Tagged

Thank you Sarah from View from the Porch, for tagging me to share 7 random facts about me. I've been neglecting my blog lately, and this will serve as a fun way to get back into the swing of things.

1. While I love to read, at times I'm a "skimmer", this seems to kick in whenever I go to the grocery store. If I need creamy peanut butter, I will inevitably pick up crunchy, if I need whole kernal corn, I'll grab cream-style...it's a complete pain in the a**!

2. Cody doesn't know this, but when my last little duckling (duckling as in child, we do not have actual ducks) leaves the nest, I will get a house dog. My beloved (lol) is firm against not having pets in the house. But I will go against him, thinking surely he will love our new "child" as much as I will, once he gets used to him.

3. I'm religiously superstisious...meaning I worry if I commit blasphemy inadvertantly....all the time, I am borderline obsessive compulsive about it.

4. I'm 29 years old, and if I had to go to college right now, and pick a major...I still could not do it......I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.

5. I prefer Real Mayo instead of the more dressing-like miracle whip. Over the years, my taste buds have done a 180, and one thing that has changed is my condiment preference. I'm sure I'm definitely in the minority on this one.

6. I don't own a scale. I have no idea how much I weigh....I go by how my clothes feel, if the jeans are a little tight, I eat a little healthier, and excercise a bit more. At one time, I was a little crazy when it came to my size, and I vow NEVER to get that way again, if I can help it. I need to be a good role model for my daughter.

7. I'm full of useless information, and I love fun facts, and trivia...the more unusual the tidbit, the better.

And I tag.....anyone who wants to do this!!

What's new?

Well, let's see....

**I survived the trip to Enterprise, Alabama and back. I not only survived it, I (gasp)allowed myself to have fun without the husband and kid's. We had a few mishaps, and surprises along the way, including an almost trip to the E.R. around Montgomery. I'm guessing heading for home at 80 miles an hour, wasn't exciting enough for my father, and he had to throw a little excitement into the mix.

The events surrounding my brother's graduation, though, were amazing. At each new accomplishment, I say I could not be more proud of him, yet he continues to amaze me.

**I made it back in time to spend Thanksgiving with my family, was greeted with the best hugs ever, and presented with documents stating I would never, ever leave again. Just kidding about the documents, but I was told how important I was to our household, and it was realized just how much I do. Seriously, this is all I ask from them, acknowledge what I do, thank me, brag on me a bit, and I'm at their beck & call for life.

**Friday was a half day at work for me, and the rest of the afternoon, winterizing everything, putting up the outside toys, and what not. We took a little drive, late afternoon, and ended up picking up a couple pizzas, and going to bed super-early, it was lovely.

**Saturday was my yearly Christmas shopping trip with my mother-in-law, and sister-in-law. We did some major shopping, but (sigh) I've still got a ways to go. Not counting my husband and 3 children, I filled up an entire notebook page of people I needed to by a gift for.

**Sunday, I cleaned and organized like nobody's business. While my husband had our home in very good shape for my return, I had laundry to tackle and was just in the mood for orgaization. I guess my energy came from not having much responsibility the last week.

**Today, I'm back in our routine, and tonight a quick trip up to J.C. to visit my dad in the hospital, after having his gall bladder taken out this morning.

Happy Thankgiving

I'm officially cried out, as in I don't have any tears left at the moment. I'm leaving my family for 4 days!! Well, I guess technically 3 days, being I'm leaving around noon today, and will hopefully arrive back in Vienna just in time for turkey!

I've never been away from my children for more than two nights....I know get a life, right?? I think I'll be okay and will enjoy myself, once we get on the road...it's just the saying goodbye part that killed me.

Anyway, that is the reason you will not hear from me for a little bit....I'll be a few states away proudly watching my brother be rewarded for all of his hard work.

I hope you all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

This is dedicated to the one I love....

Okay, so I briefly mentioned a few posts ago, that I recently celebrated my 11th wedding anniversary, but that's all the attention it got, both in blogger world, and in real life. I was in a wedding on our special day, and so wrapped up in that, I barely gave the anniv a 2nd thought.

So this post is dedicated to the man I have loved, since I was all of 13 years old. Here are 11 reasons why he's still "the one".

**He still makes me giddy at times, and I definitely still get the "butterflies".**

**He drives me absolutely crazy at times, which I find challenging. I could not respect a man that let's me railroad him. I enjoy going toe-to-toe with Cody, and I enjoy the making up even more.**

**My children look at him with complete hero-worship.Let's face it, there is nothing sexier than a man who is great with children, but to visibly see the children you created together's love for their father shining in their little faces....it's indescribable.**

**He makes me stop and smell the roses. Seriously, there are times he physically has to stop my motoring around like an absolute nutcase, and make me enjoy the beauty in life. It's no secret Cody likes to play, but he makes sure I play, too.**

**Which leads into, he wants me to go with him. I love that he enjoys my company and wants to be with me, would rather take me at times than his friends. Which is why you hear me talk about going gigging with him, or cutting wood with him, yeah sometimes it's not exactly my cup of tea, but that he wants me to go, makes me want to go.**

