My Olympic Top Five List

Well, the George household survived the Winter Olympics. Chris is estactic about today's hockey game! (So many of my friends have asked WHY this was such a big deal to him since Americans down here don't really care about Olympic hockey. I explain it like this : for Chris, this is the Alabama/Auburn game. Then they get it :)

I was so looking forward to watching the US/Canada game today, but my plans completely fell through. First of all, LB has been running a fever on and off all weekend. I decided I needed to get my grocery shopping done today while she was napping and Chris was home. So during the first and second periods of the game, I was at the grocery store. Once I finally got home, she woke up and felt pretty terrible and only wanted her mother. So I held her and was able to watch the last five minutes of the game - and I seriously thought Chris was going to need CPR when the US scored to tie the game with 22 seconds left! During intermission, I went into the bedroom to get ready (b/c we had c-group in 5 minutes!) and once LB realized I was leaving, she started crying her eyes out. So I put her on my hip and started putting on my makeup. She was crying so loud that I wouldn't have heard a truck if it had driven through our house! Apparently, it was during this time that Canada scored in overtime. And I didn't know until I walked into the den (with LB still crying!) about five minutes later. And my reaction was pretty much, "Oh, that's great. Here take LB. I've gotta go!"

So the Winter Olympics are over, and in the spirit of the games, I have compiled my top five things I learned from the Winter Olympics:

5. Curling makes no sense to me.
I really tried to understand this sport. And I tried to watch it. It bored me out of my mind. And if one more person - including me - tells Chris it looks like shuffleboard, he is going to scream.

4. Some of these athletes are insane!
Did you ever stop to watch some of these sports? The luge, bobsledding, and that sport where they are on skies doing crazy flips in the air. And who knew there was an Olympic sport that included cross-country skiing and rifle shooting?!

3. I could not get enough of the men's figure skating outfits.
Here's my personal favorite - the feathers on US Gold Medal Winner Evan Lysacek's outfit. Seriously. Does it get any better than that?



2. My husband stands when he is nervous.
And he stood a lot during the Olympic hockey games.

1. I really, really love my country.
Okay, I didn't exactly "learn" that, but just seeing an American standing on a gold medal podium and hearing the Star Spangled Banner brought tears to my eyes every time. Loved it.

Now, having said that, I am glad the Olympics are finally over. As much as I enjoyed it, I am ready to start seeing "The Office" again. After all, Pam is having the baby!! Can't wait.

Together Again

My former co-anchor, Jerry Hayes, and I took to the stage last night for the first time since I left Channel 19 three years ago (has it really been three years??). The picture is terrible because Chris took it with his phone. Love that giant shadow across my chest :)

Jerry told the audience he was calling it the "Jerry Hayes/Amy George One Night Only World Reunion Tour." Whatever you call it, we had a blast emceeing the 2010 Dog Ball benefiting the Greater Huntsville Humane Society!

I have blogged before about my relationship with Jerry. He is such a dear friend. When we anchored together, he jokingly called himself my "other husband" which was actually true because I spent more time with him each day than I did Chris. TV news is a crazy business.

Jerry knew about both of my pregnancies before my friends did, and he kept the secret for a long time (the man is a vault!) before we told anyone. Then when Melissa died, I wrote a statement and requested that Jerry only read it on-air. And he did, with tears in his eyes and his voice cracking.

I think the reason we "worked" as an anchor team is because we were such great friends. I will never forget a consultant coming in town once to observe our news team and he told the news director, "I can't get over how much they like each other!" He told us of so many anchor teams he worked with where the co-anchors only spoke when they were on the set. Otherwise, there was no relationship. I can't imagine that because there has got to be such a trust factor when you are on-air together. So many things can go wrong out there. There are countless times on air when Jerry and I bailed each other out and the viewer never knew it. That's why I don't think you can fake chemistry.

Last night was so much fun, and hopefully some of the shelter dogs that were there are being adopted by loving families today! And of course, if you are interested, the Greater Huntsville Humane Society always has animals who need a home. Check them out here.

Picture Day!

The girls had picture day at school today. Not individuals pictures but that cute class picture where the girls sit in the front, and the boys stand in back. (Do you remember those??)

Picture day is such a big deal growing up. And then you look back at those pictures and you think, "Seriously??! I put this on and everyone agreed it looked good??"

I wonder if fifteen years down the road my girls will think the same thing??





On a side note, LB is all into "I can do it by myself!!"

Now, I am all about my kids learning how to do things for themselves, but when it comes to dressing themselves it can be maddening. I mean, have you ever watched a three-year-old try to put on tights??!

