My sweet friend Shannon has some mighty big news today – be sure to head over to her place and celebrate with her.

And while you’re at it, you can celebrate with Lisa, Kelsey, Michele – oh, just go look at the whole list of nominees here. You’re bound to see the names of several blogs that you know and love. What’s so great is that these blog awards aren’t just for Christians – they’re for the huge wide world interweb blogosphere…and it’s nice seeing bloggy believers making such an impact.

Once the info about voting is announced, I will annoyingly and obnoxiously remind you to VOTE OFTEN, as this would be a huge accomplishment for anyone who wins.

Congratulations, everyone!

I got a funny email from Shannon the other day informing me that the button for the Christmas Tour of Homes was so big on my original post that it made her scream just a little bit.

I checked it out, and she wasn’t kidding. I didn’t scream, but I did jump back from my monitor and cover my eyes.

So the button that’s there now should be much more manageable for you if you want to link to the Tour of Homes in a post on your own blog…I’m hoping that somehow the word will get out despite my incredibly lame promotional skills and we’ll have some decent participation.

Also, several of you have mentioned that you don’t understand how the tour thing works, but it’s actually pretty simple. On the 15th (in the wee hours of the morning) I’ll put up my post with pictures from our house, and at the bottom of the post you’ll see a Mr. Linky where you can link to your post with your pictures. If you’ve ever participated in Shannon’s Works For Me Wednesday, it’s the same procedure, and boy oh boy doesn’t the word “procedure” make it all sound like the very essence of holiday cheer?

And in case you were wondering: I’m still trying to figure out how to reinstall the Mr. Linky from the first Tour of Homes on WordPress, so if anyone has any ideas, let me know.

In the meantime, feel free to grab the (less frightening) button and plop it on your own blog, whether you do so in a post or on your sidebar.

Finally, I would love to say “email me if you have any questions,” but we still don’t have my BooMama email account set up…but as soon as we do, I’ll correct the email link in the sidebar. So I guess just comment if you have any questions – and plan to participate on the 15th (or 16th, or 24th, or whenever you can).

Feliz Navidad, y’all.

So I leave the blogosphere for four days and return to find out that you nice people have nominated me for awards?

Bloggy awards?

Remind me to leave more often!

Perhaps next time I have an extended absence, I will receive some cash prizes upon my return!

And to be nominated in the “humorous” category with Antique Mommy and Big Mama? Two of my FAVORITES?

Well, that’s just fun.

Really, it’s a win-win…because Big Mama and I determined months ago that we are in fact the same person, and Antique Mommy is my Cool Mama role model. Every girl needs one. 

PLUS – and I believe there’s some merit to this theory – the three of us are all the mamas of “only” one child, which might indicate that mamas of one child are more likely to regale the internet with tales of our wacky misadventures. Coincidentally, given this post about catfish, this post about crawfish, and these posts about Tuna, mamas of one child also seem more likely to find themselves in amusing situations either directly or indirectly related to creatures with gills.

I’m just saying: there’s a pattern there and you’d have to be blind not to see it.

Seriously, thank y’all a bunch. It’s more encouraging than you know.

And thanks also for the nomination for the most artistic blog skin, though the credit for that really goes to Heather. She is so good at what she does, and I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying my new bloggy surroundings. Word Press is a DELIGHT, plain and simple, and Heather’s design makes me smile every time I see it. I am loving the change.

So click here to see the rest of the nominees, and in the meantime, I’m going to be planning a series of topical debates for Antique Mommy, Big Mama and me so that you can make as informed a choice as possible in your life-altering decision about how to vote in this critical bloggy election.

Because I’m all about the democratic process, y’all.

I’m all about it.

[looking sheepish]

If you haven’t updated your Bloglines or feedreader yet with my new blawg information, would you do that for me?

Pretty please?

And if you have me listed in your blogroll, would you please update that info, too?

[looking embarrassed]

I feel so needy.

But I’m trying to get all the bloggity operations moved over to WordPress so that I can bid a final farewell to Ye Olde Blogger.

You will all be receiving $1,000 as a token of my gratitude for your cooperation.

It will be fake money, of course. With my picture on it.

Absolutely worthless, you understand.

But I feel it’s only appropriate to offer some form of incentive.

Thank you ever so much for your assistance.