**We laugh together...A LOT. I'd go as far as saying in my world, "The couple who laughs together stays together". Because it's been our laughter that has gotten us through the gut wrenching times. And I do have to say we have the worst luck ever and if we couldn't laugh about it, we'd be in a very sad shape.**

**He's taught me to listen to the words of songs. Once again, this has to do with my inability to stop and smell the roses...but when he comes to me and tells me I need to hear a song, it's honestly like a love letter to me. Where he has trouble verbalizing his feelings, he finds it easy to compare us and our love to songs...so through this he has complimented our relationship.**

**He doesn't mind that my hair looks very 80's hairband in the morning, and prefers me without make-up. Being highstrung like I am makes it impossible for me to relax around people, so that I feel comfortable around Cody, is priceless to me.**

**He talks about racing wheelchairs around our wrap around porch one day. Corny, I know...but he sees us growing old together and still having as much fun when we are 80, than when we were teenagers.**

**Our children's future is just as important to him as it is me. Our lives are our children, and if their success in this world is our only success in this world, than we'll have had a good life. We share a dream of raising socially conscious, kind-hearted, hard-working adults, and work well as a team to ensure this happens.**

**He asked me once if we were soul-mates, and I replied,"I'm sure on paper there is someone that suits us both better". So no I do not believe in soul-mates in that respect, but I know without a single doubt, "I found the one whom my soul loves" Song of Solomon)and that without him, I would not feel whole.**

WHAT??!!??

Okay, I have to ask you all a serious question, come on be honest. Have any of you ever soaked your tampons in alcohol, and ahem....used them, in order to get a quick buzz?

According to Dr. Travis Stork (aka the Hot Doc on The Doctor's) this is actually something that women are doing. Hey, I'm with you....the thought of alcohol around the hoo-ha is one of the most unappealing thoughts I can conjure up, as well, but it was too unbelievable not to share.

Hope this provides a chuckle.

Hello, again!

I'm 29 and I've been a bit absentee lately, but the good news is I had 2 whole days off in a row, in the middle of the week. That hasn't happened since my last maternity leave. But having those two days off has meant doing double time here at the office to catch up. But in the end.....totally worth it.

So, what have I been up to? Recovering from this past weekend's wedding. Don't get me wrong it was a good time, but I'm thoroughly exhausted. I'm apparently a little more high maintenance than I thought I was. With tanning, and highlights, having hair and make-up done, a pedicure...after balancing my check book this week, it's expensive to be on tip of everything....and a whole hell of a lot of time and energy....both of which I'm usually on the short end of. That is why my friends you so often see me in a ponytail and jeans.

The wedding was beautiful, as was the bride and groom (or handsome rather). Maddie and I "partied 'til we were purple" (yeah I don't get the sayings of 5th graders either). A bonus: My brother drove up from Alabama to attend. It was great seeing him, and in honor of his visit my parents hosted an impromptu Thanksgiving, since our Thanksgiving this year will be in Alabama, or Tennessee, or possibly Kentucky, depending on how energetic our driving is. (More on this situation later).

This week the school kid's had Stanford testing, which meant good news for Cody and myself...for the followining reasons...No homework, no Spelling lists to study, & early bedtimes!! Hooray for Stanford testing!!

I guess you heard the rumor deer season opens tomorrow. Or maybe guessed, if your husband's are anything like mine, the men have all lost their damn minds!! I haven't seen Cody so excited, since.....well, since last deer season. It has been extremely difficult to not roll my eyes as Cody excitedly plots his hunting strategy, and menu for the deer camp. Oh well, it's only once a year right?

As for my weekend plans...dinner and a movie with my kiddo's. ie...cheap frozen pizza, and a dvd we already have at home, & bread & pie baking for our church's Fall Supper tomorrow. Ooh, and hopefully the snow flurries they are calling for.

Tomorrow, a lazy Saturday until my shift at the Fall Supper. I love my position (granted it's a little high stress at times), but I never dread having to give up a Saturday night to do my job. And the food is to die for, so if you are local come out and eat!

I'm 29...

I was walking the other evening, and the thought of my upcoming birthday (in January) made be breathe a little harder. My twenties are slipping through my fingers, and in a few months they'll be gone. So every post from now until then I will start with "I'm 29", or "I'm in my twenties".

So, here goes, I'm 29, and here is today's post. Well, let's see since the last time I've talked to you, we've had a major change in our nation, as well as in our county. I'm usually private with my political beliefs, so I will not comment on if I'm happy or disappointed, because at this point we have a President-elect, and I have AND will always respect our Commander in Chief, no matter race, sex, color, politcal stances. I may not always agree, but the wonderful thing about living in America, is I will not be crucified for my beliefs and neither should anyone else. I will also say that it has been moving watching America seem to unite. I've not witnessed this, since September 11th, 2001, and I hope it continues. Let's leave this country better than we found it, for our children, and our children's children.