And LB isn't one of those kids who will finally give in and let you help her. Oh no. She's will keep trying even if it takes her four hours.

So this morning, AC gets herself dressed (tights and all). I think I might have gone a little overboard on the praise, because LB decided she was going to do it all by herself too.

That's fine except LB was wearing a shirt, jumper and tights. Not exactly easy to get all that on by yourself.

Luckily, we had plenty of time because it took LB a while, but let me tell you, that little girl did do it all by herself!

Tights and all!

I was very proud of her. And so was she :)

And We Cried 'Til We Laughed

I know that God has a sense of humor.

LB's prayer at dinner tonight was all the proof I needed.

Both of my girls usually want to pray at dinner. And while AC's is spoken, LB usually sings "God our Father" (or as LB says "God our Fodder") or "The Lord's Been Good to Me."

So tonight, AC prayed first. Then LB did. But she didn't sing. She began talking. And she started it by saying,

"Dear God, thank you for Melissa..."

It was the first time she had ever prayed for Melissa.

Chris and I both opened our eyes and looked at each other. My eyes filled with tears. Lily Baker was praying for Melissa. No one prompted her to do so. We weren't even talking about Melissa. But for some reason, LB thought about her. I was full of sadness and happiness at the same time.

I was about to break into a full-fledged cry until she followed it by saying,

"Thank you for America's Funniest Home Videos..."

And Chris and I began to laugh.

Then she went into a stream of consciousness rambling where I could only pick out every three or four words. The only phrase I actually understood was, "Thank you for Ms. Debbie, Ms. Angela and all my friends..."

When she finally stopped, my tears had turned into laughter. "Well, Lily Baker," I said, "you managed to pray for Melisa and America's Funniest Home Videos all in one prayer. Melissa and Tom Bergeron. Good job!"

And we all started laughing. And Ann Catherine laughed so hard she almost spit her milk out.

And we needed that.

God has a sense of humor.

(Uh) Oh, Canada!

Last night was not a good one for a certain member of the George household.

The US beat Canada in hockey. Even LB wearing her Canada shirt didn't save them.

Yes, I pulled for the US (I'm American after all!), but I basically just watched the game. No loud cheering, gloating, etc. I have too much respect for the fact that the game meant much more to Chris than it did me. It didn't matter anyway, because he took quite a bit of ribbing at work today from his American friends :)

Speaking of hockey, AC was a bit traumatized at this weekend's Havoc game. Chaos hit his head on the ice during the first intermission and apparently was downstairs icing his noggin - with the head off! - when AC and Chris walked by (btw, it wasn't Chaos' fault. He wasn't in plain view, but they saw him because Chris was taking her somewhere the back way). All of a sudden she said,

"Daddy, why is that man wearing Chaos' legs??!"

Chris tried to change the subject and again she said, "Daddy, why is that man wearing Chaos' legs??!"

Chris finally answered that Chaos hurt his head and needed to rest, but please don't tell Lily "the secret."

As he's telling me this once they got back to their seats, I said, "What's next? The truth about the Easter bunny?!"

But to her credit, she didn't tell LB. And when I picked her up from school today, the first words out of her mouth were, "Mommy, I didn't tell my friends about Chaos. It's just between me and Daddy."

Nothing makes you grow up fast like seeing a mascot without his head on :)

Skating with Daddy!

Today, Chris took Ann Catherine skating (in her brand new hockey skates!) for the first time.

It was one of the most precious things I have ever watched. You know, you think you love your husband and then you see him teaching your child to do something new (and in this case, something that really means a lot to him), and you realize you love him even more. It was just so sweet.




LB went too, but she didn't skate because she doesn't have her own skates yet (there are perks to being the oldest!). She was being incredibly clingy and wouldn't let me put her down so we took this self portrait to prove she was there :)



Then the Havoc players showed up to practice, and all AC wanted to do was watch them!


She was SO excited to show Justin her new skates!



After we left, we took the girls to the library and they got their first library card. They were so excited! And a bit overwhelmed! We went to the main library and there were SO MANY books (and I have shared before that decision-making isn't AC's strong suit :) Eventually, they both chose a book and put their brand spankin' new library cards in their pockets.

Oh I almost forgot - I asked AC what it felt like to ice skate for the first time and she said, "I felt like a beautiful ice princess!"

Which made me laugh because how many princesses wear big, black hockey skates? Not many, I think :)

Go Canada or Go USA?

Usually this whole 'one parent is American and one is Canadian' never comes into play at our house.

Except every four years.

As you know, the Winter Olympics are going on. And Chris is taking it very seriously.

