Queenies Little Kingdom

I love the SITS blog! It is one of my all-time fave’s! Go see them….they are hosting a fabulous coffee maker giveaway! You gotta enter. Plus, there are other blogs giving away goodies on there too.
Hurry! 🙂
Just sharing the love, ya’ll! Good luck!

We left here (Indiana) last Sunday in a bit of a whirlwind. We all had a million things to do and places to be right at the time of packing and leaving for our trip to Florida. Well, it’s all over. The packing, the going, the doing, and the reverse…..coming back home. We rolled in this morning (at around 3:30 am) after driving through the yuckiest weather ever from Nashville, TN all the rest of the way home. Poor Don, he had to keep it all on the road and force himself to stay awake! Kuddo’s to you Dad! Thanks for the safe arrival. We did sit in several traffic jams, one of which was a terrible fatality. So thank you, Lord and Don for a safe trip.

Oh….and upon our arrival into the neighborhood wouldn’t you know….the stormy wind is howling and debris is everywhere in the street. We see the POWER TRUCK! Now, don’t get me wrong here. I’m not just whining about this. We have a history with leaving and coming home to power outtages. It seems that we have had this happen a few other times as well. IT IS CRAZY! Not only is it freezing cold but the wind is blowing like we’re in downtown Chicago and we have NO ELECTRICITY!!! It’s 3:30am, people! We’re all dying tired and just want to drag in and fall into our beds! But we can’t see and it’s cold!

Another time this happened, we were dragging in at the wee hours in the morning (from Florida) and it was summertime. We actually spent a week without electricity (and it was H O T !!). Crazy Indiana weather! The funniest thing about this? Is how we were all a little miffed at the wacko weather down in Florida (at Christmas)….it was smokin hot! We’ve been gone a long time (from living in Florida) and not been home at Christmas….we had forgotten the heat. We have actually been snowed in for Christmas here in Indiana before. Oh but whose complaining? Either way, I like it. Visiting with family was great! It’s just a long hard trip and everyone’s glad to be home. 🙂 Home sweet home!

I’ve got a little picture-palooza to share. We crammed a lot of fun into one quick week. So enjoy. Gander around and see…..family!

I don’t think I’ve misrepresented myself on here since the birth of my blog. I am total bumpkin! I am proud to be from the south. I think everything about my growing up years could be summed up in a few popular movies. Steel Magnolias, Sweet Home Alabama, Divine Secrets of the Yaya Sisterhood and other’s, I just can’t think straight right now. But you get the picture, right? We tend to be highly dramatic and totally consumed with ourSELVES and always think we know it all! Well, we do, really! 🙂 But enough about my heritage.

This week….I have travelled 18 hours to Florida (the real south, ya’ll) with my happy little family to help hubby’s parents move. We drove all night, arriving at 6:30am….almost time for the moving truck to pull into the driveway. Then, we packed and loaded…..and packed and loaded again. Repeat this here process a couple more times and there you have it. We moved them into a tiny house about 25 minutes away. The lack of sleep and showers made me a little nutty, but all was well. By that night we were all clean and able to fall into beds with real sheets and sleep like babies.

Can you believe it’s Christmas eve? It doesn’t even feel like Christmas to me. It’s hot down here and we haven’t done the traditional …. decorate every square inch of your house and property thing. Plus, presents! There aren’t any. Anywhere! We’ve just picked up a few things and given them out along the way. That’s totally not our normal style. We live for traditions….we bumpkins! Not this year though, it’s all new. I’m not sad…I actually like it. Change(think election talk) is good, right? Tonight we are going to my BIL’s church for a special Christmas eve service. We couldn’t do that if we were up in Indiana, slipping around on the ice. So, being with family this year is awesome. After all, we are celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and who better to do that with….than family?