I also have to say about my daughter Maddie, how proud I was watching her so focused on the election results. Pen and paper in hand, she kept track of electoral votes, until she could not keep her eyes open any longer. I was almost brought to tears watching her. In 5th grade I could not have cared less who our President was, and wonder if I even knew. And there she was completely up-to-date on each candidate. Knowing what they represented, their brief biographies, and watching intently on the next state to come across, and if it would be red or blue.

Okay, enough politics, on to my CrAzY life. It's Thursday, two days before the wedding I am in, and I'm 29 (did I mention that already?)how 'bout that list of to-do's? Well, folks yesterday I had my hair high-lighted,(check), mani/pedi today at 1:30(check, check), and my hair and make-up appointments have been made (check, check, check). I've been summoning the rays of UV (A & B)really wanted to avoid fake-baking, but just could not, sorry Gramps. I tried to get spray-tanned Tuesday evening, but since the booth was broken, it didn't work out so well. The bed should be working by Friday. I had hoped to get three spray-tan's in by the wedding, now it looks like just one. Here is my question to you all...Sun City said while they do not have a Mystic Booth, they do Air-brushing. And personally, I SO want to be airbrushed! However, that means stripping down in front of someone in order to do it, rather than having the privacy of the Mystic Booth. Which is really fine, I'm not shy when it comes to beauty rituals. Now in other areas, completely different story, but when it comes to taking one for the team in order to look better, I shed whatever needs shed. So if anyone has ever been airbrushed (I'm thinking like "Sunset Tan"-ish), please give your opinions on this, they will be processed, and appreciated.

I'm off tomorrow to help decorate. We have a definite game plan, so I'm betting everything will be very smooth. Monday morning I will fill you in on the details...wish me luck.

Could You Handle an Emergency? What to Do in 12 Scary Situations

As a self-proclaimed "spaz", I often wonder if I could handle terrifying emergencies. Remember when my toddler thought a snake crawled up his pants? Yeah, didn't handle that so well, now did I? Anyway, I wanted to share these 12 situations I came across with you, because you never know when an emergency may occur.

**You see your toddler at the bottom of the pool.**
Imagine this: You take your eyes off your toddler for just a few seconds in your neighbor's backyard, and suddenly you see her body at the bottom of the deep end of the swimming pool. Terrified, your first instinct is to leap in.

Don't do it. First tell another person to call 911, and then grab something that floats -- like a raft or a chair cushion -- before you jump in, experts warn. "Most people actually aren't strong enough swimmers to get a child out of a pool without using a flotation device," says B.J. Fisher, director of health and safety for the American Lifeguard Association. "The child will drag you back down." This is just one of the many errors that parents make in those types of scary situations you have nightmares about. Sometimes, we simply react without thinking. Other times, we rely on outdated medical information or home remedies that have no scientific evidence to back them up. Here are more worst-case scenarios, and the right and wrong ways to help your family.



**A cup of hot coffee spills on your child's leg.**
Wrong response: Put ice on it.

Smart move: Quickly remove any clothing, run cool water on the burn for 10 minutes, and then cover it loosely with gauze. Ice and even cold water may further damage the skin. "Your child can actually get a frostbite-like injury if you put ice directly on the skin, especially if the skin is already damaged from a burn," says Bob Waddell, who trains paramedics in pediatric care for the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians. Don't put butter or antibiotic ointment on the burn either. If the wound blisters, call the doctor, especially if the blisters are larger than a quarter.



**You're driving and see a tornado approaching.**
Wrong response: Take shelter under an overpass as soon as possible.

Smart move: If traffic is light and you can see that the tornado is distant, try to drive out of its path by moving at a right angle to it. Otherwise, park your car and go inside a sturdy building, says Roger Edwards, a meteorologist at the Storm Prediction Center. If you're in open country, run to low ground away from cars and trees, which could be blown onto you. Lie facedown, protecting the back of your head with your arms, and tell your children to do the same. "Seeking shelter under a bridge or an overpass offers little protection against deadly flying debris," Edwards says.



**You lose your child in a store.**
Wrong response: Search for him yourself.

Smart move: Call out to your child, do a quick search, and then immediately find a store worker. "Don't be afraid to ask for help," says Nancy McBride, national safety director for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. "Store associates have been trained to know what to do if a child is missing -- manning exits and entrances, checking restrooms, and looking under clothing displays." If you don't find your child soon, call the police.



**You're confronted by a black bear in the woods.**
Wrong response: Play dead.

Smart move: Most black bears are not interested in people and can be scared away, says Tim Smith, a former wilderness EMT and owner of Jack Mountain Bushcraft and Guide Service, in Masardis, Maine. Stand up as tall as you can (hold your arms up to appear bigger), and speak in a deep, loud voice while backing up slowly. If the bear charges or starts to attack, believe it or not, you should fight back vigorously. If you can, hit him in the nose, since that's a bear's main sensory organ. Whatever you do, don't run. "If you run, the bear is going to chase you, and it can run faster than you can," says Smith. However, you should play dead if a brown grizzly bear charges at you, because they typically won't be scared away. (There are no grizzlies east of the Rocky Mountains.)