I tend to enjoy the Summer Olympics more. I love to watch gymnastics and swimming. I can take or leave the Winter Olympics. Except for figure skating. I do love watching that. And hockey, of course :)

But Canadians? They are all about the Winter Olympics.

Saturday Chris watched the girls for me so I could get a facial. When I came home, LB was wearing her Canada shirt. I said, "Lily Baker, are you pulling for Canada?" And she said, "Yes, mommy! Goooo Canada!!"

Oh yes. The brainwashing had begun. (Of course, I would NEVER brainwash my kids into pulling for the team I love :)

So I made a deal with LB. I told her we would pull for Canada in the Olympic hockey games if we could pull for the US in figure skating. She seemed okay with that.

She's really taking it serious. Last night she was playing hockey in the kitchen and she told Chris to introduce her ("and now, starting for the Huntsville Havoc, #17, Lily Baker George!!") and once she "skated" out, she said, "Daddy, sing 'Oh, Canada!'"

And he did. And we all put our hands over our hearts.

It was hilarious.

Then today at school, her class made Olympic torches. Her teacher told me they went for a walk around the school, holding their torches in the air. The kids started chanting, "U-S-A!" and LB yelled out, "Go Canada!"

Needless to say, her father was thrilled :)

Sweet Snuggle Time

This sweet exchange took place in my bed at 7:19 this morning. AC had crawled into our bed around 5:30 this morning and, since school was cancelled, she and I went back to sleep. At 7:19, I heard little footsteps and LB was coming in the room. I grabbed her and put her in bed with us.

AC: Good morning, Lily!
LB: I lub you, sissy!
AC: I love you too.
LB: You're my miracle, sissy.
AC: And you're my rainbow. (pause) Mommy? What is Melissa?
Me: Melissa is our angel.
AC: But mommy, I want her to be a miracle like me. I want to call her my miracle.
Me: You know what, Ann Catherine? Melissa was a miracle. So if you want to call her that, that's just fine.

And so she did.

Because she was.

Happy Heart Day!

We woke up on this Valentine's Day to this in the back yard...



and this in the front!



You have to be from the South to understand how crazy this is. Growing up in this region of the U.S., we maybe got snow once a year. In just one week, it has snowed three times!! That is crazy.

The girls were excited when they looked out the window and saw it. Then they remembered it was Valentine's Day and they were over the snow and ready to get their loot! :)

As I have shared before, this is Chris' special holiday to spend with the girls. He chooses their gifts and gives them to them. He gave them both candy and a new DVD. AC got the "I Heart Jonas" DVD and the screaming could be heard down the street!



It also came with Jonas Brothers magnets which now grace my dishwasher (AC says Nick is the cutest! :).



LB got a Nickolodean DVD about friends. She loved it!



I got beautiful pinkish-orange roses...



But my favorite gift actually came yesterday.

Chris got up with the girls and let me sleep in. About an hour later, I heard the door open and the girls said, "Happy Valentine's Day, mommy!" They were bringing me breakfast in bed!! Chris made me eggs, bacon and coffee and put it on a breakfast tray that someone gave us when we got married. It was so sweet and the girls were beside themselves. They crawled in bed with me (and devoured my bacon!) and kept saying, "Do you like it, mommy?" I asked AC who's idea it was and she said, "Daddy's because he loves you so much."

Those words from her were the best Valentine's gift I could have ever received. They were just so proud of themselves - and their daddy.

Tonight we made red velvet cupcakes with vanilla icing. Yummy!! I let the girls help and after we made the batter, they both got to sample.



Not such a good idea with red icing. I turned my head and LB looked like this!!



As Chris said, not the best idea to let them do it in nice clothes. Luckily, the stains came out!

And they waited and waited in front of oven for the cupcakes to bake.



I forgot to take pictures of the final product, but let me tell you, they were delicious! Hope you all had a great day!

Cooking Up Love

Sometimes I have to put aside my need for things to be perfect - and just let my kids have fun.

Today was one of those days.

The girls decorated Valentine's cookies - icing, sprinkles, the whole nine yards!




I let them do it all by themselves - as evidenced below when you see the final product - and they had so much fun. (Short aside: there is just no way to use sprinkles without getting them all over the place, you know? This time I put them in a bowl and let the girls get a pinch with their fingers and sprinkle them over the cookies. And I STILL had sprinkles everywhere!)

These are cookies only a mommy could love. After all, how sanitary is it when LB spreads the icing, licks it off her knife and then spreads again??!



Aren't they yummy looking? :)




You might as well just inject pure sugar into your veins. But you know what? The girls had a blast and that's what it's all about!

Got Capri Suns?

Of course you do!