If you happened to drive past as we were unloading one of our many loads…..we want you to know….we ain’t a bus stop for immigrants who’ve just arrived to the country with all their belongings. We’re just rednecks moving! Now keep rolling! We’ve got stuff to do. :0

Guess who is sporting a new sparkle in her mouth? Miss Gates! Finally! She has been so patient. It’s been a long time coming. She actually went in last year during November for her initial exam appointment. Only we didn’t have the $1600 to get her started right then. So she had to wait. Then, things really went downhill. Hubby and the no job thing! Yea…that’ll keep you from getting luxuries….like braces!

Ahhh no need to sound bitter. We’re just so excited for Gates. Gates is thrilled (even with all the scratches and holes in her cheeks) she is so proud. I remember when I was in her shoes. I had to wait much longer than 8th grade. I was out of school (19 years old) and had a job that provided me with dental insurance. That was the only way I could’ve done it. My parents didn’t have insurance back then. My dad always just paid out of pocket if we were sick and needed to go to the doctor. Let’s just say….we didn’t go much back then either. So for me, getting braces was like hitting the jackpot. My teeth were crazy. I understand how desperate Gates has felt. No one wants to look snaggle-toothed.

We have to thank Nana and Poppy for the gift. It couldn’t have happened without them. They were able to help with Gavin and Ally’s braces. Now….and I’m sure they’re glad this is the last one….it’s the baby’s turn. It won’t be long and this girl will be smiling one of those big beautiful Galloway smiles. 🙂 She deserves it! Congratulations, Miss Gates! What a pretty girl you are….take good care of your teeth. You may need them a long time…..look at Mamaw(98 years old)!

Listen, before you get all high and mighty……don’t! I can’t help it that I’m the last person on this earth to get a spot on Facebook! I’m a bit of a ninkumpoop (see, I can’t even spell simple words) when it comes to computer savvy-ness!
If you only knew how long it took me to figure out this blog world stuff(I am still learning!!)……geez! I am a true miracle blogger. I’m serious!

My teenagers live for the chance to be on their Facebook page. Matter of fact, we have squabbled over whose turn it is on the computer for months (since I started blogging). I even posted about their obsession with it. I just had no idea what could be so exciting about Facebook. Until now. I have actually touched base with all kinds of old friends. People I haven’t heard from or seen in yeeeeeeeears. This thing is magic, ya’ll! I heart you Facebook!

What held me back? I don’t know. Maybe it was intimidation of navigating my way around on it. It’s actually pretty simple, what is wrong with me? Getting old can be scary. I guess I’m still ok…..it’s not like the kids will be taking my driver’s license away in the next little bit. I’ve got time to do some other wild and crazy things. Maybe I should check on taking that trek up Kilimanjaro afterall. 🙂

Oh, I kid! Facebook isn’t anything like climbing the world’s highest walkable mountain. Heehee.
If you are one of the brave many…. look me up, I’ll add you to my friend list. 🙂 In the meantime, I gotta go…..I need to write on someone’s wall.

Yes, I know…..I’ve posted and posted about these amazing children I have. But you see, it’s Christmas and this is the season that calls for parents to drop everything they are rushing around doing and go see them perform, again! So, in all honesty…if you are not a blood relative….as in, say a grandparent or an aunt or uncle. Consider yourself excused from sitting through more of my kid’s concert mania. Really.
Oh….we don’t mind….really. Nana & Poppy….Uncle Dean & Aunt Kyla….ENJOY! 🙂

One more thing. In the video of Gavin and the Jazz Band….he is sitting between the two trombone’s. Most of the video he is covered up by a black music stand. You will have to watch carefully for his dark hair. Sad, huh? I know, sorry! I did my best. I do love my Flip video though. It is so awesome!

Gavin Jazz Band Christmas Concert 08 from Wanda Galloway on Vimeo.

Ally Christmas Recital 08 from Wanda Galloway on Vimeo.

Gates JCMS Christmas Concert 08 from Wanda Galloway on Vimeo.

I’m so proud of you guys. You really know how to spread around the Merry Christmas!