**You find your toddler holding medicine, but don't know if she's eaten any.**
Wrong response: Watch her carefully for signs of sickness.

Smart move: Call Poison Control immediately at 800-222-1222 -- experts are available 24/7. "Don't wait to see what happens," says Richard Dart, MD, director of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center. "They'll be able to tell you right away if the medicine is toxic and whether you should take your child to the emergency room." Some poisons take a while to have a serious impact, and by that time it could be too late.



**You and your child get caught in a riptide.**
Wrong response: Try to swim directly toward shore.

Smart move: Swim parallel to the beach until you're beyond the pull of the current, and then slowly swim back to shore so you don't get tired. Most riptides are only 20 to 60 feet wide, says Fisher. People can drown when they panic or become exhausted struggling against the current.



**Your child gets hit in the head and falls to the ground, unconscious.**
Wrong response: Take him to the hospital.

Smart move: Call 911. He could have a spinal or brain injury, and moving him could make the injury worse, says Anne Stack, MD, clinical chief of pediatric emergency medicine at Children's Hospital Boston. Make sure that your child is breathing and that he has a pulse. If he doesn't, start CPR immediately. Otherwise, shake him very gently and call his name to see whether he'll wake up.



**Your child gets stung by a jellyfish.**
Wrong response: Put rubbing alcohol or urine on the wound.

Smart move: Rinse it with sea water (fresh water will make the wound even more painful) and remove any visible tentacles, recommends Paul Auerbach, MD, an emergency physician at Stanford University Medical Center and author of Medicine for the Outdoors. Then soak a napkin or cloth with white vinegar and apply continuously until your child no longer seems to be in pain. (Lifeguards often carry a vinegar solution. But if none is on hand, send someone to get some from a nearby home, store, or restaurant.) Vinegar will deactivate the stinging cells of most jellyfish, which otherwise can cause pain for 30 minutes or more. If your child has any sign of an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, wheezing, or hives), seek emergency medical care right away.



**Your child gets poked in the eye.**
Wrong response: Pry her eye open to look for an injury.

Smart move: Gently cover the area by taping gauze or a clean, dry washcloth to her face, and then head to the ER. Trying to open her eye, putting ice on it, or applying pressure could cause more problems, which can lead to vision loss, says Dr. Stack. Covering her eye will make it harder for your child to rub or touch it -- and if the cornea has been scratched, keeping her eye closed will ease the irritation.



**Your car plunges into a river.**
Wrong response: Wait until the water pressure is equalized, when water has covered the door, before trying to get out.

Smart move: Every minute is precious, so don't wait, says Pete Gannon, president of Dive Rescue International, which provides water-rescue training. As soon as you hit the water, unfasten your seat belt and try to open a door or window. Even if you have power windows and automatic door locks, hit the button, because they'll probably still open for a few minutes. If you can't open anything, focus on breaking a window by hitting it in the corner. "Most car windows are tempered, so if you hit them in the corner, they will shatter into small pieces," says Gannon. Use a hard shoe, a soda bottle, one key poking out of your fist, or, better yet, keep a small LifeHammer (which can also cut seat belts off) in your glove compartment. It's true that it will be easier to open the door once the pressure has equalized, but it could be too late or the door could be jammed.



**Your child gets bitten by a snake that could be poisonous.**
Wrong response: Apply a tourniquet or try to suck the venom out with your mouth.

Smart move: Call an ambulance or just get to your car and head to the nearest emergency room, where antivenom can be administered. Call the hospital or Poison Control on the way because some hospitals will need to fly in the antivenom. Minimize movement of your child's bitten limb (carry him if you can) and keep it below heart level. "I've had many cases where the injury caused by a tourniquet was worse than the injury from the snake bite," says Dr. Dart.

**Originally published in the October 2008 issue of Parents magazine.**

Gavin's 1st Deer

My baby is 3 today!! I have mixed emotions about today. Of course, I'm so happy to be sharing this milestone with him today, but it's another reminder of how fast my kid's are growing.

I know I've shared with you once before that I have a birthday tradition with my children, that I stole from the movie "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood", where I wake the child on their birthdays, with their own cake,(including candles), and we party in our pajamas, in bed, eating cake for breakfast. I have another tradition, and this one actually includes the husband. We share the story of the child's birth with them, excluding the gory details, of course. We tell them what the weather was like that day, where we went, and so on and so forth. The kid's genuinely like to hear of their day.

So today, I'm going to share a brief rundown of Cash's birth day. It started on Saturday, October 29, 2005. I was due on the first of November, which happened to be my husband's birthday, and with our church Halloween party that evening, and Halloween that Monday. I was secretly hoping to wait until at least then.

