Nothing Really

Thinking today...

Just wishing I could share a McDonald's Coke and Double Cheeseburger with Papaw Clark today.

Missing him. Click here John Logan Clark

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

It's 9:30 AM Christmas morning. Everyone, except me, slept in today. Everyone here is to old for Santa, so no 4AM wake up call for us, yay!

Last night the girls opened up the traditional PJ's, underwear and socks. Aren't they cute in our 14th annual Christmas Eve PJ in front of the tree picture?

Mary Margaret made Taylor sick. After taking this cute picture, she let one rip, loud and stinky...

For those of you who think only guys can RUIN Christmas by passing enormous amounts of gas...

Now for Christmas morning. The girls got mostly clothes this year. One big present and a few Wii games. I hit pay dirt at Victoria Secrets this year. I had coupons for free panties, so I used them. The panties were opened up this morning not last night. You know how girls like to model everything, so as soon as Tim went back to bed, they started. Taylor was first. Her first outfit was too cute, a Gap Hoodie, Aero Jeans, FAKE Ugg boots, and she said she had on one pair of the new underwear from Victoria Secrets and they felt soft. She runs to try on other clothes and underwear. It takes a long time. So long that Mary Margaret goes on and gets it the shower. Finally Taylor emerges, with only her underwear on. I nearly choked on my Andes Chocolate Mints that I bought myself for Christmas. I was already sitting on the floor so I didn't fall far and bodily harm was not done. SHE HAD ON A THONG SIDEWAYS. She says, "Um, Kaye, this is broken or its a thong!"

I so did not know that I picked up a thong. I really thought I picked up regular panties.

I laughed so hard I cried.

I'm laughing again right now.

She said that she hid the thong deep in her underwear drawer where nobody could ever find it. She said that it is embarrassing to even own a pair of thongs.

Mary Margaret is mad that I didn't accidentally pick up the wrong panties for her.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM BUTLER FAMILY DIARIES!

Christmas Decorations

This is not going to be a long post. Not even a post about my own decorations.

When I saw this on my cousin's blog, I cracked up. I have never seen this many decorations before EVER. This person even has Charlene beat.

Begina...hope you don't mind the link to your blog... click on the red below...

If you don't already know...I DO NOT LIKE The Blow up Christmas AT ALL. So this house would really, really annoy me.

Christmas Decorations, too much?

A Comment That Became a Post

I was leaving a comment on Bro. Matt's blog. I realized that maybe it was just a tad bit too long.

Bro. Matt wanted to know our thoughts on Santa....do or don't

I did Santa Claus for the girls. I made a huge deal out of it. I'm not one to go half way. I wrote letters back from Santa, not just to my girls, but to all of my nieces and nephews and even my little sister (who is 25 years younger than me), I made hoof marks on our deck, we made reindeer feed, one year, they all received a retired sleigh bell from Santa. Gosh, I might have went over board. Our Santa always shared his love of Jesus with each one of them, which does NOT make it right. I am guilty of making a bigger deal out of Santa than it being Jesus Birthday, in the past.

As a kid, Santa always came, but I don't remember it being a big deal. What I do remember most, mom telling us the Christmas story, saving our change for Lottie Moon Offering and putting it those envelopes (we probably used 50 envelopes each, we didn't cash in our change we put all that change in those envelopes), I even remember what those envelopes looked like, Christmas our Dad went to church with us and I was so proud, and of course, I remember my Papaw Clark leading the singing at his country church in his big loud out of key booming voice.

He referenced an article, one of the points in the article was about the Christmas Tree, kind of do or don't. Our tree is all about memories, which is silly I guess, I really don't need a tree and ornaments to remember my grandparents, brothers, parents, do I? It makes me feel good to put it up and remember. It's fun to share those special moments with the girls, who want to hear each story behind each ornament, even though they've heard it a hundred times.

I love tradition, I love hearing the girls ask...when are we gonna...we always....etc. It's not the trips to the mall they ask about, its the simple things, like the hot chocolate, which family we are going to visit on what day, are we gonna put the tree up on your birthday, etc.

Looking back, would I do it the same way? I'm leaning heavily towards no. Kids are crushed when they find out that Santa isn't real. I can see this scenario playing out..." Well, if Santa isn't real, I bet Jesus isn't real either." Catch my drift?

