Check on your neighbor

Christmas is about giving and helping others from the heart. Its not about the shopping, baking, holiday parties, or materialistic gifts. Its about helping a person in need. If you have neighbors who have been laid off, take them some groceries, give them a gas card to go to a job interview. Check on your elderly, make sure they have something warm to eat. Again I say, give from your heart and do so without having to tell the world about what you did. If you must tell the world about it; its not from the heart. Be a blessing to someone else this Christmas season and carry your good will throughout the year. Not just in the month of December.

So Pretty

I found this beautiful butterfly at Macy's and had to get one for Timia. I have never paid attention to the ornaments in Macy's but will be on the look out now. Timia wants to change the color of her tree next year so maybe when the after Christmas sales start I will go back and see what's left.

We had a wonderful time at the Gaitlinburg, TN parade.

80,000 visitors came to the town of Gaitlinburg, TN to watch the annual town parade. This town really knows how to show some Christmas spirit. The entire town is decorated for the holiday's. Mia's favorite parade participant was the Ripley aquarium car zooming around dumping confetti. Jordan started waiving at every float passing by; until his had was tired then he did a side wave. I thought it was very cute and thoughtful for the Santa toy lift to pass out teddy bears to the little children watching the parade.

UVA's New Head Football Coach: Mike London

I will have to go back on my word, that I would never buy season tickets again. Originally two years ago we had great football seats. UVA decided in order for fans to keep the "great" seats we would have to donate $8-$10K for our seat location. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. So we made the decision we would just buy tickets randomly from the ticket office. Truth be told sometimes the random seats were better anyway.

Today UVA held a press conference at 1p.m. to announce Mike London as the new head football coach.
Mike London Coaching Experience:

2008 AFCA National Coach of the Year
***2008 Schutt Sports/American Football Monthly National Coach of the Year
***2008 Black Coaches Association Male Coach of the Year
***2008 VaSID State Coach of the Year

Years	School/Team	Position	Postseason
1988-1989	Richmond	OLBs	--
1990-1993	William & Mary	Defensive Line	1990 I-AA Playoffs (Qtrs.)
			1993 I-AA Playoffs (1st Rd.)
1994-1996	Richmond	OLBs/Recruiting Coord.	--
1997-2000	Boston College	Defensive Line	1999 Insight.com Bowl
			2000 Aloha Bowl
2001-2004	Virginia	Def. Line / Recruiting Coord. (02-04)	2002 COntinential Tire Bowl
			2003 Continential Tire Bowl
			2004 MPC Computer Bowl
2005	Houston Texans	Defensive Line	--
2006-2007	Virginia	Defensive Coordinator	2008 Gator Bowl

(info from Richmond Spiders)


I can already tell you; Tim is going to support the Cavs more now than ever. Tim supports the CAVS in the snow, rain, sleet, winning, and losing season. He can call the plays before the ball is hiked and knows almost every trivia Hoo question. Tim is going to worry me, now until the season ticket application is sent back and confirmed. Guess I better make sure all tailgaiting gear is ready for the 2010 season! I say he is obsessed with sports. He calls it "Love of the game."

Vacation Countdown

We are all ready for our yearly trip to the Smokey Mountains. Tim and I are ready to relax with the kids before our crazy ski and basketball season kicks off. This year will be the first year we get to see the Christmas parade. My best friend will be going this year with her family and staying a few cabins from us. Little did we know; the Gaitlinburg arts and crafts festival will be open. Someone may have to ride home on the top of the car. Gaitlinburg get ready the Jackson's will be coming to town with 10 additional people for yummy funnel cake, Santa's white Christmas coffee, Flap Jacks, Old Mill goodies, ornaments, shopping, rest and most of all precious memories.

I am Thankful for my Big and Small Blessings

"We are thankful to God for…
…staying close to us each day no matter where we are and protecting us
…always answering our prayers not in our time but in His own time
…knowing exactly what we need, when we need it and then providing our needs (and our luxuries)
…always being there for us in times of trouble and in times of joy
…the gift of marriage.
Every single second of our lives we have something to be thankful for!"

Dec. 11th Family Movie Night

Just purchased tickets to The Princess and the Frog movie. Tickets went on sale this morning at 10 A.M for Charlottesville, VA. Timia is so excited!

My favorite store is now only an hour away

Yesterday I made a quick trip to Richmond to pick up party supplies for Thanksgiving. While I was there I decided to check out Homegoods. Homegoods has been my favorite store for many years. Every year I set aside time and money for my trip to Homegoods at Myrtle Beach. Many items in my house have been treasures I have found at Homegoods. The best deal I ever got was my heart shaped glass mirror. I saw this mirror on tv and told Tim one day I would have that mirror. I found it at Homegoods in South Carolina for $79 a bargain since the original price was over $500. Yes, I like nice things but I do shop for bargains! If you like to make your home look nice but have to shop on a budget;check out Homegoods in Richmond!

Image from Homegoods.com

IT'S SNOWING AT WINTERGREEN

The last two weeks I had to meet with ski reps for the upcoming season. I have never skied or boarded in my life. After meeting with the reps I have decided this season I will ski and snow board at least once! Tim and I both love sports so why not add this to our goals for 2010. Especially when I work P/T at a ski store...just taking advantage of the perks!!

Note:photo taken by Janet Jackson.

I LOVE to decorate for the Holiday's

I get super excited this time of year. Each year I try to add something to our holiday decorations. Christmas brunch is always held at my house so this year I think I am going to get this table place setting from Kirklands. I love the chargers and its time for me to finally get "Holiday" themed plates. Thanks to Kirklands 15 place settings is affordable too!