After waking up in the mood.....for pancakes. Maddie and I took off for a day of shopping with the women in my husband's family. Gavin was going to bum around with his dad, we would meet up later that afternoon, and get the kid's ready for the party. Well, my good mood, quickly turned sour. I just didn't feel good....at all. Not that anything in particular bothered me, I just felt blah! Even after returning home, I told my husband, "I'd give anything to not have to attend the Halloween Party that night."

We both thought a nap would help me, so I laid down with the kid's, while Cody went to help a neighbor. I awoke a little later, feeling fabulous. I felt amazing. I showered, shaved my legs, and really felt like fixing myself up. After getting ready, I got Maddie in her costume, and was just waking Gavin to dress him, when I felt my first contraction. And you know me, ever the procrastinator, I went to the bedroom to pack my bags....yes, feel free to tsk, tsk, here. While I was packing my bags, I felt another contraction, and just as I was about to call my husband, I saw him driving down our road, and I had yet another contraction.

This sent Cody into what can only be described as a downward spiral. He kept telling me to "Calm down", as he was racing through the house trying to get a shower, literally run into walls as he was doing so. I was calmly packing up the kid's, as he was frantically trying to get ahold of his grandma and cousin, every once in awhile shouting again for me to "Hang On, or Calm Down." By this time...I've still just had the three contractions, and am worried it's not even "time." At any rate we set a new world record for getting to the hospital from where we lived. I'm embarrassed to even admit how fast we made it to the hospital, so I won't.

It was actually pretty uneventful in the beginning. I was doing my breathing, Cody by my side, coaching like a pro. It wasn't until my contractions got so bad, I felt like I couldn't breathe, that my mom noticed the machine recording my contractions looked very.....busy. No sooner had she voiced her concern, did a nurse come in, putting an oxygen mask on me, telling me the baby was under a little stress, and that we would have the baby in a half hour.

I remember just holding my belly, and trying to memorize exactly how it felt to be pregnant, because we'd already decided this baby would be our last. And while I couldn't wait to meet him/or her(since I didn't know, although I had a clue)I was sad that it was over. And Cody was great, letting me have my time, understanding how hard that moment was for me. Silly, I know...but we all know rationality has never been my strong point.

Soon it was time. Cody was at my side, holding my hand cheerleading, a nurse at my other side doing the same. And that's when I saw,...the look...between the doctor and nurse. It was a quick look, but I caught it. They look that said, there is something wrong. I quickly turned wide-eyed to look at my husbad, who was oblivious to anything, but his cheering, and trying not to catch a peak of anything going on below my shoulders, telling me everything was fine. But everything was not fine. Cash was a big baby, and his football player shoulders were lodged. But thanks to a wonderful doctor, an amazingly strong 90 lb durse, and every ounce of energy I had, Cash was born....and was perfect.

And here we are 3 years later getting ready to celebrate with a big Construction Party, complete with a backhoe birthday cake.

Oh, and FYI, this is kind of neat....Cash was born in the middle of daylight savings times. So while he was born at 2:51 a.m., they had to backdate his birthtime to 1:51 a.m. Thought I would share.

Sometimes things are not what they seem....

Spinach Wraps...I pictured this to be maybe a tortilla, with spinach leaves, & a tangy sauce. Let me back up, so you can jump aboard my thought process with me....

A few days ago, I notice on our local drive-in sign, an advertisement for Spinach Wraps. I've really been trying to maintain the healthy eating habits, I've established for the fam. So, after walking a couple miles with my mom on our lunch hour, I offered to buy lunch, if she was interested in a Spinach Wrap, too.

Well, let me tell you what a Spinach Wrap, really is....health nuts! Spinach Wraps consist of my favorite food groups, which would be cheesy, spicy, and deeeepppp friiieeed, baby. Think spinach dip, deep fried, and served with Ranch Dipping Sauce, and no they do not have light, or fat-free, 'cause I asked. The only thing low-fat about my lunch was the Diet Pepsi, I was drinking with it.

Even though they were not at all what I had pictured or expected, and I probably defeated my whole purpose of walking on my lunch hour, and then some, they were awesome, and worth EVERY greasy bite (I paint such a pretty picture, I should totally be in advertising, ha ha).

Security Text

You know those text verification boxes? Where when you leave a comment, or for security purposes you type the funky letters in the box? Okay, does anyone else have a problem guessing which letters they are, or is it just me? I've done Trig problems that have been easier.

Bad timing

The husband has THE WORST timing, um....EVER!!! Anytime, I have made plans, I think he makes it a personal quest to f*u*b*a*r* it!

Example: Last night I planned on going to my cousin's to help with wedding decorations....granted I didn't have to be there until 6:30, but I thought it the perfect oppurtunity to drop a package by my sister-in-law's, and another drop off at one of my best friend's. I got thru parent teacher conferences (which were awesome..yay, and great work guys), picked up the kiddo's at two different places, raced home, and tore thru the house getting things in line for the husband to take over once he got home. Now, my Math skills are certainly nothing to brag about, but I do know what time he get's off work + the amount it takes to get home from work = 4:15. I received a call at about 4:13 asking what time he needed to be home. I went over my list of to-do's with him, and then asked where he was. Grrr...at a neighbors socializing. And he continued to socialized until past 5!! So needless to say, I did not get to pick up the shoes for the bridesmaid's dress, thus putting off the alterations until next week. I also, only made it by my sister-in-law's, not having time to make it by my friend's. But the s-i-l got to hear my vent's about the day, so while I felt better, she probably felt bewildered.