I'll leave you hanging...

Pictures from Glennallen, Alaska

My little brother has got the picture fever. I'm Loving It! His dog Amos is just the cutest little thing. I have to say that Scottie is doing pretty good with his camera. I edited these for him, changed them to black and white and played with the contrast just a little. You know I'm a sucker for the black and white pictures, the are always my favorite.




Has anyone come up with idea's on how to get rid of POTATO BUGS? I still have them and dislike them tremendously.

It's Begining to Look A Lot Like Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere I go...

Holiday cheer is contagious! WRVR, The River is playing continuous Christmas music, the funeral home is all decorated, the city is alive with lights and here at Butler Manor, we have CHRISTMAS TREES GALORE!

Mary Margaret and Taylor get handmade ornaments from their Aunt Judy and Grandmother each year (on their mom's side). Their collection has out grown the little 3 foot trees we bought years ago for their rooms. This week I decided to get them a full size tree, a 5 footer. Their trees are loaded with decorations and their rooms look so cheerful and cozy. Notice: Zac Efron is not a Christmas decoration, he is a permanent fixture in Taylor's pink room.

I mentioned to Mary Margaret that the trees would last a long time and that she would treasure her ornaments for a lifetime...then I said, "And you'll have a nice tree and ornaments to start off with in your first home or apartment." She looked like I had slapped her. "What's wrong?" I asked. She says real quietly, "Um, so, um, well, No one ever told me I was gonna have to move out. What's that all about? And why do I have to move? I wasn't planning on moving until like I'm 25, you know, really old." Funny, but so pure and innocent. Made my heart swell.

Tradition is a huge part of Christmas. Tradition here until last year was to put the tree up on my birthday. Lives get so busy, I missed it last year and this year. There are some traditions that just can't be broken, like, the angel my Brawner grandparents gave me goes in the exact same spot on the tree every year for the last 25 years, I use my childhood stocking that my mother made and it is still beautiful and makes me miss being a kid untouched by the reality of being an adult (and makes me miss mom), the sleigh bells go on the front door to "catch" Santa with, popcorn string is the finishing touch to the tree, and so many more.

We have new traditions too. We started about 5 years ago making homemade hot chocolate the day the tree goes up, we sit around the tree and admire it and sip our hot chocolate, we take a picture of the girls in front of the tree each year, I love making memories with this family of mine.

My favorite decorations, there are so many, are not the ones that I bought on a whim, but the ones that mean something. The tree skirt that Andy's wife made me several years ago, I think about their family as I unwrap it and spill a few tears cause I miss those guys so much! Amanda also made the bears under the tree for MM and Taylor, they are a new tradition too, they have front row seats in front of the tree each year.

I own one piece of Waterford Crystal, courtesy of my little brother, Scottie way off in Alaska. I haven't seen him in person in a couple of years, which breaks my heart, cause it sure would feel good to give him a hug (and I'm not just saying that cause he reads this blog either!)

The frosty and kids in this picture came in a flower arrangement the day I was born...so they are really really old, like 36 years old.

Merry Christmas a little early. I hope each one of you know how special you all are to me.

What are your traditions? What makes it special for you?

Work Humor

This has been a most hectic week at the funeral home. Phones ringing, ringing and ringing, people calling my name, funerals to work, insurance claims to file and of course wonderful company.

I love my job, hearing aides, moth balls, wrong numbers, foreign telemarketers claiming to be my local Yellowpages Representatives, pecans jobbers, orange jobbers and the perfume pusher that came in as a funeral began...oh, and don't forget the negativity...love it all!

A few funnies from this week...

Today...
A little background first. The funeral home has a number that you can listen to the funeral information. We also have an Answering Service. I have to swap the funeral home phone to the Answering Service and also remember to do the funeral home recording.

I'm swapping the phones this afternoon and thinking ahead of what to do next which is to record...

Dial all the numbers
Ring Ring
Lady at Answering picks up...
and I say...
"Thank you for calling the Kernodle Funeral Home Information Number, Kernodle Funeral Home has no services..."
The Answering Service lady clears her throat and says "Um, you called me mam...."
So I did.
Hardy har har, ROTFLOL!!!!