Brrr its cold

There is something about cold weather that makes me want to cook. When its cold there is nothing better than a home cooked bowl of soup, made from scratch bread, and a cup of hot apple cider.

Update

After a week, I do not like the laundry detergent. 99.9% I will not buy again.

Love Love Love the dryer balls. Cuts approx 15 minutes off my drying time.

"Save the Earth" additions to the Jackson Household

This weekend we added 2 products to our household in our adventure to help "save the earth"

I heard about the Blue ridge Eco shop on Preston Ave in Charlottesville from the Albemarle Family Magazine. This past weekend we finally had a chance to check out the eco friendly store. The staff was super friendly and was amazed that Timia talked us into trying to save the earth. I was blown away with all the chemicals that are listed on the back of your dryer sheet box so this weeks addition was a set of "chemical free"dryer balls. We will be adding many of the eco products to our household one by one.

Dryer Balls

The dryerballs mechanical softeners have different tensile strengths and different shaped softening nodes. They work together in the tumble dryer to mechanically soften fabrics without the harmful chemicals found in fabric softener and dryer sheets. The dryerballs® lift and separate the laundry whilst drying, thus reducing drying time and creasing. The dryerballs® softeners also retain the heat and transfer it to the clothes as they tumble, further speeding up the drying process.

There is no need to add a chemically laden “softening” dryer sheet or use fabric softener in your wash. Place both dryerballs® softeners in the tumble dryer and operate the machine at the usual heat setting for the fabrics. Dryerballs® mechanical softeners are re-usable - just leave them
in the tumble dryer to get the benefits time and time again!

Price: $17.99

(I know, but they last for 3 years)

Info from Blue Ridge Eco Shop website

At Sam's club we found Ecos all natural laundry detergent with soy based fabric softener and only cost $12.00 for a bottle that washes 210 loads in our front load washer.

Not to mention it is:

*Petrochemical free

*Formaldehyde free

*Dioxane free

A little change is better than no change at all

Ms. T goes to Kindergarten

1st Day of Kindergarten
Bus
2nd day of Kindergarten
Bookbag
Third day of Kindergarten

Timia started Kindergarten this week! Bittersweet for mom, exciting for Timia. Realizing that my little girl is growing up, I plan to capture as many memories as I can. Praying for a healthy and blessed year of kindergarten for Timia.

Timia is so HAPPY!

Timia was so excited when she went to check her garden and found a RED tomato. She was starting to get discouraged because the wild life has eaten most of her garden. Cantaloupe, green peppers, roma and celebrity tomatoes are still growing. Cucumbers R.I.P.

Of course she had to give the first tomato to Pappy!

Found a Great Deal

Last week I decided to try the Target brand diapers since they were on sale($13.49 for 96 diapers). The diapers have not leaked and are somewhat fashionable. Simply put I am impressed.

Mia's room is 95% finished

I love the new wood floor in Mia's room. Now I am waiting for her new bed and her room is complete. Then maybe we can work on our room..Oh I forgot football is about to start.LOL

School shopping

Back to school is only 2 weeks away. Timia's school supply list is now complete. I have decided to replace the ziploc bag with eco friendly containers this year. Thanks to AF magazine, I have looked at a few. I found some nice kleen kanteen bottles for Timia and Jordan. Its not a HUGE environmentally friendly change but its a start.

Jordan Gets a Haircut

Jordan finally got a hair cut. Jordan sat in his high chair while Tim cut his hair. We occupied him by turning on the radio(this kid loves music). He also started crawling the same day. Jordan is growing up so fast.

Winter Vacation is booked!!

Six years ago Tim and I started a tradition of visiting Pigeon Forge, TN during the winter to see the Christmas lights. Well, six years later our entire family goes to Pigeon Forge for their spectacular Christmas lights, yummy funnel cake, and for our yearly family ornament. This year we have decided to try a recommended log cabin. The kids wanted the pool while my oldest sister and myself was smitten over the espresso machine. You know its hard to get along with the two of us if we haven't had a cup of coffee.LOL

I am sure we will have just as much fun!

Timia has two weeks of Pre-K left. I am trying to find various activities to keep her busy for the summer. I have managed to find a few cooking classes, tennis lessons, and swim classes on the weekends. Last week Timia had a blast at Natural bridge zoo. She even had a chance to ride an elephant. Saturday we enjoyed music, food, and kites flying high in the sky at the Kite festival. (Thanks Albemarle Family fun mag) Timia is looking forward to summer road trips. Can you tell she has been a traveling baby since birth?

Jordan can now say DA DA, Bye Bye, and Mi Mi(calling his big sis). What happened to Ma Ma? Doesn't matter, he is a mama's boy. My lil sis has given Jordan the nickname "scooter". He will not crawl but loves to scoot everywhere he goes. Jordan loves for mommy to sing and read to him at night while rocking in the rocking chair. Seems like yesterday I was singing and rocking with Timia. Time flies when you are having fun!

What's up with Freda?
Busy, Busy, Busy...
I am trying to get back into shape for the women's 4 miler. I can give up a few hours each Saturday to support a cause that affects many families. I have also decided to pick up the camera again. My mom said she was wondering why I hadn't been taking pics lately, my response was I have been too busy. She point blank said I am missing out and not using my talent. I hate to say it but she is Sooo right. I guess Mom's are always right.