Bright Spots of the Evening: Jamming out to music along the way with Maddie. Nothing calms a person down like singing at the top of your lungs with your main chica. While we did not get much crafting accomplished at my cousin's we have an airtight, kick-ass game plan, that is so totally organized I may publish it in the local news, as neither one of us have EVER been accused of being organized. I also, had amazing conversation with the cuz, her cuz, and the coolest chic named Ashley. Good times, solving the world's problems, and comparing stories. I laughed so much, thank goodness there was no school today, because it would have made for a late night for Maddie, who sweetly watched t.v. and did not complain the entire time.

Have a great weekend.

(sigh) I'm so last minute, that I honestly disgust myself sometimes. Maybe it's that sliver of hippy in me dying to have some say. Or that I secretly like drama, so by waiting until the last minute, creates what I crave..Or maybe....ahhh...there it is that over-analizing control freak I've been looking for to take charge.

I'm in a wedding....on the 8th of November... I think I may have mentioned this. That's pretty close, right? Let's go over my to-do list, together shall we?

• Borrow shoes
• Have dress altered
• Highlight hair/maintain eyebrows; schedule updo and make-up the day of
• doing something about my pasty complexion I'm sporting at the moment. I REALLY do not want to lay in a tanning bed-but getting a spray tan is inconvenient, since I work here in town, and have 3 kid's, and an uber-hectic schedule.
• Writing my wedding toast to the happy couple

Now let's see what I've accomplished thus far.

• I have asked about the shoes, and it's up to me to go by and pick them up, hopefully tonight.
• Once I have the shoes, I am heading to our little town's amazing seamstress; since the sewing genes are M.I.A. from my D.N.A. She does amazing work, and her prices are unbelievable.
• As I'm typing right now, I am on the phone with my stylist (sounds so professional right? LOL) and I have a hair appointment, but not sure if she's available for the fixing me up the day of the wedding. Hmmm....she'll let me know next week. Double Hmmm....what to do, what to do.....what do you guys think, should I try to get in somewhere else?
• As for the speech/toast, I have an idea, thanks to my insomnia, and my spasdic thought process. It's just getting my thoughts organized, and then memorized. I did check out a site of the Do's and Don'ts(okay how do you properly spell this: Don'ts, Don't's, Dont's-I'm having such a bad grammar day!) Anyway, one of the Do Not's(?) was Do not give your speech drunk! (Damn! jk-sort of) While I'm not a big drinker, I suffer from paralyzing stage fright. I'm terribly self-conscious and don't like people looking at me, AT ALL. I'm totally the girl pacing back and forth mumbling to myself in the bathroom, nursing a Bud Light. Yep, that is me, when I've given the few toasts/speeches I've given. And you know who you are, and you know how much I care for you to have put myself out there...FEEL SPECIAL PEOPLE...that's all I'm saying.

Okay, not so bad after writing it all down...but any helpful organizational tips will be welcomed. I can't promise the hippy in me will let me use them, but they will be appreciated.

I should have enjoyed my "uneventful" weekend, because this week is busy, busy.

Last night my boys had haircuts, and Maddie had piano lessons. Thankfully, I had put on a pot of soup in the trusty ol' crockpot that morning, and it was just about perfect by the time we got home.

Tonight, a meeting at Church for the Nominations Committee....check your caller i.d.'s tonight if you attend my church because we may come calling begging your help.

Wednesday I have an orthodontist appt. Long story short, karma is a bitch, and I've been a "lazy" invisalign wearer for some years now. I'll probably get a lecture, because it's been forever since I've last went for a check up. I dread it!

On Thursday, parent teacher conferences-yay!! I'm such a nerd I know! My kid's work very hard in school, and I love meeting with their teachers and hearing about their successes. I've honestly not had a bad one yet. Later that evening I'm going to my cousin's house for a meeting of minds. We are going to do crafts for her wedding (God help her-Crafty and Angie have never been words used in the same sentence) and plotting strategies on how best to decorate her reception hall for her wedding. Did I mention she is getting married on a particularly stellar day? That would be the 8th of November-my hubby's and my 111th anniversary. (Yes we have been married over a century, or so it seems!).

Friday is my one free day this week. Nothing planned, and hopefully nothing to plan.

Saturday, I'm going with my fabulous sister-in-law to watch her try on two equally fabulous dresses she has narrowed down for her re-nuptials(?). ( I say get both, one for the ceremony, and one for the reception-woo-hoo!) The story behind this, is my brother was whisked away to Flight School, so they opted for a small, intimate wedding, on May 09, 2007. Now the big she-bang is to follow on May 09, 2009.

