Quickie

Here's a quickie post to explain the pics below. I ran out of time (kids calling me) to get an explaination out with the pics. Just wanted to show off my "homemade" goodies from R's family. The top pic is a really cool idea that my sis-in-law did. There's a website where you can put in your pics and it blows them up and divides them out and you print them on your own computer. She put it on foam board and I hung them with tacky-stuff so that I could position them as I wanted. I thought this was really cool :) My other sis-in-law made these cute little ornaments with my kids' pictures on them. My bro-in-law made his yummy pickles and tomato juice from his garden. The best part is seeing what others come up with each year!

Hope You Had a SUPER Christmas!!!

Yes, that is Superman riding a horse with a cowboy in red gingham pajamas. Only boys!!

Twinkle, twinkle little star

When I was about 8, we moved to what I thought was the "country." Living just down from the high school, I thought 5 miles out of the city limits was country living. Ha! Anyway, once we got out of the "city lights", my dad would set up the telescope and show me the moon and the stars. I would look at the moon forever. Funny how much humility you can find on a cold, clear night with a sky full of stars. Makes you feel very small and in awe of the universe. We would get up for meteor showers as I grew older. And after I moved out of the house, my dad would always call me when there was going to be a meteor shower. R and I have gotten up to watch showers before. We even went to a big dam one year when we lived in Nashville to watch a huge shower. Tonight, is probably the biggest meteor shower of the year. The Geminids. This should be a great show (if there aren't too many clouds) because they shoot slowly and should be around 100 an hour. While I love having R to watch them with, the little girl in me will always wish my dad was standing beside me.

Brag

No picture, yet, but I have to brag on one of our local high school's FFA. BHS sold Christmas trees this year. We took the kids down this weekend to check them out and they had the cutest little "shack" set up with trees. They had lambs out w/ felt reindeer antlers on them and sold hot cocoa. You know I'm such a sucker for anything quaint or "hometowny" (yes, I know that's not a real word.) I have to brag on them (and will post pics later,) but this is one of the prettiest trees we ever gotten. They had pre-cut the branches that stick out all crazy and they loaded it on the car for us. Thanks so much BHS! Great job!

Christmas Challenge

After years of thinking up something for someone to give you or gift cards, R's sister came up with the idea of "homemade gifts." For me, this sounded like fun. Those of you who know me well, know that I love to "create," but you also probably know how I pile a little too much on my plate. Well, last year, between school and kids and work and Christmas, I was completely overwhelmed. You should have seen me snapping at R while stitching away at my sewing machine the day of. Well, not this year! I have been to Hobby Lobby and bought my "stuff." I AM going to be on top of it!!! I really do love doing this. It really is fun to watch everyone open them and it really does feel special to know that you made it. Here's what we did last year....R wasn't too excited, but everyone can make SOMETHING. He made his brother personalized labels on his computer for his canning. His brother gave us all jars of his pickles and tomatoes that he canned out of his garden. His sister made me a cute knob board and R a decoupaged picture frame with the kids. She made their brother an adorable personalized stepping stone for his garden with colored glass. I appliqued pjs for his sister and a sweat shirt for my other sister-in-law. Well, I can't reveal what I'm making just yet this year, but here's some pics of really cute fabric I bought. I'll show when it gets closer to time!! BTW, if you've got any ideas for the guys, please share!!!

Thankful

Thank you Lord, for my beautiful, healthy children, for a loving husband, for parents that are still here, brothers and sisters to share with, and wonderful friends. Thank you for sending your son. Thank you, thank you, thank you...

Our First School Program

Here are a couple of pics from our very first school program. He didn't do much, well, really anything at all. I thought maybe he had stage fright being in front of so many people, but he very nonchalantly told me he wanted to be an indian. Oh well, he looked like a cute little pilgram to me!

Busy October

Let me just say that October has flown by!! We have been so busy this month..... E's birthday, Fall Fest, Halloween, midterms for me, parent/teacher conferences, etc. Time to change up house decorations already!

Halloween costume + bounce house + cupcakes + friends = fun!