Earlier this week...
I answered, Kernodle Funeral Home, this person says, "This isn't Regions Bank?" I said no mam, it's Kernodle Funeral Home, to which she replies....."Are You Sure?", yes I"m sure. Is this 2324? Yes mam it is. Hm, You are sure this is not Regions Bank... now she has me wondering, I look around and think that I'm pretty sure I'm at Kernodle Funeral Home...but maybe I didn't go to work at the right place today LOL it doesn't take much to confuse old folks like me...

And this...
What kind of bodies do you have up there?
(How do you respond to that one?)


Next post...my surprise visit to Wynne Jr. High in the middle of the day and a few pictures from Taylor's Christmas Choir Concert.

Whoo Hooo...I'm still here...really

It's that time of year.... IT'S LADY JACKET BASKETBALL SEASON....GO JACKETS!
We've been doing TONS of this...

We found time one Saturday morning while Tim was Duck hunting to do a little of this...

I think Mary Margaret likes Drake don't you?
I've turned 36 since I last posted. Over the hill. I know. What did I do to celebrate my birthday? Facebook exploded with tons of birthday wishes, talked to my Dad, my brother, his wife, my little sister, of course my Home Girls...Dianna and Dianne. We had a birthday dinner at the inlaws and then I headed to church to decorate my table for Glorious Gift of Christmas, the Women's Christmas Dinner. This is my table...the first formal table I've ever had to set. Yes the Internet was involved in the place settings...lol. Shined up the China that's been packed away for 20 years and off I went to the church to decorate. This is the end result...

There were roughly 700 women there the two nights combined. I'll just list the ones at my table...ha ha. My home girls..ha ha left to right, ME, Dianna Moore, Phillis Kernodle (boss #1 wife), Camelia Kernodle (boss #2 wife hiding behind the centerpiece) Vicky Vest, Vianna Brumley (Vicky's mom), Susan Williams (Empty chair, can you believe she went to see her daughter's Christmas Play?) and last, Dianne Billings (Empty Chair, she was sickly)

The Rejoice Singers were outstanding! Always love to listen to them.

Mary Margaret was a server for both nights. She only hit Vicky in the head once with her tray. She said the second night was tough. She got a table full of ladies that she did not know and they wore her out she said.

Me and Sandy Brawner

And finally Dianna and I. We did not plan this at all. Seriously.

The speaker for the dinner was Jennifer Sands, whose husband died in Tower 1 on 9/11, he was on the 103 floor where the first plane hit. Her story is amazing. If you haven't heard her speak or may not have the chance, she has written 3 books, find them and read her amazing story and testimony.

Do you want to know how the centerpiece looks on my table at home?

Sike.

It's too big for my kitchen table at home, I carried it to work!

I know....

I know, I've been a horrible blogger lately. Honestly, there really has not been that much going on. We are gearing up for Christmas. My tree is in the box but on the front porch.

This week has been busy. Monday-home basketball game, Tuesday-away basketball game, Wednesday-church, Thursday-away basketball game and I don't even want to think about what I have to get done over the weekend. Housework? Lacking. Getting home late at night, nothing gets done. These people around here just fling their clothes wherever and expect ME to pick them up. ha!

Taylor is the one playing basketball this year for the 7th Grade Wynne Lady Jackets. Monday was their first official game. They didn't just loose, they got STOMPED. Taylor, bless her heart, was told to guard her man, she did alright,HER OWN TEAM! Taylor was wide open, coach says get the ball to Taylor.....she throws her hands up in front of her face and ducks from the ball! She was not alone. At one point the whole team was playing ball at the wrong end of the court AND they scored! Sadly that 2 pointer did not count. At Tuesday's away game, they won!!!!! 8 to 4. Taylor did awesome, with Taylor sitting on the bench, the bench stayed right where it was supposed to! I love my little bench warmer!

First game, Taylor is #34.

2nd game...bench warmer!

Mary Margaret is in love with Zack. Zack is in love with Mary Margaret. They are each other's air, reason for living, heart and soul. She looks at him and her heart melts. He looks at her with puppy dog eyes and hangs on her every word, even the crazy words. He laughs at her blondeness....she seriously said that her favorite part of Romeo and Juliette was when Juliette suicided herself. Seriously. He comes over a lot. He seems to be a good kid so far. They kiss ALOT.