After your children drink them, don't throw them away! Take them to the Starbucks on Governors Drive (along with other items listed below) to recycle them. Huntsville Hospital Foundation will receive a check from Terracycle for the Melissa George Neonatal Memorial Fund for the items that are donated throughout the year. Here's the info:



Also, don't forget the WDRM calendars are in! They are $5 per calendar and all proceeds will benefit Melissa's Fund. You can pick one up at any Hardees in north Alabama (not just Huntsville!). Get one today and help the precious miracles in our NICU!

How Random!

As we were driving home from a friend's house last night, I told Chris that I was over this cold weather.

AC must have heard from the backseat because on the way to school today she said, "Mommy, I am sooo over this weather!"

Then, lo and behold, it snows today.

What is going on?!

Yes, the girls loved playing outside in it. It's apparently a great deal of fun to pelt Mommy with snowballs as you can see in the pictures below.







Does it not feel like it takes forever to get your kids suited up to go play in the snow? Then after they got tired of it, they came in. I took off LB's hat, mittens, coat and boots. She watched Dora for about two minutes and said, "I want to go back outside Mommy!"

Ummm, that would be no.

AC came in and then put on her bathing suit. I kid you not. It's 34 degrees outside and she puts on a bathing suit and proceeds to watch TV. Maybe it's her way of channeling spring.

I hope so. Because I am ready!!!

Rainy Day Fun

Before I had kids, I looked forward to rainy days. Nothing was better than curling up on the sofa under a blanket and reading a book as the raindrops hit the roof.

Now that I have kids - not so much. As many of you know, there is NOTHING fun about restless kids who are cooped up inside while it's raining.

Today as the girls ate lunch, I could tell they weren't really sleepy. So instead of making them nap, we did something fun. I put on their raincoats, put them in the car and off we went to the video rental store.

You would have thought I had taken them to Disney World!

When they walked in and saw all of the childrens' videos, they squealed so loudly that I was grateful we were the only ones in the store.

LB is so much like Chris. Once she got over her awe of all of the videos, she promptly chose a Dora one. And even though I gave her other choices, she stuck by the one she had chosen. That kid can make a decision like nobody's business.

Unfortunately for Ann Catherine, she is too much like me. It took her for-ev-ah to choose the DVD she wanted. She finally chose a Strawberry Shortcake video and $2 later, we headed to our car. My girls could not have been happier.

Once we got home, we popped AC's video in and I made (GASP! at 2:30 in the afternoon!) sugar cookies. They grabbed their blankets and got "in the zone."



The girls thought it was so much fun - and so did I. Even though we have a gazillion videos at home, there was something so fun to them about getting to pick one out. I'm not quite sure that LB understood that we were renting it and not buying it, but I'll deal with that next week.

It's a small price to pay for keeping a little sanity during all of this rain!

Prayer - with a Side of Humor

Keeping on the prayer subject...

LB learned a new prayer at school that I absolutely love. To appreciate it you would have to hear her sing it because she sounds precious, but since I don't have it on camera here are the words:

Oh the Lord's been good to me
And so I thank the Lord for giving me
the things I need
the sun and the rain and the appleseed
the Lord's been good to me.
Ahhhh-man.

So tonight she's singing it at bedtime...

"Are you closing your eyes when you pray?" I ask, knowing the answer.

"No, she's not!" AC chimes in, to which Chris says, "How do you know?"

Busted.

So I tell LB to do it again with her eyes closed.

"Okay," she said. "Let's talk to Jesus again."

And she starts singing her song. Chris and I are watching to see if her eyes are closed (I know, I know! We're getting on to her for not closing her eyes and ours are open too :)

Anyhoo, when LB closes her eyes and sings, she scrunches up her nose and it is so funny. Chris and I start giggling because of the face she is unknowingly making and she says,

"Stop laughing, people!! I'm talking to God!"

Which made us all laugh even harder.

Man, I love that kid.

Praying for our Kids - Part Two

I recently blogged about how the girls and I have started praying in the car together before we go inside their school each morning. It has just been amazing! It has really meant something to Ann Catherine. I guess she is just getting to that age where she can absorb more.

Yesterday, I forgot all about it. We walked into her classroom (me, her and LB) and as I was kissing her goodbye she said, "Mommy, we didn't pray!" So the three of us huddled in the corner and prayed. I just thought it was so neat that it meant that much to her! Today as we pulled into the parking lot, she said, "Mommy, let's pray!" It has just touched my heart that she reminds me each morning. I pray it gives them peace and comfort, because I know it has for me.

When I blogged about this last week my friend Hillary left a comment that she had a prayer chart she would share with me. Here is the link to it.

Prayer is so powerful! What a privilege we have to lift up those we love each day.