I learned an important lesson this weekend. You don't have to go all out, crazy-planner-lady to have a fun party. Sure, it helps if you invite people more than, say, 5 days ahead of the party, but that's another lesson.
My firstborn will soon turn 4 (shedding a tear) and time just wasn't on my side this year. As I type this, I should be studying for a difficult test tomorrow, but it can wait another 5 minutes. Anyway, I typically put forth lots of effort to plan a cool themed birthday party with lots of details. While you may never have noticed these details in the past, trust me, there was lots of compulsive analyzing going on in my mind. Well, what can I say? My baby was just put on the back burner this year.
Ultra-quick, ultra-cheesey photo invites were sent out the week of a party that was booked at the last minute b/c it was the only weekend available. No goody bags were made, no cake was ordered. Only homemade cupcakes, Domino's pizza, & a few other quickie snacks. No birthday themed plates, napkins, or cups. What's my point? Well, after my super-obsessing in the past, I realized my child still enjoyed having a few friends, a cupcake (or two,) and a celebration just for him that was thrown together in 2 hours (that includes pick up and setting up the bounce house!)

Punkin Pickin'

This weekend, my boys went to their first pumpkin patch. My sister's mother-in-law (affectionately known as Me-me) grows a wonderful garden and plants pumpkins way down in the back. We let the boys and my nephew get back in there and pick a few. Here you can see that P has picked his out :) E found a little green one that wasn't ready, yet, but he tried anyway!

Photo Op

Okay, for those of you that are Twilight fans.....is this Edward-ish hair, or what?

Gameday Cupcakes

The Milky Way Cupcake

Even, R said it was rich. Rich can be good, right?

Everything Changes

Gone are the days of me making a "real" breakfast during the week. Now, it's cereal or pre-cooked sausage and biscuit. This was E's first day of school. Preschool, that is. Yes, this handsome, young man is just 3, although he looks (and acts) so much older sometimes.

After a lot of "talking it up" and me checking a thousand times to make sure I had everything, we settled in for a good night's sleep. I think E was so excited that he didn't sleep well. It seemed like he was up every few hours and especially early that morning.

Here we are loaded up, ready for the short trip to school. No, my kids really don't do stuffed animals. They've just never been attached to them, but we were supposed to bring a teddy bear to school (we have a dinosaur with a Memphis Tigers shirt.)


In the last pic, you only see his back.....and that's how quickly it happened. In a matter of seconds, my world changed. It's such an adjustment to bring that first baby home and be absolutely responsible for another person. Then, just as quickly as it was thrust upon you, he just says something like, "I want you to let me go by myself today" and hops out of your car without a second thought.

I can't even imagine what it's going to feel like when he turns sixteen and gets behind a wheel or when we take him and his belongings to college or when he gets married (God bless the girl.)

Boys will be boys!

It seems like I know several people who are either about to have little boys or have just had little boys. Well, all I can tell you is that this picture just about sums it up. Cowboy boots, pirate shirt, golf club, video game in hand, and a pappy in the mouth ---all while climbing on the furniture!!! Boys!!!

House with a View

Call me crazy, but I do love to look at the fields. I guess it's a "Southern thing." I don't like when they spray them, but I love to sit on the back porch and just look out at the view. While R cut the grass today & E played, I couldn't resist snapping a few photos of everything. All I needed to top it off was a big glass of sweet tea!

You know you're getting old when.......

Does this guy look familiar to you? Okay, let me help you out. This is the dad in the new Disney made-for-tv movie, "Dadnapped." Okay, let me just tell you how old I'm really feeling right now. I just saw this advertisement and thought to myself, "No, it can't be!" Yes, that's right girls, this was one of my tv crushes.....all grown up now. He was the hot guy that Chris (Elizabeth Shue) met in "Adventures in Babysitting" (1987.)

Then he showed up again in one of my all-time favorite, uber cheesey movies --"Father of the Bride" (1991.) Of course he played Bryan MacKenzie, the all-too perfect fiance of Annie Banks (or Bahhnks as Franc would say.) Then, in 1995, another appearance as the perfect husband in "Father of the Bride II."

