training himself to say that!

Well my decorations are a work in progress so here are a few of my favorite things this far.

1. My favorite Ornament: I found this locally in Oxford and I just love it. The colors are perfect for my theme this year...Apple Green and Cherry Red. It is so bright, cheerful and glittery!

2. These are my ever so lovely Christmas dishes provided the one and only Rhondell, aka Rhonda. This was my graduation from nursing school gift from the Solbergs. I am working on the napkins and place mats!

3. This is my homemade decoration. I took an antique butter mold and painted it. Eventually I will get some Apple green candles to put in it and some greenery to decorate around it!

4. I just love this Angel and candle. The Angel is part of the Southern Living at home collection and the candle is from Bath and Body Works. In my opinion everyone needs the "Frosted Cranberry" scent somewhere in the house this holiday season. Get it and you will thank me later....

5. Here is a JESUS figurine my mommy gave me last year. It is perfectly placed in the entertainment center and has a soft light shining down on it. It is a gentle touch!