Later Saturday evening our Church's annual Halloween Party. I so, love Halloween. And look forward to this party every year. The kid's have so much fun, with games, attendance prizes, costume judging, and usually a haunted house..... the best part though?.....the chili of course, and me not cooking it!

It's been forever and a day, since I last posted. Not that I haven't had anything to talk about that was interesting, funny, or annoying to me. I just haven't had (okayyyy, made) the time. Lately, I've been itchy to jump back into the world of blogging, and hopefully, can stay on track.

You'll be pleased to know, that I am somewhat more organized, than when we last talked. I'm very proud of this, except, I think I may be becoming a bit more O.C.D than usual (I kid, I kid, sort of). While I'm not exactly creating crazy rituals in order from keeping my universe from spinning out of control. I have become obsessed with keeping everything on a tight schedule, in order to....well, keep my universe from spinning out of control. My inner control freak is slowly taking over the hippy that lives inside....

Back to the task at hand....telling you about my weekend. (obviously, the ADHD hasn't gotten any better) I had an absolutely wonderful weekend. Friday night while Maddie was at a Halloween Party, (watching Children of the Corn, mind you, and not even scared, even though her mother to this day is still frightened of cornfields AND children with biblical names) the hubby and I took Cash and Gavin to Pizza Inn. The reason behind our restaurant choice? (bragging rights in three, two, one...) Gavin was "Student of the Week" raise the roof, hoot, hoot!! (Wow, this sounds much cuter when Maddie says it) Gavin if you remember has quite a time sitting still and concentrating, so this is a major deal, and we wanted to take him out in order to celebrate. After Pizza Inn, we went to his favorite store in the world, where he spent 30 minutes trying to decide what to spend his allowance money on. We headed back to pick our party animal up by 8:30, and I think were all asleep by 9:30....ahhh heaven.

Saturday we FINALLY tackled picking up the office, also known as...the catch-all room. I'm so pleased to report all that is in it, is a table, snapshots that I have yet to put in an album (my Wednesday project) and a couple Uppercase Living projects, that I am saving for a workday my mom and I are having, since neither of us are artistically inclined.

After our cleaning project we decided to just drive around, while I looked at the Fall leaves, and the boys looked for animals. Eventually, we made it home in time for a nap...takeout from the Eagles, and Cody & Gavin leaving for the evening to watch Mizzou lose :-(. Cash (who wasn't feeling well, and I who hadn't quite fully awoke from my power nap, hung out and made crayon roads for his trucks to drive thru, until he tuckered out. Then I settled in to watch Sex and the City movie. (I know I'm months late....but I've been busy, busy. While I liked the movie, I think I expected much more, and over-played it in my head, and was ever-so-slightly disappointed.) After the movie ended, the boys STILL weren't home, so I headed upstairs for a "Calgon take me away" moment, and to shave my legs sans interuptions. Had yet, another early to bed evening.....

.....And late to rise morning. Not long after we all got up, my sister-in-law (whom I think was feeling slightly suicidal) decided to take my sons to Meremac Springs for the day. She tackled (all by herself) my boys who are 7 & 2, her children: 3 & 13 months. You're a brave woman, and I salute you.....and Thank you from the bottom of my heart, because the last time my husband and I have had that many consequetive hours together....is honestly too long ago to remember.

So what did we do? Was it romantic? Well, not exactly, but it was fun. We cut a load of much needed wood, as it get's chilly down in the Valley. After that, we spent time driving around the farm on the Gator, scientifically deciding where to hang deer stands, and blinds for the fast approaching Gun portion of Deer Season. While it may not have been my pick, it was a gorgeous day, and the man DID help me clean the office. And there was so much LAUGHTER. We genuinely do have a great time when we are together. I think that is what gets us through the tough times.

Well, hope you enjoyed hearing from me again. And hopefully, I can keep in touch. ;-)

Embarrassment is.....

...getting caught by your husband's 77 year old grandfather, skipping down the steps singing: "I kissed a girl, and I liked it....the taste of her cherry chapstick!" Damn you, Katy Perry, and your catchy lyrics. It's times like these you really hope for the elder's hearing impairment to have been kicked into over drive....

And speakin' of freakin'.....

.......did you know in 10 yr old girl language, that freakin' is the new "like"? You know how when we were in elementary trying to be cool, inserting like every 3rd word, regardless if it fit there or not? Well, Maddie had another girl over last night, and I swear I was drowning in freakin's to the point where I had to end it-I told them the way they were using it, sounded way to much like the "f"-word, so please refrain from using it. I'm such a drag I know!