Over the years, he's popped up on some "Friends" episodes and several tv things here and there. But, alas, we are both at the stages of our lives where he is starring in Disney movies and I am watching them. On the flip side, at least we're still young enough that it's Disney :)

Life's a Beach

Had to get these last few pics out from the summer and start getting ready for school pics. Wow. This summer has really flown by!

A Day at the Park

I dragged R on another of my "family outings" the other night. I thought it would be fun to pack a picnic basket (a.k.a. sandwhiches & cookies from Naifeh's deli) and take the boys to the park. They had a blast! R decided it wasn't so bad, either. Moms really are the glue of a family. I look at my friends and think of all the little things we do for our children and our spouses. It's the little things that sometimes matter the most :)

How long is a long time?

Okay, so it feels like a lifetime to me since I posted about being on my diet for officially a week now. I'm only at the 11 day mark :( The weekends are the hardest because we tend to go so much. It's just so much easier to grab something while you're out and there's just not much healthy fast food. On the up side, I do feel like I'm gaining more self-control. The less sugary foods I eat, the less I seem to crave them. I even saw a good friend of mine on a date with her husband and she ordered chocolate cake. While the cake looked beautiful (as did the eater -- ever notice how cake looks prettier when a slim, attractive person is eating it?) I actually did not feel too much of a desire for it. I think I would have even been able to refuse it if a piece had been set in front of me -- I think.

Turning Over a New Leaf

So, I'm turning over a new leaf (or so I hope.) Let's face it. I'm swamped with the "stuff" of life and use it as an excuse not to exercise and quite frankly, reward myself with chocolate ____ and milk at the slightest sign of stress. I admit it!!! Anybody that knows me knows that I love to cook and eat and I hate to exercise. BAD COMBINATION, especially at my age (goodness I hate saying that!)

Anyway, that said, I tell you all this b/c I'll need lots of encouragement. I really, really, really, really wanted one of those fudge rounds my child was eating earlier, so much in fact that I told him to take it into the other room. I ask, no beg, that if you have any wonderful low sugar/low carb/low fat (did I take everything good out, yet?) recipes to share, please, please, please do!!! Broccolli and ranch is getting old REAL fast. On the up side, I have stuck to my diet for one week officially tomorrow and I have lost about 4lbs. I know it's mostly water weight, but it's a start :) Thanks to my inspiring friends --- you know who you are!!

Bunny fever

I have been playing with cupcakes again (my kids love that.) Someone asked me to make bunny cupcakes and I haven't quite figured out how I want to do it. Please remember that all of these are extrememly basic with none of those final touches that would go on a finished product, but I think I like the little bunny in the middle with a few adjustments on color, grass, and add a bow. Any suggestions?

Great Expectations

I don't know if it's because I watched too many sitcoms growing up or because I had a wonderful childhood or what, but I expect things (including holidays) to be a certain way. R jokes that my family is like the Cleavers. That said, I think I sometimes envision how we will be. For example, this 4th I would have liked to have gathered with my family and cooked out on Sat. and then gone with friends and kids to watch an awesome firework show that night---- just like last year.

Well, I made the boys their little shirts (the morning of, won't get to wear those again!) and set out to work on things for the day. R put on what I assumed was a pork butt/shoulder, but once taken out of the oven realized it was a pork sirloin? And was way overcooked. TRASH. My cute little star cookies that I made turned out dry and I decided I didn't like the icing on them. TRASH. My family all seemed to have other things going on, so no lunch. And, a storm was coming. It's sooo un-American for it to rain on the 4th of July!

In the end, I settled for some Capt. D's and fireworks from McDowell's. Luckily, some great friends came over, too, and I enjoyed the evening. In fact, I'd say that looking back years from now, my kids will probably remember how Dad would take them and buy fireworks at the local firework stand and we'd eat dinner together and then once it got dark, we'd go outside and sit around in camp chairs with friends and watch him shoot them (in the rain this year.) The small stuff. Isn't that what memories are really made of? The moral of today's story? Life is what you make it.

Pimento & Cheese

Okay, so I need a little help. I seem to be having a craving for pimento and cheese. I have to have some dental work done today and know that my mouth is going to be sore and thought this would be a soft thing to eat. I've actually never made pimento and cheese and have found so many different recipes. Does anyone have a family favorite?

My Beautiful Boys

This is one of my favorite pics from the beach. I think a "back" shot is the only way I could get a pic where both of them looked perfect at the same time! Any picture that required them to both look up was difficult :)

We're Back!!!

Where's Phil when you need him?!? This is the only picture of all 4 of us together at the beach and E is making a funny face. Phil is always so good at getting my kids to smile and look natural. I can't imagine why the perfect stranger that took this for us didn't have any bubbles or fun toys!

Anyway, I enjoyed reading everyone's posts this week while my kids napped and wanted to make sure I posted some pics from our trip.

What I miss most about the beach? The absolute freedom of no schedules, the seafood, and no mosquitos!

What I love most about being home? Sleeping in my own bed, not having to take 3 showers a day to get the sand off each time we came in, and being back with family and friends!

Not-so-friendly visitor

My dog hates storms, so we typically put her in the garage when we know one is coming. Well, of course we raise the door about a foot to keep it well ventilated. I ran out to my car and stumbled upon this visitor that decided to also seek sheltor in the comforts of a garage. Guess the hole that he dug (that I blamed on the poor dog) was flooding. Now, the dog was scared of the armadillo, so she was hiding in the storage room in the garage! R had a tough time getting that little thing out of the garage. They are similar to a cat in that they make a hissing sound and jump much higher than I would have imagined when "shooed" with a broom. Sorry, fella, but there's only room for one pet around here and you had to go.

Somebody should have warned me!

Yes, this is my 2 year old jumping off a box, imitating Spiderman. Why didn't anyone warn me of the #2 child?

#1 follows my directions. #2 tells me "no" with his arms crossed and mouth pouting.

#1 brings me things I need. #2 hides my shoes.

#1 uses the potty. #2 puts things in it.

#1 is friendly to all. #2 pretends to shoot those he doesn't know.

#1 is afraid of heights. #2 doesn't believe in the laws of gravity!

Whew! #2 is a handful, but how could I not adore all his mischieviousness when he thinks I hung the moon? #1 sometimes prefers his Daddy. #2 is a momma's boy. #1 doesn't always want to kiss me. #2 would kiss me a million times. I can tell you that I was definitely surprised about #2 coming along so quickly, but I wouldn't change it for the world!!!

If you know of any......

While cleaning out closets today, I realized that I have several things with E's name embroidered on them. Diaper bags, clothes, etc. Anyway, if you know of anybody having a boy or with a baby that shares his name, please let me know so I can get rid of this stuff! I wised up when I found myself so quickly pregnant with a second boy and began personalizing with just our last name :)

My Birthday Boy

I had to post this pic because I know all you moms would agree with me that it is definitely way more fun to watch your kids open presents than opening your own. Don't get me wrong (in case hubby reads this) presents for me are good, too, but the look on that face is priceless (spaghetti stains and all!!)

My "baby" recently celebrated his second birthday. I know, I know, you can't believe he's two! Me either! I guess I finally have to stop telling people that I haven't lost all my baby weight. It officially just goes under the "she needs to exercise and quit eating so much" catagory.

I thank God for this "surprise." I couldn't imagine how I was going to love another child as much as I did my first. God surprised me with this, too. Kind of like the Grinch, your heart just gets bigger :)

Happy Birthday to all of us!

Okay, so I said I wasn't going to post this b/c after all the time I spent on this cake for Hubby's birthday (huge Star Wars fan) he made fun of me blogging it. Well, I said there was no way I was going to blog it after his comment, BUT I don't have any pictures of my own birthday cake (because there wasn't one!) so here it is.

Last week was R's birthday, yesterday was my birthday, and next weekend is P's birthday. Not to mention we have countless close friends that have birthdays in the same week. This leads E to continuously ask me when it's going to be HIS birthday. It's really hard to explain to a 3 year old he has to wait 5 months until his when everyone else is celebrating (especially little brother.) There is no concept of time, other than "IMMEDIATELY" for a 3 year old. I know this is awful, but I'm seriously debating making a cake for Cinco de Mayo and singing "Happy Birthday" or "Feliz Cumpleanos" in that case -hee, hee!