Okay, and now for my post menstrual meltdown of the month-please tell me if I'm being irrational, because, well, irrationality and I are amigos more often than not. So, Maddie had a friend over, and I was quite the hostess if I do say so myself. I made a fantastic dinner, m&m brownies for dessert, I kept the boys out of their hair, even smiled as I watched them get ready to go to the ball park, remembering the days of getting ready to go somewhere with my friends in school. Trying on different outfits, fixing each others hair, trading clothes....good times, good times. My gripe is after Gavin's ballgame, when Maddie and her friend parted ways, and Maddie handed the girl her dufflebag-she looks at me and said, "I still have your shoes". WHOA, STOP THE TRAIN! WHAT?! MY SHOES?! But I smiled and calmly asked, "My shoes(okay, so maybe my voice cracked a little when I asked)?" Then I asked, "Which ones(knowing the answer already, because I couldn't find them earlier, hence the reason I was currently wearing a pair of black flip flops that rubbed my toe a bit)?" "Your brown flip flops", she answered sweetly." Right, my brown flip flops-am I irrational that this.....grosses me out? Not the girl, but the fact that her bare feet were where my bare feet had been. Plus they'd been(not on my feet) on the city park playground, you know in that black, shredded tire that makes everything uber dirty. So, I'm A. annoyed I wasn't asked first, and they were worn without my permission and B. The obvious fact that I don't like to share shoes unless I know you well. It's no different than sharing gum, in my head. So, I'd love your feed back, on a scale of 1-10 how crazy am I?

Stricklan, chicken, freakin'.......

.....these words sound EXACTLY the same when spoken by my toddler.

New Scam!!

So, guess what happened to me? I've been a victim of identity theft! Somewhere, somehow, my debit card number was used to set up multiple dating sights. Can you imagine my surprise, when I logged into my checking account, and see a debit for lava life.com (which I didn't know what it was at the time, but Google is great isn't it?)? My first instinct was, well I'm not sure what my FIRST instinct was, because a few different scenarios flashed thru my mind, I'm not exactly proud to say. I was furious, but had no where to channel my rage. I called the number listed beside lava life-telling them I did not sign up for this particular service, and could I have the name of the person who did. They were great to offer to cancel my account, but I had to first give them my debit card number-isn't that what got me in this pickle to begin with? I politely refused for the time being, but PROMISED to call them back. I then called my bank, informing them what had happened, then asking protocol on how to cancel my MEMBERSHIP to the sight. A few minutes later, I received a call from my friend and employee of the bank, saying she noticed TWO other debits from Singles sights. She told me to go ahead and give them my debit account number, since the card had been "hot-carded" and would no longer be allowed to make purchases. (Yes, I was kind enough to let my husband know, so that he wouldn't be embarrassed if he tried to purchase gas a little later that day).

So here's the skinny.....I called all three places cancelling-they were understanding (guess this happens more than people think) but they would not give me the name of the thief. Here they STEAL from me, but are still protected. All I know is that they did use the name Angela, but did not use my last name. In hindsight, I should have told them I forgot my user name and pin-just so that I could see what I looked like on the sight. The last CS rep told me that there is a new scam out there, in which the thief gets hold of the credit card/debit card number, sets the sights up, and that I "got off easy". They then take poor unsuspecting daters.....for tens of thousands of dollars. A new version of the Nigerian Scam.

While I have my suspicions, I am not sure how they got my number-and it scares me, that I am careful, and yet it still happened to me. So be careful-guys!

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival."

I am VERY much looking forward to tomorrow night. What are my plans you ask? (or don't ask, but I'm going to tell you anyway...because it is the reason for my post) Dinner with two of my closest friends. We have great intentions, to meet more often than we do, it's just 99% of the time circumstance (also known as jobs, children, spoiled husbands) does not allow it. This is a very spur of the moment get together, I had no idea it would actually work out as well as it has, but am excited nonetheless.

So, dinner is at my house....I'm forgoing my original plan of ordering pizzas, and COOKING, actually COOKING....sort of. My menu does not consist of filet mignon...but I think it will suffice. I found a wonderful recipe in Southern Living for a Chicken Salad with grapes and pecans, spinach salad, and a wonderful array cheese, and fruit, and wine....lots and lots of wine. And what's a classy soiree like I'm throwing.....without...you guessed it.....Jell-o No-Bake Cheesecake....in Strawberry. I realize it's a lot, please don't bombard me with compliments, you'll only embarrass me.....trust me..these ladies are absolutely worth it.

These are the days...

I think my move to blogspot was a long time coming....and I'm excited about this change. Hopefully, it will motivate creative thinking and writing.....and I'll just be more....organized. (Okay, I couldn't type it with a straight face either, so go ahead and chuckle if you want...hopefully, I won't be any more dis-organized than usual.



I guess I need to introduce myself. I am mother of three incredible, incredible children, ages 10, 7, & 2. I am wife, for the past 11 years, to my childhood sweetheart. I am daughter to parents that have been best friends and partners for the last 33 years. I am sister to my two brothers, 1 brother-in-law, and two sisters-in-law. I am friend to many, enemy to none. I am a Christian, with unbreakable faith, because sometimes my faith is all I've had. I am caretaker of two dogs & one fish....has my life been a picnic?....absolutely not.....but it's been amazing, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I know at times I'm flustered, and frustrated....but one day I'll look back on this time of my life, smile, and think